: , , , , - 28 . This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate New York Four feet spared Bruno Carvalho and his father from the path of a speeding car that killed one person and injured 22 in Times Square on Thursday. The recent University at Albany graduate was on 45th Street and about to turn onto Broadway when the maroon Honda plowed through a packed sidewalk of pedestrians before slamming into metal poles. "It was really, really quick," said Carvalho, 27. "People did not have time to run away. It was terrifying." As the father-son pair emerged onto Broadway to see what had just happened, they heard screams and saw people injured on the ground. "Some people with their legs inured, some people like mild injured, and some people really, really injured," he recalled. "We felt really blessed. A couple seconds later and it would definitely be us." The driver appeared to be intoxicated when he steered his car onto a sidewalk and mowed down pedestrians for three blocks, authorities said. Pandemonium erupted when the vehicle barreled through the prime tourist location and slammed into a security barrier, coming to rest with two of its wheels in the air. The car leaned on a lamppost and steel barriers intended to block vehicles from getting onto the sidewalk. "He didn't stop," said Asa Lowe, of Brooklyn, who was standing outside a store when he heard screaming. "He just kept going." The driver was tackled by pedestrians and taken into custody. He was being tested for drugs and alcohol and charges against him were pending. The crash happened at midday on a hot, clear day that brought large crowds of people into the streets to enjoy the good weather. Video posted online showed steam or smoke pouring from the car for a few moments after it stopped moving. The driver, a 26-year-old Navy veteran named Richard Rojas, was taken into custody and was undergoing tests for alcohol and drugs, Police Commissioner James O'Neill said. Rojas had been arrested at least twice previously for driving while intoxicated, once in 2008 and once in 2015, police said. He pleaded guilty to an infraction in 2015 and was ordered to complete a drunken driving program and lost his license for 90 days. He was arrested last week on a charge of menacing. Police said he pointed a kitchen knife at a notary who'd come over to do paperwork, and he accused the notary of stealing his identity. The case is pending. In previous arrests, he told authorities he believed he was being harassed and followed, according to a law enforcement official who wasn't authorized to speak publicly on an ongoing probe and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Investigators were searching his Bronx home and canvassing the crime scene for video. Rojas enlisted in the Navy in 2011 and was an electrician's mate fireman apprentice, according to the Navy. He was most recently based at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida, and was discharged in 2014. He wasn't immediately available to comment. The crash killed an 18-year-old woman, and the injured included her 13-year-old sister, police said. Police do not suspect a link to terrorism, but the vehicle was checked by the bomb squad and some landmarks were getting beefed-up security. "Out of an abundance of caution," Mayor Bill de Blasio added. Carvalho, the UAlbany student, had just gotten off the subway in Times Square when the car crashed into the crowd. He and his father ran to follow the car and by the time they got there, they saw an empty driver's seat and a deployed airbag. "We definitely thought, like, what if he has a bomb in the car, should we be running the other way?" he told the Times Union. Police said Rojas made a quick U-turn onto 42nd Street and drove up the sidewalk for three blocks, passing tourist draws like the Hard Rock Cafe and the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. restaurant and mowing people down before slamming into a pole. He was combative with officers who handcuffed him, authorities said. Victims had no time to react and scramble for safety in crowded Times Square, said Alpha Balde, a sightseeing-ticket seller. "This place?" Balde said. "Anything happens here, there's no time for people to get out." After the crash, the driver climbed out of the vehicle and began to run, witnesses and police said. Ken Bradix, a door host supervisor at Planet Hollywood, struck him to get him to stop, Balde said. He and Bradix jumped on top of Rojas, lifted his shirt to make sure he had no weapons and held him until police arrived, Balde said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 5 1 of 5 Albany Medical Center Show More Show Less 2 of 5 GARY GOLD Show More Show Less 3 of 5 4 of 5 GARY GOLD Show More Show Less 5 of 5 ALBANY Albany Medical Center Hospital has offered a boutique-type medical service to executives for two decades, but unveiled a recent facelift this week that it hopes will attract new customers. The Executive Health Program has allowed busy people willing to pay just under $1,000 for a full workup including physical, cardiac stress test and comprehensive blood test with the guarantee that they can get in to see the doctor in a week or two, said Kevin Leyden, the medical center's senior vice president for business development and strategic partnerships. The program now has a dedicated and newly renovated consultation and exam room, with easy access to other services that may be needed, he said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Friday's ongoing power outages forced the Hoosick Falls Central School District to send students home early. High school students were dismissed at 11:15 a.m. and elementary school students went home at 12:30 p.m. Thunderstorms on Thursday caused pockets of heavy damage throughout the region, knocking out power to thousands of customers. The area around Queensbury in Warren County and nearby Washington County were hit hard. The Queensbury Unified School District was closed because of the continued power outage on Friday. School districts in nearby Washington County -- including Fort Ann, Fort Edward, Hartford and Hudson Falls -- were also closed. Beirut When President Donald Trump heads to Saudi Arabia on Friday for his first trip overseas since taking office, it will be for much more than a run-of-the-mill state visit. The Saudis have internationalized the event, organizing a sprawling "Arab Islamic American Summit" with leaders from dozens of Muslim countries, as well as talks with the king, the inauguration of a counterterrorism center, forums for business executives and young people and a country music concert. Saudi Arabia, home to some of Islam's holiest sites, will be pulling out all the stops for a man who has declared "Islam hates us" and said the United States is "losing a tremendous amount of money" defending the kingdom. But Saudi Arabia and its Persian Gulf allies appear prepared to dismiss Trump's remarks as campaign rhetoric, and to see in him a possibility of resetting relations. The reception seeks to convince Trump that his priorities are theirs, too, and that they are indispensable partners in fighting terrorism, in confronting Iran, in bolstering U.S. businesses and perhaps even in pursuing peace between Israelis and Palestinians. "This administration has vision that matches the view of the kingdom with regards to the role of America in the world, with regards to getting rid of terrorism, with regards to confronting Iran, with regards to rebuilding relations with traditional allies, with regards to trade and investment," Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi foreign minister, told reporters. The number of events scheduled throughout Riyadh, on Saturday and Sunday is staggering, as the Saudis seek to project their country as a dynamic place, a leader in the Arab and Islamic worlds and a close ally of the United States. There are three summit meetings planned: between Trump and King Salman, the Saudi monarch; between Trump and the leaders of a Gulf coalition, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates; and between Trump and more than 50 leaders and representatives from across the Muslim world. The reception for Trump reflects the sharp contrast with how Persian Gulf leaders perceived Obama and his policies. He angered the Saudis for what they saw as his abandonment of President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, a longtime U.S. ally, during the Arab Spring protests; his hesitation to intervene directly in the Syria conflict; and his pursuit of a nuclear deal with Iran. In Trump, however, many Saudis see a decisive, business-focused leader, who shares their goals. They applauded his military strike on a Syrian air base after Assad's forces used chemical weapons, and they have noted his tough talk on Iran. And they see a role for U.S. investment in efforts to shift the Saudi economy from its dependence on oil. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Utility crews labored to return electric service to thousands of customers while public employees removed fallen trees from streets, power lines and homes Friday, the day after bands of thunderstorms swept across the Capital Region. The storms caused destruction in pockets around the region. Damage appeared heaviest in Queensbury, where a number of trees were torn from the ground and a barn collapsed, according to the National Weather Service. Thousands of customers lost electric service many of them in the areas around Schenectady, Colonie and Saratoga Springs. "It's all kind of part of the same line of storms that came through," National Weather Service meteorologist Joe Cebulko said. The Queensbury Unified School District was closed because of the outage on Friday. School districts in nearby Washington County -- including Fort Ann, Fort Edward, Hartford and Hudson Falls -- also were closed. Students in the Hoosick Falls school district were sent home early. Crews from National Grid were dispatched across the region to handle repairs. As of 11:20 p.m., nearly 10,000 National Grid customers remained without service in the area around Queensbury, according to the utility's website. Another 2,500 customers were in the dark in the area around Saratoga Springs and 2,000 more in the vicinity of Albany, Colonie and Guilderland. Lightning strikes were reported throughout the region and at least one home was hit. Firefighters suspect lightning was to blame for a fire at a home on New Scotland Road in Slingerlands. They say the sturdy construction of the 100-year-old home at 1613 New Scotland Road probably kept the building from collapsing during the blaze. A neighbor two blocks away called 911 about 9 p.m. Thursday to say, "It sounded like lightning had struck in their backyard," Slingerlands Fire Chief Joe Farleigh said. The family of three adults, one of whom uses a wheelchair, escaped without injury, Farleigh said. The home's slate roof made the fire fight more difficult. "You can't cut through it so well, it's very heavy, and it traps and holds in heat," Farleigh said. However, the house's century-old timber construction and two-by-eight-inch roof trusses kept the structure from collapsing, he said. "If this was a new house, it would be lying in a heap," the chief said. Despite reports of damage throughout the area, none of it appeared to have been inflicted by a tornado, Cebulko said. Straight-line wind -- the potentially devastating gusts that descend from the atmosphere and blast things on the ground was to blame. The winds that hit Queensbury packed gusts of 50 to 60 mph, Cebulko said. Forecasters initially predicted that thunderstorms would hit the area but proposed the path would travel primarily north of the Capital Region. Cebulko said the early forecasts were off slightly. Washington President Donald Trump said Thursday that he is "very close" to naming a new FBI director to replace the one he fired more than a week ago. Asked how close he is, Trump said, "soon." During an Oval Office appearance with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, Trump was also asked whether former Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman was a top candidate for the job. Trump responded, "He is." Trump and Lieberman discussed the position at the White House on Wednesday. Lieberman gave reporters a thumbs-up as he left. Trump has said he could name a director before he leaves the country Friday on his first overseas trip as president. Trump interviewed three other potential FBI director candidates Wednesday: former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating, former top FBI official Richard McFeely and Andrew McCabe. McCabe became acting director after Trump fired James Comey as director last week. The Senate must confirm whomever Trump nominates. Lieberman served in the Senate for more than two decades and was the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2000 with Al Gore, then the sitting vice president. Lieberman lost his 2006 Democratic primary bid but won Senate re-election as a third-party candidate. Lieberman spoke at the 2008 Republican National Convention on behalf of his friend, Arizona Sen. John McCain, and did not seek re-election in 2012. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. A district court judge has questioned how a motorist managed to rent a car and then be arrested for drink driving outside Nenagh within a short space of time. She made her comments after Thomas Byrne, with an address at 9 Playfield Close, Hender, London, Ha80df, pleaded to drink driving and dangerous driving at Carrigatoher, Nenagh, on May 12, 2017. The court heard that the Gardai received a call to say a car was overtaking on the hard shoulder on the northbound carriage of the M7. At 10.49am they received a call to say there was an accident at Carrigatoher in which a jeep had rear ended a car. At the scene, there was a "strong, strong," smell of alcohol from Mr Byrne and he handed over the keys of the jeep to the Gardai. The jeep was a rented vehicle. Mr Byrne was arrested for drink driving and a subsequent test showed he had 101mgs of alcohol per 100mgs of blood. The court heard that four people were injured in the crash and brought to Nenagh Hospital, but they will all make a full recovery. The court was told that Mr Byrne had arrived in Ireland that morning to attend his grandfather's funeral in Kerry. Mr Byrne's solicitor, Liz McKeever, said her client, who was originally from County Monaghan, was 32 years old and a single man. "He has had a difficult week. A friend died in London while he was here," said Ms McKeever. "He would have had a problem with alcohol and should never have driven the car," she said. "He could have killed someone or himself." The solicitor told the court that Mr Byrne had comprehensive insurance and that covered damage to the vehicles. "He did spend a night in Limerick Prison and that was a salutary lesson for him", she said. A special court in Nenagh last Friday had remanded Mr Byrne in custody, with consent to bail. Judge Elizabeth MacGrath wondered how Mr Byrne had managed to be allowed rent the vehicle in the first place and said he had "put other people at risk". She fined him 500, with a two-year ban, for dangerous driving and a further 500 and a three-year ban for drink driving. Bail for 20-year-old Silas Michael Yashinski, one of the two suspects charged in connection with the burglary of three downtown buildings, inc [May 18, 2017] Panasonic Redefines Rugged With Announcement of Toughbook 33 2-in-1 Detachable Laptop Panasonic (News - Alert), an industry leading manufacturer of mobile computing solutions that are purpose-built for the way people work, today announced the U.S. availability of the Panasonic Toughbook 33, the first fully-rugged 2-in-1 detachable laptop that features a 3:2 display. Inspired by the hard-working mobile professionals who have relied on the Toughbook brand for two decades, the Toughbook 33 2-in-1 detachable laptop delivers rugged mobility in a highly customizable package along with a generation of backward compatibility for mobile professionals. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170518006429/en/ The Toughbook 33 is versatile as it can be turned into a tablet and popped into clamshell mode for easy transport. (Photo: Business Wire) Designed in consultation with Toughbook device users from a number of demanding industries including police, fire, government and enterprise professionals, the 12" fully-rugged 2-in-1 detachable laptop is designed to meet MIL-STD-810G and IP65 standards to perform in even the most grueling and extreme conditions. The Toughbook 33 2-in-1 laptop comes with a groundbreaking 3:2 display making it easier to handle, and ideal for workers viewing business applications like law enforcement officers using Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD). Other benefits of a 3:2 over a widescreen include less vertical scrolling, an aspect ratio that better approximates the feel of 8.5 x 11 paper and less interference around airbag zones for better vehicle-occupant safety. "From the beginning, we've designed the Toughbook product line with the demands of the mobile workforce in mind and the 2-in-1 Toughbook 33 device is the truest expression of that commitment to date," said Brian Rowley, Vice President of Marketing and Product Management, Panasonic System Communications Company of North America. "From its remarkable 3:2 display to its durable-but-flexible detachable design, the Toughbook 33 laptop is purpose-built to reset expectations for rugged mobility." An evolution of the best-selling Panasonic Toughbook 31 and Toughbook 20 product lines, the Toughbook 33 2-in-1 laptop is powered by 7th Gen Intel (News - Alert) Core i5 and i7 processors and Windows 10 Pro, delivering incredible performance. Working to address customer concerns about their Windows 10 migration, Panasonic is pleased to announce that the Toughbook 33 device will also be available with a Windows 7 Professional downgrade powered by 6th Gen Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors. This ensures compatibility with existing deployments thereby helping customers plan for a smoother transition to Windows 10. The 1200 nit QHD screen incorporates a 15% larger display than any other device in its class and is the highest resolution as well as brightest 2-in-1 display in the industry. The combination of an infrared webcam and the Windows Hello application allows customers to use facial recognition, iris scanning or fingerprint scanning for user authentication1,2. The Toughbook 33 2-in-1 laptop is built for maximum mobility with two twin hot-swappable batteries that provide 10 hours of life based upon MobileMark 2014. In addition, the optional Long Life Battery configuration doubles battery life to 20 hours for the most demanding mobile professionals. The Toughbook 33 laptop provides six flexible usage modes and offers two keyboards to choose from to accommodate the unique needs of different mobile professionals. As for vehicle installations, the Toughbook 33 device is available with two different vehicle docks fr new deployments. The first is a tablet vehicle dock. The second is a 2-in-1 vehicle dock which utilizes the Premium Keyboard and can be mounted either in laptop (clamshell) or convertible mode. For Panasonic's large customer installation base of Toughbook 31 vehicle docks, Panasonic is offering a drop-in-replacement 31 Vehicle Dock Adapter (VDA) with removable Lite Keyboard that offers investment protection for customers who wish to reuse their installed vehicle docks to save precious time and resources. The wide assortment of vehicle docking solutions underscores Panasonic's commitment to its customers' diverse needs, recognizing that one size does not fit all and developing the right solution for each. Panasonic Toughbook 33 Key Features: Fully Rugged Design : Magnesium alloy chassis. MIL-STD-810G and IP65 all-weather design in addition to an IP55 digitizer pen for workers that need the highest levels of writing, drawing or signature accuracy in the toughest of weather conditions. : Magnesium alloy chassis. MIL-STD-810G and IP65 all-weather design in addition to an IP55 digitizer pen for workers that need the highest levels of writing, drawing or signature accuracy in the toughest of weather conditions. Processor (News - Alert) & Operating System : Intel Core i5-7300U vPro 2.6GHz Processor (opt. i7-7600U) Windows 10 Pro 64-bit Intel Core i5-6300U vPro 2.4GHz Processor (opt. i7-6600U) Windows 10 Pro 64-bit with Windows 7 Professional 64-bit downgrade : Anti-Reflective Display : 12.0" 3:2 QHD 2160x1440, capacitive gloved multi touch with IP55 digitizer stylus pen. Wide view angle display with direct bonding, 1200 nit sunlight-viewable screen : 12.0" 3:2 QHD 2160x1440, capacitive gloved multi touch with IP55 digitizer stylus pen. Wide view angle display with direct bonding, 1200 nit sunlight-viewable screen Connectivity : Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth, dual pass-through antenna. Optional Dedicated GPS and/or 4G LTE-Advanced : Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth, dual pass-through antenna. Optional Dedicated GPS and/or 4G LTE-Advanced Storage : 256GB SSD with heater (optional 512GB), 8GB onboard RAM (News - Alert) (optional 16GB) : 256GB SSD with heater (optional 512GB), 8GB onboard RAM (News - Alert) (optional 16GB) Long Battery Life : 10 hours battery life (optional 20 hours), twin-battery design for hot-swap battery replacement : 10 hours battery life (optional 20 hours), twin-battery design for hot-swap battery replacement Cameras : 1080p webcam, 8MP rear camera 1 : 1080p webcam, 8MP rear camera Windows Hello : Facial recognition, iris scanning or fingerprint scanning 1,2 : Facial recognition, iris scanning or fingerprint scanning Integrated Options : Choice of Barcode or Serial (true) or 2nd USB, Choice of Insertable SmartCard or Contactless SmartCard or Fingerprint readers : Choice of Barcode or Serial (true) or 2nd USB, Choice of Insertable SmartCard or Contactless SmartCard or Fingerprint readers Backwards Compatibility : With previous generation of Toughbook 31 vehicle docks : With previous generation of Toughbook 31 vehicle docks Accessories: Panasonic's class leading assortment of accessories match the ruggedness of the Toughbook 33 and all of the ways its diverse customers use it, whether in a vehicle, office or on the go. For complete product details, please visit www.us.panasonic.com/toughbook/33. Pricing and Availability The Panasonic Toughbook 33 laptop comes with the detachable Premium Keyboard for those looking for the flexibility of a 2-in-1 solution, but it can also be purchased as a tablet only. The Panasonic Toughbook 33 fully rugged 2-in-1 laptop will be available from authorized Panasonic resellers later this month at an estimated U.S. street price starting around $3,649. All Panasonic Toughbook laptops and tablets come standard with the industry's most comprehensive 3-year warranty and 24/7 IT support. Sales inquiries for Panasonic Toughbook mobile computers and tablets should be directed to [email protected] or 877-803-8492. Besides offering the market leading Toughbook brand, Panasonic helps customers reduce the complexity of deploying and managing mobility projects through its Toughbook ProServices suite of engineering consultations, premier disc imaging and device deployment services, training, mobility applications and break/fix depot support. Follow the Toughbook Brand: The Panasonic Toughbook family of laptop computers, 2-in-1s and tablets can be followed on various social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter (@Toughbook), LinkedIn, YouTube and our blog, Panasonic for Business. Panasonic System Communications Company of North America, Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, delivers reliable technology solutions for government and commercial enterprises, nonprofit organizations, creative professionals and SMBs. Learn more at us.panasonic.com/business-solutions/. About Panasonic Corporation of North America Newark, NJ-based Panasonic Corporation of North America is a leading technology partner and integrator to businesses, government agencies and consumers across the region. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Panasonic Corporation and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. branding, marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. Panasonic was featured in Fortune Magazine's 2016 ranking of 50 companies that are changing the world and doing well by doing good. Specifically cited were its smart and sustainable technologies, including its contributions to smart cities and the electric vehicle revolution. Learn more about Panasonic at us.panasonic.com/news. 1 Available with 7th Gen Intel Core i5 and i7 processors 2 Fingerprint reader is available as an integrated option on the Toughbook 33 View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170518006429/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Global Women's Health Diagnostics Market to Grow by Almost 7% CAGR Through 2021: Technavio Technavio analysts forecast the global women's health diagnostics market is expected to reach USD 13.31 billion by 2021, according to their latest report. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170518006530/en/ Technavio has published a new report on the global women's health diagnostics market from 2017-2021. (Graphic: Business Wire) The research study covers the present scenario and growth prospects of the global women's health diagnostics market for 2017-2021. The report further segments the market based on application (cancer, UTIs, gynecology and fertility, and osteoporosis), end-user (clinical diagnostics laboratories, hospitals, home-care settings, and ASCs) and geography (the Americas, APAC, EMEA, and ROW). Advancement in technology, increasing awareness of the advantages of POCT, and greater reimbursement policies will drive the women's health diagnostics market. The rising incidence of cancer cases owing to smoking and lifestyle is increasing the adoption of women's health diagnostics in regions such as the Americas and EMEA. APAC is also expected to show considerable growth due to the increased use of home-care setting for HPV and pre-natal testing and rise in breast cancer cases. Looking for more information on this market? Request a free sample report Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report including the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more. Technavio analysts highlight the following three factors that are contributing to the growth of the global women's health diagnostics market: Reimbursements for human papillomavirus (HPV) tests Rise in breast cancer screening Increasing gynecological diseases in older women eimbursements for human papillomavirus (HPV) tests Coverage for HIV testing is provided by most insurance companies in the US and Europe. In the US, Medicaid and private healthcare in Maryland, Texas, New Mexico, West Virginia, North Carolina, and California cover HPV testing as recommended by medical regulatory authorities. The test is routinely used by women aged 30 years and above and as a follow-up to an inconclusive Pap test result for women of all ages. Barath Palada a lead in-vitro diagnostics research analyst at Technavio, says, "Growing reimbursements in the Americas and EMEA will help increase the market adoption of diagnostic products. Though APAC is a potential region in this market owing to the growing prevalence of cervical cancer, due to lack of reimbursements, the adoption of HPV testing is low in the market. However, by developing low-cost products and conducting cervical cancer screening programs, manufacturers can increase their market share, which can impact the market growth positively." Rise in breast cancer screening Lifestyle changes and rise in smoking rate has increased the incidence of breast cancer among women across the world. According to OECD (2015), one in 9 women acquires breast cancer in their lifetime. Most OECD countries such as Czech Republic, India, and China have adopted breast cancer screening programs, which help in the detection of cancer cases with the use of mammography units. "In most of the countries in the Americas and EMEA, reimbursements are provided for mammograms and diagnostic ultrasound imaging. Invenia ABUS is widely used for breast imaging in women for the detection of cancer," says Barath. Increasing gynecological diseases in older women Higher prevalence of developing cyst or mass formation in the uterus is found among women who are undergoing menopause. It is also common in middle-aged women (40-50 years old). Formation (News - Alert) of cysts in the uterus and ovarian cancer are linked to each other. Post-menopausal cysts can increase the risk of ovarian cancer. The increasing number of cancer cases contribute to the increased use of gynecological surgical devices for the treatment of cancer and gynecological problems. Top vendors: Abbott Laboratories F. Hoffmann-La Roche Hologic Siemens (News - Alert) Healthineers Browse Related Report: 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 orthopedics and medical devices, cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, and cardiovascular devices. 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 [email protected]. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170518006530/en/ [May 18, 2017] Digital Realty to Present at Upcoming Investor Conferences SAN FRANCISCO, May 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital Realty (NYSE: DLR), a leading global provider of data center, colocation and interconnection solutions, announced today that the company will participate in the following investor conferences: J.P. Morgan's 45th Annual Global Technology, Media, and Telecom Conference at The Westin Copley Place in Boston, MA on May 22-24 , 2017. Chief Financial Officer Andrew P. Power will participate in a fireside chat at 3:00 p.m. EDT on Monday, May 22 , 2017. on , 2017. Chief Financial Officer will participate in a fireside chat at on , 2017. Cowen and Company's 45th Annual Technology, Media and Telecom Conference at the Lotte New York Palace in New York, NY on May 31 - June 1 , 2017. Chief Financial Officer Andrew P. Power will present on Wednesday, May 31, 2017 at 8:45 a.m. EDT . on , 2017. Chief Financial Officer will present on at . REITWeek 2017: NAREIT's Investor Forum at The New York Hilton Midtown in New York, NY on June 6-8 , 2017. Chief Executive Officer A. William Stein will present on Tuesday, June 6, 2017 at 11:45 a.m. EDT . www.digitalrealty.com . For Additional Information Andrew P. Power Chief Financial Officer Digital Realty (415) 738-6500 Investor Relations John J. Stewart / Maria S. Lukens Digital Realty (415) 738-6500 [email protected] About Digital Realty Digital Realty supports the data center, colocation and interconnection strategies of more than 2,300 firms across its secure, network-rich portfolio of data centers located throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Digital Realty's clients include domestic and international companies of all sizes, ranging from financial services, cloud and information technology services, to manufacturing, energy, gaming, life sciences and consumer products. https://www.digitalrealty.com/ To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/digital-realty-to-present-at-upcoming-investor-conferences-300460507.html SOURCE Digital Realty [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 19, 2017] Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Delivers First Dragon Silk Fiber Samples to US Army ANN ARBOR, Mich., May 19, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (OTCQB:KBLB) (Company), the leading developer of spider silk based fibers, today announced that it has delivered the first samples of Dragon Silk to the US Army for independent testing. The Company provided several samples of individual silk filaments as well as finished Dragon Silk thread for evaluation. "We are pleased to report that we have delivered the first samples of Dragon Silk to our US Army sponsor for independent performance confirmation, said the Companys COO Jon Rice. These samples mark the starting point for what we hope will be a long lasting and profound impact on protective equipment for those dedicated to protecting us. The speed that our Indiana facility was able to ramp up to meet this request helps to confirm, that we have the ability to promptly deliver a top quality, cost effective, fiber to the Army and future commercial customers. The Company is producing Dragon Silk at its Indiana factory and expects to make final delivery of the shoot packs for ballistic testing later this year. To view the most recent edition of Kraigs Spider Sense quarterly newsletter and/or to sign up for Company alerts, please go to www.kraiglabs.com/newsletter. For more information about Spider Silk, check it out at www.kraiglabs.com/spider-silk. About Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (www.KraigLabs.com), a fully reporting biotechnology company is the leading developer of genetically engineered spider silk based fiber technologies. The Company has achieved a series of scientific breakthroughs in the area of spider silk technology with implications for the global textile industry. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information Statements in this press release about the Companys future and expectations other than historical facts are forward-looking statements. These statements are made on the basis of managements current views and assumptions. As a result, there can be no assurance that managements expectations will necessarily come to pass. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as believes, plans, expects, anticipates, foresees, estimated, hopes, if, develops, researching, research, pilot, potential, could or other words or phrases of similar import. Forward looking statements include descriptions of the Companys business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions and goals. All such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security. Ben Hansel, Hansel Capital, LLC (720) 288-8495 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 19, 2017] WhyteSpyder and Mercy Health Foundation Partner for Cornhole Event FAYETTEVILLE, Ark., May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Fayetteville eCommerce company WhyteSpyder is preparing for its 4th Annual Catfish, Corndogs and Cornhole Tournament, benefiting Mercy Health Foundation. The event will take place at the Mercy Hospital Campus North Field/Parking Lot on Friday, June 16, 2017, with all proceeds going to the Mercy Health Foundation. "This is our way of bringing the community together to enjoy an afternoon of great food and fun," said WhyteSpyder CEO Eric Howerton. WhyteSpyder has presented three cornhole tournaments over the last three years, each benefiting a different local cause. This year, 100% of the proceeds from the event will benefit Mercy Health Foundation and their efforts to improve the quality of life in Northwest Arkansas. "This event will help provide much needed resources to enhance healthcare services in Northwest Arkansas, and will also go a long way in building relationships between the community and the hospital," said Clark Ellison, Regional Vice President of South Central Communities for Mercy Health Foundation. "We'rewanting to obviously raise some funds, but more than that we're hoping to really have some fun, and I think that's where this event is really going to be good," added Ellison. Teams can register online and sponsors can find more information about the event at http://catfishcorndogsandcornhole.com/. The registration deadline for event sponsors is May 26. For more information, contact event coordinator, Casey Crowell, at (479) 287-4006 or [email protected]. About WhyteSpyder: WhyteSpyder helps Walmart and Sam's Club manufacturers setup, manage, and optimize product data and content on Walmart.com and Samsclub.com. WhyteSpyder keeps with the strategic vision of Walmart and Sam's Club when creating and managing content. We use any distribution technology accepted by retailers that is beneficial for manufacturers and their agencies. Learn more about WhyteSpyder by calling 479-287-4006 or visiting www.whytespyder.com. About Mercy: Mercy, named one of the top five large U.S. health systems in 2017 by Truven, an IBM Watson Health company, serves millions annually. Mercy includes 43 acute care and specialty (heart, children's, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals, more than 700 physician practices and outpatient facilities, 40,000 co-workers and more than 2,000 Mercy Clinic physicians in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Mercy also has outreach ministries in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Press Contact: Casey Crowell WhyteSpyder 1023 Milsap Rd Fayetteville, AR 72703 [email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/whytespyder-and-mercy-health-foundation-partner-for-cornhole-event-300460350.html SOURCE WhyteSpyder [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 19, 2017] Navetti Welcomes 100 Top European Pricing Masters to Stockholm STOCKHOLM, May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Navetti, a global leader in price optimization solutions, hosted its 7th annual User Conference in Stockholm this week. When 100 of Europe's smartest and most experienced pricing specialists meet, there is no shortage of interesting discussions and learnings to be made. So if you wanted to understand the finer details of price management, Stockholm MeetingRoom was the place to be on Thursday 18th May, as it was the venue for the annual Navetti User Conference. This year's theme was Practical Performance and Future Trends, and much of the presentations and discussions followed the theme's implied delicate balance of evolution and revolution. On the one hand, price optimization is about constant learning, tweaking the details and sweating the small stuff to achieve gradual but constant improvement. And on the other hand, to be open to the possibilities that innovative technology, more data and smarter processing algorithms represent. Two trends: AI and neuro marketing Two of the sessions that looked at future opportunities covered the themes of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and neuro marketing. Both presented ways that technology, together with better knowledge about decision-making principles, can be applied in price management. The difference, of course, is that for AI the decisions are based on algorithms about product usage, expected lifetime usage, cost of breakdown and similar intelligence, as presented by Stefan Palm of Diff3ntia. Neuro marketing, on the other hand, is about understanding human decision making, and in a pricing context, what customers perceive to be fair value for a product vs. what they see as expensive or cheap. Dr Kai-Markus Muller of NeuroMarketing Labs showed how this can be investigated and defined without the need for complicated lab settings and testing facilities. People and software together Andreas Westling, the CEO of Navetti, uses a sporting metaphor to describe the parallel opportunities that pricing experts must pursue: "Usain Bolt is the world's fastest man, but in running we have only been able to improve performance by 10% in the last 100 years, gaining a fraction of a second with each improvement. In high jumping, new technical solutions, such as the straddle and the Fosbury flop, have resulted in step-wise performance improvements of almost 50% in the same period. But when we combine new technologies with new ways of working, as we see around us here today, the improvement potential is exponential. Understanding and managing those opportunities of software and people working together is what mastering price optimization is all about." About Navetti Navetti offers a unique combination of advanced price optimization software and consulting expertise. Navetti PricePoint is the acclaimed software suite, an essential tool for day-to-day price optimization across all aspects of pricing strategy. This is supported by the expertise of the consultants at Navetti Consult that help customers achieve increased profits faster through insightful value-based pricing strategies and rapid system deployment. Originally developed to solve the complex pricing challenges in large international B2B markets, Navetti's approach of Operational Pricing is today equally at home in B2C e-commerce applications, as demonstrated by a large and growing number of blue-chip customers. For more information, please contact: Andreas Westling, CEO, Navetti AB [email protected] Tel: +46-70-60-31-003 This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com http://news.cision.com/navetti/r/navetti-welcomes-100-top-european-pricing-masters-to-stockholm,c2269952 The following files are available for download: http://mb.cision.com/Main/15864/2269952/677268.pdf Press release (PDF) http://news.cision.com/navetti/i/8l3a9209,c2147325 8L3A9209 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 19, 2017] Kingbright Acknowledges Digi-Key's Outstanding Sales Performance; Celebrate 10 Years of Partnership THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minn., May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Digi-Key Electronics, a global electronic components distributor, was awarded Kingbright's "Achievement Award 2016, Outstanding Sales Performance" at the 2017 EDS Banquet in Las Vegas, NV. The award was presented by Wen Sung, Frank Chen, Johnathan Chou, Man Yu, Tiffany Chang, Taylor Liu, Christina Lu, Kevin Fung, Jerry Hsu and Ping Chen of Kingbright and given to Levy Olson, Kristen Haase, Brian Metelak, and Tyler Verbout of Digi-Key. In addition to the achievement award, the two companies also celebrated a milestone 10 years of partnership together. Kingbright Company LLC is a leading LED manufacturer with a global presence. For over 29 years, Kingbright has delivered the highest quality LED products, technological innovations, and unparalleled customer service around the world. Headquartered in Taian, Kingbright's dedication to vesting R&D projects and developing full line ultra-high-efficient LEDs remains the core mission. With the immense production capacity of its TS 16949, ISO 9001, ISO 14001 certified manufacturing plants in China, Kingbright continues to exceed many expectations worldwide. Kingbright's selection of products including LEDs, lighting modules, and optical sensors is available for immediate shipment globally from Digi-Key. For more information, or to order from Digi-Key's full line of Kingbright products, please visit any of Digi-Key's global websites. About Digi-Key Electronics Digi-Key Electronics, based in Thief River Falls, Minn., is a global, full-service distributor of both prototype/design and production quantities of electronic components, offering more than five million products from over 650 quality name-brand manufacturers. With over 1.3 million products in stock and an impressive selection of online resources, Digi-Key is committed to stocking the broadest range of electronic components in the industry and providing the best service possible to its customers. Additional information and access to Digi-Key's broad product offering is available at www.digikey.com. Editorial Contact for Digi-Key Electronics Kayla Krosschell PR & Marketing Communications Specialist 1.800.338.4105 x1098 [email protected] [email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kingbright-acknowledges-digi-keys-outstanding-sales-performance-celebrate-10-years-of-partnership-300460859.html SOURCE Digi-Key Electronics Election results: Check out results from various races across the state Police are working a homicide at 28th Street and Sewell. Kansas City, KS police chief Terry Zeigler tweeted about the homicide just after 10:30 p.m. on Thursday evening. Police say an individual was found dead in an apartment complex. No additional information is available. Copyright 2017 KCTV (Meredith Corp.) OLATHE, Kan. -- One of four men charged with trying to rob a Shawnee gun store and killing its owner was found guilty of his charges on Thursday. According to the Johnson County district attorney, the jury found Londro Patterson guilty of first degree murder. The jury was still hearing evidence to decide Patterson's sentence. Kansas City Is A Dump Northeast Newscast Episode 11 - A Day in the Life w/ KCMO Illegal Dumping Investigator Alan Ashurst KANSAS CITY, Missouri - We're back with a special edition of the Northeast Newscast. This week, Northeast News Managing Editor goes out into the field for a ride-along with KCMO Illegal Dumping Investigator Alan Ashurst. Ashurst has a fascinating job, serving as one of two illegal dumping investigators currently working in the Neighborhoods and Housing Services Department. Sleaze Summit Victory Lee's Summit nominated for best downtown in America LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo. - Lee's Summit may be on the fringe of winning another national award for its thriving downtown, which would be its second since 2010. However, this prize would also give the city $25,000. The competition is being organized through Independent We Stand, a national organization that supports the revitalization and continuing support of 'Main Streets' throughout the United States. Gunfire Follow-Up Jackson County deputy involved in officer-involved shooting in Independence A Jackson County deputy was involved in an officer-involved shooting in Independence, according to police. Police in Independence are learning more about the moments before a gun went off in Little Blue Trace Park about 9 a.m. Thursday. Deputies from Jackson County are on extra patrol because of a rash of recent break-ins. Show-Me Not-So-Special Session Missouri governor calling lawmakers back for special session JEFFERSON CITY * Less than a week after Missouri lawmakers left town after a tumultuous finish to their annual legislative session, Gov. Eric Greitens is ordering them back to take care of unfinished business. Using his power to call a special session, the Republican newcomer wants the House and the Senate to act on legislation supporters believe could generate 500 jobs in Missouri's Bootheel region. Lady & Youngster Run From Gunfire And Don't Look Back Police still searching for woman and child who ran from a crash and officer-involved shooting The suspect was taken to the hospital with a bullet-wound to the leg Thursday Tribute Recap Kansas City police honor fallen officers at memorial service Thursday Outside police headquarters in downtown Kansas City on Thursday, 119 American flags lined the flower bed out front. Each flag represented one Kansas City police officer killed in the line of duty - the first in 1881 and the last in 2001. Kansas City police honored the officers at its annual memorial service on Locust Street. Kansas City Nomenclature History Of Paseo Boulevard Why is the Paseo Boulevard named after a street in Mexico? And how did this road help shape our city? We explore the history of what some people consider KC's first boulevard, and we find out what's in store for the future of this picturesque roadway. Guests: inspires this quick compilation of MSM links worth reviewing today . . .And this is thefor tonight . . . NOW AUTHORITIES WARN OF HOMICIDES TARGETING OLD SCHOOL WHITE DUDES WALKING THEIR DOGS ALONG INDIAN CREEK TRAIL!!! KCPD: Indian Creek Trail Homicides Since August 2016, there have been four homicides along the Indian Creek Trail in south Kansas City, MO. There are obvious similarities in the four homicides in that all of the victims are white males between the ages of 54 and 67. Three of the males were walking their dogs on the Indian Creek Trail, or in close proximity to the trail. Detectives are aware of the similarities and are actively investigating all four of the homicides. At this time, there is no physical evidence that suggests these cases are related but the possibility is being reviewed. KCPD would like to remind our community to always remain aware of your surroundings and immediately report any suspicious persons and behavior. If you observe or encounter someone who is acting strangely or is exhibiting suspicious behavior do not hesitate to call POLICE. Please note, officers will be conducting extra patrol in the area to include patrolling on foot and ATVs. Anyone with information is asked to call POLICE or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477. ############## Advice from police and acknowledgement of a horrific trend offer an important glimpse of deadly violence threatening Kansas City neighborhoods.Earlier this week, the clueless newspaper assured residents that thewasdespite the. . .However . . .What's important is to talk public safety and a clear warning about the demographics of the victims targeted.in noting as much and working to protect the public while the newspaper fails to show concern for public safety forlocal residents.Here's the word:Developing . . . There has been an increase in the number of Greek export companies that have fallen victims to fraud in their dealings with German firms, the Economic and Trade Affairs Bureau of the Greek Embassy in Germany warned on Thursday. It advised Greek exporters to be particularly cautious in transactions on the German market, especially when dealing with prospective customers for the first time. "Given the fact that attempts to defraud Greek export firms have recently multiplied, as shown by the increase in related requests for assistance from our bureau, we would like to advise Greek companies to be especially cautious in their transactions with German firms and international firms that appear to have departments or warehouses in Germany," a bureau announcement said. They advised companies to check the corporate profile of any new company that places orders with them before these are finalised, especially when the transactions are agreed via e-mail. Clues that an order was not legitimate, the bureau said, included cases when the products offered by a particular firm on its official web-page were not among those supplied by the exporter. The bureau also reported cases when Greek firms were lured by supposedly lucrative offers and given incomplete or inaccurate contact information, such as private e-mails, mobile phone numbers, or non-existent addresses. It suggested that Greek firms entering into an agreement with German companies first ask for the company's tax information and its number in the German Commercial Register. If unable to obtain accurate information, they are advised to contact the economic and trade affairs bureaus in Berlin, Munich and Dusseldorf. Read more here. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report The conference will be held after Greek authorities and its creditors reached a framework-agreement Economist, in cooperation with the Greek-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, are organizing a conference in Frankfurt, May 31, on A Glimpse into Europes Financial Landscape Greece: A Comeback to the Financial Markets?. The conference will be held after Greek authorities and its creditors reached a framework-agreement to conclude a second review of the Greek adjustment program, the Greek Parliament passed an omnibus bill to implement a package of reform measures and will be held after a crucial Eurogroup meeting in May 22 in Brussels. In an announcement, the organizers said 2017 was a crucial year for creating conditions that will lead to the countrys return to capital markets by the end of the program in 2018. Benoit Coeure, a member of the executive board of the European Central Bank, Greek Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos, Economy and Development Alternate Minister Alexis Charitsis, Bank of Greece governor Yiannis Stournaras, will address the conference, along with other European officials and investment firm executives Read more here. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report The vehicle and emergency workers at the scene of the incident.EPA/Justin Lane A US Navy veteran plowed his car into pedestrians in New York City's packed Times Square on Thursday, killing an 18-year-old woman and injuring 22 people, reports said. The motorist mounted the sidewalk in a Honda sedan and sped along for more than three city blocks, knocking people over before the car struck a pole and came to rest at 45th Street and Broadway in Midtown Manhattan, Reuters said quoting witnesses. Police who arrested the driver identified him as Richard Rojas, 26, from the New York City borough of the Bronx. Rojas was charged with one count of murder in the second-degree, aggravated vehicular homicide and multiple counts of attempted murder, a New York police spokesman said in an email late on Thursday. Rojas had previously been arrested twice for drunken driving, in 2008 and 2015, and once this month on a charge of menacing for threatening another man with a knife, police said. Banks Diverge in Chase for Profits in Global FX Trading Change remains the defining characteristic of global currency marketsat least in terms of the battle among banks for market share in FX trading. For the second consecutive year, significant market share was redistributed among the dealers in the top ranks of the FX market in 2016, with some leading dealers adding as much as two full percentage points in market share and others ceding similar amounts. Meanwhile, the number of banks within that top rank expanded considerably. The 2017 Greenwich Share Leaders in Global Top-Tier Foreign Exchange include J.P. Morgan with the top spot, followed by Citi, UBS and Deutsche Bank. Tied for the fifth spot are Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Barclays, HSBC, and Goldman Sachs. Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Citi and J.P. Morgan are named the Greenwich Quality Leaders in Global Top-Tier Foreign Exchange Service. Bank of America Merrill Lynch is named the 2017 Greenwich Quality Leader in Global Top-Tier Foreign Exchange Sales and the 2017 Greenwich Quality Leaders in Global Top-Tier Foreign Exchange Trading are Citi and J.P. Morgan. For its 2017 study, Greenwich Associates conducted interviews with 2,393 corporate and financial users of foreign exchange around the world about market trends and their relationships with their dealers. Of these, 1,536 are considered top-tier accounts. Study participants were asked to name the dealers they use for foreign exchange and to rate the quality of service these dealers provided. Dealers receiving quality ratings topping those of competitors by statistically significant margins are named Greenwich Quality Leaders. Focus on Profitability Driving the major shifts in the FX competitive landscape is a single question: Whats the best way to make money in FX? Although that question is simple, the answer is not. In fact, banks are coming up with radically different answers about how best to generate profits in FX. Some banks, like J.P. Morgan, which climbed to first place in the global market this year, Citi, which held share with financial accounts and earned the top position with corporates, and HSBC, which was not previously an overall Greenwich Share Leader and secured a spot on the list this year, are generally hewing to broad-based global strategies and capturing market share along the way. Some leading FX dealers are narrowing the scope of their coverage and focusing on specific products while some are focusing their strategies on particular clients, often targeting their resources toward banks, hedge funds and other financials, or retail aggregators. Finally, some banks are becoming much more discerning about the channels in which they compete for business. In some cases, banks that have lost market share at a market-wide level have actually gained share in their areas of focus, which presumably represent the most profitable parts of their business, says Greenwich Associates Managing Director Woody Canaday. For more information on related topics, visit the following channels: U.S. travelers contribute plenty to worldwide tourism economies. South America benefits heavily from Americans who travel to its warm destinations under the equator during the U.S. winter season. A travel think-tank, WanderBat, studied the US Department of Commerce's National Travel and Tourism Office data to indicate five American favorite travel destinations this year. Americans had always loved Asia, particularly Singapore. Eventhough it's not the most affordable destination for Americans, the city gives them enough pleasure and thrill. Singapore's economy depend lightly on tourism. In 2015, 230,000 Americans visited the country, giving an additional 0.7 percent profit from Singapore's tourism alone. Citing the study results, Lebanon Express said Americans could never leave South America and The Caribbean alone. Over 262,000 Americans traveled to different South American countries in 2015, adding 0.8 percent profit. Besides, the fun roadtrips to South America, which takes hours, gives wanderers an unfogettable experience. According to Business Insider, If not trending downward, Americans are likely to travel upward. During the summer, Americans who get tired of spending their vacations on their backyards or at typical tourists spots head to Vancouver in British Columbia. Canada's tourist spots, which are coupled with aviaries and relaxing beach side towns, are truly attractive and effective in having Americans gravitate for something different and exciting. The legendary Euro Trip could never begin and end without having The Netherlands' Amsterdam in the list. In 2016, about 1.4 million Americans traveled to the tourist destination of Earthly delights. Indeed, Amsterdam is exciting given the numerous fun local destinations and activities travelers could enjoy in the country. The top five destination for Americans also include England's iconic and scenic London. The city is still as impressive as its appearance. One of the most famous tourist attractions for U.S. travelers is The Eye, a giant ferris wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames where you can get an amazig view of the city. Besiders The Eye, tours in free-pass museums always does the trick for American travelers. See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018 For travelers not frequently flying, waiting in airport lines and boarding flights is something not too nerve-wracking. But for frequent flyers, waiting in long lines is a big deal especially if delays could mean huge problems. However, these five extreme runways might make the flight scary, but it also makes the wait worthwhile with excellent views outside. is a seasonal landing facility, well, almost. The unique airport does not have a lit landing strip but it uses a beach in Traigh Mhor beach on Barra Island in the Outer Hebrides. Without lights, private planes land being led by wooden poles. In the Caribbean islands, Saba has the world's shortest runway for commercial flights. However, only special aircraft capable of decreasing speed immediately through a 396-meter landing strip are allowed to land on the runway. And yes, they should be light enough to take off immediately with such a short distance. According to MSN, France's Courchevel Altiport requires special training for its pilots. Situated in the French Alps, the mountainsides and ridges are likely to hit the plane's wings, which necessitates precision flying from pilots. Passengers can enjoy the exhilarating and death-defying ride, along with the amazing view of the Alps. The United States has its own McCaran International Airport in Nevada. The landing strip hides Las Vegas from view. Further acceleration brings forward the city like a desert mirage. The landing strip is also specially lit, which may remind one of the neon lights and flashy spectacles of the city of pleasures. BBC writes that the Colorado Telluride Regional Airport, built on top of a mountain, is an exciting and scary experience. The landing strip is situated 300 meters above ground on a mountain plateau. The landing strip is so dangerous, airport authorities banned night landings for all pilots. See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018 If you want to be a great traveler, don't just go on vacations spending tons of money and getting less out of it. Remember, even with a tight budget, you can still enjoy your trips if you do a lot of research and careful planning. Now, Europe's a good destination to visit so here are some tips that might help you plan for a great European trip. Choose a Destination and Allot a Budget. It's obvious that going on a vacation requires a destination, but aside from that, make sure that you're specific with the locations. List all the places that you want to visit and research the cost of travel and accommodation in those areas. Prepare Your Documents. If it's your first time traveling to Europe, make sure that you have all your documents ready. Contact local services that usually take care of these matters for you. Just remember to do this step a month or two before your schedule because passports and other documents would usually take four to six weeks to finish. Book Your Flights Early. Early bookings mean cheaper prices but aside from that, being able to book your airfares early can determine how your trip would go. According to Independent Traveler, knowing the costs of air travel will help you budget your other costs such as car rentals, accommodations and food. Create a Travel Route and Timeline. Make a detailed timeline and route of the places that you're going to visit. Take note of crowds, time, geography and weather. For example, pair off two destinations that would maximize that time of your travel by visiting big cities and small nearby towns. According to USA Today, a good example would be visiting Vienna and the Danube River Valley. Be Prepared for Some Adjustments. If you plan to go to two big attractions in Europe but don't have the time and money to visit both, make some adjustments. List the pros and cons of how each destination would affect your itinerary and make a decision. Remember that planning might be tedious but it really pays off in the end. In fact, even backpackers and travel bloggers plan out their trips. See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018 Traveling to a new city can be a memorable experience. Seeing new sights and attractions, meeting new people, and having an amazing escapade away from the usual hubbubs of life is a marvel indeed. But there are cities in this world, despite being picturesque and inviting, that are known for being a lure for ghost hunters and supernatural believers because of their stigma of being haunted. If you're not a fan of supernatural beliefs or just a plain scaredy-cat, then make sure to avoid these most haunted cities in the world that are sure to give you the chills when you hear their backstories. Here are some of them: Athens, Ohio. Ohio is a friendly state, but one of their cities, Athens, is the home of one of the scariest lunatic asylums ever built in the States, with over 200 cemeteries in the property alone, as well as a creepy-looking headstone that was apparently used by witches in their rituals back in the 1800's, according to List Verse. It was also said that Athens was built on top of a Native American burial ground and that their cemeteries form a pentagram. If those don't make Athens a haunted city, then nothing else will. Prague, Czech Republic. Art aficionados and history buffs are all drawn by Prague's sinister and cold beauty, and according to The Guardian, it's the most haunted city in Europe. Legend states that during nighttime, a headless Templar Knight is fond of wandering the dark corners of Prague's cobbled streets, and if you see him, you have to grab his sword and stab him in the heart. The Houska Castle is another infamous monument the locals tend to avoid because of its demon-infested past, so if you want to take a vacation in Prague, think again. New Orleans, Louisiana. New Orleans can't not be on this list because it houses the most haunted cemetery in the world. Until today, the city still retains its creepy, historical feel, compared to other cities in the States. Locals swear that Voodoo queen Marie Laveau still haunts St. Louis cemetery, and if you got what it takes, take a trip to the haunted mansion owned by Madame Delphine LaLaurie. When her house burned down, the locals discovered a torture chamber in the attic where countless grisly murders were performed on the slaves by Madame LaLaurie herself. The ghosts of the dismembered slaves are known to still lurk the crevices of the house. See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018 United Airlines is again on the hot seat, apologizing to one of its passengers, this time to a man whose ticket reservation was canceled by a ticketing agent. The agent canceled the reservation due to the passenger filming their interaction, which she did not like. According to a report from Fortune, Navang Oza was the passenger who took the video of his exchange with a ticketing agent and posted it on Twitter, which was shared almost 5,000 times. The agent can be heard on the video telling a colleague that wasn't on-screen to cancel Oza's ticket for filming her without permission. The report said that Oza began recording their conversation because the lady was being rude to him after he questioned about the oversized luggage fee, which he claims is more than twice the amount he paid when he came to New Orleans. He was checking-in for a flight that's bound to San Francisco when the argument with the United Airlines ticket agent took place. United Airlines said the video showing the incident between Oza and the ticketing agent is not reflective of the "positive customer experience" that the airline is aiming to offer their passengers. They apologized for the incident and said they will be investigating the matter. Consumerist reports that when airport police arrived on the scene, Oza asked if he should delete the video. The officer told him no and he is open to whatever he wanted to do with it because they are in a public space. The United Airlines ticketing agent, though, still insisted that Oza won't be getting on the flight until he deletes the video, to which the passenger was shocked. Oza said he didn't know the agent had the power to cancel his flight because of his video. Travel + Leisure reports that the amount of video and photo that passengers can take in airports vary greatly, as parts of airports are technically public space. The public space varies per airport, though. For example, the airlines own and operate the terminals in the JFK International Airport, making them private property. The report adds that a lot of airline companies are saying that photos and videos should be taken for personal use only. Southwest Airlines are even encouraging passengers to ask for permission first before they record "personal events." One thing is for sure though, airlines are always putting the passengers' safety as their top priority. Check out the video posted on Oza's Twitter of the exchange between the passenger and the ticketing agent. See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018 What used to be a fishing village has become a Nazi City that was built under The Hague and was home to 3,300 SS soldiers. Decades after the Nazi occupation, military enthusiasts and archaeologists are doing restoration work to make Adolf Hitler's underground Nazi City a tourist attraction. The secret Nazi underground bunkers were revealed through a natural occurrence after shifting sands slowly exposed the hidden military sanctuary. In fact, 500 intact bunkers were already discovered by the Scheveningen Atlantic Wall Foundation, as reported by News. A total of 900 military buildings were constructed both on the surface and underground out of 100,000 cubic meters of reinforced concrete. They were constructed by Dutch slave laborers and German army engineers from Norway to the Bay of Biscay in France as part of the Atlantic Wall. Hitler constructed the tunnels to stop Allied forces from invading his "Fortress Europe." Aside from bunkers and tunnels, living quarters, stores and spa facilities formed part of the massive underground Nazi world. It was built in 1942 and ejected the 135,000 inhabitants of the Scheveningen to make way for the complex. At present, the village is a jolly place for tourists being a seaside resort Independent reported that in one of the underground tunnels, a persion even discovered nuclear bombs presumed to be owned by Adolf Hitler's troop. However, further research due to possible explosion. Adolf Hitler's Atlantic Wall is now being restored to become a tourist attraction. A part of the complex has already been restored and was recently opened as a museum. The Nazi complex is also a reminder of the labors of the Dutch slaves. Thousands of the slaves worked in the construction of Hitler's Atlantic Wall. See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018 Rainbows only come after a rainshower, but in a slum village in Indonesia, rainbows can be seen 24/7. A teacher spearheaded the amazing transformation of a cluster of dilapidated homes which is now called the "Rainbow Village." The local government of Semarang headed by its mayor Hendrar Prihadi funded the local project which was initiated by a teacher named Slamet Widodo, 54. Semarang shelled out 300 million Indonesian Rupiah ($22,300) for the project intended to attract more tourists, as per News. The village formerly called Kampung Wonosari became popular on Facebook and Instagram after it was finished. The roofs have three different colors. There were 232 houses that were already painted and the mayor wants to extend it to 385 houses. He also did some painting jobs intended to encourage villagers to participate. Beautification project of the municipality is expected to reach 2 billion Indonesian Rupiah, which will also extend to river cleaning and clearing of the area. Lonely Planet reported that the local residents of the "Rainbow Village" are now benefitting from the colorful makeover. Tourist visits continue to soar and the livelihood of the people have become vibrant as they sell foodstuff and souvenir items to the tourists. The project was also considered as a social victory because it has redeemed a former unsightly slum into a colorful and beautiful community. The project also became an eye-opener not just to the residents of the "Rainbow Village" but to the whole municipality. People are now conscious about their surroundings and became vigilant in maintaining the beauty of the once dilapidated cluster of homes that are eyesores. The beautification project is not only limited to the area but many people in Indonesia are getting inspiration from the colorful habitat. The "Rainbow Village" residents are now proud and happy to have created a masterpiece out of "trash." See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018 Oman, May 2017: Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara, developed by Musstir, was named GCC Hotel Project of the Year at the MEED Quality Awards for Projects in an award ceremony held earlier this month. Following a win at national level, the iconic resort amidst Salalah hotels in Southern Oman competed against some of the regions top hotel projects to take home the acclaimed award. (TRAVPR.COM) OMAN - May 19th, 2017 - Oman, May 2017: Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara, developed by Musstir, was named GCC Hotel Project of the Year at the MEED Quality Awards for Projects in an award ceremony held earlier this month. Following a win at national level, the iconic resort amidst Salalah hotels in Southern Oman competed against some of the regions top hotel projects to take home the acclaimed award. One of the most coveted in the industry, the MEED Quality Awards for Projects are aimed at honouring the best in the GCC projects sector. They recognise not only the construction element of project delivery but also the value and quality of the project throughout its entire life cycle from the design concept through to engineering and construction and its wider contribution to society and to the environment. Since opening its doors in late 2016, Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara has quickly established a reputation as one of the leading luxury hotels in the region. Developed by Musstir, the property development arm of MB Group in joint venture with OMRAN, the project was the result of the implementation of the highest levels of international standards and operational efficiency to ensure its sustainability for years to come. Eng. Cyril Piaia, Chief Executive Officer MUSSTIR says; We are thrilled to receive this recognition for our latest resort to open in Oman. We truly believe that team effort and constant desire to reach perfection were the drivers for Musstir to achieve this milestone and appreciation at GCC level. Musstir is proud to have completed the development phase of Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara over the last five years, from the inception of the first conceptual ideas until its opening to guests late last year. This distinctive and unique property adds another very interesting real estate project to the growing portfolio of Musstir, one of the regions premier private developers. We are very pleased to have our latest project open for business and in Anantara we have found an excellent marriage between Owner and Operator. Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara is in line with both His Majestys Vision 2020 for the Sultanate of Oman and with Musstirs long-term commitment to develop sustainable properties that blend with the local Omani culture and traditions, as well as offer modern and high standard amenities for guests travelling locally or from abroad. Anantara is a natural fit for Musstir as we share the same values and the team has a proven track record of successfully managing luxury hotels around the world. The resort reflects the unique development philosophy of Musstir, which is a desire to achieve a vision of excellence for its guests and stakeholders from the selection of its development partners such as architects, designers and contractors to the handover of keys, thanks to a team of professionals attached to the principle of care, commitment, integrity, leadership, quality and teamwork. Editors Notes: About Musstir Musstir LLC is the property development arm of MB Group which, currently employs more than 6,500 employees of 51 nationalities in 20 countries worldwide and has annual turnover in excess of US$ 1 billion. Managed by a professional team with the necessary technical expertise to handle required hospitality, real estate projects and design management, Musstir is backed by its parent company, MB Holding, an Omani investment group with interests in Oil, Gas, Mining and other investments. Musstirs focus is to develop high-end exclusive luxury real estate and hospitality with several projects under development and construction including brands such as Cheval Blanc (Louis Vuitton Hotel Management), Anantara (Minor Hotels). Musstir has a growing real estate portfolio, aiming to position Musstir as a major regional and international property developer in the near future, including several luxury resort destinations, residential and industrial facilities, with a total of 989 keys and more than OMR 500 Million investment. Musstir is also engaged in the field of facilities management of several real estate properties. About Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas Anantara is a luxury hospitality brand for modern travellers, connecting them to genuine places, people and stories through personal experiences, and providing heartfelt hospitality in the worlds most exciting destinations. The collection of distinct, thoughtfully designed luxury hotels and resorts provides a window through which to journey into invigorating new territory, curating personal travel experiences. From cosmopolitan cities to desert sands to lush islands, Anantara connects travellers to the indigenous, grounds them in authentic luxury, and hosts them with passionate expertise. The portfolio currently boasts over 35 stunning properties located in Thailand, the Maldives, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Mozambique, Zambia, the UAE, Qatar, Oman and Portugal, with a pipeline of future properties across Asia, the Indian Ocean, Middle East and Africa. For more information on Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas, please visit www.anantara.com. Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/anantara; Twitter and Instagram: @anantara_hotels About Global Hotel Alliance Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) is the worlds largest alliance of independent hotel brands, bringing together 35 brands with 550 hotels in 76 countries. GHA uses a shared technology platform to drive incremental revenues and create cost savings for its member brands. GHAs award-winning loyalty programme, DISCOVERY, provides nearly 10 million members exclusive opportunities to immerse themselves in local culture wherever they travel. For more information, visit gha.com About Omran Oman Tourism Development Company SAOC (Omran) drives the investment, growth and development of the rapidly growing tourism sector in the Sultanate of Oman. The company is the master developer of major tourism, heritage, urban and mixed-use projects, delivering some of nations most visionary and iconic destinations. As the leading executive government arm for tourism development, Omran has a proven track record of delivering tourism and related projects to a world-class standard, due to our core philosophy of sustainability, transparency and partnering with renowned regional and international investors. Importantly, by working in close collaboration with the local communities, as well as the public and private sector, sustainability is built into every project. The companys portfolio of projects, asset management expertise and investment experience embraces the unique aspects of Omans culture and heritage, while safeguarding the natural beauty of the country for future generations. ### Two CRH5A trains departed Hohhot East Station for Ulanqab on May 11 to test and debug the new Hohhot-Zhangjiakou high-speed rail line. With increasing speed, the trains tested track geometries, track circuits, transponders, and catenary parameters. The tests provided valuable data for the future running of the Hohhot-Zhangjiakou high-speed railway, according to the Hohhot Railway Station. A train tests the Hohhot-Zhangjiakou high-speed rail route on May 11. [Photo/Xinhua] S Nihal Singh THE BJP has begun its campaign for the 2019 general election two years early. Mr Narendra Modis three years in power in Delhi is being billed as a monumental achievement and he is being assigned god-like qualities by his acolytes. To ask Mr MJ Akbar, Minister of State for External Affairs and a former editor, to deploy his journalistic skills to sing the praises of his master in The Times of India was extraordinary. But this is only the beginning of a blitzkrieg of elevating Mr Modi to an all-encompassing avatar who has descended to earth to make India happy, prosperous and powerful. Yet the hyperboles many more to follow boil down to a few broad issues, put down in print by the head of the BJPs media cell, Anil Baluni. They will be broadcast far and wide in the coming days and weeks in different shapes and sizes. There are few surprises. Mr Modi is for the poor and downtrodden which Indian politician is not? He is for cleanliness which, as the saying goes, is next to godliness. He is pro-women Beti bachao, beti padhao. He has saved poor housewives their cooking agony by providing free gas cylinders. He is against VIP culture: witness the banning of red beacons on official cars, to be quickly substituted in many cases by hooters. And low and behold, by May 2018 all villages will have electricity. His decisiveness is a virtue missing from the last coalition UPA government of Dr Manmohan Singh and the surgical strike against Pakistan, still hidden behind veils, is somewhat shyly alluded to. In this litany of successes and achievements, there is not a word of acknowledgement for the Congress, which led India to Independence and moulded the country for most of its independent existence contrast this with Vajpayees eulogy of Indira Gandhi in getting the better of Pakistan in the 1971 war. It is as if Mr Modi dropped out of the skies to take India to greatness. The roles of the BJP and particularly its mentor, the RSS, in the Independence struggle were dubious. Never mind, Mr Modi raided the Congress store, made Mahatma Gandhi his talisman, and picked Nehrus deputy, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, as its own icon. To woo Dalits, he has also appropriated BR Ambedkar. Yet, outside the bubble of Mr Modis acolytes, what has the PM achieved in his three years in office? He has certainly shown decisiveness, being unencumbered by demanding coalition partners the first time in over three decades a single party has obtained a majority of its own in the lower House of Parliament. He also demonetised high currency notes ostensibly to clean the system economists are divided on its merit and the confusion and suffering it caused to the poor. Mr Modi should be commended for making an effort to befriend neighbours, particularly Pakistan, despite his conspicuous lack of success, even going to the extent of making a surprise visit to PM Nawaz Sharifs house in Lahore. China remained a tough neighbour and his decision to skip the OBOR gathering in Beijing in President Xi Jinpings ambitious connectivity plan funded in large part by Chinese money and expertise was the right one, given that the road to Pakistan passes through PoK. Mr Modis failures have come from the ideological blinkers he and the RSS wear. The real ambition of the new dispensation is not only to make India rich and prosperous, but also to transform it into a Hindu state, whatever the Constitution might say. The most dramatic aspect of this policy is that all BJP-ruled states are unsafe to live in, with cow vigilante bands lynching people to death for transporting cows and buffaloes for legitimate purposes. Whatever the preaching of the BJP leaders, police forces are wary of tangling with cow protection units because of their reach and the cow protection charade with goons robbing peaceful citizens is common. The RSS has its own concept of the kind of India it wants, but since it is impractical and full of conceits and myths, it is impractical. The irony of course is the PM himself, reared as he was in the RSS laboratory, half believes these myths, but as Gujarats CM, he had learned to disregard the RSS. He cannot repeat the exercise in his present role because the RSS is watching him lake a hawk and raps him on the knuckles on occasions. He has not said a word about the cow protection goons after he was forced to eat his words on the composition of cow protection units. Mr Modis three years thus present a contrast between his penchant for reform and embracing the world of technology and changing the whole concept of India into a medieval fortress of myths singing the glories of an ancient India that did not exist. Given the BJPs anti-Muslim bias, its pace of Hinduising the country inevitably leads to communal incidents which is a bonus for the party in bringing in Hindu votes in elections. Two questions arise out of this assessment. How can the Sangh Parivars philosophy fit into the modern age? Second, can Mr Modi ride out the storm even if he jettisons his own earlier beliefs? Even as the RSS gains strength, its beliefs will become caricatures in a fast changing world in which social media alone will not be the answer. If Mr Modi is keen to govern the country, he cannot belong to a never-never land embroidered with a high degree of conceit. If returned to power in 2019, can he divorce himself from the RSS? Merely to pose the question implies the risks involved. The central Cabinet is full of RSS men and almost all chief ministers of states the BJP rules are RSS loyalists. The RSS tilted the scales in the appointment of Yogi Adityanath as UP Chief Minister. The objective of the exercise, according to cognoscenti, is to keep a check on Mr Modi. If the BJP secures a second term, will the PM have the courage to take on the RSS? New York, May 19 A 44-year-old Indian-American has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for duping over a 100 investors of USD 33 million through fraudulent schemes. Navin Shankar Subramaniam Xavier, a resident of Florida, was the former Chief Executive Officer of Essex Holdings, the company through which he carried out two fraud schemes. He was sentenced on Thursday to 15 years in prison by US District Judge Darrin Gayles in Miami. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The first scheme involved nearly 100 investors who purchased USD 30 million worth of promissory notes purportedly secured by interests in iron ore mining in Chile. The second scheme involved unlawfully obtaining USD 1.2 million in economic development funds as well as valuable industrial property from the state of South Carolina. Xavier was convicted by guilty plea in January on two counts of wire fraud. One wire fraud count related to the investment fraud scheme and the other count to the South Carolina economic development scheme. According to documents filed in court, from September 2010 through May 2014, Xavier operated Essex Holdings from an office in Miami and raised more than USD 30 million from nearly 100 investors for supposed investments in sugar transportation and shipping, as well as iron ore mining in Chile. He used false financial statements, forged documents and false promises of fixed rates of return, to induce people to invest in company. Most of the money was used for purposes other than what was promised, including to support lavish spending by Xavier and his wife for expensive jewellery, luxury vehicles, wedding expenses, and cosmetic surgery. Eventually, Xavier used new investor money to pay old investors in a Ponzi-like fashion before the scheme collapsed. Evidence filed in court showed that the actual investor losses from the scheme exceeded USD 29 million. The second scheme involved Xavier using Essex Holdings to obtain USD 1.2 million in payments and approximately USD 1.5 million worth of commercial real estate from the South Carolina Coordinating Council for Economic Development (SCCCED), a division of the South Carolina state government, that was supposed to be used to develop a dilapidated industrial property into a diaper plant and rice packaging facility. According to documents filed in the court, he provided false financial documentation to SCCCED in order to obtain the contract, and later provided fake contractor invoices and fake bank statements in order to get paid under the contract. As with the investment fraud scheme, Xavier spent a significant portion of the development money for his personal expenses, and wired some of it to the same overseas accounts used in the investment fraud. PTI Tribune News Service Panipat, May 19 Enraged at the enhancement notices issued by the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA), members of the Panipat Dyers Association held a protest in front of the residence of Panipat (Rural) MLAMahipal Dhanda here today. Score of members of the association, led by Bhim Rana, reached Dhandas residence in Sector 12 and raised slogans against the government. The dyeing factories owners expressed resentment over the enhancement notices and demanded their immediate cancellation. They warned that if their demand was not met, they would shut their dyeing units. The factory owners protested for more than an hour but the MLA was not in his house. They again reached the MLAs residence in the evening to meet him. Rana, said, The HUDA Estate Office has issued enhancement notices to factory owners of Sector 29 at the rate of Rs 2,830 per sq m along with interest of 15 per cent per annum. Dhanda has assured us that he will soon raise our issue with Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. He will also try to get the notices cancelled. If these notice are not cancelled, the factory owners would suffer financial losses and they would have to lock their units, he said. Kurukshetra, May 19 In view of Haryanas golden jubilee celebrations, Kurukshetra University has proposed to give a special chance to students to clear degrees. At the academic council (AC) meeting yesterday, the university appointed a committee under academic affairs to draft a detailed proposal to grant benefit to students, who could not complete their academic pursuits of a variety of reasons. The AC also gave its approval of MoU of Department of Fine Arts with a Kazakhstan university for exchange programme. It also approved choice based credit system that was introduced in the university from 2016-17 academic session. Majid Jahangir Tribune News Service Srinagar, May 19 Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said security forces would act very tough against militants in Kashmir while reiterating that any ceasefire violation from across the border would get adequate response. Jaitley, who also holds the defence portfolio, visited the Armys forward positions on the Line of Control in north Kashmirs Baramulla district on Friday morning. It is very clear that terrorism and militancy is aimed against the Indian state, its sovereignty and people of Jammu and Kashmir. The effect of their actions is that besides security personnel, local citizens are losing their lives. Therefore, those who take to violence of this magnitude will certainly be accountable for their actions, Jaitley later said at a press briefing on the conclusion of the 14th GST council meeting in Srinagar. The minister said the aspiration of the people will have to be addressed when the state is in a peaceful format. When you take to violence, when you take to arms and you start killing security forces and your own people then you unleash a cycle which does not stop. Really, the aspirations will have to be addressed when the state is in a peaceful format, the Union Minister said. He said the resources for the development of the state are used essentially for security. You cant have the energy of the state involved in just combating violence at various places. The resources which are meant for economic development of the people are today being used essentially for security, Jaitley said, blaming militants for unleashing the era of violence. He reiterated that the government was at present focusing on improving the situation in Kashmir. He said the roadmap for improving the situation was visible to everyone. There is a section which will have to be dealt with security measures and there is a section which will have to be dealt with citizen-friendly measures, that is what we are trying to do, he said. On the human shield case where a youth was roped to a jeep and ferried through several villages in Budgam, Jaitley said an investigation was already in progress. Let us not forget that the Army is a responsible institution and the Army saved people who were both involved in the election process as well as a large crowd of protesters who had gathered there, he said. Earlier in the day, Jaitley visited forward areas and interacted with Army officials and jawans. I would compliment Indian Army for the level of preparedness and enthusiasm. Our soldiers are fully confident that they would not allow any form of infiltration to take place. And if there is any effort at any form of ceasefire violation, our soldiers will give an adequate response, he said. Interacts with troops in Rampur sector Srinagar: Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who also holds the defence portfolio, on Friday visited forward areas in the Rampur sector of north Kashmir. Srinagar-based defence spokesman said the Union Minister was accompanied by General Officer Commanding of the Baramulla-based 19 Infantry Division Maj Gen RP Kalita. The Defence Minister interacted with troops and praised their grit, determination and selfless service to the nation. He expressed happiness to be amid the soldiers, the spokesman said. Jaitley said the entire country recognised the challenging circumstances that the soldiers were operating in and stood behind them in all their endeavours. The minister reiterated the need to maintain strict vigil at all times to thwart any nefarious designs of forces inimical to national interest, the defence spokesman said. TNS New Delhi, May 19 The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday registered a Preliminary Enquiry (PE) against hardline Kashmiri separatist leaders, including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, for alleged involvement in subversive activities and receiving funds from LeT chief Hafiz Saeed. The others named in the PE are Naeem Khan, who was seen on television during a sting operation purportedly confessing to receiving money from Pakistan-based terror groups, Farooq Ahmed Dar alias 'Bitta Karate' and Gazi Javed Baba of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, an NIA spokesman said. The separatists were receiving funds from Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Saeed to carry out subversive activities in the Kashmir Valley, including pelting stones at security forces, damaging public property and burning schools and other government establishments, the spokesman alleged. The NIA has also taken cognizance of the news item related to the recording of conversations between a TV reporter and leaders of separatist groups operating in the Kashmir Valley in this regard, he said. PTI Tribune News Service Srinagar, May 19 Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Yasin Malik today said he had filed a complaint against a New Delhi-based TV journalist for breaching his privacy as the news channel reported that he had assaulted its staff. Yasin said he was sleeping in his house in the Maisuma neighbourhood of Srinagar when a journalist barged into his room. She had lied to my sister that she had fixed an appointment with me. The fact is she never called for an appointment, Yasin said while addressing a press conference here. This gesture of the journalist triggered my anger and I snatched her phone, Yasin said. The New Delhi-based news channel, however, said Yasin attacked its reporter Kamaljit Sandhu, snatched her phone and smashed it to smithereens. Yasin said the journalist later created a scene by crying and alleging that I manhandled her. He said he had filed a formal complaint against the reporter for breaching the privacy of a person. The police said they had started investigation into the case following a complaint was registered at the Maisuma police station. We received a complaint from Yasin Malik and we have started investigation. An FIR has been registered under Section 448 (breach of privacy) of the RPC, a senior police officer said. Tribune News Service Srinagar, May 19 Protest demonstrations leading to clashes between youths and security forces took place in downtown Srinagar after Friday prayers while clashes were also reported from some other parts of the Valley during the day. Soon after the Friday prayers, youths took to the streets in the Nowhatta area where the main mosque, Jamia Masjid, is located. The masked youths indulged in stone-throwing on the police and CRPF, triggering clashes. The protesters were chased away by the forces while shops were closed in the area. All Parties Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who delivers Friday sermon at the Jamia Masjid, was kept under house arrest at his Nigeen residence since early morning preventing him from offering Friday prayers, a spokesman said. Protests were also held in the Lal Chowk area of Anantnag in south Kashmir in which some miscreants tried to enforce a shutdown in the area. The police reached the spot and chased away the miscreants with the help of traders, the spokesman said. He added that normalcy was restored and the markets opened. Demonstrations, called jointly by separatist leaders against the detention of Asiya Andrabi, who heads the Dukhtaran-e-Millat, were also held in some other areas, including Sopore and Hajin towns of north Kashmir and Pulwama in south Kashmir. Restrictions in Srinagar today Srinagar: The authorities have decided to impose restrictions in areas falling under the police stations of Nowhatta, MR Gunj and Safakadal in Srinagar on Saturday. The decision was taken as a precautionary measure to avoid any untoward incident, an official spokesman quoting District Magistrate, Srinagar, Farooq Ahmad Lone said on Saturday. The restrictions are being imposed ahead of the 27th death anniversary of Moulvi Mohammad Farooq, father of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. The separatists have announced to organise a rally to commemorate Moulvi Farooq and former APHC leader Abdul Ghani Lone on May 21. TNS New Delhi, May 19 Acclaimed filmmaker Ketan Mehta has said he has sent a legal notice to actress Kangana Ranaut for conniving with producer Kamal Jain and others to hijack "Rani of Jhansi - The Warrior Queen", his most ambitious film project. According to Mehta, he had approached Kangana to play the role of Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi in his film in June 2015. The actress had publicly committed to doing the project with him in 2015 but later she announced another film titled "Manikarnika - the Queen of Jhansi" with another producer and director. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) When IANS contacted Mehta, he said: "Yes it is true. We have sent a notice to Kangana as I think there is an attempt of hijacking a film." "I had approached her in June 2015 regarding this project and she had readily agreed to do it and enough statements have been made by her showing the commitment about the project," Mehta said. "We also shared the script, certain research material and a lot of discussion had happened. After this, suddenly we hear that she is doing a project with some other producer. I find this completely unethical," he added. The maker of films like "Mirch Masala", "Maya Memsaab", "Mangal Pandey - The Rising" and "Manjhi - The Mountain Man" said now his lawyer will take up the matter with the actress. "This is for the legal lawyer to work it out. We have put 10 years of our life in this project as it's a great project for the world, not just India," he said. Asked if Kangana has responded to the notice yet he said: "She is yet to respond to it." "Manikarnika - The Queen Of Jhansi", slated to release in April 2018, is being directed by Krish. The news of Mehta's notice comes soon after writer Apurva Asrani expressed dissatisfaction over how Kangana took additional credit for the story in the upcoming film "Simran". IANS Ratna Raman FOLLOWING closely, on the heels of May Day, the secondSunday in May has been in the news as Mothers Day. Discount offers on food, clothing, drink, spa treatments and shopping for mothers remain highlights in the wake of festivities. One angry young woman attacked the rampant consumerism around Mothers Day, for trivialising the core values her mothers life represented. Another chose a transformative makeover through liposuction and new clothes, and shared online before and after pictures of her now youthful-looking mother. Many posts commemorated mothers who were no more while others paid homage to living mothers. Anna Jarviss ghost would have been distraught at the materialistic mayhem (disorder and chaos) generated on the occasion of Mothers Day. As far back as 1912, Jarvis had condemned attempts to restrict a day meant for privately honouring mothers into a reductive tokenism propped up by Hallmark cards and gifts. While documenting the histories and usage of words, we must recognise that Mothers Day need not always be confined to celebrations by affluent or sentimental women despite media reiteration that festivities around Mothers Day are carried out by women and characterised by the predominant absence of men. Motherhood and mothers were honoured in cultures around the world for thousands of years. Mother goddesses evolved as a result of the celebration of creative and maternal energies. Mothering Sunday refers to visits to the Mother Church since the 16th Century by Catholic and Protestant Christians in parts of Europe in March. Mother Mary is iconic for Christians and Hindu culture has an entire pantheon of goddesses. The Mother (Mirra Alfassa) envisioned a united international community, working in harmony in Auroville (City of Dawn), near Puducherry. In modern times, Mothers Day incorporates changing perspectives articulated by informed women forging larger roles and identities for women. Julia Ward Howe (Boston, 1870) a friend of Jarviss mother, pushed for celebrations of Mothers Day from June 1872, asking women to promote the alliance of different nationalities, the amicable settlements of international questions, the great and general interests of peace. Howes clarion call for world pacifism only met with local appeal then. The world over, from February to May, variations of Mothers Day continue to be promoted aggressively by commercial establishments and political groups as feel-good options for women subjected to violence and injustice in belligerent patriarchies. The relevance of Mothers Day must be reclaimed worldwide for every human. Else, the extraordinary magic of living with nurture, international peace and cooperation in a world free of hierarchies, violence and war will be lost to us forever. Instead of allowing vested interests and commerce carte blanche (complete freedom) over Mothers Day celebrations, the paramount importance of nurture in human lives must be brought centre stage. Manubehn Gandhis book, Bapu My Mother (1949), is a testimonial to Gandhijis mothering. Highlighting other extant traditions of male pacifism could become the real gender bender(rejecting of binary roles for men and women) for our times. Once men and women nurture life and foster peace, every day could be Mothers Day. Yash Goyal Jaipur, May 19 The Rajasthan Government on Friday re-included eleven castes, including Banjara, Gardia-Lohar and Gujjars; in their original category of Other Backward Classes (OBC). The Rajasthan High Court had struck down the Special Backward Class (SBC) Reservation Act, 2015, in December last year. The Social Justice and Empowerment Department issued the order to be implemented forthwith in compliance with the Supreme Courts earlier decision to keep these castes in the OBC category, Additional Chief Secretary AK Jain said. The castes includes: Banjara, Baldiya, Gardiya, Labana, Gaayari, Gardia-Lohar, Gadoliya, Gujjar, Raika, Goojar, and Raibari. On December 9, 2016, a Division Bench of High Court had struck down the notification of October 2015 saying there were no extra ordinary circumstances to allow the states overall reservation in government jobs and educational institutions to go beyond the 50 per cent cap. The Rajasthan Legislative Assembly had passed a Bill to constitute the State Commission for Backward Classes (OBC) for their reservation on March 6. Due to this verdict 1,252 candidates selected in various jobs under SBC category got stuck and could not receive any appointment letter. The state government has moved the Supreme Court for their relief but it was still pending. Imphal, May 19 Four Manipur police commandos were injured, two of them critically, in an IED blast triggered by militants in the states Chandel district on Friday. The blast occurred at around 12.45 pm on Imphal-Moreh road, some 10 kms from the border town of Moreh, when a police convoy was heading towards Imphal through Kwatha Khunou Lamkhai area in the hill district, police said. Following the blast, police reinforcements have been rushed to the spot, a senior police officer said. The seriously injured personnel were airlifted to Imphal in an IAF chopper for treatment, he said. This is the second attack carried out by militants on security personnel this month. On May 9, two personnel of the Territorial Army (TA) were killed in an IED blast carried out by militants when a TA team was on road opening duty at Lokchao in Tengnoupal district. PTI Shahira Naim Tribune News Service Lucknow, May 19 Trouble for Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is far from over despite the state government refusing permission to take legal action against him in the 2007 hate speech case which had triggered communal violence in Gorakhpur. The sword of Damocles continues to hang over the head of Yogi as the Allahabad High Court division bench of Justices Ramesh Sinha and Umesh Chandra Srivastava on May 11 has restrained the Gorakhpur court to pass any order on the final report submitted by the Crime BranchCrime Investigation Department (CB-CID) before it on May 6 till the petition demanding a CBI probe in the hate speeches of CM Yogi is disposed of. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The CB-CID final report was submitted before the Gorakhpur court on May 5 after the state governments May 3 refusal to grant prosecution sanction to act against Yogi in the hate speech case. The court directed to send a certified copy of the May 11 order to the District Judge Gorakhpur forthwith for its compliance. In another blow to Yogi the court has asked the chief secretary to furnish status reports till date during the next hearing on July 7 of all the pending 29 cases in this regard. The court has specifically asked for detailed comparative charts of the 29 criminal cases, including the present case in the communal riots in Gorakhpur causing loss of life and property. On January 27, 2007, Raj Kumar Agrahari was injured and later succumbed to his injuries when a clash broke out between two groups during a Muharram procession. The then Gorakhpur MP Yogi Adityanath had reportedly delivered a speech to take revenge for the death which had caused violence to spread in many more districts. Far from giving any respite to CM Yogi during the next hearing the court will consider the prayer made by the petitioner to further examine the validity of the refusal of grant of sanction of the accused (CM Yogi) in the present case. The court has allowed petitioners counsel SFA Naqvis plea to challenge the state governments order refusing to the grant of sanction for prosecuting Yogi Adityanath. The counsel had argued that the state governments refusal to take action against Yogi had violated a cardinal principle of law as an accused cant be the judge of his own case. The petition under consideration had been filed by Parvez Parwaz along with advocate Asad Hayat demanding transfer of the case to an independent investigating agency like the CBI. Ruchika M Khanna Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 19 In Punjab, building a house will get a lot more expensive. For, the Punjab Government today made over Rs 200 crore from the auction of 51 sand and gravel quarries across six districts. With the bidding prices hitting the roof, the prices of sand and gravel are bound to rise manifold. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The reverse bidding (where the lowest bidder is successful) in 2014-15 had yielded Rs 45 crore. The progressive bidding of the 51 quarries today (51 more will be auctioned on Saturday) is expected to yield Rs 350 crore (including today's bids). With the sites going at such high rates, the bidders would have to sell the extracted minor minerals (sand and gravel) at higher rates to cut even. The sand mining business in Punjab is cartelised. The auction today saw a rather lukewarm participation from the two main sand mining cartels, both dominated by Congress and SAD politicians. One lobby, led by a close relative of a Congress MLA from Majha and the son of a Congress MLA from Malwa, won bids for just four quarries two in Jalandhar and one each in Hoshiarpur and Gurdaspur. The second lobby, comprising Akali politicians, won bids for one quarry in Jalandhar and the other in Amritsar. The remaining 45 quarries seem to have been taken by new bidders. The bids were allotted through e-auction, with a retired High Court judge monitoring the process. In the past six years, the then SAD-BJP government had gone for reverse bidding to keep the prices of sand and gravel under check. In the re-introduced progressive bidding, the cash-strapped Punjab Government would earn over Rs 350 crore by selling 2 crore tonnes of sand and gravel which is the annual extractable quantity from the 102 quarries being auctioned. The 20-odd quarries went for anything between 20-34 times higher than the reserve price. This has made these bids economically unviable. Their is speculation that many bidders could forfeit their deposits. The 51 quarries auctioned today are in Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Ferozepur and Jalandhar. The highest bid received was for Rs 17.22 crore for the Chaharpur quarry in Amritsar, made against a reserve price of Rs 38.26 lakh. Officials in the Directorate of Mining, Department of Industries, said they saw no reason for the bidder backing off. Butt in case he forfeits his deposit, there would be a re-action within 15 days. Though initially the prices may go up, but as supply meets demand, we expect correction in prices of sand and gravel, said a senior officer. Punjab auctions 51 quarries Islamabad, May 19 Pakistan will constitute a new team of lawyers to vigorously present its case against Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav at the ICJ, the Prime Ministers adviser on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz said on Friday as the government faced flak over the handling of the case. The announcement by Aziz came amid criticism by experts and opposition leaders over the governments handling of the case at the International Court of Justice. The Hague-based court had yesterday stayed the execution of Jadhav, 46, alleged to be a spy by Pakistan. The UNs highest judicial body also asked Pakistan to take all measures to ensure that Jadhav, sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court for alleged espionage, was not executed till the court had delivered its final verdict on the issue. The ruling triggered criticism of the Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) for its poor handling and also for its choice of UK-based Khawar Qureshi, who represented Pakistans case before the ICJ. Several legal experts questioned the strategy adopted by Pakistan and asked why it accepted the global courts jurisdiction. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) had recommended some other counsel, The Express Tribune reported. Eminent lawyer and human rights activist Asma Jahangir suggested that rather than making the ICJ ruling a matter of ego, we should sit down, join our heads and find a way out by going through the ruling thoroughly. Who gave the opinion to deny consular access to Jadhav in the first place? she asked. International law expert Ahmer Bilal Soofi was of the view that Pakistan should prepare for the second phase of the case, which was more important because it would be contested on merit and would provide Pakistan the chance to document Indias intervention inside Pakistan through Jadhav. Islamabad could insist on cooperation from India on the investigation into Jadhavs activities, he said. Former law minister SM Zafar said prime facie, it was a wrong decision. I could not understand why the ICJ issued a stay order in the Jadhav case without even understanding the case. According to him, Pakistan should change its legal strategy and concentrate more on the terrorism angle. PTI Simran Sodhi tribune news service New Delhi, May 19 The present India-Pakistan situation is untenable and pre-conditions to talks dont work, Abdul Basit, Pakistans High Commissioner to India, told The Tribune today. Pointing to the Kulbhushan Jadhav case, he said: Pakistan as a responsible country, never flip flops on principles to cater for temporary benefits. And like all other states, we do not compromise on issues related to national security. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Reiterating Pakistan was willing for a meaningful engagement with India, he emphasised the only way forward was dialogue. On Indias contention that talks and terror cant go together, Basit said sooner or later, Pakistan and India would have to come to the negotiating table, either now or five years down the lane. The envoy urged India to return to the 2009 Sharam al Sheikh Statement wherein the two countries had decided to keep the issues of terrorism and talks apart. We need to revert to that statement, he said, stressing Pakistan was willing to discuss all issues, from Jammu and Kashmir to terrorism. Consistently referring to Jadhav as Commander Jadhav, he spoke of the limited reprieve given to India by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) while giving a stay on Jadhavs execution, which the envoy pointed out was of no consequence as he (Jadhav) was not being executed yesterday. He was non-committal on whether the ICJ verdict was legally binding on Pakistan I dont see how Commander Jadhav can be executed over the next month. There is a process which will take its course. On consular access/ visas to Jadhavs family, the envoy said these would have to be decided on merit. Pakistan is not really worried; we believe that as far as Commander Jadhav is concerned, Pakistan is on terra firma (solid ground). The case is also a testimony to the fact that terrorism in Pakistan is not without external dimensions. Referring to the lack of progress in the Mumbai and Pathankot trials, Basit stuck to his earlier argument that progress could not be achieved till the two countries talked to each other. On Pathankot, how can you achieve results without cooperation? We agreed to send our investigators, we extended full cooperation. It is important to retain the spirit of cooperation. On the speculation that Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif might meet on the sidelines of the Shanghai meeting in June, Basit said there was no such proposal yet from either the Indian or the Pakistani side. Pakistans stand has always been that back-channel diplomacy without front-channel diplomacy is irrelevant, he added. Suresh dharur Tribune News Service Hyderabad, May 19 The WannaCry ransomware virus, which crippled several computer systems across 150 countries, has hit the countrys richest temple in Tirumala. As many as 30 computers at Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), an autonomous body managing the affairs of the hill shrine in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, were found to be affected by the virus. However, the temple authorities said the main portal and website were not breached and no critical data was lost. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) All affected systems belong to the administration wing of the TTD. The engineers have attended to the problem immediately, TTD spokesman T Ravi said, adding that online booking for darshan, accommodation, prasadam and offerings to the Lord were running smoothly. Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 19 A doctor kidnapped on Thursday night by gangster Gopi Ghanshaypuria and his accomplices near Ajnala in Amritsar was released after his wife paid a ransom of Rs 7.5 lakh to the kidnappers. The gangster is reportedly linked to Vicky Goundar. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The gangsters, who had demanded a ransom of Rs 2 crore, collected Rs 7.5 lakh, the amount available at the doctors place. Dr Manish Sharma, who runs a hospital at Ajnala, was waylaid near Rajasansi by some people who were following him in a car. One of them identified himself as Gopi Ghanshyampuria and kidnapped him at gunpoint and asked for a ransom of Rs 2 crore. When he expressed his inability to pay the amount, they made him call his wife and one of the accomplices went and collected Rs 7.5 lakh from his house at Ranjit Avenue, Amritsar. They later released him. The man who collected the money was identified as Supreet Harry by the doctors wife. The incident happened between 8 pm and 11 pm. A case is being registered by the Amritsar Rural police. Amritsar Rural SSP J Elanchezian said they came to know of the incident around 2 am. He confirmed the paying of the ransom. The SSP said the doctor was kidnapped by Gopi Ghanshampuria and his accomplices. He said the police teams were working on some leads. Meanwhile, Dr Sharma has reached home safely. PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 19 A private hospital owner, Dr Munish Sharma, was kidnapped by Gopi Ghanshampuria and other gangsters late last evening when he was returning home in the Ranjit Avenue here from Ajnala. Ghanshampuria is an accomplice of gangster Vicky Gounder, who had escaped from the Nabha jail last year. Dr Sharma, who runs a hospital at Ajnala, was released by the gangsters after his family paid a ransom of Rs 7.5 lakh. The gangsters asked him to hand over Rs 60 lakh more by Monday and threatened to kill him and his family in case he failed to give the same. ADGP (Law and Order), Rohit Chaudhary, along with the Police Commissioner, visited his house. He assured the family of full security and support. He also assured that the accused would be in the police net soon as they were working on certain leads. Fear was writ large on the face of Dr Munish Sharma who had injury marks on his face. He was brutally thrashed by the gangsters in the custody. While talking to The Tribune, Dr Sharma said he left the hospital at around 7.30 pm and went to a nearby shrine to pay obeisance. He said while returning home, when he reached near Bhala Pind, a car coming from behind signaled him with dippers. I thought they were seeking a passage and therefore I slowed down and moved my vehicle to the side. However, the car driver started honking. Then I thought that they may be some known persons and I stopped my XUV, he said. Three persons came out of the car. One of them had bandage on his head. They asked me to write a prescription for a scan of the injured, he said. He said when he was examining him, they pulled him out of the XUV and pussed him to the rear seat of his vehicle at gunpoint. He said they started thrashing him and took him to a secluded place near Loharka. They demanded Rs 2 crore as ransom. He said when he expressed his inability to give such a huge amount, they again started beating him. They asked him to call his wife and one of accused, identified as Supreet Harry, went to his house in his XUV to take the money. He was released by them at around 12 midnight. He said the accused had two bags, one containing pistols and other a huge quantity of ammunition. I thought the gangsters would not leave him alive even after taking the ransom amount, he said. When he returned home, his relatives informed the police, following which senior police officials reached his residence to investigate. Rohit Chaudhary said, The Punjab Police is very serious about the problem of gangsters and appropriate measures are being taken to nail them. The police have prepared the records of gangsters which have been circulated to all police stations so that they could be arrested soon. Gurdaspur: The police suspect that gangster Vicky Gounder is hiding in the Amritsar-Batala-Gurdaspur belt. He was allegedly involved in a shootout in Gurdaspur on April 20 in which he and his four accomplices had gunned down three members of a rival gang. Gopi Ghanshampuria, who allegedly kidnapped Dr Sharma, is also an accused in the shootout case. Among the others involved were Sukh Bhikhariwal, Happy Chadha and Gyan Kharlan. All are still at large. With inputs from Ravi Dhaliwal Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 19 The pilgrimage scheduled to commemorate the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev has been cancelled due to visa denial by Pakistan authorities,. This was disclosed by the SGPC today. The jatha was to leave on May 21 to visit various religious destinations in Pakistan. SGPCs deputy secretary Mohinder Singh, went to the Pakistan Embassy in New Delhi to furnish the visa formalities of the devotees, said it was an unfortunate development and a great disappointment for them. He told that the SGPC would lodge its contest with the Centre. Around 200 devotees had applied for visas. Following the amended version of Nanakshahi calendar, the SGPC observes the occasion on May 29 whereas Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, which follows the original Nanakshahi calendar commemorates the occasion on June 16. Due to this discrepancy, various gurpurbs were celebrated on different dates and Pakistan authorities had denied visas on earlier occasions too. Tribune News Service Bathinda, May 19 The AAP MLA and Leader of Opposition HS Phoolka today demanded that the state should focus on improving the education system in light of the poor results of Class XII exams by the PSEB. He also demanded the resignation of Cabinet Minister and local MP Harsimrat Badal over the zero per cent result of one school in Bathinda. Phoolka appealed the CM and Education Minister to visit such schools and review the reasons behind the poor results. He said he was visiting such schools and ascertaining reasons behind this. In the government school in Jassowal village in Ludhiana only four students out of 82 have passed, in Ghal Kalan in Moga only two students out of 53 have passed, in Ghal Khurd only one student has passed out of 23 and in Banur only five students have passed out of 68 in the government school. Then there was Ganga Ablu village in Bathinda district where all seven students have failed. A majority were poor Dalit girls who did not even have the money to get their answer sheets rechecked by paying a fee of Rs 420 and Rs 100 for the cyber cafe facilities, he added. Phoolka also visited Government Senior Secondary Schools at Gholia Kalan, Gholia Khurd and Bhalur villages (all in Moga district), which recorded a pass percentage of less than 10 in the Class XII exams of the Punjab School Education Board. He was accompanied by AAP MLA Manjit Singh Bilaspur. Bilaspur said out of 53 students in the Gholia Kalan school, only two had passed, while one student had made it out of 23 in the Gholia Khurd school. Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 19 Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Sunil Jakhar has sought a detailed probe in the recent meeting between the Divisional Excise and Taxation Commissioner and liquor baron Shiv Lal Doda in the Amritsar jail. The issue has created a furore in Congress circles as some of its MLAs are accusing the police and excise officials for watching over the business interests of the Akalis from inside jails. Jakhar said it was strange how the DETC was allowed to carry a mobile inside the jail. I have written to the DGP and the ADGP (Jails) to probe the matter, he said. Sources in the CMO said the CM Capt Amarinder Singh has already been briefed on the questionable shifting of Doda, an accused in the Bhim Tank murder case, from Amritsar to Faridkot. Doda was shifted back to Amritsar jail after the issue was brought to the notice of the CM. Another legislator said the authenticity of the threat of the liquor baron from another gangster, who is also lodged in Amritsar Jail, needs to be probed. Instead of moving out the gangster, Shiva Lal Doda was moved out due to his business interests, pointed out the MLA. Already, the Leader of Opposition HS Phoolka has demanded an explanation from the Excise and Taxation Minister about the meeting of Doda and the Ferozepur DETC. Akalis lost the elections but their intimacy with Congress leaders is helping them in enjoying power and running their businesses from jails too. Phoolka alleged. Slain youths mother writes to CM Abohar: Kaushalya Devi, mother of slain Dalit youth Bhim Tank, on Friday too demanded an inquiry into the meeting. In a letter to the CM on Friday, she claimed that Divisional Excise and Taxation Commissioner Jaswinder Singh had confessed that he went to meet Doda in Amritsar jail and stayed for over 15 minutes. OC Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 19 The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) today presented cheques of Rs 1 lakh each to the kin of the Sikhs who were killed in a fake encounter by the police at Pilibhit in the 1990s. As many as 11 Sikhs had been killed, but the SGPC could only identify four families of the victims belonging to Gurdaspur. Those who received the compensation included families of Kartar Singh, Surjan Singh, Harminder Singh and Sukhwinder Singh. SGPC president Kirpal Singh Badungar said that the others too would be given relief. It was an unfortunate instance, nothing short of a blot on humanity. The SGPC will always support the victims families, he said. The victims and their family members were returning from a pilgrimage on a bus in July 1991 when the police intercepted and dragged 11 Sikhs out of the vehicle. They were taken to an unknown place in another vehicle. The other passengers, including women and children, were taken to a gurdwara. Later in the evening, the police gunned down the Sikhs in three encounters in three different areas of Pilibhit. A special CBI court had in April 2016 sentenced 47 policemen to life imprisonment for killing them. New York, May 19 A US court has sentenced two persons to three years in prison after charging them with hate crime for assaulting a Sikh American man last year in California. Chase Little and Colton Leblanc were found guilty of felony assault and hate crime charges. They were sentenced to a three-year term in the California state prison for attacking Maan Singh Khalsa. Khalsa, an IT specialist, was assaulted in Richmond Bay area, California, in September last year. The US Sikh had been stopped at an intersection. The attackers had got out of their truck and hit him on the face repeatedly, knocking off his turban and cutting his religiously-mandated unshorn hair with a knife. The recognition of the attack as a hate crime as harm to my dignity and my entire community is the first step in the process, said Khalsa, who had recognised his attackers during his statement in court yesterday. I still consider you my brothers, and I hope that you will learn about me and my community, and one day consider me your brother, too, he said, according to a statement issued yesterday by The Sikh Coalition, a rights group. Prior to the charges, the coalition, community leaders, and a group of civil rights organisations advocated vigorously on behalf of Khalsa, urging for a hate crime investigation and prosecution. The attack on Khalsa, based on his perceived religion and identity, is an attack on us all, Contra Costa County Deputy District Attorney Simon OConnell said. As a community, we must do better and it is my hope that todays sentence moves us further in that direction, he said. The Sikh Coalition stated that in the past 15 years after the 9/11 attack Sikhs remained hundreds of times more likely to be targeted in cases of profiling, bigotry and backlash than the average American. In March this year, a Sikh man was shot in Kent city (Washington) after the attacker told him to go back to your own country, it said. In May, Sikh American Prabhjot Singh, who has experienced hate violence first hand, testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee about the urgent need to address hate crimes in the US. PTI Sarbjit Dhaliwal Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 19 The three universities tasked with conducting a survey on farm suicides from April 2010 to March 31, 2013, are yet to submit their report. Punjabi University and Guru Nanak Dev University had been given seven districts each, while six had been allotted to Punjab Agricultural University. Before ordering the survey last year, the then SAD-BJP government had promised that it would compensate the families of the deceased farmers after receiving the report. It was to be submitted in December last year. SGPC asked to chip in The convener of the Movement Against State Repression, Inderjit Singh Jaijee, said Sikh farmers were suffering and some of them were committing suicide, but the SGPC had failed to respond to the situation. Sikh Gurus were against all forms of self-destruction. Suicide is a sin. Through dharam parchar, this message must be conveyed to the Panth, said Jaijee, who has been researching on suicides in the farm sector for the past three decades. Religious preachers should reach out to the desperate men and women and pull them back from the brink of suicide and other forms of self-destruction, he added. Dehradun, May 19 Governor Dr KK Paul has expressed concern over the falling water level in the Nainital lake. At a meeting with the Commissioner (Kumaon), the DIG (Kumaon), the DM (Nainital) and the SSP, Nainital, on his arrival at Raj Bhawan, Nainital, today, he directed the officials that efforts should be made to maintain the water level of the lake. He also discussed the various other problems of the hill town. He directed the Commissioner that a study should be conducted by some hydrology institute on the possibilities of recharging the lake. The Governor said the town was known by the lake and existed due to it. TNS Tribune News Service Dehradun, May 19 Leader of the Opposition Indira Hridayesh today demanded that the new excise policy announced by the Trivendra Singh Rawat-led BJP government be withdrawn immediately as it had failed on several fronts, including womens protest against the government over the relocation of liquor vends. The Leader of the Opposition urged the BJP government to take the Opposition into confidence for framing a new policy. This policy has failed to address the immediate grievances of the women who are agitating against the relocation of liquor vends as most of these have been shifted near schools, homes and temples, she said while talking to mediapersons. Indira Hridayesh said, The policy is aimed at bolstering revenue targets of the government and did not reflect its intention of discouraging liquor consumption. She said the decision to limit the sale of liquor between 12 pm and 6 pm in certain areas of the state and giving the District Magistrates revenue targets for opening shops too was ill-conceived. It will encourage smuggling of liquor. It is impractical and in the past too such steps were taken only to be withdrawn later, she said. Indira Hridayesh urged the government to come clear on its stand on the High Courts decision to accord the Ganga and its tributaries the status of a living entity. We have been told that the government is contemplating challenging the High Court ruling in the Supreme Court. The government is uncomfortable with the status accorded to the Ganga, she said. She also questioned the government on the new tenders allocated to the helicopter companies and whether a proper selection procedure was followed. The recent fire mishap in a helicopter on its way to Kedarnath puts a big question mark over the selection procedure followed for hiring these helicopters, she added. Moscow, May 19 The Wannacry cyber attack compromised Russian banks systems in some isolated cases, the Russian central bank said on Friday, in the first official acknowledgement by Moscow that the attack had an impact on the banking system. In a statement, the central bank said the consequences of the attack which it did not detail had been dealt with quickly. The central bank had previously said Russian banks were targeted in the cyber attack late last week, but that the attack had been unsuccessful. On Friday, the central bank said it had sent recommendations to Russian banks on updating their Windows software in April, before the Wannacry attack it said it had recorded on May 12. After the Wannacry attack, the central bank reissued its recommendations to Russian banks, it said, adding it would start to publish on its website statements about cyber attacks it had caught as well as steps taken to reinforce IT security. Russias largest bank Sberbank said late last week it had been attacked by a virus attack but that viruses had not got into its systems. Sberbank and rival bank VTB did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment on Friday. Russias relationship to cyber crime is under intense scrutiny after US intelligence officials alleged that Russian hackers had tried to help Republican Donald Trump win the US presidency by hacking Democratic Party servers. The Kremlin has repeatedly denied the allegation. Reuters Washington, May 19 Two Chinese Su-30 fighter jets intercepted an American Air Force radiation detection plane over the East China Sea, according to the US Pacific Air Forces. A US official told CNN on Thursday that the Chinese jets came within 150 feet of the US Air Force WC-135 plane, with one of the Su-30s flying inverted, or upside down, directly above the American plane. The US crew aboard the WC-135 characterised Wednesdays move as unprofessional, a statement from Air Force Lt Col Hodge said. While we are still investigating the incident, initial reports from the US aircrew characterized the intercept as unprofessional. The issue is being addressed with China through appropriate diplomatic and military channels, Hodge said. Dubbed the Constant Phoenix, the four-engine WC-135 jet looks for distinctive elements a nuclear test of any type would emit into the air. The collected samples can be analysed to determine exactly what occurred, reports CNN. The WC-135 has been regularly deployed on routine missions in Northeast Asia, according to the official. The planes have been used in the past to gather evidence of possible nuclear tests by North Korea. Wednesdays incident was the second between the US and Chinese planes this year. In February, US defence officials said there was an unsafe close encounter between a US Navy P-3 Orion aircraft and a Chinese surveillance aircraft over the South China Sea. IANS New York, May 19 The US Navy recruit who drove his car along a crowded Times Square sidewalk, killing a young woman and injuring many others, is due to appear in court in Manhattan on Friday to face charges of murder, attempted murder and vehicular homicide. Richard Rojas, 26, knocked pedestrians into the air as he sped for three blocks in his burgundy Honda sedan through one of the citys busiest areas on Thursday before crashing into a metal stanchion, the New York Police Department said. Rojas, who is from the Bronx area of New York City, had been arrested twice for drunken driving, in 2008 and 2015, and once this month on a charge of menacing for threatening another man with a knife, police said. Police said Rojas was evidently intoxicated on Thursday. He was initially taken to a nearby hospital after he was detained. We know he had something in his system, but we havent had the toxicology back yet, said police department spokesman Adam Navarro. City officials do not consider the incident an act of terrorism, Mayor Bill de Blasio said during a visit to the scene on Thursday. Police said the young woman killed on the sidewalk was Alyssa Elsman, 18, who was on vacation with her family from Michigan. Twenty-two people were injured. Rojas was due to appear in Manhattans criminal court on Friday to be arraigned on one count of second-degree murder, five counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and 20 counts of attempted murder. Although only one person was killed, a driver can face multiple counts of vehicular homicide under New York law if other people are seriously injured. It was unclear if Rojas has a lawyer. Navy records show Rojas enlisted in September 2011 and was based in Illinois and Florida, working as an electricians mate fireman apprentice. He was arrested a year later at a naval base in Jacksonville, Florida, where officials said he attacked a cab driver, shouted my life is over, and threatened to kill police, according to court records. Rojas was charged at the time with misdemeanor battery and resisting an officer without violence, but it was unclear how the case was resolved. Navy records show he spent two months in a military prison in Charleston, South Carolina, in the summer of 2013, but did not say why. He left the Navy in May 2014. Reuters Washington, May 19 US President Donald Trump has said that he respects the appointment of a special counsel to probe his campaigns alleged involvement with Russia in the 2016 presidential polls but termed the whole issue as a witch hunt against him. There is no collusion between certainly myself and my campaign, he said while responding to a question on the appointment of former FBI Director Robert Muller to investigate the allegations of Russian interference in the elections. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Well, I respect the move, but the entire thing has been a witch hunt, Trump told reporters at a White House news conference with Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos on Thursday. The President has maintained that he has nothing to do with Russia. I can always speak for myself and the Russians--zero. I think it divides the country. I think we have a very divided country because of that and many other things, he said. The US President said he wanted to bring America up and had had tremendous success in doing so. You look at our job numbers. You look at whats going on at the border, as we discussed before. You look at what will be happening. Youre going to see some incredible numbers with respect to the success of (defence secretary) general (James) Mattis and others with the ISIS situation. The numbers are staggering, how successful the military has been, Trump said. His remarks came ahead of his maiden foreign trip starting with a visit to Saudi Arabia. Tomorrow, Im going to Saudi Arabia. Im going to Israel. Im going to Rome. And we have the G7. We have a lot of great things going on. So I hate to see anything that divides. Im fine with whatever people want to do. But we have to get back to running this country really, really well. Weve made tremendous progress in the last 100 and some odd days, Trump said. He reiterated that there was no collusion between his campaign and the Russians. Believe me, theres no collusion. Russia is fine. But whether its Russia or anybody else, my total priority, believe me, is the United States of America, he said. Responding to a question about the call for his impeachment as raised by the Democrats, Trump said it is ridiculous and maintained that the US is progressing under his rule. I think its totally ridiculous. Everybody thinks so. We have to get back to working our country properly so that we can take care of the problems that we have. We have plenty of problems. Weve done a fantastic job, he said. Talking about the appointment of a new FBI chief for which he has been interviewing several candidates in the past few days, Trump said he would be announcing the new director soon and looked forward to doing it. I think the people in the FBI will be very, very, very, very thrilled, he said. He said he looked forward to getting the whole controversy behind him so that he could focus on creating jobs and making a strong military. We need health care. We need to cut taxes. Were going to cut taxes. If I get what I want, itll be the biggest tax cut in the history of our nation. And thats what I want. Its going to bring back companies. Its going to bring back jobs. We lost so many jobs and so many companies, Trump said. We want to get back and keep on the track that were on, because the track that were on is record-setting. And thats what we want to do is we want to break very positive records, he said. PTI External spiral rails grab Helix Dumper's load-carrying tub and smoothly tip it to discharge the load, then set it back on the railcar's frame. This won the annual Swedish Steel Prize for Kiruna Wagon. Photo: Tom Berg, from Kiruna Wagon video The annual Swedish Steel Prize is sponsored by SSAB, a Sweden-based manufacturer of lightweight, high-strength steels, to encourage innovative uses of its products. If I had been on the jury deciding who got the latest award announced last week, Id have voted for Wabash Nationals RIG-16 rear impact guard for trailers. It was one of the finalists in the 2017 competition, which itself is an honor, as there were 98 other entries. And Wabash was the only American company to rank so high. But Im not on the jury, and its members instead awarded the prize to Kiruna Wagon, a railcar manufacturer in Kiruna, Sweden, for its Helix Dumper. Its a side-dump ore car that unloads quickly and efficiently by means of an external spiral framework that grabs the load-carrying tub, tips it to one side, then guides it down again on the car's frame. The operation is shown in this video. Ore cars are usually hoppers that dump loads through bottom doors, which are moving parts that require maintenance and can freeze in winter; or rotational dumpers, where entire cars swivel on their couplers until theyre upside down, which requires complex and heavy turning equipment. So the Helix Dumper is a major advance, and certainly worthy of a prize. But as I stated in my blog a month ago, I applaud efforts to make trailer bumpers stronger and better able to absorb energy from a car that crashes into a trailers rear end. Motorists shouldnt do that, but they dont deserve a death sentence if they do. And sudden death is what a good friend of mine got back in 1973 when he rear-ended a semi that had stopped on a dark night on an expressway in upstate New York. So Wabash and its RIG-16 guard will remain the winner in my mind. Wabash's RIG-16 rear impact guard, introduced last year, uses high-strength steel throughout, but is especially strong at its outer edges. Photo: Wabash National Corp. Since that blog, I talked with Robert Lane, Wabashs vice president of product engineering, who described the work that went into the new impact guard. We have worked with SSAB for quite a while, he said. We have used their advanced high-strength steel in our trailers for special applications to add strength and reduce weight. We looked at redesigning our current RIG, Lane continued. It took over two years to design, test and line up supplies and manufacturing plans for the new rear impact guard, which handles 30% offset crashes in addition to full frontal impacts. Exhisting rear impact guards were much improved over old bumpers, but didn't protect against offset crashes, as shown in this IIHS test. Photo: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety We performed nine of our own crash tests, testing different designs with high-strength steel. The final RIG-16 design performed very well in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety offset test. SSAB asked us to submit it in the Swedish Steel Prize competition, and we were selected as one of four finalists. Like improved standards required by federal regulations in the mid-1990s and a more stringent Canadian standard that came later, Wabashs RIG-16 costs more money, but not a lot, he said. Its an option on all Wabash National vans and adds 1 to 1.5% to a trailers price. For its life-saving potential, thats a real bargain. Trucks under development, like this camouflaged rig, will be put through their paces at the new facility. Photos: John G. Smith MADRAS, Ore. Daimler Trucks North America this week officially opened its High Desert Proving Grounds, representing a $18.7 million investment that will put the companys trucks through their paces including connected, platooning, and autonomous vehicles of the future. Every mile on the track is the equivalent of 200 miles on some normal road, explained Wilfried Achenbach, senior vice president engineering and technology, to reporters. Freightliner designs its trucks to last 1.2 million miles, so this track can replicate that level of wear in just 6,000 miles. The entire track has 3.5 miles and covers multiple maneuvers, he said. It replicates most of any road surface you can find around the world. Work to clear the 87 acres of land began in June 2015, while construction launched in May 2016. Now there are nine test lanes overall, as well as a 32,000-square-foot facility with 14 service bays, and several video monitors that connect teams to Portland and beyond. The opening of this facility will ensure the future reliability of our products, as well as expedite future technologies that enhance our customers bottom line, said Roger Nielsen, president and chief executive officer. It represents a new way for Daimler engineering teams to share information, too. The site is far closer to the companys Portland headquarters than an Indiana track that Daimler had been leasing from Navistar. These proving grounds wont be open to any other original equipment manufacturers, but future tests could include selected suppliers, Nielsen said. The 120-mile trip between Portland and Madras itself will itself be part of ongoing validation tests, including portions of interstate, rural roads, and mountainous terrain through the Mount Hood pass, the company noted. For example, the route was used to validate the potential gains through truck platooning. And many members of the Portland team will now be making regular trips over the mountains for a first-hand look at ongoing track tests, which will focus on durability, reliability and functional issues. No computer can do it better. You can feel it, you can touch it, Achenbach said. It will bring our engineers closer to the project. A similar track is already in Germany, and another is planned for Brazil, supporting a global approach to testing. Bumps are bumps wherever you go, Achenbach said. The bumps used for durability testing look like gently waving corduroy but looks are deceptive. But the bumps used for durability tests are special, created from a series of 379 panels, and 99% of the surface sits within 5 millimeters of design specs. It looks like a gently waving corduroy, but looks are deceiving. This is worse. Picture the roughest road youve ever driven. Drivers who are hired for the tests need to pull over every 15 minutes, and they have to take a half hour break every two hours. Its all by design, based on measurements of real-world operating conditions across Canada and the U.S. Handling and J-turn tests take place on the Vehicle Dynamics Area with a 700-foot diameter. Start and stop tests occur on a man-made incline that has been nicknamed Mount Madras. The local climate in this hot desert also offers hot summers and reasonably cold winters, Achenbach said. The focus here is on rough-road input, said Sean McKenna, manager of durability, testing and instrumentation. The testing we dont want to do on the public roads, we can do here. The proving grounds will soon be staffed by 40 employees who will bring trucks to life, Nielsen added. Daimler is no stranger to Madras, of course. A three-lane loop road used for noise, vibration and harshness tests has been in place here since the 1980s. But the latest investment is certainly a boost for the local economy. Daimler has 2,800 employees in Portland alone, and is now one of the top 10 employers of graduates from Oregon State University. Were Oregonians, Nielsen said. John G. Smith is the editor of the award-winning Canadian publication Today's Trucking. This article was used under a cooperative editorial sharing agreement between HDT and its Canadian counterpart. If you are a fleet safety manager, then Alcoa has a great lesson for you. In order to effectively run a safe and profitable fleet, it is critical to create a culture of safety within your company. While this advice sounds simple, the implementation can be daunting and may sometimes seem nearly impossible. Bad habits are difficult to change, particularly when they are inherited from a company culture started long ago. The challenge is to replace bad habits with good ones to embed a culture of safety within your organization. Before becoming George W. Bushs Secretary of the Treasury, Paul ONeill was the CEO of Alcoa, the worlds largest aluminum company, from 1987 to 1999. When ONeill joined Alcoa he knew very little about aluminum. He came from a paper company and before that, he was a high-ranking federal bureaucrat. He did know a lot about turning organizations around, though. After all, thats what he was hired to do. His first address to Alcoas stockholders was a big surprise. In 1987, times were tough for Alcoa. While most CEOs would spend their christening speech talking about increasing profit margins and lowering costs, ONeills promise was something unexpected: focus on Alcoas safety culture. Thats right, the most important thing that ONeill could do for his company was to change their safety culture. His goal was to create a zero accidents culture, not simply because it could save lives (aluminum smelting is a dangerous business), but also because he believed that it would transform communications and relationships within the company. From his years working at the Veterans Administration and the Office of Management and Budget, ONeill understood that the best way to create a zero accidents culture was to encourage and foster new habits for his organization specifically, change who reacted and how they reacted whenever there was a safety event in the company. It was more than changing procedures, it was changing habits; an across the board approach to challenge how Alcoa team members, from executives to workers instinctively reacted to safety incidents. In his book The Power of Habit: Why We do What We do in Life and Business, New York Times reporter Charles Dughigg interviews ONeill in an attempt to learn how changing the safety habits of Alcoa resulted in their profits reaching an all time high within the first year of his tenure. In his book, Duhigg describes a 3-step habit loop based on studies at MIT in the 1990s: CUE: This is what starts the habit. In our industry this could be something like a pre-trip safety check, a brake warning light coming on, or even a last minute change to the makeup of a load. ROUTINE: The routine describes the actions that we want to take place after the CUE. To use one of the above examples, every time a driver leaves the yard, the driver runs through a standard safety checklist. Right now, youre thinking, I know this. Whats your point? The point is to customize and standardize that checklist (ROUTINE), knowing that every fleet has different safety requirements. Whatever your biggest safety concerns, make sure you catch them in that safety check. If your checklist doesnt include your most common safety challenges, then its not a safety checklist. REWARD: By rewarding the routine, the loop becomes the habit. What should you be rewarding? Reward the discovery of a safety issue for drivers. Think of it as making them want to find a safety issue not to delay their trip, but to earn recognition for the discovery. Correcting that safety issue with maintenance, operations or dispatch then becomes another opportunity for a habit loop: CUE (the drivers discovery); ROUTINE (correcting the issue); REWARD (whatever will make them want to correct the issue as quickly and effectively as possible). ONeill used this 3-step loop model to establish a culture of safety at Alcoa. With his program, the cue was simply any employee injury. The routine was that anytime an injury occurred, that units president would be required to notify ONeill personally within 24 hours. The reward was that the only people who would be considered for promotions would be those that implemented the plan. In order for the routine to work, communications had to be reworked and streamlined and accountability had to be spread from the hourly worker all the way up to the unit president and then to ONeill himself. From years of studying and structuring habits in governmental positions before taking his seat at Alcoa, ONeill learned that organizations cant be expected to change habits overnight. He realized that you had to start with what Duhigg refers to as a Keystone Habit. This is a habit that is easy to change, while still having high impact. Once a Keystone Habit has been established and implemented, a chain reaction occurs, affecting the entire culture. What areas within your safety program need improvement? A great way to change your organizations safety culture is to sit down with your operations and safety managers and one or more of your veteran drivers to make a list of the issues that need the most attention. Once the list has been made, identify one or two of them as having good potential for creating a Keystone Habit. When looking for a keystone habit, consider the ease of changing the habit and that habits impact on safety performance. Consider the cue where you want the process to begin, then create the routine that will solve the problem, and finally establish a reward that will motivate those within your organization to embrace the habit. Once this Keystone Habit is in place, you will notice it snowballing out to other issues on the list as new habits are developed. When Alcoas new safety culture started to take shape, here is what they saw: Agreement in long-debated union rules Less resistance from managers regarding policies Improved habit development for employees in their personal lives Its not impossible to change the safety culture within your company. With the right momentum and habit structure, it can be accomplished fairly quickly. Remember: a thousand mile journey starts with one small step. Try not to be overwhelmed by the thousand mile distance you have to travel to achieve a new safety culture. Focus on the three step habit loops that will help you get there. Jonathan Hubbard is the chief executive officer and co-founder of SpeedGauge, a driver safety and performance company, providing software solutions to help fleets manage and control vehicle speed. The article originally appeared on Linkedin Pulse and has been used with permission. 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 ... The family of Terence Crutcher vowed to file a civil lawsuit very soon, both for compensation and to try to ensure police reforms. At a Thursday morning press conference, Crutchers family members and their attorneys, Damario Solomon-Simmons and Benjamin Crump, and area pastors not only questioned Tulsa police investigators handling of the shooting by Officer Betty Shelby but also the departments police practices in general. Several speakers said calls by city and law enforcement leaders to move forward the day after Shelby was acquitted fail to address the deep sense of injustice many in their community are feeling about the outcome. Ray Owens, pastor at Metropolitan Baptist Church of Tulsa, said his heart was broken by the trials verdict, which allowed a killer to go free, and also by the citys brokenness. He said he was disturbed to hear city of Tulsa leaders saying they are proud of the jury and the decision that was made. We didnt witness justice on the fourth floor of the courthouse yesterday. We witnessed injustice in its most disturbing form, Owens said, adding that the absence of violence does not suggest the presence of peace. Morning Star Baptist Church Pastor Rodney Goss said perceived corruption in the Tulsa Police Department was exposed in this trial. Goss criticized the local Fraternal Order of Police for orchestrating a campaign to sway public opinion and possibly jury members, as well. The same people who make up the FOP are the very ones that will be canvassing our neighborhoods all over again. How can you trust someone who erodes the trust? How do you believe in someone who got ahead of justice and decided the conclusion before the wheels of justice even turned? Goss said. Were not making this a race issue it is a race issue. State Rep. Regina Goodwin, D-Tulsa, said despite the trial verdict, the African-American community must persist in its pursuit of justice. You keep killing us; were gonna keep coming, Goodwin said Crutchers twin sister, Tiffany Crutcher, said she wont rest until police reforms are enacted, and that is one of her hopes for the outcome of her familys civil case. Terence had his hands up, and she still got away with murder, she said, referring to Shelby. Crutcher made a direct appeal to Tulsa Police Chief Chuck Jordan not to allow Shelby back on the streets as a police officer, saying a past restraining order and allegations of child abuse that were aired in court were proof of her violent temperament. Jordan told reporters earlier Thursday that Shelbys employment status was being evaluated by the legal and human resources departments within the Police Department and the city of Tulsa. In response to a question about the Crutcher familys confidence in Jordans leadership, Solomon-Simmons responded only, We are confident in our civil lawsuit moving forward soon. Crump, the other attorney, said local police need implicit bias training, and Tiffany Crutcher added that every officer also needs first aid and CPR training. That remark was likely related to evidence that her brother lay bleeding in the street before anyone approached to help. Crutcher told reporters that social media harassment has only added insult to the injury her family feels from Shelbys acquittal. Its been a long and sleepless night. Ive been harassed all night long by the citizens of Tulsa, she said. Some have stated that Terence Crutcher deserved to die, stating that Terence Crutcher was a thug so he deserved to die, stating that Terence Crutcher was an addict so he deserved to die. So for the city of Tulsa to state were all one and well all come together, I beg to differ. Besides the media, a few dozen other people turned out to hear the remarks. Among them was Anthony Marshall, a beloved, longtime Booker T. Washington High School teacher who resigned last year to take a job in Washington, D.C., but promised to return to see the BTW class of 2017 graduate. He said he flew in Wednesday evening about the time the verdict was being handed down. By Thursday morning, he was already being sought out by some of the black students he guided at BTW in a leadership group called Men of Power. Its amazing to see how young people are dealing with this, Marshall said. They say, Dr. Marshall, were doing what you told us to do get an education and work within the system and its still not working for us. Its unbelievable to me that in this day and age, black men are still expected to obey and if you do not obey, you suffer the consequences. Its slave mentality. andrea.eger @tulsaworld.com Twitter: @AndreaEger OKLAHOMA CITY State budget negotiations resumed Thursday afternoon following a midday spat in which House Speaker Charles McCall and Minority Leader Scott Inman exchanged words and news conferences. The day began promisingly enough with reports that an important agreement between Republicans and Democrats had been reached on a gross production tax increase for new wells. The deal would have moved the GPT on new wells from 2 percent to 5 percent, and Democrats would have agreed to a $215 million cigarette tax increase. A bill to fast-track the agreement through the legislative process was even teed up on the House floor. But by noon the deal, if it existed, was off. Chaos descended, as McCall and his chief of staff arrived in the Capitol press room to preempt a news conference called by Inman and the House Democrats. McCall, R-Altus, said Inman had broken off negotiations and that a revenue agreement could not be reached without him. The problem we have right now is we need to stop press-conferencing, McCall said. Less than a hour later, Inman said McCall and Senate President Pro Tem Mike Schulz, R-Altus, had lied to him and Senate Minority Leader John Sparks, D-Norman, on Thursday morning when they told him their caucuses had rejected the deal. I have it on good authority they did not discuss it, said Inman, D-Del City. I dont believe (McCall and Schulz). They are playing games on behalf of the oil and gas industry. Inman said oil and gas interests, not the Republican caucuses, vetoed the agreement. In McCalls account of events, no agreement was reached. There are differences of opinion, he said. It was unclear, however, whether McCall presented the 5 percent proposal to his caucus before informing Inman that the deal had fallen through. Schulz did not respond to a request for comment, and McCall spokesman Jason Sutton texted: (McCall) told (Inman) he would have to take any agreement to his caucus. Sutton did not respond when asked if the House GOP caucus was polled on the 5 percent gross production tax. The House GOP caucus is known to have met at about 11:30 a.m. The Senate caucus met at 9 a.m. Rep. Bobby Cleveland, R-Slaughterville, attended the Democrats press conference but would not say if the matter was discussed by the caucus, saying those discussions were confidential. Someone is lying, Cleveland said. Asked who, Cleveland said, This is all about egos. (Inmans) ego, because hes running for governor. Republicans portray Inman, a candidate for governor in 2018, as the villain of this years budget impasse because he and his 26-member caucus have refused to vote for cigarette and fuel tax increases without hikes in gross production and income tax rates. Inman and the Democrats say they are trying to keep middle- and working-class Oklahomans, who would be disproportionately affected by cigarette and fuel taxes, from carrying the brunt of tax increases needed to make up $878 million in lost general revenue and reform the states revenue system going forward. Although outnumbered almost three to one, the Democrats are just numerous enough to keep Republicans from getting the 76 votes needed to pass a revenue bill in the House. The six Senate Democrats are normally too small a minority to make a difference but could come into play if a compromise bill loses Schulz some votes. Even while chiding Inman, McCall acknowledged the Democrats key role. We will never come together (on an agreement) if were not all at the table, he said. The Democrats emerged from their early afternoon press conference to find the hallway lined with about 100 demonstrators holding signs in opposition to the proposed gross production tax increase. According to industry sources, most or all of the demonstrators were oil and gas employees, many of whom were bused to the Capitol from their workplaces. Their appearance followed a morning rally in the fourth-floor rotunda of demonstrators in favor of hiking the gross production tax for new wells to its previous rate of 7 percent. That group, called Save Our State, likened Oklahoma to the Titanic and the states financial situation to an iceberg, and fanned out to legislators offices to tell them about it. By midafternoon, storm warnings had sent most people hurrying from the Capitol, although the House remained in recess rather than adjourned for the day, and the budget negotiations continued on the second floor. Outside the negotiating room, lawmakers argued the matter on Twitter. Republicans claimed Democrats were endangering the states future, while Democrats mocked Republicans supposed deference to the oil and gas industry in general and Continental Resources Inc. founder Harold Hamm in particular. For everyone who cares about our state please tell @RepScottInman to come back to the negotiations, Rep. John Pfeiffer, R-Orlando, tweeted during Inmans three-hour absence. Cant trust GOP, replied Rep. David Perryman, D-Chickasha. Had deal with ALL at the table last pm (All but Harold Hamm who quashed it this morning). Get a backbone for the people World Staff Writer Barbara Hoberock contributed to this report. An Owasso police lieutenant, twice fired amid excessive-force allegations involving suspects only to be reinstated later, has filed a civil rights lawsuit against the city of Owasso, the police chief and two agents at the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. Lt. Mike Denton, who has waged a nearly six-year legal battle that includes being acquitted of felony assault charges, filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Tulsa. Denton, who remains on the force, claims the city and Police Chief Scott Chambless violated his First Amendment rights by retaliating against him for his public employee union activities, linked to his first firing. He was fired in November 2011 after city officials investigated a report of Denton elbowing a man in the face after arresting him on a public intoxication complaint. An arbitrator ordered him reinstated after finding that he used unreasonable and unnecessary force, but that it didnt rise to the level of excessive force within the meaning of existing law. The Oklahoma Supreme Court in 2014 declined to take up the citys appeal of a Court of Civil Appeals ruling that essentially upheld the arbitrators finding. Denton then rejoined the police force. The city paid $75,000 to settle a federal civil rights lawsuit filed by the injured man, Bryan Scott Spradlin. Denton was fired again following a June 14, 2015, altercation with a stolen car suspect. The suspect, Cody Mathews, led Denton and other officers on a high-speed chase that ended when the truck Mathews was driving became stuck in a field. City officials contended Denton violated department policy when he thrust the barrel of his shotgun through a broken truck window to strike Mathews several times and continued to hit him with the butt of the gun after Mathews was on the ground. Denton contended his pokes at the suspect with his shotgun prevented Mathews from reaching for a knife that he had just dropped in the cab of the truck. City officials placed Denton on paid administrative leave the next day, and he was later fired. Nowata County District Attorney Kevin Buchanan charged Mathews on Oct. 2, 2015, with felony assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and reckless conduct with a firearm, a misdemeanor, in connection with the Mathews arrest. A Nowata County jury acquitted Denton of both charges on March 8. Prior to the jury trial, an arbitrator overturned an excessive-force allegation against Denton but determined that he had been reckless with a firearm. The arbitrator ordered Denton reinstated to the force without back pay. In his lawsuit, Denton claims the city and Chambless requested the OSBI to conduct a criminal investigation even though the internal investigation had barely begun, if at all. The lawsuit also claims OSBI agents Chris Leamon and Kevin Lanham both deliberately withheld exculpatory evidence in order to support the filing of criminal charges. Dentons attorney, James P. Hunt, declined to discuss the lawsuit, but he did confirm that his client was back at work with the city. The lawsuit did not specify how much in damages Denton was seeking. Mathews in mid-2016 filed a civil rights lawsuit of his own against Denton, the city of Owasso and other named and unnamed Owasso officers. The case is pending. Mathews is serving an eight-year prison term at the John Lilley Correctional Center in Boley after being convicted of multiple felonies, including running a roadblock, possession of a controlled substance and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. An OSBI spokeswoman declined to comment on the lawsuit. A spokesperson for the city of Owasso could not be reached for comment. Police are investigating the fatal shooting of a woman during a robbery on the grounds of an east Tulsa apartment complex early Thursday. The shooting was reported at the Sawmill Apartments, 12900 E. 35th Place, about 3:30 a.m. The woman was found lying on the ground with a gunshot wound to the forehead, Tulsa Police Cpl. R.W. Solomon said. Were going on a whole bunch of assumptions right now, Solomon said. The woman, identified by police as Vennie Jean Blalock, 64, had gotten out of her vehicle and was walking toward an apartment when two men at least one of whom had a gun approached her from behind and tried to rob her, police said in a news release. Blalock was shot after she turned and struggled for the weapon, police said. A resident of the complex told police the woman had knocked frantically on his door about the time of the shooting. Solomon said another resident called police. The robbers ran north through the complex after the shooting. A police K-9 unit searched for them but lost their scent somewhere in the complex, police said. No descriptions of the men were available. Anyone with information may contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 918-596-COPS (2677), online at p3tips.com/918 or through the Tulsa Tips app, which can be downloaded from the Google Play or iTunes stores. The homicide tip line may also be reached at 918-798-8477 or emails sent to homicide@cityoftulsa.org. After being escorted out of the hospital, the man got into his vehicle and rammed into a security vehicle. He then sped toward the security officers, attempting to hit them, and the officers "fired one shot each at the vehicle in self-defense," Saint Francis said in a press statement. Students and teachers across Tulsa Public Schools were busy Thursday afternoon packing up books, school supplies and projects that have accumulated in their lockers and classrooms over the school year. But saying goodbye on the last day of classes was extra emotional for students and staff at two neighborhood elementary schools and an early childhood development center within about 2 miles of one another in west Tulsa. About 530 students and 70 teachers and staff members dont expect to return this fall to Remington Elementary, Park Elementary and Early Childhood Development Center-Porter because those schools are closing. In an effort to cut costs in anticipation of a state funding shortfall, TPS officials decided to consolidate five schools where they say enrollment and use of space have been declining for years and are projected to continue shrinking until the schools are rendered unsustainable. Just three days before the last day of classes, the Tulsa school board on Monday approved Superintendent Deborah Gists proposal to close Remington, 2524 W. 53rd St.; Park, 3205 W. 39th St.; and ECDC Porter, 1740 W. 41st St. Students will move from those schools to a new elementary school that will be on the campus currently housing Clinton Middle School, 2224 W. 41st St. Clinton students will be relocated to the Webster High School campus, 1919 W. 40th St., which will be transformed into a junior-senior high school. Gist says the consolidation will save $906,000 in the school districts 2017-18 budget, which would help close the $12 million state funding gap she expects will result from a state budget deficit. But since Gist proposed the plan April 5, parents and teachers at the schools that will be closed have opposed the move because, among other reasons, they dont want to lose the tight-knit communities and unique environments at their schools. Stephanie Martin was picking up her son and daughter from Remington Elementary on Thursday afternoon. Martin plans for her daughter, entering fifth grade next year, to attend the new elementary school at the Clinton campus, and her son, entering sixth grade, to attend the new junior-senior high school at the Webster campus. Martins concerns about her son going to Webster are partly based on her older sons experiences when he was moved from Madison Middle School to what is now Central Junior High School during another school consolidation. She wasnt very happy with that transition because of the larger number of students in the consolidation junior-senior high school, and she is worried her other son will be placed in a similar environment. The lack of individual attention, and just not being able to, you know, I think theyre going to have issues with their education and getting behind, because the classrooms Im pretty sure are going to be bigger, and so Im just worried about that, for them, Martin said. Martin said she will be closely monitoring her childrens academic progress to determine whether to transfer them to another school district, such as Sand Springs or Owasso. If I see that theyre struggling, due to the changes, then that would be my big decision to go ahead and transfer them, Martin said. Regardless of how the transition turns out, Martin said it is sad to leave Remington, even though her kids have only been there since November. Im used to the staff here, and theyre wonderful, and just knowing that some of them are not going to transition over makes me sad as well, she said. Her kids transferred from a larger school, Mark Twain Elementary School, and she has been pleased with the smaller school atmosphere at Remington, where she said the teachers work more closely with students. The staff was great, and thats what I loved about it, Martin said, adding that she is happy her daughters teacher plans to move to the new elementary school at Clinton. Teachers and staff at the schools that are closing have been guaranteed jobs in TPS, and district officials have been meeting with them to learn the schools to which they would prefer to transfer. Fewer than five of those teachers have yet to be placed at a new school site for next year, TPS spokeswoman Emma Garrett Nelson said Wednesday. Melissa Hicks, the Remington librarian, said the day was emotional but almost too busy to allow her to stop and feel those emotions. Sometimes its hard to feel the emotions, in the midst of all the activities, until the kids walk out the door, and you walk down the halls and see all those empty lockers, she said. Hicks said her entire 25-year career with TPS has been at Remington. She plans to transfer to Zarrow International School next year, which is a move she had been considering before she learned of the school consolidation proposal. Nevertheless, she is sad to leave her library at Remington. Ill never have another library as beautiful as this one here, and it looks out into this beautiful property, Hicks said. So Im really going to miss that Its been really sad. She said she started crying when she realized last week that it was her last storytime with students in the Remington library. The school has designed its curriculum, to a certain extent, to integrate nature by taking advantage of the schools 20-acre property, which includes nature trails and wetlands, Hicks said. Ive done a bird count for 10 or 12 years things Im not going to be able to do at another location because this property just lends itself to nature study, Hicks said. We have wetlands and 20 acres, and its very beautiful. So those are the kinds of things were really going to miss. Hicks said she and others will also miss the small staff at Remington. I know that its expensive to run a small school but there are so many nice things about a small school, she said. Theyre flexible. The staff can be creative. We can work together like a family. Were in the middle of a neighborhood. I just think its kind of tragic anytime a neighborhood school closes. Lynne Waters teaches third grade at Remington, and, after working at the school for 12 years, plans to move to the new elementary school at Clinton. While she is sure it will be exciting to move to a new school for some students, Waters said, I think weve all shed tears. Not yet today, but throughout the last few weeks. As she packs up books in her library and says goodbye to students, Hicks says she has had so many emotions about the move, it has been difficult to separate one from another. Its not just the building, its the family. Its the property, Hicks explained. Its sort of like moving out of a house youve loved and grown up in. JBS boss releases letter of apology to Brazilian citizens Brazil Joesley Batista, Owner and President, JBS SA, has published an open letter of apology to all the Brazilians amid the new corruption scandal that is shaking the country. Brazilian Federal Police have released extracts of covert recordings made during a meeting held in early March 2017 between Joesley Batista and Michel Temer, Brazils President, in which, allegedly, Temer tells Batista to keep up with cash payments in order to keep Eduardo Cunha, a former speaker of Congress currently in jail, silent regarding corruption secrets. Other recent taped pay-offs, includes former opposition leaders such as Brazilian Senator Aecio Neves, who asked JBS for a R$2 million payment (US$593,400) in cash in a plea-bargaining agreement. After signing a plea bargain deal with the Federal Police under the national investigation named Operation Car Wash (Lava Jato), Batista attended these meetings equipped with audio recording equipment, which was then handed over to the investigating authorities. According to Batista, Neves, who has been suspended from his functions and had his passport confiscated, would use the money to pay for his defence in the Lava Jato investigations. As for Temer, the Brazilian President denies any wrongdoing and refuses to step down from office, despite hundreds of angry Brazilians protesting on the streets across the country. In an open letter addressed to the Brazilian people on May 18, Joesley Batista presents his excuses for having paid illicit money to public authorities and admits they have done a mistake for which there is no justification. We did not honour our values when we had to interact, at various times, with the Brazilian public power. And we're not proud of that. Our business spirit and great motivation to get things done, when confronted with a Brazilian system that makes it difficult to sell facilities, has led us to opt for payments to public agents, he said. JBS shares were trading around 9.7% lower on May 18, while the U.S. dollar gained 8.06% against the Brazilian real. Source: Globo News 60 Minutes has long had a tradition for never confirming nor denying payment for its stories. But it is quick to break those rules when it suits. A press release for Sundays interview with the sister and estranged mother of alleged drug mule Cassie Sainsbury declares: 60 Minutes has assisted Lisa and Khala with their travel to Colombia. Reports in the media the program had done a deal with the family worth one million dollars are completely false. But this omits how much the family was actually paid for the interview (which Cassie Sainsbury has said is her story to tell) separate to airfares and accommodation expenses. It is rumoured to be around the $200,000 mark. In 2014, producer Tom Malone said of an interview surrounding the Baby Gammy case, We never comment on any commercial arrangements between 60 Minutes and our interview subjects but given the nature of this story, its important our viewers know that no money has been or will be paid to the parents. In 2012 60 Minutes confirmed no payment for interviews with the girlfriend of Kings Cross bash victim Thomas Kelly. Similarly A Current Affair has previously confirmed no payments for some profile interviews. Meanwhile 60 Minutes is up against Sunday Night which has an interview with Sainsburys boyfriend Scott Broadbridge. Both shows will go head to head on Sunday at 8:30, making the interviews and promos pivotal to where audiences will go. Seven has neither commented on how much it paid for their story, but it may have the upper hand given Nine promos indicate the family distressed in trying to gain access to Sainsbury. Cassandra Sainsbury: The Real Story For the past five weeks South Australian woman Cassandra Sainsbury has been locked away in a dingy and overcrowded prison in Bogota, Colombia, accused of smuggling cocaine. The evidence against her is damning: 5.8 kilograms of the drug were found in her suitcase at the airport as she tried to leave the country. Cassandra says shes innocent, but the reality is her prospects are bleak. Its a distressing time for the 22 year old as well as her mother and sister, whove spent the last week in Bogota trying to make sense of this awful nightmare. Reporters: Liam Bartlett Producers: Phil Goyen, Sean Power 8:30pm Sunday on Nine. Next Wednesday ABC2 will screen the Liverpool FC vs Sydney FC match live from ANZ Stadium (dont believe any EPGs suggesting Spicks and Specks runs for 3 hours!). This means there are changes to the schedule including The Aliens out next week. Updated: But fans will need to remain alert. It returns on Wednesday May 31 in a new time of 11:10pm. The following week will be 10:55pm. This can be the result of a conclusion reached by the hardliner camp from the 2013 presidential election where their chances were hurt with none of their candidates willing to step aside in favor of their all-out interests. Heshmat Alavi writes in an article for Al Arabiya. Last Tuesday, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf made an early, and unexpected exit from Irans presidential election. Conservative former minister of culture and Islamic guidance Mostafa Mir-Salim will likely follow. Most think that he had little chance in the polls. He was one of the three hardliners set to run against three so-called moderates/reformists. The Vice President, Eshagh Jahangiri, after challenging the hardline rivals head on in the debates and taking the hits for Rouhani, did what was expected, by stepping aside on Monday. Rallying behind Ebrahim Raisi will now be those loyal to Khamenei, as he is an insider figure with the Supreme Leaders support, according to Alavi. Known as the massacre ayatollah inside Iran, Raisi has served the judiciary for three decades, has sent thousands to be executed, and was a participant in the summer 1988 massacre of over 30,000 political prisoners, mostly members and supporters of the Iranian opposition group, Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK). Rouhani, the moderate, has nothing to present to the Iranian voter, according to Alavi. He has failed to inject any new life into the economy and provide for the average Iranian after the nuclear deal, and yet tens of billions of dollars are spent on: a) The regimes meddling across the region, mainly in Syria b) The ballistic missile drive c) The domestic crackdown machine d) The nuclear program that was supposed to be curbed During the past four years Rouhani has also presided over 3,000 executions. Raisi will probably be selected by the regime. Alavi asks, Would Khamenei have even entered Raisi into the race if he had any hesitations about the outcome? He interprets The Supreme Leaders recent remarks as warnings to Rouhani, especially when he warned that any disruptor of the process will receive a slap in the face. However, a complete engineering of the election will not be an easy task for Khamenei, as there are divides in the regimes senior ranks. Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, a former principalist, and Ali-Akbar Nategh-Nouri, a close confidant of Khamenei, have placed their weight behind Rouhani, Alavi writes. In a surprising twist to the 2017 election, Khameneis camp is using social media. Although Twitter is officially banned in Iran, the candidates are using it, and also the messaging app, Telegram, which has over 20 million users in Iran. The younger generation who make up a very large percentage of Irans population, and this is an attempt to garner their support. Activists inside the country, have braved many risks to spread the message of Iranian opposition leader Maryam Rajavi, especially those connected with the PMOI/MEK. If arrested, they will likely be tortured and probably executed, as any support for the PMOI/MEK inside Iran is considered the crossing of a major red line. In the end, it doesnt really matter who wins the vote, according to The New York Post. Fact is, in Iran the question isnt who gets the most votes, but whos counting them. And those counting them this year clearly favor Raisi, a hardliner judge. All this seems to guarantee the next few years will be filled with hostility and provocations directed toward America from Tehran. Indeed, even if Rouhani gets another presidential term, its already clear: The age of phony smiles between America and Iran is now over, they write. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tned0CwGEBE Hands up who is old enough to remember Captain Pugwash? The animated series is getting a live action movie. Created by John Ryan, Captain Pugwash first appeared as a comic strip in 1950, before becoming a series of short black-and-white cartoons, which ran in the UK from 1957-66. They became famous for their simple sets, with cardboard puppet characters controlled by levers. A later colour series ran from 197475, and a traditional animation, The Adventures of Captain Pugwash appeared in 1998. Shaun of the Dead star Nick Frost will play the title role as he sails a ship to Botany Bay, where he eventually finds himself at the helm of The Black Pig on a mission to rescue Tom the Cabin Boys father, who is marooned on a volcanic island. Bit of dramatic license no doubt! Source: BBC A Queensland company which has partnered with Nines new observational series Operation Thailand has denied breaching Australian health and advertising guidelines. The series, produced by WTFN (Bondi Vet, The Living Room, Ask the Doctor) follows Australians who travel to Thailand for luxury surgery procedures. Premiering earlier this month, the production partners with CosMediTour (Consulting) Pty Ltd. But Dr Michael Rich, a Melbourne dermatologist with the Australasian College of Dermatologists, told News Corp, On the show, an agent booked the surgery. The patient didnt even meet the surgeon before surgery so there was no opportunity for the patient to seek a second opinion or contemplate the opinion of the surgeon. In one case the patient had to make a major decision about which surgery to have on the spot. He also said the show also promotes CosMediTour and offers gifts to patients for using their service. But TV Tonight can reveal CosMediTour operates separate companies for its Australian and Thai procedures. Marketing Director Greg Lemon said in a statement its Australian company, Cosmeditour Australia Pty Limited, complies with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency code of conduct. However, the company that deals with our Thailand surgeries, and handled all Operation Thailand patients, is CosMediTour (Consulting) Pty Ltd and its activities are NOT subject to any AHPRA code of conduct, he said. We established these separate companies with legal advice from TressCox, Australias leading national law firm for the healthcare sector. Lemon denied any negligence on the part of CosMediTour and surgeons in Thailand. As such we are not in any breach, and by association neither are WTFN and the Nine Network. WIN Network has now executed agreements to acquire Southern Cross-owned northern NSW operations, as announced in March. Northern NSW covers an area from Queenslands Gold Coast through to the Central Coast of NSW and west to Narrabri and Gunnedah including Bellingen, Tenterfield, Lismore, Armidale, Tamworth, Taree, Inverell, Coffs Harbour, Byron Bay, Evans Head, Singleton, Casino and Newcastle. WIN boss Bruce Gordon said, WIN has been dedicated to regional Australia for decades and the one missing piece of our regional broadcast area has been northern NSW. WINs position as Australias largest regional network is cemented with this increase in broadcast area. The purchase from SCA means no change to the programs that viewers will see on their televisions in northern NSW, but they will see the WIN brand and a greater commitment to their communities. Ingrained in the WIN psyche is that part of our responsibility as a broadcaster is to ensure we also support our communities which we are looking forward to doing. We know television and we also know what advertisers want. We now have in our broadcast signal, the Gold Coast, Northern Rivers, the Hunter and Central Coast to ensure we continue to deliver the best advertising solution. WINs Executive Chairman Andrew Gordon said This acquisition will make the buying process for national agencies a whole lot more streamlined and with the additional markets now owned by WIN, the buying process is aligned with the other regional networks from an advertising perspective. Buying TEN product in regional Australia just got a whole lot easier. WINs footprint now a potential viewing audience of 8,017,300 million. The change takes effect from May 31st. CNN suggested that his last minute push for engagement from his would-be moderate and reformist supporters came in the form of speeches that seemed to strike an anti-establishment tone. However, the report also acknowledged the apparently disingenuous nature of this effort, seeing as Rouhani is a longstanding regime insider who developed a close relationship with Ali Khamenei in the 1980s, who is now the supreme leader of the Islamic Republic. Rouhanis lack of genuine anti-establishment credentials may serve to partly explain the lackluster support that he was expected to receive from his base just before the election, in which he is struggling to retain his seat for a second term, against hardline challenger Ebrahim Raisi. The Washington Post indicated that domestic polls had determined about half of Iranian citizens to have no preference, or at least no declared preference, going into the end of the campaign. But natural disillusionment aside, some of this antipathy to both candidates is likely attributable to something that was missing from most of the mainstream Western reports on the final status of the Iranian electorate. The banned opposition group known as the Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran has been hard at work organizing a mass boycott of the polls, in an effort to diminish the perception of the regimes legitimacy, and to expose the fundamental lack of real alternatives within the Iranian political system. The PMOIs parent organization, the National Council of Resistance of Iran, had released videos and press statements in the weeks leading up to the election, both depicting and describing some of the grassroots action that had been taken by the group and its supporters to discourage Iranians from participating in what it has called sham elections. The campaign including the posting of images depicting the exiled PMOI leader Maryam Rajavi, as well as flyers, banners, and graffiti bearing slogans like no to the murderer [Raisi]; no to the imposter [Rouhani]; my vote is for regime change. The description of Rouhani as an imposter apparently refers to the way in which he was embraced by various Western officials and a handful of Iranian reformists, who accepted descriptions of his 2013 election as a victory for moderate pragmatism. An Al Jazeera study of numerous regime officials public statements recently concluded that while Rouhanis supposedly moderate faction did appeal to concrete promises more than to emotions and rhetoric, there was not much difference between that faction and the hardliners with regard to actual foreign policy priorities. This general alignment of both factions was also highlighted by the above-mentioned Washington Post article. Although it characterized Ebrahim Raisi as the most radical choice of executive and the most fiercely loyal to Supreme Leader Khamenei, it also pointed out that even the reformist leader and Rouhani-backer Mohammad Khatami made a name for himself by proposing reformist-hardliner alignment against perceived outside threats from the United States and its allies. Since its original conception, this plan has been referred to as national reconciliation, and Khamenei publicly rejected it in the run-up to the current presidential elections, in favor of ongoing efforts to secure more extensive hardline control over the system. Nevertheless, the limited differences between the two factions underscore the lack of choice, which regime opponents like the PMOI are trying to bring to the forefront of public consciousness. Although it also failed to refer to the PMOI-led boycott, the Los Angeles Times was among the outlets to make reference to the flagging enthusiasm of Rouhanis former supporters in days immediately before the election. It agreed with the Washington Post about Raisis more radical background something that is also reflected in the PMOIs description of him as a murderer. This primarily refers to his leading role in the 1988 massacre of political prisoners something that the LA Times did call attention to. But the article also reported upon, and then undermined, Rouhanis own claims that he has honored his promises for improvement of the Islamic Republics record on civil rights. Critics have been pointing out since shortly after Rouhani took office that he has failed to live up to any major campaign promises with the exception of pursuing a nuclear agreement with foreign powers. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action was concluded in July 2015 and has reportedly contributed to the Iranian oil industry growing by seven percent in the past year. But as CNN notes, the economy itself has only grown by about one percent, and the Iranian people have seen little benefit from the deal. This is something that hardliners seized upon throughout the election campaign, and Rouhanis efforts to compensate for those attacks through reference to his civil rights credentials have been met with skepticism or outright dismissal. CNN quotes experts from the RAND Corporation and the Brookings Institution as saying that even if the president was interested in pushing back against hardline restrictions on citizens rights, he would still have extremely limited ability to act contrary to the will of the supreme leader. This fact should be evident to anyone who has been watching the election process and who is familiar with the vetting process by which genuinely reformist or disloyal candidates are barred from running for office. The LA Times characterized this as part of the theocracys heavy choreography of the political process. And it is this that the PMOI boycott evidently attempted to undermine. Although the boycott was absent from various Western media, the supreme leader and other Iranian officials felt compelled to make public statements about it, urging Iranians to go to the polls and preserve the appearance of the regimes legitimacy. With Khamenei promising a slap in the face to people who try to disrupt the election process, some of those statements demonstrated clear concern for the possibility of another popular uprising akin to that which followed the disputed reelection of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2009. This parallel was also on display in some of the public statements made by the Iranian Ministry of the Interior late in this years presidential campaign. Those comments also pointed to the possibility of even heavier choreography by the regime, possibly with the intent of assuring a predetermined outcome. On Thursday, the Center for Human Rights in Iran published a report featuring contrasting quotations from Interior Ministry officials regarding whether the results of Fridays election would be released gradually as they came in or all at once, after they have been certified by the Guardian Council and the Interior Ministry itself. Traditionally, incoming results are publicly updated in a way that is familiar to most modern democracies. But irregularities in this reporting in 2009 contributed to the perception that the result had been fixed by regime authorities. If that was the case in 2009, the Interior Ministrys internal debate could be indicative of plans to do the same in Fridays elections. However, the pre-election polling data strongly suggests that much of the Iranian population would be disappointed with any electoral result that is certified by the existing theocratic system. Barei Dubad Ibrahim, a Somali refugee, with her son, at Kharaz refugee camp in Lahj governorate, Yemen. UNHCR/Shabia Mantoo LAHJ, Yemen Somali mother Barei Ibrahim has been living in Yemen for 26 years, after war drove her from her home country in the early nineties. But as the bitter conflict grinds on in Yemen, devastating lives and infrastructure and destroying work opportunities, conditions have become increasingly tough for the mother-of-ten. I dont have anything here, she tells UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. I dont have a job or a future and we are facing difficulties. We are begging to get by and are living in sorrow and grief. Ibrahim is not alone. As the conflict that erupted in March 2015 continues, the humanitarian situation in Yemen is deteriorating. The conditions facing the almost 280,000 refugees in-country are worsening and their needs are growing by the day. An increasing number are now approaching UNHCR for assistance to support their return." The overwhelming majority of refugees in Yemen, 91 per cent or some 255,000, are Somalis like Ibrahim who have been coming to the country for more than two decades, seeking safety and opportunities. Though Yemen has traditionally been very generous in accepting those in need of international protection and is the only country in the Arabian Peninsula signatory to the Refugee Convention and the Protocol, the ongoing war has limited the capacities to provide adequate assistance and protection to refugees. After more than two years of war, many refugees face increased hardship; struggling to cover basic needs, losing livelihoods and lacking access to basic and essential services, UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch told a news briefing in Geneva on Friday (May 19). With conflict in Yemen hitting civilians hard, killing and injuring many and causing widespread hunger, some 30,600 Somalis have reportedly already returned to Somalia from since hostilities broke out in March 2015. An increasing number are now approaching UNHCR for assistance to support their return, citing safety and security concerns and limited access to services in Yemen, Baloch told reporter at the Palais des Nations. Among those thinking of returning is Mohammed, a Somali who fled to Yemen 12 years ago, and is now living at Kharaz refugee camp in Lahj governorate. I dont have a job or a future and we are facing difficulties. We are begging to get by." Life was very good in Yemen before, but now it is very hard for us because of the war. I just want to go back to Somalia to live in peace, says Mohammad, who asked not to be identified by his last name. UNHCR is now providing some support to those choosing to return on their own. In 2017, UNHCR is able to assist up to 10,000 Somali refugees who have made the choice to return, based on the information received at Return Help Desks on conditions in Somalia and the assistance package that is being offered both in Yemen and Somalia, Baloch said UNHCRs humanitarian operations in Yemen will continue to provide support to those refugees who remain in Yemen. Most Somali refugees registered in Yemen originate from Banadir, Lower Shabelle, Bay, Middle Shabelle and Woqooyi Galbeed regions in Somalia. In Yemen, most reside in Aden, Sanaa and Lahj governorates, the latter of which is where Yemens only refugee camp, the Kharaz refugee camp, is located. UNHCR assistance will include documentation, travel and transportation assistance and financial support in Yemen to facilitate the journey, as well as assistance upon arrival in Somalia. Special measures will be put in place for the travel of individuals with specific needs. Most refugees opt to return to Mogadishu, in the anticipation that assistance and services will be more accessible and available. In Yemen, UNHCR has been providing protection and services for refugees and asylum seekers including by providing legal assistance, supporting education and livelihoods programs, and providing access to health and pyscho-social services, a cash programme for people with specific needs amongst others. Donate DUNDO, Angola - Over 20,000 refugees have fled insecurity and violence in the Democratic Republic of Congos Kasai Province. They have found safety in Angola. Many have harrowing tales of brutal militia attacks that forced them from their homes. 70 per cent of the arrivals are women and children. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in coordination with the Angolan Government and other aid agencies is responding to an increasing number of unaccompanied and separated children who require immediate attention. UNHCR continues to provide food and relief items to new arrivals and is currently assisting the Angolan authorities to identify a suitable site for the relocation of refugees from the temporary reception centres. . Irans culture seems heavy-hearted. Most holidays are the anniversaries of the deaths of some Imams, but during elections, street celebrations are allowed. The Iranian people, who bear the brunt of a crippled economy experience hope, but it is false, as it is based on their vote. In a country where the Supreme Leader calls gender equality a Zionist plot women rights are shockingly limited. For instance, in Iran, women are disqualified from running for the presidency. The laws of the constitution decree that the president must be male. As well, he must believe in the Islamic Republic, and follow the dominant sect of Islam, which is Twelve-Imam Shia. In this manner, more than half of the Iranian population is automatically excluded. Womens rights are limited to voting. Women are not trusted to participate in the race for this important position. There has been a slight increase in the number of Iranian women working in government positions compared to twenty years ago, which the state uses as a means for publicity. However, women like Maryam Mojtahidzadeh, the influential head of the womens ministry, dont speak of equality, but of complementary roles for women. Even today, a womans most important life decisions, such as marriage, child custody, divorce, employment, and traveling abroad, continues to legally require a mans approval. The man may be her father or grandfather, her husband, or one of the all-male judges. The government plays on womens fear of invasions to draw their votes. Iranians worry that their country could be torn apart like their neighbors, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and women know they are the first victims of war. When they believe they must choose between violence and reform, most will choose to support a dictator to avoid reaching the point of war. The government undermines such options as civil disobedience or boycotting the elections, even though Reformists offer no plan to make changes to the discriminatory laws of the constitution. Still, they argue that the marginalized must vote for them for stability. Under such repression, Iranian women lack confidence in themselves and other women. While they are legally allowed to run for lower rank positions, they dont trust themselves with managerial roles. Through globalization, the Iranian diaspora, and access to the internet, Iranian women have seen how unfair their situation is, compared to women in the West, where gender equality is the norm. Women are not taught gender equality in Iran. In Iran, feminism is said to be a threat to families and society. The increase in the divorce rate isnt viewed as a protest to patriarchy, but instead, is attributed to the negative impact of womens relative liberation from cultural taboos. 60% of Iranian college graduates are women, but they make up only 13% of the workforce. Divorce and travel rights have been gained by may women who have stated these rights in their marriage licenses. Such legal loopholes are used by the upper-middle class. Life has not improve for the majority of Irans women. Common language that is inherently denigrating for women like, They allowed the girl to do not The girl did, and widespread jokes that mock women as being simple, are a continuation of the patriarchy, and create distrust in women, as well. In Iran, women are only welcome when they contribute to patriarchy and nationalism. The short-lived freedom and hope enjoyed during the election season, the allusions to empowering women, the myth of war or reformists, is meant to use women and minorities, to bring them the polling stations, and obtain their votes. Sony's PlayStation 4 is proving a great seller for the tech giant, but that doesn't mean Sony won't try to extend that market dominance. Wherein, Macquarie Capital Securities analyst Damian Thong claims that the Japanese tech company might release its PlayStation 5 next year. It's worth pointing out that Macquarie Capital Securities analyst Thong is credited with predicting PS4 Slim and PlayStation 4 Pro, making the tech analyst a credible source. Nonetheless, a comprehensive look through the news archive of Google doesn't appear to show any prediction for the PS4 Pro that predates the initial PlayStation 4.5 exclusive, Euro Gamer reported. But, it is also worth pointing out that the prediction of Thong is nothing new as the analyst made the same claims about a prospective PlayStation 5 release last September. Thong also predicted that an upgraded PlayStation 4 model and a slim version of the gaming system were going to be rolled out by tech giant, before their eventual announcements, Express reported. Eventually, Sony's 2018 gaming system is viable, and the device would represent a considerable improvement over the PS4. Nevertheless, the comparisons against PlayStation 4 Pro or Xbox Project Scorpio will be less impressive, particularly when 4K displays will be the likely target, getting most of the extra power such a device could provide. In spite of that, owners of Sony's highly anticipated PlayStation 5 would delighted by the advantages of AMD's latest CPU architecture, and a graphics processing unit (GPU) that benefits from Radeon's improved technology. Meanwhile, the bandwidth of the PlayStation 5 would remain an issue. A huge video game could be provided through an UHD Blu-ray media, while a hybrid HDD/SSD would boost storage. The tech giant did not officially announce what kind of processor will be included in the upcoming PlayStation 5. Also, the price of the upcoming console will ultimately be decided based on what elements the tech company is able to put into it. Watch The Video Here: According to a new report from the National Association of College and University Business Officers, the underlying financial weakness of private colleges is now a nationwide problem. For the record, it is worse than ever. The association tracks the average tuition "discount rate" at private college and universities. Simply put, it analyzes the difference between the "sticker price" that schools advertise and the actual price they charge upon enrollment, after subtracting scholarships given by the schools themselves. To illustrate, if the "sticker price" is $50,000, but the average student pays $30,000, the discount rate is $20,000 divided by the sticker price ($50,000), or 40 percent. In 2005 to 2006, the mean discount rate was 38 percent. Since then, it has increased on a yearly basis. In fact, last fall, it reached a record high of 49.1 percent. Per New York Times, the gradually increasing discount rate suggests that a popular strategy for optimizing college revenues is running out of steam. Also, there are fewer paying customers with middle-and-working-class families continuing to struggle, leaving less money to support tuition fees. According to Economics Help, there is a thing called price discrimination. It says that in any market for good and services, there is a range of prices that customers are willing to pay. Typically, there will be a small percentage of people willing to pay a lot of money, a large number of people willing to pay a little money, and other statistics in between. When the number of people who want to buy something at a given amount becomes the same as the number of items the firm wants to sell at that price, the market price is born. However, no company would want to sell all of their products at the market price. Thus, they try to find the people willing to pay a lot of money and sell the product for the highest amount he or she is willing to pay. After that, companies find the next most willing buyer on the demand curve, and then the next, selling each product for different prices. This, now, is called price discrimination. Truly, it brings in a lot more revenue than selling the products for the same market price. Another concrete example is how airlines sell seats. They create business and first-class cabins, wherein the larger price is often equated to better service like free drinks, bigger spaces, and "more polite" flight attendants. However, in reality, first class is just an excuse to get the people who are willing to pay more because they are rich. The next move for them is to gather information about other passengers to know how much they can charge next. Well, airlines know that certain trips suggest business travel or that a last-minute flier is willing to pay more than people who planned their flights months in advance. College tuition discount rates are like airline seats. Schools do not want to sell each student slot for the same market price. They look for the rich students first who show sure interests in that particular school and charge his or her parents a lot of money. Simply put, this is the reason why colleges set the tuition fee high and then start discounting to accommodate the next customers in the demand curve. This is why schools ask for very detailed financial information during enlistment. They say that it is important to calculate the "best" package for students but the truth is they want to determine the price that is best for the college. Robert Mueller has been appointed as the special prosecutor to investigate Russian involvement in the 2016 election. The appointment was like a sucker punch for President Donald Trump as he had no idea about it. Hours after the appointment, he tweeted that it was a witch hunt. When White House counsel Don McGahn told President Trump that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein had just appointed Mueller as special prosecutor for the Russian probe, the president handled the news well than anyone expected. However, he couldn't hide his hurt regarding the move and tweeted what he really felt about it saying that no other politician in American history has experienced this kind of persecution. He also mentioned how the Clinton and Obama administration had committed illegal acts but no "special counsel was appointed." That tweet met a lot of criticisms and jeers as well as re-tweets. One user, Republican Tears, answered it by reminding Trump the long line of U.S. presidents who had experienced worse than him. Some even suggested that he will be out soon and replaced by Mike Pence. Trump could have viewed Mueller's appointment on a negative note but Fox News' Eric Erickson thought the opposite and advised that the GOP should even rejoice over the appointment on many points. First of all, whatever Mueller will find after the investigation will put an end to the case given the untarnished reputation he has on both sides of the fence. If he declares that Trump has no involvement with the Russians, it will be another "cry wolf" moment for the Democrats and they cannot assail his credibility. On one hand, if Mueller declares Trump has an involvement, they cannot accuse him of a frame-up. Most importantly, Mueller's appointment shows that the Department of Justice is willing to conduct an investigation independent of the White House. Union Pacific Plans to Invest $41 Million in its Wyoming Rail Infrastructure Union Pacific is boosting safety and efficiency with an approximately $41 million infrastructure investment in Wyoming this year. Projects funded by Union Pacific benefit Wyoming's overall transportation infrastructure without taxpayer funds. Union Pacific's investment plan funds a range of initiatives: $38 million to maintain railroad track and $2.8 million to maintain bridges in the state. Key projects planned this year include: $10 million investment in the rail line in eastern Goshen and Niobara counties to replace 68,579 concrete railroad ties and install 21,967 tons of rock ballast. $7 million investment in the rail line between Wamsutter and Rock Springs to replace 58,382 railroad ties and install 39,375 tons of rock ballast. "Union Pacific's targeted investments fund projects that strengthen our railroad tracks, increase safety and minimize delays as trains travel through communities across Wyoming," said Donna Kush, Union Pacific vice president Public Affairs, Northern Region. "Maintaining a healthy railroad is the foundation of our ability to serve customers and communities across the state." This year's planned $41 million capital expenditure in Wyoming is part of an ongoing investment strategy. From 2012 to 2016, Union Pacific invested more than $243 million strengthening Wyoming's transportation infrastructure. Union Pacific plans to spend $3.1 billion across its network this year. The company has invested $51 billion since 2000, contributing to a 40 percent decrease in derailments during the same time frame. ABOUT UNION PACIFIC Union Pacific Railroad is the principal operating company of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP). One of America's most recognized companies, Union Pacific Railroad connects 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country by rail, providing a critical link in the global supply chain. From 2007-2016, Union Pacific invested approximately $34 billion in its network and operations to support America's transportation infrastructure. The railroad's diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Coal, Industrial Products and Intermodal. Union Pacific serves many of the fastest-growing U.S. population centers, operates from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways, connects with Canada's rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major Mexico gateways. Union Pacific provides value to its roughly 10,000 customers by delivering products in a safe, reliable, fuel-efficient and environmentally responsible manner. The statements and information contained in the news releases provided by Union Pacific speak only as of the date issued. Such information by its nature may become outdated, and investors should not assume that the statements and information contained in Union Pacific's news releases remain current after the date issued. Union Pacific makes no commitment, and disclaims any duty, to update any of this information. However, the administration is seemingly making considerable effort to retain the perception of its own hardline stance toward the Islamic Republic, even while it accepts the political realities of the nuclear agreement and works within them, at least for the time being. In the present case, this effort came in the form of new sanctions against Irans ballistic missile activities. Beginning about three months after the conclusion of nuclear negotiations, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps conducted tests of weapons capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, thus flouting United Nations Security Council resolutions urging the avoidance of such provocations. Several such tests took place while President Obama remained in office, and another was conducted just over a week after President Trumps inauguration. The latter test led to the Trump White House issuing a statement putting Iran on notice over its ballistic missile work and its destructive influence in the Middle East as a whole. Some additional sanctions had been imposed over this issue by the prior administration and by the current one, and the latest measures broaden the list of sanctioned entities to include specific Iranian defense officials and a Chinese company with alleged business ties to the Iranian ballistic missile program. The nuclear agreement necessitates the suspension of sanctions related to Irans would-be development of a nuclear weapon, but it does not affect other types of sanctions enforcement, although Iranian officials have tried to argue that any new sanctions whatsoever constitute violation of the spirit of the JCPOA. For its part, the Trump administration has made similar references to the spirit of the agreement when criticizing Tehran over ballistic missile tests, provocative moves against US Navy vessels passing through the Persian Gulf, and the continuation of nuclear work that stretches the limits of what is allowed under the deal. Although the International Atomic Energy Agency has certified Irans general compliance with the terms of the agreement, the Iranian opposition group the Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran released intelligence in April suggesting that the institutions involved in the weaponization of Irans nuclear program had remained active. While such intelligence on its own may not be sufficient justification for the Trump administration violating or cancelling the JCPOA, it may still factor into the comprehensive Iran policy that the White House is still formulating, according to Stuart Jones, the top US diplomat in charge of the Middle East. Canadian Press quoted Jones as saying, 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. And above all, the United States will never allow the regime in Iran to acquire nuclear weapons. The previous administration was widely criticized for a narrow focus on the nuclear issue, which arguably encouraged the provision of unearned sanctions to the Islamic Republic in the interest of preserving the JCPOA. This criticism has in turn been attached to recent, destructive trends in areas of Iranian influence such as Syria, Yemen, and the waters of the Persian Gulf. On Thursday, Al Jazeera published the results of an analysis of some 1,400 public statements made by Iranian officials from across the political spectrum. One of the key points that it emphasized was widespread agreement about the regimes commitment to a political solution in Syria which excludes the opposition against President Bashar al-Assad. This is almost certainly unrealistic, but Iran now wields power over the diplomatic negotiations in part because it was welcomed into them by the Obama administration. By contrast, American advisory forces in Syria today have been specifically working to compete against Iran, as illustrated by a recent Riyadh Vision article describing the possibility of those forces and their local allies cutting off a planned Iranian route for linking Tehran to Damascus and the Mediterranean. The more general takeaway from the Al Jazeera analysis is that neither side of the Iranian political spectrum could realistically be expected to oversee improved relations with the West, or behavior that is more in line with Western interests. Although the Daily Mail predicted that the preservation of the nuclear deal would help the incumbent Hassan Rouhani to stay ahead of his hardline challenger in Fridays Iranian presidential elections, it seems safe to say that this was not a deliberate intention of the White House. The Trump administration has demonstrated distrust of the Iranian regime as a whole, regardless of who holds office. In this way, it is more in line with the views of the PMOI, which, apart from sharing intelligence on the regime, had been organizing a boycott of Fridays elections. Those efforts have specifically promoted regime change, as well as the ten-point plan of PMOI President Maryam Rajavi, which includes the commitment to a non-nuclear future for the country. This commitment is something the Trump administration does not seem to regard as attainable under the current nuclear agreement, or perhaps under the current regime. Student-Proposed Lighting Upgrade on UW Campus Cuts Costs, Improves Efficiency A recent lighting switch at the heart of the University of Wyoming campus will help reduce costs and improve energy efficiency, thanks to a student proposal. UW Operations recently installed energy-saving outdoor lighting on Prexys Pasture. The project was based on a student proposal to replace inefficient metal halide lighting with highly efficient LEDs. Using conservative estimates for reduced energy and maintenance costs, UW Operations predicts that the lighting retrofit should pay back in less than eight years, with additional energy and cost savings continuing into the future. Tyler Carroll, a senior majoring in geography, and environment and natural resources, developed the proposal for the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) sustainability minor. As part of the minor, students propose and implement sustainability action projects for campus and the immediate community. Carroll collaborated with then-undergraduate student Zach Millett, of Simi Valley, Calif., to make the proposal a reality after they met in ENRs spring 2016 Campus Sustainability course. I wanted to exemplify a sustainability-based project on campus where it could be seen by all students, staff, faculty and the general public, says Carroll, of Parker, Colo. My hope is that by improving the lighting quality and efficiency in the middle of campus, many people may see the value and importance of sustainable projects and replacing all lights with LEDs campuswide. Carroll and Millett submitted their lighting upgrade proposal through the competitive UW Conservation and Efficiency Revolving Fund (CERF) process. Since 2014, the UW Campus Sustainability Committee has piloted the CERF, which invites proposals from students, staff and faculty to invest in innovative efficiency pilot projects on campus. The committee selected Carroll and Milletts proposal based on its cost-effectiveness, visibility to the university community, ability to improve safety on campus and contribution to environmental sustainability. Now that the Campus Sustainability Committee accepted the students proposal and the upgrade is complete, UW Operations has explored expanding the project to both the Wyoming Hall parking area and Washakie Center outdoor lighting. These additional lighting upgrade expansions will have even quicker payback periods than the Prexys Pasture component of the project. These students designed an extremely well-thought-out and cost-effective project. The lights on Prexys are state-of-the-art, energy-efficient LED fixtures, yet stay within the historical guidelines for Prexys Pasture as well as the city of Laramies dark sky ordinance, says John Davis, executive director of UW Operations. This project complements the LEDs installed along the sidewalk north of Ivinson and the LEDs we have installed in many of the buildings throughout campus. We hope to be able to implement similar projects to reduce utility costs and improve campus lighting as our budget allows. UW Operations has funded recent efficiency projects through its major maintenance account. The CERF, which invests in projects and revolves savings to grow the fund, is currently seeking core funding to invest in major efficiency and conservation efforts and savings. In the meantime, the Campus Sustainability Committee continues to accept proposals that substantially contribute to campus cost savings. We want to continue to support smart student ideas, like Tyler and Zachs, that are forward-thinking about efficiency and conservation, says Nicole Korfanta, Campus Sustainability Committee co-chair and Ruckelshaus Institute director. And, we are actively seeking opportunities to reinvigorate and grow the CERF with external funding in order to do that. For more information about energy efficiency and campus sustainability, visit www.uwyo.edu/sustainability. Wyoming Business Tips for May 28-June 3 A weekly look at Wyoming business questions from the Wyoming Small Business Development Center (WSBDC), part of WyomingEntrepreneur.Biz, a collection of business assistance programs at the University of Wyoming. By Robert Condie, WSBDC southwest regional director I am starting a new business and want to know what is better for bookkeeping -- a simple spreadsheet or an accounting system? Logan, Rock Springs This is a question that is always asked as small-business owners are about to start up. Which way is the best way to go -- a big, sometimes costly, accounting system or a small simple spreadsheet that can keep track of everything that is needed at the end of the year? From my time spent working with accounting software and knowledge of spreadsheets, there are arguments both ways. But, at the end of the day, an accounting system seems to be the best way to go to address bookkeeping needs. Some points against using spreadsheets: -- Excel formulas are complex and prone to error. Accounting software handles all the calculations and does it properly. -- Excel spreadsheets are susceptible to fraud, because its easy to change information and hard to keep track of who is making the changes. Accounting software maintains an audit trail. -- Spreadsheet errors are easier to make -- copy/paste errors, moving content out of cells that other formulas base their calculations on, etc. -- and are much harder to track down. -- Each income stream requires a different spreadsheet to track earnings. This means that when small-business owners start offering more services, the number of spreadsheets will increase, and this can become confusing. One of my favorite things about an accounting system is the ability to call reports at any given time for a multitude of different reports to see an individual business from many different angles. There are built-in reports of income statement and balance sheets, as well as reports broken out by vendor or sales item. Fundamentally, accounting software is built to ensure the business owner records accounting data effectively, with minimal mistakes and good auditing. But, the need to use the tools properly to get the benefit is still required. Another advantage is that many accountants and bookkeepers are more familiar with accounting systems and can help with any discrepancies individual accounts might have if an owner uses their preferred tool. The cost of an accounting system might seem to be costly at first, but it can save time come tax time, which is money well spent. A blog version of this article and an opportunity to post comments are available at www.wyomingsbdc.org/blog1/. The WSBDC is a partnership of the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Wyoming Business Council and the University of Wyoming. To ask a question, call 1-800-348-5194, email wsbdc@uwyo.edu, or write 1000 E. University Ave., Dept. 3922, Laramie, WY, 82071-3922. The designation comes in the midst of increasing evidence that Tehran is targeting Bahrain, where Americas most important naval base in the Middle East resides. The sanctions were announced by the State Department on March 17, identifying the two individuals as linked to the Ashtar Brigades, a Bahraini group, that has been said to have carried out terrorist acts targeting Bahraini, Saudi, and Emirati security officials. The sanctions are also a signal of support to Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, whose leaders visited Washington three days before the State Departments announcement. In a report by David Andrew Weinberg, Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and Amir Toumaj, Research Analyst at Foundation for Defense of Democracies, they write, The designations are even more important given a Washington Post report last month that Western intelligence agencies believe Iran has attempted to smuggle into Bahrain enough C-4 explosives to sink a warship, as well as equipment to manufacture explosively formed penetrators that can tear through tank armor. The State Department described the two newly designated terrorists, calling the more prominent one an affiliate of the Brigades, who it said receives money and other support from Iran. Weinberg and Toumaj write, Sanadi is spokesperson and a central committee member of the Islamic Loyalty Movement (ILM), a radical Bahraini political faction. The Movement is virulently anti-American, with its recent messages on social media calling the US the mother of terrorism, setting fire to images of President Donald Trump and the American flag, and displaying a cartoon of crosshairs targeting the Capitol Building. They add, In 2016, Bahrains government accused Sanadi and the ILM of having links to the Bahraini terrorist cell called the Basta Group, which ILM denied. According to Bahraini authorities, Basta also had ties to the Ashtar Brigades and Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Bahrains government alleged that Bastas leadership constituted the ILMs armed wing, with terror capabilities under Sanadis command. The recent US action, accusing a leader of the ILM of links to terrorism, appears to confirm that some of Bahrains more radical political opposition is complicit in acts of violence against the state. Weinberg and Toumaj believe that if, Bahrains claims about Sanadis activities are correct which the new US action appears to at least partly corroborate then he is a key leader in the countrys terrorist insurgency. Ten days after the US sanctioned Sanadi, Bahraini authorities accused him of co-directing a terrorist cell linked to a February bus bombing that injured five police officers. The bombing came after Sanadis announced that his movement was beginning a new stage by seizing the public square and grasping the trigger. According to Manama, the cells fourteen members plotted assassinations and traveled to Iran nearly 70 times in three months. Six members are accused of receiving IRGC training in Iran, and five others are accused of being trained in Iraq by the US-designated, Iranian-proxy terrorist group Kataib Hizballah. Reuters reported that the Brigades announced an alliance with Kataib Hizballah earlier this year. Bahraini authorities previously accused Sanadi of playing a role in terrorist plots in 2015. A July 2015 bombing killed two policemen and injured six others. Bahrains Interior Ministry identified him as one of the plotters, calling him a religious leader for several Bahraini terrorist groups, and asserted that he receives monthly payments from the IRGC. Manama described Sanadi as one of the IRGCs coordinators for a plot to smuggle explosives from Iraq into Bahrain, and from there into Saudi Arabia, weeks earlier. Sanadis Islamic Loyalty Movements ideology reflects Irans efforts to export its revolution. Sanadi told a pro-Hizballah Lebanese newspaper in 2014 that the ILMs ideology is modeled after that of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder and first supreme leader of the Islamic Republic. The ILM website features 30 statements from Khomeinis successor Ali Khamenei described as golden commandments for a jihadist administration. The group also promotes a book by Lebanese Hizballahs deputy leader that teaches its approach to military jihad and vilayat-e faqih. In fact, in speeches delivered in Qom in 2015 and 2016, Sanadi himself embraced vilayat-e faqih and recognized Khamenei as amir al muminin, or leader of the faithful. According to Weinberg and Toumaj, who add, He also authored an anti-American article on Khameneis official website in December 2016. Other than a brief appearance in the Iraqi city of Karbala in late 2013, virtually all of Sanadis public appearances for propaganda purposes seem to have been made from Qom, including as recently as March of this year. Sanadi gave a lecture last year, on Bahrain to the Masoumieh Religious Seminary, an institution for training clerics to serve in Irans military and security services, including the IRGC. According to Reuters, in September 2016, Sanadi was allowed to deliver a Friday sermon at the most prestigious mosque in Qom. His activities in Qom highlight the overlap between Irans extremist ideology and his Bahrain-oriented activism. Iran has been known to host other IRGC-backed violent extremists in Qom, including Abu Dura, an Iraqi national designated by the US Treasury who was known as the Shiite Zarqawi, a reference to former al-Qaeda in Iraq chief Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Laith Khazali, an Iraqi who was imprisoned on charges of leading an operation that killed five American soldiers in the Iraqi city of Karbala, reportedly was hosted in Qom immediately upon his release in 2009. Another suspected leader in the 2007 Karbala attack, Azhar al-Dulaimi, purportedly received his training beforehand from Lebanese Hezbollah under IRGC supervision near Qom, according to Weinberg and Toumaj. Manama claims Sanadi co-directed Bahraini terror cells in 2015 and 2017 with Qassim Abdullah Ali, who it said is based in Iran and Iraq, where he allegedly coordinates the training of Bahraini terrorists by Kataib Hizballah. Manama also asserts that leaders of the Ashtar-linked Basta Group received $20,000 from Lebanese Hizballahs chief Hassan Nasrallah to support the ILM and launch attacks in Bahrain. Sanadi is not the only Bahraini individual Manama accuses of playing a top role in the Ashtar Brigades, and the group is not the only Bahraini extremist group aligned with Iran, these allegations suggest. The State Department indicated in its 2013 Country Reports on Terrorism that Manama intercepted a speedboat with arms and explosives linked to Iran and thought to be bound for the 14 February Youth Coalition, a radical Shiite opposition faction that has praised Khamenei. According to Caleb Weiss, groups such as the Saraya al-Karar and the Revolutionary Struggle Organization have used imagery based on the IRGC logo of a hand reaching up to grasp a Kalashnikov rifle. Another Bahraini terrorist group, Saraya al-Mokhtar, has demonstrated support for numerous IRGC proxies inside Iraq, Weiss added. Weinberg and Toumaj write, When the State Department sanctioned Sanadi, it took care to discourage Manama from perceiving its action as carte blanche for a domestic crackdown on the countrys Shiites, who form the majority of the population but are marginalized by its Sunni monarchy. Indeed, the announcement urged Bahrains government to clearly differentiate its response to violent militia groups from its engagement with peaceful political opposition. Given that the head of Bahrains main opposition party, al-Wefaq, is serving a four-year prison sentence for acts the US describes as peaceful expression, this is particularly relevant. The State Department could undermine its own message if it moves ahead with its plan to drop human rights conditions from a proposed $2.8-billion sale of US fighter jets to Bahrain, however. Bahrains regime has yet to address its serious domestic challenge from nonviolent Shiite opposition groups and a disaffected Shiite-majority public. But it also faces a genuine security threat from violent extremists. Washingtons recent counterterrorism sanctions against Sanadi and its confirmation of Tehrans support for the Ashtar Brigades confirms one of the pivotal pieces in the Bahraini governments narrative about Irans role sponsoring terrorism inside the kingdom. But if Bahrains rulers dont find a constructive outlet for legitimate Shiite dissent, then they risk driving more of the opposition into Irans arms, Weinberg and Toumaj conclude. By Esther Addley & Alan Travis on 19 MAy 2017 for the Guardian- Image above: Photo from Ecuadorian Embassy in London of Julian Assange after hearing report of Sweden dropping charges against him. From original article. Lest we forget US to charge Assange SUBHEAD: Swedens public prosecutor discontinues the rape investigation into WikiLeaks founder.Swedish prosecutors have dropped their preliminary investigation into an allegation of rape against the WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange , bringing an end to a seven-year legal standoff.The decision was taken after prosecutors concluded that at this point, all possibilities to conduct the investigation are exhausted, Swedens director of public prosecutions, Marianne Ny, said on Friday.In order to proceed with the case, Julian Assange would have to be formally notified of the criminal suspicions against him. We cannot expect to receive assistance from Ecuador regarding this.Therefore the investigation is discontinued.If he, at a later date, makes himself available, I will be able to decide to resume the investigation immediately.The WikiLeaks founder sought asylum in Ecuadors embassy in London in 2012 after losing court battles to avoid extradition to Sweden over the claims, which he denies.Separate allegations of sexual assault, made by a second Swedish woman, were dropped by Swedish authorities in 2015 after the statute of limitations expired.Shortly after the announcement on Friday morning, an image of Assange smiling was posted to his Twitter account.Later he tweeted again : Detained for 7 years without charge while my children grew up and my name was slandered. I do not forgive or forget.However, a lawyer representing the woman who made the allegation of rape described the decision as a scandal.It is a scandal that a suspected rapist can escape justice and thereby avoid the courts, Elisabeth Massi Fritz told Agence France-Presse in an email. My client is shocked and no decision to [end the case] can make her change [her view] that Assange exposed her to rape.With the threat of extradition to Sweden removed, the 45-year-old Australian could potentially opt to leave the embassy.However, Assanges lawyers have repeatedly said he will not do so without assurances that he will not face extradition to the US over possible espionage charges linked to WikiLeaks publishing activities the basis on which Ecuador granted him asylum.The Metropolitan police in London said Assange would also face immediate arrest for breaching his bail conditions; a warrant was issued when he failed to attend a magistrates court after entering the embassy.The Metropolitan police service is obliged to execute that warrant should he leave the embassy, the statement said.It added: Whilst Mr Assange was wanted on a European arrest warrant (EAW) for an extremely serious offence, the MPS response reflected the serious nature of that crime.Now that the situation has changed and the Swedish authorities have discontinued their investigation into that matter, Mr Assange remains wanted for a much less serious offence. The MPS will provide a level of resourcing which is proportionate to that offense.Per Samuelson, Assanges Swedish lawyer, told reporters the decision represented a total victory.This is one of the happiest days of my legal career. The decision was taken because he was interrogated in November 2016 and could give a good explanation of what happened This is obviously about consensual sex between two adults.Ecuadors foreign minister, Guillaume Long, also welcomed the decision, adding that he regrets that the Swedish prosecutor delayed more than four years in carrying out this interview. Given that the European arrest warrant no longer holds, Ecuador will now be intensifying its diplomatic efforts with the UK so that Julian Assange can gain safe passage, in order to enjoy his asylum in Ecuador.But Claes Borgstrom, the lawyer who originally represented Assanges two accusers but is no longer involved in the case, said he found the decision regretful. He told the Guardian: I understand why the prosecutors have dropped the case now.Such a long time has passed. But I regret that Julian Assange was not brought to the Swedish court of law to answer the allegations against him.All the time since he left Sweden it has been in his hands. He decided to avoid the arms of justice. He didnt want to come to court. He didnt want to answer the allegations, so he decided to escape.The EAW against Assange was formally withdrawn at Westminster magistrates court on Friday morning, the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed. The UK Home Office said the decision to drop the rape investigation was a matter for the Swedish authorities, and not one in which the British government had any involvement.Reuters reported in March that a long-running US grand jury investigation into WikiLeaks had been expanded to include recent leaks of CIA documents, a move that Assanges lawyers said strengthened the grounds for his asylum claim.Assange was interviewed by Swedens deputy public prosecutor, Ingrid Isgren, in the embassy in November , following a lengthy diplomatic and legal impasse between the Swedish and Ecuadorian authorities.Fridays announcement in Sweden followed the Swedish government receiving a letter from the government of Ecuador which accused the prosecutor of serious failure, including a lack of initiative to complete inquiries.The letter raised questions about developments in the US since the election of Donald Trump as president, including a speech by the CIA director, Mike Pompeo, describing WikiLeaks as a hostile intelligence service and a threat to US national security.Public declarations such as this constituted an obvious risk for Assange, the letter said.The US attorney general, Jeff Sessions, said last month that arresting Assange was a priority. There are no charges against him, although media reports have suggested the US justice department is considering how to bring them.Weve already begun to step up our efforts and whenever a case can be made, we will seek to put some people in jail, Sessions said.Asked at a Conservative party campaign event in Edinburgh if the UK would now support a request to extradite Assange to the US, Theresa May said: We look at extradition requests on a case-by-case basis.The prime minister added: In relation to Julian Assange , any decision that is taken about UK action in relation to him were he to leave the Ecuadorian embassy would be an operational matter for the police.The arrest of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is a US "priority", Attorney General Jeff Sessions has said, as media reports indicated his office was preparing charges against the leaker."We are going to step up our effort and already are stepping up our efforts on all leaks," Sessions said at a news conference on Thursday in response to a reporter's question about a US priority to arrest Assange.The justice department chief said a rash of leaks of sensitive secrets appeared unprecedented."This is a matter that's gone beyond anything I'm aware of. We have professionals that have been in the security business of the United States for many years that are shocked by the number of leaks and some of them are quite serious," he said."Whenever a case can be made, we will seek to put some people in jail."Prosecutors in recent weeks have been drafting a memo that looks at charges against Assange and members of WikiLeaks that possibly include conspiracy, theft of government property and violations of the Espionage Act, the Washington Post reported, citing unnamed US officials familiar with the matter.Several other media outlets cited unnamed officials as saying US authorities were preparing charges against Assange.Prosecutors had struggled to determine whether the First Amendment protected Assange from prosecution but had now found a way to move forward, officials told CNN.The justice department declined to comment on the reports.Assange, 45, has been holed up at the Ecuadoran embassy in London since 2012 trying to avoid extradition to Sweden where he faces a rape allegation that he denies.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.Assange's case returned to the spotlight after WikiLeaks was accused of meddling in the US election last year by releasing a damaging trove of hacked emails from presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's campaign and the Democratic Party.US officials say the emails were hacked with the aid of the Russian government in its bid to influence the US election.Critics say their release late in the race helped to tip the November 8 election to Republican Donald Trump Trump and his administration have put heat on WikiLeaks after it embarrassed the Central Intelligence Agency last month by releasing a large number of files and computer code from the spy agency's top-secret hacking operations. The documents showed how the CIA exploits vulnerabilities in popular computer and networking hardware and software to gather intelligence.Supporters of WikiLeaks say it is practising the constitutional right of freedom of speech and the press.CIA Director Mike Pompeo last week branded WikiLeaks a "hostile intelligence service," saying it threatens democratic nations and joins hands with dictators.Pompeo focused on the anti-secrecy group and other leakers of classified information like Edward Snowden as one of the key threats facing the United States."WikiLeaks walks like a hostile intelligence service and talks like a hostile intelligence service. It has encouraged its followers to find jobs at CIA in order to obtain intelligence ... And it overwhelmingly focuses on the United States, while seeking support from anti-democratic countries and organisations," said Pompeo."It is time to call out WikiLeaks for what it really is - a non-state hostile intelligence service often abetted by state actors like Russia."In response to Thursday's report WikiLeaks reposted on Twitter an opinion piece written by Assange and published in the Washington Post earlier this month."WikiLeaks' sole interest is expressing constitutionally protected truths, which I remain convinced is the cornerstone of the United States' remarkable liberty, success and greatness," Assange wrote. Ri Ra Las Vegas will be celebrating World Whiskey Day this Saturday, May 20. Guests can enjoy the special Tour of Ireland flight for $13 that includes a .5-ounce shot of popular Irish whiskies such as Greenspot, Bushmills and John Powers (Photo credit: Ri Ra Las Vegas). In addition to the special, Ri Ra offers a selection of more than 20 whiskey flights with pours from Canada, Australia, Taiwan and more. Tomorrow, May 19, is the last day of the McDonalds annual IPOF fundraiser that is held each year during National Police Week. Southern Nevada community members have been invited this week to visit select McDonalds for the fundraising event to benefit the Injured Police Officers Fund. A portion of the proceeds from all McCafe beverage purchases will go towards the fund in order to provide financial assistance for officers and their families in times of need. Since Monday, May 15, select McDonalds restaurants around the Las Vegas Valley have hosted personnel from multiple police jurisdictions including the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Nevada Highway Patrol, Henderson Police Department and the North Las Vegas Police Department who have volunteered their time to visit and greet customers, and address community concerns while raising donations and awareness for the fund. Following a shooting in North Las Vegas in June of 2014, McDonalds restaurants throughout Southern Nevada held a one-day fundraiser that resulted in $45,000 worth of donations that benefited the Injured Police Officers Fund and went towards aiding the families of fallen officers Alyn Beck and Igor Soldo, as well as civilian victim Joseph R. Wilcox. The Injured Police Officers Fund was created to help reduce the financial burden suffered by police officers and their families in the event of an injury or death that occurs in the line of duty. Local McDonalds owner-operators are dedicated to providing continued support to valued community partners like the Injured Police Officers Fund and are proud to provide support where it is most needed. Vietnams FDI Inflows Rise to US$4.8 Billion in April FDI disbursed in the first four months of 2017 shows a strong year on year growth with inflows rising to US$4.8 billion, up 3.2 percent from the same period last year for a total of 734 newly registered projects. The total registered and additional capital in the first four months witnessed a jump of 40.5 percent, reaching US$10.95 billion. The growing numbers prove the increasing confidence of foreign investors in the countrys investment climate. Read more Da Nang Emerging as Southeast Asias Next Startup Hub According to a new JLL report, Da Nang is one of the fastest emerging startup cities in Southeast Asia. Other cities in the region include Penang in Malaysia, Chiang Mai in Thailand, and Bali and Bandung in Indonesia. Driven by low cost, a robust engineering talent pool, and government support, the port city is known for attracting established players in the tech field but increasingly is being sought out by startups looking for a foothold or base of operations in Southeast Asia. Read more Vietnams Aquaculture Exports to Reach US$13 billion by 2020 According to the Vietnam Sea Culture Association, exports of marine aquaculture produce are predicted to reach US$12-13 billion (VND 276-299 trillion) by 2020 and US$30-35 billion (VND 690-805 trillion) by 2030. To achieve their goals, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has approved a project to increase competitiveness in seafood sector with financial support from the State Budget and foreign businesses, to restructure the sector towards improving its value added products. Read more Dezan Shira & Associates Brochure Dezan Shira & Associates is a pan-Asia, multi-disciplinary professional services firm, providing legal, tax and operational advisory to international corporate investors. Operational throughout China, ASEAN and India, our mission is to guide foreign companies through Asias complex regulatory environment and assist them with all aspects of establishing, maintaining and growing their business operations in the region. This brochure provides an overview of the services and expertise Dezan Shira & Associates can provide. An Introduction to Doing Business in Vietnam 2017 An Introduction to Doing Business in Vietnam 2017 will provide readers with an overview of the fundamentals of investing and conducting business in Vietnam. Compiled by Dezan Shira & Associates, a specialist foreign direct investment practice, this guide explains the basics of company establishment, annual compliance, taxation, human resources, payroll, and social insurance in this dynamic country. Managing Contracts and Severance in Vietnam In this issue of Vietnam Briefing, we discuss the prevailing state of labor pools in Vietnam and outline key considerations for those seeking to staff and retain workers in the country. We highlight the increasing demand for skilled labor, provide in depth coverage of existing contract options, and showcase severance liabilities that may arise if workers or employers choose to terminate their contracts. Members of the public are up in arms after a provincial court released the defendants in one of Vietnams most notorious and large-scale corruption cases with a slap on the wrists. Late last month, the Haiphong Peoples Court ruled that three high-ranking officials from Do Son town had not adhered to state regulations even though state investigations found the officials had misappropriated tens of thousands of square metres of resettlement land for themselves, their families and senior officials. The court issued a warning to the defendants and required them to pay VND50,000 in court fees. The defendants are former Do Son party chief Vu Duc Van, former chairman of the towns peoples committee Hoang Anh Hung and former deputy chairman of the committee Luu Kim Thai. The Do Son land scandal was unveiled by state investigators last year following a petition by a veteran in Haiphong. The investigations and court case have sent the media into frenzy for months and triggered public outrage. Following the court ruling, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung called on the Supreme Peoples Procuracy and the Supreme Peoples Court to scrutinise the case. Dung said the court decision ran counter to the countrys efforts to crack down on widespread corruption among civil servants. In response, the Haiphong court has officially admitted that its ruling was subject to a series of written requests from municipal leaders, who said the court should handle the defendants softly due to their very good working records. The local media also reported that one of the citys leaders had told an official meeting that since some other big corruption scandals had not been treated as crimes, the Do Son case did not need to be. The citys leaders also advised the court against prosecuting the former head of its Department of the Environment and Natural Resources Chu Minh Tuan for his role in the scandal as he had made big contributions to the city and his health was not good. The three defendants could have been jailed for between one and five years for the charge of abusing power and position while conducting public work. These fines are just a joke. Who knows how much they have benefited from the large amounts of land that they have misused? said Bui Dinh Nguyen, a 60-year-old veteran in Hanoi. The ruling is particularly unacceptable at a time when Vietnam is doing more than ever to fight corruption, Nguyen said. The calls for leniency from the citys leaders have been seen as moves to protect the defendants, as they and their relatives had allegedly been allocated land by the lawbreakers. Nguyen Quang Loc, the chief of the administrative affairs office at the Supreme Peoples Court, said the court has asked the Haiphong court to hand over the documents for scrutiny. No. 778/September 11-17, 2006 vir.com.vn People withdraw money from an Agribank ATM in Thanh Hoa City.-VNA/VNS Viet Thanh The Payment Department under the SBV reported early this week that in 2016, out of the total 70 million transactions at 100 million ATMs, the number of fraud cases was not significant. Nonetheless, Government agencies and institutions in the financial and banking sector have been authorised by the SBV to increase security levels within the banking system. Nguyen Toan Thang, Secretary General of the Viet Nam Banks Association, said that commercial banks are co-operating with public security departments to fix these security breeches, while the SBV frequently monitors banks security levels. Commercial banks frequently alert their account holders to information leaks, fraudulent practices and at the same time seek to establish air tight interbank information exchanges to protect their customers and themselves. However, the SBV also warned that the nature of ATM card fraud is complex and changing, with a wide array of manoeuvres available to criminals - from phishing, identity theft to illicit malware installation, especially with mobile devices, to obtain account information and passwords from cardholders. One such case occurred at the ong A Commercial Joint Stock Bank in April, wiping out VN129 million (US$5,766) from a customers account. Last Saturday, seven transactions from a Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Viet Nam (Vietcombank) account were made, totalling VN30 million (over $1,300). The account owner said he received text messages informing him of the change of his account balance on Sunday morning. Vietcombanks representative told Viet Nam News on Tuesday that its contact centre was contacted the same day by said customer. The bank promptly locked the account and helped him carry out necessary procedures. The bank said his rights would be ensured if he did not make the transactions himself. Serious procedures must be taken by commercial banks to protect their customers, which include sending warning messages to customers about swindles, encouraging customers to change their PIN regularly, registering SMS notifications of all changes in the account balance and updating personal information. To minimise risks, Vietcombank recently announced adjustments of conditions for using internet banking services. However, customers claimed the new regulations placed unreasonable responsibility on the users. Vietcombank immediately suspended the new regulations. After many other thefts, which always occur at midnight, many banks have cut short their automated service hours. For example, Agribank announced that its ATM service would operate from 6am to 9pm, instead of offering 24/7 online transactions as regulated by the central bank. Regardless of the public backlash against bank security measures, it is reasonable to assume that both the customers and the banks are at fault. This signals gaps in the management of credit cards in particular and in the banks security in general. The most urgent requirement now is to mend the gap in the banking systems security," a banking expert told the Vietnam News Agency. Furthermore, at a conference on online security in late 2016, Jason Yuen from Ernst & Young Malaysia Advisory Services said there would never be a completely reliable network, especially for the banking sector. Yuen predicted the number of hacking incidents affecting Vietnamese banks would grow, and they would continue to be hard to trace and stop. Banks should take these security threats as a systemic risk, which means that without a precise strategy, a bank that invests $20 million in online security is no safer than one investing $10 million, he advised. A 2016 report from Russias Kaspersky Lab on spam and phishing showed that Viet Nam was the second originator of spam and junk mail in the world. Recent real estate M&A transactions Recently, Quoc Cuong Gia Lai Joint Stock Companys stock price has been on a constant increase, propelling it from under VND4,000 ($0.18) to VND14,200 ($0.62) on May 12 (ticker QCG on HoSE). One of the reasons for this galloping rise was mentioned in the firms audited consolidated financial statement. In particular, QCG had received $50 million of deposit in order to transfer 100 per cent of its ownership in the Phuoc Kien project (Nha Be, Ho Chi Minh City) to Sunny Island Investment. This deposit helped QCG to pay off a VND1.352 trillion ($59.5 million) debt to the Bank of Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV). Phuoc Kien is a sizable residential project on a 93-hectare area. Nguyen Thi Nhu Loan, chairman of QCG, said that the firm has put a lot of effort and placed high expectations on this project. However, up till now, the project has not finished paying land use fees and site clearance compensation. Thus, the project is not qualified to be transferred, so it is not clear how the deal has been struck between the parties. Sunny Island Investment, the partner of QCG, is a newbie on the market. This company was established on February 16, 2017 with VND250 billion ($11 million) of chartered capital, and it is headquartered in Van Thinh Phat Office Building at 8 Nguyen Hue Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. It is rumoured that Sunny Island Investments owner is a rich businessman in the real estate market who has recently become well-known for a wide range of acquisitions. Apart from Phuoc Kien, QCG has previously transferred some other projects as well, such as the project at 39 Ben Van Don Street, District 4, Ho Chi Minh City to Novaland Group. The project has since been renamed The Tresor. Recently, in Ho Chi Minh City, there have been rumours of Phat Dat Real Estate Development Corporation transferring River City (District 7) to Van Thinh Phat Investment Group Corporation, the developer of the $6-billion Saigon Peninsula located right beside River City. In the recent annual shareholders meeting, Nguyen Van Dat, chairman of Phat Dat, declined the rumour. Nevertheless, Phat Dat has recently cancelled the apartment sale and purchase agreements already made with some customers in River City and duly paid compensation to them. Also, it stopped the sale announcements and sales activities of apartments in the project. River City has a total investment fund of $500 billion and is developed by Phat Dat in cooperation with An Gia Investment and Development Corporation, which specialises in investing and developing residential properties in Ho Chi Minh City, and Creed Group, a Japanese real estate firm specialising in principal investment and property development. Recently, Phat Dat has transferred a part of its ownership in the VND1-trillion ($44 million) Cam Ranh Mystery Villas in Northern Cam Ranh Peninsula to real estate firm Hung Thinh Corporation. Hung Thinh declined to disclose the exact value of the transaction, however, it is promoting the projects development. Previously, Hung Thinh had plenty of successful real estate M&A transactions. Its most recent successes were the acquisition of two real estate projects in Binh Tan district, Ho Chi Minh City from Binh Chanh Construction Investment Shareholding Company (BCCI). Another firm, called Dream House Investment Corporation (DRH), is expanding its scale by real estate M&A transactions. Since 2016, DRH has been constantly publicising its purchases of numerous real estate projects, such as D-VELA on Huynh Tan Phat Street, a high rise apartment project on Ben Binh Dong Street, and Loc An Resort in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau. Most recently, DRH has spent hundreds of billions of VND on purchasing two real estate projects called Terracotta Hill and Metro Valley. In particular, Terracotta Hill has an acreage of 26,745 square metres with about 140 detached houses, each with an average acreage of 105sq.m, and four 210sq.m villas. The total investment for this project is VND195.6 billion ($8.6 million). DRHs low-rise apartment project in District 9, Ho Chi Minh City has a total acreage of 3.47 hectares with a total investment of VND640 billion ($28.16 million). Besides, many other real estate firms in southern Vietnam have also been revving up M&A activities, such as Novaland, Greenland, and Thu Duc House Under the theme Seeking a big push, Vietnam M&A Forum 2017 will be the place to exchange suggestions and introduce opportunities as well as share experiences to create a breakthrough in the market. Slated to take place on Thursday, August 10, 2017 at GEM Centre in Ho Chi Minh City, the 9th Vietnam M&A Forum will feature the following activities: A specialised conference on M&A activities in Vietnam; A Deal Awards ceremony to honour the best M&A deals of 2016-2017; The issuance of Vietnam M&A Outlook 2017 Special Publication; A post-conference master class on M&A strategy. We are delighted to invite your organisation to become part of the forum by jointly organising and sponsoring the event, promoting your image, and presenting your business and projects at the forum and in its related publications. Potential real estate market Expert opinion says that Ho Chi Minh City with its 13-million population has great potential for development. However, as the population is growing and available land plots are drying up, firms with greater land banks will have more chances to develop. Thus, real estate M&A is a tool for firms wishing to develop rapidly. According to Luong Si Khoa, vice chairman of An Gia Company, M&A is the shortest way to acquiring clean land funds for projects. By M&A, firms can save up time spent on implementing prescribed procedures, as well as time for dealing with compensation for site clearance. If a firm implements a brand new project, it may take the developer up to one year to cover these stages. Firms should seize the chance and introduce their projects soon, while the market is at a strong place, Khoa said. According to Nguyen Dinh Trung, chairman of Hung Thinh Corporation, M&A for long-delayed projects also benefits all parties and the Vietnamese market. The increase in real estate M&A will help stabilise the real estate market and the economy. As current M&A transactions take projects out of the hands of firms with no demand for them, or those lacking professionalism, and shift them to the more financially-capable and professional firms, they facilitate project implementation and prevent long-delayed projects and inventories from piling up, Trung said and added that Hung Thinh has so far developed about 30 real estate projects, most of them originating from M&A transactions. Le Hoang Chau, chairman of the Ho Chi Minh Real Estate Association (HoREA), said that at present, there are numerous projects left abandoned, waiting to be rescued. In the period of 2009-2013, there were over 14,000 apartments and hundreds of real estate projects in Ho Chi Minh City that were left abandoned, so many firms had to transfer their projects to achieve financial balance. Without professional firms, there will be no beautiful urban areas or modern projects constructed professionally, Chau said. Also, he added that recent M&A transactions have increased market liquidity, decreased inventories, and recovered consumers confidence. Solar ESCO JSC and Tan Cang-Song Than ICD signing the lease contract Solar ESCO JSC, a member of Vietnamese renewable energy firm SolarBK, and Tan Cang-Song Than ICD signed the contract to lease the solar system to ICD Song Than Logistics Center in the southern province of Binh Duong, with a total capacity of 500.96 kWp. Under the agreement, Solar ESCO JSC would invest in the solar power system being installed by SolarBK at Tan Cang-Song Than ICD. This solar-powered model is not only economical but also contributes to environmental protection, helping to reduce CO 2 emissions by 518.5 tonnes a year. Nguyen Thanh Son, director of Tan Cang-Song Than ICD said, the trend of green logistics has been developing globally for many years, and customers increasingly attach environmentally friendly clauses to business contracts. He added that they always expect a holistic solution that can solve both economic and social responsibility issues. On this basis, they found that SolarBK provides tailored solutions to these issues. In this solar grid solution, SolarBK will provide 1,616 IREX solar panels with a total system peak power of 500.96 kWp. Accordingly, the system will generate about 784,218 kWh of electricity annually. To supply stable power for warehouse service, SolarBK has carefully calculated the optimal settings thanks to its previous experience in implementing large projects. SolarBK is the leading provider of renewable energy solutions in Vietnam, with a wide range of internationally-certified products exploiting wind and solar energy. It is gearing up efforts to extend the list of solar systems implemented in Vietnam, promoting cleaner and greener development. SolarBK scoops second Energy Globe Award for energy and water solutions In addition to its Light up the Spratly Islands project, Vietnamese renewable energy firm SolarBK, in 2009, installed a hybrid power supply system using both wind and solar energy with a capacity of 824kWh per day. IREX set to benefit from solar flare-up IREX Energy JSC, the countrys leading solar panel producer, is expected to ride the coming solar investment wave into the local solar energy market. US President Donald Trump. (AFP/SAUL LOEB) Lashing out after a high-powered special counsel was appointed to investigate events around the 2016 election, Trump denied he ever plotted with the Kremlin to win the White House. "The entire thing has been a witch hunt," Trump said during a press conference in the East Room of the White House. "There is no collusion between certainly myself and my campaign, but I can always speak for myself, and the Russians - zero." On Wednesday, an investigation into his campaign's ties with Moscow was significantly strengthened by the appointment of straight-shooting former FBI director Robert Mueller to lead it. Trump said he had "respect" for the move, but added: "I think it divides the country." Early in the day, a seething Trump took to Twitter to blast the appointment, which shook Washington and sent world stock markets tumbling. "This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history!" Trump wrote, his anger bubbling over. "With all of the illegal acts that took place in the Clinton campaign & Obama Administration, there was never a special counsel appointed!" he said, without providing evidence for those claims. US intelligence suspects that Russian President Vladimir Putin orchestrated a sweeping campaign to tilt the vote in the Republican's favour. At the centre of the political firestorm are Trump's former national security advisor Michael Flynn and his one-time campaign manager Paul Manafort, and their multiple undisclosed contacts with Russian officials during and after the vote. So far, no evidence of collusion has been presented, but the question has consumed the first four months of Trump's presidency and spurred multiple crises that have left the White House shell-shocked. CRISIS AFTER CRISIS Trump sent shockwaves across Washington last week by unceremoniously sacking his FBI director - a virtually unprecedented move that came as James Comey was heading an investigation into Team Trump's links to Russia. It later emerged that Comey had made notes of his meetings with Trump, who reportedly asked him to quash an investigation into Flynn's contacts with foreign governments. Asked outright whether he had asked Comey - as reported - to drop the investigation into the Moscow connections of his sacked national security advisor, Michael Flynn, Trump fired back: "No. Next question." "Director Comey was very unpopular with most people," he said. "We need a great director of the FBI." Trump went on to dismiss as "totally ridiculous" the notion that he himself may have committed a prosecutable - or even impeachable - offence in recent months, as argued by some critics who suspect him of obstructing the FBI's probe. "We look forward to getting this whole situation behind us," he said, vowing to focus his administration's resources instead on creating jobs, strengthening the military and reforming health care. At the start of another roller-coaster week in Washington, Trump was accused of divulging highly sensitive classified information gleaned by Israeli spies to visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The series of bombshell allegations has left Trump aides dazed and wondering about the future of his young presidency. With Trump only eight per cent of the way through its term, his advisors spend their days swapping rumors of mass White House firings. Others are already considering leaving, and allies due to join the administration say they are holding off. The appointment of Mueller as special counsel will raise the intensity of the investigation and make it less vulnerable to political interference. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who named Mueller to lead the probe, briefed US senators on Thursday. Fighting back against multiple crises has consumed much of the political oxygen inside the White House, leaving Trump's agenda in doubt. But the president's most powerful ally on Capitol Hill, House Speaker Paul Ryan, said Thursday the work of government would continue regardless. "It's always nice to have less drama," he said. "That doesn't seize up Congress. That doesn't stop us from doing our jobs to work on people's problems." Some of Trump's Republican allies, like Congressman Jason Amash, have begun cautiously suggesting impeachment is no longer impossible. With the 2018 Congressional mid-term elections fast approaching, maybe of Trump's erstwhile allies face a difficult campaign dominated by questions about the president's conduct and with few legislative victories to fall back on. A Gallup tracking poll put Trump's approval rating at a historically low 38 per cent, even before the latest wave of scandals. Tourists at the Pagoda of Celestial Lady in Thua Thien-Hue Province According to the Vietnam Tourism Association, in order to implement the government's resolution to turn tourism into Vietnam's key sector, visa exemptions should be continued for visitors from major tourist markets. The association said they had received requests from tourism firms and local tourism associations to continue visa exemptions for tourists from France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Belarus and the UK for five years. They also suggested exempting visas for visitors from India, Australia, Canada, and countries in Eastern Europe including Poland, Czech, Bulgaria and Hungary, as well as former Soviet countries. Vu The Binh, the association's vice chairman, said it was competitive as neighbouring countries all have open visa policies. "Expanding visa exemptions is a common trend. Thailand exempts visa for tourists from 61 countries, Malaysia exempts visa for 155 countries and in Singapore, it's 158. Meanwhile, we have only exempted visa for 22 countries," he said. Tourism firms said since the visa exemption programme only lasted for one year, they didn't dare spend too much on promotion. Normally, their short-term plans last from three to five years and over five years for long-term plans. The one-year visa exemption has only attracted independent tourists as firms await a more stable policy. Tran Thi Viet Huong from Vietravel said most European tourists plan their vacations six months to a year in advance while the programme would end this June. This will affect their decision-making about holidays next year. Le Tuan Anh, Deputy Director of the International Co-operation Department of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism said they had suggested extended the programme to five years and raise the standard length of stay for tourist visas from 15 to 30 days during meetings with other agencies. "Resolution 8 on developing tourism states that pilot programmes can be carried out for urgent matters that don't have their own regulations yet. This suits the tourism sector which includes many other sectors. Thanks to it that the e-visa programme was piloted quickly in February," Anh said. The number of visitors from Europe dramatically increased after the visa exemption was introduced. In the first quarter, the number of visitors from France, Germany, Spain, Italy and the UK reached 240,000, an increase of 12% compared to same period last year. The growth rates from Spain were 23%, 13% from Italy, 13% from Germany, 11% from France and 9% from the UK. Vu The Binh, the Vietnam Tourism Association's vice chairman, emphasised that the e-visa was different programme and they still needed to expand the visa exemption programme. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Prime Minister Hun Sen was in Beijing this week for a meeting on Chinas Belt and Road initiative, which analysts said could bring significant benefits to Cambodia. The multi-trillion-dollar scheme proposed by Chinese premier Xi Jinping in 2013 aims to promote economic integration across Eurasia by investing in a Silk Road Economic Belt and Maritime Silk Road, comprising transnational economic corridors and new trade arrangements. Joachim Von Amsberg, a vice president at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, which will fund the scheme, told the World Economic Forum in East Asia, held in Phnom Penh last week, that the increased integration offered by Xis initiative was being widely welcomed in Asia. The infrastructure is quite a central part of development strategy that benefits in particular countries like Cambodia, he said. He added that Cambodia would need to develop policies to ensure that the plans can be implemented and infrastructure brought up to scratch. In energy, for example, providing reliable and sustainable energy for all, he added. Similarly, transport that allows trade across the region, but also allows all people access to markets, people in rural areas could access school and health care. According to Asian Development Bank figures, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations -- a 10-nation bloc including Cambodia -- will need some $26 billion in investment by 2030 to meet regional infrastructure demands. Mark Rathbone of PricewaterhouseCoopers said better regulations were needed in Cambodia to encourage investment in infrastructure from the private sector. Of course the project, Belt and Road, would be able to help the government talking to the Chinese government, Japanese government, Korean government, Singaporean government, Malaysian and Thai government, Rathbone said, All of those who might want to invest in your country through all the types of relationships. Chheang Vannarith, chairman of the Cambodian Institute for Strategic Studies, said in joining the Belt and Road Initiative Cambodia must also pay close attention to the social and environmental impact of development. The risk in infrastructure development comes if we make fast development without the proper study on the environmental and social harm, he said. HIGHER US TROOP LEVELS IN AFGHANISTAN? The Trump administration is considering whether to send between three to five thousand additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan to try to break a stalemate in the 15-year long war against the Taliban. Administration officials say President Donald Trump is likely to discuss a troop increase when he attends a NATO summit later this month. VOAs Ayaz Gul in Islamabad and VOA Pentagon Correspondent Carla Babb discuss the looming military escalation in Afghanistan. Space exploration is not something Chicago student Mawuto Akploh says she finds in her textbooks, or classroom discussion in her school. We do physics, biology, earth and space sciences, she told VOA. But we never actually take the time to talk about the people who actually do those things. Akploh is originally from Togo, and immigrated with her parents to the United States when she was a young child. She now attends a Chicago area high school career academy, and just became certified as an automobile mechanic. Akploh says aerospace engineering wasnt an option at her school. Its not that people dont want to do it its that people dont know about it. That lack of knowledge has, in part, fueled a shortage of students in the U.S. seeking advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering and math - also known as STEM. Fields the aerospace industry depends on. There is a shortage across engineering which I think is generally bad for humanity. Which is one reason Beth Moses hopes her career serves as an inspiration to others to answer that shortage. After successfully serving at NASA as the assembly manager for the International Space Station, Moses is now the chief astronaut trainer at Virgin Galactic, founded by British entrepreneur Richard Branson, seeking to be the first company consistently taking paying passengers into orbit. We are doing something, and I am doing something that has never been done before, she explained to VOA. Theres no road map, theres no instruction manual, no guidance on how to do this. Which is why, as Moses writes one of the new instruction manuals in the emerging field of commercial human spaceflight, the need for more engineers is critical to help her company - and others - meet the demands of a growing industry that Moses says doesnt come in pink or blue. In my entire time, in school and in aerospace engineering both at NASA and here at Virgin Galactic, Ive never once had any hassle or gender issue, and there have been plenty of women around and also plenty of diversity of all kinds age, race, points of view. It was a message Moses reinforced to those gathered at the Drake Hotel in Chicago, where she was awarded the 2017 Women in Space Science Award from the Adler Planetarium's Women's Board. It also was a part of her pitch to hundreds of Chicago area high school students, including Mawuto Akploh, who gathered to see her speak at the place that sparked Moses' own interest in space the Adler Planetarium. In front of a large view screen in the Adlers theater, the audience was awed by her video presentation showing test flight footage from Virgin Galactic, and what the experience of heading into space as a commercial passenger with her company might look like, when it takes off. Moses views the opportunity for widely available space flight as a unifying endeavor for humanity, but knows well that the final frontier of space is a difficult environment to master. In 2006, Richard Branson told VOA he was hopeful Virgin Galactic would be orbiting the earth soon. Twenty-four months from now, my parents, my children and myself shall be popping into space, he said with a grin. But a series of setbacks, including a crash in 2014 that led to the death of one of the test spacecrafts co-pilots, has pushed that timeline back. Eleven years later, Branson still waits to be his companys first passenger. He told British newspaper The Daily Telegraph in April he hopes to see Virgin Galactics first sub-orbital flight by the end of 2017. We are in the air and we are working our way through a test program, Moses told VOA. When it is complete and the vehicle is safe, well start commercial flights with Richard and his family. Those are flights that more than 700 passengers have already paid more than $200,000 to experience, reinforcing to students contemplating a career in aerospace engineering that not only is it in demand, it could also be lucrative... something Mawuto Akploh is keeping in mind as she plans for college, where a course of study in physics is her top pick. A roadside bomb has killed at least 11 civilians, mostly women and children, in Afghanistans eastern Logar province. The victims were returning from a wedding party Friday afternoon when their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device in the Mohammad Agha district, according to the provincial governors office. There were five women and five children among the dead. There were no immediate claims of responsibility. The deadly bombing came just days after the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) warned that the number of child deaths resulting from conflict-related incidents in the country have risen by 21 percent in the first four months of 2017. The mission recorded 987 child casualties, including 283 deaths, between January 1 and April 30, the highest number of children killed for the same period since UNAMA began documenting Afghan civilian casualties. Hours earlier on Friday, a roadside bomb hit an American military convoy north of the capital, Kabul, but no injuries have been reported, said the U.S. military. Without sharing more details, a U.S. military spokesman told VOA the disabled vehicle is being recovered and the convoy will continue and complete its mission. Local TOLOnews TV, however, quoted witnesses as saying the blast in Charikar, the capital of Parwan province, caused several casualties, without giving further details. U.S. military convoys usually undertake missions together with Afghan security forces. The Taliban instantly took credit for the violence, claiming it left several U.S. soldiers dead, though the insurgent group often issues inflated tolls for such attacks. Separately, an Afghan policeman has gunned down five colleagues in the eastern Nangarhar province. The overnight incident of a so-called insider attack happened at an outpost in the Ghanikhil district. The shooter fled the scene after collecting firearms of the victims. There were no immediate claims of responsibility, though assailants often join Taliban ranks after committing the violence. Nangarhar is where Islamic State militants stormed the provincial headquarters of the state-run Ration Television of Afghanistan, or RTA, earlier this week. The suicide-bomb-and-gun attack left at least six people dead, including four RTA employees and two security forces, while many more were wounded. Loyalists of the Syria-based terrorist group operate out of several remote districts in the province, which borders Pakistan. Brazil's top prosecutor is accusing President Michel Temer of corruption and obstruction of justice, according to a court filing released Friday by the country's Supreme Court. The accusations by Attorney General Rodrigo Janot relate to the release this week of an audio recording that allegedly shows the president tried to derail a massive corruption investigation known as "Car Wash." In the secretly recorded conversation, first reported by the O Globo newspaper on Wednesday evening, the president is purported to have given his approval to monthly payments of hush money to a jailed politician. That politician, Eduardo Cunha, was once a powerful member of Temer's ruling party and is now in prison for taking bribes in the anti-corruption drive. Cunha has previously said that he has compromising information about other politicians linked to the bribery scandal. The scandal threatens to derail Temer's presidency just a year after the center-right politician took over from impeached leftist President Dilma Rousseff. Temer denied any wrongdoing in a televised address Thursday and rejected calls for him to resign. Thousands protest Thousands of people demonstrated against Temer on Thursday in the capital, Brasillia, and in Rio de Janeiro. More protests are planned for the weekend. Temer faces an investigation by the Supreme Court as well as the potential collapse of his base in Congress, opening the way to impeachment proceedings. So far, Temer's PMDB party and coalition partner, the PSDB Social Democrats, are still backing the president, with the only calls for impeachment coming from opposition lawmakers. A succession of brutal murders of women and children in South Africa has sparked national outrage and calls for action to end persistent violence. "We, as the citizens of this country, we must say enough is enough," said South African President Jacob Zuma, speaking Thursday at a service for three-year-old rape and murder victim Courtney Pieters of Cape Town. "This cannot be accepted. The police must double their effort. I don't know whether we need to introduce more harsher laws or change the laws. This, I think, we must discuss. It's a crisis in the country." South Africa has long had high levels of rape and murder, but a rash of crimes in recent weeks has grabbed national attention. The remains of 22-year-old Karabo Mokoena were buried Friday. Her charred body was found this month at an illegal dump in Johannesburg. Her boyfriend, who police say confessed to killing her, has been arrested. Well-known South African men have stepped up, calling on other men to take a stand. "When are we going to take our position in society, in families and come to the defense of our women and children?" said actor Patrick Shai. "When is that? How many Karabo's must be dead before you stand up as a man and say it will not happen in my name?" Karabo's death was followed by the gruesome killings of four other women, also in Soweto, the southwestern suburb of Johannesburg. Two of the women were friends. Three suspects have been arrested in connection with their case. The other two cases are being investigated separately. Police say all four women appeared to have been raped and murdered. The youngest victim, Nombuyiselo Nombewu, was 15 years old. Her aunt, Vuyelwa Nombewu, says she cannot understand why someone would do this. "There is a lot that we expected from Nombuyiselo. We never thought her life will end this way," Nombewu said. The crimes of aggravated murder and rape in South Africa carry sentences of 25 years in prison. While Zuma says harsher penalties may be needed, activists say police are not aggressively enforcing the existing laws. Police Minister Fikile Mbalula accepts the criticism. "Some cases have been reported, including to the police," Mbalula said. "Not enough action has been taken. Now is the time to amplify and speak to those who passed on and those who are still alive to have a massive campaign on the question of gender-based violence." Cheryl Tshabangu of the Pink Ladies Organization, a group in South Africa that helps trace missing children and family members, says it is important that education starts young. "It's high time we taught a boy child what it means to respect a woman," Tshabangu said. "We are living in societies that are broken. Most of these boys who end up being abusive are growing up watching the abuse happening at home." One in five women in South Africa experience violence at the hands of a partner, according to a study released last week by the government agency Statistics South Africa. As Nigeria fights the brutal insurgency of Boko Haram, its army is hampered by an equally dangerous enemy: corruption. That is according to a new report by Transparency International (TI), a German-based non-governmental organization, which found that Nigerian military officers, politicians and other elites have enriched themselves by diverting money that was meant to fight terror. Much of this money is said to have disappeared through kickbacks, payments to "ghost soldiers" who don't exist, or via no-bid contracts resulting in inflated spending that benefits politically-connected contractors. Nigeria's vice president believes that $15 billion was lost on fraudulent arms procurement deals alone. "Corruption is worsening the conflict, and it's a big driver of insecurity in Nigeria," said Katherine Dixon, Transparency International's program director. "So, over the last 10 years, corrupt elites have profited from the conflict in the northeast and driven Nigeria to a crisis point." Nigerian military sees 'successes' Nigeria's director of defense information, Major General John Enenche, told VOA's Daybreak Africa on Thursday that the report is false and unfortunate. "I would tell the whole world, since 2015, from when this new leadership took over, things have changed," he said. "So, I am suspecting that this kind of report is just meant to tarnish our image, demoralize our troops and discourage the international community that [is] helping us in our efforts to sustain the successes we are attaining in the northeast." Some of the corruption allegations mentioned in the report predate President Muhammadu Buhari, who made eradicating corruption a major campaign promise. The administration has taken action to fulfill its pledges, according to Dixon. "What the president has done is, he has set up these ad hoc committees to look into historic spending and has taken some steps to identify and prosecute individuals which have been involved in security sector corruption in the past," she said. A drop in oil prices has left corrupt officials in Nigeria scrambling for other ways to enrich themselves, according to TI's findings. Since defense makes up 20 percent of Nigeria's budget, it is an attractive target. Although military rule officially ended in Nigeria in 1999, TI says a small group of senior officers continue to control spending, and they, along with civilian enablers, enrich themselves through schemes like phantom contracts. In 2014, for instance, National Security Adviser Colonel Sambo Dasuki awarded a $500 million contract for refurbished helicopters to a company owned by a friend and financier of former President Goodluck Jonathan. The delivered helicopters were not suitable for combat and have never been deployed, TI reported. "For the price of each helicopter provided by this contract, the Air Force could have acquired seven top-grade, brand new military helicopters," an unnamed source cited in the report said. Troops suffer, terror gains Dixon believes that it's ultimately the frontline troops who suffer from this kind of corruption. Under-equipped soldiers have been killed in ambushes or have simply fled the battlefield when faced with the superior firepower and equipment of the terror group. In 2015, 66 soldiers who had been sentenced to death for desertion had their sentences commuted when the court heard testimony that they did not have proper weapons or equipment. Other soldiers, supposedly on the front lines, don't exist at all. "Payments aren't made to the soldiers on the ground, and you end up finding lots of ghost soldiers in the ranks," Dixon said, referring to soldiers who exist only on paper to generate payments for commanders. TI found that the corruption also helps Boko Haram in its recruitment efforts. "If you've got an ill-disciplined security sector that is abusing its own power, whether it's because its soldiers are not being paid or because there's just [a] sort of a culture of impunity, then, of course, you are driving people to join groups like Boko Haram, who offer a very simplistic alternative to what is considered to be a corrupt establishment," Dixon said. TI recommends that the Nigerian military develops an anti-corruption strategy, provide public access to security information, regulate security votes and protect whistle-blowers. Dixon says that monitoring confidential procurement is also essential. "Some secretive spending will inevitably have to happen that should be overseen by a particular committee, so that you have proper monitoring that's confidential procurement," she said. "So any spending that is important enough to remain secret is important enough to monitor effectively." Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Friday Chinese counterpart China Xi Jinping had warned him there would be war if Manila tried to enforce an arbitration ruling and drill for oil in a disputed part of the South China Sea. In remarks that could infuriate China, Duterte hit back at domestic critics who said he has gone soft on Beijing by refusing to push it to comply with an award last year by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which ruled largely in favor of the Philippines. Duterte said he discussed it with Xi when the two met in Beijing on Monday, and got a firm, but friendly warning. "We intend to drill oil there, if it's yours, well, that's your view, but my view is, I can drill the oil, if there is some inside the bowels of the earth because it is ours," Duterte said in a speech, recalling his conversation with Xi. "His response to me, 'we're friends, we don't want to quarrel with you, we want to maintain the presence of warm relationship, but if you force the issue, we'll go to war." Duterte has long expressed his admiration for Xi and said he would raise the arbitration ruling with him eventually, but needed first to strengthen relations between the two countries, which the Philippines is hoping will yield billions of dollars in Chinese loans and infrastructure investments. The Hague award clarifies Philippine sovereign rights in its 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone to access offshore oil and gas fields, including the Reed Bank, 85 nautical miles off its coast. It also invalidated China's nine-dash line claim on its maps denoting sovereignty over most of the South China Sea. Duterte has a reputation for his candid, at times incendiary, remarks and his office typically backpeddles on his behalf and blames the media for distorting his most controversial comments. Duterte recalled the same story about his discussion with Xi on oil exploration in a recorded television show aired moments after the speech. He said Xi told him "do not touch it." He said Xi had promised that the arbitration ruling would be discussed in future, but not now. Duterte said China did not want to bring up the arbitral ruling at a time when other claimant countries, like Vietnam, might also decide to file cases against it at the arbitration tribunal. It was not the first time the firebrand leader has publicly discussed the content of private meetings with other world leaders. His remarks came the same day that China and the Philippines held their first session in a two-way consultation process on the South China Sea. They exchanged views on "the importance of appropriately handling concerns, incidents and disputes involving the South China Sea," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement that gave few details. U.S. officials and lawmakers may have been outraged when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans bodyguards attacked and beat peaceful protesters in Washington as their leader watched. Back in Turkey, however, that hard-line approach is welcomed by many of the presidents nationalist supporters. The clash Tuesday began when Erdogans motorcade pulled up in front of the Turkish ambassadors residence, returning from a visit to the White House and a meeting with President Donald Trump. Erdogan, emerging from his limousine, stood and watched as his guards and supporters began punching and kicking their way through a group of mostly Kurdish protesters across the street. Eleven people were injured. Two senators protest Two U.S. senators protested to Erdogan Thursday about his guards behavior. The violent response of your security detail to peaceful protesters is wholly unacceptable, Senators Dianne Feinstein and John McCain said in a letter to Erdogan. They added that the incident was unfortunately reflective of your governments treatment of the press, ethnic minority groups and political opponents. While some Turks also decried the use of force to quash a peaceful protest, calling it a blemish on the countrys international reputation and a violation of free speech, those who support Erdogans increasingly authoritarian rule felt it was justified. Protesters deserved to be beaten Those terrorists deserved to be beaten, Atakan, a taxi driver from the city of Erzurum, told a VOA reporter. They should not be protesting our president. They got what they asked for. Yusuf Kanli, a newspaper columnist and political analyst, said no matter how bad it may have looked, the scene played right into Erdogans image. Watch: Anti-Erdogan Protesters Say They Were Attacked by President's Bodyguards I believe Erdogan makes use of this type of brawl for internal politics, to solidify his electorate and to get more nationalists to move to his party, Kanli said. If you are an anti-Erdogan citizen in Turkey, you think like the civilized world and do not approve of beating people who think different from you. But if you are a pro-Erdogan citizen, you applaud when people who dont think like you do get beaten up. Erdogan has bolstered his power base, particularly since a coup attempt last year. He has cracked down hard on dissent, jailing journalists and the leaders and other legislators of the HDP, a Kurdish party that was the second-largest opposition group in Parliament, on allegations of terrorism. Growing political divide The result has been a growing political divide in the country, as shown by results of a referendum last month in which voters narrowly approved even more sweeping powers for Erdogan. People who support Erdogan approve a show of force, Orkan, an engineer from Istanbul, told VOA. So at the end, the sharp polarization within the country deepens more. A similar clash between Erdogans men and protesters broke out a year ago when he visited Washington for a nuclear conference. Turkish people who support Erdogans AK Party see this sort of incident as legitimate, said Ilhan Tanir, a freelance Turkish journalist and analyst. Pro-government newspapers and columnists are proof of that. They say they had to teach the PKK terrorists a necessary lesson. Erdogans bodyguards remind me of Moammar Gadhafis bodyguards, Tanir said. They liked to get into fights, too. But with Erdogans guards, violence has almost become a habit. A couple of things about the WannaCry cyberattack are certain. It was the biggest in history and its a scary preview of things to come. But one thing is a lot less clear: whether North Korea had anything to do with it. Despite bits and pieces of evidence that suggest a possible North Korea link, experts warn there is nothing conclusive yet, and a lot of reasons to be dubious. Within days of the attack, respected cybersecurity firms Symantec and Kaspersky Labs hinted at a North Korea link. Google researcher Neel Mehta identified coding similarities between WannaCry and malware from 2015 that was tied to the North. And the media have since spun out stories on Pyongyangs league of hackers, its past involvement in cyberattacks and its perennial search for new revenue streams, legal or shady. Meet Lazarus But identifying hackers behind sophisticated attacks is a notoriously difficult task. Proving they are acting under the explicit orders of a nation state is even trickier. When experts say North Korea is behind an attack, what they often mean is that Pyongyang is suspected of working with or through a group known as Lazarus. The exact nature of Lazarus is cloudy, but it is thought by some to be a mixture of North Korean hackers operating in cahoots with Chinese cyber-mercenaries willing to at times do Pyongyangs bidding. Lazarus is a serious player in the cybercrime world. It is referred to as an advanced persistent threat and has been fingered in some very sophisticated operations, including an attempt to breach the security of dozens of banks this year, an attack on the Bangladesh central bank that netted $81 million last year, the 2014 Sony wiper hack and DarkSeoul, which targeted the South Korean government and businesses. The Lazarus Groups activity spans multiple years, going back as far as 2009, Kaspersky Labs said in a report last year. Their focus, victimology, and guerrilla-style tactics indicate a dynamic, agile and highly malicious entity, open to data destruction in addition to conventional cyberespionage operations. WannaCry doesn't fit But some experts see the latest attack as an anomaly. WannaCry infected more than 200,000 systems in more than 150 countries with demands for payments of $300 in Bitcoin per victim in exchange for the decryption of the files it had taken hostage. Victims received warnings on their computer screens that if they did not pay the ransom within three days, the demand would double. If no ransom was paid, the victims data would be deleted. As ransomware attacks go, thats a pretty typical setup. But thats not or at least hasnt been the way North Korean hackers are believed to work. This is not part of the previously observed behavior of DPRK cyberwar units and hacking groups, Michael Madden, a visiting scholar at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and founder of North Korea Leadership Watch, said in an email to The Associated Press. It would represent an entirely new type of cyberattack by the DPRK. Madden said the North, officially known as the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, if it had a role at all, could have instead been involved by giving or providing parts of the packet used in the attack to another state-sponsored hacking group with whom it is in contact. This type of ransomware/jailbreak attack is not at all part of the M.O. of the DPRKs cyberwar units, he said. It requires a certain level of social interaction and file storage, outside of those with other hacking groups, that DPRK hackers and cyberwar units would not engage. Basically theyd have to wait on Bitcoin transactions, store the hacked files and maintain contact with the targets of the attack. Attack not strategic Other cybersecurity experts question the Pyongyang angle on different grounds. James Scott, a senior fellow at the Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology, a cybersecurity think tank, argues that the evidence remains circumstantial at best, and believes WannaCry spread because of luck and negligence, not sophistication. While it is possible that the Lazarus group is behind the WannaCry malware, the likelihood of that attribution proving correct is dubious, he wrote in a recent blog post laying out his case. It remains more probable that the authors of WannaCry borrowed code from Lazarus or a similar source. Scott said he believes North Korea would likely have attacked more strategic targets two of the hardest-hit countries, China and Russia, are the Norths closest strategic allies or tried to capture more significant profits. Very few victims of the WannaCry attack appear to have paid up. As of Friday, only $91,000 had been deposited in the three Bitcoin accounts associated with the ransom demands, according to London-based Elliptic Enterprises, which tracks illicit Bitcoin activity. Disgraced former Congressman Anthony Weiner has pleaded guilty to criminal charges involving his contact online with a 15-year-old girl, an admission that will result in an expected prison term and registry as a sex offender. Shortly after Weiner appeared in court in New York, his estranged wife, Hillary Clinton's close aide Huma Abedin, filed for divorce. She asked that records of case be kept sealed from public view. The 52-year-old political figure, once a rising star in Democratic Party circles in New York City, wept in court as he admitted the charges against him and agreed not to appeal against a prison sentence ranging from 21 to 27 months. I have a sickness, but I do not have an excuse, Weiner said in what his attorneys said was an apology to his 15-year-old victim. She told a tabloid news site last year that the ex-congressman had been exchanging lewd messages over the internet with her for several months. Forced out of Congress after 12 years Weiner, who has been embroiled in several similar sex scandals, asked the teenager, who did not live in New York, to undress for him on camera, she said. The Brooklyn-born, six-term congressman was forced to resign from the House of Representatives in 2011 the same year his and Huma Abedin's son was born after a sexually explicit image of him appeared on his public Twitter account. Weiner said the post was an accident, but later admitted that he had exchanged messages and photos of an explicit nature with about six women over a three-year period. Two years later, in 2013, another sexting scandal erupted just as Weiner was preparing to enter the New York City mayoral race. He had used an alias, Carlos Danger, to send explicit images of himself to a 22-year-old woman from the state of Indiana. Abedin left Weiner 9 months ago News of that incident forced Weiner to drop out of the mayoral race. Abedin eventually announced she was leaving her husband in August of last year, after it was reported Weiner had exchanged sexually explicit text messages with another woman while lying in bed in their apartment with his son. Abedin was considered Hillary Clinton's closest and most trusted aide, and was an influential member of the former first lady's presidential campaign last year, which ended in defeat to Republican Donald Trump. Abedin and Weiner's marriage in 2010 attracted wide notice because of their prominent political profiles and because of the only in New York circumstances that brought them together. Although both were liberal Democrats, their union seemed unlikely, at least in part because she is Muslim and he is Jewish. Weiner's misdeeds put him under FBI scrutiny, and that investigation collided with Abedin's work for Clinton, under investigation herself for a series of controversial email practices. Federal agents searching a computer Weiner used found a cache of email messages between Clinton and Abedin, and news of that discovery became an issue in the latter stages of the U.S. political campaign. Emerging from her crushing defeat in France's presidential contest, far-right leader Marine Le Pen said Thursday she will run for a parliamentary seat in June elections and that her National Front party has an essential role in a new political landscape. Le Pen will run for a seat in a district in her northern stronghold of Henin-Beaumont, a hardscrabble former mining region where she lost a similar bid in 2012. A new failure could jinx her bid to unite the National Front and to make it France's leading opposition party. I cannot imagine not being at the head of my troops in a battle I consider fundamental, Le Pen said in an interview on the TF1 television station, her first public appearance since her May 7 loss to centrist Emmanuel Macron. Le Pen announced her candidacy while facing forces of division that could frustrate her new goals. Her popular niece is leaving politics, her disruptive father is back in the ring and her party is in disarray. At the same time, Macron has upset the political equation, drawing from the left and right to win the presidency and to create his government. The new president now is looking across the political spectrum to obtain a parliamentary majority to support his agenda. We are in reality the only opposition movement, Le Pen said. We will have an essential role to play (and) a role in the recomposing of political life, she said, reiterating her contention that the left-right divide has been replaced by globalists, Europeanists and nationalists like herself. Le Pen is counting on the 10.6 million votes she received as a presidential candidate to propel her anti-immigration party into parliament in the June 11 and June 18 elections. The party also hopes to pick up votes from electoral orphans unsatisfied with Macron and feeling betrayed by the mainstream right, National Front Secretary-General Nicolas Bay said this week. The National Front plans to field candidates for each of France's 577 electoral districts, hoping to block Macron's movement from obtaining a majority of seats and to secure a strong bloc of its own to counter his new government. Le Pen dismissed the notion that there were links between her loss and a series of events widely seen as potentially weakening the National Front. The party recently lost a rising star who served as a unifier on its conservative southern flank. One of the National Front's two current lawmakers - Le Pen's niece, Marion Marechal-Le Pen - announced last week that she was leaving politics, at least temporarily. Enter Jean-Marie Le Pen, who likened his granddaughter's exit from politics to a desertion. The elder Le Pen, who was expelled from the party he co-founded because of his penchant for making anti-Semitic comments, is backing up to 200 parliamentary candidates through an ultra-conservative alliance, the Union of Patriots. Some of the five parties represented in the alliance are headed by former National Front militants who, like Jean-Marie Le Pen, were expelled by his daughter in her bid to scrub up the party's image for the presidential contest. His own Jeanne Committees will present some 35 of the 200 candidates. The decision smacks of revenge, but the elder Le Pen's aide denied that was the case. This is not meant to cause trouble for the National Front. It is to defend the values that the National Front no longer defends, the aide, Lorrain de Saint Affrique, said. The risk that other far-right parties would challenge the National Front has existed since the National Front decided to exclude Jean-Marie Le Pen, De Saint Affrique said. They should have thought of that then. The competition from all but obscure parties is not a substantial threat to Le Pen, but mirrors frustrations roiling the National Front, some of which became public following Le Pen's defeat. More menacing, her top lieutenant, Florian Philippot suggested after Le Pen's loss to Macron that he would leave the party if it decided to do away with the goal of leaving the euro currency - a divisive proposal but at the top of Le Pen's presidential platform. I'm not there to keep a post at any price and defend the reverse of my deep convictions, he said last week on RMC radio. Le Pen conceded Thursday that the subject of the euro considerably worried the French and would be discussed after the parliamentary elections. We will have to take this into account, reflect, she said. She welcomed Philippot's launching this week of an association, called The Patriots, which could be seen as the budding of a potential rival, like the movement Macron started 13 months ago, En Marche (On the Move). The more ideas the better, she said. A group of top French officials and ministers from President Francois Hollande's outgoing government drafted an emergency plan to manage the consequences of a win by Marine Le Pen in the recent presidential election and to weaken her, if she were elected, according to French media. The secret plan, which was seen as a bid to protect France's Fifth Republic and to keep public order by the officials who drew it up, included delaying the handover of power from Hollande to Le Pen and keeping the outgoing president as head of state until after next month's parliamentary elections. That way, Le Pen would not have been in a position to appoint her own prime minister. The officials were calculating her National Front party wouldn't secure a parliamentary majority, forcing Le Pen to accept a prime minister and Cabinet selected by opposition parties. "It was like a multistage rocket," a senior official told L'Obs, a weekly news magazine. "The philosophy, and the absolute imperative, was to keep the peace, while also respecting our constitutional rules," he added. The plan, which at the very least would have skirted convention, did not have to be put into operation because centrist Emmanuel Macron pulled off a crushing victory, defeating Le Pen by a two-to-one margin. The first goal in the mind of the plan's participants was freezing the political situation, according to officials who spoke with French newspapers, and preventing violent civil unrest. The second was to restrain Le Pen. In the run-up to the elections, French media reported police and intelligence chiefs were alarmed at the prospect of the anti-immigrant and anti-EU Le Pen winning, and they worried France would be drawn into chaos with left-wing protesters refusing to accept the result. In April, Le Parisien, a daily newspaper, reported on a confidential memo drafted by intelligence chiefs saying every local public safety directorate was expressing concern about the consequences of Le Pen being elected. Officials told L'Obs that under the overall plan to manage a Le Pen victory, parliament would have been recalled in emergency session. "The country would have come to a halt and the government would have just one priority, assuring the security of the state," an official told the weekly magazine. Future for party, Le Pen Meanwhile, Macron's decisive win over Le Pen has shattered National Front unity, with recriminations flying over the heavy defeat. "Rarely in French political history had there been such a confluence of favorable conditions for the election of an extremist and populist candidate in a presidential race: a lingering EU migrant crisis, the soaring recurrence of actual and prevented terror attacks throughout the country, increasing segments of French society feeling disenfranchised, a growing voters' fatigue with worn-out manifestos by self-seeking traditional parties, and a stagnating national economy; all seemed essential ingredients for a majority vote in favor of Marine Le Pen," notes analyst Solon Ardittis of the Germany-based Institute of Labor Economics, an independent research institute. Party critics of Le Pen agree with that assessment and it is driving rifts within the National Front. Le Pen, who will contest a seat in next month's parliamentary elections in a mining town in northern France, insists her party still has an essential role to play in French politics and that she will remain at the head of it. "We are, in reality, the only opposition movement. We will have an essential role to play [and] a role in the recomposing of political life," she told a French television channel on Thursday. One of her nieces, 27-year-old Marion Marechal-Le Pen, a rising political star, and one of only two National Front lawmakers in the outgoing parliament, announced this week she's quitting politics. And Le Pen's deputy, Florian Philippot, is now forming his own "patriotic" movement. Opinion polls are now suggesting that the one-year-old party of France's newly elected Macron, the youngest leader of the country since Napoleon Bonaparte, is surging ahead of next month's parliamentary elections. A survey puts his La Republique en Marche party at 32 percent of the vote, 13 percent ahead of its nearest rival, Les Republicains. Macron's choice of Cabinet members some prominent figures, others unknown but all drawn equally from the right and left of French politics has also gone down well with the public, with a 61 percent approval rating. Le Pen's defeat has been greeted by many European liberals as a sign that the populist wave that's been washing across Europe has now run its course. Some analysts, however, say that the populists shouldn't be counted out yet. Macron's victory, argues Robert Skidelsky, a political economist at Britain's Warwick University, amounts to a win in one battle and not the end of the war. "The idea that one in three French citizens would vote for the National Front's Le Pen was inconceivable only a few years ago," he said. The Greek Parliament approved another round of tough economic cuts and austerity measures Thursday to assure itself another installment payment of European bailout funds. Greece may have again faced bankruptcy in July without the payment. More cuts for pensioners All 153 lawmakers in Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' leftist coalition voted for the cuts; all 128 opposition members voted no. More than 10,000 Greeks weary of the nation's economic problems, including elderly pensioners facing more cuts, marched outside Parliament against the measures. Several dozen young marchers wearing masks broke away from the crowd to throw gasoline bombs at police, who responded with tear gas. Greece desperately needs about $8 billion of bailout money from its eurozone lenders in order to make a scheduled debt payment. Tax hikes part of deal In exchange, the government agreed to EU demands for more austerity measures, including tax hikes and programs aimed at easing poverty. With Thursday's vote, Greek officials hope they can renegotiate payment terms on the nation's massive debt payment nearly 180 percent of Greece's gross domestic product. The International Monetary Fund calls this number unsustainable. Greece has been relying on international bailouts since 2010, when the outgoing conservative government badly underreported the country's debt. President Donald Trump is wasting no time trying to succeed where his predecessors have failed. He will visit Israel and the Palestinian territories on Monday and Tuesday of next week, hoping to revive peace talks that collapsed three years ago. His goal is what he calls the ultimate deal that would bring an elusive peace to the Holy Land. Both sides are preparing to roll out the red carpet, Israel in Jerusalem and the Palestinians in the biblical West Bank town of Bethlehem which is under limited self-rule. The President will be warmly welcomed here as a great friend of Israel and as is customary for the leader of our greatest ally, the United States, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his Cabinet. The president is seeking to examine ways of renewing the peace process with the Palestinians. I share in this desire as do the citizens of Israel. We want peace. Netanyahu says he is ready to resume negotiations without preconditions, but Abbas insists that there must be an end-game. Our strategic and sole option is to achieve the two-state solution, the state of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital to live side by side in peace, safety and stability together with the state of Israel along the 1967 borders, Abbas said at a White House meeting with Trump in early May. That is a simple statement but it encapsulates the deeply complex issues of the conflict. While Netanyahu publicly endorses the idea of creating a Palestinian state, its well known that he doesnt really like the idea for security reasons as well as Jewish historical and biblical ties to the disputed West Bank. He rejects the 1967 borders as indefensible and says that Israeli sovereignty over its eternal capital Jerusalem, including the Old City with its Jewish, Muslim and Christian holy places, is not negotiable. Israel captured the Old City, the West Bank and Gaza Strip during the Six Day War in 1967 and it annexed East Jerusalem shortly afterward. Highlighting the tightrope on which Trump will be walking is his planned visit to the Western Wall, the first by an American president to Judaisms holiest site in the Old City. When Netanyahu asked if he could accompany the president, a U.S. diplomat told the Israelis that the site is in the West Bank and is not your territory. Israeli officials were furious and demanded an explanation from the White House, which later clarified that the diplomats comments do not reflect official policy. In addition to the charged question of the status of Jerusalem, the other so-called final status issues are just as thorny: Jewish settlements, Palestinian refugees and final borders. Trump is not intimidated by these obstacles that have blocked the efforts of the worlds top diplomats for decades. We want to create peace between Israel and the Palestinians, he said. We will get it doneIt is something that I think is frankly, maybe, not as difficult as people have thought over the years. Comments like that have many observers concluding that Trump, a businessman who sees himself as a dealmaker but has little experience in international diplomacy, is simply naive. At the end of the day this is not a question of technique or process, says Zalman Shoval, a former Israeli ambassador to the United States. Its a much deeper issue of two peoples who lay claim to the same small piece of land...So I dont think its a question of being a business person or not being a business person, [but rather], one has to very thoroughly learn the deeper issues at hand. The Palestinians dont know what to expect because Trump has not yet endorsed the bedrock of U.S. Middle East diplomacy since the Oslo (peace) Accords of 1993, namely, the two-state solution. I'm looking at two-state and one-state, and I like the one that both parties like, Trump said at a White House news conference with Netanyahu in February. If Israel and the Palestinians are happy, I'm happy with the one they like the best. That stunned the Palestinians but delighted Netanyahu, who heads a right-wing coalition with pro-settler parties that strongly oppose a Palestinian state. Israeli nationalists say a Palestinian terror state already exists in the Gaza Strip, from where Israel evacuated all soldiers and settlers in a unilateral withdrawal in 2005. Two years later, the Islamic militant group Hamas seized control of the territory and has since fired thousands of rockets across the border at Israel. But with a new sheriff in town, as Nikki Haley, the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., put it, both the Israelis and Palestinians want to give the new administration a chance. While the probability of the ultimate deal seems as slim as ever, Trump will begin with the more achievable first step that his predecessors took: trying to goad the parties back to the negotiating table. Ivanka Trump will travel with the president to Saudi Arabia, Israel and Italy on his upcoming foreign trip, a White House official said. A senior adviser to President Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump will be present for six days of the nine-day trip, which begins Friday, the official said. She'll join her father for some events, but will also hold some of her own, the official said. The official said that in Saudi Arabia, Ivanka Trump will take part in a roundtable discussion with Saudi women about women's economic issues. Ivanka Trump wants to hear about the challenges women in the country face and the progress they have made, the official said. The person was not authorized to be quoted by name discussing the details of the plan in advance of the formal announcement and spoke on condition of anonymity. In Israel, Ivanka Trump - who converted to Judaism when she married husband Jared Kushner - will visit the Western Wall with the president. And in Rome, she will take part in a discussion about human trafficking with the Community of Sant'Egidio, an aid group with ties to the Vatican. She will also take part in a meeting with the Pope. The meetings build on some issues the first daughter has already worked on at the White House. She has held meetings on women's economic empowerment and human trafficking. This is the president's first international trip, but Ivanka Trump made a brief trip to Germany in April to appear on a panel at a conference dedicated to helping women in business. The foreign trip comes amid tumult for the White House after a series of damaging reports, culminating with the appointment of a special counsel to probe ties between Russia and President Donald Trump's campaign and associates. Many White House aides have been hoping the trip will provide an opportunity for the young administration to refocus. Ivanka Trump stepped away from running her clothing brand and from an executive role at the Trump Organization before she joined her father's administration as an unpaid adviser. She still owns the brand, which could be boosted by her high-profile stint at the White House. Pro-Syrian government forces hit by U.S.-led coalition airstrikes in an established deconfliction zone inside Syria were directed by Iran, U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis said Friday. Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon the strikes were conducted in "self-defense" and were "necessitated by offensive movement with offensive capability of what we believe were Iranian-directed forces." He added that it was unclear whether Iranians were on the ground with the forces. U.S. Central Command spokesman Major Josh Jacques said in an interview with VOA on Thursday that pro-Syrian government forces set up a convoy northwest of the al-Tanf army base where U.S.-led coalition forces are training Syrian militias fighting Islamic State with Syrian tanks, bulldozers, armored vehicles, artillery vehicles and technical vehicles, and began creating fighting positions for their tanks. Coalition strikes destroyed one of the tanks, two front-end loaders, another piece of construction equipment and a tactical vehicle, according to a U.S. Central Command strike release. Officials say some of the pro-Syrian government forces are still violating the deconfliction zone set up around the al-Tanf base. The zone has been established as the area within a 55-kilometer radius from the base. "We're calling on them to withdraw from the deconfliction zone," Jacques told VOA. 'Every opportunity to leave' Over several hours, the coalition flew aircraft through the airspace and fired missiles into the ground as "warning shots" near the pro-Syrian forces, but they continued building their positions, Jacques said. The coalition also used a deconfliction hotline established between the U.S. and Russia to see if the Russians could get them to leave the area, but several apparent Russian attempts led to no change from the forces. "It looks like the Russians tried to dissuade them," Mattis said Friday. "After that, we couldn't do much else," Jacques said. "They had every opportunity to leave the area." Syria has condemned the deadly coalition attack and said airstrikes near the border with Jordan are hampering efforts by the Syrian army and its allies to fight Islamic State. Russia a close ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government called the airstrikes "unacceptable." Syrian rebels hailed the coalition raids and encouraged further actions against the pro-Syrian government forces and Shi'ite militias who also are trying to gain control of the strategic border point. "What happened today demonstrates that they cannot reach our territories," Al-Baraa Fares, a spokesman for the rebel group Maghaweer Al Thawra, told VOA. "When they tried, we informed the collation airplanes, which destroyed their convoys." Force protection A U.S. official estimated that "possibly dozens of fighters" convoyed into the restricted area ahead of the airstrike. Another official put the number of pro-government fighters inside the deconfliction zone at a "couple hundred." "The strike was not a change in policy," but rather an instance of the commander on the ground calling for force protection, according to a third official. A statement from the coalition Thursday confirmed the deconfliction zone agreement remains in effect. Jacques also said that Russia had agreed to call the United States to deconflict whenever they planned to operate in the area within 55 kilometers of the base. The Russians had used the hotline less than 24 hours before the Syrians violated the space. "The line's been up and running," he noted. The U.S. military says it does not communicate with pro-Syrian government forces and speaks with Russian forces only when needed to prevent miscalculations, since U.S. and Russian aircraft both conduct bombing missions in Syrian skies. "We will never work with the Assad regime," Brett McGurk, the special presidential envoy for the counter-IS coalition, told Pentagon reporters Friday. Anti-Islamic State initiative Anti-IS coalition forces have been operating in the al-Tanf area for many months. Their focus has been to train and advise Syrian rebel groups on how best to capture key terrorist-controlled territories on the Syrian southern border with Jordan and Iraq. The pro-Syrian government forces were 25 kilometers away from al-Tanf base when they were targeted by coalition planes, according to Fares. Fares said the pro-Syrian government forces tried but failed to receive reinforcement from nearby Shi'ite militias. French President Emmanuel Macron made his first official trip outside Europe on Friday, visiting French troops stationed in Mali and pledging to be uncompromising in the fight against Islamist terrorism. Macron said at a joint news conference in Gao with Malian counterpart Ibrahim Boubacar Keita that terrorists in West Africa were clearly a risk for Europe. He vowed that French troops would remain in Mali until the extremists were eliminated. He also praised an exemplary relationship with the United States on counterterror efforts in Africa's Sahel region. Without it, we would not be able to operate in the area, he said. More needed from Germany Macron called for Germany to do more in Africa to help protect Europe from the threat of Islamist terrorism. I want to strengthen those European partnerships, in particular with Germany, and ensure that the German engagement, which is already visible, intensifies, he said. Macron also met on Friday with some of the 1,700 French soldiers stationed in Gao. France has about 4,000 soldiers who are deployed in five West African countries Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Chad and Burkina Faso all of which are battling Islamist extremism. Most of the terrorists in the region trace their origins to al-Qaida's North Africa branch. Mali extremists remain a problem Mali's president expressed his gratitude toward France for its military intervention, which began in 2013 after al-Qaida-linked militants took over Mali's northern region. French and Malian forces have pushed the militants back from their strongholds, but the extremists still operate in the country. Keita said the road is long, but we are going forward and we will succeed. France is the former colonial power in Mali and has strong ties to the region. Heat records were burning up Thursday in cities in the Northeast as the region gets a summer preview. The mercury reached 92 degrees in Boston shortly after noon Thursday, breaking the old record of 91 degrees for May 18 set in 1936, according to the National Weather Service. The 81-year-old record for the day of 90 degrees also fell in New York City, where it was still 91 degrees in Central Park shortly before 4 p.m. It was the second straight day of midsummer-like conditions in the Northeast, though forecasters said a cooling trend would move in Friday and return the region to more seasonable conditions. The warmth came just days after much of the region endured a cold, rainy Mother's Day Weekend. Outdoor activities Heat-starved locals in Jamestown, Rhode Island, took advantage of the warm weather Thursday to eat lunch at restaurants with outdoor patios. Mary Ann Williamson and Peggy Schreiner went out to eat to celebrate Williamson's recent retirement. Schreiner said the weather was "spectacular." Not minding the heat, they chatted to extend their time outside. "As long as it's not a rainy summer, I'll be happy. I was worried about that," Williamson said. Other places where records fell included Hartford, Connecticut, where temperatures reached 94 degrees, and in Providence, Rhode Island, where it hit 93. In Maine, where records also fell throughout the state, the Department of Environmental Protection issued an air-quality alert through 11 p.m. Thursday. In Boston, the National Park Service said on Twitter that the Bunker Hill Monument, a major Revolutionary War tourist attraction, was closed to visitors for a time because of the heat. Far from unheard of Alan Dunham, a meteorologist at the Massachusetts office of the weather service, said 90-plus degree heat in mid-May was unusual in the Northeast, but far from unheard of. And because dew points were low, Dunham said the heat did not feel nearly as oppressive as it might when humidity levels are much higher in July or August. "As they say out west, it's a dry heat," he said. Matt McKenna, from Holliston, Massachusetts, was taking a break from work at the Boston Harbor Hotel. As he sat on a bench at Rowe's Wharf, he wondered what happened to spring. "It seems like we just skipped over it, went straight into summer," said McKenna, who admitted to not being a huge fan of hot weather. "I like the cold, I'm a snow guy," he said. Sipping on an ice coffee near the city's financial district, Jenna Gagne, of Hull, Massachusetts, wondered if the weather swings were related to climate change. "I feel like its jut so inconsistent, that it has to be something related to (global warming)," Gagne said. "I just feel like it's changing a lot." Her friend, Lisa Hart, was more skeptical. "I think it's just New England,' she said, referring to the region's notoriously fickle weather. Seeking out snow Indeed, some die-hard skiers were still trying to traverse New England's northernmost peaks as late as this week. As they relaxed in their boat in Westmore, Vermont, Kurt and Alison Harrison recalled that about a year ago when they vacationed in the same spot, it was snowing. On Thursday, temperatures hovered near 90. "There's no humidity up here ... it's so nice," Alison Harrison said. Despite temperatures in the 90s in Concord, New Hampshire, thousands of people took to the streets Thursday evening for the Merrimack County Savings Bank Rock `N Race. Organizers doubled up on the water along the 3.1 mile course and had an extra ambulance on hand as well additional medical staff. "You could feel your face flushing," said Michael Bacotti, 38, of Londonderry, who completed the race with his 5-year-old and 6-year-old sons. "It was hot like an oven." Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein is sticking by his memo that preceded President Donald Trumps firing of FBI Director James Comey. I wrote it. I believe it. I stand by it, Rosenstein said Friday during his closed-door session with lawmakers at the House of Representatives. In the memo, Rosenstein recommended that Comey be replaced, in part because of his handling of the investigation into ex-Secretary of State Hillary Clintons emails. White House officials have cited Rosensteins memo as one of the main justifications for Trumps firing of Comey. Trump also has suggested he fired Comey in part because of his investigation into Russias attempts to influence the 2016 presidential election. Many Democrats have accused Rosenstein of providing the president with cover for what they describe as a blatant attempt by Trump to obstruct a federal investigation. In the briefing, Rosenstein acknowledged that he knew Trump was going to fire Comey before he wrote the memo, saying Trump approached him the day before to seek his advice and input. But he said ultimately he thought it was appropriate for Trump to seek a new leader of the FBI. Special counsel In a move aimed at restoring public faith in the Russia investigation, Rosenstein this week appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel to head the probe. Mueller, a former federal prosecutor, also is authorized to investigate any collusion between the Trump campaign and Russians who tried to influence the election, as well as any matters that result from the probe. Congress has largely praised the appointment of Mueller. What I learned and I am very satisfied with is that the special prosecutor will have the breadth of scope necessary to follow any and all leads directly and tangential to Russian attempts to influence our election, Republican Representative Darrell Issa of California told reporters after the briefing. I was very pleased, certainly, with the selection of Mr. Mueller, Democratic Representative Elijah Cummings of Maryland told reporters after the House briefing. You will not push him around. Hes a straight shooter and he will, I think, bring some normalcy to this process. In the briefing, Rosenstein stressed that his memo criticizing Comey was not meant to be a finding of official misconduct or a statement of reasons to justify a for-cause termination. It is a candid internal memorandum about the FBI directors public statements concerning a high-profile criminal investigation, he said. Rosenstein also said he was not aware that Comey had requested more resources for the Russia probe before he was fired, as some reports have alleged. Witch hunt Trump, who on Friday left for his first foreign trip, has slammed the appointment of a special counsel as a politically motivated witch hunt. The international trip, which includes stops in the Middle East and Europe, comes at an opportune time for the White House, which has endured a week full of bombshell news stories that threaten to engulf the administration. Among the most explosive reports: that Trump earlier this year asked for a pledge of personal loyalty from Comey, and that the president asked Comey to drop an investigation into his then-national security adviser, Mike Flynn. Trump denied that charge at a press conference on Thursday. He also dismissed as ridiculous the accusation that he colluded with Russia. But in his denial, Trump added a qualifier that seemed to leave open the question of involvement by others in his campaign. I can always speak for myself and the Russians, he said. For the first time in almost 20 years of existence, the U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom has designated Russia as a Country of Particular Concern because of an increase in repressive policies it says range from administrative harassment to arbitrary imprisonment. The first thing is to make it clear to the Russian government in words, directly, ideally from the president of the United States, that we have grave concerns about the direction of religious freedom, Daniel Mark, USCIRF's vice chairman, told VOA, and not just the rules but the trajectory, which has been really concerning of late and played a big role in our decision. Last month, Russia's Supreme Court ruled the Jehovah's Witnesses religious group was an extremist organization and must hand over all of its properties to the state. To be labeled such a way as though we are extremist is clearly a misapplication of the laws on extremism. Clearly Jehovah's Witnesses ... should not really be the target because we are not a threat in Russia or any other country in the world. We are active in over 240 lands, Robert Warren of the world headquarters for Jehovah's Witnesses told VOA. WATCH: A first for Russia No Bibles allowed Warren says 175,000 people in Russia identify with the faith, and since the ruling, the organization's website has been blocked and no Jehovah's Witnesses Bibles have been allowed in the country. We really felt the Supreme Court of the Russian Confederation had a wonderful opportunity with this ruling to really show how advanced they really are in terms of protecting the rights of its own citizens who want to pursue Bible education, Warren added, pointing out this is definitely a step back. Sixteen countries have been designated as Countries of Particular Concern by USCIRF. The bipartisan U.S. government commission documents religious freedom around the world, and it makes recommendations to the president, secretary of state and Congress. This year's report, the 18th since the commission's creation in 1998, documents religious freedom violations in more than 35 countries, including the Central African Republic, which also is a Country of Particular Concern because of ethnic cleansing of Muslims and sectarian violence in this multiyear conflict. Killings condemned This week, hundreds of civilians sought refuge inside a mosque in the CAR town of Banguassou, amid ongoing attacks by Christian militias that have killed civilians and U.N. peacekeepers. Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, head of the peacekeeping mission in CAR (MINUSCA), strongly condemned the killings, which he said targeted a minority with the intention without a doubt to inflame the violence, not just in Banguassou but also in the whole of the territory. In Myanmar, government and societal discrimination make the Rohingya Muslims vulnerable; some have even fled the country. Christians are restricted from public worship and subjected to coerced conversion to Buddhism, warranting a Country of Particular Concern designation. The government and military deny all allegations. In Pakistan, the commission recommended the blasphemy laws be repealed because they are in one way or another a violation of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in practice they are used to violate freedom of believers and non-believers. A request for Trump Clifford May, commissioner and founder of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said that at birth, Pakistan had a 30 percent minority population. It's now down to 3 percent, and that 3 percent is sorely oppressed every single day, and it's disappointing. He said the last time he spoke on the issues in Pakistan, while his lectures resonated with some, a shoe was thrown at his head as well. When it comes to religious freedom, the Reverend Thomas Reese, commission chairman, said, We want the Trump administration to make it an issue, a priority in its foreign policy our foreign policy should not simply be about U.S. self-interest you know, national security and trade. It should also be about the ideals, the values for which this country is known, noting we also believe that promoting religious freedom around the world is a national security interest because it brings for peaceful societies where there's more tolerance and stability and peace. Sudan's government says President Omar al-Bashir has chosen to skip a summit in Riyadh that U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to attend because Bashir does not want to upset Sudanese-American relations. Information Minister Ahmed Bilal says Khartoum recognizes that Bashir's indictment by the International Criminal Court makes it difficult for him to meet the U.S. president. "The situation of the president in the international community is linked to the ICC indictment, and that is sort of an embarrassment and we dont want to complicate things," he tells VOA's South Sudan in Focus. Bilal says that meeting Bashir might cause trouble for Trump, who is expected to decide whether to completely lift economic sanctions first imposed on Sudan by the United States in 1997. If he met the president this would be an extra pressure and besides, it would be an opportunity for the opposition there to make some problems about lifting [of sanctions]," says Bilal. Wanted man President Bashir is wanted by The Hague-based ICC for alleged genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sudan's Darfur region. Sudan announced earlier Friday that Bashir would not attend the American-Arab Islamic Summit in the Saudi capital where President Trump is expected to deliver a speech about his hope for a peaceful vision of Islam. A Khartoum-based political analyst, Ismail Ibrahim, says as long as Bashir has outstanding arrest warrants against him, it is unlikely that he will ever meet the U.S. president. I dont think he can be allowed to attend a meeting presided [over] by the president of the United States of America," he says. "This would open a very complicated file and he should not try to navigate such waters or territory now. Ibrahim says Bashir should focus on making peace in his home country. " Sudan's government continues to battle rebels in Darfur and in two states along the country's border with South Sudan. The president should concentrate on how to bring about peace in the country, unify the so-called internal friends, bring about those who have yet to join the dialogue on the peace process in the Sudan and I hope that will ultimately lead to the lifting of sanctions that have been imposed on the Sudan completely," Ibrahim says. The Sudanese news agency SUNA reported Friday that President Bashir has apologized to Saudi Arabia's King Salman for being unable to attend the summit for personal reasons. Swedish prosecutors have dropped their investigation into a rape allegation against Julian Assange, almost seven years after it began and five years after the WikiLeaks founder sought refuge inside Ecuador's London embassy. Assange's Swedish lawyer Per E. Samuelson declared Friday that "this is a total victory for Julian Assange. He is now free to leave the embassy when he wants." But the picture is more complicated than that. Has Assange been exonerated? No. The investigation began after two women accused Assange of sexual offenses during a 2010 visit to Stockholm. Sweden asked Britain to extradite Assange for questioning, and in June 2012 he sought refuge in Ecuador's London embassy to avoid arrest. After that, the investigation stalled. Swedish prosecutors dropped cases of alleged sexual misconduct when the statute of limitations ran out in 2015, leaving only the rape allegation. Marianne Ny, the Swedish director of public prosecutions announced Friday that she was dropping the rape case because there is no prospect of bringing Assange to Sweden "in the foreseeable future" and it is "no longer proportionate" to maintain the European arrest warrant. She told a news conference in Stockholm that the investigation could be reopened if Assange returns to Sweden before the statute of limitations lapses in 2020. Ny said the case was not being dropped because Assange has been found innocent. "We don't make any statement of guilty or not," she said. ___ Is Assange free to leave the Ecuadorean embassy? Sweden has revoked a European Arrest Warrant for Assange, so British police are no longer seeking him for extradition. But there is also a warrant issued by a British court after he skipped bail in June 2012. London's Metropolitan Police force says that it "is obliged to execute that warrant should he leave the embassy." The maximum sentence for that offense is a year in prison. Police indicated they will significantly scale back the resources dedicated to making sure Assange does not escape now that he is wanted for a much less serious crime. ___ Are there other charges against Assange? That's unclear. Assange suspects there is a secret U.S. indictment against him for WikiLeaks' publication of leaked classified American documents, which has infuriated U.S. officials. CIA Director Mike Pompeo has branded WikiLeaks a "hostile intelligence service," and Attorney General Jeff Sessions said last month that Assange's arrest is a priority. Both U.S. and British officials have declined to comment on whether there is a warrant for Assange's arrest. ___ Does Sweden's action make Assange Safer? Some legal experts say it makes his position less secure. Until Friday, Britain was bound to honor Sweden's extradition request before any warrant from the United States. That is no longer the case. Lawyer David Allen Green, who has followed the case, tweeted: "Once outside embassy, Assange more at risk from any U.S. extradition attempt than if he had gone to Sweden.'' Assange could fight any U.S. extradition request in the British courts, a process that could take years. ___ Whither WikiLeaks? WikiLeaks' release of classified material has continued unabated during Assange's five years in the Ecuadorean embassy. On Friday, the group released what it said were new details of CIA cyberespionage tools. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen marks the first anniversary of her presidency this weekend, avoiding scheduled speeches to review achievements, as approval ratings slip and pressure mounts to engage China for economic gain. The presidents office said Tsai will give no speech Saturday, the first day of her second year in office, surprising political experts accustomed to past leaders who addressed the public on their inauguration anniversaries. Opinion surveys indicate Taiwanese are keen for Tsai to improve economic conditions. Some want her to engage old political and military rival China for economic benefits, though without compromising Taiwans political autonomy. People are not happy with the economy and with the cross-Strait (China-Taiwan) stalemate, said Raymond Wu, managing director of the political risk consultancy e-telligence in Taipei. They expect that Taiwans economy will rebound. I think they will expect that there will be more interaction and there could be some dialogue at the official level. China claims sovereignty over self-ruled Taiwan and demands eventual unification of the two sides, a goal that goes against a majority of public opinion in Taiwan. Tsai rejects Beijings condition for dialogue that each side sees itself as part of a single China. The two sides have quit talking about trade and investment as they did for eight years before Tsai took office. Over those years they signed 23 deals that opened tourism for a record 3.4 million mainland Chinese visitors in 2015 and dropped import tariffs on 800 items. Momentum in forging ties with China had created 9,600 jobs as of 2015, the government of ex-president Ma Ying-jeou said. However, last year group tourism from China fell about 30 percent as the Beijing government compelled its travelers to go elsewhere, analysts in Taipei believe. Cross-strait ties of course will affect Taiwans tourism, said Wang Yeh-lih, comparative politics professor at National Taiwan University. Because the number of tourists from China is down, that will naturally affect the economy. Trade agreement A trade-in-goods agreement proposed in Mas term to cut thousands more tariffs has been put on hold as the two sides no longer talk. Tsais approval rating has eased from more than 50 percent shortly after she took office. It stood at 41.4% in February, according to the Taiwanese Public Opinion Foundation. The group Taiwan Democracy Watch said this week just 18.4 percent of Taiwanese approve of Tsais ability to run the government. The president acknowledged Thursday at a private event that her approval rate was falling, Taiwans Central News Agency reported. Taiwanese want the government to raise wages, make housing cheaper and create jobs, especially for youth, according to surveys and political experts in Taiwan. Tsai campaigned on making those changes. In a speech to Chinese-language media Friday she urged patience. I know a lot of people hope for a quick fix to speed reforms, but were a democratic country, and Taiwan cant go back to the authoritarianism of the past, Tsai said, a likely reference to the martial law years before democratization in the 1980s. Im not a dictator. Im a leader whos resolutely reforming under a system of democracy. Taiwans export-led $519 billion economy will grow slightly less than two percent this year, according to official forecasts. Monthly wages of around $1,300 for entry-level engineers, an anchor of Taiwans giant tech industry, have pushed some talent abroad. Younger workers say they cannot afford apartments in Taipei. One China policy But 56.6 percent of Taiwanese want Tsai to continue resisting Chinas demand that the two sides belong to one China as a negotiating condition, Taiwan Democracy Watch said. China is unlikely to negotiate on any other condition, experts say, and will instead share its economic might with Taiwans exporter rivals, such as South Korea and the nations of Southeast Asia. Mas acceptance of "one China" contributed to widespread street protests around Taipei in 2014 and cost his Nationalist Party local elections that year. China has fumed over Tsais approach by barring Taiwan from a World Health Organization annual assembly and passing an aircraft carrier around the island. Tsai, a 60-year-old law scholar and head of her Democratic Progressive Party, handily won the presidential race last year against a Nationalist candidate. Progress Over her first year, Tsais party has approved legislation allowing more guaranteed time off for workers and has made headway on pension reform. Her government also has started easing immigration rules and setting up offices to help Taiwanese companies invest more in South and Southeast Asia, and vice versa. That New Southbound Policy will cut dependence on China by building up ties with another fast-growing, populous region, officials say. Everyone believes this is a policy we should pursue. Whats everyone paying attention to now? The new southbound policy, up to now, where are the achievements and whats the advantage to everyday peoples lives? government trade negotiator Tsai Yun-chung said in an interview this week. So in the future when we pursue this thing, we need to let that element stand out, not only to promote a policy but the policy outcomes relevance to peoples lives, and link those together, he said. The newspaper of Brazil's biggest media group is calling for President Michel Temer to resign after the country's top court authorized investigations on the embattled leader for alleged corruption and obstruction of justice. The daily O Globo published its call in an editorial Friday afternoon shortly after Brazil's supreme court revealed several accusations against Temer made by a business mogul. JBS company owner Joesley Batista said he paid bribes to Temer from 2010 to this year, among other accusations. Attorney General Rodrigo Janot has accused the president of corruption. O Globo has backed Temer's pledge for austerity measures and reforms, but now says the president lacks the moral, ethical, political and administrative tools to remain. Temer has denied any wrongdoing and on Thursday he promised not to resign. Batista also said that he transferred $150 million to offshore accounts for campaigns of former Brazilian Presidents Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff. In a plea bargain testimony released Friday, Batista said that former Finance Minister Guido Mantega was the middleman in the operation to channel illegal funds for Silva and Rousseff. Batista said both former presidents were aware of the transfers, but did not name where those accounts were based. Batista also didn't state for which campaigns the money was transferred. Rousseff denied the accusations in a statement and said she never had offshore bank accounts. Silva's spokesman said Batista's accusations are hearsay that was never investigated. Donald Trump begins his maiden international trip as U.S. president Friday, leaving the White House awash in a slew of controversies that has some politicians invoking comparisons to the Watergate scandal that brought down the presidency of Richard Nixon. We look forward to getting this whole situation behind us, Donald Trump told reporters Thursday. Watch: Trump Embarks on Foreign Trip Hoping to Leave Washington Turmoil Behind The controversies include the firing of former Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey amid allegations Trump wanted Comey to stop investigating former national security adviser Michael Flynn. The president is also facing questions about his ties with Russia during the presidential election and allegations he revealed classified material to Russias foreign minister during a meeting in the Oval Office. The stops include Stops on the upcoming trip include Saudi Arabia, Israel and the Vatican; places sacred to three of the worlds major religions. In Saudi Arabia, Trump, who has been outspoken about his mistrust of Muslims and has tried to ban Muslims from entering the U.S., is set to deliver a speech on Islam before a group of Muslim leaders. H.R. McMaster, Trumps national security adviser, said the president is hopeful for the emergence of a peaceful vision of Islam. Controversy precedes the U.S. president on his stop in Israel as well, following Trumps alleged disclosure of Israeli intelligence to Russian officials. Meeting with Pope Francis The U.S. president will also go to the Vatican to meet with Pope Francis who has said he will not make any judgments about Trump before meeting him. Trump will then go to Belgium, where he will meet with NATO members in Brussels before ending his trip in the Sicilian town of Taormina for a G-7 summit. Watch: Nervous NATO Leaders Await Trump Visit Sudan President Omar al-Bashir will not attend the Islamic summit with Trump in Saudi Arabia, according to Sudan's state news agency SUNA. The agency said "personal reasons" were preventing him from attending, but did not list the reasons. Bashir has for years faced charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court for crimes committed against civilians in Darfur. He has yet to be arrested. A defiant President Donald Trump flatly denied Thursday that he had pressured the FBI to close its investigation of a former close aide, and he questioned the need for a special counsel to probe possible collusion between his 2016 campaign and Russians trying to influence the presidential election. No, no. Next question, he replied when a reporter asked whether he had asked then-FBI Director James Comey to back down on the bureau's probe into fired national security adviser Michael Flynn. At his first news conference since April 12, standing alongside visiting Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, Trump denied there had been any collusion between himself, his campaign and Russian agents of influence. Even my enemies say there was no collusion, he said. But he added a qualifier that seemed to leave open the question of others' involvement. I can only speak for myself and the Russians. Zero. Controversies Trump lamented that the controversies swirling around the White House were damaging national unity. I think it divides the country, he said. I think we have a very divided country because of that and many other things. Those comments followed a pair of early-morning Twitter posts questioning the need for the appointment of former FBI Director Robert Mueller as a special counsel to look into the collusion allegations. With all of the illegal acts that took place in the Clinton campaign & Obama Administration, there was never a special counsel appointed! the president tweeted. WATCH: Trump comments on appointment of special counsel Later, at a luncheon with prominent TV network news anchors, Trump said the appointment of a special prosecutor hurts our country. Trump's comments came as Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who appointed Mueller as special counsel, went to Capitol Hill to brief the entire Senate behind closed doors. The president was the only administration figure speaking publicly Thursday, furthering speculation that he has effectively muzzled White House surrogates who often speak for him. News reports have characterized the president as dissatisfied with his communications team's inability to control the tenor of the coverage of recent negative stories. Communications team The usually forthcoming White House spokesman Sean Spicer, meeting reporters Wednesday, dodged questions about Comey and the Russian connection, referring reporters to a terse White House statement issued the day before. News reports over the past few days have said Spicer and other communications team members may soon be replaced in a White House shake-up. The news website Politico quoted a White House adviser as saying there was a struggle to get any surrogates on TV because no one knew what to say or how to defend the story. When news broke this week of the Comey memo on Trump's alleged interference in the Flynn investigation, Fox News commentator Charles Krauthammer said he found it really stunning that nobody, not even from the White House, has come out under their own name in defense of the president here. WATCH: Trump to help stop drug violence in US, Colombia Presidential historian Dan Mahaffee of the Center for the Study of Congress and the Presidency sees parallels between what is happening in the Trump White House and similar moments in other beleaguered administrations. We see the common theme that in any presidential scandal, the attempt to either cover it up, hide it, obfuscate, is what drives the narrative, Mahaffee said. So whether it is the famous Saturday Night Massacre with [Richard] Nixon that led to attention on Watergate, [Ronald] Reagan's Iran-Contra arms-for-hostages scandal, or then with [Bill] Clinton, it was the attempt to obfuscate, he said. In this administration, we see that the agenda seems to be completely derailed by the desire to fight this and push back on the story. Instability roils markets Financial markets recovered somewhat Thursday following a sharp downturn a day earlier after news broke of the special counsel's appointment. Emily Stewart, a political reporter for the financial website TheStreet.com, said investors are frightened by the prospect of prolonged political instability. It does make people nervous that a tax cut may not come to boost earnings this year, Stewart said. What if it doesn't come in 2018, especially since midterm elections are approaching? And if Congress is going to spend so much time and energy looking into the Trump administration, how much time do they have for taxes and health care? Trump is clearly hoping to change the negative news flow when he heads off this weekend for a nine-day foreign trip where he will meet with dozens of Muslim heads of state, the leaders of Israel and the Palestinians, Pope Francis, and leaders of NATO countries and the Group of Seven industrialized nations. A top Venezuelan opposition leader was prevented from leaving the country Thursday for a meeting in New York with the U.N. human rights chief. Henrique Capriles, who challenged President Nicolas Maduro for the presidency in 2013, had his passport cancelled at the airport as he tried to leave the country, according to news reports. Capriles was on his way to New York to meet with U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad al-Hussein when Zeid tweeted this: The U.N. said the high commissioner would instead meet Friday afternoon with Capriles lawyer, who will be in New York and would present Zeid with a report. We find the rising tensions in Venezuela very alarming, and incidents like that involving Mr. Capriles yesterday are unlikely to help reduce tensions, Zeids spokesperson, Rupert Colville, told reporters in Geneva on Friday. Deteriorating situation The high commissioners office also expressed concern about the treatment of protesters in Venezuela, which has been rocked by more than six weeks of anti-government street demonstrations aimed at removing President Maduro from power. At least 42 people have been killed in the unrest. Colville told reporters the human rights office is troubled by allegations of the excessive use of force by security forces, saying international human rights standards must be respected. We are very concerned by reports that people who have been detained in the context of the protest are being brought before military tribunals, Colville added, saying they should be dealt with in civilian courts. He also urged protesters to use peaceful means. The U.N. Security Council had its first briefing on the situation on Wednesday, at the request of the United States. "In Venezuela, we are on the verge of [a] humanitarian crisis, U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley said in a statement. Peaceful protesters 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. New US sanctions On Thursday, the Trump administration announced plans to impose new sanctions on members of the Venezuelan Supreme Court for stripping the opposition-led congress of all power earlier this year. Among those targeted is Maikel Moreno, the president of the pro-government Supreme Court, which issued the ruling in late March. The ruling was later partially reversed amid international criticism, but it sparked the protest movement currently destabilizing the country. President Donald Trump called the situation in Venezuela a "disgrace to humanity," and said the deadly political crisis is possibly the worst of its kind in "decades." The threat of new sanctions comes as Maduro, a socialist, is facing increasing international pressure to hold elections. He has repeatedly accused the United States of leading an attempt to overthrow his government. The president's political opponents are demanding that he schedule long- delayed elections, release political prisoners and permit the delivery of humanitarian aid. The demonstrations and counter-demonstrations have escalated since the socialist leaders call earlier this month for a new constitution. A U.N. report says South Sudanese pro-government forces killed at least 114 civilians between July 2016 and January 2017 in Yei town. The report by the Human Rights Division of the U.N. Mission in South Sudan (UMNISS) and the U.N. Human Rights Office was released Friday. The report also "exposes cases of indiscriminate shelling of civilians; targeted killings; looting and burning of civilian property and cases of sexual violence perpetrated against women and girls, including those fleeing fighting." The U.N. says the crimes "may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity" and warrant further investigation. The report says the fighting erupted when pro-government forces pursued President Salva Kiir's rival and former deputy Riek Machar. "Fighting broke out along his escape route," the document says. Yei had been "largely a peaceful town," the U.N. said, with 200,000 to 300,000 residents of different ethnicities. "This violence fueled strong divisions along ethnic lines and resulted in targeted killings, arrests, rapes and mass civilian displacement of more than half of the population of the town." The report says the conflict in Yei "once again highlights the startling level of impunity in South Sudan, which has fed successive cycles of violence across the country." South Sudan is mired in its fourth year of conflict since fighting erupted between pro- and anti-Kiir factions in December 2013. The U.N. says more than 1.8 million South Sudanese have fled the country, with another 1.9 million internally displaced from their homes. In a cave in Californias famed wine country, there is a forgotten past that surprises many people when they visit. On a tour of the Buena Vista Winery in Sonoma County, visitors will learn that it proudly calls itself Californias first premium winery. Founded in 1857, the people who helped build the winery came from far away. From the late 1850's to the 1870's, they primarily were Chinese laborers. They actually built our building and played a huge role in the founding of Buena Vista, said Tom Blackwood, general manager of Buena Vista Winery. The California Gold Rush in the mid-1800s brought a lot of people to America's West Coast seeking to strike it rich, including people from China. After the Gold Rush, many of the Chinese stayed and worked as unskilled laborers, including in the construction of the railroads. A lesser known fact is that some of them also traveled north of San Francisco and worked in the infant vineyards. They did all of the work of the fields, the plowing. The actual digging, planting and then the management of all the vineyards, said Blackwood. They definitely worked at the other properties, but Buena Vista was known to have the largest Chinese labor camp north of San Francisco. The Chinese workers also dug the cave at Buena Vista Winery that stored the wine so it could age. Pick marks on the walls of the cave can still be seen. The rocks dug from the cave were used as building blocks for the wine-making facilities at the time, and two of the original buildings still remain today. Local residents said signs of the Chinese laborers also can be seen outside the winery. A couple of my friends [they] showed me, the so-called Chinese rock fence, said Chinese American Jack Ding, pointing to a low fence made of rocks at the side of a busy road. Local people, they still remember Chinese laborers did something for them. The work done by the Chinese laborers has been passed down by word of mouth among the locals. Historians also know about them, but what happened to them is somewhat of a mystery. We dont understand where they went after they left the city of Sonoma. We dont know a whole lot of names, said former Sonoma city historian George McKale. Chinese immigrants at the time experienced violent anti-Chinese sentiment, boycotts, and in 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act, a law that restricted immigration into the United States. They work here. They live here. Most of them, they die here. They didnt have a place to be buried, said Ding. This was sort of the forgotten history of Sonoma. We had sort of a shameful history regarding the Asia [Chinese] Exclusion Act and people want to make things right, said resident David Katz. Katz and Ding are members of the Sonoma-Penglai Sister City Committee that has launched an effort called the Wine Country Chinese Legacy Project. The goal is to honor the nameless Chinese laborers of the early wine industry by building a Chinese-style gazebo or pavilion, called a ting, at Depot Park in the city of Sonoma. Committee members said its Chinese sister city of Penglai has pledged $25,000 toward building the outdoor structure. It will be called Penglai Pavilion, and the goal is to raise a total of $75,000. The pavilion also would be an opportunity to educate the new generation of Chinese who are coming to the wine country about the history of their fellow citizens, said Ding. We can see a lot of investors from China. They purchase wineries. They purchase properties. That is the reason why we want to build this kind of physical structure, to remind the people, remind them of the history, who we are. Where we came from. If fundraising efforts are successful, the committee aims to break ground for the pavilion by the end of summer. Members of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee on Thursday heard testimony from the wives of three Chinese human rights lawyers who were detained and tortured by Chinese authorities, and the lawmakers vowed to do all they can to help protect those fighting for positive change in the area of human rights in China. Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey, who has closely monitored Chinas human rights and political conditions for decades, pointed out at Thursdays hearing that when a dissident is sent off to jail, it is not just that dissident who suffers, its the wives, the families and extended families that also end up suffering. Very often they as well are rounded up and interrogated and beaten. Threats against families One of the wives, Chen Guiqiu, who recently arrived in the United States with help from the U.S. government, said at the hearing that her husbands interrogators threatened to stage a car accident against his wife and children if he refused to admit his crimes. Chens husband, Xie Yang, was one of the hundreds of attorneys and legal assistants rounded up across China on or about July 9, 2015. The attorneys were known to have defended farmers, dissidents, AIDS patients and religious minorities. Their arrests became known as the July 9 or 709 incident and is widely regarded as an illustration of the tightening political environment in China. In notes made public by an attorney Chen hired to defend her husband, Xie revealed in his meetings with his attorney in January of this year that he was interrogated for days on end around the clock. He said one of his nighttime interrogators would say to him, I rest very well during the day, and get very excited around this time at night; it is my intention to torture you and turn you into a madman; dont think you can get out of here and practice law again, youre going to be a wasted man. The House committee hearing also saw video testimony sent by two wives of lawyers still in China. Shackled, unable to stand One of them, Wang Qiaoling, said that when her husband, Li Heping, one of the most prominent human rights lawyers in China, was sent home May 9, neither she nor their daughter could recognize him; he had lost a significant amount of weight and looked 20 years older. He has been sentenced to three years with a four-year suspension and detained for nearly two years. Wang said her husbands jailers made him wear metal handcuffs and footcuffs linked by a metal chain that kept his body bent around the clock for nearly a month, after which he was unable to stand straight. The video testimony sent from China also featured Li Wenzu, wife of Wang Quanzhang. Wang is the only known 709 arrestee from whom no one has heard anything since 2015. His wife told the committee that no one has been able to gain permission to visit her husband, and he has not been presented on state television, which has been used in recent years to parade dissidents and their confessions. Focus on the positive Congressman Smith said at the hearing: Chinese officials repeatedly tell us, and they tell me all the time, that I should focus more on the positive aspects of China and not dwell so much on the negative. Smith said that could be a difficult task when one reads accounts of human rights lawyers and their families sufferings and the torture they go through. Smith, a Republican, who often spoke out against what he and human rights groups have described as the Obama administration not doing enough to help those who fight for human rights in China, vowed to extend the same standards to the new administration. If President Trump, Vice President Pence, gives the same indifference which I think is a callous disregard for suffering people, I will be here at this podium speaking out against that lack of concern and empathy for suffering people. Bipartisan support Colleagues of Smith on the House Foreign Affairs Committee who were present at Thursdays hearing voiced unanimous, bipartisan support. Congressman Joaquin Castro, a Democrat from Texas, urged Americas allies around the world, those nations who also believe in strong human rights, to join in efforts to help safeguard basic, fundamental human rights that Chinese citizens are seeking. Another member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee at the hearing, Tom Garrett of Virginia, told the witnesses that to the extent I have the ability to cast a vote that will deal favorably or unfavorably with the regime, based on how it treats its own citizens and people who seek positive human rights changes, Ill consider their activities. He added, within my small ability to make a difference, I will side with human rights and with people who have suffered like yourselves. A pair of Chinese fighter jets conducted an unprofessional intercept of an American radiation-sniffing surveillance plane over the East China Sea, the U.S. Air Force said Friday, the latest in a series of such incidents that have raised U.S. concerns in an already tense region. On Wednesday, the two Chinese SU-30 jets approached a WC-135 Constant Phoenix aircraft conducting a routine mission in international airspace in accordance with international law, Pacific Air Forces spokeswoman Lt. Col. Lori Hodge said in a statement. US to talk privately with China The WC-135 crew characterized the intercept as unprofessional due to the maneuvers by the Chinese pilot, as well as the speeds and proximity of both aircraft, Hodge said. She declined to provide further details and said the issue would be addressed with China through appropriate diplomatic and military channels. China declared an air defense identification zone over a large section of the East China Sea in 2013, a move the U.S. called illegitimate and has refused to recognize. China has demanded foreign aircraft operating within the zone declare their intentions and follow Chinese instructions. Hodge declined to say whether Wednesdays incident was within the self-declared Chinese zone. U.S. military aircraft routinely transit international airspace throughout the Pacific, including the East China Sea, she said. This flight was no exception. Japan and China Japan scrambled fighter jets Thursday after four Chinese coast guard vessels entered what Japan considers its territorial waters near disputed East China Sea islets and a dronelike object flew near one ship, Japan said. It was the first such flight near the islands witnessed by Japanese officials, although the incident took to 13 the number of intrusions this year by Chinese coastguard ships in the contested waters, Japan's coastguard said. Japan and China have long been at loggerheads over the tiny, uninhabited islands, called the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China. They are controlled by Japan but claimed also by China. Defense Minister Tomomi Inada said two F-15 fighter jets, one E-2C early warning aircraft and an AWACS surveillance plane were sent to the scene. In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the drone had been released by "relevant media" for aerial photography, rather than by the coast guard, but did not name the organization. Reuters contributed to this report. [May 18, 2017] Lightmatter, a startup using light to accelerate artificial intelligence, wins the 2017 MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 18, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Lightmatter, a startup using light to calculate faster and more efficiently than existing artificial intelligence hardware, took home the Robert P. Goldberg $100,000 grand prize Wednesday night after beating out seven teams of finalists during the MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition's Launch Finale held last night on the MIT campus. A panel of judges made up of seasoned entrepreneurs and industry professionals said they chose Lightmatter based on the strength of their technology, business plan, pitch, and team composition. To power the next generation of artificial intelligence, say the MIT PhD students behind Lightmatter, a new kind of computing hardware is needed. "While big datasets and the steady advancement of electronic computing hardware have enabled the artificial intelligence revolution, progress in electronics is slowing as the transistorthe workhorse of modern computersapproaches its fundamental size limit," says Nicholas Harris, co-inventor of the startup's optical neural network technology. "At Lightmatter, we're using light to accelerate artificial intelligence. By computing with light, rather than electrical signals, Lightmatter's systems are able to calculate faster and more efficiently than existing artificial intelligence hardware." Team members are: Nick Harris: An EECS PhD candidate and National Science Foundation Fellow studying optical quantum computing and artificial intelligence at MIT. Yichen Shen: A postdoctoral associate at MIT, he joined the MIT Physics department to study nanophotonics and artificial intelligence. He earned his Ph.D. from MIT in 2016 and is co-inventor of Lightmatter's optical neural network technology. Darius Bunandar: Developed software that visualizes night skies that have been distorted by black holes. The blockbuster movie Interstellar recently used this software to create scientifically accurate images. After enrolling in the Physics PhD program at MIT, he joined the quantum photonics lab to investigate artificial intelligence in the context of quantum computation and communication. Thomas Graham: Currently pursuing his BA at MIT Sloan School of Management. He previously held business strategy and business development roles at Google and Google X. "Over the past century, human progress and computational power have been inextricably linked," says Shen. "Our goal is to power the next generation of computing to build the tools that will move humanity forward." Additional awards presented at last night's finale include the $10,000 Booze Allen Hamilton Data Analytics Prize. The winner, Pipeguard, noted that approximately 20% of all clean water produced around the world leaks from distribution pipes. Their offering is a robot named Daisy that can locate leaks with her innovative skirt sensor while traveling inside the water pipes, accurately locating leaks that are too small for current technology to detect. changeWATER, whose next generation portable toilet vaporizes off-line sewage, won the $5K Audience Choice Award. changeWATER is targeting the 2.6 billion people around the world who lack access to safe, dignified sanitation due to a lack of access to power or plumbing. The remaining five finalists and their offerings are: CareMobile Transportation: Fusing a technology platform with a new service model, CareMobile aims to improve Non-Emergency Medical Transportation by leveraging passionate adult care professionals as both drivers and care coordinators, providing empathy-driven, end-to-end assisted-care services. Legionarius: Hemorrhaging has caused 91% of preventable military fatalities over the past ten years. In response, Legionarius has developed a hemorrhage control system that is integrated into clothing for military and law enforcement professionals. NeuroMesh is a managed security and intelligence platform for IoT and Industrial IoT devices. They have created a vaccine for IoT by repurposing malicious hacker weapons for good. NeuroSleeve has developed a low-cost and automated nerve conduction sleeve for the diagnosis of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. The device uses electrical impulses to assess the function of the nerves in the upper limb. Rendever: A virtual reality platform to provide cognitive stimulation, socialization and immersive therapeutic experiences to assuage isolation and depression in seniors. Jason Jacobs, founder and chairman at RunKeeper in Boston, served as this year's keynote speaker. He shared the process of how the RunKeeper smartphone app became one of the world's most popular personal fitness programs. He stressed to the audience to choose a problem with deep personal meaning, and how vision should drive one's capital strategy rather than the other way around. To date, the MIT $100K has facilitated the birth of more than 160 companies, which have gone on to raise $1.3 billion in venture capital and build $16 billion in market capitalization. More than 30 MIT $100K startups have been acquired by major companies, such as Oracle and Merck. Over 4,600 people are currently employed by MIT $100K companies. Recent IPOs include Akamai (AKAM), net.Genesis (NTG), and C-Bridge Internet Solutions (CBIS). Since its debut in 1990 as the MIT $10K Entrepreneurship Competition, it has grown to include three independent contests Pitch, Accelerate, and Launch from September through May. Each contest focuses on developing specific founding skills. For each semi-finalist contender, the MIT $100K brings together a network of resources that includes mentorship from venture capitalists, serial entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and attorneys; media exposure; prototyping funds; business plan feedback; and discounted services. Altogether, more than $300K in non-dilutive prize money is awarded to help these new ventures accelerate. This year's gold sponsors were Booz Allen Hamilton, Ernst & Young, Goodwin, Mintz Levin, Prudential, Sanofi, Town Square Trading, WilmerHale and Wolf Greenfield. Silver sponsors were Akamai, AMI, Cydan and SHX. For more on the MIT $100K, please visit: www.mit100k.org. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lightmatter-a-startup-using-light-to-accelerate-artificial-intelligence-wins-the-2017-mit-100k-entrepreneurship-competition-300460259.html SOURCE MIT Sloan School of Management [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] On the eve of President Donald Trump's trip to Saudi Arabia, the U.S. State Department imposed terrorism sanctions jointly with the kingdom on two prominent extremist leaders, calling them "global terrorists." Senior Hezbollah leader Hashem Safieddine, a Lebanese citizen in his 50s, and Muhammad al-Isawi, an Egyptian national and leader of Islamic State in the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, were added to the U.S. Specially Designated Global Terrorists list for providing financial and operational support for their terrorist-designated organizations. The sanctions, put forth by the assets control office and the State Department, prohibit U.S. companies and Americans from doing business with the two men, blocks their assets in the United States and places them as high-profile targets for law enforcement worldwide. Safieddine is a key member of the executive council of the Lebanese militia Hezbollah, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization that is closely associated with the Iranian government and is fighting in support of the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The executive council oversees Hezbollah's political, organizational, social and educational activities. Iranian media reported he is a potential successor to Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's secretary-general and a cousin of Safieddine. Saudi Arabia joined the U.S. in targeting Safieddine. "As a result, any of his assets held in Saudi Arabia are frozen, and transfers through the kingdom's financial sector are prohibited," a U.S. statement read. The State Department's counterterrorism bureau said in a tweet that the sanctions marked the "first-ever" State Department and foreign national "joint terrorist designation," underlining the close cooperation between U.S. and Saudi officials. "The action against Safieddine is the latest example of the strong partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia in combating the financing of terrorism," the State Department said. The statement said the move was consistent with the U.S. government's ongoing effort to expose the actions of Hezbollah, which the U.S. characterizes as being supported by the "foremost state sponsor of terrorism, Iran." Al-Isawi, who is also known as Abu Usama al-Masri, has been IS's chief affiliate in the Sinai Peninsula since August 2016. He spent time in an Egyptian prison before escaping during unrest in Egypt in 2011. IS's affiliate, Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, has an active presence in large swaths of territory in the Sinai, which borders the Gaza Strip and Israel. IS militants in the Sinai have been targeting Egyptian security forces and local Coptic Christians in the region. The group claimed responsibility for twin suicide bombings that struck two of the country's Coptic Christian churches last month, killing more than 45 worshippers and prompting the Egyptian president to declare a three-month state of emergency. The Trump administration on Thursday imposed new sanctions on eight members of the Venezuelan Supreme Court for trying to strip the opposition-led congress of all power earlier this year. Among those targeted is Maikel Moreno, the president of the pro-government Supreme Court, which announced in late March that it would assume legislative responsibilities. The ruling was partially reversed amid domestic and international criticism, but it sparked a protest movement against socialist President Nicolas Maduros administration that has continued for nearly two months and left more than 40 people dead. The eight are responsible for a number of judicial rulings in the past year that have usurped the authority of Venezuelas democratically elected legislature . thereby restricting the rights and thwarting the rule of the Venezuelan people, the U.S. Treasury said in a news release about the order. The order freezes the jurists assets in U.S. jurisdiction and prohibits transactions with U.S. people. In February, the U.S. government imposed sanctions on Venezuelas vice president, Tareck El Aissami, for his alleged involvement in global drug trafficking. Add more targets? Venezuelas foreign minister, Delcy Rodriguez, took to Twitter to denounce the sanctions and accuse the United States of fostering "the destabilization of Venezuela." In a post Thursday evening, she called the move "outrageous and unacceptable," saying it breached "international and Venezuelan law." Roger Noriega, a former U.S. ambassador to the Organization of American States, disagreed. He called the sanctions "important" but urged adding other targets. "The sanctions are important, but in my opinion it is very important to focus more attention on the kingpins, Noriega said in an interview Friday with VOA. He suggested targeting Maduro, military general Nestor Reverol and pro-Maduro congressman Diosdado Cabello, saying they "have many resources for drug trafficking, corruption and properties here in the United States and use our financial system to continue their illicit activities." Noriega concluded that it was "much more important to send a political signal at that level." 'There's great violence' On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump called Venezuela's political crisis a "disgrace to humanity." "We haven't really seen a problem like that ... in decades, in terms of the kind of violence that we're witnessing," Trump said at a joint news conference with visiting Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. People don't have enough to eat. People have no food. There's great violence. ... We will work together to do whatever is necessary, to help with fixing that," Trump said, adding that "what is happening is really a disgrace to humanity." Pressure increases on Maduro The new sanctions comes as Maduro is facing increasing international pressure to hold elections. On Wednesday, the U.N. Security Council discussed the crisis for the first time at the request of the United States. The Washington-based Organization of American States is holding a rare foreign ministers council session on the troubled South American nation later this month. Maduro's political foes have taken to the streets to demand that he schedule long-delayed elections, release political prisoners and permit the delivery of humanitarian aid. Demonstrations for and against the Maduro government have escalated since the socialist leader's call earlier this month for a new constitution. VOA Spanish Services Cristina Caicedo Smit contributed to this report. Vice President Mike Pence has stepped gingerly through the chaos engulfing the White House - offering loyalty to his boss, while trying to avoid the spreading stain of scandal. It hasn't been easy, and it's getting harder by the day. While some conservatives view Pence as a calming force in an administration mired in turmoil, Democrats are eager to tie him to President Donald Trump's vulnerabilities. The appointment of a special counsel to probe ties between Russia and Trump's campaign and associates has turned up the heat for everyone in Trump's orbit. And there are fresh questions about how much Pence knew as head of Trump's transition team. The vice president was under new scrutiny Thursday after reports that former National Security Adviser Mike Flynn in January alerted the transition team about a Justice Department inquiry into whether he was secretly working as a foreign lobbyist for Turkish interests. The White House has said Flynn was fired in February for lying to Pence about his contacts with Russia's ambassador. An administration official said Thursday that Pence knew nothing about Flynn's activities at the time and referred to the vice president's comments in a Fox News interview in March in which Pence said, "Hearing that story today was the first I heard of it." Democrats said that strained credibility. "Pence was the head of the transition team that tapped Flynn for national security adviser. That is not good," said Stephanie Schriock, the president of EMILY's List, a Democratic group that backs female candidates who support abortion rights. Unlike his boss, who has raged in tweets and speeches, Pence has been careful in his comments about the multiple probes into the campaign's contacts with Russia. In the wake of Trump's abrupt dismissal of FBI Director James Comey, Pence has been circumspect. He has not publicly commented on the naming of former FBI Director Robert Mueller to serve as the special counsel investigating the allegations, and he only obliquely referred to the tumult surrounding the administration in a speech to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Thursday. "Whatever Washington, D.C., may be focused on at any given time, rest assured, President Donald Trump will never stop fighting for the issues that matter most to the American people," he said. But the Comey episode has revived questions about whether Pence is out of the loop at the White House, or less than truthful in his public statements. When Trump ousted Comey, administration officials said the president only did so after receiving a memo from Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Pence reiterated those claims to reporters, saying again and again that the decision came only after Trump decided to "accept" and "support" Rosenstein's recommendations. Two days later, Trump said in an interview with NBC News that he was planning to fire Comey anyway and had considered it since the start of his administration. Matt Schlapp, a veteran Republican consultant who leads the American Conservative Union, said Trump's candor and authenticity, attributes that helped get him elected, make it more difficult for Pence and other members of his team to stay in step. "There are going to be these moments that, for the vice president and for everybody in the White House staff and the Trump orbit, when they explain something one way but that's not where the president's head is on that. It will always be awkward," Schlapp said. "My guess is this was an honest mistake and there is still deep respect between the president and the vice president." Asked how Pence advised the president on Comey, an administration official would not detail the conversations between the pair but stressed that the vice president supported the decision to fire the FBI head. The official - who was not authorized to speak about Pence's activities publicly, and agreed to be interviewed only on condition of anonymity - also said Pence was not part of the president's meeting last week with Russian diplomats, noting that he was on Capitol Hill for Senate business. The Comey firing represents a second rough patch for Pence. At the start of the administration, the vice president publicly defended Flynn against allegations that he had discussed sanctions with Russia's ambassador to the U.S. before Trump's inauguration. Flynn had denied those conversations to Pence and other top officials; he was forced out after it was discovered that he had misled the vice president. Throughout the upheavals, Pence has maintained political life as usual. He has carved out a role as the administration's top lobbyist on Capitol Hill and was instrumental in helping Republicans pass a health care plan in the House. While Trump is away on his first foreign trip, Pence will be addressing graduates at a Pennsylvania Christian college and at Notre Dame while working on budget and policy issues in Washington. And political life never strays far from money. Pence this week registered a fundraising committee that enables him to cultivate donors outside of the president's mostly low-dollar money network. The vice president is a far more traditional politician when it comes to raising money, and this group - called the Great America Committee - can collect up to $5,000 per donor and parcel out funds to candidates supportive of White House policies. Wives of human rights lawyers detained by China in a sweeping crackdown two years ago appealed in the U.S. Congress on Thursday for President Donald Trump to press Beijing to free activists and end torture. The wives of Taiwanese national Lee Ming-che and mainland lawyers Tang Jingling, Jiang Tianyong and Xie Yang issued their appeals directly at a U.S. House of Representatives hearing, while the wives of two other detained lawyers, Wang Quanzhang and Li Heping, delivered their appeals via a video. The chairman of the human rights subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Representative Chris Smith, said the panel would make an immediate request for Trump and Vice President Mike Pence to meet with the women. Critics have accused Trump of softening the U.S. approach to China, including on rights, after meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in April, in an effort to secure more Chinese support to reining in North Korea's nuclear and missile programs. Smith stressed the need for Trump to take a tough line with Beijing and told the women: "He needs to look you in the eyes so that when he looks Xi Jinping in the eyes, he has your husbands' and your interests right there, front and center." In testimony to the hearing, Jin Bianling said her husband, Jiang Tianyong, a disbarred lawyer who spoke out against a government crackdown on dozens of rights activists in 2015, had been prevented from seeing a lawyer for nearly six months. She said she got news on May 12 that he had been tortured and his legs were too swollen to allow him to walk. Earlier on Thursday, Chinese police released a video of Jiang to refute allegations he had been tortured. The video, which police said was taken Wednesday, showed Jiang walking up and down a corridor of what appeared to be an apartment building in shorts and sandals. Jin told Reuters she was very suspicious of the video, saying it was a set-up. "If they want to prove that he has not been tortured, they should let his lawyers visit and fully examine him," she said. "As it is, we still don't even know where he is." Li Heping returned to his home this month after being held for nearly two years, his former lawyer said. His wife, Wang Qiaoling, said he had been ill-treated and looked 20 years older after his detention. China rejects criticism of its rights record. It has accused Jiang of colluding with the wife of another detained lawyer, Xie Yang, to fabricate accounts of torture. Xie Yang's wife, Chen Guiqiu, who fled to the United States in March, said he had been forced to admit his guilt at a court hearing this month. She said he was bailed out after the session "but still had not regained his freedom" as he was followed everywhere by security agents. Yemen could see as many as 250,000 new cases of cholera within six months, in addition to 50,000 already reported, the World Health Organization said Friday. "The speed of the resurgence of this cholera epidemic is unprecedented," Nevio Zagaria, WHO country representative for Yemen, told reporters during a conference call on Friday. He said the death toll from the outbreak has already reached 240 and more than 50,000 cases have been registered in the past three weeks. Two years into a war between Houthi rebels and government forces allied with a Saudi-led Arab military coalition, which has killed more than 8,000 people, Yemen has declared a state of emergency Sunday in the capital, Sana'a, over the outbreak. Fighting has taken a toll on medical facilities in the war-torn country, as more than half of Yemen's facilities, which are now operated by Houthi rebels, no longer function. The U.N. says some 17 million of Yemen's 26 million people lack sufficient food and at least three million malnourished children are in "grave peril." Yemen, which is the Arab world's poorest nation, is now classified by the World Health Organization as a level three emergency, alongside Syria, South Sudan, Nigeria and Iraq. This is the country's second cholera outbreak in less than a year. Cholera is highly contagious and can be contracted from ingesting contaminated food and water. Zimbabwean police on Friday fired teargas to disperse political activists holding a meeting convened by members of the Movement for Democratic Change led by Morgan Tsvangirai in Lupane District. MDC-T supporters, including party vice president Thokozani Khupe, ran for dear life when police used the teargas to stop the meeting. Some elderly women are said to have been hospitalized following the incident. Police were not immediately available for comment. "We held our meeting at a homestead which was attended by about 300 people. We informed people that they should not register to vote in the 2018 general elections. After finishing our meeting, we were surprised to see armed police who asked us to leave. They started telling us to disperse and when I attempted to reason with them they threw a teargas canister at me. We ran for dear life but women and children left behind were exposed to the teargas. Some of them have been hospitalized. Khupe claimed that they informed the police when they held the meeting in a rural homestead in Matabeleland North province. The police actually broke the law. They descended on us with a very heavy hand. We were surprised about their move to disperse the crowd while were having lunch soon after the meeting. I will definitely discuss this matter with my colleagues in parliament. I hope this will not happen again. The Public Order and Security Act stipulates that police are supposed to be informed whenever members of the public want to hold a meeting. Democracy activists have over the years pressed the government to repeal the law saying it violates peoples rights as enshrined in Zimbabwes constitution. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. [May 18, 2017] ASUS ZenFone AR to Bring Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality in One Device to Verizon this Summer Today at Google (News - Alert) I/O, ASUS announced that Verizon will be the exclusive wireless provider of the ZenFone AR in the United States. The next-generation smartphone represents a significant advancement in mobile virtual and augmented reality technologies. The ZenFone AR is the world's first smartphone that supports both Tango AR and Daydream VR technologies developed by Google, giving users totally new ways to engage with and be entertained by their smartphones. During Google I/O, Johnny Lee, head of the Google Tango team, demonstrated Tango and Daydream on the ZenFone AR. The ZenFone AR will come with the Android 7.0 Nougat OS with 6 GB of RAM (News - Alert) and 128 GB of storage, and will be available this summer at Verizon. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170518006249/en/ ASUS ZenFone AR to Bring Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality in One Device to Verizon (News - Alert) this Summer (Photo: Business Wire) Tango is an augmented reality (AR) platform that uses qualified devices to detect their users' positions relative to places and objects around them without using GPS or other external signals. This allows application developers to create AR experiences that include indoor navigation, 3D mapping, and environmental recognition, among other augmented reality applications. Daydream is a high-quality virtual reality (VR) platform that is built into the Android operating system to support VR apps. The ASUS ZenFone AR was developed in close cooperation with Google to deliver the best user experience on both Tango and Daydream platforms. Ideal for AR and VR Tango adds three abilities to theZenFone AR: motion tracking, depth perception and area learning. Through these capabilities, the ZenFone AR can detect how far it is away from a floor, wall or an object and understand where it is moving in three-dimensional space. AR is a rapidly growing segment for mobile technology and one consumers are extremely excited about. To date, there are over 100 Tango compatible apps on Google Play1. ASUS and Google are also partnering with well-known brands to bring the Tango AR experience to customers. For VR, the large, high-resolution and high-contrast display of the ZenFone AR makes it ideal for VR applications when used as a VR display mounted in the Daydream View headset. The ZenFone AR's expansive 5.7-inch screen immerses the viewer in whatever VR world is being presented, while the WQHD (1440 x 2560) resolution presents images with extreme clarity and deep black hues enabled by the high-contrast super AMOLED technology which enhances the 3D effect of the screen. Powerful Supporting Hardware To make the ZenFone AR an ideal VR and AR smartphone, it has been designed with the latest top-of-the-line components that also make it one of the most powerful smartphones in the market: Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 2 Processor (News - Alert): The Snapdragon 821 processor used by the ZenFone AR has been specially optimized for AR operations. ASUS worked closely with Qualcomm Technologies engineers and Google to efficiently distribute computer vision workloads. The Snapdragon 821 processor used by the ZenFone AR has been specially optimized for AR operations. ASUS worked closely with Qualcomm Technologies engineers and Google to efficiently distribute computer vision workloads. Qualcomm Adreno 530 GPU: With 6GB of RAM and the desktop-class Qualcomm Adreno 530 graphics processing unit (GPU) that delivers supercharged graphics performance, the ZenFone AR handles the visual graphic demands of Tango and Daydream with ease. Superior Hi-Res Audio and DTS (News - Alert) Virtual Surround Sound: Complementing the rich AR & VR experiences offered by the ZenFone AR is a new audio system that supports Hi-Res Audio and DTS virtual surround sound. External audio also gets a boost with the ZenFone AR's new ultra-loud 5-magnet speaker. Complementing the rich AR & VR experiences offered by the ZenFone AR is a new audio system that supports Hi-Res Audio and DTS virtual surround sound. External audio also gets a boost with the ZenFone AR's new ultra-loud 5-magnet speaker. Photographic Maestro: The ZenFone AR is also an accomplished camera smartphone. It has the same ASUS PixelMaster 3.0 camera system found in the ZenFone AR that comprises of the world's highest resolution Sony IMX318 sensor and TriTech Autofocus system. AVAILABILITY & PRICING The ZenFone AR will be available with 6GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, with Verizon as the exclusive wireless provider, in the United States in summer 2017. Pricing will be announced at a later date. 1 Tango apps on Google play: http://get.google.com/tango/apps/ 2 Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 for Tango information: https://www.qualcomm.com/products/snapdragon/devices/tango ### About ASUS ASUS is one of Fortune magazine's World's Most Admired Companies, and is dedicated to creating products for today and tomorrow's smart life. Our comprehensive portfolio includes Zenbo, ZenFone, ZenBook and a range of IT devices and components, along with AR, VR and IoT. ASUS employs more than 17,000 people worldwide and over 5,500 world-class R&D talents. Driven by innovation and committed to quality, the company won 4,385 awards and earned approximately US$13.3 billion of revenue in 2016. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170518006249/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Ministry for Heritage has announced that three new interpretation panels have been placed within our Old Town in order to provide information on our Medieval History, namely our Islamic and Spanish Periods. Gibraltar Case Referred to a Grand Chamber of the European Court In a hearing held on Tuesday 16 May 2017, the Court of Justice of the European Union heard submissions from the Gibraltar Government and the Gibraltar Target Shooting Association on the question of whether the EU Directive establishing a European Firearms Pass ought to be implemented in Gibraltar, in Case C-267/16. The Directive has not been transposed in Gibraltar on the basis that the Government considers that it concerns the free movement of goods, an area of EU law that does not apply to Gibraltar. The Shooting Association is challenging the Government for that non-transposition. The case has reached the European Court on a preliminary reference made by the Gibraltar Supreme Court. In the previous hearing before the Supreme Court, held on Thursday 14 April 2016, Chief Justice Mr Anthony Dudley accepted the arguments made by both parties that the case raised complex issues of EU law that needed to be determined by the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg. This is the first time that a court in Gibraltar makes a preliminary reference to the European Court. Indeed, in his opening submissions, HM Attorney General Michael Llamas QC, stated that this was a historic moment and regretted that this might well be the first and last time that the courts of Gibraltar would seek the distinguished guidance of the European Court. Significantly, the case was assigned to a Grand Chamber of the Court consisting of 15 judges and presided by the President of the Court of Justice, Mr. Koen Lenaerts. The Grand Chamber only sits in cases which raise issues of exceptional importance. The UK Government, the European Parliament, the European Commission and the European Council also intervened in the case in support of the Gibraltar Government. Advocate General P. Mengozzi will deliver his Opinion on 26 September 2017. The Attorney General Mr Michael Llamas QC, and Crown Counsel Mrs Yvette Sanguinetti of the Government Law Offices appeared for the Gibraltar Government. The members of the Shooting Association were represented by Mr Lewis Baglietto QC and Mr Charles Bonfante of Hassans. Clubhouse Gibraltar Staff Qualify as Mental Health First Aiders Clubhouse Gibraltar has successfully secured the licence to run Mental Health First Aid courses in Gibraltar. Two Clubhouse staff members have qualified as trainers in Mental Health 1st Aid after attending a course in UK .The Mental Health First Aid course is an internationally recognised course, established in Australia. After the course you will be able to: Recognise the symptoms of mental ill health Provide initial help Guide a person towards appropriate local professional help and support. The two-day educational course teaches people how to identify, understand and help a person who may be developing mental ill health. In the same way we learn physical first aid, Mental Health First Aid teaches you how to recognise those crucial warning signs of mental ill health. The training is designed to fit into four manageable chunks, these are: Mental Health First Aid, Mental Health Depression and Suicide Crisis Anxiety, Personality Disorders, Eating Disorders and Self Harm Psychosis, Schizophrenia and Bipolar What will you learn? In each section you will learn how to: Spot the early signs of a mental distress Feel confident about helping someone experiencing mental ill health Provide help on a first aid basis Help prevent someone from hurting themselves or others. Help stop a mental illness from developing or getting worse. Guide someone towards finding the right support Reduce the stigma of mental illness. Who should attend the course? Anybody who works with or supports people and has an interest in their welfare. This includes the following although not an exhaustive list. Social care staff, social workers, Ambulance service, nursing staff, Human Resources Officers, Line Managers, youth workers, Police Service, fire service and front line workers. Families and carers of people who have experienced or is experiencing mental health difficulties. Everyone who attends the course will receive a copy of the MHFA manual and workbook, which are both excellent support resources. When you have completed the course you will receive a certificate to confirm that you are a trained Mental Health First Aider. In exploring ways on how to initiate helpful conversations with regards to their mental health, employers will gain confidence in dealing with difficult situations and support their staff in the workplace or returning to work. How can I book on the course? The course is open to anyone over the age of 16, who works, managers or supports people in their community or work place. The total cost of the course is 195 per person (Statuary/ Private Sector) and 150 for voluntary sector. The first course will run from 9am to 5pm on Wednesday 14th & Thursday 15th June 2017 at the University of Gibraltar. Lunch and refreshments will be included in the cost. For further information call Kevin or Darryl at Clubhouse Gibraltar on 200 68423. Please note places are limited to sixteen persons on each course. Clubhouse Gibraltar would like to say Thank You to Kusuma trust for sponsoring Kevin Fowler & Darryl Britto to become Mental Health Fist Aid trainers. All money raised through the training will be go towards the running costs of Clubhouse Gibraltar. Untitled. Photo: DON EMMERT / Staff/Getty Images A 1982 piece by Jean-Michel Basquiat sold for $110.5 million at a Sothetbys postwar and contemporary art auction last night. The sale nearly doubles the previous highest price for a Basquiat work. Untitled joins ten other works that have sold for over $100 million. But the sale also sets the record, for a work by any American artist, for a work by an African-American artist, and as the first work created since 1980 to make over $100 million, according to the New York Times. The oil-stick-and-spray-paint work went to Japanese e-commerce billionaire Yusaku Maezawa, following a ten-minute bidding war with dealer Nicholas Maclean. Maezawa (clearly a fan) also set the previous record for a Basquiat painting just last year at $57.3 million. Brooklyn-born Basquiat began as a graffiti artist but is known as a neo-expressionist. He created politically charged works, particularly of racial and economic inequalities, until his death in 1988 at the age of 27. He was close friends with Andy Warhol (whose most expensive painting sold for over $105 million). This weeks episode opens with Jorge, Cheyenne, and Khasan boarding a yacht owned by a lady who appears to be Olivia Newton-John and a guy who isnt that ex of hers who maybe faked his own death a few years back just to, in my humble opinion, get away from Olivia Newton-John. Apparently, Jorge knows this couple because they found his dog Luka after he lost it the previous weekend. My surprise level over Jorge losing his dog is below sea level. While they ride the yacht the owners of which disappeared, NOT unlike the aforementioned 2005 disappearance of Olivia Newton-Johns boyfriend Khasan tells them hes nervous because his mother is joining them for the weekend. Yes, you read that correctly: Someone decided itd be a good idea to bring his mother to Fire Island, and no, I checked, his mother is not Chita Rivera. (Although I guarantee she has, at the very least, some investment properties that are Pines adjacent.) Khasans boyfriend, Jason, might join, making it the first time Khasan would be introducing his mom to a boyfriend. It is worth mentioning that Khasans boyfriend isnt on Fire Island because hes in Provincetown, another gay beachside mecca. Do these people just spend all their time bouncing from gay destination spot to gay destination spot? If so, Id love to tackle the Castro with Brandon and meet up with Cheyenne at the restaurant where Goldie, Bette, and Diane get drunk after Stockard Channings funeral in The First Wives Club. Meanwhile, Patrick and the My Giant guy Brandon was dating okay, his name is Jaylen wander through the woods musing on the isolation of Fire Island. In this interlude, we learn Jaylen has gotten really, really into Brandon. He tells us he grew up Mormon (uh, boy) and wants kids and a husband and the whole family thing, so he really wants things to work with Brandon whom he met four weeks ago? Mmmk. When Jorge, Cheyenne, and Khasan get to the house, theyre pissed to find Brandon has made a mess. They bitch about it and make him clean it up. Khasan points to the pool where the unicorn pool float is now a heap of deflated plastic and says, What happened to the unicorn? Brandon replies, It was like that when I got here. The camera lingers on the deflated unicorn for a moment, a visual metaphor for this show as a whole. We cut to the first commercial break, during which the ads always seem to be about mens underwear, HIV medications, or gum. Priorities. They go out to dinner and Justin joins them, complaining his way into the scene. He informs us that his parents are also coming for the weekend and I find myself officially stumped at literally every decision any of these people make. Patrick arrives at dinner with Jaylen and everyone is pissed at Patricks calculated (a.k.a. skillful-reality-show) move to stir this boiling pot of gay drama. They discuss that the respect level at the house needs to be heightened for the weekend, especially since parents are going to be there. Patrick uses this as an opportunity to bring us back to his feud with Cheyenne and they begin yelling at each other again. Cheyenne laments that an argument with Brandon about cleaning somehow turned into a pissing contest with Patrick, and honestly, I think hes stumbled onto something that would undoubtedly pay more than Logo does. Out of nowhere, Jorge suddenly starts crying and ends up telling us that today wouldve been his fathers birthday but that his father is dead. Apparently, his father kicked him out for being gay and then eventually accepted him back into his life. Its clear that this experience strengthened their relationship and I feel for the guy. Do I think it was the best move to burst into hysterics at what appeared to be a mediocre dinner because your roommates are fighting over where to put their Speedos (not on the kitchen counter, by the way, you literal monsters)? No, but we all lose it when our emotions take over so I get it. Eventually, they all group hug and say theyre sorry. Patrick toasts that they go out and have the best night ever in honor of Jorges dad. Which, after hearing the story of him kicking out his son for being gay, seems like a pretty questionable way to memorialize him. The next day, Justins parents arrive. Theyre sweet and totally out of their element, but game enough that its not too awkward (or interesting for that matter). They take them to the beach and Justin apologizes as he reveals his Speedo to his mom for the first time, but her reaction is pretty much, Okay, which is nice to see. Not as nice to see, however, is that Patrick shows up yet again with Brandons ex-fling Jaylen, who I swear to God is growing before our very eyes. Brandon is rightfully annoyed that Patrick cant seem to get the hint that he doesnt want the guy around. In a huff, Brandon goes off to take pictures of Jorge (who looks especially good in this episode) and bitch about what Patrick has done. Patrick then begins playing what appears to be straight-up catch with Jaylen a few feet away from Jorge and Brandon. Within minutes, Patrick forces the two groups to meet, but Jorge drags Jaylen to go photograph him in the ocean so that Brandon can confront Patrick and tell him to stop bringing this guy around. I know, gentle reader, Im tired too. Brandon and Patrick argue and the latter, losing his cool, cannot seem to understand Brandons point. Finally, Brandon takes matters into his own hands and tells Jaylen that hes great but that he doesnt want to date anyone. I appreciate Brandons openness here: He basically tells the guy that they can bang as much as they want, but he doesnt want to have to text with him while hes just trying to enjoy his weekend. Honestly, its one of the most honest things anyone on this show has said to date. Some super-hot guy named Alex is briefly there and Cheyenne drools over him like Winnie the Pooh upon hearing theres a movie called American Honey. Then the hot guy is gone for the rest of the episode and you wonder, briefly, if he was ever there at all, then you stop thinking about it completely because he made zero impression on you. Later that night, Justins parents cook a big Italian dinner and everyone gathers around a long table to eat it. Khasans mom has arrived and joins for dinner before Justins parents leave to return home for no explained reason. The guys show up to dinner in tank tops that are more and more low cut, to the point where Patrick arrives in what isnt even a shirt but more aptly described as a fabric necklace. The guys gather around the pool and hear about Khasans childhood, which was quite intense. From his mom, you can tell that he grew up in a tough environment but with wonderfully supportive people surrounding him. Its a sweet glimpse at just how different our pasts can be from the people we are today. The next day, Khasans mom makes breakfast for the house. (Smooth move bringing in these parents to cook meals so you dont have to hire that angel-winged caterer this week, producers.) After breakfast, Khasans boyfriend, Jason, arrives and meets Khasans mom for the first time. Meanwhile, Cheyenne tells us that all this family stuff over the weekend has gotten him thinking about his own family tragedies and his hangups left over from childhood. He skypes with his boyfriend in L.A., who tells him hes there for him. Technically, that isnt true because hes in L.A., but its safe to say this is not a show nor a group of people focused on technicalities. The episode ends with the guys watching the sunset on the beach and basically verbally circle jerking each other with compliments before we go to yet another coming up next week montage that looks pretty much like this week except that people are slightly tanner, moderately louder, and as progressively ready for summer to be over as I am. Fire Walk With Me. Photo: New Line Cinema If you never saw Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, the 1992 David Lynchdirected feature about the days leading up to Laura Palmers murder, the first thing to know about that movie is that, if youll pardon the Peaks meets Mad Men reference, its not great, Bob. Let me rephrase that a tad. This being a Lynch film, it does contain some startling, haunting moments that stay with you, not to mention a fully committed, wrenching performance from Sheryl Lee. The biggest problem with Fire Walk With Me is that it feels so utterly disconnected from Twin Peaks the series. Its much darker, seamier, and completely lacking a sense of humor. (No one eats or even discusses doughnuts in this thing!) It also depicts events that happened prior to Lauras death that seemingly would have been addressed in the series, but arent. For example: Bobby actually kills a dude in Fire Walk With Me while trying to score some drugs. This seems like the kind of thing that would have come up, or at least made Bobby far more freaked about being questioned by the cops, in the Twin Peaks pilot. Even though Fire Walk With Me is supposed to be setup for Twin Peaks, it plays like its set in an alternate timeline. Although its quite possible thats the point. As David Lynch recently said in this Variety story, Fire Walk With Me is very important to understanding the new Twin Peaks, which begins airing Sunday night on Showtime. Since none of the episodes have been screened ahead of time, its difficult to know exactly how the two may overlap. But here are six details from Fire Walk With Me that may be worth keeping in mind during Twin Peaks 2017. 1. The Teresa Banks case. The first part of Fire Walk With Me delves into the murder of Teresa Banks in more detail, the waitress and part-time prostitute killed in Oregon a year before Laura. (As it turns out, she, too, was murdered by Leland Palmer while he was under the sway of BOB.) As the movie begins, two FBI agents, Chester Desmond (Chris Isaak) and Sam Stanley (Kiefer Sutherland), start to investigate the Banks case and wind up dealing with some uncooperative cops at the sheriffs department and visiting the Fat Trout Trailer Park, where Teresa lived and her world-worn landlord Carl (Harry Dean Stanton) is only happy to offer guests extra-strength coffee. During a second visit to the trailer park, Chester finds a green ring, once possessed by Teresa, that has the symbol of the owl cave on it. (The owl cave is part of Twin Peaks Ghostwood National Forest, where the entrance to the Black Lodge is also located. Revisit the latter episodes of Twin Peaks season two for more information. Or dont, it honestly might not help you make that much more sense out of this.) After finding the ring, Chester disappears; when Agent Cooper goes to the same trailer park, the only evidence of Chester is his car, which has the words Lets rock! famously uttered by the Man From Another Place scrawled across the windshield. This information may be of value, or it may not. Stanton is on the (long) list of actors who will be part of the Twin Peaks 2.0 cast, so it seems likely that Carl, at least, will pop up again. Another detail: The guy that Bobby kills, who was sent to Twin Peaks by Jacques to sell him drugs, is Deputy Cliff, one of the cops from the Oregon town where Banks was murdered. The two places and cases are connected by more than the man or entity that murdered two women. 2. That owl-cave ring, which seems destined to reappear. During Fire Walk With Me, Teresa wears the ring in a photograph. In one scene, Mike (the one-armed man) waves it at Laura while warning her that BOB is actually her father. Others have the ring in their possession at various points during the movie, too, including Annie, Coopers girlfriend (Heather Graham), Chester, and Laura. Film School Rejects has a detailed take on what it may signifiy essentially, that it binds souls to the Black Lodge in some way. Its a good bet that the piece of jewelry will make an appearance again on Showtime. 3. Repetition and bizarro worlds. The section of Fire Walk With Me that focuses on the Teresa Banks case partially plays like an inside-out version of what initially happens when Lauras death is investigated. A special agent whose initials are C.D. is in charge of Teresa, as opposed to the one with the initials D.C., who oversees Lauras case. In both examinations of the body, letters are extracted from beneath the fingernails of the victims. Chester and Sam visit a police department with a blond, seemingly ditzy receptionist at the front desk that seems a teensy bit like Lucy. They even hit a diner run by a woman who could pass for an older relative of Norma Jennings. Point is: I would not be surprised if some of the events of the original series happen again but in slightly different form, setting, or with new people playing the roles once owned by other actors. (That happened out of necessity in Fire Walk With Me; Moira Kelly played Donna when Lara Flynn Boyle was unavailable to do so.) As the Man From Another Place says in the Twin Peaks finale: When you see me again, it wont be me. 4. Phillip Jeffries. Jefferies is an FBI agent who, during Fire Walk With Me, shows up in an agitated state at the bureaus Philadelphia office, sits down to talk to Gordon (David Lynch) and then suddenly vanishes, even though footage on security cameras confirms he was physically there. While at the bureau, he yells about a woman named Judy. Who is Judy? Where did Jeffries go? Twin Peaks 2017 had planned to resurrect the character Harry Goaz, who plays Deputy Andy, confirmed that in an interview. But the unexpected death of the man who played him the legendary David Bowie put a wrench in that plan. That doesnt mean Jeffries might not be mentioned, or that the story of Judy may not finally be told. 5. The location of good Dale Cooper. In the final episode of Twin Peaks, Cooper was taken over by BOB. In a scene in Fire Walk With Me, a bloodied Annie appears before Laura and tells her that the good Dale is in the Lodge and cant leave. It seems fair to assume that the new Twin Peaks will focus, in part, on breaking good Dale Cooper out of there. 6. The blue rose. Another thing that Fire Walks With Me establishes, at least in a manner of speaking, is that certain FBI cases are categorized by Gordon Cole as blue roses. Chester never fully explains to Sam what that means. The Twin Peaks Wiki surmises that blue rose cases are ones that involve the supernatural, which means that both the Teresa Banks and Laura Palmer investigations would qualify. Will the new Twin Peaks actually explain this further, and will there be a new blue rose to dissect? Until Sunday, all we can do is guess. Jesse Eisenberg. Photo: Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images If there is a secret Oscar hopeful checklist, Jesse Eisenberg will be getting his in the mail soon, now that hes signed on to play the legendary mime Marcel Marceau in the new movie Resistance. Jonathan Jakubowicz will direct the feature from a script he wrote about Marceaus role in the French resistance during World War II. Born Marcel Mangel, Marceau joined an underground movement in his teens that helped keep Jewish children from being sent to work camps and smuggled some across the border to safety in Switzerland. Marceau lived in hiding for much of this time, and after the war ended formally devoted himself to the study of mime. The Hollywood Reporter is drawing parallels between Resistance and Life Is Beautiful, and depending on how much work Eisenberg does in silence, it could also be a little of The Pianist. In any event, its already (silently) screaming prestige picture through wild facial expressions and white face paint. PWR BTTM. Photo: Scott Dudelson/WireImage Last Saturday, after allegations of sexual assault, PWR BTTMs label, Polyvinyl, dropped them. On Tuesday, the bands newest album, Pageant, was pulled from Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, Google Play, and Amazon. After their initial statement about the accusations was met with criticism, the band withdrew, only to release three statements this afternoon, one as a band, and one each individually. Read all the statements in full below. From Ben: What has transpired over the past several days has been emotionally overwhelming and difficult to comprehend. Last Thursday, I learned that an anonymous individual had made an allegation of sexual assault against me. This allegation was devastating to me as it is contrary to the intentional way I seek to interact with those around me. As I digested the allegations, I tried to figure out who the individual might be so that I could try to reconcile what I had read with my memory of any particular sexual interaction. Ive waited to respond to the Jezebel article because the statements made about me by the anonymous source did not line up with any sexual experience I have ever had. Over the past several days, I was able to figure out who the individual was based on what I was reading and my subsequent conversations with Liv. I am not going to breach the anonymity of the person interviewed in the Jezebel article, but given the serious nature of what was published and its impact, I have to unpack the claims and provide perspective on the details within. We met the night before a show in March of 2016 and spent most of the following day together. After the show, she invited me back to her house and we eventually engaged in sex. Based on the nature of our communications and our interactions with one another, I understood our interactions to be fully consensual. We stayed in touch over the course of several weeks by exchanging texts and pictures. Later, she asked if she could stay with me at my home, where we had sex several more times over the course of those days. Again, I understood these interactions to be fully consensual, especially since our ongoing communications continued to be mutual, positive and reciprocal in nature. We did not see each other much after that but when we did it was entirely pleasant and we continued to exchange texts, including as recently as March of this year. I had no indication before last week that she had any concerns about our interaction. Last week I learned that, in February of this year, this person had expressed concerns to others about what had transpired between us. I fully embrace and respect this individuals right to speak out in any manner or forum they choose, including in a Facebook post or anonymously to a Jezebel reporter. It does not diminish that persons experience or perception. After the initial shock of learning about her concerns, I have tried to understand her experience of our interactions. It would be antithetical to my values to attack, blame, or shame someone who is using the power of call-out culture to name their experience and hold others accountable, even when - or especially if - the individual they seek to hold accountable is me. I fully appreciate that someones views about the dynamics of intimate interactions can change and are not always apparent in the moment. While I am open to understanding this persons perspective, I strongly contest the account put forth in Jezebel. I am firmly committed to consent, to communication, and to mutual expression of sexual interest. The accusations in Jezebel directly conflict with my experience, as it is not my practice to engage in sexual contact without protection, without discussing the issue with my partner, or to engage in the other conduct alleged in the Jezebel article. That being said, in keeping with my commitment to my principles, I believe it is my responsibility to be accountable to this individuals perspective and to honor it accordingly. One more thing. I have seen posts about people raising concerns about having their boundaries crossed when I have greeted our fans after our shows, something Liv and I do after every performance, taking selfies and thanking folks for coming. This is, again, incredibly shocking news to me, as the safety and well-being of PWR BTTM fans is the most paramount concern I have as a member of this band on and off stage. If my physical contact has made anyone feel uncomfortable, I sincerely apologize and will work hard to have an increased awareness of boundaries moving forward consistent with our commitment to our fans. From Liv: In February, I made contact with the anonymous individual interviewed by Jezebel, someone I knew casually, after hearing that she had made inflammatory accusations about Ben in a private online forum. My intent in reaching out was to learn more and to make myself available in the event that I could be of any help. Our conversation was friendly, but it ended without a plan for any specific next steps. Based upon our discussion, my understanding was that she did not want me to share her identity with Ben unless I had her explicit permission to do so, and I assured her that I would not do so. After our conversation, I wanted to discuss with Ben the issues she had raised but I quickly realized that doing so would inevitably reveal her identity. I did not know how to proceed nor did I know where to seek advice about how to move forward. After Ben ascertained the individuals identity on Friday I decided that my withholding information was no longer protecting her privacy and I told Ben about the conversation she and I had. From PWR BTTM: As some of you know, we set up a separate email address back in mid-May so that anyone with information relevant to the situation that was then unfolding could privately share what they knew. At the time we thought it was the right thing to do. We now see that we were putting the onus on others to do something that only works if it is what they want. We have concluded that there is no viable way to do what we were trying to accomplish, with the result that we are going to shut that email address down (we have not and will not look at any emails that may have been sent there to date). Finally, to our fans, our friends, our family and those who have supported us unfailingly and who continue to support us unfailingly: thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Having enjoyed the enthusiastic support of so many incredible people throughout our music careers has been a blessing. We love playing music, we love sharing music with others and we want nothing more than to be back performing together soon. [May 18, 2017] The National Association of Women Lawyers Announces 2017 Annual Meeting Awardees The National Association of Women Lawyers ("NAWL") is pleased to announce those who will be honored at the association's 2017 Annual Meeting & Awards Luncheon on July 20, 2017 at the Grand Hyatt New York in New York City. These awardees are leaders of their industry who have dedicated themselves to strengthening the legal profession by working toward parity for women and minority lawyers. The 2017 awards are: Arabella Babb Mansfield Award given in recognition of a lawyer's professional achievement, positive influence, and valuable contribution to women in law and in society - to Hon. Amy Klobuchar , U.S. Senator from Minnesota; given in recognition of a lawyer's professional achievement, positive influence, and valuable contribution to women in law and in society - to , U.S. Senator from Minnesota; President's Award for championing policies, programs, and procedures to retain, promote, and advance women attorneys - to HP Inc. , for the company's public position on the importance of actively promoting diversity and inclusion in the legal profession and its creation of a pipeline of future women leaders. Cynthia Bright, Vice President, Associate General Counsel, U.S. Litigation and Government Investigations, will accept the award on HP's behalf; for championing policies, programs, and procedures to retain, promote, and advance women attorneys - to , for the company's public position on the importance of actively promoting diversity and inclusion in the legal profession and its creation of a pipeline of future women leaders. Cynthia Bright, Vice President, Associate General Counsel, U.S. Litigation and Government Investigations, will accept the award on HP's behalf; M. Ashley Dickerson Award given in recognition of a lawyer who promotes diversity - to Hon. Wilhelmina M. Wright , Judge for the U.S. Distrct Court for the District of Minnesota; given in recognition of a lawyer who promotes diversity - to , Judge for the U.S. Distrct Court for the District of Minnesota; Lead By Example Award for a leading male attorney in a law firm, company, government unit, or public interest entity who supports the advancement of women within his organization - to Mark Roellig , Chief Technology and Administrative Officer, MassMutual; and for a leading male attorney in a law firm, company, government unit, or public interest entity who supports the advancement of women within his organization - to , Chief Technology and Administrative Officer, MassMutual; and Virginia S. Mueller Outstanding Member Awards recognizing leading NAWL members for their exemplary work and contributions to NAWL - to Margaret Drew, Director of Clinics & Experiential Learning, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth; Mimi B. MacDonald, Executive Director - Senior Legal Counsel - Wholesale Litigation, AT&T (News - Alert) Ramona Romero, General Counsel, Princeton University; and Eva M. Spahn, Associate, Greenberg Traurig, LLP. www.nawl.org/2017AnnualMeeting or call 312.988.6186. The mission of the National Association of Women Lawyers is to provide leadership, a collective voice, and essential resources to advance women in the legal profession and advocate for the equality of women under the law. Since 1899, NAWL has been empowering women in the legal profession, cultivating a diverse membership dedicated to equality, mutual support, and collective success. If you are not already a member, please considering joining. NAWL welcomes the membership of individual attorneys, including private practice, corporate, academic, government and non-profit attorneys, and groups, including law firms, corporate legal departments, law schools, and bar associations. Learn more at www.nawl.org. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170518006365/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] For those who haven't seen the Waco Civic Theatre's production of the musical "Rent," now would be the weekend to do so. It's the last weekend and to sweeten the deal (as well as echo one of the stories of the original Broadway production), the theater will offer $10 front-row rush tickets. Arrive about 10 minutes before showtime and whatever's still available on the floor, including some seats in the first few rows, will go for $10. Rush tickets or not, what final week audiences will see is some impressive talent, some of which hasn't appeared on a WCT stage before, even if it feels like time has moved on - in a good way and maybe not - since the original stormed Broadway in the 1990s. The story, roughly based on the Puccini opera "La Boheme," has a handful of threadbare artists holing up in an unheated, sparse Manhattan apartment. They're not paying rent, even as the landlord is a former friend and roommate, and AIDS is starting to erode their community of friends. Videographer - before the word was invented - Mark (Joey Tamayo, a delight in the WCT's "Million Dollar Quartet") tells the story as it spins out over a year. Roommate and rock guitarist Roger (Garrett McPherson) is in a deep funk from both his girlfriend's suicide after finding she's HIV-positive and the discovery that he is, too. That funk threatens the creativity he hopes to tap for one last good song he can leave as legacy. Roommate Collins (LaBraska Washington), a former MIT professor, is homeless and has AIDS, but falls for drag queen Angel (Buddy Novak), who takes him in and loves him. Like Collins, Angel has AIDS. Mark's former girlfriend Maureen (Emily Perzan), a performance artist, has left him for a woman, the liberal public lawyer Joanne (Charity Gaines), who, in turn, discovers that Maureen is far from exclusive when it comes to sexual partners. Then there's Mimi (Alexzandria Siprian), a club dancer who's also an addict. She and Roger fall for each other despite their possibly doomed futures, death by AIDS for him, overdose for her. Another former roommate of Mark and Roger is Benny (Coty Johnson), who's now their landlord and urging them to find jobs rather than continue their bohemian, but unemployed lives. It all sounds melodramatic when put to paper (so does "La Boheme"), but the WCT production directed by Phillip Diaz doesn't come off that way, thanks to some of the leading performances. A standout is Novak, whose silken dancing and stage presence - some of the smoothest that I've seen at the WCT - is matched by his singing and acting. Washington, in his singing and acting, makes the other half of that relationship work. The pairing of Perzan and Gaines also works well, Perzan's a triple talent like Novak with a simmering sexuality expressed in a skin-tight cat costume for New Year's Eve as well as a cheeky flash - literally, if you know what I mean - in the anarchic energy of the ensemble's "La Vie Boheme." Gaines has considerable vocal chops, too, and holds her own on the floor with Tamayo in "Tango: Maureen." Tamayo's drive and singing propels the story through a year's time, even as his character is both a part of the group and observer of it. McPherson started strong as Roger, but, in the second weekend's performance I saw, began to lose his voice by the second half. Siprian handled her character's dancer physicality, but seemed distractingly healthy and robust for a person flirting with death in her addiction. Time has sapped "Rent" of some of its immediate drama and tension, however. AIDS and HIV are no longer the death sentence they once seemed to be. The kisses and sex between characters that seem natural parts of relationship back then had a subtext of mortal risk - which made "Rent's message of "no day like today" and living and loving for the moment all the more important. And though Benny is painted as a villain, a yuppie sellout for pursuing profit over La Vie Boheme, the entrepreneurial sense of many young artists today makes his advice seem only practical, while Mark's dithering on whether to take money for footage he shot feels more like youthful folly. "Rent's" music is solid, both vocally and in the onstage combo led by Cameron Dinkins, with music direction from Tommy Edds. "Rent" continues through Sunday, May 20, with performances at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets cost $20 and $18 for Friday and Saturday, $18 and $16 for Sunday - unless, of course, you want to live for the moment and get those last-minute $10 rush seats. [May 18, 2017] Automatic, Fully Parallel Data Engineering for DBMS and GIS HONG KONG, May 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Manifold has shipped Radian Studio, a massively parallel data engineering environment for DBMS and GIS that anyone can afford. Radian automatically runs on thousands of GPU cores plus all CPU cores to sprint through big jobs that crush non-parallel software. Radian does in seconds what can take hours without Radian. Radian users can explore, extract, visualize, blend, transform, load, data-mine and analyze both traditional data types in tables as well as spatial data types like drone images, vector geometry, multispectral rasters, location data, drawings and maps, and do that better with Radian than any GIS or DBMS alone can do. Pop open a 100 GB aerial image instantly, manipulate it with spatial SQL and then load it into your organization's Oracle spatial database with perfect spatial registration. Copy from Oracle and paste into PostgreSQL while transforming coordinate systems on the fly. Display your data within petabytes of supporting data from millions of web servers using any standard protocol. Work with huge vectors that crush non-parallel GIS. Radian automatically applies thousands of fully parallel capabilities, including automatic transformation of spatial infrastructure using thousands of coordinate systems within hundreds of spatial standards, all packaged within one of the most sophisticated and complete SQL engines ever created. Radian can connect to virtually every database server, web data source or file format known in DBMS or GIS. Radian is the GPU DBMS for everyone: No parallel skills are required. Write the standard SQL you already know and Radian on the fly parallelizes it for simultaneous parallel execution using all CPU cores and thousands of GPU cores. Using an optimal mix of manycore CPU parallelism plus massively parallel GPU, Radian's dynamic, just in time, parallel architecture optimizers create better parallelism on the fly than most programmers can hand code. Users who don't know SQL can point and click their way through easy dialogs to leverage parallel power in hundreds of data engineering and analytic tasks, and then transition to SQL using Radian's ability to write SQL for you. More advanced users can script using eleven different scripting languages for total programmability. Radian runs 64-bit o Windows desktop computers with no exotic, in-memory server farm required. Radian runs standalone as a fully parallel CPU/GPU DBMS for local work, or connected to multiple different database servers as a massively powerful, parallel client database engine, or both at the same time. Radian transforms data in place within existing database storage or within Radian's own ultra-fast storage. Standalone, Radian easily handles projects with hundreds of GB on a desktop. Connected to external DBMS servers or to the cloud, Radian reaches petabytes of data. Using inexpensive, desktop GPU cards Radian can execute tasks that choke a non-Radian system, even if the data stays resident on external database servers. At $395 for a fully-paid license delivered instantly online, Radian serves many markets in addition to IT users who mix enterprise DBMS and spatial data engineering. Radian's low price also serves individuals and smaller organizations in applications such as personal DBMS management, format conversion, connecting to thousands of different web-based information sources and much more. Radian Enhances DBMS and GIS Valuable data is all about location, and spatial data is big data that crushes traditional tools. Big data requires more spatial power than found in DBMS, and big data requires more DBMS power than found in GIS. Both DBMS and GIS lack parallel computational power required for big data and analytic insights. Radian combines the strengths of GIS and DBMS to accomplish what either DBMS or GIS alone cannot, and Radian adds the massively parallel processing muscle of GPU DBMS and manycore CPU. Radian enhances existing DBMS and GIS by delivering a blend of geospatial and traditional data capabilities in a single, highly integrated package that plays perfectly with database and spatial tools already deployed. DBMS people using Radian get unmatched spatial power, far stronger than any GIS, and they get that spatial power with the full DBMS sophistication they demand, seamlessly integrated into Radian's enterprise class DBMS engine and phenomenally complete Radian SQL. Radian's DBMS sophistication makes it easy for IT users to expand the value of their spatial data with no need to struggle with older spatial tools that play poorly with DBMS. Radian delivers so much power and convenience that DBMS people will use Radian for traditional data that has no spatial context. Radian's combination of massively parallel GPU and manycore parallel CPU makes work easier and delivers insights faster and better with all data types. At the same time, Radian serves GIS people by delivering breakthrough DBMS sophistication that is seamlessly spatially-aware, providing enterprise class data management, analytics and raw parallel power for big data that far exceeds anything found in GIS alone. For the first time, users of traditional GIS such as ESRI can apply truly world class, fully parallel, spatial SQL to their geodatabase holdings, all in place and with perfect compatibility with the rest of their GIS stack. About Manifold Manifold Software Limited has created advanced GIS and database packages for over 20 years, nine years ago introducing the world's first commercial GPGPU-enabled product and 15 years ago introducing the first desktop GIS with built-in, enterprise-quality, spatial SQL. Manifold has earned fame for elite algorithms, phenomenally complete infrastructure and bulletproof reliability. Serving industry, academia, science, government and military users in over 120 countries, Manifold competes by providing better quality, greater functionality and superior performance at a fraction of the cost of traditional software. Manifold is based in Hong Kong with development in Asia and Europe. Contact: Mike Fisher, [email protected] Website: www.manifold.net Manifold Software Limited Suite 1701, 17th Floor, FWD Financial Centre 308 Des Voeux Road, Central, Hong Kong Radian and Manifold are registered trademarks of Manifold Software Limited. Related Images image1.jpg image2.png image3.png image4.png Related Links Radian FAQ Radian Page To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/automatic-fully-parallel-data-engineering-for-dbms-and-gis-300460378.html SOURCE Manifold Software Limited [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 18, 2017] Mitsubishi Electric, Nokia Bell Labs, UC San Diego Develop World's First Ultra-Fast GaN Envelope-tracking Power Amplifier for Next-generation Wireless Base Stations Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO:6503), Nokia Bell Labs (News - Alert) and the Center for Wireless Communications at UC San Diego announced today their joint development of the world's first ultra-fast gallium nitride (GaN) envelope-tracking power amplifier, which supports modulation bandwidth up to 80MHz and is expected to reduce energy consumption in next-generation wireless base stations. Technical details will be presented during the IEEE (News - Alert) MTT International Microwave Symposium (IMS) 2017, which will be held in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA from June 4 to 9. To help meet the demand for increasing wireless capacity, mobile technologies are shifting to next-generation systems that use complex modulated signals with lare peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) and extra-wide modulation bandwidth. This will require power amplifiers to operate most of the time at backed-off power levels that are well below their saturation levels. Generally, power amplifiers achieve high efficiency near their saturation power levels, but significantly degraded efficiency at backed off levels, as in the case of 4G LTE (News - Alert)* signals (>6dB PAPR). Envelope-tracking power amplifiers have been studied extensively as a means to enhance power-amplifier efficiency, but so far the supply-modulator circuit has been the bottleneck limiting modulation bandwidth for advanced wireless communications, such as LTE-Advanced. The newly developed ultra-fast GaN envelope-tracking power amplifier achieves state-of-art performance thanks in part to Mitsubishi (News - Alert) Electric's high-frequency GaN transistor technology and design innovation for the GaN supply-modulator circuit. Using Nokia Bell Labs' real-time digital pre-distortion (DPD) system, the power amplifier has demonstrated efficient operation even with 80MHz modulated LTE signals, the world's widest modulation bandwidth for this purpose as of May 19, 2017. For the full text, please visit: http://www.mitsubishielectric.com/news View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170518006558/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Waco Main Street Program will host an Imagine the Possibilities Tour from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday in downtown Waco. The tour, open to the public, will start at 728 Washington Ave. Held in conjunction with the recent, statewide launch of https://downtowntx.org by the Texas Historical Commission, the tour will showcase available downtown properties as a way to engage potential investors, entrepreneurs, developers, residents and anyone else who has imagined themselves running a business, owning a building or living downtown. Lorena wine tasting The Greater Lorena Chamber of Commerce is having its fifth annual Saturday in the Park wine and cheese tasting event from 1 to 7 p.m. Saturday at McBrayer Park, 100 E. Center St. The free event will feature wines from seven Texas wineries and live music from Bobby James and the James Gang. Texas Cheese House will provide cheese samples, and Brazos Barbecue will sell barbecue sandwiches. Wine tasting tickets cost $10 for four. Guests can bring lawn chairs for seating. For more information, call 857-2021. Civil War re-enactment The Old Settlers and Veterans Association of Falls County is having a Battle of Tomlinson Hill Civil War re-enactment event Saturday and Sunday at the Old Settlers and Veterans Reunion Grounds, 2965 Farm-to-Market Road 2027 in Lott. Re-enactments will be done at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. The event also will include a silent auction, raffle, music, horseshoes, concessions and living history demonstrations. Admission costs $5 per car. Proceeds will be used for the restoration of an 1840s log cabin and 1914 tabernacle. For information call 493-0567. Seussical, Jr. Christian Youth Theatre-Waco will present the musical Seussical, Jr. at 6 p.m. Friday, 2 and 5:30 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Lee Lockwood Library and Museum 2801 W. Waco Drive. Tickets cost $12 at the door or $10 in advance at http://bit.ly/2rjGjZT. Tickets are $8 for ages 4 and younger or 55 and up. Gholson cleanup The city of Gholson will have a Spring Cleanup Days event Saturday and Sunday. Dumpsters will be set up for the public at the Gholson fire station, 155 Wesley Chapel Road. No tires, paint, oil, chemicals, contractor or hazardous waste will be accepted. For information, call Russell Smith at 722-7669. Eliza LaVerne Birkes April 19, 1928 - May 17, 2017 LaVerne Birkes passed into the arms of her dear Savior on May 17, 2017, after a brief illness. Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 20, at Rosemound Cemetery, 3201 South 12th Street, Waco, Texas, with Pastor Deryl LeBlanc officiating. The family will receive visitors from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, May 19, at Pecan Grove Funeral Home, 3124 Robinson Drive, HWY 77, Waco, Texas. LaVerne was born on April 19, 1928 in the small community of North Prairie near Chilton, Texas, to John and Mary Elizabeth Lizzie (Moore) Copeland. But when she was eight years old the family moved to the Gholson area where she attended school and later graduated from West High School.She later worked for Bell Telephone Company and J.M. Woods manufacturing, where she met her husband of 55 years, Harvey L. Birkes. They married on February 12, 1949 and had two children son, Tommy and daughter, Sharon Elizabeth. LaVerne was preceded in death by parents; husband, Harvey L. Birkes; four brothers, George "Dude", Arthur "Jiggs", Robert "Rusty" and Jack Copeland; and two sisters, Gertie Mae Copeland and Frances Tadlock. Left behind to cherish her legacy of love and devotion, her son, Tommy; and daughter, Sharon Kroskey and husband, Tony; also grandchildren, Jason, Jennifer and husband, Michael, Jonathan Tate and wife, Tanya; and great-grandchildren, Michael, Matthew, Destini, Ashley, Hannah, Melody, McKayla and Owen. The family would like to express their many thanks to the staff of Providence Hospital and a very special thanks to all the staff at St. Catherine's Hospice Care. And all those who visited and those who sent all their love and prayers. Bonnie J. Whitney July 18, 1928 - May 16, 2017 Bonnie Jean Whitney, of Waco, went to be with her Lord, family and friends, on May 16, 2017. Graveside services will be 1:00 p.m., Friday, May 19, at Oakwood Cemetery, Waco, with the Rev. Gary Riley officiating. Mrs. Whitney was born on July 18, 1928, in Waco, Texas. She graduated from the old Waco High School, on Columbus Ave. She attended 4 C Business College, and Baylor University. She was an avid Baylor Bear. She worked at James Connally Air Force Base and for the federal government for 25 years, which she retired from. She was known for her very high IQ, eloquent vocabulary, and vivid memory. Mrs. Whitney loved her family and most of all, her Lord. She would pray for, or witness to anyone she met. She never met a stranger. Mrs. Whitney was proceeded in death by her parents, siblings, nieces and nephews. They are all having a joyous reunion in heaven. She is survived by her daughter, Sherre Whitney Johnston; son-in-law, John David Johnston; three grandchildren, Taylor Lynn Johnston, Paige Whitney Johnston, and Ben David Johnston, all of Lorena; along with numerous great-nieces and nephews. Online guestbook www.pecangrovefuneral.com. [May 19, 2017] Squirrel Systems Releases Latest Version of Squirrel Professional Restaurant Point of Sale Software at NRA 2017 Squirrel Professional 10 POS software builds on Squirrel's proven restaurant management platform BURNABY, BC, May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Squirrel Systems, a leading technology provider to the hospitality industry, today announced the release of Squirrel Professional 10 point of sale software at this year's National Restaurant Association Show, the largest gathering of the restaurant, foodservice, and hospitality industry. With the proven platform and increased efficiencies of Squirrel Professional 10, Squirrel helps restaurants enable amazing customer experiences. Along with a refreshed user interface, Squirrel Professional 10 includes: Enhanced EMV and Mobile Payment Solutions Squirrel continues to maintain its leading position in the payments space by providing the largest array of EMV and mobile payment solutions in the industry while maintaining the highest levels of security. One Touch Automation Squirrel has enhanced its suite of remote management tools to provide additional options for managing unattended end of day and startup processes, 24-hour operations, as well as emergency failover and business continuity controls. More Front of House Cotrols Improved front of house operations and reporting allows users to solely focus on their areas of responsibility, whether a specific revenue center or group of employees. Enhanced Reporting Several built-in reports for transfers, payroll, voids, and more have been enriched, providing additional data for making smarter business decisions. Expanded Remote System Monitoring Squirrel Professional 10 is proactively supported by Squirrel's award-winning 24/7 Solution Center help desk, which leverages Squirrel SmartWatch remote monitoring to ensure maximum uptime. Squirrel Smartwatch can automatically detect and self-heal certain technical issues and automatically alert Squirrel customer service representatives along with a restaurant's IT team. Kitchen Display System and Table Management Integration Enhancements Squirrel is a Strategic Partner of QSR Automations. Squirrel Professional 10 includes additional functionality to support integration, build, and deployment with QSR's ConnectSmart Kitchen and DineTime solutions. According to Mike Devine, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Squirrel Systems, "For over 30 years, restaurants have been leveraging Squirrel's POS solutions to streamline operations and elevate the customer experience. Squirrel Professional 10 represents the latest advancement of our proven restaurant management platform." Squirrel Professional 10 is currently available across North America. To learn more, visit Squirrel Systems in booth #6645 at the NRA Show at McCormick Place in Chicago from May 20-23. About Squirrel Systems Squirrel Systems is proud to be celebrating 33 years as a technology provider to the global hospitality industry. In 1984, Squirrel revolutionized the industry with the first touchscreen restaurant POS system and continues to introduce market leading innovations to help shape the industry. With a proven platform, extensive domain expertise, and industry leading service and support, Squirrel helps food and beverage operators enable amazing customer experiences. For more information, visit squirrelsystems.com. SOURCE Squirrel Systems [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The nation's most powerful doctors' group has thrown its weight behind same-sex marriage for the first time, declaring it a public health issue and calling on politicians to end the divisive debate. After a 14-year internal tussle, the Australian Medical Association will on Saturday issue a new policy position paper that states excluding same-sex couples from marriage has significant mental and physical health consequences and contributes to high suicide rates in the gay community. In an unprecedented move, the president of the typically conservative group, Dr Michael Gannon, has written to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten urging bipartisanship. Evidence from a remote cave in Western Australia confirms humans have occupied Australia for around 50,000 years - according to new research. Prior to the finding of cultural materials at the cave on Barrow Island, it was believed human occupation dated back to 47,000 years. Archaeologist Professor Peter Veth at the excavation site at Barrow Island. But research from the University of Western Australia provides unique evidence of the early and successful adaptation of Aboriginal people to both coastal and desert landscapes and the earliest evidence of coastal living in the country. Lead archaeologist Peter Veth likened the cave, found at Barrow Island, a large limestone island located 60 kilometres off the Pilbara coast of Western Australia, as the 'Atlantis of the south'. [May 19, 2017] Online Auction to Settle Score Between Two American Classics CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- It's a battle more than 50 years in the making. The title fight has been set and it's time to choose sides. Which corner are you in? Ford Mustang or Chevrolet Camaro? Classic car collectors and muscle car fans will be able to prove their allegiance on Friday, May 26, when Speed Digital partners with Hemmings and Proxibid to bring collectors and enthusiasts the first of a series of monthly themed, timed online auctions the HemmingsPRO Auctions in partnership with Speed Digital. The first auction, Mustangs vs. Camaros, will help determine which American classic is more popular. The auction, which includes Mustangs and Camaros from every decade (1964-2017), has already begun and interested buyers can bid at http://hemmings.speeddigital.com. The timed auction will begin closing at 8 p.m. EST on May 26. All inventory will be provided by dealers within Speed Digital's Dealer Accelerate network; therefore, buyers can rest assured they're purchasing cars from reputable dealers. "We look forward to bringing this unique auction format to millions of Mustang and Camaro fans," said Neil Pitt, president of Speed Digital. "It will be exciting to see which fan base has a stronger showing. Will a Mustang or Camaro bring in the highest winning bid? Will more Mustangs find new homes or will it be Camaros? Only time will tell, but it will be fun to watch it ll unfold on May 26." A 2017 Petty's Garage King Premier Edition Mustang with no reserve will be auctioned off at 7 p.m. during the live auction with proceeds benefiting charity. The customized car, powered by a supercharged 5.0L V-8 engine producing 825 HP, will come in the Petty's Garage signature limited "ghost series" black and silver paint scheme and be signed by "The King" himself, Richard Petty. The Petty's Garage Mustang won't be the only vehicle drawing interest during the Mustangs vs. Camaros online auction. You would be hard-pressed to find more premier Mustangs and Camaros in another auction. Two of the most sought-after vehicles that will have bidders reaching for their wallets include a 1969 Ford Mustang (estimated to go between $236,000 and $355,000 at the auction) and a 2015 Chevrolet Camaro COPO ($133,000-$187,000). Other cars that should ignite bidding wars are a 1968 Shelby GT500 ($133,000-$187,000), 1968 Shelby GT350 ($104,000-$140,000), 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 ($99,000-$134,000) and 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS ($90,000-$122,000). For more information, please email [email protected], call 1-866-45SPEED or visit http://hemmings.speeddigital.com. About Speed Digital Speed Digital is a cloud-based technology solutions provider for private collectors, specialty dealerships and classic car auction companies. Speed Digital, based out of Charlotte, N.C., is frequently recognized as the industry leader for cutting-edge website design and software development. For more information on Speed Digital, be sure to check out their website at www.speeddigital.com. Contact: Neil Pitt, President Speed Digital (866) 457-7333 [email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/online-auction-to-settle-score-between-two-american-classics-300460749.html SOURCE Speed Digital [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Colin Barnett walked in to the first day of parliament on Tuesday telling the media to "leave him alone" but two days later was enthusiastically claiming he was "not finished yet". Mr Barnett reminded parliament on Thursday he was WA's second longest-serving post-war premier and warned the corruption of WA Inc would return under the new Labor government. Colin Barnett is feeling the heat from a proposed inquiry into his government's spending. Credit:Trevor Collens The former Liberal leader was unceremoniously dumped from office on March 11, the record loss giving Labor the largest majority in WA history. Mr Barnett has said little since, other than promoting a proposed $5 billion transcontinental gas pipeline to the the east coast in a newspaper interview. Washington: President Donald Trump told Russian officials in the Oval Office this month that firing the FBI director, James Comey, had relieved "great pressure" on him, according to a document summarising the meeting. "I just fired the head of the FBI. He was crazy, a real nut job," Trump said, according to the document, which was read to The New York Times by a US official. "I faced great pressure because of Russia. That's taken off." Trump added, "I'm not under investigation". The conversation, during a May 10 meeting, the day after he fired Comey - reinforces the notion that Trump dismissed him primarily because of the bureau's investigation into possible collusion between his campaign and Russian operatives. Trump said as much in one televised interview, but the White House has offered changing justifications for the firing. Supporters of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange stand outside the Ecuadorian embassy. Credit:Matt Dunham He said his legal team hoped to engage with UK and US authorities to find "a way forward". Assange, 45, who has been in Ecuador's London embassy since 2012, where he was granted political asylum, tweeted a smiling image of himself soon after the news broke. Julian Assange speaks to the media from the balcony of the Embassy Of Ecuador in London. Credit:Jack Taylor He later tweeted that he does not forgive or forget. Melinda Taylor, a member of Assange's legal team, told Fairfax their next step was to push for the US to "clarify" Assange's legal status. Julian Assange tells the media the battle has only just begun. Credit:Jack Taylor "Their prosecution has been going on since at least 2010, that's a hell of a long time," she said. "He has been deprived of the ability to defend himself." His lawyers would approach the Department of Justice in the US and request that they either confirm their decision to seek Assange's extradition, or drop the case altogether, she said. Julian Assange makes his way back indoors after speaking to the media. Credit:Jack Taylor Asked if Assange would consider agreeing to extradition to fight the case conventionally in the US courts, Ms Taylor said Assange had already indicated earlier this year that he would do so "if he could rely on standard due process protections and assert a public interest defence". "In any fair trial he would be sure to be acquitted," she said. "But none of that can start, though, until the US makes its intentions clear." Assange argues that he and Wikileaks are protected under freedom of speech laws, so he has no case to answer in the US. Assange's lawyers will also call on the UK to drop the outstanding arrest warrant against him. They have a potential legal avenue: to approach the courts arguing that the Swedish decision constitutes a significant change in circumstances that means the warrant should be reviewed. Given that the maximum sentence for breach of bail is one year's prison, and the UN has determined that he has been in effect detained for seven years, "such credit would exceed any sentence and makes his arrest moot", MsTaylor said. It was also time for the Australian government to "step up to the plate" and show that it would act to defend the rights of journalists, Ms Taylor said. Assange's Australian passport expired last year, so he is currently unable to travel to either Ecuador or Australia even if he were to walk out of the embassy a free man," Ms Taylor said. "At least they could give him an Australia passport," she said. pic.twitter.com/dDvB1Vekhg Assange's Australian legal adviser Greg Barns said he would ask Malcolm Turnbull to intervene. "Mr Turnbull should talk to [Theresa] May about safe passage out [of the UK]", Mr Barns told Fairfax Media. "Mr Turnbull should also ask whether there is an extradition request against Assange." Swedish prosecutors interviewed Mr Assange at the embassy last November and received a full translation of the interview in mid-March, which they have since been reviewing. In May, Mr Assange's lawyers asked the Stockholm District Court to review the detention order and arrest warrant against him. They argued that the US had expressed they were seeking his extradition to the US over alleged crimes relating to Wikileaks' publication of classified documents. US attorney general Jeff Sessions in April said arresting Mr Assange was "a priority". Mr Assange's lawyer Per Samuelson said Mr Assange faced a "real risk" of extradition from Sweden. He argued his client's remand status should be changed so he could leave the embassy to travel to Ecuador. The accusation against Mr Assange relates to an encounter between him and a woman he met at a WIkileaks conference in Stockholm in August 2010. However Mr Assange has maintained he is "entirely innocent". Earlier this month, Ecuador sent a letter to the Swedish government condemning the "obvious lack of progress" in the investigation of the allegation against Mr Assange, saying it was "extremely worrying" and demanding that Sweden either charge Mr Assange or drop the investigation. In February last year the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said Mr Assange was in effect being arbitrarily detained against international law. However Mr Assange is not likely to celebrate by immediately leaving the Ecuadorian embassy in London as he would still be arrested. In a tweet, Wikileaks said the "focus now moves to the UK". US attorney general Jeff Sessions has said arresting Assange was "a priority", over alleged crimes relating to WikiLeaks' publication of classified documents. The Home Office was unable to comment on the implications of the decision because of the upcoming election. Fairfax understands that the standard procedure, which will apply in this case, is for the department to neither confirm nor deny the existence of an extradition request for Mr Assange before an arrest has been made. The Metropolitan Police Service, who have been staking out the embassy for five years, said there was still an outstanding warrant for Mr Assange's arrest in the UK for skipping bail. Wikileaks claimed the UK would arrest Mr Assange "regardless". "Westminster Magistrates' Court issued a warrant for the arrest of Julian Assange following him failing to surrender to the court on the 29 June 2012. The Metropolitan Police Service is obliged to execute that warrant should he leave the Embassy," the Metropolitan Police said in a statement. At the invitation of Mr. Pedro Miguel Perez Betancourt, Director General of Cuban Customs, WCO Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya attended the XXth Regional Conference of Customs Directors General for the Americas/Caribbean Region, held in Havana (Cuba) on 15 and 16 May 2017. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Fabian Villarroel Rios of Chilean Customs, Chile being the current Vice-Chair for the Americas/Caribbean region. Cuba's Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Mr. Rodrigo Malmierca Diaz, welcomed participants on behalf of the Government of Cuba. He recognized the important role played by the WCO and Customs, particularly in areas such as the protection of society, in contributing to the economic prosperity of nations, in implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, and the introduction of Single Window. Secretary General Mikuriya presented the current key priorities of the WCO : trade facilitation following the entry into force of the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation where the Revised Kyoto Convention and the Mercator Programmes constituted key implementation tools; e-commerce and the implications for revenue collection, the control of goods and the protection of society in the light of the exponential increase in movements of small packages; security and the role of Customs in combating terrorism; Customs-tax cooperation; and illicit financial flows where the WCO had been mandated by the G20 to contribute to its work on this issue. These priorities would be at the heart of the discussions at the upcoming Policy Commission and Council sessions. The Secretary General also drew attention to the forthcoming departure of Deputy Secretary General Sergio Mujica to become the Head of the International Organization for Standardization. Until the new Deputy Secretary General was elected in June 2018 and took up office, the Secretary General said that, with the assistance of the WCO management team, he would assume overall responsibility for the functions of the post of Deputy Secretary General. Delegates heard a number of panel presentations on topics related to the Regional Strategic Goals, focusing primarily on coordinated border management; promotion of compliance with Customs regulations through implementation of programmes aligned on international standards; and capacity building cooperation. In addition, presentations were made on the possibility of establishing a regional registry of Customs Mutual Administrative Agreements; the use of biometrics as a risk management tool; combating corruption in Customs; and the current status of the TFA. Finally, delegates welcomed and endorsed the following requests for WCO recognition : by Mexico for a WCO Regional Customs Laboratory; by the United States for a WCO Regional Dog Training Centre; and by Canada also for a WCO Regional Dog Training Centre. The Secretary General expressed his appreciation to the Director General of Cuban Customs and the Cuban Administration for the warm welcome extended to delegates and for the excellent organization of the Conference. The participants also expressed their appreciation for the hospitality shown to them by Cuban Customs. During his stay in Cuba, Secretary General Mikuriya also held bilateral meetings with the Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Mr. Rodrigo Malmierca Diaz, and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Abelardo Moreno Fernandez, both of whom expressed support for the work of the WCO and looked forward to further enhancing Cuba's cooperation with the Organization. The Secretary General also visited the Customs Management Center at the Jose Marti International Airport to observe first-hand Customs' monitoring of advance passenger information, and paid a visit to the Maritime Terminal and Special Development Zone at Mariel close to Havana. If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit By The Associated Press May. 19, 2017 | 04:49 AM | PADUCAH, KY A McCracken County grand jury has indicted a local deputy jailer after an investigation into multiple complaints from inmates alleging mistreatment. The Paducah Sun reports 31-year-old Sgt. Ben Green was indicted on 16 counts of first-degree official misconduct May 5. He was arrested May 8 and posted bail the same day. The case stems from Green's February decision to move several inmates from protective custody to general population cells, resulting in altercations between inmates. At least three inmates claim they were physically assaulted. Jailer Tonya Ray says Green was terminated from employment at the jail in March. Green's attorney Jeremy Ian Smith said his client's decision was within his scope of duties, but Ray says the jailer is the only one who can override inmate classification. Discovery Park to kick off "Let It Glow" light show Friday Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required. Your Full Name: (optional) Your Email Address: Your Email Address is required. By West Kentucky Star Staff May. 18, 2017 | 09:45 PM | MAYFIELD, KY A Mayfield High School student won a car Thursday, thanks to having perfect attendance at school. Griselda Ramirez, a freshman at MHS, was the lucky winner of a 2015 Nissan Altima during a drawing at Seay Motors in Mayfield. Larry Seay, owner of Seay Motors, hosted the drawing. At the beginning of the school year, Seay and both Mayfield and Graves County high schools announced that students with perfect attendance for a nine-weeks period would be registered for the drawing. The more nine-weeks perfect attendance periods a student earned, the more times his or her name would be entered in the drawings. Seay said the car is valued at $15,000 and that he will pay the tax and license. He offered to put that same amount of money into a college fund for Ramirez, but she said she wants the car. She just turned 16 in October. By West Kentucky Star Staff May. 18, 2017 | 09:06 PM | MAYFIELD, KY A Graves County woman faces drug and alcohol charges after her arrest Wednesday night in Mayfield. According to the Mayfield Police Department, officers responded to the 200 block of North 8th Street on a report of an intoxicated driver. The vehicle was stopped on North 8th Street and the driver, 36-year-old Casey Rae Gough of Sedalia, was administered standardized field sobriety tests. Police determined that Gough was under the influence. Officers found a cigar suspected to contain some kind of synthetic drug, possibly spice, inside the vehicle. Gough was arrested and charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, 3rd offense, and possession of a synthetic drug. She was lodged in the Graves County Jail. Loading... Babette's Feast may be a well-loved short story and Oscar-winning film, but it's a hell of a beast to wrestle onto a stage. Without the conjuring properties of Karen Blixen's original descriptions, or the magic-making budgets of Hollywood, theatremakers must summon war-torn Paris, icy rural Norway, two 19th-century timelines, and a feast so ludicrously luxurious it evokes a transcendental experience. Director Bill Buckhurst has taken on the challenge, with a new adaptation from Glyn Maxwell. But, while there are some delicious moments, the results aren't wholly satisfying. The story follows sisters Martine and Philippa, each courted in their youth by an ardent suitor but denied marriage by their father, the pastor of their small pious community. Years later, their father dead, the sisters sustain their parishioners, until a Parisian refugee with a flair for cooking becomes their live-in helper. The production's main issue is a confusion over where to spend its time. There is much to explore forbidden love, the religious versus the sensual life, community, self-sacrifice and an hour and a half seems ample time in which to do it. But an uneven focus leaves the production feeling both too short and strangely empty. Babette's journey from France and the preparation of her feast both include impressive but lengthy movement sequences, but her years at the house are given short shrift. 12 years pass in the time it takes to make some loaves of bread, giving the bond between Babette and the sisters little time to prove. In a story about human connection, this feels a little frustrating. There are moments, however, when these connections are given air, and here the production comes alive. Ladi Emeruwa is excellent as Martine's suitor, a Swedish cavalry officer whose bumbling attempts at romance in front of a pious prospective father-in-law squeeze every drop of bewilderment from Maxwell's painfully relatable script. The villagers develop in their dotage the bickering shorthand and unspoken supportiveness of a close family drawn out superbly by Buckhurst's direction. And there are roundly excellent performances from the cast. Henry Everett is particularly enjoyable as both Philippa's peacocking suitor, a Parisian star baritone, and the hen-pecked husband of village busybody Kara, played with matriarchal glee by Amanda Boxer. There are also haunting hymns from composer Olly Fox, which the cast performs beautifully. And designer Simon Kenny's dark, sparse set captures the community's frugal existence, while also rustling up banqueting tables and boats. Buckhurst has similar moments of simple but perfect creativity the mirroring of gestures between the actors playing the young and old sisters allows them to pass the narrative baton across a 49-year time gap. But the challenge of the feast cannot be solved with such simplicity, and without the sight and smells of the banquet, it's hard to believe the awakening it evokes in the villagers, however well they mime over their empty plates. It may be that Babette's feast is best served up on the page where, like the story's characters, we are encouraged to experience something other worldly: the transportive visions on offer in our mind's eye. Babette's Feast runs at the Print Room until 3 June. Its being reported that Alisher Usmanov, the Russian billionaire who owns a minority stake in Arsenal, has lodged a $1.3billion (approx. 1billion) bid to buy out his rival shareholder, Stan Kroenke. Usmanov currently owns 30% of the club as opposed to Kroenke, who owns a controlling 67% stake in the Gunners. According to the Financial Times, the offer was made last month and, though Kroenke is yet to reject it outright, the American reportedly has absolutely no intention of selling up at any point in the near future. He (Kroenke) is understood not to have dismissed the idea out of hand at first. However, he has since informally indicated he is not interested in selling to Mr Usmanov or anyone else. While the pair have been at loggerheads for years, Usmanov is said to be increasingly concerned about the lack of investment being made in the club by Silent Stan and his board, from which the Uzbekistan steel magnate has been excluded. What with the distinct possibility of Arsenal missing out on 50millions worth of Champions League revenue next season, Usmanov was apparently hoping to strike while the iron was tepid. Cynics have posited that the move may be a concerted effort to flush out new buyers and inflate the price, but something tells us exasperated Arsenal fans shouldnt go getting their hopes up. Joann Haase came to the yogurt business a little late in life. Haase and her husband, Jerry, moved to Lincoln in the mid-1980s when their daughter started classes at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She found herself bored and lonely in her new city and at her husband's urging, she started looking for a part-time job. TCBY hadn't opened yet in fact, its building at 64th and O streets wasn't even finished but it was taking applications. Haase had applied at a nearby business, and her husband encouraged her to put in an application at the new yogurt shop as well. She said she didn't really want to, especially considering all the other applicants seemed to be college kids, but she did it to humor her husband. The next day she got a call offering her a part-time job. That was in 1985. Within six months, she was the manager, and before the decade was over, she and her husband owned the store. Now, after 31 years, she's calling it quits. Haase said her husband is battling cancer and she wants to spend more time with him. When the doors close for the last time Monday, it definitely will be bittersweet. In nearly 32 years in the yogurt business, Haase said she never once felt like she didn't want to be at work. "I loved swinging that door open every day of the year," she said. For a time, she also had an ownership stake in an Omaha TCBY and she also served as an area manager for all the Nebraska TCBY stores for about four years. She said she often would put in a full shift in Lincoln, then go work at the Omaha store or go to meetings with TCBY managers. And she loved every minute of it. The Lincoln TCBY franchise was only the fifth in the country at the time it was granted. For many of the early years, it was the only frozen yogurt in town. Haase said that on Friday nights there would be a line out the door from about 7 until close. Business was so good that she was named the top franchisee in the country in the early 1990s. Over the past decade or so, the frozen yogurt craze waxed and waned and new shops popped up in Lincoln, closed and popped up again. TCBY even had other locations in Lincoln that closed. But the one at 6450 O St. steered a steady course. Haase said she thinks the No. 1 reason was the product, which she calls "outstanding." "It always brings a smile to your face," she said. She also said her willingness to do outside sales and events also helped the business. She had a robust cake business and also had booths at the Nebraska State Fair for nearly two decades when it was in Lincoln. Spend a few minutes talking to Haase, and it's clear she wouldn't leave the business if she didn't have to. "The kids said, 'It's time, Mom,' you can't keep it any longer," she said. "So we're going to retire." The store will host a customer appreciation day Sunday with in-store promotions and specials. Monday is the last official day. Haase said she has sold all of her equipment to someone, but she's not sure exactly what his plans are. He might seek to become a TCBY franchisee or he might open his own ice cream or yogurt shop. However, she does know he will not be continuing on in the same location. The Education Department has announced it will move servicing of $1.3 trillion in federal student loans to a single provider, a change that could have a huge effect on Lincoln's Nelnet. The department said Friday the change will improve customer service and increase oversight. No details were given on when the provider will be chosen. Currently, there are 10 companies servicing student loans, although four of the companies, including Nelnet, do most of the servicing work. In an op-ed published Friday, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos called the previous system, put in place under President Barack Obama, "chaotic." She added, "Students will now be treated as valued customers and afforded the protections and respect they deserve." Rohit Chopra, Senior Fellow at the Consumer Federation of America, raised concerns that the government will be too reliant on a single company. He added that the change will do little to tame student debt defaults. Nelnet has worked hard to diversify its business over the past decade, moving more into tuition payment, campus commerce and even telecommunications. However, the company still derives a significant portion of its overall business from servicing federal student loans. In the first quarter, Nelnet reported $39 million in revenue just from its government servicing contract. Last year, the Education Department had sought proposals for one company to run its student loan servicing platform, although multiple companies still would have been able to participate in the servicing process. Nelnet and Great Lakes, another servicing company, created a separate entity and put in a joint bid. The bid made it past a first cut, but then the process stalled. Nelnet reported earlier this month that it had received notice from the Education Department that the process for that bid would be changing and said it was, "awaiting announcement from the new administration on the next steps in the procurement process." Nelnet declined to comment. In the 1990s, writer Kent Nerburn traveled from Minnesota to the Pine Ridge Reservation to meet with a Lakota elder who wanted him to transform a box of scrawled notes and sentence fragments into a book. The resulting novel, the award-winning Neither Wolf Nor Dog: On Forgotten Roads with an Indian Elder, has now come to the screen in an ultra-low budget picture that nonetheless manages to convey much about life on the Pine Ridge today, the shameful, tragic history of the Lakota people and the relationship between whites and Natives. Directed by Steven Lewis Simpson, a Scottish filmmaker who previously did 2008s Rez Bomb, also shot at Pine Ridge, Neither Wolf Nor Dog opens with Nerburn (Christopher Sweeney) receiving an out-of-the-blue phone call from the granddaughter of a Lakota elder, asking him to come to South Dakota to meet with her grandfather, Dan (Dave Bald Eagle). Mourning the death of his father, Nerburn initially has no desire to drive hundreds of miles to meet Dan. But upon further thought -- and with his wife and son conveniently going to Minneapolis -- he jumps in his pickup and heads west. Arriving at Pine Ridge, he finds Dan and a box of notes. But his attempt to turn them into prose results only in cliche -- from a white, outsider perspective -- rather than the reality Dan wants to convey. Chided with biting sarcasm by Dans friend Grover (Richard Ray Whitman), tired of staying next to raving drunks in a fleabag motel and frustrated with his inability to get what the elder wants, Nerburn is ready to give up and go home. But, as hes driving away from Dans house deep in the hills, Nerburns pickup dies. Leaving it in the hands of 300-pound fix-it man Jumbo (Harlan Standing Bear Sr.), Dan is picked up by Grover and Dan, taken in Grovers old Buick on a journey around Pine Ridge. That makes Neither Wolf Nor Dog a road movie of sorts -- where lessons are learned and wisdom gained on a journey. Only this road movie stays within the boundaries of Pine Ridge, visiting cafes, museums and Wounded Knee as Dan dispenses his wisdom and Nerburn gradually begins to wake up. Neither Wolf Nor Dog is a little rough around the edges, evidence of its low budget on view when, for example, the color balance shifts in the midst of a scene. And its made with an indie-film aesthetic, which means theres a few slow spots and a very deliberate pace. But with a quietly powerful performance from Bald Eagle, a semi-professional actor whose face and gestures convey as much as his works, and strong work from Sweeney and Whitman, who have some chemistry in their clashes, Neither Wolf Nor Dog transcends its budget to become one of the most insightful contemporary Native-based films Ive seen. Bald Eagle passed away last summer at age 97, but was able to view Neither Wolf Nor Dog, saying, according to Indian Country Today, Its the only film Ive been in about my people that told the truth. That alone is enough of an endorsement to highly recommend, even with its flaws, Neither Wolf Nor Dog. All that needs to be known about Norman is contained in its subtitle: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer. "Norman" is Norman Oppenheimer, a New York hustler who tries to put together huge deals by claiming to know movers and shakers -- from politicians to billionaire investors. Played against movie star-type by Richard Gere, Oppenheimer is as mysterious as he is disingenuous. But he also appears to be well-intentioned, working, for example, with Rabbi Blumenthal (Steve Buscemi) whose congregation is about to lose its building. As the movie opens, Oppenheimer's hustle is a deal involving the sale of Israeli tax securities -- his targets, investor Jo Wilf (Harris Yulin) and Israeli deputy prime minister Misha Eshel (Lior Ashkenazi), who Norman follows, then befriends, listening to the ambitious young politician worry about being done before his career has really begun. That connection doesnt occur. Fast forward three years, Eshel is now the newly elected prime minister of Israel who, at a post-speech reception, crashes into Oppenheimer. Eshel embraces and gives Oppenheimer the unofficial title of ambassador to the American Jewish community. That instantly puts the wheeler-dealer at the center of all kinds of action, with deals and favors aplenty flying around. But its also the beginning of the end for Norman, whose naivety equals his chutzpah. Smartly written by director Joseph Cedar, Norman plays out with a rich authenticity. That starts with its settings in coffee shops that appear to be Oppenheimer's offices, the mansions and offices of the wealthy investors and the Israeli Knesset, where Eshel is pushing a peace plan. It continues through uniformly excellent, convincing performances in supporting roles from Charlotte Gainsbourg as an attorney in Israels New York consulate, Michael Sheen as Oppenheimer's attorney nephew and the always great Buscemi. And the film is carried by a pair of well-matched characters: Eshel, who is given sincerity thats overcome with ambition by Ashkenazi, and the increasingly in-over-his-head Oppenheimer. It's one of the best performances in Geres 40-year career. Norman, a joint Israel-American production, doesnt shed any new light on Israeli politicians, the peace process or look at how the deals are put together. Rather its a fine, ultimately touching story of the hustler who almost made it or, perhaps as revealed in the final scenes, did, albeit in tragic fashion. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 19/05/2017 (2000 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Iconic Australian rock band Midnight Oil is headed back to Canada this summer to perform an extra few shows as part of their The Great Circle World Tour. Previously, only dates in Toronto and Vancouver had been announced, and now, not only will the band double-back to those two cities, theyll also make stops in Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg, where theyll play the MTS Centre Aug. 31. This unusual decision to announce a return play in Toronto before the first show has even happened is driven by the bands desire to frustrate scalpers. Rather than paying inflated prices via resellers to attend the imminent May and June shows, fans now have the option of buying regular tickets to attend these summer dates, explains a news release. Australian rock legends Midnight Oil, left to right, Bones Hillman, Peter Garrett, Martin Rotsey, Jim Moginie and Rob Hirst. (Rick Rycroft / The Associated Press files) More than 250,000 tickets were sold within days of The Great Circle World Tour being announced, with the shows in Toronto and Vancouver selling out. Midnight Oils highly anticipated return to Canada follows nearly a 15-year hiatus and a career-spanning love affair with Canadian music fans and Canadian culture, states the release. Juno Award-winning rocker Matthew Good will join Midnight Oil for all of the Canadian dates. Tickets range in price from $39-$89 and go on sale Friday May 26 at Ticketmaster. If you value coverage of Manitobas arts scene, help us do more. Your contribution of $10, $25 or more will allow the Free Press to deepen our reporting on theatre, dance, music and galleries while also ensuring the broadest possible audience can access our arts journalism. BECOME AN ARTS JOURNALISM SUPPORTER Click here to learn more about the project. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 19/05/2017 (2000 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Facebook was fined US$122 million for giving European Union antitrust regulators misleading or incorrect information about its acquisition of messaging service WhatsApp in 2014. The fine is one of the largest that Facebook has received from an antitrust regulator, but officials said Thursday it also sends a warning message to other companies. Todays decision sends a clear signal to companies that they must comply with all aspects of EU merger rules, including the obligation to provide correct information, the EUs Commissioner for Competition, Margrethe Vestager, said in a statement. In 2014, Facebook told the European Commission the executive arm of the EU it couldnt automatically match Facebooks users accounts to WhatsApp users accounts. But the commission found out that wasnt true and said Facebooks staff knew about the possibility, but failed to inform them. Last year, when the messaging app updated its terms of service and privacy policy, WhatsApp said it could link users phone numbers with Facebook users identities. Facebook purchased WhatsApp for US$22 billion in 2014. This isnt the first time Facebook has landed in hot water with European antitrust regulators. The company has also faced privacy concerns over the data it collects from its users. This week, French regulator the Commission nationale de linformatique et des libertes slapped Facebook with a US$164,000 fine for running afoul of the countrys data protection rules. San Jose Mercury News Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 19/05/2017 (2000 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Sustainable Development Minister Cathy Cox denied Friday there will be any shortage of fish in Whiteshell and Nopiming lakes this summer or in future years. She told the house the situation in the lakes and rivers of Whiteshell Provincial Park has been grossly misrepresented. Sport fishers and members of their $400-million-a-year industry charged Thursday that an entire fish-stocking season has been lost and will result in shortages of fish in coming years because of a provincial government decision not to staff the Whiteshell fish hatchery adequately this winter. MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Manitoba's Sustainable Development Minister Cathy Cox Cox acknowledged Friday there has been a shortage of staff at the hatchery, but insisted it had nothing to do with 13 lakes not being stocked with millions of walleye fry this summer. Provincial biologists make the call on when to stock various bodies of water, and they advised that the 13 lakes did not need to be stocked in 2017, Cox told reporters. Other major lakes such as Falcon, West Hawk, Florence and Lyon are being stocked, she said. Coxs statements Friday were the latest in the evolution of the provinces explanation of the fish-stock situation in Whiteshell and Nopiming, an explanation that has been changing rapidly. The province initially denied the story Thursday. There is no shortfall of fish to be stocked, the province said in a statement. The Whiteshell hatchery will be supplying all the fish that have been requested by them. After further questioning Thursday, the department conceded there was a shortfall of walleye fry because of staffing issues, but downplayed the impact. Manitoba Sustainable Development is not concerned about the overall quality of walleye fishing being impacted by a one-year absence of stocking, it said in an email Thursday. The walleye-stocking program is only intended to enhance fisheries, it is not a replacement for natural reproduction. That changed again Friday when NDP environment critic Rob Altemeyer accused Cox of engineering a situation that caused some real harm to Manitobans. The entire fishing season will be lost, Altemeyer said. Is it her office that directed the staff shortage to happen at the fish hatchery? PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Sustainable Development Minister Cathy Cox says biologists decided which lakes would be stocked. She said her department may not have done enough to keep the sport fishing industry in the loop. Biologists in her department make the call on which lakes to stock each year to avoid overstocking, she responded. The biologists made that determination. I leave it up to the scientists: the biologists. We take a science-based approach, Cox told reporters. The hatchery had a staff shortage, though other provincial employees were dispatched to augment them, she said. Between the Whiteshell and the second provincial hatchery near Lundar, the required walleye stocks were produced, she said. Cox said her department may not have done enough to keep the industry and sport fishers informed about what was happening. We are going to prepare a letter to them, she said. The $10 stamp on an annual fishing licence contributes $850,000 per year into the Fish and Wildlife Enhancement Fund to pay hatchery salaries and operating costs. Ian Young, owner of the Faloma Beach Marina, said Thursday the departments approach to informing people is no way to treat the sport fishing industry. Its really short-sighted on Manitobas part. Its just really foolish, said Young, who is also a fishing guide and runs Falcon Lakes annual winter fishing derby. Sport fishing associations disagree with Coxs assertion the stocking schedule is normal. JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Thirteen provincial lakes will not be stocked this summer with millions of walleye fry. Fish stocks arent going to crash overnight, but somewhere down the line, when those fish were supposed to mature, there will be a gap, Young said. I worry about us missing an age class, he said, noting lakes that are stocked face the most sport fishing pressure. That harvest needs to be replaced, and thats what the hatchery has done for years. If the decision was based on science, that was the way to go, Altemeyer said, adding Cox should still apologize to the fishing community for not keeping people in the loop since there was significant public knowledge about staffing levels and stocking plans in early March. Her response was to deny there was a problem at the hatchery. She could, and should, have taken the action to clarify, he said. nick.martin@freepress.mb.cabill.redekop@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 18/05/2017 (2001 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The tiny-home movement arrived in Manitoba with an open house for the first tiny home sold in the province back in 2015. Now, the couple behind the concept are drumming up interest from prospective buyers, millennials and retired folk as the movement takes its next steps. Mini Homes of Manitoba Inc. has been working for almost two years on changes to bylaws and zoning to make tiny-home living legal in Manitoba. BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Anita Munn, top right, and her husband, Darrell Manuliak, left, and daughter Bridget Stewart in one of their mini homes that is getting ready for delivery. Co-founder Anita Munn and her husband, Darrell Manuliak, want to start a tiny home village by co-purchasing land with a group, providing they attract enough interest. On Thursday, the couple hosted a meeting at their offices on Brookside Boulevard, which also doubles as a construction site. About 40 people packed into the small space between two micro-homes under construction at the extra-large storage unit. A lot of municipalities are more welcoming to tiny homes, off the wheels and on a foundation, Munn said. Then its just a matter of applying for a variance on their zoning requirements. The couple, who custom-design and build the homes, have sold seven of them in the last two years. Five others are now under construction. This is not for everyone. There are still people who want a large home, but more and more people are finding they dont need as much space. To push the agenda forward, the couple invited representatives from Tiny House Festival Foundation, a Vancouver non-profit, to make a presentation. A couple from the foundation are driving cross-country, making a tour this month of 11 cities from Toronto to Kamloops. In Vancouver, were looking at a situation where the housing crisis is in full swing, and a lot of people are investigating this as an affordable option, said foundation co-founder Lisa Chessari, a little road-weary after an eight-hour drive from Thunder Bay. Thats not to say there isnt a world of difference between a crowded city squeezed between the ocean and mountains on the Pacific coast and Canadas endless heartland in big sky country. But affordability, sustainability are driving the concept forward, Chessari said. Now were looking at how we can become developers. Our mission with the tour is to see how we can develop communities, how to look at co-purchasing land. That all depends on the province you live in, what makes the most sense for the finances of the group, she said. Deborah Lavallier likes the concept of creating a community. She owns several acres in St. Norbert. I like the idea of like-minded people living together. We could have a community. The land is right on the river we could have docks, canoes, kayaks, a gazebo, a barbecue. And youre 10 minutes from the city. Don Magnussen eyed the 342-square-foot tiny home under construction in the unit and said, Were looking at downsizing, and were looking at tiny homes, but not this tiny. Maybe 500 to 600 square feet, but we dont have the land. The problem is finding a place to put these homes. Cities typically frown on setting up a trailer and living in it on private property, unless the land is designated as a camp ground or a mobile home park. The City of Winnipeg allows for tiny homes as detached secondary suites provided they meet zoning and building codes. alexandra.paul@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 18/05/2017 (2001 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Police pulled up to find him smoking a cigarette outside the apartment building where hed killed his wife hours earlier. Danny Van Oosten gave officers the keys to the apartment and told them they would find her inside. He had taken a bunch of pills, he said, and wanted to die. Less than a year later, the 57-year-old plumber appeared in a Winnipeg courtroom and pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, admitting he strangled his wife, 54-year-old Lisa Charmaine Van Oosten, after they got into an argument on July 17, 2016. FACEBOOK Danny Van Oosten argued with his wife Lisa over Facebook photos he should have deleted, the Crown told court. Van Oosten was sentenced Thursday to life in prison with no chance of parole for 10 years, the minimum sentence for second-degree murder in Canada, largely because his early guilty plea spared his family and friends from having to testify at trial over the death of a woman they loved. On this day, there were heated emotional circumstances. His life is permanently changed from what happened on that day. He knows that other members of his family have been very much affected as well. Hes truly remorseful for the pain that hes caused, defence lawyer Zachary Kinahan told Court of Queens Bench Justice Robert Dewar. He lost control, and now hes lost contact with his children. And he may have permanently lost them. These are issues that will take time to resolve. He will live with this for the rest of his life. The Van Oostens 28-year marriage was on-again, off-again and volatile often resulting in screaming and plate-throwing, RCMP would later learn. She had been living on her own in a 55+ apartment building on a quiet street in St. Jean Baptiste, population roughly 560. A few months before her death, the couple reconciled, and Danny Van Oosten moved in, despite a warning from a relative who told him, This isnt going to work out. You guys arent good for each other. On that Sunday in July, neighbours heard the couple fighting. What the heck? Somebody played with my phone, Danny Van Oosten shouted. Later, his wife yelled, Get out of my house. I dont trust you anymore. In a series of Facebook messages and texts to his mother after the fight, Van Oosten wrote he started choking his wife and couldnt stop. As she lay dead in the bedroom, he didnt admit what he had done to a relative who dropped by. He said she had gone out after the pair had argued. He said the argument was due to Lisa looking at his Facebook account on his phone and that she had viewed some old pictures that he should have deleted, Crown attorney Terry McComb told court. By the time his mother called 911 and RCMP arrived just before 8:30 p.m. that night, Van Oosten had already told his mother he had killed his wife and expected to be locked up for the rest of his life. The court is no doubt mindful that this is a senseless and tragic loss of life. While the sentencing process can provide justice, nothing can be done to return Lisa Van Oosten to her family and her friends. What the court must do now is decide how to reckon with Lisa Van Oostens killer, McComb said. Strangulation is itself an intimate act. It requires more than a momentary impulse to execute, and it entails looking a person in the face and taking their life from them while they struggle to live, she said. As some of the couples family and friends watched from the courtrooms public gallery, Van Oosten chose not to speak when given the opportunity to do so. His lawyer said he never imagined he would be where he is today. Mr. Van Oosten knows nothing will ever be the same for anyone involved. Mr. Van Oosten wants the court and his family to know that hes deeply sorry for what occurred on that day. Mr. Van Oosten says theres not a day that goes by where he wont regret his actions. katie.may@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @thatkatiemay Margaret Reist Local government reporter Margaret Reist is a recovering education reporter now writing about local and county government and the people who live in the city where she was born and raised. Follow Margaret Reist Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today McKenna Smith will be remembered Sunday when her classmates at Waverly High School graduate -- a happy ending to a story fraught with grief, anger and emotion. Smith -- whod attended Waverly Public Schools from the time she was in preschool until she became too ill to attend sometime during her sophomore year -- died in July 2016 after a long battle with juvenile Huntingtons disease, a degenerative brain disease. A few weeks ago, some of her classmates approached her mom, Amy Dickes, and asked if they could leave a chair empty at graduation to honor her daughter. Dickes was touched -- and before long, really angry when she found out school officials had said no, citing school board policy regarding student memorials. Administrators said leaving an empty chair violated a policy provision that deems inappropriate memorials which may alter the conduct of a regular school instruction day, school activities or the school activities schedule. Superintendent Bill Heimann said one of the things school officials worried about was that an empty chair would focus on the loss students and family had suffered, rather than keeping the graduation focused on student achievement. He also said the policy has been in place since 2009 and he wanted to be consistent with the way the school had handled memorials for other students who had died. He said there had been other similar requests that had been denied. Other schools have grappled with how to memorialize students, and a similar controversy arose a couple of years ago at East High when students wanted to remember a student during a concert. Parents and students were upset then, as they were in Waverly. Dickes took to social media, and friends rallied around her. At one point, a group of Waverly alums threatened to bring a chair to the ceremony in Smiths honor and guard it so it wouldnt be taken away. School officials worked with the seniors to find a way to honor their classmate and in the end, they found common ground. Thursday, the senior class released a statement saying theyd agreed to honor Smith and her family with a bouquet of purple flowers on the graduation stage, as well as a moment of silence. The statement acknowledged the difficult circumstances and disagreement over the interpretation of school policy but said the situation brought the class together, validated the power of our positive culture and students were fortunate to have had our voices heard. Heimann said purple is one of the colors used to raise awareness of Huntington's disease, and was Smiths favorite. Administrators were comfortable with the recognition because flowers and a moment of silence are always part of the graduation ceremony, Heimann said. Dickes got a call from the principal to see if she was happy with the compromise, which she said will include one of Smiths friends saying something to honor her at the beginning of the ceremony. Last night, students presented her with a slideshow of her daughter, a scrapbook compiled by the school for each senior, and a graduation cap signed by students. That was wonderful, she said, as are the plans for graduation. Im thrilled, she said. I feel great about it. The stories quilts tell Hel Moo is a Lincoln High student with a story, one that spans oceans and countries and cultures. A small part of that story a piece of his past and the possibilities for his future is illustrated in a quilt made by 16 Lincoln High English Language Learners unveiled this week at The Assemblage, an art gallery at 18th and N streets owned by the Duncan family. The quilt is part of a project called The Quilted Conscience, which began with Sudanese immigrants at Grand Island Public Schools several years ago. Filmmaker John Sorensen made a documentary of that quilting project and has since partnered with other schools. The Quilted Conscience is a vehicle for new immigrants to tell their stories and to help others in the community get to know them and realize the things they have in common. Steve Joel was in Grand Island when The Quilted Conscience was born, and came to this weeks reception. When John started talking about it, I thought how is this going to work then we watched the magic occur, he said. In 2013, Karen students at Lincoln High were the first in Lincoln to make a quilt, which include blocks that represent a memory and a dream. The latest quilt involved Lincoln High students from Iraq, Thailand, Guatemala and The Congo. Lincoln Sen. Adam Morfelds Nebraskans For Civic Reform an organization he created to promote civic involvement in young people has signed on as the project administrator and fiscal agent for future quilt projects, and made a pitch for contributions at the reception. And Moo, whose family members fled their home in Burma when he was 6 months old and moved to a refugee camp in Thailand, described his quilt squares. The memory quilt depicts his village in Burma before it was destroyed by soldiers, said Moo, 20, whose family came to Lincoln in 2013. The dream: a photo of his hopes of becoming a musician. For years, he said, he wanted to be a soldier to fight against those who destroyed his home. But music, he decided, makes him happy. I like to make other people happy, too, he said. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 18/05/2017 (2001 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The provincial government will make its conservation officers available to give Little Grand Rapids First Nation expert advice on how to deal with and euthanize wild dogs that killed a young woman on the weekend. But they will not go to the fly-in community 270 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg to take care of the problem directly. Both the Liberals and NDP were adamant Thursday they thought Sustainable Development Minister Cathy Cox had committed in question period to sending the officers into Little Grand Rapids to deal with the wild dogs that killed 24-year-old Donnelly Rose Eaglestick early Saturday. Coxs staff later told reporters what the minister had done was open lines of communication and offer the community the conservation officers advice and expertise. She was not confirming were sending bodies to Little Grand Rapids, press secretary Kalen Qually said. Interim Liberal leader Judy Klassen said what she heard Cox say was that physical help was on the way. The minister stated that the department of sustainable development would provide some form of service from conservation officers. It is my understanding from her comments that conservation officers will be sent to the community to help deal with the violent stray dogs, said Klassen. New Democrat Wab Kinew heard it that way as well, too. Judy asked for help on the ground, not on the phone, Kinew said in an interview. He said he interpreted Coxs comments as a commitment to send in her departments conservation officers to take care of the problem. What Cox said in the house was, I just talked to (Klassen) and extended to her the services from conservation officers, just a few hours ago today, to work together with the community and try and ensure we can provide some form of service to them. I think thats very important, we work together with the community. I am very, very humbled to be able to provide that service to that community, said Cox. Klassen spent two days in Little Grand Rapids earlier this week. The MLA for Kewatinook, who is from St. Theresa Point First Nation, had never before seen a reserve on which people walked around in groups and carried sticks because of their fear of wild dogs. Her husband, Jason, was among a group of people who found Eaglesticks body. He is in Little Grand Rapids building a water-treatment plant. Klassen told the house, Residents are mourning a horrific death. This is deeply troubling. Klassen said she had talked to the federal government, which she said told her there had been an arrangement with the former NDP government to extend conservation services onto reserves when requested. The community feels helpless and needs the help of all levels to deal with the frightening situation, she said. Indigenous and Municipal Relations Minister Eileen Clarke assured Klassen her department will help but didnt offer anything specific. Certainly, we will meet, Clarke said. We will work with all the partners collaboratively. Little Grand Rapids Chief Roy Dunsford was in Winnipeg Thursday, his band office said, but he could not immediately be reached. Aides to Cox and Klassen said the chief had not met with them. nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 18/05/2017 (2001 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Former federal cabinet minister Vic Toews is challenging a finding he broke federal conflict-of-interest rules before becoming a Court of Queens Bench judge in Winnipeg. In an application filed Wednesday with the Federal Court of Canada, Toews says he is seeking to have ethics commissioner Mary Dawsons April ruling thrown out. Days after her ruling, the Canadian Judicial Council, a tribunal that investigates complaints against judges, announced it had opened a file on Toews and was reviewing his conduct. He continues to sit on the bench while the complaint is investigated. The complainants identity has not been revealed. ADRIAN WYLD / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Former Public Safety Minister Vic Toews is seeking to have the ethics commissioner ruling that he violated federal conflict-of-interest rules thrown out. Dawson determined in April that Toews violated the Conflict of Interest Act after he received money from two Manitoba First Nations for consulting services shortly after leaving federal office in July 2013. He became a judge in 2014. In one case, Toews received a retainer from Norway House Cree Nation, an organization he had dealt with while in cabinet, before a required two-year cooling-off period. In a second case, he acted on behalf of Peguis First Nation in its bid to acquire Kapyong Barracks land after representing the federal government on the issue years earlier. In his court application, Toews says Dawsons findings were inaccurate and inconsistent with the evidence presented to her. He also argues he was unable to respond properly to the accusations made against him because witnesses were barred from speaking to him. Toews says his two meetings with the Norway House Cree were brief and limited in nature and therefore he did not have direct and significant dealings with the First Nation during his last year in office. The former federal justice minister and public safety minister says he did not provide advice, direction or consultation to the Peguis First Nation or its counsel regarding settlement of litigation. Rather, he merely provided strategic planning regarding potential development of the land at issue should the legal proceedings be settled and the First Nation assume control of the land. Toews acknowledges he was provided with copies of documents on which the commissioner relied as well as transcripts of interviews with certain witnesses. However, Toews says all witnesses were bound by a confidentiality requirement that prevented them from speaking to him or his lawyer. He argues the prohibition amounted to a denial of procedural fairness and natural justice, and compromised his efforts to respond to the accusations. Dawsons office has yet to file a response with the court. In an interview last month, Toewss lawyer, Robert Tapper, accused the ethics commissioner of acting unethically herself because she directed witnesses appearing before her not to speak to him or Toews. He also argued Dawsons office had absolutely no jurisdiction over Justice Toews because he was no longer a parliamentarian when she conducted her probe. Toews served as a member of Parliament for nearly 13 years and was in Stephen Harpers Conservative cabinet for 7 1/2 years. Tapper also lamented last month there was nothing Toews could do about Dawsons report and conclusions. There is no appeal process because there is no legal process. (Toews is) no longer a parliamentarian. He cant raise it in the House, he said. with files from the Canadian Press larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 19/05/2017 (2000 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Premier Brian Pallister again refused Friday to divulge the worth of a holding company he owns, as he and New Democrat Andrew Swan intensified their mutual insults. Pallister has stated repeatedly he does not have to tell anyone the details about Pallister Investments 22 Ltd. unless the value of its shares exceeds $500 each. Thats not true, Swan told the house, accusing the premier of making truly remarkable claims. New Democrat MLA Andrew Swan, left and Premier Brian Pallister continued to butt heads today. Pallister said that since Swan first began making claims about his Manitoba company during the premiers estimates hearing, he hasnt been correct once. Noting that Swan is a lawyer, Pallister said, (Swans) false assertions continue. I understand why hes not in private practice. Earlier in the week, he claimed it was a Costa Rican corporation. The premier said he takes no advice from Swan on ethics or responsibility. Does the premier actually believe it, or does he make it up on the spot because, in his own words (in estimates), he was feeling petulant? countered Swan. Pallister said he disclosed more of his personal properties and investments than he is required to do in the interests of openness and transparency, and he disclosed them years ago. Swan disputes that point, believing the premier only did so in recent months. The premier said he disclosed details of his vacation home and companies in Costa Rica even though there was zero relevance for any potential conflict with Manitoba government business. There is nothing consistent about the members position other than a consistent desire to get his name in the paper, Pallister scoffed. He does this in a clear attempt to malign. nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 19/05/2017 (2000 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The Progressive Conservative government refuses to say whether it will proclaim its controversial public-sector wage bill once it passes, raising speculation it will simply use Bill 28 as a club to get its way in contract talks with unions. Premier Brian Pallister broke off a scrum with reporters Thursday when he was asked repeatedly whether the government planned to make the bill law. On Friday, a spokeswoman for Pallister said the premier didnt have anything new to add on the matter. WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Kevin Rebeck is president of the Manitoba Federation of Labour. Under legislature rules, the government, with its healthy majority, is assured the bill will pass by the time the house rises for the summer on June 1. The question being asked is whether it will be immediately proclaimed into law. David Camfield, a professor of labour studies at the University of Manitoba, said the government could hold it in reserve as a club or threat. Thats a plausible interpretation. If they hold it in reserve, they avoid the messiness around a charter challenge, he said Friday. In December 2015, the Nova Scotia government passed a bill that would have imposed a two-year wage freeze on that provinces 75,000 public servants. Liberal Premier Stephen McNeil promised not to bring it into force until it was needed. According to the provinces website, it has yet to be proclaimed into law. Manitobas Bill 28 would freeze public-sector wages for two years, followed by a maximum 0.75 per cent increase in Year 3 and a one per cent hike in Year 4. Some 120,000 Manitoba workers are affected. NDP MLA Andrew Swan said hes very concerned by the governments refusal to indicate whether the bill would immediately come into force. They may try to play the same kind of games (as) the Nova Scotia government: have the law passed in the legislature but not actually take the necessary steps in cabinet to make the bill effective and make it law, which might prevent a court challenge, he said. Theyre trying to have it both ways. I dont know why they cant just come out and give a clear answer. Manitoba unions have threatened a court challenge if the law is imposed on them. If the legislation is not proclaimed, it will not come into effect. Unions could still bargain with public-sector employers for higher wages. But Swan said a bill freezing wages, once passed in the legislature, is bound to affect the actions of government negotiators and could throw public-sector bargaining into disarray. Manitoba workers are entitled to know what the ground rules are, and Manitoba workers have said that if the government proclaims this law, it is going to be challenged in court, the former NDP justice minister said. If the government believes this is sustainable, they should put their money where their mouth is, proclaim the law and see what happens in court. Manitoba Federation of Labour president Kevin Rebeck could not be reached for comment Friday. Meanwhile, Camfield said the Pallister government likely feels confident about its position. Its got a strong majority, and I dont think its any secret that there is not a highly mobilized union movement in Manitoba at this point, he said. larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 19/05/2017 (2000 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Manitoba Hydros application to the utilities board for rate increases provides a golden opportunity for Premier Brian Pallister to do the right thing and save Manitoba Hydro and the Manitoba taxpayers by not allowing the rate increase and by keeping his election promise (Bipole III called dumbest decision; Winnipeg Free Press, Oct. 25, 2014) to scrap the Bipole III project. It is not too late, and would curb the financial drain on Manitoba Hydro and the taxpayers. The Bipole III capital cost represents a relatively small portion of the financial burden when all related costs are factored in. Bipole III will never generate positive revenue. It will be used to export electrical energy to spot markets at rates that generally are well below the cost of generation and transmission of the electrical energy. Simply put, we will be selling at a loss. Rate increases will not salvage this mess. On the contrary, infusion of additional cash will simply increase the negative bottom line. The salvaged Bipole III infrastructure could be used to generate and transmit electrical power to Canadian markets at a profit. WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILE PHOTO Bipoles 1 and 2 are completed, but there's still time to reverse course on Bipole III. It appears the only way Manitoba Hydro can survive is to transfer its financial burden to Manitoba taxpayers. Under the present structure, Manitoba Hydro will never be in a position to generate positive revenue from sales of electrical energy. It appears that all the Manitoba Hydro contracts are for sale of electrical energy to export spot markets. Spot markets were intended to provide utilities the ability to sell their surplus energy at substantially discounted rates, well below the cost of generation and transmission. Manitoba Hydros financial predicament is a direct result of the NDPs gross mismanagement. The decision to route the Bipole III line on the west side has cost Manitoba Hydro billions of dollars. It is intended to deliver electrical energy to the export market at a below-cost rate. Although Bipole III was intended to be a backup for Bipoles I and II, the west side Bipole III line is not compatible with Bipole I and II. The west-side route will have a severe negative impact on the west-side infrastructure, including subterranean, surface pipe lines, irrigation systems and public health and safety. Stray ground currents will accelerate corrosion of most conductive infrastructures. The negative impact of electric and magnetic fields have to be factored in to the overall cost. This has not been addressed in the public arena, although it is well documented globally by many highly credible research facilities. If the premier allows the rate increases, he will be endorsing the NDPs reign of terror that got us in this mess in the first place. If this ill-fated project is not nixed, Manitoba Hydro is doomed to extinction. The NDP has demonstrated time and time again that they are masters at mismanagement. Ontario Hydro is one example. We challenge Premier Pallister to do the right thing. Stop this fiasco. John Roschuk is a senior engineer technologist and a power quality consultant who has worked in the electrical field for 52 years, including 17 years with Winnipeg Hydro. One of the tallest traveling giant Ferris wheels in North America is coming to the 2017 Minnesota State Fair. The Great Big Wheel will carry riders to a height of 156 feet, offering breathtaking views of the state fairgrounds and the Twin Cities. Weve been working for years to land a spectacular ride like the Great Big Wheel, State Fair General Manager Jerry Hammer said. It will be placed at the center of Machinery Hill on the north side of the fairgrounds, giving everyone a whole new perspective of the fair. Manufactured in the Netherlands, the Great Big Wheel is equipped with 36 enclosed gondolas each holding six people. A spectacular lighting system features more than one-half million LED lights that can be programmed to display thousands of designs and colors. Twelve trailers are required to transport the 200-ton ride. The Great Big Wheel will be located on the southwest corner of Randall Avenue and Cooper Street, across from Family Fair at Baldwin Park and will operate from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily throughout the fair, which begins Aug. 24 and runs through Labor Day. Tickets are $5 per rider. More details about the Great Big Wheel are available by visiting mnstatefair.org. Wisconsins environmental protection agency has authorized a Georgia timber company to fill more than 16 acres of Monroe County wetlands in order to build a $65 million frac sand facility. Meteor Timber, one of the largest private landowners in Wisconsin, has proposed building a processing and loading facility along Interstate 94 near the town of Millston to dry and ship frac sand the company will mine from a nearby site it acquired in a 2014 purchase of nearly 50,000 acres. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources on Friday granted the company a permit allowing it to fill the wetlands, including about 13 acres of pristine and increasingly rare hardwood swamp. We are pleased that the DNR has approved our wetland permit, and we look forward to continuing to work with the agency as the regulatory process progresses, project manager Chris Mathis said in a written statement to the Tribune. Our project will protect more than 40 acres of wetland for every one impacted, making it one of the largest wetland preservation and restoration efforts in Wisconsin history. Meteor must still receive permission from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before filling any wetlands. The company must also apply for permits allowing incidental loss of threatened and endangered species during construction. The proposal drew criticism at an April public hearing on the permit and was officially opposed by the Ho-Chunk Nation. Midwest Environmental Advocates called the scope of the wetland destruction massive in comparison to the total of 26 acres the DNR has allowed frac sand mining companies to fill since 2008. The permit reflects a very careful review and investigation by DNR staff, said MEA staff attorney Sarah Geers. It also reflects the extraordinary damage that this wetland fill will do to a sensitive and imperiled resource. After the proposal first received media attention, Meteor proposed to restore and preserve more than 640 acres of other land including more than 296 acres of existing wetlands. Our company knows that sustainability is an important part of operating responsibly, Mathis said. We have worked hard to go above and beyond other projects by developing a historic plan to permanently preserve and restore high-quality wetlands on more than 600 acres. This effort merits support from those who want to see growth, economic development and preserve the environment because our project accomplishes all three. However, the DNR determined those mitigation efforts are not likely to fully compensate for what it calls permanent and irreversible secondary impacts from activity on the site and may not compensate for the direct loss of 13.4 acres of exceptional quality white pine and red maple swamp, which is considered an imperiled habitat. The agency also said the permit approval may lead to increased applications to fill rare, sensitive and valuable wetland plant communities. Geers said those and other findings bring into question whether the project can be legally approved under state and federal law. Timber company sweetens deal for Monroe County frac project A Georgia timber investment company seeking to build an industrial sand operation in Monroe Both regulators and opponents have questioned the projects economic viability, given the precipitous drop in demand for sand since domestic fracking peaked in 2014. But an economic analysis prepared by a Pennsylvania consultant says because the group could efficiently send entire trains of its sand reserves directly to oil fields in Texas that have become some of the nations most productive. The company expects to ship about 1.5 million tons of processed sand each year using the adjacent Union Pacific rail line. Meteor has said it cannot find another location to accommodate such a large plant along the UP rail line. The company also said permitting its project is the only way to prevent much of the 752-acre site from being clearcut. About three quarters of the land is owned by the A&K Alexander Cranberry Co., which was cited in 2013 by the Environmental Protection Agency for illegally filling 5.6 acres of wetlands. As part of the penalty, the EPA required A&K to restore 2.2 acres of the filled wetlands and to get an after-the-fact permit for another 3.63 acres. According to documents filed in support of the application, A&K managing partner Marty Alexander took out a one-year loan in August for $321,470 to settle the case. In a letter to Meteor, Alexander said if the sale does not go through logging would be his only way to avoid foreclosure. Sand industry back in business in western Wisconsin Like the ghost towns left behind after the California gold rush fizzled, many of the frac sa ST. PAUL, Minn. The early spring has brought the ticks out ahead of schedule in Minnesota, and experts are warning people to protect themselves against the serious diseases they can carry. The Minnesota Department of Health says anyone who goes outdoors should be alert for the blacklegged tick, also known as the deer tick. Epidemiologist Elizabeth Schiffman said its the species that transmits the majority of tick-borne illnesses in the state, including Lyme disease and others with names such as anaplasmosis, babesiosis and Powassan virus. Although the ticks are out early, Schiffman said it appears that their numbers are typical for a Minnesota spring. The number of cases of tick-borne illnesses is going up, though. Minnesota averages more than 1,500 cases of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases annually. Michelle Lively, of White Bear Lake, was diagnosed with Lyme disease about a year ago and is still in a lot of pain. I wish that I had been more aware of Lyme disease, Lively said. I wish I had understood the symptoms earlier, I wish I had known how to protect myself. Symptoms can include fever, headaches and muscle pain, plus the distinctive bullseye rash. The department stresses prevention and prompt tick removal. Schiffman said anyone venturing outside in a tick-prone area should take precautions like using repellent, doing tick checks and showering. North Oaks, with its spacious lots and woods, is making a concerted effort to combat ticks after a study showed that the Twin Cities suburb was a hot spot for the insects. Brooke Moore, who chairs the citys tick task force, said the rates of tick-borne illnesses in North Oaks were about five times higher than surrounding communities. Moore and her husband contracted Lyme disease several years ago but recovered with quick treatment. The city encourages property owners to reduce tick habitat by removing brush or wood piles and keeping grass short, and she said the awareness campaign is having an impact. In our most recent survey 42 percent of the people surveyed sought care earlier than they would have in the past, Moore said. And many of our residents have started implementing personal protective measures. Two fishermen on Thursday discovered the body of a man missing in the Mississippi River since May 9, authorities said. David Reckase, 29, of La Crosse was last seen in the river off Houska Park calling for help, according to La Crosse police. The fishermen found his body about 5:30 p.m. near New Albin, Iowa, about 18 miles from La Crosse, Houston County Sheriff Make Inglett said. Even before the latest startling development, Id bet my West Virginia neighbors that President Donald Trumps support will soon collapse and, regardless of whether he manages to stay in office, the Republican Party will take a beating in next years midterm elections. This amuses them very much, and they ask to be introduced to more people from Washington who think they know what theyre talking about. Youll see, they say, Trump will be fine and the Republicans will increase their majorities next year. Id be spending my expected winnings right now, except for one thing: My neighbors have been right every time about Donald Trumps electoral prospects, and Ive been repeatedly wrong. (It started with my confident prediction that Trumps disrespect for John McCains military service I like people who werent captured would stop the insurgent during the primaries.) By the time of the election, Id halfway learned my lesson, and wasnt as surprised by the result as many, but my record isnt good. Never mind. Things are now clearer. Since Trump took office, voters have surely learned enough to think the country has made a terrible mistake. Their opinion is crucial for the presidents prospects of survival. His approval numbers are already poor, and at this rate will surely get worse. Once that happens, Republicans in Congress will start to desert. And the bad stuff just keeps coming. Indeed, the egregious blunders of the past week the firing of FBI Director James Comey, sharing of classified intelligence with the Russians, and now the Comey memo disprove a view Id taken seriously until recently: that Trump would be contained by the job and all that goes with it. Sit him in the White House and surround him with smart people, and let the dignity of the office civilize him. Hell learn to behave. Well, he hasnt learned. Hes the same incompetent braggart as before, only more so. Even if the presidents powers are constrained as the courts and Congress have shown his personality and temperament cant be. So Im certain to win my bet. Right? The thing that gives me pause isnt Trump, but his opponents. Theyve been the secret of his success throughout his great enablers. I maintain theyre the reason he won the election. And sure enough, in their own misguided way, theyre still pulling for the president. From the beginning of Trumps time in office, Democrats and their allies in the mainstream press have been celebrating every misstep, putting the worst possible construction on every dumb comment, howling at every pratfall, one day hyperventilating and the next yucking it up all as if to tell Trumps supporters, There you are, morons, you see we were right. However justified, that chorus of contempt for Trumps supporters isnt going to encourage them to defect. It will allow them to believe also with justification that the press isnt dedicated to telling it straight on the firing of Comey or the sharing of intelligence with Russia or anything else Trump does. The refusal from the start to give him a chance (sorry for bringing that up again) continues to undermine his critics credibility even though, by now, hes had his chance and blown it. I still expect to win my bet. His opponents are a tremendous asset, never to be underestimated but Trump is still Trump. He looks beyond saving. My neighbors, in case youre wondering, will pay up with a smile. Theyre good people. Even before the president ominously hinted at a secret White House taping system, the supposed similarities between Donald Trump and Richard Nixon had all but made Watergate Studies a required course in journalism departments. But as we grope to understand the 45th president and (to put it charitably) his erratic behavior, the best historical guide remains the life and times of Roy Cohn, Trumps original mentor. Famed for his role as Joe McCarthys henchman during the 1950s witch hunts, Cohn met Trump at a private New York disco in 1973. Before long, Cohn was aggressively defending Fred Trump as the presidents father battled a Justice Department suit over racial discrimination in renting apartments in Queens. The links between Cohn and Trump are well-known. And it is easy to imagine Trump being heavily influenced by a shady lawyer who boasted, My scare value is high. My area is controversy. My tough front is my biggest asset. But too little attention has been paid to Cohns 18 months at McCarthys side as a template for grasping aspects of the Trump presidency. In his 1988 biography, Citizen Cohn, Nicholas von Hoffman wrote, Joe (McCarthy) and Roy, by the testimony of virtually all who knew them, both had the attention span of hyperkinetic three-year-olds. Disorganized, unfocused, herky-jerky they just did what they did when they did it. Does any of that sound familiar? From the moment that the 26-year-old Cohn was appointed as McCarthys chief counsel in early 1953 (beating out wait for it Bobby Kennedy for the job), he operated with no sense of limits. One of his first crusades was to win access to the small senators-only swimming pool adjoining a steam room. Even though half the Senate lived in mortal terror of McCarthys wrath, Cohns temerity was too much of a break for congressional tradition. That April, Cohn and his junior sidekick David Schine set off an 18-day Grand Tour of Europe ostensibly to search for communist literature in libraries operated by the United States Information Agency. New Yorker columnist Richard Rovere described the trip as marked from beginning to end by comedy and at the end by bitterness and anguish in every American embassy in Western Europe. Trailed by dozens of reporters during a visit to the American cultural center in Frankfurt, Germany, Cohn was shocked to discover such subversive literature as The Maltese Falcon and The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett. Cohn then attacked the library staff for not carrying distinguished anti-communist publications like the American Legion magazine. What Cohn displayed in Europe and during the rest of his life was a book banners love of publicity. On one hand, Cohn radiated contempt for liberal values like open libraries and opposition to censorship. On the other hand, he eagerly leaked to favored reporters and obsessed over his press clips. Does any of that sound familiar? By the fall of 1953, even McCarthy and Cohn were having trouble exaggerating and fabricating fresh examples of communist subversion. So they went after wait for it an Army dentist. Maj. Irving Peress had not revealed when he enlisted that he had been a member of the left-wing American Labor Party. Even after Peress tried to resign his commission after being threatened with a court martial, McCarthy and Cohn were not satisfied. They went after the Army brass demanding to know as if the Cold War teetered in the balance Who promoted Peress? This was the moment when Cohn learned that no target is too insignificant to win you headlines. If you scream loud enough and are vicious enough on the attack the press will frame the story on your terms. Does any of this sound familiar? In the fall of 1953, Cohn was facing a personal tragedy. His night-clubbing colleague Schine (whose father ran a hotel empire) was about to be drafted. So Cohn did what any congressional aide would do under the circumstances he called the secretary of the Army directly. The effort to spare Pvt. Schine of the rigors of peacetime national service soon reached the highest levels. Army Secretary Robert Stevens called CIA Director Allen Dulles to see if Schine could be nominally transferred to the agency while he continued to work and party with Cohn. The CIA said no. With Cohn and McCarthy often visiting Schine at Fort Dix (sometimes flying up from Washington on the Army secretarys plane), there was nothing basic about the privates basic training. Other recruits at Fort Dix complained to reporters that Schine was living like a visiting dignitary. This was a moment when Cohn learned that you can use the levers of government for your private concerns. There need not be any separation between the personal and the professional if you have enough power. Does any of this sound familiar? Ultimately, the crazed obsession with Peress and the mink-lined glove treatment of Schine led to the Army-McCarthy hearings and the 1954 Senate censure of one of Americas most dangerous demagogues. Even amid the downfall of McCarthy, Cohn never apologized, retreated or admitted error. Does any of this sound familiar? The problem with using Roy Cohn as a role model is that the aggressiveness, the deceit and the lack of moral compass will keep you on the front pages of the tabloids and always get you a prime table at the Stork Club. But, as Donald Trump is fast discovering, it offers no formula for governing or even surviving in power. William Brew William Bill Brew, 81, of Wisconsin Dells, passed away peacefully Saturday, May 13, 2017, at St. Clare Hospital in Baraboo. Bill was born Oct. 17, 1935, in Mauston, the middle child of Daniel Conrad Brew and Martha Mae Byam Brew. He graduated from Wisconsin Dells High School in 1953 and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison farm short course the following year. He was drafted into the United States Army, served in Germany for one-and-a-half years, was honorably discharged and returned to the family farm where he was the fourth generation in 150 years to work the land west of Wisconsin Dells. Bill married Jean L. Sprecher on Dec. 18, 1965, and celebrated their 50th anniversary at a party featuring the family barn that turned 100 in 2015. Bill had farmed for more than 50 years, always looking for ways to improve a farm task. He supported promotion of lamb and wool from 1976 when a county group formed in Columbia County. He received a diploma from Madison Area Technical College sheep production class. For fun and relaxation, Bill enjoyed boating on the Wisconsin River and had a number of different boats. His dream to have tour boats on the river became a reality in 1997 when Brews Landing opened with the Mark Twain and in addition, jet boats. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing when there was time off from the farm chores. Personal achievements also included visiting all 50 United States and while in the military, Bill toured nine different European countries. In recent years with his wife, they visited Australia, New Zealand, Scotland and the Isle of Man where his great grandparents were born. Bill is survived by his wife Jean; sons, Richard (Tina) Brew of Wonewoc, and Brad Brew of Baraboo; sisters, Eleanor Elphick of Pardeeville and Janet Maurer of Hastings, Nebraska; a cousin, Sylvia (Bill) Baurer of Madison; and grandchildren, Tatum, Tyler and Jaydon. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers-in-law, Jim Elphick and Ralph Maurer; and niece Janice McQueen. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 27, 2017, at Emanuel United Methodist Church in Baraboo, with Reverend Blake Overlien officiating. Visitation will take place from 9 a.m. until the time of service at the church. Picha Funeral Home and Crematory of Wisconsin Dells assisted the family with arrangements. For online condolences and information, visit www.pichafuneralhome.com. Since Gov. Scott Walker was elected and Republican lawmakers gained the majority in the Legislature, the quality of Wisconsins air, land and water has suffered and is threatened by yet more policies favoring polluters. The same is true under the current Republican president and the GOP majority in Congress. Throughout 2015, according to records collected by the Environmental Protection Agency, Wisconsin ranked 11 out of all the states at most risk from more than 100 water contaminants including harmful levels of nitrates, bacteria, toxic chemicals and lead. In 2014, 50 percent of the tested private wells in the town of Lincoln, in Kewaunee County, were found to be contaminated by high amounts of nitrates, E. coli bacteria and other dangerous contaminants that are linked to fertilizers, manure, and septic system wastes. In the western part of the state, Babcock well tests showed nitrate levels as high as five times the allowed level, which is 10 parts per million. Out of 102 well samples tested during that period, only 12 fell below 10 ppm and 41 were above 20 ppm according to a May 8 article in the La Crosse Tribune. The Department of Natural Resources is responsible for monitoring and regulating pollutants, but under Walker and Cathy Stepp, his builder/developer appointee to head the department, scientific staff have been cut, the budget slashed and there are not enough inspectors to monitor wells or the quality of air in areas where cancer-inducing silica sand is mined. But thats OK with Secretary Stepp who, when referring to clean air, water and wildlife, told a business group, Well, the last time I checked, they dont pay taxes and they dont sign our paychecks. Meanwhile, here in Wisconsin, there are a lot of people who cant drink their water. The La Crosse Tribune article also noted, Health risks from nitrate consumption are most acute for infants younger than 6 months and for women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Some studies also indicate a link between long-term consumption of high levels of nitrate and other health problems, including diabetes, some types of cancers and thyroid disease. Yet Stepps DNR continues to approve expanding huge livestock operations, such as the one in the town of Lincoln that already has 6,200 cattle producing more than 70 million gallons of manure per year. Its ironic, because in 2014, the DNR reported that about 900 waterways in the state fail to meet water quality standards because of phosphorus from fertilizer, detergent and manure that cause algae bloom, toxic lakes and fish kills. And that same year, the governor signed a GOP bill that allows farms and manufacturers up to 20 more years to reduce their phosphorus discharges to acceptable limits. The GOP also passed the mining bill that still stands. It prohibits property owners from suing mine operators or the DNR for compensation if their wells are contaminated or go dry as a result of mining operations. GOP bills have also weakened the protection of wetlands that control flooding and are habitat for fish and other wildlife. Also, the governor recently signed a GOP bill that allows DNR permitting of high capacity wells without the requirement that the impact of other area wells be considered. Meanwhile, wells, streams and rivers in Wisconsins Central Sands area are going dry from over-pumping by large agricultural operations. I remember when Republican leaders used to care about the quality of our land, air and water. President Dwight Eisenhower once stated, As we peer into societys future, we you and I, and our government must avoid the impulse to live only for today, plundering, for our own ease and convenience, the precious resources of tomorrow. Calling pollution the greatest danger, President Richard Nixon endorsed the creation of the Endangered Species Act. He also oversaw the creation of the EPA because of the heavy smog and water pollution that plagued every large city. He also proposed the Safe Drinking Act which was ultimately signed by another Republican president, Gerald Ford. In 2004, the Republican Party Platform stated, We support President Bushs Clear Skies proposal to reduce power plant emissions. Clear Skies, through a proven cap-and-trade system, will reduce by 70 percent emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and mercury. Now the GOP is talking of repealing those protections. Its hard to believe the values of Republican lawmakers have changed so radically; unless you consider the millions in contributions the partys received in the past few years from major polluters like Koch Industries and others. Today, they care much more about their campaign chests than they do about our earth, air and water. Its time to make big changes. Remember that when you vote. A project to repaint the downtown water tower in Beaver Dam is being delayed into 2019 due to high voltage lines that need to be moved. Im pretty comfortable with a two year window, Rob Minnema, utilities director said over the phone. Minnema briefed Beaver Dam Operations Committee on the $700,000 project, which would see a recoating of the water tower near the Tower Parking Lot because of areas with rust bleed-through. He said that the project is now expected to go out for bids in February 2019 and work should begin during the summer months. The city has been in discussion with American Transmission Company about the placement of the high voltage lines. ATC is interested in permanently relocating the lines. ATC in Wisconsin owns and operates high-voltage transmission systems throughout the state. As a result, relocating the high-voltage lines could save the city some money because ATC will cover the cost, according to Minnema. But, this will push the project back. He estimated that if the city had temporary moved the lines it could have cost the city up to $10,000 to do so. In November, Operations Committee recommended moving forward with a new paint-recoating job and color scheme. It was expected to go out for bids in January. Previously, Minnema said that he has heard positive feedback on the green background, yellow words that read Beaver Dam and the large Beaver Dam High School beaver logo on the water tower. The last paint job, about seven years ago, is not holding up, according to Minnema. The new paint and repairs should last approximately 25 years. TOKYO (AP) The scenario has become pretty familiar by now. Sometime in the early morning, a missile roars off its launcher in North Korea and flies off to a splash zone somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. But what if Pyongyang wasn't just testing its hardware or drilling its troops? How long would it take to hit its real-world, primary targets? Below, two experts talk to The Associated Press about what would happen if North Korea fired at targets near and far. They are David Wright, senior scientist and co-director of the Global Security Program of the Union of Concerned Scientists, and analyst Markus Schiller, of ST Analytics, an independent space technology and rocketry consulting company based in Germany. The takeaway: It would get very messy, very fast. SEOUL: FROM ESSENTIALLY ZERO TO 6 MINUTES Well before North Korea had a nuclear program, it realized it could hold the 10 million people of greater Seoul, the capital of South Korea, hostage with the threat of a massive, conventional artillery strike from its dug-in gun batteries concentrated just north of the Demilitarized Zone. If it were to launch such a strike first, the first wave of shells could land with essentially no warning. Estimates vary as to how much damage such an attack could actually wreak Pyongyang can't, as it has claimed, reduce Seoul to a sea of ashes before a pulverizing counterattack but it would be considerable. Seoul's defenses are porous. It 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 U.S. 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. TOKYO: 10-11 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 U.S. the ship-based Aegis system, which is designed to intercept medium-range missiles and potentially intermediate-range ones that means missiles with a range of less than about 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. Serious questions have been raised over whether this multilayer strategy, even 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, likely aware of that fear, simultaneously launched four medium-range Scud ER missiles into the Sea of Japan in March. 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. SAN FRANCISCO: 30-34 MINUTES 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 demonstrated this capability during two separate missile launches in July. Schiller explains that 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 10,000 kilometers (6,200 miles) 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 (8,000 kilometers, or 5,000 miles away) and Los Angeles (9,000 kilometers, or 5,600 miles) away in under 30 minutes from launch. But that's assuming a North Korean launch from within its own territory. To get around the distance problem, and to bolster its stealth, North Korea is already developing submarine-launched ballistic missiles. Experts believe it will take years for the North to have a sub-based missile it could actually use in an attack, but it successfully tested its first one named Polaris, the same name as the first U.S. missile of that kind last year. WASHINGTON, D.C.: 30-39 MINUTES New York and Washington are less than 11,000 kilometers (6,800 miles) away. That translates into 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 ICBMs. According to the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, which estimates that North Korea now "fields hundreds of missiles that can reach U.S. forces forward deployed to the Republic of Korea and Japan," U.S. missile defense systems like the GMD and THAAD "discourage adversaries from believing they can use ballistic missiles to coerce or intimidate the U.S. or its allies." 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, U.S. officials complicate diplomatic efforts abroad, and perpetuate a false sense of security that could harm the U.S. public." Wright said that aside from stopping an incoming missile, another big question is what would or should a U.S. president do in response. "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." What if the president does decide to hit back hard? Land-based ICBMs could be in the air within five minutes. Submarine-based missiles in 15. And once launched, they can't be recalled. This story was originally published May 17, 2017. The Wisconsin River in the Portage area is expected to rise to flood levels this weekend, according to a notice from the Columbia County Emergency Management Department. Residents living in low-lying areas along the river are advised to take proper precautions, specifically those in the area of Blackhawk Park and in the town of Dekorra including Oak Knoll Drive and Highway V. The Wisconsin and Baraboo rivers are expected to rise, according to the National Weather Service, cresting Saturday afternoon. The most severe flooding is expected in the Portage area with water reaching a moderate flood depth of 18.3 feet, while in the Wisconsin Dells area the river is expected to crest at the action stage of 14.5 feet. The Wisconsin River rose to about 17.5 feet in late April, causing concern in the Blackhawk Park area. Meanwhile, conditions along the Baraboo River are expected to be less serious with depths at Rock Springs spiking to 14.2 feet, into action territory late Friday, with markers further east not registering any flood risk. In Portage, flood conditions are expected to hold through Monday before receding, though water levels are expected to reach nearly a foot higher than conditions in April. First responders were called to a reported boating accident in the town of Dekorra on the night of April 21, when a craft ran aground after being steered over an inundated road. Two people were injured, with one being taken from the scene by MedFlight. Alcohol was thought to have been a factor, according to the Department of Natural Resources, the investigating agency. Although dramatic shifts in water levels are more often caused by conditions upstream and farther north, specifically decisions in dam management, the National Weather Service predicts an increasing likelihood of showers starting today and continuing through the weekend. Those in need of assistance are advised to call the Columbia County Sheriffs Office at 742-4166, ext. 1. MERRIMACThe U.S. Army maintains it is not responsible for implementing a public drinking water system in the town of Merrimac. The Army previously stated, after a review of the proposed construction and operation of a drinking water system near the Badger Army Ammunition Plant, Army representatives acted prematurely and beyond their area of authority. As a result, providing a drinking water system would be inconsistent with our authority under the Defense Environmental Restoration Program. Although the Badger Army Ammunition Plant is no longer operating, the chemicals previously used there have entered the water used by town of Merrimac residents and those in the surrounding area. Six homes had wells replaced in the Waters Edge development due to the presence of the highly flammable accelerant dinitrotoluene. Army Environmental PA Specialist Cathy Kropp, in an email to The Eagle, said the Army is in the process of conducting a Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) Human Health Risk Assessment, which evaluates exposure to groundwater contamination associated with the former Badger Army Ammunition Plant, and those results will determine the Armys path forward. The Army remains committed to its obligations under the law regarding safe drinking water and the health of the community of Merrimac The Army has implemented numerous remedial actions throughout the areas impacted by operations at the former plant, and as a result, the Army, in concurrence with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources shut down the last active remediation system in 2014. In addition, the Army maintains a comprehensive monitoring program that evaluates groundwater conditions in areas with potentially affected residential drinking water wells, the email said. Tim McCumber, administrator for the town of Merrimac, said the Armys proposed alternative feasibility study allowed for the shutdown of the remediation system in the first place because the Armys alternate plan eliminated the human risk of water contamination by providing a public water system. Since the Army is not providing that system, it is not in compliance with the plan that was authorized by the Wisconsin DNR. The Army used to sample more than 250 private wells, McCumber said. As a result of the DNRs approval of the alternative feasibility study, they are only currently testing 51 private wells on an annual basis and one well bi-annually. He said because the Army is not in compliance with its own alternative plan, the DNR should require the Army to return to testing all 250 wells and restore the quarterly sampling program. I think the DNR was confident they were going to deliver it so they started moving forward, McCumber said. We were confident they were moving forward with the drinking water system until this January. A letter from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, dated May 15 to Rep. Dave Considine and Sen. Jon Erpenbach, states if the Army chooses to change its final remedy for the Badger Army Ammunition Plant it previously agreed to, they will need to prepare an analysis showing that an alternative remedy to the one that was selected is protective of human health, the environment and complies with the requirements of the NR 700 series of codes relating to remediation of environmental contamination. McCumber said the Army is conducting its own assessment through CERCLA, but hasnt addressed its lack of compliance with the DNRs NR700 codes. What the Army is failing to understand is the standard of testing is different than the one that was used to get us here, McCumber said. I think it might be an easier standard for them to pass through the problem. Their standard doesnt address that they still have to comply with NR700. McCumber said Army officials from Washington, D.C. reached out to the town and requested a meeting with McCumber. I told them I thought a meeting was premature in that they have to settle their regulatory issues with the DNR first, McCumber said. And if they are bringing their attorney, they should pay for our attorney to be present as well. We didnt bring the problem and we are also not the ones backing out of the plan. McCumber said the Army has thrown out a lot of words but still has failed to provide a remedy or plan for the citizens of Merrimac. Until they do that, Im not sure why they want to talk to us, he said. I guess they need to come up with an alternative plan to the alternative plan that took them years to come up with in the first place. The sixth annual Give to Lincoln Day surpassed its previous donation record, set in 2015, by hauling in nearly $3.7 million Thursday. The 24-hour fundraising event, hosted by the Lincoln Community Foundation, raised $3.69 million for local nonprofits from 17,082 donors. That breaks the previous record by almost $430,000. More nonprofits participating in the event, an increased match from the foundation, better weather and ample media exposure helped contribute to the record-breaking day, according to Barbara Bartle, president of the foundation. Most donations came in online through the foundation's revamped website, Bartle said. The total beat the $3.3 million fundraising record set in 2015. Hampered by rain last year, the event raised just more than $3 million. The foundation will match nearly $350,000 in donations from a variety of supporters, a $50,000 increase from last year. We are thrilled with how Lincoln citizens truly embraced the occasion to impact so many lives and causes. Give to Lincoln Day is about the heart of our city, and Lincoln clearly has a very big heart, Bartle said. The Food Bank of Lincoln garnered the most donations out of the 366 nonprofits, with $139,135 raised. The Pius X Foundation, which topped the board in 2016, was second with $107,612 in donations. Lincoln Christian School Foundation ($96,480), Peoples City Mission ($86,410) and City Impact ($82,171) rounded out the top five. This centurys most important South African book Everyone should read Apartheid Guns and Money A tale of profit, says Professor Achille Mbembe. Mbembe was speaking at the launch of the much-talked book Apartheid Guns and Money A tale of profit, a expose on the long historic shadow of state capture in South Africa. It is probably the single most important book that has been written about South Africa for the last 20 years, said Mbembe, Research Professor at the Wits Institute of Social and Economic Research (WiSER). In over 600 pages, this meticulously researched book by activist, writer and Director of Open Secrets, Hennie van Vuuren, finally lifts the lid on some of the darkest secrets of apartheids economic crimes, weaving together a treasure trove of newly declassified documents and eyewitness accounts. Speaking at the books launch and panel discussion hosted by WiSER, Mbembe said: The book let us have a deeper look at the long history of state capture in South Africa and the extent to which what is understood to be corruption has deep roots in the past. This book also allows us to reframe in new ways the question of economic justice, reparations, what it takes to move from the previous dispensation to the radically new one. And it does reframe in new terms the question of accountability. The extent to which we cannot allow the current government and any government to come to operate the way the apartheid government did operate. It seems to me it is a book everyone who reads, should read, Mbembe said. No myth follow the money Apartheid Guns and Money debunks the myth that the apartheid regime was self-sufficient, isolated and that it did not need the international community during the sanctions-period from the late 70s to early 90s. This was not the case as the many examples of sanctions busting the the book demonstrate. It maps the global covert network of nearly 50 countries, heads of state, arms dealers, aristocrats, plotucrats, securocrats, senators, bankers, spies, journlists, lobbyists and businessmen that moved cash, illegally supplied guns and created an apartheid arms money machine while whistleblowers were assasinated and ordinary people suffered. The right to know Speaking at the launch, Van Vuuren said another myth that South Africans have almost accepted the past two decades is that no documents have survived from the apartheid regime that can help to discover these truths about the deep state or shadow government of the apartheid regime. We do know that over 40 tonnes of documents were burnt at the time of South Africas democratic transition in the early 90s. However, there is a big source of material in the various archives in Pretoria and elsewhere that remains unearthed largely by civil society, researchers and academics. We relied heavily on access to these archival material. Working together with the South African History Archive, Lawyers for Human Rights, the Right2Know Campaign and others we have had to threaten to take many government departments to court and that has resulted, in times, to quite extraordinary access to material particularly in archives that were not destroyed, such as the Military Archives (the Department of Defence archive in Pretoria), Van Vuuren said. Their work has also strenghtend calls to have the Apartheid Archive released in full for all to access. With his team of researchers including Michael Marchant, Anine Kriegler and Murray Hunter Van Vuuren collected 40 000 documents in 25 public archives, locally and internationally, and worked through two million pages of documents. What they uncovered is the first, comprehenive look at the whos who of bankers, businessmen, securocrats, front companies, secret tax havens, shell companies, politicians and lobbyists who have constructed a network of state capture that persist in our democtratic politcal system today. Get me Roger Stone By following the money, Van Vuuren shows in the book how somebody like the controvercial American lobbyist, Roger Stone, who was until recently being investigated by the FBI for his attempts to link Donald Trump with the Russian government during the US Presidential Elections last year, is one of the figures who is linked to the apartheid security establishment in the 1980s. We must not forget that Trump had said that Roger Stone is one of his closest associates and mentors for the last 30 years, Van Vuuren said. Netflix last week released the documentary Get me Roger Stone, that examines the rise, fall and rebirth of political operative, Stone, who's been an influential member of Team Trump for decades. Botha, Zuma and the French firm While our focus is primarily examining the so-called deep state network internationally in politics, and the intelligence agencies, arms companies and middle-men that facilitated many of these deals, our interest is also to look at South Africa and to understand the role that the private sector played in facilitating sanctions busting and actively did so, he said. One prime example is the French company Thomson CSF. One of our earliest documents show how PW Botha went to France in the late 60s, bunks down in a hotel with the head of Thomson CSF and in the morning they go out together to a missile testing range where the South Africans are providing the cash and Thomson CSF is building these missiles. Thomson CSFs relationship continues with the apartheid regime right throughout the 70s and the 80s, clandestinely as some of the documents show. And in the early 90s the company was quick to set up an office in South Africa. By the late 90s it changes its name to Thales Group, today one of the biggest arms companies in Europe and also the company that is alleged to have paid most of the bribe money to President Jacob Zuma in the South Africas infamous arms deal. Many more secrets waiting to be discovered We need not remain captured by these elements of the past that simply are not spoken about, Van Vuuren said, adding that his book shows how the past and present are interconnected, and in forging our future a new generation needs to grapple with the persistent silence regarding apartheid-era economic crime and ask the difficult questions of those who benefitted from it. There still remains many secrets past and current to be discovered. In order to aide researchers, journalists, writers, historians, investigators, lawyers and the public to access, Open Secrets together with the South African History Archive will make available the books source documents for public scrutiny. Other panelists included Associate Professor Bonita Meyersfeld, Director of the Centre of Applied Legal Studies at Wits, and Yasmin Sooka, leading human rights lawyer and Commissioner in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). Biometric capitalism and the future of history Young South Africans, today, have compelling reasons to read voraciously in the history of this continent. Professor Keith Breckenridge delivered his inaugural lecture in the Senate Room, Solomon Mahlangu House, Wits University on Tuesday, 16 May 2016. This is an extract from that lecture: South African historical scholarship, and the Humanities in general, have reached an intellectual impasse. This moment can be described in many ways, but it is characterised, overall, by an obvious narrowness of research ambitions, the collapse of comparative inquiry, a preoccupation with pathos and, above all, a general failure of broad historiographical curiosity. The causes of this predicament are many it is a product of the earlier success of Marxist historicism across the Humanities and Social Sciences, the resource predicaments that confront South African universities in general, and the general weakness of our intellectual culture. Nor are we alone in this. Across the anglophone world, historians are losing an intellectual battle to disciplines that rely on mathematical reasoning to understand and shape society. In general terms the problem can usefully be described as a flight from the book-driven by a carefully engineered distraction economy controlled by Apple, Google, Amazon and Facebook, whose combined value now exceeds $2 trillion. Yet the condition is also clearly escapable: the Internet can also be a source of extremely valuable forms of long-form reading. Biometric capitalism I suggest a methodology for liberating ourselves by returning to the core questions that animated historians in the 20th century. One example is the debate between Archie Mafeje and Harold Wolpe in 1980 that shows that South African scholars have engaged these global questions before. Close attention to the economics of capitalism in the present, and in the future, draws out the significance and the analytical and political power of historical research. South Africa and many of the other countries on this continent are currently being transformed by a new form of biometric capitalism. Most African countries are rapidly being remade under the pressures of rapid demographic growth with populations rising from 250 million to 1.2 billion over the last 50 years, projected to double again by 2050 and redouble before the end of the century combined with intractable conflicts over boundaries, domestic and international national security demands, and the offerings of multi-lateral donors and international data-processing corporations. Much of this turn to enhanced forms of state surveillance is common to societies across the globe but the economic and institutional forms on the African continent are unusual. The British, French and Portuguese colonial states bequeathed unusually lethargic and constrained registration systems to their post-colonial successors, administrative infrastructures that did little to record births, deaths, marriages or property. This administrative condition has changed little, or deteriorated, over the last half-century. Automated biometric identification systems aimed chiefly at adults, present these states with apparently simple and cost-effective alternatives to the difficult and expensive projects of civil registration. This is especially the case because in many African countries, such as Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria, commercial banks are offering to bear the costs of building centralised biometric population registers. In doing so they have explicitly in mind the development of an unusual national identification database and commercial credit risk scoring apparatus derived from South Africa a combination that aims to transform all citizens into appropriate subjects for automated debt appraisal. This is remarkable in comparison with the earlier histories of identification and registration, and with the legal and administrative arrangements for physical and virtual forms of property that exist on the continent. While almost all African countries are experiencing similar technological transformations, the political outcomes differ in each case, and they are determined by history. Young South Africans, today, have compelling reasons to read voraciously in the history of this continent. About Keith Breckenridge Keith Breckenridge is a Professor and Deputy Director in the Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research (WiSER). He is one of the editors of the Journal of African History and writes about the cultural and economic history of South Africa, particularly the gold mining industry, the state and the development of information systems. Breckenridge studied at Wits and Johns Hopkins Universities and completed his PhD at Northwestern University in 1995. His book, Biometric State: the Global Politics of Identification and Surveillance in South Africa, 1850 to the Present (Cambridge, 2014), shows how the South African obsession with Francis Galton's universal fingerprint identity registration served as a 20th century incubator for the current systems of biometric citizenship being developed throughout the global South. In 2017 the book was awarded the inaugural Humanities Book Award by the Academy of Science of South Africa. He has published widely on South African cultural and economic history with papers in Africa, the American Historical Review, Comparative Studies in Society and History, History Workshop, the Journal of Southern African Studies and Public Culture. In 2012, with Simon Szreter, he edited Registration and Recognition: Documenting the Person in World History published by Oxford University Press and the British Academy, a volume of essays which examines the workings and failures of civil registration in 20 different regions and periods around the world. He teaches an Honours / Masters course in Political Studies on "The State in Africa" and he has a B1 rating from the National Research Foundation. WASHINGTON -- With the stroke of a pen, Rod Rosenstein redeemed his reputation, preserved the justice system, pulled American politics back from the brink -- and, just possibly, saved the Republican Party and President Trump from themselves. The deputy attorney general's memo Wednesday night announcing that he had appointed Robert Mueller as special prosecutor to investigate the Trump administration's ties to Russia was pitch perfect in its simple justification: While he has not determined that any crime has been committed, he wrote 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." This is precisely what Rosenstein needed to do for all parties, but particularly for his own honor. Rosenstein, just two weeks into the job, had trashed the reputation he had built over the years as a fair-minded and above-the-fray prosecutor by allowing Trump to use him as cover for Trump's own decision to sack FBI Director James Comey. Many who admired Rosenstein were stunned that he would let himself be used this way; I argued last week that "if he cares at all about rehabilitating the reputation he built, Rosenstein has one option: He can appoint a serious, independent and above-reproach special counsel -- the sort of person Rosenstein was seen as, until this week -- to continue the Russia probe." In tapping Mueller -- a solid figure who served ably as FBI director under two presidents -- that's what Rosenstein did. Rosenstein also restores some confidence in a justice system that has been much abused by Trump's assaults on "so-called" judges. That system was gravely wounded by Comey's firing, ordered by Trump and overseen by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who was supposed to have recused himself from the Russia probe but decided it was just fine to recommend the firing of the man overseeing that investigation and choose his replacement. The deputy attorney general's decision also reduces partisan pressures that were very clearly harming the national interest. Republicans had gone into a crouch to protect against any suggestion that Trump and his advisers colluded with the Russians. Democrats were often leaping to conclude that there was high-level collusion. And nearly everybody had lost track of the most important issue: Russia, arguably our leading global adversary, had successfully meddled in a U.S. presidential election -- undermining confidence in our system of government -- and was ready to do it again. In this sense, Rosenstein also did a favor for congressional Republicans. A minority of GOP lawmakers had begun to see the urgency of putting country before party. But, shamefully, GOP leaders had been in denial. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was steadfast against an independent prosecutor or commission, and House Speaker Paul Ryan continued to tether himself and his party to Trump. At a news conference Wednesday morning, Ryan, reading from a typewritten statement, gave what amounted to a generous Trump defense. It was a huge gamble by the top Republican in Congress. Ryan's defense of Trump is a calculation that Trump will ride out the troubles. He is betting his political fortunes -- and perhaps his party's hold on the House -- on a man who has provided very little justification for trust. Rosenstein's action rescues Ryan, McConnell and other GOP leaders from their own cowardice in refusing to demand more accountability from Trump. If past is prologue, Mueller's investigation will be a huge distraction for the White House as everybody "lawyers up" and attention shifts from what remains of Trump's agenda to the latest twists and turns that can be discerned. But Trump's agenda was already moribund. Just a few months into his presidency, Trump has already amassed a collection of scandals and failures that most presidents take years to acquire. The Mueller appointment, at least, gives the Trump White House a chance to compartmentalize the scandals. And, crucially, it provides one more watchdog keeping Trump's autocratic instincts from getting the better of him -- and the rest of us. These first months of the Trump administration have tested the strength of America's democratic institutions. The good news is it appears those institutions are holding. The press has been at its best, uncovering the alarming truths about Trump's Russia ties. Some brave patriots in intelligence and law enforcement and elsewhere in the federal government have taken risks to get the facts out. A few courageous lawmakers defied their party leaders and president. And now, finally, we see that one of Trump's high-level appointees had the courage to defy him. It's often said that all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. On Wednesday night, Rod Rosenstein did something. Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station powered kitchen blenders, cash registers and televisions in eastern Nebraska for more than four decades by harnessing the energy released by splitting uranium atoms. Deemed too expensive to keep running, the power stations generators ceased spinning Oct. 24. Yet a highly radioactive legacy remains. Spent fuel rods nuclear waste potent for thousands of years will remain along the Missouri Rivers west bank for the foreseeable future. Fort Calhoun and the larger still-operating Cooper Nuclear Station, south of Brownville, had 1,010 metric tons of used uranium fuel in temporary storage as of February, according to the Nuclear Energy Institute. While the 1982 Nuclear Waste Policy Act tasked the federal government with disposing of highly radioactive waste, politics got in the way. So instead of Americas old, unwanted uranium being shipped to an underground tomb at Yucca Mountain in Nevada, its instead stored at 77 sites 18 of which are decommissioned nuclear power plants in 35 states. The Obama administration officially put the Yucca Mountain project on ice in 2011 after Nevada Sen. Harry Reid, who retired at the end of 2016, successfully led an effort to starve it of funding. Reid argued the project is a danger to the people of his state and the mountain simply not a good place for the nations high-level nuclear waste. But the Yucca Mountain debate could be poised for a comeback. In his federal budget blueprint, President Donald Trump listed $120 million to restart the Yucca Mountain licensing process. Both of Nevadas current U.S. senators, Republican Dean Heller and Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto, have condemned the idea of dusting off the old project. Trumps attempt to revive Yucca Mountain is naive and would be a colossal waste of taxpayer money. Recent reports estimate that licensing hearings alone would cost more than $1.6 billion. Yucca Mountain is nothing more than a hole in the ground and will never be a viable solution for dealing with nuclear waste, Cortez Masto said in a March statement. Congressional lawmakers in the House Energy and Commerce Committee feel it's at least worth talking about and have introduced a discussion draft of legislation to update the Nuclear Waste Policy Act that would fast-track approval of the Yucca Mountain repository. Concern over lost jobs Meanwhile, at Cooper, Fort Calhoun and nuclear power stations across the nation, bundles of spent fuel rods are moved from reactors into deep pools with circulating water to control the heat from their radioactive decay. But those pools were never meant to store fuel rods permanently. After decades of use, they began filling up, forcing nuclear utilities to seek storage alternatives while they wait for the federal government to find another solution. As a stopgap measure, power plants have begun storing cooled rods inside steel canisters that are then encased in cement silos. Without a permanent repository, those dry-cask storage units will remain stranded long after the reactors retire, possibly for centuries. Jim Realph, mayor of Blair, the closest town to Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station, said the vast majority of people living in the shadow of the shuttered nuclear reactor are more concerned about the loss of jobs than the spent fuel. If they want to move it (spent fuel), thats OK, but it doesnt bother me if they dont. I dont have any desire to keep it, thats for sure, he said. Realph moved to Nebraska about the same time engineers broke ground on Fort Calhoun in February 1968. He taught science at Blair Junior High School. Omaha Public Power District engineers used to give an annual presentation on nuclear fission to his eighth-grade class. After 45 years, he said, people generally dont give the nuclear aspect of Fort Calhoun much thought anymore. I dont think most people, it crosses their mind one way or the other, he said. OPPD estimates the 50-year process of cleaning up the 660-acre Fort Calhoun site will cost more than $1 billion. The utility is preparing the non-nuclear side of the plant for dismantlement, including asbestos removal and demolition of outbuildings. Geological disposal best answer While the nuclear industry could keep its spent fuel safe for decades or centuries, some of the elements will continue to decay for millions of years, likely longer than the United States or even the human race will continue to exist, said Rod McCullum, senior director of fuels and decommissioning with the Nuclear Energy Institute, a lobbying group. There are a lot of things politicians disagree on in used fuel, but there certainly is one thing scientists agree on, that geologic disposal is the ultimate answer, McCullum said. You really have to get deep underground with a sophisticated facility to isolate those million-year isotopes. Those repositories are designed to outlast our institutions. McCullum added that a central repository is also more cost-effective and secure than having spent fuel spread out across the nation. U.S. Department of Energy estimates put the cost of building the Yucca Mountain facility in 2017 dollars at $43.52 billion to $59.54 billion, while the cost of doing nothing over the next 100 years would be $76.1 billion to $84.69 billion. The price of building dry-cask storage systems and the concrete pads they sit on was paid for mostly by the U.S. Energy Department as part of settling lawsuits filed by numerous utilities. The utilities had been paying about $750 million a year to have the federal government dispose of their spent nuclear fuel in an underground facility that never materialized. Those utilities sought to recoup the cost of storing their own fuel through lawsuits, and a 2014 court ruling halted the collection of fees. The Energy Department has estimated its legal liabilities will amount to about $30 billion, assuming it can begin taking spent fuel by 2021 to store at interim facilities. The Energy Department in 2015 said it would look for interim storage sites through a consent-based approach, which means getting the input of communities rather than forcing a project through local opposition. Companies in both Texas and New Mexico with the backing of local leaders have applied for licensing to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to build interim storage sites. Nebraskas first shelterbelt planted under a federal forestry program during the Dust Bowl went up in flames recently, the trees toppled, stacked up and set on fire by its new owner. The windbreak in Antelope County had stood since 1935, when it took root as part of President Franklin Roosevelts Prairie States Forestry Project. The tree-planting effort spread, ultimately growing to 18,600 miles of shelterbelts in Great Plains states -- including 4,100 miles protecting nearly 7,000 Nebraska farms. And the John Schleusener farm, just north of Orchard, was the first. Lyle Schleusener was 3 when federal workers showed up at his fathers farm. The seedlings they brought matured quickly, and he remembers hunting pheasants in the trees when he was older, and later seeing deer in them. They grew up pretty tall, he said, as I grew also. The farm and the cottonwood, cedar, bur oak, black walnut, willow and Chinese elm trees stayed in his family until about 15 years ago, he said, but have changed hands several times since. The shelterbelt was formally recognized with a Nebraska State Historical Society marker that read, in part: The area closest to the roadway will remain unaltered as a living reminder of the Prairie States Forestry Project and the efforts of Nebraskans to protect our valuable farmland. Monty Shabam helped install the historic marker in the mid-1980s. The county worker returned to the site this week. Its all gone, he said. Theres nothing there, just a dirt field. Its not clear why Brian Smith, who bought the land last year, tore out the shelterbelt; he hung up on the Journal Star and didnt reply to messages. But the trees likely disappeared to make room for a few more rows of corn, Shabam suggested. The Antelope County community is angry that all of the trees are gone, he said. Because they all didnt have to go. The shelterbelt grew to the corner of the field, and the owner could have left even a few trees close to the road, where he likely wont be able to farm anyway. They just dont understand why youd have to take it all. They could have left a little bit of it right there on the end and the sign could have stayed, so a guy could have seen it. In Lincoln, the phones at the Nebraska State Historical Society started ringing last month, as news spread around the area that the shelterbelt was going to be removed. Jill Dolberg, interim deputy state historic preservation officer, estimated her office heard from about 20 callers total, and 15 in just the last week. Its been really impressive how much that shelterbelt meant to that community, she said. Most callers wanted to know if the state could save the windbreak. The answer: No. The historic marker only noted the significance of the site; it could offer the trees no protection from chainsaws and bulldozers. The shelterbelt was on private property, Dolberg said. When he bought it, he could do anything he wanted to do. But what happened to the trees could be used as a lesson in the future, she said. When property changes hands, historic sites can be preserved with easements and protective covenants, she said. The county removed the state-owned sign Monday and is storing it at the impound lot, Shabam said. Its unclear where it will go from there. Orchards mayor told the Antelope County News he hopes his town can keep it and display it. Dolberg said shed be willing to talk with the town. Schleusener, just a boy when the trees were planted, understands why people are mourning a windbreak. Its part of their history, he said. He recently visited his familys former farm. And it didnt look the same to him. Its just cleaned up slicker than a whistle. To me, its bare. China News on Women Sorry, the page you requested was not found. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Womenofchina.cn, try visiting the Womenofchina Home page Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. UK parties make scant reference to nuclear power 19 May 2017 Share The manifestos of the three leading political parties in the UK contain few direct references to nuclear power. The documents were published this week as part of Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat campaigning ahead of the general election on 8 June. Their campaigns have been dominated by the prospect of two years of Brexit talks with the European Union. The Conservative Party's manifesto does not mention the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), but its leader, Prime Minister Theresa May, has already stated that exiting the EU also entails leaving Euratom. Some lawyers have disputed this requirement, arguing that the decision is based on the party's preference to end all ties with the European Court of Justice. Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union David Davis told the House of Commons on 31 January the government's Brexit Bill makes clear that in invoking Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty to leave the European Union, the UK will also be leaving Euratom. Davis said this is because, although Euratom was established in a treaty separate to the EU agreements and treaties, it uses the same institutions as the EU, including the European Court of Justice. Brexit talks under May are also expected to lead to the UK's withdrawal from the EU Emissions Trading System. The few references to nuclear power in her party's manifesto concern the protection of "critical national infrastructure". It says: "We will ensure that foreign ownership of companies controlling important infrastructure does not undermine British security or essential services. We have already strengthened ministerial scrutiny and control in respect of civil nuclear power and will take a similarly robust approach across a limited range of other sectors, such as telecoms, defence and energy." It adds: "We will create a national infrastructure police force, bringing together the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, the Ministry of Defence Police and the British Transport Police to improve the protection of critical infrastructure such as nuclear sites, railways and the strategic road network." On climate change, it says energy policy should be "focused on outcomes rather than the means". "So, after we have left the European Union, we will form our energy policy based not on the way energy is generated but on the ends we desire - reliable and affordable energy, seizing the industrial opportunity that new technology presents and meeting our global commitments on climate change. "That is why we will continue to take a lead in global action against climate change, as the government demonstrated by ratifying the Paris Agreement. We were the first country to introduce a Climate Change Act, which Conservatives helped to frame, and we are halfway towards meeting our 2050 goal of reducing emissions by 80% from 1990 levels." Labour, currently the main opposition party in the House of Commons and House of Lords, says in its manifesto that it would prioritise maintaining access to the internal energy market during Brexit negotiations. It says it would also retain access to Euratom "to allow continued trade of fissile material, with access and collaboration over research vital to our nuclear industry". Its manifesto's other references to nuclear power acknowledge that the UK "has the world's oldest nuclear industry, and nuclear will continue to be part of the energy supply", and states that the Labour Party will "support further nuclear projects and protect nuclear workers' jobs and pensions", and that "there are considerable opportunities for nuclear power and decommissioning both internationally and domestically". The party also said that, if it won the election, it would "reclaim Britain's leading role in tackling climate change, working hard to preserve the Paris Agreement and deliver on international commitments to reduce emissions while mitigating the impacts of climate change on developing countries". The Liberal Democrats say in their manifesto they will maintain membership of Euratom, ensuring continued nuclear cooperation, research funding, and access to nuclear fuels. They also say they will "accept that new nuclear power stations can play a role in electricity supply provided concerns about safety, disposal of waste and cost are adequately addressed, new technology is incorporated, and there is no public subsidy for new build". Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat and then-energy and climate change secretary, gave initial agreement to the Hinkley Point C new nuclear plant in 2013. This was conditional on a 'no public subsidy' policy, which the government then dropped when it approved the project in 2015. On climate change, the Liberal Democrats say that Brexit and the election of Donald Trump as US president "could halt or even reverse" progress. The party would therefore establish a Cabinet Committee on Sustainability, chaired by a cabinet minister, and an Office for Environmental Responsibility to "scrutinise the government's efforts to meet its environmental targets". Three developers have plans to build new nuclear plants in the UK. EDF Energy plans to build two EPR reactors at Hinkley Point in Somerset, with China General Nuclear (CGN) owning a 33.5% stake in the project. The two companies also plan to develop projects to build new plants at Sizewell in Suffolk and Bradwell in Essex, the latter using Chinese reactor technology. Unlike state-owned EDF Energy and CGN, the other UK new nuclear developers - Horizon Nuclear Power and NuGeneration - are private investor vehicles. Horizon, which is owned by Japan's Hitachi, plans to deploy the UK Advanced Boiling Water Reactor at two sites - Wylfa Newydd and Oldbury-on-Severn. Nugen - the UK joint venture between Japan's Toshiba and France's Engie - plans to build a nuclear power plant of up to 3.8 GWe gross capacity at Moorside, in West Cumbria, using AP1000 nuclear reactor technology provided by Westinghouse Electric Company, a group company of Toshiba. Researched and written by World Nuclear News Related topics Orthodox cathedrals are central to the worship and religious practices of Orthodox adherents around the world. The construction of the cathedrals takes into account important aspects of religion and often incorporate symbolism in the design and architecture of the cathedral. The cathedrals usually share some common aspects such as domes (that vary in number and color), crosses on the domes, a narthex, nave and sanctuary, and icons. The buildings are in circular, cruciform, linear or tripartite arrangements. In this article, five beautiful Orthodox cathedrals from the list are examined in more detail. A full list of the world's largest Orthodox cathedrals can also be found below. 5. Poti Cathedral Poti Cathedral. The Poti Cathedral in Georgia was built in 1906 as an imitation of Hagia Sofia in Istanbul. It was the mayor of Poti, Niko Nikoladze, who made major contributions and chose the center of the town as the location of the cathedral in an effort to make it visible from all sides of Poti. The church had a capacity of 2000 people and was constructed using the Neo-Byzantine architectural style. In 1923, when the Red Army invaded Georgia, the church was turned into a theater by the communist government. However, in 2005 the cathedral was restored to the Orthodox Church of Georgia. 4. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral - Tallinn Alexander Nevsky Cathedral of Tallinn, Estonia. The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral of Tallinn, Estonia is the fourth largest Orthodox cathedral in the world with a capacity of 5000 worshippers. The cathedral, built in 1900 as a dedication to Alexander Nevsky, is the largest in Tallinn. During the 20th century, the Estonians neglected the cathedral as they saw it as a symbol of oppression by the USSR. Restoration efforts began after Estonia gained independence in 1991. The church includes features such as a mosaic of Alexander Nevsky, five onion domes, iron crosses and numerous icons. 3. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral - Sofia The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral of Sofia, Bulgaria. The third largest Orthodox cathedral located in Sofia, Bulgaria, and also called the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. The cathedral, built in 1912 using the Neo-Byzantine architectural style, has a capacity of 7,000 worshippers. The cathedral is a monument of culture with a museum, market and religious relics that attract tourists to the area. Like other Alexander Nevsky cathedrals, the Cathedral was built as a dedication to Saint Alexander Nevsky, a Russian prince who was part of the 19th century Russo-Turkish war. 2. Church of Saint Sava The Church of Saint Sava is the largest Orthodox cathedral in the world. With a capacity of 10,800 and a ground floor area of 37,674 square ft., the Church of Saint Sava Cathedral in Belgrade, Serbia, is the second largest Orthodox cathedral in the world. The cathedral, built in 1989, is a dedication to Saint Sava who founded the Serbian Orthodox Church in the medieval ages. Architectural styles used in the cathedral reflect both Serbo-Byzantine and Neo-Byzantine features. The church still goes through improvements and additions to the structure and interior of the building. 1. Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi. The Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi is the worlds largest Orthodox cathedral capable of holding 15,000 worshipers in one sitting. The eastern orthodox cathedral, based in Georgia, was completed and consecrated in 2004. The cathedral is one of the worlds largest religious buildings by area and the third tallest eastern orthodox cathedral. Also called Sameba, is an important national and religious symbol for the people of Georgia. The design of the cathedral incorporates both Georgian and Byzantine architectural features. A Nebraska judge Friday sentenced an Arizona man to three years in federal prison for 240.5 pounds of marijuana found in his SUV in a stop near McCook last year. Christopher I. Carrillo, 33, of Phoenix, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana. On April 20, 2016, a Nebraska State Patrol trooper pulled him over in an eastbound 2007 Saturn Outlook for passing a semi in a no-passing zone on U.S. 6 west of Culbertson. In a news release at the time, the State Patrol said a Red Willow County sheriff's dog taken to the scene alerted officers to the odor of drugs, and a search turned up the pot inside two duffel bags. U.S. District Judge Robert F. Rossiter Jr. sentenced Carrillo on Friday to the prison term, plus three years of supervised release. Leigh Turner and a wild pig By: William Martin WorldWideWeirdNews.com The British ambassador in Vienna, Austria, suffered injuries after being chased by a large pig in a park. It all began when Leigh Turner decided to take a walk in the park after attending the commemoration events at the Mauthausen concentration camp near Linz. Turner felt like stretching his legs so he drove to the Lainzer Tiergarten, a historic park on the edge of Vienna, which features steep, wooded hills, a lookout tower, parkland and well-placed scenic cafes. As he was walking in the rain, Turner was delighted to see a group of 25 wild pigs, both adults and infants, heading into the forest. As he passed the Rasthaus Hirschgstemm and started climbing into the woods, Turner walked into a second large group of boar, again comprising adults and juniors. A couple of the adults, obviously disturbed by his arrival, began acting up. Turner began slowly walking away from the group. It was at this point, that he heard a thundering sound. Turner turned around to discover that he was in a dangerous situation. He ran, seeking refuge. A pile of tree trunks looked easier for him to climb than for the pigs so he attempted to scale them and slipped on the wet wood, scratching and bruising himself in multiple locations. Luckily, the pigs retreated. Turner visited a doctor the next morning. He did not suffer any broken bones, but his hand was placed into a splint to stabilize it while the bruising went down. John Rader By: Emily Lewis WorldWideWeirdNews.com (Scroll down for video) A soldier said that he will never fly with United Airlines again after he and another soldier were charged for their overweight military bags. First Lieutenant John Rader, a national guardsman, was returning home to Kyle, Texas. He had been serving 21-month deployment in Afghanistan, and he was carrying his military vest, two helmets, boots and other items. As he and his friend tried to board the United Airlines flight from El Paso, Texas, to their home, they were told that their military issued duffle bags were overweight. They two were given a choice to separate their items into another bag to avoid overweight charges. However, they did not have other suitcases or bags. They were forced to pay $200 to board the plane home. Rader said that he had been in the military since 2006, and he had been on many military assignments with this bag, but he was never charged before. Rader decided to take his story public in hopes that United Airlines will change their policy and be more lenient towards soldiers. United Airlines released a statement, saying that they will return the money to the soldiers. aWe are disappointed anytime a customer has an experience that doesnt 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,a the company said. Rader was happy to get his money back, but he still he wants to see a long-term policy change in the airline. United Airlines allows active military members to check five bags for free. However, the bags have to be less than 70 pounds. With Southwest Airlines, active military members are exempt from their two piece baggage limit as long as all pieces are under 100 pounds. American Airlines allows active military members to take up to five bags for free up to 100 pounds each. Carrie Harper Plaid Cymru Wrexham This article is old - Published: Monday, May 1st, 2017 Wrexham Candidates:Ian Lucas Welsh Labour, Andrew Atkinson Welsh Conservatives, Carrie Harper Plaid Cymru, Carole OToole Welsh Liberal Democrats We have invited all candidates to complete a very brief bio / question set ahead of the General Election. You can also view our live debate on the evening of 30th May. Q1 Are you able to tell us a little about who you are, any political history and about your political leanings? My name is Carrie Harper and I am 37 years old. I was born and raised in Wrexham and have lived and worked here all my life. I am a county councillor for Plaid Cymru and have been involved in a wide range of local campaigns over the last decade. I have a particular interest in local housing and have spent much time campaigning to ensure that housing development in Wrexham is based on local need. I have also supported a variety of other grassroots campaigns, such as the recent successful campaign to save Wrexhams fire engine, the campaign to save Dee Valley Water and also the campaign to save Grove Park School from demolition. My politics are based on grassroots campaigning and a drive to empower local people and to ensure our voice is heard. People feel so divorced from those making political decisions on their behalf that they often become cynical about changing anything and give up. I want to change that attitude and show that, by standing up for what we believe, we can make a difference. I am also a proud Welsh woman and strongly believe that the best decisions about our nation, will be made by the people who live and work here. I also believe that political change in Wales and Wrexham is long overdue and that now more than ever we need a strong voice in Westminster fighting our corner. The London-based parties will always have a conflict of interest in that regard as their biggest voter base is in England. Its time for Wales to choose a party that will always put our needs at the top of the agenda. A Plaid Cymru MP will always put Wrexham and Wales first. Q2 What do you feel is the top local issue for this election and what is your policy on it? Locally the top two issues are the decline of the town centre and the increasing pressure in the Maelor hospital. The solutions to both of these challenging issues cross a range of political institutions, such as the local council, the Welsh Government and Westminster. As regards the town centre, the key areas repeatedly raised by people locally are empty shops and drug use/anti-social behaviour. In order to revitalise the town centre and encourage new business start-ups, Plaid Cymru have a long-standing policy to extend the business rate relief scheme run by the Welsh Government to include more small and medium-sized firms. At a local council level we also have a policy to help local firms to win more council contracts, meaning millions more being invested into the local economy and creating local jobs at no extra jobs. Additionally we have also put forward a policy in our recent manifesto see plaidwrecsam.cymru for the council elections to trial free town-centre parking to encourage more footfall. Drug use and anti-social behaviour is ultimately a much bigger issue that we have to have some open-minded discussions about as a community and society more generally. The bottom line is that I do not believe the current approach to tackling drug use is working and we need to look to the example of other countries who are having more success. Im fully supportive of initiatives by the Police and Crime Commissioner to tackle this matter with a combined approach with the health board and council. There is also a specific issue to look at in Wrexham in terms of so many services being concentrated in the town centre/Rhosddu area, which is intensifying the problem. There is also a need for agencies to work together to develop a joined-up strategy to tackle this issue, which is a top priority for our newly elected county councillors. The pressures at the Maelor hospital revolve around the shortage of doctors and nurses we have in Wales. We currently have one of the lowest ratios of doctors to patients in Europe, with only Slovenia, Romania and Poland worse off. The frustrating issue is that these shortages were foreseen over a decade ago but no plans were put in place to address doctor recruitment. Plaid Cymrus policy is to train and recruit 1000 doctors to address this issue as well as developing a Medical School in North Wales. I am delighted that Glyndwr University is to start a new nursing course after some years absence because currently every nurse being trained in North Wales is employed. More staff and a seamless link with social care provision in the community would ease the pressures of bed blocking, which in turn puts huge pressures on A&E and our fantastic ambulance services. This is the sharp end of Tory cuts in London and we have to say enough is enough. Although the NHS is largely devolved and managed by Labour in Cardiff, our NHS also faces threats from a creeping privatisation agenda from the Tories in England, which will have a knock-on effect in terms of our funding in Wales. Our NHS therefore currently faces mismanagement from Labour in Cardiff and the threat of privatisation and cuts by the Tories in Westminster services across the border are struggling as much as ours. Its another good reason to vote for a strong Plaid MP. Q3 What do you feel is the top issue for Westminster in the forthcoming parliament term, and briefly explain how you would like to see your desired outcome achieved ? The top issue for Westminster is Brexit and ensuring a Welsh voice is heard and that the needs of our nation are a priority. Plaid Cymru accept the result of the referendum, we will be leaving the EU but we need leaders who will prioritise the needs of our economy and communities during that process. Wales needs a voice now more than ever as we are in danger of becoming the forgotten nation when we can least afford it. It seems that the Tories will be speaking for England, the SNP for Scotland, what about us? Brexit poses both threats and opportunities for Wales and Plaid Cymru is best placed to look after our interests. Our five key pledges are centred around protecting jobs, maintaining existing trade ties and fostering new ones. We will also fight to ensure that the 30m a week pledged to Wales during the referendum is delivered by Westminster. We also want to see our country take greater control over its own economy with the transfer of key fiscal powers, such as the ability to vary VAT the transfer of that power from Westminster to Wales is long overdue. Q4 What relevant experience do you have for the job of MP? Im a mum to two teenagers perhaps the toughest job of all! Ive worked in a variety of jobs and with voluntary groups to try to make Wrexham a better place to live. Being Plaid Cymrus candidate isnt a careerist move, its what I believe in with all my heart. I know Wrexham, I know our people and communities and I know there is a better future out there for us when we start speaking up for ourselves. That knowledge and connection is, I feel, much more important than even my past experience as a county councillor. My priority will be to protect our public services and defend our communities against the Tories as well as to ensure our voice is heard loud and clear in Westminster. Q5 What is the biggest differentiator between yourself and your fellow candidates? My top priority is Wrexham and Wales, that can never genuinely be the case for the London-based parties, who ultimately have to pander to their UK bosses and their very different priorities Tweets from Carrie Harper: Tweets by CarrieAHarper There is Mumble, the tap-dancing penguin from the movie Happy Feet, and Opus from Berkeley Breatheds Bloom County comic strip. And for us oldsters the cartoon and comic penguin Chilly Willy. But if you see a penguin wearing a floral Hawaiian shirt, brightly colored ball cap and sandals, youre seeing the logo of the mascot penguin for Kona Ice. Originating nine years ago in Kentucky, Kona Ice is a tropical shaved ice franchise operating from a brightly decorated truck, serving out fun and flavorful treats. Doug and Beth Ivey started the companys Lincoln franchise in April 2016 and have been happy with how they have been received by the community. Giving back to communities and organizations The Iveys connection with Kona began when Beth who had been working as a community event fundraiser googled Konas website while looking for new ideas. She thought it looked like a fun company, and as she explored it further, she learned about Konas philanthropic dedication to giving back to communities. According to Beth, with 500 franchises in 40 states, Kona Ice has given back $40 million to communities and organizations. The Iveys said that at their first event in 2016, they gave back $900 to the event sponsor. By the close of last year, their philanthropic activities were up to $5,000 donated back to the Lincoln community. Their events include school and youth group functions like PTOs, cooking classes, cheerleading squads and dance clubs. Recently the Kona Ice truck participated in the Kooser Elementary carnival and a Lincoln Southwest fundraiser, giving back donations. The Iveys and the Kona Ice vehicle have also appeared at the Fallbrook Farmers Market and at corporate functions such as company parties. But what about the shaved ice treats? The Iveys said that the Kona Ice treat is gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free and allergen-free, with 10 basic flavors. Kids or adults can mix whatever flavor or combination of basic flavors they like using the Flavorwave feature on the vehicles exterior. The basic flavors include lemon lime, blue raspberry, cherry, strawberry, watermelon, orange, Pina colada, grape, tigers blood (strawberry and coconut) and Island Rush (fruit punch). Some two dozen-plus flavors such as peach daiquiri, root beer, bubblegum pink and wedding cake are available upon request. The Iveys said their customers favorite flavor is the blue raspberry. Sizes and costs are 12 oz./$3, 16 oz./$4 and 20 oz./$5. Smaller cups for pre-schools, daycares or corporate events are $2. Summer is the busiest time of year for the Iveys more festivals, school fundraisers and county fairs. They also tour neighborhoods during the summer, amounting to about 50 percent of their business during those warm months. We turn a corner in the truck, and we see the kids scattering running home to get some money to get a Kona Ice, Doug laughs. After the summer, the spring and fall months are the next busiest. Given cold winter temperatures, the Iveys have added a mini Kona truck, which is small enough to participate in indoor winter functions and events, as well as additional events throughout the year. To book Kona Ice, the Iveys said that summertime and weekends require at least a months notice. Smaller events like birthday parties are easier to fit into their schedule and can be booked a couple weeks out. Philanthropic element important to the Iveys But ultimately, beyond the smiling faces of the kids and the crunching and slurping of shaved ice, it is the philanthropic element of Kona Ice that is so important to the Iveys. Beth said that she likes to give back to groups and help people when they can. Doug adds that it is fun to think that in a small way, theyre helping kids learn more or benefiting them. And the Kona Ice penguin just looks cool. Susan Elan Jones Welsh Labour Clwyd South This article is old - Published: Monday, May 1st, 2017 Clwyd South Candidates: Christopher Allen Plaid Cymru, Jeanette Bassford-Barton UKIP, Simon Baynes Welsh Conservatives, Susan Elan Jones Welsh Labour, Bruce Roberts Welsh Liberal Democrats We have invited all candidates to complete a very brief bio / question set ahead of the General Election. You can also view our live debate on the evening of 30th May. Q1 Are you able to tell us a little about who you are, any political history and about your political leanings? I am honoured to stand for re-election in Clwyd South. This is my home. I was born and brought up here, going to Ponciau, Grango and Ruabon schools before going to university in Bristol and Cardiff. I joined the Labour Party in 1985 because I was deeply concerned at how the divisive Thatcher Government was affecting ordinary communities like ours. Before being elected to Parliament in 2010, I spent 15 years working for charities, and the experience and expertise honed during that time has contributed hugely to my work as an MP. I have chaired the All Party Parliamentary Group for Charities and Volunteering and played a key role in getting the Government to increase funding for small charitable organisations. In 2015, I was named Parliamentarian of the Year by national road safety charity BRAKE after winning cross-party support to introduce a Bill to review sentencing for unlicensed or uninsured drivers who kill or seriously injure people. My campaigning on this issue also played a significant role in persuading the Government to undertake a sentencing review for all driving offences. I am a passionate supporter of the Welsh language and culture and have campaigned hard on issues including fairer funding for S4C and the right to use Welsh in Westminster committees. After serving as Parliamentary Private Secretary to former deputy leader of the Labour Party the Rt Hon Harriet Harman MP, I was a member of Labours frontbench team between 2011 and 2016. Locally, Im a member of numerous community organisations including St Davids Church, Rhos, and Brymbo Heritage Group. Im also a Vice President of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. Q2 What do you feel is the top local issue for this election and what is your policy on it? The Welsh budget has been slashed by around 1.4bn since the Conservatives came to power in 2010. If re-elected as MP for Clwyd South, fighting ongoing Tory cuts which threaten our vital public services will be at the top of my agenda. I will carry on standing up for our communities and fighting for the things that matter locally things like improved disabled access at Ruabon Station and a new health centre for Cefn Mawr. For more affordable homes and improved transport links. I will also continue to champion our local businesses, voluntary organisations and social enterprises such as Plas Madoc Leisure Centre. As someone who was born and brought up here, I will continue to work tirelessly for the area I love. The Tories dont understand our area. At the last General Election they chose someone from Chelsea as their candidate, and this time theyve selected an ex-London banker who doesnt live here either. The Conservatives also refused to bring in new laws which would have stopped bank closures in Cefn Mawr, Chirk, Corwen, Llangollen, Rhos and Ruabon, which I fought against. If re-elected, I will continue to promote our local tourism economy to bring in new jobs and Ill fight to make that sure that post-Brexit farming support helps local family farms and not just rich landowners. I believe that good governments should stand up for everyone and speak for all on matters of national interest, not just narrow sections of society. I am committed to providing strong local representation for everyone in Clwyd South not just the privileged few. Q3 What do you feel is the top issue for Westminster in the forthcoming parliament term, and briefly explain how you would like to see your desired outcome achieved? Like many people of all political persuasions in Clwyd South, I am deeply concerned by the Conservative Governments lurch towards a hard-right Brexit which fails to put Welsh jobs first. Even many traditional Tory voters I have spoken to are worried about it. I have made it clear that, if re-elected, I would never rubber-stamp anything that would short-change the lives and livelihoods of people from our area. Another major issue is, of course, our NHS. If returned as Clwyd South MP, I will continue to vehemently oppose Tory/UKIP plans for privatisation and will also seek to contribute to the vital public debate about the challenges facing the social care sector. I also totally oppose Tory plans to bring back fox hunting and will campaign and vote against it. As someone who has worked for a national disability organisation, Im extremely concerned about the Tory Governments policies towards disabled people. I will continue standing up against Tory austerity which hits the most vulnerable, including disabled people, the hardest. Q4 What relevant experience do you have for the job of MP? My family roots in this area go back at least two centuries, and I am proud and honoured to have been MP for the beautiful and diverse constituency of Clwyd South since 2010. In addition to being part of Labours frontbench team from 2011-2016, I am proud of my track record of delivering for local communities. I have helped thousands of local people each year on a wide range of issues and I am involved in countless local projects and with local organisations. Heres what voters in Clwyd South had to say when I asked them this question: Student Joanna Stallard, from Llangollen, said: I have every faith in Susan, who is the candidate most dedicated and best suited to serving us and our area. From a young persons perspective, I have seen Susans commitment to issues facing my generation through her passionate activism her consistent voting against tuition fees is just one example. Susan has my full support. Emyr Davies, from Glyn Ceiriog, said: Susan has been outstandingly effective standing up for ordinary people, the Welsh language and our rural communities. Shes been an excellent MP. Sheila Dee, from Chirk, said: Susan has been a huge supporter of local womens pension equality campaigners like me and has fought incredibly hard for us. Shes been a perfect example of a hard-working local MP who knows and cares passionately about her constituents. Cefn Mawr business owner Peter Roberts said: Susan has always supported local businesses and fought for our best interests. As a local woman, she knows and understands our area and the people who live here. She has done a brilliant job as our MP and we need to keep hold of her. Q5 What is the biggest differentiator between yourself and your fellow candidates? Put simply, I am the only candidate in Clwyd South who can stop Theresa Mays Tories securing a landslide General Election victory. Her cynical U-turn in calling this snap election after categorically stating that she wouldnt leaves the people of Clwyd South with a stark choice. Ultimately, there are only two candidates who can win this seat. Its a straight two-horse race between Welsh Labour and the Conservatives, and a vote for Plaid Cymru, the Lib Dems, UKIP or any other party will simply help the Tories sneak in and strengthen their grip on the United Kingdom. I have the experience of representing our area in Parliament and I am proud to be supported by a wide range of people, including a former Leader of Plaid Cymru. I want to continue to stand up for our area and would ask people to unite behind me as the only candidate who can beat the Tories. Someone whos not from our area wouldnt care as much as we do about the things that matter to us, so how could they represent local people, local families and our communities at Westminster? Our home area will always come first for me. I have our areas best interests at heart. I am the local, loyal choice. Tweets from Susan Elan Jones: Tweets by susanelanjones Surge Of Patients Create 16 Hour Wait At Wrexham Maelor A&E This article is old - Published: Tuesday, May 16th, 2017 Last night saw a high demand at Wrexham Hospital, with a 16 hour wait time being announced at one point to around fifty people waiting to be seen. Further to a tweet last night from a local businessman that cited a 16 hour wait from just before 10pm (below) another person got in touch to say: We called 999 to receive a call back to say no ambulances were available. Luckily we live close to the A&E department. On arrival we could see lots of ambulances and in the waiting area hardly a spare seat. The nurse informed the waiting room of a 16 hour wait. Lots of moans and groans. Some people saying we have already been here 9 hours. I would say that 60% of the people waiting left once they heard of the wait. They added: The staff as always were exceptional and particularly the triage nurse who looked after my wife and rushed her through. The doctors and nurses are under pressure to meet demand and are doing their best to cope with the increased demand. A spokesperson for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board told us today: We apologise for longer waiting times than usual at Wrexham Maelor Hospitals emergency department yesterday evening. During this period we experienced a high demand in service and a surge of patients over a short period of time which led to longer than usual waits for treatment. We always prioritise the treatment of patients according to their clinical need. To ensure patient safety, prioritisation took place which ensured that patients who have a higher clinical risk were treated and moved into appropriate departments in a timely way. This means that, at times, some patients whose needs are less urgent can experience extended waits in our department, despite the best efforts of nursing and medical staff. Many patients who do not need full emergency hospital treatment may find that they can get appropriate advice and care from other NHS services, including our minor injuries units, local pharmacists or by calling NHS Direct Wales on 0845 46 47. At the time of writing the queue is currently 57 strong, with a wait time of 3 hours stated: Current longest waiting time at the Maelor is stated as 3 hrs 00 mins . There are 57 people in the queue. Maelor Wait/QTwitBot (@WrexMaelorBot) May 16, 2017 Pic: Archive shot of the Maelor. Hannah Cook of Lincoln was one of four Nebraska-Iowa District Kiwanis scholarship recipients honored during ceremonies May 18. Cook is a member of the Lincoln Science Focus Program Zoo School Key Club, a Kiwanis youth leadership program that provides high school students with opportunities to serve their communities. Students also learn leadership and decision-making skills and self and social awareness. Students were nominated by their Key Club advisors from 64 Key Clubs across the Nebraska-Iowa District. Honorees were selected based on their years in Key Club living up to the Key Club service leadership model: discovering the heart to serve, answering the call to lead, and exercising the courage to engage. The Kiwanis Club of Lincoln-Lincoln Center sponsors the Lincoln Science Focus Program Zoo School Key Club. Dr. Beth Briney, a teacher at Zoo School, is the clubs faculty advisor and Kristi Chambers, a member of the Kiwanis Club of Lincoln - Lincoln Center, is the clubs Kiwanis advisor. The honor comes with a $500 scholarship, which will be used for Miss Cooks continuing education at University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Cook is the daughter of parents Brian and Gwen Cook. While in high school, she was president of her club and Key Club lieutenant governor for Division 6 in the Nebraska-Iowa District. Her leadership helped increase membership in her club ever since she joined in 9th grade. Her club organized two blood drives, three school dances, a canned food drive, countless bake sales to raise funds for member attendance at conferences, a Thanksgiving soup lunch for students, and a fundraiser for the Thirst Project, which raised over $1,000. She also helped raise funds for the ELIMINATE Project, UNICEFs project to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus worldwide. As a result, her club qualified for a Walter Zeller award, which signifies the protection of over 690 mothers and their future babies from tetanus. Cook also took a very challenging course load and maintained a high academic standard. Hannah has been an amazing leader for our club this year and is very deserving of this honor, says Chambers. As she moves on to college, she will be leaving a Key Club that is stronger than when she started the year, which is always the outcome we hope for." Shares on Brazils principal stock market plummeted 10.47 percent in the first minutes after opening Thursday, triggering the so-called automatic circuit breaker, halting trading for the first time since the global financial meltdown of 2008. The panic selling in the financial capital of Sao Paulo was driven by the dramatic intensification of the countrys political crisis, with both President Michel Temer and his principal political ally, Senator Aecio Neves, leader of the right-wing PSDB (Brazilian Social Democracy Party), directly implicated in the protracted Operation Car Wash corruption scandal. The countrys media giant O Globo reported Wednesday night that, as part of a plea bargain deal, a prominent business executive had turned over tapes to the countrys Supreme Court. The tapes record Temer expressing his support for the payout of hush money to imprisoned politician Eduardo Cunha, and Neves soliciting 2 million reais (nearly $600,000) to pay for his own defense against corruption charges. According to O Globo, the tapes, made secretly last March, record Joesley Batista, the CEO of JBS, one of the worlds largest meatpacking companies, telling Temer that he is making monthly payments to Cunha, the former head of the lower house of the Brazilian congress who was jailed on multiple corruption charges, to keep him from exposing others involved in the sprawling bribery and kickback scandal centered around the state-run oil company Petrobras. Temer is reportedly heard on the tape telling Batista, Youve got to keep this up, OK? Cunha, a member of Temers Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB), was the initial architect of the impeachment of Workers Party (PT) President Dilma Rousseff that brought Temer to power. He was also the nexus of the vast bribery operation that has implicated virtually every party in Brazil, including the PT. Temer delivered a brief speech Thursday afternoon, declaring, I will not resign, I repeat I will not resign. He claimed to have nothing to hide and demanded a full investigation and a rapid clarification of matters for the Brazilian people. This situation of uncertainty cannot go on for a long time. He went on to warn that the revelation of the secretly recorded conversation threatened to intensify the countrys political crisis to an unprecedented level, rendering the immense effort to pull the country out of recession useless. We cannot throw into the garbage can of history so much work done for the country, he said. Temer was referring to the social counterrevolution that his government has embarked upon since taking office following Rousseffs impeachment. Deepening the assault on the social rights of the working class already begun under the PT and Rousseff, the government has brought before congress a sweeping pension reform that drastically increases the age of retirement, slashes benefits, increases workers contributions and forces them into private retirement plans. This has been accompanied by a labor reform that would strip workers of their rights by scrapping restrictions on part-time work and outsourcing and allowing unions to negotiate away rights protected under the countrys labor code. Both pieces of legislation were meant to open up a wholesale agenda of austerity measures aimed at placing the full burden of Brazils deepest economic crisis in a century squarely on the backs of the Brazilian working class. Unemployment now stands at record levels, with more than 14 million officially listed as jobless. The real figure is likely closer to 25 million when those who have given up looking for work are included. Workers family incomes, meanwhile, has fallen by more than 10 percent since 2014. Despite these increasingly desperate conditions for the masses of Brazilian workers, the corporate and financial media and big business politicians have hailed a supposed turnaround in the countrys economy, based in large measure on the enthusiastic response of the stock markets and international finance capital to the apparent progress made by Temer in pushing through his attacks on pensions and labor laws. Thursdays market sell-off reflected fears that implementation of these measures will now be impeded by the mushrooming political crisis enveloping every layer of Brazils ruling political establishment. Senator Ricardo Ferraco (PSDB), who was in charge of drafting the labor law, confirmed Wall Streets and Brazilian finance capitals fears Thursday, saying that Temers reforms were being placed on hold. The institutional crisis we are facing is devastating, and we need to prioritize finding a solution, the senator said in a statement. Everything else is secondary now. Meanwhile, Brazils Supreme Court suspended Aecio Neves from his Senate seat Thursday as federal police raided his multiple homes in Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte and Brasilia. The court failed to grant prosecutors requests for a warrant to arrest Neves, who lost the 2014 presidential election to Rousseff by a thin margin. Federal police did, however, arrest both his sister and his cousin in Belo Horizonte for their role in taking the money from the meatpacking executive. Even before the latest revelations, Temers approval rating stood at barely 9 percent, with large sections of the population seeing his presidency as wholly illegitimate. He has appeared largely indifferent to this popular hostility, however, seeing his real constituency as Brazilian and international big business and finance capital. If he were to resign, or be impeached in a process that could drag on for months, under the Brazilian constitution, it is the Congress that is charged with an indirect election of a successor to serve out the remainder of the presidential term until after the October 2018 presidential election. This body is just as discredited as the presidency, with 39 representatives and a third of the Senate under investigation in the bribery scandal. Rodrigo Maia, the right-wing chairman of the lower house of Congress and next in the line of succession after Temer, the former vice president, is accused of soliciting campaign donations from the construction firm OAS, a major Petrobras contractor, in return for political favors. The Brazilian unions and the pseudo-left organizations have raised the demand for a constituent assembly and direct elections. Their aim is to channel the rising anger against the entire capitalist setup in Brazil back behind the discredited Workers Party (PT) and, in particular, the candidacy of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the former metalworkers union leader who occupied the presidency from 2003 to 2010. Lula is himself facing multiple trials over corruption charges. His PT government was instrumental in creating the system of corruption through its funneling of state resources to promote the growth and profits of Brazilian capitalist corporations like JBS, Odebrecht and OAS, with political payoffs coming back in return. A return to power by Lula and the PT would mean a continuation of the capitalist austerity policies initiated by his government, continued under Rousseff and deepened under Temer. The mission of another Lula government would be to contain the growing militancy of the Brazilian working class and keep it subordinated to capitalist interests. Documents obtained earlier this week by the Washington Post outline the Trump administrations first Department of Education (DoED) budget detail plans to dramatically slash federal funding for public education. Among the most egregious measures included in the proposal is the complete elimination of a student loan forgiveness program designed to help teachers, social workers, and other public servants with their student debts. The proposed budget takes aim at student borrowers in other ways, as well. For example, it would eliminate over $700 million in Perkins Loans for disadvantaged students. The budget would also reduce funding for the work-study program, which allows students to work their way through college, by $490 million. And it would put an end to subsidized federal loans, in which the government pays the interest on the loan while the student is still attending school. Another cut affecting low income college students would eliminate a $15 million program that provides childcare for low-income parents attending college. Funding for Pell Grants, based upon student need, would be maintainedbut it would not be increased to meet the needs left by cuts to the Perkins Loan program. An estimated 12 million Americans depend upon financial aid to help with college; these cuts will affect them profoundly. In K-12 education funding, 22 programs would be eliminated. Among these are a $1.2 billion program for after school programs. These programs serve almost two million children, most of whom are from poor families. Other cuts include $2.1 billion for teacher training and class-size reduction, a $12 million program for gifted students, $12 million allocated for Special Olympics programs, a $27 million arts program, $72 million allocated for foreign language and international studies programs, and $65 million allocated to programs for Alaskan and Hawaiian Native populations. While other programs will continue, their funds will be cut significantly. Promise Neighborhoods, an initiative designed to support children in impoverished communities, would lose $13 million. An adult literacy program would lose $96 million. Grants for career and technical education would be cut by $168 million; paired with the cuts to college financial aid, such cuts will drastically reduce options for a significant number of students who wish to pursue either a university degree or a career in the skilled trades. The Trump administration budget also dedicates no money to a fund earmarked for student enrichment and support. This fund assists schools with mental health services, physical education, Advanced Placement courses and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) instruction. While Congress authorized up to $1.65 billion for the fund, the Trump administration has budgeted zero dollars for the fund in the next fiscal year. Title I funds, which help poor children, and special education funding will neither be increased nor cut by the budget. Yet while the budget does not explicitly cut these programs, impoverished schools will likely still see a reduction in Title I funding; new laws allow states to spend up to 7 percent of their Title I funding upon school improvements before they disburse the funds to qualifying districts. In addition, the budget would channel $1 billion of Title I funding to a new grant program. FOCUS, or Furthering Options for Children to Unlock Success, would channel these grants to school districts that allow families to choose which public schools their children attendthe federal, state, and local funds set aside for those children would travel with them to the new school they choose. In such a way, Title I money, along with other school funds, will migrate into wealthier districts at the expense of the districts for which the program was designed. As the budget makes brutal cuts to public education spending, it allocates $500 million for charter schoolsthis represents an increase of 50 percent over the current charter school spending by the federal government. Another $250 million will be spent on Education Innovation and Research Grants, which would be dedicated for expanding school vouchers for private schools and for studying the impacts of these vouchers. Thus far, the budget does not clarify how much of the $250 million would go towards the studies as opposed to the actual vouchers. Altogether, the proposed budget cuts $10.6 billion from public education. At the same time, $158 million is proposed for salaries and expenses at the DoED; among these expenses are expanded student loan servicing (i.e., collections) and increased security for education secretary Betsy DeVos, who spurned the in-house security team, contracting instead with the US Marshals. In the meantime, the entire DoED will see workforce reductions of about 4 percent; about 150 positions will be scrapped by the proposed budget. This budget demonstrates Trump and DeVos well-documented disdain for public education. DeVos has previously characterized federally-funded public education as arcane and ineffective; she has also headed an organization, the Acton Institute, that advocated for the repeal of child labor laws. The Trump administrations budget proposal is but a first, coordinated attack upon public education while benefiting the privatized school companies, for whom George W. Bush and Barack Obama opened the door, at the expense of quality education for working class childrenand most especially for impoverished children. Residents of the city of Flint continue to demand relief from the devastating public health crisis caused by the switch of the citys water supply to untreated water from the polluted Flint River in April 2014. Three years after this criminal act, driven by the profit interests of wealthy bondholders and politically connected private contractors, residents of the former manufacturing hub of General Motors continue to suffer ill health, devastating medical costs and the collapse of home values. To add insult to injury, Governor Rick Snyder, claiming that the water is now safe, has ended water bill subsidies and will soon end the distribution of bottled water. The city, seeking to squeeze $6 million dollars from residents to pay off the bondholders, has resumed mass water shutoffs and has threatened 8,000 residents with tax liens and the potential foreclosure of their homes if they do not pay for water that is still tainted with lead, bacteria and other toxins. To silence and intimidate residents, the citys Democratic mayor, Karen Weaver, and the Flint police chief oversaw the arrest of six residents at a town hall meeting on April 20. With anger reaching a boiling point just days before the May 19 deadline to impose tax liens, the Democratic-controlled city government, working with the American Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP, passed a resolution for a one-year moratorium on the issuing of tax liens for outstanding water bills incurred between April 2014 and until such time as unfiltered tap water is deemed potable [safe to drink or to use for food preparation without risk of health problems]. The temporary measure does not provide debt forgiveness for residents who have been charged for poisoned water. Moreover, additional unpaid bills accumulated during the moratorium can be imposed as a tax lien whenever some unnamed body deems the water safe or after a one-year limit set by the City Council. The resolution also does not eliminate tax liens imposed prior to April 2014 or do anything to recover the homes of workers who lost their homes prior to that date. On Thursday, city prosecutors who had been holding charges over the head of residents as a serious felony assault on a police officer, decided not to pursue criminal charges against the six workers who were arrested and held overnight in jail after the police provocation at the April 20 town hall meeting. The World Socialist Web Site spoke to residents after the City Council meeting on May 17. Charles McFadden, a retired GM worker, spoke about the spread of disease due to the poisoned water. H. pylori, thats some kind of bacteria that I never heard of. I had two rounds of heavy, heavy antibiotics that lasted two weeks. I had to wait a month to see if it cleared. I went in and I wasnt clear, so I had to get another series of antibiotics. In the meantime, the antibiotics had me in a knot, they had me sick and chilled. It seems like they are trying to run everybody of a certain income out of Flint, period. They bailed out General Motors on my back. They are still taking money from the older workers. They keep hollering that GM workers never pay for their health care. Yes, I did, I got a $2.54 raise and a dollar went to my health care. At the end of all this, when I retire, what do you do? You cut my pension. Then you are supposed to pay my Medicare. When the UAW went back in negotiations for the bailout, the $92 that was supposed to was supposed go for Medicare in my pension checkI dont get it. They want us to die. Heres the Catch-22: if you make a certain amount of money you cant qualify for government help. Well, everybody here used to work for GM and they made $3 too much. You dont qualify. The Democrats will give you a chance to see a dollar. The Republicans say we arent even going to let you see it because youll want to get your hands on it. I lost all respect for Obama when he came here and said drink the water. Keri Webber explained how doctors accidently discovered that lead had gotten in her daughters bones. In 2013, we were in a car crash. My daughter had to have open hip surgery and they were doing a bone scan. The doctors pulled me out of the room and they asked what had we done to her. She was diagnosed with blood toxicity, at 15 years old. We still did not know about the lead in the water and one morning in August 2015, my husband is sitting down at a computer and he loses half the vision in his eye. A few days after we learn our dog is in sudden liver failure. Then in July, August, September, October into early November my oldest kid has pneumonia that they cannot kill. Despite six antibiotics and all the medication, her lungs were getting worse, not better. So, the doctor took a sputum sample and sent it to the (CDC) Center for Disease Control to find out what kind of bacteria he could not kill. We were informed after she got better that oops, it was Legionnaires disease. CDC finally showed up at the house and they talked to the whole family and they asked my daughter did she drink and did she take drugs, was that why her liver was bad? Her liver enzymes were off the charts. Then she started to have abdominal pains and her gall bladder was going at 16. This was in 2016 and by then we knew about the lead and they found it in her bones. Then they did a CAT scan to see if she had gallstones and they found out she had a fatty liver. Everything on this kid was discovered by accident. My husbands blood pressure is out of control even though he is on medicine. His vision will never come back. Hes lead poisoned, my daughter is lead poisoned and the other girl and I have lead in us. Last week, I had a mini-stroke. My husband and I are on Social Security Disability$2,700 a month for a family of four. His medical bills just from his stroke, the cardiologists, the two eye specialists$10,000, on us. Ive taken this all the way up to the state government, to Richard Baird [Governor Rick Snyders closest aide and Flints transformational manager] and they say, Wed love to help, but. Melissa Mays, who has played a central role in the exposure of the government cover-up, told the WSWS, The tax liens are not legal. They need to be stopped. It is not legal to charge us for a product or service that has no value, or in the case of our water, less than zero. The water bills are not legal and the residents deny the legality of the bills and the liens. Making 8,002 people homeless because they cannot afford to or refuse to pay for poison is not right. A moratorium is a good first step but the ordinance and law need to be changed. Period. Flint resident Jeannie Stewart is a single mother of an 11-year-old autistic child. She told the WSWS, My son was one of the thousands of children who were poisoned. We are still seeing the effects of the poisoning on his behavior as well as skin rashes, hair loss, and digestive problems. Due to my sons disability keeping gainful employment in our current economy is nearly impossible, so we live on a fixed income. My current water bill runs $125 a month, for water I cannot use. I have been unable to pay the full amount every month so now I am behind over $1,000. My home is supposed to have the water lines replaced within the month. But they are saying they will not replace lines in homes with past due bills. I do not have $1,000 to pay it off. I am a single mother who struggles to keep my head above water. I cannot believe that in America in 2017 this is how we treat our citizens. She added that the US said it carried out a missile strike in Syria for poisoning its own people, when the people of Flint have been poisoned for over three years now. Now were being punished for not being able to pay the city for the poison. Im going to be hit when they close the water pods [points of distribution for bottled water]. In my home, we use approximately a case of water a day. Without the water pods I do not know how we will manage. I cannot afford to buy cases of water nor can I afford to live outside of the city. Without the water pods we would be forced to use water we know is toxic. I dont know how anyone with a conscience could allow an entire city with thousands of children residing in it to be poisoned further. We need these pods to continue until every home in Flint has safe water. According to an extraordinary report published yesterday in LObs magazine, top members of Frances Socialist Party (PS) government prepared to launch a coup detat if Marine Le Pen of the neo-fascist National Front (FN) won the May 7 presidential run-off. The purpose of the coup was not to keep Le Pen from taking office. Rather, it was designed to crush left-wing protests against Le Pens victory, impose martial law, and install Le Pen in power in an enforced alliance with a PS-led government. No one dared imagine what would happen the day after the run-off if Marine Le Pen won. A social explosion could be expected, wrote LObs. It explained, The strategists who conceived this plan B supposed that after the National Front victory, the country would be on the verge of chaos: state of shock, Republican demonstrations, but above all extreme violence, especially coming from the ultra left. The plan was never written down black on white, but everything was really ready, LObs wrote. Its execution was so precisely planned that a handful of members of the government, chiefs of staff, and top state officials can still describe it from memory, step by step. To be sure of the details, LObs verified its report with three different sources in the outgoing government and in institutions of the state. The plan reportedly entailed launching massive police operations to put France on lockdown, and a PS power grab set into motion by a refusal of Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve to step down. A top state official involved in the plan told LObs, The country would have been totally shut down. The government would have had only one priority: ensuring the security of the state. To be clear, this signifies the imposition of a police-military dictatorship in France. Basic democratic rights are already suspended under the terms of the PS governments state of emergency, which has been perpetually extended since it was first imposed after the November 13, 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris. Police are authorized to arbitrarily detain individuals, ban protests and consign individuals to house arrest. The plan clearly entailed the full use of these powers to impose martial law and permanently suspend the normal functioning of the state. Police authorities in each of Frances 100 departments had been in contact with the Interior Ministry to prepare for a post-election crisis. These discussions indicated that police were afraid of the situation after a Le Pen victory, LObs writes, citing a domestic intelligence memo already reported in Le Parisien: Far-left movements that are more or less rooted in the population will doubtless try to organize protests, some of which could lead to serious disturbances. As these discussions were unfolding, LObs reports, police officials and police trade unions were demanding total freedom to use potentially deadly weapons against protesters, apparently including stun grenades and rubber bullets. The instructions given not to use one or another weapon have become intolerable, wrote one police trade union official. Within the state machine itself, Cazeneuves refusal to step down was intended to freeze the political situation, according to one of the sources of LObs and, exploiting a loophole in the French constitution, launch a constitutional coup against the newly elected president. At first, LObs writes, it was planned that the head of government would not submit his resignation. Of course, for a prime minister to remain in his position is contrary to Republican tradition, but his resignation is not in fact imposed by the constitution. In the next step, the parliament would be assembled in extraordinary session. A date was even chosen: May 11. The agenda would have been the national crisis provoked by the violence that followed the elections. The deputies would have been asked to give the government a vote of confidence. In short, the National Assembly would have been told to give a pseudo-legal stamp of approval to a coup hatched by the police and intelligence services behind the backs of the French people. This transitional government was to last as least as far as the legislative elections of June 11 and 18, assuming that the new authorities would have allowed those to proceed. What LObs is describing would have been the most serious suspension of normal democratic procedures in France by the security forces since the Algerian war, when officers loyal to the Algerian colonial lobby seized power in Algiers in May 1958. They then launched a coup, Operation Resurrection, to topple the government in Paris. General Charles de Gaulle stepped in, seized power and ordered his supporters to rewrite the French constitution, laying the basis for Frances current Fifth Republic. The media silence on this report in LObs yesterday evening was deafening, even though the magazine is a well-respected publication, and there is little reason to doubt its reporting. However, the report has the most far-reaching political implications and immediately raises serious questions about the administration of incoming President Emmanuel Macron. Are there other scenarios besides the election of Le Pen in which the police and intelligence agencies would suspend constitutional rule and impose martial law? If the Interior Ministry now treats as existential threats all left-wing protests at which violence might occurwhether by protesters or by police provocateursare similar plans being made to repress protests that will erupt against Macrons policies, whether on war or social austerity? Will police react to constitutionally protected rights to strike and protest with attempts to suspend constitutional rule and install a dictatorship? The quarter century of relentless austerity in France and across the European Union (EU) since the Stalinist dissolution of the Soviet Union has profoundly transformed European capitalism. As economic inequality and social anger reach unprecedented levels, the old political and social relations are breaking down. The brutal repression of protests against the unpopular PS labour law, imposed without a parliamentary vote amid the longest-running state of emergency in Frances history, is a sign that French democracy is in an advanced state of collapse. Under these conditions, the attempts to downplay the significance of the LObs story by PS officials contacted by the magazine, as well as by LObs itself, are complacent and false. Their assurances that the planned operation was constitutional and would have rapidly led to a restoration of the normal functioning of the Fifth Republic are not worth the paper they are printed on. Outgoing PS Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve himself has given credibility to the LObs story of a coup plot by the PS, as he said he had no intention to desert the front at Matignon [Palace, the prime ministers residence] if Marine Le Pen won the presidential election. Contacted by LObs about the coup plot, his staff said he had never ever mentioned such a plan to them. As for LObs itself, it insisted that the coup plan was constitutional. Taking as good coin the coup plotters assurances that they would have handed over power, the magazine concludes that it would have led to a brief interim period without precedent in the history of the Republic. In fact, if the police-intelligence apparatus attempted to put such plans into effect, they would be openly breaking with the constitutional order and paving the way for an even more extended break of the ruling class with democratic forms of rule. It would be a prelude to a violent confrontation with the working class, where there is still a profound commitment to democratic rights. On Sunday, the Tagesspiegel published a guest commentary by Professor Mario Kessler, who attributed an elemental lack of feeling for the victims of the Nazis to the radical right-wing Professor Jorg Baberowski. He also questioned whether Baberowski swept aside the results of scientific research on Hitlers viciousness due to a lack of education or through calculation. Kessler is an internationally renowned professor at the University of Potsdam and works at the Centre for Contemporary Historical Research. He has published over two dozen books in German and English on the history of anti-Semitism, the European labour movement and other topics. He was a guest professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Columbus State University in Georgia, and the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. His research has also taken him to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Kings College in London, and Harvard University. Kesslers comment is a response to an article in Tagesspiegel, which reported on an interview with Baberowski, published in the journal of the German Universities Association, Forschung & Lehre (Research & Teaching). In the interview, Baberowski, a professor of Eastern European history at Humboldt University, reaffirmed a statement he made in February 2014 in Germanys highest circulation newsweekly, Der Spiegel. At that time, Baberowski said, Hitler was not a psychopath, he was not vicious. He did not want people to talk about the extermination of the Jews at his table. In Research and Teaching, Baberowski defended this monstrous minimisation of Nazi crimes by saying, Ive compared Hitler to Stalin. Stalin was a psychopath, Hitler was not. Stalin enjoyed violence, Hitler did not. Hitler knew what he was doing. He was an armchair perpetrator (Schreibtischtater), who did not want to know about the bloody consequences of his deeds. This does not make his deeds morally better, but worse. Nobody can really misunderstand what I mean. Tagesspiegel had quoted this passage. Kessler vehemently refutes this presentation. Herelets put this in a friendly wayBaberowski ignores what contemporaries recorded with horror, and which was then proven in detail in decades of research: the fact Hitler had definitely described the possible and then actual consequences of the annihilation of millions of Jews and non-Jews in images that were just as terrible as they were cynical; that he had cold-bloodedly planned and ordered this extermination. Hitlers documented discussions at his table and many other public and semi-public statements by Hitler especially from 1941 also showed Hitlers viciousness. Kessler reported on discussions at the Jewish Yeshiva University in New York, where he was a guest professor until January of this year. Colleagues and students had asked him whether Baberowski was a Nazi, after the Spiegel interview of 2014 had also been published in English. I clearly denied this but the questioners kept digging, writes Kessler. Is he, perhaps, a Nazi who has not, or not yet, dared to give free rein to his views? I also denied this, but could only partially convince my interlocutors. Finally, he acknowledged that his colleagues had instinctively made an important point: whoever claims that Hitler was not vicious, reveals an elementary lack of feeling for his victims, no matter what explanation for this he may make. That Jews, but not only them, regard this as a declaration of hostility against themselves and the principles of humanity, is more than understandable. Kessler thus gets to the heart of the orientation of Baberowskis statements. His statement, Hitler was not vicious, is aimed at minimising the greatest crimes of human history. The context of his statement underscores this fact. In the same Spiegel article from 2014, Baberowski is quoted as saying that the Nazi-apologist Ernst Nolte was done an injustice. Historically speaking, he was right. In addition, he also relativises the Holocaust when he declares, in relation to alleged shootings near Moscow, Basically it was the same thing: industrial killing. The International Youth and Students for Social Equality, the youth organization of the Socialist Equality Party (Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei), criticized these formulations immediately after their publication. Subsequently, the IYSSE pointed out that the relativisation of Nazi crimes is a central theme of Baberowskis academic work and is closely related to his right-wing positions on contemporary political developments. In its fight against right-wing and militarist ideology at Humboldt University, the IYSSE has received growing support from students. It has organized events with hundreds of participants and won 7 percent of the vote in the last elections to the student parliament. Student representatives in Bremen and Hamburg have also written flyers against Baberowski, describing him as a radical right-winger. In Berlin, the student parliaments at Humboldt University and the Free University passed motions against Baberowski. Most recently, the Students Union at the Heidelberg University of Education declared its support for the IYSSE. At the same time, several professors have sided with Baberowski and defended his historical account. In 2014, the Institute of History at Humboldt University accused the IYSSE of defaming Baberowski as a right-wing historian, and called on students to oppose the IYSSE. In a statement, the then president of Humboldt University, Jan-Hendrik Olbertz, and 27 other professors wrote of a campaign of character assassination. More recently, the current president of the university, Sabine Kunst, supported Baberowski and declared that media attacks on the radical right-wing professor are unacceptable. They all ignored, to put it in friendly terms as Kessler has, what contemporaries recorded with horror, and which was then proven in detail in decades of research, the fact of the crimes of the Nazis and of the Wehrmacht (Hitlers army). These statements were accompanied by a veritable campaign of smears against the IYSSE, which was accused of slander, psycho-terrorism and even violence. None of the articles and statements cited a single word from Baberowskis statements, which the IYSSE had taken up and criticized. This was made possible by the fact that no professor in all of Germany had spoken against Baberowskis appalling statements. For three and a half years, the statement Hitler was not vicious remained unchallenged among professors. That is why it is significant that not only tens of thousands of students, but now also an internationally respected professor, have taken a stand and called Baberowskis right-wing positions by name. It is to be hoped that other academics will follow this example and no longer remain silent about Baberowskis trivialization of Nazi crimes. This is a new translation of an abridged version of Trotskys speech before the Petrograd Soviet on May 18, 1917 (May 5 O.S.), in which Trotsky opposed the new coalition government formed with the support of the Mensheviks and the Socialist Revolutionaries. It was originally published in Izvestiia, No. 60, 7(20) May 1917 and was republished in Trotskys Sochineniia (Works). [1] News of the Russian Revolution reached us in New York, far beyond the ocean, but even there, in that mighty country where the bourgeoisie reigns like nowhere else, the Russian Revolution has had an effect. The American working class has acquired a bad reputation. People say that it does not support the revolution. But if you were to see the American workers in February, you would be doubly proud of your revolution. You would understand that it has shaken not only Russia, and not only Europe, but America as well. And it would become clear to you, as it did to me, that it opens a new epoch, an epoch of blood and iron, but one in struggle not of nations against nations, but of the suffering and oppressed class against the ruling classes. (Stormy applause.) At meetings everywhere, workers asked me to transmit to you their great enthusiasm. (Stormy applause.) But I must also tell you something about the Germans, too. I had the opportunity to come into close proximity with a group of German proletarians. You ask, Where? In a prisoner-of-war camp. The British bourgeois government arrested us, as enemies, and interned us in Canada in a camp for prisoners of war. (Shouts: Shame!) There were one hundred officers there, and eight hundred German sailors. They asked us how we, Russian citizens, had fallen prisoner with the British. And when we told them that we had fallen prisoner not as Russian citizens, but as socialists, they began to tell us that they were slaves of their own government, of their own Wilhelm. We became very friendly with the German proletarians. This did not please the imprisoned officers, and they complained to the British commandant, claiming that we were undermining the sailors loyalty to their Kaiser. Then a British captain, protecting the loyalty of the German soldiers to the Kaiser, forbid me from giving speeches. The sailors made an indignant protest to the commandant in this regard. When we were leaving, the sailors accompanied us with music and cried out: Down with Wilhelm, down with the bourgeoisie, long live the international unity of the proletariat! (Stormy applause.) What occurred in the minds of the German sailors is now happening in every country. The Russian Revolution is the prologue to the world revolution. But I cannot hide that I do not agree with much that is now happening. I think that it is dangerous to enter into a ministry. I do not believe in a miracle that a ministry can perform from above. Earlier we had dual power which originated in the contradiction between two classes. A coalition ministry does not free us from dual power, but only transfers it into the ministry. But the revolution will not perish from the coalition ministry. We must only remember three commandments: (1) distrust of the bourgeoisie, (2) control over our own leaders and (3) faith in our own revolutionary power. What, then, do we recommend? I think that your next step will be transfer of all power into the hands of the workers and soldiers deputies. Only unified power (edinovlastie) will save Russia. Long live the Russian Revolution, as prologue to the world revolution! (Applause.) [1] Note from the editors of Trotskys Sochineniia (Works): This speech was comrade Trotskys first in Soviet organizations upon his return to Russia. His sharp opposition to the coalition that had just been brought into the world alarmed the Soviet leaders. The newly appointed ministers speaking after Trotsky devoted their speeches primarily to a polemic with him. Sukhanov provides a rather witty depiction: Peshekhonov and Tsereteli were pale. Desperately showing off, Chernov danced about the stage, begging and beseeching that he not be taken prisoner. The demonic Skobelev pronounced his sacramental formula about a flaming heart and cold reason (Book 3, p. 442). In his polemic, Tsereteli even went so far as to argue: Is it possible that Trotsky, having just returned yesterday to revolutionary Russia, can claim that when we take power that everyone will support us? After all, the bourgeoisie is not isolated: behind it stands part of the army and peasantry, and they have stepped back from the revolutionary movement. We need the effort of all the living forces in the country. Without this we cannot save the country. Trotskys speech is given as reported in Izvestiia. Since no transcript has been found, and the text is obviously incomplete, we asked L.D. Trotsky to comment on the account of his speech and received the following reply: This speech has been greatly abridged in the second half. The narrative about the concentration camp in Canada is described more or less completely, but the critical part of the speech, where I spoke against the entry of socialists into the coalition government, is reduced to a few sentences that are hardly connected to each other; as for the three commandments, as far as I recall, they served as a leitmotiv in many of my speeches at that time: first of all, dont believe the bourgeoisie; secondly, keep track of the leaders; thirdly, believe in your own revolutionary strength. Tuesday saw the official launch of the Labour Partys manifesto for the June 8 snap General Election. The manifesto contained a number of highly significant amendments from the draft version leaked just days earlier. The draft, produced by the team around Labours nominally left leader Jeremy Corbyn, was subject to ratification by the partys top officials on May 11. It sought to marry a watery commitment to certain social reforms and a slight relaxation in the Conservatives austerity agenda with a raft of measures demanded by the Blairite right wing. In particular, it committed Labour to the 200 billion renewal of the Trident nuclear weapons system, and to supporting NATO, and included a declaration that Corbyn would be prepared to launch a nuclear attackalbeit while being extremely cautious about it. Stressing these commitments was Corbyns effort to placate the incessant campaign waged by the media on behalf of Britains ruling elite. With the backing of leading military figures, newspapers lined up to back the Conservative Party in insisting that Corbyn was unfit to be prime minister and represented a threat to national security. On becoming leader of the Tory party and prime minister following last Junes resignation of David Cameron, Theresa May said in parliament that she would not hesitate to authorise a nuclear strike killing hundreds of thousands of people. Following Mays calling of the general election, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon declared that the government was also prepared to launch a nuclear first strike against unnamed countries. However, the concessions contained in Labours draft manifesto have since been revealed as only a staging post for Corbyn in what his shadow foreign secretary, Emily Thornberry, described as a journey towards accepting NATO and nuclear war. The qualification on the use of the armed forces contained in the draft version, Thats why we will never send them into harms way unless all other options have been exhausted, is removed in the final manifesto. Under the section on nuclear weapons and their use, the drafts statement that Labour supports the renewal of the Trident submarine system remains. What follows, But any prime minister should be extremely cautious about ordering the use of weapons of mass destruction which would result in the indiscriminate killing of millions of innocent civilians, is removed. Corbyn is prepared to say and do whatever is asked of him. In his set-piece speech to the Royal Institute of International Affairs last Friday, he had stated, I am often asked if as prime minister I would order the use of nuclear weapons. Its an extraordinary question when you think about itwould you order the indiscriminate killing of millions of people? Would you risk such extensive contamination of the planet that no life could exist across large parts of the world? It is now clear that Corbyn signed off on a manifesto promise to do precisely that before mounting the Chatham House rostrum. The draft manifesto said Labour would end support for aggressive wars of intervention. This also had to be amended so that the final version reads only that Labour will oppose unilateral aggressive wars of intervention (emphasis added) so as to reassure all concerned of the partys support for future wars of aggression under the imprimatur of NATO and the United Nations. In addition, the draft manifesto included no statement on Labours attitude to the freedom of movement of labour in Europe following the UKs exit from the European Union. The published manifesto pledges, Freedom of movement will end when we leave the European Union. The draft stated in relation to Israels numerous war crimes against the Palestinians, The expansion of Israeli settlements on the Palestinian West Bank is not only wrong and illegal, but represents a threat to the very viability of the hopes of securing a successful outcome of the peace process. Condemnation of Israel is removed in the final version, with a new section insisting all sides must avoid taking action that would make peace harder to achieve. That means both an end to the blockade, occupation and settlements, and an end to rocket and terror attacks. Nothing Corbyn says is worth a damn. At the launch of the manifesto, he pledged that Labour would end the brutal Tory policy of a freeze on working-age welfare benefits. Clearly we are not going to freeze benefits. That is very clear, he proclaimed. One hour later, he was in full reverse, baldly stating, Weve not made any commitment on that. By the end of the day, Thornberry was stating, I dont think we can reverse it entirely. We shouldnt be promising things we cant afford. Corbyn is often portrayed by his advocates as a man of principlea good man fallen among thieves. His every action since being elected leader in September 2015 confirms that his only principle is unswerving loyalty to the Labour bureaucracy. Corbyns infinite malleability is not a personal characteristic, but is an essential feature of the Labour left in providing the necessary progressive window dressing to sell what is a capitalist party of big business, militarism and war to the working class. The role of Corbyns ardent defenders in the various pseudo-left groups is to conceal this political reality. Commenting on Labours leaked draft manifesto, the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) welcomed a shift to the left while noting some very worrying concessions to the right. Corbyns left-wing manifesto points to an alternative for Labour that could help it beat the Tories, it concluded. Giving in to the right can only make it weaker. Four days later, with the launching of the amended manifesto, the SWP essentially rewrote its earlier article as if no more concessions to the right had been granted. Only a glancing reference is made regarding the pro-militarist axis of the manifesto, with the SWP writing by way of an apology, The right pressured Corbyn to compromise over nuclear weapons last year. So the manifesto has no call to get rid of Trident or to leave the NATO alliancedespite Corbyns longstanding opposition to them. The SWP concludes by urging, Labour has to go all out on its radical promises to beat the Tories on 8 June. Labours right want to hold it back. The author also recommends: UK Labour Party adopts pro-business, militarist election manifesto [13 May 2017] What is in the UK Labour Partys manifesto? [13 May 2017] Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis two-day visit to Sri Lanka last Thursday and Friday was an attempt to further cement New Delhis political, economic and strategic ties with the Colombo government. Modi was invited by the government of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as the chief guest to inaugurate the UN Vesak Ceremony, the main Buddhist festival in Sri Lanka. During his visit no agreement was signed between the two countries and no joint statement was issued. However, his tour was significant, in the context that India and the US have expressed concerns about the Colombo governments economic ties with Beijing, which New Delhi considers its rival. Press Trust of India noted in its report on Thursday that Modis visit was mainly aimed at reinforcing the traditional connect between India and Sri Lanka at a time when China is seeking to make inroads in the island nation. In his keynote speech in Colombo, after boasting about thousands of years of India-Sri Lanka relations through Buddhism, Modi said India is at a moment of great opportunity in our ties with Sri Lankaan opportunity to achieve a quantum jump in our partnership across different fields. He added: Whether it is on land or in the waters of the Indian Ocean, the security of our societies is indivisible. Modi did not explain what he meant by a quantum jump or indivisible security. Yet, these statements underscore the Indian ruling elites determination encouraged by the USto maintain the integration of Sri Lanka into its strategic and economic interests in the Indian Ocean region. After coming to power two-and-a-half years ago, Modis Hindu-supremacist Bharatiya Janata Party government is transforming India into a frontline state of US war preparations to confront China. India, with the help of the US, is increasingly intervening in every country in South Asia, including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Maldives. Washington and New Delhi did not oppose former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakses war against the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and his anti-democratic rule. However, both countries were hostile to Rajapakses close economic ties with Beijing. When the Obama administration orchestrated a regime-change operation in Sri Lanka, via the presidential election in January 2015, to replace Rajapakse with Sirisena, New Delhi fully backed the move. After taking office, Sirisena and Wickremesinghe immediately changed Sri Lankas foreign policy in favour of the US and India, deepening military ties with them and suspending Chinese investments. When Sirisena won the presidential election, Modi became the first Indian prime minister to make a trip to Sri Lanka in 28 years. Now he has visited for the second time in two years. Meanwhile, Sirisena has travelled to India twice and Wickremesinghe three times. In recent months, the Indian government has expressed concerns over two developments in Sri Lanka. One is that the cash-strapped Colombo government, facing a balance of payments and debt crisis, has turned to Chinese investments and loans, and sought to resume suspended Chinese projects, including the Colombo Port City Project. It is also seeking to run Hambantota Port as a joint venture with a Chinese company in order to raise money to pay back Chinas loan to build the port. During Rajapakses regime, Washington and New Delhi opposed both projects, saying China was building them as part of an Indian Ocean strategic network. Indias other concern is Sri Lankas repeated postponement of economic pacts between the two countries, including an Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA), which the Indian ruling elite regard as beneficial for its strategic interests. In his speech, Modi said: We believe that the free flow of trade, investments, technology, and ideas across our borders will be to our mutual benefit. Indias rapid growth can bring dividends for the entire region, especially in Sri Lanka. He reiterated that India has extended $US2.6 billion in development aid to Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan government and sections of big business support the ETCA. However, Rajapakse and his group of MPs oppose the proposed economic agreements with India, seeking to stir communalism and exploit popular discontent with the government. Rajapakse has threatened to topple the government and his group is making virulent anti-Tamil and anti-Indian propaganda. Wickremesinghe went to Delhi in April, just two weeks before Modis tour. When Wickremesinghe met Modi during that visit, the two governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Economic Projects. The discussions also covered a proposal to develop an oil storage tank farm in the port of Trincomalee. Reuters reported that on Thursday, as the Indian prime minister landed in Sri Lanka, two senior officials said the Colombo government had rejected Chinas request to dock one of its submarines in Colombo this month. In October 2014, when a Chinese submarine docked in Colombo, New Delhi protested to Rajapakse. Modis visit is the latest expression of the sharp contest between India and China to influence Sri Lanka, strategically located in the Indian Ocean. Modi had an unscheduled meeting with Rajapakse at the latters request, even though some prominent members of Rajapakses group had threatened to hoist black flags in opposition to Modis visit. Rajapakse accompanied his governments defence secretary and brother, Gotabhaya Rajapakse, and G. L. Peiris, his former foreign minister, for the talks. Peiris told the media no information can be divulged about what they discussed. Nor did the Indian prime minister reveal anything about the hour-long meeting. Rajapakse is likely to have appealed for Indias support in the event he comes to power. When Donald Trump won the US presidential election, Rajapakse immediately greeted him and praised his reactionary nationalist policies. During his visit, Modi addressed a meeting of plantation workers organised by the estate trade unions. He opened a new hospital funded by his government and promised 10,000 houses for plantation workers. Plantation union leaders, many of whom are government ministers, mounted a campaign to gather around 30,000 workers for the meeting, held at Hatton-Dick Oya. Sirisena and Wickremesinghe also enthusiastically participated. The discredited union leaders staged the meeting to boost their organisations amid an explosive situation among plantation workers because of deepening attacks on their living conditions. With their help, Modi, a fascistic Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader, postured as a champion of workers despite his governments ruthless assault on their living conditions and social rights. One such blatant attack is the sentencing to life imprisonment of 13 workers of the Japanese-owned car making giant, Maruti Suzuki, in the Indian state of Haryana. Modi hypocritically praised Indian-origin plantation workers for facing challenges since their migration from southern India. These workers were forcibly brought to Sri Lanka in the latter part of the 19th century by the British imperialists who ruled India and Sri Lanka as colonies. At the hands of the Sri Lankan capitalist class, their citizenship rights were abolished in 1949 and they still live as second-class citizens, despite their citizenship rights being restored decades later. Modi has no sympathy for the downtrodden plantation workers and their rights. His visit had one purposeto boost the strategic interests of India and the US against China, at the expense of workers, in a socially explosive situation. Four lawyers for the anti-secrecy organization WikiLeaks issued a joint statement May 17 strongly censuring Laura Poitras Risk, the documentary about Julian Assange and WikiLeaks, which opened May 5 in the US. We have already commented on this very poor, politically disturbing work. The new statement raises serious questions about Poitras methods and activities. The lawyersMargaret Ratner Kunstler (widow of radical lawyer William Kunstler), Deborah Hrbek, Renata Avila and Melinda Taylorexplain they are speaking out because they believe Risk places our clients in legal jeopardy. Poitras documentary, they argue, serves to undermine WikiLeaks just as the Trump administration has announced that it intends to prosecute its journalists, editors and associates. Their first issue with Risk is the fact that the film was edited in New York, where the raw footage can more easily be seized by the U.S. government. By shifting her editing location, Poitras has endangered our clients and reneged on written agreements with WikiLeaks that explicitly forbid her from editing the footage in the United States. The four lawyers note that the current menacing atmosphere has been underscored by CIA Director Michael Pompeos speech in April in which he asserted that Assange and WikiLeaks had no First Amendment freedoms It ends now. The May 17 statement also takes issue with Poitras for failing to live up her unambiguous promise to allow the subjects of the film an opportunity to review the film in advance and request changes, leaving open the possibility they could decline to appear in the documentary, if they or their lawyers felt that the movie put them at risk. The lawyers continue: Had the filmmaker not agreed to these express conditions, WikiLeaks staff would not have allowed themselves to be filmed in the first place. Despite repeated requests, neither the subjects of the film nor their attorneys were granted a prior viewing of the film that Poitras intended to release in the U.S. The version that opened in theaters two weeks ago, they note with dismay, is a different version, not only from that which premiered at Cannes the year before [2016], but also from the version screened for Julian Assange and his UK counsel at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. The version of Risk screened for Assange did not include Poitras narration, and omitted numerous new scenes, significantly changing its tenor. This, Kunstler, Hrbek, Avila and Taylor argue, prevented Assange from exercising his contractual rights. Moreover, prior to the documentarys release, seven participants submitted non-consent forms to its producers, advising the filmmaker and her team they did not want to appear in the film. Regardless, Poitras went ahead and released it. The lawyers make clear they are not seeking to censor Poitras. They explain: This is about safety. It is about protecting journalistic sources. It is about personal and professional integrity, and honoring contractual obligations. The second significant issue the four raise in their statement concerns the shift in focus in Risk, from a broadly sympathetic portrayal of WikiLeaks work and the attacks against its staff by the U.S. government to an ill-defined indictment of the culture of sexism online. After the four lawyers note they are all feminists, they criticize the manner in which Poitras film foregrounds this issue [sexism] to the exclusion of others, thereby undermining WikiLeaks popular and political support at the very moment that it faces serious aggression from the Trump administration. The May 17 comment complains that, in fact, Poitras has marginalized and demeaned a number of women who work for WikiLeaks, choosing instead to give men most of the airtime and leaving scenes depicting the significant contributions of the women WikiLeaks journalists on the cutting room floor. Instead, they write, we now see an intense focus on women taking instructions and throwing off adoring looks. Sarah Harrison, for example, a brilliant journalist and winner of the Willy Brandt prize for exceptional political courage is now depicted as little more than a minion. Indeed, this element in Risk seems part of a conscious effort in Risk to portray Assange and his relations with Harrison and others in a negative light. Kunstler, Hrbek, Avila and Taylor express some uncertainty about what caused this pivot in Poitras attitude toward Assange and WikiLeaks. They point out that no charges have been filed in the Swedish preliminary investigation of Assange, i.e., the attempted frame-up on sexual misconduct charges, an investigation that, in any event, began well before Poitras began filming WikiLeaks. They observe: In 2016, the UN twice found that the investigation of Assange had been so flawed that his ongoing detention was illegal, arbitrary and that he should be immediately released. Poitras has dramatic footage of this legal victory, but decided not to share it with her audience. The lawyers attribute Poitras change of heart to matters associated with her personal relationship with journalist and sometime WikiLeaks collaborator, Jacob Appelbaum. The 2016 Cannes screening of Risk portrayed Appelbaum in a flattering light and Poitras did not disclose the nature of their relationship at that time. Now Poitras states, I thought I could ignore the contradictions. I thought they were not part of the story. I was so wrong. Theyre becoming the story. But if sexism is becoming the story, it is because Poitras has chosen to focus on it. They suggest that instead of providing a more objective portrayal of WikiLeaks and Assange, the filmmaker has re-framed her story to turn Risk into a film by Laura Poitras about Laura Poitras; a rather late coming-of-age story about the filmmaker discovering that there is sexism in her social and professional circles. As we commented on the WSWS in our review, Confronted with the problems and apparent intellectual obtuseness in Risk, and not only here, one faces the challenge of knowing where to place the blame: on historical ignorance, on intimidation by the powers that be, or on the utter pervasiveness of identity politics in these circles. The milieu, unhappily, is saturated with subjectivism. The four lawyers justifiably ask: Why choose this moment in history, when First Amendment and other fundamental rights are under attack, to undermine the credibility of an organization dedicated to government transparency and freedom of the press? They continue, Poitras is certainly aware of the political and legal context in which the release of this film is taking place. Yet the release of Risk in its new iteration exposes her subjects to considerable legal jeopardy. The Trump administration, they argue, is preparing charges that carry extremely serious penalties under the Espionage Act of 1917. What they term the filmmakers dubious quest for self-discovery might win attention for Poitras by pandering to tabloid narratives about its subjects, but it has done a great disservice to her fellow documentarians, and has profoundly betrayed her friends, her colleagues and her journalistic integrity. Kunstler, Hrbek, Avila and Taylor raise entirely legitimate legal and political issues. Their criticism, muted though it might be, of the identity politics frenzy that has seized hold of considerable sections of the upper middle class ex-left has an objective meaning. The exposure of the right-wing character of gender/race politics and the manner in which it dovetails with the goals of powerful sections of the ruling elitein this case, the effort to suppress WikiLeaks exposures and jail or silence its journalistsis a pressing political matter. The shameful silence of the pseudo-left in regard to the fate of Assange and his colleagues reflects its subservience to the powers that be. When the four lawyers consider what caused this pivot in Poitras outlook, however, they omit one critical political issue. The director may well be engaged in a rather late, dubious and empty-headed journey of self-discovery, but this hardly tells the whole story. The significant changes in Risk track closely the hysterical campaign, led by publications like the New York Times and Washington Post, against supposed Russian interference in the 2016 elections that emerged last summer, following WikiLeaks exposures of the Democratic Partys corrupt and antidemocratic inner workings. The exposures, as one reviewer of Risk bitterly asserts, revealed Assanges intervention against Hillary Clinton. The documentary includes a clip of Rep. Adam Schiff, the California Democrat, querying former FBI chief James Comey about the alleged role of WikiLeaks in passing on the Democratic National Committees emails ultimately from Russian sources. Schiff and Comey smear WikiLeaks and Poitras provides no serious response to their lies in her film. This sort of rubbish permits Variety, for example, to suggest the possibility that Julian Assange became, in effect, a pimp of information for Vladimir Putins regime. The most logical conclusion to draw is that Poitras, under pressure from the pro-Democratic Party and left-feminist circles in which she travels, has accommodated herself to the anti-WikiLeaks campaign. Again, what is especially significant is the coming together of the gender politics zealots, on the one hand, and the proponents of American imperialist intervention across the globe in the name of democratic rights, on the other. Public bus drivers in parts of Sydney, Australias most populous city, carried out a 24-hour strike yesterday, opposing an announcement by the New South Wales (NSW) Liberal-National government on Tuesday that it would privatise the operations of the bus services in the citys inner-west and south. The move is part of a broader agenda, imposed by successive Labor and Coalition governments, of turning over transport, healthcare and other essential services to profiteering corporate entities. As many as 1,200 drivers took part in the industrial action from depots in the inner-western suburbs of Leichhardt, Tempe, Kingsgrove and Burwood. They defied orders by the states Industrial Relations Commission banning the strike. The corporate press cynically bemoaned the inconvenience to commuters. Transport Minister Andrew Constance provocatively declared the strike amounted to anarchy. This morning, the state government launched Supreme Court legal action over the stoppage against the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU), which covers public bus drivers. The strike is an expression of a broader sentiment among bus drivers and other transport workers to fight back against the corporate-dictated dismantling of public transport, and worsening working conditions. However, a stop-work meeting called by the RTBU yesterday underscored the unions willingness to collaborate in further attacks on transport workers, including through privatisation. The event, near NSW Parliament, was attended by around 200 bus drivers. Chris Preston, head of the unions bus division, denounced Constance for failing to consult with the union before announcing the privatisation plan. He appealed to the states premier, Gladys Berejiklian to step in, because under her watch, this would not have happened. She was the shadow transport minister for a long time and then the minister for transport. She knew how to talk to the union. In reality, moves to privatise inner-city bus services have long been under discussion and were reported in the corporate press throughout 2016. As transport minister, Berejiklian initiated the privatisation of Sydneys ferry services in 2012. Preston declared that Constances announcement was a betrayal of an enterprise bargaining agreement covering drivers for the next five years. In fact, the union-brokered deal, signed last December, went hand in hand with an announcement that the State Transit Authority (STA), which operates bus services, would eliminate 200 jobs, or 40 percent of all staff in its salaried division, including office and support workers. Preston referenced the unions collaboration in the job-shedding, stating: Us working with the STA in the restructure? The ministers just thrown that out the window. Preston commented on the privatisation of bus services in the regional city of Newcastle last year, and postured as an opponent of the resulting rise in casual and insecure employment for drivers. Last December, however, the union cautiously welcomed the state governments announcement of a 10-year agreement with Keolis Downer, a major private operator, to run Newcastle buses, ferries and a new light rail line. Prestons comments, and the record of the union, make clear that the RTBUs current rhetoric against the privatisation is window-dressing, which will be dispensed with if the government agrees to hold talks. The unions primary concern is to maintain its own privileged position at the negotiating table, where it bargains away the rights and conditions of workers. The RTBU is particularly fearful that if inner-west services are privatised, bus drivers will be covered by the rival Transport Workers Union, depriving it of hundreds of dues-paying members. The RTBUs fawning overtures to the state government contrasted with the sentiments of the gathered bus drivers. One, with 10 years experience, told the WSWS: I dont know if you can run the buses for a profit. The main reason theyre giving is that were always late. But the issue is Sydney congestion. I cant see private buses doing any better. Its all about private companies taking over and the big end of town coming in, he continued. I think well lose some of our conditions if it goes through. Labor has privatised plenty of things. They all look after the big end of town. Another driver, who has worked for eight years, said: Privatisation would make our lives completely uncertain. Weve made all of our decisions based on our previous contractsgetting personal loans and house loans. Now we dont know what our future is going to be. We would still have the same traffic, the same equipment. How is privatisation going to solve that? Speaking on the conditions already facing drivers, he commented: Its a lot of pressure at the moment to meet the timetabling requirements. The congestion in Sydney is just getting worse. Its not only the drivers, were also concerned about the public and safety. Other drivers spoke on the difficulties of working split shifts, in the mornings and late-afternoons, with three-hour breaks in the middle of the day. A number of drivers denounced claims that Labor represents an alternative to the privatisation plans of the government. NSW Labor governments, in office from 1995 to 2011, spearheaded the sell-off of state assets, including the electricity distribution network. Large areas of bus services were also operated by private corporations throughout Labors tenure, with companies receiving substantial government funding, and making use of public infrastructure, while extracting profits. In 2004, the Labor government of Bob Carr commissioned a review into Sydneys bus network, carried out by a former Labor premier, Barry Unsworth. The review called for the adoption of a demand driven approach, as opposed to one based on minimum service levels. In effect, this meant the gutting of many bus services in working class areas of western Sydney, particularly outside peak hours. The Unsworth review also called for an expansion of services run by private operators. Carr declared that the overhaul would mesh private and public bus services for the first time. A report by the auditor-general into the operations of private bus companies with state contracts in 2010 found that the Labor government was focused on contract administrationthat is, dispensing large sums of public money to for-profit entitiesand that the services provided were woefully inadequate. The report found that 25 percent of private bus commuters were stranded at least once a week by a bus that did not arrive. A third were unable to travel because there were no services in their area. In its 2010 budget, the Labor government of Kristina Keneally allocated $759 million to private bus companies with state contracts in metropolitan, regional and rural areas. Since 2010, the states transport crisis has only deepened, with infrastructure failing to keep pace with population growth. The situation is a direct product of the subordination of social needs, including for decent, reliable transport, to the profit motives of the major corporations. The RTBUs central role in enforcing this agenda underscores the need for an independent political and industrial struggle by bus drivers, and other transport workers. American warplanes launched an attack on pro-government forces in southeastern Syria Thursday, near the borders with Iraq and Jordan. The attack is the first time since the April 6 cruise missile assault on the al-Shayrat air base that the US military has targeted forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. According to the US version of events, the fighters violated a deconfliction zone by advancing to within 18 miles of the al-Tanf base, where US and British special forces have been training Sunni militants for over a year. This military action is in blatant violation of international law since the Western forces have not been invited onto Syrian territory by the Assad government. The actions of the pro-government forces posed a threat to partner forces, the US-led coalition said in a statement. The forces involved appear to be a paramilitary group aligned with Assad. The Syrian military reported that six personnel were killed and three injured in the attack, according to the al-Masdar News agency. According to the US-led coalitions statement, after performing a show of force by flying low over the area and firing a warning shot, the US planes struck a tank, a bulldozer and fighters. But in contrast to the US version of events, a Damascus-based political analyst, Alaa Ibrahim, told RT that according to Syrian military sources, the paramilitary group never received any warning prior to the strike. There was no indication that the pro-government fighters posed an immediate threat to US troops. The US military statement merely noted that the Syrian fighters were engaged in constructing fighting positions when the aircraft struck. It added that they clashed with the Pentagon-backed Maghawir al-Thawra militant group, formerly known as the New Syrian Army. The reality is that the Islamist forces being trained by the US are part of its regime change operation against Damascus, which Washington has been pursuing since it fomented the Syrian civil war in 2011. Its ordering of a strike on pro-government forces underscores the deepening tensions as both sides in the conflict scramble to seize territory from Islamic State in the east of the country so as to strengthen their hand in the struggle for control over Syria. Washington has swiftly stepped up its intervention in Syria since the coming to power of Donald Trump in January. Thursdays strike marks the second time in less than six weeks that Washington has directly targeted Assads forces, following the April 6 cruise missile assault on the al-Shayrat air base in retaliation for the alleged chemical weapons attack by the Assad regime in Khan Sheikhoun two days earlier. The number of ground forces operating in the country has been more than doubled and Trump has untied the militarys hands by loosening the rules of engagement for air strikes, resulting in a spike in civilian casualties. In the latest atrocity, at least 40 civilians were killed and many more wounded by a suspected US-led coalition air strike in Deir ez-Zor. The US escalation carries with it the threat of a direct clash with nuclear-armed Russia, which intervened into the Syria conflict in 2015 to prop up its sole ally in the Middle East region. Although US officials maintained they had contacted the Russians prior to the air strike yesterday, this does nothing to take away from the fact that Washington and Moscow are working at cross purposes in Syria. Washington is in a tacit alliance with ISIS insofar as the Jihadi group continues to attack government-controlled areas. As the US focused attention on the purported threat posed by the pro-government fighters near al-Tanf Thursday, ISIS launched a significant offensive in the central region, capturing a village and killing dozens of Syrian soldiers. US officials showed no concern for the reports of beheadings and removal of limbs from women and children by ISIS in the predominantly Shia villages captured. At least 52 people, including 11 women and 17 children belonging to the Ismaili branch of Shia Islam, were killed in the violence in Hama province. The attack occurred near the highway linking Damascus to the northern city of Aleppo, from where pro-Assad forces expelled US-backed Islamists last December. Rami Razzouk, a coroner at the national hospital in Salamiyeh, told AP that nine of the children were beaten to death with heavy objects and two of them had most of their limbs removed so they had to be carried in blankets. There were no reports of air strikes launched by the ostensible anti-ISIS international coalition in the area to curb the Islamist militias advance. This should come as no surprise. During the 2011 bombardment of Libya to oust the Gaddafi regime, US imperialism gave its backing to Islamist extremist forces, many of whom were subsequently funneled, with the assistance of the CIA, into Syria to act as the backbone of the rebel forces fighting Assad. Some of them united to form ISIS with disaffected Sunni elements in Iraq, who had been radicalized by Washingtons deliberate incitement of sectarian tensions in the wake of its illegal 2003 invasion. Indicating the mounting rivalries between US imperialism and the other powers involved in Syria, the Financial Times reported earlier this week that the latest ceasefire arrangement agreed in Astana May 4, which included a deal to stop fighting in four de-escalation zones, is being viewed by all parties as a mechanism to accelerate the partition of the country. A buffer zone in the south close to the Jordanian border, which would include the al-Tanf base from where the US and British special forces are training Islamist rebels, could become the basis for a push by the US proxies to cut off Iranian supply lines through the east of Syria. One diplomat told the FT that the race now is to get the biggest share. The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is dominated by the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG), is advancing on the ISIS capital of Raqqa. The Trump administrations authorization of the provision of heavy weaponry to the SDF last week, over the strenuous objections of NATO ally Turkey, is aimed at preparing an all-out offensive to retake the city which will reportedly be launched in the coming weeks. The consequences of such an assault for the civilian population will be disastrous, as can be seen in the Iraqi city of Mosul where thousands of civilians have been slaughtered in indiscriminate air strikes and shelling by the Iraqi army. Thursdays US strike on pro-Assad forces will make it even less likely that any significant progress will be attained at the ongoing sixth round of peace talks, which began in Geneva on Tuesday. Already on the eve of the negotiations, the State Department issued lurid and unverified allegations about the operation by the Assad regime of a crematorium at the Sednaya prison near Damascus in a move designed to undermine the UN-sponsored initiative. Discussions on a future constitution for the country broke down Thursday as opposition groups requested clarification on a proposal that would have seen a UN commission, under the leadership of the UNs Syria envoy Staffan di Mistura, oversee a transition process following a peace agreement. In a tense and teary courtroom scene on Wednesday, Tulsa Police Department (TPD) officer Betty Jo Shelby, who is white, was found not guilty of first degree manslaughter for the killing of 40-year-old Terence Crutcher on September 16 last year. Crutcher, who had been unarmed, was killed by a single gunshot to his chest after failing to heed police orders. Crutcher, an African American father of four children, had been approached by TPD police due to complaints that his unaccompanied vehicle had been blocking traffic in the street. Several civilian complaints had stated Crutcher appeared high and was behaving erratically. When Crutcher failed to comply with Shelbys orders to get on his knees, instead walking away toward his vehicle with his hands raised, Shelby opened fire while another officer, Tyler Turnbough, shot him with a Taser. Shelby had been removed from active duty after the killing. During the incident, TPD officers behaved in a manner indifferent to Crutchers life. In police footage of the killing, one officer observing the confrontation can be heard remarking Time for a Taser, I think, which is then followed by another exclaiming, That looks like a bad dude, too. Helicopter Video of Police Killing Terence Crutcher The police officers, seemingly in a rush to obtain incriminating evidence, searched through Crutchers vehicle and his pockets instead of attempting to perform life saving measures on the fatally wounded man. Several minutes passed before first aid measures were attempted. Crutcher died shortly afterward. Prosecutors had refuted claims that the slain man had been reaching into his car through the drivers window when Shelby shot him by showing pictures of Crutchers SUV after the shooting, with its windows rolled up. Shelby, who took the stand at her own trial, callously declared I did everything I could to stop this Crutchers death is his fault. Shelby also declared that, as a police officer, she was trained not [to] pull a Taser out, which is less lethal. I meet a gun with a gun. When a prosecutor asserted youre not meeting a gun with a gun. Youre meeting a guess about a gun with a gun, defense attorney Shannon McMurray alleged that all mentions of Crutcher having been unarmed were deceitful and should be disregarded, in essence demanding the victims presumption of innocence and vital facts about the case be thrown out. Video Released Showing Police Kill Innocent Unarmed Pastor With His Hands Up Crutchers family as well as several jurors, who had requested the opportunity to explain their decision, were escorted from the courtroom in tears after the verdict was announced. Tiffany Crutcher, Terences sister, stated that the police were corrupt and Terence was not the aggressor; Betty Shelby was the aggressor Betty Shelby had the gun. Betty Shelby was following him with his hands up. Joseph Crutcher, Terences father, stated I have four grandchildren that are at home that has lost their daddy. I said I would accept whatever the verdict was, and Im going to do that. But let it be known that I believe in my heart that Betty Shelby got away with murder. According to Shelbys defense attorney, the police officer was elated and very proud of her jury and ready to get back to her life. Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin, reflecting fears that the court ruling would spark social unrest, issued a statement insisting that those who disagree with the verdict have the right to express their opinions; I just ask that they do so in a peaceful manner. Protestors gathered outside of the courthouse, with several demonstrators attempting to make their way to the hotel where they believed the exonerated Shelby had been staying. The exoneration of Crutchers killer comes amid an expanding wave of homicidal police violence. Police killed a record 1,150 people in 2016, the same year Crutcher was shot dead. Police have continued their killing spree in 2017, with the aggregator web site killedbypolice.net showing over 450 police-involved killings this year. Such numbers, consistent with a low-level insurgency or civil war, have gone nearly unmentioned in the media. In response to the verdict, US Attorney Danny Williams promised that a parallel federal civil rights investigation would seek justice on behalf of [the Crutcher family], and for the public. The future of such an investigation is in serious doubt, as it was reported by NPR that Williams has been asked by Attorney General Jeff Sessions to resign. Additionally, last month, the US Department of Justice issued a memo announcing a sweeping review of previous civil rights agreements reached between the federal government and local police departments in order to ensure that those initiatives effectively dovetail with robust enforcement of federal laws designed to preserve and protect civil rights. Tulsa, with a population of 403,505, is the second largest city in the state of Oklahoma. Often referred to as the oil capital of the world, the city is a profit center for the US energy industry. Dozens of firms connected with the extraction, processing and transfer of energy resources are headquartered in the city. According to the Oklahoma Policy Institute, there are more women in prison in the state than are served by the states welfare programs. Recent US Census data shows that there were over 270,000 people living in extreme poverty in Oklahoma, surviving on less than $200 a week. Europe Series of strikes in Greece against further austerity measures Greek ferry workers began a four-day strike Tuesday, cutting off the many Greek islands from the mainland. Journalists also held a strike with no newspapers being published. Bus drivers in Thessaloniki, Greeces second city, walked out over wages arrears. On Wednesday, the action widened out to a general strike, with the public-sector union GSEE and the private sector union ADEDY joining the action with a big demonstration in Athens. OIYE (Hellenic Federation of Private Sector Employees) and POEDIN (Public Hospital Workers Union) also joined in the general strike action on Wednesday. On Wednesday, air traffic control staff struck for four hours in the middle of the day leading to the disruption of around 150 flights. Public hospitals were hit, with only emergency cover being provided. Government offices across the country were closed or impacted. Public transport was hit bus drivers coming out, continuing their strike until Friday. Police attacked youth demonstrating against budget cuts and mass unemployment. The strike was to protest the imposition of further austerity measures, including cuts to pensions and tax rises, by the Syriza (Coalition of the Radical Left) led government, which came to power in 2015 promising to oppose austerity. Joint protests by Ukrainian miners and steel workers Iron ore miners at two mines along with steelworkers from the ArcelorMittal plant in the Ukrainian city of Kriviy Rihhave have been holding joint protests to push for substantial pay increases. The protests are under the direction of the Independent Trade Union of Miners of Ukraine (NPGU). The miners are seeking an immediate 20 percent pay rise, with an increase to 30 percent by August. Over 1,000 steel workers from the ArcelorMittal factory held a rally on May 11 to demand a pay rise and to protest the outsourcing of jobs at the steel plant. Iron ore miners have previously held an underground hunger strike in support of their demands. Romanian finance workers walk out 20,000 staff working for the Romanian Finance Ministry walked out on strike Monday. The workers, members of the Sed Lex trade union, are protesting draft legislation that would cut their pay between 10 and 35 percent. UK nurses vote to hold strike ballot Nurses belonging to the Royal College of Nursing have voted by nearly 80 percent in a consultative vote in favour of holding a full ballot of all the 270,000 members over the summer to authorize strike action. Nurses are protesting the string of low pay rises or freezes since 2010. According to the RCN nurses have suffered a 14 percent cut in real wages because of the Tory governments cap on public sector pay. That the RCN was forced to organise a ballot at all is a measure of the anger of nurses against the attack on National Health Service (NHS). If a strike goes ahead it would be the first strike in the RCNs history. The RCN, along with all the other health unions, stood by while the junior doctors held their series of strikes, helping to isolate and defeat their struggle. Action by UK rail staff The Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union has announced a 24-hour strike at three rail companies over the use of driver operated only (DOO) trains. The strike, which is set to take place on 30 May, would be the 32nd day of action at Govia Thameslink Railways-owned Southern Rail over the last year. Northern (Arriva Rail North) and Merseyrail are also pushing for DOO, while Southern Rail has already replaced train guards with on-board supervisors (OBS) who have no responsibility for closing doors. Talks between RMT and Southern Rail broke down Monday after the company announced plans to run 8,000 trains without an OBS, or essentially as DOO. The train drivers union ASLEF (Associated Society of Locomotive Steam Enginemen and Firemen) has announced an overtime ban for the end of May over the DOO issue. In a separate conflict, RMT members working for Arriva TrainCare, which maintains Arriva trains, were set to strike today in a pay dispute. The RMT and ASLEF have blocked any unified struggle by rail workers because it would quickly lead to a direct confrontation with the hated Tory government. Union suspends UK automakers action over pensions The Unite union has suspended planned strikes by BMW car workers in the UK over plans by the company to get rid of the current pension scheme, replacing it with an inferior one at the end of this month. Eight strikes had been planned at four BMW sites in Oxford, West Sussex, Swindon and Birmingham in April and May. Four of the strikes have taken place but following talks, Unite has suspended the strike after BMW reportedly came up with an offer, the details of which have not been released. The workforce will now consider the offer. UK restaurant staff protest sacking Eleven staff working for the fashionable Beach Blanket Babylon (BBB) restaurant in east London have been holding protests outside each night since they were summarily sacked last week. They were sacked after raising concerns over wage arrears and complaining of anomalies in sick and gratuity payments. Scottish college lecturers take strike action College lecturers in Scotland, members of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), held a 48-hour strike this week over their fight for equal pay for lecturers performing the same role in different colleges. The EIS accuses Colleges Scotland of reneging on a national agreement meant to resolve the equal pay issue. UK Equality Commission staff hold further strikes Staff working for the UK government Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), members of the Unite and the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) unions, have walked out to demand the reinstatement of eight workers who were sacked for striking in February against plans to cut EHRC jobs. After the unions suspended the strikes to allow the government conciliation service ACAS to intervene and head off the anger of workers, the EHRC sacked eight staff members in messages sent by email. EHRC staff in Glasgow were on strike on Monday and another four days of strikes will take place over the next three weeks at EHRC offices in London, Cardiff and Manchester. UK warehouse staff begin two-week strike Around 1,400 warehouse staff working for the retail store Argos began a two-week strike on Wednesday in Basildon, Bridgewater, Burton-on-Trent, Heywood and Lutterworth. The Unite union called the strike after Argos announced plans to outsource 500 of its Lutterworth warehouse workers to Wincanton logistics in Kettering. Argos would not guarantee that transferred workers would retain their current pay and conditions or that those workers refusing to move would retain their jobs. Teachers at London school strike against budget cuts Members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) at Forest Hill School in southeast London struck Tuesday against proposed job cuts stemming from the school budget being imposed by the Tory government. It was the eighth such day of action. Teachers also engaged in three days of strikes at the nearby Plumstead Manor School in Greenwich, which also wanted to impose 34 job cuts because of budget restrictions. The union ended the action after the Labour-controlled Greenwich council reached an agreement to extend its debt repayment period and halved the number of proposed layoffs. The NUT presented this as a victory. Africa Nigerian oil workers strike Exxon Mobil Strikers at Exxon Mobil Nigeria extended their strike on Monday with three days of strike action involving the Petroleum and Natural Gas Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) national membership. The strike against mass sackings has also spread to Chevron, Shell and Eni. One hundred and fifty workers have been sacked, over half of them PENGASSAN members, at Exxon Mobil. Strikes by Exxon workers in Nigeria at the end of 2016 impacted output, leading to weeks-long loading delays. Nigerian teachers in fight Primary school teachers in the Nigerian state of Bayelsa have been on strike a week to demand unpaid wages for the last nine and half months. The walkout by members of the National Union of Teachers has paralysed primary school education across the state. Meanwhile, the state governor of Nasarawa, Nigeria, has banned the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) from continuing a week-long strike and protest. The governor claims the unions actions seriously threaten peace and stability in the state. He also states that the union is unregistered and is interfering with school examinations. In the Nasarawa state, civil servants plan to strike over the governors broken promise to pay back wages. The Nigerian Labour Congress, discredited among its members for its constant sell-outs, removed the branch chair and called a statewide strike on May 12. Nigerian truck drivers strike over dangerous road conditions Nigerian truck drivers are prepared to strike in three weeks if the conditions of Lagos port roads are not substantially improved. The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria says the deplorable state of the roads threatens the lives of its members. The federal government responded, with support from private industries, pledging N4.3billion (US$13.27 million) to upgrade to the motorways into the ports within two months. South African gold miners return to work South African miners at Central Rand Gold have returned to work after a demand for a wage increase was converted into an agreement to pay a 13th-month bonus. The bonus is said to worth 50 percent of workers wages and will be paid at the end of the year in December. Prior to the agreement the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) was brought in without success. The union agreed to CCMA restrictions on picketing, which allowed strikebreaking to take place as some miners went into work, providing a skeleton staff. The company lost five days of production because of the 11-day strike. Kenyan civil servants threaten strike after bank steals wages to pay tax debt Kenyans Nairobi state employees threatened to withdraw their labour if Aprils wages were not paid by Tuesday. The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) reportedly took the workers money to make a partial payment on the banks three-billion Kenyan shillings debt to the Kenyan Revenues Authority (KRA). The funds were tax payments made by workers into the bank but not transferred to the KRA. It is reported that the Nairobi state has received a further KS 1.02 billion (US$9.9m) from central government to cover the redirected wages. A Nairobi county lawyer claims that CBN and the KRA ignored a court order barring the funds transaction and is calling for the jailing of their managing directors. In the most recent report the Kenyan County Government Workers Union says it has not received their wages and the protest and strike of between 12,000 and 13,000 workers will go ahead. Authorities renege on deal to end 100-day Kenyan doctor strike Kenyan doctors are still waiting for state governments to implement the agreed return-to-work formula, which contained payments for the 100-day strike by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union. The council of governors are demanding the funding for the strike period be paid by central government, while claiming that the saved revenues on unpaid wages were paid out for other demands. Doctors have not yet returned to work in some counties and are returning to striking in others. OPENING FRIDAY ALIEN COVENANT. "Alien: Covenant chronologically follows Prometheus, exploring the fallout from the events of that film, while offering a rich terrain for an epic battle between the differing forces in this world. R. (Grand, East Park, Edgewood, SouthPointe) Grade: B DIARY OF A WIMPY KID. Though billed as a 90-minute raucous family adventure, Wimpy Kid is instead a dirge of unfunny scatological material, techno-anxiety and child endangerment masquerading as familial bonding. PG. (Grand, Edgewood, SouthPointe) Grade: D EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING. Amandla Stenberg and Nick Robinson are enormously appealing young actors, but charisma only goes so far in a story that manages to be sterile and wildly far-fetched. PG-13. (Grand, East Park, Edgewood) Grade: D+ NEITHER WOLF NOR DOG. A white writer travels to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation to meet with a Lakota elder and finds himself trapped on a trip around the rez in this insightful road movie that transcends its ultra-low budget. Not Rated. (Ross) Grade: B+ NORMAN. Richard Gere is a New York hustler who befriends the future prime minister of Israel in this tragic character study of influence and corruption. R. (Ross) Grade: A NOW SHOWING BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Director Bill Condon's film let's call it "Beauty and the Beast 2.0" often feels in search of a purpose beyond the all-but-certain dollar signs. PG. (Grand, East Park) Grade: C+ GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, VOL. 2. This silly, soupy sequel explores the nature of family while telling a goofy space epic story filled with the same off-beat characters and '70s songs that made the original a hit. PG-13. (Grand, East Park, Edgewood, SouthPointe) Grade: B KING ARTHUR: LEGEND OF THE SWORD. Director Guy Ritchie's King Arthur superhero origin story is strange, invigorating, often outright bad, confusing, totally wild and edited to within an inch of its life. PG-13. (Grand, East Park, Edgewood, SouthPointe). Grade: C SNATCHED. This mother-daughter kidnapping comedy starring Schumer and Hawn is a huge disappointment, and for Schumer, a low moment of a career thats been peaking. R. (Grand, East Park, Edgewood, SouthPointe). Grade: D+ NOTE: Theaters are for Friday only and are subject to change the other days of the week. No matter who wins in the November general election, the Yakima City Council will see at least two new faces come next year. RACINE The Womens Resource Center has hired Lyn Hildenbrand, a Milwaukee native with a background in running nonprofits, to be its next executive director. Hildenbrands hiring follows a roughly four-month-long candidate search undertaken by the domestic violence shelters board of directors. She joins the nonprofit after serving as president and CEO of St. Joseph Academy, a private elementary school on Milwaukees south side. The centers former executive director, Cherie Griffin, retired from her role leading the shelter in late January after 15 years. In a press statement released Thursday, the WRC highlighted Hildenbrands extensive experience working in and leading nonprofit organizations, including her proficiency in fund development, strategic planning as well as volunteer and staff administration. Lyns vision and passion for empowering women, along with a wealth of experience in nonprofit leadership, small business development and advocacy, make her an ideal leader to continue the work that has been a staple in the Racine community for nearly 40 years, said WRC Board member Rebecca Johnson, who oversees human resources. We look forward to working in concert with her vision for the growth of the organization. Prior to leading St. Joseph, Hildenbrand was the Fund Development Manager at Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, Interim Development Director at UWMs School of Education, Executive Director of Rosalie Manor Youth and Family Services, and was a small business owner. She has a bachelors degree in educational policy and community studies and a masters degree in administrative leadership, both from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Her first day at the WRC was Monday. On Thursday, Hildenbrand said the work the WRC does is critical to the community. I look forward to working with the WRC Board and staff and the greater Racine community to be able to provide optimal assistance focusing on a continuum of service delivery to the women and children in our care, she said in a statement. By working with local business leaders, the WRC will be positioned to continue to be a stable force in the Racine community. Healing House As Hildenbrand settles into her new role, one of the projects shell have on her to-do list is re-establishing shelter services at the WRCs Healing House. The 16-bed shelter, which was a cornerstone of the Womens Resource Centers last capital campaign, reopened for non-shelter related services in late April, after heating issues forced its closure for two months. Clients can still receive counseling, legal and child custody-exchange services at the town of Dover shelter, but actual shelter services have yet to be re-established, Hunt said Thursday. One of (Hildenbrands) first projects is to look at staffing allocation. Once she gets that finalized then we will be able to look at shelter (services there), Hunt said. In the meantime, WRC staff will work to identify safe shelter for anyone in need, including at the WRCs main campus in Racine, Hunt said. While Hildenbrand gets settled the WRC will be busy fundraising. The nonprofit will host a wine tasting from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. tonight, Friday, May 19, at Uncorkt, 240 Main St. Then on Saturday, June 24, from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m., it will hold a family fun day and karaoke contest. Called Come Rock Down the Healing House! the event will take place at 23303 Church Road in Kansasville. Later in the summer, on Saturday, Aug. 12, the nonprofit will host its annual gala at the Meadowbrook Country Club. CAIROEgyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi is calling on the international community to lift an arms embargo on Libya so that weapons can be delivered legally to a powerful general he backs in the fractured country's east. After meeting Field Marshal Khalifa Hifter in Cairo on Saturday, el-Sissi, himself a former military man, said that Hifter's Libyan National Army required the weapons to fight terrorism. Efforts should be made to stop foreign funding from flowing to terrorist groups in Libya, he added. As times goes by, the chance increases that Israel will eventually miss former US President Barack Obama, despite his conduct on the Iranian nuclear issue. While he made quite a few mistakes, he was a friend. He strengthened the Israeli-American security cooperation and approved multi-year aid which no other president before him had approved. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter When he visited Israel and the Palestinian Authority in March 2013, he presented a political vision which most Israelis would embrace. In Ramallah, in front of the Palestinian political echelon, he said: We seek an independent, a viable and contiguous Palestinian state as the homeland of the Palestinian people, alongside the Jewish state of Israel. Who needs the nationality law when we have Obama? Two draft agreements were presented as part of former Secretary of State John Kerrys shuttle diplomacy. The first, which was presented in January 2014, received quite a lot of support from Israels decision makers. Then-Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman gave his full backing to Tzipi Livni, who led the negotiations, and even stated: Kerrys proposals are the best Israel could hope for. It wasnt much different from the Clinton Parameters. If Trump doesnt change, Israelis will have both a cause for great concern and a good reason to miss Obama (Photo: AP) Peter Beinart, the guru of the Jewish Left in the United States, wrote at the time that Kerrys peace mission should worry liberal Zionists, as it was not generous enough towards the Palestinians. That was foolish. Three days after the article was published, on March 17, 2014, Obama presented a peace plan to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. It had everything in it, including Jerusalem as a Palestinian capital. It didnt do any good. Abbas said no. And US President Donald Trump? His understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is likely no different from his understanding of other international issues, which isnt much. His diplomatic vision is: Do whatever you like, one state, two states. Never before has an American president given equal importance to a solution presented by the BDS movement, which is in fact the solution of Israels radical right as wellone state. In 1988, then-Secretary of State George Shultzs condition for a dialogue with the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) was a declaration recognizing Israel as a Jewish state. Yasser Arafat agreed and made the declaration. Abbas reneged on the agreement. Obama, unlike Trump, knew that one state is a codename for an elimination of the Zionist vision. Trump has absolutely no idea. In Trumps case, it was possibly a slip of the tongue. As a matter of fact, his entire conduct looks like a series of slips of the tongue, including the slip of the tongue which could jeopardize an intelligence source who reached a high position in the Islamic State. There were enough warning signs regarding Trump before the elections. The Right didnt want to see it. It still refuses to see it. The blindness that could lead Israel to a one-state disaster may find a partner in Trump. Trump is coming here next week. Welcome to Israel. But if he doesnt change, we will have both a cause for great concern and a good reason to miss Obama. UNITED NATIONS -- The latest upsurge in deadly violence in the Central African Republic saw the first use of heavy weapons and more sophisticated military tactics by a predominantly Christian armed group, a senior U.N. official said Thursday. Diane Corner, the U.N. deputy special representative in the beleaguered country, said that since May 8 more than 150 people, including six U.N. peacekeepers, have been killed in the southeastern city of Bangassou, the southern town of Alindao and the northern town of Bria -- and the death toll may rise. BENGHAZI -- At least 60 people were killed as rival Libyan forces clashed at a southern air base on Thursday, medical and military officials said, dimming hopes that tensions in the area can be calmed. The violence erupted after a brigade from the western city of Misrata attacked Brak Al-Shati base, which they had previously ceded to an opposing faction aligned with the eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA). The IDF's Judea and Samaria Division has marked the coming month of June as a period in which a new wave of terrorism and unrest in the West Bank could surface once again with reinvigorated energy. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The renewed fear stems from a combination of the Islamic holiday of Ramadan, which may begin at the end of the month (a final deadline has yet to be set), and the prisoners' hunger strike. Footage of the violence in Huwara Speaking in an interview, a senior IDF officer in the Judea and Samaria Division told Ynet that while the prisoners' hunger strike has not yet "taken hold" and caused masses of Palestinians to take to the streets in protest, the trend may not continue indefinitely. Additionally, recent events in Huwara and Silwadinvolving the deaths of Palestiniansrisk making the coming summer months particularly troublesome. In an effort to counter possible escalations, hundreds of soldiers are expected to reinforce regional brigades, with an emphasis being placed on known friction points, sensitive sites and Palestinian cities. The reinforcements are expected to come from combat battalions currently involved in training exercises similar to those who reinforced regular IDF units during the last wave of terror. Photo: Yoav Zitun The expected reinforcements do not stem from a concrete warning of attacks, but rather from an assessment of the situation and a history that portends turbulence and increased sensitivity during the Ramadan period. "We have to sharpen our senses, especially intelligence, during the coming period," said the officer. Actions taken against popular terrorism by the Judea and Samaria Division, along with the Shin Bet and with the use of advanced technology to identify individual terrorists, have led to a significant reduction in terror attacks. However, the two incidents in which civilians shot Palestinians throwing stones are likely to cause the IDF and police headaches in a region where violence is commonplace. Photo: EPA "From conversations we have with captured terrorists, what matters to the Palestinians is the economic issue," said the officer, who objects to the policy of "carrot and stick" that was outlined by Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman and his predecessor Moshe Ya'alon. "The labeling of a village as hostile or violent may become a self-fulfilling prophecy," the officer explained. "We are working in a precise manner to arrest and thwart attacks, also with Palestinian civilian elements to calm the area." The political echelon is talking about a package of concessions for the Palestinians ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit next week, whose results in Israel and the West Bank may very well influence the trends on the ground. Photo: EPA The army is constantly working to "deploy a raincloud to cool hot Palestinian areas," as an officer in the Judea and Samaria Division puts it. (Translated and edited by Fred Goldberg) The Palestinian ambulance driver who blocked a settler vehicle from escaping a rioting crowd has been arrested by security forces. The driver was filmed exiting the ambulance and assaulting the settler's vehicle. The ambulance itself has been impounded. Bulgarian Deputy Minister of Regional Development, Pavel Tenev, resigned Wednesday following the circulation of photos depicting the Bulgarian government official performing a Nazi salute next to a mannequin dressed as a Nazi soldier. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The photo which was taken in 2008 in a wax museum in Pariswas circulated by Bulgarian media outlets. Tenev performing Nazi salute Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Valeri Simeonov defended Tenev, saying that the photo does not indicate support for Hitler or him being a Nazi. Simeonov, a member of the nationalist United Patriots party, added that the photo was "a joke" and pointed out that he also visited the Buchenwald concentration camp 20 years ago. Following the circulation of the photo, Tenev was forced to explain that he was not a follower of Nazi ideology, reiterating that the salute was a joke. Despite his attmpts to brush off the criticism however, Tenev resigned from his post due to the tension that had ensued from the photos. It is not the first time an incident of this kind has occurred in the country. Several years ago, former Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov decided to fire a senior official in the Ministry of Defense after a similar photo circulated at a local museum. The current ruling party, Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB), reacted to the incidents and said it would not tolerate similar incidents. An Israeli diplomatic source who spoke about the incident said that the matter could not be received lightly. "We see the incident severely because the Holocaust is not the subject of jokes and laughter," the source said, adding that "the resignation of the deputy minister was appropriate in light of his inappropriate behavior." A group of extremist Haredim stepped up their incitement campaign in protest against military conscription on Friday morning when they made their way to the home of Maj. Gen. Moti Almoz the new head of the IDF's Manpower Directorateand distributed hostile leaflets to passersby warning that Your end will be bitter like Hitlers and his friends. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The extremist faction of the Haredi sector have staged multiple protests in recent weeks over the draft laws in which insults drawing comparisons between policemen and Nazis have been commonplace. Photo: Israel Police Spokesperson's Unit However, as the radical sect cranked their invective up a gear, police immediately launched an investigation on suspicion of explicit incitement to violence and insulting a public servant. God will avenge the vengeance of the sons and daughters of Israel whose souls are burnt in the army of destruction by tradesman of souls, the IDF's Manpower Directorate, passersby read on the back of the leaflets. Moti Almoz, who sells his soul for greed: for how long will the souls of the sons and daughters of Israel be burned in the furnace of Auschwitzthe army of annihilation? Your end will be bitter like Hitlers and his friends, the threatening leaflet concluded. leaflet reads 'Your end will be bitter like Hitler's and his friends.' The gathering outside Almozs house came in defiance of Attorney General Avichai Mandelblits announcement that he would soon forbid demonstrations outside the homes of public figures and senior officials. In this vein, Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh ordered police to no longer allow them to take place. Such demonstration have recently been staged outside Mandelblits home and that of Bayit Yehudi leader Naftali Bennett. In recent weeks, the levels of incitement displayed by the radical fringe Jerusalem Faction has been markedly intensified, despite the fact that most Haredim disapprove of their actions, many of whom fear their threatening behaviour unfairly tarnishes them as radicals. Photo: AFP Last week, for example, in Jerusalem's Mea Shearim neighborhood the radicals burnt effigies of Haredi IDF soldiers during Lag B'Omer celebratory bonfires as part of their protest against the Conscription Law. In March, several effigies of soldiers being hanged were discovered in the same neighborhood of A sign was also attached to one of the dangling effigies demanding that Orthodox IDF soldiers leave the neighborhood. One month prior, chaos erupted on Israels streets when 67 Haredi protesters were arrested while they were demonstrating against the arrest of a Yeshiva student for military desertion. Three policemen sustained light injuries in what quickly escalated into riots. MOSCOW -- Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said on Friday that a U.S.-coalition strike in Syria on May 17 had hit civilians and was unacceptable, Russian news agencies reported. Gatilov, who the agencies said was speaking in Geneva, said the strike had violated Syria's sovereignty and would not help efforts to find a political solution to the conflict there. Separately, the U.S. military carried out an air strike on Thursday against militia supported by the Syrian government that posed a threat to U.S. and U.S.-backed Syrian fighters in the country's south, U.S. officials told Reuters. Strong storms that swept across Wisconsin with high winds earlier this week downed trees in some state parks and forests but crews have been out clearing the damage and all park and forest campgrounds and public use areas remain open. High water on the Chippewa River has closed one section of the Chippewa River State Trail south of Eau Claire. With all the recent rain, many rivers are running above normal spring flow for this time of year. Both the Brule River and Flambeau River state forests are cautioning paddlers that their rivers are running high and fast. The Lower Wisconsin River had started to come down, with some sandbars again beginning to emerge, but with this weeks rain, it could begin to rise again by the weekend. Fishermen have been having some success fishing the Flambeau River for walleye and bass. Some northern pike, walleye and smallmouth bass were being caught on the Oconto, Peshtigo and Menominee rivers. On Green Bay, high winds from the northeast kept fishing pressure low much of the week, but many anglers still ventured out. Anglers that braved the wind found the walleyes were looking for warmer water. Anglers are reporting catching walleye and smallmouth bass out of the Oconto Breakwater Harbor. In the southern bay, most anglers were catching multiple harvestable walleyes as well as white bass and freshwater drum. Along Door County, fishing pressure on Little Sturgeon Bay was high last week due to the tournaments that were held in Sturgeon Bay over the weekend. Anglers were primarily targeting smallmouth bass with a few anglers trying for some walleyes. Smallmouth anglers success varied widely, the key to catching good numbers of fish seemed to be staying mobile and finding the warmest water. Rainbows are finishing up spawning but are still holding in some of the Door County streams, likely waiting for warm water to force them back into the lake. Along Lake Michigan, fishing pressure on the Milwaukee lakefront increased with a week of calm, stable weather and temperatures in 60s and 70s on the weekend. Large schools of alewives are starting to show up along the lakefront. Large flocks of seagulls were diving on the alewives as they swam towards the North Avenue Bridge. Activity at the McKinley and Riverfront ramps increased with limits of coho being caught on the weekend. Fourth season turkey hunters reported quite a bit of early success, but as the week went on it sounds like the birds have been pretty quiet. Bears are out and about and looking for food. Fawns are being born and are being seen in many locations. Remember, fawns are rarely abandoned. It is normal for deer mothers to leave fawns unattended because keeping fawns hidden and alone is actually an adaptation to protect them from predators. If you see a fawn in the wild, leave it alone, back away, and its mother will return to care for it. It is also turtle nesting time. Watch out for turtles trying to cross roads to get to warm sandy spots in which to nest and you can report turtle crossing sites to help biologists protect our native turtle species. On the Internet: www.dnr.state.wi.us/ Solunar tables The Solunar Tables list top fishing times and days in the lunar month. For best results, begin fishing one hour before and continue for one hour after the times given: Sunday, May 21: Major 8:02 a.m., 8:27 p.m. Minor 1:49 a.m., 2:14 p.m. Monday, May 22: Major 8:47 a.m., 9:13 p.m. Minor 2:34 a.m., 3:00 p.m. Tuesday: Major 9:34 a.m., 10:01 p.m. Minor 3:20 a.m., 3:47 p.m. Wednesday: Major 10:24 a.m., 10:53 p.m. Minor 4:10 a.m., 4:38 p.m. Thursday: Major 11:20 a.m., 11:49 p.m. Minor 5:05 a.m., 5:34 p.m. Friday: Major no., 12:21 p.m. Minor 6:05 a.m., 6:36 p.m. Saturday: Major 12:55 a.m., 1:26 p.m. Minor 7:10 a.m., 7:41 p.m. Solunar Tables from www.anythingwisconsin.com Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked (Bayit Yehudi) voiced her disapproval Friday of a map of Israel recently circulated by the White House ahead of President Donald Trumps upcoming visit which failed to include the West Bank and the Golan Heights. "I hope this is just ignorance and not policy," Shaked said. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Speaking at an event in Ramat Gan, Shaked reminded her audience that her party was given a mandate to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state. "We were not elected to keep chairs warm, but rather to implement clear policy, ensure that no Palestinian state is established and to ensure that the embassy is moved," she added. "If the prime minister said he worked for the transfer of the embassy, I definitely believe him." Video showing Israel without the West Bank or the Golan Heights X In regards to White House policy and the prime minister, Shaked said, "We were elected to express clear positions. When we need to express them, they won't put tape over our mouths. Not every position is a goad and things don't need to be made personal. These are ideological matters and they are our job." Regarding the possibility that the US embassy will not be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Shaked said, "The president is a president who has until now kept his promises to the voters. He promised to cancel Obama's healthcare plan and taxes and immediately acted. Photo: AFP "The issue of the embassy is a promise he gave to his political base there, not for us. His voters expected him to listen and I want to believe that he will fulfill the promise he made to his voters." Shaked went on to emphasize that she did not believe the American administration has yet solidified a clear plan on the matter. "I wouldn't want Trump's visit to end with bombastic statements, but rather to be a positive courtesy visit aimed at unifying the three religions and a visit that deepens the ties between the two countries." Ayelet Shaked Asked about Trump himself, Shaked said, "This president is different and not from the classic Washington milieu. He comes from the outside with an open mind and great love for Israel and the connection between his people and the Israeli right." Regarding the possibility of normalizing relations between Israel and moderate countries in the Gulf, Shaked said she believed the prospect must be seized. "In my humble opinion, this opportunity must be taken advantage of. There are connections between Israel and moderate countries in the Gulf, and we must put them on the table and develop them," she said. "This is an opportunity to create a new Middle Eastern economy; more public communication and economic ties with Arab countries rather than focusing on the conflict." An Israeli rights group suing Facebook on behalf of families of victims killed by Palestinian attackers said on Thursday that it will appeal after the case was dismissed by a New York court. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Nitsana Darshan-Leitner said the court dismissed the lawsuit on grounds of immunity, according to the communications decency act. She said her group Shurat Hadin will appeal the decision. The group claims the social network is providing a platform for militants to spread incitement and violence. Cartoon posted on Facebook inciting violence against Jews "We believe there is a fatal mistake in their ruling because the court totally did not address the issue of aiding and abetting terrorism," she said. "It did not address the fact that Facebook provides support and sort of services to a terror organization to Hamas, which is a violation of the anti-terrorism act and therefore Facebook cannot be immune from this," she said. Among the plaintiffs in the lawsuit is the family of Taylor Force , a 28-year-old MBA student at Vanderbilt University and a US veteran who was visiting Israel in 2016 when he was stabbed to death by a Palestinian. Other plaintiffs include the family of Richard Lakin , a 1960's civil rights activist in the US who marched with Martin Luther King and was a Freedom Rider, working to desegregate the South, who as an educator in Israel worked for peace and coexistence. Lakin was killed by Palestinians who attacked the bus he was riding on in Jerusalem in 2015. And relatives of Naftali Fraenkel, an Israeli teenager who was kidnapped and killed by Hamas operatives while hitchhiking in the West Bank three years ago. Incitement on Palestinian social networks Shurat Hadin says Facebook is violating the US Anti-Terrorism Act by allowing groups such as the Islamic militant group Hamas to disseminate their messages on Facebook. The lawsuit comes as Israel is considering how to contain Palestinian incitement on social media as it deals with a wave of Palestinian attacks against civilians and security forces. Since September 2015, Palestinian assailants have killed 42 Israelis, two visiting Americans and a British student, mainly in stabbing, car ramming and shooting attacks. During that same time, some 245 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire, most of whom have been identified as attackers. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. Being accused of giving terrorists a platform for incitement. (Photo: Getty Images) "Facebook cannot sit in their ivory tower hiding behind immunity in Palo Alto while blood is spilled in the streets of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Facebook as social media has social responsibility," Darshan-Leitner said, adding she is confident her group will get Facebook to change their policy. Israel blames the violence on incitement by Palestinian political and religious leaders compounded on social media sites that glorify bloodshed and encourage attacks. Palestinians say it stems from anger over decades of Israeli rule in territory they claim for their state. The Israel Police have officially completed security preparations in anticipation of US President Trump's visit Monday. The operation, which was been dubbed "Blue Shield," will incorporate thousands of regular police and border police officers, in addition to volunteers. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter In addition to extensive Israeli security preparations, Trump's American team is even outfitting his room at the King David Hotel with special glass designed to protect against RPGs and other rockets, according to Sheldon Rich, the hotel's operations manager. The president will arrive with an entourage of roughly 1,000 people including his wife Melania, daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner, Secretary of Defense James Mattis, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer and strategist Steve Bannon. As part of Operation Blue Shield, which will be overseen by Israel Police chief Roni Alsheikh, the police will be conducting extensive operations in several areas, including Ben Gurion Airport, the Jerusalem area and the roads leading to and from the capital. To ensure that command and control runs smoothly, police are setting up various command centers in and around Jerusalem throughout the entirety of the visit. Trump with daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Kushner (Photo: AFP) Trump and wife Melania (Photo: AP) Prior to the president's arrival, US Secret Service personnel and Israeli security forces conducted joint drills, including one focused on securing Trump and his entourage's convoy at the various sites he is expected to visit. Assistant Commissioner Boaz Goldberg said, "This is an extremely important and complicated operation for the State of Israel. The president of the United States is coming with a very large entourage, and the Israel Police, Prime Minister's Office, Shin Bet, IDF and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are working to ensure this visit goes by smoothly." Traffic jams and suite protection Throughout the course of the visit, heavy traffic jams are expected on various roads throughout Jerusalem, including on the main routes leading to the city. Starting at noon on Monday for several hours, a great number of roads in the city will be closed and again on Tuesday from 8:30 am. Authorities have recommended that the public use public transit and employ the application Waze, which will be continually updated with all road closures. (Photo: Eli Mendelbaum) View from Trump's suite (Photo: Reuters) Inside the suite (Photo: Reuters) Inside the suite (Photo: Reuters) Throughout Trump's visit, it will be absolutely forbidden to employ all aircraft (including drones) in the airspace over Jerusalem. The police said they would try to minimize the disruptions to the public. Between Sunday and Thursday, some 40 events will be held in Jerusalem, with thousands participating in each event. Alongside the arrival of the US president, the district police will also be dealing with the events of Jerusalem Day, some of which will begin on Monday. "Our top priority is to ensure close cooperation with the Americans to ensure that the visit is conducted exactly according to plan," said the police's spokesman for the foreign media, Superintendent Micky Rosenfeld. Flags atop the King David Hotel (Photo: AFP) Security tent at the hotel (Photo: Eli Mendelbaum) Rich, the King David's operations manager, said, "There is no room for mishaps regarding the security of Trump and his family." According to him, the presidential suite, which costs about $ 5,700 (NIS 20,000) per night, was built with an independent air-conditioning system in the event of a chemical attack and is intended to withstand fire from an RPG. (Article translated and edited by Fred Goldberg and J. Herzog) Two soldiers were lightly wounded in disturbances in the Jordan Valley and Ramallah Friday afternoon. Additional disturbances occurred throughout the West Bank, including stone throwing by hundreds of Palestinians at security forces who responded with riot control measures. In addition, hundreds of Palestinians threw stones and tried to sabotage the border fence in the Gaza Strip. IDF forces responded by dispersing demonstrators and firing at central instigators, injuring seven Palestinians, two of them seriously. Materials suspected of being classified were seized from the prison cell of former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert after being discovered on Thursday. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The Israel Prison Service is checking whether the materials are related to the book Olmert is writing in prison, where he is serving time after having been convicted of corruption . The matter was transferred to senior officials in the Ministry of Justice for treatment, and they will consider what to do next. Former Prime Minister Olmert (Photo: Gil Yohanan) Thursday, one of Olmert's lawyers visited him in prisons. The documents were seized during that visit. Additional documents were also seized that lacked approval from the person responsible for information security in the Ministry of Defense. As a result of the incident, that person ordered the investigation of the matter and involved the intelligence services of the Israel Prison Service. The prisoner's lawyer isued a statement that claimed, "Olmert does not need any authorization regarding his ties to Israel's national security. He never leaked, either during his term or since, anything sensitive to security or intelligence matters that could have harmed the State of Israel." (Translated and edited by J. Herzog) Multiple Palestinian protests took place throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip on Friday. Dozens of Palestinians were reportedly injured by crowd-dispersion measures taken by the IDF, and two Israeli soldiers were lightly wounded. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The demonstrations were held as part of a "day of rage" that Gaza Strip factions called for on Thursday to support the current hunger strike of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. The prisoners, who began their strike on April 17, are calling for better detention conditions. West Bank riots (Photo: Reuters) Thousands protested across the West Bank and Gaza. The Palestinian Red Crescent and Gazan Ministry of Health reported that dozens of Palestinians were wounded by tear gas, rubber bullets and live ammunition. The IDF reported that two of its soldiers were slightly injured. Al-Jazeera TV released a video showing undercover Israeli soldiers detaining a number of Palestinians who were rioting at the northern entrance to Bethlehem. It was reported that the undercover soldiers managed to spread among the protestors before revealing themselves and detaining six of them. Undercover police detain Palestinian protestors In the Gaza Strip, hundreds of Palestinians marched on the border fence with Israel and attempted to damage it. They threw stones and burned tires there. IDF forces responded with attempts at crowd dispersal. The Gazan Health Ministry reported that eight Palestinians were injured by bullets and some 30 by tear gas. The Border Police said that the fire on the Gaza border was fired at Palestinians after they penetrated the "sterile area" between the Gaza Strip and Israel. They further reported injuries to the lower body of four Palestinians from shots fired by a sniper of the Border Police undercover unit. A Border Police sniper fires at Gaza (Credit: Israel Police) X Elior Levy & Yoav Zitun contributed to this report. (Translated and edited by J. Herzog) Israeli scientists at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) have made significant progress in determining the causes of neurodegenerative diseases in the elderly, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Aging is the main factor in the development of a neurodegenerative disease. The common consensus is that aging is the result of the accumulation of damage to DNA, essentially a result of the body's failure to implement processes to completely repair its DNA over the years. Sporadic Alzheimer's disease affects about 50 percent of people over 90, suggesting that the causes are mainly age-related. A study titled " Neuroprotective Functions for the Histone Deacetylase SIRT6 ", led by Dr. Deborah Toiber of the Department of Life Sciences at BGU, uses mice to show that levels of the stress responsive protein Sirtuin-6 (SIRT6) are correlated with DNA repair functions. A decrease in SIRT6 protein levels resulted in increased DNA damage and preceded other indications of neurodegenerative diseases, such as the Tau and GSK-3 proteins, which are related to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. SIRT6 was nearly completely absent in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev "Overall, we found that SIRT6 depletion in the brain, which occurs during aging and in Alzheimer's, results in increased GSK-3 activity, Tau-p, DNA-damage-induced neurodegeneration, and behavioral defects, all of which might be linked to a brain-specific SIRT6-GSK3 axis," states the study published in the "Cell Reports" journal. Essentially, high levels of SIRT6 contribute to DNA repair while low levels permit DNA damage accumulation. Toiber explained: "If a decrease in SIRT6 (and lack of DNA repair) is the beginning of the chain that ends in neurodegenerative diseases in seniors, then we should be focusing our research on how to maintain production of SIRT6 and avoid the DNA damage that leads to these diseases." Toiber's lab is one of just a handful around the world that looks at the effects of SIRT6 in the brain. Reprinted with permission from TPS Let me start with the bottom line: In the past, I studied at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and I currently teach there, and in my opinion, it is appropriate that at its graduation ceremonies, "Hatikvah" be sung. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter I also think that the tendency of many of the Arab studentsin universities across Israelto remain seated while the national anthem is sung at official ceremonies is disrespectful. No one in his right mind would insist that somebody who isn't Jewish enthusiastically sing with enthusiasm "a Jewish soul yearns." There is a limit. But as for standing up: that's appropriate. That's my opinion, anyway. It's a matter of basic human dignity. Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg) In any event, the Faculty of Humanities' graduation, with or without "Hatikvah," will take place soon. The ceremony will take place at the Hebrew University's amphitheater on Mount Scopus, opposite a breathtaking view of the Judean Desert, the Dead Sea Valley and the Moab Mountains. A long time ago, two ceremonies were held at that very same place, and it is about those events that I want to write here. The first ceremony took place 99 years ago, on July 24, 1918. That same day, in the presence of Gen. Allenby, Chaim Weizmann, Rabbi Avraham Yitzhak Hacohen Kook, the Jerusalem Mufti Kamil al-Husayni and many others, the cornerstones were laid for the establishment of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. At the end of the ceremony, the audience sang the British anthem, as well as "Hatikvah." The Mufti was the older and more moderate half-brother of the infamous Haj Amin al-Husseini, who took the post after his death. As far as I know, Kamil al-Husayni, who laid one of the cornerstones of the Hebrew University "in the name of Jerusalem," did not protest or leave during the singing of what was then the anthem of the Zionist movement. Like I said, he was a moderate man. 'Hatikvah' lyrics As long as in the heart, within, A Jewish soul still yearns, And onward, towards the ends of the east, An eye still gazes toward Zion; Our hope is not yet lost, The hope of two thousand years, To be a free people in our land, The land of Zion and Jerusalem. Forty-nine years passed. There were developments and wars. A state arose. Another war took place. Fifty years ago, immediately after the Six-Day War, in June 1967, IDF Chief of Staff Yitzhak Rabin stood in the same amphitheater on Mount Scopus. He spoke at a ceremony in which he received, on behalf of the army, an honorary doctorate from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His speech there remains in my opinion one of the most beautiful documents written here in the Land of Israel in the past hundred years. Rabin said in that speech: "The warriors in the front lines witnessed not only the glory of victory but also its pricetheir comrades who fell beside them, bleeding. And I know that the terrible price paid by our enemies also touched the hearts of many of our men deeply. It may be that the Jewish people never learned, never accustomed themselves to experience the thrill of conquest and victory, and so we receive it with mixed feelings." Yitzhak Rabin (R) with Moshe Dayan in the Six-Day War (Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Defense) Since then, 50 years have passed. It seems to me that over the years, most of the people living in Zion have actually become very accustomed to "the thrill of conquest and victory." But one thing has not changed, in my opinion, since the days of anxiety before the Six-Day War to today: We remain with a profound existential, exilic, almost terrified insecurity. And it causes many of us, encouraged by our quick politicians, to behave and feel like a persecuted minority, not like a regional power. Because with all due respect to the new Nationality Bill, in my opinion, the damage that the State of Israel may suffer from not singing "Hatikvah" at the graduation ceremony of the Faculty of Humanities at the Hebrew University is such that we can handle it, even without the fiery declarations filled with courage and national pride by many politicians. Don't get me wrong. If you ask me if it's appropriate to sing "Hatikvah" at the university's graduation, then I think that it is. But the fact that the prime minister, the education minister, the leader of the Bayit Yehudi faction Shuli Mualem-Rafaeli, the justice minister, and many others are all tweeting and posting declarations that they are shocked that it might not be sungis pathetic. It's really pathetic. And that, in my opinion, indicates a deep fear. In 1995, the psychologist Erel Shalit published a small book called " The Hero and His Shadow: Psychopolitical Aspects of Myth and Reality in Israel." In it, he analyzes our existential fears, those that lie beneath the image of the indomitable Israeli hero. Every time I hear Israeli politicians talking about Israeli Arabs as a dangerous, ungrateful fifth column and not as a group of citizens that is a national minority that is largely law-abiding and could be a bridge to peace, I get a little ashamed. It seems to me that after so many years, so many victories, and so many successes, we could begin to relax here in the Land of Israel. We needn't be complacent or ignore existential threats, but we could understand that a Jewish state in the Land of Israel is an existing fact that isn't going anywhere. And it doesn't depend on singing the anthem, the university or anything else. Calm down, my dear politicians. Breathe deeply, and relax. Students on Mont Scopus (Photo: Roi Yanovsky) This isn't popular, but it needs be said: With all due respect to the army, the last time the IDF was called upon to fight opponents whose capabilities were close to its own was in 1973. For more than 40 years now, Israel has only been fighting enemies who have no chance of defeating it, and it is afraid of them and hates them as if they were the devil himself. Because with all due respect to Hezbollah missiles, to the slaughterers of ISIS, to Hamas knifemen and to the northern branch of the Islamic Movement, it has been many years now that Israel has had no serious enemy endangering its existence. There was a chance that the Iranians would become such an enemy, but it faded, or at least was postponed for several years. This happened because Israel created the impression in the world that it would do everything possible to prevent Iran from becoming a significant enemy, and for that feat the current prime minister deserves credit. So why are these things not self-evident? Because of the tremendous power of fear and hatred and the ease with which they can be aroused in the public. I think that after a hundred years of Zionist success, we can begin to be a free people in our countrya people that is also free from fear. Professor Yoram Yovell is a psychiatrist, brain researcher and psychoanalyst who teaches at the Hebrew University's School of Medicine and at Hadassah Ein-Karem Hospital in Jerusalem. He can be reached at Office@yovell.co.il. (Translated and edited by J. Herzog) President Donald Trump said he was giving churches their voices back with an executive order, issued on the National Day of Prayer, directing the IRS to limit restrictions on political activity by churches. The order affects the Johnson Amendment of 1954, sponsored by then Sen. Lyndon Johnson, which bars electioneering and outright political endorsements from the pulpit. IRS policy does allow advocacy on a wide range of advocacy on political issues, however, and only one church is known to have lost its tax-exempt status as a result of the rule. Trump is also directing federal agencies to consider new regulations to accommodate religious groups that object to paying for contraception under Obamacare as directing the attorney general to issue guidance on religious liberty. The American Civil Liberties Union initially threatened to sue, but then called Trumps action an elaborate photo-op with no discernible policy outcome. While many of us view a place of worship as a sanctuary from political conflict, its unrealistic to expect churches to keep political, social and moral issues completely isolated. Any effective sermon will invariably affect the way parishioners make political decisions. While politics and religion can be taboo table topics, theres no argument with an act of kindness theres no record of any of the 3,000 or the 5,000 turning up their noses at the loaves and fishes. Along those lines, a couple of McCook churches are putting that principle to work this Saturday. McCook Christian and McCook Evangelical Free Church are cooperating on Project Impact, helping dozens of people with home improvements and other projects to help make their lives better. The project was originally planned for last Sunday, but the blizzard forced a postponement. Memorial United Methodist Church does a free weekly meal for all comers, and check with most local faith groups and youll find other examples of service. Churches, service groups and individuals dont need IRS permission to work to improve the lives of their fellow man, and were thankful that they do. BROKEN BOW (AP) A 41-year-old man has been accused of child porn manufacture in Custer County. Court records say Ross Carstensen, of Aurora, is charged with five counts of visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct. Carstensens attorney didnt immediately return a call Thursday from The Associated Press. Earlier this month a Hamilton County sexual assault charge against Carstensen was dismissed. The records say that information from that case led investigators to the girl involved in the porn case. She told investigators shed exchanged messages with a man she knew as Brandon Thompson on Facebook but who investigators say was Carstensen. The records say he persuaded her to send him sexually explicit photos between March 1, 2015, and April 30, 2015, when she was 17. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 8. LINCOLN Nebraskas prison system will continue to face legislative scrutiny after lawmakers voted Thursday to create a new committee to oversee the troubled agency. The seven-member panel will examine problems in the corrections department but will also look at other services, such as parole and probation. Lawmakers voted 28-11 to form the group. Sen. Bob Krist of Omaha said he introduced the proposal because of ongoing problems in the corrections department, including recent inmate deaths. One inmate was charged with first-degree murder last month for the death of his cellmate at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution in southeast Nebraska. The prison has been the site of two deadly riots in two years. The committee also would look at programs and policies that could benefit prisoners, building on the work of previous legislative committees that focused on overcrowding, staffing levels and the miscalculation of hundreds of inmate sentences. Sen. Dan Watermeier of Syracuse, the chairman of the Executive Board, said the department has shown improvement but argued that senators should continue to monitor it. Watermeier said he didnt want to overload the department, which has faced a barrage of requests for information. Department Director Scott Frakes testified Tuesday that responding to another legislative committee would add to his staffs workload and make it harder to enact that changes lawmakers have already approved. I hope the executive branch appreciates what were trying to do here, Watermeier said. Opponents said they the department already has sufficient oversight and criticized a previous committees decision to hire former state Sen. Steve Lathrop as its attorney. Lathrop, who developed an expertise in prisons, was known for his intense questioning of prison administrators. Lawmakers have passed a series of prison reforms over the last few years that are designed to reduce the prison population by increasing treatment services and supervision for parolees. Prison administrators are doing what weve asked them to do, said Sen. Tyson Larson of ONeill. Sometimes it takes time to continue on that path. I have faith in Director Frakes. Sen. Laura Ebke of Crete, the chairwoman of the Judiciary Committee, is expected to lead the committee. WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump persists in suggesting that his 2016 campaign has been exonerated on the question of whether it colluded with Russians, even as a powerful investigation forms to look into that matter and multiple other inquiries press on. The president joined Colombian counterpart Juan Manuel Santos in a news conference Thursday. He misstated the record on jobs and a violent national gang as well as on the matter that prompted the Justice Department a day earlier to appoint a special counsel with wide-ranging powers to investigate the Trump campaign and Russia. A look at some of his assertions: "Even my enemies have said there is no collusion." THE FACTS: Democrats have not absolved Trump on whether his campaign and Russian officials coordinated efforts last year to disadvantage his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton. Several have said they have not seen evidence of collusion, but that's not to say they are satisfied it did not happen. Trump has cited James Clapper, the director of national intelligence until Trump took office Jan. 20, among others, as being "convinced" there was no collusion. Clapper said this week that while a report he issued in January did not uncover collusion, 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. The FBI inquiry continues, as do congressional investigations and, now, one by the special counsel. On his decision to fire FBI Director James Comey: "I actually thought when I made that decision and I also got a very, very strong recommendation, as you know, from the deputy attorney general, Rod Rosenstein." THE FACTS: The recommendation Trump cites behind his decision was written after he'd already made up his mind, according to Rosenstein and to Trump's own previous statement. In an interview with NBC two days after the May 9 Comey dismissal, Trump said he had been planning to fire Comey for months, and linked it with the FBI's Russia probe, saying, "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." On Thursday, Rosenstein told senators in a closed-door briefing that he had been informed of Trump's decision to fire Comey before he wrote his memo providing a rationale for that act, said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. Speaking of the MS-13 gang presence in the U.S.: "A horrible, horrible large group of gangs that have been let into our country over a fairly short period of time. ... They've literally taken over towns and cities of the United States." THE FACTS: His depiction of the gang as a foreign one "let into" the U.S. is not accurate. The gang actually began in Los Angeles, according to a fact sheet from Trump's own Justice Department, and "spread quickly across the country." And it started not recently, but in the 1980s according to that same fact sheet. The department indirectly credits the Obama administration, in its early years, with helping to rein in the group, largely made up of first-generation Salvadoran-Americans and Salvadoran nationals. It said: "Through the combined efforts of federal, state and local law enforcement, great progress was made diminishing or severely (disrupting) the gang within certain targeted areas of the U.S. by 2009 and 2010." The U.S. carried out record deportations during the Obama administration and, on MS-13 specifically, took the unprecedented action of labelling the street gang a transnational criminal organization and announcing a freeze on its U.S. assets. Such actions were not enough to bring down the group and the Trump administration says it will do more. On jobs: "You look at the tremendous number of jobs that are being announced." Thursday news conference "Jobs are pouring back into our country." speech Wednesday to the Coast Guard Academy "I inherited a mess. ... Jobs are pouring out of the country." February news conference "Car companies coming back to U.S. JOBS! JOBS! JOBS!" on Twitter, after Ford took steps to add about 800 jobs in the U.S. in January and March Big announcement by Ford today. Major investment to be made in three Michigan plants. Car companies coming back to U.S. JOBS! JOBS! JOBS! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 28, 2017 THE FACTS: Trump's rhetoric about jobs has changed, but the actual data about hiring haven't. Job gains have been solid since Trump was inaugurated, averaging 185,000 a month from January through April, according to government figures. But that is the same pace of hiring as occurred in 2016, when Barack Obama was president, and slower than in 2014 and 2015, when more than 225,000 jobs a month were added, on average. As for Ford, context is everything. After hailing the addition of some 800 jobs, Trump was silent after Ford announced Wednesday it plans to cut 1,400 non-factory jobs in North America and Asia. That will most likely outweigh the jobs added earlier. Overall, presidents typically get far more credit or blame for the state of the economy than they deserve, economists say. And it is particularly unlikely that any president would have an impact after just four months on the job. But that hasn't stopped Trump from taking credit. "Great jobs report today it is all beginning to work!" he tweeted May 5, after the government reported that solid hiring in April had pushed the unemployment rate to a 10-year low. A spokesman said on the same day that "the president's economic agenda of serious tax reform, slashing burdensome regulations, rebuilding our infrastructure and negotiating fairer trade deals is adding jobs." While Trump, with the help of the GOP Congress, has taken some minor steps on deregulation, little progress has been made on taxes, infrastructure or trade. ___ Associated Press writer Christopher S. Rugaber contributed to this report. Libya: At least 60 people were killed as rival Libyan forces clashed at a southern air base on Thursday, medical and military officials said, dimming hopes that tensions in the area can be calmed. The violence erupted after a brigade from the western city of Misrata attacked Brak Al-Shati base, which they had previously ceded to an opposing faction aligned with the eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA). The two sides are attached to loose and shifting alliances based in the east and west of Libya that have vied for power over the past three years, deepening the divisions that surfaced with the country`s 2011 uprising. A medical source in Brak Al-Shati said 60 bodies had been brought to a hospital there, including members of the LNA-aligned 12th Brigade and civilians who appeared to have been summarily killed. The mayor of Brak Al-Shati, Ibrahim Zemmi, told local media that the number of dead from the 12th Brigade alone was 74, with a further 18 wounded. A 12th Brigade spokesman, Mohamed Al-Afirs, said as many as 86 people had been killed including his brigade`s troops and civilians. The death toll could not be independently verified. If confirmed it could mark a major escalation in Libya`s stop-start conflict in which fighting breaks out frequently but casualty figures are often low. Over the past few months the area around Brak Al-Shati, including another base at Tamanhent and the southern city of Sabha, has become a flashpoint between forces loyal to the LNA, led by eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar, and rivals who are aligned with current and former governments in Tripoli and draw on support from Misrata. A spokesman for the Misrata-based Third Force, Mohamed Gliwan, said they had attacked the base because they had detected "suspicious movements" inside, and that the base had become a threat under 12th Brigade commander Mohamed Bin Nayel. "We left the base before as part of our military strategy, and we attacked it because Bin Nayel and his people were targeting Tamanhent," Gliwan told Libya Al-Ahrar TV. "We liberated the base and destroyed all the forces inside." He did not give casualty figures. LNA spokesman Ahmed al-Mismari said the base was targeted because the attackers thought the 12th Brigade were away after attending a major military parade near Benghazi. He said the 12th Brigade arrived back at the base shortly after the attack began. Mismari said the 12th Brigade had eventually repelled the attack. Gliwan said the Third Force had stationed themselves outside the base because they were concerned about retaliatory air strikes, but were positioned to target the 12th Brigade with shelling. Earlier this month Haftar broke a long deadlock by meeting the head of the United Nations-backed government in Tripoli, and both agreed to try to calm the situation in the south. Cairo: Sudan's state news agency says Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who has been indicted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court, will not attend the Islamic Summit in Saudi Arabia where US President Donald Trump is the guest of honour. SUNA news agency says on Friday al-Bashir has excused himself from attending the summit Sunday "for personal reasons." It didn't elaborate. More than 50 Muslim leaders are expected to attend the summit in Riyadh. Al-Bashir's invitation to the summit was a source of unease for US officials. Washington had shunned al-Bashir, who has been Sudan's leader since 1989 and is wanted by the ICC on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Sudan's Darfur region. The UN estimates 300,000 people have died in the last decade as conflict raged in the region. Rio De Janeiro: The situation of Brazilian President Michel Temer became delicate on Thursday following a newspaper report that he is accused of taking bribes and endorsing bribes to silence a witness in a corruption case. When the news broke on Wednesday evening, opponents started to call for Temer`s resignation or impeachment, Xinhua reported. Temer released a statement late Wednesday, denying all accusations. He also told allied lawmakers that he would not be driven from office. Local media reported that he is unwilling to resign, but may not get enough support to continue in the government. Analysts said Temer is unlikely to receive support from a significant share of his coalition, who were afraid of attaching themselves to an administration already being regarded as doomed. Meanwhile, Temer`s latest approval rate was staggering four per cent. According to O Globo newspaper, Temer was recorded in a conversation with Joesley Batista, chairman of meat company JBS SA, who then presented the recording to the court. In the recordings, Temer reportedly endorsed Batista`s bribes to former head of House of Representatives Eduardo Cunha in exchange for Cunha`s silence. Cunha was arrested for several counts of corruption last year, and threatened to tell the authorities what he knew about corruption schemes and bribery in the government. In addition, Temer was also recorded indicating federal deputy Rodrigo Rocha Loures to "solve some issues" for JBS SA. Loures was then filmed receiving 500,000 reals ($160,000) in bribes from Batista. If Temer resigns or is impeached, House of Representatives Speaker Rodrigo Maia will take over as acting President until the presidential election is called. Washington: US President Donald Trump, striking a defiant tone on Thursday after days of political tumult, denied asking former FBI director James Comey to drop a probe into his former national security adviser and decried a "witch hunt" against him. Trump`s terse denial followed reports by Reuters and other media about a memo written by Comey alleging that Trump made the request to close down the investigation into Michael Flynn and Russia in February. Trump fired Comey on May 9. "No. No. Next question," Trump told a news conference in the White House, when asked if he "in any way, shape or form" ever urged Comey to end the probe. Comey`s dismissal last week set off a series of jarring developments that culminated on Wednesday in the Justice Department`s appointment of a special counsel to probe possible ties between Russia and Trump`s 2016 presidential campaign. They included media reports that Trump discussed sensitive intelligence on the Islamic State militant group with Russia`s foreign minister. In a pair of morning Twitter posts and at a later news conference, the Republican president described calls by some on the left for his impeachment as "ridiculous" and said he had done nothing to warrant criminal charges. "The entire thing has been a witch hunt and there is no collusion between certainly myself and my campaign - but I can always speak for myself - and the Russians. Zero," he told the news conference, standing alongside Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. In his earlier Twitter posts, Trump criticised the naming of former FBI Director Robert Mueller as a special counsel by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, an official he himself appointed. "With all of the illegal acts that took place in the Clinton campaign & Obama Administration, there was never a special counsel appointed!" Trump wrote on Thursday morning. He did not offer any evidence of such acts in his reference to former Democratic President Barack Obama and former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. "This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history!" Trump tweeted. Democrats rejected Trump`s characterisation. "This is a truth hunt," said Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar. Russia has denied US intelligence agencies` conclusion that it interfered in the election campaign to try to tilt the vote in Trump`s favour. Trump has long bristled at the notion that Russia played any role in his November election victory over Clinton. Trump fired Flynn on February 14 for misleading Vice President Mike Pence about the extent of his conversations last year with Russia`s ambassador. Reuters reported on Thursday that Flynn and other Trump campaign advisers were in contact with Russian officials and others with Kremlin ties in at least 18 calls and emails during the last seven months of the presidential race. U.S. stocks recovered ground on Thursday as upbeat economic data emboldened investors to return to the market, a day after Wall Street saw the biggest selloff in eight months on worries the political turmoil could undermine Trump initiatives such as tax cuts that investors see as favoring economic growth. Washington: President Donald Trump says he is "very close" to naming a new FBI director. An announcement could come today, the soft deadline Trump set for himself. The president departs Friday on his inaugural overseas trip, a four-country, five-stop journey tour of the Middle East and Europe that will keep him out of the country for more than a week. "We're very close to an FBI director," Trump said Thursday when asked about the search during an Oval Office appearance with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. He said an announcement could come "soon" and that former Sen Joe Lieberman was among his top candidates. Lieberman was among four candidates Trump interviewed at the White House this week. The former Connecticut senator flashed a thumbs-up as he left the White House on Wednesday after meeting with Trump and said they had a "good meeting." Trump also met with former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating; Richard McFeely, a former top FBI official; and acting FBI director Andrew McCabe. Trump needs a new FBI director because he fired James Comey last week, an unexpected move that drew bipartisan criticism. Comey was overseeing the FBI's investigation into Russia's role in the presidential election, including ties between Russian government officials and Trump associates. In an attempt to quell the furor over Comey's ouster, the Justice Department this week hired former FBI Director Robert Mueller as a special counsel to oversee the investigation. Trump has denounced the probe as a "witch hunt." The Senate must confirm Trump's candidate for the FBI job. Word of Lieberman's standing in the candidate search drew a mixed reaction from Capitol Hill, with Senate Republicans praising the Democrat turned independent, and Democrats seeming less than enthused about their former colleague. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., called Lieberman a "pillar of credibility." Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, said Lieberman "may be the only potential nominee that could get 100 votes that I know of. Everybody likes and respects Joe Lieberman." But several Democratic senators said during a caucus lunch Thursday that they would not support Lieberman, according to a person familiar with the meeting who declined to be identified because the lunch was private. Among their concerns was Lieberman's past praise of Michael Flynn, Trump's first national security adviser, who was fired in February after misleading officials about his talks with Russian officials. Flynn has figured prominently in the FBI investigation into Russia and the election. Washington: US President Donald Trump on Thursday called the situation in Venezuela a "disgrace to humanity" and said the deadly political crisis was possibly the worst of its kind in decades. "We haven`t really seen a problem like that... in decades, in terms of the kind of violence that we`re witnessing," Trump told a press conference with visiting Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. "People don`t have enough to eat. People have no food. There`s great violence. And we will do whatever is necessary and we will work together to do whatever is necessary to help with fixing that. "What is happening is really a disgrace to humanity." Shortly thereafter the US Treasury slapped sanctions on eight members of Venezuela`s Supreme Court, charging them with undermining the deeply divided country`s democratic legislature in support of a corrupt government. Trump`s comments came one day after the Venezuelan government announced it was sending more than 2,500 troops to a trouble-hit region on the border with Colombia to try to quell weeks of violence that have claimed 44 lives nationwide. Despite its vast oil reserves, Venezuela is suffering chronic shortages of food, medicine, and other basic supplies. The center-right opposition blames it all on mismanagement and corruption in the Socialist government. President Nicolas Maduro, in turn, blames sabotage by the "bourgeois" opposition, which he says is backed by Washington. "When you look at the oil reserves that they have, when you look at the potential wealth that Venezuela has, you sort of have to wonder why is that happening, how is that possible?" said Trump. "It has been unbelievably poorly run for a long period of time, and hopefully that will change and they could use those assets for the good and to take care of their people," he said. The Treasury Department sanctions were Washington`s toughest action yet signalling support for hundreds of thousands of protestors seeking Maduro`s tight grip on power. The announcement followed a series of rulings since mid-2016 in which the court usurped the National Assembly`s powers in support of Maduro. The sanctions freeze any assets the country`s most powerful judicial figures may have in US jurisdictions and lock them out of much of global banking. "The Venezuelan people are suffering from a collapsing economy brought about by their government`s mismanagement and corruption," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. "Members of the country`s Supreme Court of Justice have exacerbated the situation by consistently interfering with the legislative branch`s authority," he said. "By imposing these targeted sanctions, the United States is supporting the Venezuelan people in their efforts to protect and advance democratic governance in their country." Venezuela`s Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez took to Twitter to reject the US-imposed measures, calling them "outrageous and unacceptable." She said the sanctions are proof of "the US authority and leadership in the destabilisation of Venezuela." The Treasury cited recent Supreme Court rulings that have allowed Maduro to rule by executive decree, exempted the government from submitting its budget to the legislature, and taken away from the legislature the power to appoint the National Electoral Council. In March, the court stripped parliamentary immunity from members of the National Assembly and moved to assume legislative powers for itself. Those decisions have since been partially reversed. The eight named for sanctions include the president of the Supreme Court, Maikel Moreno, and the seven principal members of the court`s Constitutional Chamber. In February, the US designated Maduro`s vice president and presumed heir Tareck El Aissami a major international drug trafficker. Washington: The Trump administration imposed sanctions on the chief judge and seven other members of Venezuelas Supreme Court on Thursday as punishment for annulling the opposition-led Congress earlier this year, U.S. officials said. The new sanctions package was aimed at stepping up pressure on the leftist government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his loyalists amid growing concern over a crackdown on street protests and his efforts to consolidate his rule over the South American oil-producing country. The move provoked condemnation from Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez. "It`s outrageous and unacceptable for the United States to impose sanctions on a sovereign and independent nation in violation of Venezuelan and international laws," she said on Twitter. Venezuela`s latest wave of anti-government unrest, which has left at least 45 people dead in the last six weeks, began with the Supreme Court, packed with Maduro supporters, assuming the authorities of the opposition-led Congress in late March. There was an international outcry against the court`s de facto annulment of the National Assembly, which the opposition won in late 2015 during an unprecedented economic and social crisis. The decision was later partially reversed, though it did not stop the unrest. The Venezuelan people are suffering from a collapsing economy brought about by their governments mismanagement and corruption. Members of the countrys Supreme Court of Justice have exacerbated the situation by consistently interfering with the legislative branchs authority, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. By imposing these targeted sanctions, the United States is supporting the Venezuelan people in their efforts to protect and advance democratic governance in their country," he said. Among those hit with sanctions was Maikel Moreno, a Maduro ally who became president of the 32-judge court in February. All of those targeted will have U.S. assets frozen and be denied travel to the United States, while American citizens will be barred from doing business with them, officials said. Maduro spoke on state television for some two hours on Thursday soon after the sanctions were confirmed but made no mention of them. Word of the new sanctions came as President Donald Trump expressed dismay at how once-prosperous Venezuela was now mired in poverty, saying it`s been unbelievably poorly run." Speaking in Washington alongside visiting President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia, Venezuelas neighbour, Trump called the humanitarian situation a disgrace to humanity and promised to help fix it, but he offered no new U.S. approach. A senior U.S. official warned of further action against "bad actors" if there are no changes in the country. But sanctions so far have stopped short of hitting the oil sector in Venezuela, which is a major U.S. oil supplier. Republican U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, who had pushed for further sanctions, called the measures a message to Maduro and his thugs that their actions are not going to go unpunished. UNREST Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets across Venezuela in protest against the Maduros government, demanding elections, freedom for jailed activists, foreign aid and autonomy for the opposition-led legislature. Maduro`s aides accuse them of seeking a violent coup. The Treasury Department has in the past sanctioned Venezuelan officials or former officials, charging them with trafficking or corruption. In February, the United States blacklisted Venezuelan Vice President Tareck El Aissami for alleged links to drug trafficking. The officials have denied the charges and called them a pretext to try to topple Maduro`s government, something Washington has denied. The U.S. government said the judges were being targeted because they had "usurped" democratic authority. In March, the court stated it was assuming the Congress` role in a ruling authorising Maduro to create oil joint ventures without the previously mandated congressional approval. The court said the National Assembly was in contempt over vote-buying accusations against three lawmakers. Even though they no longer sit in Congress, the court said opposition leaders had not handled their case legally. The decision was partially reversed though protests have continued nationwide. Maduro`s critics say it was an excuse for him to consolidate power and muzzle the opposition. Beirut: A military source on the Syrian government side said on Friday that an air strike by the US-led coalition against a pro-Damascus militia the day before hit "one of our military points", without elaborating, Syrian state TV reported. "On Thursday at 16:30, the so-called international coalition attacked one of the Syrian Arab Army`s positions on the Al-Tanf road in the Syrian Badia region, producing a number of martyrs and causing material damage," a military source told state media. "This brazen attack by the so-called international coalition exposes the falseness of its claims to be fighting terrorism," it added. The air strike late on Thursday killed several people and caused material damage, the source said, saying that this hampered efforts by the Syrian army and its allies to fight Islamic State. Mumbai: Irrfan Khan starrer Hindi Medium has been declared tax-free by the government of Maharastra, the film's producer said on Thursday. "I would like to thank Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for announcing our film 'Hindi Medium' as tax-free in the state. The film has already got a tax exemption in Gujarat. We are very glad to share the news," producer Bhushan Bhushan told media here during a special screening of the film. Actor Irrfan Khan, who was also present at the screening, said: "This is a great step, more people will watch the movie as it is tax-free now. The film addresses a social issue and it is a family entertainer. So it needs to reach a wider audience. I hope the film gets tax exemption in other states as well." The screening was attended by celebrities like Imtiaz Ali, Sushant Singh Rajput, Swara Bhaskar, Sonal Chawla, Deepak Dobriyal, among others. Hindi Medium is releasing on Friday. New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday sought a response from former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanithi Maran and others on an Enforcement Directorate (ED) plea against their discharge in the Aircel- Maxis case. ED had, on May 2, moved the High Court challenging a special court's February 2 order discharging the Maran brothers and others in the Aircel-Maxis money laundering case. The special court had said that the charges were based on "misreading of official files", speculation and surmises of the complainant. Special CBI Judge O P Saini, while discharging them, had also said that no prima facie case warranting framing of charges against any of the accused was made out on the basis of the materials placed on record before it. In the money laundering case, ED had chargesheeted the Maran brothers, Kalanithi's wife Kavery, Managing Director of South Asia FM Ltd (SAFL) K Shanmugam, SAFL and Sun Direct TV Pvt Ltd (SDTPL) under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The special court, in two separate orders, had said that the case was based on the foundation that Dayanidhi and Sarma deliberately delayed the approval relating to several issues, including the issuance of UAS licences to Aircel, to force Chennai-based promoter C Sivasankaran to exit from the telecom sector. New Delhi: Following the demolition of the homeless shelter by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and Delhi Police in Nizamuddin yesterday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday expressed his concern over the disturbing development and assured that the children are being shifted to another home. The Delhi CM assured of a 'new heaven' for the homeless kids. V sad. Del govt's shelter home demolished. Women, children rendered homeless. They r being shifted to another shelter home. https://t.co/2MvajWjP4t May 19, 2017 Earlier on Thursday, a children home shelter `SPYM-Wishes and Blessing Home`, where over 50-60 small children used to live was demolished allegedly. Reportedly, the home shelter SPYM is a Delhi Government aided Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) and they were provided by the land by the government. "SPYM-All wishes and Blessing home is my home. 50-60 children used to live in this home and we adopted this place in 2014 from the Delhi Government`s Raen Basera policy and transformed it into SPYM-Wishes and Blessings Home. There are 60 children and 15 females here, who were all abandoned at one time. Out of these 60 children, 45 go to schools. Today, DDA people arrived and demolished our home," the SPYM owner said. The homeless children are now demanding justice. New Delhi:A Special court on Friday convicted former Coal Secretary H.C. Gupta and others in a coal block allocation case involving Kamal Sponge Steel and Power Limited (KSSPL). Central Bureau of Investigation special Judge Bharat Parashar convicted Gupta, two former coal ministry officials KS Kropha and KC Samria, accused firm KSSPL and its Managing Director Pawan Kumar Ahluwalia, under various charges involving criminal conspiracy and under provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act. The court, however, acquitted chartered accountant Amit Goyal in the case. Besides Gupta, Kropha and Samria, the court also convicted the firm KSSPL and its managing director Pawan Kumar Ahluwalia. Kropha was the then joint secretary in the Ministry of Coal, while Samria was the then director (coal allocation-I) in the ministry. During the hearing, the CBI had alleged that the application filed by KSSPL for the coal block was incomplete and was supposed to be rejected by the ministry as it was not in accordance with the guidelines issued. The CBI had charged that the firm had misrepresented its net worth and existing capacity, adding that state government had also not recommended the firm for the allocation of any coal block. The accused, however, denied the allegations during the arguments. The court had in October last year framed charges against the accused observing that former prime minister Manmohan Singh was kept in the "dark" by Gupta, who had prima facie violated the law and the trust reposed in him on the issue of coal block allocation. Around eight different charge sheets have been filed against Gupta and proceedings are going on individually. The Supreme Court had recently dismissed his plea seeking joint trial in all these cases. With Agency Inputs Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday urged banks to appoint chief financial officer (CFO) and chief technology officer (CTO) in their management structure with a minimum 15 years of experience in relevant areas. "Rapid innovations in banking and technology call for better risk governance in the areas of finance and technology. A CFO and CTO in banks` management structure would play a crucial role in strengthening and sustaining the banks` risk governance framework," RBI said in a notification. "It is, therefore, advised that banks, while inviting applications for these positions, stipulate, at a minimum, the qualifications and experience for the CFO and CTO." Warsaw: Germany President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Friday he thinks Poland will need to play a role if the European Union is to emerge united from its current crisis. Steinmeier spoke during his first visit as president to Poland, which will become the EU's fifth largest member by population following Britain's departure from the bloc. Steinmeier had visited his nation's eastern neighbor several times in his earlier position of foreign minister. The one-day visit comes as Poland's ties have cooled with Germany, as well with the rest of the EU, under a nationalist Polish government that has at times has taken Euroskeptic positions. "For me it's clear that Poland belongs to the core of Europe and Poland will be needed if we are to overcome this crisis that we are no doubt in," Steinmeier said at a news conference alongside Polish President Andrzej Duda. "The crisis did not start with Brexit but without a doubt it has gotten deeper with Brexit and that makes it even more important that the 27 of us stick together and we need Poland for that." He said he also hoped that Poland could reach an understanding with the European Commission, which is concerned over rule of law in the country due to the government's erosion of independence of the Constitutional Tribunal. Newly elected German leaders usually make Poland one of their first foreign visits. Rome :Italy`s cabinet approved a law on Friday obliging parents to vaccinate their children against infectious diseases as politicians spar over a spike in measles cases. Children up to six years old will now need to be immunised to be eligible for nursery school, and parents who send their children to school after that age without vaccinating them first will be liable for fines. Vaccines against measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox and meningitis, which were previously only recommended, will now become mandatory, Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said. "The lack of appropriate measures over the years and the spread of anti-scientific theories, especially in recent months, has brought about a reduction in protection," Gentiloni told a news conference in Rome. The law will also oblige inoculation against polio, diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis B, whooping cough, and haemophilus influenzae type B. Italy`s Higher Health Institute warned in April that a fall-off in vaccinations had led to a measles epidemic. The United States warned visitors to Italy about exposure to the potentially fatal disease. The institute has recorded some 2,395 measles cases so far this year compared with some 840 in all of 2016 and 250 in 2015. The website of the European Commission, the European Union`s executive, says it encourages all member states to "ensure that as many children as possible receive the main childhood vaccines". Gentiloni`s centre-left government has accused the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement of sowing fear among parents by questioning the safety of some vaccines and the scruples of multinational pharmaceutical firms. 5-Star members, who run Rome`s city hall, abstained on Thursday from a vote on obliging schoolchildren in the capital to be vaccinated, stoking fresh controversy over their stance. "5-Star is riding the wave of disinformation, nourishing fear and favouring a position that is anti-science and dangerous for the whole community," said Federico Gelli, a deputy from the ruling Democratic Party. Paola Ferrara, 5-Star`s leader in city hall, said the party had abstained because of the pending vote in parliament, and considered vaccinations "essential". During last year`s U.S. presidential election campaign, WikiLeaks published emails from Hillary Clinton`s staff and the Democratic National Committee which some believe helped to lose her the election to Trump. U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded the Russian government hacked the emails as part of an effort by Moscow to tilt the election in Trump`s favour. The Assange case has raised questions about the Swedish justice system, with a United Nations panel saying Assange had been subject to "arbitrary detention". Prosecutors have been accused of vacillating, first dropping the preliminary investigation and then re-opening it and of dragging their heels over questioning Assange. Prosecutors first interviewed Assange in November last year in the Ecuadorean embassy. They were not allowed to question him directly but only through an Ecuadorean prosecutor. Assange`s lawyer, Per Samuelson, hailed Sweden`s decision to drop the investigation as "a total victory for us". Gao: Mali: President Emmanuel Macron undertakes his first trip as commander-in-chief on Friday when he meets troops fighting Islamist militants in Mali where the security situation has worsened despite French intervention more than four years ago. The Sahel, a politically fragile area whose remote desert spaces spanning from Mauritania in the west to Sudan in the east host a medley of jihadist groups, is seen as vulnerable after a series of attacks in recent months. That has been brought further to light after a spike in violence across Mali, where the former colonial power intervened more than four years ago to drive out al Qaeda-linked militants who hijacked a rebellion in 2012 by ethnic Tuaregs and attempted to take control of the central government in Bamako. Macron, a newcomer to international diplomacy, put counter-terrorism at the top of his security priorities during the election campaign, vowing to strengthen support for West African allies. "Emmanuel Macron made the commitment during the campaign to immediately go and see troops engaged in the fight against terrorism," said a senior French diplomat. The trip to Gao, where some 1,600 troops are based and where he will also hold talks with Mali`s President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, will reaffirm Paris` engagement, in stark contrast to his predecessor Francois Hollande, who began his term pulling troops out of Afghanistan. After sending troops to Mali, France has since spread some 4,000 soldiers across the region to hunt down Islamists, while United Nations` peacekeepers have been deployed to ensure Mali`s stability. However, the U.N.`s forces have lacked equipment and resources, making a political settlement between Tuaregs and the government in Mali increasingly fragile and paving the way for Islamists and traffickers to exploit a void in the north of the country. "Our objective in the short-term is to help the regional armies control their territory, especially the fragile border zones," said the diplomat. "The peace process is not going fast enough even if there is a glimmer of hope." French officials acknowledge that Paris is likely to have to keep its forces in the region for an indefinite period. Diplomats said Macron wanted to fine-tune policy to ensure countries were also given more help to develop rather than just focusing on security aspects. With France shouldering the bulk of European military operations overseas, and in particular in Africa, officials said the trip would also be an opportunity to outline his desire for a greater European role, something that France has been pushing for years, but with few tangible results. "The Franco-German engine must give Europe impetus to play a bigger role in crucial dossiers such as the African Sahel," the diplomat said. Stockholm: Swedish prosecutors said on Friday they had dropped an investigation of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange over a rape allegation, but British police said he would still be arrested if he left the Ecuadorean embassy in London where he has been holed up. Assange, 45, took refuge in the embassy in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden over the rape allegation, which he denies. He feared Sweden would hand him over to the United States to face prosecution over WikiLeaks` publication of thousands of classified military and diplomatic documents in one of the largest information leaks in US history. The Swedish prosecutor`s office said in a statement it had decided to end its investigation. In a court document seen by Reuters, chief prosecutor Marianne Ny said there were no further avenues to pursue to take the investigation forward. However, London police issued a statement after the Swedish announcement making clear Assange was still wanted by them. "Westminster Magistrates` Court issued a warrant for the arrest of Julian Assange following him failing to surrender to the court on the 29 June 2012," the police said. "The Metropolitan Police Service is obliged to execute that warrant should he leave the Embassy." Stockholm: Swedish prosecutors investigating rape accusations against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange must decide on Friday if they will lift a Europe-wide arrest warrant against him in a seven-year-old case. The 45-year-old Australian denies the 2010 allegations which he fears will see him extradited to the United States and tried over the leaking of hundreds of thousands of secret US military and diplomatic documents. He has been holed up in the Ecuadoran embassy in London since 2012 and risks being arrested by British police if he steps out of the building. Friday is the deadline for the public prosecutor`s office to either renew or lift Assange`s arrest warrant before a Stockholm court. Assange`s Swedish lawyer last month filed a new motion demanding that the arrest warrant is lifted after US Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in April that arresting Assange would be "a priority". "This implies that we can now demonstrate that the US has a will to take action... this is why we ask for the arrest warrant to be cancelled so that Julian Assange can fly to Ecuador and enjoy his political asylum," lawyer Per Samuelsson told AFP at the time. The Swedish prosecutor in charge of the investigation, Marianne Ny, did not disclose her intentions in advance, but she was due to address a news conference at 12:00 (1000 GMT) on Friday. Neither Assange`s lawyers nor the lawyer of his alleged victim could be reached for comment on Thursday. The accusation against Assange dates from August 2010 when the alleged victim, who says she met him at a WikiLeaks conference in Stockholm a few days earlier, filed a complaint. She accuses him of having sex with her as she slept without using a condom despite repeatedly having denied him unprotected sex. "I am entirely innocent," Assange wrote in a 19-page testimony released in December 2016. He argues that the sex was consensual and that the accusations are "politically motived". The investigation has suffered from endless procedural complications since it began. The statute of limitations on the rape allegation expires in August 2020. In a letter sent to the Swedish government on May 8, Ecuador condemned "the obvious lack of progress" in the investigation despite Swedish officials questioning Assange at the embassy in November 2016. "It is extremely worrying that six months after the hearing at the Embassy of Ecuador in the United Kingdom, the Swedish prosecutor`s office has not yet decided on the judicial situation of Julian Assange," the Ecuadoran Foreign Ministry said in the letter seen by AFP. Ecuador demands that Sweden either charges Assange or drops the investigation. Swedish judges have refused to take into account the opinion of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which in February 2016 said Assange was effectively "arbitrarily detained" by Sweden and Britain and called for the warrant to be annulled. Hamirpur: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Friday stirred a hornet`s nest by making a controversial statement on deaths caused due to swine flu."This keeps happening. This is usual. It happens where there is large number of population," Virbhadra told the media here.A tourist from Maharashtra on Wednesday afternoon died due to swine flu in Shimla. Dr Ramesh Chand, Medical Superintendent of the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) informed that Avinash Patil died due to swine flu. This was the second death caused due to swine flu in Himachal Pradesh over one week.Last Thursday, a 65-year-old patient from Dehra in Kangra district reportedly died of swine flu. New Delhi: After scoring a major victory over Pakistan at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the Indian government will now seek annulment of death sentence given to its national Kulbhushan Jadhav who has been sentenced to death by the neighbouring country's military court over espionage charges. The Indian government will now seek annulment of the secret Pakistani military court's death sentence for Kulbhushan Jadhav, Harish Salve, India's counsel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), had said. Salve also threw indications that seeking consular access to Jadhav may not be the priority now. "Pakistan should have granted consular access in March 2016, even before the beginning of the trial," Salve told a press briefing, according to the Times of India. The senior lawyer clarified that even though the court had granted consular access to the Indian government, the access had come very late. India's fight for Jadhav rested on the argument of 'restitution' which basically meant that the verdict of the Pakistani military court which found Jadhav guilty needed to be 'annulled' and the trial started afresh, Salve said. Salve also informed that India's plea in the ICJ had sought annulment of the Pakistani military court's order. He said that in principle, restitution could take on a larger dimension, perhaps suggesting that it might mean Jadhav's release as well. If the very process was flawed, then the death sentence could not stand, he said. Salve's reaction came shortly after India scored a major diplomatic victory over Pakistan on Thursday as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) stayed the execution of former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav. In an unanimous and binding decision, the UN's top court said the status quo should be maintained pending final decision to be taken in the case that has brought ties between the two rival neighbours to a new low. "Pakistan shall take all measures at its disposal to ensure that Jadhav is not executed pending the final decision in these proceedings and shall inform the court of all the measures taken in implementation of the present order," ICJ President Ronny Abraham said, reading out the order in the open court. "The court also decides that until it has given its final decision, it shall remain seized of the matters which form the subject matter of this order," said the court which consists of 10 judges, including Justice Dalveer Bhandari of India, besides President Abraham. The 15-member bench backed India's contention that there had been a violation of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations as New Delhi's requests for consular access to its national had been denied 16 times. The court, which had earlier provisionally stayed Jadhav's sentence on May 9, also noted that India and Pakistan were signatories to the Vienna Convention since 1977. Jadhav would get a reprieve of at least 150 days India welcomed the court's unanimous decision on Jadhav, 46, while Islamabad said it had informed the ICJ that it did not accept the court's jurisdiction in matters related to national security. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his satisfaction with the verdict and spoke to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj who described the order as a "great relief", as per PTI. Srinagar: In a stern warning to Pakistan, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday said the Indian forces will give "adequate response" to any form of ceasefire violation on the border which has been witnessing repeated shelling from across. Jaitley, who undertook a visit to a Rampur sector of the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, said the Indian Army is fully prepared to foil any form of infiltration bid. He also asserted that there will be no differentiation between local and foreign militants and anybody indulging in violence will be dealt with accordingly. On recurring protests in Kashmir, he said sentiments can be addressed when there is a peaceful atmosphere. "Our soldiers are fully confident that they will not allow any form of infiltration to take place. And if there is any effort or any form of ceasefire violation, our soldiers will give an adequate response," Jaitley told reporters here. after interacting with the troops in Rampur sector. "I visited the LoC, interacted with officials and jawans there. I complement the Indian Army for its level of preparedness and enthusiasm," he said. In response to a question, Jaitley said, "With an average citizen, irrespective of his political views, we would like him to be on the Indian side in this debate. But as far as those who are killing people we cannot extend the same facility to them. They have to be treated as a serious insurgency problem and dealt with accordingly." Jaitley said it is clear that terrorism and militancy is aimed against the Indian state, its sovereignty and the people of Jammu and Kashmir. "The effect of their actions is that besides security personnel, it is the local citizens who are losing their lives. Therefore, those who are indulging in violence of this magnitude are certainly to be held accountable for their actions," he said. In response to a question on widespread protests and sentiments in Kashmir, Jaitley said the sentiments can be addressed when there is peaceful atmosphere. "At the end of the day, the current situation emerges when you take to arms and start killing security forces then you get in a cycle which doesn't stop. "The aspirations will have to be addressed when the state is in a peaceful format. You can't have the energies of the state involved in just in combating violence at various places," he said. Jaitley, who is also the Union Finance Minister, said the resources which are meant for economic development, are today being used esentially for security. "Who is to be blamed for unleasing this era of violence" On the Centre's refusal to engage with separatists in Jammu and Kashmir, Jaitley said "our priority is to restore normalcy, particularly in south Kashmir". Commenting on the sting operation carried out by a private TV channel on how separatists are being funded by Pakistan to stoke trouble in Kashmir, the defence minister said the expose has confirmed what was already known in informed circles. "It was known that they were being funded from across the border. They were funded to create the unrest. They were funded to burn schools, they were funded to kill people and destroy public property. "So their actions were the conspiracy against not only against the Indian state but also the average resident of Kashmir valley. This was all being talked about and what your report has done is to almost bring out a confessional statement of the concerned players accepting it," he said. Jaitley said the concerned agency and the government will take whatever action is needed in this regard. On the recent incident of army using a man as human shield during protests, the minister said an investigation is being carried out into the matter. "Let us not forget that the army is a responsbile institution and the Army was also interested in saving the lives of various people who were involved both in election process and also the large crowd of protesters who had gathered there," he said. On the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Jaitley said while economic development of Jammu and Kashmir is certainly a priority of the government, there should be no envy felt on what is happening on other side of the border. "I can tell you the economic development of the state is certainly our priority.Let nobody be envious what happens across the border. There are examples in the history where people had entered in the name of connectivity, then establish a strategic presence," he added. On the issue of return of NHPC-run power projects to the state and opening of more cross-LoC routes, Jaitley said the state government and the concerned union ministries must be interacting over these issues Beijing: Chinese property developers should avoid a blind rush in investing in India as acquiring land there is far more difficult than in the Communist country, a media report has cautioned. According to the report, India may not be a "promised land" for Chinese property developers seeking new frontiers beyond their homeland. "Chinese developers should avoid a blind rush into the Indian market where the rules of play are vastly different," the report in the state-run Global Times said. The report came in the wake of a write-up in London-based Financial Times on how India had emerged as the next big market for property developers. "While bidding for land in China for property development normally entails substantial efforts, the complexity of acquiring land in India is even greater, given the country's land control regulations," the article added. "Other than building properties in developed markets that typically appeal to the wealthy Chinese people, domestic developers including Dalian Wanda have shown an interest in housing projects in India," the article said. Wanda has evinced interest to invest USD 10 billion in a huge housing project in Haryana, which is yet to materialise. "In fairness, the fast-growing Indian economy and a burgeoning middle-class have made the country increasingly alluring as an investment destination for Chinese businesses," the article said. "Chinese vendors took up more than half of India's smartphone market in terms of shipments in the first quarter of the year, a promising sign perhaps that Chinese brands are popular in India. But Chinese businesses, property developers in particular, should not see this as the start of a race to invest in the Indian market," it added. New Delhi: The sewage treatment capacity in towns along the Ganga is being enhanced substantially as part of efforts to clean the river, a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was told. The meeting on Modi's ambitious programme 'Namaami Gange' was also informed that intensive monitoring and inspection of the grossly-polluting industries has been taken up, which has led to "considerable improvement" in the water quality of some of the tributaries of the river, a PMO statement said. Senior officials from various government departments made presentations on the programme and apprised the prime minister of action taken and the progress made on it, it said. According to the statement, the officials said the sewage treatment capacity in towns along the river is being enhanced substantially and considerable focus is being placed on large cities like Haridwar, Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi, Patna, Bhagalpur, Howrah and Kolkata. "Intensive monitoring and inspection of the grossly- polluting industries has been taken up," the statement said. "The officials said that this has led to considerable improvement in the water quality of some of the tributaries of the river Ganga," it added. Parameters such as dissolved oxygen and biochemical oxygen demand have been studied as part of this assessment, the meeting was told last evening. The prime minister was also apprised of the considerable progress made in rural sanitation in villages along the banks of the river Ganga, the statement said. Modi stressed on the need to further increase public awareness and participation in the task of cleaning the river. The meeting was attended by top officials from the PMO, NITI Aayog, Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, National Mission for Clean Ganga and Central Pollution Control Board. The meeting on 'Namaami Gange' assumed significance as it was the first since the BJP came to power in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the river's two key basin states whose previous governments were accused by the Centre of not cooperating fully. The Root River has been in the news several times in the past several days and most of the news there is good. Mayor John Dickert and Melissa Warner of Weed Out! Racine were in Colonial Park to announce a $300,000 restoration project that will restore the ravine and wetlands along the banks of the river, combat invasive species and help wildlife. Further downstream by Machinery Row, city officials said they were making plans to apply for a $320.000 state grant as part of a $900,000 project for public walkways, planters, trees and other amenities to spruce up the banks between Fourth Street and Villa. And a contingent from the city of Waukesha was in town to assure city residents that their plan to send treated wastewater down the Root will actually help the quality of the water by lowering concentrations of phosphorous and suspended solids and improving oxygen levels for fish. All-in-all a good news week for the Root. Racine lost a faithful, civic-minded citizen this week with the death of Jenifer Jen Johnson. Jen, along with her late husband, Charles, who served on the zoos board of directors for 40 years, were singularly responsible for the reshaping of the entrance-way to our zoo. Over two decades, the Johnsons bought up 10 properties houses and a bar that hid the zoo from Main and Goold streets and donated the land to the Racine Zoo. That opened the path for construction of a new entrance that now greets visitors from the city and around the country and puts a welcome face on one of Racines gems. The Johnsons efforts extended to support of city police K-9 units, both for purchasing dogs and equipping squad cars. Their generosity leaves a legacy of civic improvements that will not be forgotten. The Root River wasnt the only waterway that got good news this week. U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., said last week the effort to fight bluff erosion south of Racine in Mount Pleasant has made it on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers list of new projects for fiscal year 2017. That opens the door for feasibility studies to determine how to fight the bluff erosion that has threatened a dozen homes, along with roads and utility service. Milwaukees always colorful, contentious, stetson-wearing county sheriff, David A. Clarke Jr. is headed off into the sunset or actually the sunrise hes headed east to Washington, D.C. Despised by liberals and feted by the far right for his no-nonsense approach and confrontational style, the four-term sheriff says he has taken a federal appointment as an assistant secretary in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Clarke stumped for President Trump around the country last fall. In his wake, he leaves a series of feuds with the Milwaukee County executive, a couple of instances of verbal scuffles on airline flights, four deaths in the Milwaukee County Jail last year that he declined to comment on and an investigation into the actions of seven jail staffers in connection to one of the inmate deaths. Adios. Were just glad we wont be sitting next to him on the flight out. Racine is taking a bite out of crime and maybe a byte or two as well. Kudos to area police departments for their new initiative to provide safe spots for internet purchase exchanges the online deals that sometimes go awry when a buyer or seller of merchandise is greeted instead by someone whose deal is really robbery. Mount Pleasant is hosting safe exchange sites at its police station parking lot and in front of the Lakeside COP House, 2237 Mead St. Sturtevant has one in its police station parking lot and lobby. Other sites are being developed in Racine and Caledonia. The initiative was helped by a Crime Stopper donation to fund signs designating the areas. New Delhi: Acclaimed lawyer Harish Salve, who played a pivotal role in India's victory at the International Court of Justice in Kulbhushan Jadhav death sentencing case, has said that he had just performed his duty. Talking to reporters yesterday, Salve said while he is happy that justice has been finally done to Jadhav, he has done nothing extra-ordinary. Any common Indian citizen would have done the same for his country, he said. "For me, this is not a commercial case... It was a public duty. Any citizen of India would have done that... it was of no great moment," said Salve, who was lauded by all after the ICJ delivered a ruling favouring India on Thursday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the lead in lauding Salve, who had represented India earlier in international forums as well. In a conversation with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, PM Modi thanked Salve. EAM Swaraj too praised Salve for his brilliant efforts. Arguably one of the highest paid lawyers in India, Salve's strong arguments on Kulbhushan Jadhav at the ICJ were widely appreciated by one and all. Harish Salve, who is son of NKP Salve, a late Congress politician, is among the most expensive lawyers in India and according to media reports, charges up to Rs 30 lakh for a one-day appearance in the Supreme Court of India. Salve, a former solicitor general of India, is a chartered accountant and a commerce and law graduate. He started his career as a chartered accountant but later on moved to the legal profession. He has made his base in London. Salve became a senior lawyer of the Supreme Court in 1992 and the solicitor general of India in 1999. Kolkata: Chaos prevailed outside was here on Friday the Tipu Sultan Masjid when a group of men said that they won't allow Imam Syed Noor-ur-Rehman Barkati perform the namaz.Barkati perform the namaz. The controversial Imam Barkati was sacked from the position of Shahi Imam of the Tipu Sultan Masjid earlier this week.Barkati was sacked from the position of Shahi Imam of the Tipu Sultan Masjid earlier this week. Today, he was allegedly attacked by a protestor who demanded that he vacate the masjid. "Someone hit me from behind on my head. I suspect the Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is behind this attack, as they are taking advantage of the situation created by the masjid committee," Barkati told ANI. Barkati said he was attacked for raising his voice against the injustices being done and warned the RSS not to indulge in such dirty games. "This happened because I raised my voice for what is right and for justice. I just want the law to take its course. I have been humiliated a lot today," he said. Imam Barkati is infamous for issuing fatwa against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and defying the Centre' order on the use of the red beacon. New Delhi: After a breather from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Kulbhushan Jadhav's death sentence case, India said on Friday that it is not aware of former naval officer 's location or health condition in Pakistan. "Jadhav's well-being still remains a matter of concern as the Pakistan government has provided no information about his location or his health condition," an Indian official told PTI. The ICJ had on Thursday stayed the execution of 46-year-old Jadhav, who was sentenced to death last month by a Pakistan military court that convicted him of spying and subversive activities in a trial that India termed 'farcical'. The retired Indian Navy officer has been in Pakistan custody for more than a year. According to government sources, since the case has reached the international court, it is incumbent on Pakistan to produce "material evidence" about his whereabouts and well- being. They also stressed on the requirement for Pakistan to produce evidence of proper trial which it claimed to have conducted in the case. Asked if the government has information on Jadhav's location in Pakistan, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Gopal Baglay said, "As of today, the Pakistan government has not provided any information about Jadhav's condition or where he has been kept there. This has been a matter of concern." Last month, India had also asked the Pakistan government to provide a report on his medical condition. On Jadhav's appeal process, he said, "Unfortunately, India has no information on the issue." There is also no information on what has happened to the appeal by Jadhav's mother which was handed over to the Pakistan foreign secretary by the Indian high commissioner in Islamabad, he added. According to the Pakistani side, Jadhav had 40 days to appeal from the date of verdict which was April 10. Baglay also noted that as per the information available, Pakistan has also not taken any action on the visa request by Jadhav's family to travel to Pakistan to meet him and appeal in person, if required. Pakistan claims its security forces arrested the Indian national from its restive Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran. However, India maintains that he was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Navy. (With PTI inputs) New Delhi: Former Finance Minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram's son Karti, who is facing a CBI probe in connection with an alleged case of bribery and corruption, has left for London, reports said on Friday. Karti Chidambaram left for London on Thursday evening, two days after the CBI conducted searches at his premises. Karti, accordimg to reports, left for London along with a friend. However, defending hi son, the senior Chidamabaram said that Karti will return soon and that his London visit was pre-scheduled. "Karti is travelling as per earlier travel plans. He will return after a few days. There is no ban on his travel," his father and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said. The CBI has recently launched an investigation against both father and son related to the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearances given to INX Media owned by Peter Mukerjea and his wife Indrani, who are currently in jail in connection with their daughter Sheena Bora's murder. On Tuesday, the CBI raided Karti's home and offices in four cities to probe charges that he had received money from a media firm owned by Indrani and Peter Mukerjea to help them evade a tax probe. Slamming the CBI move, Chidambaram called it political vendetta by the BJP-led NDA government. "The government, using 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," he said. The CBI had filed an FIR against Karti and the Mukerjeas on charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating, receiving illegal gratification, influencing public servants and criminal misconduct. It 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 conditions for an investment from Mauritius. With PTI inputs New Delhi: After the International Court of Justice stayed the execution of alleged spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, the Pakistan government on Thursday said that a new team of lawyers would be constituted to present the case in The Hague. Adviser to Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz yesterday said Pakistans counsel had courageously presented stance in ICJ on Jadhav, but added that a new team of lawyers would be formed to present it vigorously, reported The Nation. Even as the ICJ at The Hague ordered to put on hold the execution of Jadhav, the Indian national who has been sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court for alleged espionage, India on Thursday evening said it still has no information about his appeal status. When pointed out that Jadhav's appeal period ends on Friday, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay said at a media briefing here: "We have no information but certainly the mother of Jadhav had sent a petition with the appeal through the High Commission of India and it was handed over to the Pakistani authorities." He said that Pakistan has also not responded to the request by the family members of Jadhav for visas so that they could go and meet him. Jadhav, a former Indian Navy officer, was allegedly arrested in Balochistan in March 2016. Pakistan said Jadhav worked for the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). A military court sentenced him to death on April 10 on charges of espionage and waging war against Islamabad. But, in a major diplomatic, moral and legal victory for India, the ICJ on Thursday asked Pakistan not to execute Jadhav pending its final decision and inform it of the steps being taken to implement the order. "This court unanimously decides that Pakistan shall take all measures at its disposal so that Kulbushan Jadhav is not executed pending a final decision of this court in the matter. It also unanimously decides that the court must be told of the measures Pakistan takes to implement this order," ICJ president Ronny Abraham said in the operative portion of the order which he read out in the open court for nearly 30 minutes. India moved the ICJ on May 8 after 16 requests made by New Delhi for consular access to Jadhav were denied by Islamabad. (With Agency inputs) Islamabad: The Nawaz Sharif government in Pakistan has come under severe attack from its citizen who are now questioning the strategy adopted by its lawyers and why it accepted the International Court's jurisdiction in Kulbhushan Jadhav sentencing case. Several legal experts from Pakistan have questioned the strategy adopted by the team of lawyers led by Khawar Qureshi and why they wasted the crucial 90-minutes given to them to argue the case at the ICJ. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling staying the execution of alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav "has caused shock and disappointment in Pakistan", a daily reported on Thursday. Although Pakistani analysts were confident that the ICJ does not have jurisdiction to stay Jadhav`s execution, the Dawn quoted unnamed observers as now saying that the jurisdiction argument was "weak" and "damaging". Retired Justice Shaiq Usmani told Dawn that the decision was alarming because "ICJ does not have jurisdiction". "It`s Pakistan`s mistake to have appeared there. They shouldn`t have attended. They have shot themselves in the foot. "Until the ICJ gives its verdict, the case will go on in Pakistan," he said, adding that Jadhav cannot be executed as long as the stay order is there. London-based Barrister Rashid Aslam said Pakistan was ill-prepared and did not utilise the 90 minutes it had to make its argument. "Pakistan had 90 minutes of argument time but we wasted 40 minutes," Aslam told the Dawn. "I was surprised why we finished our arguments in such little time. I think (lawyer) Khawar Qureshi didn`t consume all the time... I don`t think we presented the case quite well. "I think Pakistan was grossly unprepared," he added. Analyst Zahid Hussain said the ICJ ruling was not binding legally but morally. Former Attorney General Irfan Qadir said he was shocked. "I think this decision is a violation of the principle of natural justice. I am shocked as to why Pakistan went there and presented their position and gave it in such a rush. "The lawyers handling these matters had no experience. The arguments had no weight. They should have been presented in a rational manner." Pakistan Peoples Party leader Sherry Rehman told Dawn: "We based our case on jurisdiction and it proved weak. More arguments should have been made regarding espionage." Barrister Farogh A. Nasim said Pakistan should not have conceded to ICJ`s jurisdiction. "India did not give consent to the Kashmir issue going to ICJ, then why did Pakistan give consent to the Jadhav case?" he asked. With IANS inputs New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday approved the names of AAP MLAs Kailash Gahlot and Rajendra Pal Gautam to be inducted as ministers in the Delhi government. The President also approved the removal of sacked AAP leader Kapil Mishra as a minister in the Delhi government. Official sources said the files sent in this connection by the Union Home Ministry was cleared by Mukherjee, who is on a tour to West Bengal. As per the rules, the Delhi government has to take permission of the Centre before carrying out any expansion in its Cabinet. The Home Ministry had earlier given its clearance to the two names. Besides the chief minister, a Delhi government can have six cabinet ministers. At present, there is a vacancy of two ministers in the Kejriwal cabinet. Kapil Mishra was sacked as Water Minister on May 6 while Sandeep Kumar was removed from the Arvind Kejriwal Cabinet last year after a CD purportedly showing him in a compromising position surfaced. The President, on the advice of the Chief Minister of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, has ordered that Kapil Mishra shall cease to be a Minister in the Delhi government with immediate effect, an official order said. On Tuesday, Kejriwal had accused the Centre of "stalling" the Delhi government's activities by allegedly holding back the files relating to the appointment of the two ministers. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had said also that the "delay" amounted to the violation of the Constitution and had accused the Centre of "paralysing" the Delhi government. Kejriwal had said the people of Delhi should not suffer due to the BJP-led NDA government's "enmity" with the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi. Sisodia had said the Delhi government had on May 6 sent the files relating to the induction of the two MLAs in the Cabinet, but the Centre was yet to clear the same. Dehradun: A triple talaq victim from Uttarakhand has threatened to commit suicide if the system fails to assure her justice. The victim, who has been divorced by her husband, has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Supreme Court to get her justice, or else she would commit suicide. A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice JS Khehar on Thursday concluded its hearing on a clutch of pleas challenging the constitutional validity of triple talaq among Muslims after hearing parties including the Centre, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, the All India Muslim Women Personal Law Board and various others for six days in summer vacation. The court took note of repeated submissions of the AIMPLB and former Union minister and senior lawyer Salman Khurshid, who is assisting it in personal capacity, that triple talaq is not mentioned in holy Quran and is rather "sinful", "irregular", "patriarchal", "bad in theology" and "undesirable", but the court should not examine it. Several Muslim women, who have claimed to be a victim of the 'patriarchal' practice, have appealed to PM Modi to get rid of the divorce system prevailing in the community. Mumbai: Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command, has stressed on the need for a high degree of operational and combat readiness and vigilance on all fronts. Addressing around 950 personnel after inspecting a Command parade at INS Shikra yesterday, Vice Admiral Luthra lauded them for ensuring that all deployments and taskings were undertaken in a professional manner, a Defence release said here today. The C-in-C highlighted that "in keeping with the high tempo of operations, overseas deployments, surveillance and patrolling missions, and successful missile firings have helped assess the Command's capabilities and focus on areas that require continued emphasis," it said. He emphasised the need for a "high degree of operational and combat readiness and vigilance on all fronts." He also touched upon the need for discipline and gender sensitisation amongst personnel and that growth and development can only be ensured by synergistic team effort, the release said. Vice Admiral Luthra also highlighted the need for renewed focus on safety, physical and information security, and continued support to frontline units of the Command, it said. New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday began its preliminary probe against top Hurriyat leaders for allegedly receiving funds from Pakistan-based terror outfits like Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), Jamaat-Ud-Dawaah (JuD) headed by Hafiz Saeed and others to foment violence in Kashmir Valley. The NIA believes that LeT and JuD funded Hurriyat leaders to foment violence in the Jammu and Kashmir region. According to Hindustan Times, the agency will now call key Hurriyat figures like Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Naeem Khan, Gazi Javed Baba and Farooq Ahmed Dar alias Bitta Karate for questioning in connection with the funds received by them. The four key Hurriyat leaders figures in NIA's preliminary enquiry (PE), the report said. A PE is a precursor to an FIR (first investigation report), the first step to launching a probe. The four are suspected to have received funds from militant outfits like LeT, JuD to pay off people carrying out violent protests and arson in the Kashmir Valley, where more than 100 civilians have been killed since July last year. The agency believes the money received by the Hurriyat leaders was routed through hawala a system of transferring money across borders that is outlawed in India. The PE names LeT founder Hafiz Saeed as one of the sources for the funds, in addition to other unknown persons in Pakistan. The NIA will also verify allegations in a sting operation that showed some of the Hurriyat leaders talking about receiving money from Saeed and other Pakistani individuals. 10 new life insurance companies approved Nepals life insurance scene is set to witness intense competition with a slew of new companies readying to join the fray. The government has given the go-ahead to 10 life insurance companies to begin operations, bringing their total number to 19. Srinagar: Zakir Musa, who quit as Hizbul Mujahideen commander after the terror outfit strongly condemned his threat to Hurriyat leaders, on Friday announced to float a new militant outfit. In a new tape released today, Musa floated the new organisation and professed his support to terror group Al-Qaeda. Musa severed ties with the Hizbul Mujahideen last week, hours after the outfit denounced his statement that separatist leaders from the Hurriyat Conference would be beheaded if they became a hurdle in Kashmirs road to becoming an Islamic state. The militant was apparently ticked off by a May 8 statement by the separatists that the freedom struggle in Kashmir has nothing to do with ISIS and al-Qaeda. The separatist leader also warned Kashmiris against donating money in his name. Those who demand money are not my men, he said. The specter of the previous threat issued by Musa, however, wasnt completely dispelled. "Even if we do kill a hypocrite, we will release a video owning up to it. This way, no confusion will be created," Musa said in the new clip. Within 24 hours of releasing his first statement, Musa later released a second audio tape where he announced dissociating himself from the Hizbul outfit , saying that he stood by his views. Claiming that the 'freedom struggle' was for establishing of an Islamic State, Musa said that if his blood was shed, it would be for establishing a Caliphate rule and not a secular state as suggested by moderate separatists. Bhopal: Union Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave's funeral was held on Friday on the banks of Narmada river in Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh. The funeral pyre was lit by his brother and nephew amid a tearful adieu by those present on the occasion at Bandrabhan. Union Minister Uma Bharti, Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thawar Chand Gehlot, Bharatiya Janata Party national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan attended the last rites. Anil Dave breathed his last in New Delhi on Thursday following a cardiac arrest. In a will written on July 23, 2012, Dave stated that if possible, his last rites should be done in Bandrabhan on the Narmada river. Bandrabhan is the spot where Dave used to conduct the International River Festival every two years. The mortal remains of Union minister Anil Dave, who died in New Delhi yesterday, were brought to Bhopal last evening. Dave's body was brought to Bhopal in an Indian Air Force plane and taken to the BJP state headquarters for the people and party workers to pay their last respects to the departed leader. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and several other party leaders and ministers received the body draped in a tricolour at the city airport. From there, it was taken in an open flower-bedecked truck to the state BJP headquarters. At night, the body was kept at his residence - Nadi Ka Ghar in Shivaji Nagar area, a family member said. The final journey began today and culminated at Bandrabhan in Hoshangabad district, where the last rites were performed at the banks of river Narmada as per his will. Bandrabhan is around 50 kms from here. The funeral was performed with full state honours and state government had declared a half-day holiday in Hoshangabad district to enable people to pay their last respects to the departed leader. Born on July 06, 1956 at Barnagar in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain district, Dave, a bachelor, used to live in 'Nadi Ka Ghar' whenever he was in Bhopal. The house used to be his nerve centre for running the river conservation campaign as well as to formulate strategies for contesting elections. A master strategist, Dave was credited with bringing the BJP to power in MP in 2003 by running a successful campaign against the then Congress chief minister Digvijaya Singh. Dave's love for environment and water bodies is also reflected in his will that he left for those who wanted to cherish his memories, BJP's spokesman Rajnish Agrawal said. "If you want to cherish my memories, plant trees and save them. This would give me pleasure," Dave stated in his will written on July 23, 2012. "Maximum efforts should be made for the conservation of rivers and water bodies and by doing so, use of my name should be avoided," he said in the will. He had also said that there should be no memorial or statue established in his name. It mentioned that no competition or award should be instituted in his name. The will also specified the place where he desired his last rites to be performed. "If possible, my cremation should be performed on the banks of river Narmada at Bandrabhan, where Nadi Mahotsav was organised," he had stated. (With Agency inputs) Mumbai: Seeking to ensure a sensitive approach in handling unruly situations, the Maharashtra police has introduced a course in 'emotional intelligence' (EI) for its personnel, a top official has said. He claimed that the state police is the first to start such a course in the country. The move comes as policemen are often criticised for handling unruly situations, crowd or individuals without proper emotional understanding though their actions may be legally correct, he said. This often portrays a negative image of the police in public, despite the personnel having knowledge and skill to tackle the situation in a lawful manner, the official said. "To enhance the service delivery of police to the public, improving the decision-making ability and to build their confidence level, the state police has introduced a course in emotional intelligence in the training," Maharashtra Director General of Police Satish Mathur told PTI. He claimed that Maharashtra police is the first in the country to formally introduce the course in emotional intelligence in its training curriculum, thereby making it integral to the ethos of the state police. This is a benchmark practice for other states too to emulate and reap the substantial benefits therein, he said. A select group of around 50 officers from the state police have been recently trained in EI. The group will go to various units and impart training in the course to policemen and officers across Maharashtra, a senior police official said. As of now, this group has trained around 800 officers and 2,500 police personnel, he said. The course has been introduced in our police training schools and academy from this year, Additional Director General of Police (law and order) Bipin Bihari said. "It will be useful for our personnel and officers in their professional as well as personal life," he added. New Delhi: India should ensure adequate deterrence and military preparedness to tackle China`s enhanced combat capabilities after Beijing restructured its defence mechanism, including of the PLA Rocket Force, two years ago, an expert has said. Since late 2015 with its sweeping reforms of armed forces, China has restructured its defence mechanism. The philosophy behind these military reforms have been focused on home territory and expeditionary capability, Lt Gen S.L. Narasimhan (Retd), presently a member of the National Security Advisory Board, said at a talk here. He highlighted six main issues that dominate China`s defence reforms at a talk here on Wednesday during a talk on the subject "China`s Military Reforms and Implications for India", organised by the Institute of Chinese Studies (ICS) at Indian Council World Affairs (ICWA), Sapru House. The six issues are: reduction of 300,000 troops, changes in higher defence organisation, the creation of a headquarters for People`s Libration Army (PLA), reorganization of military area commands into theatre commands and the creation of PLA Rocket Force and Strategic Support Force (SSF). According to Narasimhan, these reforms will tighten President Xi Jinping`s control over the PLA though these reforms were handed over to Jinping after the 18th Congress. These reforms will also bring civil-military integration where the technology that army had will be shared with the civilians and vice versa, he said, in his presentation on "China`s military reforms: Likely future trajectories". The objectives of the PLA reforms were to achieve enhanced joint-ness, optimising organisational structures of combat and ensuring the dominance of information. He highlighted the implications for India with the progress of the reforms. According to him, these doctrinal changes with regard to effective security and safeguard of China`s interests have pros and cons of their own. He pointed out that with the reorganisation of the departments and the PLA Rocket Force would require ensured deterrence and military preparedness by India. The reforms have run their course for more than a year and their impact and overtones can be seen through synergy and a will to reform in China, Narasimhan said. In the future, he said the PLA will become more professional in the coming years with PLASSF (Strategic Support Force) being a battle-winning force and "we will see Chinese power projection in the Indian Ocean Region". Jayadeva Ranade, President of Centre for China Analysis and Strategy, said the "army is used as a key for the primary concerns of China, which are political instability and regime survival". He called the 18th Congress a "watershed" which aimed for stability, party supremacy and assertive politics. He clarified that China`s internal security situation is not such that it threatens the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) but at the same time it is causing considerable anxiety to China`s leadership. Therefore steps are being taken to discipline the PLA through surveillance within it. He pointed out the scenario in China, including popular discontent caused by lack of jobs and closure of mines and factories leading to over 300 million getting unemployed, unemployment among graduates touching almost 20 per cent and discontent among veteran and demobilised soldiers due to non-payment of salaries and dues. According to Ranade, the Chinese leadership is also very concerned about a "Color Revolution" or regime change which he quoted Jinping as "Regime dissatisfaction in realm of ideas". He explained the extent of the Party control in China through "party monitors" to weed out Western sources, national security education campaign and greater control over Buddhists, especially Tibetan Buddhists. The Chinese expert said there is an "arc of vulnerability in China" where a number of problems and degree of restiveness is growing. Added to this, he said are the disturbed conditions in Tibet and Xinjiang, for both of which, China`s Public Security Budget exceeds US$1.10 billion each. He says the issue of Dalai Lama`s reincarnation also looms large with subtle methods being taken to tackle it. In recent months, Hong Kong has become problematic. The locals are insisting that the Basic Law which gives sovereignty over Hong Kong to the People`s Republic of China, cannot be interpreted by National People`s Congress (NPC). To confront this, China has imposed increasingly restrictive measures. Worries over Taiwan and Rohingyas in Myanmar also persist. He feels China, through party indoctrination and party surveillance via social credit system, can make "a honest Chinese citizen who walks with his head held high but what about the others who are not Chinese?". Under all this control, Ranade says there is a "growing inflexibility" in China which has made the nation brittle. He predicts that after the 19th Congress, we will see a "tougher China not just in case of neighbourhood disputes, but also in territorial and regional disputes". New Delhi: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has lamented the deaths of 21 Khalisatni militants during the tenure of Chandra Shekhar, who served as the eighth Prime Minister of India from November 1990 to June 1991. Speaking at the launch of "The People`s Maharaja," his authorised biography, Amarinder Singh claimed that Chandra Shekhar betrayed him and that he was responsible for the death of 21 Khalistani militants. Elaborating further he said that he was told that some militants wanted to surrender and so he dialed the PM`s number and informed him about it. The Prime Minister seemed happy at their decision and asked Amarinder Singh to facilitate their surrender. The Punjab CM facilitated the surrender of 21 militants at the residence of the then PM but it was after six months that he learnt that all the 21 Khalisatni militants had been killed. He added that he regretted trusting Chandra Shekhar and never initiated any other surrender ever since. "I felt betrayed by then PM Chandra Shekhar after 21 Khalistani militants I arranged to surrender were killed. Never spoke to him after that," Singh tweeted immediately after the programme from his verified twitter handle. Singh also stuck to his stand on the Khalistani supporters in Canadian government, saying that the Justin Trudeau dispensation has several Khalistani supporters. Earlier Amarinder Singh had refused to meet Canadian Defence Minister of Indian-origin Harjit Singh Sajjan accusing him and other ministers of Punjab origin in the government of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of links to radical elements demanding a separate Sikh state of Khalistan. No minister or senior officer of the Punjab government either went to welcome Sajjan or even accompany him during the visit. "These people have ruined my land. They want to destroy Punjab. I know that the Canadian government has Khalistani supporters," he said at the book launch. The Punjab CM was in a conversation with Suhel Seth and his biography has been written by Khushwant Singh, not to be confused with the late writer of the much acclaimed 1956 historical novel "Train to Pakistan". New Delhi: As the International Court of Justice (ICJ) temporarily put a stay on the death sentence awarded to the alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav by a Pakistan military court, former attorney general Soli Sorabjee on Friday asserted that the verdict is just a small beginning and the matter should not be overblown as the victory is yet to be achieved. "It is just a beginning of the good steps. But it is not the victory. This is the preliminary step. Of course, it is something we should be happy about, but we should not over-blow it," Sorabjee told ANI. He said the ICJ verdict on Jadhav proves that the somewhere the international court believes that there is substance in India`s allegations. Commenting on the speculation being raised that whether Pakistan will accept the verdict passed by the ICJ or not, Sorabjee said that Islamabad has no other option other than to accept the order. "Pakistan has to accept the order of the International Court of Justice. Otherwise, it will be political suicide and Pakistan cannot afford to do that and I don`t think it will do it," he said. Earlier on Thursday, the ICJ stayed the execution and upheld India`s right to have consular access to the former naval officer who has been declared spy by the Pakistan and been awarded death sentence for espionage. Justice Ronny Abraham of the ICJ asserted that the case was indeed debatable, while also adding that the ICJ had prime facie jurisdiction in the case. The final verdict in the case is expected in August.The only condition under which Jadhav now stands to face execution is if Islamabad does not comply with the ICJ`s decision. India can then go to the Security Council, which may then decide upon measures to be taken to give effect to the judgement. New Delhi: Applauding the verdict passed by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for putting a temporary stay on Kulbhushan Jadhav`s execution, the Congress on Friday expressed confidence that the final verdict on this case will also be in favour of India. "The verdict means that Salve has succeeded to put forth the case in front of ICJ. It is a right decision and I welcome it. I hope in future also when the final verdict comes, it will be in favour of Kulbhushan Jadhav and in favour of India," Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge told ANI. Kharge said that Pakistan made unnecessary noise and fabricated the case, which led the ICJ to take this to reach to the conclusion that there is truth in what is being said by India. Earlier on Thursday, the ICJ stayed the execution and upheld India`s right to have consular access to the former naval officer who has been declared spy by the Pakistan and been awarded death sentence for espionage. Justice Ronny Abraham of the ICJ asserted that the case was indeed debatable, while also adding that the ICJ had prime face jurisdiction in the case. The final verdict in the case is expected in August.The only condition under which Jadhav now stands to face execution is if Islamabad does not comply with the ICJ`s decision. India can then go to the Security Council, which may then decide upon measures to be taken to give effect to the judgement. New Delhi: Real estate firm Supertech Ltd. on Friday announced its plans to invest Rs. 1,500 crore on construction and other activities in the current financial year to expedite project completion in National Capital Region, North India and Bengaluru. The company`s announcement to deliver 15,000 units across various projects in India by March 2018, comes at a time when the Real Estate Regulation and Development Act (RERA) has become a stringent reality of the realty market.As per the announcements made by the real estate major, the process of fast-tracking at all projects has already begun. Deploying state-of-the-art construction technologies like modular pre-cast slabs along with increasing labour deployment to 13,000 from the current 10,000 has taken shape."We are committed to put our efforts to complete all our ongoing projects in the stipulated time frame. The company is targeting to collect approximately Rs. 1500 crores against final payments from customers who are getting possession in one year," said chairman Supertech Limited, R.K. Arora. He further said that the company has long term plans of investment as there is no financial crunch."We are quite optimistic that realty market will revive very soon after RERA coming in force," added Arora. The real estate sector has been traversing through challenging times and resultant impact has been felt on the demand for residential real estate projects.This decline in demand along with other policy paralysis hampered the pace of real estate development in the country as a result the organized developers were not able to complete the ongoing projects within the stipulated time period. However, recent policy reforms like demonetisation, Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amended Act, 2016, RERA undertaken by the government would be instrumental in reinstating the confidence of the end users in the real estate sector and pave path for economic growth. The onus, therefore, now lies with the real estate developers to capitalize on the opportunity by focusing on delivering the ongoing projects to the customers instead of launching new projects. Supertech besides delivering these 15000 units will also be working towards enhancing overall operational efficiencies to complete other ongoing projects within stipulated time period. The first look of Jr NTR's 'Jai Lava Kusa' is breaking the internet The upcoming Telugu film 'Jai Lava Kusa' directed by K.S. Ravindra is all set to release on September 1, 2017. The movie stars Jr NTR as the main lead. The actor just revealed a first look of the movie and it is indeed creating a buzz on the internet. Baral picked as new Press Council chair The government on Thursday appointed journalist Bhawani Baral as chairman of the Press Council Nepal. He replaces Borna Bahadur Karki whose tenure ended on February 28. The position had been lying vacant since then but the government could not make a new appointment due to election code of conduct. New Delhi: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will send a series of three communication satellites - GSAT-19, GSAT-11 and GSAT-20 into the orbit in the next 18 months to increase internet speed across the nation, as per a report in Indian Express. The GSAT satellites are India's indigenously developed technologies of communications satellites, with an objective to make the country self-reliant in broadcasting services. The GSAT-19 satellite is scheduled to take off in early June onboard GSLV-Mk III, ISRO's heaviest rocket, from SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota. This would be the maiden flight for GSLV-Mk III, the next generation launch vehicle of ISRO capable of launching 4 ton class of satellites to Geosynchronous Transfer orbit (GTO). The next big launch will be GSAT-19 in June. With this launch, we will begin a new age of communication satellites. It is also the beginning of high-throughput satellites (in India), Tapan Misra, director of Ahmedabad-based Space Applications Centre (SAC), an arm of ISRO that develops satellite payloads, was quoted as saying by the Indian Express. While the world is already witnessing a change in the communication technology where voice and video communications are taking place through Internet, with future launches, television will be viewed through Internet using wireless Technology, Misra added. These launches will not only revolutionise the way we use televisions and smart-phones, but will also drive the future communication needs of smart cities, the report added. ISRO said the satellite will carry Ka-band and Ku-band payload along with a Geostationary Radiation Spectrometer (GRASP) payload to monitor and study the nature of the charged particles and influence of space radiation on spacecraft and electronic components. GSAT-19 satellite will employ advanced spacecraft technologies including bus subsystem, indigenous Li ion battery, indigenous Bus bars for power distribution, etc, the Indian space agency added. Earlier this month on the 5th May, ISRO successfully launched the Geostationary communication satellite-9 (GSAT-9) India's gift to South Asia - into a Geostationary orbit. The GSAT-9 is meant for providing communication and disaster support and connectivity among the countries of South Asia region, with the mission life of about 12 years. New Delhi: After its launch in August 2011, NASA's space probe Juno entered Jupiter's polar orbit in July 2016, thus commencing its 20-month investigation of the planet. Juno has, ever since, been beaming back some amazing data on the planet as well as giving space enthusiasts spectacular visual treats from time to time. With many turning points dotting its 10-month journey in Jupiter's orbit, Juno is all set for another important manoeuvre. Juno will make its fifth science flyby over Jupiter's mysterious cloud tops on Friday, May 19, 2:00 am EDT (Thursday, May 18, at 11:00 pm PDT and 6:00 UTC). According to NASA, at the time of perijove (defined as the point in Junos orbit when it is closest to the planet's center), the spacecraft will have logged 63.5 million miles (102 million kilometers) in Jupiters orbit and will be about 2,200 miles (3,500 kilometers) above the planet's cloud tops. During its mission of exploration, Juno soars low over the planet's cloud tops as close as about 2,100 miles (3,400 kilometers) During these flybys, Juno is probing beneath the obscuring cloud cover of Jupiter and studying its auroras to learn more about the planet's origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere. Chennai: DMK working president M K Stalin on Friday urged the state government to ensure that Tamil is taught in CBSE and ICSE schools in Tamil Nadu even as he maintained that BJP-led Centre was imposing Hindi. Reiterating the charge that the centre was imposing Hindi, he said, hence it becomes "imperative," for the AIADMK regime to ensure compulsory teaching of Tamil in schools. "The lax attitude of the AIADMK regime in this issue makes one wonder if they are acting in cahoots with the BJP government in the centre," he said. He accused the government of "half-hearted implementation" of the Tamil Learning Act which was enacted during his party's previous regime in 2006. The Act made it compulsory for students from first to tenth standards to learn Tamil as a subject in schools. He dubbed an order issued in 2014 by the AIADMK government to compulsorily teach Tamil in CBSE schools as "namesake," and alleged that it was "inadequately implemented." He also alleged that the AIADMK government was acting slow on issues like appointment of teachers, and ensuring adequate infrastructure. He said such sluggish attitude in turn was "enabling students whose mother tongue is not Tamil to gain exemption from court of law," from sitting for Tamil exam. Stalin requested the government to move ahead to implement compulsory Tamil language instruction in CBSE and ICSE schools from first to tenth standards using the provisions of Tamil Learning Act, 2006. The DMK leader, who is also the Leader of Opposition in Assembly, said the government should hasten the appointment of Tamil teachers in government schools and ensure that Tamil Learning Act was implemented in "full force" as soon as possible. The state government should take initiative in ensuring that the younger generation was made aware of the rich cultural legacy of Tamil language, he said. In 1968, during the first DMK regime led by former chief minister C N Annadurai three-language policy of Tamil, English and Hindi was dumped in favour of a "two-language policy," of Tamil and English. New Delhi: Work on a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Russia fpr reactor units 5 and 6 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) is at the stage of internal approval, a senior official said on Friday. Refuting a media report that suggested that India was holding back the MoU to make Russia use its influence over China to enable India`s membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay said: "The report is completely baseless, incorrect and mischievous. Discussions have been held on Kudankulam document. The process is at the stage of internal approval." At the NSG plenary in Seoul in June last year, China had blocked India`s membership bid on the ground that for a country to be a member of the 48-nation bloc it has to be a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Given Baglay`s statement, it is likely that the MoU for the reactor units 5 and 6 of KNPP, India`s largest nuclear power plant, will be signed during the India-Russia bilateral summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on June 1. All six units of the plant are scheduled to be built in collaboration between Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and Russian state company Atomstroyexport. While reactor units 1 and 2 are already connected to the southern power grid, the ground-breaking ceremony for construction of units 3 and 4 was done in February last year. New Delhi: The O Panneerselvam camp on Friday approached the Election Commission urging it to restrain the VK Sasikala faction from using the AIADMK office. The counsel for the Panneerselvam camp also submitted fresh documents to the poll panel against the elevation of Sasikala as the interim general secretary of the party, an EC official said. Besides urging the EC to restrain the Sasikala faction from using the party office, the Panneerselvam camp said that till the time the case is settled between the two camps over the control of the party, AIADMK mouthpiece 'Dr Namadhu MGR' should not remain under the control of Sasikala. The EC had on March 23 issued an interim order freezing the 'two leaves' election symbol of AIADMK, saying the rival camps cannot use the party symbol as well as its name for the prestigious RK Nagar assembly bypoll. The bypoll has since been cancelled following allegations that money was used to buy votes. A fresh date is yet to be announced. Last month, the poll watchdog had extended its order of freezing the name and symbol of the party till the case is settled. Chennai: The Directorate of Government Examinations (DGE) Tamil Nadu will declare TN SSLC Exam Results 2017, Tamil Nadu Board SSLC Examination Results, Tamil Nadu Class 10 Results 2017, TN 10th Result, TNBSE SSLC Results 2017, TN 10th Class Results 2017, SSLC Result 2017 on Friday. Check tnresults.nic.in to access Tamil Nadu 10th Results 2017, TN Board Result 2017:Tamil Nadu Class 10th Results 2017, TN SSLC Result 2017, TN SSLC 10th result, Tamil Nadu SSLC exam, Tamil Nadu 10th Board Results, TN 10th result 2017. Tamil Nadu SSLC Result 2017, 10th TN Result, TNBSE SSLC Result, TN 10th Result 2017, SSLC 2017 Examination Results, Tamil Nadu Class 10th SSLC Examination Results 2017, Tamil Nadu SSLC Results 2017 will be declared today at 10 am. How to check TN Board Result 2017, TNBSE 10th Result 2017: Keep your Roll Number and other essential details handy Log on to the official website of the board - tnresults.nic.in Type in your details as asked carefully and that too without any mistake Roll No., Name, mobile number, email ID as applicable Your result will be flashed online Students are advised to take a print of their result for future references. 7,12,339 number of students appeared for the Tamil Nadu Class 12 examinations 2017. The Tamil Nadu SSLC exams 2017 were held from 8 March to 30 March, 2017. To be noted is the fact that the board has abolished the practice of disclosing toppers name. About TNBSE: The Government of Tamil Nadu constituted a new Board for School Examination viz State Board of School Examinations by merging the two separate boards - Board of Secondary Education and Board of Higher Secondary Examinations dated 16.02.2011. The Directorate of Government Examinations was formed as a separate directorate in February 1975. Prior to the formation of Directorate Of Government Examinations, the then DPI/DSE was the ex-officio commissioner for government exams and the department was having its office at Madras only. This directorate has 7 Regional offices at Madurai, Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli, Tirunelveli , Chennai, Cuddalore and Vellore. Apart from the academic stream examination in academic fields, this department is conducting various vocational stream examinations. At present this department in conducting exams for about 25 lakh students every year. Sambhal: Family members of Sepoy Sudhesh Kumar, who was killed in firing by Pakistani troops along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir last year, on Friday sat on an indefinite fast, demanding the chief minister's visit to Pansukha Milak village. Villagers and family members of Kumar, who laid down his life on October 16, 2016, sat on a fast in the village, claiming that despite promises by the BJP leaders, none of them visited the family again. "We were promised sanction for a petrol pump, construction of a road and memorial in the village and renaming a village primary school in Sudesh's name by the BJP leaders, but none of the promises was met," Sudesh's brother Manoj Kumar said. Another brother of the martyr, Anil Kumar, said they had lost trust in local BJP leaders and that was why they were demanding that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath should visit them. Sudesh's wife Kavita, mother Santosh Kumari, father Brahmpal Singh, Anil and a number of villagers began their indefinite fast. The family had earlier too refused to perform the last rites till the then chief minister Akhilesh Yadav visited them. Brahmpal claimed, "The then chief minister had gone to a martyr's house in Etah as he was a Yadav. He should have come here too as there should not be any discrimination between martyrs." Sudesh, hailing from Sambhal district, was killed when Pakistani Army fired on Indian Army posts along the Line of Control in Rajouri district. As Akhilesh did not visit martyr's family, BJP leaders during assembly polls made it a political issue. BJP vice president Shiv Pratap Shukla, state general secretary Ashok Kataria and local MP Satpal Saini had also visited them and assured all help. Lucknow: Taking on the Opposition in Uttar Pradesh, which has been creating a ruckus in the Assembly over the law and order situation in the state, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday assured a strict action against the criminals. "Those who have ruled the state for five to ten years want to know what we have achieved in two months. I admit that certain incidents have taken place in the state, but we are taking a stringent action. We will ensure that no room is given to criminals to operate," Adityanath said. Asserting that it was difficult to completely curb criminal activities that were given a free hand in the past 15 years, the Chief Minister said the government would ensure that law and order was maintained. "It is difficult to completely curb something which has been in existence for the 10 to 15 years. Since it is in the final stage, that is why some late activity is observed. But I want to ensure that the government's promise of good governance and development will be established," he added. The maiden session of the 17th Uttar Pradesh Assembly witnessed a stormy start on Monday with the Opposition parties creating an uproar on 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. The uproar was such that Governor Ram Naik address also drowned in the noise. Accusing the BJP Government in the state of failing to keep the law and order in the state intact, the Samajwadi Party said that it opposed the proceeding of the House to express displeasure over the poor governance of the Adityanath dispensation. The Congress party also asserted that the BJP had failed to come up to the expectations of Uttar Pradesh and hence, should not make tall claims about its success. The Uttar Pradesh Assembly session, which was scheduled to end on May 22, will be concluded tomorrow. Betel nut consumers pick up export slack Nepali betel nut fans have been chomping away with greater vigour to the delight of traders who were facing unsold inventory as exports to India have stopped. Kolkata: In the backdrop of the Centre mooting the idea of holding Lok Sabha and state assembly polls simultaneously, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee today asked her party leaders and elected representatives to be prepared for "any situation" in the days to come. Banerjee, also West Bengal chief minister, held an extended core committee meeting with all TMC MPs and MLAs, chairman of all municipalities and presidents of zilla parishads during the day to spell out the party's line of action in the days to come. A senior TMC leader, who was present in the meeting, said Banerjee had told them not to be complacent and prepare for any situation. "We were told that Centre is mooting the idea of holding Lok Sabha and state assembly polls simultaneously. So we should be prepared for any situation. We should not be complacent and work towards increasing the mass contact of the party and should always be in touch with them," the TMC leader told PTI on condition of anonymity. According to him, Banerjee asked TMC leaders during the meeting to "focus on countering BJP and CPI(M) in the state and not to worry about Congress as it hardly has any organisation." Banerjee also lashed out at BJP for "trying to silence every opposition force in the country." "Mamata Banerjee has told us to prepare for an all out fight against BJP. She has told us to strengthen our social media presence in order to fight against the canards and malicious campaign by BJP in the social networking sites," another TMC leader said. The TMC leadership has also asked party leaders, especially from the districts to keep themselves ready for the Panchayat polls slated to be held next year. "We have been told to organise panchayat mass meetings in every block of the state and reach out to the people with the developmental projects of the state government," he said. Kolkata: The Congress in West Bengal is miffed with the party high command for not giving importance to their views. The Bengal unit is also of the opinion that the recent bonhomie between the Congress leadership and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee will put the party's political existence at stake in the state, which has been bleeding hard due to repeated poll setbacks and defections to the TMC. The meeting between Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Banerjee in New Delhi on May 16 to discuss a strategy for the upcoming presidential polls, has irked the state Congress leadership, which feels any kind of bonhomie with TMC is fatal for the state unit as it is fighting hard to keep its flock together from the "poaching policy" of the TMC. The Bengal unit of the Congress also feels that BJP will milk the issue and eat into Congress votes in the state. "Although the meeting was regarding the presidential elections, yet it is a matter of concern as party workers and leaders are asking several questions and we don't have any proper answer. At a time when the TMC is trying to finish off Congress in the state either by use of violence or poaching on our elected representatives, a meeting with our top leadership with the TMC is sending out a wrong message," former Congress MP and senior leader Deepa Dasmunsi told PTI. "It is tough to convince party workers who were beaten up by TMC goons on the local bodies polling day, that there has been no compromise," she said. State Congress president Adhir Chowdhury had shot off a letter to Sonia Gandhi on May 13 urging her not to allow any equation of national politics hamper the prospects of the party in the state. Chowdhury felt the Congress workers were "miffed" and "it was the destiny of Bengal Congress to suffer due to equations of national politics". "Yes, there are lots of apprehensions and questions among the grassroots workers, who despite all sorts of threat and intimidation by TMC, has been carrying the party flag. We are trying to answer those queries, but we are not sure whether we can convince them. Congress in Bengal has been suffering for a long time due to equations of national politics," Chowdhury told PTI. "In 2004, Congress vote bank got eroded and TMC benefitted when it was decided that we will take the Left's support to form a government at the Centre. Now, due to this (meeting), BJP is trying to squeeze benefit," he said. Chowdhury, however, underlined that the party high command has not asked the state unit to back out from protesting against the ruling TMC. AICC general secretary Shakeel Ahmed rubbished the apprehensions and said "no one should equate the considerations and equations of national politics with state politics. We are trying to get BJD from Odisha with us in this presidential polls. The party workers in Odisha are not raising such questions." Ahmed is confident that the state Congress unit is "intelligent enough to understand the complications and equations of fighting a communal force like BJP." Since the Assembly elections in May 2016, the tally of Congress MLAs in the Assembly has come down to 39 from 44 as five MLAs switched over to TMC. The Congress also lost two of its Zilla Parishads - Malda and Murshidabad to TMC. A senior state Congress leader and MLA, who did not wish to be named, lashed out at the high command for not giving importance to state leaders and imposing decisions. "Although the party high command has not asked the state unit to back out from protesting against the TMC, but with this meeting and bonhomie between our leaders and TMC after demonetisation, the message has already gone. The damage has been done and BJP will eat into our vote bank," the senior leader said. The BJP, propagating itself as the 'real opposition' in Bengal, said the meeting between Sonia Gandhi and Banerjee is a signal of both parties planning to open a front against BJP. "We have been saying for the last one year that only BJP can fight against the misrule of TMC as both the Left and the Congress have surrendered before Mamata Banerjee in Bengal," state BJP president Dilip Ghosh said. London: Swedish prosecutors dropped an investigation of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Friday over a rape allegation, but British police said he would still be arrested if he left the Ecuadorean embassy in London where he has been holed up for five years. Assange, 45, took refuge in the embassy in June 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden after two women made rape and sexual molestation allegations against him, which he denies. He feared Sweden would hand him over to the United States to face prosecution over WikiLeaks` publication of swathes of classified military and diplomatic documents in one of the largest information leaks in US history. Appearing on the balcony of the embassy after the Swedish announcement, Assange said he was ready to talk to Britain "about what is the best way forward" and with the U.S. Department of Justice, but also defended his right to stay put. "The road is far from over. The war, the proper war is just commencing," he told supporters and media after raising a clenched fist in a gesture of victory. Police in London said they were still obliged to arrest Assange if he left the embassy for skipping bail. They said this was a much less serious offence than rape, but he could still face up to a year in jail if convicted. Assange is a cyber hero to some for exposing government abuses of power and championing free speech, but to others he is a criminal who has undermined the security of the West. The former computer hacker enraged Washington by publishing hundreds of thousands of secret U.S. diplomatic cables that laid bare often highly critical U.S. appraisals of world leaders from Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Saudi royal family. Earlier on Friday Swedish Chief Prosecutor Marianne Ny said the rape investigation could not proceed due to legal obstacles. "We are not making a statement about his guilt," Ny said, adding that the investigation could be reopened if Assange came to Sweden before the statute of limitations deadline for the rape allegation in 2020. Assange always denied the rape allegations and said they were a ploy to get him whisked off to the United States. WANTED BY WASHINGTON In January, Assange said he stood by an offer to go to the United States providing his rights were upheld and if former military intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning, who was responsible for a 2010 leak of classified materials to Assange`s anti-secrecy group, was freed. Manning was released on Wednesday after spending seven years in a U.S. military prison for passing the documents to WikiLeaks. British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Friday it would be "an operational matter for the police" to decide whether to arrest Assange if he left the embassy. Asked if she would support Britain extraditing Assange to the United States, she said: "We look at extradition requests when we receive them on a case-by-case basis." While Assange may still not be able to leave the embassy in the upmarket Knightsbridge area of London, the prosecutor`s decision to stop the investigation into allegations of rape brings to an end a seven-year stand-off with Sweden. The Ecuadorean government welcomed the decision and in a statement called on Britain to grant Assange safe passage to Ecuador. Foreign Minister Guillaume Long said Assange was welcome to stay in the embassy if this was not granted. "As long as we fear that this is a case of political persecution ... as long as we fear for Mr. Assange`s integrity and human rights, we will continue with our policy of offering him asylum," Long said in a telephone interview. He said that recent statements by U.S. President Donald Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions indicating that United States authorities would seek to arrest Assange were a sign that he still faces persecution outside Britain. "HOSTILE INTELLIGENCE SERVICE" Last month CIA Director Mike Pompeo called WikiLeaks a "hostile intelligence service", and Sessions, responding to a question about Assange, said the Trump administration was stepping up its efforts against all leaks of sensitive information. "Whenever a case can be made, we will seek to put some people in jail," Sessions said. During last year`s U.S. presidential election campaign, WikiLeaks published emails from Hillary Clinton`s staff and the Democratic National Committee which some believe helped to lose her the election to Trump. U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded the Russian government hacked the emails as part of an effort by Moscow to tilt the election in Trump`s favour. The Assange case has raised questions about the Swedish justice system, with a United Nations panel saying Assange had been subject to "arbitrary detention". Prosecutors have been accused of vacillating, first dropping the preliminary investigation and then re-opening it and of dragging their heels over questioning Assange. Prosecutors first interviewed Assange in November last year in the Ecuadorean embassy. They were not allowed to question him directly but only through an Ecuadorean prosecutor. Assange`s lawyer, Per Samuelson, hailed Sweden`s decision to drop the investigation as "a total victory for us". Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping told a visiting South Korean envoy on Friday that he was willing to put relations with Seoul back on a normal track after ties were soured by the United States placing an advanced anti-missile system in South Korea. Xi told Lee Hae-chan, representing new South Korean President Moon Jae-in, that his visit showed the importance Moon attached to relations with Beijing. "China, too, pays great attention to the bilateral ties," Xi said in comments in front of reporters in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. "We`re willing to work with South Korea to preserve the hard-won results, properly handle disputes, put China-South Korea relations back onto a normal track and benefit both peoples on the basis of mutual understanding and mutual respect," he said. Lee gave Xi a hand-written letter from Moon. "President Moon said he hopes I`d also pass on his gratitude to you for your message of congratulation and the telephone call after he was elected," Lee said before reporters were asked to leave the room. China has been infuriated by the U.S. deployment of an advanced Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system in South Korea, saying it was a threat to its security and would do nothing to ease tensions with Pyongyang. The United States and South Korea have said the deployment is aimed purely at defending against any threat from North Korea, which experts have thought for months is preparing for its sixth nuclear test in defiance of United Nations sanctions. South Korea has complained that some of its companies doing business in China have faced discrimination in retaliation for the THAAD deployment. The North has vowed to develop a missile mounted with a nuclear warhead that can strike the mainland United States, saying the programme is necessary to counter U.S. aggression. The threat from Pyongyang presents U.S. President Donald Trump with one of his greatest security challenges. The United States, which has 28,500 troops in South Korea to guard against the North Korean threat, has called on China to do more to rein in its ally and neighbour. Trump and Moon have both also warned that a major conflict with the North is possible. Moon sent envoys to the United States, China, Japan and the European Union this week in what the government calls "pre-emptive diplomacy". His envoy for Russia will leave next week. Before leaving Seoul for Beijing, Lee said Moon could meet Xi as early as July at a Group of 20 summits in Germany, while a separate meeting could also be possible in August. Washington: Two Chinese SU-30 aircraft carried out what the US military described on Thursday as an "unprofessional" intercept of a US aircraft designed to detect radiation while it was flying in international airspace over the East China Sea. "The issue is being addressed with China through appropriate diplomatic and military channels," said Air Force spokeswoman Lieutenant Colonel Lori Hodge. Hodge said the US characterisation of the incident was based on initial reports from the U.S. aircrew aboard the WC-135 Constant Phoenix aircraft "due to the maneuvers by the Chinese pilot, as well as the speeds and proximity of both aircraft." "Distances always have a bearing on how we characterize interactions," Hodge said, adding a U.S. military investigation into the intercept was underway. She said the WC-135 was carrying out a routine mission at the time and was operating in accordance with international law. China is deeply suspicious of any US military activity in the resource-rich South China Sea. On February 8, a US Navy P-3 spy plane and a Chinese military aircraft came close to each other over the South China Sea in an incident the Navy saw as unsafe but also inadvertent. Reuters reported at the time that the aircraft came within 1,000 feet (305 meters) of each other in the vicinity of the Scarborough Shoal, between the Philippines and the Chinese mainland. Bangkok: Thai police say an Iranian man set himself on fire in front of the Iranian Embassy in Bangkok to protest his country's presidential election. Police say the unidentified man doused himself with gasoline before lighting himself on fire today outside the gate of the embassy. The man suffered burns all over his body and was taken to a hospital. Pol Lt Col Noppadol Samart says the man was protesting today's presidential vote in Iran, though he did not know exactly what about the election the man was opposed to. Iranians are voting in the first presidential election since the country's nuclear deal with world powers. The election is largely viewed as a referendum on the current president's more moderate policies as well as economic issues. Tokyo: Japan scrambled fighter jets on Thursday after four Chinese coastguard vessels entered what Japan considers its territorial waters near disputed East China Sea islets and a drone-like object flew near one ship, Japan said. It was the first such flight near the islands witnessed by Japanese officials, although the incident took to 13 the number of intrusions this year by Chinese coast guard ships in the contested waters, Japan`s coast guard said. Japan and China have long been at loggerheads over the tiny, uninhabited islands, called the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China. They are controlled by Japan but claimed also by China. "This is escalating the situation and absolutely unacceptable," Defence Minister Tomomi Inada told a news conference on Friday, referring to the incursion and drone flight. "We regard this as a serious infringement of Japan`s sovereignty." Inada said two F-15 fighter jets, one E-2C early warning aircraft and an AWACS surveillance plane were sent to the scene. Kenji Kanasugi, director-general of the Japanese Foreign Ministry`s Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, lodged a stern protest with the Chinese embassy in Tokyo by telephone, a ministry official said. The Chinese embassy responded to the protest by reiterating China`s stance on the islands, the official added. China routinely rejects Japanese criticism of such patrols, saying its ships have every right to operate in what China calls its territorial waters. In a brief statement on its website, China`s State Oceanic Administration confirmed that four coastguard vessels had been patrolling by the islands, but made no mention of any drone. Moscow: Russia on Friday condemned strikes by the US-led coalition against Syrian forces as "unacceptable", state media reported, after the bombing of pro-government troops. "Such actions that were carried out against the Syrian armed forces... this is completely unacceptable, this is a breach of Syrian sovereignty," deputy foreign minister Gennady Gatilov was quoted as saying by state-run RIA Novosti in Geneva. Mogadishu: Some 30,600 Somalis have returned to their country from Yemen since the beginning of war in Yemen in 2015, the UN refugee agency said on Friday. The UNHCR said increasing numbers of Somalis are approaching the agency for assistance to support their return, citing safety concerns and limited access to services in Yemen, Xinhua news agency reported. "UNHCR is now providing some support to those choosing to return on their own," a UN agency statement said. "In 2017, UNHCR is able to assist up to 10,000 Somali refugees who have made the choice to return, based on the information received at Return Help Desks on conditions in Somalia and the assistance package that is being offered both in Yemen and Somalia," it said. Yemen has been both a destination and a transit hub for refugees and migrants from the Horn of Africa and beyond. The overwhelming majority of refugees in Yemen, 91 per cent or some 255,000, are Somali refugees. The UNHCR said its humanitarian operations in Yemen will continue to provide support to refugees who remain in Yemen. It said most Somali refugees registered in Yemen originate from Banadir, Lower Shabelle, Bay, Middle Shabelle and Woqooyi Galbeed regions. In Yemen, most reside in Aden, Sana`a and Lahj governorates, the latter of which is where Yemen`s only refugee camp, the Kharaz refugee camp, is located. The UNHCR said most refugees opt to return to Mogadishu, in the anticipation that assistance and services will be more accessible and available. Islamabad: Pakistan's former military ruler Pervez Musharraf wants to appear in person rather than testify through a video link in the Benazir Bhutto murder case, his lawyer has said. Musharraf has been charged with involvement in the murder of the former two-time prime minister in 2007. Musharraf's counsel, Advocate Akhtar Shah, during the trial proceedings of the high-profile murder case in the anti-terrorism court Rawalpindi maintained that his client was not interested in testifying through the video link, Dawn reported. He, however, said Musharraf wanted to testify in person and before an open court for which he required foolproof security from the ministry of defence. According to the counsel, Musharraf is on the hit list of several banned and terrorist outfits and facing serious life threats. However, the federal government has already declined such a request. In a reply filed with the special court seized with the high treason case against the former military ruler, the government maintained, "An absconder cannot dictate his prerequisites to the court and give conditions, that too his own subjective satisfaction, as to when he will appear and for how long." On May 5, Musharraf filed a similar application with the special court, seeking the military's security and assurance from the court that he would be given a safe passage back to Dubai where he is currently living. The Anti-Terrorism Court has summoned him and other accused persons to record their statements. The court, however, has separated the case of Musharraf and decided to record the statements of the other accused separately. Musharraf has been living in Dubai since last year when he was allowed to leave the country on pretext of medical treatment. Civil society group calls for charter revision A group of civil society members has reminded the government of its promise to address the grievances of the Madhesis, Janajatis and women through constitutional amendments. Nicosia: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday slammed the recent 'illegitimate' US-led coalition's strike against pro-Syrian government forces. "Whatever the reason for the decisions that the US command made to carry out that strike was, the strike is illegitimate, it is illegal and a regular gross violation of the Syrian Arab Republic's sovereignty," Sputnik news quoted Lavrov as telling reporters. According to Lavrov, this move means US's desire to prompt oppositionists and some extremists to fight the Syrian government. "Again we see the desire of Jabhat al-Nusra [terrorist organization banned in Russia] and those who cooperate with it, to leave [the group's activities] outside the coalition's military activities. Again and again we see the desire and confirmation of this desire as for the deployment of oppositionists and some extremists, including from Jabhat al-Nusra, to fight against the legitimate government of Syria," Lavrov said commenting on the US strike. He added that Moscow is inquiring about the details of the recent US strike and that it is alarmed that the general understanding of the need to unite efforts against terrorists is eroding. "We are still clarifying all the details, but according to some reports, several dozen civilians died as a result of the strike. I repeat, all this needs to be double-checked," he said. "We are very much worried that the general, seemingly looming, understanding of the need to unite the efforts of all who really oppose on the ground and in the air the terrorists of Daesh and former Jabhat al-Nusra [terrorist organizations banned in Russia] is beginning to erode," he concluded. Yesterday, the U.S. forces in Syria bombed pro-Bashar al-Assad convoy at Tanf base that were advancing well inside an "established de-confliction zone", according to reports. A convoy of 20 pro-regime vehicles were headed towards AT Tanf near the Syria-Iraq-Jordan border and thirteen of the vehicles entered a de-confliction zone in the Homs Governorate , which was perceived as a threat to US-allied troops. The airstrikes were considered to be carried out in "self-defence" given the militias proximity to a base used by elite US and coalition forces. Beirut: The Syrian Army has regained full control of two central villages from the Islamic State group after an attack that killed dozens of people, a monitor said on Friday. Troops and allied militiamen retook the Hama province villages of Aqareb and Al-Mabujeh a day after the jihadist assault, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The IS attack killed 25 civilians, including five children, and 27 pro-government fighters, the Britain-based monitor said. At least three of the civilians, a man and his two children, were executed with knives, it added. The Observatory reported 10 IS fighters killed in the assault, which began at dawn on Thursday and saw jihadists briefly seize all of Aqareb and parts of Al-Mabujeh. State news agency SANA said 52 people had been killed, among them 15 children, adding that many of the dead had been beheaded and mutilated. The two villages are home to members of several religious minority sects, and Al-Mabujeh has been targeted by IS before. In March 2015, the group killed dozens of people and kidnapped some 50 civilians in an attack there. IS is on the defensive across most of the territory it still holds in Syria, with an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters pressing towards its most important bastion, Raqa in the north. The army is also battling the jihadist group in the eastern part of Aleppo province. The Observatory said at least 22 government troops and allied militiamen and 40 IS fighters had been killed in clashes in the area in the past 24 hours. And in the eastern city of Deir Ezzor, which is largely under IS control, jihadist shelling of a government-held neighbourhood killed at least 14 people, the monitor said. A dozen people were also wounded by the artillery fire, which hit a wedding party. Geneva: A US military strike in Syria on Thursday was "government terrorism" and caused a massacre, Syrian government negotiator Bashar al-Ja`afari said on Friday, while Russia called it an unacceptable breach of Syrian sovereignty. U.S. officials told Reuters that the US military carried out the air strike on Thursday against militia supported by the Syrian government that posed a threat to U.S. forces and US-backed Syrian fighters in the country`s south. Ja`afari said he had raised the incident with UN mediator Staffan de Mistura at peace talks in Geneva. "We discussed the massacre that the US aggressor committed yesterday in our country. This subject was widely discussed," Ja`afari told reporters. "The important thing is that our political ambition is higher because we want to focus on fighting terrorism represented by armed groups and the state and government terrorism happening against our country. "This includes the American aggression, French aggression and British aggression, whether on civilian or military targets." The U.S. strike was the second deliberate military attack on forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. In April U.S. President Donald Trump ordered cruise missile strikes in retaliation for a chemical weapons attack that Washington blamed on Damascus. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said the US action would hamper efforts to find a political solution to the conflict. "It is utterly unacceptable and a violation of Syria`s sovereignty," Russian news agencies quoted him as saying. "Any military action leading to an escalation of the situation in Syria has an impact on the political process." A military source on the Syrian government side said the air strike had hit "one of our military points", without elaborating, Syrian state TV reported. The strike killed several people and caused material damage, the source said, saying that this hampered efforts by the Syrian army and its allies to fight Islamic State. Gatilov complained about what he said was a separate strike that had occurred on Wednesday May 17. "Literally a day before this (Thursday`s strike) a strike was carried out which resulted in a large number of civilian deaths, which is also unacceptable," Gatilov was cited as saying. The United States has not spoken about any strikes carried out by the US-led coalition on that date. YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. Unfound Daisies by photographer and writer Edgar Harutyunyan leads the list of YEREVAN BESTSELLER project of ARMENPRESS. The book is about complex human relationships: love, friendship, betrayal. This is the authors second book. Mark Arens Where Wild Roses Bloom remains on the second position, just like last week. The story describes the inner world of an Armenophobic Turkish former serviceman, when he, already an old man, suddenly hears a lullaby song that reminds him of his mother and later finds out that the song is in Armenian: realizing his parents were Armenians. He spends his remaining life searching the graves of his parents, without knowing that it was a misunderstanding. Oscar Wildes The Picture Of Dorian Gray comes next in the bestselling list of the week. Dorian Gray is the subject of a full-length portrait in oil by Basil Hallward, an artist who is impressed and infatuated by Dorian's beauty; he believes that Dorian's beauty is responsible for the new mode in his art as a painter. Through Basil, Dorian meets Lord Henry Wotton, and he soon is enthralled by the aristocrat's hedonistic worldview: that beauty and sensual fulfillment are the only things worth pursuing in life. Boys in Zinc by Belarusian writer and journalist Svetlana Alexievich is ranked 4th in this weeks bestselling list. Certain of her books won Nobel Prize. Hovhannes Ayvazyan translated the books into Armenia. Edgar Harutyunyans another book Art of Devotion or Ode to Rose returns to the list and is ranked 5th. Spencer Johnsons Who Moved My Cheese is 6th in the list. Published on September 8, 1998, Who Moved My Cheese is a motivational business fable. The text describes change in one's work and life, and four typical reactions to those changes by two mice and two "little people," during their hunt for cheese. A New York Times business bestseller upon release, Who Moved My Cheese? remained on the list for almost five years and spent over 200 weeks on Publishers Weekly's hardcover nonfiction list. It has sold more than 26 million copies worldwide in 37 languages and remains one of the best-selling business books. "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury comes next. Fahrenheit 451 is a dystopian novel published in 1953. It is regarded as one of his best works. The novel presents a future American society where books are outlawed and "firemen" burn any that are found. The title refers to the temperature that Bradbury understood to be the autoignition point of paper. The Alchemist by Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho is ranked 8th. The novel is about having a dream and the dedication to making it come true, coupled with love, kindness and the ability to recognize a new country. "1984" by George Orwell ranks the 9th in the list. The book is labeled as banned in many countries of the world. Aram Pachyans Goodbye, Bird concludes this weeks list. The book describes the inner world of a man who has been demobilized from the Army. The following bookstores took part in a survey for the bestseller project: Bookinist (53-74-13), Armenian Book (54 07 06), Zangak (23 26 49), and Edit Print (52 08 48). YEREVAN BESTSELLER presented by Angela Hambardzumyan YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Ambassadors Igor Popov of Russia, Stephane Visconti of France, and Richard Hoagland of the United States of America released the following statement on May 18 regarding the escalation in the region which resulted from Azerbaijans actions, OSCE told ARMENPRESS. According to information collected from multiple reliable sources, on 15 May, Azerbaijani armed forces fired a missile across the Line of Contact, striking military equipment. On the evening of 16 May and continuing into 17 May, Armenian armed forces retaliated with mortar fire of various calibres. These actions by both sides represent significant violations of the ceasefire and are cause for alarm. There are contradictory reports regarding the targets of these recent strikes, as well as about casualties sustained and damages inflicted. The Minsk Group Co-Chairs and the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office continue to collect further data and analysis to gain more complete and accurate information about the current situation. The Co-Chairs condemn these recent ceasefire violations and call upon the sides to take all necessary measures to prevent any further escalation in the conflict zone. YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Defense of Artsakh told Armenpress the Azerbaijani forces made over 90 ceasefire violations across the Artsakh-Azerbaijan line of contact. The Ministrys statement says: On May 18 and overnight May 19 the Azerbaijani side violated the ceasefire regime over 90 times by firing more than 1300 shots from various caliber small arms at the Armenian positions in the Artsakh-Azerbaijan line of contact. In addition, the Azerbaijani forces also fired 60 mm mortar (1 shell) at the eastern direction, 60 mm mortar (1 shell) and anti-tank grenade launcher (1 grenade) at the north-eastern direction of the line of contact. The Defense Army forces continue fully controlling the situation in the frontline and conduct the reliable protection of military posts. YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. Leader of the Islamic Revolution and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei was among the first to cast his ballot in the Iranian presidential election, calling on Iranians to turn out in big numbers, Press TV reports. Speaking after casting his vote, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said, I thank God Almighty for the blessing of democracy and people's participation in the election. This is a great blessing. "Praise be to God, our people are thankful for this blessing. You see they are participating and my advice is that more and more people participate and come to the polls at the earliest time possible." Ayatollah Khamenei described the 2017 elections as very important, saying the destiny of the country is in the hand of the masses. YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Parliament paid homage to the memory of the victims of the Pontian Greek Genocide with a moment of silence. Eduard Sharmazanov, lawmaker of the ruling party faction, made the suggestion at the beginning of the session. Today is the 19th of May, and we commemorate the anniversary of the Pontian Greek Genocide. The Armenian Parliament has unanimously condemned the Greek and Assyrian genocides in the Ottoman Empire, with 118 votes in favor. The Greek and Assyrian genocides in the Ottoman Turkey were the continuation of the Armenian Genocide chain, Sharmazanov said. He once again condemned all genocides and Turkeys denial policy, and suggested the Parliament to hold a moment of silence as a tribute to the memory of the victims. Crux of the matter A focus on the formative years of childhood helps students perform better in their later academic life Most read of the week YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. RPA faction MP Eduard Sharmazanov welcomes the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs' statement which clearly condemns Azerbaijan's unconstructive actions, however, he said the Co-Chairs should not be limited only with statements. Obviously, I positively and highly assess that statement because our constant calls received reaction. We repeatedly state that the mediators must issue addressed statements, and this was one of the unique addressed assessments which simply pressures Azerbaijans unconstructive approaches. The Minsk Group Co-Chairs with this statement clearly outline which side creates destabilization and escalation in the region, however, I think only the statements are not enough, Sharmazanov told Armenpress. He expressed hope the three Co-Chairing countries, that are also permanent members of the UN Security Council, will exert serious pressure on the Azerbaijani unconstructive policy. This is also a result of correct work of Armenian diplomacy. I am convinced that these statements are not enough. If we are limited only with such statements and dont take any punitive measure, then this can left only in the air. Thats why I think that if Azerbaijan continues such brazen behavior, the Co-Chairs should take punitive measures, Eduard Sharmazanov said. The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Ambassadors Igor Popov of Russia, Stephane Visconti of France, and Richard Hoagland of the United States of America released the following statement on May 18 regarding the escalation in the region which resulted from Azerbaijans actions. The statement says according to information collected from multiple reliable sources, on 15 May, Azerbaijani armed forces fired a missile across the Line of Contact, striking military equipment. On the evening of 16 May and continuing into 17 May, Armenian armed forces retaliated with mortar fire of various calibres. YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. The lawmakers of Armenias Parliament elected Eduard Sharmazanov, Arpine Hovhannisyan and Mikayel Melkumyan as Vice-Speakers, reports Armenpress. Gagik Melikyan, chairman of the counting committee, presented the voting results during the Parliament session on May 19. 84 MPs voted in favor of Sharmazanov, and 13 were against. 100 MPs participated in the voting, 3 ballots were declared invalid. 73 MPs voted in favor of Arpine Hovhannisyan, 22 were against. 100 MPs took part in the voting, with 5 ballots declared invalid. 65 MPs voted in favor of Mikayel Melkumyan, and 29 were against. 100 MPs participated in the voting, 6 ballots were declared invalid. Speaker of the Parliament Ara Babloyan congratulated the newly-elected Vice-Speakers. He also thanked Galust Sahakyan for the works carried out as Speaker of the Parliament. YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. At the invitation of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and UN Habitat, Chairman of the State Urban Development Committee of Armenia Narek Sargsyan took part in the 2nd International Conference on National Urban Policy in Paris from May 15 to 18, press service of the Committee told Armenpress. The conference was held within the frames of Agenda 2030 ad Paris agreement. During the conference Narek Sargsyan delivered remarks by presenting Armenias experience, results on agenda issues and urban development planning prospects at two platforms. He also met with Diaspora-Armenian architectures during which they discussed issues related to ongoing designing works in Armenia. In Geneva N. Sargsyan met with Diaspora-Armenian businessman Vardan Srmaqesh and discussed the investments programs carried out by him in Armenia. YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. The voting for the Iranian presidential election in the polling station of the Iranian Embassy in Armenia is proceeding normally. The Iranian Embassy told ARMENPRESS the polling station was opened at 08:00 and will be closed at 18:00. They said there is a rather active voter turnout, and if necessary the closing time might be extended. More than 10 thousand Iranian citizens in Armenia are eligible to vote, including Iranian-Armenians. The presidential election in Iran kicked off today with more than 63 thousand polling stations opened across the country. YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan refuses to implement the agreements aimed at advancing the peaceful process, although their importance has been emphasized during various meetings, Armenias foreign minister Edward Nalbandian said in his speech during the Council of Europes 127th session of the Committee of Ministers. The minister said that the Armenian side shares the CoE Secretary Generals viewpoint over the democratic security concept, under which democratic countries are less likely to launch wars. It is obvious that authoritative regimes dont face such dilemma. We witnessed a similar situation in April of 2016, when Azerbaijan unleashed a large scale attack against the people of Artsakh, by grossly violating international humanitarian and human rights, Nalbandian said. The FM reminded that two summits have been convened after Azerbaijans April aggression, where agreements have been reached aimed at creating favorable conditions for advancing the peaceful process. Baku refuses to implement these agreements, although their importance has been emphasized on numerous occasions, including during the recent trilateral meeting on April 28 of the foreign ministers of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Moreover, by opposing the consistent calls of OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries and the international community on strictly adhering to the ceasefire, Baku continues grossly violating the trilateral ceasefire agreements, Nalbandian emphasized. YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. Armenia values the recent initiatives that call on the equal application of the pan-European human rights instruments to the whole continent without distinction, including in the conflict zones, Armenian FM Edward Nalbandian said at the 127th Session of the Committee of the Ministers of the Council of Europe. He congratulated Ioannis Kasoulidis on successful chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers. The priorities of the Cyprus Chairmanship were well placed to address the current challenges that the Europe faces. Protection of cultural heritage in particular is important for the Armenian people that have suffered immense losses of cultural legacy throughout its history and most recently in Azerbaijan by the hands of its government and in Syria by the terrorist groups. In this regard we welcome the adoption of the Convention on Offences relating to Cultural Property, the minister said. As another priority of the Cypriot chairmanship, the FM pointed out Democracy through Education, important dimension of fostering inclusive and tolerant societies. The right of people to their memory, their right to teaching and learning history of past tragedies through education and remembrance has a pivotal role in preventing genocides and crimes against humanity, Nalbandian said. It is commendable that in his annual report on the State of Democracy, Human Rights and the Rule of Law the Secretary General has highlighted populism, which is particularly dangerous, when combined with state sponsored hate speech and xenophobia. Free media, education for democratic citizenship and human rights, active civil society are essential in overcoming this phenomenon. Moreover, the notion of rule of law represents a concept that is diametrically opposed to the rule by force or use of force, the FM said. We value the recent initiatives that call on the equal application of the pan-European human rights instruments to the whole continent without distinction, including in the conflict zones. It is the primary goal of Council of Europe to ensure that the common values and individual rights guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights are not dependent on the status of the territory where people live, he added. YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. Armenia highly appreciates the contribution of international partners to its reforms aimed at consolidating the democratic institutions and the electoral process, acting Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said in his speech at the Council of Europes 127th session of the Committee of Ministers, reports Armenpress. On the April 2nd the parliamentary elections were held in Armenia. They were marked by unprecedented high number of international observers, who stated that the elections were well administered, fundamental freedoms were respected, and the results reflected the will of the population, the acting FM said. Nalbandian said Armenia highly appreciates the contribution of international partners to the reforms directed towards strengthening the democratic institutions and electoral processes, in particular the expertise provided by the Council of Europe and the Venice Commission. We look forward to the continuation of fruitful cooperation in this regard, he said. As for the recent institutional crisis and credible reports on corruption in the PACE, we join the calls for full investigation of the situation in order to rectify the damage done to this Organization, Nalbandian stated. YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. During a working consultation with President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan on May 19, acting Minister of Economic Development and Investments Suren Karayan briefed on the results achieved over development of export and attracting investments, as well as the upcoming works, press service of the Presidents Office told Armenpress. Suren Karayan said the Ministry takes steps to maintain the positive dynamics of economic figures registered in the first months of 2017 and to ensure further stable development. The acting Minister stated that the Ministry plans to reach the export share to 45% in the GDP within the upcoming 5 years. He informed that the branches of industry that have potential for export growth and the development programs of operating enterprises have been examined for that purpose. Necessary state assistance is provided to them aimed at utilizing the existing potential. A list of appropriate goods for exchange of import has been formed which can be competitive towards the imported products in case of receiving respective assistance. Suren Karayan reported to the President on the ongoing works aimed at entering new export markets and strengthening and expanding the positions in the existing markets. He also talked about the steps on promoting the Armenian products in the market of the Eurasian Economic Union, attracting them in big trading networks, forming EAEU common markets and joint production channels. During the meeting the events and prospects aimed at utilizing Armenias export potential within the frames of the EUs GSP+ trade regime were discussed. Suren Karayan assured that works are being carried out towards wider use of export support tools and increase of their effectiveness in case of necessity. The acting Minister informed that the action plan for improving Armenias business environment in 2017 has been developed, and it is expected that Armenias position in the World Banks Doing Business report will be ranked 26 from 38. Suren Karayan also briefed the President on the process of amendment works of the new law on Foreign Investments which proposes new protection guarantees for investors. He also talked about the presentation of investment attractiveness and potential investment programs, in particular, the investment programs platform where currently 55 investment programs are submitted. According to the acting Minister, the Syunik economic zone which aims at boosting investments will launch in autumn 2017. The acting Ministers report also reflected the Ministrys works carried out in tourism field. Based on the report, it is expected to double the number of incoming tourism visits until 2020. At the end of the consultation President Serzh Sargsyan gave respective instructions. YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry spokesman Hikmet Hajiyev commented on the statement released by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Ambassadors Igor Popov of Russia, Stephane Visconti of France, and Richard Hoagland of the United States of America on May 18 regarding the escalation in the region which resulted from Azerbaijans actions, reports Armenpress. The Azerbaijani adventurist government, which always tries to distract its peoples attention from domestic problems by provoking military actions, is dissatisfied with the Co-Chairs statement which clearly states which side escalated the situation in the region and names the things accordingly. Unable to find any justification, the Azerbaijani government again applied to the ungrounded accusations and blackmail policy. By blaming the Minsk Group Co-Chairs in non-objective assessments the Azerbaijani MFA spokesman wants to cover up Azerbaijans guilt. The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs issued the following statement: According to information collected from multiple reliable sources, on 15 May, Azerbaijani armed forces fired a missile across the Line of Contact, striking military equipment. On the evening of 16 May and continuing into 17 May, Armenian armed forces retaliated with mortar fire of various calibres. These actions by both sides represent significant violations of the ceasefire and are cause for alarm. There are contradictory reports regarding the targets of these recent strikes, as well as about casualties sustained and damages inflicted. The Minsk Group Co-Chairs and the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office continue to collect further data and analysis to gain more complete and accurate information about the current situation. Dark clouds over Asia Disputes, distrust and an arms race threaten to disrupt economic growth in the region YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan on May 19 hosted the US Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills, press service of the Government told Armenpress. The PM attached importance to holding regular meetings at such format which provide good opportunity to exchange views on the process of the Armenian-American cooperation and the development prospects. Ambassador Mills on behalf of the US government congratulated Karen Karapetyan on reappointment as Prime Minister and wished him productive work. The sides also exchanged views on the Armenian-US cooperation agenda and joint programs. A number of issues related to the mutual cooperation aimed attracting investments, improving the business environment, making reforms in tax, customs and judicial fields were discussed. Karen Karapetyan and Richard Mills also discussed the prospects on deepening the bilateral partnership in energy, tourism, IT, mining industry and agriculture sectors. YEREVAN, 19 MAY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 19 May, USD exchange rate down by 0.14 drams to 483.15 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 1.58 drams to 539.05 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.12 drams to 8.47 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 1.59 drams to 628.67 drams. The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals. Gold price down by 28.96 drams to 19508.69 drams. Silver price down by 1.47 drams to 261.12 drams. Platinum price down by 159.59 drams to 14508.41 drams. YEREVAN, MARCH 19, ARMENPRESS. Six states signed today in Nicosia (Cyprus) the Council of Europe Convention on Offences relating to Cultural Property. As Armenpress was informed from the press service of the CoE, Armenia, Cyprus, Greece, Portugal and San Marino as well as Mexico, one of the Organisations observer states, were the first to sign the convention, which is open for signature to any country in the world. Adopted in the framework of the Council of Europes action to fight terrorism and organised crime, the new convention seeks to stop the looting of antiquities and their trafficking through the art markets. It makes a criminal offence their unlawful excavation, importation and exportation, acquisition and placing on the market, and the falsification of documents in this context. By bringing national legislations up to the same standards, the treaty will close the existing loopholes and enable much more effective cross-border co-operation in investigating, prosecuting and sentencing persons suspected of the offences listed in the convention. Crucially, the convention protects the cultural property of any state, be it party or not to the treaty. The signing took place in Nicosia during a Council of Europes Committee of Ministers meeting bringing together Foreign affairs Ministers of the Organisations 47 Member States. The treaty will enter into force after five ratifications. The new treaty fills a gap in international law, since none of the existing conventions deal with criminal law issues. It complements the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, the 1972 UNESCO Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage and the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects. LOS ANGELESCCBill, a global online payments-as-service platform, on Friday announced its continued support to help fight against HIV/AIDS by sponsoring the upcoming AIDS/LifeCycle 2017 bike ride, making a charitable donation to community peer, event rider and Cybersocket co-founder, Morgan Sommer. Morgans unwavering commitment to his seventh ride is a tribute to his passion and integrity, and we could not be prouder to support him in this very crucial effort," said Gary Jackson, managing vice president of sales for CCBill. "While there has been much progress in the fight against HIV/AIDSin the current economic climatekeeping funds going to vital services is as important as ever." Now in its 16th year, AIDS/LifeCycle 2017 is a long-distance bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles and the worlds largest annual HIV/AIDs fundraiser. Taking place June 4-10, AIDS/LifeCycle is co-produced by the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles LGBT Center, and designed to advance their shared interest to end the pandemic and human suffering caused by AIDS. These committed agencies provide the critical services and education needed to meet the growing needs of the community. "I am honored and humbled by the ongoing support of CCBill as a company and many of the individuals who work there, who have also donated," Sommer said. "Every year, 90 percent of the donations I can garner for AIDS LifeCycle come from friends and colleagues in our industry. The support of so many people keeps me motivated to train, ride, and fund-raise. There are many worthy causes in the world, this one just happens to be close to my heart, as I have lost many people over the years to AIDS, and have many friends who are living with HIV. Its been 36 years since the AIDS epidemic started, and we now have many treatment options, but they are expensive, and most people still do not have access to these treatments. But more than anything, we are trying to find a cure. And these donations support efforts to treat people living with HIV, prevent new infections, and support research to find a cure. For more information about how to get involved or make a donation, visit Morgan Sommers 2017 AIDS/LifeCycle participation page on the AIDS/LifeCycle website. CHATSWORTH, Calif.King Cock, a best-selling line from Pipedream Products, has issued the latest addition to the collection: 18 unique styles of King Cock Vibrating Stiffies. Each item is made with phthalate-free, latex-free, hypoallergenic PVC rubber in Pipedreams USA-based state-of-the-art facilities. King Cock Stiffies feature a removable sleeve, powerful multi-speed vibrations and competitive price points. When it comes to producing quality items at an affordable price point, you can only trust the King! Each high-quality sleeve has been handcrafted and sculpted meticulously. It is this attention to detail that has made the award-winning King Cock line so popular amongst consumersPipedream has manufactured and sold more than 2 million units since its launch. King Cock was created with customers in mind. Like all Pipedream Products, their custom planograms are easy to create, come with free signage, and help drive profits as the products fly off the shelves. This exclusive software can create tailored displays, big and small, to fit into any unique retail environment. Contact your Dream Team sales rep now to fill your King Cock wall. For more, visit PipedreamProducts.com. Bakery business Carrs Foods has expanded its marketing division with the appointment of Tim Boote to the newly created role of marketing director. Based at the companys head office in Manchester, Boote will lead the brand strategy for Carrs Foods and the brands within its portfolio, which include Paul Hollywood, St Pierre and Baker Street. Bootes previous roles include leading marketing teams at multinational businesses including Kelloggs and PZ Cussons. Commenting on the appointment, Jeremy Gilboy, managing director of Carrs Foods, said: Tims appointment reflects the continued success of the business and our plans for future growth. We have continued to grow year-on-year and the creation of this new marketing role supports our significant expansion plans, in both the home and overseas markets. Wessanen UK-owned gluten-free brand Mrs Crimbles claims to be the first to launch free-from cake bars into the food-to-go section of convenience outlets. Launching in more than 1,500 Tesco Express stores from June, Mrs Crimbles single-pack cake bars will also be in Nisa stores and other independent and convenience outlets nationwide. They launched into Tesco supermarkets earlier this year. Mrs Crimbles cake bars come in three flavours: Chocolate, Jammy Sponge and Lemon and Poppy Seed. Rebecca Vercoe, Mrs Crimbles brand controller at Wessanen UK, said: Taking gluten-free into the food-to-go section is a huge step forward for the free-from industry. With the rising number of consumers in the UK now going gluten-free, its become increasingly important for retailers to makes products like ours more accessible. Mrs Crimbles was acquired by Wessanen UK (the owner of Clipper Teas, Kallo and Whole Earth) last summer. 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. Measure removing nonviolent 16- and 17-year-old offenders from adult system must be reconciled with Senate plan Rep. Chuck McGrady, R-Henderson, the lead sponsor of House Bill 280, discusses the 'raise the age' measure Wednesday on the House floor. (CJ photo by Kari Travis) RALEIGH North Carolina is one step closer toward raising the age for juvenile offenders. House Bill 280 , Juvenile Justice Reinvestment Act, on May 17 passed the state House in a sweeping 104-8 vote.The bill would move 16- and-17-year-old nonviolent offenders out of adult court and place them under the juvenile justice system, effective December 2019. North Carolina is the only state that hasn't raised its juvenile age limit to 17 or 18.Cost is a main reason for lawmakers' hesitation.Raising the age would cost roughly $25 million during 2017-18, and $44 million annually beginning in 2020.North Carolina's juvenile justice system has saved the state more than $40 million in recurring funds since 2008. System reforms and dropping delinquency rates have led to the savings.The state can afford to make the investment, said Rep. Chuck McGrady, R-Henderson, the bill's primary sponsor.Kids charged in juvenile court are offered state-provided counseling and rehabilitation. Parents or guardians are also required to join in the process.When charged in adult court, parents are removed from the process.Reform is costly up front, but it will help reduce recidivism among young adults, saving the state money in the long run, McGrady said.It's also the right thing to do.While the vote was overwhelmingly in favor of H.B. 280, a handful of members worried the bill would let juveniles off the hook for more serious crimes.If 16- and-17-year-olds are old enough to drive, they're old enough to know that they shouldn't break the law, said Rep. Larry Pittman, R-Cabarrus.he said.Juveniles convicted of any violent crime, Class A-E felonies, would be punished as adults. So would those who commit motor vehicle infractions.Rep. Jeff Collins, R-Franklin, said some F-I felonies are too violent to be included, and the bill should cover only misdemeanors, such as "jaywalking or pranks."said Rep. Duane Hall, D-Wake.Charging juveniles as adults doesn't mean they'll get the appropriate level of retribution and incapacitation, said Jon Guze, director of legal studies at the John Locke Foundation. At times, doing so can even result in a lighter punishment.Guze said.Guze said the punishments are similar for these offenses in the adult and juvenile systems.Several lawmakers say H.B. 280 is a work in progress.The legislature's fiscal analysis has overstated some of the cost projections, said William Lassiter, deputy commissioner of public safety.State researchers have estimated the Department of Public Safety will need $10.8 million to build a 96-bed detention center.There aren't enough sentenced kids to fill that space, Lassiter said. The department has said it could work with 60 beds and add more later if needed.The Senate last week adopted a similar, raise-the-age provision in its budget proposal. But that measure did not include any funding. Unlike H.B. 280, the Senate version did not include 16- and-17-year-olds convicted of nonviolent felonies. Govt to build 1,000 houses for marginalised communities The government has announced that it would build 1,000 houses for Dalit, poor and extremely marginalised and disadvantaged communities in the district. Contact: Ford Porter Ford Porter govpress@nc.gov RALEIGH: North Carolina is a recipient of more than $31 million to address the opioid crisis through the 21st Century Cures Act, State Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis Grants.North Carolina experienced a 73 percent spike in opioid-related deaths between 2005 and 2015. Opioid overdose also claimed the lives of more than 13,000 North Carolinians between 1999 and 2015, and four North Carolina cities rank among the nation's worst for opioid abuse.Gov. Cooper said.The grant will be used to increase access to prevention, treatment and recovery supports, reducing unmet treatment need, and reducing opioid-related overdoses and deaths. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) awarded the grant to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).The Cures Act provides up to $1 billion in grants spread among states and territories over the next two years, beginning in fiscal year 2017. North Carolina will receive $15,586,724 in the first year. Eighty percent of those funds must target outreach, engagement, treatment and recovery services.The funds will serve 1,460 individuals in the first year and 1,520 in the second, providing services to a total of 2,980 over the two-year span. This would represent an 18 percent increase in the number of patients currently being served in the 54 private and publicly funded opioid treatment programs.said DHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen, M.D.said Attorney General Stein.The announcement was made Thursday to health care providers and other mental health professionals gathered at SouthLight Healthcare, a substance abuse treatment facility in Raleigh.The grant builds on the collaborative work already being done across the state to fight the opioid epidemic. The battle includes efforts by consumers, family members, care and treatment providers, Local Management Entities-Managed Care Organizations, local health departments, law enforcement, medical facilities, emergency responders and others.Governor Cooper's 2017-2018 budget proposal includes more than $12 million in funding to address the opioid crisis. This will provide services including individual and group therapy, coupled with medications, to serve approximately 2,500 individuals statewide. It also includes $2 million for local law enforcement efforts to fight opioid abuse.Individuals can get help by contacting their LME/MCO for assistance with treatment or recovery. To find out which LME/MCO serves your county, visit ncdhhs.gov New video hit the internet today showing the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, looking on as armed security guards from his entourage violently attacked protesters demonstrating outside the Turkish ambassador's residence in Washington. They have diplomatic immunity, and have since left the country. Watch. After this incident, Erdogan met personally with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has said nothing about the beatdown of protesters on American soiland nothing of Erdogan's far more brutal crackdown on citizens back home in Turkey. We wrote about the confrontation previously here, but this new video is remarkable in that it shows Erdogan looking on, seemingly unaffected, as armed men who answer to him beat people up in our country. From the New York Times: Sweden's top prosecutor announced Friday that it is dropping its rape investigation of Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks, because it was "impossible to serve him notice." Assange has been hiding in Ecuador's embassy in London for five years to avoid extradition to Sweden, but he's still wanted by British cops for skipping court and they already warned him they'll arrest him if he leaves the building. The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) said Mr Assange still faced the lesser charge of failing to surrender to a court, an offence punishable by up to a year in prison or a fine. But the UK has not commented on whether it has received an extradition request from the US, where Mr Assange could face trial over the leaking of hundreds of thousands of secret US military and diplomatic documents. Assange said he'd submit to extradition to the U.S. if Chelsea Manning, a key Wikileaks source, was releasedan offer he later made contingent upon cutting his own deal with U.S. authorities. Manning was released this week. CALGARY, Alberta (Reuters) - Environmental group Greenpeace on Thursday asked the Alberta securities regulator to halt Kinder Morgan's initial public offering (IPO) of its Canadian business until the company disclosed climate-related risks to potential investors. Energy infrastructure company Kinder Morgan is seeking to raise up to C$1.75 billion ($1.29 billion) in an IPO to help fund the expansion of its Trans Mountain pipeline project, which runs from Alberta's oil sands to the British Columbia coast. The project received approval from the Canadian government last year but is facing fierce environmental opposition from campaigners worried about high greenhouse gas emissions from the oil sands. "Kinder Morgan's business plan only works if the world fails to act on climate change," said Keith Stewart of Greenpeace Canada. "They may think that's a good bet, but they should be honest with potential investors about the risks being taken with their money." Greenpeace's submission to the Alberta Securities Commission argues the IPO prospectus' analysis of climate change risks is incomplete and uses oil demand forecasts that are too bullish. "We received Greenpeace's submission, and we will give it the consideration we deem appropriate," ASC spokeswoman Alison Trollope said in an email. Trans Mountain could face further roadblocks if final results from the B.C. provincial election, due next week, return a government opposed to the pipeline. (Reporting by Nia Williams; Editing by Andrew Hay) Govt to withdraw Tharu, Madhesi movement cases The government on Thursday decided to accept the Tharuhat and Madhes protests as political movements and withdraw all the cases filed against those who were involved as part of its bid to ensure agitating forces participation in polls scheduled for June 14 and bring them on board the constitution-implementation process. Funding, Grants & Awards U of Michigan Awarded Google Grant to Expand After-School Robotics Program Students learn hands-on at the Michigan Engineering Zone. Image: University of Michigan. More students in Detroit Public Schools will be participating in after-school programs in science and engineering, thanks to a $250,000 grant from Google to the Michigan Engineering Zone, a makerspace project of the University of Michigan College of Engineering. The nearly 48,000-student school district is working with the MEZ as well as FIRST Robotics to get hundreds of students interested in pursuing STEM careers. The MEZ provides space, mentorship and tools to students as they build and test robots to compete in the FIRST Robotics competition. The MEZ just wrapped up its eighth season with 18 high school FIRST teams and more than 275 students from the Detroit area. A majority of participating high school seniors were accepted into two- and four-year colleges and universities and plan to pursue careers in science or technology. The grant from Google will allow the program to build the infrastructure to expand by 33 percent to reach a total of 500 students per year, according to a university statement. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram Bangkok, May 19, 2017Cambodian authorities should allow media outlets to cover local elections freely and without fear of closure for running afoul of overly broad guidelines restricting election coverage, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Cambodian Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith last week threatened to shutter media outlets that disobey guidelines for covering the June 4 elections that will come into effect tomorrow. The minister on May 11 threatened to shutter completely newspapers, broadcasters, and news websites that disobey 12-page guidelines for news media the nominally independent National Electoral Commission issued in October 2016. The code forbids publishing or distributing news that affects public order or causes fear or any violence, according to media reports. The document also forbids expressing opinions on or prejudging election events, reporting on rumors or baseless information, and insulting any national institution, political party, or candidate, according to news reports. News media will also be barred from distributing any news or information that is confusing or leads to a loss of trust in the election, the reports said. If Cambodia wants its upcoming local elections to be viewed as free and fair, these intrusive, vague, and threatening censorship orders should be discarded immediately, said Shawn Crispin, CPJs senior Southeast Asia representative. Journalists should be free to report and comment on all facets of the polls and their results. Prime Minister Hun Sen on May 9 warned of civil war if voters did not support his Cambodian Peoples Party at the polls, according to news reports. Analysts of Cambodia politics have predicted the ruling party will face stiff competition from the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party in a race viewed as a barometer of national sentiment ahead of next years general elections, reports said. NEC spokesman Hang Puthea told local reporters that they should not ask questions of election officials and that media would be barred from taking photos during the voting, news reports said. Violations of the code under the Law on Elections of Lawmakers and the Law on Commune Elections carry fines of between five million and 20 million riel (US$1,250-$5,000). Kanharith, the information minister, however, said that any media outlets found in violation of the code of conduct would have their licenses revoked by his ministry, according to news reports. It was not immediately clear if media groups or individual journalists accused of breaches would be able to appeal the ministrys decisions. The threats are the latest in a series against Cambodian journalists. On April 29, Radio Free Asia reporter Huot Vuthy fled Cambodia for the U.S. after receiving a summons to appear in court on charges he misidentified himself in order to interview political activists imprisoned at the capitals Prey Sar prison complex, according to media reports. Vuthy denied the charges, which carry a maximum sentence of two years in prison, the reports said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram New York, May 17, 2017A magistrates court in Banjul today issued arrest warrants for two people suspected of murdering Gambian editor Deyda Hydara in 2004, according to media reports. The two suspects are not in the country, according to reports. These warrants are a significant step toward voiding the culture of impunity that was permitted to flourish under former President Yahya Jammeh in Gambia for decades, said CPJ Africa Program Coordinator Angela Quintal. Authorities must do everything in their power to ensure those who carried out Deyda Hydaras killing, as well as the mastermind, are brought to justice. Hydara was the managing editor and co-owner of the independent newspaper The Point, and a correspondent for Agence France-Presse and Reporters without Borders. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram Uyo, Nigeria, May 19, 2017Nigerian authorities should immediately release blogger Kemi Omololu-Olunloyo, in accordance with two court orders granting her bail, and prosecutors should drop all criminal charges against her, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Omololu-Olunloyo, who runs the blog HNN Africa, has been jailed for 69 days pending trial, despite two court orders for her release on bail. Police first arrested Omololu-Olunloyo on March 13 from her house in the southwestern city of Ibadan after she published on Instagram a letter purportedly from a churchgoer accusing a woman of using witchcraft to convince a pastor to sleep with her and give her gifts, according to media reports and her lawyers. A magistrate court in Port Harcourt arraigned her and Samuel Welsonthe publisher of the Port Harcourt tabloid newspaper Rivers Today, which had republished the letter on or about February 20on charges of criminal libel and publishing false news, according to media reports and the legal document. The magistrate court on March 30 ordered both released on bail, Welson and Phoebe Fawehinmi, a lawyer who is representing both journalists told CPJ. While Welson was released, police the same day re-arrested the blogger and brought her before the Federal High Court, which arraigned her under Nigerias Cybercrime Act, which criminalizes any message sent using computer systems that the sender knows to be false. After several adjournments, the federal court on April 11 ordered her released on bail, but more than a month later, the deputy chief registrar at the court has yet to forward her paperwork to the judge for signature, despite her having met the conditions for bail, Eugene Meabe and Fatai Lawal, two other lawyers representing Omololu-Olunloyo, told CPJ. Defamation should never be a criminal matter in the first place, but keeping Kemi Omololu-Olunloyo in prison for 69 days and counting, despite two court orders for her release on bail, is a clear perversion of justice, said Peter Nkanga, CPJs West Africa representative. Judicial authorities should cease dragging their feet and should release the blogger immediately. Omololu-Olunloyos original post has been removed from Instagram, but a legal document CPJ has reviewed indicates it was published first on or about February 17. When she published the letter, Omololu-Olunloyo wrote that neither the pastor nor the woman had responded to her request for comment. Reached by telephone at 2:23 p.m. local time today, Emmanuel Aguma, the Rivers State attorney general and commissioner for justice, declined to comment on Omololu-Olunloyos case, saying he had finished work for the day. I have closed for the day, and I dont know you, so I will not talk to you, Aguma said. Omololu-Olunloyo is scheduled to appear at the Federal High Court again on May 23, her lawyers told CPJ. Omololu-Olunloyo and Welson are scheduled to appear together before the magistrate court on June 14, the lawyers said. Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka have effectively abolished capital punishment. The rest of South Asia hasnt. Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. So wrote English author JRR Tolkein in his popular Lord of the Rings series. Indias Mahatma Gandhi put it this way: An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. Although much of the world has come around to a similar view that one killing cannot be avenged with another most South Asian states maintain a fondness for capital punishment, with Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka as the exceptions. The constitutions of Nepal (Article 16), and Bhutan (Article 7-18) both prohibit the death penalty. Interestingly, though the death penalty has a legal foundation in Sri Lanka there have been no executions in the Buddhist state since 1976. Legal practice shows that the state has moved a step toward abolition, following the global trend. Conversely, the South Asian states of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, and Pakistan all firmly believe that the death penalty can deter people with evil intent. In this context, the Indian legal system fails to buy into the words of Gandhi, who is considered to be Bapu (founding father) of the worlds largest democracy. The Indian Penal Code (IPC)-1860 (amended in 2013) prescribes the death penalty for as many as 11 offenses, including waging war against the government, abetting mutiny by a member of the armed forces, acid attack, murder, rape, and criminal conspiracy. Similar legal frameworks for the death penalty (save for acid attack) have been provisioned under the Bangladesh Penal Code. In Pakistan, capital punishment is provisioned for no less than 27 different offenses, to include blasphemy, sexual intercourse outside of marriage, outraging the modesty of a woman, and smuggling drugs. In Afghanistan, various crimes murder, apostasy, homosexuality, rape, terrorism, drug trafficking, adultery, treason, or desertion are punishable by death based on Islamic jurisprudence. The Maldivian legal position on the death penalty is similar to Afghanistans. Generally, an accused merits the fate of legal death in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, and Afghanistan when the crimes committed meet the threshold of most serious crimes. Blasphemy, adultery, or drug trafficking do not necessarily meet the threshold of most serious crimes but are still punishable by death in Pakistan and many other Islamic countries, including Maldives and Afghanistan. Indias Supreme Court, in the landmark case of Bachan Singh vs.State of Punjab (1980), forwarded the doctrine of rarest of rare, arguing that life imprisonment is the rule while a death sentence is the exception. The top court held that the death penalty could be imposed when [societys] collective conscience is so shocked that it will expect the holders of the judicial power center to inflict death penalty irrespective of their personal opinion as regards desirability or otherwise of retaining death penalty. Even though there is no statutory definition of rarest of the rare cases, its widely believed that the pre-planned, brutal, cold-blooded, and sordid nature of a crime, without giving any chance to the victim, is taken into consideration to decide whether a particular case falls within the purview of rarest of the rare. Indias Supreme Court recently used this metric to award the death penalty to the accused in a high-profile 2012 gang-rape case. The collective conscience metric for awarding the death penalty is problematic. If a judge feels that the collective conscience is so shocked that its desirable to inflict the death penalty on the accused, then can he or she hear the case entirely on merit? Will the judge ensure a fair trial and presume the accused innocent until proven guilty? Additionally, in the 21st century world we live in fully equipped with 24-hour TV and social media on tap outrage can be manufactured and reality can be distorted. The collective conscience doctrine is not a very clear-cut concept and its in want of a healthy debate in India, opines Dr. Nidhi Saxena, a faculty member in international law at Sikkim Central University, India. She adds that the judicial pronouncements may not address the collective conscience, as public participation was not ensured in the entire decision making process. Beyond the specific issues with the collective conscience rule, many believe that the taking of a life by the judiciary is simply unjust and inhuman and its continued practice is a stain on a society standing on humanitarian values. Beyond this, the death penalty regime is a clear violation Article 6 (right to life) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. And, interestingly, India, Pakistan, Maldives, and Afghanistan are signatories to these conventions. Although the task remains unfulfilled, the second optional protocol to ICCPR was introduced in 1991 with the aim of abolishing of the death penalty globally. However, the instrument only succeeded in imposing an obligation on the international community to disallow capital punishment in the case of minors and pregnant women. Despite this, the Maldivian parliament recently enacted a law that confirms death penalty can be applied to a minor who commits an intentional murder or any serious crime. A UN resolution that called for a global moratorium on the death penalty was passed by the General Assembly on December 19, 2016. It was supported by 117 states; 40 voted against it and 31 abstained. Moreover, the International Criminal Court, which is situated in The Hague, also slams the death penalty and favors life imprisonment even for crimes against humanity, such as genocide. Even as the global trend roots for abolition, the states imposing the death penalty justify their slated position. They appeal to each states sovereign rights to determine its own law (as enshrined under Article 2 Paragraph 7 of the UN Charter, i.e., the principle of non-intervention in the domestic affairs of a state). They also argue that the death penalty is exercised in rare cases and insist their legal systems guarantee rule of law and ample procedural safeguards for a fair and speedy trial. However, abolition is now entrenched in human rights discourse and it cannot be limited to national criminal jurisprudence. If one makes the sovereignty defense then its simply a frivolous justification, says Saxena. Ultimately, the death penalty is not a strong enough deterrent; rather effective laws and order are, Saxena argues. Though a section of the population in India favors the death penalty for crimes involving women and children or terrorism, she believesthe move towards a more enlightened approach (i.e., abolition) could be initiated in Parliament. The criminal jurisprudence of most of South Asia on death penalty falls short of international obligations and its high time to rethink their stand on the death penalty. As per the reports of Amnesty International, around 140 countries more than two-third of the world have abolished the death penalty in law or practice. The South Asian states, except Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka, are out of step with this global trend. Source: The Diplomat , Jivesh Jha, May 17, 2017. The author is a Kathmandu University graduate and currently an LL.B student in Dehradun, India. | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! IG appointment case: Hearing postponed again A hearing on the case of Deputy Inspector General Nawaraj Silwal scheduled for Thursday was postponed again, citing family relations between the plaintiff and one of the justices. Republicans frequently claim that eliminating Obamacare taxes as part of health insurance reform will make future tax reform legislation easier by lowering the tax baseline. The theory seems intuitive at first. Over the next decade, Washington is projected to collect $43.1 trillion in tax revenues. Thus, tax reformers seeking revenue-neutrality must design a system raising $43.1 trillion. But if Congress first repeals ObamaCares $600 billion in taxes (without revenue offsets), it would lower the baseline to $42.5 trillion and put future tax reformers on the hook for $600 billion less in revenue. This misguided baseline assumption has been a fixture of health and tax reform discussions. On the right, congressional tax reformers have proposed passing the American Health Care Act first in order to fix the tax reform baseline. Reason Magazine editor Peter Suderman recently declared in the New York Times that this baseline maneuver rather than health care reform must be Congress real motivation for repealing ObamaCare. On the left, Slate complained that the baseline maneuver would give leaders about $1 trillion to work with in the tax reform package." No matter that tax reform would repeal only $600 billion in Obamacare taxes, not health coverage provisions that happen to affect other revenues. Yet this assumption is absolutely, mathematically incorrect. While cutting Obamacare taxes would lower the revenue baseline, it would not change the composition of tax reform. The reason is simple: Congress tax reform proposals do not address Obamacare taxes. So taking these taxes off the table does not free up additional money. Cutting corporate or individual tax rates by $2 trillion in a revenue-neutral manner will require $2 trillion in offsetting revenue-raisers. And because Congress tax reform proposals contain no significant Obamacare tax cuts (lawmakers are instead targeting the individual and corporate tax codes), Obamacares status is irrelevant to these calculations. Had tax reformers already assigned $600 billion in revenue-raisers to pay for Obamacare tax repeal, then passing health reform first would free up those offsets to pay for new tax cuts. But since these Obamacare tax cuts were never included (and offset) in the first place, there is nothing to substitute out for new tax cuts. This does not mean tax reformers should regret excluding a revenue-neutral Obamacare tax repeal from their original tax reform proposals. Making room for repeal would have first required removing a different $600 billion tax cut provision (which would then be added back after the Obamacare tax cuts are removed from the bill). It would all even out. If Congress were to fully commit to eliminating Obamacare taxes without revenue offsets, then it does not matter which bill includes the reforms. It becomes a stand-alone $600 billion tax cut with no corresponding offsets or trade-offs. Some point back to the reduction in the baseline from $43.1 trillion to $42.5 trillion. However, the $600 billion Obamacare tax cut would consume the full $600 billion baseline reduction. It would not allow tax reformers to cut more taxes later. That would be double-counting. Put differently, tax reformers will be given either: A) a $43.1 trillion revenue baseline with instructions not to touch $600 billion in Obamacare taxes that are reserved for later repeal, or B) a $42.5 trillion revenue baseline after the Obamacare taxes have been repealed. Either way, Congress is still reforming the same $42.5 trillion pot of non-Obamacare tax revenue. Reforming health care first does not matter to tax reform. The baseline immediately adjusts. The baseline is $600 billion lower, but that was all consumed by the $600 billion ObamaCare tax cut. Congress cannot do another tax cut on top of that while maintaining revenue-neutrality. Obamacare taxes will affect tax reform only if lawmakers abandon health reform and decide to repeal Obamacare taxes within tax reform and then add $600 billion in new revenue offsets to keep the new provision revenue-neutral. In that extraordinarily unlikely scenario, tax reformers would be forced to fill a $43.1 trillion revenue pot without any underlying Obamacare revenues. Of course, baselines and revenue-neutrality matter only to the extent that Congress intends to pay fully for tax reform. Most proposals fail this test. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget has aggressively pushed back on this baseline myth, yet it continues to gain currency in Congress and the media. Lawmakers seeking to eliminate the ObamaCares $600 billion in taxes should not concern themselves with the baseline effect of repeal. It will not make tax reform any easier. Brian Riedl is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute. Follow him on twitter @Brian_Riedl. Interested in real economic insights? Want to stay ahead of the competition? Each weekday morning, E21 delivers a short email that includes E21 exclusive commentaries and the latest market news and updates from Washington. Sign up for the E21 Morning Ebrief. - Social media has given rise to a different class of celebrities whose claim to fame is the lavish lifestyle they claim to live - These so called stars usually post photos, and videos of themselves with lots of expensive things - Randy Wayne is the latest member of this group At this point, most people on social media are familiar with Ray Hushpuppi the self-acclaimed philanthropist who is more famous for his lavish lifestyle than for his philanthropy. Another lavish lifestyle, Instagram loving celebrity has caught the attention of many. His name? Randy Wayne. READ ALSO: Meet late actress Moji Olaiya's two daughters Just like Hushpuppi, little is known about Randys source of income other than the fact that he says he is the CEO of We The Business Records which at this point appears not to have any musician on the label according to investigation by Legit.ng. Randy Wayne Hailing from Edo state and a friend to musician Harrysong, Wayne has also said he plans to sign other artistes to his record label. But till then, Legit.ng has curated some photos that show his luxurious lifestyle. See them below: Snippets of his money His house(s) His cars His jewelry READ ALSO: NaijWeddings: Itimi Oghenemairo and Jennifer Otewu's inspiring love story His friend Randy Wayne and popular musician Harrysong PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Nigeria Watch Iyanya tell NAIJ TV his reasons for joining Don Jazzy's rich record label below: Source: Legit.ng avocado toast Mortgage lending standards have tightened since the housing bubble brought down the financial system a decade ago. While homeownership has fallen, home prices have jumped back to pre-crisis levels, suggesting the cost and requirements for getting a mortgage are holding back many would-be buyers. Brian Moynihan, Bank of America's CEO, told CNBC on Thursday that eased regulations including a lower down payment could make it easier for millennials, in their household-formation years, to buy homes. "Our goal, going back to regulatory reform, is should you move the down-payment requirement from 20% to 10?" Moynihan told CNBC's Kelly Evans. "It wouldn't introduce that much risk but would actually help a lot of mortgages get done." Evans asked Moynihan about mortgages in the context of the widely shared comments from the Australian tycoon Tim Gurner suggesting millennials should stop spending on avocado toast if they want to afford homes. Moynihan, who said he shared the article with his son, added: "I think at the end of the day, people forget that at different points in your life and different points on what you're doing in life requires you to think about housing differently as a place for you and your friends, as a place for you and maybe your significant other, and then, ultimately, a place for family. That drives change. And so yes, it's taken more time. And we talked a lot about this, you know, four or five years ago, that if you require a 20% down payment, it takes just a little more time to accumulate 20% than it would 3% or none, which is what the rules were for a short period of time." Leading up to the recession, some lenders lowered the 20% down-payment standard or required no down payment at all. Lenders' scars from the housing crisis have now made them cautious of whom they approve. In the first quarter, the median credit score of a new mortgage was 764, the highest in nearly two years and up from the prerecession average of 720, according to Gluskin Sheff. Story continues According to Moynihan, there's still wiggle room to ease regulations. NOW WATCH: China built a $350 million bridge that ends in a dirt field in North Korea More From Business Insider Cisco Systems Inc. CSCO reported third-quarter fiscal 2017 earnings (including stock-based compensation) of 54 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny. Excluding stock-based compensation, earnings increased 5.3% on a year-over-year basis to 60 cents, which was slightly better than managements guided range of 5759 cents. The growth reflected benefits from operational efficiencies that boost operating margin in the quarter. Revenues declined 0.5% year over year to $11.94 billion but beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $11.89 billion. Management had anticipated revenues to decline in the range of 2% or remain flat on a year-over-year basis. However, Ciscos fourth-quarter outlook was disappointing. Revenues are anticipated to decline primarily due to lower order growth in the reported quarter, which affected backlog. Management anticipates order growth to remain weak in the fourth-quarter, similar to the third-quarter level. Cisco Systems, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise Cisco Systems, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | Cisco Systems, Inc. Quote Moreover, ongoing transition to subscription-based model will continue to hurt top-line. The company also expects macro-related headwinds in the public sector, particularly the U.S. federal government business to impact revenues. Further, weakness in the service provider business segment in the Americas and intensifying competition from the likes of Huawei in the emerging markets are other concerns that will continue to hurt top-line growth. Shares of the company fell more than 7% in after-hour trading. However, we note that Cisco has outperformed the S&P 500 on a year-to-date basis. While the stock gained 11.9%, the index witnessed an increase of 5.5%. Segment Revenue Details On a year-over-year basis, products (74.4% of total revenue) remained almost flat at $8.89 billion, while services (25.6%) decreased 2.2% to $3.06 billion. Product book-to-bill ratio was greater than 1. Almost 31% of the revenues were recurring in nature, of which 90% came from the services business. Roughly 10% of the product revenues were recurring. Under the Product category, Switching, Wireless, Security and Other increased 2%, 13%, 9%, and 57%, respectively, on a year-over-year basis. However, this increase was partially offset by weak performance from NGN Routing, Collaboration, Data Center and Service Provider Video segments which decreased 2%, 4%, 5% and 30%, respectively. Geographically, on a year-over-year basis, revenues from the Americas and EMEA declined 4%, and 6%, respectively. Weak service provider business in the Americas, foreign currency exchange volatility in the U.K. and oil price related uncertainty in the Middle East hurt top-line growth. APJC revenues increased 2% driven by solid growth in India and modest growth in Australia and Japan. Growth in China was affected by tough year-over-year comparisons (due to service provider video business in the year-ago quarter). Total emerging markets declined 12% while the BRICs plus Mexico (down 49% year over year) went down 10%. In terms of customer segments enterprise declined 2%, public sector declined 4% and service provider dipped 10%. However, commercial grew 3% (not as healthy as management anticipated) in the reported quarter. Weak European market impacted growth in both enterprise and commercial segments. Operating Details Non-GAAP gross margin (including stock-based compensation) contracted 200 basis points (bps) from the year-ago quarter to 62% in the reported quarter. The expansion can primarily be attributed to higher service gross margin (up 210 bps). Operating expenses as percentage of revenues decreased 310 bps to 37.9% primarily owing to decrease in most of the expense line items. As percentage of revenues, Research and development (R&D), General and Administrative (G&A) and Sales and Marketing (S&M) expense declined 90 bps, 170 bps and 60 bps, respectively. As a result, operating margin (including stock-based compensation) expanded 110 bps to 24.2%. Acquisitions Cisco completed the acquisition of AppDynamics during the quarter. Moreover, the company announced plans to acquire Viptela and MindMeld. Viptela is a privately held software-defined wide area network company. Per Cisco, Viptela combined with its IWAN technology, will provide an industry-leading cloud-first software-defined (SD) WAN platform that addresses the Edge networking needs of the companys most demanding customers. The acquisition is expected to close in the second half of calendar 2017. MindMeld is a privately held artificial intelligence (AI) company. Cisco expects MindMeld to simplify and enhance the collaboration experience even further through the power of AI and machine learning. MindMeld is expected to power new conversational interfaces for Cisco's collaboration products, simplifying user interaction with the companys technology as well as increasing ease-of-use and enabling new capabilities simultaneously. The acquisition is anticipated to close in fourth-quarter fiscal 2017. Cisco recently announced intent to acquire the Advanced Analytics team and associated advanced analytics intellectual property developed by Saggezza, a privately held technology services company. The acquisition is expected to close in fourth-quarter fiscal 2017. Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Cisco exited the third quarter with cash and investments balance of almost $68 billion compared with $71.8 billion in the prior quarter. Cash & cash equivalents and investments available in the U.S. at the end of quarter were $2.9 billion. Cisco repurchased approximately 15 million shares of common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $0.5 billion. As of Apr 29, 2017, the remaining authorized amount under current share repurchase program is approximately $12.9 billion. Guidance For fourth-quarter fiscal 2017, revenues are expected to decline in the range of 64% on a year-over-year basis. Non-GAAP earnings are anticipated to be in the range 6062 cents per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate was pegged at 58 cents on revenue estimates of $12.52 billion. Gross margin is expected to be in the range of 6364%, while operating margin is anticipated between 29.5% and 30.5% for the quarter. Our Take We believe that Ciscos expanding footprint in the rapidly growing security and data center market are promising. The companys security solutions continue to add customers, which is positive in our view. Additionally, the companys partnerships with the likes of salesforce.com CRM and International Business Machines IBM will help it to gain significant traction in the cloud and Internet of Things (IoT) market space in the long run. Moreover, continued share buyback and dividend hikes are positive in our view. However, the disappointing fourth-quarter guidance will weigh on the share price at least in the near term. Zacks Rank & Key Pick Cisco currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). Extreme Networks EXTR carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) is a stock worth looking in the sector. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 (Strong Buy) Rank stocks here. Long-term earnings growth rate for Extreme is currently pegged at 17%. Story continues Will You Make a Fortune on the Shift to Electric Cars? Here's another stock idea to consider. Much like petroleum 150 years ago, lithium power may soon shake the world, creating millionaires and reshaping geo-politics. Soon electric vehicles (EVs) may be cheaper than gas guzzlers. Some are already reaching 265 miles on a single charge. With battery prices plummeting and charging stations set to multiply, one company stands out as the #1 stock to buy according to Zacks research. It's not the one you think. See This Ticker Free >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Click for Free Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) Stock Analysis Report >> Click for Free Extreme Networks, Inc. (EXTR) Stock Analysis Report >> Click for Free International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) Stock Analysis Report >> Click for Free Salesforce.com Inc (CRM) Stock Analysis Report >> To read this article on Zacks.com click here. With job additions disappointing, Marchs jobs report appears to be particularly dismal at first glance. But a more nuanced look at the data reveals that the situation is not as bad as it seems. In fact, a significant fall in unemployment and steady wage gains indicates that the labor market remains healthy. This could provide investors with respite, given that expectations that the new administration will act to boost employment continue to persist. At present, professional and financial services, mining and healthcare are at the forefront of job gains. This is why adding stocks from these areas to your portfolio makes for a prudent option. Job Additions Plummet, Weather to Blame At 98,000, Marchs job additions are the lowest experienced since May last year. The figure may seem to be particularly worrying given February and Januarys job additions stand at 219,000 and 216,000, respectively. Additionally, these gains were revised downward by 38,000 as a whole. However, most of the decline could be attributable to sudden changes in the weather. A major storm developed in the North East during the week when the survey took place. Also, the East Coast witnessed colder weather in March after two warm months. This likely explains the sudden hiring slowdown for retail and construction sectors. In March, construction added only 6,000 jobs, after experiencing an increase of 59,000 in February. Meanwhile, the retail trade witnessed 30,000 job losses with employment at general merchandise stores experiencing a decline of 35,000. However, a lions share of this decline is attributable to a decline in brick and mortar stores as the popularity of online retail grows. Key Unemployment Indexes Fall, Wage Growth Firm Hidden behind the more visible payrolls number is a significant fall in unemployment. The jobless rate declined from 4.7% to 4.5%, its lowest on record in the last 10 years. Additionally, the labor force participation rate for March held steady at 63.0%. Story continues Coming to even broader measures of unemployment, the U5 rate, which takes into account discouraged workers and people only sporadically looking for jobs, declined to 5.4%. This is the lowest level witnessed since May 2007. The absolute number of discouraged workers declined to 460,000, the second lowest experienced since Aug 2008. Moreover, the U6 unemployment rate, that includes people forced into part-time work, declined to 8.9%, the lowest level experienced since Dec 2007. Meanwhile, wage gains remained steady with average hourly earnings increasing by 2.7% on a year over year basis. This increase remains slightly above the average level witnessed since the beginning of last year. Our Choices Despite the significantly low number of job additions witnessed last month, there is enough evidence to show that the labor market is in good shape. This borne out by the ADP report released earlier in the week as well as data on unemployment and wage increases featured in Fridays report itself. Picking stocks from professional and financial services as well as mining and healthcare seems to be a smart option at this point, since they continue to be leading job additions. However, picking winning stocks may be difficult. This is where our VGM score comes in. Here V stands for Value, G for Growth and M for Momentum and the score is a weighted combination of these three scores. Such a score allows you to eliminate the negative aspects of stocks and select winners. However, it is important to keep in mind that each Style Score will carry a different weight while arriving at a VGM score. We have narrowed down our search to the following stocks based on a good Zacks Rank and VGM score. SP Plus Corporation SP provides professional parking, ground transportation, facility maintenance, security and event logistics services to property owners and managers. SP Plus has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and a VGM Score of A. The company has expected earnings growth of 18.9% for the current year. The forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio for the current financial year (F1) is 20.89, lower than the industry average of 21.59. The stock has returned 16.3% year-to-date outperforming the Zacks Consumer Services - Miscellaneous Market sector, which has gained 4.4% over the same period. BGC Partners, Inc. BGCP is a leading global full-service inter-dealer broker, specializing in the trading of financial instruments and related derivatives products. BGC Partners has a Zacks Rank #1 and a VGM Score of A. The company has expected earnings growth of 19.1% for the current year. Its earnings estimate for the current year has improved by 5.3% over the last 30 days. The stock has returned 7.7% year-to-date, outperforming the Zacks Financial - Investment Bank Market sector, which has lost 4.4% over the same period. Dycom Industries Inc. DY provides diverse services such as engineering, construction, maintenance and installation services for the cable and telephone companies. Dycom has a VGM Score of B. The company has expected earnings growth of 22.3% for the current year. Its earnings estimate for the current year has improved by 6.2% over the last 60 days. The stock has returned 17.8% year-to-date, outperforming the Zacks Building Products - Heavy Construction Market sector, which has gained 0.9% over the same period. The stock has a Zacks Rank #1. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. HCA Holdings, Inc. HCA is the largest non-governmental operator of acute care hospitals in the U.S. HCA Holdings has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and a VGM Score of A. The company has expected earnings growth of 8% for the current year. Its earnings estimate for the current year has improved by 0.2% over the last 30 days. The stock has returned 18.7% year-to-date, outperforming the Zacks Medical - Hospital Market sector, which has gained 17.9% over the same period. Klondex Mines Ltd. KLDX is focused on exploration, development and production of mineral properties. It primarily explores for gold and silver properties in Nevada. Klondex Mines has a Zacks Rank #2 and a VGM Score of B. The company has expected earnings growth of more than 100% for the current year. Its earnings estimate for the current year has improved by 22.2% over the last 30 days. Zacks' Hidden Trades While we share many recommendations and ideas with the public, certain moves are hidden from everyone but selected members of our portfolio services. Would you like to peek behind the curtain today and view them? Starting now, for the next month, I invite you to follow all Zacks' private buys and sells in real time from value to momentum... from stocks under $10 to ETF to option movers... from insider trades to companies that are about to report positive earnings surprises (we've called them with 80%+ accuracy). You can even look inside portfolios so exclusive that they are normally closed to new investors. Click here for Zacks' secret trade>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Dycom Industries, Inc. (DY): Free Stock Analysis Report BGC Partners, Inc. (BGCP): Free Stock Analysis Report HCA Holdings, Inc. (HCA): Free Stock Analysis Report Klondex Mines Ltd. (KLDX): Free Stock Analysis Report SP Plus Corporation (SP): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Insec condemns govt decision to withdraw cases of Tharu, Madhes agitation Informal Sector Service Center (Insec) has condemned the government decision to withdraw cases against 500 individuals, including those accused of heinous crimes during the Tharuhat and Madhes movements of 2015. Former CIA Director John Brennan speaking at the SALT conference in Las Vegas on May 18, 2017. Credit: Reuters President Trump complains repeatedly about leaks in Washington. Hes got a bit of distinguished company. What I have found appalling is the number of leaks that have taken place over the last several months, former CIA Director John Brennan said at the SALT conference in Las Vegas, the annual gathering of hedge-fund managers and other financiers. This needs to be stopped. Brennan was CIA director during President Obamas second term, stepping down in January, when Mike Pompeo replaced him. Brennan said Trump made a serious mistake when he reportedly shared sensitive intelligence with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, in an Oval Office meeting in early May. But this mistake wasnt sharing intelligence; it was violating the protocol for doing so. I shared intelligence with the Russians when I was the director of the CIA, Brennan said. But you share that through intelligence channels, and you make sure you word it in such as way as to not reveal sources and methods. President Trump didnt do that. Brennan said the press coverage of Trumps impromptu intelligence reveal was hyperbolic and possibly more damaging than anything Trump revealed. The damage that was done is what was leaked in the aftermath, what was put in the media. The real damage to national security is the leaks. He suggested, without saying so explicitly, that news accounts revealed more sensitive information than Trump did. The real damage to national security is the leaks, Brennan said. These individuals who still stay within the government and are leaking this stuff to the press need to be brought to task. Confidential tip line: rickjnewman@yahoo.com Read more: A rolling update from the SALT conference Scaramucci: Trump could still be one of our best presidents in the modern era Big money pros predict next big trade Trump is the wrong kind of businessperson to be president Rick Newman is the author of four books, including Rebounders: How Winners Pivot from Setback to Success. Follow him on Twitter: @rickjnewman. RENO, NV--(Marketwired - May 03, 2017) - Klondex Mines Ltd. (KDX.TO) (NYSE MKT: KLDX) ("Klondex" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on project development activities and underground drilling at its Hollister Mine ("Hollister") located in northern Nevada, USA. These drill results will be included in the Company's initial mineral resource estimate scheduled to be released in the second quarter. Project Development Highlights: Rehabbed approximately 4,000 feet of underground workings in the main zone Replaced approximately 4,000 feet of air and water lines Repaired the dewatering system, ventilation system, electrical sub-station and underground mobile equipment Actively developing the Gloria vein system including approximately 1,025 feet and 2,600 feet of waste and ore development, respectively Initial mineral resource estimate for the Gloria vein system in the second quarter Gloria Vein System Underground Drilling Highlights: (see TABLE 1 for complete results) G17-041: 12.96 opt AuEq over 1.4 ft., or 444.3 g/t over 0.4 m G17-044: 4.18 opt AuEq over 4.0 ft., or 143.3 g/t over 1.2 m G16-021: 2.57 opt AuEq over 1.6 ft., or 88.1 g/t over 0.5 m G16-018: 1.35 opt AuEq over 4.3 ft., or 46.3 g/t over 1.3 m G16-010: 0.75 opt AuEq over 4.2 ft., or 25.7 g/t over 1.3 m KEY POINTS: Thirty Nine underground core holes totaling 14,656 ft. (4,467 m) were drilled during this reporting period. The intent of this drill program was to infill the pre-existing drill holes to increase the drill hole density in the Gloria zone. This will allow the Company to produce an initial mineral resource estimate for the Gloria vein system, which is expected to be released in the second quarter. Mr. Brian Morris, Senior Vice President, Exploration said, "We are seeing excellent grades and widths in the drill results which are consistent with what was historically mined in the main Hollister Mine." Mr. Morris continued, "Moreover the mineralized vertical extent appears to be similar to the Main Hollister workings." Story continues Assays were performed by American Assay of Sparks, Nevada, as directed under the supervision of Klondex staff. This organization is an ISO 17025 accredited independent laboratory. Underground drill core samples were assayed using a fire assay one-assay ton method with an ICP finish. If initial Au assays were > 5ppm or Ag was > 200ppm the sample is re-assayed with a gravimetric finish. The quality control and assurance program included the insertion of standards and blanks, the retention of pulps and rejects. The core lengths are actual lengths as drilled and were not adjusted for the true width of the mineralized zones. About Klondex Mines Ltd. (www.klondexmines.com) Klondex is a well-capitalized, junior-tier gold and silver mining company focused on exploration, development, and production in a safe, environmentally responsible, and cost-effective manner. The Company has 100% interests in three producing mineral properties: the Fire Creek Mine and the Midas Mine and ore milling facility, both of which are located in the state of Nevada, USA, and the True North Gold Mine (formerly known as the Rice Lake Mine) and mill in Manitoba, Canada. The Company also has 100% interests in two recently acquired projects, the Hollister mine and the Aurora mine and ore milling facility (formerly known as Esmeralda), also located in Nevada, USA. Qualified Person Scientific and technical information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Brian Morris (AIPG CPG-11786), a "qualified person" within the meaning of NI 43-101. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Information This news release contains certain information that may constitute forward-looking information or forward-looking statements under applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking information"), including but not limited to the exploration potential at the Hollister Mine; and the preparation of an initial resource estimate and the timing thereof. This forward-looking information entails various risks and uncertainties that are based on current expectations, and actual results may differ materially from those contained in such information. These uncertainties and risks include, but are not limited to, the strength of the global economy; the price of gold; operational, funding and liquidity risks; the degree to which mineral resource estimates are reflective of actual mineral resources; the degree to which mineral reserve estimates are reflective of actual mineral reserves; the degree to which factors which would make a mineral deposit commercially viable are present; the risks and hazards associated with underground operations; and the ability of Klondex to fund its substantial capital requirements and operations. Risks and uncertainties about the Company's business are more fully discussed in the Company's disclosure materials filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada and United States available at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov, respectively. Readers are urged to read these materials. Klondex assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from such information unless required by law. Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors Regarding the Use of Mining Terms This news release has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of U.S. securities laws. All resource and reserve estimates included or referred to in this news release have been prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators that establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. These standards differ significantly from the mineral reserve disclosure requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC") set out in Industry Guide 7. Consequently, reserve and resource information contained in this news release is not comparable to similar information that would generally be disclosed by U.S. companies in accordance with the rules of the SEC. Attachment Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2017/5/2/11G137618/Copy_of_Copy_of_Gloria_Intercepts_Final-c646542e3c128e15914716710629b79e.pdf Jared Kushner President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, personally intervened in a $110 billion arms deal to Saudi Arabia to get the Saudis a better deal, The New York Times reported on Thursday. US officials say the Trump administration planned to announce $110 billion in sales of advanced military equipment and training to Saudi Arabia this weekend when Trump visits the country. The package includes tanks, combat ships, missile-defense systems, radar and communications and cybersecurity technology. The announcement is expected Saturday. Officials providing details were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Much of the package builds on commitments made before Trump took office. The Times reported that Kushner personally called the CEO of Lockheed Martin, Marillyn A. Hewson, to get the Saudis a better price on a sophisticated radar system that can shoot down ballistic missiles. "As his guests watched slack-jawed, Ms. Hewson told him she would look into it," officials told The Times. While Kushner's intervention was unusual, it was not technically illegal. Separately on Friday, the administration told Congress it would sell some $500 million in precision-guided munitions to Saudi Arabia. The State Department says the munitions will improve Saudi targeting ability, particularly in Yemen, where it has been criticized for civilian deaths in its fight against Iranian-backed rebels. Watch news, TV and more Yahoo View, available on iOS and Android. More From Business Insider GV founder Bill Maris is venturing out on his own with an ode to Star Trek to source investments in frontier technology. By Baz Hiralal Bill Maris, the founder and first CEO of Alphabet Inc.s GV, launched venture capital fund Section 32 with $150 million. When he left the unit formerly known as Google Ventures, Maris reportedly planned to raise $100 million as recently as March and target investments in healthcare and biotech. More recently, he told TechCrunch, that certainly healthcare and biotech are areas that I care a lot about, but Im interested in technologies in every field. Maris continued: In fact, biotech and healthcare have gotten to be a bit too trendy of a space lately, and I am leaning back a bit while that trend plays out. As for the funds funds, Recode reported in December that people who saw a fundraising deck said the target was $230 million but Maris said he scrapped the idea a few days later. By March it was reported that he would raise $100 million but hit $150 million after strong interest, he told TC. GV operates with independence from Alphabet and with Maris lead, it invested in companies such as Uber, Nest, Slack and, illustrating his life sciences fondness, put $130 million in Flatiron Health, a cancer genomics oncology database. He created Googles Calico project, a multi-billon-dollar company focused on the study of the genetic basis of aging. Maris, who is interested in anti-aging and artificial intelligence, has a degree in neuroscience from Middlebury College. His LinkedIn profile redirects to Wikipedia, which says Maris began his career as a biotechnology and healthcare portfolio manager for Swedish investment firm Investor AB, where he and 23andMe founder Anne Wojiciki shared an office. The page notes Section 32 focuses on frontier technology (and that he is a practicing magician). In an ode to that investing freedom, Maris is said to have named the new fund in a reference to Star Trek. For the non-Trekkie readers, Fandom explains that Article 14, Section 31 of the Starfleet Charter made allowances for bending Starfleet regulations in times of extraordinary threat. The section was cited as the foundation for Section 31, the website informs, to create an officially-nonexistent and autonomous clandestine organization which claimed to protect the security interests of United Earth and, later, the United Federation of Planets. That may help explain Maris move to not be restricted in his investments by what has become trendy, operating outside of the norm. By Denis Pinchuk SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Igor Sechin, the head of Russia's largest oil producer Rosneft, said on Wednesday once the global deal to cut oil production expires, it should be ended in a way to avoid causing price volatility. He said he had asked Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak to negotiate a smooth exit mechanism with OPEC and the other leading oil producers party to the output cut agreement. Saudi Arabia and Russia, the world's top two oil producers, have agreed on the need to extend output cuts for a further nine months, until March 2018, to rein in a global glut. "We have asked our minister to agree with partners such a mechanism within the framework of this deal so that the exit from it, once it expires, would be quite smooth and won't lead to serious volatility," Sechin, a long-standing ally of President Vladimir Putin, told reporters. He said the "information about the agreement extension has already had an impact on the market, the price has corrected up", adding the main objective of the deal was to stabilise oil prices by the end of the agreement. The deal between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other leading oil producers, including Russia, foresees combined oil production cuts of almost 1.8 million barrels per day in the fist six months of 2017. ESSAR Rosneft has been struggling to complete its $12.9 billion acquisition of India's Essar Oil because six of Essar's Indian creditors have yet to approve the deal, sources close to the talks said. Sechin played down the difficulties with the deal. "When you are engaged in deals, you'll understand what it is. When there is a group of participants, there are banks. Proceedings should be agreed with all of them," he said. "It would be quite quick," he responded to the question about the completion of the deal. Rosneft has said it was expected to be completed by the end of June. "There are several participants, there is a need to obtain anti-monopoly approval, other authorisations ... The deal is not simple, everything will be normal, this is a good project," Sechin said. (Reporting by Denis Punchuk; writing by Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by David Evans) PRESS RELEASE Mithra AND Gynial SIGN COMMERCIALIZATION AGREEMENT FOR MyringTM in Austria Mithra grants non-exclusive 10-year license for vaginal contraception ring Myring TM to Gynial GmbH for commercialization in Austria Agreement follows US license granted to Mayne Pharma MyringTM to be manufactured at Mithra CDMO Liege, Belgium, 19 May 2017 - Mithra (Euronext Brussels: MITRA), a company dedicated to Women's Health, today announced a non-exclusive, 10-year license and supply agreement with Gynial GmbH, for the commercialization of MyringTM, Mithra's combined hormonal contraceptive vaginal ring made of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers (EVA), in Austria. Gynial, an expert in Women's Health, is the market leader in contraceptives in Austria. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed. Under the terms of the agreement, Gynial will have the rights to sell MyRingTM in Austria, a market worth approximately EUR 2.5m[1]. Mithra will exclusively manufacture and supply the product to Gynial from its CDMO[2] research and manufacturing center. In addition to an upfront payment and future milestones Mithra anticipates annual revenues following commercial launch of MyRingTM, which is expected in Q4 2018. In February, Mithra announced an exclusive long-term license and supply agreement with Mayne Pharma, a leading specialty pharmaceutical company, for the commercialization of Myring(TM) in the US. Francois Fornieri, CEO Mithra Pharmaceuticals: "Following the US agreement for MyringTM with Mayne Pharma, we are very pleased to announce this second agreement with Gynial for the Austrian market. This new partnership - our first licensing agreement for MyringTM in Europe - further demonstrates Mithra's global attractiveness to specialist Women's Health players, while underlininig our expertise in polymer technology and manufacturing capabilities at our state-of-the art CDMO facility. Gynial is an excellent partner with whom we look forward to working with to commercialize our vaginal ring in the Austrian market." About Gynial Gynial is an Austrian pharmaceutical company founded in 2007. The company has a key focus on Women's Health, and on contraception in particular. The company is market leader for oral contraceptives on the Austrian market. About Myring Myring is developed to be a generic of Nuvaring vaginal ring, still under patent protection up to April 2018 both in the US and in EU. Myring(TM) (etonogestrel/ethinyl estradiol vaginal ring) is a non-biodegradable, flexible, transparent, combination contraceptive vaginal ring, with an outer diameter of 54 mm and a cross-sectional diameter of 4 mm. It is made of ethylene vinylacetate copolymers, and contains 11.7 mg etonogestrel and 2.7 mg ethinyl estradiol. When placed in the vagina, each ring releases, in line with the originator (Nuvaring), on average 0.120 mg/day of etonogestrel and 0.015 mg/day of ethinyl estradiol over a three-week period of use. The ring is to remain in place continuously for three weeks. It is removed for a one-week break, during which a withdrawal bleed usually occurs. A new ring is inserted one week after the last ring was removed. For more information, please contact: Press Julie Dessart Chief Communication Officer +32 4 349 28 22 +32 475 86 41 75 press@mithra.com Investor Relations Francois Fornieri, CEO +32 4 349 28 22 Sofie Van Gijsel +32 485 19 14 15 investorrelations@mithra.com Consilium Strategic Communications Jonathan Birt, Sue Stuart, Hendrik Thys, Cameron Standage +44 2 037 095 700 mithra@consilium-comms.com About Mithra Mithra (Euronext: MITRA) is dedicated to providing innovation and choice in women's health, with a particular focus on fertility, contraception and menopause. Mithra's goal is to develop new and improved products that meet women's needs for better safety and convenience. Its two lead development candidates - a fifth generation oral contraceptive, Estelle, and a next generation hormone therapy, Donesta- are built on Mithra's unique natural estrogen platform, E4 (Estetrol). Mithra also develops, manufactures and markets complex therapeutics and offers partners a complete spectrum of research, development and specialist manufacturing at its Mithra CDMO. Mithra was founded in 1999 as a spin-off of the University of Liege by Mr. Francois Fornieri and Prof. Dr. Jean-Michel Foidart. Mithra has an approximate headcount of 140 staff members and is headquartered in Liege, Belgium. Further information can be found at: www.mithra.com Important information The contents of this announcement include statements that are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements". These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the words "believes", "estimates," "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "may", "will", "plans", "continue", "ongoing", "potential", "predict", "project", "target", "seek" or "should", and include statements the Company makes concerning the intended results of its strategy. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. The Company's actual results may differ materially from those predicted by the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law. To subscribe to Mithra's newsletter, visit investors.mithra.com [1] Based on IMS Analytics 2016 [2] Contract Development & Manufacturing Organization Danish English COPENHAGEN, Denmark, May 19, 2017 - Bavarian Nordic A/S (OMX: BAVA, OTC: BVNRY) announces that the share buy-back program, which was announced and initiated on May 18, 2017 (see company announcement no. 13 / 2017), has now been terminated, as the intended number of shares under the program has been repurchased. The program was executed in accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on market abuse and supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 of 8 March 2016, which together constitute the Safe Harbour Regulation. The purpose of the program was to meet the Company's obligations arising from the share-based incentive program for the Board of Directors and Executive Management. Under the program Bavarian Nordic A/S has bought back 12,156 shares, cf. the table below: Transaction date Number of shares Average purchase price, DKK Transaction Value, DKK May 18, 2017 6,000 343.54 2,061,240.00 May 19, 2017 6,156 356.06 2,191,905.36 Accumulated under the program 12,156 349.88 4,253,145.36 The details for each transaction made under the share repurchase program have been attached to this announcement. With the transactions stated above, Bavarian Nordic A/S owns a total of 23,300 own shares, corresponding to 0.07 % of the share capital. The total amount of shares in the company is 31,469,213 including treasury shares. About Bavarian Nordic Bavarian Nordic is a fully integrated biotechnology company focused on the development, manufacturing and commercialization of cancer immunotherapies and vaccines for infectious diseases, based on the Company's live virus vaccine platform. Through long-standing collaborations, including a collaboration with the U.S. government, Bavarian Nordic has developed a portfolio of vaccines for infectious diseases, including the non-replicating smallpox vaccine, IMVAMUNE, which is stockpiled for emergency use by the United States and other governments. The vaccine is approved in the European Union (under the trade name IMVANEX) and in Canada. Bavarian Nordic and its partner Janssen are developing an Ebola vaccine regimen, which has been fast-tracked, with the backing of worldwide health authorities, and a vaccine for the prevention and treatment of HPV. Additionally, in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute, Bavarian Nordic has developed a portfolio of active cancer immunotherapies, including PROSTVAC, which is currently in Phase 3 clinical development for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. The company has partnered with Bristol-Myers Squibb for the potential commercialization of PROSTVAC. For more information visit www.bavarian-nordic.com or follow us on Twitter @bavariannordic. Forward-looking statements This announcement includes forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of our control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning our plans, objectives, goals, future events, performance and/or other information that is not historical information. All such forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements and any other cautionary statements which may accompany the forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances after the date made, except as required by law. Contacts Rolf Sass Srensen Vice President Investor Relations (EU) Tel: +45 61 77 47 43 Seth Lewis Vice President Investor Relations (US) Tel: +1 978 341 5271 Company Announcement no. 15 / 2017 ST. LOUIS, May 19, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GeneriCo, LLC (GeneriCo), a global specialty generic drug company, today announced that the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office ruled in favor of its petition for Inter Partes Review (IPR) of the Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. U.S. Patent 8,865,688 (the 688 Patent). The PTABs decision invalidates all of the disputed claims of the '688 Patent that previously provided Apriso (extended-release capsules containing 0.375g mesalamine as a locally-acting aminosalicylate indicated for the maintenance of remission of ulcerative colitis in adults) FDA Orange Book exclusivity through May 1, 2030. Along with our IPR partner Flat Line Capital, LLC, we are pleased that the PTAB has decided to invalidate all the disputed claims of the 688 Patent, said Daniel Thompson, GeneriCo President and CEO. While more remains to be done, this is a significant step forward to lowering prescription drug costs for patients and healthcare providers in the U.S. system. Kevin Barnes, Principal of Flat Line Capital, LLC added, We believe this successful IPR outcome further validates our leadership in pharmaceutical intellectual property disputes and the effectiveness of our platform. About GeneriCo, LLC GeneriCo, LLC is a generic pharmaceutical company focused on developing and marketing niche, high barrier drugs in the United States. The Company employs a four-pillar collaboration business strategy capitalizing on managements deep industry knowledge and experience to collaborate with partners on the discovery, formulation, development and manufacture of generic drugs. The Company expects its 1st internally-developed ANDA to be filed in 2017. Man, 80, caught for four murders he committed 42 years ago Baitadi police have arrested an 80-year-old man who had been on the run after murdering four persons 42 years ago. Sushim wrote: stonecold Thanks for that analysis! I do want to work in a start up - wouldn't babson help me in that sense? I know, I'm not sold on Pepperdine either. Anyway, unless I can get any financial help, Babson is a no go either. Any suggestions on a good prep company? I wanted to sign up for the Online Manhattan (US, not the Manya) but it's like INR 65k. I've heard Manya Manhattan (Indian sub-division) isn't great... Let me know! Thanks for that analysis! I do want to work in a start up - wouldn't babson help me in that sense?I know, I'm not sold on Pepperdine either.Anyway, unless I can get any financial help, Babson is a no go either.Any suggestions on a good prep company? I wanted to sign up for the Online Manhattan (US, not the Manya) but it's like INR 65k. I've heard Manya Manhattan (Indian sub-division) isn't great...Let me know! Talking about awarding scholarships => Babson is one of those schools who is known to not award much of it. Very few people get the aid.Its rare. On top of that => They don't even award full scholarship to any candidate. Tha max you can get is 65k. And Babson is probably one of the most expensive B-schools if not the most. Now, speaking about getting into any industry be it startup or a established MNC => Babson isn't gonna help. Its acceptance rate for the MBA is 70%. Doesn't it tell you about the kinda of atmosphere? Also majority of the students are international, and it is not helpful. To sum it up => Babson is a Cop out for most international candidates who have GMAT's in 550-600's to 615's. Its not worth it if you are seeking post MBA employment in any industry. The only person for whom Babson would make sense is an entrepreneur who is looking to go back to his/her business in a couple of years. Speaking about Test prep companies. I would say => For quant, start the .Then solve questions on the GMAT-club forum using tags. Additionally make sure you are following Bunuel on the forum. He posts questions everyday. You just have to keep to it. No courses needed for Quant. For verbal get a Verbal online course. Maybe a or . Both would be fine. Regards Stone Cold _________________ AskAnshul wrote: I got a 720, should I retake my GMAT? YES- you can. Are lots of people with a 700 going to get in? No! So if you do have the lower GMAT, something else needs to be really great. Maybe it is your work experience? Your connections to global multinationals and your 5 promotions in 5 years! Or maybe it is your first class from IIT or maybe it is you co-founded a company that did really well. It could be any or all of those things- and if you have enough of them... you can break through the clutter even on a 680 GMAT.... at some programs. But with many candidates from this pool, it helps to be on solid ground for the GMAT. And then once you have the GMAT score- you still have to tell a compelling story of why this school and why it will help you with your post MBA goals. For candidates from India- do your research on the firms that hire foreign nationals. Don't say you want to work in marketing for CPG because not many US firms hire a lot of Indians to do this. Better to look to tech firms and do some tech marketing as there are several companies sponsoring MBAs for that. So pick something where you have a shot, and be compelling and specific in your reasons why this school and why this fits into your post MBA goals. If you have a 780 GMAT and you don't have a good WHY, you can still end up in the deny pile. So it is NOT all GMAT and yet the GMAT does matter. I hope that helps a bit! I have read thousands of applications from candidates from India and have a good sense of what helps and what is clutter in terms of the profile. And our Stratus team has lots of great success with candidates from India and lots of experience. If you want to find out how we can help you build a stronger profile, please reach out to us for a free consult at this link: My 2 cents on this topic is that it depends... for some schools a 720 is enough and for others if you are from this pool it will help you if you can boost even 10-20 points more to get out of the clutter. The fact of the matter is that there are MANY Indian candidates in most top MBA applicant pools. A school can only take so many- of anyone from any group- and thus will take the strongest of any given pool. So obviously having the 750, the 3 yrs as a McKinsey consultant and the top GPA from IIT is the gold standard. Now not many people are perfect in everything- but the more "over" the bar you are- on work experience, grades, school and testing you are... the more you bubble up into the set of people getting admitted. Can you get into H/S/W on a 700 from this pool?YES- you can. Are lots of people with a 700 going to get in? No! So if you do have the lower GMAT, something else needs to be really great. Maybe it is your work experience? Your connections to global multinationals and your 5 promotions in 5 years! Or maybe it is your first class from IIT or maybe it is you co-founded a company that did really well. It could be any or all of those things- and if you have enough of them... you can break through the clutter even on a 680 GMAT.... at some programs. But with many candidates from this pool, it helps to be on solid ground for the GMAT. And then once you have the GMAT score- you still have to tell a compelling story of why this school and why it will help you with your post MBA goals. For candidates from India- do your research on the firms that hire foreign nationals. Don't say you want to work in marketing for CPG because not many US firms hire a lot of Indians to do this. Better to look to tech firms and do some tech marketing as there are several companies sponsoring MBAs for that. So pick something where you have a shot, and be compelling and specific in your reasons why this school and why this fits into your post MBA goals. If you have a 780 GMAT and you don't have a good WHY, you can still end up in the deny pile. So it is NOT all GMAT and yet the GMAT does matter.I hope that helps a bit! I have read thousands of applications from candidates from India and have a good sense of what helps and what is clutter in terms of the profile. And our Stratus team has lots of great success with candidates from India and lots of experience. If you want to find out how we can help you build a stronger profile, please reach out to us for a free consult at this link: https://stratusadmissionscounseling.com ... b-visitor/ Note: Next article will be around adding personality in your application (again a weak point for Indian Candidates in particular!). Please subscribe to stay posted. Such posts are all too common across these forums and if you look closely, a good majority of these are from Indian candidates.This short post goes out particularly to all the Indian Applicants out there. While I hope this is useful to others as well, I intend to discuss this key issue which is very peculiar with Indian candidates.Indians are obsessed with numbers. No wonder that as per GMAC statistics it is estimated that Indian candidates are more than twice as likely to retake the GMAT compared to their American counterparts! The blame has to go to the Indian education system which is too numbers centric, and convinces us that it alone makes or breaks everything for us. Please understand, your GMAT score is important. However, it is only one part of your overall application. A school evaluates your overall candidacy and your GMAT is just a part of it. And there is usually no cut-off!You should consider your application as a bucket with different weights in it. One of these weights is your GMAT. The other weights are your work profile & achievements, quality of your essays, extra-curriculars, interview performance etc. You have to ensure the highest overall weight. Just working on your GMAT to improve from, say, 720 to 740 will not add much of an additional weight. That weight will have to come from other factors your application, essays, recommendations.Quality of your application can add a lot of additional weight and that requires your attention. Indian candidates are not natural at writing great applications. And that again is attributed to the fact that usually Indian candidates have little experience of such an exercise during their academic/professional years. However, rather than spending more time on this, they tend to rush through this part. This, in a lot of cases, seriously undermines the quality of the application and proves suicidal.In summary, here is what you need to do. Target a range when you prepare for your GMAT and if you have come close to that, keep it and move on to the next challenge your application. Yes, you could have done better but retaking is probably not worth it. Take your applications seriously and do a great job at it that will serve you better.Please feel free to write your comments / questions / disagreements if any. I will be happy to engage.Anshul Gupta - A female student of the Lagos state Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) dies after drinking rat poison - She was reported to have carried out the act in her parents home - The reason why she killed herself is still unknown Tears flow as friends and family members of late Damilola Adegoke are yet to unravel the mystery behind the death of this beautiful young lady. Legit.ng gathered that Adegoke was a Business Administration student at the Lagos state Polytechnic before her demise. According to one of her friends, the young lady was reported to have drank a bottle of popular insecticide, Sniper, in order to take her own life. She was found lifeless on her bed the next morning covered in her own vomit. Late Damilola Adegoke READ ALSO: Family cries for justice after boy, 25, was killed by popular chief in Imo (photos) Late Adegoke was described as a brilliant and hardworking young lady but her friends and families are yet to understand why she would kill herself. However, a lot of tributes have been pouring in as one of her friends Shittu Kehinde Jamiu wrote: No matter the circumstances, worries, troubles, disaster never look down on yourself and always pray hard. It's a pity this tight friend of mine Damilola Adegoke took snipper yesterday and gave up the ghost after uploading her pics on fb. May her soul rest in peace. See Facebook post below: PAY ATTENTION: Get all the latest gossips on NAIJ Gossip App See more tributes below: Watch Legit.ng video below: Source: Legit.ng - An Uber driver has been accused of allegedly attacking a passenger after trying to extort her for money - The driver had told the passenger to pay him N10,000 for the trip A Facebook user Famutimi Femi has exposed an Uber driver he claimed tried to extort his female friend of money. According to Femi, the driver he identified as Jude Idoko picked up his friend from her house to Yaba. After picking up the lady, the Uber driver requested that she makes the trip off the book and told her to pay N10,000 for the trip. Uber driver allegedly attacks a passenger he tried to extort READ ALSO: Woman caught on camera rubbing the fruits she sells between her legs(video) Femi explained that after his friend refused Idokos demands, he got angry and started shouting at her. He said the driver then grabbed her bag and tried to punch her but she immediately wound down the car window and started screaming. The Facebook user further added that his friend is now traumatized and scared because of the horrible incident. There has been an increase in the rate at which drivers working for the popular transport service attack customers who patronize the service. Legit.ng had earlier reported an incident of an Uber driver who allegedly brutalised a passenger because she did not respect him. PAY ATTENTION: Get all the latest gossips on NAIJ Gossip App Could this terrible problem in Uber services be regarded as mismanagement in the company or is it really the passengers that are at fault? Meanwhile, Nigerian women in Ogun state marched against gender-based violence. They were ably supported by Governor Ibikunle Amosun. Watch their protest on Legit.ng TV below: Source: Legit.ng - A Nigerian man has shared an unimaginable detail about his village - He said people in his village fetch and store water in baskets A Nigerian man identified as Uche Ezechukwu has taken to his Facebook page to share a startling piece of information about his village with the world. The elderly man revealed that people in his village do fetch and store water in baskets. Legit.ng gathered that the Ezechukwu hails from Amesi in Aguata local government area of Anambra state. Ezechukwu who studied at University of Nigeria, Nsukka knew this revelation was going to be struck out as being impossible by people, thus, he validated his point by telling them it is real and not a joke. Nigerians and many people outside the country share the belief that fetching water in baskets is near impossible due to the structure of the material used in making them. Storing water in the perforated baskets also sounds weird to some people. A basket with water stored in it. READ ALSO: Woman caught on camera rubbing the fruits she sells between her legs(video) The Facebook post made by Ezechukwu generated a whole lot of reactions as people shared their thoughts on the issue while some simply called it a bluff. Uche Ezerechkwu shares photo of water fetched in a basket without leaking in his village See the initial post made by the Ezechukwu: Some Nigerians frowned at it while saying the village must have been dwelling on magical powers gotten from demons. They believe only God has the power to do such thing as the villagers who are showing off were said to have sacrificed human beings to be in possession of such powers. Check out some of the reactions gathered from the post below: PAY ATTENTION: Install the latest android app and get updates from Nigeria's number one online news platform Now that you have seen it all, what do you believe? Is this true? Please share your thoughts with us in the comment section. One has to accept that some Nigerians are quite talented and have the power to do certain things that will strike other people as being extraordinary. The Legit.ng TV video below shows the Nigerian woman who can drum with her hands, feet and head: Source: Legit.ng As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ Moving with the times Nepals security forces should be expanded and diversified to meet new challenges NEFIN welcomes govt's decision to withdraw cases National Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN), the umbrella body of Nepali indigenous nationalities, has welcomed the government's decision to withdraw the cases filed against the indigenous right activists. UN and Yeti Airlines sign pact to promote SDGs Yeti Airlines and the United Nations have entered into a new partnership for the promotion and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nepal. The United States is expressing concern over a clash involving protesters and supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The clash happened Tuesday in Washington, D.C., near the home of Turkeys ambassador. Erdogan had met with President Donald Trump at the White House earlier in the day. Parts of the clash were caught on video by VOAs Turkish Service. State Department official Heather Nauert said in a statement the U.S. concerns would be communicated to the Turkish government "in the strongest possible way. Violence is never an appropriate response to free speech, and we support the rights of people everywhere to free expression and peaceful protest, the statement said. VOAs Turkish Service said the protesters were supporters of Selahattin Demirtas, a jailed pro-Kurdish lawmaker. Turkish officials arrested him in November on terrorism-related charges. Rights groups condemned his arrest as part of a government crackdown on dissent. The protesters said they were demonstrating peacefully until Erdogans guards and supporters suddenly moved toward them. Video shows men wearing dark suits and others hitting and kicking protesters. Police appeared to struggle to keep the two groups separated. At least 11 people were injured in the violence. Two arrests were made and Washington, D.C. police said other suspects were being sought. Police said they were checking reports that some of the attackers worked as bodyguards for the Turkish president. Turkeys embassy blamed the violence on groups linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) a group fighting the government. An embassy statement said the group had aggressively provoked Turkish-American citizens who had gathered to greet Erdogan. Washingtons police chief, mayor and several U.S. lawmakers condemned the violence. Senator John McCain, a Republican, urged the Trump administration to expel the Turkish ambassador over the incident. Im Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn adapted this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from VOA News, the Associated Press and Reuters. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story appropriate adj. suitable or right for a particular situation suit n. clothing consisting of pants and a jacket dissent n. public disagreement with an official opinion provoke v. cause someone to become angry or violent Credit: CC0 Public Domain Medical errors are a leading cause of death in the United States, with some research suggesting that errors can cause as many 250,000 fatalities each year. The medical community has made strides to normalize and encourage error disclosure for physicians and medical trainees in order to improve patient safety and health care outcomes, but these guidelines fall short when it comes to addressing the social psychology that influences how and when physicians and medical trainees disclose errors and how they manage the consequences of those errors. In a paper published this month in Medical Education authors Neha Vapiwala, MD, an associate professor of Radiation Oncology and vice chair of Education in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Jason Han, a fourth-year student in the Perelman School of Medicine, call for better education and training focused on the psychological challenges that coincide with errors and error disclosure in order to improve outcomes and reduce the number and severity of medical errors. "We must transform the culture of error disclosure in the medical community from one that is often punitive to one that is restorative and supportive," Vapiwala said. "And to do that, we must tend to the psychological challenges that medical professionals wrestle with when they face the possibility of disclosing an error." Initiatives such as the Disclosure, Apology, and Offer model have helped make moderate gains in creating a culture of transparency in health systems, but these efforts primarily focus on the legal and financial aspects of error disclosure and do not address other barriers, such as the fear, shame, and guilt that come with error disclosure. "Arguably, these psychological factors are harder to overcome, especially in this modern age of social media where health care providers can be reviewed and scrutinized in very public forums," Vapiwala said. "There is real concern that any little slip-up can live on the internet for the rest of someone's career." The authors identified two main cognitive biases that often hinder error disclosure: Fundamental Attribution Error (FAE), which is the tendency overestimate one's own role in a situation, and Forecasting Error (FE), the tendency to overestimate impact and duration of negative consequences while underestimating the ability to recover from those circumstances. For example, if an error led to a patient injury, the physician might initially overstate his own role in that error rather than examine any systematic reasons for why that error occurred. Secondly, he may then also overestimate the long-term consequences or recovery time for that patient, leading to feelings of both self-blame and exaggerated doom, both of which damage the physician-patient relationship and may impede a care provider from reporting the error. "Overcoming these biases is akin to suppressing a reflex. It requires self-awareness, practice, and most importantly, education and training," Vapiwala said. Looking at other fields that have high-stake consequences when an error occurs, such as the airline industry, the authors offer several strategies to overcome these patterns of thought, utilizing elements of social psychology to transform the current culture of error disclosure. Recommendations include incorporating standardized patients (SPs), actors who simulate patients, not only to "practice" difficult patient encounters, but also to help model interactions with family members, peers, and administrators in order to teach various behavior and coping mechanisms. SPs have been proven to effectively mimic the psychosocial elements of error disclosure, including profound guilt, feelings of ineptitude, and fear of repercussions. Virtual reality (VR) is another tool that can offer immersive and realistic technology to supplement traditional curricula, while also offering tremendous scalability at a lower cost than SPs. The authors cite an example of a recent VR exercise which allowed viewers to experience the perspective of a 12-year Syrian refugee to incite more compassion and understanding. While VR medical content doesn't currently exist, it is on the horizon for many medical trainees and professions. However, both SP and VR do have limitations, as the users ultimately know that the scenario is simulated. "Standardized patients and other simulated scenarios provide an excellent foundation, but until you are put into a real-world situation and forced to confront your mistake and its potential consequences, you can't truly understand the psychosocial challenges," Han said. Finally, the authors recommend implementing a professional standard for trainees, including a formal evaluation of the skills needed to disclose and cope with medical errors. This standard would further normalize error disclosure and make it a common practice among physicians and trainees. The authors conclude that the primary change will need to be cultural, not just among trainees, but at every level of medical practice, in order to successfully pivot away from the current stigma related to error disclosure. "Administrators must make a shift from asking 'who is at fault' to asking 'why' and 'how' did a situation occur, creating a culture that embraces error disclosure and seeks to solve the many systematic factors that lead to an error in the first place. This approach will not only normalize error disclosures but also help us better understand why they happen so we can prevent more of them in the future," Vapiwala said. Credit: University of Huddersfield Experts at the University of Huddersfield are researching the emergence of a new style of family creation that sees couples "adopt" embryos and, after the child is born, remain in contact with the donors and in many cases develop a special relationship with them. Some of the couples who have experienced the system so far available only in the USA and New Zealand have given highly positive responses to the UK-based research team. One comment from a recipient who had made contact with an embryo donor was: "Not only were we given our daughter, but a whole family too two families actually, or one big family." The researchers are Dr Lucy Frith, who is Reader in Bioethics at the University of Liverpool; University of Huddersfield Professor Emeritus Eric Blyth, an authority on social work who has a long track record of research into infertility treatments; and University of Huddersfield senior lecturer Dr Steve Lui, who has a background working and researching in the field of embryology. The team has been examining the policies of the Snowflakes Embryo Adoption Program, operated in the USA by the organisation Nightlight Christian Adoptions. In 1997, when it discovered that thousands of human embryos were being stored in fertility clinics, this group began to connect couples who had stored embryos that they did not plan to use themselves with couples who could not conceive and it encourages them to remain in contact. The pairings have resulted in the birth of over 500 babies, and a number of the children have met the women and men whose genetic material they carry, and their full genetic siblings living in donor families. This summer, many of them will attend an event celebrating the 20th anniversary of the scheme. In the UK, children who are born as the result of egg, sperm and embryo donation have the right, once they reach 18, to ask the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority to disclose the identity of their biological parents. Therefore, the Snowflakes Embryo Adoption Program in the USA proved to be a valuable research opportunity for the UK researchers. They hope to continue the project monitoring developments as the children who resulted from adopted embryos become older. Their current findings have been reported in a new article. Titled Family building using embryo adoption: relationships and contact arrangements between provider and recipient families, it appears in the leading journal Human Reproduction. The Snowflakes organisation offered its clients the opportunity to participate in the research, conducted by email. The article describes study participants' responses and the statistical data that it yielded. Phase Two of the project provided participants in the embryo adoption programme with the opportunity to give their appraisal of the scheme and several comments from both recipient and donor couples are relayed in the article. They include: To be able to have an open adoption so our children could know each other and we could watch our biological children grow up; that option was priceless for us. It is extremely important to us that some kind of contact is maintained with the adopting family. We would like our own children to know of their distant siblings, and, if possible, develop a relationship with them. We want [child] to have a positive sense of identity. We want her to know her story and history (as complete as possible). Understanding her history and where she comes from will help her to understand who she is. We are all family now. No other questions or decisions are needed. They are great folks and the girls are sisters which is what is most important to me. In their conclusion, the article's authors acknowledge that: "The use of embryos provided by a third party for family building is a contested form of reproductive technology. A conditional programme of embryo donation, such as that which operates in New Zealand and of which Snowflakes is an example, is even more contentious and couching embryo donation as adoption has caused controversy". But they add that "conditional or embryo adoption programmes could provide an alternative to an anonymous, clinic-based model and give those who have unused embryos the opportunity to choose who they wish to donate to and if they wish to have and maintain contact in the longer term". Dr Steve Lui, one of the researchers, said that an open adoption system could prove to be better. It enables children to learn about genetic factors that could be important for medical reason. "Also, the issue of 'where do I come from?' is very important for the child in the long term. If you are open about it, then it won't come as a shock at a later point in their life." Professor Blyth added: "Our study sheds light on how different families that become connected to each other following open embryo donation/adoption relate to each other. This is likely to become a more common pattern of family relations as policies and practices regarding gamete and embryo donation embrace increased transparency." More information: Lucy Frith et al. Family building using embryo adoption: relationships and contact arrangements between provider and recipient familiesa mixed-methods study, Human Reproduction (2017). Journal information: Human Reproduction Lucy Frith et al. Family building using embryo adoption: relationships and contact arrangements between provider and recipient familiesa mixed-methods study,(2017). DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dex048 Community health workers like these visit patients homes in Malawi to help prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Credit: Baylor College of Medicine Children's FoundationMalawi/Chris Cox, CC BY-ND President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order that media reports say could obstruct nearly US$8.8 billion the U.S. spends annually to fight deadly diseases abroad. Here, Maureen Miller, a Columbia University Medical Center professor and infectious disease epidemiologist with training in medical anthropology, answers five questions about this move, including what it has to do with abortion. 1. What's at stake? Three of the biggest killers in the developing world are AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Currently 36.7 million people are living with HIV/AIDS, a third of the world's population is infected with tuberculosis and more than one million people die from malaria each year. Trump's executive order endangers $6.8 billion in annual funding for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Former President George W. Bush created this initiative, known as PEPFAR, to help save the lives of people suffering from HIV/AIDS. The U.S. put $1.35 billion of that money into the the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria last year. This independent organization is the largest entity dedicated to preventing and treating these diseases. The U.S., its top donor, covers half the Global Fund's operating costs, but that represents only a quarter of what our nation spends to fight these diseases internationally. Some $600 million in family planning aid is affected, as is other spending slated for global health. Although I follow these issues closely, I have been unable to find a complete breakdown of the widely reported $8.8 billion affected. Women compose 51 percent of the people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide. Since 60 percent of the people with the virus in sub-Saharan Africa are women, they may bear the brunt of this move. 2. How does the US support global efforts to fight and treat HIV/AIDS? PEPFAR, primarily implemented through USAID, the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, emphasizes improving the health of women, newborns and children. Among its biggest achievements has been integrating AIDS relief and reproductive health services, since HIV is transmitted primarily through unprotected sex. Until now, PEPFAR has commanded broad bipartisan support, perhaps due to its well-documented success. For the first time since the HIV/AIDS epidemic began in the 1980s, new HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa which accounts for almost two-thirds of all people living with HIV/AIDS are decreasing. Former President Bush, who traveled to Botswana and Namibia in April, still champions the program. Eunice Adhiambo, an HIV-positive Kenyan woman, and her HIV-negative daughter Jyll. Credit: Riccardo Gangale/USAID Kenya 3. How is global health aid connected to abortion? An estimated 303,000 women, primarily in developing countries, die yearly from complications due to pregnancy, childbirth and abortion, and those are the leading causes of death among adolescent girls globally. Approximately one-third of maternal deaths could be prevented if all women had access to effective contraception. The U.S. is the world's largest supporter of family planning and reproductive health services. It is also one of the largest purchasers and distributors of contraceptives. No federal funds have paid for abortions, however, since 1973 either internationally or at home. All nongovernmental organizations receiving U.S. support must agree to this policy. In 1984, the Reagan administration expanded those restrictions by denying U.S. family-planning money to entities that performed abortions or promoted the practice. Subsequent Democratic presidents lifted this restriction, known either as the "Mexico City policy" or the "global gag rule," while Republican presidents reinstated it. Trump framed his new order as "Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance," but it's unlikely to reduce the number of abortions performed in poor countries. A 2011 study by Stanford University researchers found that abortion rates in sub-Saharan African countries rose when the standard restrictions were in force from 2001 to 2008. 4. How does Trump's action stray from Republican precedents? The Trump administration has expanded the policy's reach, broadening it to encompass all foreign health care providers that receive U.S. funding rather than only those that get family planning dollars. For example, any group that does sexual health education to prevent the spread of HIV and also informs women that abortion is legal where they live will lose their U.S. support. They would have remained eligible for that money had Trump followed the pattern set by the past three Republican administrations. The exact repercussions are unknown. The State Department, under Rex Tillerson's leadership, plans to review the impact within six months. 5. Can other donors bridge the gaps? It's unclear which organizations will agree to these new restrictive terms or what will happen to spending. The administration says it will redistribute funds from organizations that refuse to comply to those that will. But those other groups may not exist. As Johnathan Rucks of the global health group PAI told The New York Times: "It's not like we have an influx of providers in places like West Africa." Given the limited alternatives, the number of unmet health needs will surely rise, particularly for women and children. In March, other governments and private funders announced they had raised $190 million for international family planning to narrow the anticipated gap caused by the Trump administration's policies. Now, that's probably just a drop in the bucket of what will be needed. Bill Gates, a philanthropist who with his wife Melinda gives more than $4 billion away every year, mostly to improve global health and fight poverty, told The Guardian that Trump's expansion of the policy could "create a void that even a foundation like ours can't fill." This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Dr Nima Gunness and her good heart muffin. Credit: University of Queensland Baking meets science in a delicious University of Queensland health initiative that really takes the cake. 'Good heart' muffin, developed by UQ scientists, could help lower the risk of heart disease. UQ Centre for Nutrition and Food Sciences scientist and keen baker Dr Nima Gunness said the muffins contained three grams of beta glucans a healthy soluble fibre that occurs naturally in the cell walls of oats and cereals, and meets the food standard guidelines for cholesterol-lowering properties. "There is good evidence that three grams or more of oats beta glucan consumption a day can help reduce cholesterol levels," Dr Gunness said. Her work follows an earlier discovery by UQ and the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls that demonstrated how beta glucan fibre in oats can slow absorption of fats to reduce blood cholesterol. "I wanted to turn my discovery into a product, like a muffin, that people could eat to help reduce the amount of cholesterol in their blood stream, lowering the risk of heart disease." Dr Gunness perfected her low-fat blueberry muffin recipe over several months. "The trick was to avoid making the muffin gluggy from all the extra oat bran and beta glucan fibre." Credit: University of Queensland Now UQ's commercialisation company UniQuest and a UQ Business School student are identifying opportunities for the muffins to be packaged, frozen, and sold in supermarkets, cafes and health food outlets around the country. "We are not suggesting that people go off any cholesterol-lowering medication," Dr Gunness said. "Rather, we are aiming to provide a convenient, healthy and very tasty way of helping to reduce cholesterol levels." Through UniQuest, Dr Gunness is working with Australian food company Priestley's Gourmet Delights to manufacture and taste-test a batch of 'good heart' muffins. "I was really amazed by how positive the consumer feedback has been," she said. "It's very exciting to see a simple everyday product come out of some fairly complex research. "Eating a muffin a day is a convenient way for people to improve their heart health." New research presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity suggests that being overweight, especially from a young age, may substantially increase the lifetime risk of major depression. The study by Deborah Gibson-Smith from VU University Medical Center in the Netherlands and colleagues found that being overweight at age 8 or 13 was associated with more than triple the risk of developing major depression at some point in their lives, whilst carrying excess weight over a lifetime (both as a child and as an adult) quadrupled the chance of developing depression compared to only being overweight as an adult. More than one in three children in the USA are overweight and nearly one in five children aged between 2 and 19 years are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A similar picture emerges in England where one in three 10- and 11-year-olds in their last primary school year are now overweight or obese, according to the National Child Measurement Programme. Previous studies have shown that people who are obese are more likely to become depressed, but few have looked at the influence of early-life obesity over the long term, or the age-related effect of obesity on depression risk. In this new study, the researchers investigated the relationship between overweight during childhood and lifetime depression in 889 participants from the population-based AGES (Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility)-Reykjavik study (2002-06) a follow-up study of a longitudinal study examining people born between 1907-35 and living in Reykjavik, Iceland in 1967. They also examined whether the detrimental effect of obesity on mental health is due to life-long obesity or the result of being overweight in adulthood. Between 2002 and 2006 a random sample of surviving participants from the Reykjavik study were invited to join the AGES study. Participants, whose average age was 75 years, were assessed to see whether they had current depressive symptoms or had ever had a major depressive disorder in the past. Information about height and weight at ages 8 to 13 were obtained retospectively from school records, and from mid-life (age around 50 years) was from the data collection previously done as part of the Reykjavik study (started in 1967). A BMI of between 25 and 29.9 was considered overweight. During the study, 39 participants were diagnosed as ever having had major depression. The data were adjusted for sex and the age at which the BMI measurements were taken. The analysis revealed that carrying excess weight in childhood is a stronger predictor of subsequent depression than being overweight in mid-life. The researchers estimate that being overweight or obese at age 8 or 13 years is associated with a more than 4-times increased risk of lifetime major depressive disorder compared with children who were normal weight as a child but went on to become overweight as adults (a statistically significant result). This is an observational study so no conclusions can be drawn about cause and effect. But the findings confirm earlier studies which report an increased risk of depression in young people who are obese. The authors conclude: "Our findings suggest that some of the underlying mechanisms linking overweight or obesity to depression stem from childhood. A shared genetic risk or low self-esteem, which is frequently associated with those who do not conform to the ideal body type, could be responsible. Given the rise in adolescents' obesity and greater influence of social media on body image, understanding the associations between childhood obesity and depression is critical." Provided by European Association for the Study of Obesity Credit: Shutterstock Early warning of increased levels of pollen in the atmosphere could help allergy or asthma sufferers anticipate the onset of illness and begin preventative measures, new research finds. Asthmatics may be able to avoid going to hospital with early warning and better understanding of the pollen in their environment, new research finds. The study by Dr Nicholas Osborne of the UNSW School of Public Health and Community Medicine, with UK-based colleagues, found there was an association between daily grass pollen counts and adult hospital admissions for asthma in London, with a 4-5-day lag. The team from University of Exeter and the Met Office applied an analysis using data from seven consecutive years to find the links between pollen in the air and visits to hospital with asthma. Dr Osborne says many of the grasses in Australia are different but some were imported from England and are expected to cause similar allergic responses. He hopes to do a similar study to better understand the pollens Australian asthmatics are exposed to, and how this relates to hospital presentations. "Not everyone manages their asthma particularly well and this can lead to hospitalisation, which is a big drain on the public purse," Dr Osborne says. Few people who suffer asthma or hay fever currently know what type of pollen they are sensitive to, but Dr Osborne says it can be narrowed down to a specific type of tree or grass. Usually, it's a grass pollen, as they are smaller and can travel further into the lungs. Once allergy or asthma sufferers know what triggers their symptoms and once they know it's in the atmosphere - there's the potential to anticipate the onset of illness and begin preventative measures. "In the future, we will be able to forecast a little better when there will be days of high pollen, and which type of pollen it will be, getting down into the species level," Dr Osborne says. "Then we could look at the potential for some sort of warning alert to go out that will be better tailored to individuals." In Australia, 1 in 9 people (around 2.9 million people) suffers asthma. Although pollen count data is routinely collected, it is not being harnessed to its full potential for those people with the disease. In November last year, a deadly "thunderstorm asthma" event killed nine people in Melbourne and made thousands more asthmatics seriously ill, triggered by an abundance of rye grass pollen. The research was published in the International Journal of Biometeorology. More information: Nicholas J. Osborne et al. Pollen exposure and hospitalization due to asthma exacerbations: daily time series in a European city, International Journal of Biometeorology (2017). Journal information: International Journal of Biometeorology Nicholas J. Osborne et al. Pollen exposure and hospitalization due to asthma exacerbations: daily time series in a European city,(2017). DOI: 10.1007/s00484-017-1369-2 MERS particles are attached to the surface of an infected human cell. Credit: NIAID In June 2012, a 60 year-old man with flu-like symptoms walked into a private hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Two weeks later, he died from multiple organ failure, becoming the first victim of a mysterious virus that came to be known as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome or MERS. The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified MERS as an urgent threat with no vaccine or treatment in sight. This could change thanks to a new anti-viral tool, developed by University of Toronto researchers. Writing in the journal PLoS Pathogens, the team led by Professor Sachdev Sidhu, of the Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research and Department of Molecular Genetics, describe how they turned ubiquitin, a staple protein in every cell, into a drug capable of thwarting MERS in cultured human cells. Because the technology can be applied to a wide range of pathogens, it could become a game-changer in anti-viral therapeutics with implications for human health and the farming industry. "Vaccines are important for prevention, but there is a great need for anti-viral medicines to treat people who have become infected," says Dr. Wei Zhang, a postdoctoral research fellow in Sidhu's lab who did most of the work on the study. MERS is similar to SARS, the virus that killed almost 800 people in a 2002 global epidemic. Both kill upwards of a third of people infected and, like many viruses, emerged from animalsbats and camels in the case of MERSafter mutating into a form capable of infecting human cells. Although MERS has so far been detected in 27 countries since the first case emerged in 2012, the outbreak has largely been contained within Saudi Arabia, according to the WHO. Like many viruses, MERS works by hijacking the ubiquitin system in human cells composed of hundreds of proteins that rely on ubiquitin to keep the cells alive and well. Upon infection, viral enzymes alter ubiquitin pathways in a way that allows the virus to evade the immune defense while multiplying and destroying the host tissue as it spreads in the body. "Viruses have evolved proteins that allow them to hijack host proteins. We can now devise strategies to prevent this from happening," says Zhang. Engineered ubiquitins (blue and red squiggles on the left) are similar to normal ubiquitin (orange squiggle on the right) but they can paralyze the V-shaped MERS enzyme by binding to it more tightly. Credit: Dr. Wei Zhang Zhang and colleagues engineered the human ubiquitin protein into a new form that paralyses a key MERS enzyme, stopping the virus from replicating. These synthetic ubiquitin variants act quickly, completely eliminating MERS from cells in a dish within 24 hours. The researchers also created UbVs that blocks the Crimean-Congo virus, the cause of a haemorrhagic fever that kills about 40 per cent of those infected. And they're designed to only target only the virushopefully minimizing side effects in any future drug. But before these engineered proteins can be developed into medicine, researchers first must find a way to deliver them into the right part of the body. For this, Zhang and Sidhu are working with Dr. Roman Melnyk, a biochemist in The Hospital for Sick Children and a world expert in protein delivery. The team is also investigating the possibility of finding drugs that work in a similar manner but can already cross the cell membrane. It is likely that the proteins will be tested first in plants and animals where regulatory approvals are less strict than they are for human drugs. "We are also working on an engineered ubiquitin that targets a corn virus responsible for destroying large swaths of corn fields in North America, with colleagues in Manitoba," says Zhang. In the meantime, Zhang will continue to improve delivery of his designer proteins to human cells that target not only MERS but also other viruses. He hopes others will follow suit. "With our tool, we can quickly generate anti-viral medicine and we hope that our method will inspire other researchers to try it out against diverse pathogens," says Zhang. More information: Potent and selective inhibition of pathogenic viruses by engineered ubiquitin variants, PLoS Pathogens (2017). Journal information: PLoS Pathogens Potent and selective inhibition of pathogenic viruses by engineered ubiquitin variants,(2017). journals.plos.org/plospathogen journal.ppat.1006372 Micrograph showing prostatic acinar adenocarcinoma (the most common form of prostate cancer) Credit: Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 African-American men develop prostate cancer more often than other men, and it tends to be more deadly for this population. Some of the differences seem to be due to socioeconomic factors, but scientists wondered whether the disparities are also rooted in the tumor genome. To explore whether racial disparities in prostate cancer incidence and prognosis stem from molecular and genetic differences, a team of researchers at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard including Broad institute member Levi Garraway and postdoctoral researcher Franklin Huang gathered tumor samples from 102 African-American men with prostate cancer and analyzed their exomes. The work appears in Cancer Discovery. After sequencing the exomes (protein-coding portions of the genome) from these tumors and validating their results in another 90 patients, they uncovered several mutations not recognized before in this setting. Interestingly, they found that the gene ERF, which had never been implicated in any particular cancer, was mutated in 5 percent of the men in the study. ERF is a member of the ETS family of transcription factors, and rearrangements in other ETS family genes have been found in prostate cancer and are thought to drive cancer by turning other genes on. The genetic misspellings they found in ERF, however, are so-called "loss-of-function" mutations that effectively remove the function of the gene, demonstrating that ERF is a novel prostate cancer tumor suppressor gene that normally acts to slow cancer growth. When they examined existing data on prostate cancer samples from other cohorts, such as The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project which includes people of mostly European descent, they observed that the ERF gene was deleted in 3 percent of primary prostate cancers and mutated or deleted in 3-5 percent of lethal prostate cancers that had become resistant to androgen-depleting therapy. The alterations in the TCGA samples weren't significant enough on their own to implicate ERF, but in light of the findings in the new study, support a role for the mutant gene in driving prostate cancer. The researchers also found differences in other genes, including amplifications (present in multiple copies) and deletions, but more work remains to fully explain the disparity in prostate cancer incidence and severity among patients of different ancestries. Because prostate cancer has a relatively low mutation rate compared to other cancers, many more samples may be needed. The scientists plan to look for genetic differences among larger groups of African-Americans, and to also study patients native to West Africa, a region in which African-Americans tend to have ancestry. The success of this effort in uncovering subtle genomic differences and revealing a new prostate cancer gene demonstrates the power of including diverse populations in genetic analyses. Discoveries made from studying patients of diverse ethnic backgrounds can shed light on the underlying biology of this disease for all patients. More information: Franklin W. Huang et al. Exome Sequencing of African-American Prostate Cancer Reveals Loss-of-FunctionMutations, Cancer Discovery (2017). Journal information: Cancer Discovery Franklin W. Huang et al. Exome Sequencing of African-American Prostate Cancer Reveals Loss-of-FunctionMutations,(2017). DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-16-0960 (HealthDay)Insulin typically saves the lives of those with diabetes, but it can also be a way for some people to kill themselves, a new review warns. People with the blood sugar disease tend to suffer higher rates of depression, the researchers explained. And suicide or suicide attempts using insulin or other diabetes medications that lower blood sugar levels may not always be an easy-to-spot attempt at self-harm, they added. "Some suicides with insulin are likely missed in people with diabetes, just as [suicide may be missed] in people without diabetes using other medications or after a car accident. Could a suicide using insulin be missed? Absolutely," said Alicia McAuliffe-Fogarty, vice president of lifestyle management at the American Diabetes Association. Insulin is a natural hormone produced by the body. Its job is to help usher the sugar from foods into the body's cells to provide fuel for those cells. But insulin is also a complex medication. People with type 1 diabetes no longer make enough insulin and must give themselves insulin to stay alive. People with type 2 diabetes don't use insulin efficientlythis is called insulin resistanceand eventually don't make enough insulin to keep up with the body's demands. At this point, people with type 2 diabetes also need to take insulin. Insulin can be given by multiple injections every day or via an insulin pump. Insulin pumps deliver insulin through a small tube that's inserted under the skin. The site of the insulin pump must be changed every few days. But once the tube is in, someone who uses an insulin pump only needs to push a few buttons to deliver a dose of insulin. However, getting the right amount of insulin is no easy task. Many factors affect the body's need for insulin. Exercise decreases the need. Foods that are higher in carbohydrates increase the need. Stress and other moods can affect the need for insulin, as can illness or hormonal shifts, such as those that occur with menstruation. People with diabetes often have to make adjustments to their insulin doses. If they make a mistake and take too much, an extremely low blood sugar level (hypoglycemia) can occur. If they give themselves too little insulin, their blood sugar levels rise (hyperglycemia). Either condition can be very dangerous. According to Dr. Alyson Myers, director of inpatient diabetes at North Shore University Hospital, in Manhasset, N.Y., "If someone comes in with hypoglycemia, you think, 'Oh, they overdid it.' And, sometimes when people come in with hyperglycemia or DKA (a complication of hyperglycemia), the intention to self-harm can be missed." Myers is also the lead author of the review, published recently in the journal Current Diabetes Reviews. It's not clear exactly how high the rates of suicide are in people with diabetes, though Myers said the rates are higher than in the general population. Plus, an attempt at suicide using insulin or other blood sugar-lowering medications may ultimately fail. "The body is a resilient thing," Myers said, explaining that the body has ways to protect itself, such as releasing a natural form of sugar from the liver. Instead of automatically assuming there was an error in care, Myers recommended that physicians consider the possibility of a suicide attempt or self-harm through the use of insulin and other medications. She suggested that doctors follow the guidelines from the diabetes association on psychosocial care for people with diabetes that includes a multi-disciplinary team, including a behavioral health specialist. McAuliffe-Fogarty agreed that when doctors see patientswhether it's in the hospital or for an office visitthey should screen for psychosocial concerns. If a doctor identifies a potential concern, "refer to a mental health care provider so people can get the help they need to live a full and happy life," she said. Given that 20 percent to 25 percent of people with diabetes screen positive for depressive symptoms at some point, people may need help sometimes. "If you see signs of depression, changes in people's sleep patterns or eating behaviors, a loss of interest in things they once enjoyed; if they say things like, 'when I'm not here things will be better,' or express an intention to self-harm, make an appointment with a mental health-care provider. People often need some help coping and figuring out how to deal with things," McAuliffe-Fogarty said. "If you're very nervous that they might harm themselves, call their doctor or bring them to the hospital. Or call 911 if you think they're in immediate trouble," she advised. If you're concerned that a loved one or friend may be considering suicide, McAuliffe-Fogarty said it's OK to ask, though some people consider the word suicide to be taboo. "Ask, 'Are you thinking of hurting yourself or thinking of not being here?' Sometimes people are relieved and will open up." But McAuliffe-Fogarty also cautioned that every misuse of insulin may not be a deliberate act of self-harm. "It's not always self-harm or a suicide attempt," she stressed. One such example, "Some people use insulin omission to lose weight. It's a type of disordered eating, but they're not trying to hurt themselves," she explained. More information: Alyson Myers, M.D., director, inpatient diabetes, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, N.Y.; Alicia McAuliffe-Fogarty, Ph.D., vice president, lifestyle management, American Diabetes Association; October 2016, Current Diabetes Reviews, online Alyson Myers, M.D., director, inpatient diabetes, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, N.Y.; Alicia McAuliffe-Fogarty, Ph.D., vice president, lifestyle management, American Diabetes Association; October 2016,, online Learn more about how to identify someone who may be thinking about suicide and ways to help them from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Copyright 2017 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Providing healthy women with information about pelvic examinations, including a professional society's strong recommendation against them, substantially decreases the patients' desire for the exam, according to a study led by UC San Francisco. The study will be published May 18, 2017, in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. In recent years, two high-profile organizations have issued conflicting recommendations about pelvic exams. The American College of Physicians strongly recommended in 2014 against performing pelvic examinations in asymptomatic, non-pregnant women, citing evidence that showed no benefit and some harm. By contrast, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has continued to recommend annual pelvic examinations in symptom-free women beginning at age 21. In the new study, led by George F. Sawaya, MD, a UCSF Health obstetrician-gynecologist, the impact of this conflicting information on patients' decisions was investigated. "We wanted to take the decision directly to women to see whether the recommendation, and the rationale provided by these groups, would influence women's desire for the examination," said Sawaya, a UCSF professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences, and a leader at the UCSF Center for Healthcare Value. Sawaya is also a member of the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. In the study, 190 women visiting health clinics at UCSF and Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center were shown illustrations of the pelvic examination. Then they were randomly assigned to review a summary of one of the two recommendations. Afterward, the women answered a series of questions assessing their attitudes and beliefs about the examination. The summary by the American College of Physicians included information about the potential for false-positive testing and unnecessary surgery. The summary by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists disclosed the lack of evidence of benefit, but did not mention the possibility of harm. The results were dramatic. Desire for the examination dropped from 82 percent for women who reviewed the favorable recommendation to 39 percent for those reviewing the discouraging recommendation. More than 90 percent of women in the study said that potential benefits and harm should be discussed prior to the examination. "For every two or three women shown the recommendation, one of them would opt out of the examination," said Sawaya. "This is an enormous effect for a five-minute education intervention." Pelvic examinations have long provided the foundation of the annual well-woman medical visit, with millions of healthy women undergoing the exam annually. In 2012 alone, more than 44 million pelvic exams were performed in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Given the potential public health impact of our findings, we think there is a pressing need for improving patient counseling concerning this exam," said senior author Miriam Kupperman, PhD, MPH, a UCSF professor in the departments of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, and Epidemiology and Biostatistics. "These findings point to the need for educational materials to ensure women's informed preferences and values are reflected in decisions about pelvic examinations," Kupperman said. Poland and Slovakia will increase defense spending Roma play draw, Atalanta lose (video) Tomatoes have positive effect on intestinal health Cologne lose, Sargis Adamian makes assist (video) 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 Inter's starting lineup named 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 Lewandowski wins Golden Boot for second year in row 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 Scaloni hopes World Cup 2022 will not be Messi's last Kazakhstan plans to make knowledge of Kazakh obligatory for obtaining citizenship Vladimir Putin to visit Armenia Manchester United want to buy Napoli striker Ayoob Kara: Israel and Azerbaijan must act together against Iran Britney Spears criticizes idea of making movie about herself: 'Dude Im not dead' Macron: France ends its military mission in Africa Kaka's favorites for World Cup 2022 Military forces of Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkey take part in Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline protection exercise To avoid U.S. sanctions, Chinese companies artificially reduce speed of their chips Binance plans to buy cryptocurrency exchange FTX: Why is FTX facing problems? Shoigu orders withdrawal of troops across Dnieper River Hormone that determines risk of age-related diseases in men is found Swedish parliament will vote to change constitution for NATO membership on November 16 Karim Benzema will not recover before his first match at World Cup 2022 Reactor at nuclear power plant in southern Sweden stops unexpectedly due to turbine malfunction Son Heung-min, who underwent surgery, will be able to participate in World Cup 2022 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 Gerard Pique repeats Barcelona's anti-record in terms of red cards Adidas slows down because of Kanye West scandal 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 Guardiola says this season is crazy, players can't rest and think about national championship Gen. of Justice: Armenia is already going to abyss MFA says Russia promotes comprehensive settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations Keanu Reeves will return to role of John Wick in spin-off 'Ballerina': Actor will star with Ana de Armas 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 Biggest layoff in Meta history: Zuckerberg plans to fire 11,000 people 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 Van stronger than Shirak 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 World Cup 2022: Swiss national team bid Sean Penn visits Kiev for third time since beginning of special military operation and brings 'Oscar' 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 Former ECHR judge: UN Security Council does not consider Karabakh's separation illegal Shavarsh Kocharyan says current PM took step of declaring Armenia aggressor Study: 57% of adults do not get up after first wake-up call AraratBank underwrites FINCA UCO bonds First ombudsperson says current Armenian authorities are illegitimate Anne Hathaway and Salma Hayek to star in Kotaro Isaka's book series for Netflix Armenian National Committee of America: Dr. Oz Defeated in Pennsylvania Senate race Is Yappy hacked? Social network denies data leak of 2 million users Head of Turkish Ministry of Agriculture: 10.1 million tons of grain exported from Ukrainian ports Putin and Lukashenko discuss upcoming CSTO meeting by phone Armenia legislature discusses issues of residents of Karabakhs Kashatagh region handed over to Azerbaijan President pays tribute to martyrs of 3rd Artsakh war The Shawshank Redemption bible sold at auction for $440,000 Australian pedophile sentenced to 129 years in Philippines Japan says North Korea launches alleged ballistic missile British cabinet minister resigns after recent harassment allegations Goalkeeper scores goal from own half 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 Twitter to have 3 types of accounts: This platform to become paid for everyone? Ryan Reynolds dreams of fourth girl Mane to not miss World Cup Parliament speaker considers transit visa requirement for Armenia citizens at Poland airports worrisome Pashinyan: Armenia-Cambodia warm relations have great prospects for development Karabakh state ministers advisor: Aliyev statement was once again filled with confessions of use of force Javier Colomina: NATO supports normalization of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations Copper falls in price Baku continues the gross violations of the trilateral cease-fire agreements in defiance to the consistent calls of the Co-Chair countries and the international community, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said. Such a case was witnessed during new large-scale offensive in April 2016, when Azerbaijan committed gross violations of international humanitarian and human rights law against the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, Minister said in his address to the 127th Session of the Committee of the Ministers of the Council of Europe. Two Summits were convened after the April aggression of Azerbaijan, where agreements were reached aimed at creating conducive conditions for advancement of the peace process. Baku refuses to implement these agreements although their importance has been highlighted on numerous occasions, including during April 28 trilateral meeting of ministers of foreign affairs of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Moreover, Baku continues the gross violations of the trilateral cease-fire agreements in defiance to the consistent calls of the Co-Chair countries and the international community. It is commendable that in his annual report on the State of Democracy, Human Rights and the Rule of Law the Secretary General has highlighted populism, which is particularly dangerous, when combined with state sponsored hate speech and xenophobia. Free media, education for democratic citizenship and human rights, active civil society are essential in overcoming this phenomenon. Moreover, the notion of rule of law represents a concept that is diametrically opposed to the rule by force or use of force. We already had an opportunity to share another view of the Secretary General on the concept of Democratic Security, according to which democracies are less likely to go to war. Obviously, authoritarian regimes do not face this dilemma. We value the recent initiatives that call on the equal application of the pan-European human rights instruments to the whole continent without distinction, including in the conflict zones. It is the primary goal of Council of Europe to ensure that the common values and individual rights guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights are not dependent on the status of the territory where people live. The Turkish security guards clearly attacked the Armenian, Kurdish, Yezidi, and other human rights demonstrators, sending nine to the hospital, Congressman Jim Costa said in a statement on Thursday. Sadly, it appears that history may be repeating itself. Many of us in recent weeks have seen the movie The Promise, which is an accurate historical portrayal of the Armenian genocide that took place beginning in 1915 at the hands of the Ottoman Empire. In the movie, we witnessed the beginnings of these acts of atrocity with the depiction of young, Turkish men beating innocent people. As we know, modern-day Turkey has been unwilling as a country to acknowledge the genocide ever happened. We cannot allow Tuesdays violent and illegal behavior by the Turkish security guards to go unaddressed, he said. Congressman described the actions of the Turkish security guards as outrageous and violating American law and values. The Turkish security guards must be held accountable. Our American President should take appropriate diplomatic and legal action against these Turkish thugs for their violence towards the Armenian, Kurdish, Yezidi, and other human rights demonstrators. If he does so, I believe he will find overwhelming bipartisan support in the US Congress. YEREVAN. The recent round of clashes in the line of contact has prompted a more nuanced response from the OSCE Minsk Group, Armenian analyst Richard Giragosian said in response to Armenian News-NEWS.am request to comment on the recent statement issued by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. Richard Giragosian, director at Armenia-based Regional Studies Center, said already tense situation along the Nagarno-Karabakh line of contact dramatically worsened over the past week, and after months of a consistent and steady escalation, clashes led to a detailed response from the OSCE Minsk Group. In a statement issued on Thursday, the Minsk Group in particular said: According to information collected from multiple reliable sources, on 15 May, Azerbaijani armed forces fired a missile across the Line of Contact, striking military equipment. This latest, more assertive OSCE statement clearly identifies the nature of the violations. This was aimed to not only pressure all sides to refrain from further escalation, but also cannot help but to be a stronger reaction in the wake of the Azerbaijani move to force the closure of the OSCE office in Armenia, the last OSCE presence in the region, Giragosian said in a written comment. According to him, the statement shows that clear and coherent asymmetry of the violations was evident as the co-chairs also criticized the response of 16-17 May by stating Armenian armed forces retaliated with mortar fire of various calibres. Moreover, in statements echoing the OSCE Minsk Group, the official Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakhariva, also added to the warning. This also suggests that Moscow may be likely upset with any advance knowledge of the Azerbaijani missile attack that, after all, destroyed a Russian-made air defense system, the analyst added. However, the developments make Giragosian think that the risk of greater provocations, more violations and even of renewed hostilities is much greater as the summer comes. And more worrying, there is no real or effective deterrent preventing an ever more significant round of attacks and tests of defensive positions by Azerbaijan, he resumed. YEREVAN. - Azerbaijan actually ignores the mediation mission of the OSCE Minsk Group, turning into a party which it is impossible to hold talks with. Head of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun parliamentary faction, Armen Rustamyan, told the aforementioned to Armenian News NEWS.am. Referring to the recent statement of the mediators on the ceasefire regime violation on the contact line in the Karabakh conflict zone, the MP said: I think the OSCE should have made targeted statements long ago. And we have repeatedly stated that untargeted statements and equality sign between the parties contribute to new violations along the contact line. This time, I think, the consistent and abrupt refusal of Azerbaijan to implement the responsibilities taken up in Vienna and St Petersburg eventually made the OSCE Minks Groups cup run over. And as it goes, better late than never. The statement was made and I think such statements should be consistent. According to him, the statements should be followed by actions. That is, it should be very specifically recorded that Azerbaijan actually ignores the mediation mission, turning into a party which it is impossible to hold talks with. Basically, Azerbaijan should be asked whether it supports the peaceful settlement or not. And if not, apparently, the entire international community should condemn and put pressure on Baku to return it to the negotiation process, Rustamyan noted. In the MPs words, the disdainful treatment of Baku to all the international norms is obvious. Azerbaijan has turned into a sultanate, which is not ready for talks and which doesnt give a damn about the international norms, the head of the ARF-D said. Referring to the possibility of large-scale military actions on the initiative of Azerbaijan, Rustamyan noted: The large-scale actions mean that they will strike Yerevan and we will strike Baku. They know that this wont remain unresponsive, that is why they dont resort to that step. Once Azerbaijan thinks it will do something which will not be given a response, it will do that. And this time Baku tried to do that but it didnt manage to. The Armenian side properly retaliated, this being considered as a normal step from our side. 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 Former ECHR judge: UN Security Council does not consider Karabakh's separation illegal Shavarsh Kocharyan says current PM took step of declaring Armenia aggressor AraratBank underwrites FINCA UCO bonds First ombudsperson says current Armenian authorities are illegitimate Armenian National Committee of America: Dr. Oz Defeated in Pennsylvania Senate race Head of Turkish Ministry of Agriculture: 10.1 million tons of grain exported from Ukrainian ports Putin and Lukashenko discuss upcoming CSTO meeting by phone 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 Parliament speaker considers transit visa requirement for Armenia citizens at Poland airports worrisome Pashinyan: Armenia-Cambodia warm relations have great prospects for development Karabakh state ministers advisor: Aliyev statement was once again filled with confessions of use of force 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 US midterm elections virtually over, counting of votes underway US State Department: Armenia, Azerbaijan FMs agreed to continue meetings, direct dialogue India's Supreme Court releases men sentenced to death for rape and murder Global South needs $2 trillion year to fight climate crisis McDonald's releases chair for gamers with burger stand The Telegraph: Rishi Sunak to announce major natural gas deal with US after COP27 summit U.S. officials secretly ask major banks to continue doing business with some Russian firms 19fortyfive: Is America tired of the war in Ukraine? EU replaces pipeline Russian gas with imported Russian LNG Kommersant: China split the 'unity' of the West Expert estimates level of Azerbaijan's information attack on Armenia in September, comparing it to 44-day war UK wants to work more with the U.S. on gas supplies Donald Trump votes in Florida midterm elections EU admits: It is impossible to set a ceiling on gas prices that will not affect contracts or security of supply Most valuable metal of year is named Mehr: Nikolai Patrushev arrives in Tehran Turkish TV company confesses that Ankara and Israel were arming Azerbaijan against Armenia Who is Baku threatening? Armenia's former deputy defense minister decodes Aliyev's statements Army Commander-in-Chief: Even those who claim to be superpowers do not dare to attack Iran Iran and Russia to build joint pipeline India to continue buying Russian oil Businessman Zhong Shanshan becomes richest man in China 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. Read More Trending Articles: 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. Washington State Distracted Driving Law Taking Effect in July The bill making use of a mobile phone while driving a primary offense exempts a driver who is using a personal electronic device to contact emergency services and also someone operating an authorized emergency vehicle. Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee signed three bills into law on May 16 that aim to reduce distracted driving and impaired driving. The bills make any use of a mobile phone while driving a primary offense, make an individual driver's fourth DUI a felony, and implement recommendations from a task force on impaired driving. Inslee's signature means the distracted driving law goes into effect in July 2017. "We're suffering a scourge of death of our loved ones on our roadways, due to two problems: distracted driving and impaired driving," he said. "Today I'm signing three bills to confront these scourges head on." Inslee mentioned at the signing ceremony in Tacoma the case of Sam Thompson, a junior at Lewis and Clark College who was killed one week before his 21st birthday when he crashed while sending a text. Lavera Wade, his grandmother, attended the ceremony; she had worked with other victims' families to see the law passed, according to Inslee's news release. The bill making use of a mobile phone while driving a primary offense is SB 5289. It exempts a driver who is using a personal electronic device to contact emergency services; the use of a system by a transit system employee for time-sensitive relay communication between the transit system employee and the transit system's dispatch services; an individual employed as a commercial motor vehicle driver who uses a personal electronic device within the scope of his or her employment if such use is permitted under 49 U.S.C. Sec. 31136 as it existed on the effective date of the law; and a person operating an authorized emergency vehicle. Belly up to these bar stories, brought to you by Miller Brewing Co., that explore well-loved but lesser-known taps and taverns from all corners of the city and beyond. There probably isnt another bar in the world thats known primarily for its soup, clown paintings and Christmas decorations, but thats part of what makes Dales of Milwaukee, 6132 W. Capitol Dr., so extraordinary. Owner Dale Middleman has been in the bar business for 50 years. For the first 10, he owned The Hillside, which later became best known as Treats Tavern, 2221 N. Humboldt Blvd. Four decades ago, he moved to his current location after buying the bar and a small house next door. Since then, he has covered almost every inch of the building inside and out with beer memorabilia, paintings, vintage signs from the 40s and holiday adornments. Every year, Middleman and a friend install thousands and thousands of Christmas lights and decorations indoors and out. "I like holidays and celebrating," he says. "I cant stand depressed and grumpy people. Life is too short." The fact some of his Christmas decorations are still up is a sign of Middlemans recent poor health. He will undergo surgery in June to remove a cancerous kidney. "For now, Im still kicking," says Middleman. One of the walls is dedicated to clown paintings and figurines all given to him by customers. Middleman has volunteered as a Shriner clown since 1981 and regularly walks in parades dressed as "Happy Happy" the clown. "As you get older, it gets harder to walk in them parades," he says. "Happy happy" is also what Dale and his customers say as a toast before they take a drink. Although customers have requested Wi-Fi, Middleman refuses to get it. Instead, he prefers conversation, which he has with everyone everyone who sits around his oval bar. "There are only two things people should do in bars," he says. "Talk and drink." But Middleman also permits eating in his bar, which is good because he makes and sells a lot of soup. He also serves sandwiches including a massive burger that made me nostalgic for my mothers 1970s cooking but soup is the star of his menu. During our visit, the soup du jour was chicken noodle and "chuck wagon." "People really like my German sausage soup a lot," he says. "It's a cream soup." Middleman learned to make soup in the Navy and continued to cook hundreds of different varieties after he was discharged. In 1999 he wrote and published a cookbook called "200 Plus Soup recipes from Dales Kitchen" and sold 6,000 copies through the bar. "People asked me to do another printing, but I never did," he says. In 1994, Mickey and Minnie Christmas decorations shorted out, caught fire and burned down the interior of the bar. Middleman spent years restoring the bar and finding hundreds of new wall hangings. Many more were donated by friends and customers. "I have great customers," says Middleman. Middleman, a proud dog owner, has been a bachelor his entire life. "The bar life is not a place for a married man," he says. Dale's has a variety of wooden carvings and even the menus are shellacked on a block of wood. A clown carved with a chain saw from a cherry tree that once grew in his yard is perched on the roof of the building. Theres also a variety of hand-painted-on-wood beer signs that are made to look like vintage ads. One of them has a group of old-timey German men and one clown drinking together. Middleman admits the clientele has changed dramatically over the years. Once it was a home-away-from-home for factory workers, but with the loss of A.O. Smith, Eaton and Evinrude, the demographic of drinkers became composed of neighborhood people and those who come back occasionally to visit. "Weve got really a mixed crowd, but there is very little trouble here," says Middleman. "Its an island within itself." When Business Insider lifestyle editor Madeline Stone wrote an article about the "revival" of the Old Fashioned a cocktail she contended had been "forgotten for almost 50 years" in bars across the nation, she had no idea shed strike a nerve with countless Wisconsinites. "Shortly after publishing time, my inbox started to fill up with emails from a somewhat unexpected place: Wisconsin," she wrote in a follow-up article entitled "I wrote about the Old Fashioned's 'comeback' and a bunch of people from Wisconsin freaked out." In the article, she explains the significance of the cocktail in its sweet and sour forms across the state of Wisconsin, as well as acknowledging the drink's unabated popularity. Good on her for owning her mistake and acknowledging (in a sense) that she disregarded one of the state's proud and long-standing traditions. And kudos to her for calling upon one of Milwaukee's classic cocktail experts, Bryants Cocktail Lounge owner, John Dye, who elaborated on the unceasing popularity of the beverage in Wisconsin, even theorizing that its possible Angostura Bitters would have gone out of business had it not been for Wisconsinites passion for the beloved cocktail. I found myself chuckling a bit reading through responses on Facebook and Twitter. Freak out more often But, I also found myself thinking: What would happen if folks from Wisconsin started calling writers out more often? What if countless Wisconsinites began objecting to "Best new restaurants" lists that dont include a single Wisconsin venue, like this one from GQ? Or how about questioning "Best new chefs" lists like this one from Food & Wine? It's pretty amazing how often this happens, and how many writers even those who consider themselves well-traveled and knowledgeable about food scenes in cities across the U.S. fail to acknowledge what Wisconsin has to offer. Wisconsin is no slouch. We grow and produce some of the best food in the nation. In fact, according to data from FAB Wisconsin, were the number one producer of not only cheese (a given, right?), but also cranberries, ginseng, carrots and snap peas for processing, dry whey and corn silage. And were number two for oats, milk and organic production. Maybe if we get our undies in a bundle a bit more often people would start paying attention. I say it's high time we stood up for ourselves and claimed all the things that make Wisconsin (and Milwaukee) great. After all, you cant be a fly-over zone if you actually give people good reason to land the planes. Oh, and to all the writers who allege knowledge of whats trendy and where (like this guy who recommended a restaurant without even visiting): lets take a look at the Dairy State every now and again, shall we? Made in Milwaukee is new series about the businesses that sell to the world but call Milwaukee home. Presented by House of Harley-Davidson, Milwaukee's locally owned Harley dealer, we're shining a spotlight on these iconic companies their histories and their futures. Year founded: 1958 CEO: Michael J. Koss Number of employees: Approximately 50 Location: 4129 N. Port Washington Rd. Michael J. Koss Jr. cant play a single instrument. His brother? He can pick up anything. But Michael will be the first to admit that he cant hit a note. And yet he grew up around music, with his family name and the company that bears it Koss Headphones as one of the most essential names in music history, inventors of the stereo headphones and one of the industrys greatest contributors to actually getting audio into ears. An impressive feat for a company far from the traditional, expected coastal hubs of the music industry, still headquartered right here in Milwaukee. "Milwaukee has certain things that people really give it credit for, but thats one that I think is pretty unique, particularly because so many people today use headphones on a daily basis for several hours a day," Koss Jr. said, "and Milwaukee started it." And yet the story of Koss starts not with music, but with television. In 1953, John C. Koss got married and received $200 from his wifes family to buy a sofa. Instead of a couch, Koss turned that $200 into a bunch of broken TV sets. He turned those once-busted televisions, however, into the J.C. Koss Hospital Television Rental Company, renting the repaired sets to hospitals and the patients stuck in them. A recent Koss billboard, on the east side of I-43 in Glendale. (PHOTO: Andy Tarnoff) The original Koss billboard from 1972. (PHOTO: Andy Tarnoff) The founder's wife created this handmade tapestry of the company famous billboards. (PHOTO: Andy Tarnoff) However, his true passion, according to Koss Jr., was music. "He was a trumpet player, and he loved the experience of a live performance," he recalled. "He loved being on stage with the band and loved being at concerts. He was obsessed with it and record players were starting to become more and more a thing and music was starting to be something in the house and the home." Teaming up with his friend Martin Lange, Koss invented a record player but not only was it hard to differentiate from the competition, it was just hard to hear period because the conventions and shows were loud, noisy events. So they found a solution: take the speakers and shove them against your ears. They were a hit. "They took it to the show, and according to my grandfather, the line was just incredible, the amount of people lined up to try out these headphones," Koss Jr. said. "The next day, people started calling, asking for the headphones, and he said, Yes, the headphones are available with the record player. And people said, No, we just want the headphones. So a few days after that, Koss Stereo Headphones officially became a business." The early headphones certainly werent sexy, made mostly in Koss house with high-tech equipment like chicken wire, hoses and plastic cups melted down and shaped right in the kitchen. But there was little else like them, and almost half a century later, Koss headphones are still playing, all while watching the record, the 8-track, the cassette tape and now the MP3 see their gigs come to a close and watching the companys name and history get cemented into the TVs that born it thanks to a surprise shout-out on the Emmy-winning, bourbon-swigging AMC hit "Mad Men." "Through some contacts, I actually flew out and went on set and met the whole cast and (showrunner) Matthew Weiner, who I talked with for a while," Koss Jr. recalled. "He said he couldnt tell me anything about it, but he guaranteed he wouldnt Jaguar us. "Then I said how did this come about, and he said, I have kids; Ive seen headphones become more and more popular. I started doing some research about headphones during the 1960s, and I stumbled upon information about your company and your grandfather. And it was just such a great American story of a guy whos living the American dream that it made total sense to incorporate into the show." Koss Jr. also noted that, in the process of inventing the stereo headphones, his grandfather also had to invent, out of necessity, another underappreciated part of the music experience: the headphone jack. Almost 50 years later, however, times do change. That once essential headphone jack, for instance, is on its way out, with companies like Apple revealing iPod designs without it. And while Koss mostly maintains its classic old-school look made with some obviously updated materials from the original prototype and designs with what senior industrial designer Nick Blair calls "a philosophy thats much more evolutionary than revolutionary," times change. So the company is looking toward axing some of its jacks and improving wireless headphones into the future. "Thats where things are headed: minimizing the conduit between the music and your brain or your ears," Blair said, "so we try to get as much out of the way of that as possible." Koss has also significantly looked into and begun working with VR technologies. "Five years from now, it will not be strange to be sitting on a train or sitting on a bus or sitting on airplane next to somebody whos wearing a VR headset and I can tell you the most important part of VR is sound," Koss Jr. said. "If the sound isnt right, you will not have an immersive experience, and it will not work correctly." Theyve focused some of their products on that future technology and some have been used in demonstrations as well, according to Koss Jr. As for the current day, however, the company focuses on making headphones that, in some cases, work so well, they ruin the music for the listener. In a good way. "When you listen to something like a really crappy MP3 on a good pair of headphones, you can hear how bad it is," Blair explained. "But when you listen to great music, then the opposite is true. And once people really hear that and realize that for the first time that they can have sound like that at an affordable price we dont see them going back. So I think that exposure can help us spread the message of why sound matters." Because while some modern companies can get trapped focusing more on fashion than function, according to Koss Jr. and the companys designers, Koss isnt "hostage to fads and fleeting styles" thanks to its long history as well as its Midwestern roots, still firmly planted in Milwaukee 50 year after its chicken wire and hoses origins. "For the most part, the music business is really located on either coast and then, on top of that, most major electronics companies are located on either coast and I think thats a unique thing that we have that weve stayed true to: We have Midwestern values," Koss Jr. said. "Its a major differentiator between us and a lot of those other brands, particularly because we maintain those Midwestern values. I couldnt imagine the company being anywhere else." Mayor Tom Barrett and Ald. Khalif Rainey joined officials from BMO Harris Bank and Compass Properties under a tent Thursday afternoon to ceremonially break ground on a new "smart" bank branch in the Sherman Park neighborhood. The one-story branch, at 3637 W. Fond du Lac Ave., will replace the BMO Harris Bank across the street that was damaged in a fire set during unrest in the neighborhood following the shooting of Sylville Smith last August. The new building designed by architects at Cedarburg's Groth Design is expected to open by autumn. A temporary branch opened in the drive-in windows at the old location last September. The Neoclassical former branch building which opened in 1927 as the Sherman Park State Bank and which later became part of BMO Harris via acquisitions of The Northern Bank and M&I will be transformed into a wellness incubator that will include a variety of services, including restaurants. The project spearheaded by The Juice Kitchens JoAnne Johnson-Sabir and Fix Developments Juli Kaufmann as Johnson-Sabir told BizTimes, will be "a hub for entrepreneurship and wellness services. ... A community-owned model ... that will feature makeup artists, yogis, jiu jitsu (and) a plethora of restaurant options, all with entrepreneurs who are looking for a home and support." "You can see from whats going on here today, that BMO Harris is genuine in its commitment to Milwaukee and the Sherman Park community," said Barrett as light rain fell at the groundbreaking. "What we are seeing here is a commitment to this community. This is all about believing in this community, investing in this community and moving this community forward." In its new 2,200-square foot building, the new bank branch, meanwhile, will offer smart ATMs, that dont require debit cards, a team of bankers, video conferencing with specialized bank professionals and free Wi-Fi for customers. "Our new branch, which will be open in the fall, will be our very first Smart Branch in Wisconsin," said Chris Michalski, BMO Harris Bank Regional President for Retail Banking, Southeast Wisconsin. Were excited to bring this optimal balance of cutting-edge technology and exceptional customer service to our customers in Sherman Park. "Id be remiss if I didnt thank our Sherman Park customers. Theyve been very patient, and incredibly supportive throughout this entire process. I speak on behalf of the entire Sherman Park branch team when I say thank you to them." Milwaukees LGBTQ history isnt just hidden history. Its a history that is slowly being lost as the elders and pioneers of our community leave us. Without their stories being protected and preserved for future generations, the 20th century history of LGBTQ Milwaukee is rapidly disappearing. On Saturday, May 20, Milwaukee Pride and the Wisconsin LGBT History Project are hosting a Remember When: Womens History Party at Studio 200, 200 E. Washington St., focused on capturing the stories, photographs and souvenirs of Milwaukees lesbian history. All content will be added to the projects archives, website and the History of Gay Milwaukee Facebook page. Many Milwaukeeans will remember Studio 200 from its former life as Fannies, one of the citys longest-running lesbian bars. As a bouncer, bartender, businesswoman and community advocate since 1971, owner Sharon Dixon has made significant contributions to Milwaukees LGBTQ history. At one point or another, she has been involved with almost every womens bar in town. She laid the foundation for three of the citys most beloved and longest-running lesbian bars (Sugar Shack, Fannies and Kathys Nut Hut), nearly bought a fourth one, almost sold her building for a fifth and still serves the community today at Studio 200. (PHOTO: Courtesy Mary Connell) Sharon doesnt usually do interviews, so I was very honored to speak with her this week about the upcoming Remember When party, her life experiences and the future of LGBTQ Milwaukee. Coming to Milwaukee Sharons story began in a border town on the Wisconsin-Michigan border, where she played in the tunnel system between its sordid saloons as a child and baked Cornish pasties before school as a teenager. After losing her father and her uncle, Sharon decided at age 14 to run away. "I just wanted to get out," said Sharon. "I wasnt getting along with my mother or the man she was seeing. I didnt approve and I didnt understand. So, it was time to go." Sharon bought a bus ticket to Duluth, got off in Ashland and then hitchhiked all the way down to Milwaukee. When she arrived, she found it nearly impossible to secure a steady job or apartment as a 14-year-old runaway. Like most homeless LGBTQ youth, she took safe shelter wherever she could find it. "I had to sleep in a lot of gas station bathrooms back then," said Sharon. "When the station closed for the night, the guys would lock the restroom doors, so Id have a safe and warm place to sleep for the night." One chilly night, Sharon realized she could stay overnight in a 24-hour downtown movie theater for just 25 cents. She picked up a hamburger from the nearby A&W on Wisconsin Avenue, bought her ticket and settled in for the night. She didnt even realize that the Princess Theater was an adult movie theater or that the only other patrons spending the night had more dubious intentions. "Nobody even carded me," said Sharon. "I knew nothing about that type of movie, but I can still remember the movie that night. It was called Chatterbox and it featured a woman with a talking vagina. It was as stupid as it gets. "So Im sitting in this theater, laughing my ass off, and all these dirty old men around me are trying to get their rocks off and yelling at me to shut up. Oh, and the story gets better: In the end, the woman with a talking vagina wound up on a TV talk show, met a man with a talking penis and rode off into the sunset together. It was the funniest thing that happened to me in months. I couldnt make this up if I tried!" The next morning, Sharon found a live-in nanny job through the Milwaukee Sentinel. She was hired and moved to Lake Drive for the next two years. At age 16, she moved into the Abbott Crest Hotel, 1226 W. Wisconsin Ave., and worked third shift at Dellas Drive-In restaurant on the hotels ground floor. "There was no lease or anything," Sharon explained. "I just paid my weekly rent in cash and nobody asked any questions. It really wasnt a hotel anymore by then, but more of a residence for senior citizens. I was the only young person in the hotel, and they all loved me. They thought I was older than I was, of course, but then again I lied about my age a lot back then." Right before her 17th birthday, Sharon finally got caught. Two elderly neighbors overheard two brewery workers promising marijuana to Sharon and a friend. When she got home from work, the police were waiting for her in the elevator. As the only young person in the building, she was an easy mark. "The whole thing was ridiculous. Id never tried marijuana, and I didnt want any from those guys, either. They just wanted to pick us up. Try telling that to the cops. So, this female sergeant made me promise to stay at the hotel all weekend, because they were sending me back up north on a bus Monday morning. I smiled and acted happy about going home, but trust me, I crossed my fingers behind my back when I made that promise." Monday morning came, and Sharon was long gone. Shed seen an ad in the Sunday Milwaukee Journal promising she could "Travel the USA No Money Needed!" She was hired immediately and went to Terre Haute, Indiana the next day. For the next several years, she traveled the country in a Volkswagen van nicknamed the "Blue Goose," eventually seeing all 48 continental United States. "My first drivers license was from Florida, and my first auto registration was from Vermont," said Sharon. "I got pulled over once and they said is this even legal? How the hell would I know?" Becoming her best self While traveling, Sharon became increasingly aware of her sexual identity. As a self-described "good little small-town Catholic girl," she half-expected shed grow up to become a mom like everyone else. At the same time, she half-expected that she was a lesbian. She just wasnt sure. "I was aware that there were gay bars in Milwaukee, but I didnt recognize them as gay bars. I spent some time at the old Mint Bar on State Street, but that was just because theyd let me in. I was just happy to get into a bar." One fateful night in New Orleans, her bosss wife dragged her out on the town. Sharon was surprised when the night ended at a gay bar. "I was still in my old fuddy-duddy mindset at the time," said Sharon, "and it took me awhile to realize what was going on. It was very clearly what would be called a dyke bar. I couldnt tell the difference between the men and women. I kept looking at the bartender, and only when they took their coat off, did I realize she was a woman. She was that masculine. Then, I looked around and realized that all of the kissing couples were women. "I actually got really upset. Its hard to explain how I felt in that moment. I went and found my bosss wife making out with a woman laid out on a pool table. I never would have guessed that she was gay or bisexual. We went into the girls room and I read her the riot act. She backhanded me hard enough to make me fly and said Its about time you come out of your closet. Youre gay. Youre a lesbian. Youre a dyke. You cant tell me you havent thought of women." I didnt know what to say, I was speechless. I had thought of women, but my religion had told me that it was wrong. That night, the bartender took me back to her place. She left for a while, and when she came back, she showed me a strap-on. I said If I was interested in women, why would I want that thing? It upset me so much that I left. I went right back into that closet." (PHOTO: Courtesy Mary Connell) Sharon finally came out six months later in Seattle thanks to a drag queens advice. "I was a petite little thing with long hair and girly girl clothing, and I couldnt understand why none of the women would talk to me," said Sharon. "I was talking to a drag queen and she said, Girl, if you want to be a lesbian, you have to decide first of all if youre going to be a she or a he, and then you have to figure out what you like. I said, what do you mean? Im a woman. I just didnt get it." That night, I proceeded to get very drunk, and went back to the hotel, where I attacked my head with a pair of scissors. I woke up the next morning yelling at the mirror, and the whole hotel heard me screaming. I refused to leave the room until a woman from the hair salon came up to fix my haircut. The night before, my hair was down to my back. The next morning, my hair was so short. I cried for days about that hair, but I never grew it back to that length. "The first time I went back to a gay bar, all the girls were suddenly interested in me. I learned that I had to look butch to get a femme girl. I wasnt crazy about it, but it worked!" Making it in Milwaukee Sharon returned to Milwaukee in the early 1970s and worked as a third-shift switchboard operator at the Belmont Hotel. "It was an interesting place to work, for many reasons," said Sharon. "I cant even talk about some of the things that went on at that hotel." Sharon started hanging out at the River Queen (402 N. Water St.,) a gay bar opened by Al Barry in 1971. As a self-described "brick shithouse," she took a job as a bouncer and started connecting with local nightlife leaders. Gay bars had been emerging in Milwaukees industrial areas since the 1940s, and the 100 and 200 blocks of South 2nd Street were lined with eight known venues by the early 1970s. Now, a new loop was taking shape in the Historic Third Ward. Credit: University of Huddersfield Child homicide can shatter families and communities. But what emotional effect does it have on detectives who might have to investigate such crimes repeatedly during their careers? University of Huddersfield psychologists are carrying out research into the subject, aiming to build up knowledge that could help ensure the mental well-being of police officers and lead to improved training guidelines. Findings are discussed in new articles and in May the University is to host its second international symposium on the topic of child homicide Advances in preventing and investigating suspicious child death workshop, 18th and 19th May, 2017. Heading the work is Reader in Crime and Policing Dr Jason Roach, who intends to fill what he regards is a serious knowledge gap. "When I started looking at the subject of child homicide, I was horrified by the paucity of research. Yet you cannot think of a worse crime," he said. Working with his colleague at the University of Huddersfield's Applied Criminology Centre, lecturer Kathryn Sharratt, and his former PhD student Dr Ashley Cartwright, Dr Roach has embarked on detailed research into the response of police to the challenges of child and adult homicide. The cliched image of hard bitten, unemotional cops could not be further from the truth, according to Dr Roach. "People who are involved in the investigation of child homicide police officers and pathologists are human beings. They aren't impervious to the same kinds of empathy and grief that affect the rest of us. So how they cope with it?" He and his co-researchers have begun to find out via online questionnaires and face-to-face interviews with officers. The early findings are reported in a new article published by the Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology. Titled "Dealing with the Unthinkable: a Study of the Cognitive and Emotional Stress of Adult and Child Homicide Investigations on Police Investigators," it reports on the result of a survey questionnaire that was completed by 99 experienced police investigators who were invited to take part by the UK Association of Chief Police Officers. The survey provided evidence that "police investigators experience different cognitive and emotional stressors and effects when investigating child homicide compared with that of an adult homicide". It was discovered that officers who had not been involved in a child homicide investigation for more than six months reported the cognitive and emotional effects to be greater than those who had conducted more recent investigations. "This is important as it suggests that a significant period of reflection is needed after the investigation has ended in order for investigators to realise the true extent of how their investigations have affected them," write Dr Roach and his co-authors. They also discovered that: "Experience does not seem to protect investigators against the effects of homicide investigation, whether the victim is an adult or a child, suggesting that de-sensitisation does not kick in for many. Indeed, we found little evidence that the length of police service provides little by way of protection against the stressors of child homicide investigation, as was found to be the case in studies of stress in more mainstream policing roles." The findings reported in the article "have implications for better understanding how police homicide investigators make decisions and for the practical implications concerning the cognitive and emotional well-being of investigators". The researchers have now conducted interviews with detectives in England, Wales and Denmark. Their visit to Copenhagen was enabled because of Dr Roach's links with Thomas Skou Roer, of the Danish police. The results of these multi-nation sessions will form the basis of the trio's next article on the subject of child homicide, adding qualitative detail to the quantitative data in the first article. In 2015, Dr Roach convened an international symposium on child homicide, and on 18-19 May this year there is to be a new gathering, attended by both academics and police officers. It will consist of workshops to develop strands of research and Dr Roach aims to bid for funding that will enable a major expansion of his work in the field. More information: Jason Roach et al. Dealing with the Unthinkable: a Study of the Cognitive and Emotional Stress of Adult and Child Homicide Investigations on Police Investigators, Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology (2016). DOI: 10.1007/s11896-016-9218-5 UN climate negotiators are pinning their hopes for the Paris Agreement's future on diplomatic arm-twisting after frustrating talks in Germany to win US support After frustrating talks in Bonn with an American delegation in limbo, UN climate negotiators are pinning their hopes for the Paris Agreement's future on diplomatic arm-twisting at the highest level. On the campaign trail, now-president Donald Trump vowed to "cancel" the 196-nation pact to rein in global warming by curbing emissions from burning oil, coal and gas. He has not yet executed his threat, but Trump has made it clear where he stands. His secretary of state was a CEO of oil giant ExxonMobil, and the Environmental Protection Agency head an anti-climate litigator. Trump has moved to slash EPA funding, and to loosen restrictions on coal-fired power plants and vehicle emissions. Now the man who has called climate change a "hoax" perpetrated by China, is scheduled to rub shoulders with some of the world's most influential leaders in a duo of high-stakes huddles. The first is a May 26-27 summit in Sicily of the G7 rich nations, followed on July 7-8 by a meeting in Hamburg of the G20 major economies, of which the G7 also forms part. Key members of both groupings have already called on Trump to stay the climate course. "If Donald Trump is unclear on the lethal implications of his muddled climate policy then it's up to the other leaders of the G7 to ensure he is aware of just how damaging his actions can be," said Mohamed Adow, an analyst with Christian Aid, which advocates for poor country interests at the UN climate forum. "They must make a strong case for action when they meet." At the G7 meeting, Trump will talk with his peers from Germany, Canada, France, Britain, Italy and Japan. The global fight against climate change led to the 196-nation Paris Agreementbut that accord came before the election of Donald Trump, who has called climate change a "hoax" Ride it out? The leaders of Germany and Canada, as well as France's new president Emmanuel Macron, are viewed as champions of the climate cause. But this type of multilateral discussion involves much diplomatic give-and-take on a wide range of political and economic issues of national interest. There are some doubts there will be time or space for a strong focus on global warming. The White House has said Trump will not announce his decision on the Paris Agreement until after the G7. Jochen Flasbarth, Germany's state secretary of the environment, said in Bonn this week that climate change was "one of the issues of highest priority" for his country's presidency of the G20. "We work very hard together with many other friends in the world to convince the US that staying in the Paris Agreement is the right way to go," he said. There are fears in the UN climate forum that an American withdrawal may prompt others to follow suit, or simply undermine the collective willcrafted over two decades of tough negotiationsto ramp up climate action over time. Also under threat is US climate funding. Trump is unlikely to honour an outstanding $2 billion (1.8 billion euros) pledged under his predecessor to the Green Climate Fund, or America's contribution to the budget of the UN climate secretariat (UNFCCC). The uncertainty cast a long shadow over technical negotiations, hosted by the UNFCCC in Bonn from May 8 to 18, on a nuts-and-bolts "rule book" to implement the deal. Some delegates said it might be better to let the US break ranks than let it undermine the negotiations from the inside. After the Bonn talks, the stage switches to the G7 and G20 meetings, with members states urging President Trump to heed their environmental concerns "It may be the case that he (Trump) is listening to the ExxonMobils and wanting to actually think through how to use that seat at the table," commented Adow. Others say the rest of the world should better "ride out" Trump's presidency and wait for the next administration to pursue America's commitments under the deal. Who will be next? But this comes with uncertainty. "After four years will there be a new president who is favouring" climate action? "Maybe not," said Qimin Chai of China's National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation. For Adow, China will be key in cranking up the pressure in the coming weeks. China's Xi Jinping was instrumental, alongside Barack Obama, in pushing the Paris deal through. On Sunday, Beijing hosted a meeting on international trade, attended by the leaders of such countries as Russia, Argentina, Belarus, Indonesia, the Philippines, Switzerland and Turkey. In what is considered a message of climate solidarity against Trump, the leaders' closing statement encouraged "all parties which have ratified it to fully implement the Paris Agreement." Other key opportunities for building diplomatic pressure, say observers, include the so-called Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin on May 22 and 23, which will draw participants from 35 countries, and an EU-China business summit in Brussels on June 2. Trump is also due to meet Pope Francis, a strong proponent of global action against climate change, at the Vatican on May 24. 2017 AFP Comet V2 Johnson from February 21st, 2017. Credit: John Purvis Had your fill of binocular comets? Turns out, 2017 may have saved the best for last. The past few months has seen a steady stream of dirty snowball visitations to the inner solar system, both short term periodic and long term hyperbolic. First, let's run through the cometary roll call for the first part of the year: There's 41P Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak, 2P/Encke, 45P Honda-Markov-Padjudasakova, C/2015 ER61 PanSTARRS and finally, the latecomer to the party, C/2017 E4 Lovejoy. Next up is a comet with a much easier to pronounce (and type) name, at least to the English-speaking tongue: C/2015 V2 Johnson. It would seem that we're getting a year's worth of binocular comets right up front in the very first half. Discovered by the Catalina Sky Survey by astronomer Jess Johnson on the night of November 3rd 2015 while it was still 6.17 astronomical units (AU) distant at +17th magnitude, Comet V2 Johnson is currently well-placed for mid-latitude northern hemisphere viewers after dusk. Currently shining at magnitude +8 as it glides through the umlaut-adorned constellation Bootes the Herdsman, Comet V2 Johnson is expected to top out at magnitude +6 in late June, post-perihelion. Part of what's making Comet V2 Johnson favorable is its orbit. With a high inclination of 50 degrees relative to the ecliptic, it's headed down through high northern declinations for a perihelion just outside of Mars' orbit on June 12th. Though Mars is on the opposite side of the sun this summer, we're luckily on the correct side of the sun to enjoy the cometary view. Comet V2 Johnson passed opposition a few weeks ago on April 28th, and will become an exclusively southern hemisphere object in late July as it continues the plunge southward. The path of Comet C/2015 V2 Johnson through the inner solar system. Credit: NASA/JPL This is likely Comet V2 Johnson's first and only journey through the inner solar system, as it's on an open ended, hyperbolic orbit and is likely slated to be ejected from the solar system after its brief summer fling with the sun. This week sees Comet V2 Johnson 40 degrees above the eastern horizon in Bootes as seen from latitude 30 degrees north, one hour after sunset. The view reaches its climax on June 6th near the comet's closest approach to the Earth, with a maximum elevation of 63 degrees from latitude 30 degrees north, one hour after sunset. The comet also sits just 5 degrees from the bright -0.05 magnitude star Arcturus on June 6th, providing a good guidepost to find the fuzzball comet. July sees the comet cross the ecliptic plane through Virgo, then head southward through Hydra and Centaurus. Another interesting pass occurs on the night of July 3rd, when the moon just misses occulting the comet. The path of Comet V2 Johnson as seen from latitude 30 degrees north, 45 minutes after sunset from mid-May to late June. The constellation positions are for the beginning date. Credit: Starry Night Here are some key dates with destiny for Comet V2 Johnson through August 1st. Unless otherwise noted, all passes are less than one degree (two Full moon diameters) away: May 19th: passes near +3.4 magnitude Delta Bootis. June 5th: Closest approach to the Earth at 0.812 AU distant. June 12th: Perihelion 1.64 AU from the sun. June 15th: Crosses into the constellation Virgo. June 21st: Crosses the celestial equator southward. June 26th: Passes near the +4 magnitude star Syrma. July 1st: Passes near (30!) the +4.2 magnitude star Kappa Virginis July 3rd: The waning gibbous moon passes two degrees north of the comet. July 5th: Crosses the ecliptic southward. July 17th: Crosses into the constellation Hydra. July 22nd: Passes 2.5 degrees from the +3.3 magnitude star Pi Hydrae. July 28th: Crosses into the constellation Centaurus. Binoculars and a good finder chart are your friends hunting down a comet like V2 Johnson. We like to start our search from a nearby bright star, then slowly sweep the field with our trusty Canon 1545 image-stabilized binoculars (hard to believe, we've had this amazing piece of astro-tech in our observing arsenal for nearly two decades now. They're so handy, picking up a pair of "old-tech" none stabilized binocs feels weird now!). An +8th magnitude comet will look like a fuzzy globular cluster which stubbornly refuses to resolve when focused. A wide-field DSLR shot should also tease V2 Johnson out of the background. Comet V2 Johnson vs Kappa Virginis and the Moon on July 3rd. Note: the graphic is a (very) idealized version of the comet! Credit: Starry Night The next week is also ideal for evening comet-hunting for another reason, as the New moon (also marking the start of the Islamic month of Ramadan) occurs on May 25th, after which, the light-polluting moon will begin to hamper evening observations. It's strange to think, there are no bright comets on tap for the remainder of 2017 after V2 Johnson, though that will likely change as the year wears on. In the meantime, be sure to check out Comet V2 Johnson, as it makes its lonesome solitary passage through the inner solar system. In this June 11, 2015, file photo, a hexacopter drone is flown during a drone demonstration in Cordova, Md. An appeals court has struck down a Federal Aviation Administration rule that required owners to register drones used for recreation. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) An appeals court on Friday struck down a Federal Aviation Administration rule that required owners of drones used for recreation to register their craft. The ruling was a victory for hobbyists and a setback for the FAA, which cited safety concerns as it tried to tighten regulation of the fast-growing army of drone operators. Some pilots of commercial airliners have reported close calls with drones flying near airports. About 760,000 hobbyists have registered more than 1.6 million drones since 2015, and sales have skyrocketed. The FAA estimates that hobbyists will buy 2.3 million drones this year and 13 million by the end of 2020. Commercial operators from photographers to oil pipeline and cellphone tower owners were forecast to buy another 10 million through 2020. The FAA decided in 2015 to require hobbyists to register their drones, or model aircraft. Violators could be sentenced to prison. The registration requirement was challenged by John A. Taylor, a drone hobbyist in the Washington, D.C., area. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit agreed with Taylor, saying that a law passed by Congress and signed by President Barack Obama in 2012 barred the FAA from imposing new regulations on model aircraft. The three-judge panel said that safety was obviously important and making hobbyists register "may well help further that goal to some degree," but it was up to Congress to repeal the ban on FAA rules for model aircraft. A spokesman for the FAA said the agency was reviewing the decision. The ruling demonstrated the schism in the drone world. The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, whose members include big commercial drone operators and manufacturers, expressed disappointment with the court's ruling. The group's president, Brian Wynne, said registration "helps create a culture of safety that deters careless and reckless behavior." He vowed to seek a legislative fix in Congress. A lawyer for China's DJI, the world's biggest drone maker, said registration was reasonable and fostered "accountability and education to drone pilots." Brendan Schulman said he expected more discussion between industry and governments over the program. Some model aircraft enthusiasts had complained that the registration requirement was too burdensome. "On balance this is probably a good thing," said Vic Moss, a commercial photographer and drone operator in Colorado. "The FAA definitely overstepped their boundaries with the registration, and the fact that they called it an emergency action didn't help them look good." Moss was worried, however, that the issue was so contentious that the FAA might successfully lobby Congress for clear authority to regulate hobbyists. Registration cost $5 and had to be renewed every three years. It required owners to mark aircraft with an identification number and imposed civil and criminal penalties on those who did not comply. Taylor also challenged FAA restrictions on where drones can operate in the Washington area. The court said that appeal was filed too late. 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. A NOAA water level monitoring station with an acoustic sensor on Dauphin Island, Alabama. Such tide gauges along the U.S. coast give scientists a baseline of sea level changes dating at least to the 19th century. Credit: NOAA/courtesy Morgan McHugh For years, scientists have been warning of a so-called "hot spot" of accelerated sea-level rise along the northeastern U.S. coast. But accurately modeling this acceleration as well as variations in sea-level rise from one region to another has proven challenging. Now, an upcoming paper in Geophysical Research Letters offers the first comprehensive model for understanding differences in sea level rise along North America's East Coast. That model incorporates data not just from atmospheric pressure and ocean dynamicschanging currents, rising ocean temperatures and salinity all influence sea levelbut also, for the first time, ice mass change in Greenland and Antarctica. The researchers say their model supports a growing consensus that sea level rise began accelerating in 1990 and that what they found will improve estimates of future sea level rise at a local level. "A lot of people have been looking for sea level acceleration and have been having trouble finding it," said James Davis, co-author on the paper and a professor and researcher at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. "The fact that we could model this well seems to indicate that what we are measuring is correct." Davis worked together with oceanographer Nadya Vinogradova, founder of Cambridge Climate Institute in Massachusetts, on the sea level rise modeling project. Their model, which incorporated assumptions that acceleration of sea level rise began in the 1990s and not before that, accurately predicted variations in sea level rise along North America's East Coast that have been observed in tide-gauge data for over a half century. The light blue line shows seasonal (3-month) sea level estimates from Church and White (2011). The darker line is based on University of Hawaii Fast Delivery sea level data. Credit: NOAA Recent research indicates that global mean sea level, or the average height of the world's oceans, has been increasing by 3 millimeters (.1 inches) per year on average since 1993, when satellites first started measuring it. But along the U.S. East Coast north of Cape Hatteras, rates of sea level rise were found to be some three to four times higher than the global average over certain periods. Essential to the model Davis and Vinogradova built was research published in 2014 that for the first time measured acceleration in glacial melt in Greenland and Antarctica using data from NASA satellite GRACE. Another critical element was their addition of ocean dynamic modeling from University of Hamburg's GECCO2 that, although low resolution compared to more current models, allowed them to look at a timeline going back to 1948. Newer, higher resolution models don't reach back any further than 1990. The researchers combined the GRACE and GECCO2 models with atmospheric pressure data and compared these against East Coast tide-gauge records, which measure actual sea levels at the shoreline and are plentiful and high quality for much of the 20th and early 21st centuries. Davis and Vinogradova found that contributions to the ocean from melting of the Greenland ice sheet actually tend to accelerate sea level rise along the southern part of the U.S. East Coast, south of latitude 35, in part due to a force called gravitational self-attraction and elastic loading. Though the melted ice adds volume to the oceans, it also causes sea levels closest to a melted glacier to fall due to a decline in gravitational pull from mass loss, called gravitational self-attraction. The loss of ice mass also causes the land that was underneath that ice to rise, and depresses the floor of surrounding ocean basin, which is called elastic loading. Sea-level acceleration post-1990 from AIS and GIS. Credit: Davis and Vinogradova (2017) In contrast, changing ocean dynamics are responsible for accelerated sea level rise along the northern part of the coast, north of latitude 40. For instance, an influx of freshwater from Greenland glacial melt to the nearby northern Atlantic, as well as rising ocean temperatures in the northern Atlantic, are weakening an established current system called the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, which drives the Gulf Stream. Typically the Gulf Stream depresses sea level right along the coast, so as this current weakens, sea levels bounce back. Meanwhile, higher ocean temperatures kick up sea level by expanding the water column. Davis and Vinogradova chose to focus on the acceleration of sea level rise specifically to avoid the problem of accurately measuring what is known as post-glacial rebound. Post-glacial rebound is the ongoing shape-shifting of the earth's surface that occurs after it is released from the burden of mountains of glacial ice, a process that began in North America at the end of its last ice age 16,000 years ago. (These changes occur very slowly over long time periods, unlike elastic loading, which is near-instantaneous and "elastic.") As with elastic loading, post-glacial rebound can causes the land or sea floor to bulge in some places and to sink in others, which can change the relationship between sea level and the land. Post-glacial rebound was the primary contributor to sea-level change over much of the 20th century along some parts of the East Coastfrom Chesapeake Bay to New York as well as north of Maine. But short-term accelerations tend to be less sensitive to changes like post-glacial rebound that occur on time scales of thousands of years, said Davis. Davis said that even though the results of their modeling do support the notion that sea level rise has been accelerating over the past 25 years, that doesn't mean it will continue. "What we're seeing is big," said Davis. "But there's nothing in this paper that says, 'Oh, I've discovered acceleration and we're all going to drown now.' You can't predict forward." There are many sources of feedback in the system that scientists still don't understand, he said. Still, Davis suggested the findings might serve as a tool for local governments. "Suppose you're a mayor in Miami and you hear that the projections for Greenland ice melt are wrong, and they're going to be much greater in the next century. You have to worry much more than if you're a mayor in Nova Scotia. But then if you're talking about ocean currents, it's flipped," said Davis. "Wherever you live, you can't just go by these [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change] reports that say global sea level rise is one number." More information: Asbury H. Sallenger et al. Hotspot of accelerated sea-level rise on the Atlantic coast of North America, Nature Climate Change (2012). DOI: 10.1038/nclimate1597 Journal information: Nature Climate Change Wildlife biologists say an alarming number of female desert tortoise carcasses found earlier this year just outside the southern edge of Joshua Tree National Park may be the result of mothers fighting extinction by exhausting their water and energy to lay eggs, even under stress. U.S. Geological Survey biologist Jeffrey Lovich, who has monitored tortoises in and around the park for two decades, said the potentially lethal response to prolonged drought may become more common throughout the Southern California desert as temperatures rise and forage diminishes. "This is still a hypothesis," Lovich said on Monday, "but I believe these tortoises died after continuing to lay clutches of four eggs the size of ping pong balls year after year, using up vital resources they need to survive." "It was an evolutionary gamble," he said. "If it pays off, their genetic information will be passed on to a new generation of hatchlings in conditions more suitable for survival of the species." A research team led by Lovich was surveying a study area of several square miles on the northern flanks of the Orocopia Mountains when it discovered the remains of 14 female and three male tortoises, and 15 live animals, most of them males. Judging from the deterioration of the carcasses and chalkiness of the bones, Lovich concluded the animals perished over the last five to 10 years, a period including five consecutive years of drought regarded as the most severe in recorded history. The find has stepped up concerns over the fate of tortoises within the nearly 800,000-acre national park, which recent rains made into a showcase of habitat, lush with plants and flowers for the lumbering reptiles to fatten up on. But vast swaths of terrain carpeted with daisies can only do so much, biologists say, in the face of longer droughts and climate change. Despite its name, scruffy body armor and status as a symbol of the desert conservation movement, the tortoise is not well adapted to arid landscapes. It evolved thousands of years ago, when the region was cooler and dominated by lakes and marshes fringed with Joshua trees and junipers, Lovich said. Over the past three decades, the park's tortoise population has plummeted from roughly 30,000 to an all-time low of about 3,000, Michael Vamstad, a wildlife ecologist at the park, said. A federal analysis determined that a viable population of tortoises must maintain an average minimum density of about 10 adults per square mile. The average density within the park today is about nine adults per square mile, Vamstad said. "We're at a point now where we expect tortoises to disappear in certain areas because there aren't enough of them around to find a mate," he said. "But we believe there will also be pockets with the right combinations of air temperature, moisture and forage to sustain tortoises for years to come." Over the past century, desert tortoises have been decimated by habitat loss, trampling by cows and sheep, shootings, vehicle strikes, disease, collecting, relocation efforts on military bases and predation by ravens, coyotes and dogs. Now their deadliest foe is climate change, which is upsetting the delicate balance of life and death conditions for the species in an otherwise intensely managed expanse of habitat within a national park. "The recent five-year drought is a window into the future of what climate change may look like across the Southwestern United States," Cameron Barrows, a University of California, Riverside ecologist who specializes in the park's wildlife, said. "In certain study plots where we found lots of tortoises even two years ago, we didn't find any this year." Improving the odds of survival for tortoises hasn't been easy at a time when record numbers of tourists are straining park roads, campsites and services, officials said. The park had 2.5 million visitors in 2016, twice the number seen five years ago, officials said. In the midst of a spectacular wildflower bloom in March that attracted both hungry tortoises and a crush of camera-toting tourists, three tortoises were struck and killed by cars in a single week. Officials are considering roadside fencing, which is effective in reducing mortalities of tortoises and other reptiles. It is also controversial, however, because it is expensive to install and maintain, fragments habitat and is an eyesore on federal lands set aside for their natural beauty. "Climate change has no regard for traffic signs, speed limits, roadside barriers or national park boundaries," said Debra Hughson, a research biologist at the Mojave National Preserve, about 50 miles northwest of the park. It's not all bad news. Under a hot morning sun on a recent weekday, park biologist Kristen Lalumiere followed telemetry pings across a desolate arroyo edged with cholla cactus to a radio-collared female desert tortoise the size of a volleyball emerging from a burrow to bask in the sunshine, dine on flowers and, perhaps, find a mate. Lalumiere peered inside, then smiled and said, "You're looking good, girl - clear eyes, clean nose and flower stains all over your mouth." Adding a hopeful dose of anthropomorphism, she said, "Single female seeks relationship with strong male willing to fight to protect her. Must enjoy flowers, long slow walks and cuddling up in desert caves." The tortoise biologists dubbed "Salsa Verde" stared back at her, then retreated into her burrow. In a nearby burrow, a male tortoise known as "Scuter" was taking a siesta. Whether or not they produce a new generation of tortoises will not be known for 15 to 20 years because that is how long it takes hatchlings to reach maturity, even in the best of times. 2017 Los Angeles Times Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Credit: The National University of Science and Technology MISIS Materials scientists from NUST MISIS, together with colleagues from the Department of Chemistry at Lomonosov Moscow State University, have developed a cheap and qualitative method of delivering blood samples and other biological fluids over any distance to be analyzed in laboratories. The developed method is similar to the technology of obtaining dry blood spots, which has already proven useful in neonatal screening. The new technology in this field has wide-ranging possibilities, and in the near future, may displace traditional methods of sample collection to become the new method of screening populations for communicable diseases (HIV, hepatitis, tuberculosis, etc.). These possibilities are now being discussed in professional environments. "[The method] used for neonatal screening and obtaining dry blood samples involves a few blood drops are applied to special cellulose carriers and then dried in air. It requires special cards not produced in Russia, as well as expensive specialized equipment for obtaining samples of biomaterial for further analysis. And this technology doesn't even exist in every major city. Additionally, the difficulty of using such carriers for quantitative analysis of animal and human blood is caused by irregularity of its diffusion on carriers due to the complex structure of cellulose and the presence of inconvertible adsorption of blood components, which greatly distorts the results of analysis," said Associate Professor Alexander Osipov, one of developers of the project. That is why at the present time, medial syringes for gathering liquid samples of blood or serum for delivery to laboratories in special containers with specific temperature conditions (often frozen) are used in medical and veterinary diagnosis. The whole process is quite expensive and inconvenient. In addition, if a violation of temperature or time conditions occurs during the delivery or storage, blood samples lose their properties, possibly leading to incorrect results. This problem was solved by replacing the cellulose with specially prepared porous inorganic material containing nanoparticles of metals. Scientists chose the composition and form of the absorbent to ensure the blood was evenly distributed throughout the volume, and upon washing the analyzed blood components, it almost completely passed into solution. Modified samples dry about two times faster, which critically speeds up the sample preparation process. To transport to a laboratory, the card is put in an envelope and sent by mail without need of special transport, which leads to significant financial savings. For example, in past events of an emergency epidemiological situation like the outbreak of the Siberian plague in Yamal in 2016 the cost of express delivery of a batch of biomaterials to a Moscow lab amounted to several million rubles. The cost of the card itself in manual, small-scale wholesale production is five times lower than industrial imported cellulose40 rubles vs. 180 rubles. When considering large-scale production, the price will be even lower. Now, the creators of the new sample preparation technology have focused on veterinary diagnosis, because in animal breeding and farming, there is a need to conduct hundreds of thousands of tests, but there are no conditions for these tests on farms located in remote areas. Now, scientists are collaborating with some of Russia`s largest poultry and animal farms, which determines the level of bird immunity, vaccinations, the presence of the FMD virus, rabies, leukemia, and other particularly dangerous infections animals may have. After the completion of testing and certification procedures, it will be possible to start the serial production of a pilot series of membrane carriers of the new model for sample selection. According to preliminary estimates, all necessary documents will be ready by the end of 2017. The researchers are approaching Russian diagnostic laboratories for use of the new technology in medical diagnostics, including screenings for communicable diseases such as hepatitis, HIV, and others. In addition, several large companies from Southeast Asia have also expressed interest in using the new system both in veterinary and medical diagnostics. Scientists at UC Riverside have developed an inexpensive, biodegradable, seaweed-based ant bait that can help homeowners and farmers control invasive Argentine ant populations. Credit: University of California - Riverside Scientists at the University of California, Riverside have developed an inexpensive, biodegradable, seaweed-based ant bait that can help homeowners and farmers control invasive Argentine ant populations. The researchers found the "hydrogel" baits, which look like liquid gel pills but have a jello-like consistency, reduced ant populations 40 to 68 percent after four weeks. After a second treatment, between weeks four and five, ant population reductions were maintained at 61 to 79 percent until the experiment ended after eight weeks. "A 70 percent reduction is really successful, especially considering we are not spraying an insecticide but instead using a very targeted method that is better for the environment," said Dong-Hwan Choe, an assistant professor of entomology at UC Riverside and an assistant cooperative extension specialist. "With 70 percent control, homeowners really don't see any ants." Jia-Wei Tay, a post-doctoral scholar in Choe's lab, is the lead author of the paper. Co-authors are Choe; Mark Hoddle, an entomologist at UC Riverside; and Ashok Mulchandani, a distinguished professor of chemical and environmental engineering. In addition to the applications for homeowners in an urban environment, which was the focus of this paper, the hydrogels have applications in agriculture, including in citrus groves and grape vineyards. For example, the Asian citrus psyllid has decimated citrus trees in Asia, South America, Florida and now threatens California's citrus industry. To combat the bug in California, Hoddle coordinated the release of wasps that are native to Pakistan and a natural enemy of the Asian citrus psyllid. Unexpectedly, Hoddle found Argentine ants were killing the wasps. This summer, the team will coordinate research in citrus groves in southern California. The team wants to measure the effectiveness of hydrogels in controlling Argentine ant populations. If the hydrogel baits can control the ants, the wasps can do their job protecting citrus trees from Asian citrus psyllid, which transmit Huanglongbing, a bacterial disease that kills citrus trees. Credit: University of California - Riverside The Argentine ant is an invasive species with a worldwide distribution. It is a major nuisance in southern states including Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, Tennessee, and North Carolina, and also in California. In fact, a 2007 survey found that 85 percent of all urban pest control services in California were focused on the Argentine ant. A common method for managing the Argentine ant has been insecticide sprays. However, the downside of this tactic is that the insecticides can harm non-target organisms that do beneficial things. The misuse of the pesticide sprays can also cause environmental contamination. As a result of these downsides, research has focused on liquid baits that use a combination of sugar water (to attract the ants) and a small amount of toxicant to kill the ants. The problem with the liquid baits is that they need to be dispensed in bait stations, which are costly to maintain. "Hydrogels eliminate the need for the bait stations. The hydrogels are applied on the ground where the ants forage. Once an ant finds the hydrogel, it drinks from the surface of it. It then goes back to its nest and shares the toxic liquid with nest mates. The ants also create a trail to the hydrogels that their nest mates will follow," Tay said. The hydrogels are designed to be slow-acting, so it takes several days before the ants die. By that time tens of thousands will have ingested the liquid bait. The hydrogels created by the team are highly absorbent the material used is similar to what is used in diapers. They retain water so that they will remain attractive to ants for an extended amount of time. The researchers used sugar water containing 0.0001 percent of the insecticide thiamethoxam in the hydrogels. "This is 100-fold less than it is used in a standard ant gel bait and 1,000 times less concentrated than spray insecticides containing thiamethoxam," Tay said. Future research will address the potential use of the hydrogels on other pest insects as well as how quickly the hydrogels biodegrade. The article, published in Pest Management Science, is called "Development of an alginate hydrogel to deliver aqueous bait for pest ant management." More information: Jia-Wei Tay et al. Development of an alginate hydrogel to deliver aqueous bait for pest ant management, Pest Management Science (2017). DOI: 10.1002/ps.4616 Journal information: Pest Management Science Credit: Tiago Fioreze / Wikipedia (Phys.org)A team of researchers from Taiwan and the U.S. has found evidence of higher levels of anthropogenic surface nitrogen in the South China Sea, likely due to an increase in atmospheric nitrogen levels. In their paper published in the journal Science, the group describes their study of nitrogen deposition on coral reefs over the past half-century. Edward Boyle with MIT offers a Perspective piece on the work done by the team in the same issue along with an outline of nitrogen ocean processes. Prior to the arrival of humans, nitrogen levels at or near the ocean surface were stable due to upward mixing of nitrate ions dissolving in deep water. That nitrogen was then consumed by phytoplankton and returned to the depths when they died. But humans have changed things by pumping nitrogen into the atmosphere by burning gasoline or coal and dropping it onto the ground to fertilize crops. Nitrogen makes its way to streams and rivers and eventually into the ocean. Computer models suggest the likelihood that human endeavors have led to doubling of ocean surface nitrogen levels, but because ocean water samples were not collected until recently, there has been no way to prove the models correct. In this new effort, the researchers sought to do so by measuring nitrogen isotopes in proteins captured in aragonite skeletons of banded coral collected from Dongsha Atoll in the South China Sea. The coral samples were dated and found to be on average 45 years old, and were also found to harbor the isotope 15N over time, which allowed for measuring the amount of nitrogen in the ocean over the years of their life. The researchers report that they found a decrease of 15N that allowed them to calculate the amount of nitrogen in the waterthey found that nitrogen due to human impact now makes up approximately 20 percent of the nitrogen found in ocean surface water. The team then noted that by measuring the levels over time, it was clear that the increase was due more to atmospheric nitrogen sources (burning of fossil fuels) than fertilizer use. They report also that their measurements were sensitive enough to observe seasonal changes in nitrogen levels due to the inflow of fresh water during monsoon seasons. More information: Haojia Ren et al. 21st-century rise in anthropogenic nitrogen deposition on a remote coral reef, Science (2017). DOI: 10.1126/science.aal3869 Abstract With the rapid rise in pollution-associated nitrogen inputs to the western Pacific, it has been suggested that even the open ocean has been affected. In a coral core from Dongsha Atoll, a remote coral reef ecosystem, we observe a decline in the 15N/14N of coral skeletonbound organic matter, which signals increased deposition of anthropogenic atmospheric N on the open ocean and its incorporation into plankton and, in turn, the atoll corals. The first clear change occurred just before 2000 CE, decades later than predicted by other work. The amplitude of change suggests that, by 2010, anthropogenic atmospheric N deposition represented 20 5% of the annual N input to the surface ocean in this region, which appears to be at the lower end of other estimates. Journal information: Science 2017 Phys.org Phages attack a bacterium. Credit: Imperial College London Researchers have uncovered how a virus uses a two-pronged attack against a single protein to kill bacteria. The international group, led by scientists from the MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology & Infection at Imperial College London, believe their work could ultimately lead to new ways to combat bacterial infections. The team made the discovery while studying a type of virus known as a T7 bacteriophage, which infects E. coli, the bacterium which can cause food poisoning. The virus, which is hundreds of times smaller than a bacterium, selectively targets E.coli, hijacking the bacterium's biological functions to churn out more copies of itself. Previously, a group led by Professor Ramesh Wigneshweraraj from the Department of Medicine and Professor Steve Matthews from the Department of Life Sciences, discovered that this virus attacks its bacterial host by interfering with E.coli's ability to switch on its genes. They showed that the virus produces a protein called Gp2 which targets a crucial enzyme in the bacterium known as RNA polymerase (RNAP). This enzyme is used by bacteria to transcribe their genetic code to strands of RNA, needed for making proteins. RNAP is already a target for some antibiotics like rifamycins, used to treat tuberculosis and leprosy, which kill bacteria by binding to the enzyme and disrupting its ability to make RNA. The structure of the Gp5.7 protein. Credit: Imperial College London In the latest study, published in the journal Nucleic Acid Research, the international group, which involved researchers from the US, Russia and Israel, has shown that the virus also uses a second protein to target RNAP forming a two-pronged attack against the same target in E.coli. Doubling up "These viruses are quite efficient killers. They don't have resources to spare, so typically they will develop one protein to kill one process," explained Professor Wigneshweraraj. "The novelty of our new research is that we have discovered that one virus has evolved two entirely different ways to attack the same bacterial target." The group thinks that the first protein (Gp2) can only inhibit free forms of the enzyme not actively transcribing DNA in the bacterial cell during the early stages of infection. However, later on in the attack, more RNAP becomes available. The virus produces the second protein (Gp5.7) to target the remaining enzymes and finish the job, resulting in a finely tuned process to kill the bacterium. Professor Wigneshweraraj says that while the study is fundamental research and is a long way from being used in the clinic, the pharmaceutical industry could use the research to revisit existing targets in the bacterial cell for intervention. "Our view is that by studying these proteins we can get truly new inspiration to hit on new ways to fight bacterial infections. If we can mimic the processes that viruses use, we may be able to create new forms of treatment against proven antibiotic targets in bacteria," said Professor Wigneshweraraj. The researchers say the next step is to focus more on how Gp5.7 binds to RNAP and to work out the exact mechanism by which the viruses take down the bacteria. Julie Brefczynski-Lewis, a neuroscientist at West Virginia University, places a helmet-like PET scanner on a research subject. The mobile scannerdesigned for studies of human interaction, movement disorders, and moreis based on a scanner developed at Brookhaven Lab for brain-imaging studies in freely moving animals. Credit: US Department of Energy Patients undergoing a positron emission tomography (PET) scan in today's bulky, donut-shaped machines must lie completely still. Because of this, scientists cannot use the scanners to unearth links between movement and brain activity. What goes on up there when we nod in agreement or shake hands? How are the brains of people struggling to walk after a stroke different from those who can? To tackle questions like these, Julie Brefczynski-Lewis, a neuroscientist at West Virginia University (WVU), has partnered with Stan Majewski, a physicist at WVU and now at the University of Virginia, to develop a miniaturized PET brain scanner. The scanner can be "worn" like a helmet, allowing research subjects to stand and make movements as the device scans. This Ambulatory Microdose Positron Emission Tomography (AMPET) scanner could launch new psychological and clinical studies on how the brain functions when affected by diseases from epilepsy to addiction, and during ordinary and dysfunctional social interactions. "There are so many possibilities," said Brefczynski-Lewis, "Scientists could use AMPET to study Alzheimer's or traumatic brain injuries, or even our sense of balance. We want to push the limits of imaging mobility with this device." The idea was sparked by a scanner developed for studying rats, a project started in 2002 at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory. Majewski, a high-energy physicist by training, originally caught wind of Brookhaven's "RatCAP" project because he ran in the same physicist circles as several of the RatCAP team members. "I learned about what my friends and colleagues at Brookhaven were doing," said Majewski, "and decided to build the same type of device for humans." Brookhaven beginnings The Rat Conscious Animal PET, or RatCAP, scanner is a 250-gram ring that fits around the head of a rat, suspended by springs to support its weight and let the rat scurry about as the device scans. Nora Volkow, head of Brookhaven's Life Sciences division at the time, came up with the idea to image the brains of awake and moving animals. "I wanted to do PET scans on animals without having to use anesthesia," said Volkow, who is now the Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Unlike humans, animals can't be told to simply lie still in a scanner. But the anesthesia required to make them lie still muddies the results. "It affects the distribution of the PET radiotracer and inhibits neurons," Volkow said. A wearable scanner, however, would move with the animal's brain and eliminate the need for anesthesia (see HOW PET WORKS). Volkow enlisted the help of Brookhaven scientists and engineers to make the idea a reality. Tracking particles Fortunately, there is a large overlap between medical imaging and nuclear physics, a subject in which Brookhaven Lab is a world leader. Today, physicists at the Lab use technology similar to PET scanners at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC), where they must track the particles that fly out of near-light speed collisions of charged nuclei. PET research at the Lab dates back to the early 1960s and includes the creation of the first single-plane scanner as well as various tracer molecules. "Both fields think about the same thingshow the photodetectors work, how the scintillating crystals work, how the electronics work," said Brookhaven physicist Craig Woody. "PET scanners, as well as CT [computed tomography] and MRI [magnetic resonance imaging], are used by doctors but they are built by detector physicists." Woody, who is now working on a new particle detector for RHIC, led the RatCAP project with David Schlyer and Paul Vaska. At the time, Schlyer and Vaska were heads of Brookhaven's cyclotron operations and of PET physics, respectively. Schlyer is now a scientist emeritus at the Lab and Vaska is a professor of biomedical engineering at Stony Brook University. The Brookhaven-developed scanner, dubbed "RatCAP," made it possible to scan animals without anesthesia. Members of the RatCAP team in 2011 showing a brain scan and the apparatus holding the ring-shaped detector: (front row, from left) Paul Vaska, Craig Woody, Daniela Schulz, Srilalan Krishnamoorthy, Bosky Ravindranath, (back row, from left) Sean Stoll, David Schlyer, Sri Harsha Maramraju, Martin Purschke, Fritz Henn, and Paul O'Connor. Credit: US Department of Energy In designing the small-scale scanner, the team used recent advances in detector technology. For instance, they used dense crystals to convert the gamma photons generated by positron-electron interactions into visible light, along with small light-detecting sensors called avalanche photodiodes. They also used special electronics developed at Brookhaven and built into the compact, lightweight PET detector. Suspending the structure on long springs helped support its weight so rats could "wear" the scanner while moving around easily. "It was a very collaborative effort," said Schlyer, who produced the radioisotopes needed for the scans. "We had people from physics, biology, chemistry, medicine, and electrical engineering." From rats to hats Word got out about RatCAP as the scientists presented their progress at conferences and meetings. Stan Majewski, then at DOE's Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab), took notice. He had been working on new methods of breast cancer imaging, applying his high-energy physics detector expertise to the medical field. "I had known Stan for a long timewe worked together at CERN, the European nuclear physics laboratory," said Woody. "I have to give him credit because he was constantly saying 'you really ought to do medical physics.'" Majewski noted that Jefferson Lab's management was very supportive of the project and provided some seed money even after he relocated to WVU to do more work on medical imaging. While there he expanded on the ideas of the RatCAP and built a prototype wearable PET brain imager for humans. "A mobile brain imaging tool has applications in psychology research and clinical uses," Majewski said. "You could do bedside imaging of epilepsy, for example, and watch what happens in the brain during a seizure." Majewski's "Helmet_PET" prototype, patented in 2011, used silicon photomultipliersa newer, similarly compact but more efficient photodetector than the avalanche photodiodes used in RatCAP. "Stan saw the potential in the RatCAP and took it further," said Woody. The patent drawing of the prototype was sitting on Majewski's desk at WVU when Brefczynski-Lewis, a neuroscientist, walked in. The drawing of a helmet-shaped detector on an upright person caught her attention. "I had always been bothered by this middle zone of the brain you couldn't reach with other imaging technologies," she said. "With electroencephalography (EEG) you can't reach deep brain structures, but with PET and MRI you can't have motion. I thought Stan's device could fill this niche." After building the first prototype at WVU, the two scientists began using Helmet_PET to image the brains of volunteer patients. After Majewski transferred to the University of Virginia the team developed a newer model of the device, now known as AMPET. The current imaging cap is designed to scan a standing person and is attached to an overhead support, allowing for some motion. Nora Volkow, who led a world-renowned brain-imaging program at Brookhaven Lab, came up with the idea for RatCAP. She is now the director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Credit: US Department of Energy AMPET bears great similarity to one of the first PET scanners built at Brookhaven, nicknamed the "hair dryer." "The ideas have sort of come full circle," said Schlyer. "What has changed is the technology that makes these devices possible." The AMPET team hopes to start developing a full-brain scanner soonone that covers the entire head rather than examining a horizontal five-centimeter section, like the current ring. Microdose has big potential Because AMPET sits so close to the brain, it can "catch" more of the photons stemming from the radiotracers used in PET than larger scanners can. That means researchers can administer a lower dose of radioactive material and still get a good biological snapshot. Catching more signals also allows AMPET to create higher resolution images than regular PET. But most importantly, PET scans allow researchers to see further into the body than other imaging tools. This lets AMPET reach deep neural structures while the research subjects are upright and moving. "A lot of the important things that are going on with emotion, memory, and behavior are way deep in the center of the brain: the basal ganglia, hippocampus, amygdala," Brefczynski-Lewis said. From a psychologist's or neuroscientist's perspective, AMPET could open doors to a variety of experiments, from exploring the brain's reactions to different environments to the mechanisms involved in arguing or being in love. Brefczynski-Lewis described ways to use AMPET to study the brain activity that underlies emotion. "Currently we are doing tests to validate the use of virtual reality environments in future experiments," she said. In this "virtual reality," volunteers would read from a script designed to make the subject angry, for example, as his or her brain is scanned. In the medical sphere, the scanning helmet could help explain what happens during drug treatments, or shed light on movement disorders. "There is a sub-population of Parkinson's patients who have great difficulty walking, but can ride a bicycle with ease and without hesitation," said Schlyer, who is also an adjunct professor in the Radiology department at Weill Cornell Medical College, where he studies Parkinson's. "What is going on in their brains that makes these two activities so different? With this device we could monitor regional brain activation as patients walk and bike, and potentially answer that question." Brefczynski-Lewis noted, "We have successfully imaged the brain of someone walking in place. Now we're ready to build a laboratory-ready version. It's been an exciting journeyuncovering the needs of different neuroscientists and developing this device that we hope will someday meet those needs, and help in our quest to understand the brain." The RatCAP project at Brookhaven was funded by the DOE Office of Science. RHIC is a DOE Office of Science User Facility for nuclear physics research. Sculpture Hospitality Accelerates Growth While Celebrating 30th Anniversary #NRAshow Leading inventory solutions provider to offer free Discovery Audits at NRA Show May 20-23 TORONTO (May 19, 2017) Even as it prepares to celebrate its 30th year in business, Sculpture Hospitality continues to morph as technology and its clients needs change. And the premier inventory solutions company for bar and restaurant operators is showing no signs of slowing down. Founded in 1987 as Bevinco to assist restaurant and bar owners with their liquor inventory systems, Sculpture Hospitality began franchising in 1991 and has steadily expanded its product base and geographic reach to serve all markets in the U.S. and Canada, plus 33 countries across the globe. Now boasting state-of-the-art food inventory systems, draft beer management programs and sales and training products, Sculpture has become the leading profit and revenue enhancement management service in the global hospitality industry. Its an exciting time at Sculpture Hospitality. I am so proud of everyone that has worked so hard to provide best-in-class products, technology and services for our franchisees and our clients, said Vanessa De Caria, President of the Toronto-based firm. Over the last 30 years, weve continuously raised the bar to provide the most advanced, sophisticated technology to meet our clients evolving needs and demands. Innovation is at the core of what we do, and thats why we continue to be successful in this space. Add to that the personalized touch that Sculpture provides and we cant be beat. We dont just leave our clients with a piece of technology and let them figure things out for themselves. We provide support and partnership to help them become more profitable and grow. In just a few days, Sculpture will be showcasing its comprehensive product suite during the BAR17 Show at Chicagos McCormick Place Convention Center, from May 21-22. Operators are invited to stop by Booth #11353 at the Bar17 Show (held in conjunction with the NRA Show) to view product demos and to take advantage of an exclusive offer: Sign up for a Sculpture product during the show and receive two free Discovery Audits!* Sculpture prides itself on its ability to tailor a suite of solutions specifically for any foodservice operation. Whether profits are slipping away from over-pouring, improper yielding techniques or vendor discrepancies, Sculpture has the tools and expertise to fix the problems and make every establishment regardless of size more successful. The companys expert consultants provide hands-on, personal service, including staff training, designed to prevent inventory loss, increase sales and maximize profits. This enables operators to focus their energy and time on hiring staff and providing high-quality guest experiences while Sculpture handles inventory management and staff accountability issues. We are laser-focused on developing comprehensive, class-leading systems, technologies and tools tailored to each specific business model, thereby reshaping the food and beverage industry, continued De Caria. We are a growing, evolving company that is seeking even more top-notch franchisees that share our passion for excellence to help us continue to provide the absolute best products and services possible to our growing client base. *Due to regional considerations, this offer may not be applicable in all markets. About Sculpture Hospitality Sculpture Hospitality is a family of brands delivering technology solutions and services that improve the lives and businesses of bar and restaurant operators. Founded in 1987 and operating in 33 countries globally, Sculpture Hospitality is a premier inventory solutions company that constantly adapts its technology to meet its clients evolving needs. To learn more about how Sculpture Hospitality can improve your bottom line, visit sculpturehospitality.com. More Point of sale news: By Steve Scherer ABOARD THE AQUARIUS RESCUE SHIP (Reuters) - Rescues began at dawn on Thursday and by the end of the day some 2,300 migrants had been pulled off 22 wooden and rubber boats in the Mediterranean, with many rejoicing when rescuers told them that their long journey to Europe was almost over. At one point, 10 migrant boats could be seen floating on the horizon just outside Libya's territorial waters, with the shoreline visible in the distance. A surveillance aircraft circled above and Libyan coast guard speed boats set fire to migrant boats once their passengers had been recovered, to stop smugglers recovering and reusing them. From the rescue ship Aquarius, operated by SOS Mediterranean and Doctors without Borders, two rigid-hulled inflatable boats were launched to collect the migrants from over-loaded rubber boats and bring them - 18 or 20 at a time - to the ship. "In a few days you will be in Italy, in Europe. Libya is over," each group was told in English or French, often drawing applause and cheers of joy from those who were not too exhausted, seasick or traumatised from their journey. Nigerians, Sudanese, Moroccans, and Bangladeshis were among those rescued by the Aquarius. Smugglers are cramming migrants onto boats in Libya at a record pace this year. Arrivals in Italy, where rescued migrants are brought, are up 35 percent on the same period last year. Many have endured years-long journeys that took them across the Sahara desert to Libya, where often they fall into the hands of criminal groups who detain, extort, abuse, buy and sell them. The lucky ones get onto boats and are rescued by European vessels. To try to give the United Nations-backed government in Tripoli more power to stop people smuggling, Italy and the European Union are equipping and training the coast guard to patrol these waters and turn back migrant boats. But humanitarian groups dispute this strategy, saying returned migrants will be put in detention centres controlled by the Tripoli government, where they can be held indefinitely in appalling conditions, and are given little food and no medical care. The Libyan coastguard said it intercepted some 600 migrants on boats on Thursday. "On the Libyan side, we will not always intercept the migrants unless we feel that the U.N. and the EU are serious about deportation (to home countries)," coastguard official Abdullah Tomia told reporters in Tripoli. Many of the more than 560 migrants rescued and brought on board the Aquarius slept deeply on deck after reaching safety. About 10 small children who travelled with their families were among those rescued, as were more than 90 unaccompanied minors and about 10 pregnant women. "After several days of bad weather, we got a lot of boats today," said Marcella Kraay, project coordinator on the Aquarius for the Doctors without Borders charity. "But otherwise it was a pretty typical rescue." (Additional reporting by Ahmed Elumami in Tripoli and Isla Binnie in Rome; Editing by Toby Chopra) A Japanese man has been arrested in Indonesia for allegedly trying to smuggle hundreds of reptiles out of the archipelago, including snakes, lizards and turtles, authorities and environmentalists said Friday. Katsuhide Naito, believed to be a major player in the wildlife-smuggling trade, was detained at Jakarta's main airport as he was about to board a flight to Tokyo with over 250 animals hidden in his bags. "Officials became suspicious seeing him with so many suitcases," Tisna Nando, spokeswoman for NGO the Wildlife Conservation Society, which was involved in the investigation, told AFP. "After they were opened, we found hundreds of reptiles, most of them were alive." The reptiles were stuffed into four suitcases and one box and four were dead, said Nando. Ruchyana, an official from the airport operator who like many Indonesians goes by one name, said the 51-year-old was caught late Monday carrying protected species including green tree pythons, lizards from Borneo island and pig-nosed turtles. Before arriving in Jakarta, Naito had been in Medan, on the jungle-clad Indonesian island of Sumatra. He could face up to three years in prison if found guilty of breaking Indonesian wildlife laws. The Wildlife Conservation Society believes Naito was part of a larger wildlife-smuggling syndicate. "We believe he is a big player and part of a syndicate which has been active in wildlife trading for more than 12 years," Nando said. He was arrested in 2005 in Australia for attempting to smuggle reptiles into the country from Southeast Asia, she said. Indonesia is home to vast rainforests and a kaleidoscope of exotic animals. But wildlife smuggling is common, with environmentalists saying a lack of resources and corruption are undermining law enforcement efforts. IMAGE_UNTV_NEWS_051817_SEC Erenesto Abella MANILA The President has approved the recommendation on the Department of Finance not to accept grants but this does not necessarily mean humanitarian aids from the EU that may allow it to in interfere with the internal policies of the Philippines. This has been Presidential Spokesperson Erenesto Abellas response after confirming that the Philippines will no longer accept new development aid from the European Union (EU). Abella did not specify the aid grants the country will decline to accept from the European bloc. But he notes that the Administration has the right to decline foreign aids that it deems would hinder its efforts to run the country. He cites as example the EUs criticims of President Rodrigo Dutertes campaign against illegal drugs. It also reserves the right to reduce to respectfully decline offers that do not achieve these goals and offers that allow foreigners to interfere with the conduct of its internal affairs, Sec. Abella added. He also clarified that existing aid that the country is currently receiving from EU will still continue. Abella said the move should not be a cause for worry as the president only wants to show that the Philippines can stand on its own even without aid from EU. We need to gain a certain confidence in ourselves and this is exactly the kind of mentality I think the President wants the Filipinos to avoid , a mendicant attitude,he said. Abella also said the Philippine economy has improved within ten months after Duterte took office, further boasting that the country is even the second fastest growing economy in Asia. The Department of Trade and Industry, meanwhile, argues that the recent move of the government should not affect the ties between the Philippines and European Union when it comes to the exportation of products. NEDA Director- General Ernesto Pernia explained that the recent decision of the president might be his response to his critics who question the manner in which he runs the country and his implementation of what he claims is an independent foreign policy. Aiko Miguel | UNTV News and Rescue The post Philippines will no longer accept financial assistance from the European Union appeared first on UNTV News. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court, will not join an Islamic summit in Saudi Arabia with US President Donald Trump, his office said Friday. "President Omar al-Bashir has apologised to King Salman of Saudi Arabia for being unable to attend the Riyadh summit," a statement from his office carried by the official SUNA news agency said. It said he had been unable to accept the king's invitation for "personal reasons." Bashir has evaded arrest since his indictment by the ICC for alleged genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the 14-year-old conflict in Darfur that has killed tens of thousands of people. His planned attendance at Sunday's summit of Arab and Muslim leaders in Riyadh had drawn strong criticism from Washington. 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 on Tuesday. 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. But the US embassy in Khartoum said on Wednesday that it opposed "invitations, facilitation or support for travel by any person subject to outstanding International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants, including President Bashir". South Africa, which is a signatory to the Rome Statute, is currently facing proceedings before the ICC for failing to arrest Bashir during a 2015 visit. Last year, the ICC referred Chad, Djibouti and Uganda to the UN for also failing to arrest Bashir. So far no action has been taken against them. The Sudanese leader was also a guest at a March Arab League summit hosted by Rome Statute signatory Jordan. By Samia Errazzouki AL-HOCEIMA, Morocco (Reuters) - Thousands of Moroccans marched in a northern town to protest against injustice and corruption on Thursday, seven months after a fishmonger was crushed inside a garbage truck there while trying to retrieve fish confiscated by the police. Waving banners proclaiming "Are you a government or a gang?" and local protest flags, the march made its way peacefully through the centre of Al-Hoceima, packing the main square under the watch of police and gendarmerie checkpoints. Political protests are rare in Morocco, but tensions in Al-Hoceima have been simmering since October following the death of fishmonger Mouhcine Fikri. The incident sparked outrage against "hogra", a colloquial Derja Arabic term for deprivation of dignity because of official abuses or corruption, and prompted some of the largest protests since Arab Spring-inspired demonstrations in 2011. Thursday's marchers filled the main square and local businesses shut shops, cafes and restaurants in an unprecedented show of support. Crowds booed as they passed a police station. "Our demands are clear, we want the removal of the security presence here, we want hospitals.... we want jobs, we want universities," said 23-year old Mohammed Boumasoud, a member of the "Hirak" movement that denounces corruption. Two police and three gendarmerie checkpoints filtered traffic entering the city, marking an increase from the usual level of security. Moroccan authorities usually police protests heavily, nervous about unrest since the 2011 demonstrations. During those protests, Morocco's king devolved some of his authority to an elected government in a constitutional reform. Governments in North Africa are wary of protests tapping into frustrations among unemployed youth over jobs and a lack of development in marginalised areas. Tunisia this month saw protests that threatened to block gas production in the south of the country. As crowds gathered in one square, Nasser Zefzafi, leader of "Hirak" rallied protesters over a megaphone. He has been the target of attacks in pro-palace media, who have accused him of being a separatist for the Rif region. The anger over Fikri's death, which shocked even staunch supporters of the palace, was a reminder the broader resentment at the establishment over joblessness and the gap between rich and poor that partly drove the 2011 pro-democracy protests. Earlier this week, the Moroccan government released a statement acknowledging the protests in the Rif and urging officials to move quickly to implement a development strategy aimed at providing jobs. Rif briefly declared independence in the 1920s during the resistance against Spanish colonial rule. Even after independence the region had a contentious relationship with central authorities, often claiming it has been abandoned. "Mouhcine Fikri's death was the last drop that made the glass overflow," said activist Rabih Boushaaoul, a member of Hirak. "Fikri's death woke the Rif up from a deep sleep." (Editing by Patrick Markey and Hugh Lawson) 2 Teams. 15 Skateparks. 100 Challenges! Camp Rubicons King of the Camp with Skatewarehouse kicked off in style this Easter with Adam Keats and Alex DeCunha. The crew of young rippers spent the week touring a bunch of the UKs finest parks, taking on individual and team challenges both on and off the board. From hippy jumping the most number of people, to haircuts, tattoos and bearings-only drop ins, the crew did everything they could to rack up points for their team and be crowned the King of the Camp. Check out the full edit below (from the super-skilled Peter Pickford) and head over to the Camp Rubicon website to get signed up for one of their Summer camps including 3 weeks with riders from the Majer Crew! Your Ultimate Investing Toolkit Sign up for MarketBeat All Access to gain access to MarketBeat's full suite of research tools: Portfolio Monitoring Top Stock Lists Premium Reports Stock Screeners Live News Feed Premium Support Free for your first month. Palo Alto Networks, Inc. provides cybersecurity solutions worldwide. The company offers firewall appliances and software; Panorama, a security management solution for the control of firewall appliances and software deployed on a customer's network, as well as their instances in public or private cloud environments, as a virtual or a physical appliance; and virtual system upgrades, which are available as extensions to the virtual system capacity that ships with physical appliances. It also provides subscription services covering the areas of threat prevention, malware and persistent threat, URL filtering, laptop and mobile device protection, and firewall; and DNS security, Internet of Things security, SaaS security API, and SaaS security inline, as well as threat intelligence, and data loss prevention. In addition, the company offers cloud security, secure access, security operations, and threat intelligence and cyber security consulting; professional services, including architecture design and planning, implementation, configuration, and firewall migration; education services, such as certifications, as well as online and in-classroom training; and support services. Palo Alto Networks, Inc. sells its products and services through its channel partners, as well as directly to medium to large enterprises, service providers, and government entities operating in various industries, including education, energy, financial services, government entities, healthcare, Internet and media, manufacturing, public sector, and telecommunications. The company was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California. Juniper Networks, Inc. designs, develops, and sells network products and services worldwide. The company offers routing products, such as ACX series universal access routers to deploy high-bandwidth services; MX series Ethernet routers that function as a universal edge platform; PTX series packet transport routers; wide-area network SDN controllers; and session smart routers. It also provides switching products, including EX series Ethernet switches to address the access, aggregation, and core layer switching requirements of micro branch, branch office, and campus environments; QFX series of core, spine, and top-of-rack data center switches; and juniper access points, which provide Wi-Fi access and performance. In addition, the company offers security products comprising SRX series services gateways for the data center; Branch SRX family provides an integrated and next-generation firewall; virtual firewall that delivers various features of physical firewalls; and advanced malware protection, a cloud-based service and Juniper ATP. Further, it offers Junos OS, a network operating system; Contrail networking, which provides an open-source and standards-based platform for SDN; Mist AI-driven Wired, Wireless, and WAN assurance solutions to set and measure key metrics; Mist AI-driven Marvis Virtual Network Assistant, which identifies the root cause of issues; Juniper Paragon Automation, a modular portfolio of cloud-native software applications; and Juniper Apstra to automate the network lifecycle in a single system. Additionally, the company provides software-as-a-service, technical support, maintenance, and professional services, as well as education and training programs. It sells its products through direct sales, distributors, value-added resellers, and original equipment manufacturers to end-users in the cloud, service provider, and enterprise markets. The company was incorporated in 1996 and is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. Public Goods, USA May 19, 2017 Dianne Feeley Surrounded by CEOs and autoworkers bused in for the event, Donald Trump made it clear during his March 14th appearance in the Detroit area that he was going to get rid of a federal regulation in order to free up the industry so it could make thousands and thousands and thousands of additional cars. For him it was a simple decision: If the standards threatened auto jobs, then common-sense changes could have and should have been made. Trump sees regulations for higher fuel efficiency burdens auto manufacturers and drives up the cost for potential buyers. In Trumps vocabulary, regulations are all bad. (Of course Trump sees regulations around reproductive rights as good, but consistency isnt one of his characteristics.) Trump talks as if regulations were designed by federal bureaucrats to give them greater power over corporations and consumers. That view turns the history of health and safety regulations upside down! We have all heard of food contamination in preparation and packaging. Every year we learn of products that must be recalled because they have resulted in deaths and injuries whether we are talking about GM ignition switches or baby cribs. But these are cases where the company did not meet regulations that had been established. Take away inspectors so regulations are not enforced, or reduce/wipe regulations off the books and we knowingly endanger ourselves. Why should companies be allowed to sell products that are unsafe at whatever cost? Fuel Efficiency Originally passed during the Middle East countries oil embargo back in 1975, fuel efficiency legislation only later became a mechanism for decreasing human-caused CO2 emissions. Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) regulations are based on how far the vehicle travels on a gallon of fuel. Standards were not increased for 20 years; as oil prices declined automakers built bigger vehicles and doubled the average horsepower. But California, concerned about air pollution, adopted a higher benchmark in 2002. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in charge of the CAFE standards, granted the state, and more than a dozen others, waivers enforcing more stringent rules. But when California cited climate change as the reason for a waiver during the George W. Bush administration, the request was denied. Californias attorney general then sued. The issue was settled when Barack Obama became president and negotiated to have the EPA adopt the California standard. In the first phase (2012-16) increased fuel efficiency, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), saved Americans more than $17-billion. Yet the UCS noted that each year, under the current CAFE standard, 53,000 people suffer early death from vehicle pollution. For its part, the EPA projected that by 2025 the higher standards would decrease oil consumption by 12 billion barrels, produce six billion fewer metric tons of greenhouse pollution and save consumers $1.7-trillion. Additionally a 2012 study by the Blue-Green Alliance an organization made up of environmental organizations, businesses and unions reported that the new technology would create 50,000 auto parts and assembly jobs by 2030. Investigating a wide range of factors to set the standard for CAFEs second phase (2022-25), the midterm report established an average of 54.5 miles per gallon. Since the review was finalized a year early, Obama signed off on it last January. On March 15th Trump announced he would direct the EPA to reopen and review the report at the request of automakers who claim the evaluation was truncated. The EPA website states that the evaluation will be completed by April 1, 2018. Unless Trump demands an end to waivers, states with a higher standard will continue to set the bar because they represent 40 per cent of the national market. This means manufacturers will be forced to adhere to the higher standard. And given that the U.S. industry exists in a world market where competition demands greater fuel efficiency and electrification, the consequences of a review with a revised lower standard might not mean much for auto manufacturers, although they are always pleased when they have more wiggle room. Trumps announcement does accomplish three goals. First, it makes his administration seem like they are moving ahead on their promise to rebuild U.S. manufacturing, creating thousands of jobs. Second, he underscores his mantra that regulation is a ball and chain that inhibits industry. And third, he thumbs his nose at those who want to drastically curtail usage of fossil fuels in the name of saving the planet. As Trump remarked, The assault on the American auto industry is over. Believe me, its over. Regulation and Labors Trap Regulations in capitalist economies enforce standards to protect workers or the larger community when people demand action. The passage of the Clean Air Act of 1970 and creation of the EPA is the direct result of unions, organizations concerned with public health and environmental organizations. In particular, Tony Mazzocchi of the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers (OCAW) read Rachel Carsons book, Silent Spring and realized OCAW workers were in danger. He pushed workers to understand why they needed to fight for clean air legislation, made a bridge to the environmental movement and educated them to support worker health and safety. Thats why it is shocking that the U.S. labor movement has been trapped by Trumps promise to create jobs through deregulation. Building trades officials were delighted with Trumps order to the Army of Engineers for a go-ahead to complete the Keystone and Dakota Access pipelines. In fact drastically reducing dependence on fossil fuels means employing people to make buildings energy efficient, building a mass transportation system both regionally and nationally and continuing to develop solar, wind, geothermal and water power. These are the jobs we need to demand! My own union, the UAW, embraces Trumps Buy American Hire American mantra. But its not possible to oppose some of the Trump agenda and enthusiastically support other parts. Unions dont realize that the narrow We only care about ourselves perspective takes us away from seeing ourselves as having more in common across the globe with other workers than with the multinationals who employ us and pollute our cities and countryside. Frankly it is chilling to read that the Trump budget calls for a 21% cut to the Department of Labor and a 34% cut to the EPA. If those cuts are implemented, inspectors who carry out the work of enforcing the laws may be on the chopping block. When the Occupational Health and Safety Act was passed in 1970 there were 14,000 on-the-job fatalities and two million workers with serious on-the-job injuries each year. Today worker deaths have been reduced by two-thirds. Thousands more suffer debilitating injuries from improperly maintained equipment, tools and machines. In the auto parts plant where I worked, one young woman was scalped by an assembly line that was later determined to be running too fast. Of course some industries are far more dangerous than others, but injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome occur at every workplace. We need a strengthening, not a weakening, of health and safety protections. This is particularly true for non-union manufacturing plants where the injury rate is high. More Cars on the Road? It is also chilling to hear Trump speak of the production of many thousands more cars. Last year the U.S. auto industry produced more than 17.6 million! Climate change isnt a problem for the future; we already see the effects of burning coal, oil and gas. We need to move rapidly from reliance on cars and trucks to a system of mass transit. Auto plants can be retooled to produce trains, fuel efficient busses and even components for turbines. Thats the kind of infrastructure we need to build, not more pipelines, cars and highways! During World War I and World War II, auto plants were quickly converted to defense production. But workers were laid off and communities surrounding the plants left to make do as best they could. That must not happen again! Environmental justice demands that society guarantee full compensation to workers and frontline communities most directly affected. In the process of moving to an energy-efficient society we have the opportunity to guarantee economic security and reduce inequality. The destruction that capitalism has unleashed in its continued demand for accumulation and profit needs to be replaced by the imperative to put the wellbeing of all at the center of the transition beginning with those most harmed by pollution and climate change. Just as regulations have offered some protection to the hazards of industrial production, a just transition is an essential tool to move from our fossil fuel economy to a sustainable one. No one should have to choose between a job and ones life. Certainly we are far from the kind of democratic planning that could bring us this transition, but only in maintaining the vision of a better life are we able to counter the rhetoric of right-wing populism where words are twisted to mean their opposite, and a bully tells us that everything will be all right if we let him make the decisions. Interior Ministry bought two buildings for 2 million more than their real value, opposition party OLaNO claims. Font size: A - | A + The Interior Minister Robert Kalinak bought two overpriced buildings for 3.9 million, without public competition, in the town of Martin, while a similar building across the road cost half the price. Representatives of the Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OLaNO-NOVA) Igor Matovic and Veronika Remisova, made this statement at a press conference on May 18. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement The seller was the Bratislava-based group, Baducci, which has close ties with the now ruling Smer party. The chairman of Baduccis board, Martin Cizmarik, was Kalinaks neighbour and is the advocate of Smers former Economy Minister, Jan Pociatek. Read also: Read also: UPDATED: Interior Minister refuses to leave after avoiding competition Read more Kalinak created his own real estate company from our common property, Matovic told the press. Behind every published case is someone of his close acquaintance. The Interior Ministry responded that Matovic is lying and it bought the buildings for an advantageous price. Baducci Invest signed the contract with the ministry in 2016 changing two deteriorating printing plants for the building housing Martins police station worth 400,000, plus 3.5 million. The Ministry thus bought two plants for 3.9 million. Three months later Baducci Invest owners launched the winding-up process of the firm and the ministry rented back the police station. Moreover Baducci bought 80 percent of the area with the two plants for 4.6 million, while the Interior Ministry bought 16 percent of it for 3.9 million. On first sight, it is an amoral deal, Matovic said. Read also: Read also: Testing the Teflon Read more The ministry however did not buy a building with an area of 3,800 square metres as Matovic claims but a five-storeyed building with an accumulated area of 13,964 squared metres, reads the ministrys press release. Further, the price for both buildings was 5.8 million, according to expert opinion and the ministry was able to decrease the price by 2 million, according to the ministry. After the planned reconstruction we will have new office spaces worth 600 per square meter, which is an unrivalled price anywhere on the market, reads the ministrys press release. The Slovak Association of Modern Trade points out that Slovak producers are often unable to satisfy the demand of retailers. Font size: A - | A + The share of domestic food products on the shelves in stores in Slovakia continues to fall, reaching only 37.2 percent at the moment. This is down by 1.3 percentage points year-on-year, according to a GfK survey presented by the Slovak Food Chamber (PKS) on May 18. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Slovakias food industry keeps falling and if the state doesnt increase its support, we wont be able to do anything about this, said PKS president Daniel Poturnay, as cited by the TASR newswire. He added that Slovakias food sector and its agriculture receive the third-lowest state support in the EU and that the whole system is problematic and is causing Slovak food production to have a problem being competitive. The survey also revealed the alarming fact that only Slovak food with low added value, like milk or mineral water, keeps a share bigger than 50-percent on the shelves. The share of foods with a higher added value is decreasing and are replaced by imported foods. This is a particularly serious finding, representing a piece of bad news not only for the public but also for the future of the Slovak economy as such, said Poturnay. GfK has been surveying the share of domestic food products on shelves in stores in Slovakia since 2011 when this share was 50 percent. Since this time it has been decreasing by approximately one percentage point annually. From March 8 to April 5, GfK surveyed seven retail chains, COOP Jednota, CBA, Billa, Metro, Tesco, Kaufland and Lidl, while monitoring sixteen categories of products displayed on the shelves of individual stores. It found the most Slovak food offered by the COOP Jednota chain, where the share of Slovak products reaches 56 percent. It is followed by CBA with 48 percent. The trio Billa, Metro and Tesco reached a 40 percent share of Slovak foodstuffs. Kaufland (37 percent) and Lidl (14 percent) found themselves at the tail-end of the ranking. The Slovak Association of Modern Trade (SAMO) clustering Billa, DM Drogerie Markt, Kaufland, Lidl, Metro and Tesco responded to the published numbers pointing out that as Slovakia is loosing its food self-sufficiency, Slovak food producers are unable to satisfy the demand of retailers and customers. Thus as the retailers want to secure as wide an offer of quality products as possible for their customers, they have no other option but to import them. A team of UN technical experts and sanctions investigators issued a report in early 2017 agreeing with South Korean allegations that North Korea was not only obtaining key components and manufacturing equipment via China but also prohibited raw materials and cooperation from Chinese banks and companies to pay suppliers and hide these activities from outside scrutiny. The Chinese government still denies knowledge of these activities but the latest evidence was so detailed and well documented that China did admit it must be acted on. What made this report possible was an unpublicized equipment failure in the February 2016 launch of a three stage Unha rocket. This was described as part of the North Korean space program to put satellites into orbit. The equipment failure had to do with the explosive charges in the first and second stages (which fall back to earth largely intact). Many of these explosives did not go off. South Korea knew that tests of three stage ballistic missiles (that can be used to reach North America or put a satellite into orbit) provide the most recoverable parts. For years South Korea has been recovering many components of the large rockets because the first two stages fall back to earth in the ocean way offshore in international waters. This incident left a lot more components largely intact and as South Korean investigators sought to identify how (or where) they were manufactured they discovered that many of the previously unidentifiable components (because of the self-destruct charges) were made using more advanced manufacturing technology than what North Korea was supposed to have access to. Further digging revealed that the manufacturing equipment was of European origins but was exported to China, via a contract that clearly stated none of it was to be exported to North Korea. The UN investigators not only confirmed the South Korean allegations but were able to uncover even more details. The Chinese government was forced to admit that certain Chinese firms were defying Chinese sanctions and smuggling the technology and some of the needed software and raw materials to North Korea. Before 2016 South Korean engineers concluded that the construction of the missile components retrieved appeared to be sloppy and there were some foreign components in the rocket but there was not enough recoverable evidence of anything more. Thus until 2016 the South Koreans concluded that the North Korean components and construction techniques were crude but effective, if not as reliable and efficient as Western or Russian designs. South Korean missile experts also concluded that physical evidence indicated North Korea had not developed any new ballistic missile technology, or even manufactured many new missile parts since at least 2012. It was in 2012 they South Korea began to recover components of North Korea multi-stage ballistic missiles and examine them. By 2012 South Korea had developed technology and techniques to retrieve a lot of these components and have South Korean and foreign experts closely examine them. Initially South Korean engineers and scientists concluded that most of the components appear to have been made in North Korea. The longest range rockets were based on much older (1960s and 70s) technology and the design of the rocket engine was almost identical to one built in Iran. Many of the imported components of the missile were items that are not covered by sanctions, as they have many other industrial uses. The Iranian connection was long known as was North Korean access to older Russian rocket technology. North Korea had carried out an impressive deception scheme that was largely undone by the failure of the self-destruct system for missile stages known to fall back into international waters where they could be recovered, even from great depths, if someone devoted enough time, effort, technology and money to the effort. But all such deception plans have potential weaknesses and malfunctioning self-destruct systems and dogged efforts by South Korean and UN investigators was one of them. Another vulnerability was China getting angry at North Korea for defying demands that they cease their nuclear weapons program (which was also getting illegal foreign tech) and freely exploiting the corruption inside China that tended to leave Chinese companies alone if their illegal dealings were discreet and the firm was bringing new revenue to China. That has changed, at least for Chinese firms that left enough clues behind for foreign investigators to collect and put in front of senior Chinese officials. After the combination of the chaos and beauty of the one time party town of Vang Vieng it was time for a very different atmosphere with Luang Prabang. This regal and sacred town on the banks of the mighty Mekong is home to 33 UNESCO listed temples and more bright orange clad monks than you can wrap your head around and a peaceful and charming colonial charm. Heading to Luang Prabang Laos almost feels like a pilgrimage with all the religious emphasis here and the air of devotion. Book your transport across Asia and NZ here: Powered by 12Go Asia system Wake up early and watch the monks receive alms One of the most special things to do in Luang Prabang Laos involves setting your alarm clock for an ungodly hour for the most religious of activities in Laos! Waking up before the sunrises you get to sample just a small part of the devotion it takes to become a monk. Each morning as the light begins to arrive over the horizon hundreds of monks form silent orange lines across the town collecting Alms from people knelt in prayer on the streets. This mesmerising sight is actually common place all across the Buddhist region but here in Luang Prabang Laos due to the amount and proximity of the temples it is much more concentrated. The monks receive their food for the day from others wishing to gain merit. In recent times many westerners and more often Chinese tourists have taken some of the magic from this daily event. Our advice would be to head down some of the smaller side streets to see more of a peaceful and authentic procession and always be respectful! Tour the UNESCO listed town and visit the many wonderful temples Of course, coming to Luang Prabang Laos you must take the time to visit many of the 33 temples that make up this UNESCO listed area. The entire town is one of the most sacred in the country and wherever you turn you are sure to see yet another stunning temple and many monks tending to the grounds. This sight has been the same for centuries and even with the influx of tourism these temples remain peaceful pockets of serenity where one can take time to reflect. Those not to miss include Vat Xieng Toung, Vat Khili, Vat Sibounheuang, Vat Sirimoungkhoun Sayaram, Vat Sop Sickharam and Vipassana temple. Not only does the town draw visitors in due to the abundance of glittering temples but it is also one of the finest examples of crumbling colonial architecture in the region. Put this together and add a dash of bright and colourful flowers that seem to be growing on ever street and you have one of the most picturesque and stunning towns in the world. A day spent strolling down the side streets and main through fares provides a wonderful insight into the unique culture that has been cultivated in this one time royal capital. Get a new perspective from above the town Technically another of the towns many temples and shrines Phou Si/Chomsy Hill offers something a little extra! A short but steep hike up a winding stone stair case brings you to the highest point of Luang Prabang. From here you can take in the panoramic view of the golden temples that punctuate the lush green surroundings as well as looking down over the confluence of the Mekong and the smaller Nam Khan which almost seem to surround the town! Along the way there are various smaller stupas, temples and even look out positions for cannons and most inexplicably Buddhas footprint which appears to be at least 2ft long! Cross the bamboo bridge and explore the more rural side to Luang Prabang Laos! Over the other side of the Nam Khan river lies several smaller villages and temples that show the more rural life on the outskirts of this colonial era town. Crossing one of the rickety bamboo bridges for a small fee you are likely to encounter a much more local feel, children playing in the river, novice monks bathing and women washing their laundry are all common sights. Climbing the steps to the other side and you can visit one of the small villages that have specialised in paper making for hundreds of years, still today employing the same age old techniques to make this flower infused paper! Sail across the Mekong and visit the lesser known areas If you want to really see Luang Prabang Laos off the beaten track then take one of the ferry boats across the Mekong, the only way to cross within the city as UNESCO guidelines prevent a bridge being built! Over this side you will find an even more laid back atmosphere and many smaller temples only frequented by locals, monks and the odd stray dog! Walk just a little way through the dense and lush jungle over here and you will find yourself in tiny villages many of which are still characteristed by their bamboo houses and very traditional way of life. It really is like sailing over to another world! See the colour and the chaos of the many markets If Luang Prabang wasnt so famous for its temples then second on the list would be its markets. It really is tale of two halves also with the more local morning market beginning around the same time that the monks start their sunrise procession. As always the local shoppers are keen to get their early and bag the best produce, including some of the most amazing and also the most grim things weve ever seen on sale for human consumption. The freshly cut jackfruit and traditional Laos cakes were an amazing purchase but I had to tow the line at gutted cat, fried rat and boiled frog. As a vegetarian I was on the edge of nausea but there is just something gruesomely fascinating seeing what other cultures call food! If the morning market was just a little too local then hold out for the evening craft market instead. The towns main through fare is transformed into a mile long explosion of patterns, colour and creations! If you wanted to get yourself some of those fancy traveller pants or a unique souvenir then this is the spot! If that worked you up an appetite then down the far end is an array of offerings of crapes and baguettes, showing the influence the French have had on this one time colony. Book your accommodation here Hey, youve got your Travel Insurance sorted havent you? Travelling and especially backpacking is a wild adventure, but make sure you are covered just incase something goes wrong, which if youre living it up to the fullest its always a possibility! Check travel insurance prices with World Nomads here! Book your transport across Asia and NZ here: Powered by 12Go Asia system Have you ever had the pleasure of visiting Luang Prabang Laos: A total contrast to Vang Vieng! See more from this country: See more from our backpacking adventures: Roger Ailes Charles Sykes/Invision/AP Five years ago, Roger Ailes tried to predict his own death. My doctor told me that Im old, fat, and ugly, but none of those things is going to kill me immediately, Ailes told a Vanity Fair reporter when he was 71. The actuaries say I have six to eight years. The best tables give me 10. Three thousand days, more or less. Ailes, the former CEO of Fox News, died Thursday at age 77, just around his lower estimate. Predicting when people will die although it may sound morbid or insensitive is commonplace for insurance companies. But theres science here, too, and some doctors and startup companies are looking for better ways to know how long someone has to live. Knowing how long you have left can help you make more realistic plans for how you want to die. Where did Ailes get his estimate? Theres no way to know what information Ailes was giving to the actuaries. Based on his age alone, Ailes would have been predicted to live longer. The Internal Revenue Service calculates life expectancies to determine how much money people must take from their retirement accounts every year. Based on those tables, Ailes had about 16 years left when he talked to the Vanity Fair reporter. The Social Security Administration, which takes sex into account, would have given him about 14 years. That doesnt take into account any health conditions that might have lowered the numbers. Researchers are working on developing better models to predict life expectancy. Harvard professor Dr. Ziad Obermeyer, who is developing formulas to predict when people will die, wrote last year in the New England Journal of Medicine that such algorithms may come into use by 2021. Hes already able to identify groups of cancer patients who are definitely going to die within a certain period of time, and others who likely will survive. Patients with serious illnesses might want to know this information, he told Marketplace, because it will help them plan for the future. Story continues Is it in your DNA? In 2016 Zymo Research, a California biotech, began offering DNA methylation analysis to biotech and academic researchers to determine the biological age of cells. Here, the idea is that as cells age their pattern of methylation which spots on the genome have quasi-molecules called methyl groups sitting on them changes. This was discovered by UCLA biologist Steve Horvath and is called Horvaths Clock; the basic idea is that at 353 sites in the human genome, called CpGs, the presence or absence of methylation changes with age as well as diseases (especially cancer) and stress. Methylation is therefore supposedly a proxy for biological age. Outside experts are skeptical: I would doubt whether it gives a prediction of life expectancy that is by itself accurate to any useful extent, John Greally, a geneticist at Albert Einstein College of Medicine who has studied methylation, told STAT earlier this year. What about your other DNA? Telomere length has become one of the trendiest biological crystal balls for life expectancy, but the science of this remains unsettled. Telomeres are highly repetitive DNA sequences on the ends of chromosomes that shorten as we age. A 2003 study showed that telomere length was related to mortality, while a 2010 review of literature found that the effect of telomere length is inconclusive. But then a 2015 study showed that shorter telomeres were associated with greater likelihood of death in a given time. The unsettled science hasnt stopped for-profit companies from jumping into direct-to-consumer telomere testing. A commercial test that measures the average length of telomeres claims to use that to calculate life expectancy. The report tells customers their average telomere length, how that compares to others of their chronological age, and from that calculates their age in teloyears. Preparing for the future The problem for many Americans may not be that ones exact date of death is a mystery until it happens. Instead, its the discomfort that people have talking about death, which discourages planning. When tragedy strikes and people are unable to make decisions for themselves, family members are often left at a loss for what to do. Some communities are trying to overcome that in La Cosse, Wisc., 96 percent of residents have a plan on file for how they want to die, known as an advance directive, laying out how they want to die. Thats almost three times what the national rate was in 2014, NPR reported. NOW WATCH: Here's the workout routine a retired US Navy admiral uses to stay in tip-top shape See Also: f-22 f22 raptor inherent resolve arabian sea US Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Corey Hook A US military strike in Syria on Thursday was "government terrorism" and caused a massacre, Syrian government negotiator Bashar al-Ja'afari said on Friday, while Russia called it an unacceptable breach of Syrian sovereignty. US officials told Reuters that the US military carried out the airstrike on Thursday against militia supported by the Syrian government that posed a threat to US forces and US-backed Syrian fighters in the country's south. Ja'afari said he had raised the incident with UN mediator Staffan de Mistura at peace talks in Geneva. "We discussed the massacre that the US aggressor committed yesterday in our country. This subject was widely discussed," Ja'afari told reporters. "The important thing is that our political ambition is higher because we want to focus on fighting terrorism represented by armed groups and the state and government terrorism happening against our country. "This includes the American aggression, French aggression, and British aggression, whether on civilian or military targets." The US strike was the second deliberate military attack on forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad. In April, US President Donald Trump ordered cruise-missile strikes in retaliation for a chemical-weapons attack that Washington blamed on Damascus. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said the US action would hamper efforts to find a political solution to the conflict. Syria strike map Reuters "It is utterly unacceptable and a violation of Syria's sovereignty," Russian news agencies quoted him as saying. "Any military action leading to an escalation of the situation in Syria has an impact on the political process." A military source on the Syrian government side said the airstrike had hit "one of our military points," without elaborating, Syrian state TV reported. The strike killed several people and caused material damage, the source said, saying this hampered efforts by the Syrian army and its allies to fight the Islamic State. Story continues Gatilov complained about what he said was a separate strike that had occurred Wednesday. "Literally a day before this (Thursday's strike) a strike was carried out which resulted in a large number of civilian deaths, which is also unacceptable," Gatilov was cited as saying. The US has not spoken about any strikes carried out by the US-led coalition on that date. NOW WATCH: The Big Bang is not the beginning of our universe its actually the end of something else entirely See Also: By Neena Modi Its almost a cliche to say that the NHS is facing a crisis. NHS Trusts in England have been crippled by a 2.5bn deficit. In recent months the Red Cross warned of a humanitarian disaster and the Care Quality Commission of a burning platform. A whole generation of doctors and nurses are becoming disaffected. But no matter how many reports are published or warnings issued, the true scale of the crisis does not appear to have resonated with the public. There is political inability - or reluctance - to provide a cure for a health service that has served the nation so well for over 70 years. As our recent report, State of Child Health, showed, children are the first to lose out. Commentators cynically point out that there have been many crises in the NHS before. The implicit suggestion is that this too will pass and all will once again be well. The public is repeatedly fed the mantra that our current problems are the result of rising costs of treatments, the demands of an aging population, poor integration of care and the need for fiscal prudence. In reality, a deeper analysis is required. These arguments dont stack up. And Brexit, whether hard or soft, will make it easier to peddle these myths. There is now near universal agreement that the UK health and care system is under-resourced, with expenditure at eight to nine per cent of GDP. Thats about half that of the US and less than our European neighbours. We can afford more and the public, when asked, has always indicated willingness to pay more. Simultaneously there is colossal waste. NHS private finance initiative repayments haemorrhage around 2bn each year, although government has the power to renegotiate these, as was done by a single valiant Trust, Northumbria, which paid off the deal on Hexham General Hospital, saving them 3.5 million a year for the next 19 years. Department of Health figures show that last year 6.6 billion was taken from the public purse to pay private health providers. Many will have breathed a sigh of relief when this year Simon Stevens at last quietly signalled the end of the internal market in England that costs 4.5-10bn to administer and has been a scandalous waste - described by the 2010 health select committee as 20 years of costly failure. The NHS is affordable and it is shabby to claim otherwise, but the projected 100bn Brexit divorce-bill provides the perfect excuse for an ever tighter financial squeeze. Story continues Costs can be contained, but not if healthcare is primarily considered a commodity. The measure of the marketplace is profit, but the measure of health care is health. Alas economists use profit or activity as metrics to evaluate health systems - not health and certainly not life-long health. If they were to do so, the value to the nations economy would be self-evident, especially when it comes to investment in early years health. This isnt complicated. A perfectly healthy baby born to a mother with gestational diabetes is at two to three times greater risk of developing diabetes. Reduce maternal gestational diabetes by reducing obesity and her babys life-long health is improved. Its two for the price of one. The NHS has always shown a commitment to efficiency and saving. The UK led the world in establishing the National Institute of Clinical Excellence to use evidence and predefined cost-benefit boundaries to provide treatments equitably and affordably. It acknowledged that not every new treatment should be used and that, yes, at some level rationing is inevitable, but that it should be entrusted to independent, dispassionate objectivity. Political meddling, however, led for example to the profligacy of the Cancer Drugs Fund, which undermined Nice and diverted over a billion into the pockets of big pharma, with no evidence of patient benefit. The NHS as a publicly-funded, delivered, and managed system, has consistently provided the most cost-effective healthcare globally. Costs can be contained and the best care is not necessarily the most expensive care. And then there is the ageing population. It is not age that is the primary determinant of health care need. It is health. Funds should be directed towards preventive health and the wider determinants of wellbeing. Nye Bevan knew, as does everyone who has experience today of countries such as the US or India, the stress that comes from fear of being unable to afford healthcare. Good health and mental resilience also come from the security of a strong social safety net. Science is rapidly elucidating the biological pathways that lead from chronic stress to poor mental and physical health across the life-course. Investment in freedom from fear of illness, and tackling the wider determinants of health, would give every child the best start to life, increase their economic productivity and help them live to a healthy old-age. Yet public health funding has been severely cut and progress in enacting policies to give us clean air, good food and healthy living, are at risk of being derailed by Brexit. The need for integrated care has been used as justification for major organisational change, yet UK health services are now fragmented as never before, between the four nations and within England. Healthcare has been divided up into ever smaller packets delivered in England by 7,674 GP practices, 218 Trusts, and 853 independent sector organisations. Children are the first to fall between the cracks. Why such illogical behaviour? The NHS has successfully challenged for decades the supremacy of market forces in healthcare. It hasnt been that cliche of a nationalised service: lumbering, lazy, monolithic, and self-interested. Its been innovative, inspiring, and trail-blazing. Science and research in the UK have gone hand-in-hand with the NHS, producing a dazzling array of advances, the medical application of antibiotics, computerised tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, randomised controlled trials, beta-blockers, in-vitro fertilisation and mitochondrial transfer, to name but a few. UK doctors have never been paid over the odds, but they have had reliable salaries, centrally negotiated, with nationally consistent pay and conditions across all specialties, regular increments and a generous pension package. This provided security, a strong incentive to remain in the NHS, and freedom to follow a career path motivated not by financial gain but by interest, ambition and the patients best interests. A reliable, high quality workforce was created that was not wealthy, but well-off. This workforce is deliberately being pushed to the brink. In paediatrics, our recent workforce report shows hospitals are currently having to cope with an average junior doctor vacancy rate of 14% and 240 empty consultant posts. Brexit has led to the 55,000 NHS staff who are EU citizens fearing for their future, and to-date receiving no words of reassurance. Brexit is placing at risk the ability of the UK to sustain investment in research. The jingoistic rhetoric which accompanies it, and complex, inconsistent immigration laws, provide a cold shoulder to researchers and their families from around the world. So the NHS, one of the most successful experiments in societal engineering of all time, is in danger of being thrown away. UK political parties would do well to commit to sustained cross-party support for the NHS as a progressive and visionary innovation that extends the concept of healthcare beyond universal coverage to responsibility for equitable access, clinical effectiveness, and cost-efficiency, as a great duty of state. A publicly-funded, delivered, and managed health service is cost-efficient, equitable, and could be very effective indeed. Strengthening and modernising the NHS would benefit us all, not least by improving the resilience and economic well being of the nation. But good choices, and effective democracy, require an informed electorate, as Brexit illustrated only too well. Professor Neena Modi is president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health anti-ISIS air strike YouTube/CJTF OIR The US military carried out an air strike on Thursday against militia supported by the Syrian government that posed a threat to US and US-backed Syrian fighters in the country's south, US officials told Reuters on Thursday. The militia, who numbered in the dozens and drove a tank and a small number of construction vehicles, ignored warning shots from US aircraft and, according to a US-led coalition statement, even "apparent Russian attempts to dissuade" their advance. One of the US officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, speculated that the group might have been trying to establish a position near the garrison in Syria used by US and US-backed forces around the town of At Tanf. "They were potentially probing to see how close they could get to At Tanf," the official said. A member of the US-backed Syrian rebel forces told Reuters the convoy comprised Syrian and Iranian-backed militias and was headed toward the Tanf base when they clashed with some rebel forces. The militia were struck after they had advanced to about 17 miles (27 km) from the base. "We notified the coalition that we were being attacked by the Syrian army and Iranians in this point, and the coalition came and destroyed the advancing convoy," said Muzahem al Saloum of the Maghawir al Thwra group. Since they appeared defensive in nature, Thursday's strikes did not suggest a shift in the US military's focus in Syria, which has been on battling Islamic State militants. US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said America's role in Syria's conflict was unchanged. "No. We are not increasing our role in the Syrian civil war. But we will defend our troops," Mattis said, when asked about the strikes. Under pressure Syria strike map Reuters But the latest move showed that the area around the Tanf garrison in southern Syria could be under pressure. Tanf is part of a region known as the Badia, which consists of vast, sparsely populated desert territory that stretches all the way to the Jordanian and Iraqi borders and was declared a military priority by Syria's foreign minister earlier in May. Story continues Two months of US-backed rebel advances against Islamic State militants have allowed them to secure swaths of territory in the Badia, alarming the Syrian government and its allies. But rebel sources had warned last week that the Syrian army and Iranian-backed militia moved hundreds of troops with tanks to the town of Sabaa Biyar, which is in the Badia, and is near the strategic Damascus-Baghdad highway. That highway was once a major weapons supply route for Iranian weapons into Syria. A Western intelligence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the strike sent a strong message to Iranian-backed militias that have been spearheading the advance that they would not be allowed to reach the Iraq border from Syria. isis militants in syria AFP The US-led coalition did not signal it would cede ground around Tanf. "Coalition forces have been operating in the At Tanf area for many months training and advising vetted partner forces engaged in the fight against ISIS," according to a statement by the US-led coalition, using an acronym for Islamic State. US officials said an agreement existed with Russia on a so-called "deconfliction" area around Tanf garrison, meant to avoid an accidental clash of forces. operation inherent resolve coalition air forces isis Operation Inherent ResolveThe statement by the US-led coalition acknowledged a zone but did not offer any details about it, other than to say it was still active. "The agreed upon deconfliction zone agreement remains in effect," the statement said. A commander in the alliance fighting in support of Assad called the strike a "warning raid," adding it was not aimed at causing casualties but instead stopping the advance. Still, the strikes would be the first against fighters aligned with Syria's government since the United States launched cruise missile strikes on a Syrian air base in April. The April strikes were ordered in retaliation for a chemical weapons attack that Washington blamed on Damascus, and were described as a one-off measure to deter any future chemical weapons use. NOW WATCH: EX-UNDERCOVER DEA AGENT: What I did when drug dealers asked me to try the product See Also: 888poker Launches the 8-Team for the 2017 WSOP May 19 2017 Matthew Pitt Editor 888poker, the official sponsor of the World Series of Poker, is sending a team of poker players to the 2017 WSOP known as The 8-Team. A lucky qualifier could become a part of it and have the chance to fly the 888poker flag at next years series. Five teams, each from a different country, feature a team captain, a wing man and a qualifier will be chosen to represent the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Brazil and Sweden at the upcoming 2017 WSOP Main Event. The qualifier who lasts the longest out of the five qualifiers will win a value-packed package to the 2018 WSOP Main Event. The captains have already been chosen; the wing men will be revealed in the next couple of weeks. The qualifiers will be chosen from everyone who qualifies for a 2017 WSOP Main Event package online at 888poker, which anyone can do for as little as $0.01. 8-Team Team Captains 888poker has selected its captains for 8-Team and, as you would expect, they are members of 888pokers elite team of ambassadors. Captaining the U.K. is none other than Chris Moorman. With almost $14 million in online tournament winnings and $4.6 million from his live poker exploits, Moorman is a proven winner and a player worthy of being the captain of any poker team. Team Brazil will be captained by Bruno Foster Politano, a player who has already enjoyed the sweet taste of WSOP success. Politano navigated his way to an eighth-place finish in the 2014 WSOP Main Event and returned home with $947,172. One of Twitchs hottest properties, Parker Talbot, will be in charge of Team Canada. Known affectionately as Tonkaaaa, Talbot is on the lookout for his first WSOP cash this summer and will be doing everything in his power to get that particularly monkey off of his shoulder. Leading Team Sweden into battle is Sofia Lovgren. The popular Swede may be primarily a cash game player, but she is no slouch in poker tournaments either. At the 2016 WSOP, Lovgren played her way to 12th place in the Millionaire Maker event, a tournament that attracted a huge field of 7,190 entrants. Lovgren is hopeful of winning a WSOP bracelet this summer. Last, but not least, is Team Germany. Dominik Nitsche leads Germany into battle knowing he is one of the most successful poker players of recent years. Nitsche has three WSOP bracelets to his name and more than $6.5 million in live poker tournament winnings. Do you think Nitsche can secure his fourth bracelet in Las Vegas this summer? Get a Free WSOP Satellite Ticket Worth $30 Download 888poker via PokerNews, make a deposit of $20 using the bonus code PNWSOP30 and 888poker will reward you with a WSOP Step 5 satellite ticket worth $30 for free. This in on top of the free $88 (free 20 to UK residents) you receive just for creating a new 888poker account. Veteran journalists, home from the battle, pick up the pieces of their love and their lives while examining their own morality in the latest production at the Adobe Rose Theatre. Donald Margulies Time Stands Still presents photographer Sarah and newswriter James frightened and frightening as they navigate the trauma resulting from their work covering the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The 2009 drama with a streak of dark humor from the Pulitzer Prize for Drama winner Margulies is in its first weekend and continues through June 4. The play honors the contributions of reporters and photographers during wartime, said Maureen Joyce McKenna, who plays Sarah. Her character, like many real-life journalists, faces possible death, physical injury and mental damage while covering war and conflict, and the possibility of returning with post-traumatic stress disorder. And yet, without the desire on the part of reporters and editors to get the real story to the public, the only point of view that remains is straight from the people making the decisions the policymakers. Public opinion requires unbiased honesty, McKenna said. The media is under attack and we have to support and encourage them, said McKenna, who is also founder of the Adobe Rose. On the stage with Sarah for much of the play is James, played by Kevin Kilner, a familiar face from television (House of Cards) and film. His stage work includes a role in another of Margulies plays Dinner with Friends, for which the playwright received his Pulitzer Prize. I love Donalds writing. I felt like it was important to do this play, and its like climbing a Himalayan mountain, you have to do it, Kilner said. His character has had a breakdown, while photographer Sarah was injured by a roadside bomb. Kilner and McKenna worked together years ago, and he welcomed a chance to come to northern New Mexico to work with her and her new theater, he said. In the early 2000s, he appeared in The Cherry Orchard with Marsha Mason at the Lensic. Director Catherine Lynch said the play has the potential to take younger adults out of their iPhone-framed reality, offering a chance to get in touch with emotions and situations they may be distanced from. Two other characters in the play, Richard, a photo editor, and his much younger girlfriend, Mandy, help Sarah and James explore the impact of their work on both themselves and their audience. Mandy is played by Alexandra Renzo and Richard is played by David Sinkus. Mandys naive questions bring out more than expected. Sarah describes the emotional distance between a photographer and her subjects, when time stands still. Saying that out loud to the younger woman, however, reveals more than she would have guessed. McKenna, whose theater in the millennial-magnet Siler Road area is 16 months old and counting, offers a discount to those young adults who may be in the neighborhood. The theater sells $5 tickets for Thursday night performances for those under 25. If you go WHAT: Time Stands Still, by Donald Margulies WHERE: Adobe Rose Theatre, 1213 B Parkway Drive, Santa Fe WHEN: Through June 4; 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 3 p.m. on Sunday TICKETS: $15 student; $20 senior; $25 adult; $5 for anyone under 25 on Thursdays. INFO: http://adoberosetheatre.org, 505-629-8688 Everyone gets sick, but only half of the people who work in Albuquerque have access to sick days. That means employees lose a days wages if they stay home to care for a child or themselves. Some go to work sick or drop off sick kids at school. Some even get fired for staying home with the flu. Its no wonder the Healthy Workforce initiative which would allow all employees to earn paid sick time while they work is so popular. Healthy Workforce has such broad support that a group thats trying to stop it has launched a campaign filled with lies about the ordinance and is even trying to cheat voters out of a fair election. The Journal Editorial Board joined the opposition campaign with a recent editorial chock-full of misinformation starting with the date of the election, which is Oct. 3, not the 10th, as the editorial says. So much for journalistic integrity. The Journal says the ordinance would force companies to change existing Paid Time Off policies, also known as PTO. This is wrong. The ordinance states: An employer with a paid leave policy that meets or exceeds the requirements of this ordinance is not required to provide additional paid sick time or in any way reduce the benefits provided to employees. Now for the cheating: The Journal argues that the city should put the entire text of the ordinance on the ballot. We agree that voters should read the ordinance, but the city is trying to turn voters against Healthy Workforce by proposing it be printed on the ballot in 6-point font. This is 6-point font. The mayor and some city councilors dont want you to read the ordinance. They want you to be frustrated by the illegible font so that you vote against the proposal or choose not to vote at all! In our lawsuit against the city, we are still waiting for the District Court to rule on the font size. There are good alternatives to the 6-point font that the city proposes. The city clerk can put a copy of the ordinance in 8.5 font in every voting booth so people who want to read it can do so without a magnifying glass. Easy. But the city would prefer to make it hard for voters to read the proposal so opponents can fill voters heads with lies about Healthy Workforce. You can read the entire ordinance at www.healthyworkforceabq.org. The mayor and the councilors who support his agenda are trying to cheat voters out of a fair election on a reasonable proposal that will make Albuquerque healthier and happier. The proposal would allow employees to earn 1 hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours they work, and they could use a maximum of seven sick days per year, five if they work for a small employer. This proposal is similar to sick-day ordinances in cities around the country, including Minneapolis, St. Paul, New York City, San Diego and Seattle. The Journal and opponents of the ordinance call the Healthy Workforce initiative radical. Some of these opponents are part of the same group that is suing to lower Albuquerques minimum wage from $8.80 to $7.50. These opponents arent acting in the best interest of our city. Theyre irresponsible. If these opponents think paying $8.80 an hour is too much money, its no wonder they believe earning up to five days of sick time each year is radical. Were fighting this summer to spread the truth about our earned sick days ordinance and to stop our government from trying to rig an unfair election. Voters deserve better. Albuquerque deserves better. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. WASHINGTON 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 laptops. 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 night that in February, Trump had asked FBI Director James 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 what the president had told Russian Foreign Minister Sergey 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. A crowning embarrassment: A Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman on Tuesday called The Posts reporting on the intelligence leak yet another fake. This from the government that U.S. intelligence agencies unanimously say meddled in the 2016 U.S. presidential election? If this was a spy novel, it would be pulped as preposterous. 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 guard rails 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. 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. Nations around the world are trying to decide how to deal with Trump whether to trust him with shared intelligence, military commitments and economic deals. Every president encounters damaging leaks and other intelligence issues. During the Carter administration, The Washington 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 WMD, 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 breech 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. Email: davidignatius@washpost.com. Copyright, Washington Post Writers Group. WASHINGTON Rep. Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said Thursday that he will leave Congress on June 30, citing big changes in his life in a public letter to constituents. Julie and I are facing the reality of being empty nesters, he wrote. All of us, it appears, are ready to begin a new chapter. Chaffetzs departure opens up one of the most powerful and closely scrutinized posts on Capitol Hill the House majoritys chief inquisitor amid serious questions about wrongdoing at the highest levels of the Trump administration. An early favorite for the post emerged Thursday: Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., who led the contentious House investigation into the 2012 terrorist attacks on a U.S. outpost in Benghazi, Libya though it was unclear whether Gowdy would accept the job. Chaffetz, R-Utah, announced last month that he had made a personal decision to return to the private sector and would not seek reelection or run for any other political office in 2018. He has not ruled out a run for Utah governor in 2020. The decision comes days after Chaffetz took an aggressive posture after reports emerged that former FBI director James Comey alleged in private memos that he had been pressured by President Trump to end an investigation into Michael Flynn, Trumps national security adviser at the time. Chaffetz requested those memos and other records from the FBI on Tuesday. On Wednesday, he scheduled a hearing for next week in anticipation that Comey might testify. But the probe is certain to continue under a new chairman. The internal jockeying among House Republicans to succeed Chaffetz in that high-profile role kicked off Thursday, with at least three Oversight Committee members phoning members of the House Republican Steering Committee, which will select his successor. Multiple Steering Committee members said they had been contacted by Gowdy, Dennis Ross (Fla.) and Steve Russell, R-Okla., about their interest in the post. It is Gowdy, several leading House Republicans said Thursday, who has a clear leg up in the contest. He is a former state and federal prosecutor who led the high-profile, two-year Benghazi investigation, and he is well liked inside the House GOP. If he wants it, its his, no question, said one Steering Committee member who spoke on the condition of anonymity to comment frankly about the pending race. I think he would have a pretty good shot at it, said Rep. Douglas Collins, R-Ga., the vice chairman of the House Republican Conference. Gowdy did not answer questions Thursday about his interest in the position, and his spokeswoman acknowledged discussions but would not say he is actively seeking the post. Representative Gowdy is talking to members in the conference about the qualities they believe are most important for the next chairman to possess, said the spokeswoman, Amanda Gonzalez. There are complications should Gowdy choose to seek the Oversight Committee chairmanship: Another member of the panel, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, has more seniority than Gowdy and strong support among the handful of hard-line conservatives who serve on the panel. But his role as a founder of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus has made him less appealing to the mainstream conservatives who make up the bulk of the Steering Committee. Jordan previously fell short in a 2014 bid for the Oversight Committee gavel. A spokesman, Darin Miller, said Jordan had not decided whether to seek it again. Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., the chairman of the Freedom Caucus, acknowledged a huge push for Gowdy in some GOP circles Thursday but said choosing him would be a punch in the nose to Jordan. My personal feeling is that Trey Gowdy will not take a chairmanship gavel, because of his friendship and respect for Jim Jordan, who is ahead of him in both seniority and based on merits, he said. If Jordan gets jumped over at this point, we can say that its not based on merit. The question that must be asked is, whats it based on? Ross said Thursday that he was interested in the post only if Gowdy decides not to accept it. Id like to see Trey do it, he said. I think hed be very good at it, but if he doesnt, Ill consider it then. Gabriel Bastomski, a spokesman for Russell, confirmed Russell was seeking the chairmanship regardless of Gowdys intentions. He has spoken to Mr. Gowdy about running and was encouraged by Mr. Gowdy to stay in the race, he said. As the head of the Houses main investigative committee since 2015, Chaffetz became a prime critic of President Barack Obamas administration and, crucially, former secretary of state and presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. But until his decisive moves this week, critics suggested that he had been less interested in probing potential wrongdoing inside the Trump administration. Utah House Speaker Greg Hughes told the Salt Lake Tribune on Wednesday that Chaffetz was expected to resign within a few days. Politico first reported news of an impending announcement Thursday. The Washington Posts David Weigel contributed to this report. Video: The tumultous year leading up to Chaffetzs retirement House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) announced on April 19, that he wont run for office in 2018, amid speculations of higher political ambitions. Heres a look back at the rocky year Chaffetz has had since Trump took office. (Jenny Starrs / The Washington Post) Short URL: http://wapo.st/2pCp9G5 To gather public input on its recommendation to pay Santa Fes mayor a salary ranging from $145,000 to $175,000, the citys Independent Salary Commission held a meeting specifically for that purpose Wednesday night. It got an earful. The government has got to stop picking peoples pockets, said Richard Barela, adding that Santa Fe County is now considering increasing the gross receipt tax when people are struggling to pay rent and buy gas. He and several others among the 20 people who spoke were appalled by the recommended pay range, especially because voters in 2014 approved an amendment to the citys charter to make the mayor a full-time position starting after the March 2018 municipal elections. The ballot question said the salary would be set at $74,000 until such commission is created and sets the salary for mayor. Some believe theres been a bait and switch. Contrary to whats been said, people did vote for a mayor with a salary of $74,000, said Kenneth Jacks, who suggested that had something within the higher range been listed there might have been a different outcome. Others said including the $74,000 figure was misleading and dishonest. In a city where the median household income is $53,000, Jacks and others said, the salary should be more in line with what the citizenry makes and not the salary of a CEO. Some said an elected mayor may not be qualified to be a CEO and shouldnt be paid like one. Perhaps Gregg Bemis, a former Republican congressional candidate, best summed up the feelings of many in the OKeefe Room at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center. I dont believe you should be paying for a silk purse if youre going to get a sows ear, he said. Paul Hultin, chairman of the salary commission, emphasized the salary range wasnt set in stone. Nothing is decided. Were gathering input, including public comment tonight, he said. The commission plans to make a final decision on the mayors salary when it meets again Wednesday. Salary survey The commission based the salary range in part on a survey conducted by a team of college interns, which looked at the salaries of mayors of cities in the Rocky Mountain region of comparable size that employ full-time mayors. The cities included Provo and Odgen, Utah, Missoula, Mont., and Meridian and Pocatello, Idaho. It also considered the salaries of Santa Fes schools superintendent and county manager, both of whom make about $180,000. And it factored in the salaries of city employees, 121 of which make more than $74,000, led by City Manager Brian Snyder, who makes $146,000, plus a benefits package worth about $61,000. Benefits for a mayor with a salary of $175,000 would push total compensation to something in the range of $245,000. Shannon Moore Boniface, owner of Careers First Employment Agency and appointed to the commission by Mayor Javier Gonzales as a representative from the human resources industry, flatly stated that the Santa Fe electorate did not vote to set the mayors salary at $74,000 when it approved the amendment to the citys charter in 2014, saying that figure only served as a placeholder. In setting the salary range the panel adopted the premise that a full-time mayor acts as a CEO and it was both common sense and industry standard that the CEO is paid more than everyone they manage, she said. Under the amendment approved by voters in 2014, the full-time mayor was granted supervisory authority over the city manager, clerk and attorney and gets to appoint people to fill those jobs. The mayor is also tasked with preparing the annual budget and identifying a legislative agenda. Fifty-eight percent of voters approved the amendment three years ago during what was the last mayoral election. The winner of that 2014 election has also gone on record, via Twitter, saying he thinks the range set by the commission was too much. While Im grateful for their work, I do believe the range currently being considered is too high to ask taxpayers to cover, Gonzales tweeted the day after the commission established its recommended range. I am urging them to give serious consideration to lowering the range as they listen to the public input before making their final decision. Gonzales hasnt said yet if hes running for re-election next year. City Councilor Ron Trujillo, who also opposes the commissions proposed pay range, is the only announced 2018 mayoral candidate. Former New Mexico Supreme Court Justice Patricio Serna, who headed the committee that put the full-time mayor proposal and eight other charter questions on the 2014 ballot, was judicious in his remarks to the commission on Wednesday. He said the salary range the commissioners came up with is reasonable based on the data they used but that he has confidence they would not go with the high end of that range. A 2016 city ordinance gives the Independent Salary Commission the sole power to review and set the mayors salary, once every four years. The mayors pay is now $14.22 an hour about $29,575 a year, the same as for city councilors. The positions have not been considered officially full-time. One supporter While Serna and a few others complimented the commission on its work, only one spoke in support of its recommendation. Cyndi Conn said a high salary would attract the best candidates for mayor. I believe you get what you pay for, she said. But Phil Kithil later asked, Will you attract better people or worse people? He said a high-paying position would attract some unqualified people who were in it for the money. It was also pointed out that Gov. Susana Martinez is paid a base salary of $110,000 and the high end of the salary range suggested by the commission approached what the mayors of New York and Los Angeles make. The pay for Albuquerques mayor was recently raised to $125,000. There were contentious moments at the meeting at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center as some speakers expressed anger over what they perceived as a ridiculously high salary range. A few also criticized the process, which involved the establishment of the commission appointed by the mayor. I have no connection with you. You dont represent me at all, Toni Montoya, a former city and school employee who lives on the west side, told the commission made up of an attorney, a business owner, a CEO of an investment firm, a retired professor and representatives of the citys neighborhoods and the Chamber of Commerce, only one of whom has a Hispanic surname. One man suggested the process was rigged. Does anyone find it weird that the mayor selects the people on the commission? asked Jim Williamson. He added that two committee members had contributed money to Gonzales mayoral campaign, which he said gave the appearance of impropriety. Williamson urged the commission to defer the decision on setting the mayors salary until after next years election, when the mayors seat and four City Council positions will be on the ballot. Yvonne Chicoine, chairwoman of the Republican Party of Santa Fe County, said the salary range the commission proposed was another example of the disconnect between politicians and the people they serve. She also told the commission it wasnt obligated to make a decision at all. Referring to the wording of the amendment, she said, Nothing says it has to happen now. Simon Brackley, president and CEO of the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce, said in talking to businesspeople in the community he found that many of them are confused by the structure of city government under a full-time mayor. He said details have been lacking with regard to the chain of command and theres concern about duplication of duties under the new framework. I think this is beyond just numbers, he said of the city salary figures. I think it goes to transparency and responsibility. Gayle Dawn Price suggested the commission forget about the facts and statistics it had accumulated and send a message to struggling families by setting a lower range. Karen Setters said the commission should consider the welfare citizens and that its only consideration should be for the good of Santa Fe. In an interview after the meeting, commission chairman Hultin, a lawyer who moved to Santa Fe permanently in 2012 and was involved in the campaign to pass the city charter changes that included the full-time mayor provision, said the publics input will be taken into consideration when the commission meets next Wednesday to make a final decision. Asked if there was a chance it might take the advice of those who suggested putting off a decision, he said that was unlikely. In accordance with the task assigned to the commission, We have a duty to act, he said. PILAR A group of about six rafters and kayakers, mostly Santa Fe County firefighters who had the day off, met up at the shores of the Rio Grande not far from Taos on Tuesday morning. They came to take advantage of fast waters flowing downstream, thanks to a lot of melting snow at the rivers source in Colorado, as well as from northern New Mexicos mountains. John Adams, 40, a professional rafting instructor who was the only non-firefighter in the group, said this is the highest he can remember the river being in about 12 years. Thats going to keep him coming back to the water as much as possible in the coming weeks. This is a fun year were having, Adams said. Were trying to boat almost every day. You just have to abandon everything, give up on work and just boat as much as you can. Royce Fontenot, a hydrologist with the National Weather Service in Albuquerque, said the Rio Grande flow at Embudo, just south of Pilar, has already reached 4,111 cubic feet per second this spring, the highest its been since 2014, and the river hasnt reached peak runoff yet. He said snowmelt has been great in Colorado, which is where the Rio Grande starts in the Rockies, and theres still a lot more snow to go around. The snowpack in the Rio Grande Basin, which feeds the river and its tributaries, is 137 percent of what it normally is this time of year, Fontenot said. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers website says the 2017 spring runoff is the highest snowmelt runoff in the Rio Grande since 2008. Its been about 2008 or so since weve had this much water, Fontenot said. Its something we havent had working on 10 years now. The Rio Grande at Embudo was at 3,700 cfs at 3 p.m. Thursday, according to data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Adam Quinn, one of the off-duty firefighters, said Tuesday that the portion of the Rio Grande in Pilar is now considered a Class 4, which is right where he wants it to be. Whitewater rapids are graded on a system of 1 to 6. Class 6 is impossible, Quinn said, while Class 5 is considered rough. But Class 4 is just right. Four is a lot of fun, Quinn said. Its ideal conditions. Its perfect. The current wont be like this very long though, as water levels typically go down in June once the snowpack starts to disappear. Billy Miller aka Big River Billy, owner of Big River Raft Trips in Pilar said he expects a great whitewater season, but people who want to get the most out of the rapids should hit the river before its too late. This is the time to go rafting, Miller said. Dont wait for it to warm up. All the water is going to be gone. Of course, the high water doesnt just benefit thrill seekers. Paula Garcia, executive director of the New Mexico Acequia Association, said farmers can grow more crops and afford to have more livestock when river flows go up. When we have plenty of water, we can plant a lot more in our fields and irrigate more of our pastures, she said. Adams said he knows when farmers are using more water based on how the water level fluctuates. He said the river went down last week but shot up again this week. You can tell when the farmers in the San Luis Valley (just over the state line in Colorado) are flooding the fields, because well get a dip, but then theyll stop and it will come back up, he said. With more water also comes more danger. On May 11 an experienced rafter, 67-year-old Daniel Willard of Tijeras, died when he fell out of his raft near Pilar and apparently drowned, the Taos County Sheriffs Office said. Youre playing with Mother Nature, so you have no idea whats going to happen, Adams said. A high-water year brings out everybody. Some people havent been on the water in a while, and stuff happens. Just make sure you have the right equipment, and its always nice to have somebody whos done it before. Adams said people should make sure they know how to swim before going rafting, and it might also be a good idea for people to get in the water before getting in the raft to get a feel for the current. Folks need to be cautious, the NWS Fontenot said. That river is a lot faster than it looks. A side effect of whitewater rafting seems to be addiction, as both Adams and Quinn have been rafting for about 20 years and dont appear to want to stop anytime soon. Will and Daisy Graves, who also came out with the rafting group, met through Adams in 2005 near the spot where everyone rendezvoused on Tuesday and got married in 2010. The couple still spends their summers on the river. Its an addictive sport, for sure, Adams said. I went from having nothing, and now I have 4 boats (laughs). I love it. You just gotta come back and do it again and again and again. Sometimes, theres little margin for error in river rafting. See column on page 4. In August, Cameron Hakin packed up his life in Oregon and left his job as a preschool teacher to move to Albuquerque, where he could finally be with his long-distance fiancee. By November, he was homeless, had frostbite on his feet and no possessions. Hakin was one of three people to graduate Thursday from Metropolitan Courts Outreach Program, which helps homeless defendants work through their low-level, nonviolent charges while connecting them with providers that offer necessities like health care, counseling and housing. At graduation, participants see their criminal charges dismissed; their warrants are often canceled earlier on in the program. In Hakins case, a five-year-old ticket for parking too close to a fire hydrant had escalated into a warrant. There was a warrant, so he couldnt get an ID, he couldnt get housing and he couldnt get a job, said Marcella Neville, an attorney who volunteers her time to represent Outreach Court participants. Hakin learned only after moving back to Albuquerque that his fiancee was using meth, and the relationship crumbled. He said she kicked him out in November, shortly after he told her mother about her addiction. She said, Come back with the police if you want your stuff, I had these warrants, so I was afraid, Hakin said during the hearing. I didnt feel like I was in a position to report that, or to get my stuff back. That night, he said, he got frostbite on all of his toes. Hakin was referred to Outreach Court by a caseworker at a mens shelter. The warrant was canceled, and now he has a permanent home. On Thursday, the case was dismissed by a prosecutor with the District Attorneys Office. Judges can also refer defendants to the program, and those who are eligible can self-refer. Joe Marquez, Outreach Court liaison, said hearings take place once a month, but in between, he works with participants to find services that they need. Crimes that most often turn up in Outreach Court, Marquez said, are related to homelessness or drug use: low-level shoplifting, criminal trespassing, sleeping in a park. He said the program works differently for each participant. Theyre asked to maintain contact with Marquez, but other than that, the mission is simply to set people up with the resources they need most. Some people even ask to delay their graduation just because they appreciate the support. We havent had anyone who has just come and asked to graduate just to get (a case) dismissed, he said. Its helping them out. At Thursdays ceremony, held in an unintimidating classrooom filled with folding tables and chairs, after each participants case was dismissed, he or she was presented with a certificate and a bus pass. Everyone involved took turns praising each participants progress. Judge Kenny Montoya said hes hoping to see more people involved in Outreach Court in coming months, partially thanks to financial help from the city. He wants monthly graduations, which now average about four people, to grow to around 15 a month. Without intervention and resources, criminal behavior can escalate. Id like judges to start looking at them and say, Lets switch you over to Outreach Court,' he said. Make them a better person for the community. It was a rigorous 48 hours. And Andy Kastelic and his team pushed through to complete the short film Secondhand Sunset. The short won big at the 48 Hour Film Project last summer. Now, Kastelic is on his way to France for the Festival de Cannes which runs through May 28. The premise behind the Albuquerque-based 48 Hour Film Project is simple. A kickoff event is held where each team draws a genre of film. Then there are three elements a prop, a character and a line of dialogue given to each team that must be included in the film. And it has to be completed in 48 hours. The local win qualified the roughly 8-minute-long film for a screening at Filmapalooza in Seattle recently. Secondhand Sunset will be screened this weekend at the Cannes Court Metrage. This is a big thing for us, Kastelic says. We never thought that wed have this opportunity. Hopefully, the experience will be excellent. Kastelic is the writer and director of the film. Secondhand Sunset tells the story of the lives and dreams of a farming family in the 1940s, as they clash with the harsh realities that surround them, ultimately testing the love and understanding they have for each other. The screening in France was brought about by a partnership between the Cannes Film Festival and the 48 Hour Film Project. There will be 15 short films screening from all over the world. Of those, four are from the United States. Kastelic, who recently graduated from the University of New Mexico, grew up in Bosque Farms and had an affinity for telling stories of the everyman. The struggling farmers and the workers of the world, he says. I grew up next to a dairy. I wanted to use the narrative of a struggling farming family. Kastelic was joined by Jannis Schelenz, who took helm as the director of photography. The actors in the film are Sarah Minnich, Bob Jesser, Marc Comstock and Darcel Danielle. With the time constraints of the competition, Kastelic says there were moments where he didnt think the film would get finished. We put in 12 hours the first day, he says. Then we went back to shoot the next morning because the scene required natural light. And we needed to do a reshoot. Kastelic isnt going with any expectations. He only wants to make some connections. I cant wait to meet the other 48 people there screening with us, he says. Its such an incredible opportunity. I hope the film resonates with the audience out there. At the core of the film is family and those are things that translate with everyone. Another New Mexico-made film will also be heading to Cannes. Imagination Worldwide has acquired Burning Bohdi for foreign rights. The company will be selling the rights at Cannes. The feature-length film stars Kaley Cuoco, Sasha Pieterse, Cody Horn, Landon Liboiron, Virginia Madsen and Andy Buckley. Cuoco is known for her role as Penny in CBSs The Big Bang Theory. The film was written and directed by University of New Mexico professor Matthew McDuffie. It was produced by Albuquerque resident Marshall Bear. The film follows a group of lifelong friends who stumble back home after high school when word goes out on Facebook that the most popular among them has died. The reunion stirs up sticky feelings of love, longing and regret, and the novelty of forgiveness, mortality and gratitude. The film shot for 18 days in the South Valley in 2015. Bear says he is looking forward to international distribution. Im hoping Euro distributors are attracted to a character driven movie from Hollywood, Bear says. Secondhand Sunset from Balian Pictures on Vimeo. We welcome suggestions for the daily Bright Spot. Send to newsroom@abqjournal.com. New Mexico-based film company Hardline Films latest commercial is gaining some national exposure. And Keagan Karnes and Sheridan ODonnell couldnt be more proud. The companys commercial for eHarmony was named as one of the best Mothers Day spots of the year by Advertising Age. The commercial was also recognized by Creativity-Online.com. Best of all, the majority of the commercial was New Mexico-made. To see the commercial competing with spots that huge companies pay millions of dollars for is amazing, Karnes says. We really put our soul into it. To see it pay off in such a good way is amazing. The commercial is about a single mom who is getting a nervous start in dating again. Hardline Films worked to delicately convey the awkwardness and hesitancy of putting herself back out in the dating pool. According to eHarmony, the spot is part of its campaign to address single mothers and getting back into the dating game. The script was written and directed by ODonnell. I got the idea very quickly, ODonnell says. Im trying to write stories that havent been told. I started thinking of the dating world and who might benefit. I saw this single mother entering the dating world. I read articles and tried to absorb the information on what other single mothers went through while dating. The commercial was filmed in January. Locations used were near Downtown Albuquerque, where they found a home via Airbnb. And production also took place at Elaines restaurant in Nob Hill. We also used the same crew weve been working with for years, Karnes says. The only person that was flown in was the actress in the commercial. Other than that, it was all New Mexicans. Weve put together a really great crew who can turn out great work. Sheridan had some very specific locations in mind and we were able to find them all. Karnes and ODonnell hope to bring in more national brands to shoot commercials in the Land of Enchantment. We can do the same job in this state that other places can, ODonnell says. We have the talent to compete on a national level. SEND ME YOUR TIPS: If you know of a movie filming in the state, or are curious about one, email film@ABQjournal.com. Follow me on Twitter @agomezART. NEW YORK Former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner, whose penchant for sexting strangers ended his political career and sparked a probe that upended the presidential race, pleaded guilty Friday to a sex charge, tearfully apologizing for communications with a 15-year-old girl that he said destroyed his lifes dream in public service. Weiner, who could go to prison, pleaded guilty to a single count of transmitting obscene material to a minor. He admitted exchanging online messages with the girl beginning in January 2015 and sharing explicit images and encouraging her to engage in sexually explicit conduct. I have a sickness, but I do not have an excuse, he said. In court, the 52-year-old former Democratic congressman paused repeatedly as he fought back tears and tried to compose himself. He said he knew the texting was as morally wrong as it was unlawful. Pleading to the charge, which requires him to register as a sex offender, could bring a sentence of up to 10 years. But Weiner is likely to serve much less time if he is sentenced to prison. In a plea agreement with prosecutors, he agreed not to appeal any sentence between 21 and 27 months in prison. His lawyer can request leniency at a sentencing scheduled for Sept. 8. In a written plea agreement, prosecutors said aggravating factors such as the age of the victim would have called for a prison sentence of up to 14 years under sentencing guidelines were it not for the plea bargain and a 10-year maximum penalty on the charge. Wearing his wedding ring and a dark blue suit with a maroon tie, Weiner read from a prepared statement after U.S. District Judge Loretta A. Preska addressed him: Tell me what you did, sir. He said he compulsively sought attention from women who contacted me on social media beginning with his service in Congress and continuing through the first half of last year. I engaged with many of them in both sexual and nonsexual conversation, he said. These destructive impulses brought great devastation to my family and friends and destroyed my lifes dream in public service. Yet I remained in denial even as the world around me fell apart. Weiner said he began getting mental health treatment in the fall, when he said he came to grips for the first time with the depths of my sickness. He said he continues to follow the treatment daily. I had hit bottom, he said. Through treatment I found the courage to take a moral inventory of my defects. Weiner apologized to everyone I have hurt, including the girl he mistreated so badly. Finished speaking, he wiped his eyes with tissues. Weiner was already in federal custody ahead of the hearing, which lasted less than half an hour. Afterward, he shook hands with prosecutors, telling them: Thanks, guys. I appreciate your service. He then went down the courthouse elevator surrounded by his lawyers and court officers and left the building. He said nothing to reporters. His wife, Huma Abedin, was not in court. Abedin, a top aide to Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton last year, separated from Weiner in September after revelations he had sent more sexually charged messages online. That same month, the FBI began investigating Weiner after the North Carolina girl told the news website DailyMail.com that she and Weiner had exchanged lewd messages for several months. She also accused him of asking her to undress on camera. Phone messages left Friday with the North Carolina girls father were not immediately returned. As part of his plea, Weiner agreed to forfeit his iPhone. In a statement, attorney Arlo Devlin-Brown said his client had apologized, offered no excuses and made a commitment to make amends. He said the plea agreement reflected a resolution on terms far less severe than could have been sought because the circumstances lacked the kind of aggravating factors often present in similar cases. He added that Weiner remains focused on his recovery. In a release, acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon Kim called Weiners conduct reprehensible, saying he sent sexually explicit images and directions to engage in sexual conduct to a girl he knew was 15. The investigation led FBI agents to seize his laptop computer, which led to the discovery of a new cache of emails that Clinton had sent to Abedin. In late October, just days before the election, FBI Director James Comey stunned the country by announcing that his agency was reopening its closed investigation into Clintons handling of State Department business on a private email server so it could analyze the newly discovered correspondence. That inquiry was brief. Comey announced shortly before the election that the new emails contained nothing to change his view that Clinton could not be charged with a crime. But Clinton partly blamed her loss to Republican Donald Trump on Comeys announcement. Weiner, who lives in Manhattan and represented New York in Congress from 1999 to 2011, resigned after revelations that he was sending sexually explicit messages to multiple women. He ran for New York City mayor in 2013 and was leading several polls until it was revealed he had continued his questionable behavior. His failed mayoral bid was the subject of the documentary Weiner. ___ Associated Press Writer Colleen Long contributed to this report. LONDON Maria Sharapova will play in the Wimbledon qualifying tournament. The 2004 champion at the All England Club, who returned last month from a 15-month doping ban, said Friday in a post on her website that she will not request a wild card into the main draw at Wimbledon. Because of my improved ranking after the first three tournaments of my return, I will also be playing the Qualifying of Wimbledon in Roehampton, and will not be requesting a wild card into the main draw, the five-time Grand Slam champion wrote. Earlier this week, the former top-ranked Russian had her request for a French Open wild card rejected by Roland Garros officials. The snub was criticized by the WTA, which said there were no grounds to penalize her further. The 30-year-old Sharapova, ranked only 211th but set to break into the top 200 on Monday, retired from her second-round match at the Italian Open on Tuesday after apparently injuring her left thigh. I have already started getting treatment on the injury I sustained a few days ago in Rome, and will begin my preparation as soon I get better, Sharapova wrote. Since the end of her ban, Sharapova has used wild-card entries to play three events on the WTA Tour to get her world ranking up to a level where she can automatically enter anywhere again. In her first tournament in Stuttgart, Sharapova won three matches to reach the semifinals before losing to Kristina Mladenovic. Then, after defeating Mirjana Lucic-Baroni in her opening match in Madrid, she came up against Eugenie Bouchard, a Canadian who said Sharapova was a cheater and should be banned for life for doping. Bouchard won 7-5, 2-6, 6-4. Other players, including Andy Murray and Angelique Kerber, have been outspoken about Sharapova receiving free passes into events. On Thursday, Sharapova was granted a wild card to play in the pre-Wimbledon tournament in Birmingham. The Aegon Classic begins on June 19, two weeks before Wimbledon. Ironically, the last time Sharapova was forced to qualify for an event was at the Birmingham tournament in 2003. Wimbledon qualifying starts on June 26 and Sharapova will need to win three matches to enter the main tournament. The grass-court Grand Slam was where Sharapova won her first major tournament, beating Serena Williams in a one-sided final in 2004 when she was only 17. She had to wait another seven years before reaching the final again, losing to Petra Kvitova. President Donald Trumps promise to shake things up in Washington has brought us back to unpleasantly familiar territory: talk of impeachment and obstruction of justice, this time involving the investigation into the Trump campaigns dealings with Russia. But, just as it was with Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton, it is imperative to understand what the Founding Fathers intended when they created the remedy of impeachment, and how allegations of obstruction fit into the constitutional framework for holding a president accountable for misconduct in office. The framers established impeachment as a last resort, a check to be used to deal with presidential misconduct when all other mechanisms failed. Impeachment cannot and should not be done hastily, nor should it be done for reasons so flimsy they suggest politicians are merely jockeying for political advantagerather than protecting constitutional values. The more that impeachment proceedings appear to be rushing to judgment or driven by partisanship, the less credibility they ultimately have. The Clinton and Nixon examples offer crucial lessons about the importance of slowing down and ensuring that the public is confident that the gravity of the alleged conduct warrants the extraordinary and fundamentally undemocratic remedy of Congress removing the president from office. The Clinton episode offers a cautionary tale. In 1998, independent counsel Kenneth Starrs office had spent months investigating the possibility that Clinton had lied under oath about the nature of his relationship with Monica Lewinsky and then, according to Starrs referral to Congress for impeachment proceedings, obstructed justice by trying to conceal and destroy evidence of that relationship. Yet the failure of the House to undertake its own fact-finding, and its reliance instead solely on Starrs findings, made it easier for Clinton and his defenders to attack the impeachment as both a rush to judgment and not being properly grounded in misconduct involving the presidents abuse of official powers. The Senate quickly disposed of the matter when it was obvious it lacked the votes to meet the two-thirds threshold for a conviction. The more deliberate the inquiry, the better chance that the American people will have confidence in it. For Nixon, the process that led to his resignation took more than two years, and the scope of wrongdoing that those investigations revealed was breathtaking. The House Judiciary Committee and a Senate select committee undertook meticulous fact-finding, which ultimately uncovered the evidence that Nixon had taped every conversation in the White House. Three days after the Supreme Court ordered Nixon to turn over dozens of taped conversations, the House Judiciary Committee approved three articles of impeachment, including one charging that Nixon obstructed justice by paying hush money to the Watergate burglars. Twelve days later, Nixon resigned. Ever since, people on both sides of the aisle have had confidence in the justice of that outcome. Many advocates on both sides are too eager for a quick resolution of the investigation into Trumps campaign Democrats to remove the president from office and Republicans to exonerate him. Moving too quickly not only risks a sloppy and incomplete investigation but also subjects the outcome to claims of either a whitewash or of overturning the results of an election held just months ago. The selection of Robert Mueller as special counsel to oversee the investigation of possible collusion between Trumps campaign and Russian agents presents a good model for the House to follow. A former FBI director, Mueller comes to the task with a reputation of impeccable integrity, just as Archibald Cox did when he was appointed as Watergate special prosecutor. If Mueller conducts the investigation as expected, rigorously and impartially, the public will likely have a great deal of confidence in the outcome, whatever it may be. Impeachment requires proof of significant abuse of power or breach of public trust. Obstruction of justice, or even the attempt to obstruct, epitomizes that sort of offense, entailing as it does an attack on a system whose integrity the president has sworn to uphold. By contrast, Presidents John Tyler and Andrew Johnson faced constant threats of impeachment largely because they were remarkably unpopular. The House tried but failed three times to impeach Tyler for having done nothing more than protect the presidents authorities to veto legislation and nominate officials. Even though Johnson came within a single vote of being convicted in the Senate, most historians have dismissed his impeachment as driven more by partisanship than a proper basis for impeachment and removal. Impeachment is serious business, perhaps the most serious other than going to war that Congress ever contemplates. Any impeachment inquiry must be conducted thoroughly and preferably with bipartisan support. Those eager to get started must remember: If not done properly the first time, there might not be another chance. Gerhardt, a professor of constitutional law at University of North Carolina Law School, is the author of The Federal Impeachment Process: A Constitutional and Historical Analysis. SILVER CITY, N.M. A math teacher who is head volleyball coach at Silver City High School has been arrested and accused of having a sex with a student. The New Mexico State Police said Tiana Sanchez was arrested Thursday following an investigation that began May 12 when the students mother provided the students phone to authorities. According to the State Police, the phone contained text and photographs with sexual content. Sanchez was arrested and jailed on suspicion of criminal sexual penetration of a child. Online court records dont list an attorney who could comment on behalf of Sanchez regarding the allegations. The Air Force Research Laboratory at Kirtland Air Force Base has turned its massive MaxPower microwave defense system over to the Army for new rounds of research and development. The system, which the AFRL built to destroy improvised explosive devices, will now be housed at New Mexico Techs Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center near Socorro. The center, which includes a 40-square-mile field laboratory in the mountains adjacent to the university, has been used for explosives research and testing by NM Tech for government and private clients for more than 60 years. The Armys Armament, Research, Development and Engineering Center took over the MaxPower program this week. The system packs a full gigawatt of concentrated electromagnetic power into an armored truck. Thats one billion times the power of an average home microwave oven, allowing the vehicle to instantly destroy IEDs as it cruises through battle zones. AFRLs Directed Energy Directorate at Kirtland built the system for $50 million from 2007 to 2012, and then deployed it for nine months of testing in Afghanistan. Since then, its been housed at the AFRLs High Power Microwave division, where lab scientists and engineers continue to work on new microwave systems that can be used to destroy enemy targets without harming people or infrastructure. MaxPower, however, is the only microwave weapon to date to be deployed on the battlefield. The Air Force also brought a nonlethal, vehicle-mounted Active Denial System, or Pain Ray, to Afghanistan. It causes a burning sensation on skin to disperse crowds or force people to drop their weapons, but it was never used. MaxPower was one of the first Directed Energy systems that we deployed and used in theater, said AFRL High Power Electromagnetics Division lead Mary Lou Robinson in a statement. Active Denial was deployed but never turned on. MaxPower overcame that fear, hesitation and stigma of using something in theater that you cant see, and it was used many times. The vehicle was on point for 19 combat missions with convoys across IED-infested roads and highways in Afghanistan, said 2nd Lt. Daniel Gum of the Directed Energy Directorate. Robinson said the Army is interested in technology that provides effectiveness against explosive hazards and improvised threats, and AFRL will be ready to provide assistance as the project moves forward. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump will use his first visit to the Middle East to call for unity in the fight against radicalism in the Muslim world, casting the challenge as a battle between good and evil and urging Arab leaders to drive out the terrorists from your places of worship, according to a draft of the speech obtained by The Associated Press. Abandoning some of the harsh anti-Muslim rhetoric of his presidential campaign, the draft of the speech, slated to be delivered in Saudi Arabia on Sunday, envisions new partnerships with Americas traditional allies in the Middle East. It notably refrains from mentioning democracy and human rights topics Arab leaders often view as U.S. moralizing in favor of the more limited goals of peace and stability. We are not here to lecture to tell other peoples how to live, what to do or who to be. We are here instead to offer partnership in building a better future for us all, the document said. Trump left Washington Friday afternoon for Riyadh, the first stop on his maiden trip overseas trip as president. The marathon trip will also take him to Israel, the Vatican, Belgium and Italy. The trip is a key test of the presidents diplomatic skills and a chance to add substance to a foreign policy he has described broadly as America First. Two different sources provided the AP with copies of the draft of his remarks, billed as a marquee speech of the trip. One version, obtained late Thursday, included edits with comments from an administration official, indicating it was still a work in progress. The White House confirmed the draft was authentic, but cautioned the president had not yet signed off on the final product. The president has not seen this draft, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said. This is one of five drafts that have been written by various people. He continues to take input and is writing a final version. Trumps campaign was marked by his anti-Islamic rhetoric and his administration has twice tried to impose a travel ban on several Muslim-majority countries. I think Islam hates us, he said at one point. The draft of the speech includes no mention of radical Islamic terrorism a phrase that candidate Trump regularly criticized opponent Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama for shying away from. His speech calls terrorism a widespread problem plaguing everyone who loves peace. He positions himself as an emissary for the American people, to deliver a message of friendship and hope, according to the draft. This is not a battle between different faiths, different sects or different civilizations. This is a battle between those who seek to obliterate human life and those who seek to protect it, the text reads. This is a battle between good and evil. Trump may seem an unlikely messenger to deliver an olive branch to the Muslim world. Only a week after taking office, he signed an executive order to ban immigrants from seven countries Iraq, Iran, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen from entering the United States, a decision that sparked widespread protests at the nations airports and demonstrations outside the White House. That ban was blocked in federal court, prompting the administration to sign a second one. The second version, which dropped Iraq from the list, is also blocked in court, though Trump has said the measure is needed for the nations security. As a campaigner, he called for a total and complete shutdown of the entry of Muslims to the United States until our countrys representatives can figure out what the hell is going on, insisting that a sizable segment of the Muslim population has great hatred toward Americans. His Saudi speech is aimed at the nations represented at an Arab and Muslim leaders summit. Trump intends to condemn Syrias President Bashar Assad for committing unspeakable crimes against humanity and Iran for contributing to spiraling violence in Syria. All nations of conscience in the Middle East must work together to roll back Irans destabilizing influence, restore a more stable balance of power in the region, and pray for the day when the Iranian people have the just and responsible government they deserve, the draft reads. Iran and Syria were not invited to the summit, and they are not part of a regional military alliance that Saudi Arabia is establishing to fight terrorism. The kingdom backs efforts to topple the Syrian government, which counts Iran and Russia as its closest allies. White House officials have said they consider Trumps visit, and his keynote address, a counterweight to President Obamas debut speech to the Muslim world in 2009 in Cairo. Obama called for understanding and acknowledged some of Americas missteps in the region. That speech was denounced by many Republicans and criticized by a number of the United States Middle East allies, including Israel, as being a sort of apology. Obama aides have continued to defend it. Administration officials believe Trumps decision to begin his trip in Saudi Arabia sends a powerful message to the kingdom: the strained ties that marked U.S.-Saudi relations under Obama are over. Unlike the Obama administration, which distanced itself from authoritarian leaders and took a moral stance against the human rights violations that in many cases fueled resentment and extremism, Trump is focusing on deal-making. Only in the case of Iran does his speech advocate for the longest-suffering people who are subject to their leaders reckless attempts to dominate their neighbors. By contrast, Trump hails Americas friendship with Saudi Arabia, which stretches back many decades, and covers numerous dimensions. It is a markedly different message from his campaign tweet that said Saudi Arabia and many of the countries that gave vast amounts of money to the Clinton Foundation want women as slaves and to kill gays. ___ Lemire reported from New York. Associated Press Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee contributed reporting. ___ Follow Lemire on Twitter at http://twitter.com/@JonLemire DALLAS A judge has dismissed the lawsuit filed by the father of a Muslim boy arrested after taking a homemade clock to his suburban Dallas school. Judge Sam Lindsays Thursday ruling allows Ahmed Mohameds family to file a new complaint that the Irving, Texas, school district discriminated against him in 2015 because of his race and religion. But Lindsay said that the familys claims so far were speculative and sweeping. Mohamed, then 14, brought to school a homemade clock that officials thought was a hoax bomb. His case drew international attention, and then-President Barack Obama invited him to the White House. A family attorney said Friday that they would file a new lawsuit. Lawyers for the Irving schools credited the judge for recognizing the challenging situations facing public school employees. SANTA FE Democrats and Republicans alike sound ready to restore funding for New Mexico colleges and universities when they head back to the Roundhouse next week for a special session. But a proposal to reshape the tax code an immediate priority of Gov. Susana Martinez could be in for some real turbulence. That much was clear Friday after Martinez met with legislative leaders as they try to resolve a budget impasse thats left New Mexico without a budget in place for higher education and legislative agencies in the fiscal year starting July 1. The Republican governor and Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, each expressed optimism Friday about the possibility of reaching agreement on a plan to fund higher education. Priority No. 1 is restoring higher education, and I think were really close, Wirth said. In a written statement, the Martinez administration described Fridays meeting as productive. The governor is confident that there will ultimately be agreement on funding measures, including funding for higher education, her spokesman, Michael Lonergan, said. The real question may be how to pay for it. Martinez vetoed a $350 million package of tax and fee increases earlier this year. She also removed funding in the budget for higher education and the Legislature itself, moves she described as only temporary until a spending plan can be crafted without tax increases. Martinez has suggested a willingness to accept some new revenue if its linked to a broader overhaul of the state tax system. Democrats and some Republicans in the Legislature, meanwhile, have expressed serious reservations about reshaping the tax code in a special session, without further study of how the change might affect revenue. Neither Martinez nor Wirth suggested theyre close to agreement on that topic. The governor reiterated that she will not support standalone tax increases, but is hopeful that we will be able to find a bipartisan path forward on tax reform, Lonergan said. Wirth said legislators have not yet seen a copy of the tax-code legislation backed by Martinez, adding to their concern that it should be studied more thoroughly before theres final action. But he said theres bipartisan support for the concept in general and the governors support is helpful. The question becomes: Is it responsible and prudent to pass a bill in two days that we havent seen yet? Wirth said in an interview. Another challenge for the governor and lawmakers: They dont agree on how much money they need to balance the budget. A revenue estimate developed in December would put the figure at about $150 million, based on an overall operating budget of $6.1 billion. But staff economists working for the Legislative Finance Committee say the potential deficit may be just $70 million, or even less, because the economy has improved since then. Oil and gas prices, which fluctuate, are a critical piece of state revenue. In any case, to help bridge the gap, Democrats in the Legislature have suggested the state impose a gross receipts tax on retail sales made online through Amazon.com, for example, which is already paying the tax voluntarily and by imposing some new tax liability on nonprofit hospitals. The idea would be to treat nonprofit hospitals more like their for-profit counterparts. The hospital and internet tax changes could raise about $111 million in revenue each year, supporters say. And Democrats have pitched the ideas to Martinez as a way to close loopholes in the tax code in other words, they dont have to be considered tax increases. House Speaker Brian Egolf, D-Santa Fe, said Fridays meeting with the governor included a good and frank conversation. We made it clear that we have to find recurring revenues to pay for the restoration of funding to higher education, Egolf said. We also committed to work in the coming months with both parties on bipartisan tax reform that will work for everyday New Mexicans. The Martinez administration has suggested the internet and hospital tax proposals might be acceptable, if theyre part of a broader overhaul that simplifies New Mexicos tax system, levels the playing field for businesses and makes the state more attractive to new industries. Martinez has flatly opposed other tax increases passed by the Legislature, such as increased gasoline taxes and fees for purchasing vehicles. Martinez has described tax overhaul as a key to the budget impasse. Removing the series of credits and deductions that riddle the system of gross receipts taxes, she said, would allow the state to broaden its tax base and lower the overall tax rate. The changes could be phased in over time, she argues, allowing for a bump in revenue to help next years budget while remaining revenue neutral in the long run. Never mind Billy. Who shot Pat? A petition filed recently in state District Court requesting that New Mexico issue a death certificate for outlaw Billy the Kid is the latest effort to prove something no genuine historian disputes that Pat Garrett shot the Kid dead in July 1881 in Fort Sumner, N.M. Fact is, theres a more legitimate controversy about who killed Garrett, shooting him twice in the back on Feb. 29, 1908, a few miles east of Las Cruces. There is a lot more value in discovering who killed Pat Garrett, said New Mexico author Don Bullis, who has written nine books about New Mexico history. I dont think there is a real serious question that Billy was killed by Pat Garrett. Weve been arguing about it since 1881, and I just dont see the point. The point is Billy himself and that a lot of people just dont like the ending events dictated for him. Hes just such an international figure, one of the great historical characters in American history, said Paul Hutton, distinguished professor of history at the University of New Mexico. Hutton was the guest curator of Dreamscape Desperado: Billy the Kid and the Outlaw in America, a 2007 exhibit at the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History. Theres a never-ending interest in him, steeped in so much romance, mystery and derring-do, Hutton told me this week. People just cant resist him. Sixty movies cant be wrong. Actually, according to Santa Fe writer Johnny D. Boggs, author of Billy the Kid on Film: 1911-2012 (McFarland and Co., 2013), there are more like 75 movies about the Kid if you counts flicks such as Billy the Kid vs. Dracula. In some of those movies 1930s Billy the Kid and 1990s Young Guns II Billy eludes death in Fort Sumner and rides off to live another day. Young Guns II suggests Billy lives into old age as Brushy Bill Roberts of Hico, Texas, an actual person who claimed in 1949 that he was the Kid. Boggs, former president of the Western Writers of America and a six-time winner of the WWAs Spur Award for excellence in writing about the West, thinks it is peoples love of conspiracy theories and not movies with happy endings that perpetuate the notion that the Kid dodged Garretts bullet. They just dont want these people to die, Boggs said. Its not just Billy. Its Jesse James, John Wilkes Booth, Elvis. And getting a death certificate for Billy is not going to stop anything. You can never convince a conspiracy theorist there is no conspiracy. Boggs conceded that Young Guns II may have fanned the flames of the Brushy Bill saga, exposing younger people to a story they might not have heard before seeing the movie. And then theres John Miller, another Billy the Kid claimant who ranched in western New Mexico before moving to Arizona and dying there in a Prescott retirement home in 1937. In 2003, lawmen in Lincoln and De Baca counties launched an investigation into the death of Billy the Kid, seeking to dig up the Kid in Fort Sumner, his mother in Silver City, Brushy Bill in Texas and Miller in Arizona in attempts to obtain DNA evidence. The investigation, supported by then-Gov. Bill Richardson, who viewed it as a boost to New Mexico tourism, went badly. All the exhumations were blocked by courts or local officials except for that of Miller. Two skeletons were unearthed in the Miller dig, but all that came out of that were threats of criminal charges against the grave robbers. And now Robert J. Stahl, a professor emeritus at Arizona State Universitys school of education and an Old West enthusiast, is seeking a death certificate for Billy, primarily to call attention to an 1881 coroners report and the testimony of witnesses that it was the Kid that Garrett killed in Fort Sumner. I cant believe all these people (who testified) were lying, Stahl told me in a telephone interview. It recognizes that they were saying the same thing and what they were saying loud and clear is that Billy was dead. I think (the death certificate) will help the people who arent sure. But those people who believe its a conspiracy, I dont think it will change their minds. Which brings us back to Garrett. You want conspiracy theories? Weve got that here. The official version is that Garrett was shot and killed by Wayne Brazel, a cowboy involved in a leasing dispute with Garrett. Brazel said he shot Garrett in self-defense. He was tried and acquitted in a trial in which the only other known person at the scene of the shooting did not testify and the jury returned a verdict in 15 minutes. Some historians, including UNMs Hutton, believe Brazel was hired to stand trial in place of the actual assassin. The theory is that Garrett was killed because he breathed hot and heavy on some prominent necks during his investigation of the disappearance and presumed murders of Albert Jennings Fountain and his son Henry in the winter of 1896 in the White Sands. Fountain, a prosecutor for southern New Mexico livestock growers associations, had successfully obtained rustling indictments against a big-time rancher. Hutton believes a hired killer named Deacon Jim Miller shot Garrett. Miller, by the way, was lynched in April 1909 in Ada, Okla., for shotgunning another ex-lawman. Bullis, author of Unsolved (Rio Grande Books, 2014) which explores the deaths of Garrett and the Fountains and other New Mexico mysteries said Garrett was flat-out murdered. If there were some important political persons involved, we should probably find out about it, he said. But we probably never will, because Garrett was not well-liked. But a lot of people liked Billy. A lot of people still do. Death certificate or no death certificate, Billys not going to die. UpFront is a daily front-page news and opinion column. Comment directly to Ollie at 823-3916 or oreed@abqjournal.com. Go to ABQjournal.com/letters/new to submit a letter to the editor. Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. (HMSI) has rolled out the latest television commercial (TVC) for exciting 4th Gen upgrade of Activa - Indias No. 1 selling 2wheeler brand. Developed by Dentsu One, a Dentsu Aegis Network Company, the TVC was launched with the World Television Premier of Jolly LLB 2 and has started running on air across popular channels from 14th May17. BACKGROUND OF THE CAMPAIGN From its debut in 2001, Honda 2Wheelers India re-activated the automatic scooter segment with the iconic Activa on back of its two core strengths - advance technology and innovation. Activas biggest strength lies in its continuous evolution ahead of the time which has fortified its universal appeal that cuts across generations, geographies and genders. Over the years, Activa grew from No. 1 selling automatic scooter to overtaking all motorcycles and become No. 1 selling two-wheeler of India. In 2017, Honda 2Wheelers launched the 4th generation BS-IV and AHO compliant ACTIVA 4G with new style and features like mobile charging port for connectivity on the go. OBJECTIVE OF THE CAMPAIGN The Nayi Generation Hai campaign reinforces the top of mind recall for Hondas fourth generation Activa both emotionally and rationally. The idea is to showcase how Activa 4G is playing an active role in the slice of life of Indias new generation. BRIEF SHARED WITH THE AGENCY In 16 years, Hondas Activa brand has gained a strong trust of over 1.5 crore Indian families and counting. The iconic Activa is today the Most Trusted & Convenient common denominator for all Indian families be it young college-goer or working professional, home-maker or the active senior citizens. Indias psychographics is fast evolving and everyone in this new India is exploring something new. Be it the trending youth, WhatsApp-ing parents or jogging grandparents. The TVC is all about how India's Nayi Generation is doing things differently and the new Activa 4G is their ride of choice. APPROACH The target audience of Hondas Activa is not limited to a specific age group or region. It is trusted by every generation across the nation. Age or gender is no more the barrier for people to do different things or do things differently. The slice of life narrative is written with a consumer insight that people from different age brackets are now venturing into things that were traditionally considered out of bounds for them. FILM DESCRIPTOR Hondas Nayi Generation Hai TVC opens with a middle-aged man on the bed, busy on his phone. He receives a WhatsApp message from his daughter to go out for snacks late in the night. The man agrees and they both ride to a neighborhood food kiosk on their Activa 4G. Bringing life to the voice over, noted theatre artist Piyush Mishra elaborates, Na Din Khatam hota hai, na raat. Aur sham chalti hai subah tak Nayi Generation Hai bhai! The second sequence opens with a group of young women of all sizes working out... not in the gymnasium but through an energetic Zumba performance in a dance studio. The sequence begin with the background jingle Zamaane ke yaar hai sab, masti mei sawaar hain and concludes with Piyush Mishra spicy voiceover saying, Jo Mehnat ko masti banaye, wahi wise hai are dance bhi to exercise hai! The group then rides out of the dance class on their Activa 4Gs and the jingle continues - Zamaane ke yaar hain, hawaon pe sawaar hain. In the third sequence, a young professional is riding his Activa 4G and its his nayi generation mother (the pillion) who guides him to the destination by using satellite navigation maps on her mobile phone. The voice-over connects the Nayi Generation with Manzil kahan hai kaise pahunchna hai? No Confusion thats the Nayi Generation! The fourth sequence shows an old lady jogging towards a parked Activa 4G. Suddenly, she stops and plugs out the mobile charging cord from her grandsons mobile and plugs it in her phone and starts dancing to the music on the spot. Surprised by her fun mood, her grandson joins in and both later leave on their Activa 4G. The peppy voice-over says Baalon ke rang par mat jao hum battery full hain! Inke saamne to acche achon ka dibba gul hai and is completed by the happy jingle Zamaane ke yaar hain, hawaon pe sawaar hain.. The last sequence of the film takes the nayi generation theme even further. The sequence opens with the shot of an old man outside his home ready to move on an Activa 4G. His wife steps outside their home and ties a fitness band on her husbands wrist. On being asked, Ye kya hai? she replies, Nayi Generation Hai! before both ride away to the park. The sequences are followed by a montage, i.e. father-daughter, women performing Zumba, mother-son duo, grandmother-grandson duo and old couple seen riding Activa and enjoying their ride. The film ends with a voice over - Aajkal India ki har generation, Nayi Generation Hai. Inhi ke liye aayi hai nayi generation wali Activa 4G (Today every generation of India is doing something new and for them is the new generation of Activa. Activa 4G- Nayi Generation Hai) EXCERPTS FROM SPOKESPERSONS With trust of over 1.5 crore Indian families, Activa has grown to become Indias No. 1 selling two-wheeler brand. Its continuous evolution over the years in terms of technology, innovation and design ethos has made Activa relevant across generations. While retaining its core of trust and reliability, our astute communication has led Activa to gain top of consumer mindshare as well. The biggest insight when we started the TVC campaign was A new generation in every generation. This is what the New Activa 4G television campaign captures every age group is now a new generation and Activa 4G is made for them,said Mr. Yadvinder Singh Guleria, Senior Vice President-Sales & Marketing, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. Time was when we used to say ye nayi peedhi hai, ye aisi hain, waisi hain, inko samajhna mushkil hai etc. But now you see that there is no such thing as a generation gap. Everyone behaves in similar ways. Everyone's on social media, everyone's physically active, so on and so forth. When we received the brief for the country's top selling 4th generation two-wheeler Activa 4G, we thought it's an opportune time to speak of this new generation that defies all age related myths, said Titus Upputuru, National Creative Director, Dentsu One The traditional demographics have become a passe and age as a metric of classification means nothing. Marketing and brand building is all about having right insights that connect to right mindsets whether the consumer is 18 or 80 years doesnt really matter. Activa 4G is an iconic brand that straddles multiple generations and has a ubiquitous connect with a huge spectrum of consumers. This communication celebrates this progressive, refreshing, new-age attitude and a way of thinking that binds the varied consumers with similar mindsets, said Abhinav Kaushik, Senior Vice President, Account Management, Dentsu One CAMPAIGN SUMMARY: AT&T workers that have been fighting with their employer for a while now have laid out a clear ultimatum; if they dont get a proposal from the carrier that they consider fair by Friday, theyre going to strike. To be exact, AT&T has until 3PM Eastern time this Friday, May 19, to come up with something that will help to improve working conditions, protect jobs, and give workers a fair wage and benefit package. If they fail to do so, about 40,000 employees nationwide are planning to go on strike. This strike will be the first to unify every division of AT&T, including wireline, DIRECTV, and mobility. Its also worth noting that this will be the mobile divisions first strike ever. If an agreement is not reached and workers go through with the strike, it will last three days. Already, AT&T employees in every division are protesting, preparing to strike if necessary. Workers are taking issue with a wide variety of business practices, including outsourcing jobs, underpaying employees, short-changing benefit packages, writing up contracts that put employees in uncomfortable positions, and even failing to sufficiently invest in network assets, putting business, and thus workers paychecks, in jeopardy. AT&T workers have the full support of Communication Workers of America, all the way up to vice president Dennis Trainor, who spoke out to affirm their intent to begin a strike on May 19 if their demands are not met. Tensions between AT&T and their jilted staff reached the boiling point at a recent protest in Texas, which was held during a shareholder meeting in order to bring worrisome business practices and AT&Ts treatment of their employees into the eyes the public, and more importantly, to shareholders attention. It was at that protest that workers on extended contracts gave AT&T their 72 hour notice of intent to cancel those extensions, and thus their obligation to not strike. Naturally, this set the stage for the massive nationwide strike thats going to take place on May 19 if AT&T does not act. Thus far, AT&T workers and the CWA have not laid out hard guidelines for what an acceptable proposal would look like, so some sort of negotiation is expected, unless AT&T opts to ignore workers pleas and weather the upcoming strike. Google announced some changes to key signing management for Google Play app developers on the first day of this years Google I/O, and now theyve made changes to their support page for Google Play developers to reflect those announcements. Developers can store and administer their own keys through the Developer Console, or hand those responsibilities over to Google. The kicker with having Google manage the keys, however, is that developers cannot go back to managing their own keys for a given app once theyve given the keys to Google. There are detailed instructions for both on the support page, of course. Google also includes a handy guide to various terms related to Google Play app signing. Managing your own keys or continuing to do so is a simple enough affair; Developers simply upload a given APK in signed form. Developers that want to have Google manage their keys for them follow a similar process for brand new apps, but will have to opt in to the program first. They upload the signed APK, then Google rips out their signature and replaces it with an original key file generated from the signature. To get an existing app into Googles app signing ecosystem, developers have to first opt that app into the program, then upload a clean copy of the app alongside the signing key in a separate file. Google will verify everything and store the key in their server. From there, the developer simply updates all their key stores to the new key that Google has, and signs an update to the app with that key. From there, Google will handle signing and key distribution. Developers can download a copy of the Google-signed APK from their developer console. Google also gives a quick primer on some terms that developers should know. An app signing key is the original key held by the developer on their machine, an upload key is the one generated when handing the app over to Google for signing, the private key is used for APK signing, and the public key is what the users see if they decompile an APK. A certificate, meanwhile, bundles some identifying information with the public key. Finally, the Play Encrypt Private Key tool is whats used to encrypt and decrypt keys while transferring them to and from Googles servers. Google Assistant on mobile devices it gaining some new features including the ability to view past questions, as well as edit and/or delete those questions. These features do seem to be in relation to the release of Google Assistants new keyboard functionality. At Google I/O 2017, Google announced that the Google Assistant was gaining a text input ability where users could simply type a question instead of asking one. Following which, reports starting to roll through noting that the Google Assistant was already being updated for a number of users, and with that update came the ability to make use of the keyboard. Now however, it also seems as though that update is activating the view, edit, and delete, of previous questions feature. Up until now, the Google Assistant worked on a sort of back to default basis. So each time you launched the assistant, it launched a fresh version of the Assistant, ready to answer your new question. This is where the change has occurred as some users who are seeing the updated Google Assistant version, are also noting that previous searches are now showing up. Essentially, allowing the user to scroll back through their previous searches for easier recall. In a very similar way to how the Google Assistant works within the Allo app. In addition, it also seems as though searches (and largely any shown comment, reply, or otherwise), can now be edited, or if wanted, fully deleted. To do this, the user simply needs to long press on the comment or question to be edited or deleted, and a pop up will emerge offering the option to either edit query or delete group the latter referring to the deletion of not just the question, but also the related answers as well. While it does seem to be clear that the keyboard-enabled version of the Google Assistant is already rolling out, this is one of those typical Google rolling outs. So not everyone will receive the update at the same time. Likewise, there does not currently seem to be anyway to force the update, it will simply arrive when it is ready. While it is not 100-percent guaranteed that these new view, edit, delete, features are arriving in tandem with the keyboard update (could have already been available in beta to some users), the new capabilities are now being more noticed with the arrival of the keyboard update. On Wednesday, it was revealed that Qualcomm has filed a breach of contract lawsuit against four companies based in Taiwan Compal, Foxconn (formerly known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co,) Pegatron, and Winston who manufacture iPhones and iPads, for not paying royalties for chips contained in the devices. This represents an escalation of their current legal battle with Apple Inc. which has been going on since January when Apple filed a lawsuit, seeking $1 billion in damages and alleging that Qualcomm overcharges for the components and has a monopoly on them. Apple also allegedly refused to repay around $1 billion currently owed in rebates to Qualcomm. Days earlier, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) had accused Qualcomm of resorting to unfair and anti-competitive tactics to ensure they maintained a monopoly over certain components which are an essential part of todays smartphones. The FTC said that Qualcomms licensing arrangements meant that companies such as Apple were forced to sign deals with them to be able to make and sell their phones. Don Rosenberg, executive vice president and general counsel of Qualcomm, said in a statement about Wednesdays filing It is unfortunate that we must take this action against these long-time licensees to enforce our agreements, but we cannot allow these manufacturers and Apple to use our valuable intellectual property without paying the fair and reasonable royalties to which they have agreed. Qualcomm says Apple advised the four Taiwanese contract manufacturers to withhold the royalty payments that were owed to Qualcomm, through the slightly unusual licensing arrangements that are currently in place. Under the terms of the agreement, Apple does not directly license from Qualcomm. The manufacturers of the devices are responsible for paying the royalty fees which are then reimbursed in full by Apple. In the lawsuit, which was filed late on Tuesday night in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, Qualcomm also accused Apple of offering to help pay the manufacturers of the devices for any damages incurred by the companies as a result of not paying the correct licensing fees. Their aim is to seek a court order which will force the device manufacturers to honor their contractual arrangements that are currently in place, as well as to continue paying the royalties they owe on technology which Qualcomm owns the patents for. Japanese telecommunications giant SoftBank Group denied allegations that some of its existing and former executives received bribes related to the companys investment initiatives, particularly those aimed at India. The Tokyo, Japan-based conglomerate recently revealed it lost $1.4 billion on investments in Indian startups, and many of its deals in the South Asian country came under scrutiny since then. The recent set of accusations was laid out by a legal firm thats said to be representing a number of the firms investors, as well as shareholders of its subsidiary Sprint that are reportedly unhappy about SoftBanks investment-related activities. The identities of the shareholders that are looking to drive SoftBanks purported transgressions into the public spotlight is currently unknown and their motivations arent clear. The Japanese tech giant labeled the allegations as smearing attempts and promptly dismissed them. Authorities in India received a complaint against SoftBank in March, according to which the companys executives received kickbacks related to the firms local investments, recent reports indicate. An update on the situation in the South Asian country hasnt followed since then and its yet to be revealed whether Indian officials have conducted or are still conducting an investigation into SoftBanks dealings based on the complaint. The Japanese telecom giant is currently aiming to identify the individual or group disseminating what it deems are entirely false allegations against the company and its first step in doing so was filing a criminal complaint with authorities in Switzerland, the country in which representatives of its alleged shareholders who are spreading the accusations are based in. The same group is also claiming that SoftBank is guilty of conflicts of interest related to certain consulting arrangements. One private investigator from Switzerland previously sent a public letter to the company asking it to disclose alleged transgressions committed by Alok Sama, the President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of SoftBank Group International. SoftBank denied those accusations and filed a defamation complaint against the investigator, The Wall Street Journal reports. Sama himself later referred to the allegations as corporate terrorism, adding that they surely arent originating from the companys shareholders. SoftBank is currently preparing to start investing $100 billion into tech startups around the globe and is also reportedly considering the acquisition of T-Mobile US in an effort to merge it with Sprint. Chromebooks will reportedly start to receive some Android O features before Android smartphones do. The reason for this is that the powers-that-be in the Chrome OS division of Google reportedly want to speed up the release cycle for Chrome OS devices. Technically, not speed up the Chrome OS release cycle per se, but instead ensure that the latest release cycle for Chrome OS comes with the newest features possible, even if those features are Android O-based. The comments on this were reportedly provided by Chrome OS Senior Director of Product Management, Kan Liu, to The Verge. As part of those comments, Liu notes that the Chrome OS team wants to decouple themselves from the traditional dessert releases for Android. So instead of waiting for Android O features to become available as part of the wider Android O release, it seems Liu wants Chrome OS devices to get the features that are specifically beneficial to Chrome OS, as soon as they are realistically available. Of course, that does not mean that all Android O features will become available to Chrome OS users before Android O is properly released, as the emphasis here is on features that are usable and make sense for Chrome OS. So it will likely be a pick and choose type of decision on which features migrate to Chrome OS before making their general Android mobile debut, A decision likely based on how well those features are suited to the Chrome OS platform in general. Likewise, while Android apps are now compatible with Chrome OS, they are, and reportedly will remain, in beta for some time still. So while these new features might first become available on Chrome OS, they will be working in tandem with beta versions of Android apps. Essentially, those features will be beta themselves. On a related note, the wider conversation was to do with Samsungs Chromebook Pro, which is largely considered to be long overdue in arriving. Although Liu expects the Chromebook Pro is about ready to hit the market with a suggested release day of May 28 provided. A device which is likely an ideal candidate to test run some of those Android O features. T-Mobile has won its lawsuit against Huawei who it alleged stole its Tappy robot technology. T-Mobile filed the lawsuit back in 2014 with the Seattle District Court. It was claimed that a Huawei engineer had been to the T-Mobile headquarters to secretly gather information and photos about the technology and that another Huawei employee had been spotted on camera taking a piece from the robot. Furthermore, T-Mobile claimed that Huawei had illicitly used parts as well as designs of its top-secret robot for their own phone testing and financial gain. T-Mobile also said that the technology used by Tappy was worth millions of dollars. At that time Huawei devices were being carried by T-Mobile and the latter said that these actions violated agreements between the companies. Huawei said it would fully cooperate with any court proceedings in a bid to protects its rights and interests. The Tappy robot technology was developed to test devices that T-Mobile planned to offer by mimicking human fingers and their touches. Its aim was to improve diagnostic data for maintenance plans and also reduce expenses involved with device returns. The jury trial finally began last month and the jury ruled in T-Mobiles favor earlier this week. In the final stages of the trial, T-Mobile claimed it lost $8.2 million in profits as a result of the ordeal, owing to the company withdrawing Huawei devices from the products it offers. T-Mobile also claimed a reasonable royalty amount that would represent the value of the Tappy technology purchase or a license, said to be just under $160 million. Finally, the US carrier also for punitive damages from Huawei that would deter the company from repeating such actions again, with that amount reportedly being around $334 million. Following the jurys verdict, Huaweis VP of External Affairs William Plummer said that the company was considering its options but still stood by its defense to T-Mobiles claims. He pointed out that no punitive damages had been awarded to T-Mobile, and neither was the carrier awarded anything regarding claims about the alleged theft of any trade secrets. An update on the dispute is expected to follow later this year. T-Mobiles Braxton Carter and Mike Sievert spoke about the possibility of a merger with Sprint at a recent investors conference. While Sprint is currently at the bottom of the ranks among the top 4 wireless carriers in America, both T-Mobile bigwigs found plenty of positive things to talk about in regards to a potential merger. Most of that positive talk focused around Sprints massive store of 2.5GHz spectrum. They both said that T-Mobile would be optimally positioned to help Sprint leverage their 2.5GHz spectrum with the kind of speed, agility, and scale that they wouldnt be able to manage on only their own wallet. Essentially, T-Mobile would want to use the spectrum in their own 5G densification efforts, and Braxton Carter made that interest fairly clear by calling Sprint a huge prize and their 2.5GHz spectrum a treasure trove. Carter asserted that talks with Sprint and SoftBank were a near certainty, but that nothing may come of them. The two carriers had spoken in passing about a merger before, but this is one of only a handful of times that one of them took the time to actually talk over the benefits of a merger. Their two parent companies, however, have been just a bit more direct. Masayoshi Son, CEO of Sprint owner SoftBank, has spoken quite frankly about mergers between Sprint and T-Mobile, even going as far as to say that T-Mobile is a favorite among possible merger carriers for Sprint. Deutsche Telekom, majority owner of T-Mobile, has also spoken highly of a merger with Sprint in the past, for much the same reasons that Carter and Sievert did today. Its no secret that T-Mobile is hungry for spectrum for their 5G buildout; they wound up being the top spender at the recent FCC 600MHz incentive auction. Its also no secret that Sprint is in somewhat unfavorable financial straits. While theyre in no immediate danger of insolvency, theyre frantically selling off and leasing back their own network equipment as just one way to get some extra cash, and their current 5G buildout plan with their own 2.5GHz spectrum pegs completion of the planned buildout nowhere near 2020, when the 5G standard will be completely ready to roll. T-Mobile and Sprint working together, however, could very easily deploy Sprints massive 2.5GHz spectrum alongside T-Mobiles new 600MHz spectrum at full scale, and very quickly. 1. Yes. Taxpayers are funding its operation; they should have a voice in the naming process. 2. Yes. The city should operate with a spirit of inclusivity. Residents will be responsive. 3. No. Public input can be problematic; rejection of suggestions can be divisive for residents. 4. No. Residents elect council members to make decisions on their behalf. No input is needed. 5. Unsure. Its hard to say whether public input would be more of a benefit or a hindrance. Vote View Results YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. While on a working visit in Cyprus, acting Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian had a meeting with Thorbjrn Jagland , Secretary General of the Council of Europe (CoE) on May 19, press service of the Ministry told Armenpress. During the meeting a number of issues relating to Armenias involvement in the CoE were discussed. In this context a reference was made to the effective implementation of Armenia-CoE action plan. The acting FM and the CoE Secretary General discussed the possibility to settle several issues faced by the organization. Thorbjrn Jagland greatly valued the productive cooperation between Armenia and the CoE. Edward Nalbandian presented to Jagland the results of the April 2 parliamentary elections held in Armenia. The acting Minister highly appreciated the contribution of international partners to its reforms aimed at strengthening the democratic institutions and electoral processes, including the expert assistance provided by the Council of Europe and the Venice Commission. During the talk the sides discussed the ongoing developments in PACE and the necessity to take practical steps aimed at restoring trust towards the organization. Edward Nalbandian presented the ongoing efforts of Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairing countries aimed at creating respective conditions to move forward the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. He said Baku does everything to undermine peace process. Opposing to the consistent calls of the OSCE MG Co-Chairing countries and the international community to strictly maintain the ceasefire regime, Azerbaijan continues grossly violating the trilateral termless ceasefire agreements. The acting Armenian FM said Armenia constantly calls on the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs to issue addressed statements. By rejecting the creation of investigative mechanism, Azerbaijan wants to avoid responsibility for its regular ceasefire violations, however, the non-standard statement released yesterday by the Co-Chairs clearly mentions the guilty side, Edward Nalbandian stated. The new Porsche 911 GT3. A truly mesmerising sound from its flat six. #porsche #gt3 #carswithoutlimits A post shared by Chris Labrooy (@chrislabrooy) on May 18, 2017 at 11:28am PDT One yellow Porsche 911 taking fIve hops forward then five hops back #Porsche #porsche911 A post shared by Chris Labrooy (@chrislabrooy) on Apr 29, 2016 at 8:55am PDT Four pink Porsche 911 Carrera RS #Porsche #porsche911 #palmsprings #sunshine #pink A post shared by Chris Labrooy (@chrislabrooy) on Apr 24, 2016 at 10:46am PDT Twelve Porsche 911 carrera RS in a pool. #Porsche #porsche911 #palmsprings #blue #MidCenturyPics A post shared by Chris Labrooy (@chrislabrooy) on Apr 25, 2016 at 12:18pm PDT The pixel wielder, who described himself as an artist and designer, isn't at his first Porsche artwork. Labrooy uses 3D ad CGI tools to play with the way in which Porschephilles (and not only) get to see their favorite contraptions in action.The tradition-defying artist has previously worked for Apple, Citroen and Nike, to name a part of his client portfolio. However, since we're here to focus on Zuffenhausen topics, we've also added some of his previous Porsche works at the bottom of the page.Returning to Labrooy's 991.2 GT3 shenanigan, it's difficult to tell the exact shade of yellow covering the car. However, since we're visiting Fantasy Land, we like to tell ourselves that this rear-engined delight is dressed in Saffron Yellow Metallic.You know, the hue that recently made its way to the 2018 model year Porsche 911 line-up. Initially, the German automaker only mentioned the Turbo and Turbo S incarnations of the Neunelfer when talking about the said hue.Nevertheless, we've recently shown you a 2018 Porsche 911 GT3 wearing a Saffron Yellow attire. We even received a brief description of how the color looks in the real world: "Per my internal source, Saffron indeed does resemble Signal Yellow in person, as it does in these photos. The depth of Saffron, however, is ostensibly greater from these shots alone. As per another source, the color takes on a pearl-like appearance,"Heck, given the 7:12.7 Nurburgring lap time that was recently delivered by the 991.2 Porsche 911 GT3, this piece of art doesn't seem that far from reality after all. AWD HP Anyway, it's pretty cool that 27 fans of the Audi brand gathered in one place and formed a circle like that. They have to be pretty like-minded people with a lot in common since these are allhatchbacks, coupes and convertibles powered by a 5-cylinder turbo engine, not a 4-cylinder like all the GTI plebs have.There's a lot more money in this video than you think. The average RS3 retails in the Netherlands for about 65,000, while even the old 8PA generation is worth over 30,000. Due to taxes and high demand, the TT RS can easily top 80k.We felt like doing a bit of simple math here, and there's 9,663 horsepower gathered here. But that's only in theory, as a recent drag race shows a 500RS3 outpacing the newer TT RS. So it's safe to assume that we're hitting the 10k horsepower mark.It's often said that the RS3 isn't a competent car. It's too nose-heavy and stiff for the road. The TT RS is also not as drift-happy as the Porsche Cayman. But with 27 of the same thing gathered in one spot, it's safe to say the 2.5 TFSI has a cult following that's not just based on HP numbersIn a way, you could compare this to a Lamborghini gathering. The Bulls are nowhere near as playful as Ferraris, be they old or new, and they also produce too much power for the road. But they are all about being different and standing out a bit... a bit more than the Audis. Every now and then, a Japanese hatchback gets sacrificed on the boost altar and we're here to show you the most recent example of such a situation.The Honda in the piece of footage below was performing a dyno pull when its four-banger decided to give up. According to the YouTube description of the clip, the turbo-four delivered 531 horses while getting high on 11 lbs of boost.Oh well, guess we can forget about all that power, as the same description mentions a cracked cylinder sleeve. Nevertheless, if we judge by the action seen in the clip, we only see the cooling system giving up.The overheating issue doesn't actually come as a surprise, given the fact that, unlike your average dyno run, the one we have here saw the crew handling the car skipping the part when at least one fan is used to provide the much-needed cool air for the machine.Interestingly, if we zoom in on the first part of the clip, the shop seems to accommodate a massive fan, but, for some reasons, this remains a piece of furniture.Cooling aside, skipping the extra airflow usually also brings higher IAT (Intake Air Temperature) values, leading to heat soak-generated performance loss.Come to think of it, this all-but-explosive dyno run seems to be the opposite of the dyno visit we showed you earlier today. The shenanigan we're talking about involved a Bentley Bentayga whose twin-turbo 6.0-liter W12 mill remained silent throughout the entire duration of the stunt, which brought an estimated crank output value of over 600 ponies. SUV Back in the days of the natural aspiration reign, few mills could match the smooth torque delivery of a "12", but, with forced induction taking over the performance vehicle realm, the noble architecture has lost some serious ground.Nevertheless, there are certain noblesse oblige automobiles that simply don't feel the same without such a heart and one of them is the Bentley Bentayga.Sure, Crewe has already introduced a Diesel incarnation of its, while announcing a hybrid powertrain built around an internal combustion engine with half the cylinders of the W12 model. But the last remains the king of high-riding Bentleys As such, we're here to bring you a random example of just how refined the twin-turbo W12 motor under the hood of the Bentayga is.And, to prove out point, we've brought along a dyno video that shows the overly lavish SUV being put through its paces. Don't bother fretting about the numbers - the latest incarnation of the VW Group 's W12 mill obviously delivers the expected firepower, with the crank figures displayed after the dyno stint sitting at 606 hp and 934 Nm (688.8 lb-ft) of twist. Thus, the real-world numbers match the official figures.Instead, you can focus on the manner in which the Bentayga conceals the storm going on inside its engine compartment. Certain aficionados will be left seeking aural thrills after checking out this run. And yet the decibel shyness delivered by the standard exhaust is a virtue, one that comes to accompany the effortless transportation experience mantra of the British SUV.Speaking of the Bentayga, it's been over one year since we first discussed the automaker working on a Speed incarnation of the model. Nevertheless, since Bentley CEO Wolfgang Durheimer having reportedly confirmed the spiced-up Bentayga, we should get our hands on fresh details by the end of the year. SUV MPV And Dacia cars really do come cheap. In most European markets, they are the most affordable new models available, and that's without making any compromise on space. In a range where there's an- the Duster - and an- the Lodgy -, the Sandero hatchback is the smallest of them all, but no tinier than a Renault Clio.Lately, Dacia models have begun to receive such previously unthinkable amenities like satnav with the mandatory touch sensitive display and even (faux) leather upholstery. Of course, the prices of these extras are also kept in check, meaning that even maxed out, the cars are still a bargain.One of the vehicles that feels the most out of place in Dacia's lineup is the Sandero Stepway. The "Stepway" badge is available for other models as well (namely the Lodgy and Dokker utility vehicle) and what it essentially brings is a new color option, a heightened ground clearance, roof rails and a bunch of badges all over the car.It looks like a 4x4, but it isn't. Apparently, this is what people want these days, so Dacia (read Renault, if you prefer) is advertising the Sandero Stepway as the perfect vehicle for those outdoorsy adventure-oriented people.The latest clip will remind you of the 1993 movie called "Groundhog Day" starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell in which the main character lives the same day over and over again. Well, Dacia's promotional vide is just as cyclical, but luckily it stops after three loops.In between them, we get to see the impressive trunk space of the Sandero - except we don't, because they never show us the protagonists loading the second article into the trunk, be it a large swim ring or a foldable bicycle (by the way, what kind of monster takes a folding bike downhill?). The part where they keep their helmets on, though, is a clever way of pointing out there's plenty of headroom for the front seats.Like it or not, the Sandero doesn't really care because it will continue to sell like crazy. Maybe not the more expensive Stepway version, but it will sell. It's been some time since the Ferret armored car has seen any combat, considering the model was built between 1951 and 1972 and was taken out of service during the '80's, but that doesn't change the fact it was designed to take part in armed conflicts.Granted, the Ferret was more of a reconnaissance vehicle, meaning it was just as happy to stay out of trouble as a glasses-wearing straight A's student, but it did offer some protection against light weapons and came equipped with a .30-caliber Browning light machine gun.Certainly then, this thing's place is in a museum, and not the streets of Tennessee. Or so you would think. Apparently, driving the Ferret over there is perfectly legal, and the vehicle does come equipped with a set of headlights and turn indicators. In has no crumple zones, however, and it weighs over four tons, so crashing into it is not advised.Have a look at it? Sure, but not many people would jump at the chance of driving it, but when you run a YouTube channel that feeds on views, that changes instantly. So Doug DeMuro , the same guy who took a Hummer H1 to the drag strip, among other things, answered the call.It's safe to assume there was a line forming behind the Ferret, but it wasn't so much down to the relatively slow speed of the military vehicle, but because everyone was matching its speed so that they could take a better look at it. If we got to see a 50-year-old British armored vehicle on the street every day, we'd be living in a very strange world.The Ferret can actually do 93 km/h (58 mph), and it goes pretty fast in reverse too, but operating it is apparently a nightmare, so it's not very confidence-inducing for a first-time driver. But seeing the McDonald's employees struggling to keep a straight face as the Ferret pulled up to the drive-through window was definitely worth it. For one thing, we're looking at a digital fantasy. And there's nothing wrong with rearranging a few pixels to fuel the imagination fire.This is precisely what digital artist Yasid Oozeear did, gifting a 991.1 incarnation of the Porsche 911 with a Mopar V8. Did we mention the time when another artist pulled a somewhat similar stunt? We're talking about Khyzyl Saleem and perhaps purists should look away from his dissected 991 GT3 RS, which was torn apart to receive a Chevy V8 motor, thus turning into a drag strip hero.Oozeear took the time to talk about the ideas that brought this contraption to world wide web life."Right, I noticed there was a lot of engine/mechanic geniuses after I posted the Tesla yesterday. So here's something for you guys to talk about. A 1970 Charger engine in a 911. Why not."And while the internal combustion animated Model S he mentions is also a rendering , this brings us to the second reason for which you shouldn't be bothered by such images. To be more precise, if you're going to fret, you might as well do it over a real-life contraption. That would be the French-chopped air-cooled Neunelfer we showed you back in February.We're referring to the Porsche 911 rat rod whose frunk section now houses a Big Block. The machine, which started out in life as a 1990s Carrera 2, is now animated by a Ford V8, with the contraption having made its first public appearance in Monaco.Truth be told, with air-cooled Neunelfers getting more and more traction these days, Franken-Porsches might just turn into a thing. The 83-year-old pensioner was driving towards a hospital appointment that was just six miles (9.6 km) away from her home. The journey should have taken ten minutes, but her family got concerned after she had been gone for several hours.Apparently, the entered the highway to go to the hospital, but roadworks diverted her trip to the point where she missed the exit that led to her destination. Somehow, the senior driver decided to keep going, possibly in the hope that she could find a place to turn.Since the highway network can be confusing for many drivers, Valerie Johnson continued to drive on the countrys busiest freeways for about eight hours straight.The trip would have probably been exhausting for a younger driver, but she only stopped in Larkhall, Scotland , because she ran out of fuel.Fortunately, the senior citizen ran out of gas in front of a couples house, and someone inside was kind enough to see what is wrong with the person stopping in front of their driveway at 12.40 am.Her family was notified, and her 49-year-old daughter booked a flight on the next day to collect her mother, along with her Aygo . Since this world still has civilized people, the good Samaritans took the 83-year-old granny in for the night.As The Independent reports, the entire adventure ended well for everyone involved, as medical crews that arrived in Scotland to assess the health of Ms. Johnson found her in good condition, in spite of the fact that she had lost track of time.One can only imagine the difficulties faced by senior citizens in this world of ours, and this story goes to show what is the best that can happen when things go wrong. With more than 20 years since the last Innocenti left the production line, the company has new owners, and Italian media reports that they want to relaunch the brand.It is unclear at this moment what kind of vehicles are in the plan, but it is important to regard that the intention is to return to the complicated auto market of the third millennium.As Autodato informs, the new company has established its headquarters in Palermo. From there, there is no other indication of its ideas and direction.It will be intriguing to see how the rebirth of a brand like this will be arranged. It is clear that they will not try to build classic Mini models, like its predecessor, but creating new cars from scratch could be an expensive idea that may not pay off.Along with the Perrotta family, three other partners have joined to help Innocenti come back to life. They are called: Industrie Riunite SpA, Finambiente Group SpA, and Euro Mobile International BV. The first two are Italian companies, while the latter is from the Netherlands.A turning point in the saga of this brand came in 1976, when it was acquired by entrepreneur Alejandro de Tomaso , who called it Nuova Innocenti, which means the New Innocenti.Things were good for awhile, but the 1990s came, and the carmaker did not manage to readjust to the new interests of the market.The last cars made by Innocenti were rebadged versions of the Fiat Uno, but they also rebadged the Yugo Koral, and built a longer version of its adaptation of the classic Mini. The latter came with a Daihatsu engine. Since the company also manufactured Lambretta scooters, it is also possible that it may focus on two-wheeled vehicles.Regardless of the scenario, the rebirth of this brand will take a consistent investment that may not be recovered through sales, even if world-class experts are involved. The problem with todays electric motorcycles is the fact that if you want to make them affordable, you cant put a CHAdeMO or CCS fast-charging system on board. Which means that you are limited to how far you can go on a single charge after which you have to sit around for a few hours next to a charging spot.This is where Lightning Motorcycles steps in as the company wants to make better batteries and a more efficient drivetrain that will be able to break the current 320-mile average range for motorcycles.To address these challenges Lightning in partnership with the Battery Innovation Center has set a goal to build an electric motorcycle that can go from San Francisco to Los Angles on a single charge. Lightning is excited to demonstrate what is now possible; hi performance, zero emissions, and an end to range anxiety.We see ourselves as following in the footsteps of Tesla, said Richard Hatfield, Lightning CEO, and accomplishing the San Francisco-to-Los Angeles run on a single charge would show that range anxiety is no longer an issue.The SF to LA Challenge is an opportunity to push what is possible to the next level and showcase Lightnings dedication and passion to build the most advanced electric motorcycles in the world.Located in San Carlos, California, Lightning Motorcycles started about ten years ago with a Yamaha R1 that got converted to run on electricity. In 2012, rider Michael Barnes won the FIM ePower series at Laguna Seca on a solar-powered Barracuda Lightning, while in 2013, Carlin Dunne won the Pikes Peak on the LS-218. SUV Going by the name of Falconry, the main theme of the picturedis an ancient sport that brings together a falconer and one of the greatest predators the world has ever seen. Ruthless but calculated, gifted with mind-boggling hunting skills and diving speeds of up to 200 mph (320 km/h), the falcon is a stellar bird of prey, make no mistake about that.Falconry is regarded as the sport of kings in the Middle East, declared Geoff Dowding, the director of the Mulliner division, so it was vital that the kit we created was as luxurious as it was practical and durable to appeal to our valued customers there and around the world. In truth, however, the Bentayga Falconry was created to showcase what the British automakers most skilled craftspeople are capable of making.First of all, the Hotspur-trimmed cabin is beautified by marquetry consisting of 430 individual pieces of exquisite wood. It takes the automaker nine days to put all those bits together, and the result speaks volumes. Care to guess how much the saker falcon that dominates the artwork costs in real life? Good examples sell for hundreds of thousands, whereas the very best specimen fetch $1,000,000. Special is an understatement on this occasion.The trunk hides some goodies of its own. More to the point, two cabinets dressed in natural cork fabric. One is the master flight station, whereas the second is where the owner can store a few refreshments. The Bentayga Falconry also boasts two natural cork fabric-trimmed perches designed to slot into an individual pocket located at the side of the trunk. Lastly, the trunk floor and rear-sill protection cover are finished in natural cork, a material thats both sustainable and pretty fancy in this application. House Republican leadership is agitated after the Washington Post published a transcript from a secret recording of one of the inner-sanctum conversations in the office of Speaker Paul Ryan. The transcript shows House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy joking with his colleagues that then-candidate Trump and California Republican Dana Rohrabacher were both on the payroll of Russian President Vladimir Putin. "The unknown is frustrating," said one senior GOP aide, referring to the possibility that this wasn't the only private leadership conversation that was secretly recorded. Behind-the-scenes: House leadership sources have pored over the article and are privately discussing theories about where the leak came from: President Trump jets off today on his first foreign trip and it's a doozy. Over nine days, he's tackling five countries, three major world religions, and two core American alliances. Here's a quick look at the biggest items on the itinerary: The FBI's ongoing Russia probe has identified a White House official as "a significant person of interest," the Washington Post reported Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. WaPo's exact description of the official: "The senior White House adviser under scrutiny by investigators is someone close to the president, according to these people, who would not further identify the official." Spicer statement: "As the President has stated before a thorough investigation will confirm that there was no collusion between the campaign and any foreign entity." And another tidbit: McClatchy is reporting that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein briefed members of Congress that the Russia investigation is now working to determine whether White House officials had engaged in a cover-up. Why this matters: The report reveals the Russia investigation is gaining momentum and reaching the highest levels of government. The Post writes the "intensity of the probe is expected to accelerate in the coming weeks." Male and female entrepreneurs are not treated equally by venture capitalists, according to researchers who were invited to silently observe and transcribe hours of startup company pitches and subsequent investor conversations. The language used to describe male and female entrepreneurs was radically different. And these differences have very real consequences for those seeking funding. The study: Three researchers from Lulea University watched and transcribed a group of seven Swedish governmental venture capitalists, as they met with 125 startup founders. Their goal was to better understand VC decision-making, while the investors hoped that the findings could help them improve their own process. But the results were different than either side expected. Language examples: Unproven, young male founders were referred to as "promising," whereas unproven, young female founders were referred to as "inexperienced." Or "Cautious and sensible" vs. "too cautious." Funding results: Female founders on average received 25% of their ask, compared to a 52% mark for the men. A majority of women (who comprised 21% of the sample) were denied funding altogether, while only 38% of men were turned down. American translation: Yes, this is Sweden rather than Silicon Valley. But: President Trump held a joint press conference with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos Thursday, and faced a series of questions on the White House's ties to Russia: Was the appointment of a special prosecutor the right move, or part of a witch hunt? "I respect the move but the entire thing has been a witch hunt and there is no collusion between certainly myself and my campaign, but I can only speak for myself, the Russians- zero. I think it divides the country." or part of a witch hunt? "I respect the move but the entire thing has been a witch hunt and there is no collusion between certainly myself and my campaign, but I can only speak for myself, the Russians- zero. I think it divides the country." Did you do anything to impede the investigation into Michael Flynn? "No, no next question." "No, no next question." Do you think you've done anything criminal? "I think it's totally ridiculous, everybody says so." "I think it's totally ridiculous, everybody says so." On firing Comey: "Director Comey was very unpopular with most people... I also got a very, very strong recommendation form the Deputy Attorney General... when I made that decision I thought it would be a very bipartisan decision." "Director Comey was very unpopular with most people... I also got a very, very strong recommendation form the Deputy Attorney General... when I made that decision I thought it would be a very bipartisan decision." Border wall effectiveness: "Walls work, just ask Israel.... and we have no choice." 19 May 2017 10:00 (UTC+04:00) By Jim O'Neill I have been out of the world of international finance and economic forecasting for more than four years, but much of what I learned during my 30 years working full-time in the field still influences how I view the world. One lesson was to measure an entitys economic and financial performance by how it compares both to the entitys underlying potential and the markets valuation of its performance. Applying this approach to the major economies gives rise to some surprising observations and possibilities. For starters, contrary to popular belief, world growth hasnt been especially disappointing so far this decade. From 2010 to 2016, global output rose at an average annual rate of 3.4%, according to the International Monetary Fund. That may be lower than the 2000-2010 average, but it is higher than the growth rate in the 1980s and 1990s decades that are not typically viewed as economically disappointing. A breakdown of particular countries performance offers further insights. Despite significant political trauma, the United States and the United Kingdom have performed as expected. China, India, and Japan have also grown close to their potential. In a rare occurrence, no major economy has dramatically outperformed its potential. Three economies have, however, genuinely disappointed: Brazil, Russia, and the eurozone. Could that mean that many observers, including me, overestimated these economies potential? Or does it reflect extenuating circumstances? If it is the latter, one must ask whether, contrary to prevailing expectations, new developments or shifts in any or all three of these economies might surprise us on the upside for the rest of the decade. When it comes to the eurozone, embracing the idea that economic growth may be about to take off might be enough, at least until recently, to earn one a referral to a mental-health specialist. But, in my old life, I would be encouraging my analysts to spend more time considering just that possibility, because, on the off-chance that this crackpot notion were true, there would be some serious money to be made in todays generously valued markets. And, in fact, the prospect of a growth pickup in the eurozone might be only partly insane. Cyclically, the eurozone is currently doing well both by its own standards and relative to others. In the first quarter of this year, the eurozone grew more strongly than the US or the UK, and most of the eurozones larger countries have been showing stronger relative growth for some time. Nonetheless, the eurozones long-term structural outlook remains uninspiring. The prospects for the two key drivers of long-term growth the size and growth of the working-age population and productivity look grim for the eurozones largest countries, even Germany, the one economy that most acknowledge is, from a cyclical perspective, doing just fine. But to indulge further that outlandish notion of an impending eurozone growth surge what if something changes significantly to strengthen those growth drivers? With refugees many of them young continuing to pour into Europe from troubled parts of the Middle East and Africa, that may not be an altogether fanciful prospect. Of course, tapping the potential of refugees requires assimilating them to European societies and economies a challenge that has many Europeans justifiably worried. But, if that need were met, it would certainly mitigate Europes mounting demographic challenge, especially in Germany and Italy. There is also the possibility that new developments will bring about a more constructive policy approach. Most eurozone members fiscal positions have undergone considerable, though often unnoticed, improvement in recent years so much so that the eurozone-wide fiscal deficit is now less than 3% of GDP, much better than the US or the UK. Moreover, soaring tax receipts in some parts of the eurozone notably Germany are feeding almost embarrassingly large fiscal surpluses. Could now be the moment to push for an ambitious Franco-German-led stimulus effort? If Frances new president, Emmanuel Macron, manages to obtain sufficient backing in the National Assembly in the June election, perhaps he could do something about reducing Frances structural government spending, while pursuing tax cuts and improved labor-market flexibility. Labor-market reform, in particular, could be crucial, not just for France itself, but also to convince German Chancellor Angela Merkel, if she is returned to power this September, to move toward greater fiscal integration, including the creation of a eurozone finance minister, which Macron advocates. Much of this is probably a long shot, but nowhere near as long as it was just a few months ago. And, given market valuations, it is much more interesting to explore such possibilities than it is to focus on many of the other issues that analysts obsess about. Carrying the scenario further, one could even dream up an optimistic outlook for the UKs trade balance, with a highly competitive exchange rate significantly improving demand in its major market, the eurozone. That could more than compensate for the challenges that arise from the end of single-market access. With this, the fantasy may have jumped the shark. But you never know. Copyright: Project Syndicate: Taking Eurozone Growth Seriously --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 19 May 2017 10:29 (UTC+04:00) Extractive Industries Transparency Commission (EITC) has met with civil society representatives at the State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan. During the meeting EITCs Secretariat made a detailed presentation about the new stage on transparency in extractive industries sector, Azertac reported. The meeting participants discussed several issues, including, cooperation with all interested parties and reporting process. The Extractive Industries Transparency Commission was established in accordance with the decree of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev dated April 5, 2017. The State Oil Fund will be responsible for the Secretariat of the Commission. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 19 May 2017 13:20 (UTC+04:00) By Sara Israfilbayova Polish companies focus on the Azerbaijani market and the 23rd Azerbaijan International Food Industry Exhibition gives a good chance to analyze the market, Polish Ambassador to Baku Marek Tsalka told Trend on the sidelines of the event. The World Food Azerbaijan 2017 and CaspianAgro 2017 exhibitions are being held in Baku on May 17-19. A total of 331 companies representing 28 countries were participating in the World Food Azerbaijan 2017 and the CaspianAgro 2017 exhibitions. Some 70 percent of these companies are foreign exhibitors, while 30 percent are local ones. This year Polands stand is represented by 10 companies, four of which Metal-Fach, SaMASZ, Farmtrac and POM Augustow are producers of agricultural machinery and six of them operating in the food industry-Sweet Brands, Kaskat, Eko-Aronia, Maspex, Malwa and Contimax. "Polands stand is not very big at the Azerbaijani exhibition this year, but it is still interesting. We organized a visit of the representatives of several different Polish companies to Azerbaijan to find a niche here," the ambassador added. Tsalka noted that the representatives of four Polish companies engaged in the production of agricultural machinery, namely, tractors, various harvesting machines, etc. arrived in Azerbaijan. "There are a lot of land plots difficult for processing in Azerbaijan and I think that this agricultural machinery is perfect," he clarified. Janusz Pydych, the manager of Metal-Fach for Eastern Europe and Asia markets said that his company is very interested in entering the Azerbaijani market and is ready to offer farmers various farming techniques. "Now we are trying to enter the Azerbaijani market. We are already present not only in the European, but also in the Asian market. The number of our foreign points of sale exceeds 60. We operate in the Russian market, we also established production in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine and other countries. We already have experience in your region," Pydych said, noting that different countries need different kinds of equipment "I know that at present Azerbaijan intends to develop its agrarian sector, and our goal is to find its market niche. In the process of development of the agricultural sector, your country will need a new technology, which we are ready to offer. Poland has already gone through the development of the agricultural sector, and we know that at the first stage cheap equipment is bought. But at the second stage, farmers begin to buy more expensive and better equipment. Now Azerbaijan is gradually moving to the second phase, and therefore farmers will be interested in acquiring more high-quality equipment. At the first stage we can offer different types of trailers, with a capacity of 1.5-30 tons, bunk feeders and various machinery for cultivating the land. We want to get acquainted with Azerbaijan's plans for development of agriculture, and make sure that our products will be in demand here. Naturally, the first question is price range of products. We are aware that at present Azerbaijan mainly uses Belarusian and Russian equipment. We are competing with Belarusian products: in spite of the fact that our products are more expensive than the Belarusian, they are much cheaper than the world's leading brands and not yield to them in quality," Pydych noted. Export Manager of SaMasz, Adam Rydzewski, in tune, said that they are ready to offer products that are not inferior, but even superior to the products of world brands, the costs for which are much lower than for German or American ones and that the most important criterion is customer satisfaction. At the first stage, Polish companies are interested in exporting their equipment. But in the future, there is a possibility of creating a joint production of equipment in the territory of Azerbaijan, according to Rydzewski. "This is a long-term prospect, but the idea is good. We need to analyze Azerbaijans market need, the working conditions of machinery. If there is a great need, we are ready to create production here in the future," said Rydzewski. Development of non-oil sector is one of the main priorities for Azerbaijan, as the government is eager to diversify economy. Agriculture remains as one of the priority sectors, where intensive reforms are being carried out. The strategic road maps of the national economy of Azerbaijan were approved by the head of state in December 2016. One of the road maps is devoted to agriculture. In line with measures to be implemented in this field as reflected in this document, until 2020 in Azerbaijan it is planned to create about 20,000 new jobs and increase the country's GDP by 1.2 billion manats. It is planned to establish an agricultural insurance fund in 2018 within the framework of the implementation of the strategic road map for the production and processing of agricultural products. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 19 May 2017 12:24 (UTC+04:00) By Amina Nazarli Azerbaijan aims to develop its agriculture potential and France is ready to provide support in this regard, said Aurelia Bouchez on May 18. The French Ambassador to Baku made the remarks in Baku at a press conference attended by representatives of French companies specializing in horticulture, viticulture and winemaking. Despite the fact that currently, economic relations between the two countries are mainly concentrated in the energy sector, we see that Azerbaijan aims to diversify its economy and specifically, develop agriculture, Bouchez said. About 18 percent of all agricultural products made in the EU account for France, she noted, adding that her country is ready to share its experience in agriculture with Azerbaijan. The envoy said that representatives of seven French companies, specializing in horticulture, viticulture, winemaking and production of labels, came to Baku to participate in an agricultural exhibition. "Tomorrow, members of our delegation will go to Azerbaijans regions to get acquainted with plants," Bouchez said, adding that in future France is ready to develop cooperation with Azerbaijan not only in winemaking but also in other sectors of agriculture. France is the most dominant agricultural center of Europe: its share of the value in EU agricultural production is 18 percent. The sector plays the role of a crucial driver of growth and employment, as it ensures jobs for over 1.4 million people and provides 3.5 percent of national GDP. Currently Azerbaijan and France are cooperating in animal husbandry, artificial insemination, wine-growing and others. France shares its experience with Azerbaijan in agricultural sector, in particular for the modernization of animal health and epidemiological service. Moreover, the EU works with Azerbaijan's Agriculture Ministry for the development of an electronic agriculture system and a land information system. Azerbaijan seeks to achieve an economy driven by the non-oil sector, but not petrodollars. That means putting more effort to develop local production and more support to agriculture, one of Azerbaijans best non-oil sector development options. Enjoying advantageous geographic location Azerbaijan has all possibilities to increase food security and production in the country. The World Food Azerbaijan 2017 and CaspianAgro 2017 exhibitions are being held in Baku on May 17-19. A total of 331 companies representing 28 countries were participating in the World Food Azerbaijan 2017 and the CaspianAgro 2017 exhibitions. Some 70 percent of these companies are foreign exhibitors, while 30 percent are local ones. -- Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 19 May 2017 16:35 (UTC+04:00) By Sara Israfilbayova The Financial Market Supervisory Body (FMSB) of Azerbaijan will conduct diagnostics of the level of digitization of local commercial banks, said Ilgar Hidayatov, a senior analyst at the FMSB department for control over payment systems. Hidayatov, addressing a forum on risk management in Baku, noted that the FMSB intends to create a special working group for this purpose. "The readiness of banks to this process will be checked, as well as the world experience in this field will be studied. Following the diagnosis, relevant changes will be made in the regulations on the security of information systems in banks, as well as in other normative documents," Hidayatov said. The FMSB has already sent a number of new requirements to the banks on information security, according to him. "The package of requirements reflects the availability of workstations, web security, risk detection, e-mail protection, information channel encryption and other requirements. The banks also were urged to improve the work regarding the notification of the team about information security, training and inspections," he noted. Hidayatov pointed that another important goal is to regulate the activities of non-banking credit organizations. "Currently, we do not have regulatory documents regulating the activities of these organizations, as well as other companies providing payment services. By the end of the year, we expect the adoption of the law "On Financial Market Supervision Body ", after which we will be able to present a number of rules and regulations allowing regulate activities of the above mentioned companies, Hidayatov added. Some 32 banks, more than 140 non-banking credit organizations and 97 credit unions operate in Azerbaijan. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 19 May 2017 13:43 (UTC+04:00) By Laman Ismayilova Azerbaijan Carpet Museum will host the 2nd International Symposium titled Common language of the Turkic world ornaments on May 22-24. The theme chosen for the event is "Various roads of common source", Trend Life reported. The symposium will be held with the organization of the Culture and Tourism Ministry of Azerbaijan, the Baku Turkish Cultural Center of the Yunus Emre Institute and Azerbaijan Carpet Museum, with the support of the Turkish Embassy in Azerbaijan, the TurkPA (the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic-speaking countries), the Turkish Cultural and Tourism Office of the Republic of Turkic-speaking countries, Z Company 2007, Azerbaijan-Turkish Association of Business People and the Azerbaijan University of Languages. Leading researchers, collectors, carpet weavers and other specialists of this field from Azerbaijan, USA, Georgia, Iran, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Ukraine will take part in the symposium. The main aim of the event is to enrich the common heritage of the Turkic people through the research works in the field of carpet patterns, and increase care, attention and knowledge of our people to their own national and cultural values. The theme of the symposium is the art of the Turkic carpet patterns, which covers the main historical periods as BC, Islam and others, till present day. The speeches of scientists working on the themes of the typological classification of the features of ornaments, their geographical distribution, and the protection of the material and spiritual heritage will be published in book form, and distributed to the libraries and among participants. The exhibition of the National Gagauz Historical and Ethnographic Museum after D. Kara Choban will be held as part of the event. Carpets, embroidery, national costumes and other kinds of arts and crafts of Gagauz Turks will be displayed at the exhibition. Media partners of the event are Trend.az, Day.az, Milli.az, Azernews.az --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 19 May 2017 14:30 (UTC+04:00) By Laman Ismayilova Azerbaijans Minister of Culture and Tourism Abulfas Garayev has met with members of "Young filmmakers" club. The meeting took place at the film Studio "Azerbaijanfilm" named after Jafar Jabbarli, Trend Life reported. The minister got acquainted with the activities of the club, while young Azerbaijani filmmakers informed him about their plans and upcoming projects. Director of the film studio "Azerbaijanfilm", Chairman of the Guild of Producers of Azerbaijan , Mushfig Hatamov also attended the event. "Azerbaijanfilm" was established in 1920 as a photo-cinema department at the Azerbaijan SSR People's Commissariat, and in 1923 renamed as "Azerbaijani Photo-Cinema Office" (AFKI). Currently, "Azerbaijanfilm" is a part of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan. The studio produced numerous films, including "The Cloth Peddler" (1945), "Babek" (1979), Sari Gelin (1998), "The Dream" (2001), "Buta" ( 2011), "Steppe Man" (2012) and other films. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 19 May 2017 15:54 (UTC+04:00) By Amina Nazarli The 600th anniversary of the death of the great Azerbaijani poet and thinker Imadaddin Nasimi was marked at UNESCO headquarters in Paris on May 18. The event was co-organized by Azerbaijan's Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the country's Permanent Mission to UNESCO as part of a series of events marking the 25th anniversary of Azerbaijan's UNESCO membership. Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Elchin Afandiyev, in his opening remarks, highlighted Nasimi's role in the world literature and philosophical thought. Afandiyev hailed fruitful Azerbaijan-UNESCO relations, and Azerbaijan's First Vice-President, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Mehriban Aliyeva's significant contributions to the development of these relations, whose history spans 25 years. Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan to UNESCO, Ambassador Anar Karimov highlighted the great impact of Nasimi`s poetry on the development of the Azerbaijani poetic language. Assistant Director-General for External Relations and Public Information at UNESCO Eric Falt, in turn, noted that Nasimi was a source of inspiration for artists, writers and other art figures. "His ideas and philosophical thoughts promote peace and encourage people to unite around the shared values," said Falt. Candidate for the post of UNESCO Director-General, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu said people should unite around the human values, which Nasimi promoted and died for 600 years ago. The event then featured a concert-ballet by Azerbaijani composer and pianist Firangiz Alizade, UNESCO Artist for Peace, and an exhibition devoted to the great poet. Imadaddin Nasimi, born in Azerbaijans Shamakhi, was a poet, philosopher and one of the most popular reprehensive of hurufism faith. The great poet has left vast and precious poetic legacy in Azerbaijani, Persian and Arabic languages. His poetry has made a significant impact on the development of Azerbaijani as well as Ottoman Turkish poetic languages over the centuries. The ideas of free spiritual choice and principle of universal love guided the poet towards tolerance, looking above the boundaries, seeking the image of God hidden in every single human being. In this sense his perseverance, moral fortitude, along with intricate interplay of crystal clear language and most abstract and hermetic metaphors has made this personality one of the prominent figures in the Islamic poetry and worldwide literature. -- Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 19 May 2017 10:56 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov The status quo in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is unsustainable, reads the report on the Implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) Review by the EU. The conflict does not have a military solution and needs a political settlement as soon as possible in accordance with international law, the report reads, further elaborating that the EU continues to support a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict The report stated that the EU continues to fully support the mediation efforts and proposals of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs. There was also noted that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict saw a serious escalation in 2016. The EU continues to call on both sides to respect the ceasefire, tone down rhetoric and engage in substantive talks towards peace under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group. Frequent visits of the European Union Special Representative (EUSR) to the region are supporting the Minsk Group Co-Chairs' efforts and ongoing peacebuilding activities and are a demonstration of the EU interest and stake in the peaceful resolution of this protracted conflict, reads the report. Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with signing of a fragile ceasefire in 1994. Since the war, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. While the OSCE Minsk Group acted as the only mediator in resolution of the conflict, the occupation of the territory of the sovereign state with its internationally recognized boundaries has been left out of due attention of the international community for years. Armenia ignores four UN Security Council resolutions on immediate withdrawal from the occupied territory of Azerbaijan, thus keeping tension high in the region. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 19 May 2017 12:36 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov Armenia is once again trying to hinder the settlement of the long-lasting Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. While addressing the first meeting of the new Parliament of Armenia on May 18, President Serzh Sargsyan made provocative statements, which were aimed against Azerbaijan and sharply violate international law. Spokesman of Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry Hikmat Hajiyev has commented on Sargsyans remarks about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. International community is well aware that Armenia, while continuing the occupation of Azerbaijani territories, is impeding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, Hajiyev told Trend on May 18. The recent statement made by the Armenian leadership in the parliament proves this again, Hajiyev said, adding that Sargsyans statement fully contradicts the updated Madrid principles. Hajiyev said the first paragraph of the updated Madrid principles, stipulating a gradual settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, envisages the withdrawal of Armenian troops from the occupied areas adjacent to the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. Here the logic is to ensure peace in exchange for the withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the occupied Azerbaijani territories, Hajiyev said. He added that the situation of Armenians' residing in Azerbaijan presented by the Armenian leadership as self-determination has nothing to do with the right to self-determination, which is reflected in the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act. Abusing the supreme principle of international law the right to self-determination the Armenian leadership is trying to conceal their attempts to occupy the territories of neighboring Azerbaijan by using force, spokesman noted. Armenia broke out a lengthy war against Azerbaijan by laying territorial claims on its South Caucasus neighbor. Since a war in the early 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 19 May 2017 17:42 (UTC+04:00) By Rashid Shirinov The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs must in the first place follow the updated Madrid principles they prepared, and demand Armenia to withdraw troops from the occupied Azerbaijani territories, said Hikmat Hajiyev, the spokesman for Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry. He commented on the recent statement by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, who condemned the recent ceasefire violations on the contact line between the Azerbaijani and Armenian troops. The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs must also urge Armenia to continue substantive negotiations to find a political solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict based on the UN Security Councils resolutions, Hajiyev told Trend on May 19. Hajiyev further mentioned that on May 18, the day of the 25th anniversary of Armenias occupation of Azerbaijans Lachin region, President Serzh Sargsyan made a speech at the Armenian Parliament, where he refuted the updated Madrid principles. On the backdrop of this, the standard statement of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, only touching upon the issues of violation of the ceasefire regime, is very symptomatic, the spokesman added. Hajiyev stressed that about 80,000 people of the Lachin region, as well as residents of other occupied Azerbaijani territories, have been living as refugees and IDPs for over 25 years. The fact that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs didn't mention this in their statement is an unfair and biased approach. The authors of the statement, which reflects concern only regarding the ceasefire violation, once again turn a blind eye to the illegal presence of the Armenian armed forces military equipment and personnel on the sovereign territory of Azerbaijan, spokesman said. Hajiyev added that the presence of the Armenian armed forces in the occupied Azerbaijani lands is the main reason why escalation and ceasefire violations remain, and everyone knows this. Armenia captured Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions from Azerbaijan in a war that followed the Soviet breakup in 1991. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and nearly 1 million were displaced as a result of the war. Large-scale hostilities ended with a Russia-brokered ceasefire in 1994 but Armenia continued the occupation in defiance of four UN Security Council resolutions calling for immediate and unconditional withdrawal. Peace talks mediated by Russia, France and the U.S. within the OSCE Minsk Group have produced no results so far. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 19 May 2017 18:07 (UTC+04:00) By Kamila Aliyeva The unexpected and unjust decision of the Russian court to annul the registration of the All-Russian Azerbaijani Congress on May 15 was met with deep concern and regret by the Azerbaijani community. Russia and Azerbaijan constantly demonstrate an emphatically respectful attitude towards each other, exposing themselves as strategic partners and participants in various political triangles in which both countries are inseparably represented. However, recent events somewhat undermine the spirit of long-lasting friendship and partnership, as in fact, in this case we are talking about the infringement of the civil rights of the Azerbaijanis in Russia. The reason for this sudden turn is the violation of Russian legislation by this organization, that is, officially registered Azerbaijani Diaspora. Information about what exactly was done by All-Russian Azerbaijani Congress seems to not quite adequately fit to the courts decision and suggests that the real reasons for collision are not disclosed. In the course of control and supervisory activities, it was found that provisions of organizations charter did not comply with the requirements of the current legislation. But, in fact, all the charges brought forward are purely technical in nature and are not at all attributed to the fundamental tasks of the organization that successfully solves them. The leadership of organization was ready to eliminate formal shortcomings in the work of the All-Russian Azerbaijani Congress immediately, but the Russian Ministry of Justice did not approve the document produced to the court. The court did not take into account the long-term activities of the organization which facilitated development and deepening of socio-economic and cultural cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan. The All-Russian Azerbaijani Congress, while understanding and taking into account the difficult state of affairs, began transforming itself last December. The leadership of the structure has changed in order to not only get rid of the accumulated shortcomings, but also to become a mobile organization, able to effectively participate in the public life of Russia. Thus, the decision to liquidate the organization is not commensurate with the minor violations that were observed within it. Some experts and lawyers believe that this decision has a sign of political motivation with third forces involved which want to exert political pressure on Azerbaijan and get political, diplomatic, economic dividends from this situation. In addition, the liquidation of the largest Diaspora organization of Azerbaijan in Russia, which carries out a mediation mission in the negotiations on the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and is one of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, can undermine the faith in the impartiality of this country among Azerbaijani public. Nevertheless, many experts view this move as a result of the attempt of joint activity of anti-Azerbaijani forces and the Armenian lobby aimed at hurting the friendly Azerbaijani-Russian relations. Unfortunately, certain forces in Russia, looking for insignificant flaws in the organizational activities of the All-Russian Azerbaijani Congress, have long been trying to create conditions for the liquidation of this large social organization. For instance, in summer 2016, Armenian organizations of Russia made an attempt to present the All-Russian Azerbaijani Congress as a public organization which performs functions of a foreign agent. As a response to this appeal, the investigative bodies of Russia appointed a comprehensive audit of the sources of financing and legal documents of the organization. At that time, the provocation of Armenian organizations failed miserably. The audit did not reveal the facts of subversion in the activities of the All-Russian Azerbaijani Congress. In official conclusion of the Justice Ministry, it was stressed that the activities of the public structure fully comply with Russian legislation, while the sources of financing are inside Russia, and not beyond, as the Armenian informers pointed out. So, the cancellation of the registration is just another result of the activities of forces constantly interfering in the Azerbaijani-Russian relations, trying to undermine interstate relations, using all means to escalate tensions between the two partners. The annulment of registration of Congress, which has great respect and influence in Russian society, only for technical reasons, is wrong from the legal point of view, and the new head of the organization Fazil Gurbanov said they will make an appeal. This situation is viewed by many as a political short-sightedness of Russia, because is is definitely a mistake close unreasonably the organization that contributes to development of ties with a partner, especially, a partner who has preserved a special relation to the Russian language and culture, which is not often found in other post-Soviet republics. Of course, Azerbaijani-Russian relations are not built just in the plane of this Congress and the liquidation of this structure the relations could hardly seriously deteriorate or weaken but Russia should not succumb to provocation of anti-Azerbaijani forces. However, although the verdict is not connected with the policy pursued by Russia, and is not an official position of the Russian state, as it is just a subject of consideration of the court serving the interests of certain forces, if it remains in place after appeal, there will be certain negative consequences. It will mean that Russian leadership supports the decision infringing Azerbaijanis' simply right and make Azerbaijan take appropriate steps. Azerbaijani people hope that this issue will be resolved in just way and, thus, will break the plans of anti-Azerbaijani circles in Russia. The Congress, which unites more than 2 million Azerbaijanis living almost in all regions of Russia, was established in 2001 on the initiative of national leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev and President Vladimir Putin. Throughout 16 years of its activity, the organization has played a huge role in strengthening civil peace and interethnic harmony in Russia, development and deepening of socio-economic and cultural cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan. Over the years, the All-Russian Azerbaijani Congress has evolved into a large structure that has been overgrown with many regional offices. There are dozens of branches that have gained a positive experience of integrated cooperation with regional authorities. Many regional branches of the organization took the leading positions in local social movements, becoming full partners of the Russian authorities, which have made a positive impact on the major cultural and humanitarian projects. --- Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 19 May 2017 17:10 (UTC+04:00) Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan will pay an official visit to Azerbaijan on May 21-22. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan will have a meeting with Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, Azertac reported. The UAE is one of the first Muslim countries which recognized Azerbaijan's independence in December 1992, and after a short time diplomatic relations were established between the two countries. In the political sphere, the leadership of the UAE consistently supports the fair position of Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and unconditionally recognizes the territorial integrity of the country. The overall trade turnover between Azerbaijan and the UAE for the past two-three years amounted to approximately $70 million. Mainly Azerbaijan imports goods from the UAE, which are, in fact, re-exported from other countries. It is mostly metallurgical and chemical products, textiles, building materials, tobacco products, household equipment. Azerbaijan mainly exports to the UAE fruits, juices, nuts, metal semi-finished products and so on. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 19 May 2017 10:19 (UTC+04:00) By Sara Israfilbayova Russia reduced its oil output by 300,000 barrels per day, as stipulated in the Vienna deal signed between OPEC and non-OPEC countries, Russias Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on May 18. On average, Russia cut its oil production by 260,000 barrels per day in April, as in early April, it was reduced by 200,000 barrels per day and then by 300,000 barrels per day as of late April, the Minister 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 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. Russia and Saudi Arabia made an announcement that they intend to extend oil production cuts through the first quarter of 2018. A decision will be made at a regular meeting in Vienna on May 25. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 19 May 2017 14:10 (UTC+04:00) By Sara Israfilbayova Some political and business groups in Europe are still interested in building of the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline, said Marco Siddi, a senior researcher at the Finnish Institute of International Relations. "However, the real commitment to the implementation of this project remains limited," Siddi wrote in his e-mail to Trend. The prospects of the Trans-Caspian pipeline have not changed in the last couple of years, since all the main obstacles to the implementation of this project, such as construction costs, competition with other projects, gas demand stagnation in Europe, uncertainty about supplies from Turkmenistan, the unresolved legal dispute over Caspian Sea territorial boundaries and Russian and Iranian opposition to the project are still relevant, according to the expert. Siddi noted that there are also additional obstacles - Russian-implemented projects, including the Turkish Stream, construction of the offshore section of which in the Black Sea started in early May. The pipeline is being built within the framework of the intergovernmental agreement between Russia and Turkey, signed in October 2016, which involves the laying of two branches of a gas pipeline with a capacity of 15.75 billion m2 of gas. Besides, the latest events in Turkey, through which Turkmen gas and gas from the Trans-Caspian pipeline should go to Europe, as well as the growing confrontation between Turkey and the EU cause serious concern among European leaders. The Trans-Caspian gas pipeline project is considered the best option for delivering energy resources from Turkmenistan, which ranks fourth place in the world in gas reserves, to the European market. The pipeline is supposed to be laid along the bottom of the Caspian Sea to the shores of Azerbaijan. Further on the existing infrastructure, Turkmen hydrocarbons can get to Turkey, which borders with European countries. Trans-Caspian gas pipeline may be implemented as a part of huge Southern Gas Corridor project designed to transport gas from the Caspian region, in particular Azerbaijani gas to European countries. A project to import natural gas from Turkmenistan through a subsea pipeline was suggested in 1996 by the United States. Negotiations on the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline between the EU, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan began in September 2011. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 19 May 2017 17:01 (UTC+04:00) By Kamila Aliyeva Azerbaijans Energy Minister Natig Aliyev will participate in the 172nd meeting of the Council of Ministers of OPEC countries and non-cartel countries in Vienna. Given the importance of Azerbaijan's direct participation in measures to stabilize oil prices and its leading role in them, OPEC Secretary General Mohammed Barkindo, as well as the head of the joint OPEC Monitoring Committee, Kuwait's oil minister Issam Al-Marzuk appealed to Natig Aliyev with a proposal to join the meeting scheduled for May 23-25, the energy ministry reported on May 19. The meeting participants will hear a report on an analysis of the impact of oil output cut deal on the international market, market trends and the pace of economic development. On the basis of this report, the Vienna agreement will be extended or a different decision will be taken. Natig Aliyev himself believes that the Vienna agreement concluded last December between the Cartel and non-OPEC countries, is historic, according to the ministry. For the first time, the unified position of oil producing and exporting countries, regardless of their share and weight in the world market, provided a successful outcome of the agreement in the first half of the year. The process of stabilizing the oil market and current prices for the crude, fulfillment of obligations by oil nations showed the correctness of this decision, he said. Aliyev also underlined Azerbaijans readiness to further take steps for achieving stable oil prices. In December 2016, OPEC and non-OPEC producers reached their first deal since 2001 to curtail oil output jointly and ease a global glut after more than two years of low prices. Non-OPEC producers such as Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brunei, Equatorial Guinea, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Russia, Sudan, and South Sudan agreed to reduce output by 558,000 bpd starting from January 1, 2017 for six months, extendable for another six months, to take into account prevailing market conditions and prospects. The participation of Azerbaijan in joint oil production cuts is defined at 35,000 barrels per day. Prior to the landmark deal, the volume of production in the country was at the level of 37.72 million tons of oil, while daily output stood at 829,100 barrels. --- Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 19 May 2017 10:24 (UTC+04:00) By Trend The Turkish president said Turkey was actively taking part in the new balance of power of a changing world, Anadolu reported. Speaking on Thursday at a council of TUSIAD, Turkeys largest business association, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey was at the center of this process. "Turkey is at the center of this process with its historical, geographical and cultural position, he said. "If youre not at the [negotiation] table, you might find yourself on the menu. Erdogan specifically mentioned Chinas Belt and Road project as an example. The Belt and Road Initiative -- proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013 -- aims to build a trade and infrastructure network along ancient trade routes such as the Silk Road that would connect Asia with Europe or Africa, according to Chinas official Xinhua news wire. "There are trillions of dollars here [...] Turkey is located at the very east, at a significant location, that we call the central corridor [of the Belt and Road project]," he said. Regarding Turkeys EU accession process, Erdogan said the countries that applied after Turkey and were accepted into the European Union (EU) were not better, recalling 54 years had passed since Ankara's application. Economic cooperation "Here come Bulgaria, Greece. Today, Greece has 400 billion in debt, Erdogan said, adding that the European countries were still trying to keep Greece alive. Erdogan added that Turkey would concentrate on customs unions from now on. If the European market is important for Turkey, Turkey is also important for Europe, maybe more, Erdogan said. Keeping this in mind, we will continue our negotiations within the customs union. The EU-Turkey customs union came into force in 1995. "We are working to diversify and strengthen the economic cooperation platforms with other countries, he said. "From now on, we need world-renowned, recognized and value-producing brands, Erdogan said. We always say that we support our businessmen in this regard." Erdogan said Turkey would not insist on membership despite all kinds of attacks towards Turkish officials in different countries. We have made all kinds of negotiations. If the officials of the European Union continue their fair and positive approach towards us after these negotiations, we will continue this way, Erdogan said. If not, Turkey will search for different solutions, he warned. I will never let anybody tarnish this countrys honor, he added. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 19 May 2017 12:52 (UTC+04:00) By Kamila Aliyeva Polling stations opened in Iran this morning for the 12th presidential and the fifth city and village council elections, with high turnout recorded in the first hours of the vote. Incumbent President Hassan Rouhani, Custodian of Imam Reza (AS) Holy shrine Ebrahim Raeisi, former minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mostafa Aqa Mirsalim and former Minister of Physical Education Mostafa Hashemi Taba are four candidates participating in the elections. First Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri and Mayor of Tehran, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf were other presidential candidates who quitted the presidential race to support their favorite candidates (Rouhani and Raeisi respectively). Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and four candidates for presidency have already casted their ballots in elections. Two main rivals in this presidential race are President Rouhani and Ebrahim Raeisi. 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. 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. According to reports, over 56 million of Iranians are eligible to go to the polls. Out of the total eligible voters over 1.3 million are those who vote for the first time. Presidential election is also being held in 102 countries. --- Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 19 May 2017 13:47 (UTC+04:00) By Kamila Aliyeva First practical result of the sixth round of talks on ending Syrian conflict became the agreement of the warring sides to set up expert committees to discuss "constitutional and legal issues," although putting on hold previous UN-proposed constitution that had been presented to the negotiating teams. Representatives of Syria's government and opposition High Negotiations Committee (HNC) are in Switzerland for the sixth round of UN-backed peace negotiations, but there has been no sign of progress. UN mediator Staffan de Mistura's office declared a first tangible step on May 18: a series of separate meetings with the government and HNC delegations to discuss "legal and constitutional issues of relevance to the intra-Syrian talks". The paper that has been presented is put aside for now, Naser al-Hariri, chief negotiator of the Turkish and Saudi-backed High Negotiations Council (HNC) told reporters on May 18, making reference to the UN's proposed plans to write a new Syrian constitution. He said that they have agreed to take part in the experts' meeting to discuss constitutional issues in the sixth round of UN-run Geneva talks, noting that this is not new as they have had 10 such meetings in the past. Moscow expressed its support to the idea of Staffan de Mistura to establish an advisory mechanism for the Syrian constitution. This was stated on May 19 by Russian Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Africa and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov on the margins of the 9th International Economic Summit "Russia - Islamic World". "Of course, we support it. We support any progress on any part of this large-scale work," he said answering the question. Five previous rounds of United Nations-backed negotiations have failed to produce concrete results. Syrias warring sides have also attended four rounds of peace talks brokered by Iran, Russia and Turkey in the Kazakh capital, Astana. The Astana talks have recently resulted in a memorandum of understanding on creation of de-escalation zones in Syria. The civil war in Syria between government and opposition with various terrorist groups involved, including Daesh (also known as ISIS or ISIL), began back in March 2011. According to a report by the Syrian Center for Policy Research, the conflict has claimed the lives of over 470,000 people, injured 1.9 million others, and displaced nearly half of the countrys pre-war population of about 23 million within or beyond its borders. --- Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 19 May 2017 16:12 (UTC+04:00) By Kamila Aliyeva Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov will hold talks with Uzbek leader Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who will be on a working visit in Turkmenistan's Avaza, on May 19-20. The progress in preparations for the Turkmen-Uzbek talks at the highest level was reported at a government meeting. Berdimuhamedov stressed that the regular nature of the meetings demonstrates the mutual commitment to and interest of both countries in expanding effective cooperation, established on the traditions of friendship and good-neighborliness and on an equal, constructive and long-term basis. The Turkmen leader pointed out the existence of a solid potential and prospects for further development of interstate cooperation. The agenda of the talks will include a wide range of issues related to development of the Turkmen-Uzbek partnership. A number of intergovernmental, interdepartmental and other documents aimed at further development of cooperation in various fields are expected to be signed following the high-level meeting. During the visit, the two countries business circles are also expected to conclude several mutually beneficial commercial contracts and agreements. In 2015, the volume of bilateral trade between the two countries amounted to about $320 million, in January-August of 2016 - $177 million. Uzbekistan exports fertilizers, construction materials, fruits and vegetables, electrical and mechanical equipment, vehicles, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, services to Turkmenistan. Turkmenistan supplies oil products, propylene polymers, sulfuric acid to Uzbekistan. In Uzbekistan, 7 enterprises operate with the participation of the Turkmen side. In Turkmenistan, there are 6 enterprises with participation of residents of Uzbekistan. --- Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Ireland will more than likely have to ask the European Union for specific assistance in dealing with economic fallout from Brexit, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said on Thursday. Due to its close trade links with Britain, Dublin has said that it would make a strong case to fellow member states that it may require EU support to mitigate a "serious disturbance" to Ireland's economy from its neighbour's departure from the bloc. Ireland's top civil servant overseeing Brexit planning, John Callinan, said on Tuesday that such a request would not yet be made as long as a close future trading relationship between the EU and Britain was possible. Kenny, who is stepping down as Taoiseach and due to be replaced next month, anticipated that it would be needed. "More than likely will have to make a case for assistance from the European Union in this regard because all of the economic reports would indicate that Ireland would be most adversely impacted by a difficult Brexit," Kenny told a conference on Brexit. "While we are the strongest and fastest growing economy (in the EU) ...these shocks and problems are of major significance for us." Callinan said on Tuesday that one of the areas being examined was a potential exemption from EU state aid rules, enabling Ireland to provide financial support to some companies adversely affected by Brexit. Irish businesses fear Brexit will lead to a costly rise in tariffs, paperwork and transit times. Kenny said there were no answers yet as to whether exporters to Britain would face tariff charges. Speaking at the same conference, a senior official at the government agency responsible for customs checks, said disruption at the border between the Irish Republic and the British province of Northern Ireland would be minimal. The border will be the only land frontier between the United Kingdom and the European Union once Britain leaves. Tony Buckley, assistant secretary for customs at Ireland's Revenue Commissioners, said customs posts would not be needed and being an island at the end of the EU supply chain meant Ireland could rely to a greater extent on self assessment with the small number of required checks made away from the border. "The main image that comes to people minds when they think of an border is cars being stopped and searched. Not going to happen. There's no reason for it," Buckley said. "We have some 300 border crossings, we haven't the faintest intention to close any of those or interfere with them in any way." 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However, many particularly in younger generations do not consider morality to be unchanging. A study by Lifeway, published this month, found that more than eight in ten of 1000 Americans polled agree with the statement, 'I am concerned about declining moral behavior in our nation' while nearly two in ten disagreed. More than six in ten of those aged 45 or older said that right and wrong were unchanging. In the demographic aged 35 and under, fewer than four in ten agreed. LifeWay's executive director Scott McConnell said of the stats: 'We are shifting very fast from a world where right and wrong didn't change to a world where right and wrong are relative. We are not all on the same page when it comes to morality. And we haven't reckoned with what that means.' Americans, across age, social and ethnic demographics, tended to affirm concern about moral decline. More than eight in ten per of those aged 65 and older were concerned about declining moral behavior, as were more than seven in ten of those aged 18-24. There is dispute when it comes to legislating morality. Most Americans more than six in ten said that 'Implementing laws to encourage people to act morally is not effective'. Under half agreed that 'the fewer laws regulating moral standards, the better'. More than five in ten Americans think too many laws regulating morality have been removed. Christians, particularly evangelicals, were more likely to agree: 72 per cent of evangelicals and 55 per cent of Christians shared concern about lack of moral legislation. Less than half (46 per cent) of non-evangelicals agreed, and only 36 per cent of those belonging to other faiths. Quizzed on perosnally discerning right and wrong, half of Americans said that right and wrong do not change. About a third said whether people were hurt or not impacts whether something is right or wrong. Personal conscience is more influential than legislation or the threat of punishment: only 4 per cent of Americans worry about getting caught when choosing between right and wrong. Half of Americans listed religion as an influential factor in decision making. When it came to naming the most influential factor, parents were the broadly the most significant, followed by religious beliefs and feelings. For evangelicals however, 64 per cent said their faith was the driving influence, as did just over half of those who attend religious services more than once a month. 'For those with evangelical beliefs, the Bible is the ultimate authority,' McConnell said. 'It trumps everything. So it's going to be the source for how they determine right from wrong. 'However, for Americans there is no most influential source of morality embraced by a majority.' The full LifeWay study can be read here. Christian 'slave' in Pakistan freed after ransom paid It's reported that a Christian brick kiln worker has been freed from a life of slavery and torture after a British organization agreed to pay a ransom to free him. The British Pakistani Christian Association says that Salim Masih was released after it intervened in the case. Masih said he had been tortured by the brick kiln owner because he tried to leave his work. There was also a dispute over a debt. Slavery is illegal in Pakistan, but discrimination against Christians in commonplace and authorities have a patchy track record in protecting religious minorities. The BCPA says it paid a ransom to the man responsible for holding Masih and that he is now in a safe house, although details on where in the country this took place are unclear. A press statement said, 'Though British Pakistani Christian Association is loathe to pay brick kiln owners for the emancipation of slaves which a practice which perpetuates despite being outlawed, we realised we had no option in this instance if we were to save the life of Salim. ' Masih himself is quoted as saying, 'When the men discovered an NGO had got involved the violence increased and I thought I would be killed. But somehow God saved my life I owe Him everything.' Marcus Mumford: 'I really love Jesus. I always have and I always will' Famed musician and Mumford & Sons front-man Marcus Mumford has spoken up about his faith, saying, 'I really love Jesus. I always have and I always will'. Mumford made his comments while hosting an interview at Holy Trinity Brompton's annual leadership conference earlier this month. Introducing himself, Mumford, who has spoken about his ambiguous relationship with 'Christianity' before, said: 'I really love Jesus. I always have and I always will. 'I feel we live in a time of heightened hostility, whether it's in the increasingly divisive political atmosphere here in the west, or the more catastrophic human disasters and conflicts further east and south of us. 'And of course, we ask ourselves what it is we should do. And I like many of you would want that answer to be informed by what Jesus thinks.' Mumford added: 'And of course you know that when a teacher of the law came to Jesus and asked him what the most important thing that he should do was, Jesus responded in the most clear and succinct way...he said love God and love your neighbour.' Mumford was interviewing Mrs Marouba Tatiana Viviane Nee Bangue, the director of Femme Homme Action Plus, a group that works with victims of conflict in the Central African Republic, particularly women and children. He also spoke with Robi Damelin, an Israeli woman whose son was shot dead by a Palestinian sniper in 2002. Damelin said that when she first heard the news of her son's death, she instinctively responded: 'Do not take revenge in the name of my son'. She shared her story of the struggle for forgiveness and reconciliation with the man who killed her son. She implored the audience not to 'take sides' on the Israel/Palestine conflict. 'If you're pro-Israel or pro-Palestine, you're just importing our conflict into your country, and creating hatred between Muslims and Jews. I don't think thats what you want,' she said. Mumford, a global ambassador for the humanitarian charity War Child, described the first time he met Robi: 'I was another proud bolshie white guy coming into Israel and pal with 'ideas' and Robi said to me: "Please just listen, because when you listen you give dignity to my humanity," and it really humbled me. 'I'm on a path of just listening, as Jean Vanier (who spoke earlier) said, "leadership is listening first".' The 'Great Disruption' happened 174 years ago this week. Why does it matter? Why should we care? On May 18, 1843, 174 years ago, 121 ministers and 73 elders got up and walked out of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland being held in St Andrew's Church, Edinburgh. They were met by huge cheering crowds and were eventually joined by others so that 474 ministers out of 1200, and about one third of the membership of the National church left. So what? Why should we bother even noting this, never mind reading and thinking about it? Unless you are one of the select elect who are Scottish Church History buffs? Before you quickly dash away to read something far more interesting, hold on a minute and allow me to introduce you to this great event in the Churches history so that you can be inspired, challenged and hopefully learn some lessons for today. It may take some convincing but let me try to persuade you why this event, which was known as the Disruption, was so important. It was an act of great sacrifice and courage. When these ministers, elders, missionaries, teachers, students and members left the Church of Scotland it was often at a great personal cost. They had to give up manses, church buildings and their stipends, without knowing how their families and congregations were to be provided for. Many congregations had no buildings to worship in there were a variety of places they did meet a coal mine, the beach, the hillsides even on a floating church even a ship especially built for a homeless congregation! Why did they do it? Was it on some obscure, angels dancing on pinheads, theological point? No they did it because they wished to assert the 'spiritual freedom of the Church'. The State law courts had just judged that heritors, landlords and other State officials had the right to appoint ministers of particular congregations (this was known as patronage). The Evangelicals (most of whom left) defended the right of the congregations to call their own ministers free of State interference. The UK government at the time was badly advised and believed that only a handful of fanatics would leave. But for these people of principle they were prepared to give up all their 'temporal' benefits in order to maintain the Lordship of Christ and the spiritual independence of the Church. We talk a lot about being radical but I wonder if we would have such courage? It was a radical challenge that both church and society needed. Last year I represented the Free Church at the opening of a new exhibition entitled 'Painting with Light Art and Photography from the Pre-Raphaelites to the Modern Age'. Why was the Free Church invited? Because we have loaned them one of our great treasures Octavius Hill's Disruption painting which was really the first such painting to be based on photographs. As such it had pride of place in the first room of the exhibition. It is only the second time it has been out of Scotland normally it has pride of place in the Presbytery Hall of the Free Church offices on the Mound. The painting is quite extraordinary not just because of its significance in the history of photography, but also because of what it portrays. As I listened to the invited guests, from the Arts establishment, I was struck by some of the comments which observed that so many ordinary 'common' people were in the photo. I was silently proud that I belonged to a church whose roots are in the crofters, fishermen, teachers, miners, doctors, nurses and working people of Scotland. The series of pictures around the Disruption painting describes the 1843 Free Church as radical, democratic, cosmopolitan and international! In fact it was that radical tradition the determination to hold to the Bible as the Word of God, and to work it out in the whole of society which first drew me to the Free Church even though in some ways the modern Free Church had moved away from its radical roots and retreated into itself. The ripple effects are still felt today - The Disruption changed Scotland more than any other event in the 19th Century. It also had ripple effects throughout the world- as the church continued to send hundreds of missionaries and teachers throughout the British Empire then at its peak. Next week the Church of Scotland General Assembly and the much smaller Free Church Assembly (there were reunions in 1900 and 1929) will meet in their General Assemblies. Some in the Church of Scotland feared a further 'Disruption' over the issue of Same Sex Marriage, but that is not going to happen. However what is happening is that the Church of Scotland has been in free-fall over the past few decades its membership has fallen from 1.4 million to well under 400,000 and continues to fall by 20,000 per year. I believe that the key reason for that decline is because of something that the Free Church introduced into the Scottish church, which has become a deadly virus for the whole Church in Scotland. In the twenty years following the Disruption the Free Church built thousands of churches, manses and schools and three theological colleges (if you ever visit Edinburgh it is hard to miss the beautiful New College building on the Mound where the Church of Scotland General Assembly is now held). But the church became proud and arrogant and in seeking 'new learning' managed to bring in the 'Higher Criticism' teaching about the Bible from Germany. This had the effect over many decades of undermining confidence in the Bible as the Word of God, and as a result, when the Tsunami of cultural and anti-Christian change hit Scotland in the 1960's, in effect the churches largely folded like a house of cards, or became inward looking. In either sense both died. When the church just goes along with the contemporary zeitgeist it will wither and die. When it retreats into a pietistic and legalist shell it will also die. But what the Disruption teaches us is that when the people of God are prepared to make a stand for the Word of God, to radically challenge the culture, and to live boldly for Christ, it can really turn the world upside down. One review of the exhibition and Hill's painting observed: "The result captures not only a key moment in history, but also a cross-section of society which includes many of the era's most notable names." My hope and prayer is that the modern day Church will include that wide cross section of society yes including the Lords and Ladies and the Culture gatekeepers, but included as human beings made in the image of God, not rulers and elites self-made in their own image. We need to get back to our radical and biblical roots. We need to be proclaiming the Gospel across every area of society and challenging the powers that think they are, to submit to The Power that really is, and from whom all their power is just a pale derivation. Rather than welcoming the poor and identifying with the rich we should identify with the poor and welcome the rich. History teaches us that when the Lord does a new work in a community it is often preceded by, or causes, a great disruption in the Church. Think of the Reformation in the 16th Century, or the Puritans in England in the 17th, or the Methodists in the 18th, the Disruption in the 19th, and the Pentecostals in the 20th. If there is to be renewal and revival in the 21st Century church in the UK, then the Lord could bring it about through the traditional and established churches that appear to be dying. But did Jesus not say something about not putting new wine into old wineskins? (Matthew 9:17). Whether the Lord renews older churches or starts up new ones, the lesson of the 1843 Disruption is that such renewal and reformation is costly, painful and yet ultimately exciting, beautiful and fruitful. Lord its time for our 21st Century revival! David Robertson is Associate Director of Solas CPC in Dundee and minister at St Peter's Free Church. Follow him on Twitter @TheWeeFlea Theresa May, Jeremy Corbyn and Tim Farron unite in support for Christian Aid week Theresa May, Jeremy Corbyn and Tim Farron are uniting in their commitment to keep the 0.7 per cent foreign aid spending commitment in three articles marking 60 years of Christian Aid week. As leaders of the three major UK parties in the general election they all argue it is morally right to keep the ring-fenced development pledge in pieces for the Church Times. The Prime Minister says the UK should be proud of being the first G7 country to meet the target and of becoming a 'international aid superpower'. She writes: 'Our commitment to helping the most disadvantaged people in the world says something important about Britain. It says that we are a kind and generous country that will never turn its back on those in need. We will always meet our commitments to the world and particularly to those who desperately need our support.' A regular churchgoer she adds: 'UK Aid is a badge of hope for so many around the world, bringing light where there is darkness, and hope where there is despair.' She finishes: 'That is a record of which we can all be proud and one which as a country we must build on in the future.' Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn says the 'morality of continuing our support for the most impoverished people on the planet is unarguable'. He uses his article to attack the Conservatives including the International Development Secretary Priti Patel for whom 'international development seems to invoke some kind of moral terror, balking at the notion of giving to the most needy'. He adds: 'Emboldened by sensationalist and downright immoral newspaper headlines, the Secretary of State has suggested using our aid budget as leverage for post-Brexit trade deals. Labour would never be so morally bankrupt as to play politics with our human duty to help those in need.' He went on to attack austerity as a 'political choice' and the UK must resist the calls 'to pull up the drawbridge and only look after our own'. He finishes: 'We have to ask ourselves, what kind of country do we want to be? One that is insular, cynical and dominated by corporate greed, or one that is committed to building positive relationships and improving the lot of the world's least fortunate? We must defend the values we hold most dear and treat our global neighbours as we would expect to be treated ourselves if the roles were reversed.' Tim Farron, an evangelical Christian, says eradicating poverty is not just an 'international obligation or a security measure' but 'a moral issue, coming from our gut sense of compassion and our belief that we cannot sit by and ignore the injustice of a world of such inequality and poverty'. He writes: 'As Christians we recognise that this gut reaction comes from more than just our own thoughts and feelings but also from a sense of being called to love our neighbour, wherever they may be; whether in the next door flat or the other side of the world, in a favela in Brazil or a village in Ghana. There is an inner part of us that knows this injustice is wrong and knows that we must be part of the solution.' But he goes on to say a funding commitment was not enough and Brits must be relational and look to welcome refugees as part of a compassionate approach. 'We must not think that simply committing to funding means that our responsibilities towards those in poverty have been discharged. The way we respond to those in need goes beyond this - it's how we treat people, it's in welcoming refugees and it's being prepared to work together with other nations. We must always be relational, remembering that behind the statistics are people our brothers and sisters who we may never meet but are still called to love.' Tom Vita, Christian Aid's head of advocacy, adds the aid commitment should be Britain's badge of honour. 'It's evident that the British public cares deeply about Britain's role in eradicating poverty around the world. Tens of thousands of people up and down the UK are proudly showing their support for Christian Aid Week, as they have done for 60 years,' he writes in the Church Times. 'Yet tackling the deep-seated, root causes of poverty goes beyond aid, beyond charity, and takes long-term commitment not just for this election, but for the next Parliament and beyond.' Trump in Saudi Arabia: Why is the Islamic Kingdom his first Presidential visit? When Donald Trump's first overseas destination was announced, there were few eyebrows raised. Saudi Arabia, a longtime ally and trading partner of the United States was ready to welcome Trump and his delegation as it has several other Presidents including Nixon, Carter, Clinton, Bush Snr, Bush Jnr and Obama. Why then has Trump decided to visit the Saudi Kingdom first? And what are the issues that he will be raising when he is there? Generations of American leaders have recognized US reliance on Saudi oil as a key factor in the relationship, but in 2017, in an increasingly complex world, the relationship between America and Saudi Arabia is as important as ever. Here we look at three factors which mean Trump is determined to get round a table in Riyadh. 1) Trade Trump built much of his campaign on his claim he would create jobs and get America back to 'winning' again. Saudi Arabia is a major trading partner for the US. US exports to Saudi Arabia totaled $25 billion in 2012, the last year for which full data are available. It was the 19th biggest market for American goods in the world. Put simply, this is a significant market which Trump will be looking to expand. One of the main components of the trade between the two nations is weapons and military technology. Reuters recently reported that 'The United States has been the main supplier for most Saudi military needs, from F-15 fighter jets to command and control systems worth tens of billions of dollars in recent years.' It went on to explain that, 'Trump has vowed to stimulate the U.S. economy by boosting manufacturing jobs... The package includes American arms and maintenance, ships, air missile defense and maritime security, the official said. "We'll see a very substantial commitment ... In many ways it is intended to build capabilities for the threats they face."' In spite of its deeply troubling human rights record, its lack of religious freedom for Christians and other minorities and its treatment of women, Trump's priority (in line with previous administrations) seems to be to sell the Saudis as many weapons as possible. 2) Middle East power struggle The Saudis are major power-brokers in the Middle East. The most powerful and strategically placed Sunni power, Saudi Arabia has been threatened by the rise in influence of Shia Iran in recent years. The two countries dominate Middle Eastern politics and eye each other with deep suspicion born of decades of antagonism (and centuries of religious difference). With the ongoing chaos in Syria, the long-standing conflict in Israel-Palestine and continuing instability in Egypt and other parts of the Middle East, Trump's team undoubtedly sees Saudi Arabia as a beacon of stability in the region. In backing the Saudi (and Israeli) position of opposing President Obama's Iranian nuclear deal, Trump signalled to the Saudi government that he would continue to look after their interests in the region. However, the Saudis themselves are involved in one of the biggest destabilising conflicts in the region. A Saudi-led coalition is currently inflicting massive damage on Yemen in an attempt to reinstate the control of the internationally recognised government there by fighting the Shia Houthis. Both sides are accused of human rights abuses and the power struggle has provided a vacuum into which Al Qaida and other extremist elements have flooded. With Yemen on the brink of massive starvation problems, it remains to be seen if Trump will have anything to say on this huge issue. 3) Islam Trump caused controversy when he called for shutdown of Muslims coming into the US from outside. Two attempts to enact a partial ban have been stymied by courts, but he has vowed to continue. In the same way as Obama did when visiting Egypt not long after his election, Trump will use this trip to make clarifications about his position on Islam. Some of his supporter base in the so-called 'alt-right' movement back home are reflexively Islamophobic. Trump may well see the visit to Saudi Arabia as an opportunity to spell out what his administration's position is. We're told to expect an 'inspiring but direct' speech about Islam. Given the instability in the region and the strategic importance of the US relationship here (not to mention Trump's imminent visit to Israel) this speech could be a pivotal moment in his Presidency. The world watches on. Follow Andy Walton on Twitter @waltonandy Vice President Mike Pence under fire for calling Christian persecution 'genocide' US Vice President Mike Pence has received criticism for describing Christian persecution by ISIS as 'genocide'. Speaking at the first-ever World Summit in Defense of Persecuted Christians in Washington, DC, last week, Pence spoke about the plight of Christians worldwide, and estimated that 125 million Christians are persecuted for their faith in more than 100 countries. 'The reality is, across the wider world, the Christian faith is under siege. Throughout the world, no people of faith today face greater hostility or hatred than the followers of Christ.' Pence added: 'I believe ISIS is guilty of nothing short of genocide against people of the Christian faith, and it is time the world called it by name.' Pence has received pushback for his use of the word 'genocide', according to Al Jazeera. 'You have to be so careful with the genocide word,' said Simon Adams, executive director of the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect. 'This is not just a word to throw around because it serves political advantage.' Adams agreed that 'mass atrocities' have been committed against Christians, but warned against mislabelling the situation. The proper use of 'genocide' as a descriptor has been hotly debated, and some now say the word is used to liberally. 'We were very careful when we came out and said that we thought that there had been a genocide committed against the Yazidis, that was based on investigation, on argument, on deliberation,' he said. Yazidis are a minority ethnic group who have also been a target of ISIS attacks in Iraq. Its estimated that around 1500 Yazidi women and girls have captured and forced into slavery by the jihadist group. 'Where is [Pence's] passionate speech for the Yazidis', or Shia Muslims or Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar - 'one of the most persecuted religious minority groups in the world?' Adams asked. Last week Christian Today enquired about the contested Christian persecution figures touted by evangelist Franklin Graham, who led the DC summit. Graham claimed that at least 100,000 Christians are killed for their faith every year. However, the statistic appears to be a dubious extrapolation of data, and Christian persecution charity Open Doors put its figure on global Christian martyrdom in the past year at just 1,207. Peter Prove, director of the Commission of the Churches on International Affairs at the World Council of Churches, told Al Jazeera that Pence's figures implying exclusive levels of Christian persecution 'may be questionable'. 'We know numerically that Muslims have been by far the greater victims of Islamic extremism,' he said. William Gladstone's eight greatest quotes on the day he died William Gladstone was, for many, one of Britain's greatest Prime Ministers. A faithful churchgoer in the Church of England Gladstone, who died on this day, worked to remove restrictions and prejudice against Catholics during his time in office. Disliked by Queen Victoria and many of the upper class because of principled moral stance, he was hailed a hero by ordinary working people. Here are eight quotes from Gladstone, to mark the day he died: 1. 'Selfishness is the greatest curse of the human race.' 2. 'Liberalism is trust of the people tempered by prudence. Conservatism is distrust of the people tempered by fear.' 3. 'The disease of an evil conscience is beyond the practice of all the physicians of all the countries in the world.' 4. 'No man ever became great or good except through many and great mistakes.' 5. 'Be happy with what you have and are, be generous with both, and you won't have to hunt for happiness.' 6. 'Nothing that is morally wrong can be politically right.' 7. 'It is the duty of government to make it difficult for people to do wrong, easy to do right.' 8. 'Justice delayed is justice denied.' The surprise appointment Wednesday of Robert S. Mueller III as special counsel to investigate Russias alleged efforts to sway the 2016 U.S. presidential election should have given President Donald Trump and his beleaguered administration political breathing room. But while Trump initially reacted stoically, denying collusion between his campaign and any foreign entity and casting the appointment as an opportunity to put such charges to rest quickly, he could not leave well enough alone. Hours later, real Donald Trump, as he is known on Twitter, tweeted that the inquiry was the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history! and complained that there was never a special counsel to investigate the illegal acts committed by the Obama and Clinton administrations. The apparent self-contradiction feeds a growing meta-narrative in the press and political circles that President Trump is too erratic, or too infantile, as conservative columnist David Brooks wrote this week, to serve in the executive office. If ever a politician needed to reverse what Republican Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee called the White Houses downward spiral, it is Trump. The president is under fire for interrelated scandals of his own making, all within a weekhis firing of F.B.I. director James Comey for refusing to end his bureaus Russia investigation, his alleged disclosure of secret information to the Russians, and reports that he tried to thwart a criminal investigation into his former national security advisor, Michael Flynn, amid reports that he lied to Vice President Mike Pence about his interactions with Russias ambassador in Washington. After the weeks events, even Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell warned that Trumps policy agenda was being endangered by his antics, adding that what the White House needed now was a little less drama. Each new manifestation of impulsiveness by Trump is a form of self-sabotage, for his critics carry their conclusions well beyond established facts. Consider The New York Timess disclosure Tuesday that Trump secretly tried to stifle the F.B.I.s investigation of Flynn the day after his dismissal. The charge forced Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to appoint Mueller as special counsel to oversee the investigation into ties between Trumps campaign and Russia. The charge was based on a memo written by James Comey about his alleged conversation with Trump at a private meeting on February 14 at the White House. Times reporter Michael Schmidt acknowledged that he had not seen Comeys actual memo but was read portions of it by two officials. Nor does his story accuse the president of trying to obstruct justice by going easy on Flynn. Rather, the story repeatedly calls the alleged Oval Office conversation, which the White House has denied took place, an effort by Trump to influence the investigation. This distinction, however, was apparently lost on the growing number of Trumps critics. Over the weekend, Harvard professor Laurence Tribe became the first prominent legal scholar to call for Trumps impeachment. In a speech on the House floor on Wednesday, Democratic Representative Al Green of Texas issued a similar call. MSNBCs Joe Scarborough, who has evolved into an ardent Trump critic, accused his former friend of having fomented a constitutional crisis through his reckless acts and shifting explanations of them. Also on Wednesday, the New York Timess lead editorial, ignoring the careful distinction drawn by its own reporter, joined Tribe in accusing the president of having obstructed justice. That crime, however, requires that someone attempt through a specific actsuch as threatening witnesses, destroying evidence, lying to the FBI, or preventing investigators from doing their jobsto interfere with a judicial proceeding. But as Jonathan Turley, a liberal attorney and Trump critic, has argued, what is publicly known so far does not constitute proof of obstruction of justice or an impeachable offense. There was no grand jury or judicial proceeding underway in February when Trump allegedly asked Comey to drop the Flynn investigation. While the memo, he wrote, is a valid source of concern and worthy of further investigation, and while Muellers investigation may ultimately conclude that a crime has or has not been committed, he called such a charge hyperventilated based on what is known so far and hardly proof of a crime, much less an impeachable offense. The same can be said of charges that Trump endangered intelligence sources and methods when he shared secrets with Russians, as the normally conservative Wall Street Journal headline declared in its rendition of the story initially published by the Washington Post. According to the Post and other leading papers that confirmed its story, Trump endangered a sensitive source by sharing secret information obtained from a close U.S. ally with Russias foreign minister and ambassador to Washington in an Oval Office meeting the day after Comeys dismissal. The intelligence supposedly concerned where and how the U.S. had learned of a terrorist plot against commercial aircraft. The Post reported that, after the meeting, White House officials had called the CIA and the NSA to warn them of possible blowback from the compromised country and to encourage them to do damage control. Yes, the timing and appearance of such a meeting were poor. They forced the White House and prompted the Kremlin to deny that Trump had disclosed U.S. intelligence sources or methods. National Security Advisor Lieutenant General H.R. McMaster, the much-respected former military officer, made a rare appearance in the White House press room personally to deny the report. I was in the room, McMaster said. It didnt happen. But his carefully crafted statement, unlike almost any issued by his boss, denied only that sources or methods were disclosed. He stopped short of denying that Trump had shared secret intelligence with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ambassador Sergei Kislyak. An angry tweet from Trump the following day asserted that he could legally declassify and distribute secret information as he saw fit. McMaster agreed that Trump had legal authority to do so but disclosed that the president had acted on his own, apparently in the spur of the moment, while recounting to the Russians how the U.S. had learned of the terrorist threat. This has not prevented the Washington Post editorial page from calling upon Trump to cancel his first foreign trip abroad Friday to quell growing concerns about his suitability for office. But that is precisely not what Trump should do. The president needs to calm Washington down by getting out of townthe sooner, the better. He must also let Mueller get on with his investigation and stop making contradictory, self-defeating statements in interviews, speeches, and early-morning tweets. His reputation, now severely damaged due to such impulsive displays, can only be restored through the self-discipline that has heretofore eluded him. Whether he is temperamentally capable of such discipline, however, has never been more unclear. Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images Another cell-phone video that didnt make it to CNN or MSNBC: Last November, 33-year-old Antwan McNutt beat a man to death with a bottle of liquor on the South Side of Chicago. Onlookers took video and posted it to Facebook; no one intervened to help. McNutt, who was charged with murder this week, has prior convictions for manufacturing and delivering a controlled substance, attempted aggravated carjacking, possession of a stolen motor vehicle, and battery and resisting arrest, according to DNA Info. But he was back on the streets committing more mayhem, contrary to the mass incarceration conceit that black males are targeted with endless draconian punishment for minor transgressions of public order. We rightly hold our police officers to the highest standards of conduct. Had a cop beaten a black man to death it would justifiably have been international news, especially if the beating had been caught on video. Likewise, if a white man had beaten a black man to death, it would have been international news and cause for public mourning and admonition. But the routine taking of black lives by other blacks generates no interest in the mainstream media. Forty-three hundred people, including two dozen children under the age of 12, were shot in Chicago last year. Had 4,300 white people been shot, there would have been a revolution, and the media would have set up headquarters in the city to cover the breakdown of law and order. But because the victims were nearly all black, few pay attentionbesides the police. Nor have the Black Lives Matter activists, who pour out by the thousands, sometimes to riot, in the case of alleged officer misuse of force, ever protested the killing of blacks by other blacks. If one-one-hundredth of the attention that has been paid to phantom police racism over the last two decades had been devoted to rebuilding the black family, no one would be talking about policing today. Policing is an epiphenomenon of crime. If you want fewer police in your neighborhood, make sure that people are not killing each other. Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images Eleven of the sectors representative bodies have published a briefing for politicians outlining ways the next government could work with the sector. The Charity Finance Group, Navca, Institute of Fundraising, Acevo, Locality, Children England, Ethical Property Foundation, Association of Charitable Foundations, Small Charities Coalition and Social Enterprise UK have offered three examples of how the next government could support charities. They call for reform the tax system to reduce the burden on charities and community interest companies, more investment in community assets, and a review of the Social Value Act. Caron Bradshaw, chief executive of CFG said: I am delighted that the leading sector bodies have come together to develop a shared vision for the sector. We know that our vibrant and diverse sector is key to driving economic growth and bringing together an increasingly fractured society. This election offers us the opportunity to reinvigorate our dialogue with the major political parties and put forward a positive vision for working with the new government. John Barrett, chief executive of Small Charities Coalition, said: "Small charities frequently find the barriers to engaging too high. Now is a vital time for collaboration across the sector to ensure that these voices are heard, and that the positive difference charities make within society is recognised. We are encouraging all political parties and the new government to ensure they take a strategic approach to engaging with these small but vital organisations." Carol Mack, chief executive of ACF, said: Whichever party forms the next government, the country faces big decisions about its future. Civil society has a vital part to play in shaping that future and we look forward to working with government to maximise civil societys contribution and voice at this critical time. Neil Cleeveley, chief executive of Navca, said: The House of Lords Select Committee on Charities called for infrastructure bodies to work more closely together. Something we fully support. I am delighted weve agreed three asks that any incoming government will be able to implement. They are relatively modest but will result in a great deal of good for the voluntary sector. The Conservative Party, Labour Party and Liberal Democrat Party have now told CFG that they are committed to engaging with the sector. The sector has been far too quiet on Brexit, and is often only talking to itself, a panel session at CFGs annual conference said yesterday. The Brexit panel session at the conference featured Gina Miller, who previously published controversial reports about charities but is also a leading campaigner on Brexit, Fabian Picardo, the chief minister of the Government of Gibraltar, Baroness Hayter, shadow minister for the Department for Exiting the European Union, and Baroness Stedman-Scott, and was chaired by CFGs chief executive Caron Bradshaw. Speaking on the panel, Miller said that right now the sector has been far too quiet on speaking up about Brexit and how it would impact its beneficiaries. She said: It is not against the Lobbying Act to be talking about your areas and your concerns for your beneficiaries. There is very little in the media coming from the third sector and I implore you, you still have some time before the 8th June to speak up and be heard, I think that is really important. She also told charities to be cautious that they do not lose any funding as a result of Brexit, as the Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond promised that charities would not lose funding in the process. She said: Watch out, because in that wording it did say they would honour and replace funding projects that they thought were valuable, but what does that mean? How many hoops are you going to have to jump through to prove that they are value for money? She went on to say that charities need to speak out because if the economy is hit as a result of any fall-out from Brexit, charities will have to pick up the pieces. As a result, she said: Voices need to be much, much louder. Gina Miller earlier this year led a legal challenge against Brexit which argued that only Parliament can take away rights that Parliament had granted. She set up her own charity the True and Fair Foundation in 2009, which in 2015 published reports saying that the charity sector was inefficient and badly run. The Telegraph published significant amendments on its own story following criticisms of inaccuracies in the report itself. Are charities talking to themselves too much? Picardo echoed this view that charities need to speak out more, but more generally, and questioned whether the sector spends too much time talking to itself, and not enough time explaining the work it does. He said: As a relative outsider to the UK charity sector, from what I listened to in the morning and from 1,500 miles away, I hear on Radio 4 on the Today Programme charities being fined for unsolicited phone calls being made in respect of donations being sought after and I say to myself how has it come to this? The charity sector should be a sector of which everyone identifies with, and why arent we hearing that? Why arent you telling us your story? And I ask the question, as an outsider who doesnt know the detail, are you talking to yourselves too much rather than talking to the rest of the public about what it is you do? He encouraged charities to tell their own stories, saying that there does not need to be a cost to that, and that social media is a great tool for doing this. Bradshaw agreed with Picardos comment, saying I think we do talk to ourselves too much. Charities being business like Charity delegates were also told that they can be business like in the way they act on some occasions. Miller said: You can be business like without adopting the language of business, because I think that puts people off. The honesty and integrity must be front and centre, rather than getting buried in the language. Following comments made by CFGs outgoing chair Ian Theodoreson in his opening remarks that morning at the conference that said that charities have become the establishment, Baroness Hayter told charities that when you are talking to the government you want to look like the establishment. She continued: You want to be professional and you want to be well-briefed, and when you are doing that on behalf of beneficiaries I have no hang up about you looking and sounding like the establishment in that you are using all the experience you have got of working with beneficiaries. Your USP is that you do understand what is going on. Hayter also warned charities that they will have a lot of work to do in terms of Brexit legislation, when the EU regulations are turned into UK legislation. She said someone needs to look at them to ensure they are fit for purpose in their wording for vulnerable clients. She said: Only you lot are going to be able to do that so you are going to have to pour through a lot of secondary legislation to make sure there arent groups particularly affected by it. It is a big job but if you dont do it, no one is going to. Use other resources Miller also called on charities to approach lawyers and other professional services about doing pro-bono work for them, and helping them to explain how the Lobbying Act would directly impact them. She also said that there are lots of opportunities that could come from Brexit. She said: I think you can be positive in talking about the work you are doing and talking about where you are picking up the pieces, and feeding those stories to the media. Because they are already now saying they are almost fed up of the elections, they are fed up of Brexit, they want stories, and they want to hear things. This is the time to really push the stories out there of how you are making a difference. Picardo added: Youve got to tell your story and youve got to tell it quickly. Janet Thorne from Reach Volunteering argues that trustee recruitment practices are actually improving and offers some tips. Is trustee recruitment in crisis? A report was published this week with the alarming title The looming crisis in trustee recruitment. It warns of unprofessional practices threatening effectiveness of charity governance. As the chief executive of a charity which specialises in trustee recruitment, I read the report with interest. It focuses on demand side problems - how charities recruit - and this makes a welcome change from the usual approach which assumes that the issue is the supply of willing candidates. It describes familiar but important concerns including the lack of open recruitment and poor communication, and draws attention to the woeful lack of focus by charities on how they recruit trustees, given the importance of the role. We see these issues on a daily basis at Reach Volunteering so every effort to tackle them is very welcome, but the overall message of doom does not chime with my experience. Governance has taken plenty of knocking in the last couple of years, so I think its important to keep the conversation balanced. Crisis receding Far from looming, Id say that the crisis is receding, albeit very slowly. Perhaps it is unsurprising that we at Reach tend to have a more optimistic outlook, because the boards that we are talking to are the ones that have chosen to recruit openly. But even given this caveat, we are seeing trends that indicate that good practice in trustee recruitment is growing. Charities recruited an all time record of 450 trustees through Reach last year and this year we have seen a 15 per cent increase in trustee vacancies posted. There is growing acceptance that open recruitment should be standard practice, bolstered by the recommendation in the new version of the excellent Code of Good Governance . More charities are beginning to think strategically about the expertise that they want around the board table and how best to find it. We are also seeing better targeted role descriptions and more compelling copy. That said, there are plenty of charities that could up their game a little, so below are my tips to get the ball rolling. Be prepared to invest time and effort Recruitment is hard. This is true of any role, but how much harder for one which combines significant responsibility with no financial reward? If you recruit well, you can secure good trustees, but it takes considerable thought and organisation (although not necessarily money!), so you need to commit sufficient resource to the process. Believe in yourselves Honestly, lack of belief is a surprisingly common problem. Boards frequently seem doubtful that anyone would really want to join their ranks. In fact there are many people out there willing to become trustees, and some of them will be an ideal fit for your board. If you believe that your cause is important, and that your organisation is effective (and if you dont believe this, thats a larger problem!), then it is a privilege to join your board. Approach your recruitment with confidence and purpose, not apologetically. Agree who you want Clarify what your board is lacking. Which skills, qualities, expertise and lived experience will help you make more rounded decisions, ensure that your beneficiaries voice is heard, and achieve your strategy? There are many resources to help you do this. Here are a couple: The most important thing is that all of the board agrees who you want before you start recruiting. It is not uncommon to find boards debating this at the appointment stage. That is too late. Usually this is due to an underlying conflict about future direction or professionalising the board. Recruiting new trustees can be an effective way to instigate these changes, but only once everyone has signed up to it. Sell your opportunity Once you have identified who you need and why you want them, you have a good story to tell that will appeal to the right candidates. Now you need to create good recruitment copy. Sell your charity. Make a short, succinct and compelling case for why your work is so important. Make a short, succinct and compelling case for why your work is so important. Strategic direction. Explain where you are at the moment, and where you want to be in a few years time. This is the journey that you are asking the trustee to join you on. Make it interesting. Explain where you are at the moment, and where you want to be in a few years time. This is the journey that you are asking the trustee to join you on. Make it interesting. Seduce the candidate .Spell out why you looking for someone with their particular expertise. What contribution will they make to strengthening your charitys work and reaching its goals? .Spell out why you looking for someone with their particular expertise. What contribution will they make to strengthening your charitys work and reaching its goals? Summarise the role. Write a clear role description, but dont list every legal duty of a trustee. Summarise key duties, and describe the specific focus you want this trustee to have. Write a clear role description, but dont list every legal duty of a trustee. Summarise key duties, and describe the specific focus you want this trustee to have. Specify the qualities you are looking for. The more specific you are, the more likely it is that the right candidate will identify with the role. But keep an open mind: skills can be transferable across industries and sectors. It can be useful to define what it essential and what is a nice-to-have. Soft skills are important too. The more specific you are, the more likely it is that the right candidate will identify with the role. But keep an open mind: skills can be transferable across industries and sectors. It can be useful to define what it essential and what is a nice-to-have. Soft skills are important too. Promote your role widely. Promote the role on your website, use free services like Reach, job boards, and share through your networks (LinkedIn can be particularly productive). Engage early and often Trustee recruitment is a two way process. Any trustee worth their salt will want to get a good picture of your organisation and the rest of the board before committing to the role. It amazes me how often charities seem to ignore this. We see many excellent candidates drop out because the charity makes it difficult to ask questions, or worse, does not respond to their application in a timely manner. Design a recruitment process that gives candidates opportunities to get to know your work and offer an informal conversation with a board member or the CEO at an early stage. This is particularly true if you want to recruit trustees from other sectors such as digital, who are used to more informal or social ways of recruiting. Keep in mind that interested candidates are offering to shoulder a considerable responsibly for your charity, on a voluntary basis. Respect this. From Governance & Leadership Follow through There many different ways to run a good selection process. The key thing is to ensure that you get a rounded view of the candidates. Do not get blinded by impressive credentials (will they be a good team player? Will they stick around if the going gets tough?). Do not overlook transferable skills and expertise just because the candidate does not look the part. Take time to let the unsuccessful candidates down gently, and then invest more time and effort in a good induction for the appointees. Its not easy, but its worth it. Janet Thorne is the chief executive of Reach Volunteering Theresa May has yesterday launched the Conservative Partys manifesto Steve Clapperton from the Charities Aid Foundation on what weve discovered. 1. Burning injustices Upon taking office, the Prime Minister set out her vision for tackling a number of burning injustices that she had identified as facing the country. Many of these form the basis for the Conservative Partys manifesto underpinned by what we might call Mayism. On areas such as tackling the mental health crisis, providing support to asylum seekers and drawing up a charter to protect digital users, the Conservatives see a role for charities, whilst areas such as preventing domestic violence and tackling homelessness also naturally lend themselves to collaboration between charities and government. But charities also have a vital role to play in advocating for those affected by the injustices that Theresa May has identified - the gender pay gap, racial disparity, the stigma of mental health and disability discrimination to name a few. Charities ability to speak up for vulnerable and marginalised people must be respected if they are to maximise their ability to help tackle these injustices. 2. Soft power The Conservative Partys manifesto states that we have the greatest soft power of any nation. The ability to influence other countries and promote the values that we hold dear is going to be essential over the next few years, as the impact of Brexit on our international relationships becomes clear. The manifesto uses culture as an example of one way that the UK can wield soft power and amplify our voice the same rationale applies to civil society. Thousands of British charities operate across the world, and the relationships that they have developed and the impact that they made offers great potential for helping the UK to strengthen existing relationships abroad, and develop new ones. Charities must be at the heart of the UKs soft power strategy. 3. Shared Society Earlier in the year, the Prime Minister gave a speech setting out her vision of a shared society. Todays manifesto makes no mention of that. Whilst some of the themes that the Conservative Party focuses on reflects the content of Theresa Mays speech to the Charity Commission, dropping the shared society brand is surprising. It is possible, however, that this is a decision taken because the party saw the troubles that can arise when policies are beholden to an overall political vision or brand, as we saw with the Big Society. Charities might want to take the optimistic approach and assume that the rhetoric and themes of the shared society will persevere if the Prime Minister is re-elected, even if the language does not. 4. Strengthening communities Recent months have seen a number of concerns raised about community cohesion, particularly in light of some of the rhetoric before and after the EU Referendum. Proposals to involve charities in helping to tackle disharmony and bring communities back together are logical and particularly relevant for those operating on the ground at a local level. Indeed, CAF has called for charities to help monitor levels of community cohesion and work with central and local government to address issues where they do arise. This manifesto also sees a role for charities in helping to tackle extremism. Whilst there is undoubtedly a role for charities to play in promoting shared values and unity, helping to develop the concept of community and working with government to tackle issues such as extremism when they arise, it is important that their ability to unite communities is not weakened. Charities need to be allies of government, but also depend on being trusted within communities, and organisations will be wary of any new responsibilities that could weaken this community tie. 5. A vision for the future Like the other manifestos that we have seen so far, the Conservative Partys fails to offer a comprehensive vision for the role that charities can play, and makes no attempt to increase participation in giving and volunteering, two concepts which have been entirely neglected by the political debate during this campaign. Indeed, notably absent, too, is a repeat of the 2015 manifesto commitment to giving employees three days of paid leave for volunteering. Charities have so much to offer the country, but government needs to make the most of the contribution that they can make. With so many opportunities for positive collaboration, all political parties need to do more and work in tandem with the charity sector to tackle the challenges that the country faces. In that regard, this election has so far been a missed opportunity for policymakers to draw on charities experience, expertise and valued place in society. Steve Clapperton leads the campaigns and public affairs team at the Charities Aid Foundation While reporting on poverty in Appalachia for the Associated Press some years ago, I was walking a country road to the site of a grisly crime alongside two other reporters, a man from The Washington Post and a woman from a local broadcast station in West Virginia. As we bantered, the woman sighed and said that she worried how the world would see her home state upon learning the crime involved a violent cocktail of drugs, abuse, and racial hatred. She was woeful, saying something to the effect of The rest of America already thinks were so backwards. Heres another way well be ridiculed. My response at the time was a little cold: The story isnt about you; its about the story. It was a variation on a thundering grad school lecture Id heard from then-Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Jere Downs, who had pounded a classroom table with her heavy, practical shoe and repeated the phrase meant to offer us a personal code as reporters. She was warning us wed have a lot of emotional and professional friction to navigate in newsrooms, that journalism is a human and flawed endeavor, and the only things worth focusing on are the truth, finding the best telling, offering the reader more than any other writer on your beat. The West Virginian reporter nodded and went quiet with her worries; I felt a certainty in the maxim that seemed lost on her because the story touched a facet of her identity. There are times when we see the world through journalism; there are times when we see ourselves through journalism. Other times we worry about how others will see us after they read a story. Alex Tizons essay My Familys Slave in The Atlantic this week caused all the upheaval one has come to expect when that publication issues a detailed and gorgeously written cover story that dives into race, gender, and human rights. The publication has a long anti-slavery traditionit was founded by abolitionists in 1857. Sign up for CJR 's daily email It is gripping to read the story of Eudocia Tomas Pulido, known as Lola, who toiled for Tizons family and sometimes fell asleep amid piles of laundry, who doted on children every day but was never a mother or a wife, and who never had a choice otherwise. ICYMI: An interactive graphic that shows how much local news is suffering Looking at responses on social media, its clear Tizons story offers readers a Rorschach test in which everyone seemed to see something different about the human condition and their own place, resulting in a broad and discordant range of responses. The story reads like a portal into a taboo and secret world of unforgiving pain a feat of journalism where slavery is revealed to be disquietingly banal and simple in its cruelties. It is an uneasy read. For me, the story reads like a portal into a taboo and secret world of unforgiving paina feat of journalism where slavery is revealed to be disquietingly banal and simple in its cruelties. It is an uneasy read. You settle into the reality too quickly, even in your imagination. The sadness revealed in Tizons story is almost too big to comprehend, compounded by estimates there are more than 45 million people enslaved around the world today. Thats more people in unpaid servitude than there are living in my state of California. It is literally criminal what happened to Pulido and to others all over the world who toiled like her and who are toiling now. Twitter responded with urgent calls to read this important piecereminiscent of the attention Ta-Nehisi Coates Atlantic pieces have earned in the pastand questions about the ethics of this type of reporting and the behavior it revealed. Condemnations of slavery followed, where readers posed questions about what the author could have done sooner to free the woman (questions that will go unanswered; Tizon unexpectedly died before his story was published). at age 42, coincidentally 1 hour after my mother died and didn't need a slave to take care of her anymore, i realized that slavery was wrong powerful good boy (@ItsTonyNow) May 17, 2017 my favorite part of the slave article is the 'uhhh i guess i coulda turned my parents in but theyd probably like, get in trouble' raandy (@randygdub) May 17, 2017 Many leapt to condemn Tizons familya somewhat meaningless echo considering how harshly he condemned himself and his parents, who he paints in the piece as dysfunctional and cruel. Others dredged up the original obituary Tizon had placed in the Seattle Times, where Pulido is cringingly described as living a life of devotion to family though she was not kin and her devotion was involuntary. The obits original author, reporter Susan Kelleher, posted an explanation and condemnation of the lies she repeated unwittingly. In retrospect, the obituary reads as a whitewash for a fundamental truth known only to Tizon and his family: Ms. Pulido was a slave, Kelleher writes, before offering apology. TRENDING: Eleven newsletters to subscribe to if you work in media For many others, particularly those in the Filipino community, the story offered a sort of funhouse reflection of a familiar culture of immigrants and the class structures of countries long departed and the secrets we all keep for fear of being misunderstood or reviled. For these readers the recognizable devotion of a woman who went by a moniker that means grandma was warped by the pain and dysfunction of Tizons family. Online, while many Filipinos condemned the slavery the story detailed, there was also sharp outcry about how their families and society were going to be perceived. Concerns from readers of Filipino heritage ranged from objections to Tizons characterizations of slavery, to declarations their culture was under attack, to concerns the Filipino term for grandmother would be stained. Would everyones Lola be mischaracterized as a slave? OUR DECEASED GRANDMOTHERS ARE ROLLING IN THEIR GRAVES Y'ALL ACTUALLY THINK "LOLA" IS A SLAVE NAME rian (@TANGINART) May 17, 2017 lola =/= slave lola = grandmother, a sign of respect towards elder women regardless of blood relation. part of the filipino culture namictoria (@goldencircIe) May 17, 2017 To these readers, I humbly submit: Its about the story. Its not about you. Its not about your grandma, your parents, your slave. (Unless it is, and you have serious emotional labor to work through.) Or maybe this strikes close to home, to the servants your family kept, and the murky knowledge you have about their compensation and care; these are the conversations that were never had, the guilts that linger across generations without being understood. Those feelings can inspire inter-generational conversations worth having, as Jay Caspian Kangs piece on Medium demonstrates so well. Kang praises: Tizons straight-forward style was all in the service of brutal honesty. That honesty transcends any of our literary or political categories. Perhaps more than anything Ive read in recent years, it proved that any story can feel universal, even when it is about the most specific, and impossibly foreign things. Kangs note about universality is important because the article was meant for a wide readership, despite numerous calls for non-Filipinos to be wary of commenting on Filipino culture, for lack of understanding. no one is saying you can't react/contribute analysis but make sure u factor in the context of the very culture you're analyzing a literal failure (@AtomSiraullo) May 17, 2017 Americans expect us to condemn Alex Tizon right away because his family had a slave but they don't know shit about our culture Millennial of Manila (@MillennialOfMNL) May 17, 2017 But for any Westerner to fucking think they are better than us because they "abolished" slavery years ago needs to wake the fuck up. Mix (@mixsexual) May 17, 2017 The article struck a chord with a broad readership precisely because slavery is universal, and has deep roots in the US. Pulidos case comes at a time were still trying to untangle the brutality of the trans-Atlantic slave trade from our prison industrial complex that has overpopulated cells with descendants of those slaves. Understandably, some black readers objected to the soft-lens focus of Tizons writing, and the defenses of Filipinos making cultural arguments for Pulidos servitude. You're blocked if you think it's ok to tell the descendant of slaves that slave owning needs more complexity bc the owner has feels. Punch Slave Owners (@dtwps) May 17, 2017 Others recoiled at reactions that avoided addressing slavery. That "My Family's Slave" article brought out all these ppl who think checking privilege is more important than opposing slavery lol Woko Haram (@Wokieleaksalt) May 17, 2017 Diagram of the people finding cultural nuance in the domestic slave story & those who come from rich immigrant families who also own slaves pic.twitter.com/B2bsJ41wB2 Will ? Menaker (@willmenaker) May 17, 2017 Liberals: "IDENTITY ? POLITICS ? ARE ? IMPORTANT." *story about modern slave* LIberals: "SOME ?FAMILIES? ARE ?DIFFERENT? AND? THAT'S? OKAY." Jezzer (@Jezzerat) May 17, 2017 To expect a restrained response for such a tale, in the interest of cultural sensitivity, is to assume a level of dispassion that is unrealistic. No one should be asked to read Tizons unexpected confession of servitude, abuse, and emotional cataclysm with a generosity of spirit that the author himself did not exhibit. In one long threada popular way to respond to the storyjournalist Sarah Jeong dove into the relationships of the story, redefining them in ways Tizon did not. The piece isn't about the conflicting emotions of a slave-owner, it's about how much Tizon hates himself and how much he loves Lola. Sarah Jeong (@sarahjeong) May 17, 2017 Jeong calls for reading Lola as a third parent, and the underappreciated mother who Tizon actually loved instead of his own mom. In Jeongs reframing, Lola is like many wives the world overtoiling and suffering in silence through feminized labor and emotional support, for no pay. This to me is a dangerous spinning of what Tizon took pains to portray in great detail. Tizon didnt call Pulido his mother. To do so after his death is a loose reading at best, a disrespectful recasting of the painful reality at worst. If Jeong identifies a love that Lola didnt feel and Tizon wasnt able to give openly for decades, is that love real? ICYMI: Journalists, heres what to do when things start to get genuinely bad Beyond the unquestioning devotion that slavery and motherhood both demanda cutting observation of Jeongsthere are some major differences between wifery and slavery. No one got down on one knee to ask Pulido if she was willing to enter a lifelong pact of servitude. She was not courted nor wooed, nor offered tokens of love and devotion. She loved the family she cared for, till death did her part, but served the vow Tizons grandfather committed her to unwillinglyearning a paltry $800 a month later in life when Tizon urged her to retire. She never had a life of her ownshe never lived on her own, or married, or had children of her own. And tragically, as Tizon revealed, she never lost her virginity. She was never married nor loved in the way any wife deserves to be. And, importantly, she had no opportunity for divorce. Lastly, Pulido was in a country where she had human rights that went unprotected. Whatever the cultural argument within a family, slavery was made illegal in the United States with the 13th Amendment in 1865. Tizons family knew itthey hid Pulido in plain sight, avoiding questions of neighbors and any doubts that may have lived in their own hearts. Tizon feared deportation of his family if the arrangement was discovered. Yet, I understand the protective reactions of Filipinos who read Tizons story with dread, better than I understood the reaction of that reporter in West Virginia. Some threads that began as condemnations of the piece, and tipped into excruciating tellings of what tore other Filipino families apart and redefined them, creating behaviors of avoidance and saving face. 1/ Here is a long-ass thread where I try to educate well-meaning American liberals on Filipino culture re: the Tizon story in @TheAtlantic Rin Chupeco (@RinChupeco) May 17, 2017 Even vocal critics of the piece had to make concessions in their cultural defenses. this isn't to say that just bc something has been normalized in a culture makes it okay. https://t.co/2EMd3QhRpy a literal failure (@AtomSiraullo) May 17, 2017 Cultural pride and shame blend clumsily but often. I understand intimately the truth of the concern here: When audiences see people of color in their worst light, it confirms the least-educated and most fearful inclinations some had about the culture. That raises concerns about how such an article will change the way people think about Filipino families. As an Iranian-American, the response reminds me of the horror my parents felt when they watched Not Without My Daughter, the Sally Field movie based on Betty Mahmoodys story of her abusive Iranian husband. Years later, I was stunned when a friends parent asked me if my dad was abusivemy father, the pacifist who rarely raised his voice, and never a hand. I can understand the utter dread of how Pulidos story will alter the American psyche. I can understand wanting to stage a defense of the Filipino family now. But there is no defending slavery, not after reading the details of the way Pulido was dehumanized and ripped from her home and country to be demeaned and abused for decades. That is the conclusion that Tizon must have come to before penning the most personal condemnation of slavery we may ever see from a slave owner. ICYMI: 11 images that show how the Trump administration is failing at photography Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Shaya Tayefe Mohajer teaches journalism at the University of Southern California and works as a freelance journalist in Los Angeles. Previously, she was the news editor for TakePart.com and a reporter for The Associated Press. She is a graduate of New York University's masters program in journalism. Follow her on Twitter @Shaya_in_LA. On this episode of The Kicker, CJR Delacorte Fellow Pete Vernon helps me run through the weeks top media news, from the scoop war in Washington, to the state of press freedom abroad, to Roger Ailess legacy. Pete and I then take you inside the counter-narratives offered by pro-Trump media during a crazy news cycle. Finally, I interview Glenn Burkins, editor and publisher of Q City Metro, about the fate of the black press in the digital age. Subscribe via iTunes Stitcher RSS Feed SoundCloud SHOW NOTES: SAY YOU MAKE $50,000 A YEARa reporters average salary in 2016and suddenly you get $1 million. Proportionally, thats about what has just happened to Commonwealth Public Broadcasting, a public television and radio station group based in Richmond, Virginia. The organization, whose most recent public filing showed an annual revenue of $9.7 million, won $186 million in the FCCs first-ever broadcast spectrum incentive auction, in which broadcasters sold some of their over-the-air television channel space to spectrum-hungry wireless network companies. The likes of T-Mobile and Comcast spent almost $20 billion on spectrum occupied by 175 commercial and noncommercial stations. Roughly $2 billion of that total was for noncommercial station spectrum, including the spectrum for two northern Virginia stations owned by Commonwealth. Now this NPR and PBS provider in Richmond has a one-time payment of about 20 times its annual revenue to dowhat, exactly? Commonwealths leaders are trying to run an open and inclusive process to find an answer to that question. But not all big beneficiaries of the auction are doing the same. Now that the auction results are in, theres a real danger that some of the biggest winners wont use the money for local journalism or anything else in keeping with public medias mission. The airwaves are a public, natural resource. The federal government handed out most of the public media systems broadcast licenses decades ago for free, with the expectation theyd be used to inform, educate and culturally enrich the public. Now that some of those licenses have appreciated in value, it seems unconscionable for the license-holders to literally sell them to the highest bidder and use the money for anything other than the public services for which the licenses were originally intended. Sign up for weekly emails from the United States Project Maybe the money doesnt have to be used for TV. But certainly it should be used to inform, educate and culturally enrich the public, right? Corporation for Public Broadcasting board member Howard Husock argued in a 2015 article that stations should plan to invest their auction proceeds in local journalismpart of his vision of a public media system that shifts its primary focus from broadcasting national programs to filling the void left by shriveling local newspapers. Now that the auction results are in, theres a real danger that some of the biggest winners wont use the money for local journalism or anything else in keeping with public medias mission. Even at those organizations like Commonwealth that are talking about spending the money on new reporters and programs, theres a risk that the people and institutions whove supported public media in their communities all along may determine that their help is no longer needed. Theres yet another risk that leadership at newly flush stations could grow complacent in their security and lose the drive to innovate and to serve new audiences on new platforms. In the end, these spectacular spectrum auction winnings could leave public media in the United States even weaker than it was before, unless stations and their supporters work to avoid a few obvious traps. As listeners and viewers are increasingly able to get access to national programming in new ways, there will be an existential need for local stations to have original content in order to maintain local support. THE BIGGEST POTENTIAL HAZARD is that some stations might not even get the money theyve won. Remember that half of public TV stations are licensed to some bigger organization, like a university or government, which presents a number of editorial conflicts of interest. Here, it also presents a financial conflict: The license-holder gets the spectrum auction money, not the station. New Jerseys state government sold off NJTV channels in the Philly and New York markets for a combined $332 million, leading former New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean to write an op-ed pleading with state lawmakers to give at least some of that money back to the states public television system. But, as a spokesperson for New Jersey Treasurer Ford Scudder told me in an email, The FY18 budget anticipates $325M from asset sales. The Treasurer has expressed that he anticipates a portion of that coming from the FCC Broadband Spectrum Auction proceeds. Sure sounds like theyre going to use the money to plug random state budget holes. Another huge spectrum auction winner, Californias San Bernardino Community College District, sold a KVCR channel for $157 million. Station officials recently presented the colleges board with a plan that they said is dependent upon auction proceeds to modernize facilities and ramp up production to include a new local news program. However, college officials have clearly indicated that not all of the money will be going to the station. In contrast, organizations like Commonwealth Public Broadcasting in Virginia and WGBH in Boston (another big auction winner) are at an advantage here, because they are licensed to single-purpose community boards that offer no other services on which they will be tempted to spend the money. Governments or colleges that hold station licenses could make at least two good arguments as to why it would be appropriate for them to use spectrum auction proceeds on anything other than public media. First, most license-holders have spent their own money running these stations, and they deserve some of it back. Second, few of the public TV spectrum auction deals are resulting in a significant loss of service, because most of the winners say they plan to keep affected stations on the air via advances in technology that allow two channels to broadcast over spectrum that previously could only handle one. Well see if local communities hold these institutions to their promises about keeping affected channels on the air by channel sharing and other means. Its important to remember that over-the-air TV is watched by a generally more vulnerable demographic that could be harmed by even modest reductions in service. At the very least, some of the planned channel moves could result in poorer reception. Whos to say a public TV station couldnt sell off its spectrum, liquidate its broadcasting equipment, and use the resulting fortune to endow itself as a totally new, digital-only investigative news agency, like a local ProPublica? THOSE STATIONS THAT WILL KEEP THE MONEY face some hazards of their own. To the vast majority of station organizations that won no money at all, these may seem like champagne problems, but they are problems nonetheless. Say that Commonwealth put all its $186 million auction proceeds20 times its annual revenueinto an endowment. A typical nonprofit endowment would generate, on average, one-twentieth of its value each year in spendable cash. Commonwealth could theoretically fund itself in perpetuity without ever having to raise another dime from donors or sponsors. Commonwealth officials didnt reply to my request for an interview for this piece, but if theyre reading this right now, they might be shouting For Gods sake, dont make people think we dont need them anymore! When McDonalds heiress Joan Kroc bequeathed $200 million to NPR in 2003, fundraisers and lobbyists for public radio had to work against a misconception that they no longer needed anyone elses money. Public television leaders now have the same anxiety. The big auction beneficiaries would like to use that money to significantly expand, not just maintain the status quo. To do that, theyll need their spectrum proceeds and their traditional revenues. A one-time windfall of $2 billion certainly wont be enough to offset the Trump administrations goal to eliminate CPBs $445 million annual appropriation. Also, endowments are unpredictablethey lose money when the market does poorly. This is why nonprofits try to treat endowments as a supplement to incomes that are more stable on a year-to-year basis, like government appropriations. Moreover, organizations like Commonwealth will definitely not be able to invest all their auction money into an endowment. The technical expenses of moving these stations around the spectrum are likely to be enormous, and the FCC is only planning to reimburse those affected broadcasters that didnt sell any spectrum themselves. The airwaves are a public, natural resource. Maybe the money doesnt have to be used for TV. But certainly it should be used to inform, educate and culturally enrich the public, right? IN THE BEST-CASE SCENARIO, a handful of organizations that were lucky enough to own expendable spectrum in electromagnetically crowded places will be able to use their proceeds to permanently endow their existence. That presents one more hazard: complacency. Rhode Island PBS President David Piccerelli recently told me on The Pub that his board plans to place the lions share of their $94.5 million auction proceeds into an endowment, which could easily yield the organizations current budget annually. He told me he plans to hire some reporters, but also to put a lot of money toward long-deferred broadcast facility upgradesa sensible expenditure, assuming the intention is for Rhode Island PBS to go on being a television station. Theres no reason to take that as a given. Whos to say a public TV station couldnt sell off its spectrum, liquidate its broadcasting equipment, and use the resulting fortune to endow itself as a totally new, digital-only investigative news agency, like a local ProPublica? That would be something closer to what Howard Husock had in mind for the spectrum auction results. Hes in hot water with his CPB board colleagues lately because he wrote an op-ed arguing that public broadcasting, in its current form, no longer deserves federal funding. But he told me hes still hopeful that auction money could transform at least a few stations into the local news orgs he thinks they ought to be in the 21st century. Thats in the enlightened self-interest of local licensees, Husock wrote. As listeners and viewers are increasingly able to get access to national programming in new ways, there will be an existential need for local stations to have original content in order to maintain local support. Perhaps the biggest risk of the spectrum auction is that some stations will use the money to just keep offering the same old national programming for which there will eventually be little local supportbecause, now, they dont need any support at all. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Adam Ragusea is a journalist in residence and visiting assistant professor at Mercer Universitys Center for Collaborative Journalism and hosts Current.orgs podcast The Pub. I would like to create an android app that will predict football result..i am planning to use neural networks behind to work in the app...how can i go about it..the difficult side is to apply the algorithm...am i going to code it or what should i do.. Member 13208523 wrote: .how can i go about it By starting. "One man's wage rise is another man's price increase." - Harold Wilson "Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it." - Michael Simmons "You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him." - James D. Miles Member 13208523 wrote: am i going to code it Well that would be a good start. I am trying to create an app to get location and make it location change aware. I wrote an article that covers the basics of this concept; Ok Android, Broadcast my location! The sh*t I complain about It's like there ain't a cloud in the sky and it's raining out - Eminem ~! Firewall !~ here, and here (preferred). "One man's wage rise is another man's price increase." - Harold Wilson "Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it." - Michael Simmons "You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him." - James D. Miles I used jdbc ("net.sourceforge.jtds.jdbc.Driver" -jtds-1.3.1.jar)for My Android Application: String ip = "192.168.3.67"; String classs = "net.sourceforge.jtds.jdbc.Driver"; String db = "QLNV"; String un = "sa"; String password = "admin"; StrictMode.ThreadPolicy policy = new StrictMode.ThreadPolicy.Builder().permitAll().build(); StrictMode.setThreadPolicy(policy); Connection conn = null; String ConnURL = null; try { Class.forName(classs); ConnURL = "jdbc:jtds:sqlserver://" + ip + ";" + "databaseName=" + db + ";user=" + un + ";password=" + password + ";"; conn = DriverManager.getConnection(ConnURL);... I tested it on Android Emulator: it worked well but I tested it on my Android phone: it maybe not worked well. I don't know why? please help me, thanks much.. Software rusts. Simon Stephenson, ca 1994. So does this signature. me, 2012 in AndroidManifest.xml So can help me? thanhs a lot! Software rusts. Simon Stephenson, ca 1994. So does this signature. me, 2012 Member 11900140 wrote: on my Android phone: it maybe not worked well. You need to explain what that means, we cannot guess what failures or errors you see. "One man's wage rise is another man's price increase." - Harold Wilson "Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it." - Michael Simmons "You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him." - James D. Miles Twice...because once is never enough. "One man's wage rise is another man's price increase." - Harold Wilson "Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it." - Michael Simmons "You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him." - James D. Miles Short Video Demonstration of the issue(s) I have developed a recipe search application that obtains data from an API and it allows the user to view and save the data. My android application uses multiple fragments within one activity. They share one container and when a new fragment is loaded it replaces the old fragment. My application has the following fragments: Home, Search, Filters, RecipeView and more. I am experiencing multiple issues with popping the fragment back stack once a search has been carried out or a favourite recipe has been displayed. The search fragment is a grid view that uses a custom adapter, and to perform a search the user uses a toolbar search view which executes code upon pressing the submit (return) button. The home fragment is displayed first allowing a user to click a quick search button such as breakfast, clicking the button displays the search fragment with results from the API. The user can then click on an item which opens the RecipeView fragment, pressing the back button on these fragments does not cause an issue and a user can navigate back to the previous fragments including the home one that was displayed initially. Additionally, a user can navigate to the search fragment using the navigation drawer. The search fragment allows the user to perform a search or click a filter via buttons on the toolbar. Clicking the search icon/button allows a user to enter text and once they press enter/return the search is perform and the grid view is populated. Prior to performing a search or clicking the search button, pressing the filter button displays the filters fragment and from there, pressing the back button will allow a user to navigate back to the search view fragment. If the user presses the search button which will open the search view menu item (allowing text input on the toolbar) and then presses the filters button, the filters activity is displayed. However, pressing the back button does not navigate to the previous fragment, it removes the focus from the toolbar. Pressing the back button again still does not navigate back and changes the toolbars text back to the search fragments specified title ("Recipe Search"). Pressing the back button again will then navigate back to the search fragment, removing the filters fragment from sight. I have tried removing the focus from the toolbar so that pressing back is not removing toolbars focus and the app still requires three back button presses. Furthermore, I am having another issue with fragments overlaying each other. From the home fragment that is loaded on create, if a user navigates using the side menu to the favourites fragment, a list of the saved favourites in a grid view are shown using the search fragment. Pressing the back button from the search fragment does not cause any issues and the app will navigate back to the home fragment; additionally, clicking a recipe will open the RecipeView fragment displaying a recipes information. The issue arises from here. If the back button is pressed the app will navigate backwards loading the home fragment not the search fragment and the recipe fragment stays on screen causing both fragments to overlap. Pressing the back button again will remove the home fragment and leave the recipe fragment in the container; pressing the back button again will close the application (The search fragment is not shown and the order is incorrect). Attempts 1. I have tried implementing this ([Avoid fragments overlapping][2]) 2. I have tried calling classes using a new instance method rather than creating new ones in the MainActivity 3. I have tried to add fragments rather than replace them 4. I have tried overriding the back button press 5. I have tried addToBackStack(null) & addToBackStack(FragmentTag) 6. I have tried to remove all views from the frame layout within my fragment handler method Thank you for taking the time to read my post java - (Short Video Demo) Fragment back navigation issue and overlapping fragments using a frame layout - Stack Overflow[^] Daniel Ali delete.Thanks modified 17-May-17 4:55am. I have created android application to stream online radio stations but when I click start button to play radio it won't start.In service I read ip address of file from url and add it to string.When user selects radio station I add port to string with ip address. Java public class BackgroundService extends Service implements OnCompletionListener { MediaPlayer mediaPlayer; private String STREAM_URL; final String textSource = " http://audiophileradio.stream/Ip.txt" ; @Override public IBinder onBind(Intent intent) { return null; } @Override public void onCreate() { } @Override public int onStartCommand(Intent intent, int flags, int startId) { new MyTask().execute(); return START_STICKY; } public void onDestroy() { if (mediaPlayer.isPlaying()) { mediaPlayer.stop(); } mediaPlayer.release(); } public void onCompletion(MediaPlayer _mediaPlayer) { stopSelf(); } @Override public boolean onUnbind(Intent intent) { return super .onUnbind(intent); } private class MyTask extends AsyncTask { String textResult; @Override protected String doInBackground(Void... params) { URL textUrl; try { textUrl = new URL(textSource); BufferedReader bufferReader = new BufferedReader( new InputStreamReader(textUrl.openStream())); String StringBuffer; String stringText = " " ; while ((StringBuffer = bufferReader.readLine()) != null) { stringText += StringBuffer; } bufferReader.close(); textResult = stringText; return textResult; } catch (MalformedURLException e) { e.printStackTrace(); textResult = e.toString(); } catch (IOException e) { e.printStackTrace(); textResult = e.toString(); } return null; } @Override protected void onPostExecute( String result) { Log.d( " DebugTag" , " Value: " + textResult); super .onPostExecute(result); SharedPreferences sharedPreferences = PreferenceManager.getDefaultSharedPreferences(BackgroundService. this ); String radio = sharedPreferences.getString( " station" , " 8000" ); if (radio != null) { STREAM_URL += " :" + radio; } mediaPlayer = new MediaPlayer(); if (!mediaPlayer.isPlaying()) { try { mediaPlayer.reset(); mediaPlayer.setDataSource(STREAM_URL); mediaPlayer.prepareAsync(); mediaPlayer.setOnPreparedListener( new MediaPlayer.OnPreparedListener() { @Override public void onPrepared(MediaPlayer mp) { mediaPlayer.start(); } }); } catch (IOException e) { e.printStackTrace(); } } mediaPlayer.setOnCompletionListener(BackgroundService. this ); } } } Main.java Java public class Main extends Fragment { private ImageButton buttonPlay; private MediaPlayer mPlayer; Intent playbackServiceIntent; private SeekBar volumeSeekbar = null; private AudioManager audioManager = null; View view; @Nullable @Override public View onCreateView(LayoutInflater inflater, @Nullable ViewGroup container, @Nullable Bundle savedInstanceState) { view = inflater.inflate(R.layout.fragment_main,container,false); buttonPlay = (ImageButton) view.findViewById(R.id.buttonPlay); mPlayer = new MediaPlayer(); initControls(); buttonPlay.setTag( 1 ); buttonPlay.setImageResource(R.drawable.play); buttonPlay.setOnClickListener( new View.OnClickListener() { @Override public void onClick(View view) { if (Integer.parseInt(buttonPlay.getTag().toString()) == 1 ) { buttonPlay.setImageResource(R.drawable.stop); view.setTag( 0 ); getActivity().startService(playbackServiceIntent); Log.e( " Play" , " onStop" ); Toast.makeText(getActivity(), " Play" , Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show(); } else { buttonPlay.setImageResource(R.drawable.play); view.setTag( 1 ); mPlayer.stop(); getActivity().stopService(playbackServiceIntent); Log.e( " Stop" , " onPlay" ); Toast.makeText(getActivity(), " Stop" , Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show(); } } }); playbackServiceIntent = new Intent(getActivity(), BackgroundService. class ); return view; } @Override public void onViewCreated(View view, @Nullable Bundle savedInstanceState) { super .onViewCreated(view, savedInstanceState); getActivity().setTitle( " Audiophileradio" ); } private void startService() { getActivity().startService( new Intent(getActivity(),BackgroundService. class )); } private void stopService() { getActivity().stopService( new Intent(getActivity(),BackgroundService. class )); } private void initControls() { try { volumeSeekbar = (SeekBar) view.findViewById(R.id.seekBar); audioManager = (AudioManager) getActivity().getSystemService(Context.AUDIO_SERVICE); volumeSeekbar.setMax(audioManager .getStreamMaxVolume(AudioManager.STREAM_MUSIC)); volumeSeekbar.setProgress(audioManager .getStreamVolume(AudioManager.STREAM_MUSIC)); volumeSeekbar.setOnSeekBarChangeListener( new SeekBar.OnSeekBarChangeListener() { @Override public void onStopTrackingTouch(SeekBar arg0) { } @Override public void onStartTrackingTouch(SeekBar arg0) { } @Override public void onProgressChanged(SeekBar arg0, int progress, boolean arg2) { audioManager.setStreamVolume(AudioManager.STREAM_MUSIC, progress, 0 ); } }); } catch (Exception e) { e.printStackTrace(); } } } modified 13-May-17 9:54am. I created android application to stream online radio stations but it doesn't work.I want to read ip address from url and assign it to string and when user selects radio to listen I should add port to that string!!! Java public class BackgroundService extends Service implements OnCompletionListener { MediaPlayer mediaPlayer; private String STREAM_URL; @Override public IBinder onBind(Intent intent) { return null; } @Override public void onCreate() { final StringBuilder text = new StringBuilder(); new Thread( new Runnable() { public void run() { try { URL url = new URL( " http://audiophileradio.stream/Ip.txt" ); HttpURLConnection conn=(HttpURLConnection) url.openConnection(); BufferedReader in = new BufferedReader( new InputStreamReader(conn.getInputStream())); String str; while ((str = in.readLine()) != null) { text.append(str); } in.close(); text.insert(text.length(), " :8000" ); } catch (Exception e) { Log.d( " MyTag" ,e.toString()); } } }).start(); SharedPreferences sharedPreferences = PreferenceManager.getDefaultSharedPreferences( this ); String radio = sharedPreferences.getString( " station" , " 8000" ); if (radio != null && radio.equals( " 8000" )) { text.append( " :8000" ); STREAM_URL = text.toString(); Toast.makeText( this ,STREAM_URL,Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show(); } if (radio != null && radio.equals( " 8010" )) { text.append( " :8010" ); STREAM_URL = text.toString(); } if (radio != null && radio.equals( " 8020" )) { text.append( " :8020" ); STREAM_URL = text.toString(); } if (radio != null && radio.equals( " 8030" )) { text.append( " :8030" ); STREAM_URL = text.toString(); } mediaPlayer = new MediaPlayer(); try { mediaPlayer.setDataSource(STREAM_URL); } catch (IOException e) { e.printStackTrace(); } mediaPlayer.setOnCompletionListener( this ); } @Override public int onStartCommand(Intent intent, int flags, int startId) { if (!mediaPlayer.isPlaying()) { try { mediaPlayer.reset(); mediaPlayer.setDataSource(STREAM_URL); mediaPlayer.prepareAsync(); mediaPlayer.setOnPreparedListener( new MediaPlayer.OnPreparedListener() { @Override public void onPrepared(MediaPlayer mp) { mediaPlayer.start(); } }); } catch (IOException e) { e.printStackTrace(); } } return START_STICKY; } public void onDestroy() { if (mediaPlayer.isPlaying()) { mediaPlayer.stop(); } mediaPlayer.release(); } public void onCompletion(MediaPlayer _mediaPlayer) { stopSelf(); } @Override public boolean onUnbind(Intent intent) { return super .onUnbind(intent); } } 05-12 10:35:48.625 17340-17340/? I/SELinux: Function: selinux_android_load_priority [0], There is no sepolicy file. 05-12 10:35:48.625 17340-17340/? I/SELinux: Function: selinux_android_load_priority [1], There is no sepolicy version file. 05-12 10:35:48.625 17340-17340/? I/SELinux: Function: selinux_android_load_priority , priority version is VE=SEPF_GT-I9301I_4.4.2_0055 05-12 10:35:48.625 17340-17340/? I/SELinux: selinux_android_seapp_context_reload: seapp_contexts file is loaded from /seapp_contexts 05-12 10:35:48.625 17340-17340/? D/dalvikvm: Late-enabling CheckJNI 05-12 10:35:48.835 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio I/dalvikvm: Could not find method android.view.Window.setStatusBarColor, referenced from method audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio.MainActivity.onCreate 05-12 10:35:48.835 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/dalvikvm: VFY: unable to resolve virtual method 21917: Landroid/view/Window;.setStatusBarColor (I)V 05-12 10:35:48.835 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio D/dalvikvm: VFY: replacing opcode 0x6e at 0x0081 05-12 10:35:48.865 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio I/dalvikvm: Could not find method android.view.Window$Callback.onProvideKeyboardShortcuts, referenced from method android.support.v7.view.WindowCallbackWrapper.onProvideKeyboardShortcuts 05-12 10:35:48.865 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/dalvikvm: VFY: unable to resolve interface method 21896: Landroid/view/Window$Callback;.onProvideKeyboardShortcuts (Ljava/util/List;Landroid/view/Menu;I)V 05-12 10:35:48.865 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio D/dalvikvm: VFY: replacing opcode 0x72 at 0x0002 05-12 10:35:48.875 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/dalvikvm: VFY: unable to find class referenced in signature (Landroid/view/SearchEvent;) 05-12 10:35:48.875 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio I/dalvikvm: Could not find method android.view.Window$Callback.onSearchRequested, referenced from method android.support.v7.view.WindowCallbackWrapper.onSearchRequested 05-12 10:35:48.875 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/dalvikvm: VFY: unable to resolve interface method 21898: Landroid/view/Window$Callback;.onSearchRequested (Landroid/view/SearchEvent;)Z 05-12 10:35:48.875 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio D/dalvikvm: VFY: replacing opcode 0x72 at 0x0002 05-12 10:35:48.875 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio I/dalvikvm: Could not find method android.view.Window$Callback.onWindowStartingActionMode, referenced from method android.support.v7.view.WindowCallbackWrapper.onWindowStartingActionMode 05-12 10:35:48.875 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/dalvikvm: VFY: unable to resolve interface method 21902: Landroid/view/Window$Callback;.onWindowStartingActionMode (Landroid/view/ActionMode$Callback;I)Landroid/view/ActionMode; 05-12 10:35:48.875 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio D/dalvikvm: VFY: replacing opcode 0x72 at 0x0002 05-12 10:35:48.875 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio I/dalvikvm: Could not find method android.content.res.TypedArray.getChangingConfigurations, referenced from method android.support.v7.widget.TintTypedArray.getChangingConfigurations 05-12 10:35:48.875 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/dalvikvm: VFY: unable to resolve virtual method 505: Landroid/content/res/TypedArray;.getChangingConfigurations ()I 05-12 10:35:48.875 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio D/dalvikvm: VFY: replacing opcode 0x6e at 0x0002 05-12 10:35:48.875 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio I/dalvikvm: Could not find method android.content.res.TypedArray.getType, referenced from method android.support.v7.widget.TintTypedArray.getType 05-12 10:35:48.875 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/dalvikvm: VFY: unable to resolve virtual method 527: Landroid/content/res/TypedArray;.getType (I)I 05-12 10:35:48.875 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio D/dalvikvm: VFY: replacing opcode 0x6e at 0x0008 05-12 10:35:48.965 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio I/dalvikvm: Could not find method android.content.Context.getColorStateList, referenced from method android.support.v7.content.res.AppCompatResources.getColorStateList 05-12 10:35:48.965 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/dalvikvm: VFY: unable to resolve virtual method 316: Landroid/content/Context;.getColorStateList (I)Landroid/content/res/ColorStateList; 05-12 10:35:48.965 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio D/dalvikvm: VFY: replacing opcode 0x6e at 0x0006 05-12 10:35:49.175 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio I/dalvikvm: Could not find method android.content.res.Resources.getDrawable, referenced from method android.support.v7.widget.ResourcesWrapper.getDrawable 05-12 10:35:49.175 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/dalvikvm: VFY: unable to resolve virtual method 468: Landroid/content/res/Resources;.getDrawable (ILandroid/content/res/Resources$Theme;)Landroid/graphics/drawable/Drawable; 05-12 10:35:49.175 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio D/dalvikvm: VFY: replacing opcode 0x6e at 0x0002 05-12 10:35:49.175 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio I/dalvikvm: Could not find method android.content.res.Resources.getDrawableForDensity, referenced from method android.support.v7.widget.ResourcesWrapper.getDrawableForDensity 05-12 10:35:49.175 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/dalvikvm: VFY: unable to resolve virtual method 470: Landroid/content/res/Resources;.getDrawableForDensity (IILandroid/content/res/Resources$Theme;)Landroid/graphics/drawable/Drawable; 05-12 10:35:49.175 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio D/dalvikvm: VFY: replacing opcode 0x6e at 0x0002 05-12 10:35:49.185 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio E/dalvikvm: Could not find class 'android.graphics.drawable.RippleDrawable', referenced from method android.support.v7.widget.AppCompatImageHelper.hasOverlappingRendering 05-12 10:35:49.185 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/dalvikvm: VFY: unable to resolve instanceof 150 (Landroid/graphics/drawable/RippleDrawable;) in Landroid/support/v7/widget/AppCompatImageHelper; 05-12 10:35:49.185 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio D/dalvikvm: VFY: replacing opcode 0x20 at 0x000c 05-12 10:35:49.315 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio D/ProgressBar: setProgressDrawable drawableHeight = 24 05-12 10:35:49.335 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio D/AbsSeekBar: AbsSeekBar Constructor: misSeebarAnimationAvailable = false 05-12 10:35:49.345 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio D/ProgressBar: setProgressDrawable drawableHeight = 24 05-12 10:35:49.345 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio D/ProgressBar: setProgressDrawable getHeight() = 0 05-12 10:35:49.345 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio D/ProgressBar: updateDrawableBounds: left = 0 05-12 10:35:49.345 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio D/ProgressBar: updateDrawableBounds: top = 0 05-12 10:35:49.345 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio D/ProgressBar: updateDrawableBounds: right = -64 05-12 10:35:49.345 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio D/ProgressBar: updateDrawableBounds: bottom = 0 05-12 10:35:49.345 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio D/ProgressBar: updateDrawableBounds: mProgressDrawable.setBounds() 05-12 10:35:49.365 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio V/MediaPlayer-JNI: native_setup 05-12 10:35:49.365 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio V/MediaPlayer: constructor 05-12 10:35:49.365 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio V/MediaPlayer: setListener 05-12 10:35:49.365 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio E/MediaPlayer-JNI: QCMediaPlayer mediaplayer NOT present 05-12 10:35:49.405 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio V/MediaPlayer-JNI: native_setup 05-12 10:35:49.405 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio V/MediaPlayer: constructor 05-12 10:35:49.405 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio V/MediaPlayer: setListener 05-12 10:35:49.405 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio E/MediaPlayer-JNI: QCMediaPlayer mediaplayer NOT present 05-12 10:35:49.415 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio D/dalvikvm: DexOpt: couldn't find field Landroid/app/Notification;.headsUpContentView 05-12 10:35:49.415 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/dalvikvm: VFY: unable to resolve instance field 14 05-12 10:35:49.415 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio D/dalvikvm: VFY: replacing opcode 0x5b at 0x005d 05-12 10:35:49.415 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio D/dalvikvm: DexOpt: couldn't find field Landroid/app/Notification;.headsUpContentView 05-12 10:35:49.415 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/dalvikvm: VFY: unable to resolve instance field 14 05-12 10:35:49.415 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio D/dalvikvm: VFY: replacing opcode 0x5b at 0x004c 05-12 10:35:49.415 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio D/dalvikvm: DexOpt: couldn't find field Landroid/app/Notification;.headsUpContentView 05-12 10:35:49.415 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio I/dalvikvm: DexOpt: unable to optimize instance field ref 0x000e at 0x54 in Landroid/support/v7/app/NotificationCompat;.addHeadsUpToBuilderLollipop 05-12 10:35:49.415 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio D/dalvikvm: DexOpt: couldn't find field Landroid/app/Notification;.headsUpContentView 05-12 10:35:49.415 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio I/dalvikvm: DexOpt: unable to optimize instance field ref 0x000e at 0x61 in Landroid/support/v7/app/NotificationCompat;.addHeadsUpToBuilderLollipop 05-12 10:35:49.485 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio I/Adreno-EGL: : EGL 1.4 QUALCOMM build: () OpenGL ES Shader Compiler Version: E031.24.00.07 Build Date: 01/27/14 Mon Local Branch: base_au149_adreno_au169_patches Remote Branch: Local Patches: Reconstruct Branch: 05-12 10:35:49.605 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio D/OpenGLRenderer: Enabling debug mode 0 05-12 10:35:49.615 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio D/ProgressBar: updateDrawableBounds: left = 0 05-12 10:35:49.615 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio D/ProgressBar: updateDrawableBounds: top = 0 05-12 10:35:49.615 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio D/ProgressBar: updateDrawableBounds: right = 568 05-12 10:35:49.615 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio D/ProgressBar: updateDrawableBounds: bottom = 68 05-12 10:35:49.615 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio D/ProgressBar: updateDrawableBounds: mProgressDrawable.setBounds() 05-12 10:35:49.625 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio I/dalvikvm: Could not find method android.support.v7.widget.LinearLayoutCompat.drawableHotspotChanged, referenced from method android.support.design.internal.ForegroundLinearLayout.drawableHotspotChanged 05-12 10:35:49.625 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/dalvikvm: VFY: unable to resolve virtual method 18400: Landroid/support/v7/widget/LinearLayoutCompat;.drawableHotspotChanged (FF)V 05-12 10:35:49.625 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio D/dalvikvm: VFY: replacing opcode 0x6f at 0x0000 05-12 10:36:19.895 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio E/Play: onPlay 05-12 10:36:19.955 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio V/MediaPlayer-JNI: native_setup 05-12 10:36:19.955 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio V/MediaPlayer: constructor 05-12 10:36:19.965 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio V/MediaPlayer: setListener 05-12 10:36:19.965 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio E/MediaPlayer-JNI: QCMediaPlayer mediaplayer NOT present 05-12 10:36:20.005 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio E/MediaPlayer: Unable to create media player 05-12 10:36:20.005 17340-17352/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio V/MediaPlayer: message received msg=8, ext1=0, ext2=0 05-12 10:36:20.005 17340-17352/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio V/MediaPlayer: notify(8, 0, 0) callback on disconnected mediaplayer 05-12 10:36:20.015 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/System.err: java.io.IOException: setDataSource failed.: status=0x80000000 05-12 10:36:20.015 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/System.err: at android.media.MediaPlayer._setDataSource(Native Method) 05-12 10:36:20.015 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/System.err: at android.media.MediaPlayer.setDataSource(MediaPlayer.java:1317) 05-12 10:36:20.015 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/System.err: at android.media.MediaPlayer.setDataSource(MediaPlayer.java:1240) 05-12 10:36:20.015 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/System.err: at audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio.BackgroundService.onCreate(BackgroundService.java:107) 05-12 10:36:20.015 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/System.err: at android.app.ActivityThread.handleCreateService(ActivityThread.java:2736) 05-12 10:36:20.015 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/System.err: at android.app.ActivityThread.access$1900(ActivityThread.java:169) 05-12 10:36:20.015 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/System.err: at android.app.ActivityThread$H.handleMessage(ActivityThread.java:1359) 05-12 10:36:20.015 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/System.err: at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:102) 05-12 10:36:20.015 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/System.err: at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:136) 05-12 10:36:20.015 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/System.err: at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:5476) 05-12 10:36:20.015 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/System.err: at java.lang.reflect.Method.invokeNative(Native Method) 05-12 10:36:20.015 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/System.err: at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:515) 05-12 10:36:20.015 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/System.err: at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:1283) 05-12 10:36:20.015 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/System.err: at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:1099) 05-12 10:36:20.015 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/System.err: at de.robv.android.xposed.XposedBridge.main(XposedBridge.java:132) 05-12 10:36:20.015 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/System.err: at dalvik.system.NativeStart.main(Native Method) 05-12 10:36:20.015 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio V/MediaPlayer: isPlaying: no active player 05-12 10:36:20.015 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio V/MediaPlayer-JNI: isPlaying: 0 05-12 10:36:20.015 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio V/MediaPlayer-JNI: reset 05-12 10:36:20.015 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio V/MediaPlayer: reset 05-12 10:36:20.015 17340-17352/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio V/MediaPlayer: message received msg=8, ext1=0, ext2=0 05-12 10:36:20.015 17340-17352/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio V/MediaPlayer: notify(8, 0, 0) callback on disconnected mediaplayer 05-12 10:36:20.015 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio E/MediaPlayer: Unable to create media player 05-12 10:36:20.015 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/System.err: java.io.IOException: setDataSource failed.: status=0x80000000 05-12 10:36:20.025 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/System.err: at android.media.MediaPlayer._setDataSource(Native Method) 05-12 10:36:20.025 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/System.err: at android.media.MediaPlayer.setDataSource(MediaPlayer.java:1317) 05-12 10:36:20.025 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/System.err: at android.media.MediaPlayer.setDataSource(MediaPlayer.java:1240) 05-12 10:36:20.025 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/System.err: at audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio.BackgroundService.onStartCommand(BackgroundService.java:124) 05-12 10:36:20.025 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/System.err: at android.app.ActivityThread.handleServiceArgs(ActivityThread.java:2883) 05-12 10:36:20.025 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/System.err: at android.app.ActivityThread.access$2200(ActivityThread.java:169) 05-12 10:36:20.025 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/System.err: at android.app.ActivityThread$H.handleMessage(ActivityThread.java:1374) 05-12 10:36:20.025 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/System.err: at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:102) 05-12 10:36:20.025 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/System.err: at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:136) 05-12 10:36:20.025 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/System.err: at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:5476) 05-12 10:36:20.025 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/System.err: at java.lang.reflect.Method.invokeNative(Native Method) 05-12 10:36:20.025 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/System.err: at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:515) 05-12 10:36:20.025 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/System.err: at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:1283) 05-12 10:36:20.025 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/System.err: at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:1099) 05-12 10:36:20.035 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/System.err: at de.robv.android.xposed.XposedBridge.main(XposedBridge.java:132) 05-12 10:36:20.035 17340-17340/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio W/System.err: at dalvik.system.NativeStart.main(Native Method) 05-12 10:36:20.195 17340-19228/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio I/System.out: Thread-66912(HTTPLog):isShipBuild true 05-12 10:36:20.195 17340-19228/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio I/System.out: Thread-66912(HTTPLog):SmartBonding Enabling is false, SHIP_BUILD is true, log to file is false, DBG is false 05-12 10:36:20.425 17340-19228/audiophileradio.example.com.audiophileradio D/MyTag: java.lang.RuntimeException: Can't create handler inside thread that has not called Looper.prepare() http://audiophileradio.stream/Ip.txt, your preferences/append code is also accessing the text variable. What's the possibility of that happening out of order? Pavlex4 wrote: mediaPlayer.setDataSource(STREAM_URL); Have you tried hard-coding the value passed to setDataSource() to see if the reset of your player-related code is correct? This is unrelated to the problem you are having, but the four if() tests are not as efficient as they could be. You are checking radio 's value four more times than is necessary. Consider: if (radio != null ) { text.append( ' :' ).append(radio); STREAM_URL = text.toString(); Toast.makeText( this , STREAM_URL, Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show(); } "One man's wage rise is another man's price increase." - Harold Wilson "Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it." - Michael Simmons "You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him." - James D. Miles Citing a record season, Quebec City has announced an agreement to provide additional cruise berthing options at the Quai Paquet. The agreement with the Ville de Levis for use of the Quai Paquet offers the opportunity to accommodate more vessels, giving cruise lines a variety of berthing options, according to a statement. The Quai Paquet, located within port territory and run by Quebec Port Authority, is a short ferry ride away on the other side of the St. Lawrence River, with spectacular views of the iconic Chateau Frontenac. The first ship to call at the wharf is the Saga Sapphire on October 1, 2017. We are thrilled to announce this agreement with the Ville de Levis as we continue to develop the Port of Quebec to make cruising CanadaNew England a leading international attraction, said Mario Girard, president and CEO of the Quebec Port Authority. With the start of our cruise season in early May and the recent announcement of Disney calling at Quebec, we are confident we will continue to reach record-breaking visitor numbers. The 2017 cruise season promises to be the best in the Port of Quebecs history, with a record 131 calls by 34 separate cruise ships from 25 different linesfive more ships than in 2015, the citys best year on record, according to a statement. Five ships will be visiting the Port of Quebec for the first time in 2017: Le Soleal ,Viking Sky , Viking Sea ,Silver Muse and Norwegian Jade. Lois Kitsch loves credit unions, and she travels around the world supporting themeven to Afghanistan. I love credit unions because I see them as a vehicle for change to help families grow, not only financially, but spiritually and emotionally, she tells the CUNA News Podcast. A family who isnt worried about money can focus on things that are really important in life: children, health, and community. Kitsch directs a number of programs for the National Credit Union Foundation including Real Solutions, which helps credit unions serve financially underserved consumers. She also facilitates the Foundations popular Credit Union Development Education (DE) Program, which provides critical lessons in cooperative principles, credit union philosophy, and international development while incorporating challenges credit unions face today. Kitsch has also focused on international development projects during her career with the World Council of Credit Unions. Those projects have aimed to build financial capability through cooperatives in some of the worlds poorest areas, including the Philippines, Afghanistan, and Africa. EU Nations Expand Their Cyber Defences More European countries have been widening the scope of their cyber defence operations. Finland has rolled out significant legislative and intelligence facility funding proposals meant to strengthen national security and cyber-defence infrastructure. One major initiative includes the establishment in Helsinki of the NATO-supported European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats, or ECE-CHT. On the legislative side, Finlands military and national security agencies will receive more expansive powers to conduct intelligence gathering inside and outside Finlands borders. The initiatives take place as Nordic national and military intelligence agencies issue fresh warnings regarding a potential escalation in cyber-attacks, mainly from Russian sources, that could target their critical government, defense and national security IT platforms. Apart from Finland, the countries backing ECE-CHT include France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden and Britain. Other states are expected to join the ECE-CHT, which is due to be open in the second half of 2017. The center will provide NATO with an additional counter-hybrid strategy resource. Other centers of excellence that already contribute to NATOs efforts to counter hybrid threats are operating in Riga, Latvia, and Tallinn, Estonia. The enhancement of surveillance powers for the military and national security agencies is fronted by legislative bills advanced by the ministries of Defence, Justice and the Interior. Finlands national security agency, SUPO, will be able to gather and process technically based intelligence from cross-border network traffic for the first time. The powers currently available to Finlands military intelligence are being expanded to bolster the countrys defence capabilities. These will give the armed forces greater legal authority to conduct human, signals, information system and telecommunications intelligence operations, said Hanna Nordstrom, the ministerial working groups chairperson. One objective of strengthened security operations would be to obtain information on relevant foreign military behavior and intelligence activities, and activities that pose a threat to public order, the development and distribution of military materials, and international crises, Nordstrom said. I-HLS: You Might Also Read: Global C4ISR Has A Cyber Warfare Surge: How A Cyber Attack Transformed Estonia: Warning Over Russia's Cyber Warfare Methods: Zendesk, Inc., a software development company, provides software as a service solutions for organizations in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. Its flagship product is Zendesk Support, a system for tracking, prioritizing, and solving customer support tickets across various channels. The company also offers Zendesk Chat, a live chat and messaging software to connect with customers on websites and mobile devices applications; Zendesk Talk, a cloud-based call center software; Zendesk Guide, a knowledge base that powers customer self-service and support agent productivity; Zendesk Gather, a community forum software that allows customer end-users to connect and collaborate; Zendesk Explore, which provides analytics for organizations to measure and enhance the customer experience; and Zendesk Sell, a sales customer relationship management (CRM) product solution to enhance productivity, processes, and pipeline visibility. In addition, it provides Zendesk Sunshine, a CRM platform; Sunshine Conversations, a messaging platform solution; Zendesk Developer Tools, a combination of application programming interfaces, web widget, and mobile software development kits; Zendesk APIs that allow users to build custom integrations and interact with Zendesk data; and Zendesk Apps that enable organizations to customize Zendesk product and platform solution interfaces and optimize workflow through plug-ins, as well as Zendesk Suite, an omnichannel offering, which combines its solutions. The company was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California. Nucor Corporation manufactures and sells steel and steel products. The company's Steel Mills segment produces hot-rolled, cold-rolled, and galvanized sheet steel products; plate steel products; wide-flange beams, beam blanks, and H-piling and sheet piling products; and bar steel products, such as blooms, billets, concrete reinforcing and merchant bars, and special bar quality products. It also engages in the steel trading and rebar distribution businesses. This segment sells its products to steel service centers, fabricators, and manufacturers in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Its Steel Products segment offers hollow structural section steel tubing products, electrical conduits, steel racking, steel joists and joist girders, steel decks, fabricated concrete reinforcing steel products, cold finished steel products, steel fasteners, metal building systems, insulated metal panels, steel grating and expanded metal products, and wire and wire mesh products primarily for use in nonresidential construction applications. This segment also engages in the piling distribution business. The company's Raw Materials segment produces direct reduced iron (DRI); brokers ferrous and nonferrous metals, pig iron, hot briquetted iron, and DRI; supplies ferro-alloys; and processes ferrous and nonferrous scrap metal, as well as engages in the natural gas drilling operations. This segment sells its ferrous scrap to electric arc furnace steel mills and foundries for manufacturing process; and nonferrous scrap metal to aluminum can producers, secondary aluminum smelters, steel mills and other processors, and consumers of various nonferrous metals. It serves agriculture, automotive, construction, energy and transmission, oil and gas, heavy equipment, infrastructure, and transportation industries through its in-house sales force; and internal distribution and trading companies. Nucor Corporation was incorporated in 1958 and is based in Charlotte, North Carolina. China Telecom has launched what it describes as the worlds most extensive new-generation commercial narrow-band IoT (NB-IoT) network. The Chinese Number Three first announced its goal of providing nationwide NB-IoT coverage in July 2016, following the confirmation of 3GPP-backed NB-IoT standards in China. The operator stated that it would deliver the service using the 800MHz band and have coverage active within H1 2017. To that end, it has rolled out LPWA (low power wide area) technology in 31,000 of the base stations across its 4G network. By using the lower frequency 800MHz band, China Telecom claims it can provide stronger signal penetration and broader coverage, making its IoT network more reliable. At the end of August 2016, second-placed China Unicoms IoT network comprised of 565,000 base stations and covered 360 cities across 31 Chinese provinces. In the first half of last year, it brought its total number of IoT connections to over 20 million, picking up an additional 10.5 million connections. Meanwhile, market leader China Mobile has not begun offering a commercial IoT network but plans to this year. Asian shares finished the week on a mixed note as earlier losses were reversed on the back of higher oil prices and a rebound in US stocks after better than expected jobless figures. The mood was slightly calmer after a turbulent week caused by instability in Brazil, where President Michel Temer faces allegations that he had given consent to paying off a witness in a huge corruption scandal. Japan's Nikkei finished 0.2% higher at 19,590.76, but not before it had ended negative territory for the first time in more than a month. Share in Takata Corp jumped after reports that four auto manufacturers had agreed to a $553m settlement of a class claim over cars installed with the company's airbags which were potentially defective. China's Shanghai Composite index ended flat at 3,090.63 after official data showed foreign direct investment fell 4.3% in April compared with 2016. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index closed 38.35 points or 0.15% higher at 25,174. Australia's big four banks helped to extend losses on Australian markets with the S&P/ASX 200 down 10.90 points to 5,727.40. Commonwealth, Westpac, ANZ and NAB were all lower. The banks have been suffering since the ruling Liberal government unveiled plans in the Budget for a AUD$6bn tax on their liabilities to top up Treasury coffers and cover the deficit. The sectors miseries overshadowed a good day for resources on the back of higher iron ore futures, with BHP and Rio Tinto both gainers on Friday. New Zealand shares closed higher with the S&P/NZX 50 index up 20.35 points to 7,392.11. Stocks are holding onto slight gains come midday despite another move higher for the single currency. Against that backdrop, Greece was in the spotlight at the end of the week even as the angst around the political situation in the US over the past few days appeared to have calmed down, at least for the moment. As of 1202 BST, the benchmark Stoxx 600 was up by 0.36% to 390.60, alongside gains of 0.13% for Germany's Dax which was at 12,606.98 and a rise of 0.70% for the FTSE Mibtel to 21.450.11. "Equity indices are holding their rebound gains, albeit treading water since the European open, as investors weigh up recent market moves. Whilst not electing to take on more risk before the weekend, nor are they taking any more off the table. A positive statement in many ways, given the political headwinds in play," said Mike van Dulken, Head of Research at Accendo Markets. In parallel, euro/dollar was wanted, rising 0.62% to 1.1170, with front month Brent crude oil futures gaining 1.33% to $53.22 per barrel on the ICE. Overnight, the parliament in Athens approved the pension and tax cuts asked for by creditors before they released the next tranche of bailout aid and, perhaps, provided the country with debt relief. However, while Greece's lenders had agreed to debt relief in principle, few details had been provided thus far. Ahead of a meeting of Eurozone finance ministers on 22 May, Greek prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said: "We deserve and we expect from Monday's Eurogroup a decision regulating debt relief which will correspond to the sacrifices of the Greek people." In parallel, investor sentiment around recent events on Capitol Hill appeared to have stabilised for the moment. Craig Erlam, senior market analyst at Oanda, said: "Wednesdays sell-off may have shocked a few people but US indices remain in the same range theyve traded in for the last few months and as long as that remains the case, it would suggest that investors are not too concerned." The euro area recorded a record surplus of 34.1bn in March, according to the European Central Bank. Factory gate prices in the Eurozone's largest economy advanced by 0.4% month-on-month in April with the annual rate of gains rising from 3.1% to 3.4% (consensus: 3.2%), according to the Federal Office of Statistics. Still on the economic calendar for Friday were Belgian consumer confidence at 12:00 BST followed by euro area level figures for the same one hour later. Stateside, the lone reference on Friday would be a speech from the president of the Federal Reserve bank of St.Louis, James Bullard, at 14:15 BST. Spain's Banco Popular shot higher after El Confidencial reported that Santander had hired Citi to prepare a binding offer for the stricken lender. From a sector standpoint, the biggest gains on the Stoxx 600 were being seen in Automobile (0.70%) and Basic Resource stocks (0.47%). To take note of, Barclays reiterated an 'underweight' view on Saint-Gobain and an 'overweight' stance on SAP. At the individual level, shares in Dufry AG shot higher on news that Richemont had acquired a 5% stake in the travel retailer. Meanwhile, Eutelsat reached a deal with Abertis to sell its 33.69% stake in Hispasat for 302m. Greece is in the spotlight at the end of the week even as the angst around the political situation in the US over the past few days appears to have calmed down, at least for the moment. Against that backdrop, European stockmarkets began the day on the frontfoot in what was expected to be a quiet day - barring surprises - given the sparse economic calendar. As of 0914 BST, the benchmark Stoxx 600 was up by 0.31% to 390.41, alongside gains of 0.28% for Germany's Dax which was at 12,624.97 and a rise of 0.46% for the FTSE Mibtel to 21.396.78. In parallel, euro/dollar was moving up by 0.35% to 1.1138, with front month Brent crude oil futures gaining 0.96% to $53.02 per barrel on the ICE. Overnight, the parliament in Athens approved the pension and tax cuts asked for by creditors before they released the next tranche of bailout aid and, perhaps, provided the country with debt relief. However, while Greece's lenders had agreed to debt relief in principle, few details had been provided thus far. Ahead of a meeting of Eurozone finance ministers on 22 May, Greek prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said: "We deserve and we expect from Monday's Eurogroup a decision regulating debt relief which will correspond to the sacrifices of the Greek people." In parallel, investor sentiment around recent events on Capitol Hill appeared to have stabilised for the moment. Craig Erlam, senior market analyst at Oanda, said: "Investors are clearly still a little anxious about the political situation in the US, which showed to an extent on Wednesday, but as it stands I dont think theyre too concerned. "Wednesdays sell-off may have shocked a few people but US indices remain in the same range theyve traded in for the last few months and as long as that remains the case, it would suggest that investors are not too concerned." Factory gate prices in the Eurozone's largest economy advanced by 0.4% month-on-month in April with the annual rate of gains rising from 3.1% to 3.4% (consensus: 3.2%), according to the Federal Office of Statistics. On the economic calendar for Friday, euro area current account figures for the month of March are scheduled for release at 07:00 BST, together with data on Belgian consumer confidence at 12:00 followed by euro area level figures for the same one hour later. Stateside, the lone reference for today will be a speech from the president of the Federal Reserve bank of St.Louis, James Bullard, at 14:15 BST. From a sector standpoint, the biggest gains on the Stoxx 600 were being seen in Automobile (0.95%) and Basic Resource stocks (0.97%). To take note of, Barclays reiterated an 'underweight' view on Saint-Gobain and an 'overweight' stance on SAP. At the individual level, shares in Dufry AG shot higher on news that Richemont had acquired a 5% stake in the travel retailer. Meanwhile, Eutelsat reached a deal with Abertis to sell its 33.69% stake in Hispasat for 302m. Sweden has dropped rape charges against Wikileaks founder Julian Assange , potentially paving the way for his exit from the Ecuadorian embassy in London. Assange has been living in the embassy of the South American country since 2012, fearing extradition charges which could lead to his arrest in the US for espionage. Swedish director of public prosecutions Marianne Ny filed the motion to the Stockholm District Court on Friday, but Assange still faces arrest in the UK for failing to turn up to court. Metropolitan police in London said that they remain ready to arrest Assange should he leave the embassy. Metropolitan police in London said that they remain ready to arrest Assange "Now that the situation has changed and the Swedish authorities have discontinued their investigation into that matter, Mr Assange remains wanted for a much less serious offence. The MPS will provide a level of resourcing which is proportionate to that offence," the Met said in a statement. Assange has denied the allegations of rape against him, which were made by two women in Sweden. The Wikileaks founder's legal representatives have said that Assange will not leave the Ecuadorian embassy until he receives assurances that he will not be extradited to the US. Wikileaks gained notoriety in 2010 when it began to release vast amounts of secret information belonging to the US government, including classified records on the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. Scientists from the World Agroforestry Centre in Indonesia and Wageningen University & Research have developed an approach in Indonesia which stimulates the local population to buffer the drainage in catchment areas of strongly fluctuating rivers. The approach involves using a new and relatively easy to determine property of the river to calculate remuneration for the local population for their active contribution to achieving a more stable discharge from the catchment area, making the area healthier. Map of South-East Asia showing three river basins in relation to their agroecological zones, ranging from dry (orange), humid (green) to water tower (blue). Soil related buffering In catchment areas where the land offers little buffering (sponge effect), heavy rainfall has a direct and severe impact on the amount of rainfall that gets into the river within a day with all the consequences thereof. The river discharge is much more gradual in catchment areas where the soils can absorb and retain lots of water, a far more desirable situation not least because of the way it reduces the risk of flooding. Buffering management Until now there was no proper but simple way of measuring the capacity of a catchment area to buffer rainwater. While the amount of forest present in an area is a commonly used measurement for the buffering function, it raises questions as to what happens outside the forest and what does or does not count as forest. Meine van Noordwijk, chief science advisor for the World Agroforestry Centre and special professor of agroforestry at Wageningen University. Slow positive effect According to Meine van Noordwijk, professor in agroforestry at Wageningen University & Research, these forests are a good example of the complexity of water buffering management. Deforestation can indeed lead to reduced buffering, Van Noordwijk continues. Reforestation can improve the situation and mitigate floods and droughts". However, once the soil has compacted to such an extent that it cannot easily absorb water due to deforestation, he warns. Any reforestation of the area has only a very slow positive effect on the buffering of rainwater over a period of some ten to twenty years. This news item was originally published on the website of Wageningen University. Read also on this website Indymo deploys under water drones to inspect water quality around Surabaya, Indonesia, 24 February 2017 Hands on water management for half a million Colombian coffee farmers in 25 river basins, 14 June 2016 Euroconsult Mott MacDonald to lead natural resource management programme, Indonesia, 13 October 2015 Country: Indonesia More information Wageningen University & Research Wageningen, the Netherlands +31 317 480100 www.wageningenur.nl/en World Agroforestry Centre Nairobi, Kenya +254-20-722-4000 www.worldagroforestry.org 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. Three teen students from Colorado, Illinois and Texas win contest prizes for their original videos DARIEN, IL - May 19, 2017 - Three students have been chosen as winners of the 2017 American Sleep Medicine Foundation "Sleep Recharges You" High School Video Contest, which focused on motivating teens to prioritize the importance of sleep in their lives. "The American Sleep Medicine Foundation video contest emphasized that is critically important for teens to recharge by sleeping 8 to 10 hours each night," said ASMF President Jennifer L. Martin, PhD. "I congratulate contest winners David Yates, Dugan Studebaker and Adhi Gopal, and I hope that their creative and award-winning videos will remind teens that healthy sleep is essential for optimal health and performance." The 2017 contest was entered by 95 students, who competed from across the country for the grand prize of $1,000, second-place prize of $500, and People's Choice prize of $250. Each prize is split between the winning student and his or her school. Entries were evaluated and judged by a panel of sleep medicine physicians and researchers for originality and video quality, as well as the appropriateness, relevance and accuracy of the message. The People's Choice winner was selected via public, online voting. David Yates - 1st Place Ralston Valley High School Arvada, CO 11th grade "The Necessity of Sleep" Dugan Studebaker - 2nd Place Adhi Gopal - People's Choice Wheaton AcademyWest Chicago, IL12th gradeClear Lake High SchoolHouston, TX10th grade ### View winning entries from previous years on the ASMF website. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that teens should sleep 8 to 10 hours per night on a regular basis to promote optimal health. However, CDC data show that 68 percent of high school students report sleeping 7 hours or less on an average school night. The National Healthy Sleep Awareness Project launched the Sleep Recharges You campaign to promote optimal health among teens. For more information, or to request an interview with Dr. Martin, please contact Communications Coordinator Corinne Lederhouse at 630-737-9700, ext. 9366, or clederhouse@aasmnet.org. About the American Sleep Medicine Foundation The American Sleep Medicine Foundation (ASMF) is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable and scientific organization that was established in 1998 by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). As the leader in supporting sleep research and education, the ASMF has invested in the future of sleep medicine by distributing more than $9 million in awards to support important projects to promote sleep health. To contribute to the ASMF, you can make an online donation at http://www.discoversleep.org. BOSTON (May 19, 2017) - Through integration with a wearable thermometer, the Thermia online health educational tool developed at Boston Children's Hospital has enabled prediction of seasonal influenza outbreaks in China one month earlier than before, according to a new study in the American Journal of Public Health. "The fact that we were able to predict influenza outbreaks faster than China's national surveillance programs really shows the capacity for everyday, wearable digital health devices to track the spread of disease at the population level," said the study's lead author Yulin Hswen, who is a research fellow in Boston Children's Computational Epidemiology Group and a doctoral candidate at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. Although the Boston Children's team has previously demonstrated that social media can be used to track disease, this is the first time that they've shown that outbreaks can be predicted through an integrated wearable device and online tool. "Collectively we are still coming to terms with the data deluge from wearable devices, but it is imperative that we begin to generate value from this data," says the study's senior author Jared Hawkins, PhD, who is director of informatics at Boston Children's Innovation and Digital Health Accelerator (IDHA). "From a public health perspective -- as we have shown with this latest study -- there is enormous potential for tapping this data for research, surveillance and influencing policy." Thermia, a fever educational tool created by the Boston Children's team, works as a standalone digital application or can receive a child's temperature reading directly through the iThermonitor, an FDA-approved, patch-like wearable thermometer that is worn under the arm. This integration is possible under a license agreement between Boston Children's and the iThermonitor's manufacturer, Raiing Medical Inc., which is based in China. In China, the Thermia-empowered iThermonitor has gained popularity among digitally-savvy parents who have purchased the wearable device to monitor their child's temperature. When iThermonitor detects a fever, parents can access Thermia via web or mobile and answer online questions about the child's current symptoms and medical history. Data collected from these interactions is anonymized and analyzed by the Boston Children's team to enable disease tracking. Using this method, the team collected nearly 45,000 data points from China's Thermia users between 2014 and 2016. They discovered that outbreaks of "influenza-like illnesses", which had the hallmark signs of influenza, could be detected digitally in real time. In comparison to the influenza surveillance data collected by the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) of the People's Republic of China, the data from iThermonitor and Thermia revealed influenza outbreaks an entire month earlier. "Delays in clinically-reported data and lack of data availability contribute to the challenges of identifying outbreaks rapidly," says John Brownstein, PhD, who is the chief innovation officer at Boston Children's and director of the Computational Epidemiology Lab and the IDHA. "As a result, we have more and more opportunities to use real-time, low-cost digital solutions like Thermia to improve disease surveillance." In China, for example, the National Health and Family Planning Commission normally conducts their influenza surveillance by reporting and confirming cases as children are seen by clinicians at health facilities. But this kind of traditional disease surveillance program is susceptible to lag time before an emerging outbreak is recognized. Factors that contribute to this lag time include patients' proximity and likelihood of traveling to a clinic, the availability of trained clinicians who can identify the signs of influenza and whether or not local laboratory resources are available to confirm cases. In contrast, China has 620 million mobile internet users who can theoretically access the standalone Thermia application from any computer, smartphone or even the Amazon Alexa assistant. "In geographically large and densely populated countries like China, tools like Thermia can provide better on-the-ground disease surveillance than by relying on data that is only captured at the point of treatment in the clinic," says Hswen. ### About Boston Children's Hospital Boston Children's Hospital, the primary pediatric teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, is home to the world's largest research enterprise based at a pediatric medical center. Its discoveries have benefited both children and adults since 1869. Today, more than 2,630 scientists, including nine members of the National Academy of Sciences, 14 members of the National Academy of Medicine and 11 Howard Hughes Medical Investigators comprise Boston Children's research community. Founded as a 20-bed hospital for children, Boston Children's is now a 415-bed comprehensive center for pediatric and adolescent health care. For more, visit our Vector and Thriving blogs and follow us on social media @BostonChildrens, @BCH_Innovation, Facebook and YouTube. Lung cancer patients are particularly susceptible to malignant pleural effusion, when fluid collects in the space between the lungs and the chest wall. Researchers at the Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen, in partnership with the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), have discovered a novel mechanism that causes this to happen. Their study, published in 'Nature Communications', also shows that various active substances could potentially be used to treat this condition. Malignant pulmonary effusion (MPE) frequently occurs in patients with metastatic breast or lung cancer. It involves a build-up of excess fluid in the pleural cavity, the area between the lungs and the chest wall, with accompanying malignant cells. The lung is surrounded by fluid, which can cause shortness of breath and chest pain, for example, and may even prove fatal. "There is still no effective treatment for this," explains Professor Georgios Stathopoulos, research group leader at the Institute for Lung Biology (ILBD) and Comprehensive Pneumology Center (CPC) at the Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen. "In the case of larger pulmonary effusions with volumes exceeding one liter, treatment usually involves aspiration in order to relieve pressure on the lung." Cancer cells trigger mechanism Stathopoulos and his team are working to understand the causes of pleural effusion, which remain unclear, in an effort to advance the treatment of this condition in the future. In the current study, the scientists examined cancer cells they had obtained from pleural effusions with a malignant mutation in the KRAS gene. KRAS is known to play a key role in the growth of various malignant tumors. "We were able to show that these cells release a messenger substance into the bloodstream, which in turn attracts immune cells.* These cells then wander via the spleen to the pleural cavity, where they cause the effusion," Stathopoulos says, explaining the mechanism. In addition, the scientists found the KRAS-mutant cancer cells in the MPE material of lung cancer patients as well as in the cell lines derived from them. Tests on active substances to treat pleural effusion In order to verify whether their newly acquired knowledge could be applied in clinical practice, the researchers tested two active substances that interrupt the mechanism at two different points. In an experimental model they were able to demonstrate that both the KRAS inhibitor Deltarasin** and an antibody against the messenger substance released by the cancer cells prevented pleural effusion. "Nearly two thirds of all MPEs are the result of lung cancer. In view of the still large numbers of smokers, appropriate treatments are urgently needed," Stathopoulos stresses. "Our results lead us to assume that drugs that target the mechanism we have discovered could be a potential treatment option. Further studies are now needed to confirm that." ### Lung cancer expert Georgios Stathopoulos joined the Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen in 2015. He also heads a working group at the Laboratory for Molecular Respiratory Carcinogenesis at the University of Patras in Greece. The study that has now been published was the outcome of collaboration between the two working groups. Further information * The messenger substance in question is CCL2 (CC-Chemokinligand 2), which is often released when inflammation occurs. ** Deltarasin prevents the transport of the cancer-causing protein KRAS to the cell membrane. Background: In 2015 a team headed by Professor Stathopoulos discovered that in lung cancer patients mast cells collect in the pleural cavity, where they cause a pleural effusion. In a preclinical model, initial experiments with Imatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, revealed a smaller pleural effusion and fewer mast cells. The co-authors of the study, Malamati Vreka and Mario Pepe, are PhD students at the CPC Research School and participants in the PhD training program at the Helmholtz Graduate School of Environmental Health, in short HELENA. Original Publication: galioti, T. et al. (2017): Mutant KRAS promotes malignant pleural effusion formation. Nature Communications, DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15205 The Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen, the German Research Center for Environmental Health, pursues the goal of developing personalized medical approaches for the prevention and therapy of major common diseases such as diabetes and lung diseases. To achieve this, it investigates the interaction of genetics, environmental factors and lifestyle. The Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen is headquartered in Neuherberg in the north of Munich and has about 2,300 staff members. It is a member of the Helmholtz Association, a community of 18 scientific-technical and medical-biological research centers with a total of about 37,000 staff members. http://www.helmholtz-muenchen.de/en The Comprehensive Pneumology Center (CPC) is a joint research project of the Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen, the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Clinic Complex and the Asklepios Fachkliniken Munchen-Gauting. The CPC's objective is to conduct research on chronic lung diseases in order to develop new diagnosis and therapy strategies. The CPC maintains a focus on experimental pneumology with the investigation of cellular, molecular and immunological mechanisms involved in lung diseases. The CPC is a site of the Deutsches Zentrum fur Lungenforschung (DZL). http://www.helmholtz-muenchen.de/ilbd The German Center for Lung Research (DZL) pools German expertise in the field of pulmonology research and clinical pulmonology. The association's head office is in Giessen. The aim of the DZL is to find answers to open questions in research into lung diseases by adopting an innovative, integrated approach and thus to make a sizeable contribution to improving the prevention, diagnosis and individualized treatment of lung disease and to ensure optimum patient care. http://www.dzl.de/index.php/en Contact for the media: Department of Communication, Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Ingolstadter Landstr. 1, 85764 Neuherberg - Tel. +49 89 3187 2238 - Fax: +49 89 3187 3324 - E-mail: presse@helmholtz-muenchen.de Scientific contact: Prof. Dr. Georgios Stathopoulos, Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Comprehensive Pneumology Center, Max-Lebsche-Platz 31, 81377 Munchen, Germany - Tel. +49 89 3187 4846 - E-mail: stathopoulos@helmholtz-muenchen.de The modern city, says Jie Liu, can be considered a web of networks that should run like a healthy, well-tuned circulatory system. Automobile traffic in this "smart city" should move almost constantly, stopping or slowing as little as possible at traffic lights, on freeway ramps and in traffic circles, says Liu, a Ph.D. candidate in industrial engineering. Likewise, electricity should flow through power lines at an optimal rate, high enough to achieve maximum efficiency but not so high that wires overheat. These streamlined flows of people and power, says Liu, are made possible by machines that process large quantities of data in real time and learn to make intelligent decisions. Liu develops large-scale optimization algorithms, or mathematical models, and applies them to machine learning. His goal is to design a power-transmission system that meets the energy demands of a city with maximum efficiency and minimal cost. Liu recently received the IBM Ph.D. Fellowship Award to study power systems and data analytics at IBM Research-Ireland, one of 12 IBM research laboratories in the world. The fellowship is given each year to 50 outstanding students worldwide. IBM Research-Ireland conducts research into the Cognitive Internet of Things, cognitive integrated healthcare, interactive reasoning, data centric computing and the cloud and privacy. As part of the fellowship program, Liu has been assigned a mentor from IBM Research-Ireland. He will continue his research into power systems and data analytics and will likely spend part of the fall semester in Ireland or at the company's New York site. Machine learning As an example of machine learning or signal processing, Liu points to E-ZPass, the electronic toll-collection system that serves motorists in the eastern half of the United States and in Ontario, Canada. E-ZPass photographs the license plates of passing cars and employs optimization techniques to read the letters and numbers of license plates, even in blurry photos. Machine learning is also used by online shopping sites such as Amazon to analyze a consumer's purchasing history and recommend similar products that the consumer might be interested in buying. Liu's research focuses on the buses, or intermediate power stations, which take electricity from a power plant and distribute it to homes and businesses in a utility company's service area. He develops models that seek to determine the optimal number, and optimal location, of intermediate stations. He is also working on the development of fast solvers for the popular deep neural networks and other graphical models. A utility company's goal, says Liu, is to transmit electricity from its intermediate stations with maximum efficiency. If a station's wires carry too much electricity, he says, they will exceed the station's voltage limits and overheat, with undesired consequences, shutting down or even igniting. If the wires carry too little electricity, the system loses efficiency. "We want to find a middle point," says Liu. "We can never reach the voltage limit. On the other hand, if the amount of electricity being transmitted is too low, efficiency is reduced. We want to be efficient but not get too close to the limit." A second goal, says Liu, is to solve problems that arise as quickly as possible. "We want to speed up optimization for power networks," he says. "Our goal is to transmit power efficiently while solving problems as quickly as possible." Power grids and other networks generate massive streams of data that must be processed and analyzed in real time. Liu and his group set up polynomial optimization problems (POPs) and solve them by randomly choosing coordinates of data, which can be solved in parallel by multiple machines at the same time to improve efficiency. This contrasts, he says, with the conventional technique, which is called the Newton method and is difficult to parallelize. "The Newton method processes all the data," says Liu, "but it is not possible to do this with a power system because it generates so much data. Our method doesn't process all the data; instead, we pick coordinates, or bits of data, randomly. This greatly reduces the total amount of time needed to solve a problem. "To solve a multidimensional problem using the traditional method took days and did not always yield a feasible solution. With our method, we can arrive at a feasible solution in several minutes to half an hour." Liu and his group reported their results recently in an article titled "Hybrid Methods in Solving Alternating-Current Optimal Power Flows." The article was coauthored with Alan C. Liddell, Jakub Marecek and Martin Takac. Takac, an assistant professor of industrial and systems engineering, is Liu's Lehigh Ph.D. adviser. Marecek is with IBM-Ireland, and Liddell is with Notre Dame University. Liu enrolled at Lehigh in 2013 after completing his M.S. in mathematics from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He holds a B.S. in mathematics from Nankai University in Tianjin, China. His other honors include the Dean's Doctoral Assistantship and Dean's Fellowship from Lehigh's P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science, the Gotshall Fellowship from Lehigh, and the American Express Machine Learning Contest Award. At Lehigh, Liu is part of a research group called Optimization and Machine Learning (OptML), which includes Takac; Katya Scheinberg, the Harvey E. Wagner Endowed Chair Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering; and Frank Curtis, associate professor of industrial and systems engineering. Students in the OptML group receive support to present their work at international conferences. Liu's papers and posters have been accepted at conferences of Neural Information Processing Systems (NIPS), the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS), the International Conference on Machine Learning (ICML); and the Machine Learning Symposium in New York City. Liu and his fellow students are also encouraged to do industrial internships. Liu has completed internships with Siemens Corporate Research and IBM. This summer he will work in Boston with Mitsubishi's Electricity Research Laboratories (MERL) in data analytics. In 2012, he worked with Argonnes National Laboratory near Chicago. "These are amazing opportunities," Liu says. "These are different companies, totally different. These internships connect us to industry. They give us the chance to do something we're interested in and to learn new knowledge at the same time. "The professors in our group are very supportive. They really help us learn how we can contribute and make an impact." ### Story by Kurt Pfitzer, Editor and Writer, Lehigh University Office of Communications and Public Affairs Scientists from MIPT, in collaboration with their colleagues from the Forschungszentrum Julich, the Institut de Biologie Structurale (IBaS) and European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble, have proposed a universal mechanism for the "sense of smell" in bacteria. This was done by obtaining the structure of the NarQ protein from Escherichia coli (E. coli) -- which belongs to a universal class of sensory histidine kinases that are responsible for transmitting signals to bacteria about their environment. The paper published in Science will help us understand how bacteria "communicate" with one another and form biofilms on sterile surfaces or inside the human body. Drugs which affect bacteria's "sense of smell" could potentially be used as substitutes for modern antibiotics. They do not kill bacteria; they simply give them signals that render them harmless to the human body. In theory, in this case it would be impossible for resistance to be developed. The two components of a cell's sense of smell All cells are isolated from the environment by a dense membrane which virtually no chemicals are able to pass through. This enables the cell to keep its internal chemical conditions constant and function correctly. However, the membrane greatly limits the exchange of information with the environment. In order to find out what is happening on the outside, a cell uses special molecular machines -a- proteins. The proteins that are designed for communicating with the environment very often "live" in the membrane itself or close to it, and they are responsible for transmitting signals or chemicals into or out of the cell. The most universal mechanism for bacteria to "sense" an environment are so-called two-component systems. Such systems consist of two proteins: a kinase, which receives the signal from outside of the cell and transmits it into the cell, and a response regulator, which receives the signal inside the cell and triggers subsequent reactions. Molecular photography A useful method of understanding how proteins function is to observe their structure at atomic-level accuracy. At present, most protein structures (more than 100,000) have been obtained using X-ray crystallography. This method involves observing the diffraction pattern of protein molecules ordered into a crystal lattice. However, this only gives the structure of one state of the protein, as in a photograph. If we can "photograph" the initial and final state of a process, we can make a guess as to how exactly the protein works when switching between these states. Membrane "pistons" power a cell's sense of smell The authors of the study were able to obtain the structure of two states of the NarQ kinase from E. coli. This kinase "senses" the presence of nitrates in the environment and sends a corresponding signal through the cell membrane. As it turned out, the sensor in both of its two states is a dimer, i.e., two protein molecules work together to capture the nitrate. The first state is inactive -- the protein is not bound to the nitrate ion and does not transmit a signal. The second state, on the other hand, is active, or signaling -- in this state, the kinase transmits a signal into the cell to inform it that nitrates are present in the environment. The protein structure in the active state was obtained for the most reliable "wild type" protein: without artificial mutations, which scientists often use to increase the stability of a protein. To obtain the structure in the inactive state, the authors mutated the site that the nitrate binds to. The stability of the protein was not affected; however, the nitrate no longer became bound to it, which gave the authors the opportunity to observe a kinase in a state of inactivity. It was found that the signaling and inactive states differ only very slightly at the nitrate-binding site - by 0.5-1 angstroms, which is approximately one fifth of the size of the ion itself (1 angstrom is 10-10 meters). However, when this ion binds to the sensor, it causes huge changes in the protein: The helices of different monomers begin to move in different directions, like pistons. These "pistons" transmit the small change of 0.5-1 angstroms through the membrane, and their outer ends shift by approximately 2.5 angstroms in different directions. Inside the cell, in the HAMP domain, these shifts are converted into the rotation of two parts of NarQ relative to each other. Ultimately, the positions of the output helices change by as much as 7 angstroms, thus completing the signal transmission. [gif animation showing the difference between apo and holo states] Aside from the structures in which the two proteins form a symmetrical pair, the scientists were able to produce a structure with an asymmetric position of the two proteins. In this state, the protein is "arranged" differently in the crystal and is bent strongly. However, the effect on the regulator remains virtually unchanged. This versatility of observed movement allows us to say that the signal transmission mechanism is universal and sensors of other chemical compounds, can operate via the same "piston-shift" mechanism. "How signals are transmitted through the cell membrane is one of the most fundamental questions in modern biology. In this study, we showed in detail how a signal (in this case the binding of a nitrate) can be transmitted by hundreds of angstroms into the cells of bacteria and archaea, as well as fungi and plants. With a better understanding of the mechanisms of signal transmission, we can expect to learn how to manipulate such cells, and in particular, to try to weaken or neutralize the harmful effects of pathogenic microorganisms," said Ivan Gushchin, the head of MIPT's Laboratory of Structural Analysis and Engineering of Membrane Systems, commenting on the study. ### This work was supported by ERA.Net RUS PLUS (ID 323) and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation (RFMEFI58715X0011). Growing concern about the energy crisis and the seriousness of environmental contamination urgently demand the development of renewable energy sources as feasible alternatives to diminishing fossil fuels. Owing to its high energy density and environmentally friendly characteristics, molecular hydrogen is an attractive and promising energy carrier to meet future global energy demands. In many of the approaches for hydrogen production, the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) from water splitting is the most economical and effective route for the future hydrogen economy. To accelerate the sluggish HER kinetics, particularly in alkaline electrolytes, highly active and durable electrocatalysts are essential to lower the kinetic HER overpotential. As a benchmark HER electrocatalyst with a zero HER overpotential, the precious metal platinum (Pt) plays a dominant role in present H2-production technologies, such as water-alkali electrolysers. Unfortunately, the scarcity and high cost of Pt seriously impede its large-scale applications in electrocatalytic HERs. Prof. Xinliang Feng's team from the Technische Universitat Dresden (Germany)/ Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden (cfaed), in collaboration with the University Lyon, ENS de Lyon, Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS, France), the Tohoku University (Japan) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS) (Germany), have reported a low-cost MoNi4 electrocatalyst anchored on MoO2 cuboids, which are vertically aligned on nickel foam (MoNi4/MoO2@Ni). MoNi4 nanoparticles are constructed in situ on the MoO2 cuboids by controlling the outward diffusion of Ni atoms. The resultant MoNi4/MoO2@Ni exhibits a high HER activity that is highly comparable to that of the Pt catalyst and presents state-of-the-art HER activity amongst all reported Pt-free electrocatalysts. Experimental investigations reveal that the MoNi4 electrocatalyst behaves as the highly active centre and manifests fast Tafel step-determined HER kinetics. Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT) calculations determine that the kinetic energy barrier of the Volmer step for the MoNi4 electrocatalyst is greatly decreased. The large-scale preparation and excellent catalytic stability provide MoNi4/MoO2@Ni with a promising utilization in water-alkali electrolysers for hydrogen production. Therefore, the exploration and understanding of the MoNi4 electrocatalyst provide a promising alternative to Pt catalysts for emerging applications in energy generation. ### This work was financially supported by the ERC Grant on 2DMATER and EC under Graphene Flagship (No. CNECT-ICT-604391). Media Inquiries: Prof. Xinliang Feng Technische Universitat Dresden cfaed Chair of Molecular Functional Materials Phone: +49 (0) 351 463-43251 E-mail: xinliang.feng@tu-dresden.de cfaed cfaed is a microelectronics research cluster funded by the German Excellence Initiative. It comprises 11 cooperating institutes in Saxony. About 300 scientists from more than 20 countries investigate new technologies for electronic information processing. These technologies are inspired by innovative materials such as silicon nanowires, carbon nanotubes or polymers or based on completely new concepts such as the chemical chip or circuit fabrication methods by self-assembling structures such as DNA-Origami. The orchestration of these new devices into heterogeneous information processing systems with focus on their resilience and energy-efficiency is also part of cfaed's research program which comprises nine different research paths. Women with endometriosis -- a common and painful disease linked to infertility - have called for more studies to understand its causes and find a possible cure. Their calls are the outcome of a major consultation process that has pinpointed ten priorities for future research into the disease. Although endometriosis is as common in women as diabetes and asthma, it fails to attract the same attention, support and funding as those diseases, researchers say. The project was launched to identify research questions that are most important to those living with the condition and the people that care for them. Its findings, published in The Lancet, will be presented today at the 13th World Congress on Endometriosis. Understanding how to best manage the emotional and psychological toll of the disease was identified as a key priority. Finding better tools for diagnosis -- which currently requires surgery and can take many years -- was also pinpointed as an area needing greater research. Carers, healthcare professionals and experts in reproductive health also contributed to the project, which involved online surveys, online voting and a workshop led by experts. Experts hope the outcomes of the process will help to focus future endometriosis research and drive further investment. Endometriosis affects an estimated 176 million women worldwide. It occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus is found elsewhere in the body - most commonly in the abdomen, on the ovaries, bladder, and bowel. This misplaced tissue behaves like the lining of the uterus, bleeding every month and creating local inflammation. It is associated with chronic pain, heavy bleeding, and infertility, and can impact on mental, and social wellbeing. The project was coordinated by the Medical Research Centres for Reproductive Health and Inflammation Research at the University of Edinburgh. It was run in partnership with the James Lind Alliance, a non-profit organisation that works with researchers and patients to set research priorities. Professor Andrew Horne, of the MRC Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Edinburgh, said: "This important project will raise awareness of endometriosis and drive investment into research that matters most to women living with this debilitating condition." Professor Philippa Saunders of the MRC Centre for Inflammation Research at the University of Edinburgh, said: "I welcome the insights provided by the James Lind Alliance report that will allow us to accelerate our research efforts directed at management of the symptoms suffered by women worldwide." Lone Hummelshoj, Secretary General of the World Endometriosis Society, said: "The World Endometriosis Society has convened workshops on research priorities since 2008. "This week, as a thousand investigators gather in Vancouver for the 13th World Congress on Endometriosis, we will be able to compare priorities from that of scientists' perspectives to the perspectives of those who benefit from the research to ensure alignment of priorities. "We hope this focus will result in more funding for research into understanding endometriosis and caring better for those who suffer from it." ### The ten priorities identified are: 1. Can a cure be developed for endometriosis? 2. What causes endometriosis? 3. What are the most effective ways of educating healthcare professionals throughout the healthcare system resulting in reduced time to diagnosis and improved treatment and care of women with endometriosis? 4. Is it possible to develop a non-invasive screening tool to aid the diagnosis of endometriosis? 5. What are the most effective ways of maximising and/or maintaining fertility in women with confirmed or suspected endometriosis? 6. How can the diagnosis of endometriosis be improved? 7. What is the most effective way of managing the emotional and/or psychological and/or fatigue impact of living with endometriosis (including medical, non-medical and self-management methods)? 8. What are the outcomes and/or success rates for surgical or medical treatments which aim to cure or treat endometriosis, rather than manage it? 9. What is the most effective way of stopping endometriosis progressing and/or spreading to other organs (e.g. after surgery)? 10. What are the most effective non-surgical ways of managing endometriosis-related pain and/or symptoms (medical/nonmedical)? University of Manchester researchers together with their UK and overseas collaborators have found out that more than one third of 1,400 people with high blood pressure have not been taking their blood pressure medication. High blood pressure is the single most important risk factor for health loss and premature death globally, and although treatment is proven to be effective, target blood pressures are only achieved in 40-50% of patients. This is likely to be largely caused by high numbers of patients not taking their medicines correctly, or at all. The scientists have used a mass-spectrometry technique to examine blood and urine samples from almost 1,400 people in the UK and Czech Republic. They found that non-adherence to the blood pressure lowering drugs was high at 41.6% in the UK and 31.5% in the Czech Republic. Furthermore, with each additional prescription, the rate of non-adherence increased by 85% and 77% respectively. Professor Maciej Tomaszewski from The University of Manchester, who led the study, said: "We suspected that some patients haven't' been taking their medications on a regular basis but this analysis shows how high that figure is. "Clearly, the more blood pressure lowering drugs are prescribed, the higher the risk that the patients will not be taking them on a regular basis. We also showed that diuretics are particularly poorly taken." The results from this analysis, show that four easy-to-collect parameters: patients' age, sex, the number of blood pressure lowering medications and the diuretics together can provide a good measure of the risk of not taking the medications on a regular basis. The researchers believe that in the future they can develop even better formulae to estimate the risk of not taking blood pressure lowering drugs without a need of a urine/blood analysis. This will be particularly useful in countries with limited resources, as Professor Tomaszewski explained. "Not all countries will have sufficient expertise and the financial capacity to invest in technology that we are using." Professor Tomaszewski's research team has just been awarded 750,000 by the British Heart Foundation to further the understanding of non-adherence to antihypertensive treatment. Professor Tomaszewski said: "We are thrilled by this generous award from the British Heart Foundation. Our collaborative OUTREACH study brings together the key UK centres and researchers in the field of hypertension to examine how our urine test can help patients taking their blood pressure lowering medications on a regular basis." ### The paper, 'Risk factors for nonadherence to antihypertensive treatment' was published in the journal Hypertension. PITTSBURGH (May 19, 2017) ... Numerous studies have raised critical concerns about the promise of corn ethanol's ability to mitigate climate change and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Some of the studies have suggested that after a full life cycle assessment--meaning an analysis of environmental impact throughout all stages of a product's life--biofuels like corn ethanol may not offer any greenhouse gas emissions reductions relative to petroleum fuels. The Royal Society of Chemistry journal Energy & Environmental Science recently published research by a team from the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Oklahoma investigating the full life cycle impact of one promising "second-generation biofuel" produced from short-rotation oak. The study found that second-generation biofuels made from managed trees and perennial grasses may provide a sustainable fuel resource. "Multistage torrefaction and in situ catalytic upgrading to hydrocarbon biofuels: analysis of life cycle energy use and greenhouse gas emissions" ( DOI: 10.1039/C7EE00682A) took a novel approach to the production of second-generation biofuel while also comprehensively accounting for all of the steps involved in the full supply chain. "Corn ethanol environmental impacts weren't really studied until after its commercialization," explained Vikas Khanna, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Pittsburgh and corresponding author of the study. "The great thing about this project is it addresses full life cycle sustainability questions of new fuel sources before they come up later down the road." In 2007, the United Nations called for a five-year moratorium on food-based (or first-generation) biofuels because of concerns that they would consume farmland and lead to worldwide food shortage. Dr. Khanna and his team's study used wood from oak trees, as they can be harvested year-round and reduce the need for large-scale storage infrastructure. "Second-generation biofuels differ from first generation biofuels because they don't come directly from food crops like corn and soy," said Dr. Khanna. "They include woody crops, perennial grasses, agricultural and forest residues, and industrial wastes." A significant metric for determining the efficacy of fuel is the Energy Return on Investment (EROI) ratio. The EROI of petroleum crude production remains high at about 11:1, meaning an investment of one unit of energy will yield 11 units of energy. However, the EROI has been steadily decreasing since 1986 and will continue to worsen as fossil fuels become more scarce and difficult to access. When researchers study potentially promising energy sources, they look for a ratio greater than 1:1. Corn derived ethanol, for example, has a EROI of 1.3:1. The study found the median EROI for multistage second-generation biofuel systems ranges from 1.32:1 to 3.76:1. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 states that cellulosic biofuels, like the ones used in the study, must outperform the greenhouse gas emissions of fossil fuels by reducing relative emissions by 60 percent to receive economic incentives from the government. The study surpassed minimum requirements and showed an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions relative to baseline petroleum diesel. Additionally, there was a 40 percent reduction in hydrogen consumption relative to a single-stage pyrolysis system. "Pyrolysis is the process of heating biomass to high temperatures in the absence of oxygen to and create biofuel," said Dr. Khanna. "If it's done quickly, in one stage, a lot of carbon will be lost. Our research showed that a multistage, lower temperature system of pyrolysis can increase the carbon chain length, create more liquid fuel and improve the energy output of the entire process." ### Co-authors of the study included: George G. Zaimes, senior engineer at KeyLogic and former PhD advisee under Dr. Khanna; Andrew W. Beck, graduate research assistant at the University of Pittsburgh; Rajiv R. Janupala, research assistant at the University of Oklahoma; and University of Oklahoma faculty members Daniel E. Resasco, Steven P. Crossley and Lance L. Lobban. PHILADELPHIA -- Medical errors are a leading cause of death in the United States, with some research suggesting that errors can cause as many 250,000 fatalities each year. The medical community has made strides to normalize and encourage error disclosure for physicians and medical trainees in order to improve patient safety and health care outcomes, but these guidelines fall short when it comes to addressing the social psychology that influences how and when physicians and medical trainees disclose errors and how they manage the consequences of those errors. In a paper published this month in Medical Education authors Neha Vapiwala, MD, an associate professor of Radiation Oncology and vice chair of Education in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Jason Han, a fourth-year student in the Perelman School of Medicine, call for better education and training focused on the psychological challenges that coincide with errors and error disclosure in order to improve outcomes and reduce the number and severity of medical errors. "We must transform the culture of error disclosure in the medical community from one that is often punitive to one that is restorative and supportive," Vapiwala said. "And to do that, we must tend to the psychological challenges that medical professionals wrestle with when they face the possibility of disclosing an error." Initiatives such as the Disclosure, Apology, and Offer model have helped make moderate gains in creating a culture of transparency in health systems, but these efforts primarily focus on the legal and financial aspects of error disclosure and do not address other barriers, such as the fear, shame, and guilt that come with error disclosure. "Arguably, these psychological factors are harder to overcome, especially in this modern age of social media where health care providers can be reviewed and scrutinized in very public forums," Vapiwala said. "There is real concern that any little slip-up can live on the internet for the rest of someone's career." The authors identified two main cognitive biases that often hinder error disclosure: Fundamental Attribution Error (FAE), which is the tendency overestimate one's own role in a situation, and Forecasting Error (FE), the tendency to overestimate impact and duration of negative consequences while underestimating the ability to recover from those circumstances. For example, if an error led to a patient injury, the physician might initially overstate his own role in that error rather than examine any systematic reasons for why that error occurred. Secondly, he may then also overestimate the long-term consequences or recovery time for that patient, leading to feelings of both self-blame and exaggerated doom, both of which damage the physician-patient relationship and may impede a care provider from reporting the error. "Overcoming these biases is akin to suppressing a reflex. It requires self-awareness, practice, and most importantly, education and training," Vapiwala said. Looking at other fields that have high-stake consequences when an error occurs, such as the airline industry, the authors offer several strategies to overcome these patterns of thought, utilizing elements of social psychology to transform the current culture of error disclosure. Recommendations include incorporating standardized patients (SPs), actors who simulate patients, not only to "practice" difficult patient encounters, but also to help model interactions with family members, peers, and administrators in order to teach various behavior and coping mechanisms. SPs have been proven to effectively mimic the psychosocial elements of error disclosure, including profound guilt, feelings of ineptitude, and fear of repercussions. Virtual reality (VR) is another tool that can offer immersive and realistic technology to supplement traditional curricula, while also offering tremendous scalability at a lower cost than SPs. The authors cite an example of a recent VR exercise which allowed viewers to experience the perspective of a 12-year Syrian refugee to incite more compassion and understanding. While VR medical content doesn't currently exist, it is on the horizon for many medical trainees and professions. However, both SP and VR do have limitations, as the users ultimately know that the scenario is simulated. "Standardized patients and other simulated scenarios provide an excellent foundation, but until you are put into a real-world situation and forced to confront your mistake and its potential consequences, you can't truly understand the psychosocial challenges," Han said. Finally, the authors recommend implementing a professional standard for trainees, including a formal evaluation of the skills needed to disclose and cope with medical errors. This standard would further normalize error disclosure and make it a common practice among physicians and trainees. The authors conclude that the primary change will need to be cultural, not just among trainees, but at every level of medical practice, in order to successfully pivot away from the current stigma related to error disclosure. "Administrators must make a shift from asking 'who is at fault' to asking 'why' and 'how' did a situation occur, creating a culture that embraces error disclosure and seeks to solve the many systematic factors that lead to an error in the first place. This approach will not only normalize error disclosures but also help us better understand why they happen so we can prevent more of them in the future," Vapiwala said. ### 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. Baking meets science in a delicious University of Queensland health initiative that really takes the cake. 'Good heart' muffin, developed by UQ scientists, could help lower the risk of heart disease. UQ Centre for Nutrition and Food Sciences scientist and keen baker Dr Nima Gunness said the muffins contained three grams of beta glucans - a healthy soluble fibre that occurs naturally in the cell walls of oats and cereals, and meets the food standard guidelines for cholesterol-lowering properties. "There is good evidence that three grams or more of oats beta glucan consumption a day can help reduce cholesterol levels," Dr Gunness said. Her work follows an earlier discovery by UQ and the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls that demonstrated how beta glucan fibre in oats can slow absorption of fats to reduce blood cholesterol. "I wanted to turn my discovery into a product, like a muffin, that people could eat to help reduce the amount of cholesterol in their blood stream, lowering the risk of heart disease." Dr Gunness perfected her low-fat blueberry muffin recipe over several months. "The trick was to avoid making the muffin gluggy from all the extra oat bran and beta glucan fibre." Now UQ's commercialisation company UniQuest and a UQ Business School student are identifying opportunities for the muffins to be packaged, frozen, and sold in supermarkets, cafes and health food outlets around the country. "We are not suggesting that people go off any cholesterol-lowering medication," Dr Gunness said. "Rather, we are aiming to provide a convenient, healthy and very tasty way of helping to reduce cholesterol levels." Through UniQuest, Dr Gunness is working with Australian food company Priestley's Gourmet Delights to manufacture and taste-test a batch of 'good heart' muffins. "I was really amazed by how positive the consumer feedback has been," she said. "It's very exciting to see a simple everyday product come out of some fairly complex research. "Eating a muffin a day is a convenient way for people to improve their heart health." ### A custom-engineered protein destroyed the deadly virus in the lab; could become a sweeping anti-viral in medicine and farming In June 2012, a 60 year-old man with flu-like symptoms walked into a private hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Two weeks later, he died from multiple organ failure, becoming the first victim of a mysterious virus that came to be known as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome or MERS. The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified MERS as an urgent threat with no vaccine or treatment in sight. This could change thanks to a new anti-viral tool, developed by University of Toronto researchers. Writing in the journal PLoS Pathogens, the team led by Professor Sachdev Sidhu, of the Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research and Department of Molecular Genetics, describe how they turned ubiquitin, a staple protein in every cell, into a drug capable of thwarting MERS in cultured human cells. Because the technology can be applied to a wide range of pathogens, it could become a game-changer in anti-viral therapeutics with implications for human health and the farming industry. "Vaccines are important for prevention, but there is a great need for anti-viral medicines to treat people who have become infected," says Dr. Wei Zhang, a postdoctoral research fellow in Sidhu's lab who did most of the work on the study. MERS is similar to SARS, the virus that killed almost 800 people in a 2002 global epidemic. Both kill upwards of a third of people infected and, like many viruses, emerged from animals--bats and camels in the case of MERS--after mutating into a form capable of infecting human cells. Although MERS has so far been detected in 27 countries since the first case emerged in 2012, the outbreak has largely been contained within Saudi Arabia, according to the WHO. Like many viruses, MERS works by hijacking the ubiquitin system in human cells composed of hundreds of proteins that rely on ubiquitin to keep the cells alive and well. Upon infection, viral enzymes alter ubiquitin pathways in a way that allows the virus to evade the immune defense while multiplying and destroying the host tissue as it spreads in the body. "Viruses have evolved proteins that allow them to hijack host proteins. We can now devise strategies to prevent this from happening," says Zhang. Zhang and colleagues engineered the human ubiquitin protein into a new form that paralyses a key MERS enzyme, stopping the virus from replicating. These synthetic ubiquitin variants act quickly, completely eliminating MERS from cells in a dish within 24 hours. The researchers also created UbVs that blocks the Crimean-Congo virus, the cause of a haemorrhagic fever that kills about 40 per cent of those infected. And they're designed to only target only the virus -- hopefully minimizing side effects in any future drug. But before these engineered proteins can be developed into medicine, researchers first must find a way to deliver them into the right part of the body. For this, Zhang and Sidhu are working with Dr. Roman Melnyk, a biochemist in The Hospital for Sick Children and a world expert in protein delivery. The team is also investigating the possibility of finding drugs that work in a similar manner but can already cross the cell membrane. It is likely that the proteins will be tested first in plants and animals where regulatory approvals are less strict than they are for human drugs. "We are also working on an engineered ubiquitin that targets a corn virus responsible for destroying large swaths of corn fields in North America, with colleagues in Manitoba," says Zhang. In the meantime, Zhang will continue to improve delivery of his designer proteins to human cells that target not only MERS but also other viruses. He hopes others will follow suit. "With our tool, we can quickly generate anti-viral medicine and we hope that our method will inspire other researchers to try it out against diverse pathogens," says Zhang. ### The study was done in collaboration with Professor Marjolein Kikkert, of Leiden University Medical Centre in The Netherlands and Professor Brian Mark at the University of Manitoba. Yi "Leaf" Zhang, an assistant professor in the College of Education at The University of Texas at Arlington, has been awarded a National Science Foundation CAREER grant to help community college transfer students more easily and quickly attain degrees in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics or STEM fields. The NSF's Faculty Early CAREER Development Program is committed to promoting the role of teacher-scholars. Zhang's award for the project, titled "CAREER: Understanding Community College Transfer Students' STEM Choice, Performance, Persistence, and STEM Baccalaureate Degree Attainment: A Typological Analysis," is expected to total $452,257 during the next five years. It is the first NSF grant awarded to UTA's College of Education. "Through this project, I hope to develop a community college transfer student typology or definition of distinct subgroups," Zhang said. "From there, I'll discover the relationships between reference group membership and transfer students' STEM choice, performance, persistence and STEM baccalaureate degree attainment." Zhang also plans to provide a better understanding of how transfer students in each reference group navigate their way to college and STEM success, including the unique challenges that they encounter, strategies that they have applied, and policies and practices that can best satisfy their needs for achievement. "The findings of the research project can lead to development and implication of tailored support for transfer students," Zhang said. "There are many, many stories and underlying backgrounds for these transfer students. We believe the findings can also suggest effective intervention and prevention programs to help transfer students avoid taking missteps and wrong turns as they progress to obtaining baccalaureate degrees in STEM fields of study." The research is tightly aligned with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's ambitious 60x30TX plan, which aims to prepare 60 percent of its 25- to 34-year-old workforce to have postsecondary credentials. It also supports UTA's initiatives to build a supportive environment where all students can flourish as scholars and citizens. Zhang said past research has been limited to understanding factors that hinder or support students' STEM choice, performance, persistence and timely degree completion in four-year universities. However, much of the past research focused on students' socio-demographic variables and how these variables predict students' desired outcomes of college. "These studies only enable researchers to identify which gender group, social class or race and ethnicity has a higher likelihood of outperforming the others in STEM education, but fail to address what underlying factors contribute to such a phenomenon," Zhang said. "These studies lead to minimal implications for higher education institutions, which seek to cultivate a successful STEM environment on campus, particularly for a growing body of transfer students." She said rather than analyzing which socio-demographic group is more likely to pursue STEM studies or graduate with a STEM degree, there is a need to identify underlying factors that contribute to the desired outcomes in STEM education, which is the major contribution of the proposed study. The award helps further UTA's Strategic Plan Bold Solutions | Global Impact, especially in the areas of data-driven discovery and improving health and the human condition. "The faculty members of the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies are extremely proud of the accomplishment of Dr. Zhang," said Casey Brown, professor and interim chair of the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. "Dr. Zhang works tirelessly to fulfill her research agenda and we are thrilled that NSF has honored her work." ### Before coming to UTA, Zhang served as a postdoctoral fellow at Iowa State University. Her research focuses on college access, student mobility and student success, particularly in a community college context. She has published articles in a number of journals including Community College Review, Community College Journal of Research and Practice, and Journal of Applied Research in the Community College. Dr. Zhang has taught at UTA since 2012. Thursday, May 18, 2017 Mark your calendar to tune in to KNKT-FM 107.1 on Friday, June 2 at 1:00 p.m. MDT to hear a conversation with death educator Gail Rubin on the stations Albuquerque Marketplace program. Host Peter Benson will talk with Gail about practical funeral planning tips such as: 1. The five things you must know NOW about anyone for whom you might plan a funeral. 2. What funerals and cremations cost in Albuquerque. 3. Why you need to shop BEFORE you drop. 4. How to cover the costs involved when youre not there to pay up (i.e. youre dead). 5. Why its important to have some kind of remembering ritual to honor a death: lessons learned from Gails 30 Funerals in 30 Days project. KNKT is a resource of Calvary Albuquerque, a radio station that presents solid Bible teaching and modern worship. The radio station can be heard in the Albuquerque area at 107.1 FM. Listen online here. Gail Rubin, CT, is a pioneering death educator who uses humor and funny films to teach about end-of-life topics. An award-winning speaker, she knocked em dead at TEDxABQ in 2015. Shes the author of three books on end-of-life issues: A Good Goodbye: Funeral Planning for Those Who Dont Plan to Die, Hail and Farewell: Cremation Ceremonies, Templates and Tips, and KICKING THE BUCKET LIST: 100 Downsizing and Organizing Things to Do Before You Die. Shes also an informed advocate for planning ahead, a Certified Funeral Celebrant, and a funeral trade press journalist, among other roles. Download a free 50-point Executors Checklist from her website, www.AGoodGoodbye.com. Share this: Situated on the edge of the Dartmoor National Park, Lustleigh is a quintessential English village and every August Bank Holiday Monday we come together to host one of Devons most popular village shows. The Main Show is located in a field surrounded by secure borders and arranged so that your family will feel safe at all times. We aim to provide a full day of activities and attractions, so bring along a rug, chill out, relax, listen to the jazz, have a drink, maybe some food and pass the day away whilst your family enjoy our attractions. It's a great day out for all the family with a packed schedule of attractions showcasing local skills, crafts and produce whilst providing all the fun of the fair with traditional music, games and sideshows. Map The Welsh Governments flagship bovine TB data document TB Dashboard has revealed "disappointing" progress towards the eradication of bovine TB in Wales, a farming union has said. According to the data presented, the levels of bovine TB in Wales have remained fairly static overall, with variable results across the counties. Indeed, whilst the TB Dashboard document reports a general fall in TB herd incidence since 2012, the number of cattle slaughtered in the 12 months leading to January 2017 was 22 per cent higher than in the previous 12 months. Dr Hazel Wright, Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW) Senior Policy Officer, said: Although the data from TB Dashboard shows improvement in some areas, the number of cattle slaughtered remains on the rise. According to Welsh bovine TB statistics, with the exception of 2008 and 2009, the number of cattle slaughtered in the 12 months to January 2017 was higher than in any other year since 1996. Recurrence rates have remained relatively flat in recent years, however almost 30 percent of the TB incidents closed in 2014 entailed a recurrence in the subsequent two years. Losing TB-free status is devastating to farming families and their businesses. The restrictions on a farm business can be incredibly destructive and it is extremely distressing for our members to have worked hard to gain TB-free status, only to lose it again in the subsequent years. A TB breakdown is not only financially crippling for the farm, but also impacts more widely as struggling farm businesses are less able to contribute to the both the local economy and further afield. 'High TB areas' According to Dashboard, over 80 per cent of new TB incidents are in the areas classified as High TB areas, including Pembrokeshire in the West. In the last quarter of 2016, there were 71 new incidents in this region. The Farmers' Union of Wales said that whilst this is a minor improvement from the year before, the longer term results are variable and suggest that cattle measures alone cannot work to eradicate TB. The latest official report on the IAA, published after the cessation of the 3.7 million badger vaccination programme in North Pembrokeshire, concluded that consistent trends in indicators of bovine TB incidence have not yet been seen over the 5 year period examined. The industry is well aware that the results after four years of badger vaccination in the IAA showed levels of bovine TB which are no different to other comparable areas where badger vaccination did not take place, added Dr Wright. The number of cattle herds registered in Wales has declined by 43 percent since 1996 and the industry has lost dairy producers at an alarming rate. Bovine TB is one of the most serious issues facing Welsh cattle farmers and a more holistic approach, which seriously tackles the wildlife reservoir, is required urgently. The farming industry is rallying around the next Government to take action on the 'blight' of rural crime hitting the UK recently. Farmers across the UK are increasingly concerned about incidences of criminal activity including vehicle thefts, livestock theft, fly-tipping, sheep worrying, trespass, poaching, arson, vandalism and fraud. Welsh farming union NFU Cymru held a meeting yesterday (18 May) to discuss rural affairs, in particular crime. Rural Affairs Board Chair Hedd Pugh said crime in the countryside affects members of the farming community disproportionately. It costs farmers time and money and also presents a risk to human health, farm animals, wildlife and the environment. Farmers are experiencing increases in various rural crime incidents that severely impact their farm businesses and strike fear and distress into our rural communities. NFU Cymru is committed to making sure that farmers are not seen as a soft target for criminals. Ahead of the 2017 General Election, the Union is seeking clear commitments from all political parties to address rural crime issues that are having a huge impact on farming communities and agricultural businesses. Whilst businesses who have been the victims of crime have taken steps to reduce the risk themselves, it is clear that much more must be done and the next Westminster Government must address rural crime and ensure that future funding for policing reflects the additional costs associated with policing in rural area. Rural crime taskforce In its first year, North Yorkshire Rural Taskforce made 101 arrests, reported 71 people for summons and seized 39 vehicles Police forces across the UK have started to develop specialist rural crime taskforces and teams. In 2015, the National Rural Crime Survey discovered that rural communities were not only living in fear of crime being committed against them, but that they were under-reporting crime by up to a third. In response to this, and following a meeting involving more than 100 stakeholders, North Yorkshire Polices Rural Taskforce was established in April 2016. And North Yorkshire is not the only county who have created a rural task, Derbyshire, Hampshire and Suffolk have also. Recently, on Monday (15 May), Cumbria police and the NFU teamed up to create Country Watch West a scheme that will specifically tackle farm based crime. Police and Crime Commissioner for Derbyshire Hardyal Dhindsa said rural crime costs the economy millions of pounds every year: He said: Not only jeopardising business survival, but it undermines the confidence and feelings of safety of those who make their home in the countryside. It's critical that local people know exactly who to turn to for help on crime prevention to protect their homes and businesses and most importantly that someone is available to listen to them. Livestock theft One of NFU Cymrus top 10 policy asks for the 2017 General Election is tackling rural crime, such as fly-tipping, livestock theft and illegal off-roading. The document asks: The next UK Government must show that it is serious about rural crime, through funding which reflects the additional cost of policing rural arears and by refreshing sentencing guidelines to ensure that a deterrent effect is achieved. In particular, sheep rustling has seen a worrying increase. In this month alone, criminals stole more than 30 sheep from a field in the Isle of Skye, Scotland and stole more than 50 sheep in a raid on a north-east farm in Scotland. And in February, rustlers stole almost 100 sheep worth just under 13,000 in a farm near Falkirk. The increase in crime has led a team of young tech entrepreneurs to develop a real-time and remote area security system. Developed over three years in consultation with Hampshire Police, TelemetriCop is a long-range, radio mesh networked, wireless security camera system specifically designed to counter crime as it develops rather than after it has happened. Latest government figures on UK organic food production shows that organic farmland declined slightly, but more farms are converting to organic. Defras organic farming statistics show that organic land fell by 3.6% in 2016, but the amount of UK farmland in conversion rose by more than 22%. In England, the picture was even stronger, with the data showing a 47.2% increase in land in conversion. Roger Kerr, chief executive of the largest organic farming certifiers OF&G, said that while the UKs overall organic land area may have slipped, there were very promising signals for the sector. There are plenty of things to be cheerful about in these latest statistics from Defra, he said. The amount of land in conversion shows that farmers are recognising the huge potential from the sector to make a profit from farming organically. Industry figures show that the UKs organic food sector is the only food sector showing consistent growth, with increases of between 7 and 10% reported this year. And with demand for organic products in the UK and globally predicted to grow again this year, we know UK farmers, growers and processors are attracted to organic production. These figures show there is much to be positive about. Permanent pasture Defras latest statistics, which were published on Thursday (18 May) show that permanent pasture continues to account for the biggest share of the countrys organic area. The number of organic cattle increased on the previous year, while organic pig numbers rose by 5%. Organic poultry numbers have shown the largest increase, rising by 10% to just over 2.8m birds. The figures also reveal that the number of organic processors is up by 14% to 2804. Overall UK organic processors are up 14% but at OF&G weve seen an increase of nearer 20%, says Mr Kerr. That growth is hugely encouraging for everyone in the organic sector working hard to fulfil increasing demand. We need more domestic production to meet the growing demand for quality food and organic has a critical part to play in that. Earlier this year, Farming Minister George Eustice confirmed farmers will be able to apply for organic support in 2017 and 2018. A new Dragon's Den-style competition is being launched solely for those with a bright idea that will help the agricultural industry. The competition, which is open now for entries, invites anyone with a ground-breaking agricultural business idea to pitch Dragons Den-style for a share of the investment prize fund, in exchange for a stake in their business. In addition, there is a guaranteed Briefing Media promotional package worth 5k for every finalist, as well as on-going help and business support. Closing date for entries is July 7, 2017. Briefing Media Ltd has announced there is now more than 20 million of funding available for new businesses through its Agri-Innovation Den competition. 20m venture capital fund Launched in 2015, in association with Co-op Food, Agri-Innovation Den has been significantly strengthened this week by bringing on board the Mulberry Green Fund as a second partner. The Mulberry Green Fund is a 20m venture capital fund investing in early and growth-stage companies in the green-tech and agri-tech sectors. It invests in UK-based companies which are undervalued in the domestic market but have the potential to grow substantially overseas. It typically makes individual investments of between 250k-1m. 'Showcase talent' Briefing Media chief executive, Neil Thackray says: Its fantastic to have the Mulberry Green Fund on board. It makes Agri-Innovation Den an even better opportunity for UK farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs to be able to showcase their talents and gain help and funding to move their businesses forward. Those shortlisted will be invited to an interview and finalists will pitch to our expert panel in September. Returning to judge in the den this year will be: Neil Thackray, chief executive of Briefing Media; Emma Penny, Briefing Media group editor and Will Jackson, agricultural development manager for Co-Op Food. New to the den for 2017 will be: James Griffiths, Mulberry Green Fund chief investment officer and Phil Latham, Cheshire farmer. Lime Technology, the UKs leading developer and manufacturer of lime based low carbon building products, has today announced the acquisition of Hemcore, the Suffolk based industrial hemp processor and supplier. The business was purchased from Hemcores administrators. Lime Technology has been working with Hemcore over the past five years, as part of the supply chain for its Tradical Hemcrete product. An innovative product used to create carbon negative, highly thermally efficient walls, it is a mix of hemp shiv, supplied by Hemcore, and a lime based binder. As well as providing hemp shiv for Hemcrete and other construction products, Lime Technology will continue to service the Hemcore supply chain providing a range of products including horse bedding and fibre to the automotive industry. Hemp fibre is used as a lightweight renewable alternative in the body panels of many cars as well as being the raw material for hemp insulation. As part of the acquisition, Lime Technology will be retaining the Hemcore brand name plus its offices and factory in Halesworth. It is planned that current members of staff will be retained and the plant will continue operating. Mike Duckett will become the Managing Director for the company and John Hobson remains the main contact for customers. -2- Whilst the Hemcore brand name will be retained, as part of a long term growth strategy the business will be renamed Hemp Technology Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lime Technology. To minimise operational disruption, Hemp Technology has secured supplies of Hemcore horse bedding to satisfy the growing demand for the product through the next season. The company will also be honouring any contracts that were in place between Hemcore and its network of farmers and growers. In addition, the company is planning to expand Hemcores base of farmers for the growing season of 2010, a reflection of the burgeoning demand for hemp from certain sectors, such as the construction industry. It is anticipated that the hemp acreage required for the 2010 growing season will be between 6,000 and 8,000 acres. "The acquisition by Lime Technology not only secures the future of hemp processing in the UK it also ensures that a much needed alternative break crop is available to farmers" commented Mike Duckett Hemp Technologys Managing Director. Lime Technology is regarded as one of the leading developers of hemp based building products and the acquisition will reinforce this position. It will also enable the company to develop new products for the construction sector and expand into new market sectors, whilst supporting agriculture in the UK. It is anticipated that as part of the acquisition, further capital investment will be made in the Hemp Technology facility to improve quality and operating efficiencies establishing the company as a leading hemp processor. When operating is at full capacity the plant will have the capability to process 50,000 tonnes of hemp straw per annum and provide enough shiv to build 6,000 houses. Kazakhstan Potash Corporation Limitedand its Joint Venture (JV), focused on developing a fertiliser logistics and distribution hub for all major material fertilisers in China, has completed its first quarter of operations.The ASX listed explorer and its Chinese Chongqing JV (with material company the Chongqing Material of Agricultural Production (Group) Co. Limited) reported its operation profit was $120,634 for the quarter ending 31 March 2017.The JV is focusing on fertiliser trading and logistics and aims to become one of Chinas leading companies in the sector.Kazakhstan Potash is assisting the JV in sourcing finance and it will also provide fertilisers to the JV, from its projects in Kazakhstan.Shares in Kazakhstan Potash Corporation Limitedlast traded at 4.7 cents. A CDL must be obtained by the driver of any of the following vehicles: Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds. Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds. Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver. Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials The following vehicle operators are not required to obtain a CDL: Farm Equipment Operators - This exemption covers legitimate farm-to-market operations by farmers, not commercial grain haulers. CDLs are not required to operate vehicles: Controlled and operated by a farmer, a member of the farmers family or an employee;Used to transport farm products, equipment or supplies to or from a farm (including nurseries and aquacultures); Used within 150 air miles of the farm; andNot used in the operations of a common or contract carrier; and Used in nursery or agricultural operations. NOTE: For the drivers of truck-tractor semitrailers, the farmer, his or her spouse and their children, parents on both sides, brothers and sisters on both sides and their spouses operating a truck-tractor semitrailer and meeting the above criteria also are exempted from the CDL Program. These drivers must be at least age 21, and the vehicle must have Farm plates. These drivers are still required to take the appropriate CDL written, skills and road tests to be licensed. Firefighting Equipment Operators - Because most firefighting organizations have extensive initial training and re- training requirements for their equipment operators, Illinois waives CDL requirements for operators of firefighting equipment owned or operated by or for a government agency, when responding to or returning from an emergency. Military Vehicle Operators - Operators of military vehicles for military purposes are exempt from obtaining a CDL. Recreational Vehicle Operators - Recreational vehicle operators, when using the vehicle primarily for personal use, do not need a CDL. Haiti - 214th of Flag : Message from Guy Lamothe, Ambassador of Haiti to Mexico As part of the 214th anniversary celebration of the Haitian flag, Haitian Ambassador to Mexico, Guy G. Lamothe delivered a message to the Haitian diaspora living in Mexico with special thought for our compatriots in Tijuana and Mexicali (Cities border with the USA), thanks to the goodwill of the Mexican Government. Message from Ambassador Guy G. Lamothe : "Dear compatriots of the Haitian diaspora in Mexico, The Embassy of Haiti in Mexico, always faithful to the ephemerides of its national history, takes advantage of the 214th anniversary of the creation of the Haitian flag, to highlight for you the pivotal date of May 18, 1803, with the intention of a citizen appropriation of the symbolism emanating from it. The Embassy would like to point out first that the creation of the national blue and red bicolor, to Arcahaie is the witness of an historic initiative of exemplary value and model. A remarkable example, given by the founding fathers of the homeland, Jean-Jacques Dessalines and Alexandre Petion, of political and social consensus, convergence of interests for a project of society beneficial to all : the end of European colonialism. This is an unavoidable model for the girls and sons of Dessalines and Petion of Haiti and elsewhere, who are genuinely anxious to ally themselves in order to work in harmony and enjoy together in peace the ancestral heritage. In this traditional celebration that challenges the patriotic consciousness of every authentic Haitian, the Embassy also takes into account a special thought for the compatriots established in Tijuana and Mexicali by the manifest goodwill of the Government and the brotherly people of Mexico https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20907-haiti-flash-regularization-of-haitians-blocked-in-mexico.html Let each and everyone find in this message of circumstance the active sympathy of this diplomatic mission to them and the assurance of its unconditional commitment to the improvement of their situation. For the country, for the ancestors and for ourselves, daughters and sons of Dessalines and P"tion, let us march together! Guy G. Lamothe, Ambassador" HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - NOTICE : Restriction of parking at the International Airport Irving Mehu, Director General of the National Airport Authority (AAN), informs the general public and users of Toussaint Louverture International Airport in particular, "It is formally forbidden to them to park their vehicles in the parking of the airport after 10:00 pm." This measure comes into effect from this Friday, May 19, 2017. The AAN has requested the Airport Police Station to unconditionally enforce this provision and to take appropriate action against offenders. The Directorate General of the AAN count on your full cooperation. HL/ HaitiLibre United States Projected to Lose $1.3 Billion in Travel-Related Expenditures In 2017 Using first quarter ticketing data from the Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC), publicly available travel data and GBTAs economic research and models, GBTA developed an uncertainty forecast for 2017 showing the impact this mounting geopolitical uncertainty is having on the economy. There is no question that uncertainty is bad for business travel and bad for the global economy. First, there was Brexit. Next came the Trump Administrations first travel ban, which cost the United States $185 million in business travel bookings in one week. It was followed by a second travel ban, which like the first, was halted by court orders. After that, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) barred passengers traveling from 10 airports in eight Middle Eastern and African countries from bringing laptops and other large electronics into the cabin as carry-ons. Hours later, the United Kingdom followed suit issuing their own electronics ban on inbound flights from six countries, impacting six UK airlines and eight foreign airlines. Now an expanded electronics bans on flights into the United States from Europe appears imminent. Using first quarter ticketing data from the Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC), publicly available travel data and GBTAs economic research and models, GBTA developed an uncertainty forecast for 2017 showing the impact this mounting geopolitical uncertainty is having on the economy. There is no question that uncertainty is bad for business travel and bad for the global economy. GBTA projects a loss of over $1.3 billion in overall travel-related expenditures in the United States in 2017 including hotels, food, rental cars and shopping expenses that inbound travelers would have spent. That includes $250 million lost in spending from inbound business travelers from Europe and the Middle East. The even greater concern is that the longer-term impact on business travel will become even larger as companies begin to host meetings and events in other destinations. In an earlier survey of GBTAs European members, 45 percent indicated their company will be less willing to plan future meetings and events in the United States due to executive orders on travel. U.S. GDP will take a nearly $300 million hit. More than 4,200 jobs could be lost along with $175 million in wages and $70 million in tax collections. Europe is forecast to lose over $250 million in air fare spending and the Middle East will lose over $80 million in air fare. This devastating economic impact could take years to recover from. It is not unprecedented for the negative perception around government policy to result in real economic losses. Before the controversial HB2 bathroom bill in North Carolina was repealed, an AP analysis projected the law would cost the state more than $3.76 billion in lost business over a dozen years. A survey from the tourism group Visit Indy revealed Indianas religious objections law may have cost the state as much as $60 million in hotel profits, tax revenue and other economic benefits. As we await the verdict on a possible expansion of the electronics ban, we have yet another uncertainty factor. While it is certainly different from the travel ban executive orders, and there is no doubt that the electronics ban is based on a clear security threat, it is the cumulative impact of anti-travel policies that leave the perception to many that the United States is closed for business. It goes without saying that GBTA strongly supports all efforts keep our skies safe, but we encourage TSA to pursue alternative options to effectively reduce the risk of terrorism. As companies across the world have ramped up their risk management programs in recent years, business travelers are taught to keep their devices on hand and in sight at all times for security purposes as they may contain sensitive company data. Now business travelers will need to be equipped with new information and ways to keep their company data safe. If it is in the best interest of security, business travelers are willing to comply with these types of measures, however, most business travelers would much rather accept a far more rigorous screening at the airport than part with their devices. Nearly half of business travelers prefer to stay connected and get work done while flying. Not allowing them to bring their devices on the plane reduces productivity and that comes with a cost to the tune of nearly $900 million if expanded beyond Middle East countries to Europe. Business travel drives lasting business growth and is a leading indicator for jobs and the economy at large. Continuing to enact policies that discourage business travel will cause a rippling effect across the travel industry and the overall economy. We urge the Trump Administration to consider the important lasting impact of business travel and enact policies going forward that preserve both our national security AND our economy for the future. Methodology: GBTA used its proprietary economic model to determine the travel forecast for international inbound travel from Europe and the Middle East given typical business travel determining factors including GDP, oil prices and other economic variables. Comparing that forecast to ARCs 2017 Q1 ticketing data yielded an uncertainty-driven difference or loss. GBTA also used publicly available ticket pricing data from industry sources, the Department of Commerces National Travel & Tourism Organization SIAT survey and GBTA proprietary economic impact data to develop the loss estimates. Home to one of the most famous waves in the United States, Half Moon Bay is a coastal city south of San Francisco. It was originally founded as an agricultural outpost for the Mission San Francisco de Asis before becoming a fishing town and now attracts big-wave surfers hoping to conquer Mavericks. Things to do in Half Moon Bay Stretch your legs on the Coastside Trail, a 7.5-kilometre-long oceanfront path that forms part of the long-distance California Coastal Trail. It follows the former route of the Ocean Shore Railroad and offers sweeping views across the Pacific Ocean. Birdwatchers can keep their eyes peeled for red-tailed hawks, blue herons and red-winged blackbirds. Watch the big-wave surfers in action at Mavericks or relax on one of the four beaches that comprise Half Moon Bay State Beach. In addition to walking and beachcombing, they provide an idyllic setting for fishing and horseback riding. Visit Half Moon Bay State Beach Visitor Center to learn about the coastal ecology, then refresh with a swim in one of the shallow lagoons of Venice Beach. Inland rises the rugged peak of Montara Mountain, which forms part of the protected Rancho Corral de Tierra. Its 579-metre-high summit can be reached along a scenic hiking trail that leads between blue gums, coastal scrub and groves of manzanita. Further south is the Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve, which is home to a tract of towering coastal redwoods, as well as bobcats, mountain lions and coyotes. Getting around Half Moon Bay Half Moon Bay is around 40 minutes drive from the centre of San Francisco and just 30 minutes from San Francisco International Airport. Buses travel from San Francisco to Half Moon Bays downtown area while a coastal trail connects the citys beaches. Edupliance Tackles How to Correct IRS Forms in New Webinar Posted by Aman Verma on Friday, 05-19-2017 8:29 am Currently 0.0/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5 0.0 from 0 votes Edupliance announces webinar titled, Complete Guide to Correcting IRS Forms that aims to advise attendees on the correct way to fill Form 941, use Form W-2c to correct the employees year-end information as well as how to file amended return for Form 940. The webinar goes LIVE on Wednesday, May 31, from 01:00 PM to 02:30 PM, Eastern Time. Mistakes can occur in even the most efficient and knowledgeable payroll departments! When this does happen corrections need to be made as soon as the error is discovered. These corrections have to be handled properly. But what about the quarterly and year-end reports payroll is responsible for? If a mistake has been made on the employees wages doesnt the correction to it need to be reflected in the quarterly or year-end forms? In this webinar, we will discuss how to correct the Form 941 when an error has been discovered after it has been filed. We will examine when to use the Form W-2c to correct the employees year-end information after the Form... Close Forgot Your Password? Enter in your email address and we will send it to you. Send Email An HR.com member profile provides you with access to a multitude of information and education along with the opportunity to network with the largest HR community on the web. If you need any help, call .877.472.6648 and ask for our Member Experience Co-ordinator. Hi Please check your email for an activation link. If you do not receive your activation email within a few minutes, check your spam folder or call our Help Desk at 1.877.472.6648 For faster assistance, dial extension 4. Thank you! Continue Hi Verification error - Please enter the correct code above. Verified Wow! You have successfully verified the account Continue Hi your HR.com account is ready Your Profile completion: 30% Complete your profile Nationwide Self-Directed Retirement Plan Administrator, Midland IRA, Hires New Associate Posted by Press Releases on Friday, 05-19-2017 1:27 am Currently 0.0/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5 0.0 from 0 votes Midland IRA, headquartered in Fort Myers and Chicago, hires new client services associate, Geoff Watts. He is to work in the expanding Chicago office.Midland IRA is a self-directed retirement plan administrator that provides tax-deferred and tax-free investment opportunities, superior customer service, and educational tools to assist investors in realizing the maximum benefits possible in their retirement accounts. The company sets a high standard in providing personal, professional service to their clients across the nation. Geoff Watts is to learn all aspects of the company and begins his position in the client services department.Watts is originally from New York and was raised in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. He graduated from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, with his bachelor of science, masters in business administration, and a certification in HR management. Before joining Midland IRA, Watts started his career at Merrill Lynch Futures in Chicago, where he assisted customer... Close Forgot Your Password? Enter in your email address and we will send it to you. Send Email An HR.com member profile provides you with access to a multitude of information and education along with the opportunity to network with the largest HR community on the web. If you need any help, call .877.472.6648 and ask for our Member Experience Co-ordinator. Hi Please check your email for an activation link. If you do not receive your activation email within a few minutes, check your spam folder or call our Help Desk at 1.877.472.6648 For faster assistance, dial extension 4. Thank you! Continue Hi Verification error - Please enter the correct code above. Verified Wow! You have successfully verified the account Continue Hi your HR.com account is ready Your Profile completion: 30% Complete your profile New Leadership Team at Lootok Paves the Way for the Future of Crisis Management and Business Continuity Posted by Press Releases on Friday, 05-19-2017 1:56 am Currently 0.0/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5 0.0 from 0 votes Global volatility and increased competition have escalated the need for companies to prepare for disruptions.For more than 10 years Lootok has pushed the boundaries of traditional crisis management and business continuity (BC). I launched Lootok with the singular vision of doing BC differently, said Lootok CEO, Sean Murphy. Global volatility and increased competition have escalated the need for companies to prepare for disruptions. While everybody knows they that they should have a BC program, nobody wants to do the work. BC is only important when its too late, and when an incident does occur, any data and plans that have been collected typically remain untouched.Lootok continually confronts these challenges by offering fresh points of view on industry standards and new ways to transform programs to meet todays highly networked environment. Sean Murphy explains: I knew that BC was an essential part of business. The negative returns I so often saw were not the result of BC itself... Close Forgot Your Password? Enter in your email address and we will send it to you. Send Email An HR.com member profile provides you with access to a multitude of information and education along with the opportunity to network with the largest HR community on the web. If you need any help, call .877.472.6648 and ask for our Member Experience Co-ordinator. Hi Please check your email for an activation link. If you do not receive your activation email within a few minutes, check your spam folder or call our Help Desk at 1.877.472.6648 For faster assistance, dial extension 4. Thank you! Continue Hi Verification error - Please enter the correct code above. Verified Wow! You have successfully verified the account Continue Hi your HR.com account is ready Your Profile completion: 30% Complete your profile Videos potential to rally others around your companys vision is limitless We live in a digital video world. These days, the Internet and smart phones make it possible to reach audiences anywhere, and, more than anything else, people are clicking on videos. If you want to recruit bright new talent, video is a powerful tool. A great video will connect and inspire. It will capture your companys culture, and it will prompt people to apply for opportunities at your company because theyre drawn to that unique culture. When measuring the value of a video, it helps to look at ROI in terms of Return on Inspiration and Return on Imagination. Think: How has your video inspired others to action? How has it helped them see your vision and embrace it? Vision is a key factor in drawing in new talent. Its also effective for onboarding. If your video can help people visualize what the future might look like, or visualize how your company, school, product, or initiative is going to influence and shape society, they can envision how they might be part of it. Your message quickly turns into their message. It says, Were going there together. The most sought-after employees are looking ahead. They want to be part of a company that knows where its going, and they want to develop their skillset in a caring and motivating environment. One of our most memorable recruitment films was made f... We work towards an equitable, gender-just, self-reliant and sustainable fisheries, particularly in the small-scale, artisanal sector We work towards an equitable, gender-just, self-reliant and sustainable fisheries, particularly in the small-scale, artisanal sector We work towards an equitable, gender-just, self-reliant and sustainable fisheries, particularly in the small-scale, artisanal sector We work towards an equitable, gender-just, self-reliant and sustainable fisheries, particularly in the small-scale, artisanal sector CalPERS is among 53 co-signers of a letter sent to the House due to concerns the bill threatens safeguards for market oversight. The Council of Institutional Investors, an association of more than 120 employee benefit funds and endowments, is deeply troubled by parts of the Financial Choice Act of 2017, which it says would threaten safeguards for oversight of companies and markets. The group raised its concerns in a letter sent May 17 to all members of the House of Representatives, saying the bill would jeopardize sensible reforms that investors need to hold management and boards of public companies accountable, and that foster trust in the integrity of the markets. The Act, introduced in April by Rep. Jeb Hensarling, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, aims to end taxpayer bailouts of banks, increase accountability from financial regulators, and reform the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The Act would repeal sections and titles of the Dodd-Frank Act that limit or inhibit capital growth, including the Volcker Rule, which prohibits banks from investing in hedge funds or private equity funds. The Act passed a Financial Services Committee vote on May 4. The House may vote as soon as the week of May 21, according to a statement this week from CII. The CIIs letter criticizing the bill was co-signed 53 institutional investors, including the California Public Employees Retirement System, the New York State Teachers Retirement System, and the Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System. The association said the bill would roll back curbs on abusive pay practices at U.S. companies, and restrict the right of shareholders to vote for directors in contested board seats. It also said the Act would set high cost hurdles on shareholders wishing to make a proposal for a companys annual meeting, by requiring shareholders to own 1 percent of a stock for three years, up from the current rule of $2,000 worth of stock for one year. CII fails to appreciate that the Financial Choice Act will expand access to capital for small businesses so they can grow and create jobs, said Sarah Rozier, spokeswoman for the Financial Services Committee, in an emailed statement. This will foster economic growth for all Americans, including investors in these companies, not just those at the top which is why the bill is supported by the Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Business, and all 50 state bankers associations, Rozier said. Burma Court Rejects New Arrest Warrant in U Ko Ni Murder Trial Lawyer U Nay La was photographed at the Rangoon Division High Court on May 19, 2017. / Chan Son / The Irrawaddy RANGOON The Rangoon Division High Court rejected a petition from a lawyer in the U Ko Ni murder trial requesting a new arrest warrant be issued in Naypyidaw for fugitive Aung Win Khaing on Friday. Lawyer U Nay Larepresenting the family of the National League for Democracys (NLD) assassinated legal adviser U Ko Nipresented the criminal revision to the divisional court on April 28. Aung Win Khaing is suspected of involvement in the murder but remains at large. He was last seen in Naypyidaw, according to CCTV footage. Prominent Muslim lawyer U Ko Ni was shot by gunman Kyi Lin outside Yangon International Airport on the afternoon of Jan. 29. Police have put forward four suspects: gunman Kyi Lin, and alleged co-conspirators Zeya Phyo, Aung Win Zaw and Aung Win Tun. Lawyer U Nay La initially requested that the northern district court issue the warrant in Naypyidaw in March, but the court ruled against the move. Last month at the divisional court, he claimed that the district court has been handling the case carelessly and is weak in examining the case surrounding the fugitive in accordance with designated procedures. We still dont know the reason why the court rejected our request to issue a new arrest warrant, U Nay La told the media after the Fridays court hearing at the divisional court. There are different legal perspectives between our side and the court, he said. We will consult with our legal team for the next move. The next court hearing will be held at the northern district court on May 26. According to U Nay La, a police order dated Feb. 15 calling for the arrest of Aung Win Khaing was sent to only six of the forces stationsin Dawbon, Thaketa, Bahan, Mingaladon, Gyobingauk, and Meiktila townships. The first warrant issued by the district court on Mar. 3before the trialonly covered Aung Win Khaings home address in Rangoons Dawbon Township. He said that an arrest warrant that only allows for a fugitive to be apprehended at his permanent address is unfitting for the situation. Referring to the police reports, he said that Aung Win Khaing had not passed through the countrys border gates since the assassination and that a new arrest warrant covering where the fugitive was last seen should be issued. Shooter Kyi Lin and three alleged co-perpetratorsAung Win Zaw, Aung Win Khaing and Zeya Phyoare being charged under Article 302 of Burmas Penal Code for murder. Zeya Phyo, a former military intelligence officer, is also charged under Article 67 of the Telecommunications Law for the possession of restricted telecommunications equipment and Article 468 of the Penal Code for the forgery of national identity cards. Two of the suspectsgunman Kyi Lin and alleged co-conspirator Aung Win Zaware being charged under Article 19(d) and (f) of the countrys 1878 Arms Act for illegal arms possession and transportation, in addition to the murder charge. Burma KIA Reports Clashes with Burma Army Kachin Independence Army soldiers pictured in northern Burma. / The Irrawaddy Kachin Independence Army (KIA) troops clashed with the Burma Army in Hpakant Township of Kachin State, according to Lt-Col Tang Seng of KIA Battalion 6. We are closely watching the [Burma Army] troops after they entered areas under our control, he told The Irrawaddy on Friday. We have had only small clashes so far, but we are expecting a big fight. He estimated that at least five battalions from the Burma Army, also known as the Tatmadaw, entered KIA-controlled areas. We did not negotiate with them, they would not accept that even if we tried, as we have no ceasefire agreement, he said. The KIAs bilateral ceasefire with the government broke down in 2011. The Irrawaddy was unable to reach the Burma Army or speak to people on the ground to confirm the KIAs reports. Clashes between the KIA and the Tatmadaw had simmered down after government troops launched a large-scale offensive in December last year and seized the strategically important KIA base Gideon and two other mountain posts. The National League for Democracy-led government will hold the second round of its Union Peace Conference, also known as the 21st Century Panglong peace conference, next week. Although State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said that all ethnic armed groups would be invited attend, it is unclear in what capacity. The KIA had previously suggested that if the organization was invited as an observer to the peace conference it would not attend. Burma Mandalay Division Govt Takes Tough Line on Illegal Logging Trucks carrying logs on Thanlyin-Kyauktan Road in Rangoon. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy MANDALAY Mandalay Division government will crack down on illegal logging in the area, said division minister for planning and finance U Myat Thu. The divisional government is planning to punish smugglers under the Public Property Protection Law and the Public Utilities Protection Law, both enacted in 1947, rather than the Forest Law, as is the current case. The divisional government had not been able to effectively punish smugglers of smaller quantities of logs and looked at other ways to fight smugglers, said minister U Myat Thu. Previously, if we seized less than one ton of logs, we had to hand over the case to the Forestry Department, explained the minister. According to the law, smugglers could pay a fine and the logs were returnedsome smugglers even handed themselves in to authorities to legitimize the logs. Under the new punishment system, the divisional government will levy penalties according to type and amount of timber seized. It will charge culprits under the 1992 Forest Law for seizures of up to one ton of teak, or up to three tons of other hardwood. Under the Forest Law, the penalty is a fine of 10,000 kyats plus double the value of seized timber. The timber will also be confiscated. The government will charge under the Public Property Protection Law for seizure of between one to three tons of teak, or between three and five tons of other hardwood. It will charge under Public Utilities Protection Law for seizure of above three tons of teak, and above five tons of other hardwood. Both Public Property Protection Law and Public Utilities Protection Law grant no bail and prescribe sentences of up to seven years in prison. The divisional government announced the laws under which actions are to be taken against illegal logging on April 24, and informed the Mandalay Division Advocate-General Office, and the divisions police force, forestry department, parliament, security and border affairs ministry and general administration departments. Police Col Tin Zaw Htun of Mandalay Division said: Under the new system, those who smuggle in large quantities will get harsher penaltiesthis will effectively deter them. Smuggled timber, mainly teak, tamalan and padauk, are mostly seized at three checkpoints in Mandalay Division16th Mile, Shwekyin and New Sagaing Bridgeas they are smuggled to China through Mandalay, according to Mandalay Division government. Union minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation U Ohn Win said at the Union Parliament in March that the government seized over 40,000 tons of smuggled timber and took actions against over 7,000 smugglers including 11 foreigners in the 2016-17 fiscal year. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko Burma Ministry Apologizes After Posting Burma Army Chief Photo Alongside Elephant Story A screenshot of the Ministry of Informations (MOI) mistaken Facebook post. / MOI Webportal Myanmar Facebook page RANGOON The official Facebook page for Burmas Ministry of Information (MOI) has apologized to the armys Commander-in-Chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing after posting his picture alongside a story about a wounded elephant on Thursday morning. The photo showed Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing and the Philippines armed forces chief Gen Eduardo Ano at the ASEAN Chiefs of Defense Forces Informal Meeting (ACDFIM) in Manila, with an article titled A Wounded Wild Elephant was Found and Treated. In the story, the forestry department and police found a wounded elephant in the forest near a village in Thabeikkyin Township of Pyin Oo Lwin, Mandalay Division. The team treated the elephants injuries, including a wound from a poisoned arrow, and returned the animal to the forest. The unfortunate juxtaposition was shared by social media users and prompted the MOI to apologize that night. Its website and newspapers released the correct pictures for both stories. We mistakenly published the commander-in-chief of the militarys photo in the news titled A Wounded Wild Elephant was Found and Treated around 8 a.m. on May 18 on the MOI Webportal Myanmar Facebook page. We seriously apologize to the commander-in-chief for the mistake, the apology read. On May 11, the Facebook page published a photo-shopped photograph of US President Donald Trump holding an executive order imprinted with the words James Comey Youre Fired! Burma Nationalists Prepare for Protest Against Religious Affairs Minister Nationalists in Mandalay travel to Naypyidaw on Friday to join a protest against the religious affairs minister U Aung Ko. / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy MANDALAY Nationalists claiming Burmas government is failing to support Buddhism began traveling to the countrys capital of Naypyidaw on Friday to voice their anger against the religious minister. Organizers said about 30,000 people, including monks and nationalists from Mandalay, Rangoon, and Irrawaddy divisions, will join the protest on Shwe Nantha field in Ottara Thiri Township against the Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture, U Aung Ko. Naypyidaws general administration office stated, however, that the organizers have requested a protest of up to 15,000, and the authorities have allowed only 300. Buddhism is the major religion of the country and the religious affairs ministry must protect, support and encourage the Sasana [Buddhist mission]. It was clearly stated in the Constitution, said U Eain Daw Bar Tha, one of the leaders of the Nationalist Buddhist Monks Organization in Mandalay. However, Thura U Aung Ko fails to do this and repeatedly upsets the Buddhists of the country. Thats why were going to express our dislike of the minister, he added. The monk cited Daw Aung San Suu Kyis speech marking the one-year anniversary of the National League for Democracy (NLD) government in which she said the party would be ready to step aside if people are dissatisfied with the leadership. We believe the government will keep their promises after seeing our objection to Thura U Aung Ko, said U Eain Daw Bar Tha. After the protest, we will wait and see the governments reaction. It is too early to say what we will do next. U Aye Thaung, officer of Ottara district, told The Irrawaddy that local authorities would take legal action against the organizers if the protest exceeded more than 300 people. The local authorities will stop them in accordance with the Peaceful Assembly Act if they do not follow the permitted numbers, said the officer. The planned protest follows an arrest warrant for seven nationalists and Buddhist monks last week who were involved in a recent confrontation between Buddhists and Muslims in Rangoons Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township. They have been charged with incitement to commit violence. Burma NLD Patron U Tin Oo Suffers Stroke, Remains in Critical Condition Doctors at Rangoon General Hospital tell the media about Tin Oos condition on Friday. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy RANGOON National League for Democracy (NLD) patron U Tin Oo is receiving medical treatment at the intensive care unit in Rangoon General Hospital after falling in his bathroom and suffering a stroke, although his condition is improving, according to doctors at the hospital. His right side is paralyzed because of the stroke, said Dr. Win Min Thit, head of the hospitals neurological department, on Friday. He still cant speak. But his left side can move well. We have to wait and see because his condition may change within a week. The 91-year-old politician slipped in his bathroom on Wednesday evening and was rushed to Shwe Gon Dine Hospital before being transferred to Rangoon General Hospital at around 3 a.m. on Thursday. He developed a small blood clot in one of the three cerebral arteries, which does not require an operation, said Dr. Myat Thu of the neurological department. According to the doctors, he has abnormally high blood pressure and a heart condition, but he did not break any bones in the fall. The hospital formed a committee of medical experts led by its superintendent Dr. Aye Ko Ko to treat U Tin Oo in the intensive care unit, where he will remain for at least three weeks. His condition has improved compared to yesterday, said U Aye Ko Ko. U Tin Oo served as the Burma Armys commander-in-chief and defense minister from 1974-1976. He was imprisoned for alleged involvement in an attempted coup in July 1976, and released in 1980 during an amnesty. Eight years later he co-founded the NLD, becoming its vice-chairman and chairman. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko. Burma Report: Burma Rapidly Losing Forest Cover A vessel carrying teak logs awaiting export on the Bago River in Rangoon in February 2014. / Reuters RANGOON Satellite imagery indicates that intact forest cover in Burma has declined rapidly over the last decade, according to a study. A countrywide analysis of Landsat data for the period 19902000 showed that Burma had retained much of its original forest cover during that time, stretching across 65 percent of the countrys land. More than a decade later in 2014, more than 63 percent of Burma remained forested, but intact forest had declined by 11 percent, or by more than 2 million hectares, with an annual loss of 0.94 percent. The total intact forest, which is vital for biodiversity and conservation, was just 38 percent in 2014, according to the study in the journal PLOS ONE. The reduction of armed conflict in some areas and the expansion of commercial agriculture, including plantations, were identified as key contributing factors to forest loss. The report identifies nine township hotspots of deforestation. The areas around Homalin Township in Sagaing Division, Bokpyin Township in Tenasserim Division and Hpakant Township in Kachin State lost the most intact forest between 2002 and 2014. Other areas most affected included land around Myitkyina and Tanai townships in Kachin State and mangrove forests in the Irrawaddy Delta. The authors found a large area of some 6.3 million hectares of intact forest in northern Burma. The Southern Forest Complex in Tenasserim still jointly covers around 1.7 million hectares of intact forest, the study found. Burma is at a crossroads, according to the authors. Protection of remaining intact forests, and restoration of degraded forest are critical to ensuring the long-term future of the countrys forests, they said. Burma Yuzana Reps and Farmers Clash in Kachin State Farmers and members of Yuzana Company Ltd engage in a confrontation over contested land in Hpakant Township. / Khon Ja / Facebook Tension over contested land led to a confrontation between members of Yuzana Company Ltd and local farmers in a Kachin State village on May 17. The village in question, Nawngme, is in the Hukawng Valley in Hpakant Township. Locals told The Irrawaddy that around 60 people representing Yuzana came to the area with knives and sticks, telling 10 farmers: We will take back our place. You need to go away from here. The farmers then reportedly called for assistance from other locals, and the confrontation eventually de-escalated. One local man had a small wound on his neck, after a man allegedly affiliated with Yuzana put a knife to his throat and threatened to cut him, said land rights activist Sai Awng from Mungchying Rawt Jat (MRJ). We did not dare to respond to anything when they first came. But, when more and more of our farmers came to join, then they dared to fight us, he said. U Ye Myint, a manager from Yuzana, said that members of his company had gone to plough the land but that it was they who had been attacked by local farmers. They brought other farmers from Nawngme and Nanmati. They confronted us, to attack us, he said. The village head from Nawngme, the township authorities from Hpakant, and the Karmine police reportedly called U Ye Myint, asking him to resolve the dispute through the law, and to halt cultivation of the land in the meantime; he said he had complied. Yuzanawhich is involved in many industries, including agriculture, construction, and hospitalitynow claims ownership of large amounts of forested land in Kachin State, where people have complained that up to 8,000 acres of land has been confiscated by the company. The land was reportedly taken by Yuzana in 2007. Since last year, around 100 families have returned to 1,000 acres of the land to grow food, according to U Brang Seng, a local farmer from Nawngme. The company did not complain after their return in 2016, but has reportedly began to grow hostile. U Ye Myint said that an increasing number of farmers from Myitkyina and Nanmati townships have come to occupy land near the Yuzana compound since last year. But, even though the company has sent a letter of complaint, the regional government has not take action in response, he added. When Yuzana got the land, U Ye Myint said that it belonged to no one, and alleged that only after it had been cleared did locals claim it. Both Yuzana and local farmers say that they have official documentation demonstrating that they own the land in question. Guest Column World Bank Arm Considering Support for Businessman Linked to Blacklisted Bank Shwe Taung signs a licensing agreement with Microsoft at the Sedona Hotel in Rangoon in Nov. 2015. Shwe Taungs founding chairman Aik Htun is pictured second from right. / The Irrawaddy The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private-sector lending arm of the World Bank, is considering providing funding for a cement factory project in Mandalay Divisions Thazi District led by a division of the Shwe Taung Group, a conglomerate whose majority stake is held by the family of the companys chairman, Aik Htun. The US government previously alleged that Aik Htun had connections with the narcotics trade while running a now-defunct bank more than a decade ago that was also alleged to be involved in money laundering. These accusations were dismissed by the Sino-Burmese entrepreneur as falsehoods driven by petty jealousy. The IFC posted details of its proposed involvement in the cement project last month on its website in line with the Washington-based groups disclosure policy. The IFC plans to invest up to US$15 million in the project and provide a loan of up to US$20 million; the projects total cost is estimated to be US$110 million. According to details disclosed by the IFC, the projectif it goes aheadwill involve the expansion of an existing cement factory run by Shwe Taung Cement in Pyi Nyaung Village. In addition to expanding the factorys cement production capacity, it will also involve the construction of a Waste Heat Recovery System (WHRS) and an improvement in emission control systems. The IFC will be playing a key role in supporting the project. In addition to providing the aforementioned funding, the IFC says it is also looking to mobilize up to US$20 million through syndication of Parallel Loans and up to US$20 million investment in common equity from IFC AMC Emerging Asia Fund (EAF). The Shwe Taung Cement group also operates an open pit coal mine in Sagaing Division that exclusively supplies the factory. According to the IFCs outline of the project review, mining operations at this site will more than double from current levels of 60,000 tons of coal mined per year to an estimated 150,000 tons of coal per year. The IFC summary of the project acknowledged that a visit to the coal mining site by the IFC team in September 2016 during the project review process was not possible due to access constraints associated with the rainy season. The mine is some 4.6 km west of the Maharmyaing Wildlife Sanctuary, described by the IFC as an important bird area. A native of Shan State, Aik Htun was a co-founder of the Asia Wealth Bank, of which he served as vice chairman. The bank was targeted for sanctions in Nov. 2003 by the Bush Administration who labeled it a Financial Institutions of Primary Money Laundering Concern using a provision granted under the 2001 Patriot Act. A summary in the US Federal Register accompanying the announcement of the proposed action against the bank described Aik Htun as having been specifically identified as having connections with Burmas narcotics trade. The announcement also claimed that the bank was affiliated with prominent organizations and figures in the drug trade, including members of the Kokang ethnic group headed by notorious drug lord Peng Chia-Sheng. The latter is a reference to former the Burmese Communist Party rebel commander and long-time leader of the MNDAA Peng Jiasheng, who at the time was on good terms with the Burmese military regime. A follow-up announcement issued in March 2004 announcing that the sanctions had been put into effect, declared that both the Asian Wealth Bank and Myanmar Mayflower Bank, another Burmese bank targeted by the US Treasury Department, were being used by their owners to launder the proceeds of drug trafficking. Individuals owning and controlling both banks are linked to drug trafficking and money laundering, including using the banks for such purposes. In less than a decade since its founding in 1995, AWB had become Burmas largest bank. A financial crisis in the countrys banking industry that culminated in a massive run on the bank in early 2003 untimely led to the demise of AWB, which eventually had its license withdrawn by government authorities in 2005. A move that the State Department described as being done in response to information passed on by the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP). According to a New York Times article from 2015, After the United States imposed sanctions on Asia Wealth Bank and the Burmese authorities withdrew its license, Mr. Aik Htun changed the name of his corporate holdings, which were part of the same group as Asia Wealth Bank, to the Shwe Taung Group. Despite the obvious commercial setback associated with the fall out from AWB, Aik Htuns other business interests in construction and real estate, including such high-profile projects as the building and operating of several malls including Rangoons Junction Square, appeared to do very well in the years that followed the banks demise. A US diplomatic cable disclosed by Wikileaks, penned following a meeting between the businessman and diplomats in 2007 when Burma was still ruled by a military regime noted that Aik Htun enjoys the regimes confidence, and benefits handsomely from its business. The cable went on to note Aik Htuns annoyance at being subject to US restrictions on visa issuance before adding that he seeks every opportunity to profess his innocence to Embassy employees. Aik Htun has also on at least one occasion publicly denied the claims about him and his now defunct bank, chalking up the allegations to rumor mongering by those envious of his success. In Myanmar at that time the government was not transparent. There were so many rumors; [there was] so much jealousy, he told the Financial Times in Nov. 2015. Although he was previously on the European Union sanctions list, Aik Htun was noticeably absent from the US governments Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, which was expanded to include the names of prominent Burmese businessman in 2008, several years after his bank had already become defunct. An attempt by the Washington-based campaign group US Campaign for Burma to have Aik Htun and his son, Aung Zaw Naing, who serves as CEO for the Shwe Taung Group, added to the SDN list in 2011 was unsuccessful. Aik Htun has claimed to have come from modest origins and through hard work has become the successful businessman that he is today, a narrative that has been called into question by some, including Australian economist Sean Turnell in his book on Burmas banking crisis Fiery Dragons. According to Turnell, Aik Htun maintained an elaborately constructed public image that belied the stories of his links to narcotics, and in numerous public appearances and press profiles, he affected a rags to riches story that chronicled his rise from being the son of a small farmer from Mong Kung in Shan State. The narrative even included the vignette that he walked two miles to school each day, after which he completed his chores on the farm. While it remains to be seen if the IFCs board of directors will give the green light to Shwe Taungs cement project at their meeting next month, the IFCs involvement with Shwe Taung, is in many ways a test case for possible future involvement with other firms and individuals who were previously targeted by the US government for alleged connections to previous military regime and the drug trade, such as Asia World. The IFC, whose primary focus is giving financial assistance and other support to businesses that invest in developing countries was, along with its parent the World Bank, largely absent from Burma until the lifting of most sanctions in 2012. Since the sanctions were lifted, the IFC has become involved in a number of Burmese projects including backing the expansion of Rangoons Shangri La hotel and a high-end apartment complex also operated by Shangri La, a firm controlled by Malaysian billionaire Robert Kuok. The IFC is also currently assisting Burmas government to carry out a Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Hydropower Sector, an effort criticized by environmentalists in Kachin State opposed to further dam projects. The IFC has also come under heavy criticism for its connection to a controversial coal mining project in Tenasserim Division, near the Thai border, that is run by a Thai mining firm whose bank shareholders the IFC has equity investments in. Reddit Email 2K Shares Mustafa Habib | (Niqash.org) | Last weeks kidnapping of seven activists in Baghdad could be another sign of increasing tensions between secular parties in Iraq and the countrys ruling religious groups. Is history repeating? Last week, an unidentified armed group kidnapped a number of younger civil society activists from their small apartment in the Sadoun area of central Baghdad. After three days it was announced that the young men had been freed, after intervention by Iraqs Minister of the Interior, Qassim al-Araji. In announcing the release though, the Ministry made no mention of who might have been responsible for the kidnapping even though many locals blamed members of one or other of the Shiite Muslim militias, who run security in certain parts of the city and who have been controversial in the recent past. Some of the young activists who were abducted also happened to be members of the Iraqi Communist Party. The Communists have been firm supporters of recent demonstrations in Baghdad during which protestors called for an end to corruption and demanded political reform. The Iraqi Communist party is just one of a number of civil society and political groups uniting to take part in, and organize, the protests. The extremists have distorted Islams image. And over the last few months we have noticed the growing number of young people who are publishing atheist ideas on social media and provoking arguments. This is not the only recent attack against them either. Last month unidentified men attacked the party headquarters in the province of Diwaniyah in the south of the country. The attack came just a few hours after local university students had protested a visit by Qais al-Khazali, head of one of Iraqs most feared militias, the League of the Righteous militia, or Asaib Ahl al-Haq in Arabic. The Communists accused militias of the attack but, perhaps knowing the danger it would put them in, they did not name any names. The League of the Righteous denied having any part in the attack. However many locals doubt that, given the fact that they were in the province at the time and that the students who were chanting anti al-Khazali slogans did so in a location close to the party offices and some of them had connections to the Communist party. Adding fuel to the conflict is the war of words being waged on social media. Civil society activists say that the Islamists are responsible for the state of the country today and the terrible conditions under which many Iraqis live. Meanwhile the parties with a religious basis accuse the secular groups of being anti-Islamic and spreading both atheism and immorality in Iraqi society. The tone of the digital fight is vitriolic and many of the posts could most certainly be defined as hate speech. It is true that some of the Islamic parties try to accuse us of a lack of faith; they are just trying to make us look bad, says Naseer Kathem, a civil society activist who has been attending the anti-corruption demonstrations for the past two years. And while it is true that members of the Communist party are leading the demonstrations, they are not the only groups involved. There are dozens of groups and well-known individuals participating and there are even some independent clerics. However, Kathem says, he believes there is a plan to try and end the demonstrations by intimidating some of those involved. Everybody knows who is behind the kidnappings of the activists last week and also behind the kidnapping of the journalist Afrah Shawqi earlier this year its just that nobody dares prosecute them. Jaber al-Mahmadawi, a Shiite Muslim cleric based in Najaf, believes that a lot of people in Iraq are indeed worried that the young of the country are turning away from Islam. The extremist group known as the Islamic State, which bases its brutal ideology on a version of Sunni Islam and which has caused the current security crisis in Iraq, has distorted the image of Islam, al-Mahmadawi told NIQASH. Over the last few months we have noticed the growing number of young people who are publishing atheist ideas on social media and provoking arguments with other members of society, he continues. But, he adds, the supreme religious authority led by Ali al-Sistani [the Shiite Muslim cleric who is followed by millions of Shiites worldwide] firmly rejects the use of force against anyone simply because of their ideas. However there are other clerics and religious groups who are inciting violence and hatred. That is not acceptable. Selfie protest: Demonstrators who stormed Baghdads Green Zone last year were keen on documenting their presence in the forbidden area. And they are getting away with it, al-Mahmadawi notes, because the Iraqi government is weak and cannot keep weapons under its own control. Conflict between Iraqs religious parties and its secular ones is not new. In fact Iraqs contemporary Shiite Muslim political parties were born out of the enmity, in the middle of the 1950s when Iraq changed from a monarchy to a republic. The latter change came about thanks to a coup by the Iraqi army, which was supported by the local Communist Party, at the time one of the most popular parties in Iraq and the region. Because of the spread of Communism in Iraq, the Shiite Muslim groups in the country decided that they too needed to take part in politics, in order to ensure their own survival. In fact, early literature of the Islamic Dawa party today one of the largest Shiite Muslim political parties in Iraq specifically mentions the new partys desire to confront Communism and secularism and to promote religious ideals. One of the most prominent clerics at the time, Mohsen al-Hakim grandfather of one of the most prominent clerics currently in Iraqi politics, Ammar al-Hakim even issued a religious decree saying that anyone who joined the Communist party was blaspheming. It was only when the nationalist Baath party, eventually led by Saddam Hussein, came to power that the conflict between the Communists and the Islamists died down. Half a century later and this old feud seems to be re-emerging, even though the Shiite Muslim parties dominate local government and the Communist and other secular groups have hardly any political representation, in comparison. The origins of the contemporary conflict started in the middle of 2015, when the first of the anti-government demonstrations began in Baghdad. At first the demonstrations were widely supported by secular and civil society groups as well as Communists. The protestors adopted a new slogan that basically said that religion was being used as a cover by thieves that is, they thought corrupt politicians from religious parties were stealing the countrys wealth. The former Iraqi prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, criticized the demonstrations back then, saying that individuals were trying to use the protests to push back against Iraqs religious authorities. Only a few months after they started, the numbers of those turning up to protest had dwindled and it looked like the trend for Fridays anti-corruption gatherings was ebbing. That was until Iraqi cleric, Muqtada al-Sadr, stepped in and called upon his hundreds of thousands of followers to join the protests too. This culminated in the historic storming of Baghdads highly protected Green Zone, home to the countrys Parliament and ministry buildings as well as embassies. Ever since then there has been a unique alliance between a Shiite Muslim political movement the Sadrists and the secular movement in Iraq. Today the demonstrators are becoming even more significant. Thousands of Iraqis continue to gather in Baghdads Tahrir Square every week and they are becoming an influential force in political life in the capital. Last week Iraqi politicians tried to vote on a law that aims to better organize peaceful protests, which would doubtless have had an effect on the Friday meetings. Politicians were forced to postpone the vote because of a special Sunday protest organised by the secular demonstrators. - Related video added by Juan Cole: Reddit Email 69 Shares By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | Now that a Special Counsel (former FBI director Robert Mueller) has been appointed by the deputy head of the Department of Justice, it is time to review exactly what needs investigating. Trump is clearly terrified of the investigation. He immediately called the Mueller appointment harmful to our country, and the greatest single witch hunt of an American politician. I would argue that the SC should look at influence-peddling by foreign nations in the Trump campaign across the board, and not just at Russia. Turkey keeps coming up in discussions of Mike Flynn, the disgraced former National Security Adviser who was fired for allegedly neglecting to report or lying about his contacts with the Russian embassy. Rod Rosenstein, the number two man at the Department of Justice, appointed the special counsel because his boss, Jeff Sessions, had to recuse himself from involvement in the investigation of Trump ties to the Russians. Sessions himself had interactions with the Russian embassy. This seems a sad commentary on the whole mess. Rosenstein was apparently surprised and stung by the negative public reaction to the letter he wrote Trump, at Trumps request, concerning the issue of whether Jim Comey should be fired as head of the FBI. Trump appears to have suckered Rosenstein and to have toyed with making him the villain of the piece. Ironically, by making Rosenstein the fall guy, Trump put him in a position where he more or less had to appoint a special counsel in order to hang on to the tattered shreds of his reputation. So whats to investigate? Well there are all these questions around Mike Flynn. He took $30,000 from Russia Today, the Moscow propaganda organ, to attend an event with Putin that commemorated the 10-year anniversary of its founding. RT journalists do some good work but of course Putin sets the editorial line. I think of it the way I do the Wall Street Journal, where the editorials are sheer lunacy, but the news pages often have outstanding reporting from excellent journalists. The reason Flynns having taken that money is a scandal is twofold. First, as a retired general, he isnt supposed to take money from foreign governments. Retired officers are always open to being called back to duty, so they shouldnt be under foreign influence. Second, having taken the money, Flynn declined to report it, as he was required to do. While still a civilian, Flynn called the Russian Embassy several times in November and December of 2016. What did he discuss with them? Is it true that he reassured them that the sanctions placed on Russia by Barack Obama over the unilateral annexation of Crimea would be scaled down? These calls would have violated the Logan act, which prohibits non-government private Americans from conducting diplomacy on behalf of the US government. Flynn had a juicy consulting contract from a wealthy Turkish businessman close to President Tayyip Erdogan. Is it true, as it is now being reported, that Flynn told Trump he was under investigation over these Turkey ties, and that Trump insisted on appointing him Natl Security Adviser anyway? Is it true that while in office and while he continued to be on the Turkish payroll, he opposed a joint US operation with Syrian Kurds, to which Turkey objects? Is it true that Trump asked FBI director James Comey to back off the investigation of Flynn and to give Trump an oath of personal allegiance. Is there evidence that Comeys refusal led to his firing. If so, that act could be a form of obstruction of justice. What about the 18 previously undisclosed contacts between Trump campaign officials and Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak? Related video added by Juan Cole: CBS News: Trump weighs in on Russia probe and special counsel President Moon seeks parliamentary approval of THAAD By Kim Rahn U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed his intention to deal with the North Korean nuclear issue through engagement, a presidential special envoy said Thursday. Former media mogul Hong Seok-hyun, who is visiting the U.S. as President Moon Jae-in's special envoy, said the U.S. government was looking forward to working closely with Moon to resolve the North Korean issue. This was the first time for the U.S. president to mention engagement, and could be interpreted that his hard-line stance toward the North may turn softer during talks depending on how Pyongyang reacts. "President Trump said although we are at the stage of pressure and sanctions, he is willing to make peace through engagement if certain conditions are met," Hong told reporters after a 15-minute meeting with Trump in the Oval Office. This was the first time for Trump to meet a South Korean official since taking office. Hong quoted Trump as saying that he would not hold talk for talk's sake but do so when they can produce a good outcome. Trump also said he hopes to attain that through close cooperation with Moon in resolving the nuclear issue, adding he is looking forward to next month's summit, according to the special envoy. "He said we can achieve an outcome through the strong unity of the alliance and international cooperation," Hong said. Also attending the meeting were U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner, and National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster. The changed stance is expected to harmonize with that of the new Korean President, who calls for both pressure and dialogue in dealing with the North Korean nuclear issue, contrary to his predecessor Park Geun-hye who took a sanctions-only approach. THAAD ratification During his visit, Hong also talked about the Moon government's stance that National Assembly ratification is required for the deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery here. By officially mentioning it to the U.S., the Moon administration has virtually started seeking parliamentary approval for THAAD. Moon and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) have claimed the new government should deal with the contentious deployment, which was pushed through by the previous administration, and that it requires a public consensus and the Assembly's consent. Hong said he talked about this in a separate meeting with McMaster. "I told him that in Korea we have a controversy over the procedural problem of the THAAD installation, and I talked about the need to have the issue discussed at the Assembly," he said. In response, McMaster said the U.S. "acknowledges" and "respects" the controversy in Korea, according to Hong. Moon's predecessor, Park, pushed ahead with the deployment last year despite protests from the then-opposition parties, liberal civic groups and residents of the planned site in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province. The DPK has claimed the deployment requires Assembly ratification, according to the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), because it involves providing land to the U.S. Forces Korea. New DPK floor leader Woo Won-shik also said in an interview Wednesday that any issue related to land provision should get parliamentary approval. Woo went further by saying, "If there were legal procedural problems, we have to reconsider them, including sending the battery back to the U.S." But it is yet to be seen whether the Assembly will review and ratify the deployment because conservative parties oppose this. By differently interpreting SOFA, the Liberty Korea Party (LKP), the former ruling party, said the government can decide on the deployment on its own without Assembly consent. "Will parliamentary approval be needed every time Korea and the U.S. plan to deploy strategic items for security?" LKP Rep. Kim Seon-dong asked. Even the liberal People's Party said it was wrong for the government to seek parliamentary approval without first clearly disclosing its stance over whether it approves or opposes the deployment. Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan, the special envoy to China, delivered Moon's personal letter to high-ranking Chinese officials including Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Lee delivered Moon's will to resolve the conflict between the two countries that has arisen from the THAAD installation. China opposed the move and instituted economic retaliation. Earlier in a phone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Moon said that he understands China's concerns and that the two nations would discuss the issue soon. LifeStyle The best LifeStyle shows are right here, from Australia and around the world. Catch up with the experts on home design and interiors, food and cooking, the property market, and get fresh ideas with the savviest of renovators. Whether you need inspiration for cooking up a storm, to refresh a tired room, or tips to sell your property, Foxtel LifeStyle will always something new for you to watch. Enjoy your favourite experts like Andrew Winter and Neale Whitaker, or Deb Hutton and Jamie Oliver live or On Demand. Get Foxtel 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. advertisement advertisement 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 Wayne Friedman , May 18, 2017 Despite some small declines, national TV networks still have a dominating reach among all U.S. consumers, especially compared to digital media. Pivotal Research Group says that during April 2017, national TV platforms reached 98.1% of all people. Among networks owned by the largest media owners, reach against all people declined on average by 2% per network. By comparison, YouTube reached 73% of all people ages 13+ in April. (This excluded reach on mobile devices for 13-to-17-year-olds). Looking at another popular platform, Snapchat reached 24% against all people 13 and older. Reach -- which refers to the total number of different people or households exposed at least once to a medium during a given period -- is an important metric for marketers because it can determine less duplication of customers. Among all network media platforms, broadcast networks still command the best reach overall. CBS reached 67.3% of all people during April, with ABC, NBC and Fox coming in between 64% to 58%. The CW and TNT were next, in the 40% range. These were followed by a number of cable networks including AMC, TBS, FX, USA, ESPN and HGTV in the low 30% range. advertisement advertisement Looking at reach on the household level, 82.3% of homes watched CBS, followed ABC, 79.8% and NBC, 74.4%. Going forward, as digital media grows, Pivotal Senior Research Analyst Brian Wieser, predicts more focus on the volume of consumer time and reach associated with premium content on digital platforms. Today, there is relatively little. He adds: With relatively little of the consumption on these [digital] platforms matching the relative quality of content found on TV today... this helps traditional TV to sustain their relative importance to the large brands who dominate the medium. by Philip Rosenstein , May 19, 2017 AdRoll Launches B2B Marketing Solution AdRoll, a performance marketing platform, said it was making AdRoll ABM (account-based marketing) publicly available. AdRoll ABM is a personalized digital marketing solution for business-to-business (B2B) companies. With AdRoll ABM, marketers can target key accounts and create dynamic ads on a 1:1 scale using CRM data. Marketers using AdRoll ABM are able to connect the entire B2B customer journey, including online and offline data points, by integrating with CRM and marketing automation solutions. AdRoll ABM also uses AdRoll IntentMap data, which identifies potential customers who look and act like current customers. VertaMedia Partners With Fraudlogix To Bolster Battle With Ad Fraud VertaMedia, a video monetization platform, has partnered with Fraudlogix, an ad fraud detection and verification company, to monitor brand safety, domain masking and viewability. advertisement advertisement Through an API integration, VertaMedia can continually update its platform with Fraudlogixs data. "Our supply-side-focused solutions allow our clients to monitor all traffic and identify and block the sources of low-quality impressions," stated Fraudlogix CEO Hagai Shechter. Conversion Logic Appoints Three C-Level Executives Unified marketing analytics platform Conversion Logic announced the appointment of three C-level executives. Co-founder Alison Lohse will serve as chief strategy officer, Alexander Loeffler will be chief operating officer and Juan Suarez joins Conversion Logic as vice president of customer success. The expansion of the leadership team comes after the company recently closed a $9 million Series A funding round, and added Fortune 500 clients. Conversion Logic has had an extremely strong start to 2017, with a quarterly revenue increase of 263% from the same period in 2016. These appointments will help us reach our short- and long-term goals, stated Brian Baumgart, CEO of Conversion Logic. DOmedia Partners With Rubicon Project To Sell OOH Media Programmatically Out-of-home marketing platform DOmedia has announced a partnership with Rubicon Project through which DOmedia offers OOH vendors the ability to sell their media placements programmatically. DOmedia will integrate its OOH technology with Rubicon Projects omnichannel exchange, making inventory available to advertisers through various demand-side platforms and trading desks. We know not every vendor is ready to be fully programmatic, but the entire industry is definitely telling us they want to stop spending time on things like data transcription to focus on work that shows advertisers the value of OOH, stated Ken Sahlin, CEO of DOmedia. Mobfox Launches Data-Driven Private Marketplace For Mobile Ads Matomy announced the launch of Mobfoxs premium private marketplace (PMP). Through the new data-driven PMP, Mobfox clients can buy traffic from specific audience segments across mobile devices. Combining first-part data from suppliers and from Mobfoxs data partnerships, publishers have the opportunity to more effectively control their audience segmentation. The market is transitioning from traditional RTB buying to data-driven media buying. We're taking media buying to the next level by providing our partners with the ability to acquire audiences in customized deals across all formats, including video, stated Kumaran Sambandam, VP Mobfox Exchange. Following our recent partnership with Factual, providing our media buyers with better segmentation at scale is the next step in becoming a leading data-driven mobile company." Tapad, Resonate Partner To Deepen Understanding Of Mobile App Audiences Cross-device marketing ad tech company Tapad has joined forces with Resonate, a real-time consumer intelligence and activation software-as-a-service platform. Resonate, through the partnership, will have access to Tapads Device Graph, giving its mobile app brand clients insights into their consumers beliefs, values, motivations and purchase drivers. Resonates Identity Service will connect mobile IDs to Resonate IDs for reporting both in-platform and out of platform insights. "Resonate is not just answering the question of 'how' consumers are making purchases, but also tackling the more difficult question of 'why' they make certain buying decisions to best inform mobile brands about their audiences," stated Pierre Martensson, SVP and general manager of Tapad's global data division. by Tanya Gazdik , May 19, 2017 PPG is launching a campaign for its Glidden brand that reminds consumers that its okay to lower the stakes on Pinterest-perfect projects. Themed Real is How We Roll, the creative aims to take home painting back to the basics. Created by DigitasLBi Chicago, Gliddens AOR since August 2016, the campaign promotes the Glidden brand as the anti-paint paint brand. Building on the Glidden brands its just paint attitude, the campaign features relatable scenarios and offers a perspective on situations that could potentially create stress for painters, to provide guidance that will ring true among DIYers and professionals alike. The campaign is aimed at DIYers who value learning and take pride in doing, said Dave Marecic, marketing manager for the Glidden paint brand of PPG. advertisement advertisement The campaigns colorful messaging will spread across media including Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook, with all communications relating back to one core theme: the Glidden brand offers premium paint without the premium, he says. The Glidden brands new voice is candid and clear when it comes to providing painting instructions to consumers that want to take on painting projects of their own, Marecic tells Marketing Daily. The Glidden brand will remind consumers that painting doesnt have to be so stressful. The campaigns messages are spread all over social media, and contain relatable scenarios as well as a candid perspective on situations that could potentially create stress for painters. This digital-first campaign includes online video, social, digital audio and content partnerships aimed at increasing awareness of Glidden as a brand that lowers the stakes around paint and painting, he said. Online video humorously points out real moments in the painting process. The #FailFix content series acknowledges that mistakes happen, and theyre fixable. The spots include "This is Painting," Paint Princess, Washability to the Rescue and Paint Goes On Smoothly." Social channels connect through honest conversations and shared experiences, giving the brand a personality thats frank and approachable while also providing true utility when it comes to paint projects, Marecic says. Geo-targeted banner ads featuring top selling colors in the area will be served to consumers in the real estate market making it easier than ever to pick a paint color that sells. The campaign will specifically resonate with inexperienced DIY-ers who are proud yet pragmatic in their approach to DIY. In our focus groups, the real imagery and real talk resonated with people who know what painting actually looks like, he says. People are pushing back on perfection because the real story is more interesting. Creative uses a humorous yet candid approach across all product and brand messaging, to get as realistic as possible when it comes to painting and offer simple instructions on how to use the paint product. We felt that it was important for the campaign to break now to reach our DIY consumers during the spring paint season, Marecic says. Its been a few years since Glidden has had a new campaign, so we are excited to connect with our consumers." by Jess Nelson , May 19, 2017 SendGrid Thursday announced the launch of a new email management program tailored specifically for digital marketing agencies. SendGrid is a cloud-based delivery platform for electronic communication, helping clients like Airbnb, Spotify and Uber deliver more than 30 billion emails each month. With the launch of SendGrid for Agencies, the Denver-based company now offers a customized email program management platform for digital marketing agencies. The new platform allows agency professionals to send and measure marketing and transactional email campaigns from a single user interface. As opposed to in-house marketers spending their time promoting one service or product, agency professionals have a unique set of communication challenges, according to SendGrid, Agency marketers need to be able to collaborate across account teams and manage clients, while also providing accurate billing and reporting details. With these concerns in mind, SendGrid for Agencies was designed to simplify the process of managing multiple email programs. All email communication, from client email campaigns to email newsletters and password resets, can be sent from the SendGrid platform or through a flexible email API. The platform can be stratified with a series of permissions to give agencies greater control over who can access account details, metrics and billing information. advertisement advertisement SendGrid also provides a dedicated IP (Internet Protocol), or a unique internet address dedicated exclusively to a single hosting account, to better manage the sending reputations of both the agency and its clients. ""We do not believe the email sending needs of agencies were being met effectively," states Elliot Goldwater, director of business development and partnerships at SendGrid. "SendGrid is well positioned, offering comprehensive infrastructure transactional and marketing capabilities to meet their email sending needs, within one platform, for agencies and their clients." Were excited to announce that metalbulletin.com is now part of fastmarkets.com. A new look and an improved experience means you can still stay ahead of this fast-moving metals market with price data, news and market intelligence right here on Fastmarkets. Discover more than 2000 prices, news and analysis in primary and secondary metals markets. We cover base metals, industrial minerals, ores and alloys, steel, scrap and steel raw materials. If you already have a Fastmarkets account, youll still have uninterrupted access to your markets by logging in with your current details. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company provides solutions that allow customers to capture, analyze, and act upon data seamlessly in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Japan. The company offers general purpose servers for multi-workload computing and workload-optimized servers; HPE ProLiant rack and tower servers; HPE BladeSystem and HPE Synergy; and solutions for secondary workloads and traditional tape, storage networking, and disk products, such as HPE Modular Storage Arrays and HPE XP. It also offers HPE Apollo and Cray products; and HPE Superdome Flex, HPE Nonstop, HPE Integrity, and HPE Edgeline products. In addition, the company provides HPE Aruba product portfolio that includes wired and wireless local area network hardware products, such as Wi-Fi access points, switches, routers, and sensors; HPE Aruba software and services comprising cloud-based management, network management, network access control, analytics and assurance, and location; and professional and support services, as well as as-a-service and consumption models for the intelligent edge portfolio of products. Further, it offers various leasing, financing, IT consumption, and utility programs and asset management services for customers to facilitate technology deployment models and the acquisition of complete IT solutions, including hardware, software, and services from Hewlett Packard Enterprise and others. Additionally, the company invests in communications and media solutions. It has a partnership with Striim, Inc. to offer high performance and mission-critical solutions with real-time analytics. It serves commercial and large enterprise groups, such as business and public sector enterprises; and through various partners comprising resellers, distribution partners, original equipment manufacturers, independent software vendors, systems integrators, and advisory firms. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company was founded in 1939 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas. Best Buy Co., Inc. retails technology products in the United States and Canada. The company operates in two segments, Domestic and International. Its stores provide computing products, such as desktops, notebooks, and peripherals; mobile phones comprising related mobile network carrier commissions; networking products; tablets covering e-readers; smartwatches; and consumer electronics consisting of digital imaging, health and fitness, home theater, portable audio comprising headphones and portable speakers, and smart home products. The company's stores also offer appliances, such as dishwashers, laundry, ovens, refrigerators, blenders, coffee makers, and vacuums; entertainment products consisting of drones, peripherals, movies, music, and toys, as well as gaming hardware and software, and virtual reality and other software products; and other products, such as baby, food and beverage, luggage, outdoor living, and sporting goods. In addition, it provides consultation, delivery, design, health-related, installation, memberships, repair, set-up, technical support, and warranty-related services. The company offers its products through stores and websites under the Best Buy, Best Buy Ads, Best Buy Business, Best Buy Health, CST, Current Health, Geek Squad, Lively, Magnolia, Best Buy Mobile, Pacific Kitchen, Home, and Yardbird, as well as domain names bestbuy.com, currenthealth.com, lively.com, yardbird.com, and bestbuy.ca. As of January 30, 2022, it had 1,144 stores. The company was formerly known as Sound of Music, Inc. The company was incorporated in 1966 and is headquartered in Richfield, Minnesota. Reds righty Anthony DeSclafani has been cleared to resume throwing, according to John Fay of WCPO.com (via Twitter). DeSclafani has been out all year while resting a sprained ulnar collateral ligament. While the initial hope was that DeSclafani could begin working back within about a month of the diagnosis, that obviously wasnt to be. Last we checked in, late in April, doctors had not observed sufficient healing to clear the 27-year-old. Now, per the report, the medical experts have observed significant improvement in DeSclafanis UCL. While a precise throwing program is still being worked out, it seems that hell begin the march back with hopes of returning to the majors this summer. At this point, clearly, hell still need a substantial amount of time to build up arm strength and undertake a rehab assignment. Cincinnati has struggled to find good innings from its rotation, which desperately misses DeSclafani, among others. Homer Bailey and Brandon Finnegan are also unavailable. (Bailey is a bit further ahead in his own recovery; as Fay adds on Twitter, hes ready to begin facing live hitters.) In DeSclafanis case, the return effort will come at an interesting time. His absence to date has already dented his upcoming trip through arbitration which will be his first. It has also taken out of consideration as a trade chip, at least temporarily. If DeSclafani can regain the excellent form he showed last year 3.28 ERA with 7.7 K/9 against 2.2 BB/9 over twenty starts and stay healthy, hell have a case for a solid payday and could be a heavily pursued deadline asset. The Red Sox have designated infielder Chase dArnaud for assignment, according to Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe (via Twitter). Hell make way for righty Hector Velazquez, whose contract was selected. Boston also moved injured hurler Steven Wright to the 60-day DL. He was already expected to miss the entire season, so that was only a formality. The team now has one open 40-man slot. Boston hardly utilized dArnaud after claiming him late last month from the Braves. He took just a single plate appearance, in fact. The versatile 30-year-old carries a .233/.289/.314 batting line over 448 plate appearances, with those spread over parts of six MLB seasons. Meanwhile, the 28-year-old Velazquez has quite an interesting story. He signed with the Red Sox after a lengthy run in the Mexican League, culminating with a breakout 2016 season. Thus far, he has impressed at Triple-A. Over 29 frames, he owns a 1.55 ERA with 6.2 K/9 against 1.6 BB/9 while allowing only 18 base hits. Its worth noting that Velazquez is playing on a very unique contract arrangement. As Evan Drellich reported during camp, Velazquez received only a piece of the $30K bonus upon signing. But his deal includes an apparently newfangled provision that allows him to earn salary escalators based upon how many consecutive days he remains on the active roster. In a profession which has an attrition rate as fleeting as the love of a playboy to a new found girl, one woman has remained so faithful to her second love- journalism. For 20 years, Dzifa Bampoh has blazed the trail in a profession that brings popularity, leaves out prosperity in a material sense and offers lots of confrontation - on the job and on the field. Some of the confrontations have been feisty. But not to be easily intimidated, Mrs Bampoh has continued the work of shoving recorders in the faces of people and politicians with a smack all in a desperate bid to build the country Ghana. In a politically volatile country where politicians easily blame journalists for taking food from their table, Dzifa Bampoh has survived many regime changes, contributed to some, yet remains mostly loved by many. Last week, the cute figure with demure looks, picked up the Glitz woman of the year award in the media category. Short in physique but towering in her chosen profession, the hearty fellow, with a piercing yet soothing voice took her long awaited turn on the hall of fame, on Lexis Bills' Personality Profile on Drive Time show Thursday. She came with a signature laughter - carelessly loud, an open mind and a motorised mouth that speaks with speed, precision and clarity. And to think that this gem never dreamt of becoming a journalist is another puzzle to decode. Journalism was a stranger to her but now its a great confidante, a launch pad to greatness. She wanted to become a lawyer. It was her biggest dream. Grew up and schooled in Nigeria for ten years but never quite took on the great Nigerian accent, Dzifa Bampoh returned to Ghana, to Achimota school and hoped to pursue her dream of defending the rights of people in the law courts. Man, they say proposes; but God disposes. Dzifa wanted to become a lawyer but God wanted her to defend the rights of people but not in the law courts but on the media front. She missed the cut-off point to be enrolled at the law school. She was heartbroken. Her dream came crashing right in front her and from then on she loathed the profession she so loved and desired a change, a new dream but none came. Like what a jilted man, woman would do, Mama Dzif, as she is affectionately called wanted to try her hands on anything, everything. But in confusion, there was a moment of direction and hope. A new career was in the offing. If she couldn't get called to the bar, she was called to the console. In one of the rare occasions where strikes and demonstrations are a blessing in disguise, the 1996 strike at the University of Ghana could well be the turning point for her. Mama Dzif' saw an ad in the newspaper, requesting for newscaster and radio show hosts at GBC. She had no idea what journalism was about but she gave it her best shot. She applied for a newscaster's role and was invited for an interview. All she had was her power to read; she read anything everything growing up, particularly the Bible. For God to bless you, you must have something in your hand. Moses had a rod. The widow in Elijah's era had empty jars. Dzifa had the ability to read and God blessed all of them. But she didn't straight away become a newscaster after she was appointed. She played music, danced to it and hosted several other shows before gradually getting into her groove of news casting. For eight years she served at GBC faithfully. She was over enthused with her job but hugely underpaid. She was fed with professionalism and told to be impartial in an institution that was partially aligned to the government of the day. She wanted a bigger challenge; hungry for success. Twice she applied to Joy FM; twice she was turned down for reasons she could not fathom. She remained steadfast at her job at GBC, played music and read her news with a touch of class. When the day of glory comes none, not even the biggest adversary could stop it. This time, Mama Dzif did not have to apply to Joy for the third time. The station came calling and poached her. For 12 years at Joy FM, Mama has risen from the lower rungs of a reporter to one of the powerful positions in the news room- the News Editor - setting the agenda. She achieved that feat with hard work. With a jovial demeanor but stern on her job, 'Mama Dzif' could easily switch from a-laugh-out--loud colleague to the no-nonsense boss when the job has to be done. And she has had feisty challenges on few occasions with seniors and juniors alike. A proud feminist, not the loud empty advocate, Mama Dzif has always walked a fine balance of championing the interest of women yet respecting the place of men. A mother with two children, Mama Dzif has survived the stormy waters of journalism - threats, legal suits, controversy and unprovoked hatred. She is a living testimony of living for a cause; the cause of championing the good of society and giving voice to the voiceless. She is Dzifa Bampoh and she will welcome you with a smile and daze you with a question if you have a thing or two to hide. Story by Ghana|Myjoyonline.com|Nathan Gadugah 19.05.2017 LISTEN For some time now, the Voice of America (VOA) has been profiling Ghanaian artistes on their weekly music show, Music Time in Africa hosted. Ghanaian artistes who has had the opportunity to be on the global platform to share their music journey with the world were Efya, Wiyaala, Reggie Rockstone, et al. Come this Sunday, another music acts from Ghana will be profiled on the show and its no other person but veteran musician Okyeame Kwame. The award-winning rapper is expected to share with the world how it all began for him vis-a-vis music. OK, as hes affectionately called, will also touch on his upcoming single with Grammy Award recipient Sizzla Kalonji from Jamaica, and also talk about his upcoming music projects and other music related issues. Music Time in Africa is VOAs longest running radio program in English. Since 1965, it has been featuring Africa's finest music with weekly interviews, music news, and audience engagement. The host of the show, Dr. Heather Maxwell, a preeminent American broadcaster, is an Africanist ethnomusicologist and musical artist who has lived and performed extensively throughout Africa for over 30 years. The interview airs on the Music Time in Africa show, on Sunday, May 21 at 09:00 GMT, 15:00 GMT and 20:00 GMT on the VOA Radio, which can be accessed in Accra Ghana on 98.1 FM and www.voanews.com across the globe. A repeat broadcast is on Friday, May 26 at 21:00 GMT and Saturday, May 27 at 09:00 GMT, 15:00 GMT and 20:00 GMT respectively. Former president Rawlings (middle) in a pose with Kofi Sarpong (2nd left) and his managers Gospel musician SP Kofi Sarpong and his management team on Wednesday paid a visit to former President Jerry Rawlings at his residence to officially invite him to his upcoming maiden gospel concert dubbed 'SP Kofi Sarpong Live In Concert' slated for Sunday, May 28 at the National Theatre in Accra. During their interaction, ex-President Rawlings was formally invited to be part of the needy foundation set up to support the needy in the society. The gospel musician presented the former president with complimentary tickets to his upcoming maiden concert which is being organised to raise funds to support the needy. Ex-President Rawlings expressed his happiness to be part of the needy foundation. I will be there to support the worthy cause. It is good to raise funds for the less-privileged in society, he told Kofi Sarpong and his team. He also advised musicians to use their talents and music to change the cause of the society. He further revealed that he would want to use his experience to write music for the people of Ghana. This comes few days after the head pastor of the International Godsway Church, Bishop Daniel Obinim, bought 300 tickets for the concert. The 'SP Kofi Sarpong Live In Concert' is the maiden gospel concert of the artiste which features other gospel artistes such as Gifty Osei, Nacee, Abena Ruthy, Joyce Blessing, Ceccy Twum, Francis Amoo, Willie 'n' Mike, Koda, Ohemaa Mercy, Uncle Ato, Kingzkid, among others. According to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Media Excel and the manager of SP Kofi Sarpong, Kwesi Ernest Ennin, the proceeds of the concert will be used to cater for the under-privileged in the society. We'll be doing free National Health Insurance registration for 5,000 children in James Town, Korle-Bu, Brekum, the Ga Mashie fishing communities and Volta Region, he told Citi Showbiz. Tickets to the concert are selling at Adom FM, Peace FM and the Media Excel office. Kano is a north western state in Nigeria, regarded as the commercial nerve center of Northern Nigeria. Its a metropolis principally inhabited by the Hausa and Fulani people, its strategically located and owns its leading position as a commercial hub in the Sub-Saharan Africa. Jumia Travel , the leading online travel agency, reveals a bit more about Kano by sharing 5 beautiful things about the industrious state. Kano City Wall You might have heard of this stunning tourist attraction before. Its a famous wall (14 kilometers long), built in the 14th century to secure the city. The wall is a lovely sight to behold, it might not be as magnificent as the Great Wall of China, but in its own way it humbly offers a piece of archeological significance and architectural beauty thats worthy of admiration. Kano Durbar This is an annual festival held in Kano and its a thrilling display of the culture, tradition and religion of the Kano people. The emir of Kano hosts a Durbar to mark and celebrate the two annual Muslim festivals Eid-al-Fitr and Eid-al-Adha. The Durbar basically involves a procession of highly elaborately dressed horsemen who pass through the city to the emirs palace. Once assembled near the palace, the groups of horsemen (each representing a nearby village) take turns to charge towards the emir, pulling up a few feet from seated dignitaries to offer their respect and allegiance. Its a rich display of culture, tradition and religion and its a beautiful sight to behold. Tiga Dam This dam is a major reservoir on the Kano River and is a major source of irrigation for farmers. It has a shallow lake where one can wade in the cool water, relax and take beautiful pictures. This is mainly because of its stunningly beautiful scenery, which can be great for music videos. Its a safe location to enjoy, an interesting place to visit and its a location that continues to attract tourists. Visitors can go on a boat cruise while there or even try their hands on fishing. Dyeing Pits The Kano people have a lot of beautiful fabrics that you tend to see on full display during their Durbar festival. Those beautiful fabrics are made at their numerous dyeing pits. In ancient Kano, dyeing fabrics was one of the most lucrative occupations and people came from far and wide to buy their beautiful fabrics. At the Kano dyeing pits, you can learn a thing or two about cloth-dyeing and buy one or two lovely dyed fabrics to show off with. Dala Hills This is another lovely natural wonder in Kano state. The ancient hill is so captivating and alluring that almost anyone who lays eyes on it will desire to explore it and will very likely want to see its top. The hill is 534 meters high and there are about nine hundred and ninety nine footsteps on the hill, so youve got to be really brave and gather some courage to face those steps and see its top (although, you dont have to climb all 999 if you dont want to, then again the allure to see its top might just inspire you to). Lagos will be agog tomorrow with the celebration of the Eyo Festival, otherwise known as the Adimu Orisha Play. The Eyo Festival is being staged this year to commemorate Lagos at 50 as well as prominent sons and daughters of the state. So, if you are attending the Eyo festival tomorrow, Jumia Travel , the leading online travel agency shares the 7 things you must not do at the festival according to the Oba of Lagos, HRH Oba Rilwan Akiolu. Follow these rules and you will definitely have an exciting time at the festival which will be held at Tafawa Balewa Square at 10 am. No Smoking Smoking is not allowed at the festival. So, leave your cigar at home or in your car so that you will not be tempted to light one in the frenzy of the festival. No wearing of shoes/sandals You have to walk around barefooted throughout the festival. If you can't it is advisable you stay away. No Shuku hairstyle by women Suku is a popular Yoruba hairstyle in Nigeria. It is a form of braiding in which the hair runs from the forehead to the nape of the neck or forms a rump on top of the head. If you are wearing this type of hairstyle, it is either you loose it or just stay home. No selfie with Eyo Orisha For the selfie lovers/addict, you are not permitted to take pictures/selfies with the Eyo Orisha. No Riding of bicycle/motorcycle If your mode of transportation is via bicycle or motorcycle (Okada), you should not ride it to the festival. You may probably lose it. You can drive or take public transport. No headgear for men/women Your headgear is not allowed at the festival. In other words, your hair should not be covered. The only exception is for Muslim men. They are allowed to wear their white prayer cap. No picture taking of Eyo Orisha You are not permitted to take the pictures of the Eyo Orisha. The General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Johnson Asiedu Nketia popularly known as General Mosquito has questioned President Akufo- Addo on why he has not retrieved the GH 51.2million judgement debt from business man Alfred Woyome as promised if he claims there is no money in the state coffers. It would be recalled that President Nana Addo addressing the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) in a meeting (amidst rumours of strike from the various workers Union) told them to be patient as his government will address all their grievances. Nana Addo explained that, his government's inability to settle its obligations to them(UTAG) is due to the fact that the past government misappropriated the finances of the state. Deliberating on his view in connection with Nana Addo's claims, Mr. Asiedu Nketiah reiterated in an interview with Akwasi Boateng, host of 'Maakye' on Accra-based Hot93.9fm that, he does not see the reason why the President has still not retrieved the state's money from Woyome as he promised in order to use it to manage the finances of the state: "When he was in opposition, he said the economy was in a bad state and even said during his campaign tour that he will revive the country's economy. And after voting for him, he comes to give us the excuse that the economy is in a bad state so he can't pay government workers, then he should fulfill his promise to retrieve the judgement debt from Woyome to solve the problems." Asiedu Nketia stated passionately to Akwasi Boateng. He emphasized that, "the President who was then Flagbearer of the NPP was aware that the economy was in a bad state but he still went ahead to make big promises. He went on to announce to Ghanaians on his campaign tours that the state's economy had crumbled. So if he knew all this, what money was he planning on using to fulfill all those promises". Asiedu Nketia concluded that,"When the NDC was in power, the NPP was always in support when workers went on strike. The President should do the job for which he was voted for and stop the excuses." Accra, May 18, GNA - Mr Paul Ansah, the Director-General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, said the port would work towards data integrity and warned that shippers caught filing fictitious documents would suffer stiffer sanctions. He said it had deployed modern technology such as drones, ship identification system, optical recognition and CCTv cameras to monitor port operations and enhance security. He said in addition, it had registered and taken biometric details of individuals undertaking business at the port in order to weed out undesired elements from the port enclave. 'We have introduced enhanced container scanners in the examination of goods as well as ensuring good governance system,' he said. Mr Ansah said this when he made a presentation on GPHA's perspective on port efficiency at the Port Efficiency Conference held in Accra. The event was held on the theme: 'Improving Port Efficiency and Trade Facilitation in Ghana'. The conference brought together experts in marine operations worldwide including Dubai, Singapore and Antwerp as well as key stakeholders from the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Freight Forwarders and importers and exporters. The stakeholders would deliberate on bureaucratic bottlenecks hindering port operations and suggest ideas and measures to deal with the canker in order to improve efficiency at the ports and increase government revenues. Mr Ansah said cargo handling was the basic duty of a seaport that involved intermodal handling of cargo between sea and other modes of transport. He said the cost, speed and safety of transfer of goods and services across the various transport modes define the performance of an efficient seaport. 'The port facilitates the availability of the right products, the right quantity, the right condition, the right place, the right customer and the right price that benefit the economy of the country as a whole,' he stated. He said a port was efficient if it handled merchandise to the satisfaction of its customers in a cost effective manner and enhanced the competitiveness of the country's export commodities. To enhance the efficiency of the ports, Mr. Ansah said the management of the port over the past five years invested heavily in infrastructure development and modernised the equipment for handling vessels. According to him, in the opinion of the economic operations of an efficient port, it minimises the movement of goods and services. 'Each day of the delay in the shipping time increases the cost of the manufactured goods by 0.8 per cent and 10 per cent reduction in the cost of importing and exporting with increased import and export by five percent,' he stated. He said 60 per cent of the cargo that passed through the port were containalised, saying the port MPS container terminal had been adjudged by Management Association of West and Central Africa as the best managed container terminal in West Africa Sub-region with berth occupancy ratio of 78 per cent. Therefore, he said, there was the need to expand the berthing space to handle more vessels and cargoes. The Director-General of the GPHA said there had been consistent increase in container traffic from 2003 to 2016 and projected that by 2028, it was estimated to handle 2.2 million TUs of containers. Against this backdrop, he said it decided to expand the capacity of the ports to handle 3. 5 million TUs and equip it to handle bigger trans-shipment cargoes and traffic volumes as the country's economy expanded for the next 50 years. Mr. Ansah added that it was expanding the port facilities to provide services to the oil and gas supply vessels in the petroleum industry. He disclosed that a training school would soon be established to re-train staff to enhance their efficiency. In a 2013 study conducted by renowned researchers Brian Slack and Claude Comtois on "Ships Time in Port, an international comparison'', the average time in port for vessels in Europe is about 25 hours, East and North Asia is about 17 hours, and South Africa is 64 hours while the Port of Tema did about 103 hours in 2016. GNA By Godwill Arthur-Mensah, GNA The United States government has deported 100 Ghanaians living illegally in that country. The United States of America Ambassador to Ghana, Robert P Jackson, has said revealed that 100 Ghanaians have so far been deported. Mr Jackson in an interview on Accra-based Citi FM said I would say roughly 100 have returned so far this year. More will be returning it is a constant process. There will probably be a charter aircraft coming with some Ghanaians in the next few weeks. Almost every week we see a few leave voluntarily so it is a process that is ongoing. He said A few are in jail. Most of them are at liberty but they have been informed by the immigration service that they must leave the United States. Robert P Jackson has revealed that about 7000 Ghanaians are being processed for deportation. Mr. Jackson told the media in the Brong Ahafo Region on Thursday, April 27 that they are on the process and do not feel sorry about that. In fact, about 7,000 of them are currently at different stages of the deportation process. And we are not apologetic about that, he said. Mr Jackson had earlier said Ghanaians who have overstayed their visas in the US must be concerned because the new administration will ask them to depart. -pulseghana Banjul (Gambia) (AFP) - Two fugitive former army officers have been indicted over the 2004 murder of prominent Gambian journalist Deyda Hydara, judicial sources said. The court in Banjul also separately issued an arrest warrant for ex-interior minister Ousman Sonko over the death of former intelligence chief Daba Marenah. Hydara, 65, an outspoken critic of then president Yahya Jammeh, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in his car on the outskirts of Banjul in December 2004. He was the editor and co-founder of the independent newspaper The Point and a one-time Gambia correspondent for Agence France-Presse (AFP). Jammeh, whose regime was accused of numerous human rights violations, went into exile at the end of January after more than 22 years in power following his defeat in December's presidential election by Adama Barrow. Police prosecutors Thursday charged former colonel Kawsu Camara and major Sanna Manjang, an army deserter, with "murder and conspiracy" over the killing of Hydara, a judicial source told AFP. It is the first time authorities have openly linked the pair to the killing. The two men are however long believed to have been members of Jammeh's ultra-loyal death squad, known as the "Jungulars", which has been accused of carrying out extrajudicial killings and torture by the United Nations and rights groups. Police asked the court in Banjul to issue arrest warrants for the two men after they were charged, the source said. Principal Magistrate Isatou Janneh agreed to the request. Ex-interior minister held in Switzerland "The Gambian authorities will present the arrest warrant to Interpol or the country where they are hiding for them to be extradited to Gambia," the source said. Manjang left the Gambia for Guinea-Bissau the day that Jammeh went into exile after contesting the election results for six weeks. In 2009, Camara was arrested and charged with treason over a failed coup, along with former defence chief Lang Tombong Tamba and other soldiers. He was convicted and sentenced to death in 2010 but his sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. Jammeh pardoned Camara in 2015 and he left for Senegal. The magistrate also issued an arrest warrant for Sonko and eight other suspects over the death of Marenah, former director of the National Intelligence Agency, another judicial source said. After he was sacked in September 2016, Sonko fled to Sweden and then Switzerland, where he is currently being held in a crimes against humanity probe. Sonko has been accused of overseeing and committing torture while heading the interior ministry from 2006 to 2016. The other suspects named in the arrest warrant include general Bora Colley and other army officers. The suspects are accused of being involved in the deaths of Marenah and several other people who were believed to have been executed. Marenah has been missing since his arrest in March 2006, along with several soldiers, over an alleged coup attempt. The government had claimed they escaped while being transferred from the State Central Prison on the outskirts of Banjul to another jail. The government of new President Barrow has said a body will be set up to investigate forced disappearances in the small west African nation. Cape Town (AFP) - When an emergency call comes in from one of South Africa's most crime-ridden neighbourhoods, ambulances do not rush straight to the scene but to a police station first to request an armed escort. A surge in attacks on ambulance workers has led to parts of Cape Town being declared danger "red zones" but beefing up security means delayed response times in some of the poorest districts. Robbery, theft, vandalism, violence, at times linked to criminal gangs -- more than 100 attacks against paramedics and drivers were reported in the Western Cape province last year. Patricia September and her colleague, both ambulance workers, were driving on a road bordering one of the red zones in the early morning hours when two gunshots rang out. A brick hit the windscreen, causing her colleague to battle to control the ambulance from rolling, she recalled. "The whole ambulance was shaking," 51-year-old September told AFP. The stoning of vehicles is a frequent hijacking ploy and medics are not spared. - 'Fear on their faces' Armed police protection for ambulances during nighttime call-outs was introduced last year but workers told AFP they still do not feel any safer. Sometimes the police escort can even make matters worse. More than once, September, a single mother of twins, has been caught up in shoot-outs between gang members and the police, who are targeted for their weapons. "When they start shooting at the police, you can actually see the fear on the officers' faces," she said. September, who has 15 years' experience under her belt, pulls the ambulance into a derelict cul-de-sac to collect a patient in one of the red zones. Ambulances working in gang-ridden parts of town stay close to their police escorts in areas designated as unsafe for ambulance crews -- but sometimes the gangs target the police for their weapons The police park just ahead. But nobody leaves their vehicles. Instead, September radios the dispatcher to instruct the patient to come to the waiting ambulance. Only after spotting a woman moving slowly down a flight of stairs, wheezing heavily, does the team judge that it is safe to assist. September quickly moves the ambulance to a main road nearby. The team is still deep in a red zone, but the police are now nowhere to be seen. They leave as soon as the patient boards the ambulance. Long waits Another emergency worker, Papinkie Lebelo, was robbed at knife point on Christmas Eve last year, just moments after his police escort pulled away. On his arrival, the patient had already been taken privately to hospital due to the wait for the escorted ambulance. Lebelo was unhurt but was forced to hand over his cellphone and cash to his attacker. "How can you attack an ambulance that is coming to help?" he asked. In poorer neighbourhoods where crime is endemic, ambulances are targets of the same robbers that local communities face. "By virtue of the fact that they deliver services within the community they become part of that community and are thus subjected to the same issues," said the provincial head of emergency medical services, Shaheem de Vries. A 17-year veteran of the service, Lebelo said the attacks first began about three years ago. But the escort system, he said, wasn't helping -- only slowing down the response times. Ambulances have, at times, had to wait up to three hours before a police van is available, several ambulance staff told AFP. Ambulances are not permitted into red zones without a police escort. 'Mind boggling' Outside the police station in Nyanga township, notorious as the murder capital of South Africa and one of 10 designated red zones around the city, AFP spoke to paramedics, who had been waiting half an hour for an escort to the scene of a multiple stabbing. What if the patient dies while waiting? our AFP reporter asked. The ambulance driver shrugged. "They brought this on themselves," she said. But Martin Makasi, head of Nyanga's policing forum that acts as an intermediary between the community and police, said locals feel they are being unfairly punished for the actions of a few criminals. "It concerns us that people will lose their lives because they are waiting for paramedics," he told AFP. "It also boggles the minds of the community to understand why the attacks are happening." 'Losing staff' Paramedics Patricia September and Simphiwe Ngavu are bathed in the blue light of the South African Police Services van sticking close to them as they attend to a call in the crime-ridden Cape Town township of Nyanga Western Cape province lost over 3,000 work days last year to staff being off after traumatic incidents. Some employees have asked for transfers out of the city to quieter, safer towns. Although attacks have occurred countrywide, Cape Town is the epicentre of the problem. De Vries said his biggest challenge was retaining staff. "Whether they are suffering from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and staying away, or because they're resigning and leaving for safer harbours," he said. "I'm losing staff." Even harder, he says, is attracting new applicants. "Young school-leavers, who are looking at career choices, are now having second thoughts about whether or not they want to enter the industry at all," he added. Six months after her attack, September is still traumatised. "Everybody standing along the road, everybody who approaches you -- you feel threatened by them," she said. "You feel so scared that it's going to happen again." Joy FMs Newsnite anchor, Dizfa Bampoh has defended her criticism of the president after appointing a record-breaking 110 ministers to his government. She said she least expected President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to burden Ghanaians after he had painted a gloomy picture about the countrys economy. She told Lexis Bill on Joy FMs Personality Profile Thursday, she was enraged by the development, she took to social media to register her displeasure. In a March 15 post on Facebook she wrote, 110 appointees? President Akufo-Addo but why? You dont have to reward peopleyou said you will Protect the public purse. This is not how to protect the public purse by appointing 1100 Ministers and deputy ministers. She said President Akufo-Addo will confirm the narrative in the public that Politicians are all the same if he continues on this tangent. You are the President dont pander to be Mr Nice Guy to everyone. This was not acceptable for another party it is not acceptable for you and the NPP, she concluded. Some of her fans who commented under the post disagreed with her position on the Presidents 110 appointees. But the mother of two children told Lexi Bill, any disaffection she may have courted cannot outweigh her dissatisfaction with the Presidents decision. "I was enraged." I am one of those few people who believe there is still some hope but there can only be hope if we try and do the right thing, she said. Although she believed the President did not err with his appointment, she said she expected him to consider the economic situation of the country. Mrs. Dzifa Bampoh Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brakopowers | [email protected] | Instagram: @realbrakopowers The Minister of Defence, Dominic Nitiwul has ordered an immediate investigation into the cost of a new Military Cemetery at Burma Camp valued at $6 million. According to the Minister, the cost is simply outrageous and must be probed for a possible review of the cost. The cemetery is being constructed as an alternative to the Osu Military Cemetery, which currently has very limited graveyard space. Speaking to Citi News after a tour of some military installations in Accra, Dominic Nitiwul also indicated that government will review most of the Public-Private Partnerships, such as the cemetery, put in place by the previous administration. I am also reviewing some of the PPP [Public-Private Partnerships] projects undertaken by the previous government because clearly, there were problems with them. I am not satisfied with some of them. I have asked them to redo it, like the cemetery, the Minister said. I think the cost [of the cemetary] is too much. It is $6 million. It is outrageous and I will look critically into it. I have already asked them to start an immediate investigation into it. At least we can save something to put into the accommodation for our troops. The Akufo-Addo Administration has expressed its commitment to improving the living conditions of soldiers nationwide, hence the release of GHc 23 million for the completion of some Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) residential facilities for personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces. The government has assured troops that all barracks across the country would be refurbished and renovated and that more residential accommodation facilities will be provided to reduce the acute accommodation problem facing troops. According to the Defence Minister, some 5,000 soldiers do not have quality accommodation, which is one of the biggest challenges facing the Armed Forces. Three contracts have also been awarded for the three high-rise buildings, ahead of the broader improvement of the army barracks. By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/Duke Mensah Opoku/citifmonline.com/Ghana Accra, May 18, GNA - Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) and Ghana and Invest In Africa (IIA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to support small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) to make them investor ready through credit referencing. With the signing of the MOU it is expected that IIA and D&B would support SMEs on the African Partner Pool (APP) by providing information from D&B on the best way to manage books in order to easily access investment and finance, providing consent for D&B to conduct a credit report for SMEs, and share it with potential investors and partners. The APP is an online business platform that connects international companies to quality validated local businesses. A statement issued in Accra by Beauty O. Larbi, the Marketing Manager of IIA, said D&B would also be the exclusive Credit Information Reporting Company through which all foreign companies seeking to do business with local companies on the APP could obtain a business profile report or credit information report. IIA, a cross-sector partnership of companies with the vision to creating thriving African economies, has been set up to give businesses access to skills, finance and new markets. The statement said another initiative of IIA was the Business Excellence Programme, a combined development partners and private sector funded programme with the aim of building businesses to become more competitive. Mr Adebowale Atobatele D&B Ghana Country Manager, said: 'We are excited about our partnership with IIA. It forms a core part of our objective in Ghana which is to create and deliver superior value to stakeholders.' He said their partnership with IIA would help boost the confidence of investors in Ghanaian businesses while at the same time helping local businesses and their owners to develop the right profile to attract the right type of investments or financing that they required to grow their business. Mr Ibrahima Aminu, the APP Manager, said ''This is one of the initiatives IIA is taking to prepare SMEs for access to finance, the agreement with D&B will be of immense value to the SMEs on the APP as it will assist the SMEs on the APP to understand the requirements of financial institutions in applying for access to finance.'' GNA By Morkporkpor Anku, GNA 19.05.2017 LISTEN Accra, May 18, GNA - Mr Kofi Yeboah, an aspiring General Secretary of Ghana Journalists Association election, has appealed against the decision by the GJA Elections Committee (EC) to re-open nominations for this year's elections. It could be recalled that the EC disqualified some candidates prior to the election and members of the GJA filed petitions to the Election Dispute Adjudication Committee (EDAC) against the disqualification. However, the EC on May 15 announced the re-opening of nominations for the election. Mr Yeboah in a statement issued and copied to the Ghana News Agency said the decision was contrary to his expectation and the advice to it by the EDAC 'for the process to take its course'. He said the decision by the EC to re-open nominations, requiring him to go through the processes of nomination and vetting, which he had done was a travesty of justice and fairness to him. Mr Yeboah said the decision would cause him colossal losses in monetary and committal terms. 'The decision would also allow new aspirants, who were given ample opportunity to contest when nominations were opened in February but did not avail themselves of such opportunity, to now file nominations to contest with others who had already made enormous commitments to the process. 'Such tendency, in my humble view, renders the electoral process unfair and also rewards indolence and apathy, while punishing vigilance and commitment', he added. He said calling for fresh nominations, after postponing the elections to allow for the outcome of an electoral process laid down in the GJA Constitution, seems quite outlandish. Mr Yeboah said, the EDAC, in its determination of the petitions brought before it did not make any recommendation for re-opening of nominations. 'In my humble view, anything done contrary to, or inconsistent with, the recommendations of the EDAC undermines the integrity of the very institution established for the good of the GJA'. He said Article 53(a)(vi) of the GJA Constitution 2004 provides: 'The decision of the Election Dispute Adjudication Committee shall be final'. He noted that the decision by the EC to re-open nominations, regardless of the recommendations made by the EDAC in respect of election petitions, was a complete violation of the GJA Constitution. Mr Yeboah said the EC's decision suggested that whenever an aggrieved candidate or member filed a petition to the EDAC and the EDAC made a determination on same, the whole electoral process might be re-started. He described such precedents as detrimental to the collective good of the GJA and same must not be allowed to fester. He appealed to the committee to review the decision of the EC to re-open nominations for the 2017 elections and to prevail upon it to let the process take its course. GNA The provision of security for the president is a requirement which should not be compromised under any circumstance. Those who provide this essential service to keep our Number One Citizen safe must be adequately taken care of, otherwise should deficiencies occur, these can affect the optimum performance of these officers. President Akufo-Addo's Nima residence is being adequately covered by the police, both at the frontage and the rear. Unfortunately, however, the police officers covering the rear side work under rather challenging conditions. These must be addressed if they must deliver their best. For a long time since these Formed Police Unit (FPU) personnel pitched camp here following the triumph of then candidate Akufo-Addo, they have always taken cover inside the vehicle which serves as both guard headquarters and shelter against the elements. Some nearby trees have protected them against the record high temperature in the past couple of months, especially since the compartment of their command vehicle could not have been any helpful. How they manage their conveniences remains a mystery with no Portakabin to serve their needs. As the rainy season is beckoning, a camp tent was erected for them a couple of days ago but without beds or mattresses. While on guard duties they can take turns for short naps, which is why the foregone are needed. Such periodic rests can rejuvenate them when they take over the sentry duty from their colleagues. Here is, therefore, a call on the authorities to provide them with all that they require to discharge their duties efficiently. Four beds and a camp light won't be a bad idea. If the security of the White House can be breached as occasional scaling of the wall as has been reported, the president's residence can also suffer such breaches if those manning the place are worn out by fatigue. For two months, the rear side of the president's residence was pitch dark as the street lights had no bulbs. It took the intervention of the assemblyman through the contractor responsible for such tasks to lighten up the place. That is not all. The relevant state agency, could be the Department of Urban Roads or whichever, should dispatch a team to come and inspect the rear side of the same residence and advise themselves about the eyesore that the place is. The road is riddled with embarrassing potholes which feature pools of dirty water from nearby houses because the gutter ends abruptly in the street. The eyesore presented is not out of the sight of the streams of tourists who put up in a nearby hostel. There is no way these tourists would not know that the president's residence is overlooking the unseemly spectacle. We have also observed the asphalting of the portion of the Ring Road Central as it passes close to the Nima Police Station and the president's Nima residence. We are unable to doff our hats for the Department of Urban Roads which we think is responsible for the works because the side of the road where pedestrians use is contrasting markedly with the asphalted. The pitch black asphalted road dwarfs the potholed side road and the median overgrown with wild grass. Pedestrians risk their lives competing the main road with motorists. These are important observations which the relevant authorities must address because they take away from the beauty and sanity which the surroundings of the president's residence should exude. Extending the asphalting to the rear side of the president's house would be a good idea. Has anybody read us, who can order such an action? None of the three females nominated by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for District Chief Executive (DCE) positions in the Volta Region managed to gather enough votes to secure their positions. All three nominees Ella Boateng for South Dayi, Millicent Kabuki Carboo for Biakoye and Josephine Boateng for Adaklu were rejected outright by their respective assembly members. Not even the appeal to consider affirmative action and gender equality could secure their approval. The nominee for the Adaklu District, Madam Josephine Boateng, suffered the heaviest defeat in the hands of the 18-member assembly, as she obtained only 2 'Yes' against 15 'No' votes. Her rejection, however, came as no surprise as information picked by DAILY GUIDE indicated that Madam Boateng is not popular with the indigenes and that many people claim she has no idea what the challenges of the area are, since she hardly comes home. Members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the area have also indicated that she is not active in their activities and does not have her vote there. She is suspected to be voting in an electoral area in Accra. Her Biakoye counterpart, Madam Millicent Kabuki Carboo, was also battered by the assembly members as only 18 voted in her favour while 25 voted against her. Her rejection was a little surprising as she is an active member of the NPP in the area. That notwithstanding, some sources in the party revealed that inadequate lobbying caused her downfall since the majority of the assembly members are known to be sympathetic to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). The situation was not different for Madam Ella Boateng, the nominee for South Dayi, who completed the list of rejected nominees by polling 11 'Yes' votes as against 18 'Nos.' Her rejection, according to some residents, wasn't surprising as some party members had warned a day after her nomination was announced that they did not need her. They leveled several allegations against her, which she dispelled and clarified. However, it appears her side of the story has not sunk deep into the minds of the people. Other residents were also astonished at her rejection because they had described her as a caring and hardworking woman in the constituency, having lived there for over 30 years and taught many of the young adults in the area. She is also a philanthropist and caregiver for the aged in Peki. The three female nominees join a list of nine rejected nominees in the Volta Region while some 16 MDCEs have been confirmed. Out of the nine rejected so far the Akatsi North nominee Prince Sodoke Amuzu and David Dickson Dzokpe of Agotmie-Ziope will have a second chance to either be approved or rejected again on Tuesday, 23rd May, 2017. All others who have been rejected outright will need a re-nomination by the president for another chance. From Fred Duodu, Ho ([email protected]) 19.05.2017 LISTEN Nana Konadu Boakye Yiadom, known in private life as Henrietta Akosua Aboagye, was indeed a very versatile woman. Among other things, she was a revered queen mother, a consummate nursing practitioner and a highly respected administrator. Not surprisingly, she recorded a number of firsts in her lifetime. To begin with, she was the first of eight children and was a foundation Fellow midwife. She was also the first Registrar and Chairperson of the 3rd Governing Board of the Council of the Nurses and Midwives Council, having been appointed to the position in March, 1975. Significantly too, she was the longest serving President of the Ghana Registered Midwives Association (GRMA). Henrietta was cast in the mould of Florence Nightingale, and was one of only a handful of indigenous nursing students admitted into the Nursing profession in the Gold Coast Colony, from 1945 to 1948. Together with three other students they formed the nucleus of the Nursing Training College at Korle Bu, where she was indexed as a student nurse with Registration Number 107, on July 1, 1948. She subsequently obtained Professional certification as a State Registered Nurse. Henrietta worked diligently as a nursing practitioner and rose to become the Matron of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. She also became a member of the Nurses Board as a representative of the hospital. The late Nana Konadu Boakye Yiadom, was born on January 17, 1926, in Abiriw Akuapim, a town in the Eastern Region of Ghana, where she grew up with her siblings and parents, Rev Bennet Okyere Aboagye and Mrs Agnes Mantebea Aboagye of blessed memory. They were descendants of the Alabiri royal family of Abiriw. Henrietta enstooled the Adontenhene of Abiriw in 1982 under the stool name Nana Konadu Boakye Yiadom I, and later promoted to the position of Abakomahene a title which she held until her death on January 11, 2017. This illustrious daughter of the motherland, was the Matriarch of the Aboagye family, and was called to eternal glory at the ripe old age of 91. Education Henrietta began her early education at the age of five in 1932 at the kindergarten (KG) Department of Achimota College. She continued to the primary and secondary level and subsequently sat for the Cambridge school certificate, passing with flying colours in 1944. Henrietta was petite a lady, a fact that attracted the attention of one of her European tutors who often referred to her as, Henrietta, a small lady with a big name. What she lacked in size, she more than made up in intellectual prowess. According to her school mate, Frances Ademola nee Quashie-Idun: Akosua had been at Achimota for nearly seven years before most of us entered the school in 1939. Akosua was a true product of Achimota, having had all her formal education from Kindergarten to the newly-created Sixth Form in 1946 at Achimota. She was an Akora of Akoras! She added: I have vivid memories of our early days in Kingsley House on the Western compound. The Upper Primary pupils did their prep (Homework) in the Common Room, and there we were one evening screaming with fright as the lights dimmed and the benches fell by themselves and the building shook. It was our first earthquake and we did not even know what it was. This was 8.20pm on October, 22, 1939. Later when we had got used to the tremors we created our own by banging gently on the window frames in the classroom. Our teachers were always the first to leave, encouraging us to follow quietly. We studied hard and played hard and always shared what we learned outside the classroom with each other. It was very gratifying that the 1944 year group got 100% pass in the School Certificate Examination which where then marked in the United Kingdom, she said. We had some excellent and memorable teachers, among whom were Mr. Jack Andrews who gave English Literature a new life for us and Mr. Wiliam Ofori-Atta (Later, Paa Willie) who in 1942 told, us about Ghana, that great ancient Kingdom discovered by his uncle Dr. J. B. Danquah. We had female teachers too who were role models. Teachers such as, Janet Asare, Sophia Boafo and our very energetic PE teacher Miss Dinah Ekuba, later Mrs. Holbrook-Smith. It is a great shame that we went our separate ways after Achimota and seldom met but each person went as living water to a thirsty land. Akosua Aboagye was a real achiever, helping to preserve life. Her last position was Registrar of the Ghana Nursing and Midwifery Council, she noted. She played her part with dedication and will always be remembered with admiration and affection, she concluded . Family Woman Whilst studying in the United Kingdom she met and fell in love with a handsome young man called Asare Thompson, whose father hailed from Adukrom in Akuapem. They subsequently got wedded in Accra in 1953, and were blessed with two children, Marian and Kofi. Unfortunately the marriage ended in 1957. Five years later though, she met and married Mr Victor Owusu a prominent barrister and later Foreign Minister in Busia's government. He later became leader of the Popular Front Party. Aunty Akosua, as she was affectionately called in her early days was the Matriarch of the Aboagye family, and in every sense of the word fitted it as she took charge and saw to the general welfare of the family throughout her life. She played a pivotal role and her leadership in the family was remarkable. Relationship with the church Nana was baptized into the Presbyterian Church of Ghana when she was a young child. She grew to become a responsible member of the church and helped members of the Calvary Congregation in diverse ways. History has it that she was an active member of the Chapel Building Committee, which worked energetically and continuously to complete the new chapel. Despite her advancing years Nana still remembered her creator to commemorate her 90th Birthday, Nana donated a new Communion Table to the Calvary Congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Abiriw Akuapem. Nana the Calvary Congregation will remember you for your kindness and philanthropic gesture. Nursing Practitioner and Administrator According to the GRMA she was their dearest mentor, a noble colleague, foundation Fellow midwife and the longest serving President of the Association Henrietta Akosua Aboagye: State Registered Nurse and a Registered Midwife was elected as the 5th President of the Ghana Registered Midwives Association as in 1980. Prior to her election she had been a member of the Association for more than three decades. During her assumption of duty she promised to do her best to ensure a permanent office Association, since meetings were being held in a one room apartment at Asylum down known as Mangoe tree. Through Nanas able leadership the Association acquired a plot of land at one of the prestigious locations in Cantonments, - Accra. This was no easy task as on some occasions she was chased at gun point from the site. She did not give up and she presented a petition to the then President Jerry John Jerry Rawlings, following which the land was given to the Association. Nana had no means of funding to construct the office accommodation but had a vision. Nanas vision and tenacity was, translated into a successful project with the American College of Nurses and Midwives under John Hopkins University USA. Funding from the Banker Williams Foundation in USA was released through USAID Ghana Office and the result is the fully furnished Midwives House completed and commissioned on 7th April 1995 Nana spearheaded several other USAID funded projects to upgrade the skills of midwives, hence the commencement of the GHANAPA PROJECT with a main focus on family planning in long term service, Life Saving Skills, etc. and by 1986 midwives were leading in the service of Family Planning provision in the country. Nana was an ardent learner and always seeking to upgrade herself and promote the midwifery profession. Thus in 2015 at the age of 89, when there was the need to establish a Specialist College in Ghana, Nana once again among the few midwives who together with their nursing counterparts became the Foundation Fellows of the Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives. The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association said: Our departed sister, friend and colleague was a nurse par excellence, and was very passionate with her profession until her retirement from active service. Indeed she was an embodiment of zeal, commitment, dedication, compassion, love and humility. She was very sociable, accommodating and very principled. She was a peace-maker, a counselor and an inspirer. Her respect for people, both young and old, had no limit. She was ever ready to share, encourage and help. She exhibited these qualities and virtues in abundance and to the admiration of all and sundry. Anyone who had the privilege of associating with her during her life-time, will undoubtedly, attest to this fact. The Association as a family has indeed lost an illustrious member. The Retiree Nurses and Midwives Club (RENAMIC) Greater Accra Branch said Nana was one of the elderly, senior members of the Club at the time, who dedicated their time and resources to lay the firm foundation on which the club stands today. Aunty Akosua, as she was known by most members, served as the third President of the club for two terms, from 1998 to 2002. According to the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Ghana: During her time as the Chairperson of the Governing Board, she led the examination sub-committee to develop the structure for conducting the professional licensing examination for the nursing degree programme from the University of Ghana. It was also during her time that the review of the NRCD 117 of 1972 and LI 683 commenced. Nana Boakye Yiadom, left behind two children, 36 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. All friends, colleagues and sympathizers are invited to join family celebrate Nana Konadu Boakye Yiadom who will be laid to rest on Saturday, May, 20 at the Calvary Congregation Cemetery at Abiriw. It is surprising to note that, young people who cry everyday of not being employed are the very cause to their unemployment. This short article intends to reveal one of the key areas employers refer to before engaging young people. As an entrepreneur and a regular panel of many interview desks, I watch with sadness, how many eligible young candidates are turned down by employers because of Social Media Hmm!! Funny right?, one in five employers have rejected a candidate after looking at what theyve been getting up to online. Most organizations are more likely to reject applicants after doing a background search on them. More than a quarter of businesses have turned down a candidate on the grounds of what they discover online. The figure falls to 1 in 10 among smaller companies. Most employees when doing background checks on candidates mostly check on the following How often you post Aggressive or offensive languages Reference to drug use Bad spelling /grammar Political views and activities General oversharing of content e.g links, photos, etc Vanity e.g too many photos of oneself and selfies Dressing Aggressive or offensive language is the most off-putting social media activity. Three-quarters of employers said this could prevent someone getting a job. Reference to drug-taking follows not far behind. Theres a surprise in third place, as bad spelling or grammar is named by more than half as off-putting. In fact, poor spelling and grammar is more damaging to a candidates reputation than drunken photos. The business networking site LinkedIn is the most frequently checked platform. Half of respondents said they search for candidates profiles. Its not over once you get the job Nearly 1 in 5 employers has fired a current employee because of something theyve posted on social media, according to a separate study. Here in Ghana we have witnessed some. The survey, by CareerBuilder, highlights the risk of ill-advised activity on social media. Its important to keep your personal brand appropriate and make sure [what you post is] something youd feel comfortable with your employer seeing, So Next time you swag on Facebook, or post that drunken photo, just remember that future employers are watching and it could cost you a job. Although most people are aware of the pitfalls of social media, the number of organizations rejecting applicants suggests there are people who still fail to think before they post. Sherif Ghali CEO-Ghanas Young Entrepreneurs [email protected] The sacked Medical Director of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Dr Thomas Anaba, has indicated his readiness to battle his appointment termination by the Public Service Commission in court. Dr Anaba, who was given a dismissal letter a few days ago, described his impromptu dismissal as unlawfull, accusing the Minister of Health Kwaku Agyemang-Manu and the Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare, of seeking their selfish interest. I have written to my legal team and we have written to them and we are giving ourselves sometime to follow, Dr Anaba said. Dr Anaba, appointed in 2016, was given his dismissal notice by the Public Services Commission on Monday, May 15, 2017, a little over a year into his four year tenure as the medical director. Although no reason has been given for his sacking, information gathered indicates that the Public Services Commission had acted upon a directive from the health minister, who has subsequently appointed Dr Anaba's predecessor, Emmanuel Kwabla Srofenyoh, as the new acting director. However, I have requested for explanations why they dismissed me while I'm planning to either handover if they want or I continue. Medical directors are not appointed by director generals or ministers. They are appointed by a council and we don't have a council and besides you have to be interviewed, he added. Speaking to a local radio station, Dr Anaba whose appointment in 2016 was characterised by controversies disclosed that he is not going to vacate his post, despite orders from the health minister that he should leave. They said I should hand over immediately and I can't take two hours to hand over immediately because this is not a small project I'm managing. There are several things I have to tell the incoming director, he is reported to have said. So if he is using him as a director then this is an abhorrent situation in this moment. You see I'm going to put this hospital at the hands of this man just because of people's self-interest the minister and the director general because they are the people who don't want Anaba to work here do they have a reason. It's just abuse of power, Dr Anaba fumed. Meanwhile, a former Health Minister, Alex Segbefia, has charged government to be transparent on the dismissal of the medical director of the Ridge Hospital. You will have to do it in a manner which was more transparent; it shows possibly some level of distaste. If you give someone two hours to vacate his office, I don't think it's appropriate even if the vacation is right you would have to give some level of time for the vacation of office to take place but the question is; is it right? Segbefia asked. By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri Nana Ama Asiamah Dokua, a Deputy Minister of Information who doubles as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Akropong in the Eastern Region, has set 'Save Tetteh Quashie Hospital' fund, aimed at refurbishing the Tetteh Quashie Memorial Hospital in Mampong from its dilapidated stage. The ministers gesture follows the First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo's initiative to raise fund to build a new maternity ward for the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. The Tetteh Quarshie Government Hospital was built in February 1961 by the Ghana Cocoa Marketing Board (GCMB) in honour of Tetteh Quashie the man credited for bringing cocoa to Ghana. However, 56 years down the line, the hospital has not seen any major improvement in terms of infrastructure, and rehabilitation of the existing few ones has not also been forthcoming, leaving the hospital in a sorry state. On Mothers' Day, Nana Dokua within whose constituency the hospital falls visited the maternity ward to celebrate the day with mothers at 'the pot of their motherhood'. However, the situation at the hospital compelled her to look beyond a request made to her by the hospital's authorities to rehabilitate the maternity ward to 'refurbishing and revamping' the entire hospital. The MP, speaking to DAILY GUIDE, said, After visiting the facility, we realised that the issues here are much bigger than me just refurbishing the maternity ward. So thinking through it and walking through the hospital, we thought it will be wise to set up a fund known as 'SaveTettehQuarshieNow' to save the situation. According to her, This hospital has saved a lot of lives, lots of our bosses and leaders may have had history with the hospital, so if anybody can hear me, we're asking that they should get interested in our 'SaveTettehQuarshie' fund and donate any kind of thing be it goods or services that you can for us to be able to put Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital back into shape. Speaking on the plans for the fund, Hon Dokua said it is meant to completely refurbish and revamp the entire hospital. She added that though she could appeal to the government for support, the country has 216 metropolitan, municipal and districts which invariably means we are talking about 216 district hospitals with several other challenges and any attempts to rely solely on the government cannot give the needed speed with which they would want to put the hospital back to full life. So as a people, we are supposed to complement the government for government to complement us. So if something is there and something is not happening, we don't have to wait till the government is not doing it before we do it. We have to be as proactive as possible as a people and then come together with what we have and what we can contribute, contribute it and do our bit and then the government one would be the icing on the cake, the MP explained. The fund will be managed by representatives from the hospital, representatives from the office of the MP and a reputable accounting firm in the country who will be hired. On his part, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the Akuapem North Municipality, Dennis Aboagye, charged the hospital to improve on their services. Mr Aboagye said, We as a government will do our bit, but we have reports of they not giving the best of services to our constituents and the hospital themselves agree to this and so we charge them to up their game. The administrator of the hospital, Francis Luguniah, in an interview with the journalists outlined some of their challenges which include dilapidated infrastructure, broken down of machines, delay of release of funds from NHIS, poor internal road network, among others. When asked as to whether the hospital continues to enjoy some support from the GCMB, Mr Luguniah said although the hospital does enjoy support once in a while from them, the support has been woefully inadequate. FROM Daniel Bampoe, Mampong The Minister of Works and Housing, Samuel Atta Akyea has stressed the need for all regional ministers to secure lands for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to put up more affordable houses in the country. He noted that securing such land banks would play an active role in beefing up the affordable housing scheme aimed at providing houses to a number of workers at an affordable rate. Mr Atta-Akyea made this known when he paid a working visit to the Central Regional Minister, Kwamena Duncan. He stated that the staggering 1.7 million housing deficit in the country was a great worry to the current administration which he noted required proactive steps in addressing the problem. All regional ministers should liaise with traditional authorities to secure land banks to aid in government's attempt to solve the housing deficit in the country, he said The Minister took the opportunity to inspect the dilapidated ministries building at Cape Coast which was brought to his attention. He bemoaned a situation where government had refused to undertake maintenance on the building and therefore advocated for a reversal of such trend. He proposed to the Regional Co-ordinating Council to liaise with the various assemblies in the region to raise funds for the renovation of the block while government explores measures to ensure its upgrading and the safety of personnel in the building. With inadequate resources, Mr. Atta-Akyea stated, government was determined to wipe out the housing deficit confronting the nation. The Central Regional Minister, Kwamena Duncan said the building houses about 13 state agencies comprising: Ghana News Agency, Audit Service, Registrar General, Immigration Service, Ghana Education Service, Information Services Department, among others. The Regional Minister expressed concern about the way workers occupying the building have been complaining that parts of the concrete slabs have been peeling off on a daily basis thereby posing a threat to them and customers. Email;[email protected] From Sarah Afful, Cape Coast Mantrac Ghana Limited has launched a hybrid power generating sets that uses the latest Caterpillar solar and energy storage technologies. The product, which is a full range hybrid solution, is the first of its kind in Ghana. The Hybrid Power Generating set; named Mantrac Energy Systems was launched as part of the First Mantrac Energy System Seminar in Accra. The Minister of Energy, Emmanuel Boakye Agyarko who was the special Guest of Honour was represented by Mr. Wisdom Ahiataku-Togobo, Director of Renewable Energy and Alternative Energy at the Ministry. Also present was the Executive Director of the Energy Commission, the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Ghana Industries, Executives of the Mantrac Group and customers. Mantrac Energy System, is a compact, highly efficient, low consumption, low maintenance, integrated and extendable generating energy station that provides direct and stable power supply customized for various application including Telecommunications, Banking, Manufacturing, Mining, Rural electrification, Residential Apartments and many more. The Managing Director of Mantrac Ghana Mr. Emad Adeeb said Mantrac is at the forefront of the energy transition, integrating renewable power with smart energy storage and conventional diesel or gas fuelled power generation to keep your industries producing, communities developing and people connected. Our Energy System pack can be customized to provide clean, efficient, economic and reliable power supply to meet customers demands. Mr. Adeeb explained industries are assured of reduced fuel expenses, decreased harmful emissions, lower total cost of ownership and achieve favorable return on investment. This he believe is in line with the Ministry of Energy plans of improving renewable energy penetration into the nations energy mix by 10% in 2020. Mr. Adeeb mentioned Mantrac is well positioned to support customers with its extensive branch network and a dedicated 600 work force who have been trained to support every equipment sold to customers. He said all branches are well equipped with state of the art workshops, service bays and parts warehouse to offer 360 degrees support to customers. Representatives of the Ministry of Energy and Energy Commission including the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Ghana Industries, Seth Twum-Akwaboah, commended Mantrac Ghana for the foresight and initiative to provide alternative energy solution to industry. Participants at the seminar were also introduced to CAT Finance services, which is a collaboration between Mantrac Ghana and Stanbic Bank Ghana to provide customized financial solutions for customers who buy caterpillar products. Mr. Emad Adeeb, Md Of Mantrac Ghana (1024x683) The Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has reiterated the New Patriotic Party campaign promise to construct a rail network from Takoradi to Paga in the Upper East region. He said the rail system is one of the legacies the President, Nana Akufo-Addo government would like to leave for posterity. The Vice President said this at the Gukpe Naa's palace in Tamale on his second day of the tour of the Northern Region. "Nana Akufo-Addo's promises are beginning to be fulfilled," he said, citing the government obsession to fix agriculture and education. "He is very conscious about the need for us to expand agriculture and make sure farmers get the benefit of government's policies. "That is why implementing the planting for food and job policy, reducing fertilizer prices by 50% and making sure irrigation facilities and seeds are very much available. "We promised free secondary school education. By the grace of God by September free secondary school education will start," he said. The Vice president also stated that the Teachers and Nursing trainees' allowances will also be restored in September as promised during the campaign. Dr Bawumia touted government's successes in stabilizing the economy, stating that with the infrastructure projects along with the one district one dam campaign promise, jobs will be created for many of the unemployed youth. The Vice President is also reported to have visited the Dakpema's Palace as part of the visit to the Northern Region. The Dakpema chief had some concerns which he wanted government to address. Joy News' Northern Regional correspondent Martina Bugri reported the Dakpema Naa as saying government must intervene at the Tamale Teaching Hospital and resolve some of the challenges facing the hospital. The hospital has been facing some managerial and administrative challenges with pro-NPP vigilante group demanding the removal of the leadership. The Dakpema expects those issues will be resolved to ensure a smooth and competent administration of the hospital. He also appealed to government to take care of the school feeding grant to ensure the children attend school. Story by Ghana|Myjoyonline.com Police at Agogo in the Ashanti Region have arrested a herdsman for raping a woman on a farm. Thirty-two-year-old Abubakari Aliu allegedly chased the lady with a machete, overpowered and forcibly had sex with her farm at nearby Nsonyameye. He fled after committing the alleged crime and left the 19-year-old victim to her fate in the bush. Clashes between herdsmen and natives and other residents in the Agogo Area over the years have turned bloody and left in their trail a lot of casualties. Natives accuse the nomads and their marauding cattle of destroying farms as well as committing murder, rape and other crimes that leave locals devastated. Many rape victims hardly report their ordeal for due to stigmatization and of collapsing their relationships. Assembly member for Ananekrom, Peter Abaje believes the people of Agogo have been vindicated of rape claims. Previously when we report a case of rape we were not taken serious. People keep saying we should bring evidence, which has now has been confirmed. It means it is true; they [herdsmen] have been raping them [women]. "But most of the time some of them are always afraid to come out boldly to say they were raped by herdsmen especially those who are married. Mr Abaje said the latest victim is, however, one of the few to have the courage to report to police after first informing him. She had arrived in the area from the Northern region less than a month ago when she suffered the abuse. Information available to Nhyira News suggests the young lady was sowing maize on the field when the mask-wearing herdsman attacked them. Her sister-in-law who was with her managed to escape and raised an alarm in the Nsonyameye Community. An intervention, led by the Odikro and some youth came late after the herdsmen had bolted after the act. The traumatized lady is yet to come to terms with the incident and has refused to eat. She was crying the whole of the day. It is very difficult for her because she got married about a year ago so she was thinking about how the husband will feel when he hears what has happened," Mr. Abaje said. The victim has since been treated and discharged at the Agogo Presbyterian Hospital. A team of police investigators however visited the scene on Thursday to retrieve the womans tattered underwear and broken beads as investigation begins. Women in the community say their anxiety has now heightened as the victim demands justice. Ace Investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas has hinted that he is going to release his most challenging undercover investigative piece in his entire career, which involves 60 people who have done great evil to the state. The award-winning journalist dropped the hint while speaking at the Third Lecture Series of the 60th Anniversary of the Commonwealth Hall of the University of Ghana on the theme; "Vandalism and Democracy". He revealed that the 60 individuals yet to be exposed have done nothing good for Ghana and he is going to name, shame and jail them as his investigative works have always preached. "And now about the most challenging work that I've done, as I speak to you now I've some 60 people and I'm not going to tell you what I'm going to do but it is there. "It is coming and none of the 60 people have done anything good for Ghana," he said in response to a question. However, the man behind Tiger Eye PI did not state categorically what the 60 people have done, neither did he say when the video will come out but he said it will come out and it's just a matter of time. Anas is well known for his unique undercover investigations, which have exposed many corrupt public officials and caused their trials and sentencing. His biggest work so far is the famous corruption in the judiciary piece dubbed "Ghana Under The Eyes of God", which led to the dismissal of some High Court Judges. Anas, an old Vandal himself, encouraged his fellows and the Ghanaian youth to be inquisitive and probe the ills in society that do not inure to the benefit of the country. He said he has built his brand to a level where he has now lost his real identity, to the extent that even when he reveals his true identity to people they laugh and doubt him. "People come to you and you want to be real to them and say, I'm Anas and they tell you, how can you be Anas? It's not true" he said. He said people have accused him of disappearing through walls, turning into a goat amongst other allegations, but he said they are all not true and he sees them as part of the challenges in his profession. Anas urged the students to be steadfast in righting the wrongs in society. Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Felix Anim-Appau | Adom News The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, is reported to have charged chiefs, particularly those in the Asante Region, to reserve lands for investment and industrial purposes to enhance development in their respective areas of jurisdiction. The Ashanti King, in the story, which was carried in the Tuesday May 16, 2017 edition of The Chronicle, with the headline; Reserve Lands For 1 District, 1 Factory Project Otumfuo Tells His Chiefs, said it is incumbent on chiefs to reserve parcels of land in readiness for the One District, One Factory policy. Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who was speaking at a meeting of the Asanteman Council in Kumasi last Monday, said it was not prudent for chiefs to delight in monetary gains from proceeds of the sale of lands, without considering investments in the said lands. The Ashanti King explained that the value of lands should be seen in the level of employment to be created, noting that more jobs in their traditional areas, through industrialisation, would promote proper development. The Chronicle believes that the 'One District One Factory Project', known to the project coordinators as the ODOF Project, is a critical developmental intervention, which promises to produce strategic outcomes such as: high enterprise competitiveness, high levels of productivity, and expanded access to regional and international markets. The project is also expected to improve balance of trade differentials, increase business revenue levels, high job creation, eradication of poverty, high level sustainable business practices, bolster national economic revenue, and improve livelihoods among others. Economically, the intervention of the ODOF Project will be the source to catapult Ghanas industrialisation and economic transformation agenda. Consequently, The Chronicle thinks there is the need to establish an effective and workable management system for the project, in order for the government to achieve its objectives of creating jobs for the people. It is thus imperative to have a governance system, which ensures accountability and transparency, as well as gives approval for the strategic direction, financial and human resource plans of the ODOF Project. The government must also give direction for the review of management performance, organisational controls and risk management, compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements or guidelines, ethical behaviour, conflict of interest policies, disclosure, reporting and audits. The corporate governance system for the ODOF Project should spell out the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders, and what ought to be done, in order to execute and accomplish the roles and responsibilities efficiently. In the estimation of the paper, President Akufo-Addo must exercise overall leadership for the ODOF Project, with support from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Local Government, Donors, Private Business Service Providers, and the Polytechnics/Technical Universities. The Governing and Management Council, which will provide the strategic direction for efficient management of the project, ought to be constituted with representatives from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Local Government, and Office of the President. The Chronicle wants to commend the Asantehene once again, for showing the way, by charging his chiefs to make land available for such a project. Now that the Ashanti King has pointed his charges in the right direction, we are urging other high ranking officials, especially top business executives, to encourage those around them to put their shoulders to the wheel, to ensure that the ODOF Project becomes a reality. 19.05.2017 LISTEN Hon. Catherine Ablema Afeku, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Art who doubles as Member of Parliament (MP) for Evalue Ajomoro Gwira constituency said the NPP government is determined to address challenges facing the constituency and ensure smooth development of the area. The people should, therefore, support the Government to implement programmes that would solve these development challenges, she said. Hon Catherine Afeku said this when she commissioned a rural electrification project on behalf of the Government at Kakusuazo in the Nzema East Municipal of the Western Region, May 18, 2017. Speaking at a mini durbar, Hon Catherine Afeku said the project was started by NPP led Kufour Government in the late 2007 as part of a 350-million-dollar Exim Bank facility secured in 2006. She said the NDC government rejected the project for eight good years without thinking about the good of Kakusuazo as part of Ghana. She added, "this project was rejected by the NDC Government but we the NPP Government have come into power again and have used five months to complete the project and connected it to the National Grid". She also added that she and the new MCE, Hon Frank Okpeyen are going to work together to connect the other communities to the National Grid. Speaking at durbar, the new Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Hon Frank Okpeyen used the occasion to thanked the people of Kakusuazo and the entire Gwiraman for reposed their confidence in him to be confirmed as MCE for the Municipality. Hon Frank Okpeyen pleaded to his people to have confidence in President Nana Addo and really behind the NPP Government to bring more developments into the Municipal. He added, " I'm going work hard with the MP and Minister to construct the bad road networks in the Gwira area so I need your prayers and support" "This rural electrification project here was done by an American contractor, Weldy Lamont Company and we have to thank the company for the good job done", he emphasized. The Chief for the people of Kakusuazo, Nana Kaku II expressed his profound appreciation to the NPP Government for the completion of the project for his people. The Chief said this project is going to generate more incomes for his people and better their lives. "We are very happy to have electricity and we are now part of Ghana, God bless Hon Catherine Afeku and the NPP Government", the Chief expressed his joys. The Chief also used the occasion to appealed to his people and the people of Nzema East Municipal to support Hon Catherine Afeku to develop the Municipal devoid of political affiliations. The Chief also appealed to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Government and the Member of Parliament for the area to provide them communication network for them to have access to information going in the country and beyond. Speaking on a locally based radio station at Axim, Ankobra FM political morning show dubbed, 'ABT Show' hosted by Michael Adomako on Friday, May 19, 2017 the immediate past Member of Parliament for the area, Hon Kweku Tanikyie Kesse said the project was never and ever started by the erstwhile Kufour Government in 2007 but started by John Mills erstwhile Government but the former lawmaker failed to tell the actual year the project started. Hon Kwaku Kesse added that those who are saying that the electrification project at Kakusuazo was started by the NPP Government and completed by the NPP Government are liars. " Politics is not about telling lies so Hon Catherine Afeku and her people should stop their lies they are peddling about the project", Hon Kesse charged. Accra, May 19, GNA - The maiden China Trade week came to an end on Thursday, with an estimated patronage of more than 3,000 business executives and entrepreneurs. The two-day fair, which was held in Accra, sought to educate Ghanaian entrepreneurs on the gains of doing business with their Chinese counterparts. The fair also created opportunities for collaboration between Ghanaian and Chinese businesses, and saw a number of seminars being held, specifically to educate Ghanaian business executives on how to do business with China. Mr. David Wang, the Managing Director of MIE Events, organisers of the fair, told the Ghana News Agency that considering the success chalked out by the fair with respect to its objectives, another one had been planned to take place next year. 'We foresee that one being five times bigger than this one,' he said. He said the fair also generated fruitful interactions between Ghanaian and Chinese businesses, which had boosted the economic relations between the two nations. The fair saw reputable Chinese manufacturers, travelling to Ghana to showcase their products and services, and built trade relations with the local business community. The Chinese Ambassador, Madam Sun Baohung disclosed that a similar fair, that last year, hit $ 5.976 billion, making Ghana the seventh largest trading partner of China in Africa. GNA By Robert Anane, GNA 19.05.2017 LISTEN Aboadze (W/R), May 19, GNA - Mr Samuel Atta Akyea, the Minister for Works and Housing, says the government recognizes the immerse contribution of traditional authorities towards the development of the country. He said government would continue to strengthen the collaboration and solicit their wise counsel in accelerating the development and growth of the country. The Minister for Works and Housing said this when he paid a courtesy call on Nana Kobina Attom III, the chief of Aboadze, during a visit to the twin towns; Aboadze/Abuesi to inspect the sea defense project being undertaken by ZARA developers. The minister was accompanied by his two deputies: Freda Prempeh and Eugene Kusi, the Deputy Western Regional Minister, Gifty Kusi and the Sekondi/Takoradi Metroplitan Chief Executive Mr Anthony K. K. Sam. At the palace, the chief requested that sanitary facilities be provided for the communities to halt open defecation which he said was gradually marring the beauty of the work done by the contractors. Nana Attom III called on government to help speed up the process of paying royalties on the over 421.8 acre land allocated to the Volta River Authority. Mr Atta Akyea also promised to engage with the contractors to provide the needs of the community. The second day of the minister's tour took him to Nkontompo, New Takoradi, Adjua and Axim where similar facilities had been constructed to save the communities along the coast from the ravages of the sea. In all, the minister expressed satisfaction at work done so far and the contractors disclosed that substantial work had been completed and that currently, the projects were in the defect liability stage. Later, at the Regional Coordinating Council, the Minister engaged with Dr Kweku Afriyie, Western Regional Minister on government's plan to provide affordable housing scheme for Ghanaian workers and the need for litigation free lands to encourage investors to confidently undertake such partnerships. He said the Pension funds would be used to secure such houses for the ordinary worker adding, 'We are going to revive the Bank for Housing and Construction to ensure a realistic mortgage arrangement for the future'. Mr Atta Akyea said the more than 2.7 million housing deficit required an aggressive financial re-engineering to roll out the housing scheme. GNA By Mildred Siabi-Mensah, GNA Accra, May 19, GNA - President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has stated that there can be no future prosperity in West Africa, if member states maintain economic structures that are dependent on the production and export of raw materials. He said if West Africa was to ensure the progress and prosperity of its people, 'We must add value to these resources, we must industrialise and we must enhance agricultural productivity'. President Akufo-Addo gave the advice on Thursday in his remarks at a State Dinner held in his honour by the President of Guinea, Professor Alpha Conde, on the second day of his three-day tour of Guinea. The reason for his visit to Guinea, President Akufo-Addo told President Conde, was to build on the relations between the two countries, as well explore, further, other areas of co-operation for the mutual benefit of the two peoples. He said he was excited that the two countries, in May 2013, reactivated the Permanent Joint Commission on Co-operation (PJCC). 'Co-operation in the development of our agriculture, education, science and technology, infrastructure, health, energy and culture, and the co-ordination of the exploitation of our mutual natural resources, such as bauxite, iron ore, gold and petroleum, would be of immense benefit to our two countries,' he added. It is for this reason that President Akufo-Addo proposed that the two countries hold the next session of the PJCC in Accra before the end of the year. 'We must intensify the links between Ghanaian and Guinean enterprises, and, thereby, also hasten the process of regional integration.' With the population of West Africa set to hit 500 million people in 20 years time, up from its current population of 350 million, President Akufo-Addo added that the integration of the ECOWAS community is now, explaining that the integration of the region will offer 'immense opportunities to bring prosperity to our region with hard work, enterprise and creativity.' This ambitious programme of economic transformation and integration of the ECOWAS countries, the President explained must be hinged on the peace and stability of all parts of West Africa. President Akufo-Addo stated that 'I am, thus, relieved, and I am sure I speak for all of us here, that the disturbing events of the last few days in our common neighbouring state of Cote d'Ivoire have been brought to a satisfactory conclusion, and that good sense has prevailed and enabled the crisis to abate peacefully,' he said. Touching on the long standing relations that exist between Ghana and Guinea, President Akufo-Addo was expectant that 'our two peoples will continue to march side-by-side in solidarity in the search for progress and dignity for the African peoples' He applauded President Conde for the ongoing efforts he was making to entrench democracy and the rule of law in the body politic of Guinea, as well to maintain her unity and integrity devoid of narrow partisan, ethnic considerations. 'It is a historic task, but one in which your life-long struggle and sacrifices for Guinean democracy have prepared you adequately to undertake. We wish you well and Godspeed,' he added. President Akufo-Addo was also thankful for the presence of his Guinean counterpart at his inauguration on January 7, and also for the presence of the Guinean Prime Minister, M. Mamady Youla, at Ghana's 60th independence anniversary celebrations, on March 6. GNA Nsuta (Ash) May 19---Rev Ernest Odame Asare, Sekyere Presbytery Chairman has stated that the development of the country can be quickened if Christians who form majority in Ghana live a life with moral ideals,spiritual insight and righteous living. Rev.Ernest Odame Asare said this when he visited the Presbyterian Church at Beposo on Thursday as part of his tour in the Nsuta District in line with his administrative, spiritual oversight and pastoral responsibility in the Presbytery. He urged the congregation to diversify the method of getting revenue to meet their financial obligation in the church instead of relying on traditional tithing, offertory, donations and annual harvest. The chairman said the Presbytery is putting up four storey office complex at Asante Mampong and when it is completed,it will ease the financial burding of the Presbytery as part of it would be rented for commercial purpose and asked individual members in the church to contribute financially for the early completion of the building. He disclosed that the General Assembly Council has set up a committee to look at payment of Assessment in the church and hope that the committee's report would yield positive results. He advised the various congregations in the Presbytery to intensfy evangelism work,ensure prompt payment of their financial obligations and support the government to achieve its socio-economic and political responsibilities to the citizenry. The chairman was accompanied by Rev. Ahenkorah Siaw,the District Minister and Mr Paul Stephen Adjei,the Distric clerk. In addition to the decline in the South African economy largely due to the overall world crisis which has driven down commodity prices and systematically disinvested from the emerging states, there has been a fracturing of the national democratic movement and the workers organizations over contentious debates surrounding a way forward and policy of ruling party African National Congress (ANC). Since 1994 there have been substantial reforms initiated under the ANC government. There has been the construction of housing for the poor and working class, the expansion of healthcare, the breaking down of racial barriers in public facilities, along with access to household utilities and clean drinking water. However, the fundamental relations and ownership of production remains under the control of the capitalist class. As a manifestation of modern-day capitalism, high unemployment, rising costs of living including education fees as well as problems associated with service delivery, have continued. In all other countries, the majority controls everything from politics, economy and defense . . . Its only in this country (South Africa) where we dont have economic freedom. Its controlled by the minority and those who oppressed us, Zuma stressed on November 2016. The main opposition force Democratic Alliance (DA) alleged that the government of President Zuma has been involved in corruption. Zuma has denied the charges and attempts to pass motions of no-confidence in parliament failed on numerous occasions. The current ANC leadership seems solidly committed to keeping Zuma in office until his term expires in 2019. There is a new age of "conservatism" that is sweeping many countries across the world. Disillusioned people are very easy to manipulate and work into frenzies. I've seen it today in Greece, France and in South African as well. There is a rise of conservatism in Europe that has outrightly racist, islamophobic, anti-Roma, anti-immigration views etc. It brands itself "nationalism", and it feeds off of fears, disappointments and disillusionment. In South Africa now, there is a compounding of disillusionment with the economic progress of the country, the leadership of the country, the distribution of power in the country. A lot of the hope that was there in the struggle has turned into disappointment. There is also fear spread widely about immigration into the country. The country is ripe for racist propaganda being fronted as "nationalist agenda". The ANC had laid a formal complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission to investigate the DA as a breeding ground for racists. Among those that the party had laid complaints against were: DA member of parliament Mike Waters who allegedly posted a picture on Twitter showing a pack of dogs lining up at a tree, underneath which was a picture of President Jacob Zuma; DA member Penny Sparrow who took to Facebook describing black beachgoers as monkeys, in an apparent reaction to litter left behind after New Years celebrations; DA member Kohler-Barnard recently came under fire for sharing a Facebook post praising apartheid president PW Botha. The SAHRC has consistently exposed the character of the so-called Democratic Alliance (DA) as a party full of racists that continue to protect white privilege. Evidence exists beyond any reasonable doubt that there is home for such racism in DA. That party of racist acquired white privilege must never be trusted especially when it comes to the fundamental principles of SA constitution important principles such as the principle of non-racialism. The ANC notes that given the reach of social media (Facebook has approximately 1.55 billion and Twitter has 307 million monthly active users respectively) the circulation of such bigoted comments have the potential for causing irreparable harm to the dignity and reputations of individuals and social groups. The ANC considers the SAHRC and the courts the appropriate means to seek redress on behalf of the millions of South Africans who have been prejudiced, belittled and insulted by these commentators. The DAs representatives in parliament and its top management are white. Although an exact racial breakdown of voting patterns is impossible because race is not indicated on the ballot, the DA estimates that: DA support among black South Africans grew from 0.8% in 2009 to about 6% in 2014. Roughly 760,000 black South Africans voted for the DA in 2014. DA support among Indian South Africans grew from 53.7% in 2009 to 61% in 2014; among Coloureds from 55.5% to 67.7%; and among whites from 83.9% to 92.8%. The political future of the President and his ANC party are in doubt because of some serious economic and domestic mishandlings, so its entirely possible that the pro-American opposition will gain some extra support in the next electoral round and gradually strengthen their influence in the country, much to Zuma and his multipolar BRICS partners expected expense. With the DA gaining ground and working hand-in-hand with the US allied information outlets to craft the perception that theyre on the inevitable ascent to full power. For the moment at least, South Africa is still in a position to render supportive assistance to its anti-apartheid allies, but this could abruptly stop if the liberal Soros -funded Democratic Alliance opposition pulls off an impressive showing during the local elections and expands their white power over the rest of the remaining major cities that are still outside of their control, which is what some observers are expecting. Washington ideally hoped that South African President Zuma would have already been deposed by a constitutional coup by now and that his country could be the Lead From Behind springboard for guaranteeing that the anti-Mugabe mission succeeded, but since he defied the odds and survived the plot earlier this year (unlike his BRICS counterpart Dilma Rousseff). In fact, South Africa has always been the regional crown jewel for american regime change planners. The ANC party maintains that Washington through its embassy in Pretoria is pursuing a regime-change agenda. Party spokesperson Zize Kodwa stated in March 2017: They have taken about 45 young people to America to train them as part of their leadership program. What we got from those young people is not what they expected; they were trained on how to destabilize the country and regime change. As we mobilise our people, we must say be vigilant. You must see through anarchy and people who are out there in a programme of regime change. We are aware of the meetings taking place regularly at the American embassy, ANC Secretary General, Gwede Mantashe told thousands of ANC supporters at the in Pretoria. The BRICS stalwart of South Africa is existentially threatened by the danger that mass migration from countries collapsed by US and NATO could spark the unitary republics dissolution into a collection of quasi-independent tribal/ethnic-based federal statelets. Not only are visible segments of South African society violently xenophobic against the influx of African migrant workers that have flooded into the economically promising state over the past two decades, but there are even deep undercurrents of extremely polarized tension among its native peoples. Zulu nationalism was blamed for the xenophobic riots of early 2015, and the failure of South Africa to transcend identity-centric politics poses a very real threat to all other ethnicities within the country such as the Xhosa and Basotho , for example, whether theyre killing one another or fighting within their own groups. In Africa there are numerous examples from the post-colonial period of the last five decades where USA and European states have sought to reverse the forward progress of the masses of workers, farmers, youth and their leadership. A myriad of challenges are facing the South African ruling party including an economic recession, the bringing of several allegations about corruption within the office of the presidency, a declining stock market and national currency along with increasingly worsening relations with the United States. Western powers want to remove the ANC because they do not want the ANC to develop relations with those countries which helped the party in the anti-apartheid struggle. 19.05.2017 LISTEN Mzbel has asked former President John Dramani Mahama to have a second thought on his decision to contest for presidency in 2020 election. According to the musician, she is not happy with the decision by the former president to stand as flag-bearer for NDC come 2020. The 16 years hit maker urged the former president not to contest the 2020 election and let the people in his government who sabotaged and betrayed him contest instead. Her post read Hmmm so soon people are already asking for you to return in 2020... 'Medi3' I'm really against that! I dont support it because I believe you should rise above the betrayal and pettiness of Ghanaian politics You have been accepted by the international community as a spokesman for Africa. Daddy please don't descend into the Ghanaian gutter. Let those who betrayed you come up with their flagbearer she wrote. The music icon shared the post on her Facebook account. Read full message here: President Akufo-Addo was given the stool name Nii Kwaku Ablade Okogyeaman I 19.05.2017 LISTEN Not too long ago, some media platforms covered the traditional investiture of our newest Commander-In-Chief, President Akufo-Addo. They reported the following news: The Chiefs of Ngleshie Alata Traditional Area have honoured the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo by enstooling him as a Chief at a durbar held at Mantse Agbona, Jamestown in Accra. President Akufo-Addo was given the stool name Nii Kwaku Ablade Okogyeaman I, to wit Royal Warrior; One who fights to redeem his people. He was given the name by the paramount chief of the Ngleshie Alata Traditional Area, Oblempong Nii Kojo AbabioExplaining the rationale for the enstoolment, Oblempong Nii Kojo Ababio, stated that Akufo-Addo was honoured because of his career as a human rights lawyer and an advocate of the Rule of Law which he said was indicative of a man who has the welfare of Ghana at heart WE FACE AN ORWELLIAN DILEMMA AS A NATION IN THE PERSON OF AKUFO-ADDO A chief shall not take part in active party politics; and any chief wishing to do so and seeking election to Parliament shall abdicate his stool or skin (Section (1), Article 276, 1992 Constitution). Our president is already showing signs of fatigue as the occupant of the Flagstaff House. Therefore he will rather not stay behind in his comfortable palatial dungeon, the Flagstaff House, than concentrate on the work entrusted to him by the teeming generosity of Ghanaians who are caught up in the paralyzing shackles of the countrys duopolistic kleptomania. This work is no doubt onerous, an assignment requiring a strategy of focused imagination, an investment of conscionable character in patriotic politicking, and an ideological dedication to the progressive tenets of nation-building. It appears gallivanting around offers him some hopeful respite from the weighty demands of presidency. This is an infant governmentof course, an infant government with all the trappings of boastful, slothful elderliness of tigerish thoughtfulness and pretentious boldness in claiming actionable accomplishments for itself, and itself alone. An infant government grossly mistaken for the grey hair of tactical and strategic wisdom and meritocratic, technocratic excellence when, in fact, these assertive qualities are merely a classic symptomatology of Nkrumahs action without thought is empty. Thought without action is blind. Akufo-Addo, the character mask behind this infant government, therefore becomes a simplified personification of Wole Soyinkas A tiger does not proclaim his tigritude, he pounces. Yet, whether this infant government is truly empty or blind in the life of its formative assertiveness, is a daring question better left to the adjudicative preserve, jurisdiction and dictates of time. But then again an infant government whose constitution, with all of its trappings of seeming conscious patriotism, is only as good as its publicity stunts which are in turn also clearly defined, if not strategically and tactically characterized, by an inviting aroma of rhetorical bombast and infantile ego. This inviting aroma of rhetorical bombast the teeming generality of gullible Ghanaians easily buys into. One of such publicity stunts is when the president assuredly told the people of Jamestown that the government of which he heads, will make Accra the cleanest city on the entire African continent. This was what the president reportedly said: The commitment I want to make, and for all of us to make, is that by the end of my term in office, Accra will be the cleanest city on the entire African continent. That is the commitment I am making. Excellent commitment, at least in theory! Put simply, the president is not defining his absolute commitment to cleaning up Accra and making it the cleanest on the African continent an instantiation of exclusive entitlement. Rather, he is enjoining the teeming generality of Ghanaians to pursue that noble and progressive commitment from the point of view of collective responsibility. All good thus far except that he, President Akufo-Addo, is a stinking bombshell of irreconcilable contradictions. For instance his inaugural speech contains some elements of hopeful apocalypse, his outright rejection of Third World standards in favor of First World standards. Yet the speech has notable plagiarized parts, an instance of what he calls Third World standards. This same Orwellian preacher of a president tendentiously preaches peace when he deems it fit, when his All-Die-Be-Die electioneering- and sloganeering-intimidation tactics have woefully failed to win popular sovereignty over to his side, and then when nothing else seems to work he and his closest friends readily resort to every tactical ploy to win political power by any means necessary. This has included unleashing the barking packs of rabid bloodhoundsthe Invincible Forces and the Delta Forceon Ghanaians. We may recall the scheming leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) secreting Serbian and South African mercenaries into the country to train the ragtag members of these vigilante groups. The South Africans knew this and yet went ahead to award him an honorary doctorate. For what? We dont know. What we do know in fact is that the citation for the honorary doctorate, somewhat strongly takes after the substance of attribution regarding what the Chiefs of Ngleshie Alata Traditional Area see in Akufo-Addo. Their rhetorical citation says in part that Akufo-Addo is: A human rights lawyer and an advocate of the rule of law. All indications are that Akufo-Addo is the very antithesis of the rule of law. Perhaps, the Chiefs of Ngleshie Alata Traditional Area were merely pampering Akufo-Addo to, as a matter of urgency, absorb Jamestown into his Inner City and Zongo Development Ministry. Jamestown, of America, the United States, of the State of Virginia, was where the modern conception of slavery in the United States is believed to have been formalized or institutionalized. Read this (courtesy of the National Park Service): The institution of slavery slowly crept into Virginia legislation. By 1660, slavery as we think of it today was established in Virginia. John Punch, possibly an enslaved African ancestor of ex-President Barack Obamas Caucasian mother, was associated with the State of Virginia, a man widely identified with the onset of the institution of slavery in colonial America. In light of the latter assertion, the symbolic squalor of Ghanas Jamestown is striking, even somewhat comparable to the moral squalor which chattel slavery occasioned. This comparable striking symbolism, however, may be exaggerated but this observation does not in any way cast Akufo-Addo in the same light as Ralph Bunche, a Noble Laureate (Peace), a possible descendant of John Punch, or as the long-awaited savior of Ghanas deprived communities including Jamestown, which merely exists on the periphery of Akufo-Addos Inner City and Zongo Development Ministry. AKUFO-ADDO, A SPECTACULAR ENIGMA OF POLITICAL CONFUSION Is Akufo-Addo a peacemaker, a savior, or a slaver, that is, a slave driver? The Chiefs of Ngleshie Alata Traditional did not exactly say. But we do know what Bob Marley got to say about Slave Driver. Hear ye him as he sang: The table has turnedcatch a fire You're going to get burned Every time I hear the crack of a whip My blood runs cold I remember on the slave ship How they brutalize our very souls Today they say that we are free Only to be chained in poverty Good God, I think it's illiteracy It's only a machine that make money That machine is the atmospheric slave ship of Ghanas duopolistic kleptomania which only churns out money for the ruling elites, while Ghanaians continue to bear the social, economic and political pain from the crack of a whip which the likes of slaver driver Akufo-Addo wield. Our visionless leaders including Akufo-Addo have virtually turned Ghana into a slave ship. In fact Akufo-Addos manner of preachifying stupor is becoming a sermonizing bore. Yes, some of us can tolerate his colorful laundry of hopeful speeches and sermonizing deserving of a millenarian leader who promised to transform his country in eighteen (18) months. Thus, he should get busy and stop sitting on his ass. But Akufo-Addo, a human rights lawyer? Where? In Ghana? Certainly all these characteristic titular appellations require categorical qualifications with a certain degree of provable openness, which, in our opinion, are lacking for practical reasons and for other reasons dictated by the existential facts of our ongoing political history. Akufo-Addos Kumi Preko led to the unfortunate murder of a fourteen-year-old boy, Richard Aminga, Jerry Opey, and Kwabena Asante. Then came the political opportunist Nyaho Tamakloe, a leading member of the NPP who reminded the world about Akufo-Addos neglect of the victims of his Kumi Preko when he, namely, the latter, was a member of the Kufuor government, an extremely corrupt government in Ghanas recent political history. Advocate of the rule of law? Where? In Ghana? Did this man, this so-called advocate of the rule of law, and a mollycoddle to boot, have the moral temerity to even question the underlying basis of the parody of justice that eventually saw a court letting members of the Delta Force on trial literally off the hook? Now, Attorney General Gloria Akuffo is said to have dropped its case against the eight (8) members of the Delta Force supposedly for lack of evidence, and this, ironically, after these hooligans and vigilantes had allegedly stormed the Kumasi Circuit Court and freed their colleagues on trial, and in the process vandalized court property, nearly lynching the sitting judge. Here, Kweku Baako could be right in his laymans view that the Attorney Generals decision is indeed politically unwise. But given his uncompromising sympathies for the NPP, one is at pains to vouch for his credibility in respect of his conclusions. Well, unauthorized spokespersons from Martin Amidu to Ace Ankomah cannot fool anyone with their post-mortem interrogation and analyses in the matter of the swift discharge of this serious national security question. The two could as well be, after all, as ignorant as the general public with regard to the intricate political dynamics of the case. There is something woefully amiss and fishy about this matter that we cannot seem to put our fingers on. It is highly possible or likely that persons involved in prosecuting this matter, including potential witnesses and law enforcement personnel, may have seriously been compromised. Political interference and outright bribery are another. Our suspicion at this point is that the NPPs deep state is at work. The Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), the Ministry of Justice & Attorney Generals Department, and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) should look into this matter which must not be left to the exclusive intellectual and hypothetical discretions of the likes of partisan critics such as Amidu and Ankomah.The two may have correctly read the docket outlining why the matter was summarily dismissed and yet the possibility also exists that they still may not have been privy to the political pressure and behind-the-scenes workings that eventually led to the controversial discharge of the case in a court of law. Yet, no sooner had a Kumasi-based Principal State Attorney Madam Marie Louis Simons dropped the charges against the defendants than the Attorney Generals Office rubbished its purported behind-the-scenes involvement in the sudden adjudicative discontinuation of this high-profile case, the same Attorney Generals Office that had pleaded ignorance of possible conflict of interest in the recent bond sale under the oversight of the Ministry of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, and Trevor Trefgarne. And absolutely no one can convince us Akufo-Addo is unaware of these seeming paradoxes or contradictions in policy strategies and tactics. It may be simply a matter of the abject failure of partisan diplomacy and visionless manipulation of the judiciary for purposes of political advantage. It is therefore not surprising that those corrupt judges Anas Aremeyaw Anas buried for good beneath the Sisyphean weight of his skillful investigational sleuthing have been resurrected under the advocate of the Rule of Law, so-called, Akufo-Addo. This is the change we voted for! This is also what Akufo-Addo referred to in his plagiarized speech as Third World Standard. That is to say, his Third World Standards have come to stay. No wonder he wants to be a chief rather than a president. The moral tragedy of Montie 3 is back again in our politics in full swing, with a strong precedential implications for social and political anarchy, even civil war possibly in the long run. The character mask called Akufo-Addo is a grand master of deceitful politicking. FOOD FOR THOUGHT: SOME CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES All these narrative assessments of our political situation do not answer the following pertinent questions for us: Is Akufo-Addos government going to be the cleanest government on the entire African continent? If the 1992 Constitution bans chiefs from playing active party politics, why mustnt the same constitutional stipulation frown upon politicians playing active chieftaincy politics? Was Kweku Baako right when he said, Any chief who has gone out there to categorically endorse a president is not wise. No wise chief speaks that way? What do we make of Baakos observation in the context of the following, that Notwithstanding clause (1) of this article and paragraph (c) of clause (3) of Article 94 of this Constitution, a chief may be appointed to any public office for which he is otherwise qualified? How do we reconcile the two? When is Akufo-Addo coming out with his list of cabinet members for Ghanaians to hold his government accountable? Is Akufo-Addo willing to take up the challenge posed by Tamakloes high-handed criticism of Akufo-Addos leadership, where the latter reaches out to the victims of Kumi Preko and sets things right? Is Akufo-Addo willing to accept invitations from the other regions, nine in total, for enstoolment, particularly in those regions where he has not been enstooled yet? Why does Akufo-Addo want to be a chief rather than a president? Is a chief a president? Or vice versa? Why is Akufo-Addo already showing the classic symptoms of presidential fatigue? And why is his infant government embroiled in shameful acts of cronyism and nepotism? Is it possible that Akufo-Addo may have reached out to these victims already although public knowledge may not have captured it yet? We posed the last question particularly knowing that, of course, diplomacy is a complex undertaking which is not always a public affair. Sometimes it is done in absolute secrecy, behind closed doors. Still, Akufo-Addo did not hesitate paying his respects to the charlatan and ethnocentric political theologian, Rev. Owusu Bempah! Regardless of all the above, we have it on authority that the victims families have not come out to contradict Tamakloes public criticism of Akufo-Addo. This is very important as we continue to assess the moral and political personality of the Akufo-Addo government from the little information we have. Finally, Tamakloe, a rather sophisticated endorser of crony capitalism and nepotism, indicted Akufo-Addo in the following harsh words: Politics needs to be done with open mind and open heart because you are dealing human beings. I will never and ever allow anybody to take me for a ride in my life. CONCLUDING THOUGHTS We do not need a bully pulpit of hopeful preachifying and sanctimonious sermonizing from our leaders but rather practical, implementable, cost-effective actionable ideas, vision and foresight. Thus, Akufo-Addo must know that the basics of political practice on the one hand and the central dogma of democracy and theory on the other hand are poles apart in many an important instance. This try-me-too milquetoast of a president has a formidable task in front of him and his administration. We can therefore understand Kennedy Agyapongs impatience and frustration with the leadership of his own party, and why he has also reportedly been pushing Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia to make a paradigm shift from his sluggish thinking and tactical overreliance on theoretical approach to the human condition, to pragmatic considerations of social justice, job creation, and economic recovery for the vast majority of Ghanaians. Asiedu Nketsia, on the other hand, has made a formal appeal to the Akufo-Addo administration to use Woyomes judgment debt to support its starving budget. What then are we waiting for, if we may ask? Even so the distortion or mismatch between the vast potential of Ghanas wealth and the paralyzing poverty of the masses, largely occasioned by poor leadership, is unacceptable by any stretch of the imagination. Akufo-Addo cannot therefore afford to widen this mismatch further via his Akan-dominated galamsey politics. All these lingering questions call for a sustainable radical revolutionnot a dogmatic revolutionin our collective thinking, the kind of cathartic revolution designed to awaken us from what Bob Marley appropriately called sleepless slumber. Selflessness, patriotic citizenship, technocratic and moral competence, social justice and gender equality, vigorous pursuit of comparative advantage and pragmatic nationalism, doing away with inferiority and dependency complexes and overreliance on foreign aid, scientific and technological advancement, environmental consciousness, fighting institutional corruption and poverty and superstition and religiosity, building better and stronger institutions, and industrial development clearly should define the complex underlying infrastructure of the kind of radical revolution we are calling for. Yes, Nkrumahs corpse will no doubt do a better job at nation-building than these walking-dead giants we call our leaders. Granted, we should emphasize that of all the leaders we have had in the Fourth Republic Akufo-Addo appears to have the greatest burden of responsibility given his electioneering promise to transform Ghana in just eighteen months. Thus he must therefore turn things around, and that is to say he must do right by his people and by the nation, for he has no excuse to fail. He must turn the precedential failures of Rawlings, Kufuor, Mills, and Mahama into teachable strengths. See what Lucky Dubes Teach the World has for all of us in terms of nation-building: It takes a million people To build up a good reputation But it takes one stupid fool To destroy everything they done. Take it upon yourself To restore your nation's dignity We need a pragmatic and vibrant presidency, rather than a dogmatic chief who also easily passes for a scheming political theologian and an ethnocentric hegemonist, to bring Dubes grand vision to material reality! Wake Up and Live was how the late international reggae superstar Bob Marley put it! We shall return REFERENCES Ghanaweb. Akufo-Addo Enstooled Chief At Jamestown. April 23, 2017. Modernghana. Arthur Kennedy Writes: The Costs of Freedom. May 12, 2017. Ghanaweb. Akufo-Addo Neglected Kumi Preko VictimsNyaho. May 12, 2016. Ghanaweb. Chiefs Who Endorse Presidents Are Not WiseBaako. April 20, 2016. Enoch Darfah Frimpong & Mohammed Ali. Why Chiefs Should Not Engage In Partisan Politics. Graphic Online. December 16, 2016. Ghanaweb. Unaware Of Discontinuation of Delta 8 CaseGovernment. May 18, 2017. Ghanaweb. Ken Agyapong Losing Hope in Bawumia. May 17, 2017. Ghanaweb. Freeing Delta 8 Politically ImpudentKweku Baako. May 17, 2017. National Park Service. The Royal African CompanySupplying Slaves To Jamestown. Retrieved from https://www.nps.gov/jame/learn/historyculture/the-royal-african-company-supplying-slaves-to-jamestown.htm Ghanaweb. AG Drops Charges Against 8 Delta Force Court Raiders. May 17, 2017. Martin Amidu. The legal Advice On The 8 Alleged Delta Force Members Is Unassailable. Ghanaweb. May 19, 2017. Ghanaweb. Retrieve Woyomes Money to Fix EconomyAsiedu Nketsia to Akufo-Addo. May 17, 2017. Ace Ankomah. Evidence (Even False Evidence) Beats Truth If Truth Has No Evidence. Ghanaweb. May 17, 2017 The African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100) has launched a new web platform today AFR100.org to celebrate and advance the efforts of 22 African countries that have committed to restore more than 75 million hectares of degraded and deforested land. The new site, available in English and French, gives visitors unprecedented access to knowledge and information about restoration efforts in the sub-Saharan countries. Mamadou Diakhite, AFR100 Secretariat Manager at NEPAD Agency, announced the launch of AFR100.org: This website will provide our partners and online visitors with a vast amount of immediate, easy-to-navigate content detailing the exciting restoration work taking place across the continent. This includes beautiful photographs and in-depth information prepared by the AFR100 member countries who take pride in their restoration efforts. Africa has the largest restoration opportunity of any continent in the world more than 700 million hectares of degraded land, or an area the size of Australia. This degraded land can be restored to forests or mosaic landscapes that are a mix of trees and agriculture, providing many benefits. AFR100 is a country-led partnership to restore degraded and deforested land in Africa. AFR100 and its web platform AFR100.org respond to the African Union mandate to bring 100 million hectares into restoration by 2030. The initiative was launched in 2015 by the NEPAD Secretariat, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) via GIZ, WRI, and the World Bank. AFR100 is supported by funds from BMZ and the World Bank and was established as part of the African Resilient Landscapes Initiative, and contributing to the global commitments of the Bonn Challenge and New York Declaration on Forests. Through AFR100, national governments, public and private sector partners, international development programs and local communities will restore productivity to deforested and degraded landscapes to improve livelihoods. Wanjira Mathai, co-chair of the Global Restoration Council and chairperson of the Green Belt Movement, said: The importance of AFR100 to the daily lives of communities across Africa cannot be overestimated. I am moved by the countries that have already committed to transforming their landscapes and securing the future for generations to come. Sean DeWitt, Director of the Global Restoration Initiative at World Resources Institute (WRI) added: The site reflects the high level of commitment from member countries of the AFR100 partnership, and will enable partners to share experiences and good practices, as well highlighting the work of restoration champions from across the continent. The new site complements related tools and resources found at InfoFLR.org, as well as the websites of the Global Partnership on Forest and Landscape Restoration, the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, the Landscapes for People, Food and Nature Initiative, and the World Bank among others. AFR100 (the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative) is a country-led effort to bring 100 million hectares of deforested and degraded landscapes across Africa into restoration by 2030. The initiative connects political partnersparticipating African nationswith technical and financial support to scale up restoration on the ground and capture associated benefits for food security, climate change resilience, and poverty alleviation. The initiative was launched in 2015 during the margins of COP 21 in Paris. AFR100 contributes to the Bonn Challenge, the New York Declaration on Forests and Sustainable Development Goal 15. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has indicated that his government is in the process of identifying alternative sources of livelihood for persons involved in illegal mining activities, popularly referred to as galamsey, across the country. According to Akufo-Addo, a cabinet committee has been established, and headed by the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof. Kwabena Frimping Boateng, to this effect. The committee, he added, will also implement to the letter governments strategy on combating the illegal mining menace. Addressing the Ghanaian community resident in Conakry, on Thursday, May 18, 2017, the 2nd day of his 3-day visit to that country, the President stated that one of the advantages of campaigning is that you get to see Ghana. It is the exposure I had in this last campaign of what was actually going on in the field that hardened my decision, God-willing if I was to win the election, to make the fight against galamsey one of my priorities. With the christening of Ghanas first modern city as Elmina, to wit The Mine by the Portuguese, President Akufo-Addo stated that as far back as the 15th century, there was the recognition that mining was important for the countrys economy. But what we cannot have happen is for mining to compromise our future environment. 60%, we are told, of the water bodies in Ghana have been affected by illegal mining activities. That is unacceptable. We are not out to attack Chinese or Canadians or whoever. We are saying that we want people to respect the laws of our country and make sure that our environment does not suffer from mining, and that is what we are going to do, he added. Integrated Aluminum Industry Describing aluminum as the metal of the future, President noted that Ghanas experience with the Volta Aluminum Company (VALCO), which saw Kaiser, operators of the smelter, import bauxite from Jamaica, means that we need an integrated aluminium industry in Ghana right from the mining of the bauxite to alumina, and the refining of alumina into aluminum. It was his hope that by the end of this next sitting of Parliament, a bill establishing an Aluminum Development Authority the vehicle principally responsible for putting together the whole of the infrastructure that is required for the exploitation of the countrys bauxite resources at Nyinahin and Kyebi will be passed. Aluminum is the metal of the future, and we have substantial quantities of the raw material in our country. We need a strategy that will ensure value-addition, and not just exporting it in its raw form. There is no future in the export of our raw materials. But, that, we must add value inside our country, create jobs, and at the end of the process we will have aluminum, he added. It is for this reason, President Akufo-Addo stated, that former President Kufuor bought VALCO, so that it will be part of this process for an integrated aluminum industry in Ghana. Very soon the plans will be out. Promises will be fulfilled President Akufo-Addo, just as he did in Senegal, reiterated the commitment of his government towards fulfilling the promises he made to Ghanaians in the run-up to the December 2016 elections. The Free Senior High School Policy, he said, is on its way to being fulfilled, indicating that his government will fund the cost of public Senior High Schools for all those who qualify for entry from the 2017/2018 academic year onwards. Touching on the restoration of the National Health Insurance Scheme, President Akufo-Addo noted that his government has found it necessary to find the money to stave the scheme off collapse, and it was for that reason that he chose Dr. Agyeman Manu, an eminent accountant, to be in charge of the Health Ministry, and supervise the revival of the NHIS. On the agricultural sector, the President told the gathering that the programme for Planting for Food and Jobs launched in Goaso a month ago is the answer to the twin-problem of the migration of youth to city centres in search of non-existent jobs, as well as an end to the disgraceful spectacle of Ghana importing food stuffs from neighbouring countries. The programme, he noted, has so far employed 1,200 extension officers, and an additional 2,000 more officers will be employed in 2018. Additionally, the programme, he stated will in its first year target some 200,000 farmers. The Member of Parliament for the Ashaiman constituency, Ernest Henry Norgbey is calling for collaboration between all MMDCEs and Members of Parliament to enhance national development. He said the confusion that exists between MMDCEs and the MPs must end to promote growth and development. Speaking in an interview with Citi News, Mr Norgbey said, it is unfortunate that from time immemorial confusion seemed to be between MMDCEs and Members of Parliament over the distribution and payment of common funds. I think this attitude should be a thing of the past since it hampers development at the local level Mr Norgbey noted that opposition MPs should not be victimised by their local MMDCEs because we are all working in the interest of our people and the country so why would a Municipal Chief Executive sabotage an MP just because he belongs to an opposition party. The politics of winner takes all must be a thing of the past and lets work together to develop our communities He congratulated the incoming newly confirmed Municipal Chief Executive of Ashaiman and called for total corporation between the two in the development of Ashaiman. The new MCE is a strong advocate of building a 24-hour liveable city in Ashaiman and I so much share in that vision, so we shall together work to get that vision across by making it a reality. By: Elvis Washington/citifmonline.com/Ghana Gao (Mali) (AFP) - New French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday urged faster progress in a Mali peace accord signed in 2015 on his first official visit outside Europe, while reaffirming strong military cooperation with the United States in Africa. At the end of his first week in office, Macron left Gao, a city in Mali's deeply-troubled north, after lunching with French troops and sitting for talks with Malian counterpart Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. Macron was keen to display his defence and security credentials after promising to meet with some of the 1,700 French soldiers stationed in Gao at France's largest foreign base, part of the larger "Barkhane" counter-terror force operating across the Sahel region. The operation comprises around 4,000 soldiers who are deployed in five countries -- Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Chad and Burkina Faso -- all of which are menaced by the jihadist threat across porous borders. Reaffirming a commitment for France's troops to remain "until the day there is no more Islamic terrorism in the region and the full sovereignty of the Sahel is restored, not before", Macron also had warm words for American military cooperation in Africa. He described an "exemplary" relationship with the United States on counter-terror efforts, adding that he "did not doubt" such cooperation with the Trump administration would be maintained. The United States has carried out military training in Chad and Mauritania and has increased its special operations presence on the continent. Macron also made clear his desire for greater action by the Malian government in implementing its 2015 peace deal, which has repeatedly faltered in the face of inaction and ongoing rivalries between the patchwork of armed groups operating in the north who signed the accord. "My wish is for us to accelerate" the deal's implementation, Macron said at a news conference, describing the so-called Algiers Accord as the top priority to ensure Mali's security. 'Antidote' to jihad Macron is keen to promote economic development rather than military might, with hopes that improving young Malians' lives will dim the allure of joining jihadist groups. Investing in infrastructure, education and health, Macron said, all of which have suffered badly from the Malian state's near absence in large swathes of its northern territory, was the "best antidote" to jihad. Operation Barkhane is a French counter-terror operation involving some 4,000 soldiers which has been working since 2014 to flush out jihadist groups operating in Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Chad and Burkina Faso To that end, France promised "constant" military, diplomatic and political support with the help of the French Development Agency (AFD), he said. Macron's predecessor Francois Hollande said in January that France would boost the AFD's budget for Africa by 15 percent over the coming years to 23 billion euros ($25.7 billion). Macron is travelling with Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, who as the former defence minister knows Gao well, and his replacement in that job, Sylvie Goulard, as well as AFD chief Remy Rioux. The French president said he would also attend a meeting of the G5 Sahel countries, the same nations where the Barkhane force has a presence, in the coming weeks. New approach? Nineteen French soldiers have died serving in Mali since 2013 when Hollande launched an intervention to chase out jihadists linked to Al-Qaeda who had overtaken key northern cities, according to the latest defence ministry figures. Jihadists continue to roam the country's north and centre, mounting attacks on civilians and the army, as well as French and UN forces still stationed there. Macron emphasised the need for closer European cooperation in the fight against jihadists, especially with fellow EU heavyweight Germany. French President Emmanuel Macron flew into Gao, a city in deeply-troubled northern Mali, where 1,700 French troops are based "My desire in the framework of our military involvement in Africa is to do even more with Europe, more with Germany, but in a pragmatic manner," Macron told journalists. Germany currently contributes 550 troops to the multi-national UN force in Mali, called MINUSMA, forming the largest European contingent. The new president discussed the issue with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Monday during his first visit to a foreign leader since taking power. Stationed in Mali since July 2013, MINUSMA has just over 12,000 military and police personnel working on what is considered the UN's most dangerous active peacekeeping deployment. During his campaign, Macron spoke of his desire to re-calibrate France's role on the African continent. He was criticised at home for describing France's colonial war in Algeria as a "crime against humanity" and "genuinely barbaric". The comments were well-received in Algeria and other former colonies but condemned by Macron's far-right rival in the presidential vote, Marine Le Pen. leb-ach-sst-jom/har The Progressive People's Party (PPP) has condemned what it describes as "lawlessness going" on in the country and clear lack of enforcement of the law to deal with it. The party said similar, "hypocrisy and complicity of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) as an all-time key contributor and actor in the crisis on our hands cannot be ignored." In a statement issued by the PPP on Wednesday, the party said, "when the former President, John Mahama granted a pardon to the Montie Three we (including the NPP then in opposition) rightly condemned Mahama's poor judgment. "And if today, our Attorney-General, after examining the docket has concluded that there was no evidence to prosecute the eight members of Delta force, then we are in serious trouble as a country." Their comments follow the release of pro-New Patriotic Party (NPP) Delta Force members who were standing trial for disrupting court proceedings involving 13 of their colleagues on April 6, 2017. The Kumasi Court on Wednesday freed eight of them following the decision of the prosecution to discontinue the case for lack of evidence In reaction, the PPP quizzed "we are struggling to understand how a State Attorney could conclude on the lack of evidence when the jailbreak did not take place in a secluded area. What is the extent of the investigation the Ghana Police Service conducted? "In section 1 of the Ghana Police Service Act, 1970 (Act 350), it is stated, 'it shall be the duty of the Police Service to prevent and detect crime, to apprehend offenders, and to maintain public order and the safety of persons and property. The party promised that under a PPP government, there would be two separate judiciary offices, a Chief State Prosecutor (CSP), nominated by the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) on the advice of the Judicial Council, while Parliament would then approve the Minister of Justice. It concluded that as Ghanaians, "we credit ourselves with stability in government transition, but we must not be so cocky as to ignore the real threats in front of us." Read the statement below: STATEMENT PRESENTED BY THE PROGRESSIVE PEOPLES PARTY (PPP) AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TO ADDRESS THE RELEASE OF THE DELTA 8 ON WEDNESDAY, 18TH MAY 2017 AT THE EASTERN REGIONAL HEAD OFFICE, KOFORIDUA We have called this press conference in the wake of our re-building tour to express our utter shock, and dismay over the Attorney Generals withdrawal of proceedings against the Delta eight. We believe that the unruly behavior from these NPP sponsored thugs calling themselves "Delta Force' ought not to be the reason for feigning an inability to prove guilt before a judge. We condemn in strongest terms the lawlessness going on in our country and the clear lack of enforcement of the law to deal with it. Similarly, the hypocrisy and complicity of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) as an all-time key contributor and actor in the crisis on our hands cannot be ignored. When the former President, John Mahama granted a pardon to the Montie Three we (including the NPP then in opposition) rightly condemned Mahama's poor judgment. And if today, our Attorney-General, after examining the docket has concluded that there was no evidence to prosecute the eight members of Delta force, then we are in serious trouble as a country. Ladies and gentlemen, we are struggling to understand how a State Attorney could conclude on the lack of evidence when the jailbreak did not take place in a secluded area. What is the extent of the investigation the Ghana Police Service conducted? In section 1 of the Ghana Police Service Act, 1970 (Act 350), it is stated, it shall be the duty of the Police Service to prevent and detect crime, to apprehend offenders, and to maintain public order and the safety of persons and property. Does this mean that the Police Officers, who investigated this case, did not know they are to perform their functions as are by law conferred upon them? We demand that the Minister of Interior, the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney General take a firm action on those who did this substandard investigation which seeks to undermine the rule of law in Ghana. Where in the world can a vigilante group besiege a court premise and take custody of accused persons in daylight? How could the investigators claim lack of evidence, to enable the Attorney-General file for a nolle prosequi? The world is not going to wait for us; so we need to get serious in this country. How can our security be guaranteed if it is the belief of the Attorney General that a bad excuse is better than none? Has it not been these same excuses, and the lack of interest from previous Attorney Generals which has led to the State losing millions of Ghana cedis due to judgment debts payments? The invisible hands who are fueling this impunity must bow down their heads in shame. We wish to reiterate our commitment to institute an effective criminal justice system which will be capable of investigating and adjudicating criminal offenses successfully, through an impartial and non-discriminatory process, free of corruption and improper government influence. Indeed, we are not oblivious to the fact that in our criminal justice system, the government retains broad discretion as to whom to prosecute. But this does not also mean that we should allow ourselves to be haunted by the stark images of impunity and abuse of power. We call on the Supreme Court to act forcefully on individuals who have scandalized the court, lowered its authority, and also brought the image of the court into disrepute. We must realize that any attempt to use state power to close the eyes to indiscipline is bound to boomerang with dangerous consequences. Ladies and gentlemen, you will agree with us that the time for Ghanaians to buy into the PPPs position for the separation of the Attorney General from the Ministry of Justice is now. We wish to emphazise that under a PPP government, there would be two separate judiciary offices, a Chief State Prosecutor (CSP), nominated by the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) on the advice of the Judicial Council, while Parliament would then approve the Minister of Justice. The Chief State Prosecutor would be responsible for the initiation and conduct of all prosecutions of all criminal offences, and we shall ensure that no one institutes any prosecutions in the name of the Republic without the authority of the Chief State Prosecutor. The Minister of Justice under a PPP administration shall be the minister of state and the principal legal advisor to the government. We believe that our Minister of Justice would discharge such other duties of legal nature as might be referred or assigned to him or her by the President or imposed on that office by the constitution. We wish to remind Ghanaians, that during the 2016 campaign, we were clear in our minds that real change would only happen if we voted for the PPP and that voting for either of the two would bring chaos. The truth is, we get what we vote for! The Progressive Peoples Party will not condone any act of lawlessness and as a political party; we wish to state unambiguously that the posture by the NPP prosecutor calls for all to rebuke it knowing that our inability to do anything will only allow further evil to triumph. Conclusion As Ghanaians, we credit ourselves with stability in government transition, but we must not be so cocky as to ignore the real threats in front of us. There are fissures in our system, cracks that must be addressed, leaks that must be stopped and fully repaired, or we will be surprised by a sudden flood. Let us watch, pray, and act now. Let us awake to enjoy Prosperity-In-Peace God save our homeland Ghana and make our Nation Great and Strong! Thank you Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com 2017 Miss Calaveras Jillian Salvitti View Photos The 2017 Miss Calaveras was crowned Thursday night, during the Miss Calaveras Scholarship Pageant at the Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee. Jillian Salvitti was also Friday mornings KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Salvitti is a seventeen year old senior at Calaveras High School. She lives in West Point. During the talent portion of the Scholarship Pageant, which was 30% of the judges total vote, Salvitti sang an original song and played a guitar. The song was in honor of a very close friend who passed away in 2015. Salvitti will be using her $1,000 Angels-Murphys Rotary Club Scholarship this fall, as she plans to attend Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill. From there she would like to attend U.C. Davis. Salvitti would like to study veterinary medicine. In addition to the Scholarship, Salvitti received a tiara and sash and tied for Best Poetry Award. First Runner-Up is Summer Hamari, a student at Brett Harte High School. Hamari received a $600 scholarship. Second Runner-Up is Nicole Piper a student at Calaveras High School. Piper received a $400 scholarship. All three ladies will make numerous appearances at all of the major Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee events over the next three days and represent Calaveras County at larger events over the next year. The Newsmaker of the Day is heard each weekday morning at 6:45. 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 KVML and 102.7 FM The number of private jet owners in Nigeria is increasing every year. Today there are around 30 owners of this luxurious vehicle. In fact, that's the highest number of owners in one country in the whole of Africa. It is stated that more that $6.5 billion has been spent on private jets in the country. Lets see who are the top owners of private jets in Nigeria! The list of private jet owners in Nigeria They are bankers, oil magnates, business moguls, pastors, and politicians. The private jet market is still growing. It is one of the fastest-growing markets in the world. Below you can find the list of the proud Nigerian owners of private jets. 1. Orji Uzor Kalu The former governor of Abia State and chairman of a conglomerate. He is a billionaire and one of the Nigerians who made it to the Forbes list. He has five private jets! It is the largest private jet fleet in Nigeria, can you imagine that? His most expensive aircraft is the Gulfstream G650 - it was bought for $72 million (N11.5 billion). It is stated that it may be the most expensive jet in Nigeria. Wow! In fact, the former president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan bought the Falcon 7X that was even cheaper that the Gulfstream G650 - it cost $50 million (N10 billion). Orji Uzor Kalu is also the proud owner of a Gulfstream IV (he has three of them now or had in the past) and Bombardiers Global EXP XRS. 2. Senator Ali Modu Sheriff He is the former governor of Borno State. Ali Modu Sheriff served two consecutive terms (he was the first Borno State governor to do so). He has four jets - the Gulfstream G650 and three Dorniers. 3. Bishop David Oyedepo READ ALSO: Funke Akindele new house in Lekki He is the founder and the Bishop of the megachurch Faith Tabernacle and Living Faith Church Worldwide. It is also known as the Winners Chapel and is one of the most popular churches in Nigeria. In 2011 David Oyedepo made it to the Forbes list with a net worth of $150 million. Like Ali Modu Sheriff, he has four jets - the Gulfstream (they love them, dont they?) G550 VG450 and Bombardiers 604. 4. Otunba Mike Adenuga The owner of the Globacom company - Nigerias second-largest telecom operator. Mike Adenuga is the second richest person in Nigeria. However, he doesnt have that many jets, only three. They are the Bombardier Challenger 604, Bombardier Global Express XRS and the Falcon 7X. Yes, the same type that was bought by President Goodluck Jonathan for $50 million (N10 billion.) 5. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Another former governor but this time the governor of Lagos state. Also the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress. He bought his second jet, the new Bombardier Global Express XRS in May 2014. It cost him about $50 billion. 6. Aliko Dangote The richest black person in the world. His net worth is about $12.5 billion and he also made it to the Forbes magazine as the 67th richest person in the world. Aliko has two jets - both Bombardier Express. 7. Folorunsho Alakija Folorunsho is one of the richest black women in the world and is also one of the most gorgeous women in Africa. Her net worth is about $2.1 billion. The Nigerian businesswoman was also listed as the second most powerful woman in Africa. She has one private jet - the Bombardier Express Business jet or as it is also known Bombardier Global Express XRS. 8. Ayo Oritsejafor known as Papa Ayo Oritsejafor He is the founder and the Senior Pastor of Word of Life Bible Church. In July 2010, he won the election and became the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN). He owns one Bombardier jet. In fact, he claims that it was a gift. 9. Igho Charles Sanomi II He is a Nigerian businessmen with interests in oil, aviation and real estate. His net worth is unknown. He owns a Bombardier Challenger 605 (shocking after seeing the owners of three or four jets, right?). 10. T.B. Joshua He is the founder of The Synagogue Church of All Nations and its leader. He is very popular across Africa (about 500,000 YouTube subscribers and about 2,500,000 fans on Facebook). His net worth is $10-15 million and he made it to the Forbes list. In April 2015 he acquired a Gulfstream G550 that cost him about $60 million. There are really a lot of jet owners in Nigeria. The market is developing and rich people that have the opportunities are willing to buy more jets. Some of them do that in order to use them only for transportation, some use it to improve their businesses, others collect private jets or use them just because its prestigious. You have the list, and now its up to you to decide how you will react - admire him or her, because the person has succeeded in life, dream about a better life with your own private jet, or judge them. READ ALSO: Femi Otedola house and cars Source: Legit.ng Do you want to apply for the State Security Service this year? This article will give you all the information how to do that! Let`s take a look at the DSS Nigeria 2018 recruitment list. DSS Nigeria 2018 Unlike other jobs in Nigeria, the recruitment process for the DSS can`t be done online. If you want to start your application process you should follow the DSS Nigeria Website www.dss.gov.ng for instructions. The DSS Nigeria 2018 recruitment has already started nationwide. It`s good news for people who want to dedicate their lives to the service of the country. It`s considered to be the best job opportunity for young Nigerians. It`s not an online registration, so all submission forms should be done hand-to-hand. If you want to become one of the members of the DSS Nigeria Army, then you will need: A letter indicating local government of origin. It should be signed by a local government authority; Handwritten application letter to The Director-General, State Security Service, Abuja. Current Director General of the SSS is Lawal Musa Daura; Statements of results; Two color passport photos. You will need all documents above for registration at the Department of State Service. Do not forget that the DSS of Nigeria recruitment does not request payment for your application. You need to visit the State Security Service headquarters in your state of origin and submit your documents. The recruitment is currently going on. What is the SSS and DSS Nigeria Army? READ ALSO: Nigerian army ranks and their salaries The State Security Service or the Department of State Security Service is mainly responsible for domestic security of the country. They are a brute police force that deals with chaos within the country. They can also be used in anti-terrorism operations in Nigeria. Still, their main task is to provide security to the citizens of Nigeria. The SSS enforces and upholds criminal laws of Nigeria and provides criminal justice to law-enforcement organisations. It also provides protection for State Governors, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Senate President, Vice President, President and their families. The SSS is also charged with the protection of the visiting foreign heads of state and government, candidates for the offices of Vice President and President, ex-presidents, high-ranking officers and their families. General DSS of Nigeria recruitment requirements in 2018 The Department of State Security invites graduates and postgraduates to fill in the positions in the recruitment 2018. It also provides general requirements for people who wish to become a part of Nigerian security service personnel. Here are the DSS Nigeria requirements: You should be a Nigerian by birth or born to Nigerian parents. Foreigners are not allowed to take the DSS Nigeria Job; Male candidates should be at least 1.7m tall (for certain posts it`s not necessary) Female candidates should be at least 1.64m tall (for certain posts it`s not necessary); The expanded chest measurment of the candidate must be at least 0.87 meters (for certain posts it`s not necessary); The candidate should be certified by a Government Medical Officer; The candidate must be mentally fit for service; The candidate should be physically fit for service; The candidates with the following medical cases can`t apply for the service: 1. Pregnant women; 2. Flat Foot; 3. Major orthopedic operations in the past; 4. Natural disabilities (fractures, stammering and others); Any candidate who wants to apply for DSS in Nigeria can`t be a serviceman if he/she has been found guilty in any criminal offense in Nigeria or any other country; Candidates who have any form of financial embarrassment can`t apply for DSS Nigeria recruitment 2018; Candidates who exceed 30 years of age can`t apply for DSS Nigeria. Qualifications for DSS Nigeria job If you do not have any of the below-listed qualifications, then you can`t apply for the service. You must provide at least a Bachelor`s Degree with the Second Class Upper Division. You can also provide National Certificate of Education/National Diploma from a recognized institution. The credits and fields are listed below: Physical and Health Education; Psychology; Electrical Engineering/Electronics Engineering/IT Specialist; Peace and Conflict Resolution; Sociology; Guidance and Counselling (for female only); Computer Science; Physics; English; Mathematics. Medical Doctors, Medical Officers, Consultants, Dental Officers and Nurses can also apply for DSS in Nigeria. However, such candidates should have Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria Licence. What are the DSS Nigeria Jobs you can apply in 2018? The DSS Nigeria is in need of various specialists. Check out the different posts in the DSS 2018: Statistician; Software Developer; Sociologist; Satellite images interpreter; Radiologists; Psychologist; Pediatrician/Pediatrician nurse; Orthopedic surgeon; Optometrist; Mathematics education; Lawyer; Hospitality Managers; English education; Computer Engineer/Computer science education/Network engineer/Data Administrator; Electrical/Building/Mechanical/Satellite Communication engineer; Criminologist. Important notes about the DSS Nigeria Recruitment 2018 If you want to apply for the DSS Nigeria, you must visit State Security Service headquarters in your state of origin and submit your documents. For more information and instruction, you can visit the DSS Nigeria website. Service to the country is highly appreciated. The DSS in Nigeria provides high salary to its personnel. If you have decided to become one of the SSS members, then you must apply now! READ ALSO: Nigerian airforce DSSC requirements 2017 Source: Legit.ng Do you know what is the oldest university in Nigeria? Read and find out the story of the university and what state it is situated in. The university of Ibadan is the first University in Nigeria. It is a reputable educational, scientific and intellectual institution. The university is located in the South-West of the country 8 km from the center of the city of Ibadan in Oyo state. It has a reputation for being one of the most prestigious African universities and intellectual center. This world-class educational establishment is ready to welcome any student who is willing to get proper education. The mission of the university is to expand knowledge frontiers and providing the most conducive conditions for education. When was the oldest university in Nigeria established? 1. The university of Ibadan is now 68 years old. 2. Before becoming a full-fledged university, it operated as a College of the University of London. 3. It got its name in 1962. It was established on the 17th of November in 1948 as a College of Ibadan on the basis of the London University. To build this College, Ibadan authorities have provided the land for them for 999 years. In 1948, there was an enrollment of 144 students. The number of teachers and students is constantly increasing in the 2005/2006 academic year, there were about 18,000 students, including 35% of postgraduates and 65% of undergraduate students. Main faculties Arts department; Agriculture field; Law courses; Education faculty; Science studies; Social sciences; Pharmacy department; Veterinary medicine; READ ALSO: University of Ibadan postgraduate school fees Public health sphere; Dentistry department; Technology faculty; Clinical sciences; Basic medical sciences. The University of Ibadan has 3 studying modes: Undergraduate studies Postgraduate studies Distance learning center Would you like to join the first university in Nigeria to get first class education? READ ALSO: University of Ibadan courses and requirements in 2017/2018 Source: Legit.ng - Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has signed three executive orders - The three orders will significantly change some of the ways government business and operations are conducted in the country - They will ease business, fast track budget submissions, promote made in Nigeria products Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday, May 18, signed three executive orders that will significantly change some of the ways government business and operations are conducted in the country forthwith. Premium Times reports that ahead of the signing, Mr Osibanjo held an interactive session at the old Banquet Hall of Presidential Villa with all relevant government officials, including ministers, permanent secretaries, heads of departments and agencies among others. READ ALSO: SEE 20 countries MASSOB says will monitor Biafra anniversary Legit.ng gathered that the session was meant to directly engage government officials who would be implementing the orders and the new instructions. Acting President Yemi Osinbajo PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Legit.ng had reported that Osinbajo ordered that Nigerians must eat and drink Nigerian products at state banquets, adding that the present administration was committed to ensuring that government and its citizens patronise locally made products. In his Facebook post, the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo said the Executive Orders would significantly change some of the ways government business and operations are conducted in the country forthwith. He said: "Every time a public servant is an obstacle to anyone seeking approvals or licenses, he/she attacks the Nigerian economy and our future prosperity. "Today, I signed Three Executive Orders. "The Executive Orders will significantly change some of the ways government business and operations are conducted in the country forthwith. "The Executive Orders broadly address: "Transparency and efficiency in the business environment which will ease doing business in the Nigeria. "Support for local content in public procurement by the Federal Government "Timely submission of annual budgetary estimates by all statutory and non-statutory agencies, including companies owned by the Federal Government. Below are the some highlights of the Executive Orders; 1. Every Ministry, Department or Agency of the Federal Government must publish the full lists of requirements/conditions for obtaining products/services. This commences with immediate effect. 2. If there is any conflict between a published list of requirements and conditions and an unpublished list, the published list shall prevail. 3. Where a Government Agency fails to communicate approval/rejection of an application within stipulated time, application shall be deemed approved and granted 4. Where applications are rejected within stipulated timeline, the rejection must be issued with reasons. 5. Tourist and Business Entry Visas to Nigeria must now be issued or rejected with reason by Embassies within 48 hours of receipt of valid application. 6. The Apapa Port shall resume 24-hour operations within 30 days of the issuance of the Order The executive orders also stipulate sanctions and punitive measures meant to address violations where necessary. Together, Nigeria will prevail. Meanwhile, some Nigerians insist that Jonathan was a good leader who was surrounded by some wrong people. Watch this Legit.ng video: Source: Legit.ng - MASSOB leader Uchenna Madu has visited the IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu - The MASSOB leader visited Kanu who was recently released from jail in Abia state - The Biafra remembrance day is said to be one of the major talking points Uchenna Madu, the leader of Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), visited the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Madu and his team visited Kanu in Abia state, on Thursday, May 18. Although the purpose of the meeting has not been disclosed, they are sure to have discussed issues bordering on Biafra. The visit by Madu was also to congratulate Nnamdi Kanu who was recently released from Kuje Prison. Uchenna Madu, the leader MASSOB, visited the leader of IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu READ ALSO: Trouble! Boko Haram have relocated from Sambisa to this forest in Taraba state (photos) It is also hinted that the forthcoming Biafra remembrance day was part of the topics on the table. While the Nnamdi Kanu-led IPOB has declared May 30 as sit-at-home for all Igbo people, mostly those doing business in the Southeastern part of Nigeria, the MASSOB has taken May 22-30 to mark the actualization of Biafra. The two groups are front liners in the pursuit of the actualization of sovereign state called Biafra. MASSOB, has stated that 20 countries will be sending their observers to monitor the 17th anniversary celebration of the group billed to hold May 22nd to 30th. The visit by Madu was also to congratulate Nnamdi Kanu who was recently released from Kuje Prison Legit.ng gathered that MASSOBs national director of information, Sunny Okereafor, revealed this in Aba, Abia state. Okereafor noted that some of the foreign observers who he described as friends and partners of MASSOB were being attracted by MASSOB non-violent policy. He stressed that they would be on ground to monitor the celebrations in any Biafra city of their choice. He further said that some of the observers will arrive from countries such as Gabon, Germany, United States of America, Netherland, Cuba, Ghana, Benin Republic, Ivory Coast, Tanzania and United Kingdom and urged Biafra people to come out en-masse and celebrate the new Biafra from May 22 to 30. PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Below is a video in which the minister of transport, Rotimi Amaechi, gives a summary of the Buhari-led administration. Source: Legit.ng - There are strong indications that the Federal Character Commission (FCC) would soon sue the Department of State Services (DSS) - The DSS has been involved in a major controversy over its recent lopsided recruitment which favoured the north - The FCC has directed the DSS to submit its nominal roll for scrutiny A report by The Punch indicates that the FCC would soon sue the DSS over the secret police recent lopsided recruitment which favoured the north. According to the report, the FCC has directed the DSS to submit its nominal roll for scrutiny and also insisted that the DSS should respond to its query. The chairman of the commission, Dr Abba Shettima, said the FCC had written to the DSS to demand its nominal roll to verify allegations of lopsidedness in the last recruitment by the agency, which was alleged to have contravened the federal character protocol. The commission had given the DSS a three-month ultimatum to clear the air on the controversy over the recruitment. The DSS recruitment not only favoured the north, but also favoured Katsina state, where the DG and President Buhari are from PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app We have written to the DSS to get their nominal roll and they have not complied. Unless, we look at their nominal roll and ascertain, state-by-state, to see that certain states, that are grossly underrepresented or not represented or overrepresented, we will not come out clearly to say what they have done is lopsided. So, in the event we discover that it is not a correct measure, we will now take the appropriate sanctions," Shettima said. When asked what the commission would do if the DSS failed to respond to the FCC after three months, Shettima said the commission had the power to commence legal action against any agency involved in deliberate violations of the Federal Character Act. READ ALSO: 12 days after Buhari left for UK, Osinbajo signs 3 executive orders He added that the commission had the option to refer such defaulting agencies to the office of the Attorney General of the Federation. His words: They (DSS) cannot deliberately ignore us. If they deliberately ignore us, they are violating the law. You know that it is a function of the law. It is the law that establishes it and then the constitution is very clear. If you deliberately refuse to comply with the provisions of the Federal Character Act, of the constitution, the commission has every right to take that organisation to court. One of the options is litigation. The other option is you complain to the Attorney General of the Federation that this is what is happening. He added that the DG of the DSS, Daura, sent his special assistant to him on Tuesday to notify him that he was out of town, adding that they would meet to resolve the issue. Shettima stressed that it was compulsory for all recruiting ministries, departments and agencies to adhere to the federal character protocol in compliance with the provisions of Section 14 of the Constitution. President Buhari has not fooficially addressed the issue PAY ATTENTION: Watch more videos on Legit.ng TV The newly commissioned cadet officers recruited into the DSS on geopolitical basis revealed that 165 are from the north-west, about four times as many as those who were picked from the south-south (42). The figures for the other zones are north-east 100, North-central 66, south-west 57 and south-east 44. The presidency however claimed the recruitment details were analysed out of context.The presidency's reaction was contained in a statement which curiously had no name attached to it. Watch the Legit.ng TV video below of a physically challenged man compelling ministers to make adequate provisions for his likes. Source: Legit.ng - The APC has sent out a note of warning to everyone plotting to unseat President Buhari illegally - According to the ruling party, Nigerians will defend their own democracy - APC's statement is coming on the heels of a warning by Lt Gen Tukur Buratai -Buratai warned soldiers to stop their unhealthy romance with politicians The All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned against any attempt at unseating President Muhammadu Buhari, via a coup. APC sounded the note of warning on Thursday, May 18. According to the ruling party, any attempt to overthrow President Muhammadu Buharis administration will be resisted by Nigerians. Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, spokesman of the APC, stated this while reacting to Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Burutais warning, that some politicians were approaching soldiers. While speaking with journalists in Ilorin, Abdullahi explained why the party initially hesitated to react. READ ALSO: Biafra Agitation: MASSOB leader meets Nnamdi Kanu (Photos) Lt Gen Tukur Buratai has been urged to see to the end of allocating soldiers to politicians We have hesitated to react so far because we think that the house belongs to us, so we wanted to wait for Nigerians to react and Nigerians have reacted. If there was any such thing in the offing, I think it is clear to everyone that Nigerians will defend their own democracy, he said. A report by The Nation indicates that some top politicians are under watch by security agencies following the recent alarm raised by the chief of amry staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai. Buratai had warned officers against dabbling into politics in a recent statement, adding that they should save Nigeria's nascent democracy. The alarm is believed to have followed an intelligence report that some politicians, who were uncomfortable with the health of President Buhari, were infiltrating the military. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app The recent postings in the army may have been part of the measures put in place to protect the nations democracy against shocks and threats, a source said. In the Legit.ng video below, Rotimi Amaechi, Nigeria's minister for transport, gives to Nigerians a summary of the Buhari-led administration. Source: Legit.ng - The Nigerian Army warns army personnel to steer clear of politics, adding that those interested in politics should resign, and pursue their ambition - Chief of the Air Staff (COAS), Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, says the Nigerian Air Force would continue to remain loyal to Nigeria and to the service - CACOL calls for the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai, to immediately identify and try the military officers allegedly hobnobbing with some politicians The Nigerian Army has said it was yet to arrest any persons or group of persons in connection with the alleged plot by politicians to infiltrate the army for political reasons. Legit.ng reported recently that Buratai had warned military men against being used by politicians to truncate the countrys democracy. READ ALSO: Bad policies led to economic crisis Soludo The director of army public relations, Brig. Gen. Sani Usman, when responding to questions on whether the army has arrested any individuals or whether its officers were romancing politicians for undisclosed reasons as alleged by its boss, said that the military had not made any arrests on the issue, The Guardian reports. The army has warned military personnel to steer clear of politics. "We have always been open and transparent with information. If there is anything, we will let members of the public know, he said through short message services (SMS) on his mobile telephone. According to This Day, the army spokesperson did not elaborate on any move to investigate the matter beyond the warning handed down to officers and soldiers in the army by the COAS. Responding to the development, the Chief of the Air Staff (COAS), Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar said that the Nigerian Air Force would continue to remain loyal to Nigeria and to the service. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app He commended the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government for the support it has extended to the service and assured that the service would remain loyal to the country. Meanwhile, the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL), has asked the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai, to immediately identify and try the military officers allegedly hobnobbing with some politicians. Legit.ng learnt that the organisation warned that Nigerians were no longer prepared to accept military intervention in the countrys democracy. Speaking for CACOL, its executive chairman, Mr Debo Adeniran, said the issue has to be nipped in the bud with immediate alacrity because of grievous consequence a coup portends for a democratic Nigeria. In the video below, Legit.ng asks Nigerians if they would like President Buhari to hand over to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo following his health issues. Watch responses. Source: Legit.ng - President Muhammadu Buhari's health crisis is still generating reactions from Nigerians - Co-convener of the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) group, Aisha Yesufu has joined the debate - She advised the president to resign, adding that the National Assembly should impeach him if he fails to do so Co-convener of the BBOG group, Aisha Yesufu has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to resign in the interest of Nigeria. Yesufu gave the advice in a two minutes, 20 seconds video she recorded and posted on Twitter page. She stated that the idea of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo acting as president is not working, adding that governance is stagnated in the country. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Aisha Yesufu passion for a better Nigeria is not in doubt Her words: "For crying out loud, the president is sick, the president is not capable of discharging his duties as president, why cant he resign? "Sickness can be on anybody, nobody is wishing the president bad. The fact that he is sick doesnt mean he is going to die today or tomorrow. Somebody that is as healthy as I am now can drop dead. It is life! "How long are we going to wait and keep watching everything go in disarray. Who is going to sign the budget, we dont know. The report on Babachir, what is happening to it? Why are we being held to ransom?" In a direct speech to the president, Yesufu said: "President Muhammadu Buhari, you have gotten the best in this world. A lot of things that you have, most people cannot even dream of. "You have being president twice, you said it yourself, you have reached the peak of your career as a military man and as a politician. "Can you allow each and every one of us as Nigerians be able to reach the peak of our careers? Can you just take some time off, take care of yourself. May God give you good health." She then called on Nigerians to "wake up", adding that the acting president cant do anything because he wants to be seen as a good man. READ ALSO: Any attempt to unseat Buhari will be combated - APC "We need to take our country back, let the president resign, if he cant resign, let the National Assembly do the right thing and lets have another president. It is not about President Buhari, its about Nigeria, and right now Nigeria is suffering and we cannot continue to allow this," she concluded. Watch the video below: Legit.ng earlier reported that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned against any attempt at unseating President Buhari, via a coup. Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, spokesman of the APC, stated this while reacting to Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Burutais warning, that some politicians were approaching soldiers. A report by The Nation indicates that some top politicians are under watch by security agencies following the recent alarm raised by the chief of army staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai. Nigerians were asked if they think Buhari should hand over to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo due to his health challenges. Watch their reaction in the Legit.ng video below: Source: Legit.ng - A Nigerian, identified as Eneh Wilfried Amobi, has been arrested with a large quantity of contraband after a tip-off by a ticket checker in India - Wilfrieds arrest comes shortly after two Nigerian men were arrested from Vikaspuri, New Delhi, India, after they were caught peddling hard drugs - A team from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) states that the contraband were concealed in courier packets and were in the suspects bag A team from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has arrested another Nigerian identified as Eneh Wilfried Amobi, in India for allegedly possessing contraband worth $1.4m at a suburban railway station in Mumbai The Punch, citing the Indian newspaper, The Hindustan Times, reports that Wilfried was caught with a large quantity of contraband after a tip-off by a ticket checker. READ ALSO: BREAKING: Boko Haram bombers attack University of Maiduguri again Wilfrieds arrest comes a day after Legit.ng reported that two Nigerian men were arrested from Vikaspuri, New Delhi, India, after they were caught peddling hard substances Wilfried said he was as a tourist and as he wanted $200 to return home, he offered to smuggle the substance, Kumar Sanjay Jha, NCB zonal director, Mumbai and Goa region told HT. The drugs weighing 1.3kg was to be delivered to someone in the city, an official said. Another Nigerian arrested with contraband in India The NCB states that the contraband were concealed in courier packets and were in the suspects bag. As foreign nationals are asked to show passports even for domestic flights, couriers prefer trains, said Jha. The agency said Amobi was one among the many couriers entrusted by a city-based cartel to smuggle the contraband into the city. We suspect that at least four people were involved. The packets changed hands at various railway stations to dodge authorities, said Jha. According to the police, the suspects booked tickets in first class AC, second AC and AC 3 tier. A source said that Amobi got down from the Delhi-Mumbai Rajdhani Express and was about to take a local train. A ticket checker stopped him and asked for a ticket. NCB said it was all part of a trap to buy time after which Wilfried was caught. Nigerians topped the list of foreigners arrested for drug smuggling in Navi Mumbai over the past five years, according to a report on May 9 by the Hindustan Times. According to the sources from the anti-narcotic cell of Navi Mumbai police, a total of 66 narcotic related cases were registered between 2012 and April, this year in the city. Nigerian nationals were involved in 14 of these cases. PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigerias #1 news app The police citing sources from the anti-narcotic cell of Navi Mumbai police, stated that Nigerian nationals were involved in 14 of these cases, of out of 66 narcotic related cases registered between 2012 and April, this year in the city. Since 2012, the police have arrested 14 foreign nationals for smuggling drugs to the city and 13 of them were from Nigeria, while one was from Ghana. In a related news, two Nigerian brothers identified as Kenechi and Oluchi Ochereobia have been arrested by police in the United Kingdom for flaunting massive cash, expensive jewellries, wrist watches and cars. Legit.ng gathered that the brothers were arrested over their alleged involvement in drug deals. Pictures of the brothers showing off the huge amount of money they had were seen by the police who did not slack in picking them up. Kenechi and Oluchi along with some other members of a drug dealing gang have been picked and would be spending a long time in jail as a result of their activities. The two Nigerian brothers were said to have been in control of a network of drug distributors. In the Legit.ng video below, chairman of Deaf People Association openly 'challenges' Nigerian ministers at FG town hall meeting in Abuja. Source: Legit.ng - Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has officially received 2017 Appropriation bill - The Budget is said to be undergoing consideration according to Presidential spokesperson Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has officially received 2017 Appropriation bill and it is currently undergoing very prompt and diligent consideration. Legit.ng gathered that the Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, Laolu Akande made this known in his tweet, confirming the readiness of the government to pass the budget after diligent consideration Legit.ng had previously reported that the Senate asked federal government to present the budgets of corporations, agencies and parastatals to the legislature within two weeks. Acting President Yemi Osinbajo The Nigerian lawmakers issued the ultimatum at the plenary on Wednesday May 17. The Senate, following a motion by the Deputy Leader, Bala NaAllah also resolved that the concerned agencies should stop further spending pending compliance. READ ALSO: UPDATED: 12 days after Buhari left for UK, Osinbajo signs 3 executive orders Also, the Legit.ng reported that the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed debunked the media reports that quoted him as saying that the federal government is at a loss over who will sign the 2017 budget. The minister of information claims he never made such a statement. He said his earlier statement on the budget issue was misinterpreted. PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Watch this Legit.ng video as Nigerians comments on whether President Buhari should handover to Osinbajo over health issues: 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, during his appearance disclosed that Adeleke's family did not request for an autopsy A consultant anatomic pathologist at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Dr Olufemi Solaja, who conducted the autopsy on the late Senator Isiaka Adeleke, has said the family of the late politician did not ask him to carry out the test. The Punch quoted Solaja as saying the coroner ( police officer) requested that he should carry out the autopsy and he had submitted the report to them. Legit.ng recalls that Solaja appeared before the coroner, Mr Olusegun Ayilara on Wednesday, May 17. He said the coroner requested for the autopsy through forms B & C dated April 23 and signed by Ajiboye Dorcas Olubunmi in the presence of Adelekes family members. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Popularly called 'Serubawon', Late Adeleke was a very influential politician in Osun state While being by Dr Ajibola Basiru, who told the coroner that he appeared as an observer, the pathologist said that submitting the autopsy report to the police did not amount to professional misconduct. The observer asked the pathologist, Were you engaged by the Adeleke family to do the autopsy? Solaja answered in the negative. When also asked if he was obliged to submit the result of the autopsy to any other person apart from the coroner, who requested for it, the pathologist said he was not supposed to give the autopsy report to any other person apart from the coroner. READ ALSO: Osinbajo officially receives 2017 Budget Appropriation Bill The evidence of the pathologist is in contrast to the claim of the deceaseds family, who said they were considering a legal option against the Chief Medical Director of the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Professor Akeem Lasisi, for refusing to give the autopsy report to the family despite that they requested for it. The immediate younger brother of the deceased, Dr Deji Adeleke told reporters at the country home of his late brother, that the family requested for the autopsy but the CMD had refused to give them the report but appeared before the coroner, Ayilara, and gave evidence on the cause of death of the late senator. Deji described this as a professional misconduct, saying the report of the autopsy must have been seriously compromised. READ ALSO: Aisha Yesufu calls for President Buhari's impeachment 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. Watch the Legit.ng TV video below analysing the Ile-Ife crisis in Osun state. Source: Legit.ng - The 21-year old son to the general managing director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Maikanti Baru is dead - Baru's son died in Dubai, United Arab Emirate (UE) on Thursday, May 18 - The family is yet to release an official statement on the boy's death The 21-year old son to the general managing director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Maikanti Baru is dead, Per Second News reports. Legit.ng gathered that the boy died in Dubai, United Arab Emirate (UE) on Thursday, May 18 Baru had earlier lost his mother Hajiya Fatima in April in their hometown Misau in Bauchi state. READ ALSO: Aisha Yesufu calls for Buhari's impeachment, says Osinbajo lacks presidential powers (video) Also, a few weeks ago, Baru's sister died on the eve of one of his trip to Houston in Texas for a conference. Tragedy also struck at the Baru's family when some guest returning from his daughter's wedding died in an accident. Baru's son died in Dubai, United Arab Emirate (UE) on Thursday, May 18 READ ALSO: BREAKING: Osinbajo officially receives 2017 Budget Appropriation Bill Sources said the Baru family are inconsolable of the tragedy that has happened within a short period of time. However, the family is yet to issue an official statement regarding the loss of Baru's son. Legit.ng earlier reported that the NNPC had debunked claims of a recruitment currently going on in the corporation. PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigerias #1 news app The NNPC also urged the general public to beware of fraudsters aimed at collecting money from unsuspecting applicants with the promise of giving them jobs. The corporation also advised the Nigerian public to always visit its official website for any announcement or information concerning job applications. You can watch this Legit.ng video of a former NNPC GMD arraigned in court over fraud allegations: Source: Legit.ng - The Itsekiri leaders were reportedly kidnapped in a community around Benin River in Warri North local government area - The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed this latest abduction and has said its men are on top of the situation Four Itsekiri leaders and some officials of Elcrest, an indigenous firm operating in the Niger Delta region, have been abducted by suspected militants. Their abduction was confirmed on Friday, May 19, by the Delta police command. READ ALSO: BREAKING: Boko Haram bombers attack University of Maiduguri again The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the public relations officer of the police command, Mr Andrew Aniamaka, as saying: The police backed by the military are on the trail of the hoodlums. The militants reportedly kidnapped the leaders in Delta state The report quoted Maj Abubakar Abdullahi, coordinator of the Joint Media Campaign Centre of Operations Delta Safe (OPDS), as saying that his team was on top of the situation. Legit.ng learnt that the victims were kidnapped in a community in Benin River in Warri North local government area at 5 pm, on Tuesday, May 16. The report quoted a source as disclosing that the victims were returning to Warri from Ureju community when they were abducted. Get more videos on Legit.ng TV The community leaders had gone to show the officials of Elcrest, a location for the firms proposed free medical outreach. The kidnappers are demanding a ransom of N36 million from the company and also requesting their inclusion in the companys payroll, the reportedly source said. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had earlier reported that to ensure adequate security across the country, the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has said police officers would now be posted to their communities of origin. Idris, who made the disclosure in Lokoja, Kogi state at a meeting, said most of the 150000 policemen to be recruited in the next five years would serve in their respective communities. Watch this video and hear what the family members of a trader allegedly killed by policemen in Lagos are saying: Source: Legit.ng - The burial rite of late General Adeyinka Adebayo has continued - His body was taken to Ekiti accompanied by Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun state - It was received by Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state The body of late General Adeyinka Adebayo accompanied by Governor Rauf Aregbesola has arrived in Ekiti state where it was received by Governor Ayodele Fayose. The body of the former governor of old western region arrived in Ekiti on Friday, May 19. Legit.ng had earlier reported that as part of the rite, his body was taken to Lagos. READ ALSO: Osinbajo officially receives 2017 Budget Appropriation Bill The former governor of old western region died two months ago at the age of 89, generating reactions from prominent Nigerians. The body of the late elder statesman He is being given a befitting burial by the Ekiti state government and his family. Governor Aregbesola and Governor Fayose Adebayo was born in 1928 in the present-day Ekiti state and joined the West African Frontier Force in 1948 as a regiment signaler. He retired in 1975. The body of the former governor arrived in Ekiti on Friday His eldest son Otunba Niyi Adebayo was the governor of Ekiti state from 1999 to 2003. Another son, Adesola Adebayo was the commissioner for works and transport, Ekiti state in the Dr Kayode Fayemi led administration from 2010 to 2014. The late General Adebayo was greatly revered in the south west Meanwhile, a former governor of Ekiti state, Chief Segun Oni, said the death of retired Adebayo marked the end of an era in Nigerias history. Oni said the demise of Adebayo signaled the end of a significant chapter in the history of the Nigerian Army in particular. Legit.ng asked Nigerians who they would vote for between Governor Fayose and President Muhammadu Buhari. Watch their responses in the video below: Source: Legit.ng - A Forward Operation Base (FOB) has been inaugurated by Nigerian Army in Daura Katsina - It's part of a measure to secure Nigeria's borders - The FOB in Daura is a part of the Order of Battle approved by the Army Council in 2016 The Nigerian Army has built a Forward Operation Base (FOB) to further secure the Nation's borders to neighbouring countries. Legit.ng gathered that the FOB was named after President Muhammadu Buhari and built in his hometown, Daura, Katsina state. The Chief of Army Staff, LT. Gen. Tukur Buratai, inaugurated the FOB on Friday, May 19. Buratai said: It is part of the re-organisation in the Nigerian Army. In 2016, the Army Council approved the new order of battle. Buratai at the Emir of Daura's palace. The army officials at the Emir of Daura's palace. READ ALSO: Aisha Yesufu calls for President Buhari's impeachment This is part of the order of battle of the Nigerian Army to have an FOB in this place Daura. So it is the overall review of the deployment and the strategic consideration of the Nigerian army and the military; in taking care of strategic locations by deploying such facility here." Buratai inspecting the Forward Operation Base in Daura. When asked if there was any threat at the Daura axis, Buratai said: Well, that is the analysis. The FOB You know, this Boko Haram terrorist group has been moving all over the place, especially along the borders. So, it is part of the consideration, it is part of the threat analysis." He said there is the need to take care of the border areas right from the Lake Chad through Yobe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, up to Sokoto. Emir of Daura cutting the ribbon to open the FOB. The Chief of Army Staff also said the establishment of the FOB was part of the strategic consideration, based on threat analysis. He added that more of such facility would be set up in the North East. Prior to the inauguration, Buratai was at the Palace of His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr) Umar Faruk Umar, the Emir of Daura for a courtesy call. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has said it was yet to arrest any persons or group of persons in connection with the alleged plot by politicians to infiltrate the army for political reasons. The director of army public relations, Brig. Gen. Sani Usman, when responding to questions on whether the army has arrested any individuals or whether its officers were romancing politicians for undisclosed reasons as alleged by its boss, said that the military had not made any arrests on the issue. Watch Legit.ng video of Nigerians giving their opinion on whether President Buhari should resign and hand over to his deputy or not: Source: Legit.ng - Pastor Adeboye visits the king of Ile-Ife, Oonirisa Eniola Ogunwusi - To honour the pastor, the king offered him the highest royal chair, usually meant for the king - This is believed to be against the Yoruba culture The founder and General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Pastor Enoch Adeboye visited the king of Ile-Ife, Oonirisa Adeyeye Ogunwusi. Legit.ng learnt that the king, in his bid to showcase his belief that God is greater than all kings, decided to offer the highest royal chair to the RCCG pastor. The king took the lowest seat beside the pastor while claiming there is no one greater than God. There was reportedly a protest from Pastor Adeboye, but the king insisted the pastor can have his seat. The Ooni reportedly insisted that Pastor Adeboye was representing God in his palace, hence deserved the greatest seat. Pastor Adeboye took the highest seat meant for the king of Ife. READ ALSO: EFCC official indicted for alleged corruption practices According to Yoruba culture, no one is allowed to seat on the king's seat except they've gone through the rituals that proclaims them as kings or acting in place of king. Ooni Ogunwusi and Pastor Adeboye Ooni Ogunwusi is however known to be a bit controversial in his approach to ruling Ile-Ife. Legit.ng reported in 2016 that the Ooni of Ife, who according to tradition is not supposed to bow or knee to anybody, was pictured kneeling at the installation thanksgiving held at St Pauls Anglican, Ile Ife. While addressing the controversy that rose after his kneeling the Ooni said: God is the creator of mankind and it is God who made it possible for the enthronement of any king." PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, the Ooni has promoted the immediate Jaaran of Ife, high chief Adekola Adeyeye, as the Second- in-Command. Mr Moses Olafare, the Director, Media and Public Affairs, Oonis Palace, said Adeyeye is now the third on the order of the hierarchy of Ife traditional council, (Ooni-in-Council). Olafare in a statement issued on Tuesday in Ile-Ife, said that the new position was the reward for loyalty, commitment to service and dedication to Ife Kingdom. According to Olafare, the monarch described Adeyeye as patriotic Ife indigene and great loyalist of the throne of Oonirisa, which he had served meritoriously for 30 years in various capacities. Watch a Legit.ng interview of the Ooni of Ife below: Source: Legit.ng The Solvency and Financial Condition Reports describe Nordea Life & Pensions operations in 2016 covering the type of business, business performance, governance, risk profile as well as the solvency and capital management. This is the first time the report is publicly disclosed following requirements under Solvency II. The reports will be available on an annual basis going forward. Nordea Life & Pensions is an insurance group and a leading provider of life and pension products in the Nordic countries with total assets under management of EUR 65.7bn at end December 2016 and gross written premiums of EUR 6.5bn in 2016. The insurance group is 100% owned by Nordea Bank AB. With a solvency position of 159% at end December 2016 Nordea Life & Pensions has a comfortable level of eligible own funds covering the solvency capital requirement ensuring that Nordea Life and Pensions is able to fulfil its obligations to its customers. As part of the risk and capital management process various stress and scenario tests both overnight and over the business planning period are performed. The results prove that Nordea Life and Pensions has a strong capital position and is resilient even towards more severe stress scenarios. The Solvency and Financial Condition Report for the Nordea Life & Pensions Group including the Nordic subsidiaries can be downloaded from nordea.com/ir. The Group Solvency and Financial Condition Report is available in English and Swedish, whereas the Solvency and Financial Condition Reports for the Nordic subsidiaries are available in the respective local languages. For further information: Rodney Alfven, Head of Investor Relations, +46 (0) 722350515 Documents When securities regulators sued the hedge fund manager Leon G. Cooperman last year, accusing him of violating insider trading laws, he vowed to fight to the bitter end. His decades-long reputation on Wall Street was on the line, he said at the time. Now, nearly eight months later, he and his firm, Omega Advisors, have agreed to settle, paying just under $5 million in civil penalties and forfeited profits. But unlike other hedge fund managers who have reached settlements with the Securities and Exchange Commission in insider trading cases, Mr. Cooperman is not admitting any wrongdoing. Significantly, he will not be barred from the securities industry. The terms of the settlement were filed in Federal District Court in Philadelphia on Thursday and must still be approved by a federal judge. In recent months, Roger E. Ailess influence seemed to be everywhere in the news. Fox News, the cable network he founded, has served as the preferred outlet for the president of the United States. At the same time, the sexual harassment scandal that led to Mr. Ailess ouster in July continued to besiege the network, most notably with the dismissal of Bill OReilly, and ignited conversations about workplace culture across the country. And yet the man himself had largely faded from the public eye. Late last year, he moved to a $36 million waterfront mansion in Palm Beach just five miles from President Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate and all but disappeared from the political, media and social circles where he once reigned. Recently, he has really done very, very little, said Robert L. Dilenschneider, a public relations executive who was close with Mr. Ailes. He spent time with his wife and son. Mr. Dilenschneider said he last talked with Mr. Ailes by phone about a month ago. During the conversation, Mr. Dilenschneider said, Mr. Ailes was very positive and upbeat, discussing current events and his collection of presidential memorabilia. At the end of the day, he was a patriot, Mr. Dilenschneider said. Steven Banks, commissioner of the Department of Social Services, said the city had already implemented some of the obligations outlined in the settlement, including hiring a director of disability affairs. Under the settlement, the citys shelter system should, within five years, have the capacity to accommodate any disabled person. That could mean providing a sign language interpreter, a refrigerator for someone whose medication must stay cold, bathrooms with adequate facilities for people with physical disabilities or shorter waits for a person who is autistic and may not be able to sit through the long process of applying for shelter. The timeline laid out in the settlement coincides with Mayor Bill de Blasios five-year plan to open 90 new shelters and to expand 30 existing ones while ending the use of hotels and cluster apartments. The cluster apartments, or units within private buildings, are sometimes in buildings that lack elevators or are poorly maintained, making it difficult for people with disabilities. Making sure that we have an accessible shelter system is an important element of the transformation and reimagining of the shelter system, said Mr. Banks, who was attorney-in-chief at Legal Aid before joining the mayors administration in 2014. Shaniqua Jackson, one of the plaintiffs, said the agency had initially placed her family in a shelter in Brooklyn, far from doctors and services in the Bronx that she needed for her son, who was born premature, had chronic lung disease and used a ventilator, a gastrointestinal tube and other equipment at the time. After Ms. Jackson received legal assistance, the agency placed her, her partner, her daughter and her son, now 2, in a studio apartment in the Bronx. The family of four, already squeezed into the tiny space, could barely make room for the medical equipment and for the nurses and therapist who frequently visited to treat her son. The huge pipe organ in St. Patricks Old Cathedral, at Prince and Mott Streets in NoLIta, is in startlingly original condition, though a bit worse for 150 years of wear. Jared Lamenzo is so accustomed to showing off this monstrous marvel of an instrument that he can discuss it even while using all four of his limbs to bang out a Bach fugue or Buxtehude toccata. See his hands play two separate keyboards and his feet dance a bass line on the foot pedals, with thin leather shoes on his feet, for better feel. I call them my dancing shoes, he said, making remarks that were casual and music that was not. Something akin to an angels choir swirled out of the organ, reverberating from the choir loft, under the churchs vaulting arches, through the nave and past the glorious stained-glass windows. Dear Diary: I grew up in Manchester, Conn. When I was a high school freshman, my piano and organ teacher, Frederic E. Werner, took me to New York City. I did not appreciate just how special the experience was until many years later. Everything was new: my longest trip from home (142 miles at the time), my first hotel (the Taft, according to the hanger still in my closet), my first restaurant (the Brass Rail), the cigarette-puffing billboard in Times Square and the Queen Mary, which was docked in town. But the highlights of our visit were a live radio broadcast (television was in its infancy), two Broadway shows and a live stage show at Radio City Music Hall. Mr. Werner bought our tickets, mentioning in passing that there was another show that he had wanted to see. But that one would be opening on Thursday, and we were returning home on Wednesday. All I recall of the radio show was the packed house, the man who came on stage and skillfully warmed up the audience, and the actor who dropped each page on the floor as he finished reading it. Gene Russianoff plans to make his way on Monday morning from his home in Brooklyn to downtown Manhattan, where he will address the people in charge of the citys transit system something he has done many, many times before. This time, though, there will be a drastic change. As the voice of the Straphangers Campaign, Mr. Russianoff, who holds no elected office, has become well known to New Yorkers as the citys premier advocate for and champion of riders. For nearly 40 years, he has served as a wisecracking, press-savvy, deeply informed public citizen who tells the unvarnished truth about the shortcomings of the subways and buses. Mr. Russianoff, however, no longer rides the subway. Parkinsons descended on him more than three years ago, when he was 59, and since then he has used a rolling walker. Instead of mass transit, he now uses Access-A-Ride, the paratransit service that the city and Metropolitan Transportation Authority provide to about 144,000 people unable to use the subway system with its maze of staircases and scarce, unreliable elevators. BOGOTA, Colombia At the start of each school year, Colombian schoolchildren are still given specially prepared instruction manuals in the form of comic books to teach them how to avoid stepping on land mines. Despite these efforts, during 52 years of war, more than 1,000 Colombian children, usually from the poorest of our farming families working their fields, were killed or maimed by land mines. I ran for president of Colombia to lead a nation where the books we give Colombias schoolchildren teach reading, science, math and poetry, not warnings against stepping on explosives. Today having signed a historic peace agreement between my government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, on Nov. 24 we are building a peaceful Colombia. In more than 203 Colombian municipalities, the dangerous work of locating, disabling and removing Colombias land mines is being carried out by NGOs, specially trained units of the Colombian armed forces and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. Our goal is to make Colombia land-mine free by 2021. Last year, we saw the lowest level of violence in our country in more than 40 years. FARC guerillas are turning their arms over to United Nations supervisors. But the agreement does more than silence weapons; it delivers a welcome end to conflict for Colombians, a majority of whom have never lived in a country at peace. The revelation on Wednesday that President Trump appointed Michael T. Flynn as his national security adviser even though he knew that Mr. Flynn was on the payroll of a Turkish-owned firm with close connections to the Turkish government was accompanied by alarming reports: Decisions that Mr. Flynn made about the war in Syria during his brief tenure appear to have been influenced by his Turkish paymaster. The administrations defenders may point out correctly that whether or not Mr. Flynns policy recommendations while he was national security adviser were made to please Turkey, they did not, in fact, materially affect policy. But the point is that they could have done so. The main allegation raised in the news media against Mr. Flynn is that he delayed planning for the seizure of Raqqa, the Islamic States self-declared capital in Syria. Under plans handed over by the Obama administration, the attack on Raqqa would have involved arming the most effective of the militias fighting the Islamic State in Syria, a Kurdish force affiliated with the Democratic Union Party. The Turkish government strongly objected to this, fearing it would strengthen Turkish Kurdish insurgents, who have links to the party, and Mr. Flynns lack of action is seen by critics as a favor to Turkey. However, a delay was practically inevitable. Deep disagreement between the United States and Turkey over which militia was going to be the main partner in liberating Raqqa the Kurdish militia or the mainly Arab Free Syrian Army was bound to hold up the operation regardless of whether Mr. Flynn was pushing for delay. In January 1970, President Richard Nixons top aide, H. R. Haldeman urged him to hire the young media consultant Roger Ailes as his television adviser. Nixon who was obsessively image-conscious even for a politician would often complain that he needed someone to advise him on how I should stand, where the cameras will be and even whether to hold the phone with my right hand or my left hand. Now, Haldeman reported in a memo, I think Ailes is probably the best man for the job. He was hired, as a consultant, at $100 a day (about $650 today). It was three years earlier that Mr. Ailes, the impresario of Fox News who died yesterday at 77, had told Nixon on the set of The Mike Douglas Show, where he was a producer, that television is not a gimmick. During the 1968 campaign, Nixon began to rely on Mr. Ailes for advice on how to position the lighting and the lectern for his TV appearances, guidance on what clothes to wear and how to cut his hair, memos prescribing what his long-term media strategy should be and much more. Mr. Ailes went on to help Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush and countless other Republican politicians master the medium. But as significant as what Mr. Ailes taught Nixon is what Nixon taught Mr. Ailes: the political power of popular resentment against a liberal cultural elite. Ever since his first race for Congress in 1946, Nixon had succeeded in politics by portraying himself as the voice of the forgotten Americans, the ordinary, hard-working Joes who were stifled by regulations and taxes imposed by Washington. He made it his mission to change the widespread reputation of the Republican Party as the party of big business and privilege. He did so over the years by mobilizing popular rage against various figures of purportedly undeserved power and influence: Washington bureaucrats, college professors, Supreme Court justices, student protesters and, not least, the news media. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey came to Washington for his first meeting with President Trump with hopes of achieving a turning point in an alliance that is vitally important to both sides, but has been profoundly strained by policy issues involving efforts to defeat ISIS in Syria. His demands were mostly unreasonable, which means continued tensions. The enduring image of Mr. Erdogans visit will not be the pomp at the White House but that of his security guards and other supporters beating up protesters outside the Turkish ambassadors residence. The police described the attack as brutal and the State Department called it an intolerable assault on free speech. Eleven people were injured, including a police officer, and nine were taken to the hospital. Some Republican lawmakers said Turkey should apologize. The Turkish Embassy blamed the demonstrators for aggressively provoking Turkish-American citizens who had peacefully assembled to greet Mr. Erdogan. Washingtons Metropolitan Police will now have to determine accountability. That could be tricky; Mr. Erdogan and his security people are back in Turkey. Mr. Trump, meanwhile, has shown a shocking indifference to Mr. Erdogans authoritarian crackdown on his own people, which in turn makes it even more important to show that the United States will follow the rule of law. As for policy issues, Mr. Erdogan demanded, among other things, that the United States abandon the Syrian Kurds, whom he views as terrorists. But Mr. Trump had already approved a plan to arm Syrian Kurds so that they can help in the campaign to take Raqqa, the capital of ISIS self-declared caliphate. Mr. Erdogan considers the Syrian Kurds to be indistinguishable from the Kurdistan Workers Party or P.K.K., a separatist group fighting his government in Turkey. For their part, American military commanders have long argued that the Kurds are among the most skilled fighters in the region and must be part of the ground force if Raqqa is to be recaptured anytime soon. NATIONAL An article on April 21 about donors who contributed to President Trumps inauguration ceremony misstated the amount given by Nicholas A. Mastroianni III. It was $100,000, not $1 million. An article on Thursday about a sharp increase in immigration arrests referred imprecisely to one voters support for President Trump. J. D. Ma supports the presidents policies on illegal immigration but voted for Hillary Clinton, not for Mr. Trump. OBITUARIES Because of an editing error, an obituary on Thursday about the artist and author Lee Hall misstated the current name of the college from which Ms. Hall received a bachelor of fine arts degree. It is the University of North Carolina at Greensboro not the Womans College of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. (Its original name was the Womans College of the University of North Carolina.) The Times welcomes comments and suggestions, or complaints about errors that warrant correction. Messages on news coverage can be e-mailed to nytnews@nytimes.com or left toll-free at 1-844-NYT-NEWS (1-844-698-6397). Comments on editorials may be e-mailed to letters@nytimes.com. Two men were sentenced on Thursday to three years in prison for attacking a Sikh man in California last year, repeatedly punching him through his car window and cutting off his hair. The men, Chase B. Little and Colton T. Leblanc, both of Texas, each pleaded no contest to felony assault with a hate crime enhancement in the beating of Maan S. Khalsa, 41, in Richmond, Calif., near San Francisco, on Sept 25, 2016. Mr. Khalsa, an information technology specialist, was dressed in traditional Sikh garb, including a turban, while heading to a religious ceremony. The defendants, along with three other men, had been drinking that day and were on their way to get a food when they pulled up next to Mr. Khalsas car, Simon OConnell of the Contra Costa district attorneys office said in October. Beer cans were thrown at Mr. Khalsa, who rolled down his window and said, You guys forgot something. The White House released some details of two of the larger components of the 2018 budget it will send to Congress on Tuesday. Money it wants to spend on the military and a southern border wall will be part of a wish list that will serve as the opening bid in negotiations over funding the government next year. A beefed-up version of the skinny budget President Trump released in March is expected to include long-term projections on spending for government services, tax revenues and economic forecasts. It will also shed light for the first time on how the Trump administration plans to address funding for programs such as Social Security and Medicare. As Mr. Trump learned during last months negotiations for funding the government through the 2017 fiscal year, the White House often does not get its way when dealing with Congress, particularly when votes from Democrats are required. Congressional budget committees are expected to craft their own budget proposals in June, and many Republicans have already signaled that the draconian cuts Mr. Trump wants to make to domestic programs are nonstarters. WASHINGTON Congress fired the official starting gun on its big plans to overhaul the tax code on Thursday, publicly debating, sometimes sharply, the shape of legislation that could affect every part of the American economy. Republicans have been scrambling to find a way to pass an ambitious re-engineering of the tax system in the next six months amid a raft of looming fiscal fights and dysfunction in the White House. Several congressional leaders have expressed skepticism that it will happen this year. But the first public hearing of the House Ways and Means Committee on overhauling taxes gave Republicans a chance to begin the debate. Democrats denounced the rehashing of trickle down tax policies of the past. Advocacy groups unfurled new campaigns to kill the central provision of the Republicans plan, a border adjustment tax on imports. President Trump defended his conduct related to the investigation into his campaigns ties to Russia and made several misleading claims on Thursday afternoon. In a joint news conference with President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia, Mr. Trump denied there was any collusion between his campaign and Russian officials, explained why he had fired James B. Comey as F.B.I. director and trumpeted his legislative agenda. Heres an assessment. Mr. Trump contradicted Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein and his own earlier statement on firing Mr. Comey. Explaining the ousting of Mr. Comey, Mr. Trump again pointed to Mr. Rosensteins very, very strong recommendation, adding that he believed it had resulted from Mr. Comeys poor, poor performance in a congressional hearing this month. But just hours earlier on Thursday, Mr. Rosenstein told the full Senate that Mr. Trump had made his decision before Mr. Rosenstein wrote the memo. Mr. Trump himself claimed full responsibility a week earlier. WASHINGTON President Trump called the F.B.I. director, James B. Comey, weeks after he took office and asked him when federal authorities were going to put out word that Mr. Trump was not personally under investigation, according to two people briefed on the call. Mr. Comey told the president that if he wanted to know details about the bureaus investigations, he should not contact him directly but instead follow the proper procedures and have the White House counsel send any inquiries to the Justice Department, according to those people. After explaining to Mr. Trump how communications with the F.B.I. should work, Mr. Comey believed he had effectively drawn the line after a series of encounters he had with the president and other White House officials that he felt jeopardized the F.B.I.s independence. At the time, Mr. Comey was overseeing the investigation into links between Mr. Trumps associates and Russia. Those interactions included a dinner in which associates of Mr. Comey say Mr. Trump asked him to pledge his loyalty and a meeting in the Oval Office at which Mr. Trump told him he hoped Mr. Comey would shut down an investigation into Mr. Trumps former national security adviser, Michael T. Flynn. Mr. Trump has denied making the request. Republicans who are reflexively defending the self-inflicted wounds of this president have no need for him with Mike Pence in the wings, Erick Erickson wrote on Wednesday on his conservative blog, The Resurgent. Mr. Pence takes umbrage at the very mention of the idea, according to people who have heard him speak about it. And Republican lawmakers are eager to tamp down on any discussion of it, particularly after Mr. Rosenstein on Wednesday named a special counsel to lead the investigation into whether Mr. Trumps campaign colluded with Moscow to influence the election. Im not even going to give credence to that, the House speaker, Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin, said on Thursday, when asked by a reporter about colleagues who are privately contemplating a Pence presidency. Im not even theres not even a point making a comment on that. Still, the vice president may have fed speculation when he filed paperwork this week for a political action committee, an unusual move for a vice president. Through it all, Mr. Pence has played the part of loyal soldier and messenger, gamely going about a workaday schedule that includes delivering Mr. Trumps greetings to activists, lobbyists and lawmakers. He projects a this is fine outlook on the administrations agenda of overhauling health care and the tax system. Whatever Washington, D.C., may be focused on at any given time, rest assured, President Donald Trump will never stop fighting for the issues that matter most to the American people good jobs, safe streets and a boundless American future, Mr. Pence told executives and lobbyists on Thursday at an investment summit meeting at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. A block away at the White House, Mr. Trump took a far different tack, telling a group of news anchors that the appointment of a special counsel to investigate his campaigns possible collusion with Russia hurts our country terribly. Not long after that, with Mr. Pence in the front row at an East Room news conference, Mr. Trump declared that the inquiry was a witch hunt and that there was no collusion between him and Russia though he quickly added, I can always speak for myself. WASHINGTON Nothing says serious business in Washington like the term special counsel. It resonates solemnly through the capital and inspires grave talk, including the possibility of significant wrongdoing at the highest levels with the potential of historic consequences. The implied gravity of the term, freighted with history, was a chief reason Democrats were so eager for a special prosecutor to investigate any connection between Russia and the Trump campaign, and a chief reason Republicans were so leery of an appointment. Both sides knew the naming of a special counsel would elevate questions about Russian meddling in the election and related matters to an entirely different level, from both a political and an investigatory standpoint. Now Robert S. Mueller III, the former prosecutor and F.B.I. director, takes his place in the pantheon of specially appointed investigators tasked with getting to the bottom of Washington scandals, beginning with the Whiskey Ring during the Grant administration through Teapot Dome, Watergate, Iran-contra and Whitewater. Just four months into President Trumps tenure, he faces the prospect that an aggressive, high-powered and well-resourced inquiry into any connections with Russia could become a near permanent fixture of his presidency. President Trump, 24 hours from his self-imposed deadline for picking a new F.B.I. director, told reporters on Thursday that he was very close to choosing a successor to James B. Comey, and he named Joseph I. Lieberman, the former Democratic senator and vice-presidential nominee, as a finalist. But members of Mr. Trumps staff alarmed by his rapid embrace of Mr. Lieberman, a charming 75-year-old political operator with no federal law enforcement experience have quietly urged him to take more time to make such a critical hire. By late Thursday, the president appeared increasingly likely to leave Friday for a nine-day foreign trip without picking a new director, according to three senior administration officials speaking on the condition of anonymity. Mr. Lieberman, who served three terms in the Senate as a Democrat and one as an independent, would be an atypical choice to lead the F.B.I., whose agents prize the bureaus independence as one of Washingtons few apolitical institutions. Judges and former prosecutors, not elected officials, have frequently been chosen. Administration officials described the search as fluid and said the president and his team were keeping the decision-making process closely held to avoid the leaks that Mr. Trump believes are endemic to the West Wing. The Trump administration announced sanctions against eight members of Venezuelas Supreme Court, singling out judges loyal to President Nicolas Maduro who tried to dissolve the countrys legislature this year. The announcement, published Thursday by the Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control, froze any assets in the United States belonging to seven judges of the courts Constitutional Chamber as well as the courts chief magistrate, Maikel Moreno, and barred Americans from doing business with them. American government officials, in a call with reporters on Thursday, said the measures were intended to pressure the court to stop its efforts to obstruct the National Assembly, the legislature controlled by Mr. Maduros opposition. The court has nullified almost every major measure passed by lawmakers since the presidents rivals took control of the body last year, including efforts to free political prisoners. The Venezuelan people are suffering from a collapsing economy brought about by their governments mismanagement and corruption, the Treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, said in a statement. Members of the countrys Supreme Court of Justice have exacerbated the situation by consistently interfering with the legislative branchs authority. PARIS After a decisive defeat in Frances presidential contest, the far-right leader Marine Le Pen said Thursday that she would run for a parliamentary seat in June and that her National Front party had an essential role to play in French politics. Ms. Le Pen will run for a seat representing her northern stronghold of Henin-Beaumont, a hardscrabble town in a former mining region where she lost a similar bid in 2012. A new failure could damage her effort to unite the National Front and make it Frances leading opposition party. I cannot imagine not being at the head of my troops in a battle I consider fundamental, Ms. Le Pen said in an interview on the TF1 television station, her first public appearance since her May 7 loss to Emmanuel Macron. Ms. Le Pen announced her candidacy while facing forces of division that could frustrate her new goals. Her popular niece is leaving politics, her disruptive father is back in the ring and her party is in disarray. While Mr. Kushners middle-of-the-meeting call to a military contractor was unorthodox, current and former officials said, it did not appear to raise legal issues. Lockheed is the prime contractor for the antimissile system, known as Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or Thaad. Instead, the episode was reminiscent of Lockheeds decision in February to cut the price of F-35 fighter jets it was selling to the Pentagon after Mr. Trump complained to Ms. Hewson that the planes were too expensive. Mr. Kushner, White House officials said, began building ties to members of the Saudi royal family during the transition. He was at the table when his father-in-law hosted the deputy crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, at a lunch in the State Dining Room in March. And he offered a strategic overview of the Saudi-American relationship at the meeting this month, according to an agenda obtained by The New York Times. But officials emphasized that Mr. Kushners work on the deal was part of a governmentwide effort that includes the State Department, the Defense Department and the National Security Council. They also said the arms sale would be only one element of Mr. Trumps busy two-day stop in Saudi Arabia, which will also include a meeting with King Salman at the royal court, a conference with Persian Gulf allies, a broader summit meeting with the leaders of Muslim countries, and a visit to a new center dedicated to combating terrorism and extremism. The showcase event will be a speech in which the officials said Mr. Trump would seek to unify the Muslim world against the scourge of extremism. Stephen Miller, Mr. Trumps senior policy adviser, is writing the speech, which officials said would serve as an answer to the landmark address to the Islamic world that Mr. Obama gave in Cairo in 2009. White House officials have consulted Mr. Obamas speech and predicted a starkly different tone from Mr. Trump. His goal, they said, will be to unify Americas allies around a common set of objectives, including a harder line against Iran and a pledge to share the security burden in the region. The speech will not include any apology for Americas role. WASHINGTON As Saudi Arabias leaders prepared to make a pitch to the White House for a visit by President Trump, a PowerPoint presentation was put together complete with slides describing Saudi demographics, investments in the United States and ambitious plans for reform. Another slide showed pictures of three palaces Mr. Trump could choose to stay at should he come, including His Majestys weekend personal residence. Ultimately, someone must have thought better of it, because that slide was not shown. But the pitch worked. Mr. Trump heads to Riyadh on Friday, the first stop in his first overseas trip since taking office. For foreign leaders trying to figure out the best way to approach an American president unlike any they have known, it is a time of experimentation. Embassies in Washington trade tips and ambassadors send cables to presidents and ministers back home suggesting how to handle a mercurial, strong-willed leader with no real experience on the world stage, a preference for personal diplomacy and a taste for glitz. After four months of interactions between Mr. Trump and his counterparts, foreign officials and their Washington consultants say certain rules have emerged: Keep it short no 30-minute monologue for a 30-second attention span. Do not assume he knows the history of the country or its major points of contention. Compliment him on his Electoral College victory. Contrast him favorably with President Barack Obama. Do not get hung up on whatever was said during the campaign. Stay in regular touch. Do not go in with a shopping list but bring some sort of deal he can call a victory. Academic philosophy has resembled a battleground in recent years, and not just because of its famously bare-knuckled argumentative style. A series of sexual harassment scandals has engulfed prominent male scholars, while feminist philosophers and others have pushed to diversify what remains, far more than the other humanities, an overwhelmingly white, male field. Now, an article in a leading feminist philosophy journal has touched off a firestorm of criticism and countercriticism, illuminating a divide within feminist philosophy itself and raising a thorny question: Just what counts as good philosophy where sensitive issues of identity are concerned, and who gets to decide? The article, called In Defense of Transracialism, by Rebecca Tuvel, appeared in the spring issue of the journal Hypatia. Ms. Tuvel, an assistant professor at Rhodes College in Memphis, asserts that the arguments that support transgender identity also support the possibility of transracial identity. Performers who dreamed of appearing at the Metropolitan Opera have tried many things over the decades, but until this week none have ever used their teeth to lift a director off the floor. In what will surely go down in the annals of opera as one of the most unusual auditions ever held at the Met, the British director Phelim McDermott was at the theater on Tuesday evening, casting his new production of Mozarts Cosi Fan Tutte for next season, when he asked one of the aspirants the usual question: Do you want to do something? That is the point where a tenor might let rip with a little Verdi. But in this case, Mr. McDermott was not looking for a strong voice, but a strongman. His production of Cosi is set in a Coney Island-like seaside, among sideshows and carnies. His would-be strongman, a heavily tattooed, pierced and bearded man who performs as Titano Oddfellow, had an idea. Do you want me to do teeth-lifting? he asked. An obliging Mr. McDermott agreed to lie plank-like on the floor while Titano, delivering a well-honed patter in a slight brogue, affixed a leather harness to the nervous-looking director. Each year the movie industry gives out Oscars for the best performances in supporting roles. Its too bad that theres no similar award in chamber music. If someone would kindly fund one, Id like to nominate Estelle Choi, the cellist of the Calidore String Quartet. That charismatic young ensemble has garnered recognition recently for its remarkable blended sound and musical conviction, including the $100,000 M-Prize last year from a chamber music competition hosted by the University of Michigan. On Thursday at the Rose Studio, in a program presented by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the quartet demonstrated extraordinary charisma, style and energy in works by Ligeti and Mozart. But it was Ms. Choi I couldnt take my eyes off, especially during Mozarts Viola Quintet in C (K. 515, in which the group was joined by the veteran violist Paul Neubauer), where the cello mostly helps the divalike first violin shine. Ms. Choi imbued the opening rising arpeggio with such tense energy that it sounded like an urgent question. The first violinist, Jeffrey Myers, responded with gracious figures played in a melting tone, setting up a genial dialogue. As the first movement flowed through its development, it was always Ms. Chois thoughtful playing that determined the character of a particular modulation: sunny or hesitant, a challenge or a reconciliation. The Andante is a wistful pas de deux between the first violin and the first viola, here the Calidores Jeremy Berry, who produced an unusually bright and tangy sound. It was lovely to listen to the two players assert their individual voices, even as they finished each others sentences. But the last word belonged to Ms. Choi, who buttoned up the movement with three plucked notes as discreet as they were authoritative. The two Tzadik albums, bracing yet sumptuous, remain the ideal place to start with her work. But they do not offer a tidy summation of Amachers achievements. The musicologist and violist Amy Cimini, a member of Supreme Connections, said that listeners could hear Sound Characters and think they had Amacher pegged. Theyre like: O.K., I totally get what this music is about its about this crazy inner-ear sensation, she understood that intuitively, end of story, Ms. Cimini said. And thats not the story, actually. When she died, Amacher left a wealth of material that was unfamiliar even to close associates: theoretical writings, a deep tape library of the tones she mixed during installations and some notated material. Excitement was tempered by caution and an understanding that Amachers presence had always been central to presentations of her music. Now others would have to take up the task of producing her desired effects. Hovering is an uncomfortable question: Can her work be revived with any hope of success? At the premiere of the luminously morose Petra in 1991, Amacher and Marianne Schroeder played the pianos, without a formalized score. After Amachers death, archivists discovered voluminous notes for the work, including revised sketches. In New York on May 24, Ms. Schroeder will play the piece again, this time with Stefan Tcherepnin, a former student of Amachers. Mr. Tcherepnin said that he and Ms. Schroeder plan to linger in the concert space in the days before the concert, testing out resonances and picking out parts of the various Petra sketches that sound particularly exciting inside St. Peters. Given the site-specific nature of Amachers own approach to performance, this seems as promising as any method that might be used to channel her aesthetic. Yet not all of her past associates are persuaded. The composer and pianist Frederic Rzewski, who played with Amacher in MEV, wrote in an email that the best thing would be to make available those parts of Maryannes work that do exist and are indisputably serious works of art. But describing Petra as an official opus in her catalog, he wrote, makes him uneasy. Noting the absence of a two-piano score, he likens the piece to an improvisation and counts himself skeptical of attempts to mount it without her. Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown that lets you sleep and lets us get paid to watch comedy. What do you think of it? What else are you interested in? Let us know: thearts@nytimes.com. The Rock Says, Well See The actor Dwayne Johnson recently told a GQ reporter that there was a real possibility he would run for president. On The Tonight Show on Thursday, Mr. Johnson, known as The Rock, wasnt the least bit coy about it when he spoke to Jimmy Fallon. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt returns for a third season and sends its heroine to college. The Keepers investigates the unsolved murder of a Baltimore nun. And American Masters celebrates the culinary legacy of James Beard. Whats Streaming UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT on Netflix. Now that she has her G.E.D., Kimmy (Ellie Kemper) heads to college in Season 3 of this effervescent comedy sprung from the minds of Robert Carlock and Tina Fey. Meanwhile, Titus (Tituss Burgess) washes ashore from his cruise-ship gig as the star of Mahogany. Lillian (Carol Kane) decides to break up with her boyfriend, Robert Durst (Fred Armisen), the better to run for District Council. And the Rev. Richard Wayne Gary Wayne (Jon Hamm) calls Kimmy from prison, with news that their divorce papers are in the mail. Dont sign, Jacqueline (Jane Krakowski) advises. Philip K. Dick was a writer of modest accomplishment when he met Anne Rubenstein in late 1958. By the time the couple broke up less than six years later, Dick had written more than a dozen novels and was well on his way to eminence as one of the most influential of postwar American writers. The events and emotions of that marriage turn up again and again in Dicks novels, transfigured into science fiction. Anne Dick, as Ms. Rubenstein became, made custom jewelry, which was a major plot element in his best-known novel, The Man in the High Castle. Their childrens Barbies are featured in The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch, where colonists on Mars escape their wretched existence with reality-altering drugs and Perky Pat dolls. The couple were also devoted to their sheep, which are prized possessions in his celebrated novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, the basis for the film Blade Runner. Above all, Ms. Dick shows up in female characters. She inspired Juliana, the heroine of High Castle, who has no trouble slashing a Nazi operatives throat, as well as a number of shrill, carping, unhappy wives in other books. FIRST LOVE By Gwendoline Riley 166 pp. Melville House. Paper, $16.99. At the heart of Gwendoline Rileys short, dark, funny novel is a marriage in which bullying self-pity and perplexed self-abasement collide in a series of savage little jousts that ought to be unbearable to witness, but are in fact mesmerizing and perversely tender. Neve is a writer in her 30s, recently moved to London from the north of England. Edwyn, much older, is some kind of cultural entrepreneur, a disappointed man suffering from a weak heart, painful joints and a biliousness that spares nobody, including himself: Theres nothing nice about me. I dont have a nice bone in my body. The only grounds for disputing this cheerful self-appraisal are that his tirades against Neve (prompted mainly by her mere existence) come over more as truculence than abuse. What you hear in them, beyond the low-grade misogyny and general nastiness, is the helpless rage of a clever, colicky, middle-aged baby: Just so you know, he tells her, I have no plans to spend my life with a shrew. Just so you know that. A fishwife shrew. In better moods, he allows her to hold his hand, and calls her his little compost heap. Image The question, of course, is why the relatively sane and functional Neve chooses at times even begs to remain with this man. Its the question that gives the book its plot (to the extent that it has one), sending Neve back over the key relationships in her past that have shaped her reflexes and left her susceptible to Edwyns less-than-obvious charms. A rogues gallery of lovers, friends and family ensues, detailed miniatures full of comic touches of malice and exasperated affection. Sharpest among them are those of her parents, each a study in repression and ineffectuality. Neves father, who dies alone of overeating the brave business of self-solace everywhere in evidence is a sort of aspiring petty tyrant, who does his best to terrorize anyone weaker than himself: children, shop assistants, young people without authority or status. Having finally succeeded in alienating his own daughter, he tries to reverse course, besieging her with concert invitations. Her refusals merely stimulate further efforts: It was like trying to deny an excited octopus. Neves mother, meanwhile, is a shambles of wild impulsiveness and cringing passivity who chases after companionship with a hunger matched only by her resignation to the inevitability of failure: I stand there looking approachable all night! she says, describing an art opening. But no one approaches! Under scrutiny, her haplessness reveals deep habits of avoidance that have led her both into her marriage and out of it, with disastrous consequences for her offspring. Neves reflections on the subject give you a flavor of the books jabbing, mordant humor: Not to think, not to connect: Marry an insane bully. Simper at him. Not to be killed: Get away from him. And her children? Her issue? How did they fit into her scheme? As sandbags? Decoys? MUSE OF MUAMMAR: Condoleezza Rices Democracy is new on the hardcover nonfiction list, at No. 4, and plenty of observers have already commented on its sober, high-minded rhetoric about Americas role in the world. So Ill dish instead. Who knew that during Rices days as secretary of state, the former Libyan strongman Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi was besotted with her? I support my darling black African woman, he said of Rice during a 2007 interview with the network Al Jazeera. I admire and am very proud of the way she leans back and gives orders to the Arab leaders. He added: Yes, Leezza, Leezza, Leezza. I love her very much. So when Rice included Tripoli on a visit to the Middle East the following year, there were some decidedly uncomfortable undercurrents in her meeting with Qaddafi. It had been a really strange trip, she writes, setting aside her usual diplomacy. I awoke with that sensation one has after a bizarre dream. Did I really just sit in his kitchen and have dinner with his female security guards who many believe are also his daughters? Did he really give me a video with pictures of me set to music called Black Flower in the White House? O.K. Whatever his weird affection for you, thank the Lord, that visit is over. Time to move on. SQUIRREL! Judging from the stories we tell about dogs, American society is goofier than it used to be. Our dog novels in the past were solemn affairs about heroism and violence and death, from White Fang to Old Yeller to Where the Red Fern Grows. (They were also, clearly, determined to mention colors in their titles.) Today, we have W. Bruce Cameron and his wholesome, vaguely spiritual dog-narrated books. Cameron has spent nearly a year on the paperback fiction lists with A Dogs Purpose (the basis for the movie), about canine reincarnation and the meaning of life. Now he returns with A Dogs Way Home, at No. 10 in hardcover fiction, about a pit bull trekking through 400 miles of wilderness to reunite with her human basically, The Incredible Journey minus the distracting cat and retriever. As in A Dogs Purpose, the narrator here has an ingenues dopey cheer far removed from the somber nobility of a White Fang. But (speaking as a dog owner myself) that doesnt mean Cameron gets it wrong. As we walked we found a squirrel! It lay flattened on the pavement and gave off amazing odors, his narrator exclaims. I knew that what I should do now was roll my shoulder into the squirrel. HE CALLS ME BY LIGHTNING The Life of Caliph Washington and the Forgotten Saga of Jim Crow, Southern Justice, and the Death Penalty By S. Jonathan Bass Illustrated. 413 pp. Liveright Publishing. $26.95. A few years back, I thought to write a history of the civil rights movement in a small Southern city where the freedom struggle had been unique, if not downright bizarre. A legendary academic editor snapped up my proposal. A few days later, personal concerns forced me to abandon the project. The Legend was neither amused nor sympathetic. I am not interested in any more books about the civil rights movement in East Jesus anyway, the Legend decreed. We dont need any more community studies of Podunk, Ala. Not only was this patent sour grapes, the editors historiography was hogwash. We know far too little about local movements beyond the lustrous necklace of names Julian Bond called the master narrative. As Zora Neale Hurston says of love, the struggle may seem to have sailed on the certitude of tides but, like the sea, it took its shape from every shore that it met, and every shore was different. Any valid synthesis of the civil rights movement awaits many specific histories. This will be obvious to readers of He Calls Me by Lightning: The Life of Caliph Washington and the Forgotten Saga of Jim Crow, Southern Justice, and the Death Penalty. S. Jonathan Basss 40-year yarn of freedom politics and Southern justice in Bessemer, Ala., proves there is much more we need to remember. Image In popular memory, the civil rights movement unfolds like the Civil War. Armies that clash at Montgomery in 1955 meet again at Little Rock two years later. Shock troops of the 1960 sit-ins march as swiftly as Sherman through Greensboro, Durham, Charlotte, and on to Atlanta and Rock Hill. When Freedom Riders fall at the Battle of Anniston in 1961, their bloodstained banner is carried forward by volunteers from Nashville and then the nation. Front-page conflagrations compel Kennedy to send troops; terrified segregationists fear a Second Reconstruction. Im not in the business of giving advice, but the following wisdom I dispense confidently: Do not go running while trying to listen to Thomas Pynchons Mason & Dixon on a cassette player. Its frustration guaranteed, especially after the belt clip on your Walkman breaks off and youre forced to carry the ungainly device in your hand. You have the next tape in the 20-cassette set rattling in a shorts pocket; in your other pocket is an iPhone, because obviously your Sony Walkman WM-FX303 is not connected to the internet, and you should probably be connected to the internet, lest during your bout of fitness the United States launches a war against Iceland or youre commanded to stop at Whole Foods for milk. So there you are, trying to keep your pace below 17 minutes per mile, while the narrator, Jonathan Reese, reads from Pynchons saga about the savage Vacancy called America. Mason & Dixon was published 20 years ago this spring, but I first read it during the George W. Bush years. Those were the days of liberal anger and paranoia, undisclosed locations and known unknowns, tyrants pulled out of spider holes and America pulled into imperial adventures. You couldnt do better than the most recent work by our poet laureate of the deep state, the postmodern Virgil whose novels, wherever and whenever they were set, always led into the darkest byways of the military-industrial complex. Here was a 773-page historical hallucination written in the madcap 18th-century English of Henry Fielding, nominally about the two surveyors who charted the dividing line between North and South, though really about the anxieties that have always animated Pynchon: the violence at the heart of the American project, the recursivity of history, paranoia as both survival strategy and dangerous narcotic, so that even a seemingly straightforward assignment becomes, as Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon come to realize, a conduit for Evil. The union estimates that AT&T has cut 12,000 call-center jobs in the United States since 2011 while creating many such jobs overseas, but Mr. Master said the company had rebuffed a request for data that would clarify the extent of the practice and other changes to its work force. Workers are also frustrated that they are being asked to pay more of their health-insurance costs, he added, and that changes in retail workers commissions have limited or reduced their take-home pay. As part of its next contract, the union wants to bar AT&T from changing its commission structure unilaterally. Marty Richter, an AT&T spokesman, said the company was offering the wireless workers wage and pension increases and called the willingness to strike baffling. He said AT&T sales workers were well paid by industry standards, citing an average of over $68,000 in annual pay and benefits, roughly twice the figure for retail workers as a whole, according to PayScale, a company that tracks salary data. Mr. Richter said that AT&T had successfully negotiated contracts covering nearly 130,000 workers since 2015, and that fewer than five of the companys more than 25,000 retail workers lost jobs last year because of store closings. The union said that some company stores had been converted to noncompany stores and that much of the recent growth in the retail work force had occurred at noncompany stores. With over 200,000 employees in the United States, AT&T is the countrys largest telecom company. In addition to the call center and retail workers, the strikers include more than 15,000 employees on the companys wireline side which includes landlines and internet service as well as about 2,000 employees of DirecTV, which the company acquired in 2015. The wireline and DirecTV workers have been without a new contract for over a year and held a one-day strike in March. The two groups contract negotiations are separate from those of the wireless workers. James Donovan, the Goldman Sachs executive who was poised to become deputy Treasury secretary, is backing out of consideration. Mr. Donovan, 50, recently told administration officials that he could not take the job because of unexpected family matters that required more of his attention. I am deeply honored by President Trumps decision to nominate me, Mr. Donovan said by email on Friday. However, at this time I want to focus on my family, and I can no longer accept it. I hope to be able to serve this administration in the future and fully support President Trump and Secretary Steven Mnuchins ongoing work to reform the tax system and grow the U.S. economy. The withdrawal of Mr. Donovan, a longtime banking and investment management executive at Goldman, deals a blow to the Treasury Department just as it is embarking on the mammoth task of overhauling the tax code for the first time in 30 years. Will the third time be the charm for Jon S. Corzine? Mr. Corzine won a United States Senate seat after being maneuvered out of Goldman, eventually moving on to become governor of New Jersey. After losing the governorship to Chris Christie, he took over MF Global, which collapsed in 2011. Now, Mr. Corzine, 70, is planning his next act: a hedge fund tailored to take advantage of the chaos of the Trump era. In his first interview since the MF Global meltdown began, Mr. Corzine said that he would seek to anticipate how the Trump administration and other world leaders would enact policy. One of his Trump trades, for example, is designed to pay off if the stock market slumps, not unlike what happened on Wednesday. Shares of the Brazilian water utility Sabesp took a dip this week after it said it might raise new equity. Investors everywhere, however, will have to get used to such capital calls. Citigroup estimates that water companies need to spend up to $10 trillion globally by 2029 on new and upgraded infrastructure. Its true that Sabesp, the worlds fourth-largest water and sanitation company, could have done a better job with communication. Its missive at the end of last week didnt mention amounts or timing, and only when asked did executives say that nothing is likely to happen for at least a year. Sabesps current ownership complicates matters, too. The State of Sao Paulo owns a 50.3 percent stake, and any recapitalization plan would have to keep the government in control. Investors registered their confusion by sending the stock down on Monday and on a roller-coaster ride the next two days. For Fox News, it was another unkind week in an unkind year. The networks founding chairman, Roger E. Ailes, died on Thursday, sending a shock through a newsroom still reeling from a string of harassment scandals, lawsuits and high-profile departures. The threat of a federal investigation into the networks financial practices has lingered. And on Friday, another prominent on-air personality was abruptly tossed. Bob Beckel, a co-host of the prime-time talk show The Five, was fired after an African-American employee accused him of making a racially insensitive remark. The drumbeat of tough headlines has taken a toll on morale at Fox News, with employees on and off camera describing a feeling of being under siege. And after years as the undisputed king of cable news, Fox News ranked third in prime-time this week among the 25-54 age group most important to advertisers, finishing behind its rivals MSNBC and CNN. In total audience, MSNBC edged out Fox News in prime-time on three nights, an unsettling sign for an evening schedule scrambled by last months exit of Bill OReilly. In her 40 years as a photographer in the Denver area, Jill Kaplan did not think she would need her social work degree. But when it became harder to make a living as a professional photographer, she joined a growing army of part-time workers across the country who help older people living independently, completing household tasks and providing companionship. Elder concierge, as the industry is known, is a way for the semi- and fully retired to continue to work, and, from a business standpoint, the opportunities look as if they will keep growing. Around 10,000 people turn 65 every day in the United States, and by 2030, there will be 72 million people over 65 nationwide. Some 43 million people already provide care to family members either their own parents or children according to AARP, and half of them are sandwich generation women, ages 40 to 60. All told, they contribute an estimated $470 billion a year in unpaid assistance. I became a subscriber for the first time, and The Post had just monetized its scoop. As a private company since 2013, when the deep-pocketed Amazon founder Jeff Bezos bought it for $250 million, The Post doesnt disclose much financial data. But by all visible measures, including the vital but hard-to-measure buzz factor, the resurrection of The Post, both editorially and financially, in less than four years has been little short of astonishing. The Post has said that it was profitable last year and not through cost-cutting. On the contrary, under the newsroom leadership of Martin Baron, the former editor of The Boston Globe memorably portrayed in the film Spotlight, The Post has gone on a hiring spree. It has hired hundreds of reporters and editors and has more than tripled its technology staff. Last month, according to figures from comScore, The Post had 78.7 million unique users and 811 million digital page views, trailing only CNN and The New York Times among news organizations. The published numbers speculating about our subscription and ad revenue have so underestimated the reality that its comical, The Posts chief revenue officer, Jed Hartman, told me this week. Our digital ad revenue is in the solid nine figures, that is, in excess of $100 million. This year, he added, well have our third straight year of double-digit revenue growth. Craig Huber, a veteran media and newspaper analyst and founder of Huber Research Partners, said that while he had not seen The Posts data, the gains reported are striking. Im very, very surprised by those numbers, he said. No one else is even coming close. If thats correct, Im very impressed. A kind of pagan spirituality threads its way through Solange Knowless music videos, and her followers have picked up on that. Shes a witch in the best possible way, said Stephanie Griffin, a photographer, 26. Massiel Cedeno, 23, a dealer in vintage and secondhand clothing, chimed in: She is a priestess. You can see it in the way she leads. They were two in a racially diverse and mostly young crowd gathered outside the Guggenheim Museum on Thursday night for a performance by Ms. Knowles. Like Ms. Griffin, who wore a swingy white Alexander Wang dress, Ms. Cedeno was turned out in white in deference to a dress code Ms. Knowles had imposed. All the carpets are coming up, so they wont be a trip hazard, said Ernie MacNeill, walking through the split-level house in Fair Lawn, N.J., that he is remodeling for a client who struggles to walk. Mr. MacNeill also plans to widen a bathroom door to provide better access for a wheelchair or walker. Well knock this closet back, he added. The homes owner, Elliot Goldberg, 71, currently has to transfer from one stair lift to another to reach his third-level bedroom and bath. Moving the second-floor closet will make space for a new lift that can turn the corner and proceed upstairs, a far safer configuration. Mr. Goldberg, a Vietnam veteran with multiple health problems, has lived on this quiet suburban street for 30 years. His wife died four years ago, but he shares the house with their daughter and grandson. It was 3 a.m., and I was at a bar in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, when I first got the notification on my phone. President Hassan Rouhani of Iran, who is seeking a second term, was broadcasting a live video on Instagram. Its impossible to get Instagram videos once they are no longer live, so this was my one chance to catch Mr. Rouhanis speech. I ducked into the bathroom to listen in. Then, about 20 minutes later, Ebrahim Raisi, the hard-liner candidate, started a live stream of his own. The bartender and people sitting at the bar watched as I went back and forth to the bathroom wearing my headphones, clutching my phone and whiskey. Iran has blocked Facebook and Twitter since the 2009 antigovernment protests. For the first time, candidates were using unblocked social media platforms to get around state media restrictions. In a country where nearly one third of the electorate is under 30, reaching young people is crucial. And young people there are like young people here: They live on social media, and both candidates meant to meet them there. I decided to produce a video for The New York Times website that looked at their efforts. On Friday, the day Iranians head to the polls, we will see how successful those efforts were. The campaign videos became my 3 a.m. ritual. For two weeks, I slept with my phone by my ear, with the volume on high. Instagram alerts produce only a half-second ding I slept shallowly, afraid Id miss it. I wasnt sure where watching the rallies would lead. Although I am Iranian born in Tehran and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia and have the right to vote in the election, I was on the outside looking in. I have been back to Iran a handful of times; still, my clearest window into Iranian society has been through my cousins Instagram accounts. Their posts carried the details of their lives videos of the terrible traffic in Tehran; images of the cement factory where an acquaintance worked; selfies revealing how far back some of my friends wore head scarves. Back Story From Lawfare: Reporters only get to print a fraction of what they are told, given constraints of space, time and relevancy. In this post from Lawfare, a much-read legal affairs blog, its editor gives a riveting first-person account of what, how and why he told a Times reporter this week about his conversations with James Comey about Donald Trump, information that produced a front-page scoop. Michael Wines, national correspondent _____ Simply Devastating From Time: Russia may have found a way to alter the course of real-life events by manipulating public opinion through phishing, fake news and social media propaganda. Whats fascinating is that these tactics are not technically advanced disinformation tactics were used in the Cold War but the use of computing power to segment and target millions of people at once is forcing security experts to rethink their defensive measures. A great read for anyone who enjoys a good spy tale. Runa Sandvik, director of information security, newsroom Who you are your character and cultural background affects your approach to power. But contextual clues about how power should be used can be surprisingly effective in altering leadership behavior. For example, according to one survey, published last year in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, people generally had the notion that those with power should act more ethically than those without but in truth act less ethically. And when people reflected on how they felt power was actually used that is, unethically obtaining a sense of power themselves made them more likely to cheat in a dice game. But when they thought about how they felt it should be used ethically power made them less likely to cheat. A separate study found that awareness of the good behavior of others can improve the behavior of those with power. In that research, published in The Leadership Quarterly, students assigned to lead a group behaved less selfishly when told that other leaders had been unselfish. A heightened sense of accountability can also keep power in check. A study in Social Psychological and Personality Science found that making people feel powerful increased their clarity and compassion when they had to lay off an employee in a hypothetical situation, but only when they knew they had to explain their layoff approach to others. Merely shifting leaders focus to the experiences of others can lead them to use power in more thoughtful ways. In a forthcoming study in the British Journal of Social Psychology, researchers had undergraduates write about something that had happened to them or to someone they knew. Then the students evaluated their peers in a product-naming task, and some of them were given the power to help determine a winner. The researchers found that people with that power were more concerned about the peers they were evaluating than were those without it but only if theyd first been asked to recount anothers experience. Article: Amid Puerto Ricos Fiscal Ruins, a New Push for Statehood Before Reading How is Puerto Rico like a state in the U.S.? How is it different? List as many ways as you can think of for both. (If you need it, this interactive New York Times DealBook report on how Puerto Rico is grappling with its debt crisis can help.) Questions for Comprehension and Analysis 1. What did Ramon Rosario Cortes, Puerto Ricos public affairs secretary, say about Puerto Rican statehood? What was Gov. Ricardo Rossellos campaign promise, and what is he asking residents to do in June? 2. What hardships has the commonwealth of Puerto Rico endured under its current austerity period? 3. Describe the three main political parties. Why do some residents resist statehood? How popular is the Independence Party? 4. How many Puerto Ricans live on the United States mainland and how many live on the island commonwealth? Why have so many Puerto Ricans left the island in the past decade? CANNES, France As controversy continued to swirl here over the presence of two Netflix titles that are playing in the Cannes Film Festivals main competition but wont appear in any French theaters, the streaming giant finally broke its silence with a message that could be summed up as: The culture is changing and we listen to our 100 million customers. Were living amid a generation that has seen every great movie ever made on a phone, so I think we all have to come to grips with where technology takes us, Ted Sarandos, Netflixs chief content officer, said in a 90-minute interview here Friday with several news media outlets. Mr. Sarandos said that Netflix had chafed at a French rule requiring a three-year delay between a films theatrical release and appearance on a streaming service, part of the countrys complex film-financing system. (Talks in France to reduce that delay broke down this month; Frances new government is expected to tackle the issue.) The companys offerings here include Okja, Bong Joon-hos fantasy film about a genetically modified pig, and when the Netflix credit appeared onscreen Friday at the first media screening, loud boos arose from the audience, followed by some cheers. The divided house captured the moment at Cannes at this year, where Netflix has dominated conversations. (Even more boos broke out when the films framing was off for the first few minutes. It was started again from the beginning and the festival issued a statement apologizing for the technical problem.) Anthony D. Weiner, the former Democratic congressman whose sexting scandals ended his political career and embroiled him in a tumultuous F.B.I. investigation of Hillary Clinton before the election, pleaded guilty to a felony on Friday, crying openly as he admitted to conduct that he knew was as morally wrong as it was unlawful. The plea agreement ended a federal investigation into a series of sexually explicit pictures and messages that Mr. Weiner sent last year to a 15-year-old girl in North Carolina. It capped the long, tortured downfall of Mr. Weiner, who ruined a once-promising career in Congress and then spoiled various attempts at resurrecting his reputation, all through his uncontrolled habit of using social media and texts to send explicit images to women. It also cost him his marriage: His estranged wife, Huma Abedin, a top aide to Mrs. Clinton, filed for divorce from Mr. Weiner on Friday in New York, according to two people with knowledge of the action. NEWARK Visibly angered by weeks of negative campaign fliers and a new television ad attacking him, Jack Ciattarelli repeatedly fought back against his opponent in the Republican primary for New Jersey governor Thursday night, criticizing Kim Guadagnos plans for auditing the state government and questioning her political tactics in a fiery debate defined by interruptions and accusations. Mr. Ciattarelli, a state assemblyman, challenged the Guadagno campaigns integrity, accusing his opponent, the lieutenant governor, of promoting falsehoods about his record and of lying about her own. Within the first five minutes of the debate, Mr. Ciattarelli denounced Ms. Guadagnos plan to reduce property taxes as disingenuous, claiming that quite frankly, theres a bit of a lie there. Ms. Guadagno remained unruffled, sticking to her campaigns criticism of Mr. Ciattarelli, claiming his tax overhaul plan amounted to a $600 million tax increase, an allusion to his plan to raise income taxes on those making over $750,000 and $1 million annually. Mr. Ciattarelli says the increase would be offset by other tax changes. Mr. Ciattarellis aggressive posture comes as he finds himself trailing Ms. Guadagno in fund-raising and early polling, though he has recently edged closer. The one-hour debate, held at NJTVs studio here, was the final time the two would meet on stage in a televised encounter before the June 6 primary. Richard Rojas did not speak much about his three years in a Navy uniform, but when he returned to the Bronx from a naval base in Jacksonville, Fla., in 2014, he was a different man. His mind was clouded with conspiracy theories. His dreams of opening his own clothing business had wilted. He lashed out at friends who challenged him; some thought that his grasp of reality had slipped and that he needed psychiatric help. During a string of arrests in recent years, Mr. Rojas once threatened to kill police officers, and last week he accused a notary of trying to steal his identity and grabbed the mans neck, the authorities said. But despite his mounting aggression and mental health issues that began in childhood, friends and the authorities said, he never sought or received treatment, instead burrowing deeper into his paranoia, and smoking marijuana and drinking. On Thursday, Mr. Rojas, 26, was behind the wheel of a car that a friend said had been outfitted with a speeding detection system after a previous drunken-driving arrest. Under a wall of billboards and bright advertisements in Times Square, he waited for traffic to pass and then made a U-turn before accelerating and plowing through three and a half blocks of sidewalk crowds, killing an 18-year-old woman, Alyssa Elsman, and hurting 20 other people, the police said. Each year the Elsman girls went with family members on a trip, a vacation the two teenagers anticipated all year. On Thursday morning they were strolling the neon-trimmed heart of New York City when a motorist jumped the curb and plowed through three blocks of Times Square sidewalk and into crowds of pedestrians. Twenty people were injured, including 13-year-old Ava Elsman. One person was killed: Avas sister, Alyssa, who was 18. Alyssa was a delight to know but initially reserved, said Eric Alburtus, the principal of Central High School in Portage, Mich., the city of about 48,000 people where she grew up. You had to work to get to know her, he said. And it was worth it. She excelled in the schools culinary arts program and was known for her baking. Her reserve fell away whenever she was selling muffins to raise money for the school to buy new equipment for the student kitchen. Alyssa would stroll the school halls with a trolley loaded with baked goods during her free periods, Mr. Alburtus said, selling her creations to fellow students. That was her way of connecting with people, he said. Grief counselors were at the school Friday to meet with students, Mr. Alburtus said. Alyssas culinary instructor could not bear to go to school on the day after her students death, Mr. Alburtus said. HOUSTON Its happening again. The stirring of the heart. The quickening of the pulse. The desire to abandon reality, even if you suspect theres a world of hurt to come. Love, thy name is Beto. If you havent heard, our junior senator from Texas, a.k.a. Darth Vader, a.k.a. Voldemort, a.k.a. Ted Cruz, has a challenger for 2018, a 44-year-old Democratic congressman from El Paso by the name of Beto ORourke. Mr. ORourke may still be unknown to many, even in the state, but for those searching for a savior of the Turn Texas Blue variety, the crush is blossoming. Among statewide Democratic insiders, Beto is already a member of the First Name Club, with Madonna and Cher. Weve been here before, of course. Most cruelly in 2014, with State Senator Wendy Daviss quixotic quest to defeat Greg Abbott. The livestreaming of her filibuster to kill a heinous anti-abortion bill on the floor of the State Legislature turned Ms. Davis overnight into the Great Democratic Hope of Texas. She was smart (Harvard Law School). She was gorgeous (remember the fangirl spread in Vogue?). And she had a respectable progressive record as both a city councilwoman and a state representative from Fort Worth. Wendy was gonna do it! She didnt. Our right-wing governor crushed her by about 20 points. Yes, there were some dumb campaign choices, and not even the truest believers could blame sexism entirely for the loss, but the bottom line was that the Republican Party was still running Texas. One day, ideally in the not-too-distant future, when Congress finally passes major legislation to curb carbon emissions to reduce the environmental and economic harm caused by climate change Americans will owe a big thank you to the perseverance and discipline of the Citizens Climate Lobby. Special appreciation should go to one volunteer, Jay Butera, a businessman from Pennsylvania who has put intense effort into getting Democrats and Republicans in Congress to begin talking with one another about potential solutions. The Citizens Climate Lobby is a network of volunteers who have come together in the last several years to advance climate policy in a bipartisan manner. Its support base has increased fivefold since 2015 to 60,000 supporters; among them, 23,000 are actively working to build political will for a national, revenue-neutral carbon fee-and-dividend system, a market-based approach that aims to reduce carbon emissions while spurring employment. Over the past year, volunteers have held 1,429 meetings with their representatives offices, organized 2,597 outreach events, and prompted or written 3,339 editorials, op-ed essays, and letters to the editor. In 2010, the organizations annual conference drew 25 participants; next month, the network expects to welcome 1,200 in Washington. These activities have strengthened relationships between constituents and their representatives and have been instrumental in two significant developments in the House of Representatives: the introduction, in March, of the Republican Climate Resolution, which now has 20 co-sponsors, and the creation of the first bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus. Louis XIV of France summed up his view of power with the phrase LEtat, cest moi, or I am the State. Donald Trump became president four months ago with roughly the same idea. In the Trump universe, he had been judge, jury and executioner. He saw no reason why that would change. Trump had no knowledge of, or interest in, the checks and balances enshrined in the Constitution. Circumscribed power was for losers, a category of humanity for which he reserves his greatest disdain. Just this week, after passing along classified information about the Islamic State to Russia, and so jeopardizing an allys intelligence asset, Trump tweeted that he had the absolute right to do so. Absolutism is Trumps thing. Hes installed his family in senior White House posts where influence and business intersect. His aides are terrified. His press secretary hides among the bushes. The family knows everything; nobody else knows anything. He demanded loyalty of the F.B.I. director he subsequently fired for lese-majeste. All this is right out of Despotism 101. Absolutism is not, however, Americas thing. In fact it is what the United States was created to escape from. The Declaration of Independence excoriates the absolute Tyranny over these States, exercised by King George III. Among the British kings usurpations: He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries. GROVE CITY, Pa. On Saturday, Vice President Mike Pence will give the commencement address at Grove City College, the small Christian institution in Western Pennsylvania where I am a junior. A few years ago, Mr. Pence would have been a noncontroversial choice. Other prominent Republicans, including Ben Carson, Jeb Bush and Laura Bush, have spoken here, and the school is known for its conservative values. Indeed, the phrase conservative values is in the Grove City mission statement. But the announcement that Mr. Pence would be commencement speaker this year drew considerable backlash. Alumni and students flooded administrators inboxes with emails protesting the decision, and faculty members have called for boycotts. Many who oppose the decision say that hosting Mr. Pence will serve as an endorsement of the current president. This is an interesting crossroads for the school. Grove City is proud of its image as a steadfastly conservative Christian oasis in the increasingly liberal landscape of higher education. On campus, conservative politics and conservative faith usually go hand in hand. Students study the politics of Ronald Reagan and the literature of C. S. Lewis as well as the Bible. Most of us were raised in Protestant evangelical households, and more than 16 percent of the 2,500 students were home-schooled. Some students have had little exposure to popular culture or liberal politics. A few seem to see their conservative political affiliation as a ticket to eternal salvation. Among those under 30 who initially identified as Republicans or leaned Republican in December 2015, 23% shifted to the Democratic Party, Pew reported this week. The average switch rate for other groups was just above 10 percent. Not surprisingly, many of the people who stopped identifying as Republicans also held negative views about Trump. These millenials are the flip side of Trumps success in attracting white working-class voters whod previously stayed home or voted Democratic. He has done so in part by aligning the Republican Party more closely with white nationalism, which played a role in his huge victory margins in older, less metropolitan America. Yet it also seems to have further turned off young voters, including some who previously identified as Republican. Younger voters already leaned left. Theyre notably more diverse, more liberal on many social issues and more optimistic about the countrys future than many Trump voters. Who knows whether the recent shifts will stick. But they do present a real risk for the Republican Party. Research has shown that generations tend to adopt political habits that last a lifetime. The cliche that the young are liberal and the old are conservative is mostly untrue. Liberal or conservative, the young often retain their ideology as they age. Right now, the Republican Party is Donald Trumps party, and fewer than one in three adults under the age of 30 approve of him. In its balance of experience and freshness, left and right, men and women, the cabinet that Frances new president, Emmanuel Macron, announced on Wednesday is a true reflection of the fundamental realignment of French politics that he has promised. But the teams survival in office and Mr. Macrons ability to pursue the fundamental reforms he seeks will require the same tenacity, brilliance and luck that brought someone as untested and largely unknown as he to power. The next key to Mr. Macrons improbable quest lies in the parliamentary elections to be held in two rounds on June 11 and 18. The movement Mr. Macron launched 13 months ago, En Marche! (On the Move!), recently recast as a political party called La Republique en Marche!, has yet to elect a single deputy to the 577-seat National Assembly. Nonetheless, the party intends to run candidates in almost every district, counting on at least some defections from mainstream parties of left and right. Polls suggest that La Republique en Marche! could do well, but what that means concretely fades rapidly into the unknown. French presidents past have usually ushered a majority into the National Assembly, and even a strong minority would empower Mr. Macrons party to form effective alliances. But if the center-right Republican party, say, wins a majority and it is campaigning hard it would install its own prime minister and cabinet, imposing its own agenda on the president. Mr. Macrons choice for prime minister, Edouard Philippe, was no doubt made in part with the notion of luring Republicans over. Mr. Philippe, 46, is a Republican defector and one-time top lieutenant to Alain Juppe, a former prime minister who came in second in his partys primary last year. BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan For the past four years I have been walking across the earth. As I retrace the paths of our species first Stone Age migration out of Africa, Im writing about my encounters along the modern global trail. I am often asked about safety. Americans in particular seem preoccupied by risk: How do I escape beheading by jihadists or assaults by bandits? I have had close shaves. In Ethiopia I was forced to sneak at night around pastures contested by armed nomads on camels. Israeli soldiers fired rubber bullets at me as I zigzagged through the West Bank. Some joker stole my buried water cache in Uzbekistan, stranding me in a corrugated desert the size of Arizona. And to date, the police in 10 countries have detained me 84 times for, well, suspicious walking. (Im logging these police stops on a digital freedom of movement map.) Still, as a member of one of the most disempowered minorities in our motorized age a pedestrian I can assert with confidence that by and large, our shared planet is not a dangerous place. In fact, its chockablock with exceedingly nice people. Few of them speak my language. Almost none look like me. Yet during the past 1,567 days on foot these strangers have helped me stay healthy and alive. This inclines me to like them. I suppose this makes me a xenophile. To those who were not present for our vows, I apologize for the confusion. [DONT LOOK AT MEGHAN.] While crowd control is the most vital part of every sacred pledge of eternal devotion, clearly those no ring, no bring stories were a very, very long-running gag that we simply forgot to deny, and you were all actually invited and not just certain people who happen to be dating extremely important other people. [REALLY DO NOT LOOK AT MEGHAN.] I regret that my husband neglected to let you in on the joke, and please rest assured I have already forgotten all your texts and emails and voice messages and that one box full of ticked-off bees. [DONT LOOK AT MEGHAN. THERE IS NO MEGHAN.] To make it up to you, the wedding ceremony will be screened in the north wing of the tent every 20 minutes, until everyone passes the quiz and we can serve the cake. Speaking of treats, thank you to my beloved brother, whose business provided wonderful marshmallows with our faces on them sorry, multisensory magical marshmallows for everyone to take home. You can imagine how utterly gutted I was when a teensy accident during todays fireworks rehearsal set them ablaze. [IF CANT CONJURE TEARS, STAB HAND WITH FORK.] We shall have to muddle through and imagine what might have been. I owe an enormous emotional debt to my parents, who really heard me when I said, I will never be truly happy unless Im married in a million-pound greenhouse. And Kate, or Catherine Im afraid I cant keep straight what Im to call you anymore it was selfless of you to sacrifice being in the wedding to focus on keeping Charlottes barrettes at the designated angle and George from eating the floral arrangements. But I still felt your support as keenly as if you were next to me, rather than in the spot I saved for you behind that potted tree. And to William and Harry, the brothers I never had [BLOW ACTUAL BROTHER WHATSHISNAME A KISS.], thanks for bravely taking a break in your harrowing royal schedules to be here with me. Harry, I hope my legal initiation into wedded bliss finally ends our wild, covert love affair. [ALLOW LAUGHS, BUT KEEP IT REAL.] No, no. Were just terribly good friends, and absolutely no one here should feel even the slightest bit awkward when I say, Harry, I really shall miss the poodle, nudge-nudge. [STARE SMUGLY AT MEGHAN BECAUSE WHY NOT.] Finally, to my beloved husband, Roger Federer. [HOUSE WILL BE BROUGHT DOWN BY UPROARIOUS LAUGHTER.] Yes, Roger, I see you over there. Thank you for choosing the blossom of two peoples consensual passion over the French Open. I dare say Andy Murray has a lot to answer for here. Just what kind of patriot is he? Right, the first of 12 courses is coming now. Please do follow the wine pairing suggestions or else youll ruin everything. After you are sated and amazed, rest comfortably knowing tonights menu will be in my next party-planning book, Pip Pip Hooray, all about throwing your dream wedding on a budget. [IF LAUGHTER, SHOOT MURDEROUS LOOK, CANCEL OPEN BAR.] And mepredicts a disaster. The Israel component already is, and not only because he was just caught sharing Israeli intelligence with the Russians. He abandoned the idea of a speech at the mountain fortress of Masada after he was denied permission to land his helicopter on such an archaeologically sensitive site. When Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton went there, they were content to take the cable car to the top. He baffled Israelis with his reported insistence on keeping his visit to Yad Vashem, a cherished Holocaust memorial, to just 15 minutes. President Barack Obama devoted about an hour to it. So did Bush. And in rejecting any joint appearance at the Western Wall with Benjamin Netanyahu, an administration official specified that the wall did not belong to Israel. Thats a widely held position, but its gratuitous enunciation doesnt make Israelis hearts go pitter patter. Trump has been flamboyantly chasing salvation from the moment he stepped out on the campaign trail. Thats largely why he picked Mike Pence, a darling of the religious right, as his running mate. Its behind his recent instructions to the Internal Revenue Service to give religious groups leeway for political lobbying. Last Saturday, for his first commencement speech as president, he chose Liberty University, an evangelical Christian school whose president, Jerry Falwell Jr., told the crowd, I do not believe any president in our lifetimes has done so much that has benefited the Christian community in such a short time span as Donald Trump. Then Trump got up and marveled at the size of the crowd hed drawn, because his particular brand of spirituality is heavy on self-veneration. He articulated loftier thoughts, too. In America, he said, we dont worship government. We worship God. I was a child when the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos decreed martial law in 1972, casting a long spell over the Philippines. Martial-law baby became the phrase for people like me, Filipinos who grew up under authoritarianism, blind to its buildup. We martial-law babies are living an eerie moment today: With Rodrigo Duterte now president, its like history is making a bad pun. When norms shift, one of the first things to change is language. In a fascist world, shocking neologisms become everyday speech. Stockade was a special verb I learned as a little girl. Na-stockade hiya, or he was put in the stockade, was the explanation for someone jailed for staying out after curfew during martial law. Youd say na-curfew when a playmate got stuck in your home after hours and to avoid becoming na-stockade would stay for a sleepover. Language normalized our new un-freedoms. The most mysterious phrase for me as a child was habeas corpus; it wasnt a recent invention, but it was newly common. I would hear it often on public service announcements on TV, not understanding it even after my friends sister, a university student in Manila, disappeared. Leticia was an activist, and the Philippine Constabulary, first set up in 1901, during the U.S. colonial period, took her. We learned later that Leticia had been salvaged, or tortured and killed in unknown circumstances another term of art under martial law. It was a cross of two words: to savage and to be salvaje, which means wild in Spanish, but naughty or abusive in Tagalog. Add to that obscene joke the play on its meaning in English: to redeem, to extract from a wreck. This new word alone captured the long history of oppression in the Philippines Spanish, American and self-made. Leticias body was never found. Most adults recall memorizing the names of rivers or the Pythagorean theorem in school and wondering, When am I ever gonna use this stuff? Kids today have a high-profile spokesman. Jonathan Rochelle, the director of Googles education apps group, said last year at an industry conference that he cannot answer why his children should learn the quadratic equation. He wonders why they cannot ask Google. If Mr. Rochelle cannot answer his children, I can. Google is good at finding information, but the brain beats it in two essential ways. Champions of Google underestimate how much the meaning of words and sentences changes with context. Consider vocabulary. Every teacher knows that a sixth grader, armed with a thesaurus, will often submit a paper studded with words used in not-quite-correct ways, like the student who looked up meticulous, saw it meant very careful, and wrote I was meticulous when I fell off the cliff. With the right knowledge in memory, your brain deftly puts words in context. Consider Trisha spilled her coffee. When followed by the sentence Dan jumped up to get a rag, the brain instantly highlights one aspect of the meaning of spill spills make a mess. Had the second sentence been Dan jumped up to get her more, you would have thought instead of the fact that spill means Trisha had less of something. Still another aspect of meaning would come to mind had you read, Dan jumped up, howling in pain. The meaning of spill depends on context, but dictionaries, including internet dictionaries, necessarily offer context-free meanings. Thats why kids fall off cliffs meticulously. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints last week announced a plan to scale back its involvement in the Boy Scouts of America by removing from the organization all Mormon boys between the ages of 14 and 18, estimated to be around 185,000 scouts. Many observers have speculated that the 100-year partnership between the Mormon Church and the Boy Scouts of America was dissolving over values, because of the scout organizations evolving view of homosexuality and its moves to end historic practices of discrimination. So, does this rift indicate that the Boy Scouts of America is finally catching up with the rest of America on the view that such discrimination is wrong? The Boy Scouts of America ended its full ban on openly gay youth in 2013, and then considered ending its ban on gay scout leaders in 2015. Under pressure from the Mormon Church, the Boy Scouts of America stopped short of prohibiting discrimination against openly gay scout leaders. The Boy Scouts determined that the national organization would no longer ban gay scout leaders but would allow local units to make their determination to respect the right of religious chartered organizations. The religious exemption effectively allows local troops, including those affiliated with the Mormon Church, to exclude openly gay members from serving as scout leaders. Even with this exemption, the Mormon Church was incensed, and vocal in its displeasure, about the easing of the ban. The church stated that the admission of openly gay leaders is inconsistent with the doctrines of the Church and what have traditionally been the values of the Boy Scouts of America and noted that after further review, the church might abandon scouting. NEW YORK I want to carry on living, I want to carry on breathing. To die would be to stop writing, my friend Javier Valdez Cardenas once said, to explain why he persisted in reporting and writing about Mexican drug trafficking and its victims despite the dangers. Javiers latest column for the weekly Riodoce, which he founded in 2003, was published on Monday, detailing abuse at a drug-treatment center. The same day, Javiers life ended abruptly after he was shot more than 10 times in downtown Culiacan, the capital of Sinaloa state, near the Riodoce offices. Javier and his colleagues were always aware that covering crime and corruption in Sinaloa is like wading through a swamp filled with alligators. At Riodoce, reporters are forced to thoroughly review every story and consider what information they must choose to censor just to stay safe. We are testing limits every day, Javier said. Its as if we have been trained to do journalism in the midst of war. Although he was the author of books about the drug trade, he once told me that he hated to count dead bodies. At Riodoce, he said, we prefer to tell the stories of people involved in narcotics trafficking, including drug lords, thugs and ordinary citizens. Javier always insisted on portraying the human aspect of drug violence. He maintained a great sense of humor and refused to be silenced by the powerful criminal organizations perpetrating violence and corruption in Sinaloa. After the Committee to Protect Journalists recognized Javier for his courage with an International Press Freedom Award in New York in 2011, we became close friends. This is really messed up, bato, he would tell me frequently, using Mexican slang to describe the wave of unprecedented violence affecting the Mexican media. In the past two months, before Javiers murder, at least five journalists were killed, and the C.P.J. has confirmed that four of them died in reprisal for their work. The mere threat that Obamacare will be dismantled or radically changed either by Congress or by President Trump himself has persuaded several big insurance companies to stop selling policies or significantly raise premiums. The practical effect is that some lower-income and middle-class families may have no good options for insurance and will have to spend more on health care. Theres no new Affordable Care Act yet; the House passed a very bad bill, but the Senate has yet to act. Still, in places like Iowa, Nebraska and Tennessee, companies such as Aetna and Wellmark are so spooked by the uncertainty that they are considering abandoning the market. Other insurers are asking state regulators for permission to raise premiums by as much as 53 percent. This should trouble not just the 12.2 million people who have bought insurance on federal and state exchanges, but also policy makers, since Washington may have to spend more on subsidies if premiums go up. Mr. Trump, not surprisingly, describes things differently. He claims that uncertainty in the insurance industry is evidence that Obamacare is collapsing and needs repeal, not that he and his allies have created the uncertainty. This is disingenuous nonsense. On the whole, insurance markets in much of the country are on stable footing and will remain so if Congress doesnt do things to undermine Obamacare, according to a March report by the Congressional Budget Office. And insurers selling policies under the A.C.A. actually did better financially in 2016 than in the year before, according to an April report by Standard & Poors. So, why are insurers fearful and threatening to quit Obamacare or jack up premiums? There are a few big reasons. First, the House passed a bill this month that would take insurance away from at least 24 million people by slashing spending on Medicaid and cutting the subsidies the government uses to help people buy insurance. Second, Mr. Trump has threatened to stop making about $7 billion in payments to insurance companies to help lower the cost of co-pays, deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs for lower-income and middle-class families. If the administration carries out that threat, insurers would raise premiums by about 19 percent, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Third, insurers are worried that the Trump administration will stop enforcing the A.C.A. provision that requires people to buy health insurance or pay a penalty. That could hurt them by reducing the number of younger and healthier people who sign up. The G.O.P., by contrast, is one branch of a monolithic structure, movement conservatism, with a rigid ideology tax cuts for the rich above all else. Other branches of the structure include a captive media that parrots the party line every step of the way. Compare the coverage of recent political developments on Fox News with almost everywhere else; were talking North Korea levels of alternative reality. And this monolithic structure lavishly supported by a small number of very, very wealthy families rewards, indeed insists on, absolute fealty. Furthermore, the structure has been in place for a long time: It has been 36 years since Reagan was elected, 22 years since the Gingrich takeover of Congress. What this means is that nearly all Republicans in todays Congress are apparatchiks, political creatures with no higher principle beyond party loyalty. The fact that the G.O.P. is a party of apparatchiks was one crucial factor in last years election. Why did Marine Le Pen, often portrayed as the French equivalent of Trump, lose by a huge margin? Because Frances conservatives were only willing to go so far; they simply would not support a candidate whose motives and qualifications they distrusted. Republicans, however, went all in behind Trump, knowing full well that he was totally unqualified, strongly suspecting that he was corrupt and even speculating that he might be in Russian pay, simply because there was an R after his name on the ballot. And even now, with the Trump/Flynn/Comey story getting worse by the hour, there has been no significant breaking of ranks. If youre waiting to find the modern version of Howard Baker, the Republican senator who asked What did the president know, and when did he know it? youre wasting your time. Men like that left the G.O.P. a long time ago. Does this mean that Trump will be able to hold on despite his multiple scandals and abuses of power? Actually, yes, he might. The answer probably hinges on the next few special elections: Republicans wont turn on Trump unless he has become such a political liability that he must be dumped. And even if Trump goes, one way or another, the threat to the Republic will be far from over. In a perverse way, we should count ourselves lucky that Trump is as terrible as he is. Think of what it has taken to get us to this point his Twitter addiction, his bizarre loyalty to Flynn and affection for Putin, the raw exploitation of his office to enrich his family, the business dealings, whatever they were, hes evidently trying to cover up by refusing to release his taxes. The point is that given the character of the Republican Party, wed be well on the way to autocracy if the man in the White House had even slightly more self-control. Trump may have done himself in; but it can still happen here. The president calls Mr. Comey to make a request. In response, according to two people who were briefed on the conversation, Mr. Comey tells Mr. Trump that he needs to stop trying to discuss current investigations with him. Over lunch, Mr. Comey shares his fears about the president with a friend. That friend, Benjamin Wittes, talks on the record and on tape to The Times. Background reading: Mr. Schmidts latest story about how the presidents efforts to reach out made Mr. Comey uneasy. The president responds to the appointment of a special counsel, saying its a witch hunt and arguing that collusion divides the country. Tune in, and tell us what you think. Email us at thedaily@nytimes.com. Tweet me at @mikiebarb. And if that isnt enough, we can even text. How do I listen? If you dont see an audio player on this page or to subscribe to The Daily for free, follow the instructions below. Yes, its a little tricky, Rosenberg said. American intelligence officials have asked that we not do this, saying that we could literally destroy the intelligence gathering and put lives in danger. Yet by that afternoon, The Times did name the ally: Israel. The reversal befuddled a number of readers. Why did the Times ultimately reveal that Israel was the source of the intelligence when the crux of the initial story was that President Trumps leak of info was so damaging because it made it possible for the Russians to figure out who the source was? Indeed, on the morning podcast the reporter, who seemed to know the source, was specifically not revealing it. Leslie Werstein Hann, Glen Gardner, N.J. We asked Joe Kahn, the managing editor, to help clarify The Timess thinking. Its a fair question. We did in fact hold off naming Israel as the source of the intelligence the first day. The second day several reporters pressed for answers as to why we should hold off. The answers we were given by several senior officials were boilerplate and off the record. We asked for greater detail about the ways this information could cause problems and no detail was forthcoming. While we named Israel as the source, we did not discuss specifics of how the intelligence was gathered. So there were unconvincing reasons for not publishing. There were also convincing reasons in favor of publishing. For one, Israel is particularly wary of Russia, which has close relationships with Iran and Syria, avowed enemies of Israel. Second, Trump is on his way to Israel for his first major overseas trip. So for reasons involving diplomacy and relations with a crucial ally, we considered the fact that Israel was the source to be newsworthy and in the public interest. The public editors take: I agree. Its a good question and a helpful response. Its hard to withhold relevant information if the government isnt providing a compelling reason to do so. For several years, The Times has put out a call for high school seniors to submit their college application essays that focused on money, work and class. This years selection, chosen by the Your Money columnist, Ron Lieber, was published last Friday, packaged in two articles: one announcing the five students, the other presenting their essays. Except only four of those essays appeared in that article all of which were from white students while the other appeared on The Timess new Snapchat Discover. New York Citys rental season kicks into high gear this month, as college graduates start looking for apartments, along with anyone else hoping to move when the weather is warm and school is out. Most years, apartment hunters see rents rise with the temperature. But this season, as the rental market enters its third slow year, renters may instead see some deals. In an effort to lure new tenants, landlords are coming up with increasingly creative offers. Want a free years subscription to Netflix with that lease? You might be able to get it. How about a flat-screen TV? That could be on the table, too. Even the security deposit could be up for negotiation, as landlords have been reducing that fee, too. As thousands of new apartments flood the housing market, landlords face steep competition. Last year, 8,774 market-rate units opened in Manhattan and Brooklyn, with an additional 15,291 opening this year, according to Citi Habitats, a brokerage firm. Even though those apartments are among the most expensive in the city, so much new inventory is having an impact on prices at older buildings, even in neighborhoods without much new construction. So landlords are looking for more novel ways to stand out, without actually lowering the rent. Its the story of 2017, said Gabby Warshawer, the director of research for CityRealty, which has seen a spike in buildings offering reduced security deposits, with some asking as little as $500, as opposed to the time-honored one months rent. All of this historic level of new development has to be leased, and it will be, but not yet. When Benny Ventura, a 25-year-old visual designer from Austin, Tex., moved to New York last September, he knew he would not be making enough to live alone, but he did not know anyone he could split an apartment with. Like countless other freshly minted New Yorkers, he set about looking for a room. He found an apartment easily enough: a newly renovated three-bedroom in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn, with rent just shy of $3,000 a month. But to move in, he needed to find two roommates within a month. Such situations have become so common that Nooklyn, the Brooklyn-based brokerage that Mr. Ventura found his apartment through, has built a version of Match.com for roommates into its apartment-hunting app. It took almost the entire month, he said. I think I met 15 people for coffee. It was like speed dating. Id done shares before in Austin, but I knew all my roommates. I didnt have to scout for them. While brokers have been urging budget-constrained renters to get roommates for decades, only recently have they started to take a more proactive role in the process, actively offering matching services or posting Craigslist ads for rooms in larger apartments. The practice is just one of many ways that New York Citys rental market is moving toward a rent-by-the-room model a response to the imbalance between New Yorks large single population and the prohibitively high cost of living alone, and, perhaps not coincidentally, a model that thrived in the last century. When we look up at the night sky, we see twinkling stars. When a satellite orbiting a million miles away looks down upon Earth, it sees twinkles, too. For years NASA scientists, including the renowned astronomer Carl Sagan, wondered what the mysterious glints of light appearing on satellite images were. Now, a team of researchers thinks it has uncovered what causes the unexpected flashes. These glints are from ice crystals, said Alexander Marshak, a research scientist at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland and the lead author of a study published Monday in Geophysical Research Letters. When oriented just right, he said, the tiny ice particles floating high within clouds reflect sunlight in dazzling fashion. And our ability to spot them on Earth could one day help us study the atmospheres of planets that orbit distant stars. Dr. Marshak is the deputy project scientist for the Deep Space Climate Observatory satellite, or Dscovr, which is operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The satellite, which was launched in June 2015, uses instruments that study the sun and also some focused on Earth, which helps with studies of the planets climate and how it is changing. A Trump administration budget blueprint for NASA proposed discontinuing its Earth-focused instruments. The film, about a party girl who feuds with her dead boyfriends mother, is based on a novel by Janet Fitch, which Amy Poehler recommended to Ms. Tamblyn 10 years ago. It was a constant uphill battle all the way up to shooting it, she said. I understand who I am now in a larger way. I never really felt like I knew who I was as an actress. Mr. Cross joined her at the subway pole. They met at an awards show, they explained, then crossed paths again when Ms. Tamblyn was shooting a film in the East Village, where he was living. I gave my number to the P.A.s and said, If shes looking to find out anything about New York, she can give me a call, he said. She never called, but about a year later they saw each other on a plane to Shreveport, La., where she was shooting Beyond a Reasonable Doubt and he was doing Year One. They wound up at a bar where it was swingers night. Story hour, long a mommy-and-me staple, had never looked so colorful. She stood well over six feet tall, the reader at the Hudson Park branch of the New York Public Library in Greenwich Village, her height aided by six-inch heels on purple patent leather boots. Her outfit was an oxymoronic neon camouflage bodysuit and a purple tutu. A tuft of fuchsia hair curled from under a spandex headdress with fabric-covered cylinders lined up in a row, like a Keith Haring-inspired Mohawk. As she entered, the adults clapped politely, but the preschool- and kindergarten-age children huddled on a rug went wild. With the elation typically reserved for a Frozen character, one toddler screamed Yay! and clapped furiously, squirming in his mothers lap. My name is Harmonica Sunbeam, the reader said, in a voice used to loud rooms. As a warm-up, she had the children sing This Land Is Your Land and then march vigorously in place. Im getting you ready for Zumba, she said to laughter from the over-6 set. She sat down and read aloud from Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress by Christine Baldacchino. The book is about a boy who wore a beloved dress to school every day. At one point, Morriss friends inform him that he isnt allowed to play on their imaginary spaceship, because astronauts cant wear dresses. Down a side street in leafy Notting Hill, the womens clothing line Talitha, best known for the sort of silk caftans and tasseled blouses you might cover up with in Belize or Formenterra, has opened its first store. Founders Kim Hersov and Shon Randhawa have outfitted it to look like the richly textured home of an eclectic globe-trotter, with furniture and knickknacks collected from all over the world, plus a four-poster ash bed by their interior designer, Hubert Zandberg. These days, a cozy, impeccably curated space is a must for a brick-and-mortar boutique, but the pair have more than aesthetics in mind: Everything from the Madagascan raffia blind on the back window to the painting of a woman in profile hanging on the peacock-blue wall is for sale. This should keep them roaming for replacements, even if clothing will remain at the heart of the operation. Talitha is the name of Hersov and Randhawas fantasy muse, a woman apt to change her closet and home according to what shes seen. Maybe she just got back from safari; next season things might lean retro Palm Beach, Hersov says. The eye has to travel, after all. HATTIE CRISELL A Mysterious-Looking Thing to Hold Your Plants The Justice Departments aggressive antitrust fight with Microsoft nearly two decades ago and even its attempt to block the software company Oracles acquisition of a rival several years later seem like relics of a forgotten era for the tech industry in the United States. Europeans, however, have kept up tough scrutiny of the industry, as seen in the recent fine against Facebook and the continued examination of Googles advertising and data collection practices. As Mark Scott writes, Amazon, Apple, Google and Microsoft have all become targets of long antitrust investigations in the past two decades. And in an industry that depends so much on international customers, the laws of other countries can matter just as much as the regulations at home. LONDON Glenda Jackson, the Oscar-winning actress and former member of the British Parliament who returned to the stage last fall at the age of 80 as King Lear, will star on Broadway next year in Edward Albees play Three Tall Women, the producers announced on Thursday. The Emmy Award winner Laurie Metcalf will also star. Joe Mantello will direct the production, which will begin previews in February. Three Tall Women, which won the Pulitzer Prize for drama in 1994, has never before had a Broadway run. The play centers largely on a well-to-do woman in her 90s, modeled on Albees mother, as she looks back over her life. Mr. Albee died in 2016 at 88. Students enroll in a teachers classroom. Nine months later, they take a test. How much did the first event, the teaching, cause the second event, the test scores? Students have vastly different abilities and backgrounds. A great teacher could see lower test scores after being assigned unusually hard-to-teach kids. A mediocre teacher could see higher scores after getting a class of geniuses. Thirty-five years ago, a statistician, William S. Sanders, offered an answer to that puzzle. It relied, unexpectedly, on statistical methods that were developed to understand animal breeding patterns. Mr. Sanders died in March in his home state, Tennessee, at age 74, with his name little known outside education circles. But the teacher-assessment method he developed attracted a host of reformers and powerful lawmakers, leading to some of the most bitter conflicts in American education. In 1945, the United States government set off an atomic bomb. Thats how Mr. Sanders began telling me the story of his life, when we met several years ago. An Alabama judge who once complained on Facebook of being racially profiled by the police refused on Thursday to recuse himself in a case involving a white police officers fatal shooting of a black man. Defense lawyers had argued that two posts by the judge, Greg Griffin of the Montgomery County Circuit Court, created the appearance of a conflict, one of the lawyers, Roianne Conner, said in a phone interview. But Judge Griffin denied the defenses motion during a hearing on Thursday morning, Ms. Conner said. He took it very personally, she said. He told me he could take off his black robe, but he couldnt take off his black skin. Good morning. (Want to get California Today by email? Heres the sign-up.) Todays introduction comes from Conor Dougherty, a reporter based in the Bay Area. Workers around the country are increasingly being asked to sign noncompete agreements devised to keep them from leaving their job for a rival company. Its a trend that has extended down the economic ladder to people like hairdressers and dirt-shovelers who are unlikely to possess trade secrets. But Californians dont have to worry about it. California law prohibits noncompetes, and this ban is often cited as key to the development of Silicon Valley. To learn more about how this law helped create the modern technology industry, we talked to AnnaLee Saxenian, dean of the U.C. Berkeley School of Information and author of Regional Advantage: Culture and Competition in Silicon Valley and Route 128. Q. How important was Californias ban to the development of the Valley? A. If there had been aggressive enforcement of noncompetes, Silicon Valley would probably not be what it is today. But the dynamism goes beyond the legal context. From the very early days there was a sense in the Bay Area that people were in it together and trying to build something different, and they built a culture where it was O.K. to share information more openly and it was O.K. to leave to start something new. But that source might run dry if President Trump gets his way. His full budget proposal, expected to be released on Tuesday, will zero out the program, which funds efforts like Meals on Wheels, homeless shelters for veterans, and in Ms. Rodriguezs case, water improvements for her rural community, which voted for Mr. Trump. Mr. Trump, who wants to build a wall on the border with Mexico and increase defense spending, has said that the grant program is not well targeted to the poorest populations and has not demonstrated results. Robert Rector, a senior research fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation who specializes in welfare and poverty, called the program a model of inefficiency. The F.C.C. held a hearing on Thursday about net neutrality rules and when it ended, the commissioners fielded questions from reporters in an impromptu news conference. Mr. Donnelly said he wanted to discuss a different topic privately. As he waited in a hallway for one of the commissioners, he spotted Commissioner Michael P. ORielly. Commissioner, I have a question, Mr. Donnelly said he began to say, but that was as far as he got before two security officials in plain clothes turned their backs on him, stood together and in a vise move pressed him into a wall for about 10 seconds as the commissioner walked by. Mr. Donnelly said he is 165 pounds and 5 feet 10 inches tall. By his estimate, each of the security officials weighed at least 20 pounds more and were about the same height or slightly taller. Mr. Donnelly, 56, said he was not hurt but was incredulous about what happened. I tried to ask a question of a public official in a taxpayer-funded public building, and I did so politely, and I was treated as if I had thrown food at a commissioner, he said. There was absolutely nothing in my countenance that could be perceived as a threat. I think they interpreted that I was going to ask a question, and they were determined to stop it. He was holding a recorder, pen and pad and was wearing a press pass, he said. Mr. Donnelly said he asked the men: Really? Youve got to block me like that? He said one of the security officials, whom he identified as Frederick W. Bucher, asked why he didnt ask his question at the news conference. This has really captured the attention of all senators, and all Americans really, said Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, charged with investigating the role of Russia in Mr. Trumps election. I am getting calls from supporters asking questions about things like martial law, Mr. Warner said. And remember I am a moderate! He added, The absence of other substantive legislative activity makes this all the more in focus. Republican leaders tried their best to highlight the alternative universe on Capitol Hill, where they insist lots of lawmaking is going on. Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader, tried to turn the talk to health care most of the week, suggesting on Thursday that people who pick up their children from school were likely to be in a tizzy over the hobbled health care exchanges in his home state. But in their offices, gyms and cloakrooms, lawmakers and their staff members pondered with colleagues the speed and depth of Mr. Trumps careening presidency. Republicans privately fretted that their bosses would have little to brag about when they spent August back in their home states. Drama is not helpful in getting things done, Mr. Ryan conceded. The meltdown of a nascent presidency would distract even the most active and engaged Congress. But in many ways this Congress seemed particularly primed for huge distraction. Republican lawmakers who control both chambers of Congress have been doing most of their significant policy work on health care and to a lesser degree tax reform without Democrats. Republicans are loath to bring bills to the floor that Democrats will try to festoon with politically infused anti-Trump amendments. They fear any bill that would deal with, say, law enforcement would be used by Democrats as another vehicle to criticize Mr. Trump. According to lawmakers and Mr. Rosensteins prepared remarks, the deputy attorney general offered little clarity about how related congressional inquiries may proceed in light of Mr. Rosensteins appointment on Wednesday of a special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, to examine the possibility of collusion between President Trumps associates and Russian officials. The fact that Mr. Muellers inquiry is focused on possible crimes is almost certain to limit the cooperation of potential subjects of the investigation who might otherwise testify before Congress or share documents. The decision by Mr. Comey to appear before the intelligence committee underscored the quandary of the competing claims between the imperatives of a special counsel and those of congressional committees. Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina and a member of the Judiciary Committee, questioned Mr. Comeys decision to testify, but then added that he believed he should also testify before his committee because it has oversight jurisdiction of the F.B.I. The same sentiment seemed to be emerging in the House. Congress is going to want to look over the shoulder of this investigation, said Representative Darrell Issa of California, a Republican who was an aggressive chairman of the House oversight committee during the Obama administration. The executive branch will always try to limit that for fear it will contaminate potential criminal investigations, or leaks. I dont expect this to be any different, he added. Mr. Rosenstein instead delivered careful characterizations about the inquiry and deferred to Mr. Muellers autonomy as special counsel, and a pending investigation into Mr. Comeys conduct by the Justice Departments inspector general. He said that his memo had not been a legal brief, or a finding of official misconduct by Mr. Comey or a statement of reasons to justify a for-cause termination. Representative Jackie Speier of California, a Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said Friday that Mr. Rosenstein had made it clear that Mr. Mueller would have carte blanche authority, but he also reassured lawmakers that he understood the role of Congress. The comments represented an extraordinary moment in the investigation, which centers in part on the administrations contacts with Russian officials: A day after firing the man leading that inquiry, Mr. Trump disparaged him to Russian officials. The White House document that contained Mr. Trumps comments was based on notes taken from inside the Oval Office and has been circulated as the official account of the meeting. One official read quotations to The Times, and a second official confirmed the broad outlines of the discussion. Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, did not dispute the account. In a statement, he said that Mr. Comey had behaved politically and put unnecessary pressure on the presidents ability to conduct diplomacy with Russia on matters such as Syria, Ukraine and the Islamic State. By grandstanding and politicizing the investigation into Russias actions, James Comey created unnecessary pressure on our ability to engage and negotiate with Russia, Mr. Spicer said. The investigation would have always continued, and obviously, the termination of Comey would not have ended it. Once again, the real story is that our national security has been undermined by the leaking of private and highly classified conversations. The day after firing Mr. Comey, Mr. Trump hosted Russias foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, in the Oval Office, along with the Russian ambassador to the United States, Sergey I. Kislyak. The meeting ignited controversy this week when it was revealed that Mr. Trump had disclosed intelligence from an Israeli counterterrorism operation. He was arrested again in 2014, and his wife, Jasmine Lima-Marin, has been working with lawyers to free him ever since. On Wednesday, Mr. Lima-Marin was released from state custody after a judge said it would be draconian to keep him in prison. That morning, Mr. Lima-Marins lawyer, Kimberly Diego, had been expecting him to walk free. Weve been working on this since 2015 it seems like forever! she said in a phone interview at the time. But it turned into a devastating evening, Ms. Diego said later, after Mr. Lima-Marin was put in custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement because of his status as an immigrant with a felony conviction. Him being put into ICE custody was not something I personally expected, she added. She held out hope that the governors pardon could remove the legal basis for Mr. Lima-Marins deportation. The State Legislature recommended the pardon in a resolution this month. Governor Hickenlooper said he made his decision Friday to grant the pardon because Mr. Lima-Marin was a model for what we would want every convict to do upon getting released from prison. He reached out to Ms. Lima-Marin during the afternoon to deliver the news personally. She was a little surprised to have me call her, the governor said in a phone interview. She was speechless for a second. She started to cry tears of joy. SEATTLE Being young and gay in this city in the 1980s, said Seattles mayor, Ed Murray, was all about being comfortable being out. There were shadows AIDS was ripping through the community, and gay-bashing was common but you didnt have to hide the way previous generations had, and that was a powerful, exhilarating thing. Youre accepting who you are, youre letting everyone else know who you are, youre going out dancing, you hang around with people who are like you you never thought they existed, he said. Those years, he added, are a big part of what shaped him as a man and a politician. But what happened back then, or did not, has now circled around to end Mr. Murrays political career. He announced last week that he would not seek a second term in November, even though as recently as a month ago, with the local economy booming, he faced little opposition. The thought that Im going to step away from this is like my life coming to an end, Mr. Murray, 62, said during an interview in his top-floor office at City Hall. Watching is The New York Timess TV and film recommendation newsletter and website. The third of Ridley Scotts Alien movies, Alien: Covenant, has arrived in theaters this weekend. And Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is still in wide release, but its also a great weekend to watch something new from your couch. Here are three great movies to rent or stream at home. If you cant get to them this weekend, save them to your Watchlist and watch them when you have time. The Salesman Where to watch: Rent it from Amazon, iTunes and other platforms. Add it to your Watchlist Even before the best picture envelopes were switched on Oscar night, there were so many memorable moments. Such as when The Salesman won the best foreign language film award. In protest of Donald Trumps travel ban, the films director, Asghar Farhadi, boycotted the Oscar ceremony and sent a representative to read a powerful statement on his behalf. The Salesman focuses on a troubled married couple who, after relocating to a new apartment, run into problems left over from its previous tenant. Each revelation becomes an invitation for the husband and wife to fight over their hidden frustration and distrust. The tension in the household escalates until their situation is out of control, and their marriage is thrown into potential jeopardy. Fish Tank Where to watch: Stream it on FilmStruck and Sundance Now; rent it from Amazon and other platforms. Add it to your Watchlist In a way, the pneumonia was a good thing. I had an excuse to stop and rest something mourners dont often allow themselves to do. Friends and family generously helped at one point, I think I had seven different kinds of soup in my refrigerator. But I could no longer so clearly and easily hear my darlings voice. I too seemed to hover between life and death. But we had a young daughter, there was no real choice; I had to come down on the side of life. Life shoves you from behind, like a rude fellow passenger. Shortly after that, my son became engaged. Nothing would have made David happier. At the engagement party, a crazy-happy surprise event, I kept looking around, half-expecting him to charge through the door. I dont think I was the only one. Friends and family congratulated us, and many of them were weeping. They were tears of joy. They werent just tears of joy. I too met Someone. (My mother-in-law asked, Are you dating yet? And if not why not?) Not just anyone, but someone tender and gentle, thoughtful and handsome and kind, who had himself been widowed four years earlier. We share what he calls an almost unreasonable love of music and a wound. Wed each been happily married for more than 30 years. We know how to be with another person. We know something about loving and being loved. Life is suddenly full of joy again, and juice, and adventure. It changes everything and it changes nothing. We are happy again almost giddily so. But that ache, that loneliness for the lost beloved never goes away. You, reeling on a planet that has proved its untrustworthiness, must find your own balance. And that isnt easy, because theres no timetable, no map for grief. One minute you might be dancing on air, ecstatic, and the next youre looking down, off the edge of a cliff with feet madly churning like Wile E. Coyote in mid-fall. And you never know what might push you over the edge. I was recently at the wedding shower of the daughter of a widower friend, a happy, beautiful occasion, filled with young women in flowered dresses. Someone played the Sting song Fields of Gold and I looked at my friend. His face was drawn, his eyes tear-filled. 12 weeks postpartum came and when I pictured having to leave him in day care, the tears streamed down my face. I was lucky, as I worked part-time from home and hired a nanny for 10 euros/hr to help me. When he was screaming and I knew there was nothing I could do, I did not feel guilty handing him over to her for a much-needed mental break. My grandmother said, a good mother is always a little bit selfish. The U.S. needs to support parents far more than they do children are our collective future. Lindsay W., Bonn, Germany I couldnt raise my child the way he raised me Image From left: Glenn Petersen and Grace Petersen Colby My life was transformed when I became a father. Something I still dont really understand happened when my daughter was born and I started giving her those middle of the night feedings. Thats when my experiences decades earlier during the war began returning some strange sort of veil was ripped away. And thats when I had to confront my legacy from my father, and decide that I couldnt raise my child the way he raised me. Glenn Petersen, New York City Adoption is transformative too Becoming a mother through adoption is transformative, too, and this article ought to have at least mentioned it, because the adjustment postpartum/ante-bonding issues are similar, yet greatly compounded by societys view that adoption is not as good as the real thing. Adoptive moms can be deeply depressed because grief over infertility traumas linger and the stresses of the adoption process are intense, because of the repressed guilt of having the privilege to take and love someone elses child, the huge responsibility to give that child a better life, the feeling that other people especially biological moms are watching you and your children especially closely, waiting to prove that biological is better when you or the kids may falter in any public way (tantrums, school problems, troubles with authority, etc., that bio-kids struggle with as well), and because, in the case of transnational/transracial adoptions, people still dont believe loving a child who looks so different could possibly ever work. I commend the author for emphasizing that the transition to motherhood is psychologically very difficult for many women, even though they want with all their hearts to be a good mother. Yet by not mentioning adoptive moms, she perpetuates societys view that they are somehow unreal, unnatural, less fit beings. Adoptive moms are working doubly hard to become the mother theyve always wanted to be, and to be the mother the childs bio-mother could not be. ohreally?, Boston NAIROBI, Kenya Long plagued by corruption and inept government, people in the Democratic Republic of Congo were confronting a new problem on Friday: thousands of prisoners on the lam, including hard-core felons and possibly war criminals. In what appears to have been the biggest prison break ever in the African country, nearly 4,200 inmates were missing from its most notorious penitentiary, the maximum-security Makala prison in Kinshasa, the capital. The prison break itself was not news it happened on Wednesday, when members of a cultish rebel group known as Bundu Dia Kongo stormed a cellblock to free their leader. But government officials insisted at the time that only a few dozen prisoners had escaped along with him. It took two days for the scope and violent nature of the escape to become clear, in what amounts to an enormous embarrassment for the countrys unpopular leader, Joseph Kabila. NEW DELHI The police in Bangladesh raided a monthly gathering of gay men at a community center on the outskirts of Dhaka early Friday and arrested 27 men on suspicion of drug-related offenses, officials said. The men, mostly college and graduate students in their 20s, were found with drugs, condoms and lubricant, but because they were not observed to be engaging in sex, the police did not charge them with homosexuality, which is a crime in Bangladesh. The police also arrested the owner of the community center. Neighbors had complained to the police that outsiders were coming into the area, Keraniganj, and accused them of engaging in suspicious, illegal activities, said Jahangir Hossain Matubbar, the commanding officer of an elite police unit. Yesterday when we arrested them, they did not complete the homosexuality act, Mr. Matubbar said. They were preparing for that. BEIJING Two Chinese fighter jets flew too fast and too close to an American military aircraft patrolling the East China Sea, prompting a formal protest to the Chinese government, the United States Air Force said on Friday. The episode on Wednesday involved an American WC-135 Constant Phoenix aircraft and two Chinese SU-30 jets that both flew in an unprofessional and dangerously close way, according to a spokeswoman for the Pacific Air Forces, Lt. Col. Lori Hodge. The United States has complained to China through diplomatic and military channels, she said in a statement. The speeds and proximity of the two Chinese planes, coupled with the maneuvers of one of the pilots, raised the concerns, she said. The WC-135, a modified Boeing C-135, is designed to detect radioactive debris after the detonation of a nuclear device and is informally known as a sniffer. The Chinese Ministry of National Defense did not reply to request for comment. TOKYO Ten months after Japans octogenarian emperor indicated he wanted to give up the throne while he was still alive, the cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe approved special legislation on Friday that would allow him to abdicate. The bill, which will be considered soon by the full Parliament, makes a one-time provision for Emperor Akihito, 83, to retire from the throne and be succeeded by his elder son, Crown Prince Naruhito. Emperor Akihito, a hugely popular figure in Japan who keeps up a grueling travel schedule, had asked to abdicate so that he could give Prince Naruhito, 57, time to rule. Emperor Akihito has reigned for 28 years, ever since his father, the wartime emperor Hirohito, died in 1989. Once the bill which is expected to pass in Parliament, where Mr. Abes party has the majority is enacted, the government would have three years to set a date for the emperors abdication. Emperor Akihito would be the first living Japanese emperor to leave the throne in 200 years. MANILA Chinas president warned the Philippines that it would go to war if Manila insisted on enforcing an international arbitration decision rejecting Chinas claims over disputed areas of the South China Sea, the Philippine president said in a televised speech on Friday. Although both sides pledged for now to talk and to avoid confrontation, the remarks by the Philippine president, Rodrigo Duterte, highlighted the stakes in a part of Asia that has become a geopolitical flash point. The warning which Beijing did not immediately confirm also draws attention to a policy dilemma for the United States, which is trying to maintain its naval dominance in the Pacific in the face of Chinas military buildup and its construction of artificial islands in disputed waters. In a landmark ruling last July, the Permanent Court of Arbitration, based in The Hague, delivered a sweeping rebuke of Chinas behavior in the South China Sea, including the creation of islands that could be used for military purposes, and found that its claim of sovereignty over the waters had no legal basis. However, there is no legal mechanism for enforcing the decision, and Beijing has refused to abide by it. In a speech on Friday to the Philippine coast guard, in the southern city of Davao, Mr. Duterte claimed that President Xi Jinping of China had cautioned him against trying to enforce the ruling. Mr. Xi said the two countries could eventually discuss it, but it cannot be done now, Mr. Duterte said. Victoria Day, Mondays holiday for federal public servants and everyone else in most provinces, is a curious thing. Australia has its own Victoria Day, which commemorates the formation of the state of the same name. By all accounts, Canada is the only place that marks the birthday of Queen Victoria. She was the reigning monarch when Canada took its current form as a nation 150 years ago, of course. But the practice of observing her May 24 birthday started in the Province of Canada (now Ontario and Quebec) in 1845. It persisted through several variations until 1952, when Parliament, displaying deep political wisdom, made it a long weekend by establishing the date as the Monday before May 25. There may be people who still put up photos of Victoria, toast her memory or otherwise celebrate her reign on Monday. If so, theyve escaped my attention. But if you know someone who still chants the 24th of May is the queens birthday, if we dont have a holiday, well all run away, or you hold festivities to honor Victorias rule and not just her name, please let me know. While Canada Day has more or less taken over in terms of fireworks, during my childhood Victoria Day was also Firecracker Day. Family fireworks shows traditionally ended with the Burning Schoolhouse. Apparently a creation of a Canadian fireworks company and largely unknown outside Canada, the blue and red cardboard buildings perhaps reflected the holidays proximity to the end of school. Or maybe just general juvenile animosity. Canadian universities may have a more international feel this fall. Enrollment of international students will be sharply higher, universities say, and the incoming freshmen include large numbers of high school students from the United States. With the increase coming during the first year of a contentious presidency, theres plenty of talk about the trend being an obvious reaction to President Trump. The so-called Trump effect is real when it comes to enrollment in Canada, said Alan Shepard, president of Concordia University in Montreal. Applications from international students for this coming falls semester have surged. But its not that simple. While plenty of students who have chosen Canada for higher education cite the political climate in the United States, admissions officers and students say economics remains the main motivation. Maddie Zeif, 18, a high school student from Sunderland, Vt., said costs in Canada were cheaper than in the United States and were comparable even to in-state tuition at the University of Vermont. Shes going to the University of British Columbia in the fall. It seems to me President Trump, he needs to get a better understanding of what Putin really is, Mr. Yatsenyuk said. Its important to understand him. Hes the enemy of my country. But hes a very smart, sophisticated political animal. And his primary objective is to outplay President Trump. This is an important moment for Ukraine as Mr. Trump leaves on Friday for his first overseas trip as president. After stops in the Middle East and at the Vatican, the president will head to Brussels to meet with other NATO leaders, most notably the Europeans who have been holding the front line against Russian adventurism in recent years. The allies were relieved when the president did not drop sanctions against Russia, as he had suggested he would, and eventually dropped his criticism of NATO, saying the alliance was no longer obsolete, as he had described it only months earlier. But as a candidate, Mr. Trump suggested that under his leadership, the United States would defend only NATO allies that have spent enough money on their own security. And he has yet to publicly reassure the Europeans that he is truly committed to Article 5 of the alliance charter that calls on all members to come to the aid of any that is attacked. Ukraine is not a member of NATO, and neither the United States nor Europe has seen fit to help it defend itself against Russia by providing arms, as some in Congress and inside President Barack Obamas administration unsuccessfully urged the last commander in chief to do. Mr. Trump is even less inclined to do so and has made clear that Ukraine is not a top priority. During the campaign, he said he would consider recognizing Russias annexation of Crimea. Since taking office, he has said little about the continuing standoff in Ukraine. ROME An Italian member of the European Parliament has been found guilty of defamation and ordered to pay 50,000 euros, or $55,670, in damages to a fellow member of the European Union body, four years after he was accused of racially insulting her during a radio interview. Mario Borghezio, of the anti-immigration Northern League, was convicted by a court in Milan on Thursday of comments founded on racial hatred against Cecile Kyenge, Italys former minister of integration. Mr. Borghezio was also fined 1,000 euros, in addition to the damages. The Parliament voted in October to lift Mr. Borghezios immunity. Ms. Kyenge, who was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, became Italys first black national minister in 2013 before being elected to the European Parliament. She said in response to the sentencing: Im satisfied, even though I dont see this as a personal victory but as a strong response against racial hatred which poisons society. The sentence marks a line that cant be crossed. During a radio interview in April 2013, Mr. Borghezio said that Ms. Kyenge wanted to impose her tribal traditions from the Congo on Italians. He described Ms. Kyenge, who was a member of Enrico Lettas short-lived government, as a good housewife, but not a government minister. LONDON When Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks founder, jumped bail and sought asylum in Ecuadors embassy five years ago to avoid a Swedish rape investigation, he was considered by many a hero of transparency, internet freedom and resistance to the secret state. So when Swedens prosecutors announced on Friday that they were abandoning their attempt to extradite him, invalidating the warrant for his arrest, Mr. Assange proclaimed it a happy moment of vindication. Today was an important victory, he said. But Mr. Assange, 45, who became a persistent problem for the Obama administration and Hillary Clintons presidential campaign over leaks of classified and embarrassing documents, still faces enormous legal problems which he also acknowledged. He could be arrested in London for other reasons and may possibly risk extradition to the United States if he left the sanctuary of Ecuadors embassy. And his reputation is far different than when he entered it in 2012. TEHRAN Iranians lined up at polling places in such numbers on Friday that Iranian election officials extended the voting three separate times, first by two hours, then four hours and finally five hours. Analysts said the heavy turnout was a good sign for the incumbent, President Hassan Rouhani, a professed moderate who has pursued better relations with the West, against Ebrahim Raisi, a hard-line judge who campaigned as a corruption fighter and called on Iran to solve its own economic problems without help from foreigners. The election is also being interpreted in the West as a gauge of support for the 2015 accord that Iran reached with six world powers, including the United States, to limit its nuclear program. For Iranians, though, the economy and freedom of expression seemed to be bigger issues. President Omar Hassan al-Bashir of Sudan indicted by the International Criminal Court on charges including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity will not attend a meeting in Saudi Arabia alongside President Trump, the Sudanese state news agency said on Friday. A Saudi invitation to Mr. Bashir had outraged human rights advocates, who called it a breach of longstanding United States policy. Mr. Trump is scheduled to arrive on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he will be the guest of honor at the meeting. His aides say he will give a major speech on American relations with the Islamic world, a counterpoint to President Obamas 2009 speech in Cairo. The United States is not a member of the International Criminal Court, but it has long sought to ostracize defendants who defy the courts arrest warrants, including Mr. Bashir, who has led Sudan for nearly three decades. BEIRUT, Lebanon Russian and Syrian officials on Friday strongly condemned an American airstrike on pro-Syrian government forces in southern Syria a day earlier, calling it an act of aggression and rejecting the United States justification for the attack. It is illegitimate, it is unlawful and the latest gross violation of the sovereignty of the Syrian Arab Republic, Russias foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, said in Cyprus, according to the state-run Russian news agency Tass. After the airstrike, which American officials said was defensive in nature, Pentagon officials said on Friday that they were working with Russia to prevent similar ground incidents in the future, much as the two countries have done for months to avoid accidents in the skies over Syria. We had a proposal that were working on with the Russians right now, Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters on Friday, declining to give details. My sense is that the Russians are as enthusiastic as we are to deconflict operations and ensure that we can continue to take the campaign to ISIS and ensure the safety of our personnel. Our second big group consists of people whose former employers automatically roll over their small-balance 401(k) plans into individual retirement accounts. Employers can do this with any account with $5,000 or less that came from employee savings while the person worked there. They can do this even if the total balance is actually higher than $5,000, as long as the amount over $5,000 is there because an employee rolled that money over into the 401(k) from a previous employers plan. Why do employers kick people out of their plans in this way? It costs money to keep each account up and running, and it takes time to track down former workers who have not kept their forwarding addresses up to date. Also, there is legal responsibility that comes with maintaining a plan, and employers would just as soon rid themselves of as much of it as possible. Here is what weve learned, however, since the last time I wrote about this 401(k) leakage issue: Those destination I.R.A.s may not be so hot. In November 2014, the Government Accountability Office issued an eye-opening report about them, and the basic conclusion is that you probably dont want anything to do with them. While these forced-transfer I.R.A.s (16 million of them between 2004 and 2013, with $8.5 billion at stake) are an improvement over cashing out small balances altogether, which many companies once did, the fees in the I.R.A.s can eat up a small balance over time. In fact, 13 of the 19 accounts the G.A.O. examined took the sample $1,000 balance down to zero within 30 years. How can that be? Regulations dictate that the default investment for the money in these accounts be something safe, often a money-market account. If the money doesnt grow much, given the historically low earnings on those kinds of accounts, and the account owner does not know to make any changes, fees can outrun the earnings over time. So much for safety. So if youre leaving a job and you get a letter from your 401(k) administrator telling you that your money will end up in one of these I.R.A.s if you dont act well, act. Find an I.R.A. provider with rock-bottom fees and pile all the money from former employers into just one account, so that you can track all your savings more easily and buy any cheap index or exchange-traded fund you want. You do this through a rollover, and that letter should explain how to do it. If not, call the provider and ask. The Itinerary What happened During his visit to the birthplace of Islam, President Trump pivoted from his previous assessment of Islam as a religion of hatred and sought to rally the Muslim world to join the United States in fighting extremism. Met with King Salman of Saudi Arabia. Mr. Trump and the first lady joined the Saudi royal family for dinner. Met with leaders of a Gulf coalition, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Attended meetings with leaders from across the Muslim world. Gave a speech about Islam. Toured a new center to fight radicalism. Was scheduled to participate in a conference about social media but Ivanka Trump spoke instead. What happened On his first day of a two-day trip, Mr. Trump told Israeli officials he was deeply encouraged by his conversations in Saudi Arabia regarding peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Greeted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials upon arrival in Tel Aviv before flying via helicopter to Jerusalem. Met with President Reuven Rivlin of Israel at his residence. Visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and became first sitting president of the United States to visit the Western Wall. The president and first lady had dinner with Mr. Netanyahu and his wife, Sara. What happened Mr. Trump traveled from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, in the West Bank, to meet with President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority. Both leaders condemned the terrorist attack in Manchester, England, before reiterating their commitment to a peace deal. Met with Mr. Abbas. Laid a wreath at the Holocaust memorial museum. Spoke at the Israel Museum before departing for Rome. What happened Pope Francis and Mr. Trump discussed terrorism and the radicalization of young people in a private meeting. In a larger meeting, the Vaticans secretary of state urged Mr. Trump not to pull out of the Paris climate accord. Met with Pope Francis at the Vatican. Met with President Sergio Mattarella of Italy. Arrived in Brussels late afternoon. The stakes Mr. Trump has criticized NATO and threatened to leave. Though he has stepped away from some of those comments, he is expected to push members of the alliance to spend more on defense. Meets with European Union officials. Lunch with President Emmanuel Macron of France. Dinner with other leaders of the 28 NATO countries. The stakes The president will be expected to reassure his counterparts of the Group of 7 major industrial democracies, including leaders of some of Americas closest allies, that he is a reliable statesman and not an unpredictable populist. Participates in the annual summit meeting of the Group of 7 powers. More Group of 7 meetings. RT @xychelsea: Okay, so here I am everyone!! =P https://t.co/NuyZlcWfd9 #HelloWorld https://t.co/gKsMFTYukO at https://t.co/NuyZlcWfd9 Gian Carlo de Pinto (@giakka_torino) May 19, 2017 Reprinted from theintercept.com EVER SINCE Chelsea Manning was revealed as the whistleblower responsible for one of the most important journalistic archives in history, her heroism has been manifest. She was the classic leaker of conscience, someone who went at the age of 20 to fight in the Iraq War believing it was noble, only to discover the dark reality not only of that war but of the U.S. government's actions in the world generally: war crimes, indiscriminate slaughter, complicity with high-level official corruption, and systematic deceit of the public. In the face of those discoveries, she knowingly risked her own liberty to disclose documents to the world that would reveal the truth, with no expectation of benefit to herself. As someone who has spent years touting the nobility of her actions, my defenses of her always early on centered on the vital nature of the material she revealed and the right of the public to know about it. It is genuinely hard to overstate the significance of those revelations: Aside from exposing some of the most visceral footage of indiscriminate slaughter by the U.S. military seen in decades, the leaks were credited -- even by harsh WikiLeaks skeptics such as New York Times Executive Editor Bill Keller -- with helping to spark the Arab Spring. Even more significantly, revelations about how the U.S. military executed Iraqi civilians, then called in a bombing raid to cover up what they did, prevented the Iraqi government from granting the Obama administration the troop immunity it was seeking in order to extend the war in Iraq. Though Manning's case has been somewhat colored by the changing perceptions over time of WikiLeaks, she actually first attempted to contact traditional media outlets such as the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Politico with her revelations, only to be thwarted by a failure to get their attention. In the online chats that she had with a deceitful individual who thereafter became a government informant and turned her in, she said her motive in leaking was solely to trigger "worldwide discussion, debates, and reforms," adding: "I want people to see the truth " regardless of who they are " because without information, you cannot make informed decisions as a public." In the wake of these disclosures, the U.S government -- as it reflexively does -- claimed that the release of the documents would endanger lives, and that those responsible for publishing the leaks had "blood on their hands." But subsequent investigations by the AP and McClatchy found those accusations utterly unfounded, and ultimately, even Defense Secretary Robert Gates ridiculed the hysteria driving the government's claims about the leak's harms as "significantly overwrought." In sum, though Manning was largely scorned and rejected in most mainstream Washington circles, she did everything one wants a whistleblower to do: tried to ensure that the public learns of concealed corruption and criminality, with the intent of fostering debate and empowering the citizenry with knowledge that should never have been concealed from them. And she did it all knowing that she was risking prison to do so, but followed the dictates of her conscience rather than her self-interest. BUT AS COURAGEOUS as that original whistleblowing was, Manning's heroism has only multiplied since then, become more multifaceted and consequential. As a result, she has inspired countless people around the world. At this point, one could almost say that her 2010 leaking to WikiLeaks has faded into the background when assessing her true impact as a human being. Her bravery and sense of conviction wasn't a one-time outburst: It was the sustained basis for her last seven years of imprisonment that she somehow filled with purpose, dignity, and inspiration. The overarching fact of Manning's imprisonment was its enduring harshness. In 2010, during the first months of her detention in a U.S. Marine brig in Quantico, Virginia, I began hearing reports from her handful of approved visitors about the vindictive and abusive conditions of her confinement: prolonged solitary confinement, being kept in her cell alone for virtually the entire day, gratuitous, ubiquitous surveillance, and worse. When I called the brig to investigate these claims, I was startled when a brig official confirmed to me, in the most blase' tones, their accuracy. That enabled me to report for the first time that Manning was being imprisoned "under conditions that constitute cruel and inhumane treatment and, by the standards of many nations, even torture." That report sparked a major controversy, ultimately culminating in the resignation of President Obama's State Department spokesman, P.J. Crowley, after he denounced the treatment of Manning as "ridiculous and counterproductive and stupid on the part of the Department of Defense." But that turned out to be only the beginning of the abuse she endured. Several months after my report, the New York Times reported that Manning was being subjected to deliberately humiliating rituals in which she "was stripped and left naked" in her cell "for seven hours," and "required to stand naked" outside her cell during inspection. It was back then, in 2011, that the first report of Manning's suicidal thoughts surfaced. Amnesty International denounced her detention conditions as a "breach of the USA's obligations under international standards and treaties," and ultimately called for protests to demand a cessation of the abuse. It was nonetheless difficult to generate large amounts of public or journalistic support for Manning: Many on the right long viewed leakers as traitors and thus took glee in her suffering, while many liberals loyal to Obama literally mocked the abuse Manning endured. But ultimately, the U.N. special rapporteur on torture investigated the conditions of Manning's imprisonment and concluded in 2012 "that the U.S. military was at least culpable of cruel and inhumane treatment," and "that imposing seriously punitive conditions of detention on someone who has not been found guilty of any crime is a violation of his right to physical and psychological integrity as well as of his presumption of innocence." Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Reprinted from www.jurist.org Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein has responded to the crescendo of outrage by appointing former FBI director Robert Mueller as special counsel to investigate "any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump'' and "any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation'' as well as any other matters within the scope of the Department of Justice (DOJ) regulation on special counsel appointments. "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 stated. "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,'' Rosenstein added. Independent counsel Kenneth Starr thought he had "substantial and credible" evidence against President Bill Clinton in 1998. Starr turned over the results of his investigation to the House of Representatives, who then initiated impeachment proceedings. Evidence of a Cover-up by Trump As evidence of President Donald Trump's malfeasance emerges, the old adage that the cover-up is worse than the crime may once again prove true. There is circumstantial evidence of improper contact between members of the Trump administration and Russian operatives during the presidential campaign. At this point, however, we have seen no concrete proof of criminal conduct. But evidence of a cover-up continues to mount. Trump has admitted the Russia investigation motivated him to fire FBI director James Comey. Trump asked Comey to end the investigation of former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn. Trump made veiled threats to Comey about possible tapes of their conversations. Trump demanded that Comey pledge loyalty to him, but Comey refused. And Trump defensively fixated on Comey telling him three times that Trump was not an object of the investigation. These acts constitute probable cause that Trump engaged in obstruction of justice and witness tampering. Both of these crimes are felonies. They are "high crimes and misdemeanors," the constitutional standard for impeachment. In addition, according to the Washington Post, Trump revealed "highly classified information" to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Russian ambassador to the US Sergei Kislyak, and Russian reporters. Although this may not amount to criminal behavior, it could still constitute a high crime and misdemeanor for impeachment purposes. What are High Crimes and Misdemeanors? Alexander Hamilton wrote in The Federalist No. 65 that offenses are impeachable if they Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121 "Rob Kall's book, Bottom-Up, offers a compelling vision of a way of being in the world, bringing insights from different cultures and fields together while offering concrete steps to make the vision a reality. This is one of the rare books that, once you read it, will change the way you see the world and your relationships." Helena Norberg-Hodge, author of Ancient Futures, Producer and co-director of the film The Economics of Happiness, Founder of Local Futures and cofounder of the International Forum on Globalization Last week I invited renowned climatologist Paul Mayewski to speak on climate change at my "Peace Studies" class. He is the Director of the Climate Change Institute at the University of Maine and over the years has conducted numerous field climate expeditions to the Arctic, Antarctic, Himalayas, Tibetan Plateau and the Andes. Using slides from his expeditions Professor Mayewski introduced us to views of melting glaciers in the Himalayan Mountains, an area with more than 5500 glaciers that, in some cases, are melting faster than any in Europe, with the rate of melting doubling in the past ten years. Over two billion people are dependent upon the Himalayan glaciers which feed the major rivers of Asia, including the Ganges, the Brahmaputra and the Indus in India; the Mekong stretching the length of Vietnam, and the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers in China. Mayewski noted that in the fifty-five years given over to studying these glaciers, increasing melting has seen a sharp increase. In addition, levels of greenhouse gases have accelerated 100 times faster than at any time in the past 800,000 years. Added to this are increased levels of toxic substances, human-made chemicals and much more that has made our modern atmosphere without parallel in earth history. Shifting his focus, Mayewski pointed out that with rapid melting in Siberia and the Arctic, there is the very real probability of considerable release of methane gas from permafrost - methane is 30x more potent than CO2 in terms of heat trapping. As grim as this scenario appears to be, Mayewski pointed out that environmental degradation has been mitigated by legislation in some landmark cases in the past leading to improvements in the health and well-being of Americans. In President Nixon's administration the Clean Air Act was established in 1970 which created the "Environmental Protection Act" (EPA) and the "National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration"(NOAA) to oversee national emission standards. In 1972 the Clean Water Act was passed by Congress resulting in a rapid reduction of pollutants (including lead and cadmium) in the nation's water although clearly there are still significant regions with major concerns. In his discussion of issues closer to home, Mayewski said that, unless changes are made to significantly reduce emissions, Maine will see a tripling of 95 degree days in the next few decades resulting in more such events as Lyme Disease and heat related hospital admissions. And as the Gulf of Maine's waters warm higher temperatures will result in lobsters migrating farther north to cooler waters in Canada. When asked to explain how fast climate change is taking place, Professor Mayewski used Greenland as an example. He and his team drilled ice cores from 1989 to 1993 that revealed a year by year climate history extending back over 100,000 years. In some cases the climate has changed dramatically. Modern climate change is being accelerated by increased levels of greenhouse gases and loss of ozone over Antarctica and the Arctic. Recently, massive decreases in Arctic sea ice extent demonstrate that human activity can force very rapid climate change. At present vast quantities of ice on Greenland are melting, much of it through surface melt, while about a third is by way of "glacier calving". Paradoxically, warming in other parts of the world has resulted in desertification, which removes land from agricultural use and forces farmers to migrate into urban areas. This took place in Syria helping to precipitate the civil war now wracking the country. Similar events are taking place in Yemen, Northeast Nigeria, South Sudan and Somalia forcing millions of people into serious risk of starvation. Mayewski completed his talk by noting that those who are engaged in denial or skepticism concerning human influenced climate change ignore all the evidence or refuse to believe the science. The public continues to be swayed by misinformation campaigns that fabricate controversies and sow seeds of doubt and confusion which deflects from the fact that there is a clear scientific consensus on human-caused climate change. We are one planet and one human species and desperately need to develop a more conscientious planetary consciousness, especially where climate change is concerned. Each year the U.S. is releasing 6.5 billion metric tons of carbon which precipitates rising seas, more intense storms and greater levels of flooding. In the Paris Agreement the U.S. committed itself to a significant reduction of emissions by 2025 and the process has gotten well underway. Next to China the U.S. is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases. President Trump is apparently mulling over the possibility of withdrawing from this very important Agreement that was signed by 195 countries. It is imperative that the Paris Agreement be honored and every possible effort be made to reduce carbon emissions by any and all means possible. "No politician in history, and I say this with great surety," US president Donald Trump told Coast Guard Academy graduates on May 17, "has been treated worse or more unfairly" than himself. A day later, in the wake of the US Justice Department's appointment of former FBI director Robert Mueller as special counsel to investigate allegations of "Russian meddling" on his behalf in the 2016 presidential election, Trump once again offered a grandiose reference to his place in history, this time via Twitter: "This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history!" Poor, poor Donald. Nobody likes him, everybody hates him, guess he'll eat some worms. And apparently he's never heard of Andrew Johnson, Ulysses S. Grant, Warren G. Harding, Richard Nixon, or Bill Clinton, each of whom enjoyed "witch hunts" of their own, with varying justifications and outcomes. For decades, Trump publicly epitomized Barry Switzer's observation that "some people are born on third base and go through life thinking they hit a triple." Now he's finally made it to the big league and it turns out his whole skill set consists of kicking dirt at the umpire and trying to empty the dugouts for a brawl every time a fastball gets past him. Irony break: One of the loudest blocs of Trump supporters in last year's presidential campaign consisted of voters outraged by decades of identity politics and what they considered the Democratic Party's abusive use of victim groups to gain and hold political power: You know, those spoiled African-Americans whining about being shot dead by police, those evil gay couples demanding to be treated equally in matters of marriage (never mind that The Donald is the most openly pro-LGBTQ candidate ever elected to the office -- he came out for marriage equality years before Hillary Clinton did, and draped a rainbow flag over himself at a campaign rally; logic is not those particular supporters' strong suit), etc. So here's their anti-victimhood hero, Little Donald, sitting in the corner of the Oval Office screeching his lungs out, waving his rattle, and waiting for Kellyanne Conway to change his diaper, give him his ba-ba, and rock him to sleep. That's not to say that Trump's complaints are wholly without merit. The "Russian meddling" thing continues to run on fumes and the fervent hope of Democrats that at some point evidence will show up to substantiate it. But every president has complaints. Pardon us for expecting presidents to handle those complaints like responsible adults instead of like spoiled toddlers. The Constitution requires the president to be at least 35 years old. Perhaps we need a new amendment likewise requiring the president to act his age. Time to grow up, Mr. President. Reprinted from ourfuture.org Democratic Party luminaries and 2020 presidential mentionables gathered this week for an "ideas conference" organized by the Center for American Progress, the Democratic establishment's premier think tank. Its stated purpose was to focus not on "what could have been," said CAP Vice President Winnie Stachelberg introducing the day, but on "new, fresh, bold, provocative ideas that can move us forward." Convened in a basement of Georgetown's Four Season's Hotel, the posh watering hole for Washington lobbyists, lawyers and visiting wealth, the conference quickly revealed how hard it is for Democrats to debate the future when Trump is taking all of the air out of the room. Virtually every speaker dutifully invoked the theme of the day: resistance is not enough; Democrats must propose what they are for. Each then proceeded to rail at one Trump folly or another, calling on those assembled to join in defending what was achieved over the last eight years. CAP President Neera Tanden lasted barely a minute before condemning "foreign actors" who seek to disrupt our elections and a "leader of the free world" who fires the man investigating him. Bold, new ideas were scarce, but there was a vigorous competition on who had the best Trump putdown. Instead of the sign on Harry Truman's desk that read "the buck stops here," Cory Booker offered, Trump's should read "the ruble stops here." "Do you get the feeling that if Bernie Madoff weren't in prison," Elizabeth Warren offered, "he'd be in charge of the SEC right now?" Rep. Maxine Waters topped them all by calling for Trump's impeachment: "We don't have to think impeachment is out of our reach," she said. As for 2020, "We can't wait that long," The first sessions of the day on the economy revealed that Bernie Sanders' agenda is gaining ground among mainstream Democrats. LA Mayor Eric Garcetti described his success in passing a $15.00 minimum wage, a large infrastructure program, "wrap around" -- pre-school, after school, and special tutoring -- education reforms, and tuition free community college. Senator Jeff Merkley, the sole Senator to support Sanders in 2016, indicted the trade and tax policies that give companies incentives to move jobs abroad, called for major investments in infrastructure, in the transition to renewable energy, and in education, including debt free college and new apprenticeship programs. Sanders' call for Medicare for All is still off the table, however, with most focused on defending Obamacare against the Republican assault. Even on economic reform, Trump hijacked the discussion. CAP released a new report for the conference -- "Towards a Marshall Plan for America" -- calling for "large scale permanent public employment and infrastructure investment program" -- that would move towards a jobs guarantee for working age Americans. For CAP to call for a jobs guarantee -- even though it dilutes it in the text -- is a big, bold idea worthy of real attention. Introducing Austan Goolsbee, Obama's former economics advisor, to discuss it, CAP President Neera Tanden invited him to talk about Trump's policies as well. Goolsbee invited people to read the report and focused his remarks on "the grubby reality" of Trump's obscene tax plan. Two presentations managed to offer bold ideas. Senator Elizabeth Warren took her swipes at Trump, but used her presentation to present a bigger argument for Democrats. Arguing that concentrated money and concentrated power were "corrupting our democracy," Warren noted that "Trump did not invent these problems," and called for sweeping reforms. On concentrated money, she argued not simply for overturning Citizens United and moving to publicly financed elections, but for taking on the revolving door between Wall Street and giant companies and government, the "bought and paid for policy experts," and the armies of lobbyists that distort our politics. On concentrated power, she argued for "picking up the anti-trust stick" to break up monopolies and the big banks, and revive competitive markets. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). In the fifties, in Los Angeles schools, students routinely participated in civil defense drills. We were taught "appropriate" actions to take in the event of a Russian nuclear attack, such as "duck and cover." Sixty years later, many Americans are bracing for Donald Trump's attack on the foundations of our democracy. How will we respond when Trump uses some traumatic event as an excuse to claim dictatorial power? Many Americans worry that the White House is planning for a "Reichstag fire" moment, a traumatic event the Administration can use to leverage Trump's power. On February 27, 1933, the German parliament building, the Reichstag, was set on fire. (The Nazis named a young communist as the arsonist, but this was never proven.) Hitler used the Reichstag fire as an excuse to suspend civil liberties and attack German communists -- thus ensuring that the Nazis would be the dominant force in the German parliament. Many of us believe Trump is capable of a similar coup. Given Trump's demonstrated instability, it does not matter whether America's Reichstag-fire moment is a terrorist attack on the scale of 9/11 or a smaller event such as last year's Orlando nightclub shooting; it might even be a natural disaster, such as a killer hurricane or a ghastly epidemic. Whatever form the event may take, Trump will use it as an excuse to declare that the United States is under siege and attempt to assume extraordinary powers. Here are five steps to take to prepare for Trump's coup attempt: 1. Identify your affinity group: In the Bay Area, we prepare for earthquakes by forming neighborhood "earthquake preparedness" groups comprised of the residents of a few adjacent streets -- typically 20-30 homes. When the "big one" comes we will support each other by checking that everyone is accounted for and then doing whatever is required such as providing first aid, putting out small fires, or sheltering the homeless. In the event of an attempted Trump coup we'll need the emotional support of our closest friends and family. (These should be people who live near you.) Identify who they are ahead of time. When the "Reichstag fire" event occurs, quickly meet with them, and assure them of your support. Then jointly plan a response. 2. Preselect your communication network: Once the coup attempt happens, the White House will be all over the mainstream media pushing their narrative: "America is under attack; it's time to take the gloves off and fight back with everything we've got." Underlying this narrative will be the Administration's characterization of Trump as a strong leader unafraid of taking action to protect the homeland. In the face of the anticipated Trump propaganda onslaught, the resistance needs three things: an alternative communication network; a designated speaker; and a narrative. While the resistance speaks with many voices, the Indivisible movement is perhaps the best organized to respond to a coup attempt. Indivisible has more than 6000 chapters linked by email, Facebook, and Twitter. The national Indivisible leaders (headquartered in Washington DC) are well positioned to get the message out to local chapters and to pass it on to the progressive media outlets, as well as progressive politicians. Thus, in a crisis, the Indivisible network can be become an effective alternative to the mainstream media. Furthermore, if you are attached to Indivisible, your affinity group can use the Indivisible network to rapidly respond to Trump's actions. In a time of emergency, the White House will dominate the mainstream media. Therefore, it's important to identify, ahead of time, reliable alternative sources of information, media outlets that can provide you with an objective perspective. Among these news sources are NPR, The Guardian, BBC, Mother Jones, Talking Points Memo, Democracy Now, and The Rachel Maddow Show. 3. Focus your response: When Trump makes his move, the resistance needs to speak with one voice. While we can count on Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren to take a strong stand, our most effective national spokesperson is likely to be Rachel Maddow. Information passed through the Indivisible network, or other progressive channels, will get to Rachel. Another response channel is communication with your local (progressive) member of congress. 4. Prepare a narrative: Resistance to a Trump coup attempt begins with a simple assertion: "Trump cannot be trusted." The resistance needs to speak with a unified emphatic voice: "Trump is a failed President desperately attempting to stay in power. He is not trustworthy. Therefore, Trump's interpretation of [the traumatic event] cannot be the basis for national action." After the traumatic event, the resistance needs to immediately appeal for calm and decry hasty action. You and I need to communicate with our affinity group, our national network, and our members of congress. Above all: we need to question authority. 5. Mobilize for Action: The appropriate response to a Trump coup attempt depends upon the nature of the traumatic event. For example, an environment calamity may require tight coordination with your local member of Congress. On the other hand, invasion of North Korea should inspire direct action such as demonstrations, marches, and strikes. Work with your affinity group, and your national network, and plan a coordinated response. One possible response would be a "No war, no Trump" march a few days after the event. Above all, prepare for the worst. Trump isn't going to go down quietly. A perfect day trip from Reykjavik, Icelands Golden Circle is packed with what makes the island nation so special: immense beauty, a go-at-your-own-pace style of adventure and perplexing geologic features that are oftentimes close enough to touch. A drive along south central Icelands Golden Circle can be completed in just a few hours and theres no wrong way to do ithit the road, stop where you want for as long as you want and then move on. Here are a few highlights youll find along the Golden Circle route. Photo by Kelly Knickerbocker Start the day off near your home base, likely somewhere in or near Reykjavik. Get fueled at Reykjavik Roasters, an independent coffee shop known for its lovingly crafted lattes and cappuccinos. True aficionados, they offer workshops and classes about the best at-home brewing methods and coffees journey from manufacturer to consumer. The second tallest building in Iceland, Hallgrimskirkja, opens at 9 a.m. and is a quick 12-minute walk from Reykjavik Roasters location on Brautarholt. After breakfast, take in the best view (pictured above) of the cityincluding the harbor, foot traffic below and a host of colorful rooftopsfrom the churchs viewing platform nearly 250 feet up. Photo by Kelly Knickerbocker Its fitting that ingvellir would be a visitors first stop out of Reykjavik along the Golden Circle. Its a UNESCO World Heritage Site and where Iceland all began. In 930 AD, Alingione of the oldest parliamentary institutions in the worldwas founded here. It marked the birthplace of a nation. Visitors can stroll through miles of trails and enjoy expansive views of the Icelandic countryside, waterfalls, lakes and canyons while they do. The most incredible part of ingvellir is that it houses the crest of the mid-Atlantic Ridge, part of the longest mountain chain in the world. More than 90 percent of the ridges 40,000-mile length lies deep under the Atlantic Ocean, but here, at ingvellir, it sprouts out of the earth above land. You can see it, touch it and stand between two continental plates. You can even suit up and snorkel between the plates at Silfra Lake, a rift formed by the tectonic boundary. Photo by Kelly Knickerbocker Efsti-Dalur II is a working farm and bed-and-breakfast, but what you really need to know is that its a one stop shop for good feels while youre out on the open road. If its lunchtime by the time you pull up, the restaurants tasty burger goes well with an Einstok Toasted Porter or a cocktail featuring one of 64 Reykjavik Distillerys fruit-forward liqueurs (only if youre not the driver, though). Lunch or not, ice cream is a nonnegotiablehomemade, delicious and dished up in a room overlooking the cows who aided in its creation. Theyve got a stable of ponies that are ready to ride, but if youre short on time, walk over to the barn and say hello while you finish up your waffle cone. Photo by Kelly Knickerbocker As you approach Strokkur, you might notice little bursts of steam rising from the landscape through cracks and fissures in the rocky soil. Youre almost there. The massive geyser sits on a geothermal field and, every few minutes, its scalding hot waters spurt up and out with serious forcereaching heights of nearly 100 feet. The first geyser known to modern Europeans, the Great Geysir, sits nearby. Its bigger, but its eruptions are less frequent. If youre not crunched for time, spend an extra hour or so climbing Laugarfjall hill for views-on-views of Icelands southwestern interior with exploding geysers in the foreground. Its free and a great way to stretch your legs in between Golden Circle stops. Photo by Kelly Knickerbocker This double-decker beauty is the furthest point away from Reykjavik that youll get on the Golden Circle. Even still, if you drove from the capital to this expansive, tiered waterfall directly, itd take just an hour and a half. One of the most popular tourist destinations in the country, Gullfoss beauty and grandeur attract 300,000 people each year according to the Iceland Nature Conservation Association. For a moment, before you get jabbed with a fellow travelers selfie stick, let yourself get lost in the waters zigzag pathway through a 66-footwide canyonpart of the Hvita River that originates on a nearby glacier. Disrobing in the middle of Icelands rugged terrain might seem counterintuitive, but when you dip your toes into the Secret Lagoons warm waters, everything will make sense. Iceland is dotted with natural hot springs and heated baths because the regions geothermal activity heats the groundwater. The Secret Lagoon is more remote than the Blue Lagoon, a mainstream option near Keflavik Airport. Its more cost-effective, toostandard entry into the Blue Lagoon starts at $52, while adult admission to the Secret Lagoon is around $25. If youre looking to shake a case of the shivers, make like a tomato and get to Friheimar (not a saying? We tried). Even locals rave about this family-owned and operated fully indoor tomato farm thats famous for its abundant annual harvests (370 tons or nearly 20 percent of the countrys entire tomato crop) and its tomato soup served on-site with homemade bread and cucumber salsa. The farm and its restaurant, founded in 2002 and 2012, are both located inside a tropical-feeling greenhouse where the temps are kept toasty. Photo by Kelly Knickerbocker Most of Icelands sweeping natural features will make you feel small. Keri is no exception. A caldera is formed when volcanoes erupt and then, without sufficient structural support, collapse into themselves leaving a massive depression at the surface. The 180-foot deep cater is just off Route 35. The water at its base is mostly groundwaternot rainwater. Whether youre a geology buff or not, the vastness of Keris teal, silica rich waters and vibrant rust red earth are well worth the stop. Located on private land, dont skip paying your 400 ISK$4 USDto see (and likely Instagram) this highlight. Photo by Kelly Knickerbocker The town of Selfoss might lay a smidge outside of the Golden Circle, but you do you on the Golden Circle. Selfoss is close enough and worthy of mention. With the exception Reykjavik, Selfoss will be the largest town you see today. With a population just north of 6,500, it will feel like a bustling metropolis compared to the other pit stops along your route. There are horseback riding tours, nature and wildlife tours and Icelandic turf houses in and around Selfoss. For something a little more relaxed, hop off the highway and into Kaffi Krus, a cozy coffee shop and restaurant located in a bright yellow building. Latte and slice of cake in hand, walk a block north for a stroll along the rushing Olfusa River, Icelands largest river by volume, before hitting the road again. Kelly Knickerbocker is a Seattle-based writer with Texas roots. Clockwise from top-leftArianna Hutmacher, Alice Hutmacher, Francesco Guidi and Marco Tiberi For more than 30 years the area around Massa Marittima, Italy, has been the home away from home for much of Switzerland's mountain bike royalty. When the conditions get too harsh further north, they head south to this little corner of Tuscany. Here, nestled among the rolling hills Swiss greats like Thomas Frishcknecht and Nino Schurter have their southern homes. In the valley below, the Beer family have their business and just below the town itself is the heart of this little Helvetic outpost: Massa Vecchia and the Hutmacher family.Having celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2016, Massa Vecchia is one of the oldest bike hotels in Europe. Under the steady hand of Ernesto Hutmacher, it has become far more than a business. It is the heart of the local riding community, a meeting point for rides and one of the biggest forces for trail building in the area. Today the area is criss-crossed with a seemingly never-ending network of singletrack that runs fast and tight through the bushes, there are a million different ways you can traverse the hills around the town. Throw in mild winters that mean you can ride all year-round, and the appeal of this area is self-evident. This is why people have flocked here for all these years.But there is a change taking place at Massa Vecchia. After 30 years at the helm, Ernesto is looking to slow down a little, be less stressed by the day-to-day affairs of running a business like this. So things are changinghis daughters, Arianna and Alice are taking the reigns, and they have some new ideas about what is possible in these hills. At the heart of their new take on this classic riding region, they have created the Trail Brothers partnership together with their close friend, Francesco Guidi. In the past, Massa Vecchia had always taken responsibility for trail maintenance around the hotel, whereas Trail Brothers is a separate organisation that means they can keep up their commitment to the local trails, but also spread further with their trail building, education and event organisation. In other words, they are working even harder to build a reputation not just for the trails here, but how they are built and maintained. for example, in March this year they were invited down to Greece to show local trail builders how to build fun trails that can handle a lot of traffic.They also have some new ideas about what trails are possible here. In the past it has always been an XC mecca, today they are adding freeride and enduro trails to the mix. As mountain biking has grown up away from a sport polarised between just DH and XC, they are working to bring the area to the forefront of the modern sport, one where riders are looking to enjoy every moment out on the hill. We followed them for a day to see them at work on the trail, sample a little of the Italian good life and, most importantly, to join them enjoying the fruits of their labour Catalin Pop Wins 888Live Barcelona 2,200 High Roller May 19, 2017 Christian Zetzsche Contributor Another trophy has been awarded here at the 2017 888Live Poker Festival Barcelona and it was a familiar face of the 888Live circuit that eventually lifted the trophy at Casino Barcelona. Catalin Pop, who already emerged victorious in the 531-entry strong 888Live Rozvadov Main Event in February, defeated Fraser MacIntyre heads up to claim the trophy and lion's share of the 134,400 prize pool worth 40,000. MacIntyre, the CEO of MainEventTravel, 888Lives official travel partner for the festival offering great hotel deals in Barcelona, had yet another runner-up finish in Spain after a second-place finish in the EPT8 Madrid Main Event and claimed 28,000 to his name this time. Sergi Escote led the field into Day 2, and the Spaniard ultimately finished third for 18,000 while 888poker ambassador Dominik Nitsche turned a late entry at the start of the day into a min-cash for 4,150. Final Result 2,200 High Roller Place Winner Country Prize (EUR) 1 Catalin Pop Romania 40,000 2 Fraser MacIntyre UK 28,000 3 Sergi Escote Spain 18,000 4 Peter Jaksland Denmark 14,000 5 Francois Evard Switzerland 10,000 6 Gordon Huntly UK 8,000 7 Oleg Egorov Russian Federation 6,750 8 Hampus Persson Sweden 5,500 9 Dominik Nitsche Germany 4,150 Another five players signed up before the start of Day 2 to make it 70 entries in total, and the early eliminations came at an incredible pace. Among those to run out of chips right at the start of Day 2 were Guillem Cusco Bach, Aku Joentausta and Balazs Somodi. Kimmo Kurko followed soon after. 888poker ambassador Bruno "Politano" Foster flopped a set of threes and got his stack in after a nine appeared on the turn, only to find himself up against the turned set of nines of Peter Jaksland, which left Politano empty-handed. Daragh Davey's stack was chopped by two players with ace-king when the Irishman shoved short with ace-three suited. The elimination of Josep Maria Galindo Lopez vaulted Catalin Pop into the top spot. Galindo Lopez called two streets and then shoved on the river with a pair of sevens only, which Pop snap-called with ace-six suited for a six-high straight. Aleksei Istomin also fell victim to the hot run of Pop when his ace-ten was no match to Pop's ace-king, and the Russian was drawing dead on the turn. MacIntyre sent Carlos Egea Hernandez and Ema Zajmovic to the rail in quick succession. The Spaniard defended his big blind with eight-three and flopped two pair, check-raised and shoved the turn when another five counterfeit his two pair. MacIntyre called with aces for the better two pair and claimed the pot. Soon after, the Scotsman raised with nines and Zamovic defended with eight-six suited. An eight-high flop spelled trouble for Zajmovic, and she ended up check-shoving a blank river to join the rail. MacIntyre also busted Sergio Fernandez Bernal and Ramon Miquel Munoz in the same hand to reduce the field to the last 11. Escote dominated the other table and ran incredibly well at the top of the leader board. Escote's check-raise with eight-six suited for middle pair was called by Michael Matsioukkou with ace-jack for top pair, and the Spaniard completed a runner-runner straight to set up the bubble. Ultimately, Canada's Valerie Ross ended up as the last hopeful without anything to show for. Short in chips with less than seven big blinds, Ross shoved with pocket jacks and Jaksland called with pocket queens. A queen on the turn left Ross drawing dead, rendering the jack on the river meaningless. This set up the nine-handed final table and guaranteed each remaining player at least 4,150 for the efforts. Unofficial final table line-up Seat Player Country Chip Count Big Blind 1 Peter Jaksland Denmark 886,000 55 2 Hampus Persson Sweden 262,000 16 3 Gordon Huntly UK 935,000 58 4 Dominik Nitsche Germany 324,000 20 5 Oleg Egorov Russian Federation 161,000 10 6 Fraser MacIntyre UK 1,359,000 85 7 Catalin Pop Romania 1,272,000 79 8 Sergi Escote Spain 1,360,000 85 9 Francois Evard Switzerland 354,000 22 MacIntyre and Escote were essentially even at the top of the chip counts, while Pop quickly took over the command and established himself as the man to beat. Pop would never relinquish his first place any more. The first player in the money was Nitsche. The German lost almost all of his stack when shoving with king-nine suited, and Oleg Egorov called for less with sevens to win the flip. Nitsche got it in soon after with king-five suited and Pop called with jack-seven suited. A seven on the flop and turn left Nitsche drawing dead and he was gone in ninth. Hampus Persson followed in eigth place after failing to improve with queen-five suited against the pocket fives of Gordon Huntly. Egorov stood no chance with ace-jack suited against Francois Evard's pocket queens to settle for seventh place. All remaining five opponents that stood between Pop and the 888Live High Roller trophy were subsequently eliminated by the Romanian, who was seemingly unstoppable on the final table despite losing three all-in showdowns. First to bow out was Scotsman Gordon Huntly, who raised the button and called Pop's three-bet shove with ace-queen. Pop only had ace-jack, but spiked a jack on the turn. Evard fell in fifth place. Left with less than two big blinds, his king-ten met Pop's king-deuce and a deuce appeared on the flop. Jaksland shoved with jacks and Pop called in the big blind with ace-eight, getting there thanks to a runner-runner four-card straight. Down to the last three, Pop rivered a superior full house with king-four against Escote's ace-deuce suited. The last local player and Supernova Elite for many years was left with less than five big blinds. Escote's shove was called by MacIntyre and Pop in the blinds, and Pop flopped two pair with jack-three suited to better the ace-queen suited of Escote. Pop had an almost 5-to-1 lead in heads-up, and wrapped up the victory just 15 minutes later. MacIntyre doubled once with ace-ten versus queen-jack before four-bet jamming with ace-jack. Pop called with pocket tens and found another ten on the board to seal the win. That marks the end of the PokerNews live reporting for the 2,200 High Roller, but big numbers are expected for the 1,100 Main Event with a guaranteed prize pool of 500,000. Day 1a kicked off today, and two starting days remain before the will will be determined this upcoming Monday. Given Pop's recent run, it would be no surprise to see the Romanian in contention again. Sharelines Despite losing three all-in showdowns, Catalin Pop was seemingly unstoppable. Lucia Martinez Leads After Day 1a of 888Live Barcelona Main Event May 19, 2017 Paul Seaton After a mammoth 12 levels of play on Day 1a, and with 34 players remaining, Lucia Martinez has the chip lead with 268,000 chips in the 888Live Barcelona 1,100 Main Event. Day 1a welcomed 104 entries (including re-entries) across the day, with the early pace-setter the entertaining Canadian player Kelly Kellner. He won some big pots early to run up a stack of over 100,000 chips at one point, but just like in yesterday's High Roller, he couldn't hang onto them and this time in unfortunate fashion. He was ahead of Alessandro Predaroli all in preflop but couldn't hold on. Instead of 100,000, Kellner suddenly had half that stack, which all went to Martinez when her kicker was enough to topple Kellner's when both players hit top pair in the next hand. Elsewhere, others were running into trouble. Sally Stephens couldn't win a flip with pocket jacks when she saw an ace on turn and river end her first bullet, but she later re-entered. Hacharan Dogra Dogra ran short then ran it up, but couldn't survive the final cutthroat levels. Others were more successful, with Hristian Panchev (222,900) Alejandro Vazquez Gomez (184,400), Gabriel Podovei (180,700) and Vitaly Tevis (179,700) all harboring hopes of taking over the chip lead when Day 2 commences. Ema Zajmovic made just 600 chips profit on her starting stack, bagging up 30,600, but she survived when needing to hit with two cards to come and advanced to the next day on her first bullet. Day 1b will start at 6 p.m. local time later today with another 12 levels to see if more entries can get closer to breaking through the incredible 500,000 guarantee. Full counts after Day 1a: Player Chips Lucia Martinez 268800 Hristian Panchev 229900 Alejandro Vazquez Gomez 184400 Gabriel Podovei 180700 Vitaly Tevis 179700 Evgenii Cherniak 137600 Javier Sanchez Miguel 136000 Yannick Pernot 128100 Marwan Salamoun 120300 Simen Gulbrandsen 112600 Balazs Somodi 99900 Jose Antonio Bordas Neriz 95000 Alessandro Surini 91400 Nikolaos Paparis 90300 Javier Martinez Perez 86200 Brian Rockvam 84400 Frank Blumlein 80600 Jordi Ribatallada Ruiz 75700 David Murillo Parda 74300 Ricardo Juan Graells 64600 Alexey Dubrovkin 60900 Basem Davas 57000 Jordi Corominas Puig 52000 Hector Mendoza de Sojo 46500 Cyrille Dupessey 44000 Alessandro Predaroli 43500 Josep Maria Galindo Lopez 41000 Jani Haarala 40900 Carlos Avila Ortega 40900 Nikolay Petkov 34800 Abel Martinez Gil 34400 Philip Klasson 31700 Ema Zajmovic 30600 Mattia Verzeletti 30500 Partypoker MILLION Germany Heads to King's Casino on June 1 May 19, 2017 Jason Glatzer Editor The action is about to get much hotter than normal at King's Casino with the partypoker MILLION making its first visit to Europe's largest poker room on June 1-5. The partypoker MILLION Germany features two huge events along with a handful of satellites. The series opens with the two-day $2,200 partypoker MILLION Germany High Roller: 200K Gtd [8-Max] on June 1-2 at the casino located on the border of Germany in Rozvadov, Czech Republic. Players begin the tournament with a huge stack of 100,000 chips and blinds increase every 45 minutes. Players can reenter or late-register up until the start of the second day. At the same time the High Roller is ending, the $1,100 partypoker MILLION Germany Main Event with a huge 1 million guaranteed prize pool begins at the casino with three opening days on June 2-4. Players also have a chance to skip Day 1 at the casino and try to qualify to Day 2 through two opening days online at partypoker on May 21 and May 28. During all of the opening days, players begin with 100,000 chips and can reenter one-time per day. Otherwise, there are some differences in the structure. The first two live opening days blinds increase every 45 minutes; the third live opening day features a turbo structure with 15-minute blind levels. Blinds levels for the online opening days increase every 18 minutes. Players bagging chips will compete for two more days on June 4-5. On the final day, blind levels increase every 60 minutes until the action is heads up when blinds will increase every 30 minutes. The PokerNews Live Reporting Team will be on hand to cover both the High Roller and Main Event from when the cards are in the air until the winners are crowned. PR-Inside.com: 2017-05-19 13:02:01 AKQA Announces Young Lions Cyber Brazil Winners AKQA Courtney Kaczak Associate Marketing Director, The Americas courtney.kaczak@akqa.com or Giovanna Ricci PR Consultant, Sao Paulo Giovanna.Ricci@akqa.com AKQA Art Director Andrea Souza and Copywriter Caio Muratore have been named the 2017 Young Lions Cyber Brazil winners by the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201705190050 AKQA Art Director Andrea Souza and Copywriter Caio Muratore (Photo: Business Wire) More than 300 entries were reviewed and 13 teams of young professionals were selected to represent Brazil at Cannes. For the second year in a row, Brazil will be represented in the Cyber category by AKQA talent. For the first time in Brazilian Young Lions history, both winners within the category came from the same agency. AKQA Executive Creative Directors Hugo Veiga and Diego Machado said: We focus on giving our team in Sao Paulo the most inspiring canvas. Caio and Andreas passion and entrepreneurial spirit have played a big part in this recognition and we wish them the best of luck in Cannes. About AKQA A recognised pioneer, AKQA is the global brand experience agency inspired by the imaginative application of art and science www.akqa.com View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201705190050 PR-Inside.com: 2017-05-19 11:03:42 Press Information Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Press: press@futuremarketinsights.com Website: www.futuremarketinsights.com email Published by Abhishek Budholiya +1-347-918-3531 e-mail http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 595 Words 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comPress: press@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: www.futuremarketinsights.comAbhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531 Future Market Insights (FMI) delivers key insights on the Asia Pacific heart health functional food market in its upcoming outlook titled, Heart Health Functional Food Market: Asia Pacific Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 20162026. In terms of value, the Asia Pacific (APAC) heart health functional food market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 6.8% during the forecast period due to various factors, of which FMI offers vital insights.On the basis of type, the market is segmented into dairy products, breakfast cereals, edible oils, nutritional bars, and others (eggs and wine). Growth of the market is driven by growing preferences for heart health drink mixes in the dairy products segment as well as natural ingredient-based specific functional foods. On the basis of distribution channels, the market is segmented into hypermarkets, supermarkets, departmental stores, and grocer/retailers.Request For Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-ap-1895 Consumers are preferring heart and other health condition-specific functional food supplements due to various health issues associated with chronic conditions. This is fuelling demand for functional health foods to manage chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cholesterol, diabetes, obesity etc. Changing lifestyle, unhealthy food habits, and consumers opting for prevention rather than cure of diseases is driving demand for heart health functional foods. In countries such as China, an increasing aging population concentrating on heath and preferring heart health functional foods is increasing the spending of consumers on heart health functional foods. Furthermore, increasing governmental regulations and recommendations and innovations in heart health functional food products are driving market growth.High profitability margins, ease of resource availability, rising economic opportunity in developing nations and developed distribution channels, both online as well as offline, are factors encouraging new players to venture in the APAC heart health functional food market. Established players in the APAC heart health functional food market are expanding production facilities and are focusing on product innovations, which is creating robust competition in the market in the region.Send An Enquiry@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-ap-1895 This report discusses trends driving growth of each segment and offers analysis and insights into the potential of the heart health functional food market in specific countries including Japan, China, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. Markets in Japan, China, and India are expected to record high growth rates in terms of value between 2016 and 2026. Among all the countries in APAC, Japan is estimated to account for a comparatively higher value share in 2016. The market in Japan is expected to remain dominant over the forecast period and is expected to account for 29.2% revenue share by 2026. China is another major market for heart health functional foods. Various government bodies across the region are devising and implementing new norms regarding consumption of heart health products, especially omega 3 fortified food, and this is expected to drive market growth in China and Japan. In India, increasing prevalence of chronic and cardiovascular diseases is a major driver of growth of the heart health functional food market in the country, and the market is expected to account for 17.7% market share in terms of value by 2026. Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia are other countries in APAC where the market is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period.This report covers detailed profiles of key players Asia Pacific heart health functional food market, which includes key strategies, key developments, and product offerings. Leading companies profiled in this report are Marico Ltd., Kellogg Company, Raisio plc, Nestle S.A., Kalbe Farma Tbk, Associated British Foods, Ruchi Soya Industries Ltd., Bagrrys India Ltd., PepsiCo, Inc. and ConAgra Foods, Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2017-05-19 08:03:01 The Annual General Meeting of Beter Bed Holding N.V. held on 18 May 2017 declared a final dividend of 0.40 per ordinary share of nominally 0.02 each for the 2016 financial year. An interim dividend of 0.34 was paid in November 2016. The total dividend for 2016 consequently amounts to 0.74, resulting in a pay-out ratio of 85%. A dividend of 0.87 was paid for 2015 (pay-out ratio: 85%). The final dividend will be paid entirely in cash. The following schedule will apply to the payment of the dividend: 22 May 2017 listing ex-dividend 23 May 2017 record date 8 June 2017 payment of dividend Dividend policy Beter Bed Holding N.V.'s dividend policy focuses on maximising shareholder returns whilst maintaining a healthy capital position. Subject to conditions, the company's objective is to pay out at least 50% of the realised net profit to the shareholders. This payment will be made in the form of an interim dividend following publication of the third-quarter figures and a final dividend following the approval of the dividend proposal by the Annual General Meeting. This system makes it possible to spread out payment of the dividend evenly over the year. The payment of the dividend may never result in the company's solvency falling below 30% on any publication date. Furthermore, the net interest-bearing debt/EBITDA ratio may not exceed two. Management Board and Supervisory Board composition At the Annual General Meeting on 18 May 2017, Mr B.F. Koops was reappointed as Statutory Director for a term ending after the first Annual General Meeting to be held after four years upon his appointment. The composition of the Management Board of Beter Bed Holding N.V., Mr A.H. Anbeek (CEO) and Mr B.F. Koops (CFO), is maintained. Also Mr W.T.C. van der Vis, who already has completed a term as Supervisory Director, was reappointed as Supervisory Director for a term ending after the first Annual General Meeting to be held after four years upon his appointment. The composition of the Supervisory Board of Beter Bed Holding N.V., Mr D.R. Goeminne (Chairman), Mr A.J.L. Slippens (Vice Chairman), Ms E.A. de Groot and Mr W.T.C. van der Vis, remains unchanged. Profile Beter Bed Holding is a European retail organisation that strives to offer its customers a comfortable and healthy night's rest every night at an affordable price. The retail formats ensure products of good quality, offer customers the best advice and always the best possible deal. Beter Bed Holding is also active as a wholesaler of branded products in the bedroom furnishing sector via its subsidiary DBC International (M line). The current total number of stores is 1,202. In 2016, the company achieved net revenue of 410.5 million and an EBITDA of 37.5 million. For more information: Ton Anbeek Bart Koops Chief Executive Officer Chief Financial Officer +31 (0)413 338819 +31 (0)413 338819 +31 (0)6 53662838 +31 (0)6 46761405 ton.anbeek@beterbed.nl bart.koops@beterbed.nl Please click on the link below for the Pdf version of the press release. 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: Beter Bed Holding NV via Globenewswire Bio-Implants Market PR-Inside.com: 2017-05-19 09:13:33 Press Information Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Website: www.futuremarketinsights.com email Published by Abhishek Budholiya +1-347-918-3531 e-mail http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 611 Words 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: www.futuremarketinsights.comAbhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531 An implant is a medical device which replaces, supports or enhances a missing, damaged or existing biological structure. An implant is man-made device which is inserted into the human body cavity. Bio-implants are made from biological cells which are compatible with the human body cells. For instance, bio-implants are used in the treatment of skin burns or sores caused by surgeries. Eye bio-implants are used in the treatment of cornea sores or chemical damages in the eye.Bio-implants Market: Drivers & RestraintsThe advantage of bio-implants over the conventional forms of implants is that bio-implants is a fast method of treatment with negligible complications. The bio-implant owing to its nature builds into the human body organ naturally. The bio-implants are similar in morphology to the original human body tissue. Bio-implants do not necessarily need incisions but bio-implants are pressed through the human body organ. Bio-implants provide lifetime guarantee and heal the human body organ rapidly. However, high treatment costs and reimbursement issues are the factors that could hamper the growth of the global bio-implants market. The bio-implant approvals are regulated by a large number of laws which could act as a hurdle in the global bio-implants market due to this time consuming approval process.Request For Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-873 Bio-implants Market: SegmentationThe global bio-implants market is classified on the basis of type of implant, therapeutic area and geography.Based on type of implant, the global bio-implants market is segmented into the following:AllograftAutograftXenograftBased on therapeutic area, the global bio-implants market is segmented into the following:OrthopedicsDentalOphthalmicOthersBio-implants Market: OverviewThe global bio-implants market is forecast to witness significant growth rates due to the rapidly improving healthcare infrastructure in developed as well as developing regions. The increasing prevalence of chronic health disorders especially in the aging population coupled with rising disposable incomes is expected to propel the growth of the global bio-implants market. The geriatric population is expected to double in 2030 as compared to 2010. This is a major factor that is expected to determine the growth of dental bio-implants and orthopedic bio-implants. The dental therapeutic area subsegment is estimated to account for a significant share in the global bio-implants market. By therapeutic area, orthopedics is the key growth subsegment in the global bio-implants market which is projected to register a high CAGR among other subsegments during the forecast period.Bio-implants Market: Region-wise OutlookDepending on geographic regions, global bio-implants market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, South America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, and Middle East & Africa. North America is the largest market for bio-implants in terms of revenue due to the large number of players in bio-implants and strong healthcare infrastructure. Europe is the second largest bio-implant market owing to the technological advancements in healthcare and considerably high geriatric population in the region. North America and Europe together account for a major share in the global bio-implants market. The MEA region has witnessed mass productions of bio-implants in diverse therapeutic areas which makes the MEA a potential bio-implant market. Also, the bio-implants in MEA bio-implant market are cheaper as compared to the global prices and are able to meet domestic demand.Visit For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-873 Bio-implants Market: Key PlayersSome of the key market players identified in global bio-implants market are LifeNet Health, Arthrex, Inc., Clinic Lemanic, Nobel Biocare Services AG, Osprey Biomedical Corporation, Alpha Bio Tec, MiMedx Group, Inc to name a few. The global bio-implants market players are involved in collaborations, partnerships, mergers and acquisitions in order to enhance product development process and expand the global bio-implant footprint. China Industry Spinal Fusion Market PR-Inside.com: 2017-05-19 09:15:15 Press Information Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Website: www.futuremarketinsights.com email Published by Abhishek Budholiya +1-347-918-3531 e-mail http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 668 Words 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: www.futuremarketinsights.comAbhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531 There are several huge aspects impacting medical device technology field nowadays. A number of trends including consolidation, research and developments, and international strategies and alliances are driving the market for china spinal fusion market. The spinal fusion is one of the most common surgeries suggested for back problems. With the increasing spinal fusion surgery volumes in china due to the favourable reimbursement levels and patients willingness to undergo surgery with minimal invasive techniques is expected to foster the china spinal fusion market. Spinal fusion is surgical process are done to the patients suffering from a number of conditions such asdeformity, scoliosis, disc disease and fracture.The China Spinal Fusion Market is expected to register a double digit growth holding the fact that there is an increasing number of surgeries due to advancement in the technologies and use of minimal invasive techniques that benefits reduced cost. The procedures are highly benefited with the investment in the new technologies and their clinical success which are gaining more and more importance in the recent days and causing the China spinal fusion market to grow.Request For Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-cn-877 The emerging China spinal fusion market has been experiencing a phase of new product development and technological advancements due to greater demand. The manufacturing companies are raising their respective market share with aggressive marketing activities and increased R&D activities.China Spinal Fusion Market: Drivers & RestraintsSome of the major factors subsidizing the growth of China spinal fusion market are increasing rate of aging population with spine related diseases & related injuries coupled with the rising incomes of the Chinese populace ensuring the patients capability to pay for the treatment. On the other hand the price sensitive population of china is very responsive to the treatment price that are anticipated to drip considerably in near future due to the increasing competition in the market.Due to existing and upcoming advance technologies such as minimal invasive surgery and better implant materials are making it more widely accepted including the younger adult populace and thereby increasing the China spinal fusion market.The economic growth and additional initiatives taken by the Chinese government had resulted in treatment of a large number of previously untreated spinal disease patients in China's rural populace who are now undergoing minimally invasive spine surgery due to increased access.Despite of being widely used procedure for curing extremely debilitating disease related to spine, and spinal deformities, such as scoliosis and kyphosis, the China spinal fusion market is facing some challenges such as reimbursement cuts and heavy government regulations, high surgery cost, risk factors involved in the surgery etc.Due to high competition in the market, prices for bone graft substitutes and spinal implants are expected to come down in the Asia Pacific market, even when demand and expenditure on them has become greater than before, thus restraining the China spinal fusion market from growing. Some of the other growth restraining factors of the China spinal infusion market can be growing awareness for some other treatment methods such as IDET, artificial disc, posterior dynamic stabilization, disc regeneration.China Spinal Fusion Market: SegmentationBy spine fusion device types is segmented as follows:Spinal Plating SystemsPedicle Screw SystemsInterbody CagesBy procedure, the china spinal fusion market is segmented as follows:Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF)Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF)Anterior/Posterior Spinal FusionTransforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF)Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF)Visit For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-cn-877 The developing region of China is projected to be potentially growing in market with reference to the increasing demand for spinal fusion holding the fact that increased number of technological advancements have made the devices and surgeries cost-effective.China Spinal Fusion Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players in the China spinal fusion market are Trauson, Depuy Synthes Companies, Biomet, Inc., Medtronic, Inc, Nuvasive Inc, Stryker Corporation, Zimmer Holding, Inc., Orthofix International N.V, B. Braun Aesculap and Weigao Orthopaedic Device Co., Ltd. PR-Inside.com: 2017-05-19 13:19:02 The global competition yielded 103 finalists representing 25 countries to vie for awards at six Demo Days; overall, applicants from more than 70 countries and 300 cities participated in the process Citi Announces Awards for the Tech for Integrity Challenge Demo Day in Dublin Citi Belinda Marks +44 (0)207 508 3082 belinda.marks@citi.com Citi (NYSE: C) today announced the three award recipients from Citis Tech for Integrity Challenge (T4I) Demo Day in Dublin, held on May 18. The event brought together FinTech developers from eight countries to present their working prototypes to a panel of judges as part of T4I, a landmark effort to encourage technology innovators from around the world to create cutting-edge solutions to promote integrity, accountability and transparency in the public sector and beyond. The award recipients from the Demo Day included: T4I Award AID:Tech, Dublin, Ireland AID:Tech brings social and financial inclusion to the world's undocumented and under-served populations using digital identity based on Blockchain technology. Peer Choice Award Pole Star, London, England Pole Star provides sanctions compliance and risk management software to banks, trading companies, marine insurers and other organizations. Audience Choice Award Paycode, Johannesburg, South Africa Paycodes solution enables financial inclusion with secure biometric identification, verification, and authentication with a rural footprint for online and offline real-time transacting. At the event, 18 companies joined a total of 103 teams presenting their solutions at one of the six Demo Days across the globe. In addition to Dublin, T4I is hosting Demo Days in Abu Dhabi, Buenos Aires, Hyderabad, Mexico City and Singapore. In addition to the three awards presented at each Demo Day, Citis allies will announce additional awards in the coming weeks. Citi congratulates the award recipients and all of the finalists who presented an incredible range of innovative ideas in Dublin, said Zdenek Turek, Citibank Europe CEO. We are proud to sponsor this exciting challenge and to showcase a remarkable group of talented developers and their solutions. T4I is structured as a global open innovation competition, where companies of any type or size submitted technology solutions. Developers submitted ideas to address a number of pain points that Citi identified before launching the challenge in February. Most of the submissions focused on these key areas, including beneficiary eligibility; tax administration, including collection and taxpayer identity; transparency in the procurement process; allocation of public funds; and tools to increase transparency and fight corruption. The Citi Tech for Integrity Challenge has successfully crowdsourced game-changing solutions to help public and private sector entities tackle global integrity challenges, said Jay Collins, Vice Chairman of Corporate and Investment Banking at Citi. The solutions showcased in Dublin highlight how frontier technologies can be applied and implemented to drive integrity. Due to the open nature of the competition, award recipients from the Demo Days will have the opportunity to work with any business, organization or government interested in exploring innovative integrity tools. The T4I initiative, led by Citi in collaboration with public and private sector allies, provides public and private sector entities with access to tech innovators and their ideas on how to increase transparency and efficiency. Citis T4I allies include countries and other public and private sector entities looking to bring outside innovation inside their organizations. T4I strategic allies include Clifford Chance, Facebook, IBM, Lets Talk Payments, Mastercard, Microsoft and PwC. Citi teams from across the company and around the world contributed to T4I, including Citi FinTech, Citi Treasury and Trade Solutions, the Public Sector Group and Citi Ventures. ## Citi Citi, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management. Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com | Twitter: @Citi | YouTube: www.youtube.com/citi | Blog: http://blog.citigroup.com | Facebook: www.facebook.com/citi | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/citi View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201705190052 PR-Inside.com: 2017-05-19 22:09:25 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 391 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Erin Ventures Inc.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Victoria, British Columbia (FSCWire) - Erin Ventures Inc. (TSX Venture:EV). has issued a press release with the following headline:Erin Ventures Announces Proposed Private PlacementTo 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 Erin Ventures 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/Erin Ventures Inc.Source: Erin Ventures Inc. (TSX Venture: EV, WKN: A0CAFT, ISIN: CA29570H1010)Date: May 19, 2017Time: 4:00 PM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Erin Ventures 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.) Global Respiratory Devices Market PR-Inside.com: 2017-05-19 13:44:50 Press Information Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com press@futuremarketinsights.com Website: www.futuremarketinsights.com email Published by Abhishek Budholiya +1-347-918-3531 e-mail http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 551 Words 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.compress@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: www.futuremarketinsights.comAbhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531 The global respiratory devices market was valued at nearly US$ 13 billion in 2016. It is projected to grow at 9.2% CAGR during the period 2017-2027 to reach US$ 34.17 billion in revenues.Demand for respiratory devices will continue to be driven by increasing ageing population and rising prevalence of COPD and obstructive sleep apnea. Increasing emphasis on healthcare spending in developing countries, especially in Asia Pacific and Latin America, will continue to positively influence the growth of the market.Adoption of non-invasive techniques in pulse oximeters and advancement in full polysomnography testing are also favourably impacting the growth of the market.Although Future Market Insights maintains a positive outlook on the global respiratory devices market, premium pricing, budgetary constraints, and increasing use of generic product types can impede the growth of the market.Request Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-794 The key trends expected to influence the global respiratory devices market in the foreseeable future are,Portable and wearable devices are steadily gaining popularity among patients owing to ease-of-use and flexibility in carrying the devices.Growing demand for stationary oxygen concentrator with pulse flow technology and rechargeable batteries.Increasing demand for respiratory devices in Asia Pacific on account of rising prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. Multinational companies are focusing on consolidating their position in developing countries to leverage upon the emerging opportunities.Positive Airway Pressure Devices Account for the Highest DemandAccording to Future Market Insights research, positive airway pressure devices currently account for the highest demand. This segment accounted for nearly 29% revenue share of the market in 2017; by 2027, this is projected to increase to 34.6%. In terms of revenues, positive airway pressure devices segment is projected to reach US$ 11.81 billion in revenues by 2027.Other key product types by revenue are respiratory consumables (respiratory masks, nasal cannulas, tracheostomy tubes and oxygen tubes) and pulse oximeters.Future Market Insights also offers market forecast and analysis on other key respiratory devices, including nebulisers, oxygen concentrators, polysomnography devices, mechanical ventilators, and spirometers.Hospitals Largest End-usersBy end-user, the key segments include hospitals, ambulatory surgical centres, clinics, and long-term care centres. Currently, hospitals account for the highest demand for respiratory devices, followed by ambulatory surgical centres and long-term care centres. Demand for respiratory devices from hospitals was worth US$ 5.18 billion in 2016; by 2027, this is projected to grow at 9.8% CAGR to reach US$ 14.36 billion.U.S. Continues to Account for Significant Percentage of Global SalesThe U.S. remains the largest market for respiratory devices globally. On the back of strong sales in the U.S., the North America respiratory devices market accounted for over 40% revenue share of the market in 2016. Future Market Insights projects North America to remain the largest market for respiratory devices during the period 2017-2027.Send An Enquiry@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-794 Western Europe and APEJ are the other leading markets for respiratory devices. These two markets collectively accounted for a revenue share of over 35% in 2016.Future Market Insights, in its report, has also profiled the respiratory devices market in Latin America, Eastern Europe, Japan, and MEA.In its report, companies profiled by Future Market Insights are Massimo Corporation, Teleflex Incorporated, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited, ResMed Inc, Hamilton Medical AG, Medtronic PLC, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Smiths Medical, General Electric Healthcare Limited, Dragerwerk AG & Co. and KGaA, Inogen Inc. Speciality Malt Market PR-Inside.com: 2017-05-19 13:22:47 Press Information Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com press@futuremarketinsights.com Website: www.futuremarketinsights.com email Published by Abhishek Budholiya +1-347-918-3531 e-mail http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 666 Words 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.compress@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: www.futuremarketinsights.comAbhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531 In parallel with the rise in global consumption of alcoholic beverages, local entrepreneurs from all corners of the world have begun treading the waters of brewing businesses. A considerable rise in the number of microbreweries being set up across the globe is stimulating the growth in consumption of specialty malts a key ingredient for making alcoholic beverages such as beer. Innovations in brewing techniques has further consolidated the application of specialty malts in production of flavoured alcoholic beverages.A new research report from Future Market Insights reveals that the global market for specialty malts, which is currently valued at an estimated US$ 2.16 billion, is expected to soar at a steady CAGR of 6.4% and bring in revenues worth over US$ 4 billion by 2026 end.Since the growth in demand for specialty malts continues to remain contingent upon global alcoholic beverage consumption, more than one million tonnes of specialty malts are anticipated to be consumed through 2026. Incidentally, this will also shore up the global production of barley, wheat, corn, soybean and other grains used for deriving specialty malts. By lending a unique flavour, texture, and colour, the application of specialty malts continues to gain significance in production of beverages, revenues from which will impose nearly 90% share on global specialty malts market value throughout the forecast period. The research reveals that revenue share of alcoholic beverages in the global specialty malt market will remain consistent at nearly 82% through 2026. Meanwhile, about 130,000 tonnes of specialty malts were globally consumed for production of non-alcoholic drinks & beverages in 2016.Request Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2439 Western Europe Largest Consumer of Specialty MaltsWhen it comes to consuming flavoured alcoholic beverages, consumers in Western European countries such as Germany, France or Belgium will certainly not shy away. By the end of the forecast period, more than 500,000 tonnes of specialty malts will be consumed across Western Europe, making it the largest consumer of specialty malts in the world. With respect to production, the demand for specialty malts will register stellar growth in the Asia-Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) region. The APEJ specialty malts market will register the highest value CAGR of 7.8%, and procure over US$ 1 billion revenues during the projected period. North America and Latin America are anticipated to account for a collective share of more than 24% in global specialty malts revenues through 2026.Cargill, Inc. Largest Producer of Specialty MaltsWith more than 10% share in global revenues, Cargill Incorporated will retain its title as the largest producer of specialty malts in the world. With its manufacturing plants based in Germany, the company will also boost the status of Western Europe in the global specialty malts market. Joining Cargill in inducing higher production of specialty malts are prominent European companies, namely, IREKS GmbH, Viking Malt Oy, Groupe Soufflet, Malteurop, Axereal and Simpsons Malt Limited. Other key producers of specialty malts profiled in the research report include Australias GrainCorp Ltd., the Cooperative Agraria Agroindustrial of Brazil and Barmalt India Pvt. Ltd.Send An Enquiry@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-2439 In the report, titled Specialty Malts Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2016-2026, Future Market Insights discloses that global demand for caramelised malts will incur a decline in 2017 and beyond. While their dominance on global market revenues will be retained through 2026, the rate at which caramelised specialty malts are consumed in the world will be outpaced by surging consumption of roasted malts. By the end of forecast period, more than US$ 1.5 billion worth of roasted specialty malts are being projected to be sold in the world. Over two-third of global specialty malts production will be sourced from barley grain produce. Although, advancing farming techniques will also increase the production of specialty malts from wheat and rye grains. Likewise, dry extracts of specialty malts will dominate the global specialty malts revenues by accounting for a steady share of 69%. On the other hand, liquid and malt flour extracts will lose market presence in the years to come, exhibiting a marginal dip in their global revenue share. PR-Inside.com: 2017-05-19 10:49:21 Press Information Published by ACN Newswire +65 6304 8926 e-mail https://www.acnnewswire.com/ # 413 Words ACN Newswire+65 6304 8926 JAKARTA, May 18, 2017 - (ACN Newswire) - The Indonesian National Agency of Search and Relief (NASR, formerly BASARNAS) supports Indonesia's growing tourism development by proactively ensuring safety and security across the country's abundance of tourist destinations, with measures of prevention as well as alleviation.Indonesia is an archipelagic country blessed with many unique resources, and a beautiful natural wealth spanning phenomenal panoramas, god-given coral reefs, and exotic flora and fauna, abundantly covering the country from Sabang to Merauke. It is no wonder that tens of millions of international tourists flock to this country every year. Currently, Indonesia's tourism sector accounts for approximately four percent of the total economy.Realizing the potential coming from the tourism sector, the President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo places great emphasis on developing the tourism industry, encouraging ever greater numbers of tourists coming to Indonesia, as his government has set a target of 20 millions foreign visitors by 2020.Developing unique destinations, ensuring reliable access, and providing industry-standard amenities are three fundamental pillars in constructing a comprehensive, globally-competitive tourism sector. In addition, when disaster occurs, NASR is heavily committed to providing end-to-end, tireless search and rescue services, no matter what and where it strikes.To further ensure tourist destinations from threats of disaster, NASR joins forces with the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism in search and rescue operations for all travel agencies.This cooperation ensures that tourists enjoy and absorb Indonesia's natural beauty without having to worry about disasters striking. The NASR is committed to travelers feeling comfortable, and more importantly, secure spending their vacation in Indonesia.Chief of NASR, Marshal Muhammad Syaugi, S.Sos, MM, hopes that NASR contributes significantly to the country's tourism sector, a major pillar of economic growth. "To achieve that goal, we set principles toward good operations. To act professionally, with an integrated mechanism of operations, a wide-ranging SAR-related arsenal, and with solid teamwork." Established in each of the 34 provinces across Indonesia, BASARNAS is composed of highly trained, elite SAR personnel, and equipped with state-of-the-art life-safety support equipment. No matter how long, how far, and how hard the disaster strikes, the BASARNAS team will be there to evacuate victims, minimizing additional loss.To learn more about the Indonesian National Agency of Search and Relief, please visit http://www.basarnas.go.id Topic: Press release summarySectors: Security/Biometrics, Aerospace/DefenceFrom the Asia Corporate News NetworkCopyright 2017 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. A division of Asia Corporate News Network. PR-Inside.com: 2017-05-19 11:14:02 To free its Program customers from expensive ferry fees, company will never charge them for positioning an aircraft anywhere in the world. Positioning fees can cost customers an additional five-figures on each flight. Other business aviation companies charge for positioning fees when leaving their limited service areas. The announcement is a result of VistaJet's $2.5bn investment in its global fleet and proprietary backend operations technology. Company took on 15 new business jets in 2016, taking the total fleet to over 70, to offer one-way pricing around the globe. Follows 100,000th VistaJet flight record. LONDON, May 19, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VistaJet, the first and only global aviation company, announced today that it has abolished hourly ferry flight fees for new Program customers globally. Uniquely in the industry, the commitment applies no matter where in the world a customer is flying to or from. The move signals a significant commitment to VistaJet's mission to be the first operator to offer a truly global service. Its customers now have complete freedom when booking, without bearing the burden of paying a ferry flight hourly rate for an aircraft to return to a home base or service area, and enjoying truly transparent pricing. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/46cb434c-23ad-4110-8c4f-bc8711b071e2 http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5e0064d2-a46b-4f9b-9935-b1ff347144f0 http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8a1f5882-737f-42be-996b-adbf4e8f529e http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a6207715-7e21-42f4-ab50-9229bae68fba Positioning fees have traditionally been a frustrating and unexpected cost for business aviation clients. Currently, most companies in the sector make their customers pay for the cost of returning the empty plane to its home airport or service area after a flight is completed. Depending on location, this can add tens of thousands to the overall cost of a flight. For example, if a customer stepped onboard a London based aircraft towards Australia, the cost of returning the aircraft to its home base could add more than $100,000 to the overall cost of the journey. The revolutionary new offering has been made possible by the $2.5bn investment the company has made to grow its fleet to a global scale, as well as its effort to establish a global customer base through its 10 sales offices around the globe. The company's unique business model, built on removing the notion of a home base for its aircraft, means customers only pay for the time they are in the air: when a VistaJet Program customer books a flight, VistaJet will simply move the nearest plane to pick them up. Unlike business jet charter, VistaJet owns every one of the over 70 silver and red aircraft in its fleet, so customers know what will greet them on the tarmac anytime, anywhere in the world. The company has invested in an industry leading operations centre in the European country of Malta, and created an innovative infrastructure with the capacity to manage global flights 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It has also established offices on 5 continents, managing flights to over 1,600 airports in 187 countries to date. Chairman and Founder Thomas Flohr said: "When you call a taxi, you don't worry about paying for its journey to you. Today's entrepreneur or business executive will be flying to America one week, Asia or South America the next, and Europe in between, so it's become critical to offer them a truly global service. The sustained investment we've made for the past 13 years has been calculated to ensure we can offer our customers something completely ground-breaking: one way pricing around the globe. At VistaJet, we challenge ourselves every day to offer the best experience in the industry. So along with knowing that our customers will only pay for the time they are in the air, when they fly with us they know that they will receive the very best service, with everything tailored to their specific needs." About VistaJet VistaJet is the first and only global aviation company. On its fleet of silver and red business jets, VistaJet has flown corporations, governments and private clients to 187 countries worldwide. Founded in 2004 by Thomas Flohr, the company pioneered an innovative business model where customers pay only for the hours they fly, free of the responsibilities and asset risks linked to aircraft ownership. VistaJet's signature Program service offers customers a bespoke subscription of flight hours on its fleet of mid and long range jets, to fly them anywhere and at any time. More VistaJet information and news at vistajet.com. Information Jennifer Tyler VistaJet International T: +44 203 617 3077 M: +44 7834 335505 jennifer.tyler@vistajet.com James Leviton Finsbury +44 207 251 3851 VistaJet@finsbury.com Aortic Stents Grafts Market PR-Inside.com: 2017-05-19 09:10:01 Press Information Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Website: www.futuremarketinsights.com email Published by Abhishek Budholiya +1-347-918-3531 e-mail http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 478 Words 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: www.futuremarketinsights.comAbhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531 An Aortic Stent Graft is a devices which is used to support a weak spot in an artery known as aneurysm. A stent graft is a fabricated tube composed of a metal mesh. The graft is used to seal the artery above and below the aneurysm. Over the time, high blood pressure can happen to damage the weak area, causing it to bulge and eventually rapture.Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms (AAAs) and Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm (TAA) are the major indications for the Aortic Stent Graft implantation. Abdominal aortic aneurysms are more common in men and amongpopulation aged 65 years and above. The prevalence of AAA is six times greater in men than in women. As per various screening studies on the older population, the prevalence of AAA was 1.3% in women compared with 7.6% in men.Request For Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-865 Aortic Stents Grafts Market: Drivers and RestraintsWith the aging population, there is a rising prevalence in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms. The patients with these indication are at high risk of Aortic raptures with age. Grafts manufacturers are continuously focusing on the technologies. Since, Endovascular grafting is a minimally invasive procedure. Hence, more patients desires to opt for minimally invasive technique over open surgery. There is much scope of product development in the forecast years with proper access to clinical trials data.Development in imaging techniques, there is significant improvement in accuracy and safety in graft implantations resulting in increase in the number of endovascular grafting procedures.However, high cost of these grafts and procedures cost act as a major barrier for this market.Aortic Stents Grafts Market: SegmentationGlobal vascular market is further segmented into following types:Abdominal Aortic Stent GraftsThoracic Aortic Stent GraftsAortic Stents GraftsMarket: OverviewWith rapid technological advancement and wide acceptance of grafting procedures among patients with AAA, the global Aortic stent grafts market is expected to witness a healthy growth of 5-7% in the forecast period (2015-2025).Aortic Stents Grafts Market: Region- wise OutlookDepending on geographic regions, global aortic stents grafts market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, South America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Japan and Middle East & Africa.North America dominates the global Aortic Stents Grafts market due to the significant spending power of large segments of the population and technological advancement. With the increase in procedure volumes and Europes healthy reimbursement system, this market is expected to experience a rapid growth. Asia-Pacific is the fastest emerging market for global aortic stents grafts because the cost of surgery is reasonable as compared to other regions.Visit For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-865 Aortic Stents Grafts Market: Key PlayersSome of the key market players in global Aortic Stents Grafts market are, Cook Medical Corporation, W.L. Gore & Associates, Medtronic Inc, Terumo Corporation, MicroPort Scientific Corporation and Endologix. Metal Bellows Market PR-Inside.com: 2017-05-19 09:06:39 Press Information Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Website: www.futuremarketinsights.com email Published by Abhishek Budholiya +1-347-918-3531 e-mail http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 687 Words 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: www.futuremarketinsights.comAbhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531 Due to change in the temperature, all materials expand and contract. In industries, where pipes are exposed to the high temperature, the chances of pipe expansion increases. Unwanted expansion of pipes can be hazardous in the working environment, and thus to avoid such mishap, metal bellows are integrated in the pipes. As the pipe expands due to growing temperature, the job of the bellows is to resist the compression by the force.The metal bellow is designed as an elastic vessel to absorb the pressure by compressing itself, or it extending itself under vacuum. The metal bellow returns to its original shape as soon as the pressure or vacuum is released. The thickness and convolution geometry of the metal bellows is designed as per the pipe capacity, temperature and anticipated pressure.The metal bellows are placed in the specific locations in the piping system to accommodate the temperature growth, but when it is placed in the pipe that has been cut into two, the system experiences the side effects such as pressure thrust or spring rate.Request For Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-848 Global Metal Bellows Market: Drivers and ChallengesThe demand for metal bellows is growing with the expansion of various industries globally, especially in the Asia Pacific, Western Europe and North America. The metal bellows is used in various industries such as manufacturing, mining, automotive, water treatment, power generation and wind power. Implementation of stringent government regulations to create a safe environment by encouraging the installation of metal bellows market is fueling the growth for the global metal bellows market. The consumer preferences for metal bellows is changing across the globe, and due to which, metal bellows manufacturers are focusing on producing/manufacturing metal bellows with new design. Along with the innovation, the industry players are also focusing on increasing the product offerings to increase their global market share. These factors are propelling the growth in the global metal bellows market.The importance of metal bellows is increasing, but the industry is highly fragmented and due to which the intensity of competition is high as well. The global metal bellows industry is experiencing price competition, and which is inhibiting the growth of global metal bellows market.Global Metal Bellows Market: OverviewThe global metal bellows market by value is expected to expand at a CAGR of around 7-9% during the forecast period (2015-2025), due to growth in the piping industry.Global Metal Bellows Market: SegmentationThe global metal bellows market can be segmented by end-use industry, by application, by product type and by regionsBased on end-use industry, the global metal bellows market is segmented as:Power GenerationShip Power and Ship BuildingDistrict HeatingWind PowerWater treatment and WastewaterSteel MillsPulp and Paper PlantsOthers (Chemical and Petrochemical Plants, Desulphurization plants)Based on application, the global metal bellows market is segmented as:Engine Exhaust SystemGas TurbinesSteam TurbinesFCCUsFuel Gas Duct SystemsConventional BoilersOthers (Scrubbers, filtration, HRSGs)Based on product type, the global metal bellows market is segmented as:FormedWeldedElectroformedVisit For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-848 Global Metal Bellows Market: Region-wise OutlookThe global metal bellows market is expectedto register a single-digit CAGR for the forecast period. Depending on geographic regions, the global metal bellows 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 metal bellows market is projectedto register a significant CAGR during the forecast period. Growing demand from industries such as power generation and water treatment, especially in the economies like India and China, is fueling the growth of the global metal bellows market in Asia Pacific. Western Europe is also forecast to register a significant growth in the global metal bellows market, due to stringent government regulations to increase the safety.Global Metal Bellows Market: Key PlayersSome of the key market participants in global metal bellows market are EagleBurgmann KE, Pebiflex, Servometer, Witzenmann GmbH, Triad Bellows, Duraflex, Inc, U.S. Bellows, KSM Corporation, etc. PR-Inside.com: 2017-05-19 13:10:06 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 393 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Renaissance Gold Inc.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---White Rock, British Columbia (FSCWire) - Renaissance Gold Inc. (TSX Venture:REN). has issued a press release with the following headline:Renaissance Gold Announces Arabia Earn-in TerminatedTo 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 Renaissance Gold 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/Renaissance Gold Inc.Source: Renaissance Gold Inc. (TSX Venture: REN, ISIN: CA75971J1057, WKN: A1C7Z0)Date: May 19, 2017Time: 7:00 AM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Renaissance Gold 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.) PR-Inside.com: 2017-05-19 06:17:40 Press Information Published by ACN Newswire +65 6304 8926 e-mail https://www.acnnewswire.com/ # 333 Words ACN Newswire+65 6304 8926 Moscow, Russia and Tokyo, Japan, May 19, 2017 - (ACN Newswire) - JCB International Co., Ltd. (JCBI), the international operations subsidiary of JCB Co., Ltd., announced the signing of a license agreement with Sberbank of Russia, the largest bank in Russia, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Central and Eastern Europe. Sberbank agreed to start accepting JCB cards on the Sberbank nationwide POS terminal network in 2018.Sberbank has the largest POS terminal network in the country. JCBI started card issuing business with several local banks in Russia in 2015 and the cardmember base has been expanding. The partnership with Sberbank of Russia will ensure that the JCB cardmembers enjoy more convenience and increase JCB brand awareness and presence in the market.Kimihisa Imada, President and COO of JCBI, said: "We are sure this arrangement will support our objective as a very active player in the payment industry in Russia. We believe our collaboration will contribute to the growth of card payments and provide greater convenience to JCB cardmembers both in Russia and from all over the world." About JCBJCB is a major global payment brand and a leading payment card issuer and acquirer in Japan. JCB launched its card business in Japan in 1961 and began expanding worldwide in 1981. Its acceptance network includes about 32 million merchants and over a million cash advance locations in 190 countries and territories. JCB cards are now issued in 23 countries and territories, with more than 100 million card members. As part of its international growth strategy, JCB has formed alliances with hundreds of leading banks and financial institutions globally to increase merchant coverage and card member base. As a comprehensive payment solution provider, JCB commits to provide responsive and high-quality service and products to all customers worldwide.Note: Statistics in About JCB are as of September 2016.For more information, please visit: www.global.jcb/en/ or www.ru.jcb/ru/ ContactJCB International Co., Ltd.Kae MitsudaGlobal Business PlanningTel: 81-3-5778-7963Email: jcbinternational-pr@ info.jcb.co.jp PR-Inside.com: 2017-05-19 09:18:01 Experts discuss healthcare policy to tackle economic costs caused by chronic pain and work incapacity Societal Impact of Pain Costs the EU up to 441 Billion Euros Annually Grayling for SIP Sabrina Kieback Sabrina.kieback@grayling.com +49 (0)69 96 22 19 52) Pain causes a problem for individuals as well as a challenge for healthcare systems, economies and society: each year, approximately one in five Europeans or 20 percent of the adult population in Europe are affected by chronic pain. This includes 153 million people suffering migraine or other disabling headaches, 200 million musculoskeletal disorders and 100 million people experiencing other forms of chronic pain. The estimated direct and indirect healthcare costs for chronic pain disorders in European Member States vary between two and three percent of GDP across the EU. For 2016, this estimate would result in up to 441 billion Euros. Therefore, in advance of the Societal Impact of Pain symposium, experts in pain care call upon European and national policymakers to improve pain care policies and boost the productivity of the European workforce. The European Union and its member states are confronted with substantial challenges. On the one hand, the need to increase productivity and prevent involuntary early retirement, on the other hand, to provide a social system that cares for an ageing population. In early 2017, the discussion in the European Parliament on the European Semester for economic policy coordination led to a resolution. In this resolution the European Parliament expressed its concern about the effects of demographic developments on public finances, pensions and healthcare systems and warns that the already foreseeable funding costs will have a significant impact. Experts estimate that half of all citizens living in the EU at some point in their lives suffer from back pain. Approximately 15 percent of these citizens with back pain are on sick leave for over one month. Worldwide chronic pain conditions (in particular back pain) are by far the greatest cause of disability. Unsurprisingly chronic pain is one of the major reasons why people exit the labour market prematurely and it contributes significantly to disability retirement. Aside from its effect on the workforce, chronic pain is one of the top causes of disability in every region of Europe and increases the risks of other health problems, social exclusion and poverty. Stigma and lack of public knowledge worsen the burden on patients and families by preventing people in pain from seeking treatment. Large health inequalities persist in the EU as many patients do not have access to adequate pain treatment. Although pan-European data comparing the impact of pain on health care systems are lacking, we know that pain disorders are amongst the most prevalent, costly and disabling conditions in the workplace. Analysis focussing on the impact of pain on labour force participation, absence from work (absenteeism) and attending work while sick (presenteeism) have demonstrated that the experience of pain had a substantial negative association with labour force participation in Europe. Due to the effects of pain on rates of absenteeism, reduced productivity and even the risk of employees leaving the labour market, social protection systems spend a large budget on pain related complaints. Data from the Labour Force Survey shows that over 2.3 million people in the UK report conditions or disabilities related to their back or neck as their main health problem. In 2013, low back pain was ranked highest of all injury-related disabilities and yielded the largest total number of Years Lived with Disability throughout England. With more than 500 million sick days per year in Europe, musculoskeletal pain causes almost 50 percent of all absences from work lasting at least three days in the EU and 60 percent of permanent work incapacity. Healthy citizens, on the other side, reduce the strain on healthcare systems and boost economic growth by staying active for longer. Effective pain policies can positively impact the productivity and longevity of Europes labour force and delay early retirement. Under the auspices of the 2017 Maltese Presidency of the Council of the EU the Societal Impact of Pain symposium from June 79, 2017 will bring together more than 300 participants representing healthcare professionals, pain advocacy groups, researchers and specialists in the field of pain as well as insurers and budget holders. The SIP platform aims to create structured EU-wide cooperation with lasting political impact, to find solutions that improve the lives of those with chronic pain, but also minimize the impact of pain on society. - Ends - About the SIP-Platform The Societal Impact of Pain (SIP) is an international, multi-stakeholder platform created as a joint initiative of the European Pain Federation EFIC and Grunenthal with the aim to: raise awareness of the relevance of the impact that pain has on our societies, health and economic systems exchange information and sharing best-practices across all Member States of the European Union develop and foster European-wide policy strategies for an improved pain management in Europe (Pain Policy). Over 300 international and national pain advocacy groups, scientific organisations and authorities have endorsed the scientific aims of SIP symposia and meetings. The scientific framework of the Societal Impact of Pain (SIP) platform is under the responsibility of the European Pain Federation EFIC. Cooperation partners for SIP 2017 are Pain Alliance Europe (PAE) and Active Citizenship Network (ACN). The SIP 2017 symposium is co-hosted by the Malta Health Network and the No Pain Foundation. The pharmaceutical company Grunenthal GmbH is responsible for funding and non-financial support (e.g. logistical support). In the past the scientific aims of the SIP symposia have been endorsed by over 300 international and national pain advocacy groups, scientific organisations and authorities. References can be provided upon request You can find more information at www.SIP-Platform.eu View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201705190051 Did you know that #pain cost the EU up to 441bn Euros in 2016? #TimeForAction at #SIP2017 symposium. #painpolicy PR-Inside.com: 2017-05-19 11:04:58 Press Information Future Market Insights 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018, Valley Cottage, NY 10989, United States T: +1-347-918-3531 F: +1-845-579-5705 Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Press: press@futuremarketinsights.com Website: www.futuremarketinsights.com email Published by Abhishek Budholiya +1-347-918-3531 e-mail http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 557 Words 616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comPress: press@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: www.futuremarketinsights.comAbhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531 The global special purpose needles market is projected to be valued at US$ 17,261.5 million by the end of 2026, registering a CAGR of 7.4% during the forecast period (20162026). In a new report titled Special Purpose Needles Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 20162026, Future Market Insights delivers key insights on the factors and trends impacting the global special purpose needles market over a 10-year forecast period (20162026).The market for special purpose needles is witnessing steady growth across the globe owing to an increasing geriatric population. According to analysts at Future Market Insights, Increasing prevalence of diabetes and infectious diseases and increasing incidence of cancer and spine disorders across the globe are the primary factors driving the growth of the global special purpose needles market. Availability of better reimbursement options for some types of special purpose needles in developed economies is likely to propel demand for special purpose needles over the forecast period. A key trend witnessed in the global special purpose needles market is the development of advanced techniques in the production of special purpose needles to facilitate enhanced patient safety and comfort. However, rise in awareness on needle free injections and risks associated with injections are major factors expected to hamper the overall growth of the special purpose needles market over the forecast period.Request For Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-583 The global special purpose needles market can be segmented on the basis of product type (Fine Aspirating Needles, Biopsy Needles, Hypodermic Needles, Pen Needles, Suture Needles, IV Catheter Needles, Implantation Needles, Dental Needles, Ophthalmic Needles, Blood Collection Needles, Spinal Anaesthesia Needles, Epidural Needles, AV Fistula Needles, Cannula Needles); application (Sample Collection, Drug Delivery); and distribution channel (Hospital Pharmacies, Private Clinics, Retail Pharmacies and Drug Stores, E-Commerce).Segmentation highlightsThe Pen Needles product type segment is expected to gain popularity over the forecast period, driven by increasing global adoption of small sized needles for insulin injections. The Pen Needles product type segment is estimated to reach a valuation of US$ 644.3 Mn by the end of 2016, registering a CAGR of 9.1% over the forecast period.The Sample Collection application segment is estimated to register a CAGR of 7.7% while the Drug Delivery application segment is expected to register a CAGR of 7.1% during the forecast period.Demand for special purpose needles over the forecast period is expected to be the highest in the Hospital Pharmacies distribution channel segment, which is expected to register a CAGR of 8.5% in terms of value.Regional forecastThe North America market has been estimated to dominate the special purpose needles market while the market in APEJ is expected to be the fastest growing in terms of revenue growth. The markets in North America, Western Europe, and APEJ are estimated to collectively hold 74.7% market share of the global special purpose needles market in 2016.Send An Enquiry@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-583 Vendor insightsMedtronic, B. Braun Melsungen AG, Becton, Dickinson and Company, Terumo Corporation, Smiths Medical, Boston Scientific Corporation, Novo Nordisk A/S, Argon Medical Devices, Inc., Stryker Corporation, NIPRO Medical Corporation, Cook Medical, and SERAG-WIESSNER GmbH & Co. are some of the major companies operating in the global special purpose needles market. These companies are adopting innovative strategies to bring in improvements to their product design and are initiating advanced R&D activities and market consolidation to strengthen market foothold and expand customer base. PR-Inside.com: 2017-05-19 14:00:15 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 378 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Supreme Metals Corp.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Sudbury, ON (FSCWire) - Supreme Metals Corp. (CSE:ABJ). has issued a press release with the following headline:Supreme Metals Corp. Provides Corporate UpdateTo 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 Supreme Metals Corp., 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/Supreme Metals Corp.Source: Supreme Metals Corp. (CSE: ABJ)Date: May 19, 2017Time: 8:00 AM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Supreme Metals Corp. 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. Sarkar Office Japan KK - Bridging partner for India business for Japanese companies interested doing business in the market! SOJK_ Bridging_ Admn_ Services Contact Sarkar Office Japan KK ***@sarkaroffice.com +81(03)5631- 9127 Sarkar Office Japan KK+81(03)5631-9127 End --is a "Bridging Consulting and Administrative Services" firm involved in providing "One Stop Solution for Market Entry Support" to foreign companies & entrepreneur in Japan since 1993.Providing "Bridging Consulting" services and "hands-on support" in the areas such as: Market Entry planning & implementation support, Practical based market research, Marketing & procurement of products & services, Identifying local business partner(s), Business negotiation & localization etc. "Bridging the Gap" in areas such as Cultural, Business Ethics, Traditional difference & Language barriers, etc. and other related business services.Arup Sarkar, Senior Consultant, founding director has over 30 years experience as a Marketing, Management & Bridging Consultant, Business Auditor (Cisco Systems) and Paralegal Advisor in Japan & Asia and has extensive knowledge as a "Consultant"All services provided are tailor made to meet the specific requirement of the client rather than following a template approach.Overall assistance in conducting the business in most cost and time effective manner, acting as client's local arm in order to give the client the total control in their international business in local market, and all other related activities.The areas where we act as a Sarkar Office Japan KK provides hands-on support re market development activities as client's local arm in the target market both at entry and post entry level. We provide "Tailor made Service" to fit the requirement of the client. We do not implement or believe in template approach. We undertake assignment after initial assessment and internal due diligence. We normally provide our quotation along with "Terms of Reference" (TOR) of the project after carrying out a thorough Q&A session with the client. We carry out the project based on the TOR and the client's role & responsibility including the support re specific technical issues and all other related matters are usually outlined on the terms of reference. We provide hands-on approach and practical business support at a most cost effective & time efficient manner. We implement an assignment in various steps & phaseswhich provides the client opportunity to judge and review the progress & enables them to take decision based on the initial findings and actual results without making a long-term commitment from day one. We provide our "Client" all the findings and market info without any modification of the real content. (Unlike in the case of agent, distributors, brokers who normally tend to provide selective information to clients). We "Walk the Talk" with our client in the development process as integral part rather than acting as a sole outsider advisor. We work as a team with the client and in each implementation phase we involve the client so that client can take informed decision. Though we put forth our suggestions & rationales to our client but we always prefer the client to have the final say in all decisions making process. We focus on enhancing the client's core strength in the target market, as it deemed appropriate without carrying out any over or under selling. We follow a simple principle of "job taken to be delivered at the best of our ability & at client's satisfaction"and provide a very flexible exit clause to our client in the event of unfavorable findings & result.Sarkar Office Japan KK is a "Bridging Consulting and Administrative Services" firm involved in providing "One Stop Solution for Market Entry Support" to both entry and post-entry level, administrative legal services, Japan Company registration & post-registration support to foreign companies & entrepreneur in Japan since 1993.Since 1995 the firm has been providing "Consulting Services" Marketing, Management & Bridging Consulting, market-entry planning and implementation process support, business auditing, practical based target market research in association with conventional research approach, market development services.Sarkar Office Japan KK has extensive knowledge and experience serving a multi-industry and diversified clientele of various nationality including multinational companies, major Japanese companies, Indian conglomerate, small & medium size companies, emerging growth companies, NGO, NPO, government agencies, semi-government organizations, and new start-up companies.For further details please visit: http://www.sarkaroffice.com Mission Education Noida Team placed its 8th donation box at American Institute of English Education, Sector-22 , Noida Contact Mission Education ***@gmail.com Mission Education End -- Mission Education team Noida while keeping up the pace to place the donation boxes in maximum institutions of Noida covering Schools, Colleges, Companies and Institutes placed its 8th Donation box at American Institute of English Language, Sector-22, Noida.Mission Education , a step taken by Manav Utthan Sewa Samiti organisation to let the poverty stricken children of the society. continue their education without abandoning their studies.Who can help these underprivileged children ?The team reaches out to various private schools where the students are well of and are able to afford multiple stationeries regularly. The team post approval of the Principal places the donation box during the assembly time in school premises to aware students about how the other half of the society is suffering for the basic education.The Principal, school staff, teachers and students donate the basic stationery items like Pencil, Eraser, Sharpener, Notebooks etc . The students from privileged schools being the helping hand benefits the poor children of the society.The school management joins along with the team for the distribution of stationery items to needy ones bringing the hope and smile back on their faces.About the Organisation:Manav Utthan Sewa Samiti is an all India registered organisation working in the favour of social welfare. The founder of the Samiti is Shri Satpal Ji Maharaj who is a Tourism Minister of Uttrakhand from Bhartiya Janta Party and an active cabinet member.The Motto of the Samiti says "One Nation . One flag. One spirit". The step towards education "Mission Education" has been started by Shri Vibhu Ji Maharaj and is successfully running its Phase II in five other countries i.e; South Africa, Kenya, Mauritius, Nepal and Bhutan. As per the statistics, the total number of students benefited from Phase I(November 2015 November 2016) were 1,48,665 and 850+ boxes were placed in all over India.Headquarters:Manav Utthan Sewa Samiti,2/12, East Punjabi Bagh,New Delhi, 110026Checkout our Video: https://youtu.be/ v3zszVM4POk Like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ missioneducationindia/ -------News Editor: Himanshi SharmaNews Publisher: Vipin Nirwal By: ClickDishes Inc. Contact Meghan Somers ***@theagencyinc.ca Meghan Somers End -- ClickDishes Inc., the food tech mobile app company that enables users to mobile order from any restaurant, is excited to announce that they are launching their 'Grab & Go' service with eleven restaurants in Downtown Vancouver."Vancouver is one of the most tech-savvy cities in Canada and also has one of the best food scenes in the country," says Alec Wang, Co-Founder & CEO of ClickDishes. "As such, we are very excited to launch ClickDishes in Vancouver with our eleven restaurant partners, and to see how we can grow in the city."Five of the restaurants are located in the notable Harbour Centre building's food court, located at 2000 555 West Hastings Street: Fatburger, HealthFare Restaurant, My Toan Vietnamese, Hiro Sushi, and Teppan Kitchen.ClickDishes' other Vancouver restaurant partners include the food truck Arturo's Mexico To Go, Hainanese Chicken House/Bubble Waffle (6-530 Hornby St), Kita no Donburi (423 Seymour St), Me and Crepe (589 W Pender St), and Sushi Spin Roll (535 W Pender St).ClickDishes invites everyone to join them at the launch event they are hosting at the Harbour Centre Food Court from 10:00am to 6:00pm on Tuesday May 23to Saturday May 27. The ClickDishes team will be welcoming people in the Harbour Centre lobby where they will have prizes, discount codes, an Instagram contest, and other fun activities.ClickDishes is a free mobile app (available for both iOS and Android users) and platform that partners with restaurants to enable their consumers to order via a mobile app, streamlining to-go ordering, dine-in eating, and payment services. The 'Grab & Go' feature enables users to order from their phones, skip the line, and pick up their food when it is ready.The ClickDishes app has a second 'Dine-In' feature, which allows users to order food and pay when and how they would like to when at a restaurant partner - including splitting the check between patrons.Since launching in Vancouver in January 2017, the ClickDishes team has been hard at work onboarding restaurant partners and establishing offices in the city.To find out more about ClickDishes, or to become a restaurant partner, please visit www.clickdishes.com A modern way to eat, A new lifestyle to explore, ClickDishes is a mobile app and platform that partners with local restaurants to enable their consumers to order via a mobile app, streamlining to-go ordering, dine in eating, and payment services.www.ClickDishes.com | Twitter:@ClickDishes | facebook.com/ClickDishes | Instagram:@clickdishes Wine Enthusiast's HQ Relocation Marks Cultural Shift for Media Marketing Organization By: Colliers International Connecticut Contact Caryl Communications ***@caryl.com Caryl Communications End -- Colliers International Group Inc. (http://www.colliers.com/en-us/newyorkcity)has been awarded the prestigious NAIOP Westchester County Deal of the Year for its role in Wine Enthusiast Companies' (http://www.winemag.com/about-us/) 31,000-square-foot headquarters relocation to Valhalla, N.Y., in 2016.Wine Enthusiast Companies, a multi-channel marketer of wine-related products and publisher ofmagazine, hired Colliers to find a new headquarters location better suited for its updated culture and image. A team headed by Manhattan-based Michael Cohen, President | Tri-State Region; and Stamford-based Al Gutierrez, Executive Managing Director, and Stephanie Coleman, Director, headed the assignment."Wine Enthusiast Companies previously housed its headquarters and distribution operations at one location, which dictated a flex environment,"Cohen said. "After examining their recruiting strategy, the executive team decided that as a progressive media marketing firm, they would be better positioned to attract and retain talent in a traditional corporate environment."After considering locations and incentives in several states, Wine Enthusiast Companies and the Colliers team determined that remaining in Westchester County would support the organization's brand identity and best accommodate its existing employees. The company ultimately leased space at SL Green's 200 Summit Lake Drive in Valhalla; Robert Swierbut served as in-house representative for the ownership. The office now houses 92 members of the organization's communications, media, finance and executive departments. It also includes a wine tasting room and reception area/showroom for Wine Enthusiast Companies' online catalog."The move represented a dramatic cultural shift for Wine Enthusiast Companies, and it has been incredibly well received," Gutierrez said. "The firm has established a modern headquarters to meet its goals. This growing business chose to stay in the region despite significant competition from other states, which is a testament to Westchester County's appeal." He added that NAIOP's recognition of a traditional office requirement is significant following several years in which regional transactional activity has been dominated by corporate downsizings and the repurposing of office product."Each year, NAIOP chapters across the country recognize outstanding real estate professionals and projects according to their impact on the community, market adaptability, ingenuity, and local contribution,"noted Colliers' Jeffrey Williams, Executive Managing Director | Market Leader. "Being recognized by the organization's Connecticut and Suburban New York chapter is a great honor especially considering that the Wine Enthusiast Companies transaction was selected over several larger deals."-- End --Colliers International ( http://www.colliers.com/ ) Group Inc. is an industry leading global real estate services company with more than 16,000 skilled professionals operating in 66 countries. With an enterprising culture and significant employee ownership, Colliers professionals provide a full range of services to real estate occupiers, owners and investors worldwide. Services include strategic advice and execution for property sales, leasing and finance; global corporate solutions; property, facility and project management; workplace solutions; appraisal, valuation and tax consulting; customized research; and thought leadership consulting.Colliers professionals think differently, share great ideas and offer thoughtful and innovative advice that help clients accelerate their success. Colliers has been ranked among the top 100 outsourcing firms by the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals' Global Outsourcing for 11 consecutive years, more than any other real estate services firm.For the latest news from Colliers, visit Colliers.com (http://www.colliers.com/)or follow us on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/ Colliers ): @Colliers and LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/colliers-international). To see the latest news on Colliers International in New York, follow @Colliers_NYC and Twitter (https://twitter.com/colliers_nyc)Evelyn Weiss Francisco, Vice PresidentCaryl CommunicationsPhone: 201-796-7788Email: evelyn@caryl.com The Bone Queen (Candlewick, June) is Alison Croggons new prequel to her Books of Pellinor YA fantasy series, which launched in the authors native Australia with 2002s The Gift. Walker Books began publishing the series in the U.K. in 2004; the original quartet, published through 2008, is below. Candlewick, Walkers sibling imprint in the U.S., retitled book one The Naming and published it in 2005. That edition, and subsequent entries in the series, featured redesigned jackets, shown below, showcasing each books main characters. Full-bleed paperback covers followed. In 2012, Walker re-released the Books of Pellinor with a new cover look, highlighting the characters and their world rather than the more symbolic images of Walker's earlier covers. Walkers 2016 repackaging, which included the publication of The Bone Queen prequel, returned to the books original look, using a refreshed font and putting more of an emphasis on Croggons name. When it came time for Candlewick to publish The Bone Queen, says assistant art director Matt Roeser, I looked at all of the previous cover designs for the U.S. and the U.K., and suggested we try going in a completely different direction. He came up with an initial design, which featured a more modern color palette, and discussed with associate editor Miriam Newman imagery that could work for each book. While searching through the Library of Congress image database, I found these amazing old engravings, Roeser says. In 1825, British engraver Sidney Hall created a series of star chart cards with illustrations of various constellations. They had holes punched out of them, so you could presumably line them up with the night sky as you looked through them. The constellations dotted lines, he says, reminded him of the illustrated maps at the beginning of each Pellinor book. I realized that in the right layout, they could really hint at the themes of the series: light, dark, magic, and mystery. The Naming (below), features a lyre, inspired by the one played by Maerad, the protagonist of the series. It stays with her through her journeys, Roeser says. Stumbling across the Lyra constellation was when we realized that using constellations for each book might work. The Riddle involves a lot of travel, some of it by dogsled. Thats what these domesticated dogs represent to me, Roeser says. We found the constellations of Asterion and Characomplete with leashes. Maerads brother is the focus of The Crow, and his closest companion is an albino crow he rescues from the cruelties of other crows. The cover uses the bird constellation Corvus. There are several battles in The Singing, Roeser says, but the sword on the cover also references Maerads journey over the course of the series. In the final book shes reunited with a swordmaster she met in the first book, who wonders, What happened to the shy, charming bard I met last spring. Who is this bold young warrior? Using the constellation of Perseus, whos just cut off the head of Medusa, felt appropriately epic. As her name implies, The Bone Queen is quite the villain," Roeser says. "The sharp and menacing Corona Borealis constellation was a perfect fit. To complete the cohesiveness of the redesign, associate designer Hayley Parker laid out the spines so that when all five books are next to one another, lines from the constellations continue across the whole series. Even better, Roeser says: Since The Bone Queen can be seen as a prequel or a standalone, its spine lines up when placed at the front of the series or at the end. Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich's haunting hybrid of memoir and true crime, The Fact of a Body, explores how a law school internship set her on a collision course with Ricky Langley, a pedophile and murderer, forcing her to contend with past trauma and preexisting prejudice. Her writing is remarkably evocative and taut with suspense, with a level of nuance that sets the book apart from other true crime accounts. Marzano-Lesnevich picks her 10 favorite true crime books. What is it about crime that compels us? As an obsessive fan of podcasts like Serial, shows like The Making of a Murderer, and all the books Im about to list belowand as a writer who just spent nearly a decade being haunted by a Louisiana murder, a haunting that eventually became my book The Fact of a Body: A Murder and a Memoir Ive wondered about this question. What Ive come to think is that its not just the vivid suspense of a crime story, the lure of the whodunit, that pulls us in. Rather, its how much of the unsayable questions in life crimes lay starkly barehow much of ourselves, as individuals and as a society, they reveal. In them are passion, blood, extreme acts, and extreme emotionbut in them are also the questions of who we are and who we wish to be, the various ways we love and fail and harm one another. Still, I read true crime for the storiesand so what the books that follow have in common, in addition to being the best true crime I know, is that their pages turn quickly, even as the truths they reveal persist. 1. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote Perhaps no one does this mix better than Truman Capote, and any list of true crime greats must start with In Cold Blood, Capotes 1966 classic that arguably began the genre. Capote brings us into the heart of Holcomb, Kansas, a small town torn apart by the devastating murder of an entire family, andunforgettablyinto the hearts of their killers. The book has come under a bit of (deserved) heat in the past few years, with revelations that undermine its true labelbut Capotes storytelling chops remain unparalleled. 2. The Journalist and the Murderer by Janet Malcolm But what of the more precise journalists interest in crime? Is it prurient? Exploitative? Or in service of something larger? Every journalist who is not too stupid or too full of himself to notice what is going on knows that what he does is morally indefensibleso, provocatively, begins Janet Malcolms examination of the relationship between the journalists Joe McGinniss and the murderer Dr. Jeffrey MacDonald. What follows is not a condemnation of the genreMalcolm herself has written several true crime books, among them the excellent Iphigenia in Forest Hills: Anatomy of a Murder Trialbut instead one of its most essential examples, an honest, incredibly smart inquiry into why we write about murder, why were drawn to it, and the tricky line the journalist must walk in depicting crime without sensationalizing it. 3. Columbine by Dave Cullen That journalistic challenge is one David Cullen faced head-on in the days after the devastating school shooting at Columbine. After the murders, the question of why Klebold and Harris had carried out their horrific plan was hauntingand the media quickly tried to put it to rest with too-simple, made-for-the-headlines answers: the Trenchcoat Mafia, bullying, the music of Marilyn Manson. Cullen spent 10years of investigation in Aurora, Colorado, digging through these answers to the complexity below, and the result is a page-turning, complex, disturbingly readable book of incredible ambition and scope. 4. Shot in the Heart by Mikhal Gilmore What Cullens book does on the social level, Mikhal Gilmores does on the familial one. He writes from an intimacy unique in true crime. Hes the brother of Gary Gilmore, the first man executed when the United States reinstated the death penalty in the 1970s, who asked to die in an unusually violent way: by being shot in the heart. (Heres a little-known fact that shows just how deeply crime penetrates our national subconscious: the Nike slogan Just do it was taken from Gilmores last words.) Norman Mailer wrote the classic The Executioners Song about Gilmores crimes and death, but its Mikhal Gilmore, a music journalist, who wrote the truly essential book, mining into his brothers murderous legacy, family loyalty, and the gothic hold violence has over generations. Shot in the Heart is an epic as engrossing as any of the great Russian novelsbut all the more harrowing for being true. 5. Son of a Gun by Justin St. Germain Intimate, too, is Justin St. Germains investigation of his mothers murder. Twenty years old at the time of his mothers death, St. Germain had been raised by his mother alone, and by a revolving cast of husbandsone of whom then shot and killed his mother. As St. Germain goes on a quest to reconstruct her life and understand her death by interviewing her husbands, he stumbles onto the question of what legacy of masculinity and violence his town of Tombstone, Arizona, home of the O.K. Corral shoot-out, holds. The result is a murder mystery with both emotional and investigative urgency, a look into both the mythological allure of violence and its devastating costs. 6. Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer I listened to this book while driving across Americaand if you have the option, thats how Id recommend reading it, because Krakauers riveting tale of the founding of the Mormon Church is a distinctly American story. The crime comes in with a 1984 double murder that may, or may not, have had its origins years before, in the fight over precepts of Mormonisma fight that soon turns into secrets, intrigue, passion, and bloodshed. 7. The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson Good luck putting this one down. Larsons a master of suspense in everything he writesbut The Devil in the White City is his masterpiece, written in short chapters that fly by. He intertwines the stories of the architect of the Worlds Fair and a serial killer, in vivid, made-for-the-screen scenes, now in development with Paramount. 8. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt This ones already been made into a movie, with good reason. A mysterious stranger, a secret love affair, and a dead body, all set amid Savannah, Georgias high-societytrue stories dont get more Southern Gothic than this. 9. Killings by Calvin Trillin How many ways does murder occur? Killingsan odd, addictive little book that was recently reissuedlives up to its title with a collection of brief, strange, brilliantly written murder vignettes, all originally published in The New Yorker. Follow this one up with Reporting at Wits End: Tales from the New Yorker, a collection of St. Clair McKelways crime beat reporting for the magazine through the 1930s and 1940s, that features witty and drily delivered portraits of murderous gangsters and clever counterfeiters. London-based rights ownership and distribution company TCB Media Rights has appointed Holly Cowdery to its expanding team of sales executives. Joining from EOne, where she was a sales executive, before holding sales positions at NBCUniversal and Lionsgate, Cowdery (pictured) will be responsible for TCB Media Rights sales into the Benelux, CEE and MENA territories.Holly is another rising star that we are always looking to attract at TCB, commented the companys CEO Paul Heaney. She already has solid experience in sales, but is now looking to take that up a level. With her energy, enthusiasm and ambition, she also typifies TCBs combative yet friendly attitude to business. Shell be a great ambassador for both TCB and our rapidly expanding portfolio of producer-partners.The new hire comes weeks after TCB Media Rights appointed former BBC Worldwide sales manager Simona Argenti to add fire power to its commercial team in Italy, Spain and Latin America The company also showcased its biggest ever slate of new releases at this years MIPTV. Sales were booked across four continents for both new titles and returning series, including CJZs Bondi Rescue, which has now also been taken by NRK Norway, SBS Netherlands and CBS Reality. Ideal Systems Group has appointed James Taylor to the newly created role of head of cloud solutions and services. Taylor will be responsible for building a new core team focused on cloud and IP solutions and services for media companies and broadcasters in Asia . This new team will compliment and support Ideals regional offices offering specialised consultancy, systems architecture and software integration services.We are very excited to have James on board. The timing is perfect, we are already doing a number of IP and software-defined video network projects from Japan to Singapore at the moment, and we are accelerating our IP and cloud strategies, said Ideal Systems Group CEO Jim Butler. Having a strong core team with cloud, IP and networking skills on top of our existing strong engineering experience in traditional broadcast technologies enables us to provide the best migration strategies and solutions to our customers in their move to IP and cloud.Taylor joins Ideal Systems from Turner International Asia Pacific, where he was director of technology. Prior to Turner, he was a solution architect, engineer and project manager at GlobeCast in Hong Kong, London and Singapore. He also worked with Miranda Technologies in the UK and Hong Kong in Software Development and Master Control. James holds an Honours Bachelors of Science Degree with a specialisation in Digital Signal Processing and Systems Design. Eutelsat has reached an agreement with Abertis Group on the sale of its 33.69% stake in Spanish satellite operator Hispasat to Abertis. The agreed price for Eutelsats stake is 302 million, representing an EBITDA multiple of 7.1x based on Hispasats 2016 results. The closing of the transaction is subject to Spanish government approval and other customary conditions precedent, and is expected in the second half of calendar year 2017.Eutelsat said that the divestment of the stake was consistent with its strategy of rationalising its portfolio of assets in order to maximise cash generation.Eutelsat first announced its intention to divest its stake in Hispasat in July 2016 when it exercised the put option granted in 2008 by Abertis, Hispasats majority shareholder. It began negotiations with Spains Abertis in March 2017 The deal means that Abertis will own around 90% of 90% of Hispasat which during its last business year reported 228.9 million of revenues, a 4.2% increase compared with the previous year. By area, 35.4% of the revenue came from Europe and Northern Africa, while 64.6% came from the increasingly key North and South American markets. In January 2017, it launched the Hispasat 36W-1 satellite, while the Amazonas 5 and Hispasat 30W-6 craft are set for launch later this year. A suspected roadside bomb has killed 11 people from the same family on their way to a wedding in the eastern Afghan province of Logar, local officials said. Five children, five women, and a man were killed when their vehicle hit the explosive device in Logar's Muhammad Agha district on May 19, district Governor Nasir Amin said. Amin said that all the victims were members of the same family. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, but news agencies quoted Logar police chief Esmatullah Alizai as saying the roadside bomb is thought to have been planted by the Taliban. At least 3,498 civilians were killed and 7,920 were wounded across Afghanistan in 2016, a combined rise of 3 percent over the previous year, according to a UN report published in February. Improvised explosive devices or homemade bombs were among the most common causes of Afghan civilian casualties last year, accounting for 19 percent of all dead and injured, according to the UN. With reporting by dpa and Reuters Combined U.S. and Afghan forces have killed 750 Islamic State (IS) extremists in Afghanistan since early March, reducing the militants' territory and fighting strength by two-thirds, the U.S. military says. A statement on May 19 said joint "counterterrorism" forces of Afghan soldiers and U.S. Special Forces also destroyed "cave and tunnel complexes, command and control centers, and logistics nodes," revealing the "full barbarity" of the militants' operations. The statement said "over a dozen" of the ISIS Khorasan forces' top leadership had also been killed, using the name of the IS affiliate that operates in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Using another widely known acronym for Islamic State, the statement added that "these operations will continue until ISIS Khorasan is defeated in 2017." U.S.-backed forces have been in Afghanistan since invading after the September 11, 2001, terror attacks in the United States carried out by Al-Qaeda militants, whose leaders were being harbored by the Taliban-led government. The coalition drove the Taliban from power, but the militant group has been resurgent in recent years and controls large portions of the country. U.S. forces in Afghanistan have also been battling IS-linked fighters for more than a year, mainly in the eastern province of Nangarhar. Nangarhar was the province where the U.S. military on April 13 dropped its most powerful nonnuclear weapon ever used in combat on what it said was a major militant command center, killing some 94 militants. In early May, the U.S. military confirmed that the IS leader in Afghanistan was killed in a joint Afghan-U.S. operation in Nangarhar. Abdul Hasib, who was appointed last year following the death of predecessor Hafiz Saeed in a U.S drone strike, was killed in a raid by 50 U.S. Special Forces and 40 Afghan commandos, the military said. U.S. President Donald Trump is considering a request by the U.S. military to increase U.S. forces in Afghanistan by up to 5,000 troops, adding to the 8,400 U.S. troops now in the country. The total international force in Afghanistan is about 13,000, down from around 100,000 during the peak of the 16-year U.S. military presence in the country that drove the Taliban from power. An Afghan police officer has shot and killed five of his colleagues in the eastern province of Nangarhar, local officials say. Ghani Khel district Governor Abdul Wahab Momand said the policeman turned his rifle on colleagues as they slept at an outpost late on May 18. Ataullah Khogyani, the provincial governors spokesman, said the officers were first poisoned and then shot dead by their colleague. Momand said the attacker, identified as Nasratullah, collected the victims' firearms before fleeing the scene. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. Both the extremist group Islamic State (IS) and the Taliban are active in Nangarhar Province, which borders Pakistan. On May 17, four attackers stormed the state television building in the provincial capital, Jalalabad, triggering an hourslong gunbattle with security forces. The IS group claimed responsibility for the attack that left 10 people dead, including the attackers. Based on reporting by AP and Pajhwok GYUMRI, Armenia -- A Russian soldier convicted of murdering a family of seven in the Armenian city of Gyumri in 2015 has been sent to Russia to serve out his life sentence, the Armenian Justice Ministry says. The ministry on May 18 said the move regarding Valery Permyakov, 21, was made in consultation with corresponding Russian authorities. Permyakov has admitted to gunning down a middle-aged couple, their daughter, son, daughter-in-law, and 2-year-old granddaughter in their home on January 12, 2015. The couple's 6-month-old grandson was stabbed in the attack at their home near the Russian military base in Gyumri and died a week later. Permyakov was arrested at the Armenian-Turkish border hours after the killings. A Russian military court sentenced Permyakov to 10 years in prison for desertion and theft of firearms and ammunition in a short trial held in August 2015. His Armenian-jurisdiction murder trial began shortly afterward. After he pleaded guilty, the court sentenced him to life imprisonment in August 2016. Armenia's Court of Appeals upheld the guilty verdict in December. Permyakov waived his right to make a final statement or explain his motives during the proceedings. Since his arrest, Permyakov had been held at the Russian base. The Armenian Ministry of Justice said earlier this month that Permyakov might be transferred to Russia "since both Armenian and Russian courts have handed down verdicts regarding him." Initially, officials in Moscow said Permyakov could only be tried by a Russian court because Russia's constitution prohibits extradition of its nationals to foreign states. That caused outrage among many Armenians fearing a Russian cover-up of the massacre. Thousands demonstrated in Gyumri in January 2015 against the Russian military presence to demand Permyakov's handover to the Armenian authorities. Some protesters clashed with riot police outside the local Russian Consulate before the Russians eventually agreed to place the case under Armenian jurisdiction. 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 A new ferry between North Korea and Russia has docked for the first time at the port of Vladivostok, despite U.S. calls for countries to downgrade relations with Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile-testing programs. The launch of the first-ever weekly service linking Vladivostok and the North Korean port of Rajin on May 18 was also not deterred by North Korea's test-firing of a ballistic missile on May 14 that landed in the sea near Russia. The ferry's Russian operator, Investstroytrest, said it was purely a commercial venture that was developed with no subsidies or involvement from Moscow. Investstroytrest said the ferry will provide transport for North Koreans working in Russia and Chinese tourists wanting to travel by sea to Vladivostok. China has no ports on the Sea of Japan, while Russia -- especially Vladivostok -- is home to one of the largest overseas communities of North Koreans. The ferry will also carry Russian tourists going to North Korea, Investstroytrest said, and will provide a faster route for cargo between the two ports, which currently takes 22 days traveling by land routes. The new service flies in the face of calls by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson for countries to fully implement United Nations sanctions and go further in an effort to step up pressure on North Korea to give up its weapons programs. "We call on all nations to fully implement UN Security Council resolutions, and sever or downgrade diplomatic and commercial relations with North Korea," U.S. State Department spokeswoman Katina Adams said on May 18 when asked about the ferry service. Adams said Russia had an "obligation" under UN Security Council resolutions "to inspect all cargo, including personal luggage, of any individual travelling to or from" North Korea. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on May 18 that the new ferry service didn't fall under existing UN sanctions, however. Japan, whose territorial waters have been violated by some North Korean missile tests, expressed concern about the development. "In our view, all countries, including Russia, should closely cooperate with the goal of preventing provocations [by Pyongyang] and complying with the UN resolutions," Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said. China, which is North Korea's largest trading partner, has held talks with the United States about stiffening UN sanctions. But Russia has taken a more benign stance toward Pyongyang than other major powers. Speaking in Beijing this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow was against North Korea's nuclear program, but the world should talk to Pyongyang instead of threatening it. "We must stop intimidating North Korea," Putin said. With reporting by AFP, Reuters, TASS, and Interfax -- Iranian officials have declared President Hassan Rohani winner of the May 19 vote with around 57 percent of ballots, easily avoiding a runoff against conservative former prosecutor Ebrahim Raisi, who was said to have received about 38.5 percent of votes cast. -- In a victory speech, Rohani said the Iranian people were the "real victors" of the election and that Iran had chosen "engagement with the world" in voting for him, rejecting extremism. But as Rohani knows very well, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei holds ultimate political, military, and religious power in Iran, and can easily derail a campaign or thwart the plans of a president. -- Six men were approved to run by the Guardians Council from more than 1,600 applicants, but it quickly boiled down to a two-man race between Raisi and Rohani, an establishment veteran who oversaw a breakthrough nuclear deal with world powers to ease sanctions and pushed for engagement with the West and greater openness for Iranians. -- Raisi has long been talked about as a possible successor to Khamenei, and it's unclear what effect a landslide loss might have on his political ambitions. *NOTE: Times are stated according to local time in Tehran (GMT +4 1/2) Pro-Kremlin Russian lawmakers have accused the Russian-language services of RFE/RL and Voice of America of using "propaganda" to sow confusion during parliamentary elections last year as part of what they claimed was a broader U.S. influence campaign. The accusations came during a May 19 discussion in the State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament, of a report commissioned by lawmakers on whether the two outlets, as well as the private U.S. network CNN, were in compliance with Russian laws. Leonid Levin, head of the Duma's information policy committee, accused RFE/RL and VOA of "engaging in propaganda and sowing confusion in the Russian electoral process" during the September 2016 parliamentary elections. Levin alleged that this was part of a broader U.S. influence campaign involving nongovernment organizations deemed "foreign agents" under a controversial law tightening restrictions on foreign funding for "political" activities. "RFE/RL is a news organization with an independent editorial policy that seeks to report news fairly and objectively," said Joanna Levison, RFE/RLs director of media and public affairs. The accusations echo those leveled by U.S. intelligence agencies against Russian state-run network RT during last year's U.S. presidential election. U.S. intelligence officials say Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an "influence campaign" using hacking and propaganda in a bid to discredit the process and hurt Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, who lost to Donald Trump. The Kremlin denies it. Both RFE/RL and VOA are overseen by the Broadcasting Board of Governors, a U.S. agency that supervises civilian government broadcasting and media operations. VOA is a federal entity, while RFE/RL is a private, nonprofit organization funded by a grant from the U.S. Congress. Levin's committee produced the report in response to a bill submitted in March by U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat-New Hampshire) that would empower U.S. authorities to investigate possible violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act by RT. The Duma is dominated by lawmakers who are loyal to Putin. With reporting by Kommersant and TASS MOSCOW -- In this corner, there's one of Russia's wealthiest tycoons whose girth and growly voice have drawn comparisons to Don Corleone from the famous Godfather movies. In that corner, there's the gadfly lawyer whose anticorruption taunts of government officials have struck a chord across Russia and sparked a nascent political movement. It's a virtual fight that has engrossed much of Russia's chattering class this week: a sideshow, or a possible harbinger of the election campaign now building up steam ahead of next year's national presidential vote. The lawyer, Aleksei Navalny, published a video in March that went viral, alleging Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev had amassed illicit wealth, in part by receiving expensive property from businessmen like Alisher Usmanov, who has parlayed mining investments into vast fortunes. This week, the publicity-shy Usmanov stepped squarely into the public eye with a bitterly worded video attack on Navalny, addressing him with understated menace, saying "I spit on you" using the patronizing, familiar form of the pronoun "you," and using the diminutive nickname "Lyosha." WATCH: Alisher Usmanov Criticizes Aleksei Navalny (no English subtitles) The audience is watching closely, with some alluding to the Godfather-like optics in Usmanov's clip. "The overseer in the cell is teaching the new arrival about the rules of prison tone," said Yevgenia Albats, the editor in chief of the opposition-minded New Times weekly. The video, she said, was a "striking document of the era." Navalny has gained a wide following exposing official corruption and is trying to raise his profile nationally to make it harder for authorities to thwart his presidential run. A conviction on fraud charges that his supporters view as political motivated currently rules him out. On The Kremlin's Orders? Political pundits debated whether Usmanov had filmed the video of his own volition, or acted on instructions from a Kremlin seeking to discredit Navalny as he eyes the March 2018 election. "This couldn't have happened without an order," Vladimir Milov, opposition politician and former deputy energy minister, told RFE/RL's Russian Service. In April, Usmanov sued Navalny for defamation, a suit that unnamed advisors to Usmanov told the RBK newspaper was done on orders from the Kremlin. Usmanov's lawsuit contrasted with the muted reaction of the authorities, who have not commented in substance on Navalny's allegations despite the film garnering over 21 million YouTube views. "The authorities have big problems because they're silent and not reacting to the film about Medvedvev and so on," Milov said. "So they have this reaction: set loose someone who isn't directly linked to them, but who was touched by this investigation and force them to take the rap for them and publicly attack Navalny." 'A Gift For Navalny' Others political analysts like Fyodor Krasheninnikov, saw the video as Usmanov's own initiative. "It's possible of course that Usmanov's PR people are complete idiots (or they're saboteurs and so decided to help Navalny), but perhaps this was [Usmanov's] own personal creative initiative," he wrote in on his Telegram feed. "And then we see the same clinical picture as we have with [Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin]: the elderly, no longer entirely competent person who lives in the clouds suddenly starts deciding everything themselves and not listening to anyone 'I can see better, we should do this!'" Krashennikov wrote. In comments to RFE/RL's Russian Service, journalist Aleksandr Birman called Usmanov's film clip a gift for Navalny. He said it had helped Navalny regain political momentum after he stumbled on May 14 at a large public demonstration on a social issue: the proposed demolition of thousands of aging Moscow apartments. Organizers did not allow Navalny to speak at the rally and he was led away by police. A cartoon by RFE/RL's Russian Service imagined Usmanov's catchphrase "I spit on you" as a new slogan for the Kremlin. Others commentators mocked the video exchange, Usmanov's in particular. "When you watch Usmanov's video address to Navalny, make sure to turn on the Godfather soundtrack. You won't regret it," wrote Pavel Novikov, a Twitter user. 'Not Your Average Oligarch' Leonid Volkov, a close ally of Navalny, called Usmanov a "not simple person" and "not your average oligarch." In a post on Facebook, he wrote that Usmanov "occupies an entirely special place in the structure of power." "Naturally, the system of his mutual ties with the Kremlin are such that the Kremlin can ask him to do whatever," Volkov wrote. "And I can't shake the feeling that they asked him to do this video too." Oleg Kozyrev, a media analyst and journalist, imagined a mocking dialogue, where the billionaire is aggrieved by being called a criminal. "And what did you do to disprove this?" Kozyrev wrote in his fictional conversation. Usmanov replies: "I shot a video where I addressed him in the familiar you, threatened him, and finally spat." Journalist and commentator Stanislav Kucher wrote an open invitation on Facebook on May 18, to Navalny and Usmanov to hold a televised debate. "Mr. Usmanov's address to Mr. Navalny and the latter's promise to respond properly have undoubtedly elevated your dialogue to a qualitatively new level," he said. After Usmanov's video appeared, Navalny shot a live video on his YouTube channel on May 18, answering questions. "Of course I consider this a threat, but it's another matter that I am not afraid of," he said. WATCH: Aleksei Navalny's Response To Alisher Usmanov's Criticism (no English subtitles) Responding to a viewer's question on whether he would be happy to take part in a television debate, Navalny said he wasn't scared, and he appeared to take the high ground, addressing Usmanov more formally, using his first, middle, and last names and using the more polite version of the pronoun "you." "I would like to say that I'm ready to take part in such debates," he said. Russia has warned that it will retaliate over legislation moving through the Canadian Parliament to impose sanctions on people guilty of human rights violations in Russia and other countries. Canada's Liberal government this week called for enactment of a bill allowing the seizure of assets of foreign officials involved in extrajudicial killings, torture, and other crimes against whistle-blowers or human rights activists. The bill is almost certain to become law and was inspired by the case of Sergei Magnitsky, an anticorruption lawyer who died in 2009 after being severely beaten in a Russian jail. "We deplore this unfriendly move by the Canadian government, which will surely damage our bilateral relations and will not be left unanswered," said Vasily Kultyshev, a spokesman for the Russian Embassy in Ottawa. Russia's Foreign Ministry warned that Canada will be the "loser" if it enacts the legislation, and will miss out on business opportunities and joint "Arctic exploration" projects. "Relations between our two countries that are already in a rather low phase will suffer a new, telling blow," the ministry said. In 2012, the United States adopted a similar law, prompting Moscow to retaliate by barring Americans from adopting Russian children. Based on reporting by Reuters, TASS, and Interfax U.S. President Donald Trump said the appointment of a special counsel in the investigation into his campaign's ties to Russia is part of a witch hunt. Trump was reacting to the appointment of former FBI Director Robert Mueller to lead the investigation after he fired FBI Director James Comey. Speaking to reporters on May 18 in Washington, D.C., Trump said the investigation "divides the country". (AP) A Serbian tabloid has demanded a public apology from U.S. Ambassador Kyle Scott for calling it "trash" and said it would sue the diplomat if he did not take back his words. Scott criticized the Informer daily in a comment to journalists on May 18, accusing it of publishing lies and adding that the newspaper is "ordinary trash." The ambassador "for no reason and unprovoked insulted the newspaper in a vulgar manner," the paper said in a statement on its website, adding that it would sue Scott both in Serbia and the United States if he did not apologize. The incident began when Scott was asked for a comment by a journalist from the Informer about a report it had published saying the EU plans to hinder Serbia's membership negotiations "because some officials do not like the way [Prime Minister and President-elect] Aleksandar Vucic leads Serbia." A video of the question, posted by the Tanjug news agency, shows Scott saying in Serbian: "Are you from the Informer? Forgive me for saying this, but it won't be the only lie I've read in the Informer, and it probably won't be the last. "There is so-called information based on sources that I have no idea who they are. The Informer is ordinary trash, as your prime minister would say. Media should be based on facts, and I see no facts in the Informer." Officials from the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade were not immediately available for comment. With reporting by B92 and Informer Life has "turned into a nightmare" for the family of a former Tajik police colonel who left the Central Asian country two years ago and joined the extremist group Islamic State (IS), his daughter says. Gulmorod Halimov's wife, Nazokat Murodova, and their eldest daughter, Nilufar Halimova, 15, spoke to RFE/RL on May 18 in the most extensive public comments yet from the family Halimov left behind. They said they had faced persistent psychological and social pressure, police questioning, and financial hardship since Halimov left. Halimov, 42, who was commander of the Tajik Interior Ministry's special forces, disappeared in April 2015. He later appeared in the Internet, saying he had joined IS and threatening the Tajik government. "When the news of my father's departure spread, officials from all kinds of agencies would come to our home to interrogate us, asking all sorts of questions. I was frightened," Halimova said. "We still live in constant fear." Sitting beside her mother in the family home in a suburb, the teenager said that journalists and the authorities "still come to ask questions." Mother and daughter told RFE/RL that the family's financial problems deepened after what the family says was the arrest last month of the eldest son of Halimov and Murodova, 18-year-old Behruz, who had become "the breadwinner of the family." "We can't afford meat even once a week," Halimova said. After Halimov left, Behruz had to abandon his dream of becoming a doctor and worked at a market to provide for the family, said Murodova, who had four children with Halimov. Murodova said Behruz had been held in incommunicado since his arrest. Tajik authorities have not publicly confirmed that Behruz was detained or commented on his fate. In August 2016, the U.S. State Department called Halimov a key member of IS and offered a reward of $3 million for information on his whereabouts. According to Iraqi media reports, Halimov replaced IS commander Umar al-Shishani, who was reportedly killed in July 2016 in northern Iraq. Last month, Western media reports quoted Iraqi officials as saying that Halimov was killed in an air strike in Mosul Murodova said that her husband had made no contact with her since he left on what he said was a trip related to his job. The family cannot afford Internet access and gets scraps of information through television reports and rumors, she said. Tajik media have reported that Halimov's longtime partner, Humairo Mirova, a former state customs service employee, joined him in Syria in February 2016 along with four children they had together. "My father had become distant from us after he decided to be with Humairo," Halimova said. "It's especially difficult for our mother, because we go to school but she is always at home alone, thinking all the time." ON MY MIND From the hacking to the disinformation to the political interference to the active measures, it's become fairly commonplace to assume that Vladimir Putin's Kremlin is waging a nonkinetic political war on the West. And from Europe to North America, it's pretty much conventional wisdom that Russia is supporting extremist forces and promoting so-called traditional values to drive a wedge into Western societies. But what are the aims of this political war? Is it simply tactical? Is it just an effort to to weaken the West's resolve? Or is the goal broader? Does Putin's political war on the West actually represent a full-blown civilizational challenge? On this week's Power Vertical Podcast, I have a conversation with co-host Mark Galeotti about the goals and scope of the Kremlin's assault on the West -- and how the West can respond. So be sure to tune in later today! IN THE NEWS A new ferry between North Korea and Russia has docked for the first time at the port of Vladivostok, despite U.S. calls for countries to downgrade relations with Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile-testing programs. World Anti-Doping Agency President Craig Reedie has said that the body may lift its suspension of Russia's drug-testing authority as soon as next month after nearly two years on the blacklist. Russia has warned that it will retaliate over legislation moving through the Canadian Parliament to impose sanctions on people guilty of human rights violations in Russia and other countries. A court in Moscow has sentenced a man who took part in an antigovernment protest on March 26 to eight months in a colony settlement for attacking a police officer. A Russian soldier convicted of murdering an Armenian family of seven in Gyumri in 2015 has been sent to Russia to serve out his life sentence, the Armenian Justice Ministry says. Russian tycoon Alisher Usmanov and opposition leader Aleksei Navalny have exchanged bitter, strongly worded video attacks as they rejected a Moscow court's proposed settlement in a defamation case. Moldova's pro-Russian president, Igor Dodon, has accused the European Union of providing "geopolitical assistance" to his country in order to keep a series of pro-EU governments in power in Chisinau. Ukraine commemorated the victims of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin's mass deportation of Tatars from Crimea in 1944 on May 18. Assailants attacked gay- and transgender-rights activists and torched a rainbow flag at a small rally in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. WHAT I'M READING The Kremlin's War On Atheists Pavel Chikov has an op-ed in The Moscow Times looking at how atheists in Russia have come under fire. Russia's Political War On America Massimo Calabresi has a piece in Time Magazine on Russia's "social-media war" on the United States. In Newsweek, veteran Moscow correspondent Bill Powell looks Inside Putin's Campaign To Destroy U.S. Democracy. The Art Of The Energy Deal Ilya Zaslavskiy of Chatham House and the Free Russia Foundation has a piece in The Berlin Policy Journal looking at Putin's energy deals in Europe. "Russias big energy projects make no economic sense, but they serve a political purpose," he writes. Russia's 'Gosudarstvo' Problem Vladislav Inozemtsev has published an excerpt from his forthcoming book, Russia: A Pre-Modern Country, in Intersection magazine. In the excerpt, Inozemtsev looks at the nature of the Russian state. "In order for Russia to become anything modern -- a country, society, state, commonwealth or republic it should stop being a 'gosudarstvo,'" he writes. Block The Vote Stories by Yekaterina Vinokurova in Znak and Svetlana Bocharova in Vedomosti look at how the Kremlin is trying to suppress turnout in gubernatorial elections in several regions because high turnout might result in "problematic scenarios." Kremlin Jitters Bloomberg is reporting that the Kremlin is becoming increasingly nervous about the political chaos engulfing U.S. President Donald Trump's administration. Chechnya's Transgender Refugee Dozhd-TV has posted a video featuring what it says is a transgender woman, identified as Leila, who fled persecution in Chechnya and illegally entered the United States. Blocking The Messenger In Republic.ru, Anastasia Zyryanova and Dmitry Filonov look at the costs of the Kremlin's efforts to control popular social-media sites and messaging services. Ukrainian NGOs In The Crosshairs In a piece on The Atlantic Council's website, former USAID project officer Josh Cohen takes the Ukrainian authorities to task for new controls on NGOs and what he calls the harassment of activists. Mission Impossible In Minsk Siarhei Bohdan of the Minsk-based Ostrogorski Center for Transition Studies has a piece in Belarus Digest about how Alyaksandr Lukashenka's regime is trying to do the impossible: establish security cooperation with both Russia and the West. Ukrainian officials have announced a criminal investigation into Soviet dictator Josef Stalin and his secret police chief, Lavrenty Beria, for the mass deportation of Muslim Tatars from the Crimean Peninsula during World War II, which killed tens of thousands. The investigation, announced on May 18 by the Prosecutor-General's Office, is the latest effort by Ukraine's leadership to reopen painful chapters of the country's Soviet history, including the 1930s-era famine that killed millions of Ukrainians. The probe will likely further irk the Kremlin, which has sought to burnish Soviet history particularly since the 2014 mass protests in Ukraine that paved the way for a pro-Western government. The protests led to Moscow annexing Crimea, which had been home to ethnic Tatars for centuries. The Crimean Tatar community has resisted the annexation, and Russia authorities have stepped up political repression against outspoken activists. Ukrainian Justice Minister Pavlo Petrenko on May 19 called the decision to open criminal charges a "restoration of historical justice." In 1944, Stalin ordered the deportation of thousands from Crimea to Siberia and Central Asia after Stalin accused the Turkic-speaking Muslims of collaborating with Nazi Germany. Historians estimate that around 250,000 people, mostly Crimean Tatars, were deported. Tens of thousands died during the process. Crimean Tatars were not allowed to return to the peninsula until the late 1980s, when Mikhail Gorbachev conducted reforms in the years before the Soviet collapse. Crimean Tatar leaders had uneasy relations with Kyiv in the 1990s and 2000s, though Kyiv has now embraced the Crimean Tatar cause in the face of Russian repression in Crimea. Ukraine commemorated the victims of the deportations on May 18 in ceremonies across the country. Stalin died in 1953. Beria was executed several months later. With reporting by Newsweek and Interfax Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has ordered Russian troops to withdraw from the west bank of the Dnieper River in the partially occupied Kherson region of Ukraine, another retreat amid a number of setbacks for Moscow on battlefields in Ukraine's east and southeast. 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. "Begin to pull out troops," Shoigu said at a televised meeting with the commander of Russian troops in Ukraine, Army General Sergei Surovikin, on November 9, adding that the withdrawal must be implemented in "the nearest future." "The lives of the Russian military personnel are always a priority for us. We must also take into account threats imposed on the civilian population and make sure that all civilians who chose to leave can do so," Shoigu said. "We also need to start withdrawing the troops and undertake all necessary measures to secure the move of military personnel, arms, and equipment to the other side of the Dnieper." Kherson was the first city fully captured by Russia during what Moscow calls a "special military operation" and the only regional capital controlled by the Russians since the offensive began on February 24. Ukraine's forces for weeks have been capturing villages as they advance toward the city, and Kremlin-installed leaders in Kherson have been evacuating civilians. Earlier on November 9, the Moscow-installed deputy head of the Kherson region, Kirill Stremousov, died in a car crash. Shoigu's order came after Surovikin said it was impossible to deliver supplies to the city of Kherson and other areas on the western bank of the Dnieper River. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukrainian forces were strengthening their positions "step by step" in the south. "There is a lot of joy in the information space today, and it is clear why, but...the enemy will make no gifts to us," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address. Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Zelenskiy, said earlier on Twitter that the Ukrainian side sees "no signs that Russia is leaving Kherson without a fight." Part of the Russian group remains in Kherson city, he said, adding that additional reserves are being sent to the region. Ukrainian forces, meanwhile, are "liberating territories based on intelligence data, not staged TV statements," he said. Zelenskiy has suggested that the Russians could fake a retreat in order to lure the Ukrainian Army into an entrenched battle in Kherson city. Speaking to reporters in Washington, U.S. President Joe Biden said Moscow's order to withdraw from Kherson was "evidence of the fact that they have some real problems with the Russian military." Moscow and Russian-installed officials in Kherson have said for weeks that they are evacuating residents of Kherson -- both the city and the region -- to "other parts of the Russian Federation" for their safety. Ukraine has said the Russian move amounted to their forced deportation. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that the withdrawal announced by Shoigu is "part of an overall pattern or picture we have seen over the last month that Russia has absolutely lost the momentum." But Stoltenberg also cautioned against underestimating Russia. "They still have capabilities," he said in an interview with Sky News during a visit to London. "We have seen the drones. We have seen the missile attacks. It shows that Russia can still inflict a lot of damage." Kherson is considered by many military analysts as the most important of the four partially occupied Ukrainian regions that Russia announced as annexed in September. It controls both the only land route to Ukraine's Russia-annexed Crimean Peninsula and the mouth of the Dnieper River that bisects Ukraine. Earlier on November 9, Russia 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 were 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. 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 people were not injured. Zelenskiy vowed Ukraine will not surrender a single centimeter of our land in Donetsk, where heavy fighting has been under way, and he thanked Ukrainian troops who are holding positions in the Donbas region. The epicenter of the battle for the industrial region of Donetsk is around the towns of Bakhmut, Soledar, and Avdiyivka. "The activity of the occupiers remains at an extremely high level -- dozens of attacks every day," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address late on November 8. "They are suffering extraordinarily high losses. But the order remains the same -- to advance on the administrative boundary of the 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 deemed as sham by Kyiv and its Western allies. Fighting had been going on there between the Ukrainian military and Russian-backed separatist forces since 2014, the same year Russia illegally annexed Crimea. With reporting by Reuters, AP, and CNN WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump is heading abroad on his first foreign trip since taking office, as the U.S. capital reels from the deepening crisis surrounding the investigation into Trump's associates and their ties to Russian officials. The Trump administration has been hoping that the visits to Saudi Arabia, Israel, Italy, the Vatican, and Brussels would help him reinforce close U.S. ties with key allies, particularly in the Middle East. But the trip has been overshadowed by Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey, who was overseeing the agency's investigations into communications between Russian officials and Trump associates. News reports later said Trump in February tried to pressure Comey into dropping the probe into Trump's first national security adviser, who had reportedly lied about his Russia communications. The White House also struggled to react to reports that during a visit by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Trump revealed highly classified intelligence about the Islamic State extremist group. The intelligence reportedly came from an Israeli spy in Syria. In a further blow to the White House, the Justice Department announced on May 17 the appointment of former FBI Director Robert Mueller to head a special probe into the Russia connections. Trump lashed out over that development on May 18, saying he was the victim of "the greatest political witch-hunt" in U.S. history. He later said that he "respected the move" but repeated that it was a "witch-hunt" and that "I think it divides the country." "Tomorrow...I'm going to Saudi Arabia, going to Israel, going to Rome, and we have the G7," he said -- a reference to a meeting of Western economic powers in Sicily. "We have a lot of great things going on so I hate to see anything that divides. I'm fine with whatever people want to do, but we have to get back to running this country really, really well." Saudi Arabia and Israel are among the United States' closest allies in the Middle East, and both are supporting of the U.S. effort to end the devastating 6-year-old war in Syria. Experts are also watching to see if Trump will signal any significant change in U.S. policy toward the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, in particular the disputed status of Jerusalem. Trump is scheduled to meet Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas during the trip, as well as Pope Francis, when he travels to the Vatican. In Brussels, the U.S. leader will meet with counterparts from NATO. There, leaders are hoping for a strong show of support following Trump's earlier criticism of the alliance. He repeatedly complained that members didn't contribute enough resources, and that the United States was shouldering too much of the alliance's burden. After the NATO meeting on May 25, Trump is due to meet with other leaders of the G7 -- a group of economic powers that comprises the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, and Japan-- at a gathering in Sicily on May 26-27. Speaking on May 18 in Washington, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who will accompany Trump, told reporters the trip was a signal to the world that the United States was "reengaging" with many of the world's problems. "Many of the leaders, particularly in the part of the world we'll be traveling...are ready for a period of what they view to have been neglect to outright dismissal of their concerns. They're ready for reengagement with America," he said. The trip, he said, "is really one of conveying a message that America is back in terms of our role as a convener, our role as a facilitator to address the daunting challenges that exist in that part of the world, most particularly the challenge of global terrorism and how we confront global terrorism as a global peoples," he said. With stops in the Middle East and at the Vatican, Trump's itinerary is rich in religious symbolism, and officials said the message was unity. "He strongly believes that it is the strength of the faith of people in these religions that will stand up and ultimately be victorious over these forces of terrorism," Tillerson said. With reporting by AP and Reuters Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyaev is making his second visit to neighboring Turkmenistan in less than three months. State media in the tightly controlled Central Asian countries reported that bilateral trade, investments, and transport were among the issues on the agenda of Mirziyaev's meeting with Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov during the May 19-20 trip. Turkmen media reported that the presidents were meeting in the Caspian Sea resort city of Awaza, where some 100 Uzbek children are spending school holidays. Mirziyaev visited Turkmenistan on March 6-7 on his first official foreign trip since taking office last year. Since he came to power in September 2016, after the death of authoritarian President Islam Karimov, Mirziyaev has taken steps to improve Uzbekistan's ties with its neighbors. Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are the only two Central Asian states that are not members of the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union and Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). With reporting by gazeta.uz, turkmenistan.ru, and tdh.gov.tm Although computer models of archaeological sites are ideal software tools for managing spatially referenced data and commonly used to yield insights which contribute to the protection of heritage materials, some scientists question their credibility, calling for these long-term trends be 'ground truthed' in order to ensure that calculated rates of change reflect observed phenomena 'in the field'. This is particularly true in areas which tend to experience more pronounced and cumulative impacts of modern climate change. A recent study by Michael J. E. O'Rourke from the University of Toronto, published in Open Archaeology, provides a new perspective on the severe impacts of escalating climate change on the heritage resources of Canadian Arctic. Referring to the application of Geographic Information System (GIS) analytical methods in assessing the threat of shoreline erosion to archaeological sites in the Canadian Arctic, it details steps taken to review the quality of the GIS model in light of a discrepancy with rates observed during annual survey visits. So How Reliable GIS Computer Models Really Are? Using GIS methods to compile shoreline positions from archival aerial photography helps indicate valuable long-term trends when assessing shoreline erosion in the vicinity of archaeological sites. The author observed, however, that single episodes of extreme erosion resulting from increasingly volatile weather patterns in recent years have a serious impact on the reliability of shoreline erosion models, suggesting the use of more current imagery sources procured over shorter time intervals. In this case, researchers produced a historical model of shoreline erosion for the Kugmallit Bay area, located along the Beaufort Sea coast in the Canadian Northwest Territories and processed the photography using ESRI's ArcGIS software and the U.S. Geological Survey's Digital Shoreline Analysis System. To assess the accuracy of this model they conducted two field surveys in 2013 and 2014 and found that the model significantly played down the change rates in the vicinity of Imnaaluk. Only then, the model was reviewed for errors and revised using recent satellite imagery secured through a DigitalGlobe Foundation Imagery Grant. Finally, they accounted for weather and sea-level records to determine the possible cause of the observed discrepancy. But the review of analytical methods actually suggested that the model was an adequate means of calculating long-term trends in coastal change rates. The weakness of the model, however, was related to its lack of recent temporal resolution, which proves necessary to account for periodic episodes of extreme erosion taking place within the Kugmallit Bay area. Scientists recommend using the system with caution: While change rates generated by such methods can be useful in highlighting areas at risk in a general sense, they can be limited by the increasingly volatile weather conditions. Given that rates of erosion within the study area reach as high as nine meters of shoreline loss per year, semi-regular imagery updates would be required to adequately manage coastally situated archaeological features. "O'Rourke provides a clear, well-researched perspective on the serious impacts that climate change is having on the heritage resources of northern coasts," says Dr. Christopher B. Wolff from the University at Albany. "As an archaeologist who studies Arctic and Subarctic coastal peoples, erosion associated with intense storm activity, loss of permafrost, rising sea levels, and increasing human activity is devastating to comprehend; however, this study not only documents those processes, but provides a means to examine their highly variable impacts that, hopefully, can lead to constructive ways to prioritize research and mitigate destructive processes in this extremely important region." Road salt, used in copious helpings each winter to protect them from ice and preserve safe driving conditions, is slowly degrading the concrete they're made of. Engineers have known for some time that calcium chloride salt, commonly used as deicer, reacts with the calcium hydroxide in concrete to form a chemical byproduct that causes roadways to crumble. A civil engineer from Drexel University is working on a new recipe for concrete, using cast-off products from furnaces, that can hold its own against the forces of chemical erosion. More than 900,000 tons of deicing salt is used each winter in Pennsylvania alone. While winters in the Northeast put pressure on departments of transportation to keep roads clear and deicer is an effective part of that process, it also contributes to the thousands of miles of roads that need to be patched and repaired each year. Yaghoob Farnam, PhD, an assistant professor in Drexel's College of Engineering and director of the Advanced and Sustainable Infrastructure Materials Research Group, is looking for a solution to this problem in the recipe for concrete. Farnam created a method for using fly ash, slag and silica fume -- leftovers from coal furnaces and the smelting process -- in a new concrete mix that is more durable because it doesn't react with road salt. He recently published his findings in the journal of Cement and Concrete Composites. "Many departments of transportation have reduced the amount of calcium chloride they use to melt ice and snow, even though it is very efficient at doing so -- because it has also been found to be very destructive," Farnam said. "This research proves that by using alternate cementitious materials to make concrete, they can avoid the destructive chemical reaction and continue to use calcium chloride." The goal of Farnam's work is to produce a concrete mix as strong as the ones currently used to build roads, that contains less calcium hydroxide -- the ingredient that reacts with road salt to form a compound called calcium oxychloride. This chemical tends to expand when it is formed, and when that reaction happens in the pores of cement it can cause degradation and cracking. Farnam's research led him to the conclusion that these "supplementary cement materials" could be substituted into the mix with a better result when they come in contact with calcium chloride deicing salt. "There is a great push to use these power industry byproducts because they take up space and some of them can be harmful to the environment," Farnam said. "We believed that portions of the byproducts such as fly ash, slag and silica fume could be used to make concrete that is both durable -- and cheaper, because it uses recycled materials." To test his theory, Farman's lab created cement samples using varying amounts of fly ash, silica fume and slag and compared them to samples of "ordinary Portland cement" -- the most common type used in roads. His findings confirmed his hypothesis, namely that the samples containing more cement substitute materials did not produce as much calcium oxychloride. An examination of the ordinary Portland cement samples, via acoustic emissions, x-rays and microscopy, revealed damage after just eight days of exposure due to the formation of calcium oxychloride while samples with proper amount of fly ash, silica fume and slag did not show damage during the testing period. The study also revealed that higher concentrations of calcium chloride produce more calcium oxychloride when it reacts with concrete. So, theoretically, using lower concentrations of calcium chloride on roads could help extend their life, but it would also make it less effective as a deicing agent. "An additional concern is that calcium oxychloride can form even if the concrete is not undergoing a freeze-thaw cycle. It is a chemical reaction that can happen at room temperature, so it can take place when the roads are pre-salted even if ice doesn't form. And as the salts remain on the surface after a snowstorm the reaction will continue to degrade the road, so it is vitally important to minimize this reaction in order to preserve the infrastructure," Farnam said. Farnam's lab will continue to search for ways to improve the materials we use in our infrastructure. They are currently pursuing a method for creating a protective layer on the surface of concrete by using bacteria that can prevent calcium oxychloride formation. A new study from the University of Indianapolis to be published in the American Journal of Public Health finds that citizens living in states with the weakest gun laws are more than twice as likely to be fatally shot by law enforcement compared to those living in states with the strongest gun laws. Aaron Kivisto, assistant professor in the College of Applied Behavioral Sciences at the University of Indianapolis, conducted the research along with doctoral student Peter Phalen, in collaboration with Brad Ray, IUPUI assistant professor in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. The American Journal of Public Health will publish their study, "Firearm legislation and fatal police shootings in the United States," on May 18. Kivisto, lead author of the study, says he and his colleagues utilized data on fatal police shootings in the United States from The Counted, a database developed by U.K.-based newspaper The Guardian. That data, combined with the state gun-law rankings from The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, showed citizens from states with weaker gun laws are significantly more likely to be killed by law enforcement, according to the study. The researchers examined more than 1,800 fatal police shootings that occurred between January 2015 and October 2016. Their study took into account differences across states in rates of gun ownership, violent crime and other socio-demographic characteristics. The study found that, while laws strengthening background checks appeared to support this effect by reducing the overall number of guns in the community, laws aimed at promoting safe storage and reducing gun trafficking helped to prevent guns already in the community from falling into the wrong hands. "What's really striking is that the laws that seem to be driving this effect -- closing background-check loopholes, requiring that parents protect their kids from finding their guns in the home -- are the types of laws that large majorities of Americans support," says Kivisto. "These aren't particularly controversial laws, and this study, along with many before it, suggest that they can save a lot of lives," he notes. "These findings also seem to highlight the challenges created for law enforcement by states that have neglected to enact common-sense gun laws supported by most citizens." Kivisto's research colleague, Peter Phalen, adds: "Currently, the only serious monitoring system for police violence in our country is the media itself, rather than the government or police." While policy efforts targeting police practices represent one strategy, Kivisto points out that these findings show strengthening state-level gun laws offers promise as a tool for reducing rates of fatal police shootings in the United States. Infertile couples have a major opportunity to achieve a successful pregnancy without the need for IVF, thanks to new research into a 100-year-old medical technique. The now lesser known technique - which involves flushing the woman's fallopian tubes with an iodised poppy seed oil - has been proven to have significant benefits for fertility, according to the largest study undertaken by a team involving researchers in the Netherlands and Australia. The results of the study will be published in The New England Journal of Medicine. They will also be presented at the 13th World Congress on Endometriosis in Vancouver, Canada, by project leader Professor Ben Mol, from the University of Adelaide's Robinson Research Institute, and a member of the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute's Healthy Mothers, Babies and Children theme. Known as the H2Oil study, the project compared the benefits of flushing the fallopian tubes with either an oil-based or water-based solution in 1119 women. With Professor Mol, this work was conducted by Dr Kim Dreyer and Dr Velja Mijatovic from the Department of Reproductive Medicine, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, and a research team from 27 medical centres in the Netherlands. 100-year-old technique The procedure, known as hysterosalpingography (HSG), is a dye test of the fallopian tubes conducted under X-ray. The procedure was first carried out in 1917, and since the 1950s both water-based and oil-based solutions have been used. advertisement "Over the past century, pregnancy rates among infertile women reportedly increased after their tubes had been flushed with either water or oil during this X-ray procedure. Until now, it has been unclear whether the type of solution used in the procedure was influencing the change in fertility," says Professor Mol, who himself was conceived after his mother underwent such a procedure. "Our results have been even more exciting than we could have predicted, helping to confirm that an age-old medical technique still has an important place in modern medicine," he says. Results show clear benefits of oil-based solution Almost 40% of infertile women in the oil group and 29% of infertile women in the water group achieved successful pregnancies within six months of the technique being performed. The oil-based product used in the study was Lipiodol Ultra-Fluid, an iodised solution of fatty acids from poppy seeds. This product is currently available in 47 countries around the world. advertisement "The rates of successful pregnancy were significantly higher in the oil-based group, and after only one treatment. This is an important outcome for women who would have had no other course of action other than to seek IVF treatment. It offers new hope to infertile couples," Professor Mol says. The big question: why? "It was long believed that testing a woman's fallopian tubes could have fertility benefits through 'flushing out' the kind of debris that hinders fertility. The reality is, we still don't really understand why there is a benefit, only that there is a benefit from this technique, in particular for women who don't present with any other treatable fertility symptoms," Professor Mol says. "Further research would need to be conducted into the mechanisms behind what we're seeing. For now, and considering the technique has been used for 100 years without any known side-effects, we believe it is a viable treatment for infertility prior to couples seeking IVF. "Not only is there a known benefit, but this flushing procedure is also a fraction of the cost of one cycle of IVF. Considering that 40% of women in the oil-based group achieved a successful pregnancy, that's 40% of couples who could avoid having to go through the huge costs and emotions associated with IVF treatment," he says. Turning around infertility - a family history Until he embarked on this study, Professor Mol had no idea that he himself was the result of a successful pregnancy following such a procedure. In the 1960s, after being considered infertile for nine years, Professor Mol's mother underwent an HSG which, coincidentally, also used Lipiodol. "It was only after I started researching this technique that my family told me what had happened," Professor Mol says. "My mother went from being infertile for many years to becoming pregnant, and I was born in 1965. I also have a younger brother. So it's entirely possible - in fact, based on our team's research, it's highly likely - that my brother and I are both the result of this technique helping my mother to achieve fertility." What can infertile couples do? "The use of used Lipiodol itself is not currently practiced widely, so the first thing couples need to do is to speak with their doctor about it," Professor Mol says. "Professional bodies responsible for guidelines, funders of health care, and fertility clinics all have a role to play in assisting infertile couples to make this intervention available to couples before IVF is started," he says. Deep in the foggy, moss-covered forests of Southern Vietnam, herpetologists uncovered one of the smallest species of horned mountain toads. The name of the new amphibian (Ophryophryne elfina) derives from European mythology and translates to "elfish eyebrow toad." Despite being recently discovered, the new species is already considered to be endangered. Having remained hidden in the highlands of Langbian Plateau, it is now described in the open access journal ZooKeys. The unique species name "elfina" derives from the English word "elf." In German and Celtic folklore, elves are described as small, supernatural creatures usually dwelling deep in the forests of magical hills. The frogs were named after them primarily because of their small size of around 3 cm, which makes them the smallest known species of the genus -- as well as their fascinating appearance -- they have small horn-like projections above their eyes. The unique habitat of the amphibians also inspired their species name. The Elfin mountain toad lives in the highland wet subtropical evergreen forest. There it can only be found on mountain summits higher than 1800 m, or on the slopes of the eastern side of Langbian Plateau, where the rainfall is high because of the sea nearby. Both the rocks and the dwarf curbed trees are covered with a heavy layer of moss, whilst a thick misty fog is constantly lingering amongst the trees. This is why such wet mountain ecosystems are known as elfin forests. The Elfin mountain toad is one of the three known species in the genus Ophryophryne that inhabit Langbian Plateau. Curiously, all three of them share the same habitat, but can be easily distinguished by their advertisement calls resembling whistling birds. Scientists at the University of California, Riverside have developed an inexpensive, biodegradable, seaweed-based ant bait that can help homeowners and farmers control invasive Argentine ant populations. The researchers found the "hydrogel" baits, which look like liquid gel pills but have a jello-like consistency, reduced ant populations 40 to 68 percent after four weeks. After a second treatment, between weeks four and five, ant population reductions were maintained at 61 to 79 percent until the experiment ended after eight weeks. "A 70 percent reduction is really successful, especially considering we are not spraying an insecticide but instead using a very targeted method that is better for the environment," said Dong-Hwan Choe, an assistant professor of entomology at UC Riverside and an assistant cooperative extension specialist. "With 70 percent control, homeowners really don't see any ants." Jia-Wei Tay, a post-doctoral scholar in Choe's lab, is the lead author of the paper. Co-authors are Choe; Mark Hoddle, an entomologist at UC Riverside; and Ashok Mulchandani, a distinguished professor of chemical and environmental engineering. In addition to the applications for homeowners in an urban environment, which was the focus of this paper, the hydrogels have applications in agriculture, including in citrus groves and grape vineyards. For example, the Asian citrus psyllid has decimated citrus trees in Asia, South America, Florida and now threatens California's citrus industry. To combat the bug in California, Hoddle coordinated the release of wasps that are native to Pakistan and a natural enemy of the Asian citrus psyllid. Unexpectedly, Hoddle found Argentine ants were killing the wasps. advertisement This summer, the team will coordinate research in citrus groves in southern California. The team wants to measure the effectiveness of hydrogels in controlling Argentine ant populations. If the hydrogel baits can control the ants, the wasps can do their job protecting citrus trees from Asian citrus psyllid, which transmit Huanglongbing, a bacterial disease that kills citrus trees. The Argentine ant is an invasive species with a worldwide distribution. It is a major nuisance in southern states including Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, Tennessee, and North Carolina, and also in California. In fact, a 2007 survey found that 85 percent of all urban pest control services in California were focused on the Argentine ant. A common method for managing the Argentine ant has been insecticide sprays. However, the downside of this tactic is that the insecticides can harm non-target organisms that do beneficial things. The misuse of the pesticide sprays can also cause environmental contamination. As a result of these downsides, research has focused on liquid baits that use a combination of sugar water (to attract the ants) and a small amount of toxicant to kill the ants. The problem with the liquid baits is that they need to be dispensed in bait stations, which are costly to maintain. "Hydrogels eliminate the need for the bait stations. The hydrogels are applied on the ground where the ants forage. Once an ant finds the hydrogel, it drinks from the surface of it. It then goes back to its nest and shares the toxic liquid with nest mates. The ants also create a trail to the hydrogels that their nest mates will follow," Tay said. The hydrogels are designed to be slow-acting, so it takes several days before the ants die. By that time tens of thousands will have ingested the liquid bait. The hydrogels created by the team are highly absorbent -- the material used is similar to what is used in diapers. They retain water so that they will remain attractive to ants for an extended amount of time. The researchers used sugar water containing 0.0001 percent of the insecticide thiamethoxam in the hydrogels. "This is 100-fold less than it is used in a standard ant gel bait and 1,000 times less concentrated than spray insecticides containing thiamethoxam," Tay said. Future research will address the potential use of the hydrogels on other pest insects as well as how quickly the hydrogels biodegrade. Australia Western Sahara Association POLISARIO Front May 04, 2017 The Saharawi people and their representative organizations, including the democratically elected SADR government, have long protested the illegal mining and export of high quality phosphate rock from an area of Western Sahara which has been under armed occupation by Morocco since 1975. The trade has continued despite the commitment of the United Nations in 1991 to ensure for the people of Western Sahara a self-determination process, something otherwise achieved throughout Africa. Bir Lehlu, Western Sahara (4 May 2017). The government of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (the SADR) and the Saharawi national liberation movement, the Polisario Front, announced that they have secured through legal means in South Africa the interception and detention of a shipment of phosphate mineral rock exported from Western Sahara which had been destined for a New Zealand importer. The cargo, at an estimated 54,000 tonnes and worth just over $5 million (US), is a commodity used in the manufacture of agricultural fertilizer. It had been loaded aboard the Marshall Islands flagged bulk carrier NM Cherry Blossom on the coast of occupied Western Sahara last month. Saharawi authorities initiated legal proceedings in South Africa when it became clear that the ship would call into Port Elizabeth to reprovision during a month-long journey. The ship remains at Port Elizabeth. The Saharawi people and their representative organizations, including the democratically elected SADR government, have long protested the illegal mining and export of high quality phosphate rock from an area of Western Sahara which has been under armed occupation by Morocco since 1975. The trade has continued despite the commitment of the United Nations in 1991 to ensure for the people of Western Sahara a self-determination process, something otherwise achieved throughout Africa. A handful of companies worldwide remain involved in the trade, including two in New Zealand. Emhamed Khadad, a member of the Polisario leadership, remarked that the mining and export of what is a non-renewable resource from a place under occupation where the UN has tried to pursue the peaceful assurance of a basic right to the Saharawi people is wrong on many levels. It is a violation of well-settled principles of international law. It is morally indefensible. And its bad business, in that the few companies involved face reputational risks, and as we have seen in several European countries investor withdrawal. Saharawi authorities have attempted to engage the companies involved, and did so in New Zealand along with the government because of that countrys historical support for self-determination in East Timor (Timor-Leste) and Western Sahara. In September 2015 and September 2016 position statements about Western Sahara, the Fertilizer Association of New Zealand a representative agency of both New Zealand companies involved claimed the purchasing of the phosphate rock had a legal basis. Despite this, the companies have never responded to Saharawi requests for dialogue, and would not disclose a purported legal opinion justifying the purchasing of the commodity. Khadad went on to note: This is a non-renewable resource, one which needs to stay in the ground until the Saharawi people are given what is the basic commitment of the international community to choose their future. The seizure of the cargo under court order comes after Saharawi authorities successfully concluded a case against the European Union for extending a free trade agreement with Morocco into Western Sahara. In that case, the Court of Justice of the European Union noted in its December 2016 decision that Morocco did not have governing competency or any territorial claim to Western Sahara. The territory, the Court found, is to be treated as a separate entity from Morocco and the consent of its people (the Saharawi people and not more recent settlers) required for development and export of resources. The interdiction of this shipment is a further use of peaceful means to apply the law, for Saharawi people denied the most basic of rights in a nearly decolonized world, and who must endure a brutal occupation with widely documented human rights violations, remarked Khadad. We have tried to patiently engage with the companies involved, and with some we have prevailed. The New Zealand companies are responsible for a substantial share of the trade. It was right to pursue legal action to vindicate a clear legal right to this commodity, and important our people relied on a well-regarded justice system in an African country to do that. (SPS) 062/090 https://www.pambazuka.org/human-security/western-sahara-seizure-cargo-phosphate-rock-destined-new-zealand Algiers, May 15, 2017 (SPS) -The Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix on Sunday reiterated the willingness of the new United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres to reopen negotiations between the Polisario Front and Morocco to settle the conflict the occupied Western Sahara. "We discussed an important issue. I seized this opportunity to reiterate the strong willingness of the UN Secretary General (Guterres) to relaunch efforts for political negotiations following the adoption by the Security Council of a recent resolution renewing the mandate of the United Nations Mission for Referendum in Western Sahara (Minurso)," Lacroix stated after his meeting with Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ramtane Lamamra, in which participated the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Mali and Chief of the Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) Mahamat Saleh Annadif. Lacroix, who highlighted the efforts made since the appointment of the new UN SG "to pave the way" to political action in accordance with the resolution of the UN Security Council. Lacroix explained that this "is a painstaking and gradual work that goes through many issues, particularly the resumption of Minurso's full role, which is now gained, and then the situation in Guereguerat, with a view to lifting obstacles to the work of the UN SG to reopen negotiations." "I reiterate once against the UN SG's willingness to pursue efforts and advance in accordance with the Security Council's guidelines to conduct a political work", stressed the UN official. (SPS) 062/090/700 T ributes have been paid to an 18-year-old woman killed when a driver ploughed his car into pedestrians in New York Citys Times Square. Alyssa Elsman, from Michigan, was reportedly visiting the city with her family when she was struck by the speeding car. She was with her 13-year-old sister, who was also injured, when she was hit. Her devastated boyfriend Trevor West told The New York Post he knew something horrible happened when Ms Elsman didnt reply to one of his texts. Tributes have flooded in after Ms Elsman was killed on Thursday / Facebook He said: She would always text me back as quick as she could and when I didnt hear from her or her friend, I knew something horrible happened. I knew something was wrong. He added: "Now that shes gone, I dont know how Im going to fill that void. I dont know how Im going to function without her ever again. New York: Times Square Car Crash 1 /25 New York: Times Square Car Crash A car speeds through a sidewalk in Times Square @gb__ Police detaining a man at the scene An injured man on the sidewalk in Times Square after a speeding vehicle struck pedestrians on the sidewalk Mike Segar/Reuters Emergency workers at the scene of the car crash Rex Features An aerial view of the car crash in Times Square Mayor with @NYPDONeill and @FDNY in Times Square being briefed on the incident @NYCMayorsOffice Emergency workers treat multiple people injured when a vehicle struck numerous pedestrians in Times Square in New York Gary He/EPA The mangled car which ploughed into pedestrians in Times Square Seth Weni/AP An aerial view of the car crash in Times Square Sky News First responders assisting injured pedestrians after a vehicle struck pedestrians on a sidewalk in Times Square Jeremy Schultz/Reuters First responders tend to an injured pedestrian after a vehicle struck pedestrians on a sidewalk in Times Square Lucas Jackson/Reuters Emergency workers work at the scene after multiple people were injured when a vehicle struck numerous pedestrians EPA First responders assisting injured pedestrians after a vehicle struck pedestrians on a sidewalk in Times Square Jeremy Schultz/Reuters An image of the car which ploughed into pedestrians, killing at least one @pinkcamry First responders tend to injured pedestrians after a vehicle struck pedestrians on a sidewalk in Times Square Lucas Jackson/Reuters An aerial view of the the incident in Times Square, New York, USA where a car mounted the pavement injuring pedestrians PA A vehicle sits atop a bollard after multiple people were injured when a vehicle struck numerous pedestrians in Times Square in New York EPA An injured man sits on the sidewalk in Times Square after a speeding vehicle struck pedestrians on the sidewalk in New York Mike Segar/Reuters First responders are at the scene where a vehicle driving onto a sidewalk in Times Square in New York Daniel J. Bases/Reuters Tributes have flooded in on Ms Elsman's Facebook page. One person wrote: Such a beautiful angel in heaven rip and prayers for your little sister and family. Another added: RIP Alyssa. So sad that your life was stolen at such a young age. My heart goes out to your family and friends. Another said: No words, just so unbelievably tragic. I am so very sorry for the family. God bless. Car drives into pedestrians in New York's Times Square A further 22 people were injured, four critically, when the car slammed into them at lunchtime on Thursday. The car crashed into a pole and came to a rest at 45th Street and Broadway. A 26-year-old man, named by police as Richard Rojas from the Bronx district, was detained by police at the scene. The former naval officer reportedly has previous convictions for driving under the influence and is being tested for alcohol and drug levels in custody. He was arrested twice - in 2008 and 2015 - for drink-driving offences. Countries & Areas Search for country or area A Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan B Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burma Burundi C Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Costa Rica Cote dIvoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czechia D Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic E Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia F Fiji Finland France G Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Grenada Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana H Haiti Holy See Honduras Hungary I Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy J Jamaica Japan Jordan K Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan L Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg M Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Mozambique N Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria North Korea North Macedonia Norway O Oman P Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territories Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Q Qatar R Republic of the Congo Romania Russia Rwanda S Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syria T Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvalu U Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom Uruguay Uzbekistan V Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Y Yemen Z Zambia Zimbabwe The U.S. agrees with the AU peacekeepers in Somalia that al Shabaab is defeated militarily. However Islamic terrorists are actually endemic to the region, flaring up every few generations. In response to that, and other challenges, the Somali government has developed a two year plan to destroy al Shabaab. This plan depends on controlling the equally endemic corruption, which has been particularly troublesome for the security forces. Many of the defeats the army suffers can be traced back to poor morale, often the result of senior officers and politicians stealing payroll and supplies meant for the troops. Since most of this is paid for by foreign aid, the donor nations are imposing more restrictions on how the aid is administered inside Somalia. In the past this would generate a lot of Somalis (especially those who had grown wealthy from the corruption) loudly protesting this interference in Somali internal affairs. The new Somali president has agreed to avoid that sort of thing and side with the anti-corruption forces. That is a very dangerous move and Somali politicians who try it and succeed create a lot of local enemies. That means a lot of wealthy and ruthless Somalis seeking to kill you. This is a difficult cycle to break. The new (as of February 22nd) president Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed has a lot of popular support, especially in the security forces and because of his pledge to carry out more vigorous action against al Shabaab. The new president has credibility in this area because he has been fighting corruption for years and made progress in reducing the incidence of corrupt officials (often senior officers) stealing payroll and other money meant for the soldiers and police. More so than ever the prime motivation to make some progress with the corruption is that many traditional aid donors are reluctant (or simply refusing) to send aid, even for a catastrophic drought. The donors will only relent if the Somali government makes a convincing effort to curb the theft of foreign aid. Even al Shabaab is trying to exploit the growing famine by telling locals to either work with the Islamic terrorists by not cooperating with the security forces or interfering with al Shabaab recruiting (of local teenagers) and fund raising (extorting businesses and anyone with something they need). Its this sort of thing that has cost al Shabaab all the popular support it had in 2007 and enabled it to replace the Islamic Courts Union as the champion of the people. Somalia certainly needs a local champion, because the rest of the world is no longer willing to finance Somali scoundrels. Meanwhile up north the Somali pirates are still active, especially in 2017. This resurgence is the result of many shipping companies reducing their security expenses under pressure from local customers who have to pass the cost on to local consumers. Thus 2017 started off with the usual attacks on smaller ships (coastal freighters and fishing trawlers) and these were closer to Yemen than Somalia. Then in March a tanker was taken and then a freighter in April. This comes after 2016, in which no ships were taken. These ships were quickly recovered but it was a reminder to shipping companies to remain vigilant. May 17, 2017: In Mogadishu six soldiers were killed as an army bomb specialist was trying to disable explosives in a car. May 16, 2017: In central Somalia (Bay region) a bomb near a restaurant wounded seven people, including two government officials. In the south, across the border in Kenya (Mandera) a roadside bomb killed four people in a passing car. Al Shabaab was believed responsible and this makes two attacks in two days in the area. There have been fifteen of these attacks in Kenya since mid-2016 and most of them have been in Mandera and other Christian neighborhoods near the border. Al Shabaab has long sought to drive all non-Moslems out northeastern Kenya because a lot of ethnic Somalis and Moslems live there. Most Kenyans (over 80 percent) are Christian and only twelve percent are Moslem (most of them ethnic Somalis). The area around Mandera is near the Somali border and has long been the scene of fighting between the Kenyan Murule (ethnic Somali Moslems) and the Marhan from across the border in Somalia. In 2015 about a hundred armed Marhan crossed the border and raided Murule territory and despite Kenya sending more soldiers and police to Mandera the violence continues. The Marhan have long been accused of supporting al Shabaab while the Murule oppose Islamic terrorism and al Shabaab efforts to chase Christians from the Mandera region. May 15, 2017: In the south, across the border in northeast Kenya four al Shabaab wearing army uniforms attacked the home of a government official, killed him and several bodyguards. The killers thenfled towards the nearby Somali border. May 9, 2017: In central Somalia (the Bay region) about a hundred al Shabaab attacked an army outpost and ambushed reinforcements, killing 17 soldiers. Al Shabaab then claimed to have captured the nearby town of Goofgaduud (250 kilometers northwest of Mogadishu). This town has changed hands regularly in the last few years. May 8, 2017: In Mogadishu a car bomb went off next to a popular restaurant killing eight people, including the primary target, a senior military commander. Al Shabaab regularly goes after senior military and intel officials, not just to eliminate them but to encourage others to ease up on the Islamic terror group. Further south (Lower Shabelle region) a roadside bomb killed four soldiers. May 5, 2017: In the southeast (Lower Shabelle region) an army raid killed a local al Shabaab leader and three of his men. May 4, 2017: An American Navy SEAL was killed while advising Somali troops in an operation 65 kilometers west of Mogadishu. Another two Americans were wounded as the U.S. helicopters transporting the Somali troops came under fire. The raid was a success. The SEAL was the first fatality the American military had suffered in Somalia since 1993 (the Blackhawk Down incident and subsequent withdrawal of peacekeepers from Somalia). May 3, 2017: In Mogadishu the Minister of Public Works was shot dead while driving to the presidential compound. The shooters were bodyguards for the Auditor General, who thought the ministers car was part of an al Shabaab attack. The president soon met with the rest of his ministers and agreed to dismiss the Auditor General and prosecute the careless bodyguards. May 2, 2017: The U.S. has agreed to provide the Kenyan peacekeepers in Kenya with twelve MD530F armed scout helicopters. Because these helicopters are provided under an aid program they will cost Kenya very little. April 30, 2017: In the south, near the Kenyan border a senior al Shabaab leader killed an associate from Kenya after accusing him of selling information to the Kenyan military. Since late 2016 about twenty Kenyan al Shabaab members have been accused of spying on al Shabaab and executed for it. As a result many more Kenyan members of al Shabaab have deserted and returned to Kenya. Some were arrested and interrogated while others spoke freely with family and friends about their experience. They all confirmed the paranoia the Islamic terror group was struggling with. Al Shabaab continues to suffer from problems with their secret locations being found out and attacked. Most of these situations are the result of better intelligence work and more civilians willing to pass on information about al Shabaab movements. Cell phones make that a lot easier. Because of the arrival of cell phone networks after 2000 al Shabaab has a hard time hiding their presence even in the most remote areas and does not like to admit that local civilians are the source of these tips. April 27, 2017: In Mogadishu al Shabaab gunmen killed a senior intelligence officer outside his home. April 23, 2017: In the north (Puntland) al Shabaab used a roadside bomb to kill six soldiers and would eight other who were driving to Bosaso. April 21, 2017: In the south (Lower Juba) soldiers and peacekeepers (mainly Kenyans) carried out a night attack on an al Shabaab camp near the Kenyan border and killed over fifty of the Islamic terrorists. Kenya provided artillery and mortar fire to support the operation. Weapons and other equipment were captured in the camp as the surviving al Shabaab men fled. 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Ltd, Buell Industries Inc., CCI Realty Company, CFC Europe GmbH, CS Australia Pty Limited, CS Mexico Holding Company S DE RL DE CV, Calvia Spolka z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnosci, Capital Ventures Australasia S.a r.l, Capmax Logistica S.A. de C.V., Celeste Industries Corporation, Coeur, Coeur Asia Limited, Coeur Holding Company, Coeur Inc., Coeur Shanghai Medical Appliance Trading Co. Ltd, Compagnie Hobart, Compagnie de Materiel et d'Equipements Techniques-Comet, Constructions Isothermiques Bontami C.I.B., Crane Carrier Company, Denison Mayes Group Limited, Despatch Industries, Diagraph Corporation Sdn. Bhd, Diagraph ITW Mexico S. de R.L. De C.V., Diagraph Mexico S.A. DE C.V., Dongguan Ark-Les Electric Components Co. Ltd., Dongguan CK Branding Co. Ltd., Duo Fast de Espana S.A.U., Duo-Fast Korea Co. Ltd., Duo-Fast LLC, E.C.S. d.o.o., E2M Production B.V.., E2M Technologies B.V.., E2M Technologies Inc.., ECS Cable Protection Sp. 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De R.L. de C.V., ITW Mexico Holdings LLC, ITW Morlock GmbH, ITW Mortgage Investments II Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments III Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments IV Inc., ITW Netherlands Administration BV, ITW Netherlands Beta B.V., ITW Netherlands Finance Alpha BV, ITW New Universal LLC, ITW New Zealand, ITW Ningbo Components & Fastenings Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Novadan Sp. Z.o.o., ITW PPF Brasil Adesivos Ltda., ITW Packaging Technology China Co. Ltd., ITW Participations S.a r.l., ITW Pension Funds Trustee Company, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Japan Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Korea Limited, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids OOO, ITW Performance Polymers ApS, ITW Performance Polymers Wujiang Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers and Fluids Group FZE, ITW Peru S.A.C., ITW Poly Mex S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Polymers Sealants North America Inc., ITW Pronovia s.r.o., ITW Pte. Ltd., ITW Qufu Automotive Cooling Systems Co. 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Limited, Instron France S.A.S., Instron GmbH, Instron Japan Company Ltd., Instron Korea LLC, Instron Shanghai Ltd., Instron Thailand Limited, International Leasing Company LLC, Isolenge - ITW Sistemas de Isolamento Termico Ltda., Itw Spraytec, KCPL Mauritius Holdings, Kester, Kleinmann GmbH, Krafft S.L., Loma Systems, Loma Systems BV, Loma Systems Canada Inc., Loma Systems sro, Lombard Pressings Limited, Lumex Inc., Lys Fusion Poland Sp. z.o.o., M&C Specialties Co., MAGNAFLUX GmbH, MEHB Holdings Limited, MGHG Property LLC, MTS 2 LLC., MTS 3 LLC., MTS China Holdings LLC, MTS Europe Holdings LLC, MTS Holdings France S.a.r.l., MTS Japan Ltd.., MTS Korea Inc.., MTS Systems China Co. 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Read More Ontario needs to expand mandatory training on sexual assault law to all judges because its the current ones who apparently need some upgrading in their education, says NDP Leader Andrea Horwath. I would hope that the government and the attorney general make it really, really clear that that needs to be a priority, because theres no way that a woman should have to go through the insensitivity or ignorance, frankly, of a justice when dealing with a sexual assault situation thats already difficult and painful. Ontarios chief justice recently updated the education plan for new judges, compelling them to take part in training that includes sexual assault law. The changes come amid wider concerns about how sexual assault cases are handled in courtrooms across the country, from the trial of former CBC radio host Jian Ghomeshi to the knees together judge in Calgary who has since resigned. Then another judge, in Halifax, found a taxi driver not guilty , saying the severely intoxicated complainant could have consented. Progressive Conservative MPP Laurie Scott, her partys womens issues critic, questioned whether the training really is mandatory but regardless, sex assault complainants deserve better. She is one of two MPPs who have proposed private members bills, with hers encompassing training on sex assault laws, evidence, sexual consent and stereotypes, for all on the bench. The governments stance clearly doesnt meet the expectations for survivors of sexual assault, who want to be sure that the court system will treat their cases fairly, she said at the legislature. I do know that (Attorney General Yasir Naqvi) cares about this issue, so my question to him is, will he finally agree that mandated sexual assault training needs to be legislated, and will he support my bill? Naqvi said current judges have access to ongoing training and that its up to the court to decide what is provided and what is mandatory. Its a very integral part of our honour system to have judicial independence, Naqvi told reporters at Queens Park. I had communicated with the chief justice, letting her know of the desire of the house that the training for judges be mandatory but that decision is up to her. But she had informed me and Im very happy to note that she has worked with her education counsel and updated the education plan, expressly mandating training for new judges around social norms and social contexts, including sexual assault. Horwath said while she respects the independence of the courts, theres also a societal responsibility that government has to send a strong message and send a clear expectation that the issues are being addressed. I dont think the independence is in any way affected by the government sending a strong signal that they want to see this addressed. In Ottawa, a bill proposed by interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose would force all federal judicial appointees to first be trained in sexual assault law. Last month at Queens Park, both Scott and Liberal MPP Cristina Martins put forward private members bills on the issue. SHARE: Thunder Bay police are investigating the discovery of a body that was found in a river Thursday, days after the disappearance of a teenage boy. The Ontario Provincial Police underwater search and recovery unit found the body in the McIntyre River near Island Dr. just before 6 p.m. They have not been able to confirm the persons identity but said the deceased was male. There are fears that the body could be that of Josiah Begg, a 14-year-old who was last seen on May 6. Police had been in the river as part of the ongoing search for Begg. The body of a 17-year-old girl was found in the same river 11 days ago: Tammy Keeash is the sixth indigenous youth to be found dead in the river since 2000. If the body found Thursday is Josiah Beggs, he would be the seventh. Keeashs family and First Nations leaders in northern Ontario have rejected the idea that she simply drowned, noting Keeash had water safety and survival skills. SHARE: VALCOURT, QUE.Delays, glitches and billion-dollar bailouts some argue this is the hard reality of the cut-throat, high-stakes global transportation industry. But this months revolt against Montreal-based Bombardier Inc. that dealt a stunning blow to the inheritors of this family controlled company by forcing executive chairman Pierre Beaudoin to step away from daily operations of the global transportation firm? That was a personal slight. It was Pierres father, Laurent Beaudoin, the son-in-law of company founder Joseph-Armand Bombardier, who put words to the sentiment. Im a bit disappointed, the man, who took over Bombardier and transformed it from a snow-machine maker into producer of planes and trains, said at the companys annual general meeting this month. If the family had not been there, all of this would have never been built. He was reacting to the criticism of pension funds, analysts and an outraged public who watched the struggling firm accept more than $1 billion in aid from the Quebec and federal governments and turn around with a $32 million pay-and-bonus boost for executives. Those critics laid blame for the tone-deaf lapses on the familys lingering influence and control. But Laurent Beaudoins rebuttal captured the anger and the grief, as well as a stubborn streak that has been instrumental in Bombardiers success over 75 years. A better understanding of the legacy being managed by the Bombardier and Beaudoin clans is found along the Joseph-Armand-Bombardier Highway in Quebecs Eastern Townships. At the Ski-Doo plant in Valcourt, Que., make a right on J.A. Bombardier Ave. On your left is the Bombardier philanthropic foundation and the Bombardier library. Directly opposite is the Bombardier Museum of Ingenuity containing a replica of the long-delayed Toronto streetcars produced by the company as well as the original red-and-white workshop where the founder first puzzled over how to overcome the chief obstacle of rural Quebec: snow. In the centre of town, just up from Monsieur Bombardiers first factory is his stately former home, protected with a Quebec heritage designation, the black-on-white company flag flying proudly from its turret. Here, its a little bit clearer that adaptability in the face of adversity as much as the Ski-Doo, the commercial jet or a train is the legacy of this family, this firm. As a company, Bombardier has had to adapt to survive through wars, oil crises, transportation trends and terrorism. The current challenge is to land sales and post profits from its C-Series commercial jet. The aircraft has been praised for its performance but chief competitor Boeing this week filed a trade challenge, arguing that Canadian subsidies to Bombardier allow it to sell the plane at below-market prices. The United States International Trade Commission could retaliate by raising tariffs on the planes sold in the U.S. For the Bombardier-Beaudoin family, which owns 13 per cent of the company but controls 53 per cent of its voting shares, the task ahead is to find a renewed role outside of the daily operations of the firm. They have to learn how to govern the corporation. I hope that they will stay involved because it would be unfortunate if they were no longer interested and the fourth generation decides to sell everything to Boeing or Airbus. It would be unfortunate for Canada, said Michel Nadeau, executive director of Montreals Institute for Governance of Private and Public Organizations. Maybe one day there will be a child of the fourth generation . . . who can return to the management of Bombardier. Otherwise it is the end of the dynasty. But after the debacle at the AGM, a Journal de Montreal columnist predicted that the familys days with the company are numbered probably in annual reports, possibly in quarterly reports. To hasten the inevitability, Michel Girard proposed that the familys shares be purchased by the Quebec pension fund, the Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec. How did it get to this point? Its very typical in family businesses. The father will hope that his son will continue the mission. But its not because the same blood runs in your veins that the same talent runs in your veins as well, said Isabelle Dostaler, a professor of management at Concordia Universitys John Molson School of Business in Montreal. Pierre Beaudoin was groomed for the Bombardier throne. After learning the ropes, he began running Bombardiers Recreational Products Group Sea-Doos and Ski-Doos in 1996. He became president of Bombardier Aerospace in October 2001, one month after the 9/11 terror attacks, and was appointed president of Bombardier Inc. from 2008, taking the reins from his father. The firm was on the verge of filing for bankruptcy protection when his term ended. Hes not a charismatic leader like his dad. Under his run the company did not do well. It stretched itself too thin and embarked on several different projects all at once. That was tough on cash flow, Dostaler said. Under Pierre Beaudoins watch, the Learjet 85 development program that was announced in 2007 suffered from ballooning costs and too few orders before being cancelled in 2015. The C-Series, meanwhile, was plagued by delays, cost overruns and weak sales under his tenure. Alain Bellemare took over as company president in 2015, but Pierre Beaudoin stayed on in a transitory position as executive chairman of the board. In the wake of the executive compensation proposal and the calls for less family involvement in the running of the company, he announced at the AGM he would be stepping back, serving as a simple chairman with no responsibilities for daily operations as of June 30. But no one expects the family to cede control of the company or take its sights off the Bombardier legacy. There is a debate about the wisdom of that position, but family controlled firms can also allow companies to take a longer-term view rather than simply focusing on satisfying shareholder demands and the relentless focus on driving up stock prices, said Joseph DCruz, professor emeritus of strategic management at the University of Torontos Rotman School of Business. Is (a legacy focus) good or bad? It will depend on the outcome 10 years from now. It may turn out that (the C-Series jet) is a brilliant success because it redefines the segment of the market in which it competes, which is a single-aisle aircraft with below 150 seats. Dostaler is among those convinced there are good times ahead for Bombardier based on what she said is the strength of the C-Series jet and the talent that exists within the company all the way down to the shop floor. But she also sympathizes with Laurent Beaudoin, the business engine behind the machines that now run on snow, water, air and rails. The man is really sad and he feels for his son, who was going through a tough period, she said. But as my mom used to say, Its easier to cry in a Rolls Royce than in the metro. Read more about: SHARE: Miles Cohen died in his parents arms at Torontos Hospital for Sick Children. A leaking feeding tube patched with tape. Lack of consent. A surgeon training to be a pediatric specialist. These are some of the red flags Miless parents discovered over the past 16 months as they traced the steps and missteps that left their baby dead in a world-class hospital. We want to understand what happened to Miles so that this does not happen to another child, said Joseph Cohen, Miless father. He and his wife, Margaret McBeath, have found the hospital tight-lipped and guarded when questions have been asked. Sick Kids is regarded as one of the best childrens and research hospitals in the world. The hospital told the Star Miless care could have been better, but would not answer detailed questions. We conducted a review and determined that there were a number of areas where we could have performed better, which we deeply regret, a Sick Kids spokesperson said. The Office of the Chief Coroner is investigating and says Miless case will be referred to its Paediatric Death Review Committee. The hospital told the Star it could not comment because of patient privacy and confidentiality, and that it would be inappropriate to comment because of the coroners investigation. With the help of the parents and 1,100 pages of hospital records, the Star has pieced together the story of the short life of Miles Cohen. Margaret McBeath and Joseph Cohen met about 16 years ago through mutual friends at the Green Room, a hangout popular with students near Bloor and Bathurst in Toronto. Joseph was working in accounting, and Margaret, a U of T student, would go on to work in human resources. Both had always wanted a large family, but when they first met, they didnt think it would happen. Ten years earlier, Cohen had been told by a urologist he wouldnt be able to have children. So when McBeath became pregnant in 2003 with their first child, it was a delightful surprise. In the ensuing 11 years, life got considerably busier as they grew their family to six children. In August 2015, McBeath learned she was pregnant with twins. Regular ultrasounds pointed to a healthy pregnancy. Miles and his brother Graham were born naturally about 4 a.m. on Dec. 25 at Mt. Sinai Hospital. The boys were seven weeks premature and doctors immediately noticed Miles was having trouble breathing. He was given additional oxygen and put on a ventilator. Shortly after Miless birth, the medical team found he had three congenital defects, none of them considered life threatening if treated quickly, his parents say doctors told them. He had a hole in his trachea, a gap between his esophagus and stomach, and a malformed anus a group of defects that can sometimes occur in association in some babies. I was quite shaken up by hearing about this, but they were very reassuring, McBeath said. Later on the day he was born, Miles was whisked from Mt. Sinai to the Hospital for Sick Children using an underground tunnel connecting the hospitals under busy University Ave. A Sick Kids doctor told McBeath the hospital would have to operate to connect Miless esophagus to his stomach, fix the hole in his trachea and perform a colostomy, a procedure that connects the bowel with a small opening in the abdomen so waste can leave the body. The repair to Miless malformed anus would have to wait until he grew bigger and healthier. Tired and dazed, McBeath signed a consent form, which she said she was told covered Miless operation the next day only. While operating, surgeons fixed the hole in Miless trachea but found the distance between his stomach and esophagus too large to make a connection. They decided to hold off until he grew. To ensure Miles could be fed pumped breast milk, a feeding tube (also known as a G-tube) was placed in the left side of his stomach. A catheter designed for urology patients was used as the feeding tube due to a lack of availability of an appropriate size tube for small babies, according to Miless medical records. A Sick Kids spokesperson, asked about the tube, told the Star it is not uncommon to adapt medical devices to address the needs of our small patients, especially when dealing with premature infants. It was a whirlwind for Miless parents. McBeath was still recovering in the hospital. Cohen was looking after the children at home, visiting as often as he could. After Miless operation, McBeath was at her sons bedside when she says she learned from a nurse that a hole discovered in Miless feeding tube had been repaired with tape. McBeath looked at the tiny, flexible plastic tube going into the left side of her sons stomach and saw pink tape, which she says the nurse called electrical tape. According to Miless medical records, the hole was repaired both with Tegaderm, a sticky transparent film usually dressed over wounds and catheter sites, and waterproof tape. I was shocked, said Cohen, Miless dad. Electrical tape didnt sound sterile. He recalls a nurse saying, Dont worry, the stomach isnt a sterile place. Sick Kids told the Star it only uses medical tape for clinical purposes. Concerned that the tube may have been defective when it came out of the box, Miless parents started asking questions. Had the manufacturer been informed? What about reporting the problem to a government regulator? What was the hospital doing to ensure no other children received a faulty tube? In the days after his operation, Miles began to get better. His brother Graham, however, joined Miles at Sick Kids after developing necrotizing enterocolitis, a dangerous disease affecting the intestinal tract. The two babies were placed in the same room. (Graham later made a full recovery; he is now healthy and almost 1 years old.) After about a week, Miles was breathing on his own. Doctors started talking about doing a second surgery to connect his esophagus to his stomach, his parents say. McBeath began learning how to change Miless colostomy bag. Everybodys outlook was very positive, McBeath said. We started to work very quickly towards discharge. The feeding tube Miless parents were worried about proved to be an ongoing problem. On three occasions following his operation, the tube was noted by hospital staff to be leaking, despite the tape. Early on the morning of Jan. 19, 2016, hospital staff found a leak in the tube where it was taped. Another piece of tape was applied, but the tube snapped. Miless medical records show that a couple of hours after the tube snapped, doctors replaced the tube at Miless bedside and not in an operating room as in the case of the first tube. Staff surgeon Dr. Annie Fecteau removed the broken tube and another doctor, Dr. Giuseppe Retrosi, immediately inserted a new feeding tube, the records say. Miless parents were not informed of the procedure at the time. Retrosi, who had already qualified as a general surgeon, was halfway through a one-year general surgery fellowship in the specialized field of pediatric surgery. While visiting Miles later that day, McBeath was told by a nurse that Miless feeding tube had been replaced. I said, Well, why didnt you call me? She didnt have an answer for that, said McBeath, whose mobile phone number was affixed to Miless monitor above his bed. McBeath and Cohen were perplexed as to why they werent consulted about the feeding tube replacement, especially since the hospital knew the tube had been a sore spot for them. During this sometimes frantic period, Miless parents said they had difficulty getting answers to questions. Many of the answers only came when the hospital turned over 1,100 pages of records detailing Miless care after he died. Medical malpractice lawyer Paul Harte, who is not involved in the case but has reviewed Miless medical records for the Star and with the familys consent, said in his view doctors should have consulted the family before replacing the feeding tube. Patients are entitled to be informed of the risks, the benefits and all reasonable alternatives of any proposed procedure, he said. On the evening of the day Miless feeding tube was replaced, McBeath had just returned home when she received a call from Sick Kids telling her she should return immediately. Miles was not doing well. McBeath says a doctor at the hospital told her that there seemed to be some fluid building up in Miless lungs and that he may have pneumonia. After several hours, Miles seemed to be stabilizing. McBeath lay down in a nearby room and a nurse promised to wake her if anything changed. About an hour later, there was a frantic knock on the door. You need to come right now, the nurse said. Returning to the neonatal room was like walking onto the set of ER, McBeath said. Doctors and nurses crowded around Miles while others ran in and out of the room. Miless heart had stopped. He wasnt breathing. Doctors worked frantically to save him, performing chest compressions for nine minutes and injecting him with a cocktail of drugs and hormones. We were planning for a wonderful life ahead of him, McBeath said. All of those dreams were disappearing in front of me as they worked on him. Doctors managed to get Miless heart beating again and he was put on life support. The next day, his parents say they were told informally by hospital staff that Miless feeding tube had migrated from his stomach and gone into his chest cavity. McBeath and Cohen met with Dr. Kyong-Soon Lee, a physician specializing in the care of newborns, who recounted what happened the night before. The couple said Lee said the event was caused by medical mismanagement. The hospitals media relations department says Lee said she did not use that term when in discussion with Miless family. Lee did not respond to the Stars request for an interview. Fecteau, the staff surgeon who supervised the feeding tube replacement, referred the Star to the hospitals media relations department. Retrosi, now a pediatric general surgeon at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, told the Star in an email: I have no comment about the accident. McBeath and Cohen say doctors told them that because Miles had no oxygen for nine minutes, he would almost certainly suffer serious neurological problems. He would also be in constant pain. He would probably never walk. He would never be able to go to the bathroom by himself. Doctors broached the possibility of withdrawing life support. Its a hellish decision, McBeath said. Its not black and white. Two days later, McBeath and Cohen brought Miless brothers and sisters to the hospital to say goodbye. Not wanting to upset the relatives of the other babies sharing Miless room, McBeath and Cohen waited until shortly after 2 a.m. on Jan. 23 to take Miles off life support. About 40 minutes later, Miles died in their arms. He was 29 days old. An autopsy performed by a Sick Kids staff pathologist noted that X-rays taken before Miles went into cardiac arrest showed a white-out of the left lung and a large amount of fluid in the left side of his chest. The coroners report states that it became evident that his second G-tube had either been placed incorrectly or migrated such that it was filling his left chest cavity. The autopsy report notes that about 100 millilitres of milk had accumulated in the area around Miless left lung. The report states with high confidence that the milk feeds entering Miless chest created the conditions for his cardiac arrest and brain injury due to oxygen deprivation. A couple of weeks after Miless death, McBeath and Cohen received a phone call from Sick Kids risk management department to discuss Miless case. Cohen asked for the names of the surgeons who replaced Miless feeding tube. He said that despite repeated requests, nobody would tell him directly, but suggested he was free to request the medical records. The hospital said it is our understanding that the supervising surgeon, Fecteau, spoke to the family herself after the procedure, something the family says is not true. Regardless, it wasnt until June 2016 six months after the childs death that the department finally told him when a new staff member arrived at the risk management department, he says. Cohen and McBeath say they were upset to learn that the surgeon who replaced Miless feeding tube, Retrosi, was training in the more specialized field of pediatric surgery. They say had they known, they would not have consented to having him replace the tube. Miless parents say the hospital should make sure patients know who is performing procedures so that they can give informed consent. In a letter sent to the family shortly after the Star began asking questions in April 2017, Dr. Lennox Huang, Sick Kids chief medical officer and vice-president medical and academic affairs, wrote that in its general practice, the hospital does not typically seek consent in cases like this as it is felt that the replacement is an adjustment covered under the original consent. He added that it should have been more proactive in discussing the situation with you. The hospital did eventually report the broken feeding tube to Health Canada, which regulates medical devices, in June. The Star obtained a copy of the report, which states that the tube was used for just two days, a timeframe contradicted by Miless medical records. The records show the tube was used for more than three weeks. Sick Kids would not address the Stars inquiry about this discrepancy. Medtronic, the manufacturer of the catheter used as Miless feeding tube, told the Star the device has been licensed by Health Canada for urological use only. McBeath and Cohen say they asked the hospital to include them in its review in the wake of Miless death because they witnessed much of their sons treatment. Cohen says he left several messages with the hospital to set up a time to meet, but didnt hear back. In the hospitals April 2017 letter to the family, Sick Kids said it never received confirmation of a time that would work for you. The family later learned the hospital had come up with two recommendations from its review: create a hospital-wide process to ensure oversight of feeding tube insertion and management practices; and expand the education strategy for chest tube insertion and management for neonatal trainees and faculty. Kenyon Wallace can be reached at kwallace@thestar.ca or 416-869-4734. SHARE: MONTREALWith sovereignty on the backburner in Quebec for the foreseeable future, is there life for the Parti Quebecois as a defining political force? Or is the party that nearly secured a majority pro-secession vote in 1995 running on empty now that it has put off plans for a referendum until at least 2022? Both questions are back to the fore in the wake of the publication earlier this week of a devastating poll for the PQ. Done by Mainstreet in mid-May, it shows the PQ running a distant third at 24 per cent behind the ruling Liberals (31 per cent) and the leading Coalition Avenir Quebec (32 per cent). Among the francophone voters who determine the outcome of an election, Mainstreet reported a nine-point lead for the CAQ with the PQ at 26 per cent, barely ahead of the Liberals (25 per cent). In what may be a first for the sovereigntist party since it first formed a government in the mid-seventies, the PQ has fallen behind in every age group. The next Quebec election is scheduled for the fall of 2018. Much water will flow under the bridge until then. Over the past decade, volatility has been a defining feature of the Quebec landscape. But the PQ may be facing a perfect storm of its own making. When he successfully ran for the leadership of the party less than a year ago, Jean-Francois Lisee persuaded PQ activists to set aside the referendum file until a second majority mandate. He argued that to continue to insist on promising to stage another referendum in the face of the unwillingness of a majority of Quebecers to revisit the issue of their political future amounted to a recipe for repeat electoral defeats. Absent the prospect of an unwanted referendum, he believed voters would coalesce behind the PQ in the hope of ousting the Liberals from power. In hindsight, Lisees rationale was probably better suited to the bygone era when the PQ had a virtual monopoly on the non-Liberal vote. With four parties represented in the National Assembly, Quebecers have never had so many options to choose from. If anything, the decision to pull the referendum from its next PQ platform may have enticed more voters to explore other options. Take the older group of nationalist voters a contingent that until recently was the last to favor the PQ. Some stuck with the party in the now relatively vain hope that it would achieve Quebecs independence within their lifetime. Or take the federalist Quebecers who held their noses and overlooked the Liberals ethical lapses to keep a referendum at bay. Chances are more than a few of the voters that have propelled the CAQ to first place in the Mainstreet poll hail from those two groups. The CAQ has led in voting intentions before only to finish a distant third place on election night. But after two campaigns as leader, Francois Legault has established a comfort zone with the electorate. That is not quite as true of Lisee who still has to lead the PQ in an election or of Premier Philippe Couillard. The two have in common that they are brainy politicians who are somewhat short of the common touch. And then there is the fledging left-of-centre Quebec Solidaire party. It holds three seats in the National Assembly. It is becoming a magnet for the emerging political talents whose recruitment the PQ used to take for granted. Mainstreet pegged its support this month at 14 per cent. If Quebec broke three ways between the main parties next year, QS could aspire to hold the balance of power in the way that the Greens may be about to in British Columbia. Lisee wants to strike an electoral alliance with Quebec Solidaire. The latters members will have to decide this weekend whether to enter in negotiation with the PQ. But the two parties are on opposite pages on identity politics of the securalism charter variety. While QS is nominally sovereigntist, a solid number of its supporters are not. Its left-wing politics do not sit well with many PQ supporters. An alliance between the two could end up driving away more of their respective sympathizers than the opposite. As often as not the PQ has won elections over the decades in spite of its sovereigntist agenda. Many federalists felt that, on balance, it was a positive force for progressive good. Its past contributions to modern Quebec are undeniable. But today the Parti Quebecois comes across as a party long on tactical ambitions for itself but short of compelling ambitions for Quebec. Chantal Hebert is a national affairs writer. Her column appears Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Read more about: SHARE: Ontario will do the right thing for workers left fighting cancer and other diseases after toxic exposures at the General Electric factory in Peterborough, Labour Minister Kevin Flynn says. In the wake of a 173-page report by GE retirees and Unifor documenting working conditions in the plant from 1945 to 2000, Flynn said Thursday that he wants an expedited settlement process in place as quickly as possible for those struggling without workers compensation. All I see is people that should have had their claims approved, that didnt get the justice, he told reporters at Queens Park, recalling a recent visit to Peterborough where a three-day clinic saw 240 workers come for checks, resulting in 170 new claims. All I see is people who are clearly sick, who worked in a workplace that in the fullness of time was found to be containing some pretty dangerous stuff, and havent got the claims they need. Flynn did not set a deadline or a budget to resolve the claims, which will be handled case by case by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, but said, I would love to see it settled this year. In past decades, workers at the Peterborough plant, which manufactured diesel locomotive engines, nuclear reactor fuel cells, household appliances and more, were exposed to more than 3,000 toxic chemicals, including at least 40 known or suspected carcinogens, says the report, released Thursday. A spokeswoman for GE said the company has not had an opportunity to review the report and (is) therefore unable to comment on its content. Our No. 1 focus is, and has always been, the health and safety of GE employees working in our facilities across the country, Kim Warburton said in an email Thursday. During a Star investigation last fall, former employees described a workplace, in decades past, where asbestos fibres floated thick in the air, where open pots of lead and mercury dotted the shop floor, and where 23 massive dip tanks of varnishes and solvents used to coat and degrease motors belched fumes throughout the plant. After working for decades in these conditions, many former employees have become ill from often horrific and sometimes terminal diseases, including brain, bowel and lung cancer. Hundreds have filed compensation claims. But around half of the 660 compensation claims filed by former employees have been rejected, abandoned or withdrawn for apparently insufficient evidence. Critics say the standard of proof workers are expected to provide compensation boards is often unrealistically high. Research also suggests that the vast majority of sick workers never file claims because they are not even aware their illness could be work-related. A Workplace Safety and Insurance Board spokesperson called the Unifor report a welcome addition to the information that is currently available. We will always consider new information that may help in decision-making, said Christine Arnott. Flynn signalled the government is considering a way to process the claims similar to how compensation for work-related illness is handled for firefighters, who are presumed to have been exposed to a wide range of chemicals that cause cancers. Weve talked about a presumptive approach to this. Because, clearly, these folks have been through enough already you look at things like asbestos, you look at things like lead that were handled in a way that we just wouldnt handle them today, the minister said. If you know that certain people worked in certain parts of the plant, maybe you dont need to go through a complete examination. You just realize, that was a bad part of the plant. NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said the WSIB left workers frustrated for too long because it would not acknowledge the exposures, making it long past time for the government to act. What this report does is document the exposures that people had, documents the materials, the chemicals that they worked with, she said. What these folks want, and what they deserve, is an acknowledgment by the WSIB that in fact theyre telling the truth, and these chemicals did exist in the workplace and could absolutely have had an impact on their cancers. Flynn said he hopes the lessons learned at GE can be applied more widely in cases at other workplaces as new scientific information comes to light. Weve got new information. These folks have an incidence of diseases that you dont see in (other) samples around the province . . . We need to deal with that, he added. A cabinet minister whose father died of lung cancer after working at the GE plant in Peterborough for 40 years said he is pleased that progress is being made. My friends and neighbours, their fathers were all employed at GE, said Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Jeff Leal, who is the MPP for Peterborough, an isolated Liberal riding in a sea of Progressive Conservative blue with a provincial election looming in June 2018. The data, the study that we have today that was commissioned by Unifor, will provide us with up-to-date information which will help the Ministry of Labour and WSIB . . . bring closure and justice to these very important WSIB files. Leals father had been a machinist at the Peterborough plant. My dad retired in 1982 and lived less than a year. A sad story, he added. This is a very personal issue for me for my community, in many ways, this is a healing process. It will bring closure and justice. SHARE: OTTAWAIn a week that saw Parliament edge one step closer to approving a law to protect transgender people from hate speech and violence, a prominent voice for transgender rights was silenced. But not for long. Meet Montreal cartoonist Sophie Labelle, a transgender woman, who saw her Facebook page targeted by a vicious and evidently coordinated online attack that deluged her and other transgender activists with hateful comments and death threats. It was an orchestrated attack on several trans support groups, trans people, and trans artists pages, and, as a community manager who has one of the biggest trans pages on Facebook, I was a target of choice, said Labelle in an interview Friday. Things took a more ominous turn when, on top of the trash talk, Labelle was doxed or received emails saying Hey, look what weve got. Her attackers posted to their own online forums her name and personal address, an aggressive tactic intended to intimidate or invite harassment or worse. Labelle did not call the police. She said she refrained because the harassment originated online from what she believes to be U.S. based groups bolstered by Canadian commenters, so she didnt think the police could, or would, help. On Wednesday, in Halifax to launch her new comic book, Labelle was faced with more online death threats. She believed calling the police would drive away the very transgender people she hoped would attend and decided, instead, to cancel the event. Labelle doesnt believe prominent coverage given to the debate on Bill C16 that played out in a senate committee last week prompted the attacks. The bill, a third iteration of attempts to codify protections in Canadas human rights code and Criminal Code, now goes to the Senate for a final third reading vote next month. Labelle says she and others have been increasingly targeted by hateful and neo-Nazi groups since last falls U.S. election of President Donald Trump, because, she believes, trolls feel emboldened. By Friday, Labelle was back online and speaking out in a series of interviews to highlight the kind of hate she and other transgender people live with daily. Last weeks attack was different, she acknowledged, because of the volume and the intensity of the threatening language. It began Saturday when she received what she said turned into a deluge of 20,000 comments, private messages and emails by mostly neo-Nazi groups, racists and transphobes. Her harassers appear to have reported her page to Facebook, triggering an automatic shutdown. Her readers stepped in, reporting her attackers to Facebook, which, in turn, shut down some of their pages. Worse, she says, is that her Facebook page was also hacked. Its content three years of work that she put into creating and publishing an optimistic, positive portrayal of the life of a transgender female character was removed altogether. They managed to make the content disappear completely. Labelle says the attacks on artists like her have an insidious intention: to eliminate supportive online spaces for transgender people. Their goal is explicitly to raise the suicide rate in trans communities. They want us to despair and thats why they attack support groups and pages like mine. Labelle had backed up and saved everything. Working with supportive Facebook employees, she was able to re-launch Friday. Hey everyone, the page is back!! she wrote Friday. Thanks everyone for your support throughout the week. Im dedicated more than ever to give you the best I got. Labelle spoke to the Star Friday morning. By later that afternoon, she had found a new place to live. She has no intention of remaining at the address thats now been publicized by her online harassers, and no intention of relying on police for protection, saying the last time she called Montreal police three or four months ago, she was repeatedly called Mister, and by her male birth name. She also has no intention of despairing about what happened. Its mostly positive actually, she says, because its given her the ability to draw public attention to whats going on. The worst that could happen is apathy. Kimberley Manning, a Concordia University political science professor and mother of a transgender daughter who testified at a senate hearing on Bill C16, said she worried about Labelle. There is nothing quite more terrifying than knowing someone you care about is being barraged by a campaign of hate, said Manning in an email to the Star. The whole idea behind doxing is to make someone feel vulnerable and exposed; while I cant speak for Sophie, I know that I was terrified for her. Doxing is a kind of personalized terrorism. Manning said she believes this kind of attack meets the criteria outlined in the amendment to the criminal code in Bill C-16. The proposed law, she said, is meant to add further penalties to those who engage in transphobic hate crime. If this isnt an example of that, I dont know what is. The bill received a lot of media coverage this past week when one of its opponents, University Toronto professor Jordan Peterson testified. Peterson argues the bill will curtail free speech rights. An online campaign to fund his research has gained the support of 3,332 patrons who are funding Petersons work to the tune of $36,431 a month, according to a website crowd-sourcing funds for him. SHARE: As managers and their striking employees try to hammer out a new contract and re-open the Toronto Zoo, some potential visitors are saying: Please dont. The 43-year-old zoos closure last week, when staff walked off the job, prompted social media commentary and emails to the Star arguing zoos are outdated, inhumane attractions that should be closed outright, or converted to animal sanctuaries where the question of whether people can see them is way down the list of priorities. Its sort of a taste for us all, including the animals, of what its like to not have a zoo in Toronto, says Daniel Bender, a University of Toronto historian who wrote The Animal Game: Searching for Wildness at the American Zoo published last year. For some people thats a cause for great celebration. They include animal rights lawyer Camille Labchuk, who says there could be a future for the zoo but it would have to operate very differently. Rather than putting on a for-profit exercise where animals can be displayed to the detriment of their welfare, I think the zoo could play a better role in actually protecting these animals and giving them sanctuary, rehabilitating animals, providing homes for ones that cant be released back into the wild. If there is a way the public can see them incidentally, I dont necessarily think thats a problem, but priority number one has to be the welfare of the animals, she says, arguing zoo claims of saving endangered species are an overblown justification for animal display. While major zoos are accredited through the American Zoo Association and its Canadian affiliate, held to standards on everything from enclosure size to breeding programs, sanctuaries often for mistreated or abandoned exotic animals operate more independently. In 2013, after a bitter battle involving politicians, animal rights advocates and zookeepers, Toronto Zoos elephant program was closed and three of its stars transferred to Performing Animals Welfare Society sanctuary in California. Proponents said the spacious, hilly refuge was more like their African ancestral home. One of them, Iringa, was euthanized there in 2015 after a long history of joint and foot disease. Some see a transition to sanctuaries as part of an animal-first movement that got beasts out of circuses and dogs out of local pet shops. Other potential zoo visitors, however, want to end wild animal enclosures completely. I love animals but I love them in their environment. I don't understand people's fascination to see animals out of where they should be, said Oakville resident Monica Watson, who hasnt set foot in a zoo since her childhood in South America. As for learning about animals, Watson noted she can watch countless breathtaking nature documentaries at home. Not surprisingly Canadas Accredited Zoos and Aquariums, a private charitable organization representing the countrys leading zoological parks and aquariums, rejects the comparison. In a statement, CAZA said Toronto Zoo is among those that have demonstrated their commitment to the highest standards of animal welfare and care, and fighting extinction through conservation programming and educational outreach through CAZA accreditation. The Toronto Zoo is not simply an exhibitor of animals every animal in the facility is part of larger efforts to save critically endangered species or educate visitors about the effects human induced degradation is having on their natural habit and ability to survive in the wild. Christine McKenzie takes care of critically endangered Vancouver Island marmots at Toronto Zoo. I know personally, as a zookeeper, that its something we all struggle with because if youre working with a tiger you know that nothing in Toronto, in a zoo environment, can compare to the miles and miles of natural pristine habitat that you would want it to have in the wild, says McKenzie, head of the union local on strike. The reality is that, for most of these animals, there is nowhere left them for them to go, she adds. World class doesnt come cheap. City taxpayers last year subsidized Toronto Zoo to the tune of $12.6 million from property taxes, reserve funds and capital budget transfers. Attendance of 1,309,394 seemed to reverse a slide but was boosted by a temporary, and costly to host, panda exhibit. U of Ts Bender says talk of replacing zoos with sanctuaries is often uninformed. Most sanctuaries are cash-strapped, unregulated and harbouring charismatic animals like elephants that will draw big donations, he says. The uncomfortable reality, he adds, is that most North American zoo animals are acclimatized. A Sumatran tiger here is really a Canadian Sumatran tiger it has grown up in North America, maybe moved on the zoo circuit, but this is its habitat, and Torontonians have a collective responsibility to it, he says. Correction May 19, 2017: This article was edited from a previous version that misstated the number of elephants transferred to the sanctuary in California in 2013. SHARE: Renowned Canadian historian, author and public intellectual Michael Bliss has died in Toronto aged 76. The University of Torontos University College, where Bliss taught in the history department for 38 years, made the announcement on it website Thursday. History department chair Nick Terpstra said faculty members are in absolute shock at the news. Nobody had any idea that he was in ill health . . . . Its very sad, Terpstra told the Star. He described Bliss as an absolutely rigorous and determined researcher who knew how to make history come alive for any audience. What always really impressed me was Michaels commitment to also being a public intellectual, Terpstra said. He was committed to being a historian. He was committed to research and writing . . . , but one of the reasons why his books were so popular was he was committed to being a Canadian who spoke to other Canadians. He thought that that was one of his obligations as a historian, to speak to a broader public. Bliss authored 14 books over his career, on politics, medical history and business, including a comprehensive and well-received book outlining the discovery of insulin. His achievements included being named an Officer of the Order of Canada, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and a member of the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame. At U of T, he was awarded the title of University Professor, an elite rank bestowed on less than two per cent of the universitys faculty. Besides his research, Bliss was also a familiar presence in the media, offering commentary on the issues of the day and advocating for the visibility and celebration of Canadian history. Former Minister of Canadian Heritage James Moore, now the chancellor at the University of Northern British Columbia, said Bliss was passionate about Canadian history in a way I wish more Canadians were and was a strong champion for the creation of the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Que. He loved Canadas stories and sought to inspire curiosity on others to investigate, debate and immerse themselves in our history, Moore wrote in a Twitter message. On July 1 of this year, the refurbished and expanded museum will open its doors to the world. It would not have happened without the persistent voice of Michael Bliss calling on all of us, government and citizens, to do more to celebrate Canadian history. According to his memoir, A Professors Life, Bliss was born near Windsor, in 1941 and was the middle of three sons. He was awarded a scholarship to U of T in 1958, joining the history departments faculty a decade later, the start of a nearly four-decade-long teaching career. Krista Slade, executive director of advancement at U of Ts Arts and Science faculty, was a student of Blisss in the 1990s and described him as a transformational figure in her education. He was remarkably approachable. He was very supportive of students and he actually made lots of opportunities available to me which I really appreciated, said Slade. She recalled how he helped her get a placement at the Womens Health College while she was writing about the history of female doctors in Canada. In another class, Slade said, Bliss had students each do a presentation on a Canadian prime minister; when he published Right Honourable Men, a book on the history of Canadian prime ministers from John A. Macdonald to Jean Chretien, he made sure to credit each student for the research theyd done. He was really passionate about the country and I think he made a real effort to get Canadians to think about our place in the world and to be quite proud of who we are, Slade said. He really was a prolific scholar. He was a very committed Canadian and he really was a public intellectual. And he was a man of his time. Bliss is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, and their children. A memorial service is being planned. SHARE: Ron Atkey was in Cabinet for just nine months but, in that short time, he set Canada on the path to accepting tens of thousands of refugees in need of safe haven. As Minister of Employment and Immigration under Prime Minister Joe Clark, Atkey, who died May 9 at age 75, drastically increased Canadas intake of boat people fleeing war-ravaged Vietnam. In 1979-80, he was himself the principal author of the policy change which dramatically widened Canadas doors, said Clark at Atkeys memorial service on Friday. (Atkeys work) enabled thousands of Canadian citizens and communities to sponsor and welcome desperate refugees with whom we had very few historic links, except our common humanity. The influx of Vietnamese refugees to Canada began in 1975, but it was under Atkeys leadership that the federal government ramped up its response. In 1979 Atkey committed to taking in 50,000 boat people through government sponsorship and vastly expanded private sponsorship programs. Clarks government fell in February 1980, but the incoming Liberals upheld Atkeys pledge. Within a matter of months, Canada had accepted a total of over 60,000 refugees from Indochina. We are grateful, said Dr. Kien Le, of the Vietnamese Canadian Federation. The government leading the way and opening the door to other ethnic groups speaks volumes to the rest of Canada, that we remain a mosaic society and welcome everyone, Le said after the memorial service at the Metropolitan United Church in Toronto. With that philosophy we (have) moved forward to the current Syrian refugees and refugees around the world. Toronto Mayor John Tory, Atkeys one-time campaign manager, called his friends push to accept refugees a towering accomplishment. Rons was a principled, correct, totally compassionate, totally Canadian, totally Ron Atkey response to a global tragedy, Tory told mourners. Atkeys push to accept newcomers in need was not welcomed by all Canadians. That example has been an inspiration during the Syrian refugee crisis, Tory added. Atkeys push to accept refugees earned him scorn as well as praise, his son said at the service. He showed great courage, as his position on refugees was not necessarily popular at the time, said Matthew Atkey. Our family, in fact, was subject to threats of violence and I myself had an RCMP security detail with me at two days old. After losing his seat as MP of Torontos St. Patrick riding, Atkey returned to practicing law and, in 1984, became the first chair of the Security Intelligence Review Committee overseeing CSIS. Beginning in 2004, Atkey was an independent advisor for the inquiry into the role of Canadian authorities in the imprisonment and torture of wrongly-accused terror suspect Maher Arar. In his later years, Atkey was a vocal supporter of Canada accepting Syrian refugees. We have an opportunity to mount a collaborative and meaningful response to this crisis, and a chance to reclaim our legacy as a humanitarian nation, Atkey wrote in an opinion piece in the Star, in 2015. Many of us in public life have had the privilege of being present when the world turns, but Ron had his hand actually turn the wheel that turned the world, Clark said. He made the compelling case... He reminded us that our lucky and generous nation had not always acted as it should. SHARE: Toronto police are asking for the publics help in locating an 11-month-old boy who was last seen with his mother in the Wilson Heights area on Thursday afternoon. Chevon St. Louis-Patterson Jr. and Kayla St. Louis were last seen at 2 p.m. in the Allen Rd. and Sheppard Ave. W. area, according to investigators. Late Thursday, police issued an alert for the child and his mother. We believe he is with her, said Const. Marilyn Frank of 32 Division. While there is no immediate concern for the childs safety, police are seeking them because the mother does not have custody, said Const. Allyson Douglas-Cook. Chevon has short, curly blond hair and is over two feet tall. He was last seen wearing a green plaid shirt with blue jeans. St. Louis is described as 52 with blue/grey eyes and red tinted hair. She was wearing a jean jacket and dark-coloured pants when last seen. SHARE: Olena Panfilova, who pleaded guilty in the death of two-year-old Eva Ravikovich, was sentenced to 22 months in jail Friday. Panfilovas sentence also carries a three-year probation period after she is released from jail, during which she is forbidden to seek employment or volunteer in a position of trust involving children 12 years or younger. Eva died in 2013 after being left in a hot car by Panfilova, the owner of an overcrowded, unlicensed Vaughan daycare, for about eight hours. Panfilova pleaded guilty on April 4 to criminal negligence causing death. In his ruling, judge David Rose stated that he felt it was inevitable that a tragedy was going to happen, at the daycare. He cited the fact that Panfilova had 35 children in her daycare the day Eva died, despite the five-child limit mandated by the province for an unlicensed daycare, at the time. Parents were led to believe Panfilova was taking care of 15 children at most, according to a previously agreed upon statement of facts. In listing other aggravating factors, Rose noted that Panfilova had been dishonest about how Eva died in her statements to police. Eva had sat in a car seat in Panfilovas three-row Dodge Durango when the daycare owner picked her up the morning of July 8, 2013, and left the two-year-old girl sitting there until after 5 p.m. The day, described as a hot humid day in the agreed statement of facts, saw highs of 30 C and lows of 18 C. But in a car parked for hours, Eva felt temperatures far beyond that. Panfilova told police she had put Eva down for a nap and when she went to wake her up, the child wasnt breathing. Evas parents deserved the truth from the beginning no matter how painful it was, said Rose, adding that Panfilova chose self interest over honesty. Standing outside the Newmarket courthouse following the sentencing, Evas mother Ekaterina Evtropova and father, Vyacheslav Ravikovich said they were shocked Panfilova was only sentenced to 22 months. Theres a hole that will never heal, said Evtropova. What can you say about losing a child? Its a terrible tragedy. I will never be the same. My husband will never be the same. It ruined everything from inside out. No parents deserve to bury their own child. Panfilova delivered an apology to the family in court on Friday, one of the mitigating factors Rose cited in his decision. Panfilovas daughter Karina Rabadanova reiterated that apology outside the courthouse. Id just like to say sorry once again, Rabadanova said in a brief statement. Panfilova remained expressionless as she was escorted out of court in handcuffs after court was adjourned. She is also forbidden from having any further contact with Evas parents as part of her probation conditions. But Evtropova said she didnt feel Panfilovas apology was sincere, nor would it bring back her daughter. I keep thinking about it everyday, she said. No living creature deserves to die like that, especially a two-year-old vulnerable child who cannot do anything, cannot unbuckle that belt. With files from Ellen Brait Read more about: SHARE: For a group of Syrian newcomers at a Mississauga apartment complex, English language training is delivered at their doorstep. You have no excuse not to show up for the classes, said Fedaa Laflouf, a native from Homs, who was sponsored to Canada with her husband and four children by the federal government last October via Lebanon. Since January, the 42-year-old woman has been attending English classes in the basement of her apartment building on Mississauga Valley Blvd., near Burnhamthorpe Rd., at the hub of the newly arrived Syrian refugee community. The classes have a total of 30 students, who all live in one of eight highrises in the area, within five minutes walk to the makeshift but fully equipped campus. Unlike traditional English classes for newcomers delivered at a central location often in commercial or industrial areas, these classes are provided right in the backyard of the community of newcomers. Catholic Crosscultural Services decided to bring the classes here due to the high concentration of refugees in the neighbourhood. Many of these newcomers came with large families. They would need transportation and childcare, said Michael Raymond, CCSs regional director in Peel. By running the classes in the community, we can address all these issues, because no travel is required. Come rain, snow, sleet and sun, the newcomers are there. Namat Rihan, 25, whose family fled Damascus to Egypt in 2012, said she and her husband take turn to attend the classes she goes in the morning and he goes in the afternoon so at least one of them can babysit their 2-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son when one of them is in school. This is very convenient, said Rihan, whose family was sponsored to Canada in October. This is so close to home. If something happens to my girl, I can be home right away. With 15 years of teaching English as a second language under her belt, instructor Sana Alnajjar said her class is very unique because the students bring with them so many feelings. They had suffered a lot of pains and still have the pains in their heart. This is a homey environment. It makes them feel more comfortable, said Alnajjar, an immigrant from Dubai, who speaks fluent Arabic, but insists on no Arabic in the class. They have great attendance because they really appreciate the opportunity to be here. The classes run half-day, in the morning and afternoon, from Monday through Thursday. There is also an Arabic-speaking settlement worker onsite to help the students with their day-to-day problems. Often, the students, who range in age from 18 to 70, hang around and chat with Alnajjar to take every chancee to practise their English. Trying to pick up a new language is difficult for those who are illiterate (in their own language). To facilitate their learning, Alnajjar uses more pictures, and she is impressed with the determination and progress of these students. One of my female students went to the bank without an interpreter. She came to the class and was so happy to share her experience. Her husband was so proud of her. I was so proud of her. The joy came from her feeling of independence, said Alnajjar. There was a guy from our class. He was at the mall and someone asked him where the washroom was. He never thought he could help other people in Canada. Returning to a classroom is not the easiest thing for some of the adult students. It is difficult because I left school such a long time ago, said Hazem Alhajji, 33, a baker, who, along with his wife and their two sons, was sponsored by Ottawa via Lebanon in November. I was shy and afraid. My children would make fun of me and ask about my marks in school. But I am getting better. I feel more comfortable and confident now. Im not afraid to go anywhere. Given all students only have an English ability of between zero and level 2 in Canadian language benchmarks, the class focuses on practical conversational English they would need when shopping at a store, seeing a family doctor, asking for directions and talking to a bank teller, for example. Mazen Hannuora only knew the letters of the alphabet and did not speak a word of English when he, his wife and four daughters arrived in September from Turkey under the Canadian government refugee sponsorship program. I felt I was too old to learn English, but I need to learn the language when I am in Canada, said the 38-year-old stone-cutter. My wife and I help each other with our English. My girls also correct me, but they also make fun of me and say, Daddy, do your homework! The program, which started as a pilot in January and has just had its funding renewed by the federal immigration department, now has a waiting list. SHARE: With the number of unaccompanied and separated children fleeing gang violence in Central America doubling every year since 2011, the United Nations is launching a campaign to address the urgent yet silent crisis. The UN Refugee Agency will kick off the Children on the Run campaign in North America on Friday to raise $18 million to assist the young refugees fleeing the so-called Northern Triangle of Central America (NTCA) countries Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. We are very concerned about the forced recruitment of these children and youth into the gangs. These adolescents are sometimes killed, tortured and raped, said Jean-Nicolas Beuze, the agencys representative in Canada, who is working on a pilot with Ottawa to resettle a small number of the vulnerable children. There is widespread violence and impunity. These are not economic migrants. They have no choice but to leave their own countries. According to the UN, the number of refugees from the Northern Triangle countries in the last four years has increased to 146,000 in 2016 from 20,900 in 2012. Beuze said the young refugees, many as young as 10 to 12 years old, often fall into the nets of traffickers and are sexually assaulted and exploited by human smugglers en route to Mexico and the United States. Some are even sold into prostitution, he said. Calling it a neglected humanitarian crisis, Doctors Without Borders released a report this week that found half of the refugees it surveyed in Mexico had a relative killed due to violence in the last two years. One in 10 reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. More than two-thirds of the refugees entering Mexico reported being victims of violence during their transit toward the U.S., while a third of the women had been sexually abused during their journey. For millions of people from the NTCA region, trauma, fear and horrific violence are dominant facets of daily life, said the Doctors Without Borders report. Yet it is a reality that does not end with their forced flight to Mexico. The UN Children on the Run campaign will focus on raising awareness of the growing number of children and families fleeing horrific violence in the three Central American countries through videos and stories on an information page on the crisis. The money raised by donor countries and individuals will enable the UN Refugee Agency to shelter and protect the vulnerable, and facilitate family tracing, reunification and psychosocial support. So far, said Beuze, only 8 per cent of the needed money has been raised. Although Canada is buffered from the Central America crisis by Mexico and the U.S., Beuze said he has been in contact with Canadian officials to provide aid and launch a pilot project to resettle a small number of some of the most vulnerable young refugees to Canada. Beuze would not provide details of the resettlement pilot, but said logistics had been discussed and he hoped it would be launched later this year. SHARE: Any day of the week, the North Korean propaganda machine can be relied upon to spew out anti-American vitriol using some formulation of imperialist and aggressor and hostile. The Kim family has kept a tight grip on North Korea for some seven decades by perpetuating the idea that the Americans are out to get them. From the earliest age, North Korean children are taught cunning American wolves illustrated by fair-haired, pale-skinned men with huge noses want to kill them. Kindergartens and child-care centres are decorated with animals holding grenades and machine guns. Cartoons show plucky squirrel soldiers (North Koreans) triumphing over the cunning wolves (Americans). North Koreans live in a war mentality, and this anti-American propaganda is wartime propaganda, said Tatiana Gabroussenko, an expert in North Korean propaganda who teaches at Korea University in Seoul. The thing is: there is some element of truth to the North Korean version of events. Its only a kernel, and it is grossly exaggerated, but North Koreans remember very well what most Americans have forgotten (or never knew): that the Korean War was a brutal one. Korea is called the forgotten war, and part of what has been forgotten is the utter ruin and devastation that we rained down on the North Korean people, said John Delury, a professor in the international relations department at Yonsei University in Seoul. But this has been ingrained into the North Korean psyche. First: a little history. The Korean Peninsula, previously occupied by Japan, was divided at the end of the Second World War. Dean Rusk an Army colonel at the time, who went on to become secretary of state got a map and basically drew a line across at the 38th parallel. To the Americans surprise, the Soviet Union agreed to the line, and the communist-backed North and the American-backed South were established in 1948 as a temporary measure. On June 25, 1950, Kim Il Sung, installed by the Soviets to lead North Korea, decided to try to reunify the peninsula by force, invading the south. (Although in the North Korean version of events, the South and their imperialist patrons started it.) The push south was surprisingly successful until Gen. Douglas MacArthur landed his troops on the mud flats at Incheon, sending the northern troops back. Then the Chinese got involved, managing to push them back to roughly where they started, on the 38th parallel. All this happened within the first six months or so. For the next two-and-a-half years, neither side was able to make any headway. The war was drawn to a close in 1953, after exacting a bloody toll. Canada was part of the UN troops fighting alongside Americans. Five-hundred-and-sixteen Canadians died in the conflict. The number of Korean dead, injured or missing by wars end approached three million, 10 per cent of the overall population, Charles K. Armstrong, a professor of Korean history at Columbia University, wrote in an essay. The majority of those killed were in the North, which had half of the population of the South. But the war ended with an armistice, not with a peace treaty. That means that, to this day, North and South Korea remain in a technical state of war. American military leaders at the time called the Korean War a limited war because they did not let it expand outside the Korean Peninsula. But on the peninsula, it was total devastation, particularly for the North. The United States dropped 635,000 tons of bombs in Korea, not counting the 32,557 tons of napalm, Bruce Cumings, a University of Chicago professor whos written several books on North Korea, wrote in The Korean War: A History. This compared with 503,000 tons in the entire Pacific theatre in the Second World War. If we keep on tearing the place apart, we can make it a most unpopular affair for the North Koreans, defence secretary Robert Lovett said after the napalm and aerial bombing campaigns of 1950 and 1951, according to Cumings. We ought to go right ahead, Lovett said. Rusk said the United States bombed everything that moved in North Korea, every brick standing on top of another. After running low on urban targets, U.S. bombers destroyed hydroelectric and irrigation dams in the later stages of the war, flooding farmland and destroying crops, former Post correspondent Blaine Harden wrote in 2015. The physical destruction and loss of life on both sides was almost beyond comprehension, but the North suffered the greater damage, due to American saturation bombing and the scorched-earth policy of the retreating UN forces, Armstrong of Columbia wrote. The Kim regime keeps its people afraid by constantly blaming the United States for its situation, especially sanctions for its economic plight. But this also helps it unify the populace against a supposed external threat. Anti-Americanism is an ideological tool of the government, said Peter Ward, a North Korea researcher affiliated with the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul. They need an enemy and a villain to blame for the division of the country, a scapegoat for the situation they are in. When the United States loses, its more likely to become the bogeyman, Ward said. Look at Vietnam. Americans used much more napalm on the Vietnamese, but theyre on good terms today. As tensions between North Korea and the United States have escalated in recent months, the North has turned up the volume on its propaganda machine, in addition to launching a series of missiles. In response, President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to use force to punish North Korea (although hes also said hed be honoured to meet Kim Jong Un.) When a new and untested American president starts dangling out the prospect of a surprise missile attack as the solution to the North Korean problem, it plays directly into their worst narrative that the regime tells its people, Delury said. And the worst narrative is bad. From the very real events of the Korean War, North Koreas propagandists have created a version of history that is designed to keep the shock and horror alive more than six decades later. North Koreas discourse on the Korean War called the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War in North Korea was constructed according to Soviet propaganda used against Nazi Germany during the Second World War. North Koreas propaganda writers were educated in the Soviet Union, said Gabroussenko, who grew up in the Soviet Union. Russia perceived itself as being attacked by Germany in what it called The Great Patriotic War, she said. So, according to the North Korean version of the Korean War, they were also fighting a great patriotic war against American intruders. Take the Sinchon Museum of American War Atrocities south of Pyongyang, one of many museums in North Korea designed to keep the regimes narrative alive. It recalls what North Korea says was a massacre carried out by U.S. troops. There was fighting and death in Sinchon during the Korean War, but North Korea is widely held to have vastly exaggerated them with its claim that some 35,000 martyrs were killed by U.S. soldiers during a massacre there. This is one of what Ward calls the fake atrocities that North Korea has created to bolster anti-American nationalism. Kim Jong Un has visited it several times since he became leader at the end of 2011. During a visit after a major expansion of the museum in July 2015, turning it into a centre for anti-U.S. class education, Kim celebrated the victory day when the Korean people defeated the U.S. imperialists. No matter how crafty the U.S. imperialists become in their moves to cover up their crimes, they can never erase the traces of massacre of Koreans left in this land, Kim said, according to a state media report. He also ordered his cadres to intensify the anti-imperialist and anti-U.S. education. The Korean Central News Agency reported in March, that more than 18,000 service personnel, working people and youths and students visited the museum in the first 10 days of the month, their hearts burning with the resolution to punish the U.S. imperialists and the South Korean warmongers. Read more about: SHARE: High-speed rail is finally picking up steam in Ontario. After years of talk, Queens Park is spending $15 million on a comprehensive environmental assessment for a rail line on new and existing track to handle 250 km/h trains running between Toronto and Windsor. The estimated $21-billion project would slash the travel time from four hours to two. This is an idea that has been around a very long time. This has been talked about for decades. The best time to have built high speed rail was 40 years ago. The second best time is today, Premier Kathleen Wynne said Friday in London, Ont. We need to get moving on this. Weve got to do it this time, folks, said Wynne, adding people want action, not more excuses by politicians for not building fast trains. The premier announced a new governing body to oversee the design and implementation of a line with planned stops at Union Station, Pearson International Airport, Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph London, Chatham and Windsor. A first phase between Toronto and London could be up and running within eight years and the London to Windsor stage could be ready for 2031. At $60 million per kilometre, the 350-km line would be a relative bargain compared to the planned one-stop 6.2-km Scarborough subway extension that has ballooned to $3.4 billion. Building high speed rail along the Toronto-Windsor corridor isnt just a game-changer for southwestern Ontario; its going to deliver benefits all along the line, Wynne told reporters. The Toronto-Windsor corridor is home to over seven million people and 60 per cent of Ontarios economy. At its centre is London. Were outgrowing our current transportation network, said the premier, noting young people are especially keen on low-carbon transportation alternatives. Wynne said 10 million passengers a year could be using the line by 2041. It may usher in radical changes to urban planning in southern Ontario because the fastest VIA trains have a maximum speed of 160 km/h, which limits realistic daily commuting distances. Whether it means accepting a job that previously seemed too far away, visiting family more often or having ready access to the innovators who can take your business growth to the next level high-speed rail will make a real difference in peoples lives and drive economic growth and jobs. Toronto Mayor John Tory said he would be very happy if Toronto could be better connected with Waterloos booming high-tech sector. Weve seen probably 10 provincial studies over the years, under all parties going back decades, and it looks like this one (is) maybe something thats a little more on the front burner, the mayor said during a tour of flooding on Wards Island. Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca noted an extensive provincial report released Friday concluded there is a business case for high-speed rail along the Toronto-Windsor corridor. This is a precedent-setting project. We want to make sure fundamentally that we get this right, said Del Duca, predicting commuters could travel between London and Union Station in 73 minutes, a trip that can take three hours now. The report, prepared by former federal transport minister David Collenette, Ontarios special advisor on high-speed rail, suggested the private sector could help finance and build the massive project. There have been thorough market soundings with the private sector, organized by Infrastructure Ontario, wrote Collenette, referring to the government agency that oversees the financing and construction of hospitals, court houses, and the Eglinton Crosstown LRT. All of this work has led me to the conclusion that a business case exists for HSR (high speed rail) in the corridor, which would connect Toronto, Pearson Airport, Guelph, Kitchener-Waterloo, London, Chatham and Windsor, he continued. I have also concluded that there are opportunities to engage the private sector in financing and delivering the project. Funding could come via the new federal Canada Infrastructure Bank as well as major private investors such as pension funds. Collenette pointed out the line could effectively pay for itself in improving efficiencies for Ontarians over the next few generations. Overall, HSR will yield over $20 billion in economic benefits over 60 years from passenger travel time savings, automobile operating cost savings, GHG (greenhouse gas) reduction benefits, benefits from reduced congestion on roads and other, wider economic benefits, he wrote. The scheme would also help the Liberals politically. With an election set for June 7, 2018, the governing party is desperate to hold its one southwestern Ontario seat, London North Centre, which is represented by Deputy Premier Deb Matthews. Matthews, who Wynne praised for championing the project at cabinet, said the announcement is good news for Londons economy. High speed rail would also be popular in Kitchener and could be helpful to MPP Daiene Vernile (Kitchener Centre) and Natural Resources Minister Kathryn McGarry (Cambridge). Premiers have long promised high speed rail, which is commonplace in France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Japan, and China. Even the U.S. now has the Acela Express that can exceed 200 km/h. In 2008, former premiers Dalton McGuinty of Ontario and Jean Charest of Quebec commissioned a joint feasibility study of a line from Quebec City to Windsor. Progressive Conservative MPP Michael Harris (Kitchener-Conestoga) said voters should be wary. Southwestern Ontario has been waiting on high-speed rail for years. Now, a year out from the election, the Wynne Liberals have shown up in London to re-announce another transit project they will never deliver on, said Harris. With files from Betsy Powell SHARE: BRASILIA, BRAZILBrazils government plunged into crisis on Thursday, after a newspaper report alleged that President Michel Temer had condoned a bribe to a politician to keep him from testifying on corruption. The news stunned South Americas biggest country, coming less than a year after its last leader was impeached. Temer denied guilt, but both his rivals and some of his supporters called for him to step down. Opposition senators formally requested his impeachment, citing obstruction of justice, and the Supreme Court launched an investigation into the presidents actions. Temer said he would not resign. If he did, a new president would be elected through a secret vote in Congress to serve out the rest of Temers term, through 2018. This could take several months because of the complex legislative process and the likelihood of extensive political wheeling and dealing. The speaker of the house would step in temporarily, until a new leader was elected. Read more: Millions in bribes paid to Brazil presidents party, former exec says The political storm erupted late Wednesday, when the Brazilian newspaper O Globo reported that Temer had been the target of a police sting operation in which he was recorded condoning a payment by a Brazilian businessman to the jailed speaker of the house aimed at ensuring that the politician stayed silent on corruption. When the executive told Temer that he was paying the former politician a monthly stipend to keep him quiet, the president said, You need to keep that up, OK? the newspaper reported, citing the recording. The recording was not made public. While Temer acknowledged having met with the businessman, Joesley Batista, a meat-packing executive, he denied any attempt to silence the former speaker, Eduardo Cunha, who is serving 15 years in prison for corruption. Cunha had been one of the countrys most powerful men and is believed to have compromising information on several top politicians. The presidential palace released a statement saying that Temer never requested payments to obtain the silence of ex-deputy Eduardo Cunha. It added that the president defends a deep and wide investigation to get to the bottom of the claims put forward in the media. The police operation was part of a massive investigation into corruption known as Lava Jato, or Operation Car Wash, that has implicated scores of politicians and business executives. Through plea bargains, in which defendants provided prosecutors with information in exchange for more lenient sentences, authorities have been able to trace a major kickback scheme from a Brasilia car wash to the highest echelons of the government. Temer had managed to avoid being tainted by the scandal, going so far as to fire ministers who tried to interfere in the investigation. The news report late Wednesday, however, put in jeopardy the measures Temer had championed to rescue the ailing economy and raised questions about how long he could stay in power. Scattered protests erupted across the country with both Temers rivals and supporters urging him to step down. The presidents resignation has become imperative to prevent the crisis from worsening, Carlos Siqueira, president of the Brazilian Socialist Party, a small member of the government coalition, told O Globo. The Temer government ended today. Temer, who called an emergency meeting of his supporters after the news broke late Wednesday, was determined not to resign, according to local media. But he may not have a choice. An unpopular president who ascended to the job after Dilma Rousseff was impeached, Temers legitimacy rested on his ability to unite Brazils three dozen political parties. With his political base divided, many questioned his ability to govern. Given the gravity of the situation and the responsibility to keep Brazil from plunging into the imponderable, the only option is for President Michel Temer to resign, said Sen. Ronaldo Caiado, another member of Temers coalition in the legislature. Temers opponents may have another route to kick him out of office. Rousseff and Temer are on trial in a case separate from the car wash investigation, for allegedly accepting illegal donations as part of their 2014 campaign. If convicted, the pair could see their victory invalidated, forcing Temer to step down. While this possibility was seen as remote when the trial began a few weeks ago, it is now seen as more likely, since Brazilian courts often take their cues from public opinion. Read more about: SHARE: WASHINGTONU.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that he is very close to naming a new FBI director to replace the one he fired more than a week ago and that former Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman was among his top choices for the job. Lieberman was among four candidates Trump interviewed at the White House on Wednesday. Were very close to an FBI director, Trump said when asked about the search during an Oval Office appearance with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. Trump said soon when asked how close he is to making an announcement. Read the latest news on U.S. President Donald Trump Trump leaves Friday afternoon on his first overseas trip as president, a four-country, five-stop tour that will keep him out of Washington for more than a week. He has said he could name a director before he departs. The president also replied he is when asked whether Lieberman is a top candidate for the position. Lieberman gave reporters a thumbs-up as he left the White House on Wednesday and said he and Trump had a good meeting. Trump interviewed three other potential FBI director candidates the same day: former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating, former top FBI official Richard McFeely and Andrew McCabe. McCabe was tapped to become acting director after Trump dismissed Comey on May 9. The firing was sharply criticized because it came amid the bureaus investigation into Russias meddling in last years presidential election. I cherish the FBI. Its special, Trump said later Thursday at a joint news conference with Santos. All over the world, no matter where you go, the FBI is special. He said the bureau hasnt enjoyed that special reputation since during the presidential campaign. Read more: Ex-Trump adviser Michael Flynn hasnt responded to subpoena on Russia contacts, Senate intel chair says Trump claims witch hunt, says he's the most unfairly hounded president in history Trump to interview four FBI candidates for director position Trump also criticized Comey for his performance during a recent appearance before Congress, and said Comeys replacement is going to be outstanding. The Senate must confirm Trumps candidate for the job. Senate Republicans praised Lieberman, a Democrat turned independent, while Democrats were less effusive about their former colleague. Sen. Lindsey Graham called Lieberman a pillar of credibility. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, said Lieberman may be the only potential nominee that could get 100 votes that I know of. Everybody likes and respects Joe Lieberman. But several Democratic senators said during a caucus lunch Thursday that they would not support Lieberman, according to a person familiar with the meeting who declined to be identified because the lunch was private. Among their concerns was Liebermans past praise of Michael Flynn, Trumps first national security adviser, who was fired in February after misleading officials about his conversations with Russian officials. Flynn has figured prominently in the FBI investigation into Russian interference into the election. A Nov. 25 news release from Trumps transition team quoted Lieberman praising Trumps selection of K.T. McFarland as deputy national security adviser. Lieberman added that McFarland and General Mike Flynn will form a very strong leadership team at the National Security Council. Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress, a Democratic think-tank, also opposes Lieberman, saying he lacks law enforcement experience and is close to Attorney General Jeff Sessions, a former U.S. senator. Lieberman testified in support of Sessions at his January confirmation hearing. Lieberman served in the Senate for more than two decades and was the Democratic vice-presidential nominee in 2000 with Al Gore, then the sitting vice-president. Lieberman lost his 2006 Democratic primary bid but won Senate re-election as a third-party candidate. Lieberman spoke at the 2008 Republican National Convention on behalf of his friend, Arizona Sen. John McCain, and did not seek re-election in 2012. He has served as co-chairman of No Labels, a centrist group that promotes bipartisanship. Keating, a Republican, was a two-term governor of Oklahoma and led the state during the deadly 1995 bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma City. A former FBI agent, Keating served in the administrations of Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. Keating, a former FBI agent, told The Oklahoman he does not expect to be chosen. If they wanted me, I certainly would be honoured, but I really dont think thats going to happen, Keating, 73, told the newspaper after his interview. McCabe, a veteran FBI official, made headlines for congressional testimony last week that rejected White House claims that Comey had lost the support of rank-and-file agents. He also disputed the administrations characterization of the investigation into potential co-ordination between Russia and Trump associates. Several candidates have withdrawn from consideration: Rep. Trey Gowdy of South Carolina and Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, both Republicans; Alice Fisher, the former head of the Justice Departments criminal division; and Michael Garcia, a former U.S. attorney from Manhattan. Read more about: SHARE: About six months ago, it seemed as though Jeremy the lonely snail had finally found his mate. Unlike most snails, Jeremy is a lefty his shell spirals counterclockwise and his sex organs are on the left side of his head. Most snails have their organs are on the right side. Since snails mate facing each other, a lefty will never match up with a righty. So this genetic mutation makes it impossible for the snail to mate with most of his counterparts. It would be a one in a million find, said Angus Davison from the University of Nottinghams School of Life Sciences in England. But he was determined to set Jeremy up with a snail just like him. He began a worldwide search, asking people everywhere to look for lefty snails that might stand a chance at mating with Jeremy, he told The Washington Post. And just weeks later, after drawing international attention, Jeremys love story appeared to reach a fairytale ending. Not one, but two left-coiling mates came forward: Lefty, a snail owned by a collector in England, and Tomeu, a snail rescued at a restaurant while awaiting a fate as a menu item. As winter hibernation came to a close, Davison hoped the heat would turn up for Jeremy and one of his two possible mates. But in a tragic twist, Jeremy has been left shellshocked after being given the cold shoulder by both of his suitors, Davison said. Thats right, Jeremy was thrust into a love triangle. The other two snails took a liking to each other, leaving Jeremy a bachelor once more. Lefty and Tomeu began copulating, and now have produced about 170 eggs between them, Davison announced Wednesday. We liken it to when youre interested in someone romantically and you end up introducing that person to your best friend, Davison said. This first batch of eggs to hatch were fathered by Lefty and laid by Tomeu in April. (Snails are hermaphrodites so they can take on the role of either mother or father.) Two more batches of eggs another laid by Tomeu and one laid by Lefty and fathered by Tomeu will soon be hatching. While the outcome is less than ideal for Jeremy the hatched eggs mark a significant milestone for Davison and his research. This second generation will allow Davison to study the genetics of left-swirling snails with the hope that these rare snails might offer insight into body asymmetry in other animals, including humans. And what became clear in this new generation was that two lefts clearly make a right, Davison said. Each of the babies hatched so far have developed with right-coiling shells. This might be because the mother carries both the dominant and recessive versions of the genes that determine shell-coiling direction, and only the mothers genes determine the direction of the twist of the shell. It is far more likely that we will get to see left-coiling babies produced in the next generation or even the generation after that, Davison said. Last year, Davison and his colleagues at universities in Edinburgh, Germany and the United States revealed they had discovered a gene that determines whether a snails shell twists in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction. The findings were published in the journal Current Biology. The same gene also affects body asymmetry in other animals including humans. Therefore, researching these snails could provide a deeper understanding of how organs are placed in the body and why this process can sometimes go wrong, Davison said. Ive now got a multigenerational commitment to raising them, Davison said about the newly hatched snails. After all, Jeremy and the other snails have reached a growing following in British news and on social media. Jeremy has his own Twitter account and his story has even inspired one fan to have a tattoo of the shellebrity snail. Jeremy is an older adult than the other two snails. When the snail seemed unlikely to mate, Davison worried Jeremys days could be numbered. But, Davison said, Jeremy has since perked up. While Lefty has returned home to its owner, Davison is still optimistic that Jeremy might mate with Tomeu. He has even found some evidence of the two snails trying to mate some flirting, perhaps. Davison is holding out hope, in part because he feels a responsibility to find the snail his long-awaited romance. Everybody else is rooting for Jeremy too, Davison said. SHARE: RIO DE JANEIROBrazils top prosecutor is accusing President Michel Temer of corruption and obstruction of justice, according to an investigation released Friday by the supreme court, dramatically escalating pressure to force the embattled leader from office. At the same time, other released documents said the owner of a major meat packer has told prosecutors that he transferred $150 million to offshore accounts for the campaigns of Temers two predecessors in the presidency. Attorney General Rodrigo Janots charges against Temer threaten to drive him from the presidency and represent an extraordinary development in a corruption probe that is upending politics and just about everything else in Latin Americas largest nation. Read more: Brazilian President Michel Temer faces potential ousting as new scandal is revealed For Temer, a 76-year-old career politician who was not elected, the fallout could cost him his job. Temer, then vice-president, took power a year ago after president Dilma Rousseff was impeached and later removed from office for illegally managing the federal budget. By Friday afternoon, O Globo, the flagship paper of Brazils largest media company, was calling for Temers resignation, delivering a significant blow to Temers prospects of survival. The media group had supported Temers proposed reform and more generally wields enormous influence because of its popular soap operas and media dominance. The attorney generals formal presentation of evidence is the latest revelation related to a secretly recorded audio that purportedly captured Temer endorsing the paying of hush money to an ex-lawmaker now serving a 15-year prison sentence for corruption. The audio was first reported by O Globo newspaper Wednesday night and has been rocking the country ever since. In a plea bargain by the same man who recorded Temer, released as part of the document dump by the Supreme Federal Court, the president is accused of taking $1.5 million in bribes. Janot said Temer and Sen. Aecio Neves have tried to derail the three-year-old Car Wash investigation into a huge kickback scheme at the state-run oil company Petrobras via legislative means and by influencing police investigators. In this way, there is evidence of possibly committing the crime of obstructing justice, Janot wrote. Because the case involves a sitting president, the process is different than in any other kind of criminal case. With a formal investigation now opened, Janots next step will be to decide whether his case is strong enough to send it to the lower Chamber of Deputies in Congress. If at least two-thirds of the members of the lower house voted in favour, the case would be sent back to the top court, which would then decide whether to put Temer on trial. If the court decided to try Temer, he would be suspended from office for up to 180 days. A conviction would permanently remove him from office. At least eight pieces of proposed legislation to impeach Temer have been submitted in Congress, and a stream of people from many walks of life has been calling for him to step down. On Friday, former chief justice Joaquim Barbosa added his voice. There is not another way out: Brazilians must organize, go to the streets and demand with strength the immediate resignation of Michel Temer, Barbosa tweeted. Temers administration began questioning both the legality and content of the recording first reported by O Globo. President Michel Temer does not believe in the veracity of the declarations in the recording, according to a statement from his office. The statement also noted that the person who made the recording, JBS meat-packing company executive Joesley Batista, is under investigation himself and thus was taking advantage of the situation. The recording was turned over to prosecutors as part of a Batista plea bargain. In the documents released Friday, Batista also said his company paid Temer about $1.5 million from 2010 to 2017. Some of those funds were disguised as legal campaign donations and others were channelled to Temers public image consultant Elsinho Mouco, Batista said. Attempts to locate Mouco for comment were not successful. The presidency also didnt immediately respond to queries seeking comment about the latest revelations. In Batistas plea bargain, he also told authorities that he transferred $150 million to offshore bank accounts for the campaigns of former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his successor in the presidency, Dilma Rousseff. Batista said former finance minister Guido Mantega was the middle man in the operation. He also said both former presidents were aware of the transfers, but did not say where the accounts were based. Batista also didnt say for which campaigns the money was transferred. Rousseff denied the accusations in a statement and said she never had offshore bank accounts. Silvas spokesperson said Batistas accusations are hearsay that was never investigated. For Silva, president between 2003 and 2010, the accusations add to a long list of corruption cases against him, which may ultimately keep him from running for office in 2018. The sprawling Car Wash probe that began three years ago has already put dozens of Brazils top businessmen and politicians in prison. Many more are being investigated. After O Globos report on Temer, Brazils highest court opened an investigation into the accusation late Thursday and lifted the seal on the nearly 39-minute recording, which is scratchy and often inaudible. In it, two men can be heard talking about former Lower House Speaker Eduardo Cunha, now serving a 15-year prison sentence for corruption and money laundering. O Globos report identified the men as Temer and Batista. One man, apparently Temer, complains that Cunha could potentially embarrass him. Within my limits, I did the most I could there. I settled everything, responds the other man, apparently Batista. He came and collected, etc., etc., etc. I am good with Eduardo, OK? The first man then says: You have to keep that up, see? To which the second man responds: Every month. Temer addressed the nation on Thursday, denying that he had authorized any bribes and vowing to continue in office. His short speech did little to calm nerves during a volatile day that saw a 10 per cent drop in Brazils stock market and an 8 per cent drop in the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar. By late Friday, the real had clawed back 3 per cent of its value and stocks were up nearly 2 per cent in the Ibovespa exchange. Still, its unlikely that the volatility, either in Latin Americas largest economy or its politics, has ended. Read more about: SHARE: WASHINGTONThe president of the Czech Republic is eager to have Ivanka Trump visit his country and he believes he has a compelling case to make. By a happy coincidence her mother is half Czech and President Milos Zeman hopes thats the opening he needs to secure a high-profile visit from the first daughter as he tries to realize the kind of relationship with the U.S. government his country has long craved. We would like her to know that we are the country where she might find a surprising number of people who will treat her very, very nice, said Hynek Kmonicek, the Czech ambassador to the United States, who has been entrusted by Zeman to deliver a letter to Ivanka Trump at the earliest opportunity. Because shes, like, preapproved. The letter remains undelivered, but Kmonicek is optimistic. I hope I will be able to put a selfie on the Twitter, he said with a smile as he mused about the meeting while lounging in his Northwest Washington office. Read more: Hours before Ivanka Trump dined with Chinas president, her company won China trademarks Daughter diplomacy: Trudeaus unorthodox play for Donald Trumps approval Donald, who? Ivanka Trump is the star in Japan The Czechs are just one of several countries that see the first daughter as an avenue of entry into her fathers White House, citing the image she has cultivated as culturally curious and active on policy as reason to believe she will be receptive to their outreach. A relationship with the first daughter is coveted because she and her husband Jared Kushner are top White House advisers with broad, largely undefined portfolios, stretching from domestic to foreign policy and an all-important familial connection that gives them rare influence. Ivanka Trump, in turn, has used foreign nations interest to help soften her fathers rough edges amid uncertainty over his foreign policy and promises to upend long-standing alliances if he deems them unfair to the United States. Shes being seen as a goodwill ambassador slash adviser, slash soft-power effort for an administration that has had a lot of challenges in those areas, said a senior diplomat for a Latin American country, who requested anonymity to speak candidly about the embassies outreach to Trump. By all accounts, she seems to be everything that her father is not: likable, soft-spoken, and shes not impulsive, she seems to be thinking through everything that she does. As U.S. President Donald Trump embarks Friday on his first foreign trip since taking office, Ivanka Trump will accompany him and make public appearances on her own. She is likely to take on a similar role abroad as she has in the last four months in Washington where she has been an eager participant in social and cultural events. She and her children have made appearances at the Chinese and Japanese embassies. She visited the French ambassadors residence and in March, dined with the British ambassador along with Kushner. German Chancellor Angela Merkel extended the invitation for Ivanka Trump to attend a womens economic summit in Berlin and the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau treated her to a Broadway show with a not-so-subtle message about the virtues of taking in strangers in need. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who frequently visits the White House, communicates with Kushner and Ivanka Trump regularly about ongoing diplomatic issues, including their familys visits with embassy officials. One of the things thats been useful about both Ivanka and Jared and the members of the White House staff is that they have existing relationships that theyve built, but then theyre turning around and making them everyone elses relationships, said R.C. Hammond, a senior adviser for State. As word has gotten around the diplomatic world about the potential return on investment in courting the first daughter, embassies have begun actively looking for ways to bring her into the fold, mulling invitations to gala events and cultural celebrations where they can establish a low-stakes, personal relationship with the first daughter. Early in her fathers tenure, Trump inserted herself into U.S.-China relationship with a high profile trip to the Chinese Embassy for their Lunar New Year celebration. It came at a time when Trump was struggling to establish a diplomatic relationship with Beijing after raising the ire of the Chinese by fielding a phone call from the Taiwanese President, in defiance of Chinas long-standing one-China policy. For weeks after the call from Taiwan, there was radio silence between Trump and Chinese president Xi Jinping, a sign of Beijings coldness toward the new U.S. president. More than two weeks after Trump was inaugurated, he had still not spoken to his Chinese counterpart despite having spoken to more than a dozen other world leaders in the same time frame. But while official diplomatic doors appeared to be closed, Ivanka Trump, with her Mandarin-speaking children in tow, appeared at the Chinese Embassy in upper northwest Washington on Feb. 1. Doors opened, cameras flashed, Trump smiled as she was greeted warmly by embassy personnel. The next day on Ivanka Trumps Instagram page, 5-year old Arabella made an appearance singing sweetly as she played with a puppet dragon. Arabella singing a song she learned for #ChineseNewYear, her mother wrote in the caption. Wishing everyone an amazing year to come during these days of celebration. Days later, the freeze had thawed. In a phone conversation with the Chinese president nearly 20 days after his inauguration, Trump promised to honour the one-China policy. Hammond cited Trumps improved relationship with China as evidence of the success of Ivanka Trumps engagement. Overall you look at the relationship that were building, were engaging with China, he said. At the Japanese Embassy in April, a scene similar to the one that occurred at the Chinese Embassy played out. The embassy painstakingly extended an invitation to their Cherry Blossom Festival. Then, the planning began. Embassy staff hatched an elaborate plan to invite a Japanese YouTube star Pikotaro to perform for Arabella, who was a fan of the signers earworm song. They called the company that makes the video game and anime character Pikachu and ordered up stuffed dolls to entertain Trumps young children as well as other traditional Japanese toys. The visit was a slam dunk, in the embassys view, garnering them media coverage in the United States and in Japan, where Ivanka Trump is an increasingly popular figure. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe enjoys arguably one of the best relationships with Trump, which has been repeatedly bolstered by his efforts to connect with Trump through Ivanka and her children. During a visit to Trump Tower in New York during the transition, Ivanka Trump greeted Abe at the elevator and escorted him to her fathers office, where she participated in the meeting with Kushner. Abe chatted it up with Ivanka Trump over Arabellas fascination with the YouTube star Pikotaro. And again, after she and her children made a visit to the embassy in April, Abe raised the event as an icebreaker in his phone conversation with President Trump a day later. Ivanka Trump has returned the gesture with subtle signals to the Japanese of her attention to their culture. This month on Instagram, she posted a short video of a private moment of dancing with her two young sons in their kitchen, delighting Japanese Embassy officials by choosing Pikotaros latest tune I like O.J. as her song. Ivanka Trumps emerging role as an official and unofficial emissary to her fathers government has sparked some controversy at home and abroad. But it is not entirely unusual. Carl Anthony, a historian with the National First Ladies Library, said that her role is similar to other first daughters who were deputized by their fathers to step in to areas where, at times, the first lady could not or would not go. The first lady role when you really break it down consists of about seven or eight different kind of roles, Anthony said. What youve had on occasion, but not really in our lifetime, is more than one women in the family assuming some of the roles, but not others. Teddy Roosevelt deputized his daughter Alice on a months-long diplomatic mission to three Asian countries, where she was dubbed a princess. Julie Nixon Eisenhower became her father Richard Nixons liaison on environmental issues. And Franklin D. Roosevelt chose his daughter Anna to accompany him to the Yalta conference toward the end of World War II, where she met with foreign dignitaries but primarily served as a source of encouragement and support for her father. Ivankas role is ineffable, said Anthony. Its knowing her fathers chemistry, its knowing how to approach him and when to approach him. Its choosing her battles carefully and knowing how to frame her, perhaps, disagreement on something. Read more about: SHARE: TOKYOTen months after Japans octogenarian emperor indicated he wanted to give up the throne while he was still alive, the Cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe approved special legislation Friday that would allow him to abdicate. The bill, which will be considered soon by the full Parliament, makes a one-time provision for Emperor Akihito, 83, to retire from the throne and be succeeded by his elder son, Crown Prince Naruhito. Akihito, a hugely popular figure in Japan who keeps up a gruelling travel schedule, had asked to abdicate so that he could give Naruhito, 57, time to rule. Akihito has reigned for 28 years, ever since his father, the wartime emperor Hirohito, died in 1989. Once the bill which is expected to pass in Parliament, where Abes party has the majority is enacted, the government would have three years to set a date for the emperors abdication. Akihito would be the first living Japanese emperor to leave the throne in 200 years. In remarks to reporters, Abes chief Cabinet secretary, Yoshihide Suga, declined to comment on the timing of the abdication, although Kyodo News reported that December 2018 was a target. Read more: Japans parliament proposes special one-time law to allow emperor to abdicate Any decision regarding the emperor is freighted in Japan, where until World War II, he was seen as a god. The postwar constitution, written by U.S. occupiers, stripped the emperor of his status as a deity and set him up instead as a symbol of Japanese unity. Akihito has also come to represent the pacifism enshrined in the constitution and has acted as the countrys emissary of historic reconciliation with surrounding Asian countries that suffered under Japans aggression during the war. He has also visited regions in Japan that have been ravaged by disaster, most famously going on television to console the nation after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. While the Japanese public overwhelmingly supports allowing the emperor to retire, conservative supporters of Abe have made clear that they do not want the government to set a precedent by permanently altering the Imperial Household Law, which governs succession. Conservatives are loath to open the law to a more sweeping overhaul because they fear that doing so would lead to a change to admit women as rightful heirs to the throne. The bill approved by the Cabinet on Friday makes no mention of female heirs to the throne. Naruhitos only child is a daughter, Princess Aiko, 15, so his successor would be his brother, Prince Akishino, followed by Akishinos son, Hisahito, 10. Read more: Japans emperor signals he wants to abdicate over failing health in historic move Yet in repeated polls, a vast majority of Japanese have said they support a woman ascending to the throne. Without such a change, the royal family faces a looming succession crisis, as there are only five male heirs left in the family, and when women marry, they are forced to leave the imperial household. The upcoming engagement of Princess Mako, 25, the emperors eldest granddaughter, highlights the limitations of the Imperial Household Law. Because she plans to marry a commoner, she will have to leave the royal family, and even if she were to bear a son, he would not be in line to the throne. The imperial law not only bars women from reigning, but also insists that succession pass only through men of the royal family. Critics say the law is outdated and should be changed to modernize Japans royal family. The law is anachronistic and ridiculous, in terms of gender and class, said Gill Steel, an associate professor at Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan. Even the imperial family, and the politicians responsible for the law, need to move into the 21st century. The opposition Democratic Party said that during the parliamentary debate on the bill, it would call for a supplementary clause allowing women to remain in the royal family even after marriage. The legislation approved Friday would give the emperor and his wife, Empress Michiko, new titles upon abdication. They would be known as joko and jokogo. The bill would also switch the annual holiday commemorating the emperors birthday from Akihitos birthday in December to his sons in February. Read more about: SHARE: Joining the rarefied $100 million-plus club in a sales room punctuated by periodic gasps from the crowd, Jean-Michel Basquiats powerful 1982 painting of a skull brought $110.5 million at Sothebys, to become the sixth most expensive work ever sold at auction. Only 10 other works have broken the $100 million mark. Hes now in the same league as Francis Bacon and Pablo Picasso, said the dealer Jeffrey Deitch, an expert on Basquiat. The sale of the painting, Untitled, made for a thrilling moment at Sothebys postwar and contemporary auction, as at least four bidders on the phones and in the room sailed past the $60 million level at which the powerful work forged from oil stick and spray paint had been guaranteed to sell by a third party. Soon after the sustained applause had subsided, Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa revealed himself to be the buyer through a post on his Instagram account. I am happy to announce that I just won this masterpiece, he said in the post. When I first encountered this painting, I was struck with so much excitement and gratitude for my love of art. I want to share that experience with as many people as possible. It was Maezawa, 41, the founder of Contemporary Art Foundation, who last year set the previous auction high for Basquiat, paying $57.3 million for the artists large 1982 painting of a horned devil at Christies. Maezawa is also the founder of Japans large online fashion mall, Zozotown. Maezawa later told Sothebys that he acquired his latest painting by the artist for a planned museum in his hometown of Chiba, Japan. But before then I wish to loan this piece which has been unseen by the public for more than 30 years to institutions and exhibitions around the world, he said in a statement. I hope it brings as much joy to others as it does to me, and that this masterpiece by the 21-year-old Basquiat inspires our future generations. The winning bid was taken on the phone by Yuki Terase, who oversees Japanese business development for Sothebys in Hong Kong, against the dealer Nicholas Maclean, who was hunched over in the room on the phone with a bidder. Whether one active collector makes a market remains to be seen. It will take another major Basquiat to test the sustainability of this $100 million level. In the meantime, however, Basquiats vibrant painting of a face in the shape of a skull set several records Thursday night: for a work by any American artist, for a work by a black artist and as the first work created since 1980 to make over $100 million. Its a really historical moment, said Larry Warsh, a longtime Basquiat collector. It does cement this artist once again. The Brooklyn-born Basquiat went from graffiti artist to an art collector darling in the span of a mere seven years. He died at 27 of a drug overdose in 1988. Last year, Basquiat became the highest-grossing American artist at auction, generating $171.5 million from 80 works, according to Artprice, and his auction high has increased at least tenfold in the last 15 years. Here he is, blazing a trail not only in terms of the market but also in terms of how his work is perceived more widely, said the artist Adam Pendleton, who is African-American. It speaks to the broader elements of American culture. And what a powerful moment to have that happen. Perhaps poignantly, the price exceeded the auction high of Basquiats friend and mentor, Andy Warhol, whose Silver Car Crash (Double Disaster) (in 2 Parts) sold for an artist high of $105.4 million in 2013. Sothebys sale, which brought a total of $319 million against a low estimate of $211 million with 96 per cent of the 50 lots sold, was a contrast to Tuesday nights lower-energy contemporary auction at Christies. Sixty per cent of the lots reached prices above their estimates. There was more depth of bidding than last night, said Morgan Long, a senior director at the Fine Art Group, an advisory company based in London. Sothebys had a lot more works in the middle range round $5 million to $10 million that appealed to the market. Earlier in the evening, Phillips held its latest auction in newer format of 20th century and contemporary art. At that sale over half the 37 lots carried guaranteed minimum prices, emphasizing sellers reluctance to consign to auction without a definite sale. Peter Doigs 1991 canvas, Rosedale, of a Toronto snowfall, which was guaranteed for $25 million, sold for $28.8 million to a telephone bidder, an auction high for the artist. As Phillips pointed out before the auction, the Scottish-born Doig, whose grand, painterly landscapes are prized by collectors, is one of just six living artists who have sold for more than $25 million at auction. What was left unanswered at the end of the night was why Maezawa is so enamored of Basquiat. The acquisition of a trophy, thats what drove this moment tonight, Warsh said. This is really out of the boundaries. Pendleton said the sale underscored the importance of black artists, not that anyone should need an auction record to make this clear. They were when Basquiat picked up his brush in the 1980s, he added, and they certainly are today. SHARE: LONDONAn Ontario teenager is one of 20 young people from around the world who were awarded the inaugural Diana Award by Prince William and Prince Harry at St. James Palace in London on Thursday. The award was established in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, and her belief that young people have the power to change the world for the better. Faith Dickinson of Peterborough, Ont., was recognized for Cuddles for Canada, a charity she launched at age nine after her aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer. During her treatment, Faiths aunt told her how she got very cold, so Faith made her a fleece blanket. Faith has since made over 3,000 blankets, which have been sent across Canada and several other countries and has raised more than $30,000 to ensure the blankets remain free to those who need them. The Diana Award website says Faith personalizes each blanket based on the hobbies or favourite colour and have also been given to soldiers returning home injured or suffering from PTSD. Prince William said during the awards ceremony that his mother touched the lives of millions during her life and still inspires countless acts of compassion and bravery two decades after her death in a car crash. Read more about: SHARE: STOCKHOLMWikiLeaks founder Julian Assange no longer is the subject of an active rape investigation in Sweden, but he remains holed up in Ecuadors embassy in London facing an unclear future because of uncertainty over whether American authorities will try to get him handed over next. Swedens top prosecutor dropped a long-running inquiry into a rape claim against Assange on Friday, saying there was no way to detain or charge him in the foreseeable future because of his protected status inside the embassy. Prosecutor Marianne Ny said she could not judge whether the 45-year-old Australian native was guilty or innocent because the investigation had been thwarted. Ny said the case could be reopened if Assange comes to Sweden before the statute of limitations expires in 2020. Read more: WikiLeaks will work with tech firms to defend against CIA hacking tools: Assange Ecuadors general election could also decide Julian Assanges fate British police said they would arrest Assange if he leaves the embassy on the relatively minor charge of jumping bail, but the more severe threat is a possible sealed U.S. indictment against him. The sun-starved WikiLeaks provocateur, looking healthy if pale, emerged Friday afternoon to address the media in the open air of the embassys balcony. He said the day marked an important victory, but noted that he still could be prosecuted by the United States. Assange also lashed out at Sweden for taking seven years to investigate allegations he maintained were baseless. His children had grown up without him, he said. That is not something I can forgive, or forget, he said, claiming he had suffered a terrible injustice while living under house arrest or hidden away inside the embassy without ever being charged with a crime. Despite the welcome news from Sweden, police in London said Friday that Assange is still wanted there for jumping bail in 2012. More serious are the possible charges he faces in the United States for WikiLeaks aggressive publication of thousands of pages of classified government documents. Assange said his legal team would reach out to British authorities to try to find a way forward, and he said he would be happy to have a dialogue with the U.S. Department of Justice despite its threats against him. WikiLeaks has repeatedly infuriated U.S. officials with the widespread release of sensitive secret documents related to military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq and diplomatic relations around the world. Sweden's top prosecutor said Friday she is dropping an investigation into a rape claim against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange after almost seven years. However, Assange is still wanted in Britain for jumping bail in 2012. WikiLeaks also had a role in the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign when it published emails written by Hillary Clintons campaign officials. U.S. and British officials Friday declined to say if the United States has requested Assanges extradition. Ecuadors foreign minister, Guillaume Long, tweeted Friday that Britain must now grant safe passage to Assange. The South American country has granted him asylum, but it is not clear how Assange would travel there without the permission of British authorities. Assange has spent nearly five years inside the Latin American countrys London embassy, but he seemed robust and defiant in his brief balcony appearance. He did not take shouted questions from the reporters assembled outside and would not say if he plans to leave the embassy located in the posh Knightsbridge neighbourhood. The day began with the dramatic announcement in Sweden that the rape investigation was being suspended. But some experts said the development would put him in an even more precarious legal situation, if the U.S. has a sealed indictment for his arrest. U.S. President Donald Trump said last month he would support any decision by the Justice Department to charge Assange. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has suggested that the arrest of Assange could be an American priority, saying last month the U.S. was stepping up our efforts on all leaks. We will seek to put some people in jail, Sessions said. Army Pvt. Chelsea Manning served seven years in prison for giving classified material to WikiLeaks. She was freed Wednesday, having had her sentence commuted by former president Barack Obama before he left office. British officials said they do not comment on individual extradition cases. British Prime Minister Theresa May said Friday that any decision that is taken about U.K. action in relation to him (Assange) would be an operational matter for the police. WikiLeaks complained about the lack of clarity in Assanges legal situation. UK refuses to confirm or deny whether it has already received a US extradition warrant for Julian Assange. Focus now moves to UK, the group tweeted. His supporters believe the sex crime allegations that have bedevilled Assange for years were politically motivated. They surfaced after the women accused Assange of sexual misconduct during a visit to Stockholm in 2010. A lawyer for the woman who alleged she was raped by Assange said its a scandal that a suspected rapist can avoid the judicial system and thus avoid a trial in court. Elisabeth Massi Fritz says her client is shocked by the Swedish decision but added that she cant change her view that Assange has exposed her to a rape. There were initially two separate allegations being investigated, but one was dropped in 2015 because the statute of limitations ran out. The rape allegation, the more serious claim, remained under investigation. Prosecutors were trying to determine, among other things, if Assange had sex with the woman while she was asleep and without using a condom. Assange has said the sex was consensual. British police said that since Assange is now wanted for a much less serious offence than the original sex crimes claims, police will provide a level of resourcing which is proportionate to that offence. Read more about: SHARE: NEW YORKA man charged with slamming his speeding car into pedestrians in Times Square, killing a teenager and injuring nearly two dozen people, said he wanted to kill them all and police should have shot him to stop him, a prosecutor revealed Friday. Richard Rojas, 26, also said he had smoked marijuana laced with PCP sometime before making a U-turn onto the sidewalks of the bustling Crossroads of the World and plowing straight ahead into frightened tourists, according to a criminal complaint. Officials are awaiting toxicology results, though Rojas had glassy eyes, slurred speech, and was unsteady, during his arrest, the complaint said. Read more:U.S. veteran in custody after car plows into Times Square pedestrians He murdered in cold blood, Assistant District Attorney Harrison Schweiloch said. Eighteen-year-old Alyssa Elsman, of Portage, Michigan, was killed in the crash. Her 13-year-old sister was among the 22 injured. Three people are in critical condition with serious head injuries, and a fourth is being treated for a collapsed lung and broken pelvis, according to the complaint. Richard Rojas was in custody Thursday after police say 23 people were hit by a car that steered onto a sidewalk running through Times Square. Rojas, wearing the same red T-shirt and jeans he was photographed in the day earlier, appeared subdued Friday during a brief court appearance where prosecutors detailed murder and attempted murder charges. He didnt enter a plea and was held without bail. Rojas lawyer, Enrico Demarco, had no comment. His family and friends who attended the hearing cried outside court and didnt speak to reporters. His next court appearance is May 24. Rojas, who lived with his mother in the Bronx, drove his car Thursday from his home to Times Square, waited for traffic to start moving and then made a U-turn, authorities said. He barrelled straight up the sidewalk, knocking down some pedestrians as others ran in terror, before he crashed his car into protective barriers. That goes to his state of mind, said William Aubry, assistant chief of the New York Police Department. A car traveling through Times Square has driven into a crowd of pedestrians, injuring several people. Photographers snapped pictures of a wild-eyed Rojas on Thursday after he climbed from the wrecked car and ran through the streets. A group that included a security supervisor at a nearby Planet Hollywood restaurant tackled him. Rojas has several prior criminal cases that paint a picture of a troubled man. He pleaded guilty last week to harassment in the Bronx after he was accused of pulling a knife on a notary in his home. Youre trying to steal my identity, he said, according to prosecutors. He also had two previous drunken driving cases. Rojas enlisted in the Navy in 2011 and was an electricians mate fireman apprentice. In 2012, he served aboard the USS Carney, a destroyer. Rojas spent his final months in the Navy at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida. In 2012, he was arrested and accused of beating a cab driver whom he said had disrespected him by trying to charge too much, according to the arrest report. The arresting officer said Rojas screamed, My life is over! as he was being detained. After his arrest, Rojas told the officer he was going to kill all police and military police he might see after his release from jail, the Jacksonville sheriffs office report stated. Alan Ceballos, an attorney who represented Rojas in that case, said the state charges were dropped after the military stepped in to take jurisdiction over the criminal case. Navy records show that in 2013 Rojas spent two months at a naval prison in Charleston, South Carolina. He was discharged in 2014 as the result of a special court martial, a Navy official said. SHARE: Canadians looking at Donald Trump may ask how the embattled U.S. president survives. A special counsel has been appointed to examine his ties with Russia. His decision to fire the head of the FBI appears to have left him open to charges of obstructing justice. In Congress, the word impeachment is bruited about, even among fellow Republicans. His White House is said to be in chaos. But for a good many Americans, Trump is still the man. Read the latest news about U.S. President Donald Trump True, his detractors maintain their dislike for him. Nationally, his overall poll numbers are below 40 per cent. But his supporters think hes great. The latest Gallup poll estimates that 84 per cent of Republicans approve of the way the president is doing his job. How can this be? The answer lies in the fact that two entirely different sets of reality have been constructed in the U.S. to explain Trump. Each is plausible. Each contains both verifiable facts and unverified speculation. Each refers to the other as fake news. The storyline that most Canadians are familiar with goes something like this: Trump is a braggart and an idiot. He won the presidency last year only because Russian agents were able to hack into the email accounts of his Democratic adversaries and pass on embarrassing material to WikiLeaks. Read more: Trump embarks on his first big foreign trip amid turmoil in U.S. His campaign team and possibly even the president himself may have been part of this Moscow-led conspiracy to subvert American democracy. Trump fired FBI director James Comey because he feared the bureaus investigation was getting too close. But the wily Comey kept notes of his meetings with the president, including one damaging memo that has been leaked to the press. This is the storyline that is being expanded upon and articulated every day in mainstream newspapers, such as the Washington Post and New York Times. The U.S. Justice Department appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller Wednesday as a special counsel to oversee the federal investigation into allegations that Russia and Donald Trump's campaign collaborated to influence the presidential election. The other storyline is expressed through right-wing outlets, such as Breitbart News, formerly run by key Trump adviser Steve Bannon. This storyline suggests that damaging emails were passed onto WikiLeaks not by the Russians but by a computer specialist working for the Democratic National Committee who was murdered last year. It notes, correctly, that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange while not confirming the young man as his source offered a $20,000 reward for the apprehension of his killer. The alternative storyline pays less attention to the content of the damaging leaks coming out of the Trump White House and more to the fact that they occur at all. It argues that the deep state meaning the permanent security bureaucracy is conspiring to remove a president it views as hostile to its interests. When the Washington Post, citing unnamed sources, reported this week that Trump had surprised his staff by sharing top-secret information on terrorism with senior Russian officials, Breitbarts headline was: Deep state leaks highly classified info to Washington Post to smear President Trump. Read more: Trump claims witch hunt, says he's the most unfairly hounded president in history In the universe of newspapers like the Post, any criticism of Trump by fellow Republicans is treated as important. In the world of Breitbart, however, such behaviour is dismissed as the predictable reaction of an out-of-touch party elite. Knives out: GOP establishment makes its move, reads the Breitbart headline after Republican Senator John McCain compared Trumps situation to that of Richard Nixon during the Watergate scandal of the 1970s. Indeed, the entire brouhaha over Trump is dismissed as a whole lot of nothing. Breitbarts headline, Washington establishment declares war on Trump voters, sums up the mood. For Trumps many critics, it is easy to dismiss the Breitbart view of the world. But doing so obscures the fact that, for many Americans, this particular storyline seems more plausible than the alternative, which presupposes that the elected U.S. president is a Russian stooge. Take the controversy over the Comey memo. In the anti-Trump universe, Comeys memo, which describes Trumps alleged effort to have the FBI go easy on fired national security adviser Michael Flynn for his contacts with Russia, is taken as further evidence of the presidents perfidy. In the pro-Trump universe, however, it only raises questions. Does the memo exist? (The reporter who broke the story never saw the actual document, parts of which were read to him over the phone). Even if it does exist, why should Comeys recollection of a two-person conversation be given greater weight than that of Trump, who denies the published version? These arent stupid questions. Nor is the Breitbart, deep-state critique of American politics entirely outlandish. Those who want to summarily dismiss the supporters of this particular alternate reality should keep this in mind. Thomas Walkom appears Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Read more about: SHARE: As our city deals with the most recent severe weather aftermath, we need to ask ourselves: are we doing everything we can to address the serious impacts of our changing climate? The severe flooding on the Toronto Islands this week, the blackout during the 2013 ice storm, the storms that flooded highways, transit lines and basements in 2013 and again in 2015, are only the tip of the iceberg. Expect more of the same in years to come. We are on a collision course, and governments at every level are, at best, paying lip service to the problem. The investments made during the era of Mayor David Miller to address stormwater in Toronto are still rolling out, but we have lost seven years of action since then. Earlier this week, Mayor John Torys executive committee scrapped a long standing plan to implement a stormwater management charge on large parking lots that create surface runoff resulting in sewage overflows into Lake Ontario and flooded basements. This is a cost-effective approach that has been successful in many other cities. The charge would be cost neutral to consumers because it would be taken off the current water bills. By rejecting this plan, we are throwing away years of hard work by the city and taking a huge step backwards. The citys next opportunity to show leadership on climate change will be next week when the new TransformTO plan comes to Toronto city council. The test will be whether council commits to the funding we need to make sure these great plans get realized. But dont hold your breath. Mayor Tory, along with a majority of city councillors rejected a minor $1.2 million increase in investment into climate action in the 2017 budget. The vote failed 23-21. Big words little action. At the national level, funding cuts by the Trump administration to protect the Great Lakes will harm our local ability to take action to protect the 34 million people living in the Great Lakes basin and the waters that sustain us. In the absence of U.S. federal support, Canadas federal government and the provinces of Ontario and Quebec need to take this opportunity to lead the way. Ontarios 2015 Great Lakes Protection Act is a good start, but municipalities are on the front lines for implementing any climate mitigation plans and many lack the resources required to take the necessary steps. The stormwater charge rejected by Mayor Tory is one of those steps that municipalities need to take if they want to take serious action to protect public and private property from dangerous and damaging flooding, the economy and infrastructure from shutting down in the event of extreme weather, and the health of the natural environment for the benefit of us all. Toronto should be taking a leadership approach where we harness our expertise, size and spirit of innovation to lead on climate action. If we fail, flooded basements and parks will be the least of our concerns. Mike Layton is Toronto city councillor for Ward 19, Trinity-Spadina. Read more about: SHARE: Much to the dismay of its students, the Toronto District School Board recently blocked access to Snapchat, Instagram and Netflix on its networks. The stated reason for the ban was that these apps were not being used by students for educational purposes and were clogging up the TDSBs aging network, which made administrative tasks difficult to complete. The board has said this is only a temporary measure, and it will restore access once it upgrades its network over the summer. But this would be a huge a mistake. If the TDSB cares about whats in the best long-term interests of its students, it should make the ban permanent. While phones in the classroom can have legitimate educational uses, the reality is that in practice they are used by students in ways that impede their ability to learn. For example, a 2016 National Science Foundation-funded study found that when given the opportunity, even the most intelligent and motivated students access the Internet in class primarily for non-educational purposes like browsing social media, they spend more time browsing than paying attention to their class, and their academic performance suffers as a result. Research by Microsoft has found that between 2000 and 2013, the average Canadians attention span decreased by 33 per cent, and is now shorter than the average attention span of a goldfish. Furthermore, Microsoft has found that the main culprit behind our dwindling attention span is the addictive nature of our phones, and the problem is most acute among younger people. Indeed, 77 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds said they instinctively reach for their phones as soon as there is a lull in their attention. What people seem to forget is that this is all by design. As is now being revealed by Tristan Harris, an engineer who has worked at Apple and Google, the whole business model of tech companies centres on making their phones and apps as addicting as possible. Harris states that unbeknownst to much of the public, There is this war going on [between tech companies] to get as much attention as possible Its a race to the bottom of the brain stem to get peoples attention at all costs. An example of this comes from the CEO of Netflix, who recently stated that it sees its biggest competitor as not YouTube or Facebook, but sleep. We should be especially concerned about Snapchat, which is considered by many experts to be the most addicting app, as research from Harvard has shown that Snapchat use can produce alarmingly high levels of anxiety among teens. And while technology use is often cast as an issue of personal responsibility, Harris reminds us there are thousands of the smartest people in the world working at these tech companies, employing principles of behavioural psychology precisely to overcome your willpower. Can any high school student or teacher really be expected to compete with that? What is especially galling is that while tech executives make billions of dollars pushing tech onto the masses, when it comes to their own children, they try to raise them in explicitly low-tech environments. Many Silicon Valley execs send their children to technology-free Waldorf schools, which emphasize human interaction and hands-on learning. When asked about how his own kids had responded to the iPad, Steve Jobs told the New York Times: They havent used it. We limit how much technology our kids use at home. The Times later found this to be a common theme among many high-powered tech executives, including those associated with social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. The reason? According to Chris Anderson, the former editor of Wired magazine, its because we have seen the dangers of technology first-hand. Ive seen it in myself. I dont want to see that happen to my kids. Recently in schools, there has been an admirable push toward developing mindfulness, which helps students to focus more of their attention on the present moment. But developing deep mindfulness will be near impossible if schools also encourage students to be on devices explicitly designed to hijack their attention. As MIT psychologist Sherry Turkle has found in her research, our complete capitulation to technology has led to the degradation of many human capacities. At the very least, school boards should not be complicit in inflicting this damage on their students. Sachin Maharaj is a PhD candidate and Canada Graduate Scholar in educational policy at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto. Read more about: SHARE: The cultural appropriation debate broke new ground this week, for me anyway. I confess I was among those who always saw it as essentially a matter of free speech: the right to write what one chose. Tell many writers what they cant write and theyll become obsessed with doing it. Native writer and commentator Jesse Wente broke through this in his conversation with Jonathan Kay on CBC last weekend. He said it isnt about denying anyones right to write on particular topics or to imagine others lives. Most Indigenous writers concurred, even if derisively, like Robert Jagos, Do I care if you have a native character in your stupid book about wandering pants ? No. But if you do, Wente warned, be ready to be challenged and critiqued. So its no longer: Am I permitted to do this? But: Do I really want to? Once the free speech banner is removed from the battlefield, people like me look around and wonder: if this isnt about me and my glorious right to expression, then whats it about? You might even start feeling bereft. Cultural appropriation has had some good moments, like Strange Fruit, written in the 1930s by Jewish-American leftist Abel Meeropol, about lynchings in the American south. It was reappropriated by Billie Holliday, Nina Simone and others. Its also had awful ones, like Al Jolson singing Mammy or Swanee in blackface. Read more: Steve Ladurantaye, editor of CBCs The National, reassigned after cultural appropriation flap And some highly peculiar ones, as when white record producer Sam Phillips in the 1950s said, If I could find a white boy with the Negro sound and the Negro feel, I could make a million dollars, just before Elvis wandered in. But if it has particular moments, then its not about a timeless principle, everything depends on which moment were currently in. Wente clarified this too, saying the appropriation of Indigenous culture in Canada today occurs alongside the appropriation (i.e., theft) of lands, children etc., which are finally being acknowledged, versus denied, ignored or glorified. When Shakespeare, by contrast, appropriated ancient versions of Roman history, there were no Latin writers around to be legitimately aggrieved or to contextualize it socially. Theres also a particular technological moment were in, that replaces an earlier one. During the long winter of mass media, native writers were often confined to reacting among their peers to the appropriation of the appropriation debate by mainstream whites. (All the white journalists who offered to put up money for an appropriation prize, and have mostly apologized, have made a good living there all their lives.) But social media, as Wente also noted, changes this. Native writers can make their voices and reactions widely heard. This means less frustration even as more anger gets more widely vented; and it has opened up the possibility of publicly naming and explaining their outrage rather than rhetorically proclaiming bans and anathemas. Read more: What cultural appropriation is, and why you should care: Paradkar Jonathan Kay, formerly of the National Post and now also ex of The Walrus, played a uniquely instructive role this week, as always. He hovered above, even while loitering within, calling the initial Writers Union piece on the topic by Hal Niedzviecki too flippant; but the reaction to it over the top and excessively strident. Hes the Miss Manners of any debate, letting others know when theyve gone too far and when theyre straddling that line just fine. As such, hes the embodiment of the appropriative mode, the ultimate (he assumes) arbiter. You could stick him in Mme. Tussauds symbolizing it. He did it during the Boyden debate, saying critiques based on race are never an entirely benign exercise. (What is?) When a journalist at this paper committed suicide, he demanded, Show us the suicide note! like the mob at Caesars funeral crying, The will, the will. We will hear Caesars will! At the end of the CBC interview he intoned grandly, And by the way, Id like to commend Jesse, who has conducted himself extremely graciously on social media as well as for his civility. Whence this detachment and largesse? Can you picture a racialized writer in this society striking the same proconsular note, about a heated controversy in which he or she is also a divisive player? Still, a mans reach should exceed his grasp or whats a heaven for? Alternately, we could shut up once in awhile and listen. We might even learn something, even if our own precious thoughts get to take a rest. Rick Salutins column appears Fridays. SHARE: Re: Canadas forgotten child hostages, Opinion, May 17 Canadas forgotten child hostages, Opinion, May 17 Catherine Morris update on innocent Taliban-held hostages Joshua Boyle and Caitlan Coleman, along with their two captivity-born young children, tells a chilling story of misplaced priorities. Who will seriously look into the humanitarian need to negotiate on behalf of these seemingly forgotten victims, who are perhaps somewhere in Pakistan? October 2012 was a long time ago and bungling, plus secrecy from the Canadian government, to the families of the captives and to the captives themselves, must be agonizing. Morriss opinion piece lays out reasonable actions and I hope they will be heeded. Constance More, Victoria, B.C. After reading Catherine Morriss heartbreaking article, I continue to be haunted by Canadian Joshua Boyles eyes in the photo. What can the average fellow Canadian do to incent our government to act immediately to end this years-long hostage situation? The couple has been held in Afghanistan since 2012; their children were born in captivity. Please send a letter to the editor of your local newspaper, contact your MP and use social media platforms to harness the outrage that befits this appalling situation. Weve seen the power of social media bring back a favourite ketchup brand and draw an apology from a reluctant airline CEO. We can use these tools to release the Boyle family from the hell they have endured for five years and that has marked their childrens entire lives. In the words of Catherine Morris, In Canada, we always send search-and-rescue teams, ambulances and emergency medical care to anyone in trouble, no matter how they came to be injured, ill or otherwise in need of rescue. Can there be a more pressing need for rescue than this? Sheilagh Borcsok, Burlington SHARE: Re: Judges remarks prompt new murder trial, May 18 Judges remarks prompt new murder trial, May 18 It is most often not about learning in the case of judges. It is an issue of temperament. Some very well-qualified judges do not have a judicial temperament, the absence of which should make them ineligible for selection. They tend to be found more frequently in the criminal division. Lawyers who do a great deal of criminal work know who those judges are and would avoid them if they could. They often cannot. Education is not likely to help, so those responsible for appointments must try much harder to exclude such personalities from being appointed. Surprisingly, you will find that those judges with the wrong temperament tend to act as if the people appearing before them ought to be boy scout types, which they are usually not, for obvious reasons, so they quickly lose their cool. Romain Pitt, retired judge, Toronto SHARE: Certain Master Limited Partnerships--such as Energy Transfer Equity (ETE) and Western Gas Equity Partnersundefined --are good investments. At least that's according to Douglas Rachlin, managing director of the Rachlin Group of Neuberger Berman. Rachlin spoke Wednesday to hedge fund managers at the SALT conference in Las Vegas. "There are certain MLP names today that have been household names in the MLP space, and these names are too large and carry too much debt and probably will continue to go sideways from here," Rachlin said. "But there are certain opportunities that we call clear shots; Energy Transfer Equity is our No. 1 position today." Rachlin said ETE has an export terminal outside Philadelphia and benefits from exports of natural gas to Mexico, which is a large buyer of natural gas. "They are the largest interstate pipeline network in the state of Texas," Rachlin said. "We're projecting ETE to earn over $2 a share by the end of 2020." He also said he likes Western Gas Equity Partners, which was formed by Anadarko Petroleum to develop midstream energy assets. "The reason why Russia and the rest of OPEC won't be able to determine oil prices is that technology continues to improve and the cost of finding oil and gas continues to go down and the No. 1 area inside this country today for that is the Permian Basin," Rachlin said. Separately, Emanuel J. Friedman, CEO of EJF Capital LLC, told TheStreet after speaking at the conference, that he believes the Federal Reserve is easing restrictions on small and midsize regional banks, which will allow many of them to combine. He focused his comments on a threshold that regulators had set at $50 billion for so-called "Systemically Important Financial Institutions," or SIFIs, with all banks above that level being subject to additional capital and additional restrictions. Now, Freidman argued, the Fed has implicitly hiked that level by easing some restrictions. "The original SIFI level was $50 billion, and then the issue became so how do you create loopholes by saying what is systemic for certain purposes is not $50 billion but actually $100 billion or $250 billion; so when BB&T whats to buy three banks they [regulators] said, 'we don't view them as being systemic,'" Friedman said. However, Friedman said consolidation won't be permitted among the largest U.S. banks. "The real evil five banks that have 75% of the market, they have the least probability of major regulatory reform because the Federal Reserve board all views them as having systemic risk," Friedman said. "They have the least support on the Republican or Democratic side." His comments come after the Fed in March raised to $100 billion the amount of combined assets that would trigger a systemic risk review of proposed bank mergers, a significant increase and yet another boon for deals involving regional lenders. Reade Griffith, Chief Investment Officer, at Polygon's European Event-Driven Fund, told hedge fund managers he was bullish on Europe, particularly after the pro-European Union candidate, Emmanuel Macron, was elected recently in French elections. "The big factor people were waiting on was the French election, was that going to go fine? it ended up with an outcome people and markets liked," Griffith said. "As you are looking forward the political risk in Europe is coming down. It's not gone. You still have issues with Germany and the IMF sorting out Greece. But Europe does not look like an underperformer when it comes to earnings noise so that's good." Apple's (AAPL) - Get Free Report royalty dispute with Qualcomm (QCOM) - Get Free Report has been a distraction from the 10th anniversary edition of the iPhone due out later this year. Qualcomm ratcheted up the litigation this week when it filed suit against Apple contract manufacturers Foxconn, Pegatron, Wistron, and Compal, for skipping royalty payments. The chipmaker said in April that Apple is withholding payments to its contract manufacturers to cover the royalties they owe Qualcomm. Moreover, Qualcomm alleges that Apple ordered the companies to withhold the funds, and has indemnified them. Messy as the fight with Qualcomm has become, Wells Fargo (WFC) - Get Free Report analyst Maynard Um suggests that Apple's dispute with Nokia (NOK) - Get Free Report is a bigger near-term concern. Nokia filed suit in two German venues, a U.S. District Court in Texas and other venues in December, alleging patent violations. "While most of the focus has been on [Qualcomm] given the recent headlines, we believe the Nokia litigation is more important with the potential for initial news flow as early as the end of calendar 2017," Um wrote. Nokia has filed complaints in Munich and Mannheim, Germany that could have rulings this year this year. Other disputes, such as a complaint in the Netherlands, could reach outcomes soon after. Um estimates that Nokia previously received just 0.2% of the price of the device in which Apple uses its technology. Nokia is unlikely to score the 2.7% rate that Qualcomm receives, Um suggested. If Nokia could obtain a 1.5% rate, it could reduce Apple's earnings per share by 20 cents. Qualcomm could also set Apple earnings back by 20 cents per share if Apple has to pay the 2.7% royalty. Um did not propose a timeline for the conclusion of the lawsuits with Qualcomm, but suggested that the Nokia case would likely have an outcome sooner. Shares of Apple gained 1.5% to $152.54 on Thursday and was up 0.6% in early trading Friday, after losing nearly 3.5% in Wednesday's broad selloff. Jim Cramer suggested on Real Money that Apple and other tech stalwarts have strong enough prospects to withstand band news from Washington. Apple is a holding in Jim Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS Charitable Trust Portfolio. Want to be alerted before Cramer buys or sells AAPL? Learn more now. Expectations for a banner iPhone sales may help investors see opportunity beyond the political turmoil, but Um suggested that they should not look past Apple's patent disputes. "While, understandably, the key investor focus continues to be on the upcoming iPhone 8 cycle, we believe these legal disputes have the risk of introducing volatility to [Apple]'s share price if/when initial rulings are made," Um wrote. Did you miss "Mad Money" on CNBC? If so, here are some of Jim Cramer's top takeaways. For an "Executive Decision" segment, Cramer spoke with Marc Benioff, chairman and CEO of Salesforce.com (CRM) - Get Free Report , the cloud computing giant with shares up 28% for the year. Salesforce just posted a two-cents-a-share earnings beat. Benioff said there were a number of factors that led to Salesforce's amazing numbers this quarter, including some big customer wins and the fact that they continue to crush the competition. A recent IDC study confirmed Salesforce is growing their lead against big-name rivals. Benioff also touted some of Salesforce's biggest partnerships, which include Amazon.com's (AMZN) - Get Free Report web services, Visa (V) - Get Free Report and IBM (IBM) - Get Free Report , where Salesforce is helping the company transform its customer service experience. In addition to those many positives, Benioff was upbeat about his company's recent acquisition of DemandWare. He said that deal has gone well beyond his expectations. Meanwhile, over on Real Money, David Yoe Williams says to enjoy the gold rally; it's just getting started. Get more on his insights with a free trial subscription to Real Money. On a call with his AAP investment club members, Cramer says that a Trump administration proposal to ban laptop computers on airline flights to the United States could be "the single greatest thing that could happen" to Apple (AAPL) - Get Free Report . Read more and get a free trial subscription to Action Alerts PLUS. Search Jim Cramer's "Mad Money" trading recommendations using our exclusive "Mad Money" Stock Screener. To read a full recap of this episode of "Mad Money," click here. To watch replays of Cramer's video segments, visit the Mad Money page on CNBC. To sign up for Jim Cramer's free Booyah! newsletter with all of his latest articles and videos please click here. At the time of publication, Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS a position in AAPL. Obama administration Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday said he could run for president again, but he added that he "probably" wouldn't. "Could I? Yes. Would I? Probably no," Biden told hedge fund managers at the annual SALT conference in Las Vegas. Biden had considered running for the Democratic nomination in the 2016 election, but ultimately decided not to run as he focused on being with his son, Beau Biden, a former state attorney general of Delaware, who died in 2015 after battling brain cancer. "You should never run for president unless you can look the public in the eye, and say 'I give you my word, you'll have all my energy and all my time,'" Biden said. He said his priority for now was to focus on his family and concentrate on a few personal financial matters before deciding whether to run for president. "My family has to get back together," he said. "If I get those things done, and I'm healthy and viable, and it looks like I'm the best man to do it, I may very well do it, but my family comes first." In addition, Biden told the audience that he never thought Hillary Clinton "was a great candidate," which also received claps from the audience. "No man or woman should announce for the presidency unless they genuinely believe that for the that moment in the nation's history they are the most qualified person to deal with the issues facing the country," he said. Biden added that he plans to give the $200,000 fee he received for speaking to SALT to charity. "I'm not accepting any of it," he said to furious claps from the audience. Biden implored lawmakers on Capitol Hill to start working together, adding that the level of partisanship and rancor among parties has increased significantly in recent years and has become unhealthy. "It's gotten so personal but it's going to come back because you can't govern this country no matter who you are without generating a consensus," Biden said. "It is impossible. The public is sick of it." Read More Top News on TheStreet: Over on Real Money Jim Cramer give advice to investors looking at how to play the Trump Trade. Get his insights or analysis with a free trial subscription to Real Money. BMW (BMWYY) shares gained Friday after the German automaker said it will increase its production capacity in China, the world's largest car market, just six months after losing its crown as the world's largest luxury car firm to Mercedes-Benz maker Daimler (DDAIF) . The Wolfsburg based firm said it will now be able to produce as many as 450,000 vehicles from its two facilities in the Shenyang region, an increase from the 400,000 ceiling it previously faced. The plants in question produced around 360,000 vehicles in 2016. "The Dadong plant demonstrates the success of our joint venture and the BMW 5 Series in China," said Nicolas Peter, member of the management board responsible for finance, as the group opened a new section of one of the Shenyang plants after having invested more than 1 billion ($1.1 billion) to expand its production capability. Both plants operate under the BMW Brilliance Automotive joint venture, a partnership with Brilliance China Automotive Holdings, established in 2003. During the opening ceremony, the first long wheelbase version of the BMW 5 Series sedan rolled off of the production line, the latest innovation of a series of cars that have proven wildly popular in China. BMW stock rose nearly 2% during early trading in Frankfurt, to change hands at an intraday high of 86.24 before paring gains, amid a broad rebound in a European automotive sector. The Stoxx Europe 600 Autos & Parts index was quoted higher by 0.83% shortly after the opening bell. Earlier speculation of a Justice Department lawsuit against Italian-American firm Fiat Chrysler (FCAU) - Get Free Report , and renewed focus on emissions more generally, had driven a steep sell off in the sector earlier in the week. Fiat is facing action from authorities on both sides of the Atlantic over claims that it has installed undisclosed engine management software in its engines. With the world's largest population, its second largest economy and an expanding middle class under its belt, the global order of the future will be determined in China for the world's premier auto manufacturer. The unveiling of new capacity comes just six months after BMW lost its crown as the world's largest maker of luxury cars to Mercedes-Benz maker Daimler. Once again, much of the airline industry -- key airlines, the industry trade association, and a key congressional ally -- said it was closing in on reform of the nation's antiquated air traffic control system. And once again, it remains unclear whether it will be possible to move ahead with legislation that lacks support from key players including Democrats in Congress, owners of private airplanes, several labor unions -- among them the International Association of Machinists, the industry's largest union -- and apparently, Delta Air Lines (DAL) - Get Free Report . Both Delta and the IAM have said they support ATC reform but oppose ATC privatization, which has been at the heart of the reform effort to date. A privatized ATC would be supported by user fees, paid mostly by airlines, and would have the vast advantage that commercial air travel wouldn't be so heavily reliant on Congress. Last year, ATC reform was left out of the Federal Aviation Administration authorization bill that Congress approved in July. On Wednesday, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure conducted a hearing titled, "The Need to Reform FAA and Air Traffic Control to Build a 21st Century Aviation System for America," where backers once again outlined the benefits. "Today's hearing clearly showed the need for transformational air traffic control reform," said committee Chairman Bill Shuster, (R-Pa.), the airline industry's primary ally in the reform effort, in a prepared statement released following the hearing. "I don't know how anyone watching this hearing can come to any other conclusion," Shuster said. But obstacles remain. One Washington aviation lobbyist who asked not to be named said the Senate is unlikely to go along with whatever the committee produces. Another said, "Shuster's not ready to throw in the towel," but he would be in a far stronger position if he could get help from Delta, one of the big three airlines and arguably the one with the most muscle in Washington. "Delta is a thorn in their side," the second lobbyist said, referring to the airlines aligned with A4A in seeking privatization. Another source said Delta didn't back reform last year, no bill has emerged this year and the carrier hasn't changed its position. Delta spokeswoman Elizabeth Wolf said, "Delta remains committed to working with the FAA and other aviation industry stakeholders to make U.S. airspace more efficient, with the goals of reducing delays, improving traffic flows and enhancing airline performance." But Wolf declined to say whether Delta would back ATC reform this year. In a September 2016 interview with TheStreet, Delta spokesman Trebor Banstetter said that A4A "has shown no evidence that privatizing air traffic control would do anything to actually improve U.S. airspace. "Delta does not oppose reform," Banstetter said then. "But we do oppose privatization and upheaval, which is really what {American Airlines CEO Doug} Parker and A4A are advocating. " "The nation's air traffic system needs to be modernized through next generation technologies and procedures," Banstetter said. "That process is underway and already showing benefits. "The A4A proposal to take the nation's air traffic control system away from the FAA and put it in private hands puts that modernization at risk," he said. Some speculate that Delta would back FAA privatization in return for backing from A4A and Shuster in the effort to restrict the rapid U.S. growth by subsidized Middle East airlines. That speculation is not true, Wolf said. In a recent analysis emailed to members of the Business Travel Coalition, an advocacy group, Chairman Kevin Mitchell suggested Delta would make such a deal. Last year, "Delta lobbied vigorously against ATC reform," Mitchell wrote. "It was the lone voice in the U.S. airline community touting FAA's NextGen accomplishments. It declared that FAA turned the corner on timely and cost-effective modernization, and publicly chided its competitors for blaming FAA for what Delta suggested were their own operational failings." On May 2, Shuster's committee conducted a hearing on airline customer service, a response to the April incident where a recalcitrant United passenger was dragged off an aircraft by Chicago Aviation Authority security officers. Even at that hearing, several Democratic members spoke against ATC reform. They included Rep. Dina Titus (D -Nev.), who said, "Pretty soon this committee is set to consider a proposal to privatize ATC to a corporation that will be controlled by you all, by the airlines. "It will leave customers in the lurch," Titus said. "What do you have to show that means you will be able to take over this corporation?'' United (UAL) - Get Free Report President Scott Kirby responded that "FAA is handicapped today by the model, {by} annual budgets. "The kinds of investments we would make for the future are hard for the FAA to do," he said. "You have more sophisticated GDS technology in your car than we have. The FAA "does a wonderful job," Kirby said. "But the process is designed to be difficult." This article is commentary by an independent contributor. At the time of publication, the author held no positions in the stocks mentioned. North Korea wants the Trump administration to soften its "hostile policy" against the nuclear armed nation before peace talks can begin, the country's envoy to the United Nations said Friday. "As everybody knows, the Americans have gestured (toward) dialogue. But what is important is not words, but actions," North Korea's Deputy U.N. Ambassador Kim In Ryong told reporters on Friday. "The rolling back of the hostile policy toward DPRK is the prerequisite for solving all the problems in the Korean Peninsula," Ryong said. Over on Real Money Jim Cramer give advice to investors looking at how to play the Trump Trade. Get his insights or analysis with a free trial subscription to Real Money. The Securities and Exchange Commission charged Robert W. Murray, a mechanical engineer in Virginia, with fraud for manipulating the stock price of Fitbit (FIT) - Get Free Report with a phony regulatory filing. Murray is accused of purchasing Fitbit call options minutes before a fake tender offer that he orchestrated for Fitbit was placed in the SEC's EDGAR system. Fitbit's stock spiked on November 10 when the filing became public knowledge and Murray sold his options for $3,100. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York also filed criminal charges against Murray. Over on Real Money Jim Cramer give advice to investors looking at how to play the Trump Trade. Get his insights or analysis with a free trial subscription to Real Money. Minutes after Donald Trump took off for his first foreign trip as president, reports surfaced that one of his senior advisers is under scrutiny in the Russian collusion investigation and further details were revealed indicating his firing of the FBI director was an attempt to curb the probe into the matter. A law enforcement investigation into coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign has identified someone currently working in the White House as a significant person of interest, the Washington Post reported on Friday. Concurrently, the New York Times is reporting that Trump told Russian diplomats in a meeting in the Oval Office last week that firing "nut job" FBI head James Comey had eased "great pressure" on him. The White House official under the microscope is someone close to the president, people familiar with the matter told the Post, though they would not further identify the individual. They said the probe will likely accelerate in the coming weeks, and while a current Trump official is under scrutiny, investigators are more focused on former Trump advisers and aides, including former national security adviser Michael Flynn and former campaign chairman Paul Manafort. Trump's son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner, Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson have acknowledged contacts with Russian officials. Sessions said he would recuse himself from any matters related to the Russia investigation after it was revealed he had met with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak. The Justice Department on Wednesday named former FBI director Robert Mueller as special counsel on the Russia probe. Separately, the Times reports that Trump bragged to Kislyak and Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov about firing former FBI head Comey. The pair met with him in the Oval Office the day after the ouster. "I just fired the head of the FBI. He was crazy, a real nut job," Trump said, according to a document summarizing the meeting read to the Times. "I faced great pressure because of Russia. That's taken off." The reports top off a chaotic couple of weeks in Washington. Trump's May 9 decision of fire Comey has set off a series of events and fueled speculation surrounding the Russia investigation. This week, it was reported that Trump revealed classified information on ISIS provided by the Israelis in his meeting with the Russians. Reports of a memo from Comey indicating Trump had asked him to drop an investigation into Flynn rocked Washington and Wall Street. Trump on Friday took off for a nine-day trip abroad, his first as president. Earlier this week, he slammed the decision to appoint special counsel on Twitter and called the investigation "the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history." When asked by a reporter on Thursday if he had urged Comey to back down on Flynn, he responded curtly, "No, no, next question." Ciena Corporation provides network hardware, software, and services that support the transport, routing, switching, aggregation, service delivery, and management of video, data, and voice traffic on communications networks worldwide. The company's Networking Platforms segment offers hardware networking products and solutions that optimized for the convergence of coherent optical transport, optical transport network switching, and packet switching. Its products include 6500 Packet-Optical Platform, 5430 Reconfigurable Switching System, Waveserver stackable interconnect system, and the 6500 Reconfigurable line system, and the 5400 family of Packet-Optical platforms, as well as Z-Series Packet-Optical Platform; 3000 family of service delivery switches and service aggregation switches, and the 5000 family of service aggregation switches, as well as 8700 Packetwave Platform and the Ethernet packet configuration for the 5410 Service Aggregation Switch; and 6500 Packet Transport System. This segment also sells operating system software and enhanced software features embedded in each of its products. The company's Blue Planet Automation Software and Services segment provides multi-domain service orchestration, inventory, route optimization and analysis, network function virtualization orchestration, analytics, and related services. Its Platform Software and Service segment offers OneControl unified management system and platform software services, as well as manage, control, and plan software. The company's Global Services segment provides consulting and network design, installation and deployment, maintenance support, and training services. The company sells its products through direct and indirect sales channels to network operators. Ciena Corporation was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Hanover, Maryland. CA, Inc., doing business as CA technologies, develops, markets, delivers, and licenses software products and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Mainframe Solutions, Enterprise Solutions, and Services. The Mainframe Solutions segment offers solutions for the IBM z Systems platform, which runs various mission critical business applications. Its mainframe solutions enable customers enhance economics by increasing throughput and lowering cost per transaction; increasing business agility through DevOps tooling and processes; increasing reliability and availability of operations through machine intelligence and automation solutions; and protecting enterprise data with security and compliance. The Enterprise Solutions segment provides a range of software planning, development, and management tools for mobile, cloud, and distributed computing environments. It primarily provides customers secure application development, infrastructure management, automation, and identity-centric security solutions. The Services segment offers various services, such as consulting, implementation, application management, education, and support services to commercial and government customers for implementation and adoption of its software solutions. The company serves banks, insurance companies, other financial services providers, government agencies, information technology service providers, telecommunication providers, transportation companies, manufacturers, technology companies, retailers, educational organizations, and health care institutions. It sells its products through direct sales force, as well as through various partner channels comprising resellers, service providers, system integrators, managed service providers, and technology partners. The company was formerly known as Computer Associates International, Inc. and changed its name to CA, Inc. in 2006. CA, Inc. was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in New York, New York. W. R. Berkley Corporation was founded in 1967 by W.R. Berkley with the goal of creating sustainable, long-term value. As of November 2022, Mr. Berkley remained as executive chairman with his son W.R. Berkley Jr. in the CEO's office. The company is based in Greenwich, Connecticut, and operates as an insurance holding company in the U.S. and internationally. It is one of the largest commercial lines insurers in the US and has more than 190 offices worldwide. The companys operations have grown steadily since its founding, including several key acquisitions. The company now operates in two segments which are Insurance and Reinsurance & Monoline Excess. The Insurance segment underwrites commercial insurance businesses of all varieties. The Reinsurance & Monoline Excess segment provides reinsurance services to other insurance agencies and self-insured organizations. W. R. Berkley Corporation went public in 1973 and is now listed 397th on the Forbes Fortune 500 list. There are more than 50 businesses operating under the Berkley umbrella. They each capitalize on niche markets that require specialized knowledge about industries, regions, or business structures. The companys goal is to create peace of mind, both by simplifying the insurance buying process and by providing the insurance products its customers need. W. R. Berkley was added to the S&P 500 in 2019. The companys market cap grew more than 20% or over $1 billion in the first year alone. As of November 2022, the company is worth upwards of $19.5 billion or more than a 200% increase since its launch. The companys underlying insurance businesses are all rated A+ by Standard & Poors and A.M. Best. Some of the key businesses and industries served by W.R. Berkley include but are not limited to agribusiness, cannabis, energy, environmental, hospitality, manufacturing, public entity, retail, and transportation. Some of the products offered include but are not limited to workers' compensation, general liability, commercial auto & trucking, accident & health, cyber, and property. In 2021, the company brought in more than $9.5 billion in revenue and produced a 16.2% return on stockholders' equity. The Toronto-Dominion Bank, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial products and services in Canada, the United States, and internationally. It operates through Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking, U.S. Retail, Wealth Management and Insurance, and Wholesale Banking segments. The company offers personal deposits, such as checking, savings, and investment products; financing, investment, cash management, international trade, and day-to-day banking services to businesses; and financing options to customers at point of sale for automotive and recreational vehicle purchases. It also provides credit cards and payments; real estate secured lending, auto finance, and consumer lending services; point-of-sale payment solutions for large and small businesses; wealth and asset management products, and advice to retail and institutional clients through direct investing, advice-based, and asset management businesses; and property and casualty insurance, as well as life and health insurance products. The company also provides capital markets, and corporate and investment banking products and services, including underwriting and distribution of new debt and equity issues; advice on strategic acquisitions and divestitures; and trading, funding, and investment services to corporations, governments, and institutions. It offers its products and services under the TD Bank and America's Most Convenient Bank brand names. The company operates through a network of 1,061 branches and 3,381 automated teller machines (ATMs) in Canada, and 1,148 stores and 2,701 ATMs in the United States, as well as offers telephone, digital, and mobile banking services. It has a strategic alliance with Canada Post Corporation. The Toronto-Dominion Bank was founded in 1855 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. The following companies are subsidiares of PepsiCo: Alimentos Quaker Oats y Compania Limitada, Alimentos del Istmo S.A., Amavale Agricola Ltda., Anderson Hill Insurance Limited, Asia Bottlers Limited, BAESA Capital Corporation Ltd., BFY Brands, BFY Brands LLC, BFY Brands Limited, BUG de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Balmoral Industries LLC, Bare Foods Co., Barrhead LLC, Be & Cheery, Beaman Bottling Company, Bebidas Sudamerica S.A., Beech Limited, Bell Taco Funding Syndicate, Bendler Investments II Ltd, Bendler Investments S.a r.l, Beverage Services Limited, Beverages Foods & Service Industries Inc., Bishkeksut OJSC, Blaue NC S. de R.L. de C.V., Blue Cloud Distribution Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Arizona Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Arkansas Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Colorado Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Florida Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Georgia Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Illinois Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Indiana Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Iowa Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Kentucky Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Louisiana Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Minnesota Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Mississippi Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Missouri Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Nebraska Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Nevada Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of North Carolina Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Ohio Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Oklahoma Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Pennsylvania Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of South Carolina Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Tennessee Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Texas Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Virginia Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Wisconsin Inc., Blue Ridge Sales LLC, Bluebird Foods Limited, Bluecan Holdings Unlimited Company, Bokomo Zambia Limited, Bolsherechensky Molkombinat JSC, Boquitas Fiestas LLC, Boquitas Fiestas S.R.L., Bottling Group Financing LLC, Bottling Group Holdings LLC, Bottling Group LLC, Bronte Industries Ltd, C & I Leasing Inc., CB Manufacturing Company Inc., CEME Holdings LLC, CMC Investment Company, Caroni Investments LLC, Centro-Mediterranea de Bebidas Carbonicas PepsiCo S.L., Ceres Fruit Juices Pty Ltd, ChampBev Inc., China Concentrate Holdings Hong Kong Limited, Chipsy International for Food Industries S.A.E., Chipsy for Food Industries S.A.E., Chitos Internacional y Cia Ltda, Cipa Industrial de Produtos Alimentares Ltda., Cipa Nordeste Industrial de Produtos Alimentares Ltda., Cocina Autentica Inc., Comercializadora CMC Investment y Compania Limitada, Comercializadora Nacional SAS Ltda., Comercializadora PepsiCo Mexico S de R.L. de C.V., Compania de Bebidas PepsiCo S.L., Concentrate Holding Uruguay Pte. Ltd., Concentrate Manufacturing Singapore Pte. Ltd., Confiteria Alegro S. de R.L. de C.V., Copella Fruit Juices Limited, Copper Beech International LLC, Corina Snacks Limited, Corporativo Internacional Mexicano S. de R.L. de C.V., CytoSport Holdings Inc., CytoSport Inc., Davlyn Realty Corporation, Defosto Holdings Limited, Desarrollo Inmobiliario Gamesa S. de R.L. de C.V., Dilexis S.A., Donon Holdings Limited, Drinkfinity USA Inc., Drinkstation Inc., Drinkstation Innovation Co. Ltd., Drinkstation Limited, Dutch Snacks Holding S.A. de C.V., Duyvis Production B.V., EPIC Enterprises Inc., Echo Bay Holdings Inc., Elaboradora Argentina de Cereales S.R.L., Enter Logistica LLC, Environ at Inverrary Partnership, Environ of Inverrary Inc., Eridanus Investments S.a r.l, Evercrisp Snack Productos de Chile S.A., FL Transportation Inc., FLI Andean LLC, FLI Colombia LLC, FLI Snacks Andean GP LLC, Fabrica PepsiCo Mexicali S. de R.L. de C.V., Fabrica de Productos Alimenticios Rene y Cia S.C.A., Fairlight International SRL, Far East Bottlers Hong Kong Limited, Food Concepts Pioneer Ltd., Forest Akers Nederland B.V., Forty-Six Peaks Holding Inc., Fovarosi Asvanyviz es Uditoipari Zartkoruen Mukodo Reszvenytarsasag, Freshwater International B.V., Frito Lay Gida Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, Frito Lay Poland Sp. z o.o., Frito Lay Sp. z o.o., Frito Lay de Guatemala y Compania Limitada, Frito-Lay Australia Holdings Pty Limited, Frito-Lay Dip Company Inc., Frito-Lay Dominicana S.A., Frito-Lay Global Investments B.V., Frito-Lay Inc., Frito-Lay Investments B.V., Frito-Lay Manufacturing LLC, Frito-Lay Netherlands Holding B.V., Frito-Lay North America Inc., Frito-Lay Sales Inc., Frito-Lay Trading Company Europe GmbH, Frito-Lay Trading Company GmbH, Frito-Lay Trading Company Poland GmbH, Frito-Lay Trinidad Unlimited, Fruko Mesrubat Sanayi Limited Sirketi, GB Czech LLC, GB International Inc., GB Russia LLC, GB Slovak LLC, GMP Manufacturing Inc., Gambrinus Investments Limited, Gamesa LLC, Gamesa S. de R.L. de C.V., Gas Natural de Merida S. A. de C. V., Gatorade Puerto Rico Company, General Bottlers of Hungary Inc., Golden Grain Company, Goveh S.R.L., Grayhawk Leasing LLC, Green Hemlock International LLC, Grupo Frito Lay y Compania Limitada, Grupo Gamesa S. de R.L. de C.V., Grupo Mabel, Grupo Sabritas S. de R.L. de C.V., Gulkevichskiy Maslozavod JSC, Hangzhou Baicaowei Corporate Management Consulting Co. Ltd., Hangzhou Haomusi Food Co, Hangzhou Haomusi Food Co. Ltd., Hangzhou Tao Dao Technology Co. Ltd., Health Warrior, Health Warrior Inc., Heathland LP, Helioscope Limited, Hillbrook Inc., Hillgrove Inc., Hillwood Bottling LLC, Hogganfield Limited Partnership, Holding Company "Opolie" JSC, Homefinding Company of Texas, Hudson Valley Insurance Company, IC Equities Inc., IZZE Beverage Co., Inmobiliaria Interamericana S.A. De C.V., Integrated Beverage Services Bangladesh Limited, Integrated Foods & Beverages Pvt. Ltd., International Bottlers Management Co. LLC, International KAS Aktiengesellschaft, Inversiones Borneo S.R.L., Inversiones PFI Chile Limitada, Inviting Foods Holdings Inc., Inviting Foods LLC, KAS Anorthosis S.a r.l, KAS S.L., KFC, Kevita Inc., Kinvara LLC, Kungursky Molkombinat JSC, Larragana S.L., Latin American Holdings Ltd., Latin American Snack Foods ApS, Latin Foods International LLC, Lebedyansky, Lebedyansky Holdings LLC, Lebedyansky LLC, Limited Liability Company "Sandora", Linkbay Limited, Lithuanian Snacks UAB, Mabel, Marbo Product d.o.o. Beograd, Marbo d.o.o. Laktasi, Matudis - Comercio de Produtos Alimentares Limitada, Matutano - Sociedade de Produtos Alimentares Lda., Mid-America Improvement Corporation, Mountainview Insurance Company Inc., Muscle Milk, NCJV LLC, New Bern Transport Corporation, New Century Beverage Company LLC, Noble Leasing LLC, Northeast Hot-Fill Co-op Inc., Office at Solyanka LLC, Onbiso Inversiones S.L., One World Enterprises LLC, One World Investors Inc., P-A Barbados Bottling Company LLC, P-A Bottlers Barbados SRL, P-Americas LLC, PAS Luxembourg S.a r.l, PAS Netherlands B.V., PBG Canada Holdings II LLC, PBG Canada Holdings Inc., PBG Cyprus Holdings Limited, PBG Investment Partnership, PBG Midwest Holdings S.a r.l, PBG Soda Can Holdings S.a r.l, PCBL LLC, PCNA Manufacturing Inc., PR Beverages Cyprus Holding Limited, PR Beverages Cyprus Russia Holding Limited, PRB Luxembourg S.a r.l, PRS Inc., PSAS Inversiones LLC, PSE Logistica S.R.L., PT Quaker Indonesia, Papas Chips S.A., Pei N.V., Pep Trade LLC, Pepsi B.V., Pepsi Beverages Holdings Inc., Pepsi Bottling Group Global Finance LLC, Pepsi Bottling Group GmbH, Pepsi Bottling Group Hoosiers B.V., Pepsi Bottling Holdings Inc., Pepsi Bugshan Investments S.A.E., Pepsi Cola Colombia Ltda, Pepsi Cola Egypt S.A.E., Pepsi Cola Panamericana S.R.L., Pepsi Cola Servis Ve Dagitim Limited Sirketi, Pepsi Cola Trading Ireland, Pepsi Logistics Company Inc., Pepsi Northwest Beverages LLC, Pepsi Overseas Investments Partnership, Pepsi Promotions Inc., Pepsi-Cola Advertising and Marketing Inc., Pepsi-Cola Bermuda Limited, Pepsi-Cola Bottlers Holding C.V., Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company Of St. Louis Inc., Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Ft. Lauderdale-Palm Beach LLC, Pepsi-Cola Company, Pepsi-Cola Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Pepsi-Cola Far East Trade Development Co. Inc., Pepsi-Cola Finance LLC, Pepsi-Cola General Bottlers Poland Sp. z o.o., Pepsi-Cola Industrial da Amazonia Ltda., Pepsi-Cola International Cork, Pepsi-Cola International LLC, Pepsi-Cola International Limited, Pepsi-Cola International Limited U.S.A., Pepsi-Cola International Private Limited, Pepsi-Cola Korea Co. Ltd., Pepsi-Cola Management and Administrative Services Inc., Pepsi-Cola Manufacturing Company Of Uruguay S.R.L., Pepsi-Cola Manufacturing International Limited, Pepsi-Cola Manufacturing Mediterranean Limited, Pepsi-Cola Marketing Corp. Of P.R. Inc., Pepsi-Cola Mediterranean Ltd., Pepsi-Cola Metropolitan Bottling Company Inc., Pepsi-Cola Mexicana Holdings LLC, Pepsi-Cola Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Pepsi-Cola National Marketing LLC, Pepsi-Cola Operating Company Of Chesapeake And Indianapolis, Pepsi-Cola Sales and Distribution Inc., Pepsi-Cola Technical Operations Inc., Pepsi-Cola Thai Trading Co. Ltd., Pepsi-Cola de Honduras S.R.L., Pepsi-Cola of Corvallis Inc., PepsiAmericas Nemzetkozi Szolgaltato Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, PepsiCo ANZ Holdings Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Alimentos Antioquia Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos Colombia Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos Ecuador Cia. Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos Z.F. Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos de Bolivia S.R.L., PepsiCo Amacoco Bebidas Do Brasil Ltda., PepsiCo Asia Research & Development Center Company Limited, PepsiCo Australia Financing Cyprus Limited, PepsiCo Australia Financing Limited Partnership, PepsiCo Australia Financing Partner 1 LLC, PepsiCo Australia Financing Partner 2 LLC, PepsiCo Australia Financing Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Australia Holdings Pty Limited, PepsiCo Australia International, PepsiCo Austria Services GmbH, PepsiCo Azerbaijan Limited Liability Company, PepsiCo BeLux BV, PepsiCo Beverage Sales LLC, PepsiCo Beverage Singapore Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Beverages Bermuda Limited, PepsiCo Beverages Hong Kong Limited, PepsiCo Beverages International Limited, PepsiCo Beverages Italia Societa' A Responsabilita' Limitata, PepsiCo Canada Finance LLC, PepsiCo Canada Holdings ULC, PepsiCo Canada Investment ULC, PepsiCo Canada ULC, PepsiCo Captive Holdings Inc., PepsiCo Caribbean Inc., PepsiCo China Limited, PepsiCo Consulting Polska Sp. z o.o., PepsiCo De Bolivia S.R.L., PepsiCo Del Paraguay S.R.L., PepsiCo Deutschland GmbH, PepsiCo Eesti AS, PepsiCo Euro Bermuda Limited, PepsiCo Euro Finance Antilles B.V., PepsiCo Europe Support Center S.L., PepsiCo Finance Americas Company, PepsiCo Finance Antilles A N.V., PepsiCo Finance Antilles B N.V., PepsiCo Finance South Africa Proprietary Limited, PepsiCo Financial Shared Services Inc., PepsiCo Food & Beverage Holdings Hong Kong Limited, PepsiCo Foods A.I.E., PepsiCo Foods China Company Limited, PepsiCo Foods Group Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Foods Guangdong Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Foods Nigeria Limited, PepsiCo Foods Private Limited, PepsiCo Foods Sichuan Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Foods Taiwan Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Foods Vietnam Company, PepsiCo France SAS, PepsiCo Global Business Services India LLP, PepsiCo Global Business Services Poland Sp. z o.o., PepsiCo Global Holdings Limited, PepsiCo Global Investments B.V., PepsiCo Global Investments S.a r.l, PepsiCo Global Mobility LLC, PepsiCo Global Real Estate Inc., PepsiCo Global Trading Solutions Unlimited Company, PepsiCo Golden Holdings Inc., PepsiCo Group Finance International B.V., PepsiCo Group Holdings International B.V., PepsiCo Group Spotswood Holdings S.a r.l, PepsiCo Gulf International FZE, PepsiCo Hellas Single Member Industrial and Commercial Societe Anonyme, PepsiCo Holding de Espana S.L., PepsiCo Holdings, PepsiCo Holdings LLC, PepsiCo Holdings Toshkent LLC, PepsiCo Hong Kong LLC, PepsiCo Iberia Servicios Centrales S.L., PepsiCo India Holdings Private Limited, PepsiCo India Sales Private Limited, PepsiCo Internacional Mexico S. de R. L. de C. V., PepsiCo International Hong Kong Limited, PepsiCo International Limited, PepsiCo International Pte Ltd., PepsiCo Investments Europe I B.V., PepsiCo Investments Ltd., PepsiCo Ireland Food & Beverages Unlimited Company, PepsiCo Japan Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Light B.V., PepsiCo Logistyka Sp. z o.o., PepsiCo Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., PepsiCo Management Services SAS, PepsiCo Manufacturing A.I.E., PepsiCo Max B.V., PepsiCo Mexico Holdings S. de R.L. de C.V., PepsiCo Nederland B.V., PepsiCo Nordic Denmark ApS, PepsiCo Nordic Finland Oy, PepsiCo Nordic Norway AS, PepsiCo Nutrition Trading DMCC, PepsiCo One B.V., PepsiCo Overseas Corporation, PepsiCo Overseas Financing Partnership, PepsiCo Panimex Inc, PepsiCo Products B.V., PepsiCo Products FLLC, PepsiCo Puerto Rico Inc., PepsiCo Sales Inc., PepsiCo Sales LLC, PepsiCo Services Asia Ltd., PepsiCo Services CZ s.r.o., PepsiCo Services LLC, PepsiCo Twist B.V., PepsiCo UK Pension Plan Trustee Limited, PepsiCo Ventures B.V., PepsiCo Wave Holdings LLC, PepsiCo World Trading Company Inc., PepsiCo Y LLC, PepsiCo de Argentina S.R.L., PepsiCo de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., PepsiCo do Brasil Industria e Comercio de Alimentos Ltda., PepsiCo do Brasil Ltda., PepsiCola Interamericana de Guatemala S.A., Pet Iberia S.L., Pete & Johnny Limited, Pine International LLC, Pine International Limited, Pinstripe Leasing LLC, Pioneer Food Group Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods Groceries Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods Group Ltd., Pioneer Foods Holdings Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods UK Ltd, Pioneer Foods Wellingtons Pty Ltd, Pipers Crisps Limited, PlayCo Inc., Pop corners, PopCorners Holdings Inc., Portfolio Concentrate Solutions Unlimited Company, Premier Nutrition Trading L.L.C., Prestwick LLC, Prev PepsiCo Sociedade Previdenciaria, Productos Alimenticios Rene LLC, Productos S.A.S. C.V., Productos SAS Management B.V., Punch N.V., Punica Getranke GmbH, Q O Puerto Rico Inc., QFL OHQ Sdn. Bhd., QTG Development Inc., QTG Services Inc., Quadrant - Amroq Beverages S.R.L., Quaker Development B.V., Quaker European Beverages LLC, Quaker European Investments B.V., Quaker Foods, Quaker Global Investments B.V., Quaker Holdings UK Limited, Quaker Manufacturing LLC, Quaker Oats Asia Inc., Quaker Oats Australia Pty Ltd, Quaker Oats B.V., Quaker Oats Capital Corporation, Quaker Oats Europe Inc., Quaker Oats Europe LLC, Quaker Oats Limited, Quaker Sales & Distribution Inc, Raptas Finance S.a r.l., Rare Fare Foods LLC, Rare Fare Holdings Inc., Reading Industries Ltd, Real Estate Holdings LLC, Rockstar Energy Drink, Rolling Frito-Lay Sales LP, S & T of Mississippi Inc., SIH International LLC, SVC Logistics Inc., SVC Manufacturing Inc., SVE Russia Holdings GmbH, Sabritas LLC, Sabritas S. de R.L. de C.V., Sabritas Snacks America Latina de Nicaragua y Cia Ltda, Sabritas de Costa Rica S. de R.L., Sabritas y Cia. S en C de C.V., Sakata Rice Snacks Australia Pty Ltd, Sandora Holdings B.V., Saudi Snack Foods Company Limited, Sea Eagle International SRL, Seepoint Holdings Ltd., Senselet Food Processing PLC, Senselet Holding B.V., Servicios GBF Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada, Servicios GFLG y Compania Limitada, Servicios Gamesa Puerto Rico L.L.C., Servicios SYC S. de R.L. de C.V., Seven-Up Asia Inc., Seven-Up Light B.V., Seven-Up Nederland B.V., Shanghai PepsiCo Snack Company Limited, Shanghai YuHo Agricultural Development Co. Ltd, Shoebill LLC, Simba (Proprietary) Limited, Simba Proprietary Limited, Sitka Spruce, Smartfoods Inc., Smiles and Bites Holdings S.de R.L. de C.V., Smiths Crisps Limited, Snack Food Investments GmbH, Snack Food Investments II GmbH, Snack Food Investments Limited, Snack Food-Beverage Asia Products Limited, Snacks America Latina S.R.L., Snacks Guatemala Ltd., So Spark Ltd., Soda-Club CO2 Atlantic GmbH, Soda-Club CO2 GmbH, Soda-Club CO2 Ltd., Soda-Club Switzerland GmbH, Soda-Club Worldwide B.V., SodaStream, SodaStream Australia Pty Ltd, SodaStream CO2 SA, SodaStream Canada Ltd., SodaStream Enterprises N.V., SodaStream France SAS, SodaStream GmbH, SodaStream Iberia S.L., SodaStream Industries Ltd., SodaStream International B.V., SodaStream International Ltd., SodaStream Israel Ltd., SodaStream K.K., SodaStream New Zealand Ltd., SodaStream Nordics AB, SodaStream Poland Sp. z o.o., SodaStream SA Pty Ltd., SodaStream Switzerland GmbH, SodaStream USA Inc., SodaStream Osterreich GmbH, South Beach Beverage Company Inc., South Properties Inc., Spitz International Inc., Sportmex Internacional S.A. de C.V., Springboig Industries Ltd, Spruce Limited, Stacy's Pita Chip Company Incorporated, Star Foods E.M. S.R.L., Stokely-Van Camp Inc., Stratosphere Communications Pty Ltd, Stratosphere Holdings 2018 Limited, Streamfoods Ltd, TFL Holdings LLC, Tasman Finance S.a r.l, The Gatorade Company, The Good Carb Food Company Ltd., The Pepsi Bottling Group Canada ULC, The Quaker Oats Company, The Smith's Snackfood Company Pty Limited, Thomond Group Holdings Limited, Tobago Snack Holdings LLC, Tropicana Alvalle S.L., Tropicana Beverages Limited, Tropicana Europe N.V., Tropicana United Kingdom Limited, Troya-Ultra LLC, United Foods Companies Restaurantes S.A., V-Water, VentureCo Israel Ltd, Veurne Snack Foods BV, Vitamin Brands Ltd., Walkers Crisps Limited, Walkers Group Limited, Walkers Snack Foods Limited, Walkers Snacks Distribution Limited, Walkers Snacks Limited, Whitman Corporation, Whitman Insurance Co. Ltd., Wimm-Bill-Dann Beverages JSC, Wimm-Bill-Dann Brands Co. Ltd., Wimm-Bill-Dann Central Asia-Almaty LLP, Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods LLC, Wimm-Bill-Dann Georgia Ltd., Wimm-Bill-Dann JSC, and Wimm-Bill-Dann Ukraine PJSC. Read More 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. The following companies are subsidiares of Dover: APM Grundstucksverwaltungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, Accelerated Production Systems, Acme Cryo Intermediate Inc., Acme Cryogenics, Acme Cryogenics Inc., Acme Elevator, Advansor A/S, Advansor Dover International (Poland) sp. z o.o., Advansor Germany GmbH, Alfred Fueling Systems Holdco Ltd., Alfred Fueling Systems Inc., Alfred Fueling Systems Intermediate Holdco Ltd., All-Flo Pump Company, Anman LLC, Anthony Equity Holdings Inc., Anthony Holdings Inc., Anthony Inc., Anthony International, Anthony International Foreign Sales Corp., Anthony International Holding Company, Anthony Mexico Holdings LLC, Anthony North Holdco Inc., Anthony Specialty Glass LLC, Anthony TemperBent GP LLC, Audax ECII Blocker Inc., Auto Glanz Solutions LLC, AvaLAN Wireless Systems Incorporated, BELVAC CR spol s r.o., BSC Filters Limited, Belanger, Belanger Inc., Belvac Middle East FZE, Belvac Production Machinery Inc., Blackmer, BlitzRotary GmbH, Blue Bite LLC, Blue Bite LLC, Butler Engineering and Marketing S.P.A., CDS Visual, CDS Visual Inc., CEP Liquidation LLC, CP Formation LLC, CPC Europe Inc., CPI Products Inc., Caldera, Canada Organization & Development LLC, Chief Automotive Technologies (Shanghai) Trading Company Ltd., Chippewa Square Captive Insurance Company, Colder Products Company, Colder Products Company GmbH, Colder Products Company LTD, Cook Compression LLC, Cook Compression Limited, Cook-MFS Inc., Cryogenic Experts LLC, DD1 Inc., DDI Properties Inc., DE-STA-CO Benelux B.V., DE-STA-CO FRANCE, DE-STA-CO Shanghai Co. Ltd., DESTACO UK Limited, DFH Corporation, DFS Netherlands B.V., Datamax International Corp, De Sta Co (Asia) Company Limited, De-Sta-Co Cylinders Inc., DeStaCo Europe GmbH, Delaware Capital Formation Inc., Delaware Capital Holdings Inc., Dositec Sistemas SL, Dosmatic U.S.A. Inc., Dover (China) Investment Co. Ltd., Dover (Schweiz) Holding GmbH, Dover (Shanghai) Industrial Co. Ltd., Dover (Shenzhen) Industrial Equipment Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Dover (Suzhou) Industrial Equipment Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Dover Asia Trading Private Ltd., Dover Australia Holdings Pty Limited, Dover Business Services EMEA Limited, Dover Business Services Europe S.R.L., Dover Business Services LLC, Dover Business Services Philippines Corporation, Dover CLP Formation Limited Partnership, Dover Canada Holdings ULC, Dover Canada Operations ULC, Dover Corporation Regional Headquarters, Dover DEI Services Inc., Dover Denmark Holdings ApS, Dover EMEA FZCO, Dover Energy UK Ltd, Dover Engineered Products Segment Inc., Dover Europe Inc., Dover Europe Sarl, Dover Fluids UK Ltd, Dover France Holdings, Dover France Participations, Dover France Technologies, Dover Fueling Solutions Segment Inc., Dover Fueling Solutions UK Limited, Dover Germany GmbH, Dover Global Holdings LLC, Dover Holdings de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Dover Imaging & Identification Segment Inc., Dover India Pvt. Ltd., Dover Intercompany Services UK Limited, Dover International B.V., Dover International Operations Inc., Dover International Ventures Inc., Dover International ithalat ihracat ve Pazarlama Limited Sirketi, Dover Italy Holdings S.r.l., Dover Luxembourg Finance Sarl, Dover Luxembourg Participations Sarl, Dover Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Dover Luxembourg Services Sarl, Dover Operations South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Dover Overseas Ventures Inc., Dover Pumps & Process Solutions Segment Inc., Dover Refrigeration & Food Equipment Segment Inc., Dover Refrigeration & Food Equipment UK Ltd, Dover Resources International de Mexico S. de R.L. C.V., Dover Solutions Colombia SAS, Dover Southeast Asia (Thailand) Ltd., Dover Spain Holdings S.L., Dover Switzerland Participations GmbH, Dover UK Pensions Limited, Dover WSCR Holding LLC, Dover WSCR LLC, Dover do Brasil Ltda., Dow-Key Microwave Corporation, Dresser Wayne Data Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Dresser Wayne Fuel Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ECI - IGT Holdings LLC, ECI Holding Company LLC, ECI RegO S. de R.L. de C.V, ECI RegO Servicios S. de R.L. de C.V., ECII (Mexico) LLC, EOA Systems Inc., Ebs-Ray Holdings Pty Ltd, Ebs-Ray Industries Pty Ltd, Ebs-Ray Pumps Pty Ltd, Em-Tec, Engineered Controls International LLC, Espy, Ettlinger, Ettlinger Kunststoffmaschinen GmbH, Fairbanks Environmental Limited, Fibrelite Composites Limited, Fibresec Holdings Limited, Fibresec Limited, Finder, GAL LLC, GIIER LLC, Gala Industries, Guangdong Tokheim LIYUAN Oil Industry Technology Limited Company, Highland Park Insurance Company, Hill PHOENIX Inc., Hill PHOENIX WIC LLC, Hill Phoenix Costa Rica Sociedad De Responsabilidad Limitada, Hill Phoenix El Salvador Limitada de Capital Variable, Hill Phoenix Guatemala Sociedad Anonima, Hill Phoenix Honduras Sociedad Anonima, Hill Phoenix Nicaragua Sociedad Anonima, Hill Phoenix de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Hiltap Fittings Ltd., Hydro Systems Company, Hydro Systems Europe Ltd., Industrial Motion Control LLC, Innovative Control Systems, Innovative Control Systems Inc., Inpro/Seal LLC, JK Group, JK Group S.P.A., JK Group USA Inc., K S Boca Inc., K&L Microwave DR Inc., K&L Microwave Inc., KPS (Beijing) Petroleum Equipment Trading Co Ltd., KPS Fueling Solutions Sdn. Bhd., KPS Hong Kong Holding Limited, KPS UK Limited, KS Formation Inc., KS Liquidation Inc., KSLP Liquidation L.P., Kiian Digital (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Knappco LLC, Knowles Electronics, LIQAL, LIQAL B.V., Liquip, Liquip, Liquip International Pty Limited, MAAG, MARKEM FZ SA, MARKEM-IMAJE Corporation, MIP Holdings Inc., MS Printing Solutions, MS Printing Solutions S.R.L., Maag, Maag Automatik Plastics Machinery (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Maag Gala Inc., Maag Germany GmbH, Maag Italy S.R.L., Maag Pump Systems, Maag Pump Systems (US) Inc., Maag Pump Systems AG, Maag Reduction Inc., Maag Service (Malaysia) Sdn. Bdn., Maag Service (Taiwan) Ltd., Maag Systems (Thailand) Limited, Macro Technologies LLC, Malema, Marathon Equipment Company (Delaware), Markem Imaje Center of Competencies Spain S.L.U., Markem-Imaje, Markem-Imaje (China) Co. Limited, Markem-Imaje - Unipessoal Lda, Markem-Imaje A/S, Markem-Imaje AB, Markem-Imaje AG, Markem-Imaje AS, Markem-Imaje B.V., Markem-Imaje CSAT GmbH, Markem-Imaje Co. Ltd., Markem-Imaje GmbH, Markem-Imaje Holding, Markem-Imaje Identificacao de Produtos Ltda., Markem-Imaje Inc., Markem-Imaje India Private Limited, Markem-Imaje Industries, Markem-Imaje Industries Limited, Markem-Imaje KK, Markem-Imaje LLC, Markem-Imaje Limited, Markem-Imaje Ltd., Markem-Imaje N.V., Markem-Imaje Oy, Markem-Imaje Philippines Corporation, Markem-Imaje Pty. Ltd., Markem-Imaje S.A., Markem-Imaje S.A. de C.V., Markem-Imaje S.r.l., Markem-Imaje SAS, Markem-Imaje Sdn. Bhd., Markem-Imaje Singapore Pte. Ltd., Markem-Imaje Spain S.A., Markpoint Holding AB, Midland Manufacturing LLC, Midwest Cryogenics Inc., Mouvex, Northeast Services Inc., Northern Lights (Nevada) Inc., Northern Lights Funding LP, Northern Lights Investments LLC, Nova Controls Inc., OK International, OK International Holdings Inc., OK International Inc., OK International Ltd., OPW Engineered Systems LLC, OPW Fluid Transfer Group Europe B.V., OPW Fluid Transfer Solutions (Jiang Su) Co. Ltd., OPW Fluids Group Inc., OPW Fuel Management Systems Inc., OPW Fueling Components (SuZhou) Co. Ltd., OPW Fueling Components LLC, OPW Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., OPW Slovakia s.r.o., OPW Sweden AB, Officine Meccaniche Sirio S.R.L., PDQ Manufacturing, PDQ Manufacturing Inc., PISCES by OPW Inc., PSD Codax Holdings Limited, PSD Codax Limited, PSG (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PSG (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., PSG California LLC, PSG Germany GmbH, Petro Vend Sp. z o.o., Pike Machine Products Inc., Pole/Zero Acquisition Inc., Precision Brasil Equipamentos E Servicos Para Postos De Combustiveis Ltda., Precision Service - Servicos De Manutencao E Instalacao De Postos De Abastecimento De Combustivel Ltda., Production Control Services, Pump Management Services Co. LLC, Quantex Arc Limited, Quantex Patents Limited, RAV France, Ravaglioli S.P.A., Reduction Engineering GmbH, RegO (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., RegO Holding GmbH, RegO Products, RegO Valve (Shanghai) Company Ltd., Rego GmbH, Revod Corporation, Revod Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Revod Sweden AB, Robohand Inc., Rosario, Rosario Handel B.V., Rotary Lift Consolidated (Haimen) Co. Ltd., SE Liquidation LLC, SWEP France, SWEP Germany GmbH, SWEP Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., SWEP North America Inc., SWEP Slovakia s.r.o., SWEP Technology (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Seabiscuit Motorsports Inc., Shanghai RegO Flow Technology Company Ltd., Shine Bloom - ECI A Blocker Corp., Shine Bloom - ECI Blocker Corp., Shine Bloom - ECI S Blocker Corp., Simmons Sirvey Corporation, So. Cal. Soft-Pak, So. Cal. Soft-Pak Incorporated, Soft-Pak, Solaris Laser, Solaris Laser S.A., Somero Enterprises, Sound Solutions, Sound Solutions, Space S.R.L., Spirit, Start Italiana S.R.L., Superior Holding LLC, Superior Products LLC, Swep Energy Oy, Swep International A.B., Swep Japan K.K., Sys-Tech Solutions, Sys-Tech Solutions Inc., Systech, TQC Quantium Quality S.A. de C.V., TTSI III Inc., TWG Canada Consolidated Inc., TXHI LLC, Tartan Textile Services Inc., The Espy Corporation, The Heil Co., Tokheim, Tokheim Belgium, Tokheim China Company Limited, Tokheim GmbH, Tokheim Group, Tokheim Hengshan Technologies (Guangzhou) Co. Ltd., Tokheim Holding B.V., Tokheim India Private Limited, Tokheim Sofitam Applications, Triton Systems, Tulsa Winch Inc., UPCO Inc., US Synthetic, Unattended Payment Solutions LLC, Unified Brands, Val TemperBent Glass L.P., Vectron Frequency Devices (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Vehicle Service Group LLC, Vehicle Service Group UK Limited, Vos Food Store Equipment Ltd., WSCR Corp., Warn Automotive LLC, Warn Industries, Waukesha Bearings, Waukesha Bearings Corporation, Waukesha Bearings Limited, Waukesha Bearings Russia LLC, Wayne Fueling Systems, Wayne Fueling Systems (Rus) Limited Liability Company, Wayne Fueling Systems Australia Pty Ltd, Wayne Fueling Systems Canada ULC, Wayne Fueling Systems Italia S.R.L., Wayne Fueling Systems LLC, Wayne Fueling Systems Ltd., Wayne Fueling Systems Sweden AB, Wayne Fueling Systems UK Holdco Ltd., Wayne Industria e Comercio Ltda., WellMark, WellMark, and em-tec GmbH. Read More Like their modified van cousins and the adventurous notion of "van life", modern bus conversions for full-time living are now emerging as a thing. Of course, they've already been around for a while, but thanks to the Internet, stylish and affordable DIY bus conversions are now entering mainstream consciousness as yet another tiny-house-on-wheels alternative. Best of all, these modern bus dwellings aren't just for single individuals or couples; they can also suit families that are looking for a debt-free place to call home. That's the case with the Sullivans, a family of five from Washington state that recently moved into a 40-foot-long bus they lovingly call "Big Bertha." Watch as father Brian, who works in aerospace manufacturing (mother and interior designer Starla is the mastermind behind the layout the house) gives us a tour of the interior: BerthaTV Brian tells us that before moving into the solar-powered Big Bertha, they were living in a two-bedroom apartment 30 minutes north of Seattle, which was expensive to rent and maintain. The Sullivans were working a lot and yet still "felt trapped in negative cash flow"; they had one baby at the time and felt they couldn't spend quality time together as a family. So when Brian got a job offer a few towns away, they had to think of a plan that wouldn't involve Brian commuting several hours a day. After watching a bus conversion video, they hatched the idea to transform a bus into an ultra-portable tiny house, as buses are much more mobile than your traditional gable-roofed tiny houses. It took the family about a year of weekends to finish the whole project. Multifunctional spaces Coming into the front, one finds the mudroom where shoes are stored. This space also doubles as a workspace if needed. A big solid door separates this space from the rest of the bus and helps to maintain a consistent, comfortable temperature in the main interior spaces. BerthaTV Past the door, one sees that the central corridor has been kept for walking through, while seating and counters are placed off to either side. BerthaTV BerthaTV The seating area has two benches that have storage hidden underneath. There are extensions that can be pulled out from both benches to form a frame for a full-sized bed for guests. BerthaTV BerthaTV The kitchen is large and well-appointed as this family loves to make home-cooked meals. The large counters can be used for folding laundry or activities with the kids. The appliances, like the secondhand sub-zero refrigerator and the combo oven-microwave-toaster, are compact and efficient. Portable induction stovetops are stowed away underneath. The wire rack over the sink is dish storage and a drying rack combined (reminds us of those clever Scandinavian dish drying closets). All dry goods and perishables are stored in large drawers to eliminate visual clutter. BerthaTV BerthaTV BerthaTV Next up is the bathroom space, which has a composting toilet (compost is used for non-edible plants), a horse-trough shower-bathtub that doubles as storage, and a high-efficiency washing machine. Curtains can close this space off to turn it into a 'drying room' for laundry, as there is no dryer. The family uses cloth diapers, so that is a lot of laundry, and as Brian jokingly tells us: "We have learned to hang laundry on pretty much every surface in the bus since we do not have a dryer; everything air-dries." BerthaTV Beyond that is the kids' room. With three small but active toddler boys, safety is paramount, but so is respecting their sense of play, as seen in the bunks that have a little window and ladder, but also a baby gate to ensure no one falls out. A third bed to one side doubles as a "play-bunk", and toys are stored out of sight under this bed. All beds are full-length single beds (7 feet long) as the bus was built with longevity in mind, to accommodate the children as they grow. BerthaTV BerthaTV BerthaTV BerthaTV The parents' room is all the way in the back. The bed is built over the bump that houses the bus' innards, but there's still space to add more drawers for clothes. BerthaTV BerthaTV The interior is well-designed and full of great ideas for making a small space more multifunctional -- from storage hidden under the seating benches, to the folding tables, to the wire racks and shelves that can double as places to hang and dry clothes. Hypo-allergenic, non-toxic, durable, washable and recyclable carpet tiles were used as well as long-lasting vinyl plank flooring, while appliances were chosen for their efficiency and ability to do more than one job. All told, the 1996 Blue Bird bus was purchased for USD $2,800 at a nearby dealership. Renovations (tools, materials, paint job, appliances) cost another $25,000. Big Bertha is registered as an RV so that the family can drive it without a special license. Brian tells us what was the most important thing they discovered during the year-long process to renovate the bus: Freedom. Freedom with our money, our time and our location. [..] The most important thing in life is people, and spending the most time with our family and children was a huge priority. We were not about to sacrifice our family time to work multiple jobs, paying for a lifestyle we didn't want. [..] Less space, less stuff, less time cleaning, less stress. More time to enjoy life and our children. The Sullivans say that in their experience, a small space is perfect for raising more independent children. The kids help out with everything, and yet, if they get bored, the kids have direct access to the outside. Living only 20 minutes away from Seattle on a small piece of rented land near a nature preserve, they also have access to all that the city offers, without the high rents. It's the best of both worlds and a great example of how families don't necessarily need the huge house and mountains of stuff to be truly happy. As Brian points out: "Just because we live in a bus does not mean we are trapped in a bus." Eight employees of the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services have been referred Militants launched 40 attacks on positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in ATO area in Donbas over the past day. This is reported by the ATO press center. In Mariupol direction, militants used 120mm mortars to launch numerous attacks on Ukrainian positions outside Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol), Vodiane (16km north-west of Donetsk), Talakivka (20km north-west of Mariupol). Ukrainian soldiers in Shyrokyne also came under 122mm artillery fire. In Donetsk direction, terrorists shelled Ukrainian strongholds near Avdiivka (18km north of Donetsk), using 122mm artillery, 120mm and 82mm mortars, grenade launchers and heavy machine guns. Militants also used 82mm mortars to fire at Kamyanka (62km south of Donetsk). In Luhansk direction, illegal armed formations used 82mm mortars and grenade launchers to shell ATO troops near Troitske (69km west of Luhansk). Ukrainian servicemen came under grenade launcher and small arms fire outside Novooleksandrivka (65km west of Luhansk) and Novozvanivka (70km west of Luhansk). ol Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak has stated that Lithuania has come to the rescue of Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian aggression and now the relations between two countries only get better. The Minister said this to journalists after the official talks with Lithuanian Defense Minister Raimundas Caroblis, the Ministrys press service informs. "I express my deep gratitude to the people of Lithuania for all-round support for Ukraine in difficult times. Lithuania came to the rescue of Ukraine from the first days of Russian aggression, and our relations now only improve and reach a higher level of cooperation," Poltorak said. The defense ministers of the two countries discussed the development of cyber defense and strategic communications cooperation and agreed on joint actions within the framework of the Ukraine-NATO Commission at the ministerial level. "It is necessary to continue cooperation, increase the number of Lithuanian military instructors, who train Ukrainian servicemen, and improve this work. We should also expand international cooperation and exchange of experience in public democratic control over the Armed Forces, the cooperation at the level of special operations forces, cyber security and educational programs," Caroblis said. ol Israel is interested in speeding up the talks on conclusion of the free trade area agreement with Ukraine. This is reported by the press service of the Economic Development and Trade Ministry of Ukraine. "May 14-16, the Ukrainian delegation headed by Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman and with the participation of Deputy Economic Development and Trade Minister, Trade Representative of Ukraine Natalia Mykolska visited the State of Israel on an official visit. Ukraine and Israel confirmed their desire to sign a free trade area agreement as soon as possible," the statement reads. According to the press service, a lot of meetings were held during the visit with high-ranking officials and business representatives of Israel regarding deepening cooperation in various areas of the economy and implementing joint projects, in particular in the IT industry, cyber security, agro-industry, infrastructure, tourism, etc. The parties also separately discussed the issue of the conclusion of the Ukraine-Israel Free Trade Agreement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu noted that Israel was interested in speeding up the negotiations on conclusion of the free trade area agreement with Ukraine and added: "We want to develop commerce, trade, tourism, economic exchanges between our countries." ol Canada will struggle for observance of the rights of all the residents of Crimea. This was announced by Foreign Minister of Canada Chrystia Freeland, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "Canada will continue to call for the protection of the rights of all communities in the Crimean peninsula, including the Crimean Tatar community," Freeland said. She also reiterated Canadas unreserved condemnation of Russias illegal annexation of Crimea and the serious concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in the Crimean peninsula under continued Russian occupation. We continue to denounce the banning of the Mejlis, the governing body of the Crimean Tatars, and have called on Russia to reverse this illegal and immoral decision," the Minister said. ol Head of the EU Delegation in Ukraine, Hugh Mingarelli notes the need to continue the improvement of Ukrainian electoral legislation and renew the membership of the Central Election Commission of Ukraine. He stated this at the opening of the second Global Legislative Openness Conference in Kyiv on Friday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. Ukraine undoubtedly needs a long process of reforming the electoral legislation and renewing the membership of the Central Election Commission. I know, Mr. Parubiy, it is not a surprise for you, but for us it is really important that you progress quickly and advance in these two difficult directions, Mingarelli said, addressing Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andriy Parubiy. In his turn, Parubiy stressed that the Ukrainian Parliament was doing everything possible to ensure its openness and democracy. ol The European Union has defined its position on the issue of blocking Russian social networks and imposing sanctions on Russian IT companies in Ukraine. The EU Delegation in Ukraine said this in response to an inquiry of the Yevropeiska Pravda online newspaper. "We are aware of the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine to block a number of Russian online services, including popular social media platforms, within the framework of the restrictive measures taken by Ukraine," said Jurgis Vilcinskas, the Head of Press and Communication at the EU Delegation in Ukraine. He also stressed that the European Union "heard the public statements of the Ukrainian authorities that the decision was taken in the interests of the national information security and that Ukraine has survived numerous cyber attacks and disinformation campaigns in recent months." "We recognize that protection of the national security is the prerogative of the Ukrainian Government," the EU Delegation in Ukraine representative stressed. At the same time, he added that those arguments were not enough. "Nevertheless, we expect that the authorities should ensure that restrictive measures, taken in virtue of the national security, do not have a negative impact on the fundamental right to freedom of expression," the diplomat stressed. Vilcinskas added that the EU was still waiting for the detailed explanations from the Ukrainian authorities, "including on the temporary nature of the sanctions." ol President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has congratulated Ukrainians on the Day of Vyshyvanka (national Ukrainian embroidered shirt) and wished national clothes inspired new victories. The congratulation is published on the Facebook page of the Head of State. "Let our national clothes inspire us to gain new victories! I congratulate everyone on the Vyshyvanka Day!" the statement reads. The President published a short video on the occasion of the holiday. Ukrainian embroidered shirt preseves the traditions of our people and unites Ukrainians from west to east. This was stated by Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman in his congratulations on the occasion of the Vyshyvanka Day. "This day we honor our national protective amulet a beautiful Ukrainian embroidered shirt. It preserves the original traditions of our people and unites Ukrainians from west to east. I congratulate you on the Vyshyvanka Day!" the Head of Government posted on his Facebook page. ol On the 73rd anniversary of the deportation of the Crimean Tatar people, the Ministry of Ukraine for Temporarily Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Persons has declared that the Crimean Tatars are now experiencing, perhaps, the most terrible times since the deportation in 1944. This is reported by the press center of the Ministry of Ukraine for Temporarily Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Persons. "Crimean Tatar people are now experiencing, perhaps, the most terrible times since the deportation in 1944. The cases of the disappearance of Crimean Tatars, initiation of proceedings on trumped-up charges, long terms of imprisonment, ban on the Mejlis, creation of controlled self-government bodies, discrediting of representatives of the Crimean Tatar community in the media, ban on entry to Crimea for large number of Ukrainian citizens, ban on rallies these are the terrible repercussions of the crime of 1944," reads the statement. The Ministry reminds that Ukraine recognized deportation of the Crimean Tatar people in 1944 as the genocide and expresses the conviction that the present-day crimes of Russia will one day be condemned by the world. "There are already significant changes in the case of Ukraine against the Russian Federation in the UN International Court of Justice," the report says. As a reminder, May 18, 1944, the deportation of almost 200,000 Crimean Tatars from the Crimean peninsula began. Over 30,000 people were killed in a year. ol Boston, MA (UroToday.com) Since its introduction 2006 the popularity of the E-Cigarettes (ECE) in the US has exploded with approximately 12.6% of adults in the US reporting having tried an ECE. The naive sense that ECE are safer than regular cigarettes has led a significant shift from regular tobacco cigarette use to smokeless tobacco without much evidence in regards to the its safety profile. More concerning is the rising use of smokeless tobacco by teenagers which lead the CDC to release a nationwide warning in 2014.Dr. Moon-Shong Tang, from NYU School of Medicine, presents his work on the potential carcinogenic effect of smokeless cigarettes on the bladder. Dr. Tang explains although smokeless cigarettes are mostly concentrated nicotine; nicotine at high concentrations can be converted into nitrosamine compounds by a process called nitrosation. Nitrosamine compounds are well known urothelium carcinogens linked to the formation of bladder cancer in smokers. Since 90% of nicotine and its by-products are excreted by the kidneys the bladder is a perfect experimental model to for the study.The study was performed in 20 mice which were randomized to ECE (10mg/ml) or filtered air. Using immunochemical methods and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) the urine was tested for common tobacco related carcinogens. DNA repair activity was assessed by an in vitro DNA-damage-dependent repair synthesis method and mutational susceptibility was determined with the supF system.Mice exposed of ECS had high concentrations of y-OH-PdG and 0-meth-dg adducts which are known carcinogens. Evidence of both DNA repair disruption and high mutation profiles were seen in the treated group.In conclusion, E-Cigarettes have the potential to be carcinogenic to the bladder urothelium by induction of DNA damage and inhibition of DNA repair. More work needs to be done to validate this findings and asses if there is a dose dependent phenomenon as with regular tobacco. This findings are of great concern given the popularity of E-Cigarettes in adults and teenagers. If guidelines and warnings are not set in place we may be facing another cancer epidemic.Presented By: Moon-Shong Tang, PhDInstitution: NYU School of MedicineWritten By: Andres F. Correa, Society of Urologic Oncology Fellow, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PAat the 2017 AUA Annual Meeting - May 12 - 16, 2017 Boston, Massachusetts, USA Boston, MA (UroToday.com) In this session, Dr. Jones explained the UCLA initial experience with defining treatment margins for focal therapy. Thirty-five men with Gleason score 4+3=7 tumors visible on MRI were included and all underwent radical prostatectomy. MRI contouring of prostate specimens was performed and 3D patient-specific molds were created. The specimen was then aligned with the MRI, and tumors were matched with MRI regions of interest. The median treatment margin required was 10.7mm and the average treatment volume required was 11.4 cm3 (30% average prostate volume). MRI categorically underestimated the size of prostate tumors relative to matched prostatectomy specimens (1.59 cm3 on whole mount versus 0.59 cm3 on MRI, p < 0.001). All men would have been successfully treated with hemi-gland ablation. Dr. Jones concluded that MRI underestimates the extent of prostate tumors and emphasized that future priorities are to develop patient-specific treatment plans that incorporate tumor size, geometry, and adjacent tissue sampling.Presented By: Tonye Jones, 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) In Sweden, prostatectomies are quasi-randomized for open prostatectomy (RP) vs. robot assisted RP. Though, the technique use of robot-assisted laparoscopy compared to an open approach on surgeon performance continues to remain a topic of debate. This study assessed the pros and cons of the respective techniques by analyzing separated data for high and low-risk tumors.This trial prospectively recruited men with prostate cancer from fourteen centers (seven open and seven robot-assisted surgery centers). Data on patient-reported erectile-function was collected before, three, twelve and twenty-four months after surgery. Neurovascular bundle preservation was subjectively reported by the respective urologists, while rates of positive surgical margins were defined by pathologists. Lastly, biochemical recurrence rate was measured at three, twelve, and twenty-four months. Despite long-term follow up, high completion rates (>90%) were present.Data was collected from a total of 2545 men (1792 robot-assisted and 743 open surgery). Among preoperatively potent men, 1702 presented enhanced erectile-function recovery in the robot assisted group at three months with smaller differences at 12 and 24 months. For patients with high-risk tumors, point estimates for erectile-function recovery were higher in the open prostatectomy group. PT2 margin rates were better for the open group compared to the robot assisted group. There was no significant difference in biochemical recurrence (BCR) for pT2 disease. PT3 and pT4 margin rates were found to be worse for the open group compared to the robot assisted group. Moreover, the study found worse BCR rates for pT3 and pT4 disease among the open group.In conclusion, tumor characteristics can be used as a distinguishing factor when assessing erectile-function recovery and oncologic outcomes among the two surgical techniques common to the prostatectomy. This study ultimately suggests the improvement of surgery plane irrespective of technique used.Presented By: Prasanna SooriakumaranAuthors: Prasanna Sooriakumaran*, Oxford, United Kingdom; Gio Pini, Milan, Italy; Tommy Nyberg, Maryam Derogar, Stefan Carlsson, Stockholm, Sweden; Johan Stranne, Gothenburg, Sweden; Anders Bjartell, Lund, Sweden; Jonas Hugosson, Gothenburg, Sweden; Gunnar Steineck, Peter Wiklund, Stockholm, SwedenWritten By: Rita Derderian, University of California, Irvine for UroToday.comat the 2017 AUA Annual Meeting - May 12 - 16, 2017 Boston, Massachusetts, USA Under siege in other parts of Syria, Islamic State forces staged a surprise attack Thursday on two government-held villages in central Syria's Hama province that killed more than 50 people, according to media reports and sources in the region. Fierce clashes between IS fighters and pro-Syrian government forces in the villages of Aqareb and Al-Mabujeh left at least 15 civilians and 27 pro-regime troops dead, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which has monitors in the area. IS suffered 15 casualties, the observatory said. Syria's state news agency put the death toll at 52, including 15 children. There were reports of IS militants torturing villagers and looting homes. "My friend lost four of his children after IS slaughtered them all," Maher Esber, a political activist from the area, told VOA. "We do not know if my friend is alive, but I saw the bodies of his children." Esber said IS was out for revenge after government forces last week inflicted heavy casualties in another village in the region controlled by IS. "The regime bombarded that village," he said. "Many civilians were killed." The pre-dawn attack Thursday by IS came with IS first shelling a regime checkpoint. Syrian troops had pulled back in recent days, assuming IS was weakened in the region, Esber said. "The Syrian army moved its tanks from the area," Esber said. "IS used this to sneak into our areas." IS previously attacked Al-Mabujeh in March 2015, killing more than 37 residents. The villages are largely populated by Sunni Muslims and members of the Alawite clan tied to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Central Hama province is regarded as a no man's land where parts are under IS, rebel or government control. IS is facing a major assault from U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish and Arab forces in northern Syria in an offensive toward Raqqa, IS's de facto capital in Syria. 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. 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. With the United States accusing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government of mass killings of prisoners and use of a crematorium to burn the bodies, human rights advocates said the negotiations in Geneva this week on the Syria crisis should make detainee conditions a priority. United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura has been meeting separately with Syrian government and opposition delegations this week during the latest round of talks, hoping to bridge gaps between the rival sides, while ensuring any outcome is consistent with previously adopted U.N. Security Council resolutions. Dubbed as proximity talks in which government and opposition delegations are not expected to speak face to face, the latest gathering marks the third round in 2017. Allegations denied The U.S. State Department said on Monday that as many as 50 prisoners a day are being killed at the Saydnaya prison, one of Syria's largest and most secure prison complexes. It alleged that the government of President Bashar al-Assad then uses a crematorium installed inside the Saydnaya facility to hide evidence of the mass killings. Syria's Foreign Ministry denied the U.S. allegation, calling it a Hollywood story detached from reality. Syria's opposition has been pressing the detainee issue for some time but met with limited progress. Advocacy group Human Rights Watch said its research found the systematic and widespread treatment of detained civilians in prisons across Syria, including Saydnaya prison, amounts to crimes against humanity. . The parties should agree on ensuring access by independent monitors to Syrian government detention centers and prisons, said Sarah Margon, Human Rights Watch's Washington director. Ultimately, accountability for the treatment of detainees will need to be part of a comprehensive U.S. policy for Syria, Margon added. Important step for US The rights group also said Washington's recent push on Moscow over the Syrian government's treatment of prisoners is an important step to bring more pressure to bear on Bashar al-Assad's daily atrocities. The detainee file must be at the forefront of talks in Geneva, according to Save Our Syria, a coalition of Syrian civil society and humanitarian groups, adding, "In order for the Syrian political process to be credible, it must deliver concrete progress on the detainee file a chief concern for the hundreds of thousands of Syrian families that have been affected by Assad's mass detention. Past Geneva talks have produced the agreement that the warring sides will discuss agendas including a new constitution, reformed governance, new elections and the fight against terrorism, but progress has not yet been made. Slim at best Some analysts said the chances of progress at the new talks at Geneva are slim at best. Detainee issues will be a priority for the U.S. and for the U.N., but the Syrian government will simply deny everything. Progress on the issue is unlikely, Daniel Serwer, professor of conflict management at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies told VOA. This week's talks follow a deal by Russia, Turkey and Iran to arrange and monitor the so-called de-escalation zones in Syria to reduce the violent conflicts. These new accusations from the State Department appear to be an attempt to pressure Russia even more strongly into exerting influence on Assad to play by the rules of law, Middle East Institute Senior Fellow Charles Lister told VOA. "For now, the international community's energy would be better focused on talks aimed at de-escalating the conflict on the ground in order to generate conditions more amenable to a meaningful political process," he added. Competing agendas In Geneva, a spokesperson from the High Negotiations Committee, the main Syrian opposition group, said on Wednesday, "We're here to try to save lives; but, the other party does not care about the lives of Syrians." Russia and the United States both regard the Islamic State militant group as an enemy and share limited information about terrorist threats. But the two nations have competing agendas in Syria, where Moscow has deployed military assets and personnel to support Assad. The top U.S. diplomat for the Middle East, Acting Assistant Secretary Stuart Jones, urged Russia to exercise its influence over the Syrian regime to guarantee that horrific violations stop now with great urgency. Its been a banner year for the Daily Stormer, a neo-Nazi website that the Southern Poverty Law Center has dubbed the top hate site in America. Since the Daily Stormers preferred candidate, Donald Trump, won the presidential election, its popularity has surged and it has launched a Spanish- language edition. Now there are reports that somebody affiliated with the Daily Stormer may have played a role in the French presidential election by allegedly helping to post fake documents to damage the eventual winner, centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron. The allegation, first reported by the Wall Street Journal based on work by Swedish security researchers, relies on a report on the digital connections between the Daily Stormer site and online posts of the fake documents, supposedly showing evidence of offshore accounts controlled by Macron. No government officials have confirmed the alleged role of the Daily Stormer or anybody affiliated with the site. But the evidence is convincing, said Tord Lundstrom of VirtualRoad.org. We have strong confidence that the fake offshore documents known as #MacronGate are connected with the Daily Stormer, Lundstrom wrote in an email to The Washington Post. VirtualRoad.orgs report notes several alleged connections between Andrew Auernheimer, an American writer for the Daily Stormer, and the fake Macron documents. One of the clearest showed up on the wide-ranging discussion site 4chan.org, where an anonymous person told readers how to access the fake Macron documents. That post also pointed users to another site, nouveaumartel.com, for more information. Records showed that site was registered to a person listed as Weevlos, a pseudonym used by Auernheimer. That second site also used the same server in Latvia that hosts the Daily Stormer, the report by VirtualRoad.org said. Tor Ekeland, a lawyer who in the past has represented Auernheimer, was reached by email but did not offer comment on the allegations by the security researchers. The publisher of the Daily Stormer, Andrew Anglin, did not respond to emails sent to an address listed under Contact on the site. The international ambitions of the Daily Stormer, however, are clear enough. Auernheimer, who aside from his affiliation with the Daily Stormer is a well-known computer hacker and Internet troll, announced the launch of the new Spanish-language site, called El Daily Stormer, in a post this month. Publishing only in English had become a problem, he wrote. If our goal is to spread National Socialism and Hitlerism across the world, we must have sites publishing in all the worlds most spoken languages. It might seem like an odd move for a site known, at least in part, for its invective against Hispanic immigrants. After all, it was President Trumps remarks about rapists and drug dealers crossing the border from Mexico that earned him an endorsement from the Daily Stormer in June 2015. (Trump has disavowed white supremacists through his spokesmen.) Founded in 2013 by Anglin, the Daily Stormer started as an outlet for meme-type content related to the white supremacist movement. Taking its name from the newspaper Der Sturmer, a propaganda tool for the Nazis in Germany, it expanded to include sections dedicated to black-on-white crime, anti-Semitism and longer, slur-laden takes on social issues. The site regularly encourages its Stormer Troll Army to harass its perceived enemies online. Shortly after the presidential election, for example, it called on readers to troll Hillary Clinton supporters into suicide. Anglin is being sued by the Southern Poverty Law Center and Tanya Gersh, a Montana real estate agent who alleges that she received hundreds of harassing messages after the Daily Stormer urged readers to participate in a troll storm against her. A post on the site accused Gersh of blackmailing the mother of white nationalist Richard Spencer. The Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups, has warned that the Daily Stormers growing influence could have dangerous results. The Daily Stormer is not merely a propaganda shop, the organization said in February. Increasingly, it has become a malignant presence in the real world. In his post about the launch of El Daily Stormer, Auernheimer said the Daily Stormer hoped to soon start publishing in Mandarin, Hindi and French, and launch a womens publication modeled after the magazine distributed by the Nationalsozialistische Frauenschaft, the womens wing of Hitlers Nazi Party. The effort does not stop here, Auernheimer wrote. TREASURY Nominee declines deputy secretary job Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchins efforts to fill out the top ranks of the department were dealt a setback as a Goldman Sachs banker withdrew from consideration to serve as his deputy. Jim Donovan cited personal reasons for declining President Trumps nomination to be deputy treasury secretary. At this time I want to focus on my family, and I can no longer accept it, Donovan said in statement Friday. The decision could impede Mnuchins effort to deliver an ambitious economic agenda that includes a tax overhaul, deregulation of the financial industry and reform of the housing finance system. Mnuchin has been in office since February with most key senior-level Treasury positions unfilled. Donovan was an enormous asset in helping build Mnuchins team at the Treasury, Tony Sayegh, the departments spokesman, said in a statement. Bloomberg TECHNOLOGY Uber pushes executive to comply with court Uber is threatening to fire a key executive accused of stealing self-driving car technology from a Google spinoff unless he waives his constitutional right against self-incrimination so the ride-hailing service can comply with a court order. Uber made the threat in a May 15 letter that became public in a court filing late Thursday. The executive is Anthony Levandowski, whose expertise in robot-controlled cars was the main reason that Uber bought his start-up for $680 million nine months ago. Until last month, Levandowski had been running Ubers self-driving car division. Waymo, a self-driving car company started by Google, alleges that Levandowski downloaded 14,000 documents containing its trade secrets before he founded his start-up. Levandowski had pleaded the Fifth Amendment since Waymo filed its lawsuit in February. Uber had been standing by him until last week, when a federal judge ordered Uber to return any documents belonging to Waymo by May 31. Associated Press Securities regulation Va. man arrested in Fitbit hoax, U.S. says A Virginia man who staged a hoax takeover bid that drove up Fitbits stock price in November has been arrested and charged with fraud, federal prosecutors said Friday. Robert Walter Murray, 24, of Chesapeake was accused of submitting a sham regulatory filing in which Shanghai-based ABM Capital a company that didnt exist offered to buy Fitbit for $12.50 a share, a 46 percent premium. The filing caused Fitbits share price to rise 8 percent, to $9.27, on Nov. 10, boosting its market value by $122 million, before the wearable-device maker denied knowledge of any tender offer. Authorities said Murray spent less than $1,000 on Fitbit call options a bet the share price would rise before submitting the hoax offer and made a $3,000 profit in one day by selling the options after the stock jumped. Murray, who was charged with securities and wire fraud, also faces charges from the Securities and Exchange Commission. Reuters Also in Business Up to 40,000 AT&T workers started walking off the job Friday over contract fights, the Communications Workers of America said. Theyll return to work Monday. Participating in the walkout are 21,000 workers on the wireless side of the company, which means some cellphone stores could be closed this weekend in the District and the 36 states affected. Wireless workers want wage increases that cover higher health-care costs, better scheduling and promises from the company not to cut jobs. Some 17,000 other potential protesters come from AT&Ts home phone, Internet and cable division. Another 2,000 are DirecTV workers. Fiat Chrysler has applied for diesel emission certifications for its 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ram 1500 models. In January, the Environmental Protection Agency alleged the automaker used software in previous model years that allowed the vehicles to emit more pollution than revealed in tests. Fiat Chrysler denied the allegation. It said it has updated the faulty software that the EPA said affected 104,000 Grand Cherokee SUVs and Ram pickups for model years 2014 to 2016. Ford said Friday that it would add Android Auto and Apple CarPlay to its Sync 3-equipped 2016 vehicles for the first time via a wireless software update. The latest upgrade to Sync 3, Fords interactive touch-screen system, will come through an over-the-air update using WiFi. Customers can also get an update by visiting their dealer or using a USB drive, Ford said. From news reports AUTOMOBILES Four carmakers offer to settle air-bag suit Toyota, Subaru, Mazda and BMW have reached a proposed settlement that would compensate owners of 15.8 million vehicles for money they lost because of the massive recall of Takata air bags. In documents filed Thursday with a federal court in Miami, the automakers agreed to pay $553 million to compensate owners and to widen their efforts to ensure vehicles are being repaired. The court must still approve the settlement. Takatas air-bag inflaters can explode with too much force, hurling shrapnel toward drivers and passengers. The inflaters have been blamed for at least 16 deaths and 180 injuries worldwide. The problem touched off the largest automotive recall in U.S. history. The settlement would compensate owners for such things as lost wages and child care while they were taking their vehicles for the recall repair. Owners also could be compensated if they paid for a rental car or for vehicle storage while waiting for a car to be repaired. Owners also may get payments of up to $500 each. The settlement would require the automakers to step up their efforts to locate owners and educate them about the need to complete the recall repairs. Associated Press EUROPEAN UNION Facebook fined over WhatsApp disclosures Facebook will pay $122 million in fines to the European Union, over charges that it misled regulators during its 2014 acquisition of WhatsApp. The fine, announced Thursday, is one of the largest the company has had to pay to any government. European regulators said Facebook was not honest about its ability to identify users who had both Facebook and WhatsApp accounts and link those accounts. At the time of the merger review, regulators were particularly concerned that WhatsApp users would have their information shared with Facebook without their consent. When Facebook notified the acquisition of WhatsApp in 2014, it informed the Commission that it would be unable to establish reliable automated matching between Facebook users accounts and WhatsApp users accounts, regulators said. However, in August 2016, WhatsApp announced updates to its terms of service and privacy policy, including the possibility of linking WhatsApp users phone numbers with Facebook users identities. Regulators said that Facebook staff knew that matching accounts was technically possible at the time of the review. Facebook maintains that it did not mean to mislead regulators. The errors we made in our 2014 filings were not intentional and the Commission has confirmed that they did not impact the outcome of the merger review. Todays announcement brings this matter to a close, Facebook said in a blog post. The decision, as Facebooks statement indicates, does not affect the relationship between WhatsApp and Facebook. Hayley Tsukayama Also in Business Long-term U.S. mortgage rates inched lower this week. It was the fifth straight week that the benchmark 30-year rate hovered around the key threshold of 4 percent. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said the average rate on 30-year fixed-rate home loans slipped to 4.02 percent from 4.05 percent last week. The rate stood at 3.58 percent a year ago and averaged 3.65 percent in 2016, the lowest level in records dating to 1971. The rate on 15-year mortgages eased to 3.27 percent from 3.29 percent last week. The Koch brothers political network is preparing to spend millions to ensure their vision for tax reform is not lost in the chaos consuming President Trumps administration. The networks leading organizations have released a set of general preferences for major changes to the tax code. Spokesman James Davis also said the network is launching a multimillion-dollar campaign to ensure its conservative tax plan is not forgotten. The campaign will include digital ads, town hall meetings, phone banks and direct mail. Applications for unemployment aid fell 4,000 last week, to 232,000, the Labor Department said. That is the lowest level in nearly three months. The four-week average, a less volatile figure, declined 2,750, to 240,750. Applications have been below 300,000, a historically low figure, for 115 weeks. That is the longest such streak since 1970. The number of people receiving aid fell to 1.9 million, the lowest level since 1988. From news services Even if the drama swirling around President Trump contributes to a stock market slump, investors should stick to their long-term plan. (ericsphotography/iStockphoto) Theres at least one certainty about the stock market. Itll go up and eventually come down. Last week, we witnessed this truth about investing. The markets responded with trepidation after a series of scandals hit President Trump. Trump shared highly classified information with Russian diplomats. He fired FBI Director James B. Comey. He may have tried to get Comey to end an investigation of former national security adviser Michael Flynn. And now a special counsel has been appointed to investigate possible Russian interference in the election. Many experts think it wasnt these controversies that pushed stocks down. Its that the scandals may get in the way of tax cuts and other business-friendly legislative measures. So here we are, regular investors just trying to grow our money enough to retire or send our kids to college. As the stock market climbed in recent months, people began to call it the Trump bump. [Could Trump scandals cause a long slump in stocks?] But all good things come to an end in the investing world. The question now is: Are we about to see a Trump slump, and, if so, is there anything you should be doing with your investments? Heres a roundup of advice from some certified financial planners. Carolyn McClanahan, founder of Life Planning Partners in Jacksonville, Fla., says politics should not play any part in your investment decisions. People should have an appropriate asset allocation based on their goals, time frame, and financial and psychological ability to take risk, she added. Dont pay attention to the noise that politics creates. Larry Stein, president of Disciplined Investment Management in Deerfield, Ill., says Trump was getting too much credit for the market rise anyway. The bump was driven largely by stronger-than-expected [corporate] earnings, much of it due to surprisingly strong results overseas, he said. Optimism around the election may have added an extra jolt to the positive environment, but that wasnt the main driver. Stein says the uncertainty now building in the U.S. political environment may have a negative impact on stocks, which is why he says investors might want to add global stocks to their portfolio. Stocks are for long-term goals, and investors should try not to focus on short-term fluctuations, said Michael Guillemette, assistant professor of personal financial planning at Texas Tech University, who echoed Steins advice on diversifying your holdings. Robert Schmansky, president of Clear Financial Advisors in the Detroit area, said, By the time we hear the latest news, its already too late to act. The best plans are long term, and recognize we will have rocky periods. If you have a lot in the market, consider adding investments that may not correlate with stocks, like precious metals and real estate. Probably the best thing you can do is replay 2008s market in your mind and think about if you were better off worrying or sticking with your plan. Most investors did best by sticking it out and staying invested. [Turmoil over Trump chaos triggers Dows biggest loss since September] A. Scott Ward of Johnson Sterling in Birmingham, Ala., still sees room for growth. The core questions for long-term investors remain the same. To what extent, if any, does volatility change your financial goals? Do you have any reasons to doubt that U.S. companies can find ways to grow and thrive in the next 20 years, regardless of the political circumstances? Joseph Kelly of Valic Financial Advisors in the Philadelphia area says some caution is in order. History has proven that markets abhor uncertainty, he said. The chaos that is happening in Washington certainly has stirred the pot and infused doubt among the investors of America. I never recommend timing the market; however, these are unprecedented times. I think it would be prudent to take some profits and put some liquidity on the sidelines for a wait and see period time to decrease your risk profile for a while. James Watkins, managing member of InvestSense in Atlanta, pointed out that many experts believe the markets have had a significant run up, and a drop may just be due. We have advised our clients to consider reducing their equity exposure, especially in 401(k) and other tax-deferred accounts since there would be no tax implications in making such changes, he said. Barbara Roper, director of investor protection for the Consumer Federation of America, says its generally a mistake to focus on short-term ups and downs in response to the politics of the day or anything else. Doing so risks making poor market-timing decisions based on an emotional reaction to the news. Perhaps the Trump drama will lead to a stock slump. But what goes down can also go back up.The important thing to remember is that youre in it for the long haul. Read more: If youre 50 or older, your health insurance may get more expensive Twin reports by Pew show many families are economically fragile Forced to take Social Security before your full retirement age? President John F. Kennedy in the Oval Office in 1961, an image featured in the Smithsonian American Art Museum exhibition American Visionary: John F. Kennedy's Life and Times. (Jacques Lowe/Courtesy the Jacques Lowe Estate) John F. Kennedys appreciation for the arts led him to invite Robert Frost to read a poem at his 1961 inauguration, and his namesake performing arts complex is leading the way in celebrating his 100th birthday. Museums across the city are also getting into the spirit, pulling out photos and portraits that show Kennedy and his family before the mystique of Camelot settled into the White House. Here are some highlights of the centennial events. American Visionary The 35th president would have surely been a master of Instagram (#camelot), but, arriving as he did in an age before camera phones, well have to settle for some of the finest photojournalism of the mid-20th century. This traveling exhibition features 77 images that track the course of Kennedys political career, from the 1946 campaign that landed him in Congress to his death in Dallas while preparing his presidential reelection bid. Through Sept. 17 at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Eighth and F streets NW. americanart.si.edu. Free. A 1961 pastel portrait of John F. Kennedy by Shirley Seltzer Cooper, on display at the National Portrait Gallery. (Shirley Seltzer Cooper/National Portrait Gallery) National Portrait Gallery The National Portrait Gallery owns 72 portraits of Kennedy, although youll have to make a trip to the White House to see the presidents best-known one, an Aaron Shikler work that shows him lost in thought, head down and arms crossed. Fortunately, the gallery is dipping into its collection to highlight another Kennedy portrait a 1961 pastel of the young president by Shirley Seltzer Cooper. Keep an eye out for William F. Drapers portrait of Kennedy in a rocking chair as well. May 19-July 9 at the National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F streets NW. npg.si.edu. Free. National Symphony Orchestra with Yo-Yo Ma Joshua Weilerstein, artistic director of Switzerlands Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, leads the orchestra in a world premiere by Kennedy Center composer-in-residence Mason Bates. Featuring mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke, Passage uses words from Walt Whitmans poem Passage to India as well as sound bites of Kennedys 1961 moon shot speech to Congress. Cellist Yo-Yo Ma takes the spotlight in a concerto by John Williams. May 24 at 8 p.m. at the Kennedy Center, Concert Hall, 2700 F St. NW. kennedy-center.org. $79-$199. Sarah Steele, right, and Sona Kharatian rehearsing the Washington Ballets Frontier. (Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post) Washington Ballet: Frontier A trip to the moon serves as a fitting inspiration for Frontier, a new work by Ethan Stiefel. The piece, Julie Kents first commissioned work as the companys new artistic director, takes Kennedys goal of traveling to the moon within a decade as its jumping-off point, and follows an astronauts journey in what the president described as the exciting adventure of space. The program also includes works by Antony Tudor and Frederick Ashton. May 25-27 at the Kennedy Center, Opera House, 2700 F St. NW. kennedy-center.org. $25-$140. The Hubble Cantata The journey to space is also the inspiration for this hour-long performance, which uses virtual-reality headsets (a cardboard apparatus that holds your phone in front of your eyes) to simulate a trip to the stars. An orchestra and 100-person choir from the Washington Chorus, along with baritone Nathan Gunn and soprano Talise Trevigne, provide the soundtrack to this educational blend of art and science. May 25 at 7:30 p.m. at the Kennedy Center, Concert Hall, 2700 F St. NW. kennedy-center.org. $15-$45. This photo of John F. Kennedy and his daughter Caroline is one of nine images by Richard Avedon on display at the National Museum of American History. (Richard Avedon/Courtesy National Museum of American History) Richard Avedon photos The New York photographers nine portraits of Kennedy and his family, taken for Harpers Bazaar weeks before the president-elects inauguration in 1961, show a family man at ease, playing with his children, Caroline and John Jr., before taking on the weighty responsibilities of the Oval Office. Come back July 1 for a museum-wide party with 60s-themed food and drinks, music and a scavenger hunt. May 25-Aug. 27 at the National Museum of American History, Constitution Avenue and 12th Street NW. americanhistory.si.edu. Free. Robert Berkss bronze bust of JFK in the foyer of the Kennedy Center, which has been celebrating the centennial all year. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post) JFK Centennial Celebration The Kennedy Center closes its centennial festivities with an evening of readings, music and archival video footage. Guests run the gamut from actor Finn Wittrock (American Horror Story) to soprano Renee Fleming and the Broadway cast of Sunday in the Park With George. May 29 at 4 p.m. at the Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW. kennedy-center.org. $25. Correction: An earlier version of this story said that the National Portrait Gallery has 72 paintings of John F. Kennedy. The museum has 72 portraits of the former president, including many photographs. (Jacques Lowe /Courtesy the Jacques Lowe Estate) John Fitzgerald Kennedys 100th birthday is May 29. Its hard to think of the 35th president the youngest ever elected to the office and 46 years old when he was assassinated anywhere near that age. Kennedy was president for just 1,036 days, but in a 2013 Gallup poll, 50 years after his death, 74 percent of Americans ranked his presidency as outstanding or above average, the highest of any president since World War II. The Kennedy centennial will be celebrated across Washington throughout the year, with exhibitions, film screenings, concerts and lectures recalling his successes as president, including the space program and the Peace Corps. The Kennedy Center, designated by Congress in 1964 as a living memorial to the president, will present shows with themes inspired by him. The anniversary is also a chance to remember Kennedys Washington the places where he lived, ate and worshiped, and to see whether you can find your own little slice of Camelot. [No hiking boots required: 6 great city strolls in Washington ] WHERE HE HUNG HIS HAT Dorchester House apartments, 2480 16th St. NW In October 1941, a 24-year-old John F. Kennedy moved to Washington to take a position in the Office of Naval Intelligence. His younger sister Kathleen was already living here, working for the Washington Times-Herald. She had an apartment in the brand-new Dorchester House apartment complex across from Meridian Hill Park. Hundreds of tenants lived there, which The Washington Post called a modernistic and highly fashionable building. John joined Kathleen in Apartment 542, but he didnt stay long: In January 1942, he was transferred to Charleston, S.C., and didnt return to town until he was elected to the House of Representatives in 1946. 2808 P St. NW Georgetown holds a special place in the Kennedy mystique: After Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946, he lived in a succession of houses and apartments in the neighborhood. He purchased the Hickory Hill estate in McLean in 1955, a few years after his election to the Senate and marriage to Jacqueline Bouvier, but he and Jackie decided to return to Georgetown a year later. They moved into a rental house on P Street NW in early 1957 and lived there for one busy year, which brought the birth of daughter Caroline and a Pulitzer Prize for Profiles in Courage. 3307 N St. NW The Kennedys moved into this house, their best-known residence, in January 1958 and stayed there until moving into the White House. After winning the 1960 election, Kennedy would come out onto the front steps of the three-story townhouse and meet the press corps, even in the midst of winter. Our next president doesnt take the old, easy way of making his announcements about new cabinet ministers, the fate of the new frontier, etc., from his office on Capitol Hill where, if one need edit, the corridors have steam heat, groused Washington Post staff writer Thomas Wolfe (yes, that Thomas Wolfe) in December 1960. He just steps right out on the old front porch at 3307 N St. NW and starts talking. And disappears back into the manse. The house was sold in 1961. After her husbands assassination, Jacqueline Kennedy and her children, Caroline and John Jr., returned to the neighborhood, living at 3038 N St. NW and then at 3017 N St. NW. But the attention from sightseers and gawkers proved too much for the family, and they moved to New York in 1964. A plaque bearing the presidential seal and a likeness of PT-109, the U.S. patrol torpedo boat captained by the future president in World War II, on a gate outside Holy Trinity Church. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post) WHERE HE WORSHIPED Holy Trinity Church, 3513 N St. NW. While living in Georgetown as a representative, senator and president-elect, Kennedy regularly attended Mass at Holy Trinity Church, the oldest Catholic church in Washington, including on the morning of his inauguration. He went to Mass there on Nov. 1, 1963, which was the last Mass he attended in Washington. Kennedy is remembered on a plaque outside the church, which features the presidential seal and an image of PT-109, the ill-fated boat he commanded during World War II. The Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, 1725 Rhode Island Ave. NW. On the morning of Nov. 25, 1963, a horse-drawn caisson bearing Kennedys body left the White House, followed by his widow, his brothers, politicians and leaders from around the world. The destination was the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, six blocks away, where Richard Cardinal Cushing, the archbishop of Boston, celebrated the funeral Mass. A marble circle on the cathedral floor, just in front of the sanctuary, marks the spot where the coffin was placed. After the Mass, as Kennedys body was being carried down the steps to the caisson, John F. Kennedy Jr. saluted his fathers coffin, which became the defining image of the funeral. OTHER STOPS Home of Charles Bartlett, 3419 Q St. NW Kennedy and Charles Bartlett met in Palm Beach, Fla., in 1946. Both had served in the Navy in World War II. Both were the sons of wealthy Catholic families who wintered in Florida. Different paths eventually brought them to Washington: Kennedy was elected to Congress; Bartlett became the bureau chief for the Chattanooga Times and would eventually win a Pulitzer Prize. In May 1951, Bartlett and his wife, Martha, threw a small dinner party at their home expressly for the purpose of setting up Kennedy and a socialite named Jacqueline Bouvier, whom Bartlett had briefly dated. It wasnt an instant success. Bartlett later told the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library: This was an awkward time actually because, as I said, she was going to Europe and he was just getting involved in the [Senate] campaign, which he would win that fall. But their friends persisted in matchmaking, and just over two years later, Kennedy and Bouvier were engaged. Bartlett was an usher at their wedding, and the Bartletts were godparents to John Jr. The supposed Proposal Booth at Martins Tavern in Georgetown. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post) Martins Tavern, 1264 Wisconsin Ave. NW No private business pushes its ties to Kennedy like Martins Tavern in Georgetown. Two booths remember the president: Booth 1, a narrow, rumbleseat-style booth for one, where Kennedy would eat breakfast and read the paper after attending Mass on Sundays, and, more famously, Booth 3 The Proposal Booth. A brass plaque marks the spot where, supposedly, JFK proposed to Jackie on June 24, 1953. Martins even produced a witness two years ago, a former White House chief of protocol who had been dining at the restaurant that night, although he admits he didnt see the proposal take place. It seems strange that the location of this important moment in Camelot history is so disputed. Some sources say the proposal took place at the Parker House restaurant in Boston; others say it was done by telegram, when Bouvier was in London covering Elizabeth IIs coronation for the Washington Times-Herald. The earliest reference we found to the location of the engagement was in the June 28, 1953, Boston Sunday Globe, held at the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston, which reported that Kennedy had proposed the previous week at the Bouviers home in Newport, R.I. Another Kennedy-related booth at Martins, also a favorite haunt of Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard Nixon. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post) Go to Martins, enjoy a drink and the stories, but take them with a grain of salt. One thing you can believe: Lyndon B. Johnson, Kennedys running mate, was a fan of Martins, preferring the backroom for meetings, and Richard Nixon, whom Kennedy beat in the 1960 election, liked a table up front the one next to the Proposal Booth. The Monocle, 107 D St. NE When the Monocle opened in 1960, it was one of only a handful of restaurants near the U.S. Capitol, so it quickly became a favorite of senators, including Kennedy. The politicians were soon as much of a draw as the steaks: A name-dropping 1961 column in The Post referred to it as a dandy place to rubberneck and dine, and autographed headshots still cover the walls. Kennedy, for his part, favored the table in the bay window, where hed eat roast beef sandwiches. Capital Hilton, 1001 16th St. NW Inaugural balls have been a fixture since George Washingtons in 1789, but Kennedys inauguration introduced the idea of turning the presidential swearing-in into a star-studded affair. The night before his swearing-in, Frank Sinatra and Peter Lawford organized a gala at the D.C. Armory, with performances by Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Gene Kelly and Sidney Poitier. Sinatra had arranged for the participants to stay at the Statler-Hilton, now the Capital Hilton, which was the site of one of the official inaugural balls. The following night, Kennedy made an appearance at that ball and then slipped up to a private party organized by Sinatra, where Nat King Cole played piano while the boldface names mingled. As the Cannes Film Festival celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, the occasion finds the art form it celebrates much changed, and the festival along with it. The most familiar trappings of Cannes, which got underway Wednesday, are present and accounted for, including warm springtime weather, yachts bobbing in sparkling Mediterranean seas opposite the enormous Palais des Festivals, hordes of invading press and fans, and an onslaught of celebrities here to promote their latest projects: The prize for most ubiquitous this year will surely go to Nicole Kidman, who will appear in three movies, as well as Jane Campions TV series Top of the Lake: China Girl, two episodes of which will premiere here on May 23. But the very fact that Cannes, where love of cinema approaches monk-like devotion, is programming television shows has elicited a few sacre bleus among big-screen purists (granted, the festival showed the series The Jackal in 2010). Not only is Top of the Lake getting a red-carpet rollout on the Croisette, but David Lynchs reboot of his cult hit series Twin Peaks will make its debut three days later. Even more controversial was Cannes artistic director Thierry Fremauxs decision to program two Netflix movies: Bong Joon Hos Okja and Noah Baumbachs The Meyerowitz Stories, which will compete for the coveted Palme dOr alongside films by Michael Haneke, Francois Ozon and Yorgos Lanthimos. The streaming giant Amazon made a splash last year when it brought five highly regarded titles to the festival, but that company has a well-established tradition of opening their films in theaters before making them available on other platforms. (Amazon chief executive Jeffrey P. Bezos owns The Washington Post.) Although Netflix will open Okja and The Meyerowitz Stories theatrically in some countries, it has no such plans in France, which led to such a fierce outcry from exhibitors that the festival announced a new rule: Beginning next year, they would only play films guaranteed to open in French theaters. The contretemps even migrated to this years jury, when its president, Pedro Almodovar, announced at a news conference Wednesday that he didnt think the Palme should be given to a film that cant be seen on a big screen. Juror Will Smith immediately leapt to Netflixs defense, insisting that streaming and theatrical need not be mutually exclusive. Noting that his three children use Netflix and see an average of two movies a week, he said, Netflix has been nothing but an absolute benefit, allowing them to watch films they otherwise wouldnt have seen. It has broadened by childrens global cinematic comprehension. As Cannes has sought to keep up, however awkwardly, with dizzyingly changing viewing options and audience expectations, the festival has stayed true to perhaps its most unshakable value: veneration of auteurs. Even when theyre working in television or for streaming companies, Campion, Lynch, Bong and Baumbach all exemplify the kind of visionary, boldly independent creators that the festival has championed in the past, from Roberto Rossellini and Vittorio De Sica to Francis Ford Coppola and Quentin Tarantino. This year, Coppolas daughter Sofia, a Cannes favorite, will be bringing her fourth film to the festival (the Civil War-era drama The Beguiled), as will Todd Haynes (Wonderstruck) and competition first-timers Benny and Josh Safdie (Good Time). Notably absent from the proceedings are the premieres of big, splashy Hollywood movies that can be counted on for at least a few moments of amusing ballyhoo (examples from previous years include Up, Inside/Out, Pirates of the Caribbean and Mad Max: Fury Road). The focus this year is ostensibly on more serious fare, although that doesnt mean that the limits of auteur worship arent sometimes painfully obvious. The opening night film, Arnaud Desplechins Ismaels Ghosts, about a director torn between two women (Marion Cotillard and Charlotte Gainsbourg) played like a muddled, unfocused parody of great-man wish-fulfillment fantasy and artistic excess. The self-indulgence of Ismaels Ghosts felt all the more off-key when considering the historical context of Cannes birth 70 years ago, when it was founded in part as a response to the conciliatory stance of the Venice Film Festival during the Mussolini era. With Cannes opening just a few days after a right-wing nationalist-populist candidate came closer than ever to winning the French presidency, it remains to be seen how the films in the festival will capture or fail to capture the most crucial questions of their times. Shortly after Ismaels Ghosts screened for the press, Vanessa Redgrave presented the debut of her documentary Sea Sorrow, a touching, persuasive, if occasionally solipsistic plea on behalf of refugees that calls for a return to the international principles of human rights that were codified after World War II. The first American film to show here, Hayness Wonderstruck, about a troubled 12-year-old boy, found the filmmaker in unfamiliar and often uncomfortably contrived territory of an unwieldy double-story and plot elements that felt overworked rather than fanciful. (In fairness, the film may not count as a piece of true auteurism, since Haynes directed it from a script adapted by Wonderstruck novelist Brian Selznick.) A film with another 12-year-old as its leading character, Andrey Zvyagintsevs Loveless, was far more potent, presenting a bleak domestic drama and a damning critique of post-Soviet materialism and selfishness wrapped inside a bleak, finely observed domestic drama. Valeska Grisebachs Western, which showed in the Un Certain Regard sidebar, marked the mesmerizing debut of actor Meinhard Neumann, who played a German laborer testing the limits of masculinity, nationalism and cross-cultural connection while on a job in Bulgaria. On Thursday, the Mexican filmmaker Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu began screening Carne y Arena, which addresses the refugee crisis, but also happens to be the first virtual-reality project to be programmed at Cannes, a six-minute immersion that viewers will experience one at a time, after being taken by car to an undisclosed warehouse space in the city. As an example of a filmmaker exploring new visual languages to respond to a world that has both radically changed and stayed distressingly the same over seven decades, Carne y Arena may wind up being that rare auteurist statement that gracefully embraces Cannes artistic and political past, as well as its technological future. As for the films that will be shown over the next 10 days, as they say in France: On verra. We shall see. Debate has continued unabated over whether to remove the name of Confederate Gen. J.E.B. Stuart from a high school in Fairfax County, Va. (Amanda Voisard/For The Washington Post) As statues of Confederate leaders fall in New Orleans and symbols of the Confederacy are stripped from flagpoles and buildings nationwide, a Northern Virginia high school named for a Rebel general continues to grapple with whether that name should be stripped from its buildings. J.E.B. Stuart High School is one of the most racially diverse schools in Fairfax County. About 54 percent of its approximately 2,130 students are Hispanic; 22 percent are white; 13 percent are Asian; 9 percent are black; and 2 percent are multiracial. Students began lobbying to change the name two years ago after an avowed white supremacist massacred nine black parishioners at a church in Charleston, S.C. Their movement gained traction when a Hollywood producer and school graduate, Bruce Cohen, started a petition with actress Julianne Moore, a fellow graduate, that drew 35,000 signatures. The students argued that when the county school board named the school after Stuart in the late 1950s, it was trying to send a message to black students that they were not welcome. Those who want to keep the schools name disagree. The school did not admit black students until 1961. In 2015, the school board opened the door to a possible name change when it amended a policy on naming buildings. A year later, the board established a committee to examine whether the high school should be renamed. [School board opens door to renaming schools that honor Confederate heroes] But the committee has remained fractured. Next week, it plans to issue two sets of reports because those who support the name and those who want to change it cannot agree even on historical facts. Tensions have flared as some committee members have accused others of fomenting racism and staging disinformation campaigns. Rhetoric has gotten so hot that some members say they fear appearing at open forums. Stuart was a U.S. Military Academy graduate who joined the Rebel cause, rising to command the cavalry of Gen. Robert E. Lees Army of Northern Virginia. He was mortally wounded in battle near Richmond in 1864. George Alber, an NAACP activist who is on the committee, said the two-year debate has been an ordeal filled with rancor and discord. We could have done this better, Alber said. This has been set up as such an adversarial proceeding. . . . Theres no healing, no coming together in the community. This week, the debate intensified when those opposed to changing the name announced plans for a history tour of local Civil War battle sites where Stuart saw action. The tour, to take place on Sunday, will start at the high school and use a county school bus. It will be led by an amateur historian who agrees that Stuarts legacy is worthy of the honor. The school system invited the community to the event through email and highlighted it on its website, while some committee members separately circulated a flier featuring the Confederate flag. That shocked many people in the community. [Fairfax County schools list of woes includes its Confederate rebel name] Committee member Vince Nettuno, who favors keeping the name, said the tour is an effort to expand their education as far as what J.E.B. Stuart did during his tenure and why the county decided he was a heroic figure. Nettuno, a graduate whose daughter also graduated from the school, dismissed concerns about the flier. Nobodys going to go blind looking at that Confederate flag on that flier, he said. Nettuno said organizers were merely trying to be historically accurate and pointed out that it also featured an American flag or, as he called it, the Union flag. Other committee members who back the name change say they are worried that the version of history pushed by Don Hakenson, who is leading the tour, will be slanted. They see the event as an effort to expand support for keeping the name. Were concerned about it, said Debbie Ratliff, a committee member who backs the name change. I dont want my tax dollars paying for it. Hakenson, who has led tours of Civil War sites for 18 years and has written several books on local Civil War history, said that he merely plans to present the facts. People have their own right to look at things any way they want to, Hakenson said. Supporters of keeping the name say the other side has unfairly impugned Stuarts legacy without considering historical context. They point out that Stuart freed his slaves, that he had a mixed-race servant and that he was considered a brilliant young tactician who exemplified qualities worth emulating. Many of those who back the name disagree with historians who say that the Civil War was fought over slavery. They also contend that a name change would be too costly. He also didnt lynch people, said Denise Patton, a committee member and former history teacher. He was a very, very humane officer. On Thursday night, many members refused to come to the school auditorium for a forum organized by supporters of the name change. Those members who stayed away said that they worried they would encounter hostility because they had been called racists in online forums. At least a half-dozen Fairfax police officers kept watch over the meeting, where people spoke mostly in support of the name change. There were a few who spoke against it, receiving the occasional jeer. Kayla Longmayer, 14, a freshman at the school who is of mixed race and a descendant of slaves, tearfully shared how hurtful it was to see Stuarts name on the walls of her schoolhouse. J.E.B. Stuart, Kayla said, her voice quaking, J.E.B. Stuart fought to keep my people enslaved. The top 10 in the new Americas Most Challenging High Schools list, using 2016 data, reveal a startling change in U.S. education since the first list, which used 1996 data. The 10 most challenging public schools 20 years ago included one Florida magnet (Stanton College Prep), one Maryland semi-magnet (Richard Montgomery), one Virginia admission-by-lottery alternative school (H-B Woodlawn) and seven regular public schools (Brighton, Jericho, Manhasset, Scarsdale, Wheatley, Millburn and Indian Hills) in affluent New York, New Jersey and Ohio neighborhoods. The new top 10 has no regular neighborhood schools. There is one Texas magnet (Mickey Leland), plus nine charters: one in Indiana (Signature), three BASIS schools in Arizona and five IDEA schools in Texas. All are small, with no graduation class larger than 99. When I started gathering high school statistics in 1996, public charters were a tiny, uncertain innovation. Now there are nearly 7,000 of them with 3 million students. They are funded with tax dollars, judged by state tests but exempt from some rules that govern regular schools. Most are nonunion. Usually they must accept any child who applies and use a lottery if they dont have room for all. Most are no better than regular schools, but some have reached unusual levels of achievement, particularly BASIS and IDEA. BASIS schools have been criticized for scaring off students by requiring at least eight Advanced Placement courses and a passing score on at least one AP test. The schools ask for parent donations and usually have very few students with disabilities or low-income parents. IDEA schools make similar academic demands. Their students must take 11 AP courses and tests. But unlike BASIS they serve mostly low-income families. I think both networks fill a need for more schools with very high standards, and show what interesting surprises charters can produce. I will focus on BASIS in this column and do the same for IDEA next week. BASIS critics such as author and former award-winning high school principal Carol Burris note the networks student attrition, such as a 44 percent drop in enrollment from 9th to 12th grade at the BASIS Phoenix school. They say the BASIS management costs are too high. The fact that BASIS has started for-profit private schools raises the possibility that the taxpayers of Arizona, along with all U.S. taxpayers [might] be indirectly subsidizing these schools and their expansion, Burris said in a recent piece on my Washington Post colleague Valerie Strausss blog. Peter Bezanson, chief executive of the company that manages the 24 BASIS nonprofit charters, including one in the District, sent me a detailed response. He said Burris miscalculated the management costs and mischaracterized the relationship among the independent nonprofit board setting policy for the charters, two other for-profit companies managing the seven BASIS private schools and Bezansons for-profit company. There is absolutely no co-mingling of public charter and private school funds, he said. Complex, isnt it? Anyone who wants to see Bezansons response should email me at the address below. The Arizona State Board for Charter Schools, which oversees BASIS in that state, has evaluated its financial performance statements as acceptable. BASIS asks families to donate $1,500 per student per year to support teacher performance bonuses at their school. It is not a requirement, and fewer than half of the families contribute, BASIS officials said. The most recent BASIS charter re-enrollment figure for each grade from kindergarten to 12th grade was above 87 percent except for ninth grade, which was 63 percent. At that point, Bezanson said, we ask parents to make sure to involve their child in the conversation because the BASIS Diploma requires significant work at the high school level, and student buy-in is essential. BASIS has started private schools in McLean, Brooklyn, Manhattan, San Jose and Fremont, Calif., as well as in the Chinese cities of Guangzhou and Shenzhen. The American schools annual high school tuition is about $27,000, compared with the $40,000 a year that many prestigious Washington-area privates charge. Few other charter networks have leapt into such ventures. But the charter movement was founded to inspire innovation, and there is nothing else quite like BASIS in the country today. Nancy Shay, head of the English department at Richard Montgomery High School, was awarded Montgomery Countys 2017-18 Teacher of the Year Award. She is now in the running for the state title. (Montgomery County Public Schools) Nancy Shay has been an English teacher for more than 30 years, and the principal at her Maryland high school describes her simply: Theres no student she cant teach, no adult she cant inspire. Its this equal combination of deep content knowledge and a keen sense of who people are and what drives them and how to reach them, says Damon Monteleone, principal of Richard Montgomery High in Rockville, Md. Shay was recently tapped as Montgomery Countys 2017-18 Teacher of the Year. Chosen from three finalists, she is now in the running for the state title, competing against winners in 23 other school systems. [Last year: Montgomery County Teacher of the Year is finalist for Maryland honor] Its just amazing honor, Shay said. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of teachers in Montgomery County who are equally deserving. Shay, 54, has had a long career at Richard Montgomery High, where she has worked 23 years, headed the English department for a dozen years and lately teaches both high achievers and students who are less academically motivated but who she says are just as bright and creative and can be just as interested if you reach them the right way. I love being in the classroom, she said in an interview this week. Every day is different. Even if youve taught a book many, many years in a row, each time you teach it, a student will reveal something about the text that maybe you havent noticed before or will bring a perspective thats completely fresh. School officials credit Shay for elevating the work of other teachers by helping them use data analysis to improve instruction and sharing best practices. She has worked to help spur a teacher-driven movement to improve critical thinking across the curriculum. A longtime teacher in International Baccalaureate courses, she recently began working as a trainer nationally. At Richard Montgomery she launched a project to spark schoolwide conversations about race and culture called Rich Talks, loosely based on TED Talks, and co-leads an after-school homework club, giving students a place to work on assignments, get help and build relationships with peers and teachers. She has spent a career around teenagers and likes it. Teenagers are fun to be around, she said. They are energetic, they are creative, they are funny. They are looking for direction and inspiration, and sometimes theyre just looking for someone to talk to. [2015: Montgomerys Teacher of the Year makes a difference at Damascus High] She says she especially enjoys teaching works of literature that get students talking about issues like sexism or racism. Among her favorites are Virginia Woolfs A Room of Ones Own and Sherman Alexies The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. The mother of two sons, Shay lives within walking distance of Richard Montgomery, where one of her children is a 10th-grader. The other will be a ninth-grader next year. It was a deliberate choice to live in the community, she said. I wanted to see my sons grow up like so many of the students that I taught, she said. A 1981 graduate of Springbrook High School, Shay grew up in Silver Spring and earned a bachelors degree from Brandeis University in 1985. She went on to earn two masters degrees, one at University of Virginia in English education and another at University of Maryland in English. Monteleone, the principal, told school officials in a letter that Shay works with the energy of a rookie and the wisdom of a sage. Shes the kind of teacher I always wanted to be, he said. Shes the kind of teacher you want your own kids to have. Other finalists for county teacher of the year were Melissa Segal, fourth-grade team leader at Luxmanor Elementary School in Rockville, and Cherin Hershkowitz, a math content specialist at Roberto Clemente Middle School in Germantown. Teachers become finalists in Montgomery by winning a master teacher award from the Marian Greenblatt Education Fund. The top honor is decided by a panel including educators, a school board member and a member of the Greenblatt family. The recognition comes with prizes: Finalists receive $2,000 from the Greenblatt fund and another monetary prize from Montgomery County Business Rountable for Education. The last day of school in Prince Georges County, Md., will be June 13, two days later than planned. (Photo by J. Lawler Duggan/For The Washington Post) (J. Lawler Duggan/For The Washington Post) Prince Georges County has rescheduled the last day of classes to June 13, extending the school year by two days to compensate for time when schools were closed in March. The Maryland school system also announced that it plans to dismiss students two hours early on June 9, June 12 and June 13, to give teachers time for year-end tasks. County school officials said they made the decision after learning they had been unsuccessful in their efforts to obtain a state waiver of the requirement for a 180-day school year. [A Day Without Classes: Some schools close as teachers join womens protest] Schools in Prince Georges were closed for snow on March 14. Classes were also cancelled on March 8 after officials said about 1,700 teachers asked for the day off, as well as 30 percent of transportation staff. Many took leave to be part of a national demonstration called A Day Without a Woman, showing the importance of women in the workforce by staying home. Stephanie Mui doing algebra in first grade. (Family photo/courtesy of Stephanie Mui) Stephanie Mui doesnt recall the specifics of the math problem presented to her fourth grade class years ago. Regardless, it was so difficult, it even stumped her teacher. Not Mui, though. To solve it I remember I had to set up a system of algebraic equations and basically just solve them simultaneously, said the 17-year-old from Fairfax. So, Stephanie Mui is pretty sharp at math. Which makes sense. She has been working to master the subject since she was a little kid. According to Mui, she was learning addition and multiplication in preschool, and really, she just kept rolling. Mui proved to be so bonkers good at math that after fifth grade she started taking community college courses. Stephanie Mui attended a College of Science ceremony at George Mason University Wednesday. She will participate in the full university commencement Saturday. (Family photo/courtesy of Stephanie Mui) She didnt stop there. On Saturday, Mui will be the youngest among more than 8,700 graduates at George Mason Universitys 50th commencement. She has earned a masters degree in mathematics from Virginias largest public university, a milestone reached before she has even graduated from high school. Did you even know that was a thing people could do? To me, its just my life, Mui said. To others, it might look a little weird. But yeah, I just think its my life. Lets not call it weird, though. Because sometimes people see the word weird and think it means strange but like, in a bad way, and The Washington Post does not want readers to think there is anything bad about being smart. Instead, lets say that Muis path is remarkable, and even impressive. [The defiant, funny and touching college commencement speeches of the week] As a student she is sharp, very sharp. She impresses everyone, Sean Lawton, an associate professor at George Mason who taught and mentored her. As a human, she is mature, polite, observant, and careful. She works hard and does not give up. Lawton, director of the Mason Experimental Geometry Lab, met Mui a few years ago. At that point, he wrote in an email to The Post, Mui was very mature already and intimidatingly smart. Lawton offered her a project to work on in the lab, a problem he thought was pretty hard. One I didnt know how to solve myself, he wrote. In a short time she came up with a good idea and began writing computer programs to test her ideas. She was fast. I had (and still do have) a hard time keeping up with her. Muis first attempt to solve it was unsuccessful. But she got there eventually, and ended up making 3-D prints and movies of her results. The project was prize-winning, and this semester, Lawton said, she read and explained research articles that laid the theoretical foundation of the project. The funny thing was that after she read the papers we realized that her solution to the geometry problem I gave her was very near to the original theoretical approach laid down by John Nash (the Nobel laureate and leading character of the movie A Beautiful Mind), which was pretty cool to see since she came up with her solution before reading Nashs paper, he wrote. Lawton lauded Muis presentations, and said her mathematical writing was amazing for her age and experience level. I remember when I first offered to pay her a small wage to work on her research from one of my grants, he wrote. She refused, saying she was not sure if it was right to be paid for thinking about math. (Mui spoke with her parents and ended up taking the money, Lawton said.) [Three years out of the NFL, hes about to graduate from law school] It was a little scary to go to Mason from Northern Virginia Community College, which offers a lot of classes online, Mui said. At Mason, she was in a traditional classroom environment. Mui said she didnt tell people her age, but she didnt lie about it, either. Im really glad I did it, she said of her nontraditional path. I like being challenged. The daughter of engineers, Mui started taking community college courses after fifth grade and George Mason said she earned a bachelors degree in mathematics from the university last year. While she pursued her masters, she continued her high school education. In June, she will graduate from Oakton High in Fairfax County. Grace Wang, who taught Mui honors biology at Oakton, called her pupil bright, kind and humble, a goal-oriented student who was conscientious and responsible. In an email, she called Mui an amazing young lady, who could serve as a role model to girls interested in science and math, and one of the most brilliant students that she had ever taught. You can be brilliant and successful while maintaining humility, Wang wrote. Unlike others that would be boastful or arrogant, she was not a self promoter and was intrinsically motivated. She has a truly inquisitive mind and loved learning and discovering things. Many of her peers are headed off to college next fall. Mui is bound for New York University as a doctoral candidate, where she will study at the private universitys Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences. I kind of look at math like its a puzzle, Mui said. Its a fun puzzle to solve. To me thats what it is. I think people should see it as that, too. THE DISTRICT Man, uncle sentenced in deadly shooting A District man and his uncle, who oversaw a youth mentoring program, were sentenced Friday in D.C. Superior Court in a 2016 killing. Anthony Wade, 30, and his uncle, 47-year-old Antwain Bailey of Temple Hills, Md., had been convicted in the March 9, 2016, fatal shooting of Aubrey Dansbury, 27. According to prosecutors, Wade and Dansbury got into an argument in an apartment in the 800 block of Chesapeake Street SE. The two men then began fighting outside the building as neighbors tried to break up the fight. At one point, Wade telephoned Bailey. When Bailey arrived, Wade ran over to Baileys SUV, and Bailey handed his nephew a gun. Wade turned and fired the gun at Dansbury, but the firearm jammed. Prosecutors said Wade then handed the gun back to his uncle, who fixed it and gave it back to Wade. Dansbury ran from Wade and tried to hide in a vehicle. Wade then fired multiple times. Judge Milton C. Lee sentenced Wade to 20 years in prison for second-degree murder while armed. Bailey was sentenced to 13 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter while armed. Keith L. Alexander Repairs delay opening MacArthur Boulevard Part of MacArthur Boulevard in upper Northwest Washington remained closed Friday and may not reopen until Monday. Crews have been working to repair a 30-inch water main that broke along the road near Canal Road NW for several days now. The water main dates to 1860, according to D.C. Water and Sewer Authority. Dana Hedgpeth MARYLAND Man shot before dying in crash with bus A Southwest Washington man was shot outside a business before dying in a crash that involved a school bus, according to Prince George's County police. Tavon Todd, 24, was shot in the 6400 block of Allentown Road in Temple Hills, Md. Shortly after, he hit another car and crashed into a Prince Georges County School bus at about 5 p.m. on Thursday, police said. It was unclear if he was shot while in a vehicle or if he got into a vehicle after he was shot. The crash involving the bus occurred in the 5400 block of Temple Hills Road, police said. There were no children on the bus, but two adults were on board. Todd was pronounced dead on the scene. Authorities are searching for a man who was at the scene where Todd was shot. An autopsy will determine Todd's exact cause and manner of death. Lynh Bui Man killed in crash on Route 50 in Lanham A 20-year-old Maryland man was killed Thursday in a crash on Route 50 in Lanham. The incident happened around 7:30 p.m. in the HOV lane of the roadway, also known as John Hanson Highway, just before Route 704. Maryland State Police said a Nissan car was speeding and swerved across lanes. The driver lost control, and the car hit a tree then a barrier wall. The driver and another passenger in the front seat survived. Police said Robert Antonio Flowers of Mitchellville died. He was riding in the back seat and was not wearing a seat belt, police said. Alcohol was not a factor in the crash, police said. Dana Hedgpeth VIRGINIA THE REGION U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters came to the Washington areas only majority-black suburb on Friday to rally church and local political leaders to support her calls for the impeachment of President Trump. At a prayer breakfast in Prince Georges County organized by local activists and the Maryland Business-Clergy Partnership, the longtime California Democrat railed against Trump for more than 30 minutes, riffing about the firing of FBI Director James B. Comey and accusing the president of disrespecting the U.S. Constitution. I want you to know that I think African Americans have the responsibility to lead in this struggle, Waters said. We fought to make this democracy better, were not giving it over to him. Auntie Maxie, as she is affectionately known by supporters, found a sympathetic crowd at the Southern Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Temple Hills, Md., where she received a standing ovation and was pulled aside for selfies by several people, including Prince Georges County elected officials. One audience member asked Waters where the rest of the Black Congressional Caucus stood on the issue of impeachment. We have not come together as a caucus yet, she said, urging the crowd to organize and use social media to place pressure on their representatives. Prince Georges County Council member Obie Patterson (D-Fort Washington) said the black community needs figures like Waters to awaken an older generation that he believes has grown too complacent. I think we lost some traction, Patterson said of the Democratic Partys failure to engage African Americans to support nominee Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election. Thats why the younger generation started shifting away. We need to offer them more. One of the breakfast organizers was Rev. Charles W. McNeill Jr., president of the National Capital Baptist Convention and pastor of Unity Baptist Church in Northeast Washington. He said he is building a coalition of pastors and other faith leaders of color who want to play a bigger role in civic life beyond the pulpit, including interviewing potential candidates for local, state and national office and developing a policy platform that challenges the Trump agenda. The church has been the power for our communities. It has been the information center and where we have been taught justice, McNeill said. We have to watch everything. Its no longer just civil rights. Mark W. Levin, the former administrator at the center of the sexual coercion allegations, at a Daniel Morgan Graduate School of National Security display table in 2015. Last month, a graduate school for aspiring spies and diplomats was sued by three former and current employees, who alleged that an ex-senior adviser coerced them into sexually abusive encounters. This past week, the Daniel Morgan Graduate School of National Security fought back, countersuing two of the alleged victims and filing a cross-claim against the former administrator, 72-year-old Mark W. Levin. In documents filed in D.C. Superior Court, Daniel Morgan argues that the alleged victims two of whom held high-ranking positions at the school violated their obligations to their employer and committed fraud by not reporting their alleged abuse by Levin much earlier. The school in Northwest Washington contends that the alleged victims actually collaborated with Levin, Daniel Morgans former senior adviser to the president, who represented himself as a spy, but may not have been. Daniel Morgan argues that the alleged victims defrauded the school, keeping their abuse secret to preserve their well-paid jobs. [They] not only concealed their relationship with Levin in an effort to secure and protect their positions, but assisted Levin in hiring other men with whom Levin was engaged in relationships, and concealing those relationships, Daniel Morgan argued in court papers. Levin and [the alleged victims] permitted a culture to develop wherein it purportedly became a rite of passage for young male [Daniel Morgan] employees to enter into a relationship with Levin. The Daniel Morgan Graduate School of National Securitys main entrance, on the seventh floor of a downtown Washington office building. In their lawsuit against Daniel Morgan, the three men in their early 20s who work or used to work at the school are seeking $150 million. Their complaint also named three other defendants: Levin, who was suspended and then fired; Alan B. Kelly, Daniel Morgans recently named acting president; and Abby S. Moffat, the chairwoman of Daniel Morgans board of trustees and the chief executive of the Diana Davis Spencer Foundation, which gives the school about $7 million annually. Tamara Miller, a former Justice Department deputy chief who represents the alleged victims, declined to comment. Levin did not return messages seeking comment. Moffat and Kelly declined an interview request. In a statement to The Washington Post, the school said the young men have been able to drag the names of Alan Kelly, Abby Moffat, and the Daniel Morgan Graduate School itself through the mud on the basis of allegations alone, without having to provide any evidence or finding by a judge, jury, or other trier of fact, the school said. Mark Levins alleged conduct was inexcusable, and for those plaintiffs to aid and abet this behavior while publicly playing the role of victim is shameful. The alleged victims, two of whom live in Northern Virginia, claim in their lawsuit that Levin manipulated them into sexually explicit medical exams at his apartment building in Arlington County. Levin convinced them, the lawsuit argues, that the naked physicals were required to maintain their Daniel Morgan jobs and their candidacy for a clandestine intelligence squad that he supposedly led. [He convinced former CIA operatives he was one of them. Was he an impostor?] The alleged victims fault Daniel Morgan for not vetting Levin carefully enough. Although little is known about Levins professional career, he frequently boasted to colleagues and students that he had killed dozens of people and worked for an unnamed counterterrorism organization, according to interviews with former Daniel Morgan employees. Before he helped launch Daniel Morgan in 2014, Levin, who served in the Army during the Vietnam War, also served as an unpaid adviser at another national security school in Washington, the Institute of World Politics. Two of the alleged victims met Levin at the institute in 2012, where they say he began coercing them into sexually abusive encounters. They later followed him to Daniel Morgan. These plaintiffs were the only individuals at [Daniel Morgan] with both the knowledge and the authority to stop Mark Levins alleged behavior, and their failure to do so represents a dereliction of their duties, the school said in its statement to The Washington Post. In April, D.C. Superior Court Judge Zinora M. Mitchell-Rankin entered a temporary protective order allowing them to proceed with the lawsuit anonymously for 90 days. But Daniel Morgan, which knows the names of the alleged victims, wants the court to vacate the order and force them to refile their lawsuit setting forth their real names and addresses. The school wants to properly defend itself, it says in court papers. [Daniel Morgan] must be able to tell their version of events, which severely undermine [the alleged victims] claim, without the constraints of the current protective order, the school wrote in court papers. Daniel Morgan also argues that the alleged victims abuse is not severe enough to warrant anonymity: Even with cases involving graphic sexual assault, courts have been reluctant to allow plaintiffs to proceed anonymously. The alleged victims contend in court papers that outing their identities would heighten media attention and bring public humiliation, social stigma, social isolation and psychological harm to them. But Daniel Morgan asserts that the alleged victims have already spoken to The Post and therefore cannot be permitted to use publicity of the case as both a sword and a shield. The Post generally does not identify alleged victims of sexual abuse. In their court papers, the alleged victims argue that Daniel Morgans attempts to unmask them are thinly-veiled attempts to further retaliate against them. They cite an April 12 town hall meeting of faculty and students at Daniel Morgan, when Kelly, then the schools vice president and special counsel, discussed the alleged victims lawsuit. According to court documents, Kelly told attendees that the alleged victims names would be revealed, and that the student body and all employees deserved to know their identities because they are suing all of us collectively. Kelly repeatedly told those gathered, according to the alleged victims court papers, that litigation yields consequences. In its countersuit and cross-claim, the school said that it is seeking damages based on two of the alleged victims salaries, attorneys fees and reputational harm. Daniel Morgan also wants an unspecified contribution from Levin in case damages are assessed against the school in favor of the alleged victims. A black man turns from a police officer and puts a cigarette in his pocket. The officer stops him, handcuffs him, questions him about illegal drugs and outstanding warrants. Its the kind of interaction that happens every day. But in Alexandria, Va., two years ago, the black man Officer Brandon Smith stopped was so insulted that he called his brother, Earl L. Cook, who happened to be the chief of police. Earl Cook told his brother that he could file a complaint, and Smith, who is white, ultimately was fired for a stop deemed illegal and racially biased. But a new chief has now rehired him, and supporters say it was Smith who was mistreated. The dispute may not be over yet. The man who was stopped, Harold Cook, is consulting with an attorney about taking further action. The case sheds light on the way cities nationwide are grappling with disputes over how often and why black men are detained by police. Last year, the president of the largest police management organization apologized for historical mistreatment of minorities by officers, and President Barack Obama had pushed for better training to confront racial bias in police forces. President Trump, expressing concern that police were not getting support, has pushed back against what he describes as unfair defamation and vilification. Earl Cook says there needs to be accountability for even small instances of discrimination to build trust and avoid bigger confrontations. Investigative stops is a hot-button item, has been for a long, long time. And unfortunately, we havent been immune in the police department from some stops that are ill advised, said Cook, who retired last year. If you turn a blind eye, then youre not only emboldening that person who transgressed but youre also, I think, lessening the justice for the victim. Smith did not respond to requests for comment. But the police union and others in city government say that he was unjustly fired over what was, at most, a minor mistake. Smith himself argued in court that nepotism was a factor. Smith is a proactive officer who knows the law and applies it fairly and accurately, said Will Oakley, Smiths union representative in the department. You see in other cities the racial issues, the heavy-handed policing you dont see that here. The rank-and-file officers arent going to tolerate racial bias, the union wouldnt support anybody with racial bias. I wanted an apology Although such personnel disputes are usually secret, the details of the complaint against Smith were made public when he filed a lawsuit fighting his termination. The encounter began as Harold Cook, 59, was going to do laundry near his Taylor Run home on July 16, 2015, and saw Smith pull up in an unmarked police cruiser. He says he paid the officer no mind. He was coming off a long day with his fiancee, who was undergoing cancer treatment. Cook had two bottles of detergent in one hand and an unlit cigarette in the other; he turned around and put the cigarette in his pocket to fish out the keys to his truck. When Smith repeatedly yelled Stop! Cook recalled assuming that the officer was calling to someone else. But Smith told investigators he thought Cook was ignoring a demand from an officer and hiding something in his pocket. It looked like a cigarette, Smith said in interviews with investigators, but it could have been a joint or a dipper, slang for a cigarette soaked in PCP. According to both mens accounts, Smith approached Cook, pulled the hand holding the cigarette out of his pocket and handcuffed him. Cook said Smith then pulled out his wallet and ran his license plate for outstanding warrants. Cook recalled that Smith continued to suggest that the cigarette contained illegal drugs. He says he protested, saying he had a sick fiancee at home. By the way, he added, his brother was the citys police chief. Smith thought Cook was probably lying. He asked whether he and the chief shared a mother, a question Cook found offensive. According to court documents, Smith later said that he thought it would be less likely that two black people would share a father. But Smith soon decided not to continue the arrest; he uncuffed Cook and left. Cook said he called the station but was unable to get any information about filing a complaint. That night, he called his brother. It was on my mind so much, Cook recalled. Why would you do this? I wanted an apology, or something. Chief Cook told his brother to contact Smiths supervisor, which he did. The chief recused himself from the investigation. Smith was fired. Despite a hearing at which 14 members of the police department and seven city prosecutors testified on his behalf, Smiths termination was upheld twice. My review leads me to think that the articulation for the stop was contrived and therefore I am left to reason that the subjects race was the basis for the stop, Deputy Chief David Huchler wrote, according to court filings. Huchler said Cooks turning around was not furtive. To the charge of nepotism, an arbiter from city government noted that both men had connections to officials. Smiths wife is a prosecutor for the Office of the Commonwealths Attorney. Huchler denied that Earl Cook had any influence on the investigation. Support for vindication Smiths final chance to keep his job a hearing before a three-person panel was held up over a dispute with city officials over the panels leader. Smith ultimately filed the civil lawsuit, saying that his rights were violated. That case was still unresolved in March when new Police Chief Michael L. Brown decided that Smith should be rehired. He exonerated Smith of all charges. Our department does not pursue action against the subject of any criminal, civil, or administrative complaint, including Police personnel, unless the evidence and the law support the complaint, Brown said in a statement. Several supporters were happy to see Smith vindicated. He made a mistake, said Alexandria Sheriff Dana Lawhorne, who considered hiring Smith after he was fired by the police department, referring to Smiths question about Cooks mother. It doesnt make him a racist, and it certainly doesnt mean you should fire him for it. Thats a training issue; its not a fireable offense, and it doesnt add up to biased policing. Just a month before his dismissal, according to police records, Smith was commended for his proactiveness and his knowledge of the Constitution. Blaine Corle, who retired from the department in 2014 as deputy chief, said that under Earl Cook the department was too quick to dole out discipline. When you talk about taking away someones livelihood, you have to be sure that the facts support the action and . . . that the punishment fits the crime and thats what I found to be lacking in a number of cases, Corle said. But several defense attorneys in Alexandria argue that Smiths transgressions go deeper than one unnecessary stop or awkward query and that he has crossed legal lines when making searches or arrests in the past. Smith . . . generally showed a blatant disregard for the values and rights he says he has sworn to uphold, said Sandra Freeman, a former public defender now working in North Dakota. Mentioned in the court papers defending Smiths dismissal were arrests he had made charging women with prostitution at a local Days Inn while not assigned to do so. Smith was suspended for insubordination. To keep him on as an officer after the Cook stop and his previous disciplinary record, Huchler concluded in his report, would be negligent. Harold Cook is considering his own lawsuit against Smith and possibly the city. He has his brothers support. Ill never not have 100 percent loyalty to the Alexandria Police Department, Earl Cook said. The only thing that gives me any comfort in this uncomfortable situation is that you have to do the right thing. And I dont think theres any betrayal in doing the right thing. A D.C. jail inmate was found dead in his cell Thursday afternoon by corrections officers making their rounds, D.C. Department of Corrections officials said. D.C. police and jail officials are investigating the death of Kenneth Parker, 28, who has been confined in the general population, officials said in a statement. After discovering Parker, officers attempted to revive him before D.C. Fire and EMS transported him to George Washington University Hospital. He was later pronounced dead. Officials did not release a cause or manner of death. It started as an argument. Then it turned into a fistfight. By the time it was over, a 27-year-old man lay dead from multiple gunshot wounds. And a District man and his uncle, who oversaw a youth mentoring program, were charged in the murder. On Friday in D.C. Superior Court, the two men, 30-year-old Anthony Wade and his uncle, 47-year-old Antwain Bailey of Temple Hills, Md., were sentenced to multiple years in prison for the March 9, 2016, fatal shooting of Aubrey Dansbury, 27. According to prosecutors, Wade and Dansbury got into an argument in an apartment in the 800 block of Chesapeake Street SE. The two men then left the apartment and began fighting outside the building as neighbors tried to break up the fight. At one point, Wade telephoned Bailey and told his uncle where he was and that he was in a fight with Dansbury. When Bailey arrived, Wade ran over to Baileys SUV, and Bailey handed his nephew a gun. Wade turned and fired the gun at Dansbury, but the firearm jammed. Prosecutors say Wade then handed the gun back to his uncle, who fixed it and gave it back to Wade. Dansbury ran from Wade and tried to hide in the back seat of a vehicle. Wade then fired the weapon multiple times. In January, Wade and Bailey pleaded guilty in Dansburys death. In court, Judge Milton C. Lee sentenced Wade to 20 years in prison for second-degree murder while armed. Bailey was sentenced to 13 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter while armed. Lee expressed his disappointment in Bailey, who had established a youth mentoring program in Maryland where he counseled young men. Lee told Bailey that at the time of the deadly altercation, you had an opportunity to serve as a role model for your nephew, but you chose otherwise. Human remains thought to be from the 1700s or 1800s have been found on the site of a residential development under construction on Alexandrias waterfront, just in time for a city-sponsored excavation tour Saturday. City officials said the remains were discovered Thursday by archaeologists working under contract with developer EYA, which is building the residential-retail project Robinson Landing on the site of an old newsprint warehouse, Robinson Terminal South, that was once owned by the former Washington Post Co. City government spokesman Craig Fifer said theres no reason to believe other human remains are at the site; during the 18th and 19th centuries, it was not uncommon to bury people outside formal graveyards. City and contract archaeologists will oversee the testing of the remains found this week to determine what should happen next, both at the site and with the bones themselves, Fifer said. Virginia law outlines specific processes for disposing of remains. On Saturday morning, city archaeologists are scheduled to lead a previously arranged, reservations-only tour of the area. Fifer said others who are curious about the site should not show up for the tour, because only 18 people can fit on the sidewalk at a time. The human remains are not on display. An EYA spokesman said the discovery is not expected to seriously delay the Robinson Landing project, which is still in the early phases of excavation and backfill. The site was once a point that jutted out into the Potomac River named Point Lumley. The cove was eventually filled in, and on that land, a shipwright built a wharf. A shipyard and a flour mill operated there for a while, and a bone mill, where animal bones were processed into fertilizer. A 1987 fire regarded as the most devastating in the citys history destroyed much of the property, but the buildings were eventually replaced and used for a variety of marine, industrial-type operations. The property has already given up artifacts including historic stone foundations for buildings, brick shafts and evidence of wooden box privies. The site is adjacent to another lot where a warehouse foundation and remnants of a 300-year-old ship were found in late 2015. Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-Va.), known to her rivals as no-comment Comstock, is suddenly talkative. In recent days, she has granted several interviews and stopped to talk to reporters in the halls of the Capitol a rarity for her to heap full-throated praise on the appointment of former FBI director Robert S. Mueller III as the special counsel in the Russia probe. The shift is taking place as Comstock prepares to face what could be her toughest election yet, with at least five Democrats vying for their partys nomination to challenge her in the midterm elections next year. The issue also falls within her wheelhouse as a former chief congressional counsel whose two-year stint as director of public affairs at the Justice Department overlapped with Muellers tenure at the FBI. Now everyone can be assured that were going to have a thorough investigation and one thats done as quickly and thoroughly as possible, she said in a 25-minute phone interview Friday. The rest of us need to go back to doing our work. [Comstock, growing critical of Trump, demands Russia briefing] Comstock said she would like to turn to tax reform and cybersecurity issues that play well on the campaign trail in her Northern Virginia district and allow her to avoid the subject of President Trump. Although Comstock outperformed Trump in Virginias 10th Congressional District by 16 points last year to win a second term, Democrats nationally are working to tie her to the president. She has resisted the linkage. She was one of 20 House Republicans to vote no on the GOPs health-care plan to replace the Affordable Care Act; the repeal-and-replace initiative was embraced and promoted by Trump. Now, Comstock is applauding Muellers appointment, something Trump has slammed as a witch hunt. The challenge for Comstock is to make sure Trump, who was a drag on her election in 2016, doesnt become an anchor in 2018, said Stephen J. Farnsworth, a professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va. Creating distance from Trump makes a lot of sense, given that the nature of VA10 [Virginias 10th District] makes it the closest thing Virginia has to a swing district. Comstock supporters say her criticism of Trump is not new. In December 2015, a day after candidate Trump proposed a ban on Muslims entering the country, Comstock panned the idea as unconstitutional and un-American. But she studiously avoided saying whether she would vote for him until October 2016, when the Access Hollywood video surfaced of Trump bragging about groping women. She called his comments vile and called for him to drop out of the race. Democrats running for the nomination to challenge her say voters will not be impressed by her recent support for the Mueller appointment. Its great that shes now talking to reporters about something that already happened, but how about leading for a change? said state Sen. Jennifer T. Wexton (D-Loudoun), a former prosecutor. Comstock should push for the release of Trumps tax returns, force a vote on the creation of an independent investigative commission and hold a town hall meeting, she said. Comstocks vote against the Republican health-care bill was somewhat disingenuous, considering her six previous votes to repeal the Affordable Care Act without a replacement plan ready, Wexton said. Lindsey Davis Stover, another Democrat who is running, said constituents who have been unsuccessfully asking Comstock to hold a town hall meeting will not be appeased by her public support for the special counsel. While she may be talking to the media, she still has yet to talk to her constituents in a town hall meeting, said Stover, who was a Veterans Affairs official in the Obama administration. And Dan Helmer, an Army veteran and Democrat who is also running, said: After months of standing idly by, Comstock finally taking a position on Russia thats not bravery. The two other Democrats who intend to run for the seat are Kimberly Adams, a former president of the Fairfax County teachers union, and David B. Hanson, a retired naval intelligence officer from Clifton. The 10th Congressional District spans part of the Washington suburbs and conservative counties on Virginias border with West Virginia. Comstock spoke out Friday, after attending a House briefing by Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein about the investigation into possible collusion between associates of Trump and Russian officials during the presidential election campaign. Comstock said Muellers work should not impede House and Senate intelligence committee investigations. Not only do I think it wont, I dont think it should, she said. Congressional committees pursue the publics right to know, she said, while Mueller will determine whether any laws were broken. If Congress uncovers criminal activity, lawmakers must refer their findings to the Justice Department, she said. Yet, she added, Democrats who clamored for the appointment of a special counsel dont want to take yes for an answer and continue to harp on potential wrongdoing from the White House. Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (D-Va.) countered that he hopes Republicans do not use Muellers appointment as a cover to ignore what he said are other troubling activities in the Trump White House. I think theyre breathing an enormous sigh of relief, he said. This was rapidly getting out of control. This imposes some structure and for some period of time a news blackout or at least thats their hope while Mueller ramps up his investigation. Comstock blasted what she called partisan attacks against her. Clearly you have partisan Democrats who prefer reciting DCCC talking points and having partisan fights instead of letting professionals conduct their investigations. And its surprising that they have so little confidence in Senator Mark Warners efforts in the Senate, her spokesman, Jeff Marschner, said in a statement, referencing the senator from Virginia, who is the ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee. Farnsworth, the professor, said no matter how savvy Comstock may be, voters could judge her on the basis of the occupant of the White House, simply because they belong to the same party. This is one of those times when politicians only have so much control of their future, he said. Mitchell Davis, 72, a retired ophthalmologist who has donated millions to local charities, at his home in Northwest Washington. (Bill OLeary/The Washington Post) The unassuming millionaire lives in an aging brick house crammed with more than 50 years worth of stuff, including, somewhere, expressions of thanks from a major hospital, a local college and a handful of small nonprofit groups. He drives a pair of Buicks. To me, if it has four wheels and moves, Im happy, he said. Buicks have good repair records. You would never guess that Mitchell E. Davis has donated more than $4 million to local institutions in the past few years, including $750,000 this spring to Arlington Thrive, a tiny nonprofit that provides emergency funding for medical services to people who have no other way to pay. I wanted to give to a charity where my donation would have a significant impact, said Davis, 72, a retired ophthalmologist who lives in his parents old home on a busy intersection in Northwest Washington. I only know that when I do good, I feel good. Even a small contribution can make a big difference. Davis made his fortune by investing in funds in the Standard & Poors 500-stock index, after trying and failing to pick stock winners himself. Mitchell Davis at his home in Northwest Washington. (Bill OLeary/The Washington Post) He started with a small inheritance from his mother and father, both Russian immigrants. (His dad arrived in this country as a 10-year-old orphan, put himself through medical school and became a general practitioner.) Davis decides whom to give to by keeping an eye out for worthy causes, and he says he would never donate to an institution that approached him first. He read about Arlington Thrive in Washingtonian magazine, asked questions, and checked out its financial reports and reputation in the Catalogue for Philanthropy before starting to give the organization smaller donations about $35,000 a year in 2006. He has never visited the facility nor met its executive director. I think Ive maybe been to Virginia once, and Im not sure Id go again my sense of direction isnt too good and Id probably get lost, Davis joked in an interview. I might get there, but Id never get back. Davis said he agreed to speak publicly about his philanthropy to encourage others to invest wisely, research thoroughly and support those doing good work that will make a difference in peoples lives. But he would much rather discuss the four miles he walks every morning or his twice-weekly workouts with a personal trainer. He declares himself in perfect health, despite his rail-thin frame and stooped posture. A native Washingtonian and a proud graduate of the Districts public schools Shepherd Elementary, Paul Junior High, Coolidge High Davis received his bachelors degree from George Washington University and his medical degree from the University of Maryland at Baltimore. He interned and was a medical resident at what is now MedStar Washington Hospital Center in the 1970s, before establishing his medical practice in Rockville. He never married, and he has no children. At the hospital, he remembers seeing people in the waiting room, people who took a bus to the hospital and who were dressed in such a way that you knew they lived in poverty. I wished there was something I could do to help them, but at the time, all I had was enough to pay for food and shelter, Davis said. I put it in the back of my mind until I accumulated enough. Eventually, he decided he was ready. His first gift to the hospital was $1 million to hire a cancer navigator, whose job it is to help oncology patients maneuver through the maze of physicians, laboratories and appointments. A year later, he donated another $1 million to cover prescriptions, procedures, transportation, rehabilitation services and basic equipment such as wheelchairs and canes for those who cannot afford them. A third million was for patient needs and equipment at the hospitals affiliate and neighbor institution, the National Rehabilitation Network. All three gifts are designated as last resort funds, to be used only when there is no other source of payment. Emily Riffle, the hospitals vice president of philanthropy, called Davis an extraordinary philanthropist and such a kind man. In the interview, Davis casually mentioned that he also gave some money to Medical Missionaries in Manassas after reading an articlein The Washington Post about its post-Hurricane Katrina work. The groups founder, Gilbert Irwin, said that over the years, [Daviss] contributions have approached a half-million dollars. Since 2009, Davis has been giving to Montgomery College. He said he funded three named scholarships there because he figured hard-working students at the school need the help. One of the scholarships, established last year with a $50,000 endowment, is for students with disabilities. Part of the fun of giving money away, Davis said, is finding worthy recipients. I would never give to anybody who solicited me, he said. The $750,000 donation to Arlington Thrive was the largest one-time gift in the organizations 42-year existence. Executive Director Andrew Schneider called Daviss endowment Sam Walton money that will have an unbelievable impact on the charity, which has only two full-time employees and one part-time worker. The interest will pay for medical and dental bills for those in need, as well as prescriptions and office visits, covering about a third of the organizations overall medical and dental spending. Davis said he has kept enough of his fortune to be generous to relatives, live comfortably and make additional, albeit smaller, donations in the future. I felt this money should be doing some good instead of going to Uncle Sam, he said. This money could be helping so many people. NATIONAL SECURITY Guantanamo inmate doesnt testify in court The first CIA captive subjected to harsh interrogation after the Sept. 11 attacks did not testify Friday about conditions inside the Guantanamo Bay detention center after a late-night discussion with his attorneys, who did not want him to take the stand. It would have been the first time terrorist suspect Abu Zubaida had spoken publicly since he was captured in 2002. He has never been charged. In August 2003, he was subjected to 83 rounds of waterboarding, an interrogation practice that simulates drowning. Zubaida had expressed a desire to be a witness at a court hearing for fellow detainee Ramzi Binalshibh, who is one of five Guantanamo prisoners facing trial by a military commission for their alleged roles in planning and providing logistical support for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Binalshibh has accused guards of causing noises and vibrations intended to disrupt his sleep and making it difficult for him to participate in his legal case, and his lawyer wanted Zubaida to testify about how detainees have been treated. His attorneys have advised him not to testify, James Harrington, a civilian lawyer appointed to represent Binalshibh, told Army Col. James Pohl, the judge presiding over the hearing. The decision last night . . . was not made until the last minute. Zubaida, 46, was captured in Pakistan in March 2002. He has been held at Guantanamo, Cuba, since September 2006. This month, Zubaidas attorney, Mark Denbeaux, had said his client would take the stand. But in a statement Friday, he said that government prosecutors made it impossible for his client to testify because what he said could be used against him if he is ever tried. Associated Press IOWA Man gets life terms for killing 2 police officers An Iowa man on Friday admitted to killing two Des Moines-area police officers who were ambushed as they sat in their patrol cars. Scott Michael Greene withdrew his not guilty plea at a morning hearing and pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of Urbandale officer Justin Martin, 24, and Des Moines Sgt. Anthony Beminio, 38. He was sentenced to consecutive life prison terms. Greene, 46, admitted he shot both men in the early morning last Nov. 2 within minutes of one another as they sat in their patrol cars about two miles apart. Police arrested Greene later that day. Greene didnt explain why he killed the officers and he declined to speak during Fridays hearing, which was supposed to be a routine pretrial status conference until Greene decided to change his plea and seek immediate sentencing. Polk County Attorney John Sarcone said Greene signaled a few weeks ago that he was prepared to plead guilty and go to prison. A judges gag order prevented attorneys from revealing Greenes plea plans ahead of time. Associated Press CALIFORNIA Authorities identify 1992 L.A. riot victim After more than 25 years, authorities have identified the last remaining unidentified victim killed during the 1992 riots in Los Angeles. Los Angeles County coroners spokesman Ed Winter identified the man Friday as 18-year-old Armando Ortiz Hernandez. Winter said Hernandez, who died of smoke inhalation and burns, was recently identified through fingerprints. Hernandezs body was found May 2, 1992, inside an auto parts shop that was set ablaze during the unrest in South Los Angeles. The looting and violence that would turn into one of the deadliest race riots in American history was sparked after a jury acquitted four white police officers in the beating of black motorist Rodney King. Associated Press They are all gone now. On Friday, the statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee became the last of New Orleanss four contested monuments to go, an end to more than 130 years of publicly honoring a man who embodied Southern pride and racial oppression. The monuments sat at the entrance to the citys largest park, on a vaunted greenway, in a major traffic circle and in one of this citys squares. They occupied places where you wont find many tourists meandering with long-necked frozen cocktails. Mayor Mitch Landrieu marked the historic moment with a rousing speech that sought to end nearly two years of heated debate in the city over what the monuments said about its past. They are not just innocent remembrances of a benign history. These monuments celebrate a fictional, sanitized Confederacy ignoring the death, ignoring the enslavement, ignoring the terror that it actually stood for, Landrieu said, adding that Lee and the Confederate army fought against the United States. They may have been warriors, but in this cause they were not patriots. Since April, the monuments fates have drawn the national spotlight, prompting 24-hour vigils populated by people who call the structures emblems of Southern history and honor or landscape-defining art. Some came with guns on display, strings of ammunition strung across their bodies. Others, during an ultimately nonviolent faceoff with activists determined to see the statues taken down, limited themselves to flak jackets and riot gear. A contractor involved in removal work pulled out of the job after an arsonist set his $200,000 Lamborghini ablaze. People in support of removal of Confederate monuments hold candles during a counterprotest against those Saturday evening gathered to call on officials to halt the removal of a Gen. Robert E. Lee statue in Charlottesville. (Ryan M. Kelly/Associated Press) As the battle in New Orleans wanes, conflicts over rebel monuments, memorabilia and merchandise are rising across the country, in areas as far-flung from the Confederacy as Massachusetts and Ohio. Historically, Confederate symbols have appeared at times of racial discord. [The truth about Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee: He wasnt very good at his job] Questions about what to do with rebel symbols in public spaces where they can be barred or removed and what they mean have themselves become a source of conflict. The Southern Poverty Law Center counts at least 60 Confederate symbols removed or renamed in the two years since a white supremacist murdered nine black parishioners in a Charleston, S.C., church. Last week, a Boston-born, self-described white nationalist, Richard Spencer, led a nighttime gathering of white people clenching tiki torches in front of the Lee statue in Charlottesville, Va., a scene that citys mayor called reminiscent of the Ku Klux Klan. What brings us together is that we are white, we are a people, we will not be replaced, Spencer said at one of two rallies held near the monument, which the city plans to sell and remove. Amid the familiar hate or heritage debate, some defenders say Confederate symbols have taken on a uniquely modern utility. Some use them as political weapons wielded against a perceived decline in white dominance and the alleged tyranny of political correctness. But Carol Anderson, a historian and professor of African American studies at Emory University, says that the various reasons given for defending Confederate monuments and symbols share a common underlying expectation that even in an increasingly diverse democracy, power and influence should remain unchanged. Beneath all of the talk is a longing for an America that is not only predominantly white but where the resources of a very, very rich nation are funneled almost exclusively toward whites, said Anderson, author of the 2016 book White Rage. These are who people believe that they are actually oppressed and disadvantaged whenever anyone elses voice is heard, their needs addressed and their political will prevails. Karl Burkhalter, 61, from Haughton, La., protests the removal of the Jefferson Davis Monument in New Orleans on May 9. (Annie Flanagan/for The Washington Post) A hazy heritage Karl Burkhalter, a retired racehorse trainer and self-described history buff from a small town near Baton Rouge, kept a 24-hour vigil near New Orleanss Jefferson Davis statue in the days leading up to its early-morning removal on May 11. While keeping vigil, the 61-year-old even slept in his car. Burkhalter, who is white, described feeling nauseated as the vigil keepers ranks expanded to include white supremacists and neo-Nazis. But like other monument defenders, Burkhalter described the Norths treatment of Southern whites during the war and reconstruction as an affront. White Southerners, particularly poor ones accustomed to basic rights that differentiated them from blacks, felt reduced and abused. That isnt right, Burkhalter said, but that treatment prompted Jim Crow laws and practices that among other things prohibited black voting, full use of public facilities, jury service and public-office holding. These monuments, they were a reflection of the fact that the only bit of self-esteem so many white people down here had left was tied to the sacrifices they had made for the Confederacy, he said. I think thats what upsets so many people about the idea of removing them now. [New Orleans mayor: Why Im taking down my citys Confederate monuments] In February 1884, less than two decades after the end of the Civil War, New Orleans gave its first prominent public space to a Confederate monument, a multistory, white stone column topped by a statue of Lee in the center of one of the citys busiest roundabouts. The statue faced north allowing Lee, as local legend has it, to keep a watchful eye on the enemy. For Nick Glover, a 66-year-old Vietnam War veteran, removing Lees statue and the three other Confederate monuments from the New Orleans landscape amounts to an official act to dishonor men of valor. Glover, who is white, says two of his ancestors fought for the Confederacy at Gettysburg, Pa. As he sees it, the men the monuments honor defended liberty. However, conversations about the denial of freedom for most blacks in the past should be avoided in the present, he said. Demonstrators who supports keeping Confederate-era monuments protest before the Jefferson Davis statue was taken down in New Orleans on May 11, 2017. (Gerald Herbert/AP) This right here is a history thats got to be honored and preserved, Glover said, standing near a statue of Confederate Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard, which the city removed Wednesday. I think we ought to be able to celebrate that without all the talk about white supremacy and slavery. In New Orleans, its not rare to hear these heartfelt beliefs in an unblemished heritage, rooted in a certain set of ideas: The North began the Civil War. The war was not about slavery. Slaves were rare, expensive and therefore, well-treated. Reconstruction and civil rights gains for blacks most of which were soon rescinded by Jim Crow laws created danger and corruption. They form the premise for a distinctly pro-South story of the Civil War that began to proliferate in the 1870s with war memorials dedicated to the bravery, heroism and honor of Southern soldiers and appeared in textbooks for about a century. Today, historians note that Mississippis own secession documents cite the protection of $4 billion worth of property slaves for leaving the Union. The same is true of many other states. But the ugly, factual aspects of the war and why it was fought were cloaked in a haze of heritage. Heritage is selective recall, said James Grossman, executive director of the American Historical Association, a District-based professional organization of historians. Its often interlaced with fable and myth, but it is not actual history. It does not, as history should do, make you uncomfortable. James E. Miller, 85, at his home in Metairie, La., on May 9. Miller, whose great-grandmother was born a slave, supports the removal of the monuments to the Confederacy. (Annie Flanagan/for The Washington Post) A portrait of hate Three days before the Davis statue came down, James E. Miller, 85, came to look at the scene. Actually, the avid photographer came to capture it. This is just an incredible portrait of hate, said Miller, who is black, just after standing from a low crouch he assumed to capture a set of vigil keepers standing behind police barricades, Confederate and American flags. Miller, who now lives in the suburbs outside New Orleans, was raised in Birmingham, Ala., by his great-grandmother and her husband, both of whom were born slaves. When Miller was a young man, he says that white men angry about civil rights activism in Birmingham blew up a church killing four black girls, and Miller saw Sheriff Bull Connor turn water hoses and police dogs on civil rights protesters including children. Even with that long view of U.S. history and politics, the conflicts in New Orleans, Charlottesville and other towns debating Confederate monuments are mystifying to Miller. 1 of 14 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad The scene in New Orleans as the Robert E. Lee statue is removed View Photos Construction crews take down a monument dedicated to the Confederate leader. Caption Construction crews take down a monument dedicated to the Confederate leader. May 19, 2017 Construction crews prepare to remove a monument to Robert E. Lee in New Orleans. Jonathan Bachman/Reuters Wait 1 second to continue. Some days, Im not able to understand how anyone alive can claim that the Confederacy was not a treasonous regime, said Miller. Those men on those monuments took up arms against other Americans so some rich white men could keep their slaves. [New Orleans seethed under Union occupation. Then rude women were warned theyd be treated as whores] For now, New Orleans will store the four Confederate monuments in an undisclosed location, due to threats made against city officials, activists, contractors and work crews involved in taking them down. City officials announced late Thursday that an unspecified water feature will replace the Lee statue, and an American flag will fly where the Davis fixture once stood. Nonprofits and government agencies will eventually be allowed to submit plans that would put the statues on private property. City Park officials will decide what will replace the Beauregard statue. Malcolm Suber, a coordinator with Take Em Down NOLA, a social justice organization, said the campaign began several decades ago to remove about 130 Confederate memorials and monuments in the city, as well as namesake streets, schools, public facilities and the like. In December 2015, six months after the Charleston church shooting, the New Orleans City Council voted 6 to 1 to remove the four Confederate monuments. This is a done deal. The city council voted. The courts have ruled, Suber said. And even though some of these folk seem to believe that they ought to have more say, these monuments to white supremacy and brutality are coming down in this majority black city. Still, the idea that the monuments have only recently become controversial in New Orleans persists. Pro-monument protesters gather May 16, 2017, as the a statue of the Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard is prepared for removal from the entrance to City Park in New Orleans. (Scott Threlkeld/AP) Glover, the Vietnam veteran, said he believes that the idea that the statues are offensive to some was invented by Landrieu, the citys first white mayor since the 1970s. Nobody in New Orleans had any kind of a problem with these monuments. Not when they went up. Not now, Glover said. Everyone Ive ever heard talk about these things considers them military memorials, symbols of sacrifice. The women of this city baked cookies and cakes to put these things up. It simply makes no sense to take them down because Mitch and his daddy dont like them or, maybe Mitch needs a career. Landrieu is a Democrat and scion of a very blue political dynasty in a very red state. His father, Maurice Moon Landrieu, served as New Orleanss mayor and in the state legislature in the 1960s and 1970s. At City Hall, the elder Landrieu boosted the number of black staffers in the then-mostly white city government; and in the legislature, he was one of just a handful of white lawmakers who voted to integrate the states schools. The younger Landrieu denies that his mission is personal. I think that what this entire experience tells us, he said, is that we, in this city, in this country, may not be as sophisticated about these matters as we may think. Dominion Energys proposed Atlantic Coast pipeline would come through this area of the Shenandoah Valley in Augusta County, Va. (Norm Shafer/For The Washington Post) Mike Tidwell is director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. LaDelle McWhorter is chairperson of Virginia Organizing. More than 60 candidates for the Virginia House of Delegates have rejected campaign contributions from fossil-fuel giant Dominion Energy. Two candidates for governor, a Democrat and a Republican, have, too. Its the equivalent of an earthquake. Why is this happening to Dominion, the once all-powerful corporation that has owned Richmond for decades? To understand, all you have to do is visualize verdant Roberts Mountain in Nelson County, nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge range of central Virginia. Federal regulators have revealed that Dominion intends to remove the tops of mountains, including Roberts Mountain, to build a pipeline for gas from hydraulic fracturing. Indeed, using publicly available documents, opponents of the pipeline have shown that the summit of Roberts Mountain could be reduced by 60 feet, literally exploded away. But thats just the beginning of Dominions plans for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline for fracked gas. Its a gas superhighway tragically supported by Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D). To complete the full length of the proposed pipeline from the fracking fields of West Virginia and into Virginia the company would have to remove the tops of 38 miles of heavily forested, mostly pristine ridgelines in the two states. From 10 to 60 feet would be shaved off to create a wide, flat surface to allow Dominions heavy equipment to lay a 42-inch-diameter pipe. Much of the land would be seized outright using eminent domain from landowners who obviously dont want their mountaintops blown apart and permanently destroyed. As details emerged over the past month, the Dominion plan has shocked the conscience of many Virginians. In town-hall meetings statewide, political candidates report that pipeline resistance is one of the top things they hear. And nothing better signals a candidates pledge to fight back than to turn down a companys campaign donations. But growing voter dissatisfaction with Dominion involves more than leveling mountaintops for a fracked-gas pipeline that is not needed, according to an independent energy analysis. Dominion also has dumped highly controversial coal-ash liquid into major Virginia rivers (the James , tributaries of the Potomac , the Elizabeth). And now Dominion wants to save money by burying millions of tons of remaining toxic coal ash right where it sits along these rivers to satisfy new federal health and safety requirements. The ash, which has accumulated from decades of coal combustion at nearby Dominion power plants, is already suspected in places to be leaking highly toxic substances into the rivers. A better solution is to move the coal ash to modern, safe landfills. But Dominion says this is too expensive. Cue more public backlash. Finally, adding to Dominions unpopularity is its desire to build a $19 billion (yes, with a b) nuclear reactor at its North Anna plant. Attorney General Mark R. Herring (D) says its unneeded and a bad deal for consumers. As the tide shifts against Dominion, its almost comical to watch the company try to defend itself. On the destruction of 38 miles of mountaintops, for example, Dominion says the removal will be temporary. After clear-cutting hundreds of thousands of square feet of trees, much of it rare virgin forests, Dominion will use TNT to remove the ridge tops, lay the pipe and then pile the millions of tons of rock and soil back on the mountains. This will create a 38-mile-long rubble pile that will be denuded for years and susceptible to potentially catastrophic landslides for decades. Dominion actually says this is environmentally friendly and responsible. And McAuliffe agrees. He could reverse himself and save his decidedly mixed environmental legacy. Under the federal Clean Water Act, McAuliffe has the power to stop Dominions radical Atlantic Coast Pipeline by denying the company the water pollution permits it needs. A proposed pipeline in New York state was halted this way. In Virginia, that could set the stage for an era in which leaders not only reject Dominions cash but also permanently reject the companys entire pro-pollution agenda. The commonwealth could then begin to catch up with neighbors North Carolina and Maryland on wind and solar power. And instead of a moonscape, Roberts Mountain in Nelson County could become a fully forested testament to an entirely new environmental order in Virginia. A 1937 grave covered in a blanket of English ivy, thorns and small trees. The historic Evergreen Cemetery in Richmond is largely abandoned but volunteer efforts are being made to clean it. (Timothy C. Wright/For the Washington Post) Clarence B. Jones, a former adviser to Martin Luther King Jr., is scholar in residence at the Martin Luther King Jr. Research & Education Institute at Stanford University and co-author of Behind the Dream The Making of the Speech That Transformed a Nation and What Would Martin Say? Imagine a cemetery where gravestones disappear under vines, weeds and debris; where crypts are cracked open and exposed to robbers and the elements. It sounds like a scene from a horror movie, but its what visitors find at Evergreen Cemetery in Richmond and at many other historic African American cemeteries across the United States. Families often are unable to find let alone visit the abandoned and largely forgotten graves of their loved ones. Recently, Virginia took steps to reverse the years of neglect of historic African American cemeteries, including Evergreen Cemetery, just 2.5 miles from the State Capitol. On March 3, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) signed a bill allocating $34,000 to restore and preserve Evergreen Cemetery and nearby East End Cemetery. This legislation, long overdue, should give impetus to other state governments, philanthropists, community organizations and any group that wants to protect and preserve these important windows into African American history and culture. For decades, Virginia has funded preservation for historic Confederate cemeteries. The new legislation is an important first step in providing the same kind of care and recognition to the graves of African Americans lost in the Civil War and to the memory of their service and the heritage of their communities. Civil War cemeteries, whether Confederate or African American, are not only important spiritual monuments for families but also gateways into the people, places and events that shaped our nation. The neglect of historic African American cemeteries is as widespread as it is unknown. Throughout the 19th century and much of the 20th, African Americans were segregated even in death, often buried in off-the-beaten-path black cemeteries that, over the years, received little funding and fell into disrepair. This unfortunate legacy had no geographic boundaries. In the prominent Georgetown neighborhood in the District, Oak Hill Cemetery the lush resting place of former members of Congress and media moguls is bordered by Mount Zion and Female Union Band Society Cemetery, where cracked headstones have fallen into piles and an unknown number of unmarked graves have been lost altogether. Similar heartbreaking scenes are on full display in Georgia, North Carolina, Florida, Michigan and many other states. The neglect and disrepair of these cemeteries point to the broader challenge of preserving African American history in the United States. We must do better. While state and local governments have been slow to react, volunteer, nonprofit and private organizations have moved to fill the void. In one such model for action, three years ago in North Carolina, a group of volunteers, aided by a businessman, formed a nonprofit organization called the Cemetery Restoration Committee to begin repairing the dilapidated John N. Smith Cemetery in Southport, N.C. Last year, this African American cemetery of deep historical and spiritual significance for the community, with more than 800 interments, received a $14,500 grant from the Orton Foundation to help with restoration. The list of individuals, charities and other nonprofits stepping up to address this issue is long but not nearly long enough. These neglected cemeteries are often hidden from public view. People need to recognize that this is a problem that exists in too many places, perhaps even in their own communities, and mobilize others to learn about the problem and act to fix it. It requires research, volunteers, funding. It requires a partnership between government, philanthropists, businesses, communities and nonprofits. Most of all, it requires a commitment to reclaim these fading pieces of our nations heritage before they are lost forever. We marked the 152nd anniversary of the end of the Civil War on May 9. Americans should reaffirm our commitment to preserving our history and protecting it for generations to come. It is worth noting that black soldiers in the Civil War suffered a 35 percent higher mortality rate than other troops, even though they did not begin fighting until 18 months after the war began. This is just one of the many stories that can be told through the revitalization of our historic African American cemeteries. It is part of an important process to continue working for equality, even for those who came before us. Michael J. Gerhardt, a professor of constitutional law at University of North Carolina Law School, is the author of The Federal Impeachment Process: A Constitutional and Historical Analysis. President Trumps promise to shake things up in Washington has brought us back to unpleasantly familiar territory: talk of impeachment and obstruction of justice, this time involving the investigation into the Trump campaigns dealings with Russia. But, just as it was with Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton, it is imperative to understand what the Founding Fathers intended when they created the remedy of impeachment, and how allegations of obstruction fit into the constitutional framework for holding a president accountable for misconduct in office. The framers established impeachment as a last resort, a check to be used to deal with presidential misconduct when all other mechanisms failed. Impeachment cannot and should not be done hastily, nor should it be done for reasons so flimsy they suggest politicians are merely jockeying for political advantage rather than protecting constitutional values. (Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post) The more that impeachment proceedings appear to be rushing to judgment or driven by partisanship, the less credibility they ultimately have. The Clinton and Nixon examples offer crucial lessons about the importance of slowing down and ensuring that the public is confident that the gravity of the alleged conduct warrants the extraordinary and fundamentally undemocratic remedy of Congress removing the president from office. The Clinton episode offers a cautionary tale. In 1998, independent counsel Kenneth Starrs office had spent months investigating the possibility that Clinton had lied under oath about the nature of his relationship with Monica Lewinsky and then, according to Starrs referral to Congress for impeachment proceedings, obstructed justice by trying to conceal and destroy evidence of that relationship. Yet the failure of the House to undertake its own fact-finding, and its reliance instead solely on Starrs findings, made it easier for Clinton and his defenders to attack the impeachment as both a rush to judgment and not being properly grounded in misconduct involving the presidents abuse of official powers. The Senate quickly disposed of the matter when it was obvious it lacked the votes to meet the two-thirds threshold for a conviction. The more deliberate the inquiry, the better chance that the American people will have confidence in it. For Nixon, the process that led to his resignation took more than two years, and the scope of wrongdoing that those investigations revealed was breathtaking. The House Judiciary Committee and a Senate select committee undertook meticulous fact-finding, which ultimately uncovered the evidence that Nixon had taped every conversation in the White House. Three days after the Supreme Court ordered Nixon to turn over dozens of taped conversations, the House Judiciary Committee approved three articles of impeachment, including one charging that Nixon obstructed justice by paying hush money to the Watergate burglars. Twelve days later, Nixon resigned. Ever since, people on both sides of the aisle have had confidence in the justice of that outcome. Many advocates on both sides are too eager for a quick resolution of the investigation into Trumps campaign Democrats to remove the president from office and Republicans to exonerate him. Moving too quickly not only risks a sloppy and incomplete investigation but also subjects the outcome to claims of either a whitewash or of overturning the results of an election held just months ago. The selection of Robert S. Mueller III as special counsel to oversee the investigation of possible collusion between Trumps campaign and Russian agents presents a good model for the House to follow. A former FBI director, Mueller comes to the task with a reputation of impeccable integrity, just as Archibald Cox did when he was appointed as Watergate special prosecutor. If Mueller conducts the investigation as expected, rigorously and impartially, the public will likely have a great deal of confidence in the outcome, whatever it may be. Impeachment requires proof of significant abuse of power or breach of public trust. Obstruction of justice, or even the attempt to obstruct, epitomizes that sort of offense, entailing as it does an attack on a system whose integrity the president has sworn to uphold. By contrast, Presidents John Tyler and Andrew Johnson faced constant threats of impeachment largely because they were remarkably unpopular. The House tried but failed three times to impeach Tyler for having done nothing more than protect the presidents authorities to veto legislation and nominate officials. Even though Johnson came within a single vote of being convicted in the Senate, most historians have dismissed his impeachment as driven more by partisanship than a proper basis for impeachment and removal. Impeachment is serious business, perhaps the most serious other than going to war that Congress ever contemplates. Any impeachment inquiry must be conducted thoroughly and preferably with bipartisan support. Those eager to get started must remember: If not done properly the first time, there might not be another chance. Roy S. Gutterman is an associate professor and director of the Tully Center for Free Speech at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. When protesters recently shouted conservative firebrands Ann Coulter and Milo Yiannopoulos off the University of California at Berkeley campus, the irony surrounding these two separate but related incidents was as bright as the fires that the protesters ignited, nearly burning down an academic building. How could the birthplace of the 1960s free speech movement be so hostile to opposing viewpoints? A university should be a place where discussion and debate flourish. In this case, speakers on one side of the debate had no trouble articulating their viewpoint, while they silenced speakers on the other side of the table. This not only stifles the marketplace of ideas, it also runs counter to the values of the First Amendment. While conservative opinions were targeted at Berkeley, challenges to free speech come from across the political spectrum. President Trumps declaration that the press is the enemy of the American people was one of his sharpest attacks against journalists and the Fourth Estate. It built on his other promises to crack down on leaks to journalists, as well as his campaign rhetoric naming and personally insulting reporters, and pledging to crack down on opponents and open up libel law to make it easier to recover damages from the press. "The Soul of the First Amendment," by Floyd Abrams (Yale Univ.) [Pray for the First Amendment. Now.] Yet in the face of the rhetoric, the vitriol and the tweets, citizens and the press are still able to draw on the power and permanence of the First Amendment. Floyd Abrams, perhaps the countrys most prominent First Amendment and media lawyer, makes his latest case defending free speech and press rights in his book The Soul of the First Amendment. Abramss thesis is that speech and press rights are woven into the fabric of America and set the United States apart from the rest of the world. These inherently human rights are akin to freedom of conscience and lead citizens to achieve self-fulfillment through speech, expression, publication and the free flow of information. A series of six essays, The Soul of the First Amendment is a quick read, and at about 140 pages, considerably thinner than Abramss other books on the topic, particularly his recent books Friend of the Court (2013) and Speaking Freely (2005). These essays are readable and comprehensible to both a specialized audience of lawyers and laypeople just looking to understand a little more about these rights. The books brevity does not detract from its substance or clarity as Abrams explains the origins and tensions of the First Amendment. He dives into historic and contemporary controversies that test our adherence to these principles, noting, Speech is sometimes ugly, outrageous, even dangerous. The journey of the First Amendment begins at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and with the vision of James Madison and the framers who emerged from the Revolution skeptical of governments power over the people, and governments propensity to abuse that power through censorship or aggressive application of laws to punish speech or dissent. The notion that First Amendment interests are served whenever laws genuinely reflect public opinion also seems to overlook the reality that the public too often seeks to suppress speech it disapproves of, he writes. The road, however, is littered with the carcasses of dissidents and offensive speakers. Threats to speech are discussed throughout the book, including the Sedition Act of 1798; the Espionage Act of 1917; and the jailing of abolitionist journalists during the Civil War or communists and socialists during the Red Scare, McCarthyism and the Cold War. American history is replete with examples of attacking, punishing, ostracizing or censoring a range unpopular or offensive speakers. [Our First Amendment test is here. We cant afford to flunk it.] As the country has evolved, so has our protection of and tolerance for free speech and the marketplace of ideas. Abrams supports much of his thesis in a lawyerly fashion, pointing to Supreme Court precedents and sprinkling in points from caselaw. It reads like a First Amendments Greatest Hits compilation. He cites such cases as New York Times v. Sullivan (1964), which revolutionized libel law and facilitated robust debate and criticism of public officials and public policy, particularly civil rights. He describes how in New York Times v. United States (1971), the Pentagon Papers case, the Supreme Court stood up to the Nixon administration by refusing to allow the government to block publication or censor the Times and The Washington Post, which were running stories based on leaked top-secret government documents. The historic and the contemporary are explained and juxtaposed. For example, Abrams draws comparisons between the Pentagon Papers and WikiLeaks and the Edward Snowden stories published by the Guardian. Discussions of public officials and public figures litigating against the press are compared with recent threats by President Trump, as well as the Hulk Hogan invasion-of-privacy verdict against Gawker. Other recent First Amendment challenges are also part of the discussion, including offensive religious protesters at military funerals, virtual child pornography, videos depicting animal abuse, flag burning and other outrageous speech. This illustrates another theme: It is easy to protect speech that does not rankle people, but the First Amendment protects ugly and offensive speech, too. Abrams also devotes a sizable portion of a chapter to defending the controversial Citizens United case. Resting nicely on the pedestal Abrams builds, the First Amendment might be akin to Americas crown jewels, setting us apart from dictatorships and even other democracies. He writes that the gulf between the legal protections afforded to free expression in the United States and those afforded in Europe remains oceanic. The explication begins with an anecdote from a family cruise in 1976, when his son, Dan, got into a tiff with the ships British staff, which barred the youth from a viewing of the PG-rated All the Presidents Men because of profanity. The aggrieved Dan, who grew up to be a lawyer and legal affairs reporter, chortled, Thats why we have the First Amendment. Of course, the protections of the First Amendment apply only to government action and do not reach beyond our borders. However, this personal story sets the tone that Madison was really onto something unique. Many other countries have laws protecting and supporting freedom of speech. However, Abrams notes that in many places, these pronouncements are mere lip service to such freedoms, especially in places where journalists and dissidents are censored, harassed, imprisoned or killed for expressing themselves. With these countries, there is no comparison and never will be. Abrams also distinguishes between American values and European countries, particularly Britain and the European Union, where libel laws are more plaintiff-friendly and the right to be forgotten has forced websites and search engines such as Google to remove hundreds of thousands of articles. International plaintiffs seek and sometimes find hospitable jurisdictions in which to litigate and punish the press through libel tourism. As much as the First Amendment grants us rights to speak and express ourselves, the amendments construction is a bar on government power and potentially abuse. Congress shall make no law is a declaration to people around the world that the United States reveres our speakers and our government shall not abuse them. Abrams has spent a lifetime fighting for First Amendment rights in courtrooms and the court of public opinion. It takes lawyers and judges to protect these rights and to write the story of the First Amendment. Abramss tribute to the amendment comes at a time when many believe that freedom of the press and freedom of speech are under attack from the highest levels of government. Lets hope Abrams is writing an homage to the First Amendment, not its obituary. With all the talk of secret tapes and special prosecutors, all the speculation about coverups and abuses of power, comparisons between the scandals plaguing the Trump administration and the scandal that ultimately brought down Richard Nixon abound. Yet more than 40 years on, myths and misconceptions about the Watergate break-in and its massive political ramifications remain. Here are five of the most persistent. Myth No. 1 There wasnt a logical motive behind the Watergate burglary. In retrospect, the burglary of Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in 1972, ordered by the Nixon administration, seems bizarre. After all, as politics scholar Elaine Kamarck at the Brookings Institution points out, Nixons victory was never really in doubt, as the Democratic party was in the middle of a rather spectacular civil war. So why go to the trouble of breaking into their headquarters when they were crumbling from within? But this view is premised on hindsight. The break-in at the Watergate took place June 17, when the question of whom Nixon would face in the general election was still very much up in the air as it was until the conclusion of the Democratic convention in July. The most important events precipitating the break-in were a pair of meetings in the office of Attorney General John Mitchell in January 1972, in which Nixon campaign aide G. Gordon Liddy presented an elaborate plan to harass and sabotage the Democratic Party, and a subsequent meeting shortly thereafter, in which Mitchell approved a scaled-down operation. During this period, the polls between Nixon and the various Democratic contenders, especially Sen. Edmund Muskie, were relatively close. Nixon especially feared the prospect of facing Alabama Gov. George Wallace; the assassination attempt that incapacitated Wallace occurred May 15, long after Liddy and Mitchell agreed to the break-in. Indeed, gathering intelligence on how the DNC planned to distribute the delegates Wallace had already won might have been one motivation for the break-in. Myth No. 2 Nixon could have quieted the scandal by firing employees. In a recent New Yorker article, Nixon biographer Evan Thomas said that there were any number of steps that could have made [Watergate] go away. Thomas argued that Nixon could have cleaned house and fired people, for instance. But cutting loose the people directly responsible for individual crimes creates an incentive for them to implicate the higher-ups who managed the criminal enterprise which was exactly what happened, accelerating news of the scandal. Nixon fired White House counsel John Dean in April 1973, and that June, Dean testified before the Senate Watergate committee about Nixons involvement in the coverup . Likewise, James McCord, a former CIA officer ostensibly hired to work as a security officer for the Republican National Committee, sent a letter to Judge John Sirica during the sentencing phase of his 1973 trial for the Watergate burglary, explaining that his perjury had been bought by the Nixon administration. Even if Nixon had attempted to leave every individual implicated in Watergate high and dry, it probably wouldnt have slowed the unspooling of the scandal, much less stopped it. Myth No. 3 Watergate was politics as usual. Nixon just got caught. There is an assumption that politics have always been corrupt, one NBC retrospective on Watergate posited in 2004, and that Nixon just got caught. In his sweeping book on the 1970s, historian Bruce Schulman noted that the sentiment was widespread, even in the immediate aftermath of Watergate: They all did it, Nixon just got caught, is what many Americans believed. In 1977, the conservative journalist Victor Lasky published It Didnt Start With Watergate, a thick dossier on the sins of every Democratic president since Franklin Roosevelt. He had plenty of material to work with. The anti-New Deal congressman Hamilton Fish III claimed that FDR had something like an enemies list, that he was on it and that he was subjected to years of punitive tax audits because of it. President Lyndon Johnson prevented a congressional investigation of a corrupt former aide, Bobby Baker, first by pressuring friendly senators on the relevant committee to quash it, then by managing to get it postponed until after the 1964 election. And so on. But the proven activities of the Nixon White House far surpassed anything Johnson or FDR were ever accused of. Nixon was adamant in his attempts to find wrongdoing from President John Kennedys administration, which was an object of personal hatred on account of his intense loathing of the personable and handsome JFK at one point Nixon even ordered a break-in at the Brookings Institution . (Deputies quietly buried the project.) Despite his extraordinary efforts, Nixon was so unsuccessful in implicating Kennedy in Watergate-level wrongdoing that, in one of his administrations most bizarre incidents, his aide Charles Colson ordered cables to be forged , using scissors and glue, to falsely suggest that Kennedy ordered the assassination of South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem. Myth No. 4 Fords pardon of Nixon helped heal the nation. One month after Nixon resigned, President Gerald Ford pardoned him before he could go to trial for any crimes he might have committed while president. In 2001, Sen. Ted Kennedy thanked Ford for the pardon, saying, His courage and dedication to our country made it possible for us to begin the process of healing and put the tragedy of Watergate behind us. Fords successor, Jimmy Carter, seemed to agree, saying in his 1977 inaugural address, For myself and for our nation, I want to thank my predecessor for all he has done to heal our land. In fact, however, the pardon exacerbated the publics distrust of government by reinforcing Americans sense that the president was above the law. It also cast a damaging vote of no confidence by the executive in the co-equal judicial branch of government. After the pardon, Fords favorability ratings plummeted overnight , and he lost his 1976 bid for reelection. And, although Americans have become more favorable toward the pardon over time, it did nothing to stop the downward trend in Americans trust in government accelerated by Watergate. Myth No. 5 Deep Throat was pivotal to Nixons downfall. The role of Deep Throat (the pseudonym of FBI agent Mark Felt, who served as an anonymous source for Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward during the scandals unfolding) is often dramatized in Hollywood depictions of Watergate, and headlines to this day insist on his importance in Nixons undoing. The Guardian called him the man who brought down Nixon, and Vanity Fair similarly labeled him the man who brought down the Nixon administration. But by the time in 2005 that Deep Throat was revealed to be Felt an FBI official, not a White House insider people should have known better. Because Felt had no access to the inner workings of the White House, he was not feeding Woodward new information but merely hints about what the bureaus investigation had uncovered, and in many cases, what the journalists reporting the Watergate story already knew. Indeed, when Woodward and his partner Carl Bernstein wrote the book All the Presidents Men, they were surprised, per Bernstein, at the mystique that developed around Felts role. We didnt think his role would achieve such mythical dimensions, Bernstein said in a 2005 interview. You see there that Felt/Deep Throat largely confirmed information we had already gotten from other sources. nixonland@gmail.com Five myths is a weekly feature challenging everything you think you know. You can check out previous myths, read more from Outlook or follow our updates on Facebook and Twitter. Richard Madsen is professor of sociology emeritus at the University of California, San Diego. Chinese society is not religious. At least thats the conventional wisdom, which argues that there is no place for religion in a China consumed by materialist capitalism under the control of a dictatorial government. But in The Souls of China, journalist Ian Johnson brilliantly demonstrates that the conventional wisdom is wrong. Under the surface lies a world of vividly imagined hopes and dreams. Johnson, who won the Pulitzer Prize for his reporting on the suppression of the Falun Gong spiritual movement, ventures far off the beaten path and listens to ordinary Chinese who introduce him to their world of the spirit. [Richard McGregors The Party reveals the secret world of Chinas communists] In todays China, the traditional Chinese lunar calendar, which was replaced in 1929 with the modern Western Gregorian calendar, still underpins how many Chinese dress, eat, worship, and pray. In a nod to the calendars influence, Johnson organizes his book around its seasons. In many respects, the Chinese approach to spirituality does not follow the lines of the religious dogmas that inspire Western Christians. The Chinese immerse themselves in a different world of time and space where sacred mountain peaks (some actually no more than hills) represent the meeting of heaven and earth. The Chinese draw on rituals and poetic stories, some ancient, others recently invented, that in their own way constitute a rich religious life. In the most vivid and moving chapters of the book, Johnson follows the Ni family, which leads one of the 80 pilgrim associations in Beijing. The family organizes the annual two-week pilgrimage to the citys most important religious site, Miaofengshan, or the Mountain of the Wondrous Peak, to worship a goddess called Our Lady of the Azure Clouds. These associations are independent of the government, with an authority that derives from tradition and faith. The work is unpaid and passed down from father to son. Johnson spends the entire two weeks with the Ni familys association, ascending the mountain with tens of thousands of pilgrims. The mountain is transfigured with statues and flowers and gold-colored sheets and banners; the air is redolent of incense; and time is filled with performances of singing and dancing, stilt-walking and martial arts. What was the meaning of all this? The key, Johnson writes, was that something was here, now: a bridge to the future. After everything that China had been through over the past century, the fact that temples were still standing was the miracle. . . . Instead of appraising the statues, I looked at the people, to see what was in their eyes. "The Souls of China: The Return of Religion After Mao," by Ian Johnson (Pantheon) What was in their eyes was a kind of faith and hope, a belief that they were connected to their ancestors and a wish that they could bequeath that connection to their children. These aspirations are expressed in different ways by the religious practitioners throughout the book. Li Bin from rural Shanxi province is a ninth-generation Daoist, a yin-yang man, who organizes funerals and tells fortunes, helping the living both to understand their fate and to carry on the legacy of the dead. Qin Ling is a master of Daoist inner alchemy meditation techniques, who teaches in Beijing, with a clientele that includes the children of high-ranking officials. Johnson studies with her and then goes on a 10-day retreat in southern China with her mentor Wang Liping and 500 others, including lawyers, business people and artists. [When China Rules the World by Martin Jacques, explores the end of the West and the birth of a new global order] He attends another retreat with a 94-year-old master of Chinese classics named Nan Huai-chin, whose books on Chinese traditions have sold more than 60 million copies and whose students include airline executives, bank managers, young scholars, architects, and the well-connected children of senior leaders. He also travels to Chengdu in Sichuan province, were he worships with Wang Yi, a former human rights lawyer and now pastor of a dynamic non-registered (and therefore officially illegal) house church. Some of Wang Yis friends regret that he is no longer a political activist, but Johnson reflects: As a public intellectual in a repressive state like China, what could Wang Yi really achieve through activism? House arrest and a blocked Internet connection? . . . As a pastor and seminary teacher, Wang Yi could influence hundreds of people and help plant congregations across the country. At the very least, here he was creating his own society a tiny cosmos of order and justice in the middle of one of Chinas largest cities. The religious space-time that Johnson explores is real, robust and resilient, and inevitably, it impinges on the everyday world of commerce and politics. The government once tried to stifle the religious world, but under Xi Jinping, it is now trying to co-opt various forms of traditional religion in the hopes that they will crowd out a resurgent Christianity. But the efforts are clumsy and are not stopping the many religious practices from continuing on their own paths of development. In Johnsons telling, there is not one but many souls of modern China, all engaged in a sometimes cacophonous quest for meaning, community and justice. Perhaps, he concludes, because Chinese traditions were so savagely attacked over the past decades, and then replaced with such a naked form of capitalism, China might actually be at the forefront of this worldwide search for values. IRANS PRESIDENTIAL election on Friday is a familiar contest between a relative moderate, the incumbent Hassan Rouhani, and a hard-line conservative backed by the Revolutionary Guard and, it seems, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Its not correct to say the difference between them is insignificant: Mr. Rouhani, embraced by Irans educated middle class, favors more relaxed enforcement of Islamic rule at home and engagement with Western investors abroad, while opponent Ebrahim Raisi is a populist who rails against foreign influence and predicts the Zionist regime of Israel will be wiped . . . from Jerusalem. From the U.S. point of view, however, its not clear that theres a side to root for in what will be the 12th presidential election since the 1979 revolution. Both candidates have promised to stick with the 2015 deal that froze Irans production of enriched uranium and other nuclear activities for about a decade. And both appear committed to Irans aggressive bid for hegemony in the Middle East by other means, including military interventions in Iraq and Syria, support for rebels in Yemen and harassment of U.S. ships in the Persian Gulf. Mr. Rouhanis bet has been that Iran can wage those wars while simultaneously boosting its economy with lucrative investment and trade deals. So far hes been half-right: Iran has doubled its oil exports since the nuclear deal, boosting economic growth to more than 7 percent. But big Western banks and investors have largely stayed out of Tehran, in part because of lingering U.S. sanctions. The government has consequently been unable to finance big infrastructure projects, and ordinary Iranians have seen few benefits. Unemployment remains stuck at more than 12 percent. The president has meanwhile had no luck reining in the judiciary or Revolutionary Guard at home. At least four U.S. citizens, along with several other Westerners, are being held as de facto hostages by these factions, further depressing the appetite of would-be investors. Though he has been endorsed by the leaders of the 2009 Green Movement, Mr. Rouhani failed to deliver on his promise to have those leaders released from years of house arrest. The 2009 uprising was triggered by the apparent manipulation of a presidential election. This year, Iranians appear unlikely to surge into the streets even if Mr. Khamenei fixes the vote in order to install Mr. Raisi, who is rumored to be a potential successor to the 77-year-old supreme leader. Mr. Rouhani does not offer genuine democratic change and thus lacks the popular support garnered by 2009 candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi or former president Mohammad Khatami. Some observers of Iran calculate that the West would be better off with a victory by Mr. Raisi, who would likely return Iran to international isolation and fuel domestic discontent. The nuclear deal was essentially a bet by the United States that Iran would change over a decade and lose its appetite to pursue nuclear weapons. The Obama administration supposed that the kind of economic opening promoted by Mr. Rouhani would bring about that change. But real transformation in Iran will require a collapse of the Islamic Republic. A victory by Mr. Raisi would frustrate Iranians hoping for change in the short term, but maybe bring a reckoning for the regime closer. DONALD TRUMPS political career arguably began with the full-page advertisements he purchased in The Post and several other newspapers in September 1987 in order to denounce Saudi Arabia, along with Japan, for taking advantage of the United States. Mr. Trump suggested, among other things, that the United States had no business defending the Persian Gulf, an area of only marginal significance for U.S. interests. He said the Saudis should pay for the protection we extend as allies. Through the following three decades, including his presidential campaign, Mr. Trump stuck to that message. Yet in his inaugural foreign excursion as president Mr. Trump will touch down first not in Ottawa or London, but Riyadh, where he will celebrate what is being described as a renaissance of the U.S.-Saudi relationship. Mr. Trump is expected to announce enhanced U.S. support for the kingdom and its Gulf allies, including help with the formation of a defense alliance that U.S. officials say could evolve into an Arab NATO. The administration has also signed off on upward of $100 billion in arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, including guided munitions that were held up by the Obama administration. This upgraded alliance might be described as a roundabout response to Mr. Trumps old critique. Administration officials say the massive Saudi purchases, though not a direct payment for U.S. defense, will create jobs in the United States and advance the day when the Persian Gulf states can defend themselves. Mostly, however, Mr. Trumps sudden embrace of a regime he once excoriated reflects the success of an assiduous Saudi lobbying campaign. The kingdoms seasoned diplomats set out to persuade the inexperienced Trump team that Saudi Arabia was an invaluable ally against the Islamic State as well as Iran and appear to have succeeded all too easily. The U.S. alliance with Saudi Arabia is worth preserving: Mr. Trumps 1987 critique was way off base. But the administrations new fervor for the tie appears to lack the healthy skepticism the Obama administration developed about Saudi enmity toward Shiite Iran, which appears to be driven by sectarian as well as strategic considerations. Irans aggression in the region should be resisted, but that should not mean depriving Shiites in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and elsewhere of legitimate rights. Senior U.S. officials also appear dangerously blase about the Saudi military intervention in Yemen, an unwinnable war that has led to the deaths of thousands of civilians in bombings and has brought the country to the brink of famine. Riyadh is seeking more U.S. aid for the conflict, but humanitarian officials are deeply concerned about a pending Saudi assault on the port of Hodeida, through which the bulk of Yemens food supplies now flow. If it goes forward, mass starvation would be the likely result. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said during a visit to Saudi Arabia last month that the administration sought a political solution in Yemen, but he did not publicly oppose an offensive against Hodeida. A stand-down there ought to be the first return on the revamped relationship Mr. Trump has bought into. Otherwise, Saudi Arabia really will be taking unfair advantage of the United States. Donald Trump offered America a deal: He might cut ethical corners and trash democratic norms , but he would fix the country. After all, the argument went, things could hardly get worse. They could. They did. There are serious arguments to be made about the moral bankruptcy of Trumpism, with particular attention to its divisiveness, dehumanization and contempt for the weak. But let us, for a moment, set aside morality for effectiveness, as much of the voting public seemed to do last November. By this standard, how should Trump be judged? The president could not hold up his end of the strongman deal. Trump is the advocate of power politics who knows nothing about the exercise of power. He is the Machiavellian minus instinct, skill and strategy. We already have a good idea how historians will recall the first portion of Trumps presidency. When U.S. intelligence services reported Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, Trump accused them of incompetence and compared them to Nazis. As the FBI pressed its investigation of ties between Russia and Trumps circle of advisers, Trump fired the director of the FBI and threatened him in public. Never has an American president mocked and attacked the intelligence and law enforcement communities in this way. (Adriana Usero/The Washington Post) These agencies are not the deep state. They are just the state. Trump was accustomed to belittling and demeaning individuals. It is harder to do with institutions that possess a strong sense of identity and purpose and contemporaneous meeting notes. Tactics appropriate to land-development deals were never going to work on professionals who weaponize information for a living. Trumps foolish alienation of these agencies is at the root of every damning revelation that led to a special counsel except those revelations made by Trump himself on Twitter. By all accounts, these early moves against intelligence services and law enforcement were not the result of strategy. It makes no rational sense to invade laws empire with forces so weak. Instead, Trump has been a victim of his own troubled inner life. It is difficult to master others when you are mastered by self-destructive compulsions of revenge. He who wishes to be obeyed, said Machiavelli, must know how to command. That is impossible without command of self. Leadership also requires the ability to critique the self the kind of mental self-distancing that allows for reflection. A man incapable of blaming himself for anything is a man incapable of learning or changing. To adapt Helen Caldwells formulation, Trump is not above reproach; he is above self-reproach. This is a serious disability in a leader, who must be able to adjust quickly and adapt personality to reality. Trump now faces three interrelated crises: A newly empowered investigation at the Justice Department of Russian influence (and parallel congressional inquiries). The matter of possible obstruction of justice by the president or others in the FBI investigation. And the question of basic presidential competence rooted in a fear that Trump cant be trusted with classified information or national security decisions. While talk of impeachment is premature and invoking the 25th Amendment is a pipe dream the future of the Trump administration will depend on the resolutions of these issues. Those conclusions will not, in all likelihood, be primarily legal. Impeachment involves a political judgment. If there is plausible evidence that people in Trumps circle were complicit in tainting the outcome of a presidential election; that Trump improperly attempted to impede or shut down the investigation; and that Trump has badly compromised the security of the country, the case for high crimes and misdemeanors is made. All that would remain is for Democrats to win control of the House in 2018, because Republicans are unlikely to show courage on a sufficient scale. And why not? Because Trump can carry their policy agenda? That hope is in ruins. Because he has shown loyalty to them? No, Trump made the Republican Party the target of his populism. Because a collapsing political roof might crush them as well? That is the likeliest reason. But it lowers the sights of politics to mere survival. Is that really how elected Republicans want their service remembered? Ultimately, the ethical aspect of politics cant be ignored. In conflicting assertions between Trump and former FBI director James B. Comey, who will trust the presidents veracity? Who can depend on the presidents word and character? And who will stand for the integrity of our political system against tremendous political pressure? The largest questions are always moral. Read more from Michael Gersons archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook . As the Trump presidency enters its fourth month, conservatives are eager for more legislative successes, more nominations and confirmations of judges, the rapid confirmation of a new FBI director and other achievements. Given the charges of collusion and obstruction that have dogged Donald Trump and his administration from before he took his oath of office as president, the appointment of former FBI director Robert S. Mueller III as a special prosecutor to oversee the Justice Departments inquiry into those charges is a greatly encouraging development. In Mueller, Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein has made an excellent choice that will allow Republicans to again concentrate on turning the country around. Its true that I have opposed a special prosecutor in the past. I did so for two reasons. First, if the allegations of the politicization of the IRS during Barack Obamas presidency didnt warrant a special prosecutor, then one certainly isnt necessary now. Second, I feared that the individual chosen as special prosecutor would not be another Jacob Stein the independent counsel who efficiently investigated charges against Attorney General-designate Edwin Meese when Meese was nominated for that job, clearing Meese within months. Instead, the appointee would be another Lawrence Walsh , who, for a variety of reasons, let his investigations into the Iran-contra affair linger and metastasize over years and years. Walsh was appointed in December of 1986. He submitted his final report on Aug. 4, 1993. I dont want to relitigate Iran-contra; I merely point out that a six-plus-year investigation into any scandal is not what either special prosecutors (appointed by the attorney general or, in this case, his deputy) or the old independent counsels (appointed by a panel of judges under a statute now expired) were thought to be about. The bar is lower for Republicans, of course, and so the media joined in the clamor for a special counsel here whereas the IRS scandal didnt ignite such demands. But set that aside. With the right professional in the job, it is, as a practical matter of politics and government, better to go this route than to prolong the media frenzy about whether such a professional is needed. Mueller is not just a seasoned investigator and prosecutor, a decorated combat veteran of the Marines, a widely respected former head of the Justice Departments Criminal Division, U.S. attorney and of course director of the FBI. He also represents the potential for a decisive end to the Russian probe. He brings such credibility that if and when he says there is no there there, responsible media will accept it. Those, such as me, who think all of the signs point to that conclusion regarding the president and the White House staff, will welcome that closure. The partisan left may not go along, but the public will. (Adriana Usero/The Washington Post) There is no telling where Muellers investigation will go or how long it will take, but I have confidence that if it can be concluded quickly because the charges of collusion are baseless, he will follow that path, indifferent to critics of his conclusions or his timeline. Hes a serious and experienced person who has helped lead the battle against terrorism and knows that serious threats and crimes merit close inspection and indeed prosecution but political disputes robed in baseless charges do not. If the president and his team in the White House did nothing wrong and there is only innuendo, no hard evidence that they did Mueller will reach that conclusion quickly. If former national security adviser Michael Flynn and others are innocent of the many charges leveled at them, they too should be happy that a straight shooter such as Mueller is in charge of saying so. Someone was going to have to make the final call, and Democrats (not all, certainly, but the responsible ones) will accept Muellers conclusions. In the interim, the president and Congress can refocus on saving the health-care system from its ongoing collapse, rebuilding the military, reforming the tax system and staffing up the judiciary. They will be able to do so because Rosenstein found the right person and the right person was willing to serve. As President Trump embarks on his first overseas trip, hes embracing the same defiant strategy adopted more than a generation ago by an embattled predecessor, Richard Nixon. As scandal talks grow at home, Trump is licking his wounds, spurning his critics and looking for approval from foreign leaders who admire him for being a tough guy. Trumps combative early-morning tweets Thursday deflated any hope that he might see the appointment of Robert S. Mueller III as special counsel as a chance to establish regular order and stabilize the roiling Russia scandal, in the words of GOP former national security adviser Stephen Hadley. Muellers steadying role would allow the nation to resume a measure of normal business while the investigation runs its course. Trumps instinct, instead, is to fight critics he believes are trying to destroy his presidency through the Russia investigation. This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history! he tweeted Thursday morning. The day before, he had declared in a graduation speech: No politician in history, and I say this with great surety, has been treated worse or more unfairly. His invocation to the graduates was: Fight, fight, fight. Trumps accomplishment after a cataclysmic first four months is that hes still standing. His enemies, as he sees them, have taken their best shots and missed. Hes taken some roundhouse swings of his own, losing some GOP support in Washington in the process. But his national base of support hasnt budged much and remains at about 40 percent. Trump and his inner circle seem, if anything, to be hardening their stance. Rather than regretting the firing of FBI Director James B. Comey, Trump seems more convinced than ever that Comey deserved to be sacked for writing the memos about conversations with the president that are now central to the investigation. For Trump, the Russia investigation still appears to be a zero-sum game the political equivalent of kill or be killed. For the country, this confrontational stance promises continuing bitterness and a deepening confrontation, despite the widely applauded appointment of Mueller to oversee the investigation. Whats unfortunate, from a foreign policy standpoint, is that Trumps inability to calm the Washington turmoil threatens to overshadow his foreign trip and undermine some potentially important gains. The centerpiece of the trip is Trumps visit to Saudi Arabia, where he will publicly embrace the reform agenda of Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and moderate Arab allies, such as Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, the crown prince and military leader of the United Arab Emirates. The White House, disorganized on so many topics, has carefully prepared the agenda for this trip. The Saudi hosts (joined by numerous other Arab leaders) will sign pledges promising to ban financing of extremist groups, including by private individuals. If that happens, it could be a significant breakthrough, adding a formal legal prohibition against support for terrorism. Trump will also help open a Saudi center for combating violent extremism that will use advanced computer tools to penetrate jihadist networks. The center is a personal project of Mohammed bin Salman, and it brings the deputy crown prince deep into the security arena traditionally dominated by his rival, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, the minister of the interior who is nominally his senior but whom he seems to have eclipsed in power. Trumps aim is to refurbish the U.S.-Arab alliance based on shared distrust of Iran. In a speech, he is expected to say that the Mideast struggle isnt between Islam and the West, but between good and evil. Hell announce a broad military alliance that White House aides are characterizing as an Arab NATO quite a leap for a president who a few months ago was declaring NATO obsolete. To ease U.S. wariness of new Middle East entanglement, the Saudis will announce a plan to buy $109 billion in U.S. military equipment, allowing Trump to claim hes creating U.S. jobs. Senior Arab officials see the Trump visit as a big bet on U.S. re-engagement in the region that will empower reformers in Saudi Arabia, the richest and most powerful Sunni Arab state. If Saudi reformers gain traction, it could be a hinge event for the region. But Arab officials hope that Trumps political problems at home wont put this promising project at risk. Domestic scandals can have the odd effect of encouraging diplomacy abroad. Nixon made major peace deals in the Middle East after the Watergate debacle began. But even so, that story didnt end happily for Nixon or the United States. Read more from David Ignatiuss archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook. Trump signs an executive order for border security and immigration enforcement improvements at the Department of Homeland Security in Washington. 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 The pleasant surprise of the First 100 Days is over. The action was hectic, heated, often confused, but well within the bounds of normalcy. Policy (e.g., health care) was being hashed out, a Supreme Court nominee confirmed, foreign policy challenges (e.g. North Korea) addressed. Donald Trumps character volatile, impulsive, often self-destructive had not changed since the campaign. But it seemed as if the guardrails of our democracy Congress, the courts, the states, the media, the Cabinet were keeping things within bounds. Then came the past 10 days. The country is now caught in the internal maelstrom that is the mind of Donald Trump. We are in the realm of the id. Chaos reigns. No guardrails can hold. Normal activity disappears. North Koreas launch of an alarming new missile and a problematic visit from the president of Turkey (locus of our most complicated and tortured allied relationship) barely evoke notice. Nothing can escape the black hole of a three-part presidential meltdown. First, the firing of James Comey. Trump, consumed by the perceived threat of the Russia probe to his legitimacy, executes a mindlessly impulsive dismissal of the FBI director. He then surrounds it with a bodyguard of lies attributing the dismissal to a Justice Department recommendation which his staff goes out and parrots. Only to be undermined and humiliated when the boss contradicts them within 48 hours. (Adriana Usero/The Washington Post) Result? Layers of falsehoods giving the impression of an elaborate coverup in the absence of a crime. At least Nixon was trying to quash a third-rate burglary and associated felonies. Here we dont even have a body, let alone a smoking gun. Trump insists theres no there there, but acts as if the there is everywhere. Second, Trumps divulging classified information to the Russians. A stupid, needless mistake. But despite the media hysteria, hardly an irreparable national security calamity. The Israelis, whose asset might have been jeopardized, are no doubt upset, but the notion that this will cause a great rupture to their (and others) intelligence relationship with the United States is nonsense. These kinds of things happen all the time. When the Obama administration spilled secrets of the anti-Iranian Stuxnet virus or blew the cover of a double agent in Yemen, there was none of the garment-rending that followed Trumps disclosure. Once again, however, the coverup far exceeded the crime. Trump had three top officials come out and declare the disclosure story false. The next morning, Trump tweeted he was entirely within his rights to reveal what he revealed, thereby verifying the truth of the story. His national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, floundered his way through a news conference, trying to reconcile his initial denial with Trumps subsequent contradiction. It was a sorry sight. Is it any wonder, therefore, that when the third crisis hit on Tuesday night the Comey memo claiming that Trump tried to get him to call off the FBI investigation of Michael Flynn Republicans hid under their beds rather than come out to defend the president? The White House hurriedly issued a statement denying the story. The statement was unsigned. You want your name on a statement that your boss could peremptorily contradict in a twitter-second? Republicans are beginning to panic. One sign is the notion now circulating that, perhaps to fend off ultimate impeachment, Trump be dumped by way of 25th Amendment. Thats the post-Kennedy assassination measure that provides for removing an incapacitated president on the decision of the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet. This is the worst idea since Leno at 10 p.m. It perverts the very intent of the amendment. It was meant for a stroke, not stupidity; for Alzheimers, not narcissism. Otherwise, what it authorizes is a coup willful overthrow by the leaders own closest associates. I thought we had progressed beyond the Tudors and the Stuarts. Moreover, this would be seen by millions as an establishment usurpation to get rid of a disruptive outsider. It would be the most destabilizing event in American political history the gratuitous overthrow of an essential constant in American politics, namely the fixedness of the presidential term (save for high crimes and misdemeanors). Trumps behavior is deeply disturbing but hardly surprising. His mercurial nature is not the product of a post-inaugural adder sting at Mar-a-Lago. Its been there all along. And the American electorate chose him nonetheless. A decent respect for constitutional governance requires banishing even the thought of invoking the 25th Amendment. What to do? Strengthen the guardrails. Redouble oversight of this errant president. Follow the facts, especially the Comey memos. And let the chips fall where they may. But no tricks, constitutional or otherwise. Read more from Charles Krauthammers archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook. Jeff Guo is a journalist in Washington, D.C. When Adolf Hitler seized control of Germany in 1933, one of his priorities was to create a legal framework for his vision of an anti-Semitic state. Thus began a meticulous Nazi research project on race-based lawmaking aimed at erasing the rights of Germanys Jews. One foreign country in particular grabbed the Nazis interest because of its advanced and innovative system of legal racism. The object of Nazi fascination? America. In the early twentieth century the United States was not just a country with racism, writes Yale law professor James Whitman in his book Hitlers American Model. It was the leading racist jurisdiction so much so that even Nazi Germany looked to America for inspiration. "Hitler's American Model: The United States and the Making of Nazi Race Law," by James Q. Whitman (Princeton Univ.) In his startling new history, Whitman traces the substantial influence of American race laws on the Third Reich. The book, in effect, is a portrait of the United States assembled from the admiring notes of Nazi lawmakers, who routinely referenced American policies in the design of their own racist regime. [How the Nazis rode into battle high on crystal meth] As they drafted their own laws to exclude German Jews from public and civic life, Nazi lawyers carefully studied how the United States suppressed nonwhite immigrants and consigned minorities to second-class citizenship. In private hearings, they discussed how the U.S. model for white supremacy in the Jim Crow South could be transposed to Germany and inflicted on the Jews. The Nazis were keenly influenced by Americas laws forbidding interracial marriage. Dozens of states not only banned black-white unions but subjected violators to lengthy jail sentences. The harsh criminalization of mixed-race marriages in America set an example for the Nazis as they created their Law for the Protection of German Blood and German Honour, which forbade German Jews from marrying non-Jews, invalidated existing mixed marriages and sent offenders to prison labor camps. [Imbeciles: Shining a light on one of the Supreme Courts darkest moments] Whitmans book contributes to a growing recognition of American influences on Nazi thought. Other historians have shown, for instance, that the vigorous U.S. eugenics movement emboldened the Nazis, who copied Americas forced-sterilization programs and took cover in the pseudoscientific theories of American eugenicists. Biographer John Toland has noted that Hitler admired the American conquest of the West, particularly the decimation of the Native American population. The Nazi concentration camps may have been based, in part, Toland argued, on the Native American reservation system. The Nazi atrocities held a dark mirror to some of Americas most shameful impulses. On some level, Americans understood this. After World War II, eugenics fell out of favor, and the United States gradually rolled back some of its racist laws. Jim Crow was dismantled, at least on paper, by the efforts of the civil rights movement in the 1960s. And the last anti-miscegenation laws were struck down in 1967. This was slow progress, but it probably would have been slower if the Nazi regime hadnt horrified the world with its racial intolerance. Ron Klain, a Post contributing columnist, served as a senior White House aide to Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton and was a senior adviser to Hillary Clintons 2016 campaign. Last October, we were in the midst of debate preparation for Hillary Clinton when news of the Access Hollywood tape broke. The senior Clinton team immediately wondered what the events impact would be. Would there still be a debate two days later? Would Donald Trump show up? Would his running mate, Mike Pence, take his place? How could Trump survive? Trump not only showed up for the St. Louis debate that Sunday, he stood on the stage and told Clinton that if it were up to him shed be in jail. Ten days later, Trump insisted at the Las Vegas debate that allegations made against him by nine women of groping and other unwelcome physical contact were so baseless that he didnt even apologize to [his] wife for his actions. Twenty days after that, Trump was elected president of the United States. The lesson: It is dangerous to underestimate Trumps survival skills. And so, as the appointment of a special counsel to investigate the Russia mess has Washington buzzing with nascent impeachment talk, 25th Amendment scenarios and rumors about resignation, it is worth remembering how tenaciously Trump pursued power, along with five key assets he has to maintain his grip on it. First, while he is proving to be an incompetent president, Trump is an incredibly skilled politician. He did not come to the presidency by accident: He spent 30 years laying the groundwork for his run attacking President Ronald Reagan on trade in the 1980s, putting out a campaign book in 2000, forcing President Barack Obama to release his birth certificate in 2011. He vanquished an all-star GOP field in 2016 beating a Bush, the Republicans Obama (Marco Rubio) and lionized candidates such as Scott Walker and Chris Christie. He resoundingly won the Republican primary in New Hampshire. He was the host of a top-rated television show for almost a decade: no small communications achievement. Second, there is the power of the presidency, and Trumps ability to use its allure as a bulwark against accountability. Trumps staff may feud with one another, but with two family members ensconced in the West Wing they seem prepared to defend him by any means necessary. Well-regarded people such as national security adviser H.R. McMaster and Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein have shown a willingness to sacrifice their own credibility to protect Trump. And a retinue of prominent law firms appear ready to provide legal and public relations cover in defense of Trump and his family. Third, there is the desire of many observers to try to normalize Trump and get back to business. This obviously includes most Republican members of Congress, who have shown a penchant for dismissing concerns about Trump so long as he continues to pursue an agenda of repealing Obamacare and cutting taxes. But this instinct extends beyond partisans: Remember how media commentators, including some liberal voices, acclaimed Trumps presidential leadership after one well-executed speech three months ago? It might take shockingly little a successful foreign trip next week or progress on Obamacare repeal in Congress for pundits to conclude that he is back on track. Fourth, there is the intensity of his most devout supporters. While Trump has falsely boasted about many things, he was probably right when he said that he could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and still maintain their support. Trumps tribal supporters back him, not because of what Trump does or says, but because they want the affiliation they enjoy as Trump supporters. While these hard-core supporters were not sufficient to put Trump in office experts believe this group is 25 percent to 40 percent of the electorate even at the lower end of that range, they make up a majority of Republican primary voters in most Republican-held districts. That is a powerful check on Republican senators and representatives who might stand up to Trump as House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) learned when he was booed in his own district for distancing himself from Trump during the Access Hollywood conflagration. And fifth, there is the frightening risk that Trumps die-hard supporters are more devoted to Trump than they are to the rule of law. The United States prides itself on being a government of laws, not of men, but polls show that an increasing number of Americans generally, and Trump supporters specifically, have lost faith in democracy. Sinclair Lewiss brilliant novel It Cant Happen Here portrayed an alliance between populist rhetoric and corporatist policies that established an iron grip on government and trampled legal accountability. A Trump campaign email, sent the day the latest Comey allegations emerged, echoed Lewiss depiction, labelling the growing scrutiny of Trump as sabotage, accusing government officials of being against an America First agenda and urging supporters to be prepared to go into the trenches to FIGHT. Trump is down but not out. Indeed, he may even be at his most dangerous in wounded animal mode. The effort to hold him accountable for any abuses of power will face formidable obstacles in the weeks and months ahead. He should not be underestimated. From 1977 to 1985, Adolf Tolkachev relayed secret information about Soviet radar and aircraft technology to American operators in Moscow. This simple act of defiance helped give the United States the military superiority needed to avert a major war and saved countless lives. Tolkachev never stepped foot on U.S. soil, but he is an American hero. In contrast, The Post reported that President Trump has potentially compromised a similar intelligence source working against the Islamic State [Trump reveals secret intelligence to Russians, front page, May 16]. Those who pass us intelligence risk death every day. As with Tolkachev, we depend on them to get the vital edge on our adversaries, and the very least they ask of us is that we protect their identities. As a citizen, I am furious. Intelligence sources are on the front lines fighting for our freedom and security, too. To sell them out is just as bad as turning on our own men and women in uniform. In 1986, Tolkachev was executed by the Soviets as a spy. He was compromised by a person who cheaply sold out a source to prove his own importance. Tolkachev, a Soviet citizen, gave his life serving our country. He died for the ideals of peace and freedom. As Americans, we need to remember that the information that saves lives comes from real, courageous people such as Tolkachev. Mr. Trump spilling this information not only shows how unfit he is to lead but also reveals his complete disregard for the brave people abroad who risk everything to help the United States. Christopher Raleigh, Arlington So, who didnt know that the Islamic State was planning to put laptop bombs on commercial airlines? The news is not that President Trump revealed highly classified information but that traitors revealed to the press the Islamic State city where the threat was detected and outed Israeli intelligence. The leakers from the Obama administration deep state are so eager to get Mr. Trump that they are doing immeasurably more damage to U.S. intelligence than anything Mr. Trump could have done. William T. Fidurski, Clark, N.J. Regarding the May 17 front-page article Trump claims right to share: H.R. McMaster, it was claimed, was a straight shooter, a man of impeccable character and a righteous defender of the nations security, an outstanding choice for national security adviser with bipartisan support. It is now clear from his disingenuous and misleading wholly appropriate defense of President Trumps cavalier provision to Russia of code-word, ally-provided intelligence that Mr. Trump has claimed another victim. David M. Siegler, Oakton Regarding the May 17 front-page article Comey memo: Trump urged halt to Flynn probe: If President Trump did indeed ask the director of the FBI to drop the investigation of former national security adviser Michael Flynn and then fired that director, James B. Comey, for no coherent reason other than this Russia thing, then that is the textbook definition of an impeachable offense. Despite all the nuances presented in the May 17 news article No, Trump didnt break law by discussing classified details with Russians, that is obstruction of justice. If the president has tapes that refute this charge, he can present them in his defense. Otherwise, he has zero credibility. This is a lesson you try to teach a child. If you get the reputation as a liar and you are accused of a misdeed, then no one will believe your protestations of innocence, even if they are true. Tom Beal, Glenn Dale The president has the authority to reveal any information he pleases to anyone he pleases, but he should observe a traditional, if not legal, standard. The information in question in The Posts front-page article Trump reveals secret intelligence to Russians [May 16] was provided to the United States by a third party and was not collected by U.S. intelligence assets. Even though the president has the authority to share information, he should not share information that belongs to another nation without that nations permission. This is a common courtesy that recognizes the stake the originating source has in protecting its own intelligence assets. President Trump seems to get upset when something he said in supposed privacy is leaked to the press, but he has no qualms when he himself leaks a secret given to him by a trusting foreign government that assumes the secret is safe with him. How much trust will that country have in our ability to protect their secrets now that our president has turned into a leaker himself? Maybe he cant be prosecuted, but he can be cut off, which may be worse for our country. Stephen Marschall, Burke For most of his life, Donald Trump has found words to be his friends. He has used them to build his business, dramatize his achievements and embellish his accomplishments. As important, he has used them to explain away his missteps and to paper over his problems. He built a 58-story building in glass and steel, but through his wordplay, it became 68 stories tall. He owns an 11,000-square-foot apartment in Manhattan, but in his telling, its 33,000 square feet. Trump has used words extravagantly and cleverly to serve his ambition. He has called his method truthful hyperbole, and oftentimes it is not even truthful. But it has worked so far. The White House understands the gravity of the allegation that President Trump asked then-FBI Director James B. Comey to end the Michael Flynn investigation. Thats why the administration has vigorously denied the charge. And perhaps its not true. But the challenge for the administration is that in the court of public opinion, this is likely to turn into a case of he said, he said unless there are, in fact, tapes. On the one side, you have Comey, a distinguished civil servant with a history of speaking truth to power. While his critics feel that he has made several bad judgments over the past year, most people believe he is honest and sincere. On the other side, you have Trump. The Posts reporters Glenn Kessler and Michelle Ye Hee Lee describe Trump as the most fact-challenged politician they have ever encountered. They pointed out that, after having received a whopping 59 Four Pinocchio ratings during the campaign, Trump in his first 100 days made 492 false or misleading claims, at an average of 4.9 a day. These fact checkers clarified that those numbers obscure the fact that the pace and volume of the presidents misstatements means that we cannot possibly keep up. By their count, there were only 10 days in the first 100 days in which Trump did not make a false or misleading claim. And his fibs are not over small matters. Before being elected, Trump claimed that Barack Obama was not born in the United States; that he had met Vladimir Putin, who could not have been nicer; that he opposed the U.S. invasion of Iraq from the beginning; that he watched Arabs in Jersey City, N.J., cheer when the World Trade Center was attacked; that Americas unemployment rate (just last year) might be as high as 42 percent; and that its murder rate was the highest in 45 years. Since his election, he has claimed that his electoral vote margin was larger than anyones since Ronald Reagan, that China stopped manipulating its currency in response to his criticism and that Obama had his Trump Tower phones tapped. Every one of these claims is categorically false, and yet Trump has never retracted one of them. Trumps approach has never been to apologize because it wouldnt make sense to him. In his view, he wasnt fibbing. As his sometime rival and now friend Steve Wynn, a casino tycoon, put it, Trumps statements on virtually everything have no relation to truth or fact. Thats not really how Trump thinks of words. For him, words are performance art. Its what sounds right in the moment and gets him through the crisis. So when describing his economic policy to the Economist, he explained that he had just invented the term prime the pump a few days earlier. Never mind that the phrase was coined a century ago, has been used countless times since and was in fact used by Trump repeatedly in the past year. At that moment, it seemed the right thing to say. But Trump is now more than just a real estate developer, a franchise marketer, or a celebrity TV star. He is president, and he is dealing with matters of war and peace, law and justice. Words matter, and in a wholly different way than he has ever understood. They build national credibility, deter enemies, reassure allies and execute the law. In high office, in public life, words are not so different from actions. They are everything. It would be the ultimate irony if Trump now faces a crisis in which his lifelong strength turns into a fatal weakness. His rich and checkered history of salesmanship, his exaggerations, fudges and falsehoods, leave him in a situation now where, even if he is right on this one, people will have a hard time believing that this one time Donald Trump is finally telling the truth. Read more from Fareed Zakarias archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook. The president has the greatest self-pity. The best! No politician in history, and I say this with great surety, has been treated worse or more unfairly, Donald Trump said this week as he heard the special prosecutors footsteps. Thus did our assured head of state, equal parts narcissistic and uninformed, rank his treatment worse than that of Benito Mussolini (executed corpse beaten and hung upside down in public square), Oliver Cromwell (body disinterred, drawn and quartered, hanged and head hung on spike), Leon Trotsky (exiled and killed with icepick to the skull), William Wallace (dragged naked by horses, eviscerated, emasculated, hanged and quartered) and the headless Louis XVI, Mary Queen of Scots and Charles I. Trump hasnt been treated badly. He has been treated exactly as he deserved, a reaction commensurate with the action. He took on the institution of a free press and it fought back. Trump came to office after intimidating publishers, barring journalists from covering him and threatening to rewrite press laws, and he has sought to discredit the fake news media at every chance. Instead, he wound up inspiring a new golden age in American journalism. (The Washington Post) Trump provoked the extraordinary work of reporters on the intelligence, justice and national security beats, who blew wide open the Russia election scandal, the contacts between Russia and top Trump officials, and interference by Trump in the FBI investigation. This weeks appointment of a special prosecutor a crucial check on a president who lacks self-restraint is a direct result of their work. I suspect they wont be getting Presidential Medals of Freedom anytime soon, so lets celebrate some of them here. At The Post: Adam Entous, Greg Miller, Ellen Nakashima, Matt Zapotosky, Devlin Barrett, Sari Horwitz, Greg Jaffe and Julie Tate, along with columnist David Ignatius. At the New York Times: Michael Schmidt, Matthew Rosenberg, Adam Goldman, Matt Apuzzo and Scott Shane. The two rivals, combined, have produced one breathtaking scoop after another, including: The Posts Feb. 9 report that national security adviser Michael Flynn, contrary to the Trump administrations claims, talked with the Russian ambassador about U.S. sanctions before Trump took office. Flynn was out soon thereafter. The Posts March 1 report that Jeff Sessions also spoke with the Russian ambassador but did not disclose the contacts when asked about possible contacts during his confirmation as attorney general. He was forced to recuse himself from the Russia investigation. The Posts March 28 report that the Trump administration tried to block former acting attorney general Sally Yates from testifying on the Trump campaigns possible Russia ties. She later testified about the White Houses failure to act on warnings about Flynn. The Timess March 30 report that two White House officials helped provide Devin Nunes, the Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, with intelligence that Nunes made public. Nunes was forced to recuse himself from the committees probe. The Posts report this week that Trump shared highly classified intelligence with Russian officials, jeopardizing the cooperation of allies. And the final blow: the Timess report this week that Trump asked FBI Director James B. Comey to shut down the FBIs Flynn investigation, according to a contemporaneous memo Comey wrote before Trump fired him. There were many more, and other outlets have flourished, too. On one day this week, the United States awoke to a report from Reuters that the Trump campaign had at least 18 undisclosed contacts with Russians; a McClatchy report that Flynn, who had been paid as a Turkish representative, stopped a military plan that Turkey opposed; a Times report that the Trump team knew Flynn was under investigation before he started work at the White House; and a Post report that the House majority leader told colleagues last year that he thought Russian President Vladimir Putin was paying Trump. This journalistic triumph, made possible by nameless government officials who risked their jobs and their freedom to get the truth out, is all the more satisfying because it came as a corrective after one of the sorriest episodes in modern journalism: the uncritical, unfiltered and unending coverage of Trump particularly by cable news that propelled him to the Republican nomination and onward to the presidency. Its a great relief to have special prosecutor Robert S. Mueller III now keeping his eyes on the executive a regent, if you will, to protect against future abuses. This doesnt mean Trump wont nuke Denmark tomorrow. But those racked by anxiety for the past four months can exhale: Grown-ups within the government have restored some order. Trump may feel as if hes been drawn and quartered, but what hes experienced is the power of a free press in a free country. That is entirely fair, and fitting. Twitter: @Milbank Read more from Dana Milbanks archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook. President Trump believes he is being persecuted, and that is a frighteningly dangerous mind-set for a man with such vast power. Amid a week of dizzying developments on multiple fronts, Trump gave a graduation speech Wednesday at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy portraying himself as a victim, unfairly besieged by those who would destroy him. No politician in history, and I say this with great surety, has been treated worse or more unfairly, Trump said. That is an absurd claim that cannot be taken seriously, of course, but it does give a sense of how the president feels about the scrutiny he faces. Hours later, the Justice Department announced that former FBI director Robert S. Mueller III had been named as special counsel to investigate Russian meddling in the election and any possible collusion by persons connected with the Trump campaign. To my great surprise, the White House issued a statement that can only be described as calm, measured and appropriate. 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, it said. 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. (Victoria Walker,Jayne Orenstein,Dalton Bennett,Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post) The tone of the White House reaction was widely praised on the cable news shows that Trump is said to watch obsessively. But the effect, if any, of such positive reinforcement was evanescent. It lasted only until Trump took to Twitter on Thursday morning. This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history! he tweeted. A couple of hours later, he had more to get off his chest: With all of the illegal acts that took place in the Clinton campaign & Obama Administration, there was never a special counsel appointed! So thats how Trump really took the news about Muellers appointment: not well at all. The idea that he would be treated poorly, compared with the way other presidents were treated, seems to trigger an atavistic response. It is as if he went to a fancy restaurant and was shown to a table in a cramped corner, near the kitchen. Now, with all of this weighing on him and gnawing at him, he leaves on his first foreign trip. The itinerary includes stops in the Middle East, the worlds most explosive region. Having called during the campaign for an outright ban on Muslims entering the United States, Trump will give a speech that advisers have billed as an address to the Muslim world. He will visit Jerusalem, where geography equals theology and every false step has consequences. And by all accounts, the president gets cranky when he cant fly to one of his homes at night and sleep in one of his own beds. What could possibly go wrong? The news this week has, indeed, felt like a barrage. On Monday, The Post reported that Trump, during an Oval Office meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, revealed highly classified information. On Tuesday, the New York Times reported that James B. Comey, whom Trump fired as FBI director last week, kept contemporaneous written accounts of his conversations with the president and that, in one of those encounters, Trump asked Comey to drop the investigation of former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who advised Trump during the campaign and whose Russia ties are being probed. In two days, that was enough news for a month. But then on Wednesday came the Mueller appointment. I share in the confidence expressed by Democrats and Republicans alike that Mueller will do a fair and thorough job and that FBI investigators, reportedly angry at the way Trump treated Comey, will look under every single rock. If there was collusion by the Trump campaign, I believe it will be found. But even if clear and convincing evidence of such wrongdoing exists, it will take time to unearth. Meanwhile, Trump remains president. He has access to the nations most closely held secrets but cannot be trusted to safeguard them. He runs the White House like a family business, valuing loyalty over experience or expertise. He has no real grasp of policy, foreign or domestic. He feels himself under attack. Four months into his term, he brags to White House visitors about how he won the election. And theres not another one until 2020. Read more from Eugene Robinsons archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook. You can also join him Tuesdays at 1 p.m. for a live Q&A. Police secure the street outside the Turkish Embassy on Tuesday in Washington. (Dave Clark/Agence France-Presse via Getty Images) Regarding the May 18 news article Turkish guards violence denounced: A foreign dictators guards crossing a street in the District to pulverize peaceful American protesters is the most surreal and barbaric diplomatic incident Ive seen on U.S. soil in my 25 years. A video of the event clearly shows several Turkish guards kicking a woman in the head after knocking her down. Another man is repeatedly kicked in the face. The protesters, along with their purple cardboard signs, are left battered in the field. Referring to this attack as a clash was a disservice to these innocent American victims and softened the terrifying behavior of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans guards. Disturbingly, the guards walked away while the silenced Americans left in ambulances. Aidan Hoolachan, Ellicott City The May 18 editorial No, Mr. Erdogan, this is not acceptable here said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan apparently thought it okay for his thugs to beat up peaceful protesters in the United States. I completely agree. However, we should not be surprised by Mr. Erdogans security guards rough treatment of demonstrators. Our media have regularly published articles about similar activities by our police and security personnel for years. We share with the world how we do things. The important question is: How do we convince foreigners that they should do as we say, not as we do? Newton Plaisance, Ijamsville Brookland Manor is a sprawling, Depression-era housing complex that straddles the divide between what the District once was and what it will be. Perched atop a hill overlooking Rhode Island Avenue, the property is undergoing redevelopment. (Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post) Growing inclusively means that individuals and families are not confined to particular economic and geographic boundaries but are able to make important choices choices about where they live, how and where they earn a living, how they get around the city, and where their children go to school. Growing inclusively also means that every resident can make these choices regardless of whether they have lived here for generations or moved here last week, and regardless of their race, income, or age. What a great statement. Thats an official vision from the Districts Comprehensive Plan, adopted in 2006. D.C. leaders committed to this goal more than a decade ago, and the need is even more acute today as the economy has boomed, held on through a huge recession and boomed again. Those booms havent benefited everyone, but they should. The D.C. government is now amending the Comp Plan. Ive been working with a coalition of organizations to read, analyze and suggest changes to the plan. There are some great ideas in its more than 600 pages but a lot is missing or woefully out of date. In 2005, the 50-year trend of the District losing population was already turning around, and planners at the time forecast 630,000 residents by 2015. Instead, there were 672,228. The plan forecast the population to hit 698,000 by 2025; were almost there already. This matters because in 2005, home prices rising out of reach wasnt the big problem; there was a lot of vacant property in most wards of the city. Attracting people to the District was still a challenge. Now, growing numbers of neighborhoods are out of reach to even middle-class residents with well-paying jobs, let alone those with lower incomes. Our challenge is continuing to welcome everyone while protecting those already here, who have lived for decades in their homes and fear being displaced. The Comprehensive Plan talks little of displacement. In fact, whether existing residents will be displaced isnt even a factor the D.C. Zoning Commission can consider in its reviews of many projects. Thats wrong, and we need to right it in the Comp Plan. The Comp Plan certainly talks about affordable housing but doesnt afford it nearly the weight it needs in the District of 2017. One significant part of the solution is to add enough housing to meet the demand. If there are too few homes, then its like a game of musical chairs where some people can outbid others for the chairs. As Seattle activist Sara Maxana explains, When housing choices are limited, the wealthy always win. However, let me be clear: Simply adding more housing at the market rate will absolutely not solve every problem on its own. The District needs housing for young families making $60,000 to $90,000. It needs housing for families making $30,000 to $50,000, well above minimum wage but considered very low income by Department of Housing and Urban Development standards. These are our teachers, firefighters, child-care professionals and transit operators. We also need housing for those making $20,000, $10,000 and less. These are the people who serve you lunch, take out the trash and check out your purchases at the grocery store. They should all be able to afford to live here. Reports from the George Mason University School of Public Policy, Enterprise Community Partners and the Greater Washington Housing Leaders Group estimate the magnitude of need at each price point; we need the will, the creativity and the investments to meet it. Building more hosuing is part of the answer, but it alone will not meet the need because new construction is expensive and slow even in the absence of regulatory barriers, and there are plenty of those. No new housing unit can be as low-cost as an existing, older building. Preserving the affordable housing thats already here means that the people and families who live there can remain a part of the community. This must be a priority in our fiscal and land-use policies. Every neighborhood must be a part of the solution. We can engage neighborhoods in a conversation about the best way to create and preserve needed housing, market-rate and below-market affordable, because put it in someone elses neighborhood is not an ethical or practical answer. For too long, this has been the practice of some of our wealthiest neighborhoods, including my own, and the Comp Plan has allowed and even facilitated this. Just as it was right to put a homeless shelter in every ward, so must our housing needs for other groups be a shared commitment across the city (and region). More overall homes. More affordable homes. Preserving existing affordable homes. Protections against displacement. These are not mutually exclusive. To the contrary, they can all reinforce each other with the right land-use policies. By global standards and even U.S. ones, the District is not that heavily populated. Theres room for all, both the newcomer and the fifth-generation resident. Together, we can make room. Contrary to the May 13 editorial Its time for federal sentencing reform, Attorney General Jeff Sessions was right to restore the standard for bringing criminal charges against those who profit from drug trafficking. Mr. Sessionss instruction to prosecutors is that they should charge with the most serious, readily provable offense. It is scarcely up to the executive branch to subvert Congresss mandatory minimum sentencing by bringing lesser charges. Thats usurpation, not compassion. The editorial was mistaken in playing down Mr. Sessionss instruction that restoration of the former, nearly uniform charging standard can have exceptions. More reflection and accountability are what we should want, not fear, from federal prosecutors. The editorial was correct in saying we need a bipartisan charging and sentencing policy. We have one in the mandatory minimum terms it condemns, which stem from the same consensus that produced the bipartisan Sentencing Reform Act of 1984. Under mandatory sentencing, the prison population expanded but crime rates plummeted by a little less than half. Its one of the most remarkable achievements in domestic policy of the past 50 years. Combined with other tough-on-crime policies such as more proactive and computer-assisted policing, it has made the country much more secure, especially for minorities, who are disproportionately victims of the drug trade and the deadly gunplay it breeds. The attorney generals charging policy merits our thanks. William G. Otis, Falls Church The writer is a former assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia and former special counsel for President George H.W. Bush. Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner are shown their seats before President Trump speaks during a working lunch with ambassadors of countries on the United Nations Security Council and their spouses on April 24. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) The president of the Czech Republic is eager to have Ivanka Trump visit his country, and he believes he has a compelling case to make. By a happy coincidence, her mother is Czech, and President Milos Zeman hopes thats the opening he needs to secure a high-profile visit from the first daughter as he tries to realize the kind of relationship with the U.S. government that his country has long craved. We would like her to know that we are the country where she might find a surprising number of people who will treat her very, very nice, said Hynek Kmonicek, the Czech ambassador to the United States, who has been entrusted by Zeman to deliver a letter to Ivanka Trump at the earliest opportunity. Because shes, like, preapproved. The letter remains undelivered, but Kmonicek is optimistic. I hope I will be able to put a selfie on the Twitter, he said with a smile as he mused about the meeting while lounging in his Northwest Washington office. The Czech Republic is just one of several countries that see the first daughter as an avenue of entry into her fathers White House, citing the image she has cultivated as culturally curious and active on policy as reason to think she will be receptive to their outreach. A relationship with the first daughter is coveted because she and her husband, Jared Kushner, are top White House advisers with broad, largely undefined portfolios, stretching from domestic to foreign policy, and an all-important familial connection that gives them rare influence. (Gillian Brockell/The Washington Post) Ivanka Trump, in turn, has used foreign nations interest to help soften her fathers rough edges amid uncertainty over his foreign policy and promises to upend long-standing alliances if he deems them unfair to the United States. Shes being seen as a goodwill ambassador slash adviser slash soft-power effort for an administration that has had a lot of challenges in those areas, said a senior diplomat for a Latin American country, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to comment candidly about the embassies outreach to Trump. By all accounts, she seems to be everything that her father is not: likable, soft-spoken, and shes not impulsive. She seems to be thinking through everything that she does. As President Trump embarked Friday on his first foreign trip since taking office, Ivanka Trump accompanied him and will make public appearances on her own. She is likely to take on a similar role abroad as she has in the past four months in Washington, where she has been an enthusiastic participant in social and cultural events. Ivanka Trump attends a reception with two of her children at the Japanese ambassadors official residence on April 4. (Asahi Shimbun/Via Getty Images) She and her children have made appearances at the Chinese and Japanese embassies. She visited the French ambassadors residence and, in March, dined with the British ambassador along with Kushner. German Chancellor Angela Merkel extended the invitation for Ivanka Trump to attend a womens economic summit in Berlin, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau treated her to a Broadway show with a not-so-subtle message about the virtues of taking in strangers in need. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who frequently visits the White House, communicates with Kushner and Ivanka Trump regularly about diplomatic issues, including their familys visits with embassy officials. One of the things thats been useful about both Ivanka and Jared and the members of the White House staff is that they have existing relationships that theyve built, but then theyre turning around and making them everyone elses relationships, said R.C. Hammond, a senior State Department adviser. As word has gotten around the diplomatic world about the potential return on investment in courting the first daughter, embassies have begun actively looking for ways to bring her into the fold, mulling invitations to gala events and cultural celebrations where they can establish low-stakes, personal relationships with her. Ivanka Trump, left, attends the Chinese Embassy's New Year reception with her daughter Feb. 1. (Liu Yang/Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images) Early in her fathers tenure, Trump inserted herself into the U.S.-China relationship with a high-profile trip to the Chinese Embassy for its Lunar New Year celebration. It came at a time when President Trump was struggling to establish a diplomatic relationship with Beijing after raising the ire of the Chinese by taking a phone call from the Taiwanese president, in defiance of a long-standing one-China policy. For weeks after the call from Taiwan, there was radio silence between Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, a sign of Beijings coldness toward the new U.S. president. More than two weeks after Trump was inaugurated, he had still not spoken with his Chinese counterpart, despite having talked to more than a dozen other world leaders in the same time frame. But while official diplomatic doors appeared to be closed, Ivanka Trump, with her Mandarin-speaking children in tow, appeared at the Chinese Embassy in upper Northwest Washington on Feb. 1. Doors opened, cameras flashed, and Trump smiled as she was greeted warmly by embassy personnel. The next day on Ivanka Trumps Instagram page, 5-year-old Arabella made an appearance, singing sweetly as she played with a puppet dragon. Arabella singing a song she learned for #ChineseNewYear, her mother wrote in the caption. Wishing everyone an amazing year to come during these days of celebration. Days later, the freeze had thawed. In a phone conversation with the Chinese president nearly 20 days after his inauguration, Trump promised to honor the one-China policy. Hammond cited President Trumps improved relationship with China as evidence of the success of Ivanka Trumps engagement. Overall, you look at the relationship that were building, were engaging with China, he said. At the Japanese Embassy in April, a scene similar to the one that occurred at the Chinese Embassy played out. The embassy painstakingly extended an invitation to Ivanka Trump to attend its Cherry Blossom Festival. Then the planning began. Embassy staffers hatched an elaborate plan to invite Japanese YouTube star Pikotaro to perform for Arabella, who was a fan of the singers earworm song. They called the company that makes the video game and anime character Pikachu and ordered up stuffed dolls, and acquired other traditional Japanese toys, to entertain Trumps young children. The visit was a slam-dunk, in the embassys view, garnering media coverage in the United States and Japan, where Ivanka Trump is an increasingly popular figure. Ivanka plays a very important role and helps us deepen our ties and also advance strong relationships between our governments, said Yoshinori Takazawa, a spokesman for the Japanese Embassy. A lot of Japanese media outlets reported this event. As a result, a lot of Japanese citizens believe that the U.S. and Japan are close friends, he said. Among world leaders, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe enjoys arguably one of the best relationships with Trump, which has been repeatedly bolstered by Abes efforts to connect with Trump through Ivanka and her children. During a visit to Trump Tower in New York during Trumps transition to the presidency, Ivanka Trump greeted Abe at the elevator and escorted him to her fathers office, where she participated in the meeting with Kushner. Abe chatted with Ivanka Trump over Arabellas fascination with Pikotaro. And again, after she and her children visited the embassy in April, Abe raised the event as an icebreaker in his phone conversation with President Trump a day later. Ivanka Trump has returned the gesture with subtle signals to the Japanese of her attention to their culture. This month on Instagram, she posted a short video of a private moment of dancing with her two young sons in their kitchen, delighting Japanese Embassy officials by choosing Pikotaros latest tune, I like O.J. Ivanka Trumps emerging role as an official and unofficial emissary to her fathers government has sparked some controversy at home and abroad. But it is not entirely unusual. Carl Anthony, a historian with the National First Ladies Library, said her role is similar to those of other first daughters who were deputized by their fathers to step into areas where, at times, the first lady could not or would not go. The first lady role, when you really break it down, consists of about seven or eight different kind of roles, Anthony said. What youve had on occasion, but not really in our lifetime, is more than one woman in the family assuming some of the roles, but not others. Theodore Roosevelt deputized his daughter Alice on a months-long diplomatic mission to three Asian countries, where she was dubbed a princess. Julie Nixon Eisenhower became a liaison on environmental issues for her father, Richard Nixon. And Franklin D. Roosevelt chose his daughter Anna to accompany him to the Yalta conference toward the end of World War II, where she met with foreign dignitaries but primarily served as a source of encouragement and support for her father. Ivankas role is ineffable, Anthony said. Its knowing her fathers chemistry. Its knowing how to approach him and when to approach him. Its choosing her battles carefully and knowing how to frame her, perhaps, disagreement on something. Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Ivanka Trumps mother is half Czech. President Trumps silence lasted just over 12 hours. Then, he let it all out. The appointment of a special counsel to investigate possible collusion between his campaign and Russia was the single greatest witch hunt in American history, he tweeted. Hours later, during a news conference with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, Trump revisited the topic. I think its totally ridiculous. Everybody thinks so, Trump said when asked about the appointment. Everybody, even my enemies, have said there is no collusion. The comments underscore Trumps seemingly unstoppable drive to combat an investigation that has dogged him since his first day in office even if it prolongs the controversy and potentially puts him at greater legal risk. (Victoria Walker,Jayne Orenstein,Dalton Bennett,Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post) Trump has treated the Russia investigation as a public relations battle pitting him against his many enemies. But he has been slow to acclimate to new perils particularly the legal ones that seem to be mounting. At nearly every opportunity, in interviews, tweets and public statements, Trump has insisted that the investigation is a politically motivated farce. James Clapper and others stated that there is no evidence Potus colluded with Russia. This story is FAKE NEWS and everyone knows it! he tweeted in March. In an interview in April with the Washington Examiner, he declared: The Russia is a faux story. Its made up. Meanwhile, the investigation has continued and is now criminal in nature, according to senators who were briefed by Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein on Thursday. Trump has never been one to shy away from prejudging the outcome of investigations. During the campaign, he and aides encouraged his crowds in chants of Lock her up!, demanding the conviction and jailing of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton in the investigation into her use of a private email server while she was secretary of state. Trump has been dismissive of the seriousness of accusations he has made against others, including when he alleged without evidence that President Obama had wiretapped the phones in Trump Tower, an act that would have been illegal. 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. But perhaps the greatest source of risk for Trump is in the allegation that in February he asked then-FBI Director James B. Comey to drop the investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn. According to Comeys associates, Comey documented the comments in a memo written directly after he left the Oval Office meeting with Trump in February. And he prepared for meetings with Trump meticulously, concerned that the businessman president who has no previous political experience in Washington or with the law would push against legal and ethical guardrails. Asked whether he had had such a conversation with Comey, Trump denied it flatly: No. No, next question, he told reporters during the East Room news conference Thursday. A senior White House official said the president has been presented with options for retaining outside counsel in the case. The whole Comey situation, thats a different ballgame, said Alan I. Baron, who has served as special counsel to the House in impeachment proceedings against four federal judges. It could well be treated as criminal interference into an investigation. Obstruction of justice. Trumps propensity to discuss the case and Comeys firing have only introduced more complications. In an interview days after firing Comey, Trump said that he was thinking of the Russia probe as he decided to do it. In all, Baron said, while Trump maintains his First Amendment rights to free speech, most attorneys would strongly advise their clients against speaking about an ongoing case involving the clients or their associates. He would be a difficult client to serve, Baron said. If Im representing somebody, you dont say anything to anybody without talking to me first. Thats my first rule. If you cant control yourself, just tell me where to send the flowers, he added. Many in the steady stream of headlines about the Russia investigation have been generated by Trump himself, making it more challenging for his administration to refocus on policy issues. After firing Comey as FBI director, Trump suggested on Twitter that there might be tapes of his conversations in the White House that he would use to validate his account of his dealings with Comey. The White House will not say whether Trump recorded conversations in the Oval Office. But the comments touched off immediate comparisons to President Richard Nixon except that rather than keeping the possible existence of tapes a secret, Trump might have spoken publicly about them and opened himself up to future legal challenges. Nixon was much more circumspect than Donald Trump and, frankly, much more aware of what his own legal exposure was, said Ken Hughes, a scholar at the University of Virginias Miller Center. I was stunned when President Trump suggested that he might have tapes of his meetings with director Comey, because those would become the subject of subpoenas. They would be seen as evidence. Nixon never publicly threatened people with his tapes, because he knew it would backfire on him, said Hughes, whose areas of expertise include secret U.S. presidential recordings. Publicly, according to Hughes, Nixon pledged cooperation with investigators even while he resisted handing over the tapes and privately fumed about efforts to sabotage his administration. Trump has aired such grievances publicly on a nearly weekly basis, arguing that he is being treated unfairly by the news media and by his Democratic opponents. Meanwhile, White House aides look hopefully toward the presidents upcoming foreign trip, which might help them shift the agenda back to firmer ground. But with nearly 30 million Twitter followers at his fingertips, Trump has resisted giving up his ability to battle the news media and investigators through a tool that he believes allows him to cut through the filter of the mainstream media. Donald Trump should start every morning with a tweet about what he is doing that day to help working-class Americans, said Republican strategist Alex Conant. Instead, his morning tweets make it clear how much the Russia story is distracting him and his White House. A longtime private attorney for President Trump said he has advised the White House that Trump should hire a tough Washington lawyer to help navigate an increasingly complex legal strategy in response to the special counsel investigation of alleged ties between the presidential campaign and Russia. He needs a good lawyer, someone who is strong, not that he would go against the lawyers advice, but everybody should have a lawyer who sees things through and comes up with good advice, said Jay Goldberg, who represented Trump from 1990 to 2005, including during his two divorces and other high-profile cases. Trumps need for a private attorney is viewed as a high priority because he so far has been relying on government lawyers, including his White House counsel, who could eventually be called to testify about their private conversations with him. Such conversations are not considered privileged, unlike what Trump experienced as a corporate executive working with hired legal counsel. The recommendation comes as the White Houses legal strategy is being complicated by Trumps tweets and other statements, potentially undermining his ability to declare protection under executive privilege, legal analysts said Thursday. Trumps constant tweeting about subjects under investigation as well as his claim that then-FBI Director James B. Comey assured him in three conversations that he was cleared could undermine efforts to cite executive privilege, analysts said. (Victoria Walker,Jayne Orenstein,Dalton Bennett,Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post) It makes it extremely hard for him to make a claim of executive privilege after he has already put it out there publicly, said Mark J. Rozell, dean of the Schar School of Public Policy at George Mason University and author of a book on executive privilege. He is just not careful. We know that. Moreover, Rozell said, citing privilege inevitably would raise suspicions that he has something to hide. Trump on Thursday responded to the Wednesday appointment of Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III by tweeting: This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history! Rozell said Trumps attitude should be that he has nothing to hide, but Rozell said Trumps tweet heightened concerns that he wont fully cooperate. Even if Trump does cite executive privilege, the practice has grown weaker in recent years and was criticized by Trump himself when it was invoked by President Barack Obama. Executive privilege, while not outlined in the Constitution, has been cited by a number of presidents as the rationale for withholding certain information, often on grounds of national security. But it has also been seen by courts as a way to hide information that is pertinent to an investigation, and the privilege has sometimes been rejected and is not considered absolute. Five years ago, Trump mocked Obama for citing executive privilege in refusing to turn over records demanded as part of a congressional investigation. Trumps view was shared by many Republicans, and the courts eventually agreed, issuing a 2016 ruling that underscored the difficulty of a president to withhold information from investigators. Another complication for Trump is that he has relied on the advice of White House Counsel Donald McGahn, whose background is in election law. Trump, for example, told NBC News last week that McGahn did not convey that it was an emergency to remove national security adviser Michael Flynn from his post. McGahn had been told by then-acting attorney general Sally Yates that Flynn had been compromised as a result of his discussions with the Russian ambassador, but Flynn was not fired for 18 days. (Peter Stevenson,Jason Aldag,Whitney Leaming/The Washington Post) A White House counsel is supposed to have a higher allegiance to the office of the presidency than to the president who occupies the office, legal experts said. McGahn could be asked to testify and might have to reveal the content of his conversations with the president. John Dean, the White House counsel during the Nixon administration, said that in the wake of post-Watergate reforms, the counsel is required to report wrongdoing even if he learned about it in a private conversation. If Trump says, I want to cover this up and the hell with everybody, thats something that the White House counsel will have to wrestle with and do what is right for the office and not what is right for Trump, Dean said in an interview. Dean served during the Watergate scandal and famously testified about how he told President Richard M. Nixon that there was a cancer growing on his presidency. Dean pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of justice for his role in Watergate affair. Trump has the option of hiring a private attorney, as do members of his staff who might be drawn into the investigation. The White House declined to comment. Legal experts interviewed Thursday said that the White House Counsels Office should be scrambling to prepare for a wide-ranging probe. Typical steps would include issuing a memo to all staffers warning them not to destroy any records that might be sought by the special counsel. One aspect of the case likely to be investigated by Mueller, as well as congressional committees, is that Trump allegedly asked Comey to end his investigation into Flynn. Trump initially tweeted that Comey should hope that there are no tapes of a January dinner conversation, which prompted Comey allies to describe a memo that quotes Trump urging that the Flynn investigation come to an end. Under his appointment, Mueller has broad authority to investigate matters that come up during his probe of whether Russia had ties to the Trump campaign. That could enable him to look into whether Trump or his aides tried to cover up matters such as efforts to halt the Flynn investigation. Goldberg, the former Trump attorney, said the president is being unfairly treated. He said that in his experience Trump was the perfect client. He listens. He does not presume to overrule the lawyer. President Trump participates in a news conference in the East Room of the White House on Thursday. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) As a cascade of controversies consumes the White House, anxiety is rising among Republicans well beyond the Beltway that President Trumps troubles could take a severe toll on the party heading into next years midterm elections and beyond. With a near-daily string of new scandals and unfavorable headlines including this weeks news of a special counsel to examine possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia a growing number of Republicans across the country are watching dispiritedly as Democrats become further energized to turn out their voters in 2018, potentially tipping not only congressional contests but state and local races down the ballot. There were a lot of things that were promised to be done, and were just getting a lot of noise out of Washington, said Marc Rotterman, a longtime Republican consultant in North Carolina who was a Trump supporter ahead of last years election. It seems its Russia 24-7. When youre reacting and defending, youre not moving on your agenda. Youre not fixing day-to-day problems for average Americans. Rotterman said that there still could be a course correction but that if Trump and Republicans dont make good on their promises, they risk losing support particularly from the blue-collar voters who helped propel Trump to victory last fall. Theyre counting on him, Rotterman said. Trump arrived in Washington in an uneasy alliance with establishment Republicans, many of whom were willing to overlook his eccentricities if they still were able to make good on shared legislative priorities, including repeal of the Affordable Care Act and tax cuts. Bruce Fealk, from Rochester Hills, Mich., protests outside an April 29 rally by Trump in Harrisburg, Pa. (Evelyn Hockstein/For The Washington Post) [Lawmakers grow nervous that Mueller probe may push their inquiries aside] While Trump has issued a flurry of executive orders and delivered on one key conservative agenda item the confirmation of a successor to the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia there is mounting fear that other marquee campaign promises will not be realized, making it harder for Republicans to win elections. Since Trumps controversial firing of FBI Director James B. Comey last week, the White House has been in full crisis mode. We cannot sustain this level of chaos from the White House and expect it will be anything less than a tragic outcome on Election Day, said Jennifer Horn, a former chairwoman of the New Hampshire Republican Party. Horn, who was accused of anti-Trump bias during her tenure as chairwoman, said she has noticed a significant increase in the level of anxiety about the president and his behavior from party leaders around the country over the past two weeks. Some Trump boosters offer a more measured take on what has transpired, suggesting the drama in Washington will not be foremost on the minds of voters. The next election will have a lot more to do with jobs numbers than Russia, said Barry Bennett, a Trump political adviser during last years election campaign. If the economy keeps perking along, he said, Republicans could do just fine. Midterm calculus While many Republicans are frustrated by what is going on in Washington, polls have shown that Trump remains popular with most members of the party and continues to be viewed positively by his base. Trump also could try to energize his voters next year by blaming Washingtons problems on the hostile establishment he says he is fighting. However, it remains an open question how many of the blue-collar and other nontraditional GOP voters who backed Trump will turn out for other Republicans when he is not on the ballot. At the same time, Democratic voters tend not to turn out as strongly in nonpresidential years. The Trump factor already is being tested in several special congressional elections this year to replace members plucked from the House to join Trumps Cabinet. All have shaped up to be closer than expected, and Trumps troubles are a particular factor in Georgias 6th Congressional District an affluent, Republican-leaning jurisdiction in suburban Atlanta. Its a close race that shouldnt be close, Republican pollster Whit Ayres, who is working for GOP candidate Karen Handel, said of the June 20 election. Ayres said that Trumps troubles are clearly a factor in Handels race against Democrat Jon Ossoff, as well as in other upcoming contests. It certainly doesnt make it any easier for Republican candidates in highly educated districts, Ayres said. The atmosphere in Washington and attitudes toward the president create a far more energized Democratic base than youd otherwise have. [If Democrats dont win one of three special elections, how can they take back the majority in 2018?] Asked if the past two weeks have exacerbated that dynamic, Ayres said, I believe this falls in the realm of the obvious. Trump appeared at a closed fundraiser in Atlanta last month for Handel, but the candidate since then has seemed to distance herself from the president. During a fundraiser this week with House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.), Trumps name was not mentioned by either Handel or Ryan. It remains an open question how many candidates will seek to appear with Trump heading into next years elections. When the Republican National Committee met in California last week, Trump appeared via a taped message in which he suggested he would like to be heavily involved ahead of next years vote. Ill be going around to different states, Trump said. Ill be working hard for people running for Congress and the people running for the Senate. We can pick up a lot of seats, especially if it keeps going the way its going now. The last line in particular raised eyebrows. Even before the latest controversies, there were signs of serious Republican challenges in some 2018 races. In Florida, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R), the dean of the states delegation and the first Cuban American elected to Congress, recently announced her upcoming retirement after 35 years in office. Her district which Hillary Clinton won over Trump by 20 points is now considered a prime opportunity for a Democratic pickup. Several prominent local Republicans already have announced that they will take a pass on the race. John McKager Mac Stipanovich, a longtime GOP campaign operative in Florida, said he fears numerous other Republican losses in his state and around the country if the party cannot deliver on promises to repeal Obamacare and cut taxes. If after all of the talk, after all of the chest-thumping, we cant get anything done, we may get clubbed like baby seals in 2018, said Stipanovich, who was an early Trump critic. Concrete results Most analysts consider control of the House to be in play next year. Following House passage of a health-care bill this month that would leave millions without coverage, the nonpartisan Cook Political Report downgraded the 2018 prospects for Republicans in 20 races across the country. The publication noted that of the 23 Republicans sitting in districts that Clinton won last year, 14 voted for the GOP bill, which has been widely panned in public polls. [Trump cant stop talking about Russia probe, but continuing might hurt him] At this point, relatively few Senate races look competitive next year, but several governors seats could be in play. Normally, governors races are more insulated from issues playing out in national politics, but that might not be as much the case now, said Jennifer Duffy, a senior editor at Cook Political Report. That is in part because Republican candidates are likely to get peppered with questions about what they think of Trump controversies, she said. Thirty-six states have governors races next year. Two states Virginia and New Jersey are holding contests this year. While some candidates have sought to mimic Trump on policy and style, the GOP front-runners in both states voting this year former Republican National Committee chairman Ed Gillespie in Virginia and Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno in New Jersey are not talking much about Trump on the campaign trail. In Washington, the White House and Republican leaders in Congress are putting on a brave face about what they can still accomplish in coming months. Ryan, acknowledging that Trump has had a bad two weeks, said during a radio interview on The Hugh Hewitt Show on Friday that its way too early to be talking about the midterms. But he conceded, If we dont keep our promises, then well have a problem. At a conference sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, Vice President Pence suggested the White House remains focused on its agenda, regardless of distractions. Whatever Washington, D.C., may be focused on at any given time, rest assured, President Donald Trump will never stop fighting for the issues that matter most to the American people: good jobs, safe streets and a boundless American future, Pence told about 350 business leaders gathered for a summit on foreign direct investment in the United States. Scott Reed, a lobbyist for the Chamber, said he continues to believe there is a historic opportunity for Congress to pass tax reform and make good on a Trump promise to invest $1 trillion in the nations infrastructure both of which are Chamber priorities. If they dont govern and get some concrete results, its going to be a long couple of years, Reed said, referring to the partys electoral prospects. This is the beginning of a lot of dominoes that will fall one way or another. Kelsey Snell contributed to this report. While some Republicans are warning that the appointment of a special counsel could impede Congress parallel investigations into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, there is ample precedent that argues the opposite. Its clearly an excuse, said former Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), a former chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. It didnt keep them from doing oversight when there was a Democratic president. Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein assured lawmakers Friday that his appointment of a special counsel to investigate possible coordination between the Russian government and associates of President Trump should not impede Congresss own probes into that same question, according to one account by a senior Democratic congressman. During a closed briefing with House members, Rosenstein was pressed on whether congressional investigations might conflict with the one conducted by the recently named special counsel, former FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III. Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein recognized and acknowledged that Congress has an independent right to continue its own investigations into issues that, although not necessarily criminal, relate to our core oversight functions, said Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein arrives heads to a briefing with lawmakers on the investigations of the ties between the Trump administration and Russian officials. (Astrid Riecken for The Washington Post) However, Rosenstein encouraged the lawmakers to make sure that their efforts are closely coordinated with those of the Justice Department, and that they should establish a point of contact for Special Counsel Mueller, Cummings said via email. Some GOP senators have cautioned that congressional committees would have to slow down or move aside, to avoid interfering with Muellers operation. Certainly, I think Congresss ability to investigate this process fully is going to be hampered, said Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.). Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) added that it may impossible to subpoena key witnesses. But veterans of previous situations such as this dismiss those arguments. Indeed, during the administration of Democratic president Bill Clinton, there were no fewer than seven investigations, led by independent counsels, looking into the behavior of his administration and its top officials. The most important was the sprawling one that began with questions regarding Whitewater, a failed real estate venture that Bill and Hillary Clinton had invested in during the 1970s and 1980s. Under independent counsel Kenneth Starr, that one expanded to include controversies involving the White House Travel Office; allegations of improper use of FBI files, and ultimately, Clintons extramarital affair with a White House intern that led to his impeachment. Throughout, Republicans controlling Congress kept up the pace of their own investigations. Particularly active was Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.), who took over as chairman of the oversight committee in 1997. Barbara Comstock, now a Republican congresswoman from Northern Virginia, was chief investigative counsel for Burton. In her recollection, the committees work frequently complemented the work being done by special prosecutors. We did investigations separate from what the Justice Department was doing, and often, we found documents before they did, she said. The purpose of the congressional investigations is the publics right to know, and I think the two can be done concurrently, Comstock added. Waxman noted that congressional oversight goes far broader than the question of whether a crime was committed, which is the purview of the special counsel. Among those areas: whether national security was compromised by what intelligence officials say were Russian efforts to boost Trumps chances in the election, and what might be done to prevent future meddling. Another question, Waxman said, is whether Trump officials have been hones with the public about their actions, and what has been going on at the highest levels of the administration. Read more at PowerPost Two Chinese fighter jets this week buzzed a U.S. spy plane that sniffs out nuclear radiation as it flew over the seas between China and North Korea, underlining Beijings discomfort with American surveillance and differences in the countries approach to the threat posed by the regime in Pyongyang. A Defense Department official said the Chinese aircraft got within 100 feet or so of the U.S. plane. The incident, reported by the U.S. Air Force on Friday, comes as the two nations struggle to overcome discord over how to confront the nuclear and missile programs of North Korea, which depends on China as its main economic lifeline. [North Korea showed off a lot of missiles. What might be their targets?] The American plane, a WC-135 Constant Phoenix, collects samples from the air to detect nuclear explosions. It is used worldwide to monitor compliance with international obligations. It flies about 150 missions a year, the defense official said. The Air Force said the plane was on a routine mission in international airspace in the East China Sea, a broad expanse of ocean. But Chinas Ministry of National Defense said the incident occurred in the Yellow Sea, the northern part of the East China Sea that lies between China and the Korean Peninsula. An American official told CNN that the plane has been regularly deployed in northeast Asia to gather evidence of possible nuclear tests by North Korea. The Chinese military has become increasingly unhappy with U.S. surveillance in the East China and South China seas. Intercepts are not uncommon in both areas. But the latest incident appeared to have been an unusually tight encounter. Two Chinese Su-30 fighters flew up close to an American WC-135 on Wednesday, the Air Force said in a statement. The American aircrew described the intercept as unprofessional, the statement said, based on the Chinese pilots maneuvers and the speeds and proximity involved. [Is Trump ready for war in the South China Sea, or is his team just not being clear?] The issue is being addressed with China through appropriate diplomatic and military channels, said Lt. Col. Lori Hodge, an Air Force spokeswoman. A U.S. military investigation into the intercept is underway, she added. Chinas Defense Ministry said that the Air Force statement was not factually correct and that the Chinese planes had recognized and checked on the American plane as it conducted surveillance in Chinas Yellow Sea. The relevant behavior was professional and safe, China said in a statement published on its social-media account. The root reason for military security issues between the air force and navy of China and the United States is that U.S. planes and ships frequently conduct surveillance near Chinas territory, the Defense Ministry said. We hope the U.S. side can pause relevant surveillance activities, to prevent such things from happening. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying asked the United States to respect Chinas national security concerns. As we said before, for a long time, the surveillance activities of U.S. military planes and ships near Chinas territory are very likely to lead to misunderstanding, miscalculation and accidents on the sea or in the air, she told reporters at a news conference. Whether the close encounter was meant to send a signal to the Americans or was merely the action of overly zealous pilots is not clear, experts said. The American official told CNN that the Chinese jets came within 150 feet of the U.S. plane, with one of them flying upside down directly above it. U.S. military aircraft routinely transit international airspace throughout the Pacific, including the East China Sea, Hodge said. This flight was no exception. China is also deeply unhappy about the deployment in South Korea of a U.S. missile defense system, which is meant to protect the country against attack from North Korea but which Beijing fears will also be used to spy on its territory. [Why China is so mad about THAAD?] Du Xiaojun, an expert in East Asian security at Guangxi University for Nationalities, said the incident Wednesday highlighted the security dilemma between China and the United States. The United States, Japan and South Korea always say their moves are targeting North Korea, but China has many reasons not to believe so, Du said. Its hard for China to tell whether the surveillance was targeting North Korea or Chinas military deployment. He compared the mistrust to American concerns about Chinas island-building in the South China Sea, which Beijing insists is primarily for civilian use despite having built military airstrips and missile shelters there. Both sides suffer from misunderstandings and lack mutual trust, Du said. President Trump has praised Chinese President Xi Jinping for helping the United States pressure North Korea to dismantle its nuclear and missile programs, and China says it is enforcing United Nations sanctions and has suspended coal imports. However, experts say Beijing is unwilling to push Pyongyang too far and does not want to see the regime fall. It is urging dialogue between the two sides. This latest incident, combined with the furor over the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in South Korea, is a reminder of how even defensive actions by the United States relating to North Korea can spook China. More than that, it underlines the tensions over U.S. military surveillance in the region. In December, a Chinese naval ship seized an underwater American drone in international waters in the South China Sea. It was returned the following week. In February, a Chinese military plane crossed near the nose of a Navy P-3C Orion anti-submarine and surveillance plane above the South China Sea, flying within about 1,000 feet in an encounter the Pentagon described as unsafe but probably unintentional. In April 2001, a Chinese jet fighter collided with a U.S. surveillance plane over the South China Sea, leading to the death of the Chinese pilot and the detention of the 24 U.S. crew members in China for 10 days. Since then, the two countries have established closer contacts to prevent similar incidents from sparking an international crisis. Luna Lin and Shirley Feng contributed to this report. Read more: Chinas Korea policy in tatters as both North and South defy sanctions Chinese aircraft passes within 1,000 feet of Navy plane in unsafe encounter Pentagon: Chinese naval ship seized an unmanned U.S. underwater vehicle Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news Supporters of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani cheer during a campaign rally this week in the southwestern city of Ahvaz. (Behrouz Mehri/AFP/Getty Images) Iranian officials began counting votes early Saturday after heavy turnout in a pivotal presidential election that could either boost Irans engagement with the world or possibly plunge the country back into greater diplomatic isolation. Across the nation on Friday, voters filed into schools, mosques and other sites to cast ballots after a campaign offering starkly differing visions. Polling stations had long lines throughout the day, and voting was extended by several hours. In the balance is Irans international outreach as well as its national identity as a state either moving toward more social and political openness or turning inward to assuage Iranians troubled by reforms and economic stagnation. Also at stake is the legacy of the incumbent, Hassan Rouhani, who ended more than a decade of U.N. sanctions as part of a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, including the United States. His top challenger was hard-line cleric Ebrahim Raisi, who views the West with suspicion and insists that the easing of sanctions under the nuclear pact has done little to help ordinary Iranians. Two other candidates remained in the race but were considered also-rans. If no one wins more than 50 percent of the vote, a runoff will be held in a week between the two leading candidates. Irans top authorities the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and his circle of ruling clerics have endorsed the nuclear accord, which calls for limiting Tehrans nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. Any possible changes to the pact would probably take time to evolve. But the outcome of the election could have more immediate repercussions across the Middle East. Iran backs anti-Israel factions such as Lebanons Hezbollah and has close ties with Syrias regime, which is opposed by the United States and its regional allies. Just as Irans presidential vote took place, President Trump headed to Irans main regional rival, Saudi Arabia, to begin a trip that will include a stop in Israel. Iran is expected to be a major topic of Trumps talks in both countries. Officials cited high voter turnout in extending the voting for four hours, leaving open the option of a further extension. According to Irans electoral law, polls can stay open until midnight but must be closed after that. Raisi complained of widespread voting violations, according to Irans semiofficial Fars News Agency and other reports. He was photographed arriving at the Interior Ministry in Tehran late Friday, but the nature of the claims was not immediately clear. [6 photos from Irans campaign trail] Rouhani has broad support among moderates and others seeking further openings in Iranian policies, while Raisi has powerful backers among Irans security establishment and its ruling clerics, led by Khamenei. Irans president has important sway over domestic affairs and serves as the face of Iran to the world. But all key policies, such as diplomatic initiatives, must be cleared by Khamenei and his cadre of unelected theocrats. No Iranian president since 1981 has failed to secure a second four-year term, yet Rouhani has faced sharp criticism over the poor economy and what Raisi described as his weak position when negotiating with the West. The nuclear agreement was at the heart of Rouhanis project to end the countrys pariah status and rejoin the global economy. If reelected, however, he will face a more confrontational Trump administration, which has taken a harsh line against Iran and placed the nuclear deal under review. Despite increased tensions with the United States since Trumps election, Rouhani sees Iran as benefiting from better ties with the West and from foreign investment. He has accused rivals of wanting to thwart progress. [Sound familiar? Iranian presidential candidates debate nuclear deal] The era of violence and extremism is over, Rouhani said at a rally this month. Raisi seized on economic discontent to run a populist campaign, promising to increase cash handouts to the poor and create more than a million jobs during his first year in office. Irans unemployment rate has hovered around 12 percent. Although Raisi pledged to uphold the nuclear deal, his links to the influential clergy and Revolutionary Guard Corps, a powerful military force with control over key sectors of the economy, suggested an aversion to diplomacy. Raisi remained vague on foreign policy, but his own domestic legacy includes participation in a 1988 Death Commission that oversaw the execution of thousands of political prisoners. Raisi has run a campaign focused on economic populist themes, but has not taken strong positions on many other issues, said Farzan Sabet, a fellow at Stanford University and founder of IranPolitik, a blog on Iranian politics. This approach was apparently intended to keep negative attention focused on his rival, Sabet said. [Former president Ahmadinejad wanted to run. Irans election vetters said no.] On Friday, Raisi, Rouhani and Khamenei all cast ballots as the voting began nationwide, and the supreme leader urged Iranians to head to the polls. Iranian officials are obsessed with high turnout rates and have been encouraging popular participation in this election, from the campaign stump to the Friday prayer lectern, said Behnam Ben Taleblu, Iran analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington. Irans popular foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, appeared amid a crowd of voters at his own polling station. Elsewhere, people chanted as reformist former president Mohammad Khatami cast his ballot. Khatami served as president from 1997 to 2005 but was banned from speaking publicly after reformists joined widespread protests against disputed election results in 2009. Other opposition leaders including Mir Hossein Mousavi, his wife, Zahra Rahnavard, and Mehdi Karroubi remain under house arrest. All vowed to vote for Rouhani. Although the supreme leader wields ultimate religious and political authority, and a group loyal to him called the Guardian Council vets candidates for office and often disqualifies reformists, Iranian elections remain highly charged and competitive, drawing thousands to rallies around the country. More than 56 million Iranians are eligible to vote in the 63,000 polling stations set up nationwide. After casting his ballot, Rouhani called on Iranians to unite behind whoever wins. Any candidate who is elected should be helped to accomplish this heavy responsibility, the Associated Press quoted him as saying. Read more Irans Rouhani lashes out at rivals with rare criticism of ruling clerics Ayatollah Khameneis favorite underperformed in Irans presidential debate Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news Palestinian youth stand next to a poster depicting a portrait of Abdel Hamid Abu Sorur, 19, at Aida refugee camp in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on April 21, 2016. The 19-year-old died on April 20, two days after an explosive device blew up on a bus in southern Jerusalem and sparked a fire. (Thomas Coex/AFP/Getty Images) The Aida refugee camp is a warren of alleys, a scene of frequent clashes between Palestinian youth and Israeli soldiers and a welfare ministate. A plaque at the entrance lists the names of 36 residents killed by Israelis whom the Palestinians call martyrs and the Israelis call terrorists. Activists at Aida say that among the 5,500 residents at the camp are 500 Palestinians who are currently serving time in Israeli prisons or have been released. Many of these prisoners, in jail and out, receive monthly payments from Palestinian authorities, while the families of those killed or severely injured by Israel get a stipend. The Palestinians call these payments salaries or social welfare benefits. The Israelis call them blood money, designed not to help widows and orphans, but to incite Palestinians into attacking Jews. Palestinian authorities have been paying prisoners for years, but the issue is now front and center as Israel presses President Trump to demand that Palestinians end the practice. As the president prepared last week for his first foreign trip aboard, which will include two days in Israel and the West Bank this week, Israels right-wing government and its supporters in Congress pressed the Trump administration to cut off aid to the Palestinian Authority unless the payments stop. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a speech earlier this month, addressed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, asking, How can you speak about peace with Israel and at the same time pay murderers who spill the blood of innocent Israelis? Fund peace, not murder, Netanyahu said, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. It doesnt matter to the Palestinians if their martyr was an innocent child mistakenly shot by an Israeli sniper during a demonstration or an assailant driving the family car into a group of civilians at a bus stop. Almost every household in this camp has someone getting a payment, martyrs and prisoners. Theres not a family that has not been touched, said Mohammad al-Azza, an activist and journalist here, who was shot in the face by a rubber bullet and was almost blinded while filming a violent demonstration in 2013. [Palestinians think Trump can make a deal] Saud Kharag and his wife, Saadiya, live in Aida camp, which today is a neighborhood of Bethlehem, filled with two- and three-story cement-block homes. The Kharags have had four sons in Israeli jails. Two are still behind bars; one was deported to Gaza. Their eldest is Mohammad, 32, who is serving a 17-year sentence, the family said, for shooting at Israeli forces during the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising. His salary is almost 3,000 shekels a month, about $800. The money goes to support his parents and his siblings, his father said. You think he did this for money? he asked. Do you think Id want my son in jail for years for pennies? Kharag said the Israeli assertion that Palestinians are paid to attack Israel is false. Why? They will do it for free, he said. End our occupation and we will stop fighting it, he said. He pointed at a visiting reporter and said, The Americans give the Israelis $3 billion a year [in military aid] to maintain the occupation. Why dont you stop paying? This argument is nonsense, the Israelis say. Israels ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, called on the United States, Europe and others to cut the Palestinians off. Aid provided by the donor countries to the Palestinian Authority every year ends up funding terrorists who murdered innocent Israelis, he said in a statement. Palestinian assailants sentenced to 30 years in Israeli jail get $3,000 a month, Danon said. The families of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces get about $800 or $1,000 a month, officials say. Tens of thousands of individuals and families receive the money. Put simply, this is official Palestinian blood money, rewarding terrorists who kill Jews, Danon said. U.S. diplomats have quietly pressed the Palestinians to stop the payments, but during the Obama administration, U.S. officials kept the issue below the radar. To pacify donors, the Palestinian Authority also transferred responsibility for making the payments to the Palestine Liberation Organization. State Department spokesmen said that the United States reduced the $400 million in aid the Palestinian Authority had received annually because of its salaries to prisoners and others, but told The Washington Post that the exact amount deducted is classified. They did not explain why it is classified. In his White House meeting with Abbas earlier this month, Trump did not mention the payments in his public remarks. But White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters later, The president raised concerns about payments to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails who have committed acts of terror and to their families and emphasized a need to resolve this issue. [Trump expresses confidence in chances of an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal but says U.S. cant force it] Yossi Kuperwasser, a former top intelligence officer and Israeli army general, who now works as a scholar at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, said the Palestinian government allocates $300 million a year for these payments, which is about 7 percent of the annual budget and more than 20 percent of the annual foreign aid given to the government by all donors. This is not a trivial number, Kuperwasser said. This is a big, big number. Kuperwasser said that its common-sensical that stopping payments to Palestinians who attack Israelis would reduce terror assaults. This is solicitude in advance, he said. This a promise to pay. Palestinian leaders have rejected calls to end the payments, arguing that those jailed are freedom fighters or political prisoners, worthy of support. Nabil Shaath, a senior Palestinian official, told Israel Radio that those who expect Palestinians to cut off salaries to prisoners must be mad. Shaath said Netanyahus advisers told then-Secretary of State John F. Kerry in 2014 that they understood that to deny the payments would strangle the Palestinian Authority and spark chaos in the West Bank. Netanyahus office denied this, Haaretz reported. The prisoners are victims of Israel and the result of the occupation, Shaath said. Jibril Rajoub, a senior Palestinian leader, told The Washington Post last week that Abbas explained to Trump that it was a very complex situation. Rajoub said, If we didnt pay, someone else would pay. Asked who would pay, Rajoub said it would be Iran or Hamas. Hamas is an Islamist militant movement, a powerful Palestinian political party and bitter rival with Abbas. The United States and Israel have branded it a terrorist organization. Rajoub said millions of dollars from the United States flow into Israel to build Jewish settlements that the international community considers illegal although Israel disputes this. One of those donors to the settlement enterprise is the new U.S. ambassador to Israel, David M. Friedman, who arrived last week. Rajoub said that if there was peace and a Palestinian state, we can close this file. . . . We can say from now on, he who will commit these acts has no support from either side. The call to cut off payments to prisoners comes as hundreds of them, led by Marwan Barghouti, are carrying out a hunger strike that has reached day 35. Barghouti was sentenced to multiple life terms by an Israeli court for the murder of Israeli civilians. Sufian Taha contributed to this report. Read more: Meet the Palestinian cartoonist Israelis accuse of incitement Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news A woman checks on her children as they flee fighting between Iraqi special forces and Islamic State militants in the al-Rifai neighborhood of western Mosul, Iraq, on May 17, 2017. (Maya Alleruzzo/AP) After making rapid gains in a new offensive, Iraqi forces are close to choking off the last bastion of several hundred Islamic State fighters dug into the twisting alleyways and narrow streets of Mosuls Old City. The final push will be led by Iraqs U.S.-trained Counter Terrorism Service units, the same forces that entered the eastern reaches of the city in October when the battle to retake the city began, officers said. The plan involves clearing the last few neighborhoods north of the Old City and surrounding the square-mile-wide neighborhood. With tens of thousands of civilians packed into an area defended by Islamic State fighters, snipers and car-bombers, the battle could quickly turn into a humanitarian crisis. Some Iraqi military commanders say they are trying to finish the battle in the next two weeks, before the holy month of Ramadan begins and many soldiers begin fasting during the day. Yet with the Islamic State still doggedly fighting for each block, it is unclear whether the campaign will end anytime soon. Lt. Gen. Sami al-Aridhi, the commander of two counterterrorism task forces, estimates that there are between 250 and 350 Islamic State fighters, many of them French and Russian, in the Old City, along with more than 200,000 civilians. Some of the counterterrorism troops, however, estimate the Islamic State presence at more than 1,000 fighters, given the stiff resistance they are still facing on the ground. [Away from Iraqs front lines, the Islamic State is creeping back in] The Old City holds symbolic significance: It was here, at the Great Mosque, that the Islamic States leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, declared a caliphate in 2014 across parts of Iraq and Syria. The neighborhood also presents a heightened challenge for the units. Known as the CTS, the force was originally formed to work as an elite raid force after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003 but gradually turned into the Iraqi militarys premier offensive infantry unit after the rise of the Islamic State. Aridhi and other officers said they are prepared to attack the Old City but will have to adjust some of their tactics as they clear the tiny streets and alleys. In the past, the advancing counterterrorism troops have fought primarily from their vehicles, block by block, methodically using their Humvees and armored bulldozers to seal off a street before taking the surrounding buildings on foot in an almost grid-like fashion. As a block is cleared, civilians often stream out of their homes, slowing the advance while troops usher them to safety. Lise Grande, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Iraq, said in a statement Thursday that the United Nations expects more than 200,000 people to flee as Iraqi troops close in on the Old City, a figure she called alarming. [How a woman in England tracks civilian deaths in Syria, one bomb at a time] Fighters from Iraq's Counter-Terrorism Services advance in Mosul's western Rifai neighborhood during the ongoing offensive against ISIS. (Ahmad Al-Rubaye/AFP/Getty Images) In the Old City, the modified D8 bulldozers that have been essential in stopping car bombs and clearing obstacles set up by the Islamic State will be all but useless, likely forced to remain behind on main thoroughfares while the commandos move on foot. The Islamic State has increasingly dispatched motorcycles rigged with explosives and is expected to use them extensively in the Old City. Brig. Gen. Ali Jamal, the head logistics officer for the counterterrorism forces, has requested smaller bulldozers from the U.S.-led coalition but has received only three, all lacking armor, he said. Since the beginning of the campaign, his forces have lost eight of the tracked vehicles, their twisted hulks sometimes dragged back to headquarters and abandoned in other parts of the city. On Tuesday, three bulldozer drivers were wounded by car bombs and snipers, forcing the troops to pause their advance until fresh ones could be sent from other units. One of the wounded drivers, Sgt. Mohammed Ali, rammed a suicide vehicle while helping clear the Ar Rafal neighborhood. Just before the car exploded, Ali pushed it toward a nearby wall, a moment he captured in a cellphone video that went viral. He received only minor injuries from the shrapnel and spent the next day behind the lines showing the video to reporters. In addition to the loss of the bulldozers, the counterterrorism forces will likely have to rely less on coalition airstrikes to clear the Old City. U.S. and other coalition forces have been accused of killing thousands of civilians during their air campaign over Iraq and Syria, and claims of errant strikes have only increased since Iraqi forces entered Mosul. The air support has been essential in helping the counterterrorism forces push through the city without suffering heavy casualties, a necessity as the unit is expected to continue clearing parts of western Iraq after the fall of Mosul, according to coalition advisers who work with the unit. With the Islamic States propensity to use human shields and the sheer number of civilians left in the Old City, any type of airstrike will have to be heavily vetted to ensure that only Islamic State fighters are targeted. In March, a U.S. airstrike, launched at the request of the counterterrorism forces, killed upward of 100 people in the al-Jadida neighborhood of Mosul. The coalition is still investigating the incident. Col. Arkan Fadhil, a battalion commander who works with U.S. and Australian special operations troops to help call in airstrikes, said the counterterrorism forces will probably lean more heavily on preplanned targets before they start advancing into the Old City. It is unclear how that will work in practice, especially if the Islamic State attempts to take advantage of the areas close quarters and tries to isolate and overrun small groups of advancing Iraqi forces. Were ready to go into the Old City, Arkan said. Were just waiting on a tasking order. Read more: Mosul residents say U.S.-led coalition airstrikes killed scores of people Smoke-filled pool halls are back in Mosul. After ISIS, we seek joy. After reports of civilian deaths, U.S. military struggles to defend air operations in war against militants Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news Congressional probes related to alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election are likely to be complicated or stalled by the appointment of former FBI director Robert S. Mueller III as a special counsel investigating the same topic, despite pledges by some lawmakers Thursday to forge ahead. Mueller has resources and a mandate lawmakers know they cannot match and is the only one who can bring criminal charges except against the president himself. Not responding to his subpoenas also comes with the real threat of criminal prosecution. Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said his group would probably have a hard time finding a lane now, and that when it comes to his panels probe, Muellers appointment probably well shuts it down. But other lawmakers leading committee probes contended that Muellers appointment would do nothing to affect the scope of their investigations. Weve got a job to do, weve got an investigation to run and a report to write, said Rep. K. Michael Conaway (R-Tex.), who is running the House Intelligence Committees probe. I dont believe itll have an impact on us at all. (Victoria Walker,Jayne Orenstein,Dalton Bennett,Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post) But behind closed doors, lawmakers are growing increasingly nervous that with Muellers rise, their committee probes may be pushed aside especially if he chooses to pursue a broad inquiry encompassing everything from the earliest allegations of Russian hacks to the circumstances that led to the firing of FBI Director James B. Comey. Justice Department officials said Mueller would probably conduct his investigation almost entirely independent of Congress. But congressional investigators must take pains not to bump heads with the FBIs inquiry. Committee leaders have already been having talks with senior Justice Department officials to deconflict their efforts but lawmakers worry that if Mueller widens the scope of his investigation, they may have few witnesses at their disposal. Certainly, I think Congresss ability to investigate this process fully is going to be hampered, said Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.). How can you subpoena somebody to come to Congress when theyre under criminal investigation? You cant, said Graham, lamenting that one of the biggest losers of this decision is public access. The potential problems arent confined to witnesses. Lawmakers are also worried about being able to get access to information they need to continue their investigations. During a briefing Thursday with Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein, several senators on the Judiciary and Intelligence committees raised concerns about access to information and processes that would be put in place for them to expeditiously get that information, said Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.). I didnt hear anything that would give them assurance he would provide the access they need. Rosenstein will give House members a similar briefing Friday morning. While Rosenstein didnt ask senators to stand down one member said he was unequivocal that the Senate Intelligence Committee should continue its probe some members are bracing for at least a temporary slowdown while Mueller determines the breadth of his probe. It may mean that for a while, the congressional investigations will focus more on preparation for the 2018 and 2020 elections, consequences of Russian intrusion, suggested Sen. Christopher A. Coons (D-Del.), a Judiciary Committee member. That may be where we are for the short term, as Mueller makes his decision. As it stands, there are at least four congressional committees looking into roughly the same topic as Mueller: the House and Senate Intelligence Committees, the Senate Judiciary Committee and the House Oversight Committee. Each has sent letters requesting documents or called witnesses to testify. But political considerations and leadership changes have complicated their efforts. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) recused himself from that panels Russia probe after he was accused of coordinating the investigation with the White House. Then it took more than a month for the panel to announce its first public hearing after Conaway took over the investigation: an open hearing with former CIA director John Brennan on May 23 to discuss matters related to Russian active measures during the 2016 election campaign. At the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) has also been quick to promise a reckoning, demanding records from the White House and declaring that I have my subpoena pen ready to compel Comey to turn over memos he kept about his discussions with Trump. But Chaffetz revealed Thursday that he is leaving Congress at the end of June. Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), who is assisting Conaways leadership of the Intelligence Committees Russia probe, is the most likely to take his chairmanship. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (Md.), the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, is on board with those efforts to push ahead but he acknowledged that congressional committees that rely on part-time staff cannot compete with the FBI probe. These are the kind of investigations where you need full-time people doing a full-time job, he said. But if Muellers appointment means Congress loses investigative ground, Republicans are blaming Democrats for clamoring for independent commissions and counsels in the first place. Democrats probably should be asking themselves, sometimes youve got to be careful what you ask for, Johnson said. Its now an active investigation, theres a special prosecutor in place, and I think well have a more difficult time getting information for the intelligence committee. For now, the missions of Congress and Mueller are different: Mueller is examining the case with an eye on criminal charges, while Congress is looking into the matter to educate the public and consider legislation that might address the broader threat of Russian influence. Muellers work, unlike Congresss, should be completely secret, because he is using a grand jury and cannot legally release information from that proceeding unless there is a trial, said Jacob Frenkel, a former federal prosecutor now in private practice at Dickinson Wright. Frenkel worked previously in the Office of Independent Counsel a type of special prosecutor no longer in use. The special counsel has no legal or other obligation to interface or interact at all with Congress about the substance of the investigation, Frenkel said. The fact is, he is running a grand jury, a federal grand jury investigation, all of the contents of which are protected. If Muellers investigation were to lead to Trump himself, the legislative branchs role could become more significant if it came to consideration of impeachment proceedings. But that possibility is a long way off, lawmakers said. There are a lot of people that are talking about impeachment. Im not talking about impeachment, Cummings said. Im talking about lets deal with that [Russian meddling] issue, because thats a major threat to our democracy. Now where that leads, or things that may happen as we go, as these investigations go forward Im sure people like Mueller and others will take them into account. Ed OKeefe contributed to this report. The law enforcement investigation into possible coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign has identified a current White House official as a significant person of interest, showing that the probe is reaching into the highest levels of government, according to people familiar with the matter. The senior White House adviser under scrutiny by investigators is someone close to the president, according to these people, who would not further identify the official. The revelation comes as the investigation appears to be entering a more overtly active phase, with investigators shifting from work that has remained largely hidden from the public to conducting interviews and using a grand jury to issue subpoenas. The intensity of the probe is expected to accelerate in the coming weeks, the people said. The sources emphasized that investigators remain keenly interested in people who previously wielded influence in the Trump campaign and administration but are no longer part of it, including former national security adviser Michael Flynn and former campaign chairman Paul Manafort. Flynn resigned in February after disclosures that he had lied to administration officials about his contacts with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. Current administration officials who have acknowledged contacts with Russian officials include President Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner, as well as Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. (Peter Stevenson,Jason Aldag,Whitney Leaming/The Washington Post) [Graphic: What we know so far about Team Trumps ties to Russian interests] People familiar with the investigation said the intensifying effort does not mean criminal charges are near, or that any such charges will result. Earlier this week, Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein appointed former FBI director Robert S. Mueller III to serve as special counsel and lead the investigation into Russian meddling. It is unclear exactly how Muellers leadership will affect the direction of the probe, and he is already bringing in new people to work on the team. Those familiar with the case said its significance had increased before Muellers appointment. Although the case began quietly last July as an effort to determine whether any Trump associates coordinated with Russian operatives to meddle in the presidential election campaign, the investigative work now being done by the FBI also includes determining whether any financial crimes were committed by people close to the president. The people familiar with the matter said the probe has sharpened into something more fraught for the White House, the FBI and the Justice Department particularly because of the public steps investigators know they now need to take, the people said. When subpoenas are issued or interviews are requested, it is possible the people being asked to talk or provide documents will reveal publicly what they were asked about. A small group of lawmakers known as the Gang of Eight was notified of the change in tempo and focus in the investigation at a classified briefing Wednesday evening, the people familiar with the matter said. Then-FBI Director James B. Comey publicly confirmed the existence of the investigation in March. Justice Department spokeswoman Sarah Isgur Flores said, I cant confirm or deny the existence or nonexistence of investigations or targets of investigations. An FBI spokesman declined to comment. White House spokesman Sean Spicer said, As the president has stated before, a thorough investigation will confirm that there was no collusion between the campaign and any foreign entity. While there has been a loud public debate in recent days over the question of whether the president might have attempted to obstruct justice in his private dealings with Comey, whom Trump fired last week, people familiar with the matter said investigators on the case are more focused on Russian influence operations and possible financial crimes. The FBIs investigation seeks to determine whether and to what extent Trump associates were in contact with Kremlin operatives, what business dealings they might have had in Russia, and whether they in any way facilitated the hacking and publishing of emails from the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clintons campaign chairman, John Podesta, during the presidential campaign. Several congressional committees are also investigating, though their probes could not produce criminal charges. [Appointment of Mueller could complicate other probes into alleged Russian meddling] A grand jury in Alexandria, Va., recently issued a subpoena for records related to Flynns business, the Flynn Intel Group, which was paid more than $500,000 by a company owned by a Turkish American businessman close to top Turkish officials, according to people familiar with the matter. The Flynn Intel Group was paid for research on Fethullah Gulen, a cleric who Turkeys current president believes was responsible for a coup attempt last summer. Flynn retroactively registered with the Justice Department in March as a paid foreign agent for Turkish interests. Separately from the probe now run by Mueller, Flynn is being investigated by the Pentagons top watchdog for his foreign payments. Flynn also received $45,000 to appear in 2015 with Russian President Vladimir Putin at a dinner for RT, a Kremlin-controlled media organization. Flynn discussed U.S. sanctions against Russia with Russias ambassador to the United States during the month before Trump took office, and he withheld that fact from the vice president. That prompted then-acting attorney general Sally Yates to warn the White Houses top lawyer that Flynn might be susceptible to blackmail. Flynn stepped down after The Washington Post reported on the contents of the call. The president has nonetheless seemed to defend his former adviser. A memo by Comey alleged that Trump asked that the probe into Flynn be shut down. [Notes made by FBI Director Comey say Trump pressured him to end Flynn probe] The White House also has acknowledged that Kushner met with Kislyak, the Russian ambassador to the United States, in late November. Kushner also has acknowledged that he met with the head of a Russian development bank, Vnesheconombank, which has been under U.S. sanctions since July 2014. The presidents son-in-law initially omitted contacts with foreign leaders from a national security questionnaire, though his lawyer has said publicly he submitted the form prematurely and informed the FBI soon after that he would provide an update. Vnesheconombank handles development for the state, and in early 2015, a man purporting to be one of its New York-based employees was arrested and accused of being an unregistered spy. That man Evgeny Buryakov ultimately pleaded guilty and was eventually deported. He had been in contact with former Trump adviser Carter Page, though Page has said he shared only basic immaterial information and publicly available research documents with the Russian. Page was the subject of a secret warrant last year issued by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, based on suspicions he might have been acting as an agent of the Russian government, according to people familiar with the matter. Page has denied any wrongdoing, and accused the government of violating his civil rights. Ellen Nakashima and Ashley Parker contributed to this report. Read more: Whats next in the Russia investigation? The weeks biggest bombshells. White House offers shifting explanations of Trumps disclosures to Russians Trump revealed highly classified information to Russian foreign minister and ambassador President Trumps learning curve on matters of foreign policy and national security was steep even before the bombshell report this week that he had blurted secrets to Russian diplomats. Trumps first foreign trip as president, which begins in Saudi Arabia this weekend, is a test of the lessons he has learned about geopolitics as well as whether he can reset his chaotic administration. Many presidents have tried to use statesmanship abroad to distract from problems at home, but the Trump brand of diplomacy has some analysts worried that the nine-day tour of allies in the Mideast and Europe might only make his troubles worse. [Upcoming trip is an opportunity for Trump and his staff] Trump mentioned few foreign policy agenda items when he reeled off what he called the successes of his young administration in a graduation address Wednesday at the Coast Guard Academy, except to say that his promised wall on the Mexican border is coming closer to fruition. But he did look ahead to a trip that includes a high-stakes meeting of NATO alliance leaders, with a warning about overseas partners that rely too heavily on U.S. largesse. With the safety, security and interest of the American people as my priority, I will strengthen old friendships and will seek new partners, but partners who also help us, not partners who take and take and take, Trump said. That echoed Trumps campaign promise to cut off global freeloaders, but also served to remind that Trump has reversed his frequent criticism of NATO as obsolete. (The Washington Post) Trumps national security stumbles and diplomatic course corrections began even before he took office. [9 foreign policy issues the Trump administration will have to face] In the weeks following his surprise election victory in November, Trump stunned the foreign policy establishment by suggesting he might upend the delicate policy surrounding China and Taiwan. He has since had to walk it back or risk losing leverage with China to help rein in nuclear North Korea. He raised eyebrows by meeting with Brexit proponent Nigel Farage before seeing British Prime Minister Theresa May, and then suggesting that Farage would make a good ambassador to Washington. Trump then welcomed May as the first foreign leader to visit the White House, and gushed that the U.S.-Britain relationship had never been better. Trump has backpedaled on a threatened trade confrontation with China and retracted his allegation that China unfairly manipulates its currency. He mused aloud that dealing with North Korea was harder than he thought after hearing a tutorial from Chinese President Xi Jinping during their summit in Florida. His administration is expected to back off a campaign promise to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to disputed Jerusalem, largely because Arab leaders warned Trump that doing so would unleash violence and spoil chances for a peace deal. He did pull out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact as promised, but has been vague about the fate of the North American Free Trade Agreement. He has dropped rhetoric about canceling the landmark nuclear deal with Iran, and he regularly calls it a bad deal. On Wednesday, the White House extended Irans relief from sanctions under the deal, thereby passing up an opportunity to undermine it. While every president has a learning curve in foreign policy and national security, such as former president Bill Clinton with early crises in Somalia and Haiti, Trump is also still learning the responsibilities of governance and accountability, said former State Department undersecretary Wendy Sherman. President Trump and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos shake hands at the White House. Trump leaves for his first foreign trip on Friday. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) This president not only has the usual learning curve, but he appears to have new ones, Sherman said. He needs to understand what government is about, and the responsibilities, rights, privileges and accountability the president of the United States has. Trump has done little to suggest he trusts or seeks out the vast range of expertise at reach at the State Department and elsewhere, although Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has become a close confidant. Tillerson, a fellow Washington outsider and former business executive, has helped tutor Trump for his trip. The presidents learning curve on national security has been bumpy at best, opening the door for those among his detractors to assume the worst, and leaving supporters grasping for logical explanations, said former Tennessee Republican senator William E. Brock. The bumps are obvious, but he is learning and growing, Brock said, adding that any progress Trump is making on foreign policy is threatened by yawning gaps in staffing at the State Department and elsewhere. Richard Nephew, a Columbia University scholar who was the State Departments lead sanctions expert during the Iran nuclear negotiations, said Trumps trip has many potential pitfalls. My biggest concern is the level of distraction in the administration, at a moment when all attention should be on ensuring the trip goes well, Nephew said. Second is this president in particular. Weve seen he has a desire to please and end meetings on a positive note with the people hes in front of. I worry that translates into making promises that seem like a good idea at the time, that are expedient, leave everyone smiling, but are difficult to reconcile. James Carafano, a foreign policy expert at the Heritage Foundation who has close ties to the White House, said the most substantive parts of the trip will probably be Trumps meetings in Saudi Arabia and Israel, two countries relieved to deal with Trump after friction with Obama. Everybody I talk to in the Middle East has been excited about Trump from Day One, Carafano said. Trump will also visit the West Bank and is expected to again tout his efforts to restart negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Trump has backed away from a decades-old U.S. commitment to a sovereign Palestinian state, but held a warm meeting at the White House with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. From there Trump goes to Europe, for the NATO summit, a protocol-laden visit to see Pope Francis at the Vatican, and a gathering of the Group of Seven economic powers in Italy. Carafano said Trump can shine in small meetings with other leaders, and he does not worry that the presidents attention will wander during the big group sessions. Others said those lengthy sessions will be a test of Trumps patience and ability to cede the spotlight, and they worry about a gaffe or blunder. Everything, from his nonverbal cues, to how he listens, to how he comports himself, to what he says, matters, and he will have multiple audiences every time he speaks, Sherman said. Carafano said that given the turmoil in Washington, an overseas trip presents an opportunity. Just being out of town for two weeks is probably great, he said. The great thing about a trip, they control the environment, you control the interaction, you control the agenda and you control the press access. If you fumble on one of these trips, its nobodys fault but your own. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis stands in front of a map of Syria and Iraq, while speaking to the media Friday at the Pentagon. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP) (Jacquelyn Martin/AP) The Pentagon said Friday that a rare U.S. airstrike against pro-government forces in Syria targeted a convoy of Iran-backed troops, appearing to mark an important shift in the countrys war. The attack Thursday struck militants fighting on behalf of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as they advanced toward an air base manned by U.S. Special Forces and Washington-backed rebel groups close to the Jordanian border. Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said the attack was necessitated by offensive movement with offensive capability of what we believe were . . . Iranian-directed forces inside an established and agreed-upon deconfliction zone. If confirmed, it would be the first U.S. strike on Iranian proxies during seven years of war in Syria, signaling a possible escalation against Assads most important ally. Under the Obama administration, U.S. forces steered clear of direct confrontations with Iran and its proxies across Syria, Iraq and Yemen, prioritizing the upholding of Washingtons nuclear deal with Tehran above all else. If U.S. troops are now engaging directly with Iranian militias, escalation in the absence of a well-wrought plan could inflame the conflict in Syria and further afield, Thanassis Cambanis, a fellow at the Washington-based Century Foundation, wrote in a research note published Friday. Rebel commanders said the convoy, made up of Syrian and Iraqi militiamen who now form the bulk of Assads fighting force, retreated after the U.S. attack and had not attempted to advance again by sunset Friday. The airstrike comes at a time when the U.S. presence in Syria has become increasingly visible. Last month, the Trump administration launched the first direct U.S. attack on Assad targets, striking an air base in the central province of Homs in retaliation for a chemical attack that killed scores of civilians in the countrys northwest. On the ground, the U.S. presence in Syria is also becoming more visible, as American troops back Kurdish-led forces fighting the Islamic State. Aerial bombardments have ebbed across Syria since early May, after Russia, Iran and Turkey backed a deal to freeze fighting between government and rebel forces across four de-escalation zones. In areas outside of that pact, the cease-fires have freed up resources on all sides and triggered a scramble for influence around the fringes of Islamic State-held territory in eastern Syria. The area is home to lucrative energy and agricultural sites that will be vital to Assads government if it is to win economic independence from its Russian and Iranian backers. Control of eastern Syria also includes the power to block or link up Iranian supply routes from Tehran to its most important proxy, Hezbollah, in Lebanon. Regime-allied militias advanced from the west and got bombed when they tried to enter our area. They have been advancing in recent weeks, bombing us heavily as they came, said Col. Muhannad al-Talla, a commander of Maghawir al-Thawrah, a Pentagon-backed rebel group at the al-Tanf air base. Syrian officials bridled at Thursdays airstrike. On state television, an unnamed government official described it as a flagrant aggression by the American-Zionist project in the region. In Geneva, a fresh round of talks between Syrian government and opposition officials made little headway this week as the two sides refused to meet in the same room and none of the agendas main issues was discussed. Missy Ryan in Washington and Zakaria Zakaria in Istanbul contributed to this report. Read more U.S. launches rare intentional strike on pro-government forces in Syria U.S. says Syria built crematorium to handle mass prisoner killings How a woman in England tracks civilian deaths in Syria, one bomb at a time Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news Swedish prosecutors on Friday dropped their investigation into a rape allegation against Julian Assange, closing a nearly seven-year legal saga that led the WikiLeaks founder to seek sanctuary at the Ecuadoran Embassy in London. But British police said that Assange still faces arrest for jumping bail if he walks out of diplomatic protection, which he claims is needed to keep him from being extradited to the United States to face charges of disclosing confidential military and diplomatic documents. The Swedish Prosecution Authority said in a statement that Swedens director of public prosecution, Marianne Ny, today decided to discontinue the investigation into a rape claim against Assange. Assange has disputed the rape allegation. He also argued that he risked being extradited by Sweden to the United States and tried for espionage. He took refuge in the embassy in 2012. Assanges lawyer, Per Samuelson, said in an emailed statement that Assange had proved his innocence. The case was closed, he wrote, because an innocent man proved he was not guilty! But Swedish officials said the decision only drops the case and is not a ruling on Assanges guilt or innocence. The attorney for Assanges accuser said it was a scandal that the case was not tried in court. My client is shocked, and no closure decision can get her to change that Assange has exposed her to a rape, said the attorney, Elisabeth Massi Fritz. WikiLeaks said the focus would now shift to Britain. U.K. refuses to confirm or deny whether it has already received a U.S. extradition warrant for Julian Assange, the anti-secrecy organization tweeted. The silver-haired activist made a rare appearance on the balcony of the embassy late Friday afternoon with a clenched fist in the air. Today is an important victory, he told the throng of journalists camped outside the embassy, a stones throw from the Harrods department store. The Embassy of Ecuador in London, where WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been living for nearly five years to avoid arrest. (Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images) He said that a legal conflict with the United States and Britain was continuing, and that a proper war was just commencing. Seven years without charge, while my children grew up without me. That is not something I can forgive. It is not something that I can forget, he said. The London Metropolitan Police made it clear in a statement that there remains an outstanding arrest warrant for Assange: Westminster Magistrates Court issued a warrant for the arrest of Julian Assange following him failing to surrender to the court on the 29 June 2012. The Metropolitan Police Service is obliged to execute that warrant should he leave the Embassy. The maximum penalty for breaching bail is up to a year in prison or a fine. The police also recognized that Assange is now wanted for a much less serious offense and said they would provide a level of resourcing which is proportionate to that offense. It remains unclear whether there is a standing U.S. extradition order for Assange. The policy of Britains Home Office is to neither confirm nor deny extradition orders until a person has been arrested in relation to an order. Last month, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said he was stepping up efforts to arrest Assange as part of a broader fight against those who leak secrets into the public domain. President Trump was highly supportive of WikiLeaks during his campaign for office in 2016, when the website released hacked emails from the account of Hillary Clintons campaign chief, John Podesta. Trump once told a rally: We love WikiLeaks. They revealed a lot. But when the Associated Press asked Trump last month about making the arrest of Assange a priority, the president said, I am not involved in that decision, but if Jeff Sessions wants to do it, its okay with me. In 2015, British police ended a multimillion-pound policing operation that included round-the-clock guarding of the Ecuadoran compound. But they also said that they would beef up their covert tactics and that Assange would be arrested if he left the embassy. In explaining why Sweden was dropping the investigation, Ny told a news conference in Stockholm that all possibilities to advance the investigation have now been exhausted and that the legal proceedings could continue only if Assange were present in Sweden. But she said that if Assange returns to Sweden before the statute of limitations lapses in 2020, an investigation could be reopened. Read more: American journalists do not do that: Comey calls WikiLeaks intelligence porn The government wants Julian Assange in jail. That could hurt the rest of us. Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news It was March 2020, and the world was closing down as the COVID-19 pandemic spread. At first, the news of... National Grid plc transmits and distributes electricity and gas. The company operates through UK Electricity Transmission, UK Electricity Distribution, UK Electricity System Operator, New England, and New York segments. The UK Electricity Transmission segment provides electricity transmission and construction work services in England and Wales. The UK Electricity Distribution segment offers electricity distribution services in Midlands, and South West of England and South Wales. The UK Electricity System Operator segment provides balancing services for supply and demand of electricity on Great Britain's electricity transmission system; and acts as an agent on behalf of transmission operators. The New England segment offers electricity and gas distribution, and electricity transmission services in New England. The New York segment provides electricity and gas distribution, and electricity transmission services in New York. It also engages in the provision of transmission services through electricity interconnectors and LNG importation at the Isle of Grain; sale of renewables projects; and leasing and sale of commercial property, as well as insurance activities in the United Kingdom. The company was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Experian plc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a technology company. The company operates through two segments, Business-to-Business and Consumer Services. It provides data services to identify and understand the customers, as well as to manage the risks related with lending. The company also offers analytical and decision tools that enhance businesses to manage their customers, minimize the risk of fraud, comply with legal requirements, and automate decisions and processes. In addition, it provides financial education, free access to Experian credit reports and scores, online educational tools, and applications to manage their financial position, access credit offers, and protect themselves from identity fraud. The company serves customers in financial service, direct-to-consumer, health, retail, automotive, software and professional services, telecommunications and utility, insurance, media and technology, government and public, and other sectors. It operates in North America, Latin America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The company was formerly known as Experian Group Limited and changed its name to Experian plc in July 2008. Experian plc was founded in 1826 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Lindsay Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides water management and road infrastructure products and services in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Irrigation and Infrastructure. The Irrigation segment manufactures and markets center pivot, lateral move irrigation systems, and irrigation controls under the Zimmatic brand; hose reel travelers under the Perrot brand; and chemical injection systems, variable rate irrigation systems, flow meters, weather stations, soil moisture sensors, and remote monitoring and control systems. It also offers repair and replacement parts for its irrigation systems and controls, and diameter steel tubing; global positioning system positioning and guidance, variable rate irrigation, wireless irrigation management, irrigation scheduling, and smartphone applications; and industrial Internet of Things technology solutions, data acquisition and management systems, and custom electronic equipment for applications under the Elecsys brand. The Infrastructure segment provides Quickchange moveable barrier systems that help in highway reconstruction, paving and resurfacing, road widening, median and shoulder construction, and tunnels and bridge repairs; and redirective and non-redirective crash cushions, which are used to enhance highway safety at locations, such as toll booths, freeway off-ramps, medians and roadside barrier ends, bridge supports, utility poles, and other fixed roadway hazards. It also offers specialty barrier products; road marking and road safety equipment; and railroad signals and structures. The company serves departments of transportation, municipal transportation road agencies, roadway contractors, subcontractors, distributors, and dealers. Lindsay Corporation was founded in 1955 and is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. Xinyuan Real Estate Co., Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, engages in residential real estate development and construction in the People's Republic of China, the United States, and internationally. It develops residential projects, such as multi-layer apartment buildings, sub-high-rise apartment buildings, high-rise apartment buildings; and auxiliary services and amenities, such as retail outlets, leisure and health facilities, kindergartens, and schools, as well as office, mixed-use, and commercial properties. The company also acquires development sites through public auctions of government land and acquisitions of entities. In addition, it provides property management services for its developments and other real estate-related services; landscaping, engineering and management, real estate consulting, leasing management, management consulting, and technical services; operates retail stores; and installs intercom systems. Further, it engages in the purchase, sale, lease, and brokerage of real estate; sale of construction materials; development and sale of robots; operation of internet platform for real estate property financing; and provision of electronic commerce and catering services. Xinyuan Real Estate Co., Ltd. was founded in 1997 and is based in Beijing, the People's Republic of China. Enbridge Inc. operates as an energy infrastructure company. The company operates through five segments: Liquids Pipelines, Gas Transmission and Midstream, Gas Distribution and Storage, Renewable Power Generation, and Energy Services. The Liquids Pipelines segment operates pipelines and related terminals to transport various grades of crude oil and other liquid hydrocarbons in Canada and the United States. The Gas Transmission and Midstream segment invests in natural gas pipelines, and gathering and processing facilities in Canada and the United States. The Gas Distribution and Storage segment is involved in natural gas utility operations serving residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Ontario, as well as natural gas distribution and energy transportation activities in Quebec. The Renewable Power Generation segment operates power generating assets, such as wind, solar, geothermal, and waste heat recovery facilities; and transmission assets in North America and Europe. The Energy Services segment provides energy marketing services to refiners, producers, and other customers; and physical commodity marketing and logistical services in Canada and the United States. The company was formerly known as IPL Energy Inc. and changed its name to Enbridge Inc. in October 1998. Enbridge Inc. was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. The following companies are subsidiares of Tyson Foods: APF Legacy Subs LLC, Advance Food Company LLC, AdvancePierre Foods, AdvancePierre Foods Holdings Inc., AdvancePierre Foods Inc., Aidells Sausage Company Inc., Allied Specialty Foods Inc., American Proteins Inc, Artisan Bread Co. LLC, Australian Food Corporation Pty Limited, Australian Food Corporation Trust, BRF, Barber Foods LLC, Bosco's Pizza Co., Bryan Foods Inc., C.S. Grain LLC, C.V. Holdings Inc., CBFA Management Corp., Central Industries Inc., Chefs Pantry LLC, Clovervale Farms LLC, Cobb (Hubei) Breeding Co. Ltd., Cobb (Shanghai) Enterprise Management Consulting Co. Ltd., Cobb Ana Damizlik Tavukculuk Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Cobb Columbia S.A.S., Cobb Europe B.V., Cobb Europe Limited, Cobb Peru (Andina) S.A.C., Cobb-Heritage LLC, Cobb-Vantress Brasil Ltda, Cobb-Vantress Inc., Cobb-Vantress New Zealand Limited, Cobb-Vantress Philippines Inc., Coominya AFC Pty Limited, Coominya AFC Trust, DFG Foods Inc., DFG Foods L.L.C., Don Julio, Egbert LLC, Equity Group - Georgia Division LLC, Equity Group - Kentucky Division LLC, Equity Group Eufaula Division LLC, Equity Meat Corp., Flavor Corp., Flavor Holdings Inc., Foodbrands America Inc., Foodbrands Supply Chain Services Inc., Gallo Salame Inc., Global Employment Services Inc., Grow-Out Credit LLC, Grow-Out Holdings LLC, Haimen Tyson Poultry Development Co. Ltd, Hudson Foods Company, Hudson Midwest Foods Inc., Hybro Genetics Brasil Ltda, IBP Caribbean Inc., IBP Foodservice L.L.C., IBP Inc., International Affiliates & Investment LLC, Jiangsu Tyson Foods Co. Ltd, Keydutch Finance B.V., Keydutch Holdings I LLC, Keydutch Holdings II LLC, Keydutch Investments B.V., Keystone CLJV Holdings Limited, Keystone County House Road LLC, Keystone Foods, Keystone Foods (AP) Limited, Keystone Foods Holdco LLC, Keystone Foods Intermediate LLC, Keystone Foods LLC, Keystone Foods Pty Limited, Keystone Management Inc., Keystone Trading (Shanghai) Company Limited, LD Foods LLC, M & M Express LLC, M&M Restaurant Supply (MI/OH) LLC, MFG (USA) Holdings Inc., Mac Food Services (Malaysia) SDN. BHD., Madison Foods Inc., McKey Food Services (Hong Kong) Limited, McKey Food Services (Shandong) Limited, McKey Food Services (Thailand) Limited, McKey Food Services Limited, McKey Luxembourg Holdings APMEA S.a.r.l., McKey Luxembourg Holdings S.a.r.l., McKey Luxembourg S.a.r.l., McKey VI Holdings Limited, Myung Seung Food Company Ltd., National Comp Care Inc., New Canada Holdings Inc., Oaklawn Capital Corporation, Oaklawn IT Solution Private Limited, Original Philly Holdings Inc., PBX inc., Pierre Holdco Inc., River Valley Ingredients LLC, Rizhao Tyson Foods Co. Ltd, Rizhao Tyson Poultry Co. Ltd, Rural Energy Systems Inc., Sara Lee - Kiwi Holdings LLC, Sara Lee Diversified LLC, Sara Lee Foods LLC, Sara Lee Household & Body Care Malawi Ltd., Sara Lee International LLC, Sara Lee International TM Holdings LLC, Sara Lee Mexicana Holdings Investment L.L.C., Sara Lee TM Holdings LLC, Sara Lee Trademark Holdings Australasia LLC, Saramar L.L.C., Shandong Tyson-Da Long Food Company Limited, Smart Chicken, Southern Family Foods L.L.C., Southwest Products LLC, TF 20 B.V., TF 5201 B.V., TFA Leasing LLC, TFA Opportunity Zone Fund LLC, TFI of California Inc., Tecumseh Poultry LLC, Texas Transfer Inc., The Bruss Company, The Hillshire Brands Company, The IBP Foods Co., The Pork Group Inc., TyNet Corporation, Tyson (Shanghai) Enterprise Management Consulting Co. Ltd., Tyson Americas Holding Sarl, Tyson Asia Pacific Pte. 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Europe, Tyson Mexican Original Inc., Tyson Mexico Trading Company S. de R.L. de CV., Tyson New Ventures LLC, Tyson Opportunity Zone Fund LLC, Tyson Pet Products Inc., Tyson Poultry Inc., Tyson Prepared Foods Inc., Tyson Processing Services Inc., Tyson Refrigerated Processed Meats Inc., Tyson Sales and Distribution Inc., Tyson Service Center Corp., Tyson Shared Services Inc., Tyson Storm Lake Holdings LLC, Tyson Warehousing Services LLC, Tyson of Wisconsin LLC, Uninex SA, Universal Meats (UK) Limited, WBA Analytical Laboratories Inc., Wilton Foods Inc., Xamol Consultores e Servicos, and Zemco Industries Inc.. Read More Responding to press questions at the White House Thursday afternoon, President Trump denounced the ongoing congressional and FBI investigations into possible collusion between his presidential campaign and the Russian government, calling the entire media-fueled furor over alleged Russian intervention in the US elections a witch-hunt. While claiming to respect the decision of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein Wednesday to appoint former FBI Director Robert Mueller as a special counsel to take charge of the Russian investigation, Trump seemed to include this within the witch-hunt. He asserted as much in a series of tweets early Thursday morning, fuming that no such special counsel had been appointed to investigate all of the illegal acts that took place in the Clinton campaign & Obama administration, and then proclaiming himself the victim of the single greatest witch-hunt of a politician in American history. These comments reveal the intensity of the conflict that is raging within the American state, pitting different factions of the ruling class and the state apparatus against each other. Trump nominated Rosenstein as the number two official in the Department of Justice and could fire him or Mueller tomorrow, just as he fired FBI Director James Comey on May 9. For now, however, he cannot do so, despite the reported urging of some of his closest advisers, for fear that this would trigger political convulsions that might lead to the initiation of impeachment proceedings by Congress. Only one president has ever fired a special prosecutor named to investigate his actionsRichard Nixon, who was forced to resign from office ten months after he fired Watergate prosecutor Archibald Cox. In his brief remarks Thursday as he stood side by side with the visiting president of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos, Trump denied ever asking Comey to drop the FBI investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who was forced to resign February 13 for lying about his discussions with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. Comey, acting through anonymous FBI associates, leaked a memo to the New York Times memorializing a conversation with Trump the following day, February 14, in which he claims Trump asked him to go easy on Flynn because the former general was a good guy. The publication of the Times report late Tuesday touched off a political uproar in Washington, with renewed claims by Democratsand a few Republicansthat Trump might be guilty of obstruction of justice, an impeachable offense. While giving a flat no to a question about his conversations with Comey, and calling suggestions of an impeachable offense totally ridiculous, Trump was noticeably more cautious in discussing possible collusion between his campaign and the Russian government. He said, there is no collusion betweencertainly myself and my campaign, but I can only speak for myselfand the Russians. Zero. This cryptic remark was immediately parsed by media commentators as an effort to distance Trump from aides such as his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, as well as Flynn, who are reportedly among the principal subjects of the FBI investigation into contacts between Russia and the Trump campaign. On Capitol Hill, the appointment of Mueller as special counsel was greeted with bipartisan enthusiasm, albeit for different reasons. Democrats hailed it is a step that vindicated their single-minded focus on the anti-Russian campaign, which has been virtually the sole basis of their criticism of the Trump administration, while they have been largely silent on its right-wing attacks on democratic rights and social programs. Congressional Republicans were relieved because the Justice Department investigation is expected to shunt aside the various congressional investigations and could delay any further anti-Trump revelationsif there are anyfor a considerable period. Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein made an hour-long appearance Thursday afternoon before all 100 members of the US Senate, meeting behind closed doors, to explain his actions in the dismissal of Comey and the appointment of Mueller. He reportedly told the senators that he knew Trump had decided to fire Comey when he drafted a memorandum blasting Comeys conduct during the FBI investigation into Hillary Clintons use of a private email server, but that Trump had not pressured him to produce the memo. According to senators who spoke to the press afterwards, Rosenstein gave few details about the firing of Comey because this action could itself become part of the probe conducted by Mueller. The newly appointed special counsel is charged with investigating possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, efforts to cover up that collusion subsequently (including, potentially, the firing of Comey), and any efforts to impede Muellers own investigation. In other words, the Mueller investigation could expand more or less indefinitely, with Trumps own responses to the investigation becoming part of its jurisdiction. Lindsey Graham, Republican senator from South Carolina, said the takeaway I have is that everything he said was that you need to treat this investigation as if it will be a criminal investigation, not a counterintelligence investigation. From a legal standpoint, that would mean that Mueller will focus not on the actions of the Russian government or allied hackers, but on the actions of Trump campaign officials who supposedly collaborated with them. Democratic Minority Whip Richard Durbin of Illinois said that Rosenstein had declined to discuss either specific statements by President Trump or the role of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who formally recused himself from any role in the Russia investigation. Meanwhile, the leaders of the various congressional committees that are investigating the alleged Russian connection to the Trump campaign have formally requested documents from the Justice Department and the FBI relating both to the firing of Comey and to the memorandum by Comey detailing his discussions with Trump. Comey has also been asked to testify in person and in public by both Senate and House committees. A little boy was allegedly murdered Thursday by three teenagers who cops say stole a car with him inside. Kingston Frazier, 6, was left alone in a Toyota Camry in a Kroger parking lot in Hinds County, Mississippi, at 1:15 a.m. while his mom ran inside, according to the sheriff's office. Read: Mom Pleads for Return of Son Who Vanished After Dad Passed Out in Park When Kingston's mother left the store, she found her car was missing and alerted authorities. Hinds County Sheriff Victor Mason said at a Thursday news conference that, at that point, they did not receive information that a child was in the car. When police learned about the boy, deputies contacted Mississippi Highway Patrol and the Jackson Police Department. The Mississippi Burea of Investigation immediately issued an Amber alert. The boy's body was found in the back of an abandoned Toyota Camry later Thursday morning. Kingston had suffered a fatal bullet wound. A witness who contacted police provided information about the last person police say was seen driving a silver Honda Civic used by the suspects. Police were then able to get a positive identity of the driver and have also identified two other suspects. Byron McBride, 19, DeAllen Washington, 17, and Dwan Diondro Wakefield, 17, have all been arrested and charged with capital murder. In a statement, Jackson Mayor Tony Yarber offered condolences to Kingston's family. "At this time, we all share the sentiment of a broken heart for Kingston and his family. It is important that we express and assure, that as a City, there is no tolerance on any level for acts of violence against children. Now is the time for Jacksonians to unite under the banner of love and restoration. The bereaved family is in our prayers as we continue to seek justice for Kingston," the statement read. Read: Times Square Crash Victim Was Beloved Daughter, Sister With 'Terrific Sense of Humor' Governor Phil Bryant also released a statement Thursday night: "There are no words to express the anger and sadness over the loss of Kingston Frazier. The innocence and life of a six-year-old child have been taken by a horrific crime. It is time this senseless violence end. We can all pray that God will assuage the pain of Kingston's family and friends, while we hold the guilty accountable." Story continues Watch: 6-Year-Old Girl Missing Since 2012 Found Dead: Cops Related Articles: Aaron Hernandez's disciplinary records during his time in jail, while he was awaiting trial for the murder of Odin Lloyd, was released Thursday showing the ex-NFL star's long history of discipline. Hernandez died in his prison cell at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley, Massachusetts, on April 19. The 104 pages of records released Thursday afternoon was obtained by NBC Boston, whose investigators had filed public records requests with the Bristol County Sheriff's Office earlier this month after Hernandez committed suicide. The documents revealed how Hernandez yelled at guards about how he'd "show them how to be a man" and how he threatened to kill a guard. The documents also revealed detail how Hernandez would pass notes to other inmates, and how he would write to his attorney in rap lyrics so the guards wouldn't be able to tell what he was saying. Read: 5 Things Shayanna Jenkins, Aaron Hernandez's Fiancee, Said In 'Dr. Phil' Interview The new details come just a week after reports claimed Hernandez had a record of more than 70 disciplinary offenses in less than two years at the maximum-security prison. According to USA Today, Hernandez also served as a lookout at the prison, engaged in fights, stole another inmates calling card and was discovered to be in possession of a nearly six-inch shank fashioned out of a piece of metal. Hernandez committed suicide just days after he was acquitted of murdering Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado outside a Boston nightclub in July 2012. His conviction in the 2013 Odin Lloyd murder was overturned earlier this month after his death. While authorities ruled that Hernandez's death was a suicide, his fiancee Shayanna Jenkins, recently raised doubts over the circumstances of his death. During her appearance on the Dr. Phil show, Jenkins hinted at foul play despite authorities confirming the cause of death, adding that Hernandez "was very positive." Story continues I spoke to him the night before and he was so, you know, Daddys going to be home, and I cant wait to sleep in bed with you guys, and I cant wait to just hold you and love you. I just know the feedback that I was getting from our last talk had nothing to do with suicidal thoughts, she said. While talking about his last words, Jenkins said, I remember him saying, Babe, Ive got to go. Theyre shutting the doors, adding: And I, honestly, dont think that we said I love you to each other and that was it. It was just a normal conversation, which makes me doubt so many things. Jenkins also raised doubts about the investigation into Hernandez's death, saying the findings didn't seem "believable." 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. 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." Related Articles By Jonathan Spicer NEW YORK (Reuters) - The driver of the car that careened through New York City's Times Square on Thursday was a U.S. Navy veteran who had been arrested at least four times before for offenses including drunk driving and threatening someone with a knife, according to police officials and public records. Richard Rojas, 26, plowed into people on the sidewalk in his burgundy Honda sedan and sped three blocks through one of the city's busiest areas, killing one pedestrian and injuring 22 others before crashing into a metal stanchion, police said. Rojas returned from his Navy service with a drinking problem and had posted "crazy stuff" on social media, said a friend, Harrison Ramos, speaking to Reuters outside the apartment building where Rojas lives in New York City's Bronx borough. "Don't make him out to be a terrorist or something," Ramos said. "He served his country and when he came back, nobody helped him." Rojas attended college and works in real estate, Ramos said. "He went through a real tough time," Ramos said, adding that he had lost contact with Rojas. "That's my friend. I care about him, and it hurts." Only a week ago, Rojas was arrested at his apartment in the Bronx for threatening another man with a knife. "Do you feel safe? You stole my identity," Rojas told the man, grabbing his neck in one hand while brandishing the knife in the other, according to a police spokeswoman. She did not have additional details about the incident. He was charged with menacing and possession of a weapon, according to court records. He eventually pleaded guilty to harassment, a violation, and was not sentenced to any prison time. Rojas was also charged with drunken driving in 2008 and 2015, according to New York City police. The state motor vehicle department confirmed he was convicted of driving while impaired in both cases but still had a valid driver's license as of Thursday. As of 5 p.m. (2110 GMT) on Thursday, police had not yet announced formal charges against Rojas in the Times Square incident, and he had not yet appeared in court. It was not immediately clear whether Rojas had a defense lawyer. Rojas enlisted in the Navy in 2011. He served as an electrician's mate fireman apprentice, mostly based in Florida. While stationed in Jacksonville, Rojas was arrested for battery and resisting an officer without violence, both misdemeanors. An arrest report from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said Rojas yelled at an officer, "My life is over," and threatened to kill police after his release from jail. He also told the officer that he had beaten a cab driver to whom he owed money and had been drinking at the time of the arrest, according to the report. Court records indicate the charges may have been dropped. Navy records show he spent two months in a military prison in Charleston, South Carolina, in the summer of 2013 but do not specify why. He left the service in May 2014, according to records, which do not offer any additional details. A few hours after the Times Square incident, about 20 police officers and detectives occupied the sidewalk outside the six-story red brick building where Rojas lives. A woman who used to live in the building, Fati Razak, said she occasionally sees Rojas when she returns to visit her mother. "We don't have anything in common except to say 'hi,'" said Razak, who works as a hairdresser next door. She said Rojas' family is Dominican and that his mother is a "sweetheart" who sometimes makes food or coffee for the beauty salon's workers. (Additional reporting by Letitia Stein in Tampa, Florida, and Joseph Ax in New York; Writing by Joseph Ax; Editing by Daniel Trotta and Jonathan Oatis) Pulitzer prize winning journalist Alex Tizon died on March 24, at the age of 57, leaving behind his legacy, which includes articles like Big Little Man: In Search of My Asian Self. His last piece of work, My Familys Slave, is a personal account of a heart-breaking secret upheld by his family. Tizon penned down a detailed piece about how his family had kept a slave for 56 years, named Lola, whose real name was Eudocia Tomas Pulido, which became the cover story for the Atlantics June edition. The late authors story begins from the end, as he recalled how he carried Lolas ashes back to a rural village in Manila, Philippines, where she belonged. Next, he goes back in time when Lola, 18, was handed over to Tizon's mother who was 12 at the time. Although, Lola was elder to his mother, the latter never had any doubts as to where Lolas place in both home and society was. His mother was quick enough to learn how to blame all of her naughty deeds on Lola, who was then beaten up with a belt as punishment. Years passed by but Lolas condition did not improve. Once Tizons mother got married and moved to the United States, she took Lola along, with the fake promise of giving her an allowance to send back to her family in Philippines. It was not until Tizon was 11-years-old that he understood that Lola was enslaved by his family. She was screamed at, abused, given scraps and leftovers to eat and did not have a chamber of her own even though she diligently carried out all the household chores and rarely stepping out of the house or having a hobby she could call her own. She wasnt kept in leg irons, but she might as well have been. So many nights, on my way to the bathroom, Id spot her sleeping in a corner, slumped against a mound of laundry, her fingers clutching a garment she was in the middle of folding, writes Tizon. Story continues To the society around, Tizon's family were "model immigrants, a poster family... We never talked about Lola." Despite their mothers best efforts, Tizon and his siblings grew really close to Lola and began seeing her as a mother-figure. They even tried to persuade their mother to accept that she had unfairly treated Lola her entire life but it all went in vain. Failing to do so, Tizon tried to make up for it by taking Lola back to her village, her real home, where she refused to stay back. Lola had molded herself seamlessly into slavery by then. Dad used to say she was simple, Tizon wrote. I wondered what she could have been if, instead of working at the rice fields at age 8, she had learned to read and write. Even though Tizon claims that he did everything in his power to emancipate Lola in the last few days of his life, people on social media, after reading My Familys Slave, disagreed. Even though they dont deny the fact that the personal piece is beautifully written, they do not necessarily think that Tizon should have waited for 40 years of his life to take some form of action against the inhumane treatment that Lola was being subjected to. People have also questioned the reason Tizon refrained from mentioning that his aunt Lola was a slave his family had owned for years in his memoir where he mentions her name 4 times. Some alleged that he intended to financially benefit from the soul-stirring reality by composing an individual article that solely focused on it. Related Articles Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) in Xenomorph guise for Neill Blomkamps Alien. (Credit: Neill Blomkamp) Alien: Covenant is the eighth film to feature the legendary extraterrestrial monsters first created by H.R. Giger for Ridley Scotts 1979 Alien, and along the way the series has seen more than its fair share of unlikely twists and turns. Whether it was transitioning from horror to more action-oriented terror with James Camerons Aliens or killing off its heroine Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) in Alien 3 or shifting into cloning territory with Alien: Resurrection or the all-out battle of Alien vs. Predator, the franchise has mutated in many novel ways over the past four decades. And yet the Xenomorphs cinematic saga might have played out very differently, given the numerous storylines and alternate versions that were considered but never produced (or at least completed in a satisfactory way). On the eve of Scotts latest trip to the cold, dark reaches of space, we take a look back at the various aborted Alien movies that might have been. Alien (1979) Alien was the brainchild of screenwriter Dan OBannon, who teamed with Ronald Shusett on a story that boasted a basic plot outline space travelers investigate a distress signal on a remote planet and wind up in a face-hugging alien nightmare that would remain intact throughout. However, there were some noticeable differences in OBannon and Shusetts original treatment. For one, the astronauts, upon arriving on the mysterious planet, would find not only a crashed spaceship (with the Space Jockey astronaut instead) but also an ancient pyramid built by a long-gone race. Inside that towering structure, theyd discover the aliens eggs, as well as indications that this extinct culture revolved around their difficult sexual-reproduction process. The Nostromo crew discovers the Space Jockey in Alien. (Photo: 20th Century Fox) After OBannon and Shusett signed a deal with production company Brandywine, producers David Giler and Walter Hill extensively rewrote the script, with the most notable additions proving to be making Ripley a woman and the inclusion of Ash (Ian Holm), the crew member who, its ultimately revealed, is actually an android with other allegiances. Moreover, while Scott considers his theatrical cut to be definitive, he nonetheless agreed after being told that a new version would be fashioned, with or without his participation to re-edit the movie with a new scene of Ripley finding Tom Skerritts cocooned captain Dallas for the 2003 Directors Cut. Story continues Aliens (1986) After dealing with a variety of studio and lawsuit-related issues, Giler and Hill began work on a sequel in 1983, at which point James Cameron was approached to spearhead development. The result was a Vietnam-inspired tale that sent Ripley back to the alien planet LV-426 alongside Colonial Marines, and that plumbed all sorts of maternal-instinct dynamics. An expanded special edition (which many believe is the films definitive version) reinstates a number of sequences, most notably one in which Ripley learns that, while shes been floating around the galaxy in hyper-sleep, her young daughter has grown old and died. Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) learns the fate of her daughter in a scene deleted from the theatrical release of Aliens. (Photo: 20th Century Fox) Alien 3 (1992) For the third entry in the series, several ideas were bandied about. From the outset, Giler and Hill wanted to focus more on the Weyland-Yutani corporations nefarious desire to use the aliens as weapons. There was an initial thought that the action would shift to Earth, but the first real iteration of the script based on Giler and Hills treatment, and penned by famed cyberpunk author William Gibson (Neuromancer) remained in the cosmos, and focused on Michael Biehns Colonel Hicks rather than Ripley (who was in a coma after a fire aboard their ship). Landing on a capitalist mall-world, Hicks would investigate Weyland-Yutanis scheme to create a race of alien warriors as well as the similar plans of a Marxist outfit known as the Union of Progressive Peoples. Much biomechanical class warfare would ensue, ultimately resulting in a cliffhanger that would set up a fourth and final installment in which all of humanity would unite (with Ripley back in action) against an army of alien adversaries. Displeased with this script, Giler and Hill turned to director Renny Harlin and, on his recommendation, screenwriter Eric Red. That duos various concepts, based in part on Gibsons script, went nowhere fast, and the producers next turned to David Twohy (Pitch Black), who set his proceedings on a prison planet where military experiments were being conducted on the aliens. Harlin, however, had no love for this route, and departed the project shortly thereafter. Artist Lebbeus Woodss concept of a medieval-style structure for Vincent Wards proposed Alien 3. (Credit: Lebbeus Woods/20th Century Fox) The producers then hired director Vincent Ward, who came up with a truly original take: have Ripley land on a Hieronymus Bosch-esque planet made wholly out of wood, and populated by austere monks who didnt appreciate her presence on their distant outpost. The ensuing script, penned by John Fasano, however, also didnt pass muster with the powers that be. Thus, Giler and Hill took their own pass on the material, blending together Twohys and Ward/Fasanos ideas into a final version, in which Ripley crash-lands on an all-male penal colony. David Fincher was subsequently hired to replace Ward, but shooting without a completed script and with constant interference from producers and the studio Alien 3 proved to be a hodgepodge effort at best. Using deleted scenes and alternate takes, an Assembly Cut was constructed for home video that sought to more accurately reflect Finchers original vision. No matter its improvements, however, this restored version still feels somewhat incomplete. Alien: Resurrection (1997) Joss Whedon was enlisted to write the script for Jean-Pierre Jeunets Alien: Resurrection. But what he wrote didnt, according to him, make it onto the screen. Originally, Whedon was tasked with penning a story that would focus on a genetically modified teenage Newt, as he told In Focus magazine: The history of Alien: Resurrection is fairly twisted also because I wrote a 30-page treatment for a different movie. They wanted to do a movie with a clone of Newt [the little girl from Aliens] as their heroine. Because Id done some action movies and Id done Buffy, they said, Well, he can write teenage girls and he can write action, so lets give him a shot. The franchise was pretty much dead, and I wrote the treatment and they said, This is really exciting. We want to get back in this business. But we want Ripley. So throw this out. That one was probably my favorite; I think it was a better-structured story than the one I ultimately wrote. Even once the focus of Whedons script shifted back to a Ripley clone, the ending proved to be a constant source of contention. Whedon said there were five total. The first one was in the forest with the flying threshing machine. The second one was in a futuristic junkyard. The third one was in a maternity ward. And the fourth one was in the desert. Now at this point, this had become about money, and I said, You know, the desert looks like Mars. Thats not Earth; thats not going to give people that juice. But I still wrote them the best ending I could that took place in the desert. And then finally they said, You know, we just dont think we need to go to Earth. So I just gave them dialogue and stuff, but I dont remember writing, A withered, granny-lookin Pumkinhead-kinda-thing makes out with Ripley. Pretty sure that stage direction never existed in any of my drafts. Alien vs. Predator films Thanks to both the Dark Horse Comics series, as well as the ending of Predator 2 (in which an alien skull is seen in a Predators trophy room), the mashup concept gained steam in the late 1990s thereby negating Scott and Camerons budding plans for a fifth proper entry in the franchise. By 2002, a basic idea had been fashioned in which humans would try to breed aliens from the eggs they find in a crashed Predator spaceship all as a means of luring more Predators to Earth, so they could steal their futuristic technology. Paul W.S. Anderson was brought aboard to helm the project, and he quickly reworked the entire storyline, instead focusing on the ancient historical relationship between the two beasts, with the Predators having built Earths pyramids as training facilities where their young warriors would battle Xenomorphs. After their 2007 sequel, Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, the Brothers Strause revealed to io9 that they had plans for a third entry in the spinoff series, which would have led directly into Alien: The original ending for AvPR, that we pitched them, ended up on the alien homeward, and actually going from the Predator gun, that you see at the end, it was going to transition from that gun to a logo of a Weyland-Yutani spaceship that was heading to an alien planet. And then we were actually going to cut down to the surface [of the alien planet] and you were going to see a hunt going on. It was going to be a whole tribe of Predators going against this creature that we called King Alien. Its this huge giant winged alien thing. And that was going to be the lead-in, to show that the fact that the Predator gun [at the end of AvPR] is the impetus of all the technological advancements that allowed humans to travel in space. Which leads up to the Alien timeline. Alien 5: The Neill Blomkamp alternate-timeline sequel In 2015 three years after Ridley Scotts first prequel, Prometheus director Neill Blomkamp (District 9) debuted concept art for a sequel that would pick up where 1986s Aliens ended and follow the further adventures of Ripley, Hicks, and Newt. This proposed idea would have, in effect, ignored Alien 3, Alien: Resurrection, and the Alien-Predator films, creating an alternate timeline in which the protagonists who all met their maker in Alien 3 lived to fight another day against the Xenomorphs. #alien going very well. Love this project A post shared by Nb (@neillblomkamp) on Jul 16, 2015 at 12:07pm PDT While some of that artwork was striking (a scarred Hicks; Ripley in alien-style disguise), and Weaver was onboard with it, Scotts ongoing Alien prequel plans took precedence at Fox. For now, at least, Blomkamps retconning film is, like its heroine, still dead. Speaking of deaths, watch the five best kills in the Alien saga: Read more from Yahoo Movies: By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The engineer in a deadly 2015 Amtrak train crash in Philadelphia surrendered to authorities on Thursday after being charged with involuntary manslaughter last week, the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office said. The state charges came even though local prosecutors had cleared the engineer of criminal wrongdoing last week. In addition to eight counts of involuntary manslaughter, former Amtrak engineer Brandon Bostian was charged with one count of causing or risking a catastrophe and numerous counts of reckless endangerment. Bostian appeared in handcuffs and was led into a police office on Thursday, according to local media outlets. He declined to comment to reporters. A spokesman for Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said an arraignment was set for later on Thursday. The Philadelphia district attorney's office last week said it did not have enough evidence to charge Bostian and closed the case. But a Philadelphia municipal court judge ordered that the charges of involuntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment against Bostian be revived, and to avoid a conflict of interest, prosecutors referred the case against Bostian to Shapiro's office. The Philadelphia district attorney's office had said evidence indicated the derailment was caused by the engineer operating the train far in excess of the speed limit, but it found no evidence that he acted with criminal intent. Under state law, last Friday marked the two-year deadline to charge Bostian in the May 12, 2015, crash, which killed eight people and injured more than 180. In May 2016, the National Transportation Safety Board said that Bostian was probably distracted by radio traffic when the crash occurred. The train sped into a curve at more than twice the recommended speed minutes after Bostian had listened to emergency radio calls about a nearby commuter train hit by a thrown rock, the NTSB said. A federal judge in October approved a record $265 million settlement for the accident victims. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Dan Grebler) The plan by the secretary of education represents the Trump administrations multi-part assault on public education and the non-rich This news should surprise no one whos been paying attention to DeVoss actions in office. Photograph: Evan Vucci/AP When Donald Trump appointed Betsy DeVos secretary of education, Americas school-going people worried it was only a matter of time before she brought back debtors prison for student loan defaulters and subcontracted out K-12 education to Nickelodeon. Now Donald and Betsy are one step closer to making that vision a reality, with $10.6bn in cuts to crucial education programs, including a student loan forgiveness program first implemented by a Republican administration. According to budget documents obtained by the Washington Post, the Trump administration plans to end the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, which more than 400,000 people are counting on as part of their financial future. Signed into law in 2007 by George W Bush as part of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, the program offers those whose jobs benefit society government and non-profit employees the chance to have their student loans forgiven after 10 years of on-time, income-based payments. The amount of money this would cost the government would presumably not exceed what it would have cost to simply pay these workers more. In an effort to make taxpayers foot the bill for their depraved lives of leisure, more than 400,000 aspiring teachers, social workers, public defenders, and others took the government up on its offer. It might not be the only reason they chose these lines of work, but it certainly factored into the decisions of many. The first loans were and as of now, still are set to be wiped away in October , a date the programs first participants have no doubt been counting down to for nearly a decade. Unfortunately for these poor saps, two rich kids who have never taken out a student loan in their lives and only entered public service after years of fortune-building in the private sector are now in charge of the federal education system. And they dont care if they attract people to the public and non-profit sectors. Theyre not even convinced these sectors should exist. Its also possible DeVoss own experiences in government have taught her public service is something you pay for the privilege of doing, not the other way around. Story continues Its uncertain whether this dream team would end the program for those already participating or if they would simply stop taking new applicants. Its possible the former would open them up to countless lawsuits. But a pending court case may create precedent on whether borrowers can have their membership in the program retroactively revoked, which is enough to strike fear into the hearts of some. Even if they just ended the program for new applicants, it would be a major blow to sectors such as what do you know? education, which is already struggling to attract and keep quality talent. Which, come to think of it, might be exactly what DeVos wants. Why bother to keep public schools open if theyre struggling to recruit teachers? Why bother improving said schools if theyre about to be privatized, anyway? And why hire someone with a masters degree to teach our children when a private contractor could get a poorly trained lush for half the price? Its only the future of America were talking about. To be fair, the Obama administration once proposed capping the amount each borrower could have forgiven at $57,500, but that proposal never went anywhere. Even if it had, thats still a more reasonable compromise than capping it at zero. This news should surprise no one whos been paying attention to DeVoss actions in office. Just last month, she rescinded several Obama administration policy memos designed to incentivize borrower-friendly behavior on the part of lenders receiving government contracts. Her reasoning: This process has been subjected to a myriad of moving deadlines, changing requirements and a lack of consistent objectives. Translation: If you wanted to go to college without incurring crushing debt, you would have been born an heiress, like me. You may or may not be surprised to learn DeVos and her husband have copped to a considerable financial stake in the student loan industry, specifically: a debt collection agency called Performant Business Services that does lucrative business with the government. Following her ethics review, she agreed to divest from this company within 90 days of her confirmation, but its clear which side her bread is buttered on. You cant divest someone of their ideology. She clearly still thinks the debt collection industry has a right to prey on young people who are trying to go to school, and anyway, shes not going to have this job forever. Whether or not they succeed at hurting pre-existing PSLF participants or merely potential ones, this plan represents two more prongs of the Trump administrations multi-part assault on public education and the non-rich. Heres hoping the investigation into Trumps Russia scandal keeps him from finishing the job on this or anything else, for that matter. Toward the end of the Ordovician Period about 444 million years ago, life was still largely confined to Earths oceans and seas, but it still had a lot of diversity, including the appearance of the first known bony vertebrates. However, a mass extinction event, the first of the big five of its kind, took place at the time and wiped out almost 80 percent of all living species. Called the Ordovician-Silurian extinction, it affected ancient sea creatures and is thought to be the third-largest extinction event to have taken place on Earth. But we dont know what caused the catastrophic event to occur. However, new research conducted by scientists from Japan and the United States suggests an answer, even if it is somewhat predictable: volcanic activity. Read: A Timeline Of Mass Extinction Events OrdovicianFossils Photo: Kunio Kaiho In a study titled A volcanic trigger for the Late Ordovician mass extinction? Mercury data from south China and Laurentia, published in the May issue of the journal Geology, its authors first explain why they investigated this subject. The Ordovician mass extinction occurred in two pulses associated with the expansion and contraction of ice sheets on Gondwana during the Hirnantian Age. It is widely recognized that environmental disruptions associated with changing glacial conditions contributed to the extinctions, but neither the kill mechanisms nor the causes of glacial expansion are well understood, the authors said. The researchers, led by David S. Jones of Amherst College in Massachusetts and Kunio Kaiho of Japans Tohoku University, took samples of sedimentary rock from locations in China and the U.S. Analyzing them for their mercury (Hg) content showed a coincidence between Hg enrichment and mass extinction in both the regions. The regions they chose are both large igneous provinces (LIPs), which is a geological term for a very large accumulation of igneous rocks rocks that form when lava or magma cools down. The creation of some LIPs has already been linked to later mass extinction events. In their analysis, researchers found an anomaly in the concentration of Hg, a phenomenon that has been linked to other mass extinctions. Story continues NevadaLIP Photo: David S. Jones Huge volcanic eruptions can produce sulfate aerosols in the stratosphere. Sulfate aerosols are strong, light-reflecting aerosols and cause global cooling. This rapid climate change is believed to be behind the loss of marine creatures, the researchers explained in a statement. Volcanic activity was what brought about the much bigger Permian-Triassic mass extinction event almost 200 million years later which was likely survived by less than 5 percent of all species that were around then. Volcanoes were also responsible for the Triassic-Jurassic extinction event that followed, occurring about 40 million years later or 210 million years ago. The fifth and the last mass extinction event, however the Cretaceous-Tertiary that killed off the dinosaurs and about half of all other species as well, 65.5 million years ago, was caused by the impact of an asteroid strike. MassExtinctionTimeline Photo: Kunio Kaiho We still dont know the trigger for the second mass extinction event, the Devonian, which took place some 365 million years ago. A mass extinction event is one that kills over half of all species alive at the time in a relatively short duration. Related Articles US army private Chelsea Manning has posted a new photo of herself after being freed from a Kansas military prison and a 35-year sentence for leaking classified materials. The transgender soldier formerly known as Bradley Manning took to Twitter and Instagram on Thursday, posting a portrait photograph of her with short-cropped hair, bright red lipstick and a dark outfit with a plunging neckline. The 29-year-old, from Oklahoma, included the caption: "Okay, so here I am everyone!!" Read more Chelsea Manning celebrates freedom with moving Instagram post Ms Manning was released early on Wednesday from confinement at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas, having served seven years behind bars for giving classified materials to anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks. She and her lawyers have refused to divulge her post-prison whereabouts or immediate plans. In an earlier post, she wrote "First steps of freedom!!" alongside a photograph of her feet. Barack Obama, in his final days in office, commuted the final 28 years of Ms Manning's 35-year sentence. She announced her gender transition while the US Army was keeping her in the men's prison and forcing her to wear a male haircut. Video not available for syndication Chelsea Manning freed from prison - a timeline of events In a statement Ms 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. Story continues Ms 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. Reuters Two Chinese jets fighters conducted an unprofessional intercept of US aircraft over the East China Sea, according to military sources. The nuclear sniffer plane was sent to monitor radiation levels in the area, in accordance with international law, and regularly completes missions in North East Asia, according to Air Force spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Lori Hodge. In the past, the planes have been used to gather evidence of possible nuclear tests by North Korea. On Wednesday, the two Chinese jets came within 150 feet of the sniffer plane, according to US Air Force, and one flew upside down directly above the American plane. "While we are still investigating the incident, initial reports from the US air crew characterised the intercept as unprofessional, Lieutenant Colonel Hodge told CNN. The issue is being addressed with China through appropriate diplomatic and military channels," Video not available for syndication Rex Tillerson calls China's actions in the South China Sea 'illegal' The incident was the second stand-off between US and Chinese military in seas surrounding China this year. In February, a US Navy spy plane and a Chinese military aircraft came within 1,000 feet of each other over the South China Sea. At the time, US officials US officials called an unsafe close encounter over the South China Sea in February. In 2001 a Chinese jet collided with a US Navy surveillance aircraft off Hainan Island, killing the Chinese pilot and leading Washington to cut military relations with China after that episode. There are long-running territorial disputes in the East and South China Seas. Both China and Japan claim 200 miles from their coast as an Exclusive Economic Zone (a sea zone prescribed by the United Nations), but the East China Sea is just 360 miles long. Ouagadougou (AFP) - Trade unions in Burkina Faso have called a general strike on Wednesday following a day of protests against long-serving President Blaise Compaore that saw hundreds of thousands of people on the streets. Demonstrators wielding iron bars and stones battled police in the Burkina Faso capital on Tuesday after a massive rally against plans to extend the rule of the veteran president. Firing tear gas, security forces charged the protesters after they ventured close to parliament in one of the strongest challenges to President Blaise Compaore in his 27 years in power. The United States said it was "concerned by the spirit and intent" behind the draft bill to scrap the presidential term limits. "We urge all involved, including Burkina Fasos security forces, to adhere to non-violence, and to debate this issue in a peaceful and inclusive manner," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement. The violence erupted at the end of a march in Ouagadougou that drew up to a million people, according to opposition leaders fighting to prevent what they see as a constitutional coup by supporters of Compaore. The demonstrators blew whistles and vuvuzela trumpets and carried banners reading "Blaise Get Out!" and "Don't Touch Article 37", in reference to the constitutional term limit that risks being scrapped to let the president seek re-election. Police battled the stone-throwing demonstrators for hours and dismantled makeshift barricades put up by them to block traffic. Trade unions and civil society groups called a general strike for Wednesday, hoping to keep up the pressure on Compaore. The opposition has called for a blockade of parliament on Thursday when the legislature examines a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow Compaore to seek another term next year. Schools and universities have closed for the week of protests planned in the impoverished West African nation. Story continues Pre-dawn violence had already broken out early Tuesday as security forces fired tear gas at dozens of youths barricading the country's main highway, who hurled stones in response, according to an AFP reporter. Senior opposition figures Benewende Sankara and Ablasse Ouedraogo claimed a million-strong turnout. AFP reporters could not confirm that figure but estimated the crowd's number at well above a previous rally in August. - 'This is our final warning' - Several hundred people also occupied the Place de la Nation, a central square in the capital but later dispersed without incident. "Our march is already a huge success, phenomenal," said opposition leader Zephirin Diabre. "Our struggle has entered its final phase. It's make or break time -- the nation or death!" However, government spokesman Alain Edouard Traore late Tuesday issued a statement hailing the "vitality" of Burkina Faso's democracy despite what he termed as anti-government "misbehaviour". Compaore was only 36 when he seized power in an 1987 coup in which his former friend and one of Africa's most loved leaders, Thomas Sankara, was ousted and assassinated. The 63-year-old has remained in power since then, re-elected president four times since 1991 -- to two seven-year and two five-year terms. In 2005, constitutional limits were introduced and Compaore is coming to the end of his second five-year term. The opposition fears the new rules -- which are not expected to take previous terms into account -- would enable Compaore to seek re-election not just once, but three more times, paving the way for up to 15 more years in power. The third largest party in parliament said at the weekend it would back the amendment, setting the ruling party on course to obtain the two-thirds majority it needs to make the change without resorting to a referendum as first promised. Protesters have erected barricades and burned tyres in the capital since the proposal was announced on October 21. Civil society groups have also asked for the project to be dropped, saying the country risks being paralysed if the amendment goes through. Compaore's bid to cling on to power has angered the opposition and much of the public, including many young people in a country where 60 percent of the population is under 25. Many have spent their entire lives under the leadership of one man and -- with the poor former French colony stagnating at 183rd out of 186 countries on the UN human development index -- many have had enough. Bonn (AFP) - The shadow of Donald Trump looms large over the climate-rescue Paris Agreement, thrashed out by nearly 200 countries over years of painstaking, often belligerent, bartering in which the United States has a chequered history. As power has changed hands between Republicans and Democrats, the country has alternatively played an inspirational or obstructionist role over two decades of negotiations for a UN pact to avoid the worst ravages of global warming, observers say. Ultimately, the US president, in the person of Barack Obama, played a critical role in getting even the most reticent of parties to sign on to the 2015 Paris Agreement that requires everyone to cut back on coal, oil and gas emissions. Now his successor is threatening to withdraw America from the hard-fought deal -- for many just the latest move in a two-steps-forward-one-step-back dance with the world's second-largest carbon emitter. A history: - Rio Earth Summit - It all started with the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro which set up the UN's climate convention and launched negotiations for a global deal to rein in global warming. From the very beginning, Washington resisted any attempt at a "top-down" imposition of emissions cuts, insisting on national sovereignty in setting limits. Then president George H W Bush reportedly told the Rio summit that "the American way of life is not up for negotiations. Period", linking prosperity to continued carbon emissions. "Even at that time, fossil fuel interests were quite strong in the process," said Christian Aid's Mohamed Adow, who has closely followed the negotiations for years. - Kyoto Protocol - Negotiations for a new deal saw the US stand firm on its objection to the so-called "top-down" approach. America also insisted that responsibility for emissions cuts must be shared between rich and developing nations. This put it in conflict not only with the developing world, who insisted that rich countries with a longer history of pollution must make the bigger sacrifice, but also some industrialised nations who saw a need for targets and deadlines. Story continues America's negotiating partners ultimately agreed on a deal in Japan in 1997 that satisfied Washington's demands. Bill Clinton's vice president Al Gore signed the treaty in 1998, but the administration could never muster the two-thirds Senate support required to officially ratify it. His successor, George W Bush, an oil man, called the agreement "unfair and ineffective" and in 2001, months after taking office, announced he would not ratify it. Observers say this was largely driven by fear that China and other fast-developing would have an unfair advantage in economic growth, with a licence to exploit fossil fuel. The treaty entered into force, without America, in 2005, committing 37 developed economies to an average five-percent cut from 1990 levels in the period 2008-2012. Canada later withdrew, and New Zealand, Japan and Russia failed to renew their commitments post-2012. - Bali Action Plan - In 2007, the world's nations gathered for their annual negotiating round in Bali to talk about a replacement for the Kyoto Protocol. The Bush administration again objected to any differentiation between rich and developing country obligations. This time, the rest of the world revolted, and the US delegation was booed and told in no uncertain terms by one participant: "If you're not willing to lead, please get out of the way." Washington relented, and the Bali Action Plan was adopted, setting a 2009 deadline for a new treaty to fight global warming. - Copenhagen - The 2009 round of negotiations in the Danish capital, meant to deliver the first truly universal climate pact by the deadline set, ended in near-failure amid bickering between rich and poor countries. The US, with backing from several other countries, insisted it not be a binding treaty. In the end, the meeting yielded a non-formal "accord". - Warsaw - In 2013, in Warsaw, the big fight was again about legal obligation, and the wording of a final accord opted for countries to pledge carbon-cutting "contributions" rather than "commitments". - Paris Agreement - The final result, the 2015 Paris pact, is a compromise. It consists of a legally-binding core agreement and a supporting register of non-binding "Nationally Determined Contributions", or NDCs, to curb emissions -- decided by countries themselves. This allowed Obama to pass the agreement by executive order, and meant the administration need not submit its NDC to a hostile senate for approval. "Yet again, other countries went along to keep the US in the regime," said Alden Meyer of the Union of Concerned Scientists -- a veteran observer of the two-decade-old process. But this very compromise also means there will likely be no repercussions if Trump's US scraps its NDC, or simply disregards it. Chai Qimin of China's National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation, says US participation in the climate process works in cycles, determined by domestic election outcomes. After an imperfect Kyoto Protocol entered into force, "we waited for eight to 10 years" for a new pact, the Paris Agreement. "Should we wait again?" he asked on the sidelines of UN climate talks in Bonn. "Maybe we should wait another eight or 10 years... But also, it's with uncertainty. After four years (of Trump) will there be a new president who is favouring" climate action? "Maybe not." President Trump shakes hands with then-FBI Director James Comey during a reception at the White House in January. (Photo: Andrew Harrer-Pool/Getty Images) Former FBI Director James Comey told a friend he tried to hide among the curtains at a White House ceremony earlier this year to avoid an awkward interaction with President Trump. Comeys friend Benjamin Wittes, editor of the Lawfare blog, told the New York Times that during an event to honor law enforcement officials on Jan. 22, Comey, then the FBI director, attempted to blend into the drapes in the White Houses Blue Room to avoid Trumps gaze. According to Wittes, Comey was uncomfortable with the presidents attempt to build a personal relationship, but he attended the event to represent the FBI. He thought he had gotten through and not been noticed or singled out, and that he was going to get away without an individual interaction, said Wittes. Comey, who is 68, failed in his attempt at camouflage. As seen in video coverage of the event, Trump spotted Comey in the back of the room, in front of dark-blue curtains that were similar to the shade of his suit, and said, Oh, theres Jim. Hes become more famous than me. Comey then approached for a handshake before being pulled into an awkward half-hug by the president. Trump fired Comey on May 9, calling him a showboat and saying that the FBI was in turmoil. White House officials initially said that Comey was fired due to the recommendation of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, but Trump contradicted that version, sending his staff into a scramble. Wittes, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institute, said Comey relayed the story to him over a lunch in March. According to Wittes account and those published in multiple other outlets, Comey kept detailed notes of his conversations with Trump out of concern the president would not honor proper channels of communication between the Oval Office and head of the FBI. Comey prepared extensively for his discussions with President Trump, reported the Washington Post on Thursday, out of concern that the president was unlikely to respect the legal and ethical boundaries governing their respective roles. Story continues Multiple outlets have reported that Trump had requested a loyalty pledge from Comey shortly after the inauguration, and news broke earlier this week that Trump had asked Comey in February to drop the FBIs investigation into then National Security Adviser Michael Flynn because he was a good guy. The White House has denied that the loyalty pledge request and the suggestion to end the Flynn investigation happened. Trump has refused to elaborate on whether or not he not he has recordings of his conversations with Comey, which he implied he had in a tweet last week. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: Losing yourself in another country and becoming immersed in the local culture is one of lifes great delights. And a little shopping never hurts, either. Yahoo Style rounded up five destinations where you can shop for the best summer wardrobe pieces and accessories. A few favorites: kaftans from Morocco, woven bags from Mexico, or silk custom-made pajamas from Vietnam; when you buy these staples from these countries, you know youre not getting a fast-fashion copy, but rather the real deal. Scroll down to check out our top five summer destination buys. A great kaftan (Photo: Muzungu Sisters) Kaftans from Morocco Kaftans are worn all around the world, but in Morocco they have been considered a wardrobe staple ever since the 16th century. Women often wear them out for casual, day-to-day outings, but there are also haute-couture style kaftans which are worn for special occasions when dressier attire is necessary. If you cant make it to Morocco, shop this kaftan style from the Muzungu Sisters: Jasmine Embroidered Cotton Kaftan, $645, net-a-porter.com. Silk pajamas (Photo: Gucci) Silk pajamas from Vietnam In Vietnam, silky PJs are not only standard attire, but also tremendously affordable compared to elsewhere in the world. Pop into one of the many Saigon ateliers and choose from countless color swatches and fabric designs to create your perfect pair of pajamas. And an expert will then tailor and make a bespoke pajama set just for you. Who needs Olivia von Halle when you can do this? Although, if you cant make it all the way to Vietnam just yet, Gucci does offer a beautiful Asian-inspired pajama set too. Of course, it will cost you. Gucci Flora Snake Silk Shirt, $1,800, gucci.com A stunning woven bag (Photo: Truss) Woven bags from Mexico Aside from its beautiful beaches, Mexico possesses a rich heritage of art, architecture, and design, especially seen in the countrys embroidered tunics, wide-brim straw hats, vibrant rugs, and colorful woven baskets. Theres no question that woven baskets are having a big moment this summer, so why not buy one straight from the source? Story continues If you cant head to Mexico, scoop up this tote bag from Truss. Its actually made in Oaxaca and fortunately for us, ships internationally. Truss NYC woven check hobo bag, $215, farfetch.com These are ideal for summer. (Photo: Ancient Greek Sandals) Sandals from Greece According to ancient Greek mythology, gods and goddesses would wear sandals made from the island of Crete, and each pair would be imbued with mythical powers. For centuries, greek sandals were a staple in the country. The best keepsake from the country is a hand-crafted leather pair of sandals. If you cant make it to Greece, Ancient Greek Sandals works with local artisans to create Greek-inspired sandals using the same techniques, but styled with a modern twist like these evil eye embellishments. Ancient Greek Sandals Eyes High, $280, ancient-greek-sandals.com Korean beauty products (Photo: Dr Jart+) Beauty products from Korea Korean beauty products have been blowing up online. Have you seen those now-viral animal face sheet masks on your friends Instagram or Snapchat lately? They originated in Korea. Korean beauty products are the hottest thing in the beauty market, and if you can get them straight from the source, we encourage you to stock up. Luckily, if you cant trek it all the way to Korea, you still can get select coveted Korean beauty products from Sephora or Sokoglam.com. We recommend the Dr. Jart+ Dermaclear micro milk peel, $42, sephora.com. Read more from Yahoo Style + Beauty: 7 Standout Shoe Designers From Around the Globe 21 Perfect Dresses to Wear This Summer How to Shade Like a Pro This Summer Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. For Twitter updates, follow @YahooStyle and @YahooBeauty. By stacking his inner circle with blindly loyal neophytes and assuming he knows far more than he does, Trump guarantees daily chaos America has a president who only knows how to grab headlines at all costs even if it means self-immolation. Photograph: Mark Wilson/Getty Images On Wednesday night, for just a moment, Donald Trump acted like the sane president he will never be. 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, he said in a statement released by the White House. I look forward to this matter concluding quickly. The statement came shortly after the announcement that Robert Mueller, the former FBI director, would investigate ties between the Trump campaign and Russia. It was a muted, reasoned reaction, clearly crafted to submerge the Trumpian id. On Thursday, the real Trump returned, whining about witch-hunts and the ways an adversarial mainstream media was supposedly dividing the country. At a press conference, he exposed himself once more: Theres no collusion between, certainly, myself and my campaign but I can only speak for myself and the Russians zero. To what extent Trump or any campaign aides violated the law remains to be seen. As liberals cry for impeachment and attack Trump as a puppet of the nefarious, world-historical genius Vladimir Putin has become in Democratic mythology, they should remember criminal activity isnt so easy to prove. Trump fired his FBI director, James Comey, after it became apparent he was aggressively investigating his ties to Russia. Comey, in turn, claimed in a leaked memo that Trump had asked him to let go an investigation into Trumps disgraced former national security adviser, Michael Flynn. This could mean Trump obstructed justice, though its a complex constitutional issue subject to interpretation. At least one prominent legal scholar, Alan Dershowitz, argued the obstruction of justice case against Trump is not strong. Impeachment proceedings, still unlikely to be initiated by a Republican-controlled Congress, hinge much more on politics than the rule of law. If Democrats take control of the House after the midterm elections next year, Trump is in far more trouble. Story continues The degree of paranoia, self-sabotage and incompetence endemic to this Trump White House is staggering. By stacking his inner circle with blindly loyal neophytes and assuming he knows far more than he does, Trump guarantees daily chaos. Consider the decision to suddenly fire Comey: how could this make strategic sense, given that any FBI director knows how to leak dirty secrets to the press? Was Trump aware doing so would only raise suspicions that hes taking part in a vast, Watergate-level cover-up? We dont know yet what Trump is really hiding or if hes hiding anything at all. Mueller, the special counsel, will provide those answers in the months or years to come. What we do know is that Trumps decision to fire Comey was driven in part by his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, a senior adviser with a portfolio that seems to include everything pertaining to planet Earth. Kushner, a 36-year-old real estate developer, has no prior experience in government. He was born into privilege and power, and married well. (Disclosure: I once worked at the newspaper he published, the New York Observer.) For all the medias obsession with palace intrigue, with reporters giddily crafting sweeping portraits of Trumps generals and court jesters, the fundamental truth had little to do with whether Steve Bannon was Darth Vader incarnate or Kellyanne Conway was an Orwellian propagandist or Kushner and his wife Ivanka could really tug volcanic Donald to the center. The truth lay instead in what united them all: their profound inexperience and terrifying ignorance. They are, without question, the most overmatched clan of White House insiders in more than a half century, and their boss is even more incapable. Every president in modern times, from the vapid to the paranoid to the brilliant, had the sense to recruit advisers and right-hands with a working knowledge of Washington and government writ large. They understood one person could only know so much. In Trump, America has a president who only knows how to grab headlines at all costs even if it means self-immolation. As commander-in-chief, with the power to wage war and annihilate nations, we can only hope he ends up burning himself. President Donald Trump wants to find a way to get his former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn back into the White House, according to reports. Although Mr Flynn is at the centre of ongoing scandal that has swirled around Mr Trumps presidency, he hopes that he can find a place for the man who was forced to resign over reports that he had misrepresented conversations he had with Russian officials during the transition period, the Daily Beast said. Trump feels really, really, really, bad about firing him, and he genuinely thinks if the investigation is over Flynn can come back, a White House official said. Read more Michael Flynn 'refuses to co-operate in Russia investigation' Mr Flynn, sources close to him say, didnt even really want the job in the first place. He did not want to be National Security Adviser, Michael Ledeen, a friend of Mr Flynns, said. He didnt want to be in the government. He wanted to go back to private life. But Trump insisted on it, he continued. That Mr Trump reportedly wants to find a new position for Mr Flynn may strike some as odd. Since his forced resignation in February, several developments have bolstered concerns that he could have been influenced by Russians. It was also discovered that he was on the payroll of a lobbying firm representing the interests of the Turkish government while he was working on the Trump campaign. While that information only recently became public, reporting indicates that Mr Flynn had told the Trump team that he was under investigation for that work before he accepted the national security adviser position. The Trump administration pushed forward anyway, and ignored warnings from former acting attorney general Sally Yates that Mr Flynn could have been compromised by Russians. The saga of Mr Flynn is also tangled up in another scandal Mr Trump is facing his decision to fire former FBI Director James Comey. Mr Trump, according to a memo written by Mr Comey at the time, reportedly attempted to pressure him to drop the FBIs investigation into Mr Flynn. Mr Comey refused. A special prosecutor was recently assigned to take control of the probe into Russias involvement in the 2016 election. President Donald Trump has said during a press conference that he didn't try to shut down an investigation into his former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. "No. No. Next question," Mr Trump said when asked if he had asked former FBI Director James Comey to stop the bureau's investigation, which a memo written by Mr Comey reportedly alleges. The statement contradicts a a written account of the encounter between Mr Comey and Mr Trump that was penned shortly after a meeting between the two men. Mr Comey, a diligent and generally well-respected FBI director during his tenure, was known to write memos and disseminate them to his friends and allies in and out of the FBI when he encountered situations that he thought were inappropriate. Read more Donald Trump says he fired Comey because he was 'unpopular' "I hope you can let this go," Mr Trump told Mr Comey the day after Mr Flynn resigned, according to the memo. The revelation that Mr Trump may have asked his FBI director to stop investigating a member of his staff who had been the subject of scandal for misrepresenting conversations he had with Russian officials during the transition period, was seen as one of the clearest signs that Mr Trump had tried to directly influence investigations by the Justice Department and the FBI. Mr Trump said on national television last week that the Russian investigation, which he says is an attempt by Democrats to save face following an embarrassing electoral defeat, was a consideration in making the decision to can Mr Comey. The Justice Department recently appointed a special prosecutor to head the investigation into Russia's meddling in the 2016 election. Former FBI Director Robert Mueller, who served under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, will lead that investigation. Congressional committees in the House and the Senate are also conducting investigations. Donald Trump has strenuously denied colluding with Russia during last year's presidential election, saying even his enemies did not believe reports of ties between his team and the Kremlin. Commenting on the investigation into possible links between his campaign and Moscow, the President insisted he was the victim of a witch hunt. On Wednesday, former FBI chief Robert Mueller was named as the man to oversee the probe into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US election. Read more Donald Trump says he fired Comey because he was 'unpopular' But Mr Trump said the appointment of a special prosecutor to probe his campaign's ties with Russia hurts our country terribly. He claimed it was evidence the US was a divided, mixed-up, not unified country" and is "a very, very negative thing. Mr Trump said in a speech earlier on Wednesday that no politician in history "has been treated worse or more unfairly. Video not available for syndication Donald Trump: No politician has been treated worse or more unfairly He was responding to mounting criticism over the surprise sacking of former FBI chief James Comey, who was dispatched from his role at the bureau as it conducts an investigation into Russian involvement in last Novembers vote. Addressing that controversy today, Mr Trump suggested Mr Comey had been fired because he was unpopular. "Director Comey was very unpopular with most people," he said. "Look at all the people on the Democratic side, not only the Republican side, who were saying such terrible things about Director Comey. Initial statements from the White House said Mr Trump had fired Mr Comey on the recommendation of the Justice Department because of his handling of the FBI investigation into Hillary Clinton's private email server. The President later claimed he had fired Mr Comey after deciding the FBI investigation into his campaign's possible ties to Russia was baseless. The US President was speaking during a joint press conference with his Colombian counterpart Juan Manuel Santos. Donald Trump has said he fired James Comey as FBI Director because he was '"unpopular", during a press conference with the Colombian president. "Director Comey was very unpopular with most people," Mr Trump claimed, adding that he thought his firing would be a "bipartisan decision". "Look at all the people on the Democratic side, not only the Republican side, who were saying such terrible things about Director Comey," he said. The comments are the latest addition to a growing list of White House rationale for Mr Comey's firing. Initial statements from the White House said Mr Trump had fired Mr Comey on the recommendation of the Justice Department, due to his handling of the FBI investigation into Hillary Clinton's private email server. Later, the president claimed he had fired Mr Comey after deciding that the FBI investigation into his campaign's possible ties to Russia was baseless. "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,'" Mr Trump told NBC's Lester Holt. Mr Trump on Thursday piled onto his mounting reasons for firing Mr Comey, mentioning his "very poor performance" at a recent Senate hearing, and the FBI's declining reputation. "All over the world, no matter where you go, the FBI is special," Mr Trump said. "The FBI has not had that special reputation [after] what happened in the campaign; what happened with respect to the Clinton campaign and even, you could say, directly or indirectly, with respect to the much more successful Trump campaign." Mr Trump on Thursday also denied ever asking Mr Comey to shut down the FBI's investigation into his former national security adviser, Mike Flynn. The New York Times had recently reported on a memo, allegedly written by Mr Comey, claiming Mr Trump had asked him to drop the investigation during a private meeting at the White House. Story continues "I hope you can let this go," Mr Trump reportedly told Mr Comey. When a reporter attempted to ask about the reports on Thursday, Mr Trump quickly denied them, saying, "No. No. Next question." In fact, Mr Trump denied any wrongdoing in regards to Russia, saying he engaged in "zero" collusion with the foreign superpower. Russia is fine, but whether its Russia or anybody else, my total priority, believe me, is the United States of America," Mr Trump said. Donald Trump has reportedly been advised to hire an experienced outside lawyer as the controversy over his alleged links to Moscow continues to grow and reverberate. Following the news that the Department of Justice had appointed a special counsel, former FBI Director Robert Mueller, to lead a probe into the alleged connections, the president has been told he may benefit from retained additional lawyers to those whose services he has already made use of. Advisers and personal associates of Mr Trump have been increasingly concerned since details have emerged of conversations he had with James Comey, the FBI Director, in which he purportedly asked for Mr Comeys loyalty and suggested he drop an ongoing investigation into his former national security advisor, Michael Flynn. This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 18, 2017 Mr Trump has signalled he is likely to hire a new lawyer, but has not yet made a decision, according to three people who have spoken with him, the New York Times reported. Mr Trump has dismissed claims that his campaign colluded with Russia to allegedly interfere with the 2016 election to benefit him. Video not available for syndication Trump denies that he urged Comey to close Flynn investigation In addition to the FBI that was being led by Mr Comey, several congressional committees are investigating Russias alleged effort to cyber-meddle in the election and whether members of Mr Trumps campaign. Mr Trump has said he fired Mr James Comey as FBI Director because he was unpopular. Director Comey was very unpopular with most people, Mr Trump claimed, during a press conference with the Colombian president. Look at all the people on the Democratic side, not only the Republican side, who were saying such terrible things about Director Comey. Story continues He also claimed that he was the victim of a political witch hunt. If I were even loosely connected to the Trump campaign, I'd lawyer the hell up. Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) May 17, 2017 Speaking of the decision by the Department of Justice to appoint Robert Mueller as a special prosecutor, he said: I respect the move. But the entire thing has been a witch hunt. He added: And there is no collusion between, certainly, myself and my campaign, but I can always speak for myself, and the Russians. Zero." On The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Dwayne the Rock Johnson joined Jimmy Fallon to play a little game called Blow Your Mind in which Johnson and Fallon were asked true-or-false questions by Questlove. If they answered incorrectly, they received an air blast to the face with various things, including cotton balls and lettuce. Wearing protective goggles and visually enhancing wigs, they answered literally every question wrong. For instance, it turns out there are only two escalators in the entire state of Wyoming, and Johnson thought that couldnt possibly be true. Cue air blast. During his interview, Johnson discussed his upcoming action-comedy, Baywatch. Directed by Seth Gordon, the movie features Zac Efron and Priyanka Chopra as well as Alexandra Daddario. Johnson revealed that David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson have cameos. The 45-year-old also stars in The Fate of the Furious, an action film featuring Vin Diesel, Jason Statham, and Michelle Rodriguez. The film has grossed over $1 billion worldwide. The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. on NBC. Watch clips and full episodes of The Tonight Show for free on Yahoo View. Watch: Hilarious Donald Trump and Legally Blonde mashup on The Tonight Show Read more from Yahoo TV: Tell us what you think! Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or leave your comments below. 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. Every serious Star Wars fan knows the story: When Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) finally professes her love for Han Solo (Harrison Ford) in The Empire Strikes Back, his scripted reply was I love you, too. Instead, Harrison Ford says, I know. Its a beautiful moment, often cited as one of the best actor-improvised lines in film history. But is the legend true? Lets take a look at how Han and Leias memorable exchange came to be. Han and Leia say farewell in The Empire Strikes Back (Lucasfilm) The conversation in the film takes place just before Han Solo is frozen alive in carbonite by Darth Vader. Not knowing if hell survive, he kisses Leia, only to be torn away from her by Stormtroopers. She blurts out I love you, and as he descends into chamber, Han replies, I know. Its the last line he speaks in the movie. In the scene from the shooting script, reprinted in J.W. Rinzlers The Making of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, the moment does read differently. After Han kisses Leia, she says, I love you. I couldnt tell you before, but its true. But he doesnt say, I love you his line is Just remember that, cause Ill be back. On the day he shot the carbonite scene in June 1979, director Irvin Kershner was actively making changes to screenwriter Lawrence Kasdans script. Amazingly, theres a complete record of when and how these changes occurred, because unit publicist Alan Arnold was recording everything on audio cassette. In a conversation between Ford and Kershner transcribed in Rinzlers book, the director and star agree that the love scene needs to be less florid. Story continues Watch the scene: I think she ought to just say, I love you, as Im passing by her, Ford suggests to Kershner. Later in the conversation, he makes the change to his own line, saying, If she says, I love you, and I say, I know, its beautiful and its acceptable and its funny. So its true that the iconic line was penned by Ford, but it wasnt improvised on the spot: It was hashed out with Kershner before the shoot. Ford also wanted to add a line of reassurance to Leia something like Dont worry about this which eventually became his saying to Chewbacca, You have to take care of her. Han Solos final scripted line, Ill be back, ended up on the cutting room floor, because Kershner wanted to make it clear that Han Solo might not survive the carbon freeze. You cant [reassure her] because you dont know whether this is the end or not, the director said to Ford. Ironically, that tender moment resulted in a fight between Ford and Carrie Fisher, who was annoyed that her co-star made changes to their scene without her input. When it came time for Han and Leia to profess their love, the two actors still werent speaking. Harrison is a very fine actor. I regarded that scene as entirely his, which is why I gave him so much opportunity to tell me how he thought we should treat it, Kerschner explained in Rinzlers book. That led to a little tension with Carrie. When Kershner put his first cut of The Empire Strikes Back together, executive producer George Lucas pushed back against the new dialogue, fearing that the audience would laugh at Hans line. In a 2010 Vanity Fair interview, Kershner said that Lucas insisted on doing two preview screenings, one with Han Solos scripted line (which Kershner had also shot) and another with Fords version. At the first preview in San Francisco, the house broke up after Han Solo said I know, Kershner told the magazine. When the film was over, people came up and said that is the most wonderful line and it worked. So George decided not to have the second screening. Leia and Han earlier in Cloud City (Lucasfilm) The line is funny, but as Carrie Fisher has said, thats exactly why it works. When they first showed the dailies to the cast and crew, they used the live sound and so when I say, I love you, I was body-miked and it was at the right level, Fisher told Rinzler. But when Harrison replied, it came out a loud echo: I KNOW! Well, the cast and crew laughed for about 15 minutes. But it works because they actually can make the transition from that laugh into the fact that is something very sad. Lawrence Kasdan, on the other hand, was displeased that his original Han and Leia scenes were rewritten. I could be the only person who feels this way, but I thought their romance had a touch of falseness about it, he told Starlog Magazine in 1981. Han and Leias scenes were among what I was proudest of in my script, but they hardly remained. Thirty-seven years after Empire was released, the I love you/I know scene is considered one of the most genuine and touching moments in all of the Star Wars movies. Said Ford about the scene in a 2010 interview: Film is a collaborative process. Im happy that I was able to make a small contribution. Read more from Yahoo Movies: Most brides pick a group of their closest female friends for their bridal parties. While men are added to the mix in some cases, its very rare that the brides entire party is comprised of them. Rebeca Abrantes recently shared a hilarious photo shoot of her all-male bridal party. (Photo: Rebeca Abrantes via Facebook) That was the case for Rebeca Abrantes, a 24-year-old majoring in engineering at Universidade Federal de Itajuba in Brazil, because she has more male friends than girlfriends. She uploaded an album of the hilarious photos with her pals to Facebook, captioning it, When the bride doesnt have any girlfriends, its time to call her bros. This is what happens to a girl in Computer Engineering. It has since gone viral. In the series of photos shot by photographer Fernando Duque the bride-to-be poses in a white silk robe with the guys, who are wearing pink robes of their own. Abrantes told the Jornal de Brasilia that her friendship with the guys stemmed from the fact that there were so few females in her computer engineering class at university. The group is photographed doing everything from shaving to taking shots together in the comical images. The album The Making Of has received 67,000 likes and over 20,000 comments on Facebook since being uploaded on May 16. Its clear people couldnt get enough of the funny photo shoot. Abrantes also posted a behind-the-scenes video from the shoot to her Instagram account. Behind the scenes #themakingof A post shared by Rebeca Abrantes (@rebecabrantes) on May 17, 2017 at 10:50am PDT She was recently married to Renato Sinohara, who thought the photo shoot with her friends was funny, she told Jornal de Brasilia. Meu eterno namorado A post shared by Rebeca Abrantes (@rebecabrantes) on May 17, 2017 at 3:57pm PDT No doubt her friends were on hand to celebrate with her during the ceremony. 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. By Tim Ghianni NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Reuters) - A former Tennessee school teacher accused of abducting a 15-year-old student in a cross-country journey that ended with his arrest in California was indicted on Thursday by a federal grand jury on two felony counts. Tad Cummins, 50, was charged with obstruction of justice and transporting a minor across state lines for the purpose of engaging in criminal sexual conduct, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Nashville. Cummins faces a sentence of 10 years to life in prison if convicted. He was originally charged in a federal criminal complaint days after his arrest in April with a single count of interstate transportation of a minor for sex. Cummins also faces state charges of aggravated kidnapping and sexual contact with a minor. He became the subject of a nationwide manhunt after disappearing with one of his high school students on March 13 near Columbia, Tennessee, about 45 miles (70 km) south of Nashville. Authorities said at the time he apparently had lured her into a car outside a restaurant. The pair were discovered 38 days later in a remote cabin in northern California near the Oregon border, where he was arrested and she was taken into protective custody. Authorities also recovered two loaded handguns and a collection of stones marked with the names of locations where the two had presumably stopped during their travels. "There are a lot of questions that have been unanswered" about the incident, Cummins' attorney, Dumaka Shabazz, told reporters on Thursday. Shabazz also said his client was not a flight risk, although a federal magistrate in Nashville denied Cumminss request for pretrial release last week. Shabazz said Cummins' family was "strongly in support of him" and that he "has been of great character." Another attorney for Cummins said at a court hearing in California last month the 15-year-old girl went with her teacher willingly. Court filings by the defense asserted that Cummins "never employed violence, force or threats" against her. Story continues "At no time was the alleged victim held at gunpoint, hit or forcibly held," the defense said in its brief. "In fact, it appears that she desired to leave a broken home, and a school where she was a bullied outsider." The girl's father has said he believed his daughter had been "brainwashed" by Cummins. (Reporting by Tim Ghianni in Nashville and Bernie Woodall in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Editing by Steve Gorman, Andrew Hay and Paul Tait) The family of 15-year-old Jordan Edwards, who was shot and killed by a Texas police officer after leaving a party in April, spoke out Thursday for the first time following his death. The Edwards family told CBS News in an interview that the police officers at the scene used the n-word shortly after shooting Jordan. Jordan was sitting in the front seat of a car leaving a party in a Dallas suburb April 29 when he was shot in the head by officer Roy Oliver. The Balch Springs Police Department originally said the car was moving toward officers in an aggressive manner, a story that was contradicted by video from the scene. The footage that emerged afterward showed that the car was moving away from the officers. Read: Jordan Edwards, 15, Shot By Police Officers While Leaving Party In A Car The Dallas County Medical examiner said Jordans death was a homicide resulting from a rifle wound to the head. Sixteen-year-old Vidal Allen, Jordans stepbrother, was sitting next to him in the car when he was killed. Vidal told CBS News' Omar Villanfranca that they pulled over after Jordan was shot to get help and were confronted and detained by the same officers who shot him. Vidal said he was called the n-word by an officer before he was handcuffed. He said he thought he would be shot also. Im not gonna be able to say goodbye to my parents or my brother that I have, Vidal said he remembered thinking at the time. The Balch Springs Police Department told CBS News they reviewed many hours from officers body cameras and in-car cameras and have not heard any of the officers use the n-word to describe the boys. Jordans mother, Charmaine Edwards, said she had not gone back to church in the three weeks since the shooting because she would have to drive past the scene. I go in his room and Im waiting on him to walk through the door like to have my last for him to say Bye, Im gone, she said. Its like its never gonna happen. Story continues Oliver, who reportedly fired multiple shots into the car Edwards was in, was fired from the force and charged with murder. The officer has since posted bail and was released. Jordans mother said Oliver must be held accountable for his actions. If the car was leaving the scene and he wasnt posing a threat to anyone, why shoot? she said. But youre literally shooting like youre playing target practice. In my mind its like he was hunting. You use rifles to kill animals. Thats what you do, and thats what he did. All I have is pictures now, Jordans father, Odell Edwards, told CBS. Throughout the house and on my phone. Every day, I look at the pictures and I just wish I could see him. Read: Family Of Jordan Edwards Files Lawsuit Against Roy Oliver And Police Department The Edwards family filed a lawsuit against Oliver and the police department following the incident, alleging that the officer used excessive and deadly force and said the department did not provide adequate training. There was no reason that any person in America not just a black person should ever have to bury their 15-year-old child who was doing everything right in life, said Jasmine Crockett, one of the familys attorneys, according to the Associated Press. You killed an innocent kid that loved life, Jordans father said. That wouldve made you even smile if you knew him. Jordan Edwards Photo: Edwards Family Related Articles cameronabadi President Donald Trump wasnt content with merely firing James Comey from his position as FBI director. He also attacked his credibility, competence, and integrity for pursuing the counterintelligence investigation into Russias interference in the 2016 presidential election and the potential collusion of the Trump campaign. We now have reason to believe this came after the president tried repeatedly to shut down that investigation, including requesting directly that Comey do so. Only Comey knows how he reacted to the insults that accompanied his firing. But its worth noting that a subset of the FBI almost certainly felt implicated in Trumps bullying: the FBI special agents who conduct foreign counterintelligence investigations, known within the intelligence community as FCI cases. These agents are their own breed within the FBI, spending their careers working silently on cases of immense national security interest. And Trump may soon regret picking a fight with them. First, a disclaimer: I am not privy to any of the facts of the Russian investigation underway by the FBI other than what has been published in the media. But I have served in the FBI for 28 years, for the most part working counterintelligence and counterterrorism cases under what is now known as the National Security Branch, so I have a good sense of how those agents working on the Russian investigation must feel. Ever since Comey confirmed to the House Intelligence Committee in March that the FBI is investigating the Russian role in the election, including the nature of any links between individuals associated with the Trump campaign and the Russian government and whether there was any coordination between the campaign and Russias efforts, there have been indications that the president wants the investigation closed. On May 16, the New York Times reported that Trump had asked Comey in February to end the FBI investigation into former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, an offshoot of the original investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. (It wont come as a surprise to FBI agents that Comey immediately noted this conversation in a memo. As a new agent, I was taught to contemporaneously document all sensitive conversations because if its not on paper, it doesnt exist. Its not a tape recording, but its the next best thing.) Story continues But Trumps private pressuring of Comey has always been accompanied by public disparagement of the Russia investigation. When former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates testified on May 8 before the Senate Judiciary Committee about the investigations into Flynns contact with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, Trump tweeted, The Russia-Trump collusion story is a total hoax, when will this taxpayer funded charade end? Tweeting on May 12, the president wrote, Again, the story that there was collusion between the Russians & Trump campaign was fabricated by Dems as an excuse for losing the election. The president may have calculated that he can afford to make disparaging public comments about the investigation Comey was overseeing, because the FBI and its rank and file are reputed to be more conservative than the public. But this will probably prove a fateful mistake. First, the FBI is not politically monolithic and the political views of agents rarely line up neatly with partisan political categories. Generally, FBI agents may lean conservative, but, above all, they tend to reflect the politics of the regions in which they choose to live and work. Agents in the Midwest and South are more conservative than those in Seattle, where I spent my last eight years in the bureau. In any given FBI field office, youre liable to hear in private the same types of political conversations around the water cooler that you would hear in any large, diverse, multinational company. Some agents support Democrats, others back Republicans, but few in such rabid or ideological fashion that it interferes with their work. But FCI officers, who are concentrated in Washington and New York, are different. Tasked with investigating national security matters, these FBI agents are mission-driven in a unique way. Almost without exception, they are extraordinarily sensitive perhaps more than anyone else in the U.S. government about the national security threats posed by Russian and other hostile foreign intelligence services. They tend to subordinate their political beliefs to a mindset that revolves around defending the country from external enemies that wish Americans harm. They are also under extraordinary psychological strain. They defend the most valuable secrets of the nation from theft, abuse, misuse, and accidental disclosure while making no public judgment about the political motives of the Americans they are sworn to protect, including those they investigate. These cases, in which the primary goal is to gather intelligence about the objectives and capabilities of the foreign or domestic target and prevent the disclosure of U.S. secrets to foreign agents, are generally very slow to develop and investigations can last for years. FCI case agents are well aware that they are fated to seldom get the accolades and publicity that their colleagues working criminal cases do. FCI cases are by their nature classified, even when they involve criminal violations like espionage, so agents working FCI matters dont ever talk about their work with family or friends, or even to other agents with the same level of clearances. Finally, even when prosecuted, FCI cases are often dealt with covertly with guilty pleas offered in closed hearings with many caveats and agreements between the parties, so as not to reveal any government secrets unnecessarily. Russian cases are particularly closely held, primarily because Russian intelligence has a large presence in the United States, especially in Washington and New York, and those cases are among the most sensitive in the bureau. During the time I worked FCI cases for the FBI, the intelligence community referred to Russias various intelligence services collectively as hostile intelligence services, or HOIS. They are considered the most hostile of all HOIS, in fact, and among the best in the world at what they do, which is to collect intelligence and subvert other countries in the interest of the Russian Federations long-term goals and objectives. Because of the hostile intent Russia and certain other nations have toward the United States, FBI agents of the National Security Branch working FCI cases take great pride in their work, which is conducted without acknowledgement, except among the members of the intelligence community. How they feel about the latest Russian faux paus by the president and the firing of Comey is something we may never know completely, but its certainly possible to imagine. The same is true for how they are likely to respond to the presidents consistent interference in their work. FCI agents wont use the presidents actions as justification to unethically undercut his administration. The men and women working on the investigation will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, as they promised on the day they entered service with the FBI. That includes following all internal rules and regulations ensuring the integrity and secrecy of any facts they uncover during their investigation. Revealing that information to the public is not the role of the FBI, but rather now rests with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. But one thing is certain: The Russian investigation will continue unabated. The president may think the power still lies in his hands, since he still has the power to name Comeys replacement. But the agents have the power of their own principles and integrity, and they now have the added fuel of not just public opinion, but personal anger and professional pride. Photo credit: ZACH GIBSON/Getty Images ; In 2012, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher received a warning from the FBI that Russian spies were attempting to recruit him as an agent of influence, the New York Times reported Friday. Although the California Republican has long been among the Kremlins most outspoken defenders on Capitol Hill, officials told the Times that Rohrabacher was not believed to have been paid by Russia, nor is he considered to be actively working with Moscows intelligence officials. Rather, he was unwittingly being targeted as someone who could guide U.S. policy in Russias favor. In an interview with the Times, Rohrabacher confirmed the 2012 meeting in which, he said, an FBI agent notified him that Moscow had looked at me as someone who could be influenced. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher at a hearing in Washington, D.C., March 26, 2015. (Photo: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Rohrabacher recalled that the meeting had focused specifically on the congressmans interactions with a member of the Russian Foreign Ministry, whom hed met on a prior visit to Moscow. They were telling me he had something to do with some kind of Russian intelligence, Rohrabacher told the Times. This newest detail comes amid a rapidly unfolding investigation into possible collusion between members of Donald Trumps presidential campaign and the government of Russian President Vladimir Putin. It also offers new insight into the extent of Russias attempts to infiltrate Washington well before Trumps electoral victory. This week, the Washington Post revealed a recorded conversation between House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and fellow top Republicans last June, in which McCarthy told colleagues, Theres two people I think Putin pays: Rohrabacher and Trump. Both McCarthy and Rohrabacher have been among Trumps most loyal supporters in Congress. Though McCarthy quickly dismissed the comment as a joke, Fridays report in the Times reveals that the FBI had made clear its concerns about Rohrabachers Russian ties years before. Still, the warning doesnt seem to have deterred Rohrabacher from continuing to sing Russias praises in Washington, even earning him the reputation of Putins favorite congressman before Trump entered office. Story continues Last December, amid rumors that he was in the running for secretary of state under Trump, Rohrabacher made an impassioned plea for improved U.S.-Russia relations in a heated exchange with Yahoo News and Finance Anchor Bianna Golodryga. Russia is no longer the Soviet Union, he told Golodryga, a U.S. citizen who emigrated from the former Soviet Union as a political refugee. Theres a bunch of people here who want to treat it like its still the Soviet Union and get in the Cold War. Thats not what Donald Trump wants. Its not good for America, and its better to cooperate with them to actually take on real enemies. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: Former Vice President Joe Biden, pointed out at the SALT conference Thursday in Las Vegas that both him and former President Barack Obama made it through two terms without any scandals. The former vice president has typically refrained from going after President Donald Trump and his recent controversial administrative policies. At this appearance however, he reminded everyone how they made it through "without a single scandal ... not one," Business Insider reported. Read: Joe Biden On Donald Trump: President Needs To 'Grow Up, Stop Tweeting And Start Focusing' Even though he did not specifically mention Trump by name, his comments made it clear he was drawing a comparison with the current president who has had a number of allegations and controversies surrounding him. Joe Biden Photo: Getty Images/Saul Loeb - Pool Bidens indirect criticism comes just days after former FBI Director James Comeys memos were sought by House Oversight Chairman Jason Chafettz on the allegation that Trump committed obstruction of justice by trying to influence an ongoing investigation on former National Security Advisor Michael Flynns alleged ties to Russia. However, Biden clarified the Obama administration may not have had any scandals but did make its own share of mistakes. He even admitted to having occasional shouting matches with his former superior, but praised Obamas character and work ethic. He said Obama was "absolutely totally competent" and someone who took the job "extremely seriously." Obama, said Biden, was a man of his word. While Biden was not sure he wanted to become the 47th Vice President of the United States initially, it was Obama who convinced him to take the job, promising him his voice would be heard on every important matter. He said Obama kept his promise till their last day in office and that serving alongside him was the best decision of his life. Story continues Joe Biden Photo: Getty Images/Alex Wong Biden was also asked if he would run for the presidential office in the 2020 elections, to which he said: Could I? Yes. Would I? Probably not." Read: Trump Would Lose To Major Democrats Like Biden, Warren: Poll Biden had initially said he would run for the 2016 election cycle but decided against it after his son Beau died of brain cancer in 2015, CNN reported. He said he was not in the frame of mind to talk about a future White House run and was simply focusing on his family after the terrible loss. However, if circumstances permit, I may very well do it, said the former vice president. Biden also made a surprising remark about former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who lost the 2016 elections to President Trump. Speaking of Clinton as a presidential candidate, he said: I never thought she was a great candidate. I thought I was a great candidate. At the same time, he also said: "Hillary would have been a really good president." Joe Biden Photo: Getty Images/Alex Wong Biden had some inspiring words for the American people with bipartisan politics gripping the nation currently, which he described as a fever that had to break. "Let's wake up!" Biden said. "This is America. We all walk around like, 'Oh my God. What are we going to do?' C'mon man!" Related: Watch news, TV and more Yahoo View, available on iOS and Android. Related Articles The news of Fox News founder Roger Ailes' death on Thursday was greeted with tears and jeers. Read: Fox News Architect Roger Ailes Passes Away at 77 Fox News personality Janice Dean wept openly on Fox And Friends. I wouldn't be here without that man and when I was diagnosed with M.S., he got on the phone and said whatever we can do for your family, because we are a family. And he will be missed on this channel. He will be missed. Today America lost one of its great patriotic warriors," said Fox host Sean Hannity. But others had starkly different reactions. "Justice," a former Fox News personality reportedly said when she heard that Ailes, 77, had died. Ailes' death comes less than a year after he resigned from Fox following allegations of sexual harassment, which he denied. Ailes' visionary helped build the Fox News into the empire it is today, many said. He's also been credited with paving the way for the Donald Trump presidency. Ailes' biographer Gabriel Sherman said he died lonely and despondent. This is shocking and, unfortunately, not shocking, because Roger Ailes had been suffering with health problems his whole life. This chapter of his life has been tragic, he said. A friend he spoke to in recent days recalled Ailes joked about committing suicide. CNN Media Correspondent Brian Stelter said Ailes had fallen out with many of his old friends, including President Trump. "There would not be a President Trump if not for Roger Ailes, he told Inside Edition. Ailes helped guide Trump to the presidency, even advised him before the debates. In recent months, I am told, Trump and Ailes were not in touch. Read: Bill O'Reilly Questions Megyn Kelly's 'Loyalty' After She Says Roger Ailes Made Fox News 'Look Bad' A police report obtained by Inside Edition said Ailes fell in the bathroom of his Palm Beach, Florida estate and hit his head. He was not completely alert and still on the floor when police were called. Story continues He suffered serious bleeding and a blood clot, and was put into a medically induced coma on Wednesday. He died Thursday morning. Ailes has been in failing health for several years and required a cane and sometimes a walker to get around. He had secret prostate surgery and was a hemophiliac. Watch: Medical Examiner Ruled Soundgarden Singer Chris Cornell's Death A Suicide Related Articles: A high school seniors graduation is in jeopardy, and all because she gave the cold shoulder. Literally. Summer, a senior at Hickory Ridge High School in North Carolina, was wearing a loose army green blouse that was slightly off-the-shoulder and exposed her collarbone when her principal demanded she cover up during lunch. According to a local news station, the principal asked her to put on a jacket. When Summer said she thought her shirt was fine, the principal retorted that her lower back was also completely exposed, going against the schools dress code. Summer said again that she thought it was fine. Summer tried to comply, though. She didnt have a jacket, but her friend gave her one. I pulled it up, put the jacket over it, zipped up the jacket, Summer told WCNC. Apparently, the principal didnt let her off the hook though, telling her she would have to go to the control room to change her clothes. The student said, I completely understand why a dress code is put into place but I feel like after I put on that jacket it should have been subdued. She thinks the problem lies in the fact that theres been tension between her and the principal for years. So much so that her mother now has to be informed of any disciplinary action taken against her child before it happens. So when the principal demanded Summer go to the control room, she didnt budge. They cant take me anywhere unless my mother is called, she said. So I said I apologize, I cant go anywhere with you unless my mom is called. At an assembly later, unable to reach Summers mother, the principal, with a security guard, separated Summer from the rest of the students. [The security guard] was within five feet of me, he had his hand on his gun. [The principal] said, Im gonna give you an ultimatum. We have tried to call your mother. You either come with me to the control room to change your shirt or we will arrest you, Summer recalled. I stayed in my seat just like a lot of role models that I have looked up to stayed in their seats, she says. I mean, you have to stand up for what you believe in. Luckily, Summers mom called back before they could cuff her. Because, apparently, her outfit needed bracelets. Story continues While Summer claimed on Twitter that the police attempted to arrest her and charge her with trespassing, she received a 10-day suspension instead, which will prevent her from attending any senior activities, including graduation. hickory ridge high school just attempted to arrest me for dress code. lmaoooooooooo???? summer bond (@summerstarr_) May 17, 2017 Its just sad because I worked so hard for four years to walk across that stage, she said. We have drug dealers walking across that stage, we have sex offenders walking across that stage and then the 4.4 student who showed her shoulders cant. Summer also has a full ride to a major university, according to WCNC. Her principal still wants to expel her, but her mother plans to appeal. The schools dress code does prohibit students from showing their shoulders or back, although Summers back and shoulders werent completely exposed. Fellow students expressed their frustration with the situation on social media: Really, Hickory Ridge High School, this is absolutely embarrassing way of how you handled this situation. https://t.co/18ZJBtZapg Matt Krieger (@MattSKrieger) May 19, 2017 lol hickory ridge is trash. you can't even wear what you want even if its dress code, might as well wear uniforms. 10/10 don't recommend!! bri (@briibaabby) May 19, 2017 Clearly, their dress code is a little tight, considering this isnt the first fashion related fallout the school has experienced. Earlier this school year, 45 students at Hickory Ridge High were sent to the principals office for wearing leggings with shirts that were considered too short, according to WCNC. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. For Twitter updates, follow @YahooStyle and @YahooBeauty. Bonn (AFP) - After frustrating talks in Bonn with an American delegation in limbo, UN climate negotiators are pinning their hopes for the Paris Agreement's future on diplomatic arm-twisting at the highest level. On the campaign trail, now-president Donald Trump vowed to "cancel" the 196-nation pact to rein in global warming by curbing emissions from burning oil, coal and gas. He has not yet executed his threat, but Trump has made it clear where he stands. His secretary of state was a CEO of oil giant ExxonMobil, and the Environmental Protection Agency head an anti-climate litigator. Trump has moved to slash EPA funding, and to loosen restrictions on coal-fired power plants and vehicle emissions. Now the man who has called climate change a "hoax" perpetrated by China, is scheduled to rub shoulders with some of the world's most influential leaders in a duo of high-stakes huddles. The first is a May 26-27 summit in Sicily of the G7 rich nations, followed on July 7-8 by a meeting in Hamburg of the G20 major economies, of which the G7 also forms part. Key members of both groupings have already called on Trump to stay the climate course. "If Donald Trump is unclear on the lethal implications of his muddled climate policy then its up to the other leaders of the G7 to ensure he is aware of just how damaging his actions can be," said Mohamed Adow, an analyst with Christian Aid, which advocates for poor country interests at the UN climate forum. "They must make a strong case for action when they meet." At the G7 meeting, Trump will talk with his peers from Germany, Canada, France, Britain, Italy and Japan. - Ride it out? - The leaders of Germany and Canada, as well as France's new president Emmanuel Macron, are viewed as champions of the climate cause. But this type of multilateral discussion involves much diplomatic give-and-take on a wide range of political and economic issues of national interest. There are some doubts there will be time or space for a strong focus on global warming. Story continues The White House has said Trump will not announce his decision on the Paris Agreement until after the G7. Jochen Flasbarth, Germany's state secretary of the environment, said in Bonn this week that climate change was "one of the issues of highest priority" for his country's presidency of the G20. "We work very hard together with many other friends in the world to convince the US that staying in the Paris Agreement is the right way to go," he said. There are fears in the UN climate forum that an American withdrawal may prompt others to follow suit, or simply undermine the collective will -- crafted over two decades of tough negotiations -- to ramp up climate action over time. Also under threat is US climate funding. Trump is unlikely to honour an outstanding $2 billion (1.8 billion euros) pledged under his predecessor to the Green Climate Fund, or America's contribution to the budget of the UN climate secretariat (UNFCCC). The uncertainty cast a long shadow over technical negotiations, hosted by the UNFCCC in Bonn from May 8 to 18, on a nuts-and-bolts "rule book" to implement the deal. Some delegates said it might be better to let the US break ranks than let it undermine the negotiations from the inside. "It may be the case that he (Trump) is listening to the ExxonMobils and wanting to actually think through how to use that seat at the table," commented Adow. Others say the rest of the world should better "ride out" Trump's presidency and wait for the next administration to pursue America's commitments under the deal. - Who will be next? - But this comes with uncertainty. "After four years will there be a new president who is favouring" climate action? "Maybe not," said Qimin Chai of China's National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation. For Adow, China will be key in cranking up the pressure in the coming weeks. China's Xi Jinping was instrumental, alongside Barack Obama, in pushing the Paris deal through. On Sunday, Beijing hosted a meeting on international trade, attended by the leaders of such countries as Russia, Argentina, Belarus, Indonesia, the Philippines, Switzerland and Turkey. In what is considered a message of climate solidarity against Trump, the leaders' closing statement encouraged "all parties which have ratified it to fully implement the Paris Agreement." Other key opportunities for building diplomatic pressure, say observers, include the so-called Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin on May 22 and 23, which will draw participants from 35 countries, and an EU-China business summit in Brussels on June 2. Trump is also due to meet Pope Francis, a strong proponent of global action against climate change, at the Vatican on May 24. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican Representative Jason Chaffetz, the chairman of a committee looking into President Donald Trump's decision to fire FBI chief James Comey, said on Thursday he will depart Congress at the end of next month. "As you know, after careful consideration and long discussion with my wife, Julie, we agree the time has come for us to move on from this part of our life," he said in a letter to his Utah constituents. Chaffetz, a conservative Republican who was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2008, gained prominence as head of the committee that investigated Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server while she was U.S. secretary of state. The House Oversight Committee he heads is one of several congressional panels looking into aspects of Russia's alleged attempts to influence the U.S. presidential election. In addition to the firing of Comey, it is conducting a probe of whether former Trump National Security Adviser Michael Flynn misled security clearance investigators about Russia contacts. Chaffetz had considered running for a U.S. Senate seat in the past. A former aide told Reuters last month the congressman may run for governor of Utah in 2020, though no firm decision had been made. (Reporting by Timothy Ahmann; Additional reporting by Richard Cowan; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Dan Grebler) Did your husband really like your bridesmaids? The answer could be linked to how long your marriage may last. Researchers studying marriage and friendships found that among white couples, when husbands disapproved of their wives' friends during the first year of marriage, the couples were more likely to end up divorced than when husbands were fine with their wives' friendships. The results did not hold true for black couples, the only other race surveyed in this study. However, in both black and white couples, when the husband felt the wife's friends interfered with the relationship, their chance of divorce was nearly doubled. "Ours was one of the first studies to look at the effect of merging friend networks and how those might affect the marital relationship," said Katherine Fiori, a psychologist at Adelphi University in New York and a co-author of the new research published May 3 in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. Merging friends A lot of research has looked into how married couples navigate their relationships with in-laws, Fiori told Live Science, but there has been less of a focus on post-marital friendships. The role of merging friends for relationship satisfaction may be increasingly important, Fiori said, because people are now less likely to meet their significant others through friends and more likely to find them 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," Fiori said. [I Don't: 5 Myths About Marriage] The researchers used data from 355 black and white heterosexual couples who were surveyed through the Early Years of Marriage project, a study that has followed the same couples who married in Detroit since as early as 1986. About 36 percent of the white couples and 55 percent of the black couples divorced within the first 16 years of marriage. (All of the marriages in the study were between people of the same race.) Story continues Predicting divorce Using that 16-year time frame, Fiori and her colleagues compared couples' likelihood of divorce with the answers that the men and women gave separately to several questions during their first few years of marriage. In year one, each person was asked about how many friends they and their spouse could call on for help and advice. They were also asked, "Does your (wife/husband) have friends that you would rather (she/he) not spend time with?" In year two of marriage, couples were asked whether their spouses' friends interfered with their married life. Husbands' perceptions of their spouses' friends turned out to matter the most for whether a couple would divorce. For example, 70 percent of white couples in which the husband was fine with his wife's friends during year one of marriage were still married 16 years later. But among those couples in which the husbands disapproved of the wife's friends, just over 50 percent were still married, according to the study. Women's attitudes toward their husbands' friends didn't matter for the likelihood of divorce. In black couples, neither spouses' feelings about the husband or wife's friends predicted divorce. If a husband viewed his wife's friends as interfering, though, the chance of divorce almost doubled regardless of race. The findings held true regardless of other factors that can influence divorce rates, including education levels, income, age, whether the study participants' parents were divorced, whether they'd had a child before marriage and their own reports of marital quality in the first year after the wedding. [The Science of Breakups: 7 Facts About Splitsville] Why friends matter Traditionally, social psychologists have seen an expanded friend network as a boon of marriage, Fiori said. But at the same time, married couples report spending less time with friends than single people do. Some of that may have to do with the couples turning to each other for their social needs, but friction between spouses and friends may be another issue, Fiori said. The study can't, on its own, explain why only husbands' opinions matter or why there is a racial difference in how friendships affect couples. Previous research, however, might provide some clues. Studies have suggested that black couples may rely on family networks for support more than white couples, who turn to friends more frequently, Fiori said. "It may just not matter as much that they disapprove of each other's friends, because their focus is so much on family," Fiori said of the black couples in the study. There are many reasons that a husband's opinion on his wife's friends might matter more than vice versa, Fiori said. Wives are known to be more likely to share emotional intimacy with friends than husbands. They talk about their marital problems more with friends, which may exacerbate those problems in some cases. And because men focus more on doing activities with their friends rather than sharing feelings, women may more easily take over for men's friendships. That means men may be more likely than women to simply drop a friend their spouse has a problem with. But it also may be that men are be more willing to seek a divorce over these issues than women, Fiori said. Previous studies have also found that when friends disapprove of a relationship, that relationship is more likely to eventually break up than if the social network gives it the nod of approval. Husbands who reported that they disapproved of their wives' friends may have been picking up on the friends' disapproval of them. "It's kind of like, which came first, the chicken or the egg?" Fiori said. Couples struggling with dislike of their spouses' friends might try reframing the relationship and considering the benefits their spouse gets from that friendship and how those benefits might trickle down to the marriage, Fiori said. "We often hear about problems that can come up with in-laws," she said. "We don't usually think about how difficult it can be to get along with a partner's friends." Original article on Live Science. Editor's Recommendations Human Abedin, estranged wife of disgraced congressman Anthony Weiner, has reportedly filed for divorce. A report in the New York Post, said Ms Abedin, who for many years served as a senior aide to Hillary Clinton, brought an anonymous versus anonymous action in Manhattan Supreme Court. Her reported move came just a few hours after Weiner broke down in court, after pleading guilty to sending obscene material to a 15-year-old girl in North Carolina. anthony-weiner.jpg Former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner leaves Federal court, Friday, May 19, 2017, in New York. Weiner pleaded guilty to a charge of transmitting sexual material to a minor and could get years in prison (AP/Mary Altaffer) I have a sickness, but I do not have an excuse, said the 52-year-old. He had pleaded guilty to a single charge as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors in New York. Mr Weiner, who twice ran unsuccessfully to be New York mayor, could be obliged to register as a convicted sex offender. Video not available for syndication Here's how Hillary Clinton prepped for a Trump hug The FBI began investigating Mr Weiner in September after the North Carolina girl told a tabloid news site that she and the disgraced former politician had exchanged lewd messages for several months. She also accused him of asking her to undress on camera. The Associated Press, said the investigation led FBI agents to seize his laptop computer, which led to the discovery of a new cache of emails that Democratic presidential candidate Ms Clinton had sent to Ms Abedin. In October, just days before the election, FBI director James Comey stunned the country by announcing that his agency was reopening its closed investigation into Ms Clinton's handling of State Department business on a private email server so it could analyse the newly discovered correspondence. Mr Comey announced shortly before the election that the new emails contained nothing to change his view that Ms Clinton could not be charged with a crime. But Ms Clinton partly blamed her election loss to Republican Donald Trump on Mr Comeys announcement. Story continues Mr Abedin separated from Weiner in August amid revelations that he had exchanged sexually explicit images on social media. The Post said Fridays filing was uncontested, meaning she did not expect a fight over custody or the couples assets. Jerusalem (AFP) - Israeli Culture Minister Miri Regev triggered a social media storm on Thursday after she attended the Cannes film festival in an evening dress featuring a Jerusalem Islamic shrine. Several tweets altered what one called the "provocative" garment which shows a panorama of the walled Old City in Israeli-occupied east Jerusalem, including the Dome of the Rock, located in the flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound. The site, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, is sacred to both Muslims and Jews and a regular scene of friction between them. It is the holiest site in Judaism and the third-holiest in Islam, after Mecca and Medina. One tweet redesigns the dress to show a nightime scene of the Old City with fireworks bursting overhead and no sign of the Dome of the Rock. The Twitter account of "Exposing Israel's Agenda" shows her Cannes dress as emblazoned with a blue-and-white Israeli flag and spattered with blood. It says that Regev's message is that "occupied is their capital." Other social media users replaced the image of Jerusalem with Israel's separation wall dividing it from the West Bank. Regev, a former military censor, serves in what is seen as Israel's most rightwing government ever and is an outspoken member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party. She has spoken in favour of allowing Jewish prayer at the Al-Aqsa compound, currently banned for fears it could spark an Islamic backlash. Israeli newspaper Maariv said her fashion choice was in homage to next week's Jerusalem Day, when Israel marks 50 years since its seizure of mainly Arab east Jerusalem according to the Jewish calendar. In 1980, the Jewish state annexed east Jerusalem in an act never recognised by the international community. Israel says the whole city is its united capital, while the Palestinians claim east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state. Some tweets came from fans of Regev's wardrobe choice. Story continues "We say W O W. That is a statement dress! Miri Regev brought straight to the ," said one. Others seemed more concerned about her fashion sense than her message. "Regardless of your politics, I hope we can all agree: whatever Miri Regev paid for this dress, it was too much," said one. Related: Watch TV shows, movies and more on Yahoo View, available on iOS and Android. cameronabadi Just days before President Donald Trumps arrival in Tel Aviv, Israeli intelligence officials were shouting at their American counterparts in meetings, furious over news that the U.S. commander in chief may have compromised a vital source of information on the Islamic State and possibly Iran, according to a U.S. defense official in military planning. To them, its horrifying, the official, who attended the meetings, told Foreign Policy. Their first question was: What is going on? What is this? White House officials are touting Trumps visit to Israel next week as a chance to show U.S. solidarity with its closest Middle East ally after eight years of friction between former President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But behind the public display of harmony, Israeli intelligence officers are angry and alarmed over the U.S. president revealing sensitive information in a May 10 meeting in the White House with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the Russian ambassador to the United States, Sergey Kislyak. Trump divulged classified information gathered by Israel about specific terrorist plotting by the Islamic State. The information reportedly revealed Islamic State advances in bomb-making that could be used to mask an explosive device inside a laptop, and also referenced the city where the unfolding plot was being hatched. The details Trump spilled likely came from a source that was also useful on Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its Hezbollah proxies in Syria and Lebanon, which are much higher priorities for Israel, the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said. To the Israelis, ISIS is not that big of a concern, the defense official said, using an alternate acronym for the Islamic State. We have a partner that has done us a favor. They went out of their way to support us in a campaign against ISIS, that they have no real skin in. In the first 48 hours after the news broke, the Israelis saw little engagement from the Trump administration on the issue. Instead, the administration remained focused on planning for the presidents visit next week. Story continues Theres been no collaboration on this issue or any outreach. But its like a [public relations] circus, the official said. The revelation that sensitive information may have been passed to Russia, a partner to Iran, was particularly concerning. Israel has become increasingly anxious about Russias military cooperation with Iran in support of the Syrian regime and its growing cyberwarfare capabilities. In Israel, there is fear the compromise of intelligence could damage the countrys interests and even jeopardize lives, the official said. The Trump administration, however, has denied any intelligence sources or methods were revealed in the presidents talks with the Russians. Trumps national security advisor, Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, said the counterterrorism information Trump shared was wholly appropriate. John Sipher, who used to run intelligence operations against Russia for the CIA, said sharing information with Moscow carried high risks. The Russians are the biggest and most capable worldwide service other than the United States, Sipher said. Even giving them a little bit allows them to put it together. While Israeli intelligence officials were aware of Trumps limited grasp of military operations and intelligence procedures, they didnt expect the inexperienced president to play fast and loose with one of their most sensitive of accesses, the defense official said. If the source was lost, it also could affect a U.S.-led military operation to take back Raqqa from the Islamic State with American-backed Syrian Kurdish and Arab forces, he said. Sources arent infinite, he said. They are already reassessing: Where are we going to be able to gain that kind of information? The value of the intelligence is virtually a holy grail for spy services, experts said. Insights into the workings of a terrorist groups inner circle are coveted and quite rare, said Bruce Hoffman, a professor at Georgetown University who has advised the U.S. government on counterterrorism. Its all solid gold. It doesnt get much better than that. While the U.S.-Israel alliance will survive the episode intact, some former U.S. and Israeli officials worry that it could have a lasting effect on intelligence sharing while Trump remains in office. 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 Mossad, Israels intelligence service, told a Tel Aviv radio station. Especially if this information reaches our good friends, the Iranians. Yatom said there was a danger the breach could cause a loss of faith between the intelligence services. Apart from dismay in Israels security establishment over Trumps talk with the Russians, the presidents scheduled visit to Israel part of a nine-day overseas trip has generated some PR headaches even before his arrival. Junior advance staffers on the ground have reportedly scheduled only 15 minutes for Trumps visit to Yad Vashem, the national Holocaust memorial, which did not go over well in Israel. And its unclear if that visit will be extended. Trump had also wanted to give a speech at the ancient mountain fortress of Masada after a dramatic helicopter landing. But when that plan was ruled out by the Israeli military, his team opted to cancel the speech and have the president speak at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. Daniel Kurtzer, a former U.S. ambassador to Israel, said when Trump sits down with Israeli and Palestinian leaders next week, his counterparts may be reluctant to share sensitive diplomatic stances with a president known for his lack of discretion, he told FP. But U.S.-Israeli relations are resilient and will ultimately survive both the scheduling hiccups and the intelligence disclosure. The alliance, defined by common interests in the region, is too important to let one intelligence leak, however damaging, upend the entire relationship. Its a very dangerous thing that the president did, Kurtzer said. On the other hand, its not a deal breaker with Israel. FP staff writer Elias Groll contributed to this report. Photo credit: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images Ohio Gov. John Kasich speaks at the Nixon library on May 5. (Photo: Courtesy of the Nixon Foundation) Orange County isnt Richard Nixons Southern California anymore. The unending suburbia once synonymous with white, Christian, Chrysler-driving conservatives is now more than half Latino and Asian, and last year it voted Democratic in a presidential election for the first time since 1936. The Crystal Cathedral, from which the Rev. Robert Schuller launched his televangelism empire, now houses a Catholic diocese brimming with immigrants. But it was the old O.C. that gathered at the beautifully renovated Nixon library on the first Friday in May lots of white hair and buzz cuts, suits and blazers buttoned in the heat. These were rear-guard Republicans, sentries of establishment conservatism making their final stand. And the man they came to see at 30 bucks a pop was John Kasich. Standing at a podium with the presidential seal, Ohios second-term governor, the last candidate to stand down against Donald Trump in last years primaries, delivered a meandering speech that was half inspirational sermon, half populist lament. He slammed United and Wells Fargo for corporate recklessness, railed against the coarsening of the society, warned of the drift toward self-absorption. An enthusiastic, born-again Christian, Kasich criticized an executive order, issued by President Trump the day before, that lifted some restrictions on politicking in places of worship. I dont believe these religious people ought to be endorsing candidates, he said. They ought to be figuring out how to clothe the homeless or feed the poor, not all of this political nonsense. He lambasted the shift from objective reality to subjective reality in Washington. He trashed the health care bill the president had just pushed through the House, saying it wouldnt protect those at risk of losing their insurance. You may have heard Im not the biggest fan of Donald Trump, Kasich said, eliciting chuckles and, from about half the room, applause. A man in the back stood up and shouted: You didnt insult anybody! Story continues Thats why Im not in the White House, Kasich said, shrugging involuntarily while the corners of his mouth flared into a smile, the way he often does. Yorba Linda was the last major stop on Kasichs frenetic, month-long book tour. His latest memoir has one of those anodyne political titles Two Paths but is in fact a surprisingly personal argument for a new kind of spirituality in conservative politics. Kasich wants to see less of the fire-and-damnation doctrine that exists on the religious right and more of the Judeo-Christian values of tolerance and civility. In events and interviews, though, Kasichs spiritual musings have been eclipsed by questions about what hes really up to. Kasich was probably the only Republican candidate to emerge from last years primaries more widely admired at least among the general electorate than he went into them, and hes pointedly refused to rule out another primary run against Trump in 2020. Theres no real historical analogue for something like that. Sitting presidents have been challenged, of course, most recently in 1992, when Pat Buchanan ran against George Bush. But in every case you can think of, the challenger was a movement figure bent on overturning the party establishment. No moderate, governing type like Kasich has ever tried to restore order by ousting an insurgent president. Then again, weve never had a leader like Trump. As we sat in the anteroom down the hall from the Watergate exhibit, the current president was fending off investigations into the covert influence of a foreign rival, while his approval ratings hovered below 40 percent. And this was before Trump leaked classified intelligence to the Russians, causing one Republican senator to warn of a downward spiral just four months into the presidency. Was I catching Kasich at the end of the tour, or was this only the beginning? ***** There seemed to be an unusual dynamic in the room at Yorba Linda, which was familiar to me from the couple of large conservative audiences Id met since the election. Just about everyone in the room had voted for Trump, and if you surveyed them, probably nine out of 10 would tell you they were glad they did. But when Kasich criticized the president for his temperament or his policies, there were claps and bobbing heads in every row, and almost no one seemed visibly put off. All of which jibes with what you see in most polls, even if pundits often misread the data. Basically, old-line Republicans felt then and feel now that Trump was the necessary cost of keeping Hillary Clinton out of the White House, and they were willing to give him an audition. But nothing Trumps done since Election Day has convinced them that hes the right guy for the job. For these voters, Kasich holds himself out as his partys anti-Trump. Where Trump is biting and boastful, Kasich is unrelentingly upbeat and self-improving. Where Trump is all about personal victories, Kasich talks constantly about a divine purpose. Where Trump would scrap trade deals and social programs, Kasich advances a Rooseveltian (Teddy, not Franklin) faith in progressive, globalist government. See, Im a positive populist, and Trump is a negative populist, Kasich told me after the speech. I asked him about the only meeting hed had so far with President Trump, where he offered his advice on health care in the Oval Office. I think Trump would have gone for anything, Kasich said. Hes not hung up on this particular policy or that. Thats what I think. I think theres a tug of war for him inside the White House, among those who are ideological and those who are not. You know, the problem you have is that this is a guy who ran his own operation. Hes a real estate guy. He didnt have to think about all these things. So the question is, is there an underlying philosophy he has as to how this moves forward? I dont know. Kasich, who served in Congress for 18 years, told me that Trump later called to ask him to get behind the House bill. If the bill is what I think it is, I cant support it, he told the president. Does it matter what I think? Kasich asked me. I dont know. It must, because some people I used to work with want me to be quiet. But Im not going to be quiet. I reminded Kasich, then, of what he had told me more than once during our frequent conversations last year that he was running his last campaign. Was he standing by that now, a week before his 65th birthday? Probably, he said. So now he was wavering? No, he said, chewing a Double-Double from the In-N-Out Burger. Its just that my people said, Why are you making these declarations? People want to be hopeful about something, so why are you saying this? I dont know what Im going to do. People are dwelling on this, and its ridiculous, Kasich said, dismissing the entire subject. People were dwelling on it, I pointed out, because he was out there drumming up crowds and taking stands against the president. I suggested maybe he was being coy. Nobodys trying to be coy or cute, Kasich said, shaking his head emphatically. Im going to raise money for my efforts and to have a voice. But Im not going around the states lining up people or finding chairmen. Im not doing any of that. Kasich volunteered that he was still rooting for Trump to be a less divisive president, which is why hed been discouraged by the raucous rally Trump held in Pennsylvania on the night of the White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington. The elections over, he said, shaking his head. We talked a bit then about faith and the meaning of populism, and then Kasich seemed to double back to the question hed been working hard to sidestep. Heres the thing that Ive thought about, he said. Do I have a base? Can someone like me can they attract people and be powerful in politics? He stared at me for a moment, as if I might provide the answer. I stared back. Well, as I look at this tour, Im more and more hopeful that you can, he said. But heres the problem. If youre Bernie, and youre out there wanting to tear down the whole economic system, or Elizabeth Warren, or if youre out here on the right wanting to tear everything down, you get crowds and you get noise. But Im not sure thats where the country is. So a person whos out here trying to have a civil discussion and come up with complicated solutions for complicated problems has that big silent majority, I think. And maybe the primary elections didnt reveal it, but Ive got to tell you, my personal experiences are overwhelming to me. But wasnt that the whole lesson of the primaries? That civility and complexity were a losing proposition? I think its just the opposite! Kasich said, warming to the subject now. I think you can win a primary. Because you just overwhelm these people who are the angry people out there, or the loud people. You get elected to public office because people get a sense that youre a leader, that you get them. I dont think you get elected because you get a bunch of people yelling and screaming. Last year, Kasich had decided, was an oddity a freak moment when the pent-up emotions of the electorate had collided with an expert manipulator of emotions and a media enthralled with ratings at any cost. I think we reached a fever pitch, and the question is, does the fever continue or does it break? he said. And I think its going to break. If I went back to Ohio and started insulting people, theyd run me out of the place. We were in a moment of time, and I think its going to break. ***** At one point, when we were talking about Kasichs silent majority (by which he meant something considerably sunnier than Nixon had when he first proffered the term nearly 50 years ago), Kasich told me a story about going to the Thanksgiving Day parade in New York last November. As I walked to my seat, people stood and cheered, he said. And I sat down and I was stunned. And my wife, who, you know, isnt a big political animal, she just said, John, theyre proud of you. And you should be proud of you too. He paused for a moment, evidently in awe at the memory. And some snarky reporter will say, well, thats self-praise or whatever, Kasich went on, coming back to the world. Thats not what Im trying to communicate. Im trying to say that people get it. People understand what matters in life. And the extremes may be the ones who are the most boisterous, who go to rallies and all that, but most people who want to see problems solved in a rational and a steady way, they dont go to rallies. Theyre too busy working. A politician couldnt look for validation in crowds, Kasich told me, sounding a little like a therapist. You had to do what seemed right and feel good about it. Im so happy with myself! he burst out then. Im so happy with this book! Im so happy with this tour. Im so happy with how my family is being treated, the way my friends look at me and talk to me. Its great! And theres not a single thing I would change! Im a happy guy, he said, and not looking forward to another political campaign, no matter how hard that is for people to believe. The thing is, to my own surprise, I did believe him. And thats actually the best prism through which to understand what Kasich is doing. Those of us who follow politics for a long time tend to see everything as tactical, the transparent means to some carefully calculated end. When a politician whos out there writing books and giving speeches says I dont know to another campaign, what we hear is: Im not at the announcement phase of the PowerPoint yet. But there are times, you come to learn, when a politician is motivated more by self-image than self-interest. There are moments John McCain in 2000 comes to mind when a candidate falls almost by accident into a public role that seems, at least for a while, to have awakened in him some sense of a larger purpose. Thats where Kasich seems to be now. Like Trump, Kasich, the son of a mailman, has been labeled insecure and narcissistic over the years, sometimes humiliating critics before hearing them. As Kasich himself put it to me: Im not that great. Someones going to have me on a camera phone being a jerk. Its inevitable. But where Trumps romp through last years contentious primaries seems to have bored in him an even deeper well of self-doubt and defensiveness, Kasich who won only a single state, his own seems to have come away oddly at peace. What happened was that Kasichs public persona finally came into line with the way he always hoped people would see him as a kind of self-helpy, statesmanlike figure, less concerned with partisan pressure than with the judgment of some higher power. If you disagree with him now, hes as likely to bear-hug you as to jab a finger in your face. So when Kasich says he isnt plotting to unseat an old rival whose approval rating has fallen to 36 percent, when he says he has nothing more to prove and no idea whats next, I tend to take him at his word. And if I were Trump, and if I hoped to commandeer the party for another term after this one, maybe thats exactly why Id start to worry. In politics, nothings quite so dangerous as a guy who considers himself the instrument of a larger plan, even if he doesnt yet have one of his own. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: John Wick was one of 2014s biggest and best cinematic surprises. Its sequel, this past Februarys John Wick: Chapter 2, provided even more thrilling gunplay and automotive action, thereby proving that, when it comes to this standout action series, too much is never enough. It goes without saying then that fans should be exceedingly excited about what Yahoo Movies has in store for them today: an exclusive deleted scene from the films upcoming home release. Alas, theres no blazing-firearms combat to be found in the above scene, which instead leans heavily on the imposing presence of its protagonist, played by Keanu Reeves. Stalking calmly into the Vatican this after hes traveled to Italy to fulfill an obligation to crime boss Santino DAntonio (Riccardo Scamarcio) Wick again proves to be a man of few words. Giving his name to the front desk, hes granted entry into the holy sites inner sanctum, where he speaks the name of DAntonios sister whom Wick has been hired to kill and is immediately granted an audience with a high-ranking Catholic official who advises, Fortune favors the bold. Its a brief, but tantalizing sequence that further develops the intricate web of allegiances that mark John Wick: Chapter 2, which eventually pits Wick against a horde of fellow killers. To see John Wick: Chapter 2 in all of its gun-fu glory, check it out when it arrives on Digital HD on Tuesday, and 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD on June 13. Read more from Yahoo Movies: House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy was under fire Wednesday after a Washington Post report revealed one of his controversial comments from a private Capitol Hill conversation during the 2016 campaign, which indicated Russian President Vladimir Putin was paying President Donald Trump. McCarthy told reporters while leaving the House floor Wednesday, immediately after the publication of the comments that it was a "bad attempt at joke." "That's all there is to it," McCarthy added. "No one believes it to be true." The Post reported McCarthy said, during a 2016 conversation with fellow Republican leaders: "There's two people I think Putin pays: Rohrabacher and Trump." The comment is supposedly according to a recording of the June 2016 exchange. The report also said the recording has Speaker Paul Ryans comments asking his colleagues to not share the remarks. "No leaks, all right? This is how we know we're a real family here," Ryan reportedly said. Read: Michael Flynn FBI Investigation Influenced By Trump? Comey Memos Sought By Jason Chaffetz Rep. Dana Rohrabacher is a California Republican who is a staunch defender of Putin and he told reporters Wednesday McCarthys remark was a joke. "The trouble is, when you ever try to be funny, it is really taken seriously by a third party, and thats whats happened here," Rohrabacher said. Brendan Buck, a spokesman for Ryan, also said the comments were meant to be a joke. "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," Buck said. He added: "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." Story continues When reporters asked McCarthy why he would joke about something so controversial, he said: "You don't have a sense of humor anymore? People aren't supposed to be able to laugh? "There's a reason why I'm not a comedian, he added. The 2016 conversation that has been cited in the Washington Report came shortly after both Ryan and McCarthy had a discussion with the Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman regarding alleged Russian attempts to diminish democratic institutions in Eastern Europe. This was also a day after it was widely reported Russian hackers had been successful in hacking the Democratic National Congress (DNC). At the time, Ryan had still not endorsed Trump but McCarthy had already decided to become a Trump delegate to the Republican National Committee (RNC) and officially support Trumps campaign. Some Democrats raised their concerns about McCarthys statement citing the tensions that have been going on regarding the investigation into ties between Russia and Trumps campaign. Read: Why Was James Comey Fired? FBI Director Called It 'Fairly Funny Prank' Before Receiving Termination Letter California Congressman Eric Swalwell, a member of the House intelligence committee, said the remark could raise questions whether McCarthy has additional information on the relationship the president had with President Putin. If it was said they had their own concerns and so far they have done nothing to address concerns about the presidents ties to Russia, Swalwell told reporters. So I just want to know, were these concerns based on separate information that the majority leader had or had been told? Trumps alleged ties to Russia have been a subject of controversy and concern since the president took office. Trump was also criticized and several other security concerns were raised by his sudden dismissal of former FBI Director James Comey. On Wednesday, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed a special counsel to investigate the Russian attempts to meddle with the 2016 election. Related Articles Kim Kardashin seen out in West Village on Feb. 14, 2017, in New York City. (Photo: Robert Kamau/GC Images) Kim Kardashian is celebrating a major milestone: hitting 100 million Instagram followers. On Thursday night, the reality star turned mogul posted to Twitter to announce her big news. Cant believe I reached 100 million Instagram followers, all thanks to YOU! Get the stories behind my top pics, she shared with a link to her site, which featured her top five most-liked posts. (Whats really hard to believe, given her ubiquitousness, is that shes just catching up to others in the 100 million club, like Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, and Cristiano Ronaldo.) The stories behind the photos were pretty lean and really didnt provide much more context than was obvious from the original posts, but its unlikely anyone really cared. The feature started with a shot of Kim, Kanye West, and their two children, North and Saint, which had clocked 4.5 million likes. This pic was taken in April when we had Easter at our house, Kim explained. Family is everything to me. The caption beside the shot also explained, Easter 2017. So if you didnt know family was important to Kim now you do. Easter 2017 A post shared by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on Apr 16, 2017 at 7:24pm PDT Next up was her first pic on the social media site after a three-month hiatus following her Paris attack. This was the first photo I posted on Instagram after taking a few months off from social media, she wrote. I wanted to spend as much quality time with my family as possible. family A post shared by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on Jan 3, 2017 at 10:56am PST Next up was a shot of her with her son. Saint is the sweetest boy. He never cries or fusses. I love watching him grow up, she gushed. When she first shared this pic, she simply captioned it, My son with a heart emoji. (No word on whether North is as easy to raise as Saint.) my son A post shared by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on Jan 4, 2017 at 9:54am PST A solo shot of Saint also made the cut. This was the first picture of Saint I shared on social media, she noted (though that was probably obvious already). Story continues SAINT WEST A post shared by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on Feb 22, 2016 at 8:57am PST Finally came another shot of the whole family together. Originally, she had captioned it, I [heart emoji] my family, but now she added a bit more context. This picture was taken when Kanye was on tour and we all met in New York, she wrote. I my family A post shared by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on Aug 31, 2016 at 5:48pm PDT Its always so special to be togetherespecially when our schedules can be so busy. In summary, Kim Kardashian really, really loves her family and her 100 million fans. (Hey, theyre kind of like family right?) Read more from Yahoo Celebrity: Laverne Cox shared a makeup-free selfie on Instagram, writing it was for self love. (Photo: Getty Images) Orange Is the New Black fans might think we know every detail of Laverne Coxs makeup-free face. She did her finest acting that way for most of season 4, when her character Sophia was locked up in solitary. Then again, thats not really the same thing as when the actress herself decides to take a photo that truly celebrates what she looks like with bare skin, as she did on Thursday evening. I took this #selfie for me without any intention of sharing it but why not, she said of a photo she posted on Instagram and Facebook, including the hashtags, #selflove and #selfcompassion. I took this #selfie for me without any intention of sharing it but why not. #nomakeup #nofilter. #bodypositivity #selflove #selfcompassion #mrrorselfie #selfie #TransIsBeautiful A post shared by laverne cox (@lavernecox) on May 18, 2017 at 2:49pm PDT She has shared makeup-free selfies before. Last August, she showed off her natural hair pulled into a ponytail and wrote, As an actress and a woman I love being able to transform, to switch up my look when I want to with wigs, weaves and bundles a plenty. I love this too. Its about choices and options. As an activist and the originator of the #Transisbeautiful hashtag, Cox has made a point of celebrating her natural features. Years ago, I wanted really highly invasive surgical procedures to feminize my face, she told The Guardian in 2015. All these years later, I have the money to do it, but I dont want it. I dont want it! Im happy that this is the face that God gave me, and its imperfect. Cox also co-starred in the CBS law drama Doubt that was cancelled after two episodes in February. With Netflix firing up the OITNB hype for season 5, which premieres on June 9, it makes sense that Cox is taking a few social media minutes to focus on treating herself well, too. Letting go of negative self talk is crucial, she wrote on Wednesday, next to a much different, fully made-up photo of herself. Saying affirming, loving things to myself about myself, I gently begin the process of changing the internalized shame tapes that want to keep me small. Remembering that I am a child of God who needs love and nurturing I can begin to give that to myself and hopefully attract more of that love and nurturing into my life from others. Story continues In just a matter of minutes, her makeup-free photo inspired one fan to open up about her own struggle. My idol. wish you can guide me through my transition. Its starting to affect my mental health, wrote Nicole Vanity on Facebook. Others then replied to Nicole, forming a mini support group for her online. Nicole Vanity, feel free to reach out to me if you ever need advice or support, Danielle Huber replied. I get where youre coming from, and Im here if you need me. Stay strong girl! It looks like Coxs why not selfie has a purpose. Read more from Yahoo Beauty + Style: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. For Twitter updates, follow @YahooStyle and @YahooBeauty. Leon Cooperman, CEO and Chairman of Omega Advisors, told Yahoo Finance that his commitment to philanthropy is an important part of his life. At an event for Portfolios with Purpose, which hosts fantasy stock contests for charity, Cooperman said there are only four things you can do with money. The first thing you can do is pleasure yourself and spend it on yourself. And Ive made the kind of living thats in excess of what I need to live on, Cooperman said. The second thing is you can give it to your kids, but I believe in giving my kids the opportunity to be self-achieved and not spoiling them. The third is you give it to the government in the form of taxation and only a fool gives money to the government that they dont have to legally give them. Fourth, you recycle it back into society to make the place you came into a better place when you leave., Cooperman said. And thats the decision I made that the vast bulk of my resources are going to be recycled back into society. Cooperman has taken the Giving Pledge with Warren Buffett and Bill Gates, agreeing to give away the majority of his wealth upon his death. The right thing to do is to help those less fortunate, he said. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid Cooperman, who said he is concerned about rising inequality, sees better education as one way to help. He has already given to education, including giving $25 million to the Cooperman College Scholars program, which covers college tuition for 500 high school graduates in New Jersey. Nicole Sinclair is markets correspondent at Yahoo Finance. Please also see: Copperman: There are 4 things to worry about when you look at the stock market Warren: Senators are spending 110% of their time working through what Trump has done Senator Warren says the total tax revenue from corporations is too low and needs to be higher Elizabeth Warren finds it ironic that Jamie Dimon and Lloyd Blankfein complain about regulation Senator Warren: Republicans have locked us out of healthcare reform talks Senator Warren: The CFPB reminds us that government can actually work By Parisa Hafezi and Babak Dehghanpisheh DUBAI/BEIRUT (Reuters) - Vote counting began in Iran on Saturday after a high turnout in an unexpectedly tight presidential election pitting President Hassan Rouhani, who wants to normalize ties with the West, against a hardline judge who says he has already gone too far. More than 40 million votes were cast, the interior ministry said, indicating a turnout of about 70 percent in Friday's vote, roughly similar to the showing in 2013 elections when Rouhani swept into office in a landslide victory. Voting was extended by six hours because many people were still waiting in line. Iranian newspapers praised the turnout, carrying headlines like "a historical victory for Iranians". Pro-reform news websites said Rouhani was the victor. They offered no evidence, but the big turnout could favor Rouhani, whose backers' main worry has been apathy among reformist-leaning voters disappointed with the slow pace of change. Rouhani, 68, who took office promising to open Iran to the world and give its citizens more freedom at home, faced an unexpectedly strong challenge from hardliner Ebrahim Raisi, a protege of supreme leader Ali Khamenei. The election is important "for Iran's future role in the region and the world", Rouhani, who struck a deal with world powers two years ago to curb Iran's nuclear program in return for the lifting of most economic sanctions, said after voting. Raisi, 56, has accused Rouhani of mismanaging the economy and has traveled to poor areas, speaking at rallies pledging more welfare benefits and jobs. He is believed to have the backing of the powerful Revolutionary Guards security force, as well as the tacit support of Khamenei, whose powers outrank those of the elected president but who normally steers clear of day-to-day politics. "I respect the outcome of the vote of the people and the result will be respected by me and all the people," Raisi said after voting, according to the semi-official Fars news agency. However, Raisi later appeared at the Ministry of Interior in Tehran on Friday and complained of a shortage of ballot sheets at many polling stations, according to Fars. More ballot sheets were subsequently sent out, the agency reported. In the last election, Rouhani won more than three times as many votes as his closest challenger. But this time the outcome might be much closer, as other conservative rivals have backed out and thrown their support behind Raisi. The Guards and other hardliners hope that a win for Raisi will give them an opportunity to safeguard economic and political power they see as jeopardized by the lifting of sanctions and opening of the country to foreign investment. During weeks of campaigning, the two main candidates exchanged accusations of corruption and brutality in unprecedentedly hostile television debates. Both deny the other's accusations. Rouhani has urged the Guards not to meddle in the vote, a warning that reflects the political tension. Suspicions that the Guards and the Basij militia under their control falsified voting results in favor of hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad led to eight months of nationwide protests in 2009, which were violently suppressed. STARK CHOICE For ordinary Iranians, the election presents a stark choice between competing visions of the country. Rouhani, known for decades as a mild-mannered establishment insider rather than a gung-ho reformer, has taken on the mantle of the reform camp in recent weeks, with fiery campaign speeches that attacked the human rights records of his opponents. "I voted for Rouhani to prevent Raisi's victory. I don't want a hardliner to be my president," said Ziba Ghomeyshi in Tehran. "I waited in the line for five hours to cast my vote." Many pro-reform voters are still lukewarm Rouhani supporters, disappointed with his failure to make broader changes during his first term. But they are anxious to keep out Raisi, who they see as representing the security state at its most fearsome: in the 1980s he was one of four judges who sentenced thousands of political prisoners to death. "I am on my way to vote for Rouhani. I like his detente policy with the world. I know he is not a reformist, but who cares? What matters is that he is not Raisi," government employee Yousef Ghaemi, 43, said by phone in the western city of Kermanshah. For conservatives, the election represents a chance to restore the values of the 1979 revolution, which requires elected officials to be subordinate to the Shi'ite Muslim clergy and supreme leader. "I cast my vote already - I voted for Raisi because he is a follower of Imam Khamenei. He will not confront the leader if elected. He will protect our Islamic identity," said Mehran Fardoust, 36, a shopkeeper near the Imam Reza Shrine in the holy city of Mashhad, Raisi's home town. Despite the removal of nuclear-related sanctions in 2016, lingering unilateral U.S. sanctions that target Iran's record on human rights and terrorism have kept foreign companies wary of investing, limiting the economic benefits so far. Raisi has focused his campaign on the economy, visiting rural areas and villages and promising housing, jobs and more welfare benefits, a message which could have resonated with millions of poor voters angry at the Tehran elite. If no candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two, presumably Rouhani and Raisi, will face each other a second time in a run-off in a week. (Additional reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin, Editing by William Maclean and Mark Trevelyan, Grant McCool) Sheikha Moza bint Nasser of Qatar and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands attend the Seminar on Protection and Education in Conflict Zones at the Hague Institute for Global Justice in the Hague, Netherlands, on Thursday. (Photo: Getty Images) Summer 2017 is all about the statement sleeve and the Netherlands Queen Maxima and Qatars Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al Missned are all over it. On Friday, the women attended a law seminar at the Hague in the Netherlands and, in addition to promoting international peace, pushed forward the fashionable trend. According to Mozas Instagram, she said in her speech that the United Nations Security Council is broken in exactly those situations where it is needed most to hold to account those who commit grave violations of international law. Wearing a bubblegum pink peplum top with pleated sleeves that she paired with a pleated black skirt, she also noted that only when all countries abide by international law will peace and security be possible. Moza, whos the daughter of Nasser bin Abdullah Al Missned and the second wife of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thanis three wives, was hosted by the Dutch queen, who popped in a royal blue dress with bell sleeves. Maxima accessorized with a brooch on her left shoulder, as well as sapphire earrings, and carried a suede clutch that matched her nude heels. Photo: Getty Images If the queens dress looks familiar, its because Melania Trump wore it last July. At the Republican National Convention, the wife of the then Republican nominee took the stage in a white version of Roksanda Ilincics Margot dress. Story continues Photo: Farfetch While Trumps piece originally sold for $2,195 (she actually bought it herself online from Net-A-Porter), the queens version is currently available for $1,515. The 46-year-old royal, who was born in Argentina, is far from the first fashionista to take cues from Melania Trump. Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, gave a speech at the Democratic convention in a white dress that was identical to Melanias; Edie Falco wore a black version of the Ilincic dress in December; Natalie Portman wore a similar dress designed by Dior to the Screen Actors Guild Awards in January; and Zoey Deutchs Tory Burch gown at the Met Gala featured a strikingly similar silhouette to the Margot. 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. Los Angeles (AFP) - 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. Story continues Related: Watch news, TV and more Yahoo View, available on iOS and Android. cameronabadi While Jared Kushner presumably slaves over a way to bring peace to the Middle East, a group of Middle Eastern physicists in Jordan might already have the answer. Its not a traditional peace agreement in any way, but the method works under the premise that friction from opposing sides can sometimes lead to radical breakthroughs. The Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East (SESAME) opened Tuesday the Middle Easts first particle accelerator. And it has paired Israeli and Arab scientists working side by side in a way diplomats might only dream of. Located in Allan, Jordan, just 35 kilometers from Amman, SESAME Alibabas famous password aims to promote scientific research built on the hope that its diverse members could work together harmoniously, said Chris Llewellyn Smith, President of the SESAME Council, at the opening ceremony. Before to heading SESAME, Smith worked at the worlds largest particle accelerator facility in Geneva, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, or CERN. The $90 million facility was formally founded in 2004, with UNESCOs support. While it will operate as a larger research center, SESAMEs pride and joy is its synchrotron accelerator. For almost a century, scientists have realized a good way to study particles is to fling them at things at a high speed. The particle accelerator propels electrons through the 133-meter-long ring until they near the speed of light. At such a high speed, these particles emit intense light beams that tell scientists about these certain forms of matter. Like joint Arab-Israeli orchestras and artistic endeavors, SESAME offers a shot at reconciliation in a troubled region. There was never such a facility in the region until now, and this project is a scientific bridge between countries, Nasher Sawadi, a Jordanian physicist who plans to work there told Haaretz. We dont mix politics with science, one of the projects backers, Prof. Dincer Ulku of Turkey, also told the paper. And the work on establishing the facility was not influenced by political issues. I believe that a person needs to be good, no matter where he comes from. Story continues The center includes participation from Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Pakistan, the Palestinian Authority, and Turkey. Particle physics is not the only game in town. Among the more than 550 research requests submitted to the group are plans to study pollution in the Jordan River Valley, discover new drugs for cancer therapy, and study the chemical composition of ancient manuscripts to better date them in history. Additionally, SESAME has one thing to put it ahead of its American and European peers. Smith says it will be the worlds first accelerator powered solely by renewable energy. As well as being a day for celebration, the opening is an occasion to look forward to the science that SESAME will produce, Smith said Tuesday. Photo credit: DEAN MOUHTAROPOULOS/Getty Images By Ian Simpson (Reuters) - Three Mississippi teenagers face capital murder charges in the death of a 6-year-old boy who was found dead in his mother's car on Thursday after it was stolen from a grocery store parking lot while he slept inside it, police said. The child, Kingston Frazier, was in a Toyota Camry at about 1:15 a.m. CDT (0615 GMT) outside a Kroger store in Jackson while his mother was inside. A Honda Civic drove up and a passenger got out and jumped into the Camry before both cars sped off, Jackson Police Commander Tyree Jones said. Police found the kidnapped boy dead in the back of the abandoned Camry about eight hours later on a rural Madison County road about 10 miles from the store. He had been shot at least once, Jones said by telephone. Kingston was scheduled to graduate from first grade on Thursday, according to the boy's uncle, Martin Archie. "He was so excited that was all he was talking about yesterday was his graduation today," Archie told Jackson CBS affiliate WJTV. Three youths - Byron McBride, 19, and DeAllen Washington, 17, both of Jackson, and Dwan Wakefield, 17, of Ridgeland - were arrested and are being charged with capital murder, said Warren Strain, a spokesman for the Mississippi State Police. He had no details on a motive, adding, "A 6-year-old kid, who does that?" Jones said the incident was caught on surveillance video, and the Honda also had been found. An alert was put out for the missing child, and relatives told WJTV they had combed the city looking for Kingston. "This is the worst thing," a sobbing Deanna Moore, Kingston's aunt, told WJTV as family members wept behind her. (Reporting by Ian Simpson in Washington; Editing by Richard Chang and Andrew Hay) By Patrick Markey ALGIERS (Reuters) - Panama authorities have detained a Moroccan phosphate shipment from the disputed territory of Western Sahara after the Polisario independence movement claimed the cargo had been transported illegally, Polisario and officials said on Thursday. The detention of the vessel carrying phosphate rock cargo from Morocco's OCP for Canada's Agrium is the second tanker stopped this month by a Polisario legal challenge, a new tactic the independence movement has been using in its conflict with Morocco. Western Sahara has been disputed since 1975, when Morocco claimed it as part of the kingdom and the Polisario fought a guerrilla war for the Sahrawi people's independence. A 1991 ceasefire split the region in two between what Morocco calls its southern provinces and an area controlled by Polisario. The two sides have been locked in diplomatic battles since the U.N.-backed ceasefire over how to decide on the region's self-determination, but repeated U.N. negotiations have failed to reach a deal. The Danish charter vessel Ultra Innovation, carrying 55,000 tonnes of phosphate rock from Morocco's OCP through Panama to Port of Vancouver for Agrium, was held on Wednesday night under a maritime court order, Polisario said. By seeking the seizure of the two phosphate vessels, Polisario is putting to the test a European court ruling last year that Western Sahara should not be considered part of the Moroccan kingdom in EU and Moroccan deals. "We are optimistic this second recourse to applying the law to bring an end to the blatant theft of a resource belonging to a people under occupation will demonstrate our resolve," Polisario chief negotiator Mohamed Khadad said. A sparsely populated stretch of desert bordering the Atlantic Ocean, Western Sahara has rich fishing grounds as well as phosphate. A heavily mined earth wall separates Moroccan-controlled territory and Polisario-held areas. Morocco's OCP, or Office Cherifien de Phosphate (OCP), is the world's leading phosphate exporter and operates in the Moroccan-held areas. It did not return several calls and messages seeking comment on the Panama challenge. Agrium said in a statement that it was aware of the detained phosphate rock shipment in Panama. "We are currently working with our charter company (Ultrabulk) to work through the situation. At this time we dont anticipate any production interruptions at our facility in Alberta (Redwater)," the company said. A Panama maritime authority source confirmed the vessel was being held in port in Panama by a judicial investigation. Earlier in the month, the Marshall Island-flagged NM Cherry Blossom, also carrying phosphate from Laayoune in the Moroccan part of the disputed territory for OCP, was detained in South Africa's Port Elizabeth under a civil maritime court order. On Thursday, the South African court reserved a judgment on the case and extended the hold on the vessel to 9 June. The United Nations Security Council has called for fresh negotiations between Morocco and the Polisario, which runs its self-declared Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic or SADR. Talks have failed for years to end the dispute. Morocco wants the region to have autonomy within Moroccan sovereignty. Polisario wants to hold a referendum on self-determination, including on the question of independence. (Additional reporting by Wendell Roelf in Cape Town and Elida Moreno in Panama City; Editing by Hugh Lawson) By Daniel Trotta and Jonathan Allen NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. Navy veteran plowed his car into pedestrians in New York City's packed Times Square on Thursday, killing an 18-year-old woman and injuring 22 people. The city's mayor said there was no indication it was an act of terrorism. (For a graphic on the map of the driver's course, click http://tmsnrt.rs/2rvktPe ) Witnesses said the motorist mounted the sidewalk in a burgundy Honda sedan and sped along for more than three city blocks, knocking people over before the car struck a pole and came to rest at 45th Street and Broadway in Midtown Manhattan. Police who arrested the driver identified him as Richard Rojas, 26, from the New York City borough of the Bronx. Rojas was charged with one count of murder in the second-degree, aggravated vehicular homicide and multiple counts of attempted murder, a New York police spokesman said in an email late on Thursday. It was unclear if Rojas has an attorney. He was expected to appear in court on Friday at an arraignment hearing. Rojas had previously been arrested twice for drunken driving, in 2008 and 2015, and once this month on a charge of menacing for threatening another man with a knife, police said. A source for the New York Police Department, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters Rojas was believed to have been under the influence of some intoxicating substance at the time of Thursday's incident, but preliminary test results for alcohol came back negative. ABC News cited unidentified police sources as saying Rojas had apparently been high on synthetic marijuana. Rojas was taken to Bellevue Hospital rather than to the city's central booking facility after being detained at a police precinct on Manhattan's Lower East Side, according to the police source who spoke to Reuters. There was no indication the incident was an act of terrorism, Mayor Bill de Blasio told a news conference at the scene. Initial reports brought to mind vehicle attacks on pedestrians in recent months in Britain, France, Germany, Israel and Sweden. Story continues Security camera footage showed the car slam into pedestrians who moments earlier were ambling along, some carrying shopping bags and others pushing baby strollers. The incident took place close to noon ET (1600 GMT) on a bright, sunny day. "People were being hit and rolling off the car," said Josh Duboff, who works at the nearby Thomson Reuters headquarters. He leaped out of the way to avoid being struck. Shoes were scattered on the sidewalk. A woman's body lay covered with a bloodstained blanket. A police officer kept vigil nearby, sadly shaking his head. The dead woman was named by police as Alyssa Elsman, 18, who was on vacation with her family from Michigan. BUSTLING STREETS Hundreds of thousands of people, many of them tourists from around the world, pass daily through Times Square, the heart of the Broadway theater district. The bustling streets are heavily patrolled by police, some on horseback. Many, but not all, sidewalks are lined with barricades and planters for fear of vehicle attacks. A bouncer from a Planet Hollywood restaurant and a ticket agent were among onlookers who helped police subdue the suspect when he tried to flee the scene, media reports said. Broadway shows were scheduled to go ahead as planned on Thursday evening in the many theaters in the area, organizers said. Navy records show Rojas enlisted in September 2011 and was based in Illinois and Florida, working as an electrician's mate fireman apprentice. He was arrested a year later at a naval base in Jacksonville, Florida, where officials said he attacked a cab driver, shouted "my life is over," and threatened to kill police, according to court records. Rojas was charged with misdemeanor battery and resisting an officer without violence, but it was unclear how the case was resolved. Navy records show he spent two months in a military prison in Charleston, South Carolina, in the summer of 2013, but did not say why. He left the Navy in May 2014. Authorities cordoned off an area from 41st to 47th streets and from Sixth to Eighth avenues for several hours after the incident, effectively shutting down one of the busiest parts of one of the busiest cities in the world. The crash occurred outside the headquarters of the Reuters news agency, 3 Times Square. Building foreman Rodney Muir said he heard what sounded like a big bang and crunching metal. He said he looked out and saw what appeared to be a body in the street. One of the injured, Cheryl Howard, had blood dripping down her right arm and a bruise above her left eye. She and her daughter were shopping when the car sped toward them. "I'm so freaked out!" Howard's daughter said. "They mowed everyone down." Times Square was evacuated in May 2010 when a car bomb that failed to explode was found in an SUV. Faisal Shahzad, a naturalized American and Taliban-trained militant, later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life imprisonment. Six months ago the city completed a $55 million, nearly six-year renovation of Times Square that turned roadways into pedestrian zones. It aimed to improve congestion and safety, but not all sidewalks were fitted with safety bollards. (Additional reporting by Daniel Bases, Andrew Chung, Grant McCool, Jonathan Spicer, Barbara Goldberg, Joseph Ax, Hilary Russ, Peter Szekely, Letitia Stein, Colleen Jenkins, Emily Flitter, Steve Gorman and Alex Dobuzinskis; Writing by Daniel Wallis; Editing by Howard Goller, Jonathan Oatis and Paul Tait) Vice President Mike Pence speaks to reporters at the Capitol. (Photo: Joshua Roberts/Reuters) WASHINGTON On Capitol Hill, Republican members of Congress are telling friends with increasing exasperation that they wish Mike Pence were president. In Indiana, Vice President Pences home state, political conversation often includes references to the possibility that their former governor may be in the Oval Office sooner than they ever imagined. Its premature talk for now, even if Pence did take the unprecedented step (for a vice president) of creating a political action committee in which he can stash campaign funds. But it reflects the way that most Republicans see Pence as a desirable alternative to President Trump, not only because he is a reliable, mainstream conservative but also because he is normal. He represents stability, something many are desperate for after the constant chaos caused by Trump in his short time in office so far. Pence is a calm, sure and steady influence and presence, unfazed by the most difficult challenges that Washington has to offer, said Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao on Wednesday. White House aides have confirmed to Yahoo News that Pence sees the need to keep some breathing room between himself and the president. The central question for the vice president going forward will be whether he can avoid getting dragged down with Trump, if the future resembles in any way the last few chaotic months. The question, in other words, is whether Pence can maintain a sterling reputation after his involvement in the Trump administration. So far, many conservatives believe he can. Nobody looks at Mike Pence and sees anything other than a reputable man, said veteran Republican consultant Ed Rollins. I think he will survive it. Alice Stewart, who worked for Sen. Ted Cruzs presidential campaign, said Pences integrity stands alone. But Pences credibility has taken a series of hits in recent weeks as some of the things he has said in defense of his boss have turned out to be untrue. President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence attend a National Day of Prayer event in the Rose Garden at the White House. (Photo: Carlos Barria/Reuters) Pence made inaccurate comments in mid-January about then-national security adviser Michael Flynns meetings with the Russian ambassador. Flynn took the fall for that, losing his job for misrepresenting the substance of his conversations to Pence. Story continues Pence was involved in discussions inside the White House about the firing of FBI Director James Comey last week. He assured the public that the agencys investigation into Russian interference in the presidential election had nothing to do with the dismissal. Days later, Trump himself contradicted Pence and said the Russian affair had motivated him to fire Comey because he believes it is a made-up story. Then this week, it emerged that as long ago as Jan. 4, Flynn had told Trump lawyer Don McGahn that he was being investigated by the FBI for failing to report his paid lobbying work on behalf of the government of Turkey during the presidential campaign. But as late as March 9, Pence who had headed the Trump transition operation leading up to the inauguration claimed he had only just then learned of Flynns Turkish contract. That raised the question: Had he really been kept in the dark for more than two months about such an explosive admission by a key Cabinet member? If Pence was never told, that would mean he was kept out of high-level conversations to a remarkable degree. And that wouldnt be unthinkable, because its unclear to what extent Pence has been looped in to key discussions inside the White House. Pences role so far has been nebulous, but hes been called on numerous times to do things Trump cant do (such as negotiate knowledgeably with congressional Republicans on the health care bill) and things Trump doesnt want to do (travel outside the United States, such as on a nine-day trip to Asia in April). Yet for all this, the payoff for Pence and his constituency so far has been, like Trumps entire presidency, thin. For all the effort that the vice president put into the health care negotiations to get the bill through the House, the fate of that legislation is still uncertain. It is not close to being voted on in the Senate, and a week solid of constant controversy and tumult inside the White House has put Trumps entire legislative agenda at risk. And on one of the key issues of importance to Pences strongest constituency evangelical Christians Pence was unable to overcome objections from factions inside the White House to a broad religious liberty executive order and had to settle for a narrow version that doesnt address the biggest concerns of religious conservatives. Still, unlike everyone in the West Wing except for the presidents daughter, Ivanka, and her husband, Jared Kushner, the vice president cannot be fired. He isnt going anywhere. And the wisest course of action for him is to keep his head down, exert influence when and where he can, and stay on his toes in case he needs to dance a little further away from the president if Trumps fortunes continue to slide. Hes playing the long game, Stewart said. Vice President Mike Pence, right, sits with White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, chief of staff Reince Priebus, Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson before a news conference on May 18. (Photo: Yuri Gripas/Reuters) _____ Read more from Yahoo News: MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippine government has told the European Union it will no longer accept development aid from the bloc, putting at risk programs to assist poor and conflict-hit regions in the country's south, Europe's ambassador said on Wednesday. Ambassador Franz Jessen said the decision to cut aid from the EU, a strong critic of President Rodrigo Duterte's drugs war, would mean the loss of about 250 million Euros ($278.73 million) worth of grants mostly allocated to Muslim communities. Manila's move comes days after Duterte won billions of dollars in pledges from China after attending the Belt and Road summit in Beijing. "The Philippine government has informed us they no longer accept new EU grants," Jessen said without elaborating. The EU will issue a statement on Thursday, officially announcing the end of its funding agreement with the Philippines. There was no immediate response from the Philippines' foreign ministry. Duterte says European nations don't understand the extent of the narcotics problem in the Philippines. Almost 9,000 people, many small-time users and dealers, have been killed in the Philippines since Duterte took office on June 30. Police say about a third of the victims were shot by officers in self-defense during legitimate operations. The EU has been providing support to Manila's efforts to end nearly 50 years of Muslim rebellion in a conflict that has killed more than 120,000 people, displaced 1 million and stunted growth in one of the country's resource-rich regions. It granted the Philippines 130 million euros in development assistance between 2007-2013. In 2015, it pledged 325 million euros over four years to finance projects in Muslim Mindanao after Manila signed a peace deal with rebels in March 2014. (Reporting By Manuel Mogato; Editing By Richard Lough) Manila (AFP) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Friday China's leaders told him they were prepared to go to war over competing claims in the South China Sea. Duterte, who met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing this week, said he was making the threat public in response to domestic criticism he was being too weak with China over the dispute. "I really said it to their face. That is ours and we intend to drill oil there," Duterte said, revealing his previously unreported plans to explore for natural resources in disputed areas. "And they told me: 'Well, we're friends. We do not want to quarrel with you. We want to maintain the present warm relationship. But if you force the issue we'll go to war.'" The competing claims to the sea, which is believed to sit atop vast oil and gas deposits, have for decades made it one of Asia's potential military flashpoints. China claims most of the sea, a key waterway for global shipping, and has reclaimed disputed reefs and installed military facilities on them. Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Taiwan also have overlapping claims. An international tribunal ruled in July last year that China's claims to most of the sea were without legal basis, in a case filed by the Philippines under Duterte's predecessor, Benigno Aquino. But China vowed to ignore the ruling and warned the Philippines against trying to use the verdict as leverage. Duterte, who began his six-year term in June last year, agreed to take a soft stance with China, claiming that if he did it might lead to war. Duterte has also sought closer ties with China to win billions of dollars of Chinese investments and loans, while loosening the Philippines' long-standing alliance with the United States. That change of tack earned Duterte a state visit to China in October last year, when he met with Xi. Duterte returned to China this week to take part in a summit on a Chinese plan to expand its trade and infrastructure links around the world. On his return to Manila on Tuesday Duterte said he was open to exploring the sea's natural resources with China and Vietnam, but did not mention the other claimants. Duterte also reiterated on Tuesday he had no immediate plans to pressure Beijing over the arbitral tribunal's ruling. By Timothy Mclaughlin CHICAGO (Reuters) - Hundreds of supporters gathered in Chicago on Thursday to celebrate a Puerto Rican activist who was freed from prison after serving over three decades behind bars for his involvement with a nationalist group that carried out more than 100 bombings in the 1970s and 1980s. Oscar Lopez Rivera, 74, was convicted in 1981 of numerous charges, along with other members of the Armed Forces of National Liberation (FALN), who sought to secure Puerto Rican independence from the United States. Rivera's 70-year sentence was commuted by former President Barack Obama in January, bringing renewed interest to his complicated legacy. Rivera has been hailed as a pillar of community organizing in Chicago and a leading voice of Puerto Rican nationalism and anti-colonialism, but denounced as a hardened criminal by critics. His release comes at a time of tremendous turmoil for Puerto Rico - the U.S. commonwealth, home to 3.5 million people, filed for bankruptcy earlier this month. [nL2N1IJ1R2] "My mission, my mission in this world until I die, is to fight for the decolonization of Puerto Rico," Rivera, who was born in Puerto Rico but moved to Chicago a child, said on Thursday in a speech to his Chicago backers. In 1981, Rivera was sentenced to 55 years in prison for charges including seditious conspiracy. An additional 15 years were added to his sentence in 1988 after law enforcement foiled a plot to break him out of prison. Rivera rejected clemency from former President Bill Clinton in 1999 because it was not extended to another imprisoned FALN member. After his sentence was commuted by Obama, Rivera spent the final months of his incarceration in Puerto Rico. He was previously held in Indiana. He was freed on Wednesday. On Thursday, motorcycles led hundreds of people, many waving Puerto Rican flags, through Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood. Cheers of "Oscar's free!" went up from the crowd as an honorary street sign was unveiled for Rivera. Story continues The accolades for Rivera, who will also be honored at the National Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York next month, have upset family members of those who were killed by bombings carried out by FALN. "What has happened since the announcement I find absolutely revolting," said Diana Berger Ettenson, whose husband was killed by a bomb at the Fraunces Tavern in New York City in 1975. "What were the aldermen thinking? The man is a convicted terrorist." No one was charged in connection with the tavern bombing. Rivera's release, which has been championed by some politicians and celebrities, such as Hamilton playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda, comes as Puerto Rico enters into the largest public finance restructuring case in history. The economy has been racked by a 45 percent poverty rate, 11 percent unemployment rate and increasing emigration to the United States. The U.S. commonwealth also suffers from a near-insolvent public health system, having spent the last 10 years in recession with debt piling up to pay for basic services. In Chicago on Thursday, Rivera urged the Puerto Rican diaspora to lend greater support to the country. "We need every one of you, everyone of you, to make Puerto Rico the nation that it has the potential of being," Rivera said. (Additional reporting by Suzannah Gonzales; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) Rebel Wilson is facing off against Bauer Media in an Australian court. (Photo: Paul Jeffers/Fairfax Media via Getty Images) Aussie actress Rebel Wilson has returned to her homeland for a visit, but its not a social call. The Pitch Perfect star is preparing for a defamation trial against Bauer Media, publisher of magazines including Womans Day and OK! magazine, over some articles that claimed Wilson is a serial liar. Wilson, 37, addressed a gaggle of press assembled outside the Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne following her first appearance after filing suit against Bauer. I just want to say I mean, I would love to sit here and spend, like, three hours telling my side of the story, because I havent been able to say anything because of the legal proceedings, she shared. But its so good to be here. So why is Wilson suing? Court documents say a handful of articles branded her a serial liar who has invented fantastic stories in order to make it in Hollywood. Some of those supposed lies include charges that Wilson lied about her age and her name and made false claims about her upbringing. This may all seem frivolous, as its hardly an anomaly for an actress to lie about her age, use a stage name, and even change aspects of her origin story to protect herself. But according to Wilson, the allegations made in the Bauer articles have cost her movie roles and impacted her ability to secure work. Though Wilson is looking forward to getting the trial started, she wasnt able to elaborate on what her evidence is or how she plans to discredit Bauers claims. Unfortunately, the judge said that I cant say anything until I start giving my evidence on Monday, which is not that long to wait, so youll hear everything I have to say, she said. Itll probably take a few days to give all my evidence. I just think its really important that the truth comes out in this matter, and Im excited to get started with it finally. Wilson has been so dedicated to proving her side of the story that she told press she has not auditioned for anything over the past year so she could focus on gathering her evidence for the trial and being available for her court date. Story continues In the meantime, Wilson plans to enjoy her time in Melbourne leading up to the start of her trial on Monday. I used to live in Melbourne. Its really good to be here, she said. Im going to have a great weekend before the trial starts on Monday, catching up on all my favorite restaurants and stuff. And she also has some family celebrations to look forward to. Its my grandpas 90th birthday as well this coming weekend, so Im kind of doing double duty in a way, she revealed. I come and do this, and I get to see him, which is really great. For its part, Bauer Media reportedly didnt contact Wilson for verification before publishing the articles, which came out around the time Pitch Perfect 2 was released. The company denies any wrongdoing, of course. But well soon find out if thats true once Wilson presents her case. Good luck, Rebel! Read more from Yahoo Celebrity: kaSing will be making his return to pro play on Red Bulls (Lolesports/Riot Games) After years of sponsoring specific players, Red Bull has officially picked up a full League of Legends team. The announcement came on Thursday, with the full roster revealed on Red Bulls official website. The Red Bulls will be playing in the EU Challenger Series, aiming to qualify for a spot in the 2018 EU LCSSpring Split. The team will be led by former Team Vitality and H2K support Raymond kaSing Tsang, who hasnt played on the LCS stage since the end of 2016. The full roster is as follows: Park Thal Kwon-hyuk Top Moojin MooJin Kim Jungle Felix MagicFelix Bostrom Mid Tarik Sedrion Holz AD Carry Raymond kaSing Tsang Support MagicFelix and Sedrion have both previously played for Euronics Gaming, a team that just today dropped their roster in order to sign former Mysterious Monkeys players. For more on the Red Bulls and their potential path to the EU LCS, head over to the Yahoo Esports League of Legends hub. Follow Taylor Cocke on Twitter @taylorcocke. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has received a lot of praise lately with advancements of his SpaceX projects along with his Boring Co. tunnel machine, but a new report could cloud his reputation. The Guardian reported worker conditions at Tesla factories are so bad people have reportedly passed out to meet production demands while others received life-changing injuries. Workers experiencing fainting spells, dizziness, seizures, abnormal breathing and chest pains led to more than 100 calls to ambulances since 2014 while hundreds more were called for injuries and other cases, incident records obtained by the news outlet show. Read: Electric Sled, Earthquakes and Snails: Here Are New Details About Elon Musk's Tunnel Boring Company Fifteen current and former Tesla factory workers detailed long hours under pressure while working at the facility, as well as pain and injury. Pressure on employees, who work alongside giant red robots, shows the lengths Tesla is going to in order to meet CEO Elon Musks aggressive production goals. Ive seen people pass out, hit the floor like a pancake and smash their face open, Jonathan Galescu, a production technician at Tesla, told the Guardian. They just send us to work around him while hes still lying on the floor. Another worker, Michael Sanchez, said he was excited when he was recruited but ended up with two herniated discs in his neck. The company said he got the injury while installing a wheel, but he says the injury is the product of years he spent working on Teslas assembly line. Sanchez, who is on disability leave from work, worked on cars suspended above the line looking up and working with his head up all day. You can make it through Monday, Sanchez said. You can make it through Tuesday. Come Wednesday, you start to feel something. Thursday is pain. Friday is agonizing. Saturday youre just making it through the day. Read: Elon Musk Boring Tunnel Video: Updated Images Of Plan Could Make You Sick Story continues Richard Ortiz, a production worker, recently lost strength in his arm. Ortiz, like Sanchez, was at first happy about joining Tesla, but then joined other workers in mass disappointment over the company. Other employees described stress injuries associated with long work shifts. Tesla employees were working 12-hour shifts six days a week before hours were reduced last fall. Meanwhile, a Tesla worker on medical leave with an injury said that superiors put the production numbers ahead of the safety and wellbeing of the employees. Tesla said Sanchez and another workers views did not represent the entire workforce. In a factory of more than 10,000 employees, there will always be isolated incidents that we would like to avoid, the company told the Guardian. Tesla said its factory safety record has improved significantly over the last year. Musk admitted his workers were having a hard time, working long hours, and on hard jobs. He added he cared deeply about workers health and wellbeing. Musk also said Tesla shouldnt be compared with other major U.S. automakers, pointing out that it makes just 1 percent of GMs total output. Were a money-losing company, Musk told the Guardian. This is not some situation where, for example, we are just greedy capitalists who decided to skimp on safety in order to have more profits and dividends and that kind of thing. Its just a question of how much money we lose. And how do we survive? How do we not die and have everyone lose their jobs? Some workers at the factory have previously attempted to unionize, Tesla employee Jose Moran said in a blog post in February. In his post he also spoke of harsh work conditions at Tesla. Most of my 5,000-plus co-workers work well over 40 hours a week, including excessive mandatory overtime, Moran said. The hard, manual labor we put in to make Tesla successful is done at great risk to our bodies. International Business Times has reached out to Tesla for comment. Related Articles Two more bombshell reports published Friday afternoon delivered a one-two punch to the Trump White House regarding the investigation into its potential ties to Russia, capping off a week where each day dealt a fresh blockbuster blow to the administration. In one story, the Washington Post reported that a law enforcement Russia probe has identified a current adviser to the president as a person of interest, while a New York Times story reported that the commander in chief told visiting Russian officials that the firing of nut job FBI Director James Comey had taken a weight off his shoulders. I just fired the head of the FBI. He was crazy, a real nut job, President Trump said in a meeting with Russian officials last week, according to the Times report on a document summarizing the meeting. I faced great pressure because of Russia. Thats taken off. Trump reportedly added that he wasnt under investigation, which is potentially untrue, since the president may not know the extent or specifics of the probe. The White House did not dispute the Times reporting on Trumps quote. The Washington Post story reported that the probe into potential ties between the Trump campaign and Russia had identified a senior White House adviser who is close to the president as a significant person of interest. The Post also reported that while the initial investigation was into coordination between Trump officials and Russia, sources said it has expanded to include potential financial crimes committed by those close to Trump. President Trump meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak at the White House on May 10, 2017. (Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry Photo via AP) Two members of the Trump campaign and transition team with reported ties to Russia former national security adviser Michael Flynn and former campaign chair Paul Manafort are not current White House officials, meaning the Post reporting has identified a new connection. White House press secretary Sean Spicer commented on the Times report, reiterating the presidents recent characterization of Comey as a grandstander. Story continues By grandstanding and politicizing the investigation into Russias actions, James Comey created unnecessary pressure on our ability to engage and negotiate with Russia, said Spicer in a statement to the Times regarding its story. The investigation would have always continued, and obviously, the termination of Comey would not have ended it. Once again, the real story is that our national security has been undermined by the leaking of private and highly classified conversations. The conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Russian Ambassador to the United States Sergey Kislyak took place on May 10, one day after Trump fired Comey. This was the same meeting in which Trump revealed previously classified information. The White House initially said that Comey was fired following the recommendation of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, but Trump undercut that account in an interview on May 11 when he said he was going to fire Comey regardless of what Rosenstein suggested because the FBI chief was a showboat. Read more from Yahoo News: Republicans are starting to discuss the possibility of Mike Pence replacing Donald Trump as president, it has been reported. Scandals such as the firing of FBI Director James Comey and alleged leaks of classified information to Russian officials have raised the possibility of Vice President Pence taking over at the White House. Although this still remains unlikely, Republicans are apparently becoming alarmed by Mr Trumps actions in office and are lining up Mr Pence as a possible replacement. If what [is] reported is true, Pence is probably rehearsing, a House Republican, who asked not to be named, told Politico. Its just like Nixon. From the standpoint that its never the underlying issue, it is always the cover-up. Mr Pences top members of staff have spent years working in American politics and are familiar with legislative process. The Vice President himself has extensive experience in public service and is viewed as a source of stability by Republicans. I find it unlikely that Trump is going anywhere, a Republican lobbyist, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said. That being said, Pence is well-liked on the Hill, fairly predictable, and doesn't stir up much unnecessary drama. The news comes as a report suggested that Mr Trumps campaign made contact with Russia at least 18 times during the presidential race. Conversations between members of Mr Trump's team and high-ranking Russian officials apparently included a special backchannel for communications between the President and Vladimir Putin being set up, Reuters reported. In January, the White House denied any contact with Russian officials during the campaign but later confirmed four meetings during that period. This week, we published Alex Tizons essay My Familys Slave, about the woman he knew as Lola: Eudocia Tomas Pulido, who was enslaved and treated cruelly by his family, and who raised him and whom he loved. Its a deeply complicated personal narrative, and the response from readers has been overwhelming. Scores of your emails and comments have expressed being deeply moved by the piecefeeling sadness, anger, frustration, hope, and relief, as one reader, Naziat Adnan, put it. At the same time, many others have criticized Alex, who died in March, and The Atlantics treatment of the story as an excuse for slaveowners. One reader wrote: The author aided and abetted in slavery. His pathetic efforts to ease her situation in the last few years of her life were not enough. The Filipino magazine Scout published a response to the backlash, noting that a lot of the international outrage is coming from a place where they dont fully understand the culture the story is set in. (The article was soon revised to reinforce the fact that the author and Scout dont condone the Filipino culture of indentured/forced servitude in any way.) Recommended: My Familys Slave For my part, I found the story haunting, both for its painful subject matter and by coincidence: Im half-Filipina, and grew up in the Pacific Northwest where Alex did, so that I could picture the places and landscapes he mentions in the background of Lolas story. Though he doesnt explain it in the article, Lola is the Tagalog honorific for grandmother. As a child, I didnt realize this; I thought Lola was simply my grandmothers name. Well be publishing a number of responses to My Familys Slave in the next few weeks, outlining the economic, cultural, and historical context for Alex and Lolas personal story. Well also be publishing your own personal stories in Notes. From Claudia: Story continues I wept so much while reading Lolas story because in a way it reminds me of my life. I was also brought to this country when I was a child, lived with my uncle and aunt, and was responsible for taking care of their three kids, cleaning, cooking, and working in their stores (laundromat/salon/pharmacy) for free. This went on for years, except I was lucky enough to go to school. I was not allowed to discuss the goings-on at the house with anyone. Once, I made the mistake of sharing what was going on at home to my school counselor. The counselor called my uncle to try to setup a time to discuss with them what I told them. When I got home, I got a beating that I never dared to mention it to anyone. I was luckier than Lola because I was able to leave while in my 20s. I am so sad that Lola never got to live her life, get married or have kids. Thank you for taking care of her and making sure that her last few years, she was free. May her soul rest in peace. If Lolas situation resonates with you, or if you have another response to the article to share, please tell us your story: hello@theatlantic.com. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. cameronabadi When news first broke on Wednesday that former FBI Director Robert Mueller had been appointed special counsel to investigate Russian meddling in the 2016 election, President Donald Trump at first put on a brave face. A thorough investigation will confirm what we already know there was no collusion between my campaign and any foreign entity, Trump said in a statement. By Thursday morning, that semblance of decorum was gone. This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history! Trump declared on Twitter. At an afternoon press conference alongside Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, Trump said the selection of a special counsel divides the country. If Trump fears the outcome of the investigation, Muellers appointment represents the clearest indication yet that the allegations of scandal that have plagued his first months in the White House are not going away. Known as a hard-charging, details-oriented prosecutor, Mueller has an independent streak that put him at odds with the George W. Bush administration when he was FBI director, and a determination that helped prevent the bureaus dismantling in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Muellers selection to lead an independent Russia inquiry represents a potential headache for the Trump administration, which has dismissed the investigation as fake news. While Trump has insisted his aides did not conspire with Russian agents, he admitted firing FBI Director James Comey in part because of his investigation into Russian meddling. Though Mueller, 73, will still report to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, his appointment as special counsel will provide him with a measure of independence to conduct the investigation. Thats especially important in the wake of reports that Trump urged Comey to stop investigating Mike Flynn, the disgraced national security adviser fired by Trump after a few weeks in office for lying about his contacts with Russians. Story continues In announcing the appointment of Mueller, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who has come under intense criticism for providing the legal fig leaf for Comeys firing, said 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. And Mueller lives for this type of work. After serving as head of the Justice Departments Criminal Division during the George H.W. Bush administration, Mueller took a lucrative partnership at a prestigious Boston law firm, but quickly gave it up to become a homicide prosecutor in Washington, D.C. at the height of the crack-fueled murder epidemic in the nations capital. Ive always loved investigations, Mueller told author Garrett Graff in a revealing 2008 profile that ran under the headline The Ultimate G-Man. Hell get his chance now. As special prosecutor, hell have subpoena powers, the ability to convene grand juries, and file criminal charges. As a seasoned, hands-on investigator, Mueller can be expected to work closely with the FBI investigators working the case. Mueller will still report to Rosenstein, who has the power to fire him for for misconduct, dereliction of duty, incapacity, conflict of interest, or for other good cause. Rosenstein can block investigatory moves, but must tell Congress if he does so. Trump does not have the ability to fire Mueller directly, but could in theory lean on Rosenstein to do so a move that would cause huge backlash. When President Richard Nixon attempted a similar maneuver to get rid of the special prosecutor investigating Watergate, it helped hasten the end of his presidency. As Mueller drives the investigation, he will be expected to work with the congressional committees carrying out parallel investigation of Russian meddling. They are reliant on the FBI and the intelligence community to supply the raw material for their investigations. Mueller is nothing if not demanding, qualities the former Marine he won a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry as a platoon leader in the Vietnam War will likely bring to his latest assignment after decades of public service. What was he like to work for? Oh God, said one former senior FBI official, who requested anonymity to candidly assess his former boss. He was very harsh, very regimented strong, demanding, wanted details. Muellers intensity and propensity for long hours are legendary. On the Monday after George W. Bushs inauguration, one of Muellers Justice Department deputies arrived to work and found a note on his chair: Its 0700. Where are you? At the FBI, he imposed exacting standards for preparation and detail and didnt flinch at forcing underperforming subordinates into retirement or simply transferring them elsewhere. A man with an old-school sensibility, Mueller required dark suits and white shirts of his subordinates. A colored shirt at a meeting would draw a cutting remark from the imposing director. Former colleagues have said he would make an excellent drill instructor. There were those that loved Mueller and those that didnt, but everybody respected him, said the former FBI official. But for all his intensity, Mueller also bred an intense loyalty and depended on his subordinates. Once you established that trust, he let you do your thing, he said. Mueller famously saved the FBI from being torn apart after the 9/11 attacks, when the Bush administration wanted to separate intelligence from law enforcement. Mueller waged a campaign of bureaucratic warfare even enlisting the help of the director of Britains domestic spy service and killed the plan. In doing so, Mueller endeared himself to official Washington. When his appointment as special counsel was announced late Wednesday, it was met with universal praise from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Central to Muellers reputation for independence is when he defied the George W. Bush White House over the reauthorization of a warrantless wiretapping program. In early 2004, the deputy attorney general James Comey concluded that a Bush administration program for monitoring communications of Americans likely violated the law. The program required DOJ sign off to be authorized, and as the March 11, 2004 deadline approached, Attorney General John Ashcroft was taken ill and rushed to the hospital. Comey, then the deputy attorney general, took over for Ashcroft. On the evening of March 10, Comey learned that two White House officials were racing to Ashcrofts hospital bed in a likely attempt to compel him to sign a reauthorization while incapacitated. Comey rushed to intervene and alerted Mueller. In a dramatic bed-side confrontation, Ashcroft backed Comey. In the ensuing crisis, the White House tried to authorize the program without DOJ approval. Mueller and Comey quickly established a unified front and threatened to resign together with a slew of DOJ officials. White House officials quickly realized their misstep and backed down. After graduating from the University of Virginia law school in 1973, Mueller spent a brief spell in private practice and then cut his teeth as a prosecutor in San Francisco, and later moved to Boston to work in the U.S Attorneys office there. He then ran the criminal division of the Justice Department before decamping to private practice. He quickly drew frustrated with that work and took a job as a line homicide prosecutor in Washington D.C., before returning to San Francisco, where he was U.S. attorney. In 2001, President George W. Bush nominated him to run the FBI, which he led for 12 years serving both Presidents Bush and Barack Obama. He is the only FBI director to have his 10-year term extended by Congress. Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images Fox News founder Roger Ailes died of bleeding on the brain following a fall, medical officials have said. He reportedly hit his head and suffered severe bleeding just over a week ago. His death was announced today. Emergency services were called to Mr Ailess Palm Beach, Florida residence on 10 May. Read more Who was Roger Ailes and why was he so controversial? His death was ruled accidental by the Palm Beach County medical examiner. Haemophilia contributed to his death and his manner of death was accidental, a statement by the examiner said. There was no evidence of foul play. Mr Ailes suffered from the blood condition his entire life and had reportedly been in poor health recently. But his death sent shockwaves through the media and political world, as commentators on all sides of the political spectrum acknowledged his impact on broadcasting. Fox News and 21st Century Fox executive chairman Rupert Murdoch called Mr Ailes "a brilliant broadcaster who played a huge role in shaping America's media over the last thirty years". "He will be remembered by the many people on both sides of the camera that he discovered, nurtured and promoted," Mr Murdoch added. "Roger and I shared a big idea which he executed in a way no one else could have. In addition, Roger was a great patriot who never ceased fighting for his beliefs." Gabriel Sherman, author of a biography on Ailes, said: "It's a very complicated story. He is in some ways a genius and in some ways tragic. His quest for power consumed him." Mr Ailes resigned from Fox in disgrace last year amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Scandal continues to dog channel following a wave of sexual misconduct allegations against its former chairman in his final year Fox News is mourning its founder, Roger Ailes. Photograph: Reed Saxon/AP The death of the former Fox News president Roger Ailes on Thursday is being mourned at the network he turned into a television and political behemoth, and by figures including the former US president George HW Bush. His passing may do little, however, to change the scandals bombarding Fox News many of them alleged to be of his making. Ailes, a formerly all-powerful executive who steered Fox News to ratings dominance and to its formidable role in shaping the modern Republican party, died less than a year after being forced out of Fox, and just as the network was beginning to enter a ratings decline. Ailes final year of life was dominated by a wave of sexual misconduct accusations that continues to roil Fox News today. In an explosive lawsuit she filed 6 July 2016, the former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson accused Ailes of constant, on-the-job sexual harassment and of firing her when she refused to start a sexual relationship. Carlsons accusations inspired dozens of women to come forward with similar stories. Among them were multiple former Fox News anchors who said his behavior cost them their jobs, women he encountered in show business in the 1960s, and Megyn Kelly at the time, one of Fox Newss brightest stars. The onslaught threatened to rock Fox News to its core. Taken together, the womens stories painted a picture of an all-powerful executive who terrorized female employees while the Fox News corporate echelon looked the other way. 21st Century Fox, the cable news networks parent company, hired a New York law firm to investigate the allegations. And on 21 July, Ailes accepted a forced resignation and an exit package reported to be worth $40m. Ailes denied ever having acted inappropriately. Ailess downfall continues to reverberate at Fox News. His departure was followed by those of a handful of top deputies who stand accused of covering up his alleged sexual misconduct with threats, demotions, and secret payouts. Story continues In April, the Fox News anchor Bill OReilly, host of the networks top-performing show, followed Ailes out the door amid a storm of similar accusations, which he also denied. The network, the New York Times revealed, had paid a string of secret settlements to several women who had accused OReilly of sexual harassment and lewd behavior. According to a recent report by New York Magazines Gabriel Sherman, employees at Fox complain that besides a reshuffling of positions at the very top, not much has changed inside the network culture that spawned dozens of sexual and racial discrimination complaints. Today, at least two women have active litigation against not just Ailes but the Fox News Network and Bill Shine, the Fox News co-president who is accused of helping cover up Ailes alleged harassment. (Shine resigned under pressure this month.) Julie Roginsky, an on-air contributor and occasional guest host, sued Ailes, Shine, and other top executives in April, saying Ailes made advances toward her and demoted her after she rejected him. The former Fox News anchor Andrea Tantaros is also suing Shine and Ailes, as well as the network, over claims that they surveilled her and hacked her computer and cell phone after she publicly accused Ailes of harassment. Tantaros sued Ailes for sexual harassment in August, a lawsuit that has been moved to arbitration. Attorneys for Tantaros and Roginsky did not immediately respond to requests for comment on how Ailess death could affect their litigation. Ailes seemed to escape the financial ramifications of his alleged misconduct. By September 2016, Fox News had settled with three accusers. One was Carlson, whose lawsuit the network settled for $20m, even though her suit named Ailes and not the company. Attorneys for Ailes have said he didnt contribute to that settlement. Fox News is facing other lawsuits unlikely to be significantly affected by Ailes death. Some of those lawsuits, including a hostile work environment suit brought by a local Fox reporter, Lidia Curanaj, claim harassment by Ailes but dont name him as a defendant. Douglas Wigdor, the attorney for 21 alleged victims of racial and sexual harassment at 21st Century Fox, said Ailess death would not affect the legal process. In terms of our cases, I dont see his sudden passing having any impact as, to the extent relevant, our clients will still be able to testify about his conduct, which presumably will be more difficult for Fox News to counter given that his testimony was not secured by sworn testimony to date, Wigdor said. Ailes is not named as a defendant in that suit. Lisa Bloom, who represents the Fox contributor Wendy Walsh in her sexual harassment accusations against OReilly, says Ailess death will have no impact on her clients. Let all his victims now be ungagged for the true, full reckoning of his life, and let them return to the jobs they were driven out of when they stood up for their rights, she wrote in an email. 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. Though the threat is apparent, experts said the Trump administration also saw some immediate benefits as it avoids an independent investigation he degree that Trumps agenda is disrupted by the special counsels work may depend largely on the discipline of the president himself. Photograph: Rex/Shutterstock Some threats to executive power may come dressed in sheeps clothing, the late supreme court justice Antonin Scalia once wrote, but when it comes to the issue of independent counsels, this wolf comes as a wolf. The threat to Donald Trump was apparent as he started his morning Thursday by complaining bitterly on Twitter about the witch hunt he faces in the form of the investigation of his campaigns alleged ties to Russia, and the injustice of having special counsel appointed to oversee it. But the degree that Trumps agenda is disrupted by the special counsels work may depend largely on the discipline of the president himself. The news that Trumps deputy attorney general had handed over supervision of the Russia investigation to Robert Mueller, a well-respected former director of the FBI, came suddenly on Wednesday night. The president was not informed until after the order appointing the special counsel had already been signed. The first question theyre all going to be asking themselves at the White House today is, Do I need to lawyer up? said Philip Shenon, a former New York Times Washington correspondent who covered the first year of a special investigation of the Iran-Contra affair during the Reagan years. If you were in a room with Mike Flynn or Paul Manafort during the course of the campaign and the question of Russia ever came up, you can expect to be subpoenaed for your records of those meetings. You can expect to give testimony. But experts said the Trump administration also saw some immediate benefits from the decision as the announcement satisfied the growing clamour among congressional Democrats for a special counsel to be appointed. The whole issue had really escalated to the point that something had to give, said Ken Gormley, the author of books about Clintons independent counsel Kenneth Starr, and Watergate special prosecutor Archibald Cox, who was fired by Richard Nixon. Story continues The alternative to a special counsel would be an independent investigation run by Congress, which would be inherently political. With a special counsel, you have career professionals handling this who are apolitical, Gormley said. Mueller, with his sterling bipartisan credentials, is not exactly a reassuring choice from the White Houses perspective, though he has been greeted with almost universal acclaim from outside observers. FBI agents were furious at Trumps abrupt public firing of their director James Comey, which was seen as a dishonorable and humiliating move by many former FBI agents. Thats part of the irony of whats happening: Trump fired Comey, and now hes got one of Comeys best friends leading the investigation, Shenon said. There are a lot of people at the FBI today who think justice has been served: by ousting Comey, Trump has gotten a much bigger prosecutor, he said. But Muellers reputation for integrity also means that his judgement will be respected if he ultimately finds no evidence of wrongdoing among Trumps associates. Mueller also has one quality that the president, who has railed against leaks from inside his administration, will be sure to appreciate: the former FBI director is expected to keep his mouth shut. Once an investigation like this gets rolling, if its done by a professional like Mueller, you wont hear a peep from him, Gormley said. This is not someone who is going to be on the radio and television every day talking about what hes doing. Its more likely well hear nothing from him or his team for a long time. The silence that will probably come out of Mueller shop will probably be a relief, Shenon said. Trumps outrage at the investigation that has overshadowed his first days in the White House is typical, Gormley said. Pretty much every president who has been subject to a special prosecutor has viewed it as a witch hunt. Bill Clinton had a similar reaction on Whitewater: Before he had even turned the keys and opened the door to the White House, there were political foes out to get him. The fear for presidents, he said, is that if you get the wrong special prosecutor, you could be faced with an implacable opponent who just wants to undermine you, rather than conduct a balance investigation. But Muellers appointment was much more by-the-book than the choice to replace Clintons previous Whitewater special counsel with Ken Starr, a conservative Republican, which was greeted with outrage from Democrats from the beginning. With Mueller, Its really hard to cry foul on this one. It looks anything but political. It looks like its being done correctly, Gormley said. No president likes to find themselves under the criminal scrutiny of a special counsel, Gormley said. But presidents have had dramatically different levels of skill in dealing with the challenge. Clinton got pretty good at just compartmentalizing and just staying focused, Gormley said. Clinton delivered one of the most brilliant State of the Union addresses in presidential history to the members of Congress who were engaged in impeachment proceedings against him, he said. Clinton was very good at recognizing that his job as president was to stay focused on his work. [The investigation] got under his skin and distracted him, but he was very disciplined at being able to wall it off and keep working. Richard Nixon was not successful with doing that, and was consumed by Watergate. It ate him alive at the end. How distracting the investigation would be would depend on the discipline of Trump himself, Gormley said. How he will react will become evident in the next month or so this is going to begin to play out. He has to either turn back to his work and really consistently focus on that or be drawn in. The worst case scenario for a special counsels work is that it totally destabilizes an administration. Iran-Contra, the Reagan-eras sprawling investigation that drew in multiple top officials, was just nightmarish, Shenon said. It was a daily headache for the administration. Every day there would be questions about the latest subpoenas or testimony or evidence demanded. Everyone in the Reagan White House had to lawyer up and had their personal papers subpoenaed. A lot of people in the White House and elsewhere had to spend personally tens of thousands of dollars to hire lawyers for an investigation that stretched on for years. Pointing to the example of Iran-Contra, John Yoo, a former Bush administration Justice official and author of the Torture Memos, advised Trump in a New York Times op-ed on Thursday to simply fire most of his current staff. President Trump should emulate Reagan. He should fire his chief of staff, Reince Priebus, and his chief strategist, Stephen Bannon, and all the others who brought the chaos of the presidential campaign into the White House. He can replace them with more experienced government hands, much as he replaced Mr Flynn with HR McMaster, Yoo wrote. Trump staff - and Capitol Hill Republicans may hope that there is a chance to shift focus to their legislative agenda as the investigation goes quiet. However, the hope of a short-term gain is no guarantee of escaping longer term pain from an investigation which now seems certain to cast a shadow over the Trump White House for years to come. When special counsel investigated the leaking of CIA official Valerie Plames name to reporters during the George W Bush administration, almost two years passed before charges of perjury and obstruction were brought against Scooter Libby, vice-president Dick Cheneys chief of staff. How long the Russia investigation will last is unclear. Probably to the very end of the Trump administration, Shenon said. I think its very safe to say this is going to go on for years. Sarah Jessica Parker, with Matthew Broderick on their wedding day, really wishes she hadnt worn a black dress when she tied the knot. (Photo: Leo Sorel) Weve watched Sarah Jessica Parker, 52, get married (and almost get married) so many times that we sometimes forget we didnt witness her actual wedding. You know, the one to Matthew Broderick, 55, that took place on May 19, 1997 20 years ago today. The future star of Divorce married her beau of five-plus years in a stealth ceremony in NYC, it was reported at the time. Days after Broderick told the New York Post they had no plans to marry, the pair hosted 100 friends for a party on a Monday night without giving a reason for it. Who gets married on a Monday anyway? Parker and Broderick, who are both part Jewish, surprised their guests when they exchanged vows in a civil ceremony held in a former NYC synagogue, the Angel Orensanz Center, on the Lower East Side, not far from where they had been shacking up together for two years. The grooms Episcopalian minister sister, the Rev. Janet Broderick Kraft, was the officiant for the union of the two movie stars. Peter Duchin, whos still a SJP fave, provided the music. Weve seen Sarah Jessica Parker get married so many times or in this case, almost get married that we forget we didnt actually witness her wedding. Well, her real wedding was a surprise, but not as drama-filled as this. (Image: YouTube) The bride was going to stand out either way she was SJP, star of First Wives Club, Girls Just Want to Have Fun, Footloose, L.A. Story, and Hocus Pocus, to name a few but she especially did so by being different and wearing a black wedding gown. This was long before the black dress trend of the early 2010s (thanks, Vera Wang!), making her strapless Morgane Le Fay dress, which she bought off the rack, a big deal. However, Parker has said that she actually wore the dress to not stand out. Our logic was we didnt want to call attention to ourselves that day, because were actors and we get attention all day long, she told Glamour in 2009, making her sound like one of the most down-to-earth actresses ever. It was a party for everybody else. Matthew bought a suit off the rack and I bought the first dress I looked at. I wish I had worn white, or off-white, I should say. White-wedding dress-obsessed Sarah Jessica Parker wore this gown from Vera Wangs Fall 2017 bridal line to the Golden Globes in January. (Photo: Getty Images) That is her one big wedding regret, and its stuck with her. In a 2009 interview with Harpers Bazaar, she was asked if she would still wear black if she renewed her vows with the Ferris Bueller star, and the answer given quickly was no. Story continues Im not kidding. White it up. Id wear a beautiful, proper wedding dress, like I should have worn on the day, she told the mag. The mom of three then recounted a conversation with her son, saying, James Wilkies teacher is getting married, and he said, Do you think she will be wearing black? I said, No! I can almost assure you. Then he said, Do you still regret it? and I said, Yes, I still regret it.' Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker with their kids, James Wilkie and twins Tabitha and Loretta, at the opening night of the musical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on April 23. (Photo: Bruce Glikas/Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic) Shes maintained that stance ever since. While sharing her bridal tips with Martha Stewart Weddings more recently in 2015 Parker, who now has her own shoe and clothing lines after Sex and the City made her a style icon, said, If I were getting married today, Id likely wear cream, just to have that bridal experience. Now I would want my dress to have an Oscar de la Renta feel, pockets below the waist, a very fitted bodice, a huge skirt, in taffeta or duchesse satin. That silhouette appeals to me because its old-fashioned yet can look very modern. And just last fall, while appearing on Watch What Happens Live with her pal Andy Cohen, Sarah Jessica who actually wore a wedding dress from Vera Wangs line to the Golden Globes in January again spoke about her wedding regret. Oh, I wish it was because I was badass, she said in response to a callers question about her black dress. I just was too embarrassed to spend any time looking for a wedding dress. There was a store that I liked, that I knew, and I just went and got whatever they had hanging. She ended by saying, I would do it differently. What Parker wouldnt do differently is marry a different guy on her big day. The actress, who previously dated Robert Downey Jr. and John F. Kennedy Jr. (swoon!), said last year that Matthew is fantastic for so many reasons. But thats as specific as shed get. When pressed for more, she quipped, I cant pretend to put together an anecdotal laundry list. I dont usually talk about it, so its nice and a mystery! Its nice, its a mystery, and it works. Twenty years on, congrats to them! Read more from Yahoo Celebrity: Warning: This recap for the Tick, Tock and Transfer of Power episodes of Scandal contains spoilers. Washington politics is all about survival of the fittest. And the fittest of them all is Olivia Pope. Olivia has always been power adjacent as a campaign guru, as Fitzs mistress, as the citys best fixer. But now, she wields power herself, not just as Mellies chief of staff, but as the new head of B613. She can just snap her fingers and make all of her wishes come true. If she cant get it done through the White House, she can just order her B613 operatives to lie, cheat, steal, blackmail, or even kill to do it. As Cyrus says, she is now the most powerful person in the world. But as weve seen on this show, time and time again, power makes people go a little crazy. Maybe they started out wearing a white hat, but holding so much power blackens it. And Olivias hat? Well, after killing VP Andrew, and now VP Luna, and reconstituting B613 (without Mellies knowledge) its already looking a little gray. Heres a rundown of this weeks episodes, including our live tweets: Olivia, Fitz, Jake, and David are working together to track down Maya Pope after the revelation that she was puppeting Peus and Samantha. They find her headquarters in an old warehouse, but shes hightailed it out of there. But documents and photos she left behind show that she is planning to assassinate Mellie during the inauguration! How many presidents are gonna get offed this season? #Scandal Yahoo TV (@YahooTV) May 19, 2017 That leads Liv to suggest that Mellie make her inauguration a closed-door, private affair, but Mellie refuses. The team looks over Mayas stuff and finds a photo of a disgraced Secret Service agent. Shes clearly going to blackmail him for his badge and credentials. So, Jake storms the hotel room where Maya is seducing the agent and takes her into custody. Story continues In a cell, Maya speaks through the one-way mirror at her former husband, Rowan. She tells him that she came to Washington to help Olivia and that hes wasting time. She starts chanting tick tock over and over in a bid to get Rowan to meet with her. Even when shes in handcuffs, Maya Pope is seriously scary #Scandal Yahoo TV (@YahooTV) May 19, 2017 Then, she recounts a family vacation to the Maryland shore, and that pushes Rowan to enter the cell. You really think I would get involved in something that would hurt Olivia? she asks, when he interrogates her about the Mystery Power People. Then, Rowan asks her if she targeted Sandra on purpose, because of their former romance. Maya seems to be genuinely sorry that Sandra was caught in the crossfire. I could not make you happy, she says. Happiness was not the mission. But I loved you. Rowan departs, looking pretty emotionally wrecked. Im on my Eat Pray Love ish. Maya Pope has the best lines #Scandal Yahoo TV (@YahooTV) May 19, 2017 Later, Olivia confronts Rowan and realizes that he believes Maya. Her mother might be the only person on earth who can really get under her fathers skin like this. Liv hires Quinn and the gladiators to find the assassin her mother hired to kill Mellie. They decide to go down the money trail and theres one person who got paid by the Mystery Power People: Abby! She gives OPA her financial records and offers her help. Fitz and Mellie share a drink on the White Balcony, and she asks his advice on what to do about the inauguration. He thinks she should cancel, because ultimately, shell be president even if it has to happen behind closed doors. And as he grimly notes, he knows too well what its like to be shot. It feels like getting punched and burned. Hope this isnt the last of Fitz and Mellies heart-to-hearts on the balcony #Scandal Yahoo TV (@YahooTV) May 19, 2017 At OPA, the gladiators are not getting anywhere following the money trail from the Mystery Power Peoples super PAC. Abby comes up with an idea instead of trying to see where their money came from, they should find out who else (besides herself) got paid. And thats when they realize that Maya didnt hire an assassin; she is the assassin. Armed with this knowledge, Liv visits her mother, pretending to be outraged at her treatment and demanding for her release. But Maya quickly sees through the farce. Liv drops the act, and when her mother laments how similar her daughter is to Rowan, Olivia pounces and starts choking her. And she is set on killing Maya unless she coughs up info, until Jake rushes in and pulls Liv away. Olivia has acquired a thirst for killing like father, like mother, like daughter #Scandal Yahoo TV (@YahooTV) May 19, 2017 After Mellie once again declares she wont cancel the inauguration festivities, Liv decides upon a new plan: let Maya go and track her to the person pulling the strings on this entire operation. Fitz refuses, but Liv and Jake go behind his back and free her anyway. Rowan is livid, yelling that Liv has basically signed Mellies death certificate. At OPA, the case is closed, and Abby bids Quinn an awkward farewell. After getting looks from both Huck and Charlie, Quinn chases after her. Abby rants about being a terrible friend and deserving to be alone until Quinn stops her with a confession: Shes pregnant! But can she really have a kid whose parents both like to maim and torture? A Charliequinn baby is basically Olivia Pope 2.0 if you think about it #Scandal @KatieQLowes Yahoo TV (@YahooTV) May 19, 2017 Rowan meets with Fitz. Yeah, they hate each other, but they are bound by one commonality: their love for Olivia. Rowan urges him to reinstate B613. None of this wouldve happened had it still existed. And Fitz should run it! He needs to keep a check on the power that Olivia will wield as Mellies chief of staff. Fitz goes upstairs to the residence and finds Olivia waiting, naked, in his bed. Hes highly annoyed with her for freeing Maya, but she seduces him into forgetting about it. This is their last night together in the White House they should make the most of it. Now that shes free, Maya immediately slips her tracking detail and disappears. Its inauguration day and everybody is nervous what will happen to Mellie. Jake assures them that this is the best-protected event in history. But VP Luna suggests that they keep their children off the dais just in case. As his last act as president, Fitz signs some papers that David has drafted apportioning a tiny percent of the Defense budget. He waves it away as emergency funding for something, but its really for B613. Hes doing what Rowan proposed. Tony Goldwyn as Fitz Grant and Bellamy Young as Mellie Grant on ABCs Scandal (Photo: Richard Cartwright/ABC) As the inauguration gets underway, the gladiators are trying to find Maya and the person who hired her via cell phones. They find one signal and discover its coming from the stage! That means Mayas employer is a VIP! As Mellie begins to take the oath of office, Maya subdues a sniper and takes his rifle. She aims it at Mellie, then calls her daughter. Olivia begs her not to kill Mellie. Who said its Mellie? Maya asks, and Liv hears a pop! But when she opens her eyes, Mellie is finishing the oath. Maya didnt pull the trigger; instead, Rowan shot her in the shoulder. And Mellie is alive and now the president. After the swearing-in ceremony, Liv storms the White House to yell at Fitz for ordering the operation. Now, they cant track down Mayas employer. So, its up to the gladiators to do their thing. They get a copy of the inaugurations seating chart from Abby. While shes there, Quinn asks her to take over OPA. Shes planning to run away, have this baby, and raise it in a normal environment. She used to have a vanilla life, so she can get used to it again. But Charlie cant. Abby says shell consider the offer. Quinn, girl, you cant go back to being normal either #Scandal @KatieQLowes Yahoo TV (@YahooTV) May 19, 2017 Liv confronts Fitz again, this time about restarting B613. Shes figured out thats what the funds were for. He argues that they need B613 right now, and she says its a mistake to trust her father. Hell just try to seize control again. Then, Olivia sadly notes she was planning to ask Fitz to stay in DC for her, instead of going off to Vermont. But now, with this B613 nonsense, she feels betrayed. Just before he leaves the White House on a helicopter, Fitz tells Olivia hes changed his mind about B613. Hes giving the money back, because she was right. She saved him and he thanks her for that. As he walks toward the helicopter, Liv runs after him. They kiss passionately in front of a herd of news photographers. And then, Fitz leaves. This kiss, this kiss .. its the way Fitz loves Olivia ???? #Scandal Yahoo TV (@YahooTV) May 19, 2017 The gladiators go over the seating chart, but Olivia notes that it isnt accurate, because Mellie and Lunas kids didnt attend at the last minute. And then, something clicks in her head. She watches footage of Frankies speech on Election Night, and remembers Rowan asking who benefits the most from Frankies death. Who would literally kill for this job? It was Luna Vargas. Of course, Luna Vargas. Its always the spouse #Scandal Yahoo TV (@YahooTV) May 19, 2017 Liv confronts Luna with the truth as she prepares for an inauguration ball. Luna replies that she has no evidence. And more than that, they need Luna if they want to get anything done. Her approval ratings are off the charts. She doesnt even need to kill Mellie anymore; shes got all the power she wanted. Liv rants first to Jake, then to her mother about Luna and how she cant do anything about it. Maya reminds her that shes half Maya and half Rowan. Nobody can fight Olivia Pope and win. At OPA, Abby turns down Quinns offer. Instead, she wants Quinn to hire her and be her boss! And shell help Quinn figure out the baby thing. Charlie and Huck enter, and Quinn announces her news. Charlie is ecstatic, but Huck seems troubled. Reds working for Quinn, Quinn is having a baby how things have changed since the pilot #Scandal Yahoo TV (@YahooTV) May 19, 2017 Mellie takes a few moments to enjoy her new Oval Office. But shes missing something. She needs a date and goes to Cyruss house to force him to be hers. Olivia meets with Luna again, this time with Jakes help. Shes come up with a solution: Luna is going to kill herself. Luna thinks this is preposterous, but Olivia notes that she can either take a pill and die quietly of a heart attack or Jake can cut her down. Her poor kids will suffer so much more the latter way. Raise your hand if youve killed a vice president before. Oh Liv, its funny and terrifying #Scandal Yahoo TV (@YahooTV) May 19, 2017 Luna panics. She explains that she loved Frankie but that the president is most powerful on the day hes elected and the day he dies. He wouldve never gotten anything done. So, she paid someone to make sure he lost, only they ended up killing him! Liv calls BS on that Luna knew exactly what would happen, because she took her kids off the stage. The jig is up. Luna brings up Jackie Kennedy, how powerful the image was of her in her bloodied pink dress after JFKs death. Imagine if Jackie had become president she wouldve wielded unprecedented power. Frankies ideas couldve flourished through her. Luna knows she has no other choice but to do as Liv commands, so she takes the pills. Jake will watch her until she slips away. Liv goes to the Oval Office and has Mellie sign some documents, including a minor Defense budget item. Shes restarting B613! Olivia is restarting B613 is she going black hat? ???? #Scandal Yahoo TV (@YahooTV) May 19, 2017 She visits her father and tells him the news. But Fitz wont run it she will. And if he gets in her way, shell kill him. Hes horrified, but Liv says shes just being smart prey, like he always advised. Rowan shakes his head. Olivia isnt prey; shes the predator. Olivia sits with a bottle of wine on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Cyrus shows up, ready to have that drink they promised each other at the start of the campaign. She tells him that Luna was behind the whole plot and he seems surprised. Then, he ruminates on how presidents have the most power on election day and the day they die. And about Jackie Kennedys bloodied pink dress. This was you, Olivia says, respect dawning on her face. Of course, Cyrus! Bow down to the master manipulator #Scandal @jscandalp Yahoo TV (@YahooTV) May 19, 2017 Cyrus planted this seed in Lunas head. And hes gotten what he wanted all along, since Liv took out Luna. He wants to be VP! And Olivia is going to nominate him. He slyly notes that the minor Defense budget item was to fund B613. Sounds like we both got what we wanted, she says. How does it feel to be the powerful person in the world? Cyrus asks. Olivia smiles: It feels right. World, you just got Poped #Scandal Yahoo TV (@YahooTV) May 19, 2017 Scandal airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. on ABC. Https%3a%2f%2fvdist.aws.mashable.com%2fcms%2f2017%2f5%2f536eeaf2 af93 4300%2fthumb%2f00001 President Trump took questions from the media Thursday at a joint press conference with Colombia's president after a whirlwind week filled with scoops and explosive news items galore. As usual, it resulted in all kinds of weirdness. To start, a reporter took advantage of the rare occasion to ask what everyone wants to know, even if it had nothing to do with the Colombian president's visit and purpose of the media briefing: Did Trump ask former FBI director James Comey to back down on his investigation of Michael Flynn? But before the reporter, ABC News' chief political correspondent Scott Thuman, could even finish his sentence, Trump cut him off. "No. No. Next question," he said. SEE ALSO: Twitter absolutely loses it over Trump's meeting with the Russians Most important moment: Trump just denied on camera that he urged Comey to close/back off Flynn investigation Trump's word vs. Comey's memos pic.twitter.com/EEsGwuUEYI Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) May 18, 2017 That sounded to some like a denial of a New York Times report that said Comey took written account of a conversation with the president in which he asked him to back off. "No. No. Next" quickly starting trending on Twitter. Trump on whether he urged Comey to close Russia inquiry "No - next question." Julian Borger (@julianborger) May 18, 2017 But Trump's "no" is, of course, up for interpretation. Trump could have been answering directly to the reporter's question, saying something to the effect of, "No, I didn't tell Comey to back off Flynn." Or the "no" could have been a quick interjection to cut off the reporter and let him know that that question wasn't going to fly. Story continues Either way, people were having fun poking at Trump's quick outburst. "No. No. Next question." pic.twitter.com/73UHVgd2xR O General My General (@rideatdawn) May 18, 2017 Her: my friend says she saw you at the bar last night and you were... Me: No. No. Next question PepperMint_Petty (@a_for2day) May 18, 2017 That wasn't the only memeable moment. While talking about drug trafficking and production, Trump said the two nations needed to confront the dangerous cultivation of "cocoa." Https%3a%2f%2fvdist.aws.mashable.com%2fcms%2f2017%2f5%2f2ab990b3 5050 4315%2fthumb%2f00001 It appeared to be a mispronunciation of the coca plant, which is where cocaine comes from. It does not, in fact, come from the cocoa bean. Thats where delicious chocolate comes from like the kind in the "most beautiful" cake Trump was eating while telling President Xi Jinping how he bombed some country or other. Watching Trump's press conference with Santos is ridiculous - Colombia isn't a part of Mexico and it is coca not "coco". Erghhh! Simon Edwards (@SimonEdwardsSAF) May 18, 2017 Trump keeps talking about "coco" cultivation in Colombia. Cocaine is made of "coca," not "coco." Liam Stack (@liamstack) May 18, 2017 Trumps in love with the cocoa. Nick Wing (@nickpwing) May 18, 2017 All in a day's press conference. Here's the full video, if you're into that kind of thing. Washington (AFP) - Special counsels like the one named Wednesday to oversee the probe into Russia's alleged election interference are rare super sleuths with more power and independence than regular American investigators. This time it is former FBI director Robert Mueller who will take over the probe into the meddling as well as whether President Donald Trump's campaign team colluded with Moscow to tilt the election his way. The stakes are huge. Unlike a US attorney, a special counsel has more leeway in carrying out a probe. They are appointed when an investigation by a US attorney would present a conflict of interest or "under the circumstances, it would be in the public interest to appoint an outside Special Counsel to assume responsibility for the matter," says the law allowing for special counsels. For instance, in 1999 Attorney General Janet Reno appointed Senator John Danforth to oversee a probe into the role of the FBI in a deadly assault in 1993 against the Branch Davidians sect in Waco, Texas. A special counsel does not have to keep his or her superiors briefed on each step of the probe they are carrying out -- even though the counsel does still answer to the Justice Department and thus, ultimately, to the president. The attorney general or his or her deputy does not have to explain their criteria in choosing someone to be a special counsel, who can even come from outside government. That is the case with Mueller, the former longtime FBI director who will resign from the law firm where he works to take on this job. Mueller was named by deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein, to whom he will report. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has recused himself from the Russia probe because he failed to state during his confirmation hearings that he had met with Russian officials. A special counsel can issue subpoenas and ask for extra resources for a probe but must warn the attorney general or the deputy of important moves they plan to make in the investigation. Story continues The attorney general can oppose a procedural act that the special counsel wants to make. And he or she can dismiss the counsel if they feel that individual has made a serious mistake or is in a situation of conflict of interest. One of the best known special prosecutors was Archibald Cox, named to lead the Watergate investigation that led to Richard Nixon's resignation in 1974. Nixon wanted Cox fired after he issued subpoenas for copies of taped conversations Nixon made in the Oval Office. Attorney General Elliot Richardson refused to fire Cox, and resigned. His deputy William Ruckelshaus did the same in what came to be known as the "Saturday Night Massacre." Washington (AFP) - A former FBI chief was tasked Wednesday with leading a beefed-up investigation into whether Donald Trump's team colluded with Russia to tilt the 2016 election in the president's favor. Trump responded by once again denying any links to Moscow, but the appointment of a special counsel with sweeping powers dramatically raises the stakes in a crisis threatening to paralyze his presidency. The Republican leader, who has struggled to shake off suspicions that Russia helped put him in the White House, has been accused of seeking to block the investigation by sacking FBI chief James Comey. Under pressure to provide guarantees to Congress and the public that the Russia probe will continue unhindered, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein tapped Robert Mueller -- a widely respected figure who headed the FBI for the decade after the 9/11 attacks -- to take over the reins. "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 said in a statement. A New York-born Vietnam war vet aged 72, Mueller has a reputation as a tough lawman who once even stood up to a president. He will head up the FBI's ongoing probe of "Russian government efforts to influence the 2016 presidential election and related matters," with the authority to prosecute crimes unearthed by the investigation. Trump reacted swiftly, without directly commenting on Mueller's appointment. "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," he said in a tersely-worded statement. "I look forward to this matter concluding quickly." - Political drama - Capping days of political drama in Washington, Mueller's appointment came as Trump fends off a stunning series of allegations including claims he shared US secrets with Russian officials in the Oval Office. Story continues Pressure has spiked in Congress for an independent probe into ties between Trump's campaign and Moscow, which US intelligence chiefs accuse of interfering to sway the election in the Republican's favor. "We need the facts," Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan said. A special counsel is empowered to conduct the investigation independent of the Justice Department hierarchy, with a dedicated staff of his choosing. The counsel is not required to consult with or keep informed the attorney general or deputy attorney generals on the course of the probe. Mueller is specifically empowered to examine "any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump." Rosenstein's order came a week after he played a key role in Trump's firing of Comey, who had overseen the FBI's Russia investigation since last July. The deputy attorney general penned a memo criticizing Comey's handling of the probe into Trump's defeated rival Hillary Clinton's emails, which provided the White House with the rationale for firing him -- and raised questions about Rosenstein's ability to remain politically independent. His boss, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, was forced to recuse himself from the Russia investigation due to his own undisclosed contacts with Moscow's ambassador, Sergey Kislyak. - 'Any links' - Trump has consistently rejected any suggestion of collusion between his camp and Moscow as "fake news" and complained in a speech Wednesday that he had been treated "more unfairly" than any US leader in history during his fledgling presidency. But calls for the Russia probe to be placed in independent hands intensified this week following reports that Trump urged Comey to reel back its investigation of Michael Flynn, the national security advisor fired for not telling the truth about contacts he had with the Russian ambassador to Washington before Trump took power. Trump's alleged pressure on Comey -- denied by the White House -- has exposed the president to accusations of obstructing justice. The New York Times reported late Wednesday that Flynn told the president-elect's transition team in early January that he was the subject of a federal investigation, but was hired for the highly sensitive national security adviser position anyway. Flynn ended up being fired from the position after just 24 days. Senate leader Mitch McConnell on Wednesday stressed that while Mueller's appointment "confirms that the investigation into Russian intervention into our election will continue," the Senate committee's probe would also stay active. Given the politically explosive context, Mueller's appointment was widely welcomed across the political spectrum. During his tenure as director of the FBI, from 2001 to 2013, he served both Republican and Democratic administrations, overseeing a shake-up of a huge bureaucracy blamed for missing evidence that could have prevented the September 11, 2001 attacks, and earning high respect from both parties. The top Senate Democrat, Chuck Schumer, said Rosenstein did "the right thing" by appointing Mueller. "I now have significantly greater confidence that the investigation will follow the facts wherever they lead." Holograms are a staple of science fiction, but the kinds of 3D, multicolored moving images floating in midair from movies like "Star Wars" are still a long way from reality. Now, though, researchers have developed the worlds first stretchable hologram, which could one day enable holographic animation, according to a new study. In real life, holograms are more like paintings or photographs. They are effectively recordings of a 3D light field. When lit properly, they project a reproduction of the original object. Confusingly, the term refers to both the physical structure the image is recorded on as well as the resulting projection. Almost all holograms contain a recording of just a single image, but now scientists at the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, have built a hologram on flexible polymer material that can hold several images. As the material is stretched, the different images are displayed one after the other, the researchers said. [Science Fact or Fiction? The Plausibility of 10 Sci-Fi Concepts] "The question we asked is, Can we encode multiple bits of information in a hologram?" Ritesh Agarwal, research leader and professor of materials science and engineering, told Live Science. "It's an important piece of work, because it's the first time someone's shown you can record multiple holographic images, and by just stretching the polymer, you can basically change the image." The members of the group relied on so-called metasurfaces to build their hologram. These are materials with a structure that has been carefully engineered at the nanoscale level to bend, reflect or distort electromagnetic radiation, with the aim of achieving specific goals like magnification or cloaking. In this case, the researchers created an array of gold nanorods and embedded them in a flexible polymer called PDMA. The orientation of the rods is carefully calculated on a computer to determine how they reflect light, and therefore what holographic image they project, the scientists said. Story continues The rods were also carefully designed so that stretching the PDMA base material changes the distance between the rods in a predictable way, so that the resulting holographic image morphs from one shape into another. Metasurfaces have already been used to create 3D and multicolored holograms, and even ones that can switch between pairs of holographic images by changing the polarization of the light they are illuminated with. But, this requires bulky optical equipment to be readjusted, and the hologram can only accommodate two images, the researchers said. The new hologram that Agarwal and his colleagues developed measured on the scale of a few micrometers and could only hold three images, but the only limit is its size, they said. (One micrometer is equivalent to one-thousandth of a millimeter.) Building larger holograms would allow many more holographic images to be recorded onto them, meaning they could store much more information than a standard hologram of the same size, the researchers said. This could even open up the possibility of creating a kind of holographic flip-book animation, they added. "The information-carrying capacity increases tremendously," Agarwal said. "And as you make the hologram bigger and bigger, the interference between the images decreases dramatically, and even a very small amount of stretch would flip the image, so animation is possible." Agarwal said these capabilities, described in a study published online May 10 in the journal Nano Letters, could have applications in virtual-reality products, flat-screen displays and optical communication devices. It could also lead to more secure holograms on credit cards that morph into a different image when they are bent, he said, which would be much harder to counterfeit. The research team is not only working on holograms, though. Last year, the scientists combined metasurfaces with flexible materials to create a lens that can zoom 1.7 times when it is stretched. This approach could produce much more compact instruments than traditional zoom lenses, which could be useful in small devices like mobile phones. The U.S. military has expressed interest in the stretchy lens, because it could replace the bulky telescoping lenses that snipers use, Agarwal said. His group has now received funding to look at using so-called phase-change materials to build a hologram that can change shape in real time in response to electrical signals, which could finally usher in the kind of holographic display seen in "Star Wars." Original article on Live Science. Editor's Recommendations Shatara Shorter was banned from prom since she didnt attend enough classes that day, according to the school. (Photo: Courtesy of Shenika Dennis) A teen who left school early on prom day to get her hair done was banned from entering the dance. Shatara Shorter, a 16-year-old student at Northeast High School in Oakland Park, Fla., looked gorgeous when she pulled up to the prom with her date, Quaedae Robinson, on May 12. In fact, the teens mother had spent $1,000 on her prom look a long, blue lace dress, a manicure and pedicure, false lashes, makeup, and an eyebrow wax. With her moms permission, Shorter had left school early that day for a long-awaited hair appointment to entwine a gold chain through her bob. However, when Shorter tried to enter the prom, a woman at the door asked for her ID. They were basically waiting for me, Shorter told Miami news station WPLG Local 10, which broke the story. Shatara Shorter looking prom-ready. (Photo: Courtesy of Shenika Dennis) The couple was informed that while Robinson was welcome to enter, Shorter had broken a school rule that reads, Students must attend half of the classes on the day of an activity in which they want to take part unless they have been excused or exempted from class by the school administration in advance. A spokesperson from the Broward County Public Schools district sent a statement to Yahoo Beauty that reads in part: The schools students, teachers and staff worked extremely hard to make the prom a positive and memorable experience for all attending. During prom week, via multiple announcements, school administrators reminded students of the attendance requirement for participation in prom. The student and parent in this incident were reminded of this requirement prior to the student being signed out for the day. In addition, school administrators offered options to the family that would allow the student to meet this requirement by attending the latter half of the school day, which the family declined. However, Shorters mom, Shenika Dennis, has a different story. I called the school one day before the prom and told them about her hair appointment, Dennis tells Yahoo Beauty. I was also never informed about the rule. Whats more, Dennis says that while her daughter wasnt the only one to leave school early that day, she was the only one penalized for it. Story continues A true gentleman, Robinson declined to enter the prom because his date wasnt welcome. I was not going to leave my prom date I came with my prom date, I asked her to go with me, she was one of the reasons why I wanted to go, so I wasnt going to leave her, he told WPLG TV 10. The couple finished their evening with a drive to the beach and dinner at a restaurant; however, mom Dennis is transferring her daughter to another school, saying, If the school had an issue with what happened, they can talk to me not take it out on my daughter. 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. Attorney Steven Donziger shows pictures of a pool of oil which seeped out from an oil waste pit left behind by Texaco at an oil pump site in the Amazon jungle, in Quito, in this October 30, 2003 file photo. REUTERS/Franklin Jacome/Files Time may be running short for New York lawyer Steven Donziger. Chevron filed a brief this week, urging the U.S. Supreme Court to rebuff Donzigers petition asking it to overturn a devastating judgment against him and his greatest achievement: a multibillion-dollar verdict in an environmental case hed been pressing for more than 20 years. Donzigers campaign against Chevron reached its high-water mark six years ago, in March 2011, when he and a team of local lawyers won an $18 billion verdictlater reduced to $9.5 billionin a provincial court in Lago Agrio, Ecuador, on behalf of residents of the Amazon region where Texaco, acquired by Chevron in 2001, had drilled from 1964 to 1992. The verdict was hailedand is still hailed in many quartersas a historic vindication of the claims of Third World peoples, whose land and lives had been befouled by a soulless American corporation. Weve won the case, says Donziger, 55, in a self-produced video on his website, but were still fighting. The former journalist, Harvard Law graduate, and public defender continues: We are facing what I believe is the most vicious, well-funded, corporate retaliation campaign everto destroy us. Hes talking about what happened in February 2011, when Chevron sued Donziger in Manhattan federal court for civil racketeering. Though U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan didnt make a finding about whether the residents of Lago Agrio had been victimized by Texaco, which was outside the scope of the suit, he did conclude that Chevron had been repeatedly victimized by Donziger in both Ecuador and in the United States. The ends do not justify the means In March 2014, after a seven-week trial, Kaplan issued a 485-page, 1,842-footnote ruling, finding that Donziger and his team had procured the Lago Agrio verdict through an elaborate, multi-year campaign of fraud, bribery, extortion, money laundering, and other offenses, which was largely orchestrated and funded from the United States. Story continues Wrote Kaplan: Even if Donziger and his clients had a just causeand the Court expresses no opinion on thatthey were not entitled to corrupt the process to achieve their goal. Justice is not served by inflicting injustice. The ends do not justify the means. A protester holds up a sign as he demonstrates against Chevrons Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) trial in New York, October 15, 2013. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri Specifically, Kaplan found, Donzigers team had directed their Denver-based consultants to ghostwrite a key damages report of an ostensibly neutral, court-appointed expert. When Chevron initiated U.S. litigation to expose this sham, Donzigers team submitted an affidavit containing half-truths or worse to numerous U.S. judges in an effort to cover their tracks, Kaplan continued. Then, when the truth finally came out, Donzingers team pulled off the most audacious stunt of all: They secretly ghostwrote the entire final opinion deciding the case, signed by Ecuadorian judge Nicolas Zambrano, in which Zambrano purported to disregard the ghost-written experts report, but reached essentially identical conclusions. Zambrano permitted Donzigers team to write his ruling, Kaplan found, because the team had promised to pay him $500,000 from moneys eventually recovered from Chevron. Donziger, who remains very much in demand as a speaker at human rights forums at the nations most prestigious universities, has vociferously denied any wrongdoing. But his appeal to the Second Circuit was a stunning wipeout. In a 127-page ruling written by Amalya Kearse, a President Jimmy Carter-appointee, the three-judge panel unanimously affirmed Kaplans ruling in its entirety. Kaplans ruling is as wrong as it is unprecedented So unless Donziger can persuade the Supreme Court to intervene, the stain of Kaplans withering assessment of the Lago Agrio judgmentthat it was the product of outlandish corruptionwill become indelible. To be sure, Donziger will always be able to take that judgment to any other country where Chevron has assets and see if its courts are willing to enforce it. Donzigers team has, in fact, already taken it to the courts of Canada, Argentina, and Brazil, and all of those cases are pending. But if Kaplans ruling becomes final, those judges will be hard-pressed to ignore the findings of the judge who has looked into the case more deeply than anyone (outside of Ecuador, at least) and whose findings have been upheld unanimously on appeal. (So far, the chief legal officers of Brazil and Argentina have recommended against enforcement of the Lago Agrio judgment in their countries, citing Kaplans findings, while a Gibraltar judge gave great weight to Kaplans opinion in fraud suits Chevron brought there against Donziger allies.) The challenge of enticing the court to intervene has been taken up by constitutional lawyer and appellate specialist Deepak Gupta, of Gupta Wessler, in Washington, D.C. Wisely, in a case abounding with such unsavory accusations, Gupta is asking the court to focus with academic dispassion and surgical precision on two arcane, but weighty, legal issues. To begin with, he claims, Chevron lacks standing to bring the suiti.e., it hasnt suffered sufficient injurybecause the Lago Agrio plaintiffs have not tried to enforce the judgment in the United States, and have disavowed, in fact, any plan to do so. This sort of preemptive collateral attack on a foreign money judgment, he argues, is as wrong as it is unprecedented. If not set right, Gupta continues, disgruntled litigants from around the world will flock to Manhattan to air their grievances and seek an advisory opinion by a judge in New York. This would, in turn, force U.S. courts to sit as arbiters of the worlds judiciaries, at grave cost to international comity, he writes. Comity refers to the respect that our courts are generally supposed to show toward other nations courts, lest our judiciary start interfering in foreign affairs, where the political branches of government (the president and Congress) are supposed to set policy. Ted Olson: A dormant and shallow circuit split In response, Chevrons lawyers, led at the Supreme Court level by former Solicitor General of the United States Theodore Olson, now of the Gibson Dunn & Crutcher law firm, argues that Chevrons case was neither preemptive nor a collateral attack. Rather, they write, Chevron pleaded and proved a pattern of racketeering and fraud that reached well beyond the misconduct in the Ecuadorian proceedings, to include extensive activities in the United States and its courts and other federal agencies. The fact that Chevron is now laboring under a $9.5 billion judgment which Donziger is actively trying to enforce abroad, Chevrons lawyers add, gives the company more than adequate standing. In this handout photo provided by CBS News, former Solicitor General Ted Olson appears on Face The Nation on June 30, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Chris Usher/CBS News via Getty Images) Guptas second point is simple and clean. There has long been a circuit spliti.e., a disagreement between two federal circuit courts of appealsabout whether a private plaintiff in a civil case brought under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) can obtain an injunction, which is the only relief Chevron asked for or received in this case. (Chevron waived damages shortly before trial, which is why Judge Kaplan was able to try the case without a jury. This way, the company knew it would receive a written rulingsomething it could show to other courts around the worldrather than just a yes-or-no jury verdict. It also, of course, deprived Donziger, a skilled orator, of the chance to appeal to jurors emotions and political sensitivities.) Since a key purpose of the Supreme Court is to resolve circuit splits, Gupta urges the Court to settle this one. Olson, in response, admits that the circuit split exists, but downplays it as dormant and shallow, because it hinges on a 1986 decision of the federal appeals court in San Francisco which has not been followed by any other federal appeals court during the ensuing 31 years. (The federal appeals court that sits in Chicago ruled the way the Second Circuit did in 2001.) Disgruntled litigants flocking to Manhattan In addition, Olson argues, when Kaplan issued his injunction (court order), he located his power to do not only in the RICO law but in state common law, which the Supreme Court is not empowered to address. Accordingly, Olson concludes, resolving the circuit split wouldnt change the outcome of this lawsuit, rendering the case an inappropriate vehicle for doing so. Still, of Guptas two arguments, the second seems to stand a better chance of attracting the Courts attention. Despite his warning about disgruntled litigants . . . flock[ing] to Manhattan to air their grievances, the facts of this case arethank goodnessnot common. It seems unlikely that U.S. courts will be unmanageably flooded with filings by American corporations able to prove that American lawyers have masterminded vast racketeering conspiracies, orchestrated and financed from the United States, that resulted in corrupt foreign judgments. Whether the court will see fit to resolve the longstanding circuit split, on the other hand, is anyones guess. Likewise, if the court does take the case, how theyd decide that issue seems like a coin flip. In an email, Donziger writes that notwithstanding the critically important issues his team has raised in his petition, ultimately the key factual and legal questions will be decided in Canada and other jurisdictions where courts will review the evidence that devastates the findings of the district court. A spokesman for Chevron writes, also in an email: Steven Donziger and his associates were found by a U.S. court to have committed racketeering, extortion, money laundering, wire fraud, witness tampering and obstruction of justice in obtaining an Ecuadorian judgment against Chevron. That decision was unanimously upheld. . . . We do not think Donzigers latest attempt to distract from his fraudulent behavior is worthy of Supreme Court review. Donzigers petition will likely be considered by the justices at a conference in June, and decided shortly thereafter. If the Court does deny review, the case would go back to Judge Kaplan, where Chevron had filed a motion seeking attorneys fees from Donziger. Kaplan postponed ruling upon that motion until after the appeals ran their course. At the time the motion was filed, more than three years ago, Chevron was seeking $32,334,584 from Donziger. Roger Parloff writes about law and business. More from Roger Parloff: Treasured Burgundy vineyards are at risk due to late frost Trump U alum still fighting for her day in court The Supreme Court could fundamentally change Americas broken patent system A young woman was killed and at least 22 others were injured after a speeding car driven by a US Navy veteran ploughed into pedestrians on a pavement in Times Square. Eye witnesses said the car made a U-turn in the middle of 7th Avenue in midtown Manhattan during heavy traffic. The maroon Honda saloon then continued for approximately three blocks against the flow of traffic, leaving bodies strewn in its wake. People described pedestrians screaming and running from the vehicle, while others lay in the intersection, unable to move. Read more Injured pedestrian says Times Square driver's actions 'intentional' The car eventually crashed into a telephone pole and stopped on 45th Street and Broadway. The intersection marks the heart of one of New York Citys most popular tourist destinations. The crash follows recent deadly car-ramming attacks in London, Berlin and the French city of Nice. An 18-year-old woman and her 13-year-old sister were struck midway through the drivers rampage directly outside the offices of the media giant Thompson Reuters. The 18-year-old tourist from Michigan, named as Alyssa Elsman, was killed. At least 22 other people were injured. "People were being hit and rolling off the car," said Josh Duboff, who works at Thomson Reuters. He said he leapt out of the way to avoid being struck. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio called the crash a very serious incident, but emphasised that there is no indication that it was a terrorist act. Even when incidents occur, it should not shake peoples fundamental knowledge that they are safe in Times Square," he said. What's happening in Times Square?? This car was in the sidewalk and people are on the streets pic.twitter.com/PsepRtfrAr gb (@gb__) May 18, 2017 Police suspect the driver, Richard Rojas, was driving while intoxicated. Witnesses say they saw him emerge from the vehicle panicked and shirtless. Story continues The 26-year-old US citizen has been arrested twice for drink driving in 2008 and 2015. A week ago, Mr Rojas was arrested and charged with pointing a knife at a notary, whom he accused of stealing his identity. He pleaded guilty to a harassment violation. Officials say a police officer and two passerby tackled the driver when he attempted to flee the scene. Mr Rojas is now in police custody and being transported for drug and alcohol testing. The Independent spoke with one man, identified by the first name Landry, who claimed he helped detain Mr Rojas. He came outside the car and ran toward 45th [street], Landry said. He was screaming We got him to the floor like five minutes before the police came. Another Times Square visitor said she was shopping when she saw a woman lying in the middle of the street. "We didn't know where she came from," the woman told The Independent. "All of a sudden we turn our heads and we see through the door of the store a woman lying down, naked, with scratches all over her body." "We thought she was totally unconscious," she added, "but then the police came; the paramedics everybody." Emergency response teams blocked off the area, and surrounding buildings were placed on lockdown. Reports of the crash stoked fears of a possible terrorist attack. Several witnesses told news outlets they initially believed the crash was intentional. One witness told Gothamist she saw the driver speed up as he ploughed through pedestrians. The day before, Isis had released a video calling for attacks on Americans. Heartbreaking incident in Times Square. As the facts unfold, my prayers are with the victims and their families. Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) May 18, 2017 The vehicle was checked by a bomb squad, and other popular landmarks were provided additional security as a precautionary measure. The White House said President Donald Trump was informed of the incident and would continue to be briefed as it unfolded. The woman who was killed in the devastating car crash in Times Square has been identified as 18-year-old Alyssa Elsman, a tourist visiting New York City from Michigan. Ms Elsman was killed when a car driven by a 26-year-old with a history of drink driving ploughed through the crowded tourist attraction on a hot, sunny day in New York at lunchtime. The teenager from Portage attended a local high school and was a waiter at a fast food restaurant there. The crash that killed Ms Elsman injured as many as 20 others, including her 13-year-old sister, who was on vacation with her. The driver was quickly apprehended by police and taken into custody where he was given a breathalyser test and blew a 0.0. Drug tests were pending, and law enforcement officials said that the driver, Richard Rojas, was likely under the influence of a drug ingested via smoking. A recent post on her Facebook page showed how tragic her sudden death was. Comments on the post, which announced a new relationship, quickly shifted from playful teenage banter about a budding romance to condolences and heartbreaking messages of loss after her death was reported. A photo on her Instagram in April of last year shows her standing in a busy Times Square in a previous trip. The man suspected of killing one person and injuring 22 more by driving his car through Times Square in New York has been charged with murder. Richard Rojas, a 26-year-old New York native, allegedly ploughed his red Honda sedan through the popular tourist destination on a sunny Thursday morning. The US Navy veteran, who police say was driving under the influence, is accused of making a sharp U-turn on busy 7th Avenue and proceeded three blocks against the flow of traffic. Witnesses described people running in terror from the speeding vehicle, while others lay injured in the street. Bodies were flying, he was running over people, it was like nothing Id ever seen, witness Julie Fallo told Gothamist. Everyone thought it was a terrorist attack and ran into buildings screaming. The car eventually came to a halt after Mr Rojas crashed into a pole on 45th street, near Broadway. Witnesses say the car was billowing smoke, and appeared heavily damaged. Approximately halfway through his rampage, police say Mr Rojas struck and injured Alyssa and Ava Elsman. The teenage sisters were visiting from Portage, Michigan. Eighteen-year-old Alyssa died on Thursday from her injuries. Postings on the teenagers Facebook page show she had recently started a new relationship. Portage Central High School principal Eric Alburtus described his student as smart, funny and engaging. She will be deeply missed by the staff and students here, Mr Alburtus said. Twenty-one others were injured in the incident, according to the latest NYPD count. NYC Health + Hospitals Bellevue treated four patients in critical condition, and two in serious condition, on Thursday night. All six are expected to survive. I'm so broken. I love you until the end of time. RIP Alyssa elsman 07-06-1998 - 05-18-2017 pic.twitter.com/TNV3L5g5v9 Abby Mcguire (@abbyy_rose98) May 19, 2017 Mr Rojas has been charged with one count of murder, 20 counts of attempted murder and five counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, according to the NYPD. Officers have interviewed Mr Rojas mother, with whom he lived in the Bronx, and are obtaining a search warrant for their apartment. Story continues Mr Rojas passed a breathalyser test shortly after the crash, but tested positive for PCP and marijuana, police sources have told multiple outlets. Mr Rojas has been arrested twice in the last decade for drunk driving. In 2013, while in the Navy, Mr Rojas also pleaded guilty to drunk driving, failure to pay a just debt, drunk and disorderly conduct, and communicating a threat. He was sentenced to three months confinement. Eyewitnesses told reporters Mr Rojas appeared agitated after the crash, leaving his vehicle shirtless and making rambling statements. Police said he claimed to be hearing voices, wanted to die, and said he "did it for God. Others said he appeared emotionally disturbed. If you are missing family members who may have been near Times Square, please call 311 for help filing a missing persons report. NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) May 18, 2017 Mr Rojas friend, Harrison Ramos, told the Associated Press that he had not been the same since returning from the Navy. Mr Ramos said his friend had taken to posting crazy stuff online, which has since been taken down. Mr Rojas had been arrested just one week before the incident for allegedly pulling a knife on an acquaintance. During another arrest, he had threatened to kill police officers. Thats my friend, Mr Ramos said. Im concerned for him. It hurts. Council Member @ydanis Rodriguez Calls for Street Safety Changes Following Devastating Times Square Crash. pic.twitter.com/FZ5MQOhONS NYC Council (@NYCCouncil) May 19, 2017 NYPD officials said they do not believe the Times Square incident was terror-related. Officers searched the car for bombs and increased security at other popular landmarks on Thursday as a precautionary measure. The city had installed steel safety barriers on sidewalks around the tourist hub months before, to protect from just this kind of event. Even when incidents occur, it should not shake peoples fundamental knowledge that they are safe in Times Square, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said. WASHINGTON As President Trump embarks on his astonishingly ambitious first foreign trip, he faces an intriguing test of rhetorical resolve: Will he use the expression radical Islamic terrorism when he addresses the Muslim world from Saudi Arabia? Top aides arent saying. I havent seen the latest draft, one senior official said evasively. There are pros and cons to saying or not saying, another said. He will definitely discuss extremism, a third said. Radical Islamic extremism, Yahoo News asked? Extremism, came the answer. While the remarks were still being finalized Friday, early drafts reportedly omitted the phrase radical Islamic terrorism. Candidate Trump might be surprised to find this much West Wing waffling on an issue he portrayed as absolutely central to the war on terrorism during the 2016 campaign. In rallies, speeches and debates, he made it clear that he believes the United States cannot defeat groups like al-Qaida or ISIS without branding them with that label. And he mocked both then-President Barack Obama and his rival, Hillary Clinton, for shunning the words. I am going to keep radical Islamic terrorists the hell out of our country, he told a cheering crowd at an October rally in Ocala, Fla. Clinton wont even use the term, Trump said. Our incompetent president wont use the term radical Islamic terrorism. He wont use it. He tries to explain it. He spends hours trying to explain why. If you dont identify your problem, folks, youre never going to get rid of it. Its only getting worse, he declared. Candidate Donald Trump greets supporters during a rally in Ocala, Fla., on Oct. 12, 2016. (Photo: Gerardo Mora/Getty Images) In his inaugural address, Trump promised: We will reinforce old alliances and form new ones and unite the civilized world against radical Islamic terrorism, which we will eradicate completely from the face of the earth. But Trumps first foreign trip as president is taking him to Saudi Arabia homeland to strict Wahhabi Islam, birthplace to most of the 9/11 hijackers, and frequently a target of criticism from U.S. officials for allegedly supporting extremism. White House officials view the Saudis as vital allies, notably in the effort to contain Iran, the kingdoms regional rival. And the Saudis are rolling out the red carpet for Trump, including hosting a summit of scores of leaders from across the Muslim world. Theyre even reportedly making sure his official menu includes well-done steak with ketchup. Story continues In the past, the Saudis have objected to characterizations that, in their view, too closely tie extremism and Islam. In 2006, when then-president George W. Bush started referring to Islamic radicals or Islamic fascists, the Saudi Cabinet scolded him, arguing that terrorism has no religion or nationality. Will Trump risk offending his hosts and other Muslim leaders? Would they actually take offense, considering the severity of regional worries about Iran and the Islamic State militant group? These and other questions may be answered when Trump speaks on Sunday. In remarks at the Coast Guard Academy commencement this week, Trump said hed use his stop in Riyadh to speak with Muslim leaders and challenge them to fight hatred and extremism, and embrace a peaceful future for their faith. And theyre looking very much forward to hearing what we as your representative we have to say. We have to stop radical Islamic terrorism. President Trump gives the commencement address at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy on Wednesday. (Photo: Steven Senne/AP) In a May 12 briefing for reporters, Trumps national security adviser, Gen. H.R. McMaster who is known to be uneasy with the expression said that in Riyadh, Trump would deliver a strong, respectful message that the United States and the entire civilized world expects our Muslim allies to take a strong stand against radical Islamist ideology, an ideology that uses a perverted interpretation of religion to justify crimes against all humanity. White House aides say senior adviser Stephen Miller, the author of Trumps travel ban order targeting majority-Muslim nations, has the lead role on Trumps remarks but the speeches are also undergoing draft-by-draft reviews by diplomats and national security experts. And Trump may take the position outlined by his press secretary, Sean Spicer, in a Feb. 1 briefing. The presidents No. 1 goal has always been to focus on the safety of America, not the religion. He understands that its not a religious problem, its a radicalization problem, Spicer said. Theres a big difference between Islam, the religion, and radical Islamic terrorists that come here to seek to do us harm. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: Donald Trumps first foreign trip as president doesnt start until Friday, but its already suffered a few setbacks. He's supposed to stop in Israel during his four-country, nine-day trip. But already his plan to visit and give a speech atop the ancient mountaintop fortress of Masada has been scrapped. Why? Because he won't be allowed to land his helicopter on the site, Newsweek reported. SEE ALSO: Trump plans to do a live Twitter forum in Saudi Arabia. But really. The UNESCO World Heritage site can be damaged so landings are banned. Trump was set to take a cable car to the top, as visiting U.S. presidents before him have done, like George W. Bush in 2008 and Bill Clinton in 1998, according to the Jerusalem Post. But Trump doesn't do cable cars apparently, so the Masada visit is canceled and instead he's speaking at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, according to Newsweek. McMaster Planned speech Trump at Masada has been struck from the itinerary. @WhiteHouse spokesman as due to it being too hot there. pic.twitter.com/b5jvwhuGmN Hans Posthumus (@Tuinier) May 17, 2017 Also while in Israel, local media was reporting complicated logistical details including only 15 minutes allotted for Trump's visit to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Remembrance Museum in Jerusalem. Apparently this is enough time for a quick talk and to sign the guest book. As the Jewish news publication Forward asked, "Is 15 minutes enough time for Trump at Yad Vashem?" Another opportunity with lots of terrible potential is a speech Trump is planning to give about radical Islam in Saudi Arabia. The speech writer is none other than his policy adviser Stephen Miller. He's credited as one of the chief architects of Trump's failed travel ban to keep people from Muslim-majority nations out of the U.S. He also has a strong history of anti-Muslim rhetoric and beliefs. Story continues Stephen Miller wrote Trump's Islam speech. What could possibly go wrong? John Paul Keith (@johnpaulkeith) May 17, 2017 "Let's have Stephen Miller draft Trump's speech to the Muslim world" sums up the problems with this Administration's decision making. Steve Zissou (@SteveZiss0u) May 17, 2017 Also joining Trump overseas is first lady Melania Trump. We haven't seen the Trumps together in a long time, so this will be ... exciting. Melania is joining @realDonaldTrump on his foreign trip: I am very excited...," @FLOTUS said in a statement Nolan D. McCaskill (@NolanDMcCaskill) May 18, 2017 Topping this all off is the fact that Trump doesn't even want to go on the trip. The New York Times reported that he thinks the trip is too long and he doesn't want to be away from a familiar setting and his own bed. His aides are apparently freaking out about the president going off script, walking into unfamiliar territory or making promises to foreign leaders that he can't keep. A former national security adviser to George W. Bush said for relationship-building overseas trips like Trump's, "You really hope that he sticks to the script, executes the trip as planned and avoids distractions, because the whole world is watching." Welp, its not like Trump ever spontaneously says offensive things or gets distracted, so, um, this should end well. Related Video: No politician in history has been treated as unfairly as Donald Trump, the president claimed as he struggled under the weight of a series of major controversies. Look at the way Ive been treated lately, especially by the media, Trump said on Wednesday during a speech to the Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut. No politician in history, and I say this with great surety, has been treated worse or more unfairly. He told the coast guard graduates: You cant let them get you down. Responding to their cheers, he commented: I guess thats why we won. On Capitol Hill, the House speaker, Paul Ryan, the most senior Republican in Congress, said he still had confidence in the president after a week of stunning revelations that sent shockwaves through Washington. But Justin Amash, a conservative from Michigan, became the first Republican legislator to publicly concede that if the new allegations against Trump were true, the president could be impeached. Ryan warned about rushing to conclusions in the wake of a New York Times report that Trump had asked Comey to stop an investigation into his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn. That news came a day after a Washington Post report that Trump had revealed highly classified information during a meeting with Russian officials. The two controversies came in the wake of Trumps equally contentious firing last week of the FBI director, James Comey, who was leading the agencys investigation into Russias reported meddling in the US election. Our job is to get the facts, Ryan told reporters. The Wisconsin Republican said the House oversight and government reform committee had appropriately requested that the FBI hand over any memos and documentation Comey kept on his meetings with the president and said lawmakers would remain sober in their search for the facts. Story continues It is obvious there are some people out there that 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. And that means, before rushing to judgment, we get all the pertinent information. On Wednesday, the Senate intelligence committee joined the House oversight committee in asking the acting FBI chief, Andrew McCabe, to hand over any notes or memos from Comey on such meetings. The Senate committee also wrote to Comey asking him to appear before it in both open and closed sessions. Asked if he still had confidence in Trump, Ryan replied: I do. Ryan spoke after a closed-door meeting with Republicans, the first caucus-wide meeting since the House returned from a 10-day recess. For weeks, Republicans have carefully avoided casting criticism on the president, but by Wednesday, that loyalty was being tested. After the House meeting, Justin Amash told reporters that if Trump had tried to quash an FBI investigation, it would merit impeachment. Yes, the congressman replied when asked whether the report would qualify as an impeachable offense, according to a report in the Hill. He added: But everybody gets a fair trial in this country. On the whole, however, Republicans and Democrats have refused to say whether they believe the accusations, if true, would lead to impeachment. Ive been through an impeachment hearing. Theyre not good for the country, let alone the individual, said Senator Diane Feinstein, a California Democrat and the ranking member of the judiciary committee. I think until we know more this should remain where it is ... off the table. Meanwhile, Republican Adam Kinzinger, who was previously opposed to appointing a special prosecutor to conduct an independent investigation into links between Trumps team and Russia, said he was open to one. It is time we look at the idea of an independent commission or special prosecutor, the Illinois congressman told CNN. House Democrats on Wednesday planned to use procedural maneuvers to force a vote on a bill that would establish an independent commission to investigate Russian interference in the US presidential election. The discharge petition would need at least 218 signatures in order to force the vote. Its unacceptable that we continue ignoring these scandals, Elijah Cummings, a Maryland Democrat and the petitions co-sponsor, told reporters at a press conference on Wednesday. The Republican Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, who has been relatively tight-lipped despite the White House controversies casting a long shadow over his legislative agenda, told the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday he would like Comey to testify publicly and as soon as possible. I think we need to hear from him about whatever he has to say about the events of recent days, as soon as possible, before the Senate intelligence committee, in public, McConnell told the Journal. The Senate will be briefed on Thursday by the deputy attorney general, Rod Rosenstein, on the firing of Comey. Senator Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat and the ranking member of the Senate intelligence committee, said he expected to hear from Comey early next week about whether he would testify. Weve got questions about the presidents comments about tapes secret tapes we have questions about transcripts from the meetings with the Russians, and we have questions about obtaining former director Comeys memo, and thats just Wednesday, Warner said. The Republican senator John McCain, a frequent critic of Trump, said that the various scandals surrounding Trump had reached Watergate size and scale. The Republican senator Lindsey Graham, another thorn in the presidents side, said in a statement on Wednesday that he would like Comey to testify publicly. I do not believe in trial by newspaper article or investigations based on anonymous sources, Graham said in the statement. However, it is important that Congress call the former FBI director James 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 General Michael Flynn. In his speech in Connecticut, Trump claimed his administration was in the process of delivering on three key domestic promises: tax reform, healthcare reform and the construction of a border wall with Mexico. Weve begun plans and preparations for the border wall, which is going very, very well, Trump said. We are working on major tax cuts for all we are going to give you major tax reform. He added: The people understand what Im doing, and thats the most important thing. Yahoo News photo Illustration; photos: AP, Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images As the Trump-Russia investigation expands and Beltway insiders on both sides of the aisle begin to buzz about impeachment, the 2018 election is probably not the GOPs No. 1 problem right now. But outside Washington, the midterm jockeying is already well underway and what was expected to be one of the most GOP-friendly Senate maps in decades is suddenly looking far less welcoming for Republicans. Dont fall in love with the map, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell warned last month. The map doesnt win elections. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., holds an April press conference before the vote to confirm Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. (Photo: Bill OLeary/The Washington Post via Getty Images) It wasnt supposed to be like this. Pundits have long predicted that Democrats would pick up seats in the House. But the Senate was a different story. Twenty-five of the 34 seats that will be decided next year are currently held by Dems; 10 of them are in states that Donald Trump won in 2016. Were talking about states where Hillary Clinton didnt even come close, like West Virginia (Trump +42 percent), North Dakota (Trump +36 percent), Montana (Trump +20 percent), Indiana (Trump +19 percent) and Missouri (Trump +19 percent). And most of the Republicans up for reelection come from red states as well. Reeling Democrats confront brutal 2018 Senate map, reads a Nov. 17, 2016, Politico headline. A filibuster-proof majority isnt out of the question if things break right for the GOP. The 2018 Senate map just keeps getting better for Republicans, added a Jan. 3 update in the Washington Post. And yet, in recent weeks, the momentum seems to have shifted. Of course, Republicans could still win big on Nov. 6, 2018. A lot can change in 536 days and no matter what happens between now and then, the Senate will be an uphill battle for Dems. But if current trends hold if Trump and his party dont right the ship its possible they could not only squander a perfect opportunity to pick up seats, but they could also even imperil their majority. For Democrats, retaking the Senate would require a net gain of three or more seats. Republicans now control the chamber by a 52-48 margin. Story continues There are three factors the GOP needs to worry about. U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Evan Jenkins speaks May 10, 2017, at the Poky Dot Restaurant in Fairmont, W.Va. Jenkins recently announced his bid against Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, the states popular former governor whose conservative record often puts him at odds with his party. (Photo: Leah Nestor/Times-West Virginian via AP) The first is recruitment. Sure, a couple of serious Republican challengers have thrown their hats in the proverbial ring. In Ohio, state Treasurer Josh Mandel is gearing up for a rematch with Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, while in West Virginia, two-term Rep. Evan Jenkins announced his bid Monday against Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin. But Mandel and Jenkins are the exceptions. In Wisconsin, Gov. Scott Walker and Rep. Sean Duffy have both declined to challenge Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin. In Michigan, none of the top three statewide elected Republicans Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, Attorney General Bill Schuette and departing Gov. Rick Snyder are expected to run against Sen. Debbie Stabenow, who will be seeking her fourth term. Montana Republicans were itching to see former Rep. Ryan Zinke go toe-to-toe with Sen. Jon Tester, but then Trump named Zinke secretary of the interior; no prominent Republicans have volunteered (yet) to take Zinkes place. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania Rep. Pat Meehan, Indiana Rep. Susan Brooks and Ohio Rep. Pat Tiberi have all decided to skip this cycles Senate contest. Recruiting isnt exactly what youd want at this point, a senior Republican strategist recently told RealClear Politics. Its not where it needs to be yet. What compelling reason can anyone give me that this would be a good cycle to run for the United States Senate? added another. I dont know what that is. Protesters yell shame' to members of Congress on the East Front of the Capitol after the House passed the Republicans bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act on May 4, 2017. (Photo: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Getty Images) Even the Republicans who plan to run could wind up being weaker than expected. Thats because a majority of them potential candidates such as Kevin Cramer in North Dakota, Ann Wagner in Missouri, Lou Barletta in Pennsylvania, and Luke Messer and Todd Rokita in Indiana are current House members who voted in favor of the GOPs unpopular Obamacare repeal bill earlier this month. According to the latest poll, a full 52 percent of voters oppose the American Health Care Act; only 25 percent support it. Any Republican who voted aye on the AHCA is guaranteed to face a barrage of Democratic attack ads next fall. The second factor the GOP needs to fret about is the relative strength of 2018s Democratic incumbents. Indianas Joe Donnelly, North Dakotas Heidi Heitkamp, Missouris Claire McCaskill, West Virginias Manchin, Montanas Tester all of them look vulnerable on paper. And they may be. But remember: Incumbency is a powerful advantage, and the reason these Democrats were able to beat the odds and win in red states is that they were in tune with their constituents to begin with. According to Morning Consult, 60 percent of North Dakotans approve of Heitkamp; 57 percent of Montanans support Tester; and 57 percent of West Virginians approve of Manchin. Donnellys approval rating (46 percent) is 20 points higher than his disapproval number (26 percent), and even McCaskill, the least popular of the bunch, is above water (by 8 percentage points). Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., talks with reporters following a 2015 Democratic Senate policy luncheon. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Heitkamp is a good example. In 2012, she won by a mere 2,881 votes. But since then, the freshman senator has voted to confirm Trump appointee Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. Shes pro-gun, pro-coal, and pro-oil and -gas. As North Dakota Republican Brian Kalk, a former candidate for Congress, recently told the Associated Press, there has to be an overwhelming reason for voters to leave her. Fundraising could be an issue as well. Thanks to Trump, Democratic donations are skyrocketing, and the partys most imperiled Senate incumbents are likely to have plenty of money for the midterms. According to the AP, McCaskill had raised $2.8 million as of last month and had more than $3 million in her campaign account. [Pennsylvania Sen. Bob] Casey has raised nearly as much, $2.7 million, and had $3.8 million in his campaign account. Brown had raised more than $2.4 million and had $5 million on hand, while Stabenow has raised $1.4 million and had a healthy $4.3 million banked. [And] in Florida, Sen. Bill Nelson had raised roughly $2 million through March, [with] roughly $3.6 million on hand last month. Which brings us, finally, to the third factor Republicans need to worry about: the president himself. A midterm election is almost always a referendum on the man in the Oval Office and even in normal times, the day rarely goes well for his party. From left: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, President Trump, and Russian Ambassador to the United States Sergey Kislyak during a meeting in the Oval Office. (Photo: Alexander Shcherbak\Tass via Getty Images) These are not normal times. One hundred nineteen days into his presidency, Trump is under siege. His legislative agenda is stalled. Questions about his campaigns possible collusion with Russia have consumed the national conversation; new reports surface daily about how he may have attempted to curtail or influence the ongoing investigations. His approval rating currently averages 39.4 percent lower than any other president on record at the four-month mark. And those surveys were taken before this weeks damaging revelations had a chance to fully sink in. The presidents popularity is the single biggest influence on a midterm election, and if Trump continues to crater, his partys Senate majority could be at risk. In 2014 and 2016, conservative political analyst Sean Trende used a simple model to show that Senate races can be predicted accurately using presidential approval, the partisanship of the state, incumbency and candidate quality. The latest version of Trendes model says that Democrats would likely take control of the Senate if Trumps approval rating falls to 32 percent a drop of 7.4 points from the current number. The way things are going now, thats not impossible to imagine. Harry Truman, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush all slipped below the 30 percent mark during their presidencies. Again, none of this is certain. Senate Democrats are still the underdogs, and thats unlikely to change. But its worth noting that in 2012, the party was saddled with the same Senate map theyll be saddled with in 2018 and they managed to gain two seats regardless. Recruitment played a role that year: Todd Akin lost to McCaskill in part because of his remarks on legitimate rape; Indianas Richard Mourdock faced considerable backlash for his ill-considered comments on abortion. The national political climate also contributed. Barack Obama won a fairly easy reelection fight against Mitt Romney, boosting down-ticket Democrats nationwide. Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., second from left, and Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., second from right, wave at the Capitol in 2013. (Photo: Pete Marovich/Bloomberg via Getty Images) In that regard, 2012 might not look, at first glance, like a good model for 2018: More Democrats tend to show up for a presidential election than for a midterm. But motivation matters. If Trump doesnt recover in time and the riled-up Democratic coalition is just as inspired to vote against him as it was to vote for Obama its possible that Democrats wont just compete for control of House. They could upend the conventional wisdom and put the Senate in play as well. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: President Donald Trump at a joint news conference with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos at the White House, May 18, 2017. (Photo: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) WASHINGTON George W. Bushs first foreign destination as president was Mexico, a chance to showcase a relationship he built as Texas governor and had campaigned on as a credential for his ability to manage world affairs. When Barack Obama ventured abroad for the first time after taking office, he went to Canada, a very traditional trip where adoring throngs reinforced his campaign promise to restore Americas tarnished reputation overseas. Despite the personalized choreography Bush all smiles at Mexican President Vicente Foxs ranch, Obama basking in affection from Canadian crowds both trips were fundamentally low-risk, conventional forays into foreign policy. Baby steps across the world stage, in effect. But President Trumps first foreign voyage will instead be an astonishingly ambitious adventure Saudi Arabia, Israel, the Vatican, a NATO summit in Brussels, and a Group of Seven (i.e.: rich country) gathering in Sicily. Hes coming with a packed agenda of the weightiest issues in global affairs, like defeating ISIS, containing Iran, convincing the Muslim world to confront extremism, overhauling relations with crucial allies in Europe and Asia, and forging Middle East peace. Swiss guards march at St. Peters Square at the Vatican, April 16, 2017. (Photo: Stefano Rellandini/Reuters) In Riyadh, Trump will attend a summit of leaders from across the Muslim world and give a speech to demand they do more to stop what he calls radical Islamic terrorism. He will also unveil an arms package for his hosts notably missile defense systems and ships that might serve as a counterweight to Irans navy that could run as high as $350 billion over 10 years, officials say. While the administration hasnt outlined its Middle East strategy, I think I see one, said Kori Schake, a Republican veteran of the National Security Council and the Pentagon. Its designed to repair the regional imbalance created by the Obama administration focusing narrowly on Irans nuclear program and the slow-burn strategy for countering ISIS. In Israel, hell meet with top officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, before talks with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas. He will also deliver a speech on prospects for Middle East peace. Story continues PresidentTrump with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a joint news conference at the White House last February. (Photo: Carlos Barria/Reuters) At the Vatican, hell meet with Pope Francis, who at times has criticized him. In Brussels, Trump will come face to face with leaders of NATO, an organization he has decreed must change to be more effective at countering terrorism, and whose members he has squeezed to increase defense spending in line with their own prior commitments. In Sicily, he will meet with heads of state and government from the Group of Seven, who have been warily watching to see what America First means for them. In short, the besieged, tumultuous White House where aides increasingly look like its day 10 after the food ran out aboard their drifting lifeboat has packed an entire first terms worth of policy into a frenetic eight-day tour. I am heading on a very crucial journey, Trump declared at the Coast Guard Academy commencement on Wednesday. Ill meet scores of leaders, and honor the holiest sites of these three great religions. Aides say privately that they are aware of the risks. They express concern that domestic developments like the Russia investigation might goad the president off script and onto Twitter. They also worry about the 70-year-old presidents physical health on a trip that would be taxing even for a younger man. They fret that any bad media coverage will lead Trump, who has regularly sought refuge over the past four months in the familiar comfort of his Trump-branded resorts, to avoid international travel in the future. One White House aide told Yahoo News that Trump has mused (possibly jokingly) about the possibility after 2017 of skipping annual summits that presidents typically attend in favor of sending Vice President Mike Pence. And the Trump team is mindful that overseas trips can become foreign traps. President Trump addresses the graduating class of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, May 17, 2017. (Photo: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) Even before Trump boards Air Force One on Friday, the Israeli press has been hammering him for putting on hold his promise to immediately move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. They have also knocked the White Houses refusal to unequivocally declare that the Western Wall is in Israel, and for reportedly setting aside just 15 minutes to visit Yad Vashem, the countrys official Holocaust memorial. And U.S. and Israeli officials apparently feuded over an Israeli request to have government officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accompany Trump on what will be the first visit by a sitting U.S. president to the Western Wall, one of the holiest sites in Judaism. That was a trap of sorts, two U.S. officials told Yahoo News. Netanyahu sought the joint visit as a consolation prize for not seeing the U.S. Embassy moved to Jerusalem, they said, and the U.S. refused. While Israel declares Jerusalem as its undivided and eternal capital, the Palestinians hope to establish the capital of their hypothetical future state in East Jerusalem. The United States regards the status of the city as an issue to be negotiated between those two parties and has generally avoided gestures that undermine that position. An ultra-Orthodox Jew walks by the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel, January 20, 2017. (Photo: Amir Cohen/Reuters) News reports alerted the Trump team to another problem: The presence at the Saudi summit of Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted for war crimes. That touched off a flurry of diplomatic contacts. A senior Trump aide told Yahoo News on Thursday that the president is going to that meeting expecting that he will not be there. And, the official added for emphasis: We dont want him there, and we dont think he will be there, and we appreciate our Saudi hosts not inviting him and telling him they dont want him there. Beyond areas of tension, there are pure logistics. The Trump team called in veterans from Bushs operation to handle the headache-inducing task of getting the president from meeting to meeting, country to country. Foreign trips are some of the most difficult things for a White House to execute, explained Tommy Vietor, who was spokesman for the National Security Council during Obamas administration. The logistics of moving a president around a foreign country are impossibly complicated. You never sleep because of jet lag and because Washington doesnt care what time zone youre in anyway. The issues are complex and the stakes couldnt be higher. One day youre meeting with the Israelis and Palestinians about Middle East peace. The next youre trying to rally international support for Afghanistan, Vietor said. Afghanistan looms large over the NATO leg of the trip. The Trump administration is expected to announce after he returns that it will surge a few thousand troops there to beat back the Taliban. President Trump disembarking from Air Force One, May 17, 2017. (Photo: Susan Walsh/AP) While Trump aides play down prospects of a major breakthrough, officials and experts see potential long-term gains from a project led by Defense Secretary James Mattis: Prepare the coalition that has been assembled to defeat ISIS into one focused on containing Iran. The countries meeting in Saudi Arabia want a balanced effort to fight terrorism and destabilization by both Sunni [ISIS and al-Qaida] and Shiia [Iran], and they want progress on Palestinian-Israeli peace to make their increasing cooperation with Israel more public and palatable, Schake said. The Trump administration is giving it to them. ____ Read more from Yahoo News: Former President Bill Clinton speaks to reporters about the affair with Monica Lewinsky, left, and Donald Trump speaks during an event at the Trump SoHo hotel. (Photos: Joyce Naltchayan/AFP/Getty Images; Drew Angerer/Getty Images) One of the last people Donald Trump would likely emulate crisis or no crisis is Bill Clinton. During the 2016 campaign, Trump attacked Clinton as the single greatest abuser of women in the history of politics, called the Clinton Foundation a wellspring of corruption and said Hillary Clinton should be jailed over her email practices as secretary of state. But with the naming of Robert Mueller as special counsel to investigate any Trump administration role in Russian interference in the election, and with even Republicans quietly now talking about obstruction of justice and invoking Watergate analogies, Trump has an unlikely model for how to survive an existential threat to his presidency: Bill Clinton. To be sure, laffaire Lewinsky was hardly comparable to the allegations swirling around Trump. Clintons scandal was ultimately about sex and lying about it under oath. Trumps hydra-headed scandals are about his campaigns ties to Russian interests, his own pro-Russian statements and actions, his firing of FBI Director James Comey and alleged efforts to persuade Comey to drop the investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn. Bill Clinton not only survived because the charges against him were partisan-driven and focused on sexual misconduct, he thrived in his last two years in office because he left much of his scandal-related defense to his lawyers and political aides. Most importantly, Clinton focused on his job. In his nationally televised admission that he had had a sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky, Clinton reminded Americans that we have important work to do, real opportunities to seize, real problems to solve, real security matters to face. He ended with a high-minded plea to repair the fabric of our national discourse and to return our attention to all the challenges and all the promise of the next American century. Monica Lewinsky embraces President Clinton as he greets well-wishers at a White House lawn party in Washington on Nov. 6, 1996. (AP Photo/APTV) In short, Clinton vowed that he would govern. That speech got panned, as aide Rahm Emanuel told him shortly afterward. But, as Jeffrey Toobin wrote in his book about Clintons impeachment, the press rejected the speech; the public embraced it. The public mostly accepted Clintons apology and embraced his effort to distinguish his private failures from his public actions. His subsequent focus on policy and tying of his public acts to the national interest helped him survive impeachment and rack up a series of policy achievements. While independent counsel Kenneth Starrs inquiry barreled forward, and as impeachment proceedings commenced, Clinton focused on the public business of leading the country. Clinton survived his yearlong crisis by compartmentalizing and focusing on the policies and issues that would improve peoples lives. Clinton did the work that the people had elected him to do, and he did not respond publicly to every latest assault on him, tempted as he surely was, during the impeachment saga. Although Trump seems incapable of compartmentalizing in this way, it may be one of the few things he can now do to maintain his already slim levels of public support and stay in office. Clintons survival was not preordained. Against the drama of a semen-stained blue dress and impeachment talk in 1998 and early 1999, Clinton signed the Good Friday Agreement that brought peace in Northern Ireland. He helped secure funding for his initiative to hire more teachers and reduce class sizes, expanded Head Start and affordable child care, signed the Kyoto global warming agreement, and ordered airstrikes against Iraqs weapons facilities, to name just a few of his achievements. Mere days after House Republicans voted to impeach him, Clinton underscored his governing strategy in remarks at a Housing and Urban Development grant announcement in Baltimore. Clintons micropolicy strategy of championing discreet solutions to select public problems paid dividends, both substantive and political. Clinton with Sinn Fein President Jerry Adams, left, and other political leaders during talks on Northern Ireland in Washington, D.C., on March 17, 2000. (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images) If we ever forget that what we have in common is far more fundamental than all these things that we differentiate among ourselves, we have forgotten the most important thing, he said. We accept today we are nowhere living up to our ideals. But we recognize that we have to move closer. So we want America not only to be a rich country but one where everybody has a place at the table. As he was being impeached, Clinton recorded his highest approval rating of his presidency 73 percent. Clinton benefited from the overreaching of his Republican foes, as Democrats defied the history of midterm elections and picked up congressional seats in 1998 amid the GOPs impeachment drive. Trump was elected because (among other reasons) he had insisted that he could make America great again. That meant, he vowed, bringing good jobs to struggling white, working-class families, replacing bad trade deals with good trade deals, and making health care more affordable while protecting Social Security and Medicare. These kitchen-table issues have been almost completely absent from the 100-plus days of his presidency. Rather than governing with a laserlike intensity on economic revitalization for his core voters, Trump has primarily been consumed with his own image. He refuses to let any attacks on him slide, wielding his Twitter feed as if it were a reusable battering ram. Whatever Trump does, he may not be able to save himself. But he may have a chance to hold on if he can copy a bit of Clintons disciplined ability to avert scandal talk and champion the issues that affect peoples daily lives. Clinton waits to speak on homelessness in Baltimore in December 1998. (Photo: Harry Hamburg/NY Daily News archive via Getty Images) ___ Matthew Dallek, associate professor at George Washington Universitys Graduate School of Political Management, is author of Defenseless Under the Night: The Roosevelt Years and the Origins of Homeland Security. Read more from Yahoo News: President Donald Trumps mood has become sour and dark and he has become upset with most of his aides, including his senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner, the New York Times reported Tuesday, citing sources. Latest developments surrounding the president are said to be the reason behind his mood souring. Former FBI director James Comey, whom the president fired last week, is said to have a February memo alleging Trump asked him to drop a probe into ex-national security adviser Michael T. Flynns ties to Russia. Reports have also claimed the president divulged classified information, provided by Israel, to Russian officials. According to the Times, Trumps staff was "confused and squabbling." Two advisers told the newspaper the president described most of his aides, including Kushner, as incompetent. Kushners appointment as Trumps triggered uproar in the country and many claimed the president broke the nepotism law by hiring his son-in-law. Kushner and his wife Ivanka Trump, who is assistant to the president, will accompany Trump on his first foreign trip since assuming the office, Politico reported Tuesday. Trump will travel May 19 to the Middle East and Europe. Read: Sean Spicer Likely To Be Fired, Reports Say The 70-year-old president attracted criticism for firing Comey on May 9. The White House said the decision was taken over his handling of investigation into Democrat Hillary Clintons email scandal. There was speculation however on whether his dismissal was related to the fact he led a probe into Russias ties to Trumps associates. At the time, several White House officials and Vice President Mike Pence said Trump removed Comey as the bureaus director following the Justice Department's recommendation to do so. However, Trump refuted that by saying the decision was solely made by him and he would have done so irrespective of the recommendation. On Tuesday, the Times reported, citing Comeys memo, Trump told the latter to let go of the investigation against Flynn. Story continues I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go, Trump reportedly told Comey. He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go. However, the White House denied the claim and issued a statement saying: 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 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." If Trump indeed told Comey to drop the investigation, he could be held responsible for obstruction of justice, according to independent Sen. Angus King of Maine. If that's true and confirmed, I think you're getting very close to the legal definition of obstruction of justice, King told CNN on Tuesday. Reluctantly, I have to say yes, because obstruction of justice is a serious offense," he further added. I say it with sadness and reluctance. This is not something I have advocated for, or the word has not passed my lips in this whole tumultuous three or four months, the Senate intelligence committee member who caucuses with Democrats said. If indeed the president tried to tell FBI director 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. Thats a very serious matter. Related Articles Istanbul (AFP) - Turkey called Thursday for the removal of the US diplomat coordinating the international coalition fighting the Islamic State group, accusing him of backing Syrian Kurdish militias. Washington and Ankara are bitterly at odds over US support for the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in Syria, which Turkey considers a front for outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) rebels. "Brett McGurk is definitely giving support to the PKK and YPG. It would be useful if this person was replaced," Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told NTV television. Washington immediately dismissed the idea. In a statement, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said that McGurk "has the full support and backing" of both Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and President Donald Trump's White House. "Special presidential envoy Brett McGurk is leading the diplomatic charge for the D-ISIS Coalition and the administration commends the tremendous work that he has done to date to coordinate and lead the coalition in achieving significant progress against ISIS in Syria, Iraq, and in turning the tide against this barbaric enemy," she added. Last year, McGurk visited YPG members who controlled the Syrian town of Kobane and was awarded a plaque, drawing Turkey's wrath. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan angrily told Washington at the time to choose between Ankara and "terrorists". But Ankara is now upbeat about the future of relations with Washington under Trump, with Cavusoglu praising the new administration as "more sincere" after Erdogan's talks with the US leader this week. Erdogan met Trump at the White House on Tuesday, with the two leaders pledging to improve ties between the NATO allies -- even as Erdogan gave a stern warning about Washington's arming of Kurdish militia in Syria. "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 in Washington, referring to the Kurdish Democratic Union Party, whose armed wing is the YPG. Story continues The United States sees the YPG as the most effective force on the ground in the fight against IS jihadists. - 'Good luck'- Turkey is keen to join a future battle to recapture the de facto IS capital of Raqa in Syria, but only if Kurdish militia forces do not participate. US officials told Ankara that the YPG would not constitute a threat for Turkey and that arms supplied by Washington would be used in Raqa and in the south, not against Turkey, Cavusoglu said. In an address to Turkish businessmen in Istanbul on Thursday, Erdogan said he told Trump that Ankara would not join any Raqa operation given the YPG's participation. "I've seen America is very sensitive on the Raqa issue and I said 'good luck', we cannot join an operation with a terror organisation," he said. Erdogan also said he told Trump that if there were a YPG attack, Ankara would act unilaterally. "I also said if those terror groups threaten our country we will apply our rules of engagement and do what's necessary ... because we have no time to lose," he said. The Turkish leader also said he believed Washington "will knock on our door on the issue of Syria," in quotes published by the Hurriyet daily. McGurk was in northern Syria Tuesday and Wednesday for talks with the leadership of the Syrian Democratic Forces, an alliance of Arab and Kurdish fighters, and the YPG, according to a source in the nascent Raqa city civilian council. The council has been set up to manage the city once IS fighters have been ousted. The meetings focused on "the plan of attack on Raqa and providing support for people fleeing the fighting," the source said. Photo credit: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Peter Burghart. From Popular Mechanics The USS Ronald Reagan, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier based in Japan, has put to sea for a routine patrol in the Western Pacific Ocean. The forward-deployed carrier joins her sister ship the USS Carl Vinson in the region, providing an American military presence in an area wracked by tensions with North Korea. The start of Reagan's cruise means there are now two Nimitz-class aircraft carriers in the Western Pacific, with the USS Carl Vinson somewhere off the coast of Korea. Together the two carriers have a total of 90 F/A-18C Hornet and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike fighters. Photo credit: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Tyler D. John. USS Reagan took to sea following an extended maintenance period at United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Reagan's homeport. Yokosuka is one of the most important military ports in the Pacific, home to both the U.S. 7th Fleet and the fleet headquarters of the Japan Maritime Self Defense Forces, Japan's navy. Carrier Strike Group Five consists of USS Ronald Reagan and her embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing 5, or CVW-5. Based at Naval Air Station Atsugi, the air wing consists of Strike Fighter Squadron 102 ("Diamondbacks"), Strike Fighter Squadron 27 ("Royal Maces"), Strike Fighter Squadron 115 ("Eagles"), and Strike Fighter Squadron 195 ("Dambusters"). All four squadrons fly the F/A-18E and F/A-18F Super Hornet. Photo credit: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Matthew C. Duncker. Other air units embarked on the Reagan include Electronic Attack Squadron 141 ("Shadowhawks") flying the EAG-18G Growler, Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 1165 ("Liberty Bells"), Detachment 5, Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 30 ("Providers"), and Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 12 ("Golden Falcons") and Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 77 ("Saberhawks"), the latter two flying MH-60 S/R Seahawk helicopters. The carrier is protected by escorts from Destroyer Squadron 15, including the guided missile cruiser USS Shiloh and Aegis destroyers Barry, John S. McCain, McCampbell, and Mustin. Shiloh, a Ticonderoga-class cruiser, has an advanced version of the Aegis Combat System capable of shooting down ballistic missiles, as do the destroyers Barry and McCain. Typically a U.S. Navy nuclear attack submarine shadows the carrier strike group to provide anti-submarine warfare protection. Story continues Related: Watch news, TV and more Yahoo View, available on iOS and Android. Source: The Diplomat You Might Also Like By Jason Lange WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Thursday pledged to treat "very seriously" any business dealings President Donald Trump or his family might have with foreign companies flagged by officials as national security risks. Mnuchin did not say any such cases existed. A senior Democrat pressed Mnuchin, in an appearance before senators, to produce a list of the Trump family's business relationships with foreign companies. Senator Sherrod Brown, the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee, said Mnuchin had not adequately responded to his March 2 letter asking if the Treasury had a list of Trump's business partners to see if any of them were on sanctions lists or had been investigated by a national security watchdog that analyzes foreign investments. The Treasury released a copy of a March 31 letter responding to Brown which said the department works with other agencies "to address and mitigate potential conflicts of interest if and when they arise." Mnuchin said he reviewed cases at the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) every week. The Treasury is the lead department among the government agencies that are part of CFIUS. "I can assure you that if there were any cases that involve the president or any members of his family that they would be treated very seriously. We would review them as we would anything else," Mnuchin told the Senate panel. Trump, a wealthy real estate developer, has declined to sell his global businesses despite demands from critics that he do so to avoid conflicts of interest. Trump has said his two oldest sons will have daily control of his businesses while he is president. A Reuters review in March found that at least 63 individuals with Russian passports or addresses have bought at least $98.4 million worth of property in seven Trump-branded luxury towers in southern Florida. (Additional reporting by Pete Schroeder; Editing by Dan Grebler and Andrea Ricci) Airstrikes mark first clash between US and Tehran-backed forces since US military returned to region, as battle lines shift in Syria and Iraq The US military said the strikes were aimed at stopping the militia advance and protect fighters it has sponsored throughout the civil war. Photograph: Hassan Ammar/AP US jets have attacked a convoy of Iranian-backed militiamen in south-eastern Syria in the first clash between the American military and forces loyal to Tehran since the US military returned to the region almost three years ago. The airstrikes occurred near the Syrian town of al-Tanf, where Syrian opposition forces backed by the US have been under recent attack by Syrian and Russian jets near the main road linking Damascus to Baghdad. The militias, made up mainly of Iraqi Shia fighters, had been advancing towards the base throughout the week. The US military said the strikes were aimed at stopping the militia advance and protect fighters it has sponsored throughout the civil war and in the fight against the Islamic State terror group. The clash underscores the complexity of the fast-changing battlefields of Syria and Iraq, where a splintered opposition is struggling to hold ground, Isis faces military defeat, and forces allied to the Syrian leader, Bashar al-Assad, are in the ascendant. Opposition units in the area continue to be backed by the CIA. They were raised to fight Isis, but have also been positioned as a bulwark against Iran-backed forces that have crossed from Iraq and been instrumental in recent gains made across Syria by the Assad regime. A convoy going down the road didnt respond to numerous ways for it to be warned off from getting too close to coalition forces in al-Tanf, said a US defence official in Washington. Then there was finally a strike against a lead portion of that movement. The Russian deputy foreign minister, Gennady Gatilov, said on Friday claimed the strike had hit civilians and said it was unacceptable. Syrian state TV reported that military sources said the brazen attack had hit a Syrian army position producing a number of martyrs and causing material damage. Story continues The US defence secretary said that the attack did not mean that the US would be getting more involved Syrias civil war. We are not increasing our role in the Syrian civil war, but we will defend our troops, Jim Mattis said. We will defend ourselves (if) people take aggressive steps against us. And thats been a going-in policy of ours for a long time. An opposition leader in al-Tanf said several thousand militiamen were trying to clear anti-Assad forces from the highway, in order to push west towards Mayedin and Deir Azzour, two crucial legs of a land route that Iran is trying to clear towards Damascus. The Guardian reported earlier this week that senior Iraqi and Iranian officials had recently moved the course of the corridor about 140 miles south of its original route because of a strengthened US presence along its original course, through Syrias Kurdish north-east. Earlier on Thursday, Irans Fars news agency, which is linked to the countrys powerful Revolutionary Guards Corps, claimed 3,000 members of Hezbollah had been moved to al-Tanf to combat a US plot. Though they remain central to the US-led campaign to defeat Isis in eastern Syria and western Iraq, the forces sponsored by Washington are becoming central to US fears that Iran is finalising a corridor that would secure influence from Tehran to southern Lebanon. US commanders are planning to move forces north from the Jordanian border and south from the Kurdish north towards Deir Azzour, one of the last bastions of Isis in Syria. The planned push, however, is being viewed by Iran as a threat. It didnt start off about Iran, and it still isnt totally about them, said a senior European military official. But it is becoming that way. On the eve of a visit to Riyadh, where he has vowed to reset relations with Saudi Arabia, Donald Trump has taken a hardline stance against Iran, and the Assad regime, which Tehran heavily backs. Riyadh has been pushing for a reset of bilateral relations, which winds back a US pivot towards Iran under the Obama administration in favour of renewed ties between Washington and Riyadh that had been deeply strained during the former presidents second term. Washington (AFP) - A court in Texas has dismissed a lawsuit by the family of a Muslim teen who was invited to the White House by Barack Obama after having constructed a clock that police mistook for a bomb. Ahmed Mohamed, who was 14 at the time, became an internet sensation after being handcuffed and detained for hours for bringing his "invention" -- a circuit board wired to a digital display -- to school in the Texas city of Irving, near Dallas. He was charged with making a "hoax bomb," though the charge was later dropped. Ahmed said he merely wanted to show his work to a new teacher to impress her. The Irving school system suspended Ahmed for three days even after determining that his clock was harmless. The lawsuit contended he was discriminated against because of his race or religion (his parents immigrated from Sudan). But in a decision Thursday, federal judge Sam Lindsay found that the plaintiffs had offered no facts "from which this court can reasonably infer that any (Irving school district) employee intentionally discriminated against A.M. based on his race or religion." An attorney representing the Mohameds said they planned to appeal the decision. The story of the inventive teen whose electronics hobby made him a terror suspect gained worldwide attention when it arose in September 2015. It was seen by some as evidence of widespread anti-Muslim sentiment among American police. But others flocked to support him. "Cool clock, Ahmed," then president Obama tweeted at the time. "Want to bring it to the White House? We should inspire more kids like you to like science." The young man's family accepted Obama's offer, and the following month Ahmed visited the presidential residence during a day devoted to the sciences. The young inventor -- quickly dubbed the "clock boy" on social media -- received an avalanche of supportive messages in America and abroad. Silicon Valley's leading institutions sent sympathetic messages; he received offers to intern at Twitter and to visit the offices of Google and Facebook. But his family announced not long afterward that they would be moving to Qatar. Internet entrepreneur, investor, and social media expert Gary Vaynerchuk, the CEO of VaynerMedia, said that theres so much opportunity for entrepreneurs that hes actually pulled back from investing. I would argue this is the greatest time, so much so that as an early stage investor Ive actually stopped investing, Vaynerchuk told Yahoo Finance. Because, everybody now is a founder and a startup entrepreneur and the supply and demand of actual good operators has scared me so much and its a little bit of a guessing game and I dont know whos a real entrepreneur and whos a fake one. Vaynerchuk an early investor in Facebook (FB), Twitter (TWTR) and Tumblr says the investing environment today is different from the way it used to be. I just think things are inflated, he said. I think every kid that goes to Penn who has an idea thinks her company is worth six million dollars. And I mean thats scary. And so, this is not 2006/2007 when I was investing in Facebook and Tumblr and Twitter. This is the Were the Uber of housecleaning, but Ive never built a business in my life. I was probably going to work at being a McKinsey, but now because of this gold rush Im a startup founder and Im an entrepreneur. Vaynerchuk, an immigrant to the U.S., believes that the American dream is massively alive and well. As a matter of fact, I think the Internet being at scale today has compounded the opportunity, he said. When I see a lot of people who feel like the political climate, for example, is suppressing a female or a minority, I was trying to remind them like look this is the best time ever. The Internet doesnt care what you look like. You can go direct to consumer with your offering. Nobody needs to be in your way. Julia La Roche is a finance reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter. Read more: By Patricia Zengerle and Matt Spetalnick WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration imposed sanctions on the chief judge and seven other members of Venezuelas Supreme Court on Thursday as punishment for annulling the opposition-led Congress earlier this year, U.S. officials said. The new sanctions package was aimed at stepping up pressure on the leftist government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his loyalists amid growing concern over a crackdown on street protests and his efforts to consolidate his rule over the South American oil-producing country. The move provoked condemnation from Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez. "It's outrageous and unacceptable for the United States to impose sanctions on a sovereign and independent nation in violation of Venezuelan and international laws," she said on Twitter. Venezuela's latest wave of anti-government unrest, which has left at least 45 people dead in the last six weeks, began with the Supreme Court, packed with Maduro supporters, assuming the authorities of the opposition-led Congress in late March. There was an international outcry against the court's de facto annulment of the National Assembly, which the opposition won in late 2015 during an unprecedented economic and social crisis. The decision was later partially reversed, though it did not stop the unrest. The Venezuelan people are suffering from a collapsing economy brought about by their governments mismanagement and corruption. Members of the countrys Supreme Court of Justice have exacerbated the situation by consistently interfering with the legislative branchs authority, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. By imposing these targeted sanctions, the United States is supporting the Venezuelan people in their efforts to protect and advance democratic governance in their country," he said. Among those hit with sanctions was Maikel Moreno, a Maduro ally who became president of the 32-judge court in February. All of those targeted will have U.S. assets frozen and be denied travel to the United States, while American citizens will be barred from doing business with them, officials said. Maduro spoke on state television for some two hours on Thursday soon after the sanctions were confirmed but made no mention of them. Word of the new sanctions came as President Donald Trump expressed dismay at how once-prosperous Venezuela was now mired in poverty, saying it's been unbelievably poorly run." Speaking in Washington alongside visiting President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia, Venezuelas neighbor, Trump called the humanitarian situation a disgrace to humanity and promised to help fix it, but he offered no new U.S. approach. A senior U.S. official warned of further action against "bad actors" if there are no changes in the country. But sanctions so far have stopped short of hitting the oil sector in Venezuela, which is a major U.S. oil supplier. Republican U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, who had pushed for further sanctions, called the measures a message to Maduro and his thugs that their actions are not going to go unpunished. UNREST Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets across Venezuela in protest against the Maduros government, demanding elections, freedom for jailed activists, foreign aid and autonomy for the opposition-led legislature. Maduro's aides accuse them of seeking a violent coup. The Treasury Department has in the past sanctioned Venezuelan officials or former officials, charging them with trafficking or corruption. In February, the United States blacklisted Venezuelan Vice President Tareck El Aissami for alleged links to drug trafficking. The officials have denied the charges and called them a pretext to try to topple Maduro's government, something Washington has denied. The U.S. government said the judges were being targeted because they had "usurped" democratic authority. In March, the court stated it was assuming the Congress' role in a ruling authorizing Maduro to create oil joint ventures without the previously mandated congressional approval. The court said the National Assembly was in contempt over vote-buying accusations against three lawmakers. Even though they no longer sit in Congress, the court said opposition leaders had not handled their case legally. The decision was partially reversed though protests have continued nationwide. Maduro's critics say it was an excuse for him to consolidate power and muzzle the opposition. (Additional reporting by John Walcott, David Brunnstrom and Yara Bayoumy in Washington, Girish Gupta in Caracas; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Cynthia Osterman) The National Institute of Mental Health notes that scientists aren't entirely sure what causes attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Anything from genes and brain injuries to low birth weight and exposure to environmental toxins at a young age may play a role. However, of these variables, experts tend to agree that genetics is the most likely link. But this isn't to say the other factors go entirely by the wayside. For example, one study, published in Human Genetics, mentions that although ADHD is "highly heritable," it's a "multifactorial disorder, in which many genes, all with a small effect, are thought to cause the disorder in the presence of unfavorable environmental conditions." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reinforces this notion, outlining that in addition to the "important role" genetics plays in ADHD, other possible risk factors and causes may include brain injury, exposure to lead during pregnancy or at a young age and premature delivery. [See: 10 Concerns Parents Have About Their Kids' Health.] According to James M. Swanson, professor of pediatrics at the University of California, Irvine, whether genetics is the main reason a person develops this disorder remains "a tricky question." He explains that while " ADHD does seem to run in families" and that the "statistical estimate of heritability is very high," he stresses that this does not necessarily mean that all ADHD cases have a genetic basis. "Interpretation of estimates of 'heritability' is complicated." "Simply put, the etiology of ADHD is complex and can involve multiple causes," says Russell A. Barkley, clinical professor of psychiatry, Medical University of South Carolina. "To date, all of the major ones fall in the realm of neurology and genetics -- biological causation -- with no evidence that social factors alone can account for the condition." He explains that head trauma or other neurological injuries, alcohol use during pregnancy, significant premature birth and biohazard exposure "might interact with genetic liability to the disorder to exacerbate it." Story continues Inheritance Barkley explains that the closer someone's genetic relationship is to a child with ADHD, the more likely it is that the relative also shares the disorder. For example, he notes that 25 to 35 percent of parents of ADHD children are adults with ADHD, 25 to 50 percent of siblings of children with ADHD have the disorder and 70 to 92 percent of identical twins of a child with ADHD have ADHD. [See: 10 of the Biggest Health Threats Facing Your Kids This School Year.] Thomas E. Brown, director of the Brown Clinic for Attention and Related Disorders in Manhattan Beach, California, agrees that genetics play a role in ADHD. In his book, "Outside the Box: Rethinking ADD/ADHD in Children and Adults: A Practical Guide," he writes that "like eye color and height," ADHD starts with genes. "It runs in families." Yet he too, makes it clear that there are several variables, including the fact that some people's genes are less stable than others, sometimes not becoming "active until many years after the person is born." Here are some other ways genetics can influence ADHD development -- and it's not always strictly about inheritance. New Mutations In some cases, new, or de novo, mutations occur in a child's genes despite the fact that they're not present in the parent's genome, Barkley says. "We think this may account for at least 10 percent of ADHD, especially if they are new cases arising in a family that has no increased risk among the relatives." Such mutations can occur in egg and sperm-producing cells, he explains, and arise simply by exposure to the mutation-causing agents that everyone experiences during their life, such as environmental toxins and the sun's radiation. Although the mutations are not present in the parent's DNA, the gene mutations may still be passed to a child. Gene-by-Environment Interactions "Some genes turn on and off depending on other things going on in the body or in the environment," Brown writes. Barkley explains that such gene-by-environment interactions can give rise to a child's ADHD development. "A child inherits genes for ADHD that cause a susceptibility to the disorder and the expression of these genes then interacts with some other agent in the environment to magnify the risk for ADHD beyond the genes alone," he says. "For instance, maternal alcohol or tobacco use during pregnancy increases the risk for ADHD about 2.5 times the population risk. But should a child have one or two of the risk genes for ADHD, the occurrence may go up eight times that of the population risk." Exposure to infections, chronic elevated parental stress during pregnancy and malnutrition earlier on in childhood also fall into this category, he says. Swanson adds that "severe deprivation in early life may cause ADHD," referencing a large-scale study beginning in the 1990s involving Romanian orphans who "suffered different degrees of early environmental deprivation and then were adopted into families in the U.K." In addition to getting hardly any personal care or cognitive stimulation prior to adoption, these children also received insufficient food. According to The Lancet, those living in Romanian institutions for more than six months as children had higher rates of social problems -- which lasted into adulthood -- including inattention and overactivity. "These studies may be relevant to the question about additional plausible environmental causes of ADHD," Swanson says. Epigenetics Another way genetics can influence ADHD is through epigenetics, which Barkley says refers to "small chemical 'flags' (usually methylated tags) that get inserted or attached on to a gene during or after its transmission to an offspring." The flag affects timing of gene activation as well as whether the gene is even activated in the first place. He says these epigenetic effects have been discovered in some disorders such as autism, adding that "some evidence is just beginning to accrue that it might occur in ADHD as well." [See: 11 Simple, Proven Ways to Optimize Your Mental Health.] The Big Picture "All in all," Barkley says, "about 65 to 75 percent of all ADHD cases arise from these genetic factors, chiefly inheritance of ADHD gene variants." Despite the genetic links associated with ADHD, remember that every person is different and that obtaining a diagnosis is a detailed process. "Assessment for ADHD requires collection of information about how the person functions in a wide variety of complex daily tasks at many different times of day in many different settings," Brown notes. Jennifer Lea Reynolds is a Health freelancer at U.S. News. She draws on her life and career experiences, including losing 70 pounds and writing copy at health-centric advertising agencies. Her articles have been published online in Smithsonian, Reader's Digest, Woman's Day and The Huffington Post. She's also the owner of FlabbyRoad.com, where she writes about weight loss, fitness, nutrition and body image. You can follow her on Twitter @JenSunshine. Washington (AFP) - Mike Flynn, Donald Trump's fired national security adviser, told the president-elect's transition team that he was the subject of a federal investigation, but was hired for the post anyway, the New York Times reported late Wednesday. The daily, citing two people familiar with the case, said Flynn told the presidential transition team's chief lawyer Don McGahn about the investigation on January 4 -- weeks before assuming the highly sensitive post. Flynn, who ended up being fired from the position after just 24 days, is at the center of a sprawling federal investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election. The White House has said that Flynn was dismissed for misleading Vice President Mike Pence about a phone call with the Russian ambassador, during which he reportedly discussed ways of softening US sanctions on Russia. News reports said Trump repeatedly tried, without success, to get FBI director James Comey to drop the probe into Flynn. He finally fired Comey last week, in a move legal experts say could become the basis for an obstruction of justice investigation against the beleaguered American president. A decorated retired general, Flynn during the Barack Obama adminstration was ousted as the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency. Obama, shortly after last November's presidential election, reportedly warned Trump not to hire Flynn for the national security post, according to news reports -- advice the billionaire businessman failed to heed. A woman in Walnut Grove, California, has spent the last three weeks in intensive care after eating nacho cheese from a gas station. Lavinia Kelly was driving home from work on April 21 when she stopped at Valley Oak Food and Fuel gas station for a snack. After purchasing a bag of Doritos, she drizzled them with nacho cheese sauce that was available for customers. The next day, the mother-of-three went to a local hospital to be treated for double vision, according to the Sacramento Bee. Though she was sent home, a few hours later, Kelly was having breathing problems and was vomiting. Since then, she has been hospitalized and spent her 33rd birthday on Wednesday in intensive care being treated for botulism, a rare paralytic illness. Botulism is caused by a nerve toxin produced by bacteria. Foodborne botulism typically comes from eating improperly canned or preserved foods, according to the CDC. Symptoms include drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth and muscle weakness. The illness can be fatal and is considered a medical emergency. (Photo: Fox40com) Kellys sister, Theresa Kelly, said the battle to recover has been an ordeal for the whole family. Ive never seen my sister, um, not have function of her body or be able to communicate. And Ive never seen my sister on tubes or anything like that, she told Fox40.com. Kelly is one of at least five people who have reportedly been hospitalized for botulism after eating food purchased at the gas station, according to the Sacramento County Health and Human Services Dept. Officials halted food sales at the business on May 5, according to a press release. Health officials are investigating three other probable cases and one suspected case, according to the Los Angeles Times. Although Kelly is spending her third week in the hospital, her family is hopeful she will recover. We just dont know how long or how much effort and, and weve got somebody here every single morning, every single day, Theresa Kelly told Fox40. Shes not left, not one minute. We want to make sure that she can communicate as much as possible. Story continues On Tuesday, Kellys family filed a lawsuit against the gas station in Sacramento County Superior Court on Tuesday alleging negligence, product liability and breach of implied warranty, according to the Sacrament Bee. Calls made Thursday to Valley Oak Fuel and Food by HuffPost were not returned. Also on HuffPost Kentucky Deep-Fried Paper Towel A mom in Newcastle, England, was horrified when her 7-year-old's meal from KFC turned out to be a deep-fried paper towel. Click here to read the whole story. Bloody Bandage In Pizza Hut Pizza An upstate New York man said he found a bloody bandage baked into the crust of his Pizza Hut pizza in June 2011. He sued after the company failed to adequately address his concerns. McFeather In McNugget In March 2012, a woman claims she found a feather in her McNugget. Animal Toe In Spinach Artichoke Dip Andrew Brodsky, then 35, said he found an unidentified animal toe in his container of Sabra spinach and artichoke dip. Coil In Fried Chicken In January 2012, 50-year-old bus driver Lajzer Grynsztajn claims he nearly choked to death on such a coil after ordering two chicken breasts and fries from JFK Fried Chicken in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Photo by Flickr user: Andrea_Nguyen Mouse In Big Mac Buns In January 2011, a mouse got trapped in a bag of Big Mac buns at a Philadelphia McDonald's. Whopper Spit Case A deputy sheriff alleges that someone spit in his Whopper ... and the case made it to the Washington state Supreme Court. Semen In Yogurt A grocery store worker pleaded guilty to handing out a semen-tainted yogurt sample at an Albuquerque market. Fingertip In Applebee's Salad Louisiana woman Mary Deal Chambers-Johnson sued Applebee's for damages after she claimed a fingertip in her lunch salad gave her post-traumatic stress disorder. Fly In Yogurt A Chinese woman found a fly in her yogurt in July 2011. When she asked for compensation, the manufacturer asked her to prove that the fly had died before she opened the container -- by getting the insect autopsied. (Flies cannot be autopsied.) Disemboweled Mouse In Packaged Salad A couple said they found a disembowled mouse in their Dole packaged salad mix in June 2011. They'd already started eating the salad by the time they found the mealbreaker; they promptly vomited. Human Blood On BLT & Fries Cancer survivor Susan Mosher was outraged after she allegedly found human blood on her BLT and fries at a Cracker Barrel in Kingwood, Texas, in late June 2011. Caterpillar In Weight Watchers Cake A dieting woman found a live caterpillar crawling on a Weight Watchers-brand slice of packaged cake in June 2011. She called it gross enough to put her off cake forever. Condom In French Onion Soup A California man claimed to find a condom in his French onion soup at a Clam Jumper restaurant, also in July 2009. The restaurant's PR firm said that they found no evidence of wrongdoing after conducting an investigation of the matter. Used Tampon In Steak In July 2009, a German tourist claimed to find a used tampon in his steak at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York. Dead Mouse In Bread In 2009, a man from Bath, England, found a dead mouse in a loaf of bread. Paperclips In Muffins At the height of the Beijing Olympics, reporters pounced on the Chinese food industry after athletes found paperclips in muffins served them at an official function. The story's most surprising revelation may just be that Olympic athletes eat muffins. Live Bullet In Hot Dog No one said hot dogs promote longevity, but it's not like eating a frankfurter is as dangerous as someone sticking a gun in your face --unless your name is Olivia Chaines and you're eating it at Costco. The then-31-year-old had swallowed a piece of a Hebrew National brand hotdog in the shopping aisle of a Costco in May 2004 before she realized that it contained a piece of metal. X-rays revealed that the hot dog had contained a live bullet. Semen In Spicy Tuna Sushi Sauce A New York woman sued a sushi bar after she tasted semen in the sauce atop her spicy tuna in June 2008. She said she still has samples frozen in her refrigerator. Rodent Tooth In Planter's Peanuts In 2006, a 52-year-old man from Illinois sued Kraft Foods for $55,000 to compensate for the physical and emotional distress he suffered after allegedly biting into a "non-human animal tooth" in a container of Planter's Peanuts. Gold Tooth In Mars Bar Finding a golden ticket in your candy bar is great. But a gold tooth? Not so much. That's what happened to a 62-year-old British man in September 2007. He contacted Mars to try to receive compensation, but got no substantive response. Human Skin In Chicken Sandwich Kitchen accidents happen. Knives are sharp; sometimes a cook will slice off a piece of skin over the course of an evening. It's understandable. Not understandable? Failing to clean up the product of an accident. That, apparently, is what happened at an Ohio Arby's in June 2007, when a man found a piece of human skin sitting on the lettuce in his chicken sandwich. The man sued, refusing a settlement that Arby's initially offered him. Mouse In Popeye's Fried Chicken A Baltimore man was eating fried chicken from Popeye's in September 2003 when he discovered that the fast food store had inadvertently fried a mouse along with the chicken parts. Syringe In Burger King Burger In June 2001, 22-year-old Angelina Cruz bit into a burger from Burger King -- and got pricked in the tongue by a syringe. Citing HIV fears, she sued the chain for $9 million. Worm In McNugget Fast food fan Nikki Sanders had a not-so Happy Meal when she bought McDonalds for her 4-year-old daughter. The 30-year-old canteen worker said she discovered what looked like a worm hanging out of the batter surrounding a Chicken McNugget. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Making healthy food choices and getting at least two and a half hours of exercise every week are important throughout life. But when it comes to screening tests and vaccinations, you need to know just when to get themand to keep up with that schedule. The many screening tests recommended by medical experts can be difficult to keep track of, says Marvin M. Lipman, M.D., Consumer Reports Chief Medical Adviser. And women and men have different screening requirements at different times of their lives. To help, weve gathered recommendations from several important sources: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (an independent medical panel of national experts); our own Choosing Wisely campaign, which aims to help patients and doctors talk about tests and treatments; and experts in gynecological and primary healthcare. Heres an easy-to-follow checklist of the screening tests, vaccinations, and preventive health measures you need, at every stage of adulthood. What to Do in Your 20s and 30s Vaccinations Flu shot, every year Tetanus booster, every 10 years Whooping cough vaccine (in the form of a Tdap booster) unless youre certain youve already had one as a preteen or teenager Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, if youre under 26 and havent received it yet Screening Tests Cervical cancer: Starting at 21, have a Pap smear every three years. Alternately, you can have a Pap smear every five years if you get tested for HPV at the same time. Sexually transmitted disease: If youre under 25 and sexually active, have a yearly screening for chlamydia and gonorrhea. Continue testing annually as long as you have new or multiple sex partners, or a partner who has a sexually transmitted infection. Also, get tested for HIV at least once. According to the CDC, everyone between ages 13 and 65 should be tested during their lifetime. (If you have certain risk factors, you'll need additional screenings.) Blood pressure: Have it checked at least once every two years. Cholesterol: If you have high blood pressure, a family history of heart disease, or other cardiac risk factors, have a blood test for cholesterol at age 35. Have your cholesterol tested every three to five years, depending on results. Type 2 diabetes: If youre overweight or obese, have a family history of diabetes, or have high blood pressure or cholesterol, test with a fasting blood glucose test and an HbA1c test to measure long-term blood sugar control every three years, depending on results. Story continues Review With Your Doctor Contraception choices Diet, exercise, and sleep habits Smoking, alcohol consumption, and any substance use habits Note: This women's healthcare checklist does not include recommendations for pregnant women. Women's Healthcare Tips When it comes to your daily exercise and nutrition habits, keep in mind that what you do now can affect you in the future. The things we put into our bodies do impact our long-term health, and they do impact what we look and feel like, 10 years, 20 years, 30 years down the road, says Barbara Levy, M.D., vice president for health policy with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Attending to your emotional health is also important during these years, Levy adds. For many women, these are prime years for building a family and a career. That can come with a lot of stress. What to Do in Your 40s and 50s Vaccinations Flu shot, every year Tetanus booster, every 10 years Screening Tests Breast cancer: At 40, talk with your doctor about when to start mammography screening. Most women can begin at age 50. However, if you have risk factors for breast cancer, such as a family history, it may be advisable to start in your 40s. Consider having a mammogram every two years if youre at low risk, or annually if you are at higher risk for breast cancer. Cervical cancer: Have a Pap smear every three years. Alternately, you can have the test every five years if you get tested for HPV at the same time. Sexually transmitted disease: Get tested annually for chlamydia and gonorrhea as long as you have new or multiple sex partners, or a partner who has a sexually transmitted infection. Blood pressure: Have it checked at least once every two years. Cholesterol: If you have no heart disease risk factors, have a blood test to check cholesterol levels at age 45. After that, test every three to five years, depending on results. Type 2 diabetes: If youre overweight or obese, have a family history of diabetes, or have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, test with a fasting blood glucose test and an HbA1c test to measure long-term blood sugar control every three years, depending on results. Colon cancer: At age 50, talk to your doctor about having either a colonoscopy every 10 years, a stool test every year, or sigmoidoscopy every five years with a stool test every three years. Other colon cancer screening options are available; ask your doctor what may be best for you. Review With Your Doctor Contraception choices Diet, exercise, and sleep habits Smoking, alcohol consumption, and any substance use habits Note: This women's healthcare checklist does not include recommendations for pregnant women. Women's Healthcare Tips Its important to continue thinking about contraception through menopause, says John Cullen, M.D., a family physician in Valdez, Alaska, and a member of the board of directors of the American Academy of Family Physicians. And talk with your doctor if you are experiencing increasingly painful, heavy, or unpredictable periods, which can occur as you approach menopause. A lot of women at this point actually benefit from medications (such as hormone-based birth control) that reduce periods, just to control bleeding, Cullen says. What to Do in Your 60s and Beyond Vaccinations Flu shot, every year Tetanus booster, every 10 years Shingles vaccine, once at age 60 Two pneumonia vaccines, starting at 65. The CDC recommends a dose of whats known as PCV13 (Prevnar) first. At least one year later, get a dose of PPSV23 (Pneumovax). Screening Tests Breast cancer: Continue mammography screening, at least every two years. Recommendations differ on when to stop screening. At age 75, talk with your doctor about whether you should continue having regular mammograms. Cervical cancer: Most women can stop having regular Pap smears at age 65. Talk with your doctor about whether you should continue. Osteoporosis: Have a bone density test at age 65, and be screened again every two to three years. You may want talk to your doctor about screening earlier if you have certain risk factors, such as family history, low body weight, smoking, thyroid disease, early or surgical menopause, history of taking prednisone, or a history of fractures. Sexually transmitted disease: Get tested annually for chlamydia and gonorrhea as long as you have new or multiple sex partners, or a partner who has a sexually transmitted infection. Blood pressure: Have it checked at least once every two years. Cholesterol: Continue blood tests for cholesterol every three to five years, depending on results. Type 2 diabetes: If youre overweight or obese, have a family history of diabetes, or have high blood pressure or cholesterol, test with a fasting blood glucose test and an HbA1c test to measure long-term blood sugar control every three years, depending on results. Colon cancer: Continue screening with a colonoscopy every 10 years, a stool test every year, or sigmoidoscopy every five years with a stool test every three years. Other colon cancer screening options exist; ask your doctor about which may be best for you. You can stop colon cancer screening at age 75. Review With Your Doctor Diet, exercise, and sleep habits Smoking, alcohol consumption, and any substance use habits Women's Healthcare Tips Chronic conditions such as arthritis and diabetes may become bigger concerns during these years, Levy says, and may begin to make some daily activities more difficult. Because of this, it becomes even more critical to focus on maintaining muscle mass through strengthening exercises, she notes. Squats, pushups, and lifting hand weights are a good start. Its also important to care for your sexual health if you are not monogamous or don't have a monogamous partner. Some partners may not want to use condoms, because theres no longer a risk of pregnancy. That puts women at risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, Levy says. More from Consumer Reports: Top pick tires for 2016 Best used cars for $25,000 and less 7 best mattresses for couples Copyright 2006-2017 Consumer Reports, Inc. At this weeks keynote show for its big developers conference, Google (GOOG, GOOGL) unveiled news about features and products coming down the pike this year, both for developers and the masses. A highlight: Google Assistant is growing up. (For the uninitiated, Assistant is Googles version of Siri.) Googles vice president for Assistant, Scott Huffman, sat down with me to discuss the announcements. First things first: What is Assistant? An app? A product? A feature? The Google Assistant is not an app or a device. What you really want from an Assistant is not just a thing thats in one place. You want something that you can have a conversation with and get things done wherever you are, whatever context youre in, he says. That could include your phone, your car, or your Google Home. I leave home, Huffman says by way of example. I say to my Google Home, how lates Home Depot open? Well, give me the directions. It should say, Sure, theyre on your phone. As you walk out the door, the Assistant on your phone picks up the conversation. Assistant is built into every Android phone (long-press the Home button to bring it up)but starting this week, its also available on the iPhone, as the Google Assistant app. Either way, you can now type those questions and commands to Assistant instead of speaking them, if you prefersomething you cant do with, say, Siri. Handy when itd be inappropriate to talk aloud. Then theres Google Lens. Googles been making deep investments in vision and machine perception, Huffman says, and so were building that into the Assistant. So now, I can just open the viewfinder inside the assistant and say, hey, what about this? And the assistant starts to give me options. For example, you can point the camera at a flower, a building, a painting, a book cover, a restaurant storefront. The Assistant recognizes what youre looking at, and instantly gives you information: identification of the flower, ratings for the restaurant, and so on. Story continues And not just details, but actions to choose. One of the examples we showed is pointing the camera at a marquee of a show where it says, this band at this time. And then you get options like, you want to hear that bands music? Do you want to buy tickets? You want to add to your calendar? You do want to share it with your friend? So just how smart can Assistant get? Huffman knows where he wants it to go. I can tell you how I say it to my team, he says. I say, Hey guys, were just building this really simple thing. All it has to be is that anyone can have a conversation with it anywhere, anytime, with no friction. We should understand that conversation, whatever its about. And then just do whatever they ask us to do. Lets just build that. Sounds good. Get to it, team! More from David Pogue: Inside the Worlds Greatest Scavenger Hunt: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 The David Pogue Review: Windows 10 Creators Update Now I get it: Bitcoin David Pogue tested 47 pill-reminder apps to find the best one David Pogues search for the worlds best air-travel app The little-known iPhone feature that lets blind people see with their fingers David Pogue, tech columnist for Yahoo Finance, welcomes nontoxic comments in the comments section below. On the web, hes davidpogue.com. On Twitter, hes @pogue. On email, hes poguester@yahoo.com. You can read all his articles here, or you can sign up to get his columns by email. Once a year, the geeky faithful make their way to Silicon Valley to attend Google I/O, the companys (GOOG, GOOGL) developer conference. Most of what transpires there is programmer gibberish to the uninitiatedbut there are always a few eye-popping news bits for the masses. This year, one of the most interesting developments was Googles continued push to make its Google Home devicebasically an Amazon Echo clonedistinctive and essential. I had the chance to chat with Rishi Chandra, Googles vice president for all things Google Home. He covered whats new (or coming very soon) in the Google Home device, but first he emphasized that none of it could have happened without the big new feature, person recognition. That is, the Google Home now knows who is speaking, and can deliver the answer based on that persons calendar, work commute, music playlists, Uber account, and so on. (Heres my full writeup of that feature.) It knows whos talking, Chandra told me. In the end, an assistant can only be so useful if it understands who you are, right? So, if my wife is asking something about her calendar, then it needs to answer with her calendar. And if Im asking, it needs to be answered with my calendar. And thats actually enabled all of the announcements we were making today. (And one more that Google didnt make: Shortly, Google Home will let you add or edit calendar appointments and reminders by voice, and read email summaries to you by voice. What took so long? Simple, Chandra says: Those features didnt make sense until the Home could tell whos talkingwhose calendar and email to check.) Rishi Chandra, vice president of product management and general manager of home products, speaks on stage during the annual Google I/O developers conference in San Jose, California, U.S., May 17, 2017. REUTERS/Stephen Lam So what are the big new features? First, conversations with Home no longer have to begin with you. If it notices something that you might find importanta traffic delay for an upcoming appointment, or a flight delayits ring glows to get your attention. When you say OK Google, whats up?, it gives you the bad news. Second, free phone calls. The most interesting and most exciting thing that we announced today is the ability to use Google Home to call different phone numbers. The ability to say, like, hey Google, call mom. It can call any land-line or mobile number in Canada or US for free. Story continues Note that this is not the same thing that Amazon added to its Echo last weekfree calls between Amazon (AMZN) Echos (or Amazon apps). This is free phone calls to phone numbers. Finally, Google Home can now send certain of its responses to a nearby screen, like your phone or TV. For certain things, voice is not going to be good enough, right? You need to see a visual, Chandra said. So, in case I want to get maps, youd get a notification right on your phone that says, hey, you can actually go open a Google Maps right now with the exact location youre trying to go. Google has lagged Amazon in the number of smarthome or Internet of Things gadgets you can control by voice, toobut thats about to change, Chandra says. Were catching up significantly. When we launched Google Home, we had four partners. Today, any third party developer/device manufacturer can start interfacing with the assistant on their own. So, its a self-publishing tool. And so, we expect this to go from the 70 to hundreds of different integrations. The Amazon Echo, now in nearly 11 million homes, has had an impressive head start. But clearly, Google has no intention of settling for second place. More from David Pogue: Inside the Worlds Greatest Scavenger Hunt: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 The David Pogue Review: Windows 10 Creators Update Now I get it: Bitcoin David Pogue tested 47 pill-reminder apps to find the best one David Pogues search for the worlds best air-travel app The little-known iPhone feature that lets blind people see with their fingers David Pogue, tech columnist for Yahoo Finance, welcomes nontoxic comments in the comments section below. On the web, hes davidpogue.com. On Twitter, hes @pogue. On email, hes poguester@yahoo.com. You can read all his articles here, or you can sign up to get his columns by email. MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.The company responsible for a large fraction of the hours we while away on the web isnt happy with how inefficiently we spend that time on our phones. At its I/O conference here, Google (GOOG, GOOGL) touted the progress of Accelerated Mobile Pages, an ambitious initiative to remake the mobile web into a faster, lighter and less irritating mediumyes, even the ads that help pay for it. That is a laudable effort, and the web giant has a good story to tell so far. But it also needs to address lingering concerns about its intentions. Amped up about AMP The basic idea is to take the HTML code behind every web page and strip out the cruft: over-sized images, scripts that run redundantly in the background, and other junk that contributes nothing to the reading experience. The results can be impressivesee how fast this post can pop onto your phone in AMP form? At last years I/O, Google news head Richard Gingras said AMP pages load four times faster and use a tenth of the data of a non-AMP page. At a Wednesday evening presentation here, AMP lead Malte Ubl said better compression techniques allow images on AMP pages to need half as much data as a year ago. The AMP project only debuted in October of 2015, but now Google says more than 900,000 domains serve up over 2 billion AMP pages. At a State of the Mobile Union keynote Wednesday afternoon, Google product-management vice president Rahul Roy-Chowdhury noted recent support for the format by Twitter (TWTR) and Chinas social-media platforms Weibo and Tencent. Tumblr, owned by this sites parent firm Yahoo (YHOO), is joining them. There are sound reasons for this. While AMP wouldnt exist without Googles backing, its an open-source project that anybody else can use and reviseunlike proprietary fast-mobile-web efforts at Facebook (FB) and Apple (AAPL), Instant Articles and Apple News, that allow less flexibility. The British newspaper the Guardian recently dropped both Instant Articles and Apple News because they didnt help it convince readers to sign up for paid memberships. Story continues Were bullish, e-mailed Jason Kint, CEO of online-publishing trade group Digital Content Next. Google AMP is a very promising as a strategy to protect the open web from the suffocation of Facebooks closed platform business model. Address angst Kint, however, voiced wariness about how Google can push AMP pages before others, even if they may be svelte in their own right. Its mobile news search displays AMP pages first in a carousel of thumbnail previews you can easily flip through. Google Search on mobile nearly requires participation in AMP if you want to be discovered, he noted. An optional AMP feature yields another complication: a Google caching service that delivers pages even faster leaves them appearing at a google.com or ampproject.org address that can confuse users. For instance, my post about the upcoming Android O release appears not at the usual finance.yahoo.com domain name but at a much longer address that starts with www.google.com/amp/s/www.yahoo.com. At a Wednesday evening presentation, Google representatives acknowledged this frustration and said AMP pages served from the companys cache now include a banner with the correct address, which you can tap and hold to copy for sharing elsewhere. Google is also moving to revise that cached address so it starts with the domain name of the original siteyahoo.ampproject.org, for instance. And publishers may have other options: In January, the web-hosting company CloudFlare announced its own AMP caching service and said its working on ways to keep pages at the right address. Mobile ads you may not hate A presentation Thursday morning covered another aspect of AMP you may not want to admit to appreciating: less annoying ads. Google software engineer Michael Kleber explained how AMP ads cant move around on a page or block its content, cant hold up the rest of the page from loading, and cant play video automatically. They also must run in a sandbox that quarantines any hostile code and can be closed by the page if it bogs down everything. This doesnt limit AMP ads to being simple banners. A demo showed how this stripped-down code can allow for an ad in which the content changes as you scroll down the page, highlighting various parts of a car. Kleber also cited studies showing that AMP ads get seen and clicked through more. He cited a series of ads from the firm TripleLift on Time, Inc. (TIME) sites that were three times lighter and six times faster to load than non-AMP versions, and which generated 13% more revenue. As somebody who writes for a variety of ad-supported sites, that sounds pretty good. But remember that the AMP spec doesnt ban ads that are light, efficient and repellent. You can use this format to crank out sleazy around the web clickbait ads (if you want to make your eyes bleed, read Amanda Hesss New York Times recap of clicking through dozens of them) and spam people with creepy retargeting ads trying to get them to complete purchases contemplated on other sites. AMP also cant force desktop sites to shape up their act, even if well-done AMP sites start to make them look like hot garbage in comparison. Memo to web designers and publishers: Mobile users arent the only people online who dont want their time or bandwidth wasted. More from Rob: Email Rob at rob@robpegoraro.com; follow him on Twitter at @robpegoraro. With June just around the corner, were inching ever closer to Tesla kicking off mass production on the highly anticipated Model 3. Barring any unforeseen developments, Tesla is still planning to begin Model 3 mass production in July, followed by deliveries to early reservation holders towards the latter half of 2017. Of course, given Teslas track record, it wouldnt surprise anyone if the first Model 3 deliveries dont actually begin until mid-to-late December. That notwithstanding, Tesla currently has all hands on deck as the company continues road testing Model 3 release candidates with increasing frequency. Indeed, theres a reason that we seemingly cant go a few days without new photos of a Model 3 emerging online. And while the overall design of the Model 3 is more or less locked in, the interior of the Model 3 remains something of a mystery. While Tesla showed off the Model 3 interior when it unveiled the vehicle last year, the overall design was curiously sparse, with no instrument cluster to be found. Don't Miss: GameStop has neon Switch bundles available on its website right now In the weeks and months that followed, speculation regarding Teslas plans for the dashboard grew out of control, with many anticipating that Tesla would incorporate an advanced HUD of some sort. Alas, the Model 3 dashboard will not be the futuristic masterpiece many were hoping for. Earlier this year, Musk said that the need for an instrument cluster is not as important on a car that can drive itself. Even if we give Tesla a pass for that design decision, theres no getting around the fact that the Model 3 interior, as we saw it last year, was excruciatingly dull and boring. The good news is that the final version of the Model 3 will sport a more elegant fit and finish, or at the very least, allow Model 3 customers to pay extra for a nicer interior. While well have to wait until July to see what the shipping version of the Model 3 will look like, new Model 3 spy shots obtained by Electrek showcases an interior with wooden trim. Without question, the design below is far more elegant than the design we originally saw last year. Story continues Meanwhile, the same Tesla enthusiast who took the photo above took this quality shot of a Model 3 around Tesla headquarters. One design tweak on the Model 3 that remains to be seen is what Tesla has planned for the steering wheel. Recall that Musk last year said it was going to feel like a spaceship. Trending right now: See the original version of this article on BGR.com - A trending video shows a lady acting out of control at the Kotoka Airport - Social media commentary says the lady is a Ghanaian returnee from Kuwait who has gone "mad" - Get more news on trending and current issues in Ghana here on YEN.com.gh YEN has come across a trending video on social media that was reportedly taken at the Kotoka International Airport. READ ALSO: Side-chicks are the ones saving all your marriages - Counsellor Lutterodt tells married women In the video, a lady, who has been said is Ghanaian, is seen behaving erratically and out of control. One of the women (pictured in red) acting out of control Concerns are being raised about the health status of four Ghanaian women who recently returned from Kuwait. A video posted on social media showing the one of the women screaming and kicking while running frantically around the airport while being chased by another one has since gone viral. They are then seized by airport security at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra. Airport Security escorted the lady out Get more videos and pictures on the go with the YEN mobile app It is believed that they have developed amnesia - a condition that causes one to lose their memory. Kuwait is among a list of Gulf countries where many young Ghanaian youth have travelled to in search of work and opportunity. Many are lured by the promised lucrative salary and working conditions which turns out to be the very opposite upon arrival. The government has been struggling to deter Ghanaians from going to these countries in the first place, and then to provide consular services when they arrive. However, this has been difficult because of the youth unemployment situation in the country and the seizure of passports by Gulf family hosts upon arrival of these young people. READ ALSO: Go, retrieve the judgment debt from Woyome - Gen. Mosquito charges Nana Addo YEN is building a platform where Ghanaians can share local news and own experiences with each other. Witnessing an incident? Want to tell about a local problem? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Send us a message via YENs official Facebook group, or contact us via info@yen.com.gh. Source: YEN.com.gh After the storms subsided and moved out of Black River Falls Wednesday, the citys common council held a special meeting to sort through some issues. One of the most pressing items on the agenda was issuing a state of emergency to help expedite the process of fixing the washed out culvert underneath the Black River bridge near Advanced Chiropractic. Officials said the culvert needs to be fixed as soon as possible, especially after the recent heavy rains, as every storm washes it out even more. Todd Gomer, the BRF street supervisor, said he has been having trouble finding a vendor that could do it within the next two weeks. Most companies that have put in bids are not available to complete the project until August of September. Gomer and city officials want it fixed as soon as possible to avoid any potential hazards. Council members also rejected changes to a city ordinance at the meeting that would have added an impound lot for cars that were towed and impounded in the city. The idea came from former police chief Scott Eisenhauer, who was requested to perform a cost analysis on the project. He stepped down before it could be completed. Rather than table it until a new chief of police was hired, the council voted down the measure because they didnt see a benefit. Alderperson Rave expressed concern that creating something like this would only be a hindrance and problematic. The police department also welcomed in two new officers, Ethan Shaffer and Sean OBrien. Along with the two human officers, Mattis, the new K-9 officer, was introduced to the council with handler officer Jeremy James. Mattis came from the Czech Republic and is narcotics and protection trained. Mattis was gifted to the city by Summit Nutritionals and trained at Jessifany Canine Services in Iron Ridge. Jason Hausler, Patricia Malone and Marie Ritscher have been named finalists for UW-Extension area extension directors of area nine, which includes Jackson, Trempealeau, Buffalo and Pepin counties. UW-Extension is undergoing a reorganization process that is set to be completed by the end of the year. The area extension directors will be in charge of the entire four-county area and will be responsible for staffing, programming and working with the counties in the area. Naming the area extension directors are the first local-level employment decisions being made in the reorganization. The area extension directors are expected to be in place July 1 to help smooth the transition, including helping with the new contract between UW-Extension and Jackson County that needs to be completed by September for 2018. A total of 40 people applied for the 18 areas where area extension directors will be hired. UW-Extension is offering county government officials, Cooperative Extension employees, campus partners, tribal nation partners and county partners an opportunity to weigh-in on the candidates. You can do so by going to blogs.ces.uwex.edu/nextgeneration/. The period to provide comments on the candidates closes May 26. Reorganization specifics The new UW-Extension reorganization will transition four program areas into two departments. We found out a couple of weeks ago that they are planning on having two departments. One is going to be the Department of Ag. and Natural Resources, the other will be the Department of Youth, Family and Community Development, said Monica Lobenstein, 4-H youth development agent for Jackson County UW-Extension. The Department of Ag. and Natural Resources will include the Agriculture Institute, Farm Management Institute and the Natural Resources Institute. Under the Department of Youth, Family and Community Development will be the Communities Institute, Youth and Families Institute, FoodWIse Institute and the Wisconsin 4-H Institute. Each Institute will feature Centers that will include experts in specific fields. Each multi-county area will have a various array of experts from each Center and will split their time between the counties in their area. The entire reorganization is planned to be completed by the end of the calendar year, which is posing some staffing and budget issues. Luane Meyer, family living agent and department head for Jackson County UW-Extension, said that one-third of the counties budget on a calendar year, but most go from July to June. So the state is transitioning everyone to a calendar year budget. This also means that all current UW-Extension agents will be signing a six-month contract for July through December and then they will begin their new contracts under the reorganization on Jan. 1. Even though many of the current extension agents will be hired back, many are concerned about the reorganization affecting their employment. Trisha Wagner, agriculture agent for Jackson County UW-Extension, said that many agents are leaving for positions in the private sector. For Wagner, she says many are weighing the negatives of going to a private firm as well, Yes those opportunities are definitely out there and yes they do definitely pay better, but I dont know, for me you weigh a lot of things besides pay. Many at the county level expressed concerns about the new proposal. Karen Thayer, head of the Jackson County Extension Education Committee, is concerned that this new reorganization will encourage extension agents to move to larger cities so they dont have to travel as much. In the district that the Jackson County UW-Extension agency is in, extension agents could have to drive to places like Alma to conduct a seminar. The larger concern from extension agents is programming since many of them will be transitioning to new jobs at the beginning of the year. Thats the hard part because I am usually planning for programming three months in advance, Wagner said. UW-Extension is trying to mitigate that issue by keeping everything intact until the reorganization is complete. They are going to keep old structures in place until the new structures are up and running, Lobenstein said. Other concerns related to the reorganization include how the presence of 4-H will change within a county, not having an agent directly available in a county and allowing different county structures, such as IT, to work together. Two fishermen on Thursday discovered the body of a man missing in the Mississippi River since May 9, authorities said. David Reckase, 29, of La Crosse, was last seen in the river off Houska Park calling for help, according to La Crosse police. The fishermen found his body about 5:30 p.m. near New Albin, Iowa, about 18 miles from La Crosse, Houston County Sheriff Make Inglett said. Justus Heise describes being named a Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals Hero as awesome, although indications are that he would rather be fishing. Fishing dominated the thoughts of the 8-year-old from Hokah, Minn., during an interview Thursday, a day after he got to sit in a professional bass anglers boat at Gundersen and received fishing gear from organizers of the FLW Tour bass tournament based in La Crosse this weekend. I have my fishing stuff I got yesterday, said Justus, grinning and acknowledging that he also had received the blue FLW Tour cap atop his head which he wore backward. I got a fishing pole and a tackle box. Named one of five CMN heroes for 2017 for his courage in battling cancer during hospitalizations at Gundersen Health System, Justus also got an FLW T-shirt, which he said with a grin is too big for him. Im gonna give it to (brother) Jordan or Dad. I might give it to Dad. I dont know, he said. He was having trouble deciding, partly because he was preoccupied with his hope to fish in a tournament for kids today possibly in conjunction with the FLW Tour, which takes off from Veterans Freedom Park near the Clinton Street bridge. Asked whether he likes school or fishing better, Justus replied, Fishing more quickly than a lunker bass attacks a well-placed lure. He appreciated the humor, though, in the suggestion that, when hes angling, the fish are in schools. Justus has schooled a few fish to shore landings at the end of the line on his other pole a Spider-Man model including trout, bass, bluegills and sunnies, he said. Justus quick wit and ready smile belie the fact that cancer has afflicted him twice since 2014. His first diagnosis came shortly after Dave and Natalie Heise adopted him, after being his foster parents for two years. Just a few months after his adoption, we heard the worst thing a parent can hear Justus was diagnosed with cancer, Natalie said. The diagnosis didnt deter the Heises, who have five children of their own, ages 12 to 32, along with three other foster kids now. When we adopted Justus, we made a commitment to him that we would be his forever family, Natalie said. Cancer is a family disease, and we promised him that he would never be alone. CMN, a service of the Gundersen Medical Foundation, has helped the family throughout the ordeal, which included removal of a kidney and biopsies of several areas around the tumors. Justus stayed in the hospital for six days. Whatever we needed, Gundersen staff, child life specialists or CMN Hospitals got it for us, Natalie said. All of our meals were taken care of during our hospital stays and daylong doctor visits. We also received transportation money for our many sometimes daily trips to Gundersen. Justus underwent radiation treatment and chemotherapy for the next six months, and there were no signs of cancer by June 2015, she said. Justus was very excited to be done with cancer and to get his life back, Natalie recalled. He was feeling well and happy. But cancer reappeared less than a year later, meaning another surgery, as well as more chemo and radiation. Again, CMN support aided the family. Hospitalized just recently, Justus had plenty of helping hands to celebrate his birthday, as Gundersen staffers staged and Its Great to be 8 Party, where gifts included Batman toys and a Batman Lego set, as well as Lego Marvel figures. Justus claimed he picks up his Legos but added the caveat, with a touch of humility as he tugged at his shirt, most of the time, as Natalie confirmed that observation by saying she had stepped on a Lego piece just the other day. Fighting cancer hasnt slowed Justus ability to travel the world with his family, including a trip to Switzerland where the Heises attended the wedding of an exchange students they once hosted. The trip, with stops in France and Germany, included ventures to the Alps, a chocolate factory and a science museum, a genuflection to the lads favorite subject in school. He is especially fond of science experiments, he said. During the summer, when Justus is not fishing, you might find him playing on his snowmobile, although he notes, It doesnt have an engine its fake. He also may add to his angling skills, saying, I might try fly fishing, because Ive got two flies. Also expect Justus to continue to take on whatever challenges confront him. We are so thankful he is ours, the Heises wrote in a message about Justus. He has taught us so much about what is important in life. His battle is not over, but because of him, we will continue to fight fiercely. Heroes set to return favors to CMN for support during health emergencies Justus Heise and the four other Childrens Miracle Network Heroes announced Friday and their families receive extensive support from CMN Hospitals, a service of the Gundersen Medical Foundation. One of the heroes missions is to help raise funds for, and awareness of, CMN Hospitals and their local sponsors. The heroes also will be featured during the CMN Hospitals Radiothon Oct. 19-21 in the lobby of the clinic at Gundersen Health Systems La Crosse campus at 1900 South Ave. Following are sketches of four more heroes: Sophie Bisek Sophie Bisek was healthy until age 5, said parents Mandy and Curtis, who noticed changes that they chalked up to a growth spurt. She was thirsty all the time, eating more than usual and using the bathroom often. Our once-energetic and happy girl was lethargic and not wanting to play as much, the Biseks wrote. They learned during a visit to her pediatrician that those are symptoms of Type 1 diabetes, often called juvenile diabetes. Sophie was hospitalized immediately at Gundersen Health System, when CMN stepped in to help with food vouchers, allowing the Biseks to concentrate on Sophies needs and learn how to care for her. We spent three days in the hospital, where we learned how to care for Sophie testing her blood sugar, monitoring everything she ate and computing the amount of insulin she needed, Mandy said. The hardest part was giving her insulin shots several times a day. This became our new normal. Sophies team of pediatric specialty providers, diabetes educators and CMN Hospitals helped them learn and adapt. CMN Hospitals helped with the expense of an insulin pump to deliver insulin to Sophie automatically when she was ready for the device 1 years later. CMN Hospitals also will help her attend diabetic summer camp and meet other needs. In addition to swimming and gymnastics, Sophie loves art and music, is learning to play guitar and aspires to become a music teacher. Chloe Burkhalter Chloe Burkhalter encountered a cascading series of health events that thrust her into a fight for her life more than once. But the 11-year-old daughter of Heather and Troy Burkhalter of Tomah, Wis., refuses to stay down for long. After contracting a fever that spiked at 100.3, it became clear that she was fighting a nasty infection. That escalated into an intracranial epidural abscess an infection between the skull and the top layer of tissue covering her brain. After emergency surgery, she developed Bells palsy. Gundersen occupational and physical therapists helped her learn again how to walk, balance, eat and even brush her teeth. A few months later, Chloe developed another infection that required additional surgery. During Chloes hospital stays, CMN Hospitals helped the family with meal tickets, as well as helping cover the cost for home infusion training after her second surgery. Chloe also has an unrelated heart rhythm condition that is being monitored carefully. CMN Hospitals helped the family obtain an automatic external defibrillator to shock her heart back into rhythm in an emergency. Chloe has been happy and healthy since the most recent surgery, and is back to doing her favorite things listening to music, reading, art and playing with her dogs, Heather and Troy said. Blake Oldham Blake Oldham of Black River Falls weighed less than 1 pounds and was about a foot long at birth. Blakes parents, Alyssa and Curtis, describe their son as resilient as hes had to be after spending the first 89 days of his life in the neonatal intensive care unit. When the Oldhams sat by Blakes side during a week-long stay in Gundersens Pediatric Intensive Care Unit because he suffered extreme weight loss, CMN Hospitals was there to help the family with food voucher and transportation costs. Blake, now 3, has also struggles with low muscle tone, developmental delays and multiple surgeries to repair hernias and digestive problems. He is fed a diet of blended food through a feeding tube placed directly into his stomach. Although Blake consumes nothing by mouth, he tastes new things and has a fondness for chips, cheese and ranch flavor. CMN Hospitals helped the Oldhams buy a Vitamix blender to prepare his food. Blake attends 3K school, where hes learning his ABCs. The time he has spent with hospital personnel helping him have instilled his hope to become a doctor, even at his young age. Madelyn Payne Madelyn Payne has encountered a flood of complex medical challenges during her 3 years, including hearing and vision loss, seizures, developmental and mobility delays, immunodeficiency, feeding difficulties, bowel and bladder problems and an inability to talk. Her parents, Sarah and Greg Payne of La Crosse, say they could not have afforded everything necessary to meet her special needs. It is very difficult to be on this journey, but CMN Hospitals makes it a little easier, the Paynes say. In addition to meal vouchers, CMN also bought a Tumbleform Feeder Seat for eating, as well as interacting with her younger sister, Ava. Doctors attribute Madelyns medical problems to a rare and likely progressive brain disorder. She has had many hospital stays and doctor visits and needs specialized care and adaptive equipment, all of which CMN Hospitals has helped support. One of the most helpful things for us has been respite care funding from CMN Hospitals so we can have licensed care providers when we need to go out, Sarah said. Theyve also helped fund the palliative care appointments that allow us to plan for Madelyns future. Madelyn is happy, easy-going and loves to be with people, Sarah said. She doesnt talk but conveys a lot through her smile and laugh, which surfaces most often when she is listening to music. Although Madelyn cant walk or crawl, she loves to be on the move whether swinging, on a bike ride with Dad or on a walk, according to her parents. A La Crosse woman arrested with more than a quarter pound of meth while on supervision for drug dealing was sentenced Friday to four years in prison. Barbara Chambers, 20, also will serve four years on extended supervision under the sentence imposed by La Crosse County Circuit Judge Elliott Levine. She is a prolific dealer in the area, Assistant District Attorney John Kellis said. I hope that she sees that being a methamphetamine dealer is ruining so many lives in this area. La Crosse police found meth, heroin, a pipe, a scale and several cellphones in a metal safe in Chambers car on Jan. 12 when they stopped her for a warrant, according to the complaint. She also had marijuana in the vehicle. At the La Crosse County Jail, staff discovered Chambers with 10 grams of meth and 93 prescription pills. Inside a Stoney Creek Inn hotel room where Chambers was staying with Mackenzie Kimball, police found 132 grams of meth, heroin, $1,390 in cash, a digital scale and pipes, according to the complaint. We have an individual arrested with more than a quarter pound of methamphetamine, and she denied that she was a dealer, Kellis said. Chambers pleaded guilty to possession with intent to deliver meth as party to the crime and as a repeat offender. Five other drug charges were dismissed but considered by the court at sentencing. The case against Kimball is set for a June 2 plea hearing. At the time of her arrest, Chambers was serving three years of probation for delivering meth. On July 21, 2014, while on bond, Chambers sold $180 worth of meth to a police informant on La Crosses North Side, according to the complaint. Chambers, whose name continued to surface in drug investigations, absconded twice from supervision, used drugs around her daughter and needs drug treatment, Kellis said. He asked she serve four years in prison and four years on extended supervision. It shows that the person who is before the court has been given opportunities, Kellis said. She cannot handle being in the community in her current state. Attorney Joe Randtke asked the judge impose jail time and supervision, calling Chambers another young kid who is selling meth to cover her own use. Chambers also told the court she turned to dealing to support her addiction. Wisconsins environmental protection agency has authorized a Georgia timber company to fill more than 16 acres of Monroe County wetlands in order to build a $65 million frac sand facility. Meteor Timber, one of the largest private landowners in Wisconsin, has proposed building a processing and loading facility along Interstate 94 near the town of Millston to dry and ship frac sand the company will mine from a nearby site it acquired in a 2014 purchase of nearly 50,000 acres. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources on Friday granted the company a permit allowing it to fill the wetlands, including about 13 acres of pristine and increasingly rare hardwood swamp. We are pleased that the DNR has approved our wetland permit, and we look forward to continuing to work with the agency as the regulatory process progresses, project manager Chris Mathis said in a written statement to the Tribune. Our project will protect more than 40 acres of wetland for every one impacted, making it one of the largest wetland preservation and restoration efforts in Wisconsin history. Meteor must still receive permission from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before filling any wetlands. The company must also apply for permits allowing incidental loss of threatened and endangered species during construction. The proposal drew criticism at an April public hearing on the permit and was officially opposed by the Ho-Chunk Nation. Midwest Environmental Advocates called the scope of the wetland destruction massive in comparison to the total of 26 acres the DNR has allowed frac sand mining companies to fill since 2008. The permit reflects a very careful review and investigation by DNR staff, said MEA staff attorney Sarah Geers. It also reflects the extraordinary damage that this wetland fill will do to a sensitive and imperiled resource. After the proposal first received media attention, Meteor proposed to restore and preserve more than 640 acres of other land including more than 296 acres of existing wetlands. Our company knows that sustainability is an important part of operating responsibly, Mathis said. We have worked hard to go above and beyond other projects by developing a historic plan to permanently preserve and restore high-quality wetlands on more than 600 acres. This effort merits support from those who want to see growth, economic development and preserve the environment because our project accomplishes all three. However, the DNR determined those mitigation efforts are not likely to fully compensate for what it calls permanent and irreversible secondary impacts from activity on the site and may not compensate for the direct loss of 13.4 acres of exceptional quality white pine and red maple swamp, which is considered an imperiled habitat. The agency also said the permit approval may lead to increased applications to fill rare, sensitive and valuable wetland plant communities. Geers said those and other findings bring into question whether the project can be legally approved under state and federal law. Timber company sweetens deal for Monroe County frac project A Georgia timber investment company seeking to build an industrial sand operation in Monroe Both regulators and opponents have questioned the projects economic viability, given the precipitous drop in demand for sand since domestic fracking peaked in 2014. But an economic analysis prepared by a Pennsylvania consultant says because the group could efficiently send entire trains of its sand reserves directly to oil fields in Texas that have become some of the nations most productive. The company expects to ship about 1.5 million tons of processed sand each year using the adjacent Union Pacific rail line. Meteor has said it cannot find another location to accommodate such a large plant along the UP rail line. The company also said permitting its project is the only way to prevent much of the 752-acre site from being clearcut. About three quarters of the land is owned by the A&K Alexander Cranberry Co., which was cited in 2013 by the Environmental Protection Agency for illegally filling 5.6 acres of wetlands. As part of the penalty, the EPA required A&K to restore 2.2 acres of the filled wetlands and to get an after-the-fact permit for another 3.63 acres. According to documents filed in support of the application, A&K managing partner Marty Alexander took out a one-year loan in August for $321,470 to settle the case. In a letter to Meteor, Alexander said if the sale does not go through logging would be his only way to avoid foreclosure. Sand industry back in business in western Wisconsin Like the ghost towns left behind after the California gold rush fizzled, many of the frac sa Our project will protect more than 40 acres of wetland for every one impacted, making it one of the largest wetland preservation and restoration efforts in Wisconsin history. Chris Mathis, project manager After campaigning on a promise to cancel the Paris climate-change agreement, President Donald Trump announced he would make a decision in the coming weeks. Senior officials within the administration remain divided on the issue, but the decision is clear: Get out. Get out now. The agreement aims to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, largely by switching away from affordable, dependable energy sources that emit carbon dioxide to expensive, intermittent ones. For the U.S. contribution, the Obama administration vowed to limit greenhouse gas emissions 26 to 28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025. Time for a reality check. International approaches to mitigate manmade global warming are not only prohibitively costly, but unquestionably ineffective. First, CO2-emitting fossil fuels provide about 80 percent of the worlds energy needs. They do so because theyre affordable and reliable. They are a critical catalyst in making our lives more comfortable, cleaner and healthier. Switching over to more expensive alternatives wont come cheap. Regulating or taxing fossil fuels to reduce their use will raise energy prices. That will harm families multiple times over, since energy is a necessary component for almost everything we do in life. In the United States alone, climate change regulations would increase electricity expenditures between 13 and 20 percent, resulting in an overall average loss of nearly 400,000 jobs and total income loss of more than $20,000 for a family of four by 2035. Similar costs would reverberate throughout the global economy. Compliance with the Paris agreement will cost the global economy trillions of dollars over the next 80 years. Proponents of international argument say thats the necessary price to pay to protect the only earth we have for our children and grandchildren. They say the alleged costs of manmade climate change could dwarf the costs of higher energy, making Paris a climate insurance policy. This is wishful thinking. No matter what beliefs you hold regarding global warming, the climate impacts of Paris are meaningless. Even if every country met their respective commitments in Paris a big if, considering there are no repercussions for shirking, and the worlds largest emitter, China, has already significantly underreported its CO2 emissions the temperature reduction is practically nonexistent. The Massachusetts Institute of Technologys Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change projects that the Paris agreement will avert a meager 0.2 degrees Celsius of warming by the year 2100. One reason why Paris will be so ineffective is the threat of energy poverty among the worlds poorest citizens is much more imminent and real than the undetermined risk of climate change. Seventeen percent of the worlds population more than 1 billion people lack access to electricity. Thirty-five percent have indoor cook stoves that burn wood and animal dung for their fuel, which have serious public health consequences. Developing nations want affordable, dependable energy to raise their standards of living, and countries such as India, China and Indonesia need to use a lot of coal to get there. Proponents of Paris say the momentum of green energy is irreversible and coals demise as an energy sources is inevitable. If thats the case, then why do we need to stay in Paris? If market forces dictate a shift away from conventional fuels towards renewable ones, so be it. Well all stand to benefit from innovative, competitive energy technologies. But when governments and international bodies force it upon us with taxpayer-funded subsidies and top-down regulations, only the well-connected stand to benefit. Its no surprise to see big businesses even ones that Paris would ostensibly hurt, such as big oil and big coal support the international agreement. Industries want a seat at the table ensure their own bottom line is protected or that the regulations hurt them less than they would their competitors Smaller businesses will lose out. And so will the rest of Americans both as taxpayers and energy consumers. One-hundred seventy countries signed onto Paris, and yes, withdrawing would put the Trump administration at odds with many foreign leaders. But as the old adage goes, If all your friends jumped off a bridge, would you too? Groupthink isnt a credible excuse to stay in an extremely costly, futile agreement. The international climate plan is forcing countries to jump off a cliff economically for no climate benefit. Remaining in Paris perpetuates a message that is fundamentally anti-development in nature and therefore damaging to American interests and opportunities. President Trump campaigned on the promise of getting out of bad deals. Its time to make good on that promise. A 38-year-old Tomah woman faces multiple charges, including physical abuse to a child, after a May 9 disturbance at an Alyssa Street residence. When police officers arrived, they saw Carol Louise Puza standing outside the residence with a child. As they approached the residence, a woman and toddler exited the residence from the front door, and the woman accused Puza of kicking the toddler. She said Puza scatched her in the face and attempted to kick her but wound up kicking the toddler in the chest, causing both to fall to the floor. She said a man intervened by placing Puza in a choke hold and Puza scratched him trying to get away. The report says two other witnesses told consistent stories. The woman said Puza was intoxicated and got upset after another resident refused to drive to the store to get her more alcohol. Puza was also referred for two counts of disorderly conduct and two counts of battery. In other Tomah Police Department news: Nicholas Martin Hayes, 32, Tomah, was referred to the district attorney for third-offense drunk driving after a traffic stop during the overnight hours of May 3. Police observed a van with license plates registered to a woman with a revoked driving status and followed the vehicle out of the city onto Highway 21, where a traffic stop was initiated near Englewood Road. Police recognized the driver as Hayes from previous contacts. Dispatch told police that Hayes had a revoked drivers license and a provision that prohibits him from diving with a blood-alcohol count of .02 or above. Police detected a slight odor of alcohol from the vehicle, but Hayes reportedly denied consuming alcohol, although the report says Hayes later acknowledged he had a couple. The report says Hayes failed a field sobriety test and that a preliminary breath test registered a blood-alcohol count of .197. Troy M. Mooney, 23, Tomah, was referred to the district attorney for possession of a prescription drug without a prescription. According to the report, an employee of Pioneer Pawn Shop said that Mooney left his backpack at the business in early April and didnt respond to several requests for him to retrieve it. Police looked through the bag and reportedly found a canister containing sertraline hydrochloride without a prescription label. Police found Mooneys address and returned his backpack. Mooney told police he had a prescription for the medication, according to the report. Police asked him for documentation, which the report said he hadnt provided by May 10 after numerous inquiries. A 17-year-old girl was referred to the district attorney for bail jumping. She is accused of violating a bond condition that requires to her attend school. Jeremy M. Bakkestuen, 35, West Salem, and Caleb Christopher Potaracke, 29, La Crosse, were referred to the district attorney for an alleged theft incident at Walmart May 8. According to the report, Bakkestuen removed items from packaging, put them in his pocket and left without paying for them. The report says Bakkestuen took six items with a retail value totaling $84.17. Four days later, police were told the stores surveillance video recorded Bakkestuen meeting with Potaracke inside the store. The store has a Jan. 16 order that prohibits Potaracke from being on the property. Bakkestuen was referred for retail theft and three counts of bail jumping for violating a La Crosse County bond condition that he commit no crimes. Potaracke was referred for trespassing. Charles Ernest Braunsweiger, 74, Tomah, was referred to the district attorney for disorderly conduct after a May 9 incident at Callahans Pub. Dispatch reported that Braunsweiger threw a beer at a woman and hit another woman on the left shoulder before leaving the bar. Police went to Braunsweigers residence and asked him about the incident. He acknowledged throwing the beer but denied hitting anyone. He said the woman threw her arm up toward him and that he pulled his arm back in a defensive position. Benjamin S. Donovan, 30, and Samuel S. Lucka, 30, both of Warrens, were referred to the district attorney for an alleged May 1 shoplifting incident. Police were called to Antique Mall, where an employee said two men came into the store shortly after it opened. She said Donovan attempted to sell her several items as Lucka wandered throughout the store and that Donovan referred to Lucka as Josh while on the premises. She said one of them stole a $300 pair of alligator boots and put a pair of used sneakers in its place. Donovan has a condition that prohibits him from having contact with Lucka. He was referred for being a party to a crime and bail jumping. Lucka was referred for retail theft and bail jumping. Daniella Patricia Jones, 27, Tomah, was referred to the district attorney for theft after allegedly stealing a laptop computer. According to the report, a man left the computer at Jones residence and she refused to return it. She reportedly told the man that she considered the computer a gift and that she was entitled to keep it. Jonathan A. Libera, 43, Tomah, was referred to the district attorney for shoplifting and bail jumping. Police encountered a highly intoxicated Libera May 12 walking on Hollister Avenue. He reportedly told police he had consumed a pint and a half of whiskey, and a preliminary breath test measured a blood-alcohol count of .399. A search of Libera revealed an unopened bottle of gin. He said he didnt know where the bottle came from. Video footage from Kwik Trip reportedly showed Libera taking the bottle from the store without paying. Libera has a bond condition that prohibits him from consuming alcohol, which triggered the bail jumping referral. Jake Leinenkugel, White House senior advisor for the Department of Veterans Affairs, will give the keynote address during a Memorial Day ceremony Friday, May 26 at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Tomah. Services begin at 10 a.m. in front of Building 400, and Leinenkugel will participate in a meet and greet event in Veterans Hall at 1 p.m., during which time cake and ice cream will be served. The America we know today would not be the same were it not for the men and women we honor on Memorial Day, said Tomah VA Medical Center director Victoria Brahm. Because of their spirit, adherence to duty, honor and their sacrifices, our veterans paid for and delivered not only our freedom and security but also the freedom for millions of our friends and allies around the world. Surviving family members, friends and citizens, young and old, are welcome to attend. Let us never stop educating our young about the price that has been paid for their freedom, said Brahm. A trip with them to one of our sacred shrines our veterans cemeteries is a good place to start. The memory of Laura Ingalls Wilder is coming to Tomah Saturday. The Tomah Area Historical Society and the Area Community Theatre are hosting Kirkwood (Iowa) Community College reference librarian and historical interpreter Sarah S. Uthoff, who will present a program on the life of the famous Little House on the Prairie author at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in the ACT theater. Tickets are $15 for adults and $7 for children 18 and under. We invited Sarah to come because Laura was born in Pepin, Wisconsin, and her stories of pioneer life in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, and South Dakota have fascinated young readers for at least three generations, said ACT vice-president Barbara Sullivan. Sullivan said a distant cousin of Ingalls Wilder resided in Tomah at the same time as the Ingalls family lived in Pepin. Her first book, Little House in the Big Woods, was about her family life in Wisconsin. Uthoffs interest in Wilder began when she was a small child. She recalls playing Laura, visiting the Laura sites and learning how to do the things Laura did around her family farm. In the words of one of Uthoffs cousins, Laura took over her life and everybodys who knew her. Uthoff earned her degree in history education, got actively involved with living history and historic foodways and began to research the history around Ingalls Wilder. Her latest project is searching copies of letters written by Ingalls Wilder to fans and press. To learn more about Uthoff, Wilder or the quest for letters, visit trundlebedtales.com. The show is a joint fundraiser for the Tomah Area Historical Society and Area Community Theatre. The Westby Times will have a new publisher June 1. Bob Fleck will take over as publisher of the River Valley Media Group, which includes the Tribune, Winona Daily News and Chippewa Herald, and several 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. A documentary about Ashin Wirathu appears at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival this week. But some in Myanmar question whether the media attention has helped his rise to fame. Wirathu is known for his anti-Muslim views. The film "The Venerable W", made by Barbet Schroeder, appears in a special screening at the festival. The festival will run from May 17 to the 28. Fame from media attention In 2003, Wirathu was sentenced to prison for 25 years for inciting violence. He was released in 2012. This was the same year that Myanmar experienced the first of several violent riots in its transition to democracy. When TIME magazine featured Wirathu on the cover in 2013, the world began to understand Wirathus connection to the problems. Over time, Wirathus fame grew, as he was interviewed by many journalists. He also has a strong following on social media, with his inflammatory posts. However, the fact that he has not faced strong resistance in Myanmar leaves some to question if he has political connections. Thiha Saw is the director of the Myanmar Journalism Institute. He credits Wirathu's rise to the growing access to internet. He adds that the mainstream media in Myanmar is now careful about how much exposure they give him. Thitsa Hla Htway is the secretary of the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Myanmar. He says Wirathu has been famous because of the interviews and because of the posts in the local media. Htway asks journalists to not report the offensive things that Wirathu has said, and focus 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." In support of military rule Wirathu has had mixed success with his political influence. He supported the military-backed ruling party in a 2015 election against Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy. This past March, Wirathu was banned from giving sermons for one year. But he was still allowed to travel to a part of northern Rakhine State. This is unusual because northern Rakhine has been largely closed to outsiders since Rohingya militants attacked border posts in October, killing nine [people]. According to British journalist Oliver Slow of the weekly magazine Frontier Myanmar, there needs to be a mix of scrutiny and restraint in the reporting of Wirathu. "I think obviously he needs to be heavily scrutinized. His group and the people behind him have the potential to cause massive issues, so I think it's important to be reporting on him and what they are doing," Slow says. "But I think we pretty much know all his views now, they've been aired for the past four or five years. His views on Muslims, his views on religion, have been so well aired, I just don't really see any benefit any more of interviewing him." Matthew Smith is the executive director of the [non-governmental organization] NGO Fortify Rights. He wants more investigative coverage of Wirathu. Since most foreign readers regard Buddhism as a religion of peace, Smith feels editors chose to report stories about an extremist monk who preaches hatred. Im Phil Dierking This story was originally written by Joe Freeman for VOA News. Phil Dierking adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. Should the media give less coverage of controversial people? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story prestigious - adj. the respect and admiration that someone or something gets for being successful or important extremist - n. someone who has extreme ideas about politics, religion, etc. controversial - adj. relating to or causing much discussion, disagreement, or argument inflammatory - adj. causing anger scrutiny - n. the act of carefully examining something especially in a critical way Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein gave his reason for naming a special counsel to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 election: trust. Rosenstein said it is important Americans have full confidence in the outcome of the Russia investigation. For that to happen, Rosenstein said, he needed to name a person who exercises a degree of independence from the normal chain of command. That person is Robert Mueller, a former federal prosecutor and FBI director. His selection Wednesday was praised by both Democrats and Republicans. Rosensteins order says Mueller can investigate Russias efforts to interfere with the presidential election, possible connections between Russia and Trump campaign officials and any other matters that arise directly from the investigation. Mueller will have more independence than the 94 U.S. attorneys who normally oversee criminal investigations. But he wont have complete independence. Mueller, unlike other federal prosecutors, will not be subject to day-to-day supervision by the attorney general and other Justice Department officials. But the deputy attorney general can overrule his prosecutorial or investigative decisions. Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, is overseeing the Russian investigation because Attorney General Jeff Sessions removed himself. Sessions withdrew because he worked on the Trump campaign and met with Russian officials. Muellers appointment came after some unexpected developments in the Russia investigation. Last week, President Donald Trump dismissed FBI Director James Comey, who was overseeing the FBIs collection of evidence. The dismissal was followed by reports claiming that Trump had asked Comey to drop an investigation of his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn. Another report said Trump had asked Comey if he would be loyal to him. The White House denied both claims but some Democrats say Trump should be investigated for obstruction of justice. John Barrett is a law professor at St. Johns University in New York. Barrett had earlier worked for a special federal prosecutor. He said obstruction of justice is a complex law. Among other things, it makes it a crime to obstruct, influence or impede any official proceeding for corrupt reasons. Barrett said Trumps actions should be investigated. It will depend on whether Comey and others saw Trumps comments as threats, Barrett said. Other important investigations in U.S. history Special counsels have only been named twice. The last time was in 2003 when prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald investigated who leaked the identity of a CIA officer, Valerie Plame. Watergate is the best known case involving a special prosecutor. Archibald Cox was appointed to investigate whether President Richard Nixon had obstructed justice. The case centered on whether Nixon covered up his administrations involvement in the 1973 break-in at Democratic headquarters in the Watergate building. Nixon resigned from office in 1974 -- as Congress was ready to begin proceedings to remove him from office. Another well-known case was the investigation of President Bill Clinton by Kenneth Starr. It started out as an investigation into a real estate deal known as Whitewater. But it led to Starr reporting that Clinton had covered up an affair with a White House intern. Special prosecutors had more independence than a special counsel, the job Mueller now has. But the law establishing the prosecutor position ended in 1999. The Mueller investigation probably will not be finished quickly. The Washington Post reported that, on average, previous investigations by special counsels or prosecutors took a little over three years. Ari Fleischer, the press secretary during the George W. Bush administration, tweeted Thursday that Mueller will not take any more time than needed. Starr was 48 when named special prosecutor, he tweeted. Fitzgerald was 43 when named special counsel. Mueller is 72. He won't want this to take years. I'm Bruce Alpert. And I'm Anne Ball. Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story confidence - n. a feeling or belief that something will be done or that you will succeed chain of command - n. the order in which people have authority over decisions in an organization prosecutor - n. a lawyer who represents the side in a court case that accuses a person of a crime and who tries to prove that the person is guilty obstruction - n. to stop something you oppose from happening impede - v. stops or makes more difficult leak - v. to give secret or unknown information to someone such as a newspaper reporter so it becomes known to the public arise - v. develops While the biggest names in a movie tend to score top billing, a film's overall success often depends on the chemistry of the entire ensemble rather than just one or two stars. On Nov. 1, Linn Benton Food Shares warehouse in Tangent received two truckloads of food and household supplies arranged by the local branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This website is inclusive of tolerant people of all faiths, without exception. Neither anti-Semitism nor Islamophobia nor homophobia should ever be acceptable to anyone. We must all strive to live in peace and harmony with each other, regardless of religious affiliations, or none. Intolerance is the mother of strife and conflict. Mark Alexander We Britons are Europeans!Wir Briten sind Europaer! Nous, les Britanniques, sommes europeens ! 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Altoona, IA The second leg of My Place's cross country groundbreaking tour started with one of the brand's biggest announcements yet: My Place franchisee Matthew Eller of Eller Enterprises has set forth a plan to build 40 My Place hotels in 10 years! "This is just the start! This is the first of 40 hotels for us and we're real excited," Eller said. "If you're going to do one, why not do two? If you're going to do two, why not do 40? That's our philosophy." Eller made the announcement to a cheering crowd at the first of two Des Moines area ceremonies that took place today in Altoona, where the 3-story, 64-unit hotel is underway at 2315 Adventureland Drive. Eller and My Place will celebrate the groundbreaking with its sister location in Ankeny, IA, tomorrow where Eller's second site is also underway. Both hotels are anticipated to open in Fall 2017. While My Place's efficient concept paired with its resolve for all new construction attracted Eller, the people behind My Place sealed the deal. With the strong partnership between the My Place team and his own, he said that the goal, while aggressive, is completely attainable. Upon completing a thorough vetting process, Eller said he set his plan into motion with complete confidence. "You think of Aberdeen, South Dakota, and you imagine what that group of people look like behind the curtain," Eller said "Now you open that curtain and that's what you get at My Place: a bunch of authentic, wonderful and caring people who've got your back. While we build hotels and operate them, we know that we're supported by the My Place team to do what they do best." Tomorrow's ceremony in Ankeny, IA, will mark the completion of My Place's first ever groundbreaking tour featuring four ceremonies across three timeszones in four days. My Place President and CEO, Ryan Rivett and the My Place delegation launched the event series in Las Vegas on Monday, May 15, and continued with its second celebration in Nashville on Tuesday. Rivett and team have been celebrating the milestones alongside franchisees and their communities while promoting My Place's momentum in its aggressive campaign for U.S. expansion. All My Place Hotels offer modern amenities at an affordable price including nightly, weekly and monthly rate options. Each extended stay guest room features a My Kitchen, complete with a two-burner cooktop, a microwave and a full refrigerator. The property is pet friendly, includes on-site laundry facilities, complimentary high speed internet service and a 24-hour My Store, located in the hotel lobby and stocked with an array of supplies for the guests' convenience. Additionally, guests are invited to enjoy the new Breakfast in Bed option for a minimal cost. My Place Hotels of America, LLC. is persistently advancing in its campaign for U.S. expansion of the recently launched franchise system. The chain currently has 32 hotels open and operating with a near-term pipeline of 32 additional hotels and midterm commitments for upwards of 40 more hotels to follow. To book your stay at My Place, please call the toll-free reservation line at: 855-200-5685, or visit myplacehotels.com. My Place Hotels of America, LLC is a Franchise company that focuses on providing a clean and comfortable facility, with modern amenities, and great customer service, all at an affordable price. My Place Hotels of America, LLC is based out of Aberdeen, SD, and offers franchisees a new construction brand, designed to ensure quality, consistency and the highest of standards for delivering marketplace value. For more information on becoming part of our growing franchisee family, please visit myplacehotels. com or contact Terry Kline at (605) 725-5685. About My Place Hotels All My Place Hotels locations offer modern amenities at an affordable price including nightly, weekly and monthly rate options. Each guest room features a My Kitchen, complete with a cooktop, a microwave and a full refrigerator. My Place Hotels offer pet friendly accommodations, include on-site laundry facilities, complimentary high-speed internet service and a 24-hour My Store, located in the hotel lobby and stocked with an array of supplies for the guests' convenience. My Place Hotels of America is a franchise company that focuses on providing a clean and comfortable facility, with modern amenities, and great customer service, all at an affordable price. The company is based out of Aberdeen, S.D., and offers franchisees a new construction brand, designed to ensure quality, consistency and the highest of standards for delivering marketplace value. The brand currently has 47 hotels open across 21 states with over 120 hotels in the pipeline. For more information on franchising with My Place Hotels, please visit myplacehotels.com/franchising or contact Terry Kline at (605) 725-5685. To book your stay at My Place, please call the toll-free reservation line at: (855) 200-5685, or visit myplacehotels.com. In celebration of our partnership with the American Hotel and Lodging Association, we invite you to Stay Rewarded. Earn 1,000 points by enrolling using this link by Independence Day: myplacestayrewarded.com/SignUpKiosk?kioskcode=AHLA Please click here to get up to date with the latest news from My Place Hotels! Ngoc Thach Director of Public Relations - My Place Hotels of America +1 605 725 5993 My Place Hotels of America A senior Australian tax bureaucrat and two of his children are among 10 people charged in connection with a sophisticated tax fraud that police say netted 165 million Australian dollars (USD123 million) in less than a year. Australian Taxation Office Deputy Commissioner Michael Cranston faces up to five years in prison if convicted of abusing his position as a public servant by passing information to his son, Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Leanne Close said yesterday. His son Adam Cranston, 30, is managing director of a Sydney-based financial services company that police say was at the center of the alleged scam involving payroll taxes. Police arrested him, his sister Lauren Cranston and seven others in raids Wednesday. They were to be charged with crimes ranging from conspiracy to defraud the government to dealing in the proceeds of crime to demanding money with menaces. The 58-year-old bureaucrat was not thought to be part of the alleged criminal syndicate, which Close said is accused of spending unpaid taxes on luxury homes, racing cars, airplanes, motorbikes, jewelry, art and vintage wine. The group ran a legitimate payroll company contracted to pay staff on behalf of their employers. Police allege the scam came in when they introduced subcontractors to pay the salaries. Police allege the subcontractors were a front that only paid part of the taxes that the employees owed. News Corp. reported that the suspects believed they had struck a sweet spot where each individual tax underpayment was too small to trigger a tax office response. Police began investigating the scam in June last year. The tax office later became aware of the fraud through its internal systems and started working with the police, officials said. Police served Michael Cranston with a notice on Wednesday, after his sons arrest, to appear in court on June 13. Michael was in shock when we spoke to him yesterday, as you would image, knowing whats happened to his son, Police Detective Superintendent Kirsty Schofield said. Three other tax bureaucrats face disciplinary action for accessing information about an internal audit of the fraud, Acting Commissioner of Taxation Andrew Mills said. Tax officials are only allowed to access data relevant to their work. Australians must have a tax administration that they can trust and the people of the ATO must be of the utmost integrity and good judgment, Mills said. AP Chinas intelligence agencies would have stronger powers to monitor and investigate foreigners and conduct operations inside China and abroad under a newly proposed law codifying the work of Beijings vast security apparatus. The government under President Xi Jinping over the past several years has sought to expand and provide legal foundations for intelligence agency powers in the name of national security and combating terrorism. The moves have sparked concern from the U.S. government and human rights groups that say the new powers could be used to suppress political dissent, silence foreign organizations working in China and force technology companies to give the Communist Party access to sensitive information. A coalition of business groups from Japan, Britain, the U.S. and other countries this week appealed to China to postpone a newly adopted cybersecurity law. They warned it could violate Beijings free-trade commitments. Chinese officials maintain tighter data controls are needed to prevent terrorism and anti-government activity. The latest proposal would allow authorities to use electronic surveillance techniques and seize vehicles and real estate. It calls for collaboration on intelligence operations at all levels of Chinese society, including the military, public institutions and citizens. Foreign bodies, organizations or individuals engaging in acts harming the national security and interests of the Peoples Republic of China within Chinese borders must be punished by law, the proposal declares. The proposal states intelligence agencies could collect and process information on foreigners and Chinese citizens and conduct work outside the countrys borders. However, it was unclear from a publicly released draft whether operations abroad could target foreigners or must be limited to Chinese citizens. The law also states that intelligence operatives who abuse their powers will be subject to prosecution. The draft will have to undergo three readings by the National Peoples Congress or its standing committee before becoming law. In April, authorities in Beijing began offering cash rewards of up to 500,000 yuan (USD72,500) for citizens who turn in foreign spies. The proposed law allows for rewards for major contributions to intelligence activities to be offered nationwide. AP The lawyer for an Australian woman charged with providing commercial surrogacy services in Cambodia says his client is innocent. Cambodia banned commercial surrogacy last year after becoming a popular destination for would-be parents seeking women to give birth to their children. Tammy Davis-Charles appeared in court yesterday in orange prison clothes. The trial was postponed to allow victims and witnesses to appear. Davis-Charles and two Cambodian associates were charged last year with acting as intermediaries between parents and pregnant women and falsifying documents. They face up to two years in prison. Developing countries are popular for surrogacy because costs are lower than in nations such as the United States and Australia, where surrogate services are around USD150,000. Davis-Charles lawyer, Chheang Sophorn, said he hopes the trial will happen quickly. Shoppes at Parisian have won the prestigious Retail & Leisure International (RLI) International Shopping Center 2017 award, according to a statement issued by Sands China. The award forms part of the Global RLI Awards 2017 held by Retail and Leisure International, the retail industrys premier awards event. In addition to picking up the biggest award of the night, Sands Retail and Shoppes at Parisian were shortlisted in three other main categories. The categories were: the Most Innovative Retail & Leisure Concept Shoppes at Parisian, International Retail & Leisure Destination Shoppes at Parisian and Global Developer Sands Retail. Sands Shoppes Cotai Strip Macao offers over 850 of the worlds leading brands under one roof. It consists of the interconnected Shoppes at Venetian, Shoppes at Four Seasons, Shoppes at Cotai Central and Shoppes at Parisian. Held in Dubai, UAE, the Retail and Leisure Internationals 12th Global RLI Awards provided an evening in recognition and celebration of the most visionary and innovative retail and leisure concepts worldwide. Winners of win cup drawing competition announced The first Wynn Cup Macau Primary School Student National Education Drawing Competition award ceremony was held at Wynn Palace this week, sponsored by Wynn and organized by the National Conditions Education Association(Macau).The program aims to strengthen the knowledge and understanding of national education among primary school students in Macau and nurture their national pride. The award ceremony was held in the Grand Theater Ballroom of Wynn Palace. In the keynote speech, Ms. Linda Chen, President and Executive Director of Wynn Resorts (Macau), said that the first Macau Primary School Student National Education Drawing Competition under the theme of My Chinese Dream revealed a far-reaching impact. The program attracted active participation from over w20 schools and 10,000 Macau primary school students, achieving excellent results. According to a press release issued by Wynn, as the title sponsor of the Macau Primary School Student National Education Drawing Competition, Wynn hopes that the program can enhance Macau primary school students knowledge of national conditions and promote exchanges in the fields of culture, art and education between mainland China and Macau. Vietnam is maintaining a ban on deep-water fishing in four central provinces one year after a Taiwanese-owned steel plant discharged toxins into the sea and caused the countrys worst environmental disaster. The state-run Tuoi Tre newspaper yesterday quoted Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh as saying fishermen should not fish for seafood in deep water within 20 nautical miles from the coast in the four provinces until the Ministry of Health finds it safe to eat and maritime resources are restored. The USD10.6 billion steel complex owned by Formosa Plastics Group, which includes a steel plant, a power plant and a deep sea port in Ha Tinh province, discharged toxins such as cyanide and phenol during a test run in April last year. It caused massive deaths of fish and other sea life along more than 200 kilometers of coastline, devastating fishing communities and tourism in the four provinces. The plant owner was ordered to pay $500 million in compensation. In September, the Ministry of Health said tests on samples of sea life in shallow water such as tunas and mackerels in the four provinces showed they were safe to eat, while 132 out of 1,040 samples tested from sea life in deep water such as shrimp, crabs and squid were found to contain phenol. 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 like a spine along the countrys South Island, the energy source could be enormous. Led by Victoria University of Wellington professor Rupert Sutherland, the study was published yesterday 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. Its a totally new paradigm. 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 at a depth of 630 meters. Water typically gets progressively hotter with depth, but under normal conditions it doesnt reach that temperature until about 3 kilometers underground. One hundred Celsius is boiling point on the Earths surface, although water doesnt 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. Sutherland said the discovery of the hot water doesnt 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 didnt 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 nations largest exports. Dave Craw, a professor at New Zealands 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 studys findings also have important implications for understanding the workings of quakes on similar faults around the world. Nick Perry, Wellington, AP Inaugurated yesterday morning after about 12 years in construction, the new Pac On Ferry Terminal (officially named Taipa Maritime Terminal) will finally commence operations from June 1, the director of the Marine and Water Bureau (DSAMA) Susana Wong announced during the facilitys official inauguration yesterday. It was previously announced that the major public construction would carry a hefty bill after many delays and several budgetary miscarriages which at the last estimation, amounted to MOP3.8 billion. But Wong said that this is the end of phase 2. We will enter phase 3 as soon as possible after the new terminal enters into operation. Phase 3 involves the demolition of the old temporary ferry terminal (built during phase 1) as well as the construction of a new fuel park onsite to supply the vessels operating in the new terminal. Questioned by the media on how much phase 3 could add to the bill, which already sits atMOP3.8 billion, Wong said, I dont know exactly. This is a process led by GDI [Infrastructure Development Office] and it is they who determine the budget. Wong said, the third phase will take about one year to conclude. Other ancillary services form part of the overall ferry terminal project, but will not be ready for the opening date. According to Wong, the restaurants, snack [and souvenir] shops and tourism agency offices will not be ready by June 1 as we need some time to prepare probably one or two months more. It is currently unclear as to how many staff DSAMA would require to operate the new terminal. Wong mentioned that the department responsible for overseeing the operations of all terminals will manage staffing issues. The DSAMA director also said to expect that with the opening of the new terminal, the proportion of total visitors using this route will gradually increase by 5 percentage points or more. We are not expecting very drastic growth, but gradual growth nonetheless. At this moment, the temporary terminal accounts for about 35 percent of the total number of passengers but we believe that this will increase to 40 or 40-something percent, Wong said remarking that in the face of such growth, other amenities would be added. These include additional services, improvements to the general environment, and a larger parking lot than that of the previous terminal. For the time being, the establishment of new routes and transport companies will not take place. Wong said, this is merely a transition [from the temporary terminal] at this stage. We want this to occur as smoothly as possible. This is the most important priority at the moment. He noted that the inclusion of additional travel options will be mostly dependent on the market. Another topic highlighted by the media concerned how the new terminal would be served by public transport. Wong replied to these questions saying that the decision as to whether or not to increase the number and frequency of bus routes serving the terminal depends on the demand from people, noting that the Transport Bureau is already taking this issue into consideration. The mega structure that will enter into operation on June 1 covers an area of 200,000 square metres with 16 bridge-quays for fast ferries as well as three multipurpose berths that can be used for several kinds of ships. The heliport that completes the transportation capabilities of the terminal has the capacity for five helicopters. To serve passengers, there are also a total of 127 immigration desks in place and a parking lot with capacity for 1,000 vehicles. The construction started on troubled footing, and there are still some problems yet to be solved, as anticipated by Wong in the conclusion of her speech. The construction of the TMPT was enormous and the difficulties found [in the process] were big. We expect that after becoming operative, the TMPT will still have room for further improvement and optimization. Yesterdays event was attended by Chief Executive Chui Sai On and the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Raimundo do Rosario. Half-hearted start for taipa terminal Officially entering into operations on June 1, the new ferry terminal will be far from working full steam ahead. As announced by the DSAMA director, Susana Wong, the terminal will only operate half of the quays for fast ferries eight out of a possible sixteen, for now. Restaurants, shops and tourism services are not expected to be in place before August this year. At the inauguration, Wong mentioned that the terminal will mostly target large tour groups visiting Macau as individual travelers are expected to still continue to prefer to travel to the Outer Harbor Ferry Terminal [on the Macau Peninsula]. Secretary admits problems and undervalues budget slippage The Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Raimundo do Rosario, admitted problems with the Pac On Ferry Terminal building and undervalued the several budget ammendments that led to the final budget of MOP3.8 billion. Rosario, speaking to the media on the sidelines of the inauguration of the new Taipa terminal, said, It is also necessary to say that in the beginning [first project] the terminal had eight berthing places, now it has 16 he explained the difference in dimension of the current project, as the reason for the greater than anticipated costs. When the project started it was very small, however, it has undergone successive changes so that now we have this building that is even larger than the airport passengers terminal. [This said] I do not think there has been great [budget] slippage. The secretary also acknowledges that although new, A part of this [building] was completed already around ten years ago, noting, its normal that there are some problems, I have always acknowledged this, but [that is why] we are here: to solve them, he concluded. Meanwhile, questioned by the media on the problems with staff hired under his supervision, Rosario admitted the problem of irregular contracts for outsourced personel exists although insisted that it that was of a small scale. We have probably four or five cases (Im sure that is less than half a dozen) and the way to solve this [them] is to let the contracts finish and after that we have to rectify the situation (in the ones possible to do that). There is no other way, he said. Regarding the CCAC report on the affordable housing, backing the buyers, Rosario said We are going to follow all the recommendations issued. The Judiciary Police (PJ) organized a drill to assess the polices capabilities and readiness in fighting crime. The drill, which took place at the PJs Cotai branch next to the Lotus Border Gate, began at 10:30 a.m., with two employees of a jewelry shop (played by police officers) carrying a large amount of cash to a parking lot located in the PJ office. While the two employees entered their car, three police officers posing as criminals appeared at the parking lot with guns and knives, and proceeded to simulate a robbery of the employees. In response, police on-duty at the parking lot arrested the criminals. As part of the simulated police intervention, one of the jewelry shop employees was shot, while the other one was taken hostage (both staged). Two of the criminals were arrested at the scene, as they attempted to leave the parking lot, while the third left with the hostage. The drill was then moved to the parking lots rooftop, where around six police officers including professional negotiators went through the steps of saving the hostage. The police were also required to identify the guns and bullets found at the crime scene. After the police successfully rescued the hostage, they briefed the media on the drill and provided information about the process that police technicians use to identify guns and bullets. The entire drill lasted for approximately two hours. According to the PJ, 50 employees from police departments were deployed for the large-scale drill. This time, the police have organized different stages for the drill. The first one concerns the arrest [of the criminals], the second enacts the inspections of a crime scene, and the third is related to hostage negotiation, a PJ officer, surnamed Cheong, told the media. The police officer said that Macau rarely witnesses this scale of criminal activity, but added that local police forces need to remain cautious. He also said that Macau always organizes drills with its neighboring regions to simulate these kinds of crimes. According to the PJ, the drill was planned to enhance cooperation between different police departments. Last week, two scholars conducted a discussion at the Rui Cunha Foundation on trade agreements and international investments currently being negotiated with China, the United States and Canada. One of the scholars analyzed how the Treaty of Lisbon has given the European Parliament greater power in several sectors including agriculture, immigration and the management of union funds. The treaty also strengthened the rights of citizens and associations to participate in the democratic life of the union, as it required union institutions to maintain open, transparent and regular dialogue with representative organizations. Catherine Titi, a researcher at the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) in France, recalled that the Treaty entered into force at the end of 2009, giving new legislative powers to the European Parliament. This put it on equal footing with the European Council in the decision- making process for EU actions. Fernando Dias Simoes, a professor at the University of Macaus Faculty of Law, was also present at the debate. The scholars recalled that agreements such as the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership Agreement (TTIP) and the Comprehensive Economy and Trade Agreement (CETA) could have a significant impact on the residents of countries involved in the agreement, particularly in healthcare regulation, quality and food safety, among other matters. The TTIP is a proposed trade agreement between the EU and the United States, which aims to promote trade and multilateral economic growth. CETA is a free-trade agreement between the EU and Canada, which would eliminate 98 percent of the tariffs between the two parties. The European Parliament voted in favor of CETA on February 15, but EU national parliaments still have to approve the treaty before it can take full effect. This is a comprehensive investment agreement. [] The treaty has been signed but it is not into force yet, it needs to be the ratified, said Titi to the Times. Simoes implied that there is a lack of transparency in the EUs administration. Several years ago, a group of environmental lawyers sued the EU over alleged attempts to restrict access to information, following a lack of transparency in union policy. However Titi contended that the lack of transparency was exaggerated. This lack of transparency is exaggerated, especially regarding the EU negotiations with CETA, even more so with TTIP, she said. The process has been reasonably transparent so the EU has been publicizing the documents [] There is a lot of information that is becoming available and so I think the lack of transparency is also a bit of a myth, she continued. Regarding the EU-China relationship, Titi stated that EU investors who wish to invest in China do not have access to the Chinese market, which is why one of the agreements aims is to convince China to treat all domestic and international investors equally. A Thai law student arrested for sharing a critical article about his countrys new king that was posted on Facebook is this years winner of South Koreas most prestigious human rights award. Organizers for the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights said the parents of Jatupat Pai Dao Din Boonpattararaksa will receive the award on his behalf yesterday at a ceremony in Gwangju city. Police in Thailand arrested Jatupat in December for sharing a profile about King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkunan that was posted on Facebook by the Thai- language service of the BBC. The article included mentions of the kings personal life when he was crown prince, including details of three marriages that ended in divorce and other material Thai news media are prohibited from publishing. Under Thai law, insulting the monarchy is a crime that carries a prison term of three to 15 years. Critics say the country uses the law to silence political dissidents. Busadee Santipitaks, spokeswoman for the Thai foreign ministry, said it had no particular reaction to the award ceremony. Jatupat, who was indicted in February and has been denied bail several times, is the only person to be charged over posting the BBC article, although it was shared nearly 3,000 times. He is a prominent member of Dao Din, a small student organization known for its community rights work in northeastern Thailand, such as working with villagers opposed to a gold mine in their area. Jatupat had been put under close watch by Thai authorities since November 2014, when he and several other Dao Din members held up a three-fingered salute, a resistance gesture borrowed from The Hunger Games movies, during a speech by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, chief of a military junta that took power in a coup six months earlier. Jatupat was also among about a dozen students arrested in June 2015 for participating in anti-government protests, before a military court released the students 12 days later, according to the awards organizers. The May 18 Memorial Foundation, which organizes the Gwangju Prize, said in a statement that Jatupats strength, courage and indomitable struggle showed he is willing to sacrifice his safety and future to protect democracy and the rights and freedom of his people. The prize, which rewards contributions in human rights and democracy, was created in 2000 to honor a democratic uprising in Gwangju in May 1980 that South Koreas then-military dictatorship violently suppressed, leaving hundreds dead. Kim Tong-Hyung, Seoul, AP Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met yesterday with a special envoy sent by new South Korean President Moon Jae-in as the two countries attempted to mend a rift in ties over the deployment of a high-tech American missile defense system in South Korea to guard against North Korean threats. Wang and former South Korean Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan were expected to discuss ways of containing North Koreas missile and nuclear weapons activities as well as the economic fallout over the deployment in South Korea of the U.S. missile defense system called THAAD. Seoul and Washington have argued that the missile system is aimed at North Korean aggression, while China sees it as a threat to its own security. It has retaliated against Seoul by suspending visits to South Korea by Chinese tour groups and trips to China by South Korean entertainers. South Korean businesses have faced boycotts, especially the retail group Lotte which provided the land on which the system is being constructed. Chinas top diplomat yesterday reiterated calls for its dismantling. Were now at a crossroads in our relations, Wang told Lee as he urged the new South Korean administration to make a decision to remove the obstacles that stand in the way of healthy ties between the two Asian economic powerhouses. In recent weeks Beijing and Seoul have signaled a desire to repair relations following the election of South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who has taken a friendlier stance toward China than his conservative predecessor. Although he has sometimes criticized the THAAD deployment, Moon has not said he will remove it. When Chinese President Xi Jinping called Moon last week to congratulate him on his election, Moon reportedly asked Xi for help in ending the economic retaliation that has taken a toll on South Korean businesses. Beijing has maintained its hard line, and in an editorial yesterday, the Communist Party newspaper Global Times said Chinas opposition cannot be traded for the new governments friendly posture toward China. Stopping the deployment of THAAD is the bottom line of China, the newspaper said. Seoul needs to make a choice between deploying THAAD and resuming Sino-South Korean relations. It should not hope to have it both ways. AP TWIN FALLS A fugitive wanted by Salt Lake City police since 2009 on suspicion of arranging a meeting between a prostitute and an undercover cop was arrested in Twin Falls this week. Darin Ray Richardson, 50, is being held on a Utah warrant in the Twin Falls County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bond. Court documents show he was wanted in Utah on a second-degree felony charge of aggravated exploitation of prostitution. The Salt Lake City Police Department posted a most wanted video about Richardson on Youtube more than eight years ago, on April 17, 2009. A narrator in the video describes Richardson over his mug shot while his physical description and several aliases are listed. Then the narrator lists the crime Richardson was wanted for and gave this description of the charge: Darin Ray Richardson is wanted for his involvement in making arrangements for a female to meet an undercover police detective for the purpose of prostitution. Online court records show Richardson was also convicted in 2002 in Utah for attempted exploitation of a prostitute. Richardson appeared Thursday in Twin Falls County Magistrate Court for an initial appearance, where he was assigned a public defender and his bond was set at $50,000, as per the warrant. Court documents listed his home address in Twin Falls. An extradition hearing is scheduled for May 26. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy TWIN FALLS A state committee is recommending revisions to Idahos school science standards, the Idaho Department of Education announced Friday. The original proposed standards drew controversy and debate during this years legislative session particularly, about climate change. The Idaho legislature approved a temporary rule in April to adopt new science standards for kindergarten through 12th grades. But it decided to remove five paragraphs for further review, which include references to climate change caused by human behavior. Now, the five revised paragraphs still include language about human activities that can be factors behind climate change, but with modified language. The first paragraph, for example, now removes one sentence: Emphasis is on the major role that human activities play in causing the rise in global temperatures. And in the second paragraph, the revision states human activities have consequences (positive and negative) on the biosphere, instead of the original version, human activities have altered the biosphere. Changes came after the Idaho Department of Education held meetings in six cities including Twin Falls in April to gather feedback from educators, parents and community members. A state committee, which includes Idaho teachers, met May 12 to revise standards based on the feedback. Recommendations will go to the Idaho Board of Education in August. There will be another public comment period before the proposed rule goes to state legislators in January 2018. WASHINGTON A House panel has started debate on a bill co-sponsored by an Idaho congressman that would, if enacted, mark a major step in enacting President Trumps promised crackdown on undocumented immigrants. The House Judiciary Committee spent about two hours Thursday on the Davis-Oliver Act, which is being sponsored by committee chairman U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., and U.S. Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Idaho. The committee plans take it up again Tuesday. Named after California police officers Michael Davis Jr. and Danny Oliver, who were murdered by an undocumented immigrant in 2014, the wide-ranging bill would take away some federal grants from local governments that refuse to cooperate with immigration authorities and let the victims of crimes committed by undocumented immigrants in sanctuary jurisdictions sue the municipality. It would let states and local governments both help enforce immigration laws and enact immigration laws of their own as long as they dont conflict with federal ones, and it would make it a misdemeanor to be in the country illegally being here without documentation is currently a civil violation, not a criminal one. Passing the bill would let states pass laws such as SB 1070 in Arizona, which required police to check the immigration status of people they stopped. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down parts of this law in 2012, one of the grounds being that it conflicted with federal policy. Mr. Labradors bill gives states and localities the explicit congressional authorization the Supreme Court requires to (let them) enact and enforce their own immigration laws, Goodlatte said. Labrador called respect for the law a foundational principle of the United States that, he said, was undermined by President Barack Obamas immigration policies. They believe that enforcing the law threatens public safety, Labrador said of the bills opponents. That is the most preposterous and outrageous argument that Ive ever heard, and I think its time we start enforcing immigration laws. The Democrats on the committee said it would stigmatize illegal immigrants as being a danger when some studies have shown they are less likely to commit crimes than the native-born, as well as discouraging them from cooperating with authorities if they are crime victims or witnesses. The way to keep the cities and counties safe is that everybody is free to point out the criminal and the crime, said U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas. Several Democrats said the bill would create a deportation force desired by President Donald Trump and his chief strategist Steve Bannon, the former head of the right-wing nationalist Breitbart website. Passing this law is a goal of Bannons it was on a to-do list on his whiteboard. This bill gives Trump and Bannon the legislative authority to establish their massive deportation force and would turn our communities into police states overnight, said U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif. The committee killed two amendments offered by the Democrats. One would have gutted the bill by striking the section dealing with state and local enforcement. The other would have removed the section making being here illegally a misdemeanor. U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., said this would make criminals out of people who came here as children, accidentally overstayed a visa or even tourists who missed a flight. Labrador said it was a needed part of the bill. This is a crucial provision to ensure that (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) can arrest, prosecute and actually deter illegal immigration, he said. If the bill makes it out of committee it will go to the full House, where leadership would decide when or whether it comes to a vote. Richard Emil Dahl, 86, a resident of Hagerman, passed away on Sunday, May 14, 2017 at his home in Hagerman. No funeral services will be held at his request. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Demaray Funeral ServiceGooding Chapel. Teri Lynn VanBeek, 54, of Twin Falls, Idaho, died Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at home. Arrangements are pending Serenity Funeral Chapel Life Celebration Center & Cremation Services of Idaho, Twin Falls. Margaret Peggy Lois McGuire, 79, a resident of Gooding, passed away on Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at Bennett Hills Assisted Care in Gooding. Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced under the direction of Demaray Funeral ServiceGooding Chapel. Julene A. Stultz, 61, of Jerome, died Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at a Filer care center. Arrangements are pending at Farnsworth Mortuary, Jerome. Roy Tiny L. Bingman, 84, a resident of Hagerman, passed away on Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at St. Lukes Magic Valley Medical Center in Twin Falls. Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced under the direction of Demaray Funeral Service Gooding Chapel. December 2, 2000 May 6, 2017 Our beautiful Jchandra (Jelly) Riana Brown gained her wings far too soon on May 6th, 2017. She was born Dec 2nd, 2000 in Twin Falls Idaho. She spent most of her life in the Magic Valley area before moving to Spanish Fork in September 2016. Jelly started her sophomore year at Spanish Fork High School where she was surrounded by many friends. She was known for her vibrant blue hair that matched her vivacious and quirky personality. Our Jelly was one of a kind, she was always the life of the party with a beaming smile on her face. She brought joy and laughter wherever she went. Jchandra was a very enlivened young lady, who loved trying new things. She was involved in cheer, ceramics, volleyball, drama, photography, and was active in young women's. She was a member of the Spanish Fork 16th Ward. Jelly will be immensely missed by her parents; Sue Bryan (Duke) and Roger Brown (Ruth Ann), her siblings Dustin Lewis (Laura), Jerrett Lewis, Ricky Bryan (Lisa), Kelly Bryan, Roger Brown, Ronnie Brown (Krista), Robbie Brown (Anna), her great grandmother Irene Lewis, and her grandmother Peggy Hansen. Jchandra had many loving aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, and cousins. She spent many hours making beautiful and lasting memories with her two young nephews and niece, Damon, Devon, and Diamond, whom she loved with all her heart. Her aunts Polly Mejia (Don) and Penny Lewis along with her cousins Kara Crowley (Randy), Suantay, Alexus, little Randy, and Krista Wickham (Brian), Zayley and Zayne were beyond blessed to spend much of the short time they had with Jelly. Jelly is met with open arms by her loving Great-Grandmother Agee (Dot and Lester); her Great-Grandfather Merill Lewis; her hero - Grandpa Randy Hansen; and older brother Johnny Brown. No words can express our love! She will be forever in our hearts! Jchandra is embraced by her Heavenly Father until she is reunited with her family. Funeral services will be held Tuesday May 16th, 2017 at 6:00 PM at the Spanish Fork 16th Ward Chapel, 505 East 900 North, Spanish Fork, Utah 84660. Family and friends may visit prior to the services from 3:30 - 5:30 PM. Services in Idaho will be held on Saturday, May 20th at 12 PM at the Twin Falls West Stake Center, 667 Harrison Street, Twin Falls, Idaho. Family and friends may visit prior to the services from 9:30 - 11:30 AM. Burial will be at the Twin Falls Cemetery immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations are being accepted in the names of Krista Wickham and Kara Crowley in behalf of Jchandra Brown at any Key Bank. Condolences may be sent to the family at: www.walkerobits.com Over the past several weeks, weve featured a three-part series on Idahos ailing foster-care system. It probably comes as no surprise to readers that Idahos system is in trouble thats the case in states across the country. But its the depth of Idahos problems thats truly stunning. There are far too few families willing to take in foster kids. Caseworkers are responsible for more children than they can handle. Thats lead to a culture of compromise, where children are shuffled through the system, corners are cut and rules are bent. And most important, there is virtually no statewide oversight of the system, which has allowed these problems to go unchecked for years. Our series was sparked by a February report from the Legislatures Office of Performance Evaluations that suggested deep flaws in the system. We set out to show readers a first-hand look at these flaws. Our reporters spent dozens of hours inside Magic Valley foster homes. We talked to parents of children in the system, foster families, caseworkers and bureaucrats. Its one thing to expose the problems. Its another to find fixes. They may be challenging, but the solutions arent insurmountable. Here are four suggestions that emerged from our series: Recruit new foster families Nick and Kelsey Peterson lived in a tiny two-bedroom home in Gooding, where they were licensed to shelter two foster children younger than 3 at a time. But in the two years theyve been fostering kids, the Petersons have sometimes had up to five kids in their home at any one time. Once, they had seven. And many of the 19 children theyve fostered have been older than 3 a violation of their license for which the system continually issued waivers. There simply was no other place for those kids to go. Their story is typical: Families who sign up to foster children often have to bite off more than they can chew. Not surprisingly, families often quit when theyre overburdened. The foster system must step up its recruitment efforts, first by surveying each region of the state to determine how many families are really needed. Next, officials must do better to strengthen the bonds between foster families and their caseworkers. The OPE report suggested new retention plans that bolster communication with caseworkers and families. And more money wouldnt hurt, either. It was clear from our reporting that no foster family was in this for the money foster parents typically receive about just 50 to 60 percent of room and board expenses per child. Upping the incentive may be enough to retain more families. Hire more caseworkers Our reporting also showed that caseworkers are grossly overworked. On average, theyre handling four more cases than is manageable. As our reporting showed: A workload analysis conducted by Child and Family Services in 2007 found a need for 36 percent more staff, but it has been able to add just 10 percent more caseworkers since then. The 2017 Legislature added six support staff and two social worker positions, but the state knows it needs more. Child and Family Services is also working to find efficiencies, such as considering a plan to hire support staffers to take menial tasks off of caseworkers. The agency is also overhauling its cumbersome data-management system, a move that could save time and money. Change the culture of compromise Hiring more caseworkers and recruiting more foster families seem like easy fixes compared with addressing the deep and underlying sense of defeat that plagues the foster-care system. There is a permeating belief among staff that more is demanded of them than they can do, the evaluators found. Because of this belief, each aspect of the organizational culture is undercut by a need to address the constant feeling of crisis. Foster families say they dont get enough guidelines; caseworkers say families and judges complain too much; and nearly everyone says there isnt enough accountability. Put simply, the system has deep organizational flaws that perpetuate a culture of distrust. Individuals in the system the foster families, the caseworkers nearly all have good intentions, but the system isnt organized to support these intentions. Instead, its leading to disillusionment. A conference this summer for managers and supervisors may offer solutions. It aims to identify the organizational limitations and how to address the shortfalls. Create an oversight board Above all, foster families and caseworkers told us, theres no one really steering this ship. Child and Family Services plays the biggest role, but others are involved, too, such as lawmakers, the court system, community partners. Idaho has no oversight board to police these partnerships. One is badly needed. The OPE report reached a similar conclusion: We recommend the formation of a formal, system-wide oversight entity with authority to ensure ongoing accountability, visibility, and accessibility for all child welfare partners and stakeholders. The OPE report suggested a permanent legislative committee, a suggestion that could be difficult to implement because of separation of powers within the government. But this much is clear: Without a stable oversight board, none of the other solutions will amount to much. As our reporting suggested, what good is it to recruit more foster families if caseworkers are still overburdened? Idaho desperately needs top-down reform. The question now is: Does the Legislature realize it, and what will they do? CASPER, Wyo. (AP) The only Planned Parenthood in the state of Wyoming is closing down. Planned Parenthoods Casper location confirmed Tuesday it will close this summer after more than 40 years of operation because of financial reasons. This is a challenging decision, said Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains official Adrienne Mansanares. The Casper location, which opened in 1975, serves around 500 patients per year, the Casper Star-Tribune reported. Mansanares said most Wyoming patients who receive care from Planned Parenthood do so at the organizations Fort Collins location in Colorado. Spokeswoman Whitney Phillips said patients would be referred to three local providers. 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. President Donald Trump signed a law last month that allows states to deny certain federal funding to Planned Parenthood. The measure overturns a regulation finalized at the end of the President Obama administration that explicitly stops states from denying federal Title X family planning funds to clinics, like Planned Parenthood, that also provide abortion services. The Casper location does not provide abortions. It offers birth control, pregnancy testing, testing for various diseases, and abortion referrals. The health center will close July 21. Wyoming will join North Dakota as the only two states without a Planned Parenthood health center. Dubais second top developer announced Thursday that its Managing Director Ziad El Chaar resigned from his position in order to take up other personal opportunities. The company, which boasted a net revenue of $1.947 billion last year, made the announcement in a statement. We regretfully announce the departure of El Chaar but wish to thank him wholeheartedly for the outstanding efforts during his time with Damac and the many achievements he spearheaded during this period, said the company chairman Hussain Sajwani in the statement. Damac confirms that Ziad El Chaar has left the company. After a 12-year tenure, during which he spearheaded many initiatives that directly contributed to the companys success, both regionally and internationally, El Chaar has decided to explore new career opportunities. We wish him success in all his future endeavors, the company confirms to online media Arabian Business. El Chaar joined the company in 2005 as president of international sales and was promoted as Managing Director in 2011. The company did not say why he has resigned or who will replace him but Ossama Wassim Abbas, general manager operations will assume responsibilities of general manager and Sales. During his tenure, El Chaar helped increase the companys growth as he oversaw Damacs growth with projects such as Damac Hills and Damac Towers by Paramount Hotels & Resorts, as well as Akoya Oxygen and Aykon City. He however ignited controversy in 2015 after accusing some of the real estate sectors biggest brokerages of professional malpractices by publishing Dubai market reports forecasting excess supply, reports say. The company has displayed in the first quarter of 2017 downwards figures; net profit fell 16.20 percent to $239.78 million from $285.9m) a year earlier, but revenue rose 20 percent. Saudi Arabias foreign minister Adel Jubeir told the media Thursday that US President Donald Trump, who is expected in Riyadh this Friday, will discuss with Saudis plans to rein in Iran and its growing influence in the region. Donald Trump is expected in Riyadh from Friday for a short stay as first leg of his maiden foreign trip. During his visit in Riyadh, first stop of his maiden foreign trip, Trump will meet with Saudi officials, leaders of Gulf States and other Islamic-Arab leaders. If several issues are already tabled for discussion, Jubeir, who was former Saudi ambassador to the US, indicated that the issue of Iran will be of a particular importance. He also noted that Riyadh will closely work with allies and the US in particular to ensure Iran abides by the international law and stops meddling in internal affairs of regional countries with reference to Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. We have seen Irans record of aggression increase not decrease since the nuclear pact, Jubeir said. In 2015, Iran and a group of world powers reached a deal preventing Iran to acquire nuclear bomb in return of gradual lifting of economic sanctions on Tehran. Saudi Arabia had expressed concern over the deal endorsed by former US President Barack Obama. The Gulf States grouping known as GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council, mustering Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and UAE) expressed concern over Irans erosive policy in the region seeking to dislocate Sunnite regimes. King Salman and Trump will inaugurate the Global Centre for Combating Extremist Ideology (GCEII), an evidence of the two sides eagerness to fight terrorist groups in the region; mainly al Qaeda and Daech. Air Zimbabwe, a state-run airline regularly used by President Mugabe on his overseas trips, has been blacklisted by the European Union (EU) from operating in EU skies. Zimbabwes national carrier, Air Zimbabwe, is one of four airlines added to the list due to unaddressed safety deficiencies that were detected by the European Safety Agency, local media reported on Wednesday. The latest directive, which was contained in the EU Commissions Air Safety List, cited the inability of Air Zimbabwe to meet international safety standards, they are therefore subject to an operating ban or operational restrictions within the European Union. According to the statement, the EU Air Safety List not only helps to 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. The debt-ridden flag carrier, which is headed by President Robert Mugabes son-in-law, was seeking to re-establish the lucrative London route in the coming months. The Airline is said to be losing up to $3 million a month and has over the past three decades struggled to shake off claims of corruption and ineptitude, which has led to the dismissals of several of its board members and senior managers. The entire fleet was grounded in April as it was said to be undergoing mandatory maintenance checks. @PatriciaMazzei The comments came in fast and furious Friday after Miami Republican Rep. Carlos Curbelo published a Facebook post to explain his thoughts on the wild week of White House news. "You spineless piece of crap," began a commenter named Dan Capote, who urged Curbelo to stand by President Donald Trump. In a flurry of national TV interviews, Curbelo had suggested Trump might have obstructed justice -- an impeachable offense -- if, as reported first by the New York Times, he asked former FBI Director James Comey to stop investigating Russian ties to former National Security adviser Michael Flynn. "It has been YOU obstructing justice," wrote a commenter named Stephanie Paige who apparently wanted Curbelo to be more critical of the president. "I want you to actively oppose the wrong you see- NOT vote to hide & obstruct the truth!" Curbelo had set off the conversation by saying that, amid the controversy, the "main priority at this time is to seek out the truth and lay out the facts with transparency." "My sincere hope is that no one in our government is guilty of any wrongdoing and that we can move beyond this difficult time in our country's politics," he wrote. "In the meantime, we should all make an effort to remain sober and measured as we take in all the news." The comments were anything but. A few hours later, Curbelo responded: "Fascinating and entertaining to read the diversity of responses to this post. It's impossible for all of you to be right. However, it is quite possible that all of you are wrong," he wrote. "A few points for all of you 1) My loyalty is to our community, our country, the Constitution, and the truth. Sorry if that's inconvenient or unacceptable to some. 2) I have 0 interest in a career in Congress. I just want to do the best that I can while I'm there. 3) Some of you should really consider taking a deep breath (count to 10; or maybe 100). So much anger and hate is unhealthy. Would you be proud to show your children, grandchildren, nieces, or nephews your expressions? I wouldn't. 4) Have a good weekend. I hope that at some point we can all come together as one nation under God." Photo credit: C.M. Guerrero, el Nuevo Herald @PatriciaMazzei Only 38 percent of likely Miami-Dade County voters approve of the work President Donald Trump has done so far, according to a new robopoll. But since Trump only got 34 percent of the county vote last November, that might not actually be so bad, according to Republican pollster Armando Ibarra of AI Advisory, which conducted the automated survey. "For the time being, Republicans might live to fight another day," he said. "It's not a crisis -- yet." His poll found a generic Democrat would lead a generic Republican in a hypothetical Miami-Dade election by 47-37 percent. As with all robopolls, it's important to note they usually skew Republican because they usually miss cellphone-only voters, who tend to be young, poor and minority -- the Democratic Party base. Trump's job approval is fueled by the 79 percent of Republicans who like what he's doing, compared to 83 percent of Democrats and 59 percent of no-party-affiliated voters who disapprove. While 61 percent of Cubans approve of Trump's performance, 61 percent of Latinos disapprove, as do 79 percent of blacks. Like Trump, Gov. Rick Scott is similarly underwater -- a sign voters might not differentiate much between the two Republicans, Ibarra said. Only 38 percent of respondents approve of Scott's job performance, compared to 47 percent who disapprove. The robopoll of 2,933 likely Miami-Dade voters was conducted in English and Spanish on May 15-16. It has an error margin of 1.8 percentage points. MEDIA ADVISORY FOR: Saturday, May 20th at 3:00 p.m. Contact: Jose Suarez, jose@josesuarez.miami, 786.233.4233 Little Havana Neighbor Launches Campaign for Miami City Commission District 3 Candidate Jose Suarez aims to stop political nepotism and bring real change to Little Havana aims to stop political nepotism and bring real change to Little Havana WHAT: Community campaign launch with neighbors, community leaders and volunteers. The program will include food, music, community fundraising and door-knocking. WHEN: Saturday, May 20th at 3:00 p.m. WHERE: Jose Suarez residence - 1145 SW 13 Court, Miami, FL 33135 Miami, FL - A new candidate has filed to compete in the highly contested race for the City of Miami Commissioner, District 3. Running against most of Miamis dynastic political families and career politicians, first-time candidate Jose Suarez stands out as one of the few with a long-standing history in the neighborhood and no political ties or commitments to big-money interests. Suarez recognizes the fast-changing dynamics in the community. Everyday, he talks to residents who are struggling to afford to continue to live in their homes, to get to work through gridlocked traffic as well as small businesses that are plagued by endless road projects and a city government that seems to work against them more often than with them. Crime also seems to be on the uptick, and neighbors are speaking out about their concerns. My family has called Little Havana home for the past 54 years, and weve seen first-hand how our community has been neglected for years by mismanagement and politics as usual, said Suarez. Its time that someone from the community stands up to raise the voices of neighbors and business-owners struggling to pay mortgages, rent and a slew of special fees, while politicians sell off this historic community to big developers who have no interest in our heritage, want to force us out to fulfill their financial dreams of turning us into another Brickell or Wynwood. Progress is good, but it must be done in a responsible manner that will benefit the hard-working residents and small businesses of District 3. Suarez believes that the decisions being made by City Hall are often short-sided and long-term impacts are not being taken into consideration. He made the decision to run because his community is at a crossroads, the next election will most likely determine the future of Little Havana as we know it. The reality is I am not going to be one of those big-money candidates, added Suarez. Quite frankly, I dont want to be. You dont raise $150,000+ without owing someone huge favors. Theres something inherently wrong with that. Im running the peoples campaign because that is the way it should be. This isnt about me. This is the organization of a movement that has existed for quite some time. Its only with their participation, votes and donations that we will be able to bring real change to Little Havana and the City of Miami. As the civil rights heroine, Fannie Lou Hamer used to say, we are sick and tired of being sick and tired. Its time for change. The Seminar is held under the auspices of the Special Committee, formally known as the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (also known as the Special Committee of 24, or the C-24). The theme of the 2017 Seminar is Implementation of the Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism: the future for decolonization in the Non-Self-Governing Territories: what are the prospects?. There are 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories remaining under the Special Committees purview: American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands (Malvinas)*, French Polynesia, Gibraltar, Guam, Montserrat, New Caledonia, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, Tokelau, Turks and Caicos Islands, United States Virgin Islands and Western Sahara. The administering Powers are France, New Zealand, United Kingdom and the United States. Taking into consideration recent developments in the Caribbean, Pacific and elsewhere, the Seminar will review the situation with respect to the 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories, including the issue of support from various entities within the United Nations system and other organizations. The Special Committee will consider the Seminars conclusions and recommendations at its June substantive session, and subsequently transmit them to the General Assembly. Rafael Dario Ramirez Carreno (Venezuela), Chairman of the Special Committee, will preside over the Seminar. Invited participants include a Special Committee delegation comprising the Bureau and members of regional groups; United Nations Member States, including administering Powers representatives of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, civil society and non-governmental organizations; as well as experts. The 29 members of the Special Committee are: Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Chile, China, Congo, Cote dIvoire, Cuba, Dominica, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Grenada, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Mali, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone, Syria, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, United Republic of Tanzania and Venezuela. The 2017 annual Secretariat working papers on each Non-Self-Governing Territory are available on the United Nations decolonization website: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines previously hosted the Caribbean Regional Seminar on Canouan Island in 2005 and in Kingstown in 2011. __________ * A dispute exists between the Governments of Argentina and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland concerning sovereignty over the Falkland Islands (Malvinas). The Special Committee on Decolonization will hold the 2017 Caribbean Regional Seminar in Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, from 16 to 18 May with a view to accelerating action in implementation of the Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism (2011-2020).The Seminar is held under the auspices of the Special Committee, formally known as the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (also known as the Special Committee of 24, or the C-24).The theme of the 2017 Seminar is Implementation of the Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism: the future for decolonization in the Non-Self-Governing Territories: what are the prospects?.There are 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories remaining under the Special Committees purview: American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands (Malvinas)*, French Polynesia, Gibraltar, Guam, Montserrat, New Caledonia, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, Tokelau, Turks and Caicos Islands, United States Virgin Islands and Western Sahara. The administering Powers are France, New Zealand, United Kingdom and the United States.Taking into consideration recent developments in the Caribbean, Pacific and elsewhere, the Seminar will review the situation with respect to the 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories, including the issue of support from various entities within the United Nations system and other organizations.The Special Committee will consider the Seminars conclusions and recommendations at its June substantive session, and subsequently transmit them to the General Assembly.Rafael Dario Ramirez Carreno (Venezuela), Chairman of the Special Committee, will preside over the Seminar.Invited participants include a Special Committee delegation comprising the Bureau and members of regional groups; United Nations Member States, including administering Powers representatives of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, civil society and non-governmental organizations; as well as experts.The 29 members of the Special Committee are: Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Chile, China, Congo, Cote dIvoire, Cuba, Dominica, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Grenada, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Mali, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone, Syria, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, United Republic of Tanzania and Venezuela.The 2017 annual Secretariat working papers on each Non-Self-Governing Territory are available on the United Nations decolonization website: www.un.org/en/decolonization Saint Vincent and the Grenadines previously hosted the Caribbean Regional Seminar on Canouan Island in 2005 and in Kingstown in 2011.__________* A dispute exists between the Governments of Argentina and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland concerning sovereignty over the Falkland Islands (Malvinas). Each regional seminar for the Committee of 24 begins with a reading of a statement by the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. The Secretary General himself would probably never attend the seminar itself, as he is a busy person with many things to do, and in the UN hierarchy decolonization issues are a very low priority. This year the statement was read by Rie Kadota, who is the officer-in-charge for the UN Decolonization Unit.The statement from the secretary general, like the press release, both of which I've attached below, don't change much from year to year, at least not recently. Part of this is because decolonization is one issue where the UN can claim a great historical victory, but over the past few decades, has not been able to accomplish much. There are 17 non-self-governing territories that remain officially considered to be colonies in need of decolonization. They are a diverse group in political, economic, cultural terms, however most tend to be small islands or island groups, both larger and smaller than Guam. I wrote last year at the regional seminar in Nicaragua, that I both envied and did not envy whoever has to write these press releases or statements. On the one hand, as little changes year to year, they can be written in a quick manner by changing locations, maybe a name or two and then of course the numbers to represent passage of time. But on the other hand, there has to be a pull to try to say something significant, to make some rhetorical indication that not only has time passed, but some progress has been achieved.The United Nations keeps track of this issue through the concept of International Decades, or ten year target periods, where substantive progress is meant to be achieved or even the entire mission of eradicating colonialism itself from the world is to completed. Right now, we are in the 7th year of the Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism. It remains to be seen at this seminar if we will move forward in significant ways and how.********************May 16, 2017UN Secretary-General's message to Caribbean Regional Seminar on DecolonizationDelivered by Rie Kadota, Officer-in-Charge, Decolonization Unit, DPAIt is a pleasure to greet the 2017 Caribbean regional seminar on decolonization, organized on the occasion of the Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories.Since its establishment by the General Assembly, the Special Committee on Decolonization has played an important role in advancing the decolonization agenda.The work ahead is a reminder that we all have contributions to make. Upholding the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and all relevant resolutions is our collective responsibility.Cooperation is essential to bring about the effective and complete implementation of the Declaration as we approach the end of the Third Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism.In that spirit, I wish to again reaffirm my commitment to the decolonization agenda.I thank the Government and people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for hosting this event for the third time since the establishment of the Committee. Please accept my best wishes for a successful seminar.************************GA/COL/330612 May 2017Special Committee on Decolonization to Hold Caribbean Regional Seminar in Kingston, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 16-18, May 2017 INTRODUCTION: AN OVERVIEW My address to this august body today revolves around the compelling subject of reparations for native genocide and African slavery from those European nations, mainly Britain, France, and Holland, which perpetrated these historic wrongs against humanity in the Caribbean during a period in excess of 200 years between the 17th and 19th centuries. The quest for reparations is not conceived as a strategic confrontation against these European nations, although it is for us in the Caribbean a defining issue in the 21st century for justice, reconciliation, and the righting of historic wrongs. The struggle for reparations in the Caribbean involves centrally a mature conversation with those European nations for an appropriate recompense to correct the legacies of underdevelopment occasioned by native genocide and African slavery. If this mature conversation does not yield a satisfactory result for Caribbean nations, we intend to take the matter to the International Court of Justice for adjudication within the framework of international law. Criss-crossing this mature engagement is the necessary and desirable diplomatic, political, and educational endeavour in our region, our hemisphere, and internationally. We are at an opportune moment for discourses on, and possible resolution of, the claim for reparations as part of the Post-2015 Development Dialogues, and in the context of the United Nations Declaration of the Decade of People of African Descent. It is an appropriate and convenient juncture for the engagement on reparations between the Caribbean and Europe to be facilitated as an especial carve-out in the Post-2015 Development Dialogues touching and concerning the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted recently in September 2015 at the United Nations General Assembly. The case for reparations is unanswerably strong. It rests on moral and legal grounds. It is not concerned with the search for the direct descendants of those who suffered from native genocide and African slavery, to be paid specific sums of money. It does not involve as a starting-point a quantification claim in todays currency of the assessed value of every person subjected to native genocide or African slavery and the assessment of the lands stolen from the native population by Europeans. It is not about the representation in todays value of the 20 million pounds sterling paid by the British government to the slave-owners in 1834-1838 in the Caribbean; incidentally, that sum in todays value, multiplying by the objective factor of 839, amounts to 16.78 billion pounds sterling. To be sure, these quantification benchmarks are indicative of the extent of the recompense, and more, required as reparations to the Caribbean nations. However, our quest for reparations is about repairing the legacies of underdevelopment which exist today and which are undeniably traced to native genocide and African slavery. To this end, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has adopted a 10-point Reparations Agenda which covers the repairing of the awful material and psychological legacies of underdevelopment in a number of areas, including the economy, poverty reduction, education, health, housing, infrastructure, culture and memorials, the demand for a European apology for native genocide and African slavery, and the special matter of repatriation, voluntarily, to Africa of Rastafarians. This Agenda is envisaged as obtaining appropriate recompense, separate and distinct from the usual discretionary international aid granted bilaterally or multilaterally by European nations to the Caribbean. In seeking, thus far, to avoid an informed conversation on reparations the British government recites the mantra that it is interested in engaging the Caribbean with the future, not the past; but this assertion is grounded in a profound fallacy. The consequences or legacies of native genocide and African slavery are not matters of the past; they are a lived reality in todays Caribbean. Repairing them is very much a matter for the present and the future. To amend the poetic summation of one of the iconic national poets of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the deceased Daniel Williams: We are all time; only the future is ours to desecrate; the present is the past. Indeed, the past has been shaped by the state-sponsored public policies of native genocide and African slavery, perpetrated by the respective European nations of which Britain was the most infamous in its extraction of wealth for itself and its impoverishment, and more, of native peoples and African slaves in the Caribbean. REPARATIONS: A PHILOSOPHICAL AND LEGAL SKETCH The righting of historic wrongs is at the heart of the case for reparations for native genocide, lands stolen, and slavery. It is grounded in justice and fairness. It is to be recognised, too, that the Caribbean is not coming to the issue of reparations with a blank page. There have been several claims for reparatory justice which have been satisfied before international tribunals or settled within the ambit of international law, grounded in fairness and justice. Indeed, in August 2001, at the United Nations World Conference against Racism, Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (WCAR) in Durban, South Africa, the then President of Cuba, Fidel Castro, addressed this matter, thus: Cuba speaks of reparations, and supports the idea as an unavoidable moral duty to victims of racism, based on a major precedent, that is, the indemnification being paid to the descendants of the Hebrew people who in the very heart of Europe suffered the brutal and loathsome racist holocaust. However, it is not the intent to undertake an impossible search for the direct descendants of the specific countries of the victims of actions which occurred throughout centuries. The irrefutable truth is that tens of millions of Africans were captured, sold like a commodity and sent beyond the Atlantic to work in slavery while seventy million indigenous people in the hemispheric perished as a result of European conquest and colonisation. An international legal scholar, Mari J. Matsuda, [Looking to the Bottom: Critical Legal Studies and Reparations, Harvard Civil Rights Civil Liberties Review, 22, no. 323, 1987] correctly advises that a human injustice that attracts a claim of reparations must meet three basic criteria: The injustice must be well-documented; the historical data setting out the specifics of the injustice should withstand scientific scrutiny and be verifiable to the satisfaction of a court or tribunal. The victims must be identifiable as a distinct group. The current members of the group must continue to suffer harm. The political leaders in CARICOM are all satisfied that the historical data on native genocide and African slavery and the contemporary condition of the descendants of those who suffered from these crimes against humanity are such as to make a proper fit for these three criteria. The awful legacies of native genocide are real; the terrible, many-sided scars of underdevelopment are before our very eyes, sourced to native genocide and African slavery. It is my duty to acknowledge that a bundle of legal arguments have been proffered by those who oppose reparations for native genocide and African slavery. These revolve around the doctrine of relevant law and practice at the time when the events giving rise to the claim of reparations, occurred; the idea of historical remoteness of these crimes against humanity; and the absence of the actual perpetrators of these crimes and the victims. But international law has more than adequate answers to each of these contrary legal arguments. In any event, this is not merely a legal issue; it is a profoundly moral one to be pursued through coordinated political and diplomatic efforts. My appearance here today at the OAS is part and parcel of this political and diplomatic exercise. This informed gathering is surely aware that the CARICOM member-states and the relevant European nations have signed and ratified relevant international conventions such as the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) which mandates that countries responsible for historical racism, genocide, and slavery have an obligation to assist in repairing the contemporary legacies of underdevelopment. The very 2001 Durban Conference on Racism, Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance acknowledges that slavery and the transatlantic slave trade were appalling tragedies in the history of humanity not only because of their abhorrent barbarism, but also in terms of their magnitude, organised nature and especially their negation of the essence of the victims. CARICOM member-states and the relevant European nations ___ Britain, France, and Holland ___are also state-parties to the International Criminal Court of Justice (ICJ) which adjudicates on these matters within the frame of international law. Last year, CARICOM established a CARICOM Reparations Commission (CRC), to pursue the claim for reparations. Its Chairman is the Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, the distinguished Professor Hillary Beckles, and its Vice-Chairman is the esteemed Senator Jomo Thomas, an activist lawyer from St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Professor Hillary Beckles has authored a recently-published book of huge importance entitled Britains Black Debt: Reparations for Caribbean Slavery and Native Genocide. [University of the West Indies Press, Mona, Kingston, Jamaica, 2013]. I commend it to you as essential reading on the subject. Each member-state of CARICOM has set up, too, its own National Reparations Commission to interface with the regional coordinating body. A significant amount of preparatory work has been done by the CRC under the guidance of a Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee of CARICOM chaired by the Rt. Honourable Freundel Stuart, Prime Minister of Barbados, and on which I also sit. The CRC, in concert with legal and other experts, is advising CARICOM on the best mode of proceeding with the claim for reparatory justice. In the meantime, CARICOM is engaged in essential diplomatic work and political sensitisation globally. Importantly, the Community of States of Latin America and the Caribbean (CELAC) and numerous countries world-wide, including several in Africa, Asia, and Latin America have already endorsed CARICOMs push for reparations. Non-governmental organisations globally have been in support. Earlier this week, on Monday September 02, 2015, Venezuelas President Nicholas Maduro, who was on a State-visit to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, proposed that the Bolivarian Alliance for our America (ALBA) hold a special high-level summit early in 2016 in support of CARICOMs reparations claim. I accepted this wise and timely proposal. In Britain, in 2007, the influential and moral voice of the then Archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual head of the Church of England and the Anglican community world-wide, Dr. Rowan Williams, was heard loud and clear on the side of justice for the descendants of slaves in the Caribbean. On March 27, 2007, in a sermon at Westminster Abbey, in London, to mark the Bicentennial of the Abolition of the Slave Trade, Archbishop Williams stated: We who are the heirs of the slave-owning and slave-trading nations of the past have to face the fact that our historic prosperity was built in large part on this atrocity; those who are the heirs of the communities ravaged by the slave trade know very well that much of their present suffering and struggling is the result of centuries of abuse.....Slavery is not a regional problem in the human world; it is hideously persistent in our nations and cultures. But today it is for us to face our history; the Atlantic trade was our contribution to this universal sinfulness. Archbishop Williams went on to proclaim that the Spirit of Jesus spoke to men and women more than 200 years ago to facilitate the end of the trade in enslaved Africans. He then posed a vital question and made a consequential plea: Is that spirit contemporary and alive in us today? If so, we shall have the courage to face the legacies of slavery.....we shall have the courage to turn to each nation and ask how, together, we are to make each other more free and more human. I accordingly adopt that very question and plea for you, the assembled Ambassadors and representatives of the member-states of the OAS. I urge you to answer it positively and render all practical support to CARICOMs quest for reparatory justice. ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES: NATIVE GENOCIDE AND AFRICAN SLAVERY One of the first acts of the British colonisers in 1764, one year after the conquest and acquisition of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, was to declare that all land in St. Vincent and the Grenadines belonged to the British Crown. At one stroke, they deprived the Kallinago people (so-called Yellow Caribs) and the Garifuna (so-called Black Caribs ___ descendants of the original Caribs and Africans) of their land which was held in common by them. The British over-rule of St. Vincent and the Grenadines was unbroken from 1763 until internal self-government in 1969 and formal independence in 1979, save and except for a brief period, 1779 to 1783, when the French temporarily dislodged British occupation and settlement. From 1764 until 1795, the Garifuna/Kallinago nation fought the British colonisers. The land issue was central to the popular native resistance to British colonisation. Bit-by-bit, chunk-by-chunk, the British took the lands of the Kallinago/Garifuna on one pretext after another. The British finally defeated the Kallinago/Garifuna people in 1795, and in subsequent skirmishes. By 1800, the Kallinago/Garifuna people were practically quarantined on an assigned paltry parcel of 238 acres of land in an inaccessible area of the north east of St. Vincent. Thus, between 1763 and 1800, a period of a mere 37 years, the Kallinago/Garifuna people lost to the British the remainder of their 85,120 acres of land on St. Vincent and the 10,880 acres in the Grenadine islands. The British government sold much of the lands to the British elite or allocated lands as grants to preferred persons who had fought in the Caribbean for them or alongside them in the American War of Independence. In a study which I have done on this land question, I have found that the British diverted into the private hands of British people some 32,694 acres of land amounting to US $469 million in todays value. The remainder of the lands amounting to approximately 64,000 acres remained in the ownership of the British Crown. In 1763, when the British assumed suzerainty of St. Vincent and the Grenadines there were an estimated 9,000 Kallinago and Garifuna in our country. During and after the anti-colonial struggles by the indigenous peoples, approximately 2,500 of them were killed out by the British. A further 2,445 of them (mainly Garifuna) died of diseases and starvation on the barren off-shore island of Balliceaux to which they were forcibly sent, between July 1796 and February 1797. Another 2,248 were deported to Roatan Island in the Bay of Honduras. Thus, approximately 5,000 of the indigenous peoples (mainly Garifuna) were subjected to wanton genocide and a further 2,248 deported. In this way, roughly 80 percent of the Kallinago/Garifuna nation was decimated. This is a horrendous statistic for which the British nation is culpable and responsible. The legacy of this genocide and forcible deportation is still being adversely experienced today. This terrible legacy has to be repaired. Not surprisingly, the northeast base of St. Vincent known as Kallinago-Garifuna country (Carib country) is still today the most pronounced area of material poverty in our nation. Hardship, pain and anguish abound despite commendable efforts by nationalist governments since 1951 to put right the legacies of native genocide. Monumental repairing is still left to be done. It is important to note that the descendants of the Garifuna who were deported in the late 18th century to the Bay of Honduras now reside mainly in Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and the USA. They maintain a spiritual and existential bond with St. Vincent and the Grenadines which they still call Yurumein, the aboriginal name of our country. African slavery, as an organised socio-economic system in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, arose after the British introduced plantation slavery as a systemic mode of socio-economic organisation in our country in 1764. Between 1764 and 1807, when the slave trade formally ended, 55,562 African slaves were brought to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, a number less than the 62,176 who had been forcibly abducted and put on the vessels in West Africa. By the time slavery had been finally abolished in 1838, the African slave population had been reduced to 22,997, indicating a large attrition rate due to a higher mortality rate of an aging, predominantly male population, coupled with an insufficiency of reproduction. The slave-owners were paid for their slaves in St. Vincent and the Grenadines at an average of 26 pounds sterling per slave or 21,814 pounds sterling in todays value. The actual sum paid, totally, to the slave-owners at slaverys end was 592,509 pounds sterling or 497.11 million pounds in todays value, using a factor of 839 on the 1838 values. The historical data in the respect of much of the other Caribbean countries are available in Hillary Beckles book Britains Black Debt, to which I earlier referred. What is being said here of Britain in relation to its former British colonial possessions in the Caribbean, can with more or less equal force be said of France as regards Haiti; and of Holland in respect of Suriname. ESPECIAL CASE OF REPARATIONS FOR HAITI In a book An Unbroken Agony: Haiti, From Revolution to the Kidnapping of a President (Basic Civitas Books, 2007), its author, the well-known American fighter for justice internationally, Randall Robinson, provides a gripping account of Frances successful demand for reparations from Haiti for loss of property (including slaves) at the time of the Haitian Revolution. This payment of reparations from Haiti to France has contributed immensely to Haitis underdevelopment. It is a tale of imperialisms unjust power and might over a poor, relatively defenceless nation. The basic facts are these: By 1825, twenty-two years after the death of the Haitian revolutionary leader, Toussaint LOuverture, the Haitian army was a weakened and divided force. France threatened to re-enslave Haitians, and imposed an ordinance requiring from Haiti a payment of 150 million francs and a 50-percent tariff reduction for all French ships docking in Haiti. To meet the first payment of 30 million francs under the ordinance, the government of Haiti had to borrow the full amount from a private French bank, MM Ch Ternaux Grandophe et Cie. In 1838, after extensive negotiations, under a French-Haitian Traite dArmite (Treaty of Friendship), the original obligation of 150 million francs was reduced to 90 million francs. Haiti was required to make annual payments of at least 2 million francs per year over 30 years. These payments were in addition to repayment on an original 30 million francs from the first private bank. Haiti was thus coerced into borrowing commercially to pay a hugely unjust obligation to France. As late as 1915 , or 111 years after the successful slave revolution in Haiti, some 80 percent of the Haiti governments budget was being paid out in debt service to French and American banks on loans that had been contracted for Haiti to pay reparations to France. In 1922, seven years into a 19-year American military occupation of Haiti that resulted in the death of 15,000 Haitians, the USA imposed a US $16 million loan to the Haitian government to pay off its so-called debt to France. The American loan was finally paid off in 1947. Haiti was left virtually bankrupt and impoverished. It has never really recovered from this unjust imperial imposition. In the early years of the 21st century, President Jean Bertrand Aristide of Haiti pushed the issue of righting this historic wrong. He made an unequivocal the demand for reparations from France for slavery and genocide. Aristide was involuntarily removed from office. Did his call for reparations lead to his fall from office? Many thoughtful people think so, although the matter perhaps had other subsidiary complications. A CARICOM push for reparations necessarily includes Haiti as a very special case. Haiti is very much on board in our multi-lateral quest. CONCLUSION I appeal to all right-thinking persons in the Caribbean, Britain, France, Holland, Africa, the Americas, and the entire world, to embrace reparations for slavery and native genocide as just. The case for reparations is unanswerably strong. Those who have been opposed or indifferent to reparations, I urge you to rethink the matter, search your soul, and identify with the claim for appropriate recompense in repairing the terrible legacies of native genocide and African slavery in the Caribbean. The rethinking and soul-searching of the eighteenth century British slave-trading sea captain John Newton, who came to a full understanding of the unspeakable crime of slavery on his way to his calling as a preacher of the Gospel, is apt in the circumstances. In 1772, he penned the hymn Amazing Grace which has moved generations of hardened sceptics, cynics, and wayward souls, particularly its first verse: Amazing Grace! (how sweet the sound!) That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found Was blind, but now I see. Thank you! The start of each UN Committee of 24 Regional Seminar usually begins with a type of plenary or keynote speech/statement. This is usually a prominent political leader or activist from the country or region that is hosting the seminar or a high-ranking elected official of the host government. As this year's seminar is in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, attendees were treated to a speech by the country's Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves. His speech moved in and out of a variety of different topics, although there was one part that struck closest to home for me. Early on in his remarks he discussed his country achieving their independence almost 40 years earlier. He said that while he was a child raised in colonialism, he had grown into maturity through fighting for independence. For many countries, the birth of their nationhood is far in the past and so those who invoke it, do so across great temporal and rhetorical distance. But for a variety of former colonies, your independence and sometimes the end to your colonization ended quite recently, within your lifetime or the lifetime of your parents/grandparents.Another portion of his speech that struck me was his mention of the Caribbean push for reparations from European powers for African slavery and native genocide. Colonialism is not something that disappears because of a change of flags or a change in place name. The Caribbean still struggles with that legacy and the often times exploitative international hierarchies and systems that emerged to snatch up newly independent nations. The push for reparations for the atrocities committed in European settlement and then brutal economic development of the region is unlikely to go very far. It is an issue where you can clearly connect the atrocious dots, and show the impact of the horrible forms of human displacement and human exploitation. But trying to open up the past in these ways is difficult to impossible. It requires countries, usually powerful countries, not used to saying sorry, to act against their own selfish interests and instead act in the name of justice and restorative ethics, for those who they have wronged in the past and continue to benefit from.Below is a speech given by Prime Minister Gonsalves in 2015 in Washington DC on the topic of Caribbean reparations.*************************Statement by Dr. The Honourable Ralph E. Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, on the topic of "Reparations for slavery and the genocide of native peoples."Delivered on November 4, 2015Washington D.C. Rob Quists call to decriminalize marijuana use is more than a policy platform for the Democrat running to fill Montanas vacant U.S. House seat in a special election next week. Its personal. After an interrupted interview, his campaign staff said Quist was cited for possession in 1971. On Thursday, a reporter had asked the Creston musician, Have you ever been cited for marijuana use? No, Quist said. The call abruptly ended. A text message to the campaign staffer traveling with Quist was not immediately returned. In an email an hour later, a different campaign staffer, spokeswoman Tina Olechowski, said it was a misunderstanding. Sorry for the bad connection. I just talked to Rob and he said he thought you were asking whether he was recently cited and the answer is no, she wrote. 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 and the right of states "to make their own decision," but not legal recreational use, according to a campaign statement. Requests for phone interviews with both candidates were not fulfilled as of 3 p.m. Thursday as they made final campaign stops leading up to the May 25 election. The 2016 book Montana Americana Music cites an interview with Quist in a 1974 book by Joseph Mussulman. The former University of Montana professor led the Jubileers singing group, of which Quist was a member, and was writing about the rise of the Mission Mountain Wood Band. We were really close to finishing school when we got caught (smoking marijuana) . I found out I couldnt get a degree if I had a record, Quist recounted for the book, saying Mussulman told them they had to quit the glee club and write an apology letter to the community that would run in the Missoulian. Well, we couldnt do that and look at ourselves in the mirror, so we packed up and left town (for New York City). Use, possession or distribution of drugs including cannabis, marijuana (and) Indian hemp was banned by the Student Code of Conduct, according to UMs 1971 course catalog. Violators were subject to probation, which permitted students to continue classes if they meet certain conditions, or suspension, which barred enrollment for a semester or longer. Court records from a 1994 malpractice lawsuit filed by Quist included reference to a medical intake form on which he admitted to smoking marijuana two or three times a month. It is unclear why Quist smoked and if he continues to do so today. The use of a drug illegal under federal law might have contributed to Quist leaving UM in 1971, but it is unlikely to cripple todays bid to join U.S. Congress. Numerous national leaders have admitted to past pot use, most downplaying it as a youthful experiment that was harmless or regrettable. National sentiments about the drug also have shifted substantially. Gallup has surveyed Americans about whether they think marijuana should be legalized since 1969. That year, only 12 percent said they did. Support grew to 30 percent by 1978 then dropped to 16 percent by 1990 when the nation was in the heart of the War on Drugs characterized by numerous legal reforms stiffening penalties for drug use. Although stark generational gaps exist, 2013 marked the first time a majority of Americans, 52 percent, supported legalization. Numerous surveys in recent years report that almost half of Americans have used marijuana at least once and about one in 10 have done so in the last year, rates that the Pew Research Center reports vary little by political party affiliation. The new nine-screen, dine-in move theater at Southgate Mall is expected to be open before Thanksgiving, and a new organic-focused grocery store called Luckys Market will open before spring 2018. Thats according to Peter Lambros of Southgate Mall Associates, who updated the Missoula Redevelopment Agencys board of commissioners Thursday on the mall's huge construction project. Because the mall lies within the massive Urban Renewal District III, some portions of the project could be eligible for Tax Increment Financing assistance. Essentially, that means some of the additional tax revenue created from new projects within the district can be diverted away from the citys general fund and given back to developers as long as the parts of the project financed by the TIF money benefit the public. Lambros wanted to convey to the board that the MRAs work to connect a new road thats being built through the mall property has allowed the mall to attract two key tenants the AMC-owned Carmike Theater and the Luckys Market. Both projects, Lambros said, would probably not have happened without Mary Avenue being built to connect drivers, bikers and pedestrians from Brooks to Reserve through the mall property. Southgate Mall is financing the eastern portion of the road, but the city is in the planning stages of building the western half using TIF funds and other mechanisms. The MRAs board on Thursday approved forwarding a recommendation to the City Council to approve a bond resolution authorizing the issuance and sale of $1.6 million worth of Tax Increment Urban Renewal Revenue Bonds to finance the design and construction of Mary Avenue West. At the meeting, Lambros also wanted guidance from the board on how he should approach a future TIF request for improvements to the old Sears building. Luckys Market will occupy half of the 70,000-square-foot building, but the mall is trying to attract tenants for the other half. Lambros said that because the building is asbestos-laden, its been difficult to decide whether to demolish the other half or try to remodel it, which is expensive. He said he and his design team are trying to create a new facade for that portion of the mall that looks like a village, but rising construction costs in the past year and a half have hampered their ability to get too creative. We want this village environment that is going to fill out over time. We want really cool storefronts, but financing has really deteriorated, so pulling this off is going to be slow, Lambros told the board. How you deign to participate in the months and years as they unfold absolutely makes a difference. Lambros said that the malls leadership realized that many large retail centers across the country are rapidly disappearing, or experiencing a loss in valuation and sales. He said they decided that they have to change with the times to survive. We have been aggressively pursuing uses that would provide more daily connection to the community, namely theater and grocery, he said. And this isnt just another grocery store. Luckys is known as an organic for the masses, sort of like Trader Joes. We thought it would provide a unique service to Missoula, and we could not have done (the deal with Luckys) had the city not taken steps to put the road in. *** Lambros said that a third of malls across the country area actually doing better than they ever have, while a third are experiencing record losses of valuation and might be gone soon. He said Southgate Mall falls into the middle category, meaning it needs to make changes now to ensure it gets to the first category. By no means is, quote, the mall saved, but I can only tell you what it evolves into, with the added connectivity and anchors we have invested in, will give it an advantage over what would have otherwise happened had we not taken those steps, Lambros explained. Lambros said he envisions more dense housing and multi-family housing near the mall in the coming years to make it a more liveable, mixed-use place rather than just a retail center. The Market adds services and convenience that will help transform the Mall into a neighborhood center supporting residential development and a greater mix and diversity of uses, said Jeremy Keene, a principal engineer at WGM Group who has been hired by the mall for planning the new projects. Keene said that the cost for demolishing new window openings for Luckys into the old Sears building and making other facade improvements is expected to run between $1.1 million and $1.4 million. He said that in the near future, the mall could request TIF funds to cover a portion of those costs. *** James Grunke, the executive director of the Missoula Economic Partnership, also gave an update on his organization, which is partly financed by taxpayer dollars from the city. He said theres been a lot of interest and inquiries from companies that operate large data centers. Apparently, Montana is an ideal place for these types of data centers because electricity is cheap here, and the cold winters means lower costs for cooling the huge server banks. Grunke said the availability of empty buildings between 5,000 square feet and 20,000 square feet is sorely lacking. The data centers also need good electrical infrastructure. A large data center company is already in the process of hiring 80 workers at the old Bonner mill site, and Grunke said that if the Smurfit-Stone site in Frenchtown is ever cleaned up, it would be fairly attractive for one of these companies. Data centers have popped up in rural towns in Oregon and Washington, and Grunke said the companies would locate to Missoula immediately if they had the right building to buy. These tenants are ready to go and they have cash, he said. But we have zero vacancy in these available buildings between 5,000 and 20,000 square feet. So part of the success of our community is also part of a barrier for growth. Grunke also said, only half joking, that if the MRA were able to build a 100,000- square-foot warehouse somewhere, the MEP would fill it. Time is of the essence, he added, because these companies will go to the first town that shows it has the infrastructure in place to accept them. Grunke said there have also been inquiries from a very interesting professional services company in relocating to Missoula, partly because one of the companys decision-makers is a University of Montana graduate. The company is looking at prime office space downtown, he said, but nothings guaranteed yet. Theres lots of exciting things going on, he said. Buchanan ended the meeting by saying that Andy Holloran, the developer who is building a new hotel at the site of the old Missoula Mercantile building, is expected to present a formal request for TIF funds in June for that project, which lies in the Front Street Urban Renewal District. HAMILTON Five years in the making, an exhibit exploring the culture of the Nez Perce will open with a flourish Friday and Saturday at the Ravalli County Museum. Drummers and dancers, traditional foods and a Salish welcome of the Nez Perce to the Bitterroot will start the celebration at Friday nights opening reception for the exhibit The Journey of the Resilient Nez Perce People. On Saturday, the Nez Perce will proudly parade their appaloosa horses to the weekly Hamilton Farmers Market, which will kick off another opportunity for folks to watch traditional dancing, drumming and song on the museum lawn. During both days, museum officials hope that people will take time to climb the steps to the museums second floor to view the new, 16-panel exhibit that will eventually travel along the 1,100-mile route the tribe followed in its attempt to find sanctuary in Canada in 1877. Its a heartbreaking, yet compelling story, said Ravalli County Museum Director Tamar Stanley. While most people remember the Nez Perce for their historic flight, the exhibit offers insights into the Tribes culture both past and present. From the beginning, Stanley said the tribal elders were adamant that the exhibit needed to include all aspects of the Nez Perce journey that continues to the present day. Those traditions and ceremonies that have been nurtured over the last 2,000 years needed be part of the story that was told, Stanley said. We wanted to be able to show as much of that as we could. To make that happen, there had to be consultation with the tribe, and that took time. Kris Komar of the Bitterroot Heritage Cultural Trust helped write the initial cost-share grant with the U.S. Forest Service about five years ago. It helped pay for the exhibit, which provides insights into the tribes initial interactions with European explorers, missionaries and settlers that eventually brought changes leading to the 1877 War and Flight of the Nez Perce. The Nez Perce National Historic Trail travels right through the heart of the Bitterroot Valley. It is one of 19 National Historic Trails in the United States. A commemoration began this month of the 140th year since the Nez Perce War and Flight of 1877. Komar said tribal elders agreed the trail was an important piece of the Nez Perce history that needed to be remembered, but it only tells the story of a very short period of the Nez Perce history. The exhibit offers a much bigger picture. It was a huge gift to me to be able to work with the Nez Perce and to learn about their culture, she said. Its so different for ours. Its important that people have this opportunity to learn about it. The plans call for the travelling exhibit to remain in Hamilton through October. From there, it will be carefully packed and sent to small communities, schools and other display points along the trail so others can learn about the life of the Nez Perce. Most of these rural communities where it will be displayed wouldnt have the resources to put together something like this, Stanley said. Its going to be a nice opportunity for them to have this in their own communities. The exhibit officially opens at the Ravalli County Museum from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday night with a traditional Salish welcome to the Bitterroot Valley. The Hamilton Middle School choir will sing Who Will Fight No More Forever under the direction of the schools choral director, Peggy Bucheit. Mike Penny will lead the Nez Perce Drum Wapqukhan. There will also be some traditional food to sample, including siis, which is buffalo stew, fry bread and a garbanzo bean dish. On Saturday at about 10 a.m., the Nez Perce will parade their horses in full regalia before continuing singing and dancing and other cultural presentations, including a childrens program. Saturdays event will end about noon. The museums exhibit also includes a segment on the sod forts and other interesting information on how the homesteaders responded to the 1877 war. Broadwater County Deputy Sheriff Mason Moore, a married father of three, survived the first gunshot wound he suffered while driving after a Belgrade man and his father at 100 miles per hour on a dark highway at 2:30 a.m. last Tuesday. But he didn't survive the hail of two dozen bullets when the two men allegedly turned their car around, drove right up to where Moore's car had pulled to a stop, and fired again. In the hours before they allegedly killed Moore, Marshall Barrus and his father Lloyd Barrus are accused of attempting to violently take Marshalls children on what they termed a suicide mission. Thats according to Broadwater County Attorney Cory Swanson, who filed a felony charge of accountability for deliberate homicide against Lloyd Barrus on Friday. Lloyd Barrus, 61, is being held on $2 million bond at the Missoula County Detention Center. Prosecutors in Missoula County also filed additional charges against him on Friday, bringing his total number of felony attempted deliberate homicide charges to 16. Lloyd Barrus was arrested on Tuesday after he and his son allegedly murdered Deputy Moore and then led law enforcement on a high-speed chase across several counties before engaging officers in a shootout east of Missoula on Interstate 90. Marshall Barrus was mortally wounded by law enforcement during the shootout, but Lloyd Barrus was arrested after officers shot a Glock 9mm handgun out of his hand. In chilling detail in new charging documents filed Friday, Swanson laid out details of Moores death at about 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Swanson said that after he got an emergency call at 3:40 a.m. notifying him that Moore was dead from apparent gunshot wounds, he went to the scene and reviewed a copy of Moores patrol car video. The video showed Moore was traveling south on Highway 287 when he was passed by what appeared to be a white Chevy Suburban. Moore followed for a minute, then tried to pull the vehicle over. The vehicle did not stop, so Moore advised dispatch that he was in pursuit, reaching speeds of 100 miles per hour. About six minutes into the chase, Moore appeared to be struck by gunfire while driving. The camera was knocked from its mount, and the patrol car appeared to come to a stop on the side of the road. From that point forward, the audio and video quality fluctuated intermittently, according to Swanson. I did not observe any motion or sound from Deputy Moore on the video for approximately three minutes after the initial gunfire, Swanson wrote in charging documents. At that point, Deputy Moore seemed to regain consciousness and could be heard moaning faintly and opening his car door. "About a minute after that, Deputy Moore and his patrol vehicle appeared to be struck by more than 15 gunshots fired in rapid succession. I did not see or hear any activity in the video after that until backup officers arrived approximately eight minutes later. A Montana Highway Patrol trooper who was first on the scene later told Swanson that when he got to Moores car, the drivers side door was open and Deputy Moore was dead of an apparent gunshot wound. A post-mortem examination later determined that Moore sustained two gunshot wounds to the head and another to the shoulder. Swanson examined the scene, and found 29 spent .308-caliber rifle cartridges. He found about 24 bullet holes in the patrol cars windshield, front end and passenger door. From tire marks on the pavement, it appeared as though a vehicle was traveling southbound beyond Deputy Moores vehicle, then made a U-turn and went back toward the patrol car, Swanson wrote. I also observed tracks in the dirt alongside Deputy Moores passenger door, adjacent to the majority of the fired cartridge cases. Those tracks then appeared to make another U-turn southbound. Moore's assailants had fled, but law enforcement officers tracked them down near Butte. The duo then allegedly led officers on a high-speed chase across several counties in an effort to get away. Marshall Barrus allegedly moved to the back of the SUV at mile marker 135 on Interstate 90 and began firing rounds with a long gun through the rear window at pursuing law enforcement vehicles. Two Butte police vehicles were hit by Barrus' rounds, disabling those vehicles. Shooting those two cars led to the additional charges for Lloyd Barrus on Friday. The pursuit continued to mile marker 128 in Missoula County, at which point Barrus' vehicle was too disabled by spike strips to continue. Lloyd Barrus left the driver's side while his son got out of the the passenger's side, according to court documents. They are accused of firing repeatedly on surrounding law enforcement vehicles, hitting four. Lloyd Barrus allegedly was firing a Glock 9mm handgun while Marshall Barrus was firing a rifle or a shotgun. Law enforcement officers returned fire and mortally wounded Marshall Barrus. Officers also shot the handgun from Lloyd Barrus' hand, at which point he was arrested. Prosecutors say 14 law enforcement officers were under fire during the shootout in Missoula County. *** Swanson, the Broadwater County attorney, said Gallatin County Sheriffs Detectives interviewed Marshall Barrus children shortly afterward. A detective said the children told him that Lloyd Barrus came to the familys home in Belgrade about two weeks ago from California. The entire family then went camping near Canyon Ferry Reservoir. The children told detectives that both Marshall and Lloyd had strong anti-law enforcement views and openly discussed a suicide mission involving a shootout with police. On the night of Monday, May 15, the children said Marshall woke them at about 11 p.m. when he fired a gun in the campground. He then got into an argument with the childrens mother before both Marshall and Lloyd left the campground. The men returned at 2 a.m. and began firing guns around the campground while looking for the children. Marshall allegedly located the children with their mother in the car, then broke out the rear window when they refused to open the doors. Marshall allegedly struck one of the children in the face after trying unsuccessfully to get the kids to accompany him and his father on their suicide mission. The children told detectives that the men left the campground with a semi-automatic rifle, a 9mm pistol, a shotgun and a backpack full of ammunition and magazines. Barrus has also been charged with two counts of accountability to attempted deliberate homicide, both felonies. All of the charges against him are punishable by life in prison, or not less than 10 or more than 100 years in Montana State Prison. BELGRADE A memorial service is scheduled next week for a Montana sheriff's deputy who was shot to death during a traffic stop. Gallatin County Sheriff Brian Gootkin says the service for Broadwater County Deputy Mason Moore will take place at The Bridge at Belgrade church at 11 a.m. Tuesday. Gootkin says thousands of law enforcement officers are expected to attend and organizers plan to simulcast the service at other locations. Moore was shot early Tuesday during a traffic stop near Three Forks. The father-and-son suspects led officers on a chase on Interstate 90. Marshall Barrus was shot in the head about 35 miles east of Missoula and died the next day. His father, Lloyd Barrus, was arrested and is jailed in Missoula. Moore is survived by his wife and three children. He was 42. I could not believe the endorsement of Greg Gianforte by the Missoulians Editorial Board for the open U.S. House seat. Especially since only a few weeks earlier, they had issued a scathing indictment of the candidate. First, Gianforte publicly supported Donald Trumps description of the news media as enemies of the people. Also, for Gianfortes reaction and behavior at a meeting of the American Conservatism Society at Hamilton, where he touted Trumps promise to drain the swamp, when Trumps cabinet was already stuffed with ultra-rich and other Wall Street 1 percenters. Even more egregious was a Gianforte embarrassment of a lone reporter by responding to a question from a member of the audience How do we rein in the media? There are more of us here than there are of him! To me this should have been enough to disqualify him. But theres more and it requires a further perusal of the endorsement. I could make little sense of the boards summary of Gianfortes positive qualities, while at the same time their reservations (his many failings) made up a major part of the editorial. Weaknesses attributed to Rob Quist are so thinly supported that it brings into question what the boards understanding of what an effective and civic-minded legislator could be. The whole exercise seemed out of character for the editorial board, which in recent years has produced enlightened examples of investigative journalism. So, who is responsible for this bombshell? Management? Money? I trust that this is not a harbinger of a return to the days of the Copper Kings of Butte era. For a good portion of the 19th and 20th centuries, the Anaconda Mining Corporation (the Company) held sway in state politics and journalism, owning or controlling newspapers, including the pre-1959 Missoulian, of most major cities. Hopefully, it wont reach that level today. Recently the Lee Newspaper chain bought out our local Independent and concern about how independent it would be remain. The May 11 Independent issue featured a well-researched analysis by Derek Brouwer of the Creationist movement in Montana. Greg Gianforte was prominently featured therein, since he has been a major founder of the Glendive Creation Museum and other anti-evolution and anti-science institutions and causes. I believe the article was objective, but inevitably raises questions about Gianfortes candidacy. Lets hope that such editorial independence continues and that the present Editorial Board of the Missoulian can quickly return to their previous journalistic excellence, as well. Mike Chessin, Missoula On Thursday, May 25, Montana voters will either choose to continue the tradition of big money buying our elections or will vote for a true local who represents the majority of Montanans. This rather presumptuous statement can be validated by a nostalgic walk down memory lane reviewing some of our most memorable election buyouts. During the 1892 election for the location of Montanas Capitol, the Anaconda Company (Marcus Daly) spent $2.5 million to buy the election for Anaconda, while William Clark spent $500,000 to assure Helena the prize. In 1899, Clark practically purchased the entire Montana legislature to ensure his election to the United States Senate. Clark is reported to have said, I never bought a man who wasnt for sale. This little scandal led to the passage of the 17th Amendment to the Constitution requiring senators be elected by popular vote. Like the oligarchs of Montanas past, Greg Gianforte has enlisted the National Republican Congressional Committee and the Congressional Leadership Fund to buy Montana voters. These Washington, D.C.-based political action committees are dedicated solely to increasing the Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives and answer to no one. Neither group has ties to Montana or cares about Montana and the issues affecting the fourth-largest state in the union; they simply want to elect a Republican to Congress. The choice is as clear as it is simple: kowtow to the big-money, out-of-state PACs and continue the tradition by voting for an East Coast millionaire, or send Rob Quist, a true Montanan, to Congress. Scott Bixler, Missoula More details on Montana Craft Malt, the $15-million malting facility to be built in the Montana Connections Business Development Park west of Butte, were announced Thursday at an event held in honor of the new venture. The gathering, organized by the Montana Departments of Commerce and Agriculture, took place at the Butte Brewing Company on Galena Street, where economic development advocates, government officials, and craft brewers gathered to get the skinny on the new facility. Jennifer OBrien, company investor and daughter of Ron Ueland, whos leading the project, said the facility is intended to produce malt especially for craft brewers, who she said have long desired access to more variety. OBrien described a time in the past when the aisles of grocery stores were lined with macro brews by a limited number of brands. Today, she said, craft beer is taking up an increasing amount of shelf space at Montana grocers. In some cases, theyve had to have their own aisle, said OBrien. This is becoming a trend, a big, fast trend, and its not going away any time soon. While the craft-beer industry has certainly grown in Montana according to the Montana Brewers Associations most recent data, sales of Montana beer have increased by more than 110 percent since 2010 OBrien said that barley options for craft brewers have remained limited. But with the new facility, she said, brewers will have access to more types of barley, including heirloom and European varieties. She said the facility will produce small and custom batches, which will benefit craft brewers that have limited buying power. The facility will also provide support services and data on things that matter to brewers, like protein and sugar content, which will be provided by a lab the company has partnered with at Montana State University in Bozeman. Brandon DeShaw, who is leading engineering and operational aspects of the project, spoke about the malting process. He said trucks filled with barley will drive directly into the facility. The barley will first undergo a seed-cleaning process and then be sent to steeping tanks, where the seeds will soak in water. The steeping, DeShaw said, encourages sprouting and will allow the facilitys operators to control the grains germination process. Afterward, the barley will be dried with hot air, which stops germination. The grain will then be dried to reach a desired level of darkness, depending on the clients specifications. The whole process, DeShaw said, takes about a week. Ueland said the facility, which will be about three acres and able to produce 10,000 tons of malt per year, has caught the attention of Montana barley growers, who he said are excited to get their grain into the craft-beer market. The strains of barley that hit the mainstream, he said, have typically been controlled by the preferences of the big macros, so having an audience for their products is a welcomed development among local barley producers, he said. Ueland thanked people close to the project and named some of the new ventures investors, including his daughter, OBrien; Dick Anderson of Montana-based Dick Anderson Construction; Lucio Sacchetti, president and chief executive officer of CMC Engineering Group of Canada; Burt and Mike Robins of Montana Precision Products; members of the Ueland family; Warren Warthen, former executive at Northern Seed LLC; and Ray Peterson, a certified public accountant in Butte. None of this could have happened without the people in this room, said Ueland. In April, Ueland told The Montana Standard that if all goes well, construction on Montana Craft Malt could start later this spring or this summer. DEER LODGE For a second time a district court judge has denied a request that Bruce Anderson convicted of rape and other charges be released on bail pending his sentencing. Judge Ray Dayton on Tuesday in Deer Lodge district court, after receiving full disclosure regarding the motion, said, "The issue is that Bruce Anderson is the only person in the world who can do the work on the job up north (Malta). It is very important that he be able to do that for himself and his business associates." The Deer Lodge courtroom was nearly filled with community members, and Dayton said he had received numerous letters in support of Anderson from business and personal friends saying "Bruce is not the kind of guy who would do anything like that," while others were less complimentary. Anderson runs an asphalt company in Deer Lodge. Dayton explained this hearing was a different situation from one where an individual is charged and has a constitutional right to reasonable bail while awaiting trial. But that is not the case with Anderson, where a full jury, after full process of the law, on March 15 determined Anderson was guilty on three felony counts of burglary, sexual intercourse without consent, and sexual assault. "We're preparing for a sentencing hearing, and this case was a heinous crime of rape with potential penalties for long incarceration. We are also a long way in pre-trial procedures in another case where Anderson is charged with a similar offense," the judge said. He explained there is a presumption of innocence in pre-trial, but consideration is given to the impact to family, friends, business associates, and the community at large. However, it would be extraordinary for any judge to allow release after a conviction, Dayton said. Defense attorney John Edward Smith expressed appreciation to those who came to support Anderson and said the letters addressed the judge's concerns, but he admitted, "I knew when we came that I'd have an extraordinary uphill slog." County Attorney Lewis Smith said that Anderson poses a great risk to flee if given the right to fly back and forth from Malta, especially when previously they were going to lock up the planes. He is also concerned about safety of the community and Anderson hurting others or himself, because in the past he has threatened to do so. Dayton denied the post-conviction release saying, "A person with hopes, dreams, accomplishments, and irons in the fire add up to where motivation and risk of flight come from regardless of the support, heartfelt as it is." He conceded his decision will be a hardship to others, saying, "Prison sentences are hard on mothers and a hardship for people who are affected; but, the defendant is responsible for that happening, and it is my constitutional duty to make a decision." Threatened bull trout in the Clark Fork River are at the heart of a lawsuit a Montana environmental group filed against the Environmental Protection Agency this week. The Missoula-based Alliance for the Wild Rockies sued the EPA in U.S. District Court in Missoula Tuesday, claiming the agency has disregarded the Endangered Species Act for bull trout by failing to consult the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on its Superfund cleanup activities upstream of the Clark Fork in and around Butte. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated the upper Clark Fork River as critical habitat for bull trout in 2010. But with Warm Springs Ponds acting as settling ponds for any sediment coming from Silver Bow Creek, some experts say it's unlikely that metals contamination left from upper Silver Bow Creek cleanup issues could be affecting the Clark Fork River below the ponds. The ponds and Silver Bow Creek are not part of the designated bull trout critical habitat, but because they are upstream, Michael Garrity, the alliance's executive director, says EPA's consultation with Fish and Wildlife is needed. Fish, Wildlife and Parks fisheries biologist Jason Lindstrom said its unlikely metals from Silver Bow Creek would reach the Clark Fork because of Warm Springs Ponds. That was one of the reasons the ponds were left in place, Lindstrom said. Its very unlikely they (metals from Silver Bow Creek) would have any measurable impact on critical bull trout habitat. The Clark Fork River does have its own metals problem. Heavy metals mining and smelting waste washed downstream during the 1908 flood and left significant deposits along the Clark Fork River. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality is the lead agency on removing that waste. DEQ spokesperson Kristi Ponozzo said DEQ has been in consultation with Fish and Wildlife Service over bull trout habitat in its Clark Fork cleanup process. Alliance for the Wild Rockies filed a Freedom of Information Act request from EPA in March asking to see documentation that had passed between EPA and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over bull trout in the Silver Bow Creek/Butte Superfund site and downstream, in the Clark Fork River. EPA responded to the Freedom of Information Act request Monday, stating there is no documentation between the agencies on bull trout for those particular sites listed in the request. But the agency says it is addressing bull trout habitat. EPA officials declined to comment on the suit, citing the pending litigation. But EPA provided a letter the agency sent to Alliance for the Wild Rockies to The Montana Standard. The letter states that EPA will conduct an assessment on bull trout critical habitat in the upper Clark Fork in the spring and summer of 2017. Garrity said his group is suing EPA to make sure they do it. Garrity says once EPA does an assessment on bull trout in the upper Clark Fork River, the public can see if EPA is in compliance with laws protecting the threatened species. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fisheries biologist Dan Brewer said its up to each federal agency to decide if it needs to consult with Fish and Wildlife Service on critical habitat issues. All federal agencies comply with federal acts, but (USFWS) doesnt make that determination for EPA. EPA makes that determination, said Brewer. Lindstrom said its rare to see bull trout in the Clark Fork River, particularly the upper Clark Fork. Problems for bull trout in the Clark Fork include low flows, habitat, and competition from rainbow trout in addition to metals contamination. Bull trout are cold-water fish. Flows and temperature are the worst above Deer Lodge because it is more heavily impacted by irrigation withdrawal, said Lindstrom. Garrity calls bull trout the canary in the coal mine when it comes to water quality. Lindstrom agrees, saying that bull trout are a species that require really high water quality. They dont handle degradation of any sort very well, said Lindstrom. When temperatures start pushing the water to very warm levels, youre not going to find them, said Lindstrom. "Bull trout need very clean, cold, complex, and connected waterways in order to survive, and Butte sits at the very headwaters of the mighty Columbia River," Garrity said. "You can't bring endangered species back from the brink of extinction without a plan." The one place where bull trout can regularly be found in the upper Clark Fork watershed is Warm Springs Creek, near Anaconda. No area within Anacondas Superfund site, which is separate from Silver Bow Creek/Butte Superfund site, was listed in Alliance for the Wild Rockies Freedom of Information Act request, nor was it named in the lawsuit. Garrity said that was an oversight and his lawyer would modify the legal complaint to include it. But Brewer said Fish and Wildlife Service is consulting with EPA on Warm Springs Creek cleanup for bull trout habitat. The state has plans to do its own work on Warm Springs Creek to improve habitat for bull trout and to improve passage areas for the fish, said state environmental science specialist Pat Cunneen. That work, depending on permitting, could start either in fall 2017 or spring 2018, said the states restoration program chief Doug Martin. Martin said the state hopes to begin work on the bull trout habitat in Warm Springs Creek as early as this summer. "Obviously the people of Butte want a full cleanup, not merely pulling a vegetative cover over the toxic wastes," Garrity said. "We stand with them in their efforts to attain that goal." A Flathead County renter who identified her landlord as the wife of U.S. House candidate Rob Quist, said she made out her checks to Bonni Quist and is now fighting with the candidates wife to get her full deposit back. Stephanie Michalziks story contradicts assertions by Rob Quist that the structure, a converted barn, is not a rental property. Its just something thats kind of family-owned. Its also something thats kind of murky. County, state and federal records paint a complicated and incomplete picture of when the barn was converted to apartments and where money from the rentals is going. Quist and his campaign have declined to provide additional clarity. Payment records from Stephanie Michalzik and three other renters show they have been paying rent to Bonni Quist for the past three years. But property tax records make no mention of living quarters at the site, listing four outbuildings and no dwellings. While Bonni Quist collected money from the renters, the tenants records show, she and her husband did not report rental income on their income taxes for 2015 or 2016, according to tax documents the Quist campaign gave to the Associated Press. That, Quist said, is because he is not the owner of the property. This is a property that I am not an owner of. So for The Billings Gazette to bring this up, this is out of my hands. I dont own that property, Quist told the Bozeman Chronicle editorial board. That fact that theyre saying I dont show income from it, I wouldnt. I dont get income from that property. The title for the property has been transferred between family members more than once, most recently in 2013 when the title was twice transferred between Quists wife and daughter, Halladay. Bonni Quist retained power of attorney but the title was in Halladay Quists name. Flathead County property records show those transactions between mother and daughter occurred a few months after a foreclosure notice was filed against Rob and Bonni Quist to collect $348,214 in debt. The couple had missed several mortgage payments. Records indicate all property is currently in the clear. Bonni Quists power of attorney allows her to conduct business on behalf of her daughter, the property owner, collecting funds and paying expenses. The Gazette obtained leases and checks from renters, showing money going to and from Bonni Quist's account. But when asked for receipts or records showing rental income being transferred to Halladay Quist, the campaign declined several requests to provide them. The campaign also would not make Halladay Quist available for an interview, saying that candidates children were off limits in political reporting. Instead, the campaign issued the following statement from the candidate: Bonni and I paid our fair share of taxes this year and every year. One of the reasons I got in this race was to go to Washington and fight for tax cuts for people in Montana who work for a living, not transplanted New Jersey millionaires, Quist said. Quist's main opponent in the May 25 special election to replace former Montana congressman Ryan Zinke appointed Interior Secretary by President Donald Trump, is Greg Gianforte who made millions from the sale of his software business. In addition to the apartments, the 9.19-acre Quist property includes three other buildings, none of which is listed as a dwelling on state tax records. Michalzik, a single mother who said she paid rent of $950 a month, and one other renter say one of the other outbuildings also has been converted to living quarters. Michalzik said she decided to talk to a reporter after she had trouble getting all of her deposit back from Bonni Quist, who issued Michalzik a $200 payment on May 5 but kept the remainder. When the $200 check didn't clear Bonni Quist's personal account at Glacier Bank until May 11, Michalzik said she'd had enough. Quist earlier told The Gazette that in the 1990s he began converting the barn to an event center and three apartments. Department of Revenue officials told The Gazette the state relies on records of required permits for electrical and septic work to determine when improvements are made to a property. Those permits are required by state law but its up to the tax assessors to monitor the permits and look for changes that signal an increase in a propertys taxable value, said Mike Kadas, DOR director. We closely track building permits and so when there is a building permit drawn we will put that on our list and then, usually after the construction, will go and look at it and inspect it, Kadas told Lee Montana. If people in the neighborhood tell us theres construction we definitely go look, put it on a list. We dont get to this tomorrow. There were no Quist property permits for plumbing or electrical work on file with the state Department of Labor and Industry. But DLI keeps the records for only seven years, leaving open the possibility that the Quists had state-required permits that fell off the books. The Quist campaign says Rob Quist had the necessary permits for the apartments he constructed. Flathead County handles septic permits, which are required for commercial, single-family and multifamily septic systems. The records start in 1969. There is a 1999 septic permit for Rob and Bonni Quist to accommodate the barn apartments. That permit would make the apartments about 18 years old. Ed Caplis, DORs tax policy and research director, said any errors in how the apartments are recorded will be corrected in January and reflected in future taxes. Whether back taxes are collected depends on the Flathead County Commission, said Adele Frantz, Flathead County Treasurer. The Department of Revenue will make a recommendation if tax information hasnt been captured. Flathead County Commissioner Phil Mitchell said a decision on whether to pursue back taxes wont be made before the May 25 election. The county, he said, has a real problems with under collected taxes, particularly in rural areas where the permitting trail isnt as strong as it should be. Its difficult to pay for public services when properties arent taxed at their full value, Mitchell said. MISSOULA Rob Quists call to decriminalize marijuana use is more than a policy platform for the Democrat running to fill Montanas vacant U.S. House seat in a special election next week. Its personal. After an interrupted interview, his campaign staff said Quist was cited for possession in 1971. On Thursday, a reporter had asked the Creston musician, Have you ever been cited for marijuana use? No, Quist said. The call abruptly ended. A text message to the campaign staffer traveling with Quist was not immediately returned. In an email an hour later, a different campaign staffer, spokeswoman Tina Olechowski, said it was a misunderstanding. Sorry for the bad connection. I just talked to Rob and he said he thought you were asking whether he was recently cited and the answer is no, she wrote. 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 and the right of states "to make their own decision," but not legal recreational use, according to a campaign statement. Requests for phone interviews with both candidates were not fulfilled as of 3 p.m. Thursday as they made final campaign stops leading up to the May 25 election. The 2016 book Montana Americana Music cites an interview with Quist in a 1974 book by Joseph Mussulman. The former University of Montana professor led the Jubileers singing group, of which Quist was a member, and was writing about the rise of the Mission Mountain Wood Band. We were really close to finishing school when we got caught (smoking marijuana) . I found out I couldnt get a degree if I had a record, Quist recounted for the book, saying Mussulman told them they had to quit the glee club and write an apology letter to the community that would run in the Missoulian. Well, we couldnt do that and look at ourselves in the mirror, so we packed up and left town (for New York City). Use, possession or distribution of drugs including cannabis, marijuana (and) Indian hemp was banned by the Student Code of Conduct, according to UMs 1971 course catalog. Violators were subject to probation, which permitted students to continue classes if they meet certain conditions, or suspension, which barred enrollment for a semester or longer. Court records from a 1994 malpractice lawsuit filed by Quist included reference to a medical intake form on which he admitted to smoking marijuana two or three times a month. It is unclear why Quist smoked and if he continues to do so today. The use of a drug illegal under federal law might have contributed to Quist leaving UM in 1971, but it is unlikely to cripple todays bid to join U.S. Congress. Numerous national leaders have admitted to past pot use, most downplaying it as a youthful experiment that was harmless or regrettable. National sentiments about the drug also have shifted substantially. Gallup has surveyed Americans about whether they think marijuana should be legalized since 1969. That year, only 12 percent said they did. Support grew to 30 percent by 1978 then dropped to 16 percent by 1990 when the nation was in the heart of the War on Drugs characterized by numerous legal reforms stiffening penalties for drug use. Although stark generational gaps exist, 2013 marked the first time a majority of Americans, 52 percent, supported legalization. Numerous surveys in recent years report that almost half of Americans have used marijuana at least once and about one in 10 have done so in the last year, rates that the Pew Research Center reports vary little by political party affiliation. Dillon teen receives citizenship award Tessa Sawyer of Beaverhead County High School, Dillon, has won the $500 State Society Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen award and additional awards as the most outstanding high school senior in the Northwestern Division. That division includes Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, and Montana. Sawyer was sponsored by the Silver Bow Chapter, DAR. Chapter Regent Helen Brown and American History Chair JoAnn Piazzola as well as Iverna Lincoln Huntsman of Bozeman, who serves as state DAR Good Citizen Chair; President General Ann Turner Dillon; and State Regent Jane Lee Hamman presented the awards to Sawyer in recognition of her achievements in dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism. She received her awards at the Montana State Society DAR State Conference in Bozeman. The Good Citizen Program is open to students in state accredited high schools. Mariahs Challenge ceremony May 24 The annual Mariah's Challenge Scholarship Ceremony starts at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 24, at the Montana Tech auditorium. People are asked to make reservations by Friday, May 19, by emailing your name and number of attendees to info@mariahschallenge.com so enough snacks and drinks may be provided. Local SHRM group wins platinum award The Society for Human Resource Management recently awarded the Continental Divide Chapter its prestigious EXCEL Platinum Award for the chapters outstanding accomplishments in 2016. This award aligns individual chapters and state councils activities with SHRMs aspirations for improving the HR profession. Receiving top honors in winning the EXCEL Platinum Award for 2016, the Continental Divide Chapter completed four major initiatives. They included membership enhancements, professional development, student involvement, and community support. The chapters next monthly meeting is at 11:45 a.m. Tuesday, June 20, in the Metals Bank meeting room. The guest speaker is Karl Rosston, Suicide Prevention Coordinator for DPHHS. Details: continentaldivide.shrm.org or chapter president Bob Carroll at 406-925-2034. I would like to respond to the letter published May 17 from Mr. EA Johnson of Butte. Mr. Johnson feels that protesters at the Butte Gianforte rally should be ashamed of the impression Donald Trump Jr. must have of Butte. He also wonders who funded the protest. As a proud participant of the protest, let me answer that question first. Nobody was paid to participate in that event or any other Butte event. The notion that protesters have to be paid is just one of President Trump's delusions. He is so narcissistic that he cannot comprehend that anyone can disagree with him. The protesters at that rally are simply concerned citizens who see clearly that sending Gianforte to Congress would be a mistake and do less than nothing to further the interests of Montana. Mr. Johnson should feel a sense of pride that the people of Butte are not sheep and will not blindly fall behind an administration that has demonstrated nothing but contempt for the rule of law, actively worked to eliminate affordable healthcare for millions, desecrated US/foreign relations and spit in the eye of American values. As for Donald Jr.'s impression of Butte, I, for one, could care less. It is not the job of the citizenry to impress the children of elected officials. Democracy demands that all of the people's voices are heard. We need to elect Rob Quist if only to provide a modicum of balance in Washington. -- Richard Wagner, Butte The Democrat Party is trying everything to stop President Trumps agenda. They fear that a Trump success in creating a strong economy will expose the failures of the Democrats big government policies. The DNC has made several attempts to scare the American public by using the-sky-is-falling tactics to discredit Trump. Lets look at just one of the DNC accusations. They tell us Trump and his campaign staff collaborated with the Russians to ensure that Trump would beat Hillary in the presidential election. They still cant believe that US citizens voted for someone who was not a lifelong politician and had new ideas. To date, there is absolutely no evidence of any collusion with the Russians. The Democrats base their accusations on several phone calls between Trump campaign staffers and Russian diplomats, even though they have no knowledge of the content of these conversations. They wont tell you that members of Hillarys campaign staff also had conversations with Russian diplomats. Why werent the Democrats concerned when Hillary, as Secretary of State, presented the Russian ambassador with a Reset Button and said Our goal is to help strengthen Russia! But most of all, why werent Democrats outraged when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton approved the sale of Uranium One, a uranium mining company, to the Russians. Uranium One held 20 percent of all of the uranium controlled by the United States! Prior to her giving approval to this sale, uranium investors contributed $145 million to the Clinton Foundation. Also prior to her approval of this deal, a Russian investment bank paid Bill Clinton $500,000 for a one-hour speech! Five hundred thousand dollars for an hour's work is a pretty good wage! What could Bill have told those bank employees that was worth $500,000? Lastly, why werent the Democrats concerned when Obama whispered to then-Russian President Medvedev, After my re-election, I will have more flexibility?" Why the whisper? The Democrats' charge that Trump colluded with the Russians could not be more hypocritical! -- Gary Kump, Butte We have the opportunity to select responsible representation for Montanas only Congressional seat. Im disturbed when I hear the constant appeal to class warfare, our baser instincts and the way in which personal and business success is treated as a crime against humanity. Our entire system of government was based on the sanctity of private property and the freedom to succeed given adequate application of hard work, common sense and good ideas. We have a candidate in Greg Gianforte who came from average beginnings, but because of the application of those values, succeeded professionally and personally in ways that most responsible people would admire -- ways that used to represent the American dream. When was our Constitution and American vision so highjacked by Marxist thinking that creating jobs and contributing to the economy became a bad idea? Shouldnt we want representation that understands a hard days work, thrift, and creating value without stealing it from someone else in the form of confiscatory taxes? We dont need any more representation that wants to peddle the notion that success is bad unless it comes from redistribution of everyone elses success, and that we can tax and spend our way to economic prosperity. That idea has been disproved so many times that guys like Bernie Sanders and his man in Montana, Rob Quist, should be feared, and not revered. We already have far too many of those folks in government; thats why we spend well over 25 percent of our GDP on government and still cant come close to balancing a budget. There is a lot of angst against President Trump and Greg Gianforte because they have demonstrated that the American dream still exists, but the people that scream the loudest are the ones that never learned how to balance a budget without some sort of grant or government handout. I suggest that its time to let the adults run the asylum instead of the lunatics. Vote Gianforte on May 25. -- Dan Happel, Pony Stupidity from the White House and the liberal media. President Trump might have been stupid to tell the Russians anything related to security. However, the liberal media broadcasting that it was Israel who had a spy in Isis is the epitome of stupidity! What will this do to the spy, the security of our closest ally in the region and our relationship with them? -- Steven Moss, Anaconda MUSCATINE A heavy fog flows over houses in the south end of Muscatine, carrying a distinct smell one that has been described as "burnt rubber" or "burning corn." The fog, which varies in color from yellow to nearly pitch black, leaves houses and vehicles covered in a noticeable film of ash. And the smell carries throughout much of Muscatine, depending on the weather. Residents who live near the Grain Processing Corporation plant on Oregon Street claim the emissions are harming their property, quality of life and health. Last week, the Iowa Supreme Court certified a class action lawsuit, in which eight residents, who live within 1.5 miles of the plant, are asking for compensation due to harm suffered from the emissions. Now, more than 100 residents plan to file individual lawsuits against GPC. GPC spokeswoman Janet Sichterman said in a news release the class action has "negative ramifications for large and small businesses throughout our state who meet stringent permit requirements." She argued GPC has been working to lower emissions "by making investments in a new and fully operational $83 million feed dryer house," as well as eliminating coal as a fuel source. Residents' claims Brian Freitag has lived in the south end of Muscatine his entire life, and has lived on Demorest Avenue for the past 26 years, less than a mile from the GPC plant. He plans to file an individual lawsuit against GPC in the coming months, claiming his property and quality of life has suffered due to the pollution. "I remember ash falling back even as a kid," Freitag said. "It's been an ongoing thing forever." He said the emissions are especially noticeable at dusk, when clouds of black smoke start to penetrate the air. "It ruins the finish on vehicles; it ruins the clear coat," he said. "You can wash a vehicle one night and in the morning the top will be black." Freitag owns a pressure washing business, and washes his house twice a week, but said most of his neighbors do not have that luxury. Freitag said the smell is perhaps the most bothersome aspect of living near the plant. "It just stinks," he said. "The only time you get a break is when the wind is blowing in the different direction. But it's especially bad on hot summer days. "It sticks in the back of my mind," he said. "What are the long-term side effects on this going to be." Residents involved in the class action gave testimony, which is public record, before the case was taken to district court and initially certified as a class action in 2015. GPC appealed the decision shortly after. Residents testified several family visits and holidays were canceled because of the smell. You cant plan family get-togethers or cook-outs or anything of that sort because of the smell," Sharon Mockmore testified. "People, friends come to visit. They cut their visit short because of the smell. Their ash gets all over everything. Their soot or smoke or smog ruins the sunset, sunrise. Several residents claimed they have been forced to buy extra cleaning products to rid their clothes of the smell and to constantly wash their homes and drapes. You just shut all of your windows; you cant have your windows open," Linda Goreham said. "But it still comes in through the air conditioning. In the winter it comes in through heat. She argued something needs to be done to make up for the time and enjoyment she has lost due to the emissions. Two options Residents who live near GPC are now responding in one of two ways: participating in the class action lawsuit or filing an individual suit. Sarah Siskind, lead counsel for Miner, Barnhill & Galland, said the class action applies to residents who lived with 1.5 miles of the GPC plant between 2007 and 2012, which is about 4,000 people. Now that the class has been certified by the Iowa Supreme Court, GPC will have 30 days to review the case. After that, Siskind said residents who live in the area will be notified of their rights and given the opportunity to participate in the class. "It's an important moment where people will get complete and impartial information provided by the court," Siskind said. Siskind said the class will not include personal injury claims, because it is difficult to determine if a health problem was directly caused by emissions. The class will only focus on property damage and the use and enjoyment of residents' properties. "We believe that the only way to vindicate claims for the entire community is through the class action," she said. "It provides many people of modest resources the leverage they need and the resources they need to pursue those claims when they otherwise couldn't do that." Siskind said the class action is a landmark case for Iowa and Muscatine residents, and one of the best options for residents who cannot afford to hire their own legal counsel. More than 100 residents who are looking to file individual lawsuits against GPC, though, have turned to Nicholas Rowley, a trial lawyer and partner at Carpenter, Zuckerman & Rowley. Rowley said many of his clients have faced health problems due to the pollution. "What we've found is a lot of people have had respiratory issues, a lot of residents have pain that just doesn't make sense," he said. "Kids have breathing problems, people have weird things, whether it's skin conditions or ongoing migraine headaches caused by the pollution. They've poisoned the air." Rowley said residents who file individual suits will likely have more of an opportunity to share their own experiences in court. Cases could also include more evidence about health effects and personal damages. "Regular, ordinary, everyday people in the community, Iowa citizens, are going to hear what happened to other Iowans," Rowley said. "There's going to be a public record documenting exactly what happened to specific human beings. That will effectuate change." Rowley said filing an individual lawsuit could also be a good option for residents who are not eligible to participate in the class action, such as if they live more than 1.5 miles away from GPC. While Rowley is taking personal cases, he appreciates the importance of the class action. "I'm very proud of the Iowa Supreme Court for certifying the class because the dissent did not want that to happen," he said. "Class action is really a great tool to effectuate change. So that's a big, big victory." Siskind and Rowley agree it is important Muscatine residents have the choice to take action and make their voices heard. "We're making sure the corporation doesn't get away with it," Rowley said. "They knew what they were doing and they kept doing it, putting filth and poison into the air in Iowa. It just really upsets me." Sichterman said GPC is considering its "best legal strategy going forward." MUSCATINE Muscatine County is moving forward with the development of a watershed authority, that would help local jurisdictions improve the quality of the Lower Cedar River. At Monday's Board of Supervisors meeting, members agreed to approve the articles of agreement creating the Lower Cedar Watershed Management Authority. It would involve Muscatine and Cedar counties, as well as other counties and cities along the Lower Cedar River. Lower Cedar Project Director Josh Spies said Iowa lawmakers passed legislation in 2010, allowing the formation of watershed authorities, in response to increased flooding and public concern over water quality. Spies said once the watershed authority is approved by the Secretary of State, "it can start doing planning and management activities to assess and reduce flooding, improve water quality and do education and outreach with residents." Spies said forming a watershed authority is especially important to understand how the Cedar River works and to address solutions that will benefit every community in the area. "You have to look at these things on a watershed scale," Spies said. "You can't address them through our usual man-made boundaries, like city or county limits. But addressing them on a watershed scale really provides that mechanism where different entities can come together and collaborate." Board Chair Jeff Sorensen said the watershed authority will allow all governmental bodies along the river to "work together and do projects that benefit the total watershed." "They're trying to do a lot more programming at the start of watersheds, to put wetlands and ponds and stuff like that in, to slow water for drainage," Sorensen said. Sorensen said Cedar County has already agreed to be included in the Lower Cedar River Watershed Management Authority. Spies said Muscatine County has formed a sub-committee, which includes Sorensen, that will attend meetings and try to encourage the county's participation. Spies said the committee will likely send the agreement to the Secretary of State in September, which could officially create the watershed management authority. He said once the authority is created, the first goal is to hire a staff member to act as Muscatine County's coordinator for the watershed. But that all depends on finding funding. Spies said the county has already applied for a $150,000 grant through the Natural Resources Conservation Service, which would pay for a staff member's salary for three years. But Spies said the biggest challenge ahead is finding permanent funding for watershed management authorities across the state. He said they could be funded through the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund, which residents voted to approve in 2010. However, Spies said, "Today that trust fund still sits empty" because a sales tax increase is required to fund the trust. Stakeholders and conservationists around the state are lobbying for funding. Half of the trust fund could be used for water quality solutions and flooding protection. "That's an example of long-term sustainable funding that's needed to make watershed management authorities effective," he said. Spies said state legislators plan to focus on water quality and tax reform in next year's session, which could result in funding the trust. The Lower Cedar Watershed Management Authority could include Muscatine, Cedar, Johnson, Jones, Linn, Louisa and Scott counties. The City of Muscatine is not included in the watershed. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy Here are three things to watch on President Donald Trumps foreign trip. During his first stop in Saudi Arabia, the president will meet with Saudi officials, as well as members of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Trump plans to deliver a speech on the topic of Islam. Will he use the phrase radical Islamic terrorism? Where does the president stand on the Middle East peace process? Trump has frequently stressed the importance of a peace deal in the region, and he will be meeting with both Israeli and Palestinian officials during the trip. How does Trump really feel about NATO? After leaving the Middle East, the president will meet with NATO members in Belgium. In the past, Trump called the alliance "obsolete." What position will he take now? Les emplois a Rennes sont abondants et varies. Il y a quelque chose pour tout le monde. Que vous soyez a la recherche dun emploi [] Les blattes ou cafards (Blatta orientalis) sont des insectes qui appartiennent a la famille des Blattoptera. Ils se caracterisent par leur forme allongee, leurs ailes [] A 45-year-old man from Nakuru County said to be a pastor at a local church has been arrested for forcing pupils to watch pornographic films and have sex with a mentally ill woman. Reports indicate that Tom Mshindi, 45, has lured more than 20 children into the act by using sweets, money, sugarcane and pears. The suspect, known to locals as Juma, was arrested by officers from Nakuru Central Police Station on Wednesday in his house at Railway Line estate where he was allegedly showing the porn films to the pupils. After interrogation, the pupils, who are of either gender, disclosed that after watching the porn films, Mshindi would order them to practice the sexual acts on a mentally-ill middle-aged woman, who visited the house daily. During an impromptu meeting at the popular Nakuru school on Thursday morning, several parents broke down in tears when the head teacher broke the news to them. The schools principal said that they came to know of the issue after one pupil failed to attend school, only for him to be traced to Nakuru Central Police Station having been rescued from a stall near Nakuru Level 5 Hospital, where he had spent the night. Upon questioning, the pupil spilled the beans before officers launched a manhunt for the suspect. Confirming the arrest, Nakuru OCPD Joshua Omukata said investigations into the matter are underway. Mshindi has, however, denied the allegations saying he is a staunch Christian. I am a staunch Christian. I cannot involve other peoples children or myself in the evils I am being accused of, he said. The police boss said he will be charged once investigations are complete. Jubilee Party aspirants are wasting no time in preparing for the rigorous campaign period ahead of theAugust General Election. According to reports reaching our news desk, a section of Jubilee politicians has splashed millions to brand close to 100 helicopters in an ongoing operation at the Wilson Airport. Some of the politicians who have had choppers branded include Meru Senatorial aspirant Mithika Lenturi, Kirinyaga Women Rep Wangui wa Ngirichi, and Embakasi East parliamentary aspirant Francis Mureithi. According to a report by Kenyans.co.ke, an official at Wilson chartering department revealed a chartered chopper costs between Sh170,000 and Sh 200,000 per hour depending on distance and duration of hire. Branding is charged at Sh100,000 for every five days. According to a Jubilee correspondent, the branding efforts are being funded by politicians privately. The branding has started ahead of the official campaign period set by IEBC. IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati recently announced that the official campaign period would commence on May 28 and end on August 5. Here are the pics: Jurors were shown additional video of Sara Lynn Kruegers emotional interview with Napa Police during court on Thursday. Krueger, 27, is accused along with former boyfriend Ryan Scott Warner, 29, of murdering her daughter, 3-year-old Kayleigh Slusher, in 2014. Both defendants are being tried at the same time in the same courtroom; however, their cases are being heard by separate juries in Napa County Superior Court. Jurors were shown two videos Thursday morning of Kruegers interview with Napa Police following her arrest on Feb. 2, 2014 the day after Kayleighs body was found in her east Napa apartment. The first video had already been shown to Kruegers jurors, but Warners were seeing it for the first time. They watched Kruegers interview intently, following along with transcripts provided for them. Krueger was visibly emotional during her interview, crying, resting her head on the table and speaking inaudibly. In the previously unseen video of Krueger speaking with Detective Andrew Hess, who is now a sergeant, Krueger continues to be upset and could be heard yelling. When Hess mentions Kayleighs autopsy and finding out what might have killed Kayleigh, Krueger screamed I wanna know, too! Krueger told Hess that Warner spent a lot of time with Kayleigh alone. When he spanked her, leaving bruises on her back and butt, Krueger told him to stop and said that she preferred using time-outs as punishment for Kayleigh, she said. Krueger went over which bruises she had seen on Kayleighs body. She knew there were some on her butt and back as well as her chin, she said. Hess then asked about the bruises found on Kayleighs legs and feet. Whats on her feet? Krueger replies. She had bruises from head to toe, Hess says. Theyre all over her. Krueger said she had questioned Warner about some of Kayleighs bruises, but said she believed him when he said they were from spanking or, in one incident, an accidental bump of his and Kayleighs heads. She asked Kayleigh, too, Krueger said, and she said that Warner hadnt hurt her. Krueger said she never hit Kayleigh. I didnt do anything to my baby, she screamed during the interview. I dont know what happened to my baby. Leaving a bruise on someones back is not called a spanking. Its called a beating, Hess said. Kayleighs body had 41 visible injuries on it, according to earlier testimony by forensic pathologist Dr. Joseph Cohen. She suffered multiple blunt impact injuries to the head, torso and extremities, and her death was classified as a homicide. Cohen said that her death was caused by fatal child abuse and neglect. Krueger was called to the stand by her attorney, Jim McEntee on Wednesday and continued to be questioned by McEntee, Deputy District Attorney Kecia Lind and Warners attorney, Mervin C. Lernhart, Jr. on Thursday. Krueger returns to the stand McEntee asked her follow-up questions about being afraid of Warners friends, two rapes that she said she was a victim of at age 14 and about how those rapes, as well as being molested, affected her. McEntee had not asked Krueger about the two rapes, which were one right after another by two men, during his direct examination on Wednesday. Lernharts cross examination had Krueger repeat testimony she had just given about the rapes. His questioning made it sound as if at least one of the rapes was consensual sex, but Krueger denied it. Therapist says Krueger is a battered woman Dr. Linda Barnard, a marriage and family therapist based in Sacramento, took the stand on Thursday afternoon. Barnard, who interviewed Krueger while she was in jail, said she thinks Krueger is a battered woman. Barnards testimony corroborated testimony given by Krueger herself on various traumatic events that have happened in her life including suffering abuse from both Jason Slusher, Kayleighs father, and Warner. People who have experienced a lot of trauma learn to accommodate abuse or trauma, Barnard said. Kruegers numerous instances of trauma stacked up, and, according to Barnard, after Krueger saw Kayleigh dead on the bathroom floor, she went into a dissociative state meaning that she was able to separate her actions from her feelings. Kruegers actions after finding Kayleigh for example, leaving with Warner could be explained by her response to the trauma, she said. Barnard also testified that Krueger may not have seen any additional bruising on Kayleighs body due to being in a dissociative state. Her memory of the events may also be jumbled, she said. Barnhard diagnosed Krueger with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and depression. She said the dissociative state may have been tied into her PTSD. Lernhart asked Barnard hypothetically if a person under the influence of or withdrawing from methamphetamine injured someone but was horrified by it, could it trigger a dissociative process. Barnard said it could. Tisher told the court she thinks closing arguments will be next week and expects to give jury instructions next Friday. How long deliberations last, she said, is up to the juries. The jurors were excused until Monday morning when McEntee plans to call two more witnesses to the stand. Alex Shantz simplifies this controversy in concern of removing Native American symbols and language from our educational institutions and other institutions (Remove the mascot, May 13). His movement is a national movement known as Decolonization, supported by a small minority of individuals from what is known as Dominant Culture. The greater culture and society of today is the dominant culture. The Decolonization movement takes the past and un-recoupable encroachments by aggressive cultures of history to genetically link a responsibility to modern society for those transgressions. When in point decolonization is just another non-repairable belief system that is presented from the dominant culture perspective and view. Before the theory of decolonization in the mid-1990s surfaced the positive theory of Cultural Regeneration for Tribal people became a key element in the movement and ability of tribes to adapt, change and meet the needs of the people for the tribe. Understanding this tribal perspective gives us another view in concern for which Shantz fails to speak too. From 1899, the tribal people were banned from their system of following traditional, spiritual and sacred ways that guided the people in their community system and belief system. In 1970 to 1972 Richard M. Nixon returned to the tribal people the sacred right to practice their religion. With that movement cultural regeneration brought the sacred drum, the sweat, the dance and the traditional spiritual beliefs back into the lives of many tribal people in modern culture. Yet, for Native Americans to be able to return from the brink of extinction in their own way, in their own system of belief and selfdetermination, our dominant culture must always make the educated choice. The greater enemy today of native people is the final promise of assimilation. And everything we do in regard of tribal people has a positive or negative response, because we are the dominant culture, we are the greater element which at times has its eyes closed to the struggle of tribal people in this land. Shantz colors his diatribe with the genocide, poisoned and mass killings of indigenous people. What with his predisposed perspective and view from dominant culture it is the truth of mankind historically. Undeniable and indefensible. Yet, how far in the history of mankind do we go back? Shall we talk and discuss the wars between indigenous tribes that in most cases terminated one tribe for the needs of another tribe? As I was once told about European encroachment and oppression of native people, blame the Romans, blame mankind it is in his nature, it is the way of the world. Shantz declaring his ally to decolonization is mandating this system offered by this organization. As stated in decolonization: While decolonization can be an act of cultural revitalization, it also requires the dismantling of the colonial government and the entire social system upon which control and exploitation are based. This is a struggle that has historically involved peaceful negotiations and/or violent revolt and armed struggle by the native population. Further, We are committed to dismantling all systems of oppression, whether they are found in institutional power structures, interpersonal relationships, or within ourselves. Again from 1899 to 1972, Native Americans were obscured from the view of dominant culture. The acts of assimilation obscured them. In Vaudeville we could see Hiawatha, hear Drums Along the Mohawk and the woo woos from Pocahontas. Redmann appeared and wooden Indians were everywhere. It was the belief that tribal children were getting church educated to become citizens and Americans. We can save the indians we can help the noble savage was the motto. From this time to now Native American images and symbols have entered into dominant culture in positive form or negative form. I am a representative for the Native American Guardian Association, and we believe in the protection of Native American symbols and language. Eradication of Native symbols and language viewed by dominant society is an act of assimilation. We believe that education is the greater value to being a part of Native American tribal cultural regeneration. The greater majority of tribal people in this nation are our members. For the Napa High Indians, it is not a difficult reach to establish integrity. To establish traditions that are sensitive to Native Americans and to bring indigenous studies into the classroom. I look at the local decolonize group as many other groups past and present that believe they can save the Indian. In some way, this is always the way of dominant culture view and perspective, they can somehow repay the debt to Native Americans. Yet not. However in their process they claim disrespect, but they in turn disrespect the true indigenous people of Napa. By obscuring the tribes sovereignty. And that is assimilation. Dalton J. Piercey Napa There is an open house 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 20 at the 8.5-acre site at 2344 Old Sonoma Road to see the Countys latest proposed housing project design. My biggest concerns are the project will be too big, too non-conforming, too low income, and will be a parking and traffic nightmare for the neighborhood. This project design has 66 townhouses and 106 apartments, which are two- to three-stories high. The county requires the project to include low income, very low income and no income housing. There will be garage and street parking for 344 vehicles. This project design also eliminates the current historical buildings and the front lawn. I was a California Licensed Certified Real Estate Appraiser for numerous years. The number one thing that affects value (and quality of living) is location, location, location. Location is the one thing a home owner cant change. Any problem with location is known as external obsolescence. High buildings, commercial buildings, non-conforming buildings, high noise levels, higher traffic conditions, higher crime rates, not enough parking, etc. are all examples of external obsolescence. Its the fault of the home owner if they buy aware of existing or planned external obsolescence. If public officials create the external obsolescence after your purchase, its the fault of public officials for your decline in value and quality of living. My wife and I have lived in the neighborhood since 1986. We walk by the proposed project site and around the neighborhood nearly every day. Parking conditions are tight in areas around the proposed project site, especially on Walnut Street, one of the access streets for the project. As an example there is a gymnastics business on Walnut Street, where, when there is an event, parking spills into the adjoining neighborhood streets. My wife and I also walk on the other side of the freeway along Freeway Drive. There isnt enough parking for the housing projects around Freeway Drive. Vehicles are parked illegally everywhere (on lawns, on corners, on sidewalks, in red zones, etc.). We havent seen the city do anything to enforce the parking laws around Freeway Drive. How can we trust public officials to enforce parking laws (or any other laws) on this side of the freeway if they lack the integrity to enforce them on the other side? In my previous commentary Old Sonoma Workshop A Scam, (Feb. 20), I was appalled at how Napa County officials ignored the output from the majority of neighborhood residents attending the first workshop, which opposed high-density housing. County officials (along with the project consultants) then manipulated the second workshop statistics to push forward their high-density housing project plan for the neighborhood. In an email I received from Vice Mayor Juliana Inman, who attended both Workshops, she said ...All the schemes were badly conceived, and should not have been shown to the public. The consultant seemed to disregard all the input from the first [Workshop] community meeting...I hope that you will stay engaged in the project. There are some committed neighborhood advocates. At the second workshop I asked county spokesperson for the project Molly Rattigan, Who has represented our neighborhood for this project? She said it was our Napa County Supervisor Brad Wagenknecht, no one else. Brad lives in Browns Valley, not close to the neighborhood. Molly helped set up an hour long discussion I had with Brad on March 28. Brad started off letting me know that my opposition to the project as an individual didnt really mean anything. I asked Brad, What about the other neighborhood residents opposed to the project? Brad then explained how he represents the community as a whole, not the neighborhood. What Ive learned is that when public officials use the vague term community in defending their plans, they really mean There is no opposition big enough that can interfere with our already decided plans. In a more recent email, Molly tried to explain how transparent the process has been and how we elect our public officials to represent our best interests. I responded with a long email that explained how I was taught to never trust government at any level. I also included in my email, ...I already know how the 'workshop' process is intended to work because I experienced it first hand with One Bay Area. It isn't about having the citizens involved, it's about going through a process so government can say citizens were involved, where public officials can reach an already decided destination--in this case high density housing. There isn't anything transparent about this process... If you live in the neighborhood, please attend the open house. Look at the existing housing and streets around the proposed project site. Dont be fooled by county propaganda. This proposed project will adversely affect the neighborhood. What do you want our neighborhood to look like years from now? Kevin Eggers Napa Editor's note: The Register asked Brad Wagenknecht about the meeting the author mentions, which he confirmed, saying "My point was with both the comments is the broader community has been concerned with housing that is affordable. It is not just a neighborhood issue. I continue to meet with neighbors and the broader community about proposals for Old Sonoma Road." The NATO Information and Documentation Centre (NIDC) in Ukraine celebrated its 20th anniversary in Kyiv. A first-ever public information office opened in a NATO Partner nation, the NATO Information Centre has served for twenty years to increase awareness about NATO and promote NATO in Ukraine. The NATO Deputy Secretary General, Rose Gottemoeller, who visited Kyiv on 6-7 April, addressed the gathering via a video message from Brussels: Twenty years ago, NATO decided to establish an office in Kyiv. Its mission was to open its arms to anyone eager to learn more about NATO. Today, the mission remains the same. Only by learning about each other we can dispel the myths and stereotypes, and build trust and friendship in each other. On 7 May 1997, Javier Solana, the then NATO Secretary General, and Hennadiy Udovenko, Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, inaugurated NATOs Information and Documentation Centre in Kyiv. The NATO-Ukraine Distinctive Partnership Charter was signed two months later deepening the NATO-Ukraine cooperation and creating the NATO-Ukraine Commission. For twenty years, the NATO Information and Documentation Centre (NIDC), has been hosted by the Institute of International Relations of the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. During this time, the Centre has organized more than two hundred study trips and visits for students, journalists, academics, parliamentarians to the NATO Headquarters in Brussels. Overall, two thousand Ukrainians have visited the NATO HQ in the framework of such visits. It has implemented over 600 information and media projects. The NIDC has always supported Ukraines civil society and contributed to open dialogue about NATO. It actively supported many non-governmental actors during the Revolution of Dignity, such as the Ukrainian Crisis Media Centre, to provide the world with factual information and news about the events on the ground. It provided financial assistance to grass-root activists who fought Russian propaganda and we assisted in the formation of new independent Ukrainian media. The Centre is also actively supporting the Ukrainian government to establish effective strategic and crisis communication. In its twenty years of active engagement in Ukraine, the NATO Information and Documentation Centre has made an important contribution to Ukraine. The topic of NATO is no longer taboo and many of the myths and stereotypes about NATO have been dispelled through active dialogue: said Carmen Romero, the Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy during her address at the celebrations of the 20anniversary in Kyiv. COCOA,Florida Brevard County Sheriffs Office Deputies have arrested 31-year-old Ashley Baskett, of 1410 North Lakemont Drive, Cocoa, for allegedly leaving her one-year-old child at a drug house, charging her with child neglect and possession of methamphetamine. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Deputies responded to a residence on Bowman Street in Cocoa, Florida on Wednesday, May 17, 2017, after a concerned citizen advised that they had discovered the child alone in the back bedroom of the residence. The citizen told deputies that they had come to the residence, which is known to be frequented by drug users, to talk to the occupants about a theft. While there, the witness heard a baby crying and, upon entering the bedroom, found an unattended child sleeping on a mattress, on the floor, near a hole in the floor. She discovered that the child had been left abandoned at the residence for three days. The concerned citizen stated the mother, who is known to her, was nowhere in sight and the people inside the residence appeared to be sleeping and/or under the influence of drugs. The concerned citizen, fearing for the safety of the child, took the child to her residence and immediately contacted the Brevard County Sheriffs Office. Upon meeting with the complainant, deputies observed the childs diaper visibly saturated with urine and the childs clothing dirty. The child also had unidentifiable marks on his face. Due to the childs condition, deputies responded to a local store and purchased diapers, baby wipes, and a bottle to feed the child. The Department of Children and Families and Agent Meghan Cornett of the Special Victims Unit responded to the scene to continue the investigation. Agent Cornett was able to identify and locate the childs mother, Ashley Baskett, who was subsequently arrested. As a result of the investigation, DCF took emergency custody of the child. She was transported to the Brevard County Jail where she is being held on $6000.00 Bond. Anyone who may have information about this incident is asked to please call Agent Cornett of the Brevard County Sheriffs Office Special Victims Unit at 321-633-8419 or CRIMELINE at 1-800-423-TIPS (8477). All calls to CRIMELINE are confidential and the caller may remain anonymous. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); UF team wins $5,000 in first annual MuniMod civic tech competition A team of four University of Florida students took second place in the first annual MuniMod statewide hackathon competition May 13 in Orlando. The 24-hourlong event, which presents civic problems challenging our cities, is sponsored by Florida League of Cities and Domi Station. Each team competes for a grand prize of $10,000 to continue the work on their project. This time around, however, an on-the-spot second place prize written out on a napkin -- was handed out by judges to reflect a one-point difference. The UF team included three students enrolled in the Innovation Academy, an undergraduate experience that serves as a training ground for students to better prepare themselves for their career goals. They are Pablo Casilimas, a senior majoring in advertising; Hallie Zimmerman, a senior majoring in sustainability and built environment and president of Innovation Academy Ambassadors; and Ben Anderson, a junior majoring in public relations. Jeff Streitmatter, a senior majoring in industrial engineering, rounded out the team. The foursome presented IdenCity, a mobile platform that allows for two-way communication between citizens and city government as a means to increase civic engagement. Its like a digital town hall, where officials post agenda items and policy updates and citizens can offer suggestions and input via upvoting on items, said Pablo Casilimas. Florida is ranked 50 out of 50 for civic engagement, and Gainesville, for example, only had an 11 percent voter turnout [in the most recent election], so our state especially needs to increase engagement. The group worked for months on a prototype of IdenCity, creating wireframes using an app called AppCooker, and getting input from city officials and students. After an intense round of questions and answers with a judging panel of civic tech experts and municipal leaders, the FSU team captured the grand prize of $10,000. However, the competition was so intense that the Florida League of Cities made a surprise decision to award the UF team second place and a $5,000 prize. Winning at the MuniMod competition the way we did plays into our strengths as a program, said Jeff Citty, Director of UFs Innovation Academy. We teach our students to seek out opportunities, apply the design process, provide a creative solution, work hard to meet the challenge and do an amazing job presenting. That is exactly what our team did this year and it paid off. We are hopeful to continue the standard we have set and be a part of this great program in future years. According to Casilimas, the work is far from over. The team will meet with more officials and citizens to make sure IdenCity is a user-friendly solution that is tailored for its users. Members of the group will attend the Florida Venture Forum this week to seek funding sources to get a fully functioning mobile app developed. To learn more, visit idencity.me. Mumbai [India], May 19 (ANI-Newsvoir): Finvasia, India's first broker that offers commission free trading, has won the award for 'Best Trading Execution or Brokerage Platform' at the 2017 Benzinga Global Fintech Awards in New York, USA. The award is one of the biggest events that acknowledge the achievements of the disruptive businesses and innovators from the capital markets around the world. Over 225 handpicked companies were shortlisted from across the globe for these much coveted Awards. The Benzinga Awards is a global competition to showcase the companies with the most impressive technology, who are paving the future in financial services and capital markets. Each nominated company was assessed by a panel of expert judges that included current and former C-suite executives of financial institutions like Thomson Reuters and Morningstar, as well as many leading investors, VCs, television personalities and financial innovators. Based on their assessment, and the outcome of social voting, companies selected became part of the Benzinga Global Fintech Awards finalistslist before progressing to the final awards. Finvasia competed against Fidelity, Lime Brokerage (Wedbush), m1 Finance, OptionsHouse, SelfWealth, Sterling Trading Tech, StocksToTrade, T3 Live and TD Ameritrade (AMTD) in Best Trading Execution or Brokerage Platform category. Commenting on this award, Sarvjeet Singh Virk, Managing Director, Finvasia, said "We are proud to be recognized as the Best Trading Execution Brokerage during the Benzinga Global Fintech Awards and honoured to have been selected by such an outstanding panel of experts. The Award stands testimony to the tech-led innovation at Finvasia." Natty Virk, CEO Finvasia, added,"This award is a great honour, not only for Finvasia, but also for the customers that have put their trust in our technology and have supported us throughout the years. We kept our focus on creating technologically driven trading products and delivering seamless digital experiences across multiple customer touch points to reach where are today." (ANI-Newsvoir) Enforcement Directorate on Friday provisionally attached Agricultural Land belonging to Surendra Kumar Jain and Virendra Jain at Bhatti Village, New Delhi to the extent of Rs. 1,11,96,000. The prosecution complaint has also been filed against both of them on 18.05.2017, before the Special Court, Patiala House Court, New Delhi. Earlier following Criminal Complaint filed by the Serious Fraud Investigating Office (SFIO) in the Tis Hazari Courts, Delhi, against Jain Brothers and others, a case under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) was also initiated by the Enforcement Directorate. During the investigation under PMLA, it was revealed that M/s Jagat Project Ltd, have converted its unaccounted money to the tune of Rs. 64.70 crore into apparently legitimate transactions by way of share subscription by various companies. Out of this amount, Rs. 62.20 crore of unaccounted money was laundered through 26 shell companies controlled by Jain Brothers. In lieu of the above accommodation entry of Rs. 62.20 Crore, Jain Brothers have received a consideration of Rs. 1,11,96,000. The modus operandi of Jain Brothers was to launder the unaccounted money through the process of placement of funds, layering of transactions and the final integration of laundering money into the banking channel camouflaged as legitimate share premium transactions. Funds were brought in by the mediators on behalf of the beneficiaries through the mediators. Jain Brothers were providing accommodation entries by accepting funds from their beneficiaries through mediators and converting the same into share premium transactions in the beneficiary company. In this process Jain Brothers earned money as a certain percentage of the unaccounted money converted into share premium. Surendra Kumar Jain and Virendra Jain, the accused in this case were arrested on 20.03.2017 under PMLA and are presently under Judicial Custody. The Enforcement Directorate has filed Prosecution Complaint against both of them on 18.05.2017, before the Special Court, Patiala House Court, New Delhi. In view of his income from laundering through shell companies, Enforcement Directorate has provisionally attached Agricultural Land, pertaining to Jain Brothers, at Bhatti Village, New Delhi, to the extent of Rs. 1,11,96,000, which is equivalent to the value of proceeds of crime. Earlier, a hotel property involved in money laundering, to the extent of Rs. 64.70 Crore, managed by Radisson Blu at Plot No. 4, Sector-13, Dwarka, New Delhi was also attached. A total attachment of the property worth Rs. 65.82 Crore has been made so far. Further investigation is under progress. (ANI) Work on a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Russia for reactor units 5 and 6 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) is at the stage of internal approval, a senior official said on Friday. Refuting a media report that suggested that India was holding back the MoU to make Russia use its influence over China to enable India's membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay said: "The report is completely baseless, incorrect and mischievous. Discussions have been held on Kudankulam document. The process is at the stage of internal approval." At the NSG plenary in Seoul in June last year, China had blocked India's membership bid on the ground that for a country to be a member of the 48-nation bloc it has to be a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Given Baglay's statement, it is likely that the MoU for the reactor units 5 and 6 of KNPP, India's largest nuclear power plant, will be signed during the India-Russia bilateral summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on June 1. All six units of the plant are scheduled to be built in collaboration between Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and Russian state company Atomstroyexport. While reactor units 1 and 2 are already connected to the southern power grid, the ground-breaking ceremony for construction of units 3 and 4 was done in February last year. --IANS ab/vt ( 256 Words) 2017-05-19-13:26:09 (IANS) Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and state finance ministers have not been able to resist the temptation of putting heavy taxes on so-called sin goods -- tobacco, pan masala and aerated drinks as well as luxury vehicles under the Goods and Services Tax (GST). The highest tax of 28 per cent has been imposed by the GST Council, which met for two days in Srinagar, on these goods with heavy cess adding to the burden. Details of the tax rates were made available on Friday. Also roped in are small cars in the 28 per cent GST rate, with an additional cess of 1-3 per cent levied on petrol and diesel cars of less than four metres. The fattening aerated drinks have been taxed heavily apparently aimed at reducing their usage. The tax incidence on aerated waters, lemonade and others comes to 40 per cent -- 12 per cent cess on top of an ad-valorem tax of 28 per cent. The total tax of incidence on pan masala comes to 88 per cent -- 28 per cent slab in addition to 60 per cent cess. A cess of 5 per cent will be levied on cigarettes along with special tax in the range of Rs 1,591-4,170 per thousand cigarettes. Motorcycles with more than 350 cc engines, personal aircraft and yachts will attract a 28 tax in addition to cess 3 per cent while mid-segment and high-end luxury cars will call for a cess of 15 per cent. Tobacco and tobacco products will have a cess of 61 per cent to 204 per cent, apart from the 28 per cent slab rate. The highest cess has been put on smoking mixtures for pipes and cigarettes at the rate of 290 per cent. The highest slab of 28 per cent under GST has been applied on chewing gums, white chocolate, chocolates containing cocoa, wafers coated with chocolate, instant coffee, custard powder, students' colours, paints, varnishes, perfumes, beauty products, sunscreen, shampoos, hair dyes, after-shave lotions and deodarants. Additionally, fireworks, wash basins, articles of artificial fur, artificial flowers, wigs, razor blades, cutlery, air conditioners, refrigerators, storage water heaters, dish washers, photocopy machines, fax machines, insulated copper wires, cars, wrist watches, revolvers, pistols, cigarette lighters and smoking pipes, among others, will attract the highest slab. However, some essential products like insulated copper wires have been placed under the highest category, which experts say could have been avoided. "Insulated wire/cables at present are taxable at the rate of 19 per cent (excise at 12.50 per cent and VAT at 6 per cent). These will attract GST at 28 per cent thus substantially increasing the tax incidence on the end use of wire/cable, which is electricity generation. Moreover, electricity generating entities cannot claim GST credit," GST expert Pritam Mahure told IANS. --IANS mm/hs/mr ( 481 Words) 2017-05-19-18:28:10 (IANS) Infertile couples have a major opportunity to achieve a successful pregnancy without the need for IVF, thanks to new research into a 100-year-old medical technique. The now lesser known technique, which involves flushing the woman's fallopian tubes with an iodised poppy seed oil, has been proven to have significant benefits for fertility, according to the largest study undertaken by a team involving researchers in the Netherlands and Australia. Known as the H2Oil study, the project compared the benefits of flushing the fallopian tubes with either an oil-based or water-based solution in 1119 women. With Professor Mol, this work was conducted by Dr Kim Dreyer and Dr Velja Mijatovic from the Department of Reproductive Medicine, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, and a research team from 27 medical centres in the Netherlands. The procedure, known as hysterosalpingography (HSG), is a dye test of the fallopian tubes conducted under X-ray. The procedure was first carried out in 1917, and since the 1950s both water-based and oil-based solutions have been used. "Over the past century, pregnancy rates among infertile women reportedly increased after their tubes had been flushed with either water or oil during this X-ray procedure. Until now, it has been unclear whether the type of solution used in the procedure was influencing the change in fertility," said Mol, who himself was conceived after his mother underwent such a procedure. "Our results have been even more exciting than we could have predicted, helping to confirm that an age-old medical technique still has an important place in modern medicine," he said. Almost 40% of infertile women in the oil group and 29% of infertile women in the water group achieved successful pregnancies within six months of the technique being performed. The oil-based product used in the study was Lipiodol Ultra-Fluid, an iodised solution of fatty acids from poppy seeds. This product is currently available in 47 countries around the world. "The rates of successful pregnancy were significantly higher in the oil-based group, and after only one treatment. This is an important outcome for women who would have had no other course of action other than to seek IVF treatment. It offers new hope to infertile couples," Professor Mol says. "It was long believed that testing a woman's fallopian tubes could have fertility benefits through 'flushing out' the kind of debris that hinders fertility. The reality is, we still don't really understand why there is a benefit, only that there is a benefit from this technique, in particular for women who don't present with any other treatable fertility symptoms," Mol noted. Further research would need to be conducted into the mechanisms behind what we're seeing. For now, and considering the technique has been used for 100 years without any known side-effects, we believe it is a viable treatment for infertility prior to couples seeking IVF. The study is published in The New England Journal of Medicine. (ANI) Megastar Rajinikanth on Friday remained ambivalent on joining politics even as he insisted that he was very much a Tamil. Responding to criticism that he was not a Tamil, Rajinikanth told his cheering fans: "I lived in Karnataka for 23 years and in Tamil Nadu for 43 years. Although I came as a Marathi from Karnataka, you people nurtured me, made me a true Tamilian." The versatile actor said he would take a decision on joining politics when the time comes. Speaking on politics, Rajnikanth said there were good leaders but the system was corrupted. "We have good leaders like (M.K.) Stalin, Anbumani (Ramadoss) and Seeman. But what do we do when the system is bad, democracy has deteriorated. This system needs to be changed and a change has to be brought in the minds of people, than only will the country flourish," he said. Addressing a large gathering on the last day of the interaction with fans, he said to thunderous applause: "I have my profession, my job. I have some responsibilities and you have your jobs. Go back to your places and do your job. Let's meet when it's time for (political) war." Earlier this week, he had said: "If it's God's will, I will join politics." Rajinikanth later tweeted: "Extremely happy after meeting my fans. Memorable and unforgettable." On the career front, he is gearing up for the shoot of his next Tamil yet-untitled film with director Pa. Ranjith. --IANS hp/nn/nv/mr/py ( 256 Words) 2017-05-19-13:22:12 (IANS) The former beauty queen looked stunning in the off-shoulder gown, fitted from the waist and flowing out into a ballroom dress with a plunging neckline.She made her way to the red carpet as the ambassador of global cosmetic brand L'Oreal Paris on Day 3 of the gala. The 43-year-old actress not only posed for the shutterbugs at the red carpet, but also at one moment folded her hands to gesture 'Namastey'. Aishwarya's red carpet look was much different from the first look from the fiesta, where she sported a bottle green layered dress embellished ensemble with colourful floral motifs by Yanina Couture. She was later seen posing with Hollywood star Eva Longoria for the camera. While Aishwarya looked ravishing in an off white dress with colourful floral prints, Longoria sported a casual look in a grey track suit. --IANS dc/vd ( 194 Words) 2017-05-19-23:16:09 (IANS) The sudden demise of Dave brought shock to the entire nation. A member of Rajya Sabha since 2009, Dave had varied interest. He was a river conservationist, environmentalist, social worker, writer, organiser, politician, member of Parliament, RSS Swayamsewak, BJP Karyakarta and an amateur pilot. He was appointed as the environment minister in 2016 after a reshuffle in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Cabinet. Born to Pushpa and Madhav Dave at Barnagar under district Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, Dave completed his post graduate degree in Commerce with specialisation in Rural Development and Management from Gujarati College, Indore. Dave started his political journey during the JP Movement in the 1970s and was elected as college President. He was the key strategist and chief of election management committee for the State Assembly Elections and General Elections in Madhya Pradesh. Having a great love for rivers, Dave founded 'Nadi Ka Ghar' (house of river) and even launched save river campaign "Nadi Mahotsava'' in 2008 from Narmada bank in Madhya Pradesh. Dave was also part of several Parliamentary committees including the Select Committee on The Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill 2013; chairman of Select Committee on The Real Estate (Regulations & Development) Bill 2015 and others. Dave's contribution was also known in the field of Literature. He authored several books in Hindi and English like 'Shivaji & Suraj,' 'Narmada Samagra - Rafting Through Civilisation: A Travel Louge,' 'Beyond Copenhagen' and others. (ANI) Four people have been arrested so far in connection with the case. 18 SIM card boxes, nine routers, 420 SIM cards and two laptop were seized by the police from their possession. As per information, this company was being operated from the past one year and they use to receive calls from the UAE and other foreign countries. The police are investigating if it has any connection with Hawala. Further details are awaited. (ANI) The Union Minister of State for Law and Justice, PP Choudhary, on Friday asserted that the verdict passed by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on former Indian Navy Officer Kulbhushan Jadhav is justified and in accordance with the law. "The order passed by the International Court of Justice is justified. It is in the interest of justice and same in accordance with law," Choudhary told ANI. He said that Pakistan has clearly violated the Vienna Convention by denying consular access of Jadhav and added that it is the victory of the experts how presented strong case in front of the ICJ. Earlier on Friday, the ICJ had announced its verdict on the Kulbhushan Jadhav case and dismissed Pakistan's claim that it did not have jurisdiction over the matter. Justice Ronny Abraham of the ICJ read out the much-awaited verdict and asserted that the case was indeed debatable, while also adding that the ICJ had prime facie jurisdiction in the case. Abraham added that under the Vienna Convention, India should have received consular access to seek justice for the former Indian Naval officer. A Pakistan military court had awarded the death sentence to former Indian naval officer Jadhav on April 10 for alleged "espionage and subversive activities." However, India, after being denied consular access for 16th time, dragged Pakistan to the ICJ on May 8 for violating the Vienna Convention. (ANI) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday welcomed the verdict passed by International Court of Justice (ICJ) that temporarily stayed the death sentence of former Indian Naval officer and alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav by a Pakistan military court and asserted that the justice has been finally served to the latter. "The ICJ has finally given justice to Kulbhushan Jadhav. Pakistan has continuously been in denial mode when they said that they will not accept. We will see to it, that they have to accept it," BJP leader Shaina NC told ANI. She said that the order is in favour of the government and crores of Indians who supported Jadhav. Echoing similar sentiments, another BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi also lauded the decision and said that the verdict is a sign of relief for everyone. "The verdict indicates that the Modi government is dedicated to safeguard the welfare of the nation. As far as Pakistan is concerned the current government is able to corner Pakistan in every aspect," Trivedi told ANI. On Thursday, Justice Ronny Abraham of the ICJ asserted that the Kulbhushan Jadhav's case was indeed debatable, and added that the ICJ had prime facie jurisdiction in the case. The final verdict is expected in August. The UN charter entails that 'each member of the United Nations undertakes to comply with the decision of the International Court of Justice' and 'if any party to a case fails to perform the obligations, the other party may have recourse to the U.N. Security Council.' A Pakistan military court had awarded the death sentence to former Indian naval officer Jadhav on April 10 for alleged "espionage and subversive activities." (ANI) Suspecting them to be child kidnappers, the villagers attacked them and also vandalized their car. Out of the four persons who were in the vehicle, three managed to escape, while the remaining one was caught by the villagers and lynched. However, the other three did not manage to make it too far, as the villagers caught up with them and they met the same fate as their companion. After receiving the information about the mob action, the police who reached the village, were also attacked by the villagers and the vandalized the police car. "People were in suspicion that the people travelling in the car were the child thief. This is the reason they attacked the people and burnt the car," Police Station in-charge Mani Kant said. (ANI) Many cases of paper leak and cheating during exams are on the rise; but one such unusual case has emerged from Maharashtra, where five people were arrested for impersonation in an examination for police recruitment held in Thane. They have been sent to police custody till May 22 and an FIR has been registered in this matter. Further investigations are underway. (ANI) The agitating students sat outside the school gates and demanded their rights even as authorities tried to dissipate the matters. However, the authorities have ensured that the case has been forwarded and is being looked into thoroughly. The students have also been informed that a written request has been submitted and the school will soon be granted permission for higher secondary classes. Earlier a government high school in Rewari also witnessed an intense hunger strike by 80 girls who demanded upgradation of their institute as they feared harassment if they travelled to another village for higher studies. Following the mass agitation, the Haryana Government on Wednesday announced that they have taken the decision to upgrade the school in Rewari. (ANI) As she eagerly awaits her next film 'A Death in the Gunj", which hits cinema screens next month, actress Kalki Koechlin is all praise for Konkana Sen Sharma, who is making her directorial debut with the film.Talking to UNI at the side lines of an event here, Kalki said that with Konkana, she felt she was in the good hands."I felt great working with Konkana. She is an amazing director. This is her first film as a director and it is beautifully made. Konkana is very specific,she knows what she wants. She has a lot of experince as an actor and immense knowledge on visual elements, camera etc. I felt like I was in good hands," the 33 year old actress said.Talking about her character in the film, that hits cinema screens on June 2, Kalki said that she is playing a role of a writer called Mitali (Mimi) who is a self confident woman and has a significant romance in the movie with the character that Vikrant Massey plays of Shyamlal Chatterjee(Shutu).Talking about the movie, Kalki said,"the movie is based in the 1960's, when things were much different from what they are now. People were not same as today. 60's came up with so many introductions to music (rock and roll), so it is about these characters who are enjoying that kind of life, wearing bell bottom pants."Elaborating, she said,"the theme is about somebody's death. There is a group of friends who have gone on a holiday and one person dies. Its about the connections between these people, how they treat each other. Its a drama."Talking about the challenges faced any during the shoot of the movie, the 'Shanghai' fame actress said," we shot really crazy. Sometimes like 16 hrs a day. Once I was shooting for 40 hrs at a stretch as I had to shoot for Konkana and had another committment in Goa. So I had to travel from Ranchi to Goa. I ended up basically not sleeping for 40 hrs."On the new trend of web series in India, Kalki referred to 'Naked', a short web series made by .her .She said that it was about how social media has taken over our lives." It us about how we are so affected by the social media. Naked's idea was to put one's thought on the social platform, rather than just trolling people around. I use social media for posting my thoughts always. So for me its a very empowering tool,where you can reach straight to your audience," she said.On the trend of web series , Kalki said,"Web series are very new in India and its going to be an interesting time for it in the coming days. I think lot of money is invested in such series. People really want to try it, as it gives one the freedom of subjects, one can do anything, without the fear of censorship. One can tackle subjects that are not easy to market in Television or mainstream movies. So it is a great medium for that. But it will take a while for people to understand how business will work."Kalki said she was making a video for her poem 'Noise' ,"We are making a video for my poem 'Noise'. Right now I am jamming with the musicians. It will be a short five minutes video,''she said.Konkona's directorial debut "A Death In The Gunj" , that hits the screens on June 2, is an atmospheric thriller set in 1979 at McCluskieganj, near Ranchi.What starts as an uneventful family holiday, takes a twist when the guests start playing with the spirits. It is nothing tangible but insinuates its way into the group until the holiday ends in an implosion, resulting in an unavoidable event.It stars Vikrant Massey, Gulshan Devaiah, Kalki Koechlin, Ranvir Shorey, Tillotama Shome, Jim Sarbh, Tanuja and late Om Puri.The movie, which won the Best Director honour for Konkona at the New York Indian Film Festival, is jointly produced by MacGuffin Pictures and Studioz IDrream.UNI PY/AR ADG 1013 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0059-899884.Xml Besides, opposition political parties Unemployed Youth Forum of Tripura and Deprived Unemployed Association (DUA) warned the left front government to amend the procedure and eligibility criteria for filling up of 13,000 newly created posts in school education and social education departments. Both the organisations threatened to seek judicial action if the state government go ahead with it's decision to ensure backdoor entry of terminated 10,323 teachers. The attempt of creating new post considering the candidature of these illegally appointed teachers is nothing but another corruption at highest level, they alleged. Koushik Roy of forum and Anuja Biswas of DUA alleged that the government has been depriving 7.5 lakh genuine unemployed to appoint the terminated teachers, which is also violation of Article 16 of the Indian Constitution and a clear indication of corruption in the process. They further asked since 2009, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, his cabinet colleagues and CPI(M) party leaders lie the people of Tripura alleging that central government has put ban on new recruitment and as a result, 60,000 posts of different categories were not filled up in past 10 years but now it appeared as farced. Keeping 60,000 posts vacant, the government created new 13,000 posts and announced to fill them up in next few months without any extra provision in annual budget made it clear that the government has money to offer jobs, to fill up the vacancies and provided full financial benefit to the existing employees but they have been befooling the people of Tripura to remain in power, they alleged. Roy and Biswas however, separately sought clarification from the government how they will manage fund to appoint 13,000 people if there was no money and restriction on employment by the central government and added, "The youths of Tripura would not spare the government for such nepotism and sectarian role." They also argued nowhere in the country, the posts like academic councilor, student councilor, school assistants and school library assistant are exist but the state government created the post with such nomenclature and in all the cases 3 to 5 years teaching experience was made mandatory, which they termed "fraudulent of an elected government". "Hundreds of schools are running without qualified and adequate teachers, the government is failed to provide toilets, provision of drinking water, electricity, sweeping staff and ensure the academic ambiance those are basic minimum requirement of a school to run, they are going to spend money for useless purposes just to ensure vote from these 10,323 families and we shall not allow it anyway," they pointed out. All the major opposition parties Trinamool Congress, Congress and BJP criticised Chief Minister Manik Sarkar for such decision to accommodate the terminated teachers in unfair means and allegedly by taking such decision the government ensured that those posts would never be filled up. " How a government increased the age limit from 40 to 45 years only for filling up 13,000 posts"? questioned Trinamool legislator Sudip Roy Barman adding that job the teachers were terminated by the apex court terming them "illegal and unconstitutional" how the experience of these illegal service would be counted the newly created post. BJP president Biplab Kumar Deb said the government knew it well that filling up of these posts are not possible because of the manner it was persuaded, as the government encouraged the people to go to court and the process would be stopped. But at least CPI(M) can seek the vote by saying that once court will clear the case they would be appointed and by that time election will be over. "This is nothing but a poll strategy of CPI(M)," Deb attributed. However, congress president Birajit Sinha said that the government made it clears their attitude towards unemployed youths. The leftists lost all morale and Manik Sarkar became incapable to judge good and bad. On the other, ruling CPI(M) strongly backed the state government decision amidst resource constraint of the state and criticised the opposition parties saying that they were doing negative politics with the future of 10,323 terminated teachers. "The move of filling up 13,000 posts assumes significance keeping in mind of the BJP led NDA government's policy of shrinking vacant posts in various departments and organisation," CPI(M) in a statement said adding that so many people have lost their job due pro-rich policy of the Narendra Modi government.UNI BB AKM 1137 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0213-899874.Xml The outlawed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council has alleged that Chief Minister Mukul Sangma sent feelers to the group to support Congress candidates in Khasi and Jaintia Hills in the 2018 Assembly elections. "We were told that if we want the peace process to start, we should support the Congress in the coming Assembly elections, which will make way for him to become chief minister for another term and once he comes to power, he will definitely take things seriously and start the peace process," HNLC publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw said. The outfit said, it had told the government several times in the past to appoint an interlocutor to initiate peace talks but in vain. "We would rather intensify our struggle than bargain with Mukul Sangma. In future, any feelers sent by the government of Meghalaya should be free of any political manipulations. Dr Mukul is not the sole proprietor of Meghalaya. He is only the CM for a specified time frame," Nongtraw said. However, the militant outfit said that it does not support any political party. "We do not support any political party or its ideologies. But any party which can uplift our people, empower them and bring in developmental activities and projects for the welfare of our people, should carry on their work with honesty and integration," it added. UNI RRK AKM 1212 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0213-899911.Xml A high level team from Indian Chamber of Commerce, (ICC), comprising of Mahesh Saharia, Chairman, North East Initiative, Rudra Chatterjee, Vice-President, and Dr Rajeev Singh, Director General, along with other senior officials called on the Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and state Industry and Transport Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary yesterday.The ICC Team members put forth before the government details of activities of ICC that are geared towards balanced growth of the region in close association with its SE Asian neighbours, an ICC release said here today.The ICC delegation presented before the State Government its road map for future initiatives that ICC plans to undertake and sought suggestions from the government to highlight priority areas so that ICC may effectively engage Industry and other non-government agencies towards a coordinated effort to implement the programs and mission envisioned by the government.Chief Minister Sonowal pointed out how the rich bio diversity of Assam could be showcased to potential investors and the state government would be happy to facilitate investments in the organic farming, tourism and other related sectors.Skill development is another key focus area of the government and proactive involvement of the Industry was sought to enable the youth with adequate skills so that they may be empowered to obtain suitable employment.The ICC assured the State government that a detailed road map to meet the mentioned objectives would be soon prepared and presented before the state government.The business body also invited the Chief Minister to attend the CEO Forum, Horasis Global Meeting - India, scheduled to be conducted in November 2017 at Kolkata.UNI SG SJC -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0212-900108.Xml The body of one more person was fished out of the Sanvordem river in South Goa on Friday, following the collapse of a dilapidated foot-bridge late on Thursday, taking the death toll to three. District administration officials told IANS that a third body was fished out on Friday afternoon. "The deceased has been identified as Santosh Wandal, 26," an official supervising the relief operation said. Wandal, incidentally, had jumped off the Sanvordem bridge in a bid to commit suicide late on Thursday. Soon, nearly 40 persons gathered on the dilapidated bridge to witness efforts being made to rescue a struggling Wandal from the river, which led to a part of the bridge to collapse under the crfowd's weight, triggering a melee. According to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, most of those who fell into the river swam to the bank. The recovery of Wandal's body could soon lead to the search operation being called off by multiple government agencies, including district administration, state police and fire services, the Indian Navy and National Disaster Relief Force teams, sources in the South Goa district administration said. "Two bodies were recovered till 1 p.m. on Friday. Only one person is missing," South Goa District Collector Swapnil Naik told IANS shortly before Wandal's body was fished out of the river by divers. Earlier on Friday, a National Disaster Relief Force team from Pune visited the spot to help in the search efforts. The Indian Navy, whose divers are engaged in search-and-rescue operations, said the operation was resumed on Friday even as crocodiles in the Sanvordem river were creating a hindrance in the efforts. "Crocodiles seen by locals. Separate patrolling and lookout for crocodiles instituted. Chetak helicopters in search and rescue role... to search downstream. Terrain hilly and clouded," the Navy said. --IANS maya/vgu/vt ( 310 Words) 2017-05-19-18:52:09 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Friday was told that the entire architecture of Aadhaar scheme was that of state surveillance of the citizens as the government was in possession of entire electronic record of the citizens. The bench of Justice A.M.Khanwilkar and Justice Navin Sinha was also told that the central government was in breach of its earlier assurance that information (biometric details) furnished by the people at the time of applying for Aadhaar number would not be shared with anyone. "They are in breach of it," senior counsel Shyam Divan told the bench as it inquired from Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi about the assurance given by the Centre that it would not share with anyone the biometric information given by people at the time of applying for Aadhaar card. As Justice Khanwilkar asked: "You have made a statement that the information collected in the course of Aadhaar enrolment will not be shared with anybody," both Rohatgi and Divan made a near simultaneous response. Rohatgi said he was "taken over by law", referring to the Aadhaar Act 2016. "Parliament passed the law and parliament can't be injuncted," he added. The Attorney General noted that the government was insisting on Aadhaar number for availing the benefits under various social welfare schemes to eliminate ghosts beneficiaries as had happened in the case of public distribution scheme and other schemes. His contention came in the course of the hearing of petition by Shanta Sinha and Kalyani Sen Menon challenging series of 17 notifications issued by government since February this year making Aadhaar number mandatory for availing benefits under various social welfare schemes including mid-day meal and disability pensions as well as for victims of Bhopal gas tragedy. Seeking the response on the plea by Sinha and Menon, the bench gave three weeks time to Centre and one week time to the petitioner to file of their rejoinder. Sinha was the first Chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and a Magsaysay award recipient while Menon is a feminist researcher. At the outset of the hearing, Rohatgi raised preliminary objections telling the court that even earlier, a petition with identical prayers and identical paragraphs was filed six months ago and in none of them, any interim relief has been granted and are pending hearing by the constitution bench. He said this was an abuse of the process of court. As Rohatgi said that even the present petition should be heard by the constitution bench, Divan wondered why he was fighting shy of hearing of the matter on merits. As the pitch of the arguments on both the sides became high, Justice Sinha quipped that air-conditioning in the court room was good. The bench however took exception to Divan saying that it should be cleared whether this petition can be heard by two judge bench or the constitution bench lest citizens are left to "grovel" before the court. "Please don't say that common citizen is not heard by the court," said Justice Khanwilkar pointing out that the doors of the court were always open to people. Also taking exception to the use of word "grovel", Rohatgi recalled that once he was summoned at 2 a.m. in connection with an urgent hearing. Admitting that some of the prayers were same, Divan said that they have filed a number of applications and the same were not being taken by the registry. At this, the bench said that it would be better if the petition by Sinha and Menon and earlier applications filed by other petitioners are heard together in one go and fixed June 27 for the further hearing of the matter. --IANS pk/vd ( 623 Words) 2017-05-19-18:56:10 (IANS) "President Pranab Mukherjee is pleased to appoint Rajendra Pal Gautam and Kailash Gahlot to be Ministers of Delhi,with effects from the date they are sworn," it said. It also said that Mr Mukherjee had also approved Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's decision to remove Kapil Mishra as a Minister. Mr Kejriwal and his colleague Manish Sisodia had accused the Narendra Modi Government at the Centre of sitting over the file relating to appointment of two new ministers. Both the new Ministers represent Najafgarh and Seemapuri constituencies.UNI DS RSASNU 1845 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0177-900600.Xml The two assailants approached the cash van of Union Bank of India in Rohini's Sector-24 area around 2 p.m. One of them threw chilli powder in the bank staff's eyes and snatched the cash bag. "They also shot at one of the staff. Security guard Brijesh Singh fired two rounds at them but they fled," Deputy Commissioner of Police Rishi Pal said. The injured, Naveen, was admitted to a nearby hospital, Pal said. Police has constituted six teams to arrest the robbers and is scanning closed-circuit television footage from nearby shops. --IANS sp/tsb/dg ( 145 Words) 2017-05-19-21:38:10 (IANS) Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao has urged the police to come to the rescue of the helpless and help them like God, 'who helps those who cannot help themselves.' "People, who are rich and who have contacts can get things done, but it is the poor and meek, who need the help of police and personnel in uniform should bear this in mind while discharging the duties," Rao said. The Chief Minister has asked the police to stand by the oppressed, the poor and the victimised. The police should be complimented as they are not only maintaining the law and order, but also doing their social duties. The police, who have successfully eradicated playing cards and illicit liquor, should also focus on controlling the adulterated and fake items. The Chief Minister praised the police for controlling Naxalism and extremism and proving those feared that Naxalism and extremism would raise once the Telangana state is formed. Since the law and order situation in the State is good, investments are pouring in and the state has become a destiny for the investments, he said. "The Prime Minister and Union Home Minister on several occasions have hailed the Telangana Police, which made me happy and proud," Rao said. He said several measures were initiated for strengthening the police and more measures would be taken in future including appointment of 15,000 people. The Chief Minister made the inaugural address of the statewide police conference held here at HICC. Home Minister Nayani Narasimha Reddy, Chief Advisor Rajiv Sharma, Chief Secretary S.P. Singh, DGP Anurag Sharma, Hyderabad Commissioner Mahender Reddy, DGs Anjani Kumar, Krishna Prasad, Mission Bhagiratha Vice Chairman Vemula Prashanth Reddy and others participated. "During the 14 years of the Telangana movement, the police, though in uniform, have extended their support. The Telangana State, which we all got with lot of hard work, the police are also playing a key role and contributing to its development. The police setup is a key department and if it is good the rest also will be good. " "Even I could concentrate on other issues because the law and order situation is good or else my energies would have been concentrated on this. People created apprehensions that if the Telangana state is formed, there will be an increase in Maoist activities and law and order problems. But our police have busted the myth in a short time. This credit goes to the police. Each time when I am in Delhi both the Prime Minister and Home Minister praise the work done by our police; they have praised atleast a dozen times. The Telangana Police is also working for the national security. The youngest State of India has become the greatest police in India. This gives me happiness and I am proud of it," Rao said. "Though there are some changes made, still the police setup needs more changes and new methods. People should get rid of their fear of the police and they should treat police as their friend." "New type of crimes and offences are happening in the cities and towns. To control crime, Hyderabad City Police Commissioner Mahender Reddy and Cyberabad Commissioner CV Anand did an excellent job and became role model for others. I want Mahender Reddy to conduct training programmes for maintaining law and order in other Corporations and Cities. The police are effectively doing their job and the other jobs entrusted to them by the government. CV Anand is doing a wonderful job in Public Distribution System. By forming SHE teams, Swathi Lakra and by controlling illicit liquor Akun Sabharwal are doing a commendable job. Many police officers are doing their job with social commitment," the Chief Minister said. During his address, the Chief Minister cracked several jokes and lightened the atmosphere. "District level under SP there will be meetings in which DSPs, CIs and SIs take part and they call it crime meeting! Who will have the crime meeting, the police or the thieves?" Rao observed and wanted the nomenclature Crime should be removed from Crime stations, Crime Meetings, Crime review. "Political parties know how to use police but never complement them but the TRS hailed the services rendered by the police. During the GHMC polls we have asked people to vote for our party saying that we could control crime with the help of SHE teams and others. People gave 99 Corporators to us in the GHMC and such a thing never happened in the country," the Chief Minister said. (ANI) The Highway has been closed, following which the BRO officials said that the efforts to clear the boulders were on war footing and the path would be open by 12 p.m. tomorrow. District Magistrate Ashish Josh and the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) have reached the spot and are monitoring the situation. Meanwhile, the pilgrims are being facilitated at Joshimath, Karnaprayag, Pipalkoti, Govindghat and Badrinath. Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has instructed Secretary Amit Negi to constantly monitor the situation. He said that the situation would be brought under control and assured the passengers that the Chaar Dhaam yatra would go smoothly. (ANI) The Congress on Friday termed the funding of key separatist leaders by Pakistan-based terrorist groups "extremely serious" and blamed the government for doing little to restore normalcy in the Kashmir Valley. "It is an extremely serious issue and deserves the strongest action in the shortest possible time and in the most effective manner," Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi told reporters here. "This undermines national security directly and completely," he said. The National Incvestigation Agency (NIA) on Friday said it had registered a case of money laundering against separatist leaders like Hurriyat Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani and others on funding of stone-pelting and other violent protests in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistan-based groups. Slamming the central and state governments, Singhvi said that "for the last three years both central and state governments individually and in coalition have done nothing". Singhvi said that there has never been such a rapid, accelerated tragic decline in governance as was witnessed in the last 36 months. He accused the government of not having a consistent policy on Jammu and Kashmir. Singhvi targeted the Centre for what he said was selective and opportunistic witch-hunting of the opposition and said it was being done to hide its own failures. "The Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate have acted against 34 leaders, of which 30 are from opposition parties," he said. "In the Janaradan Reddy case, the ED didn't do anything. You (government) spared him even when he spent over Rs 500 crore on his daughter's marriage," the Congress leader alleged. Slamming the government for not acting in Madhya Pradesh's Vyapam scam, which was handed over to the CBI last year, Singhvi said: "You (Centre) handed over the Vyapam case to the CBI only after the Supreme Court order." "But in the last one and half years, what is the progress in the case?" he questioned, adding that it was India's biggest inter-state scam, in which a lot of money was involved and many connected with it had died one by one. --IANS aks/tsb ( 349 Words) 2017-05-19-23:22:10 (IANS) "I will not resign, I repeat, I will not resign." He also demanded "a full and very rapid investigation for the...Brazilian people," Xinhua quoted Temer as saying in an address to the nation. The situation of Brazilian President Michel Temer became delicate on Thursday following a newspaper report that he is accused of taking bribes and endorsing bribes to silence a witness in a corruption case. When the news broke on Wednesday evening, opponents started to call for Temer's resignation or impeachment, Xinhua reported. Local newspaper reported on Wednesday that a leading meatpacking company chairman had recorded his conversation with Temer and turned the recordings over to the Supreme Court. In the recordings, Temer reportedly endorsed the bribing of former Chamber of Deputies speaker Eduardo Cunha in exchange for Cunha's silence. "In the Supreme Court, I will show that I had no involvement with these events. I will not resign. I know what I have done and I know the correctness of my actions," the president stressed. On Thursday, the Supreme Court launched an investigation into Temer and he faced four separate impeachment requests in Congress. --IANS qd/ ( 215 Words) 2017-05-19-05:20:09 (IANS) U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday denied ever asking former FBI Director James Comey to back off his agency's investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign officials and Russia, as well as the role played by former national security adviser, Michael Flynn. According to CNN, President Trump emphatically said "No" when asked during a joint conference with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos in the White House's East Room. President Trump said that he did not ask Comey to back off the investigation of Flynn. "There is no collusion between my campaign and Russians, I think it divides the country, I think we have a very divided country because of that and many other things. So I can tell you that we want to bring this great country of ours together,"President said. Commenting on Comey's memo, Senator Charles Schumer said that if President Trump didn't try to shut down an investigation into a former adviser, he should rather prove it. Schumer said, "Providing the Congress the tapes and the memos may be the only way for this administration to credibly make a case to a justifiably skeptical American public about its version of the story...The President should prove that Comey was wrong." There were reports that President Trump tried to get Comey to end an investigation into former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, who was fired after he misled Vice President Pence and other White House officials over his conversations with Russia's Ambassador to the U.S. President Donald warned that the special counsel investigation into alleged links between his 2016 campaign and Russia's election hacking "hurts our country" after branding the probe the "single greatest witch hunt" in political history. The White House has denied the allegations. Schumer further said that the President could easily prove that the administration is telling the truth.(ANI) McCarthy, one of Trump's closet allies in Congress, made this assertion in a private conversation on Capitol Hill with his fellow GOP leaders. According to the Washington Post, McCarthy said that he thinks there two whom Putin pays - Rohrabacher and Trump. Both McCarthy and House Speaker Paul D. Ryan had emerged from separate talks at the Capitol with Ukrainian Prime Minister Vladimir Groysman, who had elaborated about the Kremlin tactic of financing populist politicians to undercut Eastern European democratic institutions. The conversation shows that the Republican leadership in the House was aware of the Russia's involvement in the 2016 election as the Russian government hackers had penetrated into the computer network of Democratic National Committee and Trump's relationship to President Putin.(ANI) Flynn has not agreed to comply with May 10 subpoena for documents about his interactions with Russian officials. Flynn "is not cooperating so far. I may have been premature but there may be a day or two left," The Hill quoted Burr as saying. Flynn, the former national security adviser, was fired in February for misleading Vice President Mike Pence about the contents of a December phone call with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. He has been under scrutiny for accepting payments from Russia and Turkey and allegedly misleading the government about them. On Wednesday, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein announced that he had appointed former FBI director Robert Mueller to be the special counsel in charge of the FBI's ongoing investigation into Russian election meddling and the ties between Russia and the Trump campaign officials.(ANI) The bodies were found next to a path connecting Salvador Escalante with the neighboring town of Ario de Rosales, Xinhua quoted the Michoacan prosecutor-general as saying. Photos published by local media show the seven bodies face down on the side of the road. The victims have not been identified by the police at this time but investigators believe they were local farmers. Michoacan has long been known as one of Mexico's more violent states with a number of violent criminal gangs fighting for control of local drug trade. --IANS qd/ ( 131 Words) 2017-05-19-07:00:15 (IANS) Hailing the verdict by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case, Baloch Diaspora France President Ali Akbar Mengal said the decision is a "victory for humanity." Describing the ICJ verdict as a major victory for India and also a victory for justice and human rights, Mengal said, "The Pakistani government, intelligence agencies and the Army have been carrying atrocities and acts of genocide against the Baloch people." Urging the United Nations and the the International community to understand the double game of Pakistan, Mengal said," Pakistan is a hub of terrorism as it is producing Islamic terrorism for the entire world. There exists thousands of training camps in Pakistan which are producing the next generation of terrorism." Mengal further demanded that Pakistan should be tried for genocide of the Baloch people in the International Court of Justice as well. Referring to Osama Bin Laden's compound in the Pakistan military academy, Mengal called upon the International community to take action against Pakistan which is promoting religious terrorism across the world and the terrorists who are operating under the patronage of Pakistan intelligence agencies. The International Court of Justice on Thursday stayed the execution of former Indian navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was sentenced to death by a Pakistan military court on charges of espionage and subversive activities. In its order indicating provisional measures, which was adopted unanimously, the Court also stated that the Pakistan Government shall inform it of all measures taken in implementation of that order. Citing a report by the Human Rights Watch, Mengal said that more than 20,000 Baloch people went missing. Baloch people and activists have been consistently protesting against the CPEC, alleging that Pakistan is only concerned about exploiting the resources of Balochistan for Beijing and its advantage. (ANI) Iranians will cast their votes on May 19 to elect their 12th President that will have huge impact on their country's international ties and foreign policy. President Hassan Rouhani and hardliner Ebrahim Raisi are the two main contenders that could determine the speed of economic and social reform. The country's powerful 12-member Guardian Council of the Constitution, which has the authority to interpret the Islamic Republic's fundamental law. The election is viewed as a referendum on the nuclear deal that Iran struck with world powers. Ebrahim Raeisi, custodian of Imam Reza (AS) holy shrine: He is a hardliner cleric and judge. He is allegedly involved in the 1988 mass execution of thousands of prisoners. He has the backing of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khomeini. He has pledged to support the poor with a monthly cash payment of $65. Other candidates in the fray are: Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, former minister of culture and Islamic guidance Mostafa Mirsalim and former minister of physical education Mostafa Hashemi Taba, as well as President Hassan Rouhani . Hassan Rouhani is a moderate and seeks re-election on the Iran nuclear deal and reviving the stalled economy. The Trump administration has signaled that it would continue the Iran nuclear deal made under the Barack Obama administration for the meantime as the U.S. is still forming a new comprehensive Iran policy. However, it will also impose some new sanctions against several Iranian individuals and four other organizations, including a China-based network that supplied missile-related items to a key Iranian defense entity, reports the Hill. "The U.S. and its partners will continue to apply pressure on Iran to protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms for everyone in Iran," said Stuart Jones, the acting assistant secretary of state for near eastern affairs, who will be traveling with President Donald Trump to the Middle East at the end of the week. After the 1979 Islamic Revolution which led to the fall of the Pahlavi regime, Iran has held one election each year on average, all of which have witnessed large turnout of the people. Over 56 million Iranians are eligible to vote in Iran's 12th presidential elections, according to Ali Asghar Ahmadi, head of the Election Headquarters of the Interior Ministry. (ANI) US President Donald Trump welcomed his Colombian counterpart, Juan Manuel Santos, to the White House, officials said. This was Trump's first meeting with the South American leader following his government's hard-won peace deal with the the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, (FARC), reports NBC News. Trump called the effort to end the 52-year conflict that left more than 220,000 dead and displaced more than five million a "long process" and a "great thing to watch". "That's not easy after so many years of war," Trump said during a joint press conference with Santos after their meeting at the Oval Office on Thursday, adding there's "nothing tougher than peace and we want to make peace all over the world". Trump also reaffirmed the US' "willingness to assist Colombia's strategy to target and eliminate drug trafficking networks, illicit financings, coca (plant used to make cocaine) cultivation and cocaine production," Efe news reported. Illicit cultivation of coca in Colombia grew by 18 per cent in 2016 to a record 188,000 hectares (about 470,000 acres) planted, from which an estimated 710 tonnes of cocaine could be produced, according to White House figures. Santos, in response, said that Colombia was working to reduce coca production and combat drug trafficking networks. The Colombian leader sought on his visit to the White House to emphasize the bilateral relations between the two nations and convince Trump that US support for Colombia during its post-conflict phase is in Washington's strategic interests. Just a few weeks ago, Congress approved the funds former President Barack Obama had requested for the new post-conflict phase of US assistance to Bogota, including about $450 million in both diplomatic and defense aid. Trump, however, has expressed his intention to cut the State Department budget by 26 per cent, which could result in a smaller US contribution to Colombia in the coming fiscal year. The meeting with the Colombian President comes just one day before Trump's first foreign trip, where he will travel to Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the Vatican before attending the G7 and NATO summit in Taormina and Brussels, respectively. --IANS ksk ( 358 Words) 2017-05-19-09:18:08 (IANS) Islamabad [Pakistan], May 19 (ANI)): The Pakistan Government is seeking support from lawmakers across party lines to shut down the loss-making Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) by declaring it 'bankrupt'. "Such a recommendation from a parliamentary committee will help the government take the difficult decision that it is otherwise hesitating to take," Dawn quoted Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Adviser on Aviation Sardar Mehtab Abbasi as saying to the Senate Special Committee on the Performance of PIA. Abbasi laid three options before the committee; either let the airline operate as it is, or declare it bankrupt and lay off its all staff or its complete restructuring. The committee had met on Thursday to discuss the status of its recommendations to overhaul PIA. The committee also took up the incidents that had occurred over the past month that had given a bad name to both the national flag carrier and the country during its meeting. Abbasi said that there had been lack of discipline and accountability in the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in the past. He added that the administration is taking measures to revive the national flag-carrier but claimed that it's a not an easy task. However, the committee is not in favour of shutting down PIA altogether. "We believe that a few good officers at the top could restore PIA's lost glory," said committee chairman Mushahidullah Khan, who belongs to the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Abbasi argued saying that the top quality people do not come to PIA anymore. He told the committee that the PIA should be run under business models, keeping in view the challenges facing the industry. Abbasi also noted that the airline cannot be run on recommendations that will limit its flexibility to adopt the best industrial practices. But Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Sherry Rehman cautioned him that rejecting the committee's recommendations would be tantamount to undermining parliament. PML-Functional Senator Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah said under the Constitution, the recommendations of the committee were binding upon the PIA and the Aviation Division to implement it. Shah said the 60-day time to raise objections over the recommendations has now expired, adding that any observations should have been conveyed to the committee two months ago when the recommendations were sent to the concerned ministry for feedback. Aviation Secretary Irfan Elahi told the committee that the British government had not officially shared details items seized from PIA flight PK785. "The Pakistani mission in London has been involved to request the British authorities to share their findings," he said. Pakistan's Anti-Narcotic Force (ANF) had detained eleven crew members of the Pakistan International Airline (PIA) at the Jinnah International Airport after they landed in Karachi from London on Thursday for questioning about a 'quantity of heroin' allegedly found in their flight. The ANF questioned the crew members briefly before they were allowed to exit the airport. The crew members of the PIA flight, who were stopped by UK authorities after discovery of heroin from the plane, returned to the country after three days. Citing sources, Dawn reported that an inquiry has been launched into the matter of the heroin found on the flight and CCTV footage from the flight is being looked to find clues as to how the heroin was brought on board. Civil aviation and security authorities in London have claimed that Border Force (BF) officers had found a "quantity of heroin" on board a PIA flight that landed at Heathrow Airport on Monday. They said National Crime Agency (NCA) officials were investigating the case after 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 the 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. (ANI) The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has blamed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) temporary stay of the execution of alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav and asked him to clear his position in parliament. Calling the ICJ stay on Jadhav's execution as 'unfavourable' outcome, the PTI has raised a series of questions, seeking sought an explanation from Sharif on the Indian response on the Jadhav issue. "PM Nawaz should appear before the house to explain why Pakistan did not appoint an ad hoc judge as it had a right to and why the Foreign Office did not take legal advice before initiating correspondence on the issue," The Express Tribune quoted PTI Central Information Secretary Shafqat Mehmood as saying. Mehmood asked why the government had selected a lawyer who did not have a single international law against his name and what was the reason to a Queen's Counsel (QC) based in Qatar? He further asked as to why the government had appoined the task to a lawyer who had never argued a case independently before the International Court of Justice and what compelled the government to send a first year associate from Attorney General's Office instead of AG himself to the ICJ. Seeking an explanation as to why the government did not submit a written defence before May 15, the PTI leader argued that apprehension regarding the ICJ decision had come true. Dr Shirin Mazari, another PTI leader and an expert on international relations, said that Pakistan should have gone to the ICJ fully prepared regretted the engagement of a Qatari lawyer with little knowhow was engaged. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) said that the case at the ICJ had been mishandled and demanded a meeting of the national security committee on the Jadhav issue. PPP Vice President Sherry Rehman said Pakistan had failed to plead its case and questioned as to why the counsel completed his arguments in 50 minutes against the allocated time of 90 minutes. She said Pakistan should have appointed an adhoc judge under relevant rules. These reactions came soon after the Pakistan's Foreign Office said that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has no jurisdiction over the county's national security matters, which in this instance was the execution of alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav. Foreign Office Spokesman Nafees Zakaria said the decision to challenge the ICJ's jurisdiction was taken after consultation with all government institutions and agencies. Zakaria said Pakistan's reply to the court was submitted in line with Article 36 of the Vienna Convention. He pointed out that there exists a bilateral pact on consular access between Pakistan and India since 2008 and added that article 6 of the pact solely relates to consular access being determined on the merit of the case. Zakaria said, "After India stood exposed on state-sponsored terrorism and financing terrorism, it tried to divert attention by presenting the Kulbushan Jadhav case with a humanitarian angle." The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the primary judicial organ of the United Nations, stayed the death sentence awarded to former Indian Naval officer and alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav by the Pakistan military court, citing that both - India and Pakistan - were bound by the Vienna Convention and that the rights invoked by New Delhi under the Vienna Convention were plausible. (ANI) General Musharraf's counsel Advocate Akhtar Shah told the anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi that his client is not interested in testifying through video link. Shah said that General Musharraf is willing to testify in person if he gets foolproof security from the defence ministry. The counsel informed that the General Musharraf is on the hit list of several banned terrorist outfits and faces serious threats to his life. The federal government has already declined General Musharraf's request for foolproof security to him. "An absconder cannot dictate his prerequisites to the court and give conditions, that too his own subjective satisfaction, as to when he will appear and for how long," the Dawn quoted the Pakistan Government as saying in a reply filed with the special court seized with the high treason case against the former military ruler. The ATC has summoned General Musharraf and other accused persons to record their statements. However, the court has decided to record the statements of the other accused separately. (ANI) Biden will be the convocation speaker for Cornell later this month, The Hill magazine reported on Thursday. Cornell Dairy, the university's on-site dairy brand, and the Cornell Convocation Committee are collaborating to come up with a Biden-inspired flavour ahead of the graduation ceremonies. Countless photographs and speeches document his love for the tasty frozen treat. "My name Joe Biden, and I love ice cream," the former Vice President said at the start of a speech in 2016 about the economy. He made the speech while visiting the headquarters for Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream in Columbus, Ohio. "You all think I'm kidding, I'm not, I eat more ice cream than three other people you'd like to be with, all at once," Biden said. Students voted on a final flavour name last week, which will be sent to Biden representatives for approval, the magazine reported. Out of the 150 submitted names, five top keepers included: Bits n' Biden; Biden's Chocolate Bites; Big Red, White and Biden; Uncle Joe's Chocolate Chip; and Not Your Average Joe's Chocolate Chip. However, the final name is yet to be revealed. --IANS ksk/mr ( 226 Words) 2017-05-19-13:24:11 (IANS) Pakistan's National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on Friday said that alleged Indian spy Kulbushan Jadhav's issue should not be politicised. "If the Army chief said that he provided the lawyer for the Jadhav case and then any criticism directed at him is baseless," Geo News quoted Sadiq, as saying. Opposition leader Khursheed Shah said the Attorney General should have been sent by the government to represent Pakistan's case in the International Court of Justice (ICJ). He called the ICJ's temporary stay of the execution of alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav a "setback" for the country and said the government's negligence was evident in the case. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has blamed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) temporary stay of the execution of alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav and asked him to clear his position in the parliament. Calling the ICJ stay on Jadhav's execution as an 'unfavourable' outcome, the PTI has raised a series of questions, seeking an explanation from Sharif on the Indian response on the Jadhav issue. "PM Nawaz should appear before the house to explain why Pakistan did not appoint an ad hoc judge as it had a right to and why the Foreign Office did not take legal advice before initiating correspondence on the issue," The Express Tribune quoted PTI Central Information Secretary Shafqat Mehmood, as saying. Mehmood asked why the government gave the task to a lawyer who had never argued a case independently before the ICJ and what compelled the government to send a first year associate from Attorney General's office instead of AG himself to the ICJ. Seeking an explanation as to why the government did not submit a written defence before May 15, the PTI leader argued that apprehension regarding the ICJ decision had come true. Dr. Shirin Mazari, another PTI leader. and an expert on international relations, said that Pakistan should have gone to the ICJ fully prepared. The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) said that the case at the ICJ had been mishandled and demanded a meeting of the national security committee on the Jadhav issue. PPP vice-president Sherry Rehman said Pakistan had failed to plead its case and questioned as to why the counsel completed his arguments in 50 minutes against the allocated time of 90 minutes. She said Pakistan should have appointed an ad hoc judge under relevant rules. These reactions came soon after the Pakistan's Foreign Office said that the ICJ has no jurisdiction over the county's national security matters, which in this instance was the execution of Jadhav. Foreign Office Spokesman Nafees Zakaria said the decision to challenge the ICJ's jurisdiction was taken after consultation with all government institutions and agencies. Zakaria said Pakistan's reply to the court was submitted in line with Article 36 of the Vienna Convention. He pointed out that there exists a bilateral pact on consular access between Pakistan and India since 2008 and added that Article 6 of the pact solely relates to consular access being determined on the merit of the case. Zakaria said, "After India stood exposed on state-sponsored terrorism and financing terrorism, it tried to divert attention by presenting the Kulbushan Jadhav case with a humanitarian angle." The ICJ, the primary judicial organ of the United Nations, stayed the death sentence awarded to Jadhav by the Pakistan military court, citing that both - India and Pakistan - were bound by the Vienna Convention and that the rights invoked by New Delhi under the Vienna Convention were plausible. (ANI) Ecuador's government asked the United Kingdom today to give WikiLeaks' Julian Assange safe passage in order to allow him asylum in the South American nation.Swedish prosecutors earlier in the day dropped their investigation into Assange over a rape allegation, but British police said he would still be arrested if he left the Ecuadorean embassy in London where he has been holed up for five years. REUTERS RJ 2112 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0098-900983.Xml According to sources, the Consulate General India (CGI) in Atlanta has been authorised by Atul Kumar Babubhai Patel's family to cremate the body there. Patel's last rites will be performed once the body is handed over to the Consulate after the post mortem. The CGI has been in regular touch with the family of the deceased as well as the local Gujarati Samaj over the incident. Patel reportedly died of high blood pressure and diabetes earlier on Tuesday. He was allegedly detained for not possessing necessary immigration documents while entering the country on May 10 on a flight from Ecuador. He was placed in the Atlanta City Detention Center for two days. The officials said the preliminary cause of his death is congestive heart failure. (ANI) Swedish prosecutors dropped an investigation of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange today over a rape allegation, but British police said he would still be arrested if he left the Ecuadorean embassy in London where he has been holed up for five years.Assange, 45, took refuge in the embassy in June 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden after two women made rape and sexual molestation allegations against him, which he denies.He feared Sweden would hand him over to the United States to face prosecution over WikiLeaks' publication of swathes of classified military and diplomatic documents in one of the largest information leaks in US history.Appearing on the balcony of the embassy after the Swedish announcement, Assange said he was ready to talk to Britain "about what is the best way forward" and with the U.S. Department of Justice, but also defended his right to stay put."The road is far from over. The war, the proper war is just commencing," he told supporters and media after raising a clenched fist in a gesture of victory.Police in London said they were still obliged to arrest Assange if he left the embassy for skipping bail. They said this was a much less serious offence than rape, but he could still face up to a year in jail if convicted.Assange is a cyber hero to some for exposing government abuses of power and championing free speech, but to others he is a criminal who has undermined the security of the West.The former computer hacker enraged Washington by publishing hundreds of thousands of secret US diplomatic cables that laid bare often highly critical US appraisals of world leaders from Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Saudi royal family.Earlier on Friday Swedish Chief Prosecutor Marianne Ny said the rape investigation could not proceed due to legal obstacles."We are not making a statement about his guilt," Ny said, adding that the investigation could be reopened if Assange came to Sweden before the statute of limitations deadline for the rape allegation in 2020.Assange always denied the rape allegations and said they were a ploy to get him whisked off to the United States.WANTED BY WASHINGTONIn January, Assange said he stood by an offer to go to the United States providing his rights were upheld and if former military intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning, who was responsible for a 2010 leak of classified materials to Assange's anti-secrecy group, was freed.Manning was released on Wednesday after spending seven years in a US military prison for passing the documents to WikiLeaks.British Prime Minister Theresa May said today it would be "an operational matter for the police" to decide whether to arrest Assange if he left the embassy.Asked if she would support Britain extraditing Assange to the United States, she said: "We look at extradition requests when we receive them on a case-by-case basis."While Assange may still not be able to leave the embassy in the upmarket Knightsbridge area of London, the prosecutor's decision to stop the investigation into allegations of rape brings to an end a seven-year stand-off with Sweden.The Ecuadorean government welcomed the decision and in a statement called on Britain to grant Assange safe passage to Ecuador. Foreign Minister Guillaume Long said Assange was welcome to stay in the embassy if this was not granted."As long as we fear that this is a case of political persecution ... as long as we fear for Mr Assange's integrity and human rights, we will continue with our policy of offering him asylum," Long said in a telephone interview.He said that recent statements by US President Donald Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions indicating that United States authorities would seek to arrest Assange were a sign that he still faces persecution outside Britain."HOSTILE INTELLIGENCE SERVICE"Last month CIA Director Mike Pompeo called WikiLeaks a "hostile intelligence service", and Sessions, responding to a question about Assange, said the Trump administration was stepping up its efforts against all leaks of sensitive information."Whenever a case can be made, we will seek to put some people in jail," Sessions said.During last year's U.S. presidential election campaign, WikiLeaks published emails from Hillary Clinton's staff and the Democratic National Committee which some believe helped to lose her the election to Trump. U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded the Russian government hacked the emails as part of an effort by Moscow to tilt the election in Trump's favour.The Assange case has raised questions about the Swedish justice system, with a United Nations panel saying Assange had been subject to "arbitrary detention".Prosecutors have been accused of vacillating, first dropping the preliminary investigation and then re-opening it and of dragging their heels over questioning Assange.Prosecutors first interviewed Assange in November last year in the Ecuadorean embassy. They were not allowed to question him directly but only through an Ecuadorean prosecutor.Assange's lawyer, Per Samuelson, hailed Sweden's decision to drop the investigation as "a total victory for us". REUTERS RJ 2233 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0098-901045.Xml North Korea's deputy UN envoy said today "it is ridiculous" to link Pyongyang with the WannaCry "ransomware" cyber attack that started to sweep around the globe a week ago and has infected more than 300,000 computers in 150 nationsWannaCry threatens to lock out victims who have not paid a sum of 300 dollars to 600 dollars within one week of infection. French researchers said today they had found a last-chance way for technicians to save Windows files encrypted by WannaCry."Relating to the cyber attack, linking to the DPRK, it is ridiculous," North Korea's Deputy U.N. Ambassador Kim In Ryong told a news conference. North Korea is also known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)."Whenever something strange happens, it is the stereotype way of the United States and the hostile forces that kick off noisy anti-DPRK campaign deliberately linking with DPRK," Kim said.Symantec and Kaspersky Lab said on Monday that some code in an earlier version of the WannaCry software had also appeared in programmes used by the Lazarus Group, which researchers from many companies have identified as a North Korea-run hacking operation. REUTERS RJ 2256 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0098-901056.Xml Almost 6 million people are in urgent need of food in the Horn of African nation, Xinhua quoted ICRC Dominik Stillhart, Global Director of Operations, as saying. "We are appealing to the international community to extend assistance in order to avoid deaths from lack of food," Stillhart said after visiting Somalia to access the humanitarian situation. Stillhart noted that the main driver of food insecurity is the ongoing protracted conflict as well as the systematic lack of respect of international law and especially in conflict affected areas. The humanitarian agency said that the real crisis is in the rural areas which have experienced two consecutive seasons of drought. ICRC said that due to the prevailing conflict in Somalia there are 150,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the town of Baidoa, which is double the amount last year. According to humanitarian agencies, up to 250,000 Somalis died due to the 2011 drought. "However, there is hope, the drought will end soon given the early signs from the current rainfall season," he added. He observed that even if the rains are good, there will be no immediate change as the resilience of the people needs to be built to overcome future shocks. Since January, ICRC has reached 1 million beneficiaries in Somalia. ICRC is also appealing for 450 million from international donors to combat drought situation in Yemen, Somalia, South Sudan and Nigeria. --IANS qd/ ( 268 Words) 2017-05-20-03:20:13 (IANS) RABAT, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Fathallah El Ouarrak, the Inspector General of Morocco's army held here on Thursday talks with United States Marine Corps General Thomas D. Waldhauser, Commander of the United States Africa Command. They two generals examined the various aspects of military cooperation between the two countries as well as the perspectives of its development, the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces (FAR) said in a statement. The military cooperation between Morocco and U.S. concerns particularly the areas of training, joint exercises, exchange of visits and expertise aimed at improving the interoperability of the two armies, the statement noted. The U.S. military command in Africa (U.S.-AFRICOM) is one of the U.S. Unified Combatant Commands under the U.S. Department of Defence. It is responsible for the U.S. military operations in and relations with 53 African countries. LAMU, Kenya, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan police on Thursday announced the arrest of at least 33 Al-Shabaab militants between December-March in the ongoing operation Linda Boni in the coastal town of Lamu. Deputy County Commissioner Michael Kioni said 20 militants were arrested along the Lamu-Malindi route while 13 were arrested between Garrisa-Lamu road by Kenya security agents. Kioni said the suspects were enroute from Somalia to carry out attacks targeting Lamu and parts of northeastern region when they were intercepted by security agents working on intelligence reports. "We managed to arrest the suspects and thwarted their plans to stage attacks in the country. Majority were Somali nationals and few Kenyans from various parts of the country," Kioni said in Lamu. Last year, 36 suspected Al-Shabaab militants were arrested in Operation Boni that was launched in September 2015. The operation targeted the Jeysh Ayman, a 300-member Al-Shabaab cell that operated in the forest. The vast Boni forest area, along the Kenya Somalia border extends into Somalia to become Lacta Belt that was infiltrated by Al-Shabaab operatives. Head of security operations in the Boni Forest, James ole Serian said the suspects were handed to agencies including the anti-terrorism police unit (ATPU) for profiling and possible prosecution. Serian said the operation has been successful but that the terror group based in Somalia remains a threat. It emerged in July 2015 that Al-Shabaab militants had set up permanent base in the vast forest and were living there with their families. The militants and their wives and children hunt game for food and use water from several rivers in the forest. Serian said Lamu will soon be declared a terrorist-free zone following the success of Operation Linda Boni. Kenya Defence Force Spokesman Colonel Joseph Owuoth said the militants have changed tactic and using improvised explosive devices (IED) to carry out attacks in parts of North Eastern. On Tuesday four people were killed when a civilian vehicle ran over a bomb in Dadaab's Garissa County, northeastern Kenya. Two men, a woman and a child died on the spot after the vehicle was ripped apart at Aligabay, 70 km from Liboi town. Two police officers were also injured in IED attack same area. Security agents suspect the renewed attacks are a reaction to the killing of Al-Shabaab leaders and may spread to other regions ahead of the start of the Ramadhan period this month. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 01:02:48|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JUBA, May 18 (Xinhua) -- South Sudanese president Salva Kiir said Thursday that ceasefire remains difficult to enforce due to constant violations by rebels following renewed clashes on Tuesday in the border town of Yei that left four soldiers dead. "Even if we were to declare a unilateral ceasefire which people are talking about that you declare ceasefire. You cannot declare a ceasefire for yourself. You declare ceasefire, so that two sides respect it all, and that the unilateral cease fire is not binding on the other side people must understand this," he said Juba. President Kiir directed the South Sudan army (SPLA) to be ready to defend their positions when faced with aggression from the rebels. "I make sure that I don't violate my ceasefire but I have the right to defend myself if I am attacked by anybody. You cannot raise up your hands and say we have ceasefire so please don't (rebels) attack us," he said. The president also defended the SPLA's track record in the face of mounting criticism of it's handling of the more than three year's counter-insurgency operations against rebels that have seen it being accused by international NGOs of mass civilian killings, rape, theft and plunder of public resources besides lacking national character. "In the last three years, we have seen how the forces of evil have tried to bring down our country. They are bent on trying to rewrite the history and drive the wedge among our people. They have even gone as far as portraying our SPLA as an ethnic army," he disclosed. The military is comprised of all South Sudanese from every ethnic group in the country, he observed. The South Sudanese leader urged citizens including the armed opposition to embrace nationalism and patriotism to preserve the gains of the more than two decades of war that won independence from northern neighbor Sudan in 2011. President Kiir also scoffed at critics that have dismissed the upcoming national dialogue as lacking inclusivity and credibility and vowed that on May 22, the general secretariat of the national dialogue will be sworn in to start off the process geared at unifying and pacifying the war-torn country. "We have been talking of national dialogue and this has been raising so many questions especially among those who pretend to be friends of South Sudan, when they are the enemies in disguise that want to destroy South Sudan," Kiir said. South Sudan descended into violence in December 2013 after political dispute between President Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar led to fighting that pitted mostly Dinka ethnic soldiers loyal to Kiir against Machar's Nuer ethnic group. The 2015 peace agreement to end the violence was again violated in July 2016 when the rival factions resumed fighting in the capital forcing the rebel leader Machar to flee into exile. The conflict has killed tens of thousands and displaced over 2 million from their homes, and forced more than 1.5 million to flee into neighbouring countries. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 01:07:53|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ISTANBUL, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that the state of emergency imposed in the aftermath of a failed coup last year will not be lifted until peace is restored in the country. "We cannot lift the state of emergency unless peace and welfare are restored," the president told business leaders in Istanbul, saying the step was taken to make all work in the country to be done in a much healthier way. Erdogan insisted that the state of emergency is not a hurdle to business. Turkey has been fighting the Kurdistan Workers' Party for three decades, as the group is seeking an autonomous region in the country's southeast, as well as the Islamic State emerging in neighboring Syria and Iraq. "At the moment the mountains are filled with ammunition," Erdogan said, adding Turkish security forces have been engaging in all kinds of struggle. Turkey has extended thrice the state of emergency declared in July last year after a military coup bid was foiled. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 01:23:02|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close WASHINGTON, May 18 (Xinhua) -- The Trump administration on Thursday formally notified U.S. Congress of its intent to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), triggering a 90-day consultation period before the renegotiation can start. "I am pleased to notify the Congress that the President intends to initiate negotiations with Canada and Mexico regarding modernization of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)," United States Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer said in a letter to congressional leaders. "We intend to initiate negotiations with Canada and Mexico as soon as possible, but no earlier than 90 days from the date of this notice," he said. Noting that the NAFTA was negotiated 25 years ago, Lighthizer said many chapters of the trilateral agreement are "outdated" and do not reflect modern standards. For example, "digital trade was in its infancy when NAFTA was enacted", he said. Lighthizer said the Trump administration aims to modernize the NAFTA by including new provisions to address intellectual property rights, regulatory practices, state-owned enterprises, services, labor, environment, and small and medium enterprises. "Moreover, establishing effective implementation and aggressive enforcement of the commitments made by our trading partners under our trade agreements is vital to the success of those agreements and should be improved in the context of NAFTA," he said. U.S. President Donald Trump has called NAFTA a "disaster" and blamed it for the hollowing out of the U.S. manufacturing sector. He has also threatened to quit NAFTA so as to ramp up pressure on Canada and Mexico to renegotiate the trade agreement. During phone calls with the leaders of Mexico and Canada last month, Trump said he agreed not to terminate the NAFTA "at this time" but would proceed swiftly to renegotiate it with the other two countries. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 01:38:11|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close DAMASCUS, May 18 (Xinhua) -- At least 53 people were killed when the Islamic State (IS) group attacked a village in the central province of Hama on Thursday morning, a monitor group reported. The IS militants attacked the village of Akareb near the Salamiyeh city in the countryside of Hama earlier on Thursday, prompting the Syrian forces to respond to the attack which was focused on the center of the village. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the death toll include civilians, children and Syrian forces. It said the attack is the most violent the IS has waged in two years against areas in the countryside of Salamiyeh. As many as 15 militants with the IS were killed during the offensive as well, the UK-based watchdog group added. It said the Syrian warplanes struck IS positions in central Syria, following the attack. Meanwhile, pro-government media reports said the IS launched their offensive from the town of Akairbat in Hama countryside, adding that the army and allied forces foiled the attack. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 01:38:14|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close DAMASCUS, May 18 (Xinhua) -- A U.S.-led airstrike targeted on Thursday a military convoy in southern Syria, at the triangle area of the Syrian-Jordanian-Iraqi borders, pro-government Sham FM radio reported. Further details about the airstrike are still forthcoming, but the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor group said that unknown warplanes struck military convoy of the Syrian forces and allied troops, which were advancing toward the Tanf area near the Iraqi borders. The Observatory stopped short of giving details about the losses, but said the Syrian army has been focusing on advancing in the desert area, near the Jordanian and Iraqi borders. Other reports said the U.S.-led anti-terror coalition struck the Syrian military convoy as it was advancing toward U.S.-backed rebel groups in that area. The Syrian army has yet to comment on the attack. Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers beef up security in Mandera, Kenya, July 8, 2015. The town's proximity to Somalia makes it an easy target for Al-Shabaab militants to carry out its attacks. (Xinhua/Stephen Ingati) LAMU, Kenya, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan police on Thursday announced the arrest of at least 33 Al-Shabaab militants between December-March in the ongoing operation Linda Boni in the coastal town of Lamu. Deputy County Commissioner Michael Kioni said 20 militants were arrested along the Lamu-Malindi route while 13 were arrested between Garrisa-Lamu road by Kenya security agents. Kioni said the suspects were enroute from Somalia to carry out attacks targeting Lamu and parts of northeastern region when they were intercepted by security agents working on intelligence reports. "We managed to arrest the suspects and thwarted their plans to stage attacks in the country. Majority were Somali nationals and few Kenyans from various parts of the country," Kioni said in Lamu. Kenyan security officers keep vigil around the Masjid Swafaa Mosque in Mombasa, the coastal city of Kenya, Nov. 21, 2014. Masjid Swafaa Mosque which is among the four mosques where firearms and explosive materials were seized by the Kenya police remained closed on Nov. 21 despite Friday prayers. (Xinhua/Mbuyu Cazeiya) Last year, 36 suspected Al-Shabaab militants were arrested in Operation Boni that was launched in September 2015. The operation targeted the Jeysh Ayman, a 300-member Al-Shabaab cell that operated in the forest. The vast Boni forest area, along the Kenya Somalia border extends into Somalia to become Lacta Belt that was infiltrated by Al-Shabaab operatives. Head of security operations in the Boni Forest, James ole Serian said the suspects were handed to agencies including the anti-terrorism police unit (ATPU) for profiling and possible prosecution. Serian said the operation has been successful but that the terror group based in Somalia remains a threat. It emerged in July 2015 that Al-Shabaab militants had set up permanent base in the vast forest and were living there with their families. The militants and their wives and children hunt game for food and use water from several rivers in the forest. Serian said Lamu will soon be declared a terrorist-free zone following the success of Operation Linda Boni. Kenya Defence Force Spokesman Colonel Joseph Owuoth said the militants have changed tactic and using improvised explosive devices (IED) to carry out attacks in parts of North Eastern. On Tuesday four people were killed when a civilian vehicle ran over a bomb in Dadaab's Garissa County, northeastern Kenya. Two men, a woman and a child died on the spot after the vehicle was ripped apart at Aligabay, 70 km from Liboi town. Two police officers were also injured in IED attack same area. Security agents suspect the renewed attacks are a reaction to the killing of Al-Shabaab leaders and may spread to other regions ahead of the start of the Ramadhan period this month. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 03:29:44|Editor: MJ Video Player Close BERLIN, May 18 (Xinhua) -- The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) released a study on Thursday that reveals the current scale of the obesity crisis within the OECD member countries. In Germany, the obesity rate is ranked among the top ten worst and stands at 23.6 percent, behind Britain (26.9 percent) and higher than Russia (19.6 percent). America is the worst hit with the obese population at a startling 38.2 percent. The study found that over half of the population of the OECD member countries is either overweight or obese, and the epidemic is currently affecting one in six children. In Germany, as well as across the world, rising obesity among the youth is causing high blood pressure issues for children and young adults. The Bild reported on Wednesday that some experts estimate as much as five percent of children in Germany have blood pressure problems. Elke Wuehl, a senior physician at the centre for Paediatrics and Youth Medicine at the Heidelberg University Hospital, told the Bild, "Every fourth child who suffers from obesity also has blood pressure issues." Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 03:54:58|Editor: MJ Video Player Close Brazilian President Michel Temer issues a statement at Planalto Palace in Brasilia, capital of Brazil, on May 18, 2017. Brazilian President Michel Temer refused to resign on Thursday despite being implicated in corruption allegations. (Xinhua/AGENCIA ESTADO) BRASILIA, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian President Michel Temer refused to resign on Thursday despite being implicated in corruption allegations. In an address to the nation on Thursday afternoon, Temer said, "I will not resign, I repeat, I will not resign." He also demanded "a full and very rapid investigation for the...Brazilian people." Local newspaper reported on Wednesday that a leading meatpacking company chairman had recorded his conversation with Temer and turned the recordings over to the Supreme Court. In the recordings, Temer reportedly endorsed the bribing of former Chamber of Deputies speaker Eduardo Cunha in exchange for Cunha's silence. "In the Supreme Court, I will show that I had no involvement with these events. I will not resign. I know what I have done and I know the correctness of my actions," the president stressed. Despite these revelations, Temer stated on Thursday that he did not know the contents of the recording, and added that he had officially asked the Supreme Court for access to these documents. He concluded by demanding a full and rapid investigation by the Supreme Court. On Thursday, Edson Fachin, the Supreme Court Justice in charge of the Petrobras corruption investigation, ordered a probe into Temer. Despite this defiant stance, the impact of this political crisis on Brazil was felt immediately. The Brazilian stock market tumbled by 10 percent overall, and stocks fell sharply for the country's leading companies, such as Petrobras and Banco do Brasil. After the news broke on Wednesday evening, opponents immediately called for Temer's resignation or impeachment. Meanwhile, thousands of Brazilians turned out in Sao Paulo to demand the president's resignation, shouting "Fora Temer" (Temer Out). By Thursday afternoon, four different impeachment cases had been filed, three in the Chamber of Deputies and one in the Senate. Photo taken on May 18, 2017 shows the site where a speeding vehicle struck pedestrians at Times Square in New York City, the United States. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) NEW YORK, May 18 (Xinhua) -- The man who drove a car into a crowd in Times Square on Thursday was in custody, in which one was killed and 22 others injured, New York's mayor said. Mayor Bill de Blasio told a news conference here that based on the information they had, "there is no indication that this was an act of terrorism." New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (C) addresses a news conference at the scene of the car crash at Times Square in New York City, the United States, on May 18, 2017. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) The driver, 26-year-old Richard Rojas from the Bronx, served in the U.S. Navy and has a criminal record, the mayor said, adding that cause of the incident is under investigation. "The car was driving at 80 or 85 m/h against traffic, and it came here, I said 'stop! stop! stop!'but it didn't," Abdul Hamid, owner of a food cart at the corner of Broadway and W45W street, told Xinhua. The red Honda car crashed into a pole and came to rest at W45th Street and Broadway.Officials said Rojas made a U-turn onto a sidewalk in Times Square. He drove on the sidewalk for there blacks, striking an 18-year-old woman who died of injuries. The 22 injured are receiving treatment in nearby hospitals. Consulate General of China in New York said in a statement that its officials had asked hospital authorities to provide injured pedestrians' information, adding that so far no Chinese nationals had been reportedly injured in the car incident. According to police, the car driver is in custody, it is believed to be an isolated incident. Times Square is a major commercial intersection, tourist destination in New York City. Hundreds of thousands of people, many of them tourists from around the world, pass daily through the commercial area, the heart of the Broadway theater district. Police closed off the area after the incident. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 04:50:40|Editor: MJ Video Player Close by Hassan Rouhvand TEHRAN, May 18 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian presidential hopeful, Mostafa Agha-Mirsalim, on Thursday denied that he has withdrawn from the race to back conservative nominee Ebrahim Raisi, semi-official ISNA news agency reported. "I have not quit the race and I deny all the reports about my withdrawal," Agha-Mirsalim said in a message released by ISNA. "I ask all my friends and companions not to heed the rumors about my withdrawal and to attend the polls with certainty," he said. Earlier, the state IRIB TV carried a statement by the Islamic Coalition Party (ICP) which said that Agha-Mirsalim stopped his race for presidency and ICP will support Raisi's bid. However, Agha-Mirsalim said later that he is still the candidate of the ICP for the Friday election. Also, the Iranian Interior Ministry on Thursday officially announced the names of incumbent President Hassan Rouhani, Ebrahim Raisi, Mostafa Agha-Mirsalim and Mostafa Hashemi Taba as the four hopefuls for the Friday presidential election. On April 21, out of 1,636 registered candidates, six qualified to compete for the four-year presidential term, including three principalists, better known as conservatives, as well as two centrists and one reformist. On Tuesday, Iran's reformist Vice President, Eshaq Jahangiri, announced his withdrawal from the race in order to back incumbent President Hassan Rouhani, urging all his supporters to vote for Rouhani. Tehran's Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, a conservative candidate, said in a statement on Monday he withdrew from the presidential race to back Raisi. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 05:00:44|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WINDHOEK, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Rice production at the Kalimbeza Green Scheme, a national flagship project in Namibia's Zambezi Region is progressing well. The scheme is projected to yield above 120 tonnes of rice, said project manager, Patrick Kompeli on Thursday. "I am confident that we will have a rice yield of more than 120 tonnes, an increase from previous year's harvest," he said. Production of short varieties of rice, namely: Sahel, Angola and Irga rice was also done in September 2016, planted on 70 hectares for commercial purposes. According to Petrus Uugwanga, Managing Director of the Agricultural Business Development Agency, increased rice yields were achieved through research and other interventions. These include the assistance to Namibia's irrigation projects by Chinese experts who completed a two-year program imparting farming skills at the Kalimbeza Rice Project. The experts were deployed as part of an agreement on South to South Cooperation (SSC) signed in June 2014 between China, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and Namibia. Meanwhile, following its full commercialization of Kalimbeza rice since 2015, the local production of rice has also been an import substitution to a great extent. "This means that the 200 metric tonnes of rice that was supposed to be imported from somewhere else have been produced locally for the country," said Uugwanga. In the interim, plans are underway to increase production of rice in the country. "It now time to upscale the production of rice at Kalimbeza. We need more land that we can develop as soon as possible," Uugwanga said. The project is also underway in negotiations with government to supply rice to the various institutions. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 06:16:17|Editor: MJ Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras addresses parliament shortly before the vote for an austerity bill in Athens May 18, 2017. Greek parliament on Thursday approved an austerity bill for new pension cuts and tax hikes through 2020, ahead of Monday's Eurogroup meeting in Brussels to continue vital loan payouts and start talks on debt relief. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) ATHENS, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Greek parliament on Thursday approved an austerity bill for new pension cuts and tax hikes through 2020, ahead of Monday's Eurogroup meeting in Brussels to continue vital loan payouts and start talks on debt relief. The legislation, which has sparked fierce reactions by opposition parties and trade unions, passed with the 153 votes in favor of all MPs of the two-partite ruling coalition, while 128 lawmakers voted against. A total of 281 legislators participated in the roll call vote held Thursday night and 19 were absent. The bill introduces a fresh round of austerity measures proposed by the Greek government in a bid to close the pending bailout review and secure further aid by international lenders. During a speech before the plenary shortly before the vote, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said that Greece will exit the memorandum programs in 2018. "The review closes and after seven years we head towards a comprehensive agreement, to lead Greece out of the memorandum programs. We have finally reached a positive agenda both for the country and the society," said Tsipras. The vote in parliament followed a long string of protests organized by umbrella trade unions of public and private sector employees, and other professionals outside the parliament building in Athens and major cities nationwide. The demonstration ended in riots between hooded youth and anti-riot police on Syntagma square in front of the parliament building. A person who had an ax and a hammer in his possession was arrested. No severe injuries were reported. The Left-led government defends the new package of tax hikes, pension cuts and reforms as a necessary step to ensure more help by creditors and start talks on debt relief to move forward, exit the crisis and restore growth. Cabinet ministers have underlined that by 2021, the new austerity wave of 4.9 billion euros (5.4 billion U.S. dollars) total worth will be counterbalanced by parallel relief measures. Addressing the parliament on Thursday evening, main opposition New Democracy party leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis accused the government of transforming the country into a colony of austerity with no end. "Greece is living a nightmare which is the result of Mr. Tsipras' and Mr. Kammenos' (Defense minister and the leader of Independer Greeks) decisions. Greece would have been a normal Eurozone country today, if its path had not been interrupted," said Mitsotakis. On his part, Tsipras responded to Mitsotakis by saying that Mitsotakis supported the views of "the most extreme circles" during the negotiations between the government and Greece's lenders. In the upcoming meeting of Eurozone finance ministers, Athens expects that the second review of Greece's third bailout in seven years will close and the path to debt relief will open. The ratification of the bill also opened the road for Greece to participate in the European Central Bank's (ECB) quantitative easing program this summer and tap the capital markets for first time since 2014, Greek banking sources said. BERLIN, May 18 (Xinhua) -- German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere on Thursday said he is shocked receiving allegations that Berlin state government had tried to cover up their misconducts after the terror attack on Berlin's Christmas market last year. De Maiziere said the allegation "unheard of" and expected everyone involved "thorough and transparent explanation", Deutsche Welle cited his words as reporting. Berlin State Interior Minister, Andreas Geisel, disclosed earlier that Berlin office of criminal investigation (LKA) could have prevent the terror act on Berlin's Christmas market, which killed 12 people and injured over 50. Geisel said LKA had sufficient evidence to arrest the attacker, Anis Amri, on drug charges weeks before he drove his truck into the crowds. After committing the terrible massacre, Amri fled to Italy and there he died in a shootout with the local police. LKA had tapped Amri's phone through June 2016, so they had the chance to catch him, Geisel noted. These details were, however, not disclosed to public before and there were reasons to suspect an extensive cover-up relating to Amri, Geisel said. De Maiziere on Thursday said he have "all respect for the decision to make the matter public." Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 06:21:25|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, May 18 (Xinhua) -- The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned on Thursday that there has been a sharp increase in the number of people fleeing western Mosul in northern Iraq as a result of intensified fighting. "As military operations intensify and move closer to Mosul's old city area, we expect that up to 200,000 more people will flee," said Lise Grande, the Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq. UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told a daily briefing here that the number of people fleeing homes in western Mosul are overwhelming, and large number of families are on the move, leaving everything behind. On Thursday, Iraqi government forces freed another neighborhood in the city after heavy clashes with the Islamic State (IS) militants. The troops are now pushing to seize the remaining neighborhoods in north and northwest of the city to tighten the noose around the IS redoubt where roughly 400,000 residents are believed to be trapped under IS rule. Mosul, 400 km north of Iraq's capital Baghdad, has been under IS control since June 2014. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 06:36:30|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ROME, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Twenty million people in four African countries are on the brink of famine, senior staffers at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) said Thursday in Rome. People in northeastern Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen face an "unprecedented" humanitarian crisis due to a combination of drought and armed conflict with fundamentalist insurgencies, such as the Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab groups. "It's the biggest crisis any of us have ever seen," Denise Brown, Director of Emergencies at the WFP told reporters at a news conference. She described the situation as millions of people "standing on the edge of a cliff, and the number keeps increasing." Conflict and adverse climate are causing animals to die and fields to go untilled in a part of the world in which 80 percent of the population relies on farming and fishing to survive, according to FAO Director of Emergency and Rehabilitation Division Dominique Burgeon. If action is not taken, the world will witness a repeat of the 2010-2011 famine in Somalia, in which 250,000 people died because the international community did not act soon enough, the senior staffers said. Famine is defined as occurring when 20 percent of the population is starving, 30 percent of the children are extremely malnourished, and the mortality rate has reached double its average, explained WFP chief economist Arif Husein. He added that this many malnourished children means an entire generation will be permanently damaged. Bourgeon said that the people who fled the Somalia 2010-2011 famine are still in refugee camps. "It's extremely difficult for them to go back," he said. "So the best way to avoid (migration) is to help them stay where they are." This means not only emergency aid but also long-term policies such as providing crop seeds, irrigation systems, fisheries, equipment, and veterinary care for livestock. "We must not just keep people from the edge of the cliff -- we must pull them away from the cliff," he said. The WFP assists 80 million people in 80 countries each year. Its executive board consists of 36 member states, and its principal donors are governments. In 2016, it raised over 5.9 billion dollars. The FAO is a UN agency dedicated to eradicating hunger and promoting sustainable use of natural resources. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 07:01:37|Editor: MJ Video Player Close WASHINGTON, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Some Republicans in U.S. Congress are beginning to distance themselves from President Donald Trump amid allegations that he shared intel with Russia, sparking speculation that more Republican lawmakers may follow. The Washington Post on Monday sparked a firestorm when it revealed that Trump shared sensitive intel with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during a White House meeting last week. This is the latest in a string of allegations that the Trump administration is in bed with Russia - which the president vehemently denies. U.S. conservative media has noted that U.S. presidents have broad legal authority to classify or declassify any intel they want to. Some pundits also note that the Post story failed to disclose just how senior its sources are and whether the sources really have a grasp on what a president is permitted and not permitted to do. The Post story also has been accused of editorializing instead of simply reporting facts. Observers also note that the White House routinely shared intel with other countries. But there's more to the scandal. At the same time, Trump is under scrutiny for allegedly asking James Comey, former FBI director just fired by Trump, to halt an investigation into the relations between former Trump's national security adviser Mike Flynn and Russia. Critics said Trump fired Comey as an effort to prevent embarrassing information from getting out. Trump has also strongly denied the accusations. But whatever the truth, the media frenzy may be pushing Republican lawmakers away from Trump in the lead-up to the 2018 mid-term elections. Indeed, some Republican lawmakers want to look into the matter more closely. Republican Representative Jason Chaffetz, chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, recently penned a letter to acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe, requesting access to Comey's notes when Trump allegedly asked him to pull the plug on the inquiry over Flynn. House Speaker Paul Ryan agreed with the request, according to a statement from his spokesperson, Ashlee Strong. "At this point, the Republican Congress is trying to find a way to get to the bottom of the allegations about the ties between members of the Trump Administration and Russia," Dan Mahaffee, senior vice president and director of policy at the Center for the Study of Congress and the Presidency, told Xinhua. Republican lawmakers also want to "distance themselves from a scandal that is threatening to overwhelm this Presidency," Mahaffee said. He said the firing of Comey opened the floodgates surrounding this scandal, and many Republican leaders have to be now thinking about the broader damage to the party in 2018 and beyond, referring to the mid-term elections next year. "Unless they are able to completely change the course of this crisis - perhaps by setting up an independent investigation and getting everything out in the open - the Trump policy agenda, and many key GOP goals, are on life support," Mahaffee said. Darrell West, vice president and director of governance studies of the Brookings Institution, told Xinhua the controversy is "a major setback for Trump's policy agenda." Indeed, Trump was elected in large part as an agent that could rejuvenate an economy that has still not fully recovered from the 2007-2008 economic disaster. Now experts said the dust-up could distract him from his policy agenda. "Instead of discussing tax reform and healthcare repeal, leaders are focused on the Russia investigation and whether Trump obstructed justice in this case," West said. The whole situation has taken the president and congressional leaders off-message and forced them to explain what the ties were between Trump's staff and Russia, he said. Republicans have criticized Trump for his actions on Comey, but have not been very forceful at pushing an investigation. They are worried about Trump's declining poll numbers, but most Republican legislators have been pretty muted in their comments. "They are waiting to see what gets uncovered and how much trouble the president is in," West added. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 07:32:41|Editor: MJ An Estonian soldier participates in the annual Spring Storm military exercise in Maidla, northeastern Estonia, on May 18, 2017. Some 9,000 military personnel of the Estonian defense forces as well as allied forces join the exercise from May 8 to May 25. (Xinhua/Sergei Stepanov) U.S. President Donald Trump waits to welcome Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, on May 16, 2017. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) By Matthew Rusling WASHINGTON, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Some Republicans in U.S. Congress are beginning to distance themselves from President Donald Trump amid allegations that he shared intel with Russia, sparking speculation that more Republican lawmakers may follow. The Washington Post on Monday sparked a firestorm when it revealed that Trump shared sensitive intel with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during a White House meeting last week. This is the latest in a string of allegations that the Trump administration is in bed with Russia - which the president vehemently denies. U.S. conservative media has noted that U.S. presidents have broad legal authority to classify or declassify any intel they want to. Some pundits also note that the Post story failed to disclose just how senior its sources are and whether the sources really have a grasp on what a president is permitted and not permitted to do. The Post story also has been accused of editorializing instead of simply reporting facts. Observers also note that the White House routinely shared intel with other countries. But there's more to the scandal. At the same time, Trump is under scrutiny for allegedly asking James Comey, former FBI director just fired by Trump, to halt an investigation into the relations between former Trump's national security adviser Mike Flynn and Russia. Critics said Trump fired Comey as an effort to prevent embarrassing information from getting out. Trump has also strongly denied the accusations. But whatever the truth, the media frenzy may be pushing Republican lawmakers away from Trump in the lead-up to the 2018 mid-term elections. Indeed, some Republican lawmakers want to look into the matter more closely. Republican Representative Jason Chaffetz, chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, recently penned a letter to acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe, requesting access to Comey's notes when Trump allegedly asked him to pull the plug on the inquiry over Flynn. House Speaker Paul Ryan agreed with the request, according to a statement from his spokesperson, Ashlee Strong. "At this point, the Republican Congress is trying to find a way to get to the bottom of the allegations about the ties between members of the Trump Administration and Russia," Dan Mahaffee, senior vice president and director of policy at the Center for the Study of Congress and the Presidency, told Xinhua. Republican lawmakers also want to "distance themselves from a scandal that is threatening to overwhelm this Presidency," Mahaffee said. He said the firing of Comey opened the floodgates surrounding this scandal, and many Republican leaders have to be now thinking about the broader damage to the party in 2018 and beyond, referring to the mid-term elections next year. "Unless they are able to completely change the course of this crisis - perhaps by setting up an independent investigation and getting everything out in the open - the Trump policy agenda, and many key GOP goals, are on life support," Mahaffee said. Darrell West, vice president and director of governance studies of the Brookings Institution, told Xinhua the controversy is "a major setback for Trump's policy agenda." Indeed, Trump was elected in large part as an agent that could rejuvenate an economy that has still not fully recovered from the 2007-2008 economic disaster. Now experts said the dust-up could distract him from his policy agenda. "Instead of discussing tax reform and healthcare repeal, leaders are focused on the Russia investigation and whether Trump obstructed justice in this case," West said. The whole situation has taken the president and congressional leaders off-message and forced them to explain what the ties were between Trump's staff and Russia, he said. Republicans have criticized Trump for his actions on Comey, but have not been very forceful at pushing an investigation. They are worried about Trump's declining poll numbers, but most Republican legislators have been pretty muted in their comments. "They are waiting to see what gets uncovered and how much trouble the president is in," West added. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 08:57:13|Editor: Hou Qiang Video Player Close TAIPEI, May 19 (Xinhua) -- At least four were killed and 50 were hospitalized after a nursing home caught fire in Taiwan early Friday, local media reported. About 150 people were at the nursing center when the fire broke out, some 50 have been sent to the hospital, with 24 suffering from smoke inhalation, according to local police. Preliminary investigation showed the fire broke out on the second floor of the Nanmen Nursing Home at about 5 a.m. in Hengchun Township, southern Taiwan's Pingtung County. Firefighters had put off the fire soon after arrival. The Nanmen nursing home was established in 2004, offering health care services to the senior and patients that require home care. Further investigation continues. SYDNEY, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Trams operating on Melbourne's iconic network are among the slowest in the world, a survey has found. The analysis, released by Victoria's roads and traffic authority VicRoads on Friday, revealed that Melbourne trams spend more time stuck at red lights than trams in any other city in the world. Melbourne trams spend 17 percent of journeys stuck at red lights compared to the international average of between 2 percent and 5 percent. The city has the largest tram network in the world with 250 kilometers of double track and more than 1,700 stops. Approximately 203 million people boarded trams in Melbourne in Financial Year 2016. Despite the large reliance on the network by commuters, trams in Melbourne travel at an average speed of 16 kilometers per hour (kmph) across the network and just 11kmph in the Central Business District (CBD). The slow speed of the vehicles is contributing to traffic chaos with VicRoads preparing to trial a device that will allow trams approaching traffic lights to catch a green light in an attempt to reduce congestion. Simon Murphy, a spokesman for Yarra Trams, said that the network played a crucial role in keeping Melbourne moving. "Trams share the city's roads and traffic congestion is the leading factor affecting tram performance," Murphy told News Limited on Friday. "Which is why we continue to work closely with our on-road partners including VicRoads to find ways to make journey times more reliable." Melbourne has 170 kilometers of traffic lanes that are shared by trams and cars, 100 kilometers more than any other city in the world. Daniel Bowen, spokesman for the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA), said there was potential for improvement across the network. "If frequency, punctuality and reliability can be boosted, so people know the service is a dependable, viable option, more Melburnians will get out of their cars," Bowen said. NEW DELHI, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Two people were killed and 30 others went missing after a footbridge they were standing on collapsed in western Indian state of Goa, officials said Friday. The footbridge collapsed over Sanvordem river at Curchorem village in South Goa district on Thursday evening. Two bodies have been fished out and search for missing was going on. "Last evening a footbridge caved in here during which a crowd of around 50 fell into the river," a senior police official said. "We have fished out two bodies late in the night and search for missing is going on." According to police some people managed to swim towards river bank at their own, while others were rescued. Locals said the footbridge was in dilapidated condition and had been closed for traffic for the past four years. State-run broadcaster All India Radio (AIR) Friday said some of the missing are feared to be dead. AIR said 14 people rescued from river were admitted at nearby hospitals. According to eyewitnesses, the crowd had gathered on the bridge to watch fire and emergency services personnel rescuing a youth who had jumped into the river in a suicide bid. The rescue operation was going on until late night. "We fear some people might be trapped in the debris of the bridge and today we are going to carry out search in the river," the police official said. India navy was called in for rescue operations. Officials said navy divers with Geminis boats were carrying out searches. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 12:38:34|Editor: MJ Video Player Close by Xia Lin, Chen Weihua BRASILIA, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian President Michel Temer said on Thursday he wouldn't resign, denying that he authorized paying hush money to a jailed politician to buy his silence. The Supreme Court has started to probe the allegations, triggering the latest ripples in Brazil's long-hauling anti-corruption campaign. The unprecedented fight is widely deemed as a difficult test of the country's political, economic and ethical wisdom before it would be able to embrace a new cycle of prosperity. Eight days ago, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva became the highest-profile defendant in the sprawling graft probe known as "Operation Car Wash," when he received a five-hour interrogation at the Federal Court in the southern city of Curitiba. He refuted all the five charges. Defense arguments in his trial are scheduled to close on June 20. His lawyers plan to lodge a new complaint with the United Nations' Committee on Human Rights of "politically motivated judicial persecution." Operation Car Wash has been greatly expanded since it began three years ago and now implicates several state-run companies. Nearly 100 prominent business people and politicians have been convicted, while scores of sitting federal congressmen as well as one-third of Temer's cabinet are being probed. Many political groups are involved and almost all the trades get tainted in the corruption cases, said Evandro Carvalho, international law professor at the independent think tank Fundacao Getulio Vargas. "Graft is always there, but ever more rampant in recent years in Brazil," said Carvalho. Meanwhile, the Internet helps spread the information faster, enabling the people to gain overall understanding of such crimes among high-level officials and tycoons, he added. Demonstrations have been more frequent, not only to protest corruption, but also demand jobs and bread in the current economic difficulties, said Carvalho. "When the world economy runs well and social capital keeps flowing, grafts like embezzlement, bribery and money laundry tend to be neglected. However, when domestic or global (economic) crisis occurs, loss of state assets draws special attention, corruption is put in limelight, and capital legitimacy is widely doubted," said Carvalho. Another familiar face among the downfalls is the former president of Brazil's Chamber of Deputies Eduardo Cunha, who was sentenced to 15 years and 4 months in prison in March 2017 for "corruption, money laundering and tax evasion." Cunha, 58, served as the House chief from February 2015 until July 2016. He reportedly played a key role in the impeachment in May 2016 of former President Dilma Rousseff, who belongs to the leftist Workers' Party together with Lula. "Brazil's anti-graft campaign has two sides of a coin. It has endangered the national harmony in economy and society, which all of us have realized," Carvalho told Xinhua. On the other side, he said, the society needs to be prepared for the fact that corruption can't be ironed out at one punch. "What we have to do is to promote our awareness against corruption and try our best to minimize it. Corruption is a global tumor, with no country exempt. What should be studied is how a country or society can become firm and powerful enough to beat it," he added. As a positive sign, construction company Odebrecht lately said publicly that it had fired those involved in past bribery and started offering anti-corruption courses to its staffers. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 12:48:38|Editor: MJ Video Player Close WASHINGTON, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Domestic political pressure has mounted on U.S. President Donald Trump after former FBI director Robert Mueller's appointment as the special counsel to oversee a federal probe into his election campaign's relations with Russia. On Thursday, Trump said the Justice Department appointment a day before was part of a "witch hunt" that "divides the country." "I respect the move but the entire thing has been a witch hunt and there is no collusion between certainly myself and my campaign, but I can only speak for myself -- and the Russians. Zero," Trump said at a joint press conference with his Colombian counterpart Juan Manuel Santos in the White House. The U.S. president tweeted Thursday morning branding the probe into an alleged Russian collusion with his campaign the "single greatest witch hunt" in political history. "I believe it hurts our country terribly, because it shows we're a divided, mixed-up, not-unified country," Trump said later at a luncheon with a group of television news anchors. However, Mueller's appointment has received wide bipartisan welcome across Congress. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said in a statement on Wednesday that the appointment "is necessary in order for the American people to have full confidence in the outcome" of the probe. "My decision is not a finding that crimes have been committed or that any prosecution is warranted," said Rosenstein, who had been overseeing the Russia probe following the recusal of Attorney General Jeff Sessions due to his failure to disclose a meeting with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. Mueller, who served as FBI director between September 2001 and September 2013, will have the authority to investigate whether the Russian government colluded with individuals associated with Trump's campaign and to prosecute federal crimes uncovered in the probe. Democratic lawmakers have been clamoring for Rosenstein to appoint a special prosecutor in the wake of Tuesday's reports that James Comey, who was fired last week as director of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), penned a memo documenting a request from Trump that he "let go" of the investigation into former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn. During the White House press conference on Thursday, when asked whether he required Comey to shut down the probe into Flynn, Trump answered: "No. No. Next question." In addition, Trump dismissed suggestions of criminal charges or impeachment, saying "I think it's totally ridiculous." Though the Mueller appointment has obviously raised the legal and political stakes for Trump, it is widely thought that Trump is unlikely to be impeached over the current political turmoil. "Unlike in the Watergate case, there is no evidence that the president ordered witnesses to lie, destroyed evidence or tried to block FBI agents from doing their job," said John Yoo, a law professor at the University of California, Berkeley. Earlier, a Washington Post report on Monday said some Republican lawmakers are distancing themselves from Trump amid allegations that he shared sensitive intelligence with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during a White House meeting last week. The accusation has met with vehement rejection by Trump, as well as by Lavrov. On Thursday, during a working visit to Cyprus, Lavrov said what Trump actually told him was that Islamic State (IS) terrorists were capable of staffing untraceable explosives in laptops. "As far as I can recall, maybe one month or two months before, the Trump administration had an official ban on laptops on airlines from seven Middle Eastern countries ... So if you are talking about that, I see no secret here," Lavrov told reporters in Nicosia during a joint news conference. Lavrov's comments on the issue were the first since his meeting with Trump and after allegations were made by U.S. officials on May 15 that Trump had divulged secrets to Lavrov about planned IS operations. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 13:08:47|Editor: MJ Video Player Close BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Unconventionality has featured Donald Trump's presidency more than anything else. Ahead of his visit to the Middle East rather than to neighboring Canada or Mexico as his predecessors did on the first overseas trip, Trump has so far got bogged down in a barrage of Russia-related political crises. The following lists three major high-profile events in this regard, which have triggered bitter backfire from both parties in the United States that some analysts say may lead to impeachment. FLYNN'S FALLDOWN Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn has kept hitting the headlines ever since Trump assumed presidency in January. He stepped down in February soon after he was revealed to have improperly commented on Obama's sanctions on Russia with its U.S. ambassador in a phone talk weeks before Trump's inauguration, and have misled Vice President Mike Pence about the details. Flynn, the first senior official to leave the administration, was replaced by Herbert McMaster, but has nevertheless haunted Trump's presidency ever since. FIRING FBI CHIEF Trump's mind-boggling sacking of James Comey, former FBI director, earlier this month has got him into hot water and bitter infighting within the party. The president has been under scrutiny for allegedly asking Comey to pull the plug on the inquiry over Flynn's relations with Russia. Critics said Trump's sudden firing of Comey aimed to prevent any embarrassing information from getting out, which Trump has strongly denied. But whatever the truth, the media frenzy may be pushing Republican lawmakers away from Trump in the lead-up to the 2018 mid-term elections. Jason Chaffetz, Republican chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, wrote to acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe to request access to Comey's notes in this regard, and was echoed by House Speaker Paul Rya. SPILL THE BEANS There is more to the crisis. The Washington Post on Monday sparked a firestorm when it revealed that Trump shared sensitive intelligence with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during a White House meeting last week. This was the latest development in a string of allegations that the Trump administration is in bed with Russia, which the president vehemently denies. U.S. conservative media has noted that U.S. presidents have broad legal authority to classify or declassify any intelligence they want to. Observers also noted that the White House routinely shared intelligence with other countries. "At this point, the Republican Congress is trying to find a way to get to the bottom of the allegations about the ties between members of the Trump Administration and Russia," Dan Mahaffee, senior vice president and director of policy at the Center for the Study of Congress and the Presidency, told Xinhua. SUVA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Fiji's Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama on Friday emphasized his country's commitment to addressing climate change, outlining the island nation's vision for COP23 in Bonn, Germany in November. Addressing COP consultations in Bonn, Bainimarama said Fiji's vision was to advance the work of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and preserve the multilateral consensus for decisive action to address the underlying causes of climate change, respecting climate science. Bainimarama said Fiji would also uphold and advance the Paris agreement, ensure progress on the implementation guidelines and undertake consultations together with the Moroccan presidency of COP22 to design the process for the Facilitative Dialogue in 2018, according to Fiji Broadcasting Corporation news website. Bainimarama said he would also infuse COP23 with the Fijian "Bula Spirit" of inclusiveness, friendliness and solidarity and promote the Pacific concept of talanoa, or dialogue. Meanwhile, a dedicated website to support Fiji's presidency of COP23 was also launched by Bainimarama. He unveiled the website www.cop23.com.fj before representatives of about 200 countries attend UN climate talks in Bonn. Bainimarama described the website as an important tool of Fiji's presidency, as well as its mission to explain the impact of climate change on the Fijian people and other Pacific Islanders. CANBERRA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Talks of a leadership challenge within Australia's opposition Labor Party were declared as "fake news" on Friday, with both the opposition leader Bill Shorten and frontbench colleague Anthony Albanese denying they are on a collision course for a second leadership challenge in four years. Following the release of the Liberal government's federal budget earlier this month, which many political commentators described as being "Labor-like" in nature, Shorten denied the measures were what Labor would have introduced had they been in power. However earlier this week, Albanese told a forum in Western Australia that Labor should be celebrating the budget, as the Liberal government had embraced Labor policies, fuelling speculation that the two were at an impasse and heading towards a leadership challenge. While on a visit to the island state of Tasmania on Friday, Shorten said he and other members of the Labor Party were "not in the least concerned" by the media beat-up of the story, describing the coverage of the apparent rift as an "absolute exaggeration." "I just want to say, and we have chatted about this, I am not in the least concerned about his remarks and nor should anyone else be," Shorten told the press on Friday. "I had a very good chat with Anthony yesterday and we both agree that the stories are an absolute exaggeration, and I couldn't be happier with my whole team. "Let's be candid - four years ago, Labor was a mess, but we've got our act together. I just want to put on record today my gratitude to all of my team including Anthony. "We're focussed on the issues which affect all Australians, and that is why we have called out (the government's) budget for what it really is." Earlier, speaking on the Nine Network's morning show, Albanese said, "This is fake news to quote a prominent American." "The fact is that (my) speech (saying the budget contained 'Labor values') was approved in advance by Bill's office and perfectly consistent with what Bill said in his budget reply." If Albanese was to eventually challenge Shorten for Labor's top job, it wouldn't be the first time the party heavyweights have gone "toe-to-toe" in the name of the leadership. In 2013, Shorten and then-deputy Labor leader Albanese faced a party vote after Kevin Rudd stepped down following that year's election loss to the now-governing coalition government. Despite going into the vote as deputy party leader, Albanese was narrowly beaten (48 percent to 52 percent) by Shorten in a poll of both Labor MPs and party members across the nation. Shorten then snubbed his rival by relieving Albanese of his deputy leader status in favor of Tanya Plibersek. While Shorten and Albanese were both talking down the chances of a "round 2" on Friday, government MPs stepped up the pressure surrounding the Labor leadership position. Also speaking with the Nine Network on Friday, government frontbencher Christopher Pyne said that, in contradicting the party leader, Albanese has in effect thrown down the gauntlet to Shorten, adding that Albanese had "fired the starter's gun" and was "out of the blocks." Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 14:19:11|Editor: MJ Video Player Close RIO DE JANEIRO, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's Supreme Court released on Thursday the audio recordings of a conversation between President Michel Temer and Joesley Batista, owner of meatpacker giant JBS, in which they openly discussed bribery. In a 39-minute-long recording, Batista told Temer in informal language that he has paid money to Eduardo Cunha, formerly head of the House of Representatives, who is in jail. It is implied that the money was meant to ensure that Cunha keeps quiet on matters related to JBS. Batista also mentioned former cabinet minister Geddel Vieira Lima, who used to serve as a bridge between him and the president but became hard to be contacted for being investigated and quitting his job. He said that some leaked recordings of Geddel have mentioned his company and he has been "defending himself," something "being OK with Eduardo," in an allusion to his previous statement of having paid some money to Cunha. Temer responded that "You've got to keep on doing that." In other parts of the recording, Batista asked Temer who he can use as a middleman to talk to the latter since Geddel was no longer an option. Temer suggested Representative Rodrigo Loures. Days later, Loures was filmed receiving 500,000 reals (about 148,000 U.S. dollars) in bribes from Batista. On several occasions, Batista mentioned paying bribes to several people, and Temer has never seemed to challenge his statement. Batista talked about paying a prosecutor for leaking information to him and trying to replace the prosecutor who is in charge of the investigation of him. Temer did not seem to have any opinion about the case either. Earlier on Thursday, Temer refused to step down from office, saying that the investigation of him by the Supreme Court would show he has done nothing wrong. The Supreme Court's decision to make the recordings public was seen by many observers as the last nail on Temer's coffin. He has been challenged by the opposition that has filed for his impeachment due to the JBS case, and by his own ruling coalition members, as some of them believed his presence in the government has become impossible. Temer's crisis was also worsened by his unpopularity among the public -- his approval rate fell to 4 percent in the latest polls. To add to Temer's troubles, his presidential ticket, the joint candidacy of Dilma Rousseff for president and Temer as vice president, will be submitted to a trial by the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) in early June. If the TSE rules to declare the ticket null, Temer will be deposed. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 14:24:15|Editor: Hou Qiang Video Player Close BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- "This mobile container/vehicle inspection system will soon be delivered to Mexico... It is advanced in that it can erect an arch within several minitues to inspect moving vehicles without stopping them," Cai Zhifu, a worker of Nuctech company, told Xinhua in a recent intervew in Beijing. Nuctech, derived from China's Tsinghua University and founded in 1997, is an advanced security and inspection solution and service supplier in the world. The Chinese high-tech company impressed visitors and its potential customers with the world's first 3D scanner for airports at the 17th edition of the Airport Show held on May 15-17 in Dubai, the most populous city of the United Arab Emirates. Its security equipment and solution have been installed in more than 150 countries and regions worldwide, including more than 50 countries along the Belt and Road routes, which covered customs, civil aviation, railway, postal logistics, border security and other areas, to help fight terrorism, maintain security and protect people's lives and property. The China-made advanced equipment and system have performed well around the world, namely, in the Palestine-Israel border, the English Channel and the Port of Hamburg in German, and at major international events, such as Olympic Games in Beijing and Brazi's Rio, G20 summit in China's Hangzhou and World Expo in Milan, Italy. In 2002, Nuctech equipment won reputation by defeating German and U.S. products in an inspection test, during which Nuctech inspected drugs hidden inside a vehicle while the other two failed. To maintain the highest level of detection, the company will frequently upgrade their systems to compete with terrorists and lawbreakers, who usually upgrade their criminal means, said Wang Weidong, vice chairman of Nuctech. In 2016, a just-upgraded Nuctech equipment helped Australian Border Security seize 254 kg of cocaine and 104 kg of methamphetamine, worth 186 million U.S. dollars. Under the Belt and Road Initiative, China's innovative high-tech has brought tangible benefits to countries along the routes, especially in the developing countries, and won local people's recognition. In Sri Lanka, more than 500 cataract sufferers regained sight in the end of last year, thanks to China-made intraocular lens innovated by Eyebright Medical Group. Eyebright, a national high-tech enterprise focusing on protection and caring of eyes and vision health, launched in 2014 the first China developed foldable aspheric intraocular lens, breaking the dominance of foreign products in this field. "Sri Lanka doctors look at the Chinese intraocular lens with new eyes, and many local cataract patients came to seek help," said Zhang Shunhua, doctor at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, who joined a Chinese government medical mission to Sri Lanka specialized in cataract treatment last year. Through China's overseas medical assistance mission, Eyebright's products have helped people in many countries, including Cambodia, Sudan and Congo, to regain sight. Nuctech and Eyebright are only two examples of many Chinese innovative enterprises, which have reached the Belt and Road routes countries and in turn have been supported by 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 and beyond the ancient Silk Road routes. Over recent years, many Chinese high-tech companies, like telecom giants Xiaomi, Huawei and CRRC, supported by the Belt and Road Initiative, have opened up foreign markets, helping make innovation a new "name card" for China. Chinese companies, especially those that are hosted and supported by Zhongguancun, a high-tech hub in the Chinese capital city, are trying to share with other countries their expertise in telecommunication and information technologies. Technological innovation is an important momentum for development. China, with innovative technology and superb products, has begun to provide Chinese solutions and expertise to other countries, rather than the mere made-in-China products, to realize common prosperity. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 14:24:16|Editor: Hou Qiang Video Player Close BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland's trade with Hong Kong totaled 59.42 billion U.S. dollars in the first quarter of 2017, down 2.5 percent year on year, according to the Ministry of Commerce. The mainland's exports to Hong Kong hit 57.73 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of 0.9 percent year on year, while the mainland's imports from the region saw a sharp drop of 54.6 percent to 1.69 billion U.S. dollars. Hong Kong is the mainland's sixth-largest trade partner and fourth-largest export market, according to the ministry. The mainland approved 2,954 Hong Kong-invested projects from January to March this year, with the actual use of Hong Kong capital reaching 23.51 billion U.S. dollars, up 19.6 percent from the same period of last year. As of the end of March, the mainland had approved 401,920 Hong Kong-invested projects, with the actual use of Hong Kong capital reaching 938.3 billion U.S. dollars, accounting for 52.1 percent of the total overseas investment in the mainland. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 14:49:37|Editor: Hou Qiang Video Player Close BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The work safety watchdog announced Friday that the unlawful use of an ultra-large chlorine container by a rubber plant in north China was responsible for a poisoning incident last week. The State Administration of Work Safety found that the firm, in a bid to save on costs, had installed an oversized container filled with liquified chlorine. Lixing rubber plant is near Sunguozhuang, a village under the city of Hejian The tube connecting the container to the chlorine tank truck ruptured on the morning of May 13. The leaked chlorine resulted in the death of two people and the hospitalization of 25 others. Poor regulation, lax emergency response and a lack of safety awareness and professional expertise were among the factors leading to the grave accident, the administration said. Local governments were urged by the administration to address the illegal use of hazardous chemicals to prevent incidents, such as this, from happening again. China saw fewer workplace accidents in the first four months with regular calls by the government for more focus on work safety. No "extremely severe accidents" occurred during January-April, 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. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 15:10:22|Editor: liuxin Video Player Close KABUL, May 19 (Xinhua) -- At least 113 militants have been killed and nearly 50 others wounded as Afghan security forces pressed ahead with offensives in restive provinces, the Defense Ministry said on Friday. "Afghan National Defense and Security Forces carried out cleanup operations in different provinces within the past 24 hours, killing 113 armed militants and wounding 49 others," the ministry said in a statement. The security forces also seized weapons and defused several roadside bombs planted by militants during the raids launched in 17 of the country's 34 provinces, the statement said, without elaborating the casualties of the security forces. Violence has been on the rise as Afghan security forces struggle against a surge in attacks by anti-government fighters since the drawdown of foreign forces over the past two years. On Thursday, five police personnel were killed and five others wounded during clashes with Taliban militants in Tagab district of eastern Kapisa province, according to provincial officials. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 15:15:25|Editor: liuxin Video Player Close MANILA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Ten local bandits were killed and eight others wounded in a clash with the army in the southern Philippines on Friday, an army commander said. Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, commander of the 33rd Infantry Battalion, said the encounter broke out around 6:30 a.m. local time in Bual village in Sultand Kudarat, a province on Mindanao island in the southern Philippines. He said an army sergeant was also slightly injured in the clash. He said the troops and some members of the local police were in the area to serve a search warrant when fired upon by heavily-armed gunmen, triggering a heavy exchange of fire. He said the military and police captured one of the bandits and seized an M653 rifle. Cabunoc said the local residents have requested for law enforcement operations against the bandits in the area. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 15:15:30|Editor: liuxin Video Player Close BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Trade between the Chinese mainland and Macao dropped by 16.3 percent year on year to 615 million U.S. dollars during the first three months of 2017, according to figures from the Ministry of Commerce. The mainland's exports to Macao decreased by 14.84 percent year on year to 593 million U.S. dollars during the January-March period. Imports from Macao were at 22 million U.S. dollars, a sharp drop of 42.79 percent year on year, according to the ministry. The mainland approved 156 investment projects from Macao during the period, with the actual use of Macao capital reaching 309 million U.S. dollars, up 67.77 percent from the same period last year. As of the end of March, the mainland had approved 15,230 Macao-invested projects, with the actual use of Macao capital reaching 13.91 billion U.S. dollars, accounting for 0.77 percent of the total overseas investment in the mainland. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 15:25:34|Editor: liuxin Video Player Close KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Southeast Asia's leading online shopping platform Lazada is upbeat on the e-commerce prospect in Malaysia where it has seen faster growth recently, as the company is joining hands in a Digital Free Trade Zone announced by China's e-commerce giant Alibaba and Malaysian government. Hans-Peter Ressel, CEO of Lazada Malaysia, said the Southeast Asian country has all the necessary enablers for e-commerce, including high penetration rate of internet, smartphones, credit card as well as a population highly active on social media. Southeast Asia is still far lagging behind China in e-commerce as the online sales already account for more than 10 percent of total retail sales in China, but Ressel was confident on the potential in the region. "China started their journey like 10 years earlier," he told Xinhua in an interview this week, "We expect Malaysia and Southeast Asia to be there too, and it might not take 10 years, might be a little bit faster." In 2016, Lazada Malaysia recorded the fattest growth in the Lazada group with more than 100 percent growth in terms of revenue, Ressel said, adding that it has seen even faster growth so far this year partly thanks to an increasing loyal customer base. Lazada Malaysia this week unveiled its own social commerce channel, Lazada TV, which featuring live videos including make-up tips, tech reviews, with collaboration with renowned brands on the platform. Launched in March 2012, Lazada is Southeast Asia's leading online shopping and selling destination, with presence in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Ressel praised the Malaysian government for its effort to develop e-commerce. "Malaysia is at the forefront when it comes to government support in digital economy," he said. In March, Alibaba group and a main investor in Lazada, announced with the Malaysian government to develop a Digital Free Trade Zone (DFTZ) in Malaysia. During his recent trip to China, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak visited Alibaba group in Hangzhou of Zhejiang province. He wrote on his personal blog that he expected DFTZ to create 60,000 jobs and to provide Malaysian small and medium enterprises with greater access to the foreign markets. It was announced that for the first phase of DFTZ, Alibaba's logistic platform Cainiao and Lazada will lead the effort to develop a regional fulfilment hub near the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. "Within this year there will be the first phase rolled out, so far we are on track and I believe that a lot of exiting things are coming in the next couple of months," Ressel said. The CEO said Lazada has received insights from Alibaba in its experience and development and was inspired by Alibaba's approach to empower sellers online. "We know Southeast Asia, we are in this market and there are certain ways that we are doing things here," he said, "But obviously having such a big brother it can help you with certain things and it's very helpful for Lazada." Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 15:30:41|Editor: liuxin Video Player Close (Xinhua file photo) by Xinhua writer Liu Chang BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- In the name of making peace in the Middle East, Washington has in recent decades seen its strategies towards the most troubled part of the world go under one after another. Some even backfired. On Friday, the new president in Washington is setting out on his first foreign trip, during which he will visit Saudi Arabia and Israel, two of America's traditional allies in the region. Perhaps, the moment Trump sets foot on the sun-scorched soil in the Gulf area, he will find the problems he has inherited are equally sizzling, if not more. In Saudi Arabia, Trump is going to deliver a speech on Islam, seeking to, according to U.S. National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, "unite the broader Muslim world against common enemies of all civilizations and to demonstrate America's commitment to our Muslim partners." That would easily remind people of the speech given by former U.S. President Barack Obama during his visit to Egypt in June 2009, in which he intended to reset America's relations with the Arab world. But he failed. The top priority for Trump this time is to seek support from the Riyadh-led Gulf countries to fight the Islamic State militant group, a promise he made while campaigning for president, and to reassure Saudi Arabia's royal court that feels betrayed by the Obama administration's landmark nuclear deal reached with Iran in July 2015 and putting Tehran's nuclear program on hold for at least a decade. Trump has been a consistent critic of the deal. He has described it as a "disaster," criticized the Iranians for not living up to the spirit of the deal and threatened to rip it apart. The Saudis and the Israelis love to hear Trump's blistering anti-Iran rhetoric. Yet, it should be heeded that terminating the agreement would generate far more serious problems than it can solve. If the Trump administration dismantles the deal, Iran would be set free to resurrect its nuclear program. That would further obscure the regional geo-political and security situation, and pose a serious threat to the international nuclear non-proliferation regime. Recent signs from Washington suggest that the U.S. government has shown some prudence on this issue. Though the White House has continued to sanction Iran's missile activities, it has waived some nuclear-related sanctions under the deal, and pledged it will go on to abide by the agreements. In Saudi Arabia, Trump is also going to announce a major weapons sales deal worth more than 100 billion U.S. dollars. Such a titanic package would no doubt unsettle Iran, motivate it to have an arms race, and harm the strategic balance in the region. The deadlocked peace process between Israel and Palestine is also very likely to be Trump's big headache in the Middle East. Though the U.S. leader has vowed to help push a deal between the two sides, he has yet to embrace the two-state solution that is considered so far to be the most fundamental principle that has proved vital to any possible peace deal. Also, it remains unclear how Trump could persuade the two sides to make concessions on a number of thorny issues, including the 1967 border, the construction of settlements and the return of Palestinian refugees, that have blocked the peace process for so long. A child rests at the Ashegoda Wind Power Project substation near Mekelle Town, 783 km north of Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, Oct. 25, 2013. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde) ADDIS ABABA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- China's Dongfang Electric Corporation will build a 120-megawatt (MW) wind farm in Ethiopia's Somali regional state, an Ethiopian official has said. In a statement sent to Xinhua, Bizuneh Tolcha, Public Relation and Communication Director at the Ethiopia Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy (MoWIE), said the Ethiopian government expects the project to be started by July. "The wind farm project is expected to need 18 months to finish, cost about 257 million dollars to construct with 85 percent of the funding coming from the China's Export-Import Bank and the rest from the Ethiopian government," he said. According to the ministry, pre-construction work is already undergoing at the site of wind farm, which when completed will be the fourth wind farm in the East African nation. The three other wind projects -- the 120-MW Ashegoda wind farm located in northern Ethiopia, the 51-MW Adama I and 153-MW Adama II wind farm projects both in central Ethiopia -- have been previously commissioned. The Ethiopian government plans to increase its electricity generation capacity from the current 4,200 MW to about 17,300 MW by 2020 using hydro, wind, geothermal, biomass and solar energy. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 15:56:06|Editor: liuxin Video Player Close SEOUL, May 19 (Xinhua) -- South Korea showed a positive response Friday to U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's remarks on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). Tillerson said the DPRK should refrain from conducting nuclear or missile tests for a certain period of time to create the right atmosphere for talks. The U.S. Secretary of State made the remarks in his meeting in Washington with a South Korean delegation led by a special envoy Hong Seok-hyun, according to Yonhap news agency. Tillerson said the United States seeks no regime change, no invasion of the DPRK and it will guarantee the DPRK's system, said Yonhap, citing source from Hong's delegation. A South Korean unification ministry official was quoted by Yonhap as saying that Tillerson's remarks were part of the efforts to resolve the DPRK's nuclear issue in a peaceful manner while dispelling the DPRK's worries about the United States. The peaceful resolution of the DPRK's nuclear issue was already sufficiently shared during the telephone conversation between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and U.S President Donald Trump, the official was quoted as saying. Students and a teacher from Confucius Institute, University of Zambia, perform martial arts during the 2017 Joint Conference of Confucius Institutes in Africa in Lusaka, capital of Zambia, on May 18, 2017. (Xinhua/Peng Lijun) LUSAKA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The 2017 Joint Conference of Confucius Institutes in Africa opened on Thursday with the Zambian government underscoring the importance of the institutes to foster cultural cooperation between China and Africa. Zambian Vice-President Inonge Wina said the new chapter of cooperation between China and Africa lies in the ability of Confucius Institutes to bring peoples together through the promotion of language and culture. "We can make Confucius Institutes places of great cultural exchanges for the good of our peoples. Confucius Institutes have brought us closer. They have highlighted the beauty that lies behind our diversity," she said in a speech read on her behalf by Minister of General Education Dennis Wanchinga at the start of the two-day conference in Lusaka, the Zambian capital. According to her, globalization has reduced the barriers to interaction among nations, adding that Confucius Institutes could be true platforms of a win-win cooperation between China and Africa. The Zambian vice-president further expressed gratitude that the Confucius Institute headquarters in China has built a language and cultural museum at the Confucius Institute in Zambia to host both Chinese and Zambia language and culture. She said her government was committed to ensuring that the relations with China continue growing, adding that the government has since chosen Chinese as one of the three foreign languages being taught in schools while the Chinese language has been incorporated into syllabuses for junior and senior secondary schools. Zambia, she said, was committed to ensuring the continued growth of the relations with China, adding that China has been an "all-weather" friend not only to Zambia by the African continent as a whole. Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Yang Youming advised the Confucius Institute to cater for the actual learning demand of people in different countries and also to take into consideration unique conditions of each country. He hoped that Confucius Institutes will give play a fair play and promote both the Chinese and African culture. The Chinese envoy said it was obvious that Confucius Institutes have become platforms of cultural exchanges between China an African countries and expressed gratitude at the uptake of the Chinese language in Zambia. According to him, since its establishment seven years ago, the Confucius Institute has developed significantly in Zambia with one institute, two classrooms and 17 Chinese language teaching points, with more than 8,000 students. The two-day conference has attracted directors of Confucius Institutes from various African countries as well as representatives of Chinese enterprises in Africa. Apart from an exhibition of Confucius Institutes in Africa, the conference will have various presentations on the promotion of people-to-people exchanges, how political mutual trust and economic and trade cooperation could promote the development of Sino-China relations as well as vocational and technical training. The conference will also tackle cooperation between Confucius Institutes and Chinese-funded agencies. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 16:11:23|Editor: Tian Shaohui Video Player Close The first meeting of the China-Philippines bilateral consultation mechanism on the South China Sea is held in Guiyang, capital of southwest China's Guizhou Province, May 19, 2017. (Xinhua/Liu Xu) GUIYANG, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The first meeting of the China-Philippines bilateral consultation mechanism on the South China Sea was held here on Friday. The meeting was co-chaired by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin and Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Sta. Romana. The mechanism was established this January through diplomatic consultations, Liu said in his opening remarks. The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced earlier that the meeting aims to establish an institutional platform for dialogues on the South China Sea issues in accordance with consensus reached between the two countries' leaders last October. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 16:11:25|Editor: Tian Shaohui Video Player Close This file photo taken on April 25, 2017 shows a US officer, from the US-led coalition, speaking with a fighter from the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) at the site of Turkish airstrikes near northeastern Syrian Kurdish town of Derik.(Xinhua/AFP Photo) DAMASCUS, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army on Friday confirmed reports about a U.S.-led airstrike on a Syrian military convoy near the Iraqi borders on Thursday, saying the U.S. attempt will not terrorize the army from continuing to fight the terrorist groups. In a statement, the army said the U.S.-led anti-terror coalition attacked one of the military positions near the Tanf area in the Syrian desert near the Iraqi borders on Thursday afternoon, leaving a number of "martyrs and some material losses." The army described the attack as a "flagrant aggression," adding that it exposes the "false allegations of the coalition about fighting terrorism." A day earlier, the U.S.-led coalition struck Syrian forces near Tanf, as the forces were advancing toward an area controlled by the U.S.-led rebels, where British and U.S. bases are reportedly located in Tanf. Reports said the coalition fired warning shots to prevent the army forces from advancing before hitting the convoy. The statement said the U.S. claims that they have warned the forces from advancing before firing are completely rejected. "The Syrian army is fighting terrorist groups on its ground, and no force has the right to determine the fronts on which the army fight the terrorist groups," the statement said. It added that "those who claim to be fighting terrorist groups, should not fire at the Syrian army because it's the legitimate force fighting the terrorist groups, but should direct their fire against the terrorist groups." The statement stressed that the Syrian army will continue the war on the terrorist groups and the U.S. attack will not terrorize the army from continuing the battles on terrorism. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 16:16:31|Editor: liuxin Video Player Close COTONOU, May 19 (Xinhua) -- A joint-financing of 26 million U.S. dollars will be invested to transform Benin's Pendjari national park complex into the largest ecosystem of protected savannahs in West Africa. The investment is part of a five-year business plan, a government statement said on Thursday in the economic capital Cotonou. Keeping with that goal, the investment will be used to renovate and enrich the Pendjari national park complex as well as its peripheral areas expected to be integrated then after. Benin's government will provide domestic funding of 5.97 million U.S. dollars and the shortfall will be sought as support from technical and financial partners. "The rehabilitation of the complex involves efficient and modern management adjusted to conservation objectives while contributing to the development of tourism," the release said. The document added the management should also "stimulate a new momentum of economic and social development" in Benin. Together with another park in the country, Pendjari national park hosts significant fauna and flora as well as high value cultural sceneries as tourist destinations. Benin's government explained the two biosphere reserves are the last refuges for the great West African fauna and currently register about 7,000 tourists per year. "Pendjari biosphere reserve alone receives over 6,500 visitors per year," the government said. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 17:17:18|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close AMMAN, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic Development Bank on Friday signed an agreement with Jordan to provide the Kingdom with 100 million U.S. dollars in loans and grants. Under the deal, the bank will provide Jordan with 79 million U.S. dollars loan and 21 million U.S. dollars grant, Jordan's Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Imad Fakhoury said in a statement. Voicing appreciation to the bank's support, the minister said the amount will be used to finance projects in the field of health. The minister stressed on the importance of the aid and support provided to Jordan, which hosts 1.3 million Syrian refugees. The minister also highlighted pressure on Jordan in various fields of energy, education and infrastructure since the start of the Syrian crisis in 2011. During the signing ceremony, the minister urged all countries to provide further support to Jordan to help it cope with the challenges, noting that such support is vital for Jordan to be able to go ahead with development schemes. Between 1975 and 2017, the bank provided Jordan with 975.6 million U.S. dollars in loans and grants to support projects in various fields. JAKARTA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a loan of 600 million U.S. dollars to support Indonesia's food resiliency program, which would be focused on finance enhancement of irrigation system for the farmers. The fund assistance was expected to help Indonesian government to reduce poverty in rural areas of 74 districts across the country, a statement released by ADB said here on Friday. "The aim (of the assistance) is to improve the incomes and livelihoods of these rural communities, as well as to help Indonesia achieve a sustainable and more productive irrigated agriculture," ADB Water Resources Specialist Eric Quincieu said in the statement. The loan is also expected to encourage farmer participation in managing water distribution system in their communities. The assistance would adopt high-level technologies as well as measures to tackle impacts of climate change so to improve irrigation service. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 17:22:22|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close HONG KONG, May 19 (Xinhua) -- China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) hopes to strengthen cooperation with New Zealand under the Belt and Road Initiative, the HKSAR Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said Friday. Leung made the remarks at a meeting with visiting Prime Minister of New Zealand Bill English at Government House in central Hong Kong on Friday afternoon. With the combined advantages of "one country, two systems," Hong Kong could play the role of "super-connector" for New Zealand enterprises to explore the Chinese mainland market, Leung said. With regard to the close economic and trade links between Hong Kong and New Zealand, Leung expressed the hope that the two places would continue to strengthen exchanges and cooperation on various fronts and explore more business opportunities by leveraging Hong Kong's huge development potentials under the Belt and Road Initiative. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 17:22:24|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close GUIYANG, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Three Chinese men were sentenced to prison for catching wild wood thrushes by using pet thrushes to lure them, according to a local court in southwest China's Guizhou Province.p They were given prison sentences ranging from six to seven months, and fined 3,000 yuan (around 435 U.S. dollars) each, said the court of Yanhe Tujia Autonomous County. In February, they set up nets in the Mayanghe national nature reserve and placed three pet thrushes nearby. The chirps of the pet birds attracted their wild counterparts, allowing the poachers to trap eight wild wood thrushes, the court said. As one of the most melodious songbirds in the world, wild wood thrushes are listed under the protection of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Those who poach, kill, purchase, transport or sell endangered wildlife under state protection in China face up to five years in prison. MANILA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The 12-day joint military drills between the United States and the Philippines wrapped up on Friday, with officials of allied countries claiming the troops stand more prepared to respond to terror threats and natural disasters in the region. Only 2,600 American troops and 2,800 Philippine troops, about half of the previous scale, participated in this year's Balikatan or shoulder-to-shoulder exercises that were conducted in multiple locations in the Philippine main Luzon Island and the Visayan region in the central Philippines. Unlike in the past years, Balikatan 2017 also skipped all combat-related exercises like live-fire drills and amphibious landings at the behest of President Rodrigo Duterte, who has threatened to scrap the exercises and drive away all U.S. troops on Philippine soil. Duterte has ordered Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana to focus on humanitarian and disaster response and drills that would hone the counter-terrorism skills of the participants. During the period of their joint exercises, some Philippine local groups have called on Duterte to scrap the exercises with the Americans, saying it contradicts Duterte's posture of an independent foreign policy. Bagong Alyansang Makabayan or Bayan held a protest rally on Wednesday to oppose the continued holding of the joint exercises, saying the scaling down of the drills this year does not change the nature and the political objectives of the U.S. war games. "The exercises provide a venue for U.S. power projection in the region. The U.S. forces are flexing their muscles and sending a message to the countries of East Asia," Bayan said in a statement. Another local group called Karapatan that held a protest rally at the U.S. embassy on Wednesday also called on Philippine government "to walk the talk and decisively terminate one-sided agreements" with the United States, including the Visiting Forces Agreement and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. Duterte administration decided to scrap two other joint exercises with the United States and retain Balikatan or "shoulder-to-shoulder" only, Philippine military announced last November. This file photo taken on April 25, 2017 shows a US officer, from the US-led coalition, speaking with a fighter from the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) at the site of Turkish airstrikes near northeastern Syrian Kurdish town of Derik.(Xinhua/AFP Photo) DAMASCUS, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army on Friday confirmed reports about a U.S.-led airstrike on a Syrian military convoy near the Iraqi borders on Thursday, saying the U.S. attempt will not terrorize the army from continuing to fight the terrorist groups. In a statement, the army said the U.S.-led anti-terror coalition attacked one of the military positions near the Tanf area in the Syrian desert near the Iraqi borders on Thursday afternoon, leaving a number of "martyrs and some material losses." The army described the attack as a "flagrant aggression", adding that it exposes the "false allegations of the coalition about fighting terrorism." A day earlier, the U.S.-led coalition struck Syrian forces near Tanf, as the forces were advancing toward an area controlled by the U.S.-led rebels, where British and U.S. bases are reportedly located in Tanf. Reports said the coalition fired warning shots to prevent the army forces from advancing before hitting the convoy. The statement said the U.S. claims that they have warned the forces from advancing before firing are completely rejected. "The Syrian army is fighting terrorist groups on its ground, and no force has the right to determine the fronts on which the army fight the terrorist groups," the statement said. It added that "those who claim to be fighting terrorist groups, should not fire at the Syrian army because it's the legitimate force fighting the terrorist groups, but should direct their fire against the terrorist groups." KHARTOUM, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir apologized on Friday for not being able to attend the upcoming Arab Islamic American Summit in the Saudi capital Riyadh, official SUNA news agency reported. "The President of the Republic has apologized for not attending the summit for special reasons and tasked the State Minister at the Presidency and Director of his offices Gen. Taha Al-Hussein to represent him at the summit and participate in all its activities," SUNA said. Al-Bashir wished the leaders participating in the summit all success, expressing hope that the summit would serve the interests of humanity and achieve its objectives. He also expressed hope that the summit would achieve international peace and security, form a new partnership to confront extremism and terrorism and disseminate the values of tolerance, co-existence and joint cooperation. Earlier, al-Bashir received a message from Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz, delivered by his special envoy, to invite him to attend the summit. However, the U.S. embassy in Khartoum said on Wednesday that Washington opposes inviting anyone subject to outstanding International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants, including Sudanese President al-Bashir. In 2009, the ICC issued an arrest warrant against al-Bashir for allegedly genocide and crimes against humanity. WELLINGTON, May 19 (Xinhua) -- About 71,900 more migrants arrived in New Zealand than left in the year ending in April 2017, Stats NZ said on Friday. Migrant arrivals numbered 129,800 in the April 2017 year, a new annual record, while migrant departures were 57,900, according to a Stats NZ statement. Between April 2016 and April 2017, 52,600 people arrived in New Zealand on student visas, of whom 23,900 were student migrants intending to stay for 12 months or more. "Almost one in five migrant arrivals for the last 12 months were people coming to New Zealand to study," said population statistics senior manager Peter Dolan, adding that student arrivals from Asia dominated the overall student migrant arrivals, contributing almost three-quarters of the total. By country of last permanent residence, one-fourth of total foreign student migrants are from India, which is the largest source, while 23 percent of the foreign students for the last 12 month are from China. Of all the student migrants, 57 percent settle in the Auckland region, followed by Canterbury, Wellington, and Waikato regions, it said. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 18:18:05|Editor: liuxin Video Player Close BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with heroes and role models from public security departments across the country on Friday, stressing loyalty to the Communist Party of China (CPC). Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, also called for those working in the country's public security departments to serve the people, promote impartiality in law enforcement, and remain disciplined. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 18:33:10|Editor: liuxin Video Player Close MOGADISHU, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Some 30,600 Somalis have reportedly returned to Somalia from Yemen since the beginning of war in Yemen in 2015, the UN refugee agency said on Friday. The UNHCR said an increasing number of Somalis are approaching the agency for assistance to support their return, citing safety concerns and limited access to services in Yemen. "UNHCR is now providing some support to those choosing to return on their own," the UN agency said in a statement. "In 2017, UNHCR is able to assist up to 10,000 Somali refugees who have made the choice to return, based on the information received at Return Help Desks on conditions in Somalia and the assistance package that is being offered both in Yemen and Somalia," it said. Yemen has been both a destination and a transit hub for refugees and migrants from the Horn of Africa and beyond. The overwhelming majority of refugees in Yemen, 91 percent or some 255,000, are Somali refugees. The UNHCR said its humanitarian operations in Yemen will continue to provide support to refugees who remain in Yemen. It said most Somali refugees registered in Yemen originate from Banadir, Lower Shabelle, Bay, Middle Shabelle and Woqooyi Galbeed regions in Somalia. In Yemen, most reside in Aden, Sana'a and Lahj governorates, the latter of which is where Yemen's only refugee camp, the Kharaz refugee camp, is located. The UNHCR said most refugees opt to return to Mogadishu, in the anticipation that assistance and services will be more accessible and available. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 18:48:17|Editor: liuxin Video Player Close (Xinhua file photo) by Xinhua writer Liu Wanli, Mahmoud Fouly BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump departs from Washington for the Middle East on Friday in his first overseas visit since he took office in January. Embroiled in rolling scandals at home, he can expect a welcome in Saudi Arabia and Israel, which have been lobbying for U.S. support for their policies in the region. However, experts fear that Trump may add fuel to the conflict-laden region when he wades into the Palestinian-Israeli peace process, ties with Iran, anti-terrorism and wars in Syria and Yemen. BALANCE AT STAKE In his first stop, Trump is expected to meet with Saudi officials, as well as more than 50 leaders of Muslim countries during a summit hosted by the kingdom. "Trump's escalation against Iran complies with Saudi policies that adopt a strict position on Iran and reject the Iranian policies as interference in regional affairs, especially that Iran drives the situations in Yemen and Syria towards more tension," said Sayyid Amin Shalaby, director of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs. Saudi Arabia was not satisfied with the policies of Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, toward Iran, and ties between the two countries soured after the U.S. Congress passed a law last year permitting lawsuits holding the kingdom responsible for the 9/11 attacks. "Trump announced that he will uproot terrorism and he wants to do so by relying on his Arab and Muslim allies in the Middle East region," Sayyid said, adding that Washington expects the Gulf states to share the expenses of an anti-terror war by signing an arms deal worth 100 billion U.S. dollars with Saudi Arabia. However, experts fear that Trump will escalate tensions between Sunni and Shiite Muslims. "At the summit, Trump looks to me more like an arms dealer who expects to spark more conflicts," said Saeed al-Lawindi, a researcher at Cairo-based Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies. They exclude Iran as if it is not a regional power, he said, adding that Iran should play a role in regional affairs. Moreover, through his presidential campaign Trump vowed to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, which could hinder the Palestinian-Israeli peace process and anger the whole Arab world. In 1995, the United States passed a law mandating the relocation of its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. But every U.S. president since then signed a six-month waiver for security concerns. The most recent waiver signed by Barack Obama will expire on June 1. Israel annexed east Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war. While it considers the united city its capital, the annexation has never been recognized by the international community. FRAGILE PEACE AFTER IS DEFEATED The U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 and its ensuing polices in the region led to the creation of the Islamic State (IS), which swept over large territories in Iraq and Syria, experts said. After almost three years of anti-terrorism military operations, Iraq and Syria are expected in the coming months to liberate Mosul and Raqqa, the most important IS strongholds. The Obama and Trump administrations never announced a plan on what would happen in Iraq and Syria after IS is defeated. The relations between Moscow and Washington have sparked huge controversies in the United States since Trump was sworn in four months ago. With the Syrian government supported by Russia and Iran, and the Sunni rebels backed by the United States and Saudi Arabia, the Iraqi government and the Kurds are preparing to claim IS-controlled territories, which may increase tensions in the region and beyond. Observers said the political arrangement after the defeat of IS is already on the agenda, but is progressing slowly due to deep divisions among the countries involved. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 18:48:22|Editor: liuxin Video Player Close MOGADISHU, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) confirmed Friday that Zambia has joined police contributing countries to AU mission to offer specialized skills to Somali police force. A statement from the AU mission said a contingent of four senior Zambian police officers are part of a team of 22 newly deployed Individual Police Officers (IPOs) to AMISOM, who will train Somali police officers on security matters. "Zambia has deployed to the police component of the AU Mission for the first time, although they have had military presence in Somalia," the AU mission said. The officers will offer specialized skills to the local police force as it takes on bigger responsibilities of maintaining law and order. "I can see hope that there is something going on, which we can build on and it is from there where we are emphasizing that we are going to help our brothers in Somalia, so that they come up with a proper police force," the Zambian police contingent commander Kasale Tresphord said. Senior Superintendent of Police Zipporah Gatiria Mboroki from the Kenya Police expressed confidence on the state of policing in Somalia. "We are going to support the Somali police so that they provide security to their people and also in the development of other institutions," Mboroki said. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 18:58:27|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close Chinese Ambassador to the Netherlands Wu Ken speaks at the reception in The Hague, the Netherlands, May 18, 2017. The China-Netherlands relationship has after 45 years' development reached its prime time in history, and entered into the "fast-track" of comprehensive, all-dimensional and multi-level development, Chinese Ambassador to the Netherlands Wu Ken has said. Wu made the remarks when celebrating the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level between the two countries Thursday evening. (Xinhua/Pan Zhi) THE HAGUE, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The China-Netherlands relationship has after 45 years' development reached its prime time in history, and entered into the "fast-track" of comprehensive, all-dimensional and multi-level development, Chinese Ambassador to the Netherlands Wu Ken has said. Wu made the remarks when celebrating the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level between the two countries Thursday evening. Although located far away from each other, China and the Netherlands have already started trade and cultural exchange through the "Maritime Silk Road" as early as over 400 years ago. The Netherlands was one of the first Western countries to recognize the People's Republic of China, Wu told hundreds of guests attending the ceremony hosted by the Chinese embassy in the Hague. "These 45 years, compared with the 400 years, only compose a very short period of time. But it is within this short period that we have gained the most fruitful achievements in the history of the China-Netherlands relations," he said. The ambassador believed that in 2017 both countries will embrace important opportunity of development as the Netherlands is going to form a new cabinet and China will hold the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). He called on both countries to further strengthen the basis of mutual trust with strategic vision, forge new highlights of mutually-beneficial and win-win cooperation with open and pragmatic spirit, and maintain stable and healthy development of bilateral relations on the basis of mutual respect. The ambassador also mentioned Wu Wen and Xing Ya, two giant pandas living at Ouwehands Zoo in the Dutch city of Rhehen since April 12. The two long-awaited adorable creatures will be seen by the public on May 30. "It is a small step for this pair of giant pandas, but a big step for the history of China-Netherlands relations," said Wu. On behalf of the Dutch government, Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science Jet Bussemaker spoke highly of the cooperation in various fields that her country enjoys with China. She emphasized on the need to deepen mutual understanding between young generations of the two peoples, noting that currently there are nearly 9,000 Chinese students studying in the Netherlands. Wu and Bussemaker unveiled an exhibition of 45 photos capturing milestones or remarkable moments of the development of the relationship between the two countries. Also present at the ceremony were Spearker of the Dutch Senate Ankie Broekers-Khol, and Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Ahmeet Uzumcu. China and the Netherlands established diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level in 1972. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 19:03:32|Editor: liuxin Video Player Close PHNOM PENH, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian police confiscated about 50 kg of illicit drugs during a raid in Phnom Penh this week and arrested a prime suspect in northeastern Ratanakiri province, a senior police official said on Friday. "In cooperation with the Anti-Drug Department forces, we arrested a 43-year-old man in a hotel in Ratanakiri province on Thursday for allegedly involving with the drugs seized in his house in Phnom Penh," Brigadier General Pen Dina, deputy police chief of Ratanakiri province, told Xinhua. The suspect is identified as Sy Laloy, who is a Laotian-Cambodian, he said, adding that the man has been sent to the Interior Ministry's Anti-Drug Department in Phnom Penh for next legal procedures. The seized drugs included heroin, crystal methamphetamine, and methamphetamine pills. It was the second biggest drug-trafficking crackdown in the country within the last two years. In June 2015, the country arrested four suspects with nearly 55 kg of heroin and methamphetamine, which was worth about 3 million U.S. dollars. The Southeast Asian nation launched a six-month anti-drug campaign on Jan. 1, 2017. According to an Interior Ministry report, the authorities had arrested 7,072 drug suspects in 3,115 cases during the first four months (January to April) of the campaign. The country has no death sentence for drug traffickers. Under its law, a person trafficking more than 80 grams of illicit drug will be facing life imprisonment. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 19:33:52|Editor: liuxin Video Player Close BUDAPEST, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The attacks from Brussels will not divert the Hungarian government from its objectives, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Friday on public radio MR1, two days after a formal condemnation from the European Parliament. On Wednesday, the European Parliament condemned a "serious deterioration of the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights" in Hungary and called for a process that could hypothetically lead to European Union (EU) sanctions against Budapest. While sanctions are extensively regarded as unlikely, the vote shows how irritated MEPs from all parties have become with Prime Minister Orban's government -- especially with its anti-migrant policies, its campaign against the EU, and Budapest's Central European University, not to mention several bills and laws aimed against NGOs receiving foreign grants. "Migration can be found behind all of the attacks against Hungary, everything else is meaningless, as there is a European community of interests, crossing party lines, that wants to settle several hundred thousands of aliens in Europe: the mastermind behind that idea is George Soros, who also partially is financing this concept," Orban said. "We have to abide by the Hungarian national interests, we are not to be told who we want to live with," he said. The Hungarian leader expressed his disappointment at the lack of respect shown from EU bureaucrats towards nation states. "Europe's essence cannot be found in Brussels, but in Warsaw, Budapest, Paris, Berlin or Rome," he stressed. However, he also made clear that if the end of the procedures would lead to a debate at the European Court of Justice of the EU, Hungary would accept its ruling. "Hungary is going to walk its own path, and is not going to let Brussels decide on Hungarian energy prices or tax rates," he added. Orban also spoke of the importance of protecting his country's economic policies, based on the increase of salaries and on low taxes. "If we can achieve that, the Hungarian GDP might get over 5 percent around 2020," Orban underlined. The Hungarian government has not only been criticized lately by Brussels, but also on the domestic front. Many demonstrations have been held last month, drawing several thousand of pro-EU protesters to the streets. The next big rally against Orban is to take place on Sunday evening in the Hungarian capital. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 19:39:01|Editor: liuxin Video Player Close JODA, SUDAN, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Though memories of thousands of South Sudanese citizens still store pictures of horrible tragedies in their country, which forced them to flee before settling in Sudan, some of them still feel homesick and wish to return home. Martha Simon, a female South Sudanese refugee who fled from South Sudan's Upper Nile State to Sudan's White Nile, is still recalling the horrors and atrocities which she witnessed in her small town as if they had occurred yesterday. Though she presently lives in a safe refugee camp in Sudan's White Nile State, she still feels panic whenever she hears a loud sound, even if it is just an explosion of a vehicle tyre. "This camp is safe, but our fear is psychological due to what we have experienced of atrocities," Martha told a Xinhua team recently visited Al-Alagaiya refugee camp in White Nile State near the border with South Sudan. "You may never believe the atrocities which took place in South Sudan. Imagining a girl slaughtered in front of her mother's eyes, and then, under gun point, the mother may be asked to eat part of her daughter's dead body," she noted. Martha got in a fit of tears before sadly saying that "we feel sad because our dreams have been killed. We were dreaming that the separation of South Sudan would give us a united and safe state, but the outcome was death and destruction." "We will never forgive our leaders for what had happened. We were victims of their competition over power. Almost half of South Sudan's population are currently scattered as displaced people or refugees," she added. She explained that she fled with her two little daughters from Geiger village in South Sudan's Upper Nile State after tribal clashes broke out in her small village between Dinka tribe, to which President Salva Kiir Mayardit belongs, and her Nuer tribe, to which his rival Riek Machar belongs. Martha lives in Al-Alagaiya refugee camp in Sudan's White Nile State which accommodates around 15,000 South Sudanese refugees. Though Martha feels comfortable as she is away from the atrocities in her country, she said she still feels homesick and hopes to return soon to her village. She appeared worried about the future of her two daughters who are living in temporary houses and lack basic services. "As you see, we are living in temporary tents that hardly protect us against heat, cold or rain. All my concern is confined to thinking about the future of my two daughters," she said. "I'm not sure they are receiving proper education. There is a school inside the camp, but it lacks the necessary requirements and there are no professional teachers," she added. Sudan's White Nile State has been witnessing continued influxes of South Sudanese refugees who are fleeing the war and famine in the new-born country. To this end, Abbasher Al-Nour, deputy chairman of Al-Alagaiya refugee camp, told Xinhua that "About 5,000 South Sudanese families live in the camp making a total of around 15,000 refugees." "The Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) provides all necessary services for the population in the camp, where until now, matters are progressing well without any security problems. There is a high-level coordination between all the security bodies, the HAC authorities, the commission of refugees and the UN and national organizations," he noted. In the meantime, Adam Joub, also a South Sudanese refugee, for his part, told Xinhua that "we have come here because of the collapse of South Sudan State. Unfortunately, what is happening in South Sudan is an ethnic and tribal war." "We headed to Sudan which received us without any complications. We receive all the necessary services and security is available. Our children receive proper education. We thank the Government of Sudan for this generosity," he added. Earlier this week, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) said that around 20,000 South Sudanese refugees arrived in Sudan's border areas within one week fleeing the violence at the Upper Nile area near Sudan's White Nile state. "Nearly 20,000 South Sudanese refugees reportedly arrived in White Nile and South Kordofan states between April 29 and May 6," said the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in its most recent report citing the most recent update on South Sudanese influx into Sudan by the UNHCR. About 1,300 refugees arrive daily in White Nile from Shilluk area through Joda and Migainis areas in Upper Nile, according to the report. Sudanese authorities estimate the number of South Sudanese refugees in Sudan at about 600,000 and expect continued influxes under the continued violence in the South. South Sudan plunged into violence in December 2013 when fighting erupted between troops loyal to President Salva Kiir Mayardit and defectors led by his former deputy Riek Machar. The United Nations estimate that the clashes killed thousands of South Sudanese and displaced around three millions. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 19:49:05|Editor: liuxin Video Player Close by Denis Elamu JUBA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan on Friday called on the UN to push Sudan on quickly resolving the issues on the status of the contested oil-rich Abyei region after the UN Security Council gave a six-month ultimatum on May 15. Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Mawien Makol told Xinhua that there was need for quick action by the Sudanese authorities to implement the outstanding issues in the Abyei protocol under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) 2005. "We are ready to come on the table with Sudan to resolve the Abyei issue, but the most important thing is to push Sudan so that we can resolve the issue," Makol said. He added that they have decided to work with Sudan and the UN to resolve the long feud over Abyei since South Sudan won independence from Sudan in 2011. "This issue of joint border monitoring, our government is very serious on it and we are pushing to implement it," Makol added. The Security Council resolution urged the two governments to resume direct negotiations in order to quickly agree on a final settlement of the contested Abyei area and establish an administration and council for the disputed region. Sudan and South Sudan are disputing the oil-rich Abyei, an area inhabited mainly by Sudan's Arab Mesiria tribe and South Sudan's Dinka Ngok tribe. The Abyei area, which has two thirds of Sudan's oil wells, has witnessed many tensions between the two tribes and the armies of the two countries. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 19:59:09|Editor: liuxin Video Player Close By Tao Jun, Tieu Bao HO CHI MINH CITY, May 19 (Xinhua) -- "Eating dragons makes you as strong as a dragon, especially during nocturnal activities," goes a Vietnamese saying. Many Vietnamese men, never being shy about embracing supposed sexual tonics, often eat the reptile more popularly known as the Asian or Chinese water dragon (Physignathus cocincinus). Drinking alcohol mixed with the blood of snakes, goats, tortoises and various species of birds is also popular in Vietnam. Though pungent, many like the taste. Many local drinkers even believe that it will improve their health and give them a "certain stamina." As a result, species such as the water dragon now face a long-term threat to their existence. "After drinking the blood and eating the organs and meat of this dragon, my wife will worship me tonight," said a man, laughing with his three friends in a restaurant in Hai Ba Trung Street, in Ho Chi Minh City. A waiter brought a struggling reptile to the table, while nearby guests peered in interest at the thrashing water dragon. After sizing up the lizard, the man decided on a pair, one to be eaten raw with vegetables and the other to be roasted. With head duly dispatched, the dead animal was drained of blood with the liquid trickling into a prepared glasses of rice wine. Then the heart, bowels, and gall-bladder were extracted and placed ceremoniously into a glass for the guests to admire. After a short 15-minute hiatus, the four diners were presented with another bloody glass full of alcohol and two dishes comprised of the dead lizard. Despite health warnings that such lizards are responsible for the circulation of infectious diseases through the eating of their blood sausages or drinking its blood, many restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City have caved into customer demand for the unlucky reptile. Hai, a cook, said besides the peculiar taste and the hope of becoming "as strong as a dragon," the water dragon has risen in popularity due to the contrary belief that it is a safe food. "The media has constantly been saying that wild animal meat is often mixed with formaldehyde (to keep it fresh for a long period of time) which is believed to cause cancer. Therefore, heavy drinkers are avoiding it. However, the water dragon is slaughtered on the spot, and tastes great," he said. According to Vietnam's Red Book, which lists endangered flora and fauna based on criteria produced by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, besides central highlands provinces, the water dragon can be found in the north. The reptile often lives in the forest in caves or bushes and beside streams or waterfalls, and although found throughout the west and north of the country, the total numbers of the reptile are in decline. The Vietnam Red Book lists the water dragon as a wild animal at potential risk of extinction. An additional threat to the species is caused by the popularity of eating pregnant females, as its eggs have proved a popular delicacy. One diner exclaimed: "The egg of the dragon is greasy, sweet and strangely tasty. Even a king would crave it!" Water dragon seller Khang said: "They are becoming scarcer and scarcer, while demand is rapidly increasing. In order to meet demand, a growing number of restaurants are paying high prices in advance to hunters to ensure that they have supplies." "Small water dragons weighing less than 200 grams are not that popular with diners. Many say they are willing to pay millions of Vietnamese dong (hundreds of U.S. dollars) for a water dragon king weighing over half a kilogram, but there are precious few of them about. Customers want wild animals, not the farmed variety," he added. Water dragons prefer eating insects, especially those that damage rice paddies, such as locusts. The declining numbers of the reptile have led to an increase in lost crops as the insects take their toll. However, rich men are more interested in exotic novelties than such mundane problems. To cope with the situation, Vietnam is taking various measures to diminish both supply and demand for wildlife meat and other products, including quicker prosecution of smugglers and national action plans to conserve wild animals. On May 10, more than one week after being arrested, a 47-year-old local man named Nguyen Mau Chien, allegedly the leader of a big smuggling ring involving rhino horns, elephant tusks and other wildlife products from Africa to Vietnam, was prosecuted. His rapid prosecution has shown the strong determination of relevant Vietnamese agencies in preventing and combating illegal trade in wildlife. In late April, Chien and his accomplice were arrested when transporting some 36 kilograms of rhino horns, two frozen tiger cubs and some other wildlife products from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi by train. He confessed that the smuggled items had been moved from South Africa to Malaysia and then to Ho Chi Minh City. In May, the Vietnamese government approved an action plan to conserve primates in the country, calling for stronger law enforcement to combat the hunts and illegal trade by 2025, and work towards reducing hunting by 70 percent, as well as building three rescue centers to save and release primates back into the wild. The plan requires building an inter-sectoral cooperation mechanism and confiscating shotguns in residential areas where endangered primates in need of protection live. Awareness campaigns will be launched to minimize the consumption of products originating from primates. Meanwhile, lectures on primate conservation will be added to school and tertiary curricula. "In Vietnam, more and more people have become aware that exploitation and use of rare and valuable wild animals are not only cruel and illegal, but also run counter to humane values of civilized life," Nguyen Thi Phuong Dung, vice chairwoman of Education for Nature - Vietnam (ENV), Vietnam's first non-governmental organization focusing on nature conservation and environment protection, told Xinhua on Thursday. According to Dung, the habit of using wildlife products, to some extent, exhibits backwardness and poor knowledge, and has been pushing wild animal species to the edge of extinction. "Please say 'no' to wildlife products. This small action has great meaning in protecting wildlife and building up a civilized lifestyle," she stressed. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 20:04:14|Editor: liuxin Video Player Close JAKARTA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian government has targeted a higher revenue from tax next year in a bid to help financing the country's huge infrastructure projects. Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati disclosed on Friday that the government decided to rise tax-to-GDP ratio to 11-12 percent next year from 10.36 percent last year. To achieve the goal, the government has undertaken a strong reform in the sector, she said. Besides, the government's participation in the global efforts in creating transparency in the sector is expected to help achieve the target, said Mulyani. This week, the government issued a policy which allows tax authority to access banks' data. "With more international cooperation, we expect it will provide us more information that will prevent more tax avoidance. We will continue to carry out reform," Mulyani said. President Joko Widodo, who came into office in October 2014, aims to pursue over 7 percent GDP growth at the end of his five-year term by constructing huge infrastructure projects. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 20:09:20|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close by Xinhua writer Yang Shilong NEW YORK, May 18 (Xinhua) -- One can hardly tell what a New York high-rise building has to do with Fosun, one of China's largest private companies, until arriving at a 40-floor-skyscraper on the 28 Liberty Street in the downtown Manhattan Financial District. The Chinese investment company bought the office building, formerly named One Chase Manhattan Plaza, from JPMorgan in October 2013 for 725 million U.S. dollars. However, the renovation of the plaza helped Chinese investors understand better about the ways of doing business in the United State. PLAYING BY RULES "There is actually a story about it," said Kate Zhao, Director of the Marketing & Corporate Communications of the Fosun Group. "It is a landmark building, and we need to meet the requirements set out by U.S. authorities in its renaming and renovation," said Zhao. "Any changes to the facade of the building are prohibited, and many local families who have lived here for generations do not like too many changes either," she told Xinhua. The acquisition of the skyscraper demonstrates the fact that following rules is a must for foreign investors. "In the United States, you have to understand and respect the rules and play by the rules," Zhao said. "Playing by the rules" is one of the major factors that attracted Chinese companies to increase their investment here. Others include robust economic outlook, the large consumer end market and large base of technology and brand assets. Fosun has made a total of 3 billion dollars investment in the United States since 2012, supporting about 8,000 local jobs. A new report jointly released by the Rhodium Group and the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations (NCUSCR) shows Chinese companies invested a record 46 billion U.S. dollars in the United States in 2016, a tenfold increase compared to just five years ago. CHALLENGES AND CONCERNS REMAIN As Chinese companies expand rapidly in the United States, longtime challenges and concerns remain for Chinese investors even though they are getting more and more adapted to the American ways of doing businesses. The U.S. trade protectionism, the rising labor costs, biases, and the nontransparency of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S.(CFIUS) review continued to pose threats to Chinese investment, said China General Chamber of Commerce - U.S.A.(CGCC) in its 2016 annual Survey Report on Chinese Enterprises in the United States. According to the survey, Chinese companies are facing a common challenge of the complex and unfamiliar U.S. legal system that results in expensive legal, tax, and compliance costs. In addition, new challenges have emerged such as the conflicts of laws between the two countries, the complex intellectual property rights system, and the high cost of exceeding compliance management, the survey said. The U.S. legal and regulatory system involves many different players at the federal and state levels, this complexity makes the country's regulatory environment harder for Chinese companies to navigate. "In 2014, we received only two supervisory inspections, in 2016 we received eight, and in the first half of this year, the number of times reaches above eight," said Chen Xu, Chairman of CGCC, and President & CEO of Bank of China USA, in a recent interview with Xinhua. "We know they are important but if we do everything we can to deal with these inspections, do we have extra energy to do our businesses, to support Chinese enterprises to invest in the United States?" Xu questioned. Xu has told Xinhua that both local and foreign enterprises have been calling for deregulation during last two years. "Regulation is endless. There are businesses, there are risks. You have to find a balance between the development and risk control. Overregulation will take a heavy toll on the market efficiency and undermine the competitiveness of the U.S. investment market," Xu elaborated. OVER-REVIEW NO GOOD FOR INVESTMENT The Rhodium Group also warned that Chinese investors would face greater uncertainty and political deal risk in the United States. One of the themes of the Trump campaign was the need for enhanced national security, therefore, it is highly likely that the CFIUS reviews will become more stringent under the new administration. Pin Ni, President of Wanxiang America Corporation, the Chicago-based arm of Wanxiang Group Company, called for a more transparent CFIUS review of merger and acquisition deals between American and Chinese enterprises. Wanxiang's acquisition of A123, a bankrupt electric car battery maker with U.S. federal backing, is seen as a major success story of Chinese investment in America, with Wanxiang turning the company around to profitability and increasing manufacturing capacity. Yet the path to close the deal was rocky because a CFIUS review was called after some lawmakers expressed concerns about taxpayer-funded technology being acquired by a foreign purchaser. "It is right for any government to control foreign investors to ensure national security," Ni said, "However, the CFIUS review should be done through professional assessment without being politicized. Otherwise it would seriously undermine the confidence of foreign investors," Ni told Xinhua recently. Lu Guanqiu, Chairman and Founder of Wanxiang Group Corporation, once said to former president Obama that "we want to take the United States as our own home, and we also want to be treated as a family." "For any company that wants to invest in a foreign country, the issue is not about money, instead it is about whether they feel comfortable," Ni said. Daniel Rosen, Founding Partner of the Rhodium Group, believes China's investment in America will continue to grow. "Those (capital) flows can happen without us having to make a sacrifice of national security. We don't have to make it, neither do you... the national security issues can be managed if there is the political wisdom on both sides," he said. (Xinhua correspondents Wang Naishui in New York, Xu Jing in Chicago contributed to the story) Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 20:49:43|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close KUNMING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Forestry police in southwest China's Yunnan Province have caught 20 people who were involved in online trafficking of wild animals including iguanas, chameleons and pythons. The suspects, including online traders and buyers of wild animals and animal products, will face charges and penalties according to a newly revised law on wild animal protection that took effect on January 1, said Li Jun, a top forestry police officer in Hani-Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Honghe. The amended law bans hunting, sale, purchase, and use of state-protected wild animals or derived products, unless for scientific research, captive breeding, population regulation, monitoring of disease, or other legitimate purposes. "That means anyone involved in illegal wild animal trade will face criminal penalties, whether you are a poacher, a dealer or just a pet owner," said Li Jun. In September 2016, forestry police in Yunnan Province caught an online animal dealer surnamed Gu in Honghe's Hekou County, and confiscated a number of wild animals, said Li Lili, a police officer in Gejiu City of Honghe who was a member of the investigation team. He said police had followed information revealed in Gu's advertisements posted on Baidu.com, in which he claimed he had rare pets, including slow lorises and American green iguanas, for sale. Following Gu's arrest, police spent eight months hunting for his accomplices. As of early May, they had caught 19 suspects in Honghe, Chuxiong, Yuxi and the provincial capital Kunming, said Li. "More than 90 wild animals were seized in the crackdown, including 52 exotic animals," said Li. "This is the largest online wildlife trafficking case in Yunnan Province in the past decade." He said the suspects had posted ads on social media and all the transactions were completed online. Some of the animals were shipped to faraway provinces including Guangdong, Fujian, Shanxi and Jilin. "The suspects often lined packages with newspapers to keep the animals warm during delivery, but still, some animals died on the way from hunger or suffocation," said Li. In a suspicious parcel on its way to the northern province of Shanxi, Li and his colleagues seized a ball python that had apparently suffocated. Most of the buyers were young people who wanted an exotic pet, such as a python, which sold for 3,000 yuan (435 U.S. dollars). Some were parents who were searching for secret remedies for their ailing children, as wild animals such as lizards were often used in traditional Chinese medicine. "Captive breeding of wild animals is subject to approval by forestry authorities," said Li. "If you want to keep a cool pet, you should get it in a legitimate way." He said the seized animals have been handed over to a wildlife refuge center in Kunming. While the exotic animals will be bred in captivity, indigenous species may be released if they are fit to survive in the wild and pose no harm to local people or the ecosystem. Yunnan Province, known for its rich biodiversity, is home to many endangered wild animals and plants. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 20:54:46|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The output value of China's satellite navigation and location-based service industry reached 211.8 billion yuan (30.8 billion U.S. dollars) in 2016, up 22.1 percent year on year, according to an industry white paper. The industry's core output value totaled 80.8 billion yuan, 70 percent of which came from the country's self-developed BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), said the white paper released by the Global Navigation Satellite System and Location Based Service (GNSS & LBS) Association of China. The BeiDou application has been widely used in wearable devices, mobile healthcare, express deliveries, bike sharing services, disaster prevention and relief, and other fields, according to the paper. China has formulated a three-step strategy for developing the BDS, aiming to complete the deployment of the 35-satellite constellation around 2020 to provide services to global users. It plans to launch six to eight BeiDou-3 satellites this year, with the launches featuring two satellites on a single carrier rocket. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 20:54:48|Editor: liuxin Video Player Close PARIS, May 19 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron will on Wednesday discuss the state of emergency which has been imposed since the November 2015 Paris terror attacks, Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said on Friday. In an interview with RTL radio, Collomb said emergency rules to empower police to thwart potential terrorist attacks "will be the subject of the next defense council" on Wednesday at the Elysee Palace. "I think that at some point we will have to get out of this state of emergency. Is now the right time? Perhaps not just after the government's nomination," he said. "We need to see what measures can be taken to deal with the high level of insecurity we have in face of the terrorist threat," he added. Former French president Francois Hollande declared a state of emergency on Nov. 14, 2015 a day after the Paris attacks when gunmen stormed simultaneously restaurants, coffees shops, theatre hall and stadium in central Paris, killing 130 people. Five extensions of the measure have taken place since. Emergency rules, which give authorities extra power to conduct house arrests and raids without a judicial warrant, is set to expire on July 15. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 20:59:51|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- China's first helicopter team consisting of 140 peacekeepers will soon depart for Sudan's Darfur region on a United Nations peacekeeping mission. Equipped with four multi-purposed Mi-171 helicopters, the peacekeepers will leave the country in three groups. The exact date for departure has not been announced. The peacekeepers come primarily from an aviation brigade of the 81st army group of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. The team will take on a number of tasks, including air patrols, transport of peacekeeping forces, evacuation of rescued personnel, and air supplies. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 20:59:53|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Private equity (PE) investment in China picked up momentum in tandem with the ongoing economic restructuring, in which emerging sectors provide better investment returns and have become new pillars of the world's second-largest economy. The combined size of committed capital at all 52,403 PE and venture capital (VC) funds registered with the regulator topped 12.28 trillion yuan (about 1.8 trillion U.S. dollars) as of April, rising by 380 billion yuan in that month alone, said the Asset Management Association of China (AMAC). As of April, the sector had 225,600 employees, according to AMAC. Unlike investment in publicly traded companies, private equity investment is made by PE, VC or angel investors, providing capital to target companies or nurture expansion of start-ups. More breakdown figures showed that Chinese investors' enthusiasm was skewed toward emerging sectors and start-ups with sunny prospects rather than stock markets. Of the total, nearly 5.6 trillion yuan was managed by funds devoted to equity investment as of April, surging 19.3 percent from the end of last year, while that owned by funds specializing in investing in stock markets declined 13.3 percent over the period to around 2.4 trillion yuan. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index closed at 3,154.66 points on April 28, the final trading day of last month, barely moving from the 3,103.64 points at closing on December 30, 2016, as market sentiment was weighed on by factors including a slew of regulatory measures to contain financial risk. Emerging sectors such as smart manufacturing, the sharing economy and industrial robots gained traction against the backdrop of economic restructuring as well as mass innovation and entrepreneurship. Despite global easing of fundraising and investment as a whole, China saw a 49-percent jump in PE and VC investment last year, according to a recent report from PwC. China is moving toward an economy focused on consumer spending, innovation and services, reducing reliance on investment and exports of low value-added goods, and boosted by strengthened innovation and research. To illustrate, the annual sales revenue of smart manufacturing equipment will reach around 3 trillion yuan in 2020, according to a recent industry report. High-tech and low-carbon products witnessed faster production growth in the first four months, with the production volumes of industrial robots and solar batteries surging 51.7 percent and 18.2 percent, respectively, said National Bureau of Statistics spokesperson Xing Zhihong. "The Chinese economy was confronted with new bottlenecks, and it had to transition from a growth mode focused on scale to one focused on efficiency, and from one reliant on resource inputs to one reliant on innovation," said Luo Mingxiong, director of the institute of Internet finance under Shanghai Jiaotong University. Financial markets will play an instrumental role in resource allocation and risk assessment, and more entrepreneurs will embrace PE and VC investment, Luo said. The view was echoed by Li Zhu, founding partner of Innoangel Fund, who said that a growing portion of the financing provided through traditional means such as bank loans in China will be replaced by private equity, which will register booming growth. Li emphasized investment opportunities in artificial intelligence, creative industries and among others. Latest figures from China Venture, an industry information provider, showed that most big PE deals in April happened in the medical and IT sectors. Tech fields such as artificial intelligence, big data, cognitive learning and robotics are expected to continue to receive strong attention, accounting firm KPMG said in a recent report. Although investors in Asia were cautious, China remained the top destination for VC investment in Asia, with Chinese bike-sharing platform Ofo raising 450 million dollars, the largest bike-sharing investment on record, said KPMG. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 21:30:04|Editor: liuxin Video Player Close Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei casts vote in the presidential election at a polling station in Tehran May 19, 2017. Iran held the presidential election on Friday. (Xinhua/Meng Tao) by Hassan Rouhvand TEHRAN, May 19 (Xinhua) -- In certain areas in the capital city of Iran, long queues outside the polling stations on Friday morning mark the keynote vote for the country's most celebrated election. The street carnivals of Tehran's night hours over the past few days aimed to cruise the voters to the ballot boxes at 8:00 a.m. local time (0330 GMT) on May 19 to decide on their next president. "I am responsible for my future. If I do not vote today and the results turn out to contradict my will, I may regret it later," Neda Taherkhani, 26, said excitedly as she changed weight from one foot to the other restlessly. She politely refused to talk about her choice, but seemed to be resolute at heart on her pick who, Taherkhani confidently contended, is an experienced and responsible politician and knows how to address the values most young people cherish. "We have no other way, but to endear a tolerant space, to accept each other's existence, to live up with diverse opinions and tastes, then to grow up as a descent mother, father or politician for the good of next generation," Taherkhani, the master's graduate of social science from Tehran's Azad Markazi University, argued. "I am here with three of my friends, of the same mind, to vote for such values, not merely for nan (bread) and Ab (water), although they are key issues of life as well," Taherkhani said, smiling and standing in the queue outside of the iconic mosque of Tehran, Hosseinieh Ershad, since the early hours when the polls opened. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hailed the elections as the sign of democracy and urged the Iranians to go to the polling stations to vote at the earliest time. Some 56 million Iranians are eligible for voting and will choose the next president for a four-year term. On Thursday, Iranian Interior Ministry officially announced the names of incumbent President Hassan Rouhani, Ebrahim Raisi, Mostafa Agha-Mirsalim and Mostafa Hashemi Taba as the four hopefuls for the Friday presidential election. The prevailing themes of the debates in the current Iranian political scene revolve around either reform-oriented topics or subject matters which principalists, commonly referred to as conservatives, pursue. Lined up in front of the mosque, Mohsen Namazi, 24, a bank clerk spirited by the high turn-out of the voters, constantly leaned back and forth, right and left, to observe the number of people in the queue and their passion for the occasion. When asked about his expectation for the voting, he highlighted "promises" and "glory." "As you see, these people here all pin hopes on the Islamic establishment and its promises for a better society and glory of Iran," he said. "Regardless of which candidate to secure the required vote, they are faithful to the leader and the values for which the revolution erupted four decades ago," Namazi said. Namazi's father is a veteran of the 1980s war between Iran and Iraq, and has fought for "the good of the country and the elevation of Islam." "This election is unique in its nature. It comes after the country has resolved one of its major disputes with America (the nuclear issue), and my father told me that now there is no excuse for any candidate, pertaining to their good performance, in the next term," he said. "We will not stop questioning, since this is the legacy of those soldiers who sacrificed their body, their only wealth, for the sake of the country," Namazi noted. The clock of the election day chimed 11: 30 a.m. local time, with eight and half hours left before the scheduled closure of the polls. Incumbent President Hassan Rouhani and conservative Ebrahim Raisi, the main rivals in the race, are both confidants of the Islamic establishment but represent different schools of political thoughts. The centrists, led by the Rouhani, are hoping not to lose their current sovereignty over the conservatives. If no candidate garners more than 50 percent of the votes, a run-off will be held on May 26 between the top two vote-getters. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 21:35:09|Editor: liuxin Video Player Close MADRID, May 19 (Xinhua) -- An investigation by the Central Operations Unit of the Spanish Civil Guard concluded that the ruling People's Party of Mariano Rajoy habitually financed its election campaigns in the region of Madrid in an illegal manner. The report, which was published in the El Mundo newspaper on Friday, is part of the investigation into what was known as "Punica" scandal. It concluded that the Madrid branch of the PP, which was then presided over by former President of the Madrid Autonomous Community, Esperanza Aguirre, committed, "numerous irregularities, many of them of a nature which could lead to a penal sentence." The report explained the financial irregularities led to "a profound undermining of the regulations which control electoral law and go against the principals which aim to safeguard that law, such as the necessary balance between electoral rivalry and an acceptable degree of political pluralism." The Civil Guard concluded that at least three elections, the regional elections of 2007 and 2011 and the general election campaign of 2008 in which Rajoy was the PP candidate, were financed illegally. This financing was carried out in various ways including cash-for-favors deals on public contracts, hidden payments from businesses, false bills, money for foundations allegedly established for other purposes and the misuse of regional government grants which were meant for training course that were never held. The Civil Guard believe this was organized by the former Deputy President of the Madrid Regional Authority, Francisco Granados and former Regional President, Ignacio Gonzalez, both of whom are currently in jail, along with Beltran Gutierrez, the former Director of the PP in Madrid. This news comes out a day after Rajoy had asked to give evidence in another corruption trial (Gurtel) involving his party, by videoconference on either July 26 or 27. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 21:50:16|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close TORUN, Poland, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The Belt and Road initiative and how it has changed the world was the topic of various panels and discussions at the fourth edition of International Asian Congress, held here on Thursday and Friday. "We are all inspired by the New Silk Road idea," Deputy Marshal of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region Zbigniew Ostrowski said. "The Belt and Road idea might also positively stimulate the Polish economy, so we actively take part in these actions, a proof of which is presence of Prime Minister Beata Szydlo at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing," he added. Ostrowski said the Kujawsko-Pomorskie region was an excellent example of growing interest in cooperation with China. "The Belt and Road initiative was welcomed by Poland, that it will result in the mutual benefit of all participating countries," Radoslaw Flisiuk, head of the Chinese Department in Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said, "We believe this concept can become an important factor in international efforts to consolidate a base for sustainable development." Flisiuk expressed hope the initiative would help strengthen Polish cooperation with China, but also with other countries along the way. "The Belt and Road is open to all. China is willing to share opportunities of development," said Lin Jian, Deputy Head of Mission, the Chinese Embassy in Poland. The congress also discussed broader cooperation between Europe and Asian countries, security issues in the Asia-Pacific region and political strategies in Asia. The congress, organized by the Asia-Pacific Society and the Faculty of Political Science and International Studies of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, attracts hundreds of scholars, researchers, experts and entrepreneurs each year. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 21:55:19|Editor: liuxin Video Player Close STOCKHOLM, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Swedish prosecutors announced on Friday that they would drop the rape case against WikiLeaks-founder Julian Assange, who has been under investigation of sex crimes allegedly committed in Sweden. Sweden's director of public prosecution, Marianne Ny, filed a request to the Stockholm District Court to revoke Assange's arrest warrant that was issued seven years ago. Assange, Ny said in a statement, "has escaped all attempts by the Swedish and British authorities to execute the decision to surrender him to Sweden in accordance with the EU rules concerning the European Arrest Warrant. My assessment is that the surrender cannot be executed in the foreseeable future." Ny stressed that Assange's innocence has not been proven but that the investigation is being terminated because it is no longer possible to pursue it. That is partly due to the fact that the Swedish prosecutors have not been able to serve Assange a summons on suspicion, according to Ny. Ny also said the Assange case is unique since the suspect took refuge in an embassy in a foreign country. Assange, 45, has been holed up in Ecuador's London embassy since 2012, trying to avoid extradition to Sweden. He feared being extradited to the U.S. if sent to Sweden as he could face trial there over the leaking hundreds of thousands of secret U.S. military and diplomatic documents. It was in August 2010 that Assange was detained in his absence during a visit to Sweden, where two women accused him of sexual assault, including rape. British police arrested him in London months later. He was first released on bail but later a British court determined that he should be handed over to Sweden. After spending some time in house arrest, Assange managed to get to the Ecuadorian embassy in London, and was granted asylum. However, since he risked arrest if stepping out on British soil, Assange has been holed at the embassy for five years. Swedish prosecutors continued to insist on questioning Assange in Sweden, but he was finally questioned by Equadorian prosecutors at the London embassy in November last year. Assange's testimony was then translated and handed over to the Swedes. Earlier this month, Assange, via his lawyer, demanded that the arrest warrant against him be suspended since the United States had declared that they intended to imprison him. "In view of the fact that all prospects of pursuing the investigation under present circumstances are exhausted, it appears that it is no longer proportionate to maintain the arrest of Julian Assange in his absence," Ny said on Friday. "Consequently, there is no basis upon which to continue the investigation." The case against Assange could be resumed were he to return to Sweden before the statute of limitation for the crime he is suspected of runs out in 2020. He may also be arrested if he steps out of the Ecuadorian embassy, according to police in Britain, where authorities claim Assange broke his bail terms when he interrupted his house arrest to apply for political asylum at the London embassy. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 22:05:28|Editor: liuxin Video Player Close GENEVA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Out of the 5,137 migrants and refugees who reached Greece by sea in the first four months of 2017, over half hailed from the middle-eastern countries of Syria and Iraq, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported Friday. According to figures released by the Geneva-based organisation, 1,891 Syrians reached Greek shores while 706 Iraqis undertook the same perilous sea journey from Turkey between January and April this year. Since January, IOM reported that 37 men, women and children have drowned crossing the short stretch of water separating Turkey and Greek islands. A further 1,295 individuals have lost their lives crossing the central Mediterranean route linking North Africa with Italy (1,244 deaths) and eastern passages, where 51 people have died. IOM revealed that as of May 17, 54,715 migrants and refugees have reached Europe by sea, down from almost 190,000 arrivals over the same period in 2016. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 22:05:31|Editor: liuxin Video Player Close TIRANA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Albania will hold the general elections on June 25 according to an agreement reached between the two main political camps here to end the political impasse that lasted for over three months. Prime Minister Edi Rama and opposition leader Lulzim Basha agreed to make some significant changes to the government cabinet as almost half of the left wing coalition ministers will leave their post to be replaced with new ministers proposed by the opposition. According to the opposition, this would be a significant step towards the guaranteeing of free and fair elections. Earlier, the Albanian opposition had requested the formation of a caretaker government and the resignation of PM Rama, but such requests were turned down by the latter. However, opposition leader Basha agreed Wednesday night to accept the proposal which gives opposition the right to propose some ministers and heads of some important directorates. Thus, Fatmir Xhafaj, currently minister of Interior, who took office a month ago following the removal of Saimir Tahiri. The minister of justice, health, education and so on will resign. Another government official who will leave is Deputy Prime Minister Niko Peleshi. All of these positions will be filled with caretaker ministers who will be named by the opposition. Rama has offered the opposition five key posts in agencies governing portfolios such as power distribution, property registration and rural agricultural development. The opposition will also propose the chairman of central elections body and the ombudsman. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 22:05:32|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close GUIYANG, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Following is the Joint Press Release for the First Meeting of the China-Philippines Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea issued on May 19 in Guiyang. Joint Press Release for the First Meeting of the China-Philippines Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea In the spirit of the friendly dialogue between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during the latter' s State Visit to China in October 2016, and as agreed by both China and the Philippines, the First Meeting of China-Philippines Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea (BCM) was held in Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China on 19 May 2017. Chinese Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Liu Zhenmin and Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago L. Sta. Romana led their delegations to the BCM. Both sides exchanged views on issues related to the South China Sea in a frank, in-depth, and friendly manner, where both sides reiterated their commitment to cooperate and to find ways forward to strengthen mutual trust and confidence. Both sides had a fruitful and productive meeting. Both sides held a brief, solemn, and warm inaugural ceremony, announcing the formal establishment of the BCM and the opening of its first meeting. According to the Joint Statement of the People' s Republic of China and the Republic of the Philippines issued in October 2016, both sides agree to continue discussions on confidence-building measures to increase mutual trust and confidence and to exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities in the South China Sea that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability. In this regard, in addition to and without prejudice to other mechanisms, a bilateral consultation mechanism can be useful, which will meet regularly on current and other issues of concern to either side on the South China Sea. Both sides also agree to explore other areas of cooperation. And at the diplomatic consultations between the two States' Foreign Ministries in January 2017, the two sides decided to establish the BCM and preliminarily reached consensus on the Terms of Reference (TOR) of the BCM. During the meeting, the Heads of Delegation initialed the TOR which they agreed should be a platform for confidence-building measures and for promoting maritime cooperation and maritime security. The BCM will comprise equivalent officials from the respective foreign ministries and relevant maritime affairs agencies, and will meet alternately in China and the Philippines once every six months. Both sides reviewed their experiences on the South China Sea issue. They exchanged views on current and other issues of concern to either side, and agreed to further discuss mutually acceptable approaches to deal with them. They also held discussions on issues including the promotion of next-step practical maritime cooperation and the possible establishment of relevant technical working groups. With a view to creating a sound atmosphere for the healthy and steady growth of bilateral relations and for the smooth progress of practical cooperation in various fields, both sides exchanged views on the importance of addressing concerns in the South China Sea and handling incidents and disputes in the South China Sea in an appropriate manner. Such discussions are consistent with the October 2016 Joint Statement, where both sides reaffirmed the importance of maintaining and promoting peace and stability, freedom of navigation in and over-flight above the South China Sea, addressing their territorial and jurisdictional disputes by peaceful means, without resorting to the threat or use of force, through friendly consultations and negotiations by sovereign states directly concerned, in accordance with universally recognized principles of international law, including the Charter of the United Nations and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The second meeting of the BCM will be held in the Philippines in the second half of 2017, while the exact date and place will be determined and mutually agreed upon through diplomatic channels. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 22:05:34|Editor: liuxin Video Player Close GENEVA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The head of the Syrian government delegation said Friday that central issues in ongoing Syria peace talks had not been discussed, adding his delegation's participation in this latest round of negotiations had ended. "In this round, we didn't discuss at all any of the four baskets," Bashar al-Jaafari told the press, referring to the issues of governance, new constitution, elections and the war on terrorism. These are the key topics of contention on which rival delegations continue to fail to see eye-to-eye. Syrian opposition High Negotiations Committee (HNC) spokesperson Salem al-Meslet highlighted in a recent statement that "our approach to Syria's future is clear." "Our country must be governed by the consent of the people, under the rule of law and with every citizen free from fear of violence, by the state, by terrorists, by foreign armed forces," he continued. UN-mediated intra-Syrian talks are expected to end Friday merely three days after resuming on May 16, in line with what UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura said would be a short and business-like exercise. The latest round of intra-Syrian peace talks will be the third to take place between the warring factions since the start of this year. While some progress on the humanitarian front has been achieved since negotiations resumed in earnest at the start of 2016, opposing delegations remain at odds as to what a future, peaceful Syria, might look like. De Mistura's job is to help bridge the wide gaps between rival factions, while ensuring that any outcome is in line with UN Security Council resolutions. Despite the lack of headway on the political track, the UN stands by its commitment to pursue peace through political negotiations to prevent further bloodshed in a country where as many as 400,000 people have died and millions more have fled their homes. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 22:10:34|Editor: Tian Shaohui Video Player Close KIEV, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Two Chinese companies and the city of Kiev have signed a deal to build a fourth subway line in the capital city of Ukraine, the city said Friday. China Railway International Group and China Pacific Construction Group will be the managing partner and contractor of the project, responsible for engineering, procurement and construction. The deal also includes a provision that the two Chinese companies will assist the Ukrainian government in raising funds for the project in Chinese financial institutions. The Kiev City State Administration has estimated that the project to build the 16-km-long fourth subway line in the Ukrainian capital will cost about 1.3 billion U.S. dollars. Kiev currently has three subway lines with a total length of 67.6 km. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 22:30:46|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close GENEVA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Referring to the resurgence of cholera in war-torn Yemen, the World Health Organization's (WHO) Yemen country representative warned Friday that the speed at which the deadly disease is spreading is unparalleled in the country's history. "The speed of the resurgence of the cholera epidemic is unprecedented," Nevio Zagaria told the press by telephone in a regular press briefing here. Highlighting the "underfunding of the health, water and sanitation sector," Zagaria urged the global community to support health workers, some of whom haven't been paid in over seven months. He also recommended that efforts be directed towards treating water sources, repairing the sewers system and raising awareness through different methodologies including community mobilisation. The official noted that the protracted collapse of Yemen's healthcare system and economy is hampering its ability to contain the enteric infection caused by the ingestion of water or food contaminated by the Vibrio cholerae bacterium. According to WHO statistics, 23,425 suspected infections have been reported, with 242 cholera-related deaths documented over the last three weeks. While the outbreak first erupted in October last year, the incidence of the disease dropped significantly in December, though it was never fully under control. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 22:30:48|Editor: liuxin Video Player Close HELSINKI, May 19 (Xinhua) -- As economic outlook keeps improving in Finland, a frontline has emerged about income distribution. The Finnish OP Group on Friday upgraded its estimate of growth in Finland. It now saw growth of GDP in 2017 to be 2.3 percent. Its previous prediction was 1.8 percent. OP predicted the 2-percent-growth level to continue also in 2018. Reijo Heiskanen, chief economist of the OP Group, said all contributing factors have developed positively. OP underlined that the increasing exports were the main reason for the optimism. The volume of exports grew 10 percent during the first quarter. Advance statistics indicated that Finnish GDP grew during the first quarter of this year 2.8 percent compared with Q1 in 2016. Finance Minister Petteri Orpo said on Friday pay increases should remain "close to zero level." He underlined that larger pay hikes would be acceptable only when the "growth is stable." Riku Aalto, chairman of the newly formed major industrial workers' union, dismissed any zero level approach. Aalto said the demand for pay increase is based on the newly found success of the enterprises and the positive productivity. Previously the chairman of the Metal Workers, Aalto now heads a new union that covers all industries. He said the unions would not accept the close-to-zero increase of payment as in recent years. Tariff talks in Finland this autumn will be tougher than before, as the central organization of employers announced earlier it would no longer act as a negotiator. Now the workers' unions in various sectors will negotiate with their own employers' organizations. KIGALI, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Rwandan President Paul Kagame has said that time has come to tell Rwandans that they must start thinking beyond him. The assertion that it is impossible to succeed him during his lifetime is baseless claim by politicians, Rwanda's The News Times quoted Kagame as saying on Friday. Kagame is expected to participate in the August 4 presidential election after the constitution was amended to allow him another term. Asked by French magazine Jeune Afrique whether the possible next 7-year term will be his last one, Kagame said "I think so, yes." "And it is likely that I will clarify this point when we begin the electoral campaign. There is a sort of contract between me, on one hand, the Rwanda Patriotic Front party and the Rwandan people, on the other. They wanted, through the constitutional referendum of December 2015, that I continue my work, which I accepted. But the time has come to tell them that they must start thinking, beyond me," he said. Kagame said what his government has built is irreversible and will last, with or without him. "Similar to our economy, our institutions and our abilities, our society is moving forward on a dynamic path. Even though the Rwandan people want me to continue leading for some time, this dynamism will not stop with my departure," he said. On Rwanda-France lukewarm relations, Kagame said the attitude of France vis-a-vis Rwanda will never change if France's attitude towards Africa remains the same. "We are expecting something new from President Macron, a new dynamic and a real break from the decades-long confusion. Twenty-three years of negative politics towards Rwanda and sixty years of stagnant politics on Africa from which Africans have never benefited, that's what should be put on the table," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 22:51:03|Editor: MJ Video Player Close BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Analysts from China and the United States participated in a seminar discussing Sino-US relations and bilateral trade in Beijing from Thursday. The two-day seminar, "China-U.S. Future Trade Relations after Mar-a-Lago Summit", was jointly organized by the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) and American Enterprise Institute (AEI). The two countries recorded 500 billion U.S. dollars in bilateral trade volume in 2016, and are expected to increase trade corporation under 100-day action plan, said Jiang Shan from CCG. The action plan, launched between China and the United States in April, has already received initial results in agriculture, energy, financial services and investment. Under the plan, China will allow imports of U.S. beef and the United States will import poultry from China. The United States expects China and other partners to import liquefied natural gas and China will allow wholly foreign-funded financial services to provide credit ratings in China. Derek Scissors from AEI believes that the two major powers have great potential in deepening economic and trade cooperations, for example, the development of energy sector in the United States will attract more investment from Chinese enterprises. He Yafei, co-chairman of CCG and former vice minister of foreign affairs said that cooperation is the only correct choice for both countries. "With more than 40 years of experience in diplomatic work, I'm confident to say that China will continue the path of peaceful development," said He. "China will also pursue its development within the existing international system." In addition, he said China will work on promoting the democratization of international relations, so that developing countries and emerging markets worldwide can have a bigger say in global rule setting and decision making. "China and the United States do have responsibilities to maintain stability and promote global economic growth," said He. "It is important for us to exchange views and provide policy recommendations for the two governments that will influence the future of the two countries." MOSCOW, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in Moscow on May 25, the Kremlin said Friday. The two leaders will discuss the current state and prospects for the development of bilateral cooperation in the political, trade-economic and cultural-humanitarian spheres, said the Kremlin in a statement. Putin and Duterte will also exchange views on international and regional issues with a focus on ensuring stability and security in the Asia-Pacific region, it said. The two countries are also expected to adopt a joint statement and sign a number of bilateral documents, according to the Kremlin. KABUL, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Eleven Afghan civilians were killed after a vehicle ran over a Taliban-planting roadside bomb in eastern Logar province Friday, a local official said. Provincial Governor Halim Fidai said on his official twitter account that the incident occurred in Zarghon Shahir area of the province, 60 km south of Kabul. Those among the killed were five women and five children. The victims were members of one family and they were travelling after attending a wedding party in the mountainous province, said the official. The Afghan civilians continue to bear the brunt of armed conflicts as 715 civilians were killed and 1,460 others injured in conflict-related incidents in the first three months of the year, according to figures released by the United Nation mission in the country. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange delivers a speech from the balcony of Ecuadorean Embassy in London, Britain, on Dec. 20, 2012. (Xinhua/Bimal Gautam) STOCKHOLM, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Swedish prosecutors announced on Friday that they would drop the rape case against WikiLeaks-founder Julian Assange, who has been under investigation of sex crimes allegedly committed in Sweden. Sweden's director of public prosecution, Marianne Ny, filed a request to the Stockholm District Court to revoke Assange's arrest warrant that was issued seven years ago. Assange, Ny said in a statement, "has escaped all attempts by the Swedish and British authorities to execute the decision to surrender him to Sweden in accordance with the EU rules concerning the European Arrest Warrant. My assessment is that the surrender cannot be executed in the foreseeable future." Ny stressed that Assange's innocence has not been proven but that the investigation is being terminated because it is no longer possible to pursue it. That is partly due to the fact that the Swedish prosecutors have not been able to serve Assange a summons on suspicion, according to Ny. Ny also said the Assange case is unique since the suspect took refuge in an embassy in a foreign country. Assange, 45, has been holed up in Ecuador's London embassy since 2012, trying to avoid extradition to Sweden. He feared being extradited to the U.S. if sent to Sweden as he could face trial there over the leaking hundreds of thousands of secret U.S. military and diplomatic documents. It was in August 2010 that Assange was detained in his absence during a visit to Sweden, where two women accused him of sexual assault, including rape. British police arrested him in London months later. He was first released on bail but later a British court determined that he should be handed over to Sweden. After spending some time in house arrest, Assange managed to get to the Ecuadorian embassy in London, and was granted asylum. However, since he risked arrest if stepping out on British soil, Assange has been holed at the embassy for five years. Swedish prosecutors continued to insist on questioning Assange in Sweden, but he was finally questioned by Equadorian prosecutors at the London embassy in November last year. Assange's testimony was then translated and handed over to the Swedes. Earlier this month, Assange, via his lawyer, demanded that the arrest warrant against him be suspended since the United States had declared that they intended to imprison him. "In view of the fact that all prospects of pursuing the investigation under present circumstances are exhausted, it appears that it is no longer proportionate to maintain the arrest of Julian Assange in his absence," Ny said on Friday. "Consequently, there is no basis upon which to continue the investigation." The case against Assange could be resumed were he to return to Sweden before the statute of limitation for the crime he is suspected of runs out in 2020. He may also be arrested if he steps out of the Ecuadorian embassy, according to police in Britain, where authorities claim Assange broke his bail terms when he interrupted his house arrest to apply for political asylum at the London embassy. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 23:06:13|Editor: MJ Video Player Close Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines Pantaleon Alvarez in Beijing, capital of China, May 19, 2017. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo) BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang Friday met with Pantaleon Alvarez, speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines, calling for continued improvement of bilateral ties. Li told Alvarez, in a meeting held at the Zhongnanhai leadership compound in central Beijing, that it is in line with the fundamental interests of both countries and peoples and conducive to the peace, stability and development in the region that China and the Philippines develop a good-neighborly relationship. China is willing to enhance mutual trust with the Philippines, step up cooperation and boost exchanges to expand common interests and solve disputes properly, said Li. He called for consolidation of the foundation of public opinions that had helped put bilateral relations back on track, to ensure the healthy and stable development of the relationship. Li also called on the two legislative bodies to strengthen exchanges and make greater contribution to bilateral friendship. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The Philippines is the ASEAN rotating president this year. Li said China supports the work of the Philippines and is ready to work with all parties to increase China-ASEAN ties and regional cooperation in East Asia. Alvarez said the Congress of the Philippines supports the endeavor of President Rodrigo Duterte to improve and develop relations with China. As pragmatic cooperation between the Philippines and China keeps producing new results, this will help the Asian countries to build consensus and pursue cooperation, he said. He also welcomed Li to visit the Philippines and attend the East Asian Leaders' meetings on cooperation to be held in the country later this year. China's top legislator Zhang Dejiang held talks with Alvarez Friday. Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) of China, said the NPC attaches great importance to relations with the Philippine Congress and would like to cooperate on governance, legislation and supervision. He called on the two legislative bodies to increase exchanges, provide legal and policy support to pragmatic cooperation between the two countries and help expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges. Alvarez said the Philippines backs the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China, believing it will contribute to Asia's development and prosperity. He said the House of Representatives hopes to enhance cooperation with the NPC via setting up a parliamentary friendship group. Alvarez is paying a visit to China from Thursday to Sunday at the invitation of Zhang. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 23:31:30|Editor: MJ Video Player Close The first meeting of the China-Philippines bilateral consultation mechanism on the South China Sea is held in Guiyang, capital of southwest China's Guizhou Province, May 19, 2017. (Xinhua/Liu Xu) GUIYANG, May 19 (Xinhua) -- China and the Philippines Friday confirmed the establishment of a biannual bilateral consultation mechanism (BCM) on the South China Sea. The announcement was made in a joint press release issued after the first meeting of the China-Philippines BCM on the South China Sea. Under the BCM, officials from the respective foreign ministries and maritime affairs agencies will meet alternately in China and the Philippines once every six months. Consensus on setting up the BCM was reached at the diplomatic consultations between the two foreign ministries this January, the release said. During the just concluded first meeting, which was co-chaired by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin and Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Sta. Romana, both sides reiterated their commitment to cooperate and to find ways forward to strengthen mutual trust and confidence. The two sides exchanged views on the importance of addressing concerns in the South China Sea and handling disputes there in an appropriate manner. Noting the South China sea issue has "returned to the positive trajectory" in bilateral relations, Romana said in his opening remarks that the Philippines is confident in the resilience of ties with China. Both sides reaffirmed the importance of maintaining and promoting peace and stability, freedom of navigation in and flight above the South China Sea, addressing their territorial and jurisdictional disputes by peaceful means, without resorting to the threat or use of force, through friendly consultations and negotiations by sovereign states directly concerned. China-Philippines relations have seen "a beautiful turn around," Liu told the press Thursday, adding that China highly appreciates the positive, friendly and constructive attitude adopted by the Duterte government. The significance of the meeting lies in the fact the Philippines has returned to the right track of bilateral consultation and managing differences properly with China, Liu said. It shows the Philippines' agreement on adherence to the China-championed "dual-track" approach, which calls for disputes to be resolved peacefully through negotiation between directly concerned parties, and for China and ASEAN members to work together to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, said Wu Shicun, president of the National Institute for South China Sea Studies. The two countries are telling the international community that they are capable of handling issues of common concern without a third party's interference, Wu stressed. The success of the first BCM meeting represents an important signal that China and the Philippines are jointly moving toward an early conclusion on the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, Wu said, while adding that further efforts are needed from all parties on the issue. The two sides held discussions on issues including the promotion of next-step practical maritime cooperation and the possible establishment of technical working groups. Liu said China hoped there would be some joint development in gas and oil before maritime disputes are ultimately solved. According to the press release, the second meeting of the BCM will be held in the Philippines in the second half of this year. "The word mechanism demonstrates the bilateral consultation will be institutionalized rather than just a once-off thing," Liu said. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 23:36:32|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close THE HAGUE, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The Dutch national action committee for school pupils (Landelijk Actie Komite Scholieren, LAKS) was attacked by ransomware WannaCry on Thursday, but the problem was corrected by the end of Friday, the students' organization announced. It was the second WannaCry victim in the Netherlands since the malware hit globally a week ago. "We are struck by the same cyber attack that struck hospitals in the United Kingdom last week," said LAKS spokesperson, adding, "the fault was rectified at the end of Friday." LAKS's exam complaint site was hit because the server of its system was affected by the ransomware. LAKS said it paid no ransom. "Fortunately we have a backup of all the complaints about the school exams this year. They were put on another server this morning." So far, only the parking company Q Park in the Netherlands reported infection by WannaCry ransomware, which attacked millions of computers in some 150 countries. The Dutch national cyber security council confirmed earlier this week that the Netherlands suffered little impact, but urged everyone to stay alert. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 23:51:53|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close CHANGSHA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Central China's Hunan Province has honored a scientist for his contribution to a deep-sea drilling system. Wan Buyan from Hunan University of Science and Technology was awarded a prize for a multi-purpose drilling system that he helped develop. The system gives China the ability to drill more than 50 meters into the seabed at a depth of more than 3, 000 meters, a significant achievement. According to Wan, another drilling system project has been approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology, which could be used in future detection for storage and formation of combustible ice. "The news that China has succeeded in collecting samples of combustible ice in the South China Sea has given us great encouragement," Wan said. "The new project could start as early as next month." Currently the most advanced drilling rig can go about 200 meters into the seabed, but Wan said the new project could reach about 230 meters under the seafloor. The success of his current drilling system has laid a solid foundation for future development, and Wan said that the new project could be used in the exploration and development of many other resources in addition to combustible ice. Supporters of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange shout slogans as he delivers a speech from the balcony of Ecuadorean Embassy in London, Britain, on Dec. 20, 2012. (Xinhua/Bimal Gautam) PARIS, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, will appeal for asylum in France to avoid extradition to the United States where he could face trial over the publication of classified documents, his lawyer Juan Branco said Friday. Branco told France Info radio that since the allegations over sex crimes were dropped in Sweden, Assange would now try to leave the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he has been staying since 2012, and ask for political asylum in France. "It would be the responsibility of France to give him political asylum," Branco said. Assange has been living at the embassy to avoid extradition to Sweden over alleged rape which he had denied. Since the investigation surrounding rape charges was dropped on Friday, the Australian computer programmer now risks being extradited by Sweden to the United States to stand trial for allegedly leaking military U.S. reports and documents showing Washington had spied on world leaders, his defense lawyer said. "Threats have been stated by (U.S. President) Donald Trump himself a few weeks ago aiming to jail Julian Assange for life because of his activities as a journalist and his revelation of corruption scandals and crime against humanity," he added. In 2015, Assange asked France to grant him political asylum status, but his request was rejected. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-19 23:56:55|Editor: MJ Video Player Close BERLIN, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The German Federal Parliament (Bundestag) has passed new laws which provide stricter rules on refugee deportation, monitoring and personal data access, local media reported Friday. The laws, passed on Thursday evening, are aimed at rejected asylum seekers that pose a security risk to the country. The laws will allow German officials to deport rejected asylum seekers more quickly and more regularly, and would improve "enforcement of deportation rulings", according to the Bundestag. Deportation can now be imposed on rejected asylum seekers whether they can be re-expatriated within three months or not. The authorities will also have the right to detain asylum seekers for a maximum of 10 days (previously four) if they suspect the individual to be a security threat. The new legislation was already agreed in February, however Chancellor Merkel, her CDU Party and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) agreed to make several stricter amends just before the new legislation went to vote. The stricter modifications mean that certain asylum seekers, including those who provide false identification or refuse to leave Germany once a deportation ruling has passed, will now have their freedom of movement severely restricted. In addition, any asylum seekers that have few prospects in Germany will be asked to remain in reception centers until their asylum request has been processed. The new legislation has come under harsh criticism by human rights groups and welfare organizations which deem the legislation to be an assault on the fundamental rights of those seeking protection. German newspaper Die Welt on Friday quoted a legal expert as saying that new data access law, in particular for personal smartphones, is a "major encroachment into the privacy of tens of thousands of people." German Federal Minister of the Interior, Thomas De Maiziere, defended the new legislation and stated that those who seek protection will receive help and integration from Germany and those with dishonest intentions will receive "hardship and repatriation". The change in law comes after Anis Amri, the Berlin Christmas market attacker who killed 12 people last year, had his deportation order waived because Germany did not receive the necessary paperwork from the Tunisian government. On Thursday, local media also reported that Amri was already known to the Berlin police as a drug trafficker prior to the attack but was not apprehended. NAIROBI, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Friday appealed for 92 million U.S. dollars to alleviate the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Somalia. ICRC Global Director of Operations Dominik Stillhart told a media briefing in Nairobi that up to 6 million people are in urgent need of food in the Horn of African nation. "We are appealing to the international community to extend assistance in order to avoid deaths from lack of food," Stillhart said after visiting Somalia to access the humanitarian situation. Stillhart noted that the main driver of food insecurity is the ongoing protracted conflict as well as the systematic lack of respect of international law and especially in conflict affected areas. The humanitarian agency said that the real crisis is in the rural areas which have experienced two consecutive seasons of drought. ICRC said that due to the prevailing conflict in Somalia there are 150,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the town of Baidoa, which is double the amount last year. According to humanitarian agencies, up to 250,000 Somalis died due to the 2011 drought. "However, there is hope, the drought will end soon given the early signs from the current rainfall season," he added. He observed that even if the rains are good, there will be no immediate change as the resilience of the people needs to be built to overcome future shocks. Since January, ICRC has reached 1 million beneficiaries in Somalia. ICRC is also appealing for 450 million from international donors to combat drought situation in Yemen, Somalia, South Sudan and Nigeria. ADDIS ABABA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and Sweden on Friday signed funding agreement amounting to 7.2 million U.S. dollars in support of UNFPA's country program in Ethiopia. The fund from Sweden is utilized to support UNFPA's 8th country program implemented in 2016-2020 in eight regions of the East African country, in responding to national priorities as articulated in Ethiopia's 2nd Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP II) and various sectoral plans. The funding provided by Sweden will partly go to support UNFPA'shumanitarian responses in Ethiopia, according to UNFPA. Rakoto Victor, UNFPA Acting Country Representative, and Annika Jayawarden, Head of Bilateral Development Cooperation at Swedish Embassy in Ethiopia, have signed the agreement at a ceremony held in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia. Expressing her country's commitment to supporting areas of gender equality and sexual and reproductive health, Jayawarden highly appreciated Sweden's strong partnership with UNFPA. UNFPA says its 8th country program in Ethiopia will address increased access to and use of health services focusing, among others, on maternal and new-born health; increased capacity of national institutions; increased participation and decision making by women and youth in benefiting from targeted services. The funding from Sweden will also go to support UNFPA's humanitarian response which aims to improve sexual and reproductive health care in refugee camps for South Sudanese refugees and surrounding host communities. The support from Sweden will be very instrumental in realizing the various programmatic interventions of UNFPA in Ethiopia, which in turn helps the country achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs),such as reducing maternal death, poverty and gender inequality, noted the UNFPA Acting Country Representative. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-20 00:42:28|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close COLOMBO, May 19 (Xinhua) -- A passenger plane with over 200 passengers on board made an emergency landing at Sri Lanka's Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) late Friday evening. Sri Lanka's Civil Aviation Authority said the Qatar Airways flight made the emergency landing after reporting a fire on board. The Qatar Airways flight Dreamliner was flying between Thailand and Doha when it made the emergency landing at BIA. "QR 841 was carrying 202 passengers and made an emergency landing," Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority H.M.C Nimalsiri said. He said the BIA was placed on alert for the landing and the flight landed safely. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-20 00:42:29|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ISLAMABAD, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Twenty six militants belonging to various outlawed terrorist groups surrendered to the government in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province on Friday, as part of the ongoing reconciliation process, officials said. Anwarul Haq Kakar, spokesperson of the Balochistan government, said the militants also surrendered their weapons to the authorities at a ceremony attended by senior military and civil officials of the province. The insurgents laid down their weapons under the leadership of the commander Omar Baloch, a member of a banned outfit involved in carrying out terrorist activities in the province. "We are denouncing violence and will now work for the country and nation," Baloch said. Speaking at the event, Senator Niamatullah Khan Zehri said more than 1,600 militants have abandoned their bloody armed struggle against the state in the last two years. Col. Rizwan from the Pakistani Army welcomed the ex-militants and urged them to work for the peace and development of not only Balochistan but of greater Pakistan. It is the second time when militants surrendered to the government within a month in Balochistan. Earlier on April 21, 434 militants laid down their weapons and surrendered to the authorities in the provincial capital of Quetta. BERLIN, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The German Federal Parliament (Bundestag) discussed a new, controversial legislative bill against hate speech on Friday. The bill, submitted to parliament in April, will see social media companies subject to fines of up to 50 million euros (55.96 million U.S. dollars) for failing to remove hate speech and fake news. Federal Minister of Justice Heiko Maas (Social Democratic Party of Germany, SPD) aims to force operators of social networks to delete illegal content such as defamation or hate speech within 24 hours after receipt of a user complaint or one week of being posted. The legislative bill is heavily criticized by the German Alliance for Freedom of Speech consisting, among others, of high-ranking lawmakers of CDU (Christian Democratic Union of Germany) and SPD, Germany's digital association Bitkom and the German Federation of Journalists. The alliance warned against implementing laws against hate speech too hastily without taking into account the underlying causes. It criticized that criminal judicature is being outsourced to private companies. "I do not see how Facebook, for example, would be qualified to examine the legality of contents," Bavarian Minister for Economic Affairs Ilse Aigner told German news agency DPA. The legislative bill also encounters criticism from within Maas' ruling coalition. Deputy Chairperson of the CDU parliamentary group Nadine Schoen told German newspaper Das Parlament: "The law has to be improved substantially in order to be accepted by society as a whole." Maas defends the bill on German newspaper Passauer Neue Presse, arguing that "operators of social networks have to respect our laws." The law would serve to enforce this respect to strengthen and protect freedom of speech against those who breach it, according to Maas. "Hate on the internet is freedom of speech's true enemy. The established practice shows that unfortunately not too much but too little is deleted," Maas said in the Federal Cabinet Friday. He also pointed out that the operators of social networks are already responsible for deleting illegal content, according to German law. WARSAW, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Polish President Andrzej Duda on Friday said Poland is and has been open to people in need but "I cannot imagine a situation in which someone is forced to come to Poland and is kept here." His comments came after a meeting here with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier. "Poland is an open country but I say a firm no when I hear about plans of obligatory relocation of people to Poland," said Duda, adding that the Europe needed cooperation and solidarity. "Anyone who wants and needs it can come to Poland and will be offered assistance, but I hope that no one will be ever forced to stay here," he added. The German president called Poland "the core of Europe", and said it was necessary for Europe to be united in order to overcome the European crisis. "It is very important now for 27 EU countries to be united, and Poland is needed to reach this goal," Steinmeier said. Duda also expressed hope that French President Emmanuel Macron would issue an invitation for a trilateral meeting of the Weimar Triangle, a cooperation formula between France, Germany and Poland. Steinmeier and his wife Elke Buedenbender arrived in Warsaw Friday as part of his first official visit to Poland as German president. The two leaders also discussed Brexit and bilateral cooperation. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-20 01:07:43|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close GENEVA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The UN Special Envoy for Syria announced Friday that the latest round of Syria peace talks ended, and he will work to resume negotiations between warring factions "sometime in June." UN envoy Staffan de Mistura told the press that not all of the "four baskets", namely governance, a new constitution, elections, and the war on terrorism, were addressed given the brevity of discussions which lasted only four days. He did however stress that the establishment this week of expert meetings on legal and constitutional issues, to which both the Syrian government delegation and its major opposition counterpart agreed, could help push forward the political track in future negotiations. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-20 01:17:47|Editor: ZD Video Player Close Wikileaks founder Julian Assange speaks to a crowd of reporters and supporters from the balcony of the Ecuadorean embassy in London, Britain, on May 19, 2017. Julian Assange said on Friday that Sweden's decision to drop a rape investigation against him is a "victory" and he is looking for dialogue with British and U.S. authorities over his future. (Xinhua/Han Yan) LONDON, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Wikileaks founder Julian Assange said on Friday that Sweden's decision to drop a rape investigation against him is a "victory" and he is looking for dialogue with British and U.S. authorities over his future. Speaking to a crowd of reporters and supporters from the balcony of the Ecuadorean embassy in London, Assange said "today is an important victory" for him and for the UN human rights system, while noting that his battle is "far form over." Sweden began a rape probe on Assange since 2010. He then chose to remain in the London embassy as he fears extradition to Sweden would lead to extradition to the United States, where he is wanted over the leaking of hundreds of thousands of secret military and diplomatic documents. He said Friday that he will not forgive and forget the seven-year detention without charge and the five years in the embassy without sunlight. "Seven years without charge while my children grew up without me. That is not something I can forgive," the 45-year-old said, calling what he suffered "terrible injustice." He made a short appearance and did not take any questions. Sweden's top prosecutor Marianne Ny said in a statement earlier Friday that she has decided to discontinue the investigation about sex-crime allegations against Assange from two women. Despite that, London police said they are still obliged to arrest Assange if he left the embassy, because he breached bail conditions by failing to hand himself in for extradition to Sweden. Assange told his supporters his legal staff have contacted the British authorities, hoping for a dialogue over his future, and he would also be "happy to engage" in talks with the United States. NAIROBI, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan police have rescued six Iranians who were stranded in the Indian Ocean for three months, authorities said on Friday. Police spokesman George Kinoti said the Iranians were rescued by the maritime police unit who were on their routine border patrol within the Indian Ocean. "They were established to be a crew of a fishing boat christened MV, Al Muhamadu from the Port of Chabah in Iran," Kinoti said in a statement issued in Nairobi. He said the Iranians will be handed over to their embassy officials who will organize their return. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-20 01:58:04|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has downplayed the resolution issued by the European Parliament on Ethiopia that criticized the east African country over human right concerns. The European Parliament on Thursday issued a resolution condemning Ethiopia for not respecting its own Constitution and human rights, notably on the case of the arrested opposition figure Merera Gudina. According to the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "the resolution lacks some understanding of the situation in the country on topics such as the state of emergency, human rights and the arrest of Merera Gudina." "As a leader of a political party, Merera Gudina is particularly supposed to respect and protect the laws and to know that anyone who breaches the law will be held accountable, and the European Parliament should also acknowledge this," local news media FBC quoted the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs saying. The state of emergency prohibits meeting with individuals or organizations proscribed by the Ethiopian Parliament as terrorists. "While the resolution of the European Parliament is calling an international investigation into the protests, it has to be noted that Ethiopia is endowed with its own investigation mechanisms," the Ministry indicated. According to a recent report by the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, 669 people were killed in connection with the violent demonstrations, majority of them were civilians. While the Commission said that in most cases, measures taken by security officers were legal and proportionate, it also indicated that security officers used unnecessary force in some occasions. The Ethiopian government has released close to 20,000 individuals who were detained in connection with the violent demonstrations, representing 90 percent of the total arrested. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-20 02:03:06|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The one-stop border post connecting Ethiopia and Kenya is near completion and will commence service within the coming two months period, according to the Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA). While the construction of the Ethiopian segment is now close to completion at 98 percent, Kenya has already completed construction of its border post. The completion of the Ethiopian part will enable the service provision. The one stop border post, under construction along the border between Ethiopia and Kenya in Moyale area is built together with the Hawassa-Moyale road project in Ethiopia, Samson Wondimu, communication director of the Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA) told Xinhua on Friday. Part of the Mombassa-Nairobi-Addis Ababa road corridor, the 502 km Hawassa-Moyale road project is a 5.6 billion Ethiopian birr (244 million U.S. dollars) project under construction in 6 phases by Chinese, Indian and Egypt construction companies and expected to be fully operational in a two years period, he said. The one-stop border post together with 100km Mega-Moyale road project is under construction by an Indian construction company, according to Samson. Kenya and Ethiopia have signed a bilateral agreement back in 2011 to develop the joint border point and road that will enhance bilateral trade relations between the two east African neighboring countries. The Mombassa-Nairobi-Addis Ababa road corridor is an important segment of the Trans-African Highway corridor from Cairo to Cape Town. Once completed, the road corridor would help reduce transport and shipping costs of goods between the two neighboring east African countries. It is also expected to foster the people to people relations between Ethiopia and Kenya, it was noted. Enditem This file photo taken on April 25, 2017 shows a U.S. officer, from the US-led coalition, speaking with a fighter from the Kurdish People's Protection Units at the site of Turkish airstrikes near northeastern Syrian Kurdish town of Derik. (AFP) MOSCOW, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The new U.S. strike on Syrian government forces by the U.S.-led coalition undermines anti-terrorism efforts in the region, TASS cited a Russian official as saying Friday. "The new U.S. strike on government troops in Syria is a continuation of Washington's non-constructive policy," said Leonid Slutsky, the head of the International Affairs Committee of the State Duma, the lower chamber of the Russian parliament. He said that the unilateral action undoubtedly hinders the negotiation process on a Syrian settlement and undermines anti-terrorism cooperation and coordination. Russia supports the cease-fire in Syria while the United States weakens the effort fighting against terrorist groups, he added. Earlier it was reported that the U.S.-led coalition attacked a Syrian government convoy Thursday. The strike took place within a de-escalation zone, where all military activity is banned under a deal, which was brokered by Russia, Iran and Turkey during the May 3-4 negotiations in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-20 02:18:19|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KAMPALA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Uganda is on alert following an outbreak of the deadly Ebola hemorrhagic fever in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), a top health official said on Thursday. Sarah Opendi, minister of state for health told Xinhua by telephone that the country's National Health Task Force has been reactivated. The team met on Tuesday, discussed and agreed on all measures to be taken following the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo, said Opendi. She said health workers in Uganda's western border districts have been put on alert to monitor people coming in from DR Congo. "We have written to all District Health Officers to increase on surveillance, raise public awareness and alert the people about the Ebola outbreak" in DR Cong, said Opendi. She urged the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious cases to health workers for immediate attention. She said the ministry of health is going to open an Ebola screening desk at Entebbe International Airport, 40 km south of the capital Kampala. "We have minimal chances that the epidemic will reach here because the outbreak is far away from the borders," she said, adding "But we can't take chances" because of a lot of movements between Uganda and DR Congo. Ebola last broke out in Uganda in 2012, leaving over 20 people dead. The DR Congo health ministry on Friday confirmed the outbreak of an Ebola epidemic in its northern province of Bas-Uele, with at least one death. The Ebola virus is highly contagious and causes a range of symptoms including fever, vomiting, diarrhea, generalized pain or malaise and in many cases internal and external bleeding. Mortality rates of Ebola fever, according to the World Health Organization, are extremely high, with the human case-fatality rate ranging from 50 percent to 89 percent, depending on viral subtype. Enditem Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte speak at the Leaders' Roundtable Summit of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation at Yanqi Lake International Convention Center in Beijing, capital of China, May 15, 2017. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) MOSCOW, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in Moscow on May 25, the Kremlin said Friday. The two leaders will discuss the current state and prospects for the development of bilateral cooperation in the political, trade-economic and cultural-humanitarian spheres, said the Kremlin in a statement. Putin and Duterte will also exchange views on international and regional issues with a focus on ensuring stability and security in the Asia-Pacific region, it said. The two countries are also expected to adopt a joint statement and sign a number of bilateral documents, according to the Kremlin. LUSAKA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The World Bank on Friday expressed satisfaction over Zambia's economic recovery program and pledged to support it to help the southern African nation stabilize its economy. Visiting World Bank Group Vice President for the African Region Makhtar Diop said the bank was happy with the steps the government has taken in its recovery program and was fully behind the move by the authorities to seek a financial bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In remarks delivered when he paid a courtesy call on President Edgar Lungu, the World Bank vice-president expressed optimism that the recovery plan would help to stabilize and grow the economy which faced sluggishness in 2015 and 2016. The World Bank, he said, was ready to supplement government efforts in its development agenda and announced that 600 million U.S. dollars under its International Development Assistance(IDA) was available for Zambia to access over a period of three years. The financing facility represents a 74 percent increase from the previous one and among the key components include 200 million dollars towards the rehabilitation of feeder roads in rural parts of the country and a further 150 million dollars as direct budget support. On his part, the Zambian thanked the World Bank for its continued support to the country's development agenda over the years. He however called on the World Bank to increase its support to social sectors such as the country's social protection scheme. The World Bank vice-president arrived in Zambia on Thursday for a three-day visit to hold consultative meetings with the government and other stakeholders on the country's development priorities and the bank's future support. He is also expected to visit the eastern part of the country to learn about Zambia's experience in building resilient rural livelihoods aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change through sustainable land management practices. Zambia announced an economic recovery plan dubbed "Zambia Plus" aimed at ensuring sustained and inclusive growth. The government has since initiated talks with the IMF for a possible bailout program which was expected to be concluded in the first half of this year. The government was seeking as much as 1.6 billion dollars from the IMF. KIEV, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine's Interdepartmental Commission on International Trade (ICIT) has decided to renew anti-dumping duties on imports of nitrogen fertilizers from Russia, the Ukrainian Economic Development and Trade Ministry said on Friday. The anti-dumping duties of 31.84 percent will apply to all producers of carbamide and carbamide-ammonia mixture, the ministry said in a statement. The ICIT said it put in place the restrictive measures after an investigation found that Russian fertilizers were imported to Ukraine at dumping prices, affecting local fertilizer producers. In December 2016, the ICIT had imposed the anti-dumping duties on nitrogen fertilizers from Russia, but one month later it lifted the restrictions on the request of the Ukrainian Agriculture Ministry. For years, Russia had been largest fertilizer supplier to Ukraine, accounting for between 80 percent and 90 percent of the market. Last year, Ukraine imported 907,000 tons of nitrogen fertilizers from Russia totally worth about 162 million U.S. dollars. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-20 02:43:27|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KIGALI, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda on Friday kicked off new screening measures at its official border posts with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), in order to detect the deadly Ebola virus that has been reported in the neighboring country last month. Anyone entering Rwanda via official border posts with the DR Congo in Rubavu and Rusizi districts will go through temperature screening procedures, said a statement released by the Rwanda ministry of health on Friday. "The screening, which began today, is done using non-contact infrared laser thermometers. In readiness to detect any Ebola cases, the Kigali International Airport will continue the fever screening using a heat scan machine which is also in compliance to the international standards," the ministry said in the statement. All travelers with fever will not be allowed to enter Rwanda and all passengers who have been to the affected areas in DR Congo within the last 22 days will be stopped from boarding flights to Rwanda. The health ministry has however assured the general population that there has been no case of Ebola virus in Rwanda, but called on them to remain vigilant and report any suspected case to the nearest health facility. Enditem ROME, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The Italian cabinet on Friday approved a decree to make vaccines compulsory for all for all school starters. The vaccinations will be required in order for children to be eligible for nursery school, affecting newborns to children who are three years of age, and for those attending kindergarten (three to six years old). "The decree makes compulsory a number of vaccines previously simply recommended, and some of them are crucial, such as those against measles and meningitis," Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni told a press conference after the cabinet meeting. "The lack of appropriate measures and the spread of unscientific behaviors and theories over the years, and especially in the last months, has caused a reduction in the protection level," he added. The decree brought mandatory vaccinations from four to 12 overall and now comprise vaccines against mumps, measles, rubella, meningitis B and C, varicella, polio, tetanus, diphtheria, haemophilia B, hepatitis B, and pertussis. The provision came amid strong controversy in the country over the safety and utility of vaccines, and a consequent, considerable decrease in vaccinations. Earlier this week, Italy's National Health Institute reported 2,395 cases of measles between Jan. 1 and May 14, against 390 cases registered in the first four months of 2016. The new infections were quite homogeneously distributed across Italian regions, and 89 percent of the cases involved non-vaccinated people, the institute said. Health authorities have repeatedly warned against the risks of a rise in infectious diseases due to the drop in vaccinations. Italy turned from compulsory to voluntary infant vaccinations in schools in 1999. Over the years, such a move "has led to a coverage that is now significantly below 95 percent for the (four) vaccines compulsory so far," Health Minister Beatrice Lorenzin told reporters. "As for those that were not compulsory so far -- which we consider extremely important for the public health, nonetheless -- the current coverage is not even near 90 percent," she warned. When the controversy reached the political level, the center-left cabinet criticized opposition Five Star Movement (M5S) for allegedly fuelling fears among families, and spreading unscientific news on social media, about the risks of vaccinations. Anti-vaccination groups accused the government and pro-vaccine figures of pushing vaccinations for reasons not based on safety, but to boost pharmaceutical firms' profits and other economic interests. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-20 03:08:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TRIPOLI, May 19 (Xinhua) -- A car bomb explosion on Friday hit the eastern Libyan town of Sloog, killing six people, including a tribal leader. The car bomb hit outside of a local mosque during the Friday prayer, local media said. No group claimed responsibility for the attack, which took place a day following violent clashes in southern Libyan air base between the Libyan armed forces and a rival militia, killing dozens. Ebrek Al-Lawati, the leader of a tribe allied with General Khalifa Haftar's armed forces, was among the killed. "This cowardly attack aims to strike the strong social side of the legitimate authorities represented in the House of Representatives and its government, as well as the Libyan armed forces fighting terrorism," the eastern-based government strongly condemned in a statement. Libya has been suffering insecurity and chaos since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011. The country is plagued with unrest and political division. Enditem ADDIS ABABA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia plans to earn 290 million dollars annually from energy export by 2019, when the Ethio-Kenya electricity transmission and distributions lines are completed. The statement was made on Friday by Bizuneh Tolcha Public Relations and Communications Director at the Ethiopia Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy (MoWIE) who says both countries have already agreed that Kenya will import 400 Mega Watts (MW) of Energy from its northern neighbor. Ethiopia already earns about 80 million dollars of revenue annually by selling about 100 MW of energy to Sudan and 80 MW of energy to Djibouti. "Ethiopia already has commissioned the 1870 MW Gibe III hydro dam which the country expects to be largely the source of electricity exports to Kenya, once the infrastructure works is finished" says Tolcha. However, he says the Ministry is mindful that only about 56 percent of the population has access to the electricity grid and only 25 percent of household is connected to electricity in Ethiopia, and as such is undertaking large scale energy projects, electricity transmission and distribution lines to interconnect it. With a rising domestic demand as well as a desire to be a regional energy hub, Ethiopia is constructing Africa's largest hydro project a 6450 MW dam on Blue Nile River, which it hopes once completed will meet domestic demands and meet energy needs of foreign nations as far north to Egypt and as far south to Burundi. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-20 03:49:42|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ALGIERS, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Algerian army troops killed a drug trafficker and arrested four others in a wide-scale operation in the southernmost province of Adrar, Defense Ministry said in a statement on Friday. "As part of the fight against terrorism, a detachment of the National People's Army shot down a drug trafficker and arrested four others at the Military Sector of Adrar, 1,000 km south west Algiers," noted the statement. An RPK-type machine-gun, a Kalashnikov-type machine gun, three ammunition loaders, 2.6 quintals of treated cannabis, two vehicles and a satellite phone were retrieved during this operation. In the eastern province of Skikda, army troops discovered on Thursday a bunker containing two automatic pistols, a shotgun, a quantity of ammunition, computer equipment, medicines and bomb making tools, added the source. Located in a region plagued by unprecedented security and political instability, Algeria faces ongoing terrorist threats. Thousands of troops have been deployed on the western, southern and eastern borders of Algeria to thwart potential intrusion of terrorists and drug traffickers. Enditem CAPE TOWN, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The South African government is committed to an open dialogue about its nuclear program, Energy Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said on Friday. The government will ensure transparency and accountability during the process, Kubayi said in her budget vote speech in Parliament. "We will review all the determinations to ensure compliance with the judgment," she said. The minister was referring to the ruling by the Western High Court last month that orders the government to give up its nuclear program which the court says is "unconstitutional and unlawful." The court ruled that the government must set aside the deal which would see the procurement of 9.6 gigawatts of nuclear energy. The deal is expected to cost 1 trillion rand (about 77.5 billion U.S. dollars). The court says this is a deal that the country cannot afford. Kubayi reiterated her department's decision not to appeal the judgment. But Kubayi said the government will proceed with the signing of the new Inter Governmental Agreements with five countries, including Russia and the United States, in relation to nuclear cooperation and submit it to parliament within reasonable time. South Africa is the only country in Africa that utilize advanced nuclear technology for peaceful uses and socioeconomic development. The SA government has been trying to expand the nuclear program to make up power shortage which is expected to stall growth in gross domestic product (GDP). The SA cabinet approved the ambitious nuclear deal in December 2015. Preparations have been already underway for the bidding. Russia and the United States are believed to be front runners to win the bid. The SA government reportedly has signed an agreement with the Russian state-owned nuclear corporation, Rosatom, to develop nuclear energy. Kubayi said that as part of the government's energy mix policy, renewables remain one of the key areas to achieve the mandate of energy security. She said her ministry "has a critical role to play in ensuring that we secure the supply of energy and petroleum in the country". The sector currently contributes 300 billion rand (about 22.8 billion dollars) towards the country's GDP and accounts for 90,000 jobs. "It is our considered view that this sector has potential to contribute more towards GDP and can be able to create more jobs," she said. ALGIERS, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on Friday urged the elite to participate in tackling the current economic crisis, in a bid to block the road to the "orchestrated maneuvers" against the North African nation. "Competition between the national elite will undoubtedly raise the level of consciousness within the society and thus bar the way to the maneuvers being orchestrated both inside and outside the country, aiming at sowing doubt and despair among the people," Bouteflika said in a message at the 61st Anniversary of Student Day, celebrated in Algeria every May 19. The head of state urged the elite to explain the reasons of the economic crisis hitting Algeria and suggest practical solutions, adding that the North African nation has to work on diversifying its economy in a bid to get rid of full dependency on hydrocarbons. "The contribution of our elite in the form of expertise that can be used by the government and all institutions involved in the management of the country, is an imperative need," concluded Bouteflika. Algeria has been struggling to diversify its economy by providing several advantages for investors in sectors of tourism, industry and agriculture. The government was forced to reduce expenditure for 2017 over oil revenues decline, given that hydrocarbons account for 94 percent of the North African nation's total exports. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-20 04:35:05|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close SAN FRANCISCO, May 19 (Xinhua) -- A University of Washington (UW) study 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. Tiny molecules drive the chemical cocktail of 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 these emissions are called oxidants. These oxygen-containing molecules, mainly ozone and hydrogen-based detergents, react with pollutants and reactive greenhouse gases, such as methane. "Oxidants are very reactive, and they react with pollutants and greenhouse gases and clean up the atmosphere," said Becky Alexander, a UW associate professor of atmospheric sciences and corresponding author of the paper published in the journal Nature. "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, which are not directly preserved in ice cores. They 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 them 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. 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. However, instead of finding more ozone in the warmer climates, the authors found 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. "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." 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. A second possible explanation, the researchers said, is a less-understood group of oxidants: halogens. Researchers suspect these molecules 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 was quoted as saying in a news release. "Sea ice also changes with climate, of course." The authors suspect that both mechanisms, namely the high-level circulation and chemical reactions with halogens, could affect oxidants during big swings in Earth's temperature. ADDIS ABABA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- 39,390 refugees have arrived from January 1 to May 15 from the war torn nations of Somalia and South Sudan fleeing drought, conflict and food insecurity. The statement was made on Friday by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) which says with the new arrivals being mainly children and women, it's struggling to meet their basic needs. 34,346 refugees came from South Sudan which despite achieving independence in July 2011, was engulfed in a brutal civil war with forces broadly loyal to President Salva Kiir and his ex-vice president Riek Machar. 5,044 refugees came from Somalia which hasn't had a central government since January 1991, when its late military leader Mohammed Siad Barre was overthrown throwing the country in crisis ever since. UNHCR says with the new arrivals already adding to the constrained resources of the commission it has been finding it is difficult to meet the health, food and nutrition and shelter needs of the refugees. UNHCR says it's only getting 10 percent of the around 161 million dollars it needs to meet the needs of South Sudanese refugees and 13 percent of 102.7 million dollars it needs to meet the needs of Somalia refugees. Currently Ethiopia hosts 376,799 refugees from South Sudan and 250,000 refugees from Somalia. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-20 04:45:13|Editor: ZD Security members escort the convoys carrying food materials through the humanitarian corridor from Sudan's El Obied to Bentiu in Bahr el Ghazal State of South Soudan, May 19, 2017. The humanitarian corridors recently opened by Sudan government have contributed to the delivery of humanitarian aid to South Sudanese citizens and to lessening the famine there, according to aid organizations. (Xinhua/Mohamed Babiker) KHARTOUM, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The humanitarian corridors recently opened by Sudan government have contributed to the delivery of humanitarian aid to South Sudanese citizens and to lessening the famine there, according to aid organizations. Lama Baiesa, Director of the World Food Programme (WFP) Office in North Kordofan State, told reporters in El Obied Friday that the humanitarian corridors recently opened by Sudan government have helped in lessening the famine, namely at South Sudan's Upper Nile and Bahr el Ghazal areas. He said the WFP has steered 10 convoys carrying around 20,000 metric tons of food materials through the humanitarian corridor from El Obied to Bentiu in Bahr el Ghazal State, noting that the matter has lessened the suffering of those facing the risk of famine. "Today we would steer the 10th convoy of 38 trucks carrying 1,800 metric tons of food materials, including corn and some sheltering materials," he noted. Baiesa explained that the WFP, the local authorities and international partners are racing with time to deliver the biggest amount of humanitarian assistance before the advent of the rainy season which would block the roads. He reiterated that the humanitarian aid is flowing smoothly through the humanitarian corridors without any major barriers. Meanwhile, Ahmed Babikir Al-Hassan, Humanitarian Aid Commissioner in North Kordofan State, said that the humanitarian corridors have saved the time, decreased the cost and contributed to the delivery of assistance to the needy. Earlier, Khartoum has opened three humanitarian corridors to deliver humanitarian aid to the citizens of South Sudan at a time when international efforts are increasing to lessen the famine in the new-born state. The first land corridor extends from El Obied in North Kordofan to Heglig in South Kordofan and from there to Rubkona town in South Sudan's Unity State and then to Bentiu in Bahr el Ghazal State, the most affected area by the famine. The second corridor extends from Sudan's White Nile State to the northeast areas of South Sudan, while the third corridor links El Obied in Sudan's North Kordofan with Aweil town in South Sudan's Bahr el Ghazal. These humanitarian corridors help reduce reliance on air operations, which cost six to seven times in moving food by river and road. In addition to the land corridors, Khartoum has also promised to open a river corridor linking Kosti town in central Sudan with South Sudanese ports. The convoys need approximately four days to complete the journey which extends for 500 km. At least 7.5 million people across South Sudan, almost two thirds of the total population, need humanitarian assistance, according to UN statistics. South Sudan earlier announced that nearly five million people were facing the risk of famine which already hit areas in Unity State and approaching Bahr el Ghazal State. The famine was attributed to many reasons including the civil war and collapse of the economy in the new-born state. File photo taken on Feb. 24, 2017 shows U.S. President Donald Trump walking to the Oval Office of the White House in Washington D.C., the United States. April 29, 2017 marks the 100th day of Donald Trump's office as the 45th president of the United States. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) WASHINGTON, May 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump told senior Russian officials last week that his abrupt firing of FBI Director James Comey had eased "great pressure" on him from the FBI probe over his campaign's ties with Russia, a New York Times scoop report said, quoting a White House-leaked file summarizing the meeting. "I just fired the head of the F.B.I. He was crazy, a real nut job," Trump told Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Russian ambassador to the United States Sergey Kislyak in the Oval Office on May 10, the day after he dismissed Comey, according to the document. The New York Times said the document, which was based on notes taken from inside the Oval Office and has been circulated as the official account of the meeting, was read to the newspaper by a U.S. official. Afterwards, a second official confirmed the broad outlines of the discussion. "I faced great pressure because of Russia. That's taken off." Trump was quoted. "I'm not under investigation," the U.S. president told Russian officials. Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, did not dispute the account, only stressing that the ousted FBI chief had put unnecessary pressure on the president's ability to conduct diplomacy with Russia on matters such as Syria, Ukraine and the extreme terror group Islamic State. "By grandstanding and politicizing the investigation into Russia's actions, James Comey created unnecessary pressure on our ability to engage and negotiate with Russia," Spicer said. "The investigation would have always continued, and obviously, the termination of Comey would not have ended it. Once again, the real story is that our national security has been undermined by the leaking of private and highly classified conversations." said Spicer. Trump was using a negotiating tactic when he told Russian officials about the "great pressure" he was under, another U.S. official defended the president to the Times, suggesting that Trump's purpose was to create a sense of obligation with Russian officials and to coax concessions on certain issues. Trump is set to embark on his first overseas trip on Friday afternoon. The eight-day journey includes visits to Saudi Arabia, Israel, Italy and Belgium. The White House said earlier Friday that Trump will not pick new FBI director nominee before he leaves the country. On Thursday, Trump lashed out over the appointment of former FBI director Robert Mueller as the special counsel to probe Trump-Russia ties, saying that it "divides country." He said he had never colluded with Russia. "I believe it hurts our country terribly, because it shows we're a divided, mixed-up, not-unified country," Trump said at a luncheon with a group of television news anchors in the day. NAIROBI, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's health authorities have stepped on surveillance on cholera outbreak after two patients succumbed to the fatal water-borne disease on Friday in Vihiga County of Western Kenya. Vihiga County Health Executive Officer Quido Ahinduka said two other patients were treated and discharged from the county referral hospital at Kaimosi. "We are on high alert and has directed all health personnel to be on high alert following an outbreak for fear of spreading to other areas," Ahinduka said by telephone. Ahinduka said that a team of public health officials has been dispatched to the affected areas of Chango and Bugina (where two patients died) to monitor the situation. The incident comes following an earlier outbreak in Nairobi that has left five people hospitalized in different hospitals. Nairobi Health Executive Dr. Bernard Muia confirmed that laboratory tests conducted on the victims confirmed that they contracted cholera. He however said that the disease seem to have been imported from western Kenya by people who were attending a wedding in the city. He noted that the infected victims are experiencing general body weakness and abdominal pain. He cautioned residents of city to ensure they drink treated or boiled water to help keep the diseases away. Cholera is a potentially fatal water-borne disease transmitted through contaminated water and/or food. It causes watery diarrhea and vomiting that can rapidly lead to death through severe dehydration. Generally the cholera bacteria spreads in places with poor hygiene, where people do not use latrines to dispose off excreta, or do not wash their hands with soap or ash after defecation. by Ronald Ssekandi KAMPALA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- A UN official has urged Muslim leaders in Africa to join the fight against violent extremism, warning that its continued growth on the continent will reverse the development gains. Rosa Malango, the United Nation's Coordinator in Uganda, on May 15 said if the extremism is not addressed, it threatens to curtail Africa's development prospects for decades to come. She was speaking to a meeting of Muslim leaders and scholars from eastern and southern Africa who had convened in Uganda to discuss countering, responding and preventing violent extremism. The two-day meeting was organized by International Interfaith Peace Corps and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)'s Regional Service Centre for Africa. Malango said Muslim religious leaders must get involved noting that fighting against violent extremism was a collective responsibility. "The fact that violent extremism has been affecting Muslims and Muslim communities most, highlights the need for the engagement of Muslim religious leaders if we are to help communities that are vulnerable to the activities and operations of violent extremist groups," she said. She said communities need to be empowered to be a vital part of the solution to the growth of violent extremism. Sheikh Shaban Mubajje, the head of Muslims in Uganda said it is the responsibility of Muslims to stand up and educate the people about Islam and the fact that it does not promote violent extremism. "Terrorism is the epitome of injustice because it takes innocent lives and the Koran calls all Muslims to act justly. Acts of terrorism are therefore 'Haram', forbidden in Islam," Mubajje said. At the end of the meeting, the Muslim leaders and scholars agreed on a framework to enable them to work together to fight against all forms of extremist activities in the name of Islam. They also reaffirmed a declaration made by Muslim leaders in West Africa against all forms of extremism in the name of Islam. According to the UN, violent extremism has had a devastating social and economic impact across the Africa. Groups such as Boko Haram in Nigeria and Al-Shabaab in Somalia have forced hundreds of thousands of people from their homes, increasing instability in the region. UNDP figures show that since 2011, more than 21,000 people have been killed in over 4,000 terrorist attacks in Africa. The operations of Boko Haram, for example, have internally displaced 1.2 million people and forced more than 200,000 Nigerians to flee to Cameroon, Chad and Niger. In Kenya, Al-Shabaab activities have resulted in an estimated 25 percent drop in the tourism sector, a vital source of jobs and income for the country. According to the global body, countries must address issues that drive youths away from productive lives and draw them to mayhem and destruction. In late 2015, the UNDP launched a four-year program to help African countries prevent the growth of violent extremism. UNDP argues that violent extremism can be prevented or responded to through a development approach where by individuals and institutions are constantly engaged to understand the drivers of extremism. For proper implementation of its program, UNDP classified countries into three categories, Epicenter countries (Nigeria, Mali, Somalia and Libya) where extremist groups are active; Spillover countries (Cameroon, Chad, Kenya, Mauritania, Niger and Tunisia) where impacts are being felt and; At risk countries which exhibit some underlying and root causes of violent extremism. At risk countries include Central African Republic, Sudan, Tanzania, Senegal, Morocco and Uganda. KIEV, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister Stepan Kubiv on Friday spoke highly of his recent visit to the Belt and Road Forum in China, saying it has brought fruitful results. "This visit highlighted Ukraine's integration into the global community of economic and trade relations, the formation of new principles, the new policy and Ukraine's role in the Silk Road," Kubiv told reporters here at a media briefing. During the visit to Beijing, the Ukrainian delegation reached a series of agreements with China on enhancing cooperation in infrastructure, transport, aviation industry, logistics and machine-building, he said. Kubiv headed the Ukrainian delegation to the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, which was held on May 14-15. 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. Ukraine has formally joined the Silk Road project in 2015, launching a train to China via the sea-rail Trans-Caspian International Transport Route through Georgia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-20 05:45:50|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close WASHINGTON, May 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Friday the Pentagon had not made any recommendations on U.S. troop levels for Afghanistan to the White House. "On the number of troops, no, I have not made a recommendation yet," said Mattis here at a Pentagon briefing. "That recommendation is being put together by the chairman (of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford) and myself, and I expect it'll go to decision very very soon." U.S. media reported earlier this month that U.S. President Donald Trump was close to decide on whether to send hundreds of additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan. National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster said on May 12 that Trump would discuss the issue with allies at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in Brussels and Group 7 meeting in Italy later this month. Former U.S. President Barack Obama had planned to reduce the current number of 9,800 U.S. troops in Afghanistan to some 5,500 by the end of 2015 and withdraw all troops by the end of 2016 when his presidency came to an end. However, given the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan, the Obama administration repeatedly postponed the withdrawal. U.S. National Intelligence Director Dan Coats warned earlier this month that the situation in Afghanistan would most likely deteriorate in the future even if the United States and its allies offer more military aid. Currently, there are about 8,400 U.S. troops and another 5,000 NATO forces in Afghanistan to train and assist Afghan forces against the Taliban and conduct counter-terrorism missions. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-20 05:50:53|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close NEW YORK, May 19 (Xinhua) -- China Investment Corporation (CIC), the sovereign wealth fund, plans to make more direct investments in the United States, as it sees greater trade and investment potential in the world's largest economy, CIC said on Friday Tu Guangshao, vice chairman and president of CIC, said setting up overseas branches is a strategic move for the fund to expand global outreach, deepen partnership, and improve investment capabilities. China's sovereign wealth fund held an opening ceremony of its New York representative office and an investment seminar on Friday. The New York representative office's main function, Tu explained, includes conducting research on North American economy, financial market and regulation policies, strengthening cooperation with business partners, collecting project information and providing support for the headquarters. "It will also stay well-connected with local government agencies and regulatory bodies to enhance CIC's reputation and image as a responsible institutional investor," he said. Tu is optimistic that China and the United States will expand cooperation on investment as the two countries are in mutual need of closer bilateral ties. For China, outbound investment has become a key component in the sustainable development of its economy, as Tu observed. He said that for the United States, President Donald Trump's pro-business policies including tax reform, deregulation and infrastructure plan, if effectively implemented, will further boost corporate spending, capacity utilization, and labor productivity. "As an effective source of funding for these policies, foreign investment will serve as an important driver for the U.S. economy," Tu said in a keynote speech. According to Tu, U.S. holdings currently accounts for approximately 40 percent of the fund's overseas portfolio, but mostly in open market. He added that the fund is looking to change its investment strategy but the process will be a gradual one. Headquartered in Beijing, CIC started with an initial funding of 200 billion U.S. dollars. By the end of 2015, its total assets had surpassed 810 billion dollars. As China's sovereign wealth fund, CIC serves as a vehicle to diversify China's foreign exchange holdings and seek maximum returns for its shareholder within acceptable risk tolerance. Missile force of Korean People's Army attend a military parade in central Pyongyang, April 15, 2017. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Saturday showcased its military muscles by parading all of its most-advanced ballistic and tactic missiles, including a submarine-launched ballistic missile which could strike targets 1000 km away. (Xinhua/Cheng Dayu) WASHINGTON, May 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis warned on Friday that military solution to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) nuclear issue would be "tragic on an unbelievable scale." "So our effort is to work with the U.N., work with China, work with Japan, work with South Korea to try to find a way out of this situation," said Mattis here at a Pentagon briefing. Tension has remained high on the Korean Peninsula over the past months between the United States and the DPRK over the U.S. threat to stage military attacks against Pyongyang in response to its nuclear and missile programs. The United States and South Korea also held their largest-ever joint military exercises in the past two months. At the end of April, the USS Carl Vinson nuclear aircraft carrier task group arrived in the waters off the Korean Peninsula for a separate joint naval exercise with South Korea. However, a joint statement by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Mattis and National Intelligence Director Dan Coats said last month that Trump aims to use economic sanctions and diplomatic measures to pressure the DPRK to dismantle its nuclear and missile programs. The statement also said that the United States remained "open to negotiations" toward peaceful denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula while staying "prepared to defend ourselves and our allies." China Investment Corporation (CIC) plans to make more direct investments in the United States, CIC President Tu Guangshao says in New York , the United States on May 19, 2017. (Xinhus/Wang Ying) NEW YORK, May 19 (Xinhua) -- China Investment Corporation (CIC), the sovereign wealth fund, plans to make more direct investments in the United States, as it sees greater trade and investment potential in the world's largest economy, CIC said on Friday. Tu Guangshao, vice chairman and president of CIC, said setting up overseas branches is a strategic move for the fund to expand global outreach, deepen partnership, and improve investment capabilities. China's sovereign wealth fund held an opening ceremony of its New York representative office and an investment seminar on Friday. The New York representative office's main function, Tu explained, includes conducting research on North American economy, financial market and regulation policies, strengthening cooperation with business partners, collecting project information and providing support for the headquarters. "It will also stay well-connected with local government agencies and regulatory bodies to enhance CIC's reputation and image as a responsible institutional investor," he said. Tu is optimistic that China and the United States will expand cooperation on investment as the two countries are in mutual need of closer bilateral ties. For China, outbound investment has become a key component in the sustainable development of its economy, as Tu observed. He said that for the United States, President Donald Trump's pro-business policies including tax reform, deregulation and infrastructure plan, if effectively implemented, will further boost corporate spending, capacity utilization, and labor productivity. "As an effective source of funding for these policies, foreign investment will serve as an important driver for the U.S. economy," Tu said in a keynote speech. According to Tu, U.S. holdings currently accounts for approximately 40 percent of the fund's overseas portfolio, but mostly in open market. He added that the fund is looking to change its investment strategy but the process will be a gradual one. Headquartered in Beijing, CIC started with an initial funding of 200 billion U.S. dollars. By the end of 2015, its total assets had surpassed 810 billion dollars. As China's sovereign wealth fund, CIC serves as a vehicle to diversify China's foreign exchange holdings and seek maximum returns for its shareholder within acceptable risk tolerance. Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-20 06:21:16|Editor: MJ Video Player Close by Hummam Sheikh Ali DAMASCUS, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army is shifting its focus toward securing the triangle of the Jordanian and Iraqi borders in southern Syria as such areas are crucial for the army to cut off the rebel supply lines and secure border areas against the Islamic State (IS) group and other rebel groups, some of which are supported by the Western powers. But the process is not that easy, as the United States and the British army have bases near the Tanf area on the borders with Iraq. Washington seems to want the eastern part of Syria to be an area under its sway, and doesn't want the Syrian army to advance in that area, analysts said. A day earlier, U.S. warplanes struck Syrian pro-regime forces as they were advancing near the Tanf area. Reports said the strike came to protect British and American soldiers in the country's southeast. On Friday, the Syrian army confirmed the U.S. strike, saying the U.S. attempt will not terrorize the army from continuing to fight the terrorist groups. In a statement, the army said the U.S.-led anti-terror coalition attacked one of the military positions near the Tanf area in the Syrian desert near the Iraqi borders on Thursday afternoon, leaving a number of "martyrs and some material losses." The army described the attack as a "flagrant aggression," adding that it exposes the "false allegations of the coalition about fighting terrorism." The statement said the U.S. claims that they have warned the forces from advancing before firing are completely rejected. "The Syrian army is fighting terrorist groups on its ground, and no force has the right to determine the fronts on which the army fight the terrorist groups," the statement said. It added that "those who claim to be fighting terrorist groups, should not fire at the Syrian army because it's the legitimate force fighting the terrorist groups, but should direct their fire against the terrorist groups." The statement stressed that the Syrian army will continue the war on the terrorist groups and the U.S. attack will not terrorize the army from continuing the battles on terrorism. The military statement is a message to the U.S. and its allies that the Syrian army will not agree to the line of influence the U.S. is trying to draw in Syria. Pan-Arab al-Mayadeen TV cited an unnamed senior security Syrian official as saying that there is a Syrian-Iranian-Russian consensus about the need to advance to fight the IS militants in the Syrian Desert, toward the Syrian-Iraqi borders. The source said that U.S. drones were spotted in the sky, watching the movements of the Syrian army near Tanf, adding that the U.S. asked the Russians to convince the Syrian army to stay 15 km away from the "illegitimate" U.S. bases in Tanf. The strike was also read by analysts as a message to both the Syrian and Iraqi governments. On Thursday, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met with visiting Iraq's national security advisor, Faleh al-Fayad, with the two sides vowing to boost cooperation in anti-terrorism war, according to state news agency SANA. During the meeting, al-Fayad conveyed a message from Iraq's Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi, which included "Iraq's keenness to continue coordinating the efforts with Syria to fight the IS on the Iraqi-Syrian borders," the report said. Al-Fayad also said eliminating the terrorist group demands "honest" intentions by all concerned countries as terrorism threatens the whole world. For his part, Assad said that the achievements made by military forces of the two countries in the war against IS constitutes an important step to restore peace and stability to both sides. For the U.S., the cooperation between the Iranian-backed Assad forces and Iraq's Hashed al-Shabi paramilitary forces doesn't serve the interests of Washington even though both groups are fighting the IS militants in Iraq and Syria. The Hashed al-Shabi is widely-perceived to be backed by Iran, as the Iraqi government is also a Shiite-led one, so Washington doesn't want a Shiite, Iranian influence to cross borders between Iraq and Syria, that's why the borders between Iraq and Syria are becoming the focus of the U.S. influence in Syria. The U.S.-led anti-terror coalition has been backing the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in a military operation to defeat IS in Syria's northern city of Raqqa, the de facto capital of IS. The SDF is advancing, but Raqqa is not going to be the last battle against IS, as Deir al-Zour province is expected to witness the final battle against IS, as the terror group controls large swathes of territories in that province on the Syrian-Iraqi borders. Additionally, all the IS commanders and their families fleeing Raqqa are heading toward Deir al-Zour. So despite the fact that the U.S. wants its influence area to be in that part of the country, the Syrian army is also working toward securing Deir al-Zour and the areas on the Iraqi-Syrian borders, out of its "legitimate" right in the country, particularly that the central part of Deir al-Zour is still under the government control but besieged by IS. Maher Ihsan, a Syrian political analyst, told Xinhua that the triangle of the Syrian-Iraqi and Jordanian borders in southern Syria will be the focus of active military operations, which will expose the U.S. hidden agendas, as Washington is also working with the Jordanians near Syria's southern province of Daraa to create a buffer zone. He said that the Tanf in particular is so important for the Syrian army, which has reached 40 km from that area, as the army wants to control that border crossing to prevent the advance of the rebels in that area. He noted that the U.S. wants to protect around 4,000 rebels it had trained and stationed in Tanf, as the U.S. and British troops are also backing them in that crossing. The aim of the U.S. is to have those troops advancing from Tanf toward the IS-held city of Bukamal in the countryside of Deir al-Zour, before moving on toward the city itself, he added. TRIPOLI, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Clashes in an airbase in southern Libya between the armed forces and a rival militia killed 141 people, a military spokesman revealed on Friday. Army spokesman, Ahmad Al-Mimari, said in a press conference on Friday that the casualties include army solders and civilians. The army on Friday launched air strikes on militant sites in southern Libya in retaliation, Al-Mismari revealed. The eastern-based parliament strongly condemned the attack as a "cowardly terrorist attack by Al-Qaeda armed groups and militias allied with the so-called government of national accord on Brak Al-Shati air base, which killed and injured dozens." The head of the UN support mission in Libya, Martin Kobler, also condemned the attack, saying "I am outraged by reports of significant numbers of fatalities, including civilians and by reports that summary executions may have taken place. Summary executions targeting civilians constitute a war crime, which may be prosecuted by the International Criminal court." The clashes erupted when a militia loyal to the UN-backed government of national accord in Tripoli attacked Brak Al-Shati air base. Southern Libya has recently witnessed escalating violence between the armed forces and militias allied with Tripoli's government. UN-backed Prime Minister, Fayez Serraj, and army commander Major General Khalifa Haftar met earlier this month for the first time and agreed to calm the escalating situation in southern Libya. However, the renewed violence would undermine any possible truce between the rival factions. Libya has been suffering insecurity and chaos since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011. The country is plagued with unrest and political division. IDB: TT loses 3.52% GDP to crime The study, which looked at crime throughout the region, in its specific references to Trinidad and Tobago said, Trinidad loses between 2.26 percent (lower bound) and 3.56 percent (upper bound) of GDP to crime annually. Out of 17 Latin American and Caribbean countries, Trinidad and Tobago ranks sixth for annual costs of crime as a proportion of GDP. A press release said findings were based on the results of new crime victimization surveys carried out in The Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. It said 3,000 individuals were interviewed in each of the five countries. With almost half of all crimes going unreported to the police, these victimization surveys provide a fuller picture of the prevalence of crime and its unique characteristics when compared to other regions, it added. The study also found that, [TTs] Government expenditure is between 1.04 percent and 1.68 percent of GDP, which is above the average for the 17 Latin American and Caribbean countries. The 311-page document said since 2006, the IDB had invested more than $25 million in financing to the Government to, study, prevent, and reduce-crime and violence in Trinidad and Tobago. The study said the country spent 1.23 percent of the GDP in the police force, which, is above the average for 17 Latin American and Caribbean countries. It added that violent crime was uniquely high, nearly one in three of the surveyed respondents reported having lost someone close to violence in their lifetime, the victims of assault were predominantly young, low-income males and the victims of violent crime were concentrated in certain areas, i.e , living in a neighborhood with high physical disorder (graffiti, trash and abandoned buildings), low social cohesion (trust among neighbors) and a gang presence were all strongly associated with being a victim of violent crime. It said the country spent less on the administration of justice for criminal cases, than on the police and prisons. It is amongst the countries with the lowest expenditure on criminal justice of 17 Latin American and Caribbean countries. Insufficient access to or trust in legal services creates fertile ground for extra-judicial and vigilante violence. Limited institutional capacity and case processing are exacerbated by low use of alternative and non-litigation mechanisms, it One chop killed housewife Grieving husband Sadiq Mohammed, 40, who made the gruesome discovery around midday on Wednesday, was in the company of other relatives at the Centre awaiting the autopsy result on his wife. Sadiq had to be taken for medical attention after seeing the body. The couple was married for 20 years and Savitri would have turned 55 next month. They had no children. Police reported that at midday on Wednesday, Sadiq returned to his Bonne Aventure Road, Gasparillo home after a visit to the bank only to see his wifes body sprawled on their bed with her throat chopped. Robbery was ruled out as a motive as investigators said the house was not broken into and nothing was missing. Relatives said Savitri and Sadiq had a happy marriage. They are all baffled as to who would want her dead and in such a brutal manner. One month ago, Savitri left her job at a popular cosmetic store in San Fernando where she had worked for years. Her funeral is scheduled for tomorrow morning at her home. DJ gunned down in Maracas According to reports, Cuffie, 39, and a female relative arrived at his Maracas, St Joseph home at at 12.45 am. Cuffie, a DJ, parked his Toyota Fielder outside and got out only to be approached by two masked gunmen who shot him several times before running off. Cuffies relative raised an alarm and neighbours found him lying on the ground. Police and emergency medical services were notified but he died at the scene before medics arrived. Seven nine-millimetre calibre shells were recovered at the scene. Newsday spoke to relatives, who described Cuffie as a hard-working, decent man who did not have any enemies. He was a very cool, quiet man, and would do anything for anyone. All he would do when he was at home is play his music and keep to himself. Cuffie , is survived by his wife and two children. BODY IN DRAIN In an unrelated incident, investigators are calling on members of the public to assist in identifying the body of a man of African descent which was discovered in a drain at Esperanza Village, Couva during the early morning hours yesterday. Investigators told Newsday they believe the mans body may have been dumped into the drain after he received a fatal beating. Police said a preliminary investigation revealed there were no gunshot wounds to the body but he had a wound to the head. A team officers from the Couva Crime Patrol Unit and Couva CID responding to information found the body lying in the drain. The body was removed to the Forensic Science Centre in St James where once formal identification is made, an autopsy will be done to ascertain cause of death. Couva police are investigating. Retired cop: That is not my son Retired Inspector Anthony Bruiser Charles told Newsday that the man identified as a criminal dressed in police garb is not his son and is not even a relative. Charles said information in a voice note which was also uploaded to social media is false. He said it was a mischievous act by a former colleague bent on tarnishing his (Charles) reputation and character. The voice note states: Batches, r.e that photo was posted with that gentleman with the tattoos, in the police uniform... that is retired inspector Charles aka Bruiser, that is his son. Southern Division, pest, real pest, robbery man... Charles said he is angry that the former colleague who uploaded the voice note and photo took pains not only to identify him (Charles) by his given name but also the nickname he acquired while a member of the Police Service. That man in the photo on social media is not my son. I have identified the voice and it is that of (name called) who is a Constable. I worked with him in Southern Division. I will report him to the Professional Standards Bureau and I am also weighing my legal options because this is nonsense which has affected my personal life and also my family, Charles said. Persons have been calling him non-stop, he added. Charles identified the man who is dressed in police uniform as being originally from Laventille but who now lives in South Western Trinidad and is wellknown to the police. The Facebook post showing the man in police uniform is titled: bandits in uniform, be on the lookout for this criminal, he is not a member if the TTPS share viral. To date, it has been shared almost 10,000. Something must be done about these young officers who continue to put out incriminating information on social media, Charles said. Charles said the voice note has hurt his family, some of whom are members of the Police Service. Contacted yesterday, a senior police source said once Charles makes a formal complaint, the matter will be fully investigated. Abducted man still at large Police said that at 11 pm on Sunday, Anthony and his cousin Kevin Mahabir were walking along Lime Fruit Road in Freeport when a vehicle pulled up alongside them. Two men jumped out and snatched Anthony. Reports are that Anthony was thrown into the vehicle but Mahabir was not harmed. Relatives reported the matter to the Freeport police. Anthony was last seen wearing a white t-shirt and grey long pants. Yesterday, police officers revisited family members and questioned several individuals. Anthony lived with his family at Commonwealth Drive off Nelson Road in Freeport. On the day he was abducted, Anthony and his cousin went to seek employment and were returning home. Anthonys mother Kamlawtie Siew, 52, a mother of 14, pleaded with her sons abductors not to harm him. Siew is expected to undergo an operation at months end and said Anthony is the one to cares for her. A close female relative yesterday said that calls to Anthonys phone are being directed to voice mail. We dont know what to think. It is so strange why someone would want to take him, he is not the type of person to be in any trouble. We are still shocked this is happening, the relative said. People want to pay tax He made this point at the post-Cabinet news conference at the Diplomatic Centre in St Anns. He also confirmed that Cabinet approved a recommendation from his ministry to extend the deadline for submission of valuation forms from May 22 to June 5. Imbert said the decision to extend the deadline had nothing to do with two pre-action protocol letters sent to his ministry last week. Noting many citizens are famous for last minute action, he disclosed that an estimated 150,000 valuation forms have been submitted to the Valuation Divisions offices, this week and last week. The minister said while the Opposition has been urging people to tear up the form, what we are seeing is the reverse. Describing the response to the request to submit valuation form as, overwhelming, Imbert declared, It is obvious people want to get involved in this process of having their property valued, assessed and they want to pay the tax. In order to avoid confusion, Imbert said additional centres will be opened in communities across TT and staffed for the receipt of forms. Asked if the pre-action protocol letters influenced the decision to extend the deadline, Imbert replied, In no way whatsoever. This had nothing to do with that. He declined to discuss the contents of those letters or the ministrys response to them. Saying the deadline to one of the letters was today, Imbert was certain that Opposition MPs will publish the response from the Governments lawyers once they receive it. Reiterating there are approximately 250,000 registered residential properties, Imbert said he is one of these property owners adding he has an assessment number and has been paying land and building taxes. While 75 percent of residential properties will not require field visits because their information is in the system, Imbert said the assessment of commercial and industrial properties will require field visits. He disclosed the Valuation Division has begun its outreach programme to commercial and industrial property owners, starting today with owners in Point Lisas. Imbert said the forms these people will have to submit will be similar to the ones which residential property owners have been submitting. He also explained that the determination of the tax on vacant residential lands begins with a determination of the market value of the land. Imbert said TT nationals living overseas, who own residential properties here, can get someone in TT to complete the forms for them. Reiterating that what was happening now was an information gathering phase and this was, a long way away from the actual payment of the tax, Imbert was confident that Government will be able to collect property taxes for this fiscal year by September 30. Policeman on murder charge Bharath, who was on suspension after being charged with driving under the influence, was detained last Friday after a shooting death at his home. The charge alleges that shortly after 8 am, PC Bharath shot dead Raj Singh, a relative of his (the officer) during a heated argument. In an unrelated incident, a 24-year-old Morvant man appeared before an Arima Magistrate yesterday for the murder of Arouca mini-mart vendor Lleron Alexander. Kerron James, a labourer employed with the Ministry of Works and Transport appeared before Senior Magistrate Gillian Scotland to answer charges which also includes possession of a firearm and ammunition. The matter has since been adjourned to Wednesday June 14. According to reports, Alexander, 26, was at his businessplace, LA mini-mart when he was shot dead. James was charged by PC Shankar Bedassie of Homicide Investigations Bureau (Region II) following advice received from Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard SC, on Tuesday. Port seeking passenger vessel Speaking at the post-Cabinet news conference at the Diplomatic Centre in St Anns, Sinanan said, This charter will be for a six month period. Reiterating that one ferry will be drydocked in June and the other will be drydocked in September, Sinanan said the third vessel will ensure that there are always two passenger vessels operating on the seabridge. He explained that because the TT Spirit and the TT Express have each not been drydocked for some time, this has contributed to recent operational problems each vessel has experienced. Sinanan said it was wrong for anyone to claim there was no maintenance system for the ferries. Maybe we need to revisit the system of maintenance that is taking place right now, the minister suggested. Stating this system was reorganised last year, Sinanan said this does not appear to be helping the operations of the ferries. He said the Port Authority has suggested a technical team be brought in to look at the system. On ongoing efforts to obtain a cargo vessel, Sinanan said the Authority has narrowed down those options from seven to two. While stressing that no decision has been made as yet as to which vessel would be chosen, Sinanan said there have been challenges with the Atlantic Provider and the Trinity Transporter. Both vessels were brought in to replace the Super Fast Galicia which was pulled from the seabridge in April. Sinanan has said this matter is engaging his ministrys lawyersas well as those of the Authority. He also said the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs is examining the arrangement under which the Galicia was brought in under the former Peoples Partnership government. Emailgate investigator dies He is believed to have suffered a stroke. He leaves to mourn his widow Lystra Bridgelal, a police sergeant, and his son. Nanan, 59, worked until Tuesday at the Police Complaints Division, which he headed for the past two weeks. On Wednesday, he complained of feeling unwell and was taken to the Southern Medical Centre where he began bleeding from the nose and it was found he had a blood clot in his head. Relatives were told to take him to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with bleeding in the brain as a result of a ruptured vein. He never regained consciousness and died early yesterday. Nanan joined the police 38 years ago. He worked for several years at the Organised Crime, Narcotics and Firearms Bureau and was responsible for several major drug busts, including cocaine found in a container of frozen cassava in the Freeport area. He also worked at Port-of-Spain CID, the Eastern Division and the Highway and Traffic Branch. Two weeks ago he was suddenly transferred to the Police Complaints Division a move which did not meet with his approval but a task he nevertheless undertook. In 2013, now retired Deputy Commissioner of Police Mervyn Richardson asked Nanan to head the emailgate investigation team. Three weeks ago, Nanan submitted his final findings to Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams. The findings were then handed over to Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (South) Joan Honor? Paul and asked for a meeting, for her final decision. In 2013, then Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley presented copies of e-mails in Parliament alleging wrongdoing on the part of then Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and three of her ministers. Wrongdoing included a plot to kill a journalist. The matter was referred by Persad- Bissessar to the police, DPP Roger Gaspard as well as the Integrity Commission. Yesterday, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) Irwin Hackshaw said Nanans passing was a big loss to the service. He described Nanan as an experienced officer who was hard-working, dedicated, passionate, well-liked and highly respected by his colleagues. 31 officers get HDC homes Addressing a distribution ceremony at the Port-of-Spain office of the Housing Development Corporation (HDC), National Security Minister Edmund Dillon said, In 2007, the then government recognised the importance of the protective services to the national community and the need to ensure secure, safe and proper accommodation for these members in need of housing. As a consequence, government approved the allocation of ten percent of all Government-subsidised housing to members of the Protective Services. Housing Minister Randall Mitchell said fairness, transparency, equity and inclusion are important now as it was back then, and as such, earlier this year, the Joint Protective Services Committee was reconvened. In a press release, the Ministry of Housing said that in 2008, the Ministries of Housing and National Security developed a mechanism for the fair, transparent and inclusive allocation of housing to members of the protective services which gave birth to the Joint Protective Services Housing Committee. This Committee operated until 2010 until it was disbanded by the then incoming government. Mitchell said, This key distribution represents the first instalment of allocations of Government-subsidised housing to members of the protective services as coordinated through the Joint Protective Services Housing Committee which is chaired by the Minister of National Security or his designate and includes representatives of the protective services associations such as the Prison Officers Association, the Police Social and Welfare Association, Fire Service Association Second Division, Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Land Settlement Agency and the Housing Development Corporation. Mom begs for help Dick and her family including daughter Vanessa Germia, 20, who is three months pregnant, live under a tent in the car park at the HDCs housing development in Harmony Hall, Gasparillo. They were among 25 families evicted recently by the HDC from the complex which was abandoned months ago after being deemed structurally unsafe for human habitation. I have nowhere to go. If I did, you think I would have my children exposed to the element and bandits? I have no other choice but to live under this tent, Dick said yesterday. In 2010, Dick was a legal tenant in Building Two, Apartment Seven paying $1,050 per month. The apartment was given to her in April 2010 by then PNM Minister of State Tina Grunland-Nunez following a Newsday article that highlighted her plight of being homeless after she was abandoned by a male relative. Over the years, conditions at the apartment deteriorated despite several complaints to the HDC. One of the issues she had was leaking sewer lines. Last year, Dick said, she became so fed up that she moved into an apartment in the condemned HDC complex, where she lived until being evicted weeks ago. I dont know who can help me, I am pleading for a place to live. My son Akeem is the breadwinner, he is a security guard and because of the situation only works at nights. He is only 18, Dick said. WASA not perfect Their first complaint had been about an acute shortage of water. Now that this matter has been resolved, dust became the new problem as the roads dug up by WASA were not repaired leading to the area becoming a dust bowl when it is dry and the roads a mud course when it rains . Public Utilities Minister Fitzgerald Hinds who toured the area yesterday, admitted that as a nation, we have not done the best we could in maintaining our roads. There are a thousand very bad reasons for that, that is the reality, but this has become particularly bad since WASA did the job of providing water to the community. The road has to be rehabilitated and that is what we are doing now, he said . Hinds said Government did not have the capacity to provide water 24 hours a day, seven days a week to every household, every business, every location where it was needed. After 55 years of Independence, we have still demonstrated an inability to do that. I dont know that there is any country in the world that provides water 24 hours a day to every household or business, he said . Hinds said statistics showed that 28 percent of the nation receives water on a 24-hour basis . The ambition is to be able to do that for all of our citizens, but unfortunately we have not been able to do that. Some societies have been able organise themselves in such a way where they have major reservoirs that they use . I cannot do that. It has to do with a lack of resources, poor management, poor productivity both at the level of the management and the workers, corruption, purchasing of inferior materials. We have to fix the organisation that is responsible for doing that and that is WASA. Hinds assured that the levels of the countrys reservoirs were more than able to supply the country . We are higher than the daily recorded average in the dry season . The catchment of water that we have now is not a problem. We are going to be distributing that water prudently, sensibly and equitably. It is the reason why WASA reviewed the distribution schedule and published it so everyone can know when to expect water based on the schedule, he said . When asked about the quality of the water supply in some areas, Hinds said he had never had the experience, but was not unaware of the complaints . While there are going to be complaints, we are attempting to do better. There have been 278 households who benefitted from WASA project. WASA is not perfect, it has been supplying water to this country since 1965, but we have got to move on, we have got to do better, move further, Hinds said. Pastor Cuffies daughter a lawyer The 23-year-old is the first in her well-known Pentecostal family to become a lawyer. It feels great, its certainly a marvellous occasion. Its very humbling and very rewarding. Im certainly grateful to God, my family, my church, my entire support system, attorney Cuffie said. Speaking while flanked by her father, Pastor Dr Winston Cuffie and mother Angela Cuffie; co-founders of the Miracle Ministries International church, Cuffie said, I havent decided yet which area/s of law to specialise in. Cuffie pursued a law degree at the University of London and the University of Staffordshire. Reflecting on her journey so far, the young woman quoted from 2 Timothy 2:15, It just goes to show what the scriptures say - Study to show yourself approved unto God. Once you give thanks to God, he will certainly make you triumph. The afternoon sitting of the general admission to practice in local courts, which took place at the Convocation Hall, Hall of Justice, was presided over Justice Eleanor Donaldson-Honeywell and Justice Davendra Rampersad. Veterinarian and former Caroni Central Member of Parliament (MP) Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh, was also called to the Bar yesterday afternoon. Ive always wanted to study law and while serving in Parliament, it would come up from time to time; points of law that would be very interesting and intriguing...I was successful in my LLB (Bachelor of Laws undergraduate degree) in 2013 (and) when my term as an MP came to an end (in 2014), I took the opportunity to do my LPC (Legal Practice Course) at the University of Staffordshire, England. Ramadharsingh subsequently completed his pupillage under Ravi Rajcoomar at Invictus Chambers, Richmond Street, PoS. He told Newsday he intends to work in this profession, and would, love to work in Siparia, while still working two days per week at his veterinary clinic in Freeport. Ramadharsingh is also Chairman of the Siparia Regional Corporation. Newsday also spoke with Kiran Panday, nephew of former Prime Minister, Basdeo Panday and the child of two lawyers. Im the second of my parents three children to become a lawyer. Growing up, I always heard my parents; Subhas and Wendy Panday, talking about law. I became interested in it and they encouraged me to get into the field. Pandays mother practices family and civil law while his father practices criminal law. The 24-year-old said he intends to follow in my fathers footsteps; criminal law Govt needs no special majority Attorneys from the Attorney Generals office sent the Governments written response yesterday pointing out that it is not mandatory for a property owner to submit supporting documents such as a deed, certificate of title, land and building tax receipts or utility bills along with his or her annual rental value form. Of the three lawsuits filed last week Friday in the Hall of Justice, one is a constitutional motion in which Chaguanas resident Lutchmidat Ramcallie, is asking Government to hold its hand on the implementation of the Property Tax Act until the necessary legislative provisions are implemented and before the court determines the lawsuits. The others are judicial reviews seeking to have the court declare the process which Government is seeking to implement the law is not in accordance with due process. Yesterday, the Attorney Generals office replied to the constitutional motions pre-action letter sent by Ramcallies attorneys Avory Sinanan SC, Jagdeo Singh, Dinesh Rambally, Larry Lalla and Kelvin Ramkissoon. Signed by attorney Zelica Haynes-Soo- Hon, the letter from the AGs office informed Ramcallies attorneys that they failed to set out a clear and cogent unconstitutionality of how implementation of the Property Tax infringes on Ramcallies fundamental right to enjoyment of property. Secondly, the AGs office pointed out that the taxing power of the State under the authority of the legislature, is an integral aspect of modern governance. Additionally, the assessment of land and building taxes in the form of rental value, is a standard methodology used even prior to 1962 before the country gained independence from Britain. The exercise of revenue earning mechanism of the State is a policy- laden governmental decision involving multiple factors including management of limited State resources as well as deference to the expressed will of the legislature, the AGs reply stated. The letter informed the attorneys that the Property Tax is now the law of Trinidad and Tobago, and the State will not hold its hand in implementing it while the cases are ventilated in the courts. Paulas $M plan for Moruga She revealed an agro-processing and light industrial park will be built on 18.83 acres of State land situated in Saunders Trace and will initially house five factory shells. The project represents an investment of approximately $69.3 million towards the further development of Moruga and environs. The Park, with all required infrastructure, will be sub-divided into 18 plots (small, medium and large) to cater to businesses of all sizes. Outlining the specifics of the facility, Gopee-Scoon said it will allow for processing of raw materials and intermediate products that originate from agriculture, forestry and fisheries, including the preservation of meats, fish, fruit and vegetables. The manufacture of food products and the conversion of fresh produce into semi-processed raw material or processed products, will also be done at the park. Targeted business will also include those involved in the manufacture of bakery products, pasta products, confectionary and starch products; the manufacture of beverages, wine and the blending of spirits; and facilities for the canning, bottling and freezing of finished products. Gopee-Scoon noted these initiatives are expected to facilitate economic growth and the development of environmentally sustainable local, regional and international businesses, engaged in downstream activities in the agricultural sector; thereby encouraging the further development of the community and the creation of world class entrepreneurs. She added, The development of this Agro-Processing and Light Industrial Park underscores our commitment to the provision of an enabling economic environment for our investors but more than ever the generation of real and sustainable developmental opportunities for the Moruga community. Phase I of the project (logistical planning) is currently being undertaken and Phase 2 (construction) is set to commence in January. Speaking of the opportunities, the Trade Minister said the construction phase will provide substantial employment for residents of Moruga and once completed and operational, we estimate that the Park will provide further employment for well over 500 people. A lso addressing the audience were Clarence Rambharat, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries; Kazim Hosein, Minister of Rural Development and Local Government; Imtiaz Ahamad, Chairman of eTecK and Frank Barnes, CEO of Udecott. Barnes outlined various plans for the area which include road improvement, port and fishing facility development and agricultural nursery projects, among others. Moruga/Tableland MP Lovell Francis said this kind of development is what Moruga has been waiting for and he was thrilled that is finally becoming a reality. The meeting played host to over 100 representatives of stakeholder groups with the Moruga community. Click the photo to write a caption and have a chance to win a free subscription to the Norfolk Daily News. The UN Security Council Resolution 2351, adopted last month, reiterated the call on Algeria to shoulder its responsibility in settling the decades-long Sahara dispute and reaffirmed the pre-eminence of Moroccos autonomy initiative as a basis for negotiation, said Moroccos Permanent Representative in the UN, Ambassador Omar Hilale. Hilale, who was speaking in Kingstown in Saint Vincent and Grenadines at a meeting on decolonization by the C24 group, said that the latest UN Security Council resolution stresses that neighbouring countries notably Algeria have a role to play in settling the regional dispute over the Sahara. Henceforth, Algeria can no longer hide behind its observer status and should take seat at the table of negotiations to fully contribute to implementing the UN Security Council resolution, said Hilale. In the same connection, the Moroccan Ambassador recalled Algerias role in creating and nurturing the Polisario separatist movement, which was inexistent when Morocco listed the Sahara in the UN Decolonization list in 1963 when the region was under Spanish occupation. He explained that Algeria created the Polisario to undermine Morocco and block its endeavor to achieve its territorial integrity in a blatant violation of neighborliness and in ingratitude for the Moroccan solidarity with Algeria during its war of independence. Hilale also shed light on the setbacks dealt by the Security Council Resolution 2351, which omits any reference to a referendum as a sole means of self-determination and reaffirms the pre-eminence of Moroccos autonomy initiative as a basis for negotiations. The resolution extends the mandate of the UN mission in the Sahara, the MINURSO, for another year and calls on the parties to the conflict to engage in a fifth round of negotiations. The resolution was adopted following the Polisarios withdrawal from the Guerguarat border strip, which it occupied in violation of the 1991 cease fire agreement. In this regard, the resolution reaffirmed the need for full respect of the military agreements reached with MINURSO with regard to the ceasefire and called on all the parties to adhere fully to those agreements. The UN text also reiterated call on Algeria to allow a census of the population held in the Polisario-run Tindouf camps, in southwestern Algeria. A diplomat using fists to vent his frustration at the foreign policy failures of his country? That is what the Director General of the Algerian Foreign Ministry, Soufiane Mimouni, did by physically assaulting a Moroccan diplomat, Mohamed Khamlichi, at an event in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in the Carribean. The attack shows the scale of the frustration and hostility nurtured by the Algerian diplomacy, which degenerated from spreading disinformation on Moroccos territorial integrity coupled with verbal violence to physical attacks in a dangerous sign of insanity. The Algerian diplomat, third in hierarchical order at the Ministry, breached all norms of diplomacy by attacking Khamlichi who was hospitalized afterwards. The incident took place before members of the UN committee on decolonization. The event was attended by a Polisario representative using an Algerian passport who portrayed himself as a representative of the Sahraoui people. Elected representatives of the Sahraoui people from Dakhla and Layoune who were attending the event objected this fallacy and for the first time eight countries called for giving these legitimate representatives of the Sahraoui people a seat in the committee. In the face of this diplomatic victory for Morocco, the Algerian official lost his nerves and acted violently in a sign of frustration at the failures of his country in the defense of the worn-out separatist thesis. The cowardly punch dealt by the Algerian diplomat to Khamlichi is an expression of a helpless Algerian diplomacy that is overtaken by Morocco at the continental and international level, where support for Moroccos territorial integrity is gaining ground. Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita who confirmed the incident said that the assault transgresses all diplomatic customs, even more so as the act was committed by a senior official of the Algerian Foreign Ministry. Going up to this point of physical aggression is certainly unique in the annals of diplomacy, he said. The Foreign Ministry Friday summoned the acting charge daffaires of the Algerian embassy in Rabat and demanded that Algeria apologizes for this inadmissible act. The Algerian diplomat was told that Morocco was amazed at this act, which violated all diplomatic practices, and was perpetrated by the representative of a country that repeatedly claimed that it is not a party to the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara, said the Ministry in a statement. The incident mirrors the extent to which Algeria is involved in perpetuating the Sahara issue through generous handouts to the Polisario separatists. Actually, Algeria sponsors, arms, finances, protects the separatists, and gears its diplomacy to defend their theses, but to no avail. The use of violence is also reflective of the failure to use sound arguments to defend a separatist thesis that has no foundation neither in history nor in reality. The separatist thesis and the creation of a phony state is rather a hegemonic endeavor by Algeria to keep Morocco in check and gain access to the Atlantic. Pence is in a tough spot, but at least hes not the guy who just lost the Indiana gubernatorial race. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images With President Trump besieged by scandal and seemingly unable to stop tweeting himself into a deeper hole, suddenly the idea of a Mike Pence presidency is being seriously debated again. Several conservative pundits have argued that Republicans should be less hesitant to abandon Trump, since his replacement would be a competent Evangelical who issues threats with his steely gaze, not his Twitter account. However, this week the vice-president got caught in Trumps web of controversy when a New York Times report suggested he might have lied about when he was informed of the issues surrounding former national security adviser Michael Flynn. On Thursday, New York Magazines politics team Jonathan Chait, Ed Kilgore, Eric Levitz, and Olivia Nuzzi joined digital deputy editor Jebediah Reed to discuss Pences role in the ongoing Trump drama, and what to expect if we find ourselves in a Pence administration before 2020. Jebediah Reed: Has Pence left a clear fingerprint on the Trump administration so far? Where can we see his influence? Ed Kilgore: Hes been wheeled in on occasion to deal with House conservatives, like on health care. Jonathan Chait: I think Pence has had a big role in steering Trump toward conventional right-wing Republican policy. He has mostly ditched the populist economic gestures. Olivia Nuzzi: And remember, Pence is close with Paul Ryan. I think together, along with more Establishment types like Reince Priebus, they have convinced Trump to behave like a run-of-the-mill Republican in some respects. Chait: I see Pences hand in things like the appointment of Trumps budget director, Mick Mulvaney. Nuzzi: Exactly, Jon. Kilgore: Makes sense, though theres not a lot of direct evidence that Pence was the key figure. Nuzzi: Like with all things in this administration, you have to guess a lot. Eric Levitz: Its worth emphasizing that absent Pence theres a very good chance there wouldnt have been a Trump administration. The mobilization of white Evangelicals helped compensate for many of the campaigns fundamental weaknesses. If Trump went with his gut and tapped Chris Christie, we might be living in a very different world. Kilgore: Having Pence on the ticket did a lot to comfort certain kinds of conservatives during the campaign, but probably not as much as Trumps list of potential SCOTUS nominees. Levitz: And Trumps reliance on Pence (and his constituency) has prevented him from moving to the center on social issues, in a way one might have imagined early in the 2016 cycle Reed: Weve learned this week that Flynn told the transition team headed up by Pence in early January that he was under federal investigation for his work as a lobbyist for Turkey. So Pence might have been dissembling when he said in March that he had just learned of that. Potentially how big a deal is this? Nuzzi: I would point out this is at least the third time Pence has been put in the position of saying something grossly inaccurate and being humiliated by the actions of this administration. But the question now is really: What did Pence know, and when did he know it? Theres the potential that he will be implicated in all of this, and then the conversation about impeachment becomes very different. Kilgore: Im guessing any decisions on Flynn were made by Trump. But keep in mind as well that the identity of the veep matters when impeachment or what I think is more likely, a coerced resignation is on the table. Its no accident Nixon didnt really start going down the tubes until Agnew resigned. Levitz: Seems like either Pence was a grossly incompetent manager of the transition, or he knew that they were making a secret agent of the Turkish government their national security adviser. Nuzzi: Either way, not great for Pence. (One worse than the other, of course.) Kilgore: To turn around Jebs question, do we know of any enemies Pence has in the White House? I dont. Levitz: If chatter about President Pence gets much louder, he may make one big enemy Nuzzi: Maybe some of the women he refuses to have lunch with alone? Chait: I thought it was only dinner? Nuzzi: Its meals. Reed: Politico says that Republicans on Capitol Hill are buzzing about the possibility that, if Trump gets impeached or is forced to resign, we may see a Pence administration before 2020. How should political liberals regard that prospect? Nuzzi: I think liberals would miss President Trump if Pence were installed. Trump is getting basically nothing done, and is screwing up left and right. Pence has a belief system, he knows what he wants, he knows how to work with Congress. He would be productive. Or much more productive, anyway. Levitz: I think that would be true if we were talking about a Pence presidency that began on January 20. But a post-impeachment Pence presidency is nother ball o wax. If Trump is impeached in the near-term, Pence takes the reigns of a fractured party in a midterm year (or close to one). Chait: People especially though not exclusively conservatives are overrating the degree to which Trump is the cause of the partys difficulty. The issue is that all their policies are incredibly unpopular. Kilgore: This really gets to the question as to whether Trumps fucking things up, or the GOPs terrible agenda is fucking things up. Chait: Trump didnt write the health-care bill thats at polling at 20 percent. Paul Ryan did. Levitz: If Trump has been forced out of office against his will, youll have a large segment of the GOP base that is utterly demoralized. Nixon willingly resigned and had no Twitter account Kilgore: Pence would be the perfect vehicle, however, for a conservative re-takeover of the GOP on grounds that Trump was just a tragic error. Levitz: I dont think Pence is a very strong 2020 candidate. Nuzzi: No, me neither. Kilgore: I agree, insofar as he was on the way to losing a gubernatorial reelection in Indiana when Trump put him on the ticket. But still, somebody will have to pick up whats left of Trumpism after the Great Man has departed from the scene granting that if Trump is forced out he may continue to preside over a government-in-exile at Mar-a-Lago. Chait: I think, in general, the psychology of the Republican Party is extremely oriented toward following the leader, and Pence would become a unifying and even beloved figure. There would be endless stories about his steely gaze and Reaganesque qualities. Reed: Yeah, there is something inherently humiliating about Trump as a figure that the Christian right rallies around. Pence would spare them that. Kilgore: Speaking of Reagan, the fact that Gerald Ford was able to beat the Gipper in 1976 is relevant to the question of whether Pence could be formidable against, say, Tom Cotton or Ted Cruz. Chait: The difficulty here is that a world in which two-thirds of the Senate has impeached Trump looks very different from the current one. It could happen, but a lot of things would have changed. Nuzzi: I dont think you can overstate how fundamentally Trumpism has changed politics Republican and otherwise and its hard to say, right now, how Pence would change things in Trumps absence. You have to wonder how much of the damage Trump has done is truly permanent to the brand. Would the right use Pence as a way of trying to deny that the Trump era ever happened? Chait: The broader point here is that were so disoriented by the chaos of Trumps Washington that projecting several moves down the line is almost impossible all the rules seem to have changed. Does the president know that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein works for him, not for the Deep State? Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images; Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images One of the odd things that has happened in plain view today is a series of angry attacks by the president of the United States on his own deputy attorney general, the very man on whose recommendation the White House originally said he decided to fire FBI Director James Comey. No, Trump hasnt attacked Rod Rosenstein by name, but hes aggressively attacked Rosensteins decision to appoint a special counsel to investigate all aspects of the Trump campaigns relationship with Russians and their agents. This mornings presidential tweets complained that Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama didnt have to deal with a special counsel, and then called his own subjection to this scrutiny a witch hunt. Later on he spoke with a group of television anchors, and was still whining about his own administrations decision, saying it hurts the country and shows a very divided country. He also blamed it on Democrats, who just could not accept they had lost the election fair and square (except, presumably, for those millions of illegal votes cast against Trump). Can someone please explain to the president that the Department of Justice is part of his administration? If he does fully understand that, then perhaps his attacks on a decision he was said to have taken pretty calmly last night could be more calculated than impulsive. His Breitbartian base appears to be nurturing the suspicion that the Deep State of lefty permanent bureaucrats is making all the Russia stuff up to smear Trump and even to execute a coup to topple him. Rod Rosenstein sure looks like an elitist whos been on the government payroll for ages, and also worked for Democrats. So what if hes Trumps own head of Trumps own Justice Department? The Deep State is nefarious. And perhaps the president has innocently nourished vipers in his own breast. I guess it is important to Donald Trump to feed these sorts of delusions to the people who will ultimately be the only ones to stand with him if Mueller comes back with terrible findings and Trumps back is against the wall. But youd think hed try to keep his own White Houses story a bit straighter. Trump will get steak and ketchup in Saudi Arabia while everyone else eats lamb and rice. Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images The first overseas trip of Donald Trumps presidency will not officially begin until he boards a 14-hour flight to Riyadh Friday on an Air Force One that is no doubt stocked with plenty of junk food. But the countries that will receive Trump have been preparing for weeks. With the help of Washington-based consultants and Trumps team, foreign officials have put together a tip sheet on how to keep the 70-year-old Trump happy. From the Times: Keep it short no 30-minute monologue for a 30-second attention span. Do not assume he knows the history of the country or its major points of contention. Compliment him on his Electoral College victory. Contrast him favorably with President Barack Obama. Do not get hung up on whatever was said during the campaign. Stay in regular touch. Do not go in with a shopping list but bring some sort of deal he can call a victory. Onetime British ambassador to the U.S. Peter Westmacott emphasized that first point: This is a guy with a limited attention span. He absolutely wont want to listen to visitors droning on for a half-hour or longer if they need an interpreter. Trumps occasional distaste for interpreters has already been on display at the White House. When Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe visited in February, Trump left out his earpiece while Abe delivered remarks. If Trump wasnt feeling the Japanese interpreter, the feeling was apparently mutual. After Abes visit, The Japan Times reported that Japanese interpreters struggle to make sense of Trumpese. Their colleagues in Saudi Arabia, Israel, the Vatican, Belgium, and Sicily will soon know their pain. Food will be an issue for Trump too. The president has the palate of a first-grader and he will be accommodated on the trip. At dinner in Saudi Arabia, for example, he will have well-done steak and ketchup on the table along with the traditional cuisine, the AP reports. Lessons from Trumps successful foreign-leader meetings at home are to court the support of his family members and to keep in touch after leaving. Germanys chancellor Angela Merkel has been particularly good at this, the Times reports, going as far as calling Trump for advice before a recent visit of her own to Saudi Arabia. It was advice that Merkel, who was meeting with King Abdullah in 2007 when Trump was meeting with Gene Simmons and Stephen Baldwin, surely didnt need. Kushner. Photo: Samuel Corum/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Jared Kushner was supposed to be a voice of reason or, at least, of kleptocratic pragmatism. When president Trump wanted to celebrate his 100th day by starting a continent-wide economic and diplomatic crisis, Kushner urged restraint. And when Steve Bannon and Scott Pruitt implored the president to sour Americas relationship with virtually every other country on the planet for the sake of withdrawing from non-legally-binding climate change agreement, Jared was there to say, can we not? So, when Trump showered his own presidency in gasoline and lit matches last week and proceeded to toss a few new logs onto the fire each day since Kushner must have been shouting his objections while trying to activate the White House sprinkler system. Or so one might have thought. According to the New York Times, Kushner was actually fanning the flames. Heres the papers account of the scene in the Oval Office, right after news that deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein had appointed a special prosecutor came down: Most of those gathered recommended that the president adopt a conciliatory stance and release a statement accepting Mr. Rosensteins decision and embracing a swift investigation that would clear the cloud of suspicion hovering over the West Wing. Mr. Kushner who had urged Mr. Trump to fire Mr. Comey was one of the few dissenting voices, urging the president to counterattack, according to two senior administration officials. After a brief discussion, however, calmer heads prevailed, and Mr. Trumps staff huddled over a computer just outside the Oval Office to draft the statement that was ultimately released, asserting the presidents innocence and determination to move on. Donald Trump has made a lot of poor decisions since taking the oath of office. But the one-two punch of asking James Comey to drop the investigation into Michael Flynn, and then firing the FBI director, may prove the worst mistakes of his tenure (for him, personally, anyway). Even if one assumes that Kushner was ignorant of step one and, thus, did not know that Trump was freeing Comey to spill the beans about his (apparent) attempts to obstruct justice its still remarkable that he supported Comeys abrupt ouster. It shouldnt be difficult for a minimally intelligent pragmatist to intuit that firing the FBI director without a whisper of notice to him, and barely any to the White House communications team, could backfire. Nor is it easy to see how such a rational character would conclude that the proper image for the president to project upon the announcement of a special prosecutor was vengeful rage, as opposed to cool confidence that further scrutiny would produce exoneration. So: How should we account for Kushners behavior. There is, of course, the possibility that he is somewhat less than minimally intelligent. Alternatively, he could be wisely sycophantic: At a time when Trump is looking around the White House for aides to blame for his frustrations, there may be some benefit to being the adviser who suggests the course of action that Trumps most eager to take. Or, maybe, Jareds scared. Remember: If Michael Flynn got up to anything untoward with Russian operatives during the transition period, theres a decent chance Kushner did too. Back in March, the Times reported that the Senate Intelligence committee was looking to talk with Kushner about his participation in a meeting arranged by the Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak: Until now, the White House had acknowledged only an early December meeting between Mr. Kislyak and Mr. Kushner, which occurred at Trump Tower and was also attended by Michael T. Flynn, who would briefly serve as the national security adviser. Later that month, though, Mr. Kislyak requested a second meeting, which Mr. Kushner asked a deputy to attend in his stead, officials said. At Mr. Kislyaks request, Mr. Kushner later met with Sergey N. Gorkov, the chief of Vnesheconombank, which drew sanctions from the Obama administration after President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia annexed Crimea and began meddling in UkraineSenate investigators plan to ask Mr. Kushner if he discussed ways to secure additional financing for the building during his meeting with the Russian banker, a government official said. As Marcy Wheeler noted, that meeting could have provided important context for the conversation between Flynn and Kislyak about sanctions that ultimately cost the national security adviser his job: [C]onsider how this meeting might interact with another known Kislyak conversation, the multiple calls with Flynn on December 29 after Obama imposed hacking related sanctions. In context, that conversation was about the hacking sanctions, not the more onerous Ukraine ones. But if Kushner had just met with a sanctioned bank and discussed those sanctions, that could change Kislyaks understanding of what Flynn was saying. Anyhow, its highly plausible that Kushners transition from force of moderation to voice of Trumps id is the product of stupidity or sycophancy. But its also plausible he has something to hide. Soon-to-be-former Representative Jason Chaffetz always has his eyes on the next rung on the ladder. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images There is a natural tendency in self-involved political and media circles in Washington to think of the days big preoccupations as being interrelated. So when news came that House Oversight Committee chairman, Utah representative Jason Chaffetz, was resigning his seat at the end of next month, it was easy to wonder if it had something to do with the past weeks swirling scandals and proliferating investigations. Chaffetz had, after all, just announced he had invited James Comey to testify next week about the purported memo recording his discussion with the president. Had something gone awry? Was Comey refusing to testify? Did the appointment of a special prosecutor take the wind out of Chaffetzs investigatory sails? We may never know for sure, but the odds are high that Chaffetz was planning to resign his seat all along after his announcement last month that he would not be running for a sixth House term in 2018. Indeed, there was considerable speculation at the time that he would leave Congress the minute his next gig rumored widely to be with Fox News or perhaps some other media outlet was lined up. The most likely explanation is that a contract has been signed and we will soon learn where we can keep up with Chaffetzs self-promoting antics. This is not to say that the current climate in Washington might not have influenced the extremely ambitious Chaffetz to seek a change of scenery. As Stephanie Mencimer noted in a long profile of the man last month, the unexpected election of Donald Trump as president last November spoiled Chaffetzs plan to spend a delightful year or two savaging Hillary Clinton and her administration before figuring out his next step up the political ladder. The month before the 2016 election, Chaffetz told the Washington Post that Clinton had provided him with a target-rich environment. Even before we get to Day One, weve got two years worth of material already lined up. Exercising oversight when ones own party controls the White House and Congress is a much trickier job, and its likely Chaffetz has been looking for a way out since November 8. He reportedly is interested in running for governor of Utah in 2020, so hes got some time to burn. Beaming his image over the air to a national (and Utah!) audience is not a bad way to spend it. Chaffetz knows the governors office well, having served as Jon Huntsmans chief of staff before running for the House. But he doesnt expect any help from Huntsman getting the big chair himself, since the former governor is probably still sore that his former protege avidly backed Mitt Romney for president in 2012 against his own candidacy. When Chaffetz surprisingly announced he was going to challenge a House mentor, Kevin McCarthy, for the speakership when John Boehner retired (and before Paul Ryan stepped forward to take the gavel), Huntsman tweeted: Maybe Jason Chaffetz has just made too many enemies in Washington to stick around much longer. If so, hell likely soon be popping up on their television screens. This could be the start of a beautiful friendship. Photo: Jim Cole/AP Donald Trump wants his next FBI director to be a figure who will pass the test of loyalty and malleability that James Comey failed, which rules out most competent and professional law-enforcement veterans. But Trump (and his Senate GOP allies) also needs that figure to have at least the veneer of independence, which rules out a Rudy Giuliani or an Eric Trump. The two demands are in tension, and the narrow field of candidates who can pass both tests has rocketed Joe Lieberman to the top of the list of reported contenders. Democratic senators have focused on Liebermans lack of experience in either law enforcement or management. His age (75 years old, starting an expected ten-year term) and work at a law firm that represents Trump have also come into play. All these amount to significant, plausibly even disqualifying, drawbacks. The obvious question is why Trump would want to select an old politician with a dearth of relevant qualifications for the position. The answer is that Lieberman has demonstrated what, from Trumps standpoint, seems to be an ideal temperament for the job. Throughout his career, Lieberman was known for his chumminess and aversion to partisan conflict. During the middle of the Bush administration, he took a turn to the right slowly at first, and then accelerating. His unrelenting defense of the Iraq war, not only at the outset but through the bungled occupation, when most Democrats who had supported the invasion acknowledged error, made him the target of a liberal primary challenge in 2006. Lieberman lost his primary and ran an independent campaign. In 2008, he endorsed John McCain for president. Liebermans speech at the Republican National Convention that summer dismissed Barack Obama as too partisan and too unprepared to take office, while heartily endorsing Sarah Palin as well qualified and eager to reach across the aisle. Palin, he said, reached across party lines to get things done. The truth is, she is a leader we can count on That analysis has not worn well with time. But it indicated an anger with liberals, and a comfort with the right, that has increasingly defined Liebermans career since then. While Democrats eagerly welcomed him back in 2009 and he mostly cooperated with Obamas domestic agenda Lieberman has continued his rightward trajectory. Tellingly, he has embraced positions that make even many Republicans uncomfortable. Lieberman attacked the construction of a Muslim cultural center in lower Manhattan that became the subject of right-wing conspiracy theories. He railed against the nuclear deal with Iran, which Republican senators like Bob Corker tried to gently compromise over. And while the Republican Establishment greeted Trump with almost uniform private revulsion, with a handful of Republicans bold enough to split from him publicly, Lieberman has steered clear of frontal criticism. He praised Michael Flynns team of conspiracy theorists, who even other members of the Trump administration considered dangerous. He testified on behalf of lightweight, evidence-discarding Education Secretary Betsy DeVos at her confirmation hearing. DeVos was ultimately opposed by every Democratic senator, along with two Republicans. Lieberman is famous for his career in Democratic politics a party he has since left to reregister as an independent which insulates him from charges of Republican partisanship. But his trajectory provides a better indicator of his current mind than does his overall body of work. The 75-year-old Lieberman is a politician deeply comfortable with elements of the Republican Party at which even many Republicans blanch. Under a normal president, Lieberman might be a fairly harmless figure. But the position of FBI director is a vital guardrail against democratic backsliding at the moment, it is the most vital one. Trump labored extensively to persuade the last FBI head to abandon his neutrality and act like a member of Trumps team, who would take the presidents cues about who to prosecute and who to leave alone. The Comey episode provides a guide to the qualities Trump is looking for in Comeys successor. In Lieberman he has found his patsy. Times Square. Photo: Keith Bedford/Boston Globe via Getty Images A few days ago, I sat at a cafe table in the middle of Times Square. Protected from traffic by a row of shiny, hip-high stanchions, I observed the crowds flowing through the recently reconstructed plazas, the way passers-by alighted on the polished black granite benches, walked swiftly through some areas, and lingered in others. Had I been sitting in the same spot shortly after noon on Thursday, when Richard Rojas barreled up the Seventh Avenue sidewalk in his dark red Honda, crushing pedestrians and killing an 18-year-old visitor from Michigan, Alyssa Elsman, I would have been shielded from danger. The car wound up impaled on the steel bollards, simultaneously proving their effectiveness and their uselessness: They kept a lethal weapon out of the safe zone but did nothing to stop the mayhem a few feet away. Thats the thing about securing a patch of real estate: it simply moves danger down the block. The most comprehensive solution is to enlarge the protected area. If Richard Rojas had jumped out of his car yelling Allahu Akbar! his act would have been treated as terrorism, prompting investigations, crackdowns, and new security protocols. When I saw the alert flash on my phone, I immediately thought of last years truck attack in Nice. Instead, the mayor reassured us, we were dealing with a mere car crash, a more lethal and common occurrence and therefore one that usually merits a quick dose of headlines and then barely a second thought. As the MSNBC host Christopher Hayes tweeted, This horrible event in Times Square looks like DWI, which kills *thousands of more people a year than terrorism* so we can ignore it. Rojas was no drunk driver who lost control of the wheel. Its hard to know what was on his addled mind as he cruised through midtown amid the herd of cabs and vans, but his choice of Times Square was surely not casual. He targeted the spot in New York City where the largest number of potential victims is reliably concentrated in the smallest possible area. I wonder whether, as he drove south on Seventh Avenue, he intended to veer into the pedestrian plaza, found his access blocked by bollards, and so continued on until he realized that a would-be mass murderers best option at that point was to change course. A disturbing video taken by a bystander shows that Rojas waited until 42nd Street intersection was clear, then roared into a controlled U-turn and hurtled uptown on the sidewalk, crossing 43rd and 44th Streets before finally crashing at 45th. That horrifying scene was also oddly familiar. In 2001, 76-year-old Sidney Weinstein rammed a van into the crowd at Herald Square, killing seven. He claimed the gas pedal had gotten stuck, and police declined to file charges. In 1992, 74-year-old Stella Maychick tapped the gas pedal instead of the brake, and plowed into Washington Square Park, killing five and shattering dozens. Again, the killing was deemed an accident. The latest horror added only slightly to the toll of pedestrians killed by vehicles on the streets of New York: 149 dead last year, with many more condemned to years of surgery, rehabilitation, and painkillers. Prosecutions are rare. Pedestrian fatalities have fallen over the decades, but they ticked up last year, and their complete elimination the goal of the De Blasio administrations Vision Zero plan remains elusive. Just a week ago, the City Council finally approved the Barnes Dance crossing, a system of diagonal crosswalks and timed stoplights that keep all vehicles out of an intersection for a while, allowing pedestrians to flow in all directions. Theres nothing new about this idea it just fell out of favor because it inconvenienced drivers. Privileging pedestrians should seem like the default in Manhattan, but it isnt yet. About ten minutes before Rojas gunned the engine, I was chatting with a Broadway pro who complained that the pedestrian plazas in Times Square had made it hard for him to get in and out of the theater district by cab. You just have to take public transit, he said, ruefully. He felt that too much foot traffic makes it hard for cars; I conclude the opposite: Cars have no business being in Times Square at all. Ironically, the current incarnation of Times Square shows the way to greater safety. A decade ago, pedestrians overflowed the crowded sidewalks and spilled into traffic lanes. Then, in 2008, the city closed five blocks of Broadway to traffic, painted the asphalt, and filled the former roadway with rickety cafe tables. Now, after six years of construction, that turf has been definitively turned over to people on foot, thanks to a design by the architecture firm Snhetta. A pattern of metal discs in the dark pavers reflects the colors from the screens above. The Times Square alliance has been moving around planters and kiosks and experimenting with Snhettas new, heavy-duty model of wood-and-steel tables and chairs, all to differentiate pedestrian thoroughfares from quieter, slower areas. Elmos and other costumed characters can now only do business in small, clearly bordered zones. One of the organizations goals is to lure at least some of the more than 100,000 New Yorkers who work in the immediate area to mix in with the population of tourists. Until yesterday, one of the key features of the redesign went practically unnoticed: the custom-designed steel bollards, tough enough to withstand a vehicular strike but slender enough to let pedestrians flow through without. Council member Ydanis Rodriguez advocates installing these in other choke points around the city. Thats just one tool in an arsenal of street design and enforcement that can make walking (and biking) around New York a less lethal way of getting around. Maybe no barrage of rules or redesigned streets, no ticket-writing strategy or number of speed cameras can prevent a stoned psycho from getting behind the wheel and hurling his car at defenseless bodies. But the killing of Alyssa Elsman should not have let the city breathe easily. Instead, we should make sure that murder by vehicle becomes more shocking and less routine. Hello, sir, and whom might you be? Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images If Mike Pence goes from being an Indiana governor with questionable reelection prospects to the leader of the free world in a few short years, he will have pulled off one of the most stunning reversals in American politics. However, at the moment, hes in quite the pickle. Hes serving an erratic and scandal-plagued president who values loyalty so much that he allegedly pressured the FBI director to say he supports him. If Pence aligns himself too closely with Trump, he could wind up being forced out of politics along with him, or worse. Yet distancing himself and appearing too ambitious could incur Trumps wrath, costing him his job even sooner. Pences solution: Promote the administrations talking points, and if youre accused of lying, quietly portray yourself as the victim of the slick political players you work with. Pence used this strategy very effectively when it was revealed that National Security Adviser Michael Flynn discussed U.S. sanctions with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak. This was a problem for Pence since he had insisted on Face the Nation that Flynn did no such thing. In February, Flynn was forced to resign not for having inappropriate talks with the Russian ambassador, but for lying to Pence. The Flynn controversy came up again about a month later, when it was reported that Flynn had warned the Trump transition team which was led by Pence that he might need to register as a foreign agent for his lobbying work with Turkey. Flynn was hired anyway, and when he retroactively registered in March, Pence suggested he knew nothing about the issues surrounding Flynns lobbying. In a Fox News interview he said twice, unprompted, that it was the first Id heard of it. 1/4McGahn was told about Flynn/Turkey, per NYT 3/9Pence (who ran the transition); note what he says 2xunprompted pic.twitter.com/T9eV4sAX0W Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) May 18, 2017 This week the New York Times reported that Flynn hadnt just warned the Trump transition team about possibly being a foreign agent; he also revealed that federal investigators were looking into his lobbying work. On Thursday, an unnamed White House spokesperson issued a brief statement declaring that the unnamed sources who spoke to the Times were flat wrong. JUST IN: WH calls NYT report that Flynn & his lawyers told Trump transition team he was under federal investigation "flat wrong." pic.twitter.com/pC0jLb7CYy Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander) May 18, 2017 A Pence aide, who also declined to be named, added, The vice president stands by his comments in March upon first hearing the news regarding General Flynns ties to Turkey and fully supports the presidents decision to ask for General Flynns resignation. This would seem to suggest that Pence did a terrible job as head of the transition team and didnt even know how to Google Flynn. But hours later a source floated a possible explanation to NBC News: People on the transition team intentionally kept things from the vice-president-elect. Theres a pattern as it relates to the Flynn situation vis a vis Pence that he was never, either intentionally or unintentionally, made aware of the facts, the source said. The source then tried to distance Pence from Flynn, saying the two men never had a personal relationship and you never saw him promoting Flynn. It was Trump who wanted Flynn to have a position in his administration, but the source who some speculated might be might Pence made it clear that no one is faulting the president. The source close to the administration did not blame President Donald Trump for allegedly not making the vice president aware, suggesting it was likely the president had assumed Pence and his team were in the loop. So whos to blame? Perhaps White House Counsel Don McGahn, who reportedly had several talks with Flynns lawyers about his lobbying while serving as chief lawyer for the transition. Its also a fact that if [Flynn] told McGahn that during the transition, its also a fact that not only was Pence not made aware of that, no one around Pence was as well, the source said. And thats an egregious error and it has to be intentional. Its either malpractice or intentional, and either are unacceptable. Still, how could Pence claim in March that hed just learned about Flynns questionable lobbying when it was widely reported in the months after the election, and Representative Elijah Cummings even wrote Pence a letter on November 18 bringing the matter to his attention? Im not sure we saw the letter, said the source. Pence sparked another controversy this week when he filed paperwork to launch his own PAC, the Great America Committee, which is a first for a sitting vice-president. With all the talk of President Pence this week, it seemed odd that he was suddenly separating his political activity from Trumps. But late on Thursday night the Daily Beast reported that the president and his top aides had signed off on the move. The vice president wanted to ensure that the president and senior administration officials agreed that this was wise and necessary, said Nick Ayers, Pences adviser. Ayers said campaign finance lawyers had recommended that this was the best way for Pence to shift assets from his state campaigns into a federal account. It seems that Pence has a lot to learn about the cynical, duplicitous way people operate in Washington. A senior administration adviser noted to CNN on Thursday that after all the controversy this week, Pence looks tired though he will continue to be a loyal soldier because hes a relentlessly positive guy. We certainly knew we needed to be prepared for the unconventional, said the Pence aide, but not to this extent. Pence is just a simple Midwestern governor (and six-term congressman). How was he to know that the candidate who invited Russia to hack his opponent and joked about groping women would get into so much trouble as president? Roger Ailes. Photo: Catrina Genovese/Getty Images For the past six years, ever since I began researching a biography of Roger Ailes, there probably hasnt been a day when I havent thought or talked about him. I considered Ailes to be the most consequential media and political figure of his generation a modern-day Citizen Kane. Fox News was practically a fourth branch of government. Ailes helped elect presidents and launch wars, and he remade our politics in his paranoid image, laying the groundwork for Donald Trumps presidential run. Ailess vast footprint on our culture obsessed me. I wanted to understand what drove him to amass so much power. For all the time I spent thinking of Ailes, I spent very little time with him. Ailes declined my many requests for an interview, and my brief encounters with him were unpleasant. In April 2012, I ran into him during a party at The Four Seasons, shortly after I had returned from a reporting trip to his childhood hometown of Warren, Ohio. Whats it with you going to Warren? Ailes snapped. I left there in 1958. Anything that anyone says there about me is wrong. They dont know me. Months later, I was at a reception at the Kennedy Center, where Ailes was receiving an award. When I approached him, his bodyguard shoved me out of the way. The adversarial encounters revealed a larger truth about my subject: Ailes was a man who was terrified of being known. And they had the effect of motivating me to want to know him more. Over the course of writing my book, I interviewed more than 600 people who had known Ailes from different contexts and at varying stages of his life, from his brother to college friends to politicians to Fox News colleagues. I read letters he wrote that were tucked away in archives across the country, obtained confidential corporate documents, and consulted countless articles and books. My wife told me I was clearly going for a Ph.D. in Roger Ailes. Denied access, I felt as if I were writing a biography of a dead man one who was fighting me from the grave. He implored friends and Fox News employees not to speak with me, hired private investigators to track my movements, and set up a Black Room surveillance operation inside Fox News to dig up dirt on me. His political operatives prepared a 400-page dossier to serve as a source text for anonymous writers to smear my reputation online, often in anti-Semitic ways. Roger Stone was tasked with keeping tabs on my reporting, and Steve Bannon published hit pieces on Breitbart about me. After one Breitbart article headlined EXCLUSIVE Soros-Backed Attack Dog Expands War on Fox, I received a death threat serious enough that I filed a report with the NYPD. So terrified was Ailes of the prospect of an unauthorized biography that he commissioned an alternative one by Rush Limbaughs biographer, Zev Chafets. Ailes and I developed a strange and intense connection. Indeed, my sources at Fox said he thought about me as much as I thought about him. Meetings were derailed by rants about Sherman and that fucking book. On weekends, he phoned friends to vent about me. Ailes fired executives he thought were my sources. He told colleagues that I was being paid personally by George Soros to bring him down. It was an absurd conspiracy theory. While on book leave, I was a fellow at the nonpartisan foundation New America, which received a minuscule amount of funding from a Soros charity. Last summer, the world learned why Ailes was so terrified about having his life made public. The allegations of sexual predation did not surprise me. In my book, I reported incidents early in Ailess career in which he had asked female employees to trade sex for professional advancement all of which he denied, of course. Sources told me the behavior continued at Fox, but no one was willing to go on the record to speak about it. I hoped the publication of my book in January 2014 might spur women to come forward. In the end, it took Gretchen Carlson filing a lawsuit two and a half years later to open the floodgates. As I spoke about Ailes yesterday in television and radio interviews, I thought of Ailess victims, who were denied the closure of seeing their sexual-harassment lawsuits against him go to trial. I thought of Ailess teenage son, Zachary, who lost his father and will grow up with that sordid legacy. I thought of the immense damage Ailes did to our political system. I also felt overwhelmed as I thought about the enormity of what I had taken on. Writing about Ailes had taken a personal and professional toll on me. It was difficult to talk to many people about the downright crazy things I found out about him and the downright crazy things Ailes was doing to me. When I did, few believed me. At the time I wrote my book, Ailes was embraced by the Establishment. Yes, he was polarizing and controversial, but liberals courted him. (Rachel Maddow, for instance, asked Ailes to blurb her book.) As I did interviews to promote The Loudest Voice in the Room in the winter and spring of 2014, many questioned my portrayal of Ailes as a paranoid and ruthless cult leader. Charlie Rose questioned why I wrote about Ailess family, and Norah ODonnell asked me if I was just a liberal journalist. Even the New York Times participated unwittingly in Ailess smear campaign against me: Fox executive Peter Boyer discussed my book with his friend Janet Maslin before she reviewed it, sources told me. In her review, Maslin dismissed the accounts of women Id convinced to go on the record about Ailess sexual harassment. The night her review of my book went online, Ailess lawyer, Peter Johnson Jr., wrote an email to Fox colleagues that read, Wonderful. We knew a person familiar with the theme would hit eventually, according to a person who read me the email. (Maslin has denied being improperly influenced by Boyer.) Recently, people have asked me if I feel vindicated that what I wrote about Ailes years ago is now accepted as truth. Id be lying if I said I didnt. At the same time, I feel a deep sense of loss. The subject that had been a singular focus of my writing life is now gone. Lieberman did not exactly show tough-minded independence toward the last Republican president. Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images As word got out that former senator Joe Lieberman had become the front-runner for the post of FBI director, Republican senator John Cornyn, who was once a prospect for the gig until he disclaimed interest, suggested the onetime Democrat/independent/McCain-for-president enthusiast might be able to attract all 100 Senate votes. It seems Cornyn had not talked to any Democrats. As Politico reports today, Senate Democrats are lining up against Lieberman pretty solidly. In some cases, Liebermans solid reputation as the epitome of centrist heresy against everything progressives hold dear is a factor: [M]any liberals flat out dont like Lieberman. In an interview, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) fumed about Liebermans efforts to undercut more generous Medicare benefits in Obamacare and his relative closeness to Trump. After a monologue on Liebermans faults, Brown ended by telling a reporter: Thats all on the record. Liebermans personal veto of the Medicare buy-in option for people over 55 when Obamacare was being put together is indeed a bad memory for many Democrats, though not as raw a grievance as his avid from-the-get-go-to-the-end support for the Iraq War or his endorsement of the Republican presidential nominee in 2008. But as Politico notes, even red-state Democrats who might normally identify with Lieberman as dissenters against liberal orthodoxy, like Joe Manchin of West Virginia, arent feeling any Joe-mentum, either. Part of that is undoubtedly Liebermans lack of qualifications for the position at a time when the FBIs current and former personnel are by all accounts angry at the political sacking of James Comey. Liebermans last relevant experience was his service as Connecticut attorney general more than a quarter-century ago (he left the job to enter the Senate in 1989). At the age of 75, he is an unlikely candidate for on-the-job training at the bureau. But the even bigger problem for Democrats and really, for anyone whos not in the tank for Donald J. Trump is the abundant evidence that Lieberman is temperamentally unsuited for a position that requires tough-minded independence from the man who appointed him. Lieberman, to put it bluntly, showed a weakness for the last Republican president. In 2002 he became perhaps the countrys most avid supporter of George W. Bushs campaign to obtain the least restrictive authorization possible to go to war in Iraq. He also caved to Republicans in a debate over labor rights for employess in the newly created Department of Homeland Security. Jeffrey Toobin memorably chronicled Liebermans fecklessness in this situation: Lieberman couldnt bring himself to question the Presidents motives, because he doesnt like visceral politics Intentionally or not, Lieberman spent the fall doing the Republicans bidding. His stature gave the Presidents policy on Iraq the shimmer of bipartisanship; his leadership on homeland security led to a political debacle and policy failure for the Democrats I asked him whether he was uncomfortable serving simultaneously as a punching bag and a cheerleader for the Bush White House. Its odd, he said without emotion. It happens in politics. A punching bag and cheerleader. No wonder George W. Bush planted a big kiss on Lieberman just prior to his 2005 State of the Union address, which became a major symbol of his supine collaboration with the Republican president during Ned Lamonts successful primary challenge in 2006. (Lieberman lost the primary, but went on to win in November as an independent.) Even Democrats who were sympathetic to Liebermans policy impulses regularly cringed at his cheerful cluelessness in dealing with an increasingly extreme Republican Party during the 2000s, capped by his willingness to commit the political equivalent of the unforgivable Sin Against the Holy Ghost his endorsement of the GOPs presidential candidate in 2008. So no, Democratic senators are not going to intone former colleague and happily line up to send this genial septuagenarian off to one of the most difficult jobs in America. In Benjamin Wittess account at Lawfareblog of his conversations with James Comey, he recounts in some detail the former directors intense discomfort at Donald Trumps efforts to create a buddy-buddy relationship that threatened his strict independence, epitomized by his resistance to an attempted Trump hug on the day of the inauguration. Its hard to imagine the Joe Lieberman of The Kiss rejecting Trumps affection, or denying him anything else he really wants. And thats just disqualifying to most Democrats. You can expect Trump and his congressional allies to move forward with Liebermans name even knowing hes poison to Senate Democrats, if only so they can use this as a data point for their claim that the Democratic Party is moving to the left. Perhaps Lieberman will smell the coffee, and will not end his career by letting the GOP use him one more time. Donald Trump: My friend here is clumsy, I hope he doesnt break something. Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images One of the most plausible predictions of the kinds of long-term damage Donald Trump might do to the United States was written by Matthew Yglesias a week after the election. He described a scenario in which Trump used government power to coerce business to support him and his agenda. Those who support the regime will receive favorable treatment from regulators, and those who oppose it will not, in this haunting scenario, which resembles the nexus between business and government that prevails in Russia and other authoritarian capitalist states. Noam Levey reports an example of this already happening. The thrust of Leveys story is focused on the belief by insurers that uncertainty fostered by the Trump administration is killing health-care exchanges. Deep in the piece, Levey describes a Trump staffer threatening to withhold cost-sharing-reduction payments, called CSR, which are a vital part of making individual insurance profitable. At one recent meeting, Seema Verma, whom Trump picked to oversee the federal Medicare and Medicaid programs, stunned insurance industry officials by suggesting a bargain: The administration would fund the CSRs if insurers supported the House Republican bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act, reports Levey. The Trump administration has pursued policies that are extremely friendly to incumbent businesses. But there is a discretionary quality to Trumps governance that is ripe for abuse. Which firms will he call out for eliminating jobs? Which ones will he praise? Trumps ability to hand out discretionary favors to pliant firms is a power to coerce large segments of the business community to endorse, or at least not oppose, his agenda. Lavrov, Trump, and Kislyak. Photo: Alexander Shcherbak/TASS During a meeting with Russian officials in the Oval Office earlier this month, President Trump said firing the nut job James Comey would relieve pressure from the FBIs investigation into his ties to Russia, the Times reports. I just fired the head of the FBI. He was crazy, a real nut job, Trump reportedly told Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. I faced great pressure because of Russia. Thats taken off. No wonder the meeting was supposed to be off limits to the press. The Times got that bombshell of a quote from notes taken from inside the Oval Office, which were read to reporters by a U.S. official and confirmed by another. So, naturally, the White House responded by complaining about leaks. Once again, the real story is that our national security has been undermined by the leaking of private and highly classified conversations, Sean Spicer said in a statement. Notably, Spicer didnt deny the nut job quote. Instead, he offered up yet another explanation for why Comey was fired. By grandstanding and politicizing the investigation into Russias actions, James Comey created unnecessary pressure on our ability to engage and negotiate with Russia, Spicers statement said. Thats now the third reason offered for Comeys firing. The first was his handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation and the second was Trumps saying he fired Comey because of this Russia thing with Trump and Russia. Following the publication of the Times story, the growing accusations of obstruction of justice against Trump grew some more. This is what OBSTRUCTION looks like: I faced great pressure because of Russia. Thats taken off. https://t.co/8ktKsQ03Uf Sen. Patrick Leahy (@SenatorLeahy) May 19, 2017 More indications Trump tried to interfere in investigation. If he wasnt there already, @POTUS certainly in obstruction of justice realm now https://t.co/bgt0hxhBLi Rep. Donald Payne Jr (@RepDonaldPayne) May 19, 2017 Obstruction of Justice/Abuse of Power case against Trump gets stronger every day. Patriot or CROOK? https://t.co/uiLC2HfxfG Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) May 19, 2017 In other breaking Russia news, the Washington Post reported Friday that the FBIs Russias probe has identified a current White House official as a significant person of interest. The papers source did not identify the person other than saying it is a senior White House official close to the president. Donald Trump. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images How does this end? I left D.C. Wednesday for a trip to Oxford, Mississippi, for a talk. The previous night Id watched slack-jawed as the latest Trump saga unfolded on cable news, switching back from Fox to MSNBC and CNN. As has happened so often in the last few months, it was becoming a blur. What did we now know? The president had kept Mike Flynn on staff many days after learning he was a security risk. Trump had asked FBI Director Comey to give him his personal loyalty, then fired him because he was frustrated that the investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and the Russian government was continuing. Trump then lied repeatedly about this and sent senior staffers out there to lie as well. He threatened the FBI director with alleged tapes of their conversations. We also discovered that Trump had carelessly betrayed a critical ISIS source while bragging to foreign minister Lavrov and Russian ambassador Kislyak in the Oval Office. We were entering, it seemed to me, the Caligula phase of the collapse of the American republic. Pretty soon Trump would be announcing that the new FBI director would be a horse. And then, on the little shuttle bus on the tarmac to the plane at Reagan National, I found myself sitting next to a recently retired pilot, who struck up a very pleasant conversation. He told me about a recent career change, retirement, his family, and his new neighbors who had left England to escape the Muslims. Okay, I thought. No need to make a scene. Just listen for a while. At one point, I gingerly indicated that I didnt exactly share the views of his neighbors. Oh I understand, he said. My wife is always telling me never to talk about religion or politics with strangers, but I cant help myself. No problem, I told him. I do it all the time too. Then he leaned in, pushed his wire eyeglasses up his nose, and looked straight into my eyes. Let me tell you something, he said. This president will be the greatest president we have ever had in our entire history. Once in Mississippi, I did my daily scanning of the conservative media. The alternative story was now well-established. Trump had fired Comey because he had a right to (just like he had an absolute right to tell Moscow top-secret intel), and because Comey was incompetent and had screwed up the Clinton-email case. The intel gaffe was just a slip-up that wouldnt matter much at all. There was no evidence of any connection between the Russian government and the Trump campaign and so the investigation was hooey anyway. Comeys memo couldnt be talked about without the full context so lets just wait and see. Comey was just interested in revenge anyway. The mainstream media and the deep state were busy trying to undermine a president who was accomplishing more than any president this early into his term. These are, it seems to me, the two unstoppable narratives grinding our politics to a halt. The status quo in Washington an unhinged, unfit, mentally disturbed narcissist as POTUS fast losing any faint credibility with even his own staffers is utterly unsustainable. In a serious crisis, more than half the country wont believe a word the president says. The White House is barely functioning; legislation is completely stalled; next weeks trip abroad will have everyone watching from behind a couch; the FBI and CIA are reeling; theres almost no one in the State Department; no presidential due diligence is applied to military actions; the president only reads memos when his name is mentioned in them; a not-too-smart and apparently mute 35-year-old son-in-law is supposed to solve every problem in the country and world; and the press secretary is hiding in the bushes. No one has any confidence that the president couldnt throw us into a war or a constitutional crisis at a moments notice. Nothing this scary has happened in my lifetime. And yet around 35 percent of the country still somehow views every single catastrophe Trump perpetrates on America and the world as either a roaring triumph or a huge middle finger to the elites, and therefore fine. For them, everything is sustainable. When Republicans can shrug off giving top-secret Israeli intelligence to the Russians, there is nothing they cannot shrug off. We are not talking about support for various policies here. We are talking about the kind of following a cult leader has. In poll after poll, around 80 percent of Republicans still approve of the job Trump is doing. Still. Thats why the GOP leadership, even as their agenda evaporates, are leery of taking Trump on. His hold on their own voters is tighter than theirs is. Its tighter than Nixons because Trump has built a reactionary movement from the ground up and taken over an entire party. He can communicate with them in ways no other Republican can. And there is no way on earth he is ever going to go quietly, if he agrees to go at all. Thats why I have a hard time figuring out how this ends, even though it must end. Even if the conclusion of Robert Muellers investigation hits some pay dirt, I can see Trump surviving if he cannot be proven to be directly implicated. Hes already setting up the case: Hes being subjected to an historically unprecedented witch hunt, remember? And theres no institution or person he wont blame or destroy in his bid to save himself. Just ask his former creditors. If hes up against the wall, he will treat the Constitution the way he treated his banks. Or say the Dems manage to regain the House next year, and hold impeachment hearings. Wouldnt that simply galvanize support for Trump as he fights back against the deep state, the swamp, the GOP, and what Hannity calls the propaganda media circus and render 66 votes in the Senate to convict him a pipe dream? Part of me wonders if hed quit even if hes beaten in the next presidential election? Isnt it always rigged when he loses? In some ways, I think the best analogy for Trump is O.J. Simpson. Even if we all know hes guilty as sin, even if his own supporters see the flimflam behind the claptrap, even if the evidence is staring us in the face, hell never lose his core support. For 35 percent of the country, hell never be guiltier than the system hes challenging. The best we can hope for is a Democratic House in 2018 and a grinding, grueling attempt to minimize the already enormous harm Trump has done in the meantime. We can pursue that outcome while hoping our cold civil war doesnt get hot because this is beginning to feel like the 1850s. What exactly is wrong with cultural appropriation? That was the deliberately provocative point in a recent issue of the magazine Write, the official journal for the Canadian Writers Union. Heres a flavor of the piece by Hal Niedzviecki, the editor of the mag: In my opinion, anyone, anywhere, should be encouraged to imagine other peoples, other cultures, other identities. Id go so far as to say there should even be an award for doing so the Appropriation Prize for best book by an author who writes about people who arent even remotely like her or him. Niedzviecki went on to lament that Canadian literature was still exhaustingly white and middle class because of this aversion to reaching beyond ones own experience. Well you know where this is going, dont you? The man had to resign in ignominy and write a groveling apology. Another member of the editorial board quit in shame: I cant, should not, and will not speak for any indigenous writer, but what I do attempt to do, in my life and in my work, is to listen to others who do not move through the world with my level of privilege. The somewhat glaring irony is that the entire issue of the magazine Niedzviecki edited (and committed heresy in) was devoted entirely to indigenous writers! In the offending piece, Niedzviecki had even written that indigenous writing is the most vital and compelling force in Canadian writing and publishing today. Nonetheless, the Equity Task Force of the Writers Union accused the editor of promoting cultural genocide, and a long-debunked false universalism. They demanded a formal retraction of the essay and an apology, anti-racist seminars for everyone on staff, handing the next three issues entirely to indigenous and racialized editors and writers, and a criterion for appointing the next editor: that he or she be active and respected in indigenous sovereignty and anti-racist cultural movements for at least three years. And this is a union for writers! Yes, I understand that crude or malign stereotyping of others is lame and lazy and often offensive. But thats obviously not what this super-liberal editor of a super-liberal magazine was doing. And yet still he had to go. I love the phrase long-debunked universalism by the way. Debunked by whom? Universalism the idea that human beings can exist as individuals, rather than as members of assigned groups is far from debunked. It is, in fact, one core premise of liberal society. It is, to my mind, a core reason for being a writer at all. Whats increasingly fascinating to me about the SJW left is its solipsism. If no one is allowed to write about someone with another life experience, or from another race or culture or gender, we are all doomed to write merely about ourselves. The possibility of expressing empathy, of exploring another world, and, yes, even misreading it at times, becomes a form of harm. Better, our new PC overlords insist, not to understand and never to embrace the other because engagement could, at some moment, hurt someones feelings. This means the end of literature, not its rebirth, and of the kind of society in which it thrives. A few weeks ago, I meant to include a link to a recent podcast by Sam Harris with Charles Murray that explored all the arguments in The Bell Curve in a calm and methodical way. Here it is. If you havent read the book and you havent, have you? its a pretty painless and lucid guide to it. Sam hadnt read it before the podcast and simply didnt recognize the book hed been taught to hate. I also recommend Voxs just-published critique of the interview. It begins with the headline: Charles Murray is once again peddling junk science about race and IQ and this subhead: And Sam Harris is the latest to fall for it. Wow, you think, were in for a fantastic demolition. And then you read the piece. The authors list five separate premises made in the interview and then says of the first four: none of the premises is completely incorrect. Another way of saying this is that four of five Murray premises are largely correct. Here they are (my paraphrase): (1) IQ is a meaningful way to measure intelligence; (2) individual intelligence is partly heritable; (3) racial groups differ in their IQ scores; (4) discoveries about genetic ancestry have validated commonly used racial groupings. I quoted that last one verbatim because it debunks the most common response I get from people not expert in the subject: that race is only a social construct. Sure, it is a social construct; but there are clear genetic differences between human subpopulations that roughly correspond to those social constructions. That is: race has genetic origins. Of course it does. Just spit in a cup and find out where you come from genetically. You can do it by mail. As for the fifth premise they discuss, well Ill leave you to see if they convince. See you next Friday. So earnest. Photo: Andrew Harrer - Pool/Getty Images Lets say, hypothetically, something like this was said, former Trump aide Sam Nunberg told me. In the context I know the president, he doesnt realize the implications of what he was doing or what he was saying or how it could be interpreted. Nunberg was discussing the news that Donald Trump had possibly obstructed justice by asking FBI Director James Comey to stop his investigation into his national security adviser, Michael Flynn just one of the many earth-shattering, axis-turning revelations about the administration to trickle out in the several days since Trump fired Comey. An adviser to Trump in the years before he became president, Nunberg worked alongside him in his 26th-floor Trump Tower office to plan his hostile takeover of the American political system that few, at the time, thought was serious. Now, observing the chaotic administration from the outside, he like so many longtime Trump confidantes sees a president he feels is being let down by his staff and misinterpreted by the world. To hear them tell it, Trump is just being himself, and the standards were holding him to no longer apply to the leader of the free world. And to make matters worse, Trump someone comforted by familiar faces and surroundings has lost his bearings in Washington. Nunberg suggested that, if what Comeys memo says is true, perhaps Trump had just misread their relationship. I get the impression from the tone of this, from what Comey said in these memos, it sounded like he thought Comey was his friend, he said. And I dont understand why he would think that. I think you can hear his earnestness in the alleged quotations, another former adviser to the president, who requested anonymity, said. And you can hear in his voice that hes just being himself. If he did this, and I dont know that he did it, but if he did this, Im certain its just he didnt realize it. He wasnt thinking like a lawyer, you know? And I think he probably didnt realize he was doing anything wrong, if he did. The former adviser added, Donald Trump is very personable when you speak to him, especially when youre new to his circle. And I think he goes out of his way to make light of things in a way to try to get comfortable with the person hes speaking with, and this sounds like lighthearted banter. Meanwhile Roger Stone, the OG Trump intimate and subject of the highly entertaining new Netflix documentary Get Me Roger Stone, told me he thought the notes Comey reportedly kept on his meetings with Trump were a farce. I just dont believe Comey. I think its an obvious revenge play, classic Washington bureaucratic bullshit, the after-the-fact memo classic, he said. On Infowars earlier this week, Stone suggested to host Alex Jones, a conspiracy theorist, that Comey couldve written his notes the day the New York Times story came out. Stone did acknowledge that Trump is loyal to Flynn, however. I think he likes Flynn. I think he thinks Flynn is getting a raw deal, he said. He added that he doesnt believe Flynn did anything legally improper. All old-school Trump aides share one opinion: that Trump is being screwed over by those surrounding him. Like any sidelined operatives, they believe they could do better. I dont think he realizes the implications of what he does sometimes and hes gonna have to be more careful and prudent, Nunberg said. Hes giving his enemies openings, everybody is out to get him. These are not his friends, these people. For Trump to survive, Stone said he would have to clean house and get some better people around him who could give him better advice. He specifically believes Trump needs to do away with Reince Priebus, and anyone who worked for George W. Bush and anyone who worked for the Republican National Committee. Nunberg was more circumspect. I feel that the guys under attack here, and I feel that the White House Steve Bannon, Reince Priebus, Kellyanne [Conway], Sean Spicer all have his best interest, theyre all out to protect him, theyre out to serve him well. But theyre gonna need an older Washington hand in there sometime soon. Hes being very poorly served, the former adviser added. The president now feels that he cant trust anyone around him. And there is a focused effort to keep original Trump people from joining the White House. Hes surrounded by people he doesnt know, under attack from all sides. You look for a familiar face, and there arent any. The adviser said a frequent question Trump used to ask those around him was, Who do I believe? The adviser said, Oftentimes, when theres a firestorm around Donald Trump, one of the reasons he survives it is because people circle the wagons. Right now it feels like theyre a little overcome by the the tenor of the attacks. Trumpian travels. Photo: SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump will hop on Air Force One and head overseas on Friday for his first trip abroad as president. Even before a special counsel was appointed, Trump aides were describing the trip as a much-needed turning point for an administration mired in scandal here at home. However, considering Trumps unpredictability, limited attention span, and distaste for straying too far from his home turf, the journey offers a whole new array of potentially serious pitfalls. Trump will spend more than a week abroad, with stops in Saudi Arabia, Israel, the Vatican, Belgium, and Sicily. Its not a coincidence that the itinerary includes the religious centers for Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. White House officials portrayed the tour as an opportunity to unite the three religions in the fight against intolerance and radical extremism (i.e. destroying ISIS and isolating Iran). It could also be seen as delayed damage control for a president who embraced Islamophobia, attacked the Pope, and shared an anti-Semitic meme during the campaign. I think the importance of this trip and President Trumps leadership around bringing people the world over to understand we are in this together, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Thursday. This is not a battle about religions. This is not a battle about cultures. This is a battle about good and evil. Despite the hype, Trump seems unenthused about this new presidential obligation. He reportedly barked at an aide that the trip should be half as long, and has had trouble focusing on preparations for his meetings with foreign leaders. According to Reuters, National Security Council officials have resorted to repeating Trumps name throughout his briefing materials in an effort to make sure he reads them. In other words, its unlikely that an entirely new Trump is going to step off Air Force One. Heres a look at the controversies that are already brewing, and what to expect when our inexperienced and possibly agitated president throws himself into delicate foreign-policy matters. Saudi Arabia By scheduling his first foreign meeting in Saudi Arabia, Trump is breaking with tradition. Recent presidents have typically made an early trip to Canada or Mexico, which offer lower stakes and signal neighborly goodwill. Those probably wouldnt have been comfortable visits for Trump, with his border wall and NAFTA threats, but Riyadh presents complications too. During the campaign, Trump repeatedly criticized Saudi Arabia, and he once accused them of being behind the 9/11 attacks twice in one day. Just last month, he said, Frankly, Saudi Arabia has not treated us fairly, because we are losing a tremendous amount of money in defending Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, the Saudis are planning a grandiose reception for President Trump, according to the New York Times. It includes a royal banquet and an Arab Islamic American Summit with leaders from about 50 predominantly Muslim countries. Among the rumored invitees is Omar Bashir, the president of Sudan, who is wanted for war crimes specifically genocide. The optics are bad, especially since Sudan is still on the U.S. list of state sponsors of terror. The U.S. Embassy in Khartoum and the State Department made it clear that Bashirs attendance is unacceptable. My understanding was that he would NOT be at the meeting with the president, Michael Anton, the spokesman for the National Security Council, told The Guardian. However, Sudans foreign minister has said Bashir is coming, and Sudan is looking forward to normalizing relations with the U.S. Trump plans to deliver a speech on Islam during the summit. It was reportedly written by adviser Stephen Miller, the architect of the January executive order than banned people from seven Muslim-majority nations from the U.S. Trump will have some treats for the Saudis, including a $100 billion arms deal and a plan to build an Arab NATO, details TBD, primarily as a check on Iran. Trump is also expected to sign several bilateral deals with Saudi Arabia, including reported agreements between Saudi Aramco, the state-run oil company, and some U.S. companies. According to the Financial Times, some of these deals were already in the works before Trumps presidency, but theyll be celebrated with fanfare nonetheless. A number of American CEOs including JPMorgan Chases Jamie Dimon and Dow Chemicals Andrew N. Liveris will join the Saudis for a CEO forum while Trump is in town. Trump will cap off his time in Saudi Arabia with a Twitter forum for young people, where absolutely nothing could go wrong. Israel Trumps itinerary suggests hes flying directly from Saudi Arabia to Israel, which would mark the first ever direct flight between the two countries, according to Haaretz. However, he will not fly to Masada, an ancient fortress in Israel. Trump wanted to land his helicopter at the top of the site, according to Newsweek, but Israeli officials refused because it is a UNESCO World Heritage site that is believed to have been built before 100 A.D. Israeli officials offered a compromise: Trump could fly his helicopter to Masadas base, and then take the cable cars to the top, as his predecessors George W. Bush and Bill Clinton did. Trump opted to nix the visit and speech altogether. An aerial photo of the ancient hilltop fortress of Masada. Photo: MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP/Getty Images Instead, Trump will speak at the Israel Museum. Hell also lay a wreath at the Holocaust memorial at Yad Vashem, though he only plans to spend 15 minutes there. Some criticized this, noting that Israeli officials say 90 minutes is the bare minimum needed to cover the 45-acre complex. Later Trump will dine privately with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife. The following day, May 23, Trump will meet with Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem before visiting the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Trump will be the first sitting president to visit the site, and it will not be without controversy. After a U.S. official planning the stop suggested the Western Wall was in the West Bank, and not part of Israeli territory, National Security Adviser H. R. McMaster declined to say who has claim to the holy site. The official reportedly said Trumps visit to the Western Wall was private, and the president did not want Netanyahu to accompany him. Aside from all the local controversies, the stop in Israel also comes days after Trump shared highly classified information about ISIS with the Russians, which is believed to have come from Israeli intelligence. The Vatican Trump is set to meet Pope Francis at the Vatican on May 24, followed by a tour of St. Peters. Somehow this, too, will be an awkward meeting for Trump, as hes been feuding with the pontiff. During the campaign, Pope Francis suggested that a man so passionate about building walls is not Christian. If and when the Vatican is attacked by ISIS, which as everyone knows is ISISs ultimate trophy, I can promise you that the Pope would have only wished and prayed that Donald Trump would have been president because this would not have happened, the Trump campaign said in a statement in 2016. ISIS would have been eradicated unlike what is happening now with our all talk, no action politicians. Pope Francis has made other comments supporting climate change and immigration that appeared to be aimed at Trump, but unsurprisingly, he suggested he wants to turn over a new leaf. I will tell him what I think, he will tell me what he thinks, but I never wanted to judge someone before I listen to the person first, Pope Francis told reporters last week. Trump will also meet with Italian president Sergio Mattarella before heading to Brussels. Belgium If Trump makes it through the religious portion of his tour, hell land in Brussels on May 25 and meet with Belgiums King Philippe and Prime Minister Charles Michel. Next, hell have to resist replaying some of his greatest hits when he heads to European Union headquarters, meets newly elected French President Emmanuel Macron (rather than his far-right opponent Marine Le Pen), and attends a summit of leaders of NATO nations. Trumps remarks at the NATO summit will reportedly also be drafted by Miller, who is a Bannon-esque isolationist. Were just hoping the remarks dont turn out to be America First on steroids, a European official told BuzzFeed News. But who knows with Miller. Trumps speech is expected to reaffirm Americas commitment to the military alliance, while also doubling down on NATO freeloaders. Sicily Finally, Trump heads back to Italy for a G-7 summit in Sicily. Macron, Shinzo Abe of Japan, Paolo Gentiloni of Italy, Theresa May of Britain, Angela Merkel of Germany, and Justin Trudeau of Canada are set to attend, so Trump will have a chance to try out all his new awkward handshakes. After the trip, Trump wont get much of a break. The White House said hell make a final decision on the Paris Climate Agreement when he gets back from the G-7 summit. He plans to continue talking it over with his advisers, and presumably he needs to sleep on it in his own bed. Whats the deal with that darn coat? Its well-known by now that Aziz Ansaris Master of None character Dev has excellent taste in clothes. His wardrobe in the first season heavily reliant on Band of Outsiders shirts and Saint Laurent jackets were just this side of believable for a sometimes-working actor. The clothes in season two are even more turned-up, with Dev traveling to Italy, not to mention landing a hosting gig on a Cupcake Warslike show. Perhaps, like us, you watched Master of None and thought, Who makes that excellent plaid shearling coat Dev is wearing when he bangs his head against the store window? We called up Master of None costume designer Dana Covarrubias (whos also worked on Louie and Broad City) to get the intel about what Dev wears onscreen (its all pretty fancy), from that shearling jacket to his Italian linen trousers. Saint Laurent Faux Shearling Plaid Coat $1,249 Our favorite piece that we bought for Dev. It was just so beautiful and played with the idea of classic Americana. It looks like it could be from the 70s. We had some back and forth about whether Dev could actually afford this, but we ultimately decided that he could because he just landed that cupcake gig. He used his first paycheck. And then all his pants in the show are the Unis Gio, which we had to alter just so slightly to get tapered but they do fit him really well. Theyre such a great heavy weight too. $1,249 at Barneys Warehouse Buy Brunello Cucinelli Double Breasted Blazer $1,964 We did a lot more Italian brands for Dev this season, because of course hes in Italy. If the first season was more inspired by The Graduate, the second season particularly the scenes set in Italy felt more like Fellini. This jacket is Brunello Cucinelli [Editors note: this one is similar, though not exactly the same], his pants are Isaia, and the shoes are Alden. $1,964 at Yoox Buy Goorin Brothers Driving Cap $30 We actually had to prep all of Devs clothes in New York before shooting in Italy so even though they were Italian brands, we had to be able to buy them all in New York. Luckily, so many of them are available here. Youll notice, too, that not everything he wore in Italy was necessarily Italian, but at least Italian in spirit. $30 at Nordstrom Buy Gant Rugger R2 Varsity Sweater $210 There are a lot of sweaters this season, many of them from AMI, which suits Aziz, and Gant, too. And Dev wears a lot of A.P.C. jeans. $210 at NLY Man Buy The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best womens jeans, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, ultra-flattering pants, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. Every editorial product is independently selected. If you buy something through our links, New York may earn an affiliate commission. Anthony Weiner. Photo: John Taggart/Bloomberg via Getty Images Shortly before the presidential election, former FBI director James Comey announced that the bureau would be investigating new emails from Hillary Clintons private email server, which had allegedly been uncovered during a separate probe into claims that former New York congressman Anthony Weiner had sexted with a 15-year-old girl. On Friday, Weiner will plead guilty in New York federal court to end the inquiry into his alleged underage sexting, the New York Times reports. Weiner, 51, is set to appear in Manhattan federal court to enter a guilty plea to one charge of transferring obscene material to a minor, two people briefed on the matter told the Times. As part of a plea agreement with the U.S. attorneys office, Weiner reportedly surrendered to the FBI early Friday morning, and will likely have to register as a sex offender (although a final determination over that matter hasnt been made yet), also according to the Times. He also faces a potential sentence of zero to ten years in prison, which means he may avoid prison time. A judge will make the ultimate decision on his sentence. Reports surfaced in September that Weiner, the estranged husband of senior Clinton aide Huma Abedin, had spent months sending text messages and photos to a 15-year-old girl in North Carolina. Screenshots of the exchanges between Weiner and the girl including images and explicit messages were initially published by the Daily Mail. Shortly afterward, the FBI began an investigation into the alleged sexting. In October, Comey told Congress that the bureau learned of the existence of emails that appear to be pertinent to the investigation in Clintons private email server. The new emails were reportedly linked to electronic devices that belonged to Weiner and Abedin, which were seized during the sexting probe. Update 12:00 p.m.: NBC News reports that Weiner pleaded guilty on Friday. Weiner must register as a sex offender, and prosecutors have asked that he serve 21 to 27 months in prison. Weiner was released on bail, and his next hearing is scheduled for September 8. Weiners conduct was not only reprehensible, but a federal crime, one for which he is now convicted and will be sentenced, acting Manhattan U.S. attorney Joon Kim said in a statement. Karen Pence, Ryan Zinke, and Mike Pence, post-dance. Photo: Courtesy of YouTube/The Clem Report A great video clip will transport you away from the tedium and fatigue of your daily existence, briefly bestowing you with a much-needed bit of levity and joy. Take, for instance, a French bulldog playing with a baby. A cat hugging one of her kittens. Or Vice-President Mike Pences wife, Karen, dancing with Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke while Pence looks on helplessly, unable to intervene. While Washington, D.C., finds itself rocked by news leak after news leak, Pence was away at a rally in Billings, Montana. He turned his back for a mere second, only to have Zinke who rode a horse to work on his first day pull his wife into a dance, literally sweep her off her feet, then swing her around. (For evangelical Christians, this actually counts as full-on sex.) This exact situation is, incidentally, the prequel to Footloose. Julian Assange at the Ecuadorian embassy. Photo: Carl Court/Getty Images A Swedish investigation into a rape claim against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been dropped, Swedens top prosecutor announced on Friday. The European arrest warrant was issued in 2010 after two women came forward saying they had been sexually assaulted by Assange. The prosecutor said she dropped the investigation because, per Associated Press, they could not arrest him in the foreseeable future. His lawyer, E. Samuelsson, called the news, a total victory on Swedish Radio. He is now free to leave the embassy when he wants. We have won the Assange case. He is of course happy and relieved. He has been critical that it has lasted that long. However, Assange is still a wanted man in the United Kingdom for not showing up to a court date, which the Metropolitan police noted to AP is a much less serious offense than sex crimes and said they will provide a level of resourcing which is proportionate to that offense. He has been in asylum in the U.K.s Ecuadorian embassy since 2012. UK states it will arrest Assange regardless & refuses to confirm or deny whether it has already received an extradition request from the US. WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) May 19, 2017 The statute of limitations for the sexual-assault claims expires in 2020 and therefore could be reopened. President Trump has said that he would like to charge Assange as well, but its unclear whether these charges have been or will be brought against him. The news comes one day after Chelsea Manning, a U.S. Army soldier who shared classified documents with WikiLeaks, was freed from prison. Like Manning, Assange posted a photo of himself from his personal account following the news. Actresses Adina Verson and Katrina Lenk in the pivotal kissing scene of the Broadway play Indecent. Photo: Carol Rosegg The first lesbian kiss on an American stage was performed in Greenwich Village nearly 100 years ago, in 1922. When the play moved uptown to Broadway shortly after, the scandalous kiss was cut and the play still caused an uproar: Police shut the theater down, the cast was arrested, and an obscenity trial followed. It was the Yiddish play God of Vengeance, a drama written by Sholem Asch in 1907 about the erotic awakening between two women. That the women in question were a brothel owners virgin daughter and one of her fathers prostitutes only added fuel to the fire. The Pulitzer Prizewinning playwright Paula Vogel discovered the script in 1974, while studying for her Ph.D. at Cornell, and when she read the kissing scene, she felt electrified. God of Vengeance is the inspiration behind Vogels new play Indecent, co-created with director Rebecca Taichman and now playing on Broadway (both womens debut) after a sold-out run at the Vineyard Theater. Indecents pivotal kissing scene is modeled after a similar embrace in God of Vengeance: A young girl named Rifkele (the virgin daughter, played by Adina Verson) and a prostitute called Menke (Katrina Lenk) tiptoe quietly to the brothels rooftop while its raining. Their faces illuminated by moonlight and slick with raindrops converge in a kiss that affirms their longing, and triggers the the plays climax. When Rifkeles father discovers that shes spent the night with Menke, he raises the Torah in a rage and banishes her to the brothel to join her lover. Portraying lesbian lives on Broadway in 2017 is of course far from shocking, after many Broadway plays have featured prominent lesbian characters including Tennessee Williamss The Night of the Iguana (1961), though New York State law prohibited overt depiction of homosexuality onstage until 1967, and the musicals Falsettos (1992), Rent (1996) and The Color Purple (2005). But its far rarer to see the works of celebrated lesbian playwrights on Broadway Vogel pointed out that lesbian playwrights writing lesbian stories have never enjoyed the same visibility as their gay male counterparts. The recent success of Alison Bechdels 2015 Tony-winning musical Fun Home, which features a lead lesbian female protagonist and girl-on-girl kiss, helped crack the glass ceiling. Vogel had never read anything like God of Vengeance. In 1974, Broadway especially was still a mans domain. The year before, every Tony nomination for writing and directing had gone to men (shamefully, its not much better now). At Cornell, women couldnt even receive first-year fellowships or write about feminist theater and be taken seriously. Even in the late 90s, when Taichman was studying at the Yale School of Drama and discovered the play for herself, it still seemed radical and revolutionary. I was in love with a woman at the time so it affected me very personally, recalls Taichman. But more than that, I was shocked that it didnt have a bigger place in theater history, especially considering the 1923 Greenwich Village performance marked the first lesbian kiss on an American stage. Traichman became obsessed with keeping its memory alive, but it would take many years, and one audacious phone call to Vogel, whod since won a Pulitzer Prize, to make it come to life. Was the world ready for a play about two women in love? Is it now? From left to right: Richard Topol, Mimi Lieber, Tom Nelis, Adina Verson, Katrina Lenk, Steven Rattazzi, and Max Gordon Moore. Photo: Carol Rosegg/Carol Rosegg Indecents critics reviews and responses online have been overwhelmingly positive. But Vogel, whose work has always mirrored and challenged societal norms, acknowledges that progress can come and go. I have always felt both the beauty and the danger of the presentation of lesbian sexuality in public. Im a woman who has been jumped on in the street and beaten by men. Even now, she says she sees tweets saying, I love this play but dont see it if you have problems with lesbianism. To which she wants to reply, Go see this show if you have problems with lesbianism! Her point is that Indecent portrays a love story that transcends gender, race, and religion its about two people who want to be together and she hopes itll encourage audiences to understand the experience is universal, and that it will also widen the scope for the types of stories seen on Broadway. One of the difficulties Ive had is that there is this belief that a play should be about one thing: Have a single protagonist, hopefully male, and have one satisfying orgasm at the end of the evening, Vogel said. This leaves out a huge part of global drama. To her, that drama includes female, lesbian, trans, black, and Muslim stories, narratives about religious minorities, and many more lifestyles that need to be validated and portrayed as beautiful. In a sense, right now we are all lesbian. We are all Jews. We are all Muslim, says Vogel. I dont claim to represent any of these groups, but I do think that when one minority is under attack then we are all under attack. Though a lesbian kiss on Broadway is no longer shocking in 2017, perhaps the most shocking aspect is that Indecent came to Broadway in the Trump era at a time when hate crimes against minorities are on the rise and the political rhetoric used to perpetuate fear eerily parallels that of the 1920s. Its naive to think that the themes in Indecent are ancient history. Never in my worst nightmares could I have guessed or wished that this play would be so relevant, Taichman lamented. Its more shocking that the freedoms generations have fought for, like freedom to love who you like, same-sex marriage, gender equality, and freedom of speech, are still at risk. Indecent is playing until September 10 at the Cort Theatre. power is a bop, but i feel like the features always make the songs worse Reply Thread Link Their features always do besides Missy's verse in How Ya Doin? Reply Parent Thread Link tbh, stormzy improved shape of you which is the quintessential reluctant bop of 2017 so i'll wait Reply Parent Thread Link I'm not mad. Although a feature is unnecessary. I'll be anticipating Perrie's high note when they perform it live. Reply Thread Link power sounds dated Reply Thread Link I want more stromzy features so I ain't mad bout this Reply Thread Link i'm sure that they will devote plenty of time to us promo!! Reply Thread Link As always. Reply Parent Thread Link Stormzy blowing up still Reply Thread Link Ehhh, I wanted it to be a woman ngl so I understand that person who tweeted at him. We coulda got a dope female rapper. Reply Thread Link I prefer Stormzy over Nicki, who they keep mentioning when asked who they want to collab with. At least he isn't paying for his pedophile and rapist brother's lawyer fees. Reply Parent Thread Link Who said it had to be Nicki? I surely didn't. Missy could have featured again. Shit, Eve, Rah Digga, Sharaya J, hell they could have had another female artist feature on the track. I am tired of men being everywhere and preaching to me about women. I will, of course, give the verse a try, but it doesn't fit and a man is not necessary for every space, especially not this one right now at this time. Even Charli worked with some great female artists on her mixtape. Idk this era has been a miss for me. They were doing things right with Salute, and I really liked Get Weird, but the imagery, the music, their clothing this era has been tragic. Which is a shame because they have all gotten so much better vocally. Their Love On The Brain cover took me out. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Also, they need to not collab with Nicki and discover some other female rappers they are out here doing so well. Reply Parent Thread Link Which vacations? They toured for the past 3 months and will keep touring for the rest of the year and on the only month they're supposed to have some time off they're gonna record their new album because it has to drop in November. They have been on tour rehearsals since they went back to the UK. I will never understand why people act like they're always on vacations. Of course they're gonna want to go on vacations when they have a couple of weeks off from work. We all do the same. And they won't try in the US again because they know that touring with Ariana and going to a lot of radio stations didn't work at all because their team will never pay for a radio deal. They visited those radio stations for nothing because they won't even play their music so it's useless. Obligatory "the US isn't the only country in the world and they're doing just fine in their home country" comment. Edited at 2017-05-19 04:00 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Stormzzzzzzzy Reply Thread Link Power is such a bop. It shits on everything that's been released this past week (camila, Selena, Liam, Katy). Reply Thread Link I'm actually really glad that they didn't drop it today because Liam is doing a lot of promo right now. Reply Parent Thread Link well i'm excited even if the motorbike bit is a bit of a nails-on-chalkboard moment for me and the "Stormzy has sold out~" comments on twitter, l m f a o Reply Thread Link I'm excited. I like Stormzy Reply Thread Link I understand that it's a girl power anthem and so some people are like "why Stormzy?"... but I really love Stormzy, he always comes across as so genuine and nice. I'd be more offended if they got another Machine Gun Kelly-esque POS to feature. Reply Thread Link was Tupayne Shakur too busy to feature? Edited at 2017-05-19 05:10 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link Stormzy is so overrated. A low budget rapper that nobody really needs in their lives. Reply Thread Link Ughhhhh whyyyyy Still gonna get it Reply Parent Thread Link Someone on my Twitter timeline asked an interesting question of if Lineysha Sparx is getting any money from this Lil Poundcake stuff. Reply Thread Link If Justin trademarked it, I honestly doubt it. Reply Parent Thread Link Yea I've wondered about that too, plus what she thinks of this as well Reply Parent Thread Link let's be real, Lineysha had exactly 0% to do with the entire concept, she just happened to be Alaska's partner for the challenge Edited at 2017-05-19 03:40 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link this is so damn false tbh, lineysha has shown time and time again she's extremely creative, and ppl need to quit assuming she isn't witty bc she has an accent or was quiet on the show. alaska has given lineysha credit for co-creating lil poundcake, so don't try it Reply Parent Thread Link She has credited Lineysha time and again for contributing to poundcake but ok Reply Parent Thread Link Great idea imo, but I'm not paying $50+shipping+import tax for it. Same with Willam's perfume. I bet it smells good, but fuck paying $69+s+it for it without actually knowing what it's like. Reply Thread Link I'm honestly thinking about getting a P.O. Box just so I can buy merch because a lot of stuff doesn't arrive to my house because I guess it gets lost on the international mail/shipping or something. Edited at 2017-05-19 03:41 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Willam has a perfume and its almost $70? Probably smells like a sticker. Ill stick to actual designer perfume for that price tbh. Reply Parent Thread Link Its made by some company that just makes perfumes, it's not like he made it in his bathtub. Pearl also has a perfume from the same company called Flazeda, and Trixie too. Reply Parent Thread Link Oh.. I got Flazeda and it felt like a total waste of money tbh, it was leaking, the scent didnt last long but it was nice - a little too generic smelling, but it was inoffensive. I do feel like i over payed, especially for the quality - plastic bottle top, the sticker very easily lifting off the bottle at the corners - it felt like something from etsy. It turned me off buying perfumes blindly (my mistake) - but for that price and uncertainty, I dont want to do it again. Reply Parent Thread Link Well that was something Reply Thread Link Go Alaska! Reply Thread Link Now that I think about it when I was at Dragcon, I didn't see where they were supposed to be selling Alaska's dumb tuck tape from AS2 lol Reply Thread Link There were only 25 of each of Alaska's tape and Katya's spray available and they sold out immediately. Katya supposedly said she wanted to have a bunch made to sell, but "they" (whoever they are) wouldn't let them do it. Reply Parent Thread Link I'm just mad at Roxxxy being top 4 and ruining Read U Wrote U. It would have been way better with Tatianna or Alyssa. Reply Parent Thread Link This is mostly unrelated but a youtube ad popped up for these monstrosities the other day and I cringed so hard my skeleton left my body Reply Thread Link "totally on fleek and unique" I'm weak lmao Reply Parent Thread Link Edited at 2017-05-19 07:58 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link this is a throwback, i love it Reply Parent Thread Link "You can't say what not to say," the source said, "because that will then be one of the first things he'll say." Beyond dealing with Trump, sources tell CNN that McMaster is also forced to devote "too much of his time" to internal White House politics instead of national security matters, fending off challenges from White House strategist Stephen Bannon, senior adviser Jared Kushner and even the NSC chief of staff, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, whom the source described as "directly attempting to undermine McMaster." "McMaster knows that he's under attack from all sides in the building and even from departments and agencies," the source said. "It is ferocious." Between Trump and his national security adviser lie 'ferocious' internal politics -- https://t.co/4wYN49NTw6 Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) May 19, 2017 Beyond dealing with Trump, sources tell CNN that McMaster is also forced to devote "too much of his time" to internal White House politics instead of national security matters, fending off challenges from White House strategist Stephen Bannon, senior adviser Jared Kushner and even the NSC chief of staff, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, whom the source described as "directly attempting to undermine McMaster.""McMaster knows that he's under attack from all sides in the building and even from departments and agencies," the source said. "It is ferocious." Reply Thread Link sources tell CNN that McMaster is also forced to devote "too much of his time" to internal White House politics instead of national security matters That's not scary at all! Reply Parent Thread Link I would seriously hate to be working in the white house right now, tbh. Reply Parent Thread Link idk man I'd love to have NYT/WaPo on speed dial and tell all their dirty secrets Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I saw the article the other day that said McMaster was a gay leather daddy lmao Reply Parent Thread Link lol the WaPo response to this was a Mulder and Scully gif Reply Parent Thread Link that gif I CAN'T Reply Parent Thread Link Omg lolol. Reply Parent Thread Link lol i love their 1-2 gut punches Reply Parent Thread Link HAHAHAH I LOVE IT Reply Parent Thread Link I've never before been tempted to write fanfiction of two anthopomorphized journalistic publications having raucous victory sex and fist-bumping in the afterglow Reply Parent Thread Link YASSSS NYT and WaPo the ship I never knew I needed Reply Parent Thread Link Please do and then post here! Reply Parent Thread Link LOL same Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah yeah, it's cute. But like, come on WaPo. Petty level max. It's important to be vocal, but don't be humorous about it, you're a legit ass newspaper rme Reply Parent Thread Expand Link what a time to be alive! Reply Parent Thread Link nnnnn Reply Parent Thread Link these two slayed the scene this week Reply Parent Thread Link my OTP now Reply Parent Thread Link Fucking dead and buried at the gif use. Reply Parent Thread Link Oh to be a fly on the wall of Air Force One right now to watch Trump's meltdown.... Reply Thread Link I'm off to lunch. Have fun! WHAT THE FUCK?I'm off to lunch. Have fun! Reply Thread Link I don't think the reporters on the plane are going to say anything about this until after the trip is over. I want to witness the meltdown!!! Reply Thread Link i want it nowwwww Reply Parent Thread Link the pod save america guys just talked about how stressful these trips are on the new podcast Reply Parent Thread Link oh cool! which one? I can't it :( Nvm found it! Edited at 2017-05-19 09:04 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link I can't freaking wait for Lovett's episode tomorrow. Reply Parent Thread Link Its almost comical at this point. He is an 80s movie villain that lays out his plans to everyone. Reply Thread Link i'm imagining his meeting with Russia literally like Reply Parent Thread Link Post your reaction when you got this push notification Reply Thread Link This gif kills me every time I see it. Reply Parent Thread Link And/or: How I actually feel: Not because I'm not excited deep down but since we somehow elected a KKK-backed, sexually assaulting, racist, sexist fucking reality television star with zero political experience to the presidency I have no optimism tbh. Edited at 2017-05-19 08:22 pm (UTC) How I want to feel:And/or:How I actually feel:Not because I'm not excited deep down but since we somehow elected a KKK-backed, sexually assaulting, racist, sexist fucking reality television star with zero political experience to the presidency I have no optimism tbh. Reply Parent Thread Link but tbh this has been me pretty consistently since november but tbh this has been me pretty consistently since november Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Just...what is wrong with this guy???? I literally cannot keep up oh my god Edited at 2017-05-20 01:48 am (UTC) Same thing I've done since the election, pretty much:Just...what is wrong with this guy???? I literally cannot keep up oh my god Reply Parent Thread Link I love you. I'm off to lunch for reals now! Reply Parent Thread Link In a gilded room, Saudi officials had a weapons wish list, and Jared Kushner had the number of Lockheeds CEO https://t.co/3udHTHOiQL The New York Times (@nytimes) May 19, 2017 How could it not be?!?! Reply Parent Thread Link i want him and vanks to go down soooo bad Reply Parent Thread Link LMAO Reply Thread Link Your wholehearted commitment to gifs of this show is very admirable. Reply Parent Thread Link She should be given an honorary Canadian citizenship for the promotion of CanCon tbh. Reply Parent Thread Link I hope Mueller annihilates him Reply Thread Link loool Reply Parent Thread Link i love him & i love a good your mom joke Reply Parent Thread Link I love him omg. He was in London at Platform 9 3/4 at King's Cross at the same goddamned time as me. I was off catching fucking Pokemon and missed him and saw his Insta post later and realized it was timestamped within 5 minutes of when we were there and I showed my husband the pic (he had been holding our place in line) and he was like OH YEAH THAT WAS THE GUY I SAW WHO I TOLD YOU LOOKED LIKE A PURPLE-HAIRED DEMOS (our friend), LOLZ, WHO IS HE? I was like...son of a bitch. Fucking Pokemon. I did catch a Mr. Mime though so, worth it. ANYWAY /csb. Reply Parent Thread Link Awwww that's the worst luck. Reply Parent Thread Link Damn I take a quick nap and wake up to even more lunacy. Reply Thread Link I did the same thing. I can never sleep, I miss tooo much! Reply Parent Thread Link I have a daily two hour commute each way, and it used to be plenty of time to take a nap, catch up on news, read ONTD, read a book, etc. Now I can barely manage to get through the cliffnotes version of US news. Just keeping up is like a full time job, I can't imagine actually living it. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Oil prices broke the $50 mark in trading on Friday, suggesting that the OPEC deal extension rumors are still influencing markets. (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) The rally stemming from the announcement of Saudi Arabia and Russia on a nine-month extension seemed to have run its course by mid-week, but oil moved higher again on Friday. WTI rose above $50 for the first time in nearly a month. Trump turmoil. Political crisis in the U.S. and Brazil took their toll on equity and commodity markets this week, as uncertainty spread throughout the financial system. As a result of the growing scandal in Washington, Wall Street has lost confidence in the prospect of large-scale tax cuts that the Trump administration promised, leading to a sharp drop in equities. Stocks posted their worst trading day of the year so far on Wednesday, which dragged down oil prices a bit. OPEC set to meet. OPECs official meeting will take place in a week, and most analysts expect an extension of at least six months, and more likely nine months due to the support from Saudi Arabia and Russia. However, there is quite a bit of dispute over whether or not the extension will be sufficient. Some see the extension as enough to drain inventories back to average levels, while others expect rising U.S. shale output to swamp the deal. In any event, to a large degree the OPEC extension is already priced into the market, and any pop in prices will probably be modest. As the end of the initial phase of the OPEC cuts draws near, that data suggests that OPEC members achieved a high level of compliance but the non-OPEC members that promised to reduce their output lagged in their commitments. Related: Oil Prices Rise As OPEC Discusses Deeper Output Cuts Global inventories rising again? Reuters reports that some less visible storage areas are starting to see an uptick in inventory levels, a worrying sign that suggests the oil market is still oversupplied. For example, the more expensive region of Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) is seeing a rise in crude storage because refiners are clogged with oil, an industry source said. And because it is a more expensive region, it should be one of the last places to see rising levels of storage and the first to see drawdowns. South Africa and Singapore have also seen increases lately. U.S. Treasury Department looking at Rosneft-PDVSA deal. Last November, Russias Rosneft gave a $1.5 billion loan to the struggling Venezuelan state-owned company PDVSA, which is rapidly running out of cash. As part of the terms of the deal, PDVSA is thought to have put up a 49.9 percent stake in its subsidiary Citgo, which has retail gasoline stations in the U.S. as well as three refineries. American politicians are fearful that Russia will gain control of those assets and are pressing the Treasury Department to look at the deal. Secretary of Treasury Steven Mnuchin said this week that his agency was investigating. Halliburton says it will hike prices, a sign that drilling costs will rise. The worlds second largest oilfield services company, Halliburton (NYSE: HAL), said that it expects to increase its prices by 10 to 20 percent this year as drilling activity picks up. Oil producers have benefitted over the past few years from severely reduced prices for fracking, completion, and other services, but the likes of Halliburton are no longer content to take it on the chin. Rising prices for oilfield services could push up drilling costs for the oil industry. Related: Rise In Rig Count Threatens To Undermine Recent Oil Price Spike Iranian elections held Friday. Iranians head to the polls today in a presidential vote that could have wide-ranging consequences. Incumbent President Hassan Rouhani has achieved an opening up of Iran and signed the historic nuclear accord with the P5+1 nations in 2015, which helped lead to a removal of sanctions. However, with Iranians disappointed with the underperforming economy, Rouhani is facing a tough battle from a hardline conservative cleric Ebrahim Raisi. Raisi could undermine the nuclear accord, which raises the risk of new confrontation with the West and perhaps additional sanctions. Ultimately, that will deter new investment in Irans oil sector and could limit the countrys ability to ramp up production from todays levels. We reiterate our call that Iran remains one of the most underappreciated political risks in the oil market. RBC Capital Markets wrote in a note. Brazil and Canada to add over 400,000 bpd this year. U.S. shale could spoil the OPEC deal, but output is growing elsewhere. Canada is expected to add 200,000 bpd this year from projects that were planned years ago. Brazil is also expected to add more than 200,000 bpd, again, from offshore projects that were initiated before the oil market downturn. The increase in supply could weigh on prices and complicate OPECs efforts to balance the market. Canadas Permian of the North. The Montney Shale in Alberta is emerging as a major source of shale gas, after years of rapidly growing investment and drilling. The number of wells drilled between January and April jumped 80 percent from a year earlier, according to Bloomberg. The nickname Permian of the North is starting to stick because of the similar stacked shale formations, which allow drillers to drill through multiple layers. Shale gas production in the Montney is expected to grow from 4.9 billion cubic feet today to 7 billion cubic feet by 2019. By Tom Kool for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: OPEC is discussing a potential deepening of crude oil output cuts in a bid to accelerate market rebalancing, sources from the cartel told Reuters. The news came as the groups Economic Commission Board met to discuss possible scenarios for next weeks meeting in Vienna. Expectations are that the meeting will yield a consensus agreement on an extension of the cuts, but this is the first time a potential deepening is also being mentioned. So far, several OPEC members have declared their support for an extension, including the leader, Saudi Arabia, as well as the largest non-OPEC participant in the cut, Russia. In a joint statement, the two countries energy ministers said they will support an extension of the cut. While analysts had argued that at the current rate of production, global inventories would take too long to rebalance, so the cuts needed to be deeper, but no comments were coming from OPEC on that point. This latest report could inject some optimism among traders, although one of Reuters sources noted that Today's meeting is just informative, nothing major. While the extension is all but certain, there are still doubts that it will achieve its stated goal of bringing the international oil market back to balancein other words propping up prices enough to allow for investment in new production in Middle Eastern and other producers, whose hands are now tied by budget deficits. There are two OPEC members that are expanding their output thanks to an exemption granted by the cartel, Nigeria and Libya. Nigeria is aiming to bring its daily output to 1.8 million bpd, after which it would consider joining the cut, and Libya has hit the 800,000-bpd mark for the first time since 2014, eyeing a ramp-up to 1.3 million bpd by the end of the year. The combined output of the two countries is currently around 2.3 million bpd. To compare, OPEC and its partners agreed to cut 1.8 million bpd from global daily supply. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Two political parties in oil-rich Alberta the Progressive Conservative Party and the Wildrose Party - have tentatively agreed to merge, according to a new report by Reuters. The conjoined party will become the opposition to the New Democratic Party in the Canadian province, a spokesperson from Wildrose said on Thursday. The next provincial elections are due to take place in 2019. The right-wingers are hoping to seriously challenge Premier Rachel Notley at the polls, unlike what happened in 2015 when divisions amongst conservative factions cost them the provinces top office. The merger still needs to be approved by members of both parties to actually happen. Oil from Alberta is the United States single largest source of oil. The province oil resources are vast, but almost three years of low oil prices have created a C$10.3 billion hole in the states budget. The unified conservative party is expected to support policies that cut costs and taxes for oil and gas companies. The leaders of the two merging parties have said they oppose strong environmental regulations and the phase-out of coal plants, which compares to policies pushed by freshman U.S. President Donald Trump. The Progressive Conservatives controlled Alberta for 44 years before the 2015 elections. Conservative critics of the new administration say high corporate taxes, as well as emissions caps, have created an unattractive investment environment. "If the election was today they [the NDP] would be sunk and defeating a unified conservative party would be very difficult," Duane Bratt, a political scientist at Mount Royal University told Reuters. "Some people are blaming the entire economic downturn on the NDP, even though it was occurring before they were elected." By Zainab Calcuttawala for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Indonesia offered on Friday 10 conventional and 5 unconventional oil and gas blocks under new, more flexible terms for production sharing deals, but it is still failing to attract much interest from international upstream companies. Indonesia has tweaked its production sharing rules and will try to reduce import duties on equipment for exploration where possible, deputy energy minister Arcandra Tahar told Reuters. In the 2016 tender, Indonesia offered 17 blocks, but picked just one winner. According to Tahar, the feeble interest last year was not due to Indonesias unattractiveness as an oil exploration destination, but to the combination of the low oil prices and company strategies. However, oil industry analysts and executives who spoke to Reuters still think that Indonesia needs to do more work in terms of regulatory and fiscal regimes. In Indonesia at the moment, the returns are difficult, the time to get a return is too long, and the risk of political involvement is quite high, Andrew Harwood, director of Asia Pacific upstream oil and gas research at Wood Mackenzie, told Reuters. According to an executive at an international oil company with operations in Indonesia, the country is less competitive than other destinations. Production is going down in oil and gas, while a lot of countries are increasing, so I think that says it all, the executive told Reuters. Related: Oil Prices Set To Rise On Back Of OPEC Deal Extension Indonesia is planning to bring in US$200 billion in new oil investment as local production declines and demand grows. Indonesia is currently producing some 800,000 barrels of crude daily about half of what it consumes but this is expected to climb to over 1 million bpd, to reduce the countrys dependence on imports, which are estimated to have reached 8.4 million barrels in April. Over the first quarter, Indonesias average monthly import rate was 10.55 million barrels. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Iraq has made a US$300-million payment to Iran under a power export agreement, according to Azeri news media Trend, quoting Irans Deputy Energy Minister Houshang Falahatian. Another US$800 million remain to be paid. Iran was exporting some 1,500 MW of electricity to its neighbor as of November 2016, when Iraq defaulted on its payments. Plans were to increase exports to 2,000 MW. At the time, Falahatian said that Iraq owed Tehran money for over a year of power supplies, adding that ways of addressing the problem were being discussed. While the discussions lasted, Iran cut off the power supply to its neighbor over the first two months of 2017, but in March started ramping up deliveries again. Official statistics from the Iranian Energy Ministry cited by Trend reveal that overall Iranian electricity exports fell to 300 million kWh over the last two months of the Iranian fiscal year, down 78 percent, while imports went up by 6 percent to 789 million kWh. Meanwhile, the two countries are discussing the joint development of oil and gas fields along their border, settling their earlier differences, which back in the 1980s escalated into an open military conflict. Now the neighbors are back to cooperation, aware of the benefits they stand to reap if they work together. Related: OPEC Pushes Up Oil, But Will the Gains Continue? However, this could change if Irans President Hassan Rouhani does not win a second term in todays vote. Rouhani is a reformer who rose to power with a pledge to improve relations between iran and the West and whose Energy Minister, Bijan Zanganeh, came up with the new International Petroleum Contracts that should bring foreign oil and gas companies back to Iran, restarting its long-suffering energy industry. Rouhanis lead over conservative candidate Ebrahim Reisi, however, seems to be limited, so there is a possibility for a conservative win. This is bound to change the direction of Irans foreign policy with uncertain consequences. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Agricultural News This Week on SUNUP - Kim Anderson Explains Why Egypt's Purchas of Wheat is Good News for US This week on SUNUP! - OSU's Dr. Kim Anderson joins host Lyndall Stout once again talking wheat prices and this time he says, there is some hope on the horizon that wheat prices could get an uptick as we move through harvest into the fall. "I think there's some hope in sight," he said. "If we have a good quality crop, I think we may see slightly higher prices." According to Anderson the price for wheat right now is hovering between $3.30 and $3.50 with a basis at -.95 to -.75 and the loan rate at $2.97. Meanwhile, the US has sold two different loads of HRW to Egypt this week, each contract for 60,000 metric tons, or roughly 2.2 million bushels for $5.08 and $5.05 at port. The freight to Egypt was $0.56 and $0.61/bu. totaling $5.64 and $5.66 on board at Egypt. "That's very good news for wheat," Anderson said. "It's been a while since we've sold wheat into Egypt." That price fell below that of other competing countries such as Russia, Romania and Ukraine, offering wheat within a range of $5.36 and $5.39. "Our price was the lowest, so that means we're competitive on the world market," Anderson said. You can watch their visit tomorrow or Sunday on SUNUP- but you can hear Kim's comments right now by clicking on the LISTEN BAR below. Beyond their weekly chat with Dr. Anderson- the SUNUP crew has a very full lineup for your viewing this weekend: This week on SUNUP, we come to you from the North Central Research Station near Lahoma. We start with a wheat update from David Marburger. - Then Brett Carver introduces us to the two newest OkState wheat varieties, Sprit Rider and Smith's Gold. - In the Mesonet weather report, Al Sutherland says warm temperatures are starting to impact cattle and crops. Gary McManus shows us where drought remains in Oklahoma. - Kim Anderson explains why Egypt's purchase of wheat from nearby countries impacted the price they paid for U.S. wheat. - Josh Lofton says plan for sugarcane aphids now and it may not be worth replanting missed sorghum in your field. - In Cow-Calf Corner, Glenn Selk has advice for preparing for your next calving season. - Finally, Derrell Peel says exporting U.S. beef actually increases demand for beef domestically. You can watch their visit tomorrow or Sunday on SUNUP- but you can hear Kim's comments right now WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady NSI Top Agricultural News Earlier this week Nigel Jaquiss wrote that the proposition a growing population means more traffic is a shaky assumption. I admire his making a contrarian point, and Ive long been an admirer of his writing for Willamette Week, but lets subject that point to some further scrutiny. Jaquiss shows a graph depicting how vehicle miles were relatively flat for the last decade. Yet our population grew by 12% during the same time period. So how did these people get around? Metro planners might like to believe that, congruent with their motto congestion is our friend, traffic jams have successfully forced more Oregonians out of their vehicles and into mass transit. That hypothesis can be tested by producing a similar graph using TriMets boardings data during the same 1979-2015 time period. It shows a flattening out in the past decade too. The reasons should be obvious. First, after 2004, retail gasoline prices began to spike. Second, there was a significant decline in economic activity starting in 2007. That meant less commuting. Jaquiss seems to get the latter explanation and tries to preempt this objection by saying: Oregons economy grew tremendously from 2004 through 2015. One measure of that economytotal personal incomegrew from $112 billion in 2004 to $176 billion in 2015, but thats probably not the right metric to measure economic activity in relation to traffic. A modest number of wealthy Californians moving into the Pearl District can skew total personal income upward. A better metric is total employment. As more people work, more commuters will need to get to work. We can see this relationship between transportation and employment by graphing Oregons employment numbers onto the same time frame. Doing so shows that same flattening in the past decade but also shows a recovery in employment just as Jaquiss graph shows a sudden, rapid recovery in vehicle miles driven. Also, Oregons recovery has been uneven. The Oregon Employment Department reports most of that job recovery has been in the Portland Metro area, concentrating commuting and freight shipping into a smaller area where bottlenecks on the I-5, I-205, and HWY 217 are increasingly costly for most of this states economy. The question then is, should we be planning on high gas prices and low employment numbers? Its hard to find an energy consultant or labor economist that would predict we should. The consequences of our new ability to extract shale oil and the dynamic creative class that has been moving to Oregon make betting on another decade like the one we just passed appear to be more of a shaky assumption. Eric Shierman lives in Salem and is the author of A Brief History of Political Cultural Change. Khawaja Asif accused PTI leader Ayesha Gulalai of pilfering electricity ISLAMABAD: Oppositions legislators in Lower House of parliament on Thursday strongly reacted and staged a walkout after Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif accused PTI leader Ayesha Gulalai of pilfering electricity. Targeting the PTI woman lawmaker, who had led a protest against the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) a day earlier, the minister remarked that power pilferers were protesting load shedding. On a point of order, Khawaja Asif regretted the procession led by a woman MNA outside the PESCO office in Peshawar and pointed out that there was 89 percent power pilferage in the feeder where the MNA resides. Does asking for your rights amount to thievery? Gulalai hit back. Money is taken from the countrys people in every budget for electricity and yet you continue to remain unable to provide electricity, she said. PTIs chief whip Shireen Mazari, in return, called Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif a thief, prompting slogans against the government. Speaking on the occasion, Opposition Leader Khurshid Shah said there was a lot of electricity theft happening in Lahore as well. Why does nobody see that? The opposition leader said that electricity theft prevailed all over the country. Should we cut off everyones supply? he asked, adding, If we call each other thieves, we do not need external enemies. He said the matter can be resolved if Kh Asif takes his comments back. National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq expunged Kh Asifs remarks and warned Mazari against making objectionable comments against other members of the House. Leaders of the PPP and Jamaat-i-Islami then joined PTI in walking out of the assembly in protest. Meanwhile, Minister for States and Frontier Regions Abdul Qadir Baloch told the House that the government was committed to FATA reforms. He rejected the news about the FATA reforms having been shelved due to an unexpected change of mind in the ranks of both treasury and the opposition. It has also been reported that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has directed his party to postpone FATA reforms bills till his return to the country, he said, and clarified that PM didnt issue any directive in this connection and that there was no pressure of any sort on him over the issue. He said FATA reforms package comprising 36 points was formulated in consultation with all the stakeholders. The FATA reforms bill approval was postponed in the NA which led to an uproar by the opposition in the House. The House plunged into chaos as chief of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Mehmood Khan Achakzai declared FATA an independent area. Speaking at floor of the House, Achakzai said that he only follows the constitution of Pakistan. Those who dont follow the constitution are traitors. Parliament will be responsible of consequences if decisions are imposed against the will of the people of FATA, he warned. Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah strongly condemned the government while accusing it of halting the FATA reforms bill through its allies. Members of parliament from FATA have reportedly contacted Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leadership over the reforms bill. They have expressed desire to meet party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari to inform him about their reservations. The members have sought PPPs assistance in raising the issue in parliament with full force. Sources say that a meeting is being arranged between Zardari and FATA members. The National Assembly, meanwhile, adopted an adjournment motion for discussion on recent incidents of unprovoked firing by Afghan forces on Pakistani villages in Chaman. The motion was moved by Syed Naveed Qamar and others. Minister of State for Education Balighur Rehman laid before the House The National Skill University Islamabad Bill, 2017. The House also passed The Alternate Dispute Resolution Bill, 2017. The bill was moved by Law Minister Zahid Hamid. The minister said it was a historic bill aimed at ensuring speedy justice. He said it would help reduce backlog of cases in the lower judiciary. The House also passed The Alternate Dispute Resolution Bill, 2017, The National Counter Terrorism Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2017, The Land Acquisition (Amendment) Bill, 2016, The Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Bill, 2016, The Provincial Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill, 2015 and The Representation of the Peoples (Amendment) Bill, 2017. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. The deadline to sign up for this free community event that is open to all is Nov. 16. Kennebunk Post "We need to invest in our kids," said resident Brenda Robinson. "That's how we keep graffiti out of Waterhouse Center and mischief out of the downtown on Saturday night." This is the latest in a series of posts about the suffrage movement in Warren, Washington and Saratoga counties. Mrs. Robert Swan, secretary of Warren County Branch of the Women Suffrage Party, on Feb. 23, 1917, sent a telegram to state Assemblyman Henry Edwin Harmar Brereton, R-Lake George, thanking him for championing the suffrage referendum legislation in the Assembly and for his support of suffrage for the past three years, The Post-Star reported on Feb. 24, 1917. Swan said that she was writing on behalf of 300 active workers and 5,000 Warren County women who had signed suffrage petitions. The legislation to conduct a statewide referendum passed by the Assembly by a vote of 125 to 10, an increase of 16 votes in support and 20 less in opposition from legislation that passed a year before, when a previous referendum was defeated in November. Brereton, a real estate broker and farmer from Lake George, served in the Assembly from 1911 through 1917. He later served in the state Senate from 1927 through 1932. Click here to read the most recent previous post in the series. The company that purchased five local nursing homes in recent years is holding a job fair next week looking to fill numerous positions. Centers Health Care is looking to fill an unspecified number of medical positions, including registered nurse, licensed practical nurses and nurse assistant positions, at its homes in Warren, Washington, Essex and Fulton counties. The company is offering numerous prizes for those who plan to attend, described below: Additional event information: The first 50 applicants to arrive will receive a gift card to Dunkin Donuts! Lunch will be served at 1pm. There will be great prizes raffled off throughout the day: Amazon Kindle Fire HD (11am raffle) $69 value! Amazon Echo (1:30pm raffle) $179 value! GRAND PRIZE: 48??? Smart TV (4pm raffle) $379 value! Additionally, each raffle will have runner-up prizes of American Express gift cards! The fair is set for Thursday, May 25, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Queensbury Hotel in Glens Falls. GLENS FALLS Saffren Grieco stepped to the podium and looked out at more than 250 classmates, then glanced back at Eric Whinnery, the student speaker who had preceded her. Its going to be really hard to follow Chewbacca, she said, drawing laughs from the students and the roughly 2,000 spectators at Thursday nights commencement ceremony for SUNY Adirondack and the SUNY Plattsburgh students who did their studies on the Queensbury campus. Whinnery, who is from Saratoga Springs and was the student speaker for SUNY Plattsburgh, gave a humorous, but standard speech, telling his classmates he knew three things about them they worked hard, they each can handle a lot of things at once, and they had all made some sacrifices. He also talked about unconditional love, told students they should make the world a better place, and then got to Star Wars. I am going to end with a quote from a great American hero, Chewbacca, he said. All I can think of right now is the end of Episode 6, when everyones in trouble, and Chewbacca said . . . Whinnery cupped his hands and made a more than creditable Wookie yell that brought applause, laughter and cheers. I dont speak Wookie, he said. But I know what he was telling them, and thats what I will tell you, I believe in all of you. The evening marked SUNY Adirondacks 55th commencement and was the second-largest in school history. In all, the college issued about 726 diplomas, covering students who finished in the last three semesters. Kristine Duffy, the colleges president, told the students, You each have a story to tell, and said she hoped they would fondly remember the stop in their life that included their years at SUNY Adirondack. Your life just got a little sweeter, she told them. You can hold your head high and say, I am a college graduate. The students marched out to the Adirondack Pipes and Drums and the SUNY Adirondack Chorale performed several songs, including You Rise Me Up, a special request from Duffy. So many stories As the students jammed into the overheated Heritage Hall, waiting to get into the cool of the air-conditioned main section of the Civic Center, they talked easily about their time at the school, some saying the dorms made it easier for them to make their college choice and others who said there were professors who made all the difference for them. There are a lot of memories, said Joelle Jameson, who received a degree in creative writing. A lot of them had to do with coffee. Mary Riley of Corinth earned her degree and will work as a teachers assistant. My kids are all grown up, and I said Now its my turn. I just feel education is important for our children, Riley said. We need to teach them. Jamie Ellsworth of Chestertown, an early childhood graduate, said she already has a job at a day-care center. Sata Melber of Troy and Matthew Hopper of Vorheesville were both receiving criminal justice degrees from SUNY Plattsburgh. They attended Hudson Valley Community College together, then came to Queensbury. Its awesome, because we are paying community college tuition for a degree from Plattsburgh, said Melber, who has never been on the Plattsburgh campus. Samantha Straus, who is from Brooklyn, received an associates degree in humanities and social sciences with highest honors. I wanted to get away, and I needed dorms, Straus said. Restoring faith Grieco, who was the student speaker for the SUNY Adirondack students, did indeed find a way to follow Chewbacca, but in a much more serious way. I found so much pride and joy in being a student at SUNY Adirondack, said Grieco, who majored in music and will be going on to SUNY Albany to study social work. Grieco came from a sheltered, conservative religious community and was kicked out of the community at age 20 because she had a boyfriend and wanted to live in the outside world. She said SUNY Adirondack made all the difference in the world for her, but instead of reaching to Star Wars for her example, she went to an internet meme. You know the one I am talking about, she told her classmates, some of whom were tweeting during her speech. Its the one with a little kid at the beach making a fist and saying faith in humanity restored. My faith in humanity was lost before I came here, she added. But I got here, found people who wanted to help people like I did and met professors who taught their passions, she added. You guys have restored the parts of me I lost, Grieco said. FORT EDWARD Dana Haff is used to being the lone no vote on a resolution. Friday was no exception, as the Hartford supervisor was the only one of 16 supervisors in attendance to vote no on three different resolutions at the county Board of Supervisors meeting. Granville Supervisor Matt Hicks jokingly called Haff Mr. Nay after the meeting. The first no vote came on a resolution to transfer $1,750 to the Women Infants and Children (WIC) contractual expenses budget for installation of an air-conditioning unit. The way Im reading this resolution, to air-condition a room about the size of our meeting room is going to cost about $7,000, Haff said. I think theres a better way to do this. Hebron Supervisor Brian Campbell, the countys budget officer, countered, It includes heat and AC. After the meeting, Campbell explained that the air-conditioning unit would connect to the current computerized system, thus making it expensive. Haff responded by pointing out that the town of Hartford only pays $500 to heat and air-condition its meeting room. The second no vote from the Hartford supervisor was on a resolution to amend the budget of several county agencies. The impetus behind his opposition to that particular resolution was that it included increasing appropriation of money acquired through federal asset forfeiture, which Haff has long decried. That resolution had the f-word in it, he said. Lastly, Haff voted against a resolution to reach an agreement with New York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal to extend the countys insurance coverage of heavy trucks to those older than 10 years. Currently, customers can decide how much they want to receive if a truck is declared totaled, but only until that vehicle is 10 years old. During that time, they can insure it up to the amount it would cost to buy a brand-new truck. But once the truck turns 10, NYMIR will only reimburse the market value of the vehicle usually a tiny percentage of the replacement cost. Earlier this year, the town of Hartford didnt understand the rule and kept paying to insure their trucks at replacement value. The town was reimbursed with a credit for the over-payment. This agreement here nullifies any look back for the county, he argued. We act like we fell off the rutabaga truck yesterday. One of the most devastating thunderstorms to hit the region in years knocked out power to tens of thousands of local residents late Thursday, damaging numerous homes and vehicles and downing hundreds of trees. Nearly 24,000 National Grid customers in Warren, Washington and Saratoga counties were without electricity early Friday from the round of powerful storms that slammed the area Thursday night. Some will be restored by early afternoon, and the company's website showed all should be back on line by late Saturday. National Grid spokesman Nathan Stone said the Glens Falls area fared the worst in eastern New York. Your area got hit really hard and its going to take some time to sort out whats what, he said. Were not seeing any issues with substations but there are a lot of trees and lines down. Warren County Emergency Services Director said National Grid brought in line crews from around the region and Canada. He said the worst damage seemed confined to Queensbury, the north end of Glens Falls and adjacent Washington County. They are bringing in resources from other areas, LaFlure said. According to Stone, crews from Buffalo and Pennsylvania are assisting. We called in 50-plus from Buffalo, he said on Friday afternoon. And 260 in mutual aid from Pennsylvania and New York. Washington County had the worst problems, with more than 13,000 National Grid customers in the county out at the height of the outage, and the number had dropped to just under 7,000 as of 1:15 p.m. Friday. The Hudson Falls/Fort Edward region, Fort Ann, Argyle, Whitehall, Hartford and White Creek all had hundreds of outages. The Washington County Department of Public Safety announced on Friday afternoon that the Kingsbury fire station on Burgoyne Avenue was open and available to residents requiring shelter. Also, as part of the National Grid Extended Restoration Plan, county officials said bottled water and dry ice would be brought to the fire station on Saturday for residents. Warren County had more than 6,000 customers out of power, with biggest issues found in Queensbury and Glens Falls. Saratoga Springs had more than 2,200 homes and businesses out. Schools in Queensbury, Hudson Falls, Cambridge, Fort Edward, Whitehall, Hartford and Fort Ann did not open because of power outages and travel issues stemming from blocked roads. The Washington County Office of Emergency Services reported numerous road closures from downed trees and wires in Kingsbury through much of Friday, including parts of Vaughn, Bentley, Dean, County Line, Park, Route 4 and Sanford Ridge roads as of mid-afternoon. A crew from Adirondack Tree Surgeons was busy Friday morning cleaning up storm damage in Glens Falls and other surrounding towns. They made quick work of a large fallen branch on a house and vehicles outside 23 Sagamore St. The branch smashed the rear windows of a minivan in the driveway and a sedan of their neighbor, causing extensive damage. No injuries were reported but the storms damage left neighbor Betty David startled. Numerous traffic lights were out on Dix Avenue and Route 4, and Washington County Public Safety Director Glen Gosnell said drivers need to be aware that intersections where traffic lights are out become four-way stop intersections. Gosnell said the county provided generators to the village of Whitehall to run its wastewater treatment plant. The storm ripped through the region between 7 and 8 p.m. Thursday. It tore part of a roof off a building at AngioDynamics medical device plant in Queensbury, and brought down hundreds of trees in a swath of destruction running from Bay Road in Queensbury east into Kingsbury. Caitlin Stefanik, communications director for AngioDynamics, said no one at the complex was injured. The building that was damaged was used to service products that the company makes. Our team is working now to return to business as usual, which we expect to be shortly, she said. County Line Road was blocked by dozens of trees, wires and snapped utility poles, and an uprooted tree destroyed two trucks at Adirondack Precision Cut Stone a short distance south. About four miles east of the county line, a barn off Kingsbury Road was destroyed and another heavily damaged at the Getty farm. Jessica Getty said no animals were hurt, and she marveled at how far the sheet metal from the barn roof sailed into an adjacent farm field, narrowly missing a home. She said the storm blew through around 7:30 p.m. It was crazy. Ive never seen anything like it, Getty said. Route 4 resident Jim Washburn said he was watching the storm roll in through a door when a tree blew over and landed on his deck by the door, with another falling onto the homes roof. It shook everything. It was unbelievable, said his wife, Amy Washburn. On County Line Road, resident Steve Fielding had trees down all around his house. The road was blocked by lines and limbs, and the sound of chainsaws and generators was evident around the area. It came up real quickly, he said. It was so intense, you couldnt see anything. In Warren County, areas off Ridge Road, Bay Road and Sunnyside Road in Queensbury and Call Street in Lake Luzerne were hardest hit. Numerous vehicles were damaged or destroyed by falling limbs, including a truck on West Mountain Road in Queensbury and a sport-utility vehicle on Ridge Road. Chad Davis, who owned the truck that was destroyed, said he just paid off the loan on the vehicle. The Warren County Sheriffs Office said there were numerous roads reduced to one lane by storm damage. Kensington Road in Glens Falls was closed as of mid-morning. NYSEG reported fewer than 100 customers in the region without power as of early Friday. As the storms raged Thursday night, the Home Depot store in Queensbury saw a run on electrical generators as customers planned for a lengthy outage. High winds caused the vast majority of the problems, with gusts topping 50 mph. Jennifer Vogt-Miller, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Albany, said there were no reports of tornadoes forming in the storms or of specific wind gust speeds in the Glens Falls area. Weather Service meteorologist Dan Thompson said power was knocked out at Warren County airport, where the agency has weather-monitoring equipment, so a wind speed wasnt measured there. But he said it appeared gusts surpassed 60 mph and likely approached 70 mph. South Glens Falls teen Ben Kinne, though, provided The Post-Star with a picture that shows what appears to be a funnel cloud coming from clouds, which he said was taken from Harrison Avenue on Thursday night, looking north toward the areas where damage was heaviest. Weather Service meteorologist Joe Cebulko said his office had seen the photo, and believed straight-line winds from a macroburst were to blame, and the strong wind kicked up outflow of pollen and dust that became visible and looked like a funnel cloud or tornado. The most brazen and tenacious gang of lawbreakers in New York is made up of our state legislators. The cast changes when members get caught and go to prison, but the offenses continue. Again this month, we have seen a demonstration of the impunity New York legislators feel when it comes to following laws. We have also seen their bold-faced lack of shame when caught and their willingness to offer the most far-fetched justifications. To appreciate the latest scandal, we have to understand the way power is wielded in the state Senate. Republicans and Democrats are split almost evenly in the Senate, but eight Democrats who call themselves the Independent Democratic Conference have made themselves the key voting bloc by choosing, when it suits them, to vote with the Republicans. Both the Democratic leadership, particularly Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and the Republican leadership in the Senate try to curry favor with members of the conference. This is accomplished, in the governors case, by steering money from the slush funds he controls to projects in the members districts. For his part, Republican John Flanagan, the Senate majority leader, can name members to head committees, which means they collect stipends. This year, Sen. Jeffrey Klein of the Bronx, who leads the Independent Democratic Conference, will collect a stipend of $34,000, on top of his $79,500 salary. But Flanagan got creative last year and found a way to get stipends also to members who dont head committees. How did he do that? By listing them as committee heads on official paperwork submitted to the Controllers Office for payment. Get that? They werent the heads of committees, but they were listed as the heads of committees on state documents so they could get paid extra. This is no less a criminal fraud than it is when people submit false paperwork to get more money from the Department of Social Services. Those folks pop up all the time in the newspapers police blotter, charged with offering a false instrument for filing. Three Democratic senators all members of the Independent Democratic Caucus and four Republican state senators were falsely listed as committee chairs. But dont expect any of them to get prosecuted. Dont expect a show of contrition, even an insincere one, or a blush of shame. If the Senate Democrats want to play politics, thats their choice, said Senate GOP spokesman Scott Reif, reacting to criticism from Democrats about the fraud. One of the seven falsely listed as committee heads, Republican Sen. Pamela Helming from Ontario County, said she has not cashed two checks she received and plans to return them. But six others Democrats David Valesky of Syracuse, Diane Savino of Staten Island and Jose Peralta of Queens, along with Republicans Thomas F. OMara of the Finger Lakes, Patrick M. Gallivan of Buffalo and Patty Ritchie of the Syracuse area might hold onto theirs. Lawyers for the Republicans have said Flanagan wasnt the first Senate leader to hand out such payments. His predecessor as majority leader, Dean Skelos, also did it. That is fitting, we must say. Dean Skelos was investigated for corruption, and last year he and his son were convicted of bribery, extortion and conspiracy. He was sentenced to five years in prison. Is that next for Flanagan? Were not hoping for another indictment, but this is New York, where serving the public is a part-time gig and legislators moonlight as crooks. The least Flanagan could do is pretend to care about the way this looks and stop the fraudulent stipends. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Donovan was nominated on March 14 and was one of a handful of Goldman alums named to administration positions, including Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn. According to Politico, Donovan told the White House he was removing his name from consideration this week because of family concerns. Donovan provided a statement to Politico: "I am deeply honored by President Trump's decision to nominate me as deputy secretary of the US Department of the Treasury. However, at this time I want to focus on my family, and I can no longer accept it. I hope to be able to serve this administration in the future and fully support President Trump and Secretary Steven Mnuchin's ongoing work to reform the tax system and grow the US economy." Tony Sayegh, a Treasury Department spokesman, told Business Insider that Donovan had been an "enormous asset" to Mnuchin since he was nominated but that the secretary understood his decision. "Secretary Mnuchin offers Jim his support and friendship as he focuses his attention on his family," Sayegh said. "Jim has been an enormous asset to the department helping recruit and fill many of the senior jobs at Treasury. The secretary appreciates Jim's continued support of the president and his administration." Donovan is a longtime GOP fund-raiser, helping to gather donations for presidential candidates Mitt Romney in 2012 and Jeb Bush in 2016. Weiner will plead guilty to one charge of transferring obscene material to a minor, according to The Times. Federal authorities last year began investigating reports that the disgraced former Democratic congressman had engaged in a monthslong exchange of sexually explicit messages with a 15-year-old girl from North Carolina. During that investigation, the FBI seized Weiner's electronic devices. It found a large number of emails to his estranged wife, Clinton aide Huma Abedin, which led to the surprise renewal of the investigation into Clinton's private email server just days before the 2016 presidential election. Many Democrats, including Clinton, have said the timing of the announcement that the investigation had been renewed contributed to her November loss. According to sources on the committee cited in a CNN report published Thursday, Nunes was said to have taken a trip to the CIA this week to review the intelligence. "He recused himself, so he can set those limits," Democrat Rep. Mike Quigley of Illinois said after being asked whether he was concerned about Nunes' actions. "I don't talk about intelligence," Nunes said on Thursday after being asked why he was still involving himself in the inquiry, according to CNN. As the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Nunes still has duties that require him to review classified intelligence, a senior House Republican aide told CNN. Critics said Nunes, who was a member of President Donald Trump's transition team, complicated the investigation into possible ties between Russia and Trump insiders after making an unexpected trip to the White House in March. Nunes was scorned by Republicans and Democrats after bypassing his own committee and briefing the Trump administration on classified details that Trump later said "somewhat vindicated" his unproven claims that the Obama administration wiretapped his campaign. "I have not seen anything like it, and it's very disturbing," Sen. John McCain of Arizona said in a March interview on NBC. Nunes stoked further criticism after canceling an open intelligence committee hearing with former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, former CIA Director John Brennan, and former acting Attorney General Sally Yates. Russia, which has sought to bolster Syrian President Bashar Assad during Syria's civil war, reportedly redirected a ship armed with cruise missiles to the eastern Mediterranean Sea on Friday. It will stop at the Tartus logistics base in Syria, the TASS Russian news agency said. The ship was on a routine voyage, taking part in a joint exercise with Turkish ships in the Black Sea. The ship's presence off Syria's coast will depend on the situation, according to TASS sources, one of whom said "in any way it will last more than a month." The Russian Defence Ministry also announced on Friday that Syrian air defenses would be beefed up, and it said the effectiveness of the US strikes was "extremely low," saying 23 missiles had hit their targets but it was unclear where 36 others had landed, Reuters reports. Russia has reportedly informed the US that it intends to suspend the deconfliction channel between the two powers, according to Reuters. Russian President Vladimir Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday morning said the Russian president saw the attack as an "aggression against a sovereign state in violation of international law, and under a false pretext," The Guardian reports. Peskov also said Syria had no chemical weapons and the strikes "struck a significant blow to Russian-American relations, which were already in a sorry state." "Washington's step will inflict major damage on US-Russia ties." He also said Putin thought the strike was an attempt to distract from civilian deaths in Iraq, according to Reuters. Russia has also halted its deal with the US to avoid clashes in the Syrian airspace as a response to the strike, AFP reports. US President Donald Trump, initially resistant to the idea of becoming involved in Syria, said Thursday night, "It is in the vital national security interest of the United States to prevent and deter the spread and use of deadly chemical weapons." Russia has now called for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the matter, Viktor Ozerov, the head of the upper house of parliament's defense and security committee, said, according to Reuters. Russia was informed of the attack before the strikes, Pentagon spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis said in a statement: "Russian forces were notified in advance of the strike using the established deconfliction line. US military planners took precautions to minimize risk to Russian or Syrian personnel located at the airfield." Reports have suggested no Russian citizens were hurt in the attack. "I fear that with these approaches the hoped-for US-Russian antiterrorism coalition in Syria ... is breathing its last before it is even born." The Syrian army accused the US of "blatant aggression" and said the strike killed six people and caused "big material losses." The army also said it would respond by continuing to "crush terrorism." The Syrian opposition welcomed the strikes: "We hope for the continuation of the strikes in order to prevent the regime from using its planes to launch any new air raids or going back to using internationally banned weapons," Ahmad Ramadan, the head of the media office of the Syrian National Coalition political opposition group, told Reuters. Hasan Haj Ali, the commander of the Free Idlib Army rebel group, which fights under the Free Syrian Army umbrella, told Reuters the strikes came at a "very important phase" and showed that "there is still humanity in this world." Before the strikes, Russia's deputy UN envoy, Vladimir Safronkov, warned of "negative consequences" if the US carried out military strikes on Syria, according to Reuters. The New York Times reported Tuesday that Comey wrote a memo about his meeting with Trump on February 14, one day after Flynn was asked to resign. The document "was part of a paper trail Mr. Comey created documenting what he perceived as the president's improper efforts to influence a continuing investigation," The Times reported. "I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go," Trump told Comey, according to the memo reported by The Times. The FBI is investigating Flynn's contacts with Russia's ambassador to the US, Sergey Kislyak, as part of its probe into Russia's interference in the 2016 election. The bureau interviewed Flynn about his conversations with Kislyak in January. Obstruction of justice is broadly defined: It involves any conduct in which a person willfully interferes with the administration of justice. But to charge Trump with obstructing justice based on the Comey memo alone would not be an easy case, said Robert Deitz, a former senior counselor to the CIA director and former general counsel at the National Security Agency. That is primarily because it is unclear whether Trump was ordering Comey to end the FBI's investigation into Flynn or asking Comey if he would consider dropping the case because Flynn was "a good guy." According to CNN's Jake Tapper, Comey didn't resign or go to the press after Trump made the request because he didn't see it as "a very successful effort" and he "thought he'd pushed back on it." Legal and national-security experts at Lawfare have also said that to charge someone with obstructing justice, prosecutors have to prove that "the defendant corruptly endeavored to influence, obstruct, or impede" an investigation. That element "is the hardest to prove, because it depends on showing an improper motive," the experts said. But there are a couple of important caveats. The president fired the FBI director According to The Times' report of Comey's memo, Trump asked Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Vice President Mike Pence to leave the room before he asked the FBI director to drop the investigation into Flynn's contacts with the Russians. That, according to Lawfare, "may indicate intent." Jeffrey Toobin, a CNN legal analyst, agreed that Trump's request for Pence and Sessions to scram "suggests consciousness of guilt." Susan Hennessey, a former NSA attorney, told CNN on Tuesday that "if any part of Trump's intention here was to interfere with the investigation, that's going to qualify as obstruction." Trump's conversation with Comey was part of a broader pattern that could more easily open him up to charges of obstruction of justice, experts say, beginning with Trump's reported requests for Comey to pledge his loyalty and assurance that he wasn't under FBI investigation and ending last week when he fired Comey. "Historically, obstruction-of-justice articles of impeachment do elaborate a pattern of conduct," the legal experts at Lawfare wrote. "The first article of impeachment against Richard Nixon, for instance, included making false statements to investigators, withholding evidence, counseling witnesses to lie or give misleading testimony, and 'interfering or endeavoring to interfere with the conduct of investigations by the Department of Justice of the United States and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.'" Days after he fired Comey, Trump told NBC's Lester Holt that he asked the FBI director three times if he was being investigated by the bureau as part of its probe into Russia's election interference. "Not every day the president flirts with outright admitting to obstruction of justice in an interview on the record," MSNBC's Chris Hayes tweeted shortly after the interview aired. Bob Bauer, who was a White House counsel under President Barack Obama, also questioned whether Trump's "demands for reassurance, by their very repetitiveness," implied that Trump "was bringing pressure on the person in charge of a criminal investigation to limit it." In doing so, Bauer said, Trump was obstructing justice. But Lawfare's experts wrote that "the president's potentially obstructive behavior was not limited to allegedly asking repeatedly whether he was under investigation." Reports surfaced soon after Comey was fired that Trump had asked for his loyalty more than once: first during a one-on-one dinner in late January, and again earlier this month, days before Comey testified in an open Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Comey had not allowed the White House to preview his testimony, which Trump and his aides considered "an act of insubordination," according to Reuters. The New York Times echoed that report, saying Trump was broadly irked by his inability to gain assurances of loyalty from Comey. Deitz, who said an obstruction-of-justice case would not be easy, said he "personally would be willing to take this case to a jury especially coupled with [Trump's] supposed demand that Comey be loyal." Richard Painter, a professor at the University of Minnesota who was President George W. Bush's chief ethics lawyer from 2005 to 2007, told Business Insider on Tuesday that "obstruction of justice would be occurring if there were an express or implied threat to fire" Comey if he didn't drop the Russia probe. "That's obstruction of justice. The president fired the FBI director," Painter said. "It's all evidence of a major scandal and abuse of power." The president has willingly created this self-portrait Trump told Holt he was thinking about "the Russia thing" when he fired Comey specifically about how it was a "made-up story." "Responsible for the faithful execution of the laws and the integrity of the system of justice, Mr. Trump has chosen to actively dispute the basis for an ongoing FBI investigation that affects his interests," Bauer wrote on Friday. Louis Seidman, a professor of constitutional law at Georgetown University, said the question of whether Trump would be found guilty by Congress of obstructing justice "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," Seidman said. "It's an issue for the American people to decide." When it comes to examining whether Trump sought to obstruct the FBI's investigation into Russia's election interference and whether the Trump campaign played a role, the president's pattern of behavior and past statements about the probe will likely come back to haunt him. (Trump's comments about barring Muslims from the US were similarly considered when federal courts were debating the intent behind his two controversial executive orders on immigration.) "What is most remarkable is that the president has willingly created this self-portrait," Bauer wrote. "As scandals in the making go, this one may become famous for featuring the president as the principal witness against himself: he seems committed to uncovering any cover-up." The Atlantic's Peter Beinart echoed Bauer's assessment, arguing Trump dug his political grave by repeatedly trying to downplay and discredit an ongoing investigation into his campaign. "As a result of his own ineptitude, Trump is politically weaker than he was on Inauguration Day even though the economy is stronger," Beinart wrote. "And it's harder to mount a populist assault on the rule of law when you're not even that popular." Richard Rojas, 26, lost control of his vehicle just before noon on Thursday. His vehicle hopped the curb, killing one, 18-year-old Alyssa Elsman, and injuring 22, the New York City Police Department confirmed. Rojas reportedly tested positive for synthetic marijuana, otherwise known as spice or K2, after he was brought into police custody. NYPD officials declined to confirm the report to Business Insider, and would only say their "investigation is ongoing." Rojas, a Bronx resident and Navy veteran, was previously arrested for a DUI in 2008 and 2015, reports Pix11. He was also reportedly charged with menacing earlier this month. Synthetic marijuana is a lab-produced, mind-altering drug that's been soaring in popularity in recent years. It's illegal to purchase and consume in New York state. Giantunderground laboratories, many of which are in China, are churning out thousands of pounds of the stuff. In 2015, the DEA arrested a man whose lab likely produced the chemicals in some 70% of the spice sold in the US, the New York Times reported. Although it's often marketed as a "safer alternative to traditional marijuana," spice is dangerous it's been reported to cause seizures, psychosis, and vomiting, among other side effects. Here's what you need to know about synthetic marijuana: This is spice. It looks fairly harmless like herbs in a shiny package but it isn't. Reports suggest that since 2009, drugs like spice, or synthetic marijuana, have killed roughly 1,000 Americans many of them young people in high school. The drugmakers change up the specific ingredients in the drugs so fast and produce them in such massive quantities that drug enforcement can't keep up. The drugs are created in powdered form in giant underground laboratories like this one. Many of the labs are in China. Then they are packed up in large bags... ...and shipped to the US in huge containers labeled "fertilizer" or "industrial solvent." Here's a small bag of the powdered drug, before it's been liquefied and added to plant material. There, wholesale buyers purchase the drugs and turn them into liquids by dissolving them in acetone or alcohol. Next, they use the liquid to douse dry plant matter, and package it up in shiny metallic baggies. The stuff inside is then rolled up and smoked. Often, the drugs are packaged as "plant food" or "potpourri" so they can be legally sold in stores. The back of these packages often includes the coy warning, "Not intended for human consumption." Regardless, the drugs have continued to soar in popularity. So far this year, poison centers received reports of 3,548 exposures to synthetic marijuana, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers. Many experts say "synthetic marijuana" is a huge misnomer for these drugs, since they produce far different effects and can be up to 100 times more potent than traditional marijuana. For example, the first form of the psychoactive ingredient used in spice was called JWH-018, named for the initials of the scientist John W. Huffman who first invented it in 2008. Experts say that's wishful thinking for an administration reeling after weeks of controversies. There was Trump's disclosure of highly classified information to Russian diplomats. There was his dismissal of FBI Director James Comey, who was leading an investigation into whether his campaign colluded with Moscow, and new developments surrounding the director's firing. "It's untrue, of course, but it is pretty much what he has to say," Eliot Cohen, a former counselor to Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, told Business Insider of Tillerson's comments. "Let's hope he's not foolish enough to believe it." "I'm afraid that's wishful thinking," said Richard Boucher, the longest-serving assistant secretary of state for public affairs in State Department history. "Not remotely true," said Ian Bremmer, president of the political risk firm Eurasia Group. "Every foreign minister I've spoken with in the past four months has been asking about it. But [White House officials] are under heavy fire right now, and if you're working directly for the president, you're having to work with what you have." The world took note, for example, when The Washington Post reported on Monday that Trump had disclosed highly classified information about the Islamic State to Russia. The intelligence was originally shared with the US by Israel, where Trump will be visiting next week. (He will also head to Saudi Arabia, Italy, and Belgium on his first trip abroad as president.) Israel's ambassador released a statement about the report, insisting that Israel "has full confidence in our intelligence-sharing relationship with the United States." But Israeli intelligence officials said privately that Trump's disclosures are "our worst fears confirmed." Germany was also watching. "If it proves to be true that the American president passed on internal intelligence matters that would be highly worrying," said Burkhard Lischka, who sits on the Bundestags intelligence oversight committee. He added that Trump was "a security risk to the Western world." "People overseas, particularly those who we deal with actively, follow US politics as much or sometimes more than many Americans," said Boucher, the former State Department official. "They want to know that the person they're dealing with has the clout to deliver on any promises, and they understand that often requires the political support of Congress." The assertion caused an international row with the UK in March, when White House press secretary Sean Spicer read from unverified reports that said a British intelligence agency, the Government Communications Headquarters, or GCHQ, conspired with Obama to wiretap Trump. Experts lamented at the time that Trump had dragged the British intelligence community into the tensions between the administration, the press, and Obama. "He has exposed the core of the UK-US intelligence relationship in a way that will make Britain wonder: Where do we go next, and how can we rely on the US to be a reliable and trustworthy partner?" Tim Oliver, a fellow at the London School of Economics who focuses on European-North American relations, said at the time. World leaders have also been privy to Trump's preoccupation with winning particularly when it comes to his election victory. (He has famously claimed, with no evidence, that he would have won the popular vote if not for the "millions of people who voted illegally," and has handed out maps of the election results to West Wing visitors.) "After four months of interactions between Mr. Trump and his counterparts, foreign officials and their Washington consultants say certain rules have emerged," the New York Times reported on Friday. "Compliment him on his Electoral College victory. Contrast him favorably with President Barack Obama. Do not get hung up on whatever was said during the campaign. Stay in regular touch. Do not go in with a shopping list but bring some sort of deal he can call a victory." Stephen Biddle, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, said that "even a cursory review of world news outlets will show a major presence for stories on the Trump administration's controversies." "People in the rest of the world who read their own newspapers will be more familiar with the president's travails than the secretary of state suggests," he said. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who met with Tillerson last week, evidently watched the Comey events closely. Was he fired? Youre kidding! Lavrov joked, after NBC reporter Andrea Mitchell shouted a question about Comey being fired the day before. New video published Thursday shows Erdogan's black Mercedes sedan surrounded by agents as it sat parked near the demonstrations. The scuffle between protesters, men in suits, and local police can be seen in the background. Erdogan emerges from the vehicle and watches as the demonstration goes off the rails. US lawmakers pressed the Trump administration on Thursday to condemn the violence, which they said resembled repressive crackdowns on political dissent in third-world countries. "There must be consequences," Rep. Steny Hoyer, the No. 2 Democrat in the House, said Thursday. Sen. John McCain of Arizona said in an interview on MSNBC, "This isn't Turkey. This isn't a third-world country." A Turkish affiliate of the news organization Voice of America captured most of the footage of the protest and the violence that later ensued. Watch video of the brawl below: Turkish ambassador to the US Serdar Klc was summoned to the State Department after the brawl. A State Department official told CNN "the conduct of Turkish security personnel earlier this week is deeply disturbing." The official said the State Department was investigating the matter and raised concerns "at the highest levels." The Turkish Embassy blamed the demonstrators, accusing them of provoking Turkish-Americans who were there to support Erdogan. The names Alice and Charlotte were touted as British bookmakers' favourite for the royal baby's name, followed by Victoria, Olivia and Elizabeth. However, many congratulated the couple on choosing names that pay homage to both sides of the family. Charlotte Princess Diana's death caused an outpouring of grief across the globe and, in recent days, British newspapers called for the Royals to pay respect to her by naming the new baby Diana. "As the nation waits, why the Princess must be called Diana" said one headline on the front page of The Daily Telegraph newspaper this month. 2. Tesla factory employees described gruelling work conditions where people pass out "like a pancake". Tesla CEO Elon Musk conceded his workers had been "having a hard time, working long hours, and on hard jobs", but said he cared deeply about their health and wellbeing. 4. UK Prime Minister Theresa May claims she has a plan to make up for a potentially massive shortfall in funding to British venture capitalists.The potential shortfall would occur if the European Investment Fund stops allocating capital to UK VCs as a result of Brexit. 7. The opening shots have been fired in a battle between Apple and Chinese tech giant Tencent.Apple wants to take a cut of "tips" that are sent from one person to another on Tencent's platform but Tencent thinks this is unfair. 8. Elon Musk admitted that Tesla's stock is out of control in an interview with The Guardian.Tesla is worth more than $50 billion (39 billion), according to stock investors. READ ALSO: Midwifery school sacks pregnant students from exams hall One of the students who spoke to Accra-based Citi FM said: When we got to the exams hall, we had six questions on the exam sheet and we were told question two had been cancelled, so we were left with five questions to answer of which we were supposed to answer four. Then we realised the question one and question three fell under a different topic altogether, which is evidence. So what it basically means is that we had only three questions to answer. How can a student answer four questions out of three questions in the exams hall? the student added. READ ALSO: 41 police recruits sacked for forged documents The student admitted that there could have been a mishap which cannot be blamed on anybody. Adebiyi, whose address is unknown, is being tried for a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful possession and breach of public peace. Police Prosecutor Ibijoke Akinpelu told the court that the accused committed the offences on March 24 at about 12.22 a.m. at Tafawa Balewa Crescent, Surulere, Lagos. She said residents, who were uncomfortable with Adebiyis conduct, reported the incident at the police station. According to her, the conduct is likely to cause a breach of peace. The offences contravened Sections 51, 168, 298 (3) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised). The Chief Magistrate, Mr P. A. Ojo, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum. The suspect was arrested after he kidnapped his latest victim at Chorkor, a suburb of Accra, raping her for four consecutive days following her inability to pay for the cost of the abortion. According to Superintendent Oduro Amaning, the La District Police Commander, the victim, Josephine Grace Agyei, who lives at La, reported to the police that she got pregnant in December 2016 and a friend asked her to see the suspect if she wanted to get rid of the pregnancy. The victim had the abortion at the doctors office at Bukom in Accra. But because she did not have the full amount being requested for, she was forced to leave her iPad with the suspect after making part payment. READ ALSO: Another fake doctor busted She was, however, ready to pay the rest of the amount but when she called the doctor, he indicated that he was busy and attending to some meetings. The victim, after some time, spent the money. The suspect subsequently called her asking for his money but she could not raise the money and hence was forced to give in to his demands to have sex with him as payment. The suspect, after the act, locked the victim up and had sex with her again for four days. He provided the victim with food but she was not allowed to take her bath. The Police said the suspect agreed to give the victim an amount of GHS400 but he failed to do so. He also failed to return the ladys iPad. The victim was, therefore, compelled to report the matter to the police. The suspect was subsequently arrested but he said that he was a nurse and not a doctor. He, however, could not provide the name of the health facility he worked at. The police later retrieved some instruments from the suspects abode where he allegedly committed the practice. If they want to re-open the case, we are ready for them, Lawyer for the group, Matthew Appiah, told Accra-based Kasapa FM. A Kumasi Circuit court presided over by Her Honour, Patricia Amponsah was forced to discharge the accused persons who allegedly aided the escape of 13 of their colleagues standing trial for assaulting the presidents Security Coordinator for the Ashanti region. Explaining the decision the prosecutor, ACP Okyere Darko, said there was not 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. But many Ghanaians have expressed anger with the development, with the Minority Leader of parliament Haruna Iddrisu describing the move as a travesty of justice. The Attorney General and Minister of Justice subsequently said that it is not privy to the decision to drop charges against the eight members of the pro-NPP vigilante group. 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. Many have since argued for the case to be reopened but the lawyer for Delta Force members thinks otherwise. The advice from the A-G indicates that my clients were not the people that banged into the court room and tried freeing the Delta Force 13.In law when you are acquitted and discharged, it means you cannot be prosecuted again for same offense. But in this case because they (Delta Force 8) were not trialed but discharged and so if the A-G will come again and advice that they should be trialled because there is a new evidence to do so, it is within her right. But I am foreseeing that the A-G having authorized her representative in the region to discontinue the case will not come again and say that I have rescinded my decision. We know that there is no evidence against my client, noted Lawyer Matthew Appiah.The advice from the A-G indicates that my clients were not the people that entered the court room and tried freeing the Delta Force 13. If you look at the facts, in the opinion of the Police, the Judge was their priority and therefore wanted to prevent the Judge. "The Police were concentrating on the Judge during the melee and so they couldnt identify the people who entered the court room. Out of the eight that were arrested, three of them didnt even come to the court four of them came to the court. All of them were arrested at Fante New Town about four hours after the incident. The Police didnt secure the court. His comments comes at the back of the eight Delta Force members who were standing trial for attacking a magistrates court and aiding the escape of thirteen of their members. On Wednesday, May 17, 2017, the Attorney General has dropped charges against the eight members of vigilante group Delta Force. Explaining their decision, the prosecutor, ACP Okyere Darko, said after investigations, they did not have enough evidence to support the charges levelled against the accused persons. The Attorney General is currently investigating the circumstances under which the eight were freed. A statement issued by the Ministry of Information said "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." READ ALSO: Court adjourns 13 Delta Force members trial to June 15 But the former NDC MP however, chastised the AG for what he called a pathetic handling of the case. He said "The Attorney General and her two deputies must stop sleeping, wake up from your slumber and do the right thing for mother Ghana." Meanwhile, the Minority has called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to reverse the Attorney General's actions that has led to the dropping of the charges against the eight members of the vigilante group. READ MORE: Wontumi cautions Haruna Iddrisu against hypocrisy Haruna Iddrisu said the accused persons should be re-arrested and re-arraigned before the court. "I'm so happy. I don't know what to say. Now I'm home, I'm finally home now," said Seidu Mohammed, who learned Wednesday night that the Immigration and Refugee Board had accepted his claim. His immigration lawyer, Bashir Khan, indicated that Mohammed cried with joy when he heard the news. "Oh, he was in tears, he was in tears, he really was. He is overjoyed, ecstatic. I mean it's a life-altering moment for this young man." "This is the city I want to stay in. There are a lot of good people here," he said. Khan described Mohammed as one who is inspired by and attracted by Canadian values, that everyone has a contribution to make in society. "I expect good things from him," he said. Mohammed fled Ghana for the United States in 2015 because he feared for his life due to his sexual orientation, but when he arrived in San Diego, he was detained for a year. READ MORE: Journalist arrested for blackmailing women on social media for sex He applied for asylum after his visa ran out but a judge denied his request. "I ran for my life," Mohammed said. He and another Ghanaian man, who he met in Minneapolis, decided to flee to Canada. The two of them took a bus to Grand Forks, N.D., then flagged a cab and spent $400 for a ride to a spot near the U.S.-Canada border on Dec. 24. "There is a big farm around the border and we passed through. It was very difficult because when we stepped in that farm, the snow was [at] our waists," Mohammed said. He said for at least seven hours, they trudged through snowy fields with the temperature hovering around the 18 C mark, without the wind chill factored in. They finally came upon Highway 75, near the Emerson, Man., border crossing. READ ALSO: NPP woman arrested for pouring soup on NDC woman According to CBC, the two men tried for hours to flag down trucks passing them by on the highway. A truck driver finally stopped and called 911 to get medical help for the men who were disoriented and cold. It is unclear how they managed to cross the border without being stopped. They were both sent to the hospital for treatment. Reports said the incident occurred at Song, a village in the Mion district when a Nissan Patrol vehicle crossed the dispatch riders as the convoy of the vice president, Mahamudu Bawumia was moving from Yendi to Tamale. The Northern Regional Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Muhammed Yussif Tanko said riders of motorbikes with registration number GP-4135 and GP-4425 were thrown off the motorbike and crashed on the ground. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is on a four-day tour of the Northern region. On day one of his tour, he met with the Regent of Dagbon, Kampakuya Naa Abdulai Yakubu Andani at the Gbewa Palace at Yendi. The officers of the Immigration Service have been transferred and posted to new stations. The changes, which take immediate effect, include two Deputy Commissioners of Immigration (DCOI), two Assistant Commissioners of Immigration (ACI), 18 Chief Superintendents of Immigration (C/SUPT.), eight Superintendents of Immigration (SUPT.), 11 Deputy Superintendents of Immigration (DSI) and four Assistant Superintendents of Immigration (ASI). A letter dated May 17, 2017, and signed by Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kwame Asuah Takyi, said the transfers take immediate effect. According to the letter, DCOI Prosper Price Delali Asima has been transferred from Kotoka International Airport (KIA) to Sekondi in the Western Region as the Officer in Charge (OIC) while DCOI Eric Affari at Sekondi heads to KIA as OIC. READ ALSO: 100 Ghanaians deported from USA ACI Isaac Luortey, the Commander in Tamale in the Northern Region has been transferred to the headquarters in Accra and will be replaced by Chief Superintendent Noah Ahomka Yeboah as the Acting Regional Commander. Public Affairs Officer of the Service C/SUPT Francis Palmdeti, has been transferred as the Central Regional Commander. ACI Maud A. Quainoo Central Regional Commander has been transferred to Headquarters to take charge of administration. Michael Amoako Ataa, second in charge of Public Officers has been promoted to Officer in Charge of Public Affairs. C/Supt. Julius Gboglah has been transferred from Bolgatanga to the headquarters in Accra whiles C/Supt. Kwasi Appau moves to Bolgatanga as Acting Regional Commander of Upper East. C/Supt. Fred B. Duodu has also been transferred to the Brong Ahafo Region as the new Acting Regional Commander. C/Supt. Kojo Oppong from Sunyani heads to Accra as Officer in Charge of Human Resource at the headquarters in Accra. The Officer in Charge of Training at Headquarters, C/Supt., Nicholina Asare, has been assigned as Officer in Charge of work permit at the Headquarters. C/Supt. Evelyn Aseidu Gyekye, Officer in Charge of the Receiving Counter at headquarters has been transferred to Tema and C/Supt. Edith Penelove Arhin at the headquarters Issue Room, has also been transferred to Tema. Akanu in the Volta Region will see a new Sector Commander in the person of C/Supt. Francis Baning and the C/Supt. Joshua Krakue moves from Akanu to Headquarters whiles C/Supt. Yaw Charles Bediako from the headquarters will take over at Sogakope as Officer in Charge. READ MORE: Chinese Galamsey kingpin to spend another week in Nsawam prisons C/Supt. Gordon Saah has been transferred from the headquarters to the passport office while Shadrack Azangweo moves from Cape Coast to Obuasi as Officer in Charge. DSI Agnes Tinga has been transferred from Suhum in the Eastern Region to Kumasi as the second in Command and Supt. Lydia Achel from Headquarters intelligence also moves to Kumasi intelligence. The company surveyed 45,952 students from 109 universities and asked them to share their views on careers and employers. We honed in on the responses to see which companies they consider the most desirable. Although tech giants including Google and Apple occupy the upper echelons of the list, finance and consultancy firms can also be found alongside British institutions such as the BBC. 15. John Lewis John Lewis has long been regarded as one of the best companies in Britain to work for. The 153-year-old department store, which also operates Waitrose supermarkets as well as banking and financial services, is owned by a trust on behalf of all 86,000 employees, who have a say in how the business is run and are considered owners of the 48 stores across the country. 14. Morgan Stanley Morgan Stanley provides 13. Microsoft It's easy to see why students are eager to work for Microsoft. Under the leadership of Satya Nadella, CEO since 2014, the company has transformed. After it bought LinkedIn for $26 billion and in late 2016, Microsoft stock hit its first new all-time high since 1999. 12. Bank of England 11. L'Oreal Group "LOreal, has one of the finest multi-channel approaches we have ever seen," "LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and others are all used to deliver a variety of messages that describe their culture and reveal what its really like to work for LOreal." 10. BBC The BBC is often considered the benchmark of impartial journalism. The 95-year-old, licence fee-funded organisation has global influence and is considered the must trustworthy source of news in both the United States and the United Kingdom. Some 23,000 people are employed by the BBC which is headquartered in London. 9. Deloitte 8. KPMG 7. Nike Nike has gone from strength to strength recently. The sportswear company has quietly reinvented itself and emerged as an upscale label. In overtook Louis Vuitton The new image and countless celebrity endorsements are clearly paying off, as business students in the UK ranked it seventh most desirable company in the world to work for. 6. Ernst & Young 5. Goldman Sachs 4. J.P Morgan Both Goldman and JP Morgan are leaders in their industry. "Students tend to associate them with prestige, challenging work, recruiting only the best, and for the possibility of high future earnings," says 3. PwC Pricewaterhouse Cooper was the highest ranked of the big four. Headquartered in London, it's the second biggest professional services network in the world. 2. Apple Now is the perfect time for graduates to eye up roles at Apple. The company is in the process of moving into Battersea Power Station in central London, and it's one of the biggest property developments in London's history. former boiler rooms, which were decommissioned in 1983, WilkinsonEyre's director, Sebastien Ricard, told Business Insider. The 500,000 square-foot space, spread over six floors, will feature exposed brick and an industrial aesthetic. 1. Google Google is famous for its abundant perks. Employees can take advantage of free gourmet food, 24/7 tech support, on-site massages, free fitness classes and gym memberships, and a generous holiday allowance. Mnuchin continually said the administration supported a "21st-century Glass-Steagall" except for the Depression-era law's defining aspect. "We do think there are potential things we could look at around regulation, but we do not support separation of banks and investment banks," Mnuchin said. A flabbergasted Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who sits on the committee, pointed out that Glass-Steagall was best known for the separation of commercial and investment banks. "There are aspects of Glass-Steagall that you support, but not breaking up the banks and separating commercial banking from investment banking?" Warren asked. "What do you think Glass-Steagall was if that's not right at the heart of it?" What Warren is getting at is this: The Trump administration is doing its best to make everyone think it is bringing back the Wall Street regulation to deliver on a Republican campaign promise when all it's really doing is using the old law's name. For background, Glass-Steagall was repealed in 1999, clearing the way for commercial-investment mergers on Wall Street, such as combinations of JPMorgan and Chase along with Bank of America and Merrill Lynch. This intermingling of the two sides of banking has been blamed by critics including Warren for helping to cause the financial crisis (though this point is up for debate among many economists and academics). Reinstating the law has since become a favorite talking point of the anti-Wall Street movement in Washington. Anti-Wall Street campaign As a presidential candidate, Donald Trump railed against Wall Street firms like Goldman Sachs, attacked Hillary Clinton for her ties to big banks, and pitted himself as a populist who would stand up to Wall Street. In fact, the official Republican platform included, for the first time, a call to reinstate Glass-Steagall. Even after taking office, Trump said he would consider breaking up the banks, and economic advisers like Mnuchin and Gary Cohn reiterated support for a "21st-century Glass-Steagall." Mnuchin's statements, however, appear to have nothing to do with the core of Glass-Steagall (or at least its most looming legacy) and appear to simply be an attempt to slap a tough name on another deregulation measure. The White House press secretary, Sean Spicer, maintained that the president was "consistent" in his support of reinstituting Glass-Steagall in February and March, but the so-called 21st-century Glass-Steagall sounded a bit different when Spicer discussed it May 1. "The president's pro-growth agenda, including instituting what he has called a 21st-century Glass-Steagall, will allow [small] banks to spend less time complying with unnecessary requirements, many of which were designed to police much larger entities, and more time infusing their communities and local small businesses with capital," Spicer said. This, instead of sounding as if it would regulate larger banks, appears to be a deregulation effort for community financial firms. Tim Pawlenty, the former governor of Minnesota who now leads the Financial Services Roundtable, told Bloomberg's Max Abelson that the new bill from the administration wouldn't really focus on large banks with both investment and commercial arms at all. "Following the president's remarks on the topic, Gary Cohn clarified the administration's view of a modern-day Glass-Steagall is a two-tiered approach to regulation in which smaller banks would receive some regulatory relief," Pawlenty said. Basically, Abelson reported, bank executives expect the new Glass-Steagall to be a deregulation effort for smaller banks, with little involving larger banks, that is sold under the guise of a bill for which anti-Wall Street groups have been clamoring. Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! The New York Police Department said that the man, Richard Rojas, 26, "lost control" of the 2009 Honda Accord, and confirmed that he was in custody. He was being tested for drugs and alcohol. Police said one person was killed in the incident. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said 22 others were injured. The New York Post is reporting that the woman killed was Alyssa Elsman, an 18-year-old visiting the city from Michigan with her 13-year-old sister, who was also injured in the incident. An investigation is underway, the NYPD said, though it is "believed to be an isolated incident." De Blasio said there is no indication the incident was terror related. Terrorists have used vehicles to crash into crowds in London, England and Nice, France in the past year. Rojas is a Navy veteran who police said was arrested at least twice after driving intoxicated in 2008 and 2015. The Associated Press reported that Rojas was also arrested last week afer he allegedly pointed a kitchen knife at a notary who had come to his home in the Bronx. Elena Kovachenko, a 16-year-old high school student from Queens, told Business Insider that she heard "bodies fall on the ground" when the car plowed through. "It was horrible, and you could just see, he didn't stop. Once he kept hitting from that side, he just kept going down and down and down" along the sidewalk, she said. "It was as if his car was like a bowling ball, and people were just the pins, because so many people kept falling and falling. It didn't seem like it was going to stop." New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo was on the scene being briefed. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said President Donald Trump was made aware of the incident and "will continue to receive updates." More than 300,000 pedestrians visit the heart of Times Square, where the crash took place, every day. It was 90 degrees Fahrenheit on Thursday and Times Square was full of people. "I didn't know what to do. I was in shock. I just stood there," Kovachenko said. "I was just so thankful I wasn't on the other side. I just can't imagine what those people are going through right now." De Blasio offered his condolences to the victims and their families. "This is a tough day for New York City, but I want to thank our first responders who got here so quickly," he said. "We feel deeply for those injured and particularly for the family of the young woman who was lost. Our prayers are with all of them." News of the incident quickly spread on social media: The mayor and NYPD Commissioner James P. O'Neill held a briefing on the incident: According to a New York Times report that cited two people briefed on a call between Comey and Trump, Comey had explained to Trump how the White House ought to communicate with the FBI after Trump had contacted Comey directly to ask when the bureau would announce that he was not under investigation. Comey attempted to make clear the limits of the FBI's relationship with the White House and maintain his bureau's independence, which he believed was under threat since the FBI was investigating the Trump campaign's possible connections to Russia. Comey reportedly told Trump that if he wanted details on the FBI's investigations, he ought to contact the Justice Department and follow proper procedures. Other interactions between the White House and Comey illustrate what The Times depicted as an uncomfortable relationship between the two before Trump fired Comey last week. During a dinner in which Trump asked Comey for his pledge of loyalty, Trump expressed his grievances with the investigation into Michael Flynn, his former national security adviser, and asked Comey to drop the investigation, according to The Times, which cited sources who revealed a memo they said was written by Comey about the meeting shortly afterward. The day after the conversation, The Times reports, White House chief of staff Reince Priebus had asked Comey to assist in deflecting media reports saying Trump's surrogates had been in contact with Russian intelligence agents before Trump's inauguration. The Justice Department's guidelines prohibit conversations between the White House and the FBI with regard to active criminal investigations unless they are "important for the performance of the president's duties and appropriate from a law enforcement perspective," The Times reported. If necessary, the conversations are limited to the attorney general or the deputy attorney general. Comey also expressed his frustration over Trump's attempts to build a personal relationship, The Times said, citing Benjamin Wittes, a friend of Comey who is the editor-in-chief of the Lawfare blog. Wittes said Comey believed after his phone call with Trump that he had "kind of got them trained." "He had to throw some brushback pitches to the administration," Wittes told The Times. Wittes also described another incident between Trump and Comey that had Comey concerned, according to The Times: Comey did not. Trump called him over from across the room, and the two shook hands awkwardly as attendees applauded. The European Investment Fund, which provides billions in funding to British venture capitalists, has frozen funding to UK VC firms after the Brexit vote. Business Insider understands that Seedcamp, Dawn Capital, Hoxton Ventures, and Episode 1 Ventures are among the firms affected. The shortfall means some of the companies are seeking other investors to build out their new funds. Two sources said the EIF is not handing funding to anyone who applied, or was in the process of applying, after the UK voted to leave the EU. But the EIF will honour its existing commitments to UK funds, Business Insider understands. London-based Episode 1 Ventures is raising a new fund between 50 million and 60 million. It applied to the EIF for funding before the UK referendum, and was rejected after the triggering of Article 50 to leave the EU. Simon Murdoch, the firm's managing partner, described the EIF as "a great institution", and said the slowing of funding was "another great example of the disaster of Brexit." He told Business Insider: "Until Theresa May said that we would trigger Article 50 [to leave the EU], in all that time, the EIF engaged with us in a fair and diligent way. Then after meeting them in January, they just went silent. Then we triggered Article 50 and the EIF [said] it wasn't going ahead with us." He added: "We suspect that if [the UK] hadn't triggered Article 50, we would have had a much better chance. We can't be sure. But we think leaving the EU and Article 50 was instrumental in us being turned down." The EIF has denied pulling out of the UK altogether. A spokesman told Business Insider: "There is no moratorium on lending to UK projects. It is the case that due diligence on them now needs to take into account a wider range of factors." Sources said the EIF had privately been giving out mixed messages to VC firms. They said the EIF's proclaimed changes to its due diligence process allowed it to "obfuscate" the fact it was halting investment. Take the example of Seedcamp. The pre-seed and seed-stage investor is in the process of raising a new fund, and was undergoing the EIF's due diligence process. The fund was told this week that that process would now be "indefinite," a source said. Seedcamp did not comment, but did confirm it was in the due diligence process. "What might happen is that the EIF will say 'Maybe, maybe, maybe', and then Seedcamp will close without them," one source said. "That's a nice way to say: 'We didn't say no.' It's not a yes either." Another said that the EIF wouldn't fund anyone who hadn't already received a final approval letter. Dawn Capital and Hoxton Ventures did not comment. One of the sources said the EIF had decided not to expand a 250 million (214 million) angel investment scheme to the UK, after the decision to leave the EU. The European Angels Fund is a co-investment scheme where the EIF will match investments by business angels into startups, then allow them to keep the bulk of the profit from the deal. It's available in seven EU member states and, the source said, was due to expand to the UK this year. The source said the EIF had planned making 50 million (43 million) available to British angels for early-stage deals. That "died" after the Brexit vote, the person said. The European Investment Fund is seen as an "anchor" investor for British venture capitalists who are raising new funds. It has put 2.3 billion (1.9 billion) into 144 UK venture capital firms between 2011 and 2015, according to internal figures. VC funds are designed to have a ten-year lifespan, at the end of which investors expect to see a return through an exit. About three to four years through that lifespan, VCs will begin raising a new fund. And, as multiple sources told Business Insider, it's hard work. Most investors don't want to invest in a new fund until it's already closed. This is where schemes like the EIF and the UK's closest equivalent, the British Business Bank, come in. They will often be the "single-largest cheque" to a fund, accounting for up to 40%. Once fund managers have that commitment, they can dredge up funding more easily from other sources. If the EIF decides not to act as an anchor investor, life for UK VCs becomes much tougher in the medium term. "It's a significant chunk of UK VC," as one investor said. And it won't just impact smaller scale VCs, but other major UK-based firms like Balderton and Atomico, which also rely on the EIF for funding. The Conservative manifesto this week pledged to make up for any shortfall in EIF funding to UK VCs. Since the UK contributes to the EIF via the fund's main shareholder, the European Investment Bank, the Conservative plan is to repatriate those funds and hand them out via the British Business Bank. This is what UK VCs will have been hoping for. Saul Klein, general partner at investment firm LocalGlobe, said at an event last week that British and institutional investors "will make up the difference" in any EIF shortfall. Not everyone is convinced that can happen. Anthony Levandowski previously worked at Waymo, which is owned by Google's parent company, Alphabet, to help develop autonomous vehicle tech. But he subsequently left to create his own self-driving-truck startup, Otto, which Uber acquired for $680 million. Alphabet and Waymo have accused Uber and Otto of stealing Waymo's trade secrets and intellectual property and of infringing on patents related to lidar, a technology that autonomous vehicles use to "see." Uber denies the allegations. Waymo is accusing Levandowski of downloading more than 14,000 files while working for the company in 2015 and taking them with him. But Levandowski is refusing to let the devices that might contain the files be searched, asserting his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Uber has already demoted Levandowski and removed him from any work involving lidar systems at Uber. But after receiving a court order to return any documents taken from Waymo, Uber is threatening to fire Levandowski if he does not cooperate. "We understand that this letter requires you to turn over information wherever located, including but not limited to, your personal devices, and to waive any Fifth Amendment protection you may have," Uber's general counsel, Salle Yoo, wrote in a letter on Monday that was made public in a court filing Thursday. "While we have respected your personal liberties, it is our view that the Court's Order requires us to make these demands of you." She went on: "If you do not agree to comply with all of the requirements set forth herein, or if you fail to comply in a material manner, then Uber will take adverse employment action against you, which may include termination of your employment and such termination would be for Cause." But Levandowski's lawyers say the demand is unconstitutional. They wrote that court order forcing Uber to make the demand of him was "an act by the judicial branch of our federal government compelling an individual to choose between preserving his livelihood and preserving his constitutional rights." They continued: "Nearly fifty years of Supreme Court precedent forbid the government from putting an individual to such an unconstitutionally coercive choice." An Uber representative did not immediately comment when contacted by Business Insider. Judge William Alsup, who is overseeing the trial, has also previously referred the case to the US attorney's office for a potential criminal investigation. The case comes at a critical time for Uber. The ride-hailing company is reeling from multiple scandals, including allegations of sexual harassment at the company, and numerous high-level executives have left in recent months. CEO Travis Kalanick is pinning the future of his company on its self-driving-car unit, and he has said failing to be first to develop the tech could pose an existential threat to Uber. "If we are not tied for first, then the person who is in first, or 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. Heres the letter that Ubers lawyers sent Levandowski: According to the letter prepared by her attorneys, the 500Million is to 'repair' the damages caused by the defamatory publications and statement. Mercy Aigbe and Linda Ikeji have just seven days to satisfy this demand. Meanwhile, the actress' husband, Lanre Gentry, who was released after fulfilling his bail condition has accused the Nigerian government of neglecting those in prison and focusing on other things. 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. Gentry was subsequently slammed with a restraining order that keeps him no less than one mile of Mercy Aigbes location at all times. Ever since the news of her death broke, actors in the Yoruba movie industry have since been putting up photos of the late star. But Yomi Fabiyi seems to have taken her loss hard. Apparently, the duo were close friends before her passing. He took to Instagram on May 19, 2017, writing, "Throwback Pix: (11years ago(2006) on the Street of London). We travelled to several places handheld with @opeyemi_aiyeola, I won't forget those pieces of advice you shared as a sister that day. It still helps. MOJ you have been a good sister to me. You entrusted some vital aspect of your life to me. You made ur spouse den know our bond is unbreakable. MOJ, you linked and ignited my closeness with Foluke Daramola @folukedaramolasalako , Lola Alao @lola_alao, Ayo Badmus and myself out of your desire for them to be happy. MOJ you appeared in my movie ONA ABAYO in 2012. MOJ dodged collecting a dime from me. When I insisted, she said "I won't forgive myself if I collect money from you. You have been there for me so many times Yomi. You are my blood ever since and I want you to grow. Use the money for other things" I can also recollect vividly in 2015 when @bimbooshin told me how you defended me tenaciously and explained my personality for some colleagues who don't really understand me. That is what friends and those who loves you do. ALSO READ: Late actress talks about domestic violence in last interview When the ships was down for me, you stood by me and fought by side with SAVE NIGERIA MOVIE INDUSTRY CAMPAIGN. I will never forget you. Moji Olaiya, you deserve a befitting burial and you deserve from us all to give you our last respect. Aunty Moji, you are a core thespian, a talented actress and a down to heart personality. I will painfully miss you. REST IN PEACE." Moji is survived by two daughters, Adunola who is currently mourning the loss of her mom and her two-month-old baby who is in the care of her friend in Canada. What you may not know is that the late Nollywood actress had concerns about having her baby in Nigeria, which is why she had been in Canada in the first place. The family of the late actress has revealed that they are still reeling from the shock of her death and cannot get over it. ALSO READ: How star actress reportedly died Her eight days funeral rites will commence next week Thursday. Following a visit from Pulse correspondent, neighbours of the actress described her as a lovely person and very welcoming. Both old and young were present at her residence. Her first daughter, Adunola who attends Babcock, is currently inconsolable while Moji's mother is locked away in her room crying. Comedienne Princess was at her house along with Yomi Fabiyi, Kehinde Bankole, amongst others. As earlier reported, the actress had died of cardiac arrest. According to a report by NET, Moji's health became worse after the birth of her second child. Mrs. Keji, the late actress' housekeeper said Moji Olaiya complained of 'being uncomfortable' after giving birth. The actress' older brother, Otunba Olaiya, however, said that his sister did not complain about her health before her unexpected death. ALSO READ: Late actress talks about domestic violence in last interview Moji is survived by two daughters, Adunola who is currently mourning the loss of her mom and her two-month-old baby who is in the care of her friend in Canada. As soon as the ladies landed in Lagos, they were addressed by the D2D management. They were given the dos and donts and advised to be of good behavior to everyone. The D2D ladies were taking to the FCMB office to kick start the FCMB Challenge. They were addressed by the Head Of Brand Management, Adeyosola Atere who discussed the essence of the challenge. She emphasized on the importance of utilizing their skills. We will help you understand the reality of what the business world is like, Atere stated. Renowed photographer, Kelechi Amadi Obi explained to the D2D ladies what is expected of them as a model. He stated that a photographers motive is to create an amazing story and a model helps him tell the story. As a photographer, I want to tell a beautiful story, so I will go for models that would help me achieve that goal. Amadi Obi stated. Modeling is like the cover of a product and beauty is the content of the product. he added. Publisher and mentor of TW Magazine, Adesuwa Onyenokwe congratulated the ladies on getting this far in the competition and told them to be true to their passion. Model trainer, Bolajo Fawenhimi talked to the ladies about hygiene. There will be challenges, but if your passion is true, you will overcome Onyemokwe said. The ladies also visited the Imperial Leather and Canoe Marketing office. They were educated on marketing and its importance. Dare2Dream is the biggest youth empowerment reality-show in Nigeria brought to you by Kinabuti. Follow the extraordinary journey in 16 episodes showing on Africa Magic Urban (DSTV 153) and Africa Magic Showcase (DSTV 151) Mondays to Fridays @ 21:43. Follow D2D season 3 on www.pulse.ng/d2d Twitter and instagram @dare2dreamng Facebook: Dare2Dream SWING & JAZZ is an evening of dance and jazz music featuring a mini production choreographed and directed by Sarah Chollet , a certified ballet instructor with over 2 decades experience , in classical dance and broadway / cabaret performance with an extensive portfolio in directing French adverts and dance shows. Dress Code: Black tie & Evening DressDate: May 20, 2017Venue: The Grand Ballroom, Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island. LagosTime: 7pm Tickets available at: Single N30,000.00 (Snacks & Drinks) Double: N50,000.00 (Snacks & Drinks) VIP : N50,000.00 (Dinner & Drinks) Daily Times 91st anniversary The Daily Times of Nigeria (DTN), the nation's heritage newspaper, has mapped out activities to mark its 91st anniversary, commencing May 16, 2017 with exhibition at the Abuja International Conference center. The Anniversary committee revealed that the celebration would be flagged off with the National and Historic Exhibition, an 'AA' top level exhibition with the theme: Nigeria through the Times ... at the entrance foyer of Abuja International Conference Centre on May 16, 2017 from 3.00pm till 6.00pm and at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos from June 1 to June 6, 2017. Teju Babyface Oyelakin, the Executive Producer and Host of the Popular television show, The Teju Babyface Show, is set to officially launch his book Secrets of the Streets on May 19, 2017 at MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos. Be our guest in this Holyghost filled, unprecedented, earthshattering, heavenly, powerful, flavoured, indigenous, dimensional, massive, comprehensive, unlimited, unique, specially and strategically packaged for you Date: Sunday May 21, 2017Time: 7pmVenue: Rhema Auditorium, 10830 96 Street, New Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.Ticket: $20 dollars only and $50 dollars for a group of 3 1 2 3 Praise with Nikki Laoye Be our guest in this Holyghost filled, unprecedented, earthshattering, heavenly, powerful, flavoured, indigenous, dimensional, massive, comprehensive, unlimited, unique, specially and strategically packaged for you. Date: Sunday May 21, 2017Time: 7pmVenue: Rhema Auditorium, 10830 96 Street, New Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.Ticket: $20 dollars only and $50 dollars for a group of 3 Reach Your Greatness Entrepreneur Summit Do you want to achieve a more meaningful life and leave a lasting legacy? You will learn critical keys to building a successful business from top leaders in the industry. Olaniyan admitted before a Surulere Chief magistrates Court in Lagos that he stole the Samsung phone from Mr Godwin Enoch at 9a.m. on May 12 at Sari Iganmu, Lagos. The prosecutor, Sgt. Christopher Okoliko, had told the court that the phone was valued at N18,000. The phone has been recovered from him, Okoliko said. He noted that the offence contravened Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the law stipulates three years jail term for stealing. The Chief Magistrate, Mr. A.A. Paul, will on May 22 review the facts of the case and sentence Olaniyan. According to Sahara Reporters, the young boy has been left with serious burns all over his body as a result of the medication. It was gathered that the incident occurred on April 30, 2017, after the boy had gone to the school clinic for medical treatment as he had a high body temperature. However, after the school nurse administered drugs on him, he began to develop rashes all over his body a few days later. The boy was said to have first developed swollen lips and red eyes with the situation getting worse when the nurse abandoned him at the schools clinic for three days without making an effort to ameliorate his condition. The school authorities, therefore, called the boy's parents to inform them of the development and by the time his parents arrived the school, his condition had worsened and had to be rushed to the Kubwa General Hospital in Abuja. It was learned that the school clinic told the parents that their son had been given Augmentin and Paracetamol tablets but tests conducted at the general hospital revealed his reaction was caused by sulfur, contradicting the claim from the school. A team of medical experts from National Agency for Foods, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), who visited the boy at the hospital, reportedly corroborated the hospitals findings, saying the negative reaction could have been avoided if the school had acted accordingly. It is also reported that the commandant and management of the school have remained indifferent to the plight of their ailing student who is still lying ill at the pediatric department of the hospital. The parents have therefore accused the school authorities of dishonesty over the drugs administered at their ward. According to medical reports, the teenager had suffered a medical condition called Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS), which is a rare but serious condition arising from a severe reaction to taking certain drugs. He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. The Judge, Mr Umar Kagarko, admitted the defendant to the bail with a reliable surety in like sum. Kagarko adjourned hearing in the matter until July 19. Earlier, the Prosecutor, Kufreabasi Ebong, had told the court that the defendant illegally activated his customers GTBank online account and transferred the amount from it. Ebong said that the complainant, one Ishaya Aliyu of Area 1, Garki, reported the matter at the Garki Police Station on May 17. According to the prosecutor, the complainant gave his handset to the defendant for repairs, but he accessed his pin code and stole N15, 000 from the complainants GTBank online account by transferring same. In the course of police investigations, it was discovered that Ibrahim transferred the money into another GTBank account belonging to one Lawal Abdurahman, Ebong said. He said that the defendant went to collect the money from the said Abdurahman after the transfer. The duo, of unknown addresses, are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy, belonging to an unlawful society and breach of public peace. The Police Prosecutor, Insp. Romanus Unuigbe, told court that the accused and others still at large, committed the offences on May 9 at about 02: 30 p.m. at Ajileye Street, Bariga, Lagos. Unuigbe said that the accused persons and their accomplices did not only belong to an unlawful society but were constantly polluting Ajileye Street with Indian hemp smoking. He explained that the duo was apprehended after residents and business owners made reports at the station. The prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 41, 166 (a) and 411 of the Criminal Laws Cap Ch, C17, Vol.3 Laws of Lagos State Nigeria 2015 The duo, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them. The Chief Magistrate, Mr P. A. Ojo, granted them bail in the sum of N250, 000 each with two sureties each in like sum. Ojo said that the sureties must be resident within the courts jurisdiction and should be gainfully employed. He ordered that sureties must produce evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government and that their addresses should be verified by the police. New Telegraph reports that Akagha, a native of Owerri in Imo State but residing at 20, Mustapha Kosoko Street, Ijesha, Surulere area of Lagos, was arrested after he was ambushed at one of his victims school where he had gone to pick him with his car. Akagha who claimed to be a BetNaija agent with many shops in Lagos was reported to have raped other male teenagers before his arrest on May 9, 2017. The suspect who confessed to the crimes told police investigators that he met his teenage lovers through Facebook and meeting them physically, he took them to eateries where he treated them specially to all sorts of meals. Akagha further disclosed that he had been spending fortunes on his teenage lovers in order to make them feel comfortable and agree to have sex with him whenever he requested. He added that he bought new phones for them whenever he met any partner online and explained that he bought an Infinix Hot phone for the new partner, a 15-year-old student of a secondary school in Surulere. The victim allegedly told investigators that he and Akagha had agreed to have sex at the time he was arrested. According to the Daily Sun, Ntaka made this revelation at the Social Cohesion, a conference where virgins and virginity testers discuss the importance of purity at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. At the event which was organized by eThekwini Municipality, virginity tester, Zanele Shezi-Sishi, said it was important for women to look after themselves and keep their virginity for marriage. Ntaka who was one of the guest speakers at the event said she was proud to remain a virgin at her age. Even at my age, I still go to Umkhosi woMhlanga, (a ceremony for virgins). I began this journey when I was 14-years-old. I get a lot of people criticizing me for being a virgin and not having children. Some even tell me I will die a lonely woman. But that does not make me want to change my life." Nkata who claimed she had never slept nor kissed a man all her life, added that she is one of the most respected women in her community in Bothas Hill because of her status. Im the last born at home. My eight siblings got married and left me with my brothers two children. When I was young, I used to hear my brothers friends saying bad things about the girls theyd had sex with. I decided then I didnt want to be one of those girls. I am always the first to appear during virginity testing in my area. I dont care if I die without children or a husband. Im happy with my life and so is my family. Staying a virgin helps to avoid infections and disease. Ratemo who is vying for the Kapsoya ward representative seat in Eldoret is reportedly devastated by the loss of his sons identified as Clifford Nyambane, Dan Nyamweya, and Glen Ongagi. Star Kenya reports that the boys went missing on May 13, after they went to a church with one of their cousins and never returned. The boys aged seven, three and five years old, respectively were found dead and their bodies dumped in River Nzoia at Sikubale in Navakholo, Kakamega County on Thursday, May 19. According to the reports, the remains of the deceased have reportedly been deposited at a facility in Eldoret for their bodies to be examined. The Prosecutor, Insp. Clement Okuoimose, said that the accused committed the offences on May 8 at Iju-Ishaga in Agege. He said that the accused assaulted a policeman, Sgt. Isaiah Adamu, while he was performing his policing duties. The accused beat up the complainant who was acting in the execution of his duty. Okuoimose explained that the accused had violated the law and that the complainant wanted to arrest him but Nwadike resisted arrest. The accused plied one way and the complainant, who was in police uniform stopped him to arrest him. The accused, however, resisted arrest and instead, descended on the complainant and gave him thorough beating. He punched his mouth, giving him severe injury, the prosecutor added. According to him, the offences contravene Sections 168 and 174 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 174 prescribes four years imprisonment as penalty for assault. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty. The Magistrate, Mr M.I. Dan-Oni, granted Nwadike bail in the sum of N50, 000 with two sureties in like sum. Nigerians were woken up to the brutality when a video of the man chained to a police Hilux van and dragged on the ground went viral on social media with the police claiming that the suspect was a wanted cultist who was resisting arrest. However, Odozi has spoken out saying the only thing the police found on him at the time of his arrest was an empty packet of cigarette. The bus driver said the police stopped his vehicle on the East Circular Road in Benin and after a search on him, they did not find anything incriminating apart from the cigarette packet but still went ahead to brutalizing him till he passed out only to be revived at a private hospital. Odozi while speaking to journalists, said: When the police flagged me down along the East Circular Road, I stopped and they searched my vehicle and found nothing except an empty packet of cigarette. While the search was on, the passenger in my vehicle took to his heels. The policemen then pounced on me despite my cry that they should tell me what my offense was. They handcuffed me to their vehicle and started dragging me along after giving me the beating of my life, while onlookers were wailing, demanding to know from them what my offense was. It was at a private hospital that I regained consciousness. I enquired from the hospital staff who brought me there and chained me to the bed and was told officers from Esigie Police Station. Meanwhile, the N3,000 that I had on me and my handset were removed and have not been returned to me. I was later transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, (SCID) before I was later brought to the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, who is now investigating the matter. Following public outcry when the video was released, the Assistant Commissioner of Police in the Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit, Force Headquarters, Abuja, Abayomi Shogunle, had reacted by saying that there was no evidence of the victim being dragged on the ground, insisting that he was trying to escape arrest. In a statement, Shogunle said there was no frame in the video that showed anyone being dragged by a police patrol vehicle as insinuated. ACP Shogunle said preliminary investigation had revealed that the police at Esigie Division had received information regarding a congregation of suspected cultists. According to him, based on the information, a police team was dispatched to the scene, where two males were arrested, while others took to their heels. On searching the person seen handcuffed to the vehicle in the video, some quantity of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp, and powder suspected to be cocaine, were found on him. Continuing, ACP Shogunle had said: Both suspects were then loaded into the patrol vehicle and secured accordingly to prevent escape during transportation to the police station. At a point along Sapkonba Road, a crowd tried to prevent the free passage of the patrol vehicle transporting the suspects. In the process, one of the suspects (seen in the video) tried to escape by jumping off the patrol van, but was restrained by the handcuffs attaching him to the vehicle." According to a Nigerian blogger and social media expert Japhet Omojuwa who was on the flight on the morning of Friday, May 19, 2017, one of the thieves, an elderly man, was caught red handed this morning stealing from passengers on the flight by eagle-eyed security officials of the airline. Omojuwa who posted a series of tweets on the incident, the suspect was nabbed due to a new security measure put in place by the airline following several complaints by customers on how their money and other items had gone missing on their flights. To stem the tide, Arik Air decided to place spies on their flights and it yielded fruit. The spy was said to have joined the flight as a regular passenger so as to observe what was going on. As the plane took off and most of the passengers began to doze off, the criminal struck by swiftly transferring stuff from another passenger's luggage which was on the deck into his own bag. The security spy allowed him to finish with the theft before calling the attention of Arik staff aboard the flight and the thief was apprehended. In the video captured by Omojuwa, the passengers and Arik staff are seen questioning the suspect while he vehemently denied the allegations and tried to hide his face from the camera. Some people on the flight are heard saying the thief did not operate alone as he probably had the help of others and were heard asking him to name his partners but he kept saying he was not a thief as it was not written on his forehead. It was gathered that before the plane landed in Abuja, airport security officials were notified and when the plane touched down, uniformed men quickly rounded up the thief who reportedly fingered another man in the crime as they were later seen being escorted away. See the tweets from Omojuwa. The director-general made this known at news conference as part of activities to commemorate the 2017 World HIV Vaccine Advocacy Day on Thursday in Abuja. Aliyu said the world has made significant progress in HIV vaccine research over the last 30 years when HIV was discovered. According to him, in 2009 the vaccine field achieved proof-of-concept that a preventive HIV vaccine is possible. He said: In 2012, three different HIV vaccine development approaches are moving to efficacy trials simultaneously; two the three are vaccine candidates and the third is a vaccine related approach. The director-general said NACA is working with the National Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) to fast-track HIV vaccine research in Nigeria. Aliyu said that Nigeria has invested heavily in the planning and preparing for HIV vaccine research to be conducted in the country, with several competent researchers in the field in Nigeria. He said Nigeria also had a National HIV vaccine plan to provide a framework and facilitate the process of research. He added that NACAs dream was to ensure that Nigerians have access to an effective HIV vaccine soon. While we wait for this research breakthrough, we shall continue to facilitate access of Nigerians to existing HIV prevention tools. Elimination of Mother to child Transmission of HIV is a priority for the country and a goal that must be achieved, Aliyu said. He said the agency is working to ensure all barriers to access to treatment are removed. Mr Godwin Odemijie, representative of New HIV Vaccine and Microbicide Society, an NGO, said May 18, 2017, is the 20th Anniversary of HIV vaccine advocacy day. Odemijie said the day is to remind policy makers, partners and key stakeholders the need to develop vaccine to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS. The presidential aide initially said that the document would be sent to the president to sign in London. Buhari is currently in London on an indefinite medical vacation after leaving Nigeria on Sunday, May 7. The budget as passed by the National Assembly has just been transmitted to the Acting President. I just delivered it, Enang said on Friday. Let me use this opportunity to clarify an issue. The Acting President has the power to assent to the budget and he will assent to it when the processes are completed. The Acting President has the power to assent to the budget. In February, he assented to seven or eight bills. Those that he didnt agree with, he wrote the Senate and House of Representatives that he had withheld his assent from them. He has the power of the president to assent to it. But the assent to the Appropriation Bill will be after the completion of the standard operation process. The bill has 30 days within which it will be assented to but the process can be completed within two or three days. So, it is not possible to say it will be assented to in so, so and so day or in two or three days. Its upon the completion of the process that it will be assented to by the president and the president here now is the acting president, Enang added. A mild controversy had earlier occurred over the signing of the 2017 Budget and whether assent would be given by Buharior Osinbajo. Enang, on Wednesday, May 17, said the budget would be signed by Buhari while Osinbajos spokesman, Laolu Akande, said, also on Wednesday, that the acting president would be the one to sign the budget. The 2017 budget will be transmitted to Mr. President and the President will assent to the budget. The acting President is in office and when the budget is transmitted, it will go through the processes and all those other questions will answer itself, Enang said during an interview on Channels TV. Just so we are clear: When the time comes, everything is set, & he is satisfied, Ag. President Yemi Osinbajo will assent to the 2017 Budget, Akande said via Twitter. ALSO READ: Presidency says acting President is reviewing the 2017 budget He made the clarification when he received the Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Hajiya Sadiya Umar-Farouq who paid him a courtesy visit in Gusau on Thursday. NAN reports that the Federal Commissioner was in the state to present relief materials donated by the Federal Government to Internally Displaced Persons (IPDs). The governor, who was reacting to critics on his request to federal government to refund the state government the sum of N13 billion it spent in fighting crime in the state in the last five years. The governor said, people should learn to respect their leaders and what the leaders say and ask for clarification on what they do not know. He said armed bandits, cattle rustlers and kidnappers had caused lots of damages to peoples lives and property during the period until the state government made frantic efforts to contain the situation. He further explained that the state government constituted a committee which was chaired by the Deputy Governor, Mallam Ibrahim Wakkala pointing out that the committee negotiated with the bandits. ALSO READ:Governor This, he said, resulted in many of them renouncing the criminal act and surrendering their weapons. He, therefore, called on the Federal Government to refund the money to the state government. Head of AMCON's Corporate Communications disclosed this in statement issued in Lagos on Friday, May 19. It said that the takeover followed an injunction against Wokson International by Justice Babs Kuewumi of the Federal High Court, Lagos Division. The statement said that the order mandated AMCON to take over all the assets of Wokson International and its promoter, Dr William Oki, over N5 billion indebtedness. It said that the court granted an injunction on the application of AMCON. The statement added that AMCON moved in and took over all the assets of the company and that of its principal (Oki) as ordered by the court through its receiver, Mr Robert Ohuoba, on May 18. According to the statement, the assets, which are now under AMCON, include asphalt plants, hotels and several houses belonging to the company and its promoter. It stated that the order also froze all accounts of Wokson International and Oki anywhere and in any financial institution in the name or belonging to the duo. "The court also directed the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Police Command, to assist and protect the Bailiffs of the Federal High Court and the receiver, Robert Ohuoba (appointed by AMCON)," the statement said. ALSO READ: AMCON takes over OAS Helicopters Nwauzor said in the statement that the debt was long overdue. "I want you to understand that before we get to this stage with any of our obligors; we must have patiently tried to resolve the matter without going to court. "Anytime we end up taking over assets such as in the case of Wokson, it means all efforts by AMCON to get the obligor to amicably repay the indebtedness have proved abortive. Ishaku said the members of the sect who escaped from Sambisa forest in Borno state have found their way to Suntai Daaji forest in Taraba. The Governor said this while speaking with the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 82 Army Division, Enugu, Major General Adamu Abubakar. He also called on the military authorities to deploy soldiers to help dislodge the terrorists. According to Daily Post, Ishaku said The massive influx of people into Taraba for some time now has been the major cause of insecurity. But when I was warning of the repercussions, I was accused of being against visitors, but today all of us are victims of their criminal activities. The terrorists are today committing all sorts of criminal activities, including rape, kidnapping and killings. People cant travel freely on Bali-Suntai-Takum road among several other routes any longer in the state. The Nigerian Army onslaught against members of the Boko haram led to the recent capture of Sambisa forest and arrest of some of their top leaders. However, the Nigerian government, in a bid to secure the release of the kidnapped Chibok girls, released Boko Haram leaders who were arrested during the Army operations, as part of a deal with the sect. The denial was made by Defence spokesman, Major General John Enenche. The attention of defence headquarters has been drawn to an inciting corruption allegation against military officials, by Transparency International, Enenche said at a press conference in Abuja. Let me start by making it clear that this sweeping allegation is false with the following clarifications. The present leadership of the Armed Forces of Nigeria has done a lot to train, boost troops morale and procure vital equipment through due process, for the North East operations against Boko Haram in particular and other operations. The defence headquarters, army, navy and air force headquarters have established procurement branches that are guided by the rules and regulations of the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP). The Ministry of Defence deals directly with states and governments on defence equipment procurement without using contractors or vendors any longer. More so that the Nigerian military was on 22 March 2017 credited by the U.S. as having done very well to fight insurgency and extremism among others, with advice to other countries to learn from Nigeria. That such an allegation is coming at the peak of consistent successes being recorded at our areas of operational engagements, the North East in particular, it must be treated with utmost suspicion, he added. ALSO READ: Boko Haram leader, Shekau threatens world leaders in new video Adesina made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the collapsed building site at 2/4, Richard Abimbola Str., Ilasamaja, Isolo, Lagos. I think before such buildings reach a certain level, government agencies should visit and test the quality of building materials being used there." It is unfortunate that this incident should serve as a lesson to both the state government and other agencies concerned." I call on the government to live up to its expectation and promises, when it comes to building construction." They should enlarge and widen their scope, to do ground and materials testing for buildings everywhere, not only in the highbrow areas." Buildings at the suburbs, too, should be effectively monitored, inspected and tested, to save lives and property. Before a building is constructed, let the government agencies and departments involved inspect and test all the materials, the community leader advised. Earlier, Mr Jude Idimogu, Lagos State House of Assembly member, representing the Isolo Constituency, said at the site that detailed investigations would be conducted, to determine the major cause of the collapse. Nigerians are stubborn, and we do not like to obey the law." I believe that if the site had been properly sealed off earlier, we then need to continue to monitor such sites, because we need to investigate, to know the true position, before I can adequately comment on that aspect." The Lagos State Government is always on the move." It is always in the forefront, doing the right things to protect the lives and property of its citizens in the state." Fashola made the call on Thursday in Abuja at the opening of a three-day retreat organized for heads of the ministrys departments and agencies. He said that the retreat was organized to foster relationship among participants, and urged the directors to take advantage of the forum to improve their performances and be acquainted to each other. He advocated regular retreat for the ministry, saying that it would enhance teamwork needed to achieve its tasks. This retreat is an opportunity for us to exchange our emails and telephone numbers because service delivery is more difficult if we cannot identify ourselves. We must see ourselves as one of the privileged few that determine what affects the entire citizens of the country and to achieve our targets, we must apply civility and courtesy. Our responsibility as government is to understand that we are serving the entire public, starting from the lowest on the street to the highest, the minister said. He stated that the ministry had the highest fiscal allocation in the 2016 budget, because its services had the greatest impact on lives of citizens. We must set out targets to get maximum value for our budgetary allocation, and to do this, we must understand that maximum value is not a destination but a journey. We must understand that the performance of any government is measured by the prosperity of human lives, he added. Some of the participants, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that the retreat was a step in the right direction considering the need to know each other as colleagues. Mr Olatunji Ajayi, a director in the ministry said the forum had availed him the opportunity to meet other directors he had never met in the ministry. Jonathan made the remark on Thursday in Port Harcourt while inaugurating the second Npkogu bridge, as part of the second anniversary celebration of the Wike administration. The Former President said that the performance of the Governor has endeared him to the electorate. Gov. Wike has performed wonderfully well in governance. I have no regrets that he is the Governor of Rivers State. I am happy that the governor has opened up Rivers State through projects, he said. Wike has shown so much commitment to infrastructural development. The whole of Rivers State is now a construction yard, Jonathan said. Jonathan noted that the appreciation for the outstanding performance of Gov. Wike was beyond party lines. The former President stressed that acting President Yemi Osinbajo had also acknowledged the developmental strides of the Governor when he visited the State. Jonathan lauded Rivers people for their support throughout his eight years in national politics, while expressing joy to be part of the occasion. Gov. Nyesom Wike stated that Nigerians had seen the difference between good governance and false promises in the two years of the APC government. Wike said that the decision to invite the former President to inaugurate the project was a clear message to Nigerians that Jonathan would not be abandoned. We are not politicians that when anything is wrong, they sing different song. Rivers State is a different place, he added. When we believe in you, we believe in you. We are different from other Niger Delta states. We can say it with all authority, Wike said. We cannot come out in the public and begin to castigate our own. Those who do that, should have a rethink. For us, it doesnt matter, even with the blackmail against Jonathan, we will continue to back him, the Governor said. The News Agency of Nigeria [ NAN ] reports that the two bridges constructed by the Wike administration link Nkpogu to the state capital. Adeleke, senator who represented Osun west in the 8th assembly, was declared dead on Sunday, April 23, 2017. The nurse, Alfred Aderibigbe, was accused of giving the late politician an overdose of banned drugs. But speaking when he appeared before a coroner inquest on Thursday, May 18, Aderibigbe said all the drugs he administered to Adeleke were in normal dosage. He told the chief magistrate, Olusegun Ayilara, that he had been treating Adeleke in the last 15 years. He added that the late politician brought the drugs he administered to him from Lagos. He said, "The senator gave me his drugs which he brought from Lagos to keep on the evening of Monday, April 17, with the understanding that when he wants to take them, he will call me to bring them. "On Sunday, April 23, at about 4am, I was, however, woken up by two men from the senator who banged on my gate and later informed me that the senator had been calling my phone and that I was not picking my calls. "They said the senator needed me to come and treat him and that I should bring his drugs along. "I later went inside to get them and also found the calls I missed on my phone. "I called the senator but his friend, one Dipo Fagborode, picked his call. "As he was explaining what was going on, the senator himself collected the phone and asked me to come quickly that he was having serious knee pains. "When I got to the senators house, he asked for his drugs and gave me his prescription which contained the dose I was to administer on him. "The drugs which the senator kept with me that was to be administered on him were Analgin injection, Diazepam injection, photroine injection and hydrocortisone. "But the senator said I should not give him hydrocortisone because when he took it in Lagos, he had headache and was also vomiting. "So the other drugs was what I gave him and they were in the right dosage. "Even when the prescription said he should be given 20mg of diazepam, I had to limit it to 10mg because I discovered he had taken some oral pain painkillers. "The two other injections I gave him were in the right proportion too 50mg of Analgin and 1mg of photroine. "I waited for him to sleep and finish the drip/water I had already placed him on before I took my leave around 7:30 am. "The reason I took my leave was to inform my church because the day was a Sunday and I would not be able to teach the Sunday class. "I returned back to the Adeleke residence by 9:30 am. "Before I left, I had told the senators friend, who was with me throughout the treatment, to watch over him. "When I returned, I found the senator in the sleeping position I left him, and on closer observation, his heart rate had dropped and his pulse was faint. "I quickly gave him cardiac massage and called on his friend, Dipo, to assist me and when the situation was beyond my control, I raised an alarm and he was quickly rushed to Biket hospital. "By the time we got him to Biket hospital, the CMD, Dr Adebisi Adenle, examined his body and pronounced him "Brought in Dead." "He asked his friend what happen and he was told that the deceased complained of knee joint pain (gout) and that I gave him some treatment. "The doctor now asked me what drugs I administered on the deceased and I told him. "He then said it was the normal drug treatment for gout. "But as the empty containers and the previous drugs the deceased had taken were brought to the hospital on the doctors request, lies broke out that he died of overdose. "The lies were generated by the crowd that had gathered at the hospital because Sen. Adelekes campaign bus and his Escalade were used to convey him to the hospital. "As they drove against traffic, people got the hint that he was in trouble and gathered to find out more." Aderibigbe said he was arrested after the incident by the police and detained till May 2 before he was granted bail. He said since he was granted bail, he has not returned to work or his house in Ede because he was placed under protective custody. Earlier, the Chief Medical Director of Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Akeem Lasisi, said Adeleke died of drug overdose. The consultant pathologist, who carried out the autopsy on Adelekes corpse, Taiwo Sholaja, also claimed that he died of drug overdose. The coroner's sitting was later adjourned till Friday, May 19. This was disclosed by police spokesman in Borno, DSP Victor Isuku via a statement on Friday, May 19. At about 2350hrs, three male suicide bombers with IEDs strapped to their bodies, gained entry into the premises of university of Maiduguri. In an attempt to enter the female hostels, they were intercepted by security operatives, the statement read. Three university security personnel reported injured. Scene visited by EOD personnel and normalcy restored, it added. The attack comes about two days after a female suicide bomber attacked a military checkpoint in the Konduga area of the state. ALSO READ: 3 Suicide bombers target UNIMAID, 4 killed Credit: Jess GriffinHeart's Ann Wilson will launch her second U.S. solo tour leg of 2017 this Friday in Indio, California, before kicking it off, the vocal powerhouse will kick it out tonight during an appearance on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live! The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer will sit in with the Kimmel house band, Cleo and the Cletones, on the show, which airs at 11:35 p.m. ET/10:35 p.m. CT. The first leg of the Ann Wilson of Heart Tour ran from early March to early April, while the new trek is mapped out all the way through an August 10 concert in Sylvania, Ohio. The outing includes a number performances at festivals and fairs, as well as an August 8 appearance opening for Santana in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Wilson's backing band for the tour features guitarist Craig Bartok, a member of both Heart and Ann's previous solo project The Ann Wilson Thing; bassist Andy Stoller of The Ann Wilson Thing; former Heart drummer/percussionist Denny Fongheiser; and keyboardist Dan Walker. Meanwhile, Wilson recently took part in a Twitter Q&A during which she revealed what historic event she wished she'd attended. "I would like to have been there at Woodstock to hear Jimi Hendrix play the national anthem," Ann said. "I feel that moment spoke not only for a generation then, but for the American experience before and after." Here are all of the upcoming dates on the Ann Wilson of Heart Tour: 5/19 -- Indio, CA, Fantasy Springs Casino 5/21 -- Solana Beach, CA, Belly Up 5/23 -- Phoenix, AZ, Celebrity Theatre 5/26 -- Florence, KY, UC Health Stadium 5/28 -- St. Louis, MO, River City Casino 5/31 -- Dallas, TX, Bomb Factory 6/1 -- San Antonio, TX, The Aztec Theater 6/3 -- Corpus Christi, TX, Concrete Street Pavilion 6/4 -- Houston, TX, Arena Theatre 6/6 -- Atlanta, GA, Buckhead Theatre 6/8 -- Fort Lauderdale, FL, Parker Playhouse 6/10 -- Clearwater, FL, Capitol Theater 6/11 -- Fort Pierce, FL, Sunrise Theatre 6/13 -- Nashville, TN, Schermerhorn Symphony Center 6/14 -- Huber Heights, OH, Rose Music Center at The Heights 6/16 -- Chicago, IL, House of Blues 6/17 -- Warren, OH, W.D. Packard Music Hall 6/19 -- Kansas City, MO, Uptown Theatre 6/21 -- Cedar Falls, IA, Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center 6/23 -- Detroit, MI, River Days Festival 6/26 -- Layton, UT, Kenley Amphitheater 6/27 -- Sandy, UT, Sandy City Amphitheater 6/29 -- Pleasanton, CA, Alameda County Fairgrounds 6/30 -- San Rafael, CA, Marin County Fair 7/2 -- Anaheim, CA, The Grove of Anaheim 7/3 -- Las Vegas, NV, Downtown Rocks at Fremont Street Experience 7/25 -- Prior Lake, MN, Rib Fest at Mystic Lake Casino 7/28 -- West Bend, WI, Washington State Fair 8/8 -- Mount Pleasant, MI, Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort* 8/10 -- Sylvania, OH, Centennial Terrace * = opening for Santana. Copyright 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. He said the report of the joint committee on the national minimum wage would be reviewed by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) next Wednesday. According to the minister, the 16-man technical committee on minimum wage and palliatives had submitted its report to the main committee. The committee is headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). Ngige said, "This report has been adopted just last week by the 29-man joint committee. "So the report is now being taken to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for approval next week and then the Acting President will constitute a National Minimum Wage Review Committee. "This National Minimum Wage Review Committee will then fix a new minimum wage for the country. "It has become imperative for a new minimum wage, because the last minimum wage has a life span of five years it was signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan- and it elapsed by Aug. 2016." ALSO READ: Labour threatens nationwide strike over minimum wage He added that since the minimum wage issue is a constitutional one, all stakeholders would be involved in the final discussions. "So it is a law that it would have a national application for both those in the private sector and those in the public sector," he said. "So the implementation of the national minimum wage is not only for the Federal Government alone. Ngige listed the private sector, employers of labour, government and governors, among those who would be involved in the discussion. "We must all sit together and come out with an acceptable agreement." The weapons deal collapses in acrimony but instead of a shoot-out, the embittered parties fight it out in court. In this real life saga, Ara Dolarian is the US arms dealer, Hima Aboubakar the weapons contractor and the foreign government Nigeria, which has been locked in a battle with Boko Haram since 2009. The $246 million (221 million euros) order at the height of the jihadists' insurgency in 2014 was for weapons and equipment, including helicopters, bombs and ammunition. It could have given over-stretched and under-resourced Nigerian troops a boost, as the better-armed rebels captured territory across northeast Nigeria, often without a fight. But the deal collapsed in 2015 and the arms never arrived. Aboubakar sued Dolarian for fraud in California. Aboubakar, a national of Niger, claimed the US arms dealer failed to ship $8.6 million worth of bombs and rockets, damaging his reputation as "a trusted arms supplier to the Nigerian military". Dolarian alleges in court documents that he was unwittingly caught up in a "money laundering scheme" and that Aboubakar's arms money was "stolen from the Nigerian government". Rare glimpse Campaign group Transparency International described corruption in the defence procurement sector as "the new diesel for Nigeria's kleptocrats". It estimated that more than $15 billion has been stolen, "leaving the military without vital equipment, insufficiently trained, low in morale and under-resourced". "This has crippled the Nigerian military," it added in a new report published on Thursday, which defence spokesman John Enenche rejected and described as "a sweeping allegation". The defence ministry now did "government-to-government" deals and no longer used contractors, he added. The court battle between Dalorian and Aboubakar some 12,500 kilometres (8,000 miles) from Abuja offers a rare glimpse into the shadowy world of the arms trade. It could also shed light on how an alleged multi-billion-dollar fraud in the office of former national security advisor Sambo Dasuki might have taken place. Pieter Wezeman, a researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, said Dolarian's deal with Aboubakar and his company Societe d'Equipments Internationaux (SEI) "rings alarm bells". Court documents show SEI signed off on the purchase of six Mi-24 and Mi-35 helicopters from Dolarian for $25 million each, which Wezeman said was far above their normal value of $5 million each. Inflated prices open the door to graft, he added. "This is really a ridiculous price," he said. Endemic corruption Current President Muhammadu Buhari's predecessor Goodluck Jonathan and his administration were forced to take Boko Haram seriously after the kidnapping of more than 200 schoolgirls from the remote town of Chibok. The mass abduction in April 2014 drew the world's attention to the conflict, sending the government on a shopping spree for weapons. Buhari, a former military head of state, honed in on the notoriously rotten defence procurement sector after coming to power on an anti-corruption platform in 2015. Dasuki has been accused of orchestrating a sprawling embezzlement scheme that saw "phantom contracts" awarded for personal and political gain. Shocking scale The scale of the alleged scam and how officials apparently exploited the insurgency shocked even Nigerians wearily familiar with corruption scandals. Dasuki and scores of other defence officials were arrested and put on trial. Buhari's government then went after procurement firms. Last year, a committee set up by Buhari said SEI played a "major" role in the alleged scam after being awarded nearly $1 billion worth of contracts "characterised by irregularity and fraud". SEI deals appear in many ongoing corruption cases in Nigeria. Two top air force officials are charged with bribery for accepting cash and a Range Rover from the company. Aboubakar has not been charged and told AFP: "We continue to work with the Nigerian army. Forget about what the people say, they lie." 'Excessive secrecy' Repeated adjournments have become a feature of the separate trials linked to the Dasuki "arms scam". Buhari himself -- the driving force of the anti-graft campaign -- is wrestling with ill health. Nigeria specialist Matthew Page said Buhari was not reforming a system of embezzlement "codified" by former military rulers such as Sani Abacha. Habits that saw many senior officers get rich over decades of military rule persist, despite the return to democracy in 1999, he said. Nearly two decades later, the defence sector is still secretive, with little or no oversight and transparency, and arms procurement still requires ad hoc approvals from the executive. "Buhari is a dyed-in-the-wool military guy," said Page, a former US State Department official. He also banned touting by officials or unofficial persons at any Nigerian ports - air, land and sea. The directives are contained in the three Executive Orders signed by Osinbajo on Thursday, May 18. "The Apapa Port shall resume 24-hour operations within 30 days of the issuance of this Order and there shall be no touting whatsoever by official or unofficial persons at any port in Nigeria," Osinbajo said in the Order. "On duty staff shall be properly identified by uniform and official cards while off duty staff shall stay away from the ports except with the express approval of the agency head. The FAAN Aviation Security (AVSEC) and Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) Security shall enforce this order," he added. To address the touting problems at the ports, the Order said that "all non-official staff shall be removed from the secured areas of airports. No official of FAAN, Immigration, security agency or Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) or any other agency is to meet any non-designated dignitary at any secure areas of the airport." Osinbajo also directed that the official approved list of dignitaries that have been pre-approved to be received by protocol officers shall be made available to AVSEC and other relevant agencies ahead of their arrival at the airport. The acting president said, "any official caught soliciting or receiving bribes from passengers or other port users shall be subject to immediate removal from post and disciplinary as well as criminal proceedings in line with extant laws and regulations. "All relevant MDAs at the airports shall within 30 days of the issuance of this Order merge their respective departure and arrival interfaces into a single customer interface, without prejudice to necessary backend procedures." ALSO READ: Osinbajo wants Nigerian foods, drinks served at state banquets Osinbajo also ordered that "all agencies currently physically present in Nigerian Ports shall within 60 days harmonise their operations into one single interface station domiciled in one location in the port and implemented by a single joint task force at all times, without prejudice to necessary backend procedures." The new single interface station at each port, the order stipulates, "shall capture, track and record information on all goods arriving and departing from Nigeria and remit captured information to the head of the MDA and the head of the National Bureau of Statistics on a weekly basis." He also directed each Port "to assign an existing export terminal to be dedicated to the exportation of agriculture produce within 30 days of the issuance Order." While these famous actors have passed away, their legacies live on through their movies and performances. A look at movie stars we have lost in a month; 1. Moji Olaiya The actress, who kicked off her acting career with Super Story's "No Pain No Gain" and went on to become an actress and producer, died of cardiac arrest on May 17, 2017, at the age of 42. Her death was announced on May 18, 2017, by the founder of Best of Nollywood Awards, Seun Oloketuyi. 2. Olumide Bakare The veteran actor passed away in the early hours of Saturday, April 22, 2017, following a prolonged battle with a respiratory disorder. He was announced dead on arrival at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. His demise was confirmed by Nollywood actor, Saidi Balogun. Popular for "Oromodie," "Edun Ara," "Gbogbolomo" and more, Bakare's journey into acting was influenced by a TV set bought for him by his parents in 1959. 3. Adeshina Adesanya Popularly called 'Pastor Ajidara', the actor passed away days after it was revealed that he was battling a kidney failure condition. His demise came in the middle of calls for financial support led by his colleagues, Bolaji 'Mr. Latin' Amusan and Yomi Fash Lanso. Adesanya was popular for his roles in the movies, "Agbeku abela" (2009) and "Ologbo Iya Ijebu" (2007). He passed away on May 7, 2017, at the age of 62. In 2016, Ice Prince spoke with Pulse Nigeria about the movie, which he said will make its debut this 2017. "Me versus Me" is written byAjibadeand George Kura, who wrote the TV series "Duplicity. "Me Versus Me" will not be Zamani's first participation in a movie. He made his acting debut in the 2013 Ghana and Nigeria collaboration, "House of Gold," which was directed by Pascal Amanfo and produced by Yvonne Nelson. Ajibade is popular for his character Soji on the longest running Nigerian TV series, "Tinsel." He has also featured in movies including "Gbomo Gbomo Express," "The Wages," "The Shrink" among others. And they should be ashamed of themselves for even thinking about it. President Muhammadu Buhari handed over power to Osinbajo before he left Nigeria on May 7, 2017 in keeping with section 145 (1) of the 1999 constitution as amended. "While I am away", wrote the President, "the Vice President will coordinate the activities of the government". Since Buhari's departure for his follow-up medical vacation, the northern elders forum, unseen hands and some presidency aides, have been trying so hard to constitute themselves into a nuisance. It's been totally disgusting to read and watch. It's silly that northern elders are already appropriating to themselves the role of decision makers as it pertains to the 2019 election. By declaring that Osinbajo cannot replace Buhari on the ballot in 2019 should the latter become incapacitated on account of his failing health, these elders made themselves look and sound like jokers (which I'm certain they are). Here's Professor Ango Abdullahi, who is Chairman of the northern elders forum: But no one is in a position to know at what point Buhari 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. 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, Abdullahi said. He added that; 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. The sheer nerve of these guys! That we are talking 2019 midway through Buhari's first term, tells you how completely unfortunate we are as a people. And who arrogated to these so called elders, the power to choose Nigeria's President in 2019? The own goal scored by Buhari's aides this week, deserves some tongue-lashing as well. Whether unwittingly or not, Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Ita Enang and Information minister Lai Mohammed, stirred a national debate that could have been avoided if they had read the mood of the nation correctly. To hear Enang and Mohammed speak this week, Buhari was going to assent to the budget document from his sick bed. When I was asked a question relating to the signing of the 2017 Budget, my response was: when it is transmitted to the Presidency, the issue will be addressed", Mohammed said, after suffering a backlash from his earlier comments. The minister added that; Anything beyond that response amounts to deliberate mischief and should be ignored". Ita-Enang also had to defend himself after making it seem like he had questioned Osinbajo's powers to assent to the 2017 budget, a day earlier. "Let me use this opportunity to clarify an issue. The Acting President has the power to assent to the budget and he will assent to it when the processes are completed", said Ita-Enang. Let's be clear on this because you asked--there can only be one President in a nation at a given time. And at this moment, Osinbajo is that man. There's nothing anyone can do about it. Osinbajo issued three germane executive orders this week, he's held meetings with ministers, service chiefs and civil servants, he'll inaugurate the two ministers when he's ready and he'll be assenting to the budget when he's ready. This week, army chief Tukur Buratai warned his men against staging a coup to unseat Osinbajo. His statement also told us that some politicians have been working with soldiers to explore the possibility of shoving Osinbajo aside. Whoever these guys are, they need to be reminded that in the 21st century, military rule is an abomination around the world and in Nigeria. These guys need to be shown where to shove their tomfoolery. Osinbajo is the boss now until Buhari makes a return. On Thursday, UN mediator Staffan de Mistura's office declared a first tangible step: a series of separate meetings with the government and HNC delegations to discuss "legal and constitutional issues of relevance to the intra-Syrian talks." The announcement appeared to be watered-down version of a previous UN proposal towards a new constitution. A new constitution for Syria is one of four separate topics or "baskets" on the agenda at the talks, alongside governance, elections and combating "terrorism." By Thursday, however, government delegation head Bashar al-Jaafari said his team had "not discussed any baskets yet." Speaking to journalists shortly after the UN's announcement, Jaafari seemed to play down how much the expert meetings would push the constitutional process forward. "The work of these experts will have nothing to do with the constitution... They will not take decisions," Jaafari said. The Syrian diplomat described the UN's earlier plan as "too ambitious." That team would have been responsible for finding "specific options for constitutional drafting," according to a copy of the document seen by AFP. The talks, which opened on Tuesday, were at risk of being overshadowed by months of parallel negotiations in the Kazakh capital, Astana. Observers said de Mistura would be scrambling to match the Astana track's momentum. The HNC held its own meetings with de Mistura on Thursday, focused on "political transition and the constitutional framework," spokesman Yehya al-Aridi told AFP. The court in Banjul also separately issued an arrest warrant for ex-interior minister Ousman Sonko over the death of former intelligence chief Daba Marenah. Hydara, 65, an outspoken critic of then president Yahya Jammeh, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in his car on the outskirts of Banjul in December 2004. He was the editor and co-founder of the independent newspaper The Point and a one-time Gambia correspondent for Agence France-Presse (AFP). Jammeh, whose regime was accused of numerous human rights violations, went into exile at the end of January after more than 22 years in power following his defeat in December's presidential election by Adama Barrow. Police prosecutors Thursday charged former colonel Kawsu Camara and major Sanna Manjang, an army deserter, with "murder and conspiracy" over the killing of Hydara, a judicial source told AFP. It is the first time authorities have openly linked the pair to the killing. The two men are however long believed to have been members of Jammeh's ultra-loyal death squad, known as the "Jungulars", which has been accused of carrying out extrajudicial killings and torture by the United Nations and rights groups. Police asked the court in Banjul to issue arrest warrants for the two men after they were charged, the source said. Principal Magistrate Isatou Janneh agreed to the request. Ex-interior minister held in Switzerland "The Gambian authorities will present the arrest warrant to Interpol or the country where they are hiding for them to be extradited to Gambia," the source said. Manjang left the Gambia for Guinea-Bissau the day that Jammeh went into exile after contesting the election results for six weeks. In 2009, Camara was arrested and charged with treason over a failed coup, along with former defence chief Lang Tombong Tamba and other soldiers. He was convicted and sentenced to death in 2010 but his sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. Jammeh pardoned Camara in 2015 and he left for Senegal. The magistrate also issued an arrest warrant for Sonko and eight other suspects over the death of Marenah, former director of the National Intelligence Agency, another judicial source said. After he was sacked in September 2016, Sonko fled to Sweden and then Switzerland, where he is currently being held in a crimes against humanity probe. Sonko has been accused of overseeing and committing torture while heading the interior ministry from 2006 to 2016. The other suspects named in the arrest warrant include general Bora Colley and other army officers. The suspects are accused of being involved in the deaths of Marenah and several other people who were believed to have been executed. Marenah has been missing since his arrest in March 2006, along with several soldiers, over an alleged coup attempt. The government had claimed they escaped while being transferred from the State Central Prison on the outskirts of Banjul to another jail. Juncker, who heads the European Commission, and Tusk, who heads the council of 28 EU member states, are due to meet Erdogan on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Brussels. "President Jean-Claude Juncker, together with (EU Council) President Donald Tusk, meets Mr Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of Turkey, in Brussels," Juncker's office said Friday in a calendar entry for May 25. Relations between the bloc and Ankara took a hit after a failed coup attempt in July, and worsened further during the campaign for the April 16 referendum on strengthening Erdogan's powers. Earlier this month, Erdogan told Brussels it had no other "option" than to open new "chapters", or policy areas, in Turkey's long-stalled accession talks which began in 2005. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu insisted at the time that Turkey was not seeking to become an adversary to the EU, but complained about the approach. "I understand it is finalised. I understand we have a couple of days to have the official text in place," Mogherini told reporters after an EU defence ministers meeting in Brussels. She stressed there was no holdup nor need to revisit the political decision all 28 member states took in March to set up the Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC) facility. There had been some expectation that after EU foreign ministers approved a text Monday, the formal launch could be announced Thursday. A statement of conclusions agreed by the defence ministers said member states looked "forward to the effective establishment, as a short term objective, of the Military Planning and Conduct Capability within the EU Military Staff in Brussels." "The MPCC will assume responsibilities at the strategic level for the operational planning and conduct of the EU's non-executive military missions," it said. The MPCC will initially coordinate three such missions training government forces in Mali, the Central African Republic and Somalia. Mogherini has led efforts for the EU to take on a much larger defence and security role given the uncertainties raised over Washington's commitment to European security by President Donald Trump. Europe's worst migrant crisis since World War II and a series of deadly attacks linked to the Islamic State group have also encouraged calls for the EU to do more. Brexit-bound Britain, nuclear armed and with a UN Security Council veto, has traditionally opposed any such moves toward a possible EU European army and prioritises NATO over the bloc on defence. Asked about Britain's future in EU security, Mogherini said all sides expected London to continue to play its full role until the Brexit divorce is completed. Even then, Britain could be part of the EU security structure and military operations. "Obviously, once you are not a member state you cannot take part in the decisions but you can take part" in the missions, Mogherini said. Members of the Third Force militia loyal to the UN-backed Government of National Accord in Tripoli on Thursday attacked the base used by Haftar's self-proclaimed Libyan National Army (LNA), military sources said earlier. LNA spokesman Ahmad al-Mesmari late Friday said the victims included civilians who worked at the Brak al-Shati airbase or were in the nearby area, also reporting that summary executions took place. "The soldiers were returning from a military parade. They weren't armed. Most of them were executed," he said. The GNA said in a statement late Friday a commission of inquiry had been set up to investigate the attack. It said it had decided to suspend its defence minister, al-Mahdi al-Barghati, and the head of the Third Force from their duties until those responsible were identified. Both the GNA and defence ministry earlier condemned the assault and said they had not ordered any such action. The unity government, the rival administration in eastern Libya and their respective backers are battling for influence in the North African country which has been wracked by chaos since the fall of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011. The LNA does not recognise the authority of the GNA, and instead supports the rival authorities based in the east. UN envoy 'outraged' The UN envoy to Libya earlier on Friday voiced alarm at reports of the attack on the base, 650 kilometres (400 miles) south of Tripoli. "I am outraged by reports of significant numbers of fatalities, including civilians and by reports that summary executions may have taken place," UN envoy Martin Kobler said in a statement. Britain's ambassador to Libya, Peter Millett, also denounced the assault. "Disgusted by attack on Brak al-Shati & reports of mass executions. Perpetrators must be brought to justice," he wrote on Twitter. The incident at the base in Wadi al-Shati district comes a month after an attack by the LNA on the Tamenhant airbase controlled by the Third Force near the south's main city of Sebha. That attack was called off after a reconciliation meeting between Haftar and unity government head Fayez al-Sarraj in Abu Dhabi on May 2. The speaker of the eastern-based parliament, which is supported by the LNA, accused the Misrata-based Third Force of a "serious breach of the truce agreement reached in Abu Dhabi". Aguila Saleh said there were a "number of martyrs" in LNA ranks, without giving a figure. The speaker said he had given orders for the armed forces "to take the measures necessary to respond to the assault and defend the south and cleanse it of all outlaw militias". In Tripoli, the GNA called for an immediate ceasefire in the south, where tribes and militias vie for control of lucrative smuggling routes with neighbouring Chad, Niger and Sudan. "We hope reason will prevail and that the escalation and provocation will stop," it said. The unity government's defence ministry laid the blame on "those who started bombing Tamenhant base with warplanes and tanks", referring to Haftar's forces. Coastguard and military vessels joined forces with others chartered by humanitarian organisations to come to the rescue of the migrants, who were packed into 10 wooden boats and 12 rubber dinghies. "About 2,300 migrants were rescued in the Mediterranean today," the coastguard said in a statement. Prudence, a vessel chartered by medical charity Medecins sans Frontieres, picked up 770 people, many of them young children -- one a baby aged just six weeks, it said. SOS Mediterranee's and MSF's Aquarius vessel rescued 560 people and Phoenix, chartered by Maltese NGO Moas, hauled in another 360. Some 46,000 migrants had reached the Italian coast this year even before Thursday's drama, around a third up on the same period last year, according to the Italian interior ministry. At least 1,229 people have drowned making the perilous trip, according to the International Organization for Migration -- one death for every 39 persons rescued. The latest wave of people picked up comes as Italy beefs up security ahead of next week's G7 summit at Taormina in Sicily. The summit poses a challenge given that local authorities on the island have banned migrants from disembarking at Sicilian ports. The paper praised those responsible for the Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile for showing the world "the strength of the powerful self-reliant nuclear state". Photos showed hundreds of developers wearing military garb saluting giant statues of late leaders Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jong-Il that dominate the centre of the capital. Others showed residents waving red flags and artificial flowers as they turned out to greet a convoy of buses carrying the developers. "Streets of the capital city of Pyongyang were full of festive atmosphere to greet the scientists of national defence," the official Korean Central News Agency said. "Hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life and school youth and children were waiting for the merited persons along the streets," it reported. North Korea on Sunday test-fired what analysts say was its longest-range rocket yet as it accelerates efforts to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the continental United States. Pyongyang has long had missiles that can reach targets across the South -- the 500 kilometre Scud -- and Japan, the 1,000-1,300 kilometre Rodong. But with an imputed range of 4,500 kilometres the Hwasong-12 puts US bases on the Pacific island of Guam within reach. Leader Kim Jong-Un oversaw the launch and warned of "the worst-ever disaster" if the US provoked the secrative state, claiming it is in "range of (nuclear) strikes", according to Rodong Sinmun on Monday. But there are questions over whether Pyongyang can miniaturise a nuclear weapon sufficiently to fit it onto a missile nose cone, or has mastered the re-entry technology needed to ensure it survives returning into Earth's atmosphere. Eirik Jensen, 60, who was in charge of fighting organised crime, is accused of aggravated corruption and having being involved with an infamous drug trafficker, Gjermund Cappelen, also known as the "hashish baron", for several years. Jensen denies the accusations against him in the extremely rare case of alleged official graft, which has made headlines in Norway for several months. International rankings routinely list the country as one of the world's least corrupt nations. Jensen allegedly received 2.44 million kroner (over 262,000 euros, $293,000) in bribes, in exchange for helping Cappelen smuggle 13,9 tonnes of hashish into Norway between 2004 and 2013, according to prosecutor Guro Glaerum Kleppe. She mentioned multiple message exchanges between the men, adding they included code language on police activity. The two men are now sworn enemies. Kleppe said Cappelen, 50, who was arrested for drug trafficking, provided information about Jensen's alleged role in drugs smuggling to investigators, hoping to have his punishment reduced. On Friday, prosecutors demanded that Cappelen be sentenced to 18 years in prison. The two men's lawyers will make their respective pleadings early next week. It came as the United Nations said Syria's regime and rebels had agreed to set up expert committees to discuss "constitutional issues" at the latest round of UN-backed peace talks in Geneva. US-led aircraft struck the convoy as it headed toward a remote coalition garrison near the border with Jordan, a US defence official said. "A convoy going down the road didn't respond to numerous ways for it to be warned off from getting too close to coalition forces in Al-Tanaf," the official told AFP on condition of anonymity. "Then there was finally a strike against the lead portion of that movement." The coalition said the strike had occurred "well inside" an established de-confliction zone northwest of the Al-Tanaf garrison, where British and US commandos have been training and advising local forces fighting IS. Pentagon chief Jim Mattis said, despite the strikes, the United States was "not increasing our role in the Syrian civil war, but we will defend our troops". The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said the strikes killed eight people "most of them non-Syrian" and destroyed four vehicles. The United States has been militarily involved in Syria since 2014, but has for the most part avoided engaging directly in the conflict. But last month, it launched a barrage of missiles at Syria's Shayrat airbase, which it said was the launchpad for an alleged chemical attack that killed dozens of civilians. IS executions Also on Thursday, IS killed more than 50 people in an attack on two regime-held villages in the central province of Hama, said the Observatory. The attack on the villages of Aqareb and Al-Mabujeh killed at least 15 civilians and 27 pro-government fighters, it said. Another 10 bodies were yet to be identified. IS also lost 15 fighters in the dawn attack on the villages in the east of the province, said the monitor. Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said at least three of the civilians were killed execution style with knives, a man and his two children. State media also reported 52 people had been killed in the IS assault, though it described the attack as against Aqareb only. It said IS fighters had mutilated the bodies of villagers and looted their homes, and said 15 of the dead were children. The Observatory said IS had seized control of Aqareb and part of Al-Mabujeh in the attack, which began with heavy shelling on a nearby regime checkpoint. "Despite the arrival of reinforcements, government forces have been unable to repel the attack so far," said Abdel Rahman. IS has attacked Al-Mabujeh before with devastating effect. In March 2015, it executed at least 37 civilians in the village, whose population includes Sunnis as well as those from the Ismaili sect and the Alawite community to which President Bashar al-Assad belongs. During the same assault the group kidnapped at least 50 civilians, half of them women. Control of Hama province is divided between the government, rebel forces and IS, which is present mostly in the east of the area. UN-backed talks IS faces pressure in northern Syria, where an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters is preparing an assault on its bastion Raqa city. The battle for Raqa has stirred tensions with neighbouring Turkey, which is fiercely opposed to the Kurdish fighters now leading the operation to capture the city. On Thursday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu called for the removal of US diplomat Brett McGurk, who coordinates the US-led coalition against IS, saying he was supporting the Kurdish fighters. More than 320,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began with anti-government demonstrations in 2011. The conflict has proved stubbornly resistant to international efforts to find a political solution, but a new round of UN-sponsored talks are underway this week in Geneva. But the United Nations said Thursday the warring sides had agreed to set up expert committees to discuss "constitutional issues". A new constitution is one of four separate "baskets" on the agenda at the talks, along with governance, elections and combating "terrorism". The UN-sponsored process has been somewhat overshadowed by a parallel track convened in Kazakh capital Astana by regime supporters Russia and Iran along with rebel backer Turkey. The owner, Burak Akbay, and the three others, including the executive in charge of the website, Mediha Olgun, are accused of links to the movement led by Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen blamed for last year's failed coup, Anadolu news agency reported. The fiercely anti-government and ultra-secularist daily whose name means "spokesman" is one of the country's bestselling papers. Its slogan is: "If #Sozcu is silent, Turkey will be silent." Istanbul prosecutors issued the warrants for the four including correspondent Gokmen Ulu and Yonca Kaleli, a finance executive, CNN Turk broadcaster said. Anadolu said Olgun had been detained and Akbay was out of the country. However, Sozcu's lawyer Ismail Yilmaz denied arrest warrants had been issued, telling the private Dogan news agency warrants had been issued to seize and search their belongings. Yilmaz confirmed Olgun was in custody but said that could be in connection with another investigation, Dogan reported. The four are accused of "committing crimes on behalf of an armed terror organisation", referring to the Gulen movement, CNN Turk reported. Turkey refers to the movement as the "Fethullah Terrorist Organisation" (FETO), but Gulen vehemently denies ordering the coup and the movement denies any terror charges. CNN Turk said the suspects were wanted in connection with an online article published on the same day as the attempted coup on July 15 and the accusations levelled at them included "facilitating a real attack on the president". The article in question revealed details of where President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was on holiday in the upmarket Aegean resort of Marmaris, CNN Turk said, and had images of his hotel. Sozcu is the second daily to be targeted after another leading opposition newspaper Cumhuriyet saw 20 staff members charged under the state of emergency imposed after the attempted putsch. The daily is on occasion rabidly anti Erdogan and its angry front pages are regarded with some suspicion by some liberal Turks critical of the president. Its sometimes lurid approach contrasts with the more moderate tone of Cumhuriyet, one of the country's oldest dailies. "The European Arrest Warrant no longer holds. The UK must now grant safe passage to Mr Julian Assange," minister Guillaume Long wrote on Twitter. Swedish prosecutors earlier announced they had dropped their rape probe against Assange, 45. Despite that, British police said they would still arrest Assange if he tried to leave the embassy. They said he had breached the terms of his bail by refusing to turn himself in when an arrest warrant was issued in 2012. The Australian founder of the WikiLeaks whistleblowing site has always denied the rape allegations. His site in 2010 leaked hundreds of thousands of secret US military and diplomatic documents. Assange feared that if he gave himself up to the Swedish authorities he would be extradited to the United States and put on trial for the intelligence leaks. Ecuador under leftist President Rafael Correa granted Assange asylum in its London embassy in 2012. Long said "Ecuador welcomes the decision to drop the charges," recalling that Swedish prosecutors questioned Assange in the embassy in November. Assange's case would be referred to a judge and he could face a maximum jail term of one year, a spokesman for the state Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) told AFP. The Australian sought asylum in Ecuador's London embassy in 2012 after a judge ordered his extradition to Sweden to face allegations of rape and sexual assault. Police said a warrant was issued against Assange in 2012 after he failed to hand himself in, adding: "The Metropolitan Police Service is obliged to execute that warrant should he leave the embassy." Assange insisted the claims were politically motivated, and feared that going to Sweden would result in his extradition to the United States over WikiLeaks' publication of classified US military and diplomatic documents. The CPS spokesman could not confirm whether Britain had received a US extradition request. "The UK government's policy is to neither confirm nor deny any request for extradition until and unless an arrest is made," he said. The police ended their round-the-clock guard outside the embassy in October 2015, amid public criticism of the cost. But they said they were strengthening a "covert plan" to prevent his departure. On Friday, they said Assange was previously wanted for "an extremely serious offence" in Sweden and the police presence around the embassy had "reflected the serious nature of that crime". "Now that the situation has changed and the Swedish authorities have discontinued their investigation into that matter. Mr Assange remains wanted for a much less serious offence," it said. "The MPS will provide a level of resourcing which is proportionate to that offence," it added. "I am outside the migration zone without my passport" at Maiquetia airport near Caracas, he said. "They robbed my passport, for that is how I would describe it, in the migration zone." Capriles, the 44-year old leader of the center-right Justice First party, is the most prominent opponent of socialist President Nicolas Maduro. The opposition has accused the government of violently repressing protests by Venezuelans demanding early elections to remove Maduro from power. Capriles had intended to brief the high commissioner Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein on deadly violence in Venezuela that has left 43 people dead. "I have been informed that my passport has been canceled," he said. "My passport is valid until 2020. What they want is for me not to go to the United Nations." Capriles said he would head back to the capital to take part in the latest anti-government demonstration, a planned march to the interior ministry. Clashes erupted across the country in April 1 during protests in anger at Maduro's handling of an economic and political crisis. Protesters blame Maduro for 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. 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. The United States convened a meeting on Wednesday of the UN Security Council. It warned that Venezuela's crisis was worsening and could escalate into a civil conflict like that of Syria. Venezuela's Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez responded on Twitter by repeating Maduro's allegation that the United States was out to topple his government. Finding Peace of Mind: Discover These Five Places in Europe to Unwind Ending a string of 12 consecutive quarterly decreases in earnings, Deere & Co. reported better-than-expected earnings Friday sending its stock price into record territory. The Moline-based equipment maker said net income rose 62 percent to $802.4 million, or $2.49 per share, for the quarter ended April 30. That compared with net income of $495.4 million, or $1.56 per share, for the period ended May 1, 2016. Deere also raised its full-year earnings forecast significantly, to $2 billion from $1.5 billion it had forecast in the first quarter. In addition, Deere now expects sales of its agricultural and construction equipment to increase 9 percent in 2017, up from its forecast of 4 percent a quarter ago. The results topped analysts on Wall Street's estimate of $1.70 per share and sent Deere's stockup in trading Friday. It closed up $8.23 at $120.90. At one point, it hit a record $122.24. "John Deere reported strong results in the second quarter as market conditions showed signs of further stabilization," Deere chairman and CEO Samuel Allen said in a news release. "We are seeing modestly higher overall demand for our products, with farm machinery sales in South America experiencing a strong recovery." The first quarter of 2014 was the last time Deere outperformed the same quarter of the previous year, said company spokesman Ken Golden. According to Golden, Deere entered the year forecasting full-year earnings of $1.4 billion. The forecast of $2 billion earnings would make 2017 one of the company's top five earnings years, he said. Deere's all-time record for earnings was $3.5 billion in 2013. It had $1.52 billion in net income in 2016. Deere also reported results for the first six months of the fiscal year. Net income was $996.2 million, or $3.10 per share, for the first six months. That's up from $749.8 million, or $2.36 per share, for the same period last year. "What we're seeing in ag compared to last year is sales are improving in all our main geographies, including large ag (equipment) in north America," Golden said. While Deere still is forecasting the ag industry to be down 5 percent in North America for the year, he said that is improved from its previous forecast of down 5-10 percent. Deere's worldwide sales of ag and turf equipment are expected to increase 8 percent for the year, which is up from its previous forecast of 3 percent, Golden said. After a few years of weak conditions, all of Deere's markets now are seeing signs of stabilization. Deere's construction and forestry sales increased 7 percent in the quarter and 1 percent for the first six months. Increased home construction helped to drive the improvement. "Buyers of our equipment are becoming more confident in being able to reinvest in their business by buying new equipment," Golden said. In the second quarter, Deere's worldwide net sales and revenues increased 5 percent to $8.287 billion and 4 percent to $13.912 billion for the first six months. Allen said Deere's performance "reflects the sound execution of our operating plans, the strength of a broad product portfolio, and the impact of our actions to develop a more agile cost structure." In a conference call with analysts Friday, Raj Kalathur, the company's chief financial officer and senior vice president, said Deere continues to move forward with its plans to cut $500 million in structural costs by 2018. "We are still executing a business model that is important for the long-term good of the company," Golden said. "Structural costs reductions is something Deere feels is very important for the long-term profitability." He said structural costs are those that lower the cost of doing business such as lower materials costs, improved operating costs and fewer employees. Late last year, Deere offered a voluntary separation program to employees. The company has not indicated how many employees accepted it, but has said the total pretax expenses related to the program are estimated at $111 million. During the business downturn of the past three years, Deere also placed nearly 2,500 production workers on indefinite layoff across its Midwest plants. Golden said the company still has approximately 850 production employees on layoff, including about 350 at its Illinois Quad City plants: Seeding and Cylinder in Moline and Harvester Works in East Moline. Deere officials told analysts that the company now will produce at retail demand as opposed to below demand as it did last year. "We'll continue to match our manufacturing workforce to the size of the market demand for each product," Golden said. "If we're selling more tractors, it could mean a need for more people." Company equipment sales are projected to increase about 9 percent for fiscal 2017 and rise about 18 percent for the third quarter compared with the same period of 2016. "Deere is demonstrating a continuing ability to produce impressive results through all phases of the business cycle," Allen said. "This resilience illustrates our success driving improved operating efficiencies and developing a wider range of revenue sources." The clock is ticking on United Neighbors, Inc. From firings and board resignations to lawsuits, investigations and allegations of mismanagement of funds, the 37 year old organization was brought to its knees over the past year. Now, with the Iowa Finance Authority demanding repayment of $235,600 in U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant funding and its insurance carrier dropping future coverage for its Rental Assistance Program, board members and upper-level staff of the nonprofit are resigned to the idea the United Neighbors name no longer will exist once its legal matters are resolved. Rather than fold, a familiar face from the organization's past is stepping up to re-establish the mission that served him as a child. "It's not fair for adults to mess up what chance some kid may have to see outside of their neighborhood or environment," Board President Frank Berka said. "If United Neighbors leaves, who's going to do that, especially with all the cuts to social services?" New leadership from the past On a sunny Sunday afternoon, Berka took a seat on a park bench behind the Lindsay Park ball diamond in the Village of East Davenport. With the exception of having to duck a few softballs that cleared the fence, Berka spent more than two hours detailing his time in early 1980s at United Neighbors. Berka, who is Native American and black, was raised by a single mother who had been an orphan at the Annie Wittenmyer Home. His mom was raising three children on her own and needed help. She found Ida Johnson, an outreach coordinator at the time, who took Berka into a United Neighbors youth group to join the other 20 to 30 youth in the program. "She would make calls to other agencies that had funds," Berka said. "She was like that resource person." He credits Johnson with organizing events for youth that kept them out of trouble, including the summer parks program. "You have to remember, there weren't computers at the time, so a jam in the park was a big deal, especially for the kids," he said. Even though they were just children, Berka said part of the United Neighbors' influence included an education in civics. The children sometimes attended city council meetings, and Berka recalled living three houses down from former Alderman Karl Rhomberg and speaking at the council podium when the city was grappling with the fate of the old Taylor School. While Berka outgrew United Neighbors' programs, he never forgot the agency's influence on him. And that's why he couldn't say no when Johnson approached him about joining the board in 2014. It's also the reason he continues to fight for the survival of the organization's mission. Berka can't escape the irony that the lessons he learned going through the program may contribute to its demise. It was he who made the decision to contact authorities when an email to board members suggested something was seriously amiss. "This kid you have influenced as a teen comes back, and he drives the ship and literally runs the bus right over you," Berka said. "I've never been a yes man." Problems before the problems While the Iowa Finance Authority made the decision to suspend the Rental Assistance Program in October 2016, problems within United Neighbors became apparent to Evelyn Nelson when she was hired as deputy director the previous June. With a background in public-interest law, Nelson worked for the Legal Aid Society for a year before working in a non-profit administration training program in Ohio that focused on non-profit management. She previously worked with United Neighbors as a consultant and once wrote an assessment of the organization that concluded it was "disorganized and in need of help." Board minutes reflect that lack of direction during the process of replacing Johnson, partly because she was non-committal about her departure. In June last year, Nelson was chosen to replace Johnson as executive director. Despite the issues in getting there, Nelson said she fell in love with United Neighbors' mission of helping others. "Working with disadvantaged communities has always been my passion," she said. "I didn't necessarily want to litigate for high-profile clients. I feel that everyone is entitled to advocacy, and I want to help with that any way that I can." She immediately set out to understand exactly how the organization operated. She asked a lot of questions and frequently encountered roadblocks. "I wasn't able to look into the programs the way I wanted to," Nelson said. Board minutes show that Nelson was pouring over receipts when she discovered a now-former employee had made unauthorized purchases of food and household items at Walmart, using United Neighbors' American Express Card. There were concerns with the same former employee over the use of the agency's computer system. But those issues would pale in comparison to the storm to come. "... records have been destroyed, computer codes were attempted to be changed, we can't get into the computers because an IT person says the computers have been tampered with by someone who came in here and was qualified to know how to do so," according to board minutes from September. "... wiping out the camera system caused us not being able to see who did this." With Berka pushing for Johnson's retirement and the majority of board members in agreement, Nelson and three members of the board met with Johnson on Sept. 25 to present her with an early retirement offer. She refused it. Johnson then was terminated, along with staffers Tonya Williams, Patricia Williams and Terry Fuller. All four women filed suit against Nelson and the United Neighbors board in the months that followed. But once Johnson and the others were gone, Nelson and Berka notified authorities to their concerns. On Oct. 5, an email from Nelson to the Iowa Finance Authority detailed compliance issues with the Rental Assistance Program. It was time to dig deeper. Mismanagement of funds Nelson's email to the Finance Authority triggered an on-site monitoring visit from compliance officer Rita Eble on Oct. 21. Three days after her visit to Davenport, Eble notified Nelson via email, "IFA will not pay any further TBRA (Tenant-Based Rental Assistance) funds out to clients until United Neighbors has completed their financial analysis." Several members of the United Neighbors board then resigned and, when informed, Program Director Carolann Jensen wrote in an email to Eble, "Great (sic) were they all in on it?" Replied Eble, "some were relatives and others looked the other way I think." None of the former board members responded to requests for comment for this story. In December, Eble sent another email to Jensen, estimating a required reimbursement to the state of $187,642. But United Neighbors' financials would be required for verification of the amount. An attempt was made by United Neighbors to re-verify 21 of its 104 tenants. As part of the process, the Finance Authority randomly selected five and found more discrepancies. Officials from the Finance Authority on March 6 announced they would not provide any more rental-assistance funding under the grant, which would have disbursed a total $502,560 over its two-year cycle. In its findings, the Finance Authority cited missing and incomplete information, including income qualifications, rent, occupancy, landlords, third-party verification, inspections, lead-based paint requirements and leases. On March 16, Jensen was in contact through email and phone with Kris Kanakares, an agent from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General, regarding United Neighbors' problems. In her email to Kanakares, Jensen indicated that "IFA is working on the next steps, which, more than likely, will end in a suspension of the grant and a demand for all the HOME funds returned to IFA." Less than a week later, the Finance Authority issued a notice of default and termination of the grant funding. The notice of default demanded full repayment of funds, based upon general non-compliance, failing to provide certification of no lead-based paint for tenant properties, misspending, failure to provide enforcement and failure to comply with federal rules and regulations based upon the random review of the same five tenant files. In an open records request to the Iowa Finance Authority pertaining to communications about United Neighbors, none of the draw sheets, which detail the recipients and amount of grant dollars requested, submitted by the organization over the course of the grant contained requests for inspection costs or income determination. Before the extent of United Neighbors problems were known, this red flag came up once in a March 2016 email between Eble and United Neighbors, where Eble alerted Tonya Williams and Johnson that these costs were missing. The Finance Authority took this into consideration before making its decision on the grant. "They did not make a request for reimbursement for these costs, which is one of the reasons the grant was terminated," Communications Director Ashley Jared said. United Neighbors filed its written appeal April 6, arguing that "to terminate the contract and require a full refund at this point penalizes UNI for its proactive efforts in notifying IFA of the issues and seeking to cure the deficiencies with the grant where possible." The organization contended that "the default and termination notice is unreasonable because it is based on only five files and does not take into account the grant funds that were provide to qualified TBRA (Tenant-Based Rental Assistance) recipients and used for their intended purpose." While acknowledging fault in overpaying some of the clients, United Neighbors asserted that it was not to the extent the Finance Authority contended. The appeal was supposed to be heard by Finance Authority Director Dave Jamison, but the review has been delayed as talks continue between attorneys representing both parties. "Our attorney is in contact with their attorney to negotiate a settlement," the IFA spokeswoman confirmed. "An appeal hearing is currently on hold." CDBG funding at risk While the city of Davenport's Citizens Advisory Committee has recommended providing $78,898 in Community Development Block Grant funding for United Neighbors Summer Parks and DREAM Home Buyers programs for the next fiscal year, those funds have not been committed. The funding initially was set aside, pending completion of a forensic audit and submission of required application items by June 1. Those documents have yet to be provided, but once they are, Community Planning and Economic Development Director Bruce Berger said that Citizen's Advisory Council will review them and make a recommendation at its June meeting. The city of Davenport also has requested documentation and verification for United Neighbor's existing CDBG contract for its Summer Youth program. An initial deadline of May 9 was given to submit the required documents, but was extended. "While some of the required information was submitted, they are still working on several items," Berger wrote. "Staff met with United Neighbors to clarify what is needed and set a May 19 deadline, after which staff will review and make a determination regarding compliance. What's next Despite the turmoil, those remaining at United Neighbors are adamant they are here to stay. "I never felt like I need to leave now," Nelson said. "I thought it could be fixed and even when Ida was still here, I tried to revamp the after-school programs. I didn't think (leaving) was the right thing to do." The ongoing lawsuits by Johnson and the other three former employees have meanwhile created a potentially long wait. "There's a lot of people rooting for United Neighbors, but we just need to get over this hump," Berka said. "I could easily just say I wash my hands of it and want no part, but it affects me, because, if I did, it just tells me I'm selfish and wouldn't sacrifice for a kid out there." As Berka sat on the park bench and watched children ride up and down the bike path, he clicked on an old photo on his phone of his classmates, many of whom participated in programs at United Neighbors and the Friendly House, from what he referred to as "the good times." The United Neighbors name may be tarnished, he said, but its mission and the impact it had on children like him don't have to be. "It has a spot in my heart, because it really sent me on the path," Berka said. "That's why I'm so passionate about United Neighbors. It holds a special place in my development, and Ida was a big part of that." The Rock Island Arsenal Police have arrested a woman suspected of striking an officer with her vehicle and then leaving the scene Wednesday. The suspect, who was not identified, is alleged to have struck an officer with her front bumper after a traffic stop near Armstrong Avenue and the Illinois side of the Government Bridge. After evading the police, the suspect returned to Arsenal Island before police brought the car to a stop and physically removed the woman from her vehicle. The incident is still under investigation and authorities said no further comment would be made during the investigation. The Iowa Masonic Home and A.B.A.T.E. of Iowa District 15 are teaming up to raise funds for the Music and Memory Program for people living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. They will host a Motorcycle Fun Run on Saturday, May 20. For additional information, call 309-645-0108 or email penny.hoker@gmail.com. The ride will start at the Iowa Masonic Home with a continental breakfast and a chance to meet the residents. Sign-in is from 10-11 a.m. There will be several stops, including a stop at Ridgecrest Village Senior Living in Davenport at 2 p.m. to meet another group of residents. The ride will end at Hero's Pub, 3811 N. Harrison St., Davenport. All vehicles and donations are welcome. All residents will be given an iPod Shuffle with personalized music. Funds raised will be used to purchase iTunes cards to create a library of music for the residents. Music has been shown to decrease anxiety and decrease agitation for some residents. Area high school groups and students from Palmer College will help load all of the personalized iPods for the residents. The Iowa Legislature's decision to cut off funding for Planned Parenthood is limiting women's health care choices, Democratic candidate for governor Todd Prichard said in a stop in Davenport on Friday. Prichard, a state representative from Charles City, made his first campaign appearance in the Quad-Cities since announcing his candidacy earlier this week. Planned Parenthood of the Heartland announced Thursday it is closing four of its 12 clinics around the state, including the one in Bettendorf. Planned Parenthood said the reason is the state's decision to change its family planning program, which had been funded by Medicaid. Now, state funds will be used, allowing the state to prohibit funding from going to Planned Parenthood. Prichard said the move is a step in the wrong direction. "Its a shame that were taking away health care opportunities and access for women, and its just not the right direction. If we care about taking care of people, we would fund Planned Parenthood and keep these types of services available," he said after a meeting at the United Food and Commercial Workers union hall on West Central Park Avenue. A few weeks ago, Prichard said that, if elected, he would seek to reverse the legislature's decision to significantly reduce collective bargaining rights for public workers, but, in this case, he said he believes it would take an act of the legislature to reverse the decision on how to fund family planning programs in the state. Republicans control both the House and Senate. Also Friday, Prichard said the state needs to shift its economic development efforts so that growth can help everybody around the state. He also criticized Gov. Terry Branstad's decision to turn management of the state's Medicaid program over to private companies. Prichard said, too, that Iowa needs to address what he called a crisis in mental health care. Five Democrats have already announced they will seek the party's 2018 gubernatorial nomination. A few others also are considering it. Its time to put partisan politics aside and have a non-partisan independent investigation of the President Donald Trump Russia connection. We Americans deserve to know the truth, not the ramblings/ tweets of an incoherent blabbering idiot, about what actually happened in our election last fall. Did some Americans collaborate with a foreign power to sabotage our basic democratic function? Were any laws broken? Our illustrious leader/tweeter has stumbled yet again, showing his true colors by revealing sensitive intelligence information to our chief foreign adversary in the world. Is anyone really surprised? The day after maybe committing obstruction of justice by firing FBI Director James Comey on a flimsy pretext he couldnt help himself from refuting days later, Trump has his masters into the White House to give him his marching orders. Donald Trump is revealing his true allegiance to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who apparently has the president dangling from his puppet strings. Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, do what you were elected to do; demand an independent, nonpartisan investigation of the Russia Trump connection. Tom Engelmann Davenport Editor's note: The Department of Justice appointed an independent counsel Wednesday to probe the Russia issue. FARGO, N.D. | A former deputy U.S. marshal in North Dakota has been sentenced to seven years in prison on a child pornography charge. Thirty-year-old Michael Rivera, of Bismarck, pleaded guilty in January to receipt of images depicting the sexual exploitation of minors. The case was handled by the U.S. attorney's office from South Dakota after North Dakota prosecutors opted to stay out of it. Authorities say the images were found on Rivera's computer as police were investigating state allegations he had recorded 19 women in store dressing rooms around Bismarck. Rivera was convicted in state court in February of misdemeanors including surreptitious intrusion and creating and attempting to create sexually expressive images. U.S. District Judge Ralph Erickson says Rivera must serve five years of supervised release when he gets out of prison. SIOUX FALLS | A South Dakota man accused of livestreaming himself brandishing weapons and making threats outside an anti-Islam event last month is now facing a federal gun charge. Ehab Jaber of Sioux Falls was indicted last week for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person after he was found in April in possession of five firearms while being a drug user. Court records don't list an attorney for the 45-year-old Jaber. Jaber also faces state charges of making terroristic threats and possessing meth. Authorities say he made the Facebook video after he was kicked out of an April 9 event called "Sabotaging America: Islam's March Toward Supremacy." He was arrested again in April after testing positive for meth, a violation of his bond, and charged with felony ingestion of a controlled substance. The accident occurred early Monday morning on U.S. Highway 83, about 5 miles north of Valentine. Cherry County Attorney Eric Scott says 68-year-old Philomene Redbull, of Sioux Falls was killed when her pickup truck collided head-on with another vehicle driven by a Texas man. Valentine radio station KVSH reports that the other driver was identified as 35-year-old Jesus Rodriquez, of Houston. He was taken to Cherry County Hospital. A hospital spokesman said Thursday that there was no patient by that name at the hospital. PIERRE | The South Dakota Supreme Court has upheld law enforcement's authority to perform a warrantless search following a citizen's arrest. The ruling involves a 2015 case in which a person was accused of shoplifting and was detained at a retail store by on-site security until police arrived. The police officer who responded searched the woman's purse without a warrant and found a glass pipe which tested positive for methamphetamine. The woman challenged the authority of the police officer to conduct a search of her purse following a citizen's arrest. The court held that Lee was validly placed under citizen's arrest by the retail store security officer. And, that because a citizen's arrest was made, law enforcement had the authority to search without a warrant. BISMARCK, N.D. | American Indian tribes who are still fighting the Dakota Access oil pipeline in court have dropped an appeal of a federal judge's decision that allowed final construction to proceed on the project that is just two weeks from operating commercially. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg in early March refused to stop completion of the pipeline based on the claims of Sioux tribes that it threatens water they consider sacred. The Cheyenne River Sioux appealed the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which refused to grant an emergency order stopping oil from flowing while the appeal was decided. Developer Energy Transfer Partners finished construction on the pipeline and began filling it with oil in late March. Spokeswoman Vicki Granado confirmed this week that the line fill process has been completed. "Our commercial operations begin June 1, whereby we will begin transporting crude per our contracts with shippers," she said. With oil already in the line, Cheyenne River attorneys in late April submitted a motion to voluntarily dismiss their claim in the appeals court, and the motion was granted Monday. The pipeline will move North Dakota oil 1,200 miles through South Dakota and Iowa to a distribution point in Illinois. ETP maintains the pipeline is safe, but the Cheyenne River, Standing Rock, Yankton and Oglala Sioux tribes in the Dakotas fear environmental harm. They're continuing to fight the project in federal court in Washington, D.C., hoping to convince Boasberg to shut down the pipeline. Two men accused of raping an unconscious woman in Box Elder last year are scheduled to go on trial in August. Marvin Payne, 49, of Florissant, Colo., and Toby Rolfe, 43, of Box Elder, are jointly charged with third-degree rape in Seventh Circuit Court. Authorities allege that they sexually assaulted a 28-year-old woman at Rolfes property in September after she passed out from a drink. The men are set for trial from Aug. 28 to Sept. 1 before Judge Robert Mandel at the Pennington County Courthouse. Payne earlier asked the court to separate his case from Rolfes, but the judge denied the request, said Deputy States Attorney Wayne Venhuizen. According to court records, Payne wanted a severance because his defense conflicted with Rolfes. He expected Rolfe to argue that the sex was consensual, whereas Payne's defense was going to be an absolute denial of the charge. Growing up on a farm in Huron, S.D., Ron Tschetter could never have imagined just how far afield his life would take him. Even his relocation as a young adult to Bethel University in the big city of St. Paul, Minn., could not adequately foreshadow the globetrotting life that awaited Tschetter. While in graduate school in Scotland, he and some friends made a hitchhiking pilgrimage across the Middle East, visiting Egypt, Israel, Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon and Greece. After returning to the states, while working as a teacher in 1966, Tschetter and his wife, Nancy, had a life-changing moment when they saw a TV ad urging people to sign up for the Peace Corps. Not long after, the couple found themselves in India, volunteering as community health workers focused on providing family planning services. There, the couple learned what the 225,000 successful Peace Corps volunteers have all realized: That living and working with people from foreign lands is deeply inspiring to both sides of the equation. "In the Peace Corps you live at the level of the people," said Tschetter, 75, now a resident of Johnson Siding in the central Black Hills who was the featured speaker in the Morning Fill Up series held at The Garage meeting space before 60 people on Thursday morning. In India, "we sat on the floor when we ate and there were no utensils, so we ate with our hands," Tschetter recalled. "We always said, 'We eat with them, we cry with them and we celebrate with them.'" After two years, the couple returned, and embarked on more traditional careers, which for Tschetter included a long tenure in the stock market that led him to the top of major investment firms (he had studied about the stock market while reading by candlelight during their stint in India.) All the while, the couple kept traveling while also building a family that now includes two sons, and seven grandchildren so far. Then one day, after retiring and then un-retiring and almost retiring again, Tschetter received a phone call from the White House. After a months-long vetting process, Tschetter was confirmed in the Oval Office by the administration of President George W. Bush to be the 17th director of the entire U.S. Peace Corps. During his term that ran from 2006 to 2008, Tschetter visited 63 countries and represented America in countless events involving top world leaders. While director, he managed the group that now has a $410 million annual budget and 7,500 volunteers around the world. Tschetter launched a groundbreaking effort called the Over 50 Initiative to increase the number of non-traditional volunteers who have the time, resources and life experiences to become successful in the Peace Corps. As a result, the number of volunteers from that older age group doubled, Tschetter said. "In host countries, age brings great respect," Tschetter said, pointing out that the oldest current volunteer is 81 and the oldest ever was 86, while the average age of volunteers hovers around 27. "It brought a whole new perspective to the Peace Corps in host countries, and back at home." Tschetter told the audience that while in investing and during his term as Peace Corps director, he employed a leadership style he refers to as "servant leadership," in which the person at the top sets clear goals, empowers people to achieve those goals, and remains willing to work at the grassroots level of an organization to lead by example. The modern Peace Corps remains a strong institution, Tschetter said. One change over time has been an increased need by the organization to insure the safety and security of volunteers in an increasingly violent world. Still, Tschetter noted that not one volunteer has ever been kidnapped since the Peace Corps was founded by President John F. Kennedy in 1961. The corps continues to operate on a basic premise that has been unchanged since its inception, Tschetter said. Volunteers are expected to bring forth a genuine sense of America to nations that have requested help from volunteers who have specific skills sets, and who then return home with cultural knowledge and experience they can share with other Americans. Tschetter remains committed to Peace Corps involvement as a way to help volunteers grow as individuals, to aid people and communities that seek help, and to generally make the world a better place. Looking back on all his travels, Tschetter said he, too, has grown as a person with each new experience and relationship. "It led to a keen interest in the world, what's going on out there, and what someone could do to make it better," he said. "There's no other cultural experience that can match that." PIERRE | More than $1.3 million disappeared from the GEAR UP program since the federal government renewed its grant-reimbursement relationship with the South Dakota Department of Education in 2009, according to a special report. The response from the cooperative that received reimbursement from the state department was simply to blame the two dead people involved in the scandal Scott and Nicole Westerhuis, who died in a fiery murder-suicide and not take any responsibility whatsoever for the missing money. Mid-Central Educational Cooperative presented that defense, saying in its 10 pages of the report that the board didnt know about the alleged crimes tied to GEAR UP and couldnt have stopped them. The South Dakota Department of Legislative Audit issued the special report Friday. The many findings and recommendations in the 57-page report set Twitter ablaze with posts from news reporters. But none topped the tone taken by Mid-Centrals leadership in its concluding statement in the Legislative Audit report. A plethora of witnesses told law enforcement authorities and the DLA that not only did MCEC and its Board not know about the fraudulent and illegal activities of Scott and Nicole Westerhuis, but also that MCEC and the Board could not have known about them, the co-ops statement said. The statement continued: These illicit activities were deliberately kept secret and out of view by Scott and Nicole Westerhuis. The Legislative Audit staff that worked on the investigation arrived at different conclusions. Acting on a tip by a person whose identity still hasnt been disclosed, financial investigators in 2014 began examining millions of dollars that flowed from the federal government through the K-12 co-ops office in downtown Platte. Legislative auditors gradually uncovered a web of corruption involving GEAR UP and two other school programs. They determined the corruption began in 2009 and ran unchecked, until the summer of 2015, when the Legislatures Government Operations and Audit Committee started questioning the cooperatives top employees. GEAR UP is a federal program intended to help lower-income families know about education opportunities available for after high school graduation. The state Department of Education now contracts with Black Hills State University to deliver GEAR UP services. All three programs GEAR UP, teacher quality and Wakan Gli depended on federal grants for their funding. GEAR UP money went from the U.S. Department of Education to the South Dakota Department of Education, and then to Mid-Central, and then to three nonprofits. The three nonprofit organizations were: Oceti Sakowin Education Consortium (OSEC); Oceti Sakowin Distance Education Consortium (OSDEC); and American Indian Institute for Innovation (AIII). Legislative auditors said Scott and Nicole Westerhuis were the business officials for the three organizations for the period that was reviewed and would have been responsible for processing the payrolls for these organizations. One of Legislative Audits findings regarding GEAR UP involved alleged misuse of an electronic checking account operated by Mid-Central. Unauthorized withdrawals totaling $7,837,967 were made from MCECs checking account from January 2007 through September 2015. While some of the money was returned, as of September 2015, $1,388,630 remained unpaid, the report said. Turns out the money went for payrolls of the three nonprofits. A few paragraphs later, Legislative Audits report noted: There is no authority in state law for MCEC to loan money to or pay the general expenses of nonprofit organizations. The two other sets of grants involved direct funding to Mid-Central from the federal government. The federal government awarded more than $5.6 million to Mid-Central for the teacher quality program for the period of Sept. 1, 2010, through Sept. 30, 2014. Legislative auditors determined at least $1.3 million was spent without documentation. Mid-Central reported Wakan Gli expenditures of more than $900,000 for 2010 through 2014. Legislative auditors found about half of that spent without documentation. The thieving occurred from inside, according to the auditors findings. They identified three people at the center of the conspiracy. One of those accused with conspiring is Stacy Phelps of Rapid City, according to the audit. He was on the state Board of Education at the time. He ran GEAR UP for Mid-Central. He currently faces criminal charges related to GEAR UP contracts. The others were a married couple, Scott and Nicole Westerhuis of Platte. As husband and wife, they worked as business manager and assistant business manager for the co-op. They are now dead, from the same shotgun in the same house on the same night. Authorities say Scott Westerhuis killed his family and set the house on fire before killing himself. The couple are buried in separate places, miles apart. Her body is in Plattes city cemetery, along with the bodies of the couples four children. His body is in a small rural cemetery south of town, down the road that ran past the front of the familys home, in a plot near the body of his father. Investigators, by ruling out other possibilities, concluded that Scott Westerhuis went room to room, in the dark early hours of Sept. 17, 2015, and shot each of the boys. Then he went to the master bedroom, where Nicole huddled with the two younger girls. One by one, he shot each of them, too, including Nicole. Next he went to the kitchen, started the house on fire and shot himself. All six members of the Westerhuis family died. On the preceding morning of Sept. 16, Scott Westerhuis drove halfway across South Dakota to Takini School, up on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation. That evening, he drove back to Platte. On the way home, he spent a long time on his cell phone, talking with Dan Guericke. Guericke was the chief executive in charge of Mid-Centrals vast operations. He was the supervisor of Stacy Phelps, Scott Westerhuis and Nicole Westerhuis, according to the audit. The conversations between Westerhuis and Guericke came just hours after Guericke received troubling news. Melody Schopp, the state secretary of education, called Guericke on Sept. 16. She told Guericke that her department wouldnt renew the GEAR UP management contract with Mid-Central. Her call put a sharp turn in Guerickes path. For years he drove between his home at White Lake and the Mid-Central office at Platte. His job at the co-op soon ended. Now he spends time waiting for his trial on state criminal charges regarding altered contracts. Also waiting for trial is Stephanie Hubers of Geddes, who was an assistant business manager at Mid-Central. State prosecutors accuse Hubers of receiving payments from GEAR UP even though she allegedly did little or no work at the time to earn the money. Phelps and Guericke are accused of changing contracts that were already in effect or had expired. They allegedly did it a few days before the Westerhuis murders. What they wanted might have been a barrier between Mid-Central and one of the nonprofits, the American Indian Institute for Innovation. There was a belief that auditors couldnt pierce the altered versions of the contracts. In its response Friday, Mid-Central put some of the blame on the state Department of Education, saying the department promised to handle the bookkeeping for GEAR UP. Mid-Central also criticized legislative auditors. Mid-Central said they didnt come up with any information that would have alerted officials for Mid-Centrals 13 member schools that money was disappearing. The Mid-Central statement eventually thanked Legislative Audit for its recommendations for improvements, but the statement then turned cold. However, as of June 30, 2017, MCEC will terminate its provision of educational services to its member schools. Therefore, the DLAs recommendations for future improvements become moot. The replacement is Core Educational Cooperative. The 12 districts in Core are Armour, Burke, Colome, Corsica-Stickney, Gregory, Kimball, Mount Vernon, Plankinton, Platte-Geddes, Wessington Springs, White Lake and Wolsey-Wessington. Ethan is a Mid-Central member, but hasnt joined Core. Recently, Core took over Dial Corporation, a statewide distance education program, from Mid-Central. Core members had decided last year they would base their cooperative in Platte. They have been negotiating to buy Mid-Centrals building in Platte. A new statewide anonymous texting program that allows citizens to report drug crimes in their area was rolled out to the public on Thursday. Attorney General Marty Jackley, along with officials from Sanford Health, the South Dakota sheriffs and police associations, and the South Dakota Department of Public Safety announced the new initiative, called Project Stand Up, in two separate news conferences held Thursday in Sioux Falls and Rapid City. As our nation faces a growing drug epidemic, it is important that South Dakotans use innovation and technology to better protect our communities, Jackley said in a release. Anonymous texting allows citizens to be proactive and take part in keeping their communities safe. As part of the program, citizens can text drugs to 82257. The tipster will then be asked a series of questions for additional information. The Stand Up program is similar the Rapid City Police Department's "Tip411" texting notification system, which was adopted in 2011. Anyone with a tip relating to crime in Rapid City can still provide anonymous crime and drug information to RCPD through Tip411 by texting "RCPD" and the information to 847411 (TIP411). SPEARFISH | Less than six hours after a lone female robbed the Pioneer Bank & Trust Thursday morning, fleeing with an undisclosed amount of cash, Spearfish police arrested a 22-year-old Belle Fourche woman on felony charges of first degree robbery and grand theft. According to Spearfish Police Lt. Boyd Dean, the woman entered the Jackson Boulevard bank at about 10 a.m. and presented a demand note to a teller. Shortly after, she fled the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash, while driving a red Volkswagen sedan. On Thursday afternoon, Spearfish police officers, assisted by Lawrence County Sheriffs deputies and FBI agents, arrested Kaycee Jade Teppo for the robbery. In a release, police said their investigation led them to determine Teppo had acted alone in the incident and had left the Jackson Boulevard bank with an amount of cash that is yet to be determined. During the course of the investigation, significant evidence was recovered along with a portion of the cash taken, Lt. Dean stated in the release. While no weapon was observed in the course of the robbery, Teppo was captured on the banks video surveillance and police had distributed images of the suspect to area media outlets within a few hours of the robbery. RusHydro ex-head, chief accountant to stay under house arrest till June 22 MOSCOW, May 19 (RAPSI) Moscows Basmanny District Court has extended the house arrest of Yevgeny Dod, ex-head of hydroelectric power giant RusHydro, and Dmitry Finkel, the companys ex-chief accountant, in a 73-million-ruble ($1.2 million) embezzlement case, the courts spokesperson Yunona Tsareva told RAPSI on Friday. They will remain under house arrest until June 22. In late December 2016, the court replaced the defendants detention with the house arrest upon the investigators motion. Investigator said that RusHydro ex-head had reimbursed the company for alleged damage. According to the Investigative Committee, in 2013, Dod awarded himself a bonus for his work in RusHydro of 353.2 million rubles (about $6.2 million at the current exchange rate), overestimating therefore its amount by 73 million rubles. Dod and Finkel pleaded not guilty. However, Dod expressed his willingness to reimburse the company for alleged damage. On August 1, 2016, Moscow's Basmanny District Court ruled to seize assets belonging to Dod and members of his family. On September 5, the Moscow City Court lifted seizure on assets of Dod's wife and sent the claim for reconsideration. Dod left RusHydro at his own request in August 2015. A Flathead County renter who identified her landlord as the wife of U.S. House candidate Rob Quist, said she made out her checks to Bonni Quist and is now fighting with the candidates wife to get her full deposit back. Stephanie Michalziks story contradicts assertions by Rob Quist that the structure, a converted barn, is not a rental property. Its just something thats kind of family-owned. Its also something thats kind of murky. County, state and federal records paint a complicated and incomplete picture of when the barn was converted to apartments and where money from the rentals is going. Quist and his campaign have declined to provide additional clarity. Payment records from Stephanie Michalzik and three other renters show they have been paying rent to Bonni Quist for the past three years. But property tax records make no mention of living quarters at the site, listing four outbuildings and no dwellings. While Bonni Quist collected money from the renters, the tenants records show, she and her husband did not report rental income on their income taxes for 2015 or 2016, according to tax documents the Quist campaign gave to the Associated Press. That, Quist said, is because he is not the owner of the property. This is a property that I am not an owner of. So for The Billings Gazette to bring this up, this is out of my hands. I dont own that property, Quist told the Bozeman Chronicle editorial board. That fact that theyre saying I dont show income from it, I wouldnt. I dont get income from that property. The title for the property has been transferred between family members more than once, most recently in 2013 when the title was twice transferred between Quists wife and daughter, Halladay. Bonni Quist retained power of attorney but the title was in Halladay Quists name. Flathead County property records show those transactions between mother and daughter occurred a few months after a foreclosure notice was filed against Rob and Bonni Quist to collect $348,214 in debt. The couple had missed several mortgage payments. Records indicate all property is currently in the clear. Bonni Quists power of attorney allows her to conduct business on behalf of her daughter, the property owner, collecting funds and paying expenses. The Gazette obtained leases and checks from renters, showing money going to and from Bonni Quist's account. But when asked for receipts or records showing rental income being transferred to Halladay Quist, the campaign declined several requests to provide them. The campaign also would not make Halladay Quist available for an interview, saying that candidates children were off limits in political reporting. Instead, the campaign issued the following statement from the candidate: Bonni and I paid our fair share of taxes this year and every year. One of the reasons I got in this race was to go to Washington and fight for tax cuts for people in Montana who work for a living, not transplanted New Jersey millionaires, Quist said. Quist's main opponent in the May 25 special election to replace former Montana congressman Ryan Zinke appointed Interior Secretary by President Donald Trump, is Greg Gianforte who made millions from the sale of his software business. In addition to the apartments, the 9.19-acre Quist property includes three other buildings, none of which is listed as a dwelling on state tax records. Michalzik, a single mother who said she paid rent of $950 a month, and one other renter say one of the other outbuildings also has been converted to living quarters. Michalzik said she decided to talk to a reporter after she had trouble getting all of her deposit back from Bonni Quist, who issued Michalzik a $200 payment on May 5 but kept the remainder. When the $200 check didn't clear Bonni Quist's personal account at Glacier Bank until May 11, Michalzik said she'd had enough. Quist earlier told The Gazette that in the 1990s he began converting the barn to an event center and three apartments. Department of Revenue officials told The Gazette the state relies on records of required permits for electrical and septic work to determine when improvements are made to a property. Those permits are required by state law but its up to the tax assessors to monitor the permits and look for changes that signal an increase in a propertys taxable value, said Mike Kadas, DOR director. We closely track building permits and so when there is a building permit drawn we will put that on our list and then, usually after the construction, will go and look at it and inspect it, Kadas told Lee Montana. If people in the neighborhood tell us theres construction we definitely go look, put it on a list. We dont get to this tomorrow. There were no Quist property permits for plumbing or electrical work on file with the state Department of Labor and Industry. But DLI keeps the records for only seven years, leaving open the possibility that the Quists had state-required permits that fell off the books. The Quist campaign says Rob Quist had the necessary permits for the apartments he constructed. Flathead County handles septic permits, which are required for commercial, single-family and multifamily septic systems. The records start in 1969. There is a 1999 septic permit for Rob and Bonni Quist to accommodate the barn apartments. That permit would make the apartments about 18 years old. Ed Caplis, DORs tax policy and research director, said any errors in how the apartments are recorded will be corrected in January and reflected in future taxes. Whether back taxes are collected depends on the Flathead County Commission, said Adele Frantz, Flathead County Treasurer. The Department of Revenue will make a recommendation if tax information hasnt been captured. Flathead County Commissioner Phil Mitchell said a decision on whether to pursue back taxes wont be made before the May 25 election. The county, he said, has a real problems with under collected taxes, particularly in rural areas where the permitting trail isnt as strong as it should be. Its difficult to pay for public services when properties arent taxed at their full value, Mitchell said. Lee Montana reporter Jayme Fraser contributed to this report. MISSOULA All visitation at the Montana State Prison has been canceled until further notice while the facility deals with an outbreak of influenza. The prison made the announcement Thursday, saying the move to eliminate visitation was done to minimize exposure to the public. Sandy Jacke, executive assistant to Montana Department of Corrections Director Reginald Michael, said the prison has nine inmates with confirmed cases of the flu, and staff are taking precautions to prevent the illness from further spreading. Two inmates at the prison have died this month. William Cameron Sr., 66, died May 15 at Providence St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula following what the prison termed an extended illness. Odyssey Ardene, 28, also died at the Missoula hospital on May 10. No immediate cause of death was listed in a news release about his passing. Jacke said the prison is awaiting autopsy results on both Ardene and Cameron before being able to determine a specific cause of death. In April, the prison placed new temporary limits on visitation, reducing the number of days from four to two days per week. Earlier this month, prison warden Michael Fletcher announced that the visitation schedule would return to normal on June 15. Home sales Northeast Ohio home sales have been lagging despite strong buyer demand. Sales fell nearly 7 percent during April, when compared with a year before, due in large part to tight inventory. But prices keep on climbing - at a faster clip. (John Bazemore/AP Photo) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Northeast Ohio home sales were off by nearly 7 percent in April, falling short of last spring's levels amid a protracted shortage of listings. Listing-service data spanning 18 counties show that buyers purchased 3,793 houses and condominiums last month, down from 4,075 such properties during April 2016. In Cuyahoga County, sales were down 10.7 percent from a year before. In Summit County, sales fell by 5.6 percent. "Either we're going to get off to a really late start this year, and our normal June and July will be September or October, or we're going to battle this inventory shortage all year long," said Joe Rath, Cleveland market manager for the Redfin real estate firm. Redfin estimates that there's a four-month supply of housing on the market in the Cleveland area, based on available listings and the recent pace of sales in Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain and Medina counties. A six-month supply typically is considered a balanced market, one in which buyers and sellers have fairly equal pull. Despite rising prices and a stronger economy, real estate listings are down from this time last year. Rath chalked up the shortage to uncertainty. Homeowners are holding back on putting their properties up for sale because they're worried they won't be able to find another place to live. "A lot of sellers are anxious about becoming that buyer on the other side of the sale," he said. "These are the conversations we have at most listing appointments." The Northern Ohio Regional Multiple Listing Service reported this week that new listings in Cuyahoga County were down 4.6 percent in April from a year before. And new listings in the county are down by 4.4 percent this year. The trends look similar across much of the region, with rare exceptions in outlying counties where very few homes change hands and both sales and prices are more prone to volatility. "Every conversation ends with 'Gosh, I need listings,'" said Carl DeMusz, president and chief executive officer for the listing service, based in Independence. Tight supply, meanwhile, is spurring more bidding wars and pushing prices higher. A recent quarterly report from the National Association of Realtors shows that the pace of price growth is accelerating in Cleveland, Akron and other Midwestern markets, even as gains ease a bit in long-hot coastal markets. "It does suggest that, at least right now, there's good, strong demand in the market," said Danielle Hale, managing director of housing research for the national real estate trade group. "Without knowing a lot of the specific details of what's going on in Cleveland, it suggests that there's not much inventory in the market. There are a lot more buyers than there are homes for sale." Of course, local prices are rising from a relatively low base. Northeast Ohio's housing market still hasn't recovered the value it lost during the housing bust a decade ago, and the region still ranks among the nation's most affordable places to buy a home. In April, the average sale price for a house here was $152,592, up 2 percent from a year ago, according to listing-service data spanning 18 counties. The average condo sale price was $145,453, up 12.5 percent from April 2016. Condos are just a sliver of the regional real estate market. The average sale price in Cuyahoga County posted a 3.4 percent annual gain, hitting $155,195. In Summit County, the average sale price was $153,784 in April, up 1.6 percent from a year before. "Competition is always going to push prices higher," said Rath, who is encountering many more offers with escalation clauses, where buyers say they'll top a competing offer by a certain amount - often $500 or $1,000. Redfin found that 19 percent of Cleveland-area listings sold above their asking price during April. "One of the things we talked about at the beginning of the year was how fast this market was going to move," Rath said of conversations with buyers and sellers. "Within 48 hours, they can find themselves in pretty competitive situations. This is the role that technology has played. Everyone knows about new listings the moment they're listed." 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Based on intelligence input, troops of army and police had jointly launched operation at Uttar Borpukhuri area in the BTAD district where a militant group was hiding. 'When the security personnel reached the remote area, the militants started fire and heavy rounds of bullet were exchanged,'A a top police official said. During the gun fight, a hardcore militant was killed on spot, identified as self styled Sergeant Major Rajesh Bora. Security personnel had recovered arms and ammunition from the encounter site. The top police official said that, other militants of the group had managed to flee from the area. Security forces had cordoned the area and launching massive operation to nab the fled militants. (Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath) Guwahati : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the India's longest bridge connecting Assam and Arunachal Pradesh on May 26 next, which is situated around 100 kms from the McMahon line separating India and China. PM modi to kick start the celebration of three years completion of the NDA government in office from Assam. Built on the Brahmaputra river and known as the Dhola-Sadiya bridge, it =will help in reducing travel time for around civilians of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh by over 4 hours. According to the reports, the 9.15 km long bridge is capacity of carrying the weight of a 60 tonne battle tank and will help development in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. While the people of of both Assam and Arunachal Pradesh to witness the inaugurating the bridge, many people have now remembered the persons who are behind the dream project. To recall the time, two persons had firstly proposed the project to construct a bridge on the Brahmaputra river for better connectivity between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Former Assam minister and present BJP leader Jagdish Bhuyan, who representing the Sadiya assembly constituency had firstly proposed the project. "It is my dream project. I am so happy that this project is completed after 14 years. The people of Sadiya in Assam side and Anini in Arunachal Pradesh had faced lots of problems as they had to a 4 hour ferry ride to cross the Brahmaputra river. To improve the connectivity we have must to need a bridge and on May 29, 2003 I and former MP Dr Arun Kumar Sarma had submitted a memorandum to then Union minister of SSI and DONER CP Thakur for construction a bridge at Sadiya over Brahmaputra. We had also discussed with then Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Mukut Mithi regarding it and Mithi had sent a letter to the Prime Minister on June 24, 2003. In the same year, we had submitted another memorandum to then Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Maj Gen. BC Khanduri on July 7," Jagdish Bhuyan said. "By taking the initiative to construct a new bridge over Brahmaputra river to connect Sadiya, we had submitted another memorandum to CP Thakur on July 10, 2003, BC Khanduri informed us as taking action regarding the proposed bridge by sending a letter on July 29 in the same year. The matter was discussed in the DONER ministry meeting in 2007 and finally it was approved," Jagdish Bhuyan said. The construnction of the bridge was started in 2011 at a cost of Rs 950 crore. As there is no civilian airport in Arunachal Pradesh, the Dhola-Sadiya bridge will help the civilian of the bordering state with China to access better road connecting. (Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath) Kathmandu, Nepal : government's decision to withdraw all the cases filed against those involved the Tikapur carnage and Madhes protest on August 2015 Tikapur incident and October 2015 Madhes protests is wildly condemned. National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has said on Friday that its serious attention has been drawn towards the decision of the government. Issuing a statement on Friday, the constitutional rights body said the government decision to provide amnesty to the guilty of the dreadful incidents including carnage, vandalism and arson during curfew hours without conducting proper investigation amounts to promoting a culture of impunity. Guwahati : Considering the spurt of misuse of social media in recent days in the state, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal directed the Chief Secretary and DGP, Assam to take stern action against all those involved in such misdeeds. Discussing issues relating to misuse of social media with senior officials of Home Department on Wednesday evening, Sonowal advocated for use of appropriate law against all such cases. He also asked the police department to strictly monitor the use of social media including Facebook, Tweeter, Instagram etc. to check all such incidents. The Assam CM stated that many incidents have been reported recently where social media was used to malign the image of certain personalities as well as to vent personal anguish through publication of fabricated information. Expressing concern over such incidents, Sonowal said that it was a bad trend which need to be checked. The Assam CM asked the police department to take prompt action against all such misuse. Media Adviser to Chief Minister Hrishikesh Goswami, Legal Adviser Santanu Bharali, Chief Secretary to the Govt. of Assam VK Pipersenia, DGP Mukesh Sahay, Principal Secretary (Home) LS Changsan were also present among others in the discussion. (Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath) WARNING for European visitors European Union laws require you to give European Union visitors information about cookies used on your blog. In many cases, these laws also require you to obtain consent. As a courtesy, we have added a notice on your blog to explain Google's use of certain Blogger and Google cookies, including use of Google Analytics and AdSense cookies. Multiple new restaurants and businesses are in the works for the new development area at the You have permission to edit this youtube. Edit Close You have permission to edit this collection. Edit Close J-Splatter aficionado Noboru Iguchi (Robogeisha, Dead Sushi, Mutant Girl Sqaud, Machine Girl) is back with his special brand of J-horror what the fuckery in a new film called Ghost Squad. As with any of his films, and let's face it all films of this horror sub-genre, the premise is going to be a simple one. In Ghost Squad a group of girls killed by evil boys and they come back from hell and fight as a Ghost Squad to get revenge! There you have it. Iguchi has gone deep into the talent pool for this one, employing the talents of musical act Nomakes to be his lead girls. I have included a music video of theirs below, the most recent one after the group became a quartet. The fifth member probably saw this coming and fled. Have a look at the trailer below and be on the look out for Ghost Machine Gun, Meat Hammer, and Grudge Dog. Enjoy! If you are currently a print subscriber but don't have an online account, select this option. You will need to use your 7 digit subscriber account number (with leading zeros) and your last name (in UPPERCASE). Dave Hogan/Getty ImagesIn a recent interview with Fox 26, Beyonce and Solange's father Mathew Knowles explained why he's "a little bit more proud" of Solange's career success than he is of Bey's. Speaking about Solange, Knowles said, "She chose to do it her way, because in the beginning we wanted to mold her into this pop star. And that is not who she is. And we were wrong. I was wrong, the record labels were wrong. And she had a record deal and she said, 'I don't want it.' And she wanted to do it her own way and she did." And the Texas Southern University professor didn't stop there, revealing during the chat that, contrary to rumors of friction between himself and Beyonce, he communicates with both of his famous daughters "weekly." "I would describe my relationship with my daughters as loving," he says. "I don't care what people say... just want 'em to say the wrong thing now and I'm gonna see them in court." Knowles is currently managing a girl group, Blush, and will unveil an international stage play based on the story of Destiny's Child, from his perspective, later this year. Knowles claims that actor Idris Elba will portray him in the production. Copyright 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Highlighting sentencing reform's momentum in the states despite prosecutorial change of course by US Attorney General | Main | US Commission on Civil Rights conducting big hearing on collateral consequences The title of this post is the title of this new paper authored by Lauren Sudeall Lucas now available via SSRN. Here is the abstract: In Atkins v. Virginia, the Supreme Court held that execution of people with intellectual disabilities violates the Eighth Amendments prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. In doing so, the Court explicitly left to the states the question of which procedures would be used to identify such defendants as exempt from the death penalty. More than a decade before Atkins, Georgia was the first state to bar execution of people with intellectual disability. Yet, of the states that continue to impose the death penalty as a punishment for capital murder, Georgia is the only state that requires capital defendants to prove their intellectual disability beyond a reasonable doubt at the guilt phase of the trial to be legally exempted from execution. This article is the first to provide an empirical assessment of Georgias guilty but mentally retarded (GBMR) statute, including its beyond a reasonable doubt standard of proof. In doing so, it fills a critical gap not only in the scholarly literature on the subject, but also for those who continue to litigate the issue. Its analysis reveals that no defendant facing the death penalty in Georgia has ever received a GBMR verdict for malice murder from a jury in the statutes nearly thirty-year existence. Prior to Atkins, only one capital defendant had ever received a GBMR jury verdict at trial, in a felony-murder case, by meeting this extremely high standard of proof, thus exempting herself from the death penalty. The absence of any successful GBMR jury verdict in a malice murder case and the absence of any successful GBMR verdict in any capital case post-Atkins, in combination with Georgias lone status in imposing such a procedure, all contribute to the argument that the beyond a reasonable doubt standard, and the jurys decision regarding intellectual disability in the guilt phase create, in the words of the Court, an unacceptable risk that capital defendants with intellectual disability will be executed in violation of the Eighth Amendment. US Commission on Civil Rights conducting big hearing on collateral consequences | Main | "Proportional Mens Rea and the Future of Criminal Code Reform" May 19, 2017 You be the federal judge: what sentence for former Rep Anthony Weiner for "transferring obscene material to a minor"? As detailed in this New York Times article, "Anthony D. Weiner, the former Democratic congressman whose sexting scandals ended his political career and embroiled him in a tumultuous F.B.I. investigation of Hillary Clinton before the election, is to appear in a federal courtroom in Manhattan on Friday to enter a guilty plea." Here are more of the basics: Mr. Weiner will plead guilty to a single charge of transferring obscene material to a minor, pursuant to a plea agreement with the United States attorneys office in Manhattan, one of the people said. Mr. Weiner surrendered to the F.B.I. early Friday morning. The federal authorities have been investigating reports that, beginning in January 2016, Mr. Weiner, then 51, exchanged sexually explicit messages with a 15-year-old girl in North Carolina. The plea covers conduct by Mr. Weiner from January through March of last year, the person said. A likely result of the plea is that Mr. Weiner would end up as a registered sex offender, although a final determination has yet to be made, the person added. The charge carries a potential sentence of between zero and 10 years in prison, meaning Mr. Weiner could avoid prison. The ultimate sentence would be determined by a judge. Reports of the federal investigation surfaced in September after a British newspaper, The Daily Mail, reported that Mr. Weiner had engaged in an online relationship with the girl, which included explicit messages sent over social media and suggestive texts. It was during the investigation that the F.B.I. seized Mr. Weiners electronic devices, including a laptop computer on which agents found a trove of emails to his estranged wife, Huma Abedin, a top aide to Mrs. Clinton. That discovery led to the surprise announcement in late October by James B. Comey, then the F.B.I. director, that the bureau was conducting a new investigation into Mrs. Clintons handling of official email, an inquiry that ended two days before the election, with no charges brought.... The Daily Mail article said that Mr. Weiner began exchanging messages with the girl when she was a high school sophomore and that the messages indicated that Mr. Weiner knew that she was underage. The newspaper, which did not identify the girl, said she did not want to press charges because she believes her relationship with Weiner was consensual. The paper said that she and her father agreed to be interviewed out of concern that Weiner may be sexting with other underage girls. Mr. Weiner was forced to resign from Congress, where he represented parts of Queens and Brooklyn, in June 2011, not long after an explicit picture, sent from his Twitter account, became public. Mr. Weiner initially claimed that his account had been hacked but eventually admitted that he had lied and that he had sent the image and had inappropriate online exchanges with at least six other women. As the title of this post is meant to suggest, my mind reels with all the possible "relevant conduct" that could be argued for guidelines calculation purposes as well as with all the ways to characterize Weiner's "history and characteristics" for purposes of the broader 3553(a) sentencing analysis. Until I see some more details about the offense conduct to which Weiner is pleading guilty, I am disinclined to make any prediction or even a guess about what sentence I would expect Weiner will get from a federal district judge. But I can already safely predict this will be a very interesting sentencing to watch and a very challenging one for the judge. But perhaps readers would not find it very challenging and would like to share their views in the comments. Try to keep it clear and repsectful and perhaps even funny on a Friday. May 19, 2017 at 11:05 AM | Permalink Comments Until the law changes for EVERYONE, he should get 5-10 just like EVERYONE else, and the registry, just like EVERYONE else. Posted by: kat | May 19, 2017 11:10:40 AM Specifically, what damage did he cause, in physical, financial, emotional, mental forms? Posted by: David Behar | May 19, 2017 11:32:52 AM The karmic consequences alone stagger the mind. Per the first comment, the article notes "The charge carries a potential sentence of zero to 10 years in prison, meaning that Mr. Weiner could avoid prison." So, I gather "everyone" doesn't get 5-10 here. Given his past acts, I gather a he warrants something. I'm not a big fan of registered sex offender programs, but it would appear unfair to not apply it to him. As to prison time, again, in a vacuum, I'm not really supportive of much or even any prison time for a single sext. Don't know what specific text they have here -- is it merely words? The continual reckless behavior here very well might deserve at least a few months in prison. Finally, yet again, his name is rather appropriate. Posted by: Joe | May 19, 2017 12:02:07 PM Probation. The collateral consequences of a felony conviction for a sex crime are alone sufficient punishment to satisfy section 3553(a). Posted by: Anon | May 19, 2017 12:06:51 PM 6-12 months if I were the judge, as his behavior is predatory. His compulsive history with regards to sexting should be taken into account and no jail time seems like little deterrent to someone that crossed the line with a teen and is likely to do so again, despite the legal jeopardy. That said, my prediction is that he will get off lightly with probation and registration as a sex offender. Posted by: Carlos Safety | May 19, 2017 12:16:28 PM Outside the fictitious, constructed world of the feminist lawyer, 15 is an adult age, so say the religions of the world with their adulthood induction ceremonies, biology, with the ability to reproduce, and 10,000 years of human civilization, with entering into adult responsibilities and privileges. If the Supreme Court logic of criminal responsibility is to be believed, then the frontal lobes completely myelinizing at 25, and all adult having sex with people under age 25 should be arrested. The adults would be exploiting their biologically based "impetuousness." On the other hand, the male testicle makes 8 times as much testosterone as the female adrenal gland. Testosterone drives sexual urge in both male and female. One should consider all males to have involuntary intoxication by their testosterone. His lawyers failed to raise his testosterone level as a defense to a sex offense. It will likely fail in preventing a conviction. So it should be used to mitigate the sentencing calculation. Any court refusing this massive difference but accepting the tiny differences in myelinization as mitigation to culpability is hypocritical. The Supreme Court used a tiny frontal lobe effect to end the death penalty for adolescent super-predators. It must mitigate sentencing because of this 800% difference in testosterone between the sexes. Defense lawyers should also be demanding testosterone blood levels on all their female sex offense defendants. I am betting they will be higher than average. Posted by: David Behar | May 19, 2017 12:27:59 PM I think he should receive the Sex Education Teacher of the Year Award and I am not being totally facetious. When it comes to sex and/or nudity, we are the stupidest country in the world while believing we are pious and self-righteous at the same time. What Hypocrisy! Does anyone understand the statement, "The newspaper, which did not identify the girl, said she did not want to press charges because she believes her relationship with Weiner was consensual. Abuse a prepubescent "child", I agree to throw the book at them. Talk about sex with a teenage "minor" - we treat it as the same thing. Oh, well, as everyone knows, the law is an a$$, just bow your heads to it. Posted by: albeed | May 19, 2017 12:30:56 PM I looked at his sentencing guidelines under 2G3.1 and, assuming credit for acceptance of responsibility, came up with a range of 37-46 months. Posted by: Chris | May 19, 2017 12:49:21 PM Earlier news accounts reported that he video chatted with the minor, getting her to undress and "touch herself." He also asked her to dress like a school girl and engaged in "rape fantasy play" over video. If that's true, any client of mine charged with such conduct would be facing a minimum ten for enticement and a minimum fifteen for production of child porn. Under those facts, he shouldn't have gotten the deal he got. I am really tired of my clients getting hammered while the rich and famous and politically connected get slaps on the wrist. Posted by: defendergirl | May 19, 2017 1:28:53 PM I agree...very very reluctantly...with poster @kat though I oppose the law to begin with. But maybe if he gets a stiff sentence it will shock the elites a little and we might get a puff of wind for reform. Anyway, I learned something new this past week. New Jersey allows people under 15 to wed if both a parent and a judge approve. Last year (2016) more than 150 teens were wed that way. My state technically allows the same thing but it has been years since any judge approved such an arrangement so I was surprised to see the number in NJ. With that as context, I just find it impossible to get upset about some man sending nude pictures to a teenager on-line who he has never met in person nor made any attempt to meet. Just block him is a better form of incapacitation than a criminal conviction. Posted by: Daniel | May 19, 2017 1:35:44 PM defendergirl's comments suggest more time might be warranted, but first time I heard of it being that graphic. Unsolicited advice: leave that sort of thing to consenting adults. Posted by: Joe | May 19, 2017 2:16:45 PM Weiner's past history suggests that an above-guideline sentence would be warranted. Most of his past conduct is "unconvicted" meaning that it won't show up as part of his guidelines score. However, that past conduct would tend to indicate that he does have a problem with sexually acting out. If Chris's guideline calculation is correct, my guess would be a sentence between 60 and 72 months. Posted by: tmm | May 19, 2017 2:59:24 PM Elonis threatened his wife with a violent rap song. He scared her enough that she pressed charges, and he was prosecuted. The Supreme Court said, no. No crime from terrorizing people one knows. Knowing his temper, his wife was justified in her fear. And the police agreed with her, but not the Supreme Court. Weiner probably induced laughter and derision in high school girls. These have been indoctrinated in feminist produced sex ed into the graphic details of anal sex when they were 12 years old, in school, with no opt-out by upset parents. Where is the crime, except for the status of being a knucklehead male involuntarily intoxicated by testosterone, and persecuted by the feminist lawyer and its male running dogs? Posted by: David Behar | May 19, 2017 2:59:31 PM Does defendergirl want to take out this system of persecution, or does want to continue to make a living off it? That is not a sarcastic or rhetorical question. Does she want more and better small victories in plea negotiations, or to end the entire fraudulent witch hunt enterprise? This enterprise is a joke from the victim perspective. The number of child porn sites is up to 4 million. Sex trafficking is rampant. FBI subscriptions subsidize child porn production by criminal gangs. Judge the dismal and shocking failure of this feminist lawyer jihad here: https://www.childhelp.org/child-abuse-statistics/ I am just curious about where her frustration takes her. Posted by: David Behar | May 19, 2017 3:14:06 PM The article notes: Federal prosecutors said in the plea agreement that a sentence in the range of 21 to 27 months would be fair and appropriate. The NYT has the Anthony Weiners Plea Agreement that works out how this was obtained. Posted by: Joe | May 19, 2017 6:10:04 PM Because Trump is President as a result of his actions, LIFE. Posted by: whatever | May 19, 2017 6:28:48 PM I have a question---what does "obscene" mean in this context? Seems like obscene means something different than what it means in the First Amendment context. Doug? Posted by: federalist | May 19, 2017 6:31:53 PM But he's creating a market for underage flirtations and production of underage pr0n! And he's sure to continue and progress into a full-blown child molester! They're incurable, dontcha know! Who will think of the children? LWOP. Until and unless he repeats criminal behavior, this should be addressed as a psychological issue, imho. Posted by: Fat Bastard | May 19, 2017 8:19:21 PM Weiner's an idiot. I've laughed out loud at his expense more than most people. What's this case about? Texts, photos sent to a 15 year old girl. Look, every teenager has internet access and has seen a bit of porn. In some cases a lot of porn. Plenty of 15-year-old girls have some degree of sexual experience. How much damage could he have done to her over the phone? I'd say a six-month sentence is appropriate, with mandated therapy. For a former congressman that's a severe sentence. He remains a gross fool in any case. Since you asked, I'm a layman. Posted by: JM | May 20, 2017 12:01:04 AM The prosecutors who wasted $millions on this case should be fired. The judge that allowed the case to proceed should be impeached. The human body, including the male one, is not obscene, except in the filthy mind of the feminist lawyer. They are using tax money to get their names in the paper. All feminists should be purged from all federal departments, and from all institutions receiving any federal subsidy. They are the KKK of 2017. Both are lawyer ideologies, and not even real. Both are false, white supremacist ideologies. The difference is that the feminist lawyer succeeded in the slaughter of millions of black babies, exceeding the genocidal maniac fantasies of the KKK by many orders of magnitude. Then tell Sessions, drop internet identity thefts or you are fired. Stop kidding around with trivial lawyer games and gotchas. Then seize Microsoft/Google/Facebook/Twitter in civil forfeiture for the millions of crimes allowed on their platforms. Sell the parts, proceeds to the ripped off tax payer. This case is just more feminist lawyer bullshit, and a waste. Hey, lawyer morons, sit in the back of a 7th grade sex ed class in your own neighborhood. See if you can stick it out to the end of the session, without vomiting. Posted by: David Behar | May 20, 2017 5:35:21 AM JM's comments in a vacuum to me seem right but since we are applying in it in the context of the actual practice, probably not enough. And, it sounds like Weiner himself accepted a range somewhere in the area of two years would be reasonable via the plea agreement. Being a former congressman didn't stop his reckless and now criminal behavior too. https://www.justice.gov/criminal-ceos/citizens-guide-us-federal-law-obscenity Reports are he accepted being registered as a sex offender. Daily Mail (UK) referenced the types of material here and not exactly sure how that applies here. If we have a federal obscenity statute, it would be important to know roughly what we are talking about here. Posted by: Joe | May 20, 2017 9:35:58 AM Joon Kim, Harvard Law grad, wants 2 years. http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/anthony-weiner-plead-guilty-sexting-case-teen-sources-n762036 This ret Posted by: David Behar | May 20, 2017 5:56:59 PM Joon Kim, Manhattan US Attorney, Harvard Law grad, wants 2 years. http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/anthony-weiner-plead-guilty-sexting-case-teen-sources-n762036 This sentence is retribution against a false crime, not utility. Posted by: David Behar | May 20, 2017 6:00:48 PM Where was the defense, Bruce? Why did it not attack, and try to destroy the life of Joon Kim, as that Harvard Law grad did to the client? Why did it not bring in the false victim, and put the history of the little hussy into the record, her recantation into the record, and her face in the papers? Why did it not demand total e-discovery of the hussy's computers, and all other appliances, including those of her father? Why did it not try to take down the feminist running dog judge? Why did it not demand an enumeration of the actual harms caused by the crime? Why did it not challenge the constitutionality of the criminal statue? Why did it not challenge the victim's being a minor? Why did it fail to bring in Hillary Clinton, since Weiner's sexting computer contained tons of emails from her private server? Never mind about that last question. He knows his client would have been found dead. Why, Bruce? Because the defense bar stinks. It is working for itself, and not for the client. Posted by: David Behar | May 20, 2017 6:17:18 PM Here is the federal statute. Every element is vague and impossible to understand. A peck on the cheek may be prosecuted. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2251 Posted by: David Behar | May 20, 2017 6:20:18 PM I think his ex wife would be the best one to administer his sentence. Oh boy. Posted by: MidWestGuy | May 21, 2017 10:10:24 PM He's ruined and broken. That's punishment enough. One night. How the petty have fallen! Posted by: TomL | May 29, 2017 6:57:12 PM In my opinion: Sex crimes must be physical. Computers, televisions, phones, and magazines can all be controlled. Teenagers see and do a lot worse without the eye of supervision and guidance. Myself, I am offended by sexual content on my computer, tv and ect. - it should be stopped (like it used to be) but in the meantime, I have a delete button! Posted by: LC in Texas | Sep 22, 2017 3:23:03 PM Post a comment "The Frisc is a new site. We share voices and tell stories about our city in flux," says the intro copy for a new local content site on Medium. Founded by Anthony Lazarus (formerly of the Wall Street Journal and MarketWatch) and San Franciscan editor of Xconomy Alex Lash, The Frisc is called "The Frisc," which so far is our only nit-picky problem with it. #Ad It's not the Frisc/frisk play-on-words that makes us uncomfortable so much as the fact that Frisc feels on par with the oft-maligned use of "Frisco." The Frisc does admittedly have a fabulous logo. Jeremy LaCroix is listed as the site's art director so presumably he deserves credit for that rad design. As for content, The Frisc seems exclusively focused on the "dramatic changes, as enveloping as the fog itself" which beleaguers many a local. Current articles include detailed looks into racial bias at Lowell High School, and Zeitgeist's demand for sunshine (something we've discussed on SFist previously as well, but I digress). On an informative page called, "What the Frisc?" the journalists explain, "There are other venues and forums for San Francisco discussions, but they're dedicated to the usual news, box scores, and neighborhood minutiae, often cluttered with distracting clickbait. That's not us." Presumably, this burn is directed at everyone BUT SFist. Welcome to the mix, The Frisc! We want a water bottle featuring your cool logo. Related: Ask A San Francisco Native: Is It OK To Use 'Frisco'? A terrible story out of Sacramento: Five people, including a 33-year-old mother of three, have been hospitalized with botulism poisoning from botulinum bacteria after eating nacho cheese sauce from a gas station deli area several weeks ago. Sacramento County health investigators have connected all five cases to the Valley Oak Food and Fuel station in Walnut Grove, as Fox 40 reports, with the most serious case possibly being 33-year-old Lavinia Kelly, who remains in intensive care. As the Daily Mail reports, all five victims remain hospitalized with similar, paralyzing illnesses. Kelly's partner, Ricky Torres, tells the Daily Mail that Kelly was driving home from work on April 21 when she stopped at the station and decided to pour the cheese sauce over a bag of Doritos. She began feeling fatigued within hours. She didn't go to the hospital until the next morning when she was having double vision and loss of motor control, and Sutter Medical Center actually sent her home a few hours later, according to the Sacramento Bee. Later that evening she began vomiting and having difficulty breathing, and Torres took her back to the emergency room. Her sister Theresa Kelly tells Fox 40 that Lavinia called her that day and could not articulate the words well, but that she understood her sister was trying to say, "I need you here now." Symptoms of botulism, which is caused by a nerve toxin that is released by the bacteria, include double vision, slurred speech, drooping eyelids, and muscle weakness. According to the Chronicle, in addition to the five confirmed cases linked the gas station, four more are under investigation. Currently, Lavinia Kelly is unable to open her eyes or breathe on her own, and her family has posted this GoFundMe page to assist with her ongoing medical care and to support her family while she's out of work. Thankfully she did have health insurance. The Sacramento Bee reports that the gas station had its permit to sell food and drink suspended earlier this month, and this story gained attention after the family filed a lawsuit this week against the station for for negligence, product liability and breach of implied warranty. Per Fox 40 they've retained a Seattle law firm that specializes in food safety issues. Per Consumerist, according to the Centers for Disease Controls most recent National Botulism Surveillance Summary, there were 199 confirmed cases of botulism in the US in 2015, only 39 of which were food-borne. Most often, food-borne botulism is connected to home canning, when the canning process is done improperly. SoMa workers looking for another new outdoor spot to sit and eat lunch or nap off the previous evenings hangover get a new courtyard/plaza today, as the ten-years-in-development Trinity Place at Eighth Street and Mission Street officially opens its Piazza Angelo courtyard. The courtyard will be most notable for its 92-foot-tall post-modern Venus de Milo statue the tallest sculpture in San Francisco and while the courtyard is the private property of the larger big-box housing development Trinity Place, the one-acre Piazza Angelo will be open to the public daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The head was placed on the plazas Venus de Milo statue a year ago, but youre more likely to recall having a few laughs last summer when a naked-assed contractor (NSFW) pretended Venus de Milo was fellating him with her oversize mouth. The sculpture has been hidden behind scaffolding in recent months prior to the, umm, grand opening. Speaking of oral sex, the Chronicle has an unconditionally gushing writeup of the new courtyard and Trinity Place in general, even though architecture critic John King has previously denigrated the building itself. The Chron paints a poignant picture of late landlord Angelo Sangiacomo, who passed away in 2015 at age 91, and traveled the world looking for just the right artwork and materials to adorn the piazza. The gift that Angelo has given the city is the experience of art, the sculptures artist Lawrence Argent tells the Chron. It is not a decoration. Its a place, a space that people can come and enjoy a respite from the bedlam of the city. That is what is magical. What the Chronicle does not mention is that Sangiacomo unflatteringly earned the nickname the father of rent control in the 1970s by instituting a series of rent hikes so outlandish that the city was forced to institute rent control regulations. Further, this very Trinity Place development was nailed in 2015 for illegally renting below-market units at above-market rates. Trinity Place is not one, but four separate buildings which primarily contain housing. Three of these buildings are currently open with 1,398 units, a fourth, facing Market Street, is planned to begin construction this fall and will add 503 more units. The new opening courtyard, which the Chronicle predicts will attract a brisk lunch trade, currently has just one tenant a Focaccia Market & Bakery that opened in 2015. But it does have the tallest statue in San Francisco, so that is indeed something. Venus wont remain the tallest statue in town forever, though. Once the Central Subway station opens its Yerba Buena/Moscone Center station in 2019, a sculpture by Roxy Paine will be 20 feet taller. The Chronicle indicates that Frankie Avalon will be on hand today to perform his old hit Venus for the Trinity Place courtyard opening, though no time is given for the performance, and Trinity Properties has not returned SFists requests for comment on the performance time. Related: The Cranes Go Marching One By One, Hurrah During an initiation for the California State University, Chico chapter of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, popped collar marketing majors allegedly chopped down (a.k.a. murdered) 32 trees in Lassen National Forest this past April. According to ABC 7, the United States Forest Service has filed criminal charges against the fraternity, namely chapter president Evan Jossey. ABC also reports that the big wigs at Pi Kappa Alpha have suspended the chapter "pending the outcome of the federal investigation." Oooohhhhhhhh. According to his Facebook page, Jossey is originally from the Bay Area town of Pleasant Hill. Jossey's FB includes several photos of the Pi Kaps (I'm assuming this is what they are called. I was a virgin in college.) It appears the fraternity's motto is "Scholars, Leaders, Athletes, Gentlemen." Nowhere does it mention lumberjacks. Also, "scholars" at Chico. LOL. The Chico chapter of the Pi Kaps doesn't have a frat house, at least according to KPIX 5. Maybe they were trying to build one. The fraternity men deny the claims on their Facebook page, offering the following: The Lambda Psi Chapter of the Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity denies the accusations of vandalism at a national forest. The Chapter has filed a police report regarding the individual making these claims. Additionally, we are cooperating with authorities in their investigation. We have concerns for the safety of our members after receiving threats against Chapter following this accusation and have notified the local police regarding these threats. They filed a police report agains the person who told on them? Also according to their Facebook, the men of Pi Kappa Alpha raise money for Girls on the Run, "a non-profit organization who's goal is to educate young women on a healthy lifestyle." Of all the things these frat boys could raise money for, they chose to help chicks stay bang-able. (No shade to Girls on the Run. Get it girls!) Jossey is second from the left. In the pastel plaid tie. (Facebook) KRON 4 reports that this is the second time a bunch of "Southern Charm" cast wannabes have destroyed part of a California park. A year ago, approximately 1,000 University of Oregon fraternity and sorority members left a half-mile trail of trash around Lake Shasta. The men of Chico's Pi Kappa Alpha deny the charges. The 32 affected trees were unavailable for comment because they are dead forever. Related: UC Berkeley Fraternity, Sorority Parties On Hold Following Reports Of Sexual Assault A proposal for a 120-unit supportive housing facility for formerly homeless people in the Mission Bay neighborhood brought a flurry of public comment on the "no" side Thursday evening. KRON 4 attending the community meeting, where city officials tried to reassure residents that the plan was not for a homeless shelter or navigation center, but for more traditional housing on a lot behind the police headquarters on China Basin Street albeit with mental health counseling and other services on site. Nothing against the homeless, but putting them here in a neighborhood where we all paid a high premium doesnt sit well with me, resident Joe Lovullo tells KRON 4. The meeting, organized by another homeowner who objects to the proposal on the same grounds, came in response to the proposed development which the Examiner first reported on last month slated for Mission Bay South Block 9, adjacent to Seawall 337, the AT&T Park event parking site, and a block from Terry Francois Boulevard. It is the first 100-percent supportive housing development in the works in San Francisco since 2009, and it's the type of housing homeless advocates say the city needs most studio units for individuals with on-site services for the most vulnerable and chronically homeless population. It's expected that about half of the residents at the facility will have mental health challenges or a disability. If approved, construction would begin on the project in 2019, with completion expected in 2021. KRON 4 only found one person with a progressive attitude toward the project, acknowledging the city's enormous problem with homelessness and saying, "We need to stop kicking the ball around in San Francisco, and every neighborhood needs to do their part." The contentious meeting in Mission Bay follows a few weeks after a much more contentious community meeting over a proposed navigation center on South Van Ness in the Mission. The prevailing attitude seems to be that sheltering the homeless is good, just not in my backyard, so to speak even though with skyrocketing rents and property values, it's hard to point to any neighborhoods in the city that are "poor" enough to be considered compatible with supportive housing by those who think such housing is incompatible with their expensive neighborhood. Meanwhile, the city's Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure, which is the successor agency of the former San Francisco Redevelopment Agency, is required to build 868 more affordable housing units in the Mission Bay neighborhood, a total toward which these 120 supportive units would count. So far, just over 1,000 affordable units have been built in the area, out of a total of almost 2,000 required 29 percent out of a total 6,514 residential units planned and already constructed in Mission Bay. Related: Federally Owned Parking Lot Behind Ninth Circuit Could Become Housing For Homeless Expand The library and public museum sharing space on Wisconsin Avenue. On Saturday, May 20, the Milwaukee Public Library will host When the Milwaukee Public Museum was at the Central Library," a presentation on the seven decades that the public museum and library were housed in the same building. The program will be hosted by librarians Dan Lee and will feature photographs of the old museum and reveal how the library uses the former spaces of the museum today. A tour of the library by librarian Maria Burke will be offered after the program and will visit many former museum spaces, including some that are no longer open to the public. The program runs from 24 p.m. and will be held in the Centennial Hall Loos Room. The program is part of an on-going series of presentations on the librarys historic Wisconsin Avenue central branch. The Renaissance Revival-style building was dedicated in 1898 as a home for both the library and museum. In 1962, when the present-day home of the museum was completed, the several-year process of transitioning between the two buildings began. The library continued to house museum exhibits until 1967. Many still remember when the Museum was here and [will] enjoy a bit of a stroll down memory lane," librarian and event co-organizer Maria Burke told Around MKE. Friends of the Shepherd Help support Milwaukee's locally owned free weekly newspaper. LEARN MORE Burke added that there are still visible remnants of the museum in the library building. The former Chinese Room," built with WPA funding in 1938, was used to display the museums collection of Asian artifacts and remains somewhat intact. Stripped of its collections in 1966, the original display cases and tile mosaics can still be seen today. The room is located off of the Media Room on the first floor. The fourth floor of the building, an area now used for storage, is the former museum space that remains most unchanged. Museum room numbers and department names still adorn some of the doors here, showing where the museum director, taxidermy department and other rooms were located. The tour will visit these areas as well as the buildings roof, where many are surprised to learn the museums resident lion once lived. Anyone interested in attending can click here for more information. The event is free, but space is limited, so it is recommended that those wishing to attend register in advance. Registration info can be found at the link above. Even though it looks like it was shot on a cellphone, Snatched has enough lines to make you think the slight comedy was worth the time. Amy Schumer, in full millennial mode, gets most of the laughs largely because shes willing to poke fun at herself and the self-centered way her character views life. Fired from a low-level job and dumped by her boyfriend, she decides to go ahead with a vacation to Ecuador, largely because she has two non-refundable tickets. When no friends want in, she offers the second to mom (Goldie Hawn) whos everything she isnt. Afraid to leave the house, afraid to soak in the sun, afraid to view anything in less than skeptical terms, mom agrees, then sets up warning signals at the resort. Surprisingly, shes not the only one. Wanda Sykes ambles over at the pool and cautions Schumer about venturing too far away into town. Schumer doesnt listen and, that night, picks up with a handsome, sweet-talking Roger Federer type who somehow convinces her (and mom) to go off the beaten path. As you might guess, theyre kidnapped by drug dealers and forced into a prison of sorts. While it would be easy to pretend this is all a nightmare, director Jonathan Levine plays it out, putting the two in the hands of a crazy adventurer (Christopher Meloni in full African Queen mode), a community of friendly villagers and Sykes and her travel companion (nicely played by Joan Cusack). Back home, Schumers agoraphobic brother (Ike Barinholtz) tries to get U.S. consulate folks to help him out. Its all a mish-mash of half-baked ideas but some of Schumers lines are so, so funny (and raunchy), youll be hard-pressed to suppress a smile. Snatched doesnt give Hawn as much to do as it should and Sykes and Cusack, easily, could have been counted on for 15 more minutes of laughs. But, actors aside, Snatched is what it is a cheaply made comedy that feeds off stereotypes and lets Schumer show shes still game for anything. When shes just struggling with that boyfriend (Randall Park, the dad on Fresh Off the Boat), theres plenty of promise. Its dashed somewhere between Ecuador and Colombia, then regained after the two women figure out what matters most. Beautiful photography might have helped the film immensely. But one more run through the typewriter could have been better than an all-you-can-drink buffet. This version just snatches defeat from the hands of victory. Superman and Batman aren't here this summer. But Spider-Man is ready to take another swing at it -- the summer movie season that is. Slight on original blockbusters, the coming months are filled with reboots, remakes and revivals. The first two big films -- "Baywatch" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales" -- set the scene quite nicely. The first is a comic remake of the television series. The second is the fifth installment of what we thought was a trilogy. Add in another "Transformers" movie, an odd take on "The Mummy" and another visit to that house in Amityville and you can see we're not headed for a Spielberg summer. It kind of makes you long for the days when "Jaws" took a bite out of our time and "Jurassic Park" stomped the competition. By date, here's some of what you can expect: MAY May 25 Baywatch Let the slo-mo begin. Dwayne Johnson gets the Hasselhoff position; Zac Efron plays an Olympic medalist who joins the team. Expect plenty of laughs. May 26 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales The fifth installment is so big it required two directors. Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is still looking for treasure and an old nemesis (Javier Bardem) is back, bent on revenge. JUNE June 2 Band Aid A bad marriage fuels a hit band. Adam Pally stars. Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie Dav Pilkeys books are turned into a cartoon. Nick Kroll provides the voice for Professor Poopypants; Kevin Hart and Thomas Middleditch are George and Harold, the fourth graders with superhero aspirations. Churchill Brian Cox plays the British leader who, apparently, had doubts leading up to D Day. Wonder Woman Gal Gadot gets her own stand-alone film as the woman with power. She zaps into 1918 Europe and meets an American officer (played by Chris Pine). June 9 Beatriz at Dinner Salma Hayek confronts John Lithgow at a dinner. Shes an immigrant; hes a cutthroat billionaire. The Hero Sam Elliott gets his Jeff Bridges Oscar moment in this drama about an actor who meets a comic while on his way to reconnect with his daughter. Laura Prepon (Orange is the New Black) plays the comic. It Comes at Night When a pandemic threatens society, a family has to decide if it's going to open the door to a man who comes knocking. Joel Edgerton and Carmen Ejogo star. The Mummy This reboot, oddly, stars Tom Cruise as the guy who has to deal with a Mummy who, now, is a woman. Russell Crowe turns up as Dr. Jekyll, so you know theres something hinky going on with the premise. My Cousin Rachel An adaptation of the Daphne du Maurier novel starring (get this) Rachel Weisz. June 16 47 Meters Down Just when you thought it was safe tooh, wait, this has sharks, too. Mandy Moore and Claire Holt play sisters who find themselves surrounded. All Eyez on Me A look at the life of Tupac Shakur. Demetrius Shipp Jr. plays the music legend. The Book of Henry A smart boy (Jaeden Lieberher) comes to the rescue of a girl next door (Maddie Ziegler). Expect life lessons. Cars 3 A business car named Sterling gives Lightning McQueen an oil change on life. But sometimes, its best not to get too comfortable. Owen Wilson and Nathan Fillion provide the auto voices. Maudie Canadian artist Maud Lewis (Sally Hawkins) enjoys a relationship with a recluse (Ethan Hawke). Once Upon a Time in Venice Bruce Willis goes all John Wick when drug dealers nab his dog. BTW: Hes a detective in Venice Beach. Rough Night When a stripper dies at a bachelorette party, theres more here to consider than The Hangover. Scarlett Johansson, Kate McKinnon and Zoe Kravitz star. June 23 The Bad Batch Keanu Reeves stars in a thriller about cannibals, among other things. The Beguiled When a wounded Civil War soldier turns up at a girls school, plenty of bizarre things happen. Nicole Kidman and Kirsten Dunst teach there; Colin Farrell plays the soldier. Sofia Coppola directs. The Big Sick Silicon Valley star Kumail Nanjiani stars as a comic who finds a darker side of life when his girlfriend becomes comatose. Inspired by real events. Tears all around. Transformers: The Last Knight You know the recall is just a matter of time. In this edition, the robots go back in time when an astronomer (Anthony Hopkins) makes a connection to the guy Charlie Hunnam is playing in another film. June 28 Baby Driver Ansel Elgort gets a role that sounds suspiciously like one Ben Affleck had. He plays a driver who agrees to one more heist with Kevin Spacey and Jon Hamm. June 30 13 Minutes The story of a man who tried to assassinate Hitler. Amityville: The Awakening Do these people never learn? Newcomers move into the haunted house and a teenager (Bella Thorne) has to deal with spirits that inhabit her twins body. Despicable Me 3 Gru has a twin brother (named Dru) and a retro nemesis. Worse, hes out of the Anti-Villain League and afraid his children wont look up to him anymore. Steve Carell voices both Gru and Dru. The House Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler play a couple who turn their house into a casino in order to send their daughter to college. No, its not just a few card games. Its a place ripe with vice. And laughs. Inconceivable A newcomer feels welcome in the presence of a couple. Then, things get a little too close. Nicolas Cage, Gina Gershon and Nicky Whelan form the triangle. The Little Hours Nuns (without rules) raise eyebrows. Aubrey Plaza is among them. JULY July 7 A Ghost Story Oscar winner Casey Affleck and Roony Mara play a couple who deal with a ghost who wears a sheet. Patti Cake$ -- The birth of a rapper, starring newcomer Danielle Macdonald. Spider-Man: Homecoming In this reboot, Tom Holland plays the crimefighter as a 15-year-old. We can only hope he doesnt head down the same alleys as his predecessors. July 14 Lady Macbeth A woman unhappy in marriage begins an affair. Its the 19th century and trouble is toiling everywhere. To the Bone Keanu Reeves plays a therapist trying to help an anorexic in a treatment program. Lily Collins co-stars. War for the Planet of the Apes Those dirty apes are back hoping to win the battle against the humans. Woody Harrelson plays the bad guy; Andy Serkis leads the ape squad. Wish Upon A music box grants a teenager seven wishes. But theyre not the jackpots she envisioned. July 21 Amnesia Director Barbet Schroeder got plenty of buzz at the Cannes Film Festival for this drama about a woman who has to deal with events from her past. Her World War II past. Dunkirk Director Christopher Nolan details the evacuation of Dunkirk during World War II. Tom Hardy and Fionn Whitehead star. Expect Oscar action. First Kill Hayden Christensen plays a New Yorker who witnesses a murder, then has to deal with a hostage-taking situation involving his son. Paging Liam Neeson. Girls Trip Theres trouble at a festival when girlfriends gather for fun. Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith and Regina Hall star. Get ready for laughs. (Could these women be friends with Scarlett Johanssons gang?) Landline Abby Quinn and Jenny Slate investigate their allegedly cheating dad. Edie Falco plays mom. Polina Forget ballet. When a ballerina gets turned on by contemporary dance, she moves to France to study with a demanding choreographer. Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets To hold you until the next Star Wars film, theres Luc Bessons look at a city created when U.S. and Russian spacecrafts docked. Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevigne star. July 28 Atomic Blonde Charlize Theron gets her chance to play spy when she dons the guise of Lorraine Broughton, an agent who has to deal with trouble in the 1980s. Brigsby Bear Kyle Mooney plays a man seeking closure. He wants to end a TV series he loved as a child. The Emoji Movie Yup, theyll make movies about anything. We learned that from Sausage Party. This one gives voice to the icons you add to messages. A Family Man Gerard Butler rethinks his life plan when his son is diagnosed with cancer. Alison Brie co-stars. From the Land of the Moon This is a lot like The Bridges of Madison County. Marion Cotillard falls for a war veteran after her arranged marriage falters. The Incredible Jessica James Not that incredible. Jessica Williams plays a writer who falls for a divorce. AUGUST Aug. 4 The Dark Tower Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey bring Stephen Kings characters to life. Detroit If you dont remember the violence that rocked Detroit in 1967, this will jump start your memory. John Boyega and Will Poulter star. Katheryn Bigelow directs. Fun Mom Dinner Four moms bond on a night out. Toni Collette and Molly Shannon are in the gang. Wind River A reservation murder draws the attention of two investigators. Elizabeth Olsen and Jeremy Renner star. Aug. 11 The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature Will Arnett provides the voice of a squirrel trying to stop the construction of an amusement park. Aug. 18 The Hitmans Bodyguard Ryan Reynolds gets his action on as a bodyguard who becomes involved in a complex crime. Samuel L. Jackson plays the hitman. Gary Oldman is a dictator looking for revenge. Lemon Brett Gelman plays a drama teacher who alienates everyone around him. Michael Cera co-stars. Logan Lucky Channing Tatum revs motors when a heist takes place during a NASCAR race. Steven Soderbergh directs. Aug. 25 Death Note A teen discovers he has mysterious powers. Duh. Aug. 30 Leap! -- A girl wants to be a dancer; a boy hopes to be an inventor. The two head to Paris in this animated film. Screenings Free blood pressure screenings, 9:30-11 a.m. Wednesdays at Countryside Senior Living, front lobby. No appointment necessary. Programs/Self-Help Groups Al-Anon Information Center, call 712-255-6724. Al-Anon and Alateen, meetings locally. For times, dates and locations of area meetings, call 712-255-6724. Alcoholics Anonymous, beginners information, call 712-252-1333. Arc of Woodbury County, serving the mentally challenged, 5:15 p.m. meeting, second Monday of the month at Mid-Step Services, 4303 Stone Ave. For families and interested persons. Child Care Resource and Referral, provides resources, education and advocacy for children, parents, and child care providers. Assists in child care needs. For more information, call 712-277-1180. Co-Dependence Anonymous, 7 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays at First Lutheran Church, Fireside Room. Co-Dependents Anonymous (CODA), 10 a.m. Saturdays at Hawkeye Club, 420 Jones St. Compassionate Friends, 7 p.m. fourth Wednesday of each month (third Thursday in November and second Sunday December) in Mercy Medical Center's Leiter Room. For families who have lost children. Contact Nancy Webb 712-212-4032 or Don Mulder 712-541-5512. Clinics Siouxland District Health immunization clinics, call for appointment, 712-279-6119 or 1-800-587-3005. Information Family and Addictive Illness series, for more information, call 234-2300. Iowa Fathers, 6 to 8 p.m. fourth Tuesday of each month at Hope Lutheran Church, Education Building, 218 W. 18th St., South Sioux City, Neb. Support group to help single, divorcing and divorced parents residing in the state of Iowa. Mercy Pathways Outpatient Program, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, on the third floor, Mercy's Central Medical Building, 801 Fifth St., Suite 360. Provides hope, help, opportunity to connect through group therapy for individuals experiencing personal, relationship, psychiatric issues. For more information, call 712-279-5991. Narcotics Anonymous, meetings daily, various times, dates and locations. For more information, call 712-279-0733. Overeaters Anonymous, 1 p.m. Tuesdays at Wesley United Methodist Church, 3700 Indian Hills Drive; 6 p.m. Tuesdays at St. John's Lutheran Church, 402 Lane Ave., Storm Lake; 7 p.m. Tuesdays at Church of the Nazarene, 226 N. Main St., Viborg, S.D.; 5:30 p.m. Thursdays and 9 a.m. Saturdays at Newman Center, 320 E. Cherry St., Vermillion, S.D.; 10:30 a.m. Saturdays at Hawkeye Club, 420 Jones St. A 12-step recovery program for people who have problems with food and weight. No fees. St. Lukes Outpatient Behavioral Health Program, 9 a.m. to noon Monday, Tuesday and Thursday on fifth floor of St. Luke's, located at 2720 Stone Park Blvd. Offers several levels of outpatient care including partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and group therapy. This program provides support and integrated treatment to individuals experiencing personal or relationship issues as a result of their mental illness. For more information and admission criteria, call 712-279-3906. Sobriety By Faith, 8:30 a.m. Saturdays at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1421 Geneva St. For more information, call James Mothershead at 712-577-9715. The Link-Recovery and Freedom, 1603 Glen Ellen Road; 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday workshop, and Christian 12-step meeting 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. For all ages. Call Dee at 389-7432. Women in Recovery, meets monthly at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1421 Geneva St. For details, call 712-255-4623. Tarahouse Meditation Center, 8 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 6:30 p.m. Fridays; 10 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays, all at 3112 Rebecca St. Three easy 10-minute sessions in small group; beginners welcome. For more information, call 490-6410. Blood pressure and blood sugar screening, 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays in the lobby at Westwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Free to public. Support Groups Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous, 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays at Hawkeye Club basement, 420 Jones St. For more information, call 277-5935. Celebrate Recovery, Bible-based 12-step recovery group. Thursdays at 6 p.m. at Sunnybrook Community Church, 5601 Sunnybrook Drive. Childcare provided. 712-490-3343. All welcome. PFLAG of Siouxland, (Parents & Friends of Lesbians and Gays), 7 p.m., fourth Monday of January, March, May, July, September and November. St. Mark ELCA Church, 5200 Glenn Ave., in the upstairs meeting area. 712-258-3116. Singles widowed and divorced, all ages, 4 p.m., Sundays. McDonald's at Sixth Street and Lewis Boulevard. 712-252-2675. GriefShare, 6:30 -8:30 p.m. every Tuesday until Dec. 6 at Sunnybrook Community Church, 5601 Sunnybrook Drive, Sioux City. 712-276-5814. HIV/AIDS Support Group, meets weekly. For more information, call Darla or Teri at Siouxland Community Health Center, 712-252-2477 or 888-371-1965. Hospice of Siouxland, seeking volunteers. For more information, call 712-233-4144 and ask for a volunteer coordinator. La Leche League of Siouxland, breastfeeding support group meets every third Thursday at 11 a.m. at Morningside Lutheran Church. Children are welcome. For more information, call Mary at 712-546-7280 or Jacquie at 712-255-2998. Living Each Day Cancer Support Group, 7-8 p.m. second Thursday of the month, Floyd Valley Hospital, Conference Center Room 2, Le Mars, Iowa. Open to all cancer patients, cancer survivors and family members. No charge. Pre-register by calling 712-546-3441 or 800-642-6074, ext. 441. Mom and Baby Support Group, 10-11 a.m. last Monday of the month at the Orange City (Iowa) Hospital, lower level. For new moms and babies. 712-737-5260. Tri-State Sober Project, 12-step meeting, 7:30-8:30 p.m., Tuesdays, Friendship Community Church, 305 Sergeant Square Drive, Sergeant Bluff. 6-7 p.m., Thursdays, Transitional Services of Iowa, 1221 Pierce St., Sioux City. Doug's Donors Support Group, information for organ donors and recipients, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Fridays, 5:15-6:30 p.m. second Thursdays of the month at Mercy Cafeteria Woodbury Room. 712-277-1050. Divorce Care, 6:30 -8:30 p.m. every Tuesday until Dec. 6 at Sunnybrook Community Church, 5601 Sunnybrook Drive, Sioux City. 712-276-5814. NAMI Siouxland, (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Support Group meets 6:30 p.m., second Tuesday of the month at Friendship House, 1101 Court St. For individuals and family members dealing with mental illness. 712-255-4209. New Life Life Support Group, 3:30 p.m. every Saturday at 2929 W. Fourth St. Spiritual 12-step program. For more information, call Donald at 712-574-1744 or James at 712-255-7624. Orphan Sunday, 3:30-5 p.m. Sunday at Sunnybrook Community Church loft, 5601 Sunnybrook Drive. Post Polio Support Group, 11 a.m. first Thursday of the month at Perkins Restaurant by Menards. 712-490-8213. Relationship Support Group, 7 p.m. Fridays at Marketplace Mall. For more information, call 239-3129. Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence, Individual and Support Groups. For more information, call CSADV in Sioux City at 712-258-7233; Plymouth County at 712-546-6764; Monona County at 712-423-3443. Advocacy and support available 24 hours a day at 1-800-982-7233. All services free of charge and confidential. Sickle Cell Disease Support Group, 11 a.m. third Saturday of each month at St. Luke's Hospital, meeting room 1. For patients, their family and any concerned member. Call La'Keshia Rainey at 712-203-2019 for more information. Single and Parenting, 6:30 -8:30 p.m. every Tuesday until Dec. 6 at Sunnybrook Community Church, 5601 Sunnybrook Drive, Sioux City. 712-276-5814. Sioux City Association of the Deaf, 7 p.m. third Saturday of the month at Morningside Church of Christ, 5015 Garretson Ave. Regular meeting, September-May; no meeting, June, July, August and December. Siouxland Autism Support Group, second Thursday of the month at Northwest Area Education Agency, 1520 Morningside Ave. For more information, call Julie Case at 712-490-8939. Siouxland Epilepsy Support Group, 5 p.m. third Tuesday of the month at Prestwick Apartment Clubhouse, 4230 Hickory Lane. For anyone diagnosed with seizures or epilepsy and family or friends. For more information, call Steve at 274-6927. Siouxland IC support group, meets quarterly in Sioux City. For patients struggling with interstital cystitis. For more information, call Jacque Dundas 316-641-9766. Siouxland Informational Group for the Blind, 2-5 p.m. second Tuesday of the month at Northern Hills Retirement Community, 4002 Teton Trace. For more information, call 712-266-8926 or 258-8151. Grief support group, 5:30-7:30 p.m., beginning Oct. 5 for 13 weeks (may join at any time), Crescent Park United Methodist Church, 2826 Myrtle St., Sioux City. Scott, 712-899-6315. Siouxland Ostomy Association, 2 p.m. first Sunday of each month (except September, which will be second Sunday; and no meetings June, July, August), in Room 300 at Mercy Medical Center, 801 Fifth St. For more information, call Dick Lindblom at 251-2453. Siouxland Parkinson Disease Support Group, 1 p.m. fourth Monday of the month at Siouxland Center for Active Generations, 313 Cook St. For more information, call Sally Reinert at 402-987-3516. South Sioux City Weight Support Group, 8:30 a.m. Wednesdays at St. Paul United Methodist Church, South Sioux City. For more information, call 494-1401 or 494-2133. Disabilities Resource Center of Siouxland, 520 Nebraska St., Suite 101: Women's Support Group, 1:30 p.m. first Wednesday of the month; LGBT Support Group, 1:30 p.m. first Friday of the month; Adult ADHD, 6 p.m. second Tuesday of the month; Advocacy Group, 1:30 p.m. third Tuesday of the month. For more information, call 712-255-1065. Take Off Pounds Sensibly, group meetings various times, days and locations in Siouxland. For information on the chapter in your area, call 1-800-932-TOPS. Voice Disorder Support Group, meets as needed at Mercy Medical Center, Buena Vista Room. 712-279-2686. Women's Peer Support Group, in Wayne and South Sioux City, Neb., for those who have experienced domestic abuse. For more information, call the Wayne office at 402-375-4633 or 1-800-440-4633; in South Sioux City, call 402-494-7592. Help and support available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Services free and confidential. Woodbury County D.M.D.A., noon-2 p.m. first Saturday of the month at Country Friendship Acres, 4501 West St.; 7-8 p.m. first Tuesday of the month at 515 Court St. in the Community Room; 7-8 p.m. second Tuesday of the month at 441 W. Third St. in the Community Room; 7-8 p.m. third Tuesday of the month at 409 W. Third St. in the Community Room. Support group for people with disabilities and mental disorders. Natural Mamas in Siouxland, 1 p.m., third Tuesday of each month in the Garretson room of the Morningside Public Library. All ages of children are welcome to come with moms. For sharing natural living tips, recipes, natural remedies and health, homemaking, mothering, etc. For more information, call 402-913-0038 or visit their Facebook page. A Step Beyond support group, 3:30 p.m. second Tuesday of the month, except for August, November and December when it meets at 5:30 p.m. (no meeting in January) at the Christy-Smith Resource Center, 1819 Morningside Ave. For more information, call 712-276-7319. Divorce care, 5 p.m., Sundays. Fireside room, Morningside Lutheran Church, 700 South Martha St. Gamblers Anonymous meetings, 4 p.m. Thursdays at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 315 Hamilton Blvd.; 7 p.m. Wednesdays, Morningside Presbyterian Church, 4327 Morningside Ave.; 7 p.m. Tuesdays, St. John Lutheran Church; 7 p.m. Sundays, Hawkeye Club, 420 Jones St.. 712-277-2901. Art therapy support group, 5:30 p.m. second Thursday of the month at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center. Registration required, call 252-9387. After Breast Cancer Support Group, 5:30 p.m. third Tuesday of the month at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center. For more information, call Brenda, 252-9370. After Prostate Cancer Support Group, 5:15 p.m. first Tuesday of the month at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center. For more information, call 252-9426. Alzheimer's Association, Big Sioux Chapter Support Group, 2 p.m. second Tuesday of the month; 4 p.m. third Tuesday of the month (under age 65) at 201 Pierce St., Suite 110 (Famous Dave's building); and 6 p.m. first Tuesday of the month at the Barnes and Noble Cafe. For more information, call Emily Lord at 712-279-5802. Christy-Smith Funeral Homes of Sioux City, extensive grief library at the Morningside location. Open to the public during weekday hours. For more information, call 276-7319. Chronic Pain/Chronic Illness Support Group, 7:30 p.m. fourth Wednesday of the month in the lower level of the Orange City Hospital. For more information, call 712-737-5260. Connections Area Agency on Aging, and Mercy Medical Centers Older Adult Services Welcome to Medicare, 1:30-4 p.m., the first Friday of every month at Connections Area Agency on Aging, 2301 Pierce St. To pre-register, or for more information, contact Connections Area Agency on Aging at 712-279-6900. Its been a week of learning to let go more than I have in the past. And also discovering a little more about who I am. The real me thats underneath the blankets of niceness and calmness and peace. In general, I am a person of peace and joy. People often tell me that I have a calming presence. I know that these traits come from the Lord. Theyre part of my personality, but theyve also been forged through some of lifes difficult trials. There have been more than a few, just as in most peoples lives. MIDDLETOWN, Conn. The controversy began, as many do these days, with an online petition. A senior at Mercy High School in Middletown, an all-girls Catholic school, wanted to bring another girl as her date to the prom. The schools longstanding policy was clear girls go with friends or bring a boy as a date. More than 1,800 signed the students Let Girls Take Girls To Prom petition on change.org, and the ensuing debate showed the increasingly complex position the Catholic church and its schools are in. Traditional Catholic policies remain, but Pope Francis is setting an agenda of greater flexibility and understanding, and though the issue is over for this prom season at Mercy, some alumni are pushing the school to change. In a statement made after the petition started, Mercy President Sister Mary McCarthy acknowledged that LGBT issues have been a topic of consideration for the school. But families understand students attending the school will be expected to abide by official Catholic teachings, she said. It is a very fine balance, for sure, said Norwich Diocese spokesman Michael Strammiello. All of this is taken very seriously by the people in charge of the school and in charge of the students. Theyre not closed-minded to all the concerns being brought forward. Strammiello said the Catholic schools must look to the church for decisions. Until theres such time of significant policy movement, were in a place that all the stakeholders are familiar with, Strammiello said. Policies established over a long time dont change overnight. The church is caught between two impulses lately, said Harold Attridge, a professor and former dean of the Yale Divinity School. Pope Francis and individual churches have been increasingly more tolerant of divorce and homosexuality, and the pope recently said he was open to exceptions to the churchs prohibition on marriage for priests. Attridge said the Catholic Church and its schools are in a complex position. Pope Francis emphasis on openness and inclusion has appealed to young people, but traditional policies remain, he said. Catholic schools would find themselves in a difficult position if they said anything goes, or same-sex couples are fine, Attridge said. Leaving open the possibility that its not a moral choice, its natural, is different than saying the rules no longer apply. The way these two things have been squared in most Catholic circles is if its a fact that youre attracted to members of the same sex, the norms of sexual behavior still apply, so if youre gay, youve got to be celibate. In general, church teachings say impulses themselves are not sins but acting on those impulses is a sin. Attridge said a Catholic school allowing same-sex dates may be seen as condoning students acting on impulses that are officially against church teachings. Many argue the church ought not to change its principles because society has changed, and that maybe society ought to change back, Attridge said. At the same time, the leadership of the church would say we want to be as welcoming as we can to all types, but we have our principles. The initial petition was published the last week of February, but the student closed it a few days later. A follow-up petition by Westbrook resident Colin Bennett seeking an apology and change in policy from Mercy went up a few days later, gathering another 1,600 supporters. Bennett has no connection to Mercy, but said he felt the school owed an apology to the student and the community. In a statement March 7 in response to media questions, McCarthy, who was the schools principal for years before becoming its president in 2012, said in adhering to the teachings of the Church, the school requires its students to attend the prom alone or in the company of a friend or friends of their choosing but that the expectation has been that a Mercy students date be male. Mostly, the school expects that male date to be a student from Xavier High School, the all-boys Catholic high school in Middletown. Our mission is to see that every student is challenged to grow academically, emotionally, socially, aesthetically and spiritually and encouraged to recognize the abilities and strengths that will enable her to achieve her potential. Importantly, this mission is guided by the overarching tenets and teachings of the Catholic faith. Mercy expects that those who elect to attend the school do so with an understanding and desire to abide by these principles, McCarthy said. These limitations are premised both in preserving the spirit of the prom as a safe and enjoyable experience for the students of Mercy, as well as recognizing and adhering to the teachings of the Church, the statement said. The petitions at Mercy were an informal organizing moment for some of the schools alumni. Victoria Scott, a 2013 Mercy graduate from Oxford attending a university in upstate New York, was among former students who weighed in on the Mercy seniors request. She and others started a website around the social media hashtag #wePROMise and are awaiting a response from Mercy, the Norwich Diocese, the Hartford Diocese and the Vatican, which have all received the petition. I would like to know what the issues are that would take so long to make a decision, Scott said. Weve brought this issue to light, waiting for a response, and the why hasnt been answered. Scott came out as a lesbian after high school. She said most of the gay students at Mercy when she attended didnt feel comfortable or welcomed by the administration, and said the school hasnt provided an adequate reason yet why it cant allow girls to take another girl to the prom. Its not expected that the school is going to have all the same values as the students going there, Scott said. I knew what the values of the school were. But what the school promotes is equal treatment of people and creating a good environment to raise strong, healthy women of Mercy. Scott said she and other alumni were distressed by the schools response to the petition. Just a few days after the initial petition was posted, the student made an update that said she was being pressured by the school to remove it. Instead of trying to understand the situation and allow the petition, its a basic First Amendment right, the school immediately shut it down, she said. People dont like change. Were creatures of habit. To completely disregard it as an issue is a slap in the face. CHARTER OAK, Iowa | The senior year for the Charter Oak-Ute Class of 2017 started with a meeting. In the office of Superintendent Rollie Wiebers. The topic: Saving Charter Oak-Ute High School. "Our class voted at the start of the year to keep Charter Oak-Ute," said Madilyn Kessel, one of the top students in the Class of 2017. School officials had surveyed the community and held discussions about entering a whole-grade sharing agreement with neighboring MVAO High School in Mapleton. It appeared this proverbial train was on the tracks steaming west and north away from Charter Oak, where Charter Oak-Ute High has operated since its formation in 1962. "Our class wanted to keep our high school," Kissel remembered. "A bunch of us came to Mr. Wiebers and said, 'What can we do to stop this? We said we'd help fund raise or do whatever we could,'" said Emily Steffen, another top student and, like Kessel, a CO-U graduate come Sunday. Declining enrollment and state-aid "boosts" of zero to 1.1 percent have forced school administrators and boards of education across Iowa to examine whole-grade sharing and consolidation options. Wiebers noted Charter Oak-Ute educated 850 students when he was hired in 1979. The K-12 enrollment this year totaled 264 students, a loss of 586. A whole-grade sharing pact was passed unanimously by school boards serving Charter Oak-Ute and MVAO in January. MVAO, incidentally, has seen its enrollment shrink by 178 students in the past decade. "It (whole-grade sharing) did go through," Kassel said. "It's the responsible thing to do, we know that," Steffen added. Still, that meant their class had to be last, hence a motto for this group of 25 students: "Saving the Best for Last." What's it like being in a class that serves as the closing credits for a 55-year high school institution? For two members, bittersweet. On Wednesday, Steffen and Kessel joined their classmates in graduation rehearsal in a gym where they've played sports, their horns and cheered their Bobcats squads to victory. They followed that session with the traditional senior class photo in the parking lot, one choreographed by Adam Eggeling, high school principal, who had each student park his or her vehicle in a certain space in his effort to create the number "17." After the photo was taken by English teacher Michael Kline, who perched atop the fire escape, students presented Eggeling wih a sheet of paper, their "sign-out list" that showed they'd met class requirements from each instructor. Steffen, the daughter of Randy and Lisa Steffen of Charter Oak, will leave here to attend the University Iowa, as a pre-med major. Kessel, the daughter of Barb and Randy Kessel of Denison, Iowa, departs in three months for Midland University in Fremont, Nebraska, where she'll study in biology. First, though, there is a graduation on Sunday, last time they'll gather with their class in their school. "I'm not speaking at graduation, because I'd cry," Steffen said. "Four of us are going to speak," Kessel says. "We'll share memories of each person in the class and then we'll talk about the high expectations we'll have for our class." The Class of 2017 represents a collection of high-achievers as 20 of the 25 students are ending high school with a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher. As for these achievers? Kessel plans to become a chiropractor and work in Denison. Steffen hopes to work in anesthesiology, perhaps practicing in Iowa City. She has 33 hours of college credit already. And while she recalled that fall meeting in Mr. Weibers' office, she credits the superintendent for making good on a pledge that allows her, the fifth member of her immediate family, to join the others in graduating from Charter Oak-Ute. "My parents graduated from here in 1987 and 1988, and people talked then that they might be the last class," Steffen said. "Mr. Wiebers promised we'd graduate as Bobcats." And on Sunday, they will. Most likely, the last Bobcats to do so. OMAHA | A second man has been charged in connection with an April bank robbery in Bancroft, Nebraska. An indictment filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Omaha charges Jeffrey Bonneau and Lenn Zuhlke each with one count of bank robbery. Zuhlke is accused of aiding and abetting Bonneau in the April 20 robbery of First Bank of Bancroft. Both men pleaded not guilty Friday. Court documents do not define what role Zuhlke, 55, of Bancroft, had in the robbery, but the indictment cites a federal criminal code section that pertains to aiding and abetting. Bonneau, 38, of Bancroft, is accused of taking $6,745 from the bank, then fleeing on an ATV. Officers tracked Bonneau to a grove of trees and encountered Bonneau, who brandished a handgun. After taking cover and waiting for 15 minutes, officers heard Bonneau fire a shot before fleeing on the ATV, court documents said. Bonneau rolled the ATV and was hospitalized for several days because of his injuries. Authorities recovered approximately $1,020 in cash from Bonneau's hiding spot and another $4,205 that had been placed in a tree. Bonneau admitted to robbing the bank and directed officers to the money, court documents said. SIOUX CITY | A Northwest Iowa man has been arrested on multiple felony charges, after the Sioux County Sheriff's Office reported he used another person's identity to obtain a job. The sheriff's office press release said Quique Reynoso-Diaz, 37, of Sioux Center, Iowa, was arrested on three felonies Thursday. After a traffic stop west of Boyden, Iowa, deputies said Reynoso-Diaz was found to be using another person's identity. The release said Reynoso-Diaz used that identity to work at Rosenboom Machine and Tool Inc, in Sheldon. He was charged with identity theft and two counts of forgery. Reynoso-Diaz was held in Sioux County Jail. SIOUX CITY | A 28-year-old man is accused of dragging a woman 15 feet while she held on to her purse during an attempted robbery last summer. Court documents say she broke two fingers on her left hand and suffered abrasions on both knees and her left shoulder. Jonathon Consolver was arrested Friday for second-degree robbery for the events that happened on July 22. Shortly after 1 p.m. court documents state Consolver walked aggressively towards the woman standing by her vehicle in the parking lot of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino-- Sioux City. Assuming he wanted to go past her, the woman said "excuse me" and stepped closer to the car with her purse in her left hand. Consolver then allegedly grabbed the purse and the woman held onto to it "steadfastly" and drug her 15 feet towards a U-Haul pickup truck he arrived in, the documents said. He was unsuccessful stealing the purse and ultimately let go. He then ran across Third Street, jumped into the truck and fled. The woman suffered two broken fingers on her left hand and suffered abrasions on both knees and left shoulder when she was dragged. Consolver was later identified by surveillance recordings when he was in the casino a few hours prior to the robbery, the documents said. He was booked in the Woodbury County Jail Friday on $15,000 bond. The documents did not say what town he resides in, but his custody is being held for the state of Nebraska. SANBORN, Iowa | The owners of Solsmas Punkin Patch in rural O'Brien County hope a new offering leads to a boom in business. Located just outside of Sanborn, Iowa, the popular fall destination plans to start selling fireworks on June 1, the day the states 80-year ban on the combustible product comes to an end. Fireworks will be available at the business, 6190 320th St., from June 1 to July 8 and from Dec. 10 to Jan. 3. To support the new endeavor, owners Jay and Amy Solsma are building a 2,400-square-foot storefront, which is expected to be completed by the middle of June, according to Sanborn city manager Jim Zeutenhorst. Besides fireworks, the new retail space will sell their homegrown Ruby Red popcorn, drug-free Hereford beef, pumpkins, gourds and squash, and other locally sourced items. The project was supported by revolving fund loans (RFL) from the OBrien County Economic Development Corporation and the Sanborn Electric and Telecommunications Utility. RFLs are used to attract, retain or expand business and industry, and may be used for land purchases, building purchases, building construction, equipment or machinery purchases or any other uses deemed appropriate by an oversight committee. Amy and Jay Solsma are yet another example of entrepreneurship in action, having turned a hobby into a thriving business, Kiana Johnson, executive director of OBrien County Economic Development Corporation, said in a statement. Both the Sanborn and the OBrien County RLF Committees are delighted to assist Amy and Jay in growing their business in OBrien County. Solsmas Punkin Patch was started in 1999 by Amy and Jay Solsma as a way to raise money for their childrens college fund, according to its website. SIOUX CITY | A Sioux City teen has been arrested on a felony charge after police said he shot his three-year-old sister twice in the face with a BB gun. Court documents filed Thursday said Adrian M. White, 17, shot his sister, who had to have surgery to remove one of the BBs. White was arrested on a willful injury charge, after police said he shot his sister Wednesday. The documents said he was playing with a BB gun at a home in the 400 block of West Third Street, when he pointed at the 3-year-old's face and made two shots. One BB fractured the girl's jaw, and the other BB entered near her eye and lodged next to her brain. One BB was removed by surgery, but the other was left in place, because doctors said surgery on the BB next to the brain was too risky, according to the documents. White was held in Woodbury County Jail. WASHINGTON -- National security adviser H.R. McMaster had been cut off at the knees, but somehow he managed to make himself visible above the lectern in the White House briefing room Tuesday. The night before, he had declared "false" a Post report that President Trump had given highly classified information to Russia, saying "it didn't happen." But Trump himself acknowledged in a tweet Tuesday morning that it did happen, saying he had "the absolute right" to share "facts" with Russia. And so McMaster marched to the podium with a new line. Trump, he said, "shared information in a way that is wholly appropriate." McMaster was on message: He used the phrase "wholly appropriate" nine times in his brief appearance. But in one of these iterations he let slip why he thought Trump's behavior was appropriate: "It is wholly appropriate for the president to share whatever information he thinks is necessary to advance the security of the American people." In other words, it's appropriate for Trump to say anything he wants. If Trump says it, it's by definition appropriate. This aligns nicely with a defense already being offered by some Trump loyalists, including Sen. James E. Risch (R-Idaho), who said Trump's handing of secrets to the Russians was legal because "he has the ability to declassify anything at any time without any process. So it's no longer classified the minute he utters it." But that dangerously distorts the president's role. Just because it's legal for a president to do something doesn't mean it's right. A president could do all kinds of things that are legal but disastrous. Our system relies on having a chief executive who practices some self-restraint that keeps him from testing the limits of power. Trump lacks such control -- and that's what is so alarming. He can fire the FBI director, even one leading an investigation of him -- though reports that he pressured James B. Comey to drop the investigation of former Trump aide Michael Flynn, if true, suggest possible obstruction of justice. He can have all kinds of undisclosed business conflicts of interest and use the presidency to enrich himself. He can share secrets with adversaries, compromising the cooperation of allies. The assumption is -- or was -- that a president wouldn't. "The troubling fact is the president has sweeping authority to wreak virtual havoc on this country and the world if he chooses to do so," said George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley. And Trump, he said, "seems to have a better understanding of the exemptions governing presidential conduct than the expectations." A president could, if he chose, legally release the names of all covert operatives spying for the United States around the world. He could start a war if he claimed an imminent threat. He could launch a nuclear attack. He could recognize North Korea and cut off diplomatic relations with Germany. He could close the White House to all reporters and visitors, end all contacts with the media and declare any information -- even information already published in newspapers -- to be classified. And with some unspecified provocation -- say, a terrorist attack -- he could suspend habeas corpus. Certainly, a president could be impeached for such actions -- but that wouldn't stop him in the short term. Institutional restraints -- the checks and balances in the Constitution -- "can never fully obviate the need for certain human virtues," Christopher Nadon, a government professor at Claremont McKenna College, wrote recently for the conservative Weekly Standard. Chief among these: self-control. The Founding Fathers, Nadon told me, wrote often of the president guided by "honor" and "decorum" and reined in by public scrutiny and humility. "They certainly thought the type of person who would get through to that office would have self-restraint," he said. The Constitution gives the president both specific powers (veto, appointments, treaties) and inherent powers in his role as executive. Modern presidents have stretched the bounds of executive authority. George W. Bush claimed new powers to conduct military trials and even to torture detainees. Barack Obama tested the bounds with executive actions on health care and immigration. But those abuses both seem quaint now that we have a president governing with a terrifying combination of impulsivity and ignorance. McMaster, in the closing lines of his briefing Tuesday, offered an admission about the intelligence Trump gave Russia: "I should just make, maybe, the statement here that the president wasn't even aware, you know, where this information came from." So Trump gave secrets to Russia -- but that's OK because he didn't know what he was doing. This is supposed to make us feel better? WELLINGTON, New Zealand (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 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. 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. 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. This article summarizes the recent meetings of all three HIV planning, advisory, and networking bodies in Broward County. While distinct, these three meetings covered much of the same material. All three bodies have open meetings and welcome new people. On May 1, 2017, Broward began a same-day Test-and-Treat program. Amy Newton (Broward Regional Health Planning Council) and Joshua Rodriquez (Florida Department of Health Broward) discussed it. This program should reduce the treatment initiation gap. That gap refers to the time between receiving an HIV-positive test result and beginning antiretroviral treatment (ART). People can now choose to receive 30-days of ART on the same day that they receive an HIV-positive test result. Prior to this program, people had to wait weeks before receiving ART. Community advocate, David Runkle, with just four T-cells and stage-4 cancer, had to wait twelve weeks to begin ART. A test site that also provides RWC services can offer the 30-day ART supply in-house. For most other test sites, the Florida Department of Health Broward Ryan White Care (FL-DOH-Broward-RWC) will transport someone from their testing site to a treatment site. Dr Jeffrey Beal (FL-DOH Tallahassee) has set a goal of a 30-minute average for this treatment initiation gap. Same-day Test-and-Treat programs are beginning in Broward, Jacksonville, Miami-Dade, Orlando, Palm Beach, and Tampa. Dr. Beal thought that Broward and Miami-Dade could implement Test-and-Treat in community-based organizations. Rodriquez reported that Florida Blue had cancelled some peoples insurance, despite RWC having already paid Florida Blue. FL-DOH is trying to work out this problem. RWC clients with concerns should contact their case manager. Joey Wynn, South Florida AIDS Network (SFAN) Chair, discussed federal issues. Wynn reported that the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) emerged unscathed in the proposed budget. Other programs, however, faced severe proposed cuts. He emphasized the need to act strategically, Its going to get rougher, and we have four hard years ahead. Wynn expressed anger that out-of-state activists had pressured Florida representatives. He felt that they should have discussed strategy with local activists first. At SFAN, Hilary McQuie of Health GAP discussed the funding gap in global AIDS work. Health GAP works to end the 7 billion dollar gap between funding and need. About 80 percent of all people with HIV live in sub-Saharan Africa. Globally, about 51 percent of all people with HIV still lack access to treatment. Trump has proposed massive cuts to funding international HIV programs. These proposed cuts would prevent more people from accessing HIV treatments. Announcements The Florida Department of Health has named Emilio Aponteseirra Paretti as the new Coordinator for Men who have Sex with Men in Broward County. Health GAP will host a presentation on AIDS activism in Africa at the World AIDS Museum, //www.google.com/maps/place/World+AIDS+MUSEUM+AND+Educational+Center/@26.159756,-80.130248,16z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x73dace6d52842830?hl=en-US">1201 NE 26th St. Suite 11, on June 6, at 7:30 p.m. For more information on the Broward HIV Planning Council, http://www.brhpc.org/programs/hiv-planning-council/ For more information on the Broward HIV Prevention Planning Council, please visit http://browardgreaterthan.org/broward-county-hiv-prevention-planning-council-bchppc/. Next SFAN Meeting: Friday, June 2, 2017 at 10 a.m., at the Holy Cross Healthplex, 1000 NE 56th Street, Ft. Lauderdale. SFAN welcomes newcomers. Florida Medical Center has earned a perfect score for LGBT-friendliness from the Human Rights Campaign. Meanwhile, Boca Raton Regional Hospital got a low score for the fourth time in a row from the HRCs Healthcare Equality Index. HRCs Healthcare Equality Index rates hospitals on how well they treat LGBT patients, workers and visitors. A hospital can score highly based on several criteria. For instance, its policies must explicitly state it does not discriminate against employees or patients based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It must allow a patients same-sex partner to visit them. It must give nurses and doctors training on how to care for LGBT patients. Its health benefits plan must cover gay and lesbian spouses and partners. Hospitals volunteer to share their policies with HRC, so not every hospital is rated by the LGBT rights group. Florida Medical, at 5000 West Oakland Boulevard in suburban Fort Lauderdale, got top marks in all these categories. It was a big jump from last year, when HRC noted it could not find information on the hospitals policies on visitation rights, non-discrimination, or health benefits for LGBT workers partners. Our CEO [Trey Abshier] decided it was something we should look at, said Doctor Frank Vittimberga, Florida Medicals Chief Medical Officer, And then I took up the charge and made sure that everything that needed to get done was taken care of. We needed to update patients rights policies, said Vittimberga, who lives in Wilton Manors, Patient rights policies didnt really appreciate some of the gender identity issues -- fully stating there would be no discrimination based on sexual orientation. Then there was staff training. The biggest thing is the education, Vittimberga said. That meant things like training staff to call a patient by his or her preferred pronoun and making sure health records gave patients this option. We had to change signage for our hospitals, making sure we had all-gender restrooms available for staff and patients and visitors, he said. Florida Medicals employee benefits program already covered workers same-sex partners, but the hospital did not share that information publicly. Its insurance plan also covers employees sex change surgeries and hormone therapy. This year the hospital made this information public, boosting its score with HRC. For its efforts, HRC awarded the hospital with the title of Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality. Of the 590 hospitals HRC surveyed, 303 earned this title. Boca Regional, located at 800 Meadows Road, was on the opposite end of the spectrum. It scored 25 out of a possible 100. While Boca Regional allows for equal visitation and explicitly states it does not discriminate against patients based on sexual orientation, it failed to meet HRCs other criteria. HRC found nothing in Boca Regionals policies covering discriminating against employees based on sexual orientation. Nor did the hospital train its staff on working with LGBT patients. Nor does it have policies for checking if there is a difference between its care of straight and LGBT patients. HRC did give Boca Regional partial credit for its employee benefits program. SFGN asked HRC and Boca Regional for copies of the programs, but both declined to share. HRC only shares such information about a hospital with its permission, said spokeswoman Sarah McBride. Boca Regional has consistently earned low marks from HRC since it was first rated in 2013. The fact that we opted to participate in the most current Index survey as well as past initiatives is indicative of our commitment to these matters and it gives us material feedback relative to our strengths and weaknesses in the Indexs categories, spokesman Thomas Chakurda wrote in a statement. We can assure you we are acting in a responsible manner. We will certainly learn from this years results and look forward to improving our scores in the future. When pressed on how Boca Regional would update its policies for a higher score, Chakurda declined to elaborate. Here are how other South Florida hospitals fared on HRCs 2017 report. Miami-Dade County University of Miami Hospital - 100 Veterans Affairs Miami Healthcare System - 100 Jackson Memorial - 85 Broward County Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston - 100 Westside Regional Medical Center, Plantation - 40 Palm Beach County Veterans Affairs West Palm Beach Medical Center - 100 Released Wednesday from prison, whistleblower Chelsea Manning has finally revealed a photo of herself. Okay, so here I am everyone!! Manning wrote on Instagram, alongside a photo of herself with a long awaited feminine haircut, makeup and a low-cut top. Okay, so here I am everyone!! ???? . . #HelloWorld A post shared by Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea87) on May 18, 2017 at 9:55am PDT One of Barack Obamas last acts as President was commuting Private Chelsea Mannings 35-year prison sentence. She has been in Fort Leavenworth military prison for the last seven years for leaking government documents to WikiLeaks. Manning announced that she was transgender in 2013, was denied the right to transition while in prison and sued the U.S. Army. Eventually, she was given the right to undergo gender treatment and has been on hormone treatment for the last six years. She made several suicide attempts while in prison. After being released from prison, Manning took to Instagram to celebrate her freedom. One of her first photos was a picture of her feet, writing First steps of freedom!! She also posted her first meal out of prison, a pepperoni pizza. 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 Manning will remain in active duty while her court-martial conviction is under appeal. Pvt. Manning is statutorily entitled to medical care while on excess leave in an active duty status, pending final appellate review, said Army Spokesperson Dave Foster. 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. Tony the Capo Verruso took charge in the Billings Trot at Monticello Raceway on Thursday afternoon and went right on down the road with Flirting Duezy and made every pole a winning one en route to a 1:58.1 triumph. We had the pole and I wanted her to be on the muscle so I scored her down hard, the Billings president said in the paddock after his driving victory. But I didnt expect her to be on the bit as strong as she was and when we got behind the (mobile starting) gate I had all I could do to hold her. Flirting Duezy zipped to the lead and took the field by the first stanza in :28.3. I tried backing her off but she had a mind of her own at that point. So I left her cruise right along and we passed the half in :58.3 and got by the three quarters in 1:27 and 2, Verruso added. At that point Flirting Duezy was two lengths in front of Avivas Winner, who was being driven by Tough Tony Ciuffetelli. But Avivas Winner could get no closer and he chased the eventual winner to the wire still two lengths in the rears as the photo finish camera snapped. Third place went to the betting favourite, AJs Destiny, who was handled by Buffalo Bob Davis. Flirting Duezy, is owned by Carl Gillespie and Betsy Phillips and trained by Gillespie. It was the third seasonal victory for the eight-year-old daughter of Victory Sam and the first victory of the year for Verruso who has driven 66 winners in his amateur driving career. However, the day was not over for the Billings president. After the Monticello race he headed to Yonkers Raceway where hes slated to drive his own Sams Honeybee in the $15,000 Final of the North American Amateur Drivers Associations Spring trotting series. (CKG Billings) Birth Certificate Finally Reflects Restored Life Contact: Liberty Counsel, 407-875-1776, Media@LC.org; Press Kit SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 19, 2017 /Standard Newswire/ -- It was 34 years to the day that Walt Heyer's birth certificate was changed from "male" to "female" that his restored birth certificate finally arrived in his mail reflecting his birth sex as "male." Heyer's first attempt to restore his birth certificate was in 1989, after realizing his "sex reassignment surgery" was a grave mistake. He made numerous unsuccessful attempts over 28 years to restore his original certificate to "male." In 2017, with help from Liberty Counsel, Heyer was finally successful in having his birth certificate changed back to "male," after he had experienced numerous denials by the State of California. Sexually abused as a boy by a family member, combined with his grandmother's decision to secretly clothe him as a girl, Heyer struggled with gender dysphoria, sexual abuse, alcohol and drug abuse. Heyer finally experienced restoration and healing from the transgender lifestyle after he embraced a relationship with Jesus Christ. Now, Heyer publicly shares his story at numerous conferences and churches throughout the country, and he has been featured in the January 2017 publication of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association' Decision Magazine and in World Magazine in February of this year. Heyer's work on transgenderism includes 19 articles published in thefederalist.com and nine articles published in thepublicdiscourse.com. "I see the tragic consequences of polices to expand gender/sex beyond male and female, in the desperate letters I receive from those who regret gender transitioning and from the families of those who are still caught in the transgender delusion," said Heyer. "Liberty Counsel is honored to stand with Walt Heyer," said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. "He is an amazing testimony of the life-transforming power of Jesus. Walt was searching for identity in the wrong places until he found his identity in Jesus. To suggest that people can change their sex like they change clothes or dye their hair is dangerous. Walt realized that neither hormone medicine nor plastic surgery satisfied the void in his heart. That void was satisfied by Jesus and his true identity was restored. Children should be affirmed in who they really are, not as the pro-LGBT activists push them to be," said Staver. Liberty Counsel is an international nonprofit, litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family since 1989, by providing pro bono assistance and representation on these and related topics. I wrote a post yesterday on the 'crisis' of the Indian IT industry . My essential point in this was that while the Indian media sees a sudden crisis in the Indian IT sector and summarily blaming it on Trump, the problems were simmering for a long time and blaming it on Trump Administration's current or intended policies would be mistaken. And, besides, while a number of observers - Rajat Gupta, formerly of McKinsey fame (and Galleon infamy), being the latest - blame the leadership of Indian IT companies for lack of vision and inaction, I thought this was unfair, it was hard to change business models for mammoth publicly listed companies: In fact, this is exactly what these companies are trying to do, triggering all the crisis talk. However, all this don't point to a solution, which some reading the post pointed out. To this, I do not think there is any silver bullet. Many, Rajat Gupta included, have spoken about educational change, but that is neither short term nor can happen on its own. The two hundred year old culture of Indian middle classes of educating themselves for a job is unlikely to vanish away short of a complete catastrophe. Some talks of start-up ecosystems, but in India, the start-ups are limited to the privileged and the celebrity, and while many Indians on the other end of the spectrum have always been entrepreneurs, the street-level entrepreneurship in India is seen as a sign of failure, not of ambition and grit. And, the culture of innovation - that some people think is missing - does not happen on its own, without a 'venturesome economy', where the consumers are not risk-taking and everything remains so top-down. Instead of pretending to find an easy solution though, it may be more profitable for us to draw some lessons from China. Indeed, this is bound to raise eyebrows - what does Indian Software industry have to learn from China - but I think our impressions that India is global IT leader may be mistaken. For this, my debt of gratitude should go to Roopen Roy, whose blog post a few years ago contrasted the trajectories of IT industries in the two countries very effectively ( see here ). Before I proceed to my views, and elaborate why I think the comparison has value in the present context, it is worth disabusing ourselves from the notion of India's IT leadership by looking at some of the figures quoted by Mr Roy: Indian IT industry is projected to be worth $225 billion by 2020 (by Nasscom, an industry body) compared to the estimated size of China's software industry, $868 billion in 2016. About 20% of Indian IT revenues are from the domestic market, whereas approximately 50% of China's is. And, whereas the biggest names in Indian IT are TCS, Wipro, Infosys, Cognizant (despite its US roots) etc., all IT services companies, the biggest in China are Alibaba, an e-commerce company, Tencent, a product company taking on Facebook, and Baidu, a search engine company. So, here is the paradoxes: The Chinese IT industry is perhaps 5 times the size of India's, but we hear about it less because they are more focused on domestic market, and play less of the global outsourcing game (of which India has a 50+% market share). However, the Chinese IT companies are successfully playing the 'product' game, and even leading the technology race (for example, the development of 5G standards). One could point to the restricted market access in China for Western companies, both in terms of active legislation and the Chinese language being a barrier, and indeed, echoing the standard western complaints, point to the Chinese model of 'copy-and-catchup'. But that hardly holds water as the Chinese companies are now competing successfully with Western ones in the product game, and filing for patents as fast the American companies do. My point is that the narrative of industrial development we have come to believe in, the free market thesis driven by individual enterprise, needs revising. The idea, borrowed from British Industrial Revolution (or from the standard narrative of British Industrial Revolution), is that the Government should get out of the way and let an industry develop, and the global competition, a demand side factor, will ensure innovation and competitiveness, rather than any supply side factor. But what is happening in Indian IT perhaps shows the limitations of this idea in three related ways. First, that the Indian IT industry developed as an offshoot of globalisation - opening of Indian markets, availability of submarine cables and commercial availability of bandwidth etc - and established a dependent relationship with global markets from day one. One may make the assumption that a company, successful in providing basic services, would climb up the value chain, the experience of Indian IT shows that the reality works the opposite way. In fact, if there were a few Indian IT companies focusing on newer technologies in the 90s, they were superseded by the work other companies were doing in Y2K work. The latter could carry on doing application maintenance whereas many of the former lost their shirts in the Dotcom burst. Instead of climbing the value chain, Indian IT industry remained a victim of its success. Second, one may easily overlook this, but the roots of the Indian IT Industry were very much in the 'import substitution' culture of the 70s and 80s (many Indian IT companies, HCL and Wipro among them, started off when IBM was made to leave India in 1977). Its growth was sustained by computerisation of government services and financial services (mainly government owned those days). However, since the 90s, the Government embraced the model of limiting the state involvement and generally desisted from big and transformational IT projects (which has made a comeback recently, in the form of Aadhar cards and various e-Governance projects. So, the government stopped playing the role of 'the entrepreneurial state', as the economist Mariana Mazzucato would call it. This is in line with the Thatcher-Reagan era consensus, but completely at odds with the reality of what the American government had done (funding research, developing military technologies which were later commercialised, and being the first customer of the IT). China followed the model of US government of the 60s and 70s, whereas Indian government allowed the Indian IT industry to develop itself following the logic of global markets. Third, the government also allowed the Higher Education to grow through private initiatives, following the logic of the markets. This meant an enormous expansion of the Higher Ed system, but all in a dependent relationship with the IT industry, which was the employer of choice and whose patronage built or destroyed institutional reputation. The Higher Education was allowed to develop as a factory for IT Talent. There was none of the deliberate policy-making befitting an entrepreneurial state guiding the development of the sector, but rather, apart from social conservatism, the policy was guided by the free-market model of a series of market-based dependencies. Just the opposite in China, where private education was allowed, but the management of these institutions were minutely controlled (often, it is hard to distinguish public and private institutions in China). The Indian companies which copied Western business models - local E-commerce companies, payment service providers, Uber knockoffs - built cheap and cheerful models, but all within the context of global open market model, content to dominate local markets and hopeful, more often than not, an exit through acquisition of a bigger global rival. In conclusion, I believe that the pride India displays about its successful IT industry is somewhat misplaced both in degree and its content. We are looking at the wrong parameters when we celebrate the dominance of India in the global outsourcing market: Benchmarking against China, and indeed, against South Korea or Taiwan, would have a sobering effect. Further, that the Indian IT industry developed as a product of globalisation, and free of Government policy (mostly), is not a great thing: The limits of the model is now well exposed. The bad news is that this may adequately out the myth inherent in the free-market thesis of development. The good news is that the current, activist Indian government can perhaps step in now to transform the IT Industry. This may indeed seem like wishful thinking, but given the consensus that urban job creation in India needs some emergency measures, this may indeed be a good place to start. Researchers at Washington State University warn that a solution to southwest Washingtons hoof rot problem might not arrive any time soon. Despite the fact that Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill earlier this month which directed WSU Vancouver to monitor elk, with help from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the universitys scientists are still waiting on the Legislature to determine where funding for this project will come from. Charlie Powell, the public information officer for WSUs College of Veterinary Medicine, said that although they have done some analysis of hoof rot samples from 2009-13, they are still trying to discover what the exact catalyst for the disease might be. A lot of people will speculate that theres a simple answer to this, Powell said. Quite frankly, when it comes to biology, there are no simple answers. These things are complex, and well just have to see what we find. Powell also said that even if they eventually find whats causing hoof rot in native elk, implementing a solution is no easy task. Thats the million-dollar question: How do you implement something to prevent disease and treat disease in wild animals? Powell said. Managing diseases in wildlife is very difficult. Theyre wild; Theyre not penned up like domestic animals are, and its difficult to provide effective treatment or preventative measures. According to Dr. Kristen Mansfield from WDFW, the hoof rot samples sent to WSUs Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab at its Vancouver campus came from three different areas: One group was from Cowlitz and Clark Counties, which are known disease areas for elk. The second was from nearby counties that didnt have known issues with hoof rot, including Pacific County, as a control group. Finally, WSU also analyzed elk from the east half of the Cascades in Yakima and Kittitas Counties. Scott Harris, who works for WDFWs Montesano branch, has collected samples in the area, and has also assisted tribes in that area, such as the Skokomish Tribal Nation and the Quinault tribe, with monitoring hoof rot. The researcher agreed with Powell that implementation for solving the hoof rot dilemma would be almost impossible, partially because it can be difficult to tell when deer actually suffer from the condition. Id like to be optimistic, but weve got to be realistic at this point, Harris said. The big thing is if (researchers) can figure out how it is transferred, or what other underlying reasons there are. Directly responsible or indirectly impossible, they believe theres other environmental conditions out there. Theres a lot to look at. Both of the two WDFW representatives, as well as Powell, agree that pesticides and/or herbicides are most likely not the cause of the hoof rot explosion. Some local sportsmen disagree. Gene Crocker, a member of Cowlitz Game and Anglers for 20 years, has noticed how hoof rot has decimated southwest Washingtons deer and elk population. He thinks that the cause is actually quite simple, despite what Powell said. I found out that after (Weyerhaeuser) logs downed trees, they spray it with a herbicide, Crocker said. This kills brown-leaf plants for 3-5 years. If you do this for a certain amount of time, it kills the plants that animals eat to stay healthy. Crocker had a very strong response to the researchers and scientists who believe that man-made chemicals arent affecting the local population of elk and other wildlife. They dont know what theyre talking about, the lifelong Cowlitz resident said. They havent been here like I have for 78 years and seen how things have changed. Deer run around with hair loss. Pigeons have disappeared completely. We have very few grouse. Honeybees have ceased to exist in the wild. Mark Smith, owner and builder of Eco Park resort near Mt. St. Helens, said he too has witnessed the decimation of the areas elk and deer population. Although he is pleased that Gov. Inslee has called upon WSU researchers to study the disease, the resort owner, like Crocker, believes man-made chemicals used in logging clearcuts is a part of the problem, along with animal overpopulation and lingering effects from the Mt. St. Helens eruption. Ninety percent of all the chemicals that (Weyerhaeuser) uses say dont use on grazing land, Smith said. I have been asking the question for quite a while now, why do we allow forest land to be sprayed with non-grazing areas, when deer and other wildlife graze in these areas? Powell says that hes talked with frustrated citizens like Crocker and Smith before, but urged hunters and conservationists to be patient and wait through the process. We certainly understand the publics urgency, and their concern for these wild animals, Powell said. Anytime that you have difficulty finding the cause of a disease, it becomes frustrating for people professionally, and I would say thats where were at right now, and we just have to wait and see what weve determined. After nearly nine years of analysis, the Bonneville Power Administration has decided to not build the costly and controversial high-voltage transmission line known as the I-5 Corridor Reinforcement Project. The 79-mile-long, 500-kilovolt transmission line would have run from Castle Rock to Troutdale, Ore. It was projected to cost around $722 million and would have been the first major transmission constructed west of the Cascades in about 40 years. Steve Kern, general manager of Cowlitz PUD, praised Bonneville for looking at creative ways to manage its transmission needs without building a new, expensive project. These are costs that our customers can avoid long term. From Cowlitz PUDs perspective, this is great news and great news for our PUD customers because overall it will help keep our costs down, Kern told The Daily News Thursday. Elliot Mainzer, BPAs administrator and CEO, said he decided not to build the project after examining its size, rising costs and its local impacts after the release of the projects final impact statement in February 2016. Those examinations, in turn, prompted BPA to look more carefully at how it operates its transmission systems and how it forecasts electrical demand, power generation and changes in the market. As a result, BPA plans to take a more flexible approach to its operations. Now the agency is confident it can meet the regions power needs without building the line. My decision today reflects a shift for BPA from the traditional approach of primarily relying on new construction to meet changing transmission needs, to embracing a more flexible, scalable, and economically and operationally efficient approach to managing our transmission system, Mainzer wrote in a letter addressed to parties interested in the I-5 Corridor Reinforcement Project. In an interview with The Columbian, Mainzer said congestion is still a problem along the north-south corridor. However, the agency will address congestion with a suite of tools, including a less conservative and more risk informed approach in its capacity calculations, the development of new tools to monitor the grid in real time, collaboration with other regional utilities, and will look to nonwire solutions such as battery storage and electrical flow control devices. Traditionally, the solution to a problem like this is, Lets go build a line and lines are great they provide a lot of certainty and capacity, he said. But the question was not necessarily what transmission line we have to build, but how do we have to solve the transmission problem. Mainzer said the death of the project doesnt mean an end to transmission-line construction in the Pacific Northwest. But in the future, the agency plans to look at finding more efficient ways to move power and to build at the smallest possible scale. While the BPA invested nine years into studying the project, Mainzer said the agency is still calculating how much money it invested in the project. Were in the process of calculating the final amount but it was a significant sum, he said, noting that its now pursuing alternatives that are less expensive than building the transmission line. Controversial project When the I-5 Corridor Reinforcement Project was first proposed, BPA officials saw the line as necessary for meeting the electrical demands of the rampant population growth between the Portland and Seattle metro areas. But because the transmission system feeds customers along the entire West Coast, the new line would benefit customers in the Southwestern United States. Project designers considered several paths for the line, but in 2012 identified the preferred Central Alternative. It would have started at Castle Rock and run about 7 miles east of I-5 before veering east and crossing the Clark-Cowlitz county line near Merwin Dam. It would have then run between Camas and Washougal before crossing the Columbia River and ending at Troutdale. The project was highly controversial with property owners along the proposed route. Many of those who lived in the proposed path worried about the lines potential impacts on their property values and their health. Some formed citizen groups that rallied against the project and advocated for alternative solutions. The cities of Camas and Washougal were also critical of the new larger transmission lines and urged BPA to consider other alternatives. BPA officials at the time said they reviewed more than 10,000 comments submitted on the projects draft environmental impact statement. Mainzer said he understands the uncertainty the project created for some area land and homeowners and that hes thankful for the time, energy and patience they also put into the decision-making process. I simply could not risk making a decision of this magnitude without first acquiring the best possible information, and I can say with confidence today that Bonneville is making the best decision for the region. In a statement released by the BPA, Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Camas, said she commended the agency for working with landowners, community groups and municipalities. Frankly, BPAs willingness to reverse course on the planned 500-kilovolt lattice-steel-tower transmission line that would have bisected our communities is somewhat unprecedented, she said. It should serve as a model for other public entities who need to be willing to constantly reassess their decisions to make sure the community is at the center of them. Swedish automaker Skoda has unveiled its all-new Skoda Karoq SUV, which is expected to sit between the full-size Kodiaq SUV and the smaller, yet capable Skoda Yeti (while it is still on sale). The Skoda Karoq looks almost identical to its elder sibling, the Kodiaq, but cuts down on size, and a few corners, to make it a worthy alternative for those on a tighter budget. After the Kodiaq (a species of bear that is found in Alaska), Skoda continues where it left off with the name of its new SUV, the Karoq. The Karoq however is not another bear species but is the name of a tribe that lives off the coast of Alaska. Clearly, there's a broader theme here, but it surely communicates the brand's image for its SUV lineup, which suggests themes of going off road and into the wilderness. Branding aside, this is the replacement of the Skoda Yeti that we seen spy shots of in the past. It is however, larger than the Yeti, but smaller than the mighty Kodiaq. Right now, thanks to the new name, it isn't clear whether Skoda will cull the Yeti model altogether in favour of its new SUV range. The design language is very similar to what we have with the Skoda Kodiaq. The sharp design features start from the 3D grille upfront and flows into the headlamps, keeping in line with the fresh new look of Skoda's recent lineup, including the Octavia and the Superb. There's the typical bump on the bonnet that splits it into two and a broad air dam below with the fog lights that have almost been absorbed by the headlamp cluster above it. The windows on the sides along with the muscular wheel arches along with the rear end look edgy, with strong lines and contemporary looks that are very similar to the Kodiaq. The compact SUV measures 4,382 mm in length, is 1,841 mm wide, and 1,605 mm high. The increase in size benefits the passengers. The vehicle offers knee room at 69 mm and a long wheelbase of 2,638 mm. The vehicle packs in a VarioFlex seating system that consists of three separate seats. Each one can be individually adjusted and also be completely removed. When removed, the SUV can be converted into a van with a maximum load capacity of 1,810 litres. The Skoda Karoq offers a comprehensive range of driver assistance systems. New comfort systems include Park Assist, Lane Assist and Traffic Jam Assist. Blind Spot Detect, Front Assist with predictive pedestrian protection and Emergency Assist serve to increase safety. Skoda will introduce the Karoq in five different variants globally. These would consist of two petrol and three diesel options. The displacement ranges are 1.0, 1.5, 1.6 and 2.0 litres; the power range is from 85 kW (115 PS) to 140 kW (190 PS). All powertrains feature turbocharged direct injection units as well as start -stop- technology and brake energy recovery. All can be paired with either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DSG. The 2.0 TDI with 140 kW (190 PS) comes as standard with 44 drive and 7-speed DSG. The new 1.5 TSI packs in a special cylinder deactivation feature. tech2 News Staff Lenovo has just announced its new gaming brand Legion for the Indian market. According to the company the new gaming brand is the outcome of building and listening to a global community of gamers to better understand what they need and value the most. The company also announced its first two products under the brand which included the Y520 and the Y720. Bhaskar Choudhuri, Marketing Director, Lenovo India said, We are extremely excited to bring the Legion brand to our fast-growing community of Indian gamers. 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 gamers demand for a superior and immersive experience with VR and outstanding audio capabilities. The Legion Y520 has an aluminum-brushed body and weighs less than 2.5 kgs. It can be configured to a 7th-generation Intel Core i7 with 16 GB of RAM expandable to up to 32 GB. For storage there is a 1 TB hard drive with a 128 GB SSD combo. It also features 2 x 2W Harman speakers and Dolby Audio Premium. For graphics you get an Nvidia GeForce 1050 4 GB DDR5 card. The Legion Y720 is the worlds first Dolby Atmos Windows based PC and features NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 graphics. It is also one of the first Oculus certified VR-ready machine. Just like the Y520, this one can be configured with a a 7th-generation Intel Core i7 processorwith 16 GB RAM. It also features an HDMI port, a Thunderbolt 3 port and an optional RGB backlit keyboard. There is an option for an integrated Xbox One Wireless receiver as well which can support up to four controllers simultaneously. Both the Y520 and Y720 feature a 15.6-inch IPS LCD panel and run on Windows 10. Gamers can easily customize settings such as audio, active keys, cooling, and network priority. Lenovo Nerve Sense allows them to record highlights for replaying or uploading to streaming sites. The laptops have been designed with optimized thermal engineering to combat heat even during the most resource-intensive gaming session. The engineered fans and vents are strategically located close to the graphics card and processors to keep hot air moving while the rear-placed thermal vents remove that heat. The Extreme Cooling shortcut within Lenovo Nerve Sense can be used for gaming firefights that require an additional push of cooling. As part of the Legion gaming kit, gamers get a Y gaming armoured backpack to enjoy mobile gaming wherever they go. The Y gaming optical mouse and Y gaming stereo headset are also available at an additional cost. The Y520 range starts at Rs 92,490 while the Y720 starts at Rs 149,990. tech2 News Staff At the ongoing Google I/O 2017 the search giant announced a new reason to use its search service, job hunting. Google CEO, Sundar Pichai announced a new service called "Google for Jobs"that runs within the company Google Search and uses machine learning to search and categorise all types of jobs. Pichai gave the hundreds of developers attending the event a brief preview of the search engine and how it uses machine learning to find and segregate not just high-end professional jobs but also service industry and entry-level postings. Google's thinking behind its new search offering is to simply connect job seekers to the best and closest openings by employers that should also help employers find the right candidates faster. The process will be a bit slow and in a few weeks from now, Google will begin to recognize when users in the US search for jobs in Google Search by typing job queries. At the moment, Pichai said that Google is working with traditional job search providers like LinkedIn, Monster and others and provide users with a number of tools to help users filter out their search results by title, category, date posted and even whether its full or part-time. Additionally, job seekers will also get an idea about the commute times to their potential workplace, which should also help them decide whether they should go in for it to begin with. So where do the machine learning bits come in? Well, Google is using machine learning to understand how one job title would be related to other or a particular industry, that should help in clustering them together. So if a user is looking for jobs in "retail", he/she will find "retail associate" or "store clerk" or "store manager" upon typing the query. The move is simple, yet effective and takes on a task with little risk involved for Google. Once you are done with your job search, there will also be a simple one-click "Apply" to submit your application. hidden A federal judge on Thursday dismissed two lawsuits seeking to hold Facebook Inc liable for supporting terrorist groups by letting them use its social media platform to further their goals, including violence against Jews. U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis in Brooklyn dismissed a $3 billion damages lawsuit by relatives of American victims of Hamas attacks, saying the federal Communications Decency Act regulating internet content immunizes Facebook from liability. That law "prevents courts from entertaining civil actions that seek to impose liability on defendants like Facebook for allowing third parties to post offensive or harmful content or failing to remove such content once posted," Garaufis wrote. Garaufis also dismissed a lawsuit by roughly 20,000 Israeli citizens who feared harm from future violence. He said they had no legal right to demand changes to Facebook's platform because they could not show any "actual or imminent" injury. The decision is a setback to efforts to hold companies such as Facebook and Twitter Inc liable for failing to better police users' online speech. Robert Tolchin, a lawyer for both sets of the plaintiffs, said Garaufis appeared to sidestep limits under the federal Anti-Terrorism Act on aiding groups such as Hamas, a Palestinian group that the Department of State designates a foreign terrorist organization. "There is a clash between statutes that the court needed to reconcile but ignored," Tolchin said in an interview. "We are planning to appeal because we see major errors in the decision." In an email, Facebook said "there is no place on Facebook for groups that engage in terrorist activity or for content that expresses support for such activity, and we take swift action to remove this content when it's reported to us. We sympathize with the victims and their families." Congress passed the Communications Decency Act of 1996 to regulate online pornography. Garaufis said applications of that law in other contexts have arguably undermined incentives for internet service providers to remove content, but that it was enough for now to show that Congress' "focus" was to limit liability. The Brooklyn lawsuits drew notice after Facebook's law firm Kirkland & Ellis initially assigned a junior associate to represent the Palo Alto, California-based company, prompting Garaufis to ask if it took the matter seriously. Facebook quickly flew its deputy general counsel, Paul Grewal, a former federal judge, from California to Brooklyn, where he assured Garaufis that the company had "a very serious interest in keeping terrorism content off" its platform. Reuters IANS Humans have long been shaping Earth's landscape, but now scientists know that we also can shape our near-space environment with radio communications. The impact of such communications extend out beyond our atmosphere, creating a bubble surrounding Earth, NASA's Van Allen Probes, which study electrons and ions in the near-Earth environment, have revealed. A certain type of communications -- very low frequency, or VLF, radio communications -- were 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, showed the results of a study published in the journal Space Science Reviews. "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," said Phil Erickson, Assistant Director at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Haystack Observatory, Westford, Massachusetts. 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 Earth's surface, such as NASA's Van Allen Probes. The probes 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 Earth's magnetic fields. With further study, VLF transmissions may serve as a way to remove excess radiation from the near-Earth environment. Plans are already underway to test VLF transmissions in the upper atmosphere to see if they could remove excess charged particles ? which can appear during periods of intense space weather, such as when the sun erupts with giant clouds of particles and energy, NASA said. Acknowledgement of liability savesbarred by limitation High Court Division (Special Original Jurisdiction) Md Rezaul Haque J Md Khurshid Alam Sarkar J Bangladesh Krishi Bank and another ............ ................ Petitioners vs Joint District Judge, 1st Court and Artha Rin Adalat & others Munshigonj...................... ................Respondents Judgment May 3rd, 2016 Limitation Act (IX of 1908) Sections 19(1), 20, 180 and 182(2) Artha Rin Adalat Ain (VIII of 2003) Section 28 Mere acknowledgement of liability and payment is enough, such acknowledgement and payment is the foundation of an action. It is well settled that the acknowledgement or payment must be made within time. It is not necessary to contain a promise to pay in an acknowledgment. Mere admission of statement of account by letter and payment saves limitation. . ..... (17) Angels Corporation (Pvt) Ltd vs Bangladesh, 59 DLR 610 ref. Quamrun Nesa, Advocate-For the Petitioner AKM Asiful Haque Advocate-For the Respondent Nos. 3 to 5. Judgment Md Rezaul Haque J : Upon an application under Article 102(2) of the Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh filed by the petitioner, rule was issued in the following term. "Let a Rule be issued calling upon the respondents to show cause as to why the impugned order dated 28-6-2010 (Annexure-C to the Writ Petition) passed by the learned Joint District Judge, First Court and Artha Rin Adalat, Munshiganj in Artha Rin Decree Execution Case No. 19 of 2003 dismissing the cases should not be declared to have been passed without jurisdiction and is of no legal effect and/or pass such other or further order or orders as to this court may deem fit and proper." 2. The relevant facts are that the petitioner as plaintiff filed Artha Rin suit No.3 of 1992 in the court of Subordinate Judge, Munshiganj, for recovery of loan amounting to Taka 1,71,00,311.50 (one crore seventy one lac three hundred Eleven and fifty paisa) stating that the respondent No.2 National Cold Storage Ltd. took loan of Taka 1,35,00,000 (One Crore Thirty Five lac) from the petitioner Bangladesh Krishi Bank, Betka Branch, Munshiganj, but the respondent failed to repay the loan within the stipulated time and then the petitioner bank instituted the suit for realization of loan money. The respondent No.5 who was defendant No.3 contested the suit by filing written statement stating, inter alia, that the company incurred huge loss due to sever flood in 1988 and moreover they suffered loss due to low price of potato in 1989 and thereafter following the application of the company the government enlisted the company as sick industry and the company got some facilities for repayment of loan as sick industry and, as such, the suit is liable to be dismissed. 3. During pendency of the suit the plaintiff and the defendant jointly filed Solenama for disposal of the suit as per terms of the Solenama. 4. Thereafter, the Subordinate Judge, Munshiganj by his judgment and decree dated 31-7-1993 and 8-8-1993 respectively decreed the suit on the basis of the said compromise/ Solenama. 5. The petitioner ultimately failed to pay the decreetal amount as per terms and conditions of the compromise decree and then the decree holder Bank being petitioner instituted execution case No. 19 of 2003 on 2-7-2003. That the attempt for selling the mortgaged property in auction failed in the Execution case and the court issued certificate under Section 33(5) of the Artha Rin Adalat Ain, 2003 in respect of mortgaged property in favour of the decreeholder bank vide order dated 25-1-2005 and 20-7-2005. 6. That the respondent company being aggrieved by the said order of the court filed Writ Petition No. 1493 of 2006 before the High Court Division challenging the legality of the aforesaid orders as well as the very proceedings of the Execution Case contending that the Execution case is barred by limitation. 7. The High Court Division after hearing the writ petition made the Rule absolute in part vide Judgment dated 4-2-2009 holing that the impugned order as to issuing certificate under Section 33(5) of the Artha Rin Adalat Ain 2003 before compliance of the provision of subsection (4) of Section 33 was illegal but the Hon'ble Court refrained from giving any finding on the point of limitation and left the question of limitation to be decided by the executing court itself. 8. Thereafter the executing court i.e. the joint District Judge, First Court, Munshiganj, vide his order dated 28-6-2010 dismissed the Execution Case No. 10 of 2003 on the ground of limitation. 9. Against which the decree holder Bank being petitioner filed this writ petition and obtained the instant Rule. 10. Mrs Quamrun Nesa, the learned Advocate appearing for the Petitioner submits that the decree of the Artha Rin Suit was drawn up on 31-7-1993 under the Artha Rin Adalat Ain 1990, where there was no special period of limitation for execution of a decree, so, the period for execution would be 3 years as per Article 182 of the Limitation Act and according to Article 182(7) the period of limitation would start from the date of payment fixed by the decree. Learned Advocate further submits that in the instant case decree was passed to pay the dccreetal amount in 6 equal installment i.e. by 7-8-1999 and the respondent paid some money as per decree upto 1997 and as per section 19(1) of the Limitation Act, when before the expiry of normal period of limitation in respect of any property or right an acknowledgement of liability is made in writing a fresh period of limitation shall be computed from the time when the acknowledgement was signed and in the case on hand the respondent Company paid some money upto 20-12-1997 and admitted its liability vide different letters upto 11-4-2001 before expiry of the period of limitation for instituting the execution case and according to the learned Advocate each acknowledgement has created fresh starting point of limitation and in that view of the matter the execution case is not barred by limitation. 11. On the contra, Mr AKM Asiful Haque the learned counsel for the Respondent submits that the earlier Ain of 1990 was repealed and new enactment came into force in the year 2003 and as per saving clause (Section 60) the decree passed by the Artha Rin Adalat in the earlier Ain will be governed under the present law, as such, the present Jari case has been filed after long lapse of limitation period which has been properly observed by the Artha Rin Adalat. Mr Haque further Submits that in view of the terms of the compromise decree last payment was made in the year 1997 and after that no payment has been made, thus, Section 28 of the Artha Rin Adalat Ain, 2003 is applicable in this case. Mr Haque further submits that though the learned Advocate for the Petitioner demands that there is an acknowledgment by the respondent but there was no Specific acknowledgement as to when he is going to pay the decreetal amount. So, the Execution case has been filed after the period of limitation, as such, the Rule is liable to be discharged. In support of his submission the learned counsel relied upon the case of Angels corporation (PVT) Ltd vs Bangladesh, reported in 59 DLR 610 he also referred one unreported case being civil Appeal No. 134 of 2007, Rupali Bank limited vs M/s Brick Linkers Ltd, passed on 15-2-2011 by the Appellant Division. 12. We have heard the Learned Advocate for both the parties, perused the application along with connected papers. 13. In the present matter the application for execution of the petitioner was rejected by the learned Judge, Artha Rin Adalat, Munshiganj, on point of limitation. It appears from the' record that Bangladesh Krishi Bank filed Artha Rin suit No. 3 of 1992 in the Court of Subordinate Judge, Munshigonj, for recovery of loan amount of Taka 171,00,311.50, as the respondent National Cold Storage took loan of an amount of Taka 1,35,00,000 from the Krishi Bank. The suit was contested by the defendant by filing written objection, the contention was that the company incurred loss due to severe flood in the year 1988, moreover they also met with loss in the following years and on the prayer of the company, Government enlisted the industry as sick industry and the company got some facilities for repayment of loan amount, thereafter, during pendency of the suit both parties filed a Solenama on the basis of which a decree was passed and the Solenam was made part of the decree vide Judgment and decree dated 31-7-1993 and 8-8-1993 respectively. The respondent company ultimately failed to repay the decreetal amount as per terms and conditions of the solenama and then the present petitioner filed Execution case but the attempt for selling the mortgaged property in auction was failed as such the learned Judge of the Artha Rin Adalat on the prayer of the petitioner issued certificate under Section 33(5) of the Artha Rin Adalat Ain , 2003. Against which the company filed Writ Petition before the High Court Division in which this Division observed that the impugned order of issuing certificate under Section 33(5) of the Artha Rin Adalat Ain 2003 before complying the provision of subsection 4 of Section 33 is illegal but refrained from giving any observation as to point of limitation and let this point to be decided by the executing Court. 14. It appears from the decree that the respondent Company got facilities of remissions of 75% simple interest and 100% penal interest amounting to Taka 85,45,471 accrued on the loan amount on condition that the respondent company would repay outstanding amount of Taka 95,54,602.25 by installments within 6 years. It also appears from the petition that the respondent company paid some money on different dates upto 1997, it is evident from record that the respondent Company applied to the petitioner Bank on 20-1-1996 praying for rescheduling the loan amount and accordingly, the Bank extended the period of payment which was earlier given to the respondent Company. The respondent Company also applied further to the Bank on 30-11-1996, 30-12-1997, 12-4-1998 and lastly on 11-4-2001 for extention of time to repay the loan amount, the Government also gave some facilities to the respondent as the industry became sick. 15. The moot question before us is whether the execution case is barred by limitation, as it has been initialed after long 10 years. From the Ain 1990 it appears that there was no specific period of limitation for filing Execution case of a decree; so, in that case the period of filing the 1st application for execution case is 3 years as after Article 182 of the Limitation Act. Article 182 provides the inner limit of filing the 1st application for execution whereas Section 48 of the Code of Civil Procedure prescribes the outer limit of filing any application for execution which is 12 years and which cannot be extended by any means except in a case of fraud or force, Article 182(7) provides that the period of limitation starts from when the Judgment debtor fails to pay the decreetal amount within the stipulated lime fixed by the decree. In the case on hand the respondent Company was asked to pay the decreetal amount by 6 installments in 6 years. So, as per decree the time for calculating limitation starts from 7-8-1999. This is normal calculation of starting point of limitation. Now let us see if we take a more strict view that the limitation starts from the date of 1st default and assuming that the Judgment debtor has so defaulted (though there was payments) then the starting point of limitation would be 7-8-1994 (as the decree was passed on 8-8-1993) and the expiry would be on 7-8-1997 but since from the record it is evident that there is acknowledgment, prayer for extension of time on 20-1-1996, 30-11-1996, 30-12-1997, 12-4-1998 and so on last of which was 11-4-2001 as well as payment was made up to 21-2-1997 then each of these applications and payment gave rise to a fresh start of limitation as per Section 19 and 20 of the limitation Act. Section 19(1) of the Limitation Act, provides as under 19 Effect of acknowledgment in writing- (1) Where, before the expiration of the period prescribed for a suit or application in respect of any properly or right, an acknowledgment of liability in respect of such property or right has been made in writing sinned by the party against whom such property or right is claimed, or by some person through whom he derives title or liability, a fresh period of limitation shall be computed from the time when the acknowledgment was so signed." 16. It is clear from explanation (iii) of Section 19 that this Section is also applicable in case of the execution of decree. On the other hand Section 20 of the Limitation Act provides as under:- "20. Effect of payment on account of debt or of interest on legacy- (1) Where payment on account of J debt or of interest on a legacy is made before the expiration of the prescribed period by the person liable to pay the debt or legacy, or by his duly authorised agent, a fresh period of limitation shall be computed from the time when the payment was made: Provided that, save in the case of a payment of interest made before the 1st day of January, 1928, an acknowledgment of the payment appears in the handwriting of, or in a writing signed by the person making the payment. (2) Effect of Receipt of Produce of Mortgaged land. Where mortgaged land is in the possession of the Mortgagee, the receipt of the rent or produce of such land shall be deemed to be a payment for the purpose of Sub-section(l)." 17. As it is evident from record that the respondent Company paid some money upto 2-12-1997 and admitted its liability in writing as to repay the loan amount through different letters upto 11-4-2001 before expiry of the period of limitation of instituting of Execution case. From Plain reading of Section 19(1) and 20 of the Limitation Act. it appears that mere acknowledgement of liability and payment is enough, such acknowledgement and payment is the foundation of an action. It is well settled that the acknowledgement or payment must be made within time. It is not necessary to contain a promise to pay in an acknowledgment. Mere admission of statement of account by letter and payment saves limitation. Moreover, as the borrower made payment upto 2-12-1997 and admitted to pay the decreetal amount time to time (upto 11-4-2001), so the period of limitation has to be counted from the aforesaid date and the execution case was started on 2-7-2003, i.e. the execution case has been filed within 3 years from the last date of admission/ acknowledgment as to payment of the loan amount by the respondent borrower which is also not beyond 12 years from the decree., So, in our view the execution case has been filed within the period of limitation. The respondent Company has taken different pleas to drag the matter this way or that way, it has tried to delay the matter. The contention of the learned Advocate for the respondent Company as to that the period of limitation would be counted as per Artha Rin Adalat Ain, 2003 has no legal footing to stand as the right of the Decree holder bank accrued under the provision of Limitation Act and the Code of Civil Procedure and it was not beyond 1 year or 6 years from the date when the Artha Rin Adalat Ain, 2003 came to force. The decisions referred by him has no resemblance with this case. 18. Considering the facts and circumstances as discussed above, the relevant provisions of law and the finding and observation made herein above we are of the view that the writ petitioner has been able to substantiate the grounds taken in support of the Rule. Thus, the Rule succeeds. In the result, the Rule is made absolute, however, there will be no order as to costs. Singapore keen to invest in 9 sectors of Bangladesh Singapore keen to invest in 9 sectors in the port city of Chittagong. This was disclosed by the visiting Singapore trade delegation while exchanging views with the city mayor AJM Nasir Uddin at latters office on Thursday . The leaders of Singapore Business federation and Singapore Bangladesh Business Chamber called on city mayor at his office on Thursday afternoon. Among others, Director of Singpaore Business Federation Kadi Lee , President of Bangladesh Business chamber in Singapore Mirza Golam Sabur, General secretary Nasirul Islam Moni, member Khorshed Alam, Director of Bangladesh foreign Food exporters association Dulal Kumar, Director of Q &Q Ltd Shahidul Alam, and Farhad Iqbal were present during the meet. The business leader told that a high powered trade delegation will visit Bangladesh in first week of July. The visiting team disclosed that Singapore keen to invest in Agri, Food, Hospital, real estate, IT, communications, building construction, engineering , oil and gas and ship building industry in Dhaka and Chittagong. Mayor felicitated the business group of Singapore for visiting the City corporation, sources said. Modern car carrier deployed in Ctg Port Two modern car carrier placed before the Chittagong port for using in the car shed of the port . These two modern carriers were imported from abroad, sources said. These two car carriers have been added in addition of 12 car carriers. Chairman of Ctg Port Rear admiral Khaled Iqbal formally inaugurated the carriers in a simple ceremony. Senior officials of CPA , port users and beneficiaries of port were present on the occasion. Sources said, the newly constructed car shade of CPA will contain 900 of vehicles. It also provides safety of the imported cars and vehicles in the jetty area under the custody of CPA. Missing woman found dead in Sylhet Sylhet Correspondent : A woman missing since Tuesday night was found dead at Janakollyan Bazar in Balaganj upazila in Sylhet district on Wednesday. Locals spotted the body of a mother of four Child Safia Begum, wife of Ponku Mia of Kulma village under Balagonj upazila in Sylhet District and informed police. Police recovered the body of the Safia around 12:00pm and sent it to the Osmani Medical College hospital morgue for autopsy. Sadikur Rahman, sub-inspector of Balaganj Police Station, said Safia went out of her house on Tuesday evening to get food for her children but never came back. The body bore several injury marks, said police. Local Government Institutions role vital to achieve SDGs BSS, Rajshahi : speakers at a discussion here on Wednesday mentioned the role of Local Government Institutions (LGIs) especially Union Parishad (UP) and its people is very important towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They viewed UP is mandated for ensuring effective public service delivery at the grass-root level. All LGIs people should give their full efforts and commitments as a team to strengthen the capacity, ensure transparency and accountability in their respective Ups. The observation came in a daylong workshop styled "Best Practices, Innovation and Learnings and Role of LGIs to Achieve SDGs" held at circuit house in Rajshahi on Thursday. Commissioner office of Rajshahi division and Union Parishad Governance Project(UPGP) jointly organized the workshop sharing and documenting all the innovative works, learnings, best practices and achievements of UPs in the division. Senior Secretary to Ministry of Public Administration Dr Mozammel Haque Khan addressed the workshop as chief guest with Divisional Commissioner Noor-Ur-Rahman in the chair. Additional Commissioner Aminul Islam, Divisional Director of Local Government Division Shayam Kishore and Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi Kazi Ashraf Uddin also spoke. Chief Guest Dr Mozammel Haque said main motto of the SDGs is to leaving no one behind. "Bangladesh has become a role model for developing world. We have many successes in achieving MDGs and we want to continue it through achieving SDGs." "The government has already aligned the global goals and targets with its 7th Five-Year Plan and we have already started our work to reach the goals", he added. Dr Mozammel Khan said all the existing services being delivered towards the grassroots people need to be more coordinated and accelerated. He stressed on providing training on tax assessment and collection, open budget,financial management and record keeping, participatory planning and budgeting, roles and responsibilities of UPs and standing committees and creating strategic planning. An open discussion was also held there regarding innovative idea, implementation challenges, projects success and achievements and how to strengthen UP. All the participants shared their views on how to attain the cherished goals. Russia says latest US air strike in Syria hits civilians Syria says US air strike killed several people and caused material damage. AP file photo Reuters, Moscow : Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said on Friday that a U.S. military strike against militia supported by the Syrian government had hit civilians and was unacceptable, Russian news agencies reported. Gatilov, who the agencies said was speaking in Geneva, said the U.S. strike had violated Syria's sovereignty and would not help efforts to find a political solution to the conflict there. The U.S. military carried out the air strike on Thursday against militia supported by the Syrian government that posed a threat to U.S. and U.S.-backed Syrian fighters in the country's south, U.S. officials told Reuters. A military source on the Syrian government side said on Friday that the air strike had hit "one of our military points", without elaborating, Syrian state TV reported. The air strike late on Thursday killed several people and caused material damage, the source said, saying that this hampered efforts by the Syrian army and its allies to fight Islamic State. Russia and Iran have deployed forces to Syria to back up leader Bashar al-Assad while the US and many of its regional and Western allies have called for the strongman to leave power. The United States in April infuriated the Kremlin by bombing a Syrian regime airbase in response to an alleged chemical attack by Damascus. Representatives of Syria's government and opposition High Negotiations Committee are in Switzerland for the sixth round of UN-backed peace negotiations, but there has been little sign of progress. In the first concrete results from talks this week on ending Syria's conflict, the United Nations said the warring sides had agreed to set up expert committees to discuss "constitutional issues." Another deputy foreign minister, Mikhail Bogdanov, told TASS news agency that Russia "supports" the move. Meanwhile, Syria on Friday condemned a US-led coalition strike on pro-government forces as a "brazen attack" and said it would "not be intimidated" after the surprise assault. US-led warplanes carried out the Thursday strike in the east of the country against a convoy of pro-government forces headed towards a remote coalition garrison near the border with Jordan. "On Thursday at 16:30, the so-called international coalition attacked one of the Syrian Arab Army's positions on the Al-Tanf road in the Syrian Badia region, producing a number of martyrs and causing material damage," a military source told Syrian state media. "This brazen attack by the so-called international coalition exposes the falseness of its claims to be fighting terrorism," it added. Japan Cabinet approves bill to allow emperor to abdicate Reuters, Tokyo : Japan's cabinet approved a bill on Friday that would allow Emperor Akihito to step down, paving the way for the first abdication by a Japanese emperor in nearly two centuries. The 83-year-old emperor, who has had heart surgery and prostate cancer treatment, said in rare public remarks last year he feared age might make it hard for him to fulfill his duties. Akihito has sought to soothe the wounds at home and abroad of World War Two, which was fought in his father Hirohito's name, and to bring the imperial family closer to the Japanese people. He will be succeeded by Crown Prince Naruhito, 57. The bill will be sent to parliament, where lawmakers are aiming to pass it before the current session ends next month. "The government hopes for the smooth passage of the legislation," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference. While no definite plan for an abdication has been confirmed, media have said it will likely take place in late 2018, which would mark nearly 30 full years on the throne for the emperor. Abdication is not possible under current law and the last time an emperor stepped down was in 1817. Photojournalists' role to genocide of 1971 recalled Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu recalled the great contribution of photojournalists to the genocide of 1971 and the mass upsurge of 1990. He recalled on Thursday while addressing an international workshop of photojournalists at the Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) in the city. Inu differentiated between cameramen and photojournalists and said there was no scope to consider them same. "Photojournalists' risk their lives to get the news across but cameramen necessarily do not do it". The minister said that it would be logical to introduce a "risk allowance" for photojournalists. "They work under extremely strenuous circumstances and the risks, they often face, makes it logical for them to have a "risk allowance", he added. The minister also greeted the visiting 10-member Nepalese delegation and hoped that their visit would be fruitful. "Such exchanges improve understanding and ways to negotiate situations," he said. Speaker returns from Singapore Jatiya Sangsad Speaker and Chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Executive Committee Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury returned to the country on Thursday night after participating in a workshop on international trade for the lawmakers in Singapore. The workshop was held from May 15 to 17, said an official release here on Friday. Senior Secretary of the Parliament Secretariat Dr M Abdur Rab Hawlader along with senior officials received the Speaker at the Shahjalal International Airport. 3-month old girl back to parents` lap Staff Reporter : Kinara Rahman Shin, a three-month-old girl, was playing with a doll on the cot in her house. He was laughing, amusing and forgot her mother's absence. The mother was busy in the kitchen adjacent to the room. At that time in the evening, a person entered her room, took her and fled the scene. Md Sumon, the abductor, claimed Tk two lakh as ransom. He threatened to kill her if his demand is not met. Md Shakhawat Hossain, father of Shin, rushed to the RAB office to ask the officials to come to the rescue of her little daughter. Finally, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) succeeded and rescued the girl on Thursday from Dakkhin Keraniganj just a day after abduction. RAB also detained Md Sumon, 31, son of Md Julhash of Madaripur, in this connection. The team of RAB-10 was led by Additional Police Superintendent Muhammad Mohiuddin Faruki. The abduction occurred at Jinjira under Keraniganj Police Station on Wednesday evening. The abductor is a technician by profession. The battalion produced Sumon before media on Friday at a press briefing held at the RAB media centre at Karwan Bazar in Dhaka and returned the baby girl to her parents formally. Md Shakhawat Hossain said they felt like mad after losing their daughter. "We had no ability to meet the abductor's demand. We're very grateful to the RAB officials for rescuing our beloved daughter. We're very happy that they could return Shin to our lap." 60 pc of every dev work eaten up by graft: CJ Tangail Correspondent : Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha has said, the economic progress and growth cannot be achieved fast if there is no 'rule of law' in the country. So, it is indispensable and obligatory to establish rule of law, he observed. The Chief Justice was speaking at a judicial conference organised at the Tangail Circuit House on Wednesday. He said, corruption has so spread that about 60 percent of fund of every development project is misappropriated, while 40 percent only is spent for development only. Martial Law promulgated at different times since the Pakistani period contributed to expansion of corruption to a great extent. Corruption during the pre-Martial regime was confined in a few departments only, now it has penetrated into almost all the departments, even judiciary, the Chief Justice further said. Coordination among all departments including police, administration, judiciary and magistracy is needed to establish rule of law, he said stressing that everyone must do his or her own duty instead of killing time criticising the government only. He also observed that a 'vested quarter' was trying to curb the judiciary's activities. Chief Justice Sinha also attended a views-exchange meeting organised at the Tangail District Advocate Bar Association. Corruption would come down if the state's other organs cooperate with the judiciary and pay them due respect, he viewed. "No one, not even the head of the state or a Supreme Court judge, is above the law. The judiciary is independent, but the judges are not. The judges are under obligation to follow some rules and ethics," S. K. Sinha said. While speaking about terrorism in the country in the recent times, he said many people are associated with terrorism because of a wrong explication of religion. There is not a single verse backing up terrorism in the holy Book of Islam, the Chief Justice said, adding that wrong clarification of Hadith is also contrary to Islam. "Respecting the judiciary, whoever holds the post, is tantamount to honouring the Constitution and the independence of the country. IBBL`s inner conflicts deepen Its top brasses make self-contradictory statements on Zakat Fund Staff Reporter : The internal conflicts in the newly restructured Islami Bank have deepened with the issuance of statements on the bank's stance on Zakat Fund by its Chairman and the Vice-Chairman. Arastoo Khan, new Chairman of the Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd (IBBL) on Thursday differed with the media reports that the bank would give Tk 450 crore to the Prime Minister's Zakat Fund. Terming the reports as 'completely bogus' he said the bank is now holding only Tk 28 crore in its Zakat Fund'. The IBBL Chairman also alleged that its vice-chairman Syed Ahsanul Alam Parvez frequently made false statements to the media, questioning the bank board members' credibility. "The IBBL vice-chairman also commented about the report that the bank would disburse Tk 13 crore during the Ramzan to the Muslim citizens as iftar donation through the government's Social Welfare Department, which was not correct," Arastoo said. "The board decided to disburse the money but it would be provided under its own management," he added. "Ahsanul talked to media persons and gave false information to reporters in the last 15 days, which tarnished the image of the bank, government and the prime minster," Arastoo told the press conference organised by the IBBL at its headquarters in the capital. The bank's vice-chairman raised such type of issues that were not discussed at all at the bank's board meeting, the bank chief also said. "The bank is yet to appoint any spokesperson to talk to the media, but Ahasanul gave comments violating the banking rules," he claimed. Meanwhile, Ahsanul on May 13 claimed that he had been threatened and asked to step down from the bank's board. In a Facebook post, Ahsanul, also an independent director of IBBL, said that some top officials of the bank backed by corrupt government officials were involved in an 'exclusion-inclusion conspiracy' in the bank's board of directors. Such conspiracy might force me to resign from the bank's board, he said in the Facebook post. The IBBL chairman also contradicted Ahsanul's media statements where he said that the list of beneficiaries of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme run by IBBL would be sent to the home ministry for investigation. "The board did not take any such decision," The IBBL Chairman said. Asked whether IBBL would remove Ahsanul from its board, Arastoo said that the independent directors usually enjoy more power than the shareholder directors. It is a long process to remove any independent director from a bank's board, he pointed out. In a reply to a call over mobile phone, Ahsanul informed The New Nation through an SMS (short message service) that the bank did not arrange any security measure for him, so he could not attend the meeting. In an opaque reference to the threat he faced, the IBBL vice-chairman said, 'IBBL did not file any general diary. An officer only sent an application form to me so that I could file the GD myself.' Arastoo, however, at the press conference claimed that in reply to a bank's request to attend the press briefing, the IBBL vice-chairman had informed him that he was now in New Delhi of India. The Islamic Development Bank (IDB), a Saudi Arabia-based sponsor of IBBL, earlier took decision to sell around 5 per cent of its total shares in IBBL. IDB holds 7.5 per cent of the bank's shares. IBBL, allegedly having connection with Jamaat-e-Islami leaders, went through a major restructuring in its management and board in January this year in accordance with government's desires. On January 5, former IBBL Chairman Mustafa Anwar, Its Vice-Chairman M Azizul Huq and Managing Director Mohammad Abdul Mannan resigned from the board and former Bangladesh Commerce Bank Chairman Arastoo Khan was made the new Chairman of the bank. The then Union Bank Managing Director, Md Abdul Hamid Miah, was made the new Managing Director of IBBL. PM goes to KSA today Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina leaves here for Riyadh on Saturday night on a four-day official visit to Saudi Arabia to attend the Arab Islamic American Summit. A VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the Prime Minister and her entourage will take off from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 8pm. The flight is scheduled to reach King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital at 11:15 pm local time the same day. Bangladesh Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Golam Moshi will receive Sheikh Hasina at the airport. From the airport, a ceremonial motorcade will escort her to Movenpick Hotel Riyadh where she will stay for two days. "The Prime Minister is joining the summit at the invitation of Saudi King and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud," PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told UNB. On May 11, Saudi Minister for Culture and Information Dr Awad Bin-Saleh Al-Awad handed over the invitation letter of the Saudi King to the Prime Minister at Ganobhaban. The summit, which will be attended by US President Donald Trump and leaders of the member countries of the 41-nation Islamic Military Alliance to Fight Terrorism (IMAFT), is expected to cover issues of counter-terrorism and violent extremism. During the visit, the Prime Minister will also perform holy Umrah at the Haram Sharif in Makkah and offer ziarat at Rawza Mubarak of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) in Medina. On May 21, the Prime Minister will attend the summit to be held at King Abdulaziz International Conference Centre in Riyadh. She will also join the inauguration of "Global Centre for Combating Extremist Thought" and attend the lunch banquet to be hosted by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. On May 22, Hasina will leave Riyadh for Medina by air to offer ziarat at the Rawza Mubarak of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH). She will leave Medina for Jeddah in the afternoon on May 22. On arrival at King Abdulaziz International Airport, she will go to Makkah to perform holy Umrah at the Haram Sharif. The Prime Minister will return home on May 23. US President Donald Trump as well as 56 Arab and Muslim leaders will join the summit to discuss combating extremism and cracking down on illicit financing under the summit slogan "Together We Prevail". Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to put forward a number of proposals in the summit on how to work together to face the global challenges of terrorism and militancy. She will also convey Bangladesh's position to send troops to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia if the country's sovereignty and the security of its two Holy Mosques are threatened. Addressing a press briefing on Thursday, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali said Bangladesh will extend necessary support and troops, if requested, considering people's respect, love and devotion for the two mosques-Al-Masjid al-Haram (the Sacred Mosque) in Makkah and Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (the Prophet's Mosque) in Madina. He said the visit will play an important role in improving relations with participating Muslim countries. Employees` careless attitude mounts BSMMU patients` woes Reza Mahmud : Employees careless attitude is causing immense sufferings to the patients at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital (BSMMU) in the city, it is alleged. Besides, the hospital's outdoor information centres have no responsible officials to give proper information to the patients and their attendants. "We are waiting since 12:00pm for X-ray which is due to start from 2:00pm, but now it is 2:45pm. The X-ray room is still closed. We are now waiting in hot weather with sick health conditions. The officials careless behaviour put us to such a condition," Ms. Rozy, a patients came from Dinajpur, told The New Nation on Thursday. The other patients and their attendants alleged that the employees of other sections also behave carelessly with the patients and their attendants. Abu Bakar, a patient came from Shariatpur, said, he is suffering for the last four days due to the careless attitude of the employees. "I am under treatment of a doctor in the BSMMU. The doctor gave me five tests like blood, urine, X-ray, ECG and MRI," he said. While taking the money receipt from an employee of a counter on Sunday he asked him twice or more than that, "If all the necessary tests given by the physician would be completed in this money receipt?" The employee replied, "Yes, now you have to endorse this amount of money through the Pubali Bank, operates inside the university." Then I gave blood samples and urine and collected test reports after two days. But when I went to the doctor in Wednesday, he asked me for reports of ECG and X-ray. As he did not know about these two tests, the doctor marked again about these two tests. When this correspondent on Thursday asked the said employee of the counter why he misguided the patient about the tests he replied he is not supposed to give money receipt for ECG, X-Ray and MRI. "It's a matter of different section," the employee said ignoring his responsibility. When asked why he had said that the task of every tests were complete? Why not you said that some tests are there for different sections?. Then he started shouting at us. The other patients alleged that the employees were generally found busy with talking among themselves. They give no attention to the patients or their attendants. The patients also alleged that no officials generally found regularly in the information desks of the two out door buildings. Some time cleaners and other lower class employees were found there. They mostly misguide the patients which increase their sufferings only. As an example, on Thursday an attendant asked an employee sitting in the information desk in out door building number-2 that where is the ECG room? That person said, "go to Block -'B' but when he was searching there ECG room the others said that the room is in the 2nd floor in the outdoor building number-2. Most of the patients in the out door said that they are being victims due to the lack of information about where they need to go for certain services. There are some allegations that brokers and fraud people take the chance to cheat with the patients and their attendants. On the spot visit it was found that Ansar and other lower class employees are involved in irregularities in the X-ray room. The Ansar's constables were found busy to contact with some patients to give them chance first for X-ray, though many patients waiting for long in row. "It is not easy to stay in row for hours in this hot summer. But Ansar and cleaners have found give advantage to some patients who came late in exchange for money. When contacted, a high official of the university preferring anonymity said, "irregularities have gripped the BSMMU." When tried to contact the Vice-Chancellor of BSMMU, Professor Kamrul Hasan Khan, he did not receive the phone call. Minister`s son held over Pabna clash Rivalry with Mayor turns situation tense: 10 others arrested Sirhan Sharif Tomal Staff Reporter : As a consequence of muscle flexing between father-in-law and son-in-law, the police on Friday arrested 11 people, including a son of Land Minister Shamsur Rahman Sharif, in connection with a case for vandalism in Ishwardi upazila of Pabna. Police said Sirhan Sharif Tomal, the Minister's son and also president of Ishwardi upazila unit of Jubo League, the youth wing of Awami League, is the main accused in vandalisng residence of a freedom fighter and some adjacent shops in the area owned by the local Mayor Abul Kalam Azad. According to information received in Dhaka yesterday, Land Minister, also an MP from Pabna-4 Constituency, and his son-in-law Ishwardi Municipality Mayor Abul Kalam Azad had long been at loggerheads over maintaining supremacy in the area. "A joint team of Pabna and Ishwardi police conducted separate overnight drives and arrested them from different parts of the district. Police conducted the drive after a case was filed with local police station accusing 32 ruling AL men in the wee hours of Friday," said, Zihadul Kabir, Superintendent of Police, Pabna. The SP said the arrestees were produced before the court. Apart from Minister's son, Rupak, Zahangir, Zafar Iqbal, Rony, Prince Islam, Mahbub Islam, Sabirul, Mehedi Hasan, Shamsul and Masum were among the arrestees. Freedom fighter Atiar Rahman, father of Bangladesh Chhatra League's Ishwardi unit President Zubayer Biswas, filed the case with the police on Thursday against Tomal and others. The case statement said Tomal along with another Jubo League leader Rajib Sarkar swooped on the house of Jubayer at Aminpara in the upazila yesterday over political rivalry. "They also vandalised a number of business establishments at Ishwardi upazila headquarters," Abdul Hye, Officer-in-Charge of Ishwardi Police Station, said. The clash erupted when Arif, a follower of Upazila Jubo League general secretary Rajib Sarker was beaten by the supporters of Zubayer Biswas. To take revenge of this, the supporters of opponent group launched attacked Zubayer's residence. The clashes left Ariful Islam injured. Following the incident, a group of Jubo League activists swooped on Zubayer's house and vandalised business establishments later. Besides, Zubayer's mother Hazera Begum was also assaulted when she tried to intervene. She was taken to the Pabna Government Hospital. Local people said 10-15 supporters of the Minister, led by local Juba League leader Rajib Sarkar, vandalised a number of business establishments at Ishwardi upazila headquarters on Thursday late night, including a restaurant owned by Azad. Not only that, there is also long-standing conflict between local Chhatra League and Jubo League units, turning the area tensed. Refuting the allegation of attack, Rajib said, "They are trying to tarnish my image as I have an enmity with Zubayer." On the other hand, Mayor Azad said his opponents vandalised his personal office and other establishments. HB122 by Rep. Vincent Pierre won approval from the House Education Committee one week after questions about the bill's impact had delayed action on it. Pierre Photo by Robin May The House Education Committee voted 13-1 to send Rep. Vincent Pierre's HB122 to the full House for consideration on Wednesday, one week after questions about the bill nearly sent scuttled it. The bill would prohibit public colleges and universities in Louisiana from asking about a person's criminal history on initial applications for admission. The bill had faltered a week ago when questions raised by LSU's medical schools had filtered to the committee about what would amount to considering students who could not gain a license to practice even if they were to gain the education. Pierre tells The Independent that he and his allies on the bill went to work. Pierre amended the bill on Wednesday to carve out an exemption for the LSU Health Sciences Centers for its graduate health professional programs. That move combined with personal testimony from witnesses who had encountered the barriers to education raised by their criminal history seemed to carry the day with the committee. "We were down in the dumps last week, but exempting the medical schools removed a hurdle," Pierre, speaking just after the committee vote, explains. "Ultimately, I believe we have an obligation to try to provide an education for everyone." He says there are more than 70,000 people in Louisiana under court-ordered community supervision trying to make a fresh start on life after having served their sentences. He says another 40,000 are awaiting release in the near future. "Like the ban the box rule we passed last year for state jobs, what removing the box for higher education does is provides the individual the opportunity to be viewed as a unique person, not categorized as a criminal," Pierre argues. "Like one of the witnesses says, what this bill will do if it becomes law is open pathways to education. Once a person has that education, other opportunities can open for them. But, they need the education." Pierre notes that the state Civil Service Commission has recently decided to extend the ban the box rule for at least another year. Sen. Wesley Bishop of New Orleans, a former member of the House, told the committee he has students in a criminal justice class he teaches at Southern University in New Orleans. Some students talk to him privately about how they want to work in the legal field but would not be able to get a law license because of their histories. Bishop says he has been able to point students in directions where they can put their education to work in their field of choice in alternative ways. Rep. Julie Emerson Photo by Robin May The committee vote on Pierre's bill was 13-1 with only Jefferson Parish Rep. Polly Thomas voting against the bill. Rep. Julie Emerson, a Carencro Republican, voted in favor of the bill. Committee chair Rep. Nancy Landry of Lafayette did not preside over the debate on the bill. Committee chairs only vote to break ties in committee votes. With only three weeks remaining in the session, Rep. Pierre says he will talk with Speaker Taylor Barras to try to bring the bill up for consideration on Monday of next week. The session must end by 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 8. The Memorial Day holiday will remove one day of work from the calendar. Major money bills continued their slow but steady movement through both chambers this week, allowing legislators to turn their attention to other matters, with mixed results. When the House and Senate adjourn today, lawmakers will have exactly three weeks to finish their work on the state budget and other essential work in this fiscal-only session. The session must end by 6 p.m. on June 8. The pace of activity in the Capitol picked up noticeably this week. Alfred "Butch" Speer, clerk of the House, tells The Independent that both chambers have met for a total of 22 days thus far. "We're allowed to meet only 45 days in this session," Speer says. "So, technically, we could meet on each one of the 21 days that remain after today. But, we're not." Speer says the schedule laid out by Speaker Taylor Barras calls for the House not to meet on the next two Fridays and to take off Memorial Day. "We are tentatively holding the two days of the final weekend as possible meeting dates, if they are needed," Speer explains. The Senate Finance Committee has begun its work on HB1, the House's version of the state budget for the fiscal year that begins on July 1. The committee has met three times this week with most of those sessions dealing with HB1. The committee has also dealt with other bills as part of the process of clearing the decks to focus on the budget. Lafleur Photo by Robin May Finance Committee chair Sen. Eric Lafleur says the committee will be back in session on Friday even as the rest of the Senate and House members go home for the weekend. The committee will meet today at 1 p.m. with members of the Edwards administration testifying about the impact of budget cuts imposed by House Republicans in HB1. "We'll meet on Friday, take Saturday off, then come back on Sunday," Lafleur tells The Independent. The general framework of the executive budget prepared by the Edwards administration and HB1 are fairly similar. Edwards had proposed that the Legislature build a budget based on 98 percent of the revenue the state is projected to have in the next fiscal year as forecast by the Revenue Estimating Conference a four-member committee comprised of key members of the Legislature, the governor's office and an economist from a state university. HB1 is based on 97.5 percent of the latest estimate. However, the difference comes down to revenue. Edwards wanted the budget based on the percentage of the REC estimate only after the state had taken the steps needed to stabilize its revenue base. Temporary taxes passed in 2016 expire next year. Edwards wants the legislature to address the so-called fiscal cliff before basing the budget on only a percentage of the REC estimate. In the Jindal years, the administration based its budgets on 100 percent of the REC estimate. Revenue rarely materialized as projected, forcing mid-year budget cuts that decimated higher education and healthcare, the only parts of the state budget that are not constitutionally protected. House Appropriations chair Rep. Cameron Henry, who during Jindal's second term was a frequent budget ally with Edwards in the House, argues that basing budgets on 100 percent of the REC estimate is "irresponsible." "The only certainty in the budget process is that the REC estimate is going to be wrong," Henry tells The Independent. "We think that using 97.5 percent of REC as our revenue target will give us a budget that can avoid mid-year cuts and provide us a surplus at the end of the year." To get the budget based on those percentages, Henry and the Appropriations Committee cut $234 million from the Louisiana Department of Health, and $69.8 million from the Department of Children and Family Services. It fully funded TOPS and the House leadership is committed to fully funding the MFP program that supports K-12 public education. Lafleur and his committee are looking for ways to shift the spending in HB1 to blunt the cuts to LDH and DCFS. The details of their approach will likely become more clear over the weekend. This is typical of the budget pattern that emerged in Jindal's second term where the House and Senate had starkly different views of the state's priorities. Changes made in HB1 in the Senate must be sent back to the House for concurrence, which won't be given. A conference committee involving an equal number of House and Senate members will then meet behind closed doors to hammer out a compromise budget agreement. In some sessions, that agreement has not arrived until the final day. Because the House approved HB1 earlier in the process this year, it is possible that an agreement could be struck earlier. "I think part of it is that Senate districts are larger and more diverse than House districts," Lafleur says. "I think we have a better feel for the broader interests of the state." The House Ways and Means Committee has approved HB2 and HB3. These are, respectively, the capital outlay bill and the bill that provides the borrowing authority to fund those projects. The capital outlay bill is the state's construction budget; it includes everything from roads to some local water facilities. The bill includes a list of prioritized projects that are to be funded over the next five years, as state funding allows. The total cash funding in the bill is $1.5 billion. The House reduced general obligation bond funding for capital outlay from $1.9 billion to about $33 million as the state continues to work its way out of fiscal issues leftover from the Jindal years. The fact that the capital outlay bill has cleared committee but has not yet been scheduled for a floor vote could indicate that it will be used in a bargaining chip with the Senate in negotiations over HB1. Other legislation not caught up and the money struggle have been to move through both chambers. The most notable package of bills to gain momentum this week are part of the Justice Reinvestment Task Force proposals to reduce the size of the state's inmate population by reforming the sentencing and parole practices. The Edwards administration and the Louisiana District Attorneys' Association announced a compromise on the legislative package this week that narrows the focus of the reforms to non-violent offenders while extending the reform process out another year. The result of the compromise was immediately apparent as three of the core bills in the package (SB220, SB221 and SB139) easily cleared the Senate on Tuesday. Those bills now go to the House for committee referrals. Rep. Walt Leger III's HB489 which would reinvest the savings from the criminal justice reforms in training and other rehabilitation programs for inmates won approval from the House Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice on Wednesday and now awaits full House consideration. SB16 by Sen. Dan Claitor addressing the issue of offering convicted juvenile offenders with a pathway to parole consideration also cleared that committee this week and awaits House action. The bill seeks to put Louisiana in compliance with a 2016 Supreme Court of the United States decision that mandated pathways for parole be offered to all juveniles who had been sentenced to life without the benefit of parole. Rep. John Shroder's HB499 and HB509 dealing with the crime of stalking and with protective orders are awaiting consideration by the Senate Judiciary C Committee. Shroder tells The Independent that he is not sure when the committee will consider his bills. The bills represent an ongoing effort to address the state's domestic violence problem. HB71, the controversial bill by Rep. Thomas Carmody that would require local governments to hold elections on the question of removing any war monuments prompted by New Orleans' decision to remove four Jim Crow era monuments passed the House this week and inflamed racial tensions in the body that is already divided along ideological lines in a way not seen before. Carmody's bill is likely headed to a swift death in the Senate. The bill has been assigned to the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee which is chaired by Sen. Karen Carter Peterson of New Orleans. In addition to Peterson, three other members of the Orleans Parish delegation are members of the committee Sens. Wesley Bishop, Troy Carter and J.P. Morrell. Although the bill will not affect the process underway in New Orleans, if the four Orleans members of the committee vote against Carmody's bill, it would take only one more vote on the nine-member committee to kill it. The other members of the committee are: Sens. Jack Donahue of Mandeville, Jim Fannin of Jonesboro, Neil Riser of Columbia (a candidate for state treasurer), Greg Tarver of Shreveport and Mike Walsworth of West Monroe. The most likely vote could come from Tarver. There is an ongoing effort in Shreveport to remove a confederate soldier statue that stands in front of the Caddo Parish Courthouse. Tarver, though, is a maverick in the Senate. Under the rules, committee chairs only vote to break ties. If the committee votes along racial lines as did the House, Peterson could cast the deciding vote. Yes, dear readers, your city marshal is making more than $220,000, the bulk of which he appears to be collecting illegally. Lafayette City Marshal Brian Pope struts out of the Lafayette Parish courthouse in September 2016 Photo by Robin May This news organization knows from experience that you just never know what youll get when deposing Lafayette City Marshal Brian Pope. Still, imagine our surprise when, in a deposition Tuesday this one related to his defaulting on a $21,000 promissory note it was revealed that Pope pocketed more than $220,000 in compensation from the marshals office in 2016. As it turns out, the bulk of that money, $120,000 in civil fees and garnishment fees from city court that are paid directly to the marshal himself, may have been paid to him illegally. Pope was elected to a six-year term in December 2014; his predecessor, Nickey Picard, also personally collected those fees, according to the most recent independent audit of the office's operations that was available on the legislative auditor's website. That practice, however, is questionable based on a 2011 opinion from the Louisiana attorney general's office concluding that Lafayette and Shreveport are excepted from a state law allowing other marshals to personally collect the fees. Shreveport, unlike Lafayette, has been abiding by the opinion, Assistant Chief Deputy Carl Richard tells The IND. In Shreveport, Richard says, the court fees are funneled into the office's discretionary fund and largely support its overall operations. The city of Shreveport pays Marshal Charlie Caldwells annual salary of $110,000, which was just increased last year from the $83,000 he was paid for the past seven years, but the office gets no additional funding from the city government. Were self-funded, Richard says. The office has 30 full-time employees and operates on an annual budget of approximately $2 million. The Lafayette marshals office, which acts a component unit of Lafayette Consolidated Government, has 23 full-time employees and a $1.7 million budget funded by Lafayette Consolidated Government. LCG owns, operates and maintains the marshal's administrative office and covers the payroll and benefits for all of the marshal's full-time employees. The audit shows that the office also annually takes in more than a half-million dollars in "fees and commissions," presumably most of that coming from city court. The audit report prepared by CPA firm Kolder, Champagne shows that from January 2015 to October 2015, Pope personally took in a total of $82,400 in city court fees (for serving citations, eviction notices, subpoenas, etc.) and garnishment fees (the office collects 6 percent on garnishments, an amount Pope says he shares with the employee in his office who handles the garnishment paperwork). That amount only represents 10 months of fee collection, roughly $8,200 per month. Broken down, however, his 2016 compensation averages $10,000 per month, creating even more questions about how and why the amounts appear to be increasing. In addition to his $79,000 salary (see W-2 below), Marshal Pope also took in another $120,000 in court fees in 2016. This latest revelation could spell even more legal trouble for Pope, who already is facing seven felony counts of malfeasance and perjury, all stemming from the public records lawsuit The IND filed against him in late 2015. At the time, the paper was seeking to prove that Pope and his office colluded with the Chad Leger campaign for sheriff to discredit the candidacy of attorney Mark Garber, who ultimately won the election in a runoff with Leger. Marshal Pope's base salary in 2016 was $79,000 (he'll get $83,000 this year), but thanks to court fees that are paid directly to him, his total compensation in 2016 was $200,000. In January of this year, The IND and Pope settled the suit for $205,467, with the paper receiving a check for $184,170 from SureTec Insurance Co. out of Houston, the surety bond company the marshal turned to after District Judge Jules Edwards ruled against him a year earlier, saying Popes response to the papers public records requests were woefully inadequate, arbitrary and unreasonable. Edwards awarded The IND attorneys fees, court costs and penalties. That $184,170, most of which was owed to our attorney, Gary McGoffin, is public money from the marshal's office. Pope was nonchalant in answering McGoffin's questions this week about how (or if) he plans to reimburse the office, given his limited personal resources. "I would like to make that right," he said, adding, "I mean I don't have to pay that back." Pushed on his position by McGoffin, Pope said the expenditure was within the scope of his duties as marshal. He's also used his office to pay tens of thousands of dollars for his defense in the public records case. For more on this developing story, check out KATC's breaking Thursday report (the station did not have access to the 2016 W-2 and 1099s The IND was able to obtain from the deposition, hence the lower compensation figure it used from 2015.) And, as the station noted in this 2014 story, published before Pope was elected, this isn't the first time his attempts to boost his salary have come under scrutiny. As part of the January settlement, Pope signed a personal promissory note for the $21,297 balance, pledging to pay The IND from personal funds within a 90-day period commencing Jan. 17. Not surprisingly, he failed to make the April payment, thus the Tuesday deposition (or judgment debtor exam), in which Pope was forced to provide a wide range of financial documents showing that despite his hefty take-home pay, he has no real assets (save for a time share in Cabo San Lucas). He owns no property and has no savings account; he rents his River Ranch home, the marshals office pays the $960 lease on his SUV (you can add that and other perks like his health club membership to his total compensation package), and his wife leases her Land Rover for $780 a month. In April 2016, CPA firm Kolder, Champagne recommended Pope seek clarification from the AG's office on whether he could personally receive city court fees, but the marshal failed to ask for an opinion until this year. Worth noting about the most recent audit of Pope's office is the CPA firm's recommendation that the marshal seek clarification from the AG on the practice of collecting the garnishment fee (the letter does not address the other court fees). That letter is dated April 2016, more than a year ago. Pope failed to immediately act on the recommendation and did not seek clarification from the AG until March 28 of this year, likely after he realized his pay would be scrutinized due to the impending default on the promissory note (not to mention that he now has competent counsel in attorney Joy Rabalais, as his former attorney, Chuck Middleton, is also under criminal indictment on a charge of perjury related to his actions in the public records suit). HOW THE MONEY IS SPENT. Click here to see what LCG budgets annually for the marshal's office. Pope oversees a small office of 23 employees, whose primary duty is to execute orders and mandates of the Lafayette City Court. So for some perspective on his salary, consider this: Sheriff Garber (830 employees) makes $159,000 a year. Mayor Joel Robideaux (2,100 employees) makes $117,000. On a quick search, we could only find only one public official, LUS Director Terry Huval, who makes more than Marshal Pope, thanks to a big boost in his salary shortly before Joey Durel left office. Huval now makes $256,000. [Editor's Note: This story has been corrected from an earlier version stating that Picard collected less than Pope in city court and garnishment fees. We are still trying to determine how much Picard was paid. The story was also adjusted to reflect that the most recent audit of the marshal's office shows Pope is now making more than $220,000.] When the Senate finishes its work on HB1 the state budget it will go back to the House for concurrence on the changes. Photos by Robin May The Senate Finance Committee convened on Friday morning at 9 a.m. while other legislators were back in their districts. The committee is reviewing HB1, the state budget passed by the House. This is the principle work of the fiscal session which began on April 10 and is required to end by 6 p.m. on June 8. Ville Platte Sen. Eric Lafleur, who chairs the committee, says the focus of today's hearing is on elected officials who lead departments and agencies in the executive branch of state government. That will continue when the committee meets in a rare Sunday session. "What we're doing is going through HB1, department by department, to understand the impact of the budget in its current forms on those departments," Lafleur explains. He spoke with The Independent while driving to Baton Rouge on Friday morning. The offices that will testify include the secretary of state, treasury, justice, insurance, Agriculture and Forestry, and the Public Service Commission. Secretary of State Tom Schedler revealed to the committee that holding the statewide special election to fill the unexpired term of the state treasurer resulting from John N. Kennedy's election to the United States Senate will cost his office $5.2 million. "I had been hoping to reduce our budget request by about $6 million, but having to hold that election made me have to ask for that money back in order to be able to fund it," Schedler says. Schedler says his office will issue an RFP in the next fiscal year to replace the state's aging electronic voting machine technology. He anticipates the new system will also enable the state to reduce the need for storage for machines due to the more compact profile. On Friday morning, Lafleur was not certain who would be testifying before the committee on Sunday. "To some extent, that will be determined by who is available," he tells The Independent. He says the committee will reconvene at 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. Jeff Landry Photo by Robin May HB1 delivers Attorney General Jeff Landry's office a $2.8 million cut from its budget request. Landry says the House Appropriations Committee did not consult his office about the cut. "I thought these were your friends. What happened," Sen. Brett Allain of Franklin says, directing his comment to Landry who, like Allain, is considering a run for governor in 2019. "They just told us they were cutting across the board," Landry replies. "No one talked to us. They did the same thing last year." Landry asked the committee for more control over his department's budget. He asked that the committee "collapse the budget" which would allow him to move funds within his department as needed. That raised red flags with Sen. Sharon Hewitt of Slidell. "When you say collapse the budget, that scares me," Hewitt explains to Landry. "I'm worried that we would lose the level of granularity in your spending that we are seeing today." Landry says his department would still provide the level of detail in reports to legislators but the move would allow the department more flexibility in moving dollars around in the department during the course of a budget year. "I'm sympathetic but I need to hear from someone from the treasurer's office that what you're saying is accurate," Hewitt says. Landry says the main relief such a move would provide the department would be to alleviate the need for his department to go to the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget for permission to move funds internally in the department. "We're not going to spend any more money than what is budgeted, but it would give us some flexibility in responding to needs," Landry says. Landry says the Division of Administration has used the budget as a political weapon against his office. He maintains he has no problem with legislative oversight of his office's budget. The hearing was expected to continue well into the afternoon. Lafleur Lafleur says his own review of the budget approved by the House reveals an inconsistency in the arguments that House leaders have made regarding the budget over the past two budget cycles. "Last year, the big thing was that the House directed the treasurer to take up to five percent of the money from dedicated funds to put toward financing the state's debt," Lafleur says. "Lance Harris was saying this was going to be a huge change. Well, it's not even included in HB1." Lafleur is referring to HR231 by Speaker Taylor Barras which passed in the 2016 regular session. It had 48 Republican co-sponsors. The resolution directed the state treasurer to tap any dedicated fund that got money through a state debt stream in order to help cover the cost of financing the state's debt. The funds are generally considered off limits for use in funding other state operations. Lafleur says the resolution was supposed to free up general fund dollars that are being used to finance state debt. Those freed-up general fund dollars could then be used to finance other state government operations. "I'm just pointing it out because it shows a certain inconsistency in how we operate," Lafleur explains. "This was supposed to make a huge difference in the state budget. I can't see that it's made any difference if it's been applied at all." Lafleur expects his committee to make big changes in HB1 but what those will be won't be known until the committee has completed its review of HB1. He expects the review process to continue well into next week with votes coming possibly by the end of the week. "I think we'll get the bill to the Senate floor shortly after Memorial Day," Lafleur says. "That will give us almost two weeks to work with the House on it." More like 10 days, but whose counting? Clerk of the House Albert Speer tells The Independent that Speaker Taylor Barras has tentatively held Saturday, June 3 and Sunday, June 4 as working days for the House. When the Senate finishes its work on HB1, it will go back to the House for concurrence on the changes. Concurrence is not likely, meaning a conference committee will be set up to allow House and Senate negotiators to work out their differences in the budget. Both chambers will have to agree on the changes before the bill could go to Gov. John Bel Edwards for signature. HB1 is the budget for the fiscal year that begins on July 1. The bill's author hopes it will prevent unwanted interactions between police officers and arrestees, such as what occurred in Baton Rouge last July. East Baton Rouge Sheriffs deputies in riot gear line up against protesters in the streets of Baton Rouge last summer following the shooting death of Alton Sterling. Photo by Christiaan Mader The Louisiana House has approved, 82-5, a bill that the author hopes will prevent unwanted interactions between police officers and arrestees, such as what occurred in Baton Rouge last July. House Bill 277 by Rep. Ted James, D-Baton Rouge, would expand law enforcement training to include bias recognition, sudden in-custody death and crisis intervention training, as well as interaction with mentally ill or developmentally disabled persons. The states Police Officer Training Council would create the curriculum, James said during floor debate late Thursday. The legislation requires officers to complete 400 hours of training, at least 20 of which would be toward in-service training on an annual basis to maintain certification. Present law only requires an officer training course on interacting with mentally ill or developmentally disabled persons. The bill in part was prompted by the shooting death of Alton Sterling in which two Baton Rouge police officers attempted to arrest the man outside a convenience store July 5, 2016 and ended up shooting him as they struggled with him on the ground. The incident caused a national reaction, a Justice Department investigation and the possibility of an investigation by the Louisiana Attorney Generals Office. It also indirectly led to the killing of three law enforcement officers by an out-of-state lone wolf shooter. The best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. Print edition not available for Day Pass option. The Du Quoin Chamber of Commerce held their 2017 Annual Banquet on Wednesday, January 25 at the Du Quoin American Legion. The highlights of the evening were honoring Dan Eaves, CEO of Marshall Browning Hospital, as the 2016 Outstanding Citizen of the Year, Chip Banks Chevrolet/Buick as the 2016 Business of the Year and Du Quoin Nursing & Rehabilitation Center as the 2016 New Business of the Year. Du Quoin School District's Future Business Leaders of America received the President's Award. The event was catered by St. Nicholas Brewing Co., and the emcee for the evening was Keenan Rice of Country Financial and photo booth pictures were taken by photographer Doug Daniels. According to recent data from The Brewers Association the trade organization for the American craft beer industry there are now over 5,000 craft breweries in operation in the U.S. and more than 150 in Illinois alone. The appeal is obvious and the taste for a good brew is causing more and more aspiring brewers to leave their back yards and garages and take their craft to the next level by opening a commercial brewery or brewpub. Winston Churchill is credited with saying, some people dream of success while others wake up and work hard at it. This is more than just a motivational quote to the proprietors of one of the newest craft breweries to open its doors in Southern Illinois. White Rooster Farmhouse Brewery in Sparta is the fruition of a dream shared by three friends who brewed together in a barn in rural Sparta. Mike (Deutschmann) and I got into home brewing almost eight years ago. Chris (Van Horn) got on board a few years after that. My cousins boyfriend started doing it and we thought it was pretty cool that this guy was making his own beer, co-owner Eric Ogilvie explained. Pretty cool, indeed. Fast forward just a few years and these brewing buddies are sharing their unique ales with an eager audience of beer-lovers throughout the region. White Rooster is a farmhouse brewery in the Franco-Belgian tradition. Put simply, according to Ogilvie, this is sort of traditional method of fermentation using barrels to age and ferment our beer. Over time the barrels will impart their own unique characteristics creating a nice complex tasting beer. The brewery is only about a 30 minute drive from another farmhouse brewery in rural Southern Illinois that is enjoying industry-wide acclaim; Scratch Brewing Company in Ava. Like White Rooster, the owners of Scratch began their dream as home brewers. Expect an emphasis on spicy, fruit-forward ales if you visit White Rooster Farmhouse Brewerys tasting room housed inside a building that was previously a Kroger grocery store. The 7,500 square foot facility features a rustic decor, 3BBL brew house and cellar. The brewery opened its doors in late March and the plan is to stick with beer styles that are true to the farmhouse tradition, such as sours (beers that are intentionally rendered tart or sour via the addition of wild yeast or bacteria), saisons and oak barrel-aged ales. The tasting room does not feature food, but light snacks may be offered in the future. The White Rooster moniker is apropos. Three friends from Sparta listened to the roosters crow, woke up and realized that they could make their dream a reality by working hard at it. Dream of owning a brewery? For Ogilvie and friends it was a simply a matter of listening to yourself and march to the beat of your own drum. Do what you want to do and not what you think others expect of you. This is the kind of avant-garde thinking that is fueling the rapidly expanding craft beer industry nationwide. We are lucky to have our fair share of this entrepreneurial spirit right here in our own back yard (or farm). A connoisseur by definition is one with great knowledge and appreciation of something, whether it be fine arts, cuisine, or in Jim Striegels case wine. More than just an enthusiast, Striegel is passionate about not only the enjoyment of wine but also producing it. He has done what many lovers of wine only dream about opening a winery in Napa Valley. With a lifelong education in winemaking and a natural prowess in marketing and sales, Striegels success comes as no surprise. Lessons in winemaking Striegels winery, Red Mare Wines, opened in 2007, but his education in winemaking began much earlier during his childhood. Growing up on Striegel Road in Carbondale, he credits his first lessons in winemaking to his father, beginning around eight years old. His father would order grapes from Napa Valley, have them shipped to St. Louis, and with Striegel in tow, would make the three hour round trip to pick them up. Once home, Striegel helped crush the grapes to make the red wine his father enjoyed drinking at home and sharing with friends. I loved growing up there. I love the knowledge I learned from my father and his friends, said Striegel. After completing two years of college in Southern Illinois, Striegel headed to Texas to attend SMU in the early 1970s. As plans tend to do, his changed and he instead started his marketing career with a job in the wholesale ladies clothing business. When time allowed in his busy schedule, Striegel spent weekends in Napa Valley with childhood friend Chris Thomas. The excursions proved to be an integral part of Striegels now extensive background in all things wine. Frequenting the ten or so wineries that existed in Napa Valley at the time, Striegel absorbed many of the fine details in the art of winemaking. During the same time period, Striegel spent time with Warren Winiarski who was planting Stags Leap vineyards. The 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon, from Winiarskis first vintage, beat the French in a stunning victory at the 1976 Paris Wine Tasting and ushered in a time when Napa Valley made its mark on the modern world of wine. In the '80s, Striegel worked for IZOD Lacoste and commuted weekly between Dallas, New York and Paris. Oftentimes he spent weekends in Paris, traveling to Burgundy and Bordeaux to learn about French wines. One weekend in particular, Striegel visited Petrus, one of the top wineries in the world, but could not get in. He didnt let that stop him from getting the most out of his excursion though. I went right across the street to Vieux Chateau Certan. They brought me in and I spent five hours drinking wine and talking. I was like family, Striegel remembered. Striegel has also been a member of the Commanderie de Bordeaux group in Dallas for 42 years. Passionate about Bordeaux wines, the group of 50 men meet quarterly to eat dinner, discuss and of course, drink wine. Striegel has been fortunate enough to experience some of the most significant events and opportunities the world of winemaking has offered in the last 40 years. His passion for wine and his ability to create a successful business led to the next natural step opening a winery of his own. Red Mare Wines is born The success of Red Mare Wines is a testament not only to Striegels knowledge of winemaking but also his prowess in marketing and finding the right vintner for the job. When he decided it was time to open his own winery, Jim called world-renowned winemaker, Heidi Barrett. Barrett arranged a call between Striegel and Anne Vawter and Red Mare Wines was born. Striegel enjoys a wonderful working relationship with his partner, Vawter, and is happy to let her do her thing. If you bother a winemaker, who is one of the top in the world, youre going to lose them. Theyre artists and you need to leave them alone, said Striegel. Its clear that his business strategy is working as the wines produced at Red Mare continually receive praise in various forms. Red Mare Wines are featured on the wine lists of several top restaurants across the country. At the 2017 Premiere Napa Valley, five cases of a special 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon brought $16,000 at the events auction. With a home in Dallas and a home in Napa Valley, Striegel spends as much time as he can promoting the artisan quality wines produced at Red Mare at various wine dinners and events all over the country. His lifelong interest in winemaking and his profound understanding of business and marketing has resulted in the founding of a highly successful Napa Valley wine label a well-deserved achievement for Jim Striegel. Southern Illinois isnt exactly known for its magnificent weather patterns. So when summer comes, Illinoisans run to warmer climates. Vienna offers summer fun without the coast! Mermet Springs is a quarry that offers courses in scuba diving and other specialty training here in landlocked Illinois. There is a lot to see when scuba diving in the ocean, but this spring-fed quarry has many of its own unique attractions. A Boeing 727 airplane, hollowed out from cockpit to tail, has been sunk in the quarry since 1998, and is from the movie U.S Marshals. A 45,000 pound railroad coal car is sunk at a depth of 55 feet as another attraction to dive into. A scuba dive wouldnt feel real without a submarine. As part of a college competition, in 2006, a pedal submarine was created and later donated to the quarry to be sunk as an attraction. Many other underwater adventures include Bruce the shark, a Ford pickup truck, Cherokee 150 aircraft, Cessna 152 aircraft, ambulance, fire truck, cabin cruiser boat, a semi truck, and a motorcycle. Mermet Springs mission is to provide divers with the safest and most enjoyable diving experience in the Midwest. Their goal is to offer a safe, fun and a truly first-class dive site. It was founded by Glen Faith. Mr. Faith said, Its like an underwater amusement park. We literally have planes, trains and automobiles. The lake is spring fed, making the waters crystal clear. People can dive anywhere from 15 feet to a drastic depth of 120 feet! Although the lake doesnt compare to the vastness of oceanic bodies of water, this is about 8.5 acres of places to explore. Mermet Springs allows you to get licensed in diving and then gives you more reasons to come back. There are specialty courses that can be taken after having your SSI Scuba Schools International training. Some of these specialty courses include deep diving, boat diving, limited visibility and night diving and underwater photography. These are just a few of the 15 specialty courses offered. Make sure to check www.mermetsprings.com for prerequisites on these courses, as some have age restrictions and/or require other training. Landlocked Illinois is the farming, bonfire and homemade goods type of state. But its nice for those residing here to be able to find something different to do close by. Learning to do underwater photography is now a unique addition to the things you can learn in our state. Mermet Springs underwater photography course teaches how to reduce risks, enhance techniques, and work on lighting and photography fundamentals. The cost of this class is only $100 and all you need is your manuals and workbooks! This area offers an amazing opportunity to explore the surreal underwater world. Between the channel catfish and the airplane wreckage, you can find yourself in a whole other world. Find yourself a new attraction to see this summer by trying Mermet Springs. CARBONDALE Officers with the Carbondale Police Department staked out the rooftop of Dunkin Donuts on Friday to raise money for the Law Enforcement Torch Run benefiting Special Olympics Illinois. The statewide Cop on a Rooftop event, now in its 15th year, is intended to catch peoples attention and raise awareness, said Carbondale Police Department Sergeant Amber Ronketto. Theres the whole stereotype of cops and donuts, so were using it to our advantage, Ronketto said. From 5 a.m. to 2 p.m., officers stood alongside Special Olympics athletes on the rooftop of the business and welcomed patrons as they arrived. Free donuts were available in exchange for donations. The Dunkin Donuts parking lot is undergoing repairs after flash flooding caused a culvert beneath the lot to collapse several weeks ago. Ronketto said the repairs hindered foot traffic somewhat, but that donations were pouring in from the drive-through. Ive been involved with Special Olympics for several years now. Its just very rewarding to see the athletes compete and to see all the awards that they get and how beneficial it is to them and their families, Ronketto said. The Law Enforcement Torch Run, a fundraising vehicle that benefits Special Olympics Illinois, begins Wednesday, June 7, and allows athletes to participate in the competition for free. That is very important to me sometimes families wouldnt be able to afford it otherwise. Thats one of the main reasons why we like helping, Ronketto said. David Hug, area coordinator for Special Olympics Illinois, said the organization stays active throughout the year and is currently gearing up for the annual Ducky Derby Dash. We do fundraising events year-round, whether its the Polar Plunge in the winter or the Ducky Derby Dash in the fall. Were a 100 percent donation-driven organization, so we rely on the people to support us and keep us afloat, Hug said. For more information or to donate to Special Olympics Illinois, visit www.soill.org. CARBONDALE The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge on Thursday morning honored two Carbondale officers who pursued shooting suspects in a high-speed chase last summer. In a private ceremony at the Carbondale Police Department, Officers Trey Harris and Corey Brinkley received the FOP Valor Award, which pays tribute to officers who have demonstrated selflessness and courage by risking their own lives to protect others. At about 11:30 p.m. on July 31, 2016, the two officers were on patrol in the 700 block of North Robert A. Stalls Avenue, responding to a call of gunshots being fired when they saw a vehicle fleeing the area. Harris and Brinkley pursued the vehicle, and one of the suspects leaned out the window and fired several shots at the police car. One of the shots went through the squad car windshield and struck Harris below his right eye. Harris lost vision in that eye in the incident but otherwise suffered no permanent physical damage, even though the bullet missed his brain stem by a fraction of an inch, according to a FOP news release. After the ceremony, FOP Labor Council Field Supervisor Jerry Lieb said the state lodge is expanding its awards program to recognize officers who do brave and wonderful things for the community. For every time something happens and theres an attack on the police, nobody knows about all the good stuff theyre doing every single day, Lieb said. The suspects were later arrested in Saline County, Kansas, based on information Harris and Brinkley gathered during the pursuit, the release states. These two officers put themselves in danger, and one obviously suffered a pretty major injury, so you have to recognize the courage that our officers present every day and what they do for the public, Lieb said. A Missouri woman suffered major injuries after a crash Thursday morning, according to a news release from Illinois State Police District 13. Preliminary investigative details indicate the crash occurred at approximately 11:15 a.m. when a 2013 Volvo and a 2008 Cadillac Escalade collided on Interstate 57 at Mile Post 51. According the release, the Cadillac slowed for traffic backed up from road construction and the driver of the Volvo failed to perceive the slowdown and struck the rear of the Cadillac. The Cadillac came to rest in the median. The Volvo came to rest on the right shoulder and in the right lane. The passenger of the Cadillac, Christina M. Matheis, 45, House Springs, Missouri, suffered major injuries, was extricated from the vehicle, and was flown directly from the scene to a regional hospital. The driver of the Cadillac, Robert M. Matheis, 47, of House Springs, Missouri, suffered non-life threatening injuries, refused treatment on the scene and elected to go to the hospital by private vehicle. The driver of the Volvo, Raghubir Singh, a 26, of Fresno, California, was uninjured. Singh was charged with failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash, improper lane usage and unsafe tire. Both vehicles had to be towed from the scene. I-57 was reduced to one lane for about hours for the crash investigation and scene clean up, according to the release. The Southern Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois is raising funds and planning for its second honor flight, scheduled for October 2017. Honor Flight program is a nationwide network dedicated to providing all veterans who apply with a free trip to Washington D.C. to see the memorials that honor their service. Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois is a not-for-profit hub in that network. Several fundraising events are in the works, including Veterans Appreciation Day at The Buckle in University Mall in Carbondale and Honor Flight OCharleys 5K in Marion. Veterans Appreciation Day at The Buckle will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday in University Mall. It will showcase photos from the first Honor Flight from Southern Illinois by photographers Jenn Fortune and Aimee Wigfall. The event also will unveil photos and stories from Project Honor and Sacrifice from J Fortune Photography, which features stories and photos from Southern Illinois veterans. All veterans are invited to come and be honored. Veterans and guardians from the April 25th Honor Flight can view and purchase photos from the trip. The event will conclude with a fashion show at 1 p.m. followed by time to see the gallery of photos. Veterans who shop at The Buckle during the event will receive a 10 percent discount. Aimee and I are going to be selling photos from honor flight. All the profits will go straight back to honor flight, Fortune said. I will also be selling and revealing photos from veterans photo shoots. Honor Flight photos will be 4-inches by 6-inches. Fortune and Wigfall hope to sell enough to make a nice donation to Honor Flight. We want to see our vets again, and make a little chunk of money we can donate back to Honor Flight, Fortune said. The first Honor Flight OCharleys 5K will be from 9 a.m. to noon June 10 beginning and ending at OCharleys Restaurant, with registration at 8 a.m. The entry fee is $35 and includes a t-shirt. Registration forms are available at the restaurant through the morning of the race, according to Tom Dreesen, one of the operating partners at OCharleys. Some of our regulars went on that first flight, and it was just powerful, Dreesen said. Dreesen was introduced to Honor Flights by a friend in Kentucky who is an honor volunteer. When he heard a chapter was forming in Southern Illinois, he became interested in helping. We always want to support our community and support our veterans, Dreesen said. Dreesen volunteered to help at the airport the morning of the flight and provided transportation home for one of those regulars who went to Washington, D.C. Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois also will launch an initiative during HerrinFesta Italiana to raise funds to purchase wheel chairs. Donations of $100 can be made in honor or memory of a veteran. The wheelchair will have a sign acknowledging the veterans service. For more information, stop by the Honor Flight table from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and 3 to 10 p.m. Sunday. More information about Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois is available at www.veteranshonorflight.org. Donations can be made online or at Peoples National Bank locations. HARRISBURG Grand Rivers Community Bank, in a statement, says it is fully cooperating with federal criminal investigators and is aware of recent reports of a federal investigation into the underlying issues raised in the bank's civil lawsuit in which it accuses Peoples National Bank and several of Peoples' leaders of racketeering and fraud. Peoples National Bank and its affiliates, through their legal counsel, have denied any wrongdoing concerning the allegations made against them by Grand Rivers, and said they have no knowledge of a federal investigation. The statement Grand Rivers issued to the newspaper Thursday reads, in full: "Grand Rivers Community Bank is aware of recent reports of a federal investigation by multiple agencies into the underlying issues raised in their lawsuit filed against Market Street Bancshares, Inc., Peoples National Bank, N.A., William F. Bonan, William F. Bonan II and Keith H. Botsch." "While Grand Rivers does not comment on pending litigation, the Bank, has, for some time, been fully cooperating with federal criminal investigators in their investigation of the issues, and intends to continue to do so." Brett Ashton, an Indianapolis-based attorney with Kreig DeVault LLP, which is representing Grand Rivers Community Bank, and Main Street Bancshares, Inc., the holding company for Grand Rivers, provided the statement to the newspaper via email. The statement lists as a contact Whitney Stringer, chair and CEO of Main Street Bancshares Inc. Though, Ashton indicated that no additional comments would be forthcoming from his client at this time. The statement followed the newspaper's inquiry as to whether, and if so why, federal agents had visited a Grand Rivers' branch earlier this week as there were citizen reports to The Southern that the branch had been closed to entry or exit for a period of time during normal business hours. The statement does not address that question specifically. While vague, the statement references the civil lawsuit that Grand Rivers filed in federal court March 14 in Benton against Peoples National Bank and several of its leaders. In the lawsuit pending before the U.S. District Court-Southern District of Illinois, Grand Rivers Community Bank accuses Peoples National Bank and its leaders of gaining control of Grand Rivers for racketeering activities from August 2010 through the time the lawsuit was filed. In a response filed in federal court to the initial complaint, Peoples and its affiliates, through their attorneys, denied all wrongdoing alleged in the lawsuit. Additionally, they filed a counterclaim against Grand Rivers and a third-party complaint against another banking entity, Texas-based American Pacific Bancorp Inc., alleging breach of and interference with a contract agreement, respectively, for Grand Rivers to merge with and into Peoples National Bank. One of the attorneys representing Peoples National Bank in the civil litigation, Cristian Stevens, of St. Louis-based Armstrong Teasdale LLP, provided a statement in response to the one provided by Grand Rivers, which is printed below, in full: "Peoples National Bank has not been advised of any investigation of the issues raised in the civil lawsuit with Grand Rivers. Peoples National Bank has denied the issues raised in the civil lawsuit in court and has countersued Grand Rivers for breaching our signed merger agreement and its duties of good faith and fair dealing to Peoples National Bank." In the originating lawsuit filed by Grand Rivers, the Grand Chain-based bank accuses Peoples National Bank, headquartered in Mount Vernon, and its named affiliates of "rampant self-dealing, preferential transactions, and improper transfer of low-quality assets from Peoples to Grand Rivers." It further alleges that Peoples sought to acquire Grand Rivers in August 2015 for the purpose of concealing those activities. Grand Rivers claims in the lawsuit that it only became aware of the illegal activities it alleges after a merger deal was finalized on Nov. 27, 2015. Therefore, Grand Rivers claims that based on its allegations of Peoples fraudulent concealment of the true purpose of the agreement, that the merger agreement is based entirely on fraud and is void. The lawsuit also alleges that the board of directors of Grand Rivers was improperly constituted at the time of the merger, in violation of Illinois law and Grand Rivers bylaws. The lawsuit specifically accuses Bonan II, former chairman of the Grand Rivers Community Bank and a current director of Peoples, of using the bank as a personal account from which he could borrow unlimited amounts of money and of engaging in a pattern of self-dealing to the benefit of himself, his friends and family members and a romantic partner in such a way that he weakened Grand Rivers' financial position. Collectively, the lawsuit accuses the defendants of infiltrating Grand Rivers and its sole shareholder, Main Street Bancshares Inc., and managing them for their own illegal purposes. Bonan II also is a past member of the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees (he was appointed to the post in 2008 by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich), and either is or has been a key member of businesses associated with real estate, group health insurance and video gaming parlors, among other ventures. Bonan II also is the past Southern Illinois community bank president for Peoples' Southern Region. Concerning the accusations made by Grand Rivers against Peoples and its leaders, the lawsuit alleges five counts of civil violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, more commonly known as the RICO Act. The 1970 RICO Act allows for both civil claims and criminal charges to be brought against alleged violators. The lawsuit between Grand Rivers and Peoples is a civil matter. While the statement by Grand Rivers indicates the bank is cooperating in an ongoing federal criminal investigation, the newspaper was unable, as of press time, to independently verify whether there is an ongoing federal investigation concerning the matters raised in the civil lawsuit, or into any other issues, related to either bank. It is common practice for spokespeople for federal investigatory agencies to neither confirm nor deny the existence of an ongoing investigation when no official charges have been filed, regardless of whether or not there is an active investigation. To date, no criminal charges have been filed in connection to the allegations raised in the civil lawsuit. In Peoples National Bank's answer to Grand Rivers' complaint, in which they countersued, Peoples calls the lawsuit brought by Grand Rivers "nothing more than a transparent and futile attempt to escape Grand Rivers' merger with and into Peoples to (a) pursue a more favorable deal and (b) avoid liability for breaching the terms of a merger agreement ..." "...this Court should not only reject Plaintiffs' gamesmanship, but order specific performance of the terms of the merger agreement and compensate Defendants for the actual, consequential, and economic damages they incurred as the result of Plaintiffs unlawful conduct, including costs and attorneys fees, and any other relief the Court deems reasonable and appropriate," Peoples' countersuit further states. The third-party complaint by Peoples and its affiliates claims American Pacific deliberately obstructed and interfered with defendants planned merger of Grand Rivers. Peoples accuses American Pacific of acquiring Grand Rivers and funding Grand Rivers' underlying lawsuit against Peoples in an attempt to ensure its improper acquisition attempt of Grand Rivers. In addition to Peoples National Bank and Bonan II, the lawsuit names as defendants Market Street Bancshares, Peoples' sole shareholder; the elder Bonan, of Mount Vernon, Bonan II's father, who is the chairman, president and general counsel of Peoples and vice chairman of Market Street; and Botsch, of Carmi, a former member of Grand Rivers Executive Committee, a CPA who does accounting work for Grand Rivers, and a current director of Market Street and Peoples. The third-party complaint brought by Peoples claims that on Dec. 27, 2016, about a month prior to the goal closing date of the Grand Rivers merger with and into Peoples, American Pacific filed an application with the Federal Reserve to become a bank holding company by acquiring 67 percent of Main Street, indirectly acquiring Grand Rivers. Peoples claims it did not learn about American Pacifics application until the State of Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulations Division of Banking Bureau issued a regulatory report shortly thereafter. In that public report, the state indicated that it had received a change in control filing with respect to Grand Rivers. The newspaper has been unsuccessful in its attempts to reach American Pacific. Peoples also claims in its court response that it has reason to believe that American Pacific either is or has agreed to fund Grand Rivers' lawsuit against Peoples. According to a spokesman for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, American Pacific withdrew its application to acquire Grand Rivers on April 18 11 days after Peoples filed its third-party complaint against American Pacific in the underlying lawsuit brought against it by Grand Rivers. IDFPR's Banking Division would be charged with approving any merger deals because Grand Rivers Community Bank is a state bank, according to Terry Horstman, IDFPR's spokesman. According to Peoples National Bank's countersuit, IDFPR's Banking Division had previously approved the merger of Grand Rivers with and into Peoples, and Peoples' application for approval of the proposed merger was pending with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency at the time Grand Rivers filed its lawsuit. Peoples National Bank is a nationally chartered member of the Federal Reserve System with branches in 15 Southern Illinois communities and two in Missouri; Grand Rivers is a state-chartered bank and a much smaller institution with branches in three locations Grand Chain, Karnak and Shawneetown. Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct an error. Attorney Cristian Stevens's first name was misspelled in the original version. To the Editor: If you are going to tell a story, at least tell it right. President Trump fired FBI Director Comey. Republicans want nothing to do with a fantasy story which suggests Comey was terminated because of the Trump-Russian election investigation. Not to be outdone by the Democrats, Republicans are now creating their own fantasy by insisting Comey was fired because he usurped the authority of Obama's Justice Department when he cleared Hillary Clinton of any e-mail/server wrongdoing. Both stories are goofy. Go back to June 27th, 2016. Bill Clinton tries to secretly meet with Attorney General Loretta Lynch on an airport tarmac in Phoenix. When the occurrence of that meeting immediately comes to light, Lynch announces on July 1st that she would follow Comey's recommendation. Now, don't miss this critical point: Barack Obama was never going to allow any prosecution of Hillary Clinton. Since Clinton was not to be prosecuted, the only way Lynch could defer to Comey was if Comey had already agreed to give Clinton a pass. Before noon on Tuesday, July 5, Comey expressly states Clinton would not be prosecuted because she had no "intent" to commit espionage. Comey, however, conveniently fails to note that even without any specific intent, Clinton's extreme carelessness was also deemed to be statutory espionage. Comey usurped nothing. Comey's action neatly accomplished Obama's purpose: Clinton's email cloud disappeared and neither Obama nor his Justice Department could be accused of wrongfully refusing to prosecute Clinton. Chris Tabing Coulterville To the Editor: The Illinois State Senate is currently working on a budget compromise called the Grand Bargain, which is a 500-page expansion of taxation in Illinois. One of the proposals in this so-called Grand Bargain is to raise taxes on services including a 6.25 percent sales tax on home repair services. We want people to keep their homes in good repair. We want safe, healthy neighborhoods. Creating an onerous, confusing tax on home repair services would lead to a reduction in these services and make our homes and our neighborhoods less safe. This tax will also hit seniors and those on limited income the hardest and it will be a deathblow to homeowners already victimized by fire or storm damage. Fire damage can easily exceed $50,000, meaning the taxes to these repairs could exceed $3,000! Instead of taxing home repairs, why not do something an overwhelming number of Illinois residents support? The Illinois Alliance to Prevent Obesity projects that a penny-per-ounce tax paid by the distributors of sugary drinks could generate $560 million per year or even possibly close to $1 billion after federal matching funds, which far exceeds the $47 million that will be generated by home repair work. A recent poll conducted in February by Anzalone Liszt Grove Research (ALG) indicated, voters prefer the sugary drink tax (72 percent) to home repair and landscaping tax (19 percent). The State of Illinois is in serious trouble. Everyone gets that. Raising taxes on home repair will not generate much revenue for the state, but it will have a devastating impact on the construction industry in Illinois. Lawmakers need to understand what Illinois residents already know our state will be much better off with more repairs being done than even more sugary drinks being consumed. Pete Stefani President, Kings Court Builders, Inc. Naperville EASLEYThe Rev. Richard Reams cant forget the time he went to a childrens center and knelt to give a girl a high-five. The little girl flinched. Its OK, Reams heard the girls sister tell her. He wont hit you here. Its a safe place. But the look on that childs face still haunts him, and today he and other South Carolina United Methodist pastors are part of a growing number of clergy driven to do what they can to heighten awareness about domestic violence and abuse and offer up the church as a safe place for help. Reams and dozens of other pastors in the Anderson District headed to First United Methodist Church, Easley, April 3 for a discussion on how churches can offer a faithful response to domestic violence. Led by Susan Burton of the UMCs General Board of Church and Society, the gathering shared information, tips and next steps to help victims and stop violence. South Carolina is the fifth deadliest state in the nation when it comes to women being killed by men; in 2015 it was No. 1, and it has held the deadliest spot four times in the last 18 years since the Violence Policy Center began its rankings. Men can be victims, too, though a disproportionate number are women and children. Globally, one in three women has been beaten, forced into sex or otherwise abused by someone she knowsincluding her husband. It occurs in every community in every racial/ethnic composition and every economic status. With such figures, one would think the church would be an ideal place for preaching and teaching about domestic violence. But Burton said a LifeWay research study found that 42 percent of Protestant pastors never or rarely speak about domestic violence. Its really heavy, its ugly; why bring that ugliness in the church? Burton said. But UMC Social Principles say churches should provide a safe environment and support for victims of family violence and abuse, Burton saidand its the Christian thing to do. The Rev. Susan Leonard-Ray, Anderson District superintendent, said because South Carolina is consistently in the worst rankings for domestic violence, it seems many in the state have somehow normalized behaviors of dominance, violence and control, but that must change. And she is hopeful the clergy gathering will be a step in the right direction. Pastors are in unique roles to both lift up this Jesus-modeled standard as well as be attentive to and safe spaces for those touched by this often well-kept secret, Leonard-Ray said. We all need our level of awareness raised to this pervasive reality and must do our part in teaching and modeling healthy masculinity, as well as elevating the value of our sons and daughters as those made in the image of God and therefore intrinsically worthy of respect and value. Killing people, ruining our girls Abusive behavior is largely about power and control, Burton said, and there are five types of domestic violence: physical, psychological, sexual, verbal and economic. Some men say, If you leave me, Im keeping the kids, while other men have all the financial power because their wives are stay-at-home mothers or turn over their paychecks to their husband. Other men force their wives to get pregnant by preventing birth control. It is absolutely a public health concern, Burton said, noting domestic violence involves injury, non-communicable diseases, mental health and substance use, sexually transmitted diseases and reproductive health disorders, and said churches have an obligation to do something about this. Burton and other pastors discussed a number of things people can do to recognize possible signs of abuse. Women in abusive relationships have much in common with veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder; theyre often jumpy. Some women cake on makeup to cover bruises on the face. What to do Burton said we must teach, preach and be an ally for victims, creating healthy/healing spaces and advocating for change, whether individual, cultural or institutional. Individual change involves changing oneself, such as getting divorced or leaving the bad situation. Cultural change involves being aware of the messages our children and other are receiving. Are there television shows for little girls that show girls as leaders? Do books in our church nurseries feature girls as females or secondary figures? Think about the role of women in the church; only 15 percent of women in Scripture have names, Burton said, noting that part of our role as Christians is influencing the people in our pews. We must change the expectation that girls be married and in relationships as what defines them. Institutional change involves changing unfair laws and other policies and practices. As Burton noted, In South Carolina, a man can get five years in prison for abusing a dog but a maximum of 30 days for beating his wife or girlfriend if its a first offense. Several factors can help keep people from becoming domestic violence victims, she said, and urged churches to do what they can to strengthen these. Structurally, factors include access to quality healthcare, educational opportunities, employment and livable wages, food security, housing, safe neighborhoods and social inclusion. Socially, birth circumstances, family support, neighborhood/community, workplace and access to money, power and resources can help. For more information: https://umc-gbcs.org/issues/domestic-violence. A man on parole is now facing an attempted murder charge for allegedly stabbing another man in his neck. Terry Lee Hewitt Jr., 31, is accused of entering a North mans house at 5 a.m. May 14 and stabbing him in the throat, according to his arrest warrants. Hewitt is also charged with first-degree burglary and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. The Orangeburg man appeared in bond court on Thursday afternoon where Orangeburg County Magistrate Peggy Doremus advised him that he may appear before a circuit court judge to have his bond set at a later date. The Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office alleges Hewitt kicked in the door of a Jackson Quarters Drive mans home, asking him for something to eat and then stabbing the man in the neck. His warrants allege that he left the victim on the floor bleeding from the injury. The victim was able to get to a family members home on Limestone Road where he called for law enforcement. He underwent emergency surgery for the injury. Hewitt is no stranger to law enforcement. Hes currently serving a four-year parole sentence thats set to end on June 30, 2018. Hewitt pleaded guilty in December 2013 to criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature. A woman reported he choked and hit her, saying he needed to put two bullets in her. She begged him not to kill her and a baby. Circuit Judge Ed Dickson sentenced him to prison for 10 years, but suspended the term to one year in prison and four years of probation. If convicted of attempted murder in his most recent arrest, Hewitt faces up to 30 years in prison. The Regional Medical Center has hired an Illinois firm to help in its search for a new chief executive officer. Under the contract approved Tuesday, the hospital will pay Witt/Kieffer about 31 percent of the initial estimated annual compensation of the CEO. The minimum fee is $50,000, according to the contract. "We estimate the first-year compensation to be $450,000, therefore our estimated fee for this assignment will be $139,500, the company stated in a letter addressed to RMC Chairman Melvin Seabrooks dated May 12. "We will adjust our fee at the conclusion of the search depending on actual total compensation, the letter said. The hospital is responsible for expenses such as staff and candidate travel, accommodations, advertising and video conferencing. If the hospitals new CEO is gone before serving three years, Witt/Kieffer will search for a replacement for no additional professional fee. The national search could take between four and six months, although it may take longer. Witt/Kieffer has served as an executive search firm for 45 years for hospitals, health systems, academic medical centers and other health-related organizations. RMC CEO Tom Dandridge was removed by a divided board at the end of January after 24 years at the hospital. In other matters during Tuesdays board meeting: RMC Finance Committee Chairman Matt Stokes said the hospital saw a total operating loss in April of about $965,750 due to a decline in volume. "Our investments have also been under budget, as they have been in the past," he said. Expenses were under budget by about $250,000. Health insurance claims were also down. Year-to-date, the hospital has seen a total loss of $941,266. Last year at this same time, the hospital was about $32,000 in the black. Hospital officials blame the loss on a decline in returns on its investments. The RMC system, including its primary care practices, has seen a year-to-date total loss of $1.9 million. The hospitals finances are about $1.2 million worse than last year at this time. RMC Chief Information Officer Jim Albin said RMCs computer systems are fine following the recent worldwide cyberattacks. "We have an outside security organization helping us monitor our security and we picked up on it and we saw that we needed to make sure we had our systems patched," Albin said. "We were working on it over the weekend. We are OK. We can't say we are 100 percent because it is like your house: If someone wants to break in, they will break in anyway. We will keep putting roadblocks to make it complicated and difficult. We should not have to worry about this in its present form." Anesthesiologist Dr. Gary Delaney presented an overview of the hospital's implementation of a surgery safety checklist and how it has improved patient outcomes and reduced post-operative complications. The hospital implemented the safety checklist in 2010, becoming the first in the state to do so. The 19-item checklist includes confirming the patients identity before administering anesthesia, marking the site of the surgery, confirming allergies and other steps to ensure patient safety. "We operate on the right patient, on the right side at the right time with the right surgery and with the right antibiotic," Delaney said. Delaney said the hospital will continue work on improving surgical site infection, reducing blood transfusions and improving glucose management. Trustees were informed three bids have been requested for the painting of the heating and air conditioning penthouse compartment on top of the hospital's roof. The unit has not been painted since the hospital was built in the early 1980s. The hospital did have plans to paint the structure a few years ago, but due its financial challenges the project was put on hold. The painting of the penthouse comes as the hospital is in the process of upgrading its HVAC system. * Trustees approved various doctor contracts, but trustee Dr. M.S. Nassri requested in the future trustees receive contracts in advance of the meeting so they can better evaluate each one before making a decision. The doctor contract renewals maintain current hospital services. * Entered into executive session to discuss the hospital's affiliation with the Medical University of South Carolina. With consolidation of the countys public school districts a looming, Orangeburg Consolidated School District Four trustees charge that legislators are not answering questions about possible tax increases, bus transportation, school closings and loss of representation. District leaders met with the Orangeburg County Legislative Delegation but got little cooperation, according to OCSD4 Board Chair Aaron Rudd. Weve been asking questions, but were not getting any answers, Rudd said during the board meeting Tuesday night. In addition, the bill the S.C. House of Representatives is expected to vote on next Tuesday does not clarify the issues, Trustee Dr. William OQuinn said. Everything is after the fact, he said. These issues should have been worked out before the bill was brought out to vote on, O'Quinn said. But instead, theyre trying to pass the law and then let a small transition committee create an operating plan for the new district and guidelines that will be used to settle these issues, he said. It's also a concern that this committee is not likely to include many educators trained in governing a school district, O'Quinn said. Superintendent Dr. Tim Newman said the bill calls for the delegation to appoint the following members to the committee: one parent of a student from somewhere in Orangeburg, one business leader from somewhere in the county and one teacher and one administrator from the county. The three superintendents will be on the committee but will have no vote, Newman said. Other than that, there are no defining guidelines as to who will serve on the committee, the superintendent noted. I have great concern about educators not having a voice in this process, mainly educators that deal with our children every day, 24/7 versus folks that may be appointed, Newman said. Im hoping to get answers on that. Trustees also discussed the following consolidation concerns during the meeting: Increased millage: District Four currently has the lowest millage of the countys three districts, Newman. Tax on a $10,000 car in one neighboring district is 25.9 percent higher than it is in OCSD4, he said. Under the House bill, millage in the new district will be based on that of the three districts millage for the previous year and a county-wide millage based on a method of calculation yet to be determined, Newman said. He said he has concerns about that "yet to be determined" method and what kind of impact its going to have on taxpayers in District Four. Newman said hes eager to ask questions about the issue. District's loss of authority to borrow money for capital improvements: The House bill wipes out debt service except for emergencies, which could be a serious blow to the district, Newman said. We fund a lot of our operations and maintenance projects on a yearly basis, he said. Thats why they call it capital projects debt service. Newman noted that the district is in the second year of a four-year technology update. Funds are in place for next years project, but the final stage of the plan still has to be paid for. It leaves whats going to happen the fourth year with a big question mark, he said Lack of clarity on closing schools and busing students to new attendance areas: The bill includes too many excepts and howevers, Trustee Mary Brant said. For example, the terminology seems to promise things like attendance areas wont be changed and schools wont be closed, but a word that permits these things to happen is always included in the statement, she said. For instance, the bill stipulates that school attendance zones cannot be changed unless ... and attendance zones wont be changes except, or no elementary, middle or high school may be closed until, Brant said. At first reading of the bill, it appears no schools will be lost, but some leeway is always left for such changes, she said, adding, I have a lot of questions." Will the new consolidated district save money or will it cost more?: Brant says the bill calls for putting a new centralized administrative center in place, which concerns her. The center is going to include human resources, accounting, procurement, transportation, school bus services and maintenance, she said. Where is this facility going to be placed, she questioned. All of us know what Orangeburg County looks like and all of us know how big it is from one end to another, Brant said. Where in the world are you going to put that to serve the entire Orangeburg County? Consolidation as proposed by the bill is not going to save money, she said. You cant tell me that its not going to cost more money than were spending now, Brant said. Thats common sense to me. She noted that the bill must be signed by the governor before it becomes law. Our hands look like theyre tied and we cant do anything, she said. But if the governor has to sign it, then the district needs to go to the governor, Brant said. She urged anyone who has the ear of the governor to take the matter to him. OQuinn said legislators need to at least put plans for consolidation on hold until answers to all these questions can be worked out. He urged everyone at the board meeting to attend the hearing on consolidation thats scheduled for Monday night. It probably wont change legislators' minds, but it will show a force, O'Quinn said. I think we need to make a very, very big showing, he said. My dream is we can hold this off until at least next year to think about some of these questions. Representation on the new board: Rudd said a map redistricting the county gives District Four the chance to have two members on the new board at most. But he said he fears theres really little chance of having even two members. How the district will pay for state-required teacher raises: Newman said one of his biggest concerns is that by Nov. 1, districts will be required to pay by the states minimum salary schedule, which must reach at least the minimum average teachers salary in the Southeast. By my estimates, it would cost the district between $300,000 and $600,000 to fund it, he said. The superintendent said he's not opposed to the raises. Ive been lobbying for years to try to get our teachers more money in this district, and we deserve to be able to pay our teachers what teachers make across the state, he said. His concern is where the money is going to come from, Newman said. I have some great concerns because we dont have that kind of money, he said. Districts like ours dont have the tax base to generate those types of funds ... the state needs to do something to help offset that. Im anxious to hear an answer on what that is. Also during the meeting, trustees approved by voice vote a tax anticipation note that will allow the district to borrow up to $2.4 million to meet expenditures until tax revenues start coming in. Newman told the board that the section of the consolidation bill disallowing debt service will not affect the districts right to take short term loans like the TAN. The board also approved a field trip to New York City for drama students at Carver-Edisto Middle School. Students will visit Broadway, see a Broadway show, take part in a workshop, tour the city and go shopping. First Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe is again under attack for his role as special prosecutor in the public corruption investigation at the South Carolina Statehouse. That is not surprising. On Tuesday, after the state grand jury indicted a prominent legislator on two counts of misconduct in office, Pascoe did what a prosecutor should do and declined to offer comment about the case against Rep. Rick Quinn beyond stating the investigation is ongoing and Quinn is to be presumed innocent. But the Lexington County Republican, like three others charged before him, did not remain silent. Quinn is a former House majority leader and son of veteran Republican strategist Richard Quinn, who owns marketing and political consulting firms. He accused Pascoe, a Democrat who's run unsuccessfully for attorney general, of unfairly targeting him and his family out of political revenge. "I have conducted myself in an honorable manner, and I look forward to clearing my family's good name," Quinn said in a release. "I have done nothing wrong." He did not stop there. In an interview with The State newspaper of Columbia, Quinn said activities described in the indictment have been found to be legal. There are accusations in this indictment that should be equally applied to the Democratic Caucus if (Pascoe) really believes they are illegal For some reason, he doesnt want to ask questions of the Democrats. Quinn said he and his attorneys will be at a May 23 hearing in Richland County to present evidence that Pascoe has conducted his investigation in an unconstitutional manner. Quinn said he is a victim of association with GOP Attorney General Alan Wilson, who appointed Pascoe as prosecutor and then lost a court battle in attempting to remove the solicitor from the position. Pascoe is a partisan who wants to be attorney general, and he is seeking to make political hay with cases against GOP lawmakers, Quinn said. The Lexington Republican extended his accusations to saying the indictment against him on Tuesday was an attempt to muddy up issues in next weeks hearing, which Quinns attorneys said is about whether they have in place the appropriate procedures to protect Ricks constitutional rights. I am looking forward to not only going to trial and having my good name cleared, because thats going to happen. But also, Im going to hold Mr. Pascoe accountable for things hes been doing. So be it. It is up to Pascoe to prove his case, which the prosecutor clearly believes he can do. He would not have sought an indictment otherwise. Beyond that, there are some points to be made in Pascoes defense: He is not alone in this matter. He leads a team of State Law Enforcement Division agents and three other circuit solicitors. The state grand jury made the decisions on indictments. Any political motives are questionable in that Pascoe is making himself enemy No. 1 with Republicans in a Republican state. Indictments against Democrats seem likely. But to say that Pascoe should be seeking indictments against Democrats in a tit-for-tat way is to say he should be political in the investigation and any resulting legal action. David Pascoe is a Democratic elected official, yes, but he is foremost a prosecutor sworn to pursue justice not one justice for Republicans and another for Democrats. Just as Pascoe reiterates that Quinn and others indicted in the Statehouse probe are to be presumed innocent unless proven guilty, so too is the prosecutor to be presumed to be doing his job capably, ethically and legally unless there is evidence to the contrary. When British billionaire Sir Richard Branson made a call two weeks ago in Barbados for the use of small amounts of cannabis to be made legal, it did not escape the attention of those concerned with justice in that tourism-dependent Caricom member country. Not long after the Virgin Atlantic boss made his call, the Director of the Criminal Justice Research and Planning Unit, Cheryl Willoughby immediately brushed aside the suggestion. Barbados Today news agency reported that Willoughby argued that the local criminal justice system was by no means inundated with people charged with using small amounts of ganja. In fact, according to the same news agency, Willoughby explained that nearly all of the marijuana-related cases in Barbados were linked to possession and trafficking of large amounts of the illegal substance. And Branson, not known to take being brushed aside without a wimp, shot back with a statement last week, saying, inter alia, that criminalization and tough law enforcement did nothing to make societies like Barbados safer. "We all know this. Cannabis is everywhere in the Caribbean, freely available to anyone who wants it and looks for it, and yet, the entire market is controlled by people that have no interest in ensuring that potent, harmful types of cannabis stay out of the hands of minors. "If the safety of your child matters to you, this cannot be an acceptable situation, the business mogul stressed. While advocating strongly for policy reform, Sir Richard however made it clear that he was not encouraging the use of drugs. "But I believe strongly that as with alcohol in the United States, only decriminalization helps and will free the law enforcement resources needed to focus on organized crime, he said. Sir Richard went further, and even as he made it clear that he was encouraging the use of drug, he called for a new approach to regulation, suggesting it was the only way to ultimately protect children and communities from the drug scourge. The British business mogul, who is a member of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, further cautions that "the so-called war on drugs launched in the 1970s, has been a costly and deadly failure that has taken tens of thousands of lives, needless incarcerated millions and wasted trillions of dollars in taxpayer money globally. "Yet the global drug trade continues unabated, and many countries, including some with zero-tolerance drug laws, have recorded dramatic increases in drug abuse and overdose deaths, he added. (Source: Barbados Today) Nikala Williams (centre) leads the unveiling of the Go Limitless with FLOWs promotion, ably assisted by Andrea Liverpool (left) and Maria Degrades. Telecommunication Company FLOW has unveiled its anticipated promotion for the 2017 Carnival season. The promotion called Go Limitless with FLOW will see customers winning a number of prizes including a jackpot of EC$ 10,000, free talk time and data and a trip for two to the Soca on the Hill event in Barbados. Customers can also win daily prizes such as Monday Band Packs, Costumes, Show tickets and Smart phones. The promotion is open to FLOW customers when they top up $15 or more, text "Carnival to "8627 or sign up for any new plan or services. During the launching of the promotion last Monday at the companys headquarters, Halifax Street, FLOWs Marketing and Corporate Communication Manager Nikala Williams explained the promotion and different ways persons can win. According to her, customers will be winning prizes every day during the Jumbo Jackpot Everyday Giveaway. Once a customer signs up for any new services offered by FLOW, he/she is automatically entered into the Jackpot. Pre-paid customers get that chance when they top-up $15.00 or more, and existing post-paid customers are also in with a chance when they text "Carnival to 8627, on their cell phones. Among the weekly prizes up for grabs are 10,000 megabytes of data and 10,000 minutes of talk time. A lucky customer will also win an all expense trip for two to the Soca on the Hill event in Barbados. According to the Marketing Manager, the daily prizes include tickets to carnival and carnival-related shows, mas costumes, cash, credit and a redemption center will be set up downstairs the FLOW main building to accommodate winners. And the giveaways dont stop there. Product Executive at FLOW - Maria Degrades said that persons signing on to Flows Heros plan will get a free Samsung Galaxy and extra data. Persons purchasing the new Samsung Galaxy s8 on a post paid plan will also get double data. Head of Retail Andrea Liverpool spoke about the latest edition to the Samsung mobile phone brand, the Galaxy s8. The phone is currently at FLOW for purchase. It carries 64 Gigabytes of memory, with additional expandable storage to 256 Gigabytes. Liverpool said that persons purchasing a FLOW services headset at either Links or Missed Call tech outlets would be rewarded with 100MB of data and 50 free text messages, among other things. Following the launching of the promotion, customers at the outlet on the ground floor of the FLOW headquarters were involved in an activity which saw them winning a number of prizes on the spot. FLOW is a platinum sponsor of Vincy Mas. (KH) WITH THE MISS SVG PAGEANT quickly approaching the June 3rd date, the seven young ladies vying for the 2017 crown had the opportunity to interact with the media, during the annual Meet the Press event on Young Island Resort, on Saturday 13th May. Here is a brief insight to who the contestants are and some of the things about which they are concerned. BRYANNA HADAWAY Miss Quick Cash - is 20 years old and hails from Sally Spring, Kingstown. She has a distinguished past from which to find inspiration; her grandmother, Mrs. Daphne Frederick, and her aunt, Nicole Had away, having been former Beauty Queens here. Bryanna has a burning concern for issues related to feminism, and professes a strong conviction that there must be social, political and economic equality between the sexes, and she is prepared to ensure that that is the case. DARISEAN LABORDE - Miss Kendras Aluminum Products is a native of Chateaubelair. The 24-year-old graduate of the St. Josephs Convent Kingstown and the Division of Technical and Vocational Education of the SVG Community College, currently owns and operates a beauty salon. She spoke passionately about women having to look out for other women. "As women I think that we need to be more supportive of each other, not that we all should like each other, but try and respect each others feelings, she said. NICOLEEN LEWIS Miss Mustique Company hopes that she could be a role model for socially displaced women. This ambition is perhaps fueled by the fact that the 19-year-old beauty spent the last two years of secondary school as a resident of Our Lady of Guadeloup Home for Girls in Marriaqua. She entered the Miss PTani Pageant in 2015. Lewis said that she will continue empowering and motivating young females. "All of us need empowering . There are certain times in our lives when we feel down, when we feel not worthy, and that is when we all should step in to help one another, to motivate , empower each other, said Lewis. BRITTNEY OLIVER Miss Agriculture Input Warehouse - is 24 years old and hails from Calliaqua. She graduated from the Bishops College Kingstown and then pursued studies in technology at the Division of Technical and Vocational Education of the SVG Community College. She is a member of the Sion Hill Euphonium Steel Orchestra, and is currently the reigning Miss St. George. "I want to be a voice for those who are afraid to step up and speak up about this issue, Oliver told THE VINCENTIAN. CHRISTAL OLIVER Miss Jergens, is a resident of Glen and the owner of Olive Art Design, which specializes in bag design and branding. The 26-year-old is a National Award recipient. Christal is passionate about equal opportunity for young people, particularly in education. "Not only education through academics, but also through skills, and I am happy that I have been afforded the opportunity to learn academically and to be educated through skills, and that has helped me to develop my business, said Oliver. She has a special word for young women, encouraging them to take pride in their natural hair, since the most important thing is to be happy and comfortable in ones skin. JIMELLE ROBERTS Miss FLOW is an avid dancer. The 24-year-old resident of Belair credits this art form for her overall development. She is currently a teacher at the St. Joseph Convent Marriaqua and a member of the Girl Guides. It follows, therefore, that Jimelle is high on education and has all intentions of remaining in the field, albeit, in a specialized service area. "If I were to be crowned the next Miss SVG (and win the scholarship), I will become a Speech and Language therapist, she asserted. The young lady, who, like the other contestants is currently involved in the ECGC campaign aimed at empowering women through education, hopes to remain active in that programme. LA-DONNA YORKE Miss Metrocint General Insurance Co. Ltd. is a twenty-one years old Mesopotamia resdient. She has an eye set on becoming a Paediatrician, but she also has a passion for the Performing Arts. The issue of emotional abuse concerns her. "When we hear the term abuse we often think about it as a physical nature, but what about the verbal assault? The constant humiliation and intimidation against each other affect our dignity, self-worth and identity. It is my goal to empower, uplift, give strength and support wherever I can, said Yorke. Dr. Hubert Minnis, as though saying to the Perry Christie, Go, leave the hall of government. You have sat here long enough. (Credit: The Tribune) Not only was the incumbent Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) slaughtered at the polls general elections - last Wednesday in the Bahamas, but its leader and Prime Minister of that country, was badly beaten in his once safe seat. Perry Christies PLP suffered the ignominy of having to concede a seat which he had represented for some 40 years, and his party had to face up to the disgrace of being trounced 38 seats to 4. It was, according to observers, a clear statement by the Bahamian electorate that it had had enough of the PLP, and that it did not approve of it and Perrys performance in office. Perry party removed Bahamians instead, elected the Free National Movement (FNM) led by Dr, Hubert Minnis, who was sworn in a Prime Minister last week Thursday. The Nassau Guardian reported that in his victory speech which followed a 9:00pm concession of defeat by Perry, Dr. Minnins told thousands of supporters that the FNM had fought a long battle, and urged them to, "Never, ever allow the politicians to be in charge again, and reminded them that "This is your victory and you will always remain in charge. he said. The FNM had campaigned on a message that the PLP had lost touch with the Bahamian people and had failed to be accountable and transparent. , and the vote demonstrated that the electorate had accepted his message. In fact, according to the Nassau Guardian, Dr. Minnis had accused the Christie administration of being corrupt and neglectful of the peoples; of selling out to the Chinese government and making deals to enrich themselves and their families. The overwhelming vote in favour of the opposition FNM demonstrated that the majority of the electorate had accepted Dr. Minnins message. Notwithstanding his popularity, the FNM assumes the reins of government amidst what reports say is a widespread concern about the economy, questions about the state of public finances, a far from applicable education system and fear among a population which has had to live with a high rate of violent crime. (Source: the nassauguardian.com) After singing and performing folk songs for 14 years ago, the United Vincie Cultural Group of Brooklyn (UVCGB) has finally produced and launched its first CD. UVCGB president, Dr. Roxie Irish, told THE VINCENTIAN, in an exclusive interview, that the CD, labeled, Keep We Culture Alive, is a "dream come true for us. Very momentous, indeed! "We give God praise for His continued favor on this ministry, she said after the launching ceremony, at the groups annual fund-raising Tea Party, at the Golden Hall, at St. Gabriels Episcopal (Anglican) Church, on Hawthorne Street in East Flatbush, Brooklyn. "This is only the beginning, added Irish. "Were working very hard; we have materials in the making. The mission has always been to furnish medical supplies to our homeland, but, in the process, were on a quest to promote our culture. The Tracks The CD comprises 11 folk songs. All except the Moonlight, which was recorded as a tribute to the late, legendary composer, Alban Henry, a former head teacher in Georgetown, are the work of either Ada Johnson, Gordon Don Sutherland or Randolph Randy Liverpool, all Georgetown-born Vincentians. Johnson, a former school teacher and High Court Registrar in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, wrote the title track Keep We Culture Alive and The Amazing Breadfruit. Sutherland, a former teacher and co-founder, lead guitarist and song writer for the Georgetown-based Affetuosos Band of yesteryear, accounted for SVG Swaree, Vincentian Local Dish, Dis is Crop Over, Hairouna and Ole Time Fashion Never Die. Liverpool, also a former teacher and a retired Superintendent in the Royal Bermuda Police Force, penned SVG Diaspora, Where De Good Childhood Days Gone and Calling Lis. Feedback "The event was well-attended and supported by the public, said Johnson of the Tea Party and CD Launch. "Feedback from attendees was predominantly positive, despite some operational hiccups. "The lyrics and the melodious music of the songs were also greatly applauded, Liverpool shared, adding that the success accomplished by the UVCGB on their CD project was truly a team effort. "Kudos to president, Dr. Roxie Irish, the entire membership of the UVCGB, engineer Ozzy Sutherland [Don Sutherlands son], and all volunteers for their relentless hard work and significant contributions for a job well done. Liverpool assured that UVCGB is "determined and will continue to keep Vincie culture alive, through folk songs, drama and choral speech, and, at the same time, will pursue the charitable cause of using any funds that are raised by the group to provide medical supplies and equipment to hospitals and clinics in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Sutherland agreed, adding: "We have one common goal to keep our culture alive for SVG (St. Vincent and the Grenadines) and to give the proceeds from the CD to the rural clinics in SVG. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. By Azernews By Sara Israfilbayova Polish companies focus on the Azerbaijani market and the 23rd Azerbaijan International Food Industry Exhibition gives a good chance to analyze the market, Polish Ambassador to Baku Marek Tsalka told Trend on the sidelines of the event. The World Food Azerbaijan 2017 and CaspianAgro 2017 exhibitions are being held in Baku on May 17-19. A total of 331 companies representing 28 countries were participating in the World Food Azerbaijan 2017 and the CaspianAgro 2017 exhibitions. Some 70 percent of these companies are foreign exhibitors, while 30 percent are local ones. This year Polands stand is represented by 10 companies, four of which Metal-Fach, SaMASZ, Farmtrac and POM Augustow are producers of agricultural machinery and six of them operating in the food industry-Sweet Brands, Kaskat, Eko-Aronia, Maspex, Malwa and Contimax. "Polands stand is not very big at the Azerbaijani exhibition this year, but it is still interesting. We organized a visit of the representatives of several different Polish companies to Azerbaijan to find a niche here, the ambassador added. Tsalka noted that the representatives of four Polish companies engaged in the production of agricultural machinery, namely, tractors, various harvesting machines and etc. arrived in Azerbaijan. There are a lot of land plots difficult for processing in Azerbaijan and I think that this agricultural machinery is perfect, he clarified. Janusz Pydych, the manager of Metal-Fach for Eastern Europe and Asia markets said that his company is very interested in entering the Azerbaijani market and is ready to offer farmers various farming techniques. "Now we are trying to enter the Azerbaijani market. We are already present not only in the European, but also in the Asian market. The number of our foreign points of sale exceeds 60. We operate in the Russian market, we also established production in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine and other countries. We already have experience in your region, Pydych said, noting that different countries need different kinds of equipment "I know that at present Azerbaijan intends to develop its agrarian sector, and our goal is to find its market niche. In the process of development of the agricultural sector, your country will need a new technology, which we are ready to offer. Poland has already gone through the development of the agricultural sector, and we know that at the first stage cheap equipment is bought. But at the second stage, farmers begin to buy more expensive and better equipment. Now Azerbaijan is gradually moving to the second phase, and therefore farmers will be interested in acquiring more high-quality equipment. At the first stage we can offer different types of trailers, with a capacity of 1.5-30 tons, bunk feeders and various machinery for cultivating the land. We want to get acquainted with Azerbaijan's plans for development of agriculture, and make sure that our products will be in demand here. Naturally, the first question is price range of products. We are aware that at present Azerbaijan mainly uses Belarusian and Russian equipment. We are competing with Belarusian products: in spite of the fact that our products are more expensive than the Belarusian, they are much cheaper than the world's leading brands and not yield to them in quality, Pydych noted. Export Manager of SaMasz, Adam Rydzewski, in tune, said that they are ready to offer products that are not inferior, but even superior to the products of world brands, the costs for which are much lower than for German or American ones and that the most important criterion is customer satisfaction. At the first stage, Polish companies are interested in exporting their equipment. But in the future, there is a possibility of creating a joint production of equipment in the territory of Azerbaijan, according to Rydzewski. "This is a long-term prospect, but the idea is good. We need to analyze Azerbaijans market need, the working conditions of machinery. If there is a great need, we are ready to create production here in the future," said Rydzewski. Development of non-oil sector is one of the main priorities for Azerbaijan, as the government is eager to diversify economy. Agriculture remains as one of the priority sectors, where intensive reforms are being carried out. The strategic road maps of the national economy of Azerbaijan were approved by the head of state in December 2016. One of the road maps is devoted to agriculture. In line with measures to be implemented in this field as reflected in this document, until 2020 in Azerbaijan it is planned to create about 20,000 new jobs and increase the country's GDP by 1.2 billion manats. It is planned to establish an agricultural insurance fund in 2018 within the framework of the implementation of the strategic road map for the production and processing of agricultural products. By Azernews By Laman Ismayilova Baku Music Academy has hosted a concert of Norway's Chamber Orchestra "Oslo Kammerakademi" to mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Norway, and Norway's Constitution Day. Cultural figures, famous musicians, representatives of diplomatic missions, students of Baku Music Academy attended the event, Trend Life reported. Norwegian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Bard Ivar Svendsen and Rector of Baku Music Academy for international relations, Professor Egana Akhundova, addressed the event and stressed the importance of expanding cultural ties between Norway and Azerbaijan. "Oslo Kammerakademi" performed in Baku also in 2016 and held several workshops. Since the beginning of the 1990s Azerbaijan and Norway have developed an increasingly strong relationship. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1992. The Norwegian embassy in Baku was opened in 1998. The co-operation has been growing especially in the field of energy, and several Norwegian companies have established themselves in Baku. By Azernews By Kamila Aliyeva A new version of the law On Combating Corruption is being prepared in Turkmenistan, the countrys defense minister, secretary of the State Security Council, Yaylym Berdiyev said. He made the remarks at a joint meeting of the Turkmen government and the State Security Council, Turkmenistan State News Agency reported. He mentioned that the anti-corruption law, which will be amended, will define the legal and organizational bases for combating corruption in order to prevent, detect and disclose offenses, as well as prosecute those guilty of committing them. Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that this work is aimed at protecting the rights and freedoms of citizens, increasing the efficiency of state bodies, ensuring the national security and stable economic development of Turkmenistan. In addition, the head of state raised the issue of recruitment and placement of personnel in leadership positions. He said that the relevance of this topic is revealed by the recently disclosed facts of bribery and corruption among responsible civil servants. The Turkmen leader stressed that strict requirements should be created for candidates for leading posts. Berdimuhamedov noted the need to develop a list of such requirements on the basis of legislation, including qualifying criteria for taking up a particular post. In mid-May 2017, it was reported that criminal cases related to bribery and embezzlement of state property were launched in Turkmenistan. 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The report, prepared in accordance with the GRI Standards: Core option, is also aligned to the GRI G4 Financial Services Sector Disclosures and United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) Principles. Group CEO Shayne Nelson said: We have incorporated sustainability as one of our key growth deliverables, and are proud to be a regional leader in innovation by developing smart and user-friendly products and services. We have acted with integrity and transparency towards all stakeholders including shareholders, customers and employees and used our leadership and expertise to address various social and environmental challenges which positively contribute towards the communities we serve. Key focus areas of Emirates NBDs Social Investment Strategy Framework comprise the #TogetherLimitless advocacy platform for people with disabilities and #moneywise to encourage and promote financial literacy, with support areas comprising health and wellbeing, women empowerment, community development and the environment. During 2015 and 2016, the Group contributed over Dh59 million ($16 million) across its social investment programmes. Emirates NBDs award-winning corporate volunteering programme Exchanger, established in 2015, has seen a 61 per cent increase in the number of volunteers over the last year, and has directly impacted more than 45,000 members of the public. Emirates NBD recently became one of 11 financial institutions in the country to have signed the Dubai Declaration of Financial Institutions in the United Arab Emirates on Sustainable Finance, as part of the Groups commitment to align its activities with the UAE Vision 2021, the UAE Governments commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement, United Nations Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the UAE Green Agenda 2015-2030. TradeArabia News Service UAE Exchange, a leading global remittance, foreign exchange and payment solutions brand, is bringing its financial services to the doorsteps of its customers through its Mobile Exchange. Smart Pay, the wages protection system (WPS)-compliant payroll solution of UAE Exchange, is introducing the Mobile Exchange facility for the employees of its corporate clients to withdraw salaries literally from anywhere. This new initiative was brought into operation on the occasion of the 11th anniversary of Smart Pay. The first transaction was conducted at Le Meridian Hotel, Dubai. The Mobile Exchange is a first-of-its-kind initiative in the UAE. As a pilot, the Mobile Exchange will travel across Dubai only. It will be stationed at key locations, reaching out to all major labour camp areas. Customers can withdraw their salaries during their visit to the mobile exchange. During the launch, Promoth Manghat, CEO, UAE Exchange Group, said: We have always been a technology-driven and customer-centric entity. Smart Pay was one of our revolutionary products, which combined technology with convenience, enhancing customer experience, especially for those in the lower rung of the economic pyramid. Today, with the introduction of the Mobile Exchange, we have taken the convenience further by bringing the salary disbursal service right at customers doorsteps. As Smart Pay completes 11 years today, I believe this is the best gift which the brand can bring to its end users. I thank the regulators, our principal partner MasterCard, customers and well-wishers on this occasion. Smart Pay was first launched by UAE Exchange in 2006 as a solution to the customers challenges in getting salaries as cash on time. Today, it has become an effective compliant, transparent and reliable mechanism in streamlining the salary disbursal process both for the corporate employers and their employees. Smart Pay also offers cost-effective customisable payroll solutions to organisations which are WPS-compliant and are located in free-zone areas. In 2009, Smart Pay joined hands with the UAE Ministry of Labour to promote and educate the various corporates on the newly-launched WPS. And in 2010, Smart Pay Payroll card was introduced by UAE Exchange which enabled the corporate employers to easily credit the salaries to the pre-paid card while the employees could withdraw their salaries through the card anywhere anytime. In terms of business, Smart Pay has strengthened year-on-year, with nearly 6 million salaries disbursed each year that amounts to approximately Dh9 billion. It offers its customers with various value-added services and has also invested in revamping its Smart Pay portal to make it more user friendly both for the employer and employee. Smart Pay is also coming up with additional features like the Reward Programmes and standing instruction mode of remittance that is bound to further enhance the customer experience. - TradeArabia News Service The Etihad Energy Services Company (Etihad Esco), a company launched by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa), has awarded the tender for development, engineering, procurement, construction, operational services, maintenance, and installation of solar photovoltaic systems at 640 villas for nationals in Hatta. The decision supports the Hatta Comprehensive Development Plan, launched by Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. It is part of the Shams Dubai initiative, which encourages building owners to install solar panels on their rooftops to generate electricity and link it to Dewas network, said a Wam news agency report. The tender has been awarded to three companies -- Alsa Solar, Al Mustajed General Contracting and the Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence. The company issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) in January, and received proposals from 26 specialised companies, 11 of which were shortlisted. The final three were chosen from five companies that were selected to compete against each other. The photovoltaic installation project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2018. "In adherence to the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and the Hatta Comprehensive Development Plan, we are working to meet all social, economical, environmental and developmental needs. We aim to transform Dubai into a global hub for clean energy and green economy, and ensure energy security and efficient energy usage" said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dewa. Dewa is establishing a hydroelectric power plant in the mountains near Hatta Dam, in addition to other development projects that will be completed within five years. The project has a total capacity of 250 MW. Dewas Smart Grid initiative will oversee the installation of smart meters at buildings in Hatta, according to the highest international standards. Dewa will also establish the infrastructure for electric vehicle charging stations through the Green Charger initiative, Al Tayer said. Dubai Business Events (DBE), the citys official convention bureau and a division of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), showcased Dubais dynamic business events offering at Imex, which took place this week in Frankfurt, Germany. DBE brought a total of 27 stakeholders and partners to the global events industry exhibition, which ran from May 16-18, including Emirates, Dubai World Trade Centre and Jumeirah Hotels. Expo 2020 Dubai co-exhibited with DBE for the first time, introducing planners to the mega-event and explaining the opportunities it will afford them. Along with its co-exhibitors, DBE showcased significant developments in Dubais business events offerings, further reinforcing the citys status as a major business events destination. Emphasis also remains on the growing role that business events are playing in transforming Dubai into a global knowledge hub, as well as the emirates state-of-the-art facilities, world-class infrastructure and renowned hospitality sector that support the industry. Issam Kazim, chief executive officer, DTCM, said: Dubai continues to evolve, both from a leisure and business perspective, and as the city progresses towards a knowledge-based economy, the business events industry is playing a crucial role. Through DBEs activities during Imex in Frankfurt, we are aiming to create abundant opportunities for our stakeholders to communicate and do business with industry players from around the globe. - TradeArabia News Service Meet award-winning artisans and buy their products at Kerala Arts and Crafts Village RED LODGE, Mont. Crawl from your warm sleeping bag out the tent door, into the darkness and pre-dawn wind whipping across the plateau. Look up at the cathedral of the sky. Watch the whirlpool of constellations spin overhead. Hold your breath. Its hard not to feel vertigo in the majesty of Montanas wilderness. Whether you seek the rocky heights of a 10,000-foot peak or an endless chain of lakes, pastels in a mountain meadow or the endless catch of trout, trek into the one of the states most magnificent ranges the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness to find solitude and grandeur. Dont be put off by the name of the best way to get in there: the Beaten Path, a 26-mile trail that climbs up and over the Gallatin National Forest watershed divide, wending its way past pond after lake, peak after cliff, meadow after plateau. The trail has a reputation for high foot and horse traffic, but in the five days we backpacked through last summer, my hiking partner Ben Yeomans and I saw just a handful of others and embraced the solitude. The trailhead sits at the southeastern edge of East Rosebud Lake. Accessible by car from the north via a 14-mile road from Roscoe, the lakes shores are dotted with cottages and cabins, and make it an easy jumping-off point for the wilderness. We decided, however, to access the path via Red Lodge, a tourist town east of the wilderness that is best known as the jumping-off point for the Beartooth Highway, the breathtaking drive that climbs to 11,000 feet while winding along the border with Wyoming. After spotting a car just west of Red Lodge, we hitchhiked two-thirds of the way up West Fork Road, until we got to a trailhead to climb north and up out of the river valley and onto the Red Lodge Creek plateau. Much of the valley and surrounding ridgeline is a moonscape of charred timber and ash on the forest floor, the result of an intense 2008 fire. Our boots and legs were gray and dusty by the time we reach tree line, and the parched vales and streambeds on the way up made us glad we packed extra water. Up to 9,800 feet, then down off the ridge, we camped on the marshy shores of Crow Lake, hemmed in by a seam of serrated peaks that turned crimson at sunset. The following day, we climbed out of the valley and crossed an amber meadow carpet, then descended a dusty switchback to arrive at East Rosebud Lake and the beginning of the north end of the Beaten Path. The path wound south, past one lake after another, following East Rosebud Creek as it drains north. The fishermen we passed carrying trout in plastic bags provided reassurance that even novice anglers like ourselves could catch something. At Elk Lake that night, we did not. The next day we climbed, alternating between switchbacks and scree fields perched over the creek scouring the valley walls. When the trail widened again, along Rainbow Lake, the sun had turned the waters into a sea of floating jewels. We took a couple of cliff dives from the overlooking ledges into the frigid alpine water, then apologized to the guy patiently casting flies just around corner. One of the beauties of the Montana alpine terrain is how easy it is to wander. That night, we bushwhacked off trail, upstream to Echo Lake. Pika Peak, named for the small, furry rodent that we saw occasionally darting along the trail, was bathed in a tangerine sunset, and we were astounded that, literally, with every cast of our reel, we pulled in brook trout well in excess of a foot. Pan-fried trout for dinner and for breakfast. We reached the headwaters of East Rosebud Creek the next day, after a gradual climb up and across meadow after meadow, past Impasse Falls, the highest cascade along the path. We topped out at the divide, at 10,200 feet, at Fossil Lake. After being baked red by the sun for three days, we welcomed the wind but not the spitting snow and hail. We bundled up and descended. At Fulcrum Lake, above tree line but in the lee of a rocky knob, our luck with the trout was gone. Our consolation was eating dinner perched on a rock at waters edge. Below us, mountains stretched to the horizon. And when the winds quieted at dusk, the lakes surface swallowed the port sky. Pinprick starlight bounced back into the heavens from where it came. On the final climb down, we passed so many lakes, we had to resist trying to fish every one of them. The lake names themselves are things to behold: Anvil, Sourdough, Stardust, Courthouse, Fossil, Fizzle, Froze to Death, No Bones, Dude. Gradually the forest pines closed in, and the trail felt claustrophobic after spending so much time open to the sky. The riot of wildflower reds, oranges and yellows beneath our feet took the edge off our wilderness farewell and re-entry to civilization. The Casper City Council selected attorney Dallas Laird as its newest member Friday. Laird will represent Ward II and replaces Todd Murphy, who abruptly resigned last month citing personal reasons. The City Council unanimously selected Laird after interviewing six candidates for the job, including businessman Tim Kugler and former Republican U.S. House candidate Paul Paad. Laird was born and raised in Casper and has practiced as an attorney for 47 years. He made news last year for challenging how the city municipal court was sentencing minors for alcohol possession. The case is now before the Wyoming Supreme Court. During his interview, Laird said he would not try cases in municipal court. If Im on this Council, Im totally on your side, he told City Council members. I have no conflict of interest. The new Ward II representative will be sworn into office on Monday. That same day, the city will begin its budget session. Lairds appointment as the newest member of the Casper City Council came hours after a former member, Paul Bertoglio, was sworn in as a Natrona County commissioner on Friday afternoon. Bertoglio took the oath of office after commissioners interviewed him and two other Republicans for a vacancy on the commission. The majority of the commissioners voted for Bertoglio. Bertoglio served on City Council from May 1998 through June 2015, including three times as mayor. I get very excited when we start talking about local government, he said in introductory remarks to commissioners. Its fascinating. Commissioners asked candidates about their feelings about the Wyoming Business Council, the relationship between county and state government, federal government regulatory changes underway in the Trump administration and local government funding. Bertoglio told the commissioners that many people dont like the Business Council because it chooses winners and losers as recipients of state grants. He doesnt feel that way. In life, theres always a winner and loser. The bigger picture is when the Natrona County Commission gets funding for a project, everyone wins. Youre not going to be able to fund yourself off minerals, he said. We have to grow our sales tax base. He said he would like to represent everyone in the county from Casper and beyond. Natrona County is a population center for Wyoming, he said. Were a long ways from every place but people look to us for not just retail, he said. They look to us for leadership. The opportunities to be part of that again, Im just very excited. Commissioners said they supported Bertoglio because of his experience. Commissioner Forrest Chadwick described him as a leader. One of the things I appreciated ... one of his objectives was to heal the chasm between the city and county, he said. That has happened. After four days of trial and nearly three hours of deliberation, a jury Thursday found Joshua Winters guilty of aggravated kidnapping, first-degree sexual abuse of a minor and second-degree sexual abuse of a minor for taking a 5-year-old boy from El Mark-O bowling alley and molesting him last year. The 12 members of the jury returned to the courtroom just before 7 p.m. with their decision. The boys loved ones leaned forward in their seats as the clerk read the beginning of the decision. After the clerk announced the first guilty verdict, the family responded with tears and muted celebrations. Winters did not appear to react. Winters will be sentenced later and faces up to life imprisonment on the kidnapping charge and a maximum total of 70 years on the sexual abuse charges. He will be held without bond pending that hearing. Authorities who investigated the case, the victim and his family, a DNA analyst and a past victim of abuse by Winters were among those who testified throughout the four days of trial. Winters himself also took the stand. Closing arguments In his closing argument, Assistant District Attorney Brett Johnson argued that there was no adult to coach the boy to make the allegations to the first police officer he encountered. He also noted that there was no reason for the boy to lie. How does a 5-year-old make this up? he asked. Why? He doesnt know him, he doesnt have any feelings of revenge. Johnson also said that it seemed awfully convenient that Winters couldnt remember everything that happened that day and pointed out the many variations of stories that the defendant told about the events. Winters testified that he was drunk that afternoon and couldnt remember some details. Winters attorney, Rob Oldham, criticized the prosecution for dragging past allegations against Winters into the present. He noted that Winters had also suffered sexual abuse as a child. No matter what you want to say about this young man, he was a victim, too, Oldham said, pointing to Winters seated behind him. He also criticized the police investigation into the matter and said there were too many mistakes, specifically noting that officers did not take a blood sample to determine Winters blood alcohol content until hours later. He also said that the amount of DNA collected from the boy was small and insinuated that perhaps the boy transferred the DNA to the area by himself. Finally, he asked the jury to consider whether the state proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt and to make their decision on the facts presented instead of their gut feelings. He finished his argument by quoting Benjamin Franklin: It is the first responsibility of every citizen to question authority. Winters testifies After three days of testimony from others, Winters took the stand on the morning of the trials final day and tearfully outlined his own history of being abused as a child. Winters testified that his father had raped him as an infant and that he had been sexually assaulted by two others. His thin frame shook with sobs as he sat at the witness stand, his dark hair grown past the collar of his blue plaid shirt. I didnt like what happened to me, and I wouldnt want someone to go through the same thing, he said. But he also confirmed earlier testimony that almost 20 years ago he had molested two relatives a 5-year-old boy and an 11-year-old girl when he was a teen. I was very confused about what was going on with me and wasnt sure about my sexuality, he said, before breaking down in sobs. Winters, now 34, said he received treatment and counseling after those assaults and said he learned that what he did was wrong. Winters has been on trial since Monday. Over the past three days, prosecutors have attempted to prove that he took a 5-year-old boy from the El Mark-O bowling alley in July and molested him near the North Platte River. The boy testified earlier in the week about what happened that day, and a DNA analyst said Wednesday that DNA taken from the boy was consistent with Winters samples. During his testimony Thursday, Winters denied touching the boy in a sexual manner and denied forcing or coercing the boy to leave the bowling alley with him. Did you ever force (the boy) to go to the river with you? his attorney, Oldham, asked. No, Winters responded. Did you ever physically force him? No. Did you ever try to coerce him with words? No, Winters responded definitively. Winters did mention that he was drunk that afternoon and that many of the details of what happened are hazy. According to Winters, he arrived at Galloways Irish Pub, which is connected to the bowling alley, at about noon on July 18. He said he was waiting for a ride to Denver, where he was scheduled to board a bus bound for Ohio the next day. After drinking and bowling, Winters said he met a group of children and paid for them to play a few video games. At some point in the afternoon, Winters said he noticed that about $100 in cash was missing from his wallet. The kids helped him look for the money, then left briefly before returning. Winters said one boy said that his brother had taken the money and was now down by the river. Winters said he left the bowling alley and that one of the boys was helping direct him to the river. Once at the river, the boy slipped or fell into the water, and Winters said he jumped in to help the boy but hit his head. Eventually, the pair reached one of the banks, and Winters told the boy to keep walking while he went to relieve himself in the nearby shrubs. Winters said that he passed out for less than a minute while attempting to urinate but later caught up with the boy. He said he left the boy by Depend A Pawn and told him to stay there while he looked for his bags, which he had placed nearby. The boy was gone when he returned. He said he planned to take the boy back to the bowling alley. Instead, he went somewhere to sleep, and when he woke up he had a text message saying the police were looking for him. When Oldham asked him why he didnt just leave, Winters replied: I didnt have anything to hide. That account is different than what Winters originally told detectives after his arrest and different than the stories he told people in phone calls from jail, which Johnson played for the jury Thursday. In one phone call, Winters said that the boy followed him from the bowling alley without him noticing and that he didnt realize the boy was with him until he allegedly fell into the river. Winters chalked up the differing stories to being drunk that day and during his interviews with police. Johnson called his final witness just before noon Thursday: the bartender who was working at Galloways that day. The bartender said that she saw no indication that Winters was significantly intoxicated. At no point did I get any indications I should cut him off, she said. In response to questions from his attorney, Oldham, Winters outlined his work history. He said he was adopted from an abusive home when he was 18 months old. After graduating from college with a degree in business administration, he worked around the country as a flight attendant, a worker on a cruise line and a manager for a rental car company. For frequent fliers who cycle in and out of jail, a judge has begun writing into their release orders that they must take the bus to Salt Lake City. MERIDIAN, Idaho The first medical school in Idaho has been slated to open in August 2018, pending its accreditation. Gov. Butch Otter spoke at a ceremony Wednesday, where he told doubters: "You were wrong, we were right." The Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine in Meridian will be a private, for-profit college. Idaho ranks 50th nationwide in terms of family doctors per capita. Meridian Mayor Tammy de Weerd is optimistic that could change, though, now that students do not need to leave the state to become doctors. An estimated $125 million of private investment is going toward the college. Chief Academic Officer Robert Hasty said no tax dollars are being used to build. The state of Idaho, however, has approved a $3.85 million tax reimbursement incentive for the project. Hasty said that will be put toward student scholarships. Highways and interstates were closed Thursday across much of southern Wyoming due to a spring snowstorm that dumped up to a foot of snow in some areas. Interstate 80 closed Thursday morning from Cheyenne to Laramie, and wasnt set to open again until late Thursday, according to the Wyoming Department of Transportation. The eastbound lane of I-80 was closed from Rock Springs to Rawlins. U.S. 287 was closed between Laramie and the Colorado state line. Storm warnings were posted Thursday for areas that included Cheyenne, Laramie, Wheatland and Lusk. Up to a foot of snow was possible in Laramie and Cheyenne, with up to several feet in surrounding mountains. Casper is under a weather advisory until Friday morning, with 1 to 2 inches of snow predicted to fall Thursday night. Sporadic power outages occurred from snow weighing down tree branches. A downed power line closed part of Second Street in Casper on Thursday afternoon. Rawlins and Riverton were also under a weather advisory. Temperatures in Casper should warm to the high 50s and low 60s by the weekend. Highs in Laramie are expected to stay in the mid-40s with lows in the 20s, according to the National Weather Service. This weeks storm adds to record snowpack in some of Wyomings mountains. Flooding will likely be a concern, officials caution. SALT LAKE CITY Utah Gov. Gary Herbert says he is concerned about President Donald Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey. The Republican governor said at a news conference on KUED Thursday that he doesn't have all of the details about what happened, but expects the investigation will help to reveal the truth. Herbert said no one is above the law, including the president. Comey was fired last week as the FBI led an investigation into possible coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign. With regard to that program, let me just say that I do not possess the ability to articulate my worries as eloquently or succinctly as former Director Clapper. However, I can say that he speaks for me regarding this matter. We should all be bothered; we should all be disturbed by what's happening to our country! Therefore, I join in unison with former Director Clapper. I plead with you to examine your own conscience and speak up now and speak up loudly. In addition, I implore you to request a Special Independent Prosecutor be named to do the work needed to help us survive this national nightmare sooner rather than later. It is not my intent to be disrespectful, but let me ask a couple questions of all silent representatives (specific to me: Wyoming). How much more damage will Trump and Putin be allowed to do to our nation before you choose to stand up for your country? How will your name be recorded in the history of this time ... " Fiddling while Rome burns ". I pray not. As I prepare to print this letter, I am hearing reports that Trump provided classified information to Russia. It's frightening that it's not shocking. We are becoming a numb society. City manager system best Editor: There is a move afoot to change Casper from a city manager to strong mayor form of government. I was a consulting city planner in Casper for 30-plus years. I worked with dozens of Wyoming municipalities and Wyoming counties and their elected and appointed officials. My experience is that municipalities with managers or administrators operate more effectively than those with strong mayor. While I worked with dedicated county commissioners and small town mayors who do a great job, they are initially elected based on name recognition and major policy stands and not whether they know anything about how to operate a small municipality or a county. I have also worked with those who got elected based on a stance on a hot-button issue that found out once elected that issue was of small relevance to the overall operation of the municipality or county. I also worked with the unfortunate few who appear to me to have had only one qualification, the ability to get elected; clueless about municipal or county finances, human resources, statutes and legal requirements for local government operation. Turning the city of Casper operation over to people who have little or no experience or knowledge in operating a local government with a $130 million budget and several hundred employees would be a mistake. Casper had a recent manager who maybe could be described as a bad apple, combined with a bad apple council person. The consequences were disastrous. A couple of bad apples dont negate the 35 years of tremendous leadership of city managers Ken Erickson, who I worked for, and Tom Forslund, who I worked with. Past Casper councils have fired managers. They have that authority. Most importantly, my research indicates the council cant remove an elected strong mayor, unless convicted of a crime, whether he or she is a bad apple or not. While there is nothing easy about operating a municipality and it isnt always smooth, the city manager system works. Give the city a chance to hire a new city manager and move forward. STEVE KURTZ, Casper A major issue has recently surfaced in the Casper community, one that no one really likes to discuss, and it's past the time to be taken into the utmost consideration. Sexual assault isn't an easy topic of discussion and it is often put aside into the category of, too uncomfortable to talk about. As a results victims voices had only been heard as whispers around the community. Recently we've had many residents of Casper come forward to resolve issues in how law enforcement handles sexual assault cases and Casper officials are finally taking steps towards finding solutions. One important topic that hasn't seen much discussion by officials is the treatment of these victims by police. Preceding the concerns was a $300,000 grant designated for victims services that seemed to have mostly gone towards broadening resources for victims of other crime types. Even though, there are still many avenues for sexual assault victims locally. Along this journey our law enforcement is taking to find solutions, there is a need to look at themselves as well, not just the issues in paper and policy. How a police officer handles a case and their attitude toward the victims has such a large influence on all aspects of each individual's mental health and case. With that being said it is undeniably important for our law enforcement to reflect upon how they are taking care of these delicate circumstances. Please put in the effort to properly treat the victims of sex crimes, not just the money. Maybe simply taking a second to switch from dealing with criminals to talking with victims is needed. With what has happened to these victims no matter how small any part of their situation seems, it is not at all to them. If statements from victims brings uncomfortable feelings or if they seem extreme, this is just a glance at their lives. Now is the time to make great change and the outcome largely rests in the police department's hands and their ability to be humble. PHOENIX An appeals court has rejected former Sheriff Joe Arpaio's bid to have a jury, rather than a judge, decide whether he is guilty of a criminal contempt-of-court charge for disobeying a court order in a racial profiling case. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that Arpaio didn't show that his request warranted its intervention in the case. The former six-term sheriff of metro Phoenix faces the misdemeanor charge for defying a 2011 court order in a racial profiling case to stop his signature immigration patrols. Arpaio has acknowledged prolonging the patrols, but insists his disobedience wasn't intentional. If convicted, the 84-year-old could be sentenced up to six months in jail. His trial is scheduled to begin on June 26. SAN DIEGO Charges against a father-son partnership and a Tucson firm for allegedly smuggling more than $17 million worth of sea cucumbers to the United States and exporting them to Asia sheds light on a growing and lucrative illegal cross-border trade. David Mayorquin and his father, Ramon Torres Mayorquin, are accused of a scheme to buy the illegally harvested animals from poachers in Mexico's Yucatan peninsula, pay for them under fake names and underestimate their weight and value to inspectors at San Diego's Otay Mesa border crossing, across from Tijuana, Mexico. Their company, Blessings Inc. was also charged, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune. David Mayorquin is listed as the president and CEO of Blessings, which has a mailing address of 1045 S. Highland Avenue in Tucson, according to the Arizona Corporation Commission website. From San Diego, they allegedly shipped the product to Asia, including China, where they are delicacies in Chinese dishes, prized for medicinal value and considered an aphrodisiac. Border inspectors have spotted smuggled Mexican sea cucumbers for years, but the charges against the Mayorquins and Blessings Inc. are striking for the multi-ton shipments. Authorities say they sell for $300 to $500 a kilogram in Asia, helping explain the draw for poachers and smugglers. David Mayorquin allegedly bought $13 million worth of sea cucumbers, knowing that they were harvested without a permit or out of season, and they sold for $17.5 million. The indictment, filed Wednesday in federal court in San Diego, lists transactions from January 2010 to July 2012. U.S. Homeland Security Investigations launched an investigation around 2012 after company transactions raised suspicions, said James Plitt, deputy special agent in charge in San Diego. They examined financial and shipping records. "These cases are very document-intensive," Plitt said. "The volume of documents that have to pulled together and corroborated is significant." Investigators found emails that allegedly show the family communicating with others about the illegal purchases, Homeland Security Investigations said. "I hope you're aware that you are asking for 17 tons and we have no papers for that amount since Carlos' entire product is without invoice," a supplier wrote David Mayorquin in 2011, which is mentioned in the indictment. "Nearly 10 tons would be traveling without papers." The defendants also bribed Mexican officials, prosecutors say. One email listed in the indictment shows Marroquin being asked to contribute $32,000 for payoffs. Court documents do not list an attorney for the Mayorquins or the company, which was also charged. A woman who answered the phone at Blessings on Friday said the company had no comment and hung up. Sea cucumbers, which are shaped like cucumbers with small feet and measure up to six feet, are echinoderms, a family that includes starfish and sea urchin. They are served dried or fresh and often braised with fish, vegetables and traditional Chinese sauces. They are sought to treat join pain, prevent cancer and serve as anti-inflammatory medicine. Harvesting sea cucumbers is permitted in the United States and many parts of the world, but with limited quantities and only during high season. Blessings was licensed with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to import and export sea cucumber, according to the indictment. Border inspectors in San Diego screened three large and legal commercial hauls in the last week alone, said Erin Dean, resident agent in charge of Fish and Wildlife's Southern California office. Prosecutors have also fielded a growing load of smuggling cases, which typically involve hiding the animals in vehicles or on bodies, she said. Totoaba fish, whose dried bladders sell for thousands of dollars to Chinese traders, are also commonly smuggled from Mexico along California's border. Vaquita porpoises are often caught in the nets, causing their population to drop to about 30. Earlier this week, Arizona outfielder Alyssa Palomino said she was excited to finally play in the postseason after missing her freshman season due to a knee injury. Wednesday, a wrench was thrown into those plans. Palomino injured her knee in practice, putting her status for this weekend's NCAA Regionals at Hillenbrand in question. UA officials say Palomino is day to day," but the redshirt freshman wore crutches and a knee brace to the UA's open practice Thursday. Arizonas starting center fielder hit .302 with 16 home runs and 54 RBIs this season, earning both all-Pac-12 and all-freshman honors. If she is unable to play, the Wildcats will likely use some combination of the speedy Eva Watson or Pima College alum Alexis Doston, both seniors. Monday, Palomino said about her season: You know, theres been ups and downs but thats what this game is all about. Its definitely a ride that Ive never experienced before. Its a long season and just keeping our bodies right and our minds right for it, its been fun and one hell of a ride for this team. With Palomino potentially out for Game 1, here's a look at Arizona's projected lineup for the start of the NCAA Regionals: Google will not go the way of aspirin, cellophane, escalator or thermos, former trademarks that were used so generically that the companies that owned them were forced to relinquish them. On Tuesday, May 16, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals confirmed that instead, Google will join Coke, Q-tips, Xerox and other companies that managed to hang on to ownership of trade names even though they are widely used as nouns and verbs to describe any and all items in their class. The argument hinged in part on turning a trademark into a verb. To google, the plaintiffs in the 9th Circuit case argued, had come to mean to search the internet, regardless of which search engine was used. That resulted in genericide, the argument went, legal jargon meaning that the term had entered into such widespread use that it could no longer remain a trademark. Maybe so, the court responded, but it ruled that the principle definition of Google is still a search engine and a company name, regardless of how frequently it is used as a verb. The dispute started in 2012, when two people identified in the record as Chris Gillespie and David Elliot bought more than 700 internet domain names incorporating the word google from GoDaddy, a Scottsdale-based domain-name registrar. Among examples cited in court records are the names googlebarackobama.com, googledisney.com and googletvnews.com. Not surprisingly, the company Google Inc. was not happy and challenged the use of its name in the domains as an infringement called cybersquatting. Gillespie and Elliot sued in U.S. District Court in Phoenix. They registered the domain names, they said in their pleading, because they were developing an Internet-based business that will promote commerce, community, relationships, personal health, charity and more. The initial phase of the business will be targeted toward the GLBT (sic) community worldwide, but the model for the future of the business is unlimited. The name Google was derived from googol, which in math is the numeral 1 followed by 100 zeros, the pleading said. The lawsuits argument: Worldwide, the term GOOGLE has been, and is now used as a common transitive verb meaning to search the Internet, they wrote in their briefs, or to search the Internet using any search engine. The court did not buy the argument. Case law is full of trademark lawsuits, from Bayer aspirin to Coca-Cola. And in September 2014, U.S. District Court Judge Stephen McNamee ruled against Gillespie and Elliot. They took it to the 9th Circuit. As summarized in the ruling, they requested summary judgment because (1) it is an indisputable fact that a majority of the relevant public uses the word google as a verb i.e., by saying I googled it, and (2) verb use constitutes generic use as a matter of law. Sometimes the heat gets to be too much and you need a break. Luckily, theres Bisbee the historic mining community that sits a mile high and is about 10 degrees cooler than Tucson. Its also been voted one of the best cities for hippies. I have a special place in my heart for Bisbee. Many OK, add another many years ago I was born and raised there. The small colorful town perched in the hills has always had a warm welcoming feeling for its homegrown that extends to visitors, especially in the towns smattering of restaurants. Ive come up with seven of my favorites, and none of them were open when I was growing up in Bisbee. They arent just my favorites; locals and tourists recommend them as well. Bisbee Breakfast Club, 75 Erie St., 1-520-432-5885; 7 a.m.-3:05 p.m. daily. This is the place you go for more than eggs over easy. This is where the locals share gossip over a cup of Joe in what was once the Lowell Drug store. BBC also has locations in Tucson and Mesa. Screaming Banshee Pizza, 200 Tombstone Canyon, 1-520-432-1300; 4-9 p.m. Tuesdays-Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursdays, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sundays; closed Mondays. If Bisbee is having a themed event, you will be sure to encounter it here over a wood-fire pizza. Thuy's Noodle Shop, 9 Naco Road, 1-520-432-6169; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays. So, I know what you are thinking a Vietnamese restaurant in Bisbee? No kidding, this place has the best beef noodle soup. Santiago's Restaurant, 1 Howell Ave, 1-520-432-1910; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The best part of eating the scratch-made Mexican fare is washing is down with spirits made from the 50 agave varieties. Jimmy's Hot Dog Co., 938 AZ Hwy. 92., 1-520-432-5911; 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. This is the place for your Chicago food fix because sometimes you just need a Vienna Beef hotdog and a great side of fries. Cafe Roka, 35 Main St., 1-520-432-5153. Seasonal hours; call for reservations. With live jazz every Friday night, locally sourced ingredients and a wine-paired menu, this is the most sought after restaurant in town. We've collected a few front pages from newspapers.com to give you a look at some May 19 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. Vietnam War Veteran Bob Taylor, with the local Patriot Guard Riders, holds a flag as some 375 motorcyclists arrive as part of the Run for the Wall for a fuel and rest stop in Marana, Ariz., on May 18, 2017. The group, who are on their way to the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington DC, are one of three groups traveling east. There are three routes in total: a southern, central and midway route. They are mostly made up of military veterans from all branches of the service. They all began their 10-day journey from Ontario, Calif. Freethought Arizona will host a talk on private prisons 10 to 11:45 a.m. Sunday, May 21 in DuVal Auditorium at Banner - University Medical Center Tucson, 1501 N. Campbell Ave. Dianne Post, an attorney from Phoenix, will speak at the free talk. Post has spent much of her career helping battered women and children in court and advocating against gender-based violence at an international level, according to press materials. PHOENIX A judge has rebuffed efforts by medical marijuana users to force the state to reduce the fees it charges patients. Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Jo Lynn Gentry said she does not dispute that the Department of Health Services is collecting more from medical marijuana users than it needs to administer the program. In fact, documents obtained by Capitol Media Services show that this fiscal year, which began in June, the agency has taken in more than $19.9 million in fees. By contrast, expenses in the same period total less than $7.8 million. And the balance in the fund, which rolls over from year to year, now exceeds $31 million. But Gentry said the only thing spelled out in the 2010 voter-approved Arizona Medical Marijuana Act is that the health department must collect sufficient fees to cover the costs of the program. There is nothing in the law that prohibits it from taking in more than needed. The judge said the lawsuit essentially asks her to reset the fees at a more reasonable level. And that, Gentry said, is something that courts are in no position to do. Attorney Sean Berberian said he intends to appeal. Arizonas voters passed the AMMA to give legal access to medicine, not to create unnecessary financial hurdles to obtaining it, he said. Berberian said the fees, which can range up to $150 a year for patients and $200 for caregivers who help patients, amount to unnecessary and unlawful barriers for patients to get marijuana that doctors have recommended to them. The 2010 law allows individuals with certain medical conditions and a doctors recommendation to obtain up to 2 ounces of marijuana every two weeks. It also set up a network of state-regulated dispensaries to sell the drug. Arizona elected officials were not happy with the initiative. Jan Brewer, then governor at the time, did try to put some roadblocks in the program. She moved to stop Will Humble, then state health director, from licensing the dispensaries on the premise that the state could not permit the sale of a drug that remains illegal under federal law. That effort went nowhere and there are currently 99 licensed in the state to sell the drug. Berberian said there have been other roadblocks and litigation over everything from whether the state is required to add more qualifying conditions to whether marijuana could be sold in liquid form for a child who needed a nonpsychoactive version of the drug. He argues that the refusal to reduce the fees is just another example of the states hostility to the voter-approved program. The legal fight is not just about academics. He said one patient, Lisa Becker, has suffered for years from a series of ailments. Berberian said doctors gave her four anti-nausea drugs and opiates to manage her pain. He said that medical marijuana has reduced her need for opiates and calms her nausea, permitting her to eat solid food. But he said that Becker, living on $1,100 a month, has to either borrow money to pay the annual $150 fee or spend less on medications. The other plaintiff is Yolanda Daniels, who is caregiver to her 12-year-old granddaughter Mercedes, who has epilepsy. Berberian said the marijuana has reduced her seizures. But that requires Daniels to pay $350 a year $150 for her granddaughters card and $200 for hers as caregiver. Gentry said shes in no legal position to say whether thats too much. The only way the court could determine what fee meets the sufficiency requirements of the AMMA and the constitution would be to take over the administration of the AMMA from DHS, she wrote. That would put the court in the position of setting operating budgets based on policy decisions about everything from salaries to litigation expenses, decisions the law specifically leaves to the health department. You cant handle the truth. You, in this case, are the voters of Tucson. And the person whos telling you that is Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry. As you know by now, Huckelberry announced Wednesday morning that he had a new property-tax plan to inject money into road repairs throughout the county. It involves raising property taxes modestly for what he says will just be a one-year period. This announcement came the morning after a city sales-tax election. This was relevant information for Tucson voters to know before deciding whether to raise the citys sales tax by a half-cent per dollar for five years, to pay largely for city roads. But Huckelberry thought the information about his road plan might addle our brains. I didnt want voters to be confused or for it to be used as an excuse for not approving the city elections, he told me Thursday. Frankly, we need both (plans), and we need more for a longer period. Hes not wrong that we need both the citys plan and the countys plan to start catching up with the repair and maintenance backlog on our roads. The needs, especially in the residential areas of the unincorporated county, are that big. But the assumption that we cant handle the truth disrespects city voters. The fact that the sales-tax hike won big in incomplete returns 62 percent to 38 percent suggests that knowing about the county plan would probably not have made a difference. Still, the powers-that-be in town wanted to be sure. So they withheld relevant information from the voters. Low, low turnout The results of Tuesdays city election served as an argument in favor of a bill that passed the Legislature in its waning days. SB 1152, which the governor has not yet signed, limits local sales-tax elections to November of even-numbered years. The argument was that it would increase turnout. Well, Tucsons turnout in the mail-in election that ended Tuesday could hardly have been lower 28 percent. I was one of the 3,000 or so who cast ballots at one of the citys seven polling places instead of by mail. I dont know if I lost my ballot or never received it. I voted in favor of the sales-tax increase for the obvious reasons to get more city roads repaired and better equipment to our police and firefighters. I did not buy the reflexive arguments of critics, including the Pima County Republican Party, that the city can cut enough fat in its current budget to take care of those needs. But the turnout was troubling and makes for a decent argument in favor of restricting sales-tax elections to dates when people are attuned to elections. Its likely, though, that the new law will never apply to Tucson. As a charter city, Tucson has won rulings in the Arizona Supreme Court against efforts to impose regulations on local elections. Theres no reason to think the same wouldnt hold true of this bill if its signed into law. McCain vs. Turks goons In a week of mind-blowing news stories, the one that made my blood boil did not receive much attention. Im glad to note that Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain did notice it. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited President Trump in Washington, D.C., Tuesday and also stopped by the Turkish ambassadors residence. Before he left that site, Kurdish demonstrators had gathered across the street. As Erdogan waited in a car to leave, Turkish security officers rushed into the street, beating, choking and kicking the demonstrators. It was a sickening reminder of what authoritarianism is really like and to be careful whom we befriend. The first videos of the incident to come out simply showed the dark-suited men attacking demonstrators. On Thursday, a video from just outside the residence emerged: It showed that Erdogan himself was sitting in a car outside as his goons rampaged, then he calmly stepped from the car as the attack went on, never intervening. A similar incident happened in March 2016 outside the Brookings Institution in D.C. while Erdogan was visiting. His thugs roughed up demonstrators and journalists that day. McCain and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat, wrote a letter to Erdogan Thursday, asking him to hold accountable those responsible. Its not much, but theres not much we can do, since the guards likely enjoy diplomatic immunity. The violent response of your security detail to peaceful protestors is wholly unacceptable and, unfortunately, reflective of your governments treatment of the press, ethnic minority groups and political opponents, the letter said. Farley for Governor? State Sen. Steve Farley has set a date to announce his political plans June 5. Dont expect to be surprised: As hes previously discussed, the Tucson Democrat is planning to run for governor. His first line of attack on incumbent Republican Gov. Doug Ducey is likely to be tying Ducey to Trump and suggesting that Ducey is distracted by his national ambitions. Im not remotely interested in D.C., Farley told me. Thats why Im not running for (Congress in) CD 2. Id love to govern Arizona. Assuming Ducey remains governor theres some talk he could become a vice president to a President Mike Pence, if that eventuality comes about he will be a formidable incumbent. David Garcia, who ran unsuccessfully for state superintendent in 2014, is also considering a run for the Democratic nomination. The case of former Tucson fire captain David Watson, who was convicted earlier this year for killing his ex-wife, her mother and her mother's friend, will be featured in an episode of "Dateline NBC" on Friday, May 19. Watson was sentenced April 19 to 16 years in prison for killing his ex-wife Linda Watson; a life sentence for killing her mother, Marilyn Cox; and another life sentence for killing Coxs friend, Renee Farnsworth. The March conviction was issued during Watson's second trial in Pima County Superior Court, after his first trial last year ended in a hung jury. SANTA CRUZ, Calif. The third suspect arrested in a Northern California child abuse case involving a brain surgeon and a nurse has been identified as a 29-year-old Arizona nurse. The Santa Cruz Sentinel reported Wednesday court documents show Emily Joy Stephens was arrested May 12 in Tucson, Arizona on six felony child sex abuse charges involving three children under the age of 10 and three children under 14. Stephens is accused along with Dr. James Kohut, who was arrested Sunday at his home in Santa Cruz, and nurse Rashel Brandon, arrested May 9 in nearby Watsonville. Kohut, a brain surgeon, and Brandon worked at Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz. Court documents show the child abuse happened on May 9, 2017. Stephens, who works as a nurse in Pima County, Arizona, and Brandon also face charges for allegedly capturing the abuse on video. Pima County jail records show that Stephens is being held without bond. PHOENIX A law signed Friday by Gov. Doug Ducey will give people a better chance of knowing, and protesting, before new prison facilities are opened in their neighborhoods. HB 2133 spells out what the Department of Corrections must do at least 45 days ahead when it is planning any correctional facility, ranging from full-blown prisons to community re-entry housing. The department must give notice to local school officials and to every property owner within a two-mile radius, including disclosure of how many inmates will be housed at the facility and their security levels. There also must be a public hearing with advance notice of at least 10 days. The legislation does not apply to the location of halfway houses for newly released inmates. A corrections spokesman said these are not correctional facilities but instead are operated by private individuals and companies under contract with the state. State Rep. Heather Carter, R-Cave Creek, who wrote the measure, said it came after Gov. Doug Ducey decided to create a re-entry center in Maricopa County and the Department of Corrections put it in north Phoenix. She said the agency followed all laws about who needed to be notified. But Carter said those laws, first written in the 1970s, were woefully inadequate. Carter said only two people showed up for the agencys hearing. Notices were provided to lawmakers and school district governing boards, but she said they were unclear and were sent to work addresses where people did not get them until after the decision was made. She said the old law was also unfairly unclear about whom to notify at nearby schools and lacked a mandate to notify the operators of charter schools or day-care centers. As a result, she said, the siting in north Phoenix, near the Adobe Mountain juvenile corrections center, came as a surprise to neighbors. Going forward, the legislation leaves little room for doubt about who gets told and when. Aside from property owners within two miles, notice also must go out to the superintendent and each governing-board member of schools and to operators of charter schools and child-care centers within five miles. The public hearing will require not only a legal notice published in a newspaper but also a sign, at least 4 feet by 8 feet, erected on the site where the facility will go at least 15 days ahead of time listing the time, date and location of the hearing. Ultimately, it will still be up to the Department of Corrections to decide whether to place its new facility at the designated site. Carter said she does not know whether it would have made any difference in the siting of the re-entry facility had her legislation been in place last year. But at least the neighbors would have been given a chance to air their views, she said. The idea for the facility came from Ducey in his 2016 State of the State address. Under Arizona law, offenders are released after serving 85 percent of their sentence. But they remain under community supervision for the balance of their term. Sometimes, a former inmate in that category fails a drug test or some other condition of release but has not committed any new crimes. Andrew Wilder, spokesman for the Department of Corrections, said that generally has left his agency two choices: Ignore the violation or put the person back behind bars. He said the latter option makes little sense, as the person then loses their job and housing. Plus, it costs money to imprison someone. The re-entry facility provides what could be called an adult time-out, with the former inmate perhaps forced to spend a few weekends locked up while also getting drug counseling, Wilder said. But the former inmates are released during the week to keep their jobs. The Department of Corrections has been operating such a center in Pima County for years. There, according to the governors staff, two-thirds of former inmates in the program complete it and dont go back behind bars to add to the states prison-overcrowding situation. Ducey told lawmakers he wanted the funding to place a re-entry center in Maricopa County, where about two-thirds of prisoners are released. Lets give them a second chance so they stay clean and never end up back in prison, he said. Carter said shes all in favor of such facilities. But she also wants to be sure that the people who are nearby have been brought in. Its community supervision, she said. So its really important for the community to be on board with what is happening. WASHINGTON (AP) A look at the powers and limits of Robert Mueller, the special counsel looking at links between Russia and Trump campaign associates. Q. What will Mueller do as special counsel? A. Mueller is supposed to carry on the investigation that former FBI Director James Comey told Congress about before he was fired by President Donald Trump. That includes any links between Trump campaign associates and Russia, as well as "any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation," according to the letter appointing him. Q. What are a special counsel's powers? A. Under Justice Department regulations, a special counsel has all the authority of a U.S. attorney, including the ability to initiate investigations, subpoena records and bring criminal charges. One difference, however: Special counsels get to choose whether they inform the Justice Department what they're up to. Before taking "significant" actions, however, the special counsel must notify the attorney general. Q. Could a special counsel investigate things beyond simply the Russia connection? A. Mueller has a broad mandate to determine the course of an investigation, but not an unlimited one. If he decides that something outside the scope of the letter appointing him needs investigating, he would have to ask for permission to expand his probe. Q. What's the difference between a special counsel and a special prosecutor or an independent counsel? A. Independent counsels or special prosecutors don't exist anymore. These are titles that were established by law following Watergate, and they expired in 1999. The Justice Department created regulations to keep the concept alive in the form of the special counsel. Patrick Fitzgerald, the former U.S. attorney appointed to investigate the outing of CIA agent Valerie Plame, was one. Q. Who will work for the special counsel, and what sort of budget will Mueller have? A. The Justice Department is supposed to supply staff for a special counsel but Mueller can request specific people, or request the hiring of staff from outside the Justice Department. While working for Mueller, the staff will report to no one else. Mueller will have to propose a budget to the Justice Department within the next 60 days and update it annually, for as long as the investigation runs. There is no expiration date for Mueller's authority. This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 18, 2017 With all of the illegal acts that took place in the Clinton campaign & Obama Administration, there was never a special counsel appointed! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 18, 2017 Q. Could Trump fire Mueller? A. No, but Attorney General Jeff Sessions' deputy, Rod Rosenstein, could. Special counsels can be fired only by the "personal action" of the attorney general. Since Sessions has recused himself from the Trump Russia investigation, Rosenstein who signed the letter appointing Mueller as "acting attorney general" is the only person with the authority to curtail Mueller's work. Such a firing would require a finding of incapacity, misconduct or "good cause." Whatever the reason, Rosenstein would have to inform Mueller in writing. Q. Will the results of the investigation become public? Run for the Wall Some 375 motorcyclists ride in formation along Interstate 10 as part of the Run for the Wall after making a fuel and rest stop in Marana. The group, who are on their way to the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington DC, are one of three groups traveling east. There are three routes in total: a southern, central and midway route. They are mostly made up of military veterans from all branches of the service. They all began their 10-day journey from Ontario, Calif. Help India! By Siddhant Mohan, TwoCircles.net Ex-students of Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) have spoken against the presence of Ex-IG of Bastar SRP Kalluri in an upcoming controversial seminar organised jointly by IIMC and Hindu right-wing leaning news organisation Media Scan. Support TwoCircles In light of the same, a letter written to the IIMC authorities and signed by more than 50 alumni of the IIMC has also been released. The letter says, Though we do not dispute any citizens right to speak on any issue of public importance from IIMC, we firmly believe IIMC should deny this right to the likes of Mr Kalluri who loves to hate the media and media persons for the only reason that they do what they are duty-bound to do. The letter has also counted various incidents where Kalluri has openly threatened media personnel on the record. Then, it further said, Should such a media-baiter IPS officer, who is also alleged to have hounded many journalists out of his region, be allowed to speak on the premises of a media institute of international repute? The alumni have also raised question over the seminars character, asking the meaning of Rashtriya Patrkarita or National Journalism. The letter said, What defines Rashtriya journalism? Is asking questions from the State or doubting it not rashtriya? We were taught at IIMC that these two functions are fundamental to journalism, arent they? Has any media school in the world introduced this discourse in its curriculum? What is the origin of the term? None of our teachers, during our nine-month stint at IIMC, introduced us to the concept of national journalism. You taught editing to many a batch. We dont remember even you using this term. Goes without saying, it goes against the scientific and information-driven journalism. Moreover, the presence of Kalluri in the event has also been condemned by activist group Bastar Solidarity Network, which is a platform for tribal rights in Chhattisgarh. Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), New Delhi is organising a media discussion and seminar on National Journalism in Current Perspective and more importantly a Yagna, which will be held at the start of the event on May 20. The event, which is being organised in collaboration with IIMC and an organization called Media Scan, has not just included Yagna in the program which could disturb the media personnel countrywide, but it has also called Ex-IG of Bastar SRP Kalluri as part of the program. The full text of the letter can be read below and the list of signatories can be found here. Sir, We, the former students of IIMC, are writing to you to express our concern over the Media Scans proposed seminar on Rashtriya Patrakarita, or national journalism. The Telegraph in a report on May 17, 2017 has quoted you as saying that IIMC is not the organiser of the event, but has only rented the premises. The newspaper further quotes you as having told it, We give our hall for the use of media persons who want to organise an event as long as it is not objectionable, communal, obscene or provocative. Renting the hall is expensive. If I want to help a media organisation, we have to become their partner. Our only support is to give the hall. The organising, selection of speakers, paying for snacks et cetera is up to them. Exams and classes are over and we have not asked students to attend. Also, Saturday is a holiday. Can I stop anyone from lighting a lamp or garlanding an image? The yagna wont be held in the hall Sir, it feels good to know that the IIMC has come out in support of media seminars and hope it will be equally supportive to other such events in future. You have said that the selection of speakers for the event has not been made by the institute. However, we feel that IIMC must sit up and prevent any individual, known for his brazen contempt for journalists, from using the premises of IIMC which has produced hundreds of thousands of media professionals. We are, of course, referring to former IG of Chhattisgarhs Bastar region, Mr S R P Kalluri. Though we do not dispute any citizens right to speak on any issue of public importance from IIMC, we firmly believe IIMC should deny this right to the likes of Mr Kalluri who loves to hate the media and media persons for the only reason that they do what they are duty-bound to do. Mr Kalluri, for instance, openly threatened a Hindustan Times journalist recently when he sought the then IGs clarifications for a story. The IG is quoted in the newspapers November 14, 2016 report as having angrily blurted out, Aap log aise karenge to hum aapko jaane hi nahi denge Mere reference se aap gaye the (If you all do like this, we will not let you visit You went to Bastar with my reference). Earlier, as the same news report says on record, the then IG had told the correspondent of the same newspaper, You write whatever comes to your mind. We dont care a damn. Should such a media-baiter IPS officer, who is also alleged to have hounded many journalists out of his region, be allowed to speak on the premises of a media institute of international repute? Sir, we feel proud of having a veteran of journalism as the DG of our alma mater, and we take it as our right to request you to have a rethink on the issue, more so because the man has also been frequently accused of abusing human rights and has been admonished by the National Human Rights Commission for his excesses as a cop. One newspaper screamed the other day Chhattisgarh Police raped and assaulted 16 women: NHRC. This happened in Bijapur of Bastar which was helmed by Mr Kalluri as the IG. (Full report can be accessed through the hyperlink.) Also, the theme Rashtriya Patrakarita sounds intriguing to us. What defines rashtriya journalism? Is asking questions from the State or doubting it not rashtriya? We were taught at IIMC that these two functions are fundamental to journalism, arent they? Has any media school in the world introduced this discourse in its curriculum? What is the origin of the term? None of our teachers, during our nine-month stint at IIMC, introduced us to the concept of national journalism. You taught editing to many a batch. We dont remember even you using this term. Goes without saying, it goes against the scientific and information-driven journalism. Your bid to wash your hands of the selection of speakers and theme notwithstanding, we believe that IIMC must have convinced itself of the righteousness of seminars message before allowing it to be held at IIMC and what impression is it going to leave in the national and international community. A yagya is also part of the programme. You have clarified it will not be performed in the IIMC hall. But The Telegraph quotes Media Scan proprietor Ashish Kumar as saying that The yagya will not be performed by a priest, but by one of us as organisers. Whats wrong in it? Dont we light lamps and garland pictures at functions? We do believe that everyone is entitled to practise the faith of his/her choice. However, we also have firm belief in the IIMCs vision which, as stated on its website, says, The Indian Institute of Mass Communication will set global standards for media education contributing to human development, empowerment and participatory democracy, anchored in pluralism. Such an activity of one particular religion on the institutes premises is not in accordance with the pluralism the institute boasts of. It is, after all, not going to be an all-religion prayer meeting. Sir, though we have passed out of the institute, our sense of belonging towards IIMC is very strong. Thats the reason we are writing to you. We are of the view that this seminar will dent the IIMCs reputation, causing anguish and anger not only to its students but also to its alumni. We most respectfully, therefore, beseech you to withdraw the permission given to the organisers of this seminar. Related: Kalluri, Yagna and the slow death of journalism in IIMC Help India! By Mirza Mosaraf Hossain, TwoCircles.net Prashama Sasmal, a Hindu girl from Hariharpur village of Howrah district scored 729 marks to secure the 10th position in the West Bengal Board of Madrasa Examinations for 2017. Support TwoCircles While she is not the first, or the only girl in the top 20 positions, her achievement is noteworthy as she is the only person from a non-Muslim background to secure a top position. Her achievement is likely to improve the consensus on the performance as well as the secular nature of madrassa education system. When her mother was asked why they admitted their daughter in a madrassa, she replied, We knew the performance and results of Khalatpur High madrassa from the success of Al Ameen Mission. It is known to produce the brightest students and ensure their bright future, we decided to send her in this madrassa. She also said, We never felt that studying in a madrassa will disrupt her career. Through Facebook, Prashama conveyed her message to the world and the same has been reported by some of the leading Bengali newspaper. As per the report in The Anandabazar Patrika, the post says, At first I was very fearful for my parents decision as it was seemed that madrassa means a sheer matter of apprehension. But when I started to come and live here, everything became normal gradually with the companionship of Anowara, Fatema, Shamima, Reshma. This madrassa has turned to be a temple to me. She added, I never felt that I am staying in an alien place.I celebrated Eid with them, they came home for Saraswati Pujanot a single day reminds me that there is a difference between Hindus and Muslims. Prashama also added an important statistic to her post: Out of a total of 52115 students who appeared for the High madrassa exam, there are 2,287 Hindu students for this year. The Board declared the results of High madrassa, Alim and Fazil equal to Madhyamik and Higher Secondary respectively, on May 16. Arifuddun Sk of Murshidabads Amirabad High madrassa and Golam Sarwar Parve of the same madrassa jointly topped the exams with 763 marks in High madrassa. A total of 52,115 students appeared for the High madrassa, of which there were 36,276 girls and 15,839 boys. The pass percent of boys are 83.95 whereas the percent of the girls is 75.89. There are 5 girl students in the top 20 lists and Masuma Khatun of Maldas Battala Adarsha High madrassa secured the highest position among women with the fourth overall rank. In Alim- akin to the modern concept of Madhyamik with an addition of Theology and Islamic Culture-Rokeya Khatun from North 24 Parganas Harinkhola Darul Uloom Senior High Madrasa secured the top position with 821 marks. The second position was secured by Rashida Khatun from Murshidabads Patenda Ohab Ali Senior madrassa with 798 marks. A total of 8,652 students appeared for the exam of which passed 6,413 cleared the exam, with four girls featuring in the Top 20 list. In the Fazil exams, 3,794 students sat for the exams2171 boys and 1622 girls. Mohammed Torikul Islam Molla bagged the first position from South 24 Parganass Gabati A H M Senior madrassa scoring 551 marks. Ruhul Amin Sahaji of Hooghlys Furfura Fatehia Senior madrassa got the second position with 546 marks. Four girls managed to enter into the top 20 list, with Arzina Khatun of Gabbati A H M Senior madrassa secured the sixth position with 533 marks. The West Bengal Board of madrassa Education is the state government administered autonomous examining authority for affiliated and recognized madrassas in West Bengal. It works under two main umbrellasHigh madrassa and Senior madrassa. High madrassa is synonymous to the Madhyamik system comprising of modern subjects like English, Mathematics, or Sciences, with Arabic and Islam Parichay as an addition. Senior madrassa is a combination of Theology and Islamic Culture with Science and Technology. It comprises with two other categories. From class 1 to 10, it is called Alim madrassassimilar to the present day Madhyamik system and Fazil madrassas are like that of the Higher Secondary system starting from 1 to 12 class. When it comes to Turkeys relations with the European Union, Germany would be the first country to focus on. Berlin has had deep and old ties with Turkey in both economical and cultural dimensions for about a century. Sharing a destructive defeat at World War I, the two countries have kept close cooperation except for the World War II period. Hundreds of thousands of expat workers immigrated to Germany from Turkey in the 60s and today, the fourth generation forms a huge Turkish diaspora of about 4 million population. Increasing tension Germanys support of Turkeys EU membership candidature started to decrease with Chancellor Merkel. Berlins rulers used to back Turkey with the concern of collecting Turkish-German votes since then. However, Frau Merkel saw another social dynamic: The antipathy of millions of German-German voters over a Muslim diaspora that could not integrate to the European values and lifestyle for more than four decades. That was the time that the new Sultan, Recep Tayyip Erdogan seized the power with a questionable election victory in Turkey. As a result the distant brothers started to argue. Now, after 15 years, Berlin and Ankara are at the edge of cutting diplomatic ties. The last occasion is the hindering the visit of German MPs to Incirlik Military Base in Turkey used by NATO ally countries. However Germany is still Turkeys Nr.1 foreign trade partner (Except Russia, the main vendor of natural gas) and Business People from both sides seem to not care of the political conflict. At the Turkey-Germany Business Day event that took place last week in Izmir, the western resort metropol of Turkey, top managers of major German companies expressed intentions of persisting their investments in Turkey. More investments? Umit Dursun, Sales Manager of Hubner, the leading German plastic and rubber products company, was one of them. Without mentioning the financial mass, Mr. Dursun announced that Hubner is intending to build a new factory producing plastic wagon bends in western Turkey in two years time. Uluc Batmaz, Production Manager of Mercedes-Benz truck and bus factory in Aksaray, says Half of the busses and two third of the trucks on Turkeys highways are produced in our factory. As an answer to such a question like Will you postpone your investments due to latest political developments, we say a clear No. I would like to remind you that our company announced its investment schedule on 19th of July last year. The date Mr. Batmaz mentioned is just four days after the failed coup attempt in Turkey. Though all these exited statements, the investment climate still needs a more tranquil atmosphere. Thats what Mr. Adem Akkaya, representative of NRW.INVEST, North Rhine Westphalias investment agency in Turkey underlines. During his statement for BlastingNews, Akkaya expressed that politicians of both sides should express some good will for sake of mutual economical interest. Labours plans to increase Income Taxes for high earners so it can use the revenue to fund ambitious manifesto pledges are "a little on the optimistic side, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS). At the launch of Labours general election manifesto on Tuesday, May 16, Jeremy Corbyn said the expensive pledges which include scrapping tuition fees and raising the minimum wage to 10 an hour - will be funded by 48.6 billion of additional tax revenue. Labour Manifesto promises Labour is looking to raise the cash by hiking corporation tax, imposing a 45% income tax rate on people earning over 80,000 a year, and a 50% tax rate on people earning over 123,000. However, the IFS said the new taxes may not raise any extra revenue as many high earners could decide to make greater efforts to avoid or evade tax. In a report published on its website, the independent Think Tank said: "If no one changed their behaviour in response [to the tax increases], it would raise around 7 billion per year. "But some of those affected would respond by reducing their taxable incomes, reducing the amount raised." The report also states that the policy could work if Britain's affluent individuals pay the hiked taxes, but it could also "raise nothing". Britain's top earners may decide to increase their contributions to private pensions to receive income tax relief, make more effort to avoid or evade the new taxes or decide to leave the country and live abroad, according to the IFS. Will this impact the election results? The Conservatives have also criticised the costing of Labour's new manifesto and said the sums "don't add up". However, Mr Corbyn is confident about the calculations and at the official launch of the manifesto in Bradford, he said: "This is a manifesto for all generations. We are providing hope and genuine opportunity for everybody." The manifesto also includes plans to re-nationalise Britain's railways and water companies, scrap zero-hour contracts, reverse disability benefit cuts, provide free school meals for all primary school children and free education for all adults, reduce the voting age to 16, build 100,000 affordable homes a year and renew the Trident nuclear weapon system. Labour were boosted in the polls after Mr Corbyn outlined the party's ambitious manifesto, however, the Conservatives are still expected to retain their majority in the House of Commons after the general election on Thursday, June 8. One of the ironies of the Brexit debate has been Britains attitude to foreigners. While the result of last years referendum made it clear that Britons want to limit the number of migrants coming into the country, they are more than happy to welcome them as Tourists. In return, oversees visitors are more than happy to come. Whether its the scenery, the heritage, the Royal Family or a chance to dip into a culture that has been exported around the world, tourists cant get enough of the UK. Latest figures from the Office of National Statistics, just out show that in the year to March 2017 there were 2.9 million visits by overseas residents to the UK, up 11% on the previous twelve months. In the process they spent 4.2 billion here. Mutual Affection While Britain may be disenchanted with the EU, British people have clearly not fallen out of love with travelling abroad. Elsewhere in the same set of statistics its revealed that the number of trips abroad by UK residents rose 5% to 4.6 million. In the last twenty years overseas visits by UK residents have risen from 45 million a year to more than 70 million, while the number of overseas visitors to the UK has increased from 25 million to 37 million (according to the Office for National Statistics). Many Brits have a love hate relationship with France. While we love their food, wine and fashion, older people will proudly recall the way we stood shoulder to shoulder with the French during World War Two. However, although many are still slightly suspicious of them, that feeling clearly isnt mutual. In 2016 French residents made 4.1 million visits to the UK, more than any other country. Of the 10 countries who supplied the most visitors, the only non-EU countries were the USA (second with 3.5 million visits) and Australia (10th with 1 million). Pleasure v Business Much as the Government might wish these were all people jetting in to do deals with British companies, tourism is still the main driver behind the flow of visitors. In 2016 there were 13.9 million holiday visits to the UK, 37% of the total. The next most popular reason was visiting friends and relatives (11.6 million) with business visits third on 9.2 million. Itll be interesting to see if and how visitor flows change as we get closer to Brexit. Even if numbers do drop off, history suggests they will soon rise again, as happened after 2001 when Foot and Mouth and September 11th deterred visitors for a time, or the 2008 financial crisis which also saw a drop in numbers. ITV hosted the first TV debate between the leaders of all the political parties you can vote for in the upcoming 8 June General Election. Now, while its basically just between the Conservatives and the Labour parties and everyone kind of accepts that, all the other intrepid parties, like the Lib Dems and the Green Party, are still going at it and giving it their best shot, and good on them for trying. Funnily enough, this debate was just between all the parties who dont really have much of a chance at winning the election, since the two who have a shot at winning didnt bother turning up. Anyway, the ITV debate was pretty weak and unengaging, but there were a few important takeaways from it. The whole point of the debate was basically for party leaders like the Tories Theresa May and Labours Jeremy Corbyn (except not them, because they didnt show up) to defend their policies and what they plan to do, because everyones faced at least a bit of backlash for everything nothing is ever received unanimously in politics, and of recent, everythings been particularly divisive for some reason. Leanne Wood says Theresa May was too scared to show up Leanne Wood, the Welsh politician and leader of Plaid Cymru, accused Theresa May of being too scared to show up for the debate, fearing what may come of it. She might be right, she might be wrong depends on what your thoughts are on Theresa May, really. Also, Wood rightly kicked off at Paul Nuttall, the fool who replaced Nigel Farage as the leader of UKIP, not just because he called her Natalie once and she had to correct, but because he then called her Natalie a second time. Where did he get Natalie from? Surely he doesnt think shes Natalie Wood. Natalie Wood is an American actress (and shes dead). In fact, following on from Leanne Wood making a strong point about Welsh jobs following Brexit and Paul Nuttall failing to even get her name right, thats just a microcosm of how much stronger the female leaders seemed than the male ones throughout the debate. Wood, along with Caroline Lucas and Nicola Sturgeon, made strong arguments and gave bold performances. Tim Farron just told a series of anecdotes to get his points across and the press certainly werent biting. Perhaps some of the less outspoken onlookers were enjoying his larger-than-life antics, but what are the chances of that? As Nuttall went on with his classic right-wing immigration excuse for everything everything in the world boils down to immigration, its all immigrants fault, isnt it? it felt like we were watching a satirical comedy sketch. It was ridiculous. Even the other party leaders at the debate made fun of him for it. At least Farage knew what he was doing. Paul Nuttall is a clown. And UKIPs campaign has been terrible. In fact, the polls are showing even the Green Party is beating them. Now thats saying something. No offence to the Green Party. Debate stripped the UK political construct bare and it has problems The televised debate took a look under the surface of the way the UK political construct operates, and its not perfect. For a start, the only two party leaders with a fighting chance of actually winning the election didnt even bother coming for the debate, showing how pointless it was having a debate in the first place. If the two the election is really a race between wont show up, then surely its a bit of a charade. And the rest just stood there telling everyone how great they are, with none of the others ever really challenging them on it. And furthermore, the two best participators in the debate were arguably Nicola Sturgeon and Leanne Wood but they arent even on the ballot! What kind of system are we running here, seriously? The Leaders Debate? With 19 days left before the General Election, ITV hosted the first 'Leaders Debate's,' well, sort of. Neither the Conservatives or Labour were in attendance which of course just left the also-rans, who seemed to think they were appearing at a curtain-call for the next Mr. Men movie. In a two-hour live debate without any real focus, not a lot actually happened. This is apart from what appeared to be a very good-natured affair, with jokes, merriment, and banter, where we can be sure lots of ginger-pop and scones were consumed afterward. What was said Mr. Forgetfull, in the guise UKIP's Paul Nuttall's few contributions, was most certainly getting the name of the leader of Plaid Cymru, Miss Angry, aka, Leanne Wood, repeatedly wrong. Calling her Natalie - no doubt in reference to the actress who fell from her boat into the Pacific Ocean and drowned in 1981, or even, Natalie Bennett, former Green Party leader who did not - she eventually snapped at him, and he shut up. He only came to life in his closing statement, saying 'that together we can put the Great back in Britain.' A sentiment used to much effect only quite recently on the other side of the Atlantic by a mutual friend of the UKIP party. Miss Bossy was there in the guise of Nicola Sturgeon, acting the headmistress, as usual, but freely admitting that her own party had been far from on the ball in steering Scotlands affairs in the right direction, alluding especially to the mistakes made in Education and that a new referendum was, a way down the road yet. Tim Fallon, Mr. Nice, just wanted everyone to be, well, nice to one another; the only positive note being that he wanted to stop any harsh Brexit by the Conservatives. Miss Nice, the Greens Caroline Lucas, smiled a lot and only really wanted to build a bigger and more caring future. Finally Ms. Wood assured everyone watching that, 'you can rely on Plaid Cymru to defend Wales,' allowing the armed forces of the UK to sleep easy in their beds for a further few nights. So there's lovely then? Now that the manifestoes have mostly escaped from captivity we can all get a broader picture of each parties intent, and a jolly mixed bag it is as well. So one can only hope that the next televised Leaders Debate, where the main parties will not be attending once again, will be a far more, focused, heated and passionate affair than the last one was, or those watching will need something stronger than the pop on offer... With the 8 June General Election coming up, ITV broadcasted a dull live debate between party leaders, but it showed the flaws in the UK political system, since the only two leaders with a realistic shot at winning (Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn) didnt even show up for the Debate, and the leaders who performed best at the debate (Nicola Sturgeon and Leanne Wood) arent even candidates in the election, so it was pretty pointless. Anyway, heres what the political journalists and commentators had to say about it on their Twitter accounts. Caroline Lucas was the best-received participator in the debate Many of the Twitterers came to the same conclusion that this debate was a waste of time, and they all pretty much agreed that Caroline Lucas did best. Anthony Barnett from Open Democracy sang her praises, saying that she was the only leader who looks modern, speaks sense, (and) has urgency. Liam Halligan from The Telegraph said that she bossed the debate, and added that relatively she would be the candidate who has the most votes gained so far. Gaby Hinsliff from The Guardian wished she wouldve gotten to see Nicola Sturgeon debate Theresa May, but May refuses to debate because shes scared. Andrew Picken from The Sunday Post also loved Sturgeon, saying she never had to get out of second gear. He believed that the same wouldve gone for Corbyn had he shown up, adding that not partaking in the debate was a mistake on his part. A young woman was killed and a further 22 people were injured after a car tore through a crowd of pedestrians in Times Square in New York at around midday local time. The fatality was an 18-year-old girl, whose 13-year-old sister was also injured in the incident (whatever youre doing, take a moment to think of their family), and four of the 22 injuries have been classed as critical. Local news outlets in New York have reported that the incident had taken place on Seventh Avenue in the near vicinity of 45th Street. The police on the scene closed off a whole bunch of blocks in the area, from 42nd Street and Broadway right the way down to 46th Street and Seventh Avenue. It was quite a scene. All the primary US cable news channels that, much to the behest of President Donald Trump, get great, great ratings interrupted their programming schedules to immediately jump to the scene and cover what was going on, as did the smaller news stations around the New York area. According to the NYPD, the car incident remains under investigation, but they are under the assumption that it is an isolated incident and are treating it as such. NYPD tweeted from the scene The NYPDs official Twitter account sent out a statement a few hours following the incident to confirm that they had one male in custody suspected to have perpetrated the #TimesSquare vehicle collision. The New York streets in which the incident took place have been cordoned off and as of yet, no traffic has been allowed to pass through. Also, buildings in this area are currently locked down, with nobody going in or out. News footage from the cable networks and also the local New York stations showed a red Honda Accord up in flames and tilted on its side. A Honda Accord, thats not a joke. The car supposedly got tilted from colliding with some metal barriers and a large post on 45th Street, which totalled the car. Police then quickly dragged the driver out of the car and took him to the station. The NYPD later identified the suspect as Richard Rojas, a 26-year-old man from the Bronx in the rougher side of New York. Hes been arrested, and the police dont believe it was an act of terrorism. Theyre not ruling it out, they just dont think thats why he did it. According to the NYPD, the driver has incurred two DWIs previously and has been arrested before now, so theyre testing his blood for drugs and alcohol. Rojas is a US citizen and ex-member of the armed forces. Eyewitness reports recount the event An eyewitness speaking to the New York channel of ABC recalled that the driver appeared to be driving into the crowd of pedestrians purposefully he meant to do it. He started by driving towards oncoming cars in the incorrect lane (which is an aspect of the story that the police still have yet to confirm). Another eyewitness said that the driver was topless for some reason, and that when the police came after him, he tried to make a run for it before they nailed him. Bill de Blasio, the Mayor of New York, has responded to the incident. While there is no signifier that this was an act of terrorism and the police are assuming its an isolated incident, Mayor de Blasio has announced that various parts of the city have been given additional security measures because the authorities are treating the situation with, as he puts it, an abundance of caution, which is a good call. According to the Los Angeles Times, the tension between the United States and North Korea has escalated to an all-time high. Recently it was reported that President Donald Trump directed a fleet of warships to take up their position near the Korean peninsula. However, after China and Russia dispatched shadow aircraft to follow the U.S. fleet, the United States Navy later asserted that the warships and other US aircraft carriers were not on their way to North Korean waters. But recently, in an interview aired on Fox Business on April 12, 2017, Trump bragged that the U.S. Military were dispatched to deal with the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-Un. Misinformed Trump publicly bragged about American armada But, according to a report by the New York Times, the armada that was sent out was actually directed to another location away from the hostile Korean waters. Trump's speech was posted online by Fox News on Twitter. Clearly the post shows that Donald Trump bragged that the United States of America was sending a very powerful armada to the troubled region. The Republican also declared that the U.S. military had submarines that were more powerful than aircraft carriers, in reference to the North Korean nation's much talked about military missiles. For several months now, the United States and dictator Kim Jong-Un have been locked in a bitter war of words. However, in spite of several warnings from America, North Korea will likely continue to create and test missile weaponry. White House slams Defense Department for embarrassing mistake President Donald Trump thought wrong when he proclaimed that the armada was on its way to deal with Kim Jong-Un once and for all, but later found out that the vessel was actually headed in the opposite direction. Following the mix-up of information, the White House lashed out at the Defense Department for the embarrassing mistake. According to several sources at the White House, the President and his administration were relying on Defense Department guidance. However, on Tuesday, they acknowledged that there was a glitch in the reported events. The Times also reported that it was an erroneous mistake by Jim Mattis, the Defense Secretary, that led to the premature announcement. Ever since she was brought on board to join Donald Trump last summer, Kellyanne Conway has often been in the spotlight, but often for many of the wrong reasons. After three months of Trump being in power, his advisers and associates are feeling the heat, with Conway at the top of the list. Conway's clash It all started last summer when Paul Manafort had been exposed for having financial ties back to Russia. Due to speculation already existing in regards to Donald Trump being in cahoots with the Kremlin, Manafort was forced to resign in his roll as campaign manager. This was all taking place after the former host of "The Apprentice" had won the Republican presidential nomination, and he decided to make a major move heading into a general election fight with Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. Former Breitbart News CEO Steve Bannon was brought on board to serve as campaign CEO, while veteran Republican pollster Kellyanne Conway was tapped to fill the role as the new campaign manager. While Conway was the leading voice for the campaign, it didn't come without it's downfalls, which has continued as she's transferred to the role of presidential counsel. During an interview with Politico on April 19, Conway decided to lash out at her critics. Kellyanne Conway lashes out at her critics as unhappy people with poison keyboards https://t.co/adq9nHMAIp pic.twitter.com/hDDSHRuPQH Raw Story (@RawStory) April 19, 2017 Speaking to Politico in a phone interview this week, Kellyanne Conway appeared pleased with her performance so far in the White House, but showed apparent frustration with those who criticized her, especially over the internet. "This is nothing I ever sought or expected," Conway said. "It's not as if I said to my children, 'Mommy is running for governor, or starring in a new film, so attention will intensify and the unhappy people with poison keyboards will get nastier,'" she went on to say. Conway's comments come just days after she begged for Democratic Party leaders to speak out and stop the growing protests against Donald Trump. Conway's history Since the start of the new administration last January, Kellyanne Conway has made multiple blunders that have led to the White House reducing her appearances on television and restricting which news outlets she can speak out. While attempting to excuse the rampant falsehoods coming out of the White House, Conway coined the now infamous term "alternative facts." Not long after, the presidential counsel was doing her best to defend Donald Trump's controversial "Muslim ban" executive order by citing the non-existent "Bowling Green Massacre." After reports of an alleged clash with White House Press Secretary Sean Spicier, Conway has been relegated to mostly appearances on Fox News. After Swedish prosecutors dropped an investigation into #Julian Assange's Swedish rape allegations, the activist declared the proper war is just commencing. This marks the beginning of the end of a complicated and difficult seven-year extradition battle for the #Wikileaks founder, but it also leaves substantial questions unanswered as he continues on his quest for freedom. If he does leave the embassy, #Assange must still confront an arrest placed against him for breaching his bail conditions. According to the Metropolitan police, there is also the possibility that the US will seek Assange's extradition over his organization WikiLeaks publishing activities that have revealed massive amounts of sensitive US data and intelligence. Swedish prosecutor speaks out On Friday #Marianne Ny, Swedens director of public prosecutions, took to the media to announce that Sweden won't pursue the investigation into a 2010 rape claim by a young woman in Stockholm. The woman, according to her lawyer, was shocked that the case wouldn't be properly concluded and has expressed dismay at the methods used to free Assange from justice. Ny declared that she hadn't made her decision based on any judgment concerning guilt or innocence but rather because prosecutors had ultimately decided that all prospects of pursuing the investigation under present circumstances are exhausted. She added that if the #Wikileaks founder were to make himself available to the courts in Sweden that she would immediately resume the investigation. On Friday, #Assange came out in person onto the Ecuadoran embassy's balcony in London where he had gone to seek asylum in 2012 in order to escape extradition to Sweden. He spoke about the period he has been detained there as a terrible injustice and spoke of how his children had grown up for seven years without their father. "That is not something I can forgive. That is not something I can forget, he added emotionally. He also spoke of Friday's announcement as a crucial victory in the fight he has dedicated his life to in the name of justice and truth. #Assange then raised his fist and added that the recent threats made by the United States that he may be arrested on espionage charges won't be tolerated. He also declared that #Wikileaks is going to escalate its leaks about the CIA in the coming months. July 2012 and the court battles in UK In July 2012, after losing court battles in the United Kingdom to avoid #extradition to Sweden, Assange appealed to Ecuador for asylum. In 2015, a second Swedish woman came forward with another claim of sexual assault but Swedish authorities dropped this claim after the expiration of the statute of limitations. Assange has continuously and strenuously denied the allegations that were launched against him in Sweden. As he stood before the press and some supporters on Friday, Assange conveyed that today was a big victory and a vindication but that the road is far from over. The proper war is just commencing." Assange then explained how the CIA director Mike Pompeo and #Jeff Sessions, the US attorney general, have declared that Wikileaks staff and Assange will have #no rights and will be arrested with the utmost priority. Assange said that this United States bullying was not acceptable. He added that the Wikileaks publications are proceeding at speed that is accelerating. He also added that he was happy to engage in productive dialog with the United States even though some "extremely threatening remarks" have been made. Assange, however, did appear more conciliatory in tone when he said that his legal team are hoping to engage in a productive dialogue with the UK authorities on how best to move forward. After two students were denied permission to start a pro-life club at Parkland High School in Allentown, Pennsylvania, a national legal firm has decided to fight on the students' behalf, claiming that the high school violated the First Amendment rights of Elizabeth Castro and Grace Schairer. Castro and Schairer claim they followed all of the necessary procedures for forming their club, such as drafting a proposal and obtaining sponsorship from teachers. However, school administrators were quick to nix the idea. Students were told that a pro-life club would be too controversial "I was told my club was too controversial and too political," Castro explained to WFMZ-TV, which covers Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, where the school district is located. The students claim that they contacted the school's assistant principal for an explanation via email, but the assistant principal ignored their request. Undaunted by the snubbing from Parkland's administration, Castro and Schairer brought the matter to the attention of the Students for Life of America (SFLA) organization. According to their website, the SFLA is the largest pro-life organization in the country and has been instrumental in helping to establish over 1,100 student clubs across the United States. The SFLA then contacted the Thomas More Society, a national public interest law firm. The Thomas More Society, which handles pro-life cases across the country, has an ongoing relationship with the SFLA, and has handled high-profile legal battles of a similar nature in Courtland, Virginia and Tacoma, Washington. The Thomas More Society was successful in both of those cases, and the students were allowed to form their pro-life clubs. Case taken up by same firm that represented Hobby Lobby According to its website, the legal firm also handled the HHS "abortion pill mandate" cases for Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood Specialties when the matter went before the U.S. Supreme Court. In a landmark opinion handed down in June of 2014, the Supreme Court rules in support of religious liberty and against the HHS Abortion Pill Mandate. On Wednesday, the Thomas More Society sent a letter to the school informing the administration that they are in violation of the First Amendment and the Equal Access Act, and demands that Parkland reverses its decision to ban the pro-life club. A spokesperson for Parkland High School told WFMZ that the school district is reviewing the situation. Donald Trump met with Al Gore's former running mate, Joe Lieberman to consider him for Fbi Director. He has no experience in law enforcement, and many people are left scratching their heads to what qualification led Trump to believe that he would make a good head of the FBI. Trump confirmed Lieberman is a 'contender' The president told the press that Joe Lieberman is his leading candidate to assume the role of FBI director. Trump has been searching for the past week for someone to replace James Comey, who was fired without warning last week after he allegedly refused to stop investigating Trump's administration's tie to Russia. Senate Democrats say hell no to Trumps choice of Joe Lieberman for FBI Director https://t.co/ErrDY0pQDm pic.twitter.com/sn1YhuJnIm Raw Story (@RawStory) May 19, 2017 The POTUS said he is "very close" to making a decision and that his choice would be revealed "very soon." Democrats aren't thrilled about Lieberman According to the Washington Post, some senators have protested Joe as head of the FBI. Not only does he not having any experience in law enforcement, but he is also a former politician. They felt a politician is not the right person to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Who is Joe Lieberman? Lieberman was originally a liberal and later registered as an independent. He was Al Gore's running mate in 2000 and a former Senator. Do you think that Joe Lieberman is the right man to head the FBI? One of the biggest falls from political grace in recent history has been former Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner. After the latest news involves Weiner having to register as a sex offender, Presidential Counsel Kellyanne Conway decided to comment on the issue during a social media post. Conway on Weiner From 1999 to 2011, Anthony Weiner won seven straight terms in the House of Representatives, representing New York as a Democrat while never getting less than 59 percent of the vote. On his way to greater heights in politics, everything came crashing down for Weiner when it was revealed that he had been engaging in an online affair, with his sexting pictures and texts being leaked to the public. Weiner's wife, former Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin, decided to keep their marriage going and it appeared as if the former congressman would get a second chance at success. However, Weiner's dream of running for NYC mayor ended after it was uncovered that he had been sexting with a 15-year-old girl, including sending a semi-nude picture of himself with his young son in the background. On Friday, NPR reported that Weiner decided to Plead Guilty on charges of "transferring obscene material to a minor" where he could face as long as two years in prison, while also being ordered to register as a sex offender. Commenting on the news was Kellyanne Conway, who tweeted out her remarks on May 19. Weiner's one sexting victim was 15 years old and his son in another picture was 4. Guilty plea may result in him registering as sex offender https://t.co/lwriC0XkDk Kellyanne Conway (@KellyannePolls) May 19, 2017 Taking to Twitter to jab at Anthony Weiner was Kellyanne Conway. "Weiner's one sexting victim was 15 years old and his son in another picture was 4," Conway tweeted, before adding, "Guilty plea may result in him registering as sex offender." Former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner will have to register as a sex offender, and could be sentenced to years in prison. https://t.co/XA29z3JHqZ NPR (@NPR) May 19, 2017 Twitter reacts Responding to Kellyanne Conway's tweet about Anthony Weiner's sex scandal, social media users were quick to point out the irony in regards to Donald Trump's controversial history with women. "Drump used to brag about going backstage at his beauty pageants where young women were changing to 'inspect,'" director Robert Maguire tweeted out, before later adding, "Weiner is a vile man, but the idea that president doesn't suffer the same tendencies is laughable." @KellyannePolls Some Miss Teen USA contestants claim he did so when they were as young as 15 https://t.co/luOSyBcGE2 pic.twitter.com/o0C78Ch0t8 Robert Maguire (@RobertMaguire_) May 19, 2017 @KellyannePolls What does this have to do with your "job" KELLYANNE? Kristina Wong (@mskristinawong) May 19, 2017 "Your boss is on tape admitting to sexual assault," Roland Scahill wrote on Twitter. "What does this have to do with your "job" KELLYANNE?" comedian Kristina Wong wondered. @KellyannePolls @jaketapper If this was Trump though, the spin would be to destroy the reputation of the girl who leaked it, then call it a media conspiracy David Berkowitz (@dberkowitz) May 19, 2017 @KellyannePolls Then we agree that is unacceptable? Apply the same logic to your pussy-grabbing, backstage with naked teens, dating her in a few years boss Scott Menor (@smenor) May 19, 2017 @KellyannePolls Your boss is on tape admitting to sexual assault Roland Scahill (@rolandscahill) May 19, 2017 "I agree; disgraceful. Sexual predators should be despised beyond politics. Speaking of: how are you on Roger Ailes? Didn't see a comment," another Twitter user wrote. "If this was Trump though, the spin would be to destroy the reputation of the girl who leaked it, then call it a media conspiracy," David Berkowitz added. BEIJING President Xi Jinping said Friday that China was ready to work with the Republic of Korea (ROK) to return bilateral ties to the normal track. Xi made the remarks during a meeting with Lee Hae-chan, who is visiting China from Thursday to Saturday as ROK President Moon Jae-in's special envoy. Xi said China attached great importance to relations with the ROK, and would like to work with the country to ensure the continuation of all the hard-won bilateral achievements. He called on both sides to consolidate the mutual political trust and properly handle divergence on the basis of mutual understanding and mutual respect. Xi said that as close neighbors, China and the ROK had seen huge development progress since they established diplomatic relations 25 years ago. The development of bilateral ties has resulted in enormous benefits for the peoples of both countries, and made important contributions to peace and stability in the region, he said. Xi stressed that China adheres to realizing denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, ensuring regional peace and stability, and is committed to resolving any issues through dialogue and coordination, which is in the fundamental interests of both countries and the region. He said China is willing to enhance communication with the new government of the ROK on these issues, firmly promote denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and restart related dialogue at an early date. Lee said the ROK understood China's major concerns and was ready to strengthen coordination with China to remove any obstacles to the development of bilateral ties. The ROK and China share similar opinions and positions on the nuclear issues of the Korean Peninsula, Lee said, adding that the ROK is willing to work with China to realize the denuclearization of the peninsula, safeguard peace, stability and security in Northeast Asia. State Councilor Yang Jiechi also met with Lee Friday morning. Yang called on the two sides to implement the consensus reached by the leaders of two countries and push bilateral ties back to a path of healthy and steady development. Yang urged the ROK to respect China's major concerns and properly handle the issue of the deployment of the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system. Yang said both sides should communicate and cooperate more, and work together with all involved to solve the the Korean Peninsula's nuclear issue. Lee said the ROK understands China's concerns and is willing to make efforts to properly solve relevant issues. Two U.S defense officials have announced that a U.S Navy aircraft carrier by the name Uss Ronald Reagan has been moved to the korean peninsula to conduct joint training with the USS Carl Vinson. The carrier will be used to launch and recover aircrafts; this comes after Kim Jong-un continues to conduct nuclear tests and military drills as a show of force and might. The aircraft carrier is reported to have been in maintenance in the port of Yokosuka, Japan. The USS Ronald Reagan The United States Navy has nine carriers similar to it and is named after U.S President Ronald W. Reagan. Nuclear energy powers the USS Ronald Reagan. It is nicknamed the Gipper and began its operations in the year 2003. It is 332.8 meters long and 317 meters wide, and it can move at a maximum speed of 57 kilometers per hour and can carry up to 90 Aircrafts. North Korea tensions with the U.S The relations between North Korea and the United States have not been good since the Korean War when the U.S Air Force bombed part of North Korea leaving 20% of the countries population dead. North Korea then began developing nuclear weapons with the help of Russia in 1962. Its first nuclear test was conducted on October 9th, 2006. The country has so far threatened to continue developing nuclear weapons and conducting nuclear tests that are capable of striking South Korea and the United States. Tensions between the two countries have largely been attributed to cold war politics. The number of nuclear warheads possessed by North Korea and their capabilities are still unknown. Past conflicts between the two countries The North Korean regime blocked Bill Clinton's idea of sending international inspectors in the year 1994 to verify whether the country was adhering to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Pentagon officials had at one time stated that the Clinton administration drew plans to strike a Nuclear reactor located in Yongbyon. In December 1994 a US helicopter was shot down over the North, and a pilot died while another was captured by soldiers in the North and held for 13 days. Under the Bush administration in December 2002, Spanish troops at the request of the U.S boarded and detained a shipment of missiles from North Korea destined for Yemen. The ship was later released after two days. There was no conflict witnessed between the two countries during Obama's administration. Obama, however, imposed numerous sanctions on North Korea for continuing to conduct nuclear tests. Trump has on several occasions vowed to deal with the North Korean problem and has asked China for its help; he has also taken his frustrations on Twitter. There is another tension build up in the East China Sea after two fighter jets from China approached on Wednesday a U.S. and it came too close. The incident led the U.S. military to complain of unprofessional intercept by the two Sukhoi Su-30 jets. The U.S. Air Force WC-135 aircraft was a sniffer plane deployed to detect radiation in international airspace over the East China Sea. CNN reported that one of the Chinese jets flew as close as 150 feet to the U.S. plane. Business Insider reported that one of the Sukhoi Su-30 jets flew upside down, directly above the Air Force plane. The twin-engine fighter aircraft was developed by the Sukhoi Aviation Corporation in Russia. The two-seater jet was developed as a multi-role fighter that can withstand all weather. It could be sent on air-to-air and air-to-surface deep interdiction mission. Issue being addressed through channels Lieutenant Colonel Lori Hodge, the spokesperson of the U.S. Air Force, said the incident is being addressed with China through the proper military and diplomatic channels. She said the maneuvers of the Chinese pilot and the speed and proximity of the two Chinese jets were considered unprofessional. Hodge added a military investigation is underway. The mission of the WC-135, also called the Constant Phoenix, was to detect evidence of possible nuclear tests by North Korea. It tracks radioactivity by the collection of particles and chemical substances samples. The U.S. Air Force jet has been deployed in the region in the past. Second disturbance between Chinese and U.S. aircraft in 2017 Even before the Wednesday incident, tensions have been high in the region because of Chinas suspicion of American activity near the international waters known for its resources. In February, the U.S. sent an aircraft carrier on routine operations in the South China Sea. It came with a fleet of supporting warships. Washington deployed the air and sea craft even if China warned the U.S. of challenging the countrys sovereignty in the region where other Asian nations are also claiming some islands and territories. A similar intercept by two Chinese fighter jets of a U.S. maritime reconnaissance plane on a routine patrol occurred in May 2016 over the South China Sea. In February, a U.S. Navy jet had to change its course after a Chinese surveillance aircraft, Peoples Liberation Army Air Force KJ-200, came within 1,000 feet of the U.S. plane which increased the possibility of a collision. A Special Election was held in Georgia on Tuesday night to fill the vacant congressional seat left empty by the departure of former Rep. tom price. After the results were announced, Donald Trump decided to chime in on social media. Trump's Twitter war When Donald Trump shocked the world by defeating Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton last November to become the 45th President of the United States, it was only a matter of time before he started deciding who he would surround himself with in the White House. After the former host of "The Apprentice" decided on George Rep. Tom Price to serve as the head of Health and Human Services, it left a void in the House of Representatives. On Tuesday night, an election was held to see who would fill the empty spot. With a total of 18 candidates running, top Democratic challenger Jon Ossoff was able to finish in the lead, though he fell just short of the 50 percent threshold needed to avoid a runoff. By not finishing with 50 percent support, Ossoff will now face the second place winner, Republican Karen Handel on June 20 in the runoff election. Leading up to the election, Trump used his Twitter following to bash the Democrat in the race, and decided to take credit for the results after they were announced. As seen on his Twitter account on April 19, the president was not done gloating. Dems failed in Kansas and are now failing in Georgia. Great job Karen Handel! It is now Hollywood vs. Georgia on June 20th. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 19, 2017 Taking to his Twitter feed on Wednesday morning, Donald Trump once again hit back at the Georgia special election, while sending a message to Hollywood in the process. "Dems failed in Kansas and are now failing in Georgia. Great job Karen Handel!" Trump tweeted, before adding, "It is now Hollywood vs. Georgia on June 20th." Trump's feud with Hollywood stars has been well-documented, as he's openly clashed with the likes of Alec Baldwin, Meryl Streep, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Georgia special election heads to June runoff in congressional race widely viewed as mandate on Trump's presidency. https://t.co/NoMxqMKRe0 pic.twitter.com/w48lTNcdAv ABC News (@ABC) April 19, 2017 Twitter reaction In response to his message on Twitter, social media users quickly pushed back at Donald Trump for his remarks. "And you're failing to live up to your campaign promises, except more savage and criminal prosecution of ongoing wars," author Joe Papp wrote. @realDonaldTrump And you're failing to live up to your campaign promises, except more savage and criminal prosecution of ongoing wars. Joe Papp (@joepabike) April 19, 2017 @realDonaldTrump He got 48% of the vote...twice as much as Handel. Tony Posnanski (@tonyposnanski) April 19, 2017 "He got 48% of the vote...twice as much as Handel," verified Twitter user Tony Posnanski pointed out. "Hollywood vs. Georgia or Trump vs. Georgia?" another Twitter user added, while attaching a picture of the president's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The negative reaction to Trump's tweet continued to pour in, as the political divide among the American people widens. Everyone loves Whitney Way Thore and Buddy Bell on "My Big Fat Fabulous Life." They are great friends who live together. Now Radar Online is sharing some details from Buddy Bell's past that everyone didn't know about yet. He was actually arrested back in 2014. Buddy Bell's 2014 assault charges revealed According to the Raleigh Police Department in North Carolina, Buddy Bell was arrested back in 2014. His legal name is actually Luby Bell. At the Memorial Auditorium at 10:30 pm on January 30, 2014, Buddy Bell allegedly assaulted a police officer. This all went down at a concert for the rock band Queens of the Stone Age. This would have been not long before the show "My Big Fat Fabulous Life" started airing on TLC. There are not a ton of details about what went down, but Buddy Bell was charged with assaulting a government official, second-degree trespassing, resisting a public officer, public intoxication and disorderly conduct. In the end, Buddy was convicted of the disorderly conduct charge, and given a 45-day probation and $380 fine. It could have been a lot worse for him. It wasn't revealed if Buddy ended up spending a night in jail on these charges or anything. It doesn't sound like he has been in trouble since then. This charge has not been discussed on the show at all. Buddy Bell appears to be a great guy on the reality TV series and everyone is shocked to hear about this charge in his past. For a while, it looked like Buddy and Whitney would end up dating each other. At one time, the fans were really into this idea, but instead, they have both moved on. Buddy Bell has been a big part of Whitney Way Thore's show for the entire time. They briefly had a relationship with each other, but have decided they are better off as friends. They are living together, but Buddy is actually dating a good friend of hers and they are just roommates. Whitney has dated, but on the show right now she is single and just seeing what ends up happening. Are you shocked to hear about Buddy Bell's past? Does this change how you feel about him? Sound off in the comments section below on your thoughts, and don't miss new episodes of "My Big Fat Fabulous Life" on Tuesday nights on TLC. This season is almost over, but hopefully, it is picked up for another season and will be back soon. Right now, it sounds like Whitney could be going on tour as a dancer and that would make for a really interesting season of the show, but it would also be a lot different. All of a sudden, North Korea is cozying up to Russia. When Pyongyang conducted its latest missile launch, the missile landed near the Pacific coast of Russia but it has, apparently, not had any adverse effect on the relationship between the two. Russian President Vladimir Putin has condemned the actions and termed it as "dangerous," and has also, at the same time, cautioned others to desist from intimidating North Korea. The obvious reference is to the United States and its allies. Russia wants to cement its relation with North Korea and the cargo-passenger ferry service will connect the two countries by a waterway. On the face of it, the intention is to improve prospects for tourism but, this appears to be an eyewash and might be a red herring to divert the attention of the Americans from more important matters. Will this ferry service boost tourism? CNN reports that the first ever ferry service between North Korea and Russia will be from the port city of Rason up to Vladivostok. The ferry is equipped with facilities for tourists and the service will, at present, be a weekly cargo-cum-passenger service. The number of passengers for the maiden voyage was 40 and they are believed to be Russian citizens on their way back from North Korea along with Chinese tourists. The return journey from Vladivostok is scheduled for May 19 and most of the passengers at that time would be Chinese tourists. A question is bound to arise about the economics and profitability when the frequency of trips would be once a week and the number of passengers would not even be 50. Obviously, there are other factors at work and the United States and its allies in the region must remain alert. The U.S. must not be misled North Korea is getting isolated in the international scenario and is clutching at every straw to keep its head above the water. Russia is one of the few countries that still maintains diplomatic relations with it because of its defiant attitude towards the United States. Like any other country, Russia is equally worried about the nuclear programs of North Korea and is concerned with its missiles and launch failures. It does not want Pyongyang to have any nuclear missiles but, even if it does, it would not be a problem because it would never have Russia in its sights so it wants to play along with North Korea and observe the reactions of the Americans. Incidentally, there could be more to the ferry service than meets the eye. The need to have a ferry for a handful of tourists of Russian and Chinese origin does not appear to be a lucrative business proposition for either Russia or North Korea and it would be safe to presume that they have a different agenda that is not readily visible. ADDIS ABABA - China's Dongfang Electric Corporation will build a 120-megawatt (mW) wind farm in Ethiopia's Somali regional state, an Ethiopian official said Thursday. In a statement sent to Xinhua, Bizuneh Tolcha, Public Relation and Communication Director at the Ethiopia Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy (MoWIE), said the Ethiopian government expects the project to be started by July. "The wind farm project is expected to need 18 months to finish, cost about $257 million to construct with 85 percent of the funding coming from the China's Export-Import Bank and the rest from the Ethiopian government," he said. According to the ministry, pre-construction work is already undergoing at the site of wind farm, which when completed will be the fourth wind farm in the East African nation. The three other wind projects - the 120-mW Ashegoda wind farm located in northern Ethiopia, the 51-mW Adama I and 153-mW Adama II wind farm projects both in central Ethiopia - have been previously commissioned. The Ethiopian government plans to increase its electricity generation capacity from the current 4,200 mW to about 17,300 mW by 2020 using hydro, wind, geothermal, biomass and solar energy. Earlier this month, Ethiopia said its Genale Dawa III hydropower project is expected to start generating electricity in September. The 254-mW project is being built by China Gezhouba Group Company. ATHENS - Greece will claim an important share of China's investment program as part of the development of the Belt and Road Initiative, a senior Greek official said Thursday. Greek deputy Economy Minister Stergios Pitsiorlas made the remarks at a press conference in Athens, after his return from the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in Beijing during May 14-15. Transport, telecommunications and energy are the three main sectors that the two countries are going to cooperate, according to the three-year action plan signed between the Greek and Chinese governments during the Forum. The Greek delegation was led by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. China has shown that Greece could play an important role in its plan for more economic cooperation with countries along the Belt and Road routes, Pitsiorlas said. After the presence of COSCO SHIPPING in Piraeus port and the participation of China's State Grid as a strategic investor in Greek power grid operator ADMIE, Pitsiorlas highlighted that there was a keen interest from more Chinese companies to invest in Greece. "During our visit in Beijing, we met with companies in the fields of energy, infrastructure, networks and construction, as well as tourism and the financial sector," he said. During Tsipras' visit in Beijing, two major agreements were signed. The first was the cooperation between the Greek infrastructure development group Copelouzos and Shenhua Group, with a total investment of $3.38 billion in the energy sector. The second was FORTHNet with ZTE for the development of a fiber optic network, a total investment of $556 million. For Pitsiorlas, there is a double opportunity for the country with an upgraded role. Greek companies can participate in the investment program. In addition, as a hard core country of the EU, Greece can take the initiative to seek convergence between the objectives of Europe's development strategy and the goals of the Belt and Road Initiative. Regarding obstacles raised by the EU's political or legislative environment, Pitsiorlas stated that there are also other European countries that have expressed their interest and potential partnerships with China. "Good will synergies can overcome such obstacles," he added. Taiwan's main opposition Democratic Progressive Party, DPP, Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen speaks during a press conference in Taipei, Taiwan,on April 15, 2015. [Photo/IC] In the nearly one year that she has been Taiwan leader, Tsai Ing-wen has invited public rage against her reforms. Instead of taking measures to facilitate the economic recovery of the island, which she had promised to do while campaigning for the election last year, the leader of the Democratic Progressive Party has continuously attacked the opposition Kuomintang in the name of political reform. The first bill the island legislature passed after Tsai's inauguration was about auditing the "improper assets" owned by political parties, which offered a convenient excuse for the DPP to marginalize Kuomintang and seize its "questionable" assets. Her selective "promotion of justice", which criticizes Kuomintang's rule after 1949 yet goes easy on Japan's occupation of Taiwan (1895-1945), has widened the divide on the island. Tsai's reluctance to uphold the 1992 Consensus, which embodies the one-China principle, has soured cross-Straits relations, for which the island is paying a high price. Her political ambivalence was followed by the suspension of cross-Straits consultation and communication mechanisms, derailed economic cooperation, and a sharp decline in the number of mainland tourists visiting Taiwan. That, however, failed to wake Tsai up to the latent consequences. The island has been denied permission to participate in this year's World Health Assembly meeting, which will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday. Apart from seeking "cultural separatism" by denying the influence of Sun Yat-sen (1866-1925), the founder of Kuomintang and a great revolutionary of modern China, Tsai believes minimizing the economic dependence of Taiwan on the mainland is the right thing to do. Her "New Southward Policy", which focuses on Southeast Asian markets, has made some progress in diversifying tourist and cultural exchanges, but not enough to change the fact that the Chinese mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region still account for more than 40 percent of the island's exports. Besides, the withdrawal of the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement has dealt another blow to her economic ambitions. Taiwan did see a double-digit increase in trade exchanges in the first four months of this year and a quarterly growth of 2.56 percent, but that was more because of the robust demand from industrial chains such as Apple. The average wage of Taiwan residents has increased by only a slight margin and its investment environment has not improved much. Tsai's ambition of generating non-nuclear energy as part of her electricity reform, too, faces strong headwinds as renewable energy sources cannot fill the void left by nuclear power plants. Moreover, most of the industries the Tsai administration has endorsed and fundedfrom smart engineering to biomedicineare neither innovative nor major. And the grand infrastructure plan, which involves 800 billion New Taiwan dollars ($27 billion) and spans eight years, has come under fire, because the distribution of resources is largely in favor of regions that support the ruling DPP. The most controversial of Tsai's reforms is the one regarding working hours, which leaves a loophole that employers can use to force employees to work an extra day on weekends without paying them proper compensation. That, along with the complicated, confusing calculation of overtime pay, has brought down Tsai's approval ratings, which have slid below 30 percent. The DPP leader's unimpressive performance in her first year in office is not surprising, though, given her desperation to sever ties with the mainland, the largest trading partner of Taiwan, and seek political revenge on the opposition Kuomintang. If Tsai really has the island's best interest in mind, she should change her parochial, "independence-prone" mindset. The author is a researcher at the Institute of Taiwan Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. A driver careening against traffic in New York's Times Square on Thursday struck more than 20 pedestrians, fatally injuring a young woman before his car came to a stop on two wheels against a light pole. The chaotic scene disrupted the heart of midtown Manhattan on a sweltering afternoon for more than four hours, stranding workers in their offices and tourists wheeling suitcases. The driver was identified as Richard Rojas, 26, of the Bronx, New York, a former US Navy sailor. Police said Rojas made a sudden U-turn onto West 42nd Street and drove north up the sidewalk for three blocks, passing tourist attractions such as the Hard Rock Cafe and the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co restaurant and mowing people down. He fought with officers who then handcuffed him, authorities said. Rojas' burgundy Honda Accord sedan was smoking when it came to a stop at West 45th Street and Broadway, where it remained at least until 6 pm. Rojas had been arrested twice for drunken driving in 2008 and 2015, and once earlier this month for menacing. Court records showed Rojas also was arrested at a naval base in Jacksonville, Florida, in September 2012 after he yelled, "My life is over," and threatened to kill police. "People were being hit and rolling off the car," said Josh Duboff, who works at the nearby Thomson Reuters headquarters. He said he leapt out of the way to avoid being struck. The body of a young woman identified as Alyssa Elsman, 18, a visitor from Portage, Michigan, lay covered with a bloodstained sheet at 43rd Street. Her 13-year-old sister also was injured. A police officer kept vigil nearby, sadly shaking his head. Shoes were scattered on the sidewalk. The New York Police Department has a station right in Times Square, at 43rd Street and Seventh Avenue, so the response to the incident was almost instantaneous. The streets around Times Square are heavily patrolled by police, some on horseback. Many sidewalks are lined with barricades and planters to deter vehicle attacks. The incident took place close to 12 pm ET. Security camera footage showed the car slam into pedestrians who moments earlier were ambling along, some carrying shopping bags and others pushing baby strollers. After the crash, the driver climbed out of the car and began to run away, witnesses and police said. Ken Bradix, a door bouncer at Planet Hollywood, hit him to get him to stop, according to Alpha Balde, a sightseeing-ticket seller. Balde said he and Bradix jumped on top of Rojas, lifted his shirt to make sure he had no weapons and held him until police arrived moments later. Planet Hollywood said Bradix "selflessly and heroically took action, helping to stop the fleeing suspect". After the incident, police cordoned off an area from West 41st to 47th streets and from Sixth to Eighth avenues for a few hours. The incident occurred near the headquarters of China Daily USA, 1500 Broadway and West 43rd Street, and near the Reuters news agency, 3 Times Square. Rodney Muir, the building foreman at Reuters, said he heard what sounded like a big bang and crunching metal. One of the injured, Cheryl Howard, had blood dripping down her right arm and a bruise above her left eye. She and her daughter were shopping when the car sped toward them. "I'm so freaked out!" Howard's daughter said. "They mowed everyone down." One woman had a large open wound on her leg. Another witness, who would only identify himself as Andrew, said the driver was "aiming for as many people as he could possibly get. ... It was very bloody, very disturbing." A pregnant 38-year-old teacher from Baltimore who would only give her last name, Martin, said, "A man pulled me out of the way of the car," she said. "I think he saved my life." A random sampling of tourists in the area included a woman from South China who just wanted to get back to her hotel with her infant son. A mother and daughter visiting from Austria were relieved they spent the day on the beach in Coney Island in Brooklyn and missed the commotion. A couple from Southampton, England, said they happened to be in a nearby pub so they also missed the tragedy. It was a scene that New Yorkers and unsuspecting tourists have become used to in a post-9/11 world, with the initial fearful reaction that it was terrorism and then the subsequent exasperation that one of the busiest intersections in the world was shut down. Initial reports brought to mind vehicle attacks on pedestrians, such as those in recent months in Britain, France, Germany, Israel and Sweden. Times Square was evacuated in May 2010 when a car bomb that failed to explode was found in an SUV. Faisal Shahzad, a naturalized American and Taliban-trained militant, later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life imprisonment. Six months ago, the city completed a $55 million renovation of Times Square that turned roadways into pedestrian zones. Thursday's incident invoked comparisons to July 2016, when a man driving a truck killed at least 84 people, 10 of them children, and injured 202 in the French city of Nice. The Islamic State claimed responsibility. On March 22, five people were killed in London and about 40 injured after a car hit pedestrians and a suspected Islamist-inspired attacker stabbed a policeman near Britain's parliament. Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this story. China's Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation didn't just present an integrated economic and financial vision - it also opened up new horizons for communication and cultural exchanges among the peoples of countries related to the initiative, Egypts Ambassador to China Osama Al-Magdoub said. The ambassador made the comment during the Egyptian-Chinese Investment Forum: Suez Canal the Gateway to the Silk Road this week, adding that the forum will be the beginning of more cooperation projects and partnerships between Egypt and China. Present at the forum were Egypt's Investment and International Cooperation Minister Sahar Nasr and Trade and Industry Minister Eng. Tarek Qabeel. More than 200 Chinese companies operating in Egypt, such as TEDA and Jiushi, and companies looking forward to invest in the country, also attended. Egypt has passed a new investment law to enable potential investors to register companies and obtain the necessary licenses in no longer than two weeks, Nasr said during her speech at the forum. Qabeel called on Chinese companies to invest in Egypt. The Ministry of Trade and Industry has launched a strategy for promoting industrial development and foreign trade to comply with the Egyptian government's target for sustainable development, he said. Six agreements relating to subjects including investment in fundamental infrastructure, finance and satellite technology, and cooperation between Egyptian and Chinese parties, were also signed during the forum. Overseas Chinese scholars get a lesson in how diplomacy works The Chinese consulate is looking to improve its services. The Chinese Consulate General in New York wrapped up two months of overseas study service events with a press briefing on Friday. From March 5 to April 27, the consulate assigned 24 staff members to visit colleges in its consular district, offering face-to-face sessions with Chinese students and scholars. The tour covered 34 colleges across 25 cities in 10 states, including Harvard, Yale, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh and State University of New York. More than 1,100 Chinese students and scholars attended the well-received events. Students got a chance to learn the details of projects like the national scholarship for outstanding self-funded Chinese students studying overseas known as the Chunhui Cup Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition and get tips on personal safety and learn about how the consulate protects them. The consulate staff also visited Chinese scholars, encouraging them to promote communication and exchange in education, science and technology between China and the US. "Through attending the event, we received not only information and resources, but also confidence and warmth, which are what we want most," said Cai Yiwen, a graduate student in communications at Columbia University. "The domestic start up market is under a rapid development, and as students studying overseas, we were not forgotten by the motherland," Cai said, adding that she had learned about the Chunhui Cup start up contest founded in 2006 by China's ministries of education and science and technology, with the aim of encouraging Chinese overseas students and scholars to return to China to start their own businesses. "I am really grateful that the consulate could organize such events for us, which really helps us broaden our horizons," she added. Since the locations were limited for many events, some Chinese students drove from other cities to attend. "It shows a great demand for this kind of information among Chinese students in the US," said Consul Wang Xiaoyu, who said she hopes next year's events can be expanded to reach as many colleagues as possible. According to Cheng Lei, acting consulate general of China in New York, this year's events which have been dubbed "The Month of Overseas Study Service" were collaborations between the consulate and US colleges, Chinese students and college associations. Cheng said the events were held to improve the consulate's services and do a better job for Chinese students and scholars studying in the US. "Face-to-face communication events at colleges help connect students studying overseas with the consulate and the motherland. It shows the high value that our country places on this group, and how the implementation of putting people first' works," said Cheng. Please turn JavaScript on and reload the page. Loading... Checking your browser before accessing the website. This process is automatic. Your browser will redirect to your requested content shortly. Please wait a few seconds. Deputy Prime Minister Trinh inh Dung (R) receives Russian Deputy Minister of Energy Sentyurin Yuri in Ha Noi on Thursday. Photo VGP HA NOI Viet Nam will continue encouraging Russian oil and gas enterprises to expand investment in the country, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh inh Dung said. The country supports the partnership between Vietnamese and Russian oil and gas companies, enabling them to seek co-operation opportunities in Viet Nam, Russia and elsewhere, Dung stated at his reception for Russian Deputy Minister of Energy Sentyurin Yuri in Ha Noi on Thursday. Both host and guest agreed that collaboration in energy, especially oil and gas, has received special government attention, as it is an effective bilateral co-operative sector that has generated huge revenues. Dung asked Russia to continue creating favourable conditions for Rusvietpetro and Gazpromviet joint ventures to effectively implement oil and gas production projects in Russia. They also exchanged views on several shortcomings during the implementation process of the projects and discussed measures to further boost bilateral co-operation in this field. VNS HA NOI In light of recent widely reported cases of banking fraud related to automatic teller machine (ATM) transactions, the State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV) has advised the public to remain calm and adhere to banks regulations, while urging the banks to plug security holes. The Payment Department under the SBV reported early this week that in 2016, out of the total 70 million transactions at 100 million ATMs, the number of fraud cases was not significant. Nonetheless, Government agencies and institutions in the financial and banking sector have been authorised by the SBV to increase security levels within the banking system. Nguyen Toan Thang, Secretary General of the Viet Nam Banks Association, said that commercial banks are co-operating with public security departments to fix these security breeches, while the SBV frequently monitors banks security levels. Commercial banks frequently alert their account holders to information leaks, fraudulent practices and at the same time seek to establish air tight interbank information exchanges to protect their customers and themselves. However, the SBV also warned that the nature of ATM card fraud is complex and changing, with a wide array of manoeuvres available to criminals - from phishing, identity theft to illicit malware installation, especially with mobile devices, to obtain account information and passwords from cardholders. One such case occurred at the ong A Commercial Joint Stock Bank in April, wiping out VN129 million (US$5,766) from a customers account. Last Saturday, seven transactions from a Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Viet Nam (Vietcombank) account were made, totalling VN30 million (over $1,300). The account owner said he received text messages informing him of the change of his account balance on Sunday morning. Vietcombanks representative told Viet Nam News on Tuesday that its contact centre was contacted the same day by said customer. The bank promptly locked the account and helped him carry out necessary procedures. The bank said his rights would be ensured if he did not make the transactions himself. Serious procedures must be taken by commercial banks to protect their customers, which include sending warning messages to customers about swindles, encouraging customers to change their PIN regularly, registering SMS notifications of all changes in the account balance and updating personal information. To minimise risks, Vietcombank recently announced adjustments of conditions for using internet banking services. However, customers claimed the new regulations placed unreasonable responsibility on the users. Vietcombank immediately suspended the new regulations. After many other thefts, which always occur at midnight, many banks have cut short their automated service hours. For example, Agribank announced that its ATM service would operate from 6am to 9pm, instead of offering 24/7 online transactions as regulated by the central bank. Regardless of the public backlash against bank security measures, it is reasonable to assume that both the customers and the banks are at fault. This signals gaps in the management of credit cards in particular and in the banks security in general. The most urgent requirement now is to mend the gap in the banking systems security," a banking expert told the Vietnam News Agency. Furthermore, at a conference on online security in late 2016, Jason Yuen from Ernst & Young Malaysia Advisory Services said there would never be a completely reliable network, especially for the banking sector. Yuen predicted the number of hacking incidents affecting Vietnamese banks would grow, and they would continue to be hard to trace and stop. Banks should take these security threats as a systemic risk, which means that without a precise strategy, a bank that invests $20 million in online security is no safer than one investing $10 million, he advised. A 2016 report from Russias Kaspersky Lab on spam and phishing showed that Viet Nam was the second originator of spam and junk mail in the world. VNS HCM CITY There is significant opportunity for Vietnamese firms to invest in the beauty sector in Cambodia and Myanmar as well as export beauty products to the two markets, participants at an HCM City conference said on Thursday. Leong Ann Suan Jeremy, the editorial director of Beauty Cosmedica magazine, told the road show to introduce Beauty Connect Expo in Cambodia and Myanmar that Cambodias economic growth is steady and would remain so. With a population of 52 million, of which 39 per cent are aged 25-54, it is a promising market for skincare products, he said. Ha Thi Thanh Binh, general secretary of the Associations of Vietnamese Investors in Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos, said there are not many spas and hair salons in Cambodia, and it is a good opportunity for Vietnamese firms to open them there. The number of foreign visitors to Myanmar has increased significantly in recent time, she said. While most large global hotel brands are present in Myanmar, not many five-star hotels offer spa services, and Vietnamese firms can tie up with hotels to provide high-class spa services, she said. The market also has a high demand for detergents, soaps, shampoos and anti-sunburn products, she said. She said Vietnamese firms could collaborate with Myanmarese businesses to open shops or distribution centres to introduce beauty products in the country since foreign firms are not allowed to sell directly. Jeremy said Vietnamese companies should also look for local agents or partners in Cambodia since business registration, taxation and regulations are best handled by locals. He and Binh agreed that enterprises should focus on quality and competitive pricing when trying to enter these markets. Cambodia Beauty Connect Expo will be the best place for you to exhibit and find your agents/distributors or even local partners, Jeremy said. Binh said Burmese and Cambodians like Vietnamese products. Trade fairs are a key promotion channel since they enable companies to access a market and understand local consumers tastes quickly, she said. Beauty Connect Expo Cambodia and Myanmar, to be held in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh in September and in Yangon in December, would offer Vietnamese firms a good opportunity to understand more about those markets and explore business and investment opportunities, they said. The two expos are expected to attract 55-80 exhibitors each and 3,000 trade visitors, according to Minh Vi Exhibition and Advertisement Services Co Ltd, the organiser. Some large Vietnamese firms took part last year and the number is expected to be higher this year, it said. Besides showcasing the latest beauty products, technologies and equipment, the exhibitions also have business matching sessions to connect local buyers and distributors with international companies, seminars and stage performances. VNS HA NOI Trade Counsellor of the Viet Nam Embassy to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has warned Vietnamese fruit export firms not to have transactions with 13 import companies in the UAE. These import companies have been reported for swindling, several of which were sued in court for not paying money to exporters, according to the trade counsellor in a notice published on the website of the Ministry of Industry and Trade on Thursday. In July 2016, the trade counsellor warned about several ways of swindling and trade frauds by the UAE fruit import companies. The lack of understanding about the UAE market, culture, trading modes and consumer habit caused a lot of difficulties and implied significant risks for Vietnamese firms when exporting to Dubai. Viet Nams fruit and vegetable exports to the UAE grew from US$14.2 million in 2014 to $16.2 million in 2015 and $22.8 million in 2016. VNS The list of import firms that Vietnamese firms were advised not to have transactions: 1. Green Belt Food Stuff 2. Diamond Empire General Trading 3. Vintage International F.Z.C. 4. Mohammad Mehdi General Trading 5. Onion Food Stuff Trading 6. Khushi Trading 7. Olwen International FZC 8. Red Fort Trading 9. Season Food Stuff Trading 10. Lassani Food Stuff Trading 11. Mahak Gulf Trading 12. Takbeer Trading 13. Floral Fruit CA MAU Southernmost Ca Mau Province is striving to earn US$2 billion from shrimp exports by 2020, nearly doubling last years export revenue. Under a project to boost the shrimp industry, the province aimed at expanding shrimp raising farms to 280,000ha by 2020, with total output of 280,000 tonnes. By 2030, the shrimp raising areas would no longer be expanded, but productivity would be improved from one tonne per hectare per year to 1.48 tonnes, which would help boost total output to 415,000 tonnes. Shrimp export revenue was expected to reach $3 billion by 2030. According to Nguyen Tien Hai, chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee, Ca Mau Province had great potential to boost shrimp production due to an intertwined river system. However, shrimp production in Ca Mau Province was heavily dependent on the weather, and there were insufficient measures to mitigate the negative impact of national disasters, especially droughts, flood tides and landslides, which were becoming more severe due to climate change, Hai said. In addition, shrimp production remained scattered and lacked comprehensive planning, and the province faced a shortage of funds for investing in infrastructure. The province plans to encourage farmers to apply modern and environmentally-friendly farming technologies in raising shrimps and enhancing links with firms to increase value. Ca Mau is the largest shrimp producer in Viet Nam with output of more than 145,000 tonnes last year, accounting for 23 per cent of the countrys total shrimp output and 32 per cent of the Cuu Long (Mekong) River Deltas production. The province has 34 processing plants with total capacity of 150,000 tonnes per yearCa Maus shrimp export was estimated at more than $167 million in the first quarter of this year. Viet Nams shrimp export value reached $3.1 billion in 2016 and was expected to touch $3.4 billion this year. Viet Nam planned to boost shrimp export revenue by $10 billion by 2025. VNS HA NOI Fitch Ratings has revised its outlook on Viet Nams long-term foreign and local currency issuer default ratings (IDR) to Positive from Stable and affirmed the ratings at "BB-." This was stated by the credit rating agency in a press release published on its website on Thursday. The credit rating agency said Viet Nams ratings reflected strong growth performance and prospects, persistent current account surpluses, manageable debt service costs and sustained foreign direct investment inflow. However, the ratings also reflected a high public debt ratio, low foreign-exchange reserve buffers, macro-prudential and banking sector risks and some structural indicators being weaker than those of peers, including per capita income and human development standards. The policy-making focused on macroeconomic stability had supported strong levels of foreign direct investment (FDI) and helped maintain robust economic growth, Fitch said. It cited statistics showing that Viet Nams real GDP expanded at 6.2 per cent in 2016, supported by the countrys export-oriented manufacturing sector and steady expansion in services, despite weakness in the mining and quarrying sectors from ongoing oil and gas industry downturn. Fitch forecast that real GDP growth would improve gradually to 6.3 per cent in 2017 and 6.4 per cent in 2018, fuelled by continued FDI inflow into the manufacturing sector and strong private consumption expenditure. Viet Nams foreign-exchange reserves also continued to improve to reach $37 billion by the end of 2016, from $28.5 billion in 2015. Government debt continued to rise. Based on preliminary estimate of authorities, government debt to GDP rose from 50.1 per cent at the end of 2015 to 53.4 per cent at the end of 2016. If explicit government guarantees were included, overall public debt reached 63.7 per cent, just short of the official 65 per cent debt ceiling. Fitch expected that Viet Nam would avoid breaching the debt ceiling as the Government reaffirmed its commitment to remain within the ceiling through fiscal measures and limits on guarantee issuance. Fiscal deficit was expected to remain close to 5.7 per cent of GDP in 2017-18. Although Fitchs banking sector outlook for Viet Nam is stable, some challenges remain. The agency believes the large stock of non-performing loans (NPLs) is likely to take time to resolve due to legal impediments and the 2.5 per cent reported system NPL ratio at the end of 2016 understates actual asset quality issues. While improving economic performance is likely to support lower NPL formation, a rapid and sustained increase in credit growth poses a risk to financial stability in the medium term, Fitch said in the press release. Overall credit growth at the end of 2016 was some 18 per cent and the official credit growth target for this year has been capped at 18 per cent. Moodys Investors Service late last month also affirmed the Government of Viet Nams B1 issuer and senior unsecured debt ratings and revised the outlook to positive from stable. VNS HA NOI National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines (VNA) will work with the Viet Nam Air Service Company (VASCO) to operate two daily flights connecting Ha Noi and Quang Binh Province from May 29, the carrier announced on Thursday. The VNA flights, using Airbus A321s, will take off at 6:30am from Ha Noi and 8:30am from ong Hoi City. Meanwhile, passengers on ATR72 aircraft, operated by VASCO, will leave Ha Noi at 2:30pm and ong Hoi at 4:30pm. Promotional air fares on the route, priced from VN299,000 (US$13.2), are available for flights departing between May 29, 2017 and March 31, 2018. Earlier in March, Vietnam Airlines transferred the Ha Noi-ong Hoi air route to VASCO to operate seven round trips per week, using the 68-seat ATR72 aircraft. The move is part of Vietnam Airlines Corporations plan to improve operational efficiency of its subordinate airlines -- Vietnam Airlines, VASCO and Jetstar Pacific Airlines -- and expand VASCOs business to meet increasing demand. Vietnam Airlines has, so far, transferred the HCM City- Rach Gia-Phu Quoc, HCM City-Phu Quoc-Can Tho and Ha Noi-ien Bien flights to VASCO. Meanwhile, air routes between Ha Noi/HCM City-Tuy Hoa and HCM City-Chu Lai were transferred to Jetstar Pacific Airlines. VNS HCM CITY The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has asked the provinces of Tay Ninh, Binh Duong and Binh Phuoc to suspend sand mining operations at Dau Tieng Reservoir, following an order from the Government. The ministry told officials to adjust planning for construction sites and dumps in the reservoir to ensure safety and protect the environment and management of natural resources at the reservoir. The provinces have also been asked to intensify inspection and supervision of violations in the protection area of the Dau Tieng Phuoc Hoa irrigation system, especially management of submerged land. In addition, the provinces must resolve the problem of illegal households living in the reservoir area as well as improve protection of forests and develop tourism. The Dau Tieng-Phuoc Hoa Irrigation Exploitation Company has been assigned to work with provinces to exchange information and detect and handle violations within the protection area of the reservoir. Provinces and Government agencies must report the outcomes to the ministry by the end of the month. On April 20, Tay Ninh authorities decided to suspend sand mining activities of 11 enterprises that the province had licensed in Dau Tieng Reservoir. The move aims to streamline sand mining and identify violators before allowing the activity to resume. Sand prices used for construction have risen from VN300,000 (US$13) per cubic metre to VN450,000 ($20). The businesses are allowed to mine 350,000cu.m of sand a year. According to Tay Ninh authorities, the province has also suspended the issuance of new licences for mining operations at the reservoir. Meanwhile, Tran Thanh Liem, chairman of Binh Duong Province Peoples Committee, said the province had not issued licences for sand mining activities on Sai Gon River and Dau Tieng Reservoir since 2015. Previously, two companies had been licensed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to harvest sand at the two places, but that was recently suspended, Liem said. Any company which still harvests sand in these two places is doing it illegally, he said. Illegal sand mining still exists, Liem said, adding that the province had created an inter-sectoral inspection team to crack down on the issue. But the illegal activities are still taking place. Meanwhile, an official of Binh Phuoc Provinces Department of Natural Resources and Environment said the province had not been informed about the suspension from the ministry. Located on the upper reaches of Sai Gon River, the Dau Tieng Phuoc Hoa hydropower plant is the largest irrigation system in Southeast Asia, which is bordered by the three provinces of Tay Ninh, Binh Duong and Binh Phuoc (mostly Tay Ninh Province). The reservoir has a water capacity of about 1.58 billion cu.m, with a water surface of 2,700sq.km, which provides water for 100,000ha of farmland in Tay Ninh and Long An provinces and Cu Chi District in HCM City. In addition, the reservoir is the main source of water, with a capacity of 43cu.m per second, for households and industrial production in HCM City and in neighbouring provinces such as Tay Ninh. VNS HA NOI The National Committee for Climate Change needs to enhance its international co-operation and learn from other countries experience to promote climate change response in Viet Nam, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said on Thursday. At the committees eighth meeting in Ha Noi, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development reported that climate change has appeared sooner than previously forecasted. The Mekong Delta, the countrys key agricultural hub, has suffered most severely. Up to 10 of the 13 Mekong Delta provinces declared a state of disaster in the dry season last year. Meanwhile, the rising sea level encroached three metres into the coast in the central province of Phu Yen each year, the Ministry of Transport said. In the climate change scenario updated in 2016 by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the sea level could rise by up to one metre by the end of the 21st century, and flooding nearly 39 per cent of the Mekong Deltas area, 18 per cent of HCM City and 17 per cent of the Red River Delta. Meanwhile, this scenario hasnt taken into account land subsidence due to groundwater exploitation and geological changes. Participants said climate change has influenced Viet Nam more quickly and strongly than expected, as seen in frequent extreme weather conditions and serious natural disasters. They attributed the problems to human activities like greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, sand mining on rivers and groundwater overexploitation. While climate change response programmes need up to US$30 billion to be carried out, mobilising capital and attaining ODA loans has proved difficult, they added. At the meeting, Phuc, who is also Chairman of the National Committee for Climate Change, said that although a number of relevant resolutions and action programmes have been issued, many ministries, sectors and localities have not fully realised the need to take action. It is necessary to educate all authorities, sectors and people fully about climate change and the necessary response measures. If people lack awareness, any resources spent will be useless, he added. The national committee must specify climate change risks and opportunities in Viet Nam while making overall plans to serve the building of needed tasks, he said, adding that the urgent problems that need to be addressed now include illegal sand mining, groundwater exploitation and the need to develop eco-cities. Phuc told the committee to make use of peoples experience in climate change response and propose revisions to legal regulations, including the Law on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control. Regarding the limited funding for climate change response, the Government leader requested the Ministry of Planning and Investment to work with relevant agencies to allocate financial resources in a transparent and effective manner, with priority given to the Mekong Delta. Ministries and localities must devise concrete plans to carry out the assigned tasks in the implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change, he said. VNS LOS ANGELES American actor Harvey Keitel is to star in a new film about the Portuguese peasant children who saw visions of the Virgin Mary 100 years ago in Fatima, its producers said on Thursday. The announcement at the Cannes film festival comes after Pope Francis canonised the two child shepherds Jacinta and Francisco on the centenary of the first reported apparition on Saturday. "Fatima" will also feature the Brazilian actress Sonia Braga. US producer Gary Hamilton of Arclight Films said the script "remains true to (the apparitions) miraculous message. The story of Fatima is what real-live legends are made of." The Virgin Mary is said to have confided three secrets to the children, then aged 7 and 9, who both died later in the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic. But the sanctuarys importance grew after Pope John Paul II credited the Virgin of Fatima with saving his life after he was shot by Turkish gunman Mehmet Ali Agca in 1981 on the anniversary of the first reported apparition. The bullet that struck the pope was later placed in the golden crown of the statue of Our Lady of Fatima. Saturdays canonisation ceremony in the small town, now a global pilgrimage site, drew about half a million people, according to the Vatican. AFP Mai Ha, Associate Professor and Chairman of the Viet Nam Association of Intellectual Property Rights, speaks to Hai Quan (Customs) newspaper about the poor vision of Vietnamese enterprises in acquiring trade marks for their products. In your opinion, what are the major hurdles preventing Vietnamese enterprises from implementing the Law on Intellectual Property Rights? In my opinion, the first hurdle is lack of vision by management boards. Intellectual property rights are legally defined as intangible assets, yet in reality, they are the enterprises main assets when seeking to earn from the sales of their products. Many enterprise heads have not realised the importance of obtaining trade marks for their products. As a result, the firms violate the intellectual property rights of other enterprises or are caught in other legal disputes. Second, other enterprises may copy the their product designs after they have spent a lot of money and effort developing them. Such damage is avoidable if management boards have trademark knowledge. However, in Viet Nam many people have argued that as most Vietnamese enterprises are small or medium-size, their financial capacity is limited and they cannot afford to pay the trademark registration fee. They also argue that access to information is poor. I totally object to such poor arguments. According to our Law on Intellectual Property Rights, the fee for trademark registration is affordable to most firms. So the ball is now in their courts. If the enterprises see the benefits of having trademarks for their products, they will go for them immediately. This is something the Government cannot do for them. In addition, in my opinion, our legal system is lacking. Vietnamese enterprises are currently not accustomed to seek legal aid from lawyers in their business operations. Coupled with that, our lawyers knowledge about international legal practices is still limited. As Viet Nam integrates deeper and deeper internationally, our legal system must be on par with that in other countries for the development of the national economy and business. It is a fact that companies knowledge about intellectual property rights is still limited. But quite a few have also deliberately violated the law on intellectual property rights. Do you have any suggestions to deal with this problem? At the beginning, quite a few enterprises breached the law either unconsciously or unintentionally. But later, some enterprises broke the law intentionally to seek profits. The driving arguments for those enterprises may be that they didnt intend to expand their production scale. So, in my opinion, functional agencies should organise training workshops and communication campaigns to raise awareness for enterprises about the benefits of having intellectual property rights. In addition, they should adopt policies to help enterprises understand more about their legal rights and responsibility towards their products with intellectual property rights, including Geographical Indicators or trademarks. VNS By Thu Van Viet Nam has 20 thermal power plants now and plans to have more than double that by 2050. Off the cuff, this makes sense. The nation is growing and needs more energy than ever. However, if we look beyond mere numbers and visualise the social and environmental impacts of 51 coal-powered plants in the country, the rosy picture is blackened considerably, literally and otherwise. A study published earlier this year by a group of researchers from Havard University and Greenpeace, an international non-governmental environmental organisation based in Amsterdam, cautions that by 2030, Viet Nam and Indonesia will be among the nations worst affected by coal pollution. If this sounds a bit abstract, consider this estimate: Premature mortality rate due to coal plant emissions will cause 188 excess deaths per million in Viet Nam, with 85 the corresponding figure for Indonesia. And if this doesnt give us pause, and 2030 and 2050 seem a bit too distant to worry about, imagine this: waste from coal power plants will pollute our land and water, affect crop production, kill marine life, and affect the livelihood of hundreds of thousands of people. Ah, we cannot make omelettes without breaking eggs, goes the usual response. So, let us imagine the impact of this breaking of eggs, if not on us, on our children and succeeding generations, based on evidence we already have from all around the world: more respiratory diseases, congestive heart failures, chronic bronchitis, severe asthma attacks, and so on. Earlier this year, the Cebu leg of a campaign called The Break Free 2017 commenced with a 60-kilometer climate walk tracing the path of existing and proposed coal plants in Cebu province, Philippines. The groups comprising Break Free 2017 argue that the approval of coal projects disregards the health and livelihood impacts on people, especially in the immediate vicinity of the plants. Uncomfortably close to home, northern China was covered in thick, toxic smog in January this year. Experts blamed thermal power plants. The other side of this picture is that Chinas economic miracle was powered by cheap coal, which still provides 70 per cent of the countrys energy. But the country is paying a price that we cannot ignore. More imporantly, we cannot afford to repeat this mistake. Soon after one of the worst episodes of air pollution in the country that affected 460 million people, Beijing closed its last coal power plant in March, switching to natural gas. However, there is a long way to go as far as the clean-up operation is concerned, and the monetary bill is hefty: US$275 billion (and counting). Economic contingencies While more and more countries are turning their backs on thermal power and opting for more environmentally friendly and sustainable alternatives, why is Viet Nam persisting with it? The policymakers answer is simple: its more affordable at a time when money is tight. With growing demand for energy (10 per cent annually), coal power seems to be the only choice for the country, particularly when it has just pulled away from nuclear power (last year) because of concerns about economic feasibility and safety. The Government has said that the 6,000MW capacity that was supposed to be provided by nuclear power, will now have to be generated from fossil fuels. The national power masterplan clearly envisages thermal power as the main source of energy. This means that by 2020 the country will be burning 63 million tonnes of coal, with the number rising to approximately 129 million tonnes when all of the planned 51 plants begin operations. It is impossible not to be anxious and worried about this when there are places where people have to wear masks whenever they go out, and have to buy clean air packed in cans imported from some European countries. To emphasise, it is not reassuring that at a time when there is greater global focus on renewable energy and alternatives to conventional power sources, Viet Nam is planning many more coal power plants. Can we really afford the recently approved Long An Coal Power Plant, just 30km away from crowded HCM City. Do we really have significantly safer ways of producing thermal power? The time for making choices based on the cheapest monetary option is long over. The leadership has been very vocal that the environment will not be sacrificed for economic growth. This rhetoric has to be backed with very tough choices. It is worth mentioning here that the tough choices are a little less so, because the cost of wind and solar energy production has fallen considerably. Making tough choices starts with asking tough questions. Can we wait until we become "richer" to consider shifting firmly to renewable sources like wind and solar energy? Would we ever become rich in the real sense of the word, if we have to compromise our health to do so? We do not have to look elsewhere for examples of extreme hardship caused by environmental pollution. The Vedan and Formosa induced disasters are still fresh in our mind. Viet Nam has committed to an 8 per cent cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, saying it can even do better with international support. Can this be done with such a huge reliance on coal power? Obvious answers While we ask tough questions and consider tough choices, there are some things that we absolutely HAVE to do. For already existing coal power plants, the Government should apply strict environmental standards and supervise compliance. Investors should apply eco-friendly solutions handling coal ash. A study by Ohio State University in 2013 found a far cleaner way to use coal energy a process called chemical looping that has the potential to reduce or eliminate a wide range of pollutants, including carbon dioxide and smog-forming nitrogen oxides. If we have to burn it, we need to burn it wisely. We should also learn lessons from other countries. Ontario, Canada, has built hundreds of windmills on farmland along the corridor from Windsor to Toronto in a big effort to wean its economy off coal. Chile, a country that has thought for long that it is energy poor, has "discovered" solar power with a vengeance. The World Bank has already identified great potential for harnessing wind energy in Viet Nams south central regions and Mekong Delta. And experts have found great promise in solar power, too. Viet Nam needs to incentivise private investors to develop renweable energy. EurocCham Vice Chairman Tomaso Andreatta once said foreign investors were uncertain about Viet Nam as there was neither a consolidated renewable energy law nor sufficient incentives to encourage investment in this area. Where theres a will, theres a way. So, time for another tough question. Will we find that will? VNS Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc recevies former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien in the capital on Thursday. VNA/VNS Photo Thong Nhat HA NOI Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc held a reception for former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien in the capital on Thursday. During the meeting, Phuc affirmed that Viet Nam treasures its traditional relation with Canada and wants to boost multi-faceted co-operation with the North American nation, making contributions to maintaining regional and global peace. Phuc lauded significant contributions made by the former Canadian leader to promoting the relation between the two countries. He said Viet Nam wishes to co-operate with Canada in airport construction and management as Vietnamese airports are facing overload in runways, parking lots and terminals. The Vietnamese leader stressed that fostering trade and investment is key to relations between the two nations. On the occasion, Phuc invited Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to attend APEC 2017 and make an official visit to Viet Nam. For his part, Jean Chretien pinned his hope that this trip to Viet Nam would open opportunities for Canadian businesses to land investments in the country, in such areas as airport management and operation. A model integrating banks with the airport management company has been applied successfully in Canada, he said, recommending that it could meet Viet Nams demand when the country is in need of capital for infrastructure development. As Canada has a lot of experience in ensuring security for international conferences, the country can share these with Viet Nam to assure safety for APEC 2017, he suggested. VNS Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son (third from left) at a press conference held at the closing of the second Senior Officials Meeting (SOM2) of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) forum in Ha Noi on Thursday. VNA/VNS Photo An ang HA NOI APEC member economies strongly concur with the need to maintain the forums role as a driving force of regional economic growth and incubator of co-operation initiatives for the common prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region. This was stated by Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son at a press conference held at the closing of the second Senior Officials Meeting (SOM2) of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) forum in Ha Noi on Thursday. SOM2 agreed to keep promoting the completion of the Bogor Goals of free and open trade and investment in the region by 2020, said Son, who is also APEC 2017 SOM Chair. Participants reached a consensus that the implementation of Bogor Goals must be associated with creating equal opportunities for every citizen and enterprise to contribute to, and benefit from, achievements of regional economic growth and linkage, and to contribute to global efforts for sustainable development, said Son. In parallel, APEC needs to enhance response capability and creativity in the context of the rapidly developing fourth industrial revolution. During their two-day meeting, APEC senior officials applauded the adoption of a framework on human resources development in the digital age at the High-Level Policy Dialogue on Human Resources Development in the Digital Age held in Ha Noi on Monday. Son said the dialogue was Viet Nams initiative contributing to APECs efforts to develop skilled and qualified human resources, satisfying rising requirements of the digital age from the employment market in the region. For Viet Nam, human resources development to adapt itself to the digital age is one of priorities in the countrys development strategy, he said. APEC has determined that policy measures to enhance competitiveness, skills, training and retraining of labourers in the digital age is one of initial crucial outcomes coming out at a ministerial-level of the APEC Vietnam 2017. Son noted that another Vietnamese initiative, the Multi-Stakeholders Dialogue on APEC Towards 2020 and Beyond held on Tuesday, was of practical signifcance in implementing APEC leaderss direction at the Lima Summit last year on further discussion on APEC future. Results of the dialogue together with recommendations by the Pacific Economic Co-operation Council which met on Monday established grounds for senior officials to discuss necessary steps to the formation of APECs vision towards 2020 and the following years, the press was told. These results will also be reported to trade ministers of APEC when they meet this weekend in the capital city. Viet Nams widely-supported initiatives once again demonstrate the practicality of APEC co-operation, and general expectations of member economies towards an APEC community of sustainable and inclusive development, Son said. SOM2 heard reports from committees and working groups on the formation of certain essential co-operation documents in the fields of micro, small and medium enterprises, food security and sustainable agriculture, facilitating e-commerce and internet-based economy. Speaking at the press conference, Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, Dr Alan Bollard, stressed that to understand the world better in the context of anti-globalisation, APEC member economies were trying to adopt new initiatives. It has been a difficult year for APEC as we have to come to terms with the view about globalisation. In the past it was part of an important boost to improve growth in the region. Now we are told that it is not enough, we have to concern ourselves with what is going inside the economies as well. Viet Nam has been leading a lot of work in that area. Viet Nam has been helping us figuring out how we can go throughout the year, Bollard said. VNS Deputy Prime Minister Vuong inh Hue (R) receives Belgian Ambassador to Viet Nam Jehanne Roccas during their meeting in Ha Noi on Thursday. Photo VGP HA NOI Viet Nam hopes to forge stronger co-operation with Belgium in higher education, green economy and climate change responses, Deputy Prime Minister Vuong inh Hue told Belgian Ambassador to Viet Nam Jehanne Roccas during their meeting in Ha Noi on Thursday. The Belgian diplomat noted that Belgiums co-operation and investment projects in Viet Nam focus on higher education, a green economy and vocational training, with a total investment of some 600 million euro. Along with consolidating and developing traditional areas of collaboration, Belgium wishes to beef up investment partnerships with Viet Nam in the future, she said. Deputy PM Hue held that 2.2 billion euros in two-way trade is a modest figure, expressing the wish that Belgium will open its doors for Viet Nams farm produce, while supporting Viet Nam in accessing advanced technology from Belgium and Europe. He also stressed his hope that Belgium, a founding and prestigious member of the EU, will help speed up the blocs approval of a free trade agreement with Viet Nam. VNS HA NOI President Tran ai Quang on Thursday sent a message of condolences to Russian President Vladimir Putin following the death of cosmonaut Viktor Gorbatko. Gorbatko died in Moscow at age 82 on Wednesday. The Russian cosmonaut and Hero Pham Tuan of Viet Nam were members of a historic flight into space in 1980. President Quang also offered his condolences to Gorbatkos family. VNS Viet Nam is the fifth largest timber products exporting country in the world, with revenues last year of US$7 billion. Photo zing.vn HCM CITY Retail companies with responsible forest products sourcing policies are seeing numerous tangible business benefits, demonstrating that sustainability makes business sense, according to a new report from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). Viet Nam is the fifth largest timber products exporting country in the world, with revenues last year of US$7 billion. While the luxury furniture segment in Viet Nam requires responsibly sourced products, only 230,000ha of forests in the country are Forest Stewardship Council certified. So Viet Nam has to import around 4.5 million cu.m of timber every year, the report said. Unable to utilise domestic timber, the country is now largely dependent on other countries, reducing the potential benefits of production. But with responsible products still a new concept for Vietnamese, there is no market for them. In the next few months, under the Responsible Asia Forestry and Trade project, WWF will promote sustainable forest products in the domestic market, said Dr Le Thien uc, Forest Practice Lead of WWF-Viet Nam. We aim to raise awareness among domestic consumers of responsible forest products and influence producing companies and retailers to sell responsible products in Viet Nam. WWF-Viet Nam, through the Global Forest and Trade Network (GFTN), has been working with businesses to promote processing and trading of responsible timber and supporting forest owners to achieve FSC certification. All members of GFTN have to commit to using certified timber and adopting responsible forest management for five years. Deforestation and forest degradation are one of the leading environmental challenges today, and we need concerted action from across sectors to tackle this issue, Alistair Monument, WWFs Forest Practice Lead, said. Research overwhelmingly shows that retail chains are positioned to mobilise transformational impacts because of their leverage over product supply chains and influence on consumer choices. We need retailers to take the lead and understand that sustainability is no longer a niche, but the norm. Companies surveyed for the WWF report cited a number of benefits of responsible sourcing: Over 80 per cent reported positive impacts on risk management and brand reputation, and over 60 per cent saw positive impacts on customer satisfaction and stakeholder engagement. More than 70 per cent said sustainability commitments had a positive impact on employee engagement, indicating potential gains from higher employee satisfaction and retention. At Migros, one of the largest retailers in Switzerland, sales of sustainable products increased by more than 30 per cent between 2012 and 2015, demonstrating clearly that customers expect to see responsibly produced products on the shelves. Companies with genuinely responsible timber sourcing strategies based on clear commitments and public reporting have an opportunity to stand out from the crowd, Monument said. The WWF study surveyed more than 50 retailers in 20 countries and had in-depth interviews with select retail leaders. The companies shared detailed information about their timber sourcing policies, and the perceived costs and benefits. VNS CENTRAL REGION Fishermen from the central provinces, which saw the Formosa spill, have been warned not to catch species living in the deepest levels of the ocean for 20 nautical miles offshore. Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh issued this advisory on Wednesday during a meeting with related agencies to discuss the environmental disaster caused by the toxic spill from Taiwanese company Hung Nghiep Formosas steel plant in the central province of Ha Tinh in April last year. Binh said fishermen from Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue provinces, all affected by the spill, should wait until the Ministry of Health releases a final post-test confirmation that the fish in the deepest regions of the ocean are safe for consumption. This fish population at this level needs more time to recover from the toxic spill, he added. The soft ban by the Government is considered a good move to protect local fishermen from further losses. The past year has been a struggle for fishermen from the central provinces as they have not been able to sell their fish. At the same time, the Deputy PMs statement is a warning for seafood consumers from consuming certain kinds of fish that are found in the deep waters. Binh has ordered the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to conduct awareness sessions on the safety of ocean water and seafood in the affected areas. At the meeting, the minister asked authorities of the four provinces to speed up the distribution of the disaster compensation package, which they have received from the Government, to affected people and complete it by the end of June. Authorities have to work harder to submit data on the number of affected locals to the Ministry of Finance for the next installment of compensation. This is the final chance to submit the additional list of locals whose livelihoods have been affected by the disaster. VNS Chairman of the Ha Noi City Peoples Committee Nguyen uc Chung stated that Ha Noi would strive to become a smart city during a seminar on Wednesday. VNA/VNS Poto Van Canh HA NOI A smart city is an ideal place for people to live and work, but it is also a sustainable combination of robust economics, civil society and clean environment, Nguyen Minh Hong, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications (MoIC) said at a symposium on developing smart cities in Viet Nam held in the capital on Thursday. However, Hong said Viet Nam will face challenges on the path of developing smart cities. He therefore asked all localities, enterprises, business associations and research institutes to submit suggestions and proposals on how to develop a smart city suitable to Vietnamese conditions. Participants agreed that the MOIC should co-ordinate with concerned Government agencies and enterprises to write guidelines on how to develop smart cities in respective provinces or cities. They agreed that a smart city is an urban development vision integrating information and communication technology (ICT) and Internet of things (IoT) technology securely into a citys asset management. At present, urban areas account for 10 per cent of the countrys territory, yet they contribute more than 70 per cent of the GDP, of which contribution from the five municipalities (Ha Noi, Hai Phong, a Nang, HCM City and Can Tho) account for 50 per cent of the GDP. Some 20 provinces and cities nationwide have started to develop smart city proposals. Meanwhile, major information and communication technology (ICT) corporations have signed memoranda of understanding with many cities and provinces to help them develop smart cities in their localities. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has appointed the MoIC to act as the focal point in developing the criteria to evaluate and recognise a smart city, while the Ministry of Construction and concerned agencies will act as supporting agencies. Investment in developing smart cities must be practical, efficient and affordable to each localitys budget line and conditions, Phuc emphasised. In a related move, Chairman of the Ha Noi City Peoples Committee Nguyen uc Chung stated that Ha Noi would strive to become a smart city during a seminar on Wednesday. Chung said the city would adopt advanced and cost-effective technologies in administrative procedures, transport, health care, education and environmental protection. According to him, Ha Noi is enhancing co-operation with countries in advanced science-technology, especially the US, which he said could become a technology transfer partner. Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Asia at the US Department of Commerce Diane Farrell said the US creates favourable conditions for US firms to connect with partners in Viet Nam. US business representatives presented technological solutions to build a smart city, including those used in health care and security. VNS HA NOI One year after the devastating marine environmental incident caused by the toxic spill, fishing and aquaculture activities have for the most part returned to normal, stated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) yesterday. Vu Van Tam, MARD deputy minister, reiterated the ministrys conclusion that the sea is now clean, and announced that a recent field trip by a working group to the four affected provinces in the central region found that fishing activities have resumed normally, particularly offshore fishing activities, which have resumed 70-80 per cent. However, Tam noted that the outlook for near-shore fishing wasnt as positive, while sea bottom fishing was halted for the time being, as per Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binhs order yesterday. One "welcomed" result, Tam added, is that total output from fishing in the four provinces was only down 8.8 per cent compared with the same period in the previous year. He said this March, particularly, was considered "a successful season," citing the haul of 150 tonnes of fish by a farmer in Quang Tri Province, helping fishermen regain confidence. Aquaculture production also recovered well, with only Ha Tinh and Quang Binh posting a lower output against the same period last year, even as total output of the four provinces stayed almost the same as last year. Fish processing, however, showed slower recovery compared with fishing and production. MARD said all unsold aquaculture products, since consumers feared the risk of contamination, have been classified safe products can continue to be sold at markets, the ones that were deemed unsafe were all destroyed, and the new and fresh batches are selling well. The MARD deputy minister said the ministry is deploying fisheries control forces to the four provinces to help guide and advise fishermen to not fish near the sea floor as the toxic pollutant remnants at this level were not yet ascertained. Further, a halt of sea bottom fishing would give time for the coral reefs and marine ecosystem to recover. Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh was found to have discharged untreated toxic waste into the central region sea, which led to fish deaths on an unprecedented scale early last year. The company issued a public apology, agreed on a compensation package of US$500 million for the affected population and promised to restore the marine environment. Formosa asked to ensure environments integrity Yesterday, a joint task force made up of the central province police and border guard asked steel company Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh (FHS) to ensure public order and protect the environment before and after its furnace blast No. 1 becomes operational. FHS was asked to better manage its employees, workers and construction contractors, and prevent incidents that can lead to protests or strikes. The contractors have been told to pay workers salaries and other benefits in a timely manne. In addition, strict oversight must be maintained regarding who comes in and out of the FHS complex. FHS said it would cooperate with relevant authorities and the public in monitoring its activities as well as the indices of environmental factors in the companys vicinity. It also pledged to follow Vietnamese law on production and trade. Previously, a government inter-sectoral committee comprising 11 representatives from ministries, Ha Tinh Peoples Committee and scientists held a meeting to review the consequences of the toxic spill caused by FHS and agreed to let the company pilot the operation of a blast furnace. VNS HA NOI A ceremony to present the Ta Quang Buu awards was held on Thursday in Ha Noi as part of activities marking Viet Nam Science and Technology Day. Dr Nguyen Sum, associate professor of Quy Nhon University, and Dr Phan Thanh Son Nam, professor of the Polytechnique University of the Ho Chi Minh City National University, were honoured with the awards for their work in two areas -- math and chemistry -- respectively. The work of Nguyen Sum was titled On the Peterson hit problem, Advances in Mathematics and that of Phan Thanh Son Nam was called Propargylamine synthesis via sequential methylation and C-H functionalization of N-methylanilines and terminal alkynes under metal-organic-framework Cu2(BDC)2(DABCO) catalysis. A representative from the Ministry of Science and Technology said the ministry received 30 entries for the awards and finally the two mentioned above were selected for the honour. Meanwhile, in his address, Deputy Prime Minister Vu uc am called on scientists to make further efforts to keep pace with global technological developments, especially the fourth industrial revolution. We need to inspire students and university graduates. We also need to create a favourable environment to enable scientists to dedicate themselves to science and innovation," Dam said. A series of activities celebrating Viet Nam Science and Technology Day 2017 were also held in many localities throughout the country. VNS HA NOI An annual programme honouring national spirit and patriotism, called Viet Nams Glory, will be held tomorrow at the Friendship Cultural Palace in Ha Noi. The programme, themed Viet Nams Glory - 30 years after reform, will also be broadcast live on the national television channel, VTV1. Tran Van Thuat, vice president of the Viet Nam Confederation of Labour, said the programme was held for the first time on International Labour Day on May 1, 2004. In 12 years, 179 collectives and individuals with excellent achievements and contributions to building and defending Viet Nam have been honoured. This years programme aims to honour collectives and individuals who have made special contributions to socio-economic development, science, technology and security, and national defence. Editor-in-chief of Lao ong (Labour) newspaper, Nguyen Ngoc Hien, said that this years programme has new features compared to the 12 previous. Previously, individuals and groups who have already been honoured could not be selected again, but this is not the case this year. The selection council received 183 profiles of individuals and groups representing provinces, cities and 15 ministries, central agencies and bodies. Through five rounds of evaluation, the council voted by secret ballot and selected 12 collectives and 18 individuals with outstanding achievements. The Viettel Telecommunication Group, the 103 Military Hospital 103, the Military Medical Academy, are among the 12 groups to be honoured this year. Professor Nguyen Van Hieu, former director of the Academy of Science and Technology; Professor Nguyen Anh Tri, director of the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion; Mai Kieu Lien, general director of Vinamilk Viet Nam; Colonel Hoang Xuan Vinh Viet Nams first Olympic gold medalist, will be among the individuals who are honoured.VNS HCM CITY Since mid-2016, travel firms in HCM City have offered honey-collection excursions in U Minh Ha Forest, as part of tours to the southernmost province of Ca Mau in the Mekong Delta. Many travellers have shown keen interest in the new programme, which offers a unique experience, a close connection with nature and an opportunity to see the daily life of locals. In addition to honey, visitors can also fish and sleep at a community-based eco-tourism destination called Muoi Ngot at Hamlet No 4, Khanh Binh Tay Bac Ward, Tran Van Thoi District. VNS WASHINGTON The United States wants North Korea to trust its promise of no hostility and conduct no more nuclear or missile tests before Washington can consider opening talks with the country, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was quoted as saying Thursday. The remarks, made in a meeting with South Koreas special presidential envoy Hong Seok-hyun, is the latest in a series of signs that the US may be moving toward dialogue and engagement with Pyongyang after months of exchanging saber-rattling and harsh rhetoric. "The most impressive thing that I heard (from Tillerson) was that sanctions and pressure are not by themselves aimed at harassing North Korea, but are designed to create an opportunity for North Koreas development through opening its doors and scrapping its nuclear programme," Hong said. Tillerson was also quoted as saying he hopes the North will take chances and "trust the US". He also said there are many companies willing to invest in North Korea and if the North makes the right choice, it will be good for its development, according to Hong. A member of Hongs delegation, who requested anonymity, also quoted Tillerson as saying that the US meant it when it said it seeks no regime change, no invasion of the North and it will guarantee the Norths system. Tillerson also said that the US sends its messages only through public channels and the North shouldnt inquire about US intentions "through back channels," according to the official. Should the North want talks with the US, Tillerson said that Pyongyang should refrain from conducting nuclear or missile tests for a certain period of time so as to create the right atmosphere for talks, the official said. Hong arrived in Washington on Wednesday and paid a visit to President Donald Trump at the White House. During the meeting, Trump expressed hope for working closely together with Moon to strengthen the alliance and resolve the North Korean nuclear issue, Hong said. Trump also told the delegation that he is willing to make peace through engagement with Pyongyang if conditions are right, though he wouldnt hold talks for the sake of talks. Hong also held a separate one-on-one meeting with National Security Advisor H R McMaster to discuss pending issues between the two countries, including nuclear and missile tensions with North Korea and the deployment of the US THAAD missile defence system. YONHAP BRASILIA Brazils President Michel Temer defiantly refused to step down after being put under investigation for allegedly authorising payment of hush money to a politician imprisoned for corruption. "I will not resign. I repeat: I will not resign," he announced angrily, wagging his finger, in a brief televised statement to the nation. Several thousand people demonstrated in Rio de Janeiro, shouting "Temer out!" while about 2,000 held a similar rally in the capital Brasilia. Both protests ended in minor clashes with riot police. Around 24 hours after a report in O Globo newspaper revealed that Temer had been caught on tape allegedly agreeing to bribe former speaker of the lower house Eduardo Cunha, he already faced eight formal requests for his impeachment. There were also signs that his ruling center-right coalition was in danger, with some allies calling for his resignation. The culture minister, Roberto Freire, resigned and there were indications that the urban affairs minister would follow. The Supreme Court piled on the pressure by greenlighting a formal investigation into Temer. Despite all the calls for his head, the veteran center-right politician -- who took over last year after the impeachment of leftist president Dilma Rousseff -- came out swinging. Temer highlighted signs this week that Brazils two-year recession is coming to an end and claimed that "optimism was returning" thanks to a programme of austerity reforms that he is trying to pass in Congress. Now "those efforts may come to nothing," he warned, calling for a "full and very rapid" investigation at the Supreme Court. Popular anger It remained unclear whether Temers defiance will be enough, with cracks growing in the ruling coalition, which is centered on Temers PMDB party and the PSDB Social Democrats, along with a coalition of smaller parties. Earlier, a PSDB leader, Ricardo Tripoli, told AFP that "if the evidence is confirmed, then we will ask our (ministers) to leave the government." The Sao Paulo stock market reacted in panic to the specter of Brazil losing its second president in just over 12 months. The Bovespa index crashed more than 10 percent after opening, triggering an automatic suspension of trading for 30 minutes. It closed 8.8 per cent down. Investors have been counting on Temer pushing through the austerity reforms, which include a raising of the minimum retirement age, so that Brazils bloated public finances can be brought under control. The measures are unpopular with most Brazilians, however, and Temer can expect little backing from the streets. "As a Brazilian citizen I am obliged to demand our presidents resignation and direct elections so that Brazil can decide its future," said history professor Jose Vicente, 51, who was at the Rio protest. Under control The scandal started with Globos report late Wednesday that Temer had been secretly recorded while talking to Joesley Batista, an executive from the meatpacking giant JBS, on March 7. On the tape, which was made public Thursday, Batista told Temer that he was paying money every month to Cunha "to keep things under control" and Temer replied: "You need to keep doing that, OK?" The conversation, which was provided to prosecutors as part of a plea bargain with Batista, is now evidence with the Supreme Court. It has been interpreted as referring to bribes given to Cunha to make sure that he didnt spill secrets to prosecutors himself. In his statement Thursday, Temer angrily responded: "I never bought anyones silence." A separate secret recording made by Batista allegedly caught Senator Aecio Neves, head of the PSDB party and a close Temer ally, asking him for a bribe of two million reais, or around $600,000. Globo published what seemed to be pictures showing men delivering a suitcase of cash for Neves, who was suspended Thursday from his position. Presidential immunity? The scandal is the latest shockwave from the wider "Car Wash" graft probe ripping through Brazilian politics, involving vast bribes and embezzlement. Until now Temer has managed to stay above the fray, enjoying presidential immunity for alleged crimes prior to his mandate. However, the hush money claims date from well within his time in office and the Supreme Court probe puts him in the firing line. If he resigns he would no longer have his case handled by the Supreme Court, but be moved to what are seen as far more aggressive, quicker-acting lower courts. If he stays, Congress could launch impeachment proceedings but that would depend on him losing his base. "Thats why today the main question is to know whether the parties that form the governments base will leave," said Thomaz Pereira, constitutional law professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation in Rio. AFP CEDAR FALLS A resident of northern Cedar Falls has announced her candidacy for the at-large Cedar Falls City Council seat being vacated by Nick Taiber. Erin Cornelius, 36, who lives on Leversee Road, said shed like to see more public engagement between the citizens and city officials and is concerned about public safety. She sees a real gulf between citizens at multiple levels of government, including Cedar Falls city government and citizens. Theres definitely a lack of education about how to get their voices heard, and maybe a lack of anybody listening to their voice, Cornelius said. I want to help the people of Cedar Falls get involved with their city government, and educate them on the meetings which are open to the public. And Id like to help people realize that they can go and participate and have their voices heard. She said the general public is largely unaware of council committees that meet prior to the regular council meetings, where various major issues are discussed. She also said the city could help citizens better understand when and how to speak up at council meetings. An issue important to her is public safety. I just want to make sure everyone in Cedar Falls, every single citizen, has the same protection by public safety. Thats part of being a member of a community, she said. Cornelius said shed support the permanent reopening of the North Cedar Fire Station on Lone Tree Road, closed several years but reopened during last Septembers flooding. She noted she has waited at railroad crossings serving northern Cedar Falls for as long as 20 minutes and wondered what would happen if a major fire occurred on the wrong side of the tracks during that time. The economic growth and quality of life in the Cedar Valley also is a concern to her. I want to make sure we are attracting businesses that will be good corporate citizens and provide good jobs that contribute to the quality of life. Cornelius also noted she is running in hopes of adding a little more gender balance to the council. Im really concerned out of seven council members only one is a woman, Cornelius said, referring to Susan deBuhr. Cornelius has volunteered with the Northeast Iowa Food Bank and with the ECHOES after-school program in both the Waterloo and Cedar Falls schools. She has a bachelors degree in global studies from the University of Iowa and a masters in leisure, youth and human services from the University of Northern Iowa. She and husband Bryan Frushour have a 2 year-old son, and she is a stay-at-home mom. Cornelius will officially launch her campaign with a gathering and fundraiser from 5:30 to 7 p.m. tonight (Friday) at the Sturgis Park shelter near the Ice House Museum. Her campaign website is ErinforCedarFalls.com. Taiber has announced he will not seek re-election. Rob Green, former head of the Overman Park Neighborhood Association, also has announced his candidacy for the council seat. Horse racing Conquest Mo Money could be in line for a big payday Saturday in the $1.5 million Preakness. He drew the outside post in a field of 10 as a 15-1 shot in the middle jewel of the Triple Crown. Regardless of the Preakness outcome, Conquest Mo Money is already a winner for New Mexico-based owner Tom McKenna, 81, who paid only $8,500 for the colt last November at the dispersal sale of Conquest Stable horses. It was a bargain-basement price for a New York-bred colt that Conquest acquired for $180,000 one year earlier. Unraced before this season, Conquest Mo Money already has earned $508,900. He won his first three races at Sunland Park and finished second in his last two, the Sunland Derby and the Arkansas Derby. He had enough points to qualify for the Kentucky Derby, but McKenna decided to wait for the Preakness. And he was willing to reinvest a chunk of the horses earnings to get here. Conquest Mo Money was not nominated to the Triple Crown. The supplemental penalty was a hefty $150,000. Early speed is Conquest Mo Moneys strong suit. He set a pressured pace in the Arkansas Derby, beaten only a half-length by Classic Empire, last seasons juvenile champion. Classic Empire went on to the Kentucky Derby, finishing fourth in the slop following a rough trip. Classic Empire and Conquest Mo Money meet again in the Preakness, with both aiming to knock off Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming. While the Derby action unfolded at Churchill Downs two weeks ago, Conquest Mo Money was quietly prepping for the Preakness at Prairie Meadows. He arrived in Baltimore on Sunday following a two-day van ride from Iowa and seems to be thriving at Pimlico. This will be the first appearance in a Triple Crown race for the owner, the jockey and trainer Miguel Hernandez. Basketball For Clevelands LeBron James, there was history. For Houstons James Harden, there was affirmation. And for Indianas Paul George and Utahs Gordon Hayward, a chance at signing contracts exceeding $200 million this summer is gone. James and Harden headlined the All-NBA first team that was unveiled Thursday. James made the first team for a record-tying 11th time, matching the mark set by Kobe Bryant and Karl Malone. And Harden was the only player to be unanimously selected as a first-teamer this year, returning to that group for the third time in the last four seasons. Joining James and Harden on the first team were Oklahoma Citys Russell Westbrook, San Antonios Kawhi Leonard and New Orleans Anthony Davis. Westbrook, Leonard and Davis all are first-teamers for the second time. James and Westbrook were on 99 first-team ballots, and second-team on the lone other. Leonard was a first-teamer on 96 ballots, second-team on three and third-team on one. Perhaps as significant a story as who made the team was who did not. George and Hayward fell well short of making any of the three All-NBA teams, which means they will not be eligible to get the supermax extensions from Indiana and Utah this summer and now will face more questions about their futures in their respective cities. George is under contract to the Pacers for next season, while Hayward is likely to elect to become a free agent this summer. CEDAR FALLS Nondenominational Bible talks will take place each Sunday in May at the Cedar Falls Municipal Band Hall, 211 Washington St. The talks are planned for 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., and everyone is welcome. For more information, call L. Lee or M. Chardeen, (402) 594-3909. WATERLOO The Music Ministry of Antioch Baptist Church, 426 Sumner St., will host a weekend of worship and praise to celebrate the Gospel Choirs Annual Day at 4:30 p.m. Sunday and Monday. Theme is More than a Conquerer. There will be a gospel concert Sunday featuring area vocalists, groups and gospel recording artist Justin Cruickshank of Cedar Rapids. The special guest Monday will be Toril Sudduth and the congregation of the Shilliam Avenue Church of God in Christ. Contact the church office at 233-2587 or Minister Reatha Phillips at 433-5406. WATERLOO The Music Ministry of Crystal Cathedral of Faith Southern Baptist Church, 3040 Hammond Ave., will host a Gospelfest at 6 p.m. Saturday. The theme is Raise the Praise! Featured guests include Power of Praise, Mount Carmels Praise Team, gospel recording songstress Chantel Bolden-Campbell and other local artists. Everyone is welcome to attend. The Rev. Willie Campbell is the pastor. WATERLOO U.S. 1st District Rep. Rod Blum reacted to the appointment of a special counsel to investigate Russias interference in the 2016 election by defending Republican President Donald Trump. Blum blames Democrats, the mainstream media and even his own party for their role in hindering Trumps agenda. Its obvious whats going on here: The mainstream media and the resistance movement have done everything they can do to delegitimize President Trump since the day he was elected, Blum said in a statement. And they like nothing more than getting Republicans to attack our own president over unproven allegations. We must stop taking the bait. Blum, a businessman from Dubuque, said in a separate interview on Fox Business Network on Wednesday he is comfortable with the appointment of the special counsel to investigate alleged ties between Trumps campaign and the Russian interference. He praised the U.S. Department of Justices selection of former FBI Director Robert Mueller to act as special counsel. Blum said Mueller is respected by both Republicans and Democrats. Thats what I want to see, and Im sure thats what the president wants to see is this brought to a conclusion, because its been a steady drip, drip, drip since hes taken the oath of office, Blum said. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee criticized Blum as a yes-man for his defense of Trump in light of the special counsel news. Rod Blum supported President Trumps disastrous repeal and ripoff health care bill so its no surprise to see him toe the line on Presidents Trumps ties to Russia, DCCC regional spokesperson Rachel Irwin said in a statement. Iowans deserve better than a yes-man congressman like Rod Blum. During a town hall in Cedar Falls on May 10, Blum said he believed there was no need for a special prosecutor or special counsel to investigate the Russia allegations since congressional committees were looking into it. He said he believed there was evidence Russia interfered in the election, but so far theres not evidence of collusion with the Trump campaign. Blum also said in his statement there are multiple credible and ongoing investigations regarding the Russian interference in the 2016 election. The House Oversight Committee, of which Blum is a member, has expanded the scope of its investigation, according to statements from its chairman, U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah. Efforts in the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee and both the Senate and House intelligence committees also are ongoing, looking into different aspects of Russias alleged interference. Blum, in his second term, said he believes Congress should focus on the work the American people sent us here to do and not get distracted by what is clearly an effort to undermine the president. He said in a Los Angeles Times interview last week week, People in Iowa care about jobs so he doesnt get all wee-weed up about this. He also had some words for members of his own party who have been more hesitant to defend Trump. Instead of having a circular firing squad, we need to circle the wagons around our president and defend him, Blum said on Fox Business. I have confidence in our president. OSAGE -- An Osage man authorities say attacked a teen girl has has been given a partially suspended jail sentence and probation. Matthew Ray Entriken, 36, was given a 180-day sentence with all but 20 days suspended Wednesday in Mitchell County District Court after pleading guilty to assault causing bodily injury or mental illness. He was put on probation for one year and ordered to pay a $315 fine. Entriken also was ordered to serve 10 days in jail for violating a no-contact order. Entriken allegedly hit a 16-year-old in the head with his fist March 28 at his residence in Osage, according to court documents. Investigators say they saw a bump and bruise on the side of the girl's face. They went to the home to check the girl's welfare at the urging of local school officials, according to court documents. Police initially arrested Entriken on a felony charge of child endangerment. A judge later changed the charge to misdemeanor assault at the prosecution's request. Even in an era of marriage diversity, it remains the most unlikely match: Donald Trump and his loyal evangelical base. In the compulsively transgressive, foul-mouthed, loser-disdaining, mammon-worshiping billionaire, conservative Christians have found their dream president, according to Jerry Falwell Jr. It is a miracle, of sorts. In a recent analysis, the Pew Research Center found more than three-fourths of white evangelicals approve of Trumps job performance, most of them strongly. With these evangelicals comprising about a quarter of the electorate, their support is the life jacket preventing Trump from slipping into unrecoverable political depths. The essence of Trumps appeal to conservative Christians can be found in his otherwise-anodyne commencement speech at Liberty University. Being an outsider is fine, Trump said. Embrace the label. And then he promised: As long as I am president, no one is ever going to stop you from practicing your faith. Trump presented evangelicals as a group of besieged outsiders in need of a defender. This sense of grievance and cultural dispossession the common ground between The Donald and the faithful runs deep in evangelical history. Evangelicalism emerged from the periodic mass revivals that have burnt across America for 300 years. While defining this version of Christianity is notoriously difficult, it involves (at least) a personal decision to accept Gods grace through faith in Christ and a commitment to live haltingly, imperfectly according to his example. In the 19th century, evangelicals (particularly of the Northern variety) took leadership in abolitionism and other movements of social reform. But as a modernism based on secular scientific and cultural assumptions took control of institution after institution, evangelicals often found themselves dismissed as anti-intellectual rubes. The trend culminated at the 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial, in which evolution and H.L. Mencken were pitted against creation and William Jennings Bryan (whom Mencken called a tin pot pope in the Coca-Cola belt and a brother to the forlorn pastors who belabor halfwits in galvanized iron tabernacles behind the railroad yards). Never mind Mencken was racist, anti-Semitic and an advocate of eugenics, and Bryan was the compassionate progenitor of the New Deal. Fundamentalists (a designation adopted by many evangelicals) lost the fundamentalist-modernist controversy, even in their own minds. After a period of political dormancy which included discrediting slumber during the civil rights movement evangelicals returned to defend Christian schools against regulation during the Carter administration. To defend against Supreme Court decisions that put tight limits on school prayer and removed state limits on abortion. To defend against regulatory assaults on religious institutions. Nathan Glazer once termed this a defensive offensive a kind of aggrieved reaction to the perceived aggressions of modernity. Those who might be understandably confused by the current state of evangelicalism should understand a few things: First, evangelicals dont have a body of social teaching equivalent, say, to Catholic social doctrine. Catholics are taught, in essence, if you want to call yourself pro-life on abortion, you also have to support greater access to health care and oppose the dehumanization of migrants. And vice versa. There is a doctrinal whole that requires a broad and consistent view of social justice. Evangelicals have nothing of the sort. Their agenda often seems indistinguishable from the political movement that currently defends and deploys them, be it Reaganism or Trumpism. Second, evangelicalism is racially and ethnically homogeneous, which leaves certain views and assumptions unchallenged. The American Catholic Church, in contrast, is one-third Hispanic, which changes the churchs perception of immigrants and their struggles. (Successful evangelical churches in urban areas are now experiencing the same diversity and broadening their social concern.) Third, without really knowing it, Trump has presented a secular version of evangelical eschatology. When the candidate talked of an America on the brink of destruction, which could only be saved by returning to the certainties of the past, it perfectly fit the evangelical narrative of moral and national decline. Trump speaks the language of decadence and renewal (while exemplifying just one of them). In the Trump era, evangelicals have gotten a conservative Supreme Court justice for their pains which is significant. And they have gotten a leader who shows contempt for those who hold them in contempt which is emotionally satisfying. The cost? Evangelicals have become loyal to a leader of shockingly low character. They have associated their faith with exclusion and bias. They have become another Washington interest group, striving for advantage rather than seeking the common good. And a movement that should be known for grace is now known for its seething resentments. Every controversy enveloping President Donald Trump spurs Democratic optimism about their partys future prospects. And just as the maneuvering for 2020 has started, so too has speculation about likely nominees. Based on recent presidential campaign history, the ultimate Democratic winner might well be one of those making early trips to Iowa or New Hampshire. But early polls and dope sheets will almost certainly be wrong or at least misleading. More likely than not, the next president, to be elected in either 2020 or 2024, will be someone barely on the current radar screen. (Trump has already begun his own re-election race, but Republican 2020 speculation may be even less predictable than Democratic.) Just look back four years to the initial jockeying to succeed Barack Obama. A 2013 fivethirtyeight.com analysis of early 2016 polling showed Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida leading 13 other Republicans. Not even mentioned: Trump, who even then was thinking of running but was not being taken seriously. Among Democrats, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was the overwhelming front-runner, as she had been eight years earlier when she wound up losing to Obama. The seven others with some support did not include Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent who nearly took the nomination from Clinton in 2016. The next Democratic race will probably resemble the large 2016 GOP field, attracted by Trumps low approval numbers and his failure to expand his political base into believing one of them will win in 2020. In a recent Fox News poll, a significant majority said theyd likely vote for someone new against Trump. Those numbers, of course, are hardly more meaningful than the recent analysis by CNNs Chris Cillizza, listing 22 potential Democratic candidates, of whom three he said have a real chance to win the nomination if they run: Sanders, former Vice President Joe Biden and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Sanders will be 78, Biden 77 and Warren 70 in 2020, and many Democrats will want someone younger. His lists main value may be its inclusiveness, though he omitted such rising younger Democrats as former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander and South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who might satisfy voters likely desire for someone new. He included six senators, six current and former governors, two mayors, one House member, plus four business executives, including Facebooks Mark Zuckerberg and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. Of the best known three, its unclear which, if any, will run, though Sanders may be best in position to influence the race with the large organization he is building. The more interesting names were on Cillizzas list of eight with potential to be a major contender. They included two senators already making quiet 2020 moves, New Jerseys Cory Booker and Californias Kamala Harris; two governors showing definite signs of interest, New Yorks Andrew Cuomo and Virginias Terry McAuliffe; 2016 vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine; little known Washington Gov. Jay Inslee; and, perhaps most interestingly, comedian-turned-Minnesota Sen. Al Franken and Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy. Of those, Booker seems the likeliest to run, McAuliffe and Murphy perhaps the most promising. Kaine lacks a political base, and Cuomo and Harris might be ill-suited for the retail politics of Iowa and New Hampshire. Frankens Minnesota colleague, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who recently headlined an Iowa Democratic fundraiser, was in a secondary group rated as having a chance. It also included former Maryland Gov. Martin OMalley, who never stopped running after flopping in 2016; and Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper. Lastly were the rich business people like Cuban, Zuckerman and Sheryl Sandberg. If I were betting, Id take the field against Biden, Sanders and Warren. And Id watch carefully for early responses in Iowa or New Hampshire to any of these lesser known figures or perhaps someone else as yet unmentioned. Sanders May 2015 Iowa crowds were the first sign he might become a major 2016 player. Despite the Trump experience, early efforts have been a tipoff ever since John F. Kennedy decided to seek the White House right after narrowly losing the vice presidential nomination at the 1956 Democratic Convention. Another valuable sign: Look for the non-Trump. Voters tend to pick someone clearly different from the incumbent. For the Democrats, that means someone younger with governmental experience and less of an alpha male. Like most out-of-power parties, the Democrats are leaderless now. That ultimately will change. And it wont stop pundits and pollsters from producing multiple analyses of which one might emerge. But the meaningful ones may only be evident in retrospect. A small request from Waterloos travel budget created a bit of a dust-up this week, and a subsequent vote was closer than we would have imagined. Councilman Tom Powers had requested $350 from the citys travel budget to represent the city in a group of Waterloo and Cedar Falls city government, education and business officials on the 20th annual Cedar Valley Coalition trip to the nations Capitol in June, where they will meet with Sens. Charles Grassley and Joni Ernst and Rep. Rod Blum. Powers sought the money to cover his registration fees, while he is picking up his own airfare, lodging and meal expenses. Still, the request brought some heated discussion. The only time I ever remember a council member going on the coalition trip was my first year on the council and I paid for that out of my own pocket, said Councilman Steve Schmitt. We already send considerably more bodies than Cedar Falls, INRCOG or anybody else. Schmitt suggested keeping that money in the budget and cutting that amount from next years budget. Powers, who frequently lobbies in Washington for his VGM Group job, said he believed his experience and contacts would help the city make the right connections during the trip. I do think theres a misperception of what really happens out there, especially now with the pure chaos thats out there, he said. He disagreed with comments about the usefulness of the trips. It is more than just meeting with four or five legislators at the federal level, he said. There are agencies involved with this, the federal agencies. In the end, the request was narrowly approved. Even after Powers offered to withdraw his request, offering to pay his own bill, the council voted 4-3 against pulling the item from the agenda. Powers, Schmitt and Tom Lind voted to withdraw the request while Jerome Amos Jr., Ron Welper, Bruce Jacobs and Pat Morrissey rejected the motion. The council then voted 4-2 to approve the $350 registration fee, with Amos, Welper, Jacobs and Morrissey supporting it. Schmitt and Lind voted against it, while Powers abstained. Were pleased with the final result. For many years we have supported this trip, which has paid dividends in the past helping bring in federal funding for worthwhile projects. The trip is still important, even though we have shifted to a different era, when earmarks funds for pet projects in lawmakers home districts have largely disappeared. Face-to-face meetings with our representatives and/or their staffs can still help our cause. The coalition annually updates our congressional delegation and their staff members on current prioritized projects in the area. Grants to help pay for such things as University Avenue reconstruction, or funding to help meet more stringent Environmental Protection Agency regulations, have been priorities in the recent past. Our representatives in Washington also have been very supportive of the trip. I was very enthusiastic about telling the delegation that their coming out here is very helpful to us, Grassley stated when the group made the trip in 2014. That same year, former Sen. Tom Harkin said in a statement that in working with the leaders of Waterloo and Black Hawk County, the region has received more than $500 million in recent years for projects that support infrastructure. Each year, coalition members seek information on what types of support is now available, including competitive grant programs and loan guarantees. The premise behind this trip is area leaders presenting a unified front in communicating the economic interests of the Cedar Valley to our representatives in Washington, D.C. 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(1) Kazakhstan opens nuclear security training centre 16 May 2017 Share Kazakhstan has opened a new facility to provide security training to its nuclear facility personnel. The Nuclear Security Training Centre (NSTC) has been developed with the support of the US National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Representatives from Kazakh and US organisations mark the opening of the new centre (Image: NNSA) Kazakhstan announced plans to establish the NSTC in its national statement to the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit. Construction work began in late 2015 at a site adjacent to Kazakhstan's Institute of Nuclear Physics at Alatau, near Almaty. The centre will train personnel from local, regional and international nuclear facilities and organisations in security disciplines, including physical protection systems, nuclear material accounting and control systems, response forces, and secure transportation. The centre was designed and constructed with support from the NNSA, which will continue to collaborate with the NSTC by assisting with management and operations plans and training the centre's staff in curriculum development and delivery. "This training centre demonstrates the Republic of Kazakhstan's commitment to nuclear security. Further, it highlights how nations working together can enhance nuclear security worldwide," NNSA acting deputy administrator for defence nuclear non-proliferation David Huizenga said. Kazakhstan to build fuel cycle Kazakhstan intends to create a vertically integrated nuclear fuel cycle company by 2020, Kazakh Energy Minister Kanat Bozumbayev announced yesterday. "Kazakhstan is interested not only in the extraction and supply of natural uranium, but also in the production and marketing of higher-grade uranium products with high added value," he told the country's lower house, the Majilis. According to the Kazinform news agency, the opening ceremony was attended by the USA's ambassador to Kazakhstan, George Krol, US Consul General in Almaty Mark Moody, representatives of the NNSA, the US Defense Threat Reduction Agency, and Gumar Sergazin, deputy chair of the Kazakh Ministry of Energy's Committee for Nuclear and Energy Supervision and Monitoring. Kazakhstan is the world's leading uranium producer and though it does not have an operating nuclear power plant, it does have operating research reactors. It also produces nuclear fuel pellets and has plans to further develop its fuel cycle activities. The country is also to host the low-enriched uranium fuel 'bank' - scheduled to open later this year - on behalf of the International Atomic Energy Agency. "All this wealth carries the risks of sabotage and information leakage, which can occur even without breaking into the building," Petr Chakrov, deputy director of the Institute of Nuclear Physics, said. "Therefore, to implement security measures we need specialists and training systems." Researched and written by World Nuclear News Related topics Here's what you may have missed this week. Pet a Rat and Sip Coffee at SF's New Rodent Cafe, Eater "Somebody call the health department: A squeal-inducing, bizarro version of the cat cafe trend, a new pop-up called The Black Rat Cafe, is headed to San Francisco. Whereas KitTea Cafe in Hayes Valley and Cat Town in Oakland let patrons meet and adopt cats over coffee, tea, and snacks, the rat cafe will do the same with rodents." Read more. Nudists to celebrate 'Summer of Love' with parade through San Francisco, SF Gate Nude activist Gypsy Taub, whose fbeen putting on clothes-free events in protest of the city's ban on public nudityis organizing a parade for this Saturday in celebration of "body freedom and the hippie movement spread across America and the world." Read more. 'Green rush' in Salinas Valley turns fields from chrysanthemums to cannabis, The Cannifornian Salinas Valley, "the Silicon Valley of agriculture," isblooming with a new flower. Last November's legalization of marijuana means that crops can finally expand from the remote mountains of the Emerald Triangle to areas known for the finest horticulture in Northern California. Read more. Tick population explodes after wet winter, warm spring; could carry Lyme disease, KRON The wet winter we had this year may have brought the lushest grasses we've seen in a while, but they also likely brought a surge in ticks, which are known to thrive in moisture. They're also known to be carriers of Lyme disease, which is growing in prevalance throughout the Bay Area. Read more. Lyft and Waymo Reach Deal to Collaborate on Self-Driving Cars, New York Times Waymo, the self-driving car unit that operates under Google's parent company, has signed a deal with the ride-hailing start-up Lyft to work together to bring autonomous vehicle technology into the mainstream through pilot projects and product development efforts. Read more. Isolation and loneliness among seniors has significant health consequences, and a health care subsidiary of insurance giant Anthem has launched an initiative designed to treat isolation as a health issue. CareMore, a health care plan and delivery system that operates in seven states, announced the program earlier this month. Treatment of isolation will be individually tailored to patients, company officials said. "By viewing loneliness as we would any other chronic condition or disease, it becomes possible to develop solutions and prescribe treatment strategies to effectively address this ailment and improve patient lives across the country, Zubin J. Eapen, CareMores chief medical officer, said in a statement. Aldi is no stranger to the U.S., having established its first stores here almost 40 years ago, but its recent growth spurt has been massive. The company estimates it will have nearly 2,000 U.S. stores by the end of 2018, and it announced earlier this year that it will renovate and expand more than 1,300 stores by 2020, at a cost of $1.6 billion. Its strategy is straightforward: Use quality private-label brands along with a stronger focus on premium products, produce and organic items while offering low prices. Aldi is offering prices 21 percent lower than its nearest rivals, chief executive officer Jason Hart told Reuters earlier this month. The company bases that figure on internal research. It says it now serves more than 40 million customers a month in the U.S., a 60 percent increase since 2013. Lidl is just beginning a U.S. push, but it intends to open 100 stores here in the next year, Reuters reports. It has more than 10,000 stores in Europe and is Aldis chief competitor in many markets there. Both brands focus on price. That means they are putting their sights on Wal-Mart, which has been a disruptor of more traditional grocery chains such as Safeway and Wegmans. The big discounter is fighting back. The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that Wal-Mart is putting a plan in place to fight off the new competitors, with executives telling suppliers that their prices should be 15 percent lower than their competitors 80 percent of the time. The work thats been done to be positioned to compete started happening two years ago, Wal-Mart CEO Doug McMillon told the Journal. He noted the company was executing a major store renovation plan, in part to compete against the new rivals. 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% Palaris Deliver Elko Coking Coal Project Study Report Sydney, May 19, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Pacific American Coal limited ( ASX:PAK ) is pleased to announce the Company has received the Final Study Report from Palaris Australia Pty Ltd (Palaris) on the Elko Coking Coal Project. - Palaris Australia Pty Ltd have delivered a Study Report at Elko - The Study identifies: o Favourable CAPEX when compared to international projects o Favourable OPEX when compared to Canadian Coal peers o Flexible mine layout and operating conditions o Options for low cost entry o Coking coal quality that is comparable to Canadian peers o Favourable location to coal rail and port infrastructure - The Study supports the planned 2017 exploration drill program Palaris Study As announced on 21 Nov 2016, the Company engaged Palaris to conduct a Scoping Study of the Elko Coking Coal Project. The key points investigated have been completed to a level that supports the information available at the time. In particular, Palaris are supportive of the proposed 2017 drilling program, noting that the information gained from the drilling program will enhance the knowledge and understanding of the Elko Project and will facilitate the completion of the Scoping Study. Financial Evaluation Palaris have benchmarked where the Elko Project is likely to be positioned relative to other projects from both a CAPEX and OPEX perspective. These estimates are based on multiple scenarios run through an optimisation model. CAPEX Palaris have referenced the Capital Intensity of the Elko Project against of a number of projects that have been recently built or are under construction/study. The Capital Intensity is a measure of the total capital cost of a project against the installed capacity of the project. Palaris consider that Elko will be favourably positioned against its peers. This is consistent with the Hatch report and the research report prepared by Far East Capital (dated 2 November 2016). OPEX Palaris note that while the Elko project is likely to be in the 3r d cost quartile of seabourne metallurgical coal producers, Elko will be positioned favourable against its Canadian peers. Palaris have also noted that product yield is an influencing factor as to where Elko will finally be positioned on the cost curve, and that the proposed 2017 exploration program seek to further define the coal characteristics of the various seams. Geology and Resources Palaris utilised the geological model that was generated to define the JORC Resources at the Elko Project. Below is a summary of the key coal characteristics and product specifications. Palaris note that: "The Elko mid-volatile hard coking product is likely to be comparable to coking coal products currently exported from British Columbian (BC). BC coking coals are well renowned for their characteristics which include low ash content, low fluidity, low basicity index and high CSR." Flexible Mine Planning Palaris modelled a series of open cut pits along an extended section of outcropping coal (up to lOkms in length for SMI). This extended outcrop supports the definition of multiple pits which can be accessed at various intervals during the life of the mine. The result is that the project has the ability to quickly ramp-up production in the hard coking coal seams, taking advantage of elevated coal prices. Summary The Palaris Study Report provides the Company with a number of recommendations so as to meet key development milestones at the Elko Coking Coal Project. The Company is committed to meeting these milestones and advancing the Elko Coking Coal Project. One of the recommendations is to expand the coal quality and the geotechnical understanding over the project area. The planned 2017 exploration achieves this, and is a demonstration of the Company's ongoing commitment at the Elko Coking Coal Project. The Company is encouraged by the findings in the Palaris Study Report and will continue to define and refine the key project parameters as we push forward to meet project development milestones. We look forward to updating shareholders on the progress of the 2017 Exploration program and developments in the key parameters of the project. About Palaris Palaris has been working with resources industry for over 17 years - with a particular focus on coal. As a trusted advisor they maintain a proud record of providing a quality result every time. Palaris' prides itself in being different to other advisory organisations, having completed more than 2,500 projects to date in over 25 countries across 15 different commodity types. Palaris' people have strong operational backgrounds and understand the requirements of day to day operations, which allows them to quickly identify opportunities for improvement and deliver optimised outcomes. Palaris' approach is different to other consulting firms as they offer the combination of a strong technical foundation with a robust financial overlay. At Palaris, they pride themselves in providing insightful analysis and pragmatic recommendations, leaving their clients with options that are both technically feasible and financially viable. To view tables and figures, please visit: http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/4M6787YR About Pacific American Coal Ltd Pacific American Coal Ltd (ASX:PAK) is focused on the production, development and exploration of metallurgical coal assets in North America. The Company's strategic focus is on the 100% owned Elko hard coking coal project in British Columbia and its investments in technological advanced opportunities. PAK has 100% ownership in a total of 6 Coal Leases in the East Kootenay Coal Field in British Columbia - Canada and tenements in application in low volatile bituminous region of the Arkoma coal basin in Oklahoma. Catalyst secures Victorian Government TARGET co-funding Perth, May 19, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Catalyst Metals Limited (Catalyst or the Company) ( ASX:CYL ) has been advised by the Resources Division of Minerals Development Victoria (EcoDev) that it has been successful in three applications for co-funding under the TARGET initiative to promote mineral exploration in Victoria. During the period to 30 June 2018, the Company will receive matching funding of $910,850 on exploration expenditure for three projects in the Whitelaw Gold Belt in Victoria. - Catalyst secures Victorian Government TARGET co-funding on three projects for $911,000 - New Exploration Licence Application on Drummartin and Redesdale Faults gold potential - RC Blade drilling completed at Tomorrow Zone at Tandarra Gold Project - Hayanmi RC Drilling and Gravity Reconnaissance Air Core drilling almost completed Catalyst has recently lodged an Exploration Licence application over a large area of approximately 660 square kilometres to cover parts of two regional fault structures east of and parallel to the Whitelaw Gold Belt where Catalyst manages gold discoveries at the Four Eagles Gold Project and Tandarra Gold Project. The location of this ELA006507 is shown on Figure 1 (see the link below) and covers the projected position of two major regional fault structures interpreted from gravity geophysical data (Drummartin and Redesdale Faults). The Company believes that these fault systems may have similar gold potential to the Whitelaw Gold Belt and have received little previous exploration. Subject to EL grant, the exploration on this licence will aim to test about 60 kilometres of strike length along these structures. Catalyst has completed an RC Blade drilling programme at the Tandarra Gold Project with a total of 3,816 metres being drilled in 64 holes. The programme was designed to test the top 60 metres of the Tomorrow Gold Zone at a north south traverse spacing of about 25 metres (see Figures 2 and 3 in the link below). Most samples have been submitted for assay with results expected by mid-June 2017. Meanwhile, RC and Air Core drilling programmes are continuing at the Four Eagles Gold Project which are likely to be completed before the end of May 2017. The RC programme is testing a section of the Hayanmi structure at traverse spacings of approximately 50 metres and the Air Core programme has focussed on regional gravity targets and the Discovery Zone (see Figures 4 and 5 in the link below). This announcement covers only results that have been received and previously reported for most of the RC Blade/Hammer programme at Boyd's Dam and also the Air Core programme at Boyd North and a northern section at Hayanmi. Assay results are still outstanding for RC Blade follow up drilling at Boyd North and for the major drilling programme at Hayanmi. Further announcements will be made by the Company in the coming month as soon as sufficient assays are received from a project area to provide a meaningful interpretation. Catalyst retains a 50% interest in the Four Eagles Gold Project whilst Gold Exploration Victoria Pty Ltd (GEV) (a subsidiary of Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd) is earning up to a 50% interest from Providence Gold and Minerals Pty Ltd by spending $4.2 million on exploration. To date, GEV has already earned a 25% interest in the Four Eagles Gold Project by spending $2.1 million and should complete the remaining expenditure during 2017. The Four Eagles Gold Project and the Tandarra Gold Project are situated about 15 kilometres apart along the Whitelaw Fault Corridor which is considered to be a major structural control of gold mineralisation north of Bendigo. Catalyst manages the entire Whitelaw Gold Belt and has interests in eight Exploration Licences which extend for 75 kilometres along the Whitelaw and Tandarra Faults north of Bendigo in Victoria (see Figure 1 in the link below). TARGET FUNDING In January 2017, Catalyst submitted four applications to the Victorian Department of Economic Development Jobs, Transport and Resources (EcoDev) for joint exploration funding of the Company's projects in the Whitelaw Gold Belt. These applications were lodged under Stage 2 of the Victorian Government's TARGET initiative which is designed to promote exploration in Victoria. Catalyst has received acceptance (subject to execution of grant agreements) for three of these applications and will receive matching funding of up to $910,850 during the 2017/18 year. Exploration is proposed on the following three projects: Macorna Bore EL5521 (TARGET funding of $312,200) This project will undertake a gravity survey followed up by Air Core drilling on EL5521 and adjacent areas on EL5508. As shown on Figure 6 (see the link below), this area lies on the interpreted northern extension of the Whitelaw Tandarra Fault corridor which may also be prospective for gold mineralisation. Drilling in 2016 showed shallow basement with anomalous arsenic values in air core drilling and this is often an indicator of proximity to gold mineralisation. Hayanmi and Boyd's Dam (EL4525) deeper diamond drilling (TARGET funding $373,950) The objective of this programme will be to test the Hayanmi and Boyd's Dam structures at a vertical depth of 200 to 300 metres. Based on comparative studies at Bendigo and Fosterville, rich gold lodes are often present in gently plunging shoots or separate parallel shoots beneath the shallow gold mineralisation intersected near surface. This diamond drilling programme will be planned after a complete interpretation of all results from the current RC and Air Core programmes. A diagrammatic expression of the panel to be tested at Hayanmi is shown on Figure 7 (see the link below). Tandarra (EL4897) Dingee Zone Programme (TARGET funding $224,700) This programme will aim to trial Deep Ground Penetrating Radar (DGPR), a geophysical method that may be useful in identifying anticlinal structures and mineralised zones in the basement rocks. It may also be useful in mapping the basement topography beneath the Murray Basin sediments. Subject to the results of the DGPR survey, air core drilling will be used to test any targets (see Figure 2 in the link below). To view tables and figures, please visit: http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/4FJ2BC37 About Catalyst Metals Ltd Catalyst Metals Limited (ASX:CYL) is an Australian public company which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (Trading code CYL). Catalyst has established a dominant position in one of the best gold provinces in Australia and controls a strike length of almost 80 kilometres along the Whitelaw Gold Belt north of Bendigo in Victoria. The Whitelaw Fault is believed to be an important factor in the formation of the Bendigo goldfield which was the second largest gold producer in Australia with production of 22 million ounces of gold at a grade of 15 g/t Au. Catalyst controls two virgin gold discoveries at Four Eagles and Tandarra where high gold grades up to 100 g/t Au have been discovered at shallow depths of less than 50 metres. A transaction with Gold Exploration Victoria Pty Ltd (a subsidiary of Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd) will see up to $4.2 million spent on Four Eagles in coming years as well as co-operation with Catalyst on other gold projects in a large designated area. Catalyst has a tight capital structure, a strong Board and management and is well placed to increase shareholder value by developing and mining shallow gold deposits using the favourable infrastructure of the area. Six existing gold processing plants lie within 100 kilometres of the tenement areas. Letter to Shareholders and Despatch of Prospectus Perth, May 19, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Further to its announcement on 11 May, 2017, Impact Minerals (Impact or the Company) ( ASX:IPT ) is pleased to invite all persons resident in Australia or New Zealand who were on the Company's register of Shareholders as at the Record Date, being 5.00pm on Wednesday, 10 May 2017 (Eligible Shareholders), to participate in a Share Purchase Plan (Share Purchase Plan or SPP) under the enclosed Prospectus. Pursuant to the Share Purchase Plan, Eligible Shareholders are entitled to subscribe for up to $15,000 of new fully paid ordinary shares in the Company (New Shares) at an issue price of $0.018 each, with three free attaching options exercisable at $0.04 each, on or before 15 June 2020 (Free Attaching Options) for every two New Shares issued. The Share Purchase Plan is capped at $4,001,400 with the Company accepting valid applications on a first-come first-served basis. Any New Shares and Free Attaching Options (Offer Securities) not subscribed for under the Share Purchase Plan will form the Shortfall and will be offered under the Shortfall Offer, which forms a separate offer under the Prospectus. An individual, including an Eligible Shareholder, may apply for the Offer Securities under the Shortfall Offer provided they are eligible under all applicable securities laws to receive an offer under the Shortfall Offer. If, after the close of the Share Purchase Plan and Shortfall Offer, any Offer Securities have not been subscribed for under the Share Purchase Plan or Shortfall Offer, the Directors reserve the right to place some or all of those Offer Securities within 3 months of the close of the Offers. The issue of Offer Securities under the Share Purchase Plan and the Shortfall Offer, and the placement of any remaining Offer Securities, is conditional on shareholder approval at a general meeting to be held on or about Tuesday, 20 June 2017. Shareholders eligible to participate in the Share Purchase Plan Each individual or entity that was a Shareholder as at the Record Date with a registered address in Australia or New Zealand is eligible to participate in the SPP. Participation in the SPP is optional. Accordingly, an Eligible Shareholder may, but is not required to, subscribe for Offer Securities. To view the prospectus, please visit: http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/8YIC15TD About Impact Minerals Limited Impact Minerals Limited (ASX:IPT) is an exploration company listed on the ASX in November 2006. The Company manages extensive tenement holdings (>2,000 km2) within Australia featuring significant potential for high-grade mineral deposits of gold, silver, lead, zinc, copper, nickel and PGM's. The Directors of the Company have extensive experience in mineral exploration and a strong history of exploration success, business development and corporate management. Impact Minerals intends to build wealth for its shareholders through a vigorous campaign of project generation and evaluation with a view towards profitable mining operations. Bernard Harris, left, president of the US China Innovation Alliance, shakes hands with Liu Qing, president of Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute, after signing an agreement for full-scale collaboration to bridge US and China in technology investment on Tuesday. MAY ZHOU / CHINA DAILY 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 eight 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, his 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. US Congressman Pete Olson, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Consul General Li Qiangmin of China spoke at the opening session on Tuesday, all showing their support for the endeavor. 'The summit has become an important platform for innovation and investment cooperation between the southern US and China,' said Li. 'Houston is playing an increasing role in the bilateral relationship,' Turner said, listing the many ties between Houston and China. He said that he sent a city councilmember last week to meet with the mayor of Chengdu. He also announced that 'in October, I will lead my first international trade delegation to China'. At the summit, USCIA, Vesaliux and the National Center for Sustainable Development signed five memoranda of understanding with Chinese organizations to facilitate Chinese investment in US technologies in China. mayzhou@chinadailyusa.com A Dancer is a dancer and it does not matter which style they practice, their hearts remain the same. On 29th April the very famous International dance day was observed. This is one special day for all dancers, dance lovers and dance enthusiast where each and everyone who loves the art of dance comes out and celebrates their involvement in the art. Be it kids, youngsters or seniors or be it thin, fat, tall or stout or even the rich or the poor person. Dance celebration does not see background or community of a dancer. Keeping this fact in mind that dancers have the same heart. I launched India Dance Week four years back. I feel humbled to inform you that this is the only dance festival of India were Indian classical, Indian folk, International Folk, Ballet, Ballroom, Latin Dances, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Jazz, Bollywood and many more dances all come together on one single platform. All these years India Dance Week has been hosted by Phoenix Market City Kurla in Mumbai, this year the Winner trophy was unveiled by National Award Winning actress Neetu Chandra. Who before uncovering the trophy and logo danced to hit super hit song Adaa from film Garam Masala leaving the crowd asking for more. The show opened with over 2000 people waiting for the entry of Bollywood dancing legend Helen ji, who came to light the inaugural lamp. When the diva appeared on stage she was welcomed with a surprise dance and she surprised us even more when she gracefully moved and swayed to her hit song Piya Tu Ab Toh Aaja leaving the audience totally spellbound. When she danced the crowd could not stop cheering for her and her iconic moves. The Queen of Cabaret declared the India Dance Week season 4 and what followed were series of dances from various parts of India and the world hosted perfectly by former Miss India and Miss Tourism the very gorgeous Priyanka Shah . Uma Reles Nalanda Nritya Kala Mahavidhyala presented a mix of beautifully blended Bhataynatyam, Mohiniyattam and Kathak, along with few Indian folk dances. Then there were Villoo Bharucha School of Ballet showcasing not just the French style Ballet Pas-de-Trios but also the Swan Lake Ballet respectively. Brian Fernandes Dance Academy Presented Rock n Roll, Jazz Funk, B Boying and Broadway. There were also demonstration of few popular Latin and ballroom dances: English Waltz, Cuban Rumba, Samba, Argentinean Tango, Cha Cha Cha and Jive. There were two styles of Flamenco performed by leading Flamenco expert from Mumbai Shehzeen Cassum and her team of SCFA (Shehzeen Cassum Flamenco Academy), they danced the style called Tangos which is a lively 4 count rhythm. A renowned song was used known as Como el Agua sung by Cameron de la Isla and guitar by the legendary Paco De Lucia, they are two of the biggest icons in Flamenco music today. The other solo style that Shehzeen performed was Guajira thuis dance style in particular has a lot of Cuban and Cubano influence. It is an extremely vivacious and beautiful style usually performed with a traditional Spanish fan called an Abanico. Then there was Indias only male tribal belly dancer Arun Bhardwaj and his team from Indian Tribal School, who showed the audience some hot and sensual Belly dancing moves. There were two new style of dance fitness that were introduced on the India Dance Week stage for the first time, Folk Fitness and Masala Bhangra. The super dynamic Aarti Pandey and her Folk fitness team presented some fitness steps inspired by Dandiya, Garba, Lavni and Koli dance. On the other hand, my most favourite person in the fitness world Shalini Bhargava and her team from JGs fitness centre displayed the high energy steps of Bhangra and Gidda through a fitness way. The crowd got so excited that they even got up and danced with Shalini and Aarti. But I feel that the best part of the evening was Indonesian folk dance Saman which was cheered the most by the audience, even asking for a repeat performance. I must mention that Saman, which is also known as the dance with thousand hands is a very famous dance from the worlds largest island country, Indonesia. Its origin is from the Gayo ethnic group and is mostly performed to celebrate important occasions. So to have Saman as the finale dance of India Dance Week season 4 was the perfect choice. This unique dance is characterized by its fast-paced rhythm and common harmony between dancers. These two elements are key figures of Saman dance which became a part of UNESCOs Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity on 24th November 2011. The ASEAN Tourism Association (ASEANTA) named Saman dance as the best ASEAN cultural preservation effort at the 25th ASEANTA Awards for Excellence 2012. I was so glad that Vipin Kushwaha and his Btd Group from Allahabad presented this dance to perfection. Day two was the competition day where dancer from all over India took part, out of 3500 applications 22 contestants were chosen and they all danced with zeal and vigour to win the glittering trophy of India Dance Week Season 4. To judge the dancer who came from all across India there were seven dynamic and super accomplished judges who not only danced themselves on their hit songs but also gave tips and advice to the contestants. The Jury of India Dance Week Season 4 was the singing sensation Shibani Kashyap, the stern Saas of Indian television Achint Kaur from Jamai Raja and Meghna Malik from Naa Aana Iss Des Lado, Gen Next Star Aashima Sharma, the Boogie Woogie Man Naved Jaffery, award winning actress and director Deepkshika Nagpal and television hottie and heart throb of millions Karan Mehra. The evening was hosted by internet sensation Ratan Pratap. Stunningly Beautiful Sangeeta Bijlani who is the former Miss India, original Oye Oye girl and the Bijlee of Bollywood like she is fondly called appeared on stage and mesmerised the audience when she danced to her hit songs Gali Gali Mein Phirta Hai and Oye Oye from her blockbuster film Tridev and later presented the winning trophy to the winner. A Kid couple Enigma Dance studio won the 1st position with their naughty Cha Cha Cha, followed by Jackson Dance academy from Bhilai and Hip hop dancer Shrashti Verma from Chhattisgarh bagging the 1st runner up and 2nd runner up position respectively. A handicap dancer Anand Patre won the most inspirational award. India Dance Week is a festival that believes in uniting dancers and bringing the world of dances together and it was proved by this years event as to encourage the dance lovers the team of Indias Biggest web series Love Life and screw up!!! Yuvraj Parashar and Kapil Kaustubh Sharma were seen performing with their entire co-stars on the title song of his series. In our country, we have various Indian classical dance festivals, there are also folk dance festivals, there are many Salsa festivals and also festivals dedicated to modern and contemporary dances but India Dance Week is one celebration of Dance where the motto is not to divide dancers as per their dance forms they practise but to unite them and their hearts as one. Because like it is said A dancer is a dancer does not matter what dance he do. Sandip Soparrkar Artscape (Sandip Soparrkar is a well known Latin and Ballroom dancer, a World Book of Records holder and a Bollywood choreographer who has been honoured with National Achievement Award and National Excellence Award by the Govt of India. He can be contacted on sandipsoparrkar06@gmail.com) In a major reprieve to India, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the primary judicial organ of the United Nations, has stayed the death sentence awarded to former Indian Naval officer and alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav by the Pakistan military court, citing that both India and Pakistan were bound by the Vienna Convention and that the rights invoked by New Delhi under the Vienna Convention were plausible. Justice Ronny Abraham of the ICJ read out the much-awaited verdict and asserted that the case was indeed debatable, while also adding that the ICJ had prime facie jurisdiction in the case. Abraham added that under the Vienna Convention, India should have received consular access to seek justice for the former Indian Naval officer. The only condition under which Jadhav now stands to face execution is if Pakistan does not comply with the ICJs decision. India can then go to the Security Council, which may then decide upon measures to be taken to give effect to the judgement. The UN charter entails that each member of the United Nations undertakes to comply with the decision of the International Court of Justice and if any party to a case fails to perform the obligations, the other party may have recourse to the Security Council. A Pakistan military court had awarded the death sentence to former Indian naval officer Jadhav on April 10 for alleged espionage and subversive activities. However, India, after being denied consular access for 16th time, dragged Pakistan to the ICJ on May 8 for violating the Vienna Convention. India told the ICJ that immediate steps must be taken to stop Pakistan from carrying out the death sentence of Jadhav. Demanding the immediate suspension of the death sentence, New Delhi expressed fear that Islamabad might execute the formal naval officer even before the hearing of the ICJ was over. Pakistan, on its part, told the ICJ that the provisions of Vienna Convention on consular access were not applicable for a spy. It also accused India of using the international body for political theatrics. Arguing before the 11-judge bench at the ICJ, which included former Supreme Court Judge Dalveer Bhandari, Indias counsel Harish Salve stressed that not granting consular access and not giving legal representation of Jadhavs 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 ICJ that immediate steps must be taken to stop Pakistans from carrying out the death sentence of Jadhav. Salve had told the court that India couldnt arrange for Jadhavs 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 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. Pakistans counsel Khawar Qureshi, while presenting Islamabads 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 Jadhavs investigation, but didnt receive any response from New Delhi. India demanded the immediate suspension of Jadhavs death sentence but Pakistan presented the Kulbhushan Jadhav case as a matter of national security and the ICJs decision would not apply to matters related to the national security of Pakistan. The Indian IT industry rightly should be in panic mode as it has not kept pace with the fast-changing innovation, India-born former McKinsey head Rajat Gupta has said. He said industries have to constantly move with innovation as basic IT work gets automated and advanced innovations such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality and cloud computing overtake the technological world. Code writing and testing is the most inefficient industry that existed, he said at a panel discussion here on Wednesday organised by the New York Tri-State chapter of Pratham USA, one of the largest non-governmental organisations. The Indian IT industry is in panic and rightly should be because technology is overtaking them and they havent invested in it, Gupta said. Gupta, who was a former director at Goldman Sachs, was sentenced to two years in prison after being convicted of insider trading charges. A free man now, Gupta has been gradually re-entering the social and philanthropic world. Last year, he assumed the role of Chairman of WHEELS Global Foundation, a US-based non-profit started by IIT alumni that focuses on applying technology to uplift rural communities and provide technological solutions to global challenges. Experts are warning of prolonged layoffs in the Indian IT sector as digitisation and automation become the new normal and a wave of protectionism in major markets like the US, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand closes the door for IT engineers from India. Gupta said there is urgent need for revolution in education where imparting knowledge has to move from being in lecture mode to being more interactive, digital and participatory. A fundamental revolution in education needs to be taking place, he said. He also voiced concern at the huge youth unemployment in India and other major countries. India needs to create 20 million jobs a year and it is no way near that. Most of our skilling efforts in India are failures because certain elements are not built into it. It becomes a government scheme. Are (the youth) really skilled when they come out. No, he said. On the recent increase in hate crimes targeting Indian- Americans, Gupta said there has to be heightened awareness among the community through educational programs about their rights. The Indian-American community, unlike other minority communities, also does not have a legal defence fund that can be used to bring cases and prosecute those responsible for such crimes. From surrogacy to test tube, motherhood has many stories. At any age any stage modern medical science has provision for men and woman to enjoy parenting. Recently, the young woman who suffered from inborn absence of the uterus since birth, which rendered her incapable of conceiving, was operated on to transplant her 44-year-old mothers organ to her. The condition of the recipient and donor is stable. If the procedure is a complete success, the patient would be able to conceive through in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) and deliver through a caesarean section. But she will have to continue to take immuno-suppressant drugs for the rest of her life to prevent her body from rejecting the uterus. The first such procedure was performed in Sweden in 2012 and the patient gave birth to the worlds first baby from a transplanted uterus in 2014. India is known for its surrogate mothers, by women who cannot read or write but can become pregnant and will do so for money. Most of these women meet their clients once or twice, if at all. And until recently, they bore children for foreigners who never even saw them. For many years, transnational surrogacy was a thriving business in India. Indias total assisted-reproduction sector has been reported as being worth between millions. While legal in India since 2002, the industry has never been regulated. There had been repeated attempts to draft and pass comprehensive surrogacy legislation. Then, in 2015, the Indian government effectively banned paid surrogacy for foreigners. In October that year, the government filed an affidavit in the Indian Supreme Court, arguing that commercial surrogacy on the part of foreigners invited the exploitation of poor women. Within days, the Indian Council of Medical Research, a government regulatory body, ordered fertility doctors not to accept new foreign surrogacy clients. The Indian home ministry followed up by denying visas to foreigners seeking surrogacy. Swiftly, international surrogacy became not illegal, but virtually impossible. Arguably, the ban was inspired not just by concern for poor women, but by the unappealing image foreign surrogacy gave India. Stories circulated about stateless babies caught between countries, and about women who had died during labour. When the Indian home ministry abruptly banned gay foreign surrogacy clients in 2012, Indian fertility clinics shipped Indian surrogates across the border to Nepal. When Nepal also banned transnational surrogacy in 2015, as did Thailand, industry insiders told me they believed that Indian surrogates were being rerouted to African countries instead. They also said that the ban will merely drive the practice underground. The ban was inspired not just by concern for poor women, but by the unappealing image foreign surrogacy gave India. Apart from surrogacy, there are many stories like 61-year-old gives birth to her own grandson. Old woman gave birth to her own grandson after serving as surrogate for her daughter who was unable to carry a baby. There are some sad stories too, where a couple who used the womans 12-year-old daughter as an unwilling surrogate mother because she was unable to have any more children. A woman in India could enter the record books as one of the oldest ever to give birth. Daljinder Kaur, whos believed to be at least 70 years old, gave birth to a son. The baby was the first for Kaur and her 79-year-old husband, Mohinder Singh Gill, after nearly five decades of marriage. She has choice of adopting baby but she preferred having her own child and successfully attempted one. Daljinder Kaur says she is 70 years old. But the clinic in the Indian state of Haryana, National Fertility and Test Tube Baby Centre, which helped Kaur become pregnant, put her age at 72. Many people in India, particularly those now over 50, dont know their exact age because they dont have birth certificates. In 2006, another Indian woman, Rajo Devi, gave birth to a daughter at the age of 70, after treatment at the same clinic. If Kaur is 72, as the clinic claims, she would be the oldest woman in the world to give birth to a baby. In the U.S., the CDC reports that about 600 women a year give birth in their 50s, and in Germany last year, a 65-year-old grandmother delivered quadruplets. But experts say the odds that IVF treatment will be successful decline steeply once a woman is in her 40s. There are many ways one can opt for parenthood, once a couple has completed their family following IVF treatment, they may still have embryos stored. In this scenario, the couple have the option to donate these embryos to another couple who have not been able to conceive through fertility treatment. In special cases, it is possible to use a combination of donor services as long as at least one of the people seeking treatment has a biological stake in the pregnancy. For instance, a woman can use donor sperm and donor eggs, and have the resulting embryo transferred into her own uterus. Donor treatment and surrogacy come with important social and ethical responsibilities. Donor sperm is often recommended when a man has no usable sperm, or when his sperm are unable to fertilise his partners eggs. It is also an option for single women and same sex couples. Sperm can be obtained from a personal donor (often a family member or friend) or a clinic-recruited donor. Having a child is no more a challenge or no more a hassle, if you have money and willingness, you can be parent by all means. (Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@afternoonvoice.com) Condolence messages poured in from all quarters after the demise of veteran actress Reema Lagoo and Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave. It was a sad day for India as political leaders, actors and netizens paid tribute to both of them. Reema Lagoo who is popular for playing mothers role in several Hindi films like Maine Pyaar Kia, Vaastav and Hum Saath Saath Hain is known as one of the best on screen mothers. She also had a good comic timing and was appreciated for her role in serials like Tu Tu Main Main and Shriman Shrimati. Reema had a strong onscreen presence and had played Salman Khans on screen mother in various films as people used to think that she is the actors real mother. She passed away due to cardiac arrest at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital at the age of 59. Reema had broken the stereotype image of mothers in the 90s. She returned home after shooting for television serial Naamkarann and complained of chest pain. The actress was rushed to the hospital, but breathed her last on Thursday morning. She is survived by daughter Mrunmayee. Reema was the finest actors of Indian cinema and belonged from a film family. Her mother Mandakini Bhadbhade was a popular actor. Bollywood actors paid tribute to Reema Lagoo and many of them posted messages on social media. Amitabh Bachchan tweeted Just heard the shocking and unbelievable news about Reema Lagoos passing such a fine talent and gone so young! Very SAD, Aamir, who worked with Lagoo in his debut film Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, said, We all are still in shock because she didnt have any illness that we knew of. My first film was with her she was a great actress and a pure heart. Priyanka Chopra tweeted, RIP #ReemaLagoo such a loss to art and cinema. You are and will always be my favourite screen mom. My condolence to the family. Akshay Kumar posted, Saddened to hear about the demise of #ReemaLagoo, had the opportunity to work with her. A fine actress and a person. Prayers to the family. Shriya Pilgaonkar tweeted, Reema Maushi passed away early this morning. A big loss. A personal loss. Known her since I was a child. RIP SaasuMaa #ReemaLagoo miss u. Riteish Deshmukh said, Shocked & saddened. Reema Lagoo ji will be missed. She will always be remembered for her iconic roles in cinema & on stage. RIP. Rishi Kapoor, RIP. Worked in quite a few films. Reema Lagoo. Good friend. Heartfelt condolences. Anushka Sharma, Grew up watching d warmth & love #ReemaLagoo ji brought out on screen. Saddened by her sudden demise.Heartfelt condolences to her family. Even Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Anil Madhav Dave passed away after a cardiac arrest on Thursday morning at the age of 60. Dave was rushed to All India Institute of Medical Science after he complained of uneasiness at his home. The Union Cabinet passed a condolence resolution and observed two minute silence in the memory of Dave. In 2009 Dave was elected to the Rajya Sabha. During that period he was appointed member Committee on water resources. He also was included in the consultative committee for the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Dave becomes the second minister to have passed away in office after Gopinath Munde who died in a car accident in 2014. Absolutely shocked by the sudden demise of my friend & a very respected colleague, Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave ji. My condolences, tweeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi. BJP president Amit Shah tweeted, Shocked and deeply pained by the sudden demise of our senior leader Shri Anil Madhav Dave ji. Deepest condolences to his family & friends. Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar posted, Anil Madhav Dave ji was a real nature lover , had a vision of protecting environment & ensuring development. RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, Saddened by the sudden demise of Sh. Anil Madhav Dave Union Minister for Environment. My deep condolences with family. RIP. Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman posted, Shocked to hear Shri @anilmdave is no more. A passionate conservationist, remarkably documented the Narmada. Will miss his presence in the RS. Actress Deepika Padukone put her best fashion foot forward in a sheer violet Marchesa gown as she made a head turning debut appearance at the Cannes Film Festival red carpet. The 31-year-old actress let her long tresses loose, while opting for bold, dark lips and nails to compliment her attire. Deepika's Makeup Decoded: Tint caresse Plum Blossom, True Match Lumi Powder Highlighter in gold, La Palette Nude in beige #LifeAtCannes pic.twitter.com/JdFkGIkuWX L'Oreal Paris India (@LOrealParisIn) May 17, 2017 A pair of encrusted danglers and a ring from the jewellery brand De Grisogono were the only accessories she chose to wear. While posing on the red carpet, the Indian beauty did a hair flip much to the delight of the shutterbugs. Deepika is part of the LOreal beauty contingent at the Cannes Film Festival this year and she shared the red carpet space with other ambassadors of the beauty brand like Julianne Moore. The actress was also photographed with Susan Sarandon and Elle Fanning. Earlier for her press interviews, Deepika chose two outfits a red maxi dress by Johanna Ortiz and a lavender cut-out satin dress from Galvan London. Other Indian beauties set to grave the Cannes red carpet are Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Sonam Kapoor. Don Cheeks, far right foreground, who is the chairman of the board of directors for the Aiken Office of the American Red Cross, speaks during the Aiken Heroes Breakfast on Tuesday at Newberry Hall. Volga-Dnepr has transported eleven generators onboard a series of six An-124-100 freighter flights to the Madagascan capital, Antananarivo, in a 14-day period. The delivery of the 57 tonne generators from the island of Mauritius on behalf of forwarder customer Kupa Proje Tasimacilik Ve Lojistik will boost the capacity of the existing power plant in Antananarivo to 120 MW. The project is being implemented by the Turkish company Aksa Energy, one of the leading independent power producers, and will significantly improve power supplies for the citys businesses and residents. Volga-Dneprs Cargo Planning specialists worked closely with the experts at ALE, the worldwide heavy transportation and lifting company to ensure the most efficient solution for the delivery programme, which enabled two generators to be carried onboard the An-124-100 at a time, by using special loading equipment. Vladimir Bykov, head of Volga-Dneprs cargo planning centre, said: Working in close co-operation with our customer, the detailed logistics planning for the project ensured we were able to achieve maximum efficiency in the use of loading and unloading equipment. "In Mauritius, we loaded the generators into the aircraft using an external crane, while in Madagascar the cargo was unloaded directly to trailers to save time and money for the customer. "We were able to complete these tasks using loading/unloading technology that was first tested by the airlines specialists for the delivery of oil equipment to Colombia in 1996. Share this story May 2, 2017 On April 20, Irans Guardian Council announced the slate of six candidates who will compete in the May 19 presidential elections. In recent months, as the vote has approached, the conventional wisdom among political observers has been that the election is incumbent President Hassan Rouhanis to lose. But a series of surprises have cast doubt on this expert consensus: Former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad put in a surprise bid for candidacy on April 12, against the stated wishes of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, while recent polls of voter preferences for prospective candidates show a tighter race than anticipated. This increased competition is a crucial component of elections in Iran. Historical trends suggest that Rouhani will be the likely winner next month. But it is in the interest of the political establishment to aim for a competitive election while keeping the scales in Rouhanis favor. Managed uncertainty helps drive voter turnout, and high levels of electoral participation are valuable for the Islamic Republic. In a country with a diverse, politically active and young population, the democratic process is an important tool that is used to channel political engagement. It is in the supreme leaders interest to ensure that the democratic process is perceived as legitimate and serves as a tool for mass participation in the political process. This has been particularly clear under Khameneis leadership. The first presidential election after the 1989 death of his predecessor, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, saw President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani easily re-elected with historically low voter turnout; only 50.66% of eligible voters came out to the polls in 1993. That set an alarm that ramped up campaigning efforts, leading to a much more competitive election in 1997, which brought participation up to nearly 80%. Since then, election campaigns have attracted between 60-70% of voter turnout with an all-time historic high of 85% during the disputed 2009 elections, which led to escalated division and conflict. Despite this managed uncertainty, election outcomes have been consistent to such an extent that it is essentially an unwritten rule of Iranian politics that, short of a political catastrophe, Iranian presidents serve a second term but never a third. This allows a necessary level of continuity in foreign and domestic policies that allows the incumbent administration to capitalize on diplomatic ties built during its first term. Indeed, the two-term presidency gives the executive enough time to be effective without allowing him to entrench himself in the government so deeply that he could challenge the political order or the role of the supreme leader. This is not to say that the outcomes of elections are a foregone conclusion, but rather that the Iranian political establishment has strategic preferences for electoral politics that are evident from previous election cycles. This tradition of managed competition is also evident in the current election cycle. The most obvious intervention the supreme leader has made is the decision to bar Ahmadinejad from running. Khamenei had advised the former two-time president last year that he shouldnt register to run, saying it would not be in his interest and that of the country. But Ahmadinejad registered anyway, dismissing the supreme leaders comments as just advice. He retains a dedicated following that would have eagerly supported him, and early polling showed his favorability narrowly trailing that of Rouhanis. He is also a deeply polarizing figure, and had he been included in the roster of candidates he likely would have mobilized large numbers of voters eager to cast their ballots against him as well. The Guardian Councils choice to exclude Ahmadinejad from the candidate list is indicative of two things: It demonstrates that there are limits to the risks the supreme leader is willing to take to bring Iranians to the polls, and it reaffirms his preference for a two-term presidency. Ahmadinejad served his two terms; at a minimum, barring his candidacy prevents him from returning to power and accumulating more authority. More importantly, it indicates a concern about the kind of competition that Khamenei would like to see. In particular, he wants to avoid a campaign that stokes political divisions that could escalate as happened in 2009. Instead, the slate of candidates who will compete over the next month has been handpicked to allow serious political debate and contestation without it spilling into the streets. The list of candidates represents and attracts a variety of voters from different segments of society with diverse political and religious inclinations. Consider the conservatives selected to run against Rouhani. Ebrahim Raisi, a cleric with close ties to Khamenei, is widely perceived as the biggest threat to Rouhani from the conservative side, but hes a relative unknown. Just earlier this month, a majority of poll respondents said they did not know enough about him to express a favorable or unfavorable opinion of him. He will also be splitting the conservative vote with Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the popular mayor of Tehran who came in second in the 2013 elections. These two candidates will bring out conservative voters but neither is likely to get enough votes to defeat Rouhani. One way to interpret this roster of candidates is that it has been designed to protect Rouhani while laying the groundwork for the 2021 presidential elections. Rouhani is not facing a serious challenge from the Reformist side. The second-most prominent moderate-Reformist candidate is his own First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri, who has said he is only running to stand side-by-side in support of the incumbent. Rouhani can draw a unified moderate-Reformist vote and secure his second term while hard-liners split their vote among candidates, as in 2013, thereby keeping voter turnout relatively high. This cycle can also serve as a test run for Raisi, raising his profile and setting him up as a contender for 2021. The past several weeks have challenged oversimplified expectations for an easy win for Rouhani and he will face a more difficult campaign than anticipated. But when the votes are finally tallied in May, he will likely come out on top. A competitive race is in the strategic interests of the Iranian political establishment a campaign that motivates high voter turnout and grooms future candidates but so is a second Rouhani term. May 12, 2017 CAIRO Saeed Helmy, head of the Islamic, Coptic and Jewish Monuments Department at the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities, told Al-Monitor that three Jewish cemeteries had been registered with the ministry on April 26 in the areas of al-Shatby 1, al-Shabty 2 and Azarita, in Alexandria governorate. Speaking by phone to Al-Monitor on May 4, Helmy also said that a synagogue at one of the cemeteries had been documented and registered, which would make it an official historical site under the Antiquities Protection Law no. 117 of 1983 and require the ministry to assume responsibility for it. The registrations are the first such moves in regard to Jewish heritage sites following decades of neglect. After the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, more than half of Egypt's approximately 80,000 Jews left for Israel. Today, only six are thought to remain. According to the Ministry of Antiquities, only 11 synagogues are still intact, 10 in Cairo and one in Alexandria, and they contain thousands of books on the Jewish community in Egypt as well as birth and marriage registers. Helmy told Al-Monitor that some of the graves in the registered sites are 170 years old. He further said of the cemeteries, They include communal graveyards for the working-class people without any identification information. They also include marble mausoleums for rich people and Jewish officials and rabbis. These are well organized and include the full names of the buried Jews. The [registered] synagogue contains a number of artifacts and manuscripts that document the Jewish community in the country. These cemeteries are of great significance and cannot be overlooked, because they represent an important era in Egyptian history. They are characterized by their unique, elaborate decorations, as they resemble the small temples built by the Jews in Egypt. We admit that these cemeteries have been neglected for years, even for decades. This step [of documenting them] was long overdue and should have taken place years ago. Numerous Egyptian monuments, including Jewish ones, face neglect and attempted thefts. The threat grew after the 2011 revolution and the ensuing security chaos, declining tourism and deteriorating economy. This situation prompted Magda Haroun, head of the Jewish community in Egypt, to appeal to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in March 2016 in a Youm al-Sabeh article to intervene to save Egypt's Jewish heritage by documenting and restoring Jewish monuments. Although Sisi did not respond, help apparently arrived from other quarters, including Khaled al-Anani's appointment as minister of antiquities that month. Under Anani as minister of antiquities, the Jewish heritage has been accorded remarkable attention. Indeed, he decided to form a committee to document Jewish monuments in Egypt in preparation for their registration. This had never happened before, said Helmy. On May 22, 2016, Anani issued a ministerial decree to count and list Jewish antiquities, based on the instructions of Prime Minister Sherif Ismail, who emphasized the need to pay particular attention to Jewish monuments. The committee that was established to count Jewish antiquities is working round the clock to execute its mission across Egypt with the objective of registering all documented Jewish temples, cemeteries or synagogues. In the coming period, the ministry is expected to register the Jewish cemetery in the Basateen district, one of the most important Jewish cemeteries in the world. The graveyard at Basateen, southeast of Cairo, is the second oldest Jewish cemetery in the world, behind the cemetery on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. It dates to the 15th century, covers an area of 120 feddans (1 feddan = 4,200 square meters) and suffers from severe neglect. It is strewn with litter, and parts of the wall surrounding it have been destroyed. Neither the Ministry of Antiquities nor the security forces has yet assigned personnel to guard the site, as required by article 29 of law 117. Helmy added, Registration [of sites] can take some time. It is not as easy as some believe. The committee formed to count Jewish cemeteries in Alexandria examined the graveyards more than once, described them and recorded the relevant data. The six-pointed Star of David [in metal] was then placed on each grave. Going forward, these cemeteries will be subject to the Antiquities Protection Law, amended for the first time by the parliament following the January 25 Revolution to curtail thefts at archaeological sites. This means that the cemeteries are subject to supervision, protection and follow-up by the Antiquities Ministrys assigned inspectors to protect them from theft and neglect. On May 3, the Council of Ministers approved a draft law amending for the second time certain provisions of the Antiquities Protection Law to ensure the required protection for antiquities and provide for harsher penalties to deter looting and smuggling. Helmy said, These cemeteries are part of Egypts heritage on Egypts land and should not be neglected regardless of the situation in the country. I want to send a message to the world that Egypt has priceless artifacts and treasures. These treasures are a public treasure. The Egyptian antiquities should be well taken care of in order to preserve and protect Egypts heritage and treasures. The Egyptian state would have to allocate huge funds to secure and protect its antiquities. This is difficult to achieve in light of the current economic downturn. May 18, 2017 CAIRO Hamdeen Sabahi, a former presidential candidate, has called on political and partisan forces to establish what he called a united national front to select a candidate for presidential elections scheduled for May 2018. In a May 5 speech at a gathering to announce the launch of the Karama Movement the unification of the Karama Party and the Egyptian Popular Current, which he founded Sabahi said that the front must include national and partisan leaders and serve as a revolution organizer. Sabahi severely criticized President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's government at the meeting. The time has come for change and for facing an incompetent and failed authority, he said. Sisis regime has become a threat to the Egyptian state. It is the worst aspect of the policies that the people revolted against in the Jan. 25, 2011, revolution. This is not the first time that Sabahi has advocated for consensus among civil society forces. In March 2016, he issued a statement calling on political forces to come together to create what he called the alternative," to advance the principle of pluralism. Only a failed state produces one party and one man, he argued. Sabahi ran in the 2012 presidential elections and won 5 million votes, coming in third behind Mohammed Morsi, the winner, and Ahmed Shafiq. In the 2014 presidential elections, however, he only garnered 3% of the total votes, with Sisi ultimately declared the winner. Mohammed Bassiouni, general-secretary of the Karama Movement, told Al-Monitor that the idea to form a united national front emerged after six months of deliberations among the Civil Democratic Current which includes the Socialist Popular Alliance Party, the Dustour Party, the Freedom Egypt Party, the Justice Party, and the Bread and Freedom Party and added that discussion is ongoing with other parties to encourage them to join the front. Bassiouni said that building a united front is an attempt to counter the current regime's efforts to nationalize partisan work and monopolize the political scene. The front also aims to provide an alternative to the current policies. It will not support a candidate in the upcoming presidential elections if there are no guarantees that the elections will be fair and transparent. Asked about the move, Mustafa Kamel al-Sayyid, a professor of political science at the American University in Cairo, said it was a good idea, but its impact would be limited. He told Al-Monitor that political forces have little clout in Egypt due to the restrictions imposed by the current regime on political actors and freedom of political expression. Such pressures weaken the impact of initiatives like Bassiouni's on the publics voting habits. Essam Heggy, a space science researcher who served as scientific adviser to former interim President Adly Mansour in 2013, said that Sabahi's attempt to form a front in preparation for the 2018 elections falls within the framework of networking among forces of change to correct the mistakes of the past. In August 2016, Heggy launched Presidential Team 2018, an initiative similarly focused on coordinating with political forces and supporting a candidate for elections with a program aimed at developing educational and cultural institutions, improving the economy, fighting poverty and unemployment, promoting women's status and roles, drafting a law on civil status, establishing religious equality and developing the health sector. The initiative adopted a four-month timetable for implementing its goals but did not specify mechanisms for achieving them. Some believe the initiative's image and membership are being distorted by the media, some of which accuse it of trying to destabilize the country and charge that its goals are murky. Some media figures known to be close to the government have accused members of being paid to attack Egypt. Members also feel under threat of prosecution. One member has been arrested and accused of trying to overthrow the regime and misusing social media. The initiative considers any arrests preludes to the presidential election, as the regime moves to muzzle any opposition. The interference of some security services and their opposition to such initiatives, Heggy told Al-Monitor, is the reason behind the failure of political forces' initiatives to build an effective consensus and present a joint presidential candidate. He sees the activities of the security services as spreading chaos and violence. Sisi, who is of course expected to run in 2018, will likely present his presidential candidacy as a calling as he did in August 2016 at a press conference when he said, If the will of the Egyptian people requires me to run for another term, I will do so. On Oct. 22, 2016, the Egyptian Center for Public Opinion Research announced that the percentage of Egyptians who approved of Sisi's performance was declining. That month, 28 months after taking office, his approval rating stood at 68%, down from around 82% in August and some 91% in July. Heggy described the elections as a historic battle, should any candidate actually be able to compete with Sisi, and that he does not expect a decisive victory by Sisi, as in 2014. That said, he acknowledged, it all depends on two factors: that the elections be conducted fairly and transparently, and that Egyptians be conscientious about voting. Presidential Team 2018 issued a statement May 13 in which it set its requirements before participating in the presidential elections. Chief among them is establishing a national election commission (to replace the judicial supreme committee that currently oversees elections), ending the state of emergency, releasing prisoners of conscience and expression, allowing candidates to hold party conventions without security permits, refraining from prosecuting members of electoral campaigns and holding transparent elections. Heggy said he would consult with civil forces in the coming period in order to back one candidate. I think it will either be Hisham Genina or Khaled Ali, he said. Genina was the former head of the government's Central Auditing Organization (CAA) until a decree by Sisi removed him from office in March 2016 after his organization uncovered corruption in state agencies. Genina had said in December 2015 that the corruption involved 600 billion Egyptian pounds (about $33 billion), based on the analysis conducted when he was head of the CAA. Meanwhile, Ali's name began to be mentioned more frequently after he joined the legal team opposing ratification of the April 2016 agreement demarcating the maritime border between Egypt and Saudi Arabia and returning Tiran and Sanafir to Saudi sovereignty. He had run in the 2012 presidential elections, taking seventh place in the first round of voting. Asked about his expectations for the elections, Sayyid remarked that Egypt's political climate today is different from that surrounding the 2012 and 2014 elections. He said that unlike the immediate post-revolutionary period, there is reluctance on the part of the public today to participate in political life because they do not expect any civilian candidate to be able to win. May 19, 2017 TEHRAN, Iran It was 6 a.m. when we reached the leader of Irans residence in central Tehran. It was my first visit to the vast compound that brings together all the state institutions under the supreme leader's direct supervision. At 8 a.m. sharp, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei entered the hall where he is supposed to cast his votes one for the presidential election and another for the local and municipal elections. Khamenei greeted the electoral committee first. He headed toward the ballots, smiled at the journalists mostly Iranian and a few foreigners then closed his eyes and murmured some words, apparently a prayer, then cast his votes. Nobody knows Khameneis electoral choices. I believe that the presidential election is extremely important, Khamenei told reporters. The destiny of the country is in the hands of the people who choose the head of the executive branch. They should be aware of the significance of this, he added. On the way from Beit Rahbari, the leaders residence, to northern Tehran, several electoral centers had long lines. Some voters had their children with them despite the fact that these children cant vote. Its just about making them get used to the concept, said a woman Al-Monitor met at a polling station in Aqdasieh. She was standing on one side of the center with her daughter; on the other side, her husband accompanied their second daughter. We are here to say yes to President [Hassan Rouhani] and because I want him to win and the other candidate to lose, I and all these people came here. Her comments tormented one of the voters by her side. You cant say all of us; Im not here to vote for your candidate, one of the ladies said firmly. I see that Rouhani poses a threat to the revolution; hes not the president that we want to lead us. For my children and the children of my fellow Iranians, we have to make the change," the other lady added. The debate we witnessed between the two women isnt too far removed from the debates that already took place between the Iranian candidates and their supporters everywhere in Iran during one month of electoral campaigns. This shows that the ballot on May 19 isnt only for the presidency, but for the future of Iran, as both sides believe that winning this time gives them the chance to set the countrys agenda for the coming years. Rouhanis vow to discuss non-nuclear sanctions means hes offering to go further in giving up Irans power. Does he want to discuss our ballistic program with Trump? a source close to hard-liner and presidential candidate Ebrahim Raisi told Al-Monitor. The source revealed that his battle is today between Irans revolutionary line and those who believe that the revolution is a liability. A source close to Rouhani with whom Al-Monitor spoke accused the Principlists of making up stories just to come to power. They want to hijack our governments achievements these achievements that are for the good of the revolution that we will continue to honor, the source noted. Supporters of both candidates, and mainly supporters of both political trends, didnt take chances on election day. At Husseiniyeh Ershad, people were lining up as never before; voters encircled the large complex from three sides. Of all ages and from different areas, they came to cast their votes. Until very late hours, the people showed no readiness to leave without doing what they came to do. Two Bakhtiari couples came wearing their traditional clothes as they headed to the polling station, while a group of young men and women clapped every time someone voted successfully. Inside the polling station, people used each others backs to write their choices, while others posed for selfies beside celebrities who filled the historical site. Ershad is known to be the gathering point for Reformists whenever theres an election. To the east of Tehran, at Al-Nabi Mosque, the scene reflected the identity of most of the voters. This is where former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad used to vote, yet this time he decided not to vote there. Principlists backing Raisi filled the place, and it was clear that they too had their own celebratory way of participating in the election. As the mosque filled, a bride and a groom entered to vote. Many Principlist political and cultural faces filled the place it looked like a very conservative carnival. Lines started to form early in the morning, and when Al-Monitor's correspondent left the mosque, people were still waiting their turn to cast votes. As the day came to a close, claims by Raisis campaign that there was foul play caused some concern. Al-Monitor spoke to another source close to Raisi to understand the situation. He claimed that there were not enough paper ballots at polling stations where Raisi voters are a majority, and that people had to wait outside the polling stations without being offered solutions by the Interior Ministry. May 19, 2017 The position and role of the first lady are not clearly defined in the political and social structure of Iran. Until the 2009 presidential vote, the wives of candidates did not even participate in election campaigns. Reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi was the first presidential candidate to campaign alongside his wife, Zahra Rahnavard. Breaking tradition, they appeared in front of photographers and reporters holding hands. At the time, Rahnavard was the first female professor at the College of Fine Arts, a position she was awarded in June 2008. After Rahnavards appearance alongside her husband, then-incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad also did some campaigning with his wife, Azam al-Sadat Farahi, who is a graduate of Iran University of Science and Technology. During Ahmadinejads eight years as president, Farahi accompanied her husband on some of his domestic and international travel and also visited charity organizations. The trend continued in the 2013 presidential elections. Yet among all the wives, Hassan Rouhanis wife is the least known. Neither her first nor last name were even mentioned in a report about the families of the candidates published by the semi-official Iranian Students News Agency four days before the election. After Rouhani became president, his wifes name and a few other details about her found their way into the media, gleaned from Rouhanis memoirs and interviews. In a conversation included in Alireza Salavati's book "Siyasatmadaran-e-Javan" ("Young Politicians"), Rouhani says of his marriage, My family insisted that I get married. I was about 20 years old. I got married in the year 1968. My father was insistent and my mother was, too. I was not reluctant myself, either. Rouhanis wife, Sahebeh Arabi, was born into a religious family in Semnan in 1954 and married her 20-year-old cousin when she was 14. Little is known about her educational background, and she does not participate in public political or social activities. The couple have three daughters and two sons. It is said that their oldest son, Mohammad, died in Rouhanis home at the age of 19. There are many rumors about the death. Hossein Mousavian, a member of the nuclear negotiation team during Mohammad Khatamis presidency and close to Rouhani, claimed in a 2013 interview with Time magazine that Rouhanis son was murdered in a political crime that was never solved, the killer never identified. Mousavian claimed that Rouhani investigated the murder for many years but eventually decided to stop pursuing it. Rouhani and his family have yet to offer an official explanation for Mohammads death. However, during the past few days, after Mohammad was brought up by one of the websites that support Rouhanis main rival, conservative candidate Ebrahim Raisi, a classmate of Mohammads at Farhang High School in Tehran (which admits exceptionally talented students), posted a note about Mohammads death on Instagram. Mehdi Yazdani Khorram, a writer and journalist who attended Mohammads 1997 funeral, wrote about his old high school friends voluntary death, saying, He was young, perhaps a little rebellious, lonely and of course in love. He also stated that it is indecent to take advantage of his death for political purposes. Arabi became slightly better known after Rouhani was elected president in 2013. On April 20, 2014, Fars News Agency covered Arabi's hosting of a royal, all-female banquet in Sa'dabad Palace on the occasion of Iranian Womens Day. The article, which portrayed the event as a glamorous party, caused an uproar. Aside from government figures, certain female activists, actresses, directors and writers were invited to the banquet, which included a fashion show and dance performance. While Rouhanis wife is once again absent from the campaign, the wife of conservative cleric Raisi has been playing a minor role in his. The first time that Raisi spoke publicly about his wife was in a campaign video. He told viewers, She first received her bachelor's degree in midwifery and then changed her field and got a Ph.D. from Tarbiat Modares University. She is currently a faculty member at Shahid Beheshti University and is also collaborating with the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution. Her writings and discussions are mostly about pedagogy. Subsequently, media outlets supportive of Raisi published an image of his wife and a brief bio: Jamileh Alamolhoda, daughter of the Friday Prayer leader of Mashhad and an assistant professor at Shahid Beheshti University. Her father, Ahmad Alamolhoda, is also the representative of the supreme leader in Khorasan Razavi province. He is known for having endorsed Ahmadinejad, supporting the activities of the morality police and banning concerts in the city of Mashhad. Raisi and Alamolhoda married in 1983 and have two daughters. Alamolhoda is described as an assistant professor and holder of a Ph.D. in in Islamic pedagogical philosophy on the website of Shahid Beheshti University. She is currently the head of the Family Research Institute at Shahid Beheshti University while also heading the Education Committee of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution. Alamolhodas entry into the public arena has created some controversy. A video was shared over social media of her presenting a paper at the Rhodes Forum in 2015. Some viewers have criticized her broken English and even questioned her academic credentials. Alamolhoda gave an interview to Samaak News, a website that has endorsed Raisi, but her husband's campaign saw that it was quickly removed from the website. In the interview, Alamolhoda spoke about her and her childrens reaction to her husband announcing his candidacy for the presidency, saying that her children started crying and that she herself passed out and had to be taken to the hospital. As the campaigning began, Alamolhoda delivered a speech before a female audience at a rally in the northwestern city of Hamedan. At the event, Alamolhoda referred to the presidential elections as a battle between two streams of thought on womens rights and womens affairs and spoke against a "legacy of Western civilization" in which "womanhood is lost and women behave like men. May 18, 2017 In undated footage that leaked earlier this month, head of the Shiite Endowment Alaa Abd al-Sahib al-Musawi is heard saying that non-Muslims have three options: take up jihad alongside Muslims, convert to Islam, or agree to pay jizyah a yearly tax historically levied by Islamic states on Christians and Jews. The video sparked outrage on social media. Subsequently, a group of 180 Christian families filed a lawsuit against Musawi, accusing him of spreading hatred against the minorities in the country. Patriarch Mar Louis Raphael I Sako, head of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Iraq, issued a statement on May 5 to contain the anger sparked by the leaked video and alert religious leaders of their historic responsibility in such critical times in the nations history. He urged the religious leaders to adopt moderate and open-minded measures as well as ban hate and discriminatory speech. The patriarch clarified that hate speech does not serve Islam. Rather, it establishes walls among people, divides them, entrenches Islamophobia, dissolves the fabric of the nation, undermines peace, and violates freedom and human rights. In his statement, Patriarch Sako stressed the important role played by the state, arguing that the absence of its authority leads to a breakout of destructive hatred: "We hereby call upon the government to enforce the law and work on respecting the religion of every human being pursuant to the legislation of the graceful Quranic verse that says: 'So whoever wills, let him believe; and whoever wills, let him disbelieve.' As angry reactions emerged, parliamentarians called for reform to integrate the religious endowments in Iraq with a civil administration in order to achieve unity, taking fully into consideration that the position is held by a secular figure, and whoever is proved to have incited religious dispute or sectarian strife in the country is dismissed, according to the statement made May 12 by a representative from the parliamentarian Sadrist Al-Ahrar bloc. Reactions to the leaked video unveiled some of the tension in Islamic-Christian relations as well as other religious minorities tension that reached a critical stage after the Islamic State (IS) took over more areas of Iraq since June 2014, persecuted religious minorities and committed crimes against humanity, such as genocide in Sinjar as well as other areas in the governorate of Ninevah. Ammar al-Hakim, head of the predominately Shiite National Alliance, invited leaders of Iraqi minorities in addition to Musawi for a meeting on May 17 to discuss and solve the issue. The meeting emphasized the necessity of stopping hate speech against all Iraqi groups. In a conversation with Al-Monitor on how to confront the discourse of hatred, Patriarch Sako called for the establishment of a national council for religions or a national committee on religious dialogue through which united stands could be taken on the level of religious leadership to avoid division and create a culture of dialogue of which we are in the direst need, especially in times as difficult as these, which are devastating the people of our nation. Concerning Musawi, his conversation with Al-Monitor revealed that the video was from a theological lecture, which is practically far from the present, as he was addressing the provisions of enslavement in Islam which are from the past and are no longer considered in the present. Musawi added that leaking the video was supported by parties that stand against establishing pillars of Islamic-Christian coexistence, especially after several Christian, Yazidi and other minority areas were freed from IS in a stand that seemed united against the extremist organization. Consequently, and according to Musawi, there is a suspicious purpose behind hindering the rebuilding of trust between components of a post-IS Iraq. Musawi emphasized the positive development in relations between Muslims and the rest of the religious components after the Iraqi Delegation for Religions Dialogue, which he heads, visited Pope Francis in Rome. Musawi added that he thanked the pope for hosting the meeting with the high-level Iraqi delegation, and he addressed the pope, saying, We are entrusted with the message of God, and such obligation necessitates that we preserve and protect this entrustment. Meanwhile, the supreme Shiite cleric in Najaf, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, issued a statement calling for respecting the sanctity of Iraqi blood as well as the cessation of mutual violence in all its forms. He emphasized that Christian or Mandaean citizens should not be harmed, stressing his past stands, which go in line with the traditional Shiite clergy in Najaf. Furthermore, Joseph Sliwa, a Christian member of parliament with the Warka Democratic bloc, told Al-Monitor that Christians appreciate the stand of Sistani, who always wishes Christians well on the Christmas and New Year holidays. However, Sliwa said Sistani also shoulders the most responsibility of prohibiting religious hate speech. Sliwa told Al-Monitor that the role of religious leadership is important, especially that of the supreme cleric in Najaf, so as to limit the effects of hate speech targeting the rights of religious minorities in Iraq such as Muslims, Yazidis, Mandaeans, Kakais, Bahais and Zoroastrians. When supreme clerics intervene to prohibit hate speech and discrimination on the grounds of religion, pluralism which gradually turned absent in Iraq in the past few years will be promoted, Sliwa said. Any crisis may result in an opportunity to reform and rebuild trust, provided it is dealt with appropriately. Similarly, the current crisis may have underlying opportunities of reform, as happened when its underlying challenges threatened Shiite-Christian relations, thus promoting diversity management in a post-IS Iraq. The crisis following the video leak, as well as the stands taken by religious and political leaders, emphasized the importance of formulating a state-sponsored national strategy to limit hate, as well as the importance of an agreement between Muslim and non-Muslim minority religious leaderships that would support such a strategy through a unified stand, as Iraqis pursue freeing another Ninevah district from the hands of IS. May 19, 2017 Israeli Culture Minister Miri Regev has added another successful act of provocation to her public resume and managed yet again to dominate Israel's media agenda. As she put it, the Jerusalem of Gold gown that she wore May 17 on the red carpet at the opening of the 70th Festival de Cannes was intended to make Jerusalem a topic of discussion. For anyone who missed the uproar on social networks and in the traditional media, Regev wrapped herself in an ugly and cumbersome gown with an especially wide hem printed with huge images from Jerusalem, prominently the Temple Mount. She explained that she did so for the glory of our eternal capital. As it turned out, this tasteless display in the French resort town, before the eyes of the world, was the result of half a year of brainstorming by Regev's staff on how to use Cannes' international film festival to mark the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem in the 1967 Six-Day War. In interviews with Israeli media, the culture minister described her choice of gown as nothing less than a diplomatic achievement. People are responding to Israel, Regev said in an interview with Channel 20. They are talking about Israel and Jerusalem. I didn't come here to show off another pretty evening gown. I came to relay a clear message. I believe I had the privilege, on the 50th year of Jerusalem's reunification, to celebrate Jerusalem and to 'make Jerusalem my highest joy,' even here at the Cannes Festival. The truth is that what the culture minister actually managed to do was highlight to the whole world Israel's aggressive and heavy-handed attitude toward the Palestinians. International responses to her gown ranged from apathy to contempt. I went through all the French newspapers, and those anti-Semites completely ignored the dress worn by our minister of culture last night at the opening of the Cannes film festival, wrote Dov Alfon, Haaretz's Paris correspondent, on his Facebook page. To their credit, I should note that there were several other evening gowns there. The United Jerusalem evening gown is yet another stage in the evolution of the right's populist provocations, a process that counts Regev as one of its leading figures. The right no longer confines itself to anti-democratic legislation, divisive declarations at official events and racist messages intended to score political points, such as Regev calling refugees from Africa a cancer and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warning on election day of Arabs coming out in droves to the polls. It has now adopted embarrassing behavior by senior political figures at events attracting international attention. Regev really isn't the only one to act this way. For example, Israel's political leadership from Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid to Education Minister Naftali Bennett and the prime minister engaged in another provocation that began with a May 18 report on Army Radio that the national anthem would not be played at the graduation ceremony of the Faculty of the Humanities at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. According to the report, the university wanted to avoid offending participants who are not Jewish, or in other words, Arab students, who cannot identify with the line The Jewish soul stirs. This is in fact not the first time that the humanities faculty has chosen not to play the anthem. In addition, graduation is not an official state event, which would require it. In other words, the whole story really is fake news, designed to create a tempest in a teapot. Nevertheless, politicians from the center to the right preferred to ignore the facts so they could score a few more points with their respective constituents. At the head of the pack bemoaning the decision was none other than the prime minister. Conjuring a stony expression, Netanyahu called the decision shameful, adding that it was the height of subservience and the opposite of the national pride. We are proud of our country, our flag, our national anthem and it only strengthens my [belief] in the passage of the Nationality Bill that we are leading in order to safeguard through law our national symbols that are so precious to us. Similarly, Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked of HaBayit HaYehudi posted on Twitter, Shame on the Hebrew University! Bennett's office announced that following the report, he, the chairman of HaBayit HaYehudi, had contacted the president of the university, Menachem Ben Sasson, to protest the decision. A statement released after the conversation said, Bennett made it clear that Hatikvah must be played at every official ceremony taking place at the university. Furthermore, he added that during unofficial ceremonies, the decision to sing Hatikvah may not be influenced by the consideration that it might offend people, since a symbol of the State of Israel in no way constitutes an insult. Lapid joined the nationalist fracas in a scathing post on Facebook accompanied by a photo of the Israeli flag. The Hebrew University's decision not to play Hatikvah at its graduation ceremony, so as 'not to offend Arab students,' is shameful, cowardly and immoral, Lapid wrote. It is interesting to note that these students' feelings weren't hurt when they studied at an academic institution subsidized by the free and Zionist State of Israel. The university's explanation did nothing to mitigate the passions expressed by the politicians, who were simply unwilling to forego the opportunity to play the nationalist sentiment card. The decision whether to play the anthem at the end of academic ceremonies at institutes of higher learning is open to the discretion of each institution, the administration said in a response. The Council for Higher Education has not made any rules about it. Our national anthem is not an insult. It is a source of pride. Israeli democracy had no reason to be proud this week. What is most disturbing is the harm done to national symbols in order to serve narrow political interests. These politicians are disrespecting the flag, the anthem and the capital, Jerusalem. They are causing them to be a source of disgust to the rest of the world, and even more so, they are allowing question marks to hover above things that should be self-evident. If one thing is certain, it is that there is no need to wave these symbols about all the time. The world today, including US President Donald Trump, is no longer tolerant of the occupation and Israeli nationalism. Regev and the others would do well to take a look at the May 20 edition of The Economist, which devotes its cover to Why Israel Needs a Palestinian State. According to this prominent journal, exchanging land for peace means preserving Israel as a democracy. May 18, 2017 The meeting between Israeli Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon and his Palestinian counterpart Shukri Bishara in Jerusalem on May 17 was friendly and warm. The two men met secretly, without announcing it in advance, and discussed a package of economic incentives for Palestinians that the Security Cabinet is slated to approve May 21, just before the arrival of US President Donald Trump to Israel on May 22. Kahlon and Bishara's meeting was the direct continuation of talks in Brussels on May 4 between the US special envoy to the Middle East, Jason Greenblatt, Israel's Minister for Regional Cooperation Tzachi Hanegbi and Bishara. Upon returning to Israel, Hanegbi relayed messages to Kahlon about the economic crisis facing the Palestinians. This led directly to the meeting between the two finance ministers. It was Kahlon's people who made sure that news of the secret meeting would make its way to the media upon its successful conclusion. What this means is that Kahlon, who heads a centrist party with obvious leanings to the right (Kahlon served in the past as Likud minister), believes that meeting with the Palestinian Finance Minister in a positive atmosphere and granting allowances and benefits to the Palestinian Authority would score him points among the Israeli public. The meeting is yet another sign signaling a change in mood, which the new US president is bringing to the region. Trump will arrive in Israel and the Palestinian Authority next week for his first visit as president. It is hard to ignore the fact that preparations for his arrival have reduced tensions between Jerusalem and Ramallah at least somewhat, after a steady increase over the years due to the Palestinian wave of terror and the policies of Israel's right-wing government. One component of this easing of tension is the fact that a visit of this scope demands logistical and security cooperation between the two parties. While no one is fooling themselves into thinking that peace is about to break out after long years of stalemate, it looks like the parties are trying to mitigate the tense atmosphere. It is interesting to follow the actions of the hard right, headed by the chairman of HaBayit HaYehudi Naftali Bennett, in light of these developments. So far, Bennett has contained himself. He has not protested the incentive package that will be brought before the Cabinet for approval, and which includes, among other things, the around-the-clock opening of the Allenby Crossing between Israel and Jordan and accelerating development of industrial parks adjacent to Jenin and Hebron. In the past, the right stubbornly opposed granting any benefits to the Palestinians, claiming that doing so would be succumbing to terrorism. This stood in sharp contradiction to the argument made by senior defense officials, who claim that improving economic conditions in West Bank cities reduces violence against Israel. Trump was considered a big supporter of the Israeli right and the settlers when he was elected, which makes it difficult for them to speak out against the US president these days. In addition, Trump has reneged on his promise to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and has surprised everyone by coming out against construction in the West Bank. The starting point of having a new president who is not suspected of having personal prejudices regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or being hostile to Israel helps create a new balance between the parties and improves the mood between them. Netanyahu has arrived at this point with enough experience to know how to act in these new circumstances, with an American president who believes that he can restart negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians and maybe even reach a peace agreement. The last thing the prime minister plans to do is to be a contrarian as the US president's vision takes shape. That is why he is greeting Trump with a package of incentives for the Palestinians as a gesture of goodwill. Netanyahu wants to prove that he is not the one refusing to make concessions or progress. The last time an American president visited Israel was in March 2013. Barack Obama was then just starting his second term and had shown a genuine desire to lead Israelis and Palestinians to a peace agreement. At the time, most Israelis felt removed and distant from Obama. Unlike his predecessors George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, Israelis regarded him as a pro-Palestinian president, even though he was a true friend of Israel, who protected their strategic interests no less than his predecessors. Obama's speech before a young audience at the Jerusalem Convention Center succeeded in improving the mood somewhat. He struck a sentimental chord among Israelis when he concluded his speech by saying "You are not alone" in Hebrew. On the other hand, the lack of chemistry between him and Netanyahu and their poor relationship also affected the mood among the public and prevented Obama from really reaching the hearts of Israelis. About a year later, diplomatic negotiations led on the Israeli side by then-Justice Minister Tzipi Livni came crashing down, clearing the way for a new wave of terrorism. The intifada of individuals contributed largely to intensifying the desperate feeling among Israelis that they will never be able to reach an agreement with their Palestinian neighbors. Ever since the signing of the 1993 Oslo Accord, Israelis have gone through a painful process of sobering up from any hopes they had of peace, a process expressed by a significant shift to the right. The same thing happened to the Palestinian public. Unlike Obama, Trump has a chance of winning the hearts of Israelis and breaking the ice in the longstanding diplomatic freeze between Israel and the Palestinians. To a large extent, his character resembles the Israeli temperament: He is informal, unpredictable, very blunt and very accessible. He began his term clearly favoring Israeli and even settler interests. That is why all Israelis listen more carefully to what he has to say, including Israelis on the right. The leadership of the far right will also think twice before attacking Trump. After rushing to coronate him as a great leader under whom they would even be able to annex settlements to the State of Israel, they will have a hard time explaining how he suddenly became the enemy of their camp. Not only will this sound unbelievable, it also implies a very troubling conclusion: If Trump has become an enemy of the settlers, there can probably be no other important international leader to ever support them again. May 19, 2017 Despite threats, Lebanon's LGBTQ+ community is moving forward with Beirut Pride, an initiative celebrating tolerance and respect. A bevy of events, including exhibitions, talks, concerts, parties, performances and screenings, are emphasizing love and inclusion to defeat attempts by an Islamist party to cancel the occasion. Hadi Damien began planning Beirut Pride last summer as a special week to coincide with the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT) on May 17. From May 14-21, multiple events are being held in Beirut's cultural centers, bars, offices and outdoor venues. A statement posted on the Beirut Pride website says, "Beirut Pride is a happy, friendly, constructive platform that invites people to express themselves, in an attempt to contribute to our liberation from the destructive hate that poisons our country and forces many fellow citizens out toward other countries that guarantee their basic rights." The message apparently wasn't appreciated by some members of the League of Muslim Scholars in Lebanon, which used social media to call for the first event of the week to be canceled. They urged other religious groups and the government to take action. The May 14 event, organized by the nongovernmental organization Proud Lebanon, was supposed to be a full day of talk, music and performances at Hotel Monroe in downtown Beirut, to celebrate IDAHOT a few days in advance. Although that event wasn't officially a part of Beirut Pride week, its goal was the same: to promote respect and tolerance toward the LGBTQ+ community. "Our day was canceled because the hotel received threats and the Islamist organization put pressure on the management, which became afraid for the security," Causette Maalouf, Proud Lebanon's advocacy officer, explained to Al-Monitor. "We had a signed contract and everything, but the hotel called us at the last minute to cancel the event. Instead, we held a press conference calling our supporters, as well as every person fighting for human rights, to participate in Beirut Pride week. [Canceling the event was] a pure act of homophobia, but luckily we are still in a country where we have the freedom to express our rights. We will keep working and continue our fight; a canceled event will not change that," she said. It's the 12th year for Lebanon's IDAHOT celebrations. Helem, the first nonprofit organization working to improve the legal and social status of LGBTQ people in Lebanon, was founded in 2004. "However, this year, more actors and [nongovernmental organizations, or NGOs] are involved, which shows the growing support for the LGBT community, Georges Azzi, executive director of the Arab Foundation for Freedoms and Equality (AFE), an NGO that has hosted events in Lebanon such as workshops and open houses, told Al-Monitor. "The [Muslim scholars] actually try to shut down any LGBT event," Azzi said. "Back in 2005, they asked to shut Helem down. But they never succeeded. It is important to keep in mind that it was the hotel hosting the event that canceled it and not the authorities, so I don't think this is significant. I actually think we have come a long way in terms of LGBT perception, and with the visibility we are getting now, I think we are on the right path." The cancellation actually brought even more visibility to the initiative than expected. For example, about 400 people attended the storytelling night in Station Beirut, a cultural venue, when the organizers were expecting only 150. "In the end, we did things properly, got all the authorizations from the authorities and our events are safe," Damien told Al-Monitor. He added, "We are Lebanese citizens, after all, and as such [our gatherings] are protected by the Internal Security Forces, like any other event. This week has actually been made possible by the work, for more than a decade, of citizens, groups, associations and lawyers who advocated for us." The group's goal isn't to protest or for members to be seen as victims, but instead to celebrate positive change. "We are simply saying that because you think someone is different than you, it is not OK to harass, bully, attack or discriminate against this person," he explained. "We are not asking for consent or acceptance, but we are against aggressiveness and the stereotypes shared by Lebanese media. They display stereotyped images of homosexuals as people you can mock, who do drugs, are prostitutes or abused so at the end of the day people are misinformed. We are here to make what being LGBTQ+ means commonplace." Damien also expressed his admiration of younger Lebanese who live "without taboo or fear, with a real pride, who expressed so much during this week." He noted that "a young girl from Tripoli chose to come out on Twitter after hearing about the initiative." "People just want to lead their lives without hiding, being scared or ashamed, and at the end of the day, things are going in the right direction," he added. Beirut Pride is now considered by activists as the first organized pride week of Lebanon, which is a positive sign for the LGBTQ community. Some small legal steps have already been taken, and even some advertisements tackle the issue, such as a video made by the Lebanese restaurant chain Crepaway showing two women embracing in front of the sea. May 11, 2017 Protesters in Lebanon are planning a two-for-one call to action: rallying against a possible third extension of parliament's term, and promoting a law mandating proportional elections rather than the current majoritarian, or "winner-take-all," approach. President Michel Aoun wants to hold off on parliamentary elections until the contested 1960 Electoral Law can be replaced. Aoun, along with Hezbollah and the Amal Movement, insists on a "total proportionality" system, while others want either a hybrid law or the majoritarian system. Aoun has been trying to get legislators to pass the proportionality proposal before parliament's term expires June 21. If they can't come to an agreement before then, the politicians are likely to grant themselves another term without holding elections. Either that, or the country could be left without a parliament at all. Aoun already fended off one term extension by postponing the April 13 parliamentary session for a month, until May 15, which he is allowed to do one time under the constitution. After a May 3 meeting, parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri said he ruled out extending parliament's term. He also proposed a proportional voting law in medium-sized districts linked to forming Lebanon's first Senate. But when no agreement was reached by May 14, Berri moved the session to May 29. The protesters are growing restless. The 1960 law allows Muslim leaders to select Christian parliament members in some constituencies. Aoun is a Maronite Christian. His Free Patriotic Movement and the Lebanese Forces bloc are the country's largest Christian parties. The parties stood ready to derail the meeting scheduled in April, threatening to block the roads to prevent legislators from even reaching parliament. Aoun kept the peace when he postponed the session. The tension has been building for years. In May 2013, the parliament extended its own term which was set to end the following month for 17 more months, citing security concerns and the inability of the Lebanese state to hold parliamentary elections. In November 2014, that same parliament passed a law extending its term another 31 months, to this June. The Free Patriotic Movement, the party then headed by Aoun, and civil activists protested those extensions. In 2014, protesters gathered outside parliament forming a human shield to stop the vehicles carrying parliament members from reaching parliament, pelting their cars with tomatoes and eggs. Today, in 2017 amid the political rift over the voting law the scene could be repeated. But the civil movement today has grown. It has amplified its activity and formed coalitions, backing numerous protests and proving the Lebanese people can be mobilized to thwart state plans that citizens deem inappropriate. Today, these coalitions are organizing their ranks in preparation for a major move. Several groups have started their campaigns on the Lebanese street. On May 6, the You Stink movement formed a human chain around parliament in protest. The We Want Accountability movement is taking action in northern and southern cities. It organized protests and sit-ins against the extension and the sectarian Election Law April 21 in Sidon, the capital of the Lebanese south, as well as April 30 in the northern Bekaa district of Hermel. Civil activist Alaa Sayegh, representing the Mount Lebanon Movement, told Al-Monitor her group has begun organizing in various regions so it won't be limited to a central demonstration. In Mount Lebanon, Sayegh said, We will be going door to door to call on people to take to the streets and participate in the rallies and protests." Activist Nihmat Bader al-Din, a member of the We Want Accountability movement which is part of the large Parliament for the Whole Country coalition told Al-Monitor, The battle of the civil movement is not only against the extension but also against any new electoral law with sectarian aspects or that has the same effect as the default 1960 Electoral Law. This is the law approved by the majority of politicians; however, it does not secure the right representation of the Lebanese people and eventually [will result in] the same people [being] in power. She said postponing the parliamentary session, or even an agreement in parliament against the term extension, will not affect the escalation in the street. Civil movements held meetings on May 12 and agreed to escalate based on three main principles. We refuse any term extension. We want a proportional voting law with the adoption of large electoral districts. [Also,] civil movements will be running in the upcoming legislative elections. Bader al-Din added that the Parliament for the Whole Country coalition will be organizing a sit-in every Sunday in front of parliament. "These sit-ins will be held until [June, when] we will be organizing an open-ended sit-in and setting up tents in front of parliament," she said. The For the Republic movement differs from the other civil movements in that it is not calling for any specific electoral law to be passed that would come at the expense of holding parliamentary elections. Movement member Marwan Maalouf told Al-Monitor, Even if there was no agreement on a new electoral law, the elections should be held according to the law in force, although we are in principle against this current law. He added, As per the constitution, what applies in the case of the dissolution of parliament [also] applies to the expiry of parliaments term. This means, upon the expiry of the parliament term, the office of the Parliament (Bureau) would manage the day-to-day state affairs until the election of a new parliament within three months or until holding the parliamentary elections in accordance with the law in force." May 19, 2017 The Palestinian Central Elections Commission announced May 15 the results of local elections in the West Bank. The elections were held on May 13 and included 326 local bodies with 3,235 seats, with the participation of independent lists, as well as lists from Fatah, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Palestinian Democratic Union, the Democratic Alliance, the Palestinian Popular Struggle Front and the Palestinian People's Party. Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine chose to boycott the elections. The Palestinian voter turnout was, however, very low. The total number of voters reached about 420,000 of 787,000 eligible voters i.e., a 53% voter turnout. The voting percentage reached 23% in al-Bireh, 20% in Nablus, 53% in Qalqilya, 49% in Hebron, 40% in Tulkarm and 56% in Jenin. In this context, Raed Enairat, a political science professor at an-Najah National University in Nablus and the head of the Contemporary Center for Studies and Policy Analysis, told Al-Monitor, The low turnout is due to Hamas and other factions boycotting the local elections. Nablus the West Banks largest city in terms of population had the lowest voting percentage. Perhaps Palestinians did not participate because they do not see local elections as a priority, as they do not feel their political participation could help achieve the change they aspire, such as making way for political freedoms in the West Bank, establishing periodic elections and peaceful rotation of power, and putting an end to corruption. Enairat added, This reluctance is solid proof that the relationship of factions with their members no longer matters to Palestinians and that partisan affiliation and organizational discipline is no longer a priority. However, if parliamentary and presidential elections were to be held, participation could be significant as Hamas and Fatah, both of which would participate in the elections, would call on their members to vote. The low Palestinian participation in the local elections coincided with a poll on April 28 and April 30 conducted by An-Najah National University, in which 42% of the polled Palestinians opposed the Palestinian government's decision in January to hold local elections. Meanwhile, 47% believe current conditions are conducive to holding local elections, although 74% said they would participate. But these elections were held despite Palestinians frustration with the stagnant political situation. Abdul Latif Qanou, a spokesman for Hamas in the Gaza Strip, told Al-Monitor, The lack of competition in the local elections was due to the lack of a Palestinian consensus. Fatah decided to hold the elections without consulting with the rest of the factions in particular Hamas inevitably affecting the turnout. To avoid such a low turnout for legislative and presidential elections, the Palestinian Authority must work on national consensus to achieve genuine partnership and give all political forces equal chances to compete, although Hamas had given its members in the West Bank the right to choose whomever local election candidate they found suitable. On May 9, Hamas called on its members in the West Bank to elect the most appropriate candidate to serve them, despite announcing on Jan. 31 that it will not be presenting any candidates of its own, explaining that its voter base will interact positively with these elections by electing the most efficient candidates for the local bodies. Social media was flooded with posts about the low turnout. Khalil Assaf, the head of the Public Freedoms Committee in the West Bank, said in a May 13 Facebook post that the low voter turnout is proof that Palestinians are not pleased with those governing their country and that the Palestinian leadership and the Palestinian people march to the beat of a different drum. Tayseer Nasrallah, a member of Fatahs Revolutionary Council and resident of Nablus, told Al-Monitor, The weak participation in the elections is linked to citizens' declining trust in the factions. The elections coincided with the hunger strike initiated by Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons since April 17, and whose families asked us to postpone the elections in order for the strike to remain under the spotlight. However, if parliamentary and presidential elections are held, Palestinians would participate more because such elections are linked to political and organizational agendas, and the factions will be keen to mobilize their members to guarantee a broad participation. In addition to the previous reasons for the weak turnout, the electoral system itself played a role. This system is called the closed relativity list. In this context, Mohammad Shtayyeh, a member of Fatahs Central Committee, said May 12 that it was a complex system and does not fit in the real world, noting that one of its most important disadvantages is that it prevents independent and competent candidates from running. Speaking to Al-Monitor, Bilal Shobaki, a political science professor at Hebron University in the West Bank, said, The low percentage of voter turnout is the result of a combination of factors namely the bad experience Palestinians have had with the PA not respecting the results of elections, most recently in the 2006 legislative elections when Hamas accused Fatah of disrupting the formation of the Hamas government after it won the elections in Gaza. In addition, the current local elections were delayed on several occasions, last of which was in June 2016. The largest movements Fatah and Hamas showed uncertainty in their electoral performance, which affected the turnout. Fatahs candidates ran in several electoral lists, confusing voters, and Hamas boycotted the elections but called on its members to choose the better candidate. Such a behavior was bound to bring about a low voter turnout. The electoral process lost its mojo as voters are no longer interested in practicing this right of theirs, which inevitably affected the voting turnout. Consequently, to avoid a similar turnout in the future, the Palestinian decision-makers might have to think carefully before holding legislative and presidential elections without first achieving national consensus. May 18, 2017 The news about establishing safe zones in Syria, the leadership reshuffle in Palestines Hamas and the Abu Dhabi meeting of two Libyan leaders, Khalifa Hifter and Fayez al-Sarraj, stole the limelight from the Algerian parliamentary elections held May 4, making them seem a more or less mundane event unworthy of much media scrutiny. True, one can confidently say on seeing the unchanged post-election landscape two weeks later that there was hardly anything sensational about the campaign. Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflikas National Liberation Front (FLN) and the National Rally for Democracy (RND), the two major parties in the presidential coalition, retained their majority; moderate Islamists share of seats remained almost intact, and other traditional competitors predictably lagged far behind. Still, Moscow keeps Algerian developments on its radar screen especially in light of what is happening in neighboring countries. For Russia, Algeria has been a vital Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region partner for technical-military cooperation dating back to the 1960s, when the Soviets helped Algeria equip its newly created army. Algeria has been a major Russian market for wheat and metal, while Russian energy companies have been developing Algerias hydrocarbon mining and building pipelines since at least the mid-2000s. So Algerias election held interest for Moscow and revealed some trends. One of these trends was the low turnout, which was just above 37% (unless overseas constituencies are included, then the figure was 38.25%). The Algerian governments attempts to galvanize voters into casting ballots did not bear much fruit, even when Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal promoted the election as he toured the country. Citizens disillusionment with the countrys economic situation has simmered for years. In 2007, as many as 14.4% (965,064) of the ballots were disqualified, with the figure increasing to 18.2% (1.7 million) in 2012. Earlier this year, falling oil and gas prices triggered an economic crisis, driving people to the streets in protest. The economy could have produced a disastrous result at the polls. But Robert Parks, a seasoned expert on Algeria, was right when he claimed Algeria has not yet faced a crisis of the presidential regime. A decline in electoral participation has been characteristic of recent regional campaigns as well as national ones. However, the number of disqualified ballots this year more than 2 million (24.47%) can be interpreted as a sign of some crisis, even if it is not in full swing yet. Some people feel sidelined and excluded from participation and abstain from voting. Some people go through the process of voting but intentionally deface or otherwise invalidate their own ballots, demonstrating mistrust of the current government and the opposition alike. Many Russian experts on the MENA region believe the decision of all the major parties to join the race which distinguishes the 2017 electoral campaign from the one in 2012 reveals the parties complete integration into the highly consolidated political elite and desire to work within the constitutional framework. To Russians, the problems the Algerian elections brought to light are reminiscent of the difficulties Russian society experienced during the September elections. Deputies of the State Duma, Russias lower legislative house, enjoyed the support of all the parties, which went almost unnoticed by ordinary citizens. Voter turnout was 13% lower than in 2011. Both cases prove that the political establishment has completely divorced itself from the concerns of ordinary people, with the latter unable to find effective representation and disillusioned with all political ideologies. France and the United States have witnessed similar situations. Frances recent presidential runoff saw a fourfold increase in blank and spoiled ballots over the first round. US President Donald Trumps electoral success was widely interpreted as a rebellion against political elitists. Thus, the developments can be referred to as part of a global trend. In fact, nobody knows what most of the worlds population wants. Nor do people have a clear vision of their own aspirations. Consequently, the Algerian parliament represents the interests of the estimated 6.4 million people who actually voted, out of more than 41 million citizens. Central governments face a clear credibility gap all across the world. Waning support for the FLN and the RNDs growing popularity deserve special attention. As Russian pundits believe, this trend testifies to the strength of former Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia, one of the RNDs founders and the partys current leader. Ouyahia is considered one of the most likely candidates for the presidency, backed by his considerable government experience and credibility among most establishment forces, his moderate but pro-national stance and a fluent command of Tamazight (which was recognized last year as an official language of the country). At the same time, Algerias political system allows little scope for accurate predictions. Regardless of further developments and Ouyahias role, it is evident that any government in power will have to press ahead with some unpopular reforms, which, in their turn, will require confidence-building measures among the people. Making progress in foreign policy issues would help with that greatly, especially regarding Western Sahara, the Algerian-Moroccan relationship and Libyan issues. Algeria shelters an estimated 165,000 Sahrawi refugees, the indigenous people of Western Sahara a disputed territory claimed by Morocco. Morocco left the African Union more than three decades ago when the union recognized Western Saharas independence. Morocco recently rejoined the AU, which Algeria takes as a sign that Morocco also will acknowledge Western Sahara but more likely it will only mean Morocco will have a louder voice on the continent and will perhaps gain better cooperation from other countries. The Moroccan royal familys strong international positions leave little room for fence-mending on Algerias terms. Therefore, working on the Libyan issues looks to be the most logical play. In this context, the May meeting of representatives of Libyas neighboring countries which brought together the foreign ministers of Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt comes into sharp focus, as does a subsequent security-related conversation among Sarraj, Sellal and Abdelkader Messahel, Algerias minister for Maghreb, African and Arab affairs. Nevertheless, when Algerias activity is appreciated by Tripoli, it raises the ire of the rival government in Tobruk, which backs the renegade general Hifter. This situation is illustrated by the House of Representatives meeting during Messahels recent trip to southern Libya, where he was met with howls of outrage. The response seems to have been conditional upon the differences between regional stakeholders pro-Qatar Algeria and largely pro-Saudi Egypt as well as the split state of affairs in Libya. Russia, backed by its partners and maintaining close relations with Hifters Libyan National Army and Algeria, could help soften Tobruks and Algerias stances toward each other, which would benefit all the North African countries. May 19, 2017 Since US President Donald Trumps election, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has hoped for a fresh start with the United States. For the last four months, the pro-Erdogan medias pragmatism has been built on two pillars: put the blame on the Barack Obama administration for all things wrong in Syria and stand up for Trump against all accusations. Finally, on May 16 the anticipated Erdogan-Trump meeting took place. Seasoned journalist Unsal Unlu summed it up by saying, This trip is more difficult to write about than to experience it because the get-together of the two leaders lasted for 22 minutes and we will spend hours and hours discussing it. He had a point. Pro-Justice and Development Party (AKP) commentators struggled to portray the trip they had referred to as historic in the weeks prior as an absolute success. In several sentences blended with machismo attitudes, there were hollow observations about how Erdogan stood his ground against Trumps regular I will pull you in handshake and how Trump touched his shoulder. Trumps greeting of Erdogan at the door of the White House was also a perfect photo moment for these commentators. There were others, such as Asli Aydintasbas of daily Cumhuriyet, known for her strongly critical views of Erdogan, who said the meeting was a success for the Turkish president. Aydintasbas said, Our neighborhood and, in general, media fail to read the trip properly and argue that Erdogan came back home empty-handed. For evidence, she wrote about Trumps body language, which she said signaled affection for Erdogan. She said that despite the US commitment to the People's Protection Units (YPG), the United States was also committed to support Turkey in its battle against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). In all of these arguments, the undercurrent was the pragmatism that Turkey is obliged to work with Trump for at least the next four years, and it is determined to make the best of it. Hence, the most obvious conclusion was shrewdly ignored: Erdogans visit following the official decision to arm the YPG signals that Turkey accepts the US decision. This was not the only crucial fact that the pro-Erdogan media skillfully ignored in order to embellish the importance of a smiling photo-op. First, lets evaluate the trip on the basis of protocol and public diplomacy. Did Turkeys reputation benefit from Erdogan and his mens presence on US soil? The trip was conducted in two stages. The first one, May 8-10 by Erdogans top three bureaucrats, coincided with the Trump administration officially announcing their decision to provide arms to the YPG. Were his top bureaucrats unable to update Erdogan properly about what they were told in Washington? Did they not tell him that even though the Trump administration is different from Obamas that this might not necessarily be to their benefit? Erdogan made some rather bold statements against the United States prior to his visit. One of them was about putting a full stop to the relations and bargaining about the decision on YPG armament. His rhetoric was different during the White House press briefing, saying there could be no full stops to the relationship. Plus, on May 15, the day before the Erdogan-Trump meeting, one of the most prominent newspapers in the United States, The Washington Post, ran a column by Erdogans arch enemy, Fethullah Gulen. It is not important whether Gulens words carry any weight. What matters is the fact that despite unknown amounts of Turkish taxpayer money there is no oversight on government spending in Turkey anymore spent on lobbying against the Gulen movement, the opinion piece did not have a proper rebuttal in the US press. Can we realistically assume the United States considers Gulen a terrorist at this point? Erdogan was definitely frustrated about the short duration of the meeting and the rushed working lunch afterward. Several commentators in Turkey argued how protocol during the lunch was not followed; for example, Hakan Fidan, the head of Turkish intelligence, did not have his counterpart at the table. Yet the worst public diplomacy fiasco was in front of the Turkish Embassy in Washington after the Erdogan-Trump meeting. As Al-Monitor promptly reported, members of Erdogans security detail attacked protesters. US senators and representatives spoke out against the brawl and demanded the Turkish ambassador be declared persona non grata and his credentials revoked. A similar attack happened during the Obama era as well, but the reaction was not as strong. This time in local news all around the country, it was Erdogans thugs who showcased Turkey to America, rather than his meeting with Trump. A video came out May 18 showing Erdogan in front of the embassy watching the attack, leaving one to wonder whether he will be bold in this instance to say I ordered the attack as he did against the peaceful Gezi Park protesters in 2013. The pro-AKP press was proud of Erdogans bodyguards. Indeed, Erdogans security personnel are notorious for attacking protesters all around the globe, thus presenting a brutal face of Turkey that no anti-Turkish lobby could accomplish in one day. The next point drove the final nail in the coffin of the neo-Ottoman dreams of dominating Syria. Erdogans government aspires to get rid of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, declaring that not even a leaf moves in Syria without their knowledge. Turkeys last hope, in Erdogans delusional world, was for Trump to undo most, if not all, of Obamas mistakes in Syria. Yet the reality is, the Pentagons plans to coordinate with Russia are clearly moving along without Turkey. On May 18, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus discussed how Turkey needed a new foreign policy perspective during a pro-government nongovernmental organization conference. On May 17, columnist Abdulkadir Selvi, who is known for his close links to senior AKP officials, in a mind-boggling remark, said, If the situation with the PKK is improved by fall, conditions of [pro-Kurdish] Peoples Democratic Party [HDP] members may be re-evaluated. Currently, the HDPs two chairpersons and dozens of lawmakers and local leaders are in jail. All of these signs indicate that Erdogans Washington trip, which was cut a day short, will generate low-key but crucial domestic changes to please the Trump administration, such as releasing US pastor Andrew Brunson, allegedly a CIA agent who collaborated with the Gulenists. When all is said and done, the most crucial argument from pro-AKP lackeys was the affection between Erdogan and Trump, and to that the best answer came from a retired Egyptian general. He told Al-Monitor, Of course the romance between Erdogan and Trump cannot last longer than 22 minutes. Trump has had his lovefest with [Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-] Sisi. Leaving Washington, a few Turkish bureaucrats must have been thinking, We will be missing Obama in the months to come dearly. Those who were hosted by the Obama White House must have seen this bitter reality. That might be precisely why the Turkish intel chiefs face was stone cold throughout the lunch. May 18, 2017 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan went to Washington hoping he could end US support for the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which are affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a group recognized by both Turkey and the United States as a terrorist organization. However, neither Erdogan nor US President Donald Trump could change the outcome of their much trumpeted meeting. The problematic US-Turkish relationship will continue. Turkey created facts on the ground with its April 25 bombing of PKK positions in the Sinjar area in northern Iraq and Karachok in northern Syria. Erdogan has implied the possibility of an operation against Sinjar and the Syrian Kurdish cantons of Kobani and Jazeera by saying "we could come unexpectedly one night" and trying to increase his persuasive powers. Ankara intended to demonstrate that it has the power to take unilateral action against the two Syrian Kurdish cantons and Sinjar. But given the decisive position of the Trump administration, Ankara does not have the initiative to undertake a ground operation or airstrikes anymore. Erdogan's White House visit consisted of a 23-minute one-on-one meeting with translators, a 20-minute press briefing (of sorts) in which the two presidents gave short speeches without taking questions and a 90-minute lunch attended by Erdogan's eight-person delegation and Trump's six-person team. Was everyone pleased with the result? The Turkish delegation did not return to Ankara satisfied. Nobody can claim that the Turkish team came back having received what it wanted from their first face-to-face contact with the Trump team. Although Trump authorized the delivery of weapons to the YPG immediately before Erdogan's arrival in Washington, the Turkish president did not postpone or cancel his visit, proving that he cared deeply about a photo-op with his American counterpart at the White House. Erdogan's primary goal was to be received by Trump with a smile at the White House. He achieved that. What, then, did Turkish and American officials take away from this meeting? Ankara understood that the United States will not give up its alliance with the YPG in the Raqqa operation, which is likely to last at least one year, and that the US side is determined to arm the YPG in the struggle against the Islamic State (IS). So what did Ankara get from the United States in return for staying away from the Kobani and Jazeera cantons that will be empty of its Kurdish fighters, who will be fighting on the Raqqa front for at least a year; for keeping its distance from Sinjar; for not severing the YPGs main supply lines and not harassing them with long-range artillery strikes from its borders? Trump did not answer that question, saying briefly in his statement that the United States still considers the PKK a terrorist organization. The US narrative can be slippery when the topic is relations with the PKK and the YPG. The United States may want to underline emphatically that it does not treat the YPG as part of the PKK and may therefore offer more cooperation to Ankara in the fight in northern Iraq. The United States may decide to share more intelligence with Ankara over the Kurdish-dominated Avasin-Basyan, Zap and Hakurk regions on the Turkey-Iraq border and the Qandil Mountains, where the PKK's main headquarters are located. Washington may even greenlight a cross-border Turkish ground operation against these areas. In addition, the Trump administration may have promised to provide Turkey with the critical weapons systems it has been unable to buy since such deals have been mired in the US Congress. Since 2008, there has been much complication in Turkey's purchase of Predator unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), Sikorsky S-70 general-purpose helicopters and guidance kits for munitions such as MK-82, MK-84 and the bunker buster BLU-109. Turkey has had problems acquiring these munitions because of their heavy use in recent operations against the PKK. Sources who spoke to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity said Ankara wants to procure from the United States optical lenses and spare parts that are not manufactured in Turkey but that are needed for advanced UAV production. Turkey had also put in requests for the three Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigates and a tow boat. Two of the US Navy's Perry-class frigates, the USS Halyburton and the USS Thatch, which have been decommissioned by the US Navy, are slated to be donated to Turkey under a Naval Transfer Act that was submitted to the US Congress in 2012. The Senate, however, shelved the act. It is probable that Trump may have promised to move forward on that front. Trump may also have promised that the Raqqa operation is being planned with attention to Turkey's concerns and demands; that Ankara will be fully informed of all weapons given to the YPG; that there will be no YPG units in and around the town of Raqqa after the operation and that some elements of Turkish special forces may be allowed to observe the operation on the ground. Turkey also expected a US promise to set up a center in Ankara to be informed of all developments about the operation in real time. The Turkish side also expects the United States to promise closer cooperation to contain Iran in Syria, Iraq and the region. In a nutshell, Erdogan's US visit and his meeting with Trump may have momentarily cooled the tension between Washington and Ankara, but "crisis mode coexistence" is likely to prevail. Neither Ankara nor Washington were happy with the outcome of the meeting. The Raqqa imbroglio was not resolved, but the two sides didn't burn their bridges. Divergences between the two capitals continue, but attempts were made to minimize negative sentiments. This tense coexistence between Turkey and the United States will no doubt affect all actors in the region, including the PKK and the YPG. May 19, 2017 One of the signature wines of Lucien Arkas Vineyards is called Mon Reve (My Dream) a wink to the Levantine businessmans youthful dreams of eventually owning a vineyard. Arkas LA Wines stretches over 1.2 acres of land located 30 kilometers (19 miles) from Ephesus, an ancient site on UNESCOs World Heritage list. Complete with 3,000 square meters (3,600 square yards) of wine cellar area, a tasting bar, bar, kitchen and a shady veranda, LA has been bringing to Turkey a steady line of awards in wine-making including from Decanter magazine. LA has also been listed as one of the greatest wine cellars of the world by Switzerlands Braun Publishing. I grew up with a wine culture, Lucien Arkas, the second generation of a Levantine shipping family, told Al-Monitor. The culture around drinking wine is far different from that of raki [Turkeys traditional drink]. Raki is the drink of the single mens tables whereas wine belongs on family tables where men and women drink together. Arkas, described by Monocle magazine as one of the worlds top shipping moguls, said he often quotes the Latin proverb, Good wine makes the heart happy. He added, But the key word is 'good.' In the past, Turkish wines were far from being good. I dreamt of making good wine. While the wine-making tradition in multicultural Anatolia dates back 6,000 years, Turkey's post-Ottoman wine industry is in its infancy. With non-Muslims leaving Turkey after the 1923 War of Independence and through Turco-Greek population exchange, the wine-making tradition soured considerably. In the 1920s, two Turkish families founded their own wine companies, but there was hardly more variety in Turkish wine than in Turkish politics during the countrys single-party years. Turks often joked that there were two types of Turkish wine: red and white. In the second half of the 20th century, several more local wine producers mushroomed locally, but the wine was folkloric rather than drinkable. One of the Aegean towns, Sirince, (in)famous for its wines made with banana and other unlikely fruits, got its moment of glory when American actress Jodie Foster paid a visit and bought 15 bottles. The true revival of Turkish wines came in the first decade of the 21st century. New and ambitious wine producers such as Suvla Wines in the Gallipoli Peninsula and Gulor Winery in Thrace raised the bar for the existing producers. In 2010, Arkas bought Idol Wines and changed the company name to LA Wines. Vineyards are like children, you have to invest in them, teach them, work endlessly on them so that you can gather the results of your labor, Arkas said. Heavy investments in state-of-the-art wine-making technologies, oak barrels, outside consultants and efforts to introduce new grapes to the Aegean terroir followed the purchase. Experts reviewed the territorial and climatic characteristics of vineyards, and soil and climate analyses were conducted and saplings supplied from Europe were brought in by special air-conditioned trucks. Wine-making grapes such as tempranillo, chenin blanc, viognier, marselan, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, chardonnay and the local bornova misketi were planted. Vines were wrapped by wire based on a cultivation system called high trellis" to ensure that they grow upward. Today, LA Wines produces 1.3 million bottles of wine annually, in different segments that range from table wines to collecter bottles. Arkas LA is not the only vineyard that wants to make a name in the old wine-producing region. The Aegean produced wine since 1000 B.C., during the times of conquest-minded Persians and the commercially inclined Lydians. Yedi Bilgeler Winery, which takes its name from the Seven Sages of ancient Greece, incorporates a winery, hotel and restaurant close to Ephesus and names its wines after the Greek thinkers. On the other side of Izmir, near the Karaburun Peninsula, half a dozen vineyards, big and small, came together in 2016 to create the Urla Wine Route with financial support from the Izmir Development Agency. The owners of the vineyards are mostly former white-collar professionals. Architects Bilge and Reha Ogunlu decided to return from Michigan, to settle in Urla and take over the family vineyards. Three more couples two dentists, two lawyers and a brain surgeon followed their escape from the city. But it was not simply comradeship, sunsets over vineyards and sipping wine together for the new vineyard owners. The difficulties in obtaining permits, the limitations on marketing alcohol and the fall in tourism revenue all risk turning the dream of a vineyard owner into a nightmare. As of 2015, growth in the wine industry continued to be restrained by the negative factors influencing Turkeys overall alcoholic drinks market, such as twice yearly increases in excise taxes and bans on the marketing and promotion of all alcoholic drinks, according to a report by Euromonitor. Secular but predominantly Muslim Turkey consumes only 1.5 liters (6.34 cups) of alcohol per capita annually, according to OECD figures. Squeezed between regulations, taxes and the constant calls by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to stop drinking, Turkish consumers may be unlikely to increase their alcohol intake. The existing laws make it impossible for us to offer a glass of wine to those on the wine tour, Sevil Terzioglu, the public relations officer of Yedi Bilgeler Winery, told Al-Monitor. Laws on alcohol that were first enacted in 2013 and further strengthened in 2015 prevent most anything that would create brand awareness on alcohol. We cannot make sponsorship deals, offer a free drink to tourists who visit the vineyard and we cannot share pictures of bottles on social media. The decline of Western tourists who drank wine and loved visiting vineyards made the picture even bleaker. We had 2,000 reservations from abroad last year, lamented Terzioglu of Yedi Bilgeler, which has a total of 28 rooms around the picturesque vineyards. This year, we have less than half a dozen foreign tourists. The fall has become more pronounced after July 15, 2016 the failed coup in Turkey. Asked whether his wine-making dream has turned into a nightmare after all, Arkas replied with a smile, saying, I am not a man whod shy away from difficulty. A Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce workforce director is taking the helm at Leadership Huntsville/Madison County. Lyndsay Ferguson, who oversees the Chamber's workforce development and education efforts, will replace retiring Leadership President and CEO Sarah Savage, who is in the process of starting her own business. Savage will stay on part-time to assist with the transition through August. "This was an incredibly rigorous interview process, and we were grateful to receive interest from many qualified candidates," Savage said in a statement. "In the end, the board made an excellent decision and I am thrilled to pass the torch to such an outstanding community leader." Ferguson is a graduate of the Fellowship for Education Attainment, an initiative of the national Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. Before joining the Chamber, she was the senior director of talent support for YES Prep Public Schools in Houston. Her resume also includes board appointments for Energy Alabama, North Alabama Works, New Century High School and Serving Hope. She is a member of First Baptist Church, where she serves on the personnel committee. Ferguson said many Leadership alumni encouraged her to apply for the position of CEO and president. "I am grateful for this incredible opportunity to work with the 'dream team' of volunteers, board, and staff members to fulfill Leadership's mission," said Ferguson. "l see this role as an opportunity to expand Leadership's role in helping to build our community's human capital." Lyndsay has two young sons with her husband, Trip. They have lived in Huntsville for three years. Ferguson's last day with the Chamber is June 9. She will transition into her new role with Leadership on June 12. The TumTum Tree Foundation, a Birmingham non-profit supporting children's charities, has named Elizabeth "Libby" Sibley as its new executive director. Sibley succeeds Tom Miller, the director for the past seven years. She plans to focus on growing the TumTum Tree Foundation's annual wine auction and working with patrons and corporate sponsors. Sibley said she is excited to be back in her hometown. "As an organization, the TumTum Tree Foundation's sole purpose is to provide funds to charities focused on improving the lives of Alabama's children through the annual wine auction weekend," she said. "I am honored to immediately work towards making this event an even larger success." Sibley is a graduate of the University of Virginia and studied classic culinary arts at New York's International Culinary Institute. She has had held various positions in the food and wine industries. She has served as a line cook in Michelin-starred fine dining restaurants, and as a caterer, food stylist and recipe developer. She has also worked in restaurants in New York, Washington, D.C. and Birmingham. She started a Nashville food business, partnering with Airbnb homeowners to provide treats for guests, and worked in a wine bar, assisting the wine educator and owner. Through the annual wine auction, the TumTum Tree Foundation has donated almost $11 million to local and area charities dedicated to improving the lives of Alabama children. Walmart today announced plans for Alabama in 2017, which include remodeling several stores and the launch of two Walmart academies to teach associates retailing skills. In a news release, Walmart said the company's most recent earnings report shows "continued positive momentum in U.S. sales, customer traffic and customer feedback." U.S. sales accounted for $74.5 billion in the first quarter of the fiscal year. The biggest news is the 2.5 million square-foot distribution center planned for Mobile, which is expected to employ more than 550 full-time employees. But Walmart is also planning: *Multi-million dollar projects to remodel its Northport, Tuscaloosa, Alexander City, Guntersville, Enterprise, Brewton and Mobile locations. *The launch of Walmart Academies in Wetumpka and Fairhope, with plans to launch more this summer. Earlier this year, the company launched a Walmart Academy in Gadsden, which provides two-to-six weeks of training. John Tow, regional general manager for Alabama, said 2017 promises to be "an exciting year" for Walmart. "We've had a sharp focus on making our store experience second to none and our customers are telling us that our plan is working," he said. Last year, Walmart opened five new stores and remodeled nine in Alabama, as well as launched online grocery pickup service in Birmingham, Mobile and Montgomery. Other numbers from the retailers report: *Walmart has hired 4,750 veterans in Alabama since May 2013. *Walmart and the Walmart Foundation invested more than $1.4 billion locally in the 2017 fiscal year, including more than $30 million in cash and in-kind contributions to non-profits in Alabama. *In addition, the company awarded grants from the Walmart State Giving Program, including $50,000 to Alabama Childhood Food Solutions; $50,000 to Children's Hospital of Alabama; $50,000 to Downtown Jimmie Hale Mission, and $25,000 to YMCA of Birmingham. *Donated 16 million pounds of food to local food banks, and donated $560,000 to after school and breakfast classroom programs in Alabama. *Associates volunteered more than 24,000 hours with Alabama non-profits and charitable causes. At downtown Birmingham's longest surviving Greek-owned hot dog stand, it is the end of an era. And the start of a new one. George Nasiakos -- the wiry, white-haired Greek immigrant who has quietly worked the grill at Gus's Hot Dogs since he bought the place in 1995 -- has hung up his familiar blue apron for good. Soon, the 77-year-old Nasiakos will move back to Chicago to rejoin his brothers and sister, and to brace for those long, brutal Windy City winters he escaped when he came to Birmingham 22 years ago. But "Mr. George," as his customers call him, is leaving his place in good hands. Lee Pantazis -- a stocky, bearded young man who has been eating at Gus's since he was too little to see over the counter -- bought the business from Nasiakos, and he promises not to tinker too much with tradition. And just to make sure that he doesn't, Carl Lee Alexander -- "L.A.," as he's better known to Gus's regulars -- is sticking around to be Pantazis' right-hand man on the grill, just as he has been for Mr. George the past nine years. "He didn't want to sell it to just anybody," Alexander says. "He wanted to leave it with somebody that would know how to keep it running. Just anybody can't come in here. I've been here nearly nine years, so I've kind of got a little system." For the 29-year-old Pantazis, this isn't just an opportunity, but a responsibility. "I am still nervous about taking over because of how much clout the (Gus's) name carries, and, in all honesty, how much the Birmingham hot dog means to the Birmingham community," he says. "I've got friends from New York who talk about the first time they came down here to visit Alabama, and how they went to a Greek hot dog stand. So that's a heavy weight." Carl Lee Alexander, better known as "L.A." to customers, has worked at Gus's Hot Dogs for nine years and will continue under new owner Lee Pantazis, (Joe Songer/jsonger@al.com) The last one standing Tucked into a narrow, shotgun-style building that adjoins a parking garage on Fourth Avenue North, Gus's Hot Dogs is the last of the old-school downtown Birmingham hot dog joints. It doesn't seem that long ago, though, that there was one on almost every block: Jimmy's Hot Dogs at the corner of Fourth Avenue North and 21st Street, Tony's Terrific Hot Dogs at Second Avenue North and 21st Street, Lyric Hot Dogs & Grill on Third Avenue North, right across from the Alabama Theatre. And, of course, Pete's Famous Hot Dogs on Second Avenue North, where, for more than 60 years, the cantankerous Constantine "Gus" Koutroulakis reigned as Birmingham's hot dog king until he died six years ago. Pantazis -- whose late grandfather, George Pantazis, immigrated here from Greece and co-owned the old Hickory Hut and Coffee Cup restaurants -- has a lot of respect for Birmingham's hot dog heritage, and the role Greeks have played in it. "Forty years ago, you couldn't throw a stone without hitting a Greek hot dog stand, whether it was a little restaurant like this or a cart on the side of the road," he says. "I don't want that to disappear. "Call it nostalgia, but I remember when I would come here (to Gus's) with my dad and my brothers on a Saturday, and Mr. George would give us candy. Or we would go to Pete's Famous and (Koutroulakis) would call me 'Chunky.' "I remember those glass-bottle Coca-Colas and the Grapicos and all of the different sauces. Every single Greek hot dog sauce is a little bit different. You had a cult following behind each one. "Being Greek," Pantazis adds, "our allegiance was to all of them." George Nasiakos, who came to Birmingham from Greece via Chicago, bought Gus's Hot Dogs in 1995. (Joe Songer/jsonger@al.com) A 'microcosm of Birmingham' Tracing the history of Gus's Hot Dogs is, as Pantazis says, "kind of a little microcosm of Birmingham, isn't it?" Gus Alexander -- who, like many Birmingham restaurateurs of his era, came here from Greece -- opened Gus's sometime in the late 1940s, likely in 1947, according to oral history projects from the Southern Foodways Alliance. About 20 years later, in the late'60s, Alexander sold his place to another Greek immigrant, Aleck Choraitis, who had been a chef at the old Gold Nugget restaurant, just down the hill from Vulcan. Choraitis, who also owned Andrew's Bar-B-Q in East Lake, subsequently recruited Nasiakos to take over for him at Gus's. The two of them connected through their brothers, who were friends. Nasiakos, who came to America in 1964 from Tripolis, Greece, had been living in Chicago, where he worked in his brother's diner. Having grown weary of the winters there, he was easily talked into moving South. "(Choraitis) asked me, 'Do you like it here, George?'" Nasiakos recalls. "I like it because Chicago is too cold. I don't like the cold weather. I like hot weather. "He asked, 'Would you like to move here?' And I said yes." Nasiakos still remembers the date he bought Gus's: March 23, 1995. Although there have been, and still are, a few other places called Gus's Hot Dogs in the suburbs of Birmingham, they are separately owned, Pantazis says. "This was the original," he says. "(We) are not related, other than that we sell hot dogs and we share a name." Lee Pantazis, left, has been eating at Gus's Hot Dogs since he was a little boy. George Nasiakos -- "Mr. George," as Pantazis calls him -- used to give him candy. (Joe Songer/jsonger@al.com) Like a member of the family Pantazis, who, grew up in Birmingham, comes to Gus's with a fairly extensive background in the restaurant business that includes everything from barbecue (Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q) and Mexican food (Little Donkey) to Vietnamese cuisine (Saigon Noodle House) and fine-dining (Satterfield's Restaurant). Both his younger brother, Evan, and his older brother, D.G., followed in the footsteps of their father, Birmingham attorney Dennis Pantazis, and became lawyers. Their mother, Libby Pantazis, also practiced law but is now an artist. Lee, though, was the renegade who figured out early on that, like his grandfather, he wanted to be in the restaurant business. When he was 13, he started washing dishes and busing tables at the Fish Market, where George Sarris, a friend of the Pantazis family and yet another Greek restaurateur, passed along some valuable advice. "He always said Greek hospitality and Southern hospitality aren't that different," Pantazis says. "And I think that shows in Birmingham, with the amount of Greeks that have been successful in the restaurant industry. "They just do what they know, which is take care of people like family." The Pantazises have treated Nasiakos like an extended member of their family, too, even inviting him to spend Thanksgiving with them at their place at the lake. So when Mr. George was getting ready to retire, Lee's dad told his middle son he should look into buying his place. "It was an opportunity for ownership and to work for myself," Pantazis says. "My goal always was, you need a restaurant by 30. You've got a college degree. You've got every opportunity to be successful. If you don't take advantage of it, it's your own shortcoming." Gus's Hot Dogs, located at 1915 Fourth Ave. North in Birmingham, opened in the late 1940s. (Joe Songer/jsonger@al.com) Handing over the keys A lifelong bachelor, Nasiakos says his work and his customers have taken the place of marriage and family for him. "The customers, they are friends," he says. "I have a lot of friends, friends for years. Good people. I never have a problem with nobody. In 22 years, I never had an argument with nobody. "But I am retired now, and I leave it for the younger generation to work." Nasiakos officially handed over the keys to Gus's on April 1, but he still stops by on occasion, just to keep an eye on Pantazis during the transition and to say goodbye to some of his old customers. At the end of the month, Nasiakos plans to move back to Chicago, where he has two brothers and a sister. He also has two more brothers and another sister back in Greece. He has entrusted Pantazis with Gus's distinctive hot dog sauce, a tart, sweet and spicy concoction which was passed down from original owner Gus Alexander and which Nasiakos later tweaked. "The (original) sauce was very hot," Nasiakos says. "I hear so many people say, 'Oh, my God, it's too hot.' So I changed it. I make it my own." So there's nearly 70 years of secrets in that sauce. "Mr. George sat and watched me like a hawk while I made it by myself the first time," Pantazis says. "(He) did not say a word. "And that's one of the best compliments I've ever gotten," he adds. "Because I know, as a Greek man, not complaining about it is the same as praising it." A Remlap man was found dead Friday morning at a north Birmingham company where he worked in an apparent industrial accident. The Jefferson County Coroner's Office identified the victim as Thomas Wayne Keener. He was 74. Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates said Keener was found by a co-worker about 7 a.m. Friday at their place of employment in the 3400 block of 35th Street North. It appears Keener was working on some type of utility vehicle and was underneath it when it shifted and fell on him. He was pronounced dead on the scene at 7:41 a.m. It wasn't immediately clear when the accident happened, but Keener was last seen alive on Thursday. No foul play is suspected. Pebblin Warren on May 17.jpg Rep. Pebblin Warren, D-Tuskegee, said she has been working for three years on legislation to require inspections of church-affiliated child care centers after her grandson had a bad experience in one. ((Mike Cason/mcason@al.com)) Advocates for a bill to require state inspections and other new regulations for church-affiliated child care centers are urging lawmakers to pass the bill today, the last day of the legislative session. Rep. Pebblin Warren, D-Tuskegee, the bill sponsor, noted that the state requires inspections of restaurants, tattoo parlors and hair salons but not all child care centers. Warren's bill must first pass the Senate today to have a chance to become law. "I've been praying for it and I know God doesn't let me down and he's not going to let me down today," Warren said. Warren was joined at a news conference this morning by Barry Matson, head of the Alabama District Attorneys Association; Robin Pate, director of the child care center at First United Methodist Church in Birmingham; Melanie Bridgeforth, executive director of VOICES for Alabama Children; and Rep. K.L. Brown, R-Jacksonville. Pate said the First United Methodist Church center she directs cares for 63 children. She said the center chooses to be licensed because the Alabama Department of Human Resources helps make sure it can provide appropriate safeguards, like child-to-staff ratios and safe equipment. Pate said DHR never asks about the curriculum. Warren's bill is a compromise from an earlier version. It would not require church-affiliated centers to be licensed unless they receive state or federal funds or enroll children who receive child care subsidies. But DHR would inspect the license-exempt centers annually. As of May 8, there were 980 licensed centers and 958 exempt centers in the state, according to DHR. Warren said that while many exempt centers are safe, others are not. by a vote of 88-9 last month. midwives bill supporters Courtney Sirmon Kaycee Cavender Rep Ken Johnson.jpg Midwives bill supporters, from left, Courtney Sirmon of Hoover, Kaycee Cavender of Heflin with her daughter, Maylee, and Rep. Ken Johnson, R-Moulton, the bill sponsor. ((Mike Cason/mcason@al.com)) ( ) A bill to allow certified professional midwives to deliver babies in homes in Alabama has passed on the last day of the legislative session. The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 30-0 after making changes. That sent the bill to the House of Representatives, which accepted the Senate changes and gave the bill final approval. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey, who could sign it into law. Earlier in the Senate today, Sen. Slade Blackwell, R-Mountain Brook, raised concerns about standards for midwives' certification and said he would propose amendments to the bill. That temporarily put consideration of the bill on hold. Blackwell later returned to the chamber and went over changes that were included in an amendment by Sen. Paul Bussman, R-Cullman, who carried the bill in the Senate. The Senate adopted the Bussman amendment and then passed the bill.. Mothers advocating for the bill have drawn attention to the issue, making their presence known at the State House. Supporters, including the Alabama Birth Coalition, say they have lobbied for the legislation for 13 years. The bill is by Rep. Ken Johnson, R-Moulton. The House overwhelmingly passed it in April. It would allow certified professional midwives that hold certification from the Institute for Credentialing Excellence to practice in Alabama. Under current law, it's a misdemeanor for midwives to practice in Alabama, except for nurse midwives, who can deliver babies in hospitals in collaboration with a doctor's practice. The Medical Association of the State of Alabama has opposed the bill, citing safety concerns. ChristianSanders.jpg Christian Evan Sanders, 1, died April 17, 2017 after he was left in his father's pickup truck outside of a Vestavia Hills office building for eight hours. (carol robinson/crobinson@al.com/Facebook) Authorities today released the official cause of death for a 1-year-old boy found unresponsive in his father's truck outside of a Vestavia Hills office building last month. The Jefferson County Coroner's Office said Christian Evan Sanders died from hyperthermia - an elevated body temperature due to failed thermoregulation that occurs when a body produces or absorbs more heat than it dissipates. Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates said Christian, whose family lives in eastern Jefferson County, was last known to be alive at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, April 7. He was found unresponsive at 4:37 p.m. and pronounced dead at Children's of Alabama at 5:06 p.m. Vestavia Hills police spokesman Capt. Brian Gilham said Friday they will meet soon with the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office to present the findings from their 5-week investigation. Until then, he said, police will not be making an additional statements on the case. Vestavia Hills police and firefighters responded to the office building in the 2000 block of Columbiana Road at 4:38 p.m. The call was on a child left in a vehicle. The red Ford F-150 was parked in the rear parking lot of the NaphCare Building. Christian's father, a software engineer at the company, had already taken the boy out of the vehicle by the time police and medics arrived. The boy was in cardiac arrest, and first responders rushed the child to Children's of Alabama via a police escort. The boy's father accompanied his son to the hospital. So far this year, six children have died nationwide after being left in a hot vehicle. In addition to Christian's death in Vestavia Hills, those deaths have occurred in Texas, West Virginia, Louisiana, and two in Florida. In 2016, there were a total of 39 juvenile vehicular hyperthermia deaths nationwide, including two in Alabama. Christian is the state's first hot car death this year. Of the 2016 deaths nationwide, 38 of them happened between March 15 through October 11, according to noheatstroke.org. One of the deaths happened in January when the outside temperate was 52 degrees. The outside temperature on the day Christian died was about 69 degrees. However, Jan Null, a certified consulting meteorologist at San Jose State University and one of the nation's leading experts on the dynamics of how hot vehicles can get and the tracking of heatstroke deaths of children in vehicles, said the inside air temperature of the car could have been in excess of 140 degrees. Objects or a person inside the car in direct sunlight would have been significantly hotter. Gov. Kay Ivey said this morning she might call a special session on prisons. Ivey said an expected ruling from U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson would affect how the state proceeds to address problems with its overcrowded and understaffed prisons. Thompson held a nonjury trial on inmate claims that mental health care does not meet constitutional standards. The trial ended in February and the judge is expected to rule soon. "Certainly we'll examine those things and see what he recommends and what he contains in that order," Ivey said this morning after signing a bill to require many insurance plans to cover autism therapy. "At the same time, calling a special session may very well be an option because we've got to meet the needs of the state and we've got to meet the needs that the judge outlines." The Legislature considered a plan to build three new men's prisons and replace Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women. But today is the last day of the legislative session and the sponsor has pronounced the bill dead. Ivey supported the prison legislation. She said passing it would have shown Thompson the state was "dead serious about making a difference to improve our prison structure, much less the health and safety of our inmates and our staff and increasing the salaries of our staff in prison." Sen. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster, sponsor of the prison bill, said he expects Thompson's ruling to require the state to upgrade mental health care in prisons. "I think Judge Thompson will come back and say the system you're running is unconstitutional," Ward said. "Now, you've got to come up with a plan to fix it. That's how that typically works in court. So I don't see how you avoid a special session." Ward said the state cannot indefinitely postpone an upgrade of prison facilities. "It's another can that we kicked down the road," Ward said. "One day we're going to walk up and there's going to be a big pile of cans that we've got to deal with. And it's coming pretty soon." Ivey was also asked today about her health today. An article in raised questions about the governor's health and her level of activity. "If you look at our schedule, it's pretty jam-packed and full and we're busy getting our hands around the activities of the state of Alabama and to see if we can't steady the ship and also work hard to tell the world that Alabama is open for business. So I'm in great shape and eager to work and am working. "Thank y'all for caring enough to inquire, but all is well." Updated at 2:22 p.m. to add comment from Sen. Cam Ward. 5-19 US Friday lows 1.jpg Low temperatures last night fell only into the 70s across Alabama -- warm enough to break a few records. Here's a look at last night's forecasted lows. (National Weather Service) It was warm enough this week to break records in several Alabama cities. Huntsville, Birmingham and Tuscaloosa all broke an unusual temperature record on May 18, according to the National Weather Service. Muscle Shoals tied its record. Tonight is going to be another warm one, with lows expected to fall only into the high 60s and low 70s again statewide. (NWS) It's called highest minimum temperatures -- or you could call it high low temperatures. Birmingham's temperature fell only to 72 degrees May 18, a low so high that it broke the record of 71 set back in 1896. Tuscaloosa was even warmer, with a low of 73 degrees. That broke the record of 71 set in 2013. Huntsville's temperature fell to only 71, breaking a record of 70 degrees set in 2015. Muscle Shoals tied its record, falling to 70 degrees. The previous record was 70 degrees in 2000. More warm and muggy weather is in the forecast again today, with rain chances increasing over the weekend. The weather service said Alabama's summer preview should end next week, with near to below average temperatures possible. House holds hands for prayer.jpg Members of the Alabama House of Representatives hold hands while Speaker Mac McCutcheon prays for unity. The prayer came after a three-hour recess prompted by racial tensions over an email that offended black lawmakers. ((Mike Cason/mcason@al.com)) Leaders in the Alabama House of Representatives tonight pledged to build more respect and understanding after racial tensions erupted for the second day over a widely distributed email that the Black Caucus found insulting and unacceptable. Rep. Lynn Greer, R-Rogersville, apologized on the House floor for the email, which told a story about caged monkeys trained to punish each other for trying to eat a banana without knowing exactly why. Greer said he meant no insult when he forwarded the email from a constituent to some House members, staffers and others. "It offended many of you," Greer said. "That was not my intent. And I stand before you tonight as humble as I can, apologizing for offending you. I wouldn't have done it for anything in the world had I known it was going to happen, but it happened." Greer's apology came after the House recessed for three hours and met privately in groups. The recess came after Rep. John Rogers, D-Birmingham demanded a public apology from Greer and at one point threatened to "punch his nose off." Rogers called the email was the worst incident during his 35 years in the Legislature. When the House returned from the recess, Speaker Mac McCutcheon asked representatives to hold hands while he prayed for unity. Greer's apology followed the prayer. Legislative Black Caucus Chairman John Knight said the incident could mark a point of healing in a chamber that was already deeply divided over a redistricting plan before the email dispute. "I think we can do a better job of getting to know each other on a personal basis," Knight said. "Knowing something about my background. Learn something about your background. And trying to come to some common ground." House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, called for sensitivity training and team-building. "It gives us an opportunity to know each and every person and understand what they may think is a joke may not be a joke to others," Daniels said. "Things that are very sensitive based upon the time and the era that you grew up in." Charleston Wells A jury has acquitted Charleston Wells of murder in the 2016 shooting death of Hoover resident Mike Gilotti, a veteran and father of two. Wells, 17, however, was found guilty of nine counts of breaking and entering a vehicle. Gilotti's wife, Heather, and his family appeared upset and declined to talk to reporters outside the courtroom. Assistant Jefferson County Bessemer Cutoff District Attorney Lane Tolbert said he was "disappointed" with the verdict. "Justice was not done," he said. But Tolbert said he wasn't surprised at the jury's not guilty verdict based on the fact the jury took three days to decide. Wells will not have to serve any prison time on those break-in convictions. Instead, he will be sentenced to probation under Alabama sentencing guidelines at his July 18 sentencing on the breaking and entering charges. Tolbert said. Wells' bond was revoked Friday after the verdict so he will remain in jail for now. Wells was also to have gone on trial this week in the Birmingham division of Jefferson County for attempted murder in a shooting in Fultondale the day before Gilotti was shot. The victim in that case was not wounded. A judge reset the Fultondale case for September. The Fultondale case against Wells and co-defendant Ahmad Johnson had originally been dismissed by a district court judge, but the district attorneys office got an indictment. Tolbert explained that under recent sentencing reforms by the Alabama Legislature those convicted of property crimes face probation or little jail time. Wells has been in jail for more than a year awaiting trial and that time would count towards any sentence. "With the Alabama guidelines now he won't do any time at all... The judge doesn't even have an option," Tolbert said. Charles Salvagio, one of Wells' defense attorneys, said that Wells' was crying and said "Oh my God" after the verdict. "There are no winners here. This lady lost her husband. He was an American hero," Salvagio said. "I always felt in my heart that this kid (Charleston Wells) didn't do it." "We know who did it... the guy was caught with the murder weapon," Salvagio said. Well-known attorney Tom Mesereau, of Los Angeles, also represented Wells. Tolbert said they will next try Ahmad Johnson, one of the other three co-defendants in the case who were together that morning with Gilotti was shot. "We can put him there and put him there aiding and abetting," he said. The jury during its deliberations in the Wells' case had asked several times for instructions from the judge on the state's aiding and abetting laws. When jurors arrived to continue deliberations Friday morning Circuit Judge David Carpenter read them what's called an Allen charge - or "dynamite charge" - that is read to deadlocked juries to urge them to continue deliberations and move toward a verdict. He told jurors no one wants to try this again. At times loud voices have been heard coming from the jury room during the jury's deliberations, which began around noon Tuesday. And on Thursday afternoon the judge warned the jury that they should be "respectful" of each other's ideas or opinions after one or more of the women on the jury complained. He also told them that "sympathy" and "emotion" are not evidence and they should not let that be a factor in their deliberations. Jurors were not getting along and at least one of the jurors said she felt "unsafe," Salvagio said after the trial. The jurors deliberated for several days in Wells' murder trial. Gilotti was shot to death on Jan. 5, 2016. Wells was 16 when the shooting happened. Wells faced a total of 10 charges -- one for murder, plus nine counts of unlawful breaking and entering of a vehicle. Gilotti was fatally shot in the back as he was leaving his Lake Cyrus home to go to the gym. After he was shot, he ran to the front door where his wife, Heather, performed CPR. Gilotti was pronounced dead on the scene. The couple have two young sons. Seventeen-year-old Darrian Bryant, 18-year-old Ahmad Johnson, and 20-year-old De'Ron Lucas, are also charged with murder in Gilotti's death. Bryant testified in the trial, pointing the finger to Wells as the shooter. Wells, however, placed the blame on Johnson and Bryant. Assistant District Attorneys Lane Tolbert, Bill North, and Brett Butler also prosecuted the case. house of representatives feb 9 2016 julie bennett.JPG ((Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)) A bill that would have allowed more tax credit options for contributors to private school scholarships failed today in the Alabama House of Representatives. The bill would broadened tax credits allowed under the Alabama Accountability Act, the school choice law that passed in 2013. The tax credits have been controversial because they reduce the amount of funding available for public schools. The bill would not have raised the $30 million annual cap on the tax credits. But it would have made other changes intended to promote donations to the scholarship programs. It would have allowed companies that make donations to claim a credit on their utilities gross receipts tax. Under current law, the credits can apply only to state income tax. And the bill would have increased the maximum tax credit that individuals and corporations could claim for scholarship donations. The bill was a priority for Senate leader Del Marsh, who led passage of the Accountability Act in 2013. It narrowly passed the Senate in February. The House rejected the bill today by a vote of 59-28. Today is the last day of the legislative session. Authorities are searching for family members of a man found dead in a Norwood boarding home last week. Albert B. Williams was a 63-year-old black male, according to the Jefferson County Coroner's Office. He was discovered unresponsive about 9:57 a.m. Wednesday, May 10, and pronounced dead a short time later. Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates said Williams died of natural causes and no foul play is suspect. His body, however, is ready to be released for burial and investigators have not been able to locate his relatives. Williams is believed to have a brother living in Montgomery, but coroner's officials have not been able to find him. Anyone with information is asked to call the coroner's office at 205-930-3603. Legislative Districts Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, addresses the House of Representatives at the Alabama State House building in Montgomery, Ala., on Thursday, May 18, 2017. Rep. Givan spoke about what she believed was a racist email that was sent on Wednesday to dozens of legislatures and staff. Rep. John Rogers, D-Birmingham, and Laura Hall, D-Huntsville, stand behind Givan. (Albert Cesare/The Montgomery Advertiser via AP) (Albert Cesare) State Rep. John Rogers of Birmingham called for a public apology from Rep. Lynn Greer on the House floor tonight as fallout resurfaced over an email Greer forwarded on Wednesday that included an anecdote on monkeys. "I'm not a monkey," Rogers said, his voice tense with emotion. "My mother wasn't a monkey and neither was my father. You're a damn monkey." Rogers also said what sounded like a verbal threat to Greer, saying at one point he would "punch his nose off." Rogers called for Speaker Mac McCutcheon to intervene and require Greer to issue a public apology. "I've been here 35 years and I've never seen this kind of action in my life," Rogers said. "I've been here through five governors, never seen it." McCutcheon called the House into recess for an hour to seek a resolution to the rising tension. On Wednesday, Greer apologized to the Black Caucus and said he did not mean to insult with the email, which he said he forwarded from a constituent. Greer issued a statement saying the email was taken out of context. "The last paragraph of the email implies that ALL incumbents, whether Republican or Democrat, should be replaced," he said. "Without comment or edits on my part, I forwarded the email to various members who might have an interest, and, as a result, it has been taken out of context and given a meaning that was not intended for pure political purposes. For that, I apologize to my colleagues." Rogers said he did not accept Greer's apology. "I have not seen a public apology," Rogers said. "I saw an excuse." Before Rogers spoke tonight, Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, spoke about what she said was a problem with racism in the House. "This building is a like a ticky, ticky time bomb, boom, boom, waiting to explode," Givan said. Givan was not at the State House on Wednesday for the initial response to the Greer email. A Bob Jones High School student was killed in a motorcycle crash on Wall Triana Highway late Thursday. Tyrone Pointer Jr., 16, of Madison, was pronounced dead at the scene just before 10 p.m., said Madison County Deputy Coroner Tyler Berryhill. Pointer's motorcycle collided with a car near Dunlop Boulevard around 9:30 p.m. The highway was temporarily closed as emergency personnel worked the scene. Pointer was traveling south when he collided with the car that was heading north and attempting to make a left turn, Huntsville police said. Witnesses told police it appeared the headlight on the motorcycle was not on or functioning at the time. "The accident is still under investigation, but at this time charges are not expected to be filed against the driver of the car," police said in a statement. Pointer was a sophomore and ran on the track team at Bob Jones. Fellow track team members and students took the news of Pointer's death hard this morning, said teacher and track coach Brad Jefferson in a statement from Madison City School. Jefferson said Pointer was a very likeable person, a model student and was always wearing a smile. "He was the kind of guy if you had daughters like I do, you'd want to see date," Jefferson said. "And if you had sons, you'd want sons to be like him." Superintendent Robby Parker said the school district and Bob Jones community are saddened by the loss. "Anytime we lose one of our students, it hurts our hearts and we hurt for the family" he said in the statement. "Our prayers are certainly with them today." Parker was at the school before opening today with extra counselors to help grieving students. Updated at 2:22 p.m. to include comments from the school system. An overview of the relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia over the past century. Saudi Arabia and the United States have a relationship that stretches back almost a century, since the 1933 kickoff of oil exploration in the kingdom. Since then, the two countries have maintained a baseline of economic and security cooperation that has kept ties between them strong. Saudi Arabia is the US largest foreign military sales customer, and the US has long had a physical and advisory military role in the kingdom. While today there seems to be a strategic alignment between Saudi Arabias interests in the region and those of the US, mostly centring around controlling Irans regional reach, there have been low points in this relationship that were brought about by major events. Saudi Arabia has always sought balance between its role as a leader in the Arab world and its strong ties to the US. During the final years of the Obama administration, relations had undergone a period of difference of opinion, as stated by a senior advisor to Prince Salman last March. These differences of opinion were largely centred around Saudi Arabias refusal to engage with Iran and the Obama administrations cautions to the kingdom about the civilian toll of the war in Yemen. However, under the Trump administration, relations have warmed and the US is fully supporting Saudi Arabia in its regional role. President Trump had maintained an extremely negative view of Saudi Arabia for years before being sworn in as president, saying that he was definitely not a big fan of the kingdom, and that the US should not be working to support Saudi terrorists. This position changed, underlined by an extremely cordial visit that that Deputy Crown Prince and Minister of Defence of Saudi Arabia Prince Mohammed bin Salman made to Washington, DC. In a statement after this meeting, bin Salmans senior advisors statement touched on the various topics discussed, which included an expansion of economic cooperation, an agreement that Trumps travel ban was justified and was not a Muslim ban, and the two leaders agreement on the same views on the gravity of the Iranian expansionist moves in the region. OPINION: US-Saudi relations in the Trump era Trump will be visiting Riyadh on Friday on his first international trip as US president. He will follow that with visits to Israel, the Vatican City, Brussels and Sicily. During the trip, Trump will be participating in three summits: the first between himself and Saudi King Salman, the second with the leadership of the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and the third with heads of state and high officials from a number of Arab and Muslim states. The first Saudi-US summit is expected to focus on cooperation between the two countries on security, economy and regional politics. Saudi Arabia is expected to press the US on Iran and reiterate its position that Irans activity in the region is the cause of a great deal of instability. There are high expectations that an arms deal worth $100bn that has been in the works for awhile will be ready by that date. A US official speaking on condition of anonymity told Reuters that the total value of the arms sales could exceed $300bn over the next decade. The discussion of Iran and its supposed destabilising role in the region will carry through to the second, GCC-US summit, which will focus on security and stability in the GCC region and the building of trade ties. During the third summit, which will include the leaders of a number of Arab and Muslim states, Trump is expected to deliver a speech on the religion of Islam, the US positive relationship with it, and the distortion of the positive image of Islam by groups who use it for their own violent gains, exhorting the gathered Arab Muslim leaders to fight this distortion in any way they can. This has been received with a great deal of derision on social media, especially after it was revealed yesterday that the man writing the speech was Stephen Miller, a senior Trump adviser who played a large role in the creation of the travel ban known as the Muslim ban earlier this year. Al Jazeera takes a look back at the ups and downs of the critical relationship between Saudi Arabia and the United States. Riyadh will give a warm welcome to Trump this weekend, but it will judge him based on his actions, not his promises. Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia, will be the first foreign destination Donald Trump visits as the President of the United States on May 20. This trip signals that the Trump administration acknowledges Riyadh as a crucial US strategic partner in maintaining regional stability and world economic security. Trumps decision to visit Saudi Arabia should not come as a big surprise. Saudi Arabia had a prominent role in the national security doctrine of every US president, from Roosevelt to Obama. It all started in 1931, when the US officially recognised the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by extending full diplomatic recognition. The relations were bolstered when the US President Roosevelt met with the Saudi King Abdul-Aziz bin Saud on board the USS Quincy in the Suez Canal of Egypt in 1945. The US-Saudi relations were cemented on one core doctrine, oil for security. The Saudis guaranteed continued access to oil, and President Roosevelt declared that the defense of Saudi Arabia was vital to the defense of the United States. The US-Saudi relations, however, went through many ups and downs. Back in 2009, the Saudi leadership conveyed to John Brennan, President Barack Obamas advisor on counter terrorism that President Bush [junior] didnt take his advice on dealing with issues in the region, and they found their problems compounded. The Saudis perceived that US policy in Iraq after the 2003 war was emboldening Iranian influence in Baghdad. According to documents released by Wikileaks, the Saudi king even said in his meeting with Brennan that thank God for bringing Obama to the Presidency [to restore US credibility in the region]. Yet, the relations between the Kingdom and the US deteriorated even further under the Obama administration. READ MORE:Is the Middle East Trumps new playground? The Saudis were angry when Obama told Egypts Hosni Mubarak, a long-time ally to Washington and Riyadh, that he needs to step-down during the 2011 Arab Spring protests. They were frustrated with Obamas inaction on the Assad must go policy in Syria. They were wary that the Iran nuclear deal is the beginning of an American pivot toward their regional rival, Iran. And Obamas statement that Saudi Arabia should share the region with Iran shredded the relations between the White House and Riyadh. The Saudis felt that the US administration was abandoning its 70 years alliance with the Kingdom. A renewed partnership in the horizon Now, with Trumps visit to Riyadh, the hope to restore US commitments is revived in the Saudi capital. The Saudi King, Salman Bin Abdul-Aziz, saidthis historic summit will hopefully lead to a new partnership in confronting extremism and terrorism, disseminating the values of tolerance and coexistence, and bolstering security, stability and cooperation to serve the present and future of our peoples. But the Saudis are expecting more concrete actions from the Trump administration. For the Trump administration, this visit is a chance for the president to roll-back on his anti-Islam campaign narrative and engage the Muslim world constructively to combat violent extremism in the region and beyond. by In Iraq, they want to see a more inclusive and less-sectarian- government in Baghdad. In Syria, they support a political transition that will eventually lead to the departure of Bashar Al-Assad. In Yemen, they launched a military campaign to degrade the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels capabilities, and to restore the internationally recognized Hadi-led government. The Saudis will be pushing for a US support on these three fronts to circumvent the Iranian influence in the region. If these objectives were to be met, it will provide the Saudi government with more leverage to engage Tehran diplomatically. For Riyadh, it is equally important that the US continues its support in strengthening the Saudi military capabilities. Also the US should be firm in dealing with Irans destabilising activities in the region. This will reassure the Saudis and it will decrease the likelihood of a direct military confrontation with Iran. A war between the Saudis and Iranians will destabilise the region more, disrupt the oil markets, and possibly drag the US into a third major war in the region. Something the current US government would like to avoid. While Riyadh and Washington will not always and should not expect to have aligned policies in the region, I believe they do share similar strategic interests in many of the issues. As for the Trump administration, this visit is a chance for the president to roll-back on his anti-Islam campaign narrative and engage the Muslim world constructively to combat violent extremism in the region and beyond. Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) and Al-Qaeda brought more harm to Muslims than anyone else. The US and Saudis as well as the other Muslim leaders have a shared goal in degrading and eliminating the threat of these groups. On this trip, President Trump will join King Salman in inaugurating the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology in Riyadh. But the Trump administration is also expected to push for what White House officials call an Arab NATO. The actual plans in terms of the structural organisation, membership, and goals are yet to be announced. However, it is clear that the US wants closer security coordination between key Arab states and more burden-sharing to maintain the security of the region. I expect the Saudis and many others to be supportive of this plan. But the US is expected to play an active role in this alliance if it was to be achieved. Also it should be clear that the intention of such alliance is to solely defend member states from external threats and to defeat terrorism. This will encourage more regional members to join the security pact, and the alliance will more likely be successful overall. OPINION: Envisioning Donald Trumps Middle East Another major aspect of Trumps visit is economic. During the GCC-US meetings, I think Trump will offer more military sales to the Gulf States. It is already expected that Trump will announce a new US arms package for Saudi Arabia valued around $100bn in Riyadh. I also suspect that Trump will ask the Gulf States to financially support his $1 trillion infrastructure plan. Reports speculate that the Saudis will commit $40bn to this plan. In addition, a US-Saudi economic program valued at more than $200bn is to be implemented over the next 4 years. The Trump administration will expect other rich Gulf States to chip-in as well. However, JASTA should be scrapped to assure investments from the Gulf. The Saudi government will extend a warm and heartfelt welcome to President Trump during his visit. But he will be judged based on his actions, not promises. Hamad Althunayyan is a PhD Researcher in Political Science at University of Maryland College Park. He earned his BA in Political Science from Virginia Commonwealth University and MA in International Relations from American University, Washington, DC. He wrote several articles on Gulf security, Iran, and U.S. role in the region. Follow him on twitter: @HAlthunayyan The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. Protests called in Brazils main cities after President Michel Temer, accused of bribery, refuses to step down. Sao Paulo Brazil is reeling from a dramatic new twist in its ongoing political crisis. Amid calls for his resignation from the public and politicians alike, President Michel Temer is now under investigation by the Supreme Court, accused of authorising bribe payments to allegedly silence a jailed former party ally. Temer denied the accusations and after much speculation told an audience on Thursday in the capital Brasilia he would not resign. I have nothing to hide, he said, adding he wanted the investigation to proceed as fast as possible in his first public address on the scandal since details were published in Brazils O Globo newspaper Wednesday night. READ MORE: Michel Temer taped approving Eduardo Cunha bribe In a wiretapped conversation, Temer appeared to tell Joesley Batista one of the owners of Brazil meat-packing giant JBS to maintain payments to Eduardo Cunha, the disgraced and imprisoned former speaker of the House of Representatives, in return for his silence. You have to keep this up, right? Temer is heard saying in the recording released in Brazilian media on Thursday evening. Cunha, formally of Temers Brazilian Democratic Party (PMDB), led the impeachment charge against ex-president Dilma Rousseff that culminated in Temer taking power. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison for corruption in March. As the scandal developed on Thursday, it was reported that the main party in Temers governing coalition, the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB), intended to leave the base of government. At least one minister also resigned. Brazils stocks and currency tumbled throughout the day. The Sao Paulo-based Bovespa index plunged 10 percent on opening before recovering slightly, its worst performance since 2008. The currency lost 7.5 percent of its value. Protests were planned in the main cities across Brazil on Thursday night, many actually beginning shortly after Temers refusal to resign was reported, with protesters calling for his removal and direct elections. The scandal comes at a crucial time for Brazil, which is mired in its worst recession in decades, the economy having shrunk nearly 8 percent in the last two years with more than 14 million people unemployed. Optimists, including Temer himself, had been heralding a recovery following small signs of a return to growth recorded earlier in the week, gains that are now in jeopardy. How Temer plans to continue to govern with the scandal hanging over him is uncertain. OPINION: There is no justice for the poor in Brazil All signs point to the end of the government: the opening of inquiry in the Supreme Court, allies abandoning the president, and critical media coverage, said Mauricio Santoro, a political scientist and professor of external relations at Rio de Janeiro State University. The question is much more what happens in the coming weeks? Resignation, removal, indirect elections, mass protests for direct elections? he told Al Jazeera. Since he became president last year following the controversial impeachment of Rousseff who was removed from office after being accused of manipulating federal budgets, his government has been plagued by scandal and several ministers have been forced to resign. His government has embarked on a series of unpopular reforms, including a 20-year freeze in public spending and a proposed reform of Brazils pension system, which would see Brazilians retiring older, measures he defends as bitter but necessary to get the flailing economy back on track. Recent polls suggest that 92 percent of Brazilians want new direct elections, and Temers approval rating stands at less than 10 percent. Police say driver in custody after vehicle kills one person and injures 22 others in the citys popular tourist spot. A US military veteran with a criminal past ploughed a vehicle into a crowd of people in New Yorks Times Square, killing one woman and injuring 22 other people. Witnesses said the motorist mounted the pavement in a burgundy Honda sedan on Thursday and sped along for more than three city blocks, knocking people over before the car hit a pole and came to rest at 45th Street and Broadway in Midtown Manhattan. Police who took the driver into custody identified him as Richard Rojas, 26, of the New York City borough of the Bronx. They said he had been arrested twice for driving under the influence in 2008 and 2015, and once earlier this month for menacing. The citys mayor said there was no indication it was an act of terrorism. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said the man had served in the navy. One male in custody in the #TimesSquare vehicle collision. It is believed to be an isolated incident, it remains under investigation. NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) May 18, 2017 Officials said Rojas was arrested in 2008 and 2015 for driving under the influence, and in 2016 for menacing in different areas of New York. The incident caused instant jitters after recent deadly car-ramming attacks in London, Berlin and the French city of Nice. Hundreds of thousands of people, many of them tourists from around the world, pass through the bustling commercial area daily. MORE: Preliminary information suggests Times Square incident not tied to terrorism U.S. official. https://t.co/F9U96T4tiG pic.twitter.com/PX5Ic0ST9i Reuters (@Reuters) May 18, 2017 Navy records show Rojas spent two months in a military prison in Charleston, South Carolina, in the summer of 2013 but do not specify why. He left the service in May 2014, according to records, which do not offer any additional details. Update from Times Square regarding the vehicle collision https://t.co/2YLEVtCgN5 NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) May 18, 2017 Al Jazeeras Gabriel Elizondo, reporting from New York, said law-enforcement officials were at the scene and talking to eyewitnesses to gather as much information as possible. This was an incredibly scary moment, happening right in the heart of Times Square where hundreds, if not thousands, of tourists were mixing with the local workers during lunch time, he said. Fighter jets carry out what US describes as unprofessional intercept of radiation detection plane over East China Sea. Two Chinese fighter jets have carried out what the US military described as an unprofessional intercept of a US aircraft designed to detect radiation while it was flying over the East China Sea. US officials told CNN that one of the Sukhoi Su-30 jets that approached the WC-135 plane on Wednesday was flying upside down, coming as close as 46 metres. The issue is being addressed with China through appropriate diplomatic and military channels, air force spokeswoman Lieutenant-Colonel Lori Hodge said on Thursday. Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying declined to comment on the specific incident and referred questions to the defence ministry which has yet to comment. For a long time US ships and aircraft have been carrying out close-up surveillance of China which can really easily cause misunderstandings or misjudgments or cause unexpected incidents at sea or in the air, she told the Reuters news agency. We hope that the US side can respect Chinas reasonable security concerns. READ MORE: US slams China over spy plane provocation (2014) US television network NBC reported that the US aircraft was conducting a routine mission in international airspace when it was intercepted over the East China Sea. The WC-135 is a so-called sniffer plane designed to scan the atmosphere for signs of nuclear activity. US broadcaster NBC said the WC-135s crew described the encounter as unprofessional, although not necessarily dangerous. It said military officials insist the US plane was operating in accordance with international law. A similar incident occurred in 2014, when then-President Barack Obama said that Chinese fighter jets conducted an unprofessional intercept of a US navy spy plane in international airspace over the South China Sea. Washington and Beijing have differing views about the legality of US military overflights in much of the region, a result of differing interpretations of rights conveyed under the Law of the Sea treaty. In April 2001, another intercept of a US EP-3E spy plane by a Chinese F-8 fighter in the same area resulted in a collision that killed the Chinese pilot and forced the US plane to make an emergency landing at a base on Hainan. The 24 US crew members were held for 11 days until Washington apologised for the incident, which soured US-Chinese relations in the early days of President George W Bushs first administration. The US and Chinese militaries have boosted their contacts in recent years amid recognition that as Chinas economic interests continue to expand it will play a bigger security role in the world and have more interactions with the US military. But even as US and Chinese military contacts have increased, tensions between China and its neighbours, some of them US treaty allies, have heightened over competing territorial claims in the South China and East China seas. Thousands rally in occupied West Bank and Gaza in support of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Dozens of Palestinians have been injured during protests in various parts of the West Bank, occupied since 1967 by the Israeli army, and near the security barrier that seals off the Gaza Strip. The Israeli forces used tear gas, rubber bullets and live fire against thousands of protesters on Friday, the Palestine Red Crescent Society said. About 1,500 people protested in Hebron, in the southern West Bank, while demonstrations also took place in other towns and villages. The Palestinians were demonstrating in support of hundreds of prisoners in Israeli jails who have been on hunger strike since April 17, demanding better conditions. In Gaza, which has been under a rigorous Israeli blockade for more than 10 years, hundreds of people waving Palestinian flags approached the concrete and metal barrier that separates it from Israel and threw stones and burned tyres. The health authorities in Gaza said eight people were wounded by bullets and about 30 suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Chinese counterpart China Xi Jinping warned him there would be war if Manila tried to enforce an arbitration ruling and drill for oil in a disputed part of the South China Sea. In remarks that could infuriate China, Duterte hit back on Friday at domestic critics who said he has gone soft on Beijing by refusing to push it to comply with an award last year by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which ruled largely in favour of the Philippines. Duterte said he discussed it with Xi when the two met in Beijing on Monday, and got a firm but friendly warning. We intend to drill oil there, if its yours, well, thats your view, but my view is, I can drill the oil, if there is some inside the bowels of the earth because it is ours, Duterte said in a speech, recalling his conversation with Xi. His response to me, were friends, we dont want to quarrel with you, we want to maintain the presence of warm relationship. But if you force the issue, well go to war. Duterte has long expressed his admiration for Xi and said he would raise the arbitration ruling with him eventually, but needed first to strengthen relations between the two countries, which the Philippines is hoping will yield billions of dollars in Chinese loans and infrastructure investments. The Hague award clarifies Philippine sovereign rights in its 322km Exclusive Economic Zone to access offshore oil and gas fields, including the Reed Bank, 85 nautical miles off its coast. It also invalidated Chinas nine-dash line claim on its maps denoting sovereignty over most of the South China Sea. Duterte has a reputation for his candid, at times incendiary, remarks and his office typically backpedals on his behalf and blames the media for distorting his most controversial comments. Duterte recalled the same story about his discussion with Xi on oil exploration in a recorded television show aired moments after the speech. He said Xi told him do not touch it. He added Xi had promised the arbitration ruling would be discussed in future, but not now. OPINION: Philippines: Rodrigo Dutertes pivot to China Duterte said China did not want to bring up the arbitral ruling at a time when other claimant countries, such as Vietnam, might also decide to file cases against it at the arbitration tribunal. It was not the first time the firebrand leader has publicly discussed what was said during private meetings with other world leaders. His remarks came the same day that China and the Philippines held their first session in a two-way consultation process on the South China Sea. They exchanged views on the importance of appropriately handling concerns, incidents and disputes involving the South China Sea, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement that gave few details. Macron and his Malian counterpart discussed the fight against armed groups in the West African country. President Emmanuel Macron visited French troops fighting armed groups in the West African country of Mali on Friday, during his first official visit outside Europe. At the end of his first week in office, Macron flew into Gao, a city in Malis north, where political unrest and ethnic strife have raged for more than five years. He was met by Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita with whom he held talks on the fight against terrorism. He also met some of the 1,600 French soldiers stationed there, on the largest French military base outside of France. Macron called on the Malian government to implement the 2015 peace deal, which has repeatedly faltered in the face of inaction and ongoing rivalries between the patchwork of armed groups operating in the north who signed the accord. My wish is for us to accelerate the deals implementation, Macron said at a press conference, describing the so-called Algiers Accord as the top priority to ensure Malis security. Al Jazeeras Nicolas Haque, reporting from the capital Bamako, said the short visit is a sign from Macron of his commitment to the region This visit to Mali is really to show to the French public, and also the people in West Africa and the rest of the world that he is not just the new president of France, he is also the commander-in-chief of an army thats currently fighting an insurgency across northern Mali and the Sahel, Haque said, referencing a politically fragile area that spans from Mauritania to Sudan and hosts a number of armed groups. Haque added that Macron hopes to persuade European countries to join the fight in the region. READ MORE: Mali president vows to keep fighting terrorist groups France intervened in its former colony in January 2013 to drive out al-Qaeda-linked groups that hijacked a rebellion in 2012 by ethnic Tuaregs and attempted to take control of the central government in Bamako. France has sent some 4,000 soldiers to the region, while United Nations peacekeepers have been deployed to ensure Malis stability. However, the UNs forces have lacked equipment and resources, making a political settlement between Tuaregs and the government in Mali increasingly fragile. Our objective in the short-term is to help the regional armies control their territory, especially the fragile border zones, a French diplomat told Reuters news agency. The peace process is not going fast enough even if there is a glimmer of hope. READ MORE: Tuareg factions to boycott Mali peace conference In April, Keita vowed to continue fighting terrorist groups in the country until they engage in serious peace talks. In recent months, joint patrols by fighters from the various armed factions and the Malian security forces have helped restore confidence, but tensions remain high. French officials have acknowledged that Paris is likely to have to keep its forces in the region for an indefinite period. Diplomats said Macron wants to fine-tune policy to ensure countries were also given more help to develop, rather than just focusing on security aspects. Martin Kobler expressed outrage in response to reports of an attack by a militia loyal to the unity government. The UN ambassador to Libya has voiced outrage at reports of significant fatalities in an attack by a militia loyal to the unity government on a military base controlled by rival forces. Martin Kobler, special representative and head of the UN support mission in Libya, said in a statement on Friday that the dead included civilians, citing reports that summary executions may have taken place. Members of the Third Force militia loyal to the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli attacked an air base used by military leader Khalifa Haftars self-proclaimed Libyan National Army (LNA), according to military sources. Both the GNA and defence ministry condemned Thursdays attack and said they had not ordered any such action, vowing to investigate and sanction those responsible. On Friday, GNA said in a statement that it suspended Mahdi al-Barghathi, its defence minister, and ordered an investigation to determine his role in Thursdays incident. Jamal al-Treiki, the commander of the Third Force Battalion was also suspended, the statement said. There was no independent word on casualties in the assault on the Brak al-Shati base, 650km south of Tripoli, but Libyan media reported at least 60 dead. Britains ambassador to Libya, Peter Millett, also denounced the airbase assault. Disgusted by attack on Brak al-Shati & reports of mass executions. Perpetrators must be brought to justice, he wrote on Twitter. The unity government, and the rival administration in eastern Libya and their respective backers are battling for influence in the North African country which has been wracked by chaos since the fall of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The LNA does not recognise the authority of the GNA, and instead supports the rival authorities based in the east. The incident at the Brak base in Wadi al-Shati district came a month after an attack by the LNA on the Tamenhant air base controlled by the Third Force near the souths main city of Sabha. That attack was called off after a reconciliation meeting between Haftar and unity government head Fayez al-Sarraj in UAEs Abu Dhabi on May 2. The speaker of the eastern-based parliament, which is supported by the LNA, accused the Misrata-based Third Force of a serious breach of the truce agreement reached in Abu Dhabi. Aguila Saleh said there were a number of martyrs in LNA ranks, without giving a figure. The speaker said he had given orders for the armed forces to take the measures necessary to respond to the assault and defend the south and cleanse it of all outlaw militias. In Tripoli, the GNA called for an immediate ceasefire in the south, where tribes and militias vie for control of lucrative smuggling routes with neighbouring Chad, Niger and Sudan. We hope reason will prevail and that the escalation and provocation will stop, it said. The unity governments defence ministry laid the blame on those who started bombing Tamenhant base with warplanes and tanks, referring to Haftars forces. In fresh violence on Friday, a pro-Haftar tribal chief, Sheikh Ibrayek Alwati, and five other people including a child were killed in a car bombing outside a mosque in the eastern city of Slouq, medical and security sources said. New legislation makes it easier to deport and monitor migrants, but rights groups call it an assault on refugee rights. The German parliament has passed legislation making it easier to deport failed asylum seekers and monitor those deemed dangerous in a move that has been slammed by opposition parties and rights groups as an assault on the rights of refugees. In legislation passed by the Bundestag late on Thursday, German authorities will be able to detain refugees due for deportation for 10 days rather than four, and monitor by ankle bracelet those deemed potentially dangerous. The legislation also restricts freedom of movement for all failed asylum seekers. It grants the federal refugee agency BAMF and other government bodies more leeway to use and share data retrieved from migrants mobile phones. OPINION: Angela Merkel is not the great progressive messiah Refugee organisation Pro Asyl criticised the measures, saying that they robbed refugees of their right to privacy. The agreed package of measures for tougher deportation policies is a programme that will deprive asylum-seekers of hope for protection in Germany and is aimed at discouraging them, the organisation said in a statement. Defending the move, Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere referred to the new measures as a conclusion of efforts to tighten asylum laws in this legislative period. The measures were decided partly as a response to a truck attack in Berlin in December in which 12 people were killed. Although attacker Anis Amris asylum request had failed and he was under surveillance by police, the authorities failed to deport him. Amri, a 24-year-old, had been living in Germany as an asylum seeker. He was killed in Italy after he pulled a gun and shot an Italian officer in the shoulder during a routine police check. Hundreds of German investigators are investigating how Amri managed to flee Germany after the attack and whether he may have had accomplices or a support network that helped him escape. The founder of the whistleblowing website WikiLeaks has been holed up in the Ecuadoran embassy in London since 2012. When did Julian Assange come to prominence? Julian Assange first caught the worlds attention when his website, WikiLeaks, in 2007 released leaked manuals for US prison guards at Guantanamo Bay. But Assange became significantly more prominent in 2010 when he worked with several major news organisations to publish millions of classified diplomatic cables. In 2016, he caused a storm by releasing emails showing US Democratic Party officials favouring Hillary Clinton over left-winger Bernie Sanders in the presidential primary elections, forcing high-ranking party members to resign. How is Assange linked to US soldier Chelsea Manning? Manning handed over 700,000 classified US documents to WikiLeaks. She was given a 35-year prison sentence, which former US president Barack Obama commuted in January. Manning was freed on May 17. Why is the Australian whistleblower holed up in the Ecuadoran embassy in London? Assange entered the embassy in 2012 to avoid claim asylum and avoid extradition to Sweden over rape accusations stemming from encounters with two women in the Scandinavian country in August 2010. The 45-year-old Australian has always denied the allegations, which he feared would see him extradited to the US and put on trial over the leaking of hundreds of thousands of secret US military and diplomatic documents. Swedish prosecutors dropped their investigation on May 19 because they said there was no reason to believe he would be brought to Sweden in the foreseeable future. What happens now? British police said they would have to arrest him if he walks out of the embassy on the grounds that he had breached his bail. The maximum punishment for skipping bail in Britain is one year in jail. However, while the courts process his case, time served while in custody would be deducted. In theory he could therefore be sentenced to a prison term and then immediately walk free. Assange could also be extradited to the US if he leaves the embassy. In a Twitter post, WikiLeaks said the UK has refused to comment whether it has received a US warrant to extradite Assange. Sweden could also resume its case if Assange were to be arrested. Marianne Ny, Swedens director of public prosecutions, said the investigation could be reopened if Assange returns to Sweden before August 2020 when the allegations against him elapse under Swedish law. Ecudaor has said it is planning to intensify diplomatic efforts with London so that Assange can gain safe passage to his asylum. Assange is expected to stay put for now in his 18-square-metre room in the Ecuadorian embassy. What do we know about his background? The 45-year-old father of two is from Townsville city in the Australian state of Queensland. He was born on July 3, 1971 and had a nomadic childhood, attending 37 schools. Living in Melbourne in the 1980s and 1990s, he discovered a talent for computer hacking. He was later charged with 30 counts of computer crime, including allegedly hacking police and US military computers. He admitted most of the charges and walked away with a fine. No group has so far claimed responsibility but authorities in Logar province blamed the Taliban for the killings. Eleven members of an Afghan family were killed on Friday when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb while they were travelling to an engagement ceremony in the countrys volatile east. Five women, five children and a man in a vehicle were killed and one woman and two men were wounded in the blast in Logar province, just south of the capital of Kabul, said Mohammad Halim Fedayee, the provincial governor. The bomb struck their Toyota sedan when they were going for an engagement ceremony, said Fedayee. No group has so far claimed responsibility but provincial authorities blamed the Taliban, who launched their annual spring offensive last month, for the killings. Roadside bombs have been the Talibans weapon of choice in their war against foreign and Afghan security forces. OPINION: What should the US next move be in Afghanistan? The first four months of 2017 saw the highest recorded number of child casualties from the conflict in Afghanistan, the United Nations reported on Monday, with at least 283 killed and 704 wounded as of the end of April. Last year, at least 3,498 civilians were killed and 7,920 were wounded, a combined increase of 3 percent over 2015, according to a UN report released in February. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan voiced alarm when five boys from one family were killed earlier this month by an unexploded mortar round in Laghman. Elsewhere in Afghanistan, another roadside bomb targeted a US militarily convoy in northern Parwan province on Friday, the international missions media officer, Doug High, said. The explosion disabled an armored vehicle but caused no injuries, High said. After recovering the vehicle, the convoy continued on its mission, he added. Afghan policeman kills 5 colleagues Meanwhile, on Thursday night an Afghan policeman turned his rifle on his colleagues as they slept at an outpost in eastern Nangarhar province, killing five. In the Thursday night attack, district governor, Abdul Wahab Momand, said the policeman shot his colleagues at an outpost in the district of Ghanikhil. After the shooting, the attacker, who was only identified by one name, Nasratullah, seized all the victims firearms and fled the scene, the governor said. Neither the Taliban nor the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) the two armed groups who operate in the area immediately claimed responsibility for the attack in Nangarhar, a mountainous province that borders Pakistan. Sanctions imposed on chief judge Maikel Moreno and seven others for usurping powers of opposition-led parliament. The United States has imposed sanctions on Venezuelas chief judge and seven other members of the countrys Supreme Court as punishment for seizing powers from the opposition-led congress earlier this year. Those sanctioned will have their assets frozen within US jurisdiction, and US citizens will be barred from doing business with them, the US treasury department said on Thursday. The new sanctions package was aimed at stepping up pressure on supporters of President Nicolas Maduro amid growing international concern over a crackdown on mass street protests. The Venezuelan people are suffering from a collapsing economy brought about by their governments mismanagement and corruption, Steven Mnuchin, the US treasury secretary, said in a statement. Members of the countrys Supreme Court of Justice have exacerbated the situation by consistently interfering with the legislative branchs authority, he said. READ MORE: Venezuela What is happening today? By imposing these targeted sanctions, the United States is supporting the Venezuelan people in their efforts to protect and advance democratic governance in their country. Venezuelas latest wave of anti-government unrest, which has left at least 44 people dead in the last six weeks, began when the Supreme Court assumed the powers of the National Assembly in March. The de facto annulment of the congress drew widespread international condemnation, and the decision was later partially reversed. Among those hit with sanctions was Maikel Moreno, a Maduro ally who became president of the 32-judge court in February. The sanctions came shortly after US President Donald Trump called the situation in Venezuela a disgrace to humanity. People dont have enough to eat. People have no food. Theres great violence, Trump told a press conference with visiting Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. He added: And we will do whatever is necessary and we will work together to do whatever is necessary to help with fixing that. Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets against the Maduros government, demanding elections, freedom for jailed activists, foreign aid and autonomy for the opposition-led legislature. OPINION: Maduro is not Chavez Despite its vast oil reserves, Venezuela is suffering chronic shortages of food, medicine and other basic supplies. The centre-right opposition blames it all on mismanagement and corruption in the Socialist government. Opposition leader Henrique Capriles said on Thursday that authorities confiscated his passport and prevented him from travelling to New York to discuss the countrys crisis with United Nations officials. Maduros government, however, accuses the opposition of seeking a violent coup and says many of the protesters are no more than terrorists. The US treasury department has in the past sanctioned Venezuelan officials or former officials, charging them with trafficking or corruption, a designation that allows their assets in the US to be frozen and bars them from conducting financial transactions through the US. The officials have denied the charges and called them a pretext as part of an effort to topple Maduros government. The Trump administration has threatened further measures against Caracas, but sanctions so far have stopped short of hitting the oil sector in Venezuela, which is a major US oil supplier. Rampaging driver strikes Times Square pedestrians 2017-05-19 06:18 By (chinadaily.com.cn) A vehicle that struck pedestrians and later crashed is seen on the sidewalk in Times Square, New York City, US, May 18, 2017. [Photo/Agencies] A driver careening against traffic in New York's Times Square on Thursday struck more than 20 pedestrians, fatally injuring a young woman before his car came to a stop on two wheels. The chaotic scene disrupted the heart of midtown Manhattan on a sweltering afternoon for more than four hours, stranding workers in their offices and tourists wheeling suitcases. The driver was identified as Richard Rojas, 26, of the Bronx, New York, a former US Navy sailor. Police said Rojas made a sudden U-turn onto West 42nd Street and drove north up the sidewalk for three blocks, passing tourist attractions such as the Hard Rock Cafe and the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co restaurant and plowing through people. An injured man sits on the sidewalk in Times Square after a speeding vehicle struck pedestrians on the sidewalk in New York City, US, May 18, 2017. [Photo/Agencies] Rojas' burgundy Honda Accord sedan was smoking when it came to a stop on top of a metal stanchion at West 45th Street and Broadway, where it remained at least until 6 pm. Rojas had been arrested twice for drunken driving in 2008 and 2015, and once earlier this month for menacing. Court records showed Rojas also was arrested at a naval base in Jacksonville, Florida, in September 2012, after he yelled, "My life is over," and threatened to kill police. Daily Mail.com, citing law enforcement sources, said Rojas had smoked K-2, a synthetic form of marijuana, before the rampage. He also was arrested last week after pulling a knife on a man in the Bronx and asking him "Do you feel safe?" Rojas let off after reaching a deal with the Bronx District Attorney's Office, the newspaper reported. "People were being hit and rolling off the car," said Josh Duboff, who works at the nearby Thomson Reuters headquarters. He said he leapt out of the way to avoid being struck. Yemen could have 3000,000 cholera cases within six months, as death toll rises to 242, World Health Organization says. Nearly 23,500 suspected cases of cholera have been registered in war-ravaged Yemen in the past three weeks, the World Health Organization said, as the death toll of the outbreak climbed to at least 242. The speed of the resurgence of this cholera epidemic is unprecedented, Nevio Zagaria, WHO country representative for Yemen, told reporters in a conference call on Friday. Zagaria warned that there could be as many as 300,000 cases in the country within six months. READ MORE: State of emergency in Yemens Sanaa over cholera crisis We need to expect something that could go up to 200,000-250,000 cases over the next six months, in addition to the 50,000 cases that have already occurred, he said. You can understand that with this number the price that we will pay in terms of lives will be extremely, extremely high. Zagaria added. On Sunday, a state of emergency was declared in Yemens opposition-held capital, Sanaa, after the outbreak killed scores of people over a two-week period. The health ministry of the Houthi government announced the measure, saying that the number of casualties surpassed the normal rates, exceeding the capacity of the health system, which has become unable to contain this unprecedented health and environmental disaster. Humanitarian crisis This is the second outbreak of cholera in less than a year in Yemen, the Arab worlds poorest country in the grip of a war between government forces, which are backed by an Arab coalition, and Houthi fighters. More than 10,000 people have been killed and millions displaced in more than two years of war, which has also destroyed much of the countrys infrastructure. Only a few medical facilities are still functioning and two-thirds of the population are without access to safe drinking water, the UN has said. What is happening today exceeds the capabilities of any healthy health system, so how can we [cope] when we are in these difficult and complicated conditions, Saba news agency quoted Mohammed Salem bin Hafeedh, Yemens health minister, as saying. The healthy ministry after holding talks in Sanaa with Jamie McGoldrick, the UN humanitarian coordinator, and other international officials last week called on humanitarian organisations and aid donors to help it avert an unprecedented disaster. What is cholera? Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal disease that is transmitted through contaminated drinking water. It can be fatal within hours if left untreated. Most sufferers exhibit mild symptoms that can be treated with oral rehydration solution, but the disease can kill within hours in severe cases if not treated with intravenous fluids and antibiotics. In December, UNICEF said at least one child dies every 10 minutes in Yemen because of malnutrition, diarrhoea and respiratory-tract infections. READ MORE: Cholera kills 115 people from late April to May, says ICRC A cholera epidemic late last year petered out but outbreaks are becoming more frequent. Sanaa has been worst hit, followed by the surrounding province of Amanat al-Semah, WHO data has shown. Cases have also been reported in other major cities including Hodeidah, Taiz and Aden. About 17 million of Yemens 26 million people lack sufficient food and at least three million malnourished children are in grave peril, according to the UN. UK police say Assange will still be arrested for minor offence if he left Ecuadorian embassy where he is holed up. Swedish prosecutors on Friday dropped a rape investigation into Julian Assange, the founder of anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks, bringing to an end a seven-year legal stand-off. Yet, British police said he would still be arrested if he left the Ecuadorean embassy in the UK capital, London, where he has been holed up since 2012. Assange, 45, took refuge there to avoid extradition to Sweden amid fears that he would have been handed over to the US to face prosecution over the publication of classified military and diplomatic documents by WikiLeaks. The investigation is discontinued, Marianne Ny, the director of public prosecution, told reporters in Swedens capital, Stockholm. READ MORE: Five things to know about Julian Assange In order to proceed with the case, Julian Assange would have to be formally notified of the criminal suspicions against him. We cannot expect to receive assistance from Ecuador regarding this, Ny said. We are not making a statement about his guilt. An important victory Today is an important victory for me, said Assange, giving a clenched fist salute as he emerged onto the balcony of the embassy on Friday. The road is far from over. The war, the proper war, is just commencing, a pale-looking Assange told a crowd of reporters and a handful of supporters brandishing placards assembled under the balcony. He promised that WikiLeaks would continue its fight for government transparency and digital rights. Christophe Marchand, a member of Assanges legal team, had earlier welcomed the suspension of the investigation as the end of his nightmare. We have been waiting a long time for this decision, he said, adding: Julian Assange has been a victim of a huge abuse of procedure. We are very pleased and very moved. READ MORE: Chelsea Mannings release Life beyond whistle-blowing Shortly after the announcement, Assange posted a picture of himself smiling broadly, without comment. Later on Friday, British police said separately they would still arrest Assange if he walked out of the embassy because he had broken his conditions for bail by failing to surrender on June 29, 2012 for extradition to Sweden. Now that the situation has changed and the Swedish authorities have discontinued their investigation into that matter, Mr Assange remains wanted for a much less serious offence, it said in a statement. The Metropolitan Police Service is obliged to execute that warrant should he leave the Embassy. Assange said his lawyers had contacted British authorities in the hope of starting a dialogue over his future. In a Twitter post, WikiLeaks said the UK has refused to comment whether it has received a US warrant to extradite Assange, and added: Focus now moves to UK. UK refuses to confirm or deny whether it has already received a US extradition warrant for Julian Assange. Focus now moves to UK. WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) May 19, 2017 Its a scandal The rape accusation against Assange dates from August 2010 when an alleged victim, who says she met him at a WikiLeaks conference in Stockholm a few days earlier, filed a complaint. She said she was shocked by the Swedish prosecutors decision to drop the investigation, according to her lawyer. It is a scandal that a suspected rapist can escape justice and thereby avoid the courts no decision to (end the case) can make her change that Assange exposed her to rape, Elisabeth Fritz, the plaintiffs lawyer, said in a statement. Assange, however, has repeatedly reiterated his innocence and said the sex was consensual, insisting that the accusations are politically motivated. OPINION: Clamping down on whistle-blowers a retrograde step The probe has suffered from endless procedural complications since it began in 2010. Per Samuelsson, Assanges Swedish lawyer, last month filed a new motion demanding that the arrest warrant be lifted after US Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in April that arresting Assange would be a priority. In a letter sent to the Swedish government on May 8, Ecuador condemned the obvious lack of progress despite Swedish officials questioning Assange at the embassy in November 2016. The Ecuadorian government have been putting pressure on the Swedes to bring about some sort of solution to this long-running stand-off, Al Jazeeras Neave Barker, reporting from London, said. The probe was dropped largely on a technicality, he said. Prosecutors simply cannot continue with the case because they cannot serve Assange with the necessary documents to do so, rather than a belief on whether hes guilty or not. Barker added that the US was preparing to press charges against Assange. We believe the sealed indictment has been prepared, although we dont know what is in it, he said. The Obama administration felt charges couldnt be brought and things were very much in flux and they seem to be in flux even now. A UN panel has said that Assange had been arbitrarily detained and should be able to claim compensation from Britain and Sweden. The two countries have dismissed the report. Assange, who is Australian, was granted asylum by Ecuador and has been able to evade justice because he is on Ecuadors sovereign territory by being in the embassy. Syria and its Russian ally have condemned a deadly US-led coalition air raid against pro-Syrian government forces in a desert area near the countrys border with Jordan and Iraq. Coalition fighter jets on Thursday struck a convoy of militiamen advancing inside a protected deconfliction zone northwest of the southern town of al-Tanf, the military alliance said in a statement. The US, which is leading an air campaign in Syria targeting groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS), said the convoys advance had posed a threat to US and US-backed Syrian rebel forces in the area. This brazen attack by the so-called international coalition exposes the falseness of its claims to be fighting terrorism, a Syrian military source told state media on Friday, confirming that the bombing had killed a number of people and caused material damage. Russia, which launched its own air campaign in September 2015 in support of Syrias President Bashar al-Assad, called the strike a breach of Syrian sovereignty. Such actions that were carried out against the Syrian armed forces [are] completely unacceptable, Gennady Gatilov, Russias deputy foreign minister, was quoted as saying by state-run RIA Novosti on Friday. READ MORE: Syria denies US accusations of mass killings at prison A member of the US-backed Syrian rebel forces told the Reuters news agency that the convoy comprised Syrian and Iranian-backed militias and was headed towards the Tanf base, where US special forces operate and train Free Syrian Army rebels. Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), said at least eight people had been killed in the attack. Most of the killed belong to militias loyal to the Syrian regime and are not Syrians, he told the DPA news agency. SOHR, a UK-based monitor tracking developments in Syrias long-running conflict via a network of contacts on the ground, also said that four military vehicles carrying pro-government forces and their allies were destroyed in the strike. Tanf is part of a region known as the Badia, which consists of vast, sparsely populated desert territory that stretches all the way to the Jordanian and Iraqi borders and was declared a military priority by Syrias foreign minister earlier in May. Two months of US-backed rebel advances against ISIL fighters have allowed them to secure swaths of territory in the Badia, alarming the Syrian government and its allies. READ MORE: Syrias civil war explained from the beginning But rebel sources had warned last week that the Syrian army and Iranian-backed militia moved hundreds of troops with tanks to the town of Sabaa Biyar, which is in the Badia, and is near the strategic Damascus-Baghdad highway. That highway was once a major weapons supply route for Iranian weapons into Syria. A Western intelligence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that Thursdays strike sent a strong message to Iranian-backed militias that have been spearheading the advance that they would not be allowed to reach the Iraq border from Syria. The US-led coalition did not signal it would cede ground around Tanf. Coalition forces have been operating in the At Tanf area for many months training and advising vetted partner forces engaged in the fight against ISIS, according to a statement by the US-led military alliance. US officials said an agreement existed with Russia on a so-called deconfliction area around Tanf, meant to avoid an accidental clash of forces. The statement by the US-led coalition acknowledged a zone but did not offer any details about it, other than to say it was still active. The agreed upon deconfliction zone agreement remains in effect, the statement said. In April, the US army fired dozens of cruise missile strikes at the Syrian government-held Shayrat airbase, in retaliation for a suspected chemical weapons attack on a rebel-held town that killed scores of civilians. At the time, the strikes were described as a one-off measure to deter any future chemical weapons use. Syrias civil war began in 2011 after mass protests against Assads rule and has killed hundreds of thousands of people and driven half the countrys population from their homes. Washington DC Donald Trump heads to Saudi Arabia on Friday on his first foreign trip as president to repair relations with the United States closest Arab ally, restart the Arab-Israeli peace process and, potentially, reassert the US security role in the region. Going to Saudi Arabia first is a highly symbolic move for President Trump who is struggling with political troubles at home, but is drawing optimism from Arab leaders despite his deep unpopularity in Arab public opinion for his anti-Muslim commentary during the 2016 US election campaign. The president will hold a series of meetings starting on Saturday with Saudi rulers, including King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The Saudis want more US help confronting Iran and armed groups, as well as private investment in Saudi companies. You have a president who clearly, despite many negative comments hes made about Saudi Arabia, is treating them as an ally. The optics will be very good, said Aaron David Miller, a Middle East analyst at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars in Washington DC. Trump will hold a separate session with leaders of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council to discuss the civil war in Syria and potential de-escalation zones to provide safe areas for civilians. The US president will lunch with 56 invited Arab and Muslim leaders to discuss combating extremism and cracking down on illicit financing of armed groups, according to the White House. Trump will not come away empty-handed. The president expects to ink a $100bn arms sale with Saudi Arabia. Several leading American CEOs from companies will be meeting with Saudi counterparts to discuss potential investments in the kingdoms privatisation drive, Saudi Vision 2030. READ MORE: Saudi Arabia agrees on plan to cut reliance on oil The Saudis have every stake in showing the president a good time. Partly its driven by the fact that, unlike the Obama administration, they see Mr Trump as someone that shares their view of a rising Iran and the problem of the Sunni jihadists, which are the twin threats that are basically driving this administration, the Israelis, and key Sunni states into a closer alignment with one another, Miller told Al Jazeera. After visiting Saudi Arabia, Trump will fly to Israel for meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and then to the Vatican in Rome, where he will seek an audience with Pope Francis before heading to Brussels for a NATO summit, talks with EU leaders, and then a meeting of the G-7 industrial nations in Sicily. The Middle East leaders, particularly in the Gulf and Jordan, were not pleased with the way Obama handled Middle East policy from their point of view and, as a consequence, just because they have a different president leading foreign policy, that is welcomed, Shibley Telhami, a professor and pollster at the University of Maryland, told Al Jazeera. Telhamis polling shows most Americans want an even-handed US policy in the Middle East, although among Trumps constituency, people who voted for him, a majority of 70 percent prefer he take Israels side. That will create a quandary and some friction for Trump as he attempts to bring Arabs into a regional approach to Palestine. OPINION: Palestinians expect nothing good from Trump Expectations among most analysts in Washington are fairly low for the Middle East leg of Trumps trip. Some analysts, such as Danielle Pletka vice president for foreign and defence policy studies at the conservative American Enterprise Institute see a broad opportunity for Trump to reshape US policy in the Middle East. There is much that can happen to transform a region that has bedeviled presidents for decades, Pletka said in an AEI policy posting. Trump hopes to usher in a new era of Arab cooperation. Others such as Michael OHanlon, a senior fellow in foreign policy at the left-leaning Brookings Institution, see Trumps options in the Middle East constrained by realities of regional politics and power positions on the ground in Syria, Iraq and Yemen. On all of these things, there is no possibility of great breakthroughs, of policy options that were avoided by Obama and are still available to us, or have somehow been created in the four months that Trump has been president, OHanlon told Al Jazeera. Dont expect much to change. READ MORE: Donald Trump condemns special counsel for Russia probe Undercutting Trumps credibility and stature as he meets world leaders, Trumps nascent presidency is troubled at home and may not last a full four years. Four months into his presidency, the White House is operating in chaos. A special counsel has been appointed to lead the FBIs investigation into his campaigns alleged ties to Russia. Vulnerable Republicans, facing an anti-Trump backlash at home, are rightly worried they may lose the House of Representatives in 2018 mid-term elections. Some are beginning to distance themselves from the president whose public approval ratings in the US are at a historically low 37 percent. Follow William Roberts on Twitter: @BillRoberts3 Arrest comes after a court in Istanbul issued warrants for four journalists at Sozcu daily newspaper. An Istanbul court on Friday issued arrest warrants for four journalists at a daily newspaper over alleged links to the Gulen movement, a judicial source told the state-run Anadolu news agency. The Sozcu newspapers website manager, Mediha Olgun, was arrested by police following the warrant, which was issued as part of a probe into the groups media links, according to the source who spoke to the news agency on condition of anonymity owing to restrictions on talking to the media. The newspapers owner, Burak Akbay, could not be arrested as he is currently abroad, the source said, adding that the suspects are accused of committing crimes on behalf of the group, even though they are not members of the movement. There is no information on whether the remaining two suspects, who have not been identified, have been arrested or not. Ankara accuses the group and its US-based leader Fetullah Gulen of orchestrating the July 2016 failed coup attempt in Turkey, which left 249 people killed and nearly 2,200 injured. Several media outlets have been closed in the past year by decrees issued under the ongoing state of emergency. Critics are taking Mike Pence to task for associating the word genocide with ISIL attacks on Christians worldwide. New York City Activists are questioning comments by US Vice President Mike Pence who recently warned that Christians around the world face genocide at the hands of ISIL. Speaking at the first-ever World Summit in Defense of Persecuted Christians in Washington, DC, last week, Pence described the Christian faith as under siege, stating an estimated 215 million Christians face mistreatment in more than 100 countries. The reality is, across the wider world, the Christian faith is under siege. Throughout the world, no people of faith today face greater hostility or hatred than the followers of Christ, Pence told the audience. Christianity, the worlds largest religion, has an estimated 2.2 billion followers worldwide. Yet Pence reserved his strongest words at the summit for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group. I believe ISIS is guilty of nothing short of genocide against people of the Christian faith, and it is time the world called it by name, said Pence. Simon Adams, executive director of the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, a New York-based policy institute, questioned Pences choice of words. You have to be so careful with the genocide word, said Adams. This is not just a word to throw around because it serves political advantage. Adams did agree there have been mass atrocities committed against Christians in Iraq, but added in relation to genocide the situation was more complicated. We were very careful when we came out and said that we thought that there had been a genocide committed against the Yazidis, that was based on investigation, on argument, on deliberation, he said. The Yazidis are an ethnic and religious minority that has been targeted by ISIL in Iraq. As many as 1,500 Yazidi women and girls are estimated to be enslaved by the armed group. Where is [Pences] passionate speech for the Yazidis, or Shia Muslims or Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar one of the most persecuted religious minority groups in the world? asked Adams. WATCH: Christian Liberty University gives Trump warm welcome Each of the analysts and Christian faith leaders that Al Jazeera spoke to for this article agreed that Christians face significant persecution, particularly in contexts where they are the minority. However, they all also highlighted persecution suffered by other religious groups and ethnic minorities. Fadi Hallisso a Syrian and former Jesuit whose charity Basmeh & Zaitouneh helps Syrian refugees in Turkey told Al Jazeera while he agreed that Christians in Syria were suffering, he did not think it was particularly helpful to portray them as a special category of victims in the Middle East or in Syria. Of course because Christians are a minority in Syria or in Iraq, they would be hit harder by the catastrophe, said Hallisso. But are they the only ones suffering? I think in the current situation, all of us are suffering. The World Summit in Defense of Persecuted Christians was useful in that it helped to raise awareness about the hardships suffered by Christians, especially Christian minorities, Peter Prove, director of the Commission of the Churches on International Affairs at the World Council of Churches, told Al Jazeera. However, Prove also said some of the numbers used by Pence may be questionable. We know numerically that Muslims have been by far the greater victims of Islamic extremism, he said. Influencing policy? Last Saturday, Donald Trump was introduced at Liberty University as the US president who bombed those in the Middle East who were persecuting and killing Christians. Some of the Trump administrations policy decisions could be interpreted as specifically responding to concerns of persecution or discrimination from Christian supporters. For example, the recent presidential religious liberty executive order followed on from a survey that found 57 percent of white Christian evangelicals said they believe Christians face a lot of discrimination in the United States, compared to only 44 percent who believe Muslims face a lot of discrimination. READ MORE: World leaders condemn Donald Trumps Muslim ban The survey took place in February following the controversial travel ban that targeted Muslim-majority countries. Pence took care at the summit to note that the Trump administration is concerned with protecting all people who suffer because of their religion. However, Adams questioned the administrations commitment to these words. Its deeply contradictory and hypocritical for a government that proposes a Muslim ban to talk about promoting religious freedom and talk about protecting people from religious persecution in the world, he said. Follow Lyndal Rowlands on Twitter: @LyndalRowlands We challenge OAS chief Luis Almagro on his stance on Venezuela, and debate if Maduro is turning authoritarian. Waves of anti-government protests continue to rock Venezuela as its economic and political crises deepen. Is there a way forward? In this UpFront special, we speak to the secretary general of the Organization of American States, Luis Almagro, about his stance on Venezuela. And in the Arena, we debate whether the Venezuelan government is authoritarian. Headliner What can be done to rescue Venezuela? Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has been facing mounting criticism from international observers as his government continues to struggle with protests on the streets. One of his fiercest critics has been Luis Almagro, the head of the Organization of American States (OAS), who says the struggle afflicting Venezuela isnt about power, but democracy. This is not a struggle for power, but a struggle for democracy, says Almagro, who believes that cancelling last years recall referendum was an attack on Venezuelas democratic institutions. The legitimacy of origin of this government was killed when they denied the recall referendum to the people. In this weeks Headliner, we challenge OAS chief and former Uruguayan foreign minister Luis Almagro about his stance on Venezuela. Arena Is Maduro turning Venezuela authoritarian? Venezuelas political crisis is escalating fast. With the economy in freefall, protesters have hit the streets and violence is on the rise. Has the Venezuelan government gone authoritarian? Its important to say Nicolas Maduro was democratically elected, says Gabriel Hetland, a professor at the University of Albany. But I think actions over the last 16 months have moved Venezuela unfortunately in a more authoritarian direction. It is a government under siege, counters Venezuelan-American journalist Eva Golinger, who also served as an adviser to former President Hugo Chavez. The opposition doesnt play by democratic rules, unfortunately has not, and as of yet we havent seen any such initiative or indication that they will in the near future. In this weeks Arena, Gabriel Hetland and Eva Golinger debate different perspectives on the crisis in Venezuela. Follow UpFront on Twitter @AJUpFront and Facebook. The meaning of the first event is clear. The Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, is tilting his hand toward his preferred candidates. I predicted in an interview with French newspaper La Croix on May 5, 2017 that it would come down to just two: Out of six candidates, four of them are extras and decor elements. Two candidates remain: Hassan Rouhani and his main competitor Ebrahim Raisi. At the same time, the incumbent president Hassan Rohani, in an election speech in Tabriz (the largest city in the Northeast) said: "On some issues, I am ready to kiss Supreme Leaders hand dozens of times." On Monday, May 15, the Iranian elections scene witnessed two important events: Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the mayor of Tehran, (and a controversial candidate), left the elections for the benefit of a top contender, Ebrahim Raisi (the 1988 massacre judge). On Monday, May 15, the Iranian elections scene witnessed two important events: Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the mayor of Tehran, (and a controversial candidate), left the elections for the benefit of a top contender, Ebrahim Raisi (the 1988 massacre judge). Rouhani's case in particular is worth watching since not all signs point to his being in Khamenei's favor. For one thing, his claimed readiness to kiss the Supreme Leaders hand dozens of times is considered despicable in the Iranian society. Some of the experts believe his use of these words were to add balance his speech from last week. In an election meeting in Hamedan (a big city in the west of Iran) he said to his competitive faction: "It is 38 years that you are only executing." In response, Khamenei in a public speech threatened him for that, saying he will receive a slap without mentioning his name. Another interpretation is that Rouhani is giving a conciliatory proposal to Khamenei. According to informed sources in Tehran, in recent days, the Supreme Leader has summoned Eshaq Jahangiri, Rouhani's deputy, and a withdrawn candidate, asking him to make his boss make a deal with the IRGC (the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps). This compromise means Rohani will be president on the condition that 20% of Iran's oil revenue and its share of the cabinet be allocated to IRGC. If we accept this interpretation three different alternatives could be considered for May 19 election: A Khamenei with this proposal may be trying to deceive Rouhani into stopping his harsh comments, because these comments can activate dangerous social discontent. In this case, it would be easier for Khamenei to organize the elections in favor of his preferred candidate. B Khamenei would accept Rouhanis presidency. (Of course; on a condition, that he is totally obedient to him.) C - Khamenei would take a risk and engineer a major coup d'etat to make Raisi the president. Based on the last 38 years' experience, either of the two candidates could become president, and there would be no difference in foreign policy, defense or security issues, let alone the handling of the greater part of the economy. (Which is under the Supreme Leaders and IRGC's control anyway) but how the election will be held could nevertheless make for far-reaching political instability. Mohammad Amin (@EconomieIran) is a senior research fellow for the Paris-based Foundation d'Etudes pour le Moyen-Orient (FEMO) or Foundation for the Study of the Middle East. He has written several books and essays about the ruling theocracy, the transformation of Irans political economy under the presidency of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in the Middle East Congresswoman Maxine Waters failed to anticipate her destroy Trump campaign would have an unpleasant boomerang effect on her own political career. She experienced an unwanted surprise this week when returning to her posh home in Hancock Park after making the media rounds in the so-called impeachment campaign against President Trump. Protestors had gathered outside her LA mini-mansion waving placards that read: Impeach Maxine Waters and Do Your Job, referring to the congresswomans 35-year tenure representing the infamous suburb of Compton. Shes not representing her constituents, especially the black constituents, complained one of the protestors before the KABC media crew. She thinks by putting down our president, were going to like her more, complained another protestor. Every time she talks, she makes me want to throw up. That cant be good for her re-election chances. Not all was doom-and-gloom on the scene. There was even a mariachi band that allowed the gathering to protest in style. Apparently Waters is too distracted as the new media darling -- dubbed Auntie Maxine by fawning reporters -- to perform her job. Her long history of corruption and abysmal performance in office never seems to make its way into the conversation among her co-conspirators (aka reporters) in the mainstream media. It is a perverse irony that President Trump works round-the-clock to make inroads to improve the lives of Americans in his few months in office, and Waters with a whopping 35 years on the job continues representing a district where the socioeconomic conditions grow progressively worse. Perhaps thats the reason one of the protestors suggested withholding the congresswomans salary by waving a sign that read: No Justice No Paycheck. Heres what they are so mad about: Compton is now more than $40 million awash in debt; produces schools dubbed dropout factories, has lost accreditation of its community college; and widespread gang violence resulted in the 43rd district being listed as the most dangerous place for homicides in Los Angeles County, according to the Los Angeles Daily News. To be fair, Compton retains the distinction of being the birthplace to the only bulletproof drive-thru funeral home. (Im sure the proprietor has his or her reasons.) No wonder Waters cannot be expected to live in the district she represents. Its too dangerous. Shes safely ensconced approximately 20 miles away, but everyone knows that a change in Southland zip codes can translate to mean living worlds apart. As for her history of corruption, Waters will argue to the death -- or at least wear you out -- that the three-year congressional ethics committee investigating her diversion of bailout money to her husbands bank, OneUnited, (in which he was a stockholder and board member) was made up of a racist cabal orchestrated by the Red State (given new meaning today). The congresswomans influence peddling in real estate finance also caught the attention of the IRS labeling the transactions as a scam, according to the agencys 2006 report. All things considered, President Trump could not ask for a better adversary than Waters. She talks a lot about connecting the dots between Putin and Trump through baseless allegations, misstatement of facts and fanning the media-induced smoke in hopes of igniting a fire. Her own words best make her case in which she deserves an additional moniker as the Queen of Malapropisms. The fact that he (President) is wrapping his arms around Putin, she alleged at a recent press conference, While Putin is continuing to advance into Korea. The congresswoman knew something was off in her statement as she looked somewhat confused, but this did not stop her from repeating the Korea allegation. Crimea, whispered a concerned liberal standing behind her. Lets be clear: Putin invaded the Crimea, and not North or South Korea. Should we give Auntie Maxine a pass because both words contain the same number of syllables. Then she would earn the same pass for referring to the Presidents chief of staff, Reince Priebus, as Mike Priebus. It appears her liberal friends are more forgiving of her mangled messages, but not so understanding of her corruption. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), a liberal group supported by George Soros, drew up a list of the most corrupt members of Congress, and Auntie Maxine was among the Hall of Shamers. These are supposed to be her liberal friends. Throughout the congresswomans 13 terms in office, she has acquired a long history of shameful conduct and baseless allegations dating back to the 1990s: She accused the CIA of deliberately distributing crack cocaine to young blacks in the inner cities and paid a courtesy visit to the parents of the black youth who randomly selected a white person (pulled from his truck) to bash his head with a cement block in a LA race riot in 1992. The parents of the innocent truck driver, Reginald Denny, did not receive the same courtesy visit. These acts of violence were dubbed by Waters as somewhat understandable at the time. Therefore she said: So I call it a rebellion. Shes on to her next resistance movement. Congresswoman Waters is the perfect face, now named as the Auntie of the Resistance, to best reflect the shameful character and perverse nature of the campaign to destroy the majority government now in power. Robyn Dolgin is a feature writer who has written extensively for Copley News Service and City News Service. If, as the liberal lynch mob insists, President Trump tried to intimidate former FBI Director James Comey into ending his investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, it is arguably worthy of the charge of obstruction of justice. But if it is true and Comey failed to report it, James Comey could be prosecuted as well. As Fox News analyst Greg Jarrett reported Tuesday: Three months ago, the then-FBI Director met with President Trump. Following their private conversation, Comey did what he always does he wrote a memorandum to himself memorializing the conversation. Good lawyers do that routinely. Now, only after Comey was fired, the memo magically surfaces in an inflammatory New York Times report which alleges that Mr. Trump asked Comey to end the Michael Flynn investigation Under the law, Comey is required to immediately inform the Department of Justice of any attempt to obstruct justice by any person, even the President of the United States. Failure to do so would result in criminal charges against Comey. (18 USC 4 and 28 USC 1361) He would also, upon sufficient proof, lose his license to practice law. So, if Comey believed Trump attempted to obstruct justice, did he comply with the law by reporting it to the DOJ? If not, it calls into question whether the events occurred as the Times reported it. Certainly, Comey had ample opportunity to report Trumps alleged obstruction. He recently testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee about his Hamlet-like angst over holding the election in his hands. He could have but did not bring up the obstruction claim then. Comey met with Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr and ranking member Mark Warner and apparently disclosed no obstruction claim. One would suggest the reason Comey has not raised the obstruction claim publicly is because it didnt happen. If it did, again, Comey should be prosecuted for not reporting it. Is it possible that out of spite Comey let others read the unseen memo knowing that the media would embellish and speculate, all just to get back at Trump for his firing? The usual suspects in the liberal media have branded the timing of President Trumps firing of FBI Director James Comey as suspicious, accusing Trump of trying to block an investigation into alleged collusion with Russia. Never mind that even the likes of California Democratic Sen. Diane Feinstein admit there is no evidence of any such thing or the Congressional testimony of acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe that Trump has not interfered or could not interfere, with an investigation that, contrary to rumors, is adequately funded. George Washington University Law Professor Jonathan Turley said on Wednesdays Morning Joe Show on MSNBC that he sees no proof of obstruction of justice either in the firing of Comey or the firing of Acting Atty. Gen. Sally Yates: Wednesday on MSNBCs Morning Joe, George Washington University professor Jonathan Turley commented on recent reports surrounding President Donald Trumps firing of both former FBI Director James Comey and former acting Attorney General Sally Yates and memos Comey has about his interactions with Trump. Turley called those instances pretty thin soup for either a criminal or impeachment proceeding. When asked if Trumps actions reached a level of obstruction of justice charge, Turley said, This isnt going to be real popular, but I dont think so. My family has been pressing me on this. Its sort of like going cross-country with them and saying, are we there yet? Are we there yet? Everyone wants to reach that point. You say, I can still see our house. Its only been 150 days or so since the inauguration. The fact is, I dont think this makes out an obstruction case. One wonders if Comey wrote a memo about the meeting between AG Loretta Lynch and Bill Clinton on the tarmac while Hillary was under investigation for real crimes? Do the liberals want to see it, or does it only depend on whose ox is being gored? Multiple sources, and not anonymous ones, have said that Comeys firing did not and could not have impeded the investigation and that in fact President Trump never tried to. Trump had the right to fire Comey if Trump didnt like the color of Comeys tie. If Trump in fact did try to obstruct justice, Comeys failure to report it is itself a crime. Maybe it is James Comey who should lawyer up. Daniel John Sobieski is a freelance writer whose pieces have appeared in Investors Business Daily, Human Events, Reason Magazine and the Chicago Sun-Times among other publications. An extremely disheartened American emailed me documenting all the factions committed to removing Trump from office. She concluded: "I don't see how President Trump is going to overcome this onslaught of negativity which is waging upon him by those who are casting aspersions upon him for destroying the legacy of our nation's so-called "first black president" and the detestable woman, "Crooked Hillary" who wanted to continue his failed policies! I pray for his protection and perseverance!" I encouraged our patriot sister to keep the faith. Remarkably, Trump does not appear to be deterred by his enemies in both parties. Though under-reported, Trump continues to dismantle Obama's horrific legacy. I believe Trump draws strength from the support of We the People. When Moses grew tired, Aaron and Hur held his hands up, one on each side, to encourage the people. As long as we continue to hold Trump's hands up, he will perform God's purpose. Our continuous prayers and support are the keys, strengthening our God given emancipator. The Washington, DC establishment is advising Trump to stop tweeting, stop following his instincts, and function more within their traditional norms. I respectfully say Washington DC norms are what got us into our current mess; a nation in cultural, moral and economic decline. When Obama was in office, fake news media threw out the rule books; the Constitution and the law. They paved the way for their Leftist messiah to take whatever immoral, unlawful, and unconstitutional actions he deemed necessary to implement what they decreed was the greater good. To push through Obama-controlled healthcare, fake news media allowed Obama to lie to us 29 times that under his plan, we could keep doctors we liked. To insure Obama's reelection in 2012, fake news media supported Obama in sacrificing the lives of Ambassador Christopher Stevens and other Americans in Benghazi and lying about it. I won't spend time rehashing all the numerous times fake news media applauded Obama breaking laws. Now that Trump is in office, suddenly fake news media are sticklers for the rule of law. Fake news media is in full-court-press-mode to impeach Trump on a sinking-sand foundation of anonymously sourced accusations and lies. They are attempting to criminalize Trump not crossing every "t" and dotting every "i" according to their rules. Every day the airways are filled with more much ado about nothing accusations against Trump. In war, the aggressor sets the rules for battle. Fake news media's battle rules says Democrats are free to lie, cheat and do whatever necessary to achieve their transformation of America. Meanwhile, Republicans must function within whatever we (fake news media) decreed to be legal. Too many folks on our side still do not understand the evil we are dealing with. Republicans and Conservatives are still advising Trump to moderate his tone. They want Trump to stop tweeting, stop following his instincts and play by rules set by his unethical dishonest enemies. In essence, they want Trump to bring an olive branch to a gunfight. I am not offended by a little unconventionalism in Trump's efforts to undo Obama's illegal messes. Note that I am not saying I would support unlawful actions by President Trump. It was frustrating hearing Republican Mitch McConnell say he would like to see a little less drama coming out of the White House. What part of fake news media spinning everything Trump says and does to create drama does Sen McConnell not understand? Meanwhile, these same fake news contemptibles pandered to by Sen McConnell gave Obama a pass to do whatever he pleased. Frankly, I would hate to see Trump become more guarded in his words and actions. No, I am not advocating that the president say stupid things. But on the other hand, it is extremely refreshing and empowering to hear a Republican speak boldly and fearlessly; not walking on eggshells to appease fake news leftists. Thank God, John Wayne stand-up-for-what-is-right, tell-it-like-it-is maleness has not been totally castrated in America. We hired Trump to get things done. I do not care that his process does not meet with Washington DC establishment and fake news media approval. Some on our side are outraged that Trump has threatened to cancel Daily Press Briefings. I say, why not? The press is not who they pretend to be. The press is a foaming at the mouth behemoth leftist monster seeking to devour America as founded. Reporting the truth is not on their agenda. So why grant gotcha opportunities to anti-American zealots whose sole intention is to lie and spin? They seek to impeach our president to stop the implementation of our agenda; even at the cost of American lives and the best interest of our country. Be of good cheer, folks. Do not underestimate the power of We the People. Despite the Left's billions of dollars worth of articles, fake news stories and 24/7 anti-Trump/pro-Hillary campaigning, Trump defeated their candidate in an electoral landslide. The daily fake news pounding of Trump ain't going away. My wife Mary and I are in Montana with the Conservative Campaign Committee working to defeat Pelosi's extreme liberal candidate for congress, Rob Quist. In essence, we are fighting the Democrats' and fake news media's impeach Trump scheme. All Trump has is us. We must stay engaged, ignore fake news media, support and pray for President Trump, our liberator. Lloyd Marcus, The Unhyphenated American Author: Confessions of a Black Conservative: How the Left has shattered the dreams of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Black America. Singer/Songwriter and Conservative Activist Without hard evidence to support it, the accusation that Donald Trumps campaign colluded with nefarious Kremlinites to win the 2016 election is gaining momentum at an unnervingly fast pace. This fact-free story has now led to the Deputy Attorney Generals appointment of a Special Counselor to investigate it. What use is such special counsel when the theory of an electoral love connection between Messrs. Trump and Putin has been repeatedly debunked? For an operation of this nature to successfully throw the election to Trump, he and Vlad would have specifically needed to target the swing states (Ohio, North Carolina, and Florida) and the blue wall of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania -- those three being exceptionally difficult to alter, all having gone Democratic for President since 1992. Then, the colluders would have needed to influence the ballot toward Trump in potentially thousands of voting districts in multiple states in order to shift sufficient numbers away from Hillary. Hacking and publishing John Podestas electronic correspondence in order to demonstrate the Democratic Partys low opinion of minorities, Catholics, and Bernie Sanders seems hardly a great way of motivating unemployed Rust Belt workers or transplanted, Northeastern retirees in Boca Raton to rush out to the polls to vote solidly GOP. This is not to exonerate the Russians from the allegation that they may have engaged in cyberattacking American targets during the 2016 campaign. Nevertheless, even Newsweek had to admit that To put it in simpler terms, no one stuffed any ballot boxes here, but someone did do the equivalent of breaking into campaign offices and rifling through their confidential files and paperwork, stealing information and files that could be portrayed as damaging, and then selectively leaking that information This did not falsify the election results. To understand how this tall tale has risen to a dangerously overblown level, one must first review its origins. The Trump-Russia conspiracy emerged accidentally with the Donald himself, whose blue-collar humor sounds to Anglophone leftists as if he were speaking Greek. Riffing sarcastically on 7/26/16 regarding Mrs. Clintons lost government-related emails, Mr. Trump told the press gaggle: Russia, if you are listening I hope you are able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing. I think you will probably be rewarded mightily by our press. Reasonable persons laughed at his witticism. Throughout the campaign, the left had proved itself to be woefully incurious about Mrs. Clintons clandestine server and her cat-and-mouse answers to inquiries regarding her on-the-job email habits. Thus Mr. Trumps barb hit both his rival and the broadsides of the lefts megaphone (i.e. the mainstream media). It also reassured millions of deplorable Americans who disliked Mrs. Clintons questionable conduct that they had a political champion against her duplicity. Given his comedic sensibility and the medias blockheaded inability to interpret his banter, Mr. Trump clarified the next day that his comments were made in sarcasm. He likely forgot his joke shortly thereafter as he moved on to the next phase of his campaign. Leftists, conversely, clutched their pearls, interpreting Trumps statement as a signal to his KGB buddy to launch a psy-ops attack against the Clinton campaign. The MSMs vapors over this issue subsided somewhat as Trump struggled through the summer and fall of 2016. The press had at their disposal plenty of alternative anti-Trump fodder including, but not limited to, the Khan family kerfuffle, his meandering performance in the first presidential debate, and the Access Hollywood tape; this all pointed to an impending Hillary victory. But shortly after Trump won the Electoral College, the epic gasp of the left gave way to a crusade against the vulgarian who had bested their queen. To bolster the resistance movement, Operation Trump-Russia had to be revived, irrespective of the facts. The lack of credible evidence of a Trumpian conspiracy does nothing to diminish the lefts hysterics. That Trump joked about Russia and suggested that he would like to have a cordial relationship with Putin is enough for the left to believe in the collusion theory. They will not be convinced otherwise because of their continuing unwillingness to process the outcome of the presidential election in an emotionally healthy way. Their swift rejection of fact and rapid adoption of fiction has precedent in the aftermath of the JFK assassination. Despite Jack Rubys deadly interference and the Warren Commissions rush job, the genuinely vetted evidence pointed to Oswald as the lone gunman. But the facts alone provided no solace to countless grieving Americans struggling with the awful truth that the handsome and popular JFK was felled by Lee Harvey Oswald, a poorly educated, traitorous, wife-beating defector. In a 1992 interview with the New York Times, the historian William Manchester described it this way: Those who desperately want to believe that President Kennedy was the victim of a conspiracy have my sympathy. I share their yearning. To employ what may seem an odd metaphor, there is an esthetic principle here. If you put six million dead Jews on one side of a scale and on the other side put the Nazi regime -- the greatest gang of criminals ever to seize control of a modern state -- you have a rough balance: greatest crime, greatest criminals. But if you put the murdered President of the United States on one side of a scale and that wretched waif Oswald on the other side, it doesn't balance. You want to add something weightier to Oswald. It would invest the President's death with meaning, endowing him with martyrdom. He would have died for something. A conspiracy would, of course, do the job nicely. Unfortunately, there is no evidence whatever that there was one. A pathetic waif killing a virile Commander-in-Chief made for such an imbalanced historical equation that the conspiracy cult provided many mourners with a more evenly distributed (albeit fantastical) and therefore more palatable explanation for their loss. Diehard leftists treat politics as religion, so Hillarys 2016 election loss caused them an existential crisis reminiscent of the fright and outrage after JFKs murder. On one side, Hillary Clinton: Former First Lady, Senator, Secretary of State, flush with campaign cash, supported by Barack Obama, Americas soon-to-be first female POTUS. On the other side, an orange-skinned, thrice-married, trash-talking playboy best known for his reality television career, with not a minute of elective experience. There was no balance in this contest; Hillary should have won in a colossal landslide. When that didnt happen, the bottom dropped out for the left. The only way they could cope with this catastrophe was to do what many did after Dallas in November 1963: Discard empiricism in favor of wild theory. For some, a conspiracy by John Birchers, Cubans, or Mafiosi to kill Kennedy imbued his death with more raison detre than the impulsive target practice of a paranoid shipping clerk with a mail-order rifle. Similarly, if a shirtless Soviet ghoul and an oddly coiffed Montgomery Burns conspired to create 100,000 Republican votes in Janesville, Pittsburgh, and Flint, only then can the left emotionally process Hillarys defeat. Thus, the left needs Operation Trump-Russia; without it, progressives must contend with the undigestible reality that they are responsible for their 2016 election failure given their nomination of a condescending, corrupt harridan who could not appeal to an electorate tired of preening, establishmentarian grandees. John Steinreich has an M.A. in Church History from Colorado Theological Seminary. He has authored two Christian-themed books available on Kindle: The Words of God?-- the Bible, the Quran and How They Are Lived in the Post-9/11 World and A Great Cloud of Witnesses -- Lessons for Modern Day Christians from Church History. His works are also on Lulu Press. Dont send in the clowns. No one from rocket scientist to a barely educated person is likely to deny that China has a connection to the Great Wall of China, or that Egypt has a connection with the Pyramids. Yet UNESCO is funny that way. On October 12, 2016, by a vote of 24 to 6 with 26 abstentions, a resolution of that organization accusing Israel of denying Muslim access to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem referred to the site only by its Arabic name Haram al-Sharif, and failed to mention, implicitly denying, any link between Judaism and its holy sites in Jerusalem. On May 3, 2017 Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, indirectly indicated the bias of UNESCO. Together with the head of the British Jewish Community, the archbishop prayed at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Later in the day, he visited Yad Vashem, the official Holocaust memorial, and spoke of anti-Semitism as the root of all European racism. He spoke strongly of the centuries of terrible hatreds against the one people that had contributed so much to our culture and was hated more specifically, more violently, more determinedly, and more systemically, than any other group. No one can accuse the unnamed "senior member " of the U.S. delegation accompanying President Donald Trump in his Israel trip or the U.S. State Department of harboring these extreme feelings of hatred. Nevertheless, it was unwise and indiscreet for that senior person to advise the President that it was inappropriate for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accompany Trump to the Western Wall because the Presidents visit was private and non-official, and Israel had no jurisdiction over the area. The fundamental fallacy of members of the U.S. State Department and "Intelligence Community" in refusing to acknowledge the jurisdiction over the site is based on their opinion that Jerusalem in its present form and without a final status agreement on the Israel-Palestinian dispute cannot be considered as the capital of the Jewish State. Therefore, they argue, the U.S., despite the Congress law calling for it, should not move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem. It would, they believe, harm the peace process because it would imply recognition of the Israeli annexation of east Jerusalem. It is true that other members of the Trump administration were more diplomatic. The U.S. ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, declared I believe that the Western Wall is part of Israel. Spokesperson Sean Spicer, more bland, told us the Wall is obviously one of the holiest sites in the Jewish faith and that it was clearly in Jerusalem. In general, U.S. policy is that the final status of Jerusalem is not yet resolved. A brief history might be helpful. The Western Wall is part of the retaining walls of the old Temple compound, the closest point of prayer for Jews to the site of the Temple and therefore holy. It was King Solomon who in the 10th century B.C. made Jerusalem the capital of the kingdom of Judea by building a temple. That temple was destroyed by Babylon in 586 B.C. and most Jews were exiled from the area. When Jews returned to the Holy Land, King Herod around 19 B.C began building a Second Temple on the same area as the first one. That Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D., but one wall, the Western Wall, was left standing. The site was the place for Jewish prayers for centuries. The Western Wall was once called the Wailing Wall, because of mourning for the lost Temple. The Arab ruler Suleiman the Magnificent in 1560 granted official recognition of the right of Jews to pray by the Wall, though this was prevented from time to time by future Arab leaders ruling Egypt. The Muslim connection with the area began after the death of Mohammed, the Prophet in 632, six years before the Jewish population of Jerusalem surrendered to the Muslim invasion. The Temple Mount, renamed, became a site to entice Muslims from Mecca and Medina. The Wall, however, remained the central religious focus for Jews, internationally. During the British Mandate for Palestine, riots led by the Mufti of Jerusalem occurred in Jerusalem and then in Hebron, in 1929. As a result, the British government, with approval of the League of Nations set up an international Commission on the Wailing Wall. The Jewish delegation argued that the Wall belonged not to any nation, but to God. The Commission, mistaking the nature of the argument of the delegation, concluded, in December 1930, that the Jews do not claim any proprietorship to the Wall, but that they should have free access to the Wall. However, to the Muslims belong the sole proprietorship and the sole proprietary right in the Western Wall. In effect, the religious site had become a political, nationalist issue. This was demonstrated in the 1948 war caused by the Arab invasion by five armies of the newly established State of Israel. As a result of the 1948 war, the Old City was controlled by Jordan which captured the Jewish quarter. In it, synagogues were destroyed, no Jews were allowed to visit the Wall, and Jews were expelled from the Old City, including the Jewish Quarter where Jews were banned for 19 years. In the Six-Day War, on June 10, 1967 Israeli paratroopers reached the stones of the Western Wall. Israel had regained access to the Jewish quarter of the Old City and to the Wall (Kotel). Uncertainty about the disposition of the disputed areas remain. One can understand disagreement on the action of Israeli police on February 2, 2017 in carrying out a High Court order to evict an unauthorized mini settlement at Amona. The response of the Knesset was to pass a controversial Regulation Law that provides for the Israeli government retroactively to allow residents of 4,000 housing units built, accidentally or otherwise, on private Palestinian land to stay in their homes. But if there are strong differences on these issues, and on the unauthorized outposts of settlers in the West Bank, there is no disagreement on the connection of the Western Wall to the State of Israel. President Trump and the Trump administration should act on the basis of that connection and the significance of the site to the Jewish people. The sudden death of Roger Ailes (R.I.P.) yesterday is a grim omen for the network he envisioned and built. In the wake of the recent upheavals at Fox News, the conservative cable television networks ratings are experiencing a precipitous decline from cable news leadership for the first time in the history of the channel. As the rest of the mainstream media continue their efforts to undermine and resist the Trump Administration, this development bodes ill for the future -- not only of the unique kind of fair and balanced if right of center reporting pioneered by the Fox News Channel (FNC), but of the prospects for conservatives continuing to have a major media platform, maintain power, and advance their agenda in the months and years ahead. The Fox News Channel launched on October 6, 1996. MSNBC, originally a collaboration between NBC News and Microsoft, had started three months earlier. Prior to mid-1996, CNN, the other competitor, was the exclusive cable news outlet in the United States, synonymous with cable news. It enjoyed a long monopoly in the field during which it was able to build its brand at home and abroad. Lacking the backing of a huge well oiled news organzation like NBC or the tailwind legacy of a sixteen year international presence like CNN, FNC initially had a bit of a shaky start. But under the guidance of media and political genius Roger Ailes (the FNC CEO and Chairman), the financial support of international media mogul Rupert Murdochs News Corp, and with a clear agenda (fair and balanced reporting with a consistent respect for conservative viewpoints), after gaining wide cable and satellite distribution, Fox pulled ahead of its two rivals. By 2002, FNC had done the unthinkable, establishing itself as the #1 cable news channel in the United States. Notwithstanding its being constantly derided by the rest of the mainstream media, Fox Newss prime time ratings dominance went largely unchallenged for the next fourteen years. The Fox News Channels innovative and successful approach to presenting the news in the new millennium helped to change the TV news landscape from one dominated by breaking hard news read by mostly interchangeable news readers to a model that relied on opinionated marquee personalities and colorful left/right debate. Prime time personalities Bill OReilly and Sean Hannity, for example, both of whom debuted on FNC the night that it started, continued to host programs in prime time, seemingly in perpetuity. CNNs breaking news is king strategy, and its aging prime time host Larry King, were caught off guard. For its part, the ill-conceived MSNBC floundered during its first decade. The channels original plan for some kind of interactive cable TV-online collaboration with Microsoft (one of MSNBCs early prime time shows was the laughable nightly tech program The Site with Soledad O'Brien) was soon scuttled, and it experimented with both left and right wing hosts and anchors (Phil Donahue, Keith Olbermann, Alan Keyes, Pat Buchanan, and even Michael Savage for a short time) before settling on a hard left approach that corresponded with the rise of Barack Obama in 2008. The seventeen month campaign trek of Donald Trump from his announcement on June 16, 2015 to his election victory appeared to institutionalize Foxs hegemony. FNC, it was widely assumed, now had its man in the White House and it had helped to put him there. Ironically, what happened during the first Republican candidates debate on August 6, 2015, carried exclusively on FNC, presaged the channels eventual decline. The debate was co-hosted by Fox Newss newest star, prime time anchor and special events coverage co-anchor Megyn Kelly. Her first question, directed to Trump, was provocative and incendiary: Kelly: Mr. Trump, one of the things people love about you is you speak your mind and you don't use a politician's filter. However, that is not without its downsides, in particular, when it comes to women. Youve called women you don't like fat pigs, dogs, slobs, and disgusting animals. Trump: Only Rosie O'Donnell. Kelly: No, it wasn't. Your Twitter account has several disparaging comments about womens looks. You once told a contestant on Celebrity Apprentice it would be a pretty picture to see her on her knees. Does that sound to you like the temperament of a man we should elect as president, and how will you answer the charge from Hillary Clinton, who was likely to be the Democratic nominee, that you are part of the war on women? In a flash, Fox Newss popular celebrity anchor had thrown down a gauntlet, unfairly in the opinion of many, right in the face of a candidate who was quickly gaining attention and momentum with conservatives the core of the FNC audience and in the very first Republican debate of the 2016 election season seen by a record 24 million viewers! The ensuing undercurrent of bad feeling between Trump and Kelly often breaking out into the open on social media dragged on for months. It soured many viewers on Kelly and diminished her appeal as the attractive and smart face of Fox News. Megyn Kelly, 2013 In May 2016, sporting her new New York sophisticate look, Megyn Kelly, February 2016 Megyn Kelly Vanity Fair February 2016 Kelly supposedly made up with Trump for a much-hyped, hour long prime time Fox broadcast network special. The forced detente, however, seemed fake. Later in 2016, Kelly wrote negatively about Trump in her memoir Settle for More, for which she was paid around $11 million according to deadline.com. In interviews to promote the book, Kelly said that she felt such fear during 2016 that she and her husband hired or were provided with armed bodyguards to protect her and her family from perceived dangers arising from her to-do with Trump. The Women of Fox News The on-air dynamic of an older, not necessarily attractive, male authority figure and his lovely female guest (look, shes beautiful and smart too!) is such a trademark of Fox News opined LA Times television critic Lorraine Ali in an April 6, 2017 Times feature story Scandal, sexism and the role of women at Fox News. Indeed, anyone with eyes and sensibility had to take note that very early on the Fox News channel was appealing to male viewers with a lineup of very attractive young women correspondents, anchors, and guests who, as Ali noted, were smart too! The Women of FNC's Outnumbered with guest Newt Gingrich Susan Smith, Harris Faulkner, Melissa Francis, Andrea Tantaros As Chelsea Schilling writes at WND (May 2, 2017), Its no secret that Fox News has some of the most attractive female hosts in the business, and many fans have become accustomed to seeing beautiful, leggy women deliver the daily news. In fact, Google searches of almost every woman on Fox News reveal scores of images of the lady-hosts boldly baring their long legs. Writing at Breitbart on April 27, 2017, Daniel Flynn refers to Fox News as a hot-women-only cable news culture. Its possible to draw a fairly straight line from the provocative, sex-fueled shakeup of tabloid news in England 47 years ago by Fox News founder and News Corporation CEO Rupert Murdoch to the success of FNC soon after its launch in 1996. In 1970, Murdoch, one of the 20th centurys most audacious and successful media moguls, then the new owner of the British daily tabloid The Sun, approved the publication each day on page 3 of the paper of a photograph of an attractive young woman, usually blonde, completely naked from the waist up. Despite initial public disapproval and periodic protests, the practice continued for over four decades. According to an article about Page 3 at BT.com, circulation of The Sun doubled to 2.5 million one year after the launch of the graphic Page 3 photos. A G-rated version of this formula, adapted for the sensibilities of the 1990s and beyond, worked magic on cable TV in the United States when it was employed by the Fox News Channel. After twenty years of ratings dominance aided by this technique (as well as by the superior reporting on Fox News), cracks began to emerge. In June 2016, Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson, a former Miss America (and Stanford University graduate), was removed from her daily afternoon show and on July 6 she filed a lawsuit against News Corp, and FNC CEO and Chairman Roger Ailes, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation. On September 6, it was reported that Fox had settled with Carlson for $20 million, and paid off several other FNC on air talent females who had made allegations of harassment, as well. After News Corporation hired a law firm to investigate Carlsons allegations, Ailes was forced out as the head of Fox News on July 21, 2016. Megyn Kelly, meanwhile, FNCs most prominent on air female talent, played a key role in Ailess departure from Fox News when she reported to the law firm investigating Ailes that she, too, had been sexually harassed by him. Notwithstanding these newsworthy controversies and the subsequent executive reshuffling at the top, FNC managed to maintain its #1 ratings position through the 2016 elections and into the New Year. For the time being, the channels successful on air schedule remained intact. Throughout 2016, Kelly had been increasingly criticized but not only for her apparent hostility to Trump. She appeared to be focusing and reporting increasingly and obsessively on herself and changing her appearance and persona from a smart, girl-next-door type to a cold and calculating feminist icon-wannabe. In a July 19, 2016 article at Breitbart, Matthew Boyle quotes a top Fox News host: If Fox wants to become the all about Megyn Network, thats fine. We stand with Roger [Ailes]. And real anger has emerged that the so-called Megyn incident [alleged sexual harassment by Ailes] happened 10 years ago. The consensus among the hosts and contributors is: Why didnt she say anything then? Really, the same woman that posed half naked in GQ? The same woman on Howard Stern saying what? Boyle then quoted a second top Fox News Channel host who said If Megyn Kelly wants to leave, we are fine with that. Good riddance. After Kelly finally left FNC on January 6, 2017 to move to NBC, Tucker Carlson, her replacement at 9 PM ET, garnered even higher ratings. (All times cited in this article are ET.) Helping FNCs new Tucker Carlson show to maintain FNCs top ratings position at 9 PM was the lead in, Bill O'Reillys OReilly Factor, the linchpin of the FNC prime time schedule that had managed over two decades to build a loyal following of fans addicted to OReillys nightly no spin zone shtick. For 14 years, O'Reilly had the #1 show on all of the cable television news channels a feat unparalleled in the history of cable TV news. Bill O'Reilly His ratings success allowed him to carve out a complementary career as an author of numerous New York Times bestselling nonfiction books, many of which were turned into TV movies with OReilly as executive producer. He also helmed a profitable eponymous Web site, apart from the space accorded him at foxnews.com, which sold premium memberships and a variety of Factor gear (with the profits reportedly going to charity). Along with frequent Factor guest Dennis Miller, OReilly made more than a half dozen live appearances annually at large venues around the U.S. to packed houses. On April 1, 2017, everything changed. On that day, the New York Times published a lengthy, scathing investigative report about payoffs to a number of women at Fox News totaling $13 million (paid for by both News Corp and O'Reilly personally) to, in effect, buy their silence on allegations that they had been sexually harassed by OReilly. Only one of these cases, dating to 2004, had previously been reported on. The response was quick. Threatned with boycotts, a majority of The OReilly Factors advertisers began to drop the program, which reportedly brought in between $100 and $200 million worth of advertising sales a year. OReillys fate and apparently the networks was sealed. Slow Slide Into Ratings Oblivion When Donald Trump was sworn in as President on January 20, 2017, the ratings for CNN and MSNBC both of them in sync with the emerging anti-Trump resistance movement were rising, but still not posing a serious threat to FNCs commanding lead. For example, on Wednesday February 1, 2017, FNC was #1 in prime time and all day, in both the critically important demo (the demographic slice made up of 25 to 54 year old viewers that advertisers covet) and in viewers of all ages. Neither CNN or MSNBC came close. After the announcement on April 19, 2017 that OReilly was out at Fox News, the upheaval in cable news ratings began. After more than 20 years at 8 PM, OReillys time slot was taken over by Tucker Carlson, who had been on at 9 PM since January 9 after Megyn Kelly left. The five person, banter driven ensemble left/right opinion show The Five, for six years a ratings winner and a tolerable distraction at 5 PM, was moved to 9 PM a move that seemed like a questionable programming decision for the centerpiece of prime time. Conservative stalwart Sean Hannity, on at 10 PM, remained in the time slot that he has hosted since he vacated the 9 PM hour in order to make room for Megyn Kellys debut on The Kelly File in prime time on October 7, 2013. In the wake of OReillys departure less than a month ago now, and the prime time shakeup that ensued, Fox Newss ratings have started to sink. Shockingly so. Emblematic of the new ratings picture, on Monday, May 15, 2017, the only FNC program between 4 PM and 12 AM that won its time slot in the critical 25-54 demo was the new ensemble show The Specialists at 5 PM. The ratings for total viewers (all ages) were slightly better for FNC, but that metric is not the one that determines advertising rates. Its also accountable to the older age of FNC viewers. Meanwhile, on May 15, MSNBC won the night. On Tuesday, May 16, 2017, CNN won the night, with FNC coming in third in the prime time demo. The new success of CNN and MSNBC the exact opposite of the ratings picture only one year earlier (see, for example, the complete cable news ratings for Thursday, May 12, 2016) is accountable less to anything tangible that has been attempted lately at CNN or MSNBC and more to the disarray at Fox News. The prime time schedules of both CNN and MSNBC have been fairly stable for the past several years Erin Burnett, Anderson Cooper, and Don Lemon at CNN (7 PM to 12 AM) and during the same hours at MSNBC, Chris Matthews, Chris Hayes, Rachel Maddow, Lawrence ODonnell, and the rehabilitated Brian Williams. Needless to say, all eight of these individuals are on the left end of the spectrum politically. A Perfect Storm It is becoming clearer each day that the absence of the OReilly Factor from Fox Newss prime time schedule is quickly and ominously having a disastrous domino effect on the entire networks evening ratings, and on the popularity of many of the channels non-prime time programs, as well. OReillys consistent #1 ranking at 8 PM provided the strong lead in that helped to keep the 9 and 10 PM FNC programming hours at or near the top of the cable news rankings. The loss of Bill OReilly, however, is only a part of a perfect storm that seems to be engulfing the troubled network. Media wizard Roger Ailes is no longer the guiding hand at the helm of FNC and News Corp CEO Rupert Murdoch is ceding more day to day authority to his heirs, sons James and Lachlan, who are widely reported to be much more more liberal than their father. Under the influence of this new guard, News Corps executives were therefore prone to unceremoniously dump OReilly less than three weeks after the damning New York Times article appeared rather than stand and fight the politically charged accusations against him. (It should be noted that OReilly, who continues to assert his innocence, has never had his day in court to confront and defend himself against his accusers, some of whom remain anonymous.) In the ominous demographics is destiny area, much of FNCs audience is literally dying out. Recent ratings surveys have put the age of the average Fox News viewer at 68 or older, while the average age of CNNs and MSNBCs viewers is about a decade younger. In an article titled Stop Beating A Dead Fox in NY Magazine (February 3, 2014), Frank Rich, no fan of right of center politics and conservative media, gleefully notes: All three cable-news networks are hemorrhaging young viewers (as are their network-news counterparts) in an era when television is hardly the news medium of choice for Americans raised online and on smartphones. But Fox News is losing younger viewers at an even faster rate than its competitors. With a median viewer age now at 68 according to Nielsen data through mid-January (compared with 60 for MSNBC and CNN, and 62 to 64 for the broadcast networks), Fox is in essence a retirement community. In addition to FNCs deflated ratings, long time viewers are noticing subtle and troubling changes in many of Fox Newss programs. Right after the November 2016 election, for example, the must-see weekly segment on Sunday evenings of the Political Insiders featuring renegade Democrat pollsters Patrick Caddell and Doug Schoen and Republican former member of Congress John LeBoutillier who provided chillingly accurate and memorable independent analyses of the political landscape and the publics mood that ultimately led to outsider Donald Trumps victory disappeared from the schedule without explanation. More and more of the oft appearing Fox News contributors, who reportedly are paid as much as six figures a year for their on-air analysis, are from the left of center camp, including two recent hires Marie Harf (former Obama Administration State Department spokesperson) and Jessica Tarlov (Democrat pollster and analyst who enthusiastically hews to her partys line). Meanwhile, foul mouthed, bloated Democrat party hack Bob Beckel was re-hired back from CNN to resume co-hosting duties at The Five and now has a prominent platform each night in prime time while left of center attorney Eboni Williams is emerging as the lead host of the new daily 5 PM FNC show The Specialists, which appears to have downscaled the role of articulate conservative co-host Eric Bolling (the third co-host is the Libertarian millennial comedian Kat Timpf). Kat Timpf 2016, Co-host of FNC's The Specialists On a personal note, as a longtime media observer and critic, I had grown increasingly weary in recent years of The OReilly Factor and the hosts arrogant bloviating and off-putting, know-it-all manner. But OReillys absence now and its after effects are a lesson in the need to be extremely careful in what one wishes for. Meanwhile, there are reports that the U.S. Department of Justice has widened its probe into Fox News over money it paid to women who said they were sexually harassed at the network. New lawsuits alleging harassment are pending and a number of African American employees have come forward with allegations of racial discrimination at Fox News. Anchor Kelly Wright, who is African-American, announced a lawsuit against Fox News for alleged discrimination on April 27, 2017. Where all of this goes remains to be seen. I think, and I fear, that it is safe to say that the salad days of Fox News that made it a major positive influence in our political and cultural lives may be behind us. Peter Barry Chowka is a seasoned journalist who writes about national politics, media, popular culture, and health care. The American left has been afflicted by a serious and complicated illness: denial of reality combined with the invention of and surrender to every wild conspiracy theory that the media invent, propagate, and exaggerate to undermine Trump. So shocked by their candidate's loss in the 2016 election, they have devolved to the wholesale embrace of a witch hunt worthy of the 1600s. They believe that Trump is an illegitimate president, despite his clear electoral victory, and so spend their days in the conviction that the election results can and must be overturned. They are determined to make that happen, no matter how deep into the sewer they have to descend. Look no farther than mentally challenged Democrat Maxine Waters and her fellow anti-Trump congresspersons who have been calling for his impeachment since the day he was inaugurated. For what, they never clearly articulate. Now, there's a theory: you are the minority in Congress, but you think you can impeach the president of the majority party. Blind commitment to one's conspiracy is part and parcel of conspiracy theory. Like those whose belief in catastrophic man-made global warming is so unshakable no amount of scientific truth to the contrary can be allowed to exist, the left is certain that any skullduggery, any fabrication on leftists' part, any laws broken in furtherance of their agenda to destroy the man is righteous. Truth has no place in their grand design. For eight years, the many crimes of the Obama administration were dismissed as trivial by the media and the Democrat left. On the rare occasions Republicans called for investigations, they were shot down by the criminally racist and unethical Eric Holder and Obama: voter intimidation, Fast and Furious, green energy scams, Benghazi, Clinton's private server and grossly negligent handling of classified documents, the doubling of the national debt, etc. There were many more, all of them serious. The Clinton Foundation alone is perhaps the biggest scandal of all, a pay-to-play scheme that dwarfs any such operation in history, perhaps even bigger than the U.N. oil-for-food disgrace. Did the Republicans demand investigations? A few, but not very loudly, and when they got them, they let themselves be railroaded by hardcore leftists like Harry Reid and Chuck Schumer. The Benghazi hearings were a sham meant to protect the pathological liars at the top, Obama and Hillary Clinton. That truth has yet to be revealed by any mainstream outlet. As usual, with a few exceptions, the Republicans in Congress were and remain submissive and pliable. The Democrats, on the other hand, go to the mat for their own, no matter how serious the crimes of which they are guilty. The Trump-colluded-with-Russia story is, as Victor Davis Hanson rightly noted, a big lie. Our conniving leftists all know it's a lie, too. Adam Schiff knows, Schumer knows, the anchors at CNN and MSNBC know it's a lie. But they still are running with it in their self-righteous mission to take Trump out. The American left operates and is structured like a street gang, with a similar hierarchy. Bullies like Soros and Schumer are at the top. Soros funds and operates the militant arm, the one that foments and participates in orchestrated violence. Schumer and his ilk raise the money and do the dirty verbal violence along with the NYT, the WaPo, CNN, NBC, etc. Both sides work to destroy their opposition. Neither "arm" has scruples. None. The congressional left has no moral core beyond destroying traditional American values and dividing us all into various victim groups. Who can blame Trump for being frustrated at the FBI's lack of investigating the real crimes that have been committed? Take the illegal surveillance for political purposes that obviously took place under Obama. The flood of leaks to the WaPo and the NYT prove this without a doubt. And yet the leaks are not being investigated. The unmasking of a few thousand private citizens took place under Obama's purposefully relaxed rules about sharing of classified information, and, as far as we know, those involved Obama, Brennan, Clapper, Rice are getting a free pass. Of course. Despite months of speculation, media hyperbole, and frantic accusations, no actual evidence of Trump colluding with Russia has emerged. Even Waters and Schiff admit this. Yes, Flynn and a few others "spoke" with their Russian counterparts during the transition, but it was nothing more than what would be usual for any new administration. The hysterical left knows this as well. Our mild-mannered, supplicant Republicans know it, too, but are the flawed ones, the innocents. They seem immobilized, too frightened by their own shadows to act. The Democrats always united in their determination to destroy their opposition. It's what they do, and they are good at it. If the facts are not on your side, invent them, embellish them, magnify them. For them, there is no objective truth! Fake news? Their stock in trade. Their contrivance of all these Trump "betrayals?" Standard practice. They are playing an Alinskyite "inside game, cold, sure, undistracted[.] ... The conspirators have a logic and a daring beyond our reach." The Republicans had better begin fighting back, or the nation will be lost to the left's despicable, dishonest will to power. The country will be lost to all of us. We have never been more secure. We have never been more vulnerable. Forgive the mangling of beginning of A Tale of Two Cities, but these sentiments are true. The complexities of society and technology have made us safer than ever before from disease, starvation, and invasion by barbaric hordes. At the same time, any complex system depends on so very many of its individual parts working correctly that a single minor malfunction can begin a chain reaction that cascades into catastrophe. An example from biology should suffice. Cutting a starfish in half does not kill it. The creature is very simple, and both severed halves can each regenerate into a new, complete starfish. But an elephant, a much larger and vastly more complex creature, can be killed by a single spear thrust to the heart. Human societies are like that. Primitive groups of nomads survived for millennia despite periods of natural catastrophes, because they had no single nerve center, no local vulnerability that could destroy all of them at once. Even so, each nomadic group's survival depended on finding adequate food at least every few days, making each of them vulnerable to short-term famine, which could kill off any single group. Agricultural societies were less vulnerable, because they did not have to find fresh food every day but when crops did fail, an entire year's effort went for naught. Even so, the trade-off was deemed worth it in the long run, and agricultural societies grew into industrial powerhouses, and then into the technological wizardry that today makes us comfortable and secure. But we have become like the elephant. Our size, power, and complexity have secured us from plagues and other misfortunes that have destroyed many primitive societies. But we depend on numerous loci of function think of them as vital organs, like heart and lungs. Every once in a while, we are reminded of this fact. For example, a team of snipers, shooting at inductive transformers in a power substation in California, came dangerously close to one of those critical organs in April of 2013. Were such attacks to occur on a large scale, coordinated and simultaneous, the damage could have brought down the nation's power grid. This one attack may have been a rehearsal. Quoting from the report: A minute before a police car arrived, the shooters disappeared into the night. To avoid a blackout, electric-grid officials rerouted power around the site and asked power plants in Silicon Valley to produce more electricity. But it took utility workers 27 days to make repairs and bring the substation back to life. Another known threat to our survival is the possibility of a relatively simple EMP (electromagnetic pulse) attack. Such an attack could, in one blinding flash, cripple our power grid, destroy communications, and burn out the electronics that make automobile engines work. At least ten years might be required to restore essential system functions but within a year of such an attack, it is estimated that ninety percent of Americans would die. That sounds like fantasy, but without power, communications, and transportation, we would be thrust back into the technology of the 1800s, when an EMP (the Carrington Event) from a solar flare destroyed the entire telegraph system which was the only electronic infrastructure technology we had at the time. The Carrington event was not an attack from an enemy, but a natural solar storm of the sort that rarely reaches the Earth (but could again). Were that to happen today, there would be no way to transport sufficient food into our major cities. New York City, with its ten million inhabitants, contains only enough food at any given time to last for a few days, after which food riots and starvation would devastate the population. How many of us can farm and hunt with enough expertise to survive for a year? Millions of us require modern medical support, especially medications, to survive. Few of us could survive for that long. Another threat to our complex technology is man-made. It is the cyber-attack on computers, which uses something called "ransomware," a computer program that can scramble the data on your computer and on the government's computers making those data unusable...unless one pays the ransom. An enemy nation would likely not repair the damage, even if the ransom were paid. A prime suspect in the recent worldwide attack is North Korea. What such weaponized programs can do is give relatively primitive countries, such as North Korea or Iran, a more level playing field or should we say battlefield in any conflict with the United States and its allies. We could be taken by surprise and find ourselves armed only with muskets (figuratively speaking) against an adversary that is much better at using muskets than we are. This partly explains why the Navy still trains its officers in the use of sextants, a low-technology navigational device invented during the 18th century, which require no computerized communications. If the satellite grid ever fails, nuclear-powered ships could otherwise be literally wandering the ocean with no precise idea of their location. The United States government has spent many millions of dollars creating shelters for itself should a natural or manmade catastrophe cripple our nation's vital organs. Although you paid for that shelter, you would be shot dead if, in an emergency, you tried to enter it. The facility could sustain only a few hundred people. Not you. At my age, I am not a survivalist. You should be thinking about becoming one. Nevertheless, the office of the president is powerful, and only the most faithful of the mullahs' loyalists ever reach it. The presidential race is between incumbent President Hassan Rouhani, seeking a second term in office, with 3,000 executions during his tenure, and Ebrahim Raisi, the candidate closest to the supreme leader, who was part of a tribunal that oversaw the execution of 30,000 political prisoners in the summer of 1988. Raisi is also the preferred candidate of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Today, the mullahs in Iran will hold their 12th presidential election. Before you hear what the mainstream media might suggest, let's remember what this is first: the election of Iran's Number Two. The power of the president remains secondary to that of the supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, who is an unelected head of state. It's a rigged election, and the winner will be a mullah loyalist, but there is also an authentic opposition that's active. [T]he activist network of the main Iranian opposition, the People's Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI/MEK), has been running an extensive campaign calling on Iranians to boycott the elections. They are putting their lives at risk by draping large images of their leader in exile, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, from bridges and flyovers in cities across the country, amid preparations for tomorrow's presidential election, which could decide the direction of its future relationship with the West[.] Rajavi is the Paris-based NCRI's president-elect. She recently voiced her views about this new round of presidential elections in Iran, described by many as a game repeated by the regime every four years. "The upcoming election sham, as it has always been the case, is just a ritual of dividing the power among the factions which make up the ruling religious tyranny. It does not enjoy any legitimacy among the people of Iran. The outcome, whatever it be, is rejected and disdained by the Iranian people and Resistance. In any case, the crisis-riddled clerical regime will emerge weaker and more vulnerable in the wake of this election," she said. Iran's presidential election has been denounced widely by dignitaries and was panned by members of the European parliament on May 18, 2017. More than 150 members of the European Parliament condemned the fake elections in Iran, declaring in a joint statement: The elections in Iran are not free and fair. Opposition is banned. All candidates have to declare their heartfelt belief in the concept of supreme clerical rule. An unelected body named the 'Guardian Council', whose members are appointed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei disqualifies most of the candidates. European lawmakers have expressed concern about "high number of executions in Iran," citing the "more than 3,000 people (who) have been hanged during the first term of the 'moderate' President Hassan Rouhani." They said: "In a public speech on Iranian television, Rouhani described executions as 'a good law' and 'the law of God!' He also openly expressed full support for [Syrian president Bashar] Assad even after the chemical attack in April which killed many people, including children." The MEPs emphasized that Rouhani's "Justice Minister was a key member of the so-called 'Death Committee' that approved the summary mass executions of over 30,000 political prisoners." Rouhani's main rival in the elections, Ebrahim Raisi, was also himself a member of that Death Committee. From the young age of eighteen, Raisi was a deputy prosecutor in Tehran and has always maintained top positions in the Iranian judiciary, signing orders of execution for thousands of political opponents. In their joint statement, the MEPs concluded: "Any further expansion of relations with Iran must be conditioned to a clear progress on human rights, women's rights and a halt to executions." Former United Nations ambassador John Bolton said in an interview with BBC: In my point of view Iran's presidential election and the vote-counting is vulnerable to manipulation and fake votes. The election in Iran are not free and fair Khamenei is ultimate decision maker Assembly of Experts a body of religious scholars is an instrument in the hands of Khamenei to select and qualify the candidates and in my opinion the people of Iran think that the president has been elected previously and their vote is not important[.] So today's election is nothing but a power struggle between ferocious gangs within the system. In any case, the crisis-riddled clerical regime will emerge weaker and more vulnerable in the wake of this election. The appointment of Robert Mueller as special counsel to investigate the wild charges of Russian interference in the 2016 election has turned the tables on the conspiracy theorists. Some are even acknowledging the total lack of evidence behind the media-induced frenzy that grips the Beltway and left-wing crazies, but not most normal Americans. MSNBC discovered the hard way that the mania gripping Rachel Maddow & Co. at its anchor desks was not shared by the people it interviewed on the street in North Carolina when it took "the pulse of the people." Perhaps remembering what happened to the GOP in the wake of the failed Clinton impeachment trial, Nancy Pelosi urged her House members to squelch their impulse to impeach. Even rabid Trump-hater Adam Schiff warned the troops: "That's not something that we should be rushing into or rushing to suggest," Schiff told CNN's New Day, according to The Hill. He said the impeachment process would be a "wrenching experience" for the country, and it was important to get answers first. Dems, it seems, forgot to be careful what they wish for, because they just might get it. That lack of evidence is so worrisome that as Jason Willick pointed out at The American Interest, some of the Trump haters are de-escalating: Take, for example, Josh Marshall declaring that while he has confidence in Mueller to identify and expose any criminal activities undertaken by Trump or his associates, he won't be able to prosecute the real Trump-Russia wrongdoing: a labyrinthian "conspiracy" which may not even involve any illegal behavior. It is critical to understand that the most important details we need to know about the Russian disruption campaign and the Trump campaign's possible collusion with it may not be crimes. Indeed, I would say that the crimes we're likely to discover will likely be incidental or secondary to the broader actions and activities we're trying to uncover. Just hypothetically, what if Russia had a disruption campaign, Trump campaign officials gave winks and nods to nudge it forward but violated no laws? That's hard to figure but by no means impossible. (Our criminal laws are not really designed for this set of facts.) The simple point is that the most important 'bad acts' may well not be crimes. That means not only is no one punished but far, far more important, we would never know what happened. And here's David Frum in the Atlantic making a similar objection: The special counsel will investigate whether people in the Trump campaign violated any laws when they gleefully leveraged the fruits of Russian espionage to advance their campaign. By contrast, what happened in plain sight cheering rather than condemning a Russian attack on American democracy will be treated as a non-issue, because it was not criminal, merely anti-democratic and disloyal. Meanwhile, the president of the United States is flying off to Saudi Arabia, where an unprecedented group of Muslim rulers may offer some very big wins, starting with major purchases (hundreds of billions of dollars) of American weapons, and possibly extending to real progress on dealing with the Palestinians, who have become an irritant to most of the Arab regimes in this era of Shiite-Iranian expansionism. If Trump can get some sort of progress on recognizing Israel's right to exist (as has been rumored), he will outdo every other American president in healing that wound. This could be quite a turning point. Of course, it all depends on what Mueller does and doesn't find. Swedish prosecutors have decided to drop charges of rape against the founder of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange. The charges stem from accusations by two women that Assange forced himself on them seven years ago. At the time, Assange had been arrested by British authorities and released on bail while he awaited extradition to Sweden. Instead, he jumped bail and sought refuge in the Ecuadoran embassy in London. Swedish prosecutors have not exonerated Assange; they say that because they can't prosecute him in the foreseeable future, they were forced to drop the investigation. There is an outstanding warrant for Assange in Great Britain for jumping bail, but authorities have not indicated they will enforce it. Neither the British or the U.S. will say if there is a sealed indictment from an American court against Assange stemming from the release of tens of thousands of classified documents. Associated Press: WikiLeaks tweeted after the Swedish announcement: "UK refuses to confirm or deny whether it has already received a US extradition warrant for Julian Assange. Focus now moves to UK." The Swedish Prosecution Authority said Friday that chief Marianne Ny "has decided to discontinue the investigation" and Ny said she will call back the European arrest warrant on Assange. Ny told reporters that the WikiLeaks founder had "tried to dodge all attempts at arrest" by British and Swedish authorities. She said prosecutors had been unable to make a full assessment of the case and were not making a finding on whether Assange was guilty of the allegations. She said the case could be reopened if Assange returns to Sweden before the statute of limitations expires in 2020. Prosecutors frustrated by Assange's refusal to return to Sweden for questioning eventually came to London to meet with him at the Ecuadorean Embassy last year. Samuelsson, the lawyer in Sweden, told Swedish Radio he had been in touch with Assange via text message and the Australian had written, "Serious, Oh My God." British police said despite Sweden's decision to drop a rape investigation, Assange still faces arrest if he leaves Ecuador's embassy in London. The Metropolitan Police says there is a British warrant for Assange's arrest after he jumped bail in 2012, and the force "is obliged to execute that warrant should he leave the embassy." But it added that Assange is now wanted for a "much less serious offense" than the original sex crimes claims, and police "will provide a level of resourcing which is proportionate to that offense." British police kept up round-the-clock guard outside the embassy until December 2015, when the operation was scaled back, in part because of the cost, which had exceeded 11 million pounds (over $17.5 million at the time). Assange and WikiLeaks have repeatedly infuriated U.S. officials with the widespread release of sensitive secret documents related to military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq and diplomatic relations around the world. WikiLeaks also had a provocative role in the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign when it published emails written by Hillary Clinton campaign officials. Assange's biggest coup was getting Pvt. Manning to supply tens of thousands of classified reports from the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. Manning was just released from jail after being pardoned by President Obama at the end of his term. The debate over whether the leaks cost any lives continues to rage, as dozens of Afghan and Iraqi civilians who assisted American forces had their identities compromised by the disclosures. The best that can be said is that we just don't know. The British may yet arrest Assange as a favor to the U.S. and hold him until he can be extradited. But Assange has many friends, and it won't surprise me a bit if he is able to escape authorities. Everyone is praising the selection of Robert Mueller as special counsel, but the question is what exactly needs to be investigated. The most common term is "collusion." But what does collusion mean? The order by Assistant Attorney General Rosenstein authorizes Mueller to investigate: (i) any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump; and (ii) any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation; and (iii) any other matters within the scope of 28 C.F.R. 600.4(a). 28 C.F.R 600.4(a) states: 600.4 Jurisdiction. (a) Original jurisdiction. The jurisdiction of a Special Counsel shall be established by the Attorney General. The Special Counsel will be provided with a specific factual statement of the matter to be investigated. The jurisdiction of a Special Counsel shall also include the authority to investigate and prosecute federal crimes committed in the course of, and with intent to interfere with, the Special Counsel's investigation, such as perjury, obstruction of justice, destruction of evidence, and intimidation of witnesses; and to conduct appeals arising out of the matter being investigated and/or prosecuted[.] The words "links" and "coordination" can mean any contact between the Russian government and individuals associated with the Trump campaign. But since when are "links" and "coordination" with the Russian government a crime? There is no clear designation of Mueller's jurisdiction. A clear designation would be something such as investigating Hillary's approval of the sale of 20% of our uranium to Russia, followed by contributions to the Clinton Foundation and paying Bill Clinton $500,000 for a speech in Moscow. The FBI has been investigating this "Russia" matter for almost one year. Congressional committees have been investigating. The N.Y. Times and Washington Post are obsessed with this. Obama tasked his intelligence chiefs to investigate. The result: nothing. The only possibility is that General Mike Flynn talked with the Russian ambassador, and we know this only because his name was "unmasked" by Susan Rice. For example, The Washington Post reported on January 23, 2017: The FBI in late December reviewed intercepts of communications between the Russian ambassador to the United States and retired Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn national security adviser to then-President-elect Trump but has not found any evidence of wrongdoing or illicit ties to the Russian government, U.S. officials said. There was no valid legal reason for Rosenstein to appoint a special counsel. If there was any criminality, then the FBI, or Congress, or the MSM, would have announced it by now. Rosenstein played into the hype of the Opposition Party, consisting of the MSM, Democrats, and NeverTrumps, that Hillary lost because of Russian "interference." There is no evidence of this. It did not help that Republicans stood silent while the Opposition Party campaigned furiously for a special counsel. The DNC refused to have the FBI examine its computers. Whoever leaked the emails did the country a favor, because the emails documented the lies and corruption of Hillary. Still, Hillary won the popular vote by over two million but lost the critical battleground states. To believe that the Russians affected the election means that only the voters in the battleground states, like Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin, paid attention to the emails. We needed special counsel to investigate Fast and Furious; the IRS harassment of conservatives; and, most importantly, Hillary's use of an unsecured email system in violation of laws and regulations. But the Obama Justice Department brushed aside calls for special counsel, and of course, the MSM, the mouthpiece of the Obama administration, never pressed for special counsel. Yet the MSM has been clamoring for a special prosecutor since Inauguration Day strictly to undo the election. Mueller should move quickly to end this farce. (ANSA) - Rome, May 19 - Fincantieri said Friday that it has signed an agreement to buy 66.66% of the share capital of STX France shipyards from its current shareholder, STX Europe AS. The Italian group said it would pay 79.5 million for the stake, through available financial resources. Fincantieri said it was continuing negotiations with the French authorities to finalize the shareholders' agreement for STX France in accordance with the Heads of Terms signed on April 12. "With more than 150 years of history, STX France is a global player in maritime construction. Based in Saint-Nazaire, on the French Atlantic coast, the Group operates one of the most modern shipyards in the world and has great expertise in the design and engineering of the most complex and innovative ships," a statement read. "STX France has approximately 2,600 employees and a network of more than 500 subcontractors. "In 2016 it has generated revenues of approximately euro 1.4 billion. "Through this industrial partnership, Fincantieri and STX France will create a global leader in all high-tech shipbuilding industry's sectors. "The perfect complementarity of Fincantieri and STX France cruise activities and products would allow the two companies to serve all the clients and end-markets and to generate value not only for the shareholders, but also for the employees and the respective subcontractors' networks". (ANSA) - La Spezia, May 19 - Italian firm ASG Superconductors on Friday presented the first magnet for Iter, the world's largest experimental plant designed to show it is possible to produce energy from nuclear fusion. It is 14 metres high, nine metres long, weighs 300 tonnes - as much as a Boeing 747 - and is the shape of a big capital D. The super-high-tech magnet, the first of 18 destined for the Iter project, was made by the Malacalza family's ASG Superconductors in its La Spezia plant, which will go on to produce another nine (plus one spare one) of the 18 which will form the core of the Iter reactor being built at Cadarache in southern France. The other nine will be made in Japan. "We are very proud," said ASG Superconductors President Davide Malacalza, "we and all those who worked on building it: the head of production had goose pimples when he moved this coil for the first time. "It took five years to realise the prototype". The first experiments with nuclear fusion are scheduled for 2025, Iter Director-General Bernard Bigot said, stressing the "great enthusiasm" among the 35 countries collaborating on the project. Turin book fair opens window onto 'Arab souls' Arab writers discuss freedom, exile, counter-hegemony (ANSAmed) - ROME, MAY 19 - The 30th edition of the Turin book fair underway until May 22 has once again opened a window onto 'Arab souls' with space given to writers and intellectuals who talk about "freedom of expression, exile and counter-hegemonic narration in a dialogue with the West". Egyptian-Lebanese artist and art historian Bahia Shehab, winner of the 2017 UNESCO Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture, will talk with US historian of the Arab world Mark LeVine, director-general of Amnesty International Gianni Rufini and Senator Luigi Manconi about freedom of expression and research in Egypt in an event dedicated to tortured and slain Italian researcher Giulio Regeni. Berlin-based Syrian writer Muhammed Dibo will discuss the issue of exile with the multiple prizewinning German author Jenny Erpenbeck, while writer Faiza Guene and actress Carla Peirolero will give their perspective on the deprived outlying areas of Paris and Genoa. Mark LeVine and Paola Caridi will discuss the 50th anniversary of the Six Day War, with a particular focus on the city of Jerusalem. Lastly, an ancient missal belonging to the Syrian Catholic Church is to be presented to the public for the first time. The book probably dating to the 16th century was discovered last year by two journalists in the Christian city of Qaraqosh in Iraqi Kurdistan and brought to Italy where it will be restored before being returned to its rightful owner, the archbishop of Mosul. It is written in Syriac-Aramaic in red and black to mark the breaks and change of reading or reader. The missal is on display in a glass case and visitors can use special glasses to see its original context and the damage suffered by the various structures that have housed it over time. (ANSAmed). Turkey issues arrest warrants against opposition newspaper Four Sozcu managers and reporters suspected of Gulen links (ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, MAY 19 - Turkish authorities have issued four arrest warrants for managers and reporters of the daily newspaper Sozcu including publisher Burak Akbay for suspected links with the alleged coup plotter Fethullah Gulen, pro-government newspaper Sabah reported Friday. The paper's managers are reportedly accused of publishing on its website the address and pictures of the Marmaris hotel accommodating President Recep Tayyip Erdogan just a few hours before the failed coup last July. Arrest warrants have also been issued against website manager Mediha Olgun, financial affairs manager Yonca Kaleli and reporter Gokmen Ulu, whose home has already been searched. The paper's lawyers however say they have not received official notice of the arrest warrants. Meanwhile, Turkish CNN reports that Akbay is presently in London, while Olgun and Ulu have already been detained. Launched in 2007, Sozcu is one of the most popular opposition dailies in Turkey, with a print run of over 250,000 copies. (ANSAmed). AMMAN - The World Economic Forum (WEF) on the Middle East and North Africa is scheduled to kick off today at the Dead Sea, in Jordan and it will host more than 1000 business and political leaders and representatives from civil society, international organizations, youth and the media from over 50 countries, organizers said today. Minister of State for Media Affairs, Mohammed Momani said that hosting the WEF is crucial to address potential opportunities in the economy and other issues of interest to Jordan and the region. The two-day conference is expected to be inaugurated by King Abbdullah of Jordan amid presence of several international heads of state. Topics to be high on the agenda include the challenges presented to employment and jobs by the dawning Fourth Industrial Revolution, the gender gap holding back regional competitiveness and inclusion, the future of Syria and Iraq, and the way forward through economic and political reforms, according to WEF statment. The meeting's theme of Enabling a Generational Transformation highlights the key role that young people will play in realizing the region's promise. "The World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa offers unprecedented high-level participation, with 10 heads of state and government, more than 130 public figures and 500 global and regional business leaders," a statement of the organizers reads. It also brings together several groups including one hundred start-ups from the Arab world - many of which have been founded under the most challenging circumstances - including Arabic voice-recognition software developed in Syria, the first e-mobile wallet in Libya, a labour marketplace in Yemen and mobile games produced by a team in Gaza. The conference will also bring young businessmen and leaders as well as refugees from the Zaatari camp, who will meet with the Forum's Regional Business Council to find innovative ways to build on the success of free trade zones, allowing refugee-made products to reach markets "The current reform momentum in the Middle East and North Africa is promising, but success is not guaranteed. Together with our long-term partner Jordan, the World Economic Forum is hosting its biggest-ever meeting of entrepreneurs and start-ups in the region," said Mirek Dusek, Head of Regional Strategies - Middle East and North Africa at the World Economic Forum. BEIRUT - "Numerous" Syrian soldiers have been killed in a US air strike near the Jordanian border, state television said on Friday. On Thursday the US-led anti-ISIS coalition said it has struck "pro-regime forces advancing in a de-escalation zone" established in collaboration with allied militias near the At Tanf border crossing with Jordan. Russian deputy foreign minister Gennady Gatilov immediately described the raid as "absolutely inacceptable" and said it violated "the sovereignty of the country". Syrian television did not give the number of dead or injured. Meanwhile, the opposition national observatory on human rights in Syria reports that eight pro-government rebels, "mostly non-Syrians", were killed. The same source says that the raid struck a convoy carrying government troops and allied rebels and that at least four vehicles were destroyed. ISTANBUL - Turkish authorities have issued four arrest warrants for managers and reporters of the daily newspaper Sozcu including publisher Burak Akbay for suspected links with the alleged coup plotter Fethullah Gulen, pro-government newspaper Sabah reported Friday. The paper's managers are reportedly accused of publishing on its website the address and pictures of the Marmaris hotel accommodating President Recep Tayyip Erdogan just a few hours before the failed coup last July. Arrest warrants have also been issued against website manager Mediha Olgun, financial affairs manager Yonca Kaleli and reporter Gokmen Ulu, whose home has already been searched. The paper's lawyers however say they have not received official notice of the arrest warrants. Meanwhile, Turkish CNN reports that Akbay is presently in London, while Olgun and Ulu have already been detained. Launched in 2007, Sozcu is one of the most popular opposition dailies in Turkey, with a print run of over 250,000 copies. ANSAmed - Today's events in the Mediterranean (ANSAmed) - ROME, MAY 19 - The following are some of the main events scheduled for today in the Euro-Mediterranean area: AMMAN (JORDAN) - EU, World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa with the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Federica Mogherini (until the 21st). VALLETTA - EU, informal meeting of the energy ministers. DUBAI - The fourth edition of Arab Fashion Week continues (to May 20). TUNIS - Tunis Fashion week (to May 20). BRUSSELS - EU, Foreign Affairs Council. CANNES - International Film Festival (until the 28th). (ANSAmed). US to sign 110 bn arms deal with Saudi Arabia NYT Trump's son-in-law Kushner said to be behind accord (ANSAmed) - NEW YORK, MAY 19 - The US is to sign a 110 billion dollar deal with Saudi Arabia for the sale of arms over a ten-year period during the upcoming visit by President Donald Trump, the New York Times reports. Trump's advisor and son-in-law Jared Kushner has allegedly had a hand in the deal. Kushner is reported to have drawn up the 'shopping list' with Saudi officials. The list includes a sophisticated radar system for shooting down ballistic missiles, aircraft, ships and precision bombs. Kushner allegedly called Lockheed Martin CEO Marillyn Hewson directly to ask if the price of the radar system could be lowered, the newspaper reports. (ANSAmed). If youre considering a subscription to the Disney Plus streaming service, you may be wondering how much it costs. The service is available on both Chaired by H.E. Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani - Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, is composed of H.E. Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa, Dr Dawood Nassif Dawood, Jameel Ali Al Matrook, Essa Mohamed Najibi, Mr. Jean-Christophe Durand and Jassim Hassan Abdelaal. Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism and Chairman of Gulf Airs Board of Directors said: I extend my sincerest thanks to His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander and Chairman of the Bahrain Economic Development Board for the confidence placed in me. I also extend thanks to the former Chairman H.E. Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, the Deputy Prime Minister and to the former Board members, for their outstanding contributions towards the airlines performance during their tenure. Going forward, Gulf Airs new Board of Directors who collectively represent Bahraini professionals and highly experienced business leaders will, I am sure, contribute much to realising our national carriers key goals. Their dedication and efforts will help us directly support and strengthen Gulf Air, a key national infrastructure asset that serves the Kingdoms aviation industry and economic interests. Copyright Eurofighter Typhoon An invited audience of more than 100 delegates witnessed the event at BAE Systems on 15th May, including His Excellency Sayyid Badr bin Saud al Busaidi, the Sultanate of Omans Minister Responsible For Defence Affairs (MRDA) and the Commander of the Royal Air Force of Oman, Air Vice-Marshal Mattar bin Ali bin Mattar Al Obaidani. The event was followed by a fly-past of a Royal Air Force of Oman Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft. Volker Paltzo, the Chief Executive Officer for Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH, said: "On behalf of all the Eurofighter Partner Companies (EPCs), I congratulate BAE Systems and the Royal Air Force of Oman on this roll out, which is a proud day for the whole Eurofighter Typhoon programme." The Sultanate of Oman announced its decision to purchase 12 Eurofighter Typhoon and eight Hawk aircraft in December 2012. Deliveries of the first aircraft are due to begin later this year. YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. The addressed statement of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs gives new impetus to the efforts of maintaining the ceasefire regime, Davit Babayan spokesman of the President of Artsakh, told Armenpress. This is a very positive development. We have always said its time for the statements to be addressed and tough. Perhaps this is the first time such collective and addressed statement is released, and it is clearly stated that on May 15 the Azerbaijani side violated the ceasefire regime, striking military equipment, and as a response the Artsakh side had to take countermeasures. This shows that a new impetus is given to the efforts of maintaining the ceasefire regime, Davit Babayan said. According to him, if the statement is addressed, there is a concrete assessment, things are named accordingly, it serves a base for the launch of new process. In other words, the one who violated the ceasefire must be held accountable. The statement of the OSCE Minsk Group indicates that all are interested in maintaining peace and stability in the region. Aliyevs adventurism, the attempt to distract his societys attention from domestic problems through such dangerous means is unacceptable. I think this statement will be followed by respective processes, maybe, they will not be public, and it is not necessary at all. The international community will more clearly and insistently present its stance, Babayan said. The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Ambassadors Igor Popov of Russia, Stephane Visconti of France, and Richard Hoagland of the United States of America released a statement on May 18 regarding the escalation in the region which resulted from Azerbaijans actions. The statement says according to information collected from multiple reliable sources, on 15 May, Azerbaijani armed forces fired a missile across the Line of Contact, striking military equipment. On the evening of 16 May and continuing into 17 May, Armenian armed forces retaliated with mortar fire of various calibres. These actions by both sides represent significant violations of the ceasefire and are cause for alarm. YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. The American Hellenic Council joins with community organizations, such as the Armenian National Committee of America and the Armenian Assembly of America in condemning Tuesdays unprovoked violence by Turkish security forces against American citizens in Washington DC, the Council told Armenpress. The unprovoked attack against peaceful demonstrators by the security detail of Turkish President Erdogan in the Nation's Capital which sent several demonstrators to the hospital is an event that cannot be tolerated anywhere, particularly in the US with its tradition of free speech and protection of peaceful demonstrations. This kind of attack is a pattern that is perpetrated by Erdogan's forces against Turkish citizens themselves. We stand for the right of free and peaceful expression, dignity, human rights and protection of citizens in the US and other countries. Attacks like these are totally unacceptable for any visiting head of state, including Turkey, the Council said in a statement. The American Hellenic Council urges all Greek-American organizations to condemn this latest act of Turkish hate and calls upon Congress and the Trump Administration to condemn this assault on American citizens. YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. The head of the UN's counter-terrorism committee has warned it is a question of "when, not if" terrorists use laptops to smuggle bombs on to planes, BBC reports. Jean-Paul Laborde spoke to reporters after officials decided not to ban laptops from aircraft cabins on flights to the US from EU countries. Such a ban currently applies to flights from eight other countries. Mr Laborde also said Islamic State (IS) fighters returning to Europe would be "more dangerous" than previous waves. IS has been losing territory in Syria and Iraq, and Mr Laborde said these fighters, originally from Europe, would be hardened from years of war. He said several European countries believe the rate of fighters returning has increased by a third over the past year. "On average, these people are much more committed, more experienced and more skilled," he said. Mr Laborde said he did not know whether IS had the capacity to carry out a laptop bomb attack, but he was sure that organised criminal groups could. He told a reporter from the Spanish news agency Efe that it might be "one, two or three years" but might be aided by the internet now being available on some flights. YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. Three lawmakers of the Tsarukyan bloc faction Khachik Manukyan, Harutyun Gharagyozyan and Artyom Tsarukyan, submitted their resignation to Speaker of Parliament Ara Babloyan. The Speaker announced their resignation during the Parliament session. He reminded that under the rules of procedure, if the MPs dont retract their resignation within a week a protocol will be formed and their resignation will be accepted. YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. Germanys foreign minister Sigmar Gabriel said Turkey has put preconditions for allowing German lawmakers to visit the Incirlik base. According to the FM, Ankara has said it will allow the MPs to visit the base if Berlin will send back the 450 Turkish citizens who had applied for asylum in Germany, Deutsche Welle reported. Gabriel, who was speaking on the issue during a visit to the US, said Germany has received 450 asylum applications so far, and 80 have been granted. Now, in order to imprison these people the Turkish government wants us to hand them over. This is a situation when a NATO colleague is blackmailing another NATO colleague. This is ruled out, the German FM said. Speaking on Turkeys precondition, Gabriel said it contradicts their laws and constitution. The FM also commented on his Turkish counterpart Mevult Cavusoglus statement, when the Turkish FM said If Germany wants to leave, its up to them, we wont beg them. I called my colleague, Cavusoglu, I said lets solve the problem, and what a shame that his response was this statement, Gabriel said. YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. Ara Saghatelyan has been appointed Chief of Staff of the Parliament, RPA faction MP Hrayr Tovmasyan told reporters in the Parliament, reports Armenpress. Saghatelyan is the Director of the Public Relations and Information Center SNCO of the Presidents staff. Ara Saghatelyan is my old friend. I am convinced his experience and knowledge are sufficient enough to hold that post, Tovmasyan said. Hrayr Tovmasyan has been the Chief of Staff of the Parliament, but based on the April 2 parliamentary election results he has been elected as an MP with the RPA proportional list. YEREVAN, MAY 16, ARMENPRESS. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan personally ordered his security detail to attack the peaceful protesters outside the Turkish Ambassadors residence in Washington DC. As seen in the footage, Erdogan watched how the protesting crowd was being heavily battered. Erdogan has been caught on tape by Voice of America, watching the incident. The footage shows the Turkish President sitting in the car and listening to the chants of the protesters, who were shouting Child Killer Erdogan. A bodyguard was standing next to the cars open door and was updating the president on the situation, and Erdogan in turn was giving orders. The video clearly shows how the bodyguard contacts another bodyguard after receiving orders from the Turkish president, who gestures with his head and charges into the protesters. Erdogan then gets out of the car, and starts to watch how his security detail beats the protesters, while the first bodyguard returns to him, as if briefing on the happening. After watching the beating, Erdogan enters the Ambassadors residence. The US State Department, Washington Mayor and several congressmen have condemned the incident. The protest was organized by the Armenian National Committee of America, the Hellenic Council of America and several other Kurdish, Assyrian and Greek organizations. YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. Protests have erupted in Brazils major cities over President Michel Temers decision not to step down, despite allegations of direct involvement in the unfolding bribery scandal, RT reports. Around 5,000 people marched in Rio de Janeiro, chanting direct elections, now and carrying banners reading out with Temer. Anti-Temer demonstrations have also been held in San Paolo and the countrys capital, Brasilia, where demonstrators gathered in front of the parliament building. Hundreds flocked to the presidential headquarters in the countrys capital shouting Temer out. In Rio, a small group of demonstrators threw bottles and fireworks at military police, who deployed tear gas and stun grenades in response, Globo TV reported. The protest was sparked by Temers statement on Thursday in which he vowed not to resign, insisting on his innocence. The ongoing political turmoil in Brazil was triggered by the release of audio recordings, reportedly revealing that the president and his closest allies engaged in bribery schemes. YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. Sweden has dropped its rape investigation against Julian Assange and will revoke its arrest warrant, the Swedish Prosecution Authority has announced on its website, RT reported. Director of Public Prosecution, Ms Marianne Ny, has today decided to discontinue the investigation regarding suspected rape (lesser degree) by Julian Assange," the prosecutor's office said in a statement. Assanges defense lawyer, Per Samuelson, has called the prosecutions decision a total victory. "The preliminary investigation has been dropped and the detention order has been withdrawn, and from Sweden's point of view this is now over," he told Reuters. The decision marks an end to a seven-year stand-off. Assange has lived in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London since 2012, in order to avoid extradition to Sweden over the allegation, which he denies. YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. Dr. Tom Catena, who leaves the Nuba Mountains only in utter necessity, will fly to Armenia in order to attend the Aurora Prize weekend of events and the Award Ceremony in Yerevan. He was nominated last year as well. But in 2016, he didnt attend the ceremony. He couldnt. This year, however, the people of the Nuba Mountains will be able to rely on three Armenian doctors who will be substituting for him, and, like him, will save lives, Armenpress reports citing Aurora Prize official website. Lieutenant Colonel Gevorg Voskanyan, Major Hayk Hovhannisyan and Armine Barkhudaryan did now waver for a second when told that they are urgently needed in a remote corner of the world. This isnt my first mission. Twice in 2010 and 2013 I have served in Afghanistan as a member of the Armenian peace-keeping forces, says Major Hayk Hovhannisyan, Deputy Chief of the Surgery Unit at the Central Clinical Military Hospital of Armenias Defense Ministry. It didnt take long to decide, considering the framework and urgency of the mission. To me it would be unacceptable to decline. It is impossible to underestimate the value of humanism for physicians. I cannot be satisfied working under relatively easy conditions of peace while I see there are committed people who are serving in the most dangerous places and conditions, regardless of their ethnicity or religion, observed Lieutenant Colonel Gevorg Voskanyan, chief surgeon at the Central Clinical Military Hospital of Armenia, who has served 23 years as a military doctor. In Sudan, Gevorg Voskanyan and Hayk Hovhannisyan will be joined by Armine Barkhudaryan, who is on a humanitarian mission in the hospital of Malindi, Kenya, where she is much needed. Every detail of Tom Catenas story is inspiring, I dont even know what to highlight. Both of us are doctors, yet it was very difficult for me to acknowledge where he is now, versus where I am. The person with the same profession as me risks his life, he serves so many patients, lives in those harsh conditions of war, and what about me, I thought? The feeling that you save lives is crucial for a doctor and gives an inner strength that you cannot substitute by anything else. Sometimes it cannot even be described by mere words, says Doctor Voskanyan. You begin to understand and assess the risks when you grow as a professional and see your skills required in places where risk levels are high, says Hayk Hovhannisyan with the sober-mindedness of a soldier. You arent alone there; you bear the responsibility for the health and wellbeing of the people you are out to help. That is your motivation. Reaching the Nuba Mountains in the south of Sudan is not easy. The suffering of the local population seems endless. Dr. Tom Catena has witnessed it all. The sole surgeon in the local Mother of Mercy hospital that serves the entire region, this devout American Catholic came to Sudan in the peaceful years preceding the war, and then refused to leave the people once the civil war broke out in 2011. In addition to Dr. Catena, the other finalists for the 2017 Aurora Prize are Fartuun Adan and Ilwad Elman, Jamila Afghani, Dr. Tom Catena, Muhammad Darwish, Dr. Denis Mukwege. They have been chosen for their exceptional impact, courage and commitment to preserving human life and advancing humanitarian causes. The finalists will be honored at the Aurora Prize Ceremony in Yerevan, Armenia on May 28, 2017 when one will be chosen as the 2017 Aurora Prize Laureate. The Aurora Prize Laureate will receive a grant of US$100,000 to support the continuation of their work, as well as a US$1,000,000 award, which will give them the unique ability to continue the cycle of giving by supporting organizations that have inspired their work. YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. US Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills congratulated Arpine Hovhannisyan on assuming the post of Vice-Speaker of the Parliament, reports Armenpress. The Ambassadors letter reads: I greatly value the partnership that the US Government shared with the Ministry of Justice under your leadership. Thank you for your dedication and commitment to supporting our shared interests of countering corruption and improvement in rule of law, law enforcement, and corrections. The work continues; but the Ministry made concrete steps towards progress in these areas under your leadership. I was pleased to see that the Whistleblower Protection Law, which your Anti-corruption team had been working on for months, has passed. We will continue to support the Ministry and hope for future areas of collaboration with you. Please accept my best wishes for success in the new chapter of your life. It has been a great pleasure and honor to work with you. YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. Former defense minister of Artsakh Samvel Babayans remand has been extended by two months, his attorney told ARMENPRESS. According to him, Babayan didnt want to be present in Court. Babayan was arrested on March 20 amid an investigation into smuggling of a surface to air missile system to Armenia. YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassadors Igor Popov of Russia, Stephane Visconti of France, and Richard Hoagland of the United States of America, released a statement on May 18 on the May 15 Azerbaijani missile launch in the line of contact. The statement namely said According to information collected from multiple reliable sources, on 15 May, Azerbaijani armed forces fired a missile across the Line of Contact, striking military equipment. The OSCE MG Co-Chairs condemned the recent ceasefire violations and urged the sides to take all necessary measures to prevent any further escalation in the conflict zone. Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Ara Babloyan responded to the statement. Babloyan said Touching upon the statement of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, I have to mention that this is the first time when the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are making a direct targeted criticism against Azerbaijan. This proves the fact that Armenia is moving by the path of democracy. The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs statement confirms the reality that Armenia is directing its entire efforts on achieving the solution exclusively through peace. Unlike the Azerbaijani authorities, whose imagined path is military aggression. The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs statement also proves that our diplomatic activity is successful. We will continue strengthening parliamentary diplomacy. YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. Turkish Ambassador to the U.S. Serdar Klc was summoned to the State Department following the recent brutal attack by the Turkish security forces on the peaceful protesters outside the Turkish Embassy in Washington D.C., Demokrathaber.net reports. U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas A. Shannon expressed his concerns over the incident to the Turkish Ambassador. Supporters of Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan have attacked peaceful protesters in Washington D.C. 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. Later it was reported that Recep Tayyip Erdogans security detail were the attackers of the peaceful protest. The Police arrested two persons. The US Department of State, the Mayor of Washington and several Congressmen condemned the brutal attack. YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. Lawmakers of Armenias Parliament led by newly elected Vice-Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial on the occasion of Remembrance Day of the Pontian Greek Genocide on May 19, reports Armenpress. Margarit Yesayan, Gagk Melikyan, Tachat Vardapetayn and others were among the MPs. They were accompanied by representatives of Greek communities of various provinces of Armenia. The officials and community representatives laid flowers at the memorial by paying homage to the memory of the genocide victims with a moment of silence. Vice-Speaker Sharmazanov said Armenians and Greeks are united in fight against genocide. Today is May 19: the whole civilized world remembers the victims of the Pontian Greek Genocide in the Ottoman Turkey and then in the Kemalist Turkey, remembers how hundreds of thousands of Greeks became victims of the genocidal policy of young Turks and later the Kemalist Turks. Cyprus and Greece are among the unique countries that criminalized the denial of the Armenian Genocide, and the Parliaments of Artsakh and Armenia unanimously condemned the Greek Genocide. We will win in this fight since our fight is for the sake of our Christian faith, sacred homeland and the Armenian-Greek friendship. I believe Turkeys denial will face a fiasco since the Washington events once again showed that Turkey has not been changed, it runs the same policy. Almost nothing has changed between Erdogan and Ataturk: they are the bearers of the same criminal denialist policy, Sharmazanov said. Chairman of the Union of Greek NGOs in Armenia Arkadi Khitarov said there are few people with Greek origin in Armenia, over 2000-2500. Today the representatives of Greek communities of Gyumri, Vanadzor and other places are with us. I think there is no need to explain Armenia what is genocide. The fact that we remember this day here is also a symbolic, he said. YEREVAN, MARCH 19, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani forces open fired on their own positions on May 19, Armenpress was informed from the press service of the Defense Ministry of the Republic of Artsakh. The armed forces of Azerbaijan undertook measures that can in no way be in the limits of rationality following the deliberate escalation of the situation and taking various provocative measures on Artsakh-Azerbaijan contact line in the recent days. The video recording devices installed on the front line have detected that the Azerbaijani side opened fire on its own positions from 60 mm mortars by preliminary information in the Seysulan-Yarmja section of the contact line at about 12:15-12:19 and 13:32-13:36, as a result of which explosions took place in the mentioned area. This once again proves that either the military staff of the opposite camp is not aware of their professional responsibilities, or there is no vertical management and any commander on the front line has the opportunity to make a decision of launching an operation, or, if not so, the military-political leadership of Azerbaijan pays a way by such sneaky moves for its future provocations. The Defense Ministry of the Republic of Artsakh informs that the Armenian side has respected the ceasefire regime and has taken no measure, particularly using large-caliber weapons, reads the statements issued by Artsakh MoD. YEREVAN, MARCH 19, ARMENPRESS. U.S. Representative for California's 16th congressional district Democrat Jim Costa has issued a statement condemning the force used against the peaceful demonstrators in Washington by the bodyguards of the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Given Turkeys movement towards an authoritarian government, President Erdogans visit with the President in the West Wing is unsettling. President Erdogans recent elimination of individual freedoms and jailing members of the press should not be rewarded by a visit to the Oval Office. To add injury to insult, it appears that a contingent of President Erdogans security team unilaterally took violent action against peaceful demonstrators who were raising awareness of Turkeys violations of human rights. The Turkish security guards clearly attacked the Armenian, Kurdish, Yezidi, and other human rights demonstrators, sending nine to the hospital. Sadly, it appears that history may be repeating itself. Many of us in recent weeks have seen the movie The Promise, which is an accurate historical portrayal of the Armenian genocide that took place beginning in 1915 at the hands of the Ottoman Empire. In the movie, we witnessed the beginnings of these acts of atrocity with the depiction of young, Turkish men beating innocent people. As we know, modern-day Turkey has been unwilling as a country to acknowledge the genocide ever happened. We cannot allow Tuesdays violent and illegal behavior by the Turkish security guards to go unaddressed. The actions of the Turkish security guards are outrageous, and I condemn them. They violate both American law and deeply-held American values. The Turkish security guards must be held accountable. Our American President should take appropriate diplomatic and legal action against these Turkish thugs for their violence towards the Armenian, Kurdish, Yezidi, and other human rights demonstrators. If he does so, I believe he will find overwhelming bipartisan support in the US Congress, Armenpress reports the statement reads. YEREVAN, MARCH 19, ARMENPRESS. The Texas House of Representatives unanimously passed House Resolution 191, titled Recognizing the Armenian Genocide, on May 19, thus making The Lone Star State the 46th state in the U.S. to officially classify and commemorate the 1915-1923 annihilation of Ottoman Turkeys indigenous Armenian community as genocide, Armenpress was informed from The Armenian Weekly. We are grateful to the Texas House of Representatives for standing on the right side of history by making their dynamic state the latest member of our Union to unequivocally and vociferously honor the memory of the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide despite overwhelming Turkish opposition, remarked Armenian National Committee of America Western Region (ANCA-WR) Chair Nora Hovsepian. This incredible victory, which achieves universal recognition of the Armenian Genocide in the Western Regions 19 states, was possible because of the outstanding unity and activism demonstrated by the diverse Armenian community of Texas, the unflinching leadership of State Representative Scott Sanford and his fellow lawmakers, as well as the dedication and persistent work of our grassrootsANCA-Houston and ANCA-Dallasand staff. While many Texan-Armenians and community groups were instrumental in the passage of and building ground for HR191, I would like to specifically recognize the former ANCA-Dallas founding chair Lucia Nazarian for initiating Texas recognition of the Armenian Genocide, as well as Focused Advocacy President Brandon Todd Aghamalian and University of Texas Austin Professor and Armenian Church of Austin representative Mihran Aroian for their leadership in bringing the Armenian community together to make this important recognition a reality, continued Hovsepian. Tipped off by none other than Philippe de Montebello, who read my review of Eyewitness Views: Making History in Eighteenth-Century Europe, I learned a fascinating fact about one of the pictures in the exhibition: Canalettos The Procession on the Feast Day of Saint Roch is a milestone for contemporary art. If you look closely at the painting, youll see about ten paintings hanging against the the facades of the buildings. I had noticed them, but had not known that This is one of the first recorded exhibitions of paintings, usually held on a feast day. The pictures would have been removed the next day. And they are contemporary art, PdM wrote to me. I use the picture in my history of museums class, which of course he teaches at NYUs Institute of Fine Arts. Heres a large copy of it: At the Getty, the label references the paintings: The procession on the feast day of Saint Roch, who was invoked against the plague, commemorated the end of a devastating outbreak in Venice in 1576. After Mass, the doge and senators (in red togas) leave the church of San Rocco as spectators draw near to watch. Members of the doges entourage carry the accoutrements of his officea ceremonial stool, cushion, and sword. Many participants hold sprigs of flowers, believed to ward off disease. On this annual occasion, an exhibition of paintings was held outside the Scuola di San Rocco. The National Gallery in London owns the painting, and records the scene this way, adding a line about Titian: In Venice the feast day of Saint Roch on 16 August commemorated the end of the terrible plague of 1576 (in which Titian died). On this day the Doge would hear mass in San Rocco where Saint Roch was buried, to celebrate his intercession in bringing the plague to an end. Canalettos painting shows the grand procession of state dignitaries and ambassadors emerging from the church. The participants all carry nosegays, which were presented to them on arrival as a memorial of the plague. The Doge carries a parasol and wears gold and ermine ceremonial robes. Awnings give protection from the sun. An exhibition of paintings was traditionally held at the Scuola di San Rocco, which dominates this painting, on Saint Rochs feast day. The pictures decorating the Scuola here have not been identified. All intriguing to me, making one of my favorites in the show, even more special. (I love the structure of the painting, bisected by that canopy, and Canalettos use of sunlight and shade, along with everything else.) Speaking of the exhibition, Ive heard from a few people who said they knew nothing of view paintings, though they know about Canaletto and Panini. The other painters in this exhibition are Carlevarijs, Claude Joseph Vernet, Bernardo Bellotto, Antonio Joli, Francesco Battaglioli, Guardi, and Hubert Robertthey were the best of the view painters. With their works, the exhibition takes us to Venice, Naples, Rome, Siena, Warsaw, Dresden and Madrid. I should also add that this show will travel to the Minneapolis Institute of Art and to the Cleveland Museum of Art. Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Getty Auto industry body said that the new tax rates would help in stimulating demand. New Delhi: Auto industry body SIAM today welcomed the GST rates for automobiles saying the new tax rates would help in stimulating demand. "The rates are as per the expectations of the industry and almost all segments have benefited by way of a reduced overall tax burden in varying degree," Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) president Vinod Dasari said in a statement. It will stimulate demand and strengthen the automotive market in the country, paving the way for meeting the vision laid down in the Automotive Mission Plan 2016-26, he added. The government has done well to ensure stability in taxation while at the same time moderating the taxes, wherever they were too high, Dasari said. He, however pointed out that differential GST for electric vehicles would also help electric mobility to gain momentum in the country. "We would have liked to see a similar differential duty on hybrid vehicles to continue," he added. The government has always encouraged environment-friendly technologies and with the current focus on reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and carbon footprint, one would have expected the lower taxation to continue on such vehicles in a technology agnostic manner, he added. Besides, the inclusion of 10-13 seater vehicles used mainly for public transport in the same tax bracket as luxury cars with a 15 per cent cess is also unexpected and may merit a review, Dasari said. Hyundai Motor India director, sales and marketing, Rakesh Srivastava said, "The new GST structure seems to be a zero sum game for auto industry. The placement of green vehicles in highest slabs of GST is contrary to the spirit of promoting green mobility in India." He added that the move will adversely impact the hybrid vehicles acceptance in future. "Overall, implementation of GST will create a single, seamless and large market, bringing in short and long-term gains to customers in business establishments," Srivastava said. Under the GST, cars will attract the top rate of 28 per cent with a cess in the range of 1 to 15 per cent on top of it. While small petrol cars with engine less than 1,200 cc will attract 1 per cent cess, those with a diesel engine of less than 1,500 cc will attract 3 per cent cess. Large cars with engine greater than 1,500 cc and SUVs with length more than 4 metres and engine greater than 1,500 cc will attract cess of 15 per cent. Hybrid vehicles will also fall in the category under GST. In comparison, tax on electric vehicles has been kept at 12 per cent. Deepika shared the red carpet space with other ambassadors of the beauty brand like Julianne Moore. Deepika Padukone poses for photographers upon arrival at the screening of the film Loveless at the 70th international film festival, Cannes. (Photo: AP) Mumbai: After making a style statement with her debut appearance at the Cannes red carpet on Wednesday, Deepika Padukone raised the glamour quotient again during her second appearance. Deepika Padukone's second red carpet appearance at the Cannes Film Festival saw her opt for bold colors and statement accessories. Deepika Padukone poses for photographers upon arrival at the screening of the film Loveless at the 70th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday. (Photo: AP) As usual, she looked dashing on day 2 of the Cannes Film Festival. She was seen with smoky eyes in antique green, matched with a emerald green gown. The actress' pretty smile and her confidence was a visual delight. (Photo credit: Instagram) She turned up in a glamorous avatar in a Brandon Maxwell gown, teamed with diamonds by De Grisogono and Chloe Gosselin shoes. (Photo credit: Instagram) Talking to a website, she had earlier said, 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. (Photo credit: Instagram) Deepika is the first Indian celebrity to walk the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival this year and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Sonam Kapoor are also set to dazzle at the red carpet in the next few days. Aishwarya, who has already landed in the French city along with her daughter Aaradhya, will be walking the red carpet on 19th and 20th May to represent her 2002 blockbuster 'Devdas', while Sonam will mark her attendance on the 21st and 22nd May. All the three actresses are representing a renowned cosmetic brand. Shruti Haasan's 'Sanghamitra' is the only Indian film to be screening this year and the actress, along with the music composer A. R. Rahman, walked the red carpet on 18 May. Other than them, Mallika Sherawat was also present for the film festival. The 70th annual Cannes Film Festival started on the 17th of this month and will continue till 28th May. Hollywood A-Listers like Will Smith, Jessica Chastain, Elle Fanning, Julianne Moore and Marion Cotillard, among others have attended the prestigious festival this time. The news is that he has roped in Sushant Singh Rajput for the film thats based on dacoits of Chambal. After Konkona Sen Sharmas directorial venture A Death in the Gunj was received well at many film festivals, producer Abhishekh Choubey is said to be directing his next film to be produced by Ronnie Screwwala. The news is that he has roped in Sushant Singh Rajput for the film thats based on dacoits of Chambal. Abhishekh reveals, Yes, I have finished penning the script and were in talks with Sushant Singh Rajput. He has read the script and liked it a lot. If everything goes well, it will go on floors by the end of this year. About choosing Sushant, Abhishek says, I really liked him in M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story. Also, after having met him, I understand that he is extremely hard working and confident. He suits our character, and we needed someone of his stature and persona to perform this action-oriented film based on the daakus of Chambal. The yet-untitled project is a period film and in the finishing stages of scripting. Even though the story is based on the dacoits of Chambal, its a fictional story. Abhishek adds that dacoits were portrayed in the 90s Bollywood films such as Bandit Queen, but of late there have been no films made on them. We did a recce of the place and met dacoits who have given up arms totally, police officers who have encountered a few of them, and journalists from the region. But we havent used anything related to the daakus belonging to this region, he says. Abhisekh is known to make realistic and earthy films. About that he says, I always want to tell stories of my people from my country. A directors vision showcases his state of mind and his personality. Since Sushant has not yet signed on the dotted lines, does he have anyone else in mind? Its Sushant, Sushant, and Sushant only. Deepika Padukone explains about international red carpet appearances. She talks about Sonam, Aishwarya and more. Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone personifies style, elegance, and grace. Already making waves on the global platform, Dippy has also managed to set temperatures high at the Cannes Film Festival this year. The actress who has made her debut at Cannes Red Carpet as a LOreal Paris ambassador says that she would love to showcase some of her own movies at the film festival. Quiz her on the one movie that she wouldve loved to screen at Cannes, and pat she replies, A film of mine, which I wish, I couldve brought along has to be Piku. Piku is one of the movies that Im very proud of, and I wouldve loved to show it here. Indian stars appearances on the red carpet have always made headlines in recent times. From what they choose to wear to how they pull it off has been on the radar of celeb watchers and fashionistas across the world. Deepikas last outing at the MET Gala gained her a good response, when fellow compatriot in the West, Priyanka Chopras look was panned. Ask Deepika about it and she says, I dont think that Im enough of a fashion expert to really be commenting on anybody elses style of fashion. We need to respect the fact that different people express themselves differently. Clothes are another form of expression; sometimes you may identify with it, and sometimes you may not. But you have to allow people and give them the liberty to just try out different things and to have fun with the red carpet experience. Also, people should not be so critical all the time. On the day one of the festival, Deepika walked down the red carpet wearing a jewel toned maroon creation by Marchesa Notte, paired aptly with Jimmy Choo heels and De Grisogono jewellery. Her second red carpet appearance saw her making a bold statement with smoky eyes in an antique green gown. With the likes of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Sonam Kapoor already having had sashayed down the Cannes red carpet, the comparisons are bound to happen. But Deepika scoffs them off by saying, Its obvious (the comparisons) because thats human nature and mind, she says, adding, Its an incredible platform; were here to represent our brand, and were all here because were such strong individual women. There is no overlapping on that bit. Sometimes we get into this space of comparisons, unnecessarily, and that should not be the case. On another note, Deepika asserts that people out there perceive Indian cinema positively and have a keen understanding of how the film industry functions. They know everything about our industry, she explains, Whenever journalists approach us, they seem to have quite a lot of knowledge about Bollywood. When theyre interacting with people, they know the work that one has done. Theyve been previously exposed to Indian films like Devdas and Gangs of Wasseypur And theyre fully aware of the films that we make. So far, Deepika seems to be enjoying, taking in the sights and sounds of Cannes. Its pretty incredible out here. Its been a lot of fun. One truly has to come here and experience and understand what Im feeling about the Sun, weather, and people. Theres so much joy and positivity around here! I am enjoying every bit of it. EC had said it would offer an 'opportunity' to political parties to prove that EVMs used in the recent Assembly polls were tampered with New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (EC) will hold a live demonstration of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail System (VVPATs) tomorrow in Delhi. There will also be a press conference on the "EVM Challenge". Earlier this week, the poll panel had said it would offer an 'opportunity' to political parties to prove that EVMs used in the recently held Assembly polls were tampered with or can be tampered even with laid down safeguards. The EC also convened an all-party meeting over the issue of EVM and other electoral reforms. In its communication to the presidents of all the seven national and 48 state political parties, the poll panel sent a status paper on EVMs and VVPAT. Last month, sixteen opposition parties had urged the Election Commission to revert to the paper ballot system saying that the alleged tampering has created trust deficit in the credibility of the EVMs. However, the poll body has been maintaining that EVMs are tamper proof and cannot be manipulated. The Union Cabinet had given its nod to sanctioned funds of nearly Rs. 3,200 crore to procure more than 16 lakh VVPATs as sought by the Election Commission. Besides EVMs, the meeting is expected to deliberate on making bribery in elections a cognisable offence, disqualification on framing of charges for the offences of bribery in elections and suggestions in VVPAT recount Rules. On Tuesday, the AAP, during a special session of the Delhi assembly, conducted a live demonstration on how EVMs can be tampered with. Reacting to the demonstration, the poll panel said the machine used to conduct live demonstration was a 'look-alike'' which was made to function in a 'tampered' manner. A day before the all-party meeting, the AAP yesterday forwarded a new demand, calling for an all party committee to be formed under the monitoring of the Election Commission to ascertain whether EVMS were hacked in the recently held elections or not. However, Chartered Account Amit Goyal who was also facing trial in the case got acquitted of all charges by the court. The CBI has claimed in the final report that the accused hatched a criminal conspiracy to cheat the Screening Committee, in order to bag the mining contract for the Fatehpur Coal Block in Chattisgarh. (Photo: Representational Image) New Delhi: A Delhi Court on Friday held former coal secretary HC Gupta, joint secretary KS Kropha, Krishnapatnam Security Services Pvt. Ltd (KSSPL) and its Managing Director (MD) PK Ahluwalia guilty of criminal conspiracy, in connection with alleged irregularities in allocation of a Chhattisgarh based coal block to SKS Ispat and Power Ltd (SIPL). They have also been found guilty of cheating and corruption for their role in allocation of Rudrapur coal block to KSSPL in Madhya Pradesh. However, Chartered Account Amit Goyal who was also facing trial in the case got acquitted of all charges by the court. Earlier in February, the special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) granted bail to Gupta, Kropha, the firm, and its two directors Anil Gupta and Deepak Gupta, and three others -- Amit Singh, Rakesh Singh and Jagan Nath Panda. The court had asked all of them to sign one lakh personal bail bond and deposit one lakh security amount. The CBI has claimed in the final report that the accused hatched a criminal conspiracy to cheat the Screening Committee, in order to bag the mining contract for the Fatehpur Coal Block in Chattisgarh. The probe agency charged the accused with forgery, cheating, criminal conspiracy and criminal misconduct. According to the CBI, SIPL had got Fatehpur coal block in Chhattisgarh in 2008. It said that the company misrepresented various aspects of preparedness and was ineligible on the issue of net worth. The CBI had registered FIR in the matter in 2014. Under the new tax, rates will range from 5 to 28 per cent, with 12 per cent and 18 per cent being the standard rates. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley with MoS Santosh Gangwar and Reneue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia addressing a press conference on the firsrt day of the 14th Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council at SKICC in Srinagar. (Photo: PTI) Srinagar: India on Thursday finalised tax rates on eighty to 90 per cent items under the Goods and Services Tax (GST), slated for a rollout from July 1. Under a four-slab structure, essential items of daily use have been kept in the lowest bracket of 5 per cent. Out of 1,211 items, GST rates on all except six categories have been decided, finance minister Arun Jaitley told reporters after a meeting of the GST Council comprising Central and state finance ministers, besides top officials. The 140-strong group held the crucial meeting at Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre overlooking the Dal Lake. The panel will discuss tax rates for gold and some other items on Friday and could meet one more time if necessary to decide rates on remaining items. Under the new tax, rates will range from 5 to 28 per cent, with 12 per cent and 18 per cent being the standard rates. Most raw food items including milk will be exempted from tax while the panel still has to finalise rates for processed food items. Some food items like coffee and edible oil will be taxed at a rate of 5 per cent. Coal will be taxed at 5 per cent along with a levy of 400 rupees per tonne. The long-awaited GST is hailed as Indias biggest tax overhaul since Independence to replace a slew of central and state levies, transforming Asias third largest economy into a single market. The council also approved most of the draft rules relating to the new tax that would push businesses to upgrade their infrastructure for filing tax returns under the new system. The fitments have been done in such fashion to ensure no increase in tax incidence does take place. This implies the rates close to the present incidence of excise duty plus VAT or service tax have been considered to be the rate under the GST. Sources said that the finance ministers of various states separately sought exemption on items like silk yarn, puja material and handicraft items. However, Mr Jaitley was of the view that there should be minimum exemptions under the GST and should be provided for only if it is essential. He had earlier indicated that tax rates for most items would be much closer to their existing tax incidence. Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti hosted dinner to the visiting ministers and their staff. After the meet is over, the participants will be driven to Kashmirs premier resort of Gulmarg for a guided tour to send a message outside that Kashmir is safe as it always was for tourists. Unanimous Hague verdict big diplomatic victory for India. New Delhi/Islamabad: In a major diplomatic victory for India, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) barred Pakistan on Thursday from executing former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, convicted by a Pakistani military court on espionage charges, till the court pronounces its final decision in the case. The Hague court rejected Pakistans claims that it did not have jurisdiction to hear the case, ruled that India should have been granted consular access, and accepted the contention that there was a real danger to Jadhavs life. India heaved a collective sigh of relief with political leaders hailing the order, and the former naval officers friends in Mumbai erupting in joy and bursting firecrackers. The ICJ will now call for a more comprehensive filing from India before it decides the case, a process that could take years. Pakistan risks international condemnation if it violates the ICJ order now and hangs Jadhav. A shocked Pakistan tried to wriggle out of accepting the verdict as its foreign office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said, We do not accept the jurisdiction of the ICJ in matters related to the national security of the country. Granting the provisional relief sought by India, the ICJ ordered Pakistan to take all measures to ensure that Jadhav is not executed pending the final decision and inform the court of all the measures taken in implementation of the order. The court also said that it was legally binding on both countries and involves international legal obligations. The ICJ is the top United Nations legal body for hearing disputes between countries and its rulings are binding, though occasionally flouted. The ICJ said that the mere fact that Mr Jadhav is under a death sentence and might therefore be executed is sufficient to demonstrate the existence of a risk of irreparable prejudice to the rights claimed by India. The Jadhav case a rare foray for India and Pakistan into the international courts has highlighted the recent sharp upsurge in tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals. Jadhav was arrested in March 2016 and convicted last month. India denies he is a spy, and accuses Pakistan of violating international laws by not allowing it access to Jadhav. Pakistan has cited a bilateral treaty to deny consular access to Jadhav and also denies kidnapping him. A jubilant New Delhi described the ICJ verdict as a unanimous, favourable, clear and unambiguous order, adding that it is a matter of great relief for all Indians. India also termed the verdict an essential first step in ensuring justice for Mr Jadhav and pointed out that it was legally binding on Pakistan to adhere to. On May 8, India had petitioned the ICJ against the sentence. Defence minister Arun Jaitley termed the verdict a great vindication of Indias stance, adding that external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had piloted this strategy (of petitioning the ICJ). The move is being seen as a masterstroke of the Narendra Modi government after New Delhi overcame its traditional reluctance of petitioning the ICJ in order to save the life of Jadhav. Mr Modi also expressed satisfaction at the ICJ verdict and spoke to Ms Swaraj to thank her while appreciating the efforts of advocate Harish Salve who represented India in the case. Ms Swaraj also tweeted, The ICJ order has come as a great relief to the family of Kulbhushan Jadhav and people of India. We are grateful to Mr Harish Salve for presenting Indias case so effectively before ICJ. I assure the nation that under the leadership of PM Modi we will leave no stone unturned to save Kulbhushan Jadhav. Mr Salve was quoted as saying that he had felt a positive energy and connect with the judges while arguing the matter, adding that we are now a lot more emboldened and a lot more invigorated. Reading out a unanimous verdict of an 11-judge bench, ICJ President Ronny Abraham said, Certain measures must be indicated to protect the rights claimed by India pending its (ICJs) final decision. The ICJ indicated that consular access for Jadhav fell very much under the ambit of the Vienna Convention, a treaty guaranteeing diplomatic assistance to foreigners accused of crimes. The three cases were Mexico vs US, Germany vs US and Paraguay vs US. Top Supreme Court advocate Harish Salve, who represented the Indian government, and MEA joint secretary Deepak Mittal, along with the rest of the Indian delegation, wait for judges to enter the World Court in The Hague, Netherlands. (Photo: AP) Indias lead attorney Harish Salve who represented Kulbhushan Jadhavs case at the International Court of Justice cited three previous death penalty and Vienna Convention-related cases fought at the world court during the trial. The three cases were Mexico vs US, Germany vs US and Paraguay vs US. Mexico vs US: In 2003, Mexico took the US to the ICJ over a dispute concerning alleged violations of the Vienna Convention with respect to 54 Mexican nationals who were sentenced to death in the US. They requested the court to ensure that the US should not execute or set execution dates for any Mexican national before the court passed judgement. However, the US Supreme Court held that the order of the ICJ was not binding unless Congress has enacted statutes implementing it or unless the treaty itself is self- executing. Germany vs US: In the second case, German national Walter LaGrand and his brother Karl were arrested in US state of Arizona in 1982 on suspicion of armed robbery and murder. In 1999, Germany instituted proceedings against the US for allegedly failing to inform the duo of their right to consular access, guaranteed by the Vienna Convention. However, Karl was executed before the case started and Germany demanded that the US compensate his family and halt Walters execution till proceedings were pending. In its verdict the following day, the ICJ asked the US to ensure Walter was not executed during proceedings. He was executed in a gas chamber in Arizona after the ruling. Paraguay vs US The third case was again filed against the US when Paraguay dragged America to the ICJ in 1998 alleging that the state of Virginia had violated Vienna Convention by failing to inform Angel Francisco Breard, a Paraguayan, of his right to contact the Paraguayan consulate for assistance after his arrest. The Hague had called on the US to take all measures to prevent the execution of Breard, pending a final decision in the proceedings instituted by Paraguay. Breard was executed on April 14, five days after the verdict. Paraguay later withdrew the case. Total four Indian ships and an anti-submarine aircraft will participate in the weeklong exercise. South China Sea has seen a lot of naval activity in recent times with the Chinese Navys growing assertiveness in the region. (Photo: Representational Image) New Delhi: In conformity with Indias Act East policy and a concerted effort to enhance the Navys outreach, a bilateral exercise between the navies of India and Singapore took off on Thursday in the troubled waters of South China Sea. South China Sea has seen a lot of naval activity in recent times with the Chinese Navys growing assertiveness in the region. Named Simbex-17 (Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercises), four Indian ships Shivalik, Sahyadri, Jyoti and Kamorta besides one P8-I, a maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft will participate in the weeklong exercise. The Singapore Navy is represented by RSN ships Supreme, Formidable and Victory and Maritime Patrol Aircraft Fokker F50 in addition to the RSAF F-16 aircraft. Simbex is aimed at increasing interoperability between the Indian and Singaporean navies as well as developing common understanding and procedures for maritime security operations. The current exercise includes wide-ranging professional interactions during the Harbour Phase scheduled from May 18 to May 20 and a diverse range of operational activities during the sea phase to be held from 21 May to 24 May. The thrust of exercises at sea this year would be on anti-submarine warfare, integrated operations with surface, air and sub-surface forces, air defence and surface encounter exercises. Besides SIMBEX with Singapore, the Navy exercises with 11 other national navies. The exercises are Malabar (USA and Japan), Indra (Russia), Varuna (France), Konkan (UK), Jimex (Japan), Slinex (Sri Lanka), Ibsamar (South Africa and Brazil), and Ausindex with Australia and Indonesia. Held since 1994, Simbex is the 24th edition of the annual exercise between the two countries. Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said its a victory for India and shows that it was a sham trial. New Delhi: After the International Court of Justice ruled in favour of India on Thursday, staying the hanging of Kulbhushan Jhadhav, all political parties across the political spectrum welcomed the judgement. Justice prevails, this is a major victory for India as there is a stay on the death execution and the court has also upheld Indias right to consular access, Union information and broadcasting minister M. Venkaiaha Naidu said. He expressed hope that the final order too will go in favour of India. Home minister Rajnath Singh said, I commend the legal team led by senior advocate Harish Salve for their performance in getting relief from the international court. BJP president Amit Shah hailed the Modi government for taking quick and effective action. In a series of tweets, finance minister Arun Jaitley said The ICJ verdict endorses the relevance and necessity of procedural and substantive fairness, which was denied by Pakistan. Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said its a victory for India and shows that it was a sham trial. He added There are 40 days to file an appeal in Pakistan, if the Jhadhav family needs any legal assistance I am always available. Former information and broadcasting minister Manish Tewari said India should now use this order as a trigger to bring back Jhadhav. NCP leader Praful Patel also hailed the verdict, saying the justice has prevailed. Several leaders also commended the role of external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj for acting promptly after the Pakistan military court awarded death penalty to Jhadhav. The cars belonging to the accused, as well as policemen who arrived at the scene, were vandalised and torched. Out of the four persons who were in the vehicle, three managed to escape, while the remaining one was caught by the villagers and lynched. (Photo: ANI Twitter) Jamshedpur: Four persons were brutally beaten to death yesterday in Jamshedpur over rumours of being child kidnappers. Suspecting them to be child kidnappers, the villagers attacked them and also vandalised their car. Out of the four persons who were in the vehicle, three managed to escape, while the remaining one was caught by the villagers and lynched. However, the other three did not manage to make it too far, as the villagers caught up with them and they met the same fate as their companion. After receiving the information about the mob action, the police who reached the village, were also attacked by the villagers and the police car vandalised. "People were in suspicion that the people travelling in the car were the child thief. This is the reason they attacked the people and burnt the car," Police Station in-charge Mani Kant said. Karnan's lawyers had earlier claimed that the judge had shot off letters to the president, the PM and others against his jail term. Justice Karnan has also moved a petition in the apex court seeking recall of the May 9 order but has been denied urgent hearing by the CJI. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: The lawyers representing Calcutta High Court judge CS Karnan on Thursday claimed that a representation has been made to President Pranab Mukherjee seeking suspension of the Supreme Court order sentencing him to six months imprisonment for contempt of court. However, the president's office said it was not aware of any such representation. The lawyers said a memorandum/representation under Article 72 of the Constitution was sent through e-mail on behalf of Justice Karnan seeking "suspension/stay of his sentence of six months imposed on him" by a seven-judge bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar. Article 72 states that the president shall have the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites or remissions of punishment or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offence. The representation prepared by Justice Karnan's counsel Mathews J Nedumpara and A C Philip referred to the developments since the May 9 judgement. His lawyers had earlier claimed that the judge had shot off letters to the president, the prime minister and others against his jail term. Justice Karnan has also moved a petition in the apex court seeking recall of the May 9 order but has been denied urgent hearing by the CJI. Muslim body says yes to SC suggestion; order reserved. New Delhi: Even as the Supreme Court reserved its verdict on triple talaq, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Thursday agreed to the courts suggestion to include a clause in the nikhanama (marriage agreement) about instantaneous triple talaq. Kapil Sibal, senior counsel representing AIMPLB, informed the five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar that the Board had agreed to issue an advisory to kazis to give an option to Muslim women to opt out of instant triple talaq before giving their consent for nikah. I had a meeting with the Board members yesterday that it (a clause whereby a woman can reject being divorced by talaq-e-biddat) will be part of the nikhanama. We will send a model nikhanama to all the kazis to follow. We ourselves want to give up this practice, Mr Sibal told the court while concluding his arguments. On Wednesday, the CJI had asked Mr Sibal whether his client, the AIMPLB, could issue a directive to clerics to record at the time of the nikahnama whether the woman accepts triple talaq or not, and Mr Sibal returned with a positive response a day later. The bench, also comprising Justices Kurian Joseph, Rohinton Nariman, Uday Lalit and Abdul Nazeer, asked the Board to file a copy of the advisory to be sent as well as a copy of the proposed nikhanama. The triple talaq hearing on a batch of petitions filed by Muslim Womens Quest for Equlity and others was completed in six record days by the Constitution Bench sitting during summer vacations. The CJI, while reserving the verdict, thanked all the lawyers, including attorney general Mukul Rohatgi, Mr Sibal, Anand Grover, Indira Jaising, A.S. Chadha, Arif Mohd. Khan, Balaji Srinivasan and V.K. Biju, for their assistance to finish the hearing expeditiously. During the hearing the judges had a copy of Quran in English for reference as the arguments centred around Quran and Islamic personal laws. When Justice Kurian Joseph asked Mr Sibal, Why it is that a custom which is theologically sinful is part of the practice of the community?, he replied, It may be sinful but it is a practice in existence for 1,400 years. We dont want the court to enter a slippery slope. Court should not venture into the area and interpret something which is not in its domain. Personal law, customs and faith cannot be tested under the garb of fundamental rights. When the court pointed out that triple talaq does not have the sanction of Holy Quran, Mr Sibal said the Quran is not the only source of Islam, which had developed through Hadiths and expositions of various scholars on the teachings of the Prophet. On Wednesday, Mr Sibal cautioned the court from deciding this issue as it could lead to a backlash from the Muslim community, which might view it as its rights being infringed upon and resort to supporting practices like polygamy and oral divorce. Justice Joseph told Mr Sibal, Triple talaq is sinful. How can something which is sinful to God can be virtuous? If it is bad in theology it cannot be acceptable? Mr Sibal said that the court should be concerned with institutional morality and not popular morality. Attorney general Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Centre, had asserted that the issue of triple talaq should not be seen as discrimination between majority and minority communities or the majority forcing its views on minorities. 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, he said. It is the duty of the Supreme Court to step in and put an end to the practice which is not an integral part of religion, he added. Former Union law minister Salman Khurshid had, on Friday, asserted in the Supreme Court that triple talaq form of divorce in one stroke is sinful and said that anything sinful could not have been ordained by Islam. Mr Khurshid reiterated that triple talaq is not part of Shariat law. Referring to the AIMPLBs stand that triple talaq is an abhorrent practice, sinful but valid in law, Mr Khurshid said, I cannot imagine any religious law which will validate a sin. Advocate V.K. Biju argued that triple talaq is not ordained in the Quran. Anything that is admittedly bad in theology (a religious belief) and sinful in religion can never be masquerading as faith. As such what is bad is theology and sinful in that religion can obviously not come under the protection of Article 25 of the Constitution (freedom of religion), he said, adding that though many Muslim countries had banned triple talaq, it was shameful that India, a secular country, is yet to enact a law removing it. Mr Anand Grover summed up saying triple talaq is not found in Quran, that it was deprecated by the Prophet himself and was considered sinful by all schools of thought of Sunnis and Shias. The CBI had arrested the Trinamool Congress leader in Lok Sabha from Kolkata on January 3, while probing the Rose Valley chit fund scam. Cuttack: The Odisha High Court on Friday granted conditional bail to Trinamool Congress MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay, arrested for his alleged involvement in the Rose Valley Group chit fund scam. The bench of Justice J P Das had reserved the order on his bail plea after hearing arguments of both the prosecution and defence on May 8. Bandyopadhyay had approached the High Court in February seeking regular bail on health grounds after his bail applications were rejected by the designated CBI court in Bhubaneswar and the Khurda district sessions court. The CBI had arrested the Trinamool Congress leader in Lok Sabha from Kolkata on January 3, while probing the scam on the Supreme Court's directions. The CBI has arrested another TMC MP, Tapas Pal, for his alleged involvement in the scam. The agency had earlier accused Rose Valley chairman Gautam Kundu and three others of defrauding investors from across the country of more than Rs 17,000 crore. Mr Modi held a thorough review meeting of his pet project of cleaning the river Ganga on May 18. New Delhi: Intensive monitoring and inspection of grossly polluting industries situated near the river Ganga has been taken up, while sewage treatment capacity in towns along the river has been enhanced substantially, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was told during a review meeting of the Centres ambitious Namami Gange project. Mr Modi held a thorough review meeting of his pet project of cleaning the river Ganga on May 18, after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had in February this year, rapped several government agencies involved in the project for wasting public money in the name of cleaning the project. It was the first review meeting of the Namami Gange project after the BJP came to power in both Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, the two major states through which the river passes. It originates from Gomukh in Uttarakhand. Earlier till February this year, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh were ruled by Congress and Samajwadi Party respectively and there were accusations that they did not cooperate with the Centre over the project. According to sources privy to the development, the Prime Minister is learnt to have taken a serious view of the fact that there have been lapses in the project, and asked the concerned departments and officials to tighten their belts and expedite the work of cleaning the river. On February 6, 2017, the NGTs bench headed by its chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar had pulled up the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) along with other government agencies for not doing their job properly. The ED has named Karti Chidambaram, INX Media and its directors, Peter and Indrani Mukerjea, and others in its probe report. New Delhi: The noose around Karti Chidambaram, son of former finance minister P. Chidambaram, tightened further with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) registering a money laundering case against him and others, taking cognizance of a recent CBI FIR against them. The ED has named Karti Chidambaram, INX Media and its directors, Peter and Indrani Mukerjea, and others in its probe report. The case has been registered under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Sources said the ED will probe the alleged proceeds of crime generated in this case and may also attach assets of the various accused. The ED which had provided information about the alleged illegal payments made by INX Media, based on which the CBI had filed its FIR, they added. The CBIs FIR was made out against Karti Chidambaram, his company Chess Management Services, the Mukerjeas (currently in jail on the charge of the murder of their daughter Sheena Bora), INX Media, Advantage Strategic Consulting Services and its director Padma Vishwan-athan. The ED will soon call all accused, including Karti Chidambaram, for questioning, sources said. However, he left for London on Thursday on what his father described as a scheduled trip. The CBI, on Tuesday, had carried out searches at the homes and offices of Karti Chidambaram across four cities for allegedly receiving money from the media firm owned by the Mukerjeas to scuttle a tax probe. The Chidambarams had denied all the charges made against them. The CBI had filed an FIR against Karti Chidambaram and the Mukerjeas on charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating, receiving illegal gratification, influencing public servants and criminal misconduct. There are allegations that Karti Chidambaram 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. The CBIs FIR also alleged that invoices of several crores were raised in favour of INX group in the name of other companies in which Karti Chidambaram had substantial interests directly or indirectly. The former finance minister, after the CBI searches on May 16, had issued a strong statement in response saying 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 had said. Sources in the CBI said that INX Media was seeking investment from Mauritius, an official explained. The investment was allowed by the FIPB board and the Finance Minister with the condition that only Rs 4.62 crore could be received, for investment in INX News Pvt Ltd, a separate proposal was required. 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, sources said. It allegedly generated more than `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. India to push for his release or at least ensure fair trial in Pakistan. New Delhi/Islamabad: Stunned at the setback at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case and with the Nawaz Sharif government facing enormous pressure over the fiasco, Pakistan said it will constitute a new team of lawyers to vigorously present its case. While eminent lawyer Harish Salve, who successfully argued Indias case at the ICJ, told a TV channel that India has a Plan A and a Plan B in the case. He said Plan A involves efforts to secure the outright release of Jadhav from Pakistans custody, and (if this was not possible) Plan B would be to press for an annulment of the death sentence and to get Jadhav proper legal representation in Pakistan so that he can be tried in a manner acceptable to civilised society. Jadhav, an Indian former naval officer, was in April this year sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and sabotage following which India had, on May 8, dragged Pakistan to the ICJ. In what was a major victory for India on Thursday, the ICJ at The Hague barred Pakistan from executing Jadhav till the court pronounces its final decision in the case. The international court is not a court of appeal where we show his innocence. It is a court where we say the procedure which Pakistan had adopted to arrive at this death sentence violates the principles of Vienna Convention which is a multilateral treaty, Mr Salve was quoted by the news channel as saying, adding that Plan A is the option to argue that such egregious violation of human rights must compel the man being released. Mr Salve apparently said it is an option that only adventurous lawyers like me would try. Mr Salve indicated that Plan B would be to argue for an annulment of the death sentence. Get him proper legal representation (in Pakistan) and then let him be tried in a manner acceptable to civilised society, the lawyer was quoted as saying. Meanwhile, Pakistan PMs adviser on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz said in Islamabad that Pakistan would constitute a new team of lawyers to vigorously present its case against Jadhav at the ICJ. The statement was made after the Nawaz Sharif government faced flak from foreign policy experts, lawyers and Opposition leaders there over the handling of the case. A Pakistani website media report meanwhile claimed that Islamabad had filed a plea in the ICJ to have the Jadhav case reheard within six weeks in order to "re-challenge the jurisdiction" of the ICJ but there was no clarity till Friday evening on whether this was true. The ICJ ruling triggered criticism of the Pakistan foreign office (FO) for its poor handling and also for its choice of UK-based lawyer Khawar Qureshi, who represented Pakistans case before the ICJ. Mr Aziz, however, maintained that Qureshi had courageously presented Pakistans case in the court, the Nation reported. Pakistans security is so important and we have to maintain our fundamental sovereign right, Mr Aziz was quoted as saying by a daily there. Meanwhile, MEA spokesperson Gopal Baglay was quoted by news agency PTI as saying, As of today, the Pakistan government has not provided any information about Jadhav's condition or where he has been kept there. This has been a matter of concern. According to government sources, since the case has reached the ICJ, New Delhi feels it is incumbent on Pakistan to produce material evidence about his whereabouts and well-being. Superstar Rajinikanth on Friday told his fans to be ready when the war comes, but for now to focus on their families and profession. Chennai: Inching closer to the ultimate political proclamation, superstar Rajinikanth on Friday told his fans to be ready when the war comes, but for now to focus on their families and profession. He is a Patchai Tamizhan (true Tamilian) as his forefathers hailed from Krishnagiri, he declared, as if to silence detractors who branded him a Kannadiga alien. The kings in the olden days had armies of 5,000-10,000 men and the rest of the population attended to other vocations such as farming; but when war came, everyone launched into the battle to protect their land and their pride. Right now, I have my own responsibilities and job. So too you have yours. So go back to your places and look after your families and attend to your duties. We will see when the war comes, said the superstar even as the packed audience burst into wild applause. His Patchai Tamizhan assertion was just as dramatic. Pointing out that questions had been frequently raised whether he was a Tamil, Rajinikanth said, I am now 67. I had lived only for 23 years in Karnataka whereas the last 44 years I have been living here, very much as a Tamil. You made this Marathi from Karnataka into a Patchai Tamizhan and gave me fame and wealth. My forefathers hail from Krishnagiri. If you throw me out (from TN), I will only fall on the Himalayas. I will not drop into any other state. The Tamils are great people, gods who have blessed my life. And I desire that these gods who have given me this good life, must also prosper well, said the star, indicating that the time has now come for him to repay the Tamils generous love by serving them. Though there are many accomplished leaders in the state politics he listed out long-time friend Stalin, well educated and forward thinking Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, Thirumavalan supporting Eelam Tamils and firebrand Seeman the system remains bad and polluted. Accepts Lalus invite to attend mega rally against BJP. New Delhi: Amidst speculation that all is not well between the allies JD(U) and RJD, Bihar chief minister and JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar seems to have decided to be sticking to coalition dharma for now as he decided to attend the RJDs mega rally BJP bhagao, desh bachao on August 27. Sources said that RJDs Lalu Prasad Yadav, who has been reeling under a series of income-tax raids on his properties in Delhi and Bihar, had invited the Bihar chief minister and he has accepted his invitation. The Congress, the third ally in Bihar, as well as Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee have already accepted Mr Prasads invitation to attend the rally. The RJD has also been holding parleys with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yada, BSP chief Mayawati and AAP supreme Arvind Kejriwal to attend the rally. So far they have not confirmed their participation. Speculation was rife over the future of the JD(U)-RJD alliance in Bihar after Mr Prasad, in a tweet after the I-T raids, had congratulated Nitish Kumar for getting new alliance partners. Mr Kumar has refused to conduct any probe over the I-T raids. On Tuesday, when asked about the raids, he said, If they (the Centre) have the documents regarding the alleged scam, they should take legal recourse... This is not an issue that falls in the domain of the state government. It is evident that despite corruption charges and I-T raids on the premises linked to Mr Yadav and his family members, the Opposition intends to rally around him. As the raids were being conducted on Tuesday, Ms Banerjee expressed solidarity with the beleaguered RJD chief and tweeted, Laluji we accept your invitation to be there on August 27. The tweet was in response to Mr Yadavs tweet on Sunday in which he accused the BJP of conspiring against him. With the Modi juggernaut seemingly unstoppable, the Opposition parties led by the Congress have been trying to come under one umbrella for the 2019 general elections. At this juncture, given the political scenario, BJP seemed to be all set to return to power in Gujarat and could give Congress a run for its money in Karnataka. While Gujarat Assembly elections will be held by the end of this year, Karnataka will go to polls early next year. Mr Kumar has been at the forefront of stitching together such an alliance to field a consensus Presidential candidate from the Opposition side. Model-actress Sahithya Jagannathan writes about how her recent trip to the himalayas made her look at life from a new perspective. A womens clothes shop in Chennai wanted me to model for their latest campaign and it was to be shot in the Himalayas thats how my trip happened. With a weeks notice, as is often the case in the modelling industry, we rushed to scramble and got winter clothes and mountain gear for the expedition. The trip was 10 days long and towards the end, none of us wanted to leave! Mesmerising Spiti Valley Everyone should visit Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh, at least once in their lifetime especially during winter. The majesty of the mountains, the snow sparkling like crushed diamonds and the starkness of the landscape are both awe inspiring and humbling. Knowing that you are at the mercy of nature, along with the kindness of the mountain, people, and how they share what little they have, makes you rethink your life decisions and goals. Spiti is a two-day drive from Chandigarh and you have the meandering river for company. Roads are so narrowly carved out of the mountain side that you will even wonder if your SUV will even fit. To add to it, there are shooting stones to wake you up if you dare to fall asleep this is a trip that is meant for the books! The scenic beauty is unparalleled with mountains covered in snow coupled with villages so far away that they look like specks on the mountain side. Goosebumps all round! Its hard to choose just one memory from a trip that was so eventful. I fondly remember the time we stood frozen during mid shoot as we spotted a leopard barely 12-feet away and the thought that crossed my mind was that I hope it realises Im too skinny to make a good meal! That apart, the time when our quick-thinking driver saved us from a landslide and the time when I posed on a bridge and a particularly strong gust of wind turned my saree pallu into a sail, causing me to almost fall, were unforgettable experiences. The moments I cherish the most however would be my conversation with the mountain women. Entering the crumbling ancient Dhankar monastery, made me feel like I have crossed a portal and entered another time! Bringing a new perspective to life When you are going to the Himalayas, one tends to be aware of everything that the place has in store for you. What the place truly brings to our life is perspective. I understand that there is low oxygen, I get there and I find out how hard it is to even climb stairs or take a turn. I look around and Im reminded that this is normal for the small population that lives there. This gives my life more meaning. Kind-hearted locals The locals were helpful in welcoming us into their homestays as there are no resorts nearby. We ate our meals family style. Some of them were our guides, others helped us fix our car when it broke down. The women lit fires by the roadside to keep us warm during th shoots as we started to turn blue in the -20 degree weather and we cajoled others into letting us dress them up in sarees and model with us! They gifted us local organic rajma and we left behind some lipstick for an adorable little girl called Sonam, whose house we lived in. We are now planning to send books and medical supplies, as well. The cuisine Spitian culture has major Tibetan influences. On your way to Spiti, you will pass by this little village called Nako, with just one shack that served some of the yummiest food I have ever eaten (maybe it was the hunger talking)! If you ever go there, ask for thukpa, a noodle soup and some momos. The fresh mountain air will make you ravenous and this will seem like a meal fit for the gods. The team The simple, stress-free mountain life with no phone signal had a certain allure that we found hard to resist. Our gang of five consisted of Bhagath Kumar of Makka photography, Nara, a landscape photographer who made this trip happen, Anusha Swamy, my fellow model who is also the makeup and hairstylist and Archana, who was the stylist for the shoot. suggestions Be more prepared than you think you need to be, pack some energy bars and chocolates for when you get stuck and take lots of warm clothes trust me it will come handy. If you have the time, work on your fitness levels as it will help you cope with the conditions there better. I would recommend going there once in autumn to witness the beautiful colours and towards the end of winter you get to see the snow-covered peaks and the frozen landscape. Next on my checklist is to train and hopefully get to the Everest base camp in the next few years. (As told to Balajee C R) ACB quizzes engineers, conducts site inspections to collect evidence. New Delhi: The anti-corruption branch on Thursday said that it has ordered inspection of a public works department (PWD) project as part of its probe into an alleged `10 crore scam involving chief minister Arvind Kejriwals brother-in-law. The ACB said that the department was conducting site inspections for collecting evidences at different locations. We have directed the PWD for site inspection with a team of experts and sought their opinion in connection with a project involving Mr Kejriwals deceased brother-in-law Surender Kumar Bansal in the alleged Rs 10 crore scam, ACB chief Mukesh Kumar Meena said. The ACB action follows the filing of three cases on May 9 against Bansal and senior PWD officers in connection with the corruption charge. The investigating agency questioned six engineers of the PWD on May 13. The three FIRs were registered against Bansal and the PWD officers after it was discovered that the bills were cleared by different companies for different works. The case involving Bansal, who died on May 7, relates to a drain project and improvement of kerbs from Shani Mandir to Bakoli village up to Drain No. 6 on the National Highway-44. The FIRs do not mention Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Kejriwals name, although complainant Rahul Sharma, convenor of NGO Road Anti-Corruption Organisation, has accused the chief minister of helping Bansal to get fake bills of around `10 crore cleared. The ACB had recorded the statement of Mr Sharma on May 11. Six PWD engineers had joined the ongoing investigations on Saturday in graft-related irregularities worth Rs 10 crore in the awarding of construction contracts to an agency owned by a relative of Mr Kejriwal. A senior officer, who is part of ACB investigation, said engineers were questioned and their statements were in the process of being recorded. ACB has recently registered three FIRs in the scam. Meanwhile, a complaint forwarded by a PWD assistant engineer to the local police has surfaced with the complainant alleging Surender Bansal, CM Kejriwals now deceased brother-in-law, in damaging a drain under the jurisdiction of the PWD which he witnessed in April last year. MMRC says AG stated that construction of depot can begin at Aarey. Mumbai: Work for metro car depot in Aarey Colony is set to begin from June after the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) said that there is no stay on constructing Metro car depot by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) prohibiting them from carrying out the construction. The MMRC has claimed it has taken legal opinion from advocate general (AG) and that AG has cited that there is no stay of NGT and MMRC can go ahead with the construction of the car depot inside Aarey Colony. SK Gupta, director (projects), MMRC said, We have short-listed three bidders, technical bids and are going to open financial bids. After the evaluation of financial bids is complete, we will award contract to the lowest bidder and work will start in June. MMRC began soil-testing and geo-technical survey for the depot last month. The construction of a car depot inside Aarey Colony has been in the news following opposition by environmentalists, who had also approached NGT for staying construction citing that Aarey is a no development zone. Explaining about the civil designs for construction of depot inside Aarey Colony, Mr Gupta added, The contract that we will award in few days will include contract for both metro car depot and construction of Aarey Colony metro station. The metro will come from underground the Western Express Highway (WEH) and enter Aarey Colony. However, the tracks in Aarey Colony will be laid on ground and wont be elevated or underground. Mr Gupta further added, The security at the metro depot would be same like that of standard security at metro depots in several cities and the commuters would be allowed to access the Aarey metro station. The depot would not be accessible for everyone considering the security protocol. The entire 33.5 km-long Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro-3 corridor will be underground with total civil construction cost of Rs 18,114.9 crore in seven packages. The Metro-3 corridor would be a crucial north-south link connecting major central business districts like that of Nariman Point, Bandra-Kurla Complex and Seepz in Andheri. Politics over land Recently, the Shiv Sena objected to land at Aarey being allotted for the Metro project. The BMC acting on the state governments directives had mooted a proposal to exclude 33 hectares of land at Aarey Colony from the Non-Development Zone (NDZ) for the construction of Metro-3 car shed and workshop. The fact that land will also be reserved for commercial use has raised the city environmentalists hackles. The proposal to change reservation at Aarey Colony in the Development Plan (DP) was tabled for approval before the civic improvements committee last week and a final decision on the same is still awaited. Shaw describes the 10-track album as a dark and moody take on what it means to be black in America. Shaw was at home for winter break in 2015, struggling to find a topic for a written thesis, when he told his mother, Michelle Shaw, about the creative thesis option. (Photo: AP) Boston: While other Harvard University students were writing papers for their senior theses, Obasi Shaw was busy rapping his. Shaw is the first student in Harvard's history to submit a rap album as a senior thesis in the English Department, the university said. The album, called "Liminal Minds," has earned the equivalent of an A-minus grade, good enough to guarantee that Shaw will graduate with honours next week. Count Shaw among those most surprised by the success. "I never thought it would be accepted by Harvard," said Shaw, a 20-year-old from Stone Mountain, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. "I didn't think they would respect rap as an art form enough for me to do it." Shaw describes the 10-track album as a dark and moody take on what it means to be black in America. Each song is told from a different character's perspective, an idea inspired by Geoffrey Chaucer's 14th-century classic "The Canterbury Tales." Shaw, who's black, also draws on the works of writer James Baldwin while tackling topics ranging from police violence to slavery. Shaw's thesis adviser, Harvard English lecturer Josh Bell, said Shaw is a "serious artist and he's an amazing guy." "He was able to turn around an album that people in the English Department would like very much but also that people who like rap music might like," Bell said. Harvard undergraduates aren't obligated to submit senior theses, but most departments require it to graduate with honors. Often it takes the form of a research paper, but students can apply to turn in an artistic work as a creative thesis. Some submit screenplays, novels or poetry collections. Shaw was at home for winter break in 2015, struggling to find a topic for a written thesis, when he told his mother, Michelle Shaw, about the creative thesis option. He had recently started writing his own raps and performing them at open-microphone nights on campus. His mother connected the dots and suggested he record an album for his thesis. It took Shaw more than a year to write the songs and record them at a studio on Harvard's campus. His friends supplied many of the beats, while he taught himself how to mix the tracks into a polished product. "I'm still not satisfied with the quality of the production just yet, but I'm constantly learning and growing," Shaw said. Rap and hip-hop have drawn growing interest from academia in recent years. Harvard established a fellowship for scholars of hip-hop in 2013, and other schools including the University of Arizona have started to offer minors in hip-hop studies. Clemson University announced in February that a doctoral student submitted a 34-track rap album as his dissertation, a first for the South Carolina University. Shaw plans to circulate the album online for free and hopes it opens doors to the music industry. In the meantime, he's headed to Seattle to work as a software engineer at Google. He had said he had no desire to join politics, but if he did, he would show the door to all money-minded people. Mumbai: Rajinikanth on Thursday declined to answer any political questions, amid speculation over his possible political plunge. "Please don't ask political questions," he said when reporters asked him about his recent comments on entering politics. Expressing joy over meeting his fans after an eight-year gap, the actor said the next round of meeting with his fans will be finalised in the coming days. Asked what message he had for his fans, the 66-year-old superstar said, take care of your family. Give up all vices." The actor had given the same advice to fans on Monday, asking them not to touch cigarettes and alcohol. He had said he had no desire to join politics, but if he did, he would show the door to all money-minded people. "My life is in the hands of God. I'm not sure what he has in store for me. But I will always perform the duty that he bestows on me. So, don't feel disappointed if I don't enter politics," he had told his fans. But if he did join politics, he would ensure that there would be no place for those seeking material gain. "Money-minded people will be shunned. So, I warn you now itself to stay away," he had said. On Wednesday, BJP national secretary H Raja had said Rajinikanth is a popular personality and is welcome to join the saffron party. The number of computers reported infected by a global ransomware attack in India has more than doubled. New Delhi-based Computer Emergency Response Team is carrying out "regular drills" to ensure minimum damage to the country. The number of computers reported infected by a global ransomware attack in India has more than doubled to around 193 on Thursday from a day ago, a federal cyber security official said, adding that steps taken by the government have helped limit its spread. Small Indian businesses and individuals continue to report being hit by the cyber-extortion campaign that began on Friday and has affected computers around the world, disrupting essential services and forcing some to meet the unidentified hackers' ransom demands. New Delhi-based Computer Emergency Response Team is carrying out "regular drills" to ensure minimum damage to the country, its head Sanjay Bahl told Reuters late on Thursday, encouraging people to come forward and inform the agency about any attacks. The government has said state organizations such as those managing government websites and building supercomputers had promptly installed security patches issued by Microsoft Corp, immunizing their systems. Analysts have, however, warned that a lot of ransomware attacks in India would go unreported because of the high use of readily available pirated software by small companies. "Those who are using pirated software, they dont even have any patch," Bahl said. "They won't even report any attack. They have no option but to go for something new." Navin Shankar Subramaniam Xavier, a resident of Florida, was sentenced to 15 years in prison by US District Judge Darrin Gayles in Miami. Xavier was convicted by guilty plea in January on two counts of wire fraud. (Representational Image) New York: A 44-year-old Indian-American has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for duping over a 100 investors of USD 33 million through fraudulent schemes. Navin Shankar Subramaniam Xavier, a resident of Florida, was the former Chief Executive Officer of Essex Holdings, the company through which he carried out two fraud schemes. He was sentenced on Thursday to 15 years in prison by US District Judge Darrin Gayles in Miami. The first scheme involved nearly 100 investors who purchased USD 30 million worth of promissory notes purported secured by interests in iron ore mining in Chile. The second scheme involved unlawfully obtaining USD 1.2 million in economic development funds as well as valuable industrial property from the State of South Carolina. Xavier was convicted by guilty plea in January on two counts of wire fraud. One wire fraud count related to the investment fraud scheme and the other count to the South Carolina economic development scheme. According to documents filed in court, from September 2010 through May 2014, Xavier operated Essex Holdings from an office in Miami and rose more than USD 30 million from nearly 100 investors for supposed investments in sugar transportation and shipping, as well as iron ore mining in Chile. He used false financial statements, forged documents and false promises of fixed rates of return, to induce people to invest in company. Most of the money was used for purposes other than what was promised, including to support lavish spending by Xavier and his wife for expensive jewelry, luxury vehicles, wedding expenses, and cosmetic surgery. Eventually, Xavier used new investor money to pay old investors in a Ponzi-like fashion before the scheme collapsed. Evidence filed in court showed that the actual investor losses from the scheme exceeded USD 29 million. The second scheme involved Xavier using Essex Holdings to obtain USD 1.2 million in payments and approximately USD 1.5 million worth of commercial real estate from the South Carolina Coordinating Council for Economic Development (SCCCED), a division of the South Carolina state government that was supposed to be used to develop a dilapidated industrial property into a diaper plant and rice packaging facility. According to documents filed in the court, he provided false financial documentation to SCCCED in order to obtain the contract, and later provided fake contractor invoices and fake bank statements in order to get paid under the contract. As with the investment fraud scheme, Xavier spent a significant portion of the development money for his personal expenses, and wired some of it to the same overseas accounts used in the investment fraud. Nilam Parikh along with three other Indian nationals committed the frauds, the US Justice Department said on Thursday. The sentencing in the case is scheduled for August 11. (FIle Photo) Washington: An Indian-American woman from Alabama has pleaded guilty to her involvement in a multi-million dollar scam in which people in the US were cheated by India-based call centres. Nilam Parikh, 46, pleaded guilty before US District Court Judge David Hittner of southern district of Texas. She along with three other Indian nationals committed the frauds, the US Justice Department said on Thursday. The sentencing in the case is scheduled for August 11. According to the admissions made in connection with the plea, Parikh and her co-conspirators perpetrated a complex scheme in which individuals from call centres located in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad posed as IRS or US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officials to defraud people located across America, it said. Using information obtained from data brokers and other sources, the operators of the call centres targeted victims and threatened them with arrest, imprisonment, fines or deportation if they did not pay the alleged monies owed to the government. Those who agreed to pay the scammers were instructed how to make the payment, including by purchasing stored value cards or wiring money. After the payment, the call center employees would immediately turn to a network of "runners" based in the US to liquidate and launder the fraudulently-obtained funds, the Justice Department said. Since December 2013, Parikh worked as a runner operating in Alabama. In connection with her plea, Parikh admitted that at the direction of an India-based co-conspirator, often via WhatsApp texts, she purchased reloadable cards registered with misappropriated personal identifying information of US citizens. Once the fraudulently proceeds were loaded onto those cards, she liquidated them on the cards and transferred the funds into various bank accounts, while keeping some part of the funds for herself. Parikh also admitted to sending and receiving scam proceeds to and from her co-conspirators via Federal Express. Till date, Parikh and 55 other individuals and five India-based call centres have been charged for their roles in the fraud and money laundering scheme in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Texas on October 19, 2016. As special counsel, Mr Mueller will have greater autonomy to run his investigation than other federal prosecutors. Washington: In a move that dramatically raises the legal and political stakes for Donald Trumps four-month-old presidency, the US justice department on Wednesday named former FBI chief Robert Mueller as special counsel to investigate whether Team Trump colluded with Russia to tilt the 2016 election in the Presidents favour. As special counsel, Mr Mueller will have greater autonomy to run his investigation than other federal prosecutors. Despite rising pressure from Capitol Hill and the crisis threatening to paralyse his presidency, Mr Trump responded to the news of Mr Muellers appointment by once again denying any links to Moscow. The Republican leader, who has struggled to shake off suspicions that Russia helped put him in the White House, has been accused of seeking to block the investigation by sacking FBI chief James Comey. Under pressure to provide guarantees to Congress and the public that the Russia probe will continue unhindered, deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein tapped Robert Mueller a widely-respected figure who headed the FBI for the decade after the 9/11 attacks to take over the reins. A New York-born Vietnam war vet, Mr Mueller has a reputation as a tough lawman who once even stood up to a President. He will head up the FBIs ongoing probe of Russian government efforts to influence the 2016 presidential election and related matters. Earlier, US ordered sanctions against Vice President Tareck El Aissami, accusing him of his major role in international drug trafficking. Bogota (Colombia): The US on Thursday slapped new sanctions on eight members of Venezuela's Supreme Court, accusing them of abusing power and damaging their nation's democratic fabric as the Trump administration raises concerns that socialist President Nicolas Maduro is moving toward one-party, authoritarian rule. Those blacklisted by the Treasury Department include Maikel Moreno, the president of the government-packed Supreme Court, as well as all seven justices who signed a ruling in late March stripping the opposition-controlled congress of its last remaining powers. The ruling was later partially reversed amid a backlash of international criticism, but it sparked a protest movement that has continued for nearly two months and on Thursday claimed another victim, bringing the death toll to 45. "The Venezuelan people are suffering from a collapsing economy brought about by their government's mismanagement and corruption. Members of the country's Supreme Court of Justice have exacerbated the situation by consistently interfering with the legislative branch's authority," US Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin said. "By imposing these targeted sanctions, the United States is supporting the Venezuelan people in their efforts to protect and advance democratic governance in their country." The action marked the second time the Trump administration has stripped high-level Venezuelan officials of their US assets and banned Americans from any business dealings with them. In February, the US ordered sanctions against Vice President Tareck El Aissami, accusing him of playing a major role in international drug trafficking. Earlier Thursday, Trump expressed dismay about Venezuela's troubles, asking aloud how a nation sitting atop the world's largest oil reserves could be stricken by so much poverty and unrest. "You sort of have to wonder: Why is that happening? How is that possible? Hopefully that will change and they can use those assets for the good. Because right now what's happening is really a disgrace to humanity," Trump said after meeting at the White House with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez took to Twitter late Thursday to call the US sanctions "outrageous and unacceptable." She said that the executive order was one more example of US attempts to interfere and destabilize Maduro's government and that the president strongly backs the Supreme Court magistrates who are "victims of US imperial power." Venezuela's Supreme Court has long been filled with government loyalists. The court's constitutional chamber declared null and void eight National Assembly laws between January and October 2016, after just one such ruling in the previous 200 years, legal experts say. In issuing its sanctions ruling, the US Treasury Department cited several court rulings since the opposition gained control of congress. One was the approval of Maduro's budget and his appointment of two government sympathizers to the National Electoral Council, decisions that are supposed to require National Assembly approval. Another was a ruling a year ago declaring null all acts of the National Assembly issued while it remains in contempt of an earlier ruling requiring the congress to unseat three elected lawmakers over still-unproven allegations of voting fraud. Moreno, while not directly involved in those decisions, has defended them and from the bench also upheld a nearly 14-year sentence for opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez a day after Trump called for his release at a White House meeting with his wife. Venezuelan government officials dispute the notion that the country's justice system is politicized. Maduro has said he had no prior knowledge of the Supreme Court ruling against congress in March, pointing to the objections raised by Venezuela's chief prosecutor as proof the country's institutions operate independently. The new sanctions come as Maduro is facing increasing pressure at home and abroad to hold elections. On Thursday, several thousand demonstrators once again collapsed Caracas and other cities in protests that ended in clashes with security forces firing tear gas and rubber bullets. More than 2,000 people have been detained and hundreds injured during almost daily protests. In the western city of Maracaibo, a 25-year-old was killed when he was crushed by a truck during a protest, the chief prosecutor's office said. Local media said he was a medical student belonging to the so-called "Green Cross," a group of volunteer first-responders that is a fixture at opposition marches Maduro has vowed to resolve his nation's crisis by convoking a special assembly to rewrite Venezuela's constitution. The opposition rejects that plan as another attempt by the president to tighten his grip on power, and opposition leaders are calling on Venezuelans to continue to take to the streets in protest. Says it wont compromise as the case pertains to national security of the country, calls Indias nuclear programme a threat. Presiding judge Ronny Abraham of France, center, enters to read the World Court's verdict in the case brought by India against Pakistan in The Hague, Netherlands. (Photo: AP) Islamabad: Pakistan on Thursday said that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) had no jurisdiction to hear case of alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav as it pertained to the security of Pakistan. Foreign office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said that Pakistans reply to the ICJ was submitted in line with Article 36 of the United Nations Charter, explaining that Pakistan, in some issues, does not recognise the jurisdiction of the ICJ, he said during a weekly news briefing in Islamabad. Addressing a weekly media briefing, Mr Zakaria said, India weaved a humanitarian angle in Kulbushan Jadhavs case to divert the worlds attention from his real actions, fomenting terrorism inside Pakistan. After India stood exposed in state-sponsored terrorism and financing terrorism, it tried to divert attention from presenting the Kulbushan Jadhav case with a humanitarian angle. The spokesperson said Pakistans stance on the alleged Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) agent was clear. It is a matter of national security and we will not compromise on it, he added. He said, Indias fastest growing nuclear programme in the world had serious implications for strategic stability in South Asia and national security of Pakistan. He said that Pakistan had been underscoring the risk of diversion by India to imported nuclear fuel, equipment and technology received pursuant to civil nuclear accord and 2008 energy waiver by Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). The spokesperson urged NSG members to consider risks involved in transfer of nuclear material to India and its NSG membership bid. To a question, he said, Indias move requiring advisor on foreign affairs of Pakistan to write a recommendation letter to Indian external affairs minister for every medical visa case is unprecedented in inter-state relations. Giving update on situation in Kashmir, the spokesperson said, Human right situation in Kashmir is deteriorating. Hindu terrorist outfit, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has been stationing its activists and establishing its units in Kashmir, managed by non-Kashmiri RSS activists. He alleged the RSS slaughtered over half a million Kashmiri Muslims in November 1947 together with Dogra and Indian forces. He added young Kashmiris, particularly the students were the target of forces and RSS. Over 200 people, including students, were arrested, while 500 people were injured when Indian forces subjected defenceless Kashmiris to force against them in Srinagar, Ganderbal, Budgam, Kulgam, Baramulla and many other districts. In a separate incident that also occurred today, 5 Afghan policemen were killed in a fight with the Taliban in eastern Kapisa. There was also no claim of responsibility for the attack in Logar but Salleh, the spokesman, accused the Taliban of planting the roadside bomb. (Photo: AP/Representational) Kabul: A roadside bombing killed 11 people in eastern Afghanistan on Friday as they were travelling to a wedding in the country's east, a local official said. Also today, five Afghan policemen were killed in fighting with the Taliban in eastern Kapisa province. Earlier, a policeman turned his rifle on his colleagues as they slept at an outpost in eastern Nangarhar province on Thursday night, killing five. Those killed by the roadside bomb in Logar province - five women, five children and a man - were all from the same family, said Salim Salleh, the spokesman for the provincial governor of Logar. In Kapisa, the Taliban attacked a police checkpoint early today morning, killing five policemen, according to Qais Qaderi, the spokesman for the provincial governor. He said the assault took place in Tagab district, adding that 10 Taliban fighters were also killed, including two commanders. In the Thursday night attack, district governor, Abdul Wahab Momand, said the policeman shot his colleagues at an outpost in the district of Ghanikhil. After the shooting, the attacker, who was only identified by one name, Nasratullah, seized all the victims' firearms and fled the scene, the governor said. Neither the Taliban nor the Islamic State group the two militant groups who operate in the area immediately claimed responsibility for the attack in Nangarhar, a mountainous province that borders Pakistan. There was also no claim of responsibility for the attack in Logar but Salleh, the spokesman, accused the Taliban of planting the roadside bomb. Afghanistan has the highest number of mine victims in the world, which along with roadside bombs kill or wound an estimated 140 people every month. The Taliban have stepped up their attacks since announcing their spring offensive last month. Elsewhere in Afghanistan, another roadside bomb targeted a US militarily convoy in northern Parwan province on Friday, the international mission's media officer, Doug High, said. The explosion disabled an armoured vehicle but caused no injuries, High said. After recovering the vehicle, the convoy continued on its mission, he added. Pak minister says ICJ has only granted formal stay on Jadhavs sentence. Islamabad: Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Mohammed Asif has said that there will be no compromise on alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhavs conviction. In an interview with a Pakistani television channel, the minister said: It is an issue of Pakistans national security and there will be no compromise on it. Mr Asif said the alleged Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) agent was convicted after fulfilling all necessary legal procedures and any decision on this matter will be taken keeping in view the national security. The International Court of Justice has only granted formal stay on the death sentence of Jadhav, he maintained. On Thursday, the ICJ stayed execution of Kulbhushan Jadhav, a former Indian Navy officer sentenced to death for espionage and terrorist activities in Pakistan. India had challenged Mr 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. While presenting arguments, Pakistani counsel had informed the ICJ that Mr Jadhav 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. Pakistan maintained that the ICJ needed not intervene as it had adhered to a 2008 bilateral treaty with India that supersedes the Vienna pact by stating that the right to consular access can be waived where national security is at risk. During the hearing, Indias lead attorney and former solicitor general Harish Salve said the country feared Mr 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. Pakistan claims the Vienna Convention does not apply to a spy involved in terror activities and said India was using the world court as a stage for political theatre. Meanwhile, Opposition leader Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah on Friday accused the government of not fulfilling its duties pertaining to Kulbhushan Jadhav case. 32 per cent people plan to vote for Republique en Marche in the first round on June 11. Paris: French President Emmanuel Macrons new centrist party has stretched its lead in the polls ahead of parliamentary elections next month, new survey data showed on Thursday, adding to the positive momentum for the 39-year-old leader. A survey from the Harris Interactive group showed 32 per cent of people planned to vote for Macrons Republique en Marche (REM) in the first round of parliamentary elections on June 11. That was a three-point gain from the week before and a six-point gain from 10 days ago, with the rightwing Republicans and far-right National Front down slightly over the last week at 19 percent. Macron faces a crucial four weeks having named his first 22-member cross-party government which held its inaugural meeting on Thursday morning at the presidential palace. Led by rightwing Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, it includes a mix of Socialist, centrist and Republicans figures as well as newcomers including an Olympic fencing champion and a star environmentalist. Half are women. Philippe told France Inter radio on Thursday that the Cabinet had been chosen to last and was in line with the political renewal that we are in the process of putting in place. Another survey published Thursday by the Elabe polling group showed that 61 percent of French people approved of the new faces, many of whom were taking their first steps into public life. French newspapers saw the choice of Philippe as PM and the handing of important economic portfolios to rightwingers Bruno Le Maire and Gerald Darmanin as a clear indication of Macrons priorities. Macron on the move to the centre-right, headlined right-leaning newspaper Le Figaro, while left-leaning Liberation headlined its coverage of the line-up Mostly of the right. Having been an advisor and economy minister under Socialist Francois Hollande, Macron was accused by critics of being too left-wing during the vicious poll campaign. Socialist party chief Jean-Christophe Cambadelis said Macrons government of the right and for the right would imperil protections for workers, drastically reduce the number of civil servants and smash public services. In a law passed, Germany's migration agency will be allowed to evaluate cellphone data of migrants who arrive without proper documents. Deportations will also be sped up under the new law, and authorities will be allowed to detain individuals who are awaiting deportation. (Photo: AFP) Berlin: Germany's Parliament has passed new measures making it easier to deport migrants whose asylum applications have been denied, and monitor and control those deemed dangerous. In a law passed late Thursday night, Germany's migration agency will be allowed to evaluate cellphone data of migrants who arrive without proper documents, and permitted to share data with other authorities in situations considered dangerous. Deportations will also be sped up under the new law, and authorities will be allowed to detain individuals who are awaiting deportation for up to 10 days, from an original four, if they're deemed dangerous. Dangerous individuals facing deportation can also now be monitored with electronic ankle bracelets. The measures are a reaction to December's deadly Christmas market attack in Berlin by a rejected asylum seeker awaiting deportation. Julian Assange has always denied the 2010 allegations, which he feared would see him extradited to the United States. British police have said they will arrest Assange as soon as he walks out of the embassy because he has broken his conditions for bail. (Photo: AP) Stockholm: Swedish prosecutors Friday dropped a seven-year rape investigation into Julian Assange, a legal victory for the WikiLeaks founder who has been holed up in the Ecuadoran embassy in London since 2012. "Director of Public Prosecution, Marianne Ny, has today decided to discontinue the investigation regarding suspected rape by Julian Assange," the prosecutor's office said in a statement. Friday was the deadline for the public prosecutor's office to either renew or lift Assange's arrest warrant before a Stockholm court. Shortly after the decision, Assange posted a picture of himself smiling broadly, without comment. Ny and Chief Prosecutor Ingrid Isgren are to brief reporters on the decision at 12:00pm (1000 GMT) on Friday. The 45-year-old Australian has always denied the 2010 allegations, which he feared would see him extradited to the United States and tried over the leaking of hundreds of thousands of secret US military and diplomatic documents. He has been living at the Ecuadoran embassy in London since 2012 and risks being arrested by British police if he steps out of the building. British police have said they will arrest Assange as soon as he walks out of the embassy because he has broken his conditions for bail -- a relatively minor offence under British law -- by failing to surrender on June 29, 2012 for extradition to Sweden. Assange's Swedish lawyer last month filed a new motion demanding that the arrest warrant be lifted after US Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in April that arresting Assange would be "a priority". "This implies that we can now demonstrate that the US has a will to take action... this is why we ask for the arrest warrant to be cancelled so that Julian Assange can fly to Ecuador and enjoy his political asylum," lawyer Per Samuelsson said at the time. The accusation against Assange dated from August 2010 when the alleged victim, who says she met him at a WikiLeaks conference in Stockholm a few days earlier, filed a complaint. She accused him of having sex with her as she slept without using a condom despite repeatedly having denied him unprotected sex. "I am entirely innocent," Assange wrote in a 19-page testimony released in December 2016. He argues that the sex was consensual and has denounced the accusations as "politically motived". The investigation had suffered from multiple procedural complications since it began. The statute of limitations on the rape allegation expires in August 2020. In a letter sent to the Swedish government on May 8, Ecuador condemned "the obvious lack of progress" in the investigation despite Assange's questioning in the presence of the Swedish prosecutor at the embassy in November 2016. "It is extremely worrying that six months after the hearing at the Embassy of Ecuador in the United Kingdom, the Swedish prosecutor's office has not yet decided on the judicial situation of Julian Assange," the Ecuadoran Foreign Ministry said in the letter seen by AFP. Swedish judges have refused to take into account the opinion of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which in February 2016 said Assange was effectively "arbitrarily detained" by Sweden and Britain and called for the arrest warrant to be annulled. Assange, 45, has been holed up in the embassy since 2012 after skipping bail to avoid extradition to Sweden. Stockholm: British police said WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange would still be arrested if he leaves the Ecuadorean embassy in London after Swedish prosecutors said on Friday they would drop a preliminary investigation into an allegation of rape against him. Assange, 45, has been holed up in the embassy since 2012 after skipping bail to avoid extradition to Sweden over the allegation of rape, which he denies. "Westminster Magistrates' Court issued a warrant for the arrest of Julian Assange following him failing to surrender to the court on the 29 June 2012," London police said in a statement. "The Metropolitan Police Service is obliged to execute that warrant should he leave the Embassy. The Indian and Singapore navies began a 7-day-long maritime exercise in the South China Sea on Thursday. Held since 1994, it is the 24th edition of the annual exercise between the two countries. (Photo: PTI/File) Beijing: Reacting cautiously over the joint naval exercise being held by India and Singapore in the disputed South China Sea, China on Friday said such activities should not hurt the "interests of other countries". "If such exchanges and cooperation are for the benefit of regional peace and security, then we have no opposition," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a media briefing here. "We have a very open attitude to normal exchanges between various countries," she said when asked for China's reaction to the joint naval exercise of India and Singapore. China claims almost all of the resource-rich South China Sea (SCS), including islands more than 800 miles from the Chinese mainland, despite objections from neighbours such as the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam. "We just hope that when the relevant countries conduct such exchanges and cooperation, they should bear in mind such activities should not hurt the interests of other countries or have any negative impact to regional peace and stability," Hua said outlining Beijing's sensitivities. Navies of India and Singapore on Thursday began a seven-day-long mega maritime exercise in the SCS which has been witnessing a growing Chinese assertiveness. Four warships of the Indian Navy and long range anti-submarine warfare aircraft P-8l are participating in the SIMBEX (Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise), which is aimed at increasing interoperability between the two navies. Held since 1994, it is the 24th edition of the annual exercise between the two countries. Beijing expresses strong opposition whenever US naval ships pass through the area, even though it maintains there is no threat to freedom of navigation. India along with the US and many other countries have been vocal about freedom of navigation in the area as foreign trade worth over a trillion dollar move through the SCS. China in the past has opposed India taking part in the oil exploration in the SCS at the invitation of Vietnam. India has earlier taken part in the Malabar naval exercises with Japan and the US in the East China Sea. In the recent months, tension over the SCS abated after new Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte scaled down Manila's emphasis on its SCS claims even after it won an international tribunal award last year. The tribunal struck down China's expansive claims over the area based on historical hold. China had rejected the verdict. After his election, Duterte opted for peace with China in favour of Chinese investments. China and ASEAN members yesterday approved the framework of the SCS Code of Conduct (COC), a crucial step towards peacefully resolving territorial disputes in the area. The 14th Senior Officials' Meeting on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, held yesterday in Guizhou province's Guiyang city, reviewed and approved the COC framework draft. A Chinese foreign ministry press release said yesterday that all the parties have agreed to peacefully resolve the SCS disputes through negotiations and dialogue. They also agreed to work through their differences under the framework of regional regulations. Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said that Pakistan's counsel had courageously presented Pakistan's stance in ICJ on Jadhav. In this March 29, 2016 photo, journalists look an image of Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav. (Photo: AP) Islamabad: Adviser to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has said that Islamabad will form a new team of lawyers to present Pakistan's stance vigorously in the Kulbushan Jadhav case that is before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Radio Pakistan quoted Aziz as saying that Pakistan's counsel had courageously presented Pakistan's stance in ICJ on Jadhav. The Pakistan's Foreign Office said on Thursday that the ICJ has no jurisdiction over the county's national security matters, which in this instance was the execution of Jadhav. Foreign Office Spokesman Nafees Zakaria said the decision to challenge the ICJ's jurisdiction was taken after consultation with all government institutions and agencies. Zakaria said Pakistan's reply to the court was submitted in line with Article 36 of the Vienna Convention. He pointed out that there exists a bilateral pact on consular access between Pakistan and India since 2008 and added that article 6 of the pact solely relates to consular access being determined on the merit of the case. Zakaria said, "After India stood exposed on state-sponsored terrorism and financing terrorism, it tried to divert attention by presenting the Kulbushan Jadhav case with a humanitarian angle." The ICJ, the primary judicial organ of the United Nations, stayed the death sentence awarded to former Indian Naval officer and alleged Indian spy Jadhav by the Pakistan military court, citing that both - India and Pakistan - were bound by the Vienna Convention and that the rights invoked by New Delhi under the Vienna Convention were plausible. (ANI) by Mathias Hariyadi In Indonesia hostility and intolerance towards religious minorities is growing. Still, for the prelate, "We all have to forgive radical and intolerant groups". Instead, Love for God is manifested through the love for ones neighbours. Mideast East extremists find welcome Indonesia. For Prof. Syafi'I Maarif, such hospitality "makes no sense". Jakarta (AsiaNews) "As the law of love commands, Christians are morally obliged to forgive those who hurt us, said Card Julius Darmaatmaja at a seminar on orchestrating brotherhood and fighting intolerance. In his address, the cardinal called on the faithful to forgive others to stop the spiral of vengeance that brings hatred and injustice at a time when the country is torn by controversies and tensions caused by radical Islamic movements. The trial and two-year conviction of Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, a Christian, have divided Indonesian society, hitherto considered tolerant and pluralistic. For his supporters, Ahok remains a symbol of good politics and of the fight against corruption. Over the past few days, they have organised peaceful demonstrations and torchlight processions in all of Indonesias major cities. In the spirit of unity that is the foundation of the Indonesian state, they demand his release as well as changes to the blasphemy law, judged arbitrary and discriminatory. Card Darmaatmaja, a former archbishop of Jakarta and Semarang, gave a lecture on Wednesday at the Faculty of Theology of the Catholic University of Sanata Dharma in Yogyakarta. In his lecture, he called on all those present, especially Christians, to engage in inclusive actions. Citing the Sacred Scriptures, he noted that "Love for God is manifested through love for ones neighbours." Hence, "We all have to forgive radical and intolerant groups," he explained. Responding to the cardinals call and concerns, Prof Syafi'I Maarif, a former president of Muhammadiyah, Indonesias second largest Muslim organisation, said the prelates vision and opinion are "very Islamic." Indeed, "He is probably a good Muslim who has not yet been contaminated by certain political ambitions," Maarif said jokingly. The Islamic cleric was referring to the political situation in Indonesia, where some radical Muslim groups have expressed hostile comments and carried acts of intolerance towards religious minorities. For Maarif, violent Islam is above all a product of the Middle East, whose influence is also affecting Indonesia. Radical groups from the Middle East involve people who are satisfied with the current situation in the regions Islamic countries, especially when they are moved by a political agenda. People with a good basic culture prefer to leave the country and stay abroad. Maarif noted that something odd is happening in Indonesia. Things that concern Mideast Islamic nations is viewed as good and holy by some Indonesians. "What can be said about the bloodshed caused Boko Haram and the Islamic State? Such cruelty is very 'distant' from the real Islam." However, what surprises Maarif is that many Indonesians have even praised the Islamic State. In recent years, many of those who became socially and politically marginalised in Arab countries because of their extremism have headed towards Southeast Asia. "Indonesians have even welcomed them! That does not make sense," said bitterly the scholar. by Christopher Sharma The Hindu pro-monarchy party won in only one local unit. The Nepalese, majority Hindu, chose peace and coexistence with other religions. Kathmandu (AsiaNews) - Despite the Hindu population being the majority (81.3%), Nepalese voters preferred secular parties to pro-monarchy hindus. The results of the first phase of local elections held on May 14 prompt Nepal's political parties to abandon extremist prospects and respect democratic values. Final results have yet to be published, but it is already clear that voters have rejected Hindu parties favoring the monarchy. Secular parties have taken the majority of votes, such as the Leninist Marxist Unite Party (UML), the Nepalese Congress and the Maoists. According to an electoral commission report published this morning, UML won 93 local units and came first in 25; The Nepalese Congress won 91 units, placing itself at the head of 13; The Maoist Center won 42 units, ranking first in four. The Rastriya Prajantantra Party (Rpp), promoter of a restoration of Hinduism and Monarchy, won in one unit. Krishna Khanal, professor and political analyst, comments: "Nepalese voters have realized that Nepal is diversifying in faith and that any political party that tries to politicize faith will not be supported. This is a clear message from the people who want to live in peace and solidarity respecting the faith of others. " "Nepal has a Hindu majority population who believes in secularism and wants people and societies not to be divided in the name of religion," continued Khanal, adding: "Rpp wants to restore Hinduism and the monarchy and in the past people voted for them, but when they realized that this program would have deteriorated peace among communities, they refused to vote again." Ramala Dhital, who voted for secular parties, states: "In democracy, why should the state have any religion? The state must be free from any faith and respect for all religious groups must be assured. I am Hindu and Christians do not disturb my faith. People are free to choose their profession. There's nothing wrong with that. " "In the past - she adds - I voted for Rpp, but when they claimed Hinduism and monarchy, I began to despise them. It may be the same for other people who have moved their vote to secular parties. " P.C. Lohani, formerly leader of the Rpp, comments that "voters have not turned away from Hinduism, but reject extremism in the name of religion." Subash Nemwang, former parliament speaker and UML vice-president, states: "The days of Hindu fundamentalists or any other religion are over. Young generations choose change and secularism." And he adds, "I cannot think of our country without religious freedom and rights for minorities. Any religious party will be pushed to the corner when it supports an extremist project. In the upcoming elections, more people will not vote for them, and secular parties will win. " by Santosh Digal Sister Inigo Joachim works as a volunteer for Prison Ministry India, a Catholic Association involved with prisoners across India for the past 30 years. The biggest problem is the solitude of prisoners. Abandoned by their families , they need our presence, emotional support and a shoulder to cry". In turn, they "are our benefactors since they give meaning to our lives, vocation and mission." New Delhi (AsiaNews) - "Prayers can transform prisoners. Praying with and for them goes a long way to create refreshed, changed and renewed people in society," said Sister Inigo Joachim SSA, former Superior General of the Sisters of St Ann in Madhavaram, near Chennai (Tamil Nadu). Speaking to AsiaNews, Sister Inigo noted that whilst "inmates need our presence, emotional support and a shoulder to cry", they "are our benefactors since they give meaning to our lives, vocation and mission." According to the nun, "sharing their pain and struggles and our compassionate listening is the raw material and content of our prayers. The poor have the capacity to teach us many things that we cannot learn from books. We learn from them the value of hope, endurance, patience, resilience, and gratitude." In fact, volunteers visits not only give joy and consolation to those behind bars, but "allows us to learn human and spiritual values, and strengthen our spiritual life." When she is not doing pastoral work, Sister Inigo always goes to Tihar Prison in New Delhi, a detention facility that holds 14,000 people in ten buildings. About 63 per cent of the prisoners are first-time offenders waiting to go on trial. Many are held without trial for long periods of time. About 40 per cent are innocent and should not be led in jail for any considerable period. Only 5 to 10 per cent are habitual offenders and hard core criminals held in high security wards. With its 6,000 volunteers, Prison Ministry India can reach 900 prisons out of a total of 1,387. For prisoners, "the greatest suffering is solitude, the nun explained. They are abandoned by everyone, including their families and friends. Some have not been visited for years. The refusal of their loved ones makes them choose bad friends among inside the prison." "The real purpose of sending criminals to prison should be turn them into honest and respectful citizens, teaching them to stay away from crime and criminal activity. This is why, more and more, it tends to privilege rehabilitation." "Prison has effects on prisoners image, she noted. They are labelled as criminal even before the court issues the verdict. This affects their jobs, social status, and even future. It disrupts relationships. When a family member is imprisoned, the whole family has to suffer and adjust to the loss of income. In addition to harming human relations, imprisonment destabilises the psycho-physical balance of prisoners. "The way jails are built, the high walls and few windows contribute to this. Even a normal person would become mentally unstable in overcrowded cells." In turn, overcrowding causes health and nutritional problems. Diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV and dengue spread quickly because of the proximity of prisoners, which spawns "criminal gangs. What is more, Legal aid is not available to the poor, who cannot hire lawyers. A first step would be to "change the definition of prisoner as someone who breaks the law, a mischievous element society who has to be punished. When a person commits a crime, something is triggered in his mind that leads him to criminal behaviour. This behavior can be changed. Gradual change can be achieved through personal visits, listening and counselling. A person in prison is not a non-person. " According to the Supreme Court, "a prisoner is sent to jail to be reformed, not to be punished." Prison Ministry is a ministry of presence. Prisoners perceive our moral proximity various ways: visits, a spontaneous smile, a kind word, affectionate greetings, a graceful nod, a willingness to listen. . ." "Through the 'quality time' we spend with them, they experience peace and conversion of the heart. Our presence changes their attitude of helplessness because it makes them feel that there is someone who cares for them and hasnt abandoned them." Often prisoners "ask us Catholics to pray for them. They believe that God can change their destiny. They have lost everything, but always say one thing: they ca not afford to lose God too. Our prayers give hope in an otherwise desperate life." Volunteers are also involved in rehabilitation through vocational training. They teach trades, which allows prisoners to earn some money and have greater chances of finding a place for themselves outside of prison. Ultimately, Sister Inigo is convinced that members of her organisation can act as "bridge builders between prisoners and their families. We help the latter to welcome relatives upon their release." Almost no Cambodian family spared from the genocide. The day of memory is held early due to the election campaign. Strong tensions spread throughout the country. Prime Minister Hun Sen threatens civil war in the event of a defeat. Phnom Penh (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Hundreds of people gathered in one of the most famous "Killing Fields" in Cambodia to remember victims of the genocide of at least 1.8 million Cambodians by the Khmer Rouge, in power from 1975 1979. Most victims died of hunger as a result of torture, fatigue or illness in the work camps or killed during mass executions. In Choeung Ek, about 15 kms from the Cambodian capital, still today heavy rains today wash fragments of bones and shreds of victims' clothes in the common pits. A stack of skulls and bones is at the center of the memorial of an era in which almost no Cambodian family has been spared. Usually, the day of memory, once known as "the Day of Anger", is celebrated on May 20, but this year was anticipated because of the campaign for the election of the June 4 next. Strong tensions are spreading throughout the country ahead of the vote. Prime Minister Hun Sen, a former Khmer Rouge Governor who has been ruling for more than 30 years, has threatened a possible civil war if his Cambodian People's Party does not win the election. His opponents accuse him of using intimidating tactics and submission to maintain power. by Sumon Corraya From May 20 to 23, the Saudi capital hosts a summit involving 55 Muslim-majority nations. President Trump will also attend on his first official trip abroad. Dhaka evaluates sending military to the kingdom to protect the holy places of Islam. The summit reinforces designs of Arab-Sunni alliance against Shiite Iran. Dhaka (AsiaNews) Bangladeshi Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali has announced the sending of Bangladeshi military forces to Saudi Arabia to protect the holy places of Islam, to "end the wave of extremist violence" that is bloodying in the Middle East. He was speaking on the eve of the summit which will include Arab leaders and Muslim majority nations scheduled from May 20 to 23 in Riyadh. US President Donald Trump will also attend on his first trip abroad. In the background of the international summit, which brings together leaders and representatives from 55 nations, Saudi Arabias attempts to create a force to counter Iranian influence in the region and the Muslim world. The presence of leaders of Niger, Turkey, Indonesia and Brunei confirm the transversality of the event. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will head the Bangladesh delegation and the leader will address, the topic of sending military to the kingdom in the context of the fight against terrorism. This is a delicate matter, confirming on the one hand the attempt to strengthen ties between Dhaka and Riyadh, and on the other hand, poses the issue of relations with Iran. The Bangladesh Foreign Minister has made it clear that it is premature to speak of alliance because there are no signed documents that certify it., AH Mahmood Ali added, it is still "premature", "evolving," and " under discussion". The fear is that involvement in the opposition between the Saudis and Iranians, a mirror of the inner war in Islam between Sunni (the great majority) and Shi'ite (mainly in Iran, Lebanon and Syria). He continued that the assumption of Bangladesh's "involvement" in this contrast is unfounded. However, according to experts, the danger is real and will emerge in the future, also in view of the growing influence exerted by Saudi Arabia. In fact, at least 560 mosques have been established throughout the country thanks to the donations from Riyadh. Added to this is at least 2.5 million Bangladeshi migrants live and work in the Saudi kingdom. Their earnings are sent to the families of origin remaining in Bangladesh, thus creating a substantial flow of money into the pockets of the state. Dhaka University Professor of International Relations, M Sahiduzamman, underlines the Saudi attempt to "form an alliance" of Muslim nations to counter "conflicts and terrorism," claiming leadership. Bangladesh, he adds, receives a lot of aid from the Saudis, and the time has come for "even the Saudis ask for a hand and Bangladesh will do it." However, the eyes of the international community will be on US President Donald Trump on the first diplomatic trip abroad since his establishment at the White House on January 20th. The choice of Riyadh is not a chance decision, in an attempt to relaunch the alliance with the Saudis (and the Gulf nations) that had cooled during the Second Presidency of Barack Obama. An looming in the background the question of Tehran - called today to elect the new president - and the Iranian nuclear agreement, which also held talks during these weeks of meetings and statements in preparation for the summit. Salman al-Ansar, chairman of the Saudi-American Committee on Business and Public Affairs, said the meeting is a "clear message" to Iran on a "global consensus and a global agreement between the United States and the Arab Muslim world " in an anti-Tehran key. Andreas Krieg of the King's College's London Defense Studies department adds that King Salman is trying to use the US to create a "pan-Islamic alliance under Saudi leadership, as a bastion against jihadism and Iran." A study group of bipartisan experts called to discuss "constitutional issues". The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria speaks of the first tangible result of the talks. But the two fronts dampen the enthusiasm. US air raid strikes pro-Syrian government forces near the Jordan border: eight dead. Geneva (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Syrian government delegates and opposition fronts, engaged in UN-sponsored talks in Geneva (Switzerland), reached agreement to set up a committee of experts called to discuss "issues constitutional. " This is the first, tangible result in the context of the UN meetings, whose goal is to strengthen the "fragile" national truce in force since midnight on December 30, in the context of a conflict that has caused more than 320,000 victims and millions of displaced. The previous five meetings have not been able to guarantee effective results in the interests of stable and lasting peace. Yesterday in a note, the UN special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura has claimed the first concrete outcome of the peace talks: a series of meetings between government and members of the HNC, supported by the Saudis, to discuss "major legal and constitutional issues, in the Syrian talks." The announcement seems to be a reduced version of a previous UN proposal aimed at writing a new constitution. However, strong resistance and contrasts remain. In the late afternoon of yesterday, eight rebel groups - part of the HNC - suspended participation in the meetings, expressing discontent for the decisions taken in the context of the talks. The drafting of a new constitution remains one of the four key points at the center of the Syrian agenda, along with governance, elections and the fight against terrorism. The government delegation, led by Bashar al-Jaafari, seems to want to dampen the enthusiasm, saying there are no major expectations from the review of the Charter and that the proposed plan appears "too ambitious." Internal sources in the UN talks say that the commission will have to find "specific arrangements" for the "drafting of the constitution". Along with Astana meetings sponsored by Moscow, Tehran and Ankara, they constitute an attempt to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict The government front and the delegation representing the rebels remain divided on a crucial point: the future - political or otherwise - of President Bashar al-Assad. HNC leaders insist on the expulsion of Damascus leader as a prerequisite for any political transition. An "unacceptable" request for the government. Also yesterday US air raids hit a Syrian government convoy near the border with Jordan. Colonel Ryan Dillon, a spokesman for the US-led coalition fighting jihadist groups in Syria, confirmed the bombing of pro-regime forces [...] which posed a threat to US forces and Syrian [Syrian] forces. A second US official, behind anonymity, added that the pro-Assad forces struck were "probably" Shiite militias, without adding any further useful elements for their identification. According to the London-based Syrian Observatory on Human Rights, close to the anti-Assad opposition, the victims are eight and "most of them are not Syrian." The New Mexico Office of African American Affairs and Warehouse 508 have come together to teach kids that being an artist can be a viable way to live through a series of five workshops called Youth Engagement . Beginning this Saturday, April 15 , kids from 11-20 can learn how to identify skills attained through hobbies that can be used for income. A lot of artistic hobbies are often regarded as just for fun when the skills learned can be used in many careers like therapy, marketing, graphic and interior design, just to name a few. The workshops cover hip-hop dance, financial literacy, poetry, t-shirt printing and social justice art. The dates following this Saturday's event are April 22, May 13 and May 20. These free workshops require a reservation call Shaina Saint-Lot at (505) 383-6215 or email her at shaina.saintlot@state.nm.us to put yourself or your child's name on the list, only 40 kids can join each workshop datewhich lasts from 10am to 3pm . (Rini Grammer) Kids identify their skills while learning about themselves, how to approach different activities with an economic mindset and find hobbies that are inherently valuable. OAAA has partnered with Warehouse 508 to create exciting FREE field trips for youth aged 11-20. We are offering five workshops: hip hop dance, financial literacy, poetry, t-shirt printing, & social justice art with free lunch. RSVP to attend! We have four dates available at 40 youth per day. The dates are Saturday April 15, April 22, May 13, and May 20 from 10am-3pm. We are offering five workshops: hip hop dance, financial literacy, poetry, t-shirt printing, and social justice art and a free Dions lunch. In general, goals for the workshops are: 1. Help youth identify their self-worth and skills while learning about themselves and their peers 2. Learn to approach different activities, especially hobbies and passions, with an economic mindset (recognizing the different possibilities and career paths around that activity) 3. Discover that skills normally deemed worthless or just for fun are not only inherently valuable, but also have many ripple effects because of their transferability (e.g. art being used for therapy, marketing, graphics, interior design, etc., poetry being used to strengthen communication skills in writing, interviewing, public speaking, etc.) 4. HAVE FUN & LEARN The purpose of the Youth Engagement Field Trips is to engage our youth in an interactive, unique manner so they are more receptive to learning. Wed like to teach about financial literacy and creative entrepreneurship to stimulate a business driven mindset. With issues of low self-esteem and low perceived self-worth, wed also like to identify different skills our youth possess and highlight the inherent worth of each skill. Its even more important to help our youth discover that many skills are transferrable. While something may be done just for fun or society may label it as a worthless, there are many ways to channel our hobbies, passions, and underused skills in an economically tangible manner. RSVP is mandatory for attendance. Children must be from the ages of 11-20. By Georg Thomas, PhD candidate in information technology, Charles Sturt University Shutterstock/napocska The recent spate of cyber attacks on computer systems across the world shows how some organisations are not doing enough to protect their systems against malicious hackers. But if organisations had engaged the services of an ethical hacker then many of the vulnerabilities on their systems could have been found and fixed, rather than exploited. There are many instances in which ethical hacking has successfully prevented a potential attack, but because of the sensitive nature of such information, few cases are made public. This anonymised example highlights the type of issues that can be uncovered by an ethical hacker, which can then be addressed by the client. Putting on your hacker hat There are typically three types of hacker: black hat, grey hat and white hat. Shutterstock/MatiasDelCarmine Black hat hackers are typically malicious; they operate illegally and attempt to breach or bypass security controls. Their motivation can be for personal, political or financial gain, or simply to cause havoc. Grey hat hackers also try to find vulnerabilities in an organisation, and may then alert the organisation or publish the vulnerability. Grey hats can sometimes sell the vulnerabilities to government or law-enforcement agencies, who may use them for questionable means in conflict or enforcement. The activities of a grey hat are not only questionable, but also seen as illegal because they are not given permission to conduct their operations. White hat hackers use the same tools and techniques as their black and grey hat counterparts, but they are engaged and paid by organisations to find vulnerabilities. Thats why they are known as ethical hackers. A contract and non-disclosure agreement (NDA) is usually signed between the ethical hacker and the organisation. This ensures that what they are doing is legal and that both parties are protected. The ethical hack-attack Ethical hackers will typically follow a phased approach to conducting their tests. Depending on their methods, this will usually begin with a reconnaissance phase in which information is gathered and potential target systems are identified. From there the computer network will be scanned (externally, internally or both, depending on the engagement) to examine it in more depth so as to identify any known vulnerabilities. If vulnerabilities are found, an attempt to exploit them may follow, and ultimately access may be gained. An ethical hacker would also attempt to break into system that dont necessarily have a known vulnerability, but are simply exposed. Ethical hackers will then document their work and capture evidence to report back to the client. Hopefully they will find any vulnerabilities first, before they are exploited by others with less beneficent aims. Becoming an ethical hacker Ethical hackers gain their skills mainly through experience. There are also many courses and certifications that teach ethical hacking, including the CREST Certified Tester, EC-Councils Certified Ethical Hacker, GIAC Penetration Tester and Offensive Security Certified Professional But these courses cant teach everything. Organisations can differ vastly from one another, and the way to penetration-test each organisation is different and by no means prescriptive. A good ethical hacker requires a great deal of skill and experience, not just the ability to blindly run a tool or script (also known as script kiddie). Ethical hackers, like any other hacker, may also venture into the dark web to gain intelligence and learn about new exploits. Asking for trouble One of the frustrations over this months ransomware attack on Microsofts Windows systems is that the software giant had already issued a patch in March, to protect PCs from this type of attack. Despite the warnings, several organisations had not installed the patch, and others were running old Windows XP systems that Microsoft stopped supporting back in 2014. Windows 2003 systems were also vulnerable, having been unsupported since 2015. This left these systems open to attack by ransomware known by a variety of names, including WannaCrypt and WannaCry. It encrypts files on infected systems, requiring a ransom for their unencryption. Avast Another attack It has now been revealed that the same vulnerabilities that allowed this ransomware to infect systems has allowed the spread of a new threat, the Adylkuzz Cryptocurrency Mining Malware. This ransomware is thought to have gone largely undetected until now because it isnt destructive. Instead, it mines a cryptocurrency called Monero, which can generate income for the attackers. Both outbreaks highlight the importance of practising diligent security and making sure that unsupported systems are upgraded or decommissioned. The majority of advice so far has focused on appropriate defences such as the Australian Signals Directorates Essential Eight. This covers issues such as patching, application white-listing, appropriate firewall configuration, and using vendor-supported platforms. But having a vigilant IT department that follows such guidance may not be enough. Some focus should be given to how an ethical hacker can be used to help protect organisations against malicious attacks. More than just an IT check This approach to using an ethical hacker differs from the traditional internal IT team approach, as the focus is shifted from a defensive to an offensive mindset. While the importance of solid defences cant be understated, augmenting this with ethical hacking can greatly increase the resilience of an organisations networks. This approach tests the effectiveness of the controls in place and may identify previously unknown exposures. But this approach is fairly limited to organisations. Engaging the services of an ethical hacker can cost tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the size of the job. A typical home user would not have the resources to hire such help. In that case, adequate security controls and awareness would still be the best way to stop many attacks. Microsofts Windows 10, for example, installs updates automatically, which cant be deferred like previous versions. Windows 8 and 10 also come with Windows Defender pre-installed. People should also make sure not to open suspicious emails, including those from unknown recipients. This will go a long way towards preventing infection. The future of hack attacks Telstras latest security report says that 59.6% of future potential attacks in Asia and 52.6% in Australia will be due to external hackers. These attackers will use vulnerabilities (known or unknown) to carry out their attacks. So there is merit in further research to determine how an ethical hacker can help organisations prevent attacks and infections from unknown vulnerabilities. The ability for a penetration test to identify vulnerabilities in advance before software vendors are aware and can release any patches would be invaluable. But there are certain ethical issues that need to be considered, given that an ethical hacker often needs to use questionable means, such as through the dark web. There is a fine line between what constitutes an ethical approach and an unethical one. Georg Thomas is completing his Doctorate at Charles Sturt University with a focus on ethical hacking. He is also a CISSP, CISM, C|EH, GIAC, MACS (Snr), CP, MCSE(Security) and is affiliated with the ACS, ISC2, ISACA, GIAC, and EC-Council. Originally published in The Conversation. (Maonakub/Bigstock.com) (Maonakub/Bigstock.com) More Chinese people are visiting Australia for a holiday or short term stay than ever before and they look set to overtake New Zealand as the nation's biggest overseas visitor market by the end of the year.But overall the number of short term visitors is slowing. The latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that they increased by just 0.1% in March compared with the previous month.However, at 712,800 numbers are still 6.5% higher than in March 2016 although a breakdown of the figures show that month on month the number of visitors from China was flat, while year on year they were up 7.9%.Australia is also seeing a growth in visitors from other Asian countries. Indeed the year on year growth is led by visitors from India with a rise of 11.6% compared to March 2016, a rise of 9.5% in Japanese visitors and a 3.6% rise from Malaysia, but there was a 2.2% fall in the number from Singapore.There was also a 10% year on year rise in visitors from Germany and an 8% rise in numbers from the United States. UK numbers were up by 4.9% and New Zealand up by 4%.Margy Osmond, chief executive of the Tourism and Transport Forum, pointed out that there are early signs that the pace of growth in visitor numbers is starting to cool but she still believes that those from China are set to overtake New Zealanders as the biggest group by the end of the year.'The rise and rise of the Chinese visitor market continues to be one of Australian tourism's great success stories,' she said, adding that in the period to March 2017, Australia welcomed 1.3 million Chinese visitors, an increase of 12.3% on March 2016 and just 100,000 fewer than New Zealand.There are concerns that tourism could be affected by a budget cut to Tourism Australia which will mean it receives $8.5 million less next year to spend on promoting Australia around the world.Osmond explained that while international visitors are up, growth is at its slowest pace for a year although she is confident that numbers will increase in the coming months, although the budget cut is a blow.'This will inevitably have a negative impact on growth in international visitor arrivals in the year ahead. This decision is a serious blow to the sector and the almost one million Australians with a job that is linked to tourism,' she added.The budget cut was announced as new research shows that 94% of Australians believe that international tourism is good for the country and 83% are proud of how Australia is promoted overseas.However, the research from Tourism Australia also found that 73% of Australians still underestimate the true value of the country's tourism industry with only 8% correctly identifying the sector as the nation's biggest export services earner. Spy pictures confirm that a faired version of the FZ25 is close at hand. The Fazer has been Yamahas moniker for the semi-faired versions of their naked roadsters a case in point (in India) being the Fazer FI, which is basically an FZ16 with an added half fairing and twin headlights. It was just a matter of time that Yamaha India gave the Fazer treatment to its latest FZ25 which launched earlier this year. And it seems that time is upon us as a few spy pictures have captured the Fazer 25 being tested. While it is clear that the spy pictures show a faired version of the Yamaha FZ25, theres no other information regarding whats really changed on the bike. Compared to the Fazer FI (150cc), the fairing of this bike seems to be a bit larger, extending into a belly pan as well. So, at first glance at least, this seems to be more of a full-fairing setup; a departure from the standard Fazer formula. Everything else seems to be kept as is from the FZ25. Just like all the Fazers before it, the mirrors have been fairing-mounted, and the standard handlebars have been carried over as well (no clip-ons here). The 14-litre fuel tank, tail section, wheels, brakes, and even the rear tyre hugger look identical to the naked version. Its safe to assume that this new Fazer will run a dual headlamp setup. The FZ25 is powered by a 249cc air-cooled, single-cylinder motor which runs fuel injection and makes 20.9hp of peak power at 8,000rpm and 20Nm of torque at 6,000rpm. It gets standard telescopic forks at the front, and a preload adjustable monoshock at the back. Braking duties are handled by a single, 282mm front disc and a 220mm rear disc. The Fazer 25 should run the exact same mechanical setup (engine, chassis, suspension, brakes) as the FZ25. The FZ25 has a kerb weight of 148kg and we expect the Fazer to tip the scales at about 4-5kg more, thanks to the added weight of the fairing. Theres no word on when the Fazer 25 will be hitting showrooms, but given the near-production ready nature of the bike in the spy pictures, we can assume that Yamaha is looking at a launch this festive season. There is also a slight possibility that this new faired bike might be christened as the Fazer 250. Given that the FZ25 costs Rs 1.20 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), expect the Fazer 25/250 to be priced around the Rs 1.30 lakh mark. Image source You dont always need perfect weather to enjoy a convertible, says Hormazd Sorabjee who drives the new A5 Cabriolet in a not-so-sunny Spain. Spain is a perfect country for convertibles thanks to its brilliant and predictable weather. But global warming and El Ninos antics have riled up the weather gods who bowl a googly every now and then. Its supposed to be dry and sunny with blue skies here in Jerez at the southern tip of Spain but instead, its cloudy, grey and a rather chilly 14deg C with an occasional drizzle. Not quite the perfect conditions to enjoy a convertible, but then again, the dismal weather couldnt quite spoil the party as I feared. Modern convertibles have come of age, an age of unpredictable weather and greater pampering demanded by their owners. They are no longer cars for cheery, sunny occasions but adept at all-weather, everyday use just like their hard-top counterparts. And thats exactly what the all-new Audi A5 Cabriolet has been designed to be. The A5 Cabriolets heated seats and unique neck warmer allowed me to enjoy top-down driving in everyday clothes. Im further protected from the icy wind with the wind deflector in place and all four windows powered up. This neatly flicks the breeze just above my head but I still catch a small draught, which gives me that wonderful, tingling, wind-in-your-hair experience that makes convertibles so desirable. And in case a dark, heavy cloud does decide to take a dump on me, all I have to do is slow down to below 50kph and a one-touch button (you dont even have to hold it down) folds the roof up in 18 seconds flat. This is particularly useful in unpredictable weather where sudden thundershowers catch you and theres no place to stop. The days of stopping under a bridge or a tree to frantically fold the roof are long gone. Todays convertible buyer will simply not accept such concessions. Open and Shut case The A5 Cabriolet is as modern as convertibles come, honed by 25 years of soft-top experience since the B3 Cabriolet, Audis first four-seat convertible to burst into the mainstream. Like the first-generation A5 (which never made it to India), the latest model is also available in coupe, five-door Sportback and Cabriolet body styles. Theres also the sporty S5 with an even more potent RS5 set to join the range later. Spun off the latest iteration of Audis MLB platform, the A5 is now 40kg lighter and stiffer than its predecessor, which should give it improved dynamics. Coming back to the A5 Cabriolet we are testing, its a particularly handsome car with clean lines and superb proportions. No doubt, its an Audi through and through which makes it similar to some of its brethren but what makes it refreshingly modern is some of the detailing in the design. The finely contoured headlights, a more three-dimensional grille and the sharp, wave-shaped shoulder line (synonymous with the A5 family) give a truly contemporary look. The A5 Cabriolet looks great even in side profile, with the soft-top up and down. The stubby boot gets a distinctive spoiler lip and the slender rear lights get LEDs. Another nice bit of detailing are the reflectors tucked into the rear skirt, which breaks the bulky rear. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Sixty four years after leaving high school, a Korean War veteran finally got his chance to walk across the stage and graduate. Korean War veteran receives high school diploma six decades later Marty Sullivan, 83, missed graduation to fight in Korean War Florida offers diplomas to eligible military vets Marty Sullivan, 83, received an honorary high school diploma Friday at Newsome High School's graduation. Sullivan missed his own graduation because he went to fight in the Korean War during his junior year of high school. Six decades later, Sullivan decided to fill out paperwork to receive an honorary high school diploma. "The service officer asked me if I wanted her to help me get my diploma, I was like, Okay, go ahead," Sullivan said. Once he put on the cap and gown and walked across the stage, Sullivan was happy he went through with it all. "When I got this in my hand, I said, 'Okay I guess it was worth it,'" Sullivan said as he showed off his diploma. Florida offers a high school diploma to any eligible military veteran who left high school to serve the country. Sullivan hoped other veterans would take advantage of getting their high school diplomas, too. "You got the opportunity and you don't take it, you a damn fool," Sullivan said. Life for a wildlife sanctuary owner is getting back to normal after he was severely injured in a fire last month while helping save a white rhinoceros. Rhino rescued from wildlife sanctuary fire reunites with caretaker Donovan Smith rescued Walter from fire at Ngala Wildlife Preserve RELATED: Naples zookeeper recovering after brush fire animal rescue A massive fire tore through the Ngala Wildlife Preserve in Collier County on Friday, April 21. All 45 animals made it out safely including Donovan Smiths beloved white rhinoceros, Walter, whom he saved himself. Smith suffered second-degree burns saving Walter and spent weeks in a hospital recovering. Now, Smith is back home on his preserve with the animals he loves and shared a happy reunion with Walter. Thats my rhino! Yeah! My boy! Good boy! Smith said during their reunion. It has been a month since the pair have seen each other. I just want to get in there and rub him, but I cant. I have to let my skin heal. Hes obviously been traumatized, too. Hes a little spooked, Smith said. Smith recently posted on his Facebook page saying life has gotten back to normal, but burn recovery is hard. He also mentions how much he has missed Walter. Its one of the most painful things I had ever been through, he said. Now, returning to the preserve, Smith said a lot has changed since the fire. Its almost like a flashback sense, but I know that Im safe and you know its I see through the damage, but it does hurt a little bit to see things not the way that they used to be, Smith said. Smith shed some skin from the burn, but he said he's also experienced a spiritual shedding. This has been a very, very humbling experience. Im broken and stuck in a bed, and the outpouring of love and support of total strangers has been uplifting and given me a lot of inspiration, he said. Smith plans to launch a new website, Living Wild with Donovan Smith, where people can keep up with his future adventures. Lakelands Gang Task Force held a celebratory march Thursday, marking the citys remarkable comeback from a few years back when gang violence plagued the city. Lakeland residents march, celebrate drop in gang violence Gang violence plagued city a few years ago 18 out of 45 shootings in 2014 were gang related In 2016, only one out of 18 was gang related During the Refuse to Lose March, more than 50 people screamed enough is enough throughout one of Lakelands northwest neighborhoods, near Jewell Ave. and 2nd Street. Its an area where back in 2014, gang violence prevailed. That year, Lakeland Police reported 45 shootingseight of which were fatal--and 18 of those were traced back to gangs. Police Chief Larry Giddens had just taken over the department back then. We knew we had some serious challenges, said Chief Larry Giddens. Its a time Lolita Berrien remembers all too well. A shooting in Webster Park caused a stray bullet to go through her home. Well it was scary thinking that if we had been home and my granddaughter had been home standing at the window. That was a frightening thought, said Lolita Berrien. After that, Lolita Berrien joined the newly created gang task force, led by Commissioner Phillip Walker. It was black on black crime. And it was getting worse. It wasnt getting better. So we as neighbors, and people and parents, and aunties and uncles needed to do something different. And that was to come together and see how we could make a difference, Berrien recalled. Many of the shootings happened in the northwest part of the city, where everybody knew everybody, and many were related. Berrien said word of mouth and bringing awareness through the pulpit helped fight the violence. We let it be known that things needed to be changed. The violence needed to stop, Berrien said. Gang task force member Pastor Mike Cooper, executive director of the Dream Center, said the quarterly neighborhood cleanups also helped reduce the violence. During one of them, he said a former gang member came to him, asking for help. Over a four month period, we developed a relationship, and finally he came to my office and said Pastor Mike, I cant, this is crazy. I cant do this anymore. He was moving from house to house living, always looking over his shoulder, recalled Pastor Mike Cooper. Pastor Cooper said he sent the man up north to get some help. Now, years later, he said the young man got his GED and is now headed to college. Just as that mans life has drastically changed, so have Lakelands crime stats. In 2016, Lakelands police department reported 18 shootings citywide, and only one of them gang related. This year, Chief Giddens said there have been three shootings, none gang related, and none fatal. That is over a 50 percent reduction in gang violence. In fact that is huge, Chief Giddens said. Even with the reduction, Chief Giddens said hes aware the gangs could easily return and cause chaos again. He said thats why theyre marching to send a message of non-violence, and remaining vigilant. A second grade Oklahoma teacher was arrested earlier this month for bringing syringes, heroin and methamphetamine into her classroom. The Holmes Park Elementary teacher, Megan Sloan, admitted she had pawned electronics belonging to the school and taken field trip money to buy drugs and gas. Beaumont ISD's board of managers voted Thursday to approve a $750,000 settlement agreement with the district's former auditor, Gayle Botley. BISD sued Botley in July 2015, alleging professional negligence and seeking more than $1 million. He was hired to complete several audits for the district, including annual 2010 and 2011 reports, as well as an audit of the 2007 bond issue, which he did not complete. In their initial petition, the district accused Botley of not detecting or notifying the district of "material deficiencies" that allowed people, including former employees, to steal from the district. Botley's attorney, Frank McElroy, declined to comment on the settlement agreement, citing ongoing litigation. The Texas State Board of Public Accountancy is still seeking to revoke Botley's certified public accountancy license through the State Office of Administrative Hearings. After multiple delays, the hearing in that case is set for June 26 through June 30 in Austin. The two biggest goals for ASC administrators are often improving efficiency and increasing revenue. In a recent webinar titled Is Your ASC as Efficient and Profitable as it Should Be? Ambulatory Surgical Centers of America Chief Development Officer Jeff Peo and Senior Vice President of Operations Jason Beam, RN, BSN, CASC, shared best practices for leading profitable ASCs. 1. Integrate a compressed schedule. One of the most impactful things administrators can do is integrate a compressed or vertical schedule. If a center has multiple ORs with an under utilized caseload, the ORs aren't being fully utilized. If an OR is underutilized, shut down that OR for one or more days per week to condense the number of active ORs. By taking this initiative, an administrator could reduce spending on staff. 2. Proper inventory management. Mr. Beam recommended administrators work with inventory managers to ensure proper inventory management. The inventory manager should only order the necessary supplies and negotiate with vendors for the lowest cost. A letter of commitment and contract compliance from the vendor can lower the cost even further. Mr. Beam said there's technology available that can help streamline inventory management. He said, "[The technology] has lowered the amount of time our managers had to spend on material management by half." 3. Keep a close eye on accounts receivable. Administrators should know the minute details of their accounts receivable Industrywide, the average AR return is 40 days. ASCOA centers are typically around 30 to 33 days, Mr. Beam said, although those numbers vary when taking Medicare cases into consideration. 4. Gain preauthorization and send claims out the door quickly. Mr. Beam stressed the importance of gaining preauthorization or precertification for patients before the day of surgery, and then sending the claim out within 48 hours. Technology has helped with the claim process; for dictation ASCOA prefers SourceMed's Command Health. The app improves EHR platforms to allow physicians to complete their case dictation electronically. 5. Staff the center appropriately. When utilizing a vertical OR schedule, every minute in a day should be in use. Whether it's a physician performing an operation or turning over an OR, Mr. Beam said if the center has staff waiting for an OR to open, he expects to see all available staff working to turn the rooms over 6. Start cases on time. Physicians who constantly starting late can bog down a center. If a physician has a 7 a.m. OR time slot but is consistently late, administrators can reiterate the importance of punctuality or move that physician to a different time block. "Late starts are detrimental for you especially if you're really compressing the schedule," Mr. Beam said. 7. Prevent cancellations. ASCOA expects to see less than 1 percent of its total case volume canceled. If a patient cancels the day of surgery, it can greatly impact the bottom line. 8. Perform case costing and benchmark profitability. Mr. Beam said centers should strive to achieve a profit margin of 40 percent, with medical supplies accounting for 25 percent of net revenue and payroll accounting for 28 to 30 percent. To help drive profitability, administrators can focus on case costing. ASOCA performs case costing on a monthly basis using a three month trailing data set and shares the information with physician owners. 9. Track overhead cost per minute. Overhead cost per minute is one of the most important tools an administrator has. Mr. Beam said as soon as he hands out the data, "Physicians start looking at this because they want to see where they stack up against their peers." Then the physicians can help administrators bring costs down. Mr. Beam recommends this formula to evaluate overhead cost per minute: Run a profits and loss report in an accrual basis for the month you are costing Subtract out the cost of drugs, supplies, implants and any interest, depreciation or amortization expenses. Divide that number by total operative minutes (time in the OR) per month 10. Recruit new physicians. Recruiting physicians can be an easy way to add in new revenue. Mr. Peo suggests administrators "always be recruiting." However, in most communities there are few unaffiliated physicians to pursue. Mr. Peo suggests ASCs seek out physicians near the end of their hospital contracts. Several physicians take contracts with hospitals near the beginning of their career, and the second contract is often less attractive. Administrators should approach these physicians to gauge interest in becoming an ASC owner or user. Mr. Peo says, "If you're not going to talk to them, other surgery centers will." 11. Add related specialties. Consider adding a specialty related to the cases already performed at the center. With a single specialty, administrators should work with physicians to bring in their colleagues. Administrators have to conduct a deep analysis when considering adding other specialties to ensure it's not a costly mistake, especially if the center would need to purchase new equipment. 12. Stay out-of-network as long as possible until the in-network contracts are right. Newly formed ASCs begin operations out-of-network until the administrator can negotiate in-network contracts. Established ASCOA centers are almost entirely in-network, but Mr. Beam warned administrators should not rush contract negotiations. Use the center's data to make sure the in-network contract will support the bottom line. Transitioning in-network from out-of-network contracts does significantly impact revenues, but established contracts and case volumes breed long term success. Listen to the webinar recording here. View the webinar's slides here. Nine leaders in the healthcare and IT space discuss artificial intelligence and how it will affect clinical care in the future. Larry Briski. Director in the West Monroe Partners Healthcare Practice: "Artificial intelligence will continue to rapidly advance and reshape the healthcare experience for patients over the next 20 to 30 years. The days of doctors using their own experience and education to diagnose issues will be long gone. In place, there will be medical technicians that work with patients to input symptoms, test results, and data from wearables into an AI-enabled system that determines an ailment based on hundreds of millions of data records. Based upon the latest medical advances, AI will help recommend the best treatments and treatment settings. Physicians will play the role of confirming a diagnosis, treatment plan and performing AI-enabled surgeries, which will require a different set of skills that adds technical training onto the traditional medical education." Alan Cudney. Principal Healthcare Consultant in SAS' HLS Global Practice: "Clinicians will use intelligent clinical decision support at the point of care, using data sources that are aggregated and integrated across the continuum of care. Healthcare organizations will employ predictive models that continuously re-evaluate illness burden and likelihood for clinical deterioration, stratifying according to need for intervention and assigning patients into specific categories of care management intervention. Healthcare consumer engagement models will continuously incorporate data feeds from social media, healthcare patient portals, credit card companies and drug stores in order to predict likelihood of increased healthy behaviors and engagement with clinical treatment plans. Medical supply companies will utilize artificial intelligence to predict future supply and demand needs for durable medical equipment at the facility level, across the entire service area. The model will continuously learn and adjust as new data arrives. Pharmaceutical companies will customize prescription drugs based upon understanding of individual DNA and likelihood of intended response. The predictive models will continuously optimize themselves as new clinical data comes in from hospitals and doctor offices." George Dealy. Vice President of Healthcare Applications of Dimensional Insight: "Within the next 20 to 30 years, providers will begin to have artificial intelligence capabilities right at their disposal, in most cases for the first time, where the technology will continue to improve over time. Clinicians will be able to receive advanced decision support for diagnosis and treatment and will be able to more accurately predict outcomes based on how an individual patient's profile matches a cohort of similar individuals. That means better care in the case of illness, but even more importantly, avoiding illness altogether where possible. The combination of increasingly comprehensive and timely population-wide data sets and artificial intelligence techniques will allow healthcare provider organizations to quickly identify and proactively respond to opportunities for care intervention. This will not only allow for more efficient care delivery, but for even greater success with population health initiatives. Perhaps the biggest advance from artificial intelligence will be individuals having more insight into, and control over, their own health. The precision medicine approach will allow for continuous feedback on various aspects of an individual's health based on genetic profiles, physical characteristics, social determinants and bio-feedback from personal monitoring devices." Simon Lorenz. Co-founder of Klara: "Stanford researchers predict that physicians will work together with 'automated reasoning assistant' AI systems that can translate the patient's symptoms in an input-output situation. The researchers also assert that human physicians will still be necessary to interpret and apply the data. The doctor-patient relationship will still be very important in understanding the holistic context around the symptoms. I predict that the introduction of AI will lead to higher patient retention for physicians, as they will move toward a more relationship-based form of care across the lifespan. One barrier for now is adoption. With AI being adopted and normalized in other areas (such as self-driving cars), consumers will become more comfortable with AI aspects in healthcare. Consumer adoption and behavior change are the barriers to these innovations, not necessarily effectiveness or quality of the technology." Richard Mammone, PhD. Founder of ClearView Diagnostics: "Today, much of the dialogue around AI in healthcare pertains to how the technology will end up replacing doctors and leave countless providers out of work. After working in the healthcare industry and AI for more than 20 years, I can tell you that this sentiment is 100 percent incorrect. AI is not now, nor should it ever be looked at as a technology to replace doctors. It should, however, be seen as something that can help providers spend more time with patients. At ClearView, we work with doctors at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, University Radiology Group, USC and UCLA and are finding that the technology can assist radiologists in diagnostic decision-making. With AI growing in popularity and use, we can also expect to see task shifting occur in the healthcare space. Today, diagnosis is a task predominately done by radiologists but with AI technology other professionals like nurses and medical assistants will be able to screen patients, expanding their overall skillset. With more high-level tasks to perform their pay scale will go up while at the same time freeing up time for radiologists to spend more time with the patients who need it most." Matt Michelson. Chief Scientist of Inferlink Corp.: "As AI matures, it will begin to take over a number of the more tedious and administrative tasks, freeing doctors and nurses to focus on what AI can't do, namely the humane side of healthcare. Basically, any task where a human is trained by looking at examples, the AI will eventually be able to do. This could be providing clinical support for treatment or diagnosis using evidence mined from the literature, reading labs and imaging studies, and shifting treatment based on personalized information from the EMR. As AI systems mature, they will branch into more sophisticated endeavors, perhaps more robust robotic surgery, administration of medications and routine checks of vital signs (imagine the bed, toilet and other patient-touching items being equipped with sensors and AI to communicate and make sense of it all). However, an AI can't comfort you, explain your condition and treatment with compassion, or provide the human touch of a nurse. So, I view the AI as a companion, removing the tedium and potential for error, and freeing doctors and nurses to focus on the patient-centered pieces of healthcare." Jack Stockert, MD. Managing Director, Strategy and Business Development at Health2047: "In the next 20 years, we'll see AI playing a vital role in the practice of medicine. Some folks like to use a turn of phrase and call it Intelligent Augmentation, but this is too cute and undermines the point of the technology. The value is to think about how AI can be leveraged in all areas of care delivery. It won't be a replacement for the doctor or nurse no one wants Dr. Robot for those complex issues and questions. Rather, AI will be a tool to radically change the productivity of care delivery teams. Healthcare is evolving to a more continuous model to tackle the unprecedented chronic disease epidemic. Employing AI in cognitive learning can push levels of mastery in understanding and decision making, transforming how doctors deliver care and individuals live their lives. This effort is not without its challenges. Two important ones to consider: 1) engaging with physicians in design and product development, and 2) training a new workforce of physicians and support staff. Related to the first, in addition to technical training for hospital systems and physicians, incorporating physicians into the innovation process from the very beginning ensures that the innovations compliment and shape existing workflows. As it relates to training, the growing workforce must be able to engage, audit and manage algorithms and AI that are supporting care." Rana el Kaliouby, PhD. Co-founder and CEO of Affectiva: "Doctors today have a variety of tools to capture physical health conditions, measuring base vital signs like blood pressure when patients first enter their office. But, despite the fact that the healthcare community has recognized mental health and emotions as crucial components of overall well-being, mental health is still subject to self-reporting, creating a gap when it comes to capturing emotion data. With recent developments in Emotion Artificial Intelligence technology and facial emotion recognition platforms, patients and doctors are now able to capture emotion data, and quantify mental health. As Emotion AI continues to mature, emotion data will increasingly play a role in diagnoses and personalized treatment plans, enabling doctors to gain a more holistic view of patients' physical and mental health. The implications of Emotion AI in healthcare span beyond in-person patient/doctor interactions, as healthcare providers can leverage the technology to get real-time feedback through video communication on the emotional state of remote patients. And, by digitally tracking facial expressions of emotion between doctor visits, patients can flag if they deviate from their norm." Matt Sanchez. Founder and CTO of CognitiveScale: "As chronic conditions add $2.4 trillion to annual healthcare costs and providers struggle with a deluge of patient data, the priority for healthcare providers will be to extract actionable insights from data, improving health outcomes for patients, and creating the software infrastructure for a broad shift to a continuous care model. Cognitive healthcare providers like doctors and hospitals that use what we call 'augmented intelligence' systems can deliver better outcomes by using this intelligence to interpret multi-structured big data and declared, observed and inferred user behaviors to weave knowledge and learning across the organization. This could mean using cognitive insights to deliver improved care, prevent avoidable hospitalizations and better manage chronic illnesses. Doctors, for example, would be able to infer from the cognitive insights which of their patients are at the highest risk for hospitalization for an asthma attack due to an upcoming weather pattern. The doctor would then be able to reach out to those patients to let them know the things they can do to improve their chances of staying healthy in the coming days. In the same vein, the hospital would be able to infer that usually when this type of weather hits, around 15 patients come into the ER for treatment. They can be adequately staffed and prepared with the right supplies to minimize drain on hospital resources." Neil Price, MD, Elizabeth Lindsey, MD and Mark Miller, MD, formed GastroIntestinal Health Partners, The Wilson Post reports. Here's what you should know. 1. The practice has offices in Lebanon, Tenn. and Nashville, Tenn. 2. The three physicians were former partners in Nashville (Tenn.) Medical Group. They left the practice after hospital officials told them they could no longer contract with the practice. NMG wanted to hire them as full-time employees instead. 3. Dr. Price told The Wilson Post, "Upon much reflection, we decided that while the model of being employees of Saint Thomas is a good option for our internal medicine partners, it is not the best model for our specialty, for our patients or for us personally. We believe we can provide better, more personal care for our patients in an independent setting." 4. The physicians will perform procedures at Nashville (Tenn.) Endo Surgery Center and Lebanon (Tenn.) Endoscopy Center. Mayo Clinic is instituting a new policy under which employees at the Rochester, Minn., campus are required to fly out of the local airport operated by the health system when traveling for work, whereas physicians and scientists are "strongly encouraged to utilize" it, according to a Post Bulletin report. Mayo estimates that roughly 20 percent of its traveling employees have opted to use Rochester International Airport, while the remainder flies out of the Twin Cities. The Rochester airport is owned by the city but managed by Mayo under contract. The health system did not specify how many employees fly for work each year, according to the Post Bulletin. In 2015, Mayo Clinic recorded 2,289 staff physicians and scientists based in Rochester, along with 1,899 residents and fellows and 30,374 allied clinic and hospital staff. The policy change comes just before the airport expands its flight options, as Delta and United airlines expand their offerings. The airport will soon go from capacity of 400 seats on eight daily flights to 700 seats on 14 flights a day. CMS issued a final rule Thursday that further delays implementation of cardiac care bundled payment initiatives and expansion of the existing Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement model. Here are four things to know about the final rule. 1. The final rule delays the start of the cardiac rehabilitation payment model and mandatory bundled payment programs for heart attacks and bypass surgeries and the expansion date of the CJR model from Oct. 1, 2017, until Jan. 1, 2018. 2. This is the second time CMS has delayed the new programs and the CJR expansion. In March, the agency pushed back the effective date for the programs from July 1, 2017, until Oct. 1, 2017. 3. CMS said further delay of the start dates will help ensure it has enough time for notice and comment rulemaking if modifications are made to the payment models. "This would ensure that, in the case of any policy changes, participants would have a clear understanding of the governing rule before episodes begin and have the opportunity to take additional steps to adjust to any potential changes that may be effectuated," states the final rule. 4. The programs are all part of a final rule CMS issued in December. At that time, the American Hospital Association expressed concern about the pace of change, saying the final rule was "too much, too soon." More articles on healthcare finance: How CHS, Tenet, UHS, LifePoint and HCA fared in Q1 8 hospitals with strong finances 6 hospitals receive credit downgrades in past month University of Chicago Medicine and Google will join forces to investigate how historical patient data stored in EHRs can improve future health outcomes. The UChicago Medicine project will leverage machine learning to predict hospital readmission. The collaboration will unite researchers with predictive modeling expertise from UChicago Medicine's Center for Healthcare Delivery Science and Innovation and its Center for Research Informatics with machine-learning tools developed by Google researchers. "Traditional tools of epidemiology and statistics simply can't use free text or images to create predictive algorithms that could alert physicians and nurses about patients' risks for problems," said Michael Howell, MD, director of the Center for Healthcare Delivery Science and Innovation. "But together with Google, we can." UChicago Medicine is the latest institution to join Google's research on predictive models in healthcare, following Stanford (Calif.) University and UC San Francisco. Stay in the know with Becker's Hospital Review's weekly roundup of the nation's biggest healthcare news. Here's what you need to know this week. 1. Steward Health Care to acquire IASIS Healthcare Boston-based Steward Health Care has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Franklin, Tenn.-based IASIS Healthcare. Under the deal, Steward will become the largest private for-profit hospital operator in the U.S. with 36 hospitals across 10 states, managed care operations in Arizona, Utah and Massachusetts and projected revenues of nearly $8 billion in 2018, the first year of consolidated operations. 2. HHS delays 340B drug program regulations HHS on Thursday delayed a regulation preventing drug companies from overcharging hospitals under the 340B drug discount program. The 340B drug pricing program, enacted in 1992, ensures hospitals treating a large proportion of low-income patients can buy drugs from manufacturers at a discount of 20 to 50 percent. About one-third of U.S. hospitals or 2,000 participate in the program, purchasing about $12 billion in discounted drugs in 2015, according to The Washington Post. 3. Quorum Health seeks to sell 6 more hospitals Brentwood, Tenn.-based Quorum Health, the 35-hospital spinoff of Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems, is focused on restructuring its portfolio to improve financial performance. 4. DHS: Fewer than 10 US organizations reported 'WannaCry' ransomware infection Although the 'WannaCry' ransomware attack has infected more than 300,000 computers in 150 countries since May 12, organizations in the U.S. were largely spared, according to Reuters. 5. CHS names new CFO Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems named Thomas Aaron executive vice president and CFO. 6. 'Save Copper Basin Medical Center!!': Rural hospital seeks to raise $100,000 on GoFundMe Within 10 days as of May 16, a rural critical access hospital in Copperhill, Tenn., has halted inpatient care, laid off at least 15 nurses and activated a GoFundMe page in hopes to raise $100,000. 7. Police investigate fatal shooting of armed inmate at Delnor Hospital State and county police are investigating the fatal shooting of Tywon Salters, an inmate who stole a correctional officer's gun and held two nurses hostage May 13 at Geneva, Ill.-based Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital, reports Daily Herald. 8. Partners, GE Healthcare launch 10-year AI-focused partnership Boston-based Partners HealthCare and GE Healthcare have entered into a decade-long collaboration to develop and integrate artificial intelligence and deep learning technology across the healthcare continuum. 9. Idaho woman detained in Mexican hospital for 4 days over $30k medical bill 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. 10. Healthcare execs expect value-based care to disrupt industry more than science in decade ahead C-level executives and investors from across the healthcare industry rank pricing and reimbursement as the No. 1 strategic pressure facing the healthcare industry today, according to a survey from consulting firm Lazard. 11. Gallup: Percentage of Americans naming healthcare as No. 1 problem surges A recent Gallup poll, found the greatest proportion of American adults 18 percent believe healthcare is the biggest problem facing the country. The same proportion of respondents cited "dissatisfaction with government/poor leadership," as the nation's biggest issue. A survey from Consumer Reports turned up similar findings, with healthcare accounting for the most often-cited issue for American consumers. Medical staff at Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Lutheran Health Network is showing support for a sale of Lutheran from Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems, reports The News-Sentinel. In a position endorsed by about 100 physicians, medical staff said it supports a sale because it does not have confidence in CHS to "make decisions that are in the best interests of our patients, staff and community. While CHS has owned Lutheran for the past 10 years, Lutheran medical staff said "the relationship . . . is not reconcilable," according to the report. The Lutheran physicians said in a statement they "urge the board of CHS to immediately work with our physicians to determine a suitable partner for the purchase of Lutheran Health Network. Time is critical and any further connection to CHS will harm our organization," reports The News-Sentinel. Physicians also said they have full confidence in Lutheran CEO Brian Bauer and remain committed to their jobs. The physicians' remarks come amid a local physician group's proposed acquisition of Lutheran. The proposed acquisition of Lutheran would include RediMed clinics and other facilities. Lutheran also recently announced it will pursue a multiyear $500 million capital investment plan for nearly all of its facilities. James Cameron, MD, Lutheran Hospital chief of staff, said while be believes the announcement was sincere, he would "like to see that [plan] accelerated from over five or six years to one or two," reports The News-Sentinel. The publication has noted it is unclear how or if a change in ownership would affect the $500 million capital investment plan. CHS has not commented on the proposed sale to The News-Sentinel. In an emailed statement to Becker's Hospital Review earlier this week, Tomi Galin, senior vice president of corporate communications and marketing at CHS, said CHS does not generally comment on potential acquisition or divestiture activity. However, "we remain very focused on the long-term success of Lutheran Health Network," she said. "We are very excited about the $500 million capital plan announced last week and the opportunity to make a transformative investment that will enhance patient care and expand health services in Fort Wayne, as well as bring jobs and other economic benefit to the community." Under outcomes-based medicine, healthcare providers are under growing pressure to demonstrate to the purchasers of care patients, payers and employers that they can deliver high-quality clinical services at an affordable and competitive price. To accomplish this, some organizations are targeting "wasteful spending" in their clinical service lines, or spending not associated with improved quality or patient outcomes. Unnecessary testing, over-testing, duplicative services and other low-value care represent a substantial opportunity for healthcare providers to reduce costs and improve patient health across their enterprise. Combining and analyzing clinical, financial and operational data can help organizations pinpoint opportunities to reduce or eliminate low-value care. However, implementing a robust analytics program can be cost-prohibitive and impractical for organizations facing capital constraints or interoperability issues, limiting the amount of data they can access. This content is sponsored by HealthTrust. To overcome these barriers, hospitals are seeing value in partnering with group purchasing organizations to leverage their extensive data and reduce avoidable utilization of healthcare services, products and advanced technologies. The cost of avoidable utilization Unnecessary medical services fuels a large portion of wasteful healthcare spending. In 2012, the Institute of Medicine released a report stating 30 percent of total healthcare spending in the U.S. or $750 billion is wasted on unnecessary healthcare services. Avoidable utilization carries repercussions for patients' wellbeing. When a physician orders excessive testing or treatments that offer little proven benefit, the cost of care increases while patient health remains unchanged, or in worst case scenarios, is actually harmed. Studies have found low-value care is prevalent in the U.S. healthcare system. A 2014 study of Medicare claims data revealed between 25 percent and 42 percent of Medicare patients received at least one of 26 test or treatments that scientific and professional organizations have consistently determined to have no benefit to patient health. With such drastic effects on both finances and patient care, reducing unneeded healthcare services is a top priority for many healthcare leaders. The Advisory Board's most recent Annual Health Care CEO Survey, which investigated the top concerns of 183 C-suite executives across the nation, found 49 percent of executives are worried about controlling avoidable utilization a 5 percent increase from the year prior. CEOs ranked the issue their fifth-highest concern out of 26 topics in 2017. Hospital CEOs are not the only ones concerned about the overuse of medical services. The American College of Physicians cites high rates of unneeded care, as well as the use of unnecessary technology, as major drivers of healthcare spending. In fact, the organization's top recommendation for achieving cost savings is to "reduce avoidable, ineffective and duplicate use of services including technology that does not improve patient care and encourage clinically effective care based on comparative effectiveness research and implementation of information technology," according to an ACP whitepaper on controlling healthcare costs. Hospitals can use cost, outcomes and reimbursement data to support outside clinical evidence and drive insights that help inform clinical decision making, reduce unnecessary patient care and enhance clinical value. Clinical analysis allows clinicians to better understand the benefits and outcomes of various procedures and services for specific patient populations. Once these outcomes are understood, clinicians can tailor treatment plans to ensure the best care possible, delivered in the most efficient manner. Defining the data challenge To create a clear picture of value, hospital systems must be able to quickly and efficiently combine the data they collect and manage on a daily basis clinical, financial and operational and use it to understand processes and drive insight. This allows clinicians to see which products they're using for what procedures and patients, along with associated outcomes, so they can compare the total costs of care to its effectiveness. Once health systems identify inefficient or ineffective patient care methods, they can implement appropriate use criteria or initiate a usage monitoring process to ensure the patients who will benefit most from the product or treatment are the ones receiving it. To determine the cost effectiveness of their clinical care, hospitals must have analytics technology, data scientists and governance processes in place to extract meaning from the data, according to Michael Schlosser, MD, CMO of HealthTrust, a Nashville, Tenn.-based group purchasing organization serving more than 1,600 hospitals and more than 26,000 ancillary sites. Specifically, they need access to information on product cost, technology costs, use rates and clinical outcomes of specific products and services. Since GPOs have access to a much larger amount of data than an individual hospital does, these organizations are a helpful resource for information to drive change. GPOs also have the tools and expertise necessary to extract meaning from the clinical evidence and data by evaluating its potential value, biases or flaws. While this type of data analysis is still very much a manual process, leading GPOs seek to automate and centralize the process to vet evidence, look at new technology and share the information with member hospitals on a regular basis. On the other hand, healthcare organizations that try to gain information about cost effectiveness from other sources, such as product vendors and government agencies, face three key challenges, according to Dr. Schlosser. 1. Vendors aren't required to analyze cost effectiveness "Peer-reviewed studies and professional or regulatory guidelines often lack the types of data healthcare organizations are looking for, which is the cost-effectiveness data that ties economic and clinical impact together," he says. The technology and products introduced in healthcare settings are largely driven by vendors who encourage surgeons to constantly push the envelope by using the latest and greatest devices, says Dr. Schlosser. Since the Food and Drug Administration does not require companies to complete cost-effectiveness studies prior to product approval, vendors place little focus on this information. "It's up to physicians to hold vendors responsible for demonstrating how the new technology affects the overall value of the care they deliver," Dr. Schlosser said. 2. Scientific data is not real-world data The FDA offers several different pathways for products to earn approval, and each requires different levels of science, says Lynn Tarkington, RN, assistant vice president of physician and clinical services at HealthTrust. While the agency is constantly trying to innovate the way it evaluates and approves new technologies, products don't always follow the best regulatory pathways to produce valuable data for hospitals. "Sometimes clinical trials can be so scientific, they are not translatable to day-to-day practice," says Ms. Tarkington. "It's not always the right data to inform proper utilization where cost and reimbursement balances out for any given technology." The FDA requires companies to conduct randomized clinical trials, where most of the variables are controlled by researchers. However, when the product is used in a real-world setting, none of the variables are controlled, and clinicians use the technology to treat various patients with different conditions. So while it's necessary to study products in a controlled fashion by a clinical trial, it's also important to ensure quick follow-up on data that reflects real-world practice and application, according to Marcus Dortch, PharmD, HealthTrust's senior director of clinical pharmacy services. 3. Data can be overwhelming Healthcare organizations must sift through mountains of data from both clinical studies and their own cost, reimbursement, supply chain and patient outcomes data. The data can present itself in many different fashions and forms, and there is not always a clear link from one data set to another, says Mr. Dortch. With such high volume and variation in the data, it's often difficult to differentiate between what information serves as helpful evidence for a healthcare organization and what information is just disguised as clever marketing. "Some people can't distinguish the difference between the two," he says. "And then there are people who abuse and mislead the people who confuse the two." Since data analysis can prompt as many questions as answers, hospitals must ensure they have the right talent to transform data into usable information for clinicians, whether they rely on an in-house data scientist or an external partner, says Ms. Tarkington. Harnessing the power of data GPOs can help healthcare organizations study, understand and provide high-value care by helping them measure utilization and cost data against clinical outcomes. 1. Finding the right talent. It's sometimes difficult for hospitals to find someone with the right skills and mindset to take multiple data sets and transform them into usable information for the hospital, says Ms. Tarkington. If hospitals don't want to hire one or more full time equivalents to internally analyze the data, they can also use third party information sources that independently review the evidence and share their findings with the hospitals. Some healthcare organizations are building on their traditional relationship with GPOs by partnering with them to study clinical and financial data together to determine care value. "Since GPOs are making decisions on physician preference items and the contracting strategies for these products, it only makes sense the end users have a central role in how those decisions are made," says Dr. Schlosser. HealthTrust's Physician Advisors Program allows GPOs and physicians from member hospitals to partner to examine product data, financial data and clinical data together. Physicians can provide clinical feedback on contracted products and also help develop new ways to combine data sets, study the products and understand patient outcomes. "This is a process they should have been involved in since the beginning," says Dr. Schlosser. 2. Looking for outliers and trends. GPOs also offer large scale registries big selections of real-world data which serve as another valuable tool for informing better utilization. "Aggregating hundreds of hospitals and looking at their purchase data and clinical outcomes data can provide unique insight into which products are adding value and which are not," says Dr. Schlosser. "It's not just because of the size of the data, but because of the real-world setting those products can be used in." Large data sets can also help identify usage trends, pinpoint outliers and show whether the actual patient outcomes matched the provider's expectations. Conclusion "Data is an asset to a healthcare organization, and you have to treat it like such," says Dr. Schlosser. Data analysis is crucial for hospitals to know not just the individual price of a service or item, but to understand how much it costs and how effective it is for patients. Healthcare leaders cannot have beneficial conversations with their clinicians or improve patient outcomes if they don't understand their costs, especially in the age of bundled payments. Ultimately, the hospitals that see data as an asset, rather than an overwhelming burden, will be most successful in reducing costs and achieving clinically effective and efficient care. A study published in the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery examines implant survival rate for minimally invasive anterior or anterolateral hip surgery with the conventional posterior or direct lateral approach. The study authors gathered data from the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register that included 21,860 total hip arthroplasties with an uncemented stem. There were 2,017 surgeries through the minimally invasive anterior approach; 2,087 through the minimally invasive anterolateral approach; 5,961 through the posterior approach and 11,795 through the direct lateral approach. All the procedures were preformed from 2008 to 2013. The study authors found: 1. There wasn't a significant difference between approach in the two- and five-year survival rates. The relative risk of revision rates were also similar between the groups. 2. For the minimally invasive approaches, the relative risk of revision after infection was 0.53, compared to 0.57 for the posterior approach compared to the direct lateral. 3. For the posterior approach compared to the direct lateral approach, the relative risk of revision due to dislocation was 2.1. There wasn't a significant risk difference when comparing the minimally invasive approaches to the direct lateral approach. 4. The study authors concluded, "The revision rates and risk of revision associated with the MIS anterior and anterolateral approaches were not increased compared with those of the conventional posterior and direct lateral approaches." To continue following the latest news and information for Bedfordshire and surrounding areas, simply enter your full postcode below Belfast Harbour chief executive Roy Adair is to step down from his post after 12 years. It is now actively recruiting Mr Adair's replacement for the top role, which he will vacate next year. Mr Adair previously held positions with Rothmans International, Flexibox International and the Northern Ireland Quality Centre, where he was the organisation's first chief executive. "With the planned retirement of the current chief executive in 2018, the Board of Belfast Harbour Commissioners is seeking to appoint a highly experienced and accomplished professional to lead the organisation along its continued programme of strategic investment and growth," Belfast Harbour said. The Harbour and its port customers now handle 70% of Northern Ireland's seaborne trade and around 20% of the entire island's. During his period in charge of the business, Mr Adair has overseen growth in port trade activities and the expansion of the property side of the business which has seen the City Quays development emerge along the waterfront, delivering grade A office space. A senior doctor will today deliver an ultimatum to Northern Ireland's politicians, telling them to "work with us or work against us". Dr Tom Black's intervention follows months of uncertainty over a proposed funding package that would help alleviate the crisis in general practice, and the move towards a system where GP services would have to be delivered outside the NHS. Dr Black, Northern Ireland's GP leader, is due to make the comments at the annual Local Medical Committee (LMC) conference in Edinburgh, which is attended by doctors from across the UK. He is expected to tell delegates: "The healthcare system in Northern Ireland needs reform, and plans for reform were agreed before Christmas with civil servants and the previous Health Minister. "Unfortunately we have since suffered a collapse of our political structures and we have no Assembly, no Executive and no budget. "We have found that the only thing worse than having politicians is having no politicians. "We need to see an investment in general practice of an additional 120m to bring us up to the level of spending in the GP Forward View." In his speech, Dr Black is set to make clear that the pressure GPs were under has pushed them to the current position, and that they would prefer to continue to work within the NHS. He will say: "Let me be crystal clear; GPs in Northern Ireland are imbued with the values and principles of the NHS and do not want to leave the NHS to adopt private practice provision. "GPs in Northern Ireland want to stay and work in the NHS in a system where patients receive a universal service, free at the point of need, funded by taxation. We will do this through the twin track approach of offering our co-operation to implement the transformation of the health service in Northern Ireland, transformation that's planned and needed but also by preparing to leave the NHS to protect and preserve a high quality service for our community." Dr Black is expected to refer to "difficult and dangerous times fraught with risks and challenges". He will say: "On behalf of NIGPC (Northern Ireland General Practitioners Committee) let me throw down this challenge to the incoming Minister for Health in Northern Ireland: Work with us or work against us. "(It's) your choice, but be clear - we will protect the GP service for patients in Northern Ireland at all costs, even if this means leaving the NHS." Speaking at the opening of the conference yesterday, Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chair of the BMA's UK-wide General Practitioners Committee, gave his support for colleagues here. Dr Nagpaul said: "I'd like to make special mention of the plight of our colleagues in Northern Ireland, facing a lack of functioning government, hung out to dry with no signs of investment, strategy or support, and to say that the rest of UK GPs are completely behind you in your actions to protect yourselves and patients." Delegates from across the UK will debate and vote on a motion calling on an incoming Executive to invest in general practice by at least the equivalent investment that has been made in England, Scotland and Wales. Theresa May was accused of running scared after dodging a TV debate with the leaders of rival parties. Both the Prime Minister and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn turned down the invitation to take part in the ITV Leaders' Debate in Salford. As the debate got under way, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn tweeted: "Theresa May, why not debate me? "The public deserve to see a debate between the only two people who could form the next government." .@Theresa_May, why not debate me? The public deserve to see a debate between the only two people who could form the next government. #GE2017 pic.twitter.com/dUNfmjj6Mu Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) May 18, 2017 Scottish First Minister and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, Liberal Democrat chief Tim Farron, Ukip's Paul Nuttall, Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood and Green co-leader Caroline Lucas showed up for the prime time debate. Ms Wood challenged Mrs May over her decision to miss the debate, using her opening statement to say: "I have a message for the Prime Minister, who I'm sure is watching tonight. "You may be too scared to come here tonight, for your U-turns to be highlighted, for your cruel policies to be exposed. You want this election to only be about Brexit because that means you avoid talking about the real issues like the NHS, the economy and the cuts you have made to our public services. "That's weak leadership - weak and unstable. "I hope all of us here tonight will show you that real leadership means being willing to defend what you stand for, not hide from it." Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close ITV presenter Julie Etchingham joins leader of the Green Party Caroline Lucas, leader of the Liberal Democrats Tim Farron, leader of Plaid Cymru Leanne Wood, leader of Ukip Paul Nuttall and leader of the SNP Nicola Sturgeon for The ITV Leaders Debate on May 18, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Matt Frost/ITV via Getty Images) ITV via Getty Images EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO MERCHANDISING. NOT TO BE USED AFTER JUNE 17 Handout photo issued by ITV of Darryl White asking the first question during The ITV Leaders' Debate, a live two-hour debate programme before the General Election. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday May 18, 2018. Photo credit should read: ITV/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. PA EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO MERCHANDISING. NOT TO BE USED AFTER JUNE 17 Handout photo issued by ITV of Ukip leader Paul Nuttall during The ITV Leaders' Debate, a live two-hour debate programme before the General Election. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday May 18, 2018. Photo credit should read: ITV/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. PA EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO MERCHANDISING. NOT TO BE USED AFTER JUNE 17 Handout photo issued by ITV of Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood during The ITV Leaders' Debate, a live two-hour debate programme before the General Election. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday May 18, 2018. Photo credit should read: ITV/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. PA EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO MERCHANDISING. NOT TO BE USED AFTER JUNE 17 Handout photo issued by ITV of presenter Julie Etchingham during The ITV Leaders' Debate, a live two-hour debate programme before the General Election. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday May 18, 2018. Photo credit should read: ITV/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. PA EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO MERCHANDISING. NOT TO BE USED AFTER JUNE 17 Handout photo issued by ITV of Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas during The ITV Leaders' Debate, a live two-hour debate programme before the General Election. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday May 18, 2018. Photo credit should read: ITV/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. PA EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO MERCHANDISING. NOT TO BE USED AFTER JUNE 17 Handout photo issued by ITV of Liberal Democrats leader Tim Farron during The ITV Leaders' Debate, a live two-hour debate programme before the General Election. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday May 18, 2018. Photo credit should read: ITV/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. PA EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO MERCHANDISING. NOT TO BE USED AFTER JUNE 17 Handout photo issued by ITV of SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon during The ITV Leaders' Debate, a live two-hour debate programme before the General Election. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday May 18, 2018. Photo credit should read: ITV/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp ITV presenter Julie Etchingham joins leader of the Green Party Caroline Lucas, leader of the Liberal Democrats Tim Farron, leader of Plaid Cymru Leanne Wood, leader of Ukip Paul Nuttall and leader of the SNP Nicola Sturgeon for The ITV Leaders Debate on May 18, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Matt Frost/ITV via Getty Images) Ms Lucas used her opening statement to insist the UK can cope with the serious challenges it faces. "Never in my lifetime has our future felt so uncertain. Brexit, climate change, an NHS in crisis," she said. "But when people come together and reach for a bigger future, we have shown we can change the course of history." Ms Sturgeon said only her party can provide a strong Scottish opposition to a Tory government in Westminster committed to an "extreme" Brexit. She added: "The next few years will determine the kind of country we become. We need strong opposition holding a Tory government to account, keeping them in check and standing up for the values we hold dear: values of social justice, tolerance and community. "The more seats the SNP wins on June 8, the stronger Scotland's voice will be." Ukip leader Paul Nuttall said only his party is "truly committed to the Brexit that people voted for" in last year's referendum. Only his party is committed to cutting immigration and slashing the foreign aid budget "that is costing you, the British taxpayer, around 30 million every single day", he added, promising extra funding for the NHS instead. "Brexit would never have happened if it wasn't for Ukip," he said. "We have taken you so far. Elect Ukip MPs and give us the tools to see this through." 'Extreme Brexit' Mr Farron said he is determined to stop the return of a "heartless Conservative government". He warned: "Theresa May - backed by Nigel Farage and Jeremy Corbyn - is going for an extreme Brexit deal that will damage our future for generations." Insisting "a brighter future is possible", he added: "Don't give up. The Britain I love is not lost yet." The leaders soon clashed over Brexit, with Ms Lucas issuing a challenge to the Ukip leader on holding a final vote on the negotiated deal. She also hit out at Labour, which she said "basically gave them (the Tories) a lift to the bank" to cash "a blank cheque" on Brexit. Mr Nuttall insisted Ukip still has a role to play, adding: "I don't believe that she (Theresa May) will get the best deal possible for Britain, I believe she will begin to backslide. "I think she will backslide on fisheries, I think she will sell out fishermen once again like a former Tory prime minister did in Ted Heath. "I think there will be some sort of dodgy deal over freedom of movement as well and I think she will capitulate and we will pay a divorce bill." Ms Wood said Wales had been disregarded after Brexit, saying: "Gibraltar has had more attention than Wales has had, so it's vital we have a strong team of Plaid Cymru MPs to advocate for Wales's national interests and to make sure that the Tories don't get away with an extreme Brexit that would cause serious harm for many people in many communities throughout the UK." Ms Sturgeon said people should unite against the pursuit of a "hard, extreme Brexit" which she claimed would hit more than 80,000 jobs in Scotland. 'Big world' Mr Nuttall said there was a "big world out there" beyond the EU to trade with, including "the Anglosphere and the Commonwealth". "This is where our future lies," he said. As he clashed with Ms Wood he got her name wrong, calling her "Natalie" - the Plaid Cymru leader shot back: "I'm not Natalie, I'm Leanne." Paul Nuttall has called two of the three women on the panel Natalie. None of them are called Natalie. #itvleadersdebate Daniel Hewitt (@DanielHewittITV) May 18, 2017 Second referendum Mr Farron, whose party is committed to a second referendum, said: "Somebody will sign off that deal, it will either be the politicians or the people. I trust the people." Ms Lucas defended the "huge contribution" made by immigrants: "Those people in our country are our lovers, they are our families, they are our plumbers, our doctors. "They make a vital contribution to our society and the idea that we are going to be a better off society by closing the door to immigrants is just clearly wrong." But Mr Nuttall said there were "simply too many people coming to the country" with the equivalent of the population of Newcastle added to the population last year. Ms Sturgeon said: "The hard reality is our economy needs migration from the EU. In Scotland alone, EU migrants contribute 7 billion every year." She added: "Public services are under pressure. That's not the fault of migrants, that is the fault of the austerity agenda pursued by the Tories." NHS On the NHS, Ms Wood said health and social care should be considered together, but more funding is needed. "The wealthiest in society should stump up a bit more," she said. Mr Nuttall blamed immigration for placing pressures on the health service and promised a funding boost by cutting foreign aid from the current 0.7% of gross national income target to a 0.2% level. Ms Lucas said the Greens would take the private sector out of the NHS and divert funds from the Trident nuclear deterrent to the health service. "We think it's a no-brainer to use those funds to look after people rather than to create more weapons of mass destruction," she said. Mr Farron spoke of his mother's death from ovarian cancer and said it is "time politicians were honest with the British people that there needs to be more money, and if there is going to be more money then we will all have to pay for it". The Lib Dems would put 1p on income tax to raise 30 billion over the next five years to invest in the NHS and social care. Ms Sturgeon said the SNP has increased the Scottish health budget by 40% and has integrated health and social care. But "needless Tory cuts and austerity" are putting the NHS at risk, she warned. Social care Moving on to social care, Ms Wood said it was time to "stop the squabbling" over NHS and council budgets so patients could be put first. Mr Nuttall got into hot water when he tried to reply, calling Ms Wood Natalie for the second time in the debate. She retorted: "Who are you calling Natalie?" to which he said, "Leanne, I'm sorry." Ms Wood replied, "You've done it twice now," and Mr Nuttal replied: "Have I? I'm sorry about that." Recalling his grandfather's journey through Alzheimer's disease, Mr Farron called for better pay for care workers. The Lib Dem leader said: "It's a reminder that the people who work in our social care service are brilliant people, but most of them can earn more stacking shelves at their local supermarket. "If we care about out older people, we care about the people who care for them. That is why we are putting a penny on income tax for health." Ms Wood echoed his concern about low pay for staff, saying many were on zero-hours contracts which she branded "a real scourge" on society. Building up social care would take pressure off the NHS, Ms Sturgeon said, while acknowledging the challenges the Scottish Government had faced trying to integrate health and social care. Wages Turning to the squeeze on people's wages, Mr Farron said staying in the single market was the best long-term economic plan as it would protect jobs and wages. Ms Lucas spoke of how a constituent was unable to buy tights to go to a job interview because the bedroom tax had been so costly for her. She said: "That is what we have come to in the fifth biggest economy in the world. I think that is shameful. "We can afford to look after everybody in our society if we choose to do so." Ms Sturgeon also raised concern about "obscene" levels of poverty among children, calling for an end to the freeze on working age benefits. She added: "Social security cuts are penalising the poorest in our society, many of them working. "Let's bring some decency back to the social security system of this country." Housing Ms Lucas said: "It's unfortunate there isn't a single question to which the answer for Paul Nuttall isn't immigration." Mr Nuttall blamed immigration for the housing shortage, saying 80,000 homes a year were "swallowed up by immigration alone". "We are not building enough houses," he said. The audience laughed as Mr Farron pointed out: "You'll need migrant labour." On education, Mr Nuttall clashed with the Lib Dem leader and Ms Lucas over his support - like Mrs May - for more grammar schools. The Ukip leader said: "I believe in academic selection. I believe that we don't have enough grammar schools in this country - we have 164 at the moment - we need more. "But the problem that you have is that the majority of these grammar schools are in middle class areas. "We need to get them into working class areas which then allow working class kids to break out of their communities." Mr Farron said the Tories were choosing to spend money on free and grammar schools when headteachers were being forced to lay staff off. "The average secondary school will lose six teachers, the average primary school two teachers. That is the decision Theresa May is making." The argument for grammar schools was "bogus", he said, while Ms Lucas said there was "no educational evidence that suggests this is good for the vast bulk of our people". South Down MLA Jim Wells has insisted that DUP supporters were not responsible for destroying Sinn Fein election posters and dumping them in the sea. The damaged campaign placards promoting Westminster candidate Chris Hazzard were discovered in Kilkeel harbour yesterday morning, less than 10 days after they were put up. Mr Wells told the Belfast Telegraph that while he opposed the removal of posters, he would rather they were not put up in the first place. "I am not in support of taking down campaign posters, and I can assure you it isn't DUP supporters doing it, for the simple reason that there would be retaliation," Mr Wells said. "There has to be a bit of common sense applied, and posters should not be put up in areas where they will antagonise people." Mr Hazzard condemned the vandalism as "anti-democratic", but vowed his campaign would not be deterred. He also described the incident as a sign that people were worried about the "momentum and positivity" around his election drive. "Clearly, some people are afraid of change and the positive momentum around Sinn Fein's campaign in South Down," Mr Hazzard said. "There were also large posters destroyed showing Sinn Fein's support for the campaign to save services at Daisy Hill Hospital." Party councillor Sean Doran said volunteers had dedicated a lot of time to erecting the posters, and branded the actions "disgusting". "They didn't disappear in 10 minutes - it would have taken hours," he added. "It's part of a vicious campaign here in South Down. It also happened in March, and it's totally disgusting." Former Health Minister Mr Wells said he had long advocated for the use of posters to be abandoned, and repeated calls for the money to be donated to the RNLI instead. "They don't work and it's a waste of money - they are 4.60 a go," he added. "In 2003 my printer let me down and I had no posters, but it was my best ever election result. No one is impressed by our good looks and none of us amount to an oil painting. People don't want to look at pictures of politicians." Mr Wells also recalled how a young woman once took his poster down for her bedroom wall, but conceded it was not worth boasting about because she was drunk at the time. "On another occasion a man once took my poster for his barn window to scare the crows off," he said. "He assures me he hasn't been bothered since. I laughed at that one." The Conservatives have said investigating the Troubles should not focus unfairly on members of the armed forces. The Tory manifesto pledged to oppose any rewriting of history that could justify terrorism. Some backbenchers in the last parliament had accused the authorities of a witch hunt against members of the security forces after charges were brought involving Troubles incidents. The manifesto says: "A Conservative government will continue to work for the full implementation of the 2014 Stormont House and 2015 Fresh Start agreements. "This includes new bodies for addressing the legacy of the past in fair, balanced and proportionate ways which do not unfairly focus on former members of the armed forces and the Royal Ulster Constabulary. The immense contribution of the security forces during the Troubles should never be forgotten. "We will reject any attempts to rewrite history which seek to justify or legitimise terrorism." The Prime Minister visited the Balmoral Show last weekend as prosecutors ponder charging 18 British soldiers over involvement in the 1972 Bloody Sunday shootings in Londonderry and said the past must be addressed fairly, while defending the independence of prosecutors. Thirteen people died when members of the Parachute Regiment opened fire on civil rights demonstrators in 1972. A 14th person died later. Prosecution of soldiers for Troubles killings has attracted criticism in some quarters from those opposed to dragging elderly ex-servicemen through the courts. Earlier this year, a pro-military rally was organised by Justice For Northern Ireland Veterans to highlight what it alleges is a legal witch hunt against former security members who served during the Troubles. However, five times more prosecutions have been pursued against alleged paramilitaries than soldiers in the last five years, the Public Prosecution Service has said. The scene at Albertbridge Road, which remains closed following a collision this afternoon. Diversions in place. Further closures in place at Mountpottinger Rd and Woodstock Link. Police advise to avoid the area. Photo by Freddie Parkinson / Press Eye An elderly man has been taken to hospital following a crash on the Albertbridge Road in Belfast on Friday afternoon. It is understood he was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital following the crash that happened at about 3.30pm. The Albertbridge Road, which was closed following the collision, has reopened. Police are appealing for information. Inspector Ian McCormick asked for anyone who was in the area at the time and may have witnessed the incident to contact Police at Strandtown on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference 767 19/05/17. No further details are available at this time. A single camera is responsible for more than a third of fines issued to motorists who drove in Belfast's bus lanes A single camera is responsible for more than a third of fines issued to motorists who drove in Belfast's bus lanes. Some 4,894 penalties were dished out for bus lane offences in the first three months of 2017. Over a third (1,786) occurred on Donegall Square East, which runs alongside Belfast City Hall. Motorists caught driving in bus lanes can face fines of up to 90, meaning this camera alone could have generated 160,740 in just three months. A fifth of the fines (1,027) related to Great Victoria Street, with College Square East accounting for a further 807. The figures, released by the Department for Infrastructure, will reopen the debate on bus lanes. South Belfast MLA Christopher Stalford claimed excessive fines were deterring shoppers from visiting the city. "Unfortunately as a consequence of Government decisions, a lot of people are being deterred from the centre of Belfast," he said. "These bus lane cameras, along with the parking regime, are having the effect of putting people off. "I know people will say that you should use public transport to get into the city centre, but for people with families that isn't possible. "I have three children and the logistics of transporting me, my wife and three children under the age of seven - one of whom would be in a buggy - into the city centre is just not practical or reasonable. "We need a more flexible approach that allows people to get into the city centre and travel around without fining them." Figures released yesterday also show: 20,502 fines were issued for on-street parking offences, with just over two-fifths (41%) issued in Belfast; 8,396 fines were issued for off-street parking offences. This ranged from a high of 1,184 in the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council to 162 in Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council; Other hotspots for bus lane fines include Donegall Square South (535) and East Bridge Street (162). Bus lanes were introduced in 2012 as part of the Belfast on the Move traffic plan. There are now more than 60 situated across the city. Since June 2015, motorists who drive in the lanes face a 90 fine, reduced to 45 if paid within two weeks. Fixed enforcement cameras operate in Belfast at Donegall Square South, Donegall Square East, Great Victoria Street, East Bridge Street and College Square East. A mobile CCTV vehicle enforces other bus lanes during their operational hours. Last November, it was announced that three 24-hour bus lanes would be scrapped. It comes after the Belfast Telegraph reported how more than 2,000 people had been fined for driving in bus lanes between midnight and 6am. The Department for Infrastructure said: "The aim of parking and bus lane enforcement is to reduce the number of vehicles illegally parked on our roads or driving in bus lanes or other bus priority measures. "This in turn reduces traffic congestion and helps traffic to flow more freely, assists delivery vehicles, allows buses to keep to their timetable and improves bus journey times, improves road safety and provides accessibility for all road users, including Blue Badge holders. "The enforcement of on-street limited waiting and pay and display spaces, Park and Ride charged car parks and council operated car parks also encourages a turnover of parking spaces, giving shoppers and visitors more opportunities to find suitable parking." Peadar Phair and Connie Leonard, both of whom died in a shocking incident on Monday evening The brother of Concepta Leonard has described the tragedy which claimed his sister's life as "appalling and horrific" - and said her son Conor will suffer "life-lasting scars" as a result. In an interview with The Impartial Reporter, Fergal Leonard said that the late music teacher - known as Connie - had been devoted to her 30-year-old son, who has Down's Syndrome. He described Ms Leonard as her son's "rock". He stated: "Connie and Conor just go together, if there was ever a pair to be together it was the two of them. "The scars of this horrific event are going to be life-lasting for him. "I would like to thank the emergency services and the staff at South West Acute Hospital, the doctors and nurses, for all the work they have done to help Conor." Mr Leonard said that in addition to following in her father Dinny's footsteps by playing and teaching Irish music, Ms Leonard had also been a school cook with the Education Authority across Fermanagh, as well as at Jones Memorial Primary School. "Connie has brought happiness to the lives of thousands of people with her God-given gift of playing music," he continued. "Connie and our dad have been blessed with an ability to be able to pass this gift on to many musicians throughout Fermanagh, Tyrone, Leitrim and Cavan. "She loved her job in school meals and she made many great friends through her work in the different schools throughout the county." Mr Leonard praised the support which his family had received from the community since his sister's death. "I would like to thank everyone for the prayers and messages of support that we have received and for the prayers and support that I know we are going to get," he added. "I would ask for everyone to please pray for Connie, Conor and dad and for all of our family, our entire family network and for all of Connie and Conor's loyal network of friends." Ms Leonard is survived by her son Conor, her father Dinny, brothers Fergal and Kieran, sister Denise, nieces Katie and Sheana, nephew James, and is predeceased by her mother Moira. Members of the USPCA Veterinary Care Team looking after rescued puppies at the USPCA Animal Hospital in Newry. Photo: USPCA Animals are suffering because of the current trend for buying pets on a whim, the Ulster Society for Prevention of Cruelty has warned. Were seeing a growing tendency right across Ulster to buy pets almost as a kind of fashion accessory, USPCA spokesperson David Wilson told the Belfast Telegraph. Whether its an exotic breed like iguanas, spiders or tree frogs, or a specific type of dog that a celebrity owns, people are buying animals on a whim, without any idea how to look after them. Mr Wilson was commenting after incidents involving animal welfare made headlines in recent weeks. On Sunday, May, 7, two men who were part of a notorious puppy smuggling ring that uses Northern Ireland ports to traffic animals to Scotland died when their speedboat capsized in the Irish sea. It is understood that Sandy Hamilton (35) and his cousin, Kevin McKinlay (46) were using the speedboat to evade animal cruelty investigators and police as they went to the Irish Republic to pick up more dogs. Read More In Maghera last month, raiders who broke into a riding centre for the disabled viciously beat horses and ponies. In an earlier raid there, a horse was stabbed. "Incidents involving horses, ponies and donkeys, whilst still at an unacceptable level, have declined from the peak of a few years ago when people were buying these animals willy nilly, almost as a fashion accessory. Many of these owners abandoned their pets because of the expense involved in keeping them, especially when the recession hit. "We are also aware of growing problems with the numbers of exotic species being bought and the special breeds of designer dogs, many of which are being bred illegally." Tip of the iceberg Mr Wilson believes that the USPCA may only know about the tip of the iceberg in relation to exotic species, because they can be bought over the internet and many people dispose of them without telling anyone. Iguanas, lizards and tree frogs often get fungal diseases, or are burnt by lights in their vivariums, the glass cases they are kept in, he added. Demand for designer dogs has resulted in illegal puppy farms and dog smuggling, Mr Wilson went on. This is a multi-million pound trade that takes no account of the welfare of the consignments of vulnerable puppies crammed into crates and subjected to incarceration in car boots. Pups generally bred by puppy farms in the Irish Republic are smuggled into Northern Ireland without the necessary veterinary paperwork that confirms their age, health status, etc. The mixed litters of young and unprotected pups are then subjected to long journeys by sea and road, an ideal environment for the spread of fatal diseases. The USPCA has joined forces with its counterparts in Ireland and Scotland, as well as relevant government authorities, to combat this problem. In one recent incident, the RSPCA in Scotland seized 23 puppies that had been smuggled from the Republic of Ireland to Belfast and on to Scotland on a ferry. Were simply asking this, Mr Wilson said. If you are thinking of getting a pet, please stop and think for a bit before you do. Learn about the responsibilities, the commitments involved in properly caring for that type of animal, and whether you are really willing to take them on. The USPCA is a voluntary charity, funded entirely by public donations. To learn more, Click here. Teenager Bryanne Nelson with Olaf, one of the Newfoundland dogs that woke up her mother during an arson attack A mother forced to flee her smoke-filled home through an upstairs window with her children said they would have died if her dogs hadn't woken her. Janette Nelson told the Belfast Telegraph how her three-year-old Newfoundland dogs saved her life after her Carrowdore home was attacked by arsonists in the early hours of last Friday. "If it wasn't for my neighbours and the dogs I know we would be dead," she said. Thanks to Olaf and Lola, the family was able to escape unhurt. They are currently in temporary accommodation and the dogs now need somewhere to stay. However, four kittens, born hours before the house was set on fire, died in the attack. Ms Nelson had fallen asleep on the sofa of her Co Down home last Thursday night when the friendly giants pounced on her after hearing an "almighty crack" coming from the back of the house at around 3.30am. "The kids were screaming and my six-year-old was throwing up. My neighbours heard the screaming and came out," she said. As thick, black smoke rapidly filled the house, the 43-year-oldmanaged to find step ladders before gathering her children in her upstairs bedroom. "Luckily, my bedroom door had been closed and it hadn't filled with smoke yet," explained Janette. She then threw the ladders out the window as neighbours rushed to help them escape to safety. Expand Close Bryanne in her damaged Carrowdore home / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Bryanne in her damaged Carrowdore home "One neighbour came running out and went straight up the ladder, with no thought for her own safety," she said. Eli (6), Zofie (12) and Bryanne (17) have been left badly shaken as a result of the attack and were further traumatised to learn that the four little kittens perished in the fire. Puddin, the family cat, had given birth to the litter just hours before the attack happened, but Janette said that "their tiny lungs didn't stand a chance". The distraught mother is now homeless and has moved the family into a privately-leased two-bedroom flat as a temporary measure, but pets are forbidden. The heartbroken animal lover, who endured similar attacks in Newtownards in 2012 and had "Taigs Out" sprayed on her home just a few weeks ago, said her sister can care for Oreo - a Jack Russell pup - and Puddin the cat, but she is unable to take the large Newfoundland dogs. "It's just trauma after trauma. It would be such a blessing to find someone who wouldn't mind us coming to take them out for a walk. "I would like to keep them together, it's breaking my kids' hearts. My son cried when he found out they couldn't come." Expand Close Bryanne Nelson with Olaf with Lola / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Bryanne Nelson with Olaf with Lola A spokesperson for the Housing Executive confirmed the majority of landlords who provide temporary accommodation stipulate that pets are not allowed and said they were not informed about the dogs. Prince William and Prince Harry with the winners at the Diana Awards at St Jamess Palace in London yesterday. Second row, far right, NI teenagers Dervla Dolan and Garreth Browne Two inspirational young people from Northern Ireland rubbed shoulders with royalty last night as they were honoured at the prestigious Diana Awards in St James's Palace, London. Along with 18 other winners, Northern Ireland teens Garreth Brown and Dervla Dolan joined The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry at the awards ceremony, established to celebrated the memory of their mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. The royal brothers were making their first joint appearance at an event run by the Diana Awards, established to promote the late princess' belief in the positive power of young people. The 20 young winners were recognised for their efforts in creating positive social change in their communities and countries. Garreth (16), from Londonderry, who lost both his parents in the same year, has been a pillar of support to his older sister and two younger brothers, to ensure their family stays together. He also selflessly helps other children in Kinship Care by talking about his family's experience in a positive way. Dervla (18), from Omagh, has been the driving force behind setting up The Enda Dolan Foundation after her brother was killed by a drunk driver in Belfast. Student Enda had been at Queen's University for just three weeks when he was run over by David Lee Stewart in October 2014. The 18-year-old was walking home when he was hit by Stewart's van and dragged for half-a-mile. Devastatingly for his family, even after stopping and seeing Enda, Stewart and his passenger William Casement drove away down the Malone Road. The personal challenges that Dervla has faced have been enormous - but she has persevered to shine a light of hope, strength and love in her brother's memory and honour. Speaking at the ceremony, Prince William told the award winners Diana "touched the lives of millions". "The truth is though, she was taken at only 36, slightly older than I am today," he said. "Of course we can never know what our mother would have gone on to do, but in one sense Harry and I feel that our mother lives on in the countless acts of compassion and bravery that she inspires in others." A man is in police custody in relation to an alleged sexual assault in Belfast. Detectives investigating the report of a serious sexual assault on a female in the Waterworks area, Cavehill Road, Belfast on 17 May have arrested a male. The PSNI have confirmed that a man is in custody this evening, Friday, May 19. Detective Inspector Zoe McKee asks anyone who was in the Waterworks area at around 8.30pm on Wednesday, 17 May and may have seen or heard anything suspicious, to contact Police at the Rape Crime Unit on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference 1357 17/05/17. 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. Turley was handed an 18-month sentence and was informed he will serve half of it in prison, followed by nine months on licence when he is released. A man who evaded the PSNI for 22 months was handed an 18-month sentence on Friday for a litany of offences arising from a domestic incident. Jailing Jonathan Turley, Belfast Recorder Judge David McFarland said: "The courts will not tolerate using violence and threats in the aftermath of, or indeed during, a domestic relationship." The 36-year old, whose address on the court papers was given as 'none', was arrested in Tipperary earlier this year after evading the PSNI for 22 months. He admitted a series of charges dating back to November and December 2014 which were set against a domestic backdrop, including several counts of assaulting his former partner, criminal damage, threats to damage property, dangerous driving and possessing an offensive weapon. Turley was handed an 18-month sentence and was informed he will serve half of it in prison, followed by nine months on licence when he is released. Turley's barrister Joe Brolly said the offences were borne out of "desperation" at his client not being able to see or have any contact with his son. Prior to Judge McFarland's sentencing, Belfast Crown Court heard that on November 20, 2014, Turley assaulted his former partner in Ardoyne and damaged the window of a bakery in the area. On December 10 that year, Turley was seen outside her home at around 6am. Prosecuting barrister Philip Henry told the court: "When someone else come to the doorway, he used the opportunity to make his way into the house." Once inside, Turley began shouting about his lack of contact with his nine-year old son before pushing her onto a sofa. His mood was described as "angry and aggressive". At one stage he also threatened to burn down her home. Mr Henry said he calmed down and managed to persuade his ex-partner to get into his car. Once in the vehicle, Turley drove from Ardoyne to Ballymena, where he was observed by police to be driving in a dangerous manner. When the vehicle was stopped and searched, officers found a claw hammer and CS spray. The prosecutor said Turley had "relevant" convictions on his criminal record, adding there was a domestic history between Turley and the woman, and that these incidents caused her "considerable distress." Defence barrister Joe Brolly said that since December 2014 there had been no contact between Turley and his former partner. Mr Brolly said Turley had moved to Tipperary, was making a new life for himself there when he was arrested in connection with the incidents and that "he will go back to Tipperary as soon as he has served his sentence." The defence barrister described the situation between his client and his ex at the time as "fraught", saying the context was "a father desperate to see his son." Mr Brolly also revealed that in the two and a half years that has lapsed, there has still been no contact between father and son. There are parades taking place across Northern Ireland today which will impact on traffic and travel. We need your consent to load this Social Media content We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content. Police are currently involved in an operation in Portavogie. Officers were spotted in the area of the harbour on Friday morning. Police would not elaborate on what the nature of the operation was. A PSNI spokesman said: "Police are working with a number of other agencies as part of a planned operation in the Ards area. It would be inappropriate to comment any further at this stage." German Chancellor Angela Merkel has suggested that the Troubles could return to Ireland as a possible consequence of the UK leaving the EU. Speaking at a meeting of German trade union leaders in Berlin, Mrs Merkel warned that current fears of a hard border following Brexit show "how quickly you get to questions of war and peace". But last night Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson hit back, describing Mrs Merkel's remarks as offensive and harmful. He called on her to withdraw them immediately. "I have a great deal of respect for Angela Merkel but in these comments she is entirely wrong," the MEP said. "We are in the middle of a UK general election and German federal elections are due to take place in September. Unfortunately, rhetoric is likely to be high in the next few months. "No one disputes that border issues will be difficult to resolve but resorting to this kind of hyperbole is offensive and harmful as it provides excuses for terrorists. It may be that she does not realise how offensive these comments are, or she has been poorly advised, but she needs to withdraw them as a matter of urgency. "The only people to blame for violence are the perpetrators, and there is never an excuse for terrorist acts." In a question and answer session after her speech, Mrs Merkel also said there would be a cost to the UK for leaving the EU and ending unrestricted movement. "If the British Government ends the free movement of people, that will have its price in relations with Britain," Mrs Merkel said. "That's not malicious. But you cannot expect to enjoy all the benefits and then say there will be an upper limit of 100,000 or 200,000 EU citizens, no more, or we'll only accept researchers, but nobody else. This will not work." She also threatened retaliatory measures if the UK restricts immigration. "We would have to think about what restrictions we could create from the European side to compensate for that. "The British car industry relies on supplies from continental European countries. It is up to the British side, who say they want minimum disruption." The remarks come just a week after top EU negotiator Michel Barnier warned that while there was no reason why there could not be a "strong relationship" with the UK after it leaves, there would inevitably be consequences, such as customs controls. Free cross-border flow is possible, says Republics top Brexit official Free movement of goods and people across the Irish border after the UK quits the EU is achievable in principle, the Republics top Brexit official has said. Customs operations can be automated for commercial vehicles, while private vehicles can flow freely and there will be no need for permanent checkpoints, said Revenue assistant secretary Tony Buckley. But the stakes are very high, and the Republic could face losing access to EU and international markets and potential fines if it fails to operate what will be an external EU frontier post Brexit adequately, he added. Mr Buckley suggested the vast bulk of checks on commercial vehicles would be automated, using advanced declaration and technology, combined with a certain amount of traffic monitoring . The main image that comes to peoples minds when it comes to a border is cars being stopped and searched, Mr Buckley told a British Irish Chamber of Commerce conference. Thats not going to happen. Theres no reason for it. We have some 300 border crossings. We havent the faintest intention of closing any of those or interfering with them. So normal private traffic, people going back and forth, will continue. Trade facilitation posts would be required close to the border, but what would happen at these posts is not clear until the negotiations play out, he said. Mr Buckley told the conference at the RDS in Dublin that physical checks are carried out on no more than 2% of goods coming across the borders and a further 6% are documentary checks. He said the ambition of free cross-border flow can be realised. How exactly, we dont know, because we dont know exactly what the details of the negotiating outcome will be, he said. Certainly in principle it is deliverable to have continued free movement of people and goods on the island. Leo Varadkar, left, has been labelled as the best person to lead Ireland by Paschal Donohoe Simon Coveney has refused to concede the day-old battle to be the next taoiseach. As Leo Varadkar, his only rival for the leadership of Fine Gael, became the early frontrunner with strong support from cabinet and backbench colleagues, the Housing Minister said he was not panicked. Mr Coveney dismissed the idea of cutting short the contest and said he has never lost an election. "They've got an early head start, there's no doubt about that," he told Clare FM. "We are not panicked by that in any way." In what is expected to be a two-horse race, almost 21,000 Fine Gael party members will vote at 26 polling stations from May 29 to June 1, and the parliamentary party, which includes 73 TDs, senators and MEPs, will vote in Dublin on June 2. The contest is decided by an electoral college, with the parliamentary party worth 65% of the total vote, rank-and-file members accounting for 25% and 235 local representatives making up the remaining 10% of the vote. The winner will be announced in Dublin on June 2. About 20 members of the Fine Gael parliamentary party have yet to declare for one side, with Social Protection Minister Mr Varadkar having about twice as much support from that section of the party. He was humbled by the early support he secured but insisted the contest was not over. "I'm really humbled, really grateful for that," he said. Mr Varadkar has an apparent strong lead over Mr Coveney, with the backing of Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan and Education Minister Richard Bruton among others. Mr Coveney has supporters including Health Minister Simon Harris and Senator James Reilly. Mr Varadkar said it had been his idea originally to extend voting rights for the leadership of Fine Gael to all the party's elected representatives. Setting out his stall, he said: "I want to take the country forward. "We've been through a really difficult recession which is now over but the wounds caused by the recession are still real and many of them are open. "We are now at a crossroads, in my view. "We can repeat the mistakes of the past, allow ourselves to lose control of public spending, fuel the property market ... or this time we can get it right." Candidates for the Fine Gael leadership have been warned to sign up to a code of conduct to govern their behaviour in the campaign and they are also obliged to abide by data protection rules governing the use of membership details. Nominations close on Saturday evening and with the contest appearing to be down to two men, four hustings have been planned for Dublin, Carlow, Ballinasloe and Cork over four nights from next Thursday. They will also be streamed online. Mr Donohoe declared for his Dublin colleague while refusing to be drawn on what plum job he is hoping for in the next cabinet. "He is the most substantial and capable politician of my generation," Mr Donohoe told Newstalk. "He has a rare combination of intellect and judgment that, I believe, make him the best person to lead Ireland as we deal with new risks, and make the most of some great opportunities." In declaring for Mr Varadkar, who has held the transport, tourism and sport portfolios along with health and social protection, Mr Donohoe pointed to decisions his cabinet colleague has taken on the Luas Cross City project, progress on medical cards, reform of welfare rights for the self-employed and mothers. Junior minister Paul Kehoe also backed Mr Varadkar, Ireland's first openly gay cabinet member. "He has shown openness and honesty in his personal life, breaking new ground in Irish politics," he said. "As the political landscape continues to shift , at home and abroad, his forthright style and ability to effect change makes him the best-placed candidate to deal with the challenges facing us." The daughter of a Dambusters hero has launched an appeal to trace his stolen logbook, urging people to come forward and help bring a piece of Dad home. Shere Lowe, 61, is offering a 5,000 reward for information leading to the safe return of the memento, which belonged to the late Sergeant John Fraser, an RAF airman in the famous 617 Squadron. Military historian Alexander Bateman, 48, was jailed for two years at Wood Green Crown Court, north London, in February after he was found guilty of stealing the treasured record. Expand Close A log book stolen by military historian Alexander Bateman (Metropolitan Police/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A log book stolen by military historian Alexander Bateman (Metropolitan Police/PA) Sgt Frasers widow, 93-year-old Doris, had lent the logbook to Bateman, of Headstone Lane, Harrow, north-west London, for research in 1996. But he lied repeatedly when he was asked to return the item and it has never been recovered, prompting fears it may have been sold. Ms Lowe, who lives in Blaine, Washington in the US, told the Press Association she saw the missing record as a piece of her father as she issued a heartfelt plea for its return. Speaking while visiting the UK, where she marked the 74th anniversary of the Dambusters raid, Ms Lowe said: I lost my father at a very young age, my mum lost her husband at a very young age. This is not a document, its not a piece of paper, its a piece of my fathers legacy of courage. Expand Close Shere Lowe has launched an appeal to trace the stolen logbook (Sally Wardle/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Shere Lowe has launched an appeal to trace the stolen logbook (Sally Wardle/PA) Because I lost him at such a young age, I value anything about my father and this is a record of what he did with 50 Squadron as well as 617 Squadron the whole time he was active in the military. I think that the logbook just finishes the story, its all part of his service to our country and especially to the Royal Air Force. I look at it as a piece of my father. It might sound strange, but thats what it is. Addressing anyone who might know where the book is, she said: Please help us to bring a piece of dad home, instead of looking at it like its a commodity. Sgt Fraser, who was born in Canada, was one of 133 Allied aircrew who took part in the daring mission to destroy dams in Nazi Germany on May 16 and 17 1943. His plane was shot down and Sgt Fraser was captured, interrogated by the Germans and held as a prisoner of war for two years before being liberated by the Russians. Expand Close John Fraser was a Dambusters hero (family handout/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp John Fraser was a Dambusters hero (family handout/PA) He moved to Canada with his wife following the conflict but tragically died in an air accident in 1962, leaving behind three children. The family of Sgt Frasers crewmate Ken Earnshaw, who died in the raid, had also lent his logbook and a photo album to Bateman, it has emerged. Police recovered the collection of 290 wartime images during a search of the historians home and asked Ms Lowe to ensure their safe return, but the logbook has not been found. Ms Lowe presented the album to members of the Earnshaw family during an emotional reunion at the Bomber Command Museum of Canada in Alberta, last month. Moors Murderer Ian Brady will not be cremated and have his ashes scattered in his native Glasgow, the city council has said. The 79-year-old child killer died on Monday after spending more than five decades behind bars for murders committed with partner Myra Hindley. Bradys body has been released to his lawyer and it has been reported he wished to have his remains burnt and ashes scattered in the city where he grew up. But Glasgow City Council has said it would refuse any request for the notorious murderer to be cremated in the area. Expand Close Ian Brady died on Monday (PA) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ian Brady died on Monday (PA) A spokesman for the authority said: We have not had such a request but we would refuse that request. We would advise the private crematoria not to accept the request or any such request should it be forthcoming. There has not been any request made. Bradys body had been held under police guard since his death at Ashworth High Secure Hospital in Maghull, Merseyside, at 6.02pm on Monday. Opening an inquest into his death on Tuesday, senior coroner for Sefton Christopher Sumner delayed the release of his body to ask for assurances that a funeral director and crematorium willing to take it had been found. He also asked for an assurance the ashes of Brady would not be scattered on Saddleworth Moor, where the remains of four of Brady and Myra Hindleys five child victims were found. Expand Close Police using specially trained sniffer dogs on Saddleworth Moor (PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Police using specially trained sniffer dogs on Saddleworth Moor (PA) At a reconvened hearing on Wednesday the coroners court heard solicitor and executor of Bradys will Robin Makin had said there was no likelihood the ashes would be scattered there. Mr Sumner delayed the bodys release until Thursday to allow Merseyside Police to negotiate with Mr Makin about arrangements for the funeral. Brady and Hindley were jailed for life for the killings of John Kilbride, 12, 10-year-old Lesley Ann Downey and Edward Evans, 17. They went on to admit the murders of Pauline Reade, 16, and 12-year-old Keith Bennett. A Merseyside Police spokesman said: Responsibility for the body has now transferred to the executor of Ian Bradys will and Merseyside Police has no further involvement. Julian Assange before speaking from the balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy in London after a seven-year investigation in Sweden against the WikiLeaks founder was suddenly dropped. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday May 19, 2017. See PA story LEGAL Assange. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire Julian Assange speaks from the balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy in London after a seven-year investigation in Sweden against the WikiLeaks founder was suddenly dropped. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday May 19, 2017. See PA story LEGAL Assange. Photo credit should read: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire Julian Assange speaks from the balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy in London after a seven-year investigation in Sweden against the WikiLeaks founder was suddenly dropped. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday May 19, 2017. See PA story LEGAL Assange. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 19: Julian Assange speaks to the media from the balcony of the Embassy Of Ecuador on May 19, 2017 in London, England. Julian Assange, founder of the Wikileaks website that published US Government secrets, has been wanted in Sweden on charges of rape since 2012. He sought asylum in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London and today police have said he will still face arrest if he leaves. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images) LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 19: Julian Assange gestures as he speaks to the media from the balcony of the Embassy Of Ecuador on May 19, 2017 in London, England. Julian Assange, founder of the Wikileaks website that published US Government secrets, has been wanted in Sweden on charges of rape since 2012. He sought asylum in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London and today police have said he will still face arrest if he leaves. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images) Julian Assange speaks from the balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy in London after a seven-year investigation in Sweden against the WikiLeaks founder was suddenly dropped. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday May 19, 2017. See PA story LEGAL Assange. Photo credit should read: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire Wikileaks founder Julian Assange speaks on the balcony of the Embassy of Ecuador in London on May 19, 2017. Ecuador urged Britain today to "grant safe passage" out of the country to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange after Sweden dropped a warrant that drove him to take refuge in Ecuador's London embassy. / AFP PHOTO / Daniel LEAL-OLIVASDANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images Wikileaks founder Julian Assange speaks on the balcony of the Embassy of Ecuador in London on May 19, 2017. Ecuador urged Britain today to "grant safe passage" out of the country to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange after Sweden dropped a warrant that drove him to take refuge in Ecuador's London embassy. / AFP PHOTO / Adrian DENNISADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images Julian Assange before speaking from the balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy in London after a seven-year investigation in Sweden against the WikiLeaks founder was suddenly dropped. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday May 19, 2017. See PA story LEGAL Assange. Photo credit should read: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire Wikileaks founder Julian Assange gestures from the balcony of the Embassy of Ecuador in London on May 19, 2017. Ecuador urged Britain today to "grant safe passage" out of the country to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange after Sweden dropped a warrant that drove him to take refuge in Ecuador's London embassy. / AFP PHOTO / Daniel LEAL-OLIVASDANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images Wikileaks founder Julian Assange speaks on the balcony of the Embassy of Ecuador in London on May 19, 2017. Ecuador urged Britain today to "grant safe passage" out of the country to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange after Sweden dropped a warrant that drove him to take refuge in Ecuador's London embassy. / AFP PHOTO / Adrian DENNISADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 19: Julian Assange makes his way back indoors after speaking to the media from the balcony of the Embassy Of Ecuador on May 19, 2017 in London, England. Julian Assange, founder of the Wikileaks website that published US Government secrets, has been wanted in Sweden on charges of rape since 2012. He sought asylum in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London and today police have said he will still face arrest if he leaves. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images) Julian Assange steps out onto the balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy in London after a seven-year investigation in Sweden against the WikiLeaks founder was suddenly dropped. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday May 19, 2017. See PA story LEGAL Assange. Photo credit should read: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 19: Julian Assange speaks to the media from the balcony of the Embassy Of Ecuador on May 19, 2017 in London, England. Julian Assange, founder of the Wikileaks website that published US Government secrets, has been wanted in Sweden on charges of rape since 2012. He sought asylum in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London and today police have said he will still face arrest if he leaves. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images) LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 19: Julian Assange speaks to the media from the balcony of the Embassy Of Ecuador on May 19, 2017 in London, England. Julian Assange, founder of the Wikileaks website that published US Government secrets, has been wanted in Sweden on charges of rape since 2012. He sought asylum in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London and today police have said he will still face arrest if he leaves. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images) Julian Assange speaks from the balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy in London after a seven-year investigation in Sweden against the WikiLeaks founder was suddenly dropped. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday May 19, 2017. See PA story LEGAL Assange. Photo credit should read: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire Wikileaks founder Julian Assange speaks on the balcony of the Embassy of Ecuador in London on May 19, 2017. Ecuador urged Britain today to "grant safe passage" out of the country to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange after Sweden dropped a warrant that drove him to take refuge in Ecuador's London embassy. / AFP PHOTO / Justin TALLISJUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images Wikileaks founder Julian Assange speaks on the balcony of the Embassy of Ecuador in London on May 19, 2017. Ecuador urged Britain today to "grant safe passage" out of the country to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange after Sweden dropped a warrant that drove him to take refuge in Ecuador's London embassy. / AFP PHOTO / Justin TALLISJUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images Wikileaks founder Julian Assange raises his fist prior to addressing the media on the balcony of the Embassy of Ecuador in London on May 19, 2017. AFP/Getty Images WikiLeaks editor Julian Assange has given a statement from the balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy in London after Sweden dropped its sexual assault investigation. Mr Assange was questioned six months ago in the presence of Swedish officials over a sex allegation, which he has always denied. The Swedish investigation was dropped on Friday but Mr Assange still faces extradition to the US for questioning over the activities of WikiLeaks if he leaves the embassy. Scotland Yard confirmed on Friday that Assange still faces arrest in the UK for failing to surrender to a court in London in 2012, when he lost his appeal against extradition to Sweden and sought refuge in the embassy. A large number of supporters and journalists gathered outside the embassy in Hans Crescent to hear his reaction to the news that Swedish probed has been discountinued. As Assange appeared he gave a clenched fist salute to his supporters before maintaining that a "legal conflict" with the US and the UK continues. Mr Assange thanked Ecuador for supporting him and said he is happy to engage with the US Justice Department. He said that while "today was an important victory, an important vindication," the "war is far from over." He also pledged that WikiLeaks will continue distributing material about the activities of the CIA in the United States, and will "accelerate" its publications. He said: "Today is an important victory for me, and for the UN human rights system. But it by no means erases seven years of detention without charge in prison, under house arrest, and almost five years here in this embassy without sunlight," he told press outside the embassy. "Seven years without charge, while my children grew up without me. That is not something that I can forgive, it is not something that I can forget. "The inevitable inquiry into what has occurred in this moment of terrible injustice is something that I hope will be more than just about me, and this situation, because the reality is, detention and extradition without charge has become a feature of the EU. "A feature which has been exploited, yes, in my case, for political reasons, but for other cases have subjected many people to terrible injustices." Happy to engage "While US has made extremely threatening remarks, always happy to engage in dialogue over what has occurred. "My staff, my legal staff, have contacted the UK authorities and we hope to engage in a dialogue about what is the best way forward. "To some extent the UK has been exploited by the process it entered into with the EU, where it agreed to extradite people without charge. "That is to an extend a forced position the UK has been put into. And, the first part of that is over. The UK refuses to confirm or deny at this stage whether a US extradition warrant is in the UK territory." Assange thanked Ecuador, its people and its asylum system. They have stood by my asylum in the face of intense pressure. Manning Assange also addressed the release of whistleblower Chelsea Manning. "We have had an even more important victory this week [and] that is the release of Chelsea Manning after seven years in military prison." Earlier on Friday Mr Assange tweeted: "Detained for 7 years without charge by while my children grew up and my name was slandered. I do not forgive or forget." Detained for 7 years without charge by while my children grew up and my name was slandered. I do not forgive or forget. Julian Assange (@JulianAssange) May 19, 2017 The announcement that the Swedish probe was being dropped came ahead of a press conference by Swedens Director of Public Prosecution, Marianne Ny, into the long running saga. A brief statement said: "Director of Public Prosecution, Ms Marianne Ny, has today decided to discontinue the investigation regarding suspected rape (lesser degree) by Julian Assange." Scotland Yard said: "Westminster Magistrates' Court issued a warrant for the arrest of Julian Assange following him failing to surrender to the court on June 29 2012. The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) is obliged to execute that warrant should he leave the Embassy. "Whilst Mr Assange was wanted on a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) for an extremely serious offence, the MPS response reflected the serious nature of that crime. Now that the situation has changed and the Swedish authorities have discontinued their investigation into that matter, Mr Assange remains wanted for a much less serious offence. The MPS will provide a level of resourcing which is proportionate to that offence. "The priority for the MPS must continue to be arresting those who are currently wanted in the capital in connection with serious violent or sexual offences for the protection of Londoners." The government of Sweden continues to be in breach of the UN's findings in Assange v Sweden https://t.co/0VmWWBkWo4 https://t.co/hrPyGrl3Tp Julian Assange (@JulianAssange) April 4, 2017 The Metropolitan Police stopped its round the clock presence outside the Embassy in October 2015 amid controversy over the escalating cost of the exercise - believed to be over 12 million. Friday's development follows a letter sent to the Swedish government by the government of Ecuador saying there had been a "serious failure" by the prosecutor, including a "lack of initiative" to complete inquiries. The letter raised developments in the United States since the election of Donald Trump as president, including a speech by CIA director Mike Pompeo describing WikiLeaks as a "hostile intelligence service". Recent public declarations such as this constitute an "obvious risk" for Mr Assange, said the letter. Mr Assange originally faced three sex allegations, all of which he denied. Mr Assange was on bail when he arrived at the Ecuador embassy in Central London almost five years ago. WikiLeaks tweeted: "UK refuses to confirm or deny whether it has already received a US extradition warrant for Julian Assange. Focus now moves to UK." Mr Assange was interviewed inside the embassy last November in the presence of Sweden's Chief Prosecutor Ingrid Isgren. He later released his full testimony to Swedish prosecutors, maintaining he was "entirely innocent" of the sex allegation. A statement said that Mr Assange went to Sweden in August 2010 and met a woman, continuing: "On the evening of 16 August 2010 she invited me to her home. "During the night and in the morning we had consensual sexual intercourse on several occasions. "I therefore could not believe my eyes when five days later I saw a headline in a Swedish tabloid that I was suspected of a crime and arrested in my absence. "I immediately made myself available to the Swedish authorities to clarify any questions that might exist, although I had no obligation to do so. "That same day (August 21 2010), the Chief Prosecutor of Stockholm, Eva Finne, dropped the arrest warrant against me and within days would close the preliminary investigation with the finding that no crime whatsoever had been committed against the woman 'SW' (who is the subject of this procedure). Background to Sweden dropping its case against Julian Assange https://t.co/3W8ZFa9UCH WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) May 19, 2017 "I drew the conclusion that, other than the worldwide damage to my reputation caused by millions of web pages saying that I was 'wanted for rape', my life, in this respect, would return to normal." Explaining why he released his testimony, Mr Assange said last December: "Six years ago today I was handcuffed and locked into Wandsworth prison by order of a Swedish prosecutor, Marianne Ny. "I had not and still have not been charged with an offence. The claimed grounds for my arrest and extradition without charge were so that Ny could question me. "But it was not until six years later - three weeks ago - that I was questioned for the first time. I have decided to release my responses. "I am entirely innocent. I was already cleared of exactly this allegation in 2010 by the Chief Prosecutor of Stockholm, Eva Finne, who closed the case. "During the height of the Pentagon's conflict with me the following month, the allegation was resurrected by the current prosecutor, Marianne Ny. It was immediately seized on to extinguish my freedom of movement and harm my reputation. "Without even bothering to take my statement, the Swedish Prosecution Authority broke its own rules and released my name to a tabloid newspaper. Read more Read More "Prosecutor Ny went on to produce more than 40 press releases and press conferences about me. As a result, to this day more than half a million webpages falsely conflate my name with the word 'rape'. "For six years I called for my statement to be taken so that the 'preliminary investigation' might again be swiftly closed. "Finally, last month Marianne Ny sent a deputy and a policewoman to London to question me over two days, but - true to form - my Swedish lawyer was excluded from the room in yet another breach of my basic rights. "I am now releasing my statement to the public. The reason is simple. I want people to know the truth about how abusive this process has been. "Furthermore, in the past the prosecution has fed partial information to tabloids that politically oppose me. "It is better that my statement, which I am happy with, and which makes it obvious to all that I am innocent, sees the light in full." A United Nations panel has confirmed its view that the WikiLeaks founder is a victim of arbitrary detention. The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention rejected a request by the UK Government to review the case. The panel found that Britain and Sweden had "arbitrarily detained" Mr Assange. The panel said he should be freed and entitled to compensation. Meanwhile Chelsea Manning, who provided WikiLeaks with classified intelligence on Iraq and Afghanistan, was freed from prison on Wednesday. Read more Read More The transgender former US intelligence analyst left Fort Leavenworth, months after Barack Obama commuted her 35-year sentence as one of his final acts as President. The former military intelligence analyst gave classified information to the anti-secrecy site WikiLeaks in 2010. He was acquitted of aiding the enemy, the gravest charge laid against him by the US government. He was, however, found guilty of 19 other charges including espionage, theft and computer fraud. Following the verdict, Mr Assange accused Obama of "national security extremism," referring to Manning "the most important journalistic source the world has ever seen". "The government kept Bradley Manning in a cage, stripped him naked and isolated him in order to break him, an act formally condemned by the United Nations Special Rapporteur for torture. This was never a fair trial," Assange said from inside the Ecuadorean Embassy in London. "It is a dangerous precedent and an example of national security extremism. It is a short-sighted judgment that cannot be tolerated and it must be reversed." Its hard not to draw the conclusion that Manning's trial was about sending a message: the US government will come after you, Amnesty International noted. Making a statement alongside his guilty pleas in 2013, Manning said he wanted to reveal the bloodlust of the US military and so-called disregard for human life. He transmitted his first batch of papers to WikiLeaks, founded by Assange, on 3 February 2001 with an attached note. This is possibly one of the more significant documents of our time, removing the fog of war, and revealing the true nature of the 21st century asymmetric warfare. Have a good day. Thereafter he handed over more than 700,000 documents, including battlefield notes from Iraq and Afghanistan and a video of a US helicopter attack in Baghdad. Last month marked the fifth anniversary of the release of the 'Collateral Murder' video which showed a July 12, 2007 US Apache attack helicopter attack upon individuals in a Baghdad suburb. The attack killed twelve people including a Reuters photographer and his driver. On August 21, 2013, Manning was sentenced to 35 years in prison. On the day after her sentencing, Manning announced via a statement on the morning talk show Today that she is transgender and wanted to be known as Chelsea. The whistleblower behind the Pentagon Papers, Daniel Ellsberg, called Manning a 'hero'. Timeline key dates in the case: 2010 August An arrest warrant is issued for Mr Assange for two separate allegations - one of rape and one of molestation - after he visits Sweden. He is questioned by police in Stockholm and denies the allegations. November Stockholm District Court approves a request to detain the WikiLeaks founder for questioning on suspicion of rape, sexual molestation and unlawful coercion. An international arrest warrant is issued by Swedish police through Interpol. December Mr Assange presents himself to London police and appears at an extradition hearing where he is remanded in custody. At a later hearing he is granted conditional bail but is kept behind bars after Swedish authorities challenge the decision. He is later granted conditional bail at the High Court in London after his supporters pay 240,000 in cash and sureties. 2011 February District Judge Howard Riddle rules Mr Assange should be extradited to Sweden and denies this would breach his human rights. Mr Assange vows to fight the decision. November Mr Assange loses a High Court appeal against the decision to extradite him. 2012 May The UK Supreme Court upholds the High Court decision in the case, ruling that extradition is lawful and can go ahead. The Supreme Court later rejects a move by Mr Assange to reopen his appeal against his extradition, saying it is "without merit". June 19 Mr Assange enters the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, requesting political asylum. A day later, Scotland Yard confirms he will be subject to arrest for breaching his bail conditions. August 16 Mr Assange is granted political asylum by Ecuador. August 19 Mr Assange makes his first public appearance in two months on the Ecuadorian Embassy's balcony and calls for the US government to "renounce its witch-hunt" against WikiLeaks. November Ecuador's ambassador to the UK, Ana Alban, says Mr Assange is suffering a chronic lung condition after spending months inside a one-room office at the embassy. The Ecuadorian government later plays down the health fears and says Mr Assange "does not have an urgent medical condition". December Mr Assange marks the six-month anniversary inside the embassy by making another appearance on the balcony to say the "door is open" for talks to break the deadlock over his campaign to avoid extradition to Sweden. 2013 June Mr Assange tells a group of journalists he will not leave the embassy even if sex allegations against him are dropped, because he fears moves are already under way to extradite him to the United States. 2014 July Mr Assange loses a legal bid to have an arrest warrant issued in Sweden against him cancelled. A judge in Stockholm decided to uphold the warrant against him for alleged sexual offences against two women. August Mr Assange tells a press conference he will be leaving the embassy soon following speculation that he is seeking hospital treatment for heart and lung problems. He later brushes off reports that he is about to give up his fight against extradition to Sweden. September On behalf of Mr Assange, his legal team submitted a complaint against Sweden and the United Kingdom to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention claiming his confinement in the embassy amounts to illegal detention. November Mr Assange loses a legal move in a Swedish appeal court aimed at revoking his arrest warrant. December Mr Assange appears on the embassy's balcony to greet Noam Chomsky, the US philosopher and activist. Hollywood actor John Cusack also visits the WikiLeaks founder later in the month. 2015 March Swedish prosecutors ask to question Mr Assange at the Ecuadorian Embassy. June Mr Assange claims the Swedish prosecutor has cancelled an appointment to interview him at the embassy. August 13 Swedish prosecutors drop investigations into some of the sex allegations against Mr Assange due to time restrictions. The investigation into suspected rape remains active. August 16 Foreign Office minister Hugo Swire said Ecuador's decision to harbour Mr Assange in its embassy had prevented the proper course of justice. He said the UK continued to have a legal obligation to extradite him to Sweden, where he remained suspected of a sexual offence. August 21 Civil rights campaigner Jesse Jackson visits Mr Assange inside the embassy. Afterwards, he says: "Eight hundred years after the Magna Carta, freedom of the press is right and detention without charges is wrong." October 12 Metropolitan Police end their 24-hour guard outside the Ecuadorian Embassy. It breaks a three-year police operation which is estimated to have cost more than 12 million. 2016 February 5 The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention says Mr Assange is being "arbitrarily detained" in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London and calls on authorities to end his "deprivation of liberty". The report is branded "frankly ridiculous" by Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond - a response which Mr Assange described as "insulting". February 9 Swedish prosecutors say they are working on a renewed request to interview Mr Assange at the embassy. February 22 Lawyers for Mr Assange submit papers to a Swedish court, asking for his arrest warrant to be overturned. March 24 The Government formally asks a UN Working Group to review its finding that Mr Assange was subject to arbitrary detention, saying the opinion was "deeply flawed". March 25 A Swedish court refuses to drop an arrest warrant against Mr Assange. June 20 Ecuador reveals it has received a formal request from the Swedish authorities to interview Mr Assange. August Mr Assange has implies that the murder of Democratic National Committee staffer Seth Rich could be linked to the recent DNC emails leak. Wikileaks offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to a conviction for the murder. Read more Read More August 9 Mr Assange files an appeal at Sweden's Court of Appeal of Svea, arguing the country must comply with the UN working group's findings that his deprivation of liberty was unlawful. August 11 Ecuador announces that Mr Assange will be questioned by Swedish prosecutors in the embassy in London. September 16 Sweden's Court of Appeal rejects a bid by Mr Assange to have his sex assault warrant dropped, saying no new information has emerged. November Julian Assange gives interview to John Pilger Read More November 14 Mr Assange is questioned over the sex allegation at the Ecuadorian Embassy in the presence of Sweden's assistant prosecutor Ingrid Isgren and police inspector Cecilia Redell. The interview spans two days. November 30 The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention rejects a request by the UK Government to review the case of Mr Assange. 2017 January 17 Barack Obama's decision to free whistleblower Chelsea Manning prompts speculation that Mr Assange will end his self-imposed exile. WikiLeaks tweeted prior to the decision: "If Obama grants Manning clemency Assange will agree to US extradition despite clear unconstitutionality of DoJ (Department of Justice) case." January 19 Mr Assange tells a press conference that he stands by his offer to go to the US, provided his rights are respected. March 9 Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage is spotted leaving the embassy where Mr Assange is being held. April 21 US attorney general Jeff Sessions says Mr Assange's arrest is a "priority" for the United States. May 19 Swedish investigation dropped. Assange appears on balcony of Ecuadorian embassy to give statement Rolf Harris has been released from prison. The Australian former television star had been appearing via video-link at Southwark Crown Court in London, where he is standing trial accused of indecent assault. Judge Deborah Taylor told the jury yesterday that the 87-year-old defendant would be released from Stafford Prison on Friday and he would therefore appear in court in person on bail for the remainder of the trial. Jurors were previously told that Harris had already been convicted and sentenced for other offences in 2014. The judge told the jurors: "He (Harris) will no longer be appearing in the court via video-link and he will be attending what remains of his trial in person next week." The trial, which opened on May 15, will not sit on Friday. Former Animal Hospital host Harris is standing trial accused of indecently assaulting three teenage girls in the 1970s and 1980s. He is also alleged to have touched a 13-year-old girl's breast after filming a children's TV programme and asked her: "Do you often get molested in a Saturday morning?" He is separately accused of twice groping a third girl, aged 16, after being paid 100 to appear on ITV celebrity show Star Games in 1978, and telling her she was "a little bit irresistible", the court heard. He denies four charges of indecent assault against three women between 1971 and 1983. Giving evidence in court on the trial's fourth day, one alleged victim denied she had "fabricated" evidence against Harris. She told the court: "I absolutely have not (fabricated evidence). "One of the reasons perhaps it was easier for me to tell police is because I had told people over the years." Another witness told the court she was "in shock" after Harris allegedly touched her right breast. The alleged victim, a 13-year-old schoolgirl at the time, said she was in a green room with a group of other teenagers following the transmission of 1980s children's show Saturday Superstore, on which Harris was appearing. She was at a table of refreshments to get a drink when Harris approached her and assaulted her, the court heard. The witness, appearing via video-link, said the entertainer slid his right hand over her clothes and placed it on her right breast, asking her: "Do you often get molested on a Saturday morning?" She told jurors: "I was in shock because I couldn't comprehend what had just happened. "He left quite quickly and I just stood there for a while. "I went to (tell someone) and I think I said 'something weird just happened' or 'you won't believe what just happened'. "I did tell her what happened... she looked shocked - not at what happened but rather, 'that's Rolf Harris, don't be silly'." She said: "Every time he came on the TV, I told people 'he's a pervert' or something along those lines." The case was adjourned until Monday. Harris denies all charges. New French President Emmanuel Macron has highlighted his determination to crush extremism with a visit to French-led military forces combating jihadist groups in west Africa. The terror threat in the region is "clearly a risk for Europe", he said. On his first official trip outside Europe, Mr Macron was greeted by Malian counterpart Ibrahim Boubacar Keita at an air base in the eastern city of Gao, home to France's largest overseas military operation. Mr Macron vowed to maintain France's military operations in Mali and "be intractable" with extremist groups in the region. At a joint news conference with Mr Keita, he also asked Germany to provide more support to French-led efforts to eradicate the extremists. Mr Macron said he spoke to German Chancellor Angela Merkel earlier this week about getting more logistical support and said she backs the idea. Mr Keita expressed his gratitude to France for its military intervention that began in 2013 after extremist groups overran the country's vast northern region. The groups were quickly pushed from strongholds but remain a deadly threat. "The road is long ... but we are going forward and we will succeed," Mr Keita said. Mr Macron repeatedly pledged ahead of the May 7 election that fighting terror would be his priority, after multiple attacks in France since 2015 have killed more than 230 people. Most of the west African extremist groups France is combating trace their origins to al Qaida's North Africa branch. France's Operation Barkhane has about 4,000 soldiers in Mali, Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso and Mauritania. Gao is home of the permanent French military base in Mali, with 1,600 troops. Gao is where a suicide attack on a Malian army camp killed more than 75 people in January. That attack, claimed by the al Qaida-linked al-Mourabitoun extremist group, happened days after former French president Francois Hollande visited the city. The victims were soldiers and former fighters trying to stabilise the region after a 2015 agreement with the government. The attack was a major blow to peace efforts in northern Mali, where rival groups have been vying for control or outright independence. AP There's been a lot of frenzied talk about sexism lately. First of all there was Arlene Foster's controversial claim that calls for her to stand down over the RHI scheme were "misogynistic". More recently, we had the backlash against remarks made by DUP councillor Graham Craig about Belfast City Council's chief executive Suzanne Wylie looking tasty on her bicycle. And now we're back with Mrs Foster again, and the burning question of whether she was being sexist when she described Sinn Fein's northern leader Michelle O'Neill as "blonde". Suddenly it seems more urgent than the frightening length of hospital waiting lists, or the dire challenges facing our impoverished, unstable education sector. Has Northern Ireland had a feminist revolution while I was looking the other way? No fear. To my ears, these loud, super-sanctimonious claims and counter-claims of sexism or misogyny are not motivated by true concern for women's status as free and equal citizens. Instead, they are all about crude political point-scoring and moral one-upmanship. Any dumb blonde could see that, right? But there's a danger in inflating stupid, throwaway comments to the level of serious outrage. It makes us forget what real, thorough-going, destructive misogyny looks like. For instance, when Mr Craig publicly shared his personal frisson of pleasure about the council chief executive on her bike - a mistake for which he later apologised - political opponents described Craig's remarks as "dehumanising", "absolutely horrific" and "vile". I said at the time that these words were wildly excessive for such a trivial instance of stupid sexism. Disproportionate language like this leaves you with nowhere to go, nothing more to say, when confronted with truly misogynist crimes. This week, Connie Leonard, a champion accordion player from Maguiresbridge in Co Fermanagh was murdered by her former partner, Peadar Phair. Connie's son, Conor, who has Down's syndrome, was stabbed by Phair as he tried to save his mum. It is understood that Phair then killed himself. No words can express the horror and squalor of such a situation. Murder-suicides, where a man kills his partner or former partner, are relatively rare. But they do happen, and they represent the tragic endpoint of an epidemic of domestic violence in Northern Ireland. Have you seen the figures? They are atrocious. According to the most recent police statistics, there were 29,166 domestic abuse incidents recorded in 2016/17, which is 2.7% higher than the 2015/16 figure of 28,392 and the highest level recorded since the data began to be collected in 2004/05. The 2016/17 figure is 39.2% higher than the level first recorded in 2004/05. Delve down into the statistics, and the picture only gets darker. There were 13,933 domestic abuse crimes recorded in 2016/17, which is the second highest level since 2004/05. There were three murders with a domestic abuse motivation in 2016/17, compared with one in 2015/16. And now we have the snuffing out of Connie Leonard's life too, as well as the unspeakable harm done to her much-loved son. These physical and psychological attacks on women and children - and sometimes men too, though much less frequently - are going on right under noses. They are rife in our communities, and they cut across all classes and creeds. It's vital to remember that behind each one of those statistics is a real, living human being who is hurt and terrified. They are not just numbers on a page. So if we're suddenly so keen to sniff out and expose instances of misogyny, why are not we talking about this hateful, brutal abuse? When these systematic, sustained campaigns of personal terror are ongoing, why are we wasting our time getting involved in pantomime battles about the colour of female politicians' hair? Hearing about the terrible death of Connie Leonard reminded me of Clodagh Hawe, who was killed along with her three children by her husband, Alan, in an apparent murder-suicide in Co Cavan in 2016. Remarkably, all five were buried together. Clodagh's name was in the news again recently because Alan Hawe's body has at last been exhumed and removed from the cemetery, at the request of Clodagh's family. Too often, we react with disbelief when a family man who, to the rest of the world, seems like the archetypal decent, genial, hard-working fella, turns out to be an abuser. Was it this kind of thinking that contributed to a man who butchered his wife and children being buried alongside them? Domestic abuse is dehumanising, vile, absolutely horrific. When it comes to misogyny, it's time to get both our words and our priorities right. I refer to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee report on HM Government support for UK victims of IRA attacks that used Gaddafi-supplied Semtex and weapons. One overriding question the report alludes to is why the British Government in 2004 did not pursue redress and obtain compensation for the bereaved and injured from the Gaddafi regime in sponsoring IRA terrorism. Again in 2011, under the coalition Government of Cameron and Clegg, yet another opportunity was lost (or, perhaps, considered not a priority). The potential claim for damages is based on the Gaddafi regime supplying, over a period of 25 years, arms, detonators, fuses and Semtex. It is well-established that, in the 1970s, Czechoslovakia (as it then was) allowed large quantities of the explosive to be sold to Libya. A documents file, released by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in April 2016, strongly suggests the supply of these weapons and explosives by Libya to the Provisional IRA was not illegal under international law. The United Nations at the time of the Eksund seizure in 1987 did not have a proscribed list of terrorist organisations, nor rogue states sponsoring international terrorism. The US Mission at the UN was endeavouring to have such lists drawn up, but one main stumbling block was that Libya was a member of the Security Council at the time and highly unlikely to support the Americans. The British Government (FCO) and also the Northern Ireland Office knew all of this back in 1987/88. It would appear that no one felt it prudent to inform the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on these fundamental aspects of the Libya/IRA relationship. This begs the question: why not? M W WOODS Bangor, Co Down What is a crawdad, you ask? Why, it's a little swamp critter eaten by Cajuns. (You might know it as a crawfish or crayfish.) I'm pretty sure we don't see too many of them around here, so if the 10th Annual CrawDaddy Blues Festival is your first exposure you should probably know some things : Crawfish are practically bugs (technically, freshwater crustaceans), they have beady little black eyes (no souls) and they taste amazing. See for yourself at the all-ages festival this Saturday and Sunday, May 20 and 21 , which costs $20 or $15 in advance and includes tons of fresh crawfish and live blues. Don't forget to suck the heads. There's yummy brain juice in there. (Joshua Lee) Fresh crawfish served in traditional Southern varieties accompanied by live music all weekend long. The 10th annual CrawDaddy Blues Fest May 20 & 21 At the Madrid Railyard, adjacent to the Mine Shaft Tavern 2846 Hwy 14 Madrid, New Mexico 87010 505-473-0743 http://www.crawdaddybluesfest.com/ The Mine Shaft Tavern is pleased to announce that we will be hosting the 10th Annual - CrawDaddy Blues Fest! The event will be held May 20 and May 21. Gates open at noon. Great live blues, Fresh Boiled Crawfish & Cajun specialties! Advance Tickets $15 Per Day / $25 Both Days ($20 at Gate) and available April 1 at www.ticketssantafe.org. Tickets will also be available at the Mine Shaft Tavern. Parking & a shuttle will be available on the north end of town. The Mine Shaft Tavern brings in fresh live crawfish from Gulf Coast region. If you love crawfish, you need to come out to this event. In addition to crawfish, green chile blue crab cakes, crawfish etoufee, gumbo, and Texas BBQ Ribs, brisket and smoked pork are available. Fresh squeezed Hurricanes served here! There will be a full bar and plenty of shade. Rain or shine. Kids under 12 are free, no coolers or outside beverages or food allowed. See our website for more information www.CrawDaddyBluesFest.com . There are three stages during the festivalinside the historic Mine Shaft Tavern, the Deck at the Mine Shaft Tavern and our tented amphitheater. Emcee on main stage, Putnay Thomas http://kunm.org/people/putnay-thomas#stream/0 Laissez les bons temps rouler (let the good times roll) Saturday May 20th: The IYAH BAND CACTUS SLIM & THE GOATHEADS KEY FRANCES RUDY BOY EXPERIMENT PARTIZANI BRASS BAND DIKKI DU AND THE ZYDECO CREW WHISKEY DIABLO Sunday May 21: THE BARBWIRES WEST, KOTT AND McDOWELL CW AYON TRIO MILLER AND THE OTHER SINNERS WHISKEY DIABLO PARTIZANI BRASS BAND FLEIX Y LOS GATOS PISTOLS N PETTICOATS Lori Lindsey The Mine Shaft Tavern 505.473.0743 2846 Highway 14 Madrid, NM 87010 http://www.themineshafttavern.com Rapid Action Battalion officers arrest 27 people in the Dhaka suburb of Keraniganj, May 19, 2017. Bangladeshi police stormed a community center outside Dhaka early Friday and arrested 27 men mostly students between the ages of 18 and 20 on suspicion of being gay, officials told BenarNews Friday. Maj. Monjur Morshed, a camp commander of the elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), said members of his team raided the Chhayaneer Community Center in Keraniganj, outside the nations capital, early Friday. We arrested 27 people on charges of homosexuality, he said, adding that a 55-year-old man believed to be the centers supervisor was detained for questioning. Morshed said the raiding team seized banned drugs and other contraband items, such as cannabis, yaba (methamphetamine) tablets and sexual stimulants from the suspects. Homosexual acts are illegal in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, which has a legal code that describes unnatural offenses as carnal intercourse against the order of nature. Defendants could be sentenced to life in prison if found guilty of sodomy. Among the men arrested during the raid on Friday was a college sophomore at Rajshahi University in northwestern Bangladesh. He asked not to be identified. We were eating food after finishing the dance when the RAB members came and arrested us, he said, explaining the raid took place at what is locally known as a Dance Jockey party attended by students from across the country. Jahangir Matabbar, commanding officer of RAB-10, said the suspects would face charges of possessing illegal drugs and narcotics, potentially facing lighter sentences, instead of the British-era sodomy law, which is rarely enforced. It is unusual for Bangladesh authorities to conduct multiple arrests against members of the gay and lesbian community, according to the officer-in-charge of a police station in Dhaka who requested anonymity. We overlook their activities, he said, referring to gays and lesbians. They are not violent; they do not harm anyone. They maintain a close circle among themselves. Unsolved killings The arrests on Friday came a little more than a year after Muslim extremists armed with machetes barged into a Dhaka apartment and killed gay-rights activists Xulhaz Mannan and Mahbub Tonoy. The killings remain unsolved, but police arrested one suspect and have determined five to seven men carried out the killings on April 25, 2016. Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) claimed responsibility for the killings, but investigators said a local militant group with AQIS leanings, Ansarullah Bangla Team, is responsible. Members of Bangladeshs gay and lesbian community have expressed fears that they could be targeted as the country deals with a spate of deadly attacks where suspected Muslim militants targeted writers, publishers and intellectuals. New blog promotes gay rights Boys of Bangladesh, an organization of the self-declared local and expatriate homosexuals, last month launched a new web blog called Dhee to commemorate the killings of Tonoy and Mannan, who worked at the American embassy in Dhaka for the U.S. Agency for International Development and moonlighted as editor of Roopbaan, Bangladeshs first LGBT magazine. The blog details the fears and sufferings that have been experienced by homosexuals in Bangladesh. We have been in constant fear, said an organizer of Boys of Bangladesh who identified himself as a friend of Mannan and Tonoy. I could not sleep on that night (when Mannan and Tonoy were killed). It was dark everywhere; there was pin-drop silence around me, he recalled during an interview with BenarNews. A cat was walking on the tin-roof of my room, but that sound made me think someone with machetes was coming to hack me. The executive director of a nongovernment organization, who also asked not to be identified, told BenarNews that gays and lesbians in Bangladesh fear a serious security threat. We do not know whether we will get protection from the police, he said We are not confident to launch any fresh program to promote the rights of the LGBT community. Even two years ago, he said, his organization arranged seminars, round tables, workshops and offered fellowships for journalists. Now, we have been working among ourselves, he said. Kamran Reza Chowdhury in Dhaka contributed to this report. Members of the Royal Malaysian Police elite high-profile counter-terrorism tactical unit participate in the 210th Police Day parade in Kuala Lumpur, March 25, 2017. About 30 men from other countries with suspected ties to terrorism groups have entered Malaysia since 2015 after being deported, mostly from Turkey, Malaysias top counter-terrorism official told BenarNews. Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay, chief of the counter-terrorism division of the police special branch, said about 10 of those men had been arrested and questioned by Malaysian authorities. Those who were wanted in other countries or could have ties to militant groups were deported by Malaysian authorities, Ayob said. Suspicious characters from Arab nations, Indonesia and some other parts of the world have disembarked from Syria to Malaysia as it was their choice of destination, he told BenarNews late Thursday. Ayob said most of the men entered Malaysia from Turkey, the main entry point to Syria for foreign fighters seeking to join the Islamic State (IS) and other terrorist groups. Turkish law allows suspects captured trying to travel to Syria to choose where they will be deported. Most of the time they would pick Malaysia as it is one of the destinations with relaxed regulations and it welcomes visitors from any country, he said. In June 2016, Malaysia was a target of an IS attack a grenade tossed at Movida nightclub near Kuala Lumpur injured eight people. Two Malaysian men pleaded guilty in the attack and were sentenced to 25 years each in prison. Muhammad Wanndy Bin Mohamed Jedi, a prolific recruiter for IS in Malaysia before he was killed in a drone strike in Syria last month, claimed responsibility for the attack. Deportations Malaysian police chief Khalid Abu Bakar on May 4 issued a challenge to foreigners trying to evade authorities in their native countries by entering Malaysia. We do not welcome people who are causing problems here. We do not welcome foreigners here who have caused any problem for our people and our country, he said, commenting on the arrests of three Turkish citizens who have since been deported. The three, a Turkish university board member, an international school principal in the state of Perak and a businessman, were deported on May 11 to Ankara for their alleged links to a group labeled by Turkey as the Fethullah Terrorist Organization. International rights groups and organizations slammed Malaysias decision to forcibly send the three back to Turkey, saying their lives were in danger. The mens relatives accused authorities of failing to notify them about their loved ones expulsion in the middle of the night. Meanwhile, Ayob said Malaysian authorities have had a tough time dealing with repeated deportations from Turkey as authorities in Kuala Lumpur often are not informed. Even when the Turkish authority did [notify us], it would be too late. Sometimes police received notice on the day the person landed here, he said. It can often be last-minute. Law enforcement Azmi Hassan, a geo-political analyst at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in Johor Bahru, told BenarNews that existing laws have enabled officials to arrest Malaysians and foreign nationals before terror acts can be committed. Thats the reason sharing of intelligence among nations is critical, so the E8 counter-terrorism division can have a heads-up pursuing unwanted guests here, he said, referring to a police unit. This shows how serious the authority is in circumventing these militant activities. Since 2014, at least 31 Malaysian IS militants have been killed in Syria or Iraq. Currently some 56 Malaysians are fighting in Syria, according to government figures obtained by BenarNews. Since 2013, Malaysian authorities have arrested 300 people suspected of having links to IS, of whom 66 have since been freed. Hata Wahari in Kuala Lumpur contributed to this report. A Filipino soldier receives first-aid treatment while other members of the Philippine Army engage Muslim rebels in a gun battle in Isulan town in the southern Philippines, May 19, 2017. Ten militants belonging to a Muslim rebel splinter group have been killed in a gun battle with troops in the southern Philippines, a military official told BenarNews Friday. Army Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, commander of 33rd Infantry Battalion, said police backed by soldiers were about to serve an arrest warrant for a man called Dimas Thursday when he and his heavily armed colleagues opened fire, triggering a gun battle near the town of Isulan in Sultan Kudarat province, about 1,600 km (1,000 miles) south of Manila, the Philippine capital. Dimas is a commander of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) who is wanted for murder and other crimes, police said. The BIFF broke away from the larger separatist group the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which gave up its secessionist efforts and signed a peace deal with Manila three years ago in exchange for autonomy. It was not clear whether Dimas group was part of the BIFF faction that engaged the army in five days of clashes early this month. Thirty-one rebels were killed in those clashes. Cabunoc said Dimas and his men, all armed with high-powered guns opened fire at soldiers and police who were arriving to serve the warrant. Cabunoc did not mention the number of casualties from the government side. A fierce fighting erupted, leaving 10 dead on the side of the enemy. We recovered their bodies and turned them over to local officials, Cabunoc said, adding Dimas managed to escape. The police have accused BIFF members of engaging in criminal activities including cattle rustling and drug trafficking. While it has claimed it wanted to pursue the separatist struggle in the south, the military said many in the BIFF ranks have engaged in criminality or pledged allegiance to other groups seeking to attract funding from Islamic State militants in the Middle East. Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) shakes hands with Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte prior to their bilateral meeting during the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, May 15, 2017. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday said China threatened him with war if he insisted on enforcing last years arbiters ruling on the South China Sea, a serious claim that comes as Southeast Asian nations and Beijing agreed on a framework code of conduct to prevent clashes in the sea region. Speaking in the southern city of Davao before members of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary, Duterte said he had told Beijing leader Xi Jinping that he wanted to drill in the disputed area, which is believed to sit atop vast mineral deposits. We intend to drill oil there, if its yours, well, thats your view, but my view is I can drill the oil, if there is some inside the bowels of the earth because it is ours, Duterte said in a nationally televised speech. He said the Chinese leader told him, Were friends, we dont want to quarrel with you. We want to maintain the presence of warm relationship, but if you force the issue, well go to war. What can I say then? Duterte said. He said he insisted the United Nations-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in favor of Manila last year, something China said both countries would eventually have to talk about. Duterte said Xi told him they would eventually talk about the ruling. But it cannot be done now, he said, quoting the Chinese leader. Dutertes statement comes as China and the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed Thursday to a draft framework of a code of conduct to govern actions in the region during a meeting in the southern city of Guiyang, China. The Philippines welcomes the finalization by ASEAN and Chinas senior officials of the draft of the framework of the code of conduct, the Philippine foreign ministry said in a statement Friday. It did not give details, only that the document was completed ahead of the mid-2017 goal set by leaders of ASEAN and China. It contains elements which the parties have agreed upon, the statement said, without elaborating. The draft framework will be presented to the foreign ministers of ASEAN and China at their post-ministerial conference in Manila in August 2017 for their consideration, it said. The Philippines reaffirms its commitment to working toward an effective code of conduct for the South China Sea, the statement said. China ignored The Hauge ruling in July 2016 that effectively invalidated most of its South China Sea claims, three years after Manila filed a case. Duterte has been downplaying the ruling as he seeks an alliance with China and distances the country from its traditional ally, the United States, with which it is bound by a decades-long mutual defense treaty. A war with China would result to massacre and it will destroy everything, Duterte said. China and ASEAN agreed 15 years ago to sign a code of conduct. But progress has been slow and often marred by disputes over claims by Beijing to almost the entire sea, including waters close to shores of the other claimants. Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and Chinese rival Taiwan have their own claims in the South China Sea. Chinese Embassy officials were not immediately available to comment Friday. Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) meets with his Philippine counterpart Rodrigo Duterte on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Lima, Peru, Nov. 19, 2016. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will seek to join what he has termed as a new world order that also involves China when he travels to Moscow next week at the invitation of Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Manilas foreign department announced Friday. The May 22 to 26 Russian trip comes months after Duterte traveled to China in October 2016 on a state visit as part of his pledge to distance the Philippines from traditional ally the United States. Additionally, during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Peru late last year, Duterte met with Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Duterte had said that the two nations were seeking to create a new world order and that the Philippines under his leadership would be the first in line to join. He had said that the three of them had become fast friends with the Russian strongman becoming his instant idol. Philippine officials see the four-day visit as an indication of our strong common desire to enhance bilateral relations, foreign assistant secretary Maria Cleofe Natividad told reporters in a pre-departure briefing. She said bilateral ties between the two countries are at a nascent stage despite almost half a century of diplomatic relations. The relations can be best described as cordial, albeit, modest in scope and depth. Thus, we consider this visit as a landmark that will send a strong message of the Philippines commitment to seek new partnerships and strengthen relations with non-traditional partners such as Russia, Natividad said. Duterte is expected to have bilateral meetings with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and Putin on the first two days of his trip. The leaders were to discuss areas of cooperation in the fields of politics, military and defense, she said, adding that several agreements were expected to be signed. Duterte is scheduled to give a policy speech at the Moscow Institute of International Relations, she said. We expect the president to articulate his administrations commitment to pursue an independent foreign policy that is anchored foremost on national interest considerations, Natividad said. The trip comes after Manila announced that it has turned down a European Union (EU) grant of almost $300 million to fund projects in the strife-torn south, protesting what it termed as interference over internal affairs. It was an apparent reference to the EUs call for Duterte to stop his war on drugs, which rights experts have said has left thousands of people dead. Filipino officials contend the death toll was overblown and part of alternative facts pushed largely by the critical western media. Duterte has bristled at these calls, and have often criticized the EU, the United Nations and the United States for questioning the policies of a sovereign nation. Natividad said Duterte will travel with a business delegation to meet with their Russian counterparts and they expect to bring home lucrative deals. Bilateral trade between the Philippines and Russia in 2016 totaled only to $226 million, with a trade deficit of some $49 million absorbed by Manila. Russian investments in the Philippines at best are still minuscule with only about 38,000 Russian tourists visiting the country, far below the average in many Southeast Asian countries, Natividad said. On April 20, the Russian guided-missile cruiser Varyag, accompanied by a fuel tanker ship, arrived in the Philippines on a four-day goodwill visit. It was the second port call by Russian warships in three months. Thailand has banned people in the country from contacting, following or otherwise engaging online with three government critics overseas. One of them is Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a professor of politics and international relations at Kyoto University in Japan. The ban has made him better known among Thais than he was previously, Pavin told BenarNews in an interview. Strangely, and against the warning from the Thai state, I have more followers since the ban was launched, he said. The other two are Somsak Jeamteerasakul, a former lecturer at Thammasat University now living in France; and Briton Andrew MacGregor Marshall, a former Reuters reporter, according to Thailands Ministry of Digital Economy and Society. Pavin studies and writes about key institutions in Thailand including the monarchy and the military, which came to power in a coup three years ago primarily to manage the royal succession, he said. That transition is now firmly under way since long-reigning King Bhumibol Adulyadej died in October 2016 and was succeeded by his son, King Maha Vajiralongkorn. Pavin says he doesnt care about a promised return to democracy in 2018 because, thanks to a new constitution, we can expect that the new government will either be weak, of coalition, or be under the domination of the military. Pavin (pictured) has paid a high price for the ability to speak freely about his country. After the coup in May 2014, authorities twice summoned Pavin to discuss his opinions. As he did not comply, the junta issued a warrant for his arrest and revoked his passport. But he holds out hope that Thailand will follow some of its neighbors by establishing democracy within the next two decades, reflecting changes in the region and within Thai society itself. BN: You are one of three individuals that people in Thailand are banned from contacting online. What was your reaction to this move and how has it impacted you? (courtesy of Pavin Chachavalpongpun) Pavin: I am not surprised to learn that I have been among those being banned online by the Thai state, given that I have been critical of the military and monarchy. I have not reacted in any way in particular, but just continue my usual activities online. If anything, I am more open and direct than before. As a result, strangely, and against the warning from the Thai state, I have more followers since the ban was launched. More than 3,000 people have followed me on top of my regular followers. If there was an impact on me, the ban helped me become more well-known among Thais. BN: We have reached the third year anniversary of the coup that brought the junta to power. What are positive and negative aspects of this chapter in Thailands political history? Pavin: There is nothing positive coming out of the military's intervention in politics. Optimists would say that the coup renders good lessons for Thais and politicians alike For me, this is a setback of Thai democracy. The military staged a coup primarily to manage the royal succession. On top of that, the military wanted to ensure that enemies of the elites are eliminated, in this case, the Shinawatra family. In the process, they have rewritten the constitution to allow the military to entrench its influence in politics, weakening civilian governments in the future. Also in the process, civil liberty has been taken away. Thais can no longer express their political views freely. The media has to practice self-censorship. The monarchy has wanted to maintain its political dominance by exploiting the Lese-Majeste law to undermine its critics. This explains why cases of Lese-Majeste skyrocketed over the year. BN: Its been 25 years since bloody May, when mostly middle-class protesters rose up to demand the resignation of an unelected prime minister. What is different today? Why is the middle class of Bangkok not protesting military rule as it did then? Pavin: We have to understand that the Thai middle class has never been a reliable partner of democracy They will support democracy if the latter gives them benefits. ... When they are under threat or their government can no longer guarantee their advantages, they will turn against democracy and support military rule. This has been the case of Thailand, and is not uncommon in Southeast Asia, I must say. From 1992 until today, little has changed. The Thai middle class is still searching for their political benefits at the expense of their real promotion of democracy. BN: When do you think elections will be held? Will Thailand return to a more limited form of democracy, in your view? Pavin: Frankly, I don't know. And frankly, I don't care. I don't know because we cannot rely on the military government. The junta will not allow the election until it can be certain that its power arrangement has been successful. As for why I don't care, this is simply because the junta-written constitution will not promise real democracy. [Given] the content of the new constitution, we can expect that the new government will either be weak, of coalition, or be under the domination of the military. So yes, Thai democracy in the new government will be limited. BN: Much has been written about curbs on freedom of speech under the current government. What about academic freedom? Pavin: Little or none. Within Thailand, my academic friends have worked under extreme pressure. They are not allowed to freely express themselves. They are not allowed to hold any conferences deemed a threat to the junta. Anyone vocal about the junta, the monarchy will have their attitude adjusted. Outside Thailand, as in my case, I have more freedom to express myself, but the price is high. I cannot return home. They also charge me with Lese-Majeste. BN: Where do you hope to see Thailand in 20 years? Pavin: Despite what I said, I hope democracy will eventually return to my country. I believe that non-democratic forces will be defeated by the will of the people. The international environment has changed so much with the opening up of countries like Indonesia and Myanmar. Thailand will never be able to run away from it. Thailand is not the same as in the past. Based on this, I hope that the military and the monarchy will come to terms with the changes. ein Google-Unternehmen Google-Dienste anzubieten und zu betreiben Ausfalle zu prufen und Manahmen gegen Spam, Betrug und Missbrauch zu ergreifen Daten zu Zielgruppeninteraktionen und Websitestatistiken zu erheben. 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Sofern relevant, verwenden wir Cookies und Daten auerdem, um Inhalte und Werbung altersgerecht zu gestalten. Wir verwenden Cookies und Daten, umWenn Sie Alle akzeptieren auswahlen, verwenden wir Cookies und Daten auch, umWahlen Sie Weitere Optionen aus, um sich zusatzliche Informationen anzusehen, einschlielich Details zum Verwalten Ihrer Datenschutzeinstellungen. Sie konnen auch jederzeit g.co/privacytools besuchen. Addressing the media on the achievements under The Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) New Delhi recently the Minister said that following the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modis vision of making providing Affordable, Quality Medicines for All, the Government has made Health Security for all citizens its priority and this aim can only be achieved through the Janaushadhi pariyojana. Through this scheme, the Government is planning to take affordable medicines to each block of the country in near future. Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers and Parliamentary Affairs, Ananthkumar said, "Today India is the Worlds Pharmacy and our Pharma sector is growing at a pace of 20-21%. India is exporting quality generic medicines to 215 countries. PMBJP scheme is creating a silent revolution in achieving health security by providing affordable, quality medicines for all." Kumar informed that as on date, 1320 PMBJP Kendras (PMBJKs) are functioning in the country in the 30 States/UTs, covering 426 districts, as compared to only 80 opened between 2008 and 2014. The turnover in the beginning of the scheme was around Rs. 3 cror, which would increase to around Rs. 60 crore by end of this year, he informed. Further, the Minister said that MoUs for opening PMBJKs have been signed by Union Government with 19 State Governments and other Organisations/NGOs. A total of 32,225 applications have been received out of which in-principle approval has been given to 30,300 applications, which is a proof of the huge opportunity that this scheme provides for unemployed youth to get self-employed, Kumar added. Talking about the actual reduction in medicine prices, Kumar said that in these PMBJKs, the Government procured generic medicines are sold which are 50 - 90% less as compared to the branded medicines in open market, for e.g. the price of Amlodipine 5 mg 10 Tablets is Rs. 3.25 as compared to market average price of Rs. 20.00 for branded version. Further, the product basket of PMBJP contains more than 600 medicines and 154 surgicals and consumables in all therapeutic categories viz. Anti-infectives, Anti-diabetics, Cardiovasculars, Anti-cancers, Gastro-intestinal medicines, etc. Most importantly, allaying the concerns about quality, the Minister said that each batch of drug supplied to PMBJKs is tested for impeccable quality assurance at NABL (National Accreditation Board Laboratories) accredited laboratories and is compliant with WHO GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) benchmarks. Out of total 10,000 pharmaceuticals companies in India, 1400 are WHO GMP compliant and drugs under the PMBJP are procured only from these 1400 companies, Kumar said. Answering to a question on prescription of generic medicines by doctors, the Minister informed that due to sustained efforts of the Ministry, the Medical Council of India (MCI) has recently issued a directive to all medical colleges, hospitals, doctors across the country and made it mandatory to prominently mention Generic Names of drugs along with Brand Names in their prescriptions, in pursuance of which strict disciplinary action may be taken against the violators. All medical practitioners have been directed by the Government to strictly comply with its directions. Further, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has also issued advisory to all State Drug Controllers that all branded drugs, imported or domestically manufactured, should mandatorily contain generic names mentioned in bold letters while packaging, Kumar added. It was also informed that in order to encourage doctors to prescribe generic medicines, the MCI had amended the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002 on 08th October 2016 advising the use of generic name of drugs in doctors prescription. Informing about the Governments efforts towards future expansion of PMBJKs in the country, Kumar said that the Ministry of Railways has come on board to open Janaushadhi kendras in over 1000 railway stations across the country in collaboration with Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers. Opinion | 04 November 2022 | Interviews India needs to connect OPD with the cashless insurance network to bring them into the digital economy After having raised $1.2 million from Entrepreneur First and GrowX Ventures in 2021, how do you see the perfor...Read more The 2017 European CEO Awards recognizes Dr. Cutler for his leadership in pivotal clinical trials and his success as a clinical researcher and honors him with the title of Best CEO in the CRO industry. Dr. Neal Cutler, M.D. is the Chief Executive Officer of Worldwide Clinical Trials, a company focused on the development of life-changing medicines, which is recognized by organizations from around the world for its outstanding services and expertise in clinical trials. It has won various awards which include Informas Scrip Award, Life Science Leaders CRO Leadership Award, Nice Insight etc. This honor recognizes Dr. Cutlers contributions as the founder and CEO of Worldwide, one of the worlds leading, full-service contract research organizations (CROs). The annual European CEO Awards highlight the achievements of CEOs across a variety of industries whose contributions are driving their companies forward. Dr. Cutler, a board-certified psychiatrist who is also board-qualified in both neurology and clinical pharmacology, has been instrumental in the design and clinical development of nearly 200 compounds in numerous therapeutic areas. Since creating the first iteration of Worldwide Clinical Trials 30 years ago, he has guided the company with a steadfast commitment to the medicine and science of clinical research, leading to impressive growth. This, along with his consistent dedication to Worldwides customers, were named as key reasons for his receiving the European CEO Award. I am humbled to have been recognized with this prestigious honor. This truly is a reflection of what Worldwide has achieved, and the high-quality service that we consistently deliver I share this award with our amazing team, said Dr. Cutler in a press release. My passion for the potentially life-changing work Worldwide does every day drives me and shapes my leadership, and it is this passion that I share with our entire company. This drive to support our sponsor partners in drug discovery permeates our company and has helped build our reputation as one of the worlds leading CROs. Dr. Cutler has authored 276 publications, including nine books on the topics of clinical pharmacology, aging, Alzheimers disease, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders and diabetes. He has been a prominent figure in the industry, having been invited to give hundreds of presentations around the world in the fields of aging, clinical pharmacology and drug development. The European CEO Awards recognize the leading players across a range of sectors, the companies pushing the envelope in business, and the executives who make this progress possible. Dr. Cutler joins other recent healthcare industry winners including the CEOs of Chronos Therapeutics, Biolingus, and Evaxion Biotech. As per the NPPAs report of April 28, 40 complaints about overcharging have been received against hospitals, including public hospitals Almost three months after the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) ceiling the maximum prices of cardiac stents, as expected, there have been complaints of non-compliance of the concerned government order on one hand and on the other hand upset stent manufacturers are wishing to withdraw some new-generation stents from the market. As per the NPPAs report of April 28, 40 complaints about overcharging have been received against hospitals, including public hospitals, and they are at different stages of investigation. The number may appear small, but behind every complaint there could be many more unreported cases considering the literacy, education and information level in the country. Some hospitals have been accused of increasing the charges of non-stent components to recover the dent in their income caused by stent price ceiling. The move that has proved much-needed relief to the patients, has obviously upset the stent makers and hospitals. The stent makers dissatisfaction reflected in a reported speech by a senior US embassy official at the US India business council meet some time back where he termed the decision as not business-friendly, sending a signal that India is not open for business and also contrary to international regulatory norms. Subsequently, three multinational stent manufacturers sough to withdraw their new-generation stents from India market claiming that it is commercially unviable to sell the stents at the fixed prices. The government, however, rightly denied them permission to withdraw for six months as the February notification capping the prices states that production, import and supply of stents needs to be maintained for six months. The governments firm denial to permissions for withdrawal is crucial as 70% of Indian coronary stent market is controlled by overseas companies and three US companies among them are major suppliers. Their withdrawal may cause shortage. Besides, some recent news reports show that stent prices in richer countries with small markets were much low compared to those in India. While Indian patients were paying Rs 65,000 to Rs 1.7 lakh for Drug Eluding Stents (DES), in US charges were USD 950 to USD 1200 (Rs 62,000 to Rs 78,000). This shows that why the government was compelled to cap the prices in the interests of the patients. The government anticipates that the patients will save Rs 4450 crores annually due to 74% reduction in bare medical stents and 85% reduction in DES. This huge expected saving for common Indian people also exhibits how the stent prices were inflated when heart diseases in India increased four-fold in four decades and 30 million people suffer from coronary diseases. One viewpoint of the industry that all types of stents cannot be sold at same price can be considered. The industry claims that quality & innovation must be rewarded and urges the government to categorise the stents depending upon the technology and innovation used in their manufacturing to keep segment attractive and alive. While the government had acted in the interest of the patients, it also has to ensure adequate supply of stents even from the foreign companies despite their dissatisfaction over the price cap. One way to ensure the adequate supply in the long run is to encourage domestic research and more local production that may continue to lower the cost. May be a separate ministry for medical devices, as the governments intention announced by Chemicals &Fertiliser minister Anant Kumar in Bangalore some time back, help speeding up the process of domestic production to overcome the problem of high prices of medical devices, particularly when despite India having USD 4.9 billion medical devices market, that is one among the top 20 in the world, it is 70% important dependent. Regulatory issues are handled by different ministries. Bring them under one ministry will speed up process of research, innovation, product development and production. That may permanently take care of pricing issue. LAGOS, Nigeria - Applications have opened for the She Leads Africa 2017 Accelerator, a three-month program designed to identify, support and fund the next generation of Nigeria's brightest female entrepreneurs. First place winner 2016, Angel Adelaja of Fresh Direct NG. She Leads Africa is a social enterprise dedicated to supporting young African women and their journey towards professional success through online content and offline programmes. SLA has a community of more than 300,000 members in over 30 countries across Africa. She Leads Africas 2017 Accelerator will take place in four locations across Nigeria - Abuja, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, and Kaduna. The 2017 Accelerator will consist of one week residencies in the four locations where entrepreneurs will receive training from the SLA team and business leaders and experts. During these residencies, entrepreneurs will be focused on business strategy, growth, marketing, finance and distribution. They will also receive a host of on and offline training as well as an opportunity to pitch their business to national and international investors. Fresh Directs founder and 2016 class winner, Angel Adelaja, said This was like a condensed Masters Program. I am so different now and our company is thinking and strategising differently. This 2017 SLA Accelerator is run in partnership with the Work in Progress! Alliance - a consortium of Oxfam, Butterfly Works and VC4A focused on driving job creation and youth employment in Nigeria. The Kaduna Agribusiness cohort is sponsored by OCP. Entrepreneurs interested in applying should visit www.SheLeadsAfrica.org/accelerator for more information and to apply. Submissions close on 25 June 2017. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns combative radio journalist Fernand Cello's arrest on seven outrageous charges, requests his immediate release and calls on the Madagascan authorities to stop persecuting him. Fernand Cello Fernand Cello, whose real name is Avimana Fernand, was arrested on the evening of 6 May as he left a private clinic in the capital, Antananarivo, where he had been receiving treatment during the previous few days. The individuals who carried out the arrest identified themselves as gendarmes. An investigative reporter for Radio Jupiter, a radio station based in the northern city Ilakaka, Cello is well-known for having exposed the existence of an illegal sapphire mine in Ilakaka and had only recently emerged from four months in hiding. The charges brought against him include defamation, spreading false news, inciting hatred and endangering state security. It is not known to what specific alleged actions by Cello they refer. An additional charge of stealing chequebooks has been filed against him by Maherlla, a privately-owned power company based in Ilakaka that was accused by Cello in August 2016 of cheating its clients. We condemn the use of such methods by the Madagascan authorities, who would rather harass an investigative journalist than confront the conflicts of interest and corruption that are eating away at the nation," RSF said. The long list of accusations brought against Fernand Cello shows that their aim [is] to put a stop to his investigative reporting altogether because he has been hitting the target. We call for his release and the withdrawal of all the charges." Cello went into hiding in December 2016 after getting death threats and after the army raided Radio Jupiter and confiscated its transmitter. Shortly before the raid, Cello had in broadcasts and in posts on social networks accused Gondwana, a mining company owned by government allies, of operating an illegal sapphire mine. Radio Jupiter was previously silenced in August 2016 when the local power company Maherlla turned off its power supply after Cello accused it on the air of colluding with Ilakaka's mayor to cheat consumers. On 21 April, the ministry of mining finally ordered Gondwana to suspend operations for contravening the mining code. It was this decision that persuaded Cello to come out of hiding. Madagascar is ranked 57th out of 180 countries in RSF's 2017 World Press Freedom Index. This statement was originally published on rsf.org. The ever-vibrant and inspirational Thebe Ikalafeng delivered one of the keynote talks at the recently concluded 2017 African Utility Week. His key message was that the utilities sector across the continent needs to start building great brands and, in turn, deliver on the promise of those brands. Thebe Ikalafeng, brand and reputation expert, at 2017 African Utility Week The brand and reputation expert pointed out that on Brand Africa's 2016/17 list of the Most Admired Brands in Africa, only 16 originated from the continent. "70% are not from Africa," he said, "How are we going to change our continent if we don't like our own products?" Of the most admired and valued brands, none are in the utilities sector, he pointed out, and yet this is the sector that is meant to drive African economies. What's in a brand? More than just a logo, "a brand is the stuff you communicate about yourself and the stuff you communicate despite yourself," said Ikalafeng, paraphrasing former Fortune 200 CEO David F. D'Alessandro. "Be careful the promises that you make," he warned, "because it is through those promises that you are held accountable." He used the example of the complaint made against the City of Johannesburg, which was upheld by the Advertising Standards Authority of South Africa. The radio advert, which promoted Johannesburg as a "world-class African city", was deemed misleading and it was ruled that it be withdrawn. A brand also helps you stand out, he said, "You are either distinct or extinct." But how do you create a distinctive brand? Ikalafeng provided seven key ingredients: 1. Clarity: "There must be clarity about what you stand for, what it is you are delivering, and what is it you are promising," he said. 2. Communication: He advised to focus on making emotional connections between customers and products. Brands should take advantage of the number of tools, such as social media, at their disposal to help them stand out in terms of what they deliver. 3. Delivery: What drives a brand and its services, he said, is the interaction between people and the product. This interaction has been found to determine 70% of the perceptions that people have about a brand, he pointed out. "We need to encourage customers to do in the public sector what they do in the private sector - they will put up a billboard and take their money somewhere else. The only language that government seems to understand is when we start destroying the poor goods that they've put out there... and that shouldn't be how it's done. We should not get to a situation where the people are saying out with the leadership, but that's exactly what they do in the private sector," explained Ikalafeng. 4. Patriotism: Brands need to be able to identify with their countries and with the continent, he said, pointing out that countries with the highest GDPs are those with the biggest brands. 5. Alignment: Brands must align the experience they offer with the image they project, he explained. Employee behaviour should be aligned with the values a brand espouses. 6. Collaboration: There needs to be more intra-African investment and sharing of best practice across the continent between regions, countries and industries. 7. Leadership: Strong, purposeful leadership is needed for brands to help drive the African economy. Ikalafeng concluded his keynote with a quote from former president of Ghana Kwame Nkrumah, "We face neither East, we face neither West, we face forward," he said, because Africa is the future. 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. There is some controversy about alternative reimbursement models in the commercial healthcare industry. Global fees contracts - where a single payment is made to a healthcare team to cover all costs including hospitals, either monthly, or for a defined episode of care such as hip surgery - have attracted most of the attention. Global fees address various problems with the current fee-for-service model by shifting medical care emphasis towards preventative, outcomes-based care, rather just for the type and number of services rendered. They also promote teamwork, which enable clinicians to better follow complex clinical protocols that deliver good outcomes. However, the current formulations put forward by schemes are not popular with professional medical bodies because they violate some basic principles. The Health Professionals Council of South Africa has urged practitioners not to enter into any alternative fee arrangements while this is being resolved. The critique of the current models is that they can compromise patient care by encouraging cutting corners to save money because they contain no balancing rewards for good outcomes. They also undermine clinician autonomy; These models require clinicians to enter into contracts with corporates, including hospital groups. Clinicians do not have the financial capital to take on the risk associated with all the services in a global fee. A lone clinician enters such an agreement effectively as a subordinate, not as an equal partner, says Dr Brian Ruff, a health systems expert and co-founder of PPO Serve, an integrated healthcare management company. We need to move away from the fee for service model it incentivises over-servicing and has no accountability to patients. As it is billable only by single clinicians and not organised teams, it fragments the delivery of care. These problems are contributing to the affordability crisis and escalating scheme premiums," he says. Value fee contract Ruffs solution is the creation of a new fee structure the value fee contract, which serves the interests of patients, clinicians and funders, and is based on clear principles. There are two components; a professional team fee and a value-add fee; Clinicians bill collectively for their services from their independently owned multidisciplinary teams. These professional team fees cannot contain financial risk because clinicians dont have financial reserves. The value component is based on measures that include both patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes. The base professional fee reflects the enrolled patient risk profile (the severity of their conditions), the multidisciplinary professional input required and management costs. The value-linked add-on is like a hotel star rating system. Consistently high performing teams in terms of patient satisfaction, outcomes and cost management can bill higher fees. Value based fees can be monthly for populations or for a defined episode of care such as a hip joint replacement or maternity care. To assist clinicians to form these commercial clinical teams and enter value-based contracts with schemes, Ruff and Riedwaan Jabaar founded PPO Serve in 2015. The PPO Serve model produces accountability within an autonomous framework. It uses a reimbursement structure that takes patient severity, quality outcomes and cost in to account, he says. Alternatives to the current set-up are necessary and over-due; its important to get new structures right, says Ruff. Innovative solutions are leading the way and aligning the interests of service providers and funders. Analysts have praised Steinhoff's decision to list its African assets separately, saying the move allows the businesses to emerge from the shadow of its international operations. Sanlam Private Wealth portfolio manager Riaan Gerber said it had been clear since the failed talks with Shoprite that Steinhoff's management team aimed to create a definitive split between the African and international businesses. "This provides an opportunity to unlock value for shareholders if one assumes the new ListCo will be priced at valuations similar to its Southern Africa peer group. "I believe that the quality of businesses such as Pepkor should justify a premium on valuation," Gerber said. Cratos Wealth senior analyst Ron Klipin agreed. He said the separation made sense from a focus perspective, with Africa as an emerging market with good GDP growth and the international markets with their own different profile. "These entities could have different ratings based on risk-reward metrics resulting in a value unlock. "The Africa assets are more diverse, encompassing Unitrans, JD Group, Steinbuild and likely PSG Group. In addition, this conglomerate-type entity will probably swallow up Shoprite, which could be a plus factor." Klipin said a future deal with Shoprite would hinge on the swap ratio, which, if favourable, would allow Shoprite minorities to approve the deal. Some domestic investors have raised questions about whether Steinhoff, under the leadership of Markus Jooste, would keep a controlling interest in ListCo. Steinhoff said the African retail assets comprised great businesses with strong brands and exciting growth prospects. "Steinhoff International would like to remain invested in these assets and share in the success of these assets. Steinhoff is proud supporters of the new entity's vision to unlock value by creating a diversified listed retail company of significant size and scale with roots in Africa," the company said. Steinhoff said it planned to raise capital to meet the JSE's free-float requirements. Gerber said to create a free float of at least 20% implied it had to raise about R22bn. The exercise would also provide scope for management to deleverage its balance sheet. Pepkor was one of Africa's largest retailers, with 22% of total apparel and footwear sales in SA, Gerber said. It was well positioned on the continent for expansion and growth. The other businesses within the new ListCo were market leaders in their own right and in their respective industries. The businesses include Poco SA and Tekkie Town. "One would believe that the management of the new ListCo will look at the best fit within all of these businesses for further synergies," said Gerber. "Since 75% of its business is focused towards Europe, the UK, the US and Australasia, the attractiveness of its African business has been obscure. The listing of ListCo will also provide a good opportunity for investors who only want exposure to its African assets," he said. Source: Business Day Iconic South African brand Ouma Rusks, which began in 1939 in the small North-Eastern Cape town of Molteno, has introduced two new additions to the range, Premium Rusks and Mini Bite Size Rusks. The Premium Rusks include farm fresh buttermilk and are available in three variants - Buttermilk & Muesli, Buttermilk & Bran and Buttermilk & Aniseed. The Mini Bite Size Rusks are available in Buttermilk and Muesli flavours, packed in 200g boxes. We are excited to bring even more variety to our range as well as to leading stores across the country with our two new additions. Thanks to their great recipes, they will no doubt soon become firm favourites, offering South Africans new reasons to #DipnOUMA, says Lonwabo Thinta, brand manager for Ouma Rusks. The new Premium Rusks and Mini Bite Size Rusks are available nationwide, retailing at approximately R47.99 and R16.99 respectively. The Just Gold project, a system to trace legal and conflict-free artisanal gold, which began in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 2015, reached a milestone - moving it from the pilot stage - having proven a successful chain of custody from mine site to exporter. After almost two years of testing the Just Gold project with an aim to develop a chain of custody and due diligence system for artisanal gold in DRC, we are excited to share news of our success, said Joanne Lebert, partnership Africa Canadas executive director. The Just Gold project can now move from a period of testing to implementation and ensuring we have a long-term, sustainable and viable solution for traceable, legal and conflict-free exports of artisanal gold from Congo, said Lebert. The Just Gold project creates incentives for artisanal gold miners to channel their product to legal exporters - and eventually responsible consumers - by offering fair and transparent pricing and by providing capacity-building, such as technical assistance to miners in return for legal sales. Miners are taught better exploitation techniques and offered Just Gold project equipment, in return for which any gold produced must be tracked and sold through legal channels. Legal, traceable supply chain Proving that artisanal gold in eastern Congo can be conflict-free, legal and traceable is a major step in responsible sourcing efforts in the Great Lakes region. The government of Democratic Republic of Congo is taking major strides in complying with regional standards and demonstrating how the implementation the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains can contribute to progressive improvements in the sector, supporting artisanal gold men and women miners to enter international markets, said Lebert. Partnership Africa Canada signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Democratic Republic of Congos Minister of Mines Martin Kabwelulu on September 2016, outlining support for the organisations activities to strengthen natural resource governance. Current activities in DRC include the Just Gold project, capacity building to implement both the International Conference on the Great Lakes (ICGLR) Regional Certification Mechanism (RCM) and the OECD Due Diligence Guidance applicable to high-value minerals, as well as support to civil society for monitoring and reporting on supply chain integrity. Recognising women in the sector Partnership Africa Canada has also undertaken research and analysis of the artisanal gold supply chain to understand womens roles in the sector. Through sensitisation and outreach, the Just Gold project improves awareness of womens rights, and their right to access, control and benefit of resources. The project also supports and fosters womens leadership opportunities through skills-building and training. Partnership Africa Canada's work in DRC developed from its engagement as a technical partner to the ICGLR, providing capacity-building to implement the six tools developed by the ICGLR's Regional Initiative against the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources. Funding for the Just Gold project and Partnership Africa Canadas work in the Great Lakes region is provided by Global Affairs Canada. Additional funding for the Just Gold project is provided by USAID through the Capacity Building for Responsible Minerals Trade (CBRMT) project and International Organisation for Migration. The finalists in this year's Women in Construction Awards have been announced. The initiative aims to celebrate the achievements of women within Africa's construction, cement and concrete sectors, in addition to recognising organisations that support and contribute to their development in the industry. The winners will be announced at a gala dinner on 24 May at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg. WICA is segmented into eight categories to cater for female contribution across the broad construction industry spectrum, says awards director Athi Myoli. The sheer number of nominations received from around the African continent has been overwhelming and this positive response is testimony to the many successes in the industry deserving recognition. Individual awards finalists: Pioneer of Innovation Award (sponsored by NHBRC) - honouring a woman who is passionately and innovatively leveraging new technology, information, processes or management systems with the aim of becoming more proactive and productive: Duduzile Ndwandwe, GSC Holdings Pty (Ltd) and Romalax Properties Pty Ltd Glorina Nyatshoba, Newglo Trading, South Africa Grizelda Du Toit, Afrisam, South Africa Margaret Ezekiel, National Housing Corporation, Tanzania Nina Ndichu, Mimari Limited, Tanzania Riefqah Abrahams, Archi Cape Town, South Africa Shaakira Chohan, Johannesburg Development Agency, South Africa Sandi Mbutuma, Azzaro Quantity Surveyors (Pty) Ltd, South Africa New Starter of the Year Award (under 30 years) - saluting an up-and-comer who has been identified as the one to watch as they gain a foothold within their field: Halima Simutu, National Housing Corporation, Tanzania Monique Kriek, Osmand Lange Architects and Planners, South Africa Mpilo Ntuli, Tiber Construction (Pty) Ltd, South Africa Nomvuyo Hlophe - Sibanyoni, VIP Property Planning and Property Development, Swaziland Young Entrepreneur / Rising Star Award (under 40 years) - recognising an inspirational leader for her dedication to shaping the future of construction in Africa: Dr Bianca Shakinovsky, Pentafloor (Pty) Ltd, South Africa Siyasanga Qomoyi, Sesi Q Trading, South Africa Thandiwe Solo, Atisa Bokgabane Trading cc, South Africa Thatho Mokhothu, Refilwe Tshiamo Trading South Africa Tosin Dabiri, Purple Capital Partners, Nigeria Woman in Media and Communications Excellence Award - rewarding extraordinary talent in delivering information to and about the industry: Elsonia Swarts, Free State Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, South Africa Gill Owens, Concrete Trends Journal, South Africa Mapule Mphaki, Ms Curvybody SA, South Africa Woman in Concrete: Lifetime Achievement Award (sponsored by Standard Bank) acknowledging outstanding efforts and enduring contribution to the concrete sector: Deborah Terhune, Growing Up Africa, South Africa Dr Thandi Ndlovu, Motheo Construction Group, South Africa Dr Snowy Khoza, Bigen Africa Group, South Africa Gill Owens, Concrete Trends Journal, South Africa Margaret Ezekiel, National Housing Corporation, Tanzania Muthoni Kuria, Reata Serviced Apartments, Kenya Woman in Architecture Award (sponsored by SAIA) - recognising the woman who is excelling in the male-dominated architectural profession: Althea Peacock, Lemon Pebble Architects, South Africa Dael Janine Fairbairn, Erasmus Fairbairn Architects, South Africa Gillian Holl, Veld Architects, South Africa Judith Paterson, Boogertman & Partners, South Africa Karuni Naidoo, CNN Architects cc, South Africa Liana Els Claasen, Liana Claasen Architects, South Africa Mira Fassler-Kamstra, South Africa Monique Karen, Gillespie Architects, South Africa Nadia Tromp, Ntsika Architects, South Africa Rahdia Parker, Archi Cape Town, South Africa Organisational Awards finalists: Excellence in Career Development Award - honouring the extraordinary efforts of a company or public agency to promote leadership and career advancement amongst women in the industry through mentoring, educational activities and networking: Archi Cape Town, South Africa KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works & Infrastructure, South Africa National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC), South Africa Most Innovative Women Training Programme - rewarding an external training provider, department within the public sector or company with an in-house training programme that upskills individuals and women-owned SMMEs: KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works Bursary and Internship Programme Free State Department of Public Works and Infrastructures EPWP Contractor Development Programme SEDA Construction Incubator Women on Edge Civil Contractors Robus Engineering Training Services (Pty) Ltd This year's awards aim to shine a light on the number of women in the industry, particularly as they are still under-represented, with the percentage of female graduates in engineering still below 20% in many countries on the continent, concludes Myoli. Minister of Women in the Presidency Susan Shabangu will be delivering the closing address at the event which is co-located with the African Construction and Totally Concrete Expo. For more info, go to www.womeninconstruction.co.za. According to Trialogue director Cathy Duff, despite uncertainty and tougher trading conditions in almost every sector of the economy, corporate South Africa continues to demonstrate its commitment to corporate social investment (CSI). Trialogue director Cathy Duff CSI expenditure in South Africa was estimated to be worth R8.6bn in 2016, significantly up from R2.9bn in 2006. Duff was addressing delegates at the tenth annual Business in Society Conference, which took place in Johannesburg 16-17 May 2017. Discussing trends over the past 10 years, Duff shared research in which 82 companies and 219 non-profit organisations participated in 2016. Until 2013, Trialogue consistently found that total CSI expenditure was growing in real terms. In 2014 and 2015 however, CSI expenditure experienced negative growth in real terms, and growth was flat in 2016. Increase in non-cash giving Non-cash giving as a portion of total CSI spend increased over the 10 year period from 6% in 2006 to 13% in 2016. Product and service donations accounted for the vast majority of this. In 2016, 29 companies reported figures for these donations, equal to 19% of their total giving. By comparison, 11 companies quantified the value of their employees volunteering time, which accounted for less than 1% of total giving. Geographic focus on economic hubs CSI expenditure continues to be concentrated nationally (32% in 2009; 37% in 2016), in Gauteng (29% in 2009; 20% in 2016), and in the Western Cape (6% in 2009; 11% in 2016). In 2016, companies gave to an average of three provinces compared to four in 2015. Only 13% of respondents reported international giving in 2016 and spent 4% of their CSI expenditure on such interventions. Education key focus Education continues to receive the most support, with over 90% of companies supporting the sector in 2016, and its share of CSI spend increasing from 33% in 2006 to 48% in 2016. It is followed by support for community development (17% of CSI spend in 2006; 15% in 2016) and health (which has received a declining share of spend from 16% in 2006 to 9% in 2016). Within education, most funding continues to go to school-level education (51% in 2016, 53% in 2007). Support for early childhood development has increased from 11% of education spend in 2007 to 17% in 2016. Less funding to NPOs Although NPOs remained the favourite channel through which corporates directed their CSI expenditure, the proportion of respondents giving to NPOs declined from a high of 100% in 2014 to 82% in 2016. For the first time, the proportion of CSI funding going to NPOs is below half of total spend (45%), significantly lower than in 2011 (57%). Corporate support for government institutions (including schools, universities, hospitals and clinics) increased in 2016 with 80% of corporates giving to these organisations, which received over a third of total CSI spend (34%). This was significantly up from 27% in 2011. Such support includes scholarships and bursaries. Increase in volunteering In 2007 less than half (46% of companies) had formal volunteering policies. In 2016, 70% of companies had a formal employee volunteering programme. Company-organised volunteering initiatives were the most common type of initiative, with 84% of corporates running these in 2016, up from 52% in 2011. An average of 18% of employees participated in company-organised volunteering initiatives. Leading companies Anglo American has retained its position as the company perceived to be having the most developmental impact and was rated first in 2007 and in 2016. Other companies that have been in the top 10 across the years include SAB, Old Mutual, MTN and Telkom. More strategic CSI Over the 10 year period companies have become more strategic in their social investment, which has become more closely aligned to the business and more focused. An increasing number of companies are aiming to achieve both social and business impact from their CSI expenditure. The City of Cape Town, on Friday, 19 May, announced the appointment of Craig Kesson as its first chief resilience officer (CRO). As part of 100 Resilient Cities (100RC), the announcement was made during the city's resilience agenda-setting workshop. The CRO position was created to lead the citys resilience efforts and to engage with stakeholders, resilience experts, and 100RC staff in developing a comprehensive resilience strategy. Kessons appointment as the CRO has been officially endorsed by council. Kessons designation as CRO is an addition to his existing duties as executive director in the Directorate of the Mayor. He will not receive any additional remuneration in his position as the CRO. Kesson has fulfilled a number of senior strategy, policy, management, and communication roles during his six years in the city administration. He has also advised a number of metro governments. He is a graduate of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, the University of Stellenbosch Business School, the University of Liverpool, and the University of Oxford where he was a Rhodes Scholar. His specialisations are in public policy and strategy, project portfolios, and operations modelling. High expectations "I am pleased that council has endorsed Craigs appointment as CRO. We have high expectations of the CRO. Craig has impressive abilities to align strategy with implementation, monitoring, and evaluation and hence I am confident that he will be able to institutionalise improved resilience responses into the city administration," said City of Cape Town executive mayor Patricia de Lille. Kessons appointment has also been welcomed by the 100 Resilient Cities president Michael Berkowitz. "City governments are on the front line of dealing with acute shocks and chronic stress. Cape Town is part of a group of cities leading the way on resilience to better prepare for, withstand, and recover more effectively when disruption hits. Craig joins a network of peers from cities across the globe that will share best practice and surface innovative thinking. Through this partnership, Craig will become a global leader in resilience, and will be an asset for Cape Town and other cities around the world forging new partnerships and new solutions for the city," said Berkowitz. Priority challenges The workshop brought together a diverse set of stakeholders from across city government, academia, non-profit organisations, and the private sector in an effort to identify the resilience vulnerabilities that the city is facing. Participants identified and discussed the citys priority challenges and the extent to which further resilience can be attained. More information on the identified stresses and shocks will be shared with the public as the process of crafting the citys first resilience strategy unfolds. "We are thrilled to formally begin our partnership with 100RC. With the support of 100RC, we will identify some of the key resilience challenges that the city is facing, develop a strategy to address these challenges, and put resources in place to implement that plan. For the City of Cape Town, urban resilience is a core factor in achieving our strategic objectives to build a caring, inclusive, safe, opportunity and well-run city. Cities are the drivers of change and we stand ready to tackle the challenges and create a better Cape Town for the people of our great city," added De Lille. The process of developing this strategy and further consultations will be led by the CRO who will use the data and information sourced from the workshop as a starting point. For more information on 100RC, go to www.100ResilientCities.org. Deputy Finance Minister Sfiso Buthelezi has been appointed as chairman of the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) and the terms of three other non-executive directors renewed, the PIC and finance ministry confirmed. Minister of finance, Malusi Gigaba The appointments bring to an end a two-month hiatus in which the board was unable to meet as it did not have a quorum. The PIC, which manages funds on behalf of the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) and other government funds, is the biggest investor in the economy, with R1.87-trillion under management. The composition of the board, which is appointed by the finance minister, was keenly watched as the corporation is subject to fierce lobbying by private business seeking funding. Of the 10-member board, two vacancies remain following the retirement of Roshan Morar and Trueman Goba in March. Deon Botha, head of corporate affairs for the PIC, said that at the annual meeting in March two nonexecutive directors were to retire and three nonexecutive directors had finished their first term. "After his appointment, new Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba had to start the process of confirming the continuation of the terms of the three whose first terms had finished, before the board could resume its activities. This process has been concluded and the board is ready to resume," Botha said. Finance ministry spokesman Mayihlome Tshwete confirmed Gigaba had appointed Buthelezi as chairman. The chairman vacancy arose following the dismissal of former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas from the Cabinet in April. A priority for the new board will be a request from South African Airways for funding. Treasury acting director general Dondo Mogajane said in Parliament, investment by the PIC was one of the options being considered for SAA. An investment in SAA would be one of its most controversial yet. The bulk of funds invested by the PIC belong to the GEPF. As the fund is a defined benefit fund, the state is obliged to make any shortfall in pension benefits that may arise, due to poorly performing investments. Former SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng plans to approach the Labour Court to have his disciplinary hearing stopped. The hearing, which was due to begin on Wednesday, was stalled as Motsoeneng argued that there was an ulterior motive for bringing the hearing. He was charged with misconduct after holding a press conference in which he criticised the SABC's decision to scrap the 90% local music policy he spearheaded. In the conference he accused interim board member Krish Naidoo of "selling out". Yesterday, Motsoeneng's legal team argued the hearing should rather be heard by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration because the comments he made should be considered protected public disclosure. Protected public disclosure is usually used as a defence when employees say they were wrongfully charged or dismissed for exposing corruption. Disciplinary hearing chairman Nazeem Cassim dismissed this argument, leading Motsoeneng's legal team to reveal his new plan. "We have received instructions to approach the Labour Court on an urgent basis to seek to stop these proceedings. " Cassim granted a postponement until May 24 to allow Motsoeneng to approach the Labour Court. Source: The Times Purchasing an investment property can offer great financial rewards over the long term. However, it is important to bear in mind that when buying an investment home, there is more to consider financially than just the purchase price. Property investors need to take into account the significant costs involved in purchasing an investment property before they decide that it is a financially viable option for them. If a property is purchased as an investment, the primary objective is for the investor is to get as great a return on their investment as possible. For an investor to achieve their goal, they need to consider all of the costs involved in the process of buying, and at a later stage, selling their investment property. Here are a few costs, apart from the purchase price, that will have an impact on investors return on investment: Transfer duty this is defined by the South African Revenue Service (SARS) as a tax levied on the value of any property acquired by any person by way of a transaction or in any other way. Transfer duty is due to be paid within six months from the date of acquisition of the property. If it is not paid within this time, interest will accrue at 10% per annum for each complete month. Something to consider as an investor is that any property purchased on or after 1 March 2017 for R900,000 or less will be exempt from transfer duty. Not having to pay transfer duty on a property will put the investor ahead of the curve right from the get-go. Also, the Transfer Duty Act exempts the acquisition of property that falls into the category of goods supplied subject to VAT. In the instance where the seller is a VAT vendor, the payment of the VAT takes precedence over transfer duty. Developers with often market properties by pointing out that buyers will not pay transfer duty. Instead, buyers will pay 14% VAT, which has already been included in the asking price. Transfer costs not to be confused with transfer duty. While transfer duty is a tax paid to the government, transfer costs are the fees paid to an attorney for the work they do in the transfer process. A conveyancing attorney will be required to effect the transfer of a property and attend to the matter of transferring the property from the sellers name into the buyers. The amount that investors will pay for transfer costs is set out in a tariff guideline and varies depending on the value of the property. Bond registration costs the large majority of the population is loan dependent when it comes to purchasing a property. The financial institution that provides the funds to purchase the property will require some form of security, which is usually a bond registered over the property. The investor will be required to pay bond registration costs, which includes a bank initiation fee. The bond registration costs payable will be based on the size of the bond registered over the property. The costs will be paid to a conveyancing attorney who will attend to the necessary paperwork and get the bond registered with the deeds office. The cost of ownership aside from the costs involved in the actual purchase of the property, there are also the ongoing monthly costs involved with owning property, such as home insurance, household insurance, levies, rates and taxes, water and electricity, and so on. There is also the matter of maintaining and repairing the property when necessary. Invariably an investment property will be let out by the investor, which means that they will have to ensure that the property remains in a well-maintained, habitable state. In fact, depending on the initial condition of the property, some money may need to be spent renovating and fixing up the property before a tenant moves in, which will also need to be taken into account. Ongoing maintenance of the property will keep the tenant happy while protecting the investment. Understanding the full cost of an investment property purchase will give investors insight into the level of risk they are taking, and help them to discern whether they are making the right decision. The last thing many people want to do after a long flight is spend even more time getting to their final destination via car. That's why the Southern Sun O.R. Tambo International Airport is the perfect choice for travellers visiting Johannesburg for a quick stop. Conveniently located just 500m from the airport, the Southern Sun O.R. Tambo International Airport offers a complimentary return shuttle service that departs every 15 minutes, day and night. Theres also a free bus service to the nearby Rhodesfield station, which is part of the Gautrain high-speed rapid rail transit system. Popular with business guests With such easy access, its not surprising that the Southern Sun O.R. Tambo International Airport hotel is popular with business guests. The hotel has seven conference and function facilities that can accommodate up to 480 delegates. And for those who prefer working alone, theres a fully-equipped business centre too. The hotel is also ideal for leisure travellers who have extra time and would prefer not to spend it in the terminal before a flight. Highlights include a fitness centre, an outdoor pool, and Carolines Day Spa. It offers a range of packages and treatments, which you can tailor based on how much time you have or how much you need to recover after your trip. Mediterranean dishes at Bernoullis Restaurant Every evening, the hotel offers complimentary wine and snacks (accompanied with live music during the week). But its best not to fill up on these if youre having dinner at Bernoullis Restaurant, which offers a choice of Mediterranean dishes. I was tempted by the buffet but chose to be patient and order a la carte. This meant I could enjoy some of the Asian dishes from Chang An Song, the chef who has completed his training in Switzerland, China, and South Africa. Starter highlights include the Peking Duck Consomme (garnished with chicken and prawn Wanton, fresh coriander, snow peas, shitake mushrooms and infused with truffle oil) and the pan-fried duck breast fillet (served on a sauteed warm vegetable salad). If you want a light meal, go with the Nasi Goreng, an Indonesian dish that features fried jasmine rice with egg, chicken, and prawn. Meaty classics and dazzling desserts What if youre feeling hungry after a day of bad airplane food? Fill up on some interesting takes on meaty classics: the baked springbok loin (served with mature brie cheese and fig confit drizzled with spicy chocolate-enhanced jus) or the African oxtail (slow braised beef served with dumplings). And for dessert, theres the classic tiramisu (infused with Amarula) and the chocolate lava cake (served with a scoop of mascarpone cheese). For guests who dont have time for a sit-down meal, the bar is open 24/7 and serves light meals. And for those who are too tired to be social, the hotel offers a dining service in its 366 stylish en-suite rooms. Its easy to get comfortable while enjoying options that include a range of sandwiches, burgers, and wraps. Just make sure you dont miss your flight! Eugene Yiga was a guest of Southern Sun O.R. Tambo International Airport. Call +27 11 977 3600, email, or visit the Tsogo Sun website. Chocolate comes from cocoa - which is a tree; that makes it a plant, so therefore chocolate counts as salad! Most chocoholics would agree with this sentiment as well as be delighted with scientific findings which proclaim the benefits of indulging in chocolate! This month, its all about the sweet stuff, and in complete contrast to the health-kick trends there is a glimpse of decadence in eateries serving over-the-top milkshakes, for instance. This is good news for those who will never give up indulging their sweet tooth. I have to, unapologetically, admit that all our desserts at Big Easy Durban fall into the indulgence category. There are fortunately, or unfortunately no sugar-free or healthy desserts. Just pure pleasure to be enjoyed at the end of your meal! Chocolate can help you lose weight Its always good news to read research data regarding the benefits of chocolate and its consumption it helps with any feelings of guilt. For instance, US psychologist Merrill Elias discovered that people who eat chocolate at least once a week tend to perform better cognitively. This translates to improved concentration levels and performance of everyday tasks, such as remembering phone numbers, shopping lists and being able to multitask, says Elias. Chocolate also contains plant-produced compounds (called methylxanthines) that enhance various bodily functions. These include improving circulation and releasing feel-good endorphins, reducing cholesterol, stress and the risk of stroke, protecting the skin against sun damage and (believe it or not) preventing diabetes and helping to lose weight! With regards to aiding weight loss, research shows that allowing a small block of good chocolate to melt on the tongue about 20 minutes before a meal will trigger the Im full hormone. This should result in reducing the amount of food then consumed. The same theory applies after the meal and should cut down on subsequent snacking. The chocolate needs to be dark, though, with a good percentage of around 70 percent or more. It has also been shown that the cocoa in dark chocolate improves insulin sensitivity and may delay or prevent the onset of diabetes. The proviso of all this is that the chocolate has to be high-percentage dark chocolate and obviously, the amount consumed must be in moderation no eating a whole slab all at once! The history of chocolate The origin of the chocolate beverage reaches back to 1900 BC (during the Aztec civilization in central America) and was believed to have aphrodisiac and fortifying qualities. It arrived in Europe in the sixteenth century and initially was popular among the ruling classes. Chocolate in its solid form was first manufactured in the eighteenth century and has since been produced in every shape, taste-innovation and format that we know today white, dark, unsweetened, containing nuts, mint, liqueurs and everything in-between. Back to the beyond-decadent desserts I have included a recipe for a chocolate caramel tart with Coco Pops, marshmallow and pistachio praline topping for you to try out at home. This recipe is from Thabiso Luthuli, the pastry chef de partie at Big Easy Durban. Enjoy! Recipe: Chocolate caramel tart with Coco Pops, marshmallow and pistachio praline 25g cocoa 225g plain flour 125g unsalted butter 80g icing sugar 3 egg yolks 1 tablespoons iced water Caramel 250ml cream 50g unsalted butter 330g white sugar 125ml water 1 teaspoon maldon salt Dark chocolate ganache 150g dark chocolate 125ml cream Method To make the salted caramel, place the cream and butter in a small saucepan over medium heat and bring to the boil. Remove from the heat and set aside. Place the sugar and water in a medium saucepan over low heat and cook, stirring, until the sugar is dissolved. Bring to the boil and cook for 1012 minutes, without stirring, or until the temperature reaches 150C and the mixture is a deep caramel colour. Remove from the heat and working quickly, add the salt and cream and butter mixture and whisk to combine. Return to the heat and cook for a further 2 minutes or until thickened slightly. Place the cocoa, flour, butter and icing sugar in a food processor and process until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. With the motor running, add the egg yolk. Add the iced water and process until the dough just comes together. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and gently bring together to form a ball. Flatten into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour. Preheat oven to 180C. Roll the pastry out between 2 sheets of non-stick baking paper to 3mm-thick. Line a lightly greased 24cm round loose-bottomed tart tin with the pastry. Trim the edges and prick the base with a fork. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Line the pastry case with non-stick baking paper, fill with baking weights and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the paper and weights and bake for a further 10 minutes or until the pastry is just cooked. Allow to cool in the tin. Spoon the salted caramel into the tart shell and refrigerate for a 23 hours or until set. To make the dark chocolate ganache, place the chocolate and cream in a small saucepan over low heat and cook, stirring, until melted and smooth. Allow to stand for 10 minutes or until thickened slightly. Pour the chocolate mixture over the caramel and refrigerate for 12 hours or until set. Bring to room temperature and garnish with coco pops and praline Serves 68. Internet Solutions (IS) has announced its intended acquisition of MWEB Connect through parent company Dimension Data. The acquisition presents IS with opportunities for growth through MWEBs established customer base and experience as a consumer-facing ISP. Managing director of IS, Saki Missaikos says: Quality connectivity in a truly digital world is key to delivering excellent customer experience. Our community is the African community, and our objective is to ensure that this community is connected to the world. Both companies have a common vision of providing seamless connectivity for the African consumer at home, on the move, in the office, and in public spaces, and we look forward to welcoming MWEB employees to IS, and the broader Dimension Data family. Market share, specialisation, alignment This transaction is in line with the IS approach of acquiring successful companies that bring with them market share, specialisation but also alignment with the existing culture and people of the company. With all preconditions of the transaction now met, work begins on integrating the two companies, a process that includes providing MWEB with access to new services and talent from across the IS ecosystem. Missaikos says that client experience is a priority, as is minimal disruption and inconvenience to employees, suppliers, and clients. This year the Frewin, McCall and Joel Mervis Awards will be incorporated into the annual Standard Bank Sikuvile Journalism Awards. Entries for all awards will close on Monday, 19 June 2017. Judging will take place 13-14 July 2017 and the awards will be presented at a prize-giving function on Thursday, 19 October 2017. This year, the focus of the Sikuvile Journalism Awards is on the value and importance of journalism, as we find ourselves living in a period where there has been a breakdown in the trust between the media and its audience. The Brexit campaign and the US elections bear witness to how facts can be considered mere opinions and lies, an alternative point of view. This serves to emphasis the importance of Standard Bank Sikuvile Journalism Awards. The following prizes will be awarded: Standard Bank Sikuvile Journalism Award of R15,000 cash, a trophy and a certicate Standard Bank Sikuvile Journalism Finalist Certicates Commendation Certicates may be awarded at the judges discretion The judging panel, headed by convener judge, Mathatha Tsedu, comprises experts in the industry, including Dinesh Balliah, Gus Silber, Henry Jeffreys, Mike Siluma, Tyrone August, Phil Mtimkulu, Pippa Green, Tim du Plessis, Liesl Louw-Vaudram, Thabo Leshilo, Mary Papayya, Ryland Fisher and Neo Ntsoma. This year the Awards are also opened to non- Publishers Support Services (PSS) members. The fee per entry is R580 a slight increase on last year. (A reduced amount will be considered, if a freelancer motivates why he/she should pay a reduced fee.) Allan Kirkland Soga Achievement Award The Awards have also introduced the Allan Kirkland Soga Achievement Award. Named after the historical journalistic gure, Allan Kirkland Soga, the honour recognises a sustained and extraordinary contribution to newspaper journalism on the part of an individual. The winner will have demonstrated impeccable ethics and craft excellence. The results will have enriched South African public life. Where the persons accomplishment has been achieved in the face of obstacles, this will add to the nominees ratings. The nomination should be in the form of a written letter (or letters) of recommendation. The information should address the reasons why the nominee is deserving of this recognition. Additional supporting materials (testimonials/press cuttings) are welcomed. No entry fee or entry form is required for this award. Please note that the individuals accomplishment should have been over a career of at least 20 years in journalism (judges are not eligible for nomination). The winner will receive the Allan Kirkland Soga Achievement Award trophy and certicate. Other awards The Frewin competition has been in existence for the past 68 years and recognises urban daily newspapers with a circulation above 50,000 that excel in the criteria laid down by the industry. The McCall competition has been in existence for the past 56 years and recognises urban daily newspapers with a circulation of 50,000 or less that excel in the criteria laid down by the industry. Please note that McCall entrants do not qualify for entry into the Frewin competition. The Mervis competition has been in existence for the past 22 years and recognises urban weekly newspapers irrespective of their circulation that excel in the criteria laid down by the industry. This competition is limited to weekly newspapers which have separate teams which produce it. Entries may be sent by registered post, courier or hand-delivered to The Standard Bank Sikuvile Journalism Awards, Lionel Jeffries (lionel@pdmedia.org.za), PSS, First oor, Unit 8 Burnside Island Ofce Park Craighall Park. NEW YORK, US: Four automakers including Toyota and BMW agreed on Thursday to pay $553 million to settle a US lawsuit over the defective Takata airbags blamed for 11 deaths in the United States alone. The lawsuit filed in late February claimed the carmakers were aware of the dangerous defects and used the airbags in their vehicles anyway. Nearly 16 million cars were involved. Takata agreed pleaded guilty to fraud in February after agreeing to pay a $1 billion penalty. In Thursday's settlement agreement, which still requires court approval, Toyota will pay $278.5 million, BMW $131 million, Subaru $68.3 million and Mazda $75.8 million. Ford, Honda, and Nissan have yet to reach similar agreements. Reimbursements According to Toyota, the agreement will reimburse plaintiffs for travel costs while their cars are repaired. "Resolving this litigation will allow us to focus even more resources on addressing the needs of our customers affected by this unprecedented, industry-wide recall," the four automakers said in a joint statement. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit alleged the carmakers each knew the Takata airbag inflators were not safe, well before they were installed in millions of cars. Nearly 100 million cars, including about 70 million in the United States, were subject to the airbag recall, the largest in auto history. Source: AFP Given the growth in Africa, employers are regularly seconding their employees to businesses in other jurisdictions. With each country having different visa requirements for employees who wish to work in those jurisdictions, the employment practice team at Baker McKenzie South Africa have compiled a Guide to immigration requirements for workers in 11 key jurisdictions in Africa'. This guide is intended to aid businesses expanding into Africa, as they negotiate the complexities of the visa and immigration process for employees working in these jurisdictions. Algeria In Algeria, work permits are only available for posts, which cannot be undertaken by Algerian nationals. Further, foreign employees may not be hired unless they have a minimum of a technical level of qualification. An employer must make a declaration to the competent authorities within 48 hours of hiring a foreign national and present any documents, which give that employer the right to hire foreigners. On termination of the employee's contract, the employer must again inform the authorities. There is no official English translation of the Algerian laws and consulates appear to apply the regulations with slight modifications. For this reason, those wishing to start businesses or send employees to Algeria should consult their nearest consulate or embassy. Angola In Angola, a foreign national seeking employment requires a work visa. The work visa allows its holder multiple entries into Angola and the holder can remain in Angola until the work contract expires. The work visa must be used within 60 days of the date of its concession. It allows the holder to work in Angola for a period of 12 months, which can be prolonged for equal periods, up until the termination of the work contract. Once a foreign worker has worked in Angola for a minimum of five years and wishes to relocate permanently to Angola, he or she will be entitled to apply for a residence visa. The residence visa entitles its holder to carry on a paid job. Botswana In Botswana, a foreign national issued with a work permit does not automatically qualify for a residence permit. As such, the foreign national must make two separate applications, one for a residence permit and another for a work permit. It is common for both applications to be submitted simultaneously. There are no special permits for individuals who possess scarce skills but individuals possessing scarce skills obtain more points in the visa evaluation process. Burundi In Burundi, a foreigner is able to enter the country for a limited period of three months (for business or touristic purposes) by obtaining an ordinary visa, also called an entry visa (le visa d'entree). Once in the country, a foreigner wishing to live and work in Burundi will have to apply for a visa d'etablissement. A foreign worker wishing to work in Burundi is required to obtain an invitation authenticated by the Immigration Office in Burundi or by the Ministry of External Relations and International Cooperation, which forms part of the visa application. In terms of the Reglementation de l'emploi des etrangers au Burundi, foreign labourers should not exceed 20% of the Burundian company's employees. Egypt To work in Egypt, a foreign employee requires an entry visa, a residence permit and a work permit. An employer who wishes to hire a foreign employee must submit a comprehensive formal request to the Ministry of Manpower and Immigration. Foreigners are prohibited from working as tour guides, exporters, importers and customer officers. Furthermore, certain professions require a specific authorisation from the relevant authority. The maximum percentage of foreigners that may be employed by corporate entities in Egypt is 10%. However, the competent Minister can vary this percentage upon approval. Ghana A foreign national issued with a work permit or an immigration quota permit in Ghana does not automatically qualify for a residence permit. A foreigner that has been granted a work permit or immigrant quota cannot start working immediately in Ghana unless the Director of Immigration grants that person residence permit. A foreign national, must therefore make two separate applications, one for a residence permit and another for a work permit. One month before the expiry of a work permit, a foreign national may apply to the Immigrant Quota Committee for the renewal of his permit, which is treated as if it were a fresh application. A foreign national granted a work permit or immigrant quota work permit must also submit an annual return, which must be completed prior to 14th of January in each year. Kenya To engage in employment in Kenya, foreign nationals are required to obtain work permits, and people who intend remaining in Kenya for work or business purposes for a short period of time can obtain a special pass. It is issued to a person who intends to engage in any form of employment (whether paid or unpaid) or in any other income generating activity. The special pass is valid for a period not exceeding three months. Mozambique In Mozambique, the labour laws provide for two different work permits for long-term secondments, namely a work permit within the quota or labour communication; and a work permit above the quota or work authorisation. The Mozambican labour regime restricts the admission of expatriates working for Mozambican companies or branches: 5% if a large company or branch (with more than 100 employees); 8% if a medium-sized company or branch (between 10 and 100 employees); and 10% if a small company or branch (fewer than 10 employees). However, a Mozambican company may apply for a work permit above the quota for a foreign national, if it can prove that individual possesses certain skills and knowledge that cannot be found in any other potential Mozambican candidate. Further, in terms of the Labour Law (23/2007), investment projects approved by the Government which contemplate the employment foreign nationals in a smaller or greater percentage than foreseen above, do not require work permits and notice must be given to the Minister of Labour within fifteen days after the foreign national enters Mozambique. A Mozambican company that wishes to employ a foreign employee must apply for a work permit before the employee enters Mozambique. There is a three-step process, which is to be followed before a foreign employee can start working and legally living in Mozambique. Short-term work permits are available for occasional and specific services not exceeding 90 days in a calendar year. It may be worthwhile considering the cost and time implications of a short-term work permit versus an ordinary work permit if an employee is rendering services not exceeding 90 days in a calendar year. Nigeria Individuals travelling to Nigeria on short-term assignments require either a Temporary Work Permit or a Business Visitor's Visa. The provisions in the Immigration Act, 2015 pertaining to foreign nationals requiring visas, work permit and residence permits do not apply to nationals of member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECWAS). ECWAS nationals are exempted from requiring entry visas and can work, reside and undertake commercial and industrial activities within Nigeria. Long-term assignments are linked to specific job designations, meaning that the visa is connected to both the entity and the position in which the foreign national employee will be assigned. There is a specific process, which the employer is required to follow before the employee can apply for their work visa. South Africa A foreign national who wishes to work in South Africa needs to obtain the appropriate temporary residence visa. The Immigration Act 2002 and its regulations provide for different types of work visas, depending on the circumstances surrounding the applicant's entry into South Africa. The General Work Visa is issued to applicants who do not have skills and/or expertise listed on the critical skills list. One of the key issues in obtaining a general work visa is that the employer must be able to demonstrate that there are no South African citizens or permanent residents with qualifications or skills and experience equivalent to those of the foreign applicant. The Critical Skills Work Visa is issued to applicants in possession of skills or qualifications that are considered critical. The employer does not have to demonstrate that it was unable to find a suitable citizen or permanent resident for the relevant position. The Intra-Company Transfer Work Visa is issued in circumstances where multi-national companies may decide to transfer an existing employee in a key position from a foreign branch to a branch, subsidiary or an affiliate of that company in South Africa. Tanzania A foreign national desirous of working in Tanzania needs to obtain both a residence and a work permit. An individual issued with a work permit does not automatically qualify for a residence permit. Thus, the foreign nation must make two separate applications - one to the Labour Commissioner and the other to the Immigration Services Department. Conclusion In all jurisdictions, in addition to obtaining immigration approval for the employee's assignment, employers should ensure that the requisite employment and secondment agreements are in place. Where there is an employment agreement in existence in both the home country and in the foreign country, the employer should be careful to avoid conflict between the two agreements. More detail on the work visa application process in each of these countries is available in the Africa Immigration Guide. #Loeries2017: Excellence in outdoor creative execution with JCDecaux JCDecaux is the Loeries branding partner for the year and also sponsor of the outdoor and out of home (OOH) category. I found out more from Wandile Setlhodi, head of marketing SSA at JC Decaux... The Loeries 2015 branding was designed by King James the Second or KJII and in 2016, the artwork was designed by Grid Worldwide. King James II says 'yes' to a Durban sea of 'no' By Leigh Andrews 2 Feb 2015 This year, the branding baton has again been passed on and the city of Durban will be branded by JC Decaux. The 2017 branding is currently in development and will only be unveiled at Loeries Creative Week, taking creative direction from the campaign that DDB unveiled earlier this year: #Loeries2017: DDB on the essence of 'creative industry judging' By Leigh Andrews 17 Feb 2017 Here, Setlhodi explains what to expect from this years work, as well as how OOH and outdoor tie in with the rest of the overall media marketing mix What does it mean to be the Loeries outdoor and out-of-home category sponsor as well as official branding partner for 2017? What does it mean to be the Loeries outdoor and out-of-home category sponsor as well as official branding partner for 2017? As the official sponsor of the outdoor and out of home category, and the official supplier of out-of-home media to the Loeries, we are proud to be affiliated with an Internationally recognised award that recognises, rewards, inspires and fosters creative excellence in the brand communication industry. JC Decaux believes this is an opportunity to celebrate the highest levels of creativity and excellence in advertising and to show support for upholding world-class levels of creativity in the advertising industry. Were keeping abreast of cutting edge creativity through our sponsorship of the outdoor and out-of-home category by sponsoring the digital coverage for the Loeries. We see this partnership as an opportunity to drive creativity in South Africas out-of-home industry and believe this is an opportunity to promote and reward excellence in outdoor creative execution. We continue to celebrate creativity, and continually strives to create the most up-to-date and innovative out-of-home (OOH) and digital (DOOH) platforms for advertising professionals to display their creative works, to ensure they receive maximum reach and impact in the appropriate environments. Talk us through the thought process that goes into creating work at scale like this. Talk us through the thought process that goes into creating work at scale like this. One of our values is cutting-edge innovation. Our entrepreneurial spirit is driven by making the city, transport systems and shopping centres attractive while meeting the challenges of the 21st century, such as urbanisation and digitalisation. Loeries 2015 branding by King James the Second (KJII). Loeries 2015 branding by King James the Second (KJII). Loeries 2015 branding by King James the Second (KJII). Loeries 2015 branding by King James the Second (KJII). We recently created a future and content division in our organisation, dedicated to creating bespoke outdoor solutions tailored to achieving a clients key advertising objectives. The division works in collaboration with media and advertising agencies to ensure the creative concept and message is optimised for the specific out-of-home platform. Loeries 2016 branding by Grid Worldwide. Loeries 2016 branding by Grid Worldwide. Loeries 2016 branding by Grid Worldwide. Loeries 2016 branding by Grid Worldwide. How does OOH and outdoor then tie in with the rest of the overall media marketing mix? How does OOH and outdoor then tie in with the rest of the overall media marketing mix? Out-of-home advertising is considered a mass-market medium as per the other mediums in advertising. JCDecaux has revolutionised this medium by focusing on qualitative solutions, so advertisers are able to achieve maximum impact through spaces that are strategically located and fit harmoniously into their surroundings. What are you most looking forward to from Loeries 2017? What are you most looking forward to from Loeries 2017? We are most looking forward to yet another year of outstanding design, impactful and memorable out-of-home advertising. As are we! Note the extended deadline for entries into the Loeries 2017 is 31 May. For more information, visit www.loeries.com. You can also visit the JCDecaux press office and Twitter feed for their latest updates. Four global creative leaders are heading for South Africa in August for the annual Loeries Creative Week, taking place in Durban. The four will head up key jury panels as well as speak at the DStv Seminar of Creativity. Jury Presidents: Pum Lefebure and Keith Cartwright The international jury presidents are: Gotz Ulmer, partner at Jung von Matt in Hamburg heading up Film & Radio panel; Keith Cartwright, executive creative director at Californias BSSP heads up the Print, Outdoor & Out of Home panel; Plan.Nets Chief Creative Officer, Markus Maczey from Munich, heads up the Digital & Interactive panel; and Design Armys co-founder and chief creative officer, Pum Lefebure, comes from Washington DC to lead the Communication Design panel. Jury Presidents: Gotz Ulmer and Markus Maczey In all, more than 160 South African, regional and international judges have the formidable task of seeking out work that is bold, innovative, and that challenges convention. Says Loeries CEO Andrew Human: The DStv Seminar of Creativity is an unmissable event for anyone who wants to be inspired by such great minds. Once again our jury presidents include some of the best creative leaders across the globe. Its a honour to have them join us for Creative Week and I would urge everyone to hear their thoughts at our seminar. The DStv Seminar of Creativity is part of Loeries Creative Week Durban, taking place from Monday, 14 August, to Monday, 21 August 2017. The jury presidents are four of the eight speakers. Loeries extended deadline for entries is 31 May. For more information visit loeries.com. 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 both 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. South Africa will participate in a Southern African Development Community (SADC) meeting to seek ways to improve food security in the region. Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Senzeni Zokwana will represent the country at the joint extraordinary meeting of SADC Ministers responsible for Agriculture, Food Security, Fisheries and Aquaculture in Ezulwini, Swaziland, on Friday, 19 May. Zokwana and his counterparts in the SADC region form one of the six sectoral and cluster ministerial committees whose main aim is to address issues related to agriculture and food security. The SADC ministers responsible for agriculture have been meeting frequently following the drought that severely hit the region in the 2015/16 period and the related food security challenges. Their last extraordinary meeting was last year November in Swaziland, where they directed the secretariat to convene another extraordinary meeting this month. Due to the drought and accompanying food security challenges, the ministers have been focusing on the regional food security situation through assessing the rainfall situation for specific crop seasons, as forecast by the relevant regional institutions. Fridays meeting will also deliberate on the appropriate measures to be taken whenever there is an outbreak of animal disease, plant pests and diseases in the SADC region. Despite persistent conspiracy theories and media speculation, Eskom's nuclear boss is adamant there is no secret plan or corruption linked to the nuclear plan. Im constantly asked, show us the nuclear plans youve signed with the Russians and I say, I cant do that. I dont have one. I dont know of a secret plan, said Dave Nicholls, chief nuclear officer: Eskom. Koeberg nuclear power station. Source: Eskom He also reaffirmed the power utilitys position that nuclear is not just the most viable option on the table for South Africas future energy needs, but it is also the most affordable. Koeberg is the only CO2-free electricity source in South Africa. Cape Towns power is the cleanest in the country, and Koeberg has the lowest operating costs in Eskoms fleet. What will replace coal? When it comes to far-future planning, the new technologies have not yet demonstrated reliability. For instance, there is no guarantee yet that there is shale gas in the Karoo, and there are still storage problems when it came to renewables, Nicholls said. The coal-fired plants built in the 70s are running out of life, but they are still operating. Whats going to replace them? Short of invading Angola or the DRC, hydro isnt really an option. He pointed out that even though the Cahora Bassa hydro scheme was successful, all the jobs and skill development which is an important consideration are external, in Mozambique. This only leaves two viable technologies coal and nuclear. The former is under pressure due to environmental concerns, so the latter is the only real alternative to replace the current despatchable baseload, he said. The nuclear deal In 2014 South Africa signed intergovernmental agreements with among others Russia and China as part of the multi billion rand nuclear built plans. Yet recently the Western Cape High Court found these agreements lacked transparency prompting the government to go back to the drawing board for a new and more transparent process. Responding to questions on corruption claims with the nuclear deal, he said, If you have multiple deals with small little contracts you tend to get lots of opportunities for corruption, because procurement is compartmentalised." But according to Nicholls, the deal will likely be Eskom contracting with overseas state organisations with a government to government loan system something that will minimise opportunities for corruptions. Nicholls told delegates that there are claims that the uranium market is the ideal place for corruption in the nuclear deal, but it is important to understand uranium is not the big money spender in this deal. He referred to the coal contracts and said it can be argued in the Eskom coal fire power stations the big money driver is the cost of coal. He said with the nuclear deal, the cost of uranium is the lesser cost driver. Uranium is traded like oil and the price is pretty much an international standard number. So if you ask me about that, I would not go for uranium to claim corruption in the nuclear deal, he said. My advice to the industry is that if you believe corruption will come into the nuclear deal it will not be based on the uranium supply, it would be based on something else. Nicholls participated in a panel discussion on the countrys nuclear positioning at Nuclear Power Africa conference that was co-located with the annual African Utility Week conference. The World Council of Churches has penned an open letter to the media, calling on journalists to report on the famine currently ravaging parts of Africa. hxdbzxy via 123RF In the open letter, journalists have been told they can make a difference through reporting on the famine in Africa in the World Council of Churches Call to Action to End Famine. The letter reads as follows: As a journalist you are valuable, and you can make a difference by depicting the situation in the world in 2017. Both local and global are equally important. Thank you for the work that you do. Thank you for being a journalist and bringing us stories. I want you to ask you to do something in your role as a journalist... The worst famine since World War Two is currently in progress in Africa. The harvests have failed. Famine has been declared by the United Nations in South Sudan; while Somalia, Nigeria, and Yemen are on the brink of famine. The situation has been precipitated by a deadly combination of drought, conflicts, marginalisation and weak governance. Across these regions, about 20 million people are experiencing alarming hunger and are at risk of starvation, while millions more suffer from drought and food shortages. Malnutrition is having a disastrous impact and, as ever, children are among the worst affected, becoming increasingly vulnerable and affected negatively for life. In fact, 1.4 million children could die of starvation in the coming months. Additionally, 27 million people lack access to safe water, increasing the threat of cholera and spreading other water-borne diseases. But its unusually quiet in the media. Why? Its our responsibility yours and mine to tell people about this acute crisis. In the shadow of the war in the Middle East, almost 20 million people have been afflicted by famine and starvation in Africa. This has been going on for several months. Its time to take action. Before its too late. It may already be too late for many people who lack water or food. Its time to take action to pray for food for all, to donate to humanitarian aid organizations ready to help, for the worlds countries to join forces and provide help, and for the media to put the spotlight on the disaster that is occurring. I am appealing to all journalists and media to report on the famine, to give those affected the opportunity to talk about the disastrous situation they are in. The media plays a key role in democracy in the world, in narrating and reporting the truth. It is crucial in terms of allowing local voices to be heard, highlighting issues and making a difference in the world for a more just and peaceful world. I ask all media to talk about the famine, to talk about the hope-inspiring stories of helping people to help themselves, about churches and humanitarian organisations helping people to survive, about champions who give up their free time to collect money for the needy. We need you as professional journalists to tell the story from various different perspectives. If you need help with local contacts, dont hesitate to get in touch. The World Council of Churches and its ecumenical partners have networks and contacts all over the world and we are happy to help with local contacts. We can also provide new images and illustrations from various parts of the world. On 2829 June the World Council of Churches and the All Africa Conference of Churches will be holding talks in Nairobi, Kenya about the acute phase of the famine. The media are welcome to take part in and report on these talks. The World Council of Churches, with its 348 member churches, and with the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) and more than 100 faith-based organisations, is holding a Global Day of Prayer to End Famine on 21 May 2017. Together, they represent one billion people. A new partnership to support the development of original serialised television content created by women from Africa and the African Diaspora, has been announced by CaribbeanTales Media Group (CTMG) and the Durban FilmMart (DFM). CaribbeanTales vice-president, Nicole Brooks. CineFAM is an initiative of CaribbeanTales to support bold original films by women of colour worldwide. Cinefam in the Haitian-Creole language means films by women. This Accelerator aims to build capacity and creative leadership among women of colour who are underrepresented in leadership roles. We are absolutely thrilled to embark on this new partnership with CaribbeanTales. The Accelerator Incubator Program will provide an exciting new platform to support the development of women-led audio-visual content in Africa, and promote more representational narratives. Through this partnership, we hope to build a bridge between the two organisations that will raise the voices of African women filmmakers, said Toni Monty, head of Durban Film Office and DFM, the co-production and finance market, which is a joint programme of the Durban Film Office (DFO) and the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), South Africa. Opportunities CaribbeanTales was founded and run by women of colour from the Caribbean and African Diaspora so this initiative is close to our hearts. This partnership provides an unprecedented platform and opportunities for South African, African and African Diaspora women film producers, says CaribbeanTales CEO, Frances-Anne Solomon. Africa is a natural partner for us in the Caribbean and we couldnt be more pleased to be building a relationship with DFM to bring our Incubator Accelerator program to Africa! CineFAM - Africa, which will be led by CaribbeanTales vice-president Nicole Brooks, is a two-day program that will take place during the Durban FilmMart, July 14-17, 2017. For this first edition of CineFAM - Africa, South African women producers and African women producers living in South Africa are invited to submit their film projects of original serialised television content for consideration. A total of five projects will be selected, and entered into the program to be held at DFM exposing participants to CaribbeanTales accelerator unique process including a great overview and guide on how to create the basis of story, marketing, pitching and financing. The accelerator will culminate in a mini-pitch. The winner will qualify to participate in the renowned CaribbeanTales Incubator (CTI), in Toronto, Canada. CTI is a year-round development and production hub for Caribbean and Caribbean Diaspora Producers that aims to create strong, compelling and sustainable content for the global market. The CTI's goal will increase the pool of world class indigenous film and television content and build the regions audio-visual capacity. Submissions are now open. To submit a project visit www.caribbeantalesincubator.com. Submissions close on 16 June 2017. Outdoor News posted a Minnesota Board of Animal Health press release in Four more farmed white-tailed deer test positive for CWD: In late April, the Board of Animal Health and U.S. Department of Agriculture euthanized a quarantined herd of 14 white-tailed deer in Meeker County, west of the Twin Cities. Samples collected from the animals were tested at the USDAs National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, and four deer all bucks were confirmed CWD positive on May 15, BAH reported late Wednesday, May 17. This herd was part of an investigation initiated with a CWD infected farmed deer herd found in Crow Wing County late last year. The Board shared the test results with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, which responds to and manages CWD in wild deer. The Board works with the USDA as it investigates and regulates CWD in farmed deer. The owner agreed to euthanize the animals and test them for CWD as part of a herd plan developed between the USDA, BAH and the owner after finding a trace animal in the herd was positive for CWD in January. The herd plan also includes tracing animal movements into and out of this herd within the last five years. This tracing revealed that two of the four CWD positive animals came from a Wright County deer farm as fawns in 2014. The Wright County farm has also been placed under quarantine as of May 15. This emphasizes the need for a strong CWD surveillance program in our captive deer and elk. Although these animals appeared healthy, they were infected with CWD and would have continued to spread the disease if they remained alive. CWD testing all deer and elk that die or are killed on a producers property is critical to the program, said Dr. Linda Glaser, BAH assistant director. We quarantined the Wright County herd after discovering two of the four CWD positives originated there, but that herd is not considered infected. Herd movements are restricted, and the herd will be closely monitored until 2019. The Meeker County farm is empty and remains quarantined for all deer and elk species, and fences remain in place to keep wild deer off of the site. The next step is to clean and disinfect as much of the herd enclosures as possible. When that is complete, the property will remain quarantined for a period of five years. I heard that [the government] will confirm the Burmese Armys proposal for non-secession from the Union, which was submitted at the UPDJC (Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee) meeting on [May] 12. If they approve this request, they will be breaking Union pledges. In other word, its an act of betrayal against the Union Agreement, Sai Leik, the spokesperson for the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) told S.H.A.N. Ethnic minority groups trace their right to secede to an agreement with Bogyoke Aung San, when they tentatively joined the Union of Burma, and a secession clause was included in the 1947 Constitution. The upcoming 21st-cenutry Panglong Peace Conference, scheduled to start on May 24, is expected to include discussions about the rights of states and regions to draft their own constitution. The Tatmadaw has submitted a proposal to prevent states from seceding. If they want us to give our pledges on non-secession [from the Union], they need to offer pledges on what will they do to prevent us from separating with the international [community] as the witness [for their pledges, Sai Leik added. He said the secession clause allows negotiations over the federal Union to remain on fairly equal footing, and said no one should be asking to remove checks and balances at such a sensitive time. If you discard this [right of secession] by saying that it is no longer suitable for the current era you would be turning your back on history, he said. Another thing is that it will be a waste of time and effort to discuss the drafting of state constitutions instead of trying to redraft the [Union] constitution so that it fits with the federal model with full democratic standards in line with public desire. According to Section 202 under Chapter 10 in the 1947 Constitution, the right of secession shall not be exercised within ten years from the date on which this Constitution comes into operation. The state can secede only when it receives approval from two-thirds of the members of the state council. Translated by Thida Linn Edited by Laignee Barron Everything You Need To Know About Bikini Waxing Body Care oi-Monika Khajuria All of us want a smooth and hairless body. And although there are tons of options available out there to get rid of your body hair, waxing is considered the best among them. Bikini waxing is done to remove the hair from your intimate area. And more and more women are choosing this method these days as opposed to other means like shaving or trimming. Getting a bikini wax done can be an intimidating affair. You might have thought about getting it done once and then didn't follow through. Pain and awkwardness can be the main reasons. But it could also be the lack of awareness. In this article, we have jotted down everything that you need to know about bikini waxing and what you should expect while going for a bikini wax. So, sit back, relax and read on. Things You Must Know About Biking Waxing 1. You can decide which kind you want Yep, that's right. There isn't just one type. What most of us don't know is that we can choose from the different kinds of bikini wax options available. We understand it can be quite intimidating, so isn't it great to have these options? Bikini Waxing: Things you MUST know before doing, | BoldSky Talking about options, you can opt for the classic bikini wax that includes waxing the area around the bikini line. Otherwise, you can choose to just wax the front area to give it an all-clean look, you can also choose to leave a tiny triangle on the front while waxing the rest or you can go all in and choose to wax your butt area as well. It all depends on what you prefer really. Just make sure to let your salon attendant know beforehand. 2. It is a little awkward at first Well, that's no surprise. Bikini wax can be awkward for each one of us, but for the ones doing it for the first time ever, it can be awkward as well as intimidating. But don't you worry, this awkwardness won't last long. You will feel comfortable a few minutes into it and the professional attitude of your attendant will sure help. 3. The length of the hair matters The length of the hair is an important factor to consider while doing a bikini wax. The length shouldn't be too short or too long. Ideally, the length should be 1/4th of an inch for the hair to get pulled out properly. And if you have long hair you can always trim them using a pair of scissors. Just be careful not to cut yourself or cut the hair too short. If the length is short, wait for it to grow to the required length. 4. Clean up before you go for it Vaginal discharge is a common thing and so is the smell that it brings. Some women sure do experience a strong smell than the others. So it is important to clean yourself up before you go for your bikini wax appointment. This will ensure that you don't feel embarrassed in the salon and that the attendant doesn't feel uncomfortable. You can either take a bath before the appointment or just give your intimate area a thorough wash and you're good to go. 5. Exfoliate your skin This is another thing that you need to do before your bikini wax appointment. Exfoliating your skin removes that dead cells and impurities from the skin. This makes the fresh and ready for waxing. You can do this while taking bath. 6. Expect some pain I know, I know! Pain is one of the reasons that makes us sceptical about waxing our pubic hair. And we won't say it doesn't hurt at all, because it does. There is no way that you can skip that part, but what matters is that the pain is worth it in the end. So, if you've decided to go for it, then buckle yourself up. What you should keep in mind is to get it done by an experienced professional, especially if you are a first-timer. 7. Don't do it while you are expecting your periods It is best to avoid getting bikini wax done while you're expecting your periods. This is because your skin is more sensitive during the periods and the days leading up to your period and it might become uncomfortable and painful for you. So consider your monthly cycle before you book your appointment. 8. Moisturise Your skin feels dry after getting a bikini wax done. And this can lead to irritation and itching. To avoid this, use a moisturiser after your waxing. Or you can go natural and apply some aloe vera gel. It acts as a great moisturiser for your skin and is safe to use for sensitive skin as well. 9. Wear comfortable clothes Wearing clothes that are comfortable and letting your skin breathe are very important after getting the bikini wax done. Try to go for cotton underwear and cotton clothes. This gives your skin a breathing space and keeps issues such as irritation and itching at bay. 10. Wait for a while before you get intimate You need at least a 36-hour time-out before getting intimate with your partner after you get your bikini waxing done. This is mainly because your freshly waxed area is more sensitive and prone to infections. Also, the friction during sex can cause itching and irritation later. 11. Avoid workout Workout, especially rigorous exercise is another thing that you need to hold for the next 24 hours or so after the bikini wax. The reason for this is your body sweats while you workout and sweating can lead to infection or irritation on your freshly waxed pubic area. 12. Avoid swimming at public places Public areas such as public swimming pools need to be avoided for at least 36 hours following the bikini wax. Again the reason being that your skin becomes sensitive and prone to infections. Things You Need To Be Careful About Bikini waxing, howsoever amazing, does come with little bumps. Although, most of it occurs if the person doing your waxing isn't experienced enough. An experienced professional will reduce the chances of any side effects quite a lot. Another thing to consider is your skin type. A sensitive skin is much more prone to these effects. Infection is a major concern. Like we discussed above, you need to be very careful so as to avoid any infection. You might experience ingrown hair. Ingrown hair can cause irritation and itching in your pubic area and make you uncomfortable. Bikini waxing not done well can also be a reason for this. Biking waxing can make your skin dry and this can lead to irritation. So it is important to moisturise your skin as we discussed above. If not done properly, there is a risk of skin burns and skin peeling. You need to ensure that the wax is not that hot that it might burn your skin. You need to go to a trained and qualified professional to avoid this. How To Do Bikini Wax At Home You can also do bikini wax at the comfort of your home. However, we would suggest that go you to a salon at least for the first few times. If you're doing it at home, you can take the help of a friend to ensure a smooth wax. What you need Hot wax A wax heater A few wax strips A spatula A moisturising lotion A wet towel How to do Put the wax in the wax heater to warm up. Place a cloth or a newspaper on the floor to avoid a mess. Gather everything together. Sit on the floor and spread your legs. Sit comfortable and make sure that your knee is facing the ceiling. Check that the wax is not too hot to burn your skin. Take some wax on the spatula. Apply the wax on your pubic hair, in the direction of your hair growth, in small sections. Put the wax strip on the applied wax and gently tap on it. Pull the wax strip against the direction of the hair growth. Repeat this until you have covered the whole area. Use the wet towel to wipe the area clean. Apply the moisturising lotion on it. You can also use aloe vera gel instead of the moisturising lotion. First Look! Aishwarya In Her Graceful Avatar At Cannes In Yanina Couture Fashion Dona Back-to-back Bollywood divas are streaming in on the red carpet of Festival de Cannes. We were eagerly waiting for Aishwarya's first look at the festival after we got her glance at the Cannes airport yesterday. The wait is over as she got spotted at the festival in her first look. Aishwarya looks ravishing in a Yanina Couture ensemble. The green coloured net gown is looking too beautiful with flairs and floral prints on it. She has been an official L'Oreal Paris ambassador for many years and this year too she is representing the top notch makeup brand at the festival. She is sporting the L'Oreal Paris True Match Lumi Powder Highlighter in Rose and the Tint Caresse in Rose Blossom blended with Orchid Blossom on her lips. For her eyes, she illuminated them with La Palette Nude in Rose, Superliner Black Lacquer and the Volume Million Lashes Mascara. Teaming the whole attire with yellow shoes, she looks amazing. Woman Lets Strangers Stroke Her Privates To Make A Point Pulse oi-Syeda Farah There are various ways as to how art can be defined. Some forms are quirky, while a few are very easily understandable. Milo Moire, an artist, has a unique way of portraying her art. She is a Swiss artist and a psychologist who has been performing nude art for years now. She started performing the "Mirror Box" to highlight the need for consent in sexual acts. You May Also Like To Read: Her Picture Was Photoshopped To Look Beautiful In Different Countries In an art piece, she is seen allowing strangers to fondle her breast or genitals for 30 seconds. She has performed around Europe and has even ended up in jail for her unusual portrayal. Read on to know more about this bizarre art practice, in which the artist is letting people touch her vagina and breasts! All Images Source The Art Of Consent! She defined the meaning of consent in her art. She said, "When they touch my vagina, I say, 'You have 30 seconds - you have to look into my eyes." This is what her art was all about! The Mirror Box Funda Mirror Box is a better way to show to the world that women are strong when they talk about sexuality, and they are not only victims. It is a societal reflection of human sexuality. The Fact About The Mirror Box Even before a person would come to interact with the artist, they had to confront all the people around them and the reflections were ideally visible in the mirror. This would make one think twice before they do a sin! The Mirror Box Had Cameras! There were cameras within the boxes to record the entire experience of what people did to her. Though some of the touches were out of curiosity, few were a bit gross and this shows as to how people assume women to be vulnerable. She Stood In The Streets And Exclaimed! "I am standing here today for women's rights and sexual self-determination. Women have a sexuality, just like men have one. However, women decide for themselves when and how they want to be touched, and when they don't." The Rules Were Clear People who wished to touch the artist had to be above the age of 18 and apart from this, they could touch her for whole 30 seconds and not more than that! Some More Rules She said: "During my performance, for instance, people who put their hands in the box have to look me in the eyes, there has to be an interaction. Through the eye contact and the feedback I could see the people, but make it clear what I like, and that is a natural act. People have always been very respectful - I've never had to give negative feedback." She Hoped To Show To The World What Consent Meant! With this performance, she hoped to show to the world what consent really meant. Her Art Defined By Her... A line from her website in regards to the piece reads as, "What happens if a woman[s] sexuality is on public display ... [and she] takes the initiative, thereby creating clear rules for the intimate exchange?" Her Art Display Was Not Only For Men She claimed that both women and men had taken part in touching her for the Mirror Box' show. She also added that around 40 percent of the people who touched her breasts were women! She Has Got Into Trouble Earlier With Her Art This art show was not the only one which grabbed attention of the media, she had got into various controversies earlier. She apparently rode a bus naked (painted with names of clothing items where they are supposed to go on a body) during Art Basel in Switzerland and even stood naked outside an art museum in Cologne, Germany painting a white sheet red with paint-filled eggs stashed inside her vagina and many more... She Is Not Willing To Stop! Even though she was arrested for the display of her art, she revealed that there is nothing that can stop her from spreading her message across the world. She said, "There's always a risk, but I am willing to take this risk because I think my purpose [as an artist] is too important to be feared and, in the end, I see more hope than fear doing my performances." What's your take on this? Do let us know in the comment section below. PLEASE NOTE! Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate! All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited! (One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!) Bilateral exercise between Indian & Singapore Navy SIMBEX -17 kick-started on 18 May 2017. Photo: Indian Navy. NEW DELHI (PTI): Navies of India and Singapore on Thursday began a seven-day-long mega maritime exercise in the South China Sea which has been witnessing a growing Chinese assertiveness. Four warships of the Indian Navy and long range anti- submarine warfare aircraft P-8l are participating in the SIMBEX (Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise), which is aimed at increasing interoperability between the two navies. A diverse range of operational activities at sea have been planned during the course of the exercise. "The thrust of exercises at sea this year would be on Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), integrated operations with surface, air and sub-surface forces, air defence and surface encounter exercises," Navy Spokesperson Capt D K Sharma said. A number of warships of Singapore Navy are participating in the exercise along with maritime patrol aircraft Fokker F50 and F-16 aircraft. Held since 1994, it is the 24th edition of the annual exercise between the two countries. M777 155mm Howitzer. Photo: BAE Systems. NEW DELHI (PTI): After a 30-year wait for new artillery guns since the Bofors scandal, the Indian Army on Thursday received the first two ultra light howitzers from the US as part of an order for 145 long-range guns which will be mostly deployed along the border with China. The M-777 A-2 ultra-light howitzers (ULH), having a maximum range of 30 km and manufactured by the BAE Systems, were being taken to Pokhran firing range in Rajasthan for test firing. The Indian Army is in dire need of ULH and India had struck a government-to-government deal with the US in November last year for supply of the 145 howitzers at a cost of nearly Rs 5,000 crore. While 25 guns will come in a fly-away condition, the rest will be assembled in India by the BAE Systems in partnership with Mahindra Defence. The 155 mm, 39-calibre guns will fire Indian ammunitions. "As per the contract agreement, firing tables are being prepared by the contracted agency, that is, the US Government and BAE GCS (Global Combat Systems) Ltd with support of Indian Army," the Army said in a statement. It said after the firing tables are ready, three more guns will be supplied in September, 2018 for training. Thereafter, induction will commence from March 2019 onwards with five guns per month till complete consignment is received by mid 2021. "We continue to support the US government in integrating this new weapon system with the Indian Army's artillery modernization program," an official of the BAE Systems said. The howitzers that can be heli-lifted were first proposed to be bought from BAE about 10 years back. India had last procured howitzers in the mid-1980s from Swedish defence major Bofors. The alleged pay-offs in sealing the deal and its subsequent political ramifications had severely crippled the Indian Army's procurement of artillery guns. Officials sources said that the new guns are expected to be deployed along the border with China. Last week, engineering conglomerate Larsen and Toubro (L&T) was awarded a contract to supply 100 self-propelled howitzers to the Indian Army at a cost of Rs 4,500 crore The first batch of the 155mm/52 calibre tracked self- propelled (SP) gun -- K9 VAJRA-T -- will be delivered later this year and the entire supply will be made within next 42 months. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 19/05/2017 (2000 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. ESL students at Assiniboine Community College will get to enjoy a few more weeks of classes as normal, thanks to an amendment in federal funding. After a little more than a month of downsized classes, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada provided additional funding of $107,000, allowing ACC to continue its previous schedule temporarily until the end of June. IRCCs change of heart follows funding cuts to ACCs ESL program that were effective March 31. Those cuts saw ESL programming go from $730,000 in federal funding in 2016-17 to $190,000 in 2017-18. Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun Students in a Canadian Language Benchmark Level 5-6 class at Assiniboine Community College's Adult Collegiate in downtown Brandon interact with their instructor during class on Thursday afternoon. The extra funding allows the college to resume four classes a week, including mornings, afternoons, evenings and Saturdays. Students were looking at an approximate 85 per cent reduction in class offerings, including the cancellation of Friday and Saturday classes, as well as evenings. One of the things that IRCC had committed to was working with us to continue to understand what the demand was, ACC president Mark Frison said. They have stayed in close contact throughout all of this. Our language training folks and their officials have always been in close contact to make sure theyre understanding, and their commitment to do that has been helpful. The extra funding allows the college to resume four classes a week, including mornings, afternoons, evenings and Saturdays. Classes had been reduced to only twice a week. ACC can now accommodate 150 to 180 students with classes four days a week versus only 80 students twice a week. Im glad to see the extension of the days and the hours, Frison said. Resuming classes also means renewing contracts. In addition to the only full-time regular instructor for ESL programming, six contract instructors were also brought back to teach in the ESL programs. ESL student Nataliya Kulyaba said she is overjoyed that the additional classes were reinstated. Im really, really, really happy I cant even explain Its magic, Kulyaba said, laughing. Everyone is very happy and thankful for our government to give some money back. We really appreciate it. The cuts not only affected the number of students able to attend class, but also their education, Kulyaba said. With two classes (per week), it was very fast and a lot of information, it was a little bit crazy. For example, it was like if you wanted to eat some food but you cant eat it every day, only a few times a week thats what it felt like, Kulyaba said. But now its very good. Its really helpful for us because we keep going and we get practice. Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun Students in a Canadian Language Benchmark Level 7-8 class at Assiniboine Community College's Adult Collegiate in downtown Brandon work on an assignment on Thursday afternoon. Kulyaba said she isnt sure whats going to happen when classes resume in September, but she hopes IRCC will consider extra funding once again. As it stands right now, classes will be reduced again in September, Frison said, adding that he is encouraged by the working relationship ACC and IRCC have had so far. I do hope that as we continue into the fall, if there is that demand that (IRCC) will be equally as responsive, Frison said. English classes provided to hundreds of foreign workers through United Food and Commercial Workers Local 832 also saw significant federal funding cuts, with the majority of their funding ceasing as of June 1. UFCW representatives did not respond by press time regarding their situation. edebooy@brandonsun.com Twitter: @erindebooy Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 19/05/2017 (2000 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A man who seriously injured another during a mid-afternoon confrontation at a Brandon traffic light has been given a chance to maintain a clean criminal record. Essentially, what we have here is a road rage incident, Crown attorney Brett Rach said, describing the events that led to the assault. In Brandon provincial court on Thursday, 28-year-old Braeden Thomas Maxwell was sentenced for assault causing bodily harm. His lawyer, Eric Wach, said his client was sorry for the Aug. 4, 2016, assault that left the victim with a lasting head injury. Wach said his client overreacted in the belief that the victims driving had put his life in danger. In court, Wach didnt detail the driving by the victim that had upset his client, telling court that he didnt want to engage in victim blaming. However, outside of court, Wach said that his client reported that the victim had persistently tailgated him and had sped past him when hed slowed for an amber light. Following that, the two drivers encountered each other again, and Wach said Maxwell reported that the victim had deliberately driven toward him in an apparent attempt to ram him. Rach said the parties had gone their separate ways but Maxwell, stewing in anger, turned around, and caught up with the victim at a traffic light at the corner of 19th Street and Richmond Avenue. Both men got out of their vehicles and engaged in some mutual shoving. Wachs client maintains that his adversary punched him. However, Rach said Maxwell took things further by punching the 62-year-old victim five to six times. The victim then fell and hit his head on a curb. One witness called police, while another drove their vehicle in front of Maxwells to stop him from driving away. Maxwell managed to drive off anyway, after the witness heard him exclaim: He fg deserved it, he almost killed me! The victim was taken to hospital, bleeding from a five-centimetre cut to the back of his head. Rach said the victim, a mechanic, cant work because the head injury caused problems with his memory. Maxwell went to hospital for his own injuries, then surrendered to police. Wach said Maxwell had headaches and a sprained thumb, that later resulted in the loss of his job at an excavating company. While some elements of the altercation were consensual, legally a person cant consent to suffering bodily harm. The victim wasnt charged in the incident. Court heard that Maxwell had pre-existing mental health conditions that make him prone to being impulsive. Wach said those conditions appeared to play a role in the assault. Maxwell has no criminal record and was given a two-year conditional discharge that will allow him to keep that record clean if he abides by its conditions. Those conditions include anger management counselling and 80 hours of community service work. ihitchen@brandonsun.com Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 19/05/2017 (2000 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The strong smell of exhaust lingered along a stretch of Rosser Avenue on Thursday evening as local car enthusiasts gathered for the first Cruise Night in Downtown Brandon of the year. The main downtown strip was almost fully lined from Sixth Street to 13th Street, which was shut down to allow pedestrians a closer look at the diagonally-parked vehicles. Vigorously wiping down his 1977 Z28 Camaro, Brian Clark readied his 550-horsepower prized car for fellow automobile enthusiasts enjoyment. Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun Two-year-old Conner Curtis sits atop his dad's 1991 Ford Tempo during the first Cruise Night in Downtown Brandon of the season on Thursday. The exhaust kicks up a fair amount of dust that needs wiping away, he explained, adding; Im fussy about it. I like it nice and clean and pristine. A longtime participant in Brandons monthly summer automobile enthusiast get-togethers, Clark said that the event is like a reunion for local area vehicle fans. You get to know people when you do this, so its a nice social outing as well, he said, adding that while theres a lot of repeat attendees, theres always a batch of new vehicles to look at as new people come on board and existing enthusiasts fix up more rides. Nothings ever the same when you come down here, he said, adding that while hes showing a Camaro now, hed previously shown a Corvette that he has since sold. Thursdays show included an eclectic blend of vehicles, which participant Art Asham said is always the case at the downtown event. His vehicle, a 1985 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia, was one of the more unique vehicles, perhaps trailing behind a classic Ghostbusters style ambulance that was parked nearby. Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun A visitor to the first Cruise Night of the season peers into a 1955 Ford on Thursday. The Volkswagen included two fold-down beds, a pop-up table, a sink, fridge and all the makings for a decent road trip vehicle. Asham has joined wife Bonnie on a number of such road trips, to both west and east coasts and special trips to Vermont and New York State. With others daydreaming about taking similar such trips in the vehicle, Asham said that he has received a lot of offers to buy it, which he has easily turned down. Flattered by these offers, Asham said that its always nice to show off a vehicle that takes its owner quite a bit of dedication to maintain. As a longtime visitor of the car show, Craig Senchuk said that he has spent years showering praise on others vehicles, dreaming about cars youd like to have. About two weeks ago, he purchased a 1978 Ford Highboy F-150 4X4, which he showed off for the first time on Thursday. Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun Visitors to the first Cruise Night of the season cast long shadows on Rosser Avenue in downtown Brandon on Thursday. My first time putting a truck in is a pretty good feeling, he said. The trucks six-inch factory lift, with an additional six-inch lift, have drawn the eyes of many, he said, including his 14-year-old son Alex, who has taken to driving the truck around their Carberry-area property. One of the events organizers, Dave Burba, said that more is being planned for subsequent events, with rock group Tripwire slated to perform at their July show. This years events mark something of a renewal for the annual effort, with sponsors brought on to promote the events and younger members taking to social media to help pump up interest. Thursdays event was the first of five, with subsequent events scheduled to take place along Rosser Avenue from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on June 1, July 6, Aug. 3 and Sept. 7. Those interested in showing off their vehicles are encouraged to enter the event at Rosser Avenues intersection with 13th Street. Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun Visitors to the first Cruise Night of the season pack Rosser Avenue in downtown Brandon on Thursday. tclarke@brandonsun.com Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 18/05/2017 (2001 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Dauphin schools were briefly locked on Tuesday afternoon during a gun scare, although no suspect or weapon was found. RCMP said a student reported seeing a male with what might have been a handgun but, with no suspect located, the locking of Dauphin schools was lifted after about an hour. We had somebody walking down a lane with a suspicious item in his hand, Dauphin RCMP Staff Sgt. Nolan Suss said of the report. Suss said Tuesdays incident began around 1 p.m. when a Mackenzie Middle School student was walking back to classes following lunch when he or she spotted a male in an alley. The male put something in his pocket, and the student believed it might have been a handgun. While the male was a few blocks away from the middle school, and near Henderson Elementary School, there was no indication that he was heading for those schools or that anybody at them was at risk. The student informed school staff and the principal called police, who scoured the area in multiple vehicles, but no one matching the males description could be found. Prairie View School Division placed Dauphin schools under Hold and Secure status, but around 2 p.m. police notified school authorities that the area was secure and that secure status was lifted. As no suspect could be found, it cant be confirmed whether there was an individual with a gun. Prairie View School Division posted a notice about the matter on its website. The locking of Dauphin schools wasnt a full-fledged lockdown, but rather a Hold and Secure, the school division stated. In a Hold and Secure, school doors are locked and staff keep an eye on school grounds, but classes continue as normal. Students stay inside the building until police determine whether theres a threat. The division stated that a Hold and Secure is typically put in place when a potential threat exists close to a school, but outside of the school environment. The school division put another Hold and Secure in place for Grandview School on Wednesday when they received a report that someone was going to attend there to fight another student. That person wasnt on school grounds and the Hold and Secure status was lifted around 3:30 p.m. ihitchen@brandonsun.com Already have an account? Log in here When police confronted a man suspected of having some stolen cash that included old Canadian bills, he didnt want to show them the money. We need your support! Local journalism needs your support! As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed. Now, more than ever, we need your support. Starting at $4.99/month you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website. or call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527. Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community! Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 19/05/2017 (2000 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. I have a few friends who call me a beer snob, stating that I only drink the best of the best. Actually, Im willing to try almost any beer as long as it doesnt contain animal remains, clamato or anything weird like that. One of my friends who constantly calls me a beer snob is from Toronto his favourite beer is Coors Light, especially in tall cans. At one point he called craft beer hipster beer, but one day he texted me stating that I really needed to try this beer because it was perfect for the patio tasty, easy to drink and summer in a glass. In reality, thats one of the 10,000 hipster brews being made in Canada right now by hard-working craft brewers, using ingredients sourced close to home and providing employment at every turn. The beer my Toronto friend was raving about was Torontos Side Launch Brewings Wheat Ale. My Coors Light-drinking buddy texted me a year back that he really enjoyed drinking Side Launchs Wheat Ale, which kind of surprised me, but there was a time in the late 00s where he appreciated a Unibroue Blanche de Chambly once in a while. So obviously this guy knows good beer if he tasted one, even if he thinks Coors Light is heaven (to each their own). Every once in a while hed offer to send me a can of Side Launch Wheat Ale, but legally, thats pretty much against the law for now. Late last year, I was super excited when I saw that Side Launch Brewing randomly showed up at local LCs with the one beer I wanted to try the wheat ale! Im not a fan of MLCC at times, but we do get a decent selection of up-and-coming Canadian brews that the rest of Canada would eat up in a second. I was happy to see Side Launchs Wheat Ale available here in Manitoba, especially with me being a Belgian wheat ale fanatic since working at Convergys back in 05 (Blanche de Chambly). Side Launchs Wheat Ale pours a heavy, cloudy straw yellow with a bit of an orange hue to it, theres not much of a head to it, but it does have a hint of bubbles around the rim of the glass. The aroma of the beer is very straw forward, which gives off a sweet straw and grainy aroma to the beer. Theres notes of caramel, a light biscuit dough, a hint of coriander and a decent amount of lemon. This is supposed to be a German-style hefeweizen (wheat ale) but the aroma of straw gives off more of a lager vibe to it than wheat ale. But it certainly is sweet. The flavour of the beer is definitely more reminiscent of what I expect in a Belgian-style wheat ale, theres a moderate amount of coriander popping out right at the beginning. I also get a hint of black tea, a good deal of straw, lemon, bubble gum and banana. The beer is slightly fruity and a hint of yeastiness but very easy to drink. This really has some great tastes that remind me of what makes German beer as amazing as it is, its not boring and its showing some serious German character to it. I certainly didnt enjoy this beer as much as my friends in Toronto, but Side Launchs Wheat Ale is an easy-to-drink wheat ale with notes of coriander, hay/straw, bubble gum and banana. Actually, this is the crispest witbier Ive had in a long time so I could see this wheat ale being a hit for the Budweiser crowd. If youre drinking Shock Top this summer, then youre just wasting your money. I would suggest this over Shock Top any day of the week because Shock Top tastes like regret and creepy talking orange peels. You can find Side Launch Wheat Ale at the Liquor Marts at 10th Street and Victoria Avenue and the Corral Centre for $2.99 per 473 ml can. 5.3 per cent ABV. Pint raing: Three pints out of five. Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 19/05/2017 (2000 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Assiniboine Community College quietly expanded the number of classes available to higher level English as a second language students last Monday, after Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada finally agreed to crack open the purse strings a wee bit more. As you can read in todays Brandon Sun, for the rest of May and the month of June, ACC will offer classes four days per week to between 150 and 180 students, with increased class time hours. While that is certainly an improvement over the 80 or so students who were able to take in classes two days per week since March 31, it remains far from ideal. As regular readers may recall, the ESL Program funding for Canadian Language Benchmarks level 5-8, which is on offer at ACC, had been slashed from $730,000 to $190,000, as of March 31, meaning that the ESL course schedule that had been underway at the college one that was supposed to continue on into April had been cut short. Sun reporters had been told earlier this year that regional IRCC staff would meet with Brandon service providers including the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 832, which offers levels 1-7 this spring, in order to assess their service delivery and review the need for higher level language classes. If there was a demonstrated need for available funds at that time, the IRCC would reconsider funding. That appears to have happened. Funding levels have been bumped up by more than $100,000, bringing total program funding back up to $303,000 a little less than half of what was initially earmarked. While this is somewhat good news for local newcomers who want to continue their education in Brandon, next years funding remains in doubt. One of the things that IRCC had committed to was working with us to continue to understand what the demand was, ACC president Mark Frison said yesterday. Certainly the people what were in process in training as well as the numbers on the list I think were helpful in then re-examining what they were willing to do. I do hope that as we continue into the fall that if there is that demand, that theyll be equally as helpful. Thus far, plans remain to offer classes only two days per week in the fall, which will only lengthen the waiting list for the ACCs ESL program. Certainly it seems as if the waiting list that suddenly grew after funding was cut earlier this year was a large part of the reason that the federal government changed its tune. Until now, the feds have been claiming that there have been fewer recent newcomer arrivals accessing settlement services in Brandon over the last few years, which resulted in under-utilized capacity in higher level language classes a claim that is easily refuted when you look at the enrolment numbers. Before the funding cut, ACC which offers only the higher-level English classes (5-8), had 503 student registrations in the ESL program. Thats a jump from 442 in 2015-16, and 309 back in 2012-13. Clearly the federal government either wasnt paying attention somebody screwed up or this was wilful ignorance to merely save a few bucks before the Trudeau government tabled its budget bill. Were glad to see that local ESL students will be able to complete their course work this year, and thankful that the federal government and ACC have established a better line of communication. The students, too, should be proud of themselves for attempting to take charge of their own futures by marching down to the Sun office and telling us their stories and concerns after our initial breaking story that first announced the funding cut. Their stories, and the mass of letters to the editor that they sent us and we published, hopefully helped the IRCC make the right decision. But quite frankly, had the government actually listened in the first place, this farce need never have happened at all. We can only hope that those on the federal side of that two-way communication continue to speak our language. As we are all aware, theres nothing better than an Irish wedding. Lets face it, there are not many places around the world where its completely normal to have 100+ men pull their trousers above their knees, tie their ties around their heads and throw their best Michael Flatley-esque moves. A former Sinn Fein Councillor and his father are due to be sentenced today for falsely imprisoning and threatening to kill a con artist. Jonathan Dowdall tortured the man by water boarding him at his house on the Navan Road in Dublin in January 2015. When Mr Dowdalls home was searched in relation to another matter in March 2016, Gardai found a USB stick in his kitchen. On it, they found a number of video clips showing a man, whom they later identified as convicted fraudster Alex Hurley, being water boarded. The footage, recorded on January 15, 2015, showed him bound to an office chair in Mr Dowdalls garage. It then showed the former Sinn Fein Councillor placing a towel over his head and pouring two buckets of water over him. The court heard he suspected he was being scammed by Mr Hurley who had called over to his house three days beforehand to look at a motorbike. In his victim impact statement, Mr Hurley said he was tortured to the point of deaths door. Jonathan Dowdall and his father Patrick are due to be sentenced later this morning. Former Ireland international Niall Quinn became emotional this afternoon when discussing the current problems of broadband provider Qsat. Quinn is a shareholder and chairman of the Irish company, which launched in August 2011 and provides satellite broadband to households and businesses across Ireland, particularly in rural locations. QSat has been involved in a long-running dispute with its connectivity provider Avanti Communications over their existing contract. On Wednesday QSats 3000 customers found themselves without internet access, when Avanti cut the service to QSat. When customers logged in to their QSat accounts they were advised to switch to another service provider, which works with Avanti and uses the same satellite dishes. Customers have been left in the dark and Mr Quinn spoke to RTEs Liveline this afternoon to explain the situation. We've been contacted by #qsat customers whose service has gone down. Trying to find out what the latest is in advance of today's #liveline Liveline (@rteliveline) May 19, 2017 We are in the middle of a two-year legal dispute with our satellite supplier. The legal dispute escalates now. Mr Quinn advised customers listening to switch providers as suggested in order to get internet access back as soon as possible. He acknowledged this meant QSat losing them, possibly forever, but said his priority was looking after his customers. They come first, and well fight our fight. Our customer situation is alarming, we have put our staff on appraisal about how things are going here. He also acknowledged that the dispute related to a contract which QSat signed with Avanti but insisted it was "unworkable". He paid tribute to staff he said were working overtime despite the clear threat of losing their jobs. Presenter Philip Boucher Hayes asked if Mr Quinn could apply lessons from the football pitch to his current situation. Well, I cant kick anyone or elbow anyone! But I never lay down for too long when I played and I wont be this time either. The former striker became emotional when a QSat customer rang in to offer his support. Thank you, I take real heart from it," he said. "You get very emotional at a time like this, as tough as you want to be. It gives us energy to make us believe that we were doing a good job and we had a decent business." When contacted, Avanti released a statement saying: "All QSAT consumers continue to enjoy normal service, no consumer has had their service switched off. "QSAT has not paid its bills to Avanti therefore QSATs contract has been terminated for non-payment. Despite this, it does not affect the service its consumers have paid for. "Our first priority is to make sure that the innocent consumers continue to access the Internet without interruption, at our cost. Therefore we have notified QSATs consumers that their service will continue without interruption. "All they have to do is call the new supplier, Bentley Walker on 0845 8730266, who can take over management of the account and offer best value for money and stable and reliable service and support." President Michael D Higgins will have an audience with the Pope on Monday. The President will travel to the Vatican from Venice after attending the Biennale art exhibition. Al Porter has confirmed that he will be the host of TV3s Blind Date. The Tallaght comedian will front the famous dating show when it launches this autumn and if its anything like his stand up were expecting a 'lorra lorra' laughs. Theresa May's "strong and stable" mantra has come under fire from an unlikely source - a nine-year-old boy at a Jeremy Corbyn rally. Hasnain Nawaz was given time off school to attend the Labour leader's speech at a conference centre in Peterborough United's London Road stadium with his father Shaz Nawaz, who is a party member. And the boy drew laughs from the crowd of Labour supporters when he asked Mr Corbyn quite simply "what does strong and stable mean?" Nine-year-old Hasnain Nawaz said he asked Jeremy Corbyn what 'strong & stable' means as Theresa May 'says it all the time' pic.twitter.com/fQsoV4E3r2 Sam Russell (@SamRussellPA) May 19, 2017 The Prime Minister has taken flak for regularly repeating her insistence that she provides "strong and stable leadership" during the General Election campaign. But speaking to the Press Association, Hasnain said: "Theresa May says it all the time and she's not really doing anything is she? "She just says it, what else is she going to do just by saying strong and stable?" Hasnain, who wants to be a Labour politician when he grows up, said if he was old enough to vote he would definitely back Mr Corbyn. "I just like him, you know what he does and all of that, helping the homeless, all of that, just interests me," he said. Earlier, answering Hasnain's question, Mr Corbyn said: "Strong and stable is an odd choice of words. Hasnain Nawaz, 9, asked Jeremy Corbyn what 'strong & stable' govt means. Says strength is about sense of belief, community, responsibility pic.twitter.com/nIa57Qn60X Sam Russell (@SamRussellPA) May 19, 2017 "But I think you should understand - what strength is about is about your sense of belief, about your sense of community, about your sense of responsibility when you have responsibilities to carry out. "If you're a councillor, an MP, a minister or a prime minister, a couple of things are important. "One, never ever forget where you come from and who put you there. "And secondly, when you make decisions think through very, very carefully who benefits from your decisions, who will be negatively impacted from your decisions and what the long-term effect of them is." Ivanka Trump will travel with the president on his upcoming overseas trip to Saudi Arabia, Israel and Italy. A White House adviser said Ms Trump, a senior adviser to President Donald Trump, will be along for six days of the nine-day trip. She will join her father for some events and hold some of her own. A "deeply radicalised" council binman was jailed for five years in the UK today after converting to Islam and telling his wife who worked at a British Army base he wanted to kill soldiers. Isis supporter Aabid Ali, 49, from Wrexham, also said the murder of Lee Rigby was justified and was found with maps of the British Houses of Parliament, looked up security arrangements at Number 10 and spoke of using a car as a jihadi weapon, Manchester Crown Court heard. He had changed his name from Darren Glennon and converted to Islam 20 years ago, the court heard. The council refuse collector became increasingly fixated with extremist ideology in the last two years, "almost daily" watching videos of Isis beheadings, stonings and bombings and looking up how to make explosives. He had visited Downing Street and said he hoped to meet the "war criminal" prime minister, regarding the West and its military as legitimate targets for jihad. He also told his wife of his desire to bomb an RAF base and attack nightclubs. When she told police it led to heightened security at the army barracks where she worked, the court heard. Ali told officers: "Everyone loves a bomb. I like the sound of a bang." He pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to two offences of having Isis publications, bomb making manuals, useful for terrorist purposes and a further count of encouraging terrorism, all committed last autumn. Ali, who has a shaved head and ginger goatee beard, shrugged his shoulders as he was jailed for five years and four months by the Honorary Recorder of Manchester Judge David Stockdale, who said he had shown, "no remorse, no regret, no apology". He added: "This is extremely serious offending, you are patently fixated with extremism and terrorism and you are minded to encourage terrorism in others. "You show no sense whatsoever of retreating from your path into radicalisation." Rolf Harris has been released from prison, jail staff have confirmed. The Australia-born former television star, 87, was released from HMP Stafford on Friday morning. It means Harris will be able to appear in person, on bail, when his indecent assault trial resumes on Monday at Southwark Crown Court. Harris, who denies four charges of indecent assault against three women between 1971 and 1983, had previously appeared via video link. Sweden's Director of Public Prosecution has decided to discontinue the investigation against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. The dramatic announcement came ahead of a press conference by the DPP, Marianne Ny, into the long running saga. Mr Assange has been living inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London for almost five years and has been granted political asylum. He was questioned six months ago in the presence of Swedish officials over a sex allegation, which he has always denied. Mr Assange faces extradition to the United States for questioning over the activities of WikiLeaks if he leaves the embassy. Scotland Yard has also said it was obliged to execute a warrant issued by Westminster Magistrates' Court for the arrest of Julian Assange following his failure to surrender to the court in June 2012 should he leave the embassy. A brief statement ahead of today's press conference said: "Director of Public Prosecution, Ms Marianne Ny, has today decided to discontinue the investigation regarding suspected rape (lesser degree) by Julian Assange." Friday's development follows a letter sent to the Swedish government by the government of Ecuador saying there had been a "serious failure" by the prosecutor, including a "lack of initiative" to complete inquiries. The letter raised developments in the United States since the election of Donald Trump as President, including a speech by CIA director Mike Pompeo describing WikiLeaks as a "hostile intelligence service". Recent public declarations such as this constitute an "obvious risk" for Mr Assange, said the letter. Mr Assange originally faced three sex allegations, all of which he denied. The US has slapped new sanctions on eight members of Venezuela's Supreme Court, accusing them of abusing power and damaging their nation's democratic fabric as the Trump administration raises concerns that socialist president Nicolas Maduro is moving toward one-party, authoritarian rule. Those blacklisted by the Treasury Department include Maikel Moreno, the president of the government-packed Supreme Court, as well as all seven justices who signed a ruling in late March stripping the opposition-controlled congress of its last remaining powers. The ruling was later partially reversed amid a backlash of international criticism, but it sparked a protest movement that has continued for nearly two months and on Thursday claimed another victim, bringing the death toll to 45. "The Venezuelan people are suffering from a collapsing economy brought about by their government's mismanagement and corruption. Members of the country's Supreme Court of Justice have exacerbated the situation by consistently interfering with the legislative branch's authority," US Treasury secretary Steven T Mnuchin said. "By imposing these targeted sanctions, the United States is supporting the Venezuelan people in their efforts to protect and advance democratic governance in their country." The action marked the second time the Trump administration has stripped high-level Venezuelan officials of their US assets and banned Americans from any business dealings with them. In February, the US ordered sanctions against vice president Tareck El Aissami, accusing him of playing a major role in international drug trafficking. Earlier on Thursday, Trump expressed dismay about Venezuela's troubles, asking aloud how a nation sitting atop the world's largest oil reserves could be stricken by so much poverty and unrest. "You sort of have to wonder: Why is that happening? How is that possible? Hopefully that will change and they can use those assets for the good. Because right now what's happening is really a disgrace to humanity," Mr Trump said after meeting at the White House with Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos. Venezuelan foreign minister Delcy Rodriguez called the US sanctions "outrageous and unacceptable." She said that the executive order was one more example of US attempts to interfere and destabilise Mr Maduro's government and that the president strongly backs the Supreme Court magistrates who are "victims of US imperial power". The new sanctions come as Mr Maduro is facing increasing pressure at home and abroad to hold elections. On Thursday, several thousand demonstrators once again collapsed Caracas and other cities in protests that ended in clashes with security forces firing tear gas and rubber bullets. More than 2,000 people have been detained and hundreds injured during almost daily protests. In the western city of Maracaibo, a 25-year-old was killed when he was crushed by a truck during a protest, the chief prosecutor's office said. Local media said he was a medical student belonging to the so-called "Green Cross," a group of volunteer first-responders that is a fixture at opposition marches Mr Maduro has vowed to resolve his nation's crisis by convoking a special assembly to rewrite Venezuela's constitution. The opposition rejects that plan as another attempt by the president to tighten his grip on power, and opposition leaders are calling on Venezuelans to continue to take to the streets in protest. Meanwhile, Venezuelan opposition leader Henrique Capriles said his passport was annulled as he attempted to travel to the United Nations to denounce human rights violations by Mr Maduro's government. Mr Capriles posted a video on social media on Thursday from the airport outside Caracas saying the decision to take his passport will not silence his criticism of Mr Maduro. He said he decided to return to Caracas and join the anti-government protests. AP An alleged al Qaida bomb-maker who faces a terror trial after being arrested near Downing Street has told a court he does not plan to be represented by a lawyer. Khalid Mohammed Omar Ali was arrested last month in Whitehall, where he was allegedly carrying three knives. University of Canberra student Kayla Sterchow had lots of reasons to celebrate on Thursday when she turned 20. But she couldn't get her "traumatic" high school years in Illawarra out of her head. Kayla Sterchow, who has high-functioning autism and epilepsy, is studying at the University of Canberra. Credit:Karleen Minney Bullied by other students and kicked out of seven schools, Ms Sterchow was constantly told by teachers she "wouldn't get anywhere in life" because of her autism. "All the schools I went to pretty much said to my mum I wouldn't get anywhere in life.....I'd just end up working at Greenacres or Flagstaff because of my autism they even said I wouldn't finish high school," she said. PNM is proposing a future energy resource portfolio that would eliminate the companys use of coal-fired generation by the end of 2031. This proposal is explained in an integrated resource plan (IRP), which is a very detailed report about the costs and benefits of changing the companys energy mix. Public input and comments on this draft report are still being accepted as part of the ongoing IRP process, which culminates in a final document to be filed with the PRC by July 3, 2017. Because this decision affects all New Mexicans, PNM will conduct a series of "whistle stop" meeting in Albuquerque to give residents a chance to weigh in with their thoughts about the future of energy in New Mexico and to learn more about how the IRP process works. Residents are also encouraged to email PNM their comments to irp@pnm.com. The Albuquerque meeting information: Albuquerque: ABQ Museum of Art and History, 2000 Mountain Rd. NW Tuesday, May 23rd 5:30 to 7:30 pm An exhibition of 12 striking masks and related cultural materials celebrating the rich and continuing tradition in the Torres Strait has opened at the National Museum. Created by the Gab Titui Cultural Centre on Waiben (Thursday Island) in 2016, Evolution: Torres Strait Masks explores the artistic and spiritual tradition of mask making that still resonates with communities today. A Torres Strait dance group performed in full mask and tribal costumes to launch a new exhibition at the National Museum of Australia, Evolution: Torres Strait Masks. Credit:Karleen Minney National Museum director, Dr Mathew Trinca, said he was thrilled to host the exhibition, which will tour until 2019. "This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase these striking objects, which explore key cultural practices in the Torres Strait from both historical and contemporary perspectives," he said. The Commonwealth Bank has tightened its policies on interest-only home loans, removing incentives to refinance such loans and demanding that new customers hold larger deposits. The decision of the country's biggest lender follows similar moves by Westpac and ANZ Bank. CBA said its cut would save owner-occupiers with an average-sized principal and interest loan $78 a year. Credit:Michael Clayton Jones The changes, which come into effect on June 10, were announced two months after the banking regulator announced new restrictions on interest-only lending. CBA said it would no longer offer a $1250 rebate to interest-only customers who want to refinance their loan with the bank. Brendon Cowie was rushing out to work when his wife Cathleen stopped him at the door for a kiss. A few hours later, arriving at a local church with their five-month-old son, Ryan, she collapsed and died. Doctors said Mrs Cowie, a gym instructor known as Cat, had an aortic aneurysm. She was 35 years old when she died in October 2015. Brendon Cowie with his son, Ryan, whose mother died when he was five months old. Credit:Janie Barrett "I'm grateful she got those five months with Ryan," Mr Cowie said. "Life's very fragile. You don't know what's around the corner." Mr Cowie, who was working in landscape maintenance, had to drop everything "to be a full-time mum and dad. Financially, it was tough." Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Credit:Felicity Caldwell The time for debate is long passed Marriage equality advocate: Senator Penny Wong. Credit:Andrew Meares David Ould (Letters, May 19) calls for marriage equality advocates like Penny Wong to "understand others' points of view" and believes there is a need for "proper debate over what marriage actually is and how our law should reflect it". Presumably these requests are intended to capture the opinions of those who oppose any change to current marriage laws. My question to him is why? What specifically about his opinion on this topic is so important that it should be able to influence the concept of equality before the law, when in reality he personally is not affected in any measureable way whatsoever by what kind of relationship we permit the word "marriage" to encompass? What supreme arrogance the opponents of marriage equality must possess to think that their personal objection to something should prevent someone else from simply repurposing an existing term to name their relationship. Daniel Kell Mascot The point is, David Ould, that your point of view, or religious beliefs, give you no right to decide how others live their lives or to deny them equality while ever they are doing no harm to others. The "proper debate" you call for has been settled by a very substantial proportion of Australians in favour of changing the marriage laws. What are you so fearful of? Are the institutions you believe in so fragile that they cannot survive inclusiveness? Perhaps it is really just a matter of unreasoned and prejudiced reliance on tradition for your security, and umbrage at offence to your particular sensibilities. Alynn Pratt Killara So exactly what constitutes "proper debate" on marriage equality, David Ould? The debate has been going on for more than 10 years. The polls consistently show more than 70 per cent of voters support marriage equality. The time for debate is over. The time for action is here. James Proctor Crows Nest The bus drivers have the community's support May I propose someone set up a crowd funding account to pay the fines incurred by the Rail, Bus & Tram Union for disobeying the Industrial Relations Commission? (Letters, May 19). I would do it myself but am not tech savvy enough. I would, however, contribute to show the state government that the union has my support. Minister Constance's arrogance over the whole affair is breathtaking. This government has been in constant conflict with the community over so many issues regarding consultation. Council mergers, WestConnex, Badgerys Creek airport and coal seam gas, just to name a few, have shown the government that there are other voices and that they must listen. Listening to Minister Constance refer to the action of the bus drivers as "anarchy" shows that he is clutching at straws to convince the public that the wrongdoing is not his. Emotive language and union bashing are not what the public expect. We expect the government to provide PUBLIC services for the PUBLIC with PUBLIC money. We do not expect that they pass the buck when they feel they can't do their job. Lee-Ann Groblicka Turramurra At last someone, the bus drivers and their union, standing up against this government's manic obsession for privatisations that go well beyond their mandate and which mostly cost us dearly. Greg McCarry Epping Tax Office sting: It costs to have security ATO's Michael Cranston. Credit:afr Congratulations to the Australian Federal Police for catching out the thieves who stole money from Australian workers ("The Tax Office sting, fast cars, fine wines, white collars", May 19). The relentless drive by our governments to outsource public operations has again come undone. The profit motive drives these privatised operators without the checks and balances of public service operations. The decreases in staffing across the public services further erodes the ability to monitor taxpayer funds effectively. It costs to have security. I am appalled at the range of high level people who have been caught in this sting. I am saddened that their moral and ethical compasses are so badly set, but as with the many rorts that have been identified over recent years and levels of government responsible for monitoring failing to do so, I wait for the daily paper to identify the next misappropriation of taxpayer money. Pity the government is so set on picking off the leaners while allowing the apparent lifters to play games with our taxes. Robert Mulas Corlette Adam Cranston on his wedding day. Credit:Facebook If ever there was a need for a federal ICAC surely the latest ATO disaster is it. While the ATO is happy to bully and treat the average taxpayer with contempt over trivial amounts of money, large companies call their bluff and have a self-appointed right to negotiate their tax liabilities. Now we have the current disaster where the upper echelon of employees have been able to rob the ATO of millions of dollars of taxpayer money. Meanwhile, Turnbull and his rabble dither and refuse to establish an ICAC at a federal level, presumably in case any of their mates at the big end of town get caught. Victor Marshall Erskineville Allan Bond spent one day in jail for every million he stole. The figure being bandied about for the tax fraud is $167 million. On that basis the alleged perpetrators will be in gaol for less than six months if convicted. Australia is notoriously soft on white collar crime. Keith Binns Goulburn The Prime Minister lauded the work done by the ATO and the AFP in catching the gang that defrauded the ATO of $165m. How is it that Centrelink has a system in place where it can send demand letters to welfare recipients for often minuscule amounts yet a gang can get away with $165m before it is noticed? Seems to me that the discovery was more good luck than good work as the gang imploded from within. Corrado Tavella Rosslyn Park SA A couple of years ago, I was working for an international science review panel that was reviewing division of CSIRO. While the panel had participants drawn from half-a-dozen different countries, it contained two English born scientists. One was an expatriate living in Canada, the other still resided in the UK. Over dinner, as the panel was getting to know each other, the English scientists, ever so subtly, sought out which secondary schools the other had attended. I thought this was very odd, considering their very distinguished scientific careers and the fact they were well into their 50s. Fast forward to 2017 and I read in the Herald that some of masterminds behind the $165 million tax evasion case attended St Aloysius College and Scots College. Why? Is it relevant to the article? What does this say about our society? Stuart Miller Ashfield Not long ago it was John Hartman and Oliver Curtis, former students from Riverview College, who got nabbed for insider trading. Now we learn that a band of brothers and sisters, including former pupils from St Aloysius College and Scots College, are part of a syndicate that allegedly ripped off $165 million in payroll tax and committed Australia's biggest white collar crime. Aren't ethics and morals taught in these schools? Don't they get Gonski funding? Peter Skrzynecki Eastwood Didn't Mr Cranston Sn ever wonder where Mr Cranston Jn's money came from? Meg McPherson Brighton, (Vic) Looks like the Cranstons are Breaking Bad. David Hepple Mount Austin Whilst I realise tax is an optional arrangement for some, I had no idea it was actually an income stream. Bill Carpenter Bowral Another benefit of education at a wealthy private school - a sense of entitlement where public money is concerned. Carolyn Little Mortdale Interesting choice of a business name, Plutus Payroll. Perhaps resulting from a good classical education? Plutus was the ancient Greek god of wealth, of untold riches. Rob Wills, Point Lookout (QLD) Plutolatry, Plutomania, Plutus Payroll. George Manojlovic Mangerton Protecting the vulnerable Your call for a standing royal commission to safeguard our more vulnerable citizens ("Standing royal commission to protect vulnerable", May 19) is a timely reminder that our humanitarian values define us as a society. However, your proposals, quite rightly, would call for increased government expenditure which in turn throws a shameful light on the violent response of the major banks to having a relatively small tax increase on their historically high profits. Peter Thomas Rose Bay I agree we need a standing royal commission to protect the vulnerable. I presume such a commission would be a permanent fixture and address the ongoing problems and violations of the rights of the vulnerable. The report of the national inquiry into the human rights of people with mental illness conducted by Brian Burdekin in 1993 addressed many of the issues currently being raised in relation to human rights abuses. However, such an inquiry had a limited life and so such progress that was made was soon forgotten. A permanent watchdog is needed which exercises ongoing vigilance on such matters. Annual accountability is needed to ensure such a body is effective. Bill McMahon Lennox Head Why buy a house when you could buy a park? You know you're living in Sydney when a slab of concrete with lines on it costs $400,000 and you have to pay stamp duty, council rates and body corporate or strata fees for the privilege of owning it. ("Australia's most expensive car spaces: Sydney owner selling for $400,000", May 19) John de Bres Rose Bay Crowd fund Fairfax? Now a second US private equity firm sees Fairfax as "good assets to maintain" ("Open house at Fairfax Media as a second bidder turns up," May 19). Are there no progressive Aussie entrepreneurs who appreciate the value and potential of our important institution? Mark Paskal Clovelly Trump: in cinemas soon The Rise and Fall of Donald Trump is going to make such a great movie. Alec Baldwin must be glowing in anticipation. Mike Phillips Yaroomba QLD Delirium dosages It's great to read that there may soon be a nasal spray to treat delirium ("Sydney doctors crack 2500-year-old delirium mystery", May 19). Please rush supplies to Washington and Canberra as soon as they are available. Bob Liddelow Avalon So right it's Wong Call it "the love that dare not speak its name", or whatever you like (Letters, May 19), I'd still turn for Penny Wong. Alicia Dawson Balmain Postscript Irritatingly bland or alarmingly self-indulgent, readers could get no satisfaction from the public utterances of our top political leaders this week. Malcolm Turnbull used to be nimble, agile and adventurous with his words but of late his turn of phrase has been trending towards the safe side, complained Rod Milliken, of Greenwell Point. "Anyone still listening to Malcolm Turnbull, now 'selling' his budget, will be forgiven for thinking he has swallowed whole 'The Book of Platitudes'. Not an innovative phrase forthcoming. This might well be a retreat too far." Auctioneers Leonard Joel, operating in both Sydney and Melbourne, was found to be offering the highest number of ivory lots for sale at 300 but, after discussions with IFAW, managing director John Albrecht underwent a complete change of heart. "You could call me 'born again' on this issue," he says. "As an auction house, you get bogged down in talking about ivory in terms of age and antiquity and beauty and cultural significance and intellectualising its importance in decorative arts. "But I now understand that when an auction house agrees to trade in ivory, then they put a value on it and help to create a market. By doing that, you're a party to what's happening to elephants because any piece of ivory, however beautiful, always originates from the slaughter of an animal. Now I look at ivory objects I once thought were lovely and they absolutely repulse me." From January 1 this year, he pledged to no longer trade in any raw ivory, like pairs of tusks, as well as any post-1921 worked ivory, while from January 1 2019 his auction rooms will no longer have anything to do with worked ivory pre-1921, either. "I'm absolutely passionate about this and am committed to changing the domestic perception of this issue," Albrecht says. "I think I'm gently driving the rest of the industry mad trying to get them on board but it's an important step for us all." At the same time, pressure is growing on the Australian government to ban the local trade in buying and selling ivory antiques completely, following a resolution adopted unanimously at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) late last year recommending that all members close down their domestic markets for ivory. The US is currently doing that, state by state, France has done so, and the UK is talking about it. China, which as the leading destination for African ivory since 2002 on data from the Elephant Trade System, takes in an estimated 70 per cent of the global ivory supply, announced in January that it will ban all ivory trade by the end of this year. People under 30 see wildlife dwindling and want to do something to stop that. Mark Hutchinson, entrepreneur and Wild Ark founder "That was a huge step in helping stop the world ivory trade," says Keeble. "It would seem quite an easy step for Australia to make too, especially as it won't affect the auction houses so much here now either. We have an opportunity now to support this and be at the forefront of the movement to save elephants." Meanwhile, in Africa itself, those on the ground trying to physically protect elephants are becoming ever more inventive in their mission to outwit the poachers. Kenya is proving to be very much at the vanguard of the effort, with a series of experiments, such as the anti-poaching bloodhounds at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, to reinforce their arsenal. So far, it's proving remarkably successful and now I understand why. A piece of specially manufactured, highly absorbent gauze had been placed over one of my footprints to pick up microscopic cells. The dogs were given one sniff of it and they tracked me down within what felt like seconds. Their scent-following skills are legendary. One time they tracked a would-be poacher to the town of Isiolo, 32 kilometres away. They are one of the reasons along with the thermal imaging technology deployed on a helicopter at night, a mini-army of 150 specially trained rangers, a highly sophisticated network of local informers, newly strengthened police powers of arrest and fast-track court processing that no elephant has been killed for its tusks in the last five years here. "We've worked hard at it," says Macfarlane, the big, bluff Scotsman who runs the Lewa House conservancy along with his wife Sophie Brown, a fourth-generation local. "We're doing everything we can." He surveys his security headquarters, with its array of weapons captured from poachers, which includes iron bars fashioned into spears with their tips dipped in poison, guns and ugly steel traps. "All these would mean terrible deaths for the elephants. These men have lost their tracking skills so if an elephant gets injured, the poachers can't keep up with it or find it, so it's a long, slow, lingering end. Horrible." The poachers tools include iron bars fashioned into spears, their tips dipped in poison. Credit:Julia Cumes There's also the Save The Elephants-funded project to place radio collars on elephants which, via GPS tracking, shows their migratory patterns, helped by special "elephant corridors" dug under the roads, funded by a donation from Sir Richard Branson. The collars will also alert rangers when the elephants are wandering too close to local farms. They can cause huge damage and farmers have been known to attack them in an effort to keep them off their land. "This is the best wildlife conservation example in East Africa," says Dr Zeke Davidson, Marwell Wildlife's field biologist in Kenya, who's been consulting on Lewa. "It's so important to study the behaviour of elephants before setting up a security system like this. They're smart. The day after we opened the underpass for them, we had 12 elephants using it. And when there's trouble anywhere else, we've seen them come back here, where they know they'll be safe. They're very clever animals." American counter-terrorism intelligence expert Lieutenant Colonel Faye Cuevas is sitting in her pyjamas watching the sun rise over Nairobi. It's half a world away from past positions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Today she's applying the same data collection techniques, analysis and strategies that she once used to fight terrorists to defeat wildlife poachers. Now working as chief of staff for IFAW, she's at the helm of a major new anti-poaching offensive in Kenya in partnership with the Kenya Wildlife Service, called tenBoma, which may soon be rolled out into other countries in Africa. It uses the same tools to weed out, track and capture poachers as are used routinely to trap insurgents, with a philosophy informed by the work of Australian counter-insurgency expert David Kilcullen, who was a senior adviser to US General David Petraeus in Iraq. With the first anniversary of the operation coming up in June, not a single animal has been lost in its areas. "We developed the idea of blending counterterrorism and counter-insurgency tactics and migrating them to the counter-poaching and trafficking wildlife space," says Cuevas. "We wanted to bring in a different way of looking at the problem and as a result, we're bringing an almost military campaign approach to bear, with our experience of major theatre wars, and engaging effectively with communities. "Kilcullen asked the question, 'What does Al Qaeda look like?' and then explained that it's a global network of separate parts with the whole much greater than the sum of its parts. He said we needed to focus on the linkages between the parts, which is where you can have the most disruptive effect. Similarly, we strive to illuminate the nodes of the poacher networks to find the most vulnerable links. We've gone from reaching a tipping point [where more elephants are killed than being born] in the main elephant region of Tsavo in 2013 to a point where I'm now optimistic about the elephants' future." That kind of military experience has led to another Australian also becoming active in the field. Australian special forces sniper and clearance diver Damien Mander visited Africa and was horrified to see the butchered corpses of elephants slaughtered for their tusks by poachers. "It affected me more than my time in Iraq did," says Mander, now 37. As a result, he sold his investment properties in Australia and put all his funds into setting up the International Anti-Poaching Federation in 2009, using drones extensively to keep an eye on wildlife. Sydney business entrepreneur Mark Hutchinson is another who's now dedicating himself to protecting Africa's wildlife. As a young man, he travelled extensively around Africa and established adventure ecotourism company Untamed. Now, after the collapse of the education training business Vocation that had put him on BRW's Young Rich List, he's returned to Africa to set up Wild Ark, to buy, protect and restore as much safe land as possible for wildlife. "My DNA is in this space and I've been overwhelmed by the response from our Australian audience," Hutchinson, also 37, says. "Australians are very tuned into wildlife in Africa as we're such a multicultural country and we've grown up reading books about wildlife and National Geographic and watching David Attenborough documentaries." He's been particularly successful in luring Australian celebrities over to help him in his work protecting elephants and other species, with surf champion Mick Fanning joining him as an ambassador and Wallabies star David Pocock now in the middle of a six-month break from rugby union working for his organisation in Africa. "We get a lot of attention from social media and one of the questions we're asked is, 'How can I get involved?'" Hutchinson says. "Australians have always been interested in conservation but now they want to help create real outcomes. People under the age of 30 particularly see wildlife dwindling and want to do something to stop that. People also love hearing the positives rather than the Doomsday narratives and now there are a lot more wins to celebrate." Julie McIntosh, founder and director of The Classic Safari Company, agrees, saying she's seeing an unprecedented increase in the number of Australians travelling to Africa, particularly to Kenya and Tanzania. "There is always a high interest in seeing elephants, and clients are leaning towards travelling with purpose and seeing conservation projects in action," she says. "Places such as Ol Donyo home to the 'big tuskers' and Lewa are perfect because of their conservation efforts and the successes they have had with them. Tourism keeps conservation going and the more people learn about the efforts on the ground, the better " "The most powerful weapon is showing locals that conservation makes financial sense," says Kenya-based conservation scientist Jeremy Goss. "With elephants, we have a tourism industry that benefits us all." Credit:Sam Stogdale The sun has just risen and we're walking as stealthily as we can, in single file, through the Kenyan bush just to the north of Mount Kilimanjaro. Senjuka Tomboya strides ahead, brandishing his rifle, while Altevu Lormunyei brings up the rear with a 12- bolt shotgun. Between the Maasai pair are another ranger and me, seemingly making more noise than the rest of them combined as I crunch over black volcanic gravel underfoot and snap acacia branches as I pass. We're on the hunt for poachers after a report from locals of activity overnight near this spot, and we're creeping around on foot hoping to find them. Our commander stops suddenly, bends down, examines what are apparently elephant tracks and scat, and confers with his wing man. They're apparently from a big bull elephant in musth a short period when his level of testosterone renders him sexually active and treacherously aggressive. It seems the dangers are now two-fold: meeting the poachers head-on and encountering their prey. It also meant relocating the family. Napoleon and wife Soula-Marie made the most of the opportunity, choosing Athens as their new base. They wanted to immerse their daughters in the European way of life, exposing them to Greek language and culture. Lianna, who was 14 at the time, hated it. "I was crying and saying, 'What am I doing here, I have no friends here,' " Lianna recalls. "I didn't know much Greek and I was in an American school doing all my classes, even physics and chemistry, in Greek."' But Athens had more to teach Lianna than just reacquainting her with her mother tongue. She saw a new version of the poverty and strife her grandparents had fled from 50 years earlier. Witnessing the flood of refugees from war-torn Syria had a profound impact on her. "Out at the old airport, there were a couple of thousand refugees," she says. "I was seeing first-hand what other people were seeing on the news, and it taught me what real life is and what problems real people have." Athens, meanwhile, stole her heart. "It is a city that is part of my ethnicity. It's a city that is ancient but very modern at the same time. It's not the most beautiful city in the world, but I love how gritty it is." Trelise Cooper Double or Trouble jacket, $72. Max Mara bra, $235. Cooper Fray With Me jeans, $299. Lucy Folk earrings, $375, andMediterranean necklace, $4350. Credit:Bec Parsons Lianna is gracious and funny, with not even a hint of pretentious teen. She is named after her paternal grandmother Liana, who famously allowed her 13-year-old son Napoleon to practise his budding make-up skills on her, complete with electric-blue mascara. Napoleon and Soula-Marie learnt their work ethic the hard way. The Perdises ran a takeaway shop in Sydney and, like all Greek families, the children were expected to work after school. Soula-Marie was raised by a single mother who worked as a seamstress. "I see her as a superwoman, I idolise her," Lianna says of her mother. "I love the way she can balance everything but she always looks so beautiful. She cooks us breakfast and she still goes to work, she still takes care of the house and she comes home to cook us dinner. I am astonished by her, she inspires me." Lianna says her parents have worked hard to give their daughters as normal an upbringing as possible. The family has dinner together every night, phones are banned after lights out, and the girls were not allowed to wear make-up until they hit year 6 and then only mascara and lip gloss. The girls didn't make their first public appearance until 2015, at a series of beauty master classes in Melbourne and Sydney. "They worked so hard and they got to this level," Lianna says of her parents. "I feel like working hard is important to me because when you work hard you can achieve your goals and actually get somewhere in life. That's essentially what my parents did and it's very inspiring to me. Family, and working hard for your family, is everything." When the Perdises say family comes first, they mean it. At the time of our talk, Lianna, her parents and her sisters had just arrived in Sydney to be with her gravely ill 88-year-old grandfather, John Perdis. When John died a week later, his funeral notice declared that his "bright and cheeky spirit" will be carried on by his children and grandchildren. It was John Perdis who kick-started his son's make-up empire, with a $30,000 business loan to Napoleon and Soula-Marie. The couple met at the Macquarie Uni when they were both 18. In 1992, one year after they married, Napoleon opened a make-up studio in Leichhardt in Sydney. Three years later, he opened a concept store on Oxford Street in Paddington. Soula-Marie became the chief financial officer, and four years ago chief operating officer. Napoleon's brother Emanuel remains the founding managing director. It's an outstanding Australian success story. Today the company turns over more than $100 million annually, and has 86 concept stores and 110 shop counters in Myer and David Jones department stores around Australia. It's stocked throughout South East Asia and the Middle East, and maintains a busy online presence in the US. Rebecca Vallance The Wolfe oversized leather jacket, $929. Sportmax jumpsuit, $1455. Christopher Esber Split Apron Singlet, $330. Credit:Bec Parsons Napoleon had always been the creative whirlwind behind the brand. Then along came Lianna and her three sisters. As the girls hit their teens, they became Napoleon's perfect in-house product testers. And as they began to put in their requests, he began asking their advice. Lianna describes Total Bae, which she conceived and created with her father, as driven by social media trends. "It's more youthful but not necessarily for the youth. It's fun, quick and easy." She's particularly proud of Total Bae mascara Own It! "It has a special wand which is double-sided and gives length plus volume," she says. Then, exhibiting her father's brilliant gift for hyperbole, she adds with a grin: "It gives my eyelashes goals it makes them so long and thick, but still natural." Christopher Esber Buckle Back crepe blazer, $990 and reversed twill pants, $690. COOP 'Crop To It' top, $129. Paul Smith 'Basso' leather trainers, $530. Credit:Bec Parsons Police arrest Gregory Thompson over the murder of Michael Moad. Credit:Ryan Callaghan It ended the journey through the justice system for Mr Moad's family and friends, many of whom sat through every second of harrowing evidence in a nine-day trial as Thompson tried to blame his significant depression for the murder. "This week, justice has been served for the vicious and brutal murder of our loved one, Michael Anthony Moad," his brother-in-law Stephen Scott said outside court. Murder victim Michael Moad. Credit:Colleen Moad "We would just like to say a big thanks to our family and friends for all their support, not only these last two and a bit weeks but for the last two and a bit years. "It has been hard and it will always be hard. "We would like to pass on a special thanks to the detectives, the police, and also the Crown for all the hard work they have put to bring this case together to give justice to our family." Thompson had fallen into the deep depression after his wife left him and it continued after she filed for divorce on January 27, 2015. The divorce went through on February 28, 2015. He couldn't get over the separation and - despite already putting his ex-wife through years of psychological abuse, of harassing phone calls, of intimidation, of blackmail and of nuisance complaints to police - his behaviour escalated to frightening new levels for the next month. In the days leading up to the murder, Thompson was arrested twice in two days for harassing his ex-wife and then stalking her. But it was during his second visit to Cessnock police station - for breaching an Apprehended Violence Order that had been in place for only a matter of hours - that he learnt something. "Within 24 hours of learning Michael Moad's name, Michael Moad was dead," Crown prosecutor Brendan Campbell told the jury. But first there was the trip to buy some items to assist in Thompson killing himself. And the trip to the bottle shop for some bourbon. Thompson flicked through the White Pages and found Mr Moad's address and, just before midnight on February 28, he parked in a laneway near the Cessnock home and got himself ready, including secreting two knives he had brought with him. Thompson's defence team argued that the broken man had just wanted to speak to his ex-wife one last time before taking his own life. Justice Hamill said in sentencing that he was not satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Thompson arrived at the house with the direct intention to kill his ex-wife or Mr Moad. It was in the early hours of that Sunday morning when he was confronted by Mr Moad inside the victim's own bathroom, and after he had been seen to enter to property in a "selfish and obsessive desire to see his ex-wife", the judge said. But he ruled that he was certain that Thompson was prepared to kill Mr Moad as the confrontation got violent to the extreme. He stabbed him 10 times the blows so violent that one knife snapped in two and the second was twisted. Mr Moad fought hard but succumbed to his injuries, and Thompson then started following his ex-wife around the house before she ran outside to the safety of several neighbours who had heard the commotion. Thompson escaped through the backyard and drove to bushland, where he tried to kill himself before returning to the scene where he was arrested. Justice Hamill found that Thompson's motive for the killing was jealousy and bitterness. In several emotional victims impact statements read in Newcastle Supreme Court on Thursday, Mrs Moad confronted Thompson with the gravity of his actions. Her granddaughter, Amy, who held a deep connection with her Uncle Michael, read out the statement. "You're never supposed to bury your children. The loss of Michael has caused me pain that is unbearable," the statement read. "Some days I'm numb, and some days I ache. "I wake most nights at 2am. I lie there and I think. "I try to think of Michael being in a better place but then I'm drawn back to the same thought I have every night and most days. "That's the thought of my little boy being murdered. "The pure fear he would have felt as the life slowly drained from his body. "Then it hits me. Pure and utter despair." Mrs Moad told of her son's call every Friday where he would open with "Ha, Mum" and how her heart now skips a beat if the phone rings on a Friday. "I lost my husband of over 60 years last year," the statement said. "Michael's death was just too much for him to bear. "Sometimes I feel so alone now. "When I wake up of a morning, I have to remind myself to keep breathing, to keep moving, to keep going." Her daughter, Mr Moad's sister, Louise Scott, said her brother's death was too much for her father to deal with. "He never, ever got over having to bury his youngest child," Mrs Scott said. She said her brother had treated her children like his own. "Michael was a real person, not just a victim or the deceased," Mrs Scott said. "He had a name, a face and a family who loved him. "He was a son, a brother, an uncle, a great-uncle, godfather, a friend and a partner." Mrs Scott said her brother was 48 when he was killed and still had "so much life to live". She said his death had impacted on her family "in a way that I'm afraid words may never convey". "The murder of my brother has consumed my life and my family's life," Mrs Scott said. "It's all we think about, all we talk about and I'm scared it's never going to go away. "Because of this, I find it difficult to socialise with my friends any more because I don't know what else to talk about or I'm consciously trying not to talk about Michael's murder. "I've lost friendships. "The actions of Gregory Thompson have instilled so many fears into me, I'm scared I'll never recover. My coping skills, attitudes and behaviours will never be the same." Public transport to tourist hot spots such as the Blue Mountains is often congested outside of peak travel times. Credit:Facebook/Lorraine Vogel Ms Fearnley said she would not let her son use the toilets: "I've changed him standing up on the train but that is a whole different problem. You never know who's looking." Some passengers on the Blue Mountains line will stand for an hour or more - jostling for space in the train's narrow aisles and stairs with luggage, prams and bicycles - to reach popular tourist destinations such as Leura and Katoomba. The situation is even worse in the afternoon as passengers fill four-carriage trains that sometimes run only once an hour back to Sydney's Central Station. Most passengers seem resigned to the packed carriages, but some tourists express displeasure at having to stand. "It's quite sad when you think about it," Ms Fearnley said. "I mean we should be showing some pride in what we have." Overcrowding on weekend train services to western Sydney and the Blue Mountains appears to be a growing problem. "One older lady, forced to stand up all the way to the Mountains, collapsed in the vestibule," Christopher Webber wrote on the Facebook Cityfail group in May. "Forcing people to stand for long journeys presents obvious safety issues. It doesn't need to happen, and it shouldn't happen," said Bob Nanva, the national secretary of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union. Mr Nanva, who lives in Faulconbridge, said he saw overcrowding on the Blue Mountains line every weekend. "When we're trying to sell the Blue Mountains as a global tourist destination, this sort of service is not just disappointing, it's embarrassing," he said. "We have people travelling to a world heritage tourism asset on a third world rail service." The Labor MP for Blue Mountains, Trish Doyle, said weekend trains to the Blue Mountains were "chronically overcrowded", with passengers standing for many hours or sitting in the aisles. "Every weekend, train passengers are crammed in like sardines on four carriage trains on the Blue Mountains line," she said on Facebook. "Matters were made even worse during the recent school holidays and Easter with huge crowds on platforms and terrible conditions for passengers inside packed trains." Ms Doyle told the NSW Parliament last year some passengers had to stand for the distance between Blackheath or Katoomba and Penrith. "Not only does this reflect poorly upon our public transport system for international and interstate visitors but also it drives local residents insane," she said. She said overcrowding could be solved by running six- or eight-carriage trains on weekends, but the NSW government did not want to pay for additional staff. A Transport for NSW spokesman said: "We know that our customers' needs are changing and acknowledge that more services on weekends are needed to meet demand into the future." He also said the government was spending $1.5 billion to urgently increase capacity. New trains are expected on the Blue Mountains line from 2019. "Transport for NSW regularly reviews Opal data to see where a boost in services is needed." Other public transport to tourist destinations, such as ferries to Manly and buses to Bondi, also experience increased patronage outside of the weekday peak times. Standing on the stairs on the 9:18 train from Central to the Blue Mountains last weekend. Credit:Michele Mossop Mr Cronshaw said his customers had complained about the overcrowded trains - other tourism operators, including cafe and restaurant owners heard similar complaints. He said the overcrowding was particularly bad during the April school holidays: "Over Easter they actually denied people from boarding on the train because it was so full." "It's a regular occurrence unfortunately," said Eric Sward, the manager of The Mountain Heritage hotel in Katoomba. "The problem is obviously during the peak times mainly on the way up and on the way back and on the weekends." Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk could win the next state election by a very narrow margin if it was held today, new polling has revealed. A ReachTEL survey, commissioned by the Together union, found Labor would receive 51 per cent of the vote, two-party preferred, after the allocation of respondent preferences, to 49 per cent for the LNP. A new poll has given Annastacia Palaszczuk a good chance of remaining Queensland premier. Credit:Dan Peled/AAP But One Nation would still be a force to be reckoned with in the next Queensland Parliament, and would likely win several seats, according to the poll. The presence of a strong third party, and the results of any preference deals, could deliver unexpected results at the next ballot box. Claims there are issues with the Cross River Rail business case have been dismissed as a "furphy" by Deputy Premier and Transport Minister Jackie Trad. But Ms Trad would not be drawn on whether Infrastructure Australia had been "politicised" by the federal Coalition government. Deputy Premier and Infrastructure Minister, Jackie Trad. It comes after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk emerged from a meeting with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Thursday to say Infrastructure Australia had identified a "couple of issues" with the business case. Mr Turnbull said those issues were how it integrated with other transport networks in south-east Queensland, land use opportunities and development aspects. Only 13 of Queensland's 89 state MPs will admit to having booked a ride-sharing service, such as Uber. An additional nine MPs said they had used it, but stressed it was a rare occasion and only as passengers when somebody else booked the service. Fairfax Media polled Queensland MPs on whether they had ever used ride-sharing services, such as Uber. Credit:Ryan Stuart The Fairfax Media survey came as Parliament prepares to debate the second stage of ride-sharing legislation, which would impose further restrictions for Uber drivers and include a $237.26 licence fee. One of those to admit to using ride-sharing was Katter's Australian Party MP Robbie Katter, who said he wanted to try it out. Police are reporting two men have been taken into custody over the chase and carjacking of a South Korean man in Brisbane on Thursday night. It is believed the pair were arrested about midday on Friday and a police spokesman said charges were expected. The fleeing men crashed into a tree in St Lucia. It will be alleged the car being driven by 25-year-old Han Sangil was hit in a car park in the CBD about 10pm by a BMW reversing at high-speed. Mr Sangil said he chased the car into St Lucia and blocked the fleeing vehicle with his own car when they turned into a one-way street. Police are hunting for three people after shots were fired from a stolen vehicle that later crashed into parked cars on Lygon Street on Friday afternoon. The stolen four-wheel-drive was first spotted in Reservoir, in Melbourne's north, where it crashed into a pole on Hughes Parade. The stolen car, after it crashed into a pole on Hughes Parade in Reservoir. Credit:Twitter/@7NewsMelb Three people were inside the silver 4WD at the time of the crash, "including one who may have discharged a firearm about 2.15pm," a police spokesman said. It's believed the trio returned to the vehicle after the crash and then drove about 11 kilometres to Brunswick East, where they crashed into five parked cars on Lygon Street. Washington: The Trump administration imposed sanctions on the chief judge and seven other members of Venezuela's Supreme Court on Thursday as punishment for seizing powers from the opposition-led Congress earlier this year, US officials said. The new sanctions package was aimed at stepping up pressure on the leftist government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his loyalists amid growing concern over a crackdown on street protests and his efforts to consolidate his rule over the South American oil-producing country. Venezuela's latest wave of anti-government unrest, which has left at least 44 people dead in the last six weeks, began with the Supreme Court, packed with Maduro supporters, assuming the authorities of the opposition-led Congress in late March. There was an international outcry against the court's de facto annulment of the National Assembly, which the opposition won in late 2015 during an unprecedented economic and social crisis, and the decision was later partially reversed. US President Donald Trump is lurching through crises of his own making. Credit:AP "You will find that things happen to you that you do not deserve and that are not always warranted," Trump said. "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." The President implored the crowd to "fight, fight, fight" and added: "You can't let them get you down. You can't let the critics and the naysayers get in the way of your dreams." Fred: Former FBI director James Comey. Credit:AP But his team is growing increasingly weary. Privately they say that the problem is not an incompetent communications shop, as the President sometimes gripes, or an ineffectual chief of staff, as friends and outside operatives repeatedly warn, but the man in the Oval Office, whose preferred management style is one of competing factions and organised chaos. One West Wing official recently stopped defending Trump or trying to explain away his more controversial behaviour. Another characterised the operation as "trudging along", with aides trying to focus their attention on Trump's upcoming foreign trip and the budget landing next week. On shaky ground: White House spokesman Sean Spicer. Credit:AP Ari Fleischer, a former White House press secretary under president George W. Bush, said the President has created a situation in which his team is increasingly unlikely to succeed. "It's torture - torture because of everything that is happening externally, but it's also torture because of how divided the White House is internally," Fleischer said of the challenges that Trump's staff members face. White House senior adviser Jared Kushner. Credit:Evan Vucci "It makes it very hard to keep your head up and do your job." He added, "If you don't give people something substantive to talk about in Washington, they will be plenty happy to talk about things that are personal, political and scandal-related." For many White House staffers, impromptu support groups of friends, confidants and acquaintances have materialised, calling and texting to check in, inquiring about their mental state and urging them to take care of themselves. One Republican operative in frequent contact with White House officials described them as "going through the stages of grief". Another said some aides had "moved to angry", frustrated with a President who demands absolute loyalty but in recent days has publicly tarnished the credibility of his team by sending them out with one message, only to personally undercut it later with a contradictory tweet or public comment. And a third said that others are sticking around purely for self-interest, hoping to juice their future earning potential. This Republican added that any savvy White House staffer should be keeping a diary. "The real question is, 'How long do you put up with it?' " this person said. "Every one of those people could get a better-paying job and work less hours." The Trump White House has always been full of leaks to the news media. But the latest waves of anonymous griping have shifted subtly from warring aides bickering among themselves to staffers training their frustrations on the President as well. Those who remain fully loyal to Trump report a growing sense of isolation. The President has grown increasingly willing to shake up his staff, although aides say any major changes are likely to come after a nine-day foreign trip starting on Friday that many hope will provide a stabilising reboot. If and when Trump does overhaul his team, Jared Kushner, his son-in-law and senior adviser, is expected to play a key role in rethinking the structure and personnel within the West Wing. The President has groused about his communications operation, most notably its director, Mike Dubke, and White House press secretary Sean Spicer. But Spicer has also received assurances that his job is secure and was asked to accompany Trump on his trip to the Coast Guard Academy, largely to help manage the tornado of news. Chief of staff Reince Priebus has been a particular target of mockery, both inside and outside the administration. Chris Whipple, author of The Gatekeepers: How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency, said the most important duty of a chief of staff is to prevent "end runs" - including the situation in which Trump allegedly asked for a private meeting with the head of the FBI, which is investigating his campaign. "The White House staff system is completely broken, maybe beyond repair. It is inconceivable that something like that could have happened on James Baker or Leon Panetta's watch," Whipple said, referring to chiefs of staff under previous presidents. "The problem with this White House is that there is no one, including Priebus, who is able to tell the President what he doesn't want to hear and, until there is, this White House will be broken, will be dysfunctional and so will Trump's presidency." The President has not signalled whether Priebus will suffer in a staff change. But a handful of familiar names are circulating as potential replacements, including Tom Barrack, a real estate investor and long-time Trump confidant; Republican lobbyist Wayne Berman; former Trump adviser and Republican strategist David Urban; Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross; and perhaps implausibly, businessman and casino magnate Phil Ruffin. On Capitol Hill, meanwhile, some of Trump's top advisers worked on Wednesday to stabilise his policy agenda, which has been sidetracked by two weeks of snowballing controversies. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House national economic council director Gary Cohn met Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee behind closed doors, trying to solicit input on the White House's recent one-page proposal to overhaul the tax code. The White House wouldn't commit to new details of the tax plan, though, and said it wanted more time to negotiate and talk. As Democrats streamed out of the meeting, they expressed scepticism that the White House would be able to focus on something as policy-intensive as an overhaul of the tax code when it seems to be engulfed in constant crisis. "How are they going to do any of this - tax policy, infrastructure, healthcare - when all this is distraction?" said Senator Sherrod Brown, a Democrat from Ohio. Loading Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams Its Sodom by the Sea on the silent, silver screen! A bit of movie magic will bring the Peoples Playground to Prospect Heights, for the final screening of this seasons Silent Movie Matinee series. Lonesome, showing on May 21 at the Brooklyn Public Librarys Central branch, traces the clumsy romance of a couple who meet in Coney Island. The film was shot at the birth of talkies, and fuses silent and full-sound techniques into a unique hybrid, said the man behind the series. Its a very strange out-of-body experience. Youve seen these characters live and function in silence, but then for three scenes they speak, and the moment you hear their voices its a little awkward, said Ken Gordon, a freelance film curator and historian. But this awkwardness is fascinating because it puts us right at that intersection when silence turns into sound. The part-talkie film was shot in 1928 by director Paul Fejos, who used it to explore his anxieties of living in a modern city, being surrounded by crowds but never truly feeling connected. That sentiment still resonates with viewers nearly 90 years later, said Gordon. For him, it was a frenetic, urban city that was a little faster than his comfort level, and also filled with isolation, said the Midwood film buff. In a sense, he created a New York state of mind. It translates that experience that any New Yorker, any Brooklynite, grew up with, thats in your blood. Lonesome follows Mary, a telephone operator, and Jim, a factory worker, who venture to Coney Island during the Fourth of July weekend and meet by chance. Viewers watch the couple gradually tumble into love against the magical backdrop of 1920s Coney Island. The film serves up a delightful slice of old Brooklyn, said Gordon. Theres something about Coney back then that was just a breath of fresh air, said Gordon, a Brooklyn native who frequented the shore while growing up. I still love that place as a refuge, as a getaway without leaving the city. For me, if I can ever show anything thats Brooklyn, thats great. I like bringing it local. Gordons film series has been running since 1997, drawing crowds of all ages for the silent films with a live piano soundtrack. He showed mostly comedies in the early years, until Gordon got a better sense of what moviegoers fancied. Comedy is great, but man cannot live by comedy alone, said Gordon. My experience is they want something from the heart, so I started steering it toward more serious films, more dramas. The experience is completely different from todays films, and will surprise those unfamiliar with silent movies, said Gordon. Many people who dont know silent movies might think its hokey, but that really isnt the case, he said. The acting and the visual camera work of silent films is of a very specific style that tells you the story without saying the words. Theyre really trying to communicate something and thats what the audience discovers. Lonesome at the Brooklyn Central Library Dweck Center [10 Grand Army Plaza at Eastern Parkway in Prospect Heights, enter at side entrance on Eastern Parkway, (718) 230-2100, www.bklyn libra ry.org ]. May 21 at 12:30 pm. Free. Reach reporter Caroline Spivack at cspiv ack@c ngloc al.com or by calling (718) 2602523. Follow her on Twitter @carolinespivack. Bucks Democrats expect to have majority in state House Democrats expect to gain one more seat in state Senate, but still be in minority there. 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... Tick tock. Tick tock. Time seems to be running out in the Sandal season 6 finale to find Maya and get information out of her. Olivia and OPA spend Tick Tock, trying to figure out Mayas end game. While in Transfer of Power, Olivia tries to figure out who is actually in charge of the mystery group while getting Mellie safely into the White House. Scandal Will End After Season 7>>> Tracking Maya Eli works with Jake to try and track down Maya. They get to a warehouse, where Jake and his team find plans to assassinate Mellie during her inauguration. They collect all of the plans and sort through the information. They find photos of a Secret Service agent shes been tracking. Jake finds the agent in a hotel room with Maya, and they arrest her. Trying to Break Maya In lockup, Olivia and Eli wait for Maya to crack. She tells them that shes not involved in the assassination plans. She claims she came to DC to protect Olivia. She sticks to her story. Finally, Eli goes in to get answers, but she gets under his skin. And he actually believes she could be telling the truth. Meanwhile, Olivia asks OPA to find out who Maya hired to kill Mellie. They decide to follow the money trail, and they ask Abby for the account information that she got paid from. Abby offers to help, however, they reach a dead end. Abby then suggests they reverse the search and figure out who is getting paid, instead of where the money is coming from. Then, they realize that Maya didnt hire an assassin; she is the assassin. Olivia goes in to try and get information from Maya, so she pretends to believe that Maya isnt involved. But Maya isnt buying it. She doesnt give up any information, and then Olivia starts to strangle her. Jake comes in and stops her though. Plan B While they try to get information out of Maya, Olivia urges Mellie to come up with a plan B for the inauguration. However, Mellie just doesnt see how thats possible. She feels women all over the country have been waiting for a female president, and she deserves all the pomp and circumstance as every male president before her. Olivia then suggests letting Maya go so they can track her to the person who hired her. Fitz thinks this is a terrible idea and wont allow it. Olivia and Jake go behind his back anyway. They release Maya, put a tracker in her and tell her shes working for them. When Eli finds out, hes furious. He runs to Fitz and has him reinstate B613 with Fitz in charge. This way, Fitz can have Eli track Maya down to stop her. Tracking Maya Again Maya, of course, goes rogue as she removes her tracker. On inauguration day, OPA tries to track her by burner phones, hoping to find the person who actually hired her instead. Meanwhile, Eli and a team are also tracking her down. Before the ceremony, Jake assures everyone that Mellie will be safe up on the stage. Luna Vargas says shell stand by Mellie, but thinks their kids shouldnt be up on the stage, just in case. Everyone agrees. As the ceremony starts, Jake does a quick check from his team and gets the all clear. Immediately after, Maya takes out one of the agents and sets up her mark. She calls Olivia and asks her to move out of the way. Maya tells Olivia that shes not going to kill Mellie, but rather shes going to kill the person who hired her. At this point, OPA has tracked a burner phone to one of the VIPs on the stage with Mellie. So they confirm whoever hired Maya is up on stage. But just as Maya goes to take the shot, Eli takes her down. Olivia is upset that she wont find out who hired the hit. Whos Really In Charge? After the ceremony, Olivia tells everyone what happened. Mellie just wants to continue on with her day, and has had enough of everything. Olivia then finds out from David Rosen that Fitz reactivated B613, and shes not happy. Fitz tells her hell be running it this time, but shes convinced her father will somehow worm his way back in. Shes upset that Fitz will be running the organization that ruined her and her fathers life. She reveals that shes upset that Fitz was going to Vermont and wanted him to stay, but not as head of B613. Later, Fitz goes to say good-bye to Olivia. He tells her he deactivated B613 again, because she was right. Then he says he has to leave to run his foundation in Vermont. She doesnt believe him at first and refused to say good-bye. But as he makes his way to Marine One, she runs out and kisses him good-bye in front of the cameras. As the White House prepares for Mellie, Olivia heads back to OPA, where they are using a seating chart Abby brought over to figure out who hired Maya. As they pour over it, Olivia realizes that its an old copy, as it still has the kids up on stage. And then she realizes the person in charge has been in front of her face the whole time and shes missed it: Luna Vargas! Olivia confronts Luna, but Luna refuses to give up any information. She tells Olivia that shes untouchable now that shes the vice president. Olivia feels defeated. She tells Jake, and then she goes to tell Maya, who tells Olivia to just let it go. But Olivia cant. She cant give up the one thing shes wanted for so long the White House. So Maya tells her to take it back. Quiz: Who Is Your TV Boss?>>> Getting The Job Done Everyone prepares for the ball, and Mellie actually asks Cyrus to be her date. Jake goes to get Olivia from her apartment, and she tells him she has a plan. They summon Luna to an office. Olivia tells Luna that the only way to solve this problem is for Luna to die in that room, that night. Luna tries to get her agents, but no one comes, as they are Jakes agents. Olivia gives Luna two choices take pills to kill herself or have Jake kill her. The first way, she dies in her sleep and has a heart attack. The second way, it will eventually come out that shes a killer. The choice is hers. Luna breaks down and reveals that she had her own husband killed. She paid the mysterious group to have her husband killed, as she felt that his legacy could live on with her, and his policies would get through faster if she was president. She mentions Jackie Kennedy with blood on her coat, and how if Jackie had become president, all the things she could have gotten done. Eventually, Luna takes the pills and Jake waits for her to die. Olivia then gets Mellie to sign an executive order to reinstate B613. Only this time, Olivia will be in charge. Olivia goes to tell Eli the news. She then tells him hes retired, and hes not to bother her or Fitz. She adds that shed like to start up Sunday dinners again, as she wants her father back. Later, she meets Cyrus on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. She tells him that Luna was behind the whole plot, including Frankies murder. He acts shocked, but then he mentions that its a brilliant plan, and basically repeats word for word what Luna said about Jackie Kennedy. Then he asks Olivia whats she going to do about Luna. And its then that Olivia realizes Cyrus planted the seed in Lunas head to become president, and hes trying to plant a seed in Olivias head to get rid of Luna. But in the end, they both got what they wanted. She then tells Cyrus to stay in town so that she can nominate him for vice president. A Baby OPA Associate While all the drama is unfolding, Quinn bonds with Abby and reveals shes pregnant. She then asks Abby to take over OPA, even though Olivia just put her in charge. Quinn tells Abby that she wants to live a normal life with her child, and that doesnt involve her shady past, or Charlie. Abby turns the job down, but tells Quinn to just hire her to work at OPA. She then tells Quinn that they will raise the baby together and figure it out. So Quinn tells Charlie and Huck shes pregnant. Charlie is ecstatic, but Huck seems upset. The Next Chapter It seems that Scandal has set up season seven. Mellie is the president, Cyrus will eventually be vice president. And Olivia is in charge. Just the way it should be, right? Of course, there are bound to be bumps along the way. With Olivia as chief of staff, and in charge of B613, things are sure to get crazy. And I cant imagine Fitz will stay in Vermont for very long. Not when his love is still running DC. I have to say, having Luna in charge of the whole group was shocking and underwhelming at the same time. While her motives seemed to make sense, it seemed odd that she had that much power to find this group and get the job done. It was definitely a good twist. But since she wasnt featured much through season six of Scandal, I honestly almost forgot about her. Im glad that Abby is back with OPA. Thats where she belongs, as shes an original gladiator. Im happy that Quinn is pregnant, but she does have some valid concerns about her past and raising a child. Should be very interesting, especially with Huck seemingly upset. What did you think of the Scandal season six finale? Were you surprised that Luna was behind the whole group? Do you still have questions about the group and Luna? Do you think Olivia will be able to be chief of staff and run B613? Do you think she deserves it? Let us know in the comments below. Scandal will return in the fall on ABC. Want more news? Like BuddyTVs Scandal Facebook page. (Image courtesy of ABC) Its the epic two-hour finale of Supernatural season 12 and Sam and Dean have two big problems to deal with. First is the British Men of Letters and their brainwashed mother. Second is Lucifer, back at full strength and eager to get his hands on his son. The first hour is an action-packed thrill-ride, but the second hour is when the truly insane stuff happens. By my count, seven major characters are killed off in this episode, which might be more than any single episode of Game of Thrones. Lucifers son arrives and a whole new world is created, literally. Oh, and a beloved face from the past returns. The writers really put everything into this finale. Escape from the Bunker Sam and Dean are locked in the Bunker with Lady Toni Bevell, whose life is spared because shes the only one who can undo the brainwashing of Mary. Sam tries to escape using magic and Dean tries to break through the walls with brute strength, but both fail. Then Dean pulls out the grenade launcher hes had all season, finally having a good reason to use it. He blows a hole in the wall and it works. Dean is able to get out and unlock the Bunker, but he sustains a gnarly injury to his leg in the process. Saving Mary While the boys are trapped, Mr. Ketch sends the brainwashed Mary on a mission to kill American Hunters, including Jody Mills. But you should never underestimate Jody because, with an assist from Alex, she knocks Mary out and ties her up. Sam and Dean show up after theyre free, but unfortunately Toni was lying about being able to undo Marys brainwashing. The boys have had enough of the British Men of Letters, so they call up a bunch of their fellow Hunters, even the ones who shot and killed them a few seasons ago. Sam gives a stirring heros speech about how they need to team up and fight back against the BMOL. Because of his injury, Dean stays behind to try and save his mom. Dean, Mary and Toni head to the Bunker whre Toni helps let Dean enter his moms psyche so he can try to break down the walls and bring her back. Inside her head, Dean is back in his childhood home when Mary was still alive, raising young Dean and baby Sam. Dean gets very emotional, saying that he hates his mom because her original deal with Azazel caused all of their problems. But he also loves her, forgives her and wants to start over. Just as hes getting through to her, hes pulled out of her psyche by Mr. Ketch, who has come back to the Bunker and killed Toni. Dean and Ketch get into a great fight and just as Ketch pulls out a gun to shoot him, Mary shoots Ketch in the shoulder. Deans plan worked and the good Mary is back. And as Ketch said many times, shes a killer. So she kills him. The Hunter Rebellion Sam leads Jody and the Hunters on a raid at the BMOL Base. Its a big gun battle and the American Hunters kick a lot of ass, killing most of them. Sam and Jody find the boss, Dr. Hess. She tries to save herself by showing them that Crowley is dead, Lucifer is back and they need her help to stop him. Sam declines and Jody gets to be the one who kills Dr. Hess. Its awesome that the two strong women on this show, Mary and Jody, got to be the ones to kill Ketch and Hess. They leave and blow up the BMOL Base, though Dr. Hess mysterious bosses are still alive back in England. Winchesters vs. Lucifer With the BMOL destroyed and Mary back, the Winchesters can focus on finding and stopping Lucifer in the second hour. They call Rowena to get her help, but Lucifer picks up the phone. Apparently he killed her and burned her body, off-screen. Seriously? Rowena deserved better than that. Shes off the board, but as expected, Crowley is still alive. He transferred himself into that rat and then back into his body, after Lucifers demons buried him. Crowley shows up at the Bunker and explains why he kept Lucifer around, but hes also realized that he hates being the King of Hell. He promises to help trap Lucifer back in the Cage, and then hell close the Gates of Hell forever. The Winchesters find Cas and head off, but they leave Crowley behind because they dont trust him. Cas, the Baby and Another World Cas and Kelly Kline are hiding out in a cottage by a lake in Washington until baby Jack is born. He promises to protect the baby and raise him to be a good person. However, some of the babys celestial energy leaks out and forms a glowing tear in the fabric of the universe. Cas touches it and gets transported to an alternate dimension with red storm clouds and terrifying creatures. Hes saved by an unseen figure who Cas recognizes. Cas gets back to the real world and Kelly has gone into labor. Sam, Dean and Mary show up, and while Mary takes care of Kelly, the boys go outside and see the rift. Cas explains that its a tear in space and time that leads to an alternate universe, sort of like Earth-2 on The Flash. Sam, Dean and Cas go to Earth-2, a hellscape where humans are trapped in the middle of a war between angels and demons. A mysterious figure, the one who saved Cas, shows up and itsBobby! YES! Bobby is back! Bobby 2 doesnt know the boys because in this universe, Sam and Dean were never born. Bobby 2 is a total bad-ass and he even has a gun named Rufus with bullets made out of angel-killing blades. The Plan to Trap Lucifer Sam, Dean and Cas get back to the real world where Crowley and Lucifer shows up. The boys lure Lucifer into the alternate dimension where Crowley is going to cast a spell to close the rift, trapping Lucifer in the apocalypse world. However, the spell needs a life. Crowley makes the ultimate sacrifice, killing himself for real to complete the spell. Holy crap, Crowley is dead! Sam and Dean escape back through the rift, but Cas enters the rift to fight Lucifer. Very Tragic Endings Cas comes back through the rift, but Lucifer follows him and stabs him with an angel blade. WTF, now Cas is dead?!?!?! This finale is insane. Then Mary shows up and punches Lucifer with her Enochian brass knuckles, but he drags her into the lift just as it closes, trapping both Lucifer and Mary in the Apocalypse World. As if thats not all enough, Sam goes into the house to find that Kelly is dead and Jack has grown up very quickly. The yellow-eyed son of Lucifer is crouching in the corner. Wow. Toni, Ketch, Hess, Rowena, Crowley, Cas and Kelly are all dead, Lucifer and Mary are trapped in another universe (with Bobby 2) and Jack is here. That may be the craziest final minutes of a Supernatural season ever. Supernatural will return in the Fall for season 13, Thursdays at 8/7c on the CW. (Image courtesy of the CW) UB joins new Arts and Crafts Alliance in celebrating Frank Lloyd Wrights legacy A series of community events are planned from June through October If one added up the major Arts and Crafts companies and designers, one would find that the Buffalo region was the home for more of these entities than any other city in the United States. BUFFALO, N.Y. The University at Buffalo is one of seven major cultural organizations in Western New York that will honor the 150th anniversary of Frank Lloyd Wrights birth by celebrating the renowned architects influence on the regions Arts and Crafts movement. Frank Lloyd Wright and the Buffalo School of Arts and Crafts is a community-wide festival presented by the New York State Arts and Craft Alliance. A key exhibition within that festival is Wrights Larkin: Arts and Crafts in Industry, opening with a reception from 6-8 p.m. on June 7 in Hayes Hall on the universitys South Campus. Events continue through Oct. 29, with many venues hosting a multifaceted program of activities, lectures and tours. A detailed calendar for the festival is available online: http://artsandcraftsalliance.org/events/2017-06/ Wrights Larkin will explore the emergence of the uniquely American alternative to the guild-based, handcraft-oriented Arts and Crafts movement that had previously developed in Great Britain, according to Jonathan Katz, an associate professor and director of UBs doctoral program in visual studies. British Arts and Crafts was very much a nostalgic response to the realities of the Industrial Revolution, says Katz, whereas the American model and its epicenter was squarely focused in the Buffalo region was really about bringing technology and innovative design together through new forms of modernity. In the wake of the collaborations between Wright and Buffalos Arts and Crafts industries, Western New York became home to the largest collection of acknowledged master artisans and masterpieces from the period, from the Roycroft Campus in East Aurora to the Darwin Martin House in Buffalo, arguably Wrights greatest residential design, according to Katz. But in addition to these great works, we have a rich history of figures like Charles Rohlfs, [a designer] who, though not nearly as celebrated a name as Wrights, is every bit as significant a figure in the realm of furniture design, says Katz. Its an incredible history and thats what this program is intended to evoke. As Americans embraced what the British reacted against, they created a confluence of human thought and machine production that formed an artistic outpouring in the Buffalo region, melding creativity, commerce and manufacturing. The American movement in general and, more specifically, its concentrated Buffalo School, as Katz describes it, recognized how these new industrial processes and large-scale capital investments could bring artistic design into modern business. Far from being a reaction formation, the Buffalo version of Arts and Crafts made technology every bit as important a partner as the artistic sensibility of the architects and designers themselves, says Katz. If one added up the major Arts and Crafts companies and designers, one would find that the Buffalo region was the home for more of these entities than any other city in the United States. The Larkin Administration Building was a case in point, bringing together an innovative company, Larkin, with an innovative architect to create one of the earliest modular designs in the world, born of the revolutionary Cardex filing system developed by Darwin Martin, a Larkin director, which brought order to the previously jumbled process of filing millions of differently shaped company order forms. With its standardized file cabinets, metal office furniture and carefully planned systems, the Larkin Administration building was a model of logic and efficiency coupled with an inspiring aesthetic. The exhibition gathers together many never-before-seen Wright-designed objects from the Larkin Building, along with a comprehensive collection of Larkin products. In addition to Wrights relationship to the Arts and Crafts movements, Wright and the Buffalo School will show both Wright-designed and Wright-inspired homes in Buffalo with a series of exterior tours. Frank Lloyd Wright and the Buffalo School of Arts and Crafts is the maiden voyage of the New York State Arts and Crafts Alliance, an organization made possible through a grant from the John R. Oishei Foundation and comprised of the Burchfield Penney Arts Center, UBs Anderson Gallery, the Roycroft Campus, the Darwin Martin House, the Graycliff Estate, the Buffalo History Museum and Visit Buffalo-Niagara, says Katz. Three years ago we began a conversation with the major culturals in town asking about a possible affiliation, he says. And the university has been the spark for making this happen. All the organizations are deeply invested in Buffalos future and by working together will leverage their marketing and outreach, according to Katz. Allegion has appointed Pete Hancox as commercial leader of its UK and Ireland businesses to build and lead strategic partnerships in specification. Mr Hancox joins Allegion UK in Birmingham from his recent role as client services director for HP Doors. He will also be in charge of overseeing Irelands commercial activity. Mr Hancox is no stranger to Allegion, having been part of the Ingersoll Rand security group for almost nine years, prior to his appointment with HP Doors. Allegion formed as a result of the spin-off of Ingersoll Rands commercial and residential security business in 2013. The new role has been created by Allegion as part of its strategy to develop more strategic partnerships with its customers. It is widely recognised in the industry that door hardware is becoming more sophisticated as electronics and mechanical hardware merge. Allegion will educate customers on the benefits new technology is brings and how to incorporate it in long-term commercial properties. Marc Lengahan, commercial director of Allegion UK and Ireland, said, We are embarking on a journey with our customers to develop from transactional relationships to strategic partnerships, while also working to become more relevant to the end user and driving demand though specification and project work. Mr Hancox has held many positions and can boast a collective 13 years in the door industry. The expertise of an individual like him is invaluable, and we are very pleased to have him on board. 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 new Dementia Action Alliance Group has been formed in Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge to work towards making the towns more dementia aware. Representatives from several organisations within the towns came together with a common interest at the beginning of April and have already held two meetings to discuss how the group will implement the changes going forward. Chair of the group is Deborah Matthews, who had already approached Burnham-On-Sea Chamber of Commerce in January with a view to making Burnham-On-Sea businesses both more dementia aware and more accessible. Deborah, right, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: As an Accessible Tourism Officer and Dementia Champion, I was keen to speak to the local businesses to make the resort more accessible for all. Although dementia is the main focus of this group, I also want to educate the businesses on becoming more accessible not just to those with physical disabilities, but also those with mental health issues and special educational needs. Other representatives already involved in the new DAA group include Burnham-On-Sea Memorial Hospital, St Andrews Church, Hands of Change Burnham-On-Sea, BiARS, Community Council for Somerset, Burnham & Highbridge Town Council and Burnham-On-Sea Chamber of Trade and Commerce. Steve Ballinger, Community Agent for Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge said: Its estimated that more than a million people in the UK will have dementia by the year 2025. I support a number of people with dementia and their carers in Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge and making the towns a dementia friendly community will help them and visitors to our towns. This is a great initiative. Burnham and Highbridge Town Council are very keen to be a real part of this excellent initiative to promote awareness of dementia and to support those affected, says Tatiana Cant, Town Clerk. Special Dementia Champions John Hardy and Dr Avril Staunton will be coming along to the next Town Council meeting to provide a special training session for all councillors. Any local residents attending the meeting will also have the benefit of hearing the training and learning how they can help. The meeting starts at 7pm on Monday 5th June in the Old Courthouse, Jaycroft Road. Highbridge Medical Centre staff are undertaking Dementia Friends training on the 20th June, with Burnham Medical Centre taking part later in the year. Deborah will be doing a presentation on Accessible and Dementia Tourism at the Burnham-On-Sea Chamber of Trade AGM, which takes place at 7pm on 22nd June at The Princess Theatre. If you would like more information on the group, email deborah@successfulstays.co.uk, or attend the next meeting on Tuesday 13th June at 6pm at BiARS (Burnham Information Centre) on The Esplanade. 01 / 07 This Sydney-based artist is breaking new ground with his provocative, sex-fuelled installations, and the art world is standing up to take notice, say Ros Brennan Walking into one of Ramesh Nithiyendran's exhibitions is like stepping into some bizarre Eastern European sex museum turned psychedelic rave cave. Fluorescent splashes of colour, graffiti, dysmorphic figures, wild fragments of hair, phallic symbols and not a straight edge in sight. As Ramesh explained, "I've always been physical and messy when it comes to art. I like big, bold gestures and a physical and embodied creative process. It's opposite to that quiet, contemplative, meditative thing that works for some people." The first thing you notice about the Sri-Lankan born, Sydney based ceramicist is his sharp sense of style. He dresses like a bona-fide cool kid of the art world; a swagger that belongs on the streets on Brooklyn or Berlin. Adidas, beanies, long unruly hair, piercings - his personal style is very much entwined with his art aesthetic. "There is some currency in being perceived as a bit edgy and boundary-crossing. It helps that I have dark skin, long messy hair, and a big septum ring as physical things to anchor my controversial-ness," he continued. Ramesh is part of a new league of artists spearheading the renaissance of ceramics in Australia, bringing a sculptural approach to the medium and shaking up a scene that was defined by its steadfast adherence to tradition. But this approach hasn't been without its critics. "I've gotten flack from potters-who are unsurprisingly older, white men-who think I'm shitting on 'their' medium," he says, adding, "But that's kind of thrilling." While Ramesh has a solid grounding in traditional ceramic techniques - having studied both a Bachelor and Master of Fine Art at the University of New South Wales - his practice has evolved into a space where experimentation and reckless abandon rule the roost. Just as the saying goes, 'learn the rules so you can break them like an artist.' And break the rules he has. Ramesh creates raucous, bold installations featuring a series of 'rough-edged, new age idols'. These hand-moulded ceramic forms are often stacked to form totems or perched atop customised plinths, vessels through which Ramesh explores various streams of popular culture including pornography, fashion, sex, art history and religion (despite him being an overt atheist). Only four years out of his Fine Arts degree, Ramesh's CV reads like someone who's been in the business for decades. In 2015 he won Australia's most prestigious ceramic prize, the Sidney Myer Fund Australian Ceramic Award, he was held solo exhibitions at the National Gallery of Australia, the Ian Potter Museum of Art and the Shepparton Art Museum, as well as being selected to exhibit among the countries most promising emerging artists in The National: New Australian Art 2017 and the 2016 Adelaide Biennial. His accolades speak volumes about the resonance and impact of his work; he is clearly exploring unchartered territory and curators are taking notice. It also sheds light on the dedication of this prolific young artist who, contrary to his bad boy image, brings an excruciating level of care to his work day in, day out. "I've found the key to securing opportunities as an artist is being really professional and organised and easy to work with," Ramesh explains. "I think really good artists are actually quite lateral and business minded. In order to sustain their career, they need to have a creative and thoughtful business approach to what they do." Ramesh's work is currently on show at The National: New Australian Art, Carriageworks, Sydney until June 25, 2017. You can also catch him in a solo show at Sullivan + Srumpf, Sydney opening in October 2017, as well as in group exhibitions in at the ARNDT Agency in Berlin and the Dhaka Art Summit in Bangladesh. Unlock 30+ premium stories daily hand-picked by our editors, across devices on browser and app. Full access to our intuitive epaper - clip, save, share articles from any device; newspaper archives from 2006. Curated newsletters on markets, personal finance, policy & politics, start-ups, technology, and more. Pick your 5 favourite companies, get a daily email with all news updates on them. 26 years of website archives. Tightening the screws further on absconding liquor baron Vijay Mallya, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday took possession of his seafront farmhouse worth Rs 100 crore in Raigad district of Maharashtra's Konkan region, an official said here. The farmhouse, sprawled over 17 acres with a beach, is located in the picturesque Kolegaon village of Mandwa, near the tourist hotspot of Alibaug. The ED said the property belongs to Mandwa Farms Pvt Ltd (MFPL), controlled by the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines' founder Mallya, who is currently in the United Kingdom and declared "absconder" by a Mumbai court. On April 25, the ED served an eviction order to ask the company to vacate the property, with a registry value of Rs 25 crore, and provisionally attached the premises. The provisional attachment order was later confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The MFPL challenged the move before a tribunal and sought a stay, which was rejected on May 16. This paved the way for the ED to take over the property, the official said. The latest move comes after a luxurious beachfront bungalow 'Kingfisher Villa' in Goa, also belonging to Mallya, was sold for Rs 73 crore in an auction by various banks to Mumbai-based Bollywood and South Indian film actor Sachiin Joshi on April 8 to recover part of the money he owes to a consortium of banks led by the State Bank of India. In the wake of a massive operation to recover Rs 8,191 crore owed by him to Indian banks, Mallya fled to Britain in March 2016. He was arrested in London on April 18 briefly and bailed out by court. Dr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd, India's second-largest drugmaker by sales, said it expects no impact from a recent government notice that said the company is selling a high blood pressure drug that lacks the pricing regulator's approval. India's drug pricing regulator, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), issued a show-cause notice to dozens of Indian and foreign drugmakers, who according to them, were selling medicines without NPPA approval on pricing. Calling it a violation of the country's drugs law, the agency has sought an explanation from these by June 15. Dr Reddy's Telsartan Trio Active, which is used to treat high blood pressure and diabetic kidney disease, was included in the list. "Dr Reddy's is in compliance with the NPPA's norms," a company spokeswoman told Reuters in an emailed statement on Friday. "There is a discrepancy in data compilation by NPPA and we will communicate it to them appropriately," she added. The company did not immediately respond to a request for further clarifications. One of the early entrants in the Indian automobile space, US-based General Motors (GM) will stop selling cars in the domestic market by the end of 2017, and would use its local manufacturing base at Talegaon (near Pune) to focus on the export markets. (This column was first published on May 19, 2017. We are republishing it in the wake of Karti Chidambaram's arrest by the CBI on Wednesday. This piece explains what FIPBs controversial decisions were and who all were the key dramatis personae at that time.) The Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) is in the news for what seems to be one of its controversial decisions. But that news can potentially become even more controversial if attention is focused on who all were at its helm at the time and, therefore, responsible for the decisions that FIPB took the first one in 2007 and the second one in 2008. Let us begin from the beginning. FIPB is an inter-ministerial body of senior secretaries that considers foreign direct investment proposals of up to a value of Rs 600 crore. It was set up in 1992, the first such body in post-reforms India to work on getting foreign direct investment (FDI) into the country. It is not that controversies never dogged FIPB. But it could be argued that it faced no major controversies in the last 25 years of its existence. What, though, happened three days ago was a little different and unusual it figured in a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The charges being investigated by CBI are whether there was any criminal conspiracy in the manner in which INX Media, a television company, was allowed to bring in foreign investment far in excess of the amount the FIPB had permitted. In July 2007, FIPB, chaired by the economic affairs secretary in the finance ministry, had approved INX Medias proposal to sell shares to three foreign entities that would result in a foreign investment inflow of Rs 4.62 crore. The company had also indicated that it would seek further foreign investment in its subsidiary. FIPB, however, permitted an investment of Rs 4.62 crore and specified that any fresh foreign investment would be subject to clearance, following a separate and subsequent application. But it so transpired that INX Media had already brought in foreign investment of over Rs 300 crore, though the permission it had got was for only Rs 4.62 crore. In early 2008, FIPB became aware of the violation and informed the income-tax authorities that it was looking into the matter. It even sought an explanation from INX Media for what seemed to be a clear violation of the rules. At this stage, things took a different turn. Following INX Medias explanation of why it had brought in foreign investment in excess of the approved amount, the media company was allowed to make a fresh application and FIPB approved the investment. The First Information Report (FIR) filed by CBI says: The concurrence to the proposed investment which had already been made without the approval of the finance ministry showed the mala fide and dishonest intention on the part of the officials of the ministry. What is not clear from the facts available in the public domain so far is whether FIPB had any specific reasons in support of its decision in allowing the foreign investment in excess of the permitted amount. But CBIs FIR is banking on the change in stance FIPB adopted in early 2008, when it had actually alerted the income-tax authorities about the violation committed by INX Media. The investigating agency is also questioning the logic of FIPBs decision, presumably taken in the latter half of 2008 when the permission for the excess foreign investment was granted ex post facto. Precise dates of when these decisions were taken by FIPB and when these underwent a change cannot be ascertained from the publicly available documents. But what can be safely concluded is that two IAS officials, who later occupied high-profile positions as regulators, had headed FIPB during that period Duvvuri Subbarao and Ashok Chawla. Subbarao was the finance secretary in charge of the economic affairs department till early September of 2008, when he was made the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India a position that he held till 2013. Subbarao had taken charge of the economic affairs department in May 2007 and he was made the finance secretary in charge of the same department in July 2007. Ashok Chawla succeeded Subbarao as the economic affairs secretary in September 2008 after his stint in the civil aviation ministry as its secretary. He continued to remain in the finance ministry and assumed charge as the finance secretary a year later. After his retirement, Chawla had a five-year tenure as the chairman of the Competition Commission of India from October 2011. It is clear that the decisions to grant permission to INX Media to raise only Rs 4.62 crore and send the letter to the media company seeking its explanation for why it violated the rules were taken when Subbarao was at the helm of the FIPB. What is not clear is if the subsequent ex post facto clearance was given by FIPB after September 2008, when it was headed by Chawla. In both the cases, the final decision of FIPB was cleared by the finance minister at that time, which is where the role of the political leadership enters. Either way, two of Indias well-known civil servants and former regulators are likely to come under CBI scrutiny as a result of the decisions taken by the FIPB in the . It is ironical that this controversy has surfaced at around the same time when the finance ministry has sent its proposal to the Union Cabinet for abolishing FIPB in pursuance of a decision announced by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the Union Budget for 2017-18 which he presented on February 1. The coincidence is remarkable. The FIPB was the first institution created in post-reforms India to attract foreign direct investment into the country. Just before the FIPB is dissolved in the next few weeks, the country would be witness to the unravelling of a sequence of events on how and why the decisions pertaining to INX Media were taken by the FIPB in July 2007 and early 2008 in a certain manner and why the stance changed subsequently. Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal. They do not reflect the view/s of Business Standard. Nasscom on Thursday refuted reports of mass layoffs in the infromation technology (IT) sector, saying the will hire about 150,000 people this year on "net" basis although techies will have to re-skill themselves to stay relevant. In the second major verdict on the set of cases from the coal allocation scam of 2012, a Delhi court has convicted former Union coal secretary H C Gupta, ex-joint secretary K S Kropha and then director K C Samaria of the same ministry. A 58-year-old Indian who was detained by American customs officials last week for not possessing necessary immigration documents while entering the country died in custody at an Atlanta hospital. Atul Kumar Babubhai Patel was taken in custody by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Atlanta City Detention Center for two days. He died on Tuesday afternoon at the hospital with the officials stating the preliminary cause of his demise as complications from congestive heart failure. Patel arrived at the Atlanta airport on May 10 on a flight from Ecuador. US Customs and Border Protection subsequently denied him entry into the country as he did not possess the necessary immigration documents, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said in a statement. Patel was transferred into the ICE custody last week at the Atlanta City Detention Center where he received an initial medical screening and was found to have high blood pressure and diabetes. On Saturday, two days after being in the ICE custody, a nurse checking Patel's blood sugar noticed he had a breathing problem following which he was shifted to a hospital where he passed away. ICE said it is firmly committed to the health and welfare of all those in its custody and is "undertaking a comprehensive agency-wide review of the incident, as it does in all such cases". The agency the informed the Indian consular representatives who notified Patel's kin about his demise. The agency added that fatalities in its custody are "exceedingly rare" and occur at a fraction of the rate of the US detained population as a whole. Patel is the eighth such individual who died in the custody of ICE the fiscal year 2017. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a money laundering case against Karti Chidambaram, son of former finance minister P Chidambaram, and others, taking cognisance of a recent CBI FIR against them. Officials said the central probe agency registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), ED's equivalent of a police FIR, against the accused named in the CBI complaint including Karti, INX media and its directors, Peter and Indrani Mukerjea, and others. The ECIR has been registered under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), they said. They said the ED will probe the alleged "proceeds of crime" generated in this case and may also attach assets of the various accused. It is the ED which had provided information about the alleged illegal payments made by INX media, based on which the CBI had filed its FIR. The CBI, on Tuesday, had carried out searches at the homes and offices of Karti across four cities for allegedly receiving money from the media firm owned by the Mukerjeas to scuttle a tax probe. The Chidambarams had denied all the charges made against them. The CBI had filed an FIR against Karti and the Mukerjeas 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. The CBI had also recovered vouchers of Rs 10 lakh which were allegedly paid for the services. These vouchers were issued in favour of Advantage Strategic Consulting (P) Limited, a firm "indirectly" owned by Karti, the CBI had alleged. The senior Chidambaram, after the CBI searches on May 16, had issued a strong statement in response to the raids saying 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 had said. The CBI FIR was made out against Karti, his company Chess Management Services, the Mukerjeas (currently in jail on charges of murder their daughter Sheena Bora), INX Media, Advantage Strategic Consulting Services and its director Padma Vishwanathan. "It is a victory of crores of Indians," said Dalbir Kaur on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Thursday staying the execution of former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav ordered by a Pakistan military court. For the past five decades at Chennais Bharat Kalanjali, one of Indias premier bastions for Bharatanatyam, mornings have begun with the lighting of the lamp. This is invariably followed by the sound of feet moving to the nattuvangam, simply described as a stick-like instrument intended to monitor beats. The Pakistan government has come under attack from the opposition for "mishandling" the case of alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, whose execution has been halted by the ICJ. Two opposition leaders also linked the weak defence put up by Pakistan at the ICJ on Thursday to the meeting Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had with Indian business tycoon Sajjan Jindal, said to be a friend of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The International Court of Justice on Thursday blocked the execution of Jadhav, sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of spying and subversion. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) leader Shafqat Mehmood asked Sharif to disclose details of his "secret meetings" with Jindal, the Dawn reported. He said the ICJ decision was an outcome of the Sharif-Jindal talks. Mehmood attacked the government for selecting a lawyer at the ICJ "who had not a single international law case reported from the UK Supreme Court". Another PTI leade, Shirin Mazari, accused the Pakistan government of deliberately playing a game to advance Indian interests. "They wanted the ICJ to give a stay. This was a game which started after Jindal's visit to Pakistan," she said. Pakistan Peoples Party Vice President Sherry Rehman said Islamabad failed to plead its case at The Hague and the Pakistani counsel ended his arguments in 50 minutes against the allocated time of 90 minutes. Another opposition leader, Kamil Ali Agha, described the ICJ decision as the "biggest diplomatic defeat" for Pakistan. Minister of State for Information Marriyam Aurangzeb, however, said the case was fought in the best possible manner and advised the opposition not to play politics over issues of security. Jadhav was reportedly arrested from Pakistan's Balochistan province on March 3, 2016. Pakistan alleged the former Indian Navy officer was involved in spying and terror activities in Balochistan. He was convicted in April by a Pakistani military court and sentenced to death. The fourth article in our series, Globalisation Under Pressure considers the different ways in which and the West consider pandemics. Bill Gates recently warned that an unknown airborne pathogen could soon kill 30 million people in a year. He engaged the Gates Foundation, which focuses on global health, to prepare for it. Gates is far from being the only one urging the world to get ready for the next pandemic, as diseases that can affect everyone are called. Since the emergence of the H5N1 virus in Hong Kong 30 years ago, global health authorities have been preparing to take on the next avian influenza outbreak coming out of Asia. Birds are suspect because, ecologically speaking, they are the reservoir where flu viruses mutate, and as poultry breeding increases dramatically around the world, the possibility of a new flu virus being transmitted to humans rises. Avian flu fear offers an opportunity for a cross-cultural examination of how diseases are conceived of and planned for in the East and the West. What do pandemics even look like in The Western history of pathologies There is no word for pandemic in the Chinese tradition. The term chuan guo liu xing de (literally, an influenza that spreads to all countries) has been introduced in the last 20 years. Traditional terms for epidemics are yi (pest), wenbing and fengbing (diseases caused by heat and wind). Language influences thinking, and for the human mind to shift from epidemics to pandemics, it needs to have a representation of the world as a totality or a globe. In China, the change occurred with the introduction of maps by Western missionaries in the 16th century. This gave locals a vision of what Mandarin Chinese called tianxia: everything under heaven. Mapping the globe is a Western invention and political tool. The notion of the pandemic hinges on the possibility of following emerging infectious diseases as they spread across the globe. Pandemos, the classical Greek etymological origin of pandemic, does not refer to diseases. Nowhere in the medical treatises of Hippocrates and Galenus, where the Western concept of epidemics is developed (as a disease attached to a place, or epi), does the word appear. Homer uses pandemos, which literally means all people (pan + demos), in his eighth-century epic poem, The Iliad, to describe a hero who can live in different societies. For him, it has a positive connotation. Some four centuries later, Plato introduces a negative interpretation of the word in The Symposium, where he makes a distinction between heavenly love, exercised in the dialogue with smart and beautiful young men, and pandemic love, which results from hazardous encounters with men, women or even animals. In Greek mythology, Pan, god of shepherds and flocks, is an ambivalent deity, a satyr-like being represented in rituals as a goat copulating with humans. His is the power of creation and disorder familiar to pastoral peoples who live in close proximity with nature. Today, our concept of pandemic disease retains its link to the fear of pathogens crossing between animal species. Christianity borrowed from Plato the ancient idea that pandemos is pathological, and that following the will of God means respecting boundaries between beings. The notion was applied to diseases only much later, in the 19th century, when Westerners invaded the tropics and discovered illnesses such as yellow fever and cholera. According to historian Mark Harrison, one of the earliest uses of the word pandemic is in the 1860 work of the British officer Robert Lawson, who described disease spreading across the globe in pandemic waves based on the magnetic waves model. We cant really prepare for global pathogens The term pandemic really came into its own with the 1918 Spanish flu, which probably started in the United States and went on to ravage Europe, then at war, as well as Africa and India. After this traumatic global event, which killed between 20 and 50 million people in one year, public authorities tried to anticipate the next big flu. There were influenza pandemics in 1957 and 1968, caused by the emerging H2N2 and H3N2 viruses. Eventually, the detection of H1N1 in 1978 and again in 2009, which is similar to the Spanish flu, led to massive vaccination campaigns, especially in the US. With the advent of genetics-based risk assessment three decades ago, it now became possible to follow the emergence and mutations of pathogens, and respond accordingly. But what if pathogens dont follow the rules? Because diseases sometimes develop in a way that cannot be calculated using probability, Western global authorities now also trying to be ready for the catastrophic effects of diseases that cannot be prevented with biomedical intervention. This Western style of pandemic preparation has ramped up since the US launched its global war on terror in 2001, with its attendant fear of biological terror. Its all about the qi takes a wholly different approach to such concerns. In 2003, after the emergence of SARS strengthened global mobilisation against H5N1, three microbiologists from Hong Kong University, Kennedy Shortridge, Malik Peiris and Guan Yi, argued that the ecology of Hong Kong a transportation hub located near areas of dense poultry and pig breeding enabled them to detect emerging influenza viruses before they became pandemics. They concluded their article, The Next Influenza Pandemic: Lessons from Hong Kong, with the words: The studies on the ecology of influenza led in Hong Kong in the 1970s, in which Hong Kong acted as a sentinel post for influenza, indicated that it was possible, for the first time, to do preparedness for flu on the avian level. Shortridge even made a linguistic argument for this hypothesis. He noted that the Chinese character for house, jia, depicted a pig under a roof, as if the Chinese language made visible the mutations of viruses in domesticated animals. Peiris quoted the ancient medical text Classic of the Yellow Emperor (Huangdi Neijing): The superior physician helps before the early budding of the disease. The inferior physician begins to help when the disease has already developed; he helps when the destruction has already set in. And Guan portrayed himself as a virus hunter, able to see human and animal populations from the perspective of the deadly microbes transiting between species. According to the three microbiologists, China could use its traditional cultural resources to anticipate pandemics. Chinese traditional medicine discerns no sharp separation between the bodies of humans and those of animals, or between wild and domesticated animals. All bodies share energies, qi, whose balance, following the polarities of yin and yang, can be disrupted by crises. Good doctors, the Classic of the Yellow Emperor advises, will anticipate the mutations of these energies before they become catastrophic and facilitate a new balance of the qi. Thus, unlike the Christian tradition, in which the transgression of crossing boundaries between species offends God, in the Chinese perspective, pandemics are a sign that some kind of change, some international rebalancing, is needed. The emergence of epidemics in China, then, simply calls for a geming the Chinese word for revolution, which means a change of mandate under heavenly governance. In this view, humans should see pandemics as an opportunity to create a better life ourselves, not to panic. Discover Frederic Keck and his team research group with the Axa Research Fund. Frederic Keck, Charge de recherche, Laboratoire d'anthropologie sociale, College de France This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Another case of has surfaced from Udham Singh Nagar of Uttarakhand, where after falling victim to the Islamic divorce practice, a woman has threatened either to convert to Hinduism or commit suicide if she did not get justice In a new video which went viral on Wednesday, Shamim Jahan has sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Supreme Courts intervention Jahan was given by her husband Asif inside the Gadarpur police station. "After my experience, I think it is better to convert to Hinduism as these things do not happen in Hinduism. The other option is suicide. I have suffered a lot," she says in the video. Jahan married Asif 12 years ago who divorced her after four years of marriage. However, with some counselling from family elders, after completing the Halala period of 40 days, the two were reunited. However, after reuniting with Asif, he started physically abusing her. Refusing to succumb to the violence Jahan took the matter to the Gadarpur Police Station. However, he came to the station and said 'Talaq Talaq Talaq' to her at the police station itself while the police persons looked on. On April 22, as protesters swelled Earth Day rallies in U.S. cities and around the world, President Trump tweeted that he was committed to keeping our air and water clean but always remember that economic growth enhances environmental protection. Jobs matter! His message was eerily similar to assertions by governments in developing countries that environmental standards are less important than attracting jobs. Chemicals and chemical products, construction, land transport, agriculture, petroleum products, iron and metallic products, are among the 11 sectors seen as "more prone to generation or utilisation of unaccounted incomes", according to a government-commissioned report on black money. Electricity, communication, mining, machinery manufacturing, trade and business services are the other sectors, the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP) report on black money said while estimating that about Rs 5.3 lakh crore flowed out of India illegally in 2007. The 1,200-page report, which is yet to be made officially public, was commissioned in 2012 by and presented in 2013 to the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) under the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. Economic & Political Weekly, in collaboration with Business Standard, recently uploaded the report. The pharmaceuticals sector alone generated Rs 46,200 crore black money in 2009-10 while, in 2010, under- or over-billing exports from, or imports to, India cumulatively generated about Rs 2.3 lakh crore of black money. The flow of black money abroad ranged from less than one to seven per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) between 2000 and 2010, according to the NIPFP report. Exports are used for illicit outflows to countries such as US, UK, China and Mexico. For countries such as Hong Kong, Netherlands, Switzerland and Singapore, both exports and imports are associated with illicit inflows or outflows. Real estate, gold and jewellery were identified as the sectors where major unaccounted incomes might be held as wealth. Professionals as the biggest tax evaders The NIPFP report also pointed out that at least for medical professionals, fashion designers, legal professionals, there is large scope for under reporting income due to high incidence of cash/without-bill transactions. In the mining sector, "inadequate monitoring and regulation has resulted in extensive misuse of licences resulting in over-mining supported by widespread corruption", the report said. "The average unaccounted incomes as a percentage of reported GDP from the minerals" for the decade 2001-10 has been estimated to be 10.32 per cent, excluding illegal mining. The large presence of small-scale units has also made monitoring difficult in the pharma sector, the NIPFP report noted. Pharma companies should be issued single-use stamps to be pasted on each unit they produce, the report suggested, citing the use of prepaid tax stamps in American states to control drug trade. Public distribution system (PDS) kerosene diverted to adulterate diesel (36 per cent of total sales by volume, according to NIPFP estimates) created Rs 11,910.1 crore unaccounted income in 2011-12, the report estimated. Price control of kerosene and tax structure of both products are blamed for this diversion. The size of the black economy Defining "unaccounted incomes as incomes not reported for the estimation of GDP", the report estimated black money to be 41.7 per cent of total estimated GDP or 71.5 per cent of reported GDP in 2009-10. One of the ways of estimating black economy assumes that the share of unaccounted incomes is reflected in the stock or flow of money in an economy. Since illicit transactions take place mostly in cash, any evasion from the official economy would raise demand for currency. By looking at the changes in currency demand, NIPFP has estimated the size of GDP from the known stock of money. The estimated GDP is then compared with the reported GDP. The difference between the two GDPs is the black economy, according to the NIPFP report. Economists typically use a physical indicator whose consumption is assumed to be related with unaccounted economic activity to estimate the size of the black economy. The NIPFP report used land freight transport because it is used as an input in all sectors of the economy. For instance, output from illegal mining will need trucks for moving extracted ore. In fact, unaccounted incomes in land transport and construction are derived from unaccounted activities in mining, the report argued. Based on the use of trucks of average age 6-7 years for land freight transport, the report estimated unaccounted GDP to be 63.4 per cent of the reported GDP in 2011-12. When the average age of trucks is considered to be 15 years, the share balloons to 164 per cent in the year. The share of road transport in the country's output was 3-5 per cent between 1980-81 and 2010-11, the report estimated. Based on proxy indicators for illicit economic activities, the report estimated the share of unaccounted income in total GDP has dropped to about 70 per cent in 2009-10 from 200-300 per cent in the 1980s. The decadal average share of unaccounted income in GDP was 70-75 per cent in 1980s, around 60 per cent in 1990s and about 45 per cent in 2000s. The report attributed this partly to tax and other economic reforms since the 1980s. Limitations in estimating black economy Talking about the limitations the report it faced while analysis was the lack of organized and consistent data. For instance, there were large discrepancies in information given by various authorities on mining, pointing to the unreliability of public data. "The only authoritative figures of the sale and purchase of gold in India are from the World Gold Council," the report said. "It appears that most policy analysis would have to be based on hunches and guesses," it added. Companies face the risk of government action if they raise prices in anticipation of the change in rates under the goods and services tax (GST) regime to be implemented from July 1, says Union revenue secretary Hasmukh Adhia. The Congress adopted a wait-and-watch policy on the tax rates approved by the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, saying it was still work in progress, but expressed concerned over the applicability of the 28 per cent slab. The conviction of former coal ministry secretary Harish Chandra Gupta in one of the so called coal scam cases makes it the first among them where a government employee has been successfully prosecuted -- that too a secretary-level officer. Along with him, former joint secretary in the ministry, K C Kropha, and the then director, K C Samaria have also been convicted. It has also become a test case to decide to what extent a government officer should take the rap for taking decisions on competing commercial interests. In an attempt to make the process of nabbing the likes of Vijay Mallya easier, the central government on Thursday proposed a stringent legislation to confiscate properties of "fugitive economic offenders". If you always wanted to land a government job, heres the chance you must NOT miss. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is now inviting applications for two posts; Deputy Director (Staff & Training/Productivity) and Head of Department (Computer Engineering). Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command reviewed the Annual Joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Exercise at Naval Base Karwar. The exercise which has been conducted by the Western Naval Command of India Navy required large scale mobilization of resources and coordination with various agencies. . . The exercise on a Tsunami scenario is being used to validate the resources available with various organizations and bring out common standard operating procedures. Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, witnessed an operational demonstration and inspected the Camp site at RT Beach, Karwar and Static Display. He will also review the results of the exercise tomorrow, 20 May 2017. . . The series of actions undertaken in the operational display were structured around how relief activities are organised. In a calamity like a Tsunami, the available infrastructure is expected to be disrupted. Therefore the operational demonstration started with the aerial reconnaissance mission over land and sea conducted by a Naval Dornier Aircraft. The Aircraft also demonstrated the capability of deploying life-rafts to save people who have been washed into the sea due to a tsunami. With the information available from the Dornier mission, rescue of survivors were exercised by Chetak helicopters and boats. . . Harbours play an important role in providing relief to areas affected by disaster as road and rail networks are invariably disrupted. Moreover ships provide the highest cargo lift capability over other modes of transportation. The demonstration thus focused on how a harbor is restored. The process involves underwater survey by survey boats, clearing of underwater debris by divers and firefighting and pollution control capability by coast guard ships. Once the harbor was cleared, two ships simulated relief material being landed ashore. . . The static display focused on type of relief material provided ashore by various organizations. Stalls by Army, Navy, Air Force, Armed Forces Medical Corps, National Disaster Relief Force, State and district administration, BSNL and Red Cross provided a glimpse of what to expect from other organizations to the participants of the exercise. . . Vice Admiral Girish Luthra thereafter inspected the sample relief camp site. The relief camp site which was open to pubic over the last two days displayed all the facilities which will be required to provide succor and relief to the people and distribute the relief material provided from the ship. The camp was also used to validate the multi agency coordination and support work. . . An annual Joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise is being conducted by the Indian Navy at Karwar from 18-20 May 2017, under the aegis of the Western Naval Command. . . On the afternoon of May 1, President Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner, welcomed a high-level delegation of Saudis to a gilded reception room next door to the White House and delivered a brisk pep talk: Lets get this done today. A 1982 untitled Basquiat sold for $110.5 million in New York, setting a new auction record for the US artist in Sotheby's flagship post-war and contemporary art sale, the auction house said. Jean-Michel Basquiat, the US wonderkid of Haitian and Puerto Rican descent, who died in 1988 of an overdose at the age of 27, has been catapulted into the rostrum of 20th century greats by the rising value of his work. A tense bidding war lasted for around 10 minutes yesterday between a client in Sotheby's New York showroom and another on the telephone, with the telephone buyer ultimately clinching the top bid. The skull-like head on a giant canvas in oil-stick, acrylic and spray paint called "Untitled" was the star lot of the May auction season in New York and had been valued pre- sale in excess of $60 million. Loud cheers and applause greeted the conclusion of the sale, which almost doubled the previous Basquiat record of $57 million, set for a self-portrait snapped up by a Japanese billionaire at Sotheby's last year. The canvas was last bought in 1984 at Christie's for $19,000. Sotheby's auctioneer opened bids Thursday at $57 million and offered occasional moments of levity and encouragement to the bidders. "It's a great masterpiece at $98 million dollars," he said to laughter in the room shortly before the bidding war concluded. The USD 110.5 million price tag includes the buyer's premium. At least 14 works from the Brooklyn-born artist were on sale at Christie's and Sotheby's this week. The subject of much of his work ordeals endured by blacks in America is finding renewed resonance in the wake of nationwide US protests since 2014 about the shootings of unarmed black men by police. Rival auction house Christie's sold Basquiat's "La Hara" a 1981 acrylic and oil-stick of an angry-looking New York police officer for $35 million on Wednesday, eclipsing its $22 to $28 million estimate. Pablo Picasso holds the world record for the most expensive piece of art ever sold at auction. His "The Women of Algiers (Version 0)" fetched $179.4 million at Christie's in New York in 2015. US President has said that he respects the appointment of a special counsel to probe his campaign's alleged involvement with Russia in the 2016 presidential polls but termed the whole issue as a "witch hunt" against him. "There is no collusion between certainly myself and my campaign," he said while responding to a question on the appointment of former FBI Director Robert Muller to investigate the allegations of Russian interference in the elections. "Well, I respect the move, but the entire thing has been a witch hunt," Trump told reporters at a White House news conference with Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos yesterday. The president has maintained that he has nothing to do with Russia. "I can always speak for myself and the Russians -- zero. I think it divides the country. I think we have a very divided country because of that and many other things," he said. The US president said he wants to bring America and has had tremendous success in doing so. "You look at our job numbers. You look at what's going on at the border, as we discussed before. You look at what will be happening. You're going to see some incredible numbers with respect to the success of (defence secretary) general (James) Mattis and with the ISIS situation. The numbers are staggering, how successful the military has been," Trump said. His remarks came ahead of his maiden foreign trip starting with a visit to Saudi Arabia. "Tomorrow, I'm going to Saudi Arabia. I'm going to Israel. I'm going to Rome. And we have the G7. We have a lot of great things going on. So I hate to see anything that divides. I'm fine with whatever people want to do. But we have to get back to running this country really, really well. We've made tremendous progress in the last 100 and some odd days," Trump said. He reiterated that there was no collusion between his campaign and the Russians. "Believe me, there's no collusion. Russia is fine. But whether it's Russia or anybody else, my total priority, believe me, is the United States of America," he said. Responding to question about the call for his impeachment as raised by the Democrats, Trump said it is ridiculous and maintained that the US is progressing under his rule. "I think it's totally ridiculous. Everybody thinks so. "We have to get back to working our country properly so that we can take care of the problems that we have. We have plenty of problems. We've done a fantastic job," he said. Talking about the appointment of a new FBI chief for which he has been interviewing several candidates in the past few days, Trump said he will be announcing the new director soon and looks forward to doing it. "I think the people in the FBI will be very, very, very, very thrilled," he said. He said that he looks forward to getting the whole controversy behind him so that he can focus on creating jobs and making a strong military. "We need health care. We need to cut taxes. We're going to cut taxes. If I get what I want, it'll be the biggest tax cut in the history of our nation. And that's what I want. It's going to bring back companies. It's going to bring back jobs. We lost so many jobs and so many companies," Trump said. "We want to get back and keep on the track that we're on, because the track that we're on is record-setting. And that's what we want to do is we want to break very positive records," he said. Automobiles, one of the world's biggest carmakers, said on Thursday that it was in talks with the Department of Justice to settle an investigation into diesel deception, as growing evidence points to the carmaker's use of illegal software to evade emissions tests. Roger Ailes, who fueled a revival of conservative American politics at the helm of the powerful Fox News, has died at age 77, months after he was forced out in a sexual harassment scandal. A longtime confidant of media titan Rupert Murdoch who became a central figure in the conservative US political movement, Ailes stood down at Fox in July last year under the cloud of a sexual harassment lawsuit from former news host Gretchen Carlson - one of a string of such allegations against him. "I am profoundly sad and heartbroken to report that my husband, Roger Ailes, passed away this morning," said the statement from his wife read today on Fox News. Ailes, she said, "was a loving husband to me, to his son Zachary, and a loyal friend to many. He was also a patriot, profoundly grateful to live in a country that gave him so much opportunity to work hard, to rise - and to give back." There was no immediate indication of the cause of death. Murdoch led tributes to the late Fox News chairman, hailing what he called his "huge role in shaping America's media." "Roger was a great patriot who never ceased fighting for his beliefs," the 86-year-old said in a statement. "Roger and I shared a big idea which he executed in a way no one else could have." Ailes long commanded one of the pillars of Murdoch's media empire, and a unit of the Murdoch-led conglomerate 21st Century Fox. Under Ailes' leadership, Fox became America's most widely watched cable news channel, home to key conservative political commentators and drawing an audience distinct from rivals CNN and MSNBC. "Today, America lost one of its great patriotic warriors," Fox News host Sean Hannity tweeted. "He has dramatically and forever changed the political and the media landscape, single-handedly for the better." Ailes' influential career at Fox News came to a crashing end after he was targeted in a sexual harassment suit by Carlson, a popular host and former Miss America, who claimed she was sacked for refusing his advances. Carlson's lawsuit opened the gates to a flood of allegations from women, including star host Megyn Kelly, who accused him of groping them or making unwanted advances - and sought to expose what they called a culture of misogyny at the network. Some reports said as many as 25 women had accused the executive of misconduct or harassment. Ailes, who denied any wrongdoing, reportedly received $40 million on his departure. By the time he stood down, however, Ailes had become a central figure in the American political landscape - both revered by fellow conservatives, and vilified by the political left. A 44-year-old Indian-American has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for duping over 100 investors of $33 million through fraudulent schemes. Navin Shankar Subramaniam Xavier, a resident of Florida, was the former Chief Executive Officer of Essex Holdings, the company through which he carried out two fraud schemes. He raised more than He was sentenced yesterday to 15 years in prison by US District Judge Darrin Gayles in Miami. The first scheme involved nearly 100 investors who purchased $30 million worth of promissory notes purportedly secured by interests in iron ore mining in Chile. The second scheme involved unlawfully obtaining $1.2 million in economic development funds as well as valuable industrial property from the State of South Carolina. Xavier was convicted by guilty plea in January on two counts of wire fraud. One wire fraud count related to the investment fraud scheme and the other count to the South Carolina economic development scheme. He used false financial statements, forged documents, and promises of fixed rates of return, to induce people to invest in the company. Most of the money was used for purposes other than what was promised, including to support lavish spending by Xavier and his wife for expensive jewelry, luxury vehicles, wedding expenses, and cosmetic surgery. Eventually, Xavier used new investor money to pay old investors in a Ponzi-like fashion before the scheme collapsed. Evidence filed in court showed that the actual investor losses from the scheme exceeded $29 million. The second scheme involved Xavier using Essex Holdings to obtain $1.2 million in payments and approximately $1.5 million worth of commercial real estate from the South Carolina Coordinating Council for Economic Development (SCCCED), a division of the South Carolina state government, that was supposed to be used to develop a dilapidated industrial property into a diaper plant and rice packaging facility. According to documents filed in the court, he provided false financial documentation to SCCCED in order to obtain the contract, and later provided fake contractor invoices and fake bank statements in order to get paid under the contract. As with the investment fraud scheme, Xavier spent a significant portion of the development money for his personal expense and wired some of it to the same overseas accounts used in the investment fraud. Wikileaks founder on Friday attacked the Swedish authorities for detaining him for seven years without charge and said he will not "forgive" those who "slandered" him. Assange, who is expected to make an official statement from his Ecuadorean embassy hideout in London, used social media to vent his anger, hours after the Swedish prosecution decided to drop its rape investigation against him. "Detained for 7 years without charge by while my children grew up and my name was slandered. I do not forgive or forget," Assange, 45, said in a tweet. Detained for 7 years without charge by while my children grew up and my name was slandered. I do not forgive or forget. (@JulianAssange) May 19, 2017 He had earlier tweeted a smiling picture of himself from inside the embassy. At a press briefing earlier today, Sweden's top prosecutor Marianne Ny said that by remaining in the embassy in London Assange had evaded the exercise of the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) that would have seen him extradited to Sweden. "If he were to return to Sweden before the statute of limitation on this case expires in August 2020, the preliminary investigation could be resumed... It is regrettable we have not been able to carry out the investigation. We are not making any pronouncement about guilt," Ny said. The rape allegation against the Australian computer programmer had followed a Wikileaks conference in Stockholm in 2010. Assange has always denied the allegations against him, claiming the sex was consensual and that the case was politically motivated to get him extradited to the US as it followed massive Wikileaks dumps of secret US military reports that year. Ecuador Foreign Minister Guillaume Long said the UK should now grant Assange safe passage, as the European arrest warrant against him "no longer holds". "Ecuador welcomes the decision to drop the charges," Long said. However, Scotland Yard has said that it has an obligation to enforce the arrest warrant on Assange a lesser charge of skipping bail. According to his lawyer, Assange wants political asylum in France after he leaves the Ecuador embassy. Assange could face a trial in the US over the leaking of hundreds of thousands of secret US military and diplomatic documents. The Swedish investigation into alleged rape allegations against Assange were dropped days after Chelsea Manning, who provided Wikileaks with classified intelligence on Iraq and Afghanistan that shocked the world, was freed from prison in the US. Media houses in Pakistan seemed to be questioning the stance of their government after the Court of Justice (ICJ) on Thursday stayed the order of a Pakistani military court to execute former Indian Navy officer over charges of alleged spying. A federal judge on Thursday dismissed two lawsuits accusing Inc of supporting terrorist groups by letting them use its social media platform to further their aims, including violence against Jews. founder Julian Assange hailed a Swedish decision to drop a rape probe against him, but said he won't leave the Ecuadorian embassy in London where he has sought refuge for the past five years as long as he remains a target in the US and UK. Remaining members of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement are working on a statement to reaffirm their commitment to it, despite the withdrawal of the United States, sources close to the discussions said. Some still hope for the eventual return of the United States to the deal ditched by US President Donald Trump, because of his readiness to shift position on other issues, Malaysia's trade minister said. Talks are happening on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting, the biggest trade gathering since Trump upended the world order with his "America First" policy. The competing visions are evident at this weekend's Apec meeting of ministers from countries that account for well over 40 per cent of world trade. While new US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer will hold bilateral talks with key countries, China will be pushing its favoured Asian trade agreement as it puts itself forward as a global free trade champion. Japan is leading the countries that still want to persist with the much more comprehensive TPP agreement, abandoned by Trump in one of his first acts in office and which does not include China. Sources close to the discussions said the so-called TPP-11 nations - the 11 left after the United States withdrew - were planning a statement of commitment to the pact. "There will be two main points: 1. To aim for an early entry into force of the TPP-11 2. To bear in mind an environment where a signatory country can return," said one source close to the discussions who was not authorised to speak to the media. The agreement is due to take effect next year. CHALLENGES Among the challenges is keeping on board Vietnam and Malaysia, which would have been big beneficiaries from the agreement if it included the United States. Some renegotiation would be needed for the deal to proceed without the United States, Malaysian Trade Minister Mustapa Mohamed told Reuters. A Vietnamese official expressed a similar view. Mustapa said there was optimism the United States would return one day, because Trump had shown readiness to shift his position on other matters, such as softening his stance towards China. "There has been less rhetoric and a more realistic approach," he said. However, renegotiating the existing North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is a bigger immediate priority for Washington. In Hanoi, Lighthizer is due to hold two-way meetings to start making official contact with key trade officials. Nearly all the other 20 members of Apec had requested bilateral meetings, US officials said. Main countries are China, Japan and South Korea, with which Trump wants to renegotiate a free trade deal. Canada and Mexico will be at the Asia-Pacific meetings and are also in the North American trade area. In other talks on the sidelines, China will be driving for progress on its favoured trade deal for Asia: the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. The free trade agreement doesn't cover as many areas as the TPP deal or demand tough conditions for members on issues such as protecting intellectual property, labour rights or the environment. Officials said there remained significant points of disagreement in the talks between Southeast Asian countries, China, India, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea. The United States has never been part of those discussions. Given the uncertainty over TPP, the China-backed deal was now the priority for Malaysia, Mustapa said. President Trump declared angrily on Thursday that he was the victim of a witch hunt, and all but contradicted his deputy attorney general on the firing of the F.B.I. director, in an extensive denial of any collusion between his campaign and Russia. President today left on a nine-day maiden overseas trip during which he will visit five countries and is expected to push for his agenda of boosting US economy, bringing peace in conflict-prone zones of the world and calling for greater security cooperation. Trump will visit Saudi Arabia, Israel, Vatican, Belgium and Italy during his visit with the defeat of ISIS topping his agenda. "Getting ready for my big foreign trip. Will be strongly protecting American interests - that's what I like to do!" Trump told his nearly 30 million followers on Tweeter hours before he boarded Air Force One along with his top officials and a battery of White House reporters from Joint Andrews Air Force Base. In Saudi Arabia, the first stop of his trip, Trump will address leaders from more than 50 Muslim countries with the message of peace and calling for a partnership with the Islamic world. The leaders of the Muslim world - including those from Afghanistan and Pakistan - would be asked to sign a pledge to make it illegal in their countries to raise funds for extremist and terrorist groups. Senior administration officials said the US later would hold these countries accountable if there is any violation of the pledge. However, a major highlight of his trip would be his address to the Muslim world. "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," his National Security Adviser Lt General H R McMaster said ahead of the trip. McMaster said Trump will also participate in a signing ceremony of several agreements that will further solidify US- Saudi security and economic cooperation. According to senior administration officials, agreements are expected to cross a whopping $500 billion in all, with security co-operation alone accounting for $300 billion. During his Saudi Arabia visit, Trump would have a chance to interact with President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. However, the White House has not confirmed if the two leaders have a bilateral meeting with either Ghani and Sharif. Both have made a request for the bilateral meeting. From Saudi Arabia, Trump would travel to Jerusalem, where he will meet with the Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and would reiterate his commitment to the security of the country. In his meeting with the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem later, Trump will convey his administration's eagerness to facilitate an agreement that ends the conflict. "He will urge Palestinian leaders to take steps that will help lead to peace. And he will visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and say a prayer at the Western Wall," McMaster said. McMaster said Trump looks forward to "celebrating the rich contributions of Catholics to America and to the world" in his meeting with the Pope in Vatican, his next stop. In his meeting, Trump expects to discuss a range of issues of mutual concern, McMaster said. Trump would then head to Brussels where he will meet with the presidents of the European Union and that of the European Council. "He will then hold a working lunch with the newly elected president of France, whom he will meet in person for the first time," McMaster said. In Brussels, Trump will deliver his remarks at the unveiling of NATO's memorial to their shared struggle in front of a piece of the Berlin Wall and a segment of the World Trade Center. "He will reaffirm America's commitment to the alliance and repeat his insistence that, for the good of the alliance, all members must share responsibility and share burdens," McMaster said. 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 Paolo Gentiloni. In the formal meetings, he will press America's economic agenda and call for greater security cooperation," he 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. Before departing Italy for home, the President will speak to American and allied servicemen and women and their families, McMaster said. President says he is "very close" to naming a new FBI director. An announcement could come on Thursday, the soft deadline Trump set for himself. The president departs Friday on his inaugural overseas trip, a four-country, five-stop journey tour of the Middle East and Europe that will keep him out of the country for more than a week. "We're very close to an FBI director," Trump said Thursday when asked about the search during an Oval Office appearance with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. He said an announcement could come "soon" and that former Senator Joe Lieberman was among his top candidates. Lieberman was among four candidates Trump interviewed at the White House this week. The former Connecticut senator flashed a thumbs-up as he left the White House on Wednesday after meeting with Trump and said they had a "good meeting." Trump also met with former Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating; Richard McFeely, a former top FBI official; and acting FBI director Andrew McCabe. Trump needs a new FBI director because he fired James Comey last week, an unexpected move that drew bipartisan criticism. Comey was overseeing the FBI's investigation into Russia's role in the presidential election, including ties between Russian government officials and Trump associates. In an attempt to quell the furor over Comey's ouster, the Justice Department this week hired former FBI Director Robert Mueller as a special counsel to oversee the investigation. Trump has denounced the probe as a "witch hunt." The Senate must confirm Trump's candidate for the FBI job. Word of Lieberman's standing in the candidate search drew a mixed reaction from Capitol Hill, with Senate Republicans praising the Democrat turned independent, and Democrats seeming less than enthused about their former colleague. Senator Lindsey Graham, R-S C, called Lieberman a "pillar of credibility." Senator John Cornyn of Texas, the No 2 Republican in the Senate, said Lieberman "may be the only potential nominee that could get 100 votes that I know of. Everybody likes and respects Joe Lieberman." But several Democratic senators said during a caucus lunch Thursday that they would not support Lieberman, according to a person familiar with the meeting who declined to be identified because the lunch was private. Among their concerns was Lieberman's past praise of Michael Flynn, Trump's first national security adviser, who was fired in February after misleading officials about his talks with Russian officials. Flynn has figured prominently in the FBI investigation into Russia and the election. The sudden appointment of Robert S. Mueller as a special counsel for the federal investigation into the Trump campaigns relationship with Russia highlights a key question: Which choice poses the greater risk for Republicans in Congress, to support a potential impeachment or to close ranks behind the president? To defy Trump or to defend him? To provoke anger among the legions of Trump loyalists back home or to run the risk of turning the 2018 midterms into a Democratic wave election? The S&P BSE Sensex pared most of its losses to turn flat in the late monring deals after hitting fresh record high in the early trade, while the broader Nifty50 index slipped below its crucial support level of 9,450. The Supreme Court on Friday adjourned the hearing on all the petitions challenging the Central Government's decision to make Aadhar card mandatory for availing various government schemes till June 27. The apex court, earlier, agreed to grant an urgent hearing over the issue after senior lawyer Shyam Divan mentioned the matter before it. Earlier on May 4, the top court reserved its order on whether to make Aadhar mandatory for getting a Permanent Account Number (PAN) and to file tax returns. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi informed the apex court that Aadhar is unique and cannot be duplicated. The lawyers appearing for various petitioners, however, argued that the system was not full proof and could be tampered with. Rohatgi defended the Centre's decision, citing 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 Aadhar compulsory for filing Income Tax returns. It referred to its order in 2015 when the apex court had made the Aadhar optional. Referring to this, the court said, "How can you make the Aadhar card mandatory, when we have passed an order to make it optional?" The Attorney General argued that mandatory Aadhar 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 Aadhar mandatory for filing taxes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a successful bid, the Indian Army on Friday neutralised United Liberation Front of Assam (Independent) (ULFA) (I) cadre Ramesh Bora. The army also recovered a grenade, 9mm pistol, six 9mm live rounds and approximately Rs. 6 lakh Indian currency. The Army has cordoned off the entire area and launched a search operation to sweep the area. . (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) has seized 900 gms of Double Tiger China made Heroin worth Rs. 6 crore and also apprehended a person namely Lal Bahaudur Sardar in connection with the case. Earlier, a trap was laid on the Sonamani Godam area of Bihar's Araria district in the intervening night of May 17 and 18 and one person was intercepted by the personnel of the SSB. On asking him to stop for frisking, he tried to escape taking advantage of darkness, but the alert troops managed to overpower him and he was apprehended. During the physical search, one plastic carry bag having two packets of Double Tiger China made Heroin was recovered from his possession. He later revealed that he was sent by his handler based in Nepal to hand over the packets to a smuggler based in India at Assisi Ghat Bridge. The apprehended person and seized Double Tiger China made Heroin were handed over to Out Post-Sonamani Godam under the Jogbani Police Station. An investigation into matter is underway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Thinking of sleeping on the streets with her three children again haunts Ruby, as it was only few years ago when she and her children found a roof over their heads. And now that she is back to the terrible homeless situation after the shelter was razed down in a drive, all that Ruby could do is cry and urge the authorities to give her back her 'home'. "I have three children and they used to study and stay here. I have been living here for many years. Now where will I go, I have no one with me. They have not been given any notice and broke our homes. We have become homeless again. No one is doing anything," Ruby told ANI. "My two kids used to study here. They didn't even give us time to prepare ourselves. I don't know where to go. Everything of ours is gone. I am a single mother and now I am homeless," said another woman Tara. The caretaker of the shelter, said that they were barely given time to evacuate and find another shelter, as they building was razed immediately after the notice. "At around 2: 30 pm they informed us that the center will be demolished. We didn't even get time to take out our belongings from the house. They didn't give us any chance to prepare. When I said that how will I manage with the kids, they said it is not their responsibility," he added. Meanwhile, demanding justice and quick action on the demolition of the homeless shelter by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and Delhi Police in Nizamuddin, Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal slammed the DDA asserting that they should be responsible in giving a new rehabilitation centre within 24 hours. Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also expressed his concern over the disturbing development and assured that the children are being shifted to another home. On Thursday, a children home shelter ' SPYM-Wishes and Blessing Home', where over 50-60 small children used to live was demolished allegedly. Reportedly, the home shelter SPYM is a Delhi Government aided Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) and they were provided by the land by the government. "SPYM-All wishes and Blessing home is my home. 50-60 children used to live in this home and we adopted this place in 2014 from the Delhi Government's Raen Basera policy and transformed it into SPYM-Wishes and Blessings Home. There are 60 children and 15 females here, who were all abandoned at one time. Out of these 60 children, 45 go to schools. Today, DDA people arrived and demolished our home," the SPYM owner told ANI. The homeless children are now demanding justice. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr. Raman Singh on Friday announced that a 41 hectare forested land in the Durg region of the state would be named after late Union Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave. Dr. Singh was attending a solar energy promotional event in Sankara village which falls under the Pathan Development Block of Durg. Singh said, "Late Union Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave's last wish was that no memorial should be constructed in his name, but instead at least one plant should be planted in his memory." He also announced that his government will provide solar run water pumps to facilitate irrigation of this area. Dave, who passed away in New Delhi yesterday after a heart attack, left a will in which he said a tree or a plant should be planted in his memory. "If people have love and respect for me, no memorial should be erected anywhere in my name. Rather, they should plant a tree," Dave's will read. Dave was appointed environment minister in 2016 after a reshuffle in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Cabinet. Having a great love for rivers, Dave founded 'Nadi Ka Ghar' (house of river) and even launched a save river campaign "Nadi Mahotsava'' in 2008 from the banks of the River Narmada in Madhya Pradesh. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tibet's Prime Minister-in-exile Lobsang Sangay on Thursday expressed hope that U.S. President Donald Trump might continue to support the Tibetan cause and meet Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama. Sangay said, "After US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson's assurance, we Tibetans remain hopeful that President Donald Trump will continue the tradition of US Presidents meeting with his holiness the Dalai Lama. Now it looks the new government is settling down and is ready with its foreign policy and when his holiness visits Washington DC, there will be a meeting between his holiness the Dalai Lama and Donald Trump." While speaking to media persons in north Indian hill town Dharamshala, President of the exile government, Sangay said, "He will board a flight from Delhi on Saturday evening for a three-day visit to United States." "My visit is only for three days in Washington DC. During the visit I will be meeting with Senators" he added. The political leader said that "the Central Tibetan Administration is putting its best efforts to strengthen the social foundations of the Tibetan political struggle. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Finally the Rajini-darbar comes to an end, with the Thalaiva addressing the fans on the fourth day. During the addressal, the Tamil superstar said, after living in Tamil Nadu for 43 years and receiving the fans' appreciation, he has now turned into a 'true-Tamilian.' Looks like, this came as a befitting reply to Sarath Kumar's "outsider" remark against him, earlier this year. "I am 67 years old. I lived in Karnataka for 23 years and in Tamil Nadu for 43 years. I have lived and grown with you. You have been truly loving and welcoming and made me a true Tamilian. If I have to live anywhere in this world that will be in Tamil Nadu," he said. For the unversed, actor-turned-politician Sarath Kumar, in the past, labeled Rajinikanth an "outsider" Kannadiga, who stepped into Tamil Nadu to find work. This remark came after the 'Kabali' star, at an event, observed that he misses actor-political satirist Cho Ramaswamy, at a time of "unusual political developments in the state," following the demise of late chief minister Jayalalithaa. His statement was touted to be in reference to Sasikala taking the reins of AIADMK. Kumar, who contested on the AIADMK symbol in the Assembly election from Tiruchendur in Tamil Nadu in May 2016, on this note, said that Rajinikanth should be careful about his comments on public platforms; adding that the former will be the first to oppose the '2.0' star, if he tries his hands in politics. During the event, Rajinikanth today further said, "Both support and oppose is a part of the system. You can't grow without any opposition. And in politics, it is inevitable and you have to live with it." He also thanked the organizers and the fans for their relentless support. "I thank the staffs and the police, who made this event a success. I also thank my fans for their relentless support over the years," he said. In the Rajini-darbar, the superstar met his fans in "batches", between May 15 and 19. Invitations were sent to all the respective fan clubs to attend the various sessions. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday said that the Centre would order a Crime Branch of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the death of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, Anurag Tiwari, if required. "It is true that he (Tiwari) was a good officer. He died in some dubious conditions. We won't hesitate to pass an order for a CBI investigation, if needed. We will definitely find out the reason and the culprit who committed this," said Union Minister Manoj Sinha. Another BJP leader Prahlad Joshi said there should be an independent inquiry ordered by the Central Government as requested by his family. "Mr. Anuraj Tiwari, an IAS officer of the Karnataka cadre was found dead in Lucknow. It was a mysterious death and post-mortem report till today is inconclusive, nothing has been revealed. Yesterday, his family members have given a statement that it was not a normal death he was murdered. The reason behind saying this is that he was about to reveal the scam in Karnataka which he was inquiring into for some time. An amount of about Rs. 2000 crore was involved in this. Now, this matter was even discussed in the Uttar Pradesh assembly. Now, the only request the Karnataka government wants is why not recommend an independent inquiry by the Central Government as requested by their family members. I have seen he was a very sincere officer. When he was transferred, the people protested against it because they wanted him back. This only shows that he was a very good officer," BJP leader Shashil Namoshi told ANI. Karnataka Law minister T.B. Jayachandra said "Anurag was one of the honest and sincere officers. We have to verify the allegations made by his brother. The cause of death is being investigated by Uttar Pradesh Government because he died there." Tiwari originally hailed from Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich district. As per preliminary reports, Tiwari had recently divorced his wife. Yesterday, Tiwari's cousin Rahul Pandey told ANI that differences with his wife had begun right after their marriage. "We do not have doubts on anybody right now. The rest will be known when other family members also come," he said. Civil Hospital Medical Superintendent Ashutosh Kumar Dubey said it would be too early to reach any conclusion. "There was an injury mark on his chin. The body has been sent for post-mortem. Only after the reports are out, something can be said," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan's National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on Friday said that alleged Indian spy Kulbushan Jadhav's issue should not be politicised. "If the Army chief said that he provided the lawyer for the Jadhav case and then any criticism directed at him is baseless," Geo News quoted Sadiq, as saying. Opposition leader Khursheed Shah said the Attorney General should have been sent by the government to represent Pakistan's case in the International Court of Justice (ICJ). He called the ICJ's temporary stay of the execution of alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav a "setback" for the country and said the government's negligence was evident in the case. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has blamed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) temporary stay of the execution of alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav and asked him to clear his position in the parliament. Calling the ICJ stay on Jadhav's execution as an 'unfavourable' outcome, the PTI has raised a series of questions, seeking an explanation from Sharif on the Indian response on the Jadhav issue. "PM Nawaz should appear before the house to explain why Pakistan did not appoint an ad hoc judge as it had a right to and why the Foreign Office did not take legal advice before initiating correspondence on the issue," The Express Tribune quoted PTI Central Information Secretary Shafqat Mehmood, as saying. Mehmood asked why the government gave the task to a lawyer who had never argued a case independently before the ICJ and what compelled the government to send a first year associate from Attorney General's office instead of AG himself to the ICJ. Seeking an explanation as to why the government did not submit a written defence before May 15, the PTI leader argued that apprehension regarding the ICJ decision had come true. Dr. Shirin Mazari, another PTI leader. and an expert on international relations, said that Pakistan should have gone to the ICJ fully prepared. The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) said that the case at the ICJ had been mishandled and demanded a meeting of the national security committee on the Jadhav issue. PPP vice-president Sherry Rehman said Pakistan had failed to plead its case and questioned as to why the counsel completed his arguments in 50 minutes against the allocated time of 90 minutes. She said Pakistan should have appointed an ad hoc judge under relevant rules. These reactions came soon after the Pakistan's Foreign Office said that the ICJ has no jurisdiction over the county's national security matters, which in this instance was the execution of Jadhav. Foreign Office Spokesman Nafees Zakaria said the decision to challenge the ICJ's jurisdiction was taken after consultation with all government institutions and agencies. Zakaria said Pakistan's reply to the court was submitted in line with Article 36 of the Vienna Convention. He pointed out that there exists a bilateral pact on consular access between Pakistan and India since 2008 and added that Article 6 of the pact solely relates to consular access being determined on the merit of the case. Zakaria said, "After India stood exposed on state-sponsored terrorism and financing terrorism, it tried to divert attention by presenting the Kulbushan Jadhav case with a humanitarian angle." The ICJ, the primary judicial organ of the United Nations, stayed the death sentence awarded to Jadhav by the Pakistan military court, citing that both - India and Pakistan - were bound by the Vienna Convention and that the rights invoked by New Delhi under the Vienna Convention were plausible. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Inspired by the success story from Rewari, around 170 students staged a 'dharna' outside their school premises to urge authorities to upgrade the school to Senior Secondary level in Kadarpur village of Gurugram. The agitating students sat outside the school gates and demanded their rights even as authorities tried to dissipate the matters. However, the authorities have ensured that the case has been forwarded and is being looked into thoroughly. The students have also been informed that a written request has been submitted and the school will soon be granted permission for higher secondary classes. Earlier a government high school in Rewari also witnessed an intense hunger strike by 80 girls who demanded upgradation of their institute as they feared harassment if they travelled to another village for higher studies. Following the mass agitation, the Haryana Government on Wednesday announced that they have taken the decision to upgrade the school in Rewari. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) U.S. President Donald Trump on May 19 embarked on his first foreign visit to Saudi Arabia, Israel and global summits in Italy and Belgium. As he leaves for Saudi Arabia on Friday afternoon, Trump posted a tweet "Getting ready for my big foreign trip. Will be strongly protecting American interests - that's what I like to do!" But the political turmoil in Washington over Trump's firing of former FBI Director James Comey and the simultaneous developments involving allegations of forcing Comey to stop investigating former security adviser Michael Flynn and the appointment of a special counsel to look into the allegations of Russia's interference in the 2016 elections and his presidential campaign's ties to Russia, threatens to overshadow his first overseas trip as President. With his first stop at Riyadh, President Trump will focus on strengthening relations between the Saudis and America. President Trump will then land at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel on Monday, May 22 where he will be received in a special ceremony on the tarmac. President Trump will have meetings with President Reuven Rivlin at the President's Residence in Jerusalem and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump will be the first serving president to visit the Western Wall. Both, Jerusalem and Riyadh, will question President Trump on the Iran nuclear deal. In Europe especially, they want to know whether Trump will pull out of the Paris climate accord and want to test his true feelings for Russia, which is seen as a threat in much of Europe, The CNN reported. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Bangladeshi construction worker was on Friday sentenced to 17 years imprisonment for abducting and raping a woman at the MacRitchie Reservoir, in Singapore. Pramanik Liton, 24, was sentenced to imprisonment and 24 strokes of cane by the court of Justice Choo Han Teck, local media reports said. The court charged him with two counts of rape, one count of assult by penetratration and one count of abduction for illicit intercourse. The case dates back to 2015 when Liton abducted a 39-year old Chinese national and raped her. He was arrested later at his worksite. The judge concluded that the evidence placed before him was undeniable and conclusive, and that Liton's denial of the rape was an act of desperation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans were injured after an IED blast was triggered by Maoists in Sukma, Chhattisgarh. Sukma is the place where a major attack took place on May 1, killing As many as 25 (CRPF) personnel and injuring five others. The attack took place on the personnel of the CRPF's 74th Battalion as they were assisting the local population in road building and clearing activity in the district. The Centre has assured action against the perpetrators of the 'cold-blooded murder' in Sukma. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the Central and the State Government would work together to ensure that the perpetrators were brought to book. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Raising the burning issue of the SYL (Satluj Yamuna Link) canal, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday asserted that petition has already been filed and expressed hope for better results from Supreme Court. "The SYL issue is a prolonged one that will soon be resolved. The petition has already been filed and we hope for better results. Southern Haryana had been facing drinking water issues from the past 12 years but not anymore," Khattar told ANI. Khattar further assured that the districts that were facing water issues in the Southern Haryana region are soon to get resolved. "We have filed our petition to the Supreme Court and the result would be out soon. Districts that were facing water issues will soon come over it. The matter has been pending before the bench since November last. There are already two decrees of the court and we are anxiously waiting for these to be executed by the plaintiff (Punjab)," said Khattar. Earlier this month, the Apex court had heard the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal matter. The final hearing was put off after the Centre informed the court that a meeting of Punjab and Haryana has been convened by it on April 20 to resolve the matter. The court, however, made it clear that if a solution was not found, it would proceed with the matter on the next date of hearing. The bench, also comprising of Justice Amitava Roy, considered the statement of Solicitor General, Ranjeet Kumar and deferred the hearing in the case. The apex court refused to hear the Punjab Government's plea to adjourn the SYL Canal matter till the election results were announced and posted the matter for further hearing till February 22. Senior lawyer Ram Jethmalani, appearing for the Punjab government, sought an adjournment which the top court refused. A bench headed by Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghosh refused the plea and asked, "What has the Supreme Court to do with the election results?" In January, the apex court asked both the Haryana and Punjab Governments to file their replies on the issue within three weeks. The Punjab Government had earlier sought more time from the court to file a detailed reply on the same. A bench of the court headed by Justice Ghosh and Justice Amitava Roy granted the decision. The apex court had, in November last year, termed the law passed by the Punjab Government in 2004 to terminate the SYL Canal water sharing agreement with neighbouring states as 'unconstitutional'. Holding that the Punjab Termination of Agreement Act, 2004 was not being in conformity with the provisions of the Constitution, the top court answered in the negative to all four questions referred to it in a presidential reference. A constitution bench of the court ruled that Punjab could not and should not have taken a 'unilateral' decision to terminate the agreement with Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and Chandigarh to share the Ravi-Beas river waters. The court ruling was also followed by resignations of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Captain Amarinder Singh and state Congress MLAs. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Asia's leading brand equity research and consulting firm World Consulting & Research Corporation announced the release of the 4th edition of 'Asia's Most Promising Brands 2017', world's leading research and brand equity enhancement based marketing and organizational growth process. Editor in Chief of WCRC, Abhimanyu Ghosh said that, 'The 2017 Edition of "Asia's Most Promising Brands 2017" will be launched under Asian Brands & Leadership Summit 2017. The mega event shall be held on the 21st July 2017 at Park Hyatt, Goa. Annually 200 brands from Asia are researched and included in Asia's Most Promising Brands after path-breaking rounds of research across the continent. Inclusion in Asia's Most Promising Brands has tremendously boosted an organization's growth and marketing abilities.' The earlier three editions were held in UAE, India and Thailand. Dignitaries from across the globe attend Asian Brands & Leadership Summit across Asia and the world. Asia's Most Promising Brands is the foremost brand research and recognition intellectual property in the world in terms of research process, mega events globally, number of research editions across the continent. The research for 2017 includes brands across South East Asia, GCC and Indian Sub-Continent. Asia's Most Promising Brands is a research Intellectual Property of World Consulting & Research Corporation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Of Rs 20 per share Bombay Oxygen Corporation announced that the Board of Directors of the Company at its meeting held on 17 May 2017, inter alia, have recommended the final dividend of Rs 20 per equity Share (i.e. 20%) , subject to the approval of the shareholders. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Trading of Nifty 50 index futures on the Singapore stock exchange indicates that the Nifty could gain 30 points at the opening bell. Overseas, Asian stocks were mixed as investors were cautious due to uncertainties surrounding US President Donald Trump after reports he tried to influence a federal investigation. US stocks closed higher yesterday, 18 May 2017 following the previous session's brutal selloff, as positive data offered a glimmer of optimism and technology provided an additional fillip to the market. Investors were still watching Washington closely after reports the US President tried to interfere with an investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn's ties with Russia. In one recent development, former FBI head Robert Mueller has now been named as special counsel to investigate potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. US economic data released yesterday, 18 May 2017 showed that initial jobless claims fell by 4,000 in the latest week, the second-lowest reading of the economic recovery, which began eight years ago. Continuing claims were at their lowest level since 1988. Separately, the Philadelphia Fed manufacturing index jumped to a reading of 38.8 in May from 22 in April. Back home,ending its three-day rising trend, the key benchmark indices settled with modest losses yesterday, 18 May 2017 as profit booking materialised on weak global stocks. The Sensex lost 223.98 points or 0.73% to settle at 30,434.79, its lowest closing level since 15 May 2017. The trading activity on that day showed that the foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 360.59 crore yesterday, 18 May 2017, as per provisional data released by the stock exchanges. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 897.96 crore yesterday, 18 May 2017, as per provisional data. Among corporate news,TCS announced that it collaborated with Qualcomm incorporated through its Qualcomm Wireless Reach initiative and FHI 360 to implement a digital solution that enriches lives of the fishing community in Senegal, leveraging the transformative power of wireless technologies. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 18 May 2017. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) is being redesigned to make exports from India GST-compliant and the issue of working capital requirements under the new tax regime is being deliberated upon by the government, said Mr. Neeraj Prasad, Additional Commissioner, GST Cell, Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC). He said that the GST regime would help build competitive advantage by leveraging supply chain. While manufacturing and trading activities at present times have a strong taxation orientation and the cost of logistics is high vis-a-vis the mature markets, adoption of GST will reduce the cost of production and distribution. It will also pave the way for the transfer of consignments directly from plant to the wholesaler and retailer, thereby eliminating the inventory cost in many supply chain operations. Mr. Prasad said that technology in logistics, such as the use of advanced telematics, real-time vehicle tracking and route planning are likely to help manage and execute operations in a efficient and seamless manner and added that implementation of GST will finally set the ball rolling for the emergence of the hub and spoke model in the Indian transportation sector. He said that job work under GST would encourage lean manufacturing even as the switchover to GST for the largely unorganized logistics sector would be challenging as the interplay of technology will intensify. GST, he said, would lead to re-alignment in the main verticals of supply chain and would bring down the dominating unorganised factor in the logistics business. As regards the implications for State finances, Mr. Prasad said that the RBI in its latest report on state finances mentions that the introduction of the GST is likely to have an enduring impact on state finances as GST would lead to revenue expansion which would also possibly result in augmenting the shareable pool leading to greater transfer of resources from the Centre to the states. Furthermore, the Federal Reserve of USA, in a recent research paper states that the welfare enhancement through GST has the potential to expand the GDP by 3-4 percentage points. Mr. Rajeev Agarwal, Senior Vice President (Outreach & Cpacity Building), Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN), made a presentation on GST IT strategy. The mandate of GSTN, he said was to build the GST IT System to provide shared IT infrastructure and services to Central and State Governments, tax-payers and other stakeholders for implementation of GST; develop Common Registration, Return Filing and e-Payment services running on a Common GST Portal; integrate Common GST Portal with existing tax administration systems of Centre and States and build efficient and convenient interfaces for tax payers. Sharing the GST Status Update, Mr. Harsh Mariwala, Chairman FICCI's Task Force on GST & Chairman, Marico Ltd, said that FICCI will be conducting three-day workshops on GST compliance for industry. FICCI, he said, would conduct training sessions for trade and industry starting from the first week of June. He added that FICCI has submitted compliances issues for the consideration of the government in some of the key sectors such as banking, financial, insurance, textiles, exports, ITes, transport and logistics. Mr. Mariwala said that the Finance Minister was treating rates on a mechanical basis, which was a positive sign for industry as it meant current excise and VAT rates were being considered for fixing the tax slabs in GST. The GST Council's meeting, which is scheduled for the next two days, would primarily discuss the tax rates and exemptions under GST. He added that there would be disruptions in the implementation phase of GST and industry should prepare for it. He said that FICCI was playing the role of a facilitator and disseminating information via various forums such as seminars about GST and helping industry to cope up with compliance issues. He added that the third series of interactive sessions on GST with KPMG was in the offing. Also, FICCI was releasing a monthly report on GST updates, which was being circulated among industry members. Alluding to the issues, challenges, concerns and opportunities in the new tax regime, Mr. Sachin Menon, Co-Chairman, FICCI's Task Force on GST, said that the pre-requisites for smooth transition to GST were maintenance of level of inventory at each location and whether pricing of transition stock necessitate any change; co-relate closing inventory with excise invoices or other invoices and determine the extent of eligible credit; carry forward of credit allowed of tax reported in last return and ensure all invoices for goods and services received before appointed dates are accounted for in the last return; rejig of business processes - advance receipts, debit/credit notes, raising of PO, customers/vendor communication; devise strategy for pricing and promotional/incentive schemes across value chain (depot, distributor, dealer and retailer); and quick implementation of IT changes and IT to ensure smooth compliance process. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) TCS announced that it collaborated with Qualcomm incorporated through its Qualcomm Wireless Reach initiative and FHI 360 to implement a digital solution that enriches lives of the fishing community in Senegal, leveraging the transformative power of wireless technologies. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 18 May 2017. Strides Shasun anounced that it inked a pact with Vivimed Labs to set up two joint venture (JV) firms. The first JV -- a 50:50 joint venture company in India will own a US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) approved formulation facility in Alathur, Chennai, Strides Shasun said in a regulatory filing. The second JV firm would come up in Singapore and will own various approved abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs) and product pipeline, it added. The exercise provides additional capacity and de-risks manufacturing infrastructure, the company said. The transaction is expected to close on 31 May 2017. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 18 May 2017. TD Power Systems' consolidated net profit spurted 24323.17% to Rs 8.01 crore on 8.41% rise in net total income from operations to Rs 128.63 crore in Q4 March 2017 over Q4 March 2016. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 18 May 2017. Coral India Finance & Housing announced that the meeting of board of directors of the company is scheduled to be held on 5 June 2017 to consider stock split. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 18 May 2017. TeamLease Services' consolidated net profit spurted 320% to Rs 38.4 crore on 23% rise in total revenue to Rs 822.5 crore in Q4 March 2017 over Q4 March 2016. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 18 May 2017. Net profit was positively impacted by the tax benefits availed under section 80JJAA of the Income Tax Act, 1961 and deferred tax benefits availed from the recently acquired subsidiaries. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) rose 77% to Rs 14.7 crore in Q4 March 2017 over Q4 March 2016. This was achieved by way of margin expansion in general staffing and contribution from IT staffing during FY 2017. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The 14th Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council Meeting, chaired by the Union Minister of Finance Shri Arun Jaitley, was held at Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir yesterday. The fitment of rates of goods were discussed during the Council meeting. The Council has broadly approved the GST rates for goods at nil rate, 5%, 12%, 18% and 28% to be levied on certain goods. The Council has also broadly approved the rates of GST Compensation Cess to be levied on certain goods. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 113 militants were killed and 50 injured when Afghan security forces pressed ahead with offensives in restive provinces, the Defence Ministry said on Friday. "Afghan National Defence and Security Forces carried out cleanup operations in different provinces within the past 24 hours," Xinhua news agency quoted a ministry statement as saying. The forces also seized weapons and defused several roadside bombs planted by militants during the raids launched in 17 of the country's 34 provinces, the statement said. Violence has been on the rise as Afghan security forces struggle against a surge in attacks by the Taliban since the drawdown of foreign forces over the past two years. On Thursday night, five police personnel were killed in an insider attack in Ghanikhel district in Nangarhar province of the country. Following the assault, the attackers fled from the scene and took away the APL troops' weapons. --IANS py/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In yet another major rejig of the state's bureaucracy, the Uttar Pradesh government on Friday transferred 74 IAS officials, while Sashi Prakash Goel has been appointed as Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Sanjay Agarwal, a powerful bureaucrat in the previous Samajwadi Party regime, has been removed as the top boss of the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd and has been shifted to the Secondary and Higher Education Department as Additional Chief Secretary. Alok Kumar has been posted as the new Principal Secretary, Power department. Another senior bureaucrat Sadakant, has been divested of charge of Additional Chief Secretary, Housing and Urban Planning and is only left with the Public Works Department. Mukul Singhal has been given this charge. Amit Mohan Prasad has meanwhile been divested of the charge of Investment Commissioner but remains Noida CEO and Noida Metro Rail Corporation's Managing Director. Principal Secretary, Home, Debashish Panda has been relieved of his long-standing charge and has been posted as Investment Commissioner and Resident Commissioner of UP in New Delhi. Arvind Kumar, who was the Principal Secretary, Revenue, replaces him in the Home Department. Some district magistrates have also been changed while Sudhesh Ojha, Director, Information and Public Relations Department has also been removed. Many senior officials like Rama Raman, Anita Singh and Navneet Sehgal, considered close to the former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and put in waiting more than a month ago, have still not been given any posting. --IANS md/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday slammed the opposition's behaviour in the assembly as he responded to their charges on the law and order in the state. Speaking in the state assembly on the final day of the special session, he asserted that his government was committed to establishing the rule of law and criminals will be brought to book. Slamming the opposition for throwing paper missiles at the Governor during his address to the joint session of the House a few days back, Adityanath said such a disruption of the address was shameful. "The Governor's address is a vision document of the government of the day... it is a different manner that the opposition was not interested in listening to it and was rather busy whistling." Referring to the whistling by opposition party lawmakers on the first day of the 17th assembly, the Chief Minister said only two types of people were so good in whistling - one, the traffic police and the other were those whom the 'Anti-Romeo' squads were tackling these days. He however thanked some members of the opposition for giving some good suggestions and added that all good things favouring the people of the state will be taken up and assimilated in the governance of the state irrespective of the political differences. Adityanath also listed the achievements of his government, which completed two months on Friday. --IANS md/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Model-actress Amber Rose along with her family members was reportedly asleep when an intruder entered her house and stayed there for four hours. The 33-year-old returned to her home here on Tuesday after a trip to Miami. According to sources, she was asleep when the man broke into her home on Wednesday morning by breaking a kitchen window, reports tmz.com. Rose, her mother, son, assistant and bodyguards were all in the house asleep and nobody heard the intruder, the sources said. Rose got to know about the intruder on Wednesday afternoon when she saw the broken window in the kitchen and checked the surveillance footage. The surveillance footage showed the man breaking into her house and fleeing hours later. Rose later called the police who are investigating the matter, but it doesn't look like the intruder took anything, claimed tmz.com. The night club owner was in Miami for a nightclub appearance. --IANS sas/nn/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan on Friday filed a plea in the ICJ for it to rehear within six weeks the case of alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, after the government was slammed by the opposition for "mishandling" the case at the world court. Pakistan's Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz said Islamabad, with a new team of lawyers, will put forward its case vigorously in the International Court of Justice against letting off Jadhav on India's plea. "Pakistan was set to re-challenge the jurisdiction of the ICJ after it granted injunction on Thursday on an Indian plea to stay Jadhav's execution," Dunya News reported. According to law, Jadhav can challenge till the end of Saturday his death sentence in an appellate court. A military court sentenced him to death on April 10 on spying and terrorism charges. Aziz maintained that the ICJ did not order Pakistan to provide consular access to Jadhav, but has merely put forward an opinion. He said a decision to provide consular access to Jadhav is yet to be made. "Pakistan's security is so important and we have to maintain our fundamental sovereign right," he said. Meanwhile, the Pakistan government came under attack from the opposition for "mishandling" the Jadhav's case and two opposition leaders linked the weak defence put up by Pakistan at the ICJ to a meeting Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had with Indian business tycoon Sajjan Jindal. Jindal is said to be a friend of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) leader Shafqat Mehmood asked Sharif to disclose details of his "secret meetings" with Jindal, the Dawn reported. He said the ICJ decision was an outcome of the Sharif-Jindal talks. Mehmood attacked the government for selecting a lawyer at the ICJ "who had not a single international law case reported from the UK Supreme Court". Another PTI leader, Shirin Mazari, accused the Pakistan government of deliberately playing a game to advance Indian interests. "They wanted the ICJ to give a stay. This was a game which started after Jindal's visit to Pakistan," she said. Another opposition leader, Kamil Ali Agha, described the ICJ decision as the "biggest diplomatic defeat" for Pakistan. Minister of State for Information Marriyam Aurangzeb, however, said the case was fought in the best possible manner and advised the opposition not to play politics over issues of security. Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told Pakistan Today that the issue of Jadhav concerns the nation's security and there will be no compromise on it. The minister said the "Indian spy" was convicted after fulfilling all necessary legal procedures and any decision on the matter will be taken keeping in view security. According to Islamabad, Jadhav was reportedly arrested from Pakistan's Balochistan province on March 3, 2016. However, Indian intelligence agencies suspect that Jadhav was abducted from the Iran-Pakistan border. Pakistan alleged that the former Indian Navy officer was involved in spying and terror activities in Balochistan. He was convicted in April by a Pakistani military court and sentenced to death. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Friday approved the sale of Essar Group-owned business process outsourcing (BPO) company Aegis to Singapore-based investment firm Capital Square Partners. Last month, Essar Global's wholly-owned company AGC Holdings (AGC) Mauritius had entered into a definitive agreement with Singapore-based firm to sell its 100 per cents stake in ESM Holdings Mauritius which in turn owns Aegis. In a tweet, the CCI said: "@CCI_India approves acquisition by CSP Alpha of 100 per cent share capital of ESM Holdings Ltd." The group had entered the BPO sector in 2004 when it acquired the US-based Aegis Communications. --IANS rv/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chelsea Manning, the transgender US soldier convicted of espionage for providing national security secrets to Wikileaks, posted the first photo of her new look as a woman, just one day after she was released from a military prison, the media reported. The photo of her with short-cropped hair, bright red lipstick and a dark outfit with a plunging neckline, was posted on Thursday on her Twitter and Instagram accounts @xychelsea87, ABC News reported. The 29-year-old Oklahoma native included the caption, "Okay, so here I am everyone!!", reports NBC News. Manning was released early Wednesday from the US Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Manning was convicted in 2013 for seven years by a military tribunal under the Espionage and Computer Fraud and Abuse Acts and sentenced to 35 years in prison for releasing approximately 750,000 documents to WikiLeaks, of which only small amount of those documents ultimately lead to her conviction. Manning at that time was a 22-year-old Army private named Bradley Manning, reports ABC News. The information she disclosed included low level battlefield reports from Iraq and Afghanistan, evidence of civilian deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan, Guantanamo prison camp detainee profiles and US diplomatic correspondence. Former US President Barack Obama commuted her sentence to time served three days before he left office. Her imprisonment was longer than any whistleblower in US history. Days after Manning was sentenced, she came out as transgender on August 22, 2013. Army officials on Tuesday said Manning will remain on active duty in a special status after her scheduled release from prison. In that status she will be unpaid, but will be legally entitled to military medical care. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Is your kid overweight? Beware, being obese, especially from a young age may substantially increase a lifetime risk of major depression, researchers have found. The study showed that being overweight at age eight or 13 was associated with more than triple the risk of developing major depression at some point in their lives. Carrying excess weight over a lifetime (both as a child and as an adult) quadrupled the chance of developing depression compared to only being overweight as an adult. "Our findings suggest that some of the underlying mechanisms linking overweight or obesity to depression stem from childhood. A shared genetic risk or low self-esteem, which is frequently associated with those who do not conform to the ideal body type, could be responsible," said Deborah Gibson-Smith from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. "Given the rise in adolescents' obesity and greater influence of social media on body image, understanding the associations between childhood obesity and depression is critical," Gibson-Smith added. For the study, presented at the European Congress on Obesity being held in Portugal, the team examined 889 participants, on whether the detrimental effect of obesity on mental health is due to life-long obesity or the result of being overweight in adulthood. Carrying excess weight in childhood was found as a stronger predictor of subsequent depression than being overweight in mid-life. Children who were overweight or obese at age eight or 13 years had more than four-times increased risk of lifetime major depressive disorder compared with children who were normal weight as a child but went on to become overweight as adults. --IANS rt/ksk/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday said he was willing to normalise ties with South Korea following tensions over the installation of a US anti-missile system last month. At a meeting here, Xi highlighted the importance of bilateral ties to the new South Korean Special Envoy for China, Lee Hae-chan, and hoped that Beijing and Seoul can "safeguard the hard won achievements made in the development of bilateral ties". At the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Xi urged both sides "to consolidate the mutual political trust and properly handle divergence on the basis of mutual understanding and mutual respect". Lee, a newly appointed special envoy for South Korean President Moon Jae-in, met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday, and urged Seoul to eliminate any obstacles affecting bilateral ties, particularly the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (Thaad) anti-missile system. Thaad has been put into operation in the South Korean territory in case of a potential attack by North Korea, amid a recent escalation of tensions in the peninsula. China, like Russia, opposes the installation of the system as it fears its sophisticated radars can pick up information from its military bases and offer it to Washington. The installation of the Thaad has resulted in an unofficial boycott of South Korean companies operating in China, including the supermarket chain Lotte, which had provided land in South Korea for the deployment. In addition, there has also been a decline in Chinese sales of South Korean car manufacturers Hyundai and Kia, as well as other protests. --IANS ksk/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress on Friday alleged a major road scam worth thousands of crores of rupees in the proposed 706-km-long Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway, perpetrated at the level of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Mumbai Congress President Sanjay Nirupam said the request for qualification (RFQ) for constructing the expressway -- named 'Maharashtra Samruddhi Corridor' (MSC) -- linking the eastern and western parts of the state, was allegedly altered by Fadnavis at the last minute. He said that when the RFQ was floated in March 2017, around 40 companies/consortiums came in and submitted their bids for the mega-project. "However, three conditions in the RFQ were altered barely 24 hours before the closing time directly by Fadnavis. This intended to remove or disqualify 35 companies from the bidding process. Only five companies that then qualified were finally left in the fray," Nirupam claimed. "These five are the favoured ones, which will be awarded plum contracts worth nearly Rs 27,000 crore of the total project cost of nearly Rs 46,000 crore," he alleged. He added that the associations and representative bodies of construction companies have even shot of complaints to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in this regard. "It's a massive scam and mind you, it has happened at the level of the Chief Minister, none above that and nobody less," Nirupam told media persons, demanding to know why Fadnavis was keeping mum on the important issue. He also said that the expressway was facing huge resistance from the farmers whose 20,000 hectares of lands are being acquired for the project. A few months ago, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), the nodal agency for the project, had invited the RFQs for the project. Of the total estimated cost of the project, the civil works for which the tenders were invited is pegged at around Rs 27,650 crore, the remaining Rs 13,000 crore for land acquisition and land pooling, Rs 2,500 crore for development of nodes and Rs 500 crore for shifting utilities. The MSC is billed as a 'super-communication expressway' connecting Mumbai-Nagpur, zipping through 10 districts, 27 sub-districts and 385 villages to form the East-West Axis for the entire state. Scheduled for completion by 2019, the MSC is expected to slash the current travel time between state capital Mumbai and second capital Nagpur from the existing 16 hours to barely half this time. The districts which will be connected by the MSC include Nagpur, Wardha, Buldhana, Amravati, Akola, Aurangabad, Washim, Nashik, Thane and Mumbai. --IANS qn/vd/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Defending champions Atletico Nacional of Colombia were eliminated from the Copa Libertadores after a 1-0 defeat to Brazil's Botafogo at Rio's Olympic stadium here. Rodrigo Pimpao on Thursday struck in the 51st minute after a defence-splitting pass from Rodrigo Lindoso and the hosts defended resolutely thereafter to secure their third win from five matches, reports Xinhua news agency. Botafogo are now guaranteed a place in the knockout phase while the Medellin-based outfit can now focus on domestic honours, having taken just three points from five matches in the continental tournament. In Thursday's other Group A match, Argentina's Estudiantes de la Plata beat group leaders Barcelona de Guayaquil of Ecuador 3-0, with Facundo Sanchez scoring a brace. --IANS gau/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) PMK founder S. Ramadoss on Friday demanded that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami and other ministers concerned meet information technology (IT) companies' officials in the wake of layoff reports and ensure that no one is retrenched in the state. Referring to the large-scale layoffs reported in many IT companies in Tamil Nadu due to visa restrictions imposed by the United States, Ramadoss claimed US-based Cognizant Technology Solution and India's Infosys, Wipro and other IT firms had decided to lay off several thousand employees in Tamil Nadu alone. In a statement here, Ramadoss said on a complaint by the Forum of IT Employees (FITE) to the Labour Department, a meeting was held between Cognizant management, FITE, and department officials. He said the Cognizant management maintained the employees are quitting on their own. Ramadoss said Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana are also facing a similar problem but the ministers there are discussing the issue with the companies. --IANS vj/tsb/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A court here on Friday convicted former Coal Secretary H.C. Gupta and others in a coal block allocation case involving Kamal Sponge Steel and Power Limited (KSSPL). Central Bureau of Investigation special Judge Bharat Parashar convicted Gupta, two former coal ministry officials K.S. Kropha and K.C. Samria, accused firm KSSPL and its Managing Director Pawan Kumar Ahluwalia, under various charges involving criminal conspiracy and under provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act. The court will deliver order on quantum of sentence on May 22. Chartered Account Amit Goyal, who was also facing trial in the case, was acquitted from all the charges. The court was hearing a case pertaining to alleged irregularities in the allocation of Thesgora-B Rudrapuri coal block in Madhya Pradesh to KSSPL. The CBI had lodged an FIR accusing the company and others of allegedly misrepresenting facts, including inflated net worth, to acquire the coal block. --IANS akk/py/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India's largest public sector lender State Bank of India (SBI), which posted a net profit of Rs 2,815 crore in the last quarter of 2016-17, expects the basic expenses of merger of its associates with it would be behind now, its Chairman Arundhati Bhattacharya said here on Friday. "In respect to merger of associates, we have ensured that we have taken maximum amount of pain so that going forward we can give much better results. "Towards that end, the entire corporate book has been fully aligned...not only that even VRS expenses that come during this quarter to the extent of 75 per cent of estimated expenses, that have already provided for," she said. "Going forward, I do not feel we would require anything more than Rs 100-200 crore in order to take care of these expenses. With that, the basic expenses of merger will be behind us and from the next quarter, we intend to start with a clean slate," she added. Bhattacharya said the lender has just been through a "difficult but satisfying quarter". According to her, the biggest thing that was done just after the quarter was merger of its five associates and Bhartiya Mahila Bank with it. The SBI on Friday reported a 122.72 per cent increase in its net profit to Rs 2,815 crore in the last quarter of 2016-17 as against Rs 1,264 crore in the same period in 2016. Total income in the quarter under review was at Rs 57,720.07 crore, up 7.8 per cent from Rs 53,526.97 crore in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal, it said in a regulatory filing. Net interest income rose by 17.33 per cent to Rs 18,071 crore in the last quarter from Rs 15,401 crore in the corresponding period of previous fiscal, while operating profit increased by 12.93 per cent to Rs 16,026 crore from Rs 14,192 crore in corresponding period of previous fiscal. Deposits of the bank increased to Rs 20,44,751 crore as on March 17, up by 18.14 per cent over last year's Rs 17,30,722 crore, it said in a statement. Gross advances increased by 7.8 per cent from Rs 15,09,500 crore as on March 16 last year to Rs 16,27,273 crore as on March 17 this year. Large corporate advances rose 3.59 per cent from Rs 3,30,136 crore as in March of previous fiscal to Rs 3,41,990 crore as in last March. SBI also said its gross non-performing assets (NPAs) increased to Rs 1,12,343 crore as on March 31, from Rs 98,113 crore in last year, while gross NPA ratio stood at 6.9 per cent in March 2017. On NPA assets, Bhattacharya said the NCLT is open to the bank. "The entire operation in NCLT is now begening to gather more pace. Either through NCLT or RBI route, we will find some way in order to take these accounts forward and resolve them," she said. On the bank's exposure in the sectors which have been flat, she said: "I will not say we stop exposure all together. If the sector is weak, definitely this is something we will do after looking large number of times and to the extent possible, we will not be taking exposure of those sector." Adding that slippages are slowing down, she said the lender refreshed the watch list this year as compared to last year's list. "Out of around Rs 32,000 crore of watch list that we have given, Rs 9,800 crore pertains to associate banks." The SBI has reduced loan loss provisions by 9.44 per cent to Rs 10,993 crore in the quarter as compared to Rs 12,139 crore in the same period last year. Bhattacharya said in the current fiscal, credit costs are not about to come down but in 2018-19, they should definitely be much better. Return on assets declined by five basis points to 0.41 per cent in March 2017, from 0.46 per cent last year. --IANS bdc/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The winning candidates with criminal and serious criminal cases pending against them polled a higher vote share (44 per cent) compared with candidates with a clean record (43 per cent) in the recent assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. The surprising revelation has been made by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) on Friday in a report analysing the vote share and representativeness of elected candidates in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand assembly polls held in February-March this year. In Uttarakhand, however, candidates with clean record won with a marginally higher vote share (48 per cent) compared with those with criminal record (47 per cent). In both the states, the maximum number of all candidates won with a vote share between 41 per cent to 50 per cent. In a positive trend for the Indian democracy, the ADR report said in both the states, the vote share of the winning candidates also significantly increased compared with 2012 assembly elections. "The winners of the 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections won by an average of 43 per cent of total votes polled. In 2012 elections, winners won by an average of 35 per cent of total votes polled," the report noted. It added that similarly, the vote share of winning candidates in Uttarakhand also increased from 39 per cent in 2012 to 47 per cent in 2017. In terms of representativeness of the elected candidates -- which the ADR defines as the portion of the total electorate that the candidate represents -- the report says that in both the states, it increased by five per cent over 2012. In Uttar Pradesh, the winners on an average represented 26 per cent of the total electorate this year compared with 21 per cent in 2012, ADR said. Similarly in Uttarakhand, the representativeness rose from 26 per cent in 2012 to 31 per cent in 2017. The percentage of representation is calculated by dividing the votes polled for the winner by the electorate, that is the total number of registered voters. --IANS vv/pgh/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Damascus, May 19 (IANS/AKI) At least 82 people, including women and children, have been killed in horrific attacks by Islamic State jihadists in western Syria, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Friday. At least 25 villagers died including five children and four women "in shelling, shooting and executions" on Thursday in the villages of Aqareb al-Safi and al-Mabouja in Homs province, the UK-based monitor said. At least three of the civilians, a man and his two children, were executed with knives in Mabouja, about 15 km from the city of al-Salamiya, according to the monitor. A total of 27 pro-government militiamen and villagers, four Bedouin and 26 IS militants were killed in the violent clashes in Hama's eastern countryside - the worst seen since a similar bloodbath there two years ago, the monitor added. "The death toll is expected to rise because there are some people in a critical condition and others are still missing," said the monitor. IS's Amaq news agency said the militants captured Aqareb al-Safi and Mabouja and claimed 100 Syrian troops and pro-government gunmen were killed in the fighting. Aqareb al-Safi and Mabouja are home to members of several religious minorities, notably Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's Shia Alawite sect, whom IS consider apostates deserving death. IS killed dozens of people and executed 46 civilians including 10 women and children in Mabouja in April 2015, the monitor said. The Sunni extremist group has slaughtered thousands of Shia and other opponents in Syria and Iraq, often boasting about the killings and circulating photos and videos of them online. --IANS/AKI mr/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Japan on Friday approved a bill that will allow Emperor Akihito to hand over the Chrysanthemum throne to his heir, Naruhito. The bill, which will make it possible to circumvent the imperial law that currently prevents the Emperor from abdicating, was approved during a cabinet meeting, Efe news reported. If approved, this will be the first abdication of a Japanese emperor in 200 years, when Emperor Kokaku stepped down in 1817. The law will be sent to parliament later in the day, where the government hopes it will be approved without further obstruction by mid-June. The government believes that the ideal moment for the abdication is in December 2018, when the Emperor turns 85 and completes three decades as head of state. The bill has been designed specifically for Akihito in order to prevent future abdications, given the problems facing the imperial family regarding its succession line. These problems have recently been highlighted when Akihito's granddaughter, Princess Mako, 25, announced three days ago that she plans to marry her college friend, which will result in the princess losing her royal status. In addition to prohibiting abdication, the 1947 imperial law does not recognize the so-called collateral institutional branches, making female members of the royal family lose their royal status when marrying a commoner, which has since substantially reduced the number of members of the Japanese royal family. With Mako leaving the palace, the Japanese royal family, the world's oldest reigning hereditary dynasty, will be left with 18 members. Among those 18, only three, apart from Akihito, are male with access to the throne: Crown Prince Naruhito, 57; his brother Akishino, 51, and his son Hisahito, 10, who is also Princess Mako's younger brother. Although abdication has been common throughout the history of the Chrysanthemum Throne and women were, in the past, eligible for the throne (the last one in the 18th century), the 1947 law allows only men to occupy the throne. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Milan, May 19 (IANS/AKI) A homeless 20-year-old Italian man whose father is Tunisian has been arrested for attempted murder over the stabbing of two soldiers and a policeman at Milan's central station on Thursday. One of the servicemen was released from hospital with a seven-day prognosis after allegedly being stabbed by Tommaso Ben Yousef Ismail Hosni in an attack recorded by video-surveillance cameras at the station. Hosni is being held in Milan's San Vittore Prison pending formal charges. Hosni carried out the attack with two kitchen knives after he was asked to produce ID, Milan Police Commissioner Marcello Cardona told journalists. "He is not psychologically unbalanced," Cardona underlined, adding that Hosni had been living in a car on the outskirts of Milan and had sometimes slept rough at the central station. Hosni was overpowered by security personnel at the central station in "eight seconds" after the "bloody" attack, said Cardona. Hosni said it was too early to say if the attack was terrorism. Milan anti-terrorism prosecutors are probing the attack after it emerged that a Facebook profile registered under Hosni's name contained Islamic State propaganda videos and posts praising the jihadist group. --IANS/AKI mr/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Authorities on Friday placed moderate Hurriyat group chairman under house arrest ahead of separatist called protests here. Separatists have called for post Friday prayer demonstrations in the Kashmir Valley to protest the detention of Dukhtaran-e-Milan chief Asiya Andrabi under the Public Safety Act (PSA). Asiya and her deputy Fahmeeda Sofi were booked under the PSA early this week. They are in a jail in Jammu. A police team arrived at Mirwaiz's Nigeen residence early in the morning and informed him that he could not move out on Friday, sources close to the senior separatist leader said. Senior hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani continues to remain under house arrest inside his uptown Hyderpora residence here. An owner of Brazil-based global meat-packing giant JBS on Friday confessed that the group had paid bribes to Brazilian President Michel Temer since 2010. Joesley Batista made the confession to prosecutors as part of plea-bargain testimony related to the scandal surrounding JBS, which has been investigated for alleged bribes paid to meat inspectors and purportedly irregular loans from state development bank BNDES to its holding company, J&F Investimentos. The documents released by the nation's highest court further ratchet up pressure on Temer, who was rocked earlier this week by allegations he encouraged the payment of hush money to a former top lawmaker -- and potential government witness -- convicted earlier this year of graft, Efe reported. Supreme Court Justice Edson Fachin, who is overseeing cases related to the investigation of a $2 billion bribes-for-inflated-contracts scheme centered on state oil company Petrobras, on Thursday approved an investigation into Temer based on the totality of Batista's confession. The most explosive evidence are audio tapes, which Batista secretly recorded during a meeting with the president in Brasilia in March. On the tapes, the president can be heard apparently recommending that the JBS chairman maintain the flow of money to the former speaker of Brazil's lower house, the imprisoned Eduardo Cunha, to buy his silence. Cunha was convicted in March of offenses that included receiving bribes in connection with a contract Petrobras signed in the African nation of Benin. On the tapes, released to the media, Batista says that he is looking to have his company receive favours from government ministries, that he is in contact with prosecutors who are informing him about investigations and that he is bribing Cunha to keep him from entering into a plea-bargain arrangement. Temer, for his part, either murmurs apparent approval or simply listens without making any comment, behaviour that legal analysts have interpreted as explicit support for the unlawful actions. The tapes have led to calls for Temer's resignation, even from within the ruling coalition his Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB) leads, while the documents released on Friday by the Supreme Court could further damage the already highly unpopular president. Temer could be removed from office by different means, including via an impeachment process or a separate one whereby the lower house votes to put him on trial before the Supreme Court. In one document catalogued as "Attachment 9," Batista said that between 2010 and 2011 he made monthly payments of 100,000 reais ($29,500 at the current exchange rate) in exchange for "favours" from the Agriculture Ministry. He also said he would provide evidence to back up the allegations. The allegations of obstruction of justice against Temer caused Brazil's stock market to tumble on Thursday, with some analysts saying the president's woes would make it difficult to continue his austerity drive, including an overhaul of Brazil's pension system. Temer, who has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and says he can guarantee the tapes provide no proof of guilt, took over the presidency last year when his predecessor, Dilma Rousseff, was forced to step aside and face an impeachment trial for allegedly violating budget laws. Temer had been Rousseff's vice president. Rousseff, whose Workers' Party (PT) had governed Brazil since 2003, was eventually ousted from office last year in what she termed a coup. In the documents released by the Supreme Court, JBS executives also said they paid a total of $80 million to Rousseff and her political mentor and predecessor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The plea-bargain testimony indicates the illegal payments were made to facilitate the company's access to loans from BNDES that date back to 2005. Lula, who already is facing five corruption trials, including ones related to the Petrobras scheme, has denied any wrongdoing and previously said that anyone who attacks the integrity of BNDES has no idea of the seriousness of that institution. --IANS qd/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) North Korea has feted the scientists and technicians behind its latest missile launch with a parade on the streets of Pyongyang, the state news agency reported on Friday. Thousands of citizens gathered on Thursday to cheer on the scientists over the successful launch of Hwasong 12, the medium-range missile fired on Sunday, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. "Streets of the capital city of Pyongyang were full of festive atmosphere to greet the scientists of national defence," it added. Adults, students and children cheered at a convoy of buses carrying the scientists to Mansu Hill, where they offered flowers to the statues of former leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il before being greeted by the vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Ri Man-gon, Efe news reported. North Korea on Sunday launched the Hwasong-12, the projectile that has shown the best performance so far aside from its space rockets, in what the international community suspects to have been a covert missiles test. The missile traveled almost 800 km and may have exceeded 4,000 km if it had been launched at a more perpendicular angle, according to experts. This data underlines the progress made by Pyongyang in its efforts to develop an intercontinental nuclear missile in the future that can reach the US and serve as a deterrent. --IANS ksk/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Put this down to connectivity. After Bangladesh, Odisha's mangoes are soon expected to find a market in Southeast Asia -- thanks to a new flight from Biju Patnaik International Airport here. Malaysian low-cost airline AirAsia started its first international flight from the city airport to Kuala Lumpur on April 26 this year -- and that has prompted the state government to explore the possibility of mango exports to Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries. "We are preparing a feasibility study to export mangoes to Southeast Asia. The Horticulture Department has already approached the Odisha Agricultural Marketing Board (OAMB) and other stakeholders, including some e-marketing agencies," Sankarsan Rout, Assistant Director, Horticulture, told IANS. He said they would help farmers' cooperatives to sell their products to other parts of the country as well as overseas. "The mangoes of Odisha meet all quality parameters for exports. What we need to do is to tap the market. The government is in talks with various stakeholders for exporting the fruit," Barada Prasanna Choudhury, marketing consultant to OAMB, told IANS. To facilitate the global and domestic trading of mangoes, the Horticulture Department has set up Dhenkanal Fruits & Vegetables Marketing Co. Ltd. with processing and packaging facilities. The state government is also likely to rope in online trading platform NCDEX E-Marketing Ltd. (NEML) for marketing the mangoes, sources said. On the home front, north India and Mumbai have long been a destination for Odisha's mangoes. Odisha produces nearly 800,000 tonnes of mangoes every year -- making it the sixth-largest mango-growing state in India, which accounts for over 60 per cent of global production. Of the mangoes produced in Odisha, high-end varieties like Amrapalli, Dussehri, Mallika, Keshari and Langada account for some 40 per cent. Dhenkanal, Angul, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Boudh are the districts where a bulk of the mangoes are grown. The varieties that dominate the Indian market are Baiganpalli, Dussehri, Amrapalli, Kesari Totapuri, Latsundari, Mallika, Subarnarekha, Himasagar, Neelum and Chausa. Mangoes from India are popular in the Middle East, the Far East, the United States and European countries. The export volumes are expected to rise as new countires like South Korea and Iran have allowed the import of Indian mangoes. According to the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), India's mango exports are likely to surpass last year's level and touch the 50,000 tonne mark in the ongoing fiscal, buoyed by strong demand and supply of export- quality fruit. (Chinmaya Dehury can be contacted at chinmaya.d@ians.in) --IANS cd/vm/sac (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Some 30,600 Somalis have returned to their country from Yemen since the beginning of war in Yemen in 2015, the UN refugee agency said on Friday. The UNHCR said increasing numbers of Somalis are approaching the agency for assistance to support their return, citing safety concerns and limited access to services in Yemen, Xinhua news agency reported. "UNHCR is now providing some support to those choosing to return on their own," a UN agency statement said. "In 2017, UNHCR is able to assist up to 10,000 Somali refugees who have made the choice to return, based on the information received at Return Help Desks on conditions in Somalia and the assistance package that is being offered both in Yemen and Somalia," it said. Yemen has been both a destination and a transit hub for refugees and migrants from the Horn of Africa and beyond. The overwhelming majority of refugees in Yemen, 91 per cent or some 255,000, are Somali refugees. The UNHCR said its humanitarian operations in Yemen will continue to provide support to refugees who remain in Yemen. It said most Somali refugees registered in Yemen originate from Banadir, Lower Shabelle, Bay, Middle Shabelle and Woqooyi Galbeed regions. In Yemen, most reside in Aden, Sana'a and Lahj governorates, the latter of which is where Yemen's only refugee camp, the Kharaz refugee camp, is located. The UNHCR said most refugees opt to return to Mogadishu, in the anticipation that assistance and services will be more accessible and available. --IANS py/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan will get a new team of lawyers to put forward its case vigorously in the International Court of Justice against letting off alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, media reports quoted a top official as saying. Pakistan's Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz told the media that Pakistan's counsel had courageously presented their stance in the ICJ, which stayed the execution of Jadhav - in a let-down for Islamabad. According to Radio Pakistan, Aziz maintained that the ICJ did not order Pakistan to provide consular access to Jadhav, but has merely put forward an opinion. Jadhav was sentenced to death by a military court here on charges of espionage and terrorism. Aziz said a decision to provide consular access to Jadhav is yet to be made. "Pakistan's security is so important and we have to maintain our fundamental sovereign right," he said. Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told Pakistan Today that the issue of Jadhav concerns the nation's security and there will be no compromise on it. The minister said the "Indian spy" was convicted after fulfilling all necessary legal procedures and any decision on the matter will be taken keeping in view national security. "ICJ has only granted formal stay on the death sentence of Jadhav," he maintained. --IANS py/rn (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The AIADMK faction led by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister on Friday ruled out talks with the rival faction headed by Chief Minister Edappadi Palanisamy on a merger unless it declares Sasikala and her family members are formally expelled from the party. The group also kept its cards close to its chest on which party or candidate it would support in the Presidential election slated in July. "Our group has launched a dharma yudh for upholding the principles laid down by the late MGR and Jayalalithaa that the party should not go into the hands of any family, least of all into the hands of Sasikala and T T V Dinakaran. Even now the official party organ 'Namadhu MGR' carries statements in the name of Deputy General Secretary T T V Dinakaran. "How can we take a decision to enter into talks with them (the faction headed by Chief Minister Edappadi Palanisamy) in such circumstances," Panneerselvam told a press conference after meeting the Election Commission. The day the rival faction led by the Chief Minister declares that they have thrown out Sasikala and Dinakaran there will be smooth resumption of merger talks, he said. To a question on who was the stumbling block in the merger talks, Panneerselvam said the media understood all the issues and why the merger process was "slow". "People know who are the stumbling block. We have taken a decision that we will stick to the basics of the principles laid down by MGR and Jayalalithaa and keep family rule out," he said. In reply to another question on whose hands were dominating the rival faction , K Munuswamy, a senior leader of his faction and a former minister, said even now the party was being run by Diwakar, another relative of Sasikala. "Benami hands are still dominating the party. They (chief minister's side) has still not expelled them (Sasikala and Dinakaran). Only middle rung leaders are saying this. We have two demands -- a CBI probe into the death of Jayalalithaa and expulsion of Sasikala and Dinakaran. Once that is done, it is very easy to resume merger talks." He said the people and AIADMK cardre are with his faction and this will be proved by the people in times to come. It was already visible during the recently-countermanded by- election to R K Nagar constituency in Chennai. The former chief minister was replying to a question on renewed efforts of DMK working President M K Stalin, who has launched a campaign to reconnect with people, which is seen as a bid to come back to power. A delegation headed by Panneerselvam met the Election Commission on Friday and submitted further documents to substantiate its case for allocation of the frozen 'Two Leaves' symbol to his faction. It gave a 170-page memorandum to the Commission to declare as "illegal" the nomination of Sasikala as General Secretary after the death of Jayalalithaa. It referred to the Election Commission website not containing any name for the post of General Secretary for AIADMK and said it should make a de jure declaration to that effect. He later said that the Commission should take an early decision on the issue as still on the Commission's website the post of General Secretary remained vacant as it has not upheld the appointment of Sasikala, Jaya's close aide, as General Secretary after Jayalalithaa's death. Panneerselvam said the Commission should also intervene and freeze the powers of 'Treasurer' Dindugal Srinivsan, who has withdrawn crores of rupees from the party funds. Former Chief Minister Srinivasan's appointment as Treasurer by Sasikala was also illegal. He maintained that as he (Panneerselvam) was the Treasurer appointed by Jayalalithaa, he has written to the banks to freeze the funds but they have not done so in violation of party rules. It is for the EC and the RBI to intervene and see that continued withdrawal of party funds by Srinivasan is not allowed, he said. Panneerselvam said as per the party constitution he should have been allowed to run the party after the demise of Jayalalithaa as per standard practice laid down by Jayalalithaa whenever extraordinary occasions arose. During such occasions, Jayalalithaa used to nominate the Presidium Chairman and Treasurer to run the party and by that practice he should have been allowed to run the party. "But Sasikala was nominated General Secretary in violation of party constitution which says that the post can be filled up only through election. She has no right to continue in the post," he said. Asked about the group's strategy in the presidential election, Panneerselvam said the election has not been announced nor has any candidate or party made any declaration. Once that is done, the party leadership will meet and take a decision, he added. Political parties in Tamil Nadu on Friday generally welcomed actor Rajinikanth's hints that he may join at an appropriate time but cautioned him that it may not be all that easy in public life. The parties felt that in a democracy anybody has the right to enter public life but added that only when he (Rajinikanth) takes the step he will know how difficult it is to survive in . Former Chief Minister and leader of an AIADMK faction, O. Panneerselvam said Rajinikanth is a good leader and anybody can come into but their acceptability has to be decided by the people who are the ultimate judges. He said said that even if he (Rajinikanth) chooses to enter politics there will be no impact on the AIADMK and for that matter nobody can affect the AIADMK. His faction's leader and a former minister K.P Munuswamy said it was natural for Rajinikanth to talk about politics because there was currently a vacuum caused by the death of Jayalalithaa and ill health of Karunanidhi. "Only when he enters politics he will know the gruelling life of a politician and how much accountable they are in public life and how difficult to be in public life," he told reporters with O. Panneerselvam by his side. PMK leader and former union minister Anbumani Ramadoss said that what Tamil Nadu needs is not an actor but a good administrator. He said that Tamil Nadu has been ruined by actors like MGR and Jayalalithaa, and nowhere in the world have actors ruled a state for more than 40-50 years. Seeman, leader of Naam Thamizhar party, said that while he respected Rajinikanth as an actor who had taken to Tamil cinema having come from outside but the state does not need an 'outsider' as Chief Minister. Seeman and DMK leader M.K Stalin, about whom Rajinikanth made complimentary references in his speech on Friday, thanked Rajinikanth and expressed their happiness. --IANS rup-vsc/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Australian minister on Friday launched an urgent probe to determine how an alien enthusiast group received thousands of dollars in taxpayers' funds. Social Services Minister Christian Porter said he was unaware his department had approved nearly 6,000 Australian dollars ($4,500) worth of grants for the Tuggerah Lakes UFO Group on the New South Wales central coast since 2013, the Australian Broadcasting Corp reported. The funding was first provided by the opposition Labour government to assist with the cost of transporting volunteers with a disability. "I'm sure they're very nice people and there are lots of volunteers who are getting something out of it, but looking at it from my perspective, representing taxpayers, it didn't seem to pass a common sense test," said Porter, an avid sci-fi fan. "I asked the department to hold the transmission of funds until they could give me a little more detail around what the group does." Porter said he would not be swayed by suggestions the Central Coast region was a hot spot for UFO sightings, the ABC said. Official records show the department approved 2,645 Australian dollars for the UFO group in this year's volunteer grant programme. The group received 2,994 Australian dollars in 2013. The Tuggerah Lakes UFO Group has 822 members on Facebook and was created to "share news, information, support friends and network in UFO matters as well as related topics". --IANS ksk/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Paris Saint-Germain defender Thomas Meunier underwent a successful arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle in Qatar, the club said. The Doctor Pieter D'Hooghe from PSG's medical partner Aspetar Hospital completed the surgery on Meunier's left ankle, reports Xinhua news agency. "The club wishes its Belgium international left back a speedy recovery and looks forward to having back in top form for the upcoming challenges next season," the club on Thursday. Meunier is expected to return to France early next week and be sidelined for six to eight weeks, ruling him out from this weekend's last Ligue 1 matchup against Caen and French Cup final against Angers on May 27. Meunier, who joined PSG in 2016, made 36 appearances and scored two goals this season. --IANS gau/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Double Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman and actress Shruti Haasan are thrilled to have made their maiden appearance at the 70th edition of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Both are representing their upcoming trilingual historic drama "Sanghamitra", a story set in the eight century AD. On Thursday, the first look posters of the film were launched in Cannes. The project sees Rahman team up with director Sundar C for the first time. "This is my first time at Cannes. I'm so overwhelmed to be surrounded by wonderful people," Rahman told IANS on the phone from Cannes. "It's a very ambitious film. Six months back when I heard just 30 minutes of the narration, it was good enough for me to come on board," he said about the rumoured Rs 150 crore project. Rahman added "Sanghamitra" not only has great story but "Sundar has good vision for music too". "Nothing as compelling as 'Sanghamitra' came my way in recent times. The project is in rights hands," he said, heaping praise on the makers - Sri Thenandal Studios. The film features Shruti in the role of a fierce warrior. Talking about being in Cannes for the first time, Shruti told IANS on the phone: "The atmosphere is lovely and there's so much of excitement around that you get sucked in. It feels special to be in this place at the beginning of my career." Has being at Cannes made her happy? "I'm usually happy around people. I'm a nomad and I find happiness irrespective of the place I'm in," she said. In preparation for her role, Shruti has been training in sword fighting in London over the last few weeks. "It's going to be a physically taxing role. I'm getting myself ready not just physically but also mentally. Being fit also means building stamina and that's precisely what I'm trying to achieve," she said, expressing absolute joy over being part of this project. Talking about her character, she said: "It's not a straight-forward role where I follow the instructions of my director and act. The character is layered and I have been waiting for a long time to essay such a role." On joining hands with Sundar C, she said it's going to be "one epic combination". "As a director, he is someone who understands the audience's pulse like nobody. This time with an epic subject in hand, we can only imagine the magic he can weave," she said. The project is slated to roll from August. It also stars Jayam Ravi and Arya. (Haricharan Pudipeddi can be contacted at haricharan.p@ians.in) --IANS hp/nn/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a development especially relevant to India and Bangladesh, an international team of researchers has designed a nanomaterial that can be used to make "markedly more effective" catalytic converters for vehicles that could reduce car exhaust pollution. Researchers at the University of Wollongong (UOW), in Australia, working with colleagues in Japan, Turkey, Bangladesh and at the Australian Nuclear Science Technology Organisation (ANSTO) have created a material that improves catalytic converter efficiency by "three to four times". Catalytic converters reduce the pollution from vehicle exhaust by converting toxic gases and pollutants to less toxic pollutants. Among the pollutants, sulphur oxides and nitrogen oxides (NOX), badly impact photosynthesis of plants, damage immune system and generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the cells of affected organisms. In a paper published in Nature Communications, the research team described how they created porous rhodium on a nanoscale. Rhodium is a chemical element commonly used in catalytic converters to reduce nitrogen oxides in exhaust gases. Making it porous increases its surface area, thereby making it more effective. Lead author of the paper, Professor Yusuke Yamauchi from the Australian Institute for Innovative Materials (AIIM) at UOW said the porous rhodium nanoparticles could make a dramatic improvement to air pollution in cities around the world. "At the moment, the conversion rate of our catalyst is three to four times that of a normal catalyst, the efficiency increase is three to four times," Yamauchi said. Co-author Md. Shahriar Hossain, also from AIIM, said the new material could already be used to replace conventional catalytic converters, but the team was looking to develop it further to make it more efficient at converting other pollutants in addition to NOX. "At this moment, with the conventional catalytic converter, we can simply replace it without any problem. You can just open the existing filters and put it in plug and play," Hossain said. Hossain said he believed the technology could play a big role in reducing air pollution around the world, but saw it as being of particular benefit in South Asia and other parts of the developing world. "In the West, people will be moving more and more to electric vehicles so there won't be the same problem. But in Bangladesh, in India and elsewhere in South Asia -- where already there are enormous problems with smog and air pollution from car exhausts -- petrol and diesel engines will continue to dominate for the next 50 or 60 years. This catalytic converter could really solve a lot of problems in that part of the world and we have recently started the collaboration with Bangladeshi researchers," he said. The team is collaborating with researchers in Bangladesh to test this technology there in the agriculture sector. "The problem is that while the NOX is converted to oxygen and nitrogen, the conversion also releases the carbon dioxide, which is very bad, so we also want to stop that. We think we can make a hybrid system that can decompose both NOX, SOX (sulphur oxide) and carbon dioxide, so that is the aim," Hossain explained. Yamauchi said that because rhodium, a rare metal, is expensive, the team was also looking at testing different alloys to see if they could be of similar efficiency as converters. "Iron and copper are very cheap materials so we will test some rhodium-copper and rhodium iron alloys -- if we can get the same efficiency with an alloy and at the same time lower the cost of the material then I think it will be more widely adopted," he said. Co-author Tofazzal Islam, a plant biotechnologist, said this nanotech research breakthrough significantly reduces environmental pollution and indirectly improves the productivity of crops and other agricultural produces. "This discovery highly benefit the developing countries like Bangladesh for maintaining higher agricultural productivity which is essential for ensuring food and nutritional security of this highly populated country," said Islam, Head of the Department of Biotechnology at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University. The study was partly supported by an Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellow, the UOW-ANSTO 2016 grant, and the AIIM-MANA 2016 grant. World Bank provided partial funding of this work through a sub-project of Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project (HEQEP). Other co-authors are Bo Jiang, Cuiling Li, Omer Dag, Hideki Abe, Toshiaki Takei, Tsubasa Imai, Kathleen Wood and Joel Henzie. --IANS sgh/vgu/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Swedish prosecutor's office announced on Friday that an investigation against Wikileaks founder Julian Assange for alleged rape has been closed. Chief Prosecutor Marianne Ny filed a request to the Stockholm District Court to revoke his arrest warrant, apparently ending a seven-year stand-off, the BBC reported. A brief statement ahead of a press conference by the prosecutor later on Friday said: "Director of Public Prosecution, Marianne Ny, has today decided to discontinue the investigation regarding suspected rape (lesser degree) by Julian Assange." Australian national, Assange, 45, has lived in the Ecuadoran embassy in London since 2012, trying to avoid extradition. He feared being extradited to the US if sent to Sweden. He could face trial in the US over leaking hundreds of thousands of secret US military and diplomatic documents. Assange has always denied the rape allegations against him and was interviewed in the embassy in London six months ago in the presence of Swedish officials, reports the BBC. After the news was announced, Wikileaks tweeted that the "focus now moves to the UK", saying the UK had "refused to confirm or deny whether it has already received a US extradition warrant for Julian Assange". Also after the announcement, an image of Assange smiling was posted to his Twitter account. --IANS ksk/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Istanbul, May 19 (IANS/AKI) Police on Friday detained 17 suspected members of the Islamic State jihadist group in anti-terror raids across Istanbul, state-run Anadolu Agency reported. Twelve of the suspects were foreigners and were about to travel to Syria and Iraq to join IS, Anadolu said, citing police. The suspects included two minors. Police also seized digital material and documents during the raids, which followed a probe in which investigators had put the suspects under surveillance, Anadolu said. Friday's raids were carried out in Istanbul's Silivri, Maltepe, Bagcilar and Gungoren districts, said Anadolu. The operation came after police detained 12 IS suspects, including eight foreign nationals, at several addresses in Turkey's southern Adana province on May 5. Two of the suspects held that day were Iraqi nationals, five were Syrians and five were Turkish citizens. --IANS/AKI mr/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) JKLF leader Yaseen Malik on Friday told police that a lady TV reporter barged into his bedroom and later accused him of "manhandling her". Addressing the here, Malik said the journalist -- whom he did not name -- had not sought an appointment to interview him. He alleged that she lied to his sister that she had an appointment for an interview with him. "She suddenly barged into my bedroom when I was asleep and starting shooting and recording on her mobile phone," the leader of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front said. "This shocked me. I objected to her behaviour. I snatched her mobile phone and asked her to leave my bedroom. She then started crying and alleging that I had manhandled her." Malik said: "I am asking the fraternity whether this is the right way of interviewing a person?" He said he had filed a complaint of criminal and malicious trespass against the journalist. --IANS sq/mr/py (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As the US constitution was being drafted in utmost secrecy in 1787, an anxious citizen asked Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers, "Well, doctor, what have we got a republic or a monarchy?" Without the slightest hesitation, Franklin responded, "A republic, if you can keep it." Franklin's words seem eerily prescient, if one considers that the Latin words from which the word "republic" is derived res publica means a form of government where the country is considered a public matter, not the private concern or property of the rulers. More than two centuries after Franklin's warning, Americans, blinded by hyper-nationalism, fear, suspicion and xenophobia, handed over the reins of government to an elected despot. The transformation of the nation's highest public office into a personal fiefdom was not long in coming. Since assuming the presidency, has relentlessly expanded his business interests and promoted his family and friends, without even the courtesy of a camouflage. Even as he was tightening immigration laws including the H1 work visa, the controversial visa EB-5, was being offered to wealthy Chinese families who invested $500,000 in a business owned by Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Jared, 36, who is married to President Trump's daughter Ivanka, has no prior government experience, but has already accumulated a dizzying range of portfolios under his father-in-law. The satirical magazine, The Onion, recently ran the headline, "Jared Kushner Quietly Transfers 'Solve Middle East Crisis' To Next Week's To-Do List." In an interview in February, President Trump called China the "grand champion" of currency manipulation. After a meeting with Chinese Prime Minister Xi Jinping at his resort in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump appears to have a more benign view of the Chinese. Even if the volte- face was abrupt, it was entirely expected. In a meeting marked more by bonhomie than wariness between two long-time rivals, Trump affirmed the "one China" policy recognising Beijing as the only official government of China, with the assurance that the US will not establish formal relations with Taiwan. China promptly awarded Trump a trademark with the added assurance that several pending trademark applications would be favourably considered. The Trump administration's links with Russia has led to another scandal. Media reports assert that, according to sacked FBI Director James Comey's private notes, Trump had pressured him to drop the investigation into then National Security Advisor Michael Flynn's links with Russia. The issue is likely to snowball with legal scholars echoing the belief that this may constitute obstruction of justice by the President, an impeachable offense. Obstruction of justice was one of the charges in President Bill Clinton's 1998 impeachment. Challenges to Trump's travel ban on visitors from predominantly Muslim countries are winding their way through American courts. In the Trump administration, the judiciary appears to be the only branch acting as a check on the executive and legislature till now. The administration has made a mockery of trias politica, the constitutional separation of powers, ascribed to the French philosopher Baron de Montesquieu, and one of the core principles of the US Constitution. In 2012, three years before Trump announced his candidacy for American President, retired US Supreme Court Justice David Souter was asked what he considered to be the greatest threat to the US. "I don't worry about our losing republican government in the United States because I'm afraid of a foreign invasion," he said, "What I worry about is when the problems get bad enough, as they might do, for example, with another serious terrorist attack, as they might do with another financial meltdown, some one person will come forward and say, 'Give me total power and I will solve this problem. "That is the way democracy dies. And if something is not done to improve the level of civic knowledge, that is what you should worry about at night." The middle class, ravaged by technology-induced changes to the job landscape, reposed blind trust in Trump, overlooking his dubious record as a businessman and expansive campaign promises bereft of policy details. Now barely four months into the new presidency, Trump's virtual reality seems to have collided with ground reality. Faced with the real possibility of losing their health coverage, town hall meetings of Congressmen in Trump strongholds have angry constituents shouting down their representatives. At one such meeting in Iowa, Republican Senator Rod Blum was hissed, booed and rebuked for lying and asked, "Why should we trust you?" Trump's campaign slogan of "Make America Great" may well come to be parodied as "Make America Mocked". Late night talk shows have never had such unending fodder. The staff of The Onion complain that they are creatively bankrupt since Trump is such an effective caricature of himself. The French newspaper Liberation had a photograph of a bewildered Trump next to the headline, "America needs a babysitter". With almost hour-by-hour scandals, a frustrated White House staffer told The Daily Beast that he felt like running down the hallway with a fire extinguisher. After Brexit, it is now Trexit. With a special counsel in place to investigate the Trump campaign's links with Russia, gamblers on both sides of the Atlantic are placing wagers on the President's exit. The political stock market PredictIt has seen a record volume of bets on whether Trump will be impeached. Reacting to Comey's firing and subsequent events, Indian American prosecutor Preet Bharara tweeted the dictionary meaning of "backfired": An attempt to fix something in which the fixing actually makes the situation worse for you. Bharara, who was the US attorney for the southern district of New York, was fired by Trump, along with the Indian American Surgeon General of the US, Vivek Murthy. With Trump's many self-inflicted wounds, Republicans, impaired so far by cowardice and opportunism, may find their instinct for survival awakening. A few have publicly admitted to an attack of conscience. Despite Trump's propensity to shoot from the hip at his own foot he still has a significant number of supporters among Americans. (Ashok Easwaran, a Chicago-based senior journalist, has reported from North America for over two decades. Views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at ashok3185@yahoo.com) A US court sentenced two men to three years in prison for severely beating a Sikh man in California and cutting off his hair. Chase B. Little and Colton T. Leblanc, both of Texas, pleaded no contest to felony assault and committing a hate crime against Maan Singh Khalsa during last year's September 25 attack, the New York Times reported on Thursday. "Both men went out of their way to cut Khalsa's hair, which he maintained unshorn as part of his Sikh faith, 'making this so clearly a hate crime'," said Prosecutor Simon O'Connell of the Contra Costa County District Attorney's office. Khalsa, 42, appeared before Judge Patricia Scanlon during the hearing in Martinez, California, on Thursday and recalled details of the frightening attack. "Cutting a Sikh's hair is one of the most humiliating things anyone can do to a Sikh. The attackers did not just attack my body, they attacked my dignity, my spirit, my faith, my religion and my entire community," Khalsa said. Authorities said Khalsa was driving home on the night of the attack and stopped at a red light in Richmond, near Berkeley, when a car, occupied by five people, pulled up next to him. As beer cans were thrown at Khalsa, a motorist nearby called 911. When the light turned green, Khalsa drove off and called 911 as the truck followed him. While he stopped at another red light, two men got out of the truck, ran up to Khalsa's car and repeatedly punched his face and yelled profanities. "My attackers hit me with their fists, knocked off my turban, and yelled, 'Cut his...hair'," Khalsa said in a statement. "They yanked my hair through the window and used a knife to saw parts of it." He also sustained a black eye, tooth damage and knife wounds. Part of his little finger was later amputated because of an infection from one of the wounds, the daily reported. Khalsa, an IT specialist at the Social Security Administration, said he emigrated from India in 2003 and always considered himself an American "like everyone else." "I had never worried about being a victim of prejudice," Khalsa said. The finding that the attack was a hate crime was crucial in this case, Prosecutor O'Connell said on Thursday. "That really sent a message to the community to say that this sort of crime won't be tolerated and will be taken seriously," he said. O'Connell said Little and Leblanc had no affiliation with hate groups and had no remorse to their prison sentences. --IANS soni/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US Navy is moving a second aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan, to the Korean Peninsula where it will conduct dual-carrier training drills with the USS Carl Vinson, defence officials said. After completing a maintenance period and sea trials in Yokosuka, Japan, the USS Ronald Reagan departed for the Korean Peninsula on Tuesday, the officials told CNN on Thursday. "Coming out of a long in-port maintenance period we have to ensure that Ronald Reagan and the remainder of the strike group are integrated properly as we move forward," Rear Admiral Charles Williams said in a statement. Once it arrives in the region, the carrier will conduct a variety of training exercises but primarily focus on certifying its ability to safely launch and recover aircraft. The 1,092-foot Reagan carries a crew of 4,539 and is equipped with roughly 60 aircraft, according to the Navy. It was commissioned in 2003 and cost about $8.5 billion. The USS Carl Vinson arrived at the Korean Peninsula late April as a show of force in advance of a long-anticipated sixth nuclear test from the North Korean government, reports CNN. On Sunday, Pyongyang launched a KN-17 missile that achieved an altitude of more than 1,000 miles, which according to the North Koreans, is by far their longest reach yet in their missile test programme. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As Trinamool Congress MP Sudip Bandopadhyay was granted bail on Friday by the Orissa High Court, party supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hoped he would recover his health on his return to the city. "He was very ill... I had seen him. He was facing difficult circumstances. He had lost around 25-30 kg weight. I don't know how he is at the moment. I want him to take rest on his return and take care of his health," Banerjee told the media here at the end of an extended core committee meeting. The Chief Minister said spending four and a half months in custody had taken a toll on Bandopadhyay's health. Bandopadhyay was granted bail by the Orissa High Court after his arrest in connection with the Rose Valley chit fund scam. Nayana, Sudip's wife, refused to comment. "I am relieved but concerned as he is very ill. I will not say anything as I have not been permitted to give any reaction on this. Regarding Sudip, I will talk to the leaders and follow what they say," Nayana said. West Bengal Consumer Affairs Minister Sadhan Pandey said the bail should have been granted earlier. "I am happy because he is not in good health. He should have gotten it earlier," he said. The High Court in Cuttack granted bail to the ailing leader on health grounds but asked him to furnish a bond or Rs 25 lakh. Bandopadhyay was also ordered to deposit his passport with the officer probing the scam. Bandopadhyay, a four-time Lok Sabha member and Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare in former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's cabinet between 2011 and 2012, was under arrest since January 3, when he was taken into custody by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for his alleged links with the Rose Valley scam. --IANS sgh/ssp/pgh/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor Tiger Shroff that he may not be able to do justice to his father's biopic but he would love to reprise role of Jackie Shroff from "Parinda". During a media interaction on Thursday, When Tiger was asked whether he would like do biopic of his father or recreate any of his role, he replied: "I will not feature in my father's biopic because I feel, I will not be able to do justice to it "But I would love to recreate my father's role from 'Parinda' because it is my favorite film and my father won his first ever Filmfare best actor award for this film." Tiger finds the character of his father in "Parinda" very mature. "It was subdued and subtle character yet it was very powerful performance given by my father. I would like to blend those things and more than that the story of the film was beautiful showing brothers relationship," said the actor during the inauguration of new branded clothing store of Lifestlyle in Mumbai. Tiger has become the brand ambassador of Forca by Lifestyle. "Parinda" is Vidhu Vinod Chopra's cult classic film starring Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Madhuri Dixit and Nana Patekar. The actor is gearing up for his next film "Munna Michael" along with Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Nidhi Agarwal. Directed by Sabbir Khan, it will release on July 21. --IANS iv/nv/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A few years ago, an Indian Statistical Institute professor had come up with an interesting analysis of the Bengali language: The word used the most is naa (no, negative). West Bengals bestselling political brand, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, is one who could be using this word the most in the next few weeks, as the selection of an Opposition candidate for the election to the President of India is finalised. After more than 40 years of living in the same house in a south Delhi neighbourhood, I recently moved to a temporary flat a few blocks away. Close by the old house stands a magnificent 16th century Lodi dynasty mosque, badly neglected by the Archaeological Survey; next to it a large municipal school. Both are plagued by a humongous garbage dump that also services the colony next door where, ironically, reside some of the countrys most influential legal luminaries. Years of protests have failed in regular clearance of mountains of refuse where cows and other strays forage freely. It is a fearful health hazard for hundreds of schoolchildren who cross it daily. The garbage dump near my new home is smaller but ruled by street dogs so vicious that they hunt and howl like packs of wolves all night. They put the fear of God in thieves and homeowners alike. Under fire from multiple quarters over the deteriortating law and order condition in Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi Adityanath govt recieved a breather in the state legislative assembly as the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) tabled a report indicting the Samajwadi Party for financial irregularities. Fifteen Tamil Nadu farmers, who were part of a group which had protested at Jantar Mantar for 40 days using novel and shocking ways, will return to Delhi on Sunday and meet with farmers' unions, following which they will decide their future course of action. The group of hardy farmers from the southern state had caught the attention of the nation with bizarre forms of protests to highlight their grievances, ranging from debt to drought and suicides to scarcity. They had called off their protest temporarily nearly a month back after assurances from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami. "No solutions have been offered for our problems despite us giving a timeline. We will meet the heads of farmers' unions of all states on May 21 in Delhi and decide whether we should resort to protests at Jantar Mantar or form a national-level alliance to elevate the issue," farmer leader Ayyakkannu told PTI. After the meeting in the national capital, the farmers will return to Tamil Nadu to meet Chief Minister Palaniswami on Tuesday. In the event the discussions with Palaniswami do not go as per their expectations, a section of farmers will begin their agitation in Tamil Nadu and another team would simultaneously work from Delhi as per the outcome of the meeting with farmers' unions, Ayyakkannu said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Four Manipur police commandos were injured, two of them critically, in an IED blast triggered by militants in the state's Chandel district today. The blast occurred at around 12.45 pm on Imphal-Moreh road, some 10 kms from the border town of Moreh, when a police convoy was heading towards Imphal through Kwatha Khunou Lamkhai area in the hill district, police said. Following the blast, police reinforcements have been rushed to the spot, a senior police officer said. The seriously injured personnel were airlifted to Imphal in an IAF chopper for treatment, he said. This is the second attack carried out by militants on security personnel this month. On May 9, two personnel of the Territorial Army (TA) were killed in an IED blast carried out by militants when a TA team were on road opening duty at Lokchao in Tengnoupal district. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Additional Director General of Police R K Mallick today held a meeting with senior police officials of East Singhbhum district in view of the lynching of three persons in the district yesterday. ADGP (Operations) R K Mallick, Inspector General (STF) R K Dhan and DIG (Kolhan) Prabhat Kumar held a meeting with the Deputy Commissioner of East Singhbhum district Amit Kumar and other senior officials to review the situation. The meeting was held after three persons were lynched by villagers on suspicion of being child lifters at Nagadih under Bagbera police station area yesterday night, an official release here said. The deputy commissioner said miscreants were spreading rumours about child lifting through the social media for the last few days. Kumar said the administration was keeping a vigil on the mischief mongers and assured stringent action against them. He said no complaints were registered with the police regarding child lifting and directed the officials to spread awareness among people. He also asked people to ignore such canard and maintain peace. The deputy commissioner also directed all block development officers and circle officers to be present at rural pockets and keep vigil on mischief mongers. He asked all the officials to convene gram sabhas in order to make village chiefs aware of the problem and convince villagers to inform the police whenever they detect any suspicious activities. Apart from Nagadih incident here, four persons were lynched for similar reasons in Shobhapur and Sosomouli village under Rajnagar police station area in adjoining Seraikela-Kharswan district on Thursday last. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Flights from Sahnewal airport here under the regional connectivity scheme will start from the next month, local MP Ravneet Singh Bittu said today. He said that the Punjab government will help the airlines under the scheme, also known as Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN). "The state government and the Centre will provide financial aid to the airlines if they suffer loss," the parliamentarian said. Industrial potential of Ludhiana has suffered due to lack of regular air connectivity, he said. "Despite structural bottleneck of short length of the air strip, the scheme will ensure regular and reliable air connectivity," he said. Increasing the length of the air strip is also being considered to help make optimal use of the Ludhiana airport, he said. The Ludhiana airport will first handle flights to Delhi and thereafter to Mumbai and other important cities, he said. Alliance Air would start flights to Ludhiana from June and Deccan Charters will also launch service in August, he said. Ever since the launch of the UDAN scheme, that seeks to make flying more affordable, Ludhiana being one of the top industrial destination remained under-utilised despite having aviation infrastructure at Sahnewal airport, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Appropriate action is being taken into the allegations of encroachment of waqf and government property against former minister Azam Khan, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has informed Governor Ram Naik. Adityanath has written a letter to the Governor in response to his letter sent on April 26 with regard to the allegations made by Congress leader of Rampur Faisal Khan Lala. "We have received your letter regarding the charges of encroachment of waqf and government property and misuse of governmnent funds by former minister Azam Khan and the departments concerned are taking appropriate action in this connection," the chief minister wrote. Lala had, in a two-page letter to the governor, levelled 14 allegations including one that Khan illegally displaced innocent people to encroach land in the name of Jauhar university in Rampur. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress today termed as "extremely serious" the allegations that Hurriyat leaders received funds from across the border and called for strong action as it involves national security. AICC spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi also hit out at the central and the Jammu and Kashmir governments saying there has never been such a rapid, accelerated and tragic decline in governance in the state as has been in the last 36 months. "It is extremely serious. It is gross, brazen and blatant and deserves the strongest action in the shortest possible time and in the most effective manner. This undermines national security directly and completely," he said. The Congress leader, however, trained his guns on the BJP saying its leaders are preaching on Kashmir even when they have been in power both at the Centre and the state, and alleged that there has been lack of governance in the state under them. "What we are seeing everyday is homilies, preachings, lectures, sermons being given by none less than high government functionaries to which the entire country, in a bemused, amused manner asks itself and the nation asks that whom are you giving lectures to," he said. "Be it casualties, violence, lack of governance, lack of decision making, lack of co-ordination, security scenario different departments and ministers pulling in directions, no consistency of policy etc. Etc. In 36 months we have seen the most rapid decline," he said. Singh said the Congress has also been in power for 10 years in Kashmir amid external infiltrations, "but never before have we seen this kind of tragic state of affairs which makes the heart of every Indian bleed". The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is probing the role of Lashker-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Mohammed Saeed and hardline Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani in subversive activities in Jammu and Kashmir. The NIA named the two in its Preliminary Enquiry (PE), which precedes the filing of a case. It also named Naeem Khan, who was seen on television during a sting operation purportedly confessing to receiving money from Pakistan-based terror groups. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bangladesh has arrested 29 people from an LGBT gathering here, a rare crackdown on gays in the conservative Muslim-majority country where homosexuality is prohibited, officials said today. The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), an elite police unit that made the arrests, said the suspects, mostly students aged between 20-30 years, had travelled from across the country and were picked up in the raid yesterday. "We arrested them along with drugs as they were partying at a community centre after midnight yesterday," a RAB official familiar with the incident told PTI. RAB-10's duty officer Abdur Rashid said they were arrested as homosexuality was prohibited under law in the Muslim-majority Bangladesh and they carried out the raids responding to complaints by residents in the neighbourhood. "We, however, did not find them involved in sexual activities while they were partying. But we found contraband sex stimulating drugs from them," the official said. "We planned to accuse them under drug-related laws since they were not instantly found to be engaged in unnatural sexual activities at the scene," he said. Bangladesh's penal code prescribes as high as life imprisonment for homosexuality describing it as "unnatural offence" and such activities are socially castigated. "Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with 2 [imprisonment] for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to 10 years, and shall also be liable to fine," the law reads. Homosexual rights activists who called LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender) rights campaigners or sexual minorities are often subjected to assaults. Gays and lesbians in Bangladesh frequently suffer discrimination and other rights abuses and many are forced to hide their sexual identity and live double lives for fear of reprisals. One of them, Xulhaz Mannan, editor of Bangladesh's only LGBT magazine 'Roopbaan', was hacked to death at his Dhaka home along with a friend on April 25, last year in an attack later claimed by militant Ansar al-Islam, a group said to be inclined to al-Qaeda. Many prominent homosexual activists have since fled the country after several of them received death threats. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan violated Kulbhushan Jadhav's basic human rights by not allowing India consular access to him, Justice Dalveer Bhandari, the Indian judge on the ICJ bench, said in his declaration in the case. The declaration was issued along with the unanimous ruling of the International Court of Justice staying the execution of Jadhav, sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court for alleged espionage. "The case gives rise to questions pertaining to the basic violation of human rights through the denial of consular access during the pendency of court proceedings in Pakistan, which culminated with Jadhav's death sentence," Judge Bhandari, who has been a member of the ICJ since April 2012, said. He outlined the facts pertaining to India's application instituting proceedings as well as to India's request for provisional measures. He stated four requirements for the indication of provisional measures -- prima facie jurisdiction; plausibility; real and imminent risk of irreparable prejudice and the link between the rights claimed on the merits and the provisional measures requested. Bhandari mentioned the role of the 2008 India-Pakistan Agreement on Consular Access. He agreed with the court that there is nothing which prima facie suggests that the parties, by concluding the 2008 Agreement, had limited or set aside their reciprocal obligations under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. "On the contrary, the 2008 Agreement amplifies, confirms and extends the parties' reciprocal obligations relating to consular assistance, for which the Vienna Convention is a framework. Therefore, the 2008 Agreement does not exclude the Court's jurisdiction in the present case," he said. He stressed that India did not rely on the 2008 Agreement, but only claimed the violation of the Vienna Convention. He said the rights claimed by India on the merits were plausible because they concerned consular access to a person who was indisputably an Indian national, who had been arrested, tried and convicted in a foreign country. "Therefore, it is plausible that India holds the rights it is claiming in the circumstances of the case, namely with respect to Jadhav," he said. Concerning real and imminent risk of irreparable prejudice, he stated the similarities between the present case and the three previous death penalty and Vienna Convention- related cases fought at the world court during the trial. The three cases were Mexico vs US, Germany vs US and Paraguay vs US. "In addition to issues of consular relations, this is a case in which it regrettably appears, on a preliminary examination of the facts, that the basic human rights of Jadhav have been violated by not allowing India to have consular access to him after his arrest and during the pendency of the criminal proceedings against him in Pakistan," he said. The UN's highest judicial body also asked Pakistan to take "all measures" to ensure that Jadhav, sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court for alleged espionage, was not executed till the court had delivered its final verdict on the issue. India welcomed the court's unanimous decision on Jadhav, 46, while Islamabad said it had informed the ICJ that it did not accept the court's jurisdiction in matters related to security. Pakistan, which announced the sentence on Jadhav on April 10, claims its security forces arrested him from its restive Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran. However, India maintains that he was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Navy. Jadhav's case is the latest flash-point in the tensions between Pakistan and India. The two countries last faced off at the ICJ 18 years ago when Islamabad sought its intervention over the shooting down of its naval aircraft. Setting the goal of coming to power in Telangana in 2019, the BJP has worked out a plan to deploy full-time workers in the state, just the way it did in Assam and Uttar Pradesh. A full-timer, referred to as 'vistarak' by the BJP, is expected to work for the party's success in the next state Assembly polls. The party is likely to have around 250 full-timers in the state who will work for its success in the 2019 Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, Telangana BJP unit spokesperson Krishna Saagar Rao told PTI today. These full-timers would work in the 119 Assembly segments of the state. The party is likely to provide accommodation and transport facilities to them, he said. "We used it (the services of full-timers) in Assam and again very successfully in Uttar Pradesh. We now plan to use the same in Telangana," he said. BJP's Telangana unit has received motor bikes used in Uttar Pradesh polls. The state party unit now plans to distribute these vehicles to the full-timers in Telangana. Some of these bikes are now parked in the party's office here. Telangana BJP president K Laxman is likely to hand over the bikes to the full-timers by this month-end, after party national president Amit Shah's three-day visit to the state next week. Telangana is one of the states identified by BJP for gaining power after its successful campaigns in Assam and Haryana, which are not its traditional strongholds. "With BJP national president Amit Shah focusing on this state and the people of Telangana willing to give the party a chance to fulfil their aspirations, BJP's rise to power to cater to the dire needs of the people of Telangana is a certainty," Rao said. "It's just a matter of time for the BJP to form government in Telangana," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Himachal Pradesh BJP in-charge Mangal Pandey today said the party will fight the state assembly polls on the developmental plank and form a government that lasts three terms. The stress should be on strengthening the party at the booth-level by reaching out to people with the policies and programmes of the central government, he said in his first visit to the state after his appointment. "More important than getting majority is having a government that lasts for 15 years and breaks the five-year cycle," Pandey said. Hitting-out at the Congress government in the state, he said, "It has become synonymous with corruption and must be exposed and rooted out in the interest of Himachal Pradesh and the people." Pandey alleged that the state government was not implementing the developmental and welfare policies of the Narendra Modi government. "After making the country 'Congress Mukt' (Congress free), the focus would be on making India 'BJP Yukt'," the leader said. On the assembly polls, Pandey said, "The party was looking for a person who can ensure the party's victory in three consecutive elections." Pandey, who is on four-day visit to the state, will meet party leaders and workers, and get their feedbacks. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As rescue efforts were on for two people feared drowned due to collapse of an ageing bridge on a river in Goa, the state government today said all the "dilapidated and unsafe" bridges would be dismantled soon. The bridge across Sanvordem river, a tributary of the Zuari in South Goa, collapsed last evening under the weight of scores of onlookers watching a man trying to commit suicide. The search resumed this morning as several persons are feared missing, which was taken over by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) this afternoon from the Navy and local agency. "The work of preparing a list of dilapidated bridges across the state and then dismantling them will be taken up seriously," State Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai told reporters after visiting the site. "The government will also carry out a safety audit of bridges and those which are found unsafe and not used by commuters, would be dismantled," Sardesai said. The minister met the people who were rescued yesterday and are being treated at the district hospital in Margao. Two persons had drowned while around 20 swam to safety after the bridge, connecting Sanvordem and Curchorem villages in South Goa district, collapsed. Fourteen people were rescued and taken to nearby hospitals. The rescue operations resumed at 7.30 am today to trace if more lives had been lost. However, the divers of the Indian Navy and a private agency engaged in search stopped the operation in the afternoon as they did not find any more bodies, Superintendent of Police (South) Shekhar Prabhudesai said. "Since morning not a single body was found even though the divers of Indian Navy and Drishti Lifesaving Services, the private agency, have been conducting searches," Prabhudesai said. Meanwhile, an NDRF team from Pune took charge of the search operations. "A NDRF team from Pune has arrived at the site and it is now assessing the situation. We have not yet called off the search and rescue operations," South Goa district collector Swapnil Naik said. "The NDRF team will assess the situation and advise us about whether we should stop the operation or not. Divers from Indian Navy have already stopped the search operation as they could not find any body in the water," Naik said. A spokesman of the Indian Navy said the collapsed part of the bridge had been removed last night. He said since crocodiles are present in the river, precautions are being taken for the safety of the divers. The Portuguese-era bridge collapsed when the fire and emergency services personnel were busy rescuing a man, who tried to commit suicide. Around 50 people had gathered on the bridge to watch the rescue efforts when it gave way and they plunged into the water. The bridge has been closed for traffic for the last four years. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has vowed a "firm" and unwavering defence of Canadian interests in the face of US trade attacks. "We're going to continue to work very, very hard to defend Canada's interests," he said yesterday. In late April, the United States imposed a duty on timber imported from Canada and threatened similar sanctions on Canadian dairy products. Then on Thursday, the US Department of Commerce launched an investigation at the request of aerospace manufacturer Boeing into alleged dumping of aircraft built by its Canadian rival Bombardier, with Canadian government financial support, into the US market. On all of these issues, "we will always be resolute and firm in how we stand up for Canadian interests," Trudeau said. "On the issue of aeronautics, we will always defend Canada's companies... And Canada's workers." On Thursday, Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland threatened to cancel Ottawa's purchase of Boeing fighter jets if the US did not back off its attacks on Bombardier. The same day, the US government formally launched the process to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement. US President Donald Trump has assailed the continental trade pact as "the worst trade deal maybe ever signed anywhere." NAFTA negotiations between Canada, Mexico and the United States are to formally start in August after a 90-day consultation process. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mumbai Indians breezed into the final of IPL-10 with a six-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders in the Qualifier 2, their clinical performance making it look all too easy in the end here tonight. Two-time winner Mumbai Indians will lock horns with Rising Pune Supergiants in the title clash in Hyderabad on Sunday. Sent into bat, KKR were bowled out for 107 runs in 18.5 balls, and Mumbai chased down the target with 33 balls to spare at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Leg-spinner Karn Sharma was the star performer with the ball for Mumbai, returning excellent figures of 4/16 - the joint best effort by a spinner in an IPL knockout game, while Jasprit Bumrah provided fine support to pick 3/7 in three overs. Krunal Pandya showed maturity, finishing as Mumbai's top scorer with 45 off 30 balls, while Rohit contributed 26. Pandya struck eight boundaries. Mumbai finished the run chase by scoring 111 for four after losing three wickets quickly, including the in-form Parthiv Patel (14) and his opening partner Lendl Simmons (3). At 34 for three, Krunal Pandya joined Rohit and brought Mumbai closer to victory with a 54-run partnership off 40 balls. Mumbai knocked off 16 runs in the 11th over bowled by Piyush Chawla (2/34), and scored eight in the next over to inch closer to their target. At that juncture, KKR did get the wicket of Rohit, but Pandya along with Kieron Pollard (9) steered Mumbai home. Earlier, Karn Sharma and Bumrah saw Mumbai Indians bowl out Kolkata Knight Riders. Mumbai Indians exploited the conditions and rattled Kolkata batsmen from the very first over, having them on the mat at 31 for five in seven overs, after Rohit Sharma opted to field. After Bumrah dismissed Chris Lynn for four in the second over, the 29-year-old Sharma emerged as the wrecker-in-chief, sending back KKR skipper Gautam Gambhir (12) and Colin de Grandhomme (0) off consecutive balls, besides castling Narine in the fifth over. Ishank Jaggi (28) and Surayakumar Yadav (31) put on 56 runs for the sixth wicket in 47 balls, during which they belted five fours and one six, and saved KKR from further embarrassment. KKR began the innings rather poorly, losing Lynn early, when he tried to loft Bumrah in the second over of the match. Mumbai struck for the second time in the fifth over, removing Narine for 10, thanks to a superb googly by Sharma and wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel did the rest at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. In the very next over, Bumrah got his second wicket of the match, when he trapped Robin Uthappa plumb in front of the wicket. Mumbai dealt KKR another body blow by sending back their captain Gautam Gambhir after the batsman had scored 12 off 15 balls. The situation got worse for the Knight Riders as Sharma snapped up Colin de Grandhomme. A face-saving partnership ensued before Mitchell Johnson claimed the wickets of Piyush Chawla and Nathan Coulter-Nile, leaving Kolkata at 101 for eight. Bumrah and Lasith Malinga got the last two batsmen cheaply. Former Coal Secretary H C Gupta and two serving senior officials were today convicted by a Delhi court for irregularities in the allocation of a coal block in Madhya Pradesh to a private firm. Besides Gupta, who was the Coal Secretary from December 31, 2005 to November 2008, then joint secretary K S Kropha and then director K C Samaria in the Coal Ministry have also been held guilty of cheating, criminal conspiracy and corruption. Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar also convicted the beneficiary firm Kamal Sponge Steel and Power Ltd (KSSPL) and its Managing Director Pawan Kumar Ahluwalia offences including cheating. The convicts face a maximum seven year jail term for the offences proved against them. The court decided to pronounce its order on the quantum of sentence on May 22. The court, however, acquitted Chartered Accountant Amit Goyal in the case involving allocation of the Thesgora-B Rudrapuri coal block. CBI had in October 2012 lodged an FIR in the matter, but on March 27, 2014 it filed a closure report in the case. The court rejected the closure report on October 13, 2014 and summoned Gupta and others as accused. The CBI had alleged that the firm had misrepresented its net worth and the existing capacity, adding that the state government had also not recommended the firm for the allocation of any coal block. The court had on October 14 last year framed charges against the accused, observing that former prime minister Manmohan Singh was kept in the "dark" by Gupta, who had prima facie violated the law and the trust reposed in him on the issue of coal block allocation. As many as ten more coal cases are pending against Gupta and the proceedings are going on individually. The Supreme Court had last year dismissed his plea seeking joint trial in all these cases. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi Police today launched an ambitious digital 'Bar Talk' initiative aimed at creating awareness for women safety and to prevent drunken driving among the visitors of pubs, bars and restaurants in the city. The digital out of home (OOH) media involving top bars and restaurants in the city was launched at 'Teddy Boy Bar' in Connaught Place by Special Commissioner (Operations) Deepender Pathak and DCP (Crime) Madhur Verma. 'Bar Talk' has digitized 25 premium bars in the city with over 150 dynamic digital displays spread across popular locations in Delhi such as Hauz Khas Village, Connaught Place, Nehru Place, Greater Kailash, Khan Market and Saket. The HD-rich digital displays with real-time bar offers will display messages from the Delhi Police against the perils of drunken driving besides educating the patrons about its women safety app 'HIMMAT'. Drunken driving cases are on the rise in the city with over 28,000 motorists prosecuted by the police for driving under the influence of alcohol last year. "With this unique display network, Delhi Police can now easily reach out and communicate with the socially active population in the city on real-time basis. The strategic placement of this innovative mode of communication will act as a reminder to people in bars that drunken driving is best avoided," Pathak said. "Bar Talk is the most modern intra net facility that will act like an extended Whatsapp group involving participants to connect to it through wifi by using their smartphones," he said. Its utility and significance will enhance further as more and more bars and restaurants will join it in future, the officer said. The founders of 'Bar Talk' Gautam Bhirani and Amit Bagga, who were present on the occasion, said that it was a part of continued initiatives against drunken driving. The cab aggregator, Ola is a partner in the initiative. "We have been working with key stakeholders including the local police to create awareness about responsible drinking and are glad that a lot of people are using our services as an alternative to ensure that they don't drink and drive," said Deep Singh, General Manager Ola (Delhi). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Anandpur Sahib MP Prem Singh Chandumajra today said direct flights to Nanded from the Mohali and the Amritsar international airports are slated to start in July. The MP, who is also the SAD's general secretary, said the assurance was given to him by Union Aviation Minister P Ashok Gajapathi Raju at a meeting in New Delhi this afternoon. The flights will be started by Air India and all arrangements have been made, an official release quoting Chandumajra said. This will be a "big" facility for Sikhs going on pilgrimage to the Takht Hazoor Sahib at Nanded in Maharashtra, the release said. Chandumajra had earlier raised the issue twice in the Lok Sabha. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dozens of Palestinians were hurt today in the occupied West Bank and Gaza during clashes with Israeli forces after marches backing hunger-striking prisoners, the Palestine Red Crescent Society said. Both the Red Crescent and the health ministry in Gaza said protesters were injured by tear gas, rubber bullets and live fire. Thousands of people demonstrated in various parts of the West Bank, occupied since 1967 by the Israeli army, and near the security barrier that seals off the Gaza Strip, AFP journalists said. For more than 10 years, the coastal territory of Gaza has been under a rigorous Israeli blockade designed to contain the Hamas Islamist movement which controls it. Gazans regularly challenge Israeli soldiers guarding the concrete and metal barrier that separates it from the Jewish state. Hundreds of Gazans waving Palestinian flags approached the barrier today and threw stones and burned tyres, photographers said. The health authorities in the enclave said eight people were wounded by bullets and around 30 suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation. In the southern West Bank, around 1,500 people protested in Hebron, and clashes were also reported in other towns and villages. The Palestinians were demonstrating in support of hundreds of prisoners in Israeli jails who have been on hunger strike since April 17, demanding better conditions. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Punjab police today claimed to have nabbed a drug smuggler and recovered Rs 27.50 lakh cash, heroin, three Pakistani SIM cards and a pistol from him in a village here. Acting on a tip off, a police team stopped a tractor at Nihala Kilcha village here. On searching the vehicle, police recovered 75 gram heroin, a pistol, seven live cartridges, three Pakistani mobile SIM cards and Rs 27.50 lakh cash. Police nabbed Sonu Singh, who was travelling on the tractor. However, his brother Joginder Singh managed to escape, Ferozepur SP Dharamveer said. Police suspected that the brothers duo was involved in smuggling contraband from across the border. Their village was located just near the border fence, police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today asked the Delhi government officials to fight "the forces of disruption threatening human lives and values" while administering "anti-terror" oath to them. Anti-Terrorism Day is observed on May 21 but with two consecutive holidays ahead, the event was held at the Delhi Secretariat here today in which hundreds of government officers participated. While administrating oath to participants, Kejriwal said they all should pledge to uphold and promote peace, social harmony and understanding among fellow human beings and fight the forces of disruption threatening human lives and values. Chief Secretary M M Kutty, PWD Secretary Ashwani Kumar, Urban Development Secretary A Anbarasu were among the officers who took the oath. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The first-ever meeting of the chief ministers of five Himalayan states will be held here tomorrow where security along the entire Sino-Indian border and development of infrastructure in the frontier regions will be discussed threadbare. The objective of the meeting, to be chaired by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, is to strengthen the coordination between the central government and the five states to improve the overall border security, an official said. The move comes days after India refused to participate in China's Silk road project 'One Belt, One Road' conference in Beijing and a month after the diplomatic tussle over the Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal Pradesh. Chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh are expected to attend the conclave. This is for the first time that such a meeting is being organised by the home ministry. It has said the states were partners in maintenance of security along the border. In the CMs' meet, discussions will be held on the border infrastructure work undertaken by the ministry, the border area development programme and coordination issues between the states and the Indo Tibetan Border Police, which guards the Sino-Indian border. Construction of roads, redressal of the situation arising out of lack of infrastructure in the frontier areas and a host of other issues will also be discussed at the meeting, an official said. China is known to have improved its infrastructure along the border by constructing roads, bridges, railway network and airports. India shares an 3,488 km-long border with China that runs along Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. The total length of the border in Jammu and Kashmir is 1,597 km, Himachal Pradesh 200 km, Uttarakhand 345 km, Sikkim 220 km and Arunachal Pradesh 1,126 km. The border is not fully demarcated and the process of clarifying and confirming the Line of Actual Control is in progress. The border areas, which are located at high altitudes, have inadequate development and infrastructure facilities. Singh, who arrived here on a three-day visit, today had a meeting with Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling and discussed with him various issues concerning the state. The home minister will visit Nathu La, a border trading point with China, tomorrow and will take stock of various developmental activities in the frontier. As many as 14 socio-cultural, political and trade delegations met the home minister today and discussed with him issues concerning the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The sewage treatment capacity in towns along the Ganga is being enhanced substantially as part of efforts to clean the river, a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was told. The meeting on Modi's ambitious programme 'Namaami Gange' was also informed that intensive monitoring and inspection of the grossly-polluting industries has been taken up, which has led to "considerable improvement" in the water quality of some of the tributaries of the river, a PMO statement said. Senior officials from various government departments made presentations on the programme and apprised the prime minister of action taken and the progress made on it, it said. According to the statement, the officials said the sewage treatment capacity in towns along the river is being enhanced substantially and considerable focus is being placed on large cities like Haridwar, Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi, Patna, Bhagalpur, Howrah and Kolkata. "Intensive monitoring and inspection of the grossly- polluting industries has been taken up," the statement said. "The officials said that this has led to considerable improvement in the water quality of some of the tributaries of the river Ganga," it added. Parameters such as "dissolved oxygen" and "biochemical oxygen demand" have been studied as part of this assessment, the meeting was told last evening. The prime minister was also apprised of the considerable progress made in rural sanitation in villages along the banks of the river Ganga, the statement said. Modi stressed on the need to further increase public awareness and participation in the task of cleaning the river. The meeting was attended by top officials from the PMO, NITI Aayog, Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, National Mission for Clean Ganga and Central Pollution Control Board. The meeting on 'Namaami Gange' assumed significance as it was the first since the BJP came to power in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the river's two key basin states whose previous governments were accused by the Centre of not cooperating fully. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A prominent glass trader was today abducted by unknown criminals in broad daylight here but was rescued hours later, a senior police official said. Senior SP Ajay Kumar Pandey said the incident occurred when this morning when 42-year-old Sanjay Mittal was going to his factory in his car. Some persons on a motorcycle surrounded his car at the Naglabhau crossing and abducted him at gun point, and then drove away in his vehicle, he said. "Police later freed the trader, and arrested one of the abductors from the spot (where the trader was held)," Pandey said, probe is going on, the SSP added.. The incident comes just days after two jewellers were killed during a robbery in Mathura, triggering wide-spread protest by the business community. More than 7,000 jewellery shops downed shutters today following the Mathura incident in which four police officials were suspended. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rescue teams today recovered the body of a man, who had allegedly committed suicide by jumping into Sanvordem river last evening, police said. Crowding of onlookers on an old bridge on the river to watch the efforts to rescue the man after he jumped into water had led to the collapse of the bridge, in which at least two persons died, police said. The rescue teams had last night recovered bodies of two victims, who fell into the river after the bridge collapse, police said. "The third body was recovered during the rescue operation today. The body is that of the man, who had committed suicide before the bridge collapse," a senior police official told PTI. The bridge across Sanvordem river, a tributary of the Zuari in South Goa, had caved in under the weight of scores of onlookers watching the rescue operation of the man, who committed suicide. Two persons had drowned while around 20 swam to safety after the bridge, connecting Sanvordem and Curchorem villages in South Goa district, collapsed. Fourteen people were rescued and taken to nearby hospitals. Around 50 people had gathered on the bridge to watch the rescue efforts when it gave way and they fell into the water. The bridge has been closed for traffic for the last four years. The search, which resumed this morning as several persons were still feared missing, was taken over by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) this afternoon from the Navy and a local agency. The search and rescue operation which was called off at 3.30 am, had resumed at 7.30 am. While there was no breakthrough during the entire day, the third body was retrieved around 4.30 pm, police said. "The rescue operations resumed at 7.30 am today to trace if more lives had been lost. However, the divers of the Indian Navy and Drishti Lifesaving Services engaged in the search stopped the operation in the afternoon as they did not find any more bodies," Superintendent of Police (South) Shekhar Prabhudesai said. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team from Pune took charge of the search operations in the afternoon. "An NDRF team from Pune arrived at the site and started assessing the situation. We have not yet called off the search and rescue operations. The decision whether to continue the search or withdraw it would be decided after National Disaster Response Force assesses the situation," South District Collector Swapnil Naik told PTI. At present, there are no bodies in the water near the accident site and there is a possibility that they might have been swept away in the river, he said. A spokesman of the Indian Navy said since crocodiles are present in the river, precautions are being taken for the safety of the divers. Meanwhile, the state government announced that all the "dilapidated and unsafe" bridges would be dismantled soon. "The work of preparing a list of dilapidated bridges across the state and then dismantling them will be taken up seriously," State Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai told reporters after visiting the site. "The government will also carry out a safety audit of bridges and those which are found unsafe and not used by commuters, would be dismantled," he said. The minister met the people who were rescued yesterday and are being treated at the district hospital in Margao. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Goa government has urged the Centre to enforce a ban on use of LED lights and bull trawling techniques for fishing in coastal states, saying they are harmful to the marine ecology. The state government had last month said that it will ban both the fishing methods to protect the marine ecology. Some trawler owners use LED lights for fishing in deep waters, which the fishermen in Goa have been opposing since some time. In bull trawling, two marginally big-sized boats tie the net and drag it for a long distance to bag the entire shoal of fish. During a meeting with Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh in New Delhi yesterday, Goa Fisheries Minister Vinod Palyekar urged that all the states involved in fishing activities should strictly stop the use of LEDs and bull trawling method. "I had a fruitful meeting with the Union minister. We had a discussion on discouraging the use of LED lights and bull trawling for fishing," Palyekar told PTI. The minister said he also plans to write to the prime minister to bring in a legislation to stop such fishing practices. During the meeting with the Union minister, Palyekar also sought the Centre's assistance to develop infrastructure for the fisheries sector in Goa. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An unidentified gunman today opened fire on police in Sri Lanka's former LTTE stronghold of Kilinochchi, a day after Tamils observed the eighth anniversary of the end of the three-decade long civil war. Several police officers of the Kilinochchi police station in the war-ravaged northern province escaped unhurt in the incident that that took place in the wee hours. The army and police officers have launched a search operation in the area to find the suspect who fled after attacking the officers. The military and the police conducted a joint cordon and search operation in the former LTTE stronghold of Kilinochchi this morning following an alleged shooting at a police vehicle. Police said part of a gun was found nearby. Tamils in war-ravaged northern and eastern provinces yesterday observed the eighth anniversary of the end of the three-decade brutal civil war in the country in 2009. The Tamil Genocide Remembrance day was marked by various events at Mullivaikkal, the location of the final battle between the Lankan troops and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). There was tension in the commemoration ceremony between the hardline and moderate Tamil leadership, Tamil sources said. Northern province Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran had criticised the presence of around 150,000 military personnel in the north. "The truth is that there is no need for army, navy and air force," he said. The presence of military with hostile intentions is only detrimental to the peace, security and wellbeing of the people, Wigneswaran said. "I have lit this flame, raising above the political party limits and boundaries. This Remembrance Day should be marked so also in the future," he said while lighting the common flame of sacrifice with four civilians whose relatives are missing. Opposition Leader R Sampanthan was confronted by the people who accused him of having a soft policy towards the government, the sources said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Calcutta High Court today ordered the West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination Board to pay a cost of Rs five lakh for holding the 2016 entrance test for medical students in a "callous" manner. A division bench of acting Chief Justice Nishita Mhatre and Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty asked the board to pay the money to Calcutta University, which was asked to spend it on financially backward students. The bench gave the order on a plea by two unsuccessful candidates, who had alleged a slew of irregularities in the medical entrance examination for 2016. Noting the irregularities, the bench observed that the medical joint entrance examination for 2016 was held by the board in a "callous and lackadaisical" manner. The petitioners had also alleged that an unusually high number of students of Al Ameen Mission, an educational institution, had succeeded in the examination and prayed for a scrutiny of this. The petitioners had prayed for cancellation of the process and holding of fresh examination. Noting that the admission process involving thousands of students had been completed a year back and classes have been held for a long time, the court declined holding of fresh examination as prayed for by the petitioners. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The CPI today hoped Pakistan respects the verdict of the International Court of Justice and releases Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was sentenced to death by its military court on charges of espionage. The Communist Party of India (CPI) also hit out at Pakistan for showing "adamant attitude" after it refused to accept the world body's decision. "The CPI welcomes the ICJ's verdict staying the execution of Jadhav by Pakistan, though the final verdict is yet to be pronounced," it said in a statement. The CPI termed as "highly objectionable" the stance Pakistan took after the ICJ passed the order yesterday and condemned the neighbouring country's stand of denying consular access to Jadhav. "The party hopes that good sense will prevail upon Pakistan to respect the verdict and free Jadhav," the Left party added. Pakistan's foreign office had yesterday said it does not accept the ICJ's jurisdiction in matters related to national security after the UN court stayed Jadhav's execution. It also hit out at India, saying the country has been "trying to hide its real face" by taking the case of Jadhav to the ICJ. Jadhav, 46 a former Indian Navy officer, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and subversive activities after which India approached the highest UN judicial body with the plea to stay his execution. The ICJ at the Hague yesterday instructed Pakistan to take all "necessary measures at its disposal" to ensure that Jadhav is not executed pending a final decision by it. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 21-year-old housekeeping employee was arrested for allegedly peeping into a women's toilet in a private firm here, police said today. Saurabh Vitkar, who is working in a housekeeping section of a private firm in Yerawada area, allegedly hid himself in on the lavatories of the ladies washroom and was peeping in the women's toilet yesterday, a senior police official said. "On Thursday two female employee who had gone to the washroom, found someone peeping from one of the lavatories and immediately alerted the security guards. Subsequently the accused was caught and handed over to the police," he added. A case under section 354 (C) (Voyeurism) of the Indian Penal Code was registered and Vitkar has been apprehended, said the official. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Indian-American woman from Alabama has pleaded guilty to her involvement in a multi-million dollar scam in which people in the US were cheated by India-based call centres. Nilam Parikh, 46, pleaded guilty before US District Court Judge David Hittner of southern district of Texas. She along with three other Indian nationals committed the frauds, the US Justice Department said yesterday. The sentencing in the case is scheduled for August 11. According to the admissions made in connection with the plea, Parikh and her co-conspirators perpetrated a complex scheme in which individuals from call centres located in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad posed as IRS or US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officials to defraud people located across America, it said. Using information obtained from data brokers and other sources, the operators of the call centres targeted victims and threatened them with arrest, imprisonment, fines or deportation if they did not pay the alleged monies owed to the government. Those who agreed to pay the scammers were instructed how to make the payment, including by purchasing stored value cards or wiring money. After the payment, the call center employees would immediately turn to a network of "runners" based in the US to liquidate and launder the fraudulently-obtained funds, the Justice Department said. Since December 2013, Parikh worked as a runner operating in Alabama. In connection with her plea, Parikh admitted that at the direction of an India-based co-conspirator, often via WhatsApp texts, she purchased reloadable cards registered with misappropriated personal identifying information of US citizens. Once the fraudulently proceeds were loaded onto those cards, she liquidated them on the cards and transferred the funds into various bank accounts, while keeping some part of the funds for herself. Parikh also admitted to sending and receiving scam proceeds to and from her co-conspirators via Federal Express. Till date, Parikh and 55 other individuals and five India-based call centres have been charged for their roles in the fraud and money laundering scheme in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Texas on October 19, 2016. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 58-year-old Indian man, who was in the US customs' custody for entering the country illegally, has died after being hospitalised for shortness of breath. Atul Kumar Babubhai Patel was taken in custody by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Atlanta City Detention Centre for two days. He died on Tuesday afternoon at Atlanta's Grady Memorial Hospital with the officials stating the preliminary cause of his demise as complications from congestive heart failure. Patel arrived at the Atlanta airport on May 10 on a flight from Ecuador. The US Customs and Border Protection subsequently denied him entry into the country as he did not possess the necessary immigration documents, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said in a statement. Patel was transferred into the ICE custody last week at the Atlanta City Detention Centre where he received an initial medical screening and was found to have high blood pressure and diabetes. On Saturday, two days after being in the ICE custody, a nurse checking Patel's blood sugar noticed he had a breathing problem following which he was shifted to a hospital where he passed away. ICE said it is firmly committed to the health and welfare of all those in its custody and is "undertaking a comprehensive agency-wide review of the incident, as it does in all such cases". The agency the informed the Indian consular representatives who notified Patel's kin about his demise. The agency added that fatalities in its custody are "exceedingly rare" and occur at a fraction of the rate of the US detained population as a whole. Patel is the second person to die in ICE custody this week. He is the eighth such individual who died in the custody of ICE the fiscal year 2017. The recent deaths have drawn sharp criticism from immigrant rights activists, who have long decried conditions in immigration detention centres and called on the government to close such facilities. President Donald Trump has called for increasing detention as part of his crackdown on illegal immigration. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Instagram and Snapchat have turned into highly successful and revolutionary social network platforms as both the applications provide opportunities for increased engagement, curated content and new creativity. Yet there are detractors to social networking as continnuous addiction to social-sharing apps can prove to be harmful to your mental and damage could be long-term and irrevocable. The new report by Royal Society for Public (RSPH) in the UK examined the positive and negative effects of on young people's . Instagram and Snapchat are the most detrimental to young people's mental health and wellbeing, according to a new report on platforms which also found that YouTube had the most positive effect. Researchers conducted a survey of almost 1,500 people (aged 14-24) from across the UK. The survey asked them to score how each of the platforms they use impacts upon 14 health and wellbeing-related issues which were identified by experts as the most significant such as anxiety, loneliness and depression. Based on the ratings given to each platform for the health and wellbeing-related issues, the five most popular platforms were given a net average score. YouTube topped the table, followed by Twitter and Facebook. Snapchat and Instagram were found to have most negative impact on mental health. "Social media has been described as more addictive than cigarettes and alcohol, and is now so entrenched in the lives of young people that it is no longer possible to ignore it when talking about young people's mental health issues," said Shirley Cramer, Chief Executive at RSPH. "It is interesting to see Instagram and Snapchat ranking as the worst for mental health and wellbeing - both platforms are very image-focused and it appears they may be driving feelings of inadequacy and anxiety in young people," Cramer said. "It is important that we have checks and balances in place to make social media less of a wild west when it comes to young people's mental health and wellbeing," she said. "For young people, using social media and digital technologies as a tool to help with mental health make sense for many reasons," said Becky Inkster, Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge in the UK. "It might help improve psychoeducation, increase self- awareness of mental health and act as a preventative measure. Young people sometimes feel more comfortable talking about personal issues online," Inkster said. Polls opened in Iran today with voters set to give their verdict on President Hassan Rouhani's policy of opening up to the world and efforts to rebuild the stagnant economy. He faces stiff competition from hardline cleric Ebrahim Raisi, 56, who has positioned himself as a defender of the poor and called for a much tougher line with the West. Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei cast his ballot just minutes after polls opened at 8:00 am (0330 GMT). "The destiny of the country is in the hand of Iranians," he told reporters as he voted in his compound in Tehran. Long lines had already formed at polling stations around the country. Rouhani, a 68-year-old moderate cleric, has sought to frame the election as a choice between greater civil liberties and "extremism". He has pushed the boundaries over the past fortnight, criticising the continued arrest of reformist leaders and activists, and calling on security agencies not to interfere in the vote. Raisi says he will stick by the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, that saw curbs to Iran's atomic programme in exchange for sanctions relief, but he points to the continued economic slump as proof that Rouhani's diplomatic efforts have failed. "Instead of using the capable hands of our youths to resolve problems, they are putting our economy in the hands of foreigners," Raisi said at a final rally in the holy city of Mashhad on Wednesday. Rouhani responded by calling on voters to keep hardliners away from Iran's delicate diplomatic levers. "One wrong decision by the president can mean war and a correct decision can mean peace," he said at his own Mashhad rally. The election comes at a tense moment in US-Iran relations. Rouhani gained a reprieve on Wednesday when the administration of US President Donald Trump agreed to continue waiving nuclear-related sanctions, keeping the deal on track for now. But Trump has launched a 90-day review of the accord that could see it abandoned, and is visiting Iran's bitter regional rival Saudi Arabia this weekend. "For me, Mr Rouhani's dialogue with the world and moderation in society are very important," said Zahra, a 32- year-old PhD student in food science. Under former hardline president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, "the sanctions really hurt us. It was hard to get lab equipment and very difficult to get visas to study abroad. Now my colleagues can travel to France and the US," she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Israeli troops arrested two Palestinians overnight on suspicion of involvement in a clash that led to a settler shooting dead a Palestinian in the West Bank, officials said today. The settler opened fire after his car was surrounded and stoned by Palestinian protesters when he attempted to drive through their demonstration near a military checkpoint in the northern West Bank yesterday. Muataz Bani Shemsay, 23, was killed and an Associated Press agency photographer wounded before the army arrived and dispersed the Palestinians. Police said the settler was let go yesterday after giving a statement and was not being investigated as a murder suspect. "The mob almost lynched me, I looked death in the eyes," the settler said in a video recording distributed to the media. Israeli troops arrested Yussef Derieh, an ambulance driver from the village of Aqraba, near the main northern West Bank city of Nablus, who veered his vehicle to the opposite lane and blocked the settler's car. They also detained a second Palestinian and seized the ambulance and a bus used to transport some of the protesters, the army said. Hundreds of Palestinians had gathered at the Huwara checkpoint, south of Nablus and the site of repeated clashes between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian stone-throwers. The protest was held in support of hundreds of Palestinians in Israeli jails on hunger strike since April 17. Police said they were also investigating an arson attack in another nearby Palestinian village that appeared to have been carried out by Jewish extremists. A tractor was torched, and a Star of David and the word "revenge" spray-painted on a nearby wall, in Burin, also south of Nablus. Palestinian official Ghassan Daghlas said that surveillance camera footage showed the perpetrators were Jewish settlers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kulbhushan Jadhav's case could be one of the rare cases before the International Court of Justice, which often sees matters related to maritime and territorial dispute. The ICJ yesterday stayed the execution of Jadhav, sentenced to death by a Pakistan military court which said he was an Indian spy. Currently, there are 15 cases, including Jadhav's, before the ICJ. Of these seven are about maritime and territorial dispute. An information officer at the ICJ told PTI the number of cases at The Hague was increasing steadily, but did not give figures. "Since the ICJ has almost a universal jurisdiction, we get a varied number of cases, but most of these matters relate to land and sea boundary," the official said. For instance, there is a maritime dispute between Nicaragua and Costa Rica in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. A similar dispute over maritime boundary in the Indian Ocean is pending with the court involving Somalia and Kenya. The question of delimitation of the continental shelf between Nicaragua and Colombia beyond 200 nautical miles from the Nicaraguan coast is also awaiting a decision. There are also cases such as Iran instituting proceedings against the United States with regard to a dispute concerning alleged violations of the 1955 Treaty of Amity. The ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations with a seat at the Peace Palace in The Hague in the Netherlands. It began work in 1946, when it replaced the Permanent Court of International Justice which had functioned in the Peace Palace since 1922. The court is composed of 15 judges elected to nine-year terms of office by the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council. Elections are held every three years for one-third of the seats, and retiring judges may be re-elected. The members of the Court do not represent their governments but are independent magistrates. An Indian judge, Justice Dalveer Bhandari, is among the the judges at the ICJ. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a stern warning to Pakistan, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley today said the Indian forces will give "adequate response" to any form of ceasefire violation on the border which has been witnessing repeated shelling from across. Jaitley, who undertook a visit to a Rampur sector of the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, said the Indian Army is fully prepared to foil any form of infiltration bid. He also asserted that there will be no differentiation between local and foreign militants and anybody indulging in violence will be dealt with accordingly. On recurring protests in Kashmir, he said sentiments can be addressed when there is a peaceful atmosphere. "Our soldiers are fully confident that they will not allow any form of infiltration to take place. And if there is any effort or any form of ceasefire violation, our soldiers will give an adequate response," Jaitley told reporters here. after interacting with the troops in Rampur sector. "I visited the LoC, interacted with officials and jawans there. I complement the Indian Army for its level of preparedness and enthusiasm," he said. In response to a question, Jaitley said, "With an average citizen, irrespective of his political views, we would like him to be on the Indian side in this debate. But as far as those who are killing people we cannot extend the same facility to them. They have to be treated as a serious insurgency problem and dealt with accordingly." Jaitley said it is clear that terrorism and militancy is aimed against the Indian state, its sovereignty and the people of Jammu and Kashmir. "The effect of their actions is that besides security personnel, it is the local citizens who are losing their lives. Therefore, those who are indulging in violence of this magnitude are certainly to be held accountable for their actions," he said. In response to a question on widespread protests and sentiments in Kashmir, Jaitley said the sentiments can be addressed when there is peaceful atmosphere. "At the end of the day, the current situation emerges when you take to arms and start killing security forces then you get in a cycle which doesn't stop. "The aspirations will have to be addressed when the state is in a peaceful format. You can't have the energies of the state involved in just in combating violence at various places," he said. Jaitley, who is also the Union Finance Minister, said the resources which are meant for economic development, are today being used esentially for security. "Who is to be blamed for unleasing this era of violence?" On the Centre's refusal to engage with separatists in Jammu and Kashmir, Jaitley said "our priority is to restore normalcy, particularly in south Kashmir". Commenting on the sting operation carried out by a private TV channel on how separatists are being funded by Pakistan to stoke trouble in Kashmir, the defence minister said the expose has confirmed what was already known in informed circles. "It was known that they were being funded from across the border. They were funded to create the unrest. They were funded to burn schools, they were funded to kill people and destroy public property. "So their actions were the conspiracy against not only against the Indian state but also the average resident of Kashmir valley. This was all being talked about and what your report has done is to almost bring out a confessional statement of the concerned players accepting it," he said. Jaitley said the concerned agency and the government will take whatever action is needed in this regard. On the recent incident of army using a man as human shield during protests, the minister said an investigation is being carried out into the matter. "Let us not forget that the army is a responsbile institution and the Army was also interested in saving the lives of various people who were involved both in election process and also the large crowd of protesters who had gathered there," he said. On the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Jaitley said while economic development of Jammu and Kashmir is certainly a priority of the government, there should be no envy felt on what is happening on other side of the border. "I can tell you the economic development of the state is certainly our priority. Let nobody be envious what happens across the border. There are examples in the history where people had entered in the name of connectivity, then establish a strategic presence," he added. On the issue of return of NHPC-run power projects to the state and opening of more cross-LoC routes, Jaitley said the state government and the concerned union ministries must be interacting over these issues. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Harry Kane's first ever four-goal haul propelled him to the top of the Premier League scoring charts with the Tottenham striker in the "driving seat" to finish top scorer when the final league games are played on Sunday. The 23-year-old, whose goals along with a double from Korean star Son Heung-min saw this season's runners-up hammer last year's champions Leicester 6-1, added he hoped Hugo Lloris could also win the Golden Glove for the least goals conceded when they round off their league season at relegated Hull. Kane tops the Golden Boot charts with 26 goals, two ahead of Everton's Romelu Lukaku with Arsenal's Chilean marksman Alexis Sanchez third, a further goal adrift. "I wanted to get one or two goals at least and take it to the final game," Kane told Sky Sports. "I am in the driving seat but there's still one more game. I am not resting on my laurels but I hope to get four more. "Hopefully I can get the Golden Boot and hopefully Hugo Lloris can get the Golden Glove. "It is disappointing to concede but hopefully we can keep a clean sheet against Hull," added Kane, who has scored five hat-tricks for his club in just over two years. Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino said he was proud how Kane had shown he is one of the best strikers in the world in again contesting to be leading scorer despite two spells out injured. "It is fantastic for him," he told Sky Sports. "It is a season again where he fights to be the top scorer in the Premier League. He is great, he is one of the best strikers in the world. "He will try to keep going in the next game and try to finish in the best way." The 45-year-old Argentinian said he was not worried Kane would leave in the close season as Spurs were in a position to keep the players they wanted to keep. "It is very clear we will keep the players we want to keep and we will maybe sell the players we want to sell," said Pochettino. "We are so, so calm about our key players. They are happy here, we have an exciting project. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) RJD chief Lalu Prasad today dismissed reports of the Income Tax department raids on 22 locations in Delhi and adjoining areas on charges of alleged benami deals worth Rs 1,000 crore linked to him and his family members. He also expressed his resolve to unite the opposition against BJP in the next general election. Attacking the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre, the RJD supremo predicted its "fall before completing the five-year term". "I am an astrologer and predict that the Narendra Modi government will not be able to complete its five-year term," he said. "Tell me which 22 places the IT conducted raids," he told reporters here, three days after the raids were carried out on May 16. "When IT will ask (us), we will answer their queries," Lalu said. "Every detail of moveable and immoveable properties of mine as well my family members are in the public domain and with the competent authorities like Income Tax department and the Election Commission, and anybody can see them on the internet," he said while denying any financial wrongdoings. Lalu, who has been under attack from BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi for being involved in alleged corrupt land deals, termed the charges against him as "propaganda" by the saffron party. "All the details of properties (belonging to him and his family members) are with the IT as we file returns regularly and also with the Election Commission," he added. On Tuesday, Prasad said he was "not scared at all" and would continue to fight the "fascist forces". He also attacked the BJP for alleging corruption in purchase of soil for the Patna Zoo from a mall built by a company linked to his son and Forest Minister Tej Pratap. "Kaha ghotala hua hain batao (tell me where the corruption has taken place)," he asked. On the political front, the RJD chief said the preparation is underway for a "huge party rally" here on August 27, and he has been talking to prominent leaders of the non-BJP parties to participate in it. "I have had talks with Mayawati, Mamata Banerjee, Sonia Gandhi and Deve Gowda and they have promised to participate in the proposed rally. It will bring all the parties opposed to the BJP on one platform before the 2019 general election," he said. On the violent clashes between RJD and BJP workers on May 17 here, Lalu said he has appealed to his party workers not to indulge in such activities. He, however, blamed the BJP workers for attacking the RJD workers with swords and empty beer bottles during the clash. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The French presidency attempted to defuse early tensions with the media today after handpicking journalists to accompany newly-elected Emmanuel Macron on a trip to west Africa. Representatives from 25 media organisations including AFP, channels BFM and TF1 and newspapers Le Monde and Le Figaro signed an open letter yesterday expressing their "concerns" about Macron's communication strategy. "It is not at all up to the Elysee to choose who among us has the right to cover a trip, whatever the theme," the letter said. Presidential spokesman Sylvain Fort said that "in one or two cases" journalists had been contacted directly and offered some of the limited places available to travel with Macron to Mali today. Other aides had previously described the choice of journalists as a deliberate ploy to bring along "specialists" rather than the political media pack which routinely follows the president. "The journalists who were worried can be reassured: the Elysee does not intend to do the work of newsrooms," said a statement from the presidency addressed to media freedom group Reporters without Borders, which also signed the open letter. Macron, 39, has said he intends to keep his distance from the press in an effort to restore the authority of the presidential office which he felt was damaged under his gossip-loving predecessor Francois Hollande. Hollande would regularly chat to reporters off-the-record but was damaged by a tell-all book, "A President Shouldn't Say That", published at the end of his term based on his conversations with two political journalists. A regular in glossy magazines during his political ascent and omnipresent on television during campaigning, Macron now plans to speak rarely in an effort to keep focused on his longer-term priorities. Journalists were cleared out of the presidential palace press room soon after his inauguration last Sunday and were kept at a distance during the first meeting of his government yesterday. Government spokesman Christophe Castaner told a press briefing yesterday that ministers were also under strict instructions not to leak to the media. The first government is a melting pot of figures from centre-right, centrist and socialist parties as well as newcomers to politics, which some observers believe could lead to tensions and differences over policy. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New French President Emmanuel Macron today urged faster progress in a Mali peace accord signed in 2015 on his first official visit outside Europe, while reaffirming strong military cooperation with the United States in Africa. At the end of his first week in office, Macron left Gao, a city in Mali's deeply-troubled north, after lunching with French troops and sitting for talks with Malian counterpart Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. Macron was keen to display his defence and security credentials after promising to meet with some of the 1,700 French soldiers stationed in Gao at France's largest foreign base, part of the larger "Barkhane" counter-terror force operating across the Sahel region. The operation comprises around 4,000 soldiers who are deployed in five countries -- Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Chad and Burkina Faso -- all of which are menaced by the jihadist threat across porous borders. Reaffirming a commitment for France's troops to remain "until the day there is no more Islamic terrorism in the region and the full sovereignty of the Sahel is restored, not before", Macron also had warm words for American military cooperation in Africa. He described an "exemplary" relationship with the United States on counter-terror efforts, adding that he "did not doubt" such cooperation with the Trump administration would be maintained. The United States has carried out military training in Chad and Mauritania and has increased its special operations presence on the continent. Macron also made clear his desire for greater action by the Malian government in implementing its 2015 peace deal, which has repeatedly faltered in the face of inaction and ongoing rivalries between the patchwork of armed groups operating in the north who signed the accord. "My wish is for us to accelerate" the deal's implementation, Macron said at a conference, describing the so-called Algiers Accord as the top priority to ensure Mali's security. Macron is keen to promote economic development rather than military might, with hopes that improving young Malians' lives will dim the allure of joining jihadist groups. Investing in infrastructure, education and health, Macron said, all of which have suffered badly from the Malian state's near absence in large swathes of its northern territory, was the "best antidote" to jihad. To that end, France promised "constant" military, diplomatic and political support with the help of the French Development Agency (AFD), he said. Macron's predecessor Francois Hollande said in January that France would boost the AFD's budget for Africa by 15 per cent over the coming years to 23 billion euros (USD 25.7 billion). Macron is travelling with Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, who as the former defence minister knows Gao well, and his replacement in that job, Sylvie Goulard, as well as AFD chief Remy Rioux. The French president said he would also attend a meeting of the G5 Sahel countries, the same nations where the Barkhane force has a presence, in the coming weeks. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Family members of Sepoy Sudhesh Kumar, who was killed in firing by Pakistani troops along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir last year, today sat on an indefinite fast, demanding the chief minister's visit to Pansukha Milak village. Villagers and family members of Kumar, who laid down his life on October 16, 2016, sat on a fast in the village, claiming that despite promises by the BJP leaders, none of them visited the family again. "We were promised sanction for a petrol pump, construction of a road and memorial in the village and renaming a village primary school in Sudesh's name by the BJP leaders, but none of the promises was met," Sudesh's brother Manoj Kumar said. Another brother of the martyr, Anil Kumar, said they had lost trust in local BJP leaders and that was why they were demanding that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath should visit them. Sudesh's wife Kavita, mother Santosh Kumari, father Brahmpal Singh, Anil and a number of villagers began their indefinite fast. The family had earlier too refused to perform the last rites till the then Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav visited them. Brahmpal claimed, "The then chief minister had gone to a martyr's house in Etah as he was a Yadav. He should have come here too as there should not be any discrimination between martyrs." Sudesh, hailing from Sambhal district, was killed when Pakistani Army fired on Indian Army posts along the Line of Control in Rajouri district. As Akhilesh did not visit martyr's family, BJP leaders during assembly polls made it a political issue. BJP vice president Shiv Pratap Shukla, state general secretary Ashok Kataria and local MP Satpal Saini had also visited them and assured all help. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Maharashtra government today initiated process of handing over 7,200 sq mt of additional land in Aarey Milk Colony here to the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL). State Agriculture and Animal Husbandry department, in whose possession the land is, will hand it over to Revenue and Forest department which, in turn, would transfer it to MMRCL, a senior official said. Revenue department has already handed over about three lakh sq mt of land to MMRCL for phase III of Mumbai Metro. However, there are high-tension power lines and pylons of Reliance Power over a part of it. MMRCL decided to shift the pylons, and asked the government to provide additional 7,200 sq mt of land for this purpose. Hence, it will get 7,200 sq mt of land at Mauje Parjapur in Aarey Colony, said Ashwini Bhide, Managing Director, MMRCL. "MMRCL will get the land and as per our requirement, we can cut the trees," Bhide said. Environmental activists have been opposing Metro III phase (Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ route) and construction of carshed for Metro in the leafy Aarey Colony area as it would need cutting down of thousands of trees. The matter reached the Supreme Court, which on May 17 allowed the MMRCL cut the trees. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Andhra Pradesh CID, probing the Rs 680 crore money laundering case in Visakhapatnam, has issued look out notices to all airports and seaports for the three main accused in the racket. The Interpol is also being approached for issuing a red corner notice against the trio, all businessmen, a top police official said today. The case was registered last week. "We have secured the passports of the three accused - Ayush Goyal alias Shiny, Vineet Goenka alias Chintu and Vikas Gupta. "As of now they are the main accused in the case and we are approaching the Interpol for a red corner notice to trace and nab them," Director General of Police (in-charge) N Sambasiva Rao said. Shiny and Chintu belong to Kolkata, while Gupta hails from New Delhi. Addressing a press conference here this evening, the acting DGP said the Enforcement Directorate was also being requested to take up investigation into the case as it has the power to attach properties of the accused. Moreover, most of the money had been funnelled to China, Singapore and Hong Kong, Rao said. "It's actually a money laundering and not a hawala case (an illegal method of remittance across countries) as being referred. The money transactions happened using several shell companies. "Initially, we registered an FIR against nine persons as accused, however, during the investigation, we included eight more persons -- directors of various shell companies -- as the accused. We have so far arrested six persons," he said. The role of banks was also being keenly probed as a whopping Rs 533 crore was sent out through just one bank (Canara), he added. As per the FIR, Rs 680 crore came into the country from abroad of which Rs 569 crore was again sent back mainly to three countries. Vaddi Mahesh, named as accused No 1 in the FIR, told the police that he was merely a "broker" who was paid 85 paisa per dollar in the transactions, the acting DGP said. "We have to secure Mahesh's police custody for further interrogation," he said. Asked if any political leader was involved in the money laundering racket, Rao said there was "no evidence" so far about the role of anyone other than the 17 accused. "We have so far no evidence against others. But the number of accused may increase to 30 or 40 after further investigations. The CID is doing a good job," he remarked. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) J P Pandey has taken over as Senior Deputy General Manager (SDGM) and Chief Vigilance Officer of Southern Railway. Pandey belongs to 1985 batch of Indian Railway Stores Service. He has completed B.Tech Civil Engineering from IIT, Roorkee, and M.Tech, Civil Engineering from IIT Delhi, a press release today said. Prior to taking over as SDGM, he was Divisional Railway Manager, Bhavnagar. He has also worked as Chief Materials Manager with the Northern Railway and North Central Railway, and Additional Divisional Railway Manager at Jhansi. Pandey has attended training programmes in various countries including at the General Motors in Chicago, USA, the relese said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The China-made attack helicopter Z-19E made its deput flight from the Harbin airport yesterday marking a major step towards the country's entry into the global market for combative choppers. Also called the "Black Whirlwind," the Z-19E, which took the maiden flight yesterday, is the first export-oriented attack helicopter developed by the AVIC Harbin Aircraft Industry Group. Based on the Z-19's design, the 19E can be used in quick-response, low-impact and frequent attack missions, the China National Radio reported. Deputy chief designer Li Shengwei said the helicopter is equipped with safety features to improve the pilot's survival rate. "The Z-19E and Z-9 are similar in many respects," Li said. In terms of manoeuvrability and functions, the Z-19E meets international standards and its operating interface is in English, he said. "The Z-19E has strong market potential as some of its components are compatible with other countries' military systems," Song Zhongping, a military expert who served in the PLA Rocket Force, told the state-run Global Times. Song also noted that the helicopter would fare well in the global market. It is aimed at countries which require light military helicopters with medium-level attack power, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) today registered a Preliminary Enquiry (PE) against hardline Kashmiri separatist leaders, including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, for alleged involvement in subversive activities and receiving funds from LeT chief Hafiz Saeed. The others named in the PE are Naeem Khan, who was seen on television during a sting operation purportedly confessing to receiving money from Pakistan-based terror groups, Farooq Ahmed Dar alias 'Bitta Karate' and Gazi Javed Baba of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, an NIA spokesman said. The separatists were receiving funds from chief of Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT) Hafiz Saeed to carry out subversive activities in the Kashmir Valley, including pelting stones at security forces, damaging public property and burning schools and other government establishments, the spokesman alleged. The NIA has also taken cognizance of the item related to the recording of conversations between a TV reporter and leaders of separatist groups operating in the Kashmir Valley in this regard, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Investigation Agency (NIA) is probing the role of Lashker-e-Taiba chief Hafeez Mohammed Saeed and hardline Kashmiri separatist leader in subversive activities in Jammu and Kashmir. The NIA named the two in its Preliminary Enquiry (PE), which precedes the filing of a case. It also named Naeem Khan, who was seen on television during a sting operation purportedly confessing to receiving money from Pakistan-based terror groups. The others named in the PE were Farooq Ahmed Dar alias 'Bitta Karate' and Gazi Javed Baba of the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat. The NIA team arrived in Srinagar on Friday to question those named in the PE and to collect documentary evidence against them. The LeT chief is based in Pakistan. In a PE, the NIA can ask those named in the case to appear before it but cannot force them to do so, or arrest them. The NIA team will be reviewing evidence collected in connection with the burning of schools last year after the Hizbul Mujahideen's poster boy, Burhan Wani, was killed in an encounter with security forces on July 8. The NIA's PE alleged that the separatists were receiving funds from the LeT chief to carry out subversive activities in the Kashmir Valley, including pelting security forces with stones, damaging public property and burning schools and other government establishments. The NIA has also taken cognisance of a news item related to a recording of conversations between a TV reporter and leaders of separatist groups operating in the Kashmir Valley in this regard, he said. Asserting that there was noanti- incumbency against his government, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today expressed confidence that people will once againvote Congress back to power in the 2018 polls. Normally for any government which completes four years, there would be anti-incumbency factor that would startworking against it, and most of the times, it has turned outto be true, he told reporters here. "... But after completing four years, I can say that people of Karnataka still have confidence in mygovernment and there is no anti-incumbency against it," he said at a "Meet the Press" organised by Press Club of Bangalore and the Reporters' Guild here. Chiding the BJP for not doing its bit in getting farm loanwaived by the Centre, he ridiculed the party'sclaim of winning over 150 seats in 2018 polls. "People have decided, even if you perform somersault, Yeddyurappa's claims of mission 150 won't be achieved. Do you think mission 150 is in your pocket- for it to be so easy? It is people who will decide," he said. Siddaramaiah said the BJP is indulging in "self deception" and keeps away Muslims and Christians, while its national leaders advertise themselves with slogan "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas". There was no honesty on their part in followingit, he said, adding "It is an act of self deception they are indulging in." Claiming that his government believed and followed "inclusive growth", Siddaramaiah said it was clear on its path towards ensuring social justice. He said his government had fulfilled 155 of the 165 promises made in the manifesto. The remaining would be done inthe next one-year period. Questioning "achhe din" claims of the Narendra Modi-led government, Siddaramaiah said its only achievement was demonetisation of high value currency and the trouble it caused to the common man. Responding to a question about senior party leaders who brought him to the Congress being unhappy about him, he said no Karnataka leader brought him to the party. He said "... No one, they are only claiming. I'm revealing it today that no Karnataka Congress leader was behind myjoining Congress." He said had formed All India Progressive Janata Dal some years back and it did not performwell in local body polls. "I knew Ahmed Patel, he asked me to join Congress and introduced me to Madam (Sonia Gandhi)...", he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today asked his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath to order a thorough probe into the circumstances leading to the death of an "upright" state-cadre IAS officer. As the family of late IAS officer Anurag Tiwari and the Opposition raised questions over the "mystery" surrounding his death, Siddaramaiah shot off a letter to Adityanath seeking probe by a "competent team" of investigators. "It is very important that the whole incident including the circumstances leading to and the cause of death is thoroughly investigated by a competent team of investigators and professionals," Siddaramaiah said. He requested Adityanath to direct the authorities concerned to "do the needful." Describing Tiwari as an upright IAS officer, Siddaramaiah said his "untimely and unfortunate demise has caused great anguish to us." Tiwari, a 2007-batch IAS officer serving as commissioner of the Food, Civil Supplies & ConsumerAffairs Department, was found dead under mysteriouscircumstances by a roadside in Lucknow's Hazratganj area on May 17 morning. Speaking to the reporters earlier, Siddaramaiah said, "He (Tiwari) was a Karnataka officer, he died there (Lucknow). We don't know what the reason is. Post-mortem report says death was due to cardiac arrest. Let them (UP police) do any inquiry, government will give all cooperation." Asked about the suspicions that Tiwari may have been murdered because he was probing into a scam involving the food department, he said, "Don't say all thesethings just because someone is saying it. Let theminvestigate, everything will be known." The Uttar Pradesh police set up a Special Investigation Team yesterday to probe into Tiwari's death. Tiwari's father B N Tiwari has alleged his son was eliminated, while his brother Mayank has demanded a CBI probe into the matter. "My son was very honest. Corrupt officers did not like him. They must have somehow got him murdered," he had said. The Karnataka government had on May 17 sent two senior officials to Lucknow to get details of Tiwari's death. Speaking to reporters in Chitradurga, state BJPPresident B S Yeddyurappa demanded a CBI probe into the case. "His (Tiwari's) brother has said he wasmurdered as he was unearthing about Rs 2,000 crore scam in theFood department. The chief minister has to take direct responsibility for this," he said. "As this is a matter that is of concern to UttarPradesh and Karnataka, I urge that the case be immediatelyhanded over to the CBI for the truth to come out." "If the chiefminister is honest, he has to order a CBI enquiryor else the Uttar Pradesh chief minister will do it." BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje, who has spoken to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath about the case, has also written to him for a second time since the incident took place, expressing suspicion of foul play behind Tiwari's death. Reminding him of her May 17 letter requesting a thorough probe as the tragedy looks "murky," Karandlaje in her letter today, said "Now I am getting information from credible sources that Tiwari could be a victim of food grain smuggling mafia. This is what middle-level officials in Karnataka government are discussing among themselves in hushed tones." Stating that a multi-crore scam was unearthed in the Department of Food and Civil Supplies some time ago, she said Tiwari was probing it in his capacity ascommissioner and he is said to have prepared a detaileddossier about the scandal. This is one important angle whichneeds to be probed, she said Citing similar fears expressed by Tiwari's brothers, Karandlaje said the matter warrants a CBI investigation since the entire episode involves two states. Tiwari, who had also served as deputy commissioner in Bidar and Kodagu districts in the past was staying at Meera Bai guest house with a batch mate after attending amid-career training programme at Lal Bahadur Shastri NationalAcademy of Administration in Mussoorie. He was in his sleepwear when he was found dead on May 17, which also happened to be his birthday. Expressing grief over the officer's death, KarnatakaFood and Civil Supplies Minister U T Khader had said Tiwari had sought permission for the programme and had again sought extension on May 10. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Pakistan government today faced flak over its handling of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav's case at the Court of Justice (ICJ), with several legal experts questioning the strategy adopted and asking why it accepted the global court's jurisdiction. The Hague-based court, the UN's highest judicial body, had yesterday stayed the execution of Jadhav, 46, considered to be a spy by Pakistan. The ruling triggered criticism of the the Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) for its "poor handling" and also for its choice of Khawar Qureshi, who represented Pakistan's case before the ICJ. The Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) had recommended some other counsel, The Express Tribune reported. According to former Pakistan Bar Council Vice Chairman Farogh Naseem, Pakistan should have immediately withdrawn its March 29, 2017 declaration accepting the compulsory jurisdiction of the ICJ. Instead of contesting the matter, Pakistan should have withdrawn the declaration immediately after India took Jadhav's case to the ICJ, he said. "Why did Pakistan not take the glaring and brutal human rights violations in Kashmir before the court, despite the fact that Islamabad had a strong case in this regard?" Former Additional Attorney General Tariq Khokhar, an expert in law, regretted that Pakistan had accepted ICJ jurisdiction through a declaration, which should have been withdrawn once Pakistan knew that India would invoke the ICJ's jurisdiction against it. "Being an arbitration forum, each contesting state was allowed to nominate one person of its choice to act as an ad hoc judge at the ICJ...India did nominate one but Pakistan did not," Khokhar said, adding that Pakistan's counsel did not argue for the full allotted time either. Eminent lawyer and human rights activist Asma Jahangir suggested that rather than making the ICJ ruling a matter of ego, "we should sit down, join our heads and find a way out by going through the ruling thoroughly". "Who gave the opinion to deny consular access to Jadhav in the first place?" she asked. law expert Ahmer Bilal Soofi was of the view that Pakistan should prepare for the second phase of the case, which was "more important because it would be contested on merit and would provide Pakistan the chance to document India's intervention inside Pakistan through Jadhav". Islamabad could insist on cooperation from India on the investigation into Jadhav's activities, he said. Former law minister S M Zafar said prime facie, it was a wrong decision. "I could not understand why the ICJ issued a stay order in the Jadhav case without even understanding the case." According to him, Pakistan should change its legal strategy and concentrate more on the terrorism angle. A senior official told The Express Tribune that India had been successful in managing the ICJ's registrar office, which has vast powers to fix cases before the court. "We were very surprised how swiftly Jadhav's case was fixed before the ICJ," he said. A senior official in the law ministry told the Express Tribune that Pakistan's lead lawyer Qureshi made two mistakes. "He did not nominate ad hoc judge before the hearing and he did not respond to the argument of Indian lawyer regarding the 2008 bilateral agreement between India and Pakistan on consular access," he said. The agreement says both the states will not give consular access to terrorists. However, Haresh Salve, counsel for India, contended that the agreement was not registered with the United Nations. The official said the foreign office had also failed to register the bilateral agreement with the UN. Legal experts recommended that as the government now has a couple of months to evolve future strategy, it should not take a decision on appointment of an ad hoc judge in haste. They also wondered why Pakistan wanted to appoint foreigner as an ad hoc judge when every state prefers to nominate its own lawyers. Pakistan Bar Council executive member Raheel Kamran Sheikh said it was matter of concern that success rate of Pakistan in international arbitration cases was 2 per cent while India's success rate was 60 per cent. "We lost important cases at the international forum in the last couple of years. Likewise, we spent more than one billion rupees on lawyers' fees in those cases," he said. Sheikh said mishandling of Jadhav's case was a classic example of how in the power struggle between military and political institutions, gaps in the foreign policy and national security perspectives had grown. "And they [gaps] have grown to such an extent that if the situation is not arrested and improved immediately in the national interest by both the centres of power, irreparable damage shall be caused to the state," he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today pitched for an "evergreen revolution" to enable the country to meet the challenge faced by the agriculture sector. He emphasised the need for moving from the concept of 'food security' to 'nutrition security', for which he favoured the scientific and technological intervention. He said the government is working in this direction as part of its "dream" to ensure that the farmers' income doubles by 2022, when the country celebrates its 75th Independence day. "The population is increasing but the land is not going to increase...We have to see how the productivity increases... There should be more production in less land," Modi said while releasing a two-part book series on renowned agriculture scientist M S Swaminathan at his residence here. "The challenge in the agriculture sector remains. We keep talking about green revolution-I and green revolution-II. But the goal should be 'evergreen revolution'. We should have sustainable agricultural production," he said. He said malnutrition is a challenge and therefore the pulses need to have improved nutrition quotient. He spoke about the "economic imbalance" among various regions of the country and said this needs to be addressed because "the country cannot run for long with the imbalance". The prime minister said the potential of various regions of the country needs to be mapped and suggested integration of traditional system of farming with the scientific ways of agriculture. He said that on the pattern of industrial clusters, agriculture clusters should be created, wherein different areas could be identified with particular crops. This would also help in streamlining of storage and transportation, means for which differ with different crops, Modi said as he released the book series titled 'M.S. Swaminathan: The Quest for a world without hunger'. Talking about the government's objective of doubling the farmers' income by 2022, Modi said Swaminathan had recently given him some suggestions on which he was working. "The idea is to have less cost, more production," the prime minister said. He referred to his slogans of 'per drop, more crop' and 'lab to land' while emphasising the need for more scientific research in the field of agriculture. Mentioning the government programmes, Modi said the crop insurance under the Prime Minister's Fasal Bima Yojana has recorded a seven-fold jump in just one year of its launch. He added that after neem coating of urea, its "theft" has reduced and the consumption of the fertiliser has also gone down without affecting the production. Modi said water scarcity is a big problem and there should be a vision of at least 50 years to address this issue. This will involve sensitisation of the people regarding the seriousness of the issue, he said. "The water problem should be seen as equivalent to the human problem," he said. "For cost-effective farming, there is a need for water," he said and in this context, mentioned about the schemes like PM Krishi Sichai Yojana and interlinking of rivers. Noting that the country has 85 per cent marginal farmers, the prime minister emphasised the need for creating more awareness about the use of scientific and technological knowhow in the agriculture sector. Invoking Mahatma Gandhi, he said the Father of the Nation had said that for a hungry person, food is his God. Modi regretted that the youth of today were not getting inspired enough by the scientists like Swaminathan even while they get inspired by sportspersons, film stars or even some politicians. "I don't know whether the fault lies with the system or with the mindset but it is there," he said. Modi showered praise on Swaminathan, particularly appreciating his humility despite having seen so many prime ministers. Swaminathan said the country has not seen any famine after the 'great Bengal famine' during the time of Independence but "there is no time to relax". He said there is "so much to do" and ensure "nutrition security wherein everybody gets balanced food, clean drinking water and sanitation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The police today rescued 21 women engaged in flesh trade and arrested 23 people after sealing seven property here and in Cuttack, a senior police officer said. "In exercise of power conferred under section 18 (1) of Immoral Traffic (prevention) Act, 1956, the Commissioner of Police, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack ordered for eviction of offenders from and closure of hotels/houses/rooms/rooms/place/portion thereof which was used as brothel by way of attachment for a period of one year from the date of its actual attachment," Commissioner of Police Y B Khurania told reporters. Khurania said 21 women engaged in flesh trade were rescued from these brothels and 23 people have been arrested during search and raids. Officials involved in the raid said the houses, hotels and beauty parlours were located at Ashok Nagar, Bapuji Nagar, Laxmi Sagar, Chandrasekharpur and VSS Nagar of Bhubaneswar and Ranihat in Cuttack. "Since these units had past records of operating sex racket, we have taken such steps," Khurania said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray today said he is prepared to forego power and withdraw all the party's ministers from the BJP-led government in Maharashtra if Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is willing to announce a total loan waiver for debt-ridden farmers. Uddhav, however, made it clear that the Sena would continue outside support to the BJP government. "What are you engaging in... Mid-term poll surveys? If you have the courage, waive loans of farmers. I will opt out of power by withdrawing all my ministers but will continue to support your government from outside," Uddhav said in a day- long agriculture convention organised by the Sena in Chopada town here. Uddhav said the Sena is often questioned on criticising its ally (BJP) and told to withdraw from the government if it has a problem. "I will not waste a second to kick away power when time comes... We are committed to the well-being of farmers and people. If once we get into the battle field against you, we will not back out till we win. The government has changed but problems continue unabated. This is the same CM who used to demand a loan waiver while he was in the Opposition. Today he has forgotten everything," he alleged. "If loan waiver is a temporary solution, so be it. But it has to be done now. Whatever happens in the future, we will see," he said. Uddhav also criticised the BJP's ambitious Mumbai-Nagpur Samurddhi Expressway project and said, "the project may be good to bring both capitals nearer, but it is wrong to take away lands of farmers forcibly for the Expressway. Make farmers prosperous first and then carry out your project." "We cannot ruin farmers' lives and build the Samruddhi Expressway. Such development is of no use," he told a gathering at the convention attended by Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana chief and MP, Raju Shetti, agri-experts, farmers and others including senior Congress leader Vinayakdada Patil. In a veiled attack at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, over note ban and his poll promises, Uddhav said, "'Mann ki baat' should stop now and 'farmers ki baat' should begin. It was promised ahead of the (2014) LS polls that black money would be brought back and Rs 15 lakh would be deposited in every Indian citizen's account. Now please deposit Rs 15 lakh in every (debt-ridden) farmer's account." "It is the common man and the farmers' who were hit most by demonetisation. They are still suffering," he added. Uddhav also trained his guns on state BJP chief Raosaheb Danve over his recent remarks that farmers continue to complain (and cry) despite the state government doling out sops to bail out Tur growers. "Now you will have to cry," he said, adding the farmers have been insulted at a time when the government is not procuring the Tur produce and also not giving a loan waiver to help them tide over the agrarian crisis resulting out of drought conditions, unseasonal rains and lack of good market price for their produce. He alleged that the government imported Tur even after the Centre-appointed Arvind Subramaniam committee predicted a bumper crop this time. Several Shiv Sena ministers, MLAs and MPs including Sanjay Raut were present at the event. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An association of retired Kendriya Vidyalaya teachers has written to the Centre over the delay in payment of dearness allowance (DA) to them. The Retired Teachers Welfare Society, which shot off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said the DA dues are pending since July 2016. "We wrote to the prime minister in March and again in April drawing his attention to the issue of non-payment of 7 per cent DA to retired teachers of KVS. The PMO forwarded the letter to the Ministry of Human Resources Development in mid- April, but no action has been taken yet," the society's general secretary, C M Dubey, said today. The letter was sent by the Bhopal chapter of the society. On recommendations of the Union Cabinet, 7 per cent DA was payable from July 2016 and subsequently 4 per cent from January 2017 to the regular as well as retired employees of the Central government, including KVS teachers, Dubey said. "The DA is being paid to regular employees, but not to retired ones. This is causing hardship to a large number of retired personnel," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Supreme Court order, commonly cited by a public authority to deny "personal information" of officials, cannot be a ground for refusing records under the RTI Act, Information Commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu said today. In his presentation on "Scope of Privacy of 'Public' Servant" at a seminar on RTI implementation here, Acharyulu said in the Girish Ramachandra Deshpande case, the apex court in 2012 had ordered that his Special Leave Petition challenging the order of Bombay High Court is to be dismissed. "Dismissal of Special Leave Petition means the Supreme Court did not permit the appellant to file an appeal over the order of division Bench of Bombay High Court," he said. The case relates to Deshpande, who had filed an RTI for copies of memos, censures issued against an officer but the authorities claimed it to be personal information and rejected it. This was upheld by the Central Information Commission and the Bombay High Court. Deshpande filed a Special Leave Petition before the Supreme Court challenging the high court order which had claimed these records to be personal information as it was a matter between an employee and the employer. The SLP was dismissed by the Supreme Court with some observations which are being cited by public authorities to deny information when an RTI applicant demands service records of a public servant. Citing constitutional provisions and a number of Supreme Court orders, Acharyulu today said the observations made by the Supreme Court cannot be a ground to deny information. He said the Supreme Court in its 2010 order in the case of Bhakra Beas Management Board versus Krishan Kumar Vij had held that mere dismissal of an SLP at a preliminary stage does not constitute a binding precedent, and accordingly, any order. He also cited a Supreme Court order by noted judge R C Lahoti which had said in any case, the dismissal would remain a dismissal by a non-speaking order where no reasons have been assigned and no law has been declared by the Supreme Court. "The dismissal is not of the appeal but of the special leave petition. Even if the merits have been gone into, they are the merits of the special leave petition only. In our opinion neither doctrine of merger norArticle 141of the Constitution is attracted to such an order," it had said in 2000. Acharyulu said, in the Girish case, the apex court discussed the facts in five or six paragraphs and held the matter need not be heard in the appeal. "The mention and discussion of the facts give character of 'speaking order' to it. But the merits or facts discussed are only limited to the extent of allowing or dismissing the 'special leave' and it does not mean that all the facts...Were heard, discussed and decided for the purpose of laying down law on those questions," he said. Acharyulu asserted that the disciplinary action or complaints against a public servant, cannot fall under the categories of private domain such as family, marriage, procreation, motherhood, child bearing and education. He said the apex court in the matter of R Rajgopal v State of Tamil Nadu in 1996 had clearly stated that the information that formed part of public record or court record does not give rise to any privacy, except in cases of female victims of sexual crimes where her name shall not be revealed. "When compared and analysed, the ratio in Rajgopal was in full-fledged writ appeal which was heard on merits was not over ruled by the order of dismissal of SLP in Girish," he said in his presentation. Acharyulu, who was a professor at NALSAR, Hyderabad, said as it was not writ appeal there was no opportunity to bring the ratio in the Rajagopal case to the notice of the Division Bench of Supreme Court. "Another vital point is that the memos, complaints or disciplinary action related information is not unconnected with public activity, which was also not discussed in the order. It might have happened because it was not a full writ appeal but a hearing on SLP only," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It is good for students aspiring to pursue higher education in Japan, with the Japanese government offering scholarships for Indian students traveling to the island country. As part of the initiative that seeks to increase the number of foreign students in Japanese educational institutes, the country's government is offering scholarships of Rs 59 lakhs and Rs 42 lakhs for undergraduate and post-graduate students respectively. "The main idea is to attract maximum students to the Japanese higher education institutes to foster mutual ties between countries and give them the best circumstances to conduct their research," Daisuke Kodama, First Secretary, JIC from Embassy of Japan told PTI. Under the programme, students will be exempted from paying the tuition fees, besides being given "an attractive amount" as monthly allowance. "In case of PhD students, the monthly allowance is Rs 82,000 and a total benefit for 3 years is equivalent to Rs 42 lakhs," Kodama said. He said currently 1,015 Indian students were pursuing higher education in different universities in Japan, and that the Japanese government hoped to "double the number of international students by 2020." The selection procedure for scholarships for undergraduate students will include a written examination followed by an interview. Examination subjects include Japanese as foreign language, English, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics and Biology, depending on the field of study. For admission to post-graduate courses, applicants have to qualify a preliminary selection conducted on the basis of their research proposals, following which a written examination in Japanese as foreign language and English, and an interview will be held. "Post-graduate courses in Japan are research oriented and hence aspirants are expected to conduct their own research even in master's course. That's why identifying research topics and research proposals is so important," Kodama said. Apart from free tuition fees and monthly stipend, students will also get placement assistance. "One of the most significant characteristics of higher education in Japan is the concept of social implementation. Laboratory work shares a strong relationship with industrial outlook. Hence, there are numerous job prospects in Japan especially in research and academics," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Top nuclear scientists today welcomed the government nod to 10 indigenous pressurised heavy water nuclear reactors and said it will bring India to the "frontline of the global nuclear manufacturing and supply chain". The Union Cabinet had earlier this week cleared a proposal to indigenously build 10 atomic reactors, the largest ever approval granted for such facilities in one go. India's installed nuclear power capacity is 6,780 MW from 22 operational plants. The new reactors will add another 7,000 MW to it. "(This) has sent out a strong message of the robustness of our domestic nuclear programme," a statement issued by the Department of Atomic Energy quoted top scientists who have served the body in the past. These include Dr Anil Kakodkar, who was one of the key players behind the Indo-US nuclear deal; Dr M R Srinivasan, under whom fast breeder reactors got a boost; Dr R K Sinha under whose watch the Kudankulam project materialised. All of them have headed the Atomic Energy Commission in the past. "The decision to construct reactors in fleet mode is unprecedented in the history of India's atomic energy programme and demonstrates the determined vision of the present government to pursue accelerated expansion of nuclear power to ensure the nation's energy security and meet India's clean energy commitments," the statement read. The total share of nuclear power in the country currently stands at a measly 3.5 per cent. The 10 reactors would be built at Mahi Banswara in Rajasthan, Chutka in Madhya Pradesh, Kaiga in Karnataka and Gorakhpur in Haryana. 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 generate more than 33,400 jobs in direct and indirect employment. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Scotland Yard will arrest WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange if he leaves the Ecuadorean embassy in London despite Sweden dropping a rape investigation against him, British police said today. He is now wanted in London on the lesser charge of skipping bail and failing to surrender to a court. The Metropolitan Police (MPS) statement came as it emerged that Sweden's director of public prosecutions, Marianne Ny, had decided to drop the rape investigation into the Wikileaks founder. "Westminster Magistrates' Court issued a warrant for the arrest of Julian Assange following him failing to surrender to the court on the 29 June 2012. The Metropolitan Police Service is obliged to execute that warrant should he leave the embassy," the Met Police statement said. "Whilst Mr Assange was wanted on a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) for an extremely serious offence, the MPS response reflected the serious nature of that crime. Now that the situation has changed and the Swedish authorities have discontinued their investigation into that matter, Mr Assange remains wanted for a much less serious offence," the statement said. It said the MPS will provide a level of resourcing which is proportionate to that offence. The Met declined to give details on its "operational plan" on Assange, who has lived in the Ecuadorean embassy in London since 2012, claiming that he fears being extradited to the US if sent to Sweden. The 45-year-old could face trial in the US over the leaking hundreds of thousands of secret US military and diplomatic documents. "Director of Public Prosecution, Marianne Ny, has today decided to discontinue the investigation regarding suspected rape (lesser degree) by Julian Assange," a brief statement from Stockholm said. According to reports from Sweden, the Swedish prosecution hassaid that the decision to discontinue the investigation is not because they have been able to make a full assessment of the evidence, but because they don't see possibilities to advance the investigation. "So we won't make any statements on the issue of guilt," the Swedish prosecution claims. Assange reacted to the by tweeting a photo of himself smiling inside the Ecuadorian Embassy, his home for the last five years. "Focus now moves to UK," a Wikileaks spokesperson said. In a report last year, the UN had called on Swedish and British authorities to free Assange from "arbitrary detention" in a report released last year and the UK had failed to overturn the findings on appeal. Scotland Yard reportedly ran up costs of over 12 million pounds with 24/7 police security presence outside the Ecuadorian Embassy building, which was scaled back in 2015. The Swedish investigation into alleged rape allegations against Assange has been dropped days after Chelsea Manning, who provided Wikileaks with classified intelligence on Iraq and Afghanistan that shocked the world, was freed from prison in the US. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shiv Sena legislator Anil Parab has asked the Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) to withdraw "illegal toll" being levied on vehicles entering the airport premises. If MIAL didn't withdraw the toll of Rs 130 per vehicle, it would face Sena-style agitation, Parab, a member of state Legislative Council, said in a letter. Parab also objected to collection of parking fee from vehicles entering the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. "Not all vehicles coming to the Airport stop there. This (toll) is causing great distress to the people," he said. "If the toll is not withdrawn, the Sena will launch an agitation in its own style," the letter said. An airport official however said the MIAL had not yet received any such letter. MIAL is a joint venture between GVK group and the Airports Authority of India (AAI). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Seven persons, suspected of being child lifters, were lynched by villagers in Seraikela- Kharswan and East Singhbhum districts, the police said today. The body of a man who was missing after three of his friends were beaten to death yesterday under Rajnagar police station area was found today from Dandugungri Pahari under the same police station area of Seraikela-Kharswan district, said Superintendent of Police Rakesh Bansal. Three others too, suspected of being child lifters, were lynched by villagers yesterday on suspicion at Nagadih in East Singhbhum district. Asked about the situation in Rajnagar today, the SP said it is peaceful and well under control. Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das today announced Rs 2 lakh compensation to the family members of each of the victims lynched by the villagers. Das strongly condemned the incidents and directed the officials to identify the miscreants who spread rumours about child lifters and those taking law in their hands. Announcing the compensation, Das asked the officials to ensure that the prevailing peace and tranquillity was not disturbed at any cost, said an official statement here. The chief minister also appealed the people not to pay heed to the rumours that could create disturbance in the society and lead to law and order problem. Das urged people to inform the police instead for appropriate actions against the culprits. Last week two persons were beaten to death and as many injured by a mob on suspicion that they were child lifters in Uranium township of Jadugora in East Singhbhum district. Agitated locals today protested the lynching of three persons at Nagadih in East Singhbhum district and blocked the Bistupur-Station road, demanding arrest of those involved in the incident. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A vending machine that dispenses luxury cars to well-heeled buyers is the latest space-saving innovation in land-starved Singapore -- just don't try to shake it if it gets stuck. Used car dealer Gary Hong has taken to displaying his wares in a glass-fronted, 15-storey building. Like choosing a chocolate bar, the buyer can see everything on display, before pressing some buttons and having their choice delivered. Hong, 45, said he got the inspiration for the new showroom during a trip with his four-year-son to buy toy cars. "From there I realised that the Matchbox arrangement is a mini version of our inventories that can be displayed and arranged nicely," he told AFP. From the comfort of a plush sofa on the ground floor, potential buyers can order a Ferrari, Maserati or Lamborghini among other brands, all with the touch of a hand-held device. Once a selection is made, a promotional video of that car is played on a flat-screen television while the vehicle is automatically transported down by a lift. "When the customers see a car that is presented in a best way like a beauty pageant, they just decide that this is a winner, and we got a deal," said Hong, who added that sales have risen by 30 percent since the move to the new premises in December. With a population density ranked by the World Bank to be third highest in the world, behind Macau and Monaco, land comes at a premium in the tiny city-state. But Hong said his unorthodox Sg$3.0 million solution can boost land use. The company stores between 70-80 cars at its facility -- an amount that would otherwise require five times the space if the vehicles are parked traditionally, Hong said. A similar car vending concept currently exists in the US, through online auto retailer Carvana, which was last reported by US media to have five such facilities around the country as of April. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Syria today condemned a US-led coalition strike on pro-government forces as a "brazen attack" and said it would "not be intimidated" after the surprise assault. US-led warplanes carried out strike yesterday in the east of the country against a convoy of pro-government forces headed towards a remote coalition garrison near the border with Jordan. "On Thursday at 16:30, the so-called international coalition attacked one of the Syrian Arab Army's positions on the Al-Tanf road in the Syrian Badia region, producing a number of martyrs and causing material damage," a military source told Syrian state media. "This brazen attack by the so-called international coalition exposes the falseness of its claims to be fighting terrorism," it added. "The Syrian Arab Army is fighting terrorism on its territory, and no party has the right to determine the course of its operations," the source said. "The Syrian Arab Army will... Not be intimidated by the attempts of the so-called coalition to stop it from performing its sacred duties." In a statement, the US-led coalition said it had struck "pro-regime forces... That posed a threat to US and partner forces." The coalition said the strike came after unsuccessful "Russian attempts to dissuade Syrian pro-regime movement" as well as "a coalition aircraft show of force, and the firing of warning shots." Syrian state media gave no precise toll in the attack, but the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, reported eight killed "most of them non-Syrian." An array of regular and irregular forces are battling alongside the government against rebels, including Russian and Iranian soldiers, and militants from Iraq and Lebanon's Hezbollah group. The Thursday strike comes in the context of growing tension over which forces will take on the Islamic State group in Syria's east. President Bashar al-Assad's army is trying to prevent US-backed forces from leading that fight. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Syria today condemned a US-led coalition strike on pro-government forces as a "brazen attack" and said it would "not be intimidated" after the surprise assault. Russia condemned the strike as "illegitimate" and said it could harm efforts to fight Islamic State (IS) group jihadists. US-led warplanes carried out yesterday's strike in the east of the country against a convoy of pro-government forces headed towards a remote coalition garrison near the border with Jordan. "On Thursday at 16:30, the so-called international coalition attacked one of the Syrian Arab Army's positions on the Al-Tanf road in the Syrian Badia region, producing a number of martyrs and causing material damage," a military source told Syrian state media. "This brazen attack by the so-called international coalition exposes the falseness of its claims to be fighting terrorism," it added. "The Syrian Arab Army is fighting terrorism on its territory, and no party has the right to determine the course of its operations," the source said. "The Syrian Arab Army will...Not be intimidated by the attempts of the so-called coalition to stop it from performing its sacred duties." Syrian ally Russia also denounced the US-led strike. "It is illegitimate, unlawful and yet another gross violation of Syria's sovereignty," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in televised comments while on a trip to Cyprus. In a statement, the US-led coalition said it had struck "pro-regime forces...That posed a threat to US and partner forces." The coalition said the strike came after unsuccessful "Russian attempts to dissuade Syrian pro-regime movement" as well as "a coalition aircraft show of force, and the firing of warning shots". Lavrov said he was "unaware" that Russia had been given any warning of the strike, and said preliminary information suggested there were civilian casualties. "We are still confirming the details but according to some reports several dozen civilians died as a result of this strike," he was reported as saying by Russian media. Syrian state media gave no precise toll in the attack, but the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, reported eight killed, "most of them non-Syrian". A statement from Centcom, the US military command in the Middle East, said two strikes "destroyed two front-end loaders, a piece of construction equipment, a tactical vehicle and a tank". An array of regular and irregular forces are battling alongside the government against rebels, including Russian and Iranian soldiers and militants from Iraq and Lebanon's Hezbollah group. Yesterday's strike comes in the context of growing tension over which forces will take on IS in Syria's east. President Bashar al-Assad's army is trying to prevent US-backed forces from leading that fight. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A US court has sentenced two persons to three years in prison after charging them with hate crime for brutally assaulting a Sikh-American man last year in California. Chase Little and Colton Leblanc were found guilty of felony assault and hate crime charges. They were sentenced to a three-year term in the California state prison for attacking Maan Singh Khalsa. Khalsa, a Sikh American father and IT specialist, was brutally assaulted in Richmond Bay area, California in September last year. The Sikh-American was stopped at an intersection and the attackers got out of their truck and assaulted by hitting his face repeatedly, knocking off his turban and cutting his religiously-mandated unshorn hair with a knife. "The recognition of the attack as a hate crime - as harm to my dignity and my entire community - is the first step in the process," said Khalsa, who had recognised his attackers during his statement in court yesterday. "I still consider you my brothers, and I hope that you will learn about me and my community, and one day consider me your brother, too," he said according to a statement issued yesterday by the rights group named The Sikh Coalition. Prior to the charges, the coalition, community leaders, and a group of civil rights organisations advocated vigorously on behalf of Khalsa, urging for a hate crime investigation and prosecution. "The attack upon Khalsa based upon his perceived religion and identity is an attack upon us all," Contra Costa County Deputy District Attorney Simon O'Connellsaid. "As a community we must do better and it is my hope that today's sentence moves us further in that direction," he said. The Sikh Coalition said in the last 15 years after the 9/11 attack, Sikhs remain hundreds of times more likely to be targeted in cases of profiling, bigotry and backlash than the average American. In March this year, a Sikh man was shot in Kent city of Washington state after the attacker told him to "go back to your own country", it said. In May, Sikh-American Prabhjot Singh who has experienced hate violence firsthand testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee about the urgent need to address hate crimes in the United States. "Acknowledging that this bias-based attack is a hate crime under state law both recognises the deep dignitary harm to Khalsa, and ensures that we, as a society, confront the problems of Islamophobia, racism and xenophobia that make the Sikh community a target for violence," the coalition's staff attorney Pawanpreet Kaur said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A wanted ULFA(I) militant has been killed in an encounter with security forces in Udalguri district, officials said today. Acting on intelligence inputs, a joint operation was launched by the Army and the police in the district yesterday where the militant was gunned down in an exchange of fire with the security forces, a defence spokesperson said. Arms and ammunitions were seized from the encounter site, the spokesperson said. The militant, Ramesh Bora, was the deputy of another hardcore ULFA(I) militant Rajan Deka and the self-styled 'area commander' of the outfit's Udalgudi and Darrang districts, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The mortal remains of Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave were consigned to flames on the banks of the river Narmada at Bandrabhan in Madhya Pradesh's Hoshangabad district today, with full state honours. Dave, who died in New Delhi yesterday at the age of 60, had expressed the desire to be cremated on the banks of the Narmada, a river that was close to his heart and ran through his home state of Madhya Pradesh. The funeral pyre was lit by his brother and nephew amid a tearful adieu by those present on the occasion at Bandrabhan, where Dave used to organise international river festivals to create awareness among people on the issue of conserving rivers, BJP spokesman Rajnish Agrawal told PTI. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union ministers Harsh Vardhan, Uma Bharti, Anant Kumar, Narendra Singh Tomar and Thawar Chand Gehlot, senior RSS leaders Bhaiyyaji Joshi, Dattatraya Hosbole and Suresh Soni, BJP general secretary Kailash Vijaywargiya among others were present on the occasion. The mortal remains of Dave were brought early this morning to Bandrabhan from his home, 'Nadi Ka Ghar', in the state capital. Chouhan and other BJP leaders lent their shoulders to the departed leader. A guard of honour was also given as a mark of respect him. The Madhya Pradesh government yesterday declared a two-day state mourning following Dave's death. Leaders cutting across party lines expressed profound grief over his demise. A pall of gloom yesterday descended on 'Nadi Ka Ghar' with Dave's supporters flocking to the three-storey building set up by him which was also used to run Narmada Samagra, an NGO for conserving the river regarded as the lifeline of MP. Born on July 6, 1956 at Barnagar in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain district, Dave, a bachelor, used to live in this house whenever he was in Bhopal. The house was his nerve centre for running the river conservation campaign as well as to formulate strategies for contesting elections. Dave, in his will dated July 23, 2012, said, "If you want to cherish my memories, plant trees and save them. This would give me pleasure," He also mentioned in his will that he did not want any statue, memorial or award instituted in his name. The US has slapped new sanctions on eight members of Venezuela's Supreme Court, accusing them of abusing power and damaging their nation's democratic fabric as the Trump administration raises concerns that socialist President Nicolas Maduro is moving toward one-party, authoritarian rule. Those blacklisted by the Treasury Department include Maikel Moreno, the president of the pro-government Supreme Court, as well as all seven justices who signed a ruling in late March stripping the opposition-controlled congress of its last remaining powers. The ruling was later partially reversed amid a backlash of international criticism, but it sparked a protest movement that has continued for nearly two months and left more than 40 people dead. "The Venezuelan people are suffering from a collapsing economy brought about by their government's mismanagement and corruption. Members of the country's Supreme Court of Justice have exacerbated the situation by consistently interfering with the legislative branch's authority," US Treasury Secretary Steven T Mnuchin yesterday said. "By imposing these targeted sanctions, the United States is supporting the Venezuelan people in their efforts to protect and advance democratic governance in their country," he said. The action marked second time the Trump administration has stripped high-level Venezuelan officials of their US assets and banned Americans from any business dealings with them. In February, the US ordered sanctions against Vice President Tareck El Aissami, accusing him of playing a major role in international drug trafficking. Earlier yesterday, Trump expressed dismay about Venezuela's troubles, asking aloud how a nation sitting atop the world's largest oil reserves could be stricken by so much poverty and unrest. "You sort of have to wonder: Why is that happening? How is that possible? Hopefully that will change and they can use those assets for the good. Because right now what's happening is really a disgrace to humanity," Trump said after meeting at the White House with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. Venezuela's Supreme Court has long been packed with government loyalists, some of dubious legal qualifications. Moreno first gained notoriety as an attorney defending a group of supporters of then President Hugo Chavez who fired into a crowd during a 2002 coup attempt. Moreno was later accused by an exiled Supreme Court magistrate of belonging to the so-called "Band of Dwarf Judges" that worked hand in glove with top administration officials to manipulate cases. In 2006, he was removed from a lower court bench but later named to a diplomatic post in Rome. Another sanctioned magistrate, Calixto Ortega, is a long-time diplomat who was sent by Maduro in 2014 to Aruba to negotiate the release of a retired army general who had been arrested by the Netherlands, which runs the Caribbean island's foreign affairs, on a US drug warrant. He was named to the Supreme Court after losing a race for congress in 2015 congressional elections that the opposition won by a landslide. The judges' devotion to the government is indisputable. The court's constitutional chamber declared null and void eight National Assembly laws between January and October 2016, after just one such ruling in the previous 200 years, legal experts say. In issuing its sanctions ruling, the US Treasury Department cited several court rulings since the opposition gained control of congress. One was the approval of Maduro's budget and his appointment of two government sympathizers to the National Electoral Council, decisions that are supposed to require National Assembly approval. Another was a ruling a year ago declaring null all acts of the National Assembly issued while it remains in contempt of an earlier ruling requiring the congress to unseat three elected lawmakers over still-unproven allegations of voting fraud. There was no immediate reaction from the Maduro government, but in the past it has disputed that the country's justice system is politicized. Maduro has said he had no prior knowledge of the Supreme Court ruling against congress in March, pointing to the objections raised by his chief prosecutor as proof that Venezuela's institutions operate independently. The new sanctions come as Maduro is facing increasing international pressure to hold elections. On Wednesday, the UN Security Council discussed the crisis in Venezuela for the first time at the request of the United States. The Washington-based Organization of American States is holding a rare foreign ministers council session on the troubled South American nation later this month. Maduro has vowed to resolve his nation's crisis by convoking a special assembly to rewrite Venezuela's constitution. The opposition rejects that plan as another attempt by the president to tighten his grip on power, and opposition leaders are calling on Venezuelans to continue to take to the streets in protest. Hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans have participated in near-daily anti-government street demonstrations since the Supreme Court's ruling in late March. The protests typically end with state security forces launching tear gas and rubber bullets at demonstrators, some of whom fire back with rocks and gasoline bombs. More than 2,000 people have been detained and several hundred put through military tribunals, according to Foro Penal, a nonprofit lawyers' cooperative defending many of those charged. Hundreds have been injured and at least 43 killed, a toll that equals the deaths in the nation's last wave of political upheaval in 2014. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US-led international coalition, comprising more than 60 countries, has retaken over 55 per cent of the territories once controlled by the Islamic State terror group, US Defence Secretary James Mattis said today. "We are leading a comprehensive international campaign to crush ISIS's claim of invincibility, to deny ISIS a geographic haven from which to hatch murder, eliminate ISIS's ability to operate externally and eradicate their ability to recruit and finance terrorist operations," Mattis said. "We have retaken over 55 per cent of ISIS territory there in the core. Over four million people have been liberated. And not one inch of territory seized from ISIS has been recaptured by them," Mattis told a Pentagon conference along with General Joseph Dunford, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff. He said the US had fought ISIS elements from Southeast Asia to Africa. "Collaboration among many nations' intelligence services continues to complicate and blunt ISIS operations even as ISIS continues to pursue and conduct attacks against the United States and our allies through centralise directed plots, also through inspired attacks," he said, giving an update to reporters on the progress in the fight against ISIS. Mattis said from the Philippines to Europe and beyond, while ISIS remained dangerous, they were no longer carrying an air of strength. "In Afghanistan two weeks ago, President Ghani announced we had killed the leader of ISIS Khorasan plus approximately two-thirds of their strength been killed during very tough operations mostly in Nangarhar Province," he said. Lauding France for leading a "brilliant" two-year ongoing campaign in the Lake Chad basin in West Africa to throw ISIS off balance, Matttis said the country's 4,000 troops were on the ground to support US' African allies. In Libya, the coalition struck a significant ISIS presence there in January of this year, he said. "Our attack against their concentrated strength was highly effective, and ISIS did not own any major territory any longer there. Elsewhere, too, there have been successes. But in Iraq and Syria lies the core area of ISIS - of a geographic caliphate," he said. Noting that attacks in Istanbul, Paris and Brussels were planned and coordinated out of ISIS's so-called capital in Raqqa, attis said additional eminent threats to many nations require America to move with urgency against all strongholds still in their hands. East Mosul has fallen after tough fighting by the Iraqi Security Forces with US and coalition support, he said, adding that since January it has been a bit normal with businesses reopening, cleanup underway and kids back in school. Dunford said the US-led coalition, had reduced ISIS-held territory, limited their freedom of movement, destroyed a great deal of their leadership, reduced the flow of foreign fighters into and from the region and diminished their financial resources. "Perhaps most importantly, we've undermined the credibility of their narrative that there's a physical caliphate in Iraq and Syria," he said. Dunford said coalition airstrikes and ground operations had struck approximately 2,600 ISIS-held gas and oil targets, 1500 tanker trucks. "That's resulted in ISIS having the lowest revenue at any point since 2014," he said, adding that the coalition has also removed the dreaded outfit's key leaders from the battlefield. "These losses have limited ISIS' ability to plan and direct external attacks, recruit foreign fighters, broadcast their narrative and fund their brand of terror," Dunford said. He said the US' strategic approach was to cut the connectivity between ISIS affiliates and associates, specifically the foreign fighter flow, their illicit resources and their message. "Our objective is to drive down ISIS's capability to a point where local forces, with tailored support from the international community, are able to provide security. We're doing this today in Libya, Somalia and Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, his Deputy Keshav Prasad Maurya, Union minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti among other prominent leaders and MPs will visit Bihar to showcase the achievements of the Narendra Modi government in the past three years. The Narendra Modi government will complete its third year in office on May 26, 2017. "Our prominent national and state leaders will visit various parts of the country to showcase the achievements of the Narendra Modi government in the past three years," senior Bihar BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi told reporters here. "As part of the party's massive campaign, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, his Deputy Keshav Prasad Maurya, Union minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti among other prominent leaders and MPs will be visiting the state between May 25 to June 15," Sushil Modi said. Proposal along with the list of prominent leaders, who will visit Bihar to showcase achievements, has come to the state unit, he said while making it clear that the date has not been finalised yet with regard to visit of any leader including Yogi Adityanath. "After holding talks with the leaders, who will visit Bihar, and their convenience, the party will decide as to which leader will go where," the former Deputy Chief Minister said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) TVs, coffee machines, audio systems and other several home appliances which are connected to the internet, can now be under threat from hackers as warned by leading antivirus software, Avast. The Prague-based company registers 444 million users and prevents 3.5 billion malware attacks and 500 million visits to harmful websites every month and thus listed a number of vulnerable appliances such as TV sets, audio systems, coffee machines and toys. The second day of 14th GST Council Meeting, chaired by Finance Minister opened today morning with services and handful of commodities on its agenda. The Council will fix the taxation rates of these items under one of the four slabs mandated in the GST Act. Finance ministers of some states have called for categorising the basic services under one of the two lower slabs on grounds that placing them in higher slabs will make it difficult for the common man to bear them. The GST Act allows fours tax slabs - 5 per cent, 12 per cent, 18 per cent and 28 per cent. Moreover, Government has asserted in the past that services with higher abatement will be placed in one of the lower tax slabs under GST. GST rates to be decided for precious metals gold, silver Apart from services, the GST Council will also decide on precious metals gold, and certain other goods that were not taken up in the first day of the meeting. As for gold, Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Issac presented a case for taxing the yellow metal at 5 per cent instead of 4 per cent, as proposed by the Centre. On the opening day of the meeting, he argued that gold is not a daily use commodity and placing it under lower tax slabs will not benefit those belonging to the lower economic strata. GST rates to be decided for biscuits, footwear, packaged cereals In addition to this, the Council will also take up biscuits, footwear, packaged cereals and more. Tax rates for most of the commodities were fixed on the first day itself, with around 81 per cent of the commodities taken up yesterday being placed under the 18 per cent tax slab. The GST rates for all but six items were finalised at the first day, headed by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and comprising state representatives. With the rollout of GST, foodgrains will cost less as the GST Council yesterday decided to exempt the daily-use commodities from the levy. Prices of foodgrains, especially wheat and rice, will come down as they will be exempt from GST. Currently, some states levy Value Added Tax (VAT) on them. Milk, sugar, rice exempted Common use products like hair oil, soaps and toothpaste will be charged with a single national sales tax or GST of 18 per cent instead of present 22-24 per cent tax incidence through a combination of central and state government levies. Milk and curd will continue to be exempt from taxation when the Goods and Service Tax (GST) replaced current indirect taxes. Sweets will attract 5 per cent levy. Daily-use items like sugar, tea, coffee (barring instant coffee) and edible oil will attract the lowest tax rate of 5 per cent, almost the same as current incidence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for measures to ensure timely rollout of GST, which is scheduled on July 1 this year. No scope on rethinking on July 1 deadline: Arun Jaitley Low-cost transportation in railways is exempted from GST Erroneous reports in media about small and mid-size cars attracting more tax under GST, taxes on these goods are similar to what they were before, says Arun Jaitley Telecom, financial services to attract #GST of 18 per cent; 28% tax for race club, betting and cinema halls: FM Five per cent GST to be levied on cab aggregators like Ola and Uber, says Jaitley Mobile users will now have to shell out more money with govt taxing the telecom sector with 18% Telecom sector to be taxed at 18% Net effect of GST implantation won't be inflationary. Once input credits start, actual tax incidence will come down says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Hotels and Lodges with tariffis ranging between 1000-2500 will have a tax of 12%, between 2500-5000 to have 18% tax Hotels and lodges with tariffs less Rs 1000 will be taxed at 5% Hope to take remaining decisions in the next meeting of GST Council on June 3, says Arun Jaitley Air-conditioners, refrigerators & washing machines will attract the peak rate of 28% in GST 5 Star restaurants to have luxury tax, says Finance Minister Restaurants with a turover of less than 50 lakh can go for a compensation of 5%, Non-ac 12%, with AC-18% GST bill is going to be consumer friendly. Healthcare and education to be exempted: FM A set of services were exempted at present. Most have been grandfathered and those exemptions will countinue, says Arun Jaitley Services will be taxed in four different slabs: 5%, 12%, standard rate of 18% and luxury rate of 28% Finance Minister Arun Jaitley says to exempt healthcare and education from Goods and Services Tax The GST rates on telecom, financial services have been fixed at 18%, while healthcare and education have been exempted from service tax on the second day of the GST Council meet in Srinagar. Decision is yet to be made on gold, silver and other goods. The two-day GST Council meet is drawing a lot of interest, much like the annual budget, as the prices of many goods and services get determined. The GST Council on Thursday made good progress and categorised 80 to 90 per cent goods and services under the four tax slabs stipulated under the GST Act. The fitment of rates has brought good news for the middle class as essential commodities have been placed in the lowest tax bracket, while foodgrains have been completely exempted. This means the prices of commodities such as rice, dal, sugar, will go down from July 1 when the GST comes into effect. However, those who were planning to buy a new car could be forced pay more after July 1 as most vehicles fall in the higher tax basket. Here's how the GST will affect the current prices of different commodities: Daily use products Milk and curd will continue to be exempt from taxation once the GST is effective. Sweets will attract 5 per cent tax under the GST. Daily-use items like sugar, tea, coffee (barring instant coffee) and edible oil will attract the lowest tax rate of 5 per cent, almost the same as under the current tax structure. Cereals will be in exempt list. But what is to be done with packaged and branded food that has to be separately decided today. Prices of food grains, especially wheat and rice, will come down as they will be exempt from the GST. Currently, some states levy VAT on them. Food grains and common-use products like hair oil, soaps and toothpaste as also electricity will cost less from July 1. These items at present attract 22-24 per cent tax through a combination of central and state government levies. The GST Council put aerated drinks in the 28 per cent bracket. Electricity and electrical appliances The GST tax on coal has been brought down to 5 per cent from the current tax incidence of 11.69 per cent, thereby making electricity generation cheaper. Besides, a clean energy cess will be levied on coal, lignite and peat production at the rate of Rs 400 per tonne. ACs and refrigerators will fall in the 28 per cent tax slab while life-saving drugs have been kept at 5 per cent rate. All capital goods and all industrial intermediaries would attract 18 per cent tax instead of 28 per cent. Luxury items On gold, states demanded a 4 per cent tax even though the rate is not among the 5, 12, 18 and 28 per cent approved bands. The GST Council agreed to impose cess on luxury goods over and above the peak tax rate of 28 per cent. Vehicles Large cars with engine greater than 1500 cc and SUVs with length more than 4m and engine greater than 1500 cc will attract cess of 15 per cent. Motorcycles with engine of more than 350 cc will attract 3 per cent cess and an equal amount of levy will be applying to aircrafts for personal use and yachts. Tobacco products Filter and non-filter cigarettes not exceeding 65 mm will attract cess of 5 per cent plus Rs 1,591 per 1000 sticks. For cigars, a hefty levy of 21 per cent or Rs 4,170 per 1000 sticks, whichever is higher, would be levied. Branded gutkha will be slapped with a cess of 72 per cent, while smoking mixtures for pipes and cigarettes will attract a levy 290 per cent. Tax rates for bidis will be decided today, along with gold, footwear and branded items. In a bid to make housing in the national capital affordable, the Delhi government on Wednesday declared 89 villages as urban areas which will help the authorities develop infrastructure projects in such localities. Stuck for nearly two years, the policy was finally given the green light when Urban Development Department of the Delhi government issued a notification after Lt. Governor Anil Baijal approved the Delhi Development Authority's (DDA) Land-Pooling Policy (LPP). According to Rohan Sharma, Associate Director - Research and Real Estate Intelligence Service, JLL India, "the policy still remains a novel idea aimed to solve the issues faced in acquiring land due to fragmented land holdings and higher compensation payable in the wake of increased land valuations." "This policy is likely to result in residential development projects across the prime city, which has an acute shortage of housing and where most of the housing needs are fulfilled by the DDA. This policy is likely to lead to an increase in private participation in housing development across the city," Sharma added. ALSO READ: Central government employees pay hike: Here's what you should know about revised structure under 7th Pay Commission The passage of land pooling policy is expected top pave the way for affordable housing. The DDA's Master Plan Delhi (MPD) 2021, which proposes construction of 25 lakh new housing units by 2021 is likely to get a boost. As per DDA estimates, 2.5 lakh houses, including 50,000 EWS (Economically Weaker Sections) units, will require 1,000 hectare of land. Welcoming the move, BJP MLA and Opposition Leader in the Delhi Assembly, Vijender Gupta said the "historical" move would accelerate the process of providing affordable housing to 20 lakh families Luke Johnson, Forest Edwards and Craig Nash explain the "blueprint" for their senior prank at InTech Collegiate High School. As our final year at InTech comes to a close, we are harmlessly pulling a senior prank with no intentions of inhibiting learning, destroying school property or causing distress of any kind. After the joke has run its course, we fully intend to clean up anything related to the prank. Upon review of legalities, we dont believe we are breaking any laws {{tncms-asset app=editorial id=dd596cee-3bfd-11e7-9793-eb1696a35699}} NORTH LOGAN Luke Johnson and five of his best friends at InTech Collegiate High School signed their confession at 9:33 p.m. Wednesday, right before they embarked on an 8-hour effort to plaster the windows of their school with 10,400 Post-it notes. Dubbed by their classmates as the best senior prank ever, the boys overnight adventure involved headlamps, jump-starting several vehicles and a midnight stop at McDonalds for refueling. At 2 a.m., they still had several windows to go. Lucky for them, nobody called the cops! Johnson, Craig Nash, Ian Davidson, Liam McAvoy, Nick Major and Forest Edwards spent two months planning their escapade. Because Davidsons mom is a teacher at the school, they kept their idea under close wraps. We had to make sure this was going through, Davidson said. Ask forgiveness later! As prank day drew closer, the boys drew a diagram of their campus, pinpointing each window. They tried to be inconspicuous as they gathered measurements and calculated just how many sticky notes theyd need. They also considered the quality of the Post-it notes they needed to buy, hoping to obtain the strongest adhesive for the best price. {{tncms-asset app=editorial id=4309e11e-3bfd-11e7-b57e-fbf3771ffbd8}} They tried to think of everything, said Johnsons mom, Amy Johnson. I just thought this was so clever. This is the most awesome prank thats ever come to the school. And there was practical application, too! We finally got to use the math we learned, quipped Davidson. Major said it was gratifying to see the reactions of teachers, students and parents as they arrived at school Thursday morning. Getting a thumbs-up from IT Director Jens Trauntvein made it the best day ever for Nash. Its kind of really interesting to watch all the freshman, Nash said, because their immediate reactions were, We must think of something to one-up them now. Jason Stanger, the schools principal and director, took his six ambitiousand now very sleepystudents undertaking in stride. {{tncms-asset app=editorial id=9c22f292-3c00-11e7-b7a9-eb44fe824075}} They signed their names and they promised to clean it up, so thats pretty good, Stanger said. Itll be great. Its a fun way to end the year, and we like having fun together. These are great kids. Were excited to see them graduate and almost as excited to see them clean it up before it rains. With the end of the school day approaching, Major hoped to hire a group of freshman to accomplish the clean-up task. Johnson had an even better idea. Well probably make an announcement over the intercom and just say, Hey, if anyone wants free sticky notes, go for it! he said. Go for it these exuberant seniors will. Friday is the last official day of school for InTechs seniors, and the six pranksters will graduate with their class of 45 next Tuesday. Major will speak at commencement. Guess when he wrote his speech {{tncms-asset app=editorial id=afa1ecf4-3bfd-11e7-9565-474e3be33209}} | BY Ricki Green | New York Festivals International Advertising Awards competition has announced the 2017 award-winners at the New York Show gala held at the renowned Jazz at Lincoln Centers Frederick P. Rose Hall in New York City. The prestigious 2017 Best of Show Award was awarded to Meet Graham Clemenger BBDO Melbournes Public Service Announcement for client Transport Accident Commission Victoria. Graham is part interactive sculpture, part educational tool, and a catalyst for a global conversation; he illustrates how our bodies would need to change to survive a car crash. Using decades of road safety data and medical research a trauma surgeon, a road safety engineer and a renowned artist the human body was re-designed for survival against a low impact crash. Says James McGrath, chief creative officer with Clemenger BBDO Melbourne on earning the Best of Show Award: It is a great privilege and humbling for us to join the lineage and legacy of New York Festivals. We are thrilled to be awarded Best of Show, we want to thank our creators and makers of course but most of all our clients, whose bravery and genuine belief in solving real world problems inspires us. Clemenger BBDO Melbournes Meet Graham was in the spotlight taking home a staggering 2 Grand Prize Awards, 3 First Prize Awards, 1 Second Prize Award and a Finalist Certificate. The agency also earned 3 Second Prize Awards for Hungerithm Snickers / Mars Chocolate Australia. Clemenger BBDO Sydney earned top honors earning 3 Third Prize Awards, 2 for Packs That Scare Gulls Hungry Jacks and 1 for GEeks Go For #CC9900 General Electric. Creative work from the agency also was recognized with 11 Finalists Awards. Blackbird took home the First Prize Award Rethink Speed Transport Accident Commission Victoria. Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney was center stage earning 7 Second Prize Awards and 1 Third Prize Awards for LandCruiser Emergency Network Finch Company Sydneys Date for Foxtel was honored with 2 First Prize Awards; Consequences Transport Accident Commission took home both a Second and Third Prize Award; and Stop It At The Start for Department of Social Services earned the Second Prize Trophy. Every Second Counts St. Kilda Film Festivals was recognized with both a Third Prize and a Finalist Award. Havas was recognized with a Air Force What is up? for Australian Defence Force; and Havas/ Red Agency/ Finch received kudos for Steve Waugh The Riderless Bike for Steve Waugh Foundation. Leo Burnett Melbourne was in the winners circle earning 6 Second Prize Awards, 8 Third Prize Awards and 2 Finalist Certificate for Reword for Headspace. Preserved Memories SPC Ardmona earned the agency an additional 2 Third Prize Awards and 5 Finalists and Chase it for Honda Civic was recognized with a Finalist Award. Leo Burnett Sydney scored 2 Third Prize Awards for brainBAND and 3 Finalists for client Samsung Australia. Pocket Patrol was honored with 2 Third Prize Awards The Anthem Samsung / Galaxy S7 was honored with 2 Finalist Award. BWM Dentsu Melbournes The Tailor Made Store for Chadstone earned a Third Prize Award and 3 Finalist Awards, In addition, Remote Ristorante Dr Oetker Ristorante took home a Finalist Award. The Woolshed Companys Viral Experiment for The Woolshed Company received a Third Prize Award and 3 Finalist Award. Additional Australian agencies earning Finalist Awards include: Alt.vfx; Fenton Stephens; Marketforce; Photoplay Films; Showpony Advertising; The Kitchen Table; The Works Sydney; and TKT Sydney. The annual event celebrating the Worlds Best Advertising was hosted by actress and TV personality, Debi Mazar (left) and kicked off with a cocktail reception followed by the awards ceremony and an after-party at the Ascent Lounge to honor trophy-winners. The spotlight was on the 2017 award-winners as they celebrated with advertising creatives, Jury members, press and guests from around the globe. The 2017 executive jury of global chief creative officers, and executive creative directors, and NYFs first-annual Film Craft executive jury, comprised of some of the most creative, technically advanced filmmakers in the industry today, selected the Worlds Best Advertising award winners from the Shortlist chosen by the NYFs 300+ Grand Jury members from 40 countries. Lockheed Martin, American global aerospace, defense, security and advanced technologies company was honored with the New York Festivals 2017 Brand of the Year Award for their commitment to creativity and innovation. Creative work submitted on behalf of Lockheed Martin was honored with two Grand Awards, as well as 6 First Prize Awards. Says Nettie Johnson, vice president external communications, Lockheed Martin Corporation: Field Trip to Mars was an incredible opportunity for us to reintroduce Lockheed Martins brand philosophy of innovation in order to push boundaries, go further and be pioneering in everything we do. We are grateful to our partners at McCann and honored to be recognized with such a prestigious acknowledgement of our efforts. BBDO was center stage earning the title of 2017 Network of the Year for the fifth year in a row. The award is presented to the agency network that achieves the most awards and produces the finest caliber of work. In total, 22 global offices earned an impressive 2 Grand Prize Awards, 7 First Prize Awards, 12 Second Prize Awards, 15 Third Prize Awards, and 78 Finalist Awards. In addition, the network was recognized with the United Nations Department of Public Information First Prize Award and 2 UNDPI Finalist Awards. Says David Lubars, chief creative officer, BBDO Worldwide: Its important to us that so many BBDOs in the network are represented, because it proves that our claim of being a global boutique is true; there are a lot of great BBDOs around the world. The Regional Agency of the Year Award is awarded to an advertising agency that earns the highest score for entries in all competitions across all mediums. This years Regional Agency of the Year Awards honors the following global agencies: Europe Heimat Berlin; North America McCann New York; South American AlmapBBDO, Sao Paulo; and Asia Pacific Clemenger BBDO Melbourne. The 2017 Executive Jury awarded the following prominent agencies with Grand Prize Awards for their exceptional entries: Activation & Engagement: McCann New York, Field Trip to Mars for Lockheed Martin. Avant Garde: Clemenger BBDO Melbourne, Meet Graham for Transport Accident Commission Victoria. Branded Content/Branded Ent ertainment: Tohokushinsha Film Corporation, Japan Gravity Cat for Sony Interactive Entertainment / Gravity Daze 2. Design: Ogilvy & Mather New York, USA The Refugee Nation for Amnesty International. Film Cinema/Online/TV: adam&eveDDB New York, USA Buster the Boxer for John Lewis. Film Cinema/Online/TV: Tohokushinsha Film Corporation, Japan Gravity Cat for Sony Interactive Entertainment / Gravity Daze 2 Outdoor or Out of Home Marketing: McCann New York, USA The Field Trip to Mars for Lockheed Martin. Public Service Announcement/Communications: Clemenger BBDO Melbourne, Australia Meet Graham Transport Accident Commission Victoria. Each year, New York Festivals, in partnership with the United Nations Department of Public Information, appoints a UN panel to select public service work that exemplifies the aims and ideals of the United Nations. The 2017 UNDPI Jury honored the following entries: McCann New York, USA #MakeWhatsNext for Microsoft earned the UNDPI First Prize Award; T/A POL, Norway 25 m2 Syria for TV-Aksjonen NRK + Red Cross + IKEA was awarded the UNDPI Second Prize Award; and Leo Burnett Melbourne, Australia Reword for Headspace was honored with the UNDPI Third Prize Award. The UNDPI Jury also awarded the following entries with Finalist Certificates: Switch it Off Amnesty International, Ogilvy Germany; Girls of Paradise Mouvement du Nid, McCann Erickson Paris; Check it before its removed: naked breasts on Facebook against breast cancer. Pink Ribbon Deutschland, DDB Germany; Evan Sandy Hook Promise, BBDO New York; A Table to End Hunger The Hunger Project Australia, McCann Sydney The combined 2017 Executive Juries awarded 8 prestigious Grand Prize Awards, 56 First Prize Awards, 155 Second Prize Awards, and 261 Third Prize Awards from entries submitted from 53 countries. To view a showcase of the 2017 New York Festivals Worlds Best Advertising trophy-winning entries please click here. New York Festivals is recognized worldwide as a touchstone for global creative excellence in advertising and marketing communications. | BY Ricki Green | For the fourth year running, today (Friday 19 May) sees Dentsu Aegis Network hold One Day for Change an annual initiative in which all staff across the Asia Pacific region stop work to give back to the communities in which they live and work. Over 1,000 Dentsu Aegis Network staff will get behind the initiative by uniting in their efforts to support charitable organisations within their local communities, and consequently creating huge positive impact across Australia and New Zealand. Last year, more than 1,500 staff across Australia and New Zealand rallied together on One Day for Change to donate a total of 5,100 hours to causes close to their hearts, adding to a collective team of 6,100 staff and 29,000 hours of time across Dentsu Aegis Networks APAC region. Following the success of One Day for Change 2016, the 2017 event revisits Champions for Children as an overarching theme one which encompasses health, education, water, abuse, family and housing for underprivileged children. Staff at Dentsu Aegis Network in Australia and New Zealand will be supporting over 20 different charities, including Habitat for Humanity, The Smith Family, Camp Quality, Royal Far West, Backpacks for SA Kids, Parkerville Children & Youth Care Services, Bluearth, NorthCott, TLC for Kids, AIME, Orange Sky Laundry, Eat Up, Australian Red Cross, Crime Stoppers, UNLTD, Save the Children, World Vision, Missing School, and Two Good. Says Simon Ryan, CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network ANZ: As a business we are invested in the communities in which we live and work. One Day for Change presents an opportunity for our staff to come together and demonstrate our commitment to society by making a positive, tangible contribution to the lives of people around us. Says Tim Conolan, CEO and founder of TLC for Kids: Organisations like ours can only exist and thrive with the help of others. Were very grateful to the Dentsu Aegis Network for donating their time to our cause One Day for Change has made a real difference to us and the families we support. | BY Ricki Green | Lions Innovation is the two-day specialist event taking place as part of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in June. Live tech demonstrations, immersive performances and the latest innnovations in voice tech, bots, AI, IoT, AR and mixed realities will be hosted on the stages. And talks by innovators, inventors and investors, alongside global names from across the creative industries will complete the programme. Lions Innovation 2017 is supported by Alibaba Group, one of Chinas largest e-commerce companies, who is partnering with Cannes Lions for the first time. Content highlights: Android actor and comedian Ginger the Robot promotes social robotics to audiences globally and is making his Cannes Lions debut this year; while Olly, the first robot with personality that adapts to each individual, explains how robotics can enhance the communications industry. Writer, director, producer and actor, Peter Berg together with Innocean USA and VRLIVE will showcase the technology behind Hyundais acclaimed Super Bowl TV spot. REWIND, alongside HoloLens will present Mixed Reality and content creation with live HoloLens demonstrations, while J. Walter Thompson London and Mindshare UK are launching new research and presenting their findings on how voice tech will impact brands and creativity in the future. Sir John Hegarty, co-founder of BBH and Neil Waller, co-founder and CEO of Whalar present the Whalar start-up story and explain how they liberate the creative voice of brands through tech. Start-up Discovery Zone Bridging the world of creative communications and early-stage technologies, The Discovery Zone sits at the centre of Lions Innovation, designed as a dedicated space for 100 global start-ups to network, gain advice and forge new relationships with the 15,000 brand owners, media owners and agency experts who attend the Festival each year. The selected start-ups will discover new partners, new revenue streams and new ideas to accelerate their businesses. The latest start-ups joining the programme to be announced are: Linqia (US); Gamee (Czech Republic); Apester (Israel); Fluid Ads (UK); SUPAspot (US); Emoticast (UK); Lydi (US); Flank (Turkey); Lisnr (US); Zhimantec (China); Advrtas (US); Pixalate (US); Mintriks (UAE); Zeotap (US); Wayveapp (UK). Awards Two Lions awards are judged and honoured at the event. Drawn from leading names in the technology, innovation and creative sectors, the jurors view and award pioneering technological creativity. Finalists for the Innovation Lions will be selected live by a jury led by Susan Lyne, president and managing partner at BBG Ventures; and the Creative Data Lions jury will be led by Eric Salama, chairman and CEO of Kantar. Says Jose Papa, managing director, Cannes Lions: Innovation and tech are embedded throughout the Festival, but our two-day specialist event Lions Innovation is the test-bed for new ideas. Through Lions Innovation were uniquely placed to facilitate connections between the biggest global brands and emerging start-ups, its an incubator for the future of the industry. Says Chris Tung, CMO, Alibaba Group: We are excited to support Lions Innovation 2017 for the first time this year. Innovative technology has always been at the heart of Alibabas success, and supporting a platform to showcase technological creativity and innovation of this calibre is a natural step for us. | BY Ricki Green | A city made of office supplies, vegetables boogieing to an acapella tune and transforming trains in Federation Square. This is just a snapshot of the technical and design-focused productions Pixel has been creating over the last few years. Today Pixels expanding its offering with a handful of new directors that fit nicely within the studios aesthetic. Andrew Goldsmith, aka Goldy, specialises in graphical, experimental and organic effects and techniques like stop motion and in-camera trickery. Cameron Gough from Dirty Puppet further supplements Pixels design and animation offering, expressing his unique voice through a diverse range of styles. And LA based Guy Franklin whose highly awarded Classical-Hollywood sensibilities pair nicely with the studios offering. Says John Gavin, creative director, Pixel: Weve been taking on design focused production jobs for a while now, but the addition of these great directors represents a serious push into this space for us. Technical or design driven projects need a lot of love from pre through to post, and we think were much more valuable as a production company that can span a whole project, rather than a post add-on. Were stoked to have these guys in the fold to bolster our creative offering. Pixel offers concept development, illustration, design, production, animation, stop motion and VFX. | BY Ricki Green | In the latest of what is becoming a string of festival selections, the ground-breaking web-series Bruce, directed by the critically acclaimed Tony Rogers (Wilfred, Rats and Cats, How To Talk Australians), has been awarded Best Drama at the Online Video Awards in Brisbane last night. Written by Mat Blackwell (Good News Week, The Glass House) and Warwick Holt (The Project, Good News Week), Bruce has broken through genres; a web-series with jaw dropping production values, and a core of both black-comedy and drama. Bruce rewrites Australias convict beginnings with a wry, deadpan comic voice, by taking historical facts and rubbing them up against the modern sensibilities of this ensemble of funny, flawed, and ultimately endearing characters. Produced by Jason Byrne Productions and funded by Screen Australia, Bruce is now an official selection at The Melbourne Web Fest, The Toronto Web Fest, and the D.C Webfest and shows no signs of slowing down. Overview: A gritty black comedy, set in an ordinary Aussie share-house that just happens to be a prison tent in Sydney Cove, 1788. Bruce Williamson is a modern man out of time, whose simple plan of following his soulmate Daisy to the new land by getting arrested backfires severely, trapping him in a violent prison camp at the edge of the world. Rather than the love of his life, who knows their relationship can never work out here, Bruce is stuck in a tent with irrepressible bogan Garry who claims to be Bruces best mate, and, despite what Bruce might hope, probably is and Mick, a well-read, philosophical, and sensitive monolith of a man, who is also possibly a brutal serial killer. The wider world is no friendlier, between the brutal marines, the incompetent leaders of the colony, and the mysterious local people who have had their way of life challenged. "They are asked to disclose information about themselves after which they have very little control about how that information will be used or made public. Too often our community puts an element of blame to victims of these offences and it's that stigmatisation that drives these offences away from our criminal justice system." Millennial Moms Review: 2022 Acura MDX is pretty close to the perfect family car I dont know if perfect is attainable, especially considering weve got the world of options when it comes to modern vehicles. Were spoiled and, as such, we have very specific needs and wants. Driving-wise, the 2022 Acura MDX is one of my favourite ... Our Promise: Welcome to Care2, the world's largest community for good. Here, you'll find over 45 million like-minded people working towards progress, kindness, and lasting impact. Care2 Stands Against: bigots, racists, bullies, science deniers, misogynists, gun lobbyists, xenophobes, the willfully ignorant, animal abusers, frackers, and other mean people. If you find yourself aligning with any of those folks, you can move along, nothing to see here. Care2 Stands With: humanitarians, animal lovers, feminists, rabble-rousers, nature-buffs, creatives, the naturally curious, and people who really love to do the right thing. You are our people. You Care. We Care2. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has opened the registration process for WWF-India Wild Wisdom Quiz 2017. The quiz programme was started by the CBSE, an initiative to make students aware about India's rich biodiversity and natural heritage. Eligibility Primary, middle school and senior school students affiliated with the Board. When was the CBSE quiz programme started? The Wild Wisdom Quiz was started in 2008 as an initiative to make students aware about India's rich biodiversity and natural heritage. Theme for the year Maze of the natural world Topics covered for the quiz Newly discovered species Unique and rare species Extinction News alerts regarding the natural world Famous environmentalists Biodiversity of Indian Subcontinent, South East Asia, and Middle East Ecosystems Environmental changes Conservation status- IUCN red list Quiz centres The CBSE WWF quiz will be conducted in 15 cities across India, reaching out to more than 15,000 schools. This year. the quiz will be conducted internationally in Nepal as well. CBSE WWF Quiz 2017 National Finale The National Finale (for the middle school) will be held in New Delhi during Wildlife Week in October, 2017 with the pioneer of Indian Quizzing, Siddhartha Basu, the Quiz Man of India. What do the winners get? The top three winning teams (middle level) will be taken on a sponsored trip to Camp Hornbill in Ramnagar, Uttrakhand to witness conservation activities on ground and to experience wildlife and nature like never before. How to apply for CBSE WWF quiz 2017? Registration can be done either by school or individually by a student at the official website quiz.wwfindia.org/wwq/. Also Read:CBSE Classes 12 and 10 Results Dates Confirmed: Check Now! The results for the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) Class 10, Class 11 and 12 A level examinations 2017 have been declared. Students who had written the exam can check it out on the official website. According to reports, the examination was held in March especially for Indian students. How to check the IGCSE Class 10, 11 and 12 A results? In order to check the IGCSE Class 10, 11 and 12 A results, candidates can follow the steps given here: Log on to the official website cie.org.uk Click on relevant link Fill in all the required details in prescribed format Click to submit Get the results Save it to your computer and take a print out for future reference The organising body, Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) has recorded more than 34,000 entries (exam takers) for all the tests, up by 29 per cent from previous years. This shows a behaviour of 31 per cent increase compared to last year. What does the organising body have to say? "The significant growth of our March exam series since its introduction in 2015, in particular for a cross-curricular subject like Global Perspectives that cultivates critical thinking, research, and collaboration skills is a testament to the passion for learning shown by Cambridge students across India. I would like to congratulate everyone getting their results today, and thank the teachers and parents who guided them to success," Ruchira Ghosh, Regional Director for South Asia, Cambridge International Examinations said. Also Read:CBSE WWF Quiz 2017 Dates Announced: Apply Now! The Tamil Nadu SSLC class 10 exam results have been announced by the Directorate of Government Examinations, Tamil Nadu, today (May 23, 2018). The results will be available online from 9.30 am. All those students who appeared for the same are required to check the official website in order to know their results. Around 10 lakh students have written the TN SSLC Exam 2018. Out of that, 2.6 lakhs of the have scored more than 400, out of the 500 total marks. Last year, the board had also established a major change by abolishing the practise of disclosing the toppers' names. The districts that top the pass percentage this time are Sivagangai, Erode and Virudhunagar. Tamil Nadu SSLC Class 10 Pass Percentage Total pass percentage: 94.5% Girls pass percentage: 96.4% Boys pass percentage: 92.5% How To Check Tamil Nadu SSLC Class 10 Results? Log on to the official website. Click on the link, ' SSLC March 2018 Results '. '. In the provided fields, enter your roll number and date of birth. Click Get Marks. Your result will be displayed on the screen. Download the same and take printout for future reference. The results will also be delivered via SMS for students to their registered mobile numbers. This year, the Tamil Nadu class 10 exams were held between Mar 16, 2018 and Apr 20, 2018. Apart from the official website, the results will also be available on some third-party websites. Candidates are advised to exercise patience and check the SSLC results as the official website might take time to load due to traffic in the morning. The state education minister K. A. Sengottaiyan said, "The first three ranks will not be announced because students these days are mentally affected even if they lose a mark. So, even parents won't pressurize students too much. This will make sure that imparting knowledge is the focus of our educational institutes." Tamil Nadu Class 10 Supplementary Exam 2018 Date For those who have not cleared the exam this time, there will be a re-exam in July. The TN SSLC supplementary exam 2018 will be held on June 28, 2018. Click here to check the TN SSLC supplementary exam results. About Tamil Nadu Board: Established in the year 1910, Tamil Nadu Board is one of the biggest boards in the country. Also, the board is affiliated with the government of Tamil Nadu, India, and conducts both secondary and senior secondary examinations. TNBSE was formed by merging two existing, separate boards, Board of Secondary Education and Board of Higher Secondary Examination. Tamil Nadu 12th Result 2018 Announced: Re-exam In June The fallout from the Takata airbag recall continues as BMW, Mazda, Subaru, and Toyota have reached a $553 million settlement with the United States government. The four automakers are the first to agree to a settlement over the Takata recall and the funds will be used for consumer outreach, rental car/loaner programs, and out-of-pocket cost reimbursement. More settlements are possible in the future as the companies note the Takata airbag inflator recall is the largest such action in history and affects more than 42 million vehicles in the United States, across 19 automakers. Under the terms of the agreement, the automakers will fund outreach programs with the goal of significantly increasing recall completion rates. The companies will also offer rental cars to customers who request them and cannot get replacement parts for their vehicle within 30 days. The settlement also calls for the automakers to pay out-of-pocket costs to affected owners. A special administrator will determine who is eligible and what is reimbursable, but the companies note customers will need to submit a request that is reasonable. Lastly, the automakers will cover an assortment of different costs related to claims administration and notification of owners. The settlement still needs to be approved by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida but that seems likely now that a settlement has been reached. Photo Gallery BMW has slammed an ABC News report that aired a report on dozens of BMW vehicles allegedly bursting into flames spontaneously. The ABC investigation discovered that over 40 BMW models have caught fire in the U.S. in the last five years despite being turned off. Shortly after the report aired, BMW said it was investigating vehicle fire incidents brought to our attention and has now hit out at the report, calling it sensationalistic. In a statement, the German automaker said that it had investigated the vehicles in the report and in some instances, inspected them. BMW says that in the cases where a root cause was determined to have caused the fires, it was unable to find any pattern between incidents. With approximately 4.9 million BMW vehicles on U.S. roads, fire incidents involving BMWs are extremely rare. BMW takes every incident very seriously and has a team dedicated to working with BMW owners, insurance companies and authorities to investigate vehicle fire incidents brought to our attention, the carmaker said. ABC News said that it turned over its findings to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration but the NHTSA hasnt found any evidence of a safety defect. VIDEO Days after it emerged the U.S. Department of Justice Department was preparing to sue Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, the company has announced an agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board. As a result of many months of close collaboration, FCA has filed an application for diesel vehicle emissions certification with the two aforementioned agencies. The application covers the 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ram 1500 EcoDiesel which will be equipped with updated emissions software calibrations. More telling is the fact the company wants to install the modified software on 2014-2016 Grand Cherokee and Ram 1500 vehicles equipped with diesel engines. The automaker isnt admitting any wrongdoing but says it believes this will address the agencies concerns regarding the emissions software calibrations in those vehicles. FCA goes on to say changes to the emissions software should facilitate a prompt resolution with the Department of Justices Environment and Natural Resources Division as well as other government agencies. If everyone signs off on the changes, FCA expects owners of affected vehicles will be able to take them to their nearest dealership and receive the software update. The company believes the updated software will reduce emissions without any impact on performance or fuel efficiency. Two years ago, the automotive world was flooded by insane Vision Gran Turismo concepts from some of the leading automakers, including Infiniti, Bugatti, Chrysler, Hyundai, Peugeot and Nissan. Created for the Gran Turismo 6 video game, the concepts allowed designers to express their true creativity without any restrictions. One luxury marque which missed out on creating a concept was Bentley and while its too late for one to be announced, designer Florian Westermann has created one anyway. Based around the Bentley EXP 12 Speed 6e concept that debuted in Geneva, Westermanns creation overhauls the vehicles design to make it look like a world-beating race car from the year 2030. As with some of the most iconic cars ever produced (think Jaguar D-Type), the Bentley EXP Speed 12 Vision Gran Turismo has an asymmetric design and only a single seat for the driver. Elsewhere, the front includes similar headlights to Bentleys Geneva concept while the rear consists of oval-shaped LED taillights, a frightening diffuser and curvaceous rear arches. Hey Bentley, would you mind making this concept a reality in Gran Turismo Sport? PHOTO GALLERY If youve spent time online, youve no doubt heard of Skillshare, a fast-growing online community for learning and teaching creative skills. The e-learning site connects expert practitioners with students around the world who wish to enhance their skillsets across various creative fields, including among them, animation production. Skillshare recently got in touch with Cartoon Brew and asked us to review one of their animation classes. We agreed, and immediately upon doing so, realized the enormity of the task. Thats because Skillshare offers literally hundreds of animation courses, ranging anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours each of them designed to teach a skill that can be applied in animation production, from developing stories and character designs to crafting animation and vfx in After Effects, Maya, Cinema 4D, and other popular software packages. We ultimately settled on a lip sync course Simple Character Lip Sync taught by Fraser Davidson. We wanted to put the course to the ultimate test, so we invited a New York animator with fifteen years worth of experience in television animation and commercials to offer her thoughts on the program. First, lets take a look at the trailer below for Frasers course. If you want to try the entire course for free (along with the hundreds of other animation courses), you can receive 2 months of Skillshare Premium for FREE through this Cartoon Brew promo code. Frasers lip sync tutorial is a crash course in rigging a 2D character in After Effects, yet it also provides a solid intro for animators looking to explore the character animation possibilities of After Effects. The courses introduction offers an insight into the style, humor, and personality of the artist. Frasers smooth, stylized approach to character animation looked like fun, and it made me want to continue watching the next video in the series. Frasers approach is to create pre-made assets in Illustrator (though an artist could also choose to create those assets in another application of their choice). He then sets it up in After Effects to allow as easy and efficient workflow as possible for dialogue. Its important to stress that this is a very stylized approach to character animation. Most of us working within the schedule/budget constraints of fast-paced commercial animation dont have the time for beautiful frame-by-frame animation. We love Richard Williams, but we cant all be him. So Frasers approach will certainly prove useful to animators who want to earn a paycheck in the commercial world. And his skills as an animator and compositor prove that this stylized approach can be done well. One of the hardest areas of lip sync is preparing the right mouth positions. Fraser draws out all the mouth positions and their proper phoneme in the course, which I found both helpful and informative. He also explains how to break down the mouth positions to the audio in After Effects, which can go quickly after the rigging process. Artists who are new to 2D rigging in After Effects will find this course useful. It effectively applies some of the most important tools for After Effects animation, including parenting, time-remapping, sequencing layers, and toggle hold key frames. Fraser also explains how to animate with strokes generated in After Effects, which is nice because it doesnt require having to create animation assets in another software. Fraser is organized, and incorporates naming layers and mouth positions in his demonstration. While professional work habits are not a focal point of the lesson, his tips will be helpful for anyone looking to work in a studio environment. Bonus time: Fraser is British, which makes his narration a pleasure to listen to. I should mention though that he says a couple of toilet words, so it might be wise to watch this class with the children out of earshot. But more importantly, his style of instruction is clear, easy to understand, and paired with the right dose of humor. Animators looking for a time/cost-efficient approach to animating dialogue will absolutely want to watch this course. Now, lets see if the lesson impresses a seasoned pro in New Yorks demanding animation scene. Here are her thoughts: So there you have it. If this lesson sounds interesting, you can try out Skillshare through a special deal exclusively for Cartoon Brew readers who can receive 2 months of Skillshare Premium for free. The trial offers access to both Frasers course as well as the hundreds of other Skillshare animation lessons. To see Skillshares full line-up of animation courses, head on over to their website. Photo: Randy Millis Crews place boulders along Powers Creek on Gellatly Road. Two roads have reopened in West Kelowna, and the Gellatly boat launch is expected to open for the long weekend. The City of West Kelowna has reopened Shannon Lake Road and Gellatly Road over Powers Creek to single-lane, alternating traffic after flooding forced their closure. Gellatly Road from Witt Road to Angus Drive will remain closed indefinitely. RCMP will be monitoring both these areas and are asking people to abide by traffic signage. Boaters are urged to use extreme caution on Okanagan Lake, watch for debris in the water and ensure slow speeds. No Wake signs have been posted at city launches, as wave action can cause shoreline erosion. The City of West Kelowna remains on flood watch and is reminding people to prepare their properties. Photo: Contributed Barring a downpour of rain, Vernon should have its first rainbow crosswalk tonight. Crews were preparing to install the crosswalk midblock on 30th Avenue, between 33rd and 34th streets. The crosswalk will feature eight colours. In October, 2016, Vernon city council supported having the crosswalk installed, a move that was welcomed by the Okanagan Pride Society. Rainbow crosswalks have become a simple, economical, physical way for Canadian cities to express support for diverse, inclusive communities, said Dustyn Baulkham, president of the Okanagan Pride Society. We were delighted when the City of Kelowna created the rainbow crosswalks here and transformed a city intersection in summer 2015. Its great to see another community within the Okanagan taking the same steps and showing support and solidarity for the LGBTQ+ community. Photo: The Canadian Press Statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee stands in Lee Circle in New Orleans. The city of New Orleans will take down a prominent statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee on Friday, completing the southern city's removal of four Confederate-related statues that some called divisive. Unlike the first three statues, city officials plan to take Lee's statue down during the day, with Mayor Mitch Landrieu planning a major speech Friday afternoon to explain his reasoning. In a news release obtained by The Associated Press, the city said 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 plans to have extra security around the Lee statue Friday morning and will block off a one-block radius around Lee Circle to cars before and during the removal in anticipation of protests. "Citizens have a right to assemble and exercise their First Amendment rights to free speech and peaceful protest," city officials said in the release. "We understand there are strong emotions surrounding this subject, and we ask that the public remain peaceful and respectful while demonstrating." Landrieu had proposed the removal of the monuments after 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.Thatrecharged the debate over whether Confederate emblems represent racism or an honourable heritage. Photo: The Canadian Press Tornado damage in Elk City, Okla. Tornadoes touched down in three Plains states on Thursday during nasty spring storms featuring ominous cloud formations but there were no reports of major damage, serious injuries or deaths. The National Weather Service logged nearly 20 reports of tornadoes from the states of Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas and numerous reports of high winds and hail. Meteorologist Vanessa Pearce in Wichita says tornadoes were reported in Barton, Barber and Ford counties Thursday afternoon. Heavy rains and hail were reported across much of the region, with flash flooding reported in Great Bend, Kansas. No serious damage or injuries were reported. The system also spawned several tornadoes Thursday in Oklahoma and Texas. Meteorologist Michael Scotten in Norman, Oklahoma, says four tornadoes were reported in western Oklahoma and two in northwest Texas. The twisters struck near the towns of Duke and Corn in Oklahoma and Crowell, Texas, Thursday afternoon. It was the second day of storms in the Plains states and "intense" tornadoes were forecast for the Southern Plains through Friday. Photo: The Canadian Press Japan's Emperor Akihito, right, and Crown Prince Naruhito. Japan's cabinet approved Friday a bill to let 83-year-old Emperor Akihito abdicate and allow his elder son Crown Prince Naruhito to ascend the Chrysanthemum Throne. The abdication will be Japan's first in 200 years. Akihito indicated his desire to abdicate due to his age and health concerns last August, reviving a longstanding debate in Japan over the issue of imperial succession in the 2,000-year-old monarchy. Akihito was 56 years old when he ascended the throne in January 1989 after the death of his father, Emperor Hirohito. Naruhito is 57. Women cannot succeed to the Chrysanthemum Throne, and the government has avoided divisive issues such as whether women should be included in the current male-only succession. The only child of Naruhito is a girl. His younger brother Prince Akishino has a young son and two daughters. The shrinking royal family will lose another member with the coming marriage of Princess Mako, one of Akishino's daughters. When she marries a commoner, she will become one herself. Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer Harry Potter was found not guilty in a Penticton courtroom, Friday. Potter was played by Penticton Secondary student Lily Eggert at one of two mock trials held in conjunction with Law Week 2017. "It's a chance to get out of the classroom and into an actual courtroom," said Pen-High vice principal Trevor Robinson. "And the local lawyers are all involved, so it gives students the opportunity to work with the lawyers and bar association." Potter was charged with second-degree murder for his involvement in the death of Prof. Quirrell, an instructor at Hogwarts Academy. Law 12 students from Princess Margaret and Penticton Secondary schools participated in the trial, with students taking on the roles of Crown counsel and defence, the jury, clerk, witnesses and sheriffs. Defence lawyer Tyrone Duerr served as judge. Crown counsel Deb Drissell and Ann Lerchs, and actual sheriffs were on hand to help with proceedings. Students were also given the opportunity to meet with Calypso, the Penticton RCMP Victim Services dog. In the afternoon, middle school students were slated to participate in Humpty Dumpty v. The King, a civil trial centring around the principle of reasonable care and whether the King is responsible for the injuries of Humpty Dumpty. Law Week is a national event. First held in 1983, it provides an opportunity for the profession to educate the public about the vital role that lawyers and the judiciary serve in guaranteeing an open, independent and unbiased judicial system. Photo: Beverly Vanuden A house on Highway 97 in Okanagan Falls was destroyed in a fire Thursday, according to a resident. Beverly Vanuden said firefighters responded to the blaze about 2:30 a.m. To her knowledge, the home was unoccupied at the time and has since been bulldozed. Castanet will provide more updates as they become available. The basic requirement for a good confession is to have the intention of returning to God like the "prodigal son" and to acknowledge our sins with true sorrow before the priest. Sin in my Life Modern society has lost a sense of sin. As a Catholic follower of Christ, I must make an effort to recognize sin in my daily actions, words and omissions. The Gospels show how important is the forgiveness of our sins. Lives of saints prove that the person who grows in holiness has a stronger sense of sin, sorrow for sins, and a need for the Sacrament of Penance or Confession. The Differences in Sins As a result of Original Sin, human nature is weakened. Baptism, by imparting the life of Christ's grace, takes away Original Sin, and turns us back toward God. The consequences of this weakness and the inclination to evil persist, and we often commit personal or actual sin. Actual sin is sin which people commit. There are two kinds of actual sin, mortal and venial. Mortal sin is a deadly offense against God, so horrible that it destroys the life of grace in the soul. Three simultaneous conditions must be fulfilled for a mortal sin: 1) the act must be something very serious; 2) the person must have sufficient understanding of what is being done; 3) the person must have sufficient freedom of the will. Remember If you need help-especially if you have been away for some time-simply ask the priest and he will help you by "walking" you through the steps to make a good confession. Before Confession Be truly sorry for your sins. The essential act of Penance, on the part of the penitent, is contrition, a clear and decisive rejection of the sin committed, together with a resolution not to commit it again, out of the love one has for God and which is reborn with repentance. The resolution to avoid committing these sins in the future (amendment) is a sure sign that your sorrow is genuine and authentic. This does not mean that a promise never to fall again into sin is necessary. A resolution to try to avoid the near occasions of sin suffices for true repentance. God's grace in cooperation with the intention to rectify your life will give you the strength to resist and overcome temptation in the future. Examination of Conscience Before going to Confession you should make a review of mortal and venial sins since your last sacramental confession, and should express sorrow for sins, hatred for sins and a firm resolution not to sin again. A helpful pattern for examination of conscience is to review the Commandments of God and the Precepts of the Church: Have God and the pursuit of sanctity in Christ been the goal of my life? Have I denied my faith? Have I placed my trust in false teachings or substitutes for God? Did I despair of God's mercy? Have I avoided the profane use of God's name in my speech? Have I broken a solemn vow or promise? Have I honored every Sunday by avoiding unnecessary work, celebrating the Mass (also holydays)? Was I inattentive at, or unnecessarily late for Mass, or did I leave early? Have I neglected prayer for a long time? Have I shown Christlike respect to parents, spouse, and family members, legitimate authorities? Have I been attentive to the religious education and formation of my children? Have I cared for the bodily health and safety of myself and all others? Did I abuse drugs or alcohol? Have I supported in any way abortion, "mercy killing," or suicide? Was I impatient, angry, envious, proud, jealous, revengeful, lazy? Have I forgiven others? Have I been just in my responsibilities to employer and employees? Have I discriminated against others because of race or other reasons? Have I been chaste in thought and word? Have I used sex only within marriage and while open to procreating life? Have I given myself sexual gratification? Did I deliberately look at impure TV, pictures, reading? Have I stolen anything from another, from my employer, from government? If so, am I ready to repay it? Did I fulfill my contracts? Did I rashly gamble, depriving my family of necessities? Have I spoken ill of any other person? Have I always told the truth? Have I kept secrets and confidences? Have I permitted sexual thoughts about someone to whom I am not married? Have I desired what belongs to other people? Have I wished ill on another? Have I been faithful to sacramental living (Holy Communion and Penance)? Have I helped make my parish community stronger and holier? Have I contributed to the support of the Church? Have I done penance by abstaining and fasting on obligatory days? Have I fasted before receiving communion? Have I been mindful of the poor? Do I accept God's will for me? During Confession After examining your conscience and telling God of your sorrow, go into the confessional. You may kneel at the screen or sit to talk face-to-face with the priest. We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away. Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you. Help Now > Begin your confession with the sign of the cross, "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. My last confession was _______ weeks (months, years) ago." The priest may read a passage from holy Scripture. Say the sins that you remember. Start with the one(s) that is most difficult to say. (In order to make a good confession the faithful must confess all mortal sins, according to kind and number.) After confessing all the sins you remember since your last good confession, you may conclude by saying, "I am sorry for these and all the sins of my past life." Listen to the words of the priest. He will assign you some penance. Doing the penance will diminish the temporal punishment due to sins already forgiven. When invited, express some prayer of sorrow or Act of Contrition such as: An Act of Contrition O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell. But most of all because I have offended you, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my life. Amen. At the End of Confession Listen to the words of absolution, the sacramental forgiveness of the Church through the ordained priest. As you listen to the words of forgiveness you may make the sign of the cross with the priest. If he closes by saying, "Give thanks to the Lord for He is good," answer, "For His mercy endures forever." After Confession Give thanks to God for forgiving you again. If you recall some serious sin you forgot to tell, rest assured that it has been forgiven with the others, but be sure to confess it in your next Confession. Do your assigned Penance. Resolve to return to the Sacrament of Reconciliation often. We Catholics are fortunate to have the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is the ordinary way for us to have our sins forgiven. This sacrament is a powerful help to get rid of our weaknesses, grow in holiness, and lead a balanced and virtuous life. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Contents The Rosary of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary. Where does the word come from? It comes from a Latin word Rosaria, which means a crown of roses or a garden of roses. It grew up in the second millennium of Christianity, particularly in Western Christianity around the 14th century. It's attributed to Saint Dominic. The Rosary is a sequence of prayers. St John Paul II said, it's a compendium of the Gospel and it's intended to help us grow in our faith as we come to understand more and more about the lif, the death, the resurrection and the Ascension of Jesus Christ, and about the Church and who we are in the Lord. That's why the way to view the Rosary is as a time of meditation. We meditate on the great mysteries of the faith. Just how do you pray this Rosary? First, the Rosary of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, is not the first rosary. In fact, the rosary goes back into the first centuries of the Church. The early disciples took seriously Paul's admonition to pray without ceasing, and so they looked for ways to constantly keep the presence of God in their lives. We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away. Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you. Help Now > With the first rosary, the monks of the early church had a corded band. They would simply say the name of Jesus over and over and over again. "Lord Jesus, son of God have mercy on me." But this Rosary asks Our Lady to pray for us, and it has deep historic roots in Christianity, dating back to the early centuries of the Church. The Church has always believed in the communion of saints. What that means is that those who are marked with the sign of faith and go home to the Lord are still joined to us. They pray for us; they pray with us. As the author of the Letter of the Hebrew said, "They're that great cloud of witnesses." And so, the early Christians always asked for Our Lady's intercession, and now we're going to talk about the form of prayer that does that so beautifully. How to Pray the Rosary Step-By-Step Instructions for Praying The Rosary Begin by holding the crucifix, saying "In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," (making the sign of the Cross while doing that), then say the Apostles Creed. On the single bead just above the cross, pray the "Our Father." This and all prayers of the rosary are meditative prayers. The next cluster has 3 beads. The "Hail Mary" prayer is said on these three beads. You pray the 3 Hail Marys while meditating on the three divine virtues of faith, hope, and love/charity. On the chain or cord after the three beads, say the "Glory be..." On the next bead, which is a single bead, you announce the first divine mystery of contemplation. For example, if it were a Monday, you would say the first Joyful Mystery is "The Annunciation", at this point you pray the "Our Father" prayer. Now this will bring you to the first decade, or set of 10 beads of the Rosary. You will then pray 10 Hail Marys while contemplating the first mystery, example: The Annunciation. After the 10th Hail Mary you will have completed the first of 5 decades which make up a Chaplet of the Rosary. You now come to another single bead, at this point, you pray the... Glory be to the Father... then (on the same bead) pray the O My Jesus... then (on the same bead) announce the next or second mystery. For example: if its Monday and your praying the Joyful Mysteries, the second Joyful Mystery is The Visitation. At this point you pray the Our Father.... You will now come to the second decade or group of 10 beads, you will now pray the 10 Hail Marys while contemplating the appropriate mystery. You continue to pray the rosary the same way throughout. If your intention is to pray a Chaplet (a single set of mysteries) at the end of the fifth mystery you will come back to the joiner, this is where the decades all join with the lower part of the rosary which contains the cross. When you come to the joiner, you decide whether or not you wish to say another Chaplet or end. If you decide to say another Chaplet you simply announce the next mystery and continue. If you wish to end, you simply say the Glory Be To The Father, the O My Jesus, The Our Father and end the rosary with the Hail Holy Queen and the sign of the Cross........ Various Rosary Prayers in approximate order as prayed in the Rosary THE APOSTLE'S CREED I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried, He descended into hell; the third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty, from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen. THE OUR FATHER Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. THE DOXOLOGY Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. (this prayer is optional and may be said after all Glory Be to the Fathers.....) O my Jesus, have mercy on us. Forgive us our sins. Save us from the fires of hell. Take all souls into heaven, especially, those most in need of thy mercy. Amen. THE HAIL MARY Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. DECADE PRAYER (Prayer for Priests): God, our Father, please send us holy priests, all for the sacred and eucharistic heart of Jesus, all for the sorrowful and immaculate heart of Mary, in union with saint Joseph. Amen. THE SALVE REGINA (Hail Holy Queen): Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! V: Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God R: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. LET US PRAY O God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation. Grant, we beseech Thee, that while meditating on these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, that we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through Christ our Lord. Amen. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us. FATIMA PRAYER Most Holy Trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - I adore thee profoundly. I offer Thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifference's whereby He is offended. And through the infinite merits of His Most Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of Thee the conversion of poor sinners. "Let this prayer be echoed all over the world." - Mary Fatima Prayer My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love You. I beg pardon of You for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope, and do not love You. Mary, Queen of the Holy Rosary, pray for us. Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us. Mary, Our Loving Mother, pray for us. MEMORARE Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary that never was it known that anyone who fled to Your protection, implored Your help, or sought Your intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, we fly to you, O Virgin of virgins, our Mother. To You we come; before You we stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in Your mercy, hear and answer us. Amen. The Fifteen Promises of Mary to Christians Who Recite the Rosary Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the rosary, shall receive signal graces. I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the rosary. The rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies. It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the heart of men from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire of eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means. The soul which recommend itself to me by the recitation of the rosary, shall not perish. Whoever shall recite the rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its sacred mysteries shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not by an unprovided death; if he be just he shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of eternal life. Whoever shall have a true devotion for the rosary shall not die without the sacraments of the Church. Those who are faithful to recite the rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plenitude of His graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of the saints in paradise. I shall deliver from purgatory those who have been devoted to the rosary. The faithful children of the rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in heaven. You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the rosary. All those who propagate the holy rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities. I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the rosary shall have for intercessors the entire celestial court during their life and at the hour of death. All who recite the rosary are my son, and brothers of my only son Jesus Christ. Devotion of my rosary is a great sign of predestination. (Given to St. Dominic and Blessed Alan) Imprimatur: Patrick J. Hayes DD Archbishop of New York) WHY the Daily Rosary? Our Lady has 117 titles. She selected this title at Fatima: "I am the Lady of the Rosary." St. Francis de Sales said the greatest method of praying IS- Pray the Rosary. St. Thomas Aquinas preached 40 straight days in Rome Italy on just the Hail Mary. St. John Vianney, patron of priest, was seldom seen without a rosary in his hand. "The rosary is the scourge of the devil" -- Pope Adrian VI "The rosary is a treasure of graces" -- Pope Paul V Padre Pio the stigmatic priest said: "The Rosary is THE WEAPON" Pope Leo XIII wrote 9 encyclicals on the rosary. Pope John XXIII spoke 38 times about our Lady and the Rosary. he prayed 15 decades daily. St. Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort wrote: "The rosary is the most powerful weapon to touch the Heart of Jesus, Our Redeemer, who so loves His Mother." MARY, QUEEN OF THE HOLY ANGELS -- PRAY FOR US! "Jesus, Mary, I Love You, Save Souls" J.M.J. = JESUS, MARY, JOSEPH - the Holy Family...... Printable PDF of The Holy Rosary If you have just started your journey in an online casino or are looking for a new site to play,... Indonesia: sustaining profitability 19 May 2017 Weaker-than-expected growth in Indonesian cement consumption and fierce competitive pressures have led to a tough pricing environment, resulting in local producers looking to mitigate the impact of a challenging market. However, latest volume data by the Indonesian Cement Association (ASI) reveal strong domestic and export sales for the month of April, but can this recovery be sustained? Domestic cement consumption in 2016 was virtually flat (+0.1 per cent) compared to the previous year due in part to delays in the government's infrastructure programme. In 1Q17 consumption only increased marginally (0.9 per cent), but recent figures for April 2017 published by the ASI show much stronger volumes, with monthly demand up 11.5 per cent YoY to 5.063Mt. Total sales (including exports of 224,277t) rose by 13.9 per cent to 5.29Mt. Strong consumption in Java has proved to be the base of this demand growth and the other major islands (Kalimantan and Sulawesi) are still reporting declines while Sumatra remains flat. This latest data brings total demand for the first four months of the year to 19.82Mt (+3.4 per cent YoY) and total sales for the period to 20.42Mt (+4.8 per cent). However, despite robust domestic and export sales for the month of April and an encouraging year-to-date (YtD) performance, it is still quite modest start. The export factor To mitigate the impact of the weaker market and as capacity build-up continues despite an oversupply scenario, local producers have been looking at other ways to sustain profitability and exports have played a key part in this. Cement and clinker exports are estimated to have reached 1.6Mt in 2016, a 60 per cent rise compared to the previous year. YtD exports were up 92.5 per cent YoY to 599,000t. Further increases are expected going forward and are definitely helping to raise total sales volumes, but regional competition in the export markets is also anticipated to intensify. Improving performance To maintain profitability, Semen Indonesia, the country's leading producer with a market share of over 40 per cent, said earlier this week that it would look to double the contribution of its non-cement producing interests, such as its cement packaging unit, ready-mixed concrete division, GGBS and logistics business. These are expected to contribute a cumulative 20 per cent of the total firm's revenue, from 10 per cent currently. As part of its strategy to improve performance, the firm plans to raise IDR3trn (about US$225.6m) from a bond sale to refinance debts to its subsidiary PT Semen Tonasa, while the rest will be used as working capital. Management have also indicated that they are seeking to acquire either a building materials company, logistics, or energy company to support the company's top and bottom line growth. In the first quarter of this year, Semen Indonesia's net profit dropped 27.5 per cent to IDR746bn from IDR1.03trn in the same period last year. However, the producer's local sales in April 2017 were up nine per cent to 2.15Mt, representing 42.3 per cent of the countrys domestic sales. Indonesia's second-largest producer, PT Indocement, said strict cost management partially compensated margin pressure from lower prices in the first quarter of this year. Domestic sales by the HeidelbergCement group company fell by 3.8 per cent YoY, owing to restrained market demand in its main markets of Jakarta, Banten and West Java. However, including exports, sales volumes decline by 0.1 per cent in the quarter. With the average selling price was "significantly lower" than the previous year, the company focussed on taking initiatives early on in the year with measures such as its Operational Excellence Programme, Fixed Cost Reduction Programme and managing efficient kiln utilisation. On the upside, Indocement reported a 12 per cent increase in April volumes, including a rise in shipments in Java, resulting in YtD volumes now being up. Pricing in April also stabilised (flat sequentially) as locals are no longer cutting prices, according to HeidelbergCement management. Meanwhile, Holcim Indonesia recorded a 12 per cent decline in net sales for the three months to the end of March 2017 to IDR2.158m from last years IDR2.455m. Despite the overall sales decline, Holcim said it managed to achieve lower costs, in particular 8.3 per cent off distribution cost to IDR172bn through several initiatives to optimise assets and distribution channels. Going forward, the country's third-largest producer believes that the realisation of delayed infrastructure projects and private housing are, in fact, expected to create a rebound in the remaining nine months ahead. A sustained recovery? National cement consumption is largely anticipated to be better this year and is forecast to grow by around five per cent. Upcoming infrastructure projects will likely boost cement demand as will an expected rise in some commercial and residential projects with drivers including the deregulation of the mortgage sector. However, despite the uptick in April sales, industry commentators have noted that the property sector is yet to pick up and caution that sustained cement sales recovery remains doubtful. The coming months should prove whether further growth can be maintained, but sales will be affected by the forthcoming Ramadan season which spans the end-May to end-June 2017 period. Moreover, the cement surplus situation is not expected to turn around in the near term. Overcapacity is anticipated to climb from 30Mta in 2016 to 45Mta in 2017, according to ICR Research, which means that continuing tight competition is expected. "Assuming that the increase in cement consumption per year was only 5-7 per cent, the industry still would sit on overcapacity until 2021," Widodo Santoso, chairman of the ASI, recently told local press. Projections for 2017 suggest that the market share for the three largest producers will fall by 10 per cent by the end of the year, and small local and foreign companies will increase their share. Further price reduction would also severely undermine industry profitability and may lead to industry consolidation. In the meantime, producers will continue to focus on operational efficiency and other measures, including boosting exports to maintain viable utilisation rates. Published under Fitch affirms Elementia's IDR, Outlook Stable 19 May 2017 Fitch Ratings has affirmed Mexico-based Elementia, Long-Term Foreign and Local Currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) at 'BB+', as well as its long-term national scale rating at 'A+(mex)'. The Rating Outlook is Stable. "Elementia's ratings reflect its strong business profile characterised by geographic and product line diversification, leading market shares in copper and in several of its building systems products, which have high brand recognition. Other factors include a well-developed distribution network, stable operating results and the company's shareholders' strength. Factors that limit Elementia's ratings are its history of high leverage, industry cyclicality and input cost volatility," Fitch said in a statement. Key ratings drivers The key rating's as outline by Fitch are as follows: Broad product offering: Elementia's profitability is supported by a diversified revenue base and wide distribution network and product offerings. The cement division (49 per cent of pro forma consolidated EBITDA) should remain the highest margin segment. The metal segment (28 per cent) applies a cost-plus margin formula, allowing it to pass through metal price variations to end customers, resulting in more stable cash flow generation. The building systems segment (23 per cent) sells a variety of roofing, sidings, water storage tanks and other products in the Americas. Expanding cement business: The company's cement division became the largest contributor to EBITDA in 2016. This segment's relative contribution should continue to grow during 2017. Elementia recently completed a 1.5Mta expansion of its Tula cement plant in Hidalgo, Mexico, and is in the process of integrating its acquisition of Giant Cement Holding Inc. Balanced funding strategy: Elementia's leverage has been volatile, partly due to greenfield investments in the cement division, as well as asset acquisitions and dispositions within its business portfolio. The company issued shares in the equity markets for MXN3.9bn (US$231m) during 2015 and raised an additional MXN4.4bn in 2016 through a rights offering to partially fund the acquisition of its stake in Giant. High leverage should decline: Elementia's net adjusted debt/EBITDA should trend to around 2.5x by 2018 from 3.0x as of 1Q17 on a pro-forma consolidated basis with the acquisition of Giant. The main drivers of deleveraging should be the start of Elementia's cement expansion plant in Tula, rising cement demand and stronger pricing in the US, and cost efficiencies. The reopening of Elementia's Indiana fibre cement facility, which is expected to begin ramp-up in 2018, should also contribute. Positive FCF expected: The company's free cash flow (FCF) was negative MXN743m during 2016 as it invested MXN2.6bn in its Tula plant. This compares to a modest negative MXN73m during 2015. Fitch projects Elementia's FCF to be positive between one per cent and two per cent of sales through 2019 as the company has deployed the bulk of its expansion capex. Fitch's FCF estimate includes solid cash flow from operations (CFFO) of approximately MXN2.8bn during 2017 and around MXN3bn in 2018. Published under This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. 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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 At Fridays Leadership Luncheon honoring the 2016-17 Leadership Chattanooga class, the Leadership Chattanooga Alumni Association presented the inaugural Julie Baumgardner Leadership Award in conjunction with the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce. Julie Baumgardner, president and CEO of First Things First, is the first recipient of this award named in her honor. Ms. Baumgardner has chaired Leadership Chattanoogas curriculum committee for more than 15 years, impacting more than 500 Leadership Chattanooga participants. When I became director of Leadership Chattanooga, I realized the curriculum needed updating, said Diane Parks, director of Leadership and Community Development. When I approached Julie about working with me, she enthusiastically accepted the position as head of the curriculum committee. So many graduates have served on the committee over the years, and Julie challenges us to take it to the next level with more leadership skills training and a focus on todays hot topics. The Julie Baumgardner Leadership Award will be the highest honor awarded by the Leadership Chattanooga Alumni Association, presented annually to an individual or organization with a compelling record of leadership and service in the community, who has made specific contributions to Leadership Chattanooga, our regions premier leadership development program. In addition to this honor, Ms. Baumgardner will also be honored June 7 as the 2017 Chattanooga Area Manager of the Year. About Julie Baumgardner Since First Things Firsts inception in 1997, Ms. Baumgardner has championed Chattanooga families, originally as associate director, and as head of the organization since 2001. First Things First has raised more than $26,300,000 under Ms. Baumgardners direction, and has received the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce Nonprofit of the Year award. In addition to heading First Things First, Ms. Baumgardner is a Certified Family Life Educator, a Certified Crisis Intervener, a trained Prevention and Relationship Education Program facilitator and a graduate of the Chattanooga Chambers Leadership Chattanooga. For 12 years, Ms. Baumgardner hosted First Things First with Julie Baumgardner on local PBS affiliate station WTCI and is currently working on a new show on a digital platform. Additionally, she writes a weekly column for the Chattanooga Times Free Press and regularly speaks at a variety of community organizations, businesses and churches. Ms. Baumgardners extensive and wide-ranging community involvement has supported organizations from Big Brothers Big Sisters to March of Dimes to Kiwanis Club and many more. Currently she serves on the Chattanooga Rotary Clubs Board of Directors, as chair of the American Lung Associations Women of Distinction Awards Luncheon and as a Hamilton County Juvenile Court commission member. Additionally, she serves on the board of the Chattanooga Womens Leadership Institute, as the curriculum chair of the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce Leadership Chattanooga program, as a committee member for Chattanooga 2.0s Early Learning Committee and as an elder at Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church. Merck, a leading science and technology company, announced today that it has signed a five-year research collaboration agreement with the University of Leeds. The aim is to develop new digital optical applications with liquid crystals under the umbrella of the Emerging Innovation LC 2021 strategic initiative. As a global market and technology leader for liquid crystals (LC), Merck sees great future potential in optical applications. The University of Leeds is one of the United Kingdoms most renowned research institutions and has recently built a reputation in particular for non-display applications such as switchable contact lenses. Mark Verrall, Head of R&D for the Display Materials business unit at Merck, explained that the University of Leeds is an ideal partner for us, because the research teams have broad expertise and have the means to build prototypes of the future devices. As for Mercks role, well concentrate on developing advanced liquid crystal materials specially designed for these new optical applications beyond displays. Sir Alan Langlands, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leeds, said: This exciting research collaboration reflects our determination to develop real-world solutions from science and engineering research. Our university has a strong track record of world-leading research in liquid crystals. Its academics have a growing reputation for inventing applications for liquid crystals way beyond the technology familiar to most of us through flat screen monitors. Tremendous potential for growth in digital optical applications Merck will invest 1.0 million in its collaboration with the University of Leeds, which is aimed at developing optical applications with liquid crystals to market readiness. Digital eyeglasses, switchable contact lenses, virtual-reality glasses, and other optical instruments are an interesting growth market. In addition, the partners plan to develop new applications for controlling lighting in homes and cars as well as sensors. Mercks customers are also increasingly interested in optical applications. Merck is therefore intensifying its research activities in LC materials with high birefringence for optical use. The University of Leeds possesses both the expertise and state-of-the-art facilities in order to conduct feasibility studies and develop prototypes of the devices. The declared goal is also to jointly apply for patents for such applications. The partnership with Merck coincides with significant investment by the University in both world-class research staff and facilities in this field. Work is well underway on a 96 million investment to integrate Engineering and Physical Sciences, bringing together talented physicists, chemists, materials scientists, engineers and computer scientists to address some of humanitys greatest challenges. It is due to open in 2020. Jimmy Odom is pictured at the Intersect Illinois office earlier this year. (Kristen Norman / Blue Sky) Jimmy Odom, the tech entrepreneur who resigned from a state government position earlier this month, has taken a new job touching the public sector. He's now director of inclusive entrepreneurship at ChicagoNext, the tech-focused arm of World Business Chicago, a public-private partnership that promotes economic development. Advertisement It's a new position that will have Odom leading the Blackstone Inclusive Entrepreneurship Challenge, aimed at increasing diversity among entrepreneurs. Also Thursday, WBC announced the formation of a 13-member council to implement the three-year Blackstone pilot, which will support diverse entrepreneurs and scale startups among communities of color, women, veterans and immigrants. Six organizations will split up to $3.4 million over three years for their efforts. Advertisement Odom started Monday, a week after walking away from state-level efforts to grow entrepreneurship in minority communities. His new position is funded in part by the grant from the Blackstone Foundation, the charitable arm of the New York-based firm that owns the Willis Tower. "Having dedicated resources to have direct impact and investments into the communities that have the highest need at this current moment was really exciting," Odom said. "It was difficult to imagine passing up on this opportunity." ChicagoNext is chaired by Mark Tebbe . Earlier this month, Odom wrote a post on Medium.com announcing his resignation as acting assistant director for the Department of Central Management Services of the State of Illinois, saying the state "has a long history of lacking committed strategic investments into the needs of its minority constituents." He expressed frustration with a budget impasse that left programs unfunded and urged minority constituents to hold all leadership accountable for a lack of resources that could spur business development and economic opportunities, which in turn could stem violence in some communities. Odom joined state government in September 2015 after selling his on-demand delivery startup, WeDeliver. Cheryl V. Jackson is a freelance writer. Twitter @cherylvjackson Conagra Brands, maker of products like Reddi-wip and Slim Jim, won $10.5 million in state tax breaks through a now-halted program meant to boost Illinois' economy. But since that September 2015 agreement, it's sold part of its business, cutting its Illinois workforce roughly in half. Illinois offered tax incentives to Conagra to help lure the company's headquarters to Chicago from its longtime home in Omaha, Neb., a common practice among states competing for new business. But at the time the EDGE tax credit program, which stands for Economic Development for a Growing Economy, allowed companies to add jobs at one site while cutting them at another, a practice uncovered by a 2015 Tribune investigation. Advertisement Conagra made good on the move to Chicago last year, and today roughly 500 employees work out of the company's headquarters in the Merchandise Mart. But shortly after Conagra inked its deal with the state in September 2015, the company sold its private-label business to Oak Brook-based TreeHouse Foods for about $2.7 billion, shedding a Downers Grove office and a South Beloit cookie plant. That sale cut Conagra's Illinois workforce of roughly 1,200 workers nearly in half, according to documents obtained by the Tribune under the state's Freedom of Information Act, setting up a scenario where the company could receive tax breaks for adding jobs at its headquarters while drastically reducing its state employee headcount. Advertisement State officials knew of Conagra's plan to sell its private-label business and signed the deal anyway, according to the documents obtained by the Tribune. But now, the state Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity says the company is out of compliance with its EDGE agreement because the contract included the cookie factory. Conagra can still receive its tax breaks by jumping through some additional bureaucratic hoops. Some state lawmakers overhauling the EDGE program which closed to new applications May 1 say Conagra's deal is another example of why it's important to hold companies accountable to building their total workforce in the state and not just at one specific location. "We should not be trading in-state workers for other in-state workers. That should not be happening at all," said Rep. Keith Wheeler, R-Oswego, sponsor of one of the tax credit bills under consideration. Conagra spokesman Michael Cummins declined to say how many people in Illinois are currently employed by Conagra and would not answer other questions. But in an emailed statement, Cummins said the company is in talks with the state to determine next steps and remains focused on "driving long-term shareholder value." "We are still in the early stages of our transformation and intend to continue to grow through innovation and (mergers and acquisitions), evidenced by recent acquisitions like Frontera Foods. We look forward to continuing to provide jobs, as well as community support, in Illinois and the many other important locations where our employees live and work," Cummins said. Conagra which spurned an estimated $28.5 million incentive package from Nebraska in moving its headquarters from that state hasn't received any Illinois tax credits yet, but still has plenty of time to do so. First, it needs to file an amended agreement with the state one that takes into account the sale of its private-label operations as well as other paperwork proving it is hitting the job creation and capital investment targets, said Jacquelyn Reineke, spokeswoman for the state Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Under the current agreement, Conagra would need to add nearly 300 more jobs to the Merchandise Mart headquarters to receive tax breaks. The deal also calls for a specific level of capital investment, though that figure is redacted from the agreement provided by the state Companies have a couple of years to ramp up to the necessary job growth and capital investment targets, and five years to hit their marks before their agreements are void. Conagra's remodeled Merchandise Mart headquarters, which smells of Orville Redenbacher's popcorn, has been open less than a year. Advertisement 'Windfalls without accountability' CEO Sean Connolly has made several moves to transform Conagra into a leaner, more profitable and more contemporary company since taking the helm in April 2016. Under his watch, Conagra spun off its frozen potato business forming two independent public companies and sold its flagging private-label business. More recently, the company's focus has been on revamping old brands, making small acquisitions and introducing new products, like Frontera-branded frozen meals, scheduled to hit stores this summer. Before moving the company's headquarters from Omaha, Connolly requested financial incentives to justify his move, according to a summary of Conagra's plans filed with the state in July 2015. "It is unknown if the sale (of Conagra's private-label business) will result in relocation of employees out of Illinois or layoff of these personnel," according to thedocument. That hasn't happened yet. There have been no layoffs at the former Conagra facilities, said TreeHouse spokesman Ron Bottrell. Advertisement But the state should not have entered into the EDGE deal when it knew there was a strong likelihood the company would reduce its total employment, said Thomas Cafcas, a research analyst for Good Jobs First, a national organization that tracks public subsidies to corporations. "If the state is writing economic development deals with such flexibility as to render them meaningless, these are windfalls without accountability and serve no public purpose," Cafcas said. Moving to Chicago enabled Conagra to be neighbors with other consumer packaged goods companies, including Kraft Heinz, Mondelez International and TreeHouse Foods. "It pays to be in a region with a talented workforce close to other (food processing and manufacturing) companies. It's clear that the company made a decision based upon values, not costs," Cafcas said. Conagra's initial application for EDGE tax credits in May 2015 was to add jobs and make capital improvements at the then-Conagra-owned cookie factory in South Beloit. The headquarters plan was later added to the agreement, tying the incentives to jobs created at the headquarters. Though it wasn't officially signed until late September 2015, the EDGE agreement was formalized on May 28, 2015 just five days before a state-ordered monthslong freeze on the program. Advertisement Commerce and Economic Opportunity spokeswoman Reineke, addressing the addition of Conagra's headquarters to the South Beloit agreement, said it's not unusual for plans to change. "Often when negotiating EDGE incentives, the nature and scope of the project remain in flux and are subject to change as the company finalizes details of its move or expansion," Reineke said in an email. Shortly after the Conagra agreement was reached, the Rauner administration announced changes to the EDGE program intended to prevent companies from receiving tax credits for one location when they cut jobs at another, Reineke said. Rebooting tax credit program For the moment, Illinois is without an economic incentive program to attract new businesses. But legislators on both sides of the aisle say a tax credit program is an important economic development tool and that they're working to reboot the EDGE program so that it's less expensive and more effective in creating jobs. Advertisement Wheeler sponsored a House bill for a rebranded, slimmed-down program called Transforming, Helping, and Reviving Illinois' Versatile Economy, or THRIVE, that's backed by the Rauner administration. Sen. Pamela Althoff, R-McHenry, has sponsored an identical bill in the state Senate. Wheeler said he believes any program going forward should require companies to build upon their total workforce in the state. The THRIVE bill requires companies to build jobs upon a statewide baseline, as opposed to one location. Not everyone agrees with that approach. Todd Maisch, president and CEO of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, said it's important for the state to have the flexibility to negotiate the job-growth requirement on a case-by-case basis. A corporate headquarters move means higher-paying white-collar jobs that have greater tax benefit than factory jobs, Maisch said. "And let's face it," Maisch said, "there's a prestige factor anytime you can get a brand-name headquarters to move to Chicago. It makes other businesses consider moving here." The chamber drafted its own bill that's sponsored by Rep. Mike Zalewski, D-Riverside. Instead of a statewide baseline, Maisch said the bill offered credits for job retention, as well as job creation, and bonus incentives for companies bringing jobs to particularly needy parts of the state. It's unclear at this point which philosophical approach will prevail. On Wednesday, Zalewski filed an amendment to the House Democrats' sprawling economic development bill that folds in some EDGE program changes, though it stops short of requiring companies to build upon their state workforce. Advertisement That bill does not have the full support of the chamber as it's currently written, said Maisch, who noted that the proposal sponsored by House Speaker Michael Madigan would dramatically expand the state budget deficit. "It's more a statement of political intent than a serious proposal," Maisch said. Madigan's bill could be called for a vote on the House floor as early as next week. Moving forward, the focus of any new or revamped tax credit program needs to be on long-term job creation in Illinois, Zalewski said. "I think it's important for companies receiving tax credits to be transparent and to be held accountable," Zalewski said. gtrotter@chicagotribune.com Twitter @GregTrotterTrib A technician shows off the 3D visualization capabilities available in the Center for Innovation through Visualization and Simulation at Purdue University Northwests Calumet Campus in Hammond. (Wes Lukoshus / Post-Tribune) When entrepreneur Nick Wilson realized how tough it was to find qualified engineers for his Cook County-based manufacturing company, he crossed the border to Indiana and did something about it. That was in 2008, and since then Wilson has been instrumental in forging an unusual Illinois-Indiana alliance a public-private partnership with the technology department of Purdue University Northwest. Advertisement The upshot: Qualified students, many of whom work as paid interns for companies like Wilson's Morrison Container Handling Solutions in Glenwood, help ease an acute local engineering shortage while also getting some pretty good-paying jobs and real-world experience. Another significant byproduct is the economic pop this effort provides Illinois and Indiana. In today's highly charged political climate, this alliance is a welcome and novel show of across-the-border cooperation, especially since the two states usually are pitted as rivals, scratching it out for new businesses, relocating companies and gifted workers. Advertisement "These are quality jobs that are not going to go to China or somewhere else because of the customized nature of the work," says Wilson. When it comes to describing the engineering niche Purdue Northwest has developed, the term "customized" is an understatement. At the university, it's called the Mechatronics Engineering Technology program, an umbrella term for a discipline that encompasses a blend of mechanical, electrical, computer and technology combined into one engineering degree. It's estimated that at least 50 of the region's small and midsized packaging-related manufacturers have an acute need for such hybrid talent. Their work touches the lives of millions of everyday people, even though we probably don't realize it. How so? Well, if you've opened up a single-serve package of applesauce, pried off the cap on a prescription bottle or peeled away the shrink wrap surrounding a case of bottled water or soft drinks, then you've made a connection to mechatronics. It's a discipline that's instrumental in designing, and refining, the machines that provide this type of consumer packaging and more. So, when Procter & Gamble, Abbott Laboratories or Coca-Cola cook up a new product or decide to upgrade an old standard, they often reach out to Midwest-based manufacturing companies and hire them to engineer, design and construct the equipment needed to bundle their goods. "They build the machines and our graduates get into that," says Niaz Latif, dean of the Purdue University Northwest College of Technology. The total U.S. packaging market is estimated to be around $500 billion, with a growing demand for more digital and eco-friendly products that help reduce carbon dioxide emissions, according to a 2016 industry report from Grand View Research in San Francisco. Advertisement Despite the potential payoff, regional packaging companies are often at a loss for the right engineering talent or can't compete for it when pitted against wealthy, international companies. That's a big reason why those area companies have rallied to Purdue Northwest's grass-roots program. The university has enlisted an advisory board of about a dozen Illinois and Indiana manufacturers, which work at refining the course curriculum. Just as important, these firms provide internships to students as a pathway to introduce them to their businesses and, if everything works out, enticing the students to join as full-time employees. "We require internships that require real work and practical experience," says Wilson, who is president of Morrison Container. Among the Chicago-area companies pitching in: Rockwell Automation; ARPAC; B&R Industrial Automation; Triangle Package Machinery; Shuttleworth Integrated Product Handling Solutions; Bimba Manufacturing; Schneider Electric; Calumet Abrasives; Mitsubishi Electric Automation; and Dorner Transforming Conveyor Automation. In 2008 the Purdue Northwest program had 17 students, but now it's 85 to 100, with a majority being the first in their families to attend college, Latif says. Once hired, the starting annual salary for a full-time mechatronics engineer is about $70,000 and the job placement rate is extremely high, according to Purdue. Backed by a recent National Science Foundation grant, Purdue Northwest is expanding its reach by teaming up with the College of DuPage and Indiana's Ivy Tech Community College to train mechatronics technicians, who will operate the machines designed by the engineers. Advertisement To me, this type of public-private program exemplifies what can be accomplished when commerce and educational institutions get behind an important, tangible mission. The program's goal is pretty straightforward the companies are investing to prime the area's engineering job pipeline and advance their own corporate goals. That's OK. But this goes beyond job placement. The endeavor also helps thwart a regional brain drain. Graduates get an opportunity to work at a nearby company, stay closer to home and shore up communities in need of their time, energy and money. Keep in mind that many of Purdue Northwest's engineering students hail from around the campus' surrounding area, including Illinois communities. Advertisement "The people anchored here for family reasons can go with a company and contribute to economic development," Latif says. This public-private arrangement between Indiana's Purdue and Illinois' manufacturers also proves the two states can often share many economic interests provided the powers that be want to recognize them. It's got to make you wonder: Could something as obtuse as mechatronics inspire Illinois and Indiana governments, or other institutions, to engineer new ways of working together? If so, they don't have to look very far to find a blueprint. roreed@chicagotribune.com Twitter @reedtribbiz What then was the Melanesian Way that was supposed to make the asylum seekers welcome? Proponents of the Melanesian Way talked about love and acceptance and peace such that, if this concept was a picture, it would show a line of people standing along the beach with the bible in one hand, a lei in the other and a smile on the face. In the midst of all the animosity levelled against the decision, the more peace loving Papua New Guineans were using the social media to remind the rest of the people about the Melanesian Way. Papua New Guineans were urged to embrace the asylum seekers the Melanesian Way. WHEN THE AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED to reroute asylum seekers from the Middle East bound for Australia to Papua New Guinea, there was a public outcry against the move by majority of Papua New Guineans. Is the Melanesian Way a way of love? Did our ancestors stand on the shores and sing songs of welcome when the Whiteman sailed into the harbours and coves of the island of New Guinea? John Waiko (1) in his narration of the first contact between the Binandere with the Whiteman showed that the manner in which the different tribes approached the Whiteman was a direct reflection of their capacity to fight their tribal battles. Some tribes were self-sufficient in their capacity to fight and maintain tribal lands and acquire new land from the losing tribes while other tribes were being run to extinction. Those that could not defend their lands embraced the Whiteman as an ally in a hope that the Whiteman and the power of his shotgun could be used to fight their battle. On the other hand, those that were self-sufficient saw the Whiteman as a threat and rejected the Whiteman and fought him off any chance they had and even ate the bodies of white man to assimilate the power of the Whiteman. The Binandere people were portrayed as a scheming lot who forged alliances based on the benefits the alliance would bring to them to assist them fight their enemies. The Whiteman unfortunately was not aware of this agenda. Other commentators define the Melanesian Way as the way of equality. Indeed, most PNG societies are egalitarian. Apart from a few societies that had chieftain systems, most tribes in PNG lived in a society where everybody had equal status. (The introduction of sweet potato disrupted this system in some societies by breeding pigs, polygamy and the big man.) The notable writer and blogger Martyn Namorong call this the Melanesian equilibrium wherein the the fruits of the land were regarded as communally owned and, as such, everyone in society expected a fair share not necessarily an equal portion (2) a balancing act between the interests of the individual against those of the tribe. But that was where it ended, within the tribe. No Melanesian Equilibrium was ever extended to those outside the tribe. Tribes were fiercely protective of their land and women. John Fowke in his essay on The Melanesian Way says that ...the Melanesian Way is the way of a fragmented multi-tribal society. Its a Way which facilitated the existence of such societies whilst they remained divided, multi-lingual, local, warlike and competitive. In PNGs case, this was a society that existed successfully and independently for tens of thousands of years. (3) The Way that kept a fragmented multi-tribal society intact as referred by Fowke can be put down to one word - suspicion - suspicion of everything beyond the tribal boundaries, suspicion of the unknown kept tribes independent for thousands of years. Any trade links and allies that existed were acquired, maintained and managed through marriages over time. The elaborate planning and ritual that went into arranging marriages and paying bride prices demonstrates how important marriages were for strategic purposes. Though confusing to outsiders, the sometimes messy mortuary ritual that takes place to honor the mama lain and the papa lain when someone dies serves to reaffirm the links and allies. Other commentators say that the Melanesian Way is an attempt to bring the thousand tribes with diverse tribal rules together as one nation. The Melanesian Way served to bring the thousand tribes .under a new version of tradition as a bundle of values specific to no particular place but putatively shared by all. Is that what Bernard Narokobi meant when he coined the term back in the 1984? (4) The rule of law which judges right from wrong is a concept absent in the Melanesian context. Mr Narokobi recognized that and pointed out that there was no right way of making peace and that conflicts can be successfully settled by recognizing differences in the approaches and then coming up with the best mode to resolve the issue. Through this method of considering all options, all parties win to some level and none lose. This ensures that relationships are maintained and none is estranged because one may need to call a favor in the near future. This method of reaching a consensus had practical implications when the thousand tribes came together to become one nation. This method validated all the different customs that existed and through a show of respect and consideration for all the differences. This method of dispute resolution was the Melanesian Way Mr Narokobi referred to. Does a Melanesian Way exist and does it work? The answer is a yes. For instance, the Melanesian Way is the winner in land disputes cases. Through dialogue, the genealogy is constructed and the land divided according to the genealogy. All parties are satisfied. This however, is not so for those who go to the court of law the law rules one the winner and awarded the land and the other the loser. This breeds animosity between blood relatives. Despite its usefulness, the Melanesian Way open to manipulation and misuse because of the oral nature of the customary laws. This misuse has been pervasive in the political arena. A commentator states this about the Melanesian Way in politics Melanesian Way is whatever those in powers choose it to mean. Lacking any kind of scrutiny their personal lives are enriched by theft, bribery and corruption. The Rule of Law means nothing to them and corruption is so entrenched that it is the norm rather than the exception. After observing politics in PNG, the hard speaking commentator, Dr Susan Merrell says that Melanesian Way is .redolent with self-serving pragmatism and a fickle approach to commitment that can be called upon, or not, according to whim. (5) This self-serving pattern exists because the parliament has two guiding principles. First is the one borrowed from the west and based on Christian tenets and the other is the custom. The custom is however, not one custom but a thousand customs, unwritten and open to interpretation and which cannot be challenged in the court of law. In such a dual system, with no rule to guide decisions, the trend has been to choose culture over the constitution when it seems beneficial to do so. The Melanesian Way has become the excuse to break laws and circumvent obligations and hard decisions and even escape the grasp of the law. Justice is not served when a compromise is reached outside the modern court of law to pay bel kol moni to the families of victims of rape and abuse. It is against human rights values when a young girl is forcefully married off by her family to an older man to settle old scores. The Melanesian Way has become self-serving as pointed by the political commentators. The Melanesian Way suppresses innovation and hard work because it rewards supporters and kin and not hard work. Can the Melanesian Way guarantee a good life for the people of Papua New Guinea? The definition of a good life is subjective, but all people regardless of whether they live in glass house or grass huts desire a society where there is respect for lives and property, where there is an opportunity to better their lot in life through education, where they can access good health care, where they are safe and protected and where justice prevails. We can make a good life for our people when we stop pretending that the Melanesian way is relevant in the 21st century because it is not. Every human being must abide by the rule of law and conduct their lives according to the moral code all human live by. Justice has to prevail. The troublemakers must be punished and the people must rise and fall not because of influence but because they have worked hard and earned a good life. Papua New Guineans must become free from the oppression of the Melanesian Way. ________________ Activist groups led by the CNY Solidarity Coalition and Syracuse Center for Peace and Social Justice have organized what's being billed as a "real" town hall meeting in the aftermath of U.S. Rep. John Katko's participation in a televised forum Monday at Onondaga Community College. The open forum is scheduled for 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, May 30 at Camillus Middle School. The event is co-sponsored by CNY NOW, Indivisible Cayuga, New Feminists for Justice and Voices of Women CNY. It is open to residents of the 24th Congressional District, which includes all of Cayuga, Onondaga and Wayne counties, plus the western part of Oswego County. Katko, R-Camillus, was invited to attend the town hall meeting. According to the CNY Solidarity Coalition, he declined. The coalition and other activists have criticized the format and rules that were in place for Katko's town hall meeting Monday. The forum, which was organized by CNYCentral and televised on channels 3 and 5, required prospective attendees to enter a drawing for tickets. More than 650 people entered the lottery. About 130 people attended the town hall meeting. Those who attended were required to show photo identification and submit to a security screening. Dana Balter, a CNY Solidarity Coalition member, said the event wasn't a true town hall meeting. "Instead it was a television forum in which the congressman evaded carefully crafted questions from constituents and repeated the same talking points we've heard many times," she said. Katko was criticized for not holding a town hall meeting. Before Monday's event, he hadn't held a general open forum since taking office in 2015. He has held several issue-specific discussions on agriculture, the opioid epidemic and other topics. He's also hosted more than 20 telephone town hall meetings. The upcoming town hall meeting organized by activists will focus on a range of issues, including education, health care and immigration. Attendees who speak at the event will have two minutes to deliver remarks or ask questions. Four upstate New York representatives want Gov. Andrew Cuomo to seek federal aid for flooding along Lake Ontario, but his office says the damage hasn't reached the financial threshold to submit such a request. Rich Azzopardi, Cuomo's spokesman, said the state must show that it's either met or exceeded the established per capita threshold of $27.7 million. There are additional thresholds for each of the affected counties, including Cayuga. "We believe these amounts, which haven't been met, are arbitrary and would gladly accept any help from these congressional representatives in suspending these rules and get federal help now," Azzopardi said. "In the meantime, state officials are doing everything in their power to help New Yorkers living along the lake protect their homes and property from rising waters." Azzopardi added that he's consulted with state homeland security officials who estimated that the state is "not even halfway" to the thresholds. The four members of Congress U.S. Reps. Chris Collins, John Katko, Elise Stefanik and Claudia Tenney signed a letter that was sent to Cuomo urging him to request the Federal Emergency Management Agency's assistance. The governor must ask for the aid before President Donald Trump can declare a state of emergency. While the flooding hasn't reached the levels necessary for federal aid, the state has provided support to the counties along the lake. This week, the state sent a sandbagging machine, 10,000 sandbags and deployed a National Guard unit to assist the village of Fair Haven in northern Cayuga County. Some businesses and residential properties have been affected by flooding. Erosion is also a concern. "Numerous shoreline property owners have invested in break walls surrounding their property that are now sitting far into the lake," the four representatives wrote. "Homeowners and shoreline property owners are experiencing tens of thousands of dollars in damage, homes have been condemned and there is no relief in sight." The International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board said Thursday that Lake Ontario has reached its highest levels ever. The records on the lake's water levels date back to 1918. The lake is at 248.9 feet 33.1 inches above its average level for this time of year. Two Cayuga County state senators are backing a proposal to establish a $55 million fund for communities affected by flooding across New York. State Sen. Pam Helming is the lead sponsor of the legislation, which is modeled after a similar program that was created after Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee hit parts of New York and caused flooding in several communities. The fund would include $20 million provided by Empire State Development, the state's economic development arm, for physical damage caused by flooding. Homeowners could receive up to $15,500 and owners of multiple residences can get up to $30,000. Small businesses and farms would be eligible for up to $50,000. Not-for-profit corporations could get as much as $100,000. The grants would apply to damage not covered by insurance or another federal, state or local recovery program. An additional $20 million would be available for local governments to use for infrastructure spending. The maximum grant amount would be set at $1 million. Another $10 million would be allocated for other municipal costs. And $5 million in grants would be made available for counties affected by higher Great Lakes water levels to invest in flood mitigation or flood control projects. Helming's district is one of the regions most affected by the flooding along Lake Ontario. She represents Fair Haven in northern Cayuga County, which has been dealing with rising water levels. To the west, Sodus Point in Wayne County has faced more challenges due to Lake Ontario flooding. She said her legislation, the Great Lakes Recovery Grant Program, is a "critical first step" to rebuilding communities. "Over the past month, I have witnessed the devastation caused by flooding in our lakeshore communities," Helming, R-Canandaigua, said. "It has been heart-wrenching watching property owners trying desperately to save their homes, and see small seasonal businesses that have been around for generations forced to close just before the start of their busy summer season." The bill is supported by a group of upstate senators, including Senate Deputy Majority Leader John DeFrancisco, whose district includes a portion of Cayuga County. DeFrancisco, R-Syracuse, noted the large amount of rain that has fallen and created the flooding issues many communities are now experiencing. "In emergencies, the state government has an obligation to provide relief for its residents," he said. While the program would be available for communities along Lake Champlain, Lake Erie and the St. Lawrence River, it will likely have the most benefit for businesses and residents near Lake Ontario. Lake Ontario has reached its highest recorded level, breaking a record that stood for nearly 65 years. Outflows are starting to increase, but it could be several weeks until Fair Haven, Sodus Point and other communities see lake levels decline. The longtime Springport clerk is facing felony charges for allegedly using a town computer to boost her pension. Deborah Waldron, 62, was arrested Friday and has been charged with first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, a class E felony. She's also charged with computer trespass and official misconduct. Waldron pleaded not guilty and will return to Aurelius Town Court June 28. According to the state comptroller's office, a discrepancy was found during an audit. Local governments must submit reports to the comptroller detailing who's enrolled in the state pension system and how many hours they worked. Appointed and elected officials, like Waldron, are required to maintain records of activities daily information about hours worked and duties performed. This data is used to compile the standard work day and reporting resolution, a document that lists the names of the appointed and elected officials, their titles and the number of hours established for their standard work days. The comptroller's office said auditors found an inconsistency in Waldron's record of activities and the standard work day and reporting resolution that was filed. Waldron, who's a part-time employee, allegedly inflated her hours to make it appear that she was a full-time employee. With full-time status, she would receive more retirement benefits than a part-time worker. The comptroller's staff re-calculated Waldron's actual hours and benefits to prevent her from collecting any funds she wasn't entitled to receive. The New York State Police and Cayuga County District Attorney's Office assisted with the investigation. "This town clerk marred a 25-year career as a public servant by allegedly trying to pad her hours," DiNapoli said. "Hopefully her arrest will deter others from such corruption." Waldron, a Republican, has served as Springport's town clerk since January 1992. She ran unopposed for re-election in 2015. Her salary in 2016 was $17,122, according to seethroughny.net. Rome Canzano, Waldron's attorney, said his client denies any wrongdoing and disputed the claim that she inflated her hours. Waldron's retirement benefits, he said, mirrored the information maintained by the town bookkeeper. He added that she used a formula for her reporting that was provided by the state comptroller in 2010. The information reported by Waldron matched the monthly reports submitted by the town bookkeeper to the state, Canzano said. "She will clear her name and continue as the elected town clerk faithfully serving the town of Springport community as she has done for the last two and a half decades," he said. Springport Town Supervisor David Schenck said that the town's attorney will be present at the next board meeting to advise officials in the aftermath of Waldron's arrest. The next board meeting is scheduled for June 13. Schenck didn't go into specifics about the case, but confirmed that the town assisted with the comptroller's investigation. He said there's no action the town can take against Waldron until her case is disposed. When asked about Waldron's arrest, he said it was "pretty unfortunate." Waldron is the second town official arrested in the last three years. Sabra Kay Hall, Springport's former tax collector, was charged in 2014 with stealing more than $12,000 from the town. Hall pleaded guilty to official misconduct, a misdemeanor, in July 2015. As part of her plea agreement, she resigned as tax collector. AUBURN Assessor Mike Burns is gearing up for Auburn's quadrennial citywide assessment reappraisal, a project that will review nearly 9,200 properties across the city between June and February. The effort helps to maintain the city's 100 percent assessed value to market value and ensure a fair and equitable commercial tax role, Burns told the Auburn City Council at its meeting Thursday evening. "It's a long and difficult process," Burns said about assessing every property in the city. "It's not easy." With about 28 residential neighborhoods, two commercial neighborhoods and one industrial, there's a lot of ground for assessors to cover. He said two cars labeled appraiser or assessor will go out to a neighborhood and complete a site visit, investigating the exterior of a property. Using a computer database inside the car, Burns will note upgrades to a home or signs of disrepair. The city will generate a report for each property, noting costs, change of assessment, land tables and other data. Once completed, that information is available to property owners to review. There will be a grievance period in 2018 where people can contest their assessment. That time frame has not yet been determined, but Burns said it's usually by April 1. "The homeowner has an opportunity to come in and talk," he said. In other news: City councilors discussed Tuesday night's public presentation on new designs for the central New York regional welcome center in downtown Auburn. Overall, councilors were pleased with the meeting, encouraged that more than 80 people attended. Councilor Terry Cuddy called it a very positive and very informative meeting. Councilor Cuddy and Debby McCormick said they thought hearing the architects' reasoning for the design was very informative. The many windows, for example, provide views of the historic downtown. "It's almost designed so you can better appreciate the surroundings," McCormick added. City Clerk Chuck Mason said it was important for the public to understand that the renderings are a first draft. He said the feedback the city has collected so far has been very valuable and will be a part in the design process moving forward. He encouraged others to provide feedback, too, though he's hoping to have it gathered by next week. "The feedback we've been getting is definitely being listened to, and we will be seeing future renditions of the project," Mason said. "We will be seeing a lot of changes." Written comments can be sent to Memorial City Hall, or people may write on the city's online comment page: http://auburnny.gov/Public_Documents/AuburnNY_WelcomeCenter/index. Moody's Investors Service rated the city A2 again this year, not giving it the highest rating of A1 mostly because of its heavy debt burden of about $23.7 million. Comptroller Laura Wills said the information was not new. Wills said the city's debt burden is about 33.6 percent, most of that coming from the city's enterprise fund and not the general operating fund. She said the city did have some more positives this year, including a strong cash and investment balance. Wills said the city was tending towards a higher rating with this report than a lower one, and hopes it can make A1 next year. Richard Cox and Marshall Ziegler-Greer are the newest members of the Auburn Fire Department, sworn in by Mayor Mike Quill Thursday night. With family members in the audience, Fire Chief Joe Morabito addressed the two recruits and encouraged them to keep a log of all their calls. "There'll be some good times," Morabito said. "There'll be some bad times. But, at least you'll have the memories. Stay safe. We're glad to have you." City councilors voted unanimously to establish a one-time retirement incentive a lump sum payment of $8,000 or a credit of $10,000 against the retiree portion of health insurance for certain eligible employees. City Manager Jeff Dygert said the incentive is meant to save the city money by bringing in new staff at lower rates. Dygert said at least three or four employees had expressed interest in the incentive. Councilor Jimmy Giannettino asked if there was concern about losing people in the Auburn Police or Fire Departments, considering there's a special academy schedule before someone can be hired. To accommodate those schedules, Dygert said eligible employees have to notify the city of their intent to retire by June 30 and the retirement date should be July 31 or earlier. The city will hold a public hearing to review its application for the next $10 million grant competition, the state Downtown Revitalization Initiative. The application is due on June 14. The hearing will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Memorial City Hall, 24 South St., Auburn. HIT: To the town of Owasco for thinking big when it comes to fun. Destination playground: Owasco building splash pad, more accessible attraction OWASCO As construction equipment churned up the soil Monday morning, Ed Wagner walked arou The town is in the midst of revamping and expanding the playground at the public pavilion, but plans include much more than new slides and swings. When it's all said and done, this park will be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, because its design keeps children with special needs in mind. Changes will include new play equipment, relocating the bocce court and putting in a new parking lot. In the summer months, there will be a water-splash play area, the first of its kind in this area. We appreciate the ambitious scope of this project and hope that it becomes everything it can be for families near and far. MISS: To an Auburn man who seems to have blown his chance to become employee of the month. Police: Auburn man arrested for pawning $1,500 worth of stolen tools An Auburn man has been arrested for attempting to pawn approximately $1,500 worth of stolen Police said that the man stole $1,500 worth of tools from his employer and then tried to sell them at a local pawn shop. The man was charged with the felonies of grand larceny and falsifying business records. And we have to imagine that he lost his job, too. HIT: To a combination of fun and learning. The small, remote-controlled flying machines called drones have exploded in popularity in recent years as they have become more affordable for the average person. And while they certainly are fun to fly, they are also being used for a wide range of useful purposes. Camera-equipped drones can help farmers survey vast areas of land quickly and can be helpful when people need to get a view of a remote location that would be difficult and time consuming to hike to. With that in mind, Weedsport technology teacher Brian Gates began a course in drones this year. Students first build the parts for their crafts using 3-D printing technology, and they need to know the Federal Aviation Administration's rules before they can start flying. As business and industry finds more practical uses for drones, there will be a need for people to build and operate them. And those people can have a lot of fun along the way. Pueblo judge orders competency evaluation in election tampering case A judge has issued a gag order in the election tampering case of Richard Patton and ordered Patton to be evaluated for competency to stand trial. Our weekly round up of other news affecting foreign investors throughout Asia: Biomass Industry in the Philippines The Philippines has large and abundant supplies of biomass resources, including agricultural crop residues, forest residues, animal waste, and agro-industrial waste. Our Philippines correspondent Bob Shead discusses the economic advantages of biomass power generation in the Philippines in this Op-ed. The RERA Act An Explainer Indias ambitious Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA) came into force May 1, 2017. In this article, we highlight the Acts major rules and discuss its implications for key stakeholders as well as the challenges in its implementation under respective state governments. Developing an Effective Purchasing Policy in Russia With Russias emerging trend of reaching out to new markets in Asia, in addition to the complexities of tax treatments under the Eurasian Economic Union, purchasing in Russia is becoming more systematically complex. Chinese Overseas Direct Investment Turns Towards OBOR As Beijing Pledges US$2 Trillion in Purchases Chinese Overseas Direct Investment (ODI) is being increasingly aligned with the countries OBOR plans, meaning attempts to woo the billions of dollars in Chinas foreign reserves are not going to be significantly re-invested in the West, according to plans laid out at the this weeks OBOR conference in Beijing. Vietnams Aquaculture Exports to Reach US$13 Billion by 2020 Vietnams exports of aquaculture produce are predicted to reach US$13 billion by 2020. Read more to understand current growth trends and the policy actions needed to sustain the seafood industrys future competitiveness. About Us Our Briefing updates are written by and provided by the various regional offices of Dezan Shira & Associates throughout Asia. To obtain a complimentary subscription to Asia Briefing please click here. To contact Dezan Shira & Associates concerning foreign investment and assistance in Asia, please email us at asia@dezshira.com Dezan Shira & Associates Brochure Dezan Shira & Associates is a pan-Asia, multi-disciplinary professional services firm, providing legal, tax and operational advisory to international corporate investors. Operational throughout China, ASEAN and India, our mission is to guide foreign companies through Asias complex regulatory environment and assist them with all aspects of establishing, maintaining and growing their business operations in the region. This brochure provides an overview of the services and expertise Dezan Shira & Associates can provide. An Introduction to Doing Business in ASEAN 2017 Doing Business in ASEAN introduces the fundamentals of investing in the 10-nation ASEAN bloc, concentrating on economics, trade, corporate establishment and taxation. We also include the latest development news in our Important Updates section for each country, with the intent to provide an executive assessment of the varying component parts of ASEAN, assessing each member state and providing the most up-to-date economic and demographic data on each. An Introduction to Doing Business in China 2017 Doing Business in China 2017 is designed to introduce the fundamentals of investing in China. Compiled by the professionals at Dezan Shira & Associates in January 2017, this comprehensive guide is ideal not only for businesses looking to enter the Chinese market, but also for companies who already have a presence here and want to keep up-to-date with the most recent and relevant policy changes. An Introduction to Doing Business in Hong Kong 2017 Doing Business in China 2017 is designed to introduce the fundamentals of investing in China. Compiled by the professionals at Dezan Shira & Associates in January 2017, this comprehensive guide is ideal not only for businesses looking to enter the Chinese market, but also for companies who already have a presence here and want to keep up-to-date with the most recent and relevant policy changes. An Introduction to Doing Business in India 2017 An Introduction to Doing Business in India 2017 is designed to introduce the fundamentals of investing in India. As such, this comprehensive guide is ideal not only for businesses looking to enter the Indian market, but also for companies who already have a presence here and want to stay up-to-date with the most recent and relevant policy changes. An Introduction to Doing Business in Singapore 2017 An Introduction to Doing Business in Singapore 2017 provides readers with an overview of the fundamentals of investing and conducting business in Singapore and outlines the citys role as a trading hub within ASEAN. The guide explains the basics of company establishment, annual compliance, taxation, human resources, and social insurance in the city-state. An Introduction to Doing Business in Vietnam 2017 An Introduction to Doing Business in Vietnam 2017 will provide readers with an overview of the fundamentals of investing and conducting business in Vietnam. Compiled by Dezan Shira & Associates, a specialist foreign direct investment practice, this guide explains the basics of company establishment, annual compliance, taxation, human resources, payroll, and social insurance in this dynamic country. With the scope and penalties of Chinas social credit system being further clarified in 2021, legal and regulatory compliance has become more important than... You are here: Home Nepal on Thursday hosted the "Chinese Bridge" language proficiency competition for college students in Kathmandu. This is the fourth Nepali edition of the global contest. This year's competition was organized by the Confucius Institute at Kathmandu University and the Chinese embassy in Nepal. According to the organizers, over 50 students had taken part in the initial round and 14 students selected from three educational institutions in Nepal were qualified for the preliminary round. Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Yu Hong attended the ceremony to present awards to the winners. While addressing the ceremony, she expressed happiness over increasing interest of Nepali students in Chinese language and culture. "Language is a bridge to bring countries and people together. Since more Nepali students are learning Chinese, China will promote more youth exchange in the fields of education and culture in the days ahead," Yu said. In the preliminary round of the competition, the 14 college students went through rounds of tests and demonstrated their language skills. Two Bachelor students representing Kathmandu University were declared winners, who will travel to China to represent Nepal at the finals to be held later this year. Pratima Bhujel, one of the winners, told Xinhua: "I am extremely happy to win this contest. I will prepare well for the finals." The Chinese proficiency competition is held annually in different countries for non-Chinese students to encourage them to learn about China and enhance their understanding of Chinese language and culture. The 2017 Joint Conference of Confucius Institutes in Africa opened here on Thursday with the Zambian government underscoring the importance of the institutes to foster cultural cooperation between China and Africa. Zambian Vice-President Inonge Wina said the new chapter of cooperation between China and Africa lies in the ability of Confucius Institutes to bring peoples together through the promotion of language and culture. "We can make Confucius Institutes places of great cultural exchanges for the good of our peoples. Confucius Institutes have brought us closer. They have highlighted the beauty that lies behind our diversity," she said in a speech read on her behalf by Minister of General Education Dennis Wanchinga at the start of the two-day conference in Lusaka, the Zambian capital. According to her, globalization has reduced the barriers to interaction among nations, adding that Confucius Institutes could be true platforms of a win-win cooperation between China and Africa. The Zambian vice-president further expressed gratitude that the Confucius Institute headquarters in China has built a language and cultural museum at the Confucius Institute in Zambia to host both Chinese and Zambia language and culture. She said her government was committed to ensuring that the relations with China continue growing, adding that the government has since chosen Chinese as one of the three foreign languages being taught in schools while the Chinese language has been incorporated into syllabuses for junior and senior secondary schools. Zambia, she said, was committed to ensuring the continued growth of the relations with China, adding that China has been an "all-weather" friend not only to Zambia by the African continent as a whole. Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Yang Youming advised the Confucius Institute to cater for the actual learning demand of people in different countries and also to take into consideration unique conditions of each country. He hoped that Confucius Institutes will give play a fair play and promote both the Chinese and African culture. The Chinese envoy said it was obvious that Confucius Institutes have become platforms of cultural exchanges between China an African countries and expressed gratitude at the uptake of the Chinese language in Zambia. According to him, since its establishment seven years ago, the Confucius Institute has developed significantly in Zambia with one institute, two classrooms and 17 Chinese language teaching points, with more than 8,000 students. The two-day conference has attracted directors of Confucius Institutes from various African countries as well as representatives of Chinese enterprises in Africa. Apart from an exhibition of Confucius Institutes in Africa, the conference will have various presentations on the promotion of people-to-people exchanges, how political mutual trust and economic and trade cooperation could promote the development of Sino-China relations as well as vocational and technical training. The conference will also tackle cooperation between Confucius Institutes and Chinese-funded agencies. According to figures, there are 48 Confucius Institutes in 37 African countries as well as 27 Confucius Institutes classrooms and more than 400 teaching centers. China will open a series of pilot zones to press ahead the Made in China 2025 strategy, Premier Li Keqiang said at a State Council executive meeting on Wednesday. Employees produce electronic aluminium foil products at a factory in Hezhou, the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. [Photo/Xinhua] The demonstration areas, poised as test bed for policy and institutional innovation, are expected to develop into industrial clusters and the country's new growth engine, according to a statement released after the meeting on the State Council's website. Twelve cities have gained approval from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology as of Wednesday to build pilot zones for the strategy. Some of them will be designated at a national level, receiving favorable policies in financing and other fields. The State Council also promised to reduce corporate burden and cut their annual costs by 120 billion yuan ($17.48 billion) through slashing logistics fees and service charges. The Made in China 2025 has shown significant progress in upgrading the country's economy toward medium to high-end over the past two years, the statement noted. China's first home-developed large passenger jet C919 made its debut flight in Shanghai earlier this month. Smart manufacturing will be a primary focus, with China accelerating innovations in sensor and control system as well as industrial software, it added. The strategy, together with Internet Plus Initiative and mass entrepreneurship, will support the upgrade of the country's manufacturing toward intelligent, eco-friendly and service driven. At least four were killed and 50 were hospitalized after a nursing home caught fire in Taiwan early Friday, local media reported. About 150 people were at the nursing center when the fire broke out, some 50 have been sent to the hospital, with 24 suffering from smoke inhalation, according to local police. Preliminary investigation showed the fire broke out on the second floor of the Nanmen Nursing Home at about 5 a.m. in Hengchun Township, southern Taiwan's Pingtung County. Firefighters had put off the fire soon after arrival. The Nanmen nursing home was established in 2004, offering health care services to the senior and patients that require home care. Further investigation continues. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Liu Yunshan, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, meet with heroes and role models from public security departments across the country at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 19, 2017. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) Chinese President Xi Jinping met with heroes and role models from public security departments across the country on Friday, stressing loyalty to the Communist Party of China (CPC). Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, called for those working in the country's public security departments to serve the people, promote impartiality in law enforcement, and remain disciplined. Premier Li Keqiang and Liu Yunshan, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, also joined the meeting. Xi said that the heroes and role models are not only models for the public security system, but also the whole of society. Hailing the public security forces as a team with a glorious tradition and excellent work, Xi said they have made remarkable contributions in safeguarding national security and social stability. They have forged an "indestructible iron wall" for national security, public security and the safety of people's lives and property, with their sweat, and even blood and lives, the president said. Xi said he was deeply moved by stories of public security officers risking their lives when carrying out missions, adding that he also felt sorrow for those who lost their lives during missions. The great spirit of heroes and role models should be carried forward in the entire country in cultivating and practicing the socialist core values, said Xi. Xi called on public security forces to devote their utmost efforts to safeguarding national security and social stability, so as to meet the public needs and create a safe and stable social environment for the upcoming 19th National Congress of the CPC later this year. CPC committees and governments at various levels were also urged to support public security forces and take care of police officers. A total of 615 public security units and 1,320 individuals were honored at Friday's meeting. In the nearly one year that she has been Taiwan leader, Tsai Ing-wen has invited public rage against her reforms. Instead of taking measures to facilitate the economic recovery of the island, which she had promised to do while campaigning for the election last year, the leader of the Democratic Progressive Party has continuously attacked the opposition Kuomintang in the name of political reform. The first bill the island legislature passed after Tsai's inauguration was about auditing the "improper assets" owned by political parties, which offered a convenient excuse for the DPP to marginalize Kuomintang and seize its "questionable" assets. Her selective "promotion of justice", which criticizes Kuomintang's rule after 1949 yet goes easy on Japan's occupation of Taiwan (1895-1945), has widened the divide on the island. Tsai's reluctance to uphold the 1992 Consensus, which embodies the one-China principle, has soured cross-Straits relations, for which the island is paying a high price. Her political ambivalence was followed by the suspension of cross-Straits consultation and communication mechanisms, derailed economic cooperation, and a sharp decline in the number of mainland tourists visiting Taiwan. That, however, failed to wake Tsai up to the latent consequences. The island has been denied permission to participate in this year's World Health Assembly meeting, which will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday. Apart from seeking "cultural separatism" by denying the influence of Sun Yat-sen (1866-1925), the founder of Kuomintang and a great revolutionary of modern China, Tsai believes minimizing the economic dependence of Taiwan on the mainland is the right thing to do. Her "New Southward Policy", which focuses on Southeast Asian markets, has made some progress in diversifying tourist and cultural exchanges, but not enough to change the fact that the Chinese mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region still account for more than 40 percent of the island's exports. Besides, the withdrawal of the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement has dealt another blow to her economic ambitions. Taiwan did see a double-digit increase in trade exchanges in the first four months of this year and a quarterly growth of 2.56 percent, but that was more because of the robust demand from industrial chains such as Apple. The average wage of Taiwan residents has increased by only a slight margin and its investment environment has not improved much. Tsai's ambition of generating non-nuclear energy as part of her electricity reform, too, faces strong headwinds as renewable energy sources cannot fill the void left by nuclear power plants. Moreover, most of the industries the Tsai administration has endorsed and fundedfrom smart engineering to biomedicineare neither innovative nor major. And the grand infrastructure plan, which involves 800 billion New Taiwan dollars ($27 billion) and spans eight years, has come under fire, because the distribution of resources is largely in favor of regions that support the ruling DPP. The most controversial of Tsai's reforms is the one regarding working hours, which leaves a loophole that employers can use to force employees to work an extra day on weekends without paying them proper compensation. That, along with the complicated, confusing calculation of overtime pay, has brought down Tsai's approval ratings, which have slid below 30 percent. The DPP leader's unimpressive performance in her first year in office is not surprising, though, given her desperation to sever ties with the mainland, the largest trading partner of Taiwan, and seek political revenge on the opposition Kuomintang. If Tsai really has the island's best interest in mind, she should change her parochial, "independence-prone" mindset. The author is a researcher at the Institute of Taiwan Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Flash 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. Flash Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with Lee Hae-chan, special envoy of the President of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Moon Jae-in, in Beijing, capital of China, May 18, 2017. (Xinhua/Cui Xinyu) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi Thursday urged the Republic of Korea (ROK) to remove obstacles to the development of bilateral ties when meeting with the visiting special envoy of the ROK President. ROK should return bilateral ties to a path of healthy development, Wang told the special envoy, stressing China is willing to see a return to normal exchanges and cooperation between the two sides. Lee Hae-chan, a member of the ROK National Assembly and former prime minister, is visiting China from Thursday to Saturday as President Moon Jae-in's special envoy. Wang expounded on China's position on the deployment of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system, urging the ROK to correctly deal with China's major and reasonable concern. Lee said the ROK acknowledged that the deployment of THAAD has harmed ROK-China mutual trust and exchanges, and fully understands China's reasonable concern over the issue. The ROK is sincerely ready to look for a solution to the issue, said Lee. Regarding the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, Wang said China is willing to work with all sides on more effective measures, and that China insists on solving the issue through dialogue and is determined to safeguard peace and stability on the peninsula. The ROK-China relationship is significant for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula as well as Northeast Asia, Lee said, stressing that the ROK is willing to enhance pragmatic cooperation with China and push forward the bilateral strategic partnership of cooperation. China appreciates the new ROK government's acts to improve bilateral ties, Wang said, noting that President Moon had sent a government representative to attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in Beijing earlier this week. The bilateral relationship has seen great development and brought major benefits to the two nations since diplomatic ties were established in 1992, Wang said, noting the setback in relations since last year is "unnecessary." Flash Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Thursday commissioned the dualization of one of Southern Africa's main trunk roads - the 900 km Beitbridge-Harare-Chirundu highway. The groundbreaking ceremony for the project took place at Chaka Business Center - 222 km from Harare on the Masvingo highway and near the site where 31 people died after the bus they were travelling in side-swiped with a haulage truck and caught fire in April. Initial work will be done on the Beitbridge-Harare component of the road while an announcement would be made in due course on when work on the Harare-Chirundu highway would begin. 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. The project 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). Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony, President Robert Mugabe hailed the project and said it would act as a springboard for economic development in the country, the state-run Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation quoted him as saying. Mugabe urged high quality work that meets international standards, noting that the highway is the busiest in the country and links South Africa and other countries in the SADC region, East and Central Africa. The president blamed economic sanctions imposed on the country by Britain and her allies for stalling major infrastructure projects in Zimbabwe, and called on Zimbabweans to remain resilient, united in the development of the country. He warned local suppliers against overcharging so that they can be considered for future projects. Eric Geiger, the vice chairman of Geiger International said the company was happy to undertake the project after six years of negotiations. He said 40 percent of the work will be undertaken by Zimbabweans to give jobs to local companies. Flash Ankara and Berlin are again in war of words over access to an air base in the south of Turkey, a dispute triggered due to Turkish soldiers seeking asylum in Germany. Germany considers withdrawing its military installations in Incirlik Airbase, which was deployed for efforts against Islamic State (IS) group in Syria, after a delegation of German lawmakers were blocked from visiting the country's soldiers stationed at the base. German government is mulling to transfer six Tornado reconnaissance planes, a refueling plane and 250 troops stationed in Turkey to Jordan. Turkey's reaction comes after several Turkish soldiers and their families, all stationed at NATO facilities in Germany and feared persecution for alleged involvement in failed July 15 coup attempt, have been reportedly granted asylum in a preliminary decision. Ankara assumes soldiers being suspected followers of U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, who the Turkish government accuses of orchestrating the failed coup attempt. The visit of German lawmakers is not appropriate at the time, a Turkish official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. The Bundestag will likely vote for withdrawal of troops in the Incirlik Air Base within a fortnight if Turkey persists in denying German lawmakers access to the site, Germany's Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said on Wednesday. "I can only hope that the Turkish government changes its mind in the coming days. Otherwise, the German parliament will certainly not leave the soldiers in Turkey," the Neue Osnabruecker Zeitung quoted Gabrial as saying. "The German parliament is to be blackmailed, then the limit of tolerance has been reached," he said. The German government had been evaluating possible alternatives to Incirlik air base or some time and was considering moving the troops to Jordan, Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday. Yet, Ankara has not taken a step back over the dispute as the Turkish Foreign Minister said Germany was free to withdraw its troops in the airbase. "We are not going to beg. They were the ones who wanted to come and we helped. We gave a place to them as part of coalition against Daesh (Arabic acronym of Islamic State). If they want to go, we would say 'Goodbye'," Foreign Minister of Turkey, Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Thursday in a televised interview. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Tuesday that Germany has to make a choice between granting asylum to Turkish NATO officials and developing relations with the Turkish government. "Germany has to decide. If it wants to develop relations with Turkey then it should turn to the Republic of Turkey, not to separatists," the prime minister said. These flare-up statements are the latest series of quarrel between the two countries. Relations between Turkey and Germany are complex, with some 3 million people with a Turkish background living in the country. Several Turkish ministers were barred from demonstrating rallies to German Turks during a campaigning for constitutional amendment referendum on April 16. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's comparison of Angela Merkel's Germany with the Nazi practices was met with shock and anger. "When we call them fascists, Nazis, they in Europe get uncomfortable. They rally together in solidarity. Especially Merkel...But you are right now employing Nazi measures," Erdogan said in March. Chancellor Angela Merkel is under increased pressure from the opposition and the press especially after a reporter of the prominent newspaper Die Welt, Deniz Yucel, became the first German citizen to be arrested in February for what was described as "terrorist propaganda" by the Turkish government. Tensions between Germany and Turkey are in ups and downs since a couple of years. In 2016, Turkey had banned German lawmakers from visiting the base in response to a parliamentary resolution declaring the 1915 massacre of Armenians by Ottoman forces a "genocide," but later paved the way for their visit after a statement by German FM hinting that the resolution was not binding. Flash U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday the appointment of former FBI director Robert Mueller as the special counsel to oversee his campaign's ties with Russia "divides country." "I respect the move but the entire thing has been a witch hunt and there is no collusion between - certainly myself and my campaign, but I can only speak for myself and the Russians. Zero." Trump said at a joint press conference with his Colombian counterpart Juan Manuel Santos in the White House. In contrast with Trump's remarks, Mueller's appointment has received widely bipartisan welcome across Congress since Wednesday evening when the news went public. At the press conference, Trump also dismissed suggestions of criminal charges or impeachment: "I think it's totally ridiculous." Asked whether he required ousted FBI chief James Comey to shut down a probe into former National Security advisor Michael Flynn, Trump answered: "No. No. Next question." The U.S. president tweeted Thursday morning branding the probe into possibly Russian collusion with his campaign the "single greatest witch hunt" in political history. "I believe it hurts our country terribly, because it shows we're a divided, mixed-up, not-unified country," Trump said later at a luncheon with a group of television news anchors. Democratic lawmakers have been clamoring for the Justice Department to appoint a special prosecutor in the wake of Tuesday reports that Comey penned a memo documenting a request from Trump that he "let go" of the investigation into Flynn. "Considering the unique circumstance of this matter, however, I determined that a Special Counsel is necessary in order for the American people to have full confidence in the outcome," said U.S. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein in a statement. According to the U.S. Justice Department, Mueller, who served as FBI director between September, 2001 and September, 2013, will have the authority to investigate whether the Russian government colluded with individuals associated with Trump's campaign and to prosecute federal crimes uncovered in the probe. Though the Mueller appointment has obviously raised the legal and political stakes Trump takes, it is widely thought the president is unlikely to be impeached over the current political turmoil. "Unlike in the Watergate case, there is no evidence that the president ordered witnesses to lie, destroyed evidence or tried to block FBI agents from doing their job," said John Yoo, a law professor at the University of California, Berkeley. Flash A lower court in the Gambian capital city Banjul on Thursday issued an arrest warrant for the alleged killers of the veteran journalist Deyda Hydara. Hydara was murdered on 16 December, 2004 and the suspects were believed to be former army commander Kawsu Camara and soldier Sanna Manjang, who belong to an assassin team called "jungular", known for carrying out many heinous atrocities. The court ruling came after the police alleged that the suspects conspired in 2004 to murder the journalist. "It is further alleged that the duo unlawfully caused the death of journalist Deyda Hydara by shooting him with a gun on his forehead," said the magistrate. The suspects are currently out of the country, but the police want them to be arrested and extradited to face justice in the Gambia. I read with interest today about the loss of over 3,000 jobs on the Navajo Nation forthcoming with the closure of the Navajo Generating Station in 2019. I would like to offer an alternative use for the NGS beyond the suggested installation of a 250-megawatt Solar Power Station. At 27,425 square miles, much of which is sun-drenched, windblown high desert, the Navajo Nation, and the surrounding United States, are missing an opportunity to redirect decades of misguided preoccupation with non-renewable and diminishing coal deposits beneath the surface presently toward renewable solar and wind power for the future. This tragic obsession with coal power has provided jobs but it has also raped and scarred the land and depleted the precious and sacred water table for the Dine. Photovoltaics are considerably more efficient in cooler sunny environs like those of the Navajo Nation and unlike those of the lower Sonoran desert. With the majority of solar photovoltaics presently imported from China and other Asian countries, why has this country not started developing our own, or our closest neighbors (Dine), production facilities. A re-direction of financial resources, both from the Nation and supported by loans and grants from the US, to the blanketing of available lands with solar and wind arrays, improvement of the gird, the construction and operations of solar and wind power infrastructure (research, development, and production facilities) would potentially provide enormous revenues and jobs for the Nation, a region presently having an unemployment rate over 50 percent and very minimal exports. If our government wants to create jobs and businesses, here is the poster child! I can see it now: Kayenta would become a major import/export community for the collection, storage, and distribution of raw materials for the production of solar arrays and wind generators, those materials shipped by the existing electric train system to production/assembly plants in Page at the NGS site (water!), returned to Kayenta for export to the US and other countries. With appropriate profit margins and tariffs, as well as their own expansive solar and wind systems, The Navajo Nation could soon become The Most Powerful Nation on Earth. LARRY CHARLES STEVENS Flagstaff You are here: Home Flash South Africa has not reached any secret nuclear deal with foreign countries, a senior official at the state-run power utility Eskom said on Thursday. David Nicholls, Eskom's Chief Nuclear Officer, brushed aside claims that there are secrets and corruption in a possible nuclear deal. He was speaking at the Nuclear Power Africa conference on the sidelines of the 17th annual African Utility Week (AUW) in Cape Town. "I don't know of a secret plan" in relation to the South African nuclear program, Nicholls told delegates. The South African nuclear program, which has met with strong opposition, was one of the highlights at the AUW. On April 26, the High Court in the Western Cape ruled that the South African government's nuclear program is "unconstitutional and unlawful." The court ordered the government to set aside the deal which would see the procurement of 9.6 gigawatts of nuclear energy. The deal is expected to cost 1 trillion rand (about 77.5 billion U.S. dollars). The SA cabinet approved the deal in December 2015. Preparations have been already underway for the bidding. Russia and the United States are believed to be front runners to win the bid. The SA government reportedly has signed an agreement with the Russian state-owned nuclear corporation, Rosatom, to develop nuclear energy. The SA government has been pursuing the nuclear program to make up power shortage which is expected to stall growth in gross domestic product (GDP). In response to the court ruling, Nicholls reaffirmed Eskom's position that nuclear energy is not just the most viable option on the table for South Africa's future energy needs, but it is also affordable. He said however that there has been no procurement process underway. "We are asked to show the nuclear plans we've signed with the Russians and I say I can't do that. I don't have one. I don't know of a secret plan," he said. The process has been transparent, yet it is presumed that behind this there is something else, Nicholls said. Responding to questions on corruption claims with the nuclear deal, he said corruption on the nuclear deal "could be quite challenging in the sense that it is a state to state deal." "Now if you have multiple deals with small little contracts you tend to get lots of opportunities for corruption," he added. According to Nicholls, concerns over corruption arise with lots of small deals and when procurement is compartmentalized. In this case involving Eskom and overseas state organizations with a government to government loan system, opportunities for corruptions would be minimized, Nicholls said. At the AUW which started on Tuesday, over 7,000 decision makers from over 80 countries were discussing the latest developments, challenges and opportunities in the power and water sectors in Africa. Over 300 experts were seeking innovative solutions to the continent's energy and water challenges and the exciting opportunities for utilities and industry players. The conference ended on Thursday. Flash Financial and technology experts on Thursday called on Africa's financial sector to fully embrace digital services in their operations. Speaking on the second day of the Dot Finance Africa (DFA) in Rwanda's capital city Kigali, they emphasized the importance of embracing financial technology to accelerate financial inclusion. Rwanda hosts the second edition of the DFA summit from May 17 to 18. It has brought together more than 500 financial industry leaders from across Africa and beyond. "Applying technology solutions in the banking sector will bring financial services to Africa's unbanked and under-served faster than traditional methods. Digital finance helps to strengthen other factors that interact with technology, such as responsible regulation, skills and product development and accountable institutions," said Yves Eonnet, chief executive of TagPay, a mobile financial service platform. He called on Africa financial institutions to introduce and facilitate digital payments and transactions in their local economies in order to drive financial inclusion. Experts at the meeting argued that advances in digital financial services will promote inclusion and create new opportunities for Africans still lacking access to financial services. According to David M. Brear, chief executive of 11:FS, a Britain-based financial technology consultancy, Africa's financial institutions especially banks will have to make the right moves especially embracing technology to ensure they survive the next wave of digital financial services that are fast growing across the globe. "Technology has driven unprecedented change in the banking industry, with mobile and online changing the way people do business and perform transaction, Africa should embrace this change to drive inclusive economies across the continent," he said. Diane Karusisi, chief executive officer of Bank of Kigali, said that Rwandan banks have embraced financial digital revolution thanks to the country's emphasis on cashless economy. "Financial sector is among sectors set to be disrupted by digital innovations, worldwide and Africa especially is atop. Technology innovations are raising the competitive bar in the banking sector. It's a must we have to adopt these new digital financial services to develop our economies," she noted. Flash Kenya's Nairobi County on Thursday issued an alert over possible cholera outbreak across the city of Nairobi after five cases were confirmed. Nairobi County Health Executive Bernard Muia said the patients who contracted the fatal water-borne pathogen from their kin who had travelled from Western Kenya on Saturday to attend a wedding in Karen, an affluent suburb of Nairobi. Muia said three unconfirmed deaths at a residential estate in Nairobi have also been reported but are under investigation. He said that the victims are suspected to have travelled to visit relatives in Komorock residential estate after coming from the wedding. "There is a cholera outbreak in Nairobi and the victims are receiving care at the Nairobi hospital. They are in stable condition. So far we have five cases which have been laboratory confirmed," Muia said. He said health workers have launched surveillance across the city to ensure new cases are timely detected and household water treatment supply and dosing of wells with chlorine is being undertaken. The official said six surveillance centers within Nairobi have since been reactivated and advised city dwellers to be on the look-out for diarrhoea, vomiting and lack of appetite symptoms. "It is presumed that they (travelers from western Kenya) spread the disease to city residents but we are putting measures in place to avoid the disease from spreading any further," Muia said. He dismissed claims that the disease could have been spread by food handlers at the wedding, saying that the county had put strict measures in place to ensure hygiene. Cholera is a potentially fatal water-borne disease transmitted through contaminated water and/or food. It causes watery diarrhea and vomiting that can rapidly lead to death through severe dehydration. Generally the cholera bacteria spreads in places with poor hygiene, where people do not use latrines to dispose off excreta, or do not wash their hands with soap or ash after defecation. You are here: Home Flash Indonesian police and quarantine officials have arrested a Japanese man for illegally attempting to bring more than 250 reptiles out of the country, conservationist said here on Thursday. The man tried to smuggle 181 lizards, 65 snakes and seven turtles from provincial capital of North Sumatra of Medan to Haneda of Japan, said Tisna Nando, a conservationist at Wildlife Conservation Society Indonesia. Nando said that some of the reptiles are classified as endangered species. "The officials found something strange in a luggage during X-ray check, when it was opened, there were reptiles inside," the conservationist told local media of Kompas.com. Ruchyana, vice director of Angkasa Pura II, operator of the airport, said that the arrested man is a major player in illegal wildlife trade. He attempted to smuggle reptiles which are protected by the Indonesian government and the international communities, said Ruchyana. Naito could be charged under Indonesian animal quarantine law which leads him to undergo up to three years in prison. Indonesia, an archipelago country with over 17,500 islands, is home to numerous of reptiles, and some of them are on the brink of extinction due to poaching. You are here: Home Flash Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev has amended Kyrgyzstan's anti-terrorism laws, which now call for the official publication of a list of terrorist organizations, the president's press service reported on Thursday. Under the amendments, those in charge of ensuring national security are obliged to make a single list of organizations recognized as terrorists and publish it annually in print media and on official government websites. The purpose is to counteract the influence of radical extremist ideology on young people and timely inform the public about the terrorist organizations recognized by the courts of Kyrgyzstan. On April 5 this year, members of the Kyrgyz Parliament, while discussing amendments to anti-terrorism laws, proposed to publish an updated list of terrorist organizations annually. There are 20 such organizations in Kyrgyzstan. Flash Watermelon and green tea once again figure in a revival of the Silk Road extending from China to Uzbekistan, a land-locked country in Central Asia. In her keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held May 14-15 in Beijing, Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, highlighted the role of tea as a link between regional countries of different cultures. It's certainly true that, today, the multiple and ubiquitous tea culture is once again serving as a symbol of the ties that extend over many paths from China to countries such as Uzbekistan, as it did centuries before. According to Mirzohid Rahimov, head of the Department of Contemporary History and International Relations of the Institute of History of the Academy of Science of Uzbekistan, most Uzbeks love to drink green teas imported from China in exchange for watermelon exports. Yet, the trade between the two countries today extends far beyond fruits and beverages. "In 2014, trade between Uzbekistan and China reached over US$ 4 billion, and Chinese investment in the country totaled almost US$8 billion, which shows China is one of Uzbekistan's most important trade partners," Rahimov said. Taking advantage of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF), Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev paid an official visit to China bringing with him a slew of documents designed to promote enhanced bilateral partnerships in such sectors as infrastructure, energy, agriculture and tourism. "This is of course a good way to show countries can work and need to work together. This will also give chance to expand the traditional friendship between the countries," Rahimov said. While attending the BRF, Rahimov was impressed by the inclusiveness of the Belt and Road Initiative. "Uzbekistan supports the idea because there is a philosophy treating this historical road as a consensus based on win-win approaches." He went on to observe that the Initiative is not about exporting values, but of respecting different values. "In the past three years since the initiation [of the B&R Initiatives], Chinese President Xi Jinping has proposed five priorities the years and decades ahead, including, specific issues, such as an economic partnership, infrastructural development, cross-cultural understanding, technological innovation and, of course, educational and academic propositions," Rahimov said. Additionally, China and Uzbekistan have already begun enhancing their cultural and people-to-people exchanges in order to consolidate the cooperation. The Uzbek edition of "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" was published on May 14, with the foreword and recommendation of Uzbek President Mirziyoyev. The New York Times By CHRIS BUCKLEY and DIDI KIRSTEN TATLOW MAY 18, 2017 BEIJING Before her husband disappeared into detention, Chen Guiqiu did not ask him much about his risky work as a Chinese human rights lawyer. Before word crept out that he had been tortured, Ms. Chen trusted the police. Before she was told she could not leave China, she never expected she would make a perilous escape abroad. In Beijing last year, the wives of human rights lawyers who were detained in 2015, from left, Wang Yanfang, Li Wenzu, Chen Guiqiu, Fan Lili, Liu Ermin, and Wang Qiaoling. Greg Baker / Agence France-Presse Getty Images Ms. Chen and her two daughters reached the United States in March after an overland journey to Thailand that almost ended in their deportation back to China. Her husband, Xie Yang, was tried and convicted this month of subversion and disrupting a court. But Ms. Chen said her escape was the culmination of a personal transformation that began after he was detained almost two years ago. It was because of all the pressure from all sides from state security police, my employer and slowly I lost commitment and hope, Ms. Chen said in a telephone interview from her temporary home in Texas. I was always being followed. I felt I was living without freedom. Ms. Chens evolution was part of a startling outcome of Chinas crackdown on outspoken rights lawyers and advocates that began in July 2015 the spouses who resisted. She and other wives of rights advocates held in China described their experiences to a congressional subcommittee in Washington on Thursday. After their loved ones disappeared in the wave of arrests, some family members, especially the wives of the detained lawyers, overcame their fear and fought back, often in a theatrical fashion. They used online appeals and visits to jails, prosecutors and courts. They gathered in bright red clothes and with red buckets to publicize their demands for information and access to the prisoners. Their tongue-in-cheek slogan became Leave the dressing table and take on the thugs, said Li Wenzu, whose husband, Wang Quanzhang, a human rights lawyer, has remained in secretive custody 21 months after he was detained in August 2015. The story of the wives is one of the great stories of the whole crackdown it is a brilliant adaptation by the activists to repression, said Terence Halliday, a researcher at the American Bar Foundation in Chicago who has written a book on Chinese criminal defense lawyers. My goodness, the attention they have brought to bear, not just for their husbands, but also the state of the crackdown. Chinese state investigators have long applied pressure on detainees families to win cooperation and confessions. But this time their tactics seemed more systematic, said Wang Qiaoling, the wife of a detained lawyer, Li Heping. Mr. Li was recently released after being tried and receiving a suspended prison sentence. They can treat you like hand-pulled noodles, squeeze you into any shape, Ms. Wang, 45, said in an interview. If youre isolated and scared, its hard to resist. Some wives of detainees said they had been forced to move from rented apartments after the police warned landlords. Some were prevented from enrolling their children in school. And the police recruited relatives to beg them to stay quiet and compliant. The families described these tactics as lianzuo or zhulian, old Chinese terms for the collective punishment of families. Some families buckled. But others protested and filed petitions about the secretive detentions and trials. Ms. Wang encouraged a tight circle of women who rallied the relatives of detainees, arguing that silence would only encourage courts to hand down stiffer sentences. If you want to protect your family, you cant stay silent, Ms. Wang said. Its been crucial that weve been able to stick together. But for Ms. Chen, 42, the journey to defiance was especially wrenching. Ms. Chen testifying at a congressional subcommittee in Washington on Thursday. Fred Schilling / U.S. House of Representatives While many of the detained lawyers lived in Beijing, she lived in Changsha, the capital of Hunan Province, about 800 miles to the south. And she had a secure, state-funded job as a professor of environmental engineering at Hunan University, studying ways to remove heavy metal and organic pollution from water. While Mr. Xie traveled relentlessly, she cared for their two daughters, now ages 4 and 15. And when Mr. Xie was home, they barely discussed his contentious legal cases. It never occurred to me that he could get into serious trouble for being a lawyer, she said. The children kept us busy enough. Initially, when the police took Mr. Xie away, Ms. Chen thought he would be freed quickly once investigators found that he had committed no crime. She kept quiet, heeding the advice of the police that silence would buy him lenience. Under heavy pressure and ignorant, I chose to accept the polices illegal orders and went along with them for nearly nine months, she wrote last year in an essay about her experiences. I heeded the advice of the state security: no media interviews, no going abroad, no contact with other families involved in the case. But like other family members, she ran up against an opaque legal system that held detainees in secrecy for many months with no visits by relatives or access to lawyers. Not one office followed the law, not one gave us a legal response, she said in the interview. That was totally different from what I expected. This was a legal case, and I wanted to defend my husband by using the law, but it was impossible to use the law. Her growing frustration led her to speak up and contact other wives of detainees, including Ms. Wang, who offered advice and encouragement. Wang Qiaoling, the wife of the detained lawyer Li Heping, in Beijing last year. Mr. Li was recently released after receiving a suspended prison sentence. Fred Dufour / Agence France-Presse Getty Images Ms. Chen was spared some of the intimidation that other families described. Her children were not singled out at school, she said. But other wives of detainees said their children had been denied access to schools or kindergartens in Beijing after officials warned principals or refused to process paperwork. But Ms. Chen felt a shock in April last year when she tried to take her daughters on a trip to Hong Kong, a self-governed city that mainland Chinese must get a special pass to enter. The police stopped her from taking the train across the border on the grounds that she was a security risk. I woke up to the fact that I was being treated as guilty by association, she said. They told me I was deemed a threat to national security, and if I was already regarded as guilty, then Xie Yang was, too. In touch now with a circle of wives of detainees, she occasionally took part in their demands for access and information when she visited Beijing. Partly inspired by feminist protests in China in 2015, they took to carrying red buckets and displaying red slogans on their dresses as a display of defiance, especially when visiting Tianjin, the port city near Beijing where many of their husbands were held. We developed a headstrong mentality, Ms. Wang said. The more they wanted to make us feel like heinous criminals, the more we kept up a relaxed, casual attitude. But staying upbeat was not easy. Ms. Chen began to hear that her husband had been tortured in Hunan, where he was held. At first, the accounts came indirectly. Then, when Mr. Xie was allowed to see his lawyers in January this year, he spilled out a description of abuses. Ms. Chen decided to release the transcripts online, hoping that the publicity would help end the abuses. Ms. Chen, right, with her daughters after arriving at an airport in Texas in March. China Aid, via Associated Press Ms. Chen described the methods of torture to a Congressional panel on Thursday. She said they included beatings delivered in rotation by a roster of guards, exhausting interrogations for over 20 hours at once, having cigarette smoke blown into his face and eyes, starvation, dehydration, and the refusal of medical treatment for his illnesses. The government has denied those claims of torture, and at his recent trial, Mr. Xie also retracted them and pleaded guilty, after his own lawyers were replaced by ones chosen by the authorities. But many family members of detained lawyers say that the evidence points to widespread abuses, including the forced taking of drugs that made the detainees docile and submissive. By February, Ms. Chen lived under stifling surveillance, she said. Constantly monitored at home and work, and warned by the police, university officials and relatives not to speak out more about her husband, she decided to escape. She gathered up her daughters, confided her plan to the older one and told the younger one they were going on a trip. The security officers who followed her had become used to her driving away to work each day, but Ms. Chen and her daughters quietly walked out, evading the watchers. Ms. Chen declined to describe the details of how she and her children made the journey to Thailand, fearing that would endanger people who helped her. She kept her cellphone turned off, but the Thai police tracked her to a safe house she believes with help from Chinese security officers alerted to her disappearance. After a court appearance, Ms. Chen and her children were taken to a detention center and told they would be sent back to China. Officials from the United States Embassy in Bangkok stepped in and secured her release after haggling with the Thai authorities, she said. On March 17, Ms. Chen and her children arrived in Houston, after a standoff with Chinese and Thai officials at Bangkok International Airport. Mr. Xie was given a suspended prison sentence, but he remains cut off from normal contact, apparently under police guard outside Changsha, Ms. Chen said. I hope that one day Xie Yang can join us here, she said. But we might have to wait a long time to see him. Weve already waited a long time. ChinaAid Media Team Cell: (432) 553-1080 | Office: 1+ (888) 889-7757 | Other: (432) 689-6985 Email: [email protected] For more information, click here A powerboat passes storage tanks at the Cheniere Energy Inc liquefied natural gas terminal in Sabine Pass, Louisiana. BLOOMBERG VIA GETTY IMAGES Houston-based firm hopes to cash in on major trade deal between China, US Cheniere Energy is looking to channel some more energy into China. That energy comes in the form of liquefied natural gas, of which the Houston-based company is a major exporter. On May 11, the US and Chinese governments announced the first steps in their 100-Day action plan of the US-China Comprehensive Economic Dialogue. A month after US President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping met in Florida, the two sides reached a consensus on issues in areas including agricultural trade, financial services, investment and energy. "The United States welcomes China, as well as any of our trading partners, to receive imports of LNG from the United States. The United States treats China no less favorably than other non-FTA trade partners with regard to LNG export authorizations," the US Commerce Department announced in a May 11 release. "Companies from China may proceed at any time to negotiate all types of contractual arrangement with US LNG exporters, including long-term contracts ..." Until now, Cheniere had been exporting LNG to China only on the spot market. "The China-US trade deal is a strong signal from both governments that US LNG exports to China can help both countries achieve their economic and environmental goals," Cheniere Energy CEO Jack Fusco told China Daily. "This agreement will enable China to diversify its supply of reliable, cleaner burning natural gas to power their economy, develop infrastructure and create jobs in the US, and balance bilateral trade." The day after the announcement, shares of Cheniere rose as much as 5 percent to $49.50 to their highest level since February. The stock has more than doubled since Cheniere's Sabine Pass terminal in Louisiana opened in February 2016. Cheniere also owns the Corpus Christi LNG terminal in Texas and the Creole Trail pipeline, a 151-kilometer stretch interconnecting Sabine Pass with various interstate pipelines. Cheniere also is helped by the Panama Canal, which reduces shipping time and costs. Eight of nine cargoes originating from the Sabine Pass Terminal in Louisiana to China have gone through the Panama Canal, Cheniere spokesman Eben Burnham-Snyder told China Daily. The deal also will help developers target Chinese buyers directly and could support direct Chinese investment into liquefaction and upstream developments in the US, according to Zacks.com, a stock research service. Since the shale or fracking (the process of extracting nat gas) boom in the US started a decade ago, energy companies have been building export facilities, with as much as 169.8 million cubic meters per day of capacity due by the end of 2018, Reuters reported. Sabine Pass is the first and only major LNG export facility in the continental US. The US has been a net importer of natural gas for 60 years, which is expected to change this year because of LNG exports. The average price per 1,000 cubic feet of US LNG in February was $5.99, up from a low of $3.65 reached in October 2016 but much lower than the $16.67 from November 2015, according to oilprice.com. Prices tailed off between November 2015 and February 2016 with new supply coming online. But according to Shell's LNG Outlook, demand for LNG is expected to grow by 4-5 percent annually until 2030. That report also said that China and India were the two fastest-growing importers of LNG. Cheniere has competition, as China has plenty of choices as to which countries it will import LNG from. Russia's Power of Siberia natural gas pipeline will eventually see China import 38 billion cubic meters of gas annually, starting in 2025, according to oilprice.com. Privately owned company Shanghai Peng Xin Co Ltd said it was showing continued interest in investing in Brazil. Ge Junjie, deputy chairman, said during Brazil-China Agri-Food Cooperation Forum held in Shanghai on Tuesday that Peng Xin will set up a soybean production factory in Brazil with an annual capacity of 10 million metric tons by the end of this year. With this base, Peng Xin expects to export more Brazilian soybeans to the Chinese market. Founded in 1988, Peng Xin has an extensive business portfolio including commercial property, resources, agriculture and food products, environmental protection technology and investment. Its founder Jiang Zhaobai was ranked 501st on the Hurun Global Rich List 2017, with a personal wealth of $3.7 billion. The soybean factory will be Peng Xin's third major investment in Brazil in two years. It became the controlling shareholder of Brazilian grains processing firm Fiagril Participacoes SA, outlaying $200 million in April last year. Two months later, Peng Xin announced to acquire a controlling stake in Brazilian bank Banco Indusval & Partners SA, which is expected to cost $3 billion. According to Ge, Peng Xin will focus on Brazilian animal protein and vegetable protein products in the next few years. The company is building a worldwide food product distribution network covering North America, South America, Europe, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Ge also suggested the Brazilian government complete its planned infrastructure construction to attract more overseas investment. "With our experience in investing in Brazil, we see that the country has a lot to do to improve its roads, harbors and logistics construction. It should allow global investors to participate in that," he said. "Meanwhile, the government should create a better investment environment to facilitate the mergers and acquisitions of Brazilian agriculture and food companies." Lief Chiang, deputy director of Rabobank Shanghai, said incomplete infrastructure had become one of the biggest obstacles for Chinese companies investing in Brazil. Japanese companies, which came to invest earlier in Brazil, had provided a successful model for investors to hold an initial minority stake in a Brazilian companyincreasing their shareholdings later, based on performance. BEIJING - The top economic planner said Thursday that it had approved 12 fixed-asset investment projects with total investment reaching 141.6 billion yuan ($20.56 billion) in April. The projects were mainly in the areas of energy, water conservation and transportation, according to Meng Wei, spokesperson with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). Of the 12 projects, five were related to energy, according to Meng, who pointed to one project on the east route of the of China-Russia natural gas pipeline as an example. The pipeline project, which commenced in 2014, will diversify China's natural gas imports and ensure a steady natural gas supply domestically, said Meng. Under a 30-year contract, the east route pipeline will export 38 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Russia to China annually from 2018. China's investment in fixed assets rose 8.9 percent year on year in the first four months of 2017, down from 9.2 percent in the first quarter, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed. Argentina's Foreign Minister Susana Malcorra said her country plans to join the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). She made the announcement on May 17 during a meeting in Beijing with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, CCTV reported. A statement on the website of China's Foreign Ministry confirmed that South America's second-largest economy has voiced intentions to join the bank, diversifying its financing for infrastructure projects. China is willing to assist in Argentina's admission, the statement read. If the plan is actualized, Argentina will be the 16th G20 country to join AIIB. Argentina and China previously reached a reciprocal agreement to grant 10-year multiple-entry business and tourist visas, CCTV reported. Argentinean President Mauricio Macri, currently on a state visit to China from May 14 to 18, attended the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, which concluded on Monday. Over the course of his visit, the two countries signed cooperation and financing agreements for investments in Argentina, mainly in the areas of energy, infrastructure and agriculture, Xinhua reported. The deals were worth a total of $15 billion, Argentinatoday.org reported. The agreements are connected to projects including Argentina's planned fourth and fifth nuclear reactors, as well as three solar photovoltaic parks in the country's northwestern Jujuy province, according to Xinhua. BEIJING - The Belt and Road tourism ministers roundtable will be held in Chinese city of Chengdu this September, the National Tourism Administration (NTA) said Thursday. The roundtable, jointly hosted by the NTA and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), will take place during the 22nd UNWTO General Assembly scheduled for Sept 11-16. During the meeting, tourism ministers from participating countries will discuss deepening tourism cooperation among Belt and Road countries, jointly building the Silk Road tourism brand, developing tourist products and simplifying visa policies to facilitate tourism. Since the Belt and Road Initiative was proposed in 2013, China has made major progress in promoting tourism along the Belt and Road, said Liu Shijun, NTA spokesperson. Projects like Silk Road Tourism Year have boosted global awareness of the Silk Road tourism brand, said Liu. Majestic Princess will set sail on May 21 on a journey of 37 days from a port near Rome in Italy to Xiamen in East China's Fujian province. Provided to China Daily TIANJIN - China's major port cities saw a growing number of inbound and outbound cruise ships in 2016, totaling 1,040, according to the China Cruise and Yacht Industry Association. In 2016, the number of outbound Chinese cruise passengers topped 2 million for the first time, and is expected to reach 2.6 million this year, said the association. Experts forecast Chinese people will make 3.5 million cruise trips annually by the year 2020, becoming the most dynamic cruise market in the Asia-Pacific region. China has become the world's eighth-biggest cruise market. There were 18 cruise ships operating in China's major port cities as of 2016, a jump from just one ship in 2006, when China started vigorously developing its cruise industry. "China's cruise market has huge development potential," said Li Qinggang, director of Tianjin Dongjiang Maritime Safety Administration. Tianjin international cruise home port, the largest in Asia, received 138 voyages in 2016 and is expected to receive 150 in 2017. BEIJING - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) Thursday signed a loan of $95 million with a Chinese agricultural firm to develop inclusive and sustainable livestock farming in China, the bank said in an online statement. The loan to Jiangsu Lihua Animal Husbandry Stock Company (Lihua) included a direct loan in yuan equivalent to $62.5 million and a complementary yuan loan worth $32.5 million through commercial banks, with ADB acting as the lender of record. "Lihua has shown that it is a proven leader in the modernization of China's agriculture industry, which is critical for the country's food security and economic growth," said Martin Lemoine, Agribusiness Investment Unit Head in ADB's Private Sector Operations Department. "ADB's assistance will help the company expand its inclusive and sustainable business model, with smallholder farmers at the core of the production process," he said. ADB's financing is expected to support Lihua to expand its livestock breeding farms as well as contract farming in rural areas, while helping the company increase capital expenditure in environmental protection, animal health, and food safety, according to the statement. The project marked ADB's first commercial non-sovereign assistance to an agricultural project in China. The loan is expected to help Lihua increase the number of contract farming households by 24 percent to at least 5,600 and double farmer's annual income by 2020, the statement said. China's Global Newspaper Sorry, the page you requested was not found. Please check the URL for proper spelling and capitalization. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Chinadaily.com.cn, try visiting the Chinadaily home page KIEV - China Harbor Engineering Company (CHEC) signed a deal with the Ukrainian government here on Thursday to upgrade the Black Sea port of Yuzhny in Ukraine's southern Odessa region. The agreement was inked by the Vice President of the CHEC Yun Liang and the head of the Yuzhny port administration Maksym Shyrokov. Under the deal, the Chinese company will carry out dredging works at the Yuzhny port to increase the depth of its approach channel from 16 meters to 19 meters. Besides, the CHEC will create a 16-meter-deep operational area near the three berths of the port. The dredging project is expected to improve the maritime access to the port, boosting its cargo handling capabilities. While addressing the signing ceremony, Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman said the project is highly important for the country. "This is a very large-scale project for Ukraine. It will increase the capabilities of our port of Yuzhny and creates additional opportunities for the development of the national economy," Groysman said. The Ukrainian government has estimated that the implementation of the Yuzhny port dredging project will create about 350 new jobs and generate additional $16 million annually for the state and regional budgets. It is also expected to boost the revenues of the port by about $9.2 million per year. According to the Chinese Ambassador to Ukraine Du Wei, the project will also pave the way for deepening cooperation between China and Ukraine in the infrastructure sector. Meanwhile, Rayvis Veckagans, the head of Ukrainian State Seaports Authority, described the project, which is set to be completed within 38 months, as Ukraine's step towards joining China's Belt and Road Initiative. "We have to become a part of this initiative. That's why our government and our companies working in the railway and automobile road sector must offer a comprehensive solution to make a transit corridor through Ukraine more competitive," Veckagans told Xinhua after the signing ceremony. The Yuzhny port was ranked the largest Ukrainian port in the terms of cargo turnover in 2016, having reloaded 39 million tons of commodities. The CHEC won the contract on upgrading the port worth $38 million in mid-April, getting ahead of four leading dredging and marine services companies from Europe. Models pose with the GAC Motors GE3 electric car at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Jan 9, 2017. [Photo/Agencies] China's GAC Motor is putting out the "Help Wanted" sign for engineers, marketing and management talent in the United States, and analysts in the auto industry say it may be a prelude to the company's entry into the US auto market. GAC, a unit of Guangzhou Automobile Group Co Ltd, on Wednesday announced it was launching the recruitment program that would center on Boston, Detroit and Silicon Valley to attract skilled and creative people to join its international team. Because GAC is seeking talent in Detroit, the heart of the North American auto industry, along with Boston and Silicon Valley, areas that have a high concentration of technology companies and people, it prompted speculation that GAC is building a team for a run in the US market. At January's North American International Auto Show in Detroit, GAC made no secret of its desire to bring a model like the GS7 to market here, so that is definitely a part of the nearto medium-term agenda," David Zoia, editorial director of WardsAuto.com, wrote in an email. The GS7 is a midsize sport utility vehicle that the company unveiled. GAC also said it would open a research and development center in Silicon Valley later this year. Stephanie Brinley, auto analyst at IHS Markit, said GAC is looking to expand its business inside and outside of China, including the US. "Recruiting from Detroit is likely to capture talent with particular expertise or interest in the auto industry, while Boston and Silicon Valley are more likely to be rich in technology and engineering talent. As GAC's entry in the US market is still some years off, employees hired from the US may well take a role in launching the product," she said in an email. James Zhang, provost and senior vice-president of academic affairs at Kettering University in Flint, Michigan, formerly called the General Motors Institute, said technology is rapidly changing the global automotive industry and companies have a vital need to identify talent worldwide. "If GAC is looking at being a technology-focused company in mobility and automotive, those regions allow them to access intriguing talent to build out their global talent portfolio. GAC's expansion into these markets will give the company access to some of America's most robust and technology-oriented markets in order to build their North American talent and capacity," Zhang said in an email. Zoia said that it wasn't surprising that GAC is looking to raise its profile worldwide. "Competing against the world's best automakers outside of China is the best way for GAC or other Chinese automakers to improve the quality and performance of the vehicles they make and gain better access to advanced technology from global suppliers," he said. Dow Chemical Chief Executive Andrew Liveris PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY Energy and capital intensive giant willing to stay longer and share more in China Against a backdrop of reports that some multinationals are pulling back their low-end manufacturing operations from China in the face of struggles with rising labor costs and growing competition from local rivals, Dow Chemical Chief Executive Andrew Liveris is resolute, saying: "That's not Dow." Panasonic, as one example, ceased manufacturing of televisions in China in 2015 after 37 years of operating in the mainland. But as some international companies have developed a more cautious attitude to their investments or moved their factories to neighboring countries, Liveris said his company was doing the exact opposite. "Those multinational factories leaving for either Vietnam or the Philippines are seeking low costs, whereas Dow is not labor intensivewe are energy intensive and we are capital intensive." "Science and R&D is growing in China and we are part of that growth," said Liveris. "Dow has been investing in intellectual property development that's invented in China, made in China and sold in China, and that should keep growing in China for the obvious reasons." Liveris suggest the government should further encourage entrepreneurial innovation to invest in technology that will allow China to move up the value chain in many industries. "China has now reached the stage where it's big enough in its own right to develop its own intellectual property, and Dow welcomes that because it raises standards and the barriers to entry and means very few companies have the capability of developing the technology by investing in R&D and science," he said. "I have seen us grow spectacularly in 10 years, better than our peers, and we are not leaving China." Recently, he spoke with China Daily about the company's strategy, business opportunities and prospects. The following are edited excerpts from the interview: Has the company witnessed a growth or decline in the past year's performance in China? We have seen volume growth and the driver behind that is the fit between Dow's solutions and the market's needs in China. China is big enough with many different geographies, markets and industries, so that when high-tech meets manufacturing and the old economy, China should be a leader in these areas, especially in environmental protection. Dow is very suited to growing with China, with a strategy of integration and innovation, and that's why we are expanding here. We have a large R&D presence in China. Our Shanghai Dow Center has 700 scientists, working together with our customers to develop China solutions. We have also diversified our geographical footprint away from just Shanghai, Guangzhou and Beijing. We now have business centers in western, central, northeastern and northwestern Chinato be close to local markets and provide on-the-ground support to our local customers. What business opportunities do you see as China promotes the Belt and Road Initiative? The Belt and Road Initiative is unleashing tremendous opportunities in China, particularly in less developed inland areas. For example, sustainable urbanization of western and northwestern China and the technological development to lift people out of the low end of the income scale is creating demand for advanced technologies and products and ultimately factories that we build to supply them. Dow has expertise in addressing the needs in infrastructure, housing, transportation, food and water. We are now building a coating plant in Chengdu, which will provide high-end coatings for buildings, construction and roads in the vast western region of China. Dow opened its office in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region in 2015 to follow the government's Belt and Road Initiative. Since then, our business in the northwest has been expanding quickly as we forge partnerships to explore business opportunities there and in Central Asian markets. A picture illustration shows a WeChat app icon in Beijing, December 5, 2013. [Photo/Agencies] Don't be surprised when you ask an expat in China for a business card, he offers to add you to his WeChat account. A new survey has found they are more active on the popular social media app than Chinese. According to a report released by WeChat, a service by Tencent Holdings Ltd, on Wednesday, foreigners send 60 percent more messages each month compared with typical Chinese users born in the 1980s or the 1990s. It also showed that expats living in China favor communicating through emoji stickers, voice calls and video chats, using them 45 percent, 42 percent and 13 percent more respectively than Chinese. Six out of 10 foreigners said they use WeChat Pay for transportation, food deliveries, restaurants, hotels, supermarkets and online shopping. Red envelopes, a digitalized Chinese tradition of sending each other a sum of money as a gift, is also frequently used by foreigners, who send 10 red envelopes monthly on average through WeChat. Shintaro Koido, a 27-year-old teacher in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, said he usually sends red envelopes to his colleagues during the Chinese Lunar New Year. "I like to use WeChat because it combines all aspects of other social media, such as video, picture sharing, payments, voice calls, all in one," he said. Raz Gal-Or, a 22-year-old Israeli student at Peking University and co-founder of a program to study the behavior of expats in China, said he found mobile phone apps and online games developed by Chinese companies were becoming more and more popular with them. Google CEO Sundar Pichai speaks on stage during the annual Google I/O developers conference in San Jose, California, US, May 17, 2017. [Photo/Agencies] MOUNTAIN VIEW, California Google's computer programs are gaining a better understanding of the world, and now it wants them to handle more of the decision-making for the billions of people who use its services. CEO Sundar Pichai and other top executives brought Google's audacious ambition into sharper focus on Wednesday at an annual conference attended by more than 7,000 developers who design apps to work with its wide array of digital services. Among other things, Google unveiled new ways for its massive network of computers to identify images, as well as recommend, share, and organize photos. It also is launching an attempt to make its voice-controlled digital assistant more proactive and visual while expanding its audience to Apple's iPhone, where it will try to outwit an older peer, Siri. The push marks another step toward infusing nearly all of Google's products with some semblance of artificial intelligence the concept of writing software that enables computers to gradually learn to think more like humans. Google punctuated the theme near the end of the conference's keynote address by projecting the phrase, "Computing that works like we do." Pichai has made AI the foundation of his strategy since becoming Google's CEO in late 2015, emphasizing that technology is rapidly evolving from a "mobile-first" world, where smartphones steer the services that companies are building, to an "AI-first" world, where the computers supplement the users' brains. Clay Bavor, vice president of virtual Reality at Google, speaks on stage during the annual Google I/O developers conference in San Jose, California, US, May 18, 2017. [Photo/Agencies] AI unnerves many people because it conjures images of computers eventually becoming smarter than humans and eventually running the world. That may sound like science fiction, but the threat is real enough to prompt warnings from respected technology leaders and scientists, including Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking. But Pichai and Google co-founder Larry Page, now CEO of Google corporate parent Alphabet Inc, see it differently. They believe computers can take over more of the tedious, grunt work so humans have more time to think about deeper things and enjoy their lives with friends and family. Other big tech companies, including Amazon.com, Microsoft, Apple and Facebook, also are making AI a top priority as they work on similar services to help users stay informed and manage their lives. Google believes it can lead the way in AI largely because it has built a gigantic network of data centers with billions of computers scattered around the world. This while people using its dominant internet search engine and leading email service have been feeding the machines valuable pieces of personal information for nearly 20 years. Now, Google is drawing upon that treasure trove to teach new tricks to its digital assistant, which debuted last year on its Pixel phone and an internet-connected speaker called Home that is trying to mount a challenge to Amazon's Echo. Google Assistant is on more than 100 million devices after being on the market for slightly more than six months and now is trying to invade new territory with a free app released Wednesday that works on the operating system powering Apple's iPhone. Previously, the assistant worked only on Google's Android software. Google's assistant will be at a disadvantage on the iPhone, though, because Siri a concierge that Apple introduced in 2011 is built into that device. Attendees walk past an Android robot during the annual Google I/O developers conference in San Jose, California, US, May 18, 2017. [Photo/Agencies] A new service called Google Lens will give Assistant a new power. Lens uses AI to identify images viewed through a phone. For instance, point the phone at a flower and Assistant will call upon Lens to identify the type of flower. Or point the camera at the exterior of a restaurant and it will pull up reviews of the place. Pinterest has a similar tool. Also called Lens, it lets people point their cameras at real-world items and find out where to buy them, or find similar things online. Google Photos is adding a new tool that will prompt you to share photos you take of people you know. For instance, Photos will notice when you take a shot of a friend and nudge you to send it to her, so you don't forget. Google will also let you share whole photo libraries with others. Facebook has its own version of this feature in its Moments app. One potentially unsettling new feature in Photos will let you automatically share some or all of your photos with other people. Google maintains the feature will be smart enough so that you would auto-share only specific photos say, of your kids to your partner or a friend. Google is also adding a feature to Photos to create soft-cover and hard-cover albums of pictures at prices beginning at $9.99. The app will draw upon its AI powers to automatically pick out the best pictures to put in the album. ASSOCIATED PRESS A China Telecom stand at an information industry expo in Nanjing, Jiangsu province. [Photo/China Daily] China Telecom Corp announced it has established the world's biggest coverage in the narrowband internet of things, which has a wide range of commercial applications in fields including smart parking and intelligent manufacturing. The NB-IoT is a narrow band radio technology designed for the IoT, allowing connections between IoT devices that is faster and on a wider range. The connection is for devices requiring small amounts of data, over long periods and consumes less energy. It also has the advantage of low cost, wide coverage and long battery life, compared with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technology. China Telecom said on Wednesday the demand for the NB-IoT in China now accounts for more than 60 percent of the whole internet of things sector. China Telecom said in a statement that it carried out outdoor NB-IoT tests in 12 cities in the first quarter. In March, it announced the release of the world's first commercial NB-IoT technology-based smart water project, in partnership with Shenzhen Water, marking a significant step in promoting the commercial use of the NB-IoT. The telecom carrier said it has joined hands with Shenzhen Gas to promote its application in the gas industry. Moreover, China's bicyle-sharing startup ofo is working with China Telecom and Huawei Technologies Co Ltd in a joint research on implementing its solutions for smart bicycle locks. On Monday, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced it wanted to speed up the commercial use of the NB-IoT in China. The ministry said it was encouraging companies to promote the technical reform of broadband network infrastructure to facilitate its commercial use. The ministry said the technology could be applied to the industrial internet, urban public service and management. Other domestic telecoms operators have stepped their efforts to boost the application of the NB-IoT. China Mobile, the country's biggest mobile operator, has started outdoor tests of the technology in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou and Fuzhou. It expects to commercialize it by 2018. China Unicom, meanwhile, said it aims to start commercial deployment by the end of the year and make its coverage nationwide in 2018. "With low power consumption, low cost and massive connectivity, narrow band internet of things technology has a promising prospect in the fields of environmental monitoring, intelligent transportation and logistics management," said Xiang Ligang, a telecom expert and CEO of industry website cctime.com. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter on Thursday to the opening ceremony of the First China International Tea Expo in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. Tea has been an important part of Chinese people's lives and a cherished symbol of Chinese culture, Xi said. From the ancient Silk Road and other trade routes that saw the flow of tea on horses and ships to today's Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, "tea has transcended time and crossed borders to win the affection of people from across the world," he added. Xi said he hopes the expo will give exposure to Chinese tea culture and grow into an important platform for exchanges and cooperation between China and the rest of the world, according to the letter. The expo runs from Thursday to Sunday. More than 800 tea makers who registered are showcasing their latest tea products. Quite a few participating enterprises have come from overseas, representing 13 countries. "We sell 2,000 to 3,000 tons of tea to China each year, which does not satisfy us at all. We came to this expo to further promote our new products," said Le Hai Zhou, vice-general manager of Vietnam National Tea Corp. Zhou was upbeat, saying he thinks that under the Belt and Road Initiative, more favorable trade policies will be granted. He said the company had already reached some initial agreements with China's dealers on Thursday. China's 2016 tea exports reached 328,700 tons, up by 1.15 percent, with a value of $1.49 billion, which was up by 7.48 percent, according to annual statistics released by China's General Administration of Customs. The State-owned high-end black tea producer Hunan Provincial Baishaxi Tea Industry Co plans to expand its sales in more Belt and Road markets this year. "Almost 90 percent of our exports go to markets such as Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia, and our sales reached 12 million yuan ($1.74 million) last year. But the exports account for only 4.6 percent of our annual sales," said Meng Tao, assistant general manager of the company. "With the initiative in place, we are planning more exports to Belt and Road markets, such as Kazakhstan and Russia." Meng said his company is recruiting more foreign staff to prepare for the move. Tourists relax in a meadow in Huaqiao village in Kangxian county, Gansu province.[Photo provided to China Daily] Editor's note: In the run-up to the 19th Communist Party of China National Congress, China Daily sent six reporters to villages nationwide to live for a month and take a look at how people are working to ensure that China's poverty eradication plan succeeds. Scenic spot attracts over 50,000 visitors, generates 9 million yuan Like many other young people in Huaqiao, in Gansu province's Kangxian county, Mao Zhanghui used to live in one of the village's mud houses and migrate each year to cities such as Shanghai to work in low-paid positions, such as on construction sites, so that his family would not starve. The land in the mountainous village could barely yield enough corn and wheat to support his wife, parents and 5-year-old son. However, Mao found employment in Huaqiao and returned to his home village in 2014, when the Kangxian county government began to focus on developing tourism to alleviate poverty. "The village was turned into a big construction site," he said. "The river was dredged and new roads were built." With the 380,000 yuan ($55,160) he borrowed from a local bank and his friends, he built a three-story building, which houses a restaurant and was opened last year. "We receive tourists every day, and during holidays the restaurants are always full," Mao said. "During the three-day May Day holiday this year, I made 20,000 yuan." To help pay back his loans quicker, Mao also contracted more than 3 hectares of land with two other villagers in the mountains and employed five villagers to grow herbs for traditional Chinese medicine. "I hope my business develops so I will not need to leave the village to make a living," he said. Of the 774 villagers living in Huaqiao, more than 300 have jobs related to tourism, such as in restaurants or hotels, or selling agricultural products, according to Shi Wanglong, deputy Party chief of Changba township, which governs Huaqiao. By the end of last year, tourism had become a pillar industry for 69 villages in Kangxian, accounting for about 20 percent of the villages in the county, according to the local government. The county received 1.9 million tourists last year, an increase of 36.8 percent compared with 2015, while more than 5,100 households living below the poverty line were engaged in tourism-related businesses, which helped increase the average household income by more than 10,000 yuan, the county government said. By the end of last year, the number of villagers living in poverty in Kangxian fell to about 29,000, accounting for about 17 percent of the county's total population in rural areas, compared with 22.7 percent at the beginning of the year. As of early May, Huaqiaoa 4A-level scenic site, as certified by Gansuhad received more than 50,000 tourists this year, generating revenue of more than 9 million yuan, Shi said. Meanwhile, villagers' average incomes exceeded 8,000 yuan last year, more than twice the figure before 2014, he said. "Developing tourism has helped the villagers improve their living conditions," Shi said. "They have also become more willing to improve their lives through their own labor, rather than just waiting for help from the government." "The whole village is so green and clean, and the air is fresh and cooler here," said Wang Cong, a tourist from Longnan, Gansu. "I think I will come here again in the summer with my family." Zhu Yanjie, deputy Party chief of Zhujiagou village in Kangxian, said he believes the beautiful natural scenery and well-preserved local culture in many of the county's villages will attract more visitors from nearby cities. "With tourism developing, more job opportunities will be created, and more villagers who have migrated to work in cities may return," Zhu said. Workers build new houses for impoverished families in Xionglumo village, Yunnan province.[Liu Ranyang/China News Service] More than 1,400 families now have new homes as a result of a policy to rehouse people living in impoverished areas, as Hou Liqiang and Li Yingqing report from Binchuan county, Yunnan province. Jinhuo Buwei used to dread rainstorms because the water leaked into her house and even washed the soil off the interior cob walls, made from a rough mix of water, mud and straw. "We couldn't sleep, and we had to cover the bedding with plastic sheets so it wouldn't get soaked. Sometimes, we didn't manage to do it in time," said the 46-year-old from Lijiao village, Binchuan county, in the southwestern province of Yunnan. As a result of a local government program to renovate dilapidated houses in rural areas, especially those occupied by impoverished families, Jinhuo's family of three no longer has to worry during the monsoon season, which lasts from May to October. "I never expected my house to be rebuilt so well and with so much natural light because my family depends on the dibao (a poverty-alleviation program that guarantees a minimum standard of living) for our livelihood," said Jinhuo, from the Yi ethnic group. No member of the family is fit to work: Jinhuo has rheumatism, which makes it difficult for her to walk; her husband was born with a mental impairment; and, at age 67, her mother-in-law is too old to labor in the fields. Renovation work on the 60-square-meter house was completed in late September, at a cost of 71,000 yuan ($10,300), as part of a government campaign to eradicate poverty by 2020. In rural Yunnan, people earning 2,800 yuan a year or less are officially designated as living in poverty. The family only had to contribute 3,000 yuan of the cost, while the government paid the remainder. Jinhuo also received 2,000 yuan to buy basic necessities so the family could start its new life as soon as possible. Zhu Lin, a fellow Lijiao resident, lived with his family of six in a house that had cracked and leaning cob walls. His bedroom had no window, so it was just a dark cell. "I wanted to renovate the house, but we didn't have enough money," said the 55-year-old farmer, who used to depend on just 2 mu (0.13 hectares) of farmland to make a living. Zhu received the same benefits as Jinhuo, and also obtained a low-interest loan of 40,000 yuan from the local government. He used the money to buy two oxen for his plowing business, and also rented extra 2 mu of farmland to grow grapes. During the planting season, he can make 200 to 300 yuan a day plowing fields for his neighbors. He is hopeful that his investment in land will pay off: "If the price of grapes is good this year, I am confident I will rise above the poverty line." Guo Li, who was recently exonerated of blackmail after serving five years in prison, displays a drawing depicting him and his daughter. He said she was his motivation to carry on during his time in jail.[Zou Hong / China Daily] Daughter was poisoned by infant formula; now he feels vindicated Guo Li stared across the table, his calm exterior momentarily giving way to anger. "My fight is not over yet," he said, shortly after a court overturned his 2010 conviction for attempting to extort the manufacturer of a tainted milk powder that poisoned his daughter. He said the verdict on April 7 by the Guangdong High People's Courtwhich came after Guo had served five years in prison, his full sentencewas a vindication of his efforts to get compensation for his family. "It proves that what I've done for my daughter is legal," he said. Guo was speaking in mid-April in the same teahouse in downtown Beijing where he first met with representatives from Guangdong Yashili Group, the company that accused him of blackmail, to discuss compensation after his daughter became ill in 2008 from drinking formula made from the company's tainted Scient milk powder. After reading a government warning that several domestic brands of baby formula and milk powder had been contaminated with melamine, a toxic chemical that could lead to false protein readings in quality tests, Guo took his daughter, age 2 at the time, to the hospital for a checkup. She was found to have mild symptoms of kidney stones, and since then "she has grown slower than average, developed an eating disorder and is now quick to anger", according to her father. He also sent the Scient bottle to the China National Food and Safety Supervision and Inspection Center for analysis, which showed the milk powder contained 132.9 micrograms of melamine per 1 kilogram132 times the national standard for all contaminants in the formula. At least six children died and 300,000 others were poisoned by milk formula tainted with melamine in 2008. No Compromise "I couldn't bear to compromise as a father. Food safety is a life or death matter. What I did, I did to protect my child," Guo said, explaining that he first met with employees from Yashili to discuss compensation in June 2009. "After a negotiation in this teahouse, they paid me 400,000 yuan ($58,000)," he said. Days later, in an interview with Beijing TV, he said the enterprises involved in the scandal should shoulder their responsibility and cover the costs for the families affected. "This is when Yashili called to invite me again to meet and discuss compensation," he said. "I didn't think about it too much, but taking into consideration my child's physical condition and the money I'd lost from taking time off work, I suggested an additional 3 million yuanand they agreed." He said the deal was put in writing. However, within weeks, police arrested Guo while he was on a business trip as an interpreter in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on allegations of blackmail. At his trial in January 2010held in Chaozhou, Guangdong province, where Yashili is basedprosecutors said Guo had threatened the company in order to receive more money, according to a report by Guangzhou Daily. The nature of the alleged threat is unclear. The director of a Harbin hospital said she has been glad to see traditional Chinese medicine becoming more popular. But in this case, the new patients are not Chinese, but Russians who cross into the border province of Heilongjiang for treatment. "Our center received its first patient from Russia in 2001, and since then the number of Russian patients has been increasing," said Wang Yan, director of the rehabilitation center of Second Hospital Affiliated with the Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine. "During the peak seasons between April and October they come in groups of 50 or 60, and they sometimes have to make an appointment to be able to see a doctor." Many patients are children or teenagers with difficult and chronic conditions such as brain-related illnesses or injuries, she said. Doctors provide comprehensive TCM treatment, such as herbal drugs and acupuncture. "We found many Russian patients have more confidence in TCM than Chinese patients," she said. "We have employed some Russians as translators to facilitate communication." Iuliia Matreninskaia, 38, from Russia, took her son to the hospital for treatment this month for the fifth time. She said she first took her 10-year-old son, Daria, who has cerebral palsy, to Wang's hospital in 2012, and her son's brain function has since improved and he is able to move better. Matreninskaia considers the medical facilities better and costs lower in Heilongjiang than at private hospitals in Russia. Wang Hailin, president of Mishan Cardiovascular Diseases Hospital in Mishan, Heilongjiang, said many Russian patients seen by the hospital have conditions such as arthritis and varicose veins whose symptoms can be worsened by cold weather. "TCM has proved to be effective in these diseases," he said. "We plan to work with hospitals in Russia and tourism agencies this year to attract more Russian patients." Shao Zongbo, a manager at Mishan Qianshou Tourism Agency, said more than 200 Russians have used to agency to arrange for healthcare visits to the province every week this year. Most of them come from Russia's eastern areas, such as Vladivostok and Ussuriysk, he said. "In the beginning, most of them came here for treatment of diseases, but now many of them also come for other health-related services such as massage," he said. TCM institutions across China provided 910 million services in 2015, accounting for 15.7 percent of all medical services in China, compared with 14.3 percent in 2009, according to a report released by the State Council Information Office in December. Imagine the desperation. A friend more than 1,600 kilometers away, who speaks no English and whose address and other contact information I do not have, posts on WeChat, late at night, a photo showing that she is committing suicide. I had to decide, and quickly, what to do to help this young woman whom I have not met in person. Never has my lack of language skills been more agonizing than in the three hours it took to save my friend Ping, with the help of another friend and dedicated police officers stretching from Beijing to Ya'an, Sichuan province. Caught up in an emotional maelstrom - she was widowed several years ago and has a toddler son, and her recent boyfriend conned her out of her entire savings of 130,000 yuan ($19,000) - Ping, 28, did the unthinkable, something she now admits was foolish: She slashed her wrist, deeply (this was no mere cry for help), and settled in, alone in her home, to await the end. I happened to be scrolling through WeChat at about 1:45 am, before retiring for the night, when I saw the gruesome photo, posted half an hour earlier. She followed up with a series of recent selfies, a heart-wrenching retrospective in which she noted, "I came to this world." My next few messages to Ping went unanswered, but eventually she said she wanted to "leave this world" and confirmed that she had hurt herself. Then she went silent. Though I cannot speak Mandarin, I knew I had to somehow contact police and get help. But where, exactly, was my friend? I phoned and awoke my friend Sunny, who works at CCTV. Although she speaks little English, I was able to quickly convey, using WeChat and translation software, the urgency of the situation. She began working the phones and relaying messages between police and myself. Did I know Ping's address? No. Did I know her other friends? No. Her WeChat ID, linked to her phone number, was our only lead. As I scrolled desperately through earlier messages, I found that she lived in or near Baoxing county, Sichuan province. But I found no other clues to her whereabouts or friends. Then, in answer to a special prayer in those grim hours, I discovered her earlier posting of a conversation with a friend whose user ID included his phone number. I relayed this to police, who contacted the friend and set in motion a frantic rescue effort. Ping was located, unconscious and hanging on to life, and rushed to a hospital. I am reminded of a comment my former wife once made, derisively, about the social site Facebook. "Those aren't real friends," she told me. "They don't care about you." Yet, on that fateful night, many people, mostly strangers, formed a chain of caring that reached across China to save one life in a land of nearly 1.4 billion souls. The chain, notably, was linked by smartphones and social apps - offering a beacon of hope that technology can deepen, rather than blunt, our emotional bonds. The makeshift toilets once used by residents of Jindan, a village in Xiangyun county, Yunnan province, were unbearably dirty and fetid, especially during summer when they were plagued by flies and mosquitoes, posing a health risk. To address the problem, the locals decided to dig simple communal toilets a few minutes' walk from the village. Although the new facilities reduced the health risk, they were inconvenient and children had to be escorted to them at night because they were afraid of the dark. The situation began to change in June last year, when the local government started a pilot project using the CHtank, a sewage-disposal facility designed and made in China. While the 566 households in the village couldn't afford to build a dedicated sewage treatment facility, the CHtank, a small, independent unit that can be used by individual households, offered a cheaper solution to the problem. The tank has two chambers, one for solids and one for liquid waste. Four types of bacteria are used to clean liquid waste-which is then used to irrigate fields - and break down solids, which are stored in the tank before being collected and taken away. Li Shizhao extracts water from his CHtank.Hou Liqiang / China Daily Li Shizhao's family is one of 55 households that have benefited from the facility, which was provided free of charge as part of a demonstration project. "Our toilet used to smell really bad. Every two months, I had to spend about an hour emptying and cleaning it before transporting the waste to my farmland using buckets and a carrying pole," the 43-year-old farmer said. "After the CHtank was installed in our compound, we built a new toilet at home. The tank transforms wastewater from the toilet into clean, odorless water," he said. "It's convenient to use, and we don't have to keep driving away the flies." Produced by Shenzhen Hexu Environmental Technology, the CHtank costs about 60 yuan ($8.70) a year to operate. According to Hao Lei, manager of the company's branch in Xiangyun, a county in southern Yunnan, it would be prohibitively expensive to build a network of sewers in the rural areas of the mountainous province because the dwellings are scattered across a wide area. The CHtank may provide a solution. Its bio-treatment technology transforms liquid waste into water that can reach grade I, the highest level of a three-tier assessment system for treated water, which is the same quality as the water in ponds, lakes and rivers. At the end of last year, Shenzhen Hexu signed an agreement with the Xiangyun government to invest 400 million yuan to build an industrial park to manufacture about 300,000 CHtanks a year. The provincial government wants to develop Jindan into a demonstration village to promote the device and showcase its ability to transform the rural environment, said Dong Xuehui, director of rural construction at the Xiangyun department of housing and rural-urban development. The biggest obstacle to the plan is the cost; each Chtank costs 8,000 to 10,000 yuan to manufacture and install. "We hope the higher-level government will provide financial support for the promotion," Dong said. Located on the Alpide seismic belt, which runs from the Himalayas to the Mediterranean Sea, Yunnan is an earthquake-prone province in southwestern China. As a consequence, quakes of magnitude 4 and 5 are not unusual in Biyang county, about 370 kilometers northwest of Kunming, the provincial capital. The frequent earthquakes often cracked the walls of many traditional houses, leaving the residents concerned for their lives and the integrity of their property. Those fears have subsided as a result of the government's efforts to renovate dilapidated houses. On March 27, the county was hit by a magnitude 5.1 quake, which had a focal depth of 12 km. It was the third quake greater than magnitude 5 in the past five years. "The previous two caused widespread damage and injury, but this time only one person in our township was injured, by a falling tile," said Yang Jiawei, deputy Party chief of Yangjiang township. Wang Qingbing from Momianchang, a village in Yangjiang, was working on his farm when the quake hit. He said he wasn't worried, even though his parents, wife and son were all at home, because the family recently moved into their renovated house, which is designed to withstand all but the worst quakes. In March 2013, a quake left big cracks in three of the walls of his old house. "Because of safety concerns, the government didn't allow us to move back into the house until 2014, when it had been rebuilt," he said, "The renovated house is very strong, and wasn't damaged at all in the latest earthquake." The renovated two-story house cost more than 300,000 yuan ($43,500). The local government provided 50,000 yuan toward the cost and also offered a concessional loan of 50,000 yuan. "With this house, I'm not worried about minor earthquakes anymore," Wang said. Yang, the deputy Party chief, said most of the dilapidated houses in Yangjiang have been rebuilt or renovated in recent years after the provincial government promoted the upgrading of old houses and earthquake-proof construction: "No houses collapsed this time, though the walls of a few cracked." From 2007 to 2015, about 89 million yuan was invested in the county to rebuild the homes of 7,925 families, while almost 20 million yuan was spend on renovation of a further 9,988 homes, according to the Biyang government. Last year, poverty-stricken families were given priority when the county government rebuilt the houses of 2,500 families, and renovated another 2,000. The government also provided concessional loans of 10.6 million yuan to 217 families so they could renovate their homes. According to the provincial housing authorities, nearly 2 million families have seen their homes rebuilt or reinforced with quake-proof materials. Since the program began in 2007, none of the "new" houses have collapsed or suffered severe damage, despite two major quakes in 2014: a magnitude 6.5 earthquake in Ludian county and a magnitude 6.6 quake in Jinggu county. No homes have been damaged in a series of quakes this year, the government said. Xinhua contributed to the story. Riders test newly designed rental bicycles that use electrical power to supplement human pedaling, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Tuesday. Su Bin / For China Daily Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, is planning to upgrade its public rental bicycles from strictly pedal power to electric hybrids. The first batch of 5,000 hybrid bikes will be rolled out in three months, offering a faster option for bike riders, said Wu Guoxiong, deputy manager of Hangzhou Public Bicycle Traffic Service Development Co. Hangzhou has 85,800 bikes for public rental, including 56,300 from Wu's company. "We plan to replace all our regular bikes with smart bicycles by the end of next year," he said. Traditional bikes have limitations, he said. "According to our data, people will ride 33 minutes for about 3 kilometers, on average, for each use. They will feel uncomfortable or tired when the time or distance exceeds that." The new bikes will give people another choice. By inserting a portable battery, the human powered bicycle easily converts to electricity, so riders can extend their riding distance to 10 km and raise the maximum speed to 15 kilometers per hour, he said. The State-owned company came up its plan for a bi-functional bicycle two years ago to meet the needs of residents whose jobs are 7 to 8 km from home. The plan and model were discussed and revised many times until it was agreed that the new shared bikes would have a removable battery. People can choose to either rent a bicycle, or rent a bike and a portable battery as a package. The battery port is beneath the bike's front basket, along with an LED headlight, integrated power supply and control module. The bike gets an electrical assist from a drive mechanism designed as part of the rear wheel hub - which is designed in the shape of an osmanthus, Hangzhou's city flower. Thousands of photovoltaic power stations will be built and connected to the public bicycle stations, providing continuous energy to charge the batteries. Bike rentals will follow the previous standard - no charge for the first hour, 1 yuan ($0.15) per hour for the next two hours, and 3 yuan per hour for time over that. Battery rental is 1 yuan for half an hour. People will be able to rent a battery from a cabinet installed nearby, and the cabinet works as the battery charging station. Each cabinet can hold 24 batteries. As a bonus, the battery can be used to charge a cellphone, too. The company has applied for patents on the innovative technology for the hybrid power bicycle. "It is not about competition. We are in the public welfare business. This innovation could increase residents' efficiency, saving them time," Wu said. "The charge for portable batteries may even out the rising manpower cost." Wu Lei, a 33-year-old salesman in Hangzhou, told China Daily, "It is good news for me. I will definitely choose the smart bicycle." Wu works about 12 km from his home. Currently, he usually drives to work. But parking and traffic jams are a headache. "It will save me time and money," he said. Hangzhou was one of the first to create a public bicycle transportation service in China. It has had bike rentals since 2008. shixf@chinadaily.com.cn Two people have been sentenced to jail after being convicted of illegal trading vaccines, Xinhua News Agency reported on Thursday. The duo illegally bought and sold vaccines, including for Haemophilus influenza Type B and Japanese encephalitis, with total sales of roughly 2 million yuan ($290,200), according to the Zhanggong District People's Court in Ganzhou, Jiangxi province. The two, surnamed Liu and Liao, were given prison terms of seven and three years and fined 100,000 yuan and 200,000 yuan respectively. They didn't appeal. Liu was a former staff worker at a county-level center for disease control and prevention in the province. The defendant started selling vaccines in 2013 without government authorization. The court did not state where Liu sourced the vaccines. Liao was later summoned by Liu to help with the trade, the court said. The two were caught by police between March and May last year. Police are still hunting for others implicated in the case. The vaccines were sold in eight cities in Jiangxi, including Ji'an, Shangrao, Jiujiang, Yingtan, Pingxiang and Ganzhou, the court said. In Ganzhou alone, 14 counties were found with the vaccines, mostly at township level health institutions. According to the drug management law and regulation in China, sales of vaccines have to be licensed and strictly controlled by the authority because of safety concerns. Public health experts said the illegal vaccine trade poses a huge public health risk. shanjuan@chinadaily.com.cn Boarding schools in Beijing will be banned from selling soda drinks in cafeterias and stores inside campuses this year, part of an effort to encourage students to eat healthy food, the city's health authority said. The Beijing Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning said on Wednesday that it will launch a campaign to establish "health cafeterias" in all schools to improve students' nutritional balance. "Problems such as obesity have haunted parents and children, and the solution starts with controlling what they eat," said Du Hong, deputy head of disease control at the commission. Pilot healthy cafeterias have been established in 59 schools. The program will be rolled out to all schools within this year. Under a city regulation, boarding schools must "strictly control food high in fat, salt and sugar, including burgers and instant noodles, and must ban unhealthy beverages such as soda". Schools should offer food safety and nutrition education classes each semester, as well as provide students' health information to parents on a regular basis, the regulation said. Each school cafeteria should have one full-time or part-time nutritionist to make suggestions for the menu. And a weekly menu should be posted in notable places, along with nutritional information. Also under the regulation, alternative menus will be recommended to students with various health conditions. According to a survey of all Beijing schools by the city health commission, students eat too much meat and salt, and lack sufficient healthy food, including vegetables, fruit and milk. About 20 percent of students in primary, middle and high schools in Beijing are overweight. Among the obese children, about 30 percent have high blood sugar and fat. This year, the city's health department will revise health guidance for students, and will conduct another nutrition and health survey of students in Beijing's seven districts. The survey is expected to find out the main reasons for nutritional imbalance among students by assessing their knowledge, attitudes and assumptions about food, as well as noting their nutritional intake and other factors. A strategy is expected to be devised based on the survey's findings. Henan province plans to install 20,000 surveillance cameras this year to monitor the burning of straw or rubbish on farmland, which can cause fires and pollute the air. According to the Henan provincial Department of Agriculture, it is part of the province's plan to set up what it calls the Blue-Sky Guard system, which was developed to achieve a goal of zero-fires through real-time monitoring. The system can continuously monitor farmland and remind people not to burn straw, said Ning Xiaofeng, an official of the provincial department. "Installing these cameras will help detect fires as early as possible," he said. He declined to say how much the system will cost. Last year, more than 1,300 such cameras were installed in parts of the province in a trial program. The department found no burning of straw or rubbish near those cameras, and the move has reduced the cost of sending people to patrol those areas by half, he said. So far, more than 14,500 cameras have been installed in various counties, including Yongcheng and Luyi, he said. The department has promised harsh punishments for anyone who violates the ban on burning straw. If evidence of burning is found, the county or district will be fined 500,000 yuan ($72,000). When the 20,000 cameras are all in place by the end of this month, the system will cover 70 percent of farmland in the province, Ning said. It is estimated that the fully developed system will need about 30,000 cameras to cover all farmland. But he said not all farmland is suitable for surveillance cameras. "We have to count on grassroots civil servants to patrol those areas," he added. qixin@chinadaily.com.cn President Xi Jinping shakes hands with a family member of Qian Qichen Thursday in Beijing. [Photo/Xinhua] BEIJING - The cremation of Qian Qichen, a former vice premier, was held Thursday in Beijing. Qian was 90 when he died on May 9 in Beijing at 10:06 p.m. President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang, and other senior leaders including Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan and Zhang Gaoli, as well as former leader Hu Jintao, paid their final respects at the service at Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery in west Beijing. All guests stood in silent tribute and bowed three times in front of Qian's body before the cremation. They also extended their condolences to his family. Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan and Zhang Gaoli, as well as former leaders Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao either visited Qian while he was in hospital or offered their condolences after his death. Qian was extolled by the central authority as an excellent member of the Communist Party of China, a time-tested and loyal communist soldier, a proletarian revolutionist, and an outstanding leader in diplomacy of the country. BEIJING - Any attempts to establish "two Chinas," "one China, one Taiwan," or "Taiwan independence" is doomed to fail, a spokesperson from the Chinese mainland said Thursday. An Fengshan, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks in response to the name change of a Taiwan organization responsible for handling ties with Japan. A ceremony was held in Taiwan Wednesday announcing the change of name from the Association of East Asian Relations to Taiwan-Japan Relations Association. An said the Foreign Ministry has already made its stance clear on this issue. "I want to stress that any attempts to create disturbances in the international arena or establish 'two Chinas,' 'one China, one Taiwan,' or 'Taiwan independence' will be in vain and doomed to fail," An said. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying on Wednesday denounced the name change of the Taiwan organization, urging Japan to abide by the one-China policy and not to disturb China-Japan ties. A veiled chameleon was among 57 live animals seized when forest police officers in Honghe Hani and Yi autonomous prefecture, Southwest China's Yunnan province, raided an illegal animal trafficking operation. Police also found 12 dead animals and 21 items made out of animals. [Photo/China News Service] Police have been investigating the case since receiving a report in September last year that the highly endangered red slender loris was being sold on Baidu Tieba, a popular online forum. Police said a man surnamed Gu was buying the wild animals online. He was arrested and many animals and animal products were allegedly recovered from his home. Over the following months, police searched more locations arresting 20 people allegedly involved in the online trade. It is the biggest online wildlife trafficking case busted in the province in the past decade. HANGZHOU - Zhao Shaolin, a former provincial-level official in east China's Jiangsu Province, was sentenced by a court in Zhejiang Province to four years in prison Thursday for graft and illegally purchasing foreign exchange. Zhao, a former member of the standing committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Jiangsu provincial committee and secretary-general of the provincial Party committee, was also fined 15 million yuan ($2.18 million), according to a statement from Ningbo City Intermediate People's Court. Zhao was found guilty of seeking benefits for his son Zhao Jin's real estate business, and offered bribes totalling almost 4.45 million yuan to others together with his son from 2007 to 2014. In addition, Zhao also helped his son purchase more than $41.7 million by falsifying official foreign trade contracts and approval documents. The court issued a lesser punishment because Zhao was an accessary to the crime of purchasing foreign exchange through deception, moreover, he confessed to his crimes, cooperated with the authorities to recover his illicit gains, and informed on other major offenders. NANNING - A man was sentenced to a five-year prison term Wednesday for trading endangered wildlife, according to a court in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, south China. The man, who has been identified by his surname Wei, had managed pet stores on social media platforms that sold animals including otters, boa constrictors and toucans since 2015, the people's court of Dongxing city said. In May 2016, Dongxing forest police seized six toucans, four otters and 20 boa constrictors from his home. All the animals are under state protection, according to the court. Wei was also fined 30,000 yuan ($4,000), the court said. BEIJING - Meandering on mountain ridges across north China, the Great Wall, one of the world's great wonders, has for thousands of years protected residents from invasion. Gone are the beacons and soldiers on the mountaintops. But another group of rangers has appeared, protecting the ancient landmark from a new kind of invasion. In Yanqing District, on the northern outskirts of Beijing, home to a 179- km-long section of the Great Wall, a team of more than 60 government-employed rangers and some 200 volunteers have ensured that there is no further man-made destruction of the centuries-old wall. Mei Jingtian, 73, is the oldest of them. He lives in Shixia Village near Badaling, where the oldest sections of the Great Wall have been dated back to the Northern Qi Dynasty (550 - 557). "I grew up at the foot of the Great Wall and it was an important part of my childhood," he said. Mei remembers the imposing wall of his youth, before it went through massive destruction during the Cultural Revolution in 1960s and 1970s, when it was considered a remnant of feudal history to be pulled down. During that time, some locals even took bricks from the ancient wall to build their houses. The Great Wall, a symbol of China, is actually not just one wall, but many interconnected walls built between the third century B.C. and the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987, but its preservation faces long-term challenges. According to the Yanqing cultural relics authority, only 10 percent of the Great Wall in the district has been protected, 15 percent has completely disappeared and the rest is in ruins. Mei became a voluntary ranger in 1983. Carrying a bottle of water and a sickle, he leaves home at dawn, humming an old song while picking up the garbage and weeding around the foot of the Great Wall. He walks around 20 kilometers each day. Over the decades, he had worn through more than 200 pairs of shoes. "I feel reassured standing on the mountain," he said. "The Great Wall is unique. If we don't do anything, I think one day it might disappear completely." HAIKOU Liu Cigui, who became Party chief of Hainan in April, was elected Friday as director of the standing committee of the Provincial People's Congress. He was elected at the sixth session of the fifth provincial People's Congress, the local legislative body. Born in 1955, Liu is a native of Quanzhou in East China's Fujian province. He is a former head of the State Oceanic Administration, and was transferred to Hainan in December 2014 to serve as deputy secretary of Hainan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC). At the same session Friday, Shen Xiaoming was elected governor of the island province. Shen was born in 1963. He once served as vice mayor of Shanghai and vice education minister before he was transferred to Hainan as deputy Party head of the province in March 2017. The Republic of Korea should respect China's major interests and concern over an anti-missile system, China's top diplomat said on Friday. State Councilor Yang Jiechi made the remarks while meeting with Lee Hae-chan, special envoy of the President of the ROK Moon Jae-in, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Lee replied that the ROK understands China's concern over the deployment of the United States Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system. The ROK would like to strengthen talks and consultation with China to properly resolve of relevant issues, he said. Yang called on the ROK to create opportunities for the restoration of China-ROK mutual trust and the smooth development of bilateral ties in future. Noting that the Sino-ROK relationship is of great importance, Yang said that the special envoy's visit shows that the ROK president paid much attention to bilateral ties with China. The state councilor pointed out that President Xi Jinping had spoken to Moon on the phone after the ROK president took office, during which the two presidents exchanged views on the development of Sino-ROK ties. Lee said that before his trip, the ROK president had told him to have intensive talks and communication with Chinese leaders at a time when the ROK-China relationship is in difficulties. The ROK acknowledged that the deployment of the THAAD had harmed ROK-China mutual trust and exchanges, Lee told Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday, adding that the ROK is ready to look for a proper solution to the issue with sincerity. HEFEI A nature reserve in East China's Anhui province released six captive-bred Chinese alligators into the wild on Thursday to boost the wild population of this endangered species. The six Chinese alligators, two males and four females with an average age of seven, are among 102 reptiles Anhui Yangtze Alligator National Nature Reserve has released into the wild since 2003. According to Zhu Hongxing, deputy head of the administrative bureau of the reserve, the alligators had to meet certain standards before they could return to a natural habitat. "They had blood and DNA tests to make sure they were strong and not close relatives. Then they underwent wilderness training," said Zhu, adding that they have been fitted with electronic ID chips to help researchers identify them in the future. The released Chinese alligators have begun to reproduce in the wild, meaning they have generally adapted well. However, they are still affected by the agricultural practices of residents surrounding the reserve. In 2016, Green Anhui, an environmental protection organization, launched a program to promote knowledge about Chinese alligator protection among residents and encourage them to reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizers that could pollute the water. Endemic to China, Chinese alligators, also known as Yangtze alligators, live along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Threatened by human activity and shrinking habitats, only about 150 living in the wild were born in a natural habitat. As the world's largest Chinese alligator breeding base, the reserve has bred more than 15,000 Chinese alligators in captivity. Locals at a village in Southwest China's Guizhou province play instruments when taking a family photo. [Photo/VCG] Students are helping families pass down memories by taking free photos for villagers, the Guizhou Daily reported on Wednesday. Since 2012, students from Guizhou Normal University in Southwest China have been taking free photos for people living in poverty-stricken villages. One of the initiators of the campaign is Wang Bangbi. Wang was enrolled in the photography department of the school in 2009. A vocational school that exposes photos of students' uncivilized activities around campus has recently triggered hot discussions on social media platforms. A Sina Weibo user posted two pictures on Tuesday that that exposed students' uncivilized behavior on the campus of Shandong Foreign Languages Vocational College in Rizhao, a coastal city of Shandong province. These uncivilized behaviors include smoking, raising pets and lovers kissing each other in public. The hot topic of the online discussions is whether lovers kissing each other on campus should be regarded as uncivilized behavior and be exposed. Judging from the comments on Sina Weibo, most users think it is not appropriate to expose couples showcasing their love on campus. However, most people agreed that the school should expose uncivilized behavior like smoking, discarding garbage and raising pets. The school responded on Thursday that it has been exposing uncivilized behavior among students according to an official notice from the Ministry of Education in September 2015, the official website of Dazhong Daily reported on Friday. Ma Zhangqin, director of the youth league office of the school, said the official notice shows that schools shall expose uncivilized behavior to create civilized campuses. Ma said the school will continue exposing students' uncivilized behavior on campus. A Bluegogo bike with an intelligent controller. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] Bluegogo International Inc, a Beijing-based bike-sharing operator, unveiled a new type of bicycle with an "intelligent controller" on Friday, a move toward a for-profit model through advertising. Like vehicle navigation, the "intelligent controller" involves a screen embedded between the handlebars, and connects with the cyclist's mobile phone. It would not only navigate bikers, but also record real-time data such as distance and riding speed, according to the company. The new function will likely be a stepping-stone to identify a sustainable business model for the company, and even for the entire bike-sharing sector, CEO Li Gang said at a press conference. Through the function, Bluegogo plans to build a platform of precision advertising - enabling marketers to target their ads to very specific business demographics. It will create a "multi-billion yuan market," Li said, adding the industry has long been caught in an unprofitable business model. Since its establishment in Shenzhen last November, Bluegogo's number of users reached 15 million nationwide. It launched more than 80,000 bikes in Beijing within a month since it officially entered the city's market in February this year. Blugogo, similar to Mobike and ofo, employs an intelligent lock with positioning functions to locate and enable borrowing bikes nearby. Bikers can unlock the bike by scanning the QR code through the app. President Xi Jinping, also the Party leader; Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Liu Yunshan, a member of the Party's top leadership body, meet with heroes and role models from public security departments across the country at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, May 19, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua] President Xi Jinping called for the country's public security forces to better serve the people, stay loyal to the Communist Party of China and exercise fair law enforcement as he met with heroes and role models from public security departments on Friday. Xi, who is also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, urged police officers nationwide to stay highly disciplined and step up efforts to become more professional. Public security forces nationwide should stay loyal to their missions and responsibilities, implement an overall security outlook and spare no effort to safeguard national security and social stability, the president told representatives at a conference to commend heroes and role models from the public security system. The conference, held in Beijing on Friday morning, honored 615 units and 1,320 individuals in the public security system across the nation. The police should also keep improving the public's sense of security and satisfaction and create a safe and stable social environment, thus paving the way for the success of the 19th National Congress of the CPC later this year, Xi said. Public security forces are the group that makes the most sacrifices and the largest contributions during peacetime, he said. The heroes and role models commended at the conference have used their perspiration, blood and lives to safeguard national security and social stability as well as the security of people's lives and property, he said. "Over the years, I am deeply moved every time I read the touching stories of police officers risking their own lives and disregarding their own safety," the president said. "I also have experienced deep heartache every time I hear news of police officers defying danger and death, bleeding and sacrificing their own lives," he said. Xi also urged society to better promote the spirit of the heroes and role models in the public security forces as part of an effort to better promote socialist core values. Local Party committees and authorities should make sure that the relatives of officers who have died on duty, especially relatives who are elderly or minors, are well taken care of, he said. Since the 18th Party Congress of the CPCheld in November 20122,105 police officers have died on duty, with another 22,977 officers injured, news portal chinapeace.gov.cn reported, citing figures from the Ministry of Public Security. Last year, 362 police officers died in the line of duty, with another 4,913 officers injured, the report said. Premier Li Keqiang greets members of a Philippine delegation led by Pantaleon Alvarez (second from right), speaker of the House of Representatives, in Beijing on Friday. [Photo/Xinhua] Premier tells visiting legislative leader progress will solidify public's support China is willing to expand common interests and properly settle differences with the Philippines to consolidate public support for their ties getting back to a sound track, Premier Li Keqiang said on Friday. Li made the remarks when meeting with Pantaleon Alvarez, speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines, in Beijing. Li said that a good neighbor friendship between the two countries meets the fundamental interests of both peoples and contributes to regional peace and stability. He said China is ready to deepen mutual trust and communication with the Philippines to sustain a healthy and sound growth of ties. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Li said China is ready to support the work of the Philippines, which holds the rotating chairmanship of the ASEAN this year, and work with all parties to improve China-ASEAN ties as well as regional cooperation. Alvarez said the Philippine legislative body supports the efforts of President Rodrigo Duterte in improving and developing ties with China. He said the two countries' consolidated cooperation has resulted in many new achievements, and this will contribute to cooperation with and consensus among Asian countries. Alvarez said he welcomes Li to the Philippines this year for the Leaders' Meetings on East Asia Cooperation. Ties between the two countries have continued to improve since Duterte's visit to China in October. The Philippine embassy in China has seen a 200 percent increase in visa applications for tourism and business, Ambassador Jose Santiago Santa Romana said, according to The Philippine Star. The ambassador said there had been a decline in the number of Chinese tourists but things have changed since Beijing lifted all travel advisories. He added that the Philippine government aims to double tourism arrivals this year. "(We) will hit 1 million (arrivals) this year, so we are just scratching the surface," the ambassador said, noting that the nation's consulates in China are now deluged with visa applications. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Friday: "I think it's a good thing that the number of Chinese people visiting the Philippines is increasing rapidly." The improvement in ties "has provided a good political environment for nongovernmental exchanges between the two countries," Hua said. "In turn, strengthened friendly exchanges between the two peoples will definitely promote bilateral understanding and trust, consolidate public support for neighborly and friendly bilateral relations, and accumulate more positive energy for healthy and steady development of bilateral ties," she said. The two countries and their people will enjoy more concrete benefits as the two countries keep advancing their pragmatic cooperation in different fields, Hua said. Heavy air pollution, with ozone being the primary contaminant, blanketed the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region on Friday. A weak cold front is expected to arrive during the weekend, improving air quality in the region, the Beijing environmental protection authority said. But some areas will still face moderate levels of pollution, mainly caused by ozone and PM10 particulate matter. The National Meteorological Center issued a yellow alert on Friday for high temperatures, the least serious in a three-tier warning system, with some northern provinces expected to see temperatures above 35 C and some areas experiencing heat up to 39 C. As temperature rises, ozone pollution is also likely to increase, experts said. Ozone, a gas that is a type of oxygen formed with an extra molecule, is created when vehicles, power plants, industrial boilers, refineries and chemical factories emit pollutants that react chemically in strong sunlight. According to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, intense sunlight and hot weather are ideal conditions for ground-level ozone to form. When it is 20 to 30 kilometers above the surface, ozone can absorb harmful radiation and protect life on Earth. It also is useful in sanitation and manufacturing. But ozone exposure can cause allergies and respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, according to Lu Mengyao, an engineer at the National Meteorological Center. "Observations show that ozone pollution has been on the rise across the country since 2013," Zhang Yuanhang, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said at an air pollution forum in Langfang, Hebei province, on Thursday. "In the Pearl River Delta region, ozone has even surpassed PM2.5 as the main pollutant in air pollution," he said. China recorded only one day of heavy ozone pollution in 2016, but ozone was the primary culprit for around 32 percent of all its bad air days, according to the Ministry of Environmental Protection. Wang Qifeng, an expert attending Thursday's forum, said ozone problems could be serious enough this summer that there might need to be "some temporary emergency measures to address the rising ozone pollution", according to Science and Technology Daily. Ozone is one of the six airborne pollutants China regularly monitors; the others are PM2.5 and PM10 particulates, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide. Still, people can be puzzled when ozone air pollution warnings are issued, since the weather may be clear and sunny at the time. Ye Dan, a researcher at the environmental office of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said that people should stay indoors when the ozone level is high. Xinhua contributed to this story. The Belt and Road Initiative is more than just building roads and railways. It is about building connectivity that leads to peace, prosperity, openness and development for all, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai said on Thursday. "China is ready to work with all parties, including the US, to translate these grand ideas into reality," Cui said at a meeting of prominent Chinese-Americans. "We are encouraged by the positive response from the international community to the success of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation," Cui said of the meeting that concluded on Monday in Beijing. The initiative refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2013. The US has formed the American Belt and Road Working Group to serve as "one node" for cooperation on the initiative, according to Matthew Pottinger, a special assistant to President Donald Trump and leader of the US delegation to the forum. Cui confirmed that Xi and Trump still plan to meet again later in the year. The ambassador received a Leadership Award for Advancing US-China Relations on Thursday at the opening of the 2017 annual conference of the Committee of 100. The C100 is an organization of Chinese-Americans dedicated to the spirit of excellence and achievement in the US. Its members include architect I.M. Pei and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, Trump's pick for US ambassador to China, also received the award. His son received the award on his behalf. Borrowing from the philosophy of traditional Chinese medicine, Cui said that when a person is not feeling well, the root cause is that his qi, or universal life energy, is disrupted, because qi is essential in keeping body parts connected and working in harmony. "So, when our world is not feeling well, something important that is supposed to flow smoothly is missing," Cui said. "To our world today, the missing qi is connectivity, both in the physical and in the subjective sense." The initiative offers the right spirit and tools to connect countries and regions and peoples, he said. It aims to realize physical connectivity in land, sea, air and cyberspace, as well as soft connectivity in terms of policies, rules and standards, he said. It also enables the unimpeded flow of capital, technology, information, products, industries and personnel. The ambassador said he thinks the Xi-Trump meeting in Palm Beach, Florida, in early April helped foster better connectivity between China and the United States. Cooperation, he said, is the only right choice for the world's two largest economies. "The problems in today's China-US relationship should not be seen as permanent and insurmountable ones," Cui said. "The way to fix them is to further develop our relations and resolve problems in a sensible and proper manner through coordination and consultation." US Congressman Ed Royce, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said that prosperity and opportunity across the globe depend on the success of Sino-US relations. "The way to peace and understanding is through engagement, through understanding culture, and through understanding the bridge that the Chinese-American community is creating," he said. Yuan Yuan in Washington contributed to this story. China and the Philippines on Friday vowed to seek ways acceptable to both sides to solve issues related to the South China Sea in their first direct meeting on the topic. Vice-Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin and Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago Santa Romana led their delegations to the meeting of the China-Philippines Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea. The event was held in Guiyang, capital of Guizhou province. A joint news release issued after the meeting said the mechanism should be "a platform for confidence-building measures and for promoting maritime cooperation and maritime security". It will comprise officials from their foreign ministries and relevant maritime affairs agencies, and will meet alternately in China and the Philippines once every six months. The meeting on Friday also discussed issues including promotion of next-step practical maritime cooperation and the possibility of setting up technical working groups. Zhang Xuegang, a Southeast Asian studies expert at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said the consultation is crucial in ensuring proper handling of the South China Sea issue. It also "provides a model to neighbors with territorial disputes", Zhang said. The meeting was four days after President Xi Jinping and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte reaffirmed they would solve the South China Sea issue through dialogue and negotiations on Monday when Duterte attended the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing. Beijing's relations with Manila made a U-turn after Duterte assumed office in June 2016. He visited China in October, his first foreign visit beyond ASEAN. Both sides have agreed to separate the territorial dispute from talks on developing bilateral cooperation and to handle it on another track. Duterte indicated that under his China policy, contentious issues will be discussed one by one with the use of "quiet diplomacy". Liu said on Thursday that Beijing speaks highly of Duterte's friendly stance, calling it "a beautiful turnaround" after five years of difficult relations. He made the remarks at a news conference after a meeting of senior officials from China and ASEAN member countries. The meeting approved a draft framework of the South China Sea Code of Conduct, marking a milestone in peacefully resolving the South China Sea issue. Also on Friday, the 23rd China-ASEAN Senior Officials' Consultation was held at the same venue. The unlawful use of an ultra-large chlorine container by a rubber plant was responsible for a deadly poisoning incident last week, the work safety watchdog announced on Friday. The State Administration of Work Safety found that the Lixing rubber plant in Hejian, Hebei province, had installed an oversized container filled with liquefied chlorine in a bid to save on costs. On the morning of May 13, the tube connecting the container to the chlorine tank truck ruptured, and the resulting chlorine leak led to the deaths of two people and the hospitalization of 25. Poor regulation, lax emergency response and a lack of safety awareness and professional expertise were among the factors leading to the accident, the administration said. Local governments were urged to address the illegal use of hazardous chemicals to prevent incidents such as this from happening again. China saw fewer workplace accidents in the first four months of this year. From January to April, there were no "extremely severe accidents"meaning those that cause more than 30 deaths, leave more than 100 severely injured or result in more than 100 million yuan ($15 million) in direct economic losses. Suspects accused of kidnapping Vietnamese women for marriage Thirteen suspects are awaiting verdicts on accusations of cross-border human trafficking in Southwest China's Yunnan province. They are accused of trafficking or purchasing 27 Vietnamese women and bringing them to China for forced marriages between July 2014 and April 2016, according to prosecutors cited in a report on Thursday by www.yunnan.cn, a provincial news portal. Court documents obtained by China Daily on Friday show that the trial was conducted on May 11 at a court in Kaiyuan. Among the 13 defendants, 10 were accused of kidnapping or purchasing 27 Vietnamese women from China-Vietnam border areas, and reselling them for 33,000 yuan to 100,000 yuan ($4,800 to $14,500) each in rural areas. The other defendants were accused of buying the women knowing that they were abducted, according to prosecutors. "These women were cheated or drugged, and were forcibly taken to China. They were traded like commodities and resold several times to be the wives of strangers. "Many of these women were married in Vietnam and had children, and some of them were college students," according to prosecution. The documents did not reveal whether these women had returned to Vietnam. In court, prosecutors said the defendants had formed an organized gang, with some responsible for finding victims, some bringing them to China, some contacting agents and some selling them. However, some defendants argued in court that they were just marriage brokers who introduced foreign women for marriage, rather than trafficking them. Although the suspects did not torture or illegally detain the women, they took advantage of the language barrier, and the women's lack of money and identity documents, to limit their freedom, according to the prosecutors. For many men in poor rural areas in China, looking for a wife remains a problem, giving an opportunity to human traffickers. WASHINGTON - WikiLeaks will provide technology companies with exclusive access to CIA hacking tools that it possesses, to allow them to patch software flaws, founder Julian Assange said on Thursday. The anti-secrecy group published documents on Tuesday describing secret CIA hacking tools and snippets of computer code. It did not publish the full programs that would be needed to actually conduct cyber exploits against phones, computers and internet-connected televisions. "Considering what we think is the best way to proceed and hearing these calls from some of the manufacturers, we have decided to work with them to give them some exclusive access to the addition technical details that we have so that the fixes can be developed and pushed out, so people can be secure," Assange said during a news conference broadcast via Facebook Live. Responding to his comments, CIA spokesman Jonathan Liu, said in a statement: "As we've said previously, Julian Assange is not exactly a bastion of truth and integrity. Despite the efforts of Assange and his ilk, CIA continues to aggressively collect foreign intelligence overseas to protect America from terrorists, hostile nation states and other adversaries." It was not clear how WikiLeaks intended to cooperate with technology companies, or if they would accept his offer. Spokespeople for Google, Apple, Microsoft and Cisco Systems, all of whose wares are subject to attacks described in the documents, did not immediately respond to requests for comment before regular business hours on the US West Coast. But several companies have already said they are confident that their recent security updates have already accounted for the alleged flaws described in the CIA documents. Apple said in a statement on Tuesday that "many of the issues" leaked had already been patched in the latest version of its operating system. Assange has been holed up since 2012 at Ecuadorean embassy in London, where he fled to avoid extradition to Sweden over allegations of rape, which he denies. Reuters-Ap (China Daily 03/11/2017 page10) Talk show host Tsai Kang-yung. [Photo provided to China Daily] Tsai Kang-yung, a popular talk show host, said the first film he directed will hit big screens around the country on May 27. Tsai told media and his fans about the film Didi's Dream at Beijing's Sisyphe bookstore on Wednesday. Starring Dee Shu and Lin Chi-ling, the film is a story about friendship between girls. It's the first film collaboration by Tsai and Shu, who co-hosted the variety-comedy talk show Kangxi Lai Le, or Kangxi Is Coming, from 2004 to 2015. "I hope the film can give audience 90 minutes of enjoyment and strength to continue," Tsai said. "The film needs to bring people to a world which is apart from reality." Born in Taipei in 1962, Tsai went to study in the US and graduated in 1990 with a master's degree in filmmaking at the University of California, Los Angeles. Tsai taught filmmaking in Shih Hsin University in Taipei before entering the TV industry and becoming a popular talk-show host. Russian author Yury Tavrovsky attends the book launch of the Chinese edition of his latest work, New Silk Road, in Beijing on May 17.[Photo provided to China Daily] The demand for stories in different languages related to the Belt and Road Initiative has risen, Mei Jia reports. With China hosting the first Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing earlier this week, the demand for stories related to the initiative has gone up, according to Chinese publishers. Yury Tavrovsky, a professor with the Russian People's Friendship University in Moscow, says he sees the Belt and Road Initiative as an important plan for the world in this century but finds that some people, including fellow Russians, don't know much about it. The China expert spent months from 2015 to 2016 visiting important Chinese cities along the new Silk Road, to figure out how the initiative has taken off since it was launched in 2013. He covered 11,000 kilometers from the seaside city of Lianyungang in Jiangsu province to Alashankou and Khorgos in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. He spoke to Russian-speaking Chinese port officials in Lianyungang, where the inland and sea routes of the Silk Road meet, and found a special dock reserved for Kazakhstan, a landlocked neighboring country. "The Belt and Road Initiative in its current stage is like a big jigsaw puzzle in some sense. But after my trips, I found that China has already placed its own pieces," he says. He says cities in western China have "developing zones", where beneficial policies are attracting more foreign investment. Encyclopedia of China (second edition) is on display at a Beijing book fair.[Photo by Zhang Kaixin/For China Daily] The online version of Encyclopedia of China (third edition), which will be released next year, is not aimed at Wikipedia, as many people assume, says Yang Muzhi, executive editor-in-chief of the encyclopedia. "Actually, we learned from Wikipedia's advanced experience, such as giving links of the references at the bottom of the web page of an entry. But as an authoritative encyclopedia, the Encyclopedia of China is not an open platform on which any person online can add or delete content," he says. Yang says in the digital era, readers prefer online versions of printed books because of convenience. The encyclopedia is divided into many volumes and heavy to carry around. In 2012, the 249-year-old Encyclopaedia Britannica announced the end of its printed version and said it would focus on building digital versions. Now, its online version contains more than 150,000 entries. Launched in 2001, Wikipedia already has 790,000 entries in more than 280 languages, which "is an amazing work over such a short time", Yang says. In a media article years ago, Yang wrote that China did not have a modern encyclopedia that presented the overall look of the country's culture or summarized and analyzed existing knowledge systems of natural science and social science of the era. That changed in 1993, when the first edition of the 74-volume Encyclopedia of China came out after 15 years of work by more than 20,600 scholars. In 2007, the 32-volume second edition came out, revised and recompiled based on the nearly 78,000 entries in the first edition. Starting in 2011, so far more than 20,000 scholars from higher education institutions and research institutions have joined in the building of the third edition of the encyclopedia. The printed version will be released after the online version. "The whole project will involve more than 40,000 scholars in the end," says Liu Hang, deputy editor-in-chief at Encyclopedia of China Publishing House. Discover the best things to do in Beijing with our weekly roundup of art and exhibitions, music and performances, and trending activities to do around town. To recommend an upcoming event or activity, please contact li-ping@chinadaily.com.cn. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] Broadway Musicals Wicked As one of the most successful and award-winning musicals on Broadway and the West End, Wicked has been staged in 14 countries, attracting more than 50 million viewers worldwide. An international company with over 70 cast and crew members and musicians has landed in China and will tour in major Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Based on the international best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire that ingeniously re-imagines the stories and characters created by L. Frank Baum in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Wicked tells the incredible untold story of an unlikely, but profound friendship between two sorcery students. If you go: 2:30pm / 7:30pm, May 20 - June 11. Tianqiao Performing Arts Center, 9 Tianqiao South Street, Xicheng district. 400-635 3355 Ticket: 180-1,280 yuan ($30-180) Moon Jae-in of the liberal Minjoo Party speaks during a celebration event in Seoul, South Korea, on May 9, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua] Newly elected Republic of Korea President Moon Jae-in faces tough choices on regional security, and political and economic reform. In a phone conversation with Moon one day after his victory, President Xi Jinping emphasized the need for both countries to respect each other's major concerns and interests, as well as maintain a healthy, stable bilateral relationship. On the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense anti-missile system in the ROK, which has hurt bilateral ties, Moon said his government will "proactively" communicate with China while striving to resolve the issue. In fact, the Moon administration has already called for a parliamentary hearing on the deployment of THAAD on ROK soil. Moon also sent a delegation to the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, which met with Xi on the sidelines of the forum. Expectations that the Moon administration will adhere to a more balanced diplomacy are high, even though the security dilemma the ROK faces leaves it little choice but to stick to the ROK-US military alliance, which was formed because the United States essentially took over the responsibility of the ROK's national security after the Korean War (1950-53). Owing to the lack of an independent and comprehensive defense strategy, Seoul may have to stay under Washington's security umbrella, even if it means becoming a part of the US' "rebalancing to Asia" strategy. It also explains why on many occasions Seoul has spoken of Beijing's intervention and Pyongyang's "self-restraint" in the hope that that would help minimize, if not end, the "nuclear threat" from the DPRK. On the domestic front, the need to promote reforms and restore public trust in political institutions after the impeachment and ouster of former president Park Geun-hye, too, should be taken seriously by Moon. Complaints have often been heard in the ROK about the long absence of efficient communication between the leadership and citizens. On his campaign trail, Moon promised a less-centralized governing style. His decision to move out of the official presidential residence, or the Blue House, in downtown Seoul where every modern-day ROK president has lived and worked, should be seen as a good sign by those waiting for a change. To regain public trust he needs to heed the lessons from the scandals the Park administration was involved in, from her seven-hour silence after the sinking of the passenger ferry Sewol in 2014 to the 2015 agreement between the ROK and Japan on settling their differences over Korean "comfort women" (women and girls forced in sexual slavery by the Japanese army before and during World War II). Reviving an economy mired in rising household debt, high youth unemployment and waning conglomerate-led growth is another daunting task for Moon. Last year saw the dramatic collapse of the ROK's largest shipping company, Hanjin Shipping Co, and Samsung Electronics Co's decision to stop the production, sales and replacement of its "exploding" fire-prone Galaxy Note 7 smartphones. This year, there is a risk that employees of Hyundai Motor Co, the country's largest automaker, could go on a strike. And these developments have prompted the International Monetary Fund to forecast the ROK's growth rate at just 2.7 percent, barely half of the average rate for the Asia-Pacific region. The veteran politician and former lawyer may have to resort to political reshuffling to make sure his Democratic Party has an overwhelming majority in the national assembly. And the fact that he vowed to reorganize the presidential office after appointing senior secretaries to his office suggests he is moving in that direction. On the DPRK nuclear issue and the installation of THAAD, the Moon administration would be wise to seek talks with all parties concerned to properly resolve the issues. In this regard, Moon should be lauded for his consideration to send special envoys to Beijing. All these indicate changes can be expected, especially because Moon seems inclined to play a more active diplomatic role in engaging with Pyongyang. The author is a senior researcher at the Pangoal Institution. Photo taken aboard the US drilling ship JOIDES Resolution shows the sunset scenery of the South China Sea on March 31, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua] Senior officials from China and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations announced on Thursday in Guiyang, Southwest China's Guizhou province, that the two sides have completed the first draft of a framework for a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. This landmark document reflects their shared determination to build the South China Sea into a sea of peace, cooperation and friendship. Since last year, tensions over the South China Sea disputes have abated remarkably thanks to the restraint and diplomatic efforts of the parties concerned. This has helped usher in a cordial atmosphere for talks on a Code of Conduct, thus paving the way for full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea agreed in 2002. It is heartening to see the South China Sea issue has been brought back onto the right track of dialogue and consultation after last year's turbulence. One important consensus has been that interference by outside forces will not bring peace and stability, but instead only creates uncertainties and undermines the interests of both China and the ASEAN member states. The latest breakthrough was made during the 14th Senior Officials' Meeting on the Implementation of the DOC between China and ASEAN. The 23rd Senior Officials Consultations will convene in Guiyang on Friday, and the first bilateral consultation between China and the Philippines on the South China Sea is also scheduled for Friday in Guiyang. These interactions and exchanges between China and members of the regional bloc, conducted just a few days after Beijing hosted the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, prove that ASEAN is a top priority in China's good-neighborly diplomacy. China has always supported ASEAN taking center stage in regional integration and playing a bigger role in international affairs. It has vowed to throw its weight behind ASEAN's commitment to build an economic community and the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025. In fact, ASEAN's development strategy can dovetail with China's Belt and Road Initiative in many ways. ASEAN countries are situated where the land and maritime Silk Roads converge, and China sees ASEAN as an important partner in promoting the initiative, which will create huge development opportunities for ASEAN countries to seize. The China-ASEAN relationship has maintained a healthy trend in recent years and is surging ahead along a fast track of development. The convergence of ASEAN's development plan and China's Belt and Road Initiative, which is based on the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, will inject even more vitality into their reciprocal cooperation. Students read textbooks at a primary school in Luoyang, Central China's Henan province, Sept 1, 2015. [Photo/IC] LAST WEEK, the municipal education bureau of Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, announced that several branches of the national extracurricular training agency Xueersi were involved in improper activities in the city, and required them to temporarily close and correct the wrongdoings. Southern Metropolis Daily comments: The Chengdu municipal education bureau has listed the wrongdoings of Xueersi, namely entrusting other agencies to hold exams and organizing academic competitions without the approval of the local government. These activities are against government policies that promote quality education and call for cutting pupils' academic workload, and Xueersi deserves to be penalized for its wrongdoings. However, many such agencies nationwide reportedly hold unauthorized academic competitions for pupils. The fact that Xueersi has grown so big as to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange shows how big the market is. That phenomenon sounds absurd, but it has its own logic behind it. For ordinary people, the national college entrance exam remains the only path for a better life for their children. As schools cut the workload for pupils, many parents seek the help of extracurricular training agencies to improve their children's academic performance. Worse, as more parents send their children to extracurricular training agencies, those who insisted on not doing so fear their children might lag behind, so they end up sending their children to training agencies as well. Many parents have openly expressed their anger about Xueersi and similar extracurricular training agencies, but they have no choice other than to use them if their children are to compete with their peers. That is why, when the bureau said it had got clues from people's complaints, many analysts guessed it was the parents that had blown the whistle. However, the solution to the problem lies in better regulating the extracurricular market and changing the mindset of parents that only higher education leads to success. Tongzhou district in Beijing is to jointly establish a real estate management working group with Wuqing district in Tianjin and Langfang, a city in Hebei province. This is the first trans-provincial real estate control mechanism nationwide. It is expected to set a good example for real estate management in urban agglomerations surrounding the big cities. The Tongzhou district authority also announced it would intensify the crackdown on violations in the real estate market, and plans to deal with 150 real estate developers and agencies that have violated the rules this year. The local government of Langfang said recently that it has enhanced its control over real estate around Beijing and Xiongan New Area to curb speculation and the rocketing housing prices in these regions. Wu Diandong, deputy director of Tongzhou district commission of housing and urban-rural development, said Tongzhou, Wuqing and Langfang will share their real estate monitoring data and jointly crack down on speculation in the real estate market. In particular, the working group will jointly deal with trans-provincial sales offices and the trans-provincial distribution of commercial sales leaflets. MEXICO CITY, Mexico - The vaquita marina, a tiny porpoise native to Mexico, could be extinct by next year if urgent action including a ban on gillnets is not taken, the World Wildlife Fund for Nature warned. Fewer than 30 of the rare mammals still live in the wild, all in the upper Gulf of California, the WWF said in a report on Monday. The vaquita population has plummeted 90 percent in less than six years, down from 250 in 2011. "If we don't do something today, the vaquita could be extinct by 2018," said Maria Jose Villanueva, director of strategy and science for WWF Mexico. "Losing it would be like losing a piece of Mexico." Villanueva told reporters that the only known threat to the survival of the vaquita - "little cow" in Spanish - are gillnets, long walls of netting hung vertically that trap fish by the gills when they swim through. The nets are meant to illegally catch totoaba, an endangered fish about the same size of the vaquita. Smugglers ship dried totoaba swim bladders to Asia, where they fetch up to $20,000 per kilo. Totoaba bladder is consumed in soup or used for medicinal purposes. Gillnets also catch a large number species that are not targeted. The WWF says the nets accidentally kill some 700,000 marine mammals and birds around the world each year. Some 374 gillnets have been removed in the Gulf of Mexico between February 2016 and April 2017, but the vaquita population continues to drop - six have been reported to have died this year alone, Villanueva said. The Mexican government's two-year ban on gillnet use is set to expire in less than two weeks. Mexican environmental authorities and conservation groups are working on an emergency plan expected to begin around September to move the vaquitas to a "temporary sanctuary" where they can safely reproduce. In its report, titled "Vanishing Vaquita: saving the world's most endangered marine mammal", the WWF called on the Mexican government to clamp down on the totoaba trade, and to commit to a plan "for the recovery of the vaquita within its natural habitat that includes specific population increases and timelines." The conservation group also called on the US and Chinese governments to collaborate with Mexico "to halt the illegal fishing and trade of totoaba" by increasing efforts to "intercept and halt the illegal transport, entry and sale of totoaba products." Agence France-presse A consortium led by Hong Kong-listed China Resources Land has purchased a central London commercial building for 315 million pounds ($400 million), according to reports on Thursday from London-based Chinese language publication UK Property and Investment Weekly. The property at 20 Gresham Street, located at the heart of London's Square Mile financial district, comprises around 22,000 square meters of office space. It is primarily let to ICBC Standard Bank. Other occupiers include petrochemicals company Koch Supply & Trading and law firms Sacker & Partners and TLT Solicitors. The asset was being sold by AXA Investment Managers, which started looking for buyers in February. The China Resources Land consortium also contains a 20 percent stake from the New York-based investment company NorthStar Realty. 20 Gresham Street was designed by London-based company Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, construction was completed in 2008. Rent currently produces annual income of around 12.8 million pounds, which represents a net initial yield of around 4 percent for the investors. The purchase represents China Resources Land's first United Kingdom deal. It rides on a continued wave of Chinese investment into London's commercial properties, which accelerated with the pound's depreciation following the referendum decision in June to leave the European Union. At its weakest in October, the pound was down by around 20 percent against the renminbi. Flagship deals, such as Hong Kong-based CC Land's purchase of London's Leadenhall Building for 1.15 billion pounds in March, have grabbed headlines. Other purchases include Guangzhou's R&F Properties buying Vauxhall Square in April for 158 million pounds, and China Estates buying 11-12 St James's Square for 175 million pounds. According to estate agent CBRE, there was 2.72 billion pounds of Chinese investment in UK commercial property in the first quarter of 2017, a six-fold increase year-on-year. Chris Brett, CBRE's head of international capital markets, said deals in the pipeline involving Chinese investors, especially those in Hong Kong, were "at an all-time high". Eric Zhao, Chinese capital markets specialist at estate agent Savills, added that he expects to see Chinese investors continuing to buy into London properties in 2017 as there is still a "value gap" between properties in London and other global cities. A vehicle that struck pedestrians and later crashed is seen on the sidewalk in Times Square, New York City, US, May 18, 2017. [Photo/Agencies] A driver careening against traffic in New York's Times Square on Thursday struck more than 20 pedestrians, fatally injuring a young woman before his car came to a stop on two wheels. The chaotic scene disrupted the heart of midtown Manhattan on a sweltering afternoon for more than four hours, stranding workers in their offices and tourists wheeling suitcases. The driver was identified as Richard Rojas, 26, of the Bronx, New York, a former US Navy sailor. Police said Rojas made a sudden U-turn onto West 42nd Street and drove north up the sidewalk for three blocks, passing tourist attractions such as the Hard Rock Cafe and the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co restaurant and plowing through people. An injured man sits on the sidewalk in Times Square after a speeding vehicle struck pedestrians on the sidewalk in New York City, US, May 18, 2017. [Photo/Agencies] Rojas' burgundy Honda Accord sedan was smoking when it came to a stop on top of a metal stanchion at West 45th Street and Broadway, where it remained at least until 6 pm. Rojas had been arrested twice for drunken driving in 2008 and 2015, and once earlier this month for menacing. Court records showed Rojas also was arrested at a naval base in Jacksonville, Florida, in September 2012, after he yelled, "My life is over," and threatened to kill police. Daily Mail.com, citing law enforcement sources, said Rojas had smoked K-2, a synthetic form of marijuana, before the rampage. He also was arrested last week after pulling a knife on a man in the Bronx and asking him "Do you feel safe?" Rojas let off after reaching a deal with the Bronx District Attorney's Office, the newspaper reported. "People were being hit and rolling off the car," said Josh Duboff, who works at the nearby Thomson Reuters headquarters. He said he leapt out of the way to avoid being struck. By LI XIAOKUN in Guiyang and MO JINGXI in Beijing | China Daily | Updated: 2017-05-19 06:56 Beijing, ASEAN affirm framework for behavior in South China Sea China and ASEAN countries on Thursday approved a draft framework of the South China Sea Code of Conduct, marking a milestone in peacefully resolving the South China Sea issue. The 14th Senior Officials' Meeting on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, held in Guiyang, capital of Guizhou province, approved the draft. All parties have agreed to manage and control their differences under the framework of regional regulations, the Foreign Ministry said in a news release. China and ASEAN member states spoke highly of the significance of the approval of the code of conduct framework draft, saying it is "an important interim achievement in the entire negotiation of the COC", according to the news release. The meeting was co-chaired by Vice-Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin and Permanent Secretary of Singapore's Foreign Ministry Chee Wee Kiong. File Photo of Yongxing Island, home to the government of Sansha, China's southernmost city. [Photo/Xinhua] China and ASEAN countries signed the declaration in 2002. They started to work on the COC in 2013. Liu said at a news conference after the meeting that the framework takes care of the interests of all parties and has provided "a flexible political environment" for the next phase of consultation on the COC. All countries involved have agreed not to release the framework document, but to maintain it as an internal document at this time since the consultation will continue and they do not want any external interference, Liu said. "Against the backdrop of economic globalization, China and ASEAN countries should continue making our regional rules to guide our own actions and protect our common interests," Liu said. In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Thursday that "it is very inappropriate" that the joint statement made by Japan and New Zealand this week involves the South China Sea. People have to question the real concern of Japan, which spares no effort in attempting to cause a flaring of so-called tensions that do not exist at all given the current situation, Hua said at a news conference. Chee said at the joint conference with Liu Zhenmin that countries attending Thursday's meeting are encouraged to see that the situation in the South China Sea has been stable. The high-level officials also approved on Thursday the results from a test run of a hotline for senior diplomats and a document related to establishing three technical committees. Sources with the Foreign Ministry said the three committees focus on navigation security and search and rescue technology cooperation, maritime scientific research and environmental protection, and fighting maritime cross-border crime. Ruan Zongze, vice-president of the China Institute of International Studies, said the approval of the COC draft framework means that discussion on measures to work through the South China Sea issue and expand marine cooperation is back on track. "Although the COC won't directly solve the South China Sea issue, it will create favorable conditions for peace and stability there, and for future settlement of the problems." Contact the writers at lixiaokun@chinadaily.com.cn US Speaker of the House Paul Ryan speaks to the press about President Donald Trump, former FBI Director James Comey and Russia investigations as Republican Conference Chairman Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R) looks on after a closed meeting of the Republican leadership of the House of Representatives on Capitol Hill in Washington, US May 17, 2017. [Photo/Agencies] WASHINGTON - Some Republicans in US Congress are beginning to distance themselves from President Donald Trump amid allegations that he shared intel with Russia, sparking speculation that more Republican lawmakers may follow. The Washington Post on Monday sparked a firestorm when it revealed that Trump shared sensitive intel with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during a White House meeting last week. This is the latest in a string of allegations that the Trump administration is in bed with Russia - which the president vehemently denies. US conservative media has noted that US presidents have broad legal authority to classify or declassify any intel they want to. Some pundits also note that the Post story failed to disclose just how senior its sources are and whether the sources really have a grasp on what a president is permitted and not permitted to do. The Post story also has been accused of editorializing instead of simply reporting facts. Observers also note that the White House routinely shared intel with other countries. But there's more to the scandal. At the same time, Trump is under scrutiny for allegedly asking James Comey, former FBI director just fired by Trump, to halt an investigation into the relations between former Trump's national security adviser Mike Flynn and Russia. Critics said Trump fired Comey as an effort to prevent embarrassing information from getting out. Trump has also strongly denied the accusations. But whatever the truth, the media frenzy may be pushing Republican lawmakers away from Trump in the lead-up to the 2018 mid-term elections. Indeed, some Republican lawmakers want to look into the matter more closely. Republican Representative Jason Chaffetz, chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, recently penned a letter to acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe, requesting access to Comey's notes when Trump allegedly asked him to pull the plug on the inquiry over Flynn. House Speaker Paul Ryan agreed with the request, according to a statement from his spokesperson, Ashlee Strong. "At this point, the Republican Congress is trying to find a way to get to the bottom of the allegations about the ties between members of the Trump Administration and Russia," Dan Mahaffee, senior vice president and director of policy at the Center for the Study of Congress and the Presidency, told Xinhua. Republican lawmakers also want to "distance themselves from a scandal that is threatening to overwhelm this Presidency," Mahaffee said. Displaced Iraqis cross the Tigris River, as Iraqi forces battle with Islamic State militants, in western Mosul, Iraq May 12, 2017. [Photo/Agencies] UNITED NATIONS - The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned on Thursday that there has been a sharp increase in the number of people fleeing western Mosul in northern Iraq as a result of intensified fighting. "As military operations intensify and move closer to Mosul's old city area, we expect that up to 200,000 more people will flee," said Lise Grande, the Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq. UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told a daily briefing here that the number of people fleeing homes in western Mosul are overwhelming, and large number of families are on the move, leaving everything behind. On Thursday, Iraqi government forces freed another neighborhood in the city after heavy clashes with the Islamic State (IS) militants. The troops are now pushing to seize the remaining neighborhoods in north and northwest of the city to tighten the noose around the IS redoubt where roughly 400,000 residents are believed to be trapped under IS rule. Mosul, 400 km north of Iraq's capital Baghdad, has been under IS control since June 2014. BERLIN - German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere on Thursday said he is shocked receiving allegations that Berlin state government had tried to cover up their misconducts after the terror attack on Berlin's Christmas market last year. De Maiziere said the allegation "unheard of" and expected everyone involved "thorough and transparent explanation", Deutsche Welle cited his words as reporting. Berlin State Interior Minister, Andreas Geisel, disclosed earlier that Berlin office of criminal investigation (LKA) could have prevent the terror act on Berlin's Christmas market, which killed 12 people and injured over 50. Geisel said LKA had sufficient evidence to arrest the attacker, Anis Amri, on drug charges weeks before he drove his truck into the crowds. After committing the terrible massacre, Amri fled to Italy and there he died in a shootout with the local police. LKA had tapped Amri's phone through June 2016, so they had the chance to catch him, Geisel noted. These details were, however, not disclosed to public before and there were reasons to suspect an extensive cover-up relating to Amri, Geisel said. De Maiziere on Thursday said he have "all respect for the decision to make the matter public." Yes, you can transfer your domain to any registrar or hosting company once you have purchased it. Since domain transfers are a manual process, it can take up to 5 days to transfer the domain. Domains purchased with payment plans are not eligible to transfer until all payments have been made. Please remember that our 30-day money back guarantee is void once a domain has been transferred. For transfer instructions to GoDaddy, please click here. Foreign minister calls THAAD deployment key impediment Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with Lee Hae-chan, special envoy of the President of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Moon Jae-in, in Beijing, capital of China, May 18, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua] China hopes the Republic of Korea will take effective measures to "remove the stumbling block" so it can get its relationship with China back on the track of healthy development, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday. Wang met on Thursday in Beijing with former ROK prime minister Lee Hae-chan, a special envoy sent by the new ROK President Moon Jae-in. "Since last year, the bilateral relationship has suffered an undeserved frustration, which we are not willing to see," Wang told Lee in his opening remarks. Lee's trip comes at a time when the ties between the two countries have been impacted by the deployment in the ROK of the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, anti-missile system over Beijing's objections. The bilateral ties have made remarkable progress, since being established 25 years ago, to the benefit of the two sides, a fact that both countries should cherish and endorse, Wang said. This is the second time Lee visited China as a presidential special envoy. Fourteen years ago, he came as a representative of ROK president Roh Moo-hyun. Lee told Wang that before his China trip, Moon had asked him to enter into intensive dialogues with China. Seoul recognizes the damage to the ties prompted by the THAAD deployment, it understands Beijing's concerns and is ready to seek a solution to tackle the issue, Lee said. Observers said it remains to be seen how Moon's new administration will tackle the problem triggered by THAAD. Jin Canrong, a professor of international relations at Renmin University of China, said Moon is embracing opportunities at this moment. China rightfully criticizes the THAAD deployment, which damages China's strategic interests and brings no good to the region, Jin said. "Meanwhile, the overall ties should be brought back to a stable status," Jin added. Signs of hope about the relationship emerged after Moon was elected on May 9. President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory telegraph to Moon on May 10 and held a phone conversation with him a day later. During that conversation, the two leaders agreed to keep contacts open and to meet at an early date. Another ROK delegation, led by Park Byeong-suk, former deputy speaker of the National Assembly, visited China to attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, held in Beijing on Sunday and Monday. State Councilor Yang Jiechi met with Park on Monday and said, "China puts emphasis on its ties with the ROK and hopes that the bilateral relations will be improved and developed from a new starting point." Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. License for publishing multimedia online 0108263 Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 TEHRAN - Iran's presidential election began on Friday morning at 8:00 am local time (0330 GMT) as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei cast his vote in the ballot box. Khamenei urged the Iranians to go to the polling stations for the vote at the earliest time. The election of the president is important in the Islamic Republic and the people should take note of this point, Khamenei said in a live TV broadcast. Swedish prosecutors say they are closing their investigation of rape allegations against Julian Assange, and will not renew a European arrest warrant, clearing the way for the Wikileaks founder to leave the Ecuadorean embassy in London. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange makes a speech from the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy, in central London, Britain February 5, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] Assange, an Australian citizen, jumped bail before he was due to appear before an English court to answer the European arrest warrant, and sought asylum in the Ecuadorean embassy, where he has been holed up for nearly five years. He has consistently claimed that if he was sent to Sweden, the US authorities would step in and have him extradited over what they claim is his role in the release of over 20,000 classified documents by former intelligent analyst Chelsea Manning, a US solder sentenced to 45 years in jail but who was pardoned by President Barack Obama after serving seven years and released earlier this week. Manning is a transgender person and now prefers to be addressed and seen as a woman. Assange, 45, had said that as soon as Manning was released, he would fly to the US, as long as his lawyer obtained assurances about his civil rights there. Such an assurance was not forthcoming, his lawyers have said. Although President Donald Trump had initially hailed Assange as a hero for releasing documents about his presidential rival Hillary Clinton, recently US Attorney General Jeff Sessions said prosecuting Assange and Wikileaks over the release of documents was a priority. However British officials say no formal extradition request has been received as of this week. One of Assange's lawyers, Melinda Taylor, said on Friday that the closure of the preliminary investigation into him or the lifting of the European arrest-warrant would not necessarily mean the Australian would make a hasty exit for Ecuador. "The first thing one likely needs to do is seek guarantees from the British authorities that he won't be seized in some other way," she told the Swedish news agency TT. Both British and American authorities have "consistently refused to confirm or deny" if there is a request for extradition to the US, she said. Assange is also accused of breaching his bail conditions in the UK for fleeing to Ecuador's embassy, she noted. After refusing to travel to Sweden for questioning, Assange was grilled last December by an Ecuadorian prosecutor on questions provided by Swedish officials, with Swedish prosecutor Ingrid Isgren present. He has consistently denied the rape allegations, saying the sex was consensual. The UK Home Office (Interior Ministry) earlier this year estimated the cost of policing the embassy and monitoring Assange was in excess of one million pounds (1.3 million USD). London's police force issued a statement saying that the dropping of the European Arrest Warrant meant he was now wanted for the less serious offence of jumping bail, for which a magistrate in Westminster issued an arrest warrant, which is still valid. The police statement said it would provide a level of resourcing"proportionate to the offence," adding that the Metropolitan Police service's priority was arrested those wanted for serious violent or sex crimes. Lawyers said one scenario was that Assange could appear before a standing magistrate, who could grant him bail without sureties provided he agreed to leave the country. To contact the reporter: chris@mail.chinadailyuk.com The vehicle that struck pedestrians came to a halt on a sidewalk in New York City's Times Square on Thursday after hitting a metal stanchion. [Photo/Agencies] A US Navy veteran whose car plowed into pedestrians in New York City's Times Square, killing a woman and injuring 22 others, has been charged with murder and attempted murder, police said on Friday. The incident on Thursday sparked fear in the US financial capital after similar deadly vehicle attacks in London, Berlin and Nice, France, but authorities said there was no evidence the crash was terror-related. Richard Rojas, 26, from the Bronx, was arrested at the scene and later charged with second-degree murder, 20 counts of attempted murder and five counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, police said. Officials said that tests showed Rojas had not consumed alcohol, but preliminary tests indicated he had used drugs. The dead woman was identified as Alyssa Elsman, 18, from Portage, Michigan. Her 13-year-old sister was among the injured. Four of the injured were in critical condition, officials said. The chaotic scene disrupted the heart of Midtown Manhattan on a sweltering afternoon for more than four hours, stranding workers in their offices and tourists wheeling suitcases. Police said Rojas made a sudden U-turn onto West 42nd Street and drove north up the sidewalk for three blocks, passing tourist attractions such as the Hard Rock Cafe and the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co restaurant and plowing through people. Rojas' burgundy Honda Accord sedan was smoking when it came to a stop on top of a metal stanchion at West 45th Street and Broadway. Rojas had been arrested twice for drunken driving, in 2008 and 2015, and once earlier this month on suspicion of menacing. Court records showed that Rojas also was arrested at a naval base in Jacksonville, Florida, in September 2012, after yelling, "My life is over" and threatening to kill police. In Times Square, "people were being hit and rolling off the car", said Josh Duboff, who works at the nearby headquarters of Thomson Reuters. He said he leaped out of the way to avoid being struck. After the driver exited the car, Ken Bradix, a bouncer at Planet Hollywood, punched him to get him to stop, said Alpha Balde, a sightseeing-ticket seller. "The bouncer from Planet Hollywood knocked him out," Balde told the New York Daily News. "He knocked him out so bad you could see the blood coming out of his face. That's when I jumped in, I grabbed him from his neck and within about one minute everybody's there." Balde said he and Bradix jumped on top of Rojas, tearing his shirt to make sure he had no weapons, holding him until police arrived moments later. "I ripped off his shirt," Balde said. "You have to make sure this guy doesn't have anything under his shirt that's going to damage you. So I ripped the shirt to find out no gun, no knife, no belt." Rojas fought with officers who then handcuffed him, authorities said. Planet Hollywood said Bradix "selflessly and heroically took action, helping to stop the fleeing suspect". AFP, Reuters, the Associated Press and The New York Times contributed to this story. (Photo : USAF) B-21 Raider. Advertisement The United States Congress has ordered an inquiry into the excessive secrecy surrounding the development of the U.S. Air Force's new stealth bomber -- the B-21 Raider -- after a government watchdog complained of being deliberately prevented from learning about how much this multi-billion dollar project really costs. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of Defense, whose mission is to provide independent, relevant and timely oversight of the Department of Defense, reported to the Senate Appropriations Committee it was unable "to conduct an evaluation and submit a report" about the B-21 program as the Senate wanted because of the excessive secrecy shrouding the program. "I can't provide further details because the project and the evaluation are classified," replied Bruce Anderson, an OIG spokesman. Both the Defense Department and Congress are ordering a review of this apparent policy of excessive secrecy, even from oversight bodies. OIG was ordered by Congress to evaluate and report to Congress within six months about spending and other concerns about the B-21 program under a provision of the $1.17 trillion government-wide spending bill for the current fiscal year. The extreme secrecy continues from 2016 when the air force fended off requests from the Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman for basic information such as the value of the development contract awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation and the amount of the fee meant to encourage meeting program goals. The air force has even refused to reveal how much the B-21 program costs. Former air force Secretary Deborah James last year said that disclosing "the contract value -- per the experts on these matters" such as engineers, "could be a contributing factor" to an adversary deriving information such as "size, weight, power and other factors." What remains known is the B-21 program might cost $80 billion (initially); an artist's concept of the bomber; the cost goals per plane and the names of top subcontractors. Last March, Gen. Stephen Wilson, Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, said subcontractors had completed preliminary design review of the B-21. He said the B-21 program was "making great progress, and we're pleased with the way it's headed." Gen. Wilson also told U.S. Congressmen the B-21 is on schedule and on budget. The Air Force plans to acquire some 100 B-21s for an estimated $80 billion. Initial operating capability for the nuclear-weapon strategic bomber capable of penetrating modern air defenses (such as those operated by China and Russia) is set for the mid-2020s. Advertisement TagsUnited States Congress, B-21 Raider, office of inspector general, department of defense, oversight, Senate Appropriations Committee (Photo : US Navy) Nuclear aircraft carriers of the U.S. Third Fleet. (Clockwise from left) USS Nimitz, USS Carl Vinson, USS John C. Stennis, USS Ronald Reagan Advertisement The U.S. Navy needs to expand its fleet at a faster pace to maintain its already formidable superiority over the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) in Asia, said Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson. "Some of these global powers, China, Russia, they've been growing, China in particular," said Adm. Richardson at the Changi Naval Base in Singapore. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement "They're maturing in every dimension of power (and) at some point you turn to the sea to expand and continue to prosper." The answer to China's and Russia's naval expansion is a bigger U.S. Navy fleet, and the navy needs this bigger fleet by the 2020s. "We need a bigger fleet, and we also need a different fleet, one that will be able to fight in new ways," noted Adm. Richardson. "My sense is that we're on the dawn of something very substantial in terms of naval warfare. Something as substantial as the transition from sail to steam, as the transition from wood to ironclad, as substantial as the advent of nuclear propulsion in terms of what it means for naval power." Adm. Richardson is adamant the U.S. Navy must maintain its superiority over the PLAN and the Russian Navy. "We need to act urgently to achieve that greater naval power as quickly as we can. We're going to be targeting something in the mid-2020s. Exponential types of growth, rather than lineal types of growth, which would achieve this level of power decades beyond the 2020s." Last month, China launched its first domestically built aircraft carrier -- CNS Shandong (CV-17) -- amid unresolved tensions over the South China Sea and mounting danger arising from North Korea's stubborn refusal to abandon its ballistic missile and nuclear weapons development programs. Adm. Richardson is more worried about the South China Sea, which China continues to illegally claim as its own despite a ruling on July 12, 2016 by the Permanent Court of Arbitration declaring illegal China's claim to own practically all of the South China Sea. He urged the U.S. Congress and the White House to move faster on modernizing the Navy. Authoritative navy sources cited by American media supported Adm. Richardson's statements and said those "who are challenging our interests are advancing at rates that are much faster than ours. To remain competitive, we must act now -- we need a larger, better fleet in the 2020s, not the 2040s." U.S. President Donald Trump has vowed to expand the navy to 350 ships from 290. "It's not just about numbers and platforms. It's also about what those platforms can do and then again how they all work together," said Adm. Richardson. Advertisement TagsU.S. Navy, People's Liberation Army Navy, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson, Russia, china, Russian Navy Al Shabaab militants are suspected in the killing of two people, at least one a Christian, in a May 12 gun attack in northeastern Kenya, sources said. Five suspected rebels from the Somali Islamic extremist group targeted non-Muslim quarry workers in El Wak, near the Somali border in Kenyas North Eastern Province, in the early morning at the workers company-owned quarters, a Christian leader told Morning Star News. He said quarry worker Dalama Otieno, a member of an area East African Pentecostal Church congregation, died from gunshot wounds to the head. An area resident told Morning Star News that the assailants used a jihadist slogan during the assault. I heard them say, Allah Akbar [God is Greater], and then followed gunshots, he said. A second worker, unidentified at this writing but assumed to be a non-Muslim Kenyan like nearly all the quarry employees, died of gunshot wounds to the chest, the Christian leader said. Predominantly Christian workers from Kenyas interior have been targeted in a series of Al Shabaab attacks that have shaken Christian communities in Kenyas northeast. Area residents reported seeing unfamiliar visitors in El Wak the night before the attack. We have warned our church members to leave the volatile area, which has been a black spot prone to Al Shabaab attacks, the Christian leader told Morning Star News. This is the area that led to the massacre of 28 teachers a few years ago. Rebels from Al Shabaab, which is allied with Al Qaeda, have launched several attacks in northeast Kenya since Kenyan forces led an African coalition into Somalia against the rebels in October 2011 in response to terrorist attacks on tourists and others on Kenyas coast. These Al Shabbab militants have made some of our Christians to be their scapegoats, as they see Kenya as a Christian country that is fighting to rid Al Shabaab from Somalia, the Christian leader said. El Wak is a key supply line to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces that have retaken territory from Al Shabaab insurgents in Somalia. The jihadist rebels have retaliated with attacks on Kenyas northeast. Al Shabaab is suspected of killing administrative chief Dekow Abbey Sirat and abducting two police reservists on Monday night (May 15) in the Omar Jillo area, near Mandera, and planting an explosive device that killed four people when their vehicle ran over it in Liboi on March 16. El Wak is about 160 kilometers (105 miles) from Mandera. The Christians living in Mandera are living in great fear of an imminent attack from the Al Shabaab, the church leader said. I think we have to think whether to continue with the Christian mission work or to leave the place. We cannot pretend that all is well. Kenya ranks 18th on Open Doors 2017 World Watch List of the 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. On Oct. 25, 2016, Islamic extremists targeted Christians in the shooting deaths of 12 non-local Kenyans at a guest-house in Mandera. Al Shabaab rebels took responsibility for the pre-dawn attack on the guest-house, where a Kenyan theatre troupe from outside the area was staying, according to the militants radio affiliate. An area pastor told Morning Star News that Christians were targeted. The attackers knew exactly whom they were attacking, that is, the Christians, he said, adding that survivors told him the assailants were shouting, Get rid of these infidel actors. The theatre group was made up of university students who reportedly travelled to the mainly Muslim area of Mandera to perform plays in local schools. Suspected Al Shabaab militants targeted Christians in a grenade and gun attack in the early morning of Oct. 6, 2016 that killed six people. Al Shabaab reportedly took responsibility for the attack at a residential compound in Mandera, with a spokesman for the militants saying it was designed to drive Christians from the area. At least one of the victims was reportedly a Muslim. The attack in Mandera, tucked in Kenyas northeast corner near the Somali border, reportedly wounded several others. Among 27 people rescued were Christians who said the assailants shouted that Mandera was Muslim territory and that infidels should leave it. The pastor of an area church told Morning Star News that two members of his congregation were among those killed. On Jan. 31, 2016, in a pre-dawn raid on a predominantly Christian area in coastal Kenya, Al Shabaab rebels on Jan. 31 killed at least four Christians, beheading one of them. An attack on a bus and a truck near Mandera by Al Shabaab insurgents took the lives of two Christians in December 2015, and on July 7, 2015, Al Shabaab killed 17 quarry workers near Mandera, including several Christians. On Dec. 2, 2014, Al Shabaab killed 36 non-Muslims, most of them Christian, in an attack on quarry workers near Mandera. The killings came after a Nov. 22, 2014 assault by Somali insurgents in the same area that left 28 non-Muslims dead, including 19 Christians. Al Shabaab claimed responsibility for the Dec. 2 massacre, calling it vengeance for police raids on mosques in Kenya and Kenyan military involvement in displacing the Islamic extremist militants from Somalia. Prior to the Nov. 22 attack, police raided and closed four mosques in Mombasa that they said were recruitment centers for Islamic terrorists. If you would like to help persecuted Christians, visit http://morningstarnews.o rg/resources/aid-agencies/ for a list of organizations that can orient you on how to get involved. If you or your organization would like to help enable Morning Star News to continue raising awareness of persecuted Christians worldwide with original-content reporting, please consider collaborating at http://morningstarnews.org/don ate/ ? Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam signed a bill May 12 that requires abortionists to evaluate unborn babies for their ability to live outside the womb after 20 weeks gestation. The new law bans abortions on unborn babies shown to be viable and requires medical opinions from two abortionists. Violators could be slapped with possible felony charges, sent to prison for up to three years, and have their medical licenses revoked. The law makes exceptions for cases in which carrying a baby to term endangers the mothers life or vital organs. Last month, Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery called the bill constitutionally infirm, but more recently said he would defend it, Haslam said. Tennessees new law follows the example of Ohios 2011 ban on abortions after 20 weeks unless a doctor proves the baby isnt viable. Since the 1973 Supreme Court Roe v. Wade decision, states have been allowed to ban abortion after viability, which the court considered to be as early as 24 weeks gestation. But Tennessee Right to Lifes policy director Will Brewer said recent advances in medical technology have pushed viability back to 23 weeks or earlier. So because of this increase of technology and awareness of when babies can become viable, we wanted to clarify our law in Tennessee to meet those technological increases, he said. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) delivered a letter to Haslam on Friday, calling the bill unconstitutional and urging him to veto it. After he signed it into law, ACLU of Tennessee Executive Director Hedy Weinberg expressed disappointment in a statement: While we may not all agree about the right to abortion, it is important that we support a woman and allow her to make the best decision for her health and personal circumstanceswithout political interference. But pro-lifers rejoiced. Were thrilled with [Haslams] support, were thrilled with the overwhelming vote by the legislature in Tennessee, and we really feel like the legislature this year was extremely successful in answering the desires and the needs of the people of Tennessee, and we hope that other states will follow suit, Brewer said. While it is not yet clear whether the law will face legal challenges, pro-life leaders are optimistic it will stand up to judicial scrutiny. Deanna Wallace with Americans United for Life referenced the 1989 Supreme Court ruling in favor of a Missouri law that required viability testing after 20 weeks gestation. Requirements requiring viability testing at 20 weeks are not new, but it is certainly feasible that Tennessees passage of the requirement could bring renewed attention to the concept, she said. Courtesy: WORLD News Service Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons Publication date: May 19, 2017 Sek Saroeun first read the Bible at a Phnom Penh bar where young girls were illegally sold for sex. Hamburgers were $1.00, draft beers were $1.50, and bigger bills could get you a companion for the night. The Buddhist law student worked as a DJ at Martini Pub and had recently begun serving as an undercover informant for the Christian human rights group International Justice Mission (IJM). He scanned the room to scope out suspects as Michael Jackson boomed over the speakers. He cracked open a loaned copy of the Biblea curiosity introduced to him through IJMand began to make his way through it in the DJ booth. Sek took part in the organizations earliest sex trafficking investigations in Cambodia. The Southeast Asian country had turned into a cheap, shabby hotbed for sex tourism in the decades after its notorious genocide and resulting civil unrest. In 2003, IJM launched the first large-scale attempt to fix the Khmer kingdoms public justice system that allowed pimps and pedophiles to go free. Excited, disgusted, and afraid of being found out during his capital city spying, Sek repeated Romans 12:12 to himself: Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Over time, fear led to longing; longing led to transformation that is unimaginable, he told colleagues at an IJM conference a decade later, explaining how he became a Christian and the groups top lawyer in Cambodia. God didnt just change me, said Sek. He also changed a family, a community, a nation. Between 2004 and 2015, Sek and his team watched the prevalence of underage girls in busy brothels, roadside massage parlors, and neon-lit karaoke bars steadily drop as they partnered ... 1 You have reached the end of this Article Preview You have reached the end of this Article Preview To continue reading, subscribe now. Subscribers have full digital access. Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here. Since assuming office, Attorney General Jeff Sessions has shown little interest in expanding the efforts of his predecessors in curbing policies that criminal justice reform advocates blame for Americas high rates of mass incarceration. Instead, hes doubled down, recently instructing federal prosecutors to pursue the harshest penalties for drug dealers and gun violence offenders. (Read his memo.) Sessions intentions are discouraging news for those who have long pressed for reform, a group which includes Chuck Colsons Prison Fellowship. They also present an opportunity for Christians to speak into Americas anti-drug policy, one of the biggest catastrophic failures in American history, says Craig DeRoche, Prison Fellowships senior vice president of advocacy and public policy. Christians ought to get involved because our values are are at stake and a lot of human lives that God cares about...are at stake, said DeRoche. This is an invitation for Christians to engage. DeRoche joined assistant editor Morgan Lee and editorial director Ted Olsen to discuss the good intentions behind mandatory minimums, what the Old Testament has to say to our current legal climate, and how Prison Fellowship ended up partnering with the NAACP and ACLU to support previously incarcerated people. What is Quick to Listen? Read more. You can subscribe to Quick to Listen on iTunes. Follow the podcast on Facebook and Twitter. Follow Morgan on Twitter Read Morgans cover story on criminal justice reform and the church Follow Craig on Twitter Subscribe to Marks newsletter, The Galli Report Quick to Listen is produced by Richard Clark and Cray Allred 1 Nearly 50 years since his death, theologian Reinhold Niebuhr still routinely makes headlines. A high-profile documentary, An American Conscience: The Reinhold Niebuhr Story, debuted earlier this year. Recently deposed FBI director James Comey almost certainly used his name for his private Twitter account. Ten years ago, TheAtlantic declared Everybody Loves Reinhold; last month, Religion & Politics called him Washingtons Favorite Theologian. He commands respect from left (Jimmy Carter, Barack Obama) and right (John McCain, David Brooks). So whats the attraction? Here are five aspects of Niebuhrs work that help explain his enduring relevance. 1. He thought big. Niebuhr titled his 193840 Gifford Lectures (the most illustrious theology lecture series in the world) The Nature and Destiny of Man. On page 1 of the published volume 1, he wrote, Man has always been his own most vexing problem. How shall he think of himself? By page 2, he was pondering the admitted evils of human history, the question of the value of human life, and whether life is worth living. These are not questions limited to a single church, era, or school of biblical interpretation. The resources Niebuhr brought to bear on them were similarly broad, encompassing Hebrew and Christian Scriptures; ancient, medieval, and modern theology and philosophy; and the social sciences. Positively, the grand scale of Niebuhrs work meant that he could engage almost anyone. Who hasnt wondered about the problem of evil or the value of human life? (Scribners was sufficiently convinced of the appeal of The Nature and Destiny ... 1 Two months before he was fired, FBI director James Comey inadvertently revealed something about his theological leanings that may have pointed to his inevitable fallout with President Donald Trump. In March, Gizmodo reporter Ashley Feinberg followed a string of clues to the Instagram and Twitter accounts of a user named after Reinhold Niebuhr, who she believed to be Comey. Many of the users tweets had to do with the FBI, including one linking to a report about a meeting between Michael Flynn, Jared Kushner, and a Russian emissary. But what tipped off this particular account was its user name. While a student at the College of William and Mary, Comey wrote his undergraduate thesis on Niebuhr. The Protestant theologian seems to have left an impression, judging from Comeys references to him in public speeches and from this apparent pseudonym. Within a few days of Feinbergs article, the owner shut the accounts down, though not before sending one last tweet that seemed to confirm the identification: a link to FBIjobs.govperhaps a job offer to Feinbergand a quote from the movie Anchorman: Actually Im not even mad. Thats Amazing. Together with my colleague Sylvester Johnson, I published a book about the FBI and religion a few weeks before Feinberg outed Comeys social media accounts. Our book traces the history of the FBIs interaction with different religious communities and addresses the beliefs of some of its leaders and agents. I realized that Comey and Niebuhr were a part of the story we were trying to tell. Niebuhrs moral pragmatism As Gene Zubovich notes, politicians caught trying to balance moral idealism and clear-eyed realism often look to Niebuhr, ... 1 I had the privilege or reading a pre-release version of "God Shines Forth: How the Nature of God Shapes and Drives the Mission of the Church." Here are 20 quotes from the book, which you should pick up. Four years ago, eight Indonesian Christians living in a New Jersey church received some encouraging news: despite overstaying their visas for more than a decade, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents would not be deporting them. This year, ICE changed its mind. Four of the men attended an annual check-in meeting with ICE officials in Newark in March, and authorities asked them to return with their passports in May. But when the men returned last week, this time joined by a lawyer, they were arrested and sent to an immigration detention center. Yesterday, one was deported back to Indonesia. "His attorney got a call at 10 a.m. that his stay of removal was denied, stated Seth Kaper-Dale, Arino Massies pastor. Almost two hours later, Kaper-Dale heard from Massie. Arino called to say, Pastor, Im already on the plane. Im headed for Japan. Thanks for all the efforts of the community. Tell the community I love them. Tell my son I love him, ... 1 Hundreds of Lutherans gathered this week for a global commemoration of the Reformation. But they didnt do it in Germany, where their namesake Martin Luther was born and where he hammered out his 95 theses. Instead, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) gathered in Namibia, a country of just 2.5 million in southern Africa. Assemblies of the LWF move between regions, spokesperson Pauline Mumia told CT. Africa was up in 2017, and while LWF is very much aware of the roots of the Reformation in Wittenberg, Germany, the organization has also been commemorating the anniversary for three years now. The focus of the commemoration includes recognition of the global nature of the Reformation through the places where we meet, Mumia said. The June 2016 LWF Council meeting was in Wittenberg, while the joint Catholic-Lutheran Commemoration in 2016 was held in Sweden. In the venue we express both the dynamism and the global nature of the Reformation, ... 1 Global Day of Prayer to End Famine on Sunday 21 May Contact: World Council of Churches, +41-79-507-6363; www.oikoumene.org/press GENEVE, May 19, 2017 /Christian Newswire/ -- As more people face famine today than any time in modern history, the World Council of Churches (WCC) together with the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) and a range of faith-based partners and networks invite a Global Day of Prayer to End Famine on 21 May 2017, in response to the hunger crisis. Photo: A girl carries water in a camp for over 5,000 internally displaced persons in an Episcopal Church compound in Wau, South Sudan. ACT Alliance/ Paul Jeffrey In a video message in preparation for the Global Day of Prayer to End Famine on 21 May, World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit described food as a "gift of God" that contributes to both our physical and spiritual sustenance. "Food assists us to reflect the love and grace of God," Tveit said. "A gift that has to be shared unconditionally. Today, when the world produces enough food for all, we should not allow even one child, woman or man to go hungry." Still, more than 20 million people are at risk of starvation, and millions more are suffering from drought and food shortages. Our world is experiencing the worst hunger crisis in modern history. How do we respond to this crisis? Each day, Tveit said, we pray the Lords prayer and we appeal to God to "give us this day our daily bread." It is a prayer for food and all that we need to be sustained as God's creation. "We can extend this prayer to all of our sisters and brothers who are in need of food to sustain their lives," he said. "We can make a difference in this situation. Let us stand together and reflect. Let us pray and act to respond to this crisis." Tveit urged churches, organizations and individuals to spend some time on 21 May to be still, receive the grace of God, and find solutions. "The world as one family, praying and responding together, to end famine," he said, "to end violence and to bring peace. To ensure that there is sufficient and nutritious food for all, to live life to its fullest." To encourage people of faith and good will around the world to observe the global day of prayer on 21 May, the WCC is making available a collection of liturgical resources, prayers, photos and suggested songs to be used in faith congregations worldwide. Links Video message from the WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit Prayer Wall Add your church to the map of churches committed to praying worldwide Video message from South Sudan Ending famine in India depends on all religions and cultures(WCC press release 11 May) Open letter to media "As a journalist you can make a difference! Call to Action to End Famine" Webinars on Global Day of Prayer to End Famine action steps WCC resource pack - Global Day of Prayer to End Famine The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 348 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 550 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is the Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, from the [Lutheran] Church of Norway. home World Christian leaders urge Trump to declare Jerusalem as Israel's capital A group of 60 influential Christian leaders has signed a letter delivered to U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, asking him to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The letter, which was presented to the president days before his scheduled visit to the Middle East, was an initiative of the American Christian Leaders for Israel (ACLI), an informal network of Christian leaders representing some 60 million Christians in America. According to Charisma News, it cited the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995, which acknowledged Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and called on the government to transfer the U.S. Embassy there by May 31, 1999. "Sadly, every U.S. President since then has taken advantage of a provision in the law allowing its requirements to be waived for six months if 'necessary to protect the national security interests of the United States.' Such suspensions have been repeated semi-annually for two decades, and it is time to end America's doublespeak," the letter stated. International Christian Embassy Jerusalem-USA Director Susan Michael expressed her concern that Trump was being advised to delay the efforts to move the Embassy and make it instead as part of the peace agreement between Palestinians and Israelis. "Considering the 24 years of attempted peace agreements by three previous presidents, it is not a good idea to continue waiting. Now is the time to honor our friend and fully recognize Jerusalem as the eternal, undivided capital of Israel," said Michael in a statement, according to The Daily Caller. Signatories of the ACLI letter include Dr. Jerry Johnson, president of the National Religious Broadcasters; Dr. John Hagee, founder and chairman of Christians United for Israel; Gordon Robertson, CEO of Christian Broadcasting Network; Dr. Charles Stanley, president of In Touch Ministries; Star Parker, president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education; Penny Nance, CEO of Concerned Women for America; and Dr. James Dobson, president of Family Talk Radio; During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump had promised to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, but some senior officials in Washington have reportedly advised against it, saying it would be "harmful to the peace process and carry broader regional risks." Trump will be visiting Israel on May 22 to 23, just after his stop in Saudi Arabia and his trip to the Vatican. Since the announcement of the president's travel plans, there has been some speculation that he would use the occasion to fulfill his campaign promise to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. But Trump appeared to back off on his promise early in his presidency, and the White House told reporters last week that the president is still undecided on the issue. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Godofredo A. Vasquez Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Godofredo A. Vasquez Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Thieves nabbed an ATM machine from a convenience store early Friday at a northwest Houston Shell station. They headed around 4 a.m. to the Shell station on North Loop 610 West near T.C. Jester, where they used a pickup truck to smash into the building, according to the Houston Police Department. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate It was 105 years ago this week that the Battleship Texas was first launched. Two years later it would be commissioned and enter the U.S. Navy's fleet of fighting vessels. The Battleship Texas is. of course. now a treasured piece of La Porte city pride, on display at the Battleship Texas State Historic Site, just steps from the San Jacinto Monument. The two tourist attractions make for a great day of history. WAR VETERAN: Battleship Texas played a big, booming part at D-Day The ship was launched from Newport News, Virginia, on May 18, 1912, to much fanfare, as can be seen in photos shared by the San Jacinto Battleground/Battleship TEXAS - Texas Parks and Wildlife page on Facebook. Most days the ship is crawling with schoolkids on field trips and salty naval veterans doing some memory jogging. The Battleship Texas was the most complex machine of its time when it was commissioned as a naval warship in 1914. It had the largest guns of any ship in the world at that time, and was the first American warship to launch an aircraft and to mount anti-aircraft guns. The ship is the last surviving dreadnought class battleship and a veteran of both world wars. SLEEP TIGHT: Spend the night on the Battleship Texas Sailors observed the famous flag-raising at Iwo Jima from the ship's decks in 1945, and it ferried a young Walter Cronkite over to the North African theater to fight. The battleship spent most of June 1944 providing gun support for soldiers at Omaha Beach and nearby Pointe du Hoc. After D-Day, the battleship went to the south of France, the Mediterranean and ultimately made it into the Pacific theater. She was decommissioned after World War II and arrived in La Porte in 1948. Click through the slideshow above to see the ship when it was a vital part of World War II... Fifth-grader, Allison Swann, might reside in the Cypress area, but she is touching lives in South Sudan. The Cy-Fair Independent School District Post Elementary School student decided for her 2016-17 HORIZONS project that she wanted to raise funds to implement a clean water system for a South Sudanese village. "My dad is a missionary, and his parents took him to South Sudan when he was young. My mom and dad have worked over there, and we have friends that work over there (too)," Swann said. "My dad is also the executive director of the organization Every Village, which provides water wells to the South Sudanese. It is really a big encouragement to me that made me want to do this project." For the project, Swann hypothesized that dirty water in South Sudan makes people sick and leads to death. South Sudan is a nation with approximately 12 million people and the Sudan Tribune reported that more than 90 percent of houses in South Sudan are grass-thatched, mud huts. Swann worked with Every Village, a nonprofit missionary organization that drills water wells throughout South Sudan, providing people with pure and refreshing water that sustains life. Most of the wells cost $10,000. Swann's outreach included writing emails, cards, and making videos which were seen by her family, friends, and church members. The family is a member of Hope Church where, Peter Swann, Allison's father, serves as the lead pastor. "We are just super proud of Allison and when she puts her mind to do something, she just goes for it 110 percent. We were just blown away that this is what she wanted to do because she set her standards so high," Shauna Swann said, Allison's mother. "We felt that if that's the standard she set for herself, then we just needed to support her 110 percent. We watched her work really hard, and it was just really awesome to see how the money just came coming in. All of sudden, the water well was funded." The hard work of spreading the message about South Sudanese people needing clean water paid off, literally. Swann gathered a total of 67 donors who contributed to her Every Village fundraising page, which met the goal of 10,000 for a new water well in a South Sudanese Village. "It is a very great feeling I have knowing that I helped saved many people's lives," Swann said. "We just drink clean water all the time without even realizing how much it means to them. It really effects their lives. I am just so happy that I was able to be a part of helping them." Swann's parents are proud of their daughter's passion to help others who are less fortunate. The family believes that South Sudan is a country that God has put on their hearts to help. The Swann family plans to travel to South Sudan this summer, and they are excited for their daughter to see where the water well is going to be drilled and the people it is going to impact. "I hope to do another project like this in the future, that would be really amazing. It was so much fun doing this, and I hope to make the South Sudanese so happy and make their lives much better. They suffer so much from this," Swann said. "It was great working with the Every Village organization, and I really hope that the South Sudanese people are really blessed by this. I hope more people will come to know how much these people are affected by this. We can help by making them happier, which can still fill us up with joy." Want to know more? Everyday Village: http://everyvillage.org/water New Kids on the Block, Boyz II Men and Paula Abdul are headed to Houston for their Total Package concert May 20 at Toyota Center. New Kids on the Block was THE boyband of the late '80s to early '90s and most kids remember which NEW KID was their favorite, (mine was Donnie, because I liked the bad boy). 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Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Houston's downtown scene saw a resurgence just a few years ago, when a number of bars opened on Main Street. Now, it's packed with establishments serving craft cocktails with house-made ingredients, as well as flashy, big-budget nightclubs. Check out the varied range of bars open downtown. We give you an idea of what to expect when you go: OKRA Where: 924 Congress Ave. What: A charitable bar that donates proceeds to a different organization every month. When it opened it garnered national attention because of its innovative concept. Captain Foxheart's Bad News Bar and Spirit Lodge Where: 308 Main St. What: Smart cocktails in an elegant setting with a balcony overlooking downtown's busy Main Street. >>SEE THE GALLERY ABOVE FOR A PEEK AT SOME OF THE BAR/CLUB SCENES. The Nightingale Room Where: 308 Main St. What: Live music venue paired with great drinks. Head there Thursday night for good music, often from local musicians. La Carafe Where: 813 Congress Ave. What: The oldest commercial property in the city that has been in continuous use since it opened. It's a romantic place with a unique setting. MORE LOCATIONS: Houston's great locally owned 'mini-chain' restaurants are expanding Moving Sidewalk Where: 306 Main St. What: Elegant interior with smart cocktails infused with house-made syrups. Tongue-Cut Sparrow Where: 310 Main St. (just above The Pastry War) What: Owner Bobby Heugel and general manager Peter Jahnke set up the new Tongue-Cut Sparrow bar in just a matter of mere months. It has limited seating and can be reserved for private events. MKT Bar Where: 1001 Austin St. What: On the ground floor of Phoenicia Specialty Foods, this bar offers great food, a well-curated selection of local beer and local who DJ Wednesday nights. It also hosts art shows on occasion. Resesrve 101 Where: 1201 Caroline What: A must-visit for whiskey lovers. They offer frequent tasting events and one of the largest scotch and whiskey collections in the city. JUST OPENED: FM Burger and Bar, from former Triniti owner Ryan Hildebrand Public Services Wine & Whisky Where: 202 Travis What: Wine and whiskey bar housed in the historic 1884 Cotton Exchange building. Great charcuterie boards, small bites and smartly edited wine list. Rose Gold Cocktail Den Where: 2301 Main St., Ste. 200 What: Lively new bar/nightclub setting with cocktails, beer and wine. El Big Bad Where: 419 Travis What: Downtown Mexican cantina with unique margaritas made with infused tequila. A wraparound balcony allows for great views of the city. The Dirt Bar Where: 1209 Caroline What: Dive bar known for hosting musicians who perform at the House of Blues. The Pastry War Where: 310 Main St. What: A tequila bar which serves agave-based spirits: tequila, mezcal and sotol. SHUTDOWN: Bernadine's, Hunky Dory to close Little Dipper Bar Where: 304 Main St. What: Owned by the proprietors of Montrose's whiskey spot Poison Girl, this spot is well stocked with quality spirits. Batanga Where: 908 Congress Ave. What: Pan-Latin tapas influenced by some international flavors, great drinks and a large outdoor patio where there's usually live music. Flying Saucer Draught Emporium Where: 705 Main St. What: Large selection of craft beer and extensive menu of hearty dishes that pair well with what's on tap. Frequently hosts special pint nights and drink specials with local breweries. It has a sibling location in Sugar Land. Foundation Room Houston Where: 1204 Caroline St. What: Semi-private lounge above the House of Blues decked out in bohemian decor and regularly hosts live music or acts. Houston Watch Company Where: 913 Franklin What: Low-key cocktail bar in the lobby area of the Bayou Lofts. Craft Beer Cellar Houston Where: 907 Franklin What: Wide selection of beers, with plenty local breweries on tap, this spot also has several bottles to take home. Growler fills welcome. Two people were injured on a Southwest Airlines flight that arrived shortly at 7:40 a.m. Thursday at Hobby Airport. The flight - Southwest Airlines flight 223 - was coming from Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina. A 70-year-old man had a possible cardiac arrest on the flight. He was receiving CPR when the plane landed, said Capt. Ruy Lozano with the Houston Fire Department. A 24-year-old woman had a head injury. The woman had hit her head in the back part of the airplane, when it was still on the ground in North Carolina, after she stood up too quickly, said Brandy King, a spokeswoman for Southwest Airlines. Medical personnel in North Carolina checked the woman and cleared her to fly on to Houston. She declined medical assistance in Houston, King added. Southwest Airlines did not have any reports of turbulence during the flight that could have caused either injury, King said. HFD was prepared to take both people to an area hospital, Lozano said. Check back for updates on this developing story. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Updates for mobility and transportation efforts in the Lake Houston area were discussed during the Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce 2017 Transportation Outlook luncheon at the Kingwood Country Club on Tuesday, May 16. Bryan Ruth Sr., director of development, infrastructure at McCord Development and chair of the Transportation Committee for the Lake Houston Area Chamber, highlighted some key mobility and improvement projects occurring in the community. He first discussed projects in the works for the Lake Houston area from Beltway 8 running north to Will Clayton Parkway and bordered to the right by W. Lake Houston Parkway. One of the projects is the widening of Timber Forest Drive from Will Clayton Parkway to Canyon Lakes, which is projected to be complete in the second quarter of 2017. "Timber Forest is going to be a critical artery for our transportation as we move forward and build out this particular area," Ruth said. According to Ruth, perhaps the most important projects in the area include the Woodland Hills and Lockwood Road expansions. "For those who have been out and near Generation Park, you've see Lockwood Road has been improved from the railroad tracks to the south. It went from two lanes to four lanes and now we very recently signed an agreement, finally, after a couple of years, with Union Pacific to widen that to four lanes," Ruth said. "And Woodland Hills, with precincts 2 and 4, will get widened to four lanes as well." The Lockwood Road widening runs from the Union Pacific Railroad to Beltway 8 and the Woodland Hills, widening runs from Rankin Road to Beltway 8. The projects are expected to be complete the first quarter of 2018. Another upcoming project is the widening of Wilson Road from Park Lakes Elementary School to Viscaro Lane in precinct 4, which is scheduled to go out for bid the second quarter of 2017. Ruth highlighted two major projects occurring in the city of Humble, including the expansion of Townsen Boulevard West from two lanes to four lanes. The expansion project is set to begin in June 2017 and be completed in 2018. Additionally, TxDOT has asked for community feedback regarding maintenance on the Bevil Jarrell Memorial Bridge, paralleling the east side of U.S. 59 N between Townsen Boulevard and Hamblen Road "It's an issue that the bridge has not been inspected in a number of years," Ruth said. "It would be a lot of money to put into it to fix it up. So, there's an option to either fix it up and then take over the maintenance locally, or they could replace the bridge and do something different that would be a benefit for pedestrian and path usage." Moving north into Kingwood, Ruth mentioned four mobility projects planned for the area. The Northpark Drive widening and overpass project is now expected to occur in two phases with phase one going from U.S. 59 over the rail oad tracks and up to a yet-to-be-determined endpoint. The second phase will continue the widening through the Woodland Hills intersection. Intersection improvements to Northpark Drive at W. Lake Houston Parkway; and W. Lake Houston Parkway at Kings Crossing are projected to go for bids in third quarter 2017. "The one (project) I'm really excited about here is the signal synchronization by the city of Houston to hopefully keep traffic moving along Kingwood Drive," Ruth said. As far as pedestrian mobility, sidewalk improvement and construction projects are planned for the north and south sides of Kingwood Drive near Kingwood High School. Ruth said a large project in the works for the region is the widening of F.M. 1960 to three lanes in each direction to Lake Houston's McKay Bridge, with an overpass at W Lake Houston Parkway. Additionally, he said the city of Houston is working to bring street panel replacements for Chestnut Ridge and Kingwood Drive, westbound, as well as Woodbridge Drive and Northpark Drive. A study precinct 2 is conducting for the Atascocita Trail project will determine methods for connecting north and south Atascocita via trails. Updates were also given regarding the Houston Airport System's recent and upcoming projects. The George Bush Intercontinental Airport is building a new Terminal D, the Mickey Leland terminal, which handles international airline flights. "Those are all of our foreign flag carriers, so your Air China, Singapore Air, etcetera. They will all be flying out of that particular terminal, as well as United. United will also get some gates in that terminal," said Jason A. McLemore, Houston Airport System deputy assistant director of the Office of Business Opportunity. "That terminal's going to increase by four times, so it's going to be a very large terminal. It will have two piers." United's new Terminal C North has been open for a couple months and serves flights to major hubs like Chicago, San Francisco and New York. "(There are) some really great restaurants in that terminal," McLemore said. "We're really pleased with that." Another advancement in the works for IAH is upgrading category 5 aircraft to category 6 aircraft. "An example of a category 6 aircraft is the A380, so a double-decker, can have anywhere between 500 to 600 passengers on it. These are very large aircraft," McLemore said. "We look at noise mitigation, which is really big, especially around the airport." According to McLemore, the Houston Airport System has an approximately $2-$2.5 billion capital improvement plan on the construction side for its airports. On the budget for infrastructure between 2018 and 2022 at IAH are runway and taxiway widening and reconstruction. "When you increase the size of the taxiway, it's not just making it wider because you have to take all the infrastructure that's on the sides, which is your lights, your storm, your sewer, and you have to move that over. I think it's 10 feet on each side to cover the wing span of some of these larger airplanes," McLemore said. The north terminal road will also be widened to accommodate the size of the new terminal D. "One of the neat things I want to talk about is we currently have a (request for proposal) out for cogeneration electricity. The goal right now is to create and generate a lot of the power that we're going to use for the new terminal. So, we're trying to get a neutral carbon footprint on the new terminal, even though it's going to be four times the size." For more information about the Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce, visit http://www.lakehouston.org/. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Constituents of U.S. Rep. John Culberson's 7th District continued to pressure the politician who garnered national attention after a raucous townhall in March at a Houston area school Wednesday afternoon when two dozen people protested in front of his west Houston office along Memorial Drive near Chimney Rock. The group, members of Indivisible Houston, held up signs urging Culberson to back the Presidential Tax Transparency Act (H.R. 305) introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives that would require President Trump - and future presidents - to disclose tax returns going back three years. Although voting to support the bill was their call to action, they voiced their opinions about other issues they have with the President whom they say Culberson has supported against the wishes of those he represents. "We certainly oppose the current administration," said Daniel Cohen, spokesperson for the Houston chapter of Indivisible the day before the protest. "But we put pressure on local reps to affect policy." They chanted, "Stand up, fight back"; "This is what democracy looks like"; "Investigate Russia-gate" and "Vote out Culberson." One sign simply read "Impeach." Coincidently, while the throng was gathered on the grass, they collectively heard the news that Robert S. Mueller III, former Federal Bureau of Investigation director, was appointed as special counsel to oversee the inquiry into whether or not President Trump's campaign had an inappropriate relationship with Russian officials that could have affected the election. "When we heard that, there was a pretty big cheer. That was a victory," Cohen said Thursday. To draw attention to their cause, they trucked in an inflatable chicken with orange hair and eyebrows that sat in front of the crowd. Indivisible is a local branch of a national nonprofit who says their mission is to promote a progressive network of people to oppose the Trump agenda. Cohen said the Houston chapter took shape in January when the first face-to-face meetings took place among members. One of their first actions was to deploy people to the George Bush Intercontinental Airport that month to demonstrate in support of immigrants returning to the country in response to the President's ban on individuals from seven majority-Muslim nations from entering the country. Culberson's district hugs Sam Houston Tollway, just west of the road in a "C" shape, encompassing the Memorial Villages, the Energy Corridor and extends inside the loop, dipping south into Bellaire. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A Montgomery County jury convicted Herman and Kathleen Hoffman Thursday on five Class A misdemeanor counts of cruelty to livestock animals almost two years after more than 200 horses were seized from their farm north of Conroe. The couple, emotional and slightly frustrated, kissed each other in the courtroom before County Court-at-Law 1 Judge Dennis Watson announced his sentence: one year in jail for Herman Hoffman and 18 months probation for his wife. Although Herman Hoffman will not start the sentence until an appeal - which he filed immediately after the sentence was imposed - is complete. Watson cited Kathleen Hoffman's health conditions as to why she received a probated sentence. She will, however, need to spend a total of 30 days in the jail as a result of her conviction, the judge ordered. The Hoffmans have bred horses for nearly 20 years. But in late 2014, advocates on social media accused the Hoffmans of starving and generally neglecting to treat the horses properly. The complaints finally drew an investigation by law enforcement officials. Their Conroe property the Calico Dairy Farm off of League Line Road was raided in June 2015. Agents with the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, Precinct 5 Constable's Office and the Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals were on the Hoffmans' farm for days as they were executing a search and seizure warrant and gathering evidence. Midori Wall, one of the six jurors who found the Hoffmans guilty, said "overwhelming evidence" helped seal the couple's fate with the two men and six women on the panel. "There had been ample warning," Wall said. "Both of the Hoffmans had ample knowledge of how to care for the horses as well." After the jury was released Thursday, at least two jurors - including Wall - stayed behind to watch the sentencing hearing. "I don't necessarily think the Hoffmans were bad people," Wall said. "I think they had some unfortunate circumstances and should have made other choices to make sure their horses were well cared for." The Houston SPCA seized 207 horses from the property in 2015. Thirty were euthanized and three others died naturally. The rest of the horses were adopted to new families. Nine of the 17 horses left still need rehabilitation before they can be adopted. Herman Hoffman said during a seizure hearing in June 2015 that the state of the animals could be attributed to sabotage by his employees to sway public opinion after photos were posted on Facebook, although he later contended that the horses were simply malnourished because of how natural horse herds work. The SPCA assessed the horses on the day of the 2015 seizure and took some to the Houston facility in order of importance of veterinary need. One of the horses from the first group to leave the ranch suffered from open wounds on both sides of its hips, which had scabbed over. Another horse showed its skeletal structure from its ribs to its hips from malnutrition. All five of the horses from the first group had unkept hooves, causing each to walk on the bottom joints of their legs. In 2015, a Montgomery County judge ordered the Hoffmans to pay HSPCA more than $450,000 in recuperation for their work on the horses. However, Herman Hoffman contended during his sentencing hearing that the seizure of their horses made the couple's net worth plunge by $3.5 million. "The SPCA will never get repaid financially what they put out to save these horses," Chief Misdemeanor Prosecutor Sheri Culberson said. "They also will never get paid in effort, the physical and emotional effort they spent doing what was right to save these horses." Assistant District Attorney Lora Ciborowski, albeit frustrated with how long it took the case to get to trial after a dozen delays, was thankful it finally was presented to a jury. "I'm glad we finally got our day in court and got justice for these horses," Ciborowski said. "That's really what it's all about." An HSPCA spokesperson said the society is pleased with the verdict and glad to have been able to help prosecutors with the case. The only Harris County judge to fight the county's defense of its controversial bail system has been notified he will not get his own lawyer to appeal the high-profile federal lawsuit that has divided county leaders. Judge Darrell Jordan - one of 16 criminal court at law judges sued over the county's cash bail system - is fighting to keep a county-funded attorney who will carry his push to end the lawsuit to the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. First Assistant County Attorney Robert Soard, however, sent an email Thursday telling Jordan that the appeal for him and other judges will be handled as a group, even though Jordan disagrees with the other judges. "By taking me out of the fight - by me not having an appellate lawyer - then I can't attack the unconstitutional grounds that they're coming from," he said. "My lawyer should be coming in, and we should be going over what the other judges have filed ... We should be telling the truth from my viewpoint." He vowed to continue his challenge of the system. "This fight is too important to just sit back and give up," he said in an email to the Chronicle. Soard said Friday he could not discuss conversations between Jordan and the county attorney's office because of attorney-client privilege, but he said an attorney from his office is reviewing the matter. In the email exchange with Jordan, however, Soard said the legal fight has centered on the county, diminishing the legal arguments needed on behalf of individual judges, the sheriff or six hearing officers also named in the case. "Our office is of the opinion that additional filings on your behalf in this case are not appropriate or necessary at this time," he said in the email, a copy of which was provided by Jordan to the Chronicle. "We have been unable to identify any claim or defense that you may assert that is separate from that of the County or the other County Criminal Court at Law Judges acting as a legislative body." Jordan has ardently supported a recent ruling by Chief U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal that held the county's cash bail system unconstitutional, saying it keeps low-level defendants locked up while awaiting trial because they are too poor to pay for bail. The judge ordered the county to begin a new system May 15 offering personal bonds to people facing misdemeanors, if they do not have additional charges or other legal constraints. The appeals court ordered a temporary halt to the order while it considers the case. The county has drawn criticism for its rising legal bills, which had reached close to $3 million for outside attorneys as of last week. The lawsuit has pitted county officials one against another over how justice is served in the third-largest county in the country. Typically, the county provides legal representation when leaders are sued in their official capacity. Rosenthal's injunction targets the judges in their "legislative capacity," however, since the judges work together to set bail practices, according to Soard's email. No judge named in the case has a personal attorney in the appellate process, said Melissa Spinks, the county's managing attorney for litigation. Jordan said Friday, however, that he has been excluded from meetings where the 15 other judges discussed the case. He blamed County Attorney Vince Ryan for cutting off his legal representation. "Vince Ryan has found a way to silence my voice," he said in an email. "I have no other lawyers to call for advice." Soard said he was unaware of Jordan's allegation that he had been excluded from meetings, but said his office would look into it. The exchange comes as the case itself remains in limbo. In her ruling on April 28, Rosenthal wrote that cash bail is no more effective than releasing defendants accused of low-level crimes on personal recognizance bonds while they await trial. Requiring cash bail treats poor defendants differently than those with the means to gain their own release, in violation of the U.S. constitution, she concluded. Over the objections from Jordan and a slew of other county officials including Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, District Attorney Kim Ogg and Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis the county had argued in two separate motions filed by different teams of lawyers that Rosenthal's order would have upended the county's bail system and put the public at risk. Now, both sides are waiting for the appeals court to decide whether to reverse Rosenthal's injunction or leave it in place, a decision that could be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. In either case, the case would still go to trial, barring a settlement. The county has, in recent years, pushed for reforming the impact of its bail practices to minimize the impact on poor people who cannot afford bail while awaiting trial. On July 1, the county is expected to implement a new "risk assessment tool" that would help judges and hearing officers release those accused of crimes pending trial if they pose a low risk to the public. The county this month approved spending nearly $1 million to beef up its pretrial services department to help run the new risk assessment program and monitor those released. On Tuesday, the Harris County Commissioners Court is expected to vote on funding eight new positions in the public defender's office. The public defenders would be present at bail hearings to help ensure those who cannot afford attorneys and are accused of a crime understand their rights and are not unfairly jailed. Gabrielle Banks contributed to this report. A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed against Irving ISD and the city of Irving by Ahmed Mohamed's family, according to Dallas Morning News. Ahmed made headlines when he was 14 years old and made a clock in school that was mistaken for a bomb in 2015. His family stated that his civil rights were violated when he was arrested at MacArthur High School and charged with making a "hoax bomb." The charge was later dropped, but he was still suspended. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate On the campaign trail, Donald Trump boasted of his masterful negotiating skills while criticizing what he saw as poor deals previous leaders made. Now, Trump's negotiating abilities are being put to the test in a 9-day international trip to several countries some he's praised, criticized or both. "I'll meet scores of leaders," Trump said of his foreign trip, in which he promised to strengthen old friendships and seek new partners. WARM WELCOME: Worldwide effort set to keep Trump happy on 1st trip abroad More Information type:sl See More Collapse In the past, Trump has not been shy about speaking his mind about countries, their leaders and their policies. For example: Trump has threatened military action in North Korea and called Kim Jong-un a "smart cookie" for his ability to stay in power. In a phone call with Australia's prime minister in which Trump said "was the worst call by far," the president criticized "the worst deal ever" and boasted of his electoral college win, eventually ending the heated exchange after 25 minutes. FAMILY TRIP: Ivanka Trump to take part in presidential trip Lastly, he's called China a "currency manipulator" and accused them of "raping" the U.S., but changed his tune during the presidency, calling both country's relationship "outstanding." Overall, Trump has spoken his mind about dozens of countries in meetings, phone calls or on Twitter. Click through above to see what Donald Trump has said about the countries hes scheduled to visit. Amos Cemetery, the Kohrville community's oldest African-American burial ground, will be hosting Kohrville Fest on May 27 at Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church. The fundraising event is to assist in the preservation and beautification project, which is an effort to maintain the grave site of slaves and military veterans. The cemetery's association is working to update the broken headstones, grave markers, and replace damaged fencing. The festival is planned to have a games for kids, food, a praise stage, and education booths. Admission is $5. Children 16 years-old and younger will have free admission into the event. There will be a raffle for a flat screen television, $100 gas card, $100 Wal-Mart gift card, an Amazon tablet, a boys bicycle, and a girls bicycle. The Kohrville Community Amos Cemetery Association is seeking donations through gifts, gift cards for a silent auction, or monetary donations for the fencing cost. Kohrville Fest will be the first festival held in Kohrville and its origin comes from making the burial grounds historical. "We feel having the festival will bring folks from everywhere to share our proud history and fun events," Cathyrine Stewart said, president of Kohrville Community Amos Cemetery Association. "Also, gives us an opportunity to encouraged our younger generation the importance of volunteering and giving back to make this festival successfully for generations to come. The Festival also gives a time for reflections of the Texas Historical Marker, and the community pioneers that helped to shape Kohrville, Texas." Last year the cemetery received a historical marker from the Texas Historical Commission which recognizes the cemetery as a meaningful and essential part of Texas' history. The Pilgrim Baptist Church where the dedication ceremony took place was bought by deacons of the Pilgrim Branch Baptist Church which is now the Pilgrim Branch Missionary Baptist Church. "This marker is validation of the historical significance of Amos Cemetery and the Kohrville community. Neither the Harris County Historical Commission nor the Texas Historical Commission made these sites historical, we merely erect monuments to the fact," Paul Scott said in a statement, state marker chair of the Harris County Historical Commission. "It was the extended community, those men and women who lived, toiled, and died in Kohrville and their descendants who preserved their memory who deserve the credit." The Kohrville community was home to German immigrants and store owners Paulin and Agnes Kohrmann. After Thomas Amos purchased 130.4 acres of land, which contributed to the community, with his son-in-law, Amos donated an acre of the land in 1881 for family and non-family that needed a burial plot. Amos purchased an additional 1.6 acres in 1906. After his death, Thomas' daughter and husband purchased the property. Following the purchase, the land was then divided when the couple sold a half-acre to the Farmers Improvement Society, which is a Texas-based African American fraternal organization. Former enslaved blacks from states such as Alabama and Mississippi settled in the area along Cypress Creek making it their home in the 1870s. The community focused on labor skills such as farming, ranching, and lumber industries. Black and white students also were offered schooling. Kohrville was combined with other area common schools to form Rural High No. 1 in 1928. A decade later, the schools became the Klein Independent School District. According to Klein ISD's Historical Foundation, "In the 1980s, the Kohrville School building was moved next to the Klein High School and used as a storage building. In the spring of 2000, the building was moved to the Klein Museum complex to be restored to its earlier appearance." The families who worked to build and create the Kohrville community that are buried in the cemetery are Amos, Kosse aka Cossey, Woods, Solomon, Williams, Stewart, Lee, Carter, Blackshear, Jeffery, Green, Wortham, Whitfield, Patterson, Hardy, Roundtree, Autry, Curtis, Yell and Tolson. "Great strives were taken to shape this community. We feel knowing your history gives you a sense of worth and pride in knowing that your ancestors endured many hardships to give the next generation a better life," Stewart said. "Education was very important to the ancestors after slavery they taught school in their homes until property would be purchased to build a school." Other families that were members of the community were Solomon, Williams, Stewart, Lee, Carter, Blackshear, Jeffery, Green, Wortham, Whitfield, Patterson, Hardy, Roundtree, Autry, Curtis, Yell and Tolson. In October of 2007 the Kohrville Community Amos Cemetery Association was officially formed. Members of the cemetery's association believe that it is important for the community to be educated about the history of Kohrville. "Family lineage is a priority it shows the next generation how they are connected. Since the area is evolving to a broader diverse area we want to preserve this history for generations to come," Stewart said. "Also, want to keep a constant reminder how the ancestors started with very little and over the years grew and prosperous which helps us to realize no matter where you start growth can and will take place with perseverance and work." Kohrville Fest Saturday, May 27, 10 a.m. 4:40 p.m. Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church (parking lot) 16813 Hufsmith-Kohrville Rd. Houston, TX 77070 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A Harris County grand jury has declined to indict the sheriff's deputy who fatally shot an inmate during a 2016 outside medical trip. Ricky Lynn Hall, who had a long history of mental health problems, was being treated for seizures at Ben Taub Hospital when he snatched a sharp-edged object and used it to take a medical student hostage in October. A deputy working an overtime security job heard the woman's scream and rushed to the scene on the fifth floor, where he found the 46-year-old with his arm wrapped around the woman's neck and a sharp object pressed to her throat. The stand-off moved out into the hallway, where Hall threatened to kill his hostage unless the deputy shot him, the Harris County Sheriff's Office said at the time. In response, the deputy fired two shots, wounding Hall. The inmate was rushed into surgery but died less than two weeks later, when his grief-stricken mother had him taken off life support. Afterward, the the Houston Police Department's homicide unit, the Harris County District Attorney's office and the sheriff's office internal affairs division all launched investigations into the shooting. The Houston Chronicle later found that the sheriff's office may have violated its own policies by leaving Hall unattended in the moments before the shooting. On May 2, a grand jury declined to indict sheriff's deputy Adriel Hinojosa, who was never charged in the case. Although the sheriff's office was set to examine whether any policies had been violated, a spokesperson Thursday did not respond to questions about whether that investigation had been completed. Although the family has not taken issue with the shooting, they've questioned the circumstances leading up to the gunfire and whether better adherence to department procedure could have avoided Hall's death. "As far as I'm concerned it's like the blue wall of silence, nobody is held accountable," said Hall's uncle Ben Hogan. "None of us are trying to get the cop in the trouble - Ricky was not a good guy - but if somebody does something wrong they ought to be held accountable." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Adrian Calderon Thursday was sentenced to life in prison for impregnating an 11-year-old girl. The continuous abuse happened in 2015 in Copperas Cove, Texas, when the child said she awoke to Calderon molesting and kissing her, KXXV reports. She reportedly said he continued to put his hand under her clothing even after she scratched him. CHARGED: Killeen kindergarten teacher accused of sexual assault of a student According to an arrest affidavit obtained by that Waco-area KXXV, police were able to match the scratches on his arm that corroborated the girl's report. Calderon, who was 25 years old at the time of the crime, also faced a Midland County theft warrant for more than $500 but less than $1,500, Copperas Cove police reported at the time. The Coryell County District Attorney's office penalizes one or more incidents of sexual assault of a child younger than 14 years old with 25 to 99 years in prison if the assaults happened within a 30-day period. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate In a recent interview with an industry magazine, the head of the Houston Film Commission talked up Houston as an excellent film location for its diversity of cultures and locations. Rick Ferguson, the executive director at the Houston Film Commission, told MovieMaker how the Houston area's increasingly positive rep as a fountain of diversity could lead to more film productions coming into the region in search of fresh locations. NUKE 'EM: When 'Robocop 2' came to Houston The state's budget cuts slashed film incentives from $95 million to $32 million and diverted many productions from Texas and into states like Louisiana, New Mexico, and Georgia. Still, there are many things Houston has to offer, according to Ferguson. "Both the location of Houstonnext to the Gulf Coastand the architectural style of the city are contributing factors for young filmmakers," Ferguson told MovieMaker's Ryan Williams. "In addition, the topography and geography is very different within a 60-mile radius in all directions." A place like Galveston could stand in for a number of coastal locales, the same for the Conroe area. Where does Houston stack up against the likes of Dallas and Austin in the grand scheme of Texas film making? "It's a number of things but certainly the diversity of Houston, compared to the other cities in the region of Texas, has become a source of pride for the people of Houston, as well as a source of stories to be told," Ferguson said. I SAVED LATIN: How Wes Anderson filmed 'Rushmore' in Houston "Each one of the ethnic communities is developing its own homegrown film industry. There are a lot of films coming out of the Hispanic, African-American and Indian communities," Ferguson said. "It's not that they are separate, but there are projects being made specifically for and by the members of these communities." Eligible local filmmakers should know that the City of Houston has a Houston Filmmaker's Grant, according to Ferguson. It's been in place since 2013. "It is based on a submitted script as well as various pages of criteria in order to be a recipient of this grant. It's a $30,000 grant and it comes both from my office and from the city of Houston." So get out there and make your masterpiece, Houston. There's help out there yet. Click through the slideshow above to see where movie history has been made in Houston... This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate With the rate of Hispanics reporting crime in the city dropping and immigrant fears rising about being deported under the new presidential administration, a town hall meeting Thursday night at times turned tense between Hispanic community members and city officials. A group of anxious community members grilled Mayor Sylvester Turner and Police Chief Art Acevedo about policies to protect immigrant communities. "Houston is not a welcoming city no matter how many times (the mayor) says that," said Oscar Hernandez, an organizer with United We Dream, in an interview, echoing concerns expressed at the town hall. "Houston is not a welcoming city to people of color or immigrants, especially undocumented immigrants." An immigrant himself from El Salvador who's in the country without legal permission, Adonias Arevalo said that other immigrants fear showing up at community meetings. They worry that officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement might appear and they could get deported. He said there is a lack of trust between the Hispanic immigrant community and public officials. "People are being questioned," said Arevalo, an organizer with United We Dream. "People are being picked up." As the mayor addressed a crowd of about 200 inside the Tejano Center for Community Concerns, he was interrupted by organizers from United We Dream, which advocates for the fair treatment of immigrants. They questioned Turner on how he was going to protect their community. "I want you to know that Houston will be a welcoming, just and compassionate city that will work to protect all people from discrimination," Turner told to the crowd. The mayor and police chief, along with other city officials, sought to ease their concerns. A long line formed during the nearly two-hour meeting of people voicing their anxieties, which ranged from the threat of being deported to getting racially profiled and arrested by police. The city's renewed focus on immigrants' rights comes in the wake of the passage of Senate Bill 4, the controversial "sanctuary cities" legislation that allows police to ask people about their immigration status. It also allows for misdemeanor criminal penalties and hefty fines for law enforcement officials who won't cooperate with immigration authorities. Acevedo made clear that police will be required to fill out a report and detail why they felt it necessary to ask someone's immigration status. "If you stop somebody for jaywalking and the only reason you're asking because they don't speak English," Acevedo said, "that will be profiling, and we will not tolerate it." Cynthia Wilson, chief of staff for HISD, told parents not to fear sending their children to school in the district. She noted that HISD officials are not permitted to ask if a child is in the country illegally. Turner acknowledged their fears, noting that some community members are afraid to visit facilities to get vaccinated or to even report criminal activity. Acevedo disclosed last month the department has found the number of Hispanics reporting rape is down 42.8 percent from last year, and the number of those reporting other violent crimes has dropped 13 percent. United We Dream Members chanted "Sue SB 4!" as the meeting came to an end. Turner said that his administration would evaluate the bill after the legislative session ends May 29. Despite vociferous Democratic opposition, the state Senate greenlighted the bill earlier this month in a 20-11 party line vote, and on May 7, Gov. Greg Abbott signed the measure into law in an event broadcast on Facebook Live. "The reason why so many people come to America is because we are the nation of laws," he said at the time. "Texas is doing its part to keep it that way." Keri Blakinger contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Two hours after a hit-and-run driver struck a bicyclist on Houston's northeast side, sending his body into a roadside ditch, Tawana Atkins sent an eerie text message to her sister, authorities said. "I hit somebody sis," Tawana Atkins wrote about 5 a.m. April 27, according to a police office's sworn statement. "I don't know if they dead r not." A minute later, she purportedly added: "I no im going to jail." Authorities say Atkins' text messages tell a different story than the one she initially provided to a hit-and-run investigator who visited her single-story townhome near Cullinan Park in southeast Houston last month. After the police investigator noted a Chevy Tahoe out front with a damaged front grill, Atkins, a 32-year-old mother of four, told the officer she had damaged her vehicle the previous day after hitting a telephone pole while driving intoxicated, police said. Prosecutors and police on Friday announced hit-and-run charges against Atkins as well as a man suspected in a separate crash last month. Police said at least one case would have been "virtually impossible" to solve without information from anonymous tipsters. Officials said hit-and-run cases are notoriously difficult to investigate and prosecute for lack of witnesses and evidence. Metro Video Kim Ogg, the Harris County district attorney, joined Houston police at the Crime Stoppers headquarters on Friday to discuss the two cases and emphasize that drivers gamble when they flee from crashes: If they stay, they might face less severe penalties, or no charges at all. If they flee, they can face up to 20 years in prison. The law enforcement officials warned that hit-and-run crashes in Houston are keeping pace with last year, when city police tallied 179 such crashes that left victims dead or seriously injured 59 percent more than the average for the previous four years. A police captain said that while some drivers are intoxicated, many are simply distracted by cell phones. The most recent hit-and-run crash came Thursday night when a 91-year-old woman was struck near a crosswalk on 15th Street in Houston's Heights neighborhood, police said. The woman was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital and rushed into surgery, but she did not survive. Police said they are looking for a driver who fled the scene, possibly in a white Toyota SUV. Investigators think the driver might live nearby. Godofredo A. Vasquez/Houston Chronicle The collision that led police to Atkins happened in the early hours of April 27. Reginald Lauderdale, a 54-year-old man who loved playing bass guitar, was on his bicycle in the 9500 block of Tidwell, said Capt. William McPherson, chief of the Houston Police Department's vehicular crimes unit. Lauderdale was struck from behind. The impact sent his body across the street into a ditch, where it was spotted about 3 a.m. The crash knocked off part of a chrome front grill as well as a Chevy symbol, according to an officer's sworn statement. A tip came in through Crime Stoppers later the same day. The officer visited Atkins' residence and saw a brown Chevy Tahoe with matching damage, as well as a shattered front windshield where investigators later found short black hairs. Atkins told the officer she was driving while intoxicated in that area when she struck a telephone pole, according to the sworn statement. When the officer told her it was a person who was struck and that the victim had died Atkins asked for a lawyer. Police said they searched Atkins' cell phone and found a text-message exchange that morning. The sworn statement describes the text messages as follows: At 6 a.m. she wrote: "I fina gt rid of that truck." That afternoon, the two texted about selling the vehicle to Auto Trader. Atkins was arrested Thursday and charged with failure to stop and render aid. Lauderdale's 49-year-old brother said Friday that he was relieved. "It changed a whole lot," said the brother, Randy Lauderdale. "That let me know for sure, God answers prayers, that God never sleeps. Whatever is done in the dark will come to light. ... I'm glad that there are good people out there who called and turned that person in. I just want to talk to them and thank them and hug them. Because if it weren't for them, I really thought this person wasn't going to be caught." Though he said he still hurts deeply after the loss of his only sibling, he added that the chance for justice "brought a little hope to me and my family." The second crash discussed Friday came the day after Lauderdale's death, when Jose Portillo was struck and catapulted off his motorcycle on Westheimer near Eldridge shortly before 1 a.m. April 28. Police say David Legate, 32, crossed over the concrete median and drove his brown Toyota Tacoma pickup westbound in the eastbound lanes, hit Portillo's motorcycle head-on, then crossed back over the concrete median as he drove away without stopping. Portillo was taken to Ben Taub Hospital, where he died. The impact was severe enough that it left pieces of Legate's brown Toyota Tacoma strewn across the roadway, according to an officer's sworn statement. The debris included the driver's side mirror, part of the front grill and the lower half of a license-plate holder that included the dealer's name. A tip came in to Crime Stoppers the same day after a neighbor noticed damage to Legate's vehicle. When an officer interviewed Legate, he said he was involved in a crash but did not remember the details. He asked for a lawyer. He was arrested May 12 and charged with failure to stop and render aid. "We had very little to work on," McPherson said of both cases. "Then we got a tip through Crime Stoppers. This tip led us directly to our suspect's vehicle." Neither Atkins nor Legate had previously faced felony charges in Harris County. As of Friday, both remained in the Harris County jail on $30,000 bail. Atkins does not yet have a defense attorney listed, and Legate's appointed lawyer did not respond to requests for comment. Andy Kahan, a crime victims' advocate in the mayor's office, said finding hit-and-run perpetrators can help the families left behind. "Grief is intensified when justice is lacking," Kahan said. "Sadly, justice is still lacking for many of these cases." Kahan helped push the Legislature last decade to eliminate the statute of limitations on the crime, which used to be just three years. Sean Teare, the top Harris County prosecutor for vehicular crimes, said drivers often get off without charges if they stay at the scene of a crash. Even when drivers are intoxicated, they might only face misdemeanor charges if the victim was at fault, such as crossing outside of a crosswalk. Jail time for drunk driving is generally less than a year, and first-time offenders often benefit from diversion programs that allow treatment rather than jail time. Failure to stop and render aid, on the other hand, carries the same punishment range as intoxication manslaughter: two to 20 years in state prison. One official shared a common slogan: "If you run, you're done." Margaret Kadifa contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate One firefighter was killed and two more were injured in a major fire Thursday night in the Northwest Side near Ingram and Wurzbach roads. Firefighters were called to a strip mall in the 6700 block of Ingram Road for a blaze that erupted at about 9 p.m. RELATED: Two injured when Bexar deputies crash in pursuit of suspect More than 60 fire crews responded. "Every day we run about 800-plus calls and we take care of people most of the days of their lives," said San Antonio Fire Chief Charles Hood. "Unfortunately, we had one of our worst days." "They fought heroically," Hood said, "continue to keep us in your prayers." About 100 firefighters stood by saluting an ambulance as the body of Scott Deem was carried away after 12 a.m. Friday to the Bexar County Medical Examiner's office. Deem had been with the department for six years. Firefighters found heavy fire when they first arrived and went into the gym, The Spartan, to do search and rescue. "Something happened as far as the conditions changing, and they did evacuate the building," Hood said. Two firefighters were missing during the evacuation, he said. Hood said they made it out, but did not confirm if they were rescued or escaped. One of them was taken to Brooke Army Medical Center in critical condition. A second firefighter, part of the rapid intervention rescue team, was taken to University Hospital in serious condition, firefighters said. "We are anticipating both of these firefighters are going to be OK, but we're asking for your prayers," Hood said. As of 11 p.m., sources said one firefighter was possibly unaccounted for more than an hour after firefighters started fighting the blaze. "It was a very rough decision to leave a firefighter behind. That is not what we do, but we had the risk of losing probably an additional 15 to 20 firefighters if we did not go defensive on this fire," Hood said in a brief statement to the media. "We have firefighters that fought desperately tonight to try to save their friend's life," Hood said. Hood did not say exactly what led to Deem's death. "Any one of us will lay down our lives for a firefighter," he said. Firefighters are meeting with crisis intervention counselors, Hood said. "We're taking care of them." Hood planned to hold another news conference Friday morning. "At this time I'd like to ask the citizens of San Antonio to ... give us your prayers tonight because we're hurting," he said, fighting back tears. "But we're going to continue doing the good job we always do." Robert Guerra, general manager at Computer Repair Shop, watched the chaotic battle between firefighters and the four-alarm blaze in front of his storefront. Guerra had hoped the inferno wouldn't reach his business, but moments later flames could be seen inside. Before the fire, Matthew Christian Coronado, 25, massage therapy instructor at Milan Institute, said smoke began billowing in the front of the business, which is several stores away from where the fire started. About 40 students and instructors were still inside, some getting massages, others lecturing, as the fire began. He said when he walked outside, the heavy smoke was pitch black. "Apparently they couldn't find water for like the first 30 minutes," Coronado said, pointing at a fire hose running the length of the large parking lot. Dustin Taylor, 25, said he and some friends were drinking at a nearby bar when they saw smoke. "At first it was just smoke so I said 'Well, it's probably best to go back inside,'" he said. "When we turned on the news, we saw how big the flames were." This is an ongoing story and details will be updated as they develop. jbeltran@express-news.net WASHINGTON Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein's trip to Congress Friday to brief lawmakers on the investigation into possible collusion between Russia and President Donald Trump's campaign left some Texas Democrats wanting more. "There really was no overly significant information given," said Houston Democrat Sheila Jackson Lee, who has been pressing for an independent commission to investigate the allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 election. "There were very few questions that could be answered." San Antonio Democrat Lloyd Doggett left with the same feeling. "I am reassured that Special Counsel Robert Mueller will have all the resources necessary to contact a full and through, unimpeded investigation," he said in a statement. "Beyond that, the most frequent answer I heard to questions from members of either party was 'I cannot answer that question.' He declined to answer any question concerning his personal conduct, motivation, or the circumstances of the firing of FBI Director James Comey, indicating that even this could be within the scope of the Mueller investigation." Rosenstein reportedly drew bipartisan applause during the closed-door briefing when he told House members that Russian interference in U.S. elections should not be a partisan issue. In an interview, Jackson Lee said that despite the paucity of information, nothing Rosenstein said refuted reports that Trump had decided to fire Comey before Rosenstein wrote a memo on which the White House initially said the decision was made. She said that unanswered questions about Comey's firing are likely to hang over the subsequent investigations by Mueller and the House and Senate Intelligence Committees. "That and other unanswered questions just begin to raise the specter of cover-up," she said. Jackson Lee, however, said she will not "pre-judge" whether Trump committed impeachable offenses, and has not joined in the call for impeachment made earlier this week by Houston Democrat Al Green. Nevertheless, she voiced concerns about Mueller's "staying power," given that both he and Rosenstein could be subject to dismissal by the White House or Attorney General Jeff Sessions. She suggested that Rosenstein, as one of the central actors in Comey's sacking, could himself be part of a probe of alleged political interference or obstruction of justice. "It is likely he did not answer questions because he will have to be engaged in a lot of questions and answers with the special prosecutor," she said. For now, though, she said lawmakers remain in the dark about the investigation, despite Rosenstein's show of good faith. "If was an ineffective meeting," she said, "because we are no more informed than we were before the meeting." AUSTIN -- It's been likened to debtor's prison and derided as a form of double jeopardy. It's blamed for causing some Texans to lose their jobs and creating emotional distress for many. In the eyes of many Texans, perhaps the only thing that the state's driver responsibility program has going for it is that it helps to fund trauma centers across the state. Otherwise, there has been little to love in its confusing system of surcharges that forces drivers to either pay additional fees for years after they've settled traffic violations or face automatic suspension of their licenses. But a significant overhaul of the program appears increasingly likely this year with House Bill 2068, sponsored by Rep. Larry Phillips, R-Sherman. The bill would abolish a controversial points-based system and use an increase in the state's portion of traffic fines as a source of replacement funding. That bill passed the House earlier this month and was approved by the Senate Transportation Committee on Wednesday after some debate among lawmakers. As of Thursday, it was on track to be voted on by the Senate before the end of the session. "I'm really hoping that we will take this seriously enough and do something," said committee chair Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville. HB 2068 would formally repeal the current Driver Responsibility Program and replace part of it with with an across-the-board increase to the state's portion of traffic tickets from the current $30 to $50. "We need a once all solution... that maintains the funds to the trauma funding," Phillips said at a House committee hearing on the bill last month. The Driver Responsibility Program came about as a way to help cover part of the state's massive $9.9 billion budget shortfall back in 2003 by adding surcharges payable to the Texas Department of Public Safety. These came on top of the usual fines and other costs associated with traffic infractions. For points-based violations, such as speeding tickets, drivers must currently pay a $100 annual surcharge if 6 points are accumulated within a three-year period, with another $25 charged for each additional point on the driver's record. Points stay on the record for three years. Each violation incurs two points, or three if it results in a crash. Conviction-based surcharges, such as for driving while intoxicated, and driving without a license or insurance, can be much steeper up to $2,000 for a high level of intoxication and are assessed annually for three years. Revenues from the Driver Responsibility Program are split between the general revenue fund and a special fund for the state's trauma centers, which helps them offset the costs of providing care to patients who cannot afford to pay. Under HB 2068, the current point system would be abolished, although it would retain the steep added charges assessed on DWI convictions and drivers who fail to carry insurance as extra fines, under the rationale that drivers guilty of those offenses are more likely to create conditions that require care at trauma centers. Over the years, there have been at least 2 million drivers' license suspensions as a result of the program, with more than 1.2 million drivers currently affected. However, only about 40 percent of the surcharges are ever collected, resulting an an estimated $2 billion in lost revenues. The program to come up as a target for an overhaul, if not outright repeal, every legislative session, though only minor changes have been made over the years. This time around, 16 bills related to the program were filed in the by lawmakers in the House and Senate. "It's kind of like a groundhog day event every session," said Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock. Critics of the program have noted the program's shortfall in anticipated revenue, along with its failure to improve public safety, and the financial and emotional toll on those who cannot afford to pay the fees as reasons why it should be scrapped. Even the sponsor of the bill that created the program in 2003, former State Rep. Mike Krusee, has expressed regrets over the impact of his legislation and has called for reform or repeal to make it less punitive. Drivers who lose their licenses for failure to pay often continue to drive, subjecting them to more convictions and more surcharges, and there is no time limit on these license suspensions. "It's a self-perpetuating cycle," said Emily Gerrick, a staff attorney with the Texas Fair Defense Project, at a Senate Transportation Committee hearing last month. She noted that a second conviction for driving without a license can land a driver in jail for up to six months, exacerbating the situation. Opposition to the Driver Responsibility Program includes elected officials from both parties, advocates for the poor, judges, local governments, and conservative groups. But because trauma centers rely on funding from the program, it has been difficult for repeal efforts to make progress without injecting funds to offset the loss of revenue for emergency services. Even with the low rate of compliance, the program has generated hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue over the years. According to a fiscal note attached to one of the bills calling for a full abolition of the surcharges, such a move would cost the general revenue fund and trauma center fund roughly $75 million apiece in 2021, when the full impact of the program's abolition would be felt. There are nearly 300 medical facilities in Texas that rely on funding from the program to offset the costs of uncompensated trauma care, according to the Texas Medical Association. In the last 14 years, only incremental changes have been made to the program, such as introducing relief for poorer drivers to have half or more of their surcharges waived and short-term amnesty offers. But critics argue that the application processes for these programs are confusing and cumbersome, and relatively few of the eligible drivers have taken advantage of them. The progress of Phillips' HB 2068 marked the first time a major reform of the Driver Responsibility Program has progressed from one chamber of the legislature to another. HB 2068 has the advantage of preserving revenues for the trauma fund and general revenue, and could even offer an increase, according to projections from the Legislative Budget Board. It would also would remove much of the administrative costs associated of the current system, which is outsourced by the Department of Public Safety, by shifting administration to local courts. Local governments have expressed some concerns that they will lose out on revenues if judges continue to fine drivers at current levels or extend leniency based on what they consider to be fair punishments. However, the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts estimates that their revenue would increase by about $7 million per year. Another issue raised at Wednesday's hearing was HB 2068's lack of a sufficient waiver opportunity for poor drivers, an issue that committee lawmakers indicated they would be willing to address in a floor amendment when the bill goes to the full Senate. The bill could also face a constitutional challenge in Texas courts, warned Ted Wood, an assistant public defender with the Harris County Public Defender's Office in Houston. In March the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals held that fees charged as "court costs" that were diverted to state programs unrelated to criminal justice were unlawful and violated the separation of powers. The decision marked the first time a high court in the state found some court fees unconstitutional and is likely to bring more lawsuits in its wake. "Taxing is part of the executive branch and what was essentially happening was that you had the judicial branch collecting taxes," said Wood. "If HB 2068 is passed it will be challenged too." Eric Gay/STF AUSTIN -- The Texas House on Thursday unexpectedly delayed debate until Friday on a key property-tax reform bill, triggering speculation that the legislation might be in trouble. If the bill fails to pass, House and Senate leaders conceded privately that a special session is almost a certainty because Gov. Greg Abbott has made it clear that the legislation is a must-pass measure. 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. North Korean Missile Test Earns Researchers a Parade and a Hug From Kim Jong Un Kim Jong Un, North Korea's dictatorial leader, is hell-bent on making his country a nuclear powerit's been his primary focus, even if the prohibitive costs have meant people have starved. So important is the nuclear program that North Korea this week had a parade in honor of missile developers after the researchers oversaw a smooth test launch. The isolated nation claimed the rocket it tested over the weekend was capable of carrying a "large-scale, heavy nuclear warhead." It was a medium-range rocket that reached an altitude not previously in range for the countrymeaning the new missile could potentially strike targets some 1,200 miles away. In recognition of that test, the developers reportedly received a hero's welcome in Pyongyang. "According to state media thousands of people took to the streets of Pyongyang in colorful and traditional clothes," wrote Sky News. It was all apparently in honor of the researchers as they returned from the Kusong region, where the test took place over the weekend. See Newsweek Subscription Offers "Streets of the capital city of Pyongyang were full of festive atmosphere to greet the scientists of national defense," wrote the Korean Central News Service (KCNA), the state news service. The developers were taken around the city and greeted by people from "all walks of life," state media claimed. "The buses carrying them went through the streets of the capital full of flowers of welcome," wrote KCNA. "Citizens warmly congratulated them, waving flags of the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea], red flags and bouquets." The parade wasn't the only congratulations the scientists received. State mediareported that Kim watched the test and was so pleased he jubilantly "hugged officials in the field of rocket research, saying that they worked hard to achieve a great thing." The latest test launch comes amid increased tensions between North Korea and the U.S. under the administration of President Donald Trump. The president has said he would be willing to engage in talks with North Korea, but the White House responded to the latest test by saying the country "has been a flagrant menace for far too long." We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. All-Conference WEC teams The All-Conference teams for the War Eagle Conference have been announced with multiple MMCRU and South OBrien volleyball players making... Crane signs off, for now I miss my ol' buddy, sportscaster Keith Crane on the sidelines. I miss his friendly smile, his dedication to his... Raptors end season in regional finals CHEROKEE - The Ridge View volleyball team faced Hinton in Cherokee last Wednesday for the Class 2A Region 2 championship... The prestigious Cannes Film Festival began on Wednesday night (according to Indian time). The celebration of famous Hollywood actor Will Smith was also celebrated in the ceremony along with foreign stars and Bollywood. Deepika Padukone, Mallika Sherawat red carpet was hoisted. Deepakika lighted with Violet Marcheza Gown. She was joined by Julian Moore and she enriched her. Prior to a pre-journalist meeting, the two designers of the famous designers made the appearance. Another Bollywood film actress Mallika Sherawat is a special attraction in a white gown designed by Lebanon designer Georges Hubica. Mallica throws kisses into the sky. Aishwarya Rai will be celebrating this ceremony today. Aishwarya came to Cannes with his daughter Aradhi. Finals are done, and at just a few minutes before the final bell, and Nelson Dungans art students at Beatrice High School put the chairs on top of the tables and began packing up. Before you go, I just want to tell you its been a real pleasure to be here, Dungan told the class. I encourage you to take more art. He tells the students to be nice to the next art teacher. Give her a chance, he said, dont compare her to him. Now, Im going to go watch Gunsmoke reruns at 12 oclock every day, Dungan said, just before letting the students out. Dungan will head back to retirement after one final semester of teaching art to BHS students. After art teacher Libby Henschke was called away for National Guard duty, Principal Jason Sutter asked Dungan if he could return to take her place for the semester. Dungan taught art at Beatrice High School for 35 yearswith another eight years spent in Sidney, Nebraska and one as a graduate assistant at the University of Nebraska-Kearneybefore retiring in 2015. Though retired, Dungan still teaches at Southeast Community College and runs his own art studio Pottery Possibilities, which offers classes to artists of all ages. "Adios, man," a student yells as he walks out the door after the final. "Bye, Dungan," says another. One girl who calls out, "I'll miss you as an art teacher, makes Dungan smile. I love it, he said. Being around young people makes you feel young. When the process of looking for Henschkes substitute began, Sutter knew it would be a challenge. Finding a substitute for one art class is hard enough, he said. The sub has to be proficient and experienced in art, and even when a teacher has left lesson plans and assignments, he said, its tough. But finding a substitute for a whole semester, Sutter said, thats a whole different ballgame. Dungan, who had enjoyed about a year and a half away from BHS, was spending more time with his wife and his son, running a business and continuing to teach at SCC. After considering the offer for a few days, Dungan and Sutter came up with a plan that would let him continue all the other activities and teach full time at the high school. Its been exhausting, Dungan said. Hell come home completely drained, sit down and watch the news, but its been worth it, he said. Even though I didn't have the strength and energy I used to have, I knew that I enjoyed it, Dungan said. I have a passion for it. To really be successful as a teacher, you have to have a passion for what you teach and you have to love kids. You have to. This year, two teachers have come back from retirement to teach again at Beatrice High School. Kathleen Hubka came back to lead the drama department after half a year of retirement following the sudden departure of the drama teacher earlier this year. When a teacher leaves, it can leave a void, Sutter said. To have people who are passionate enough to come back from retirement, where theyre spending their days doing what they love when they want to do it, Sutter said, its a testament to who they are as teachers. It's part of their makeup, Sutter said. It's part of [who] they are as people. When we have teachers in our school that are passionate about the subject they teach, it makes a world of difference. Dungan was drawn to art when he was in high school. An art teacher took an interest in him and helped him develop a body of work that went on to earn him a four-year art scholarship. Something, he said, his family would have never been able to afford on their own. That teacher, he said, is exactly what he wanted to be. The person who inspires kids by giving them a solid founding in discipline-based art education and pushes them to do better. An art program based on appreciation, aesthetics and production helps to get them to that point, he said. Over the last semester, Dungan has been working on a painting of his own while students work on their pieces. The painting features brown sycamore leaves he picked up while in Florida. With the final over, he tossed the leaves into the garbage can after showing his students his progress. Itll be sad to leave, he said. Traveling with his wife, fishing with his son and getting around to the chores hes been putting off will be great, but Dungan said hes going to miss Beatrice High School. The first year that I retired, Dungan said, It really brought tears to my eyes because I knew that I would miss it. I spent a wonderful day at the Aotea Centre yesterday attending events at the Auckland Writers Festival. Shortly I am off again now for more literary stimulation and conversation.Highlights from Friday:This great New Zealander, now 99years of age, has lived a full and engaged life and under the skilled chairmanship of John Campbell the capacity audience was able to celebrate the life journey of this profound thinker. Unsurprisingly he received a prolonged standing ovation at the end of his session. And then he spent half an hour autographing his new book, Portholes to the Past, for his many fansThe hugely acclaimed British biographer introduced us to George Forster the young German botanist who sailed with James Cook on his 1772-1775 expedition to the Pacific & South Seas. Forster is featured in Wilson's new title, Resolution. Wilson is an erudite man, a great speaker with a warm sense of humour and I could have listed to him all day.Cleave burst on the scene in 2006 with his first crime thriller, The Cleaner. Since then there have been another eight titles which have been sold around the world having been translated into 17 languages. He is NZ's leading crime fiction writer and he told us of his writing life in conversation with Wallace Chapman.Another fascinating hour this time with journalist, author, wine commentator Clare Dunleavy who talked of the people who populate her handsome new book, Waiheke Island - A World of Wine. Ably chaired by Wine Master Jane Skilton.Footnote:I bought myself five wonderful "small" books for $91 at the excellent Festival Bookshop (run by The Women's Bookshop and Unity Books Auckland) . Downtown Akron Greater Akron Chamber has launched a branding program to discover Greater Akron's competitive differentiator, to attract more businesses and talent to the area and improve residents quality of life. (Shane Wynn) AKRON, Ohio -- What comes to mind when you think of Greater Akron? The Greater Akron Chamber wants to know. The chamber recently launched a branding program to discover Greater Akron's competitive differentiator, to attract more businesses and talent and improve residents quality of life. The chamber partnered with Nashville-based North Star Destination Strategies, which has helped develop community brands for more than 200 communities in 43 states. Leading the effort is Joseph Kanfer, chairman and CEO of Gojo Industries and vice chair of the Greater Akron Chamber's executive committee. "North Star has proven success in working with communities coast to coast and is uniquely qualified to help our community put together the region's value proposition, which will serve as a foundation for our messaging going forward," Kanfer said in a news release. "Your brand is what people say about you when you're not around," said North Star CEO Don McEachern in a release. "Branding is what you do to change or refine that message." The process includes research, strategy and creative development. The first stage, research, will identify the existing brand, McEachern said. It includes an assessment of the environment; perceptions of visitors, residents and stakeholders; and a review of current communications and the competition. "The research will not only tell our existing story, it will yield insights that point us in the direction of our desired future story," said Greater Akron Chamber Chair and President & CEO of Welty Building Company Donzell Taylor in a release. The ultimate outcome is to bring to life what is most compelling and unique about Greater Akron. "We have a lot to be proud of here," Taylor said. "We just need to let everyone know that." To weigh in with your thoughts about Greater Akron, visit the chamber's website What Makes Greater Akron Great. Please take a moment and click here to help the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, a cleveland.com partner. Every dollar you give buys four meals for the hungry. CLEVELAND, Ohio - Once controversial plans for a large academic dental clinic on the southern edge of the city's Hough neighborhood cruised quietly to final design approval Friday at a meeting of the city's planning commission. The clinic, a Case Western Reserve University project, will be part of the $515 million joint CWRU-Cleveland Clinic Health Education Campus opening two years from now. "We took a bit of a circuitous route because we made some changes to the building," Brian Smith, director of strategic project development at the clinic, said after Friday's meeting. "I would say things are pretty cordial all the way around." The three-story, 126,000-square-foot dental clinic, designed by architect Ron Reed of the Cleveland architecture firm of Westlake Reed Leskosky, will occupy a site on the north side of Chester Avenue at East 93rd Street. The design, refined since preliminary planning approval in February calls for a lean and clean-looking rectangular box of white brick with long horizontal "ribbon windows." The building will take the role of a supporting player north of the core structure of the Health Education Campus, a 485,000-square-foot glass and steel building on the south side of Chester Avenue designed by Lord Norman Foster of England. Among other things, the dental clinic will benefit residents of Hough, a poor, majority-black neighborhood where riots erupted in 1966. But Ward 7 Councilman T.J. Dow last year temporarily blocked a land swap between the city and CWRU related to the dental clinic project, which will provide care to the public at reduced rates. Dow objected to plans for an expansion of developer Wes Finch's Innova project, adjacent to the dental clinic. And he said the Clinic and CWRU were pressuring the community to accept the project and not listening to criticisms of it. Hough in general is grappling over whether it can benefit from redevelopment emerging around its edges, or whether it sees growth and demographic change as encroachment and gentrification. Dow eventually approved the land swap, after holding out for a community benefit agreement of the sort that has caused less friction elsewhere in the city. Smith said Friday that the draft community benefit agreement includes a community playground along East 97th Street. He also said that Dow has been supportive of the project after his initial opposition. "There's been nothing in the past year as far as any dissent coming from the community," Smith said. Dow did not return a call to his office Friday afternoon. During Friday's meeting Smith said the dental clinic underwent refinement in response to community input, plus meetings with the city's Community Development Department and the Euclid Corridor Design Review Committee. Those changes included: - A 9,000-square-foot reduction in the building's size enacted in response to budget constraints. - The addition of a park-like area with trees and benches along East 97th Street north of Chester Avenue that's envisioned as an attractive space for dental students or clinic employees to relax or eat lunch outdoors. - Expansion of glassy areas around the main entrance to the dental clinic on the building's east 93rd Street side. - Lowering of windowsills on the long horizontal "ribbon windows" that will cut across its facade. The modifications will make the building more approachable and street-friendly, without compromising the privacy of patients, Smith said. In addition, Smith said, the building's main facade material has changed from stucco to brick, making it more compatible with the main Health Education Campus building on the south side of Chester Avenue. In comments about the design, planning commission members focused mainly on how the city could "calm" the heavy traffic along Chester, which will be crossed 1,200 times a day by dental students walking between their clinic and academic classes in the main health education building across the street. "The pedestrian experience here is a little crazy," said commission member Lillian Kuri, noting that Chester Avenue is one of the East Side's most heavily used commuter routes. "It's kind of dangerous." Smith said that the dental clinic and the main health education building are both positioned far enough north and south of Chester Avenue so that the street could be widened enough to incorporate a green median that would double as a pedestrian refuge. Kuri said the city should try cheaper and more immediate solutions such as re-striping the street to slow traffic. When she moved approval of the dental clinic design, Kuri said she was doing so with the understanding that the clinic and CWRU would provide "some suggestions to us, the city, as to how to treat the crossings" at Chester so make them safer for pedestrians. "We would be very supportive of that," she said. Ellen Rudolph Ellen Rudolph started as director of the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage in Beachwood in 2014. She's now returning to the Akron Art Museum as chief curator. (Steven Litt, The Plain Dealer) AKRON, Ohio - The Akron Art Museum announced Friday afternoon that Ellen Rudolph, director of the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage in Beachwood since 2014, has been appointed to be the art museum's new chief curator. The career move is a return for Rudolph. She served as curator of exhibitions, interim chief curator and senior curator, respectively, from 2008 through 2013. A statement from the museum quoted executive director and CEO Mark Masuoka as saying, "We are excited to have Ellen Rudolph returning to the Akron Art Museum as our new Chief Curator. "Ellen's selection builds upon the continued success of the museum's curatorial department and her experience and passion for contemporary art is exactly what we need to continue to stay on the leading edge of contemporary culture as a forward thinking 21st century art museum." At the Maltz, Rudolph helped the institution double its attendance in three years, the Akron museum said. The Maltz museum also raised its profile, the Akron museum said, through programs, community partnerships, marketing and exhibitions, including "Operation Finale: The Capture & Trial of Adolf Eichmann" (2016), organized by the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage in collaboration with the Mossad and Beit Hatfutsot -- the Museum of the Jewish People; and "Violins of Hope," organized by the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage (2015-16). "I am thrilled to return to the Akron Art Museum and look forward to pursuing an ambitious and innovative exhibition program," Rudolph said, according to the art museum's new release. "The museum offers amazing opportunities to engage the community with art, and I am excited to work again with the fantastic collection and the museum's great staff while raising the museum's regional and national profile." In her previous stint at Akron, Rudolph organized exhibitions including "Pattern ID," which featured work by Nick Cave, Mickalene Thomas, Kehinde Wiley, James Gobel and many others (2010); "Gravity and Grace: Monumental Works by El Anatsui" (2012); and "Diana Al-Hadid: Nolli's Orders" (2013-14). She also researched and initiated the museum's acquisition of major works by Mickalene Thomas, Yinka Shonibare MBE, Kiki Smith, James Gobel and Matthew Kolodziej. Rudolph holds a master of arts degree in art history from Case Western Reserve University and currently lives in Shaker Heights, the Akron museum said. Rudolph's official start date in Akron is Aug. 28. Assault on police officer-obstructing official business, Brookhaven Avenue: An intoxicated Brook Park man, 23, was arrested at about 4 a.m. May 5 after he ran from police and assaulted a police officer. Someone called police because the man was raising a ruckus in his home. When officers arrived, the man was walking on Brookhaven. Police ordered the man to stop, but instead he ran onto Middlebrook Boulevard, which is where officers arrested him. As police were placing the man into a cruiser, he kicked an officer twice in the stomach. Police found a glass marijuana pipe in the man's pocket. Disorderly conduct, Stark Drive: An intoxicated Brook Park man, 67, was arrested at about 3:25 p.m. May 1 after police found him passed out on a Stark tree lawn. The man had been walking home from a bar when he passed out. Theft, Sheldon Road: A North Ridgeville man, 61, was arrested at about 2:15 p.m. May 6 after he and some friends tried to leave Donte's Restaurant and Pizza Shop, 20850 Sheldon, without paying their $100 check. The man and his friends were drunk. The restaurant manager called police. Officers determined that the man had no money. Scavenging without a permit, Smith Road: A North Olmsted man, 31, was arrested at about 3 a.m. May 8 after police caught him scavenging on Smith. He was picking through garbage, looking for metal. Theft, Snow Road: A Cleveland man, 46, was arrested at about 4:15 p.m. May 5 after he was caught stealing nearly $200 in steaks from Giant Eagle, 14650 Snow. Theft, Brookpark Road: All four tires and wheels were stolen between 7:30 p.m. May 1 and 10:15 a.m. May 3 from a 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe parked at Ganley Chevrolet, 13865 Brookpark. The vehicle belonged to a Ganley customer and was in the shop for repairs. Operating a vehicle under the influence, West 130th Street: A Garfield Heights woman, 48, was arrested at about 12:30 a.m. May 3 after police saw her speeding, and her car weaving, on West 130th near Car Parts Warehouse, 5200 West 130th. She was drunk. If you'd like to comment on this story, visit the crime and courts comments section. Please take a moment and click here to help the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, a cleveland.com partner. Every dollar you give buys four meals for the hungry. BISMARCK, N.D. A federal judge dismissed the civil suit filed by Dakota Access against the Standing Rock tribal chairman and four other defendants. In an order filed Thursday, U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland said the company failed to show that the federal court had jurisdiction over the case. Hovland dismissed the claims against Dave Archambault, Dana Yellow Fat, Valerie Wolf Necklace, Clifton Hollow and Jonathan Edwards. There is still a lawsuit against Donald Strickland and Aaron Neyer, who did not file motions to dismiss. The company claimed the seven defendants interfered with pipeline work through their actions in the protest, threatening the safety of workers and costing the company business to the tune of more than $75,000 a day when work stopped. But the company didn't show that the alleged losses caused by each defendant exceeded $75,000, which is required for a lawsuit to be valid in federal court, Hovland decided. "Dakota Access cannot aggregate the alleged harm from all pipeline protesters in calculating the value of an injunction against individuals acting independently," Hovland wrote. Tim Purdon, of Robins Kaplan, who represented Archambault and Yellow Fat, said he thought the decision was appropriate. "I don't think the jurisdiction was a close call," he said. Bearing that in mind, Purdon commented that the pipeline company took advantage of the court system to get a temporary restraining order against his clients, which was in place for several weeks, and prohibited them from "unlawfully interfering" with pipeline construction. Purdon said this may have impeded their First Amendment rights. Vicki Granado, a spokeswoman for Dakota Access, declined to comment. In court documents, the company argued that the court should consider the total harm done to the company aggregated among the defendants. "The value of the harm cannot be divided or apportioned to each individual defendant or protester who contributed to the harm," attorney Lawrence Bender wrote on behalf of Dakota Access. "The actions of any single individual may be sufficient to prevent Dakota Access from engaging in construction and, therefore, the entire value of the injunction is at stake as against each individual defendant." Hovland said the company can pursue damages in state court. Beijing and its Southeast Asian neighbors have agreed to a framework for a code of conduct in the South China Sea, a move that could reduce the risk of clashes in one of the world's busiest waterways. Along with the framework, rival claimants China and the Philippines will start talks today over their competing claims in the sea, according to senior diplomats from both sides. An island outpost, one of several, being built by China in the South China Sea. Reuters Representatives for China and all 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations agreed to the framework in Guiyang in Guizhou province after two days of talks that wrapped up on Thursday, said Liu Zhenmin, deputy foreign minister and head of China's delegation. "The draft framework contains only the elements and is not the final rules, but the conclusion of the framework is a milestone in the process and is significant. It will provide a good foundation for the next round of consultations," he said at a joint press conference. Liu declined to give details about the framework and said it would remain confidential. "The draft framework will be an internal document and nobody should publish it," Liu said. "One reason is we will continue our consultation, and the other reason is we don't want to see any interference with our future consultations." China claims almost the entire South China Sea, through which about US$5 trillion in goods pass every year. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims. A Pakistani vendor arranges coins at his roadside stall in Karachi. Rizwan Tabassum | AFP | Getty Images MSCI's frontier market indices will see their biggest shakeup in three years next month. Starting in June, the index provider will begin classifying Pakistan as an emerging market, upgrading the country from its current frontier market status. The move will have a significant effect on frontier market indices managed by MSCI and the $600 million iShares MSCI Frontier 100 (FM ), the largest frontier ETF in the space. More from ETF.com: Retail ETF returns reflect industry upheaval When and how to use niche ETFs Real-world ETF questions The removal of Pakistan, which currently accounts for almost 11 percent of the MSCI Frontier Markets 100 Index and the ETF that tracks it, will be the most notable reclassification for the index since Qatar and UAE were upgraded from frontier markets to emerging markets in 2014. Prior to their reclassification, Qatar and UAE accounted for 28 percent of the index. Top 10 Country holdings for FM Country Weighting (%) Argentina 19.9 Kuwait 19.5 Pakistan 11.3 Vietnam 7.9 Morocco 6.0 Romania 5.3 Kenya 5.2 Nigeria 5.0 Bangladesh 4.0 Oman 3.3 FM to become more concentrated The reclassification of Pakistan is good news for the country, and perhaps for investors willing to hold the single ETF that specifically targets the country, the $46 million Global X MSCI Pakistan ETF (PAK ). MSCI noted that the size and liquidity of the Pakistani equity market has grown significantly in recent years, prompting the upgrade. watch now But for investors who want diversified index exposure to frontier markets small, investable markets that don't meet the more stringent standards of emerging market classification the MSCI move raises a potential issue. Frontier markets are risky. Removing one of the largest and most liquid holdings in frontier markets will make the space more concentrated and even riskier. Moreover, such reclassification may not stop with Pakistan. MSCI noted that it is considering upgrading Argentina, currently the largest component of FM at 20 percent, and removing Nigeria and its 5 percent position from the index also. Those decisions will come next month and likely be implemented in 2018. In other words, depending on what MSCI does, more than a third of the stocks making up its frontier markets index today could be gone by next year. Other frontier market options A Louisiana man suspected of trafficking a prescription painkiller in Billings denied federal charges on Friday. Appearing for arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy Cavan, Nishen Ramon Palmer, 35, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with conspiracy to possess oxycodone with intent to distribute and two counts of distribution. The indictment alleges the activity occurred from the fall of 2013 until the spring of 2016 in Billings and elsewhere. If convicted, Palmer faces a maximum 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine on the charges. Cavan ordered him to remain in custody. The case will be heard by U.S. District Judge Susan Watters. Bill Gates dropped out of college because he saw a digital revolution happening and he wanted to help shape it. He and Paul Allen went on to co-found Microsoft and the technology they created was fundamentally transformative. "The chance to be part of the software revolution empowering people was the biggest thing I have gotten to do," he reveals in a reddit "Ask me Anything." Today's graduates can make a similar mark on society, according to Gates. He sees three areas as having the most opportunity for impact : 1. Artificial intelligence "We have only begun to tap into all the ways it will make people's lives more productive and creative," he says. 2. Energy "Making it clean, affordable, and reliable will be essential for fighting poverty and climate change," according to Gates. 3. Biosciences The field is "ripe with opportunities to help people live longer, healthier lives," says Gates. watch now broke through the $1,900 mark for the first time on Friday, hitting an all-time high, driven by global political uncertainty and key developments within the cryptocurrency world. The digital currency was trading at around $1,951.87 on Friday morning, according to CoinDesk's bitcoin price index. The current level marks a more than 6.8 percent rise from a week ago. Bitcoin's market capitalization is now $31.89 billion, up more than $4 billion from Monday. A number of factors are responsible for bitcoin's rise, from increased trading in Japan to debates over the future of bitcoin's underlying technology. Japan and Korea driving trade Trading volumes in Japanese yen and Korean won have risen and combined account for around 48.6 percent of trading, according to data website CryptoCompare. That's thanks to recently passed legislation that allowed retailers in Japan to begin accepting bitcoin as a legal currency. Since then, Japan has been a big driver of bitcoin trade. watch now Japanese yen bitcoin markets are also trading higher than U.S. dollar markets, with the yen-bitcoin cross trading at 228,783.29 yen or $2,058. This is higher than CoinDesk's bitcoin price index. Given that the Japanese yen has the highest share of bitcoin trading at the moment, this is helping push prices higher. "Arbitrage between the fiat pairs drags markets up or down in line with leading markets. At present, volumes on the KRW and JPY pairs dominate trading with a combined 48 percent market share," Charles Hayter, CEO of CryptoCompare, told CNBC by email on Friday. Political uncertainty In the past, bitcoin has acted as a safe haven for investors worried about political instability and the performance of other asset classes. U.S. equities saw a sell-off this week before rebounding, while the political establishments in America and Brazil are facing potential scandals. Investors are concerned that President Donald Trump might not be able to deliver on his promise of tax reform, deregulation and infrastructure spending. At the same time, a report on Tuesday said that Trump allegedly asked ousted FBI Director James Comey to "let go" of the investigation into former national security advisor Michael Flynn. Elsewhere, Brazilian President Michel Temer allegedly authorized bribes to silence a witness in a corruption scandal. Political turmoil in the world could be supporting bitcoin, analysts said. The 'fork' debate Behind the scenes, there is a debate in the cryptocurrency world about the underlying technology behind bitcoin known as the blockchain. At the moment, bitcoin transactions are taking an unusually long time to process and come with high transaction fees. Many in the community wanted to initiate what is known as a "hard fork". This would have led to the creation of two separate digital currencies. For the full explanation of the debate, click here. A bitcoin token stands next to a collection of U.S. one dollar bills in this arranged photograph in London, U.K., on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017. Chris Ratcliffe | Bloomberg | Getty Images But an experiment with another cryptocurrency called Litecoin showed that a "hard fork" might not be needed and this has buoyed investors. The idea shown with Litecoin the full explanation of which can be found here showed the bitcoin community that there is a chance to speed up transactions and the backlog that has ensued. "The new developments on Litecoin, which is experimenting with alternative scaling solutions may offer a brighter future for bitcoin, and a longer-term price increase, if those similar solutions can be applied to its network," Aurelien Menant, founder and CEO of Gatecoin, a regulated bitcoin and ethereum token exchange based in Hong Kong, told CNBC by email. Where next for bitcoin? Brazilian President Michel Temer Evaristo Sa | AFP | Getty Images Brazilian stocks showed slight signs of recovery at their open on Friday, after a new wave of political turmoil saw major indices post their worst day since the start of the 2008 global financial crisis. The Brazilian benchmark was 1.7 percent higher, recovering from a previous session where stocks dropped amid allegations that President Michel Temer agreed to pay hush money to a witness in the country's biggest-ever corruption probe. Meanwhile, the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM), which features a 7.65 percent exposure to Brazil, was up by 1.7 percent Friday after closing the previous day down 1.66 percent. The uptick will provide slight relief to investors, who continue to battle against a tide of volatility within the embattled economy. However, turmoil is par for the course in emerging markets. The Brazil index, which also logged its worst day since October 2008, fell 10 percent in Thursday trading and has suffered a tumultuous journey before now. Nevertheless, the Brazilian stock exchange has been on a largely upwards trajectory since early 2016 and is up almost 20 percent over the past decade. So, just how concerned should investors be by the latest development to shake the Latin American powerhouse? Game changing events Though regional markets cannot be compared on a like-for-like basis, it is worth looking at the impact of recent political upheaval in other emerging economies, which may give some indication of the direction of travel for markets. In South Africa, a fellow BRICS economy, for example, stocks suffered a sudden sell-off after President Jacob Zuma abruptly dismissed his finance minister Pravin Gordhan in late March. However, after enjoying a fairly speedy recovery, the impact has since been muted. "The initial market reaction may be more violent than the eventual range," UBS said in a research note released Thursday. However, it added that the news "has the potential to be a game changer for Brazil duration." How are fund managers responding? As such, the Swiss bank has removed its overweight recommendation on Brazilian equities, citing "material downside risk." The shifts come after research from Bloomberg revealed that U.S. hedge funds reduced equity holdings tied to Brazil by about $800 million in the first quarter of this year. This followed a 69 percent surge in the country's benchmark stock index last year. View of with Christ the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf at background Buda Mendes | Getty Images Of the ten U.S. hedge funds who held a combined almost $2 billion in Brazilian assets and ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds), as of March 2017, the largest allocations were in publicly quoted bank Itau Unibanco , state-run energy company Petroleo Brasil and iShares MSCI Brazil Capped ETF, according to Bloomberg data. However, Ross Teverson, head of emerging market strategy, said that the recent shake up would likely dissipate, creating value in the long-term. "Questionable governance has held Brazil back for a number of years and, while the ongoing corruption investigations create short-term uncertainty, there is a much greater longer-term payoff for Brazil if the new reality is that politicians and companies can no longer break the law with impunity," Teverson told CNBC in an email. Going forward, UBS said it recommends sticking to " high quality names", preferably exporters with U.S. dollar earnings and strong balance sheets. Such names include Brazilian brewery business AmBev , telecommunications company Telefonica Brasil , paper exporter Klabin and food conglomerate BRF. What next for Brazilian politics? President Temer has forcefully denied allegations that he approved an illicit payment to a former coalition ally, Eduardo Cunha, to cover up a corruption scandal and has vowed that he will not resign from his two-year-old government. The president, who was appointed to replace impeached former president Dilma Rousseff, was once seen as a symbol of economic confidence for Brazil but is now seen as one of the most unpopular presidents in the country's history. He will now face a criminal inquiry by the Supreme Court over the corruption allegations. Former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff speaks during a media conference at Uruguay's Frente Amplio party's headquarters in Montevideo, November 4, 2016. Andres Stapff | Reuters If found innocent, Temer can be expected to remain in office until the next general election, due in October 2018. If found guilty, he too will face impeachment and will be removed from office. In this instance, head of congress , Rodrigo Maia of the Democratic party, would take office on an interim basis of 30 days before a new president is appointed via indirect elections. UBS said the latter would likely spur an economic scenario akin to late 2015, when the country was imbued by a period of protests and social unrest following the emergence of allegations against the then-President Rousseff. Already, an 'occupy' protest is scheduled to take place in Brasilia on 24 May against the government's reform plans. Central Bank policy Brazil's central bank said following Thursday's reports that it will "monitor the impact of the information" and "act to maintain the full functionality of markets." J.P. Morgan Asset Management's senior client portfolio manager in Emerging Markets suggested that this could include continue efforts to contain local currency (BRL) depreciation, possibly by selling further U.S. dollar through swaps if the Brazilian Real depreciates. Demonstrators shouts slogans during a protest against austerity measures in front of the Legislative Palace in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Monday, Dec. 12, 2016. Dado Galdieri | Bloomberg | Getty Images Cash may be more filthy and disgusting than you thought, according to new research. Ordinary bank notes, such as dollar bills, can harbor harmful varieties of bacteria, and could be an effective medium for spreading infectious diseases among people, said a group of Hong Kong researchers in a study published this week in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology. The team said the research can help inform the mechanisms by which infectious diseases and antibiotic resistance spread throughout the world. Hong Kong has seen outbreaks of several diseases since at least the 1960s, including an influenza pandemic in 1968, avian flu in 1997, SARS in 2003, and a swine flu outbreak in 2009. Currency is possibly one of the main media transmitting pathogens and drug resistance due to its wide circulation in daily life," said a team of researchers hailing from the University of Hong Kong, the Guangzhou Center for Disease Control in China, and Germany's Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology. Given the relatively high risk of pandemics in crowded, cosmopolitan cities with humid climates, like Hong Kong, the researchers said in their study that "it is of clinical importance to examine whether HK banknotes could serve as pathogen reservoirs and vehicles through which pathogenic bacteria and infectious diseases could be transmitted to humans." The team collected HK $20 notes from cashiers at 12 hospitals and three metro stations throughout Hong Kong and scraped the bills for bacteria samples. They found that ordinary cash is quite hospitable to bacteria, more than a third of which were potentially pathogenic species, including the well-known and potentially deadly E. coli and V. cholerae (the bacteria that cause cholera). "In short, banknotes act as a medium 'absorbing' bacteria from other environments and the potential pathogens live quite well on the banknote surface," said study co-author Jun Li, a researcher from the University of Hong Kong, in a news release. In particular, currency had a wider diversity of bacteria than samples taken from people's hands, drinking water, marine sediment, and the air in metro stations. They also had a higher chance of having bacteria with antibiotic-resistant genes. Li said this means the bacteria from cash could be contributing to resistance to the antibiotics that fight bacterial infections. "The most important recommendation we could raise is that before a cashless society develops, the banks and government should pay extra attention to the hygiene problem of the currency, which is still frequently used in our daily life," Li said, in the release. "We recommend some routine disinfection of the currency from the bank, some public service ads reminding people to pay attention to wash the hands after touching currencies and the promotion of more electronic payment service, like mobile payment. We particularly would like to see the politicians and policy-makers inspired by this study." Watch: Bathing in bacteria? When I mentioned the incident to my colleague, she said she saw a similar incident at another hotel. In fact, there were several reports that the authorities had been taking away petitioners all over the city. Then I noticed on the pavement the familiar stack of official-looking documents often carried by petitioners, aggrieved Chinese citizens who travel to Beijing in the hopes of getting their voices heard by the country's leadership. One of the officers grabbed the folder of papers as the police carted her and the man away. BEIJING I was on my way to dinner, walking near a luxury hotel on the second day of China's much touted Belt and Road Forum . As I approached, I heard a woman screaming. Police officers had pushed her to the ground behind one of their vans and were slapping handcuffs on her along with a young man. This article is part of a "Reporter's Notebook" series, wherein CNBC journalists submit tales and observations from the field. President Xi Jinping's message at the Belt and Road Forum was that his infrastructure building program would bring people together through openness and inclusiveness. However, that spirit often runs counter to the way the government acts. The fate of this petitioner, whatever she may or may not have done wrong, got me thinking about the message China was trying to send the world. Dubbed, "One Belt, One Road," the president's initiative aims to build infrastructure all over the world, boosting the global economy and improving relations among trading partners by reviving the ancient Silk Road trading routes. The international diplomatic initiative, which could become China's largest, involves two-thirds of the world's population across more than sixty countries with hundreds of billions of dollars already pledged. "Global growth requires new drivers, development needs to be more inclusive and balanced," Xi said during his opening address. "We should build an open platform of cooperation and uphold and grow an open world economy." But this vision of openness doesn't always seem to extend home. Xi's government has tightened controls, clamping down on activists, lawyers and petitioners and has further restricted internet access for the public. For the forum itself, security was especially omnipresent and took measures to the extreme. A friend of mine ordered new kitchenware online and was alerted that the delivery of his cheese knife would be banned until after the event. "To the Chinese, this is normal," he said. For many participants at the forum, the environment was equally restrictive. I found people even more reluctant than usual to go on the record. That may be because the initiative is seen as Xi's pet project and people were extra cautious not to offend. But behind the scenes, China seemed to have trouble following through on its inclusiveness. One Asian diplomat told me China was getting a lesson in multilateralism. He said the Chinese didn't like the push-back they were getting on the communique because they weren't used to it. The South Koreans, meanwhile, weren't invited until the 11th hour. One South Korean government official I spoke to said he wasn't sure of the reason, but speculated that it was likely at least in part because South Korea has been on China's bad side over an entirely different issue Seoul's decision to deploy THAAD, a U.S. anti-missile system. And while Xi is claiming he will be sensitive to all parties, he has already shown otherwise. India, a fellow BRIC country, was conspicuously absent, in part because some construction would be built through a part of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir that India sees as its sovereign territory. One China analyst, Victor Gao, struck a hopeful note that New Delhi will come around though still on Beijing's terms. "There may be areas where India is not satisfied with, but I don't think it gives India reason to disregard it," Gao said. "India is in dire need of capital to build up its power stations, highway connectivity, railway connectivity, airport connectivity, and this is exactly what the 'One Belt, One Road' initiative can offer." But the challenge for Beijing will be to think beyond the building. The Belt and Road Initiative will likely put China in the middle of regional disputes, domestic politics and other countries' internal affairs. That may require the Chinese to reach out to local communities and listen to wide-ranging opinions from multiple stakeholders. As the crowds dispersed around the hotel after the petitioner was hauled away, a porter turned to me before I left. "She wanted to say something," he said. What would Mike Pence do? That's the question global investors may ponder amid the woes of U.S. President Donald Trump. There is a whiff of impeachment in the air in Washington following the appointment of a special counsel to oversee the FBI's probe into Russian government ties with the real-estate developer's electoral campaign. Trump's departure may still be an unlikely outcome, but the 45th president's flawed stewardship of the office should be prompting risk managers to run their rules over alternatives. In the first instance, that means assessing the economic views of the vice president, next in line should Trump leave the Oval Office prematurely. The truth is, both financiers and Republican lawmakers might vastly prefer the current number two. Pence, who is a former Indiana governor and 12-year veteran of the House of Representatives, has a solidly conservative record. In 2008, he voted against Washington's $700 billion financial-system bailout, a decision he defended through last year's election. A year later, Pence opposed Obama's $80 billion rescue of General Motors and the rest of the auto industry. More from Breakingviews: Active-passive battle will end in ceasefire Japan's job market is more brittle than it looks Singapore Airlines and Cathay fight same headwinds "Though I am proud of the American automotive tradition and Indiana's ongoing role it, I even opposed bailing out GM and Chrysler," he said in 2010, arguing it would have been better for GM to reorganize without taxpayer help. That's all the more surprising given the bailout paid off palpably for his Hoosier constituents. A few years later, Indiana was able to point to U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis statistics showing only one other state in the nation derived more of its economic output from the car business than Indiana. In 2011, the language of a bill Pence co-sponsored ultimately surfaced in a piece of legislation that permanently extended tax relief provisions from 2001 and 2003, repealed the estate tax and provided relief from the alternative minimum tax, according to Govtrack all tweaks that tend to help richer folks. Naturally, Pence voted against the Dodd-Frank Act, which regulated banks more stringently after the 2008 crisis, and against imposing regulation on the subprime-mortgage industry. He has favored making it more difficult for individuals to wipe away their debts in bankruptcy. He has consistently opposed increases in the minimum wage, too. In the House, he argued against efforts to increase the pay floor to $7.25 an hour, calling it "irresponsible and unwise," though the measure ultimately passed. In his first year as a governor, he signed a bill barring local governments from requiring businesses to pay higher wages, or offer benefits like paid sick leave, if not mandated by state or federal law, according to the Times of Northwest Indiana. Summing up his tenure as governor the Center for Economic and Policy Research, a think tank that swings to the left, noted that the state's GDP growth slightly lagged that of the nation as a whole, as did Indiana's private-sector job growth. "A conservative achievement this is not," CEPR wrote in a report last October. A blowout success or not, it's not sufficiently original thinking to require the coining of the term Pence-onomics. Instead, it reflects an orthodox, trickle-down conservative belief system, with a preference towards policies that benefit providers of capital over employees. That should appeal to many people in business and finance, as well as to GOP lawmakers, even if it could turn off liberal Democrats and the more self-described compassionate of conservatives. Meanwhile, Pence's motivation appears to be his ideology rather than personal gain. His public financial disclosures show a man of modest means. Apart from his $109,749 salary as governor, some $15,000 in a bank account and a state pension potentially worth $1 million on an actuarial basis, there's little to hint at Trump-like conflicts between the interests of the United States and those of his family (unless Pence's wife's ownership of a small "That's My Towel Charm Inc" crafts business counts). This doesn't prove Pence's bona fides, but it does potentially remove one of the obstacles Trump has faced with his agenda, particularly tax reform. Given his personal and family interests in the outcome, many in Congress, including members of his own party, are skeptical of his intentions. That shouldn't be a concern with Pence, and some liberals might even take pity on him given that his disclosed student-loan liabilities as a parent appear to exceed his financial assets. Perhaps the vice president's most comforting quality, however, is his temperament, especially in contrast to Trump. Solidly Midwestern mores on matters such as gay marriage do not please liberals on America's coasts. But the silver-haired lawyer's deliberative demeanor which inspired Trump to suggest he comes from "central casting" for the role of vice president along with the absence of a Twitter addiction would probably placate investors of all political persuasions. The vice president has his own issues to confront. The New York Times reported this week that the Trump transition team knew Michael Flynn was under federal investigation and still brought him in as national security adviser. Flynn lost his job after failing to tell the vice president he was the subject of a law-enforcement inquiry. Should Trump be removed from office, what Pence knew, and when, would need to be untangled. Pence doesn't, however, seem to have much to hide. His record on economic and fiscal matters is solidly conservative. His finances appear clean. His demeanor is cool. He'd have to explain one perplexing thing, though: why he so solidly supported a president with none of these attributes. Commentary by Rob Cox, global editor at Breakingviews. Follow him on Twitter at @rob1cox. For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter. Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales has slammed British newspaper The Daily Mail, accusing it of publishing fake news articles and "hyped up" headlines. Speaking to CNBC on Friday, Wales, who has started up a new site called Wikitribune to tackle the problem of fake news, took aim at the Mail. "I think what they've done brilliantly in this ad funded world (is) they've mastered the art of click bait, they've mastered the art of hyped up headlines, they've also mastered the art of, I'm sad to say, of running stories that simply aren't true," Wales told CNBC in a TV interview. "And that's why Wikipedia decided not to accept them as a source anymore. It's very problematic, they get very upset when we say this, but it's just fact, so there you go." In February, Wikipedia, the site which allows community members to contribute entries, banned the Daily Mail from being cited as a source on its pages, deeming the publication to be "generally unreliable". Following Wales' comments, DMG Media , the owner of the Daily Mail, hit back claiming that it was, in fact, Wikipedia that struggled with accuracy. "DailyMail.com is the very antithesis of click-bait and hype headlines. We just tell stories better than anyone else. "Which is why we have such an astonishingly high proportion of people who visit our home pages and websites every day, almost half our global daily users. "Mr. Wales' analysis is as inaccurate as any of the blunders for which his website has become notorious," a spokesman said via email Friday. The former U.S.Congressman Anthony Weiner plead guilty Friday to charges of transferring obscene material to a minor, and DMG Media said it was this sort of journalism that the public appreciated. "Only today Anthony Weiner has pleaded guilty to sexting with a minor as a direct result of an investigation last year by DailyMail.com. We will be interested to see who Wikipedia cites as the story's source," the media group added. Deere on Friday expressed cautious optimism about the agricultural outlook for its South American business despite an emerging political crisis in Brazil that puts recovery of the country's farm sector at risk. The world's largest agricultural machinery maker's stock jumped more than 7 percent in trading Friday after it beat on fiscal second-quarter earnings per share and sales and hiked its profit guidance for the full year. Deere still is forecasting down sales in the current fiscal year from its North American ag business but said it is seeing signs of "stabilizing." As for South America, Deere said during its earnings call that prior to the recent political uncertainty in Brazil it was seeing the farm machinery market doing much better. It indicated that the recovery followed farmer confidence coming back after the last political crisis in the South American nation known as a major producer of agricultural commodities. "Obviously, in the last week there's been ... some uncertainty injected back into that market," Tony Huegel, director of investor relations for Deere, said on the company's fiscal second-quarter earnings call. Even so, Deere said the South America market is seen as a standout in terms of tractor and combine sales growth this year, with the Moline, Illinois-based company looking for about 20 percent growth in the region, outpacing the U.S. and other key markets. That forecast for South America sales growth was revised from the high end of management's previous range guidance. Management remains cautiously hopeful that the new presidential impeachment crisis in Brazil won't dampen demand for farm machinery in a market that has been one of Deere's engines for sales growth. "Ag exports is very critical to Brazil and for foreign exchange, and historically you've seen regardless of the party support in all the agriculture sector," said Deere Chief Financial Officer Rajesh Kalathur. "We cannot say what's likely to happen," Kalathur said. "If you look at the past, and look at what is good for Brazil, we see them continuing to support the ag sector." The Brazilian government provides stability to the country's agribusiness sector through key payments to farmers in the form of credit subsidies. Brazil is the world's second-largest producer of soybeans and a major producer of corn. Brazilian President Michel Temer, who has been seen as supportive of agriculture and encouraged efforts to make it more efficient, faced calls to resign this week amid a growing scandal over alleged bribery. Last year, Brazil's Senate impeached his predecessor, Dilma Rousseff, for manipulating government finances. President Donald Trump should come into Saudi Arabia with managed expectations on his stop later Friday, a former U.S. ambassador to the kingdom told CNBC. "Every new president comes in with the Saudis with high expectations and then in some cases they're disappointed," Robert Jordan, who served under the George W. Bush administration, said on "Squawk Box," ahead of Trump's international trip. "The George W. Bush administration I think came in with high expectations, but we didn't get very far with the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Likewise with Obama," he said. "I think we've got to keep our expectations in check," Jordan added. Saudi Arabia is the first location on the president's five-stop tour across the Middle East and Europe. The country is making several efforts to impress Trump on his trip and further cement its spot as a major player on the world stage. The effort marks a stark change from the strained U.S.-Saudi relationship under the Obama administration. Also in contrast to the Obama White House, the Trump administration appears to be moving toward a more traditional U.S. approach of favoring Saudi Arabia over its regional and religious nemesis Iran. Jon Finer, former chief of staff for Secretary of State John Kerry, said Washington will be watching to see if Trump can change the subject from the Russia investigation and the internal management of the White House. "The big substantive area I think (is) going to be counterterrorism," Finer said on "Squawk Box." "He will work with the Israelis and Saudis to see if we can build close relationships on counterterrorism. And then secondly, Iran." Finer, who also served as director of policy planning under Kerry, said Trump's stop in Saudi Arabia is almost guaranteed to get a positive reception. "These countries are excited about some of the new approaches that Trump is adopting, particularly his aggressive stance on counterterrorism and Iran," he said. A recent recall for jerky products produced and packaged by the Huntley-based company S&T Project Meats and Ranch House Meats led to a discussion Thursday on the issue with Yellowstone County officials, the state Department of Livestock and meat processors. Shane Flowers, owner of S&T Project Meats, turned to Yellowstone County for help on what steps to take to solve the problem, telling Commission Chairman John Ostlund in a letter he feels the recall was unfair to his business. Ostlund placed the matter on the commissions agenda for its Thursday discussion meeting. Flowers, along with other processors, local public health officials, an economic development representative from the governors office and others participated a more than hourlong discussion. Mike Honeycutt, executive director of the Montana Department of Livestock, also joined the meeting by conference call. Honeycutt said he could not discuss the details of S&Ts recall because the company is appealing, but that the agency is open to working with meat processors on the issue and on ways to improve the program and communications. Honeycutt acknowledged that processors around the state were getting conflicting advice from various levels within the department and its Meat/Poultry Inspection Division. A big concern Honeycutt said hes heard from processors is that agency officials are not singing from the same hymnal. The DOLs Board of Livestock also is planning to hold a conference call meeting on May 25 to address the appeal, Honeycutt said. The DOL is having attorneys prepare a legal review of the appeal issues and make recommendations, he said. Honeycutt declined to respond to questions from Ostlund and Commissioner Denis Pitman on when or how the recall would be lifted or suspended because of the pending legal review. Ostlund told Honeycutt that the issue needed to be addressed because of the effect the recall is having on local businesses and the economy. Ostlund also said S&T Project Meats has butchered and cut meat for him and called the operation clean and immaculate. Flowers said he believes he was denied due process with the recall and that problems with the program are statewide and need to be fixed. The recall was published on May 5 for all ready-to-eat jerky products produced and packaged by S&T Project Meats between April 10, 2016 and April 10, 2017. During an inspection, state inspection program personnel requested records for the jerky cooking process and S&T Project Meats said none were available. Because records were unavailable, it was not clear whether the products were safe for human consumption, a press release said. The company could not provide documentation about whether the humidity, drying time and water activity were monitored when the jerky was made, the release said. The recall was a Class I recall, which means it is a health hazard situation where its possible the jerky will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death. There have been no reports of illness, the release also said. Flowers disputed the recall saying his company has an automated system and has had no complaints on its jerky or an illness reported. President Donald Trump may regret his criticism of the naming of a special counsel to take over the Russia probe, former FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker told CNBC on Friday. "I think it was a mistake," Swecker said on "Squawk Box," a day after Trump said he was the target of a "witch hunt" after the appointment of former FBI Director Robert Mueller to investigate alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election. "Look, if there's nothing there, then he has absolute nothing to worry about. And I would if he knew what I knew applaud this. Because Director Mueller will keep this out of the press. He will make sure that this team is buttoned down, and not talking," he said. On Wednesday, Justice Department officials announced that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein had tapped Mueller as special counsel. At a White House lunch with reporters on Thursday, Trump was asked about the appointment of a special counsel. "I believe it hurts our country terribly, because it shows we're a divided, mixed-up, not-unified country," Trump said. "And we have very important things to be doing right now, whether it's trade deals, whether it's military, whether it's stopping nuclear all of the things that we discussed today. And I think this shows a very divided country." Swecker said he opposed the appointment of a special counsel at first, but after witnessing the public perception of the Russian investigation, he thought it was time. "Anything that comes out of his findings ... he's not going to go far afield. He's going to stick to his knitting. He's not going to go looking for dresses and scandalous things. He's going to stick to the facts," Swecker said. European Commissioner Margrethe Vestager gestures during a news conference on Ireland's tax dealings with Apple Inc at the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium August 30, 2016. But these sorts of fines and taxes have become the cost of business on a continent better known for regulation than the type of entrepreneurship that creates companies like Facebook and its chief online ad rival, Alphabet's unit. $122 million isn't a fortune for Facebook, which earned $3 billion in net income in this year's first quarter -- a profit of roughly $34 million per day. At that rate, Facebook's 19,000 global employees will work about three-and-a-half days this quarter to pay Vestager's fine. That's because Vestager, the European Commissioner who oversees competition, just lifted a few cents per share from the company's investors in the form of a $122 million fine . The fine came after the EU found Facebook had shared data on WhatsApp users, after telling the EU in 2014 that it didn't have that ability. momentum traders may want to remember the name Margrethe Vestager when they start making bets on the company's second quarter results. Lucky for Facebook bulls, the company cooperated --- or the damage could have been worse. "The fine is lower than it would have been," had the company not come forward and taken the blame, said Vestager, who's made a name for herself by attacking the business and privacy practices of giant U.S. Internet firms. The fine came the same week that Italian and French authorities levied their own fines related to sharing consumer data, that added up to close to $4 million. Taken together, these bills add up to about 4 cents a share. And more costs for doing business in Europe may be on the way. Belgium and the Netherlands in the past week also released a statement that criticized how Facebook tracks users for advertising purposes. On Thursday, the UK's Conservative Party, which is preparing for a general election early next month, released its latest political statement, which proposed a levy on Internet firms to help fund efforts to reduce online abuse, according to the Financial Times. Granted, the tax may never be enacted, and will likely be a relatively small amount by itself. Yet investors should be clear that the regulatory environment in Europe seems to be turning against Facebook. When betting on how Facebook will fare versus Wall Street expectations, they may want to add an expense line named for Vestager and her colleagues. Facebook is seen posting a profit of 78 cents a share for the period ending in June. watch now Since his company broke into big data, Foursquare's new CEO, Jeff Glueck, finds the possibilities for big data companies to be endless. "I think there is no limit to the industries that are going to be disrupted by mobile data," Glueck told "Mad Money" host Jim Cramer on Friday. With about 100 million places in the world mapped on Foursquare's servers, the company has made a powerful foray into the big data space, serving 50 of the 100 largest advertisers in the world and roughly 100,000 technology companies. The refurbished platform allows Foursquare, No. 46 on CNBC's Disruptor 50 list, and its array of customers to understand people's movements across 200 countries, giving them an accurate sense of economic shifts and patterns across the globe. "Every business in the world has this fingerprint. There's different WiFis that are available on the tenth floor than the third floor, GPS signals, Bluetooth beacons. We've taken billions of signals, called check-ins, and we provided these wonderful apps for people," Glueck said. "But in the process of checking in at 100 million places, they've mapped the world for us. And that allows us to do some magical things." More from CNBC Disruptor 50: How Pinterest will escape the advertising traps that snared other social media platforms Bill and Melinda Gates are placing bets on this biotech in the race to develop a Zika vaccine The rise of the world's next great superpower The tech companies Foursquare serves are not just startups using the platform to make their apps more intelligent. Their clients include some of tech's biggest players, putting Foursquare in the ranks of Facebook and Google when it comes to understanding where people are going. "It allows us to make technology that lets you tag a tweet on Twitter from where you're standing. It lets Snapchat make better geofilters. Uber drivers, if you use that app, they're using our database of the world's places kept fresh by people checking in and a million different people, kind of Wikipedia-style, editing. So all of these technology companies are benefiting from this living, breathing set of explorers that are mapping the world every day," the CEO said. Glueck added that an advantage of Foursquare is that the service is "Switzerland" when it comes to fierce competition in the tech space, making a point to remain neutral while providing key information to its customers. Watch the full segment here: watch now Goldman Sachs told investors to buy T-Mobile shares, predicting the wireless carrier will thrive financially in the coming years, even if it doesn't participate in industry consolidation. The bank added T-Mobile to its Americas conviction buy list and reiterated its buy rating. "While investors have been focused on M&A given recent press reports, we believe that TMUS's valuation remains attractive based on two potential standalone catalysts: (1) material capital returns as TMUS delevers, and (2) upside to subscriber growth forecasts as TMUS expands distribution," analyst Brett Feldman wrote in the note to clients Friday. "Our analysis that T-Mobile could support a material share repurchase program on a standalone basis should limit downside risk if a proposed transaction is blocked by regulators." The analyst raised his T-Mobile price target to $81 from $74, representing 23 percent upside from Thursday's close. Feldman cited T-Mobile chief financial officer Braxton Carter's earnings conference call comments saying it is looking to return "cash to our shareholders." The analyst predicts T-Mobile will be able to return 66 percent of its current market value during the next five years based on his cash-flow and profit growth estimates. However, the analyst isn't downplaying the potential for wireless industry consolidation. "We believe market share leaders in the US fixed and mobile sectors may look to acquire companies that accelerate or improve their ability to deliver converged services. As such, we believe that TMUS may be positioned for a series of M&A," he wrote. Bloomberg News reported Sprint approached T-Mobile-owner Deutsche Telekom to discuss a merger with the U.S. wireless carrier on May 12, amid an already hot telecom deal market. T-Mobile's Carter also hinted the company would be open to a merger with Sprint and consolidation with other cable companies at a conference Thursday, according to a Reuters report. "What about Sprint, T-Mobile and a coalition of Comcast and Charter and the value creation that could come out of that?" Carter said. "From a shareholder standpoint, that could be very, very exciting." CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this story. Disclosure: Comcast is the owner of NBCUniversal, the parent company of CNBC and CNBC.com. The luxury real estate market in destinations such as Hawaii's Big Island has drastically changed through the years to accommodate a thriving full and part-time resident population, not just tourists coming for a short vacation. Just as a fluctuating market dictates the inventory available and asking prices, the needs and preferences of wealthy buyers can change as quickly as the tides. Here are the top five qualities that today's high-end buyer is looking for in a home. Location, location, location In the search for their own earthly paradise, most prospective luxury home buyers focus on the uniqueness of a listing, its hidden Edens and world-class amenities, proximity to the beach, ocean views and specifics involving the price. However, the smartest buyers also pay attention to the quality of the neighborhood. Even if a buyer is looking for complete privacy, they are going to want to buy in an area that matches their lifestyle. And if they can't find the right fit, they can always buy the perfect piece of land to build their own private oasis. Unobstructed views Let's face it, everyone wants a view. When prospective buyers visit a home, they want to walk straight to amazing ocean, mountain or island views. As many homes that cost over $10 million come fully furnished, buyers are attracted to designs that do not block access to the view with bulky furniture or heavy drapes and blinds. Generous bedroom count Individuals and families who can afford the steepest home prices usually have an army of personal assistants, helpers and relatives who need a place of their own. In many cases, the more bedrooms, the better. Sellers are now even converting useless space such as empty landings and halls into smaller bedrooms to make homes more attractive to buyers. Less is more Today's buyers are all about minimalism. Unnecessary shelves, curios, cabinets or desks are nothing more than visual noise for potential buyers. In order to keep the home clean and clear after it is purchased, closets and garages are key amenities to help the new owners tuck away their own treasures. The latest technologies Even when buying in an exotic or secluded location, high-end buyers are still accustomed to controlling everything from their smartphone. Being able to lock doors, adjust the home's climate, control lights (both indoor and outdoor) and set the alarm system with a touch of a button is a must-have feature for many luxury purchasers. Bringing the outdoors in Chamber of Commerce CEO: Workers may be question number one for infrastructure plan 8:40 AM ET Mon, 15 May 2017 | 03:46 There's a clear consensus: It's time to build. That was the driving message of Infrastructure Week, an annual series of events dedicated to improving our crumbling system that took place this week. The U.S. Chamber, which helped found I-Week 5 years ago, kicked off the week's activities at our headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Monday, hosting high-profile leaders including Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao. Some 100 other events took place around the country. We hope this nationwide week of education and advocacy has helped inform the debate and drive momentum for action this year. Indeed, the debate over what an infrastructure modernization package should look like is now heating up in Washington. The Chamber is ready to work closely with Congress and the White House to advance an ambitious plan, and we're going to be advocating for three core priorities for a final infrastructure package. First, projects should be selected and funded based on their potential to support long-term economic growthand prioritized based on what helps the entire country, not what serves parochial interests. This means we must build or rebuild highways and bridges, airports and seaports, rail lines and water ways, pipelines and power grids, and a broadband network that will allow rural America to connect to the rest of the nation digitally as well as physically. The second priority is creating a broad toolkit of public and private financing. Funding and financing should be tailored to each specific project and, where possible, utilize funds from existing federal programs. It will also be necessary to find a long-term sustainable funding source, particularly for federal highway and transit projects. One idea is a modest increase to the federal gas tax, which President Trump recently expressed an openness to considering. The third priority is to adopt needed reforms to ensure the right projects get done in a timely, transparent, and cost-effective manner. We need accountability and performance requirements for projects. Permitting must be fast and the procurement process needs to be up-to-date. This is crucial to attracting investment and ensuring the government gets the most bang for its buck. We also need to equip our infrastructure now for new technologies, such as autonomous vehicles. If an infrastructure bill is built around these priorities, we believe it will garner the support needed to move through Congressand it will achieve the goal of building a modern, efficient system to support our 21st century economy. Achieving this won't happen quickly or easily. But kicking the can down the road won't make the problem go away. And the longer we wait, the harder the decisions will be and the more the projects will cost. Our leaders and the public understand what's at stakeso let's use this rare moment of consensus to get the job done. Commentary by Thomas J. Donohue, who has been the president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce since 1997. Before that, he was president and CEO of the American Trucking Associations for 13 years. For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter. Watch: Donohue says infrastructure will take time & money A shocking plunge in one of its key components may dampen, but not crush, Wall Street's favorite investment trade of the last few months: emerging markets. Brazilian stocks collapsed Thursday on news of a fresh political scandal that jeopardizes the new administration's reform plans. But in the week ending just one day before the drop, investors accelerated purchases of emerging-market stocks, pouring the most money into those assets versus other major stock markets. The $3.9 billion of emerging-market inflows was the most in 39 weeks and nearly quadrupled the $1.1 billion of European stock purchases last week, contrasting with weeks of outflows from U.S. and Japanese stocks, according to EPFR Global data cited in a Bank of America Merrill Lynch report. But market strategists remained mostly optimistic about the hot emerging-markets trade, even as Brazilian stocks tumbled Thursday. "I think it's a good day for trading opportunities," said Kathryn Rooney Vera, head of macro research and emerging markets strategy at Bulltick, a brokerage and asset manager. "Any spillover to EM that really have nothing to do with the Brazilian president's scandal are a buy," she said Thursday. Emerging market countries include Brazil, China, India and Russia. Despite a historical record of high political risk and sensitivity to volatile commodity prices, emerging market assets have become a major attraction for U.S. investors looking for better returns than the sluggish domestic market. The trade has paid off so far. This year, the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM) has posted more than double the returns of the S&P 500. But on Thursday, Brazilian stocks fell 8.8 percent in their worst day since 2008 after the O Globo newspaper reported that Brazilian President Michel Temer in March allegedly discussed bribing a witness to stay silent in a massive corruption case. Temer said he will not resign and will prove his innocence in the Supreme Court, according to a Reuters report. Timothy A. Clary | Getty Images JPMorgan Chase & Co. There are many reasons to be excited about working for a company the size of JPMorgan Chase (think 240,000-plus global employees and over $5 trillion of payments processed every day), but one specific reason is the chance to work on technology that's disrupting the financial services industry. "We've always thought of ourselves as a technology company," says Dana Deasy, JPMorgan Chase's Global Chief Information Officer. "We're looking for strong technical minds who are innovative." The scale of Chase (and Deasy's $9.5 billion budget) enables Deasy's team to work on a wide variety of projects, including things like blockchain projects, robotics and machine learning. When I asked Deasy how Chase competes with "pure technology" companies for talent, he discussed how they work to fight the perception of tech in banking as "non-strategic, back-office cost centers." His secret? Have candidates meet a wide variety of employees at different levels so that they get immersed in the bank's tech culture. Deasy also discussed the investment they make into training, including specialty programs where top performers are given the chance to rapidly learn a new skill, like AI technology or how to integrate two separate Chase systems, that can then help them grow into a different role. Booz Allen Hamilton's cyber solution facility. The Washington Post | Getty Images Booz Allen Hamilton What sets the management consulting firm apart from technology companies? The real differentiator is the mission-focused aspect of their culture, says Gary Labovich, Booz Allen Hamilton's Executive Vice President for their Digital Solutions team. In 2015, for example, Booz Allen was named the master integrator for the Healthcare.gov revamp; the ongoing project employs hundreds of engineers who are tackling everything from integrating multiple database environments to huge scale infrastructure. Beyond the scale of the technical challenge, of course, is the mission behind the work giving people access to healthcare is "deep, significant public policy work," and people who are motivated by having access to that type of work are the ones who succeed at Booz Allen, Labovich says. Labovich also discussed Booz Allen's internal training program, known as "Digital Solutions University," where employees combine classroom training, web-based programs, and simulations to learn new skills they can use for the next assignment within the company. Engineers at Booz Allen participate in a process called resource management that helps match projects and opportunities to engineer skills on a regular basis, giving Booz Allen the flexibility to add people to a project or technology that is getting more attention while also giving employees a chance to raise their hand for something new on their next assignment. Additionally, Booz Allen encourages their employees to speak publicly on behalf of the company and to participate in internal hackathons. Leidos employees during a presentation. Source: Leidos Leidos Australian millionaire Tim Gurner made waves around the world earlier this week when he scolded millennials, saying if they would only stop splurging on fancy coffee and avocado toast, they could afford to buy homes. Millennials on the Internet reacted with rage, sarcasm and, in some cases, math. Howler Magazine editor David Rudin took the reaction to the next level by releasing a specialized mortgage calculator that allows you to see just how much avocado toast you'd have to give up to afford a home. His intro reads, "If you're here, another publication has likely suggested that people even millennials! they're people too could buy houses if they forwent small purchases. Let's see about that." He then allows you to choose your city, your vice (avocado toast or, everyone's favorite spending nemesis of five years ago, the latte) and the frequency with which you indulge to determine how many treats you'd have to give up in order to afford a down payment. Instagram is the most damaging social media platform when it comes to young people's mental health, new research suggests. The photo-sharing app, which is owned by Facebook and has 700 million users worldwide, is considered the social media platform most likely to cause young people to feel depressed, anxious and lonely, according to a U.K.-wide study by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) released Friday. In a survey of almost 1,500 Britons aged 14 to 24, the RSPH found that young people were most likely to associate Instagram with negative attributes and low self-esteem, resulting in poor body image and lack of sleep. Snapchat, the ephemeral photo messaging app, was also seen as a close contender, and most likely to leave users feeling bullied or left out by their peers. "It's interesting to see Instagram and Snapchat ranking as the worst for mental health and wellbeing - both platforms are very image-focused and it appears they may be driving feelings of inadequacy and anxiety in young people," said Shirley Cramer, chief executive of RSPH, who conducted the #StatusOfMind report in collaboration with the Young Health Movement (YHM). Net negative impact Instagram Snapchat Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram said that it remains dedicated to keeping the platform a "safe and supportive place" for users, and added that it is working closely with experts to enhance the app to provide mental health support. "Keeping Instagram a safe and supportive place, where people feel comfortable expressing themselves, is our top priority - particularly when it comes to young people," said Michelle Napchan, Instagram head of policy, EMEA. "That's why we work in partnership with experts to give people the tools and information they need while using the app, including how to report content, get support for a friend they are worried about or directly contact an expert to ask for advice on an issue they may be struggling with." The app otherwise scored well for enabling self-expression and self-identity when assessed against 14 statements relating to health and well-being. Meanwhile, Google-owned YouTube was considered the most likely to promote positive attributes, such as developing awareness, enabling self-expression and proving young people with emotional support. However, it was considered the most detrimental to young people's sleeping patterns. Facebook and Twitter both emerged divisive in their impact on young people's mental well-being. Both platforms were considered positive for self-expression and community building, though they were both also seen to lead to bullying and depression. Social media companies must do more With social media's global presence showing little signs of abating, the RSPH has called on companies to do more to tackle its adverse effects of young people and has issued a series of recommendations. These include introducing a pop-up warning to notify young people when they have been using the app for an extended period and disclosures indicating when a photo has been digitally enhanced. "As the evidence grows that there may be potential harms from heavy use of social media, and as we upgrade the status of mental health within society, it is important that we have checks and balances in place to make social media less of a wild west when it comes to young people's mental health and wellbeing," said Cramer. Becky Inkster, honorary research fellow at the University of Cambridge, added that medical bodies could also harness social media to help them communicate with young people about mental health issues. "For young people, using social media and digital technologies as a tool to help with mental health make sense for many reasons," she said. "As health professionals we must make every attempt to understand modern youth culture expressions, lexicons, and terms to better connect with their thoughts and feelings." Follow CNBC International on Twitter and Facebook. Share the Love, a fundraiser that Rimrock Subaru holds for Family Service each year, resulted in a presentation of $25,394 to the agency this month. Employees raise money for the Billings anti-poverty agency through food and clothing drives and other volunteer work, said Ernie Lee, the dealerships chief administrative officer and partner. Its a relationship, more than just a check, he said. We do our best to help them spread the message of who Family Service is in Southeastern Montana. This years fundraising efforts caught the attention of Dave Pygott, Subarus Denver zone president, who attended Family Services volunteer breakfast for the presentation. This years Share the Love total is almost four times the amount dealership employees raised four years ago, the first year that Rimrock Subaru partnered directly with Family Service. During the 2015-16 fiscal year, Family Service distributed about 1.3 million pounds of food to more than 9,100 households. It also gave away nearly $71,000 in rent or utility assistance and nearly 77,000 articles of clothing. All the money raised comes through private funding, grants, corporate sponsorship and food donations. Nearly 90 percent of Family Service clients work or live on Social Security, disability or survival income. About 25 percent live on $12,000 per year or less. U.S. President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner personally asked the chief executive of Lockheed Martin to lower the price of a radar system so Saudi Arabia could afford to include it in an arms deal, according to a report by The New York Times. Trump is set to use his Saudi Arabia trip this weekend to announce one of the largest arms sales deals in U.S. history, estimated to be upwards of $100 billion. The radar system, designed to shoot down ballistic missiles, would be added to the list of Saudi requests that also includes U.S. built planes, ships and precision-guided bombs. A number of U.S. officials said that during negotiations in early May, Kushner sensed that the cost of the radar system could be a problem for the Saudis and immediately called the chief executive of Lockheed Martin, Marillyn A. Hewson, to ask if a deal could be done, the newspaper reported late Thursday. Officials said Hewson responded by saying she would look in to it, the report also said. Lockheed Martin said they had no comment to make. The U.S. government had yet to reply when contacted by CNBC. Click here for more on this story. For some high school seniors, putting college on hold could be just the right thing. Also known as a "gap year," the break between high school and college might include travel, work, research or volunteering before continuing academic studies. Now, more than 35 percent of high school students are thinking of taking a gap year, according to a recent survey by TD Ameritrade. That represents a sharp spike from previous years, said Carrie Braxdale, head of investor services at TD Ameritrade. For teenagers, the year off may seem like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the world, score a unique internship as Malia Obama did before starting at Harvard or, more practically, provide some extra time to work and save money to pay for college, Braxdale said. According to the AGA, a nonprofit that accredits gap year programs, between 30,000 and 40,000 students are taking time off for a semester or more. The group says that figure is up 23 percent year over year. On the upside, "students who take a gap year tend to be more academically focused," said Danny Ruderman, a college counselor in Los Angeles. AGA research found that 90 percent of students who take a structured gap year return to school within a year, and are more likely to graduate on time and with a higher grade-point average. American Airlines flight 31 on the tarmac in Honolulu after a disturbance was reported mid-flight on May 19, 2017. Two military fighter jets escorted a Honolulu-bound American Airlines aircraft on Friday after a man allegedly tried to break into the cockpit. The airline said Flight 31, an Airbus A321 aircraft, landed safety at Honolulu International Airport at 11:35 a.m. local time. The flight originated from Los Angeles International Airport. "Two Pacific Command F-22 Raptors from the Hawaii Air National Guard scrambled this morning in response to a reported disturbance on a civilian airliner making an approach to Honolulu International Airport," U.S. Navy Commander Dave Benham told CNBC in an emailed statement. According to the U.S. Pacific Command spokesman, the fighter jets "escorted the airliner to the airport in accordance with homeland defense procedures. Local law enforcement responded once the civilian airliner was on the ground." "Due to a disturbance during the flight, the crew requested that law enforcement meet the aircraft upon landing in Honolulu," American said. "American is in touch with federal law enforcement." One of the passengers on the flight has since posted video on Instagram that appears to have been filmed after the plane landed. It shows a handcuffed individual being taken off the plane by FBI agents. The incident happened about two hours before the flight landed in Honolulu, according to the FBI's Honolulu field office. "A disturbance aboard a flight alarmed flight crew to the point where an off-duty law enforcement officer and others subdued a passenger," the FBI office said in a statement. It confirmed the individual who caused the apparent disturbance was taken into custody when the plane landed. Also, the FBI said passengers were escorted off the plane and interviewed as part of the agency's ongoing probe into the incident. The FBI identified the man as a Turkish national, Anil Uskanil. FBI special agent Paul Delacourt told reporters Friday the government was preparing a complaint to charge Uskanil for interference with a flight crew. As a precaution, the FBI also said he was taken for a medical evaluation. The 25-year-old Uskanil was involved in another incident early Friday morning that caught the attention of law enforcement, according to police at Los Angeles International Airport. LAX police said in a statement they received a radio call around 2:45 a.m. local time on Friday about a passenger going through a door from the terminal concourse that led onto the airfield ramp. They said Uskanil, a ticketed passenger who had gone through U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening, was allegedly spotted by an alert contractor and detained. Police said they investigated the incident at LAX and "Uskanil was arrested for misdemeanor trespassing, cited, given a pending court date and released from custody." The Turkish national was allowed to board Flight 31 for Hawaii despite the morning incident at LAX. A spokesman for TSA defended allowing him to get on the passenger plane. "From our perspective, he met the requirements that we had to get him on an airplane," TSA spokesman Nico Melendez said Friday "He did something post-security that police dealt with as they thought they should." The aircraft departed at 8:34 a.m. local time from LAX with 181 passengers and six crew members on a flight that lasted about six hours. "Several hours in, passengers and authorities said, he allegedly tried to break through the cockpit door, throwing himself up against a beverage cart as he tried to force his way into the first-class cabinet," HawaiiNewsNow reported. NBC station KHNL of Honolulu interviewed several passengers who described the terrifying scene. "I was just laying there sleeping, I get up, hear a noise," passenger Tainoa Foster recalled. "Everybody's like kind of freaking out. I look up and a man has a blanket over his head, and they're like can somebody please help." Added Foster, "I thought he was like tripping at first but I guess .... [he] rushed the cockpit." "Well, it was all kind of surreal," passenger Peggy Lorenzen told the Honolulu station. "It all transpired ... so quickly him rushing the cockpit. It was pretty serious what was going on." Added Lorenzen, "There were some sturdy guys back there that were helping hold him down." The FBI said interviews confirmed that the cockpit door of the American Airlines plane was not breached. They also confirmed the suspect was in the aisle way of the plane but said it was "unclear" exactly what his motivation was at the time. Bomb technicians searched the jetliner and personal belongings of the suspect, and no explosives were found, according to the FBI. American Airlines said the aircraft returned to service Friday night. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said Secretary John Kelly was briefed on the incident. "DHS is prepared to assist other federal and local law enforcement agencies as they investigate the incident," DHS said. "This unfortunate incident highlights the tremendous professionalism of American's team members, and specifically, in this situation, our flight attendants," American Airlines said in a statement Saturday. "Their decisive actions ensured the safety of everyone onboard the flight." In an effort to fulfill another campaign promise, the Trump administration moved to renegotiate a major trade agreement that candidate Donald Trump blamed for "massive" U.S. job losses since it was instituted more than two decades ago. But the tone of the letter triggering a review of the North American Free Trade Agreement, sent to U.S. lawmakers Thursday, was more measured than the president's heated campaign rhetoric. "The way we're going to go about it is product by product, country by country," Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross told CNBC Thursday, referring to trade policy generally. Retail, man. After two weeks chock full of retailers' earnings largely disappointing Wall Street and missing analysts' expectations the S&P 500's Retail ETF (XRT) was trading in the slumps Friday afternoon, on pace for its worst week of the year. The index was falling as much as 3.3 percent week-to-date, on pace for its worst week of the year dating back to December 2016 when the XRT lost 4.2 percent over a five-day period. Leading the declines were names like Ascena Retail Group , Foot Locker , American Eagle and Sears . Ascena the parent of clothing companies such as Ann Taylor and dressbarn saw its shares plunge more than 30 percent earlier in the week, after it adjusted its second-half outlook to reflect worse-than-expected business conditions. "The specialty retail sector is in a period of unprecedented secular change that is disruptive to traditional business models, and we believe operating conditions in our sector are likely to remain challenging for the next 12 to 24 months," Ascena CEO David Jaffe said. Meanwhile, Foot Locker's same-store sales are falling short of expectations what seems to be a growing trend across the retail industry. Remember how Montana legislators nixed proposals to raise state taxes on wine, on tobacco products, on e-cigarettes, on personal income exceeding $500,000 annually? Remember how many Republicans insisted they wouldnt vote for any tax increase and touted their balanced state budget? Theres one tax increase they didnt talk about much; they just approved it in the state budget bill. By reducing certain state funding for Montana public schools, the Legislature shifted $30 million in costs to local property taxpayers that will show up on November tax statements. The cost shift will drop to about $10 million on November 2018 property tax bills. Montanas school funding laws are exceedingly complex. The most important factor is the states biennial budget, which is set by the Legislature. Locally elected school trustees make most decisions about how to spend their districts funds, but state law determines how much. State law sets the maximum each district is allowed to spend on operations and the minimum each is required to spend to delivery minimally adequate educational opportunity. The Legislature decides how much of that minimum budget will be covered by state funds and how much must be covered by local funds. After two years of cost shift, the situation will reverse itself statewide because of multiple changes the 2017 Legislature and Gov. Steve Bullock approved in the all-important school funding formula. There are three key area in which state educational support is supposed to improve: A new trust within the coal tax trust will be established to help schools statewide pay for major facility maintenance. Schools will have to match state funds from the new maintenance program. The states school bond repayment aid is supposed to be put on a sustainable funding track after years of continually failing short of what state law said would be available to defray bond debt service costs for school districts with relatively low tax base per pupil. State aid called Guaranteed Tax Base will increase to schools with lower-than-average tax base per pupil. Over the next four years, the net result of changes approved by the 2017 Legislature and governor will be a decrease in disparity between local school levies, according to Lance Melton, executive director of the Montana School Boards Association. Districts that have relatively high base levies now will get more tax relief, Melton said. Theres a short-term shift, Melton said. In the long-run, there will be ongoing relief. School districts that now have lower-than-average base levies will see those levies increase, but they will remain below average, he said. The MTSBA has estimated how the combination of new 2017 laws will affect each Montana public school district. For example, the Billings elementary and high school districts together will see a shortfall of about $3 million in the year beginning July 1, and local taxes will automatically increase under state law to fill that funding gap. The Billings K-12 shortfall is projected to be $725,000 in 2018-2019 and $142,668 in 2019-2020. But in 2020-2021, instead of a shortfall, there should be a gain of $437,000. In a session where money was tight, public schools were at risk for losing much more than they did. Yet the state cost shift rankles for many property owners, and for school leaders who are required to get their operating and bond levies approved by voters. Most Yellowstone County voters have been rejecting school levies. The non-voted, automatic levy hike this November may increase the number of no votes. Much as we all dislike paying taxes, Montanans value high-quality education for our children. When legislators seek re-election, voters should hold them accountable for the education cost shift and for providing adequate, sustainable educational funding in future years. When an incumbent seeks your vote for re-election next year, remember to ask: Why did you increase my school property tax? How will you ensure that the 2019 Legislature fully funds the states quality education responsibility in the future? Russian deputy foreign minister Gennady Gatilov speaks to members of the security council during a meeting on nonproliferation of North Korea at United Nations on April 28, 2017 in New York City Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said on Friday that a U.S.-coalition strike in Syria on May 17 had hit civilians and was unacceptable, Russian news agencies reported. Gatilov, who the agencies said was speaking in Geneva, said the strike had violated Syria's sovereignty and would not help efforts to find a political solution to the conflict there. Separately, the U.S. military carried out an air strike on Thursday against militia supported by the Syrian government that posed a threat to U.S. and U.S.-backed Syrian fighters in the country's south, U.S. officials told Reuters. Gatilov said he was referring to a strike on Wednesday May 17, not the air strike on Thursday. The United States has not spoken about any strikes carried out by the U.S.-led coalition on that date. Diplomatic relations between America and Russia have deteriorated to such an extent that contacts between the two countries have become extremely paranoid of one another, the chief executive of Russia's largest bank has told CNBC. "From what we see here in Russia and from the programs we see from the U.S., the unfolding situation is fairly complex. And there are certain signs of a certain... paranoid attitude to Russia and to every single contact with Russia real or imagined," Herman Gref, CEO, said via a translator. The White House has been enveloped in political turmoil since last week, after President Donald Trump fired James Comey, then director of the FBI, as it investigated possible ties between the Trump campaign team and the Kremlin. U.S. intelligence agencies believe Moscow tried to advance the likelihood of a Trump victory in November's presidential election. At a news conference on Thursday, Trump again denied any collusion with Russian contacts during his election campaign. Russian executives hoping to prevent past business transactions with U.S. President Donald Trump from becoming public knowledge will get found out sooner or later, according to a professor at John Hopkins University. "I think everybody in Russia who has done business with Trump is going to get found out at some point," Erik Jones, professor of European studies and international political economy at Johns Hopkins University, told CNBC on Friday. Trump has consistently dismissed the sustained public and political pressure to release his tax returns and, while there is no law compelling the U.S. President to do so, the former New York businessman broke a long-held tradition when he decided not to release his paperwork during the presidential campaign. In a letter released by the White House on May 12, Trump's lawyers said a review of the president's tax returns found that with a "few exceptions", he had not received any income from Russian business contacts over the past decade. However, the attorneys did not release copies of the documents. Just when it seemed like the furious pace of hospital mergers in America was slowing down, we learned Friday morning that Boston-based Steward Health Care System will buy Tennessee-based IASIS Healthcare for $1.9 billion. The deal will make Steward the largest private for-profit hospital operator in the country with 36 hospitals across 10 states. This is not good. Because the more hospitals merge, the more it costs all of us for our health care. In fact, the fast pace of hospital mergers over the last few years is most likely the biggest reason for the sudden spike in health insurance premium costs. Obamacare made this problem worse and there's nothing in the current Republican replacement to fix it. That's no coincidence. The hospital industry has both political parties under its sway. First, let's look at the numbers. From 1998 to 2012, the roughly 5,000 or so hospitals in the United States saw 1,133 mergers and acquisitions. Then, according to health industry researchers Irving Levin Associates, things got even more heated. From 2013 to 2015, merger and acquisition activity among U.S. hospitals and health systems set new records. The total number of health care transactions for 2015 was 1,503 deals, the first time annual deal volume broke the 1,500 or the 1,400 mark. And the 1,318 deals recorded in 2014 was the first time the number of deals broke the 1,200-mark. Total deal value for 2015 was more than $557 billion, a 44 percent increase from 2014's total of $388 billion. There was a slowdown in the furious pace in 2016, mostly because the process of absorbing these massive mergers takes time. But also, we did see some token regulatory resistance to the continued merger mania. The culprit for the spike in mergers isn't hard to figure out: Obamacare. Once the ACA started to really go into effect, the increase in the number of people with health insurance made the hospital business potentially more profitable. Insurance companies had to struggle to figure out how to cover people with pre-existing conditions while keep premiums down. Hospitals, however, got a big influx of paying customers. So they pounced, not only by consolidating traditional hospital facilities, but also by accelerating the already existing policy of buying up private practices and even many of those urgent care facilities we've seen popping up across the country over the past decade. Owners of nearly 16 million vehicles with potentially defective Takata air bags are eligible for financial assistance in getting their vehicles fixed and up to $500 in compensation under the terms of a new consumer settlement with several automakers. Certain Toyota , Mazda, Subaru and BMW vehicles equipped with Takata air bags that could explode in a crash are included in the $553 million deal aimed at covering economic losses. People injured because of the exploding air bags are already eligible for compensation under a separate fund. More from USAToday: General Motors calls it quits on auto sales in once-promising India Plan to retire? 3 retirement moves to make in your 40s Vietnam vet's beloved Chevy Corvette heads to auction Plaintiffs attorneys who negotiated the latest accord said Thursday that the deal is a sensible step toward removing dangerous air bag inflators from the road and easing the financial impact on consumers. The deal, which must still be approved by a federal judge, will cost Toyota $278.5 million, BMW $131 million, Mazda $75.8 million and Subaru $68.3 million. Ford , Honda and Nissan did not sign onto the deal, meaning their legal dispute over economic loss claims connected to Takata air bags will continue. Among the possible benefits for current and former owners of the 15.8 million affected vehicles: Payments of up to $500 apiece. Free rental car for use while awaiting repairs. Reimbursement of reasonable expenses, including transportation, towing and lost wages or childcare costs, accumulated as a result of the recall. The deal also involves a ramped-up outreach program to convince people to get their cars fixed. Owners will be notified when the settlement is finalized. The accord comes after Takata recently pleaded guilty in federal court for its handling of the scandal. The company agreed to pay $1 billion in penalties, including funds for people injured as a result of the air bags, which have been linked to at least 16 deaths globally. The potentially defective airbags, which can spray shrapnel into occupants, are on more than 42 million vehicles worldwide. The episode has triggered the largest recall in U.S. history. Investors who think Tesla shares are overvalued are discounting the fact that the company will be a major player in the autonomous taxi market, a $2 trillion opportunity, one fund manager told CNBC, adding that the stock could be worth "multiples" more than its current $51 billion valuation. Last year, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced his intention to begin a Tesla ride-sharing platform when regulators approve fully self-driverless cars. "When true self-driving is approved by regulators, it will mean that you will be able to summon your Tesla from pretty much anywhere. Once it picks you up, you will be able to sleep, read or do anything else en route to your destination," Musk wrote in his "Master Plan, Part Deux" last year. "You will also be able to add your car to the Tesla shared fleet just by tapping a button on the Tesla phone app and have it generate income for you while you're at work or on vacation, significantly offsetting and at times potentially exceeding the monthly loan or lease cost. This dramatically lowers the true cost of ownership to the point where almost anyone could own a Tesla." Musk's plan poses a challenge to the likes of Uber, but also allows the company to tap into the autonomous taxi market, which could be worth $2 trillion globally in the next few years, according to research carried out by ARK Invest. Catherine Wood, the CEO of ARK Invest, said that many investors who think that Tesla is overvalued are missing the fact that Tesla could be a major player in the autonomous taxi market. When Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg was asked to give this year's commencement address at Harvard, he asked for advice from Bill Gates. Zuckerberg said, "They know we didn't actually graduate, right?" To which Gates replied, "Oh, that is the best part! They actually give you a degree!" This recent exchange between two famous Harvard dropouts might lead you to think college doesn't matter. Numerous media stories and even famous billionaires are glamorizing dropouts or encouraging kids to skip college entirely. While it's true there are successful college dropouts, statistically speaking, they are not the norm. As researchers in education and talent, we found that the vast majority of the country's success stories are college graduates, such as Sheryl Sandberg (Harvard), Jeff Bezos (Princeton) and Marissa Mayer (Stanford). The myth of the mega-successful college dropout We found about 94 percent of these U.S. leaders attended college, and about 50 percent attended an elite school. Though almost everyone went to college, elite school attendance varied widely. For instance, only 20.6 percent of House members and 33.8 percent of 30-millionaires attended an elite school, but over 80 percent of Forbes' most powerful people did. For whatever reason, about twice as many senators 41 percent as House members went to elite schools. For comparison, based on census and college data, we estimate that only about 2 to 5 percent of all U.S. undergraduates went to one of the elite schools in our study. The people from our study attended elite schools at rates well above typical expectations. Do elite schools matter? This year, elite schools saw an increase in applications and selectivity. Research suggests there is no difference in adult income between students who attended highly selective schools and students with similar SAT scores who attended less selective schools. At least for long-term earnings, where you go may not be critical, as long as you attend and graduate. Yet, our data show that for students with talent and motivation to make it to the top of U.S. society, an elite college might just help you get there whether it's the networks you acquire or the brand on your resume. While looking at over 11,000 successful leaders, we rarely encountered people who came from extremely poor or disadvantaged backgrounds. Helping disadvantaged talented students enter elite schools could promote diversity among future leaders. College matters That's what we were looking to understand in our survey of CEOs and founders of CNBC's Disruptor 50 companies. The message we heard from many of these trailblazers was summed up by George Kurtz, CEO of CrowdStrike , a cybersecurity software company that ranked No. 11 on this year's list and raised another $100 million from investors this week in a fundraising that valued the firm around $1 billion. "Running a business is always a balancing act. You have to break the rules, then be prepared to remake them," Kurtz said. What does it take to turn a crazy, disruptive idea, into a successful, sustainable business? A number of other founders and CEOs surveyed say they think of themselves as rule-breakers, but thoughtful ones. "To be a successful leader, you need to know when to take risks, when to play by the rules and when to set the standard for others," says MongoDB CEO Dev Ittycheria. That entrepreneurial moxy is a key if a start-up is get on the fast track to success, according to Jeff Jordan, a partner of Andreessen Horowitz who sits on the board of Airbnb and Pinterest, which were No. 1 and No. 31, respectively, on this year's CNBC Disruptor 50 list. "The biggest thing you're investing in is the entrepreneur," he said. "It turns out early stage, middle stage, late stage, you're investing in the entrepreneur. So you're looking for someone who is passionate, can tell a story, and most of all, is persistent." They also need to be brave and courageous, Jordan explained, because the one constant in a start-up is that things will go wrong all the time, so you need someone who can power through them. More from CNBC Disruptor 50: This little-known start-up is disrupting Facebook, Google and Amazon Elon Musk is rushing to beat NASA to Mars, perhaps during Trump presidency Uber vs. Lfyt: A race that isn't anywhere near being over Taking this into account, perhaps it's no surprise that hiring qualified talent is the greatest challenge facing Disruptor 50 founders and CEOs we surveyed. Thirty-two of this year's Disruptor companies responded to the survey. Staffing challenges was the top issue cited, by 44 percent of respondents, followed in a distant second by a related issue, delegating responsibility, cited by nearly 16 percent of those surveyed. U.S. President Donald Trump (R) and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (L) meet at the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C. on May 10, 2017. "We're sometimes stunned by the news coming (from and) statements made by Capitol Hill," Andrey Kostin, VTB president and CEO told CNBC Friday. Anti-Russian sentiment in the U.S. has made the heart of government seem to be "not a house of cards, (but more) like a mad house," he added. In the current climate of finger pointing, and amid ongoing investigations into U.S. President Donald Trump's ties with Russia, Washington D.C., "doesn't allow Mr. Trump to build any policy at all with Russia," Kostin argued. Any attempt made by the White House to establish a diplomatic relationship with Russian officials "is viewed as nearly a crime" by Trump's opponents, he added. On Sunday, the Dakota Resource Council will host a 2 p.m. screening of the documentary "Beyond Standing Rock" at the North Dakota Heritage Center. The film is a production from Rocky Mountain PBS, Inside Energy and Fast Forward Films. "Beyond Standing Rock" takes a close look at the controversy behind the Dakota Access Pipeline and the collision of forces that inspired broad protests. "We have been trying to promote community discussion and conversation," said Elizabeth Loos, a field organizer at the Dakota Resource Council. The one-hour film also sheds light on how Colorados Southern Ute Tribe took control of its oil and gas resources as well as created a strong economy for the tribe. The film also looks at a land war over the new Bears Ears National Monument in southeast Utah. Following the screening there will be a panel discussion that includes Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Council Member Chad Harrison, Inside Energy reporter Amy Sisk and Dakota Resource Council organizer Nicole Donaghy. The idea for the film came about when Inside Energy, a journalistic organization, wanted to make a documentary covering energy, said Sisk. The DAPL was beginning to make national headlines so the organization decided to make a documentary during the pipeline protests. "We didn't just want to make it about North Dakota and the Dakota Access Pipeline," said Sisk, who covered the controversy since August. "Tribes throughout the country have had similar issues with fossil fuel development and efforts to exercise sovereignty." "Beyond Standing Rock" was directed and edited by independent filmmaker Brian Malone, who has worked with Inside Energy previously. "It's one thing to see it on a little two-dimensional television screen," said Malone. "To be there, be in the camp and see all this stuff actually happening, that experience was pretty impactful for me." The film was released Feb. 23 and was produced by Leigh Paterson and Alisa Joyce Barba of Rocky Mountain PBS News. To view the Beyond Standing Rock trailer, visit www.beyondstandingrock.org. The documentary will premiere on Prairie Public Broadcasting at 9:30 p.m. May 22 and an online viewing will be made available at 8 p.m. CDT May 23. The online screening can be accessed by RSVPing at http://bit.ly/WatchBeyondStandingRock. Oscar nominee Tom Hardy will portray the comic book anti-hero Venom in Sony 's first-ever feature-length "Spider-Man" spin-off, the studio announced on Friday. The casting comes at a critical time for the studio's franchise based on the Marvel Comics' flagship wall-crawler. After its first reboot of the series foundered, Sony Pictures cut a deal in 2015 to merge Spider-Man with Marvel Studios' massively popular cinematic universe that features the Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy. In casting Hardy as the long-time Spider-Man rival, Sony has secured a critically acclaimed actor to play a dark, multi-layered fan-favorite. The character derives his powers and his villainous streak from a living, symbiotic alien that takes the form of a black costume, imbuing its host with abilities similar to Spider-Man's. @SonyPictures: Tom Hardy is Eddie Brock in #Venom, the upcoming film from Sony's Marvel Universe releasing October 5, 2018 production starts this fall. "I don't think there's anybody out there who can play this character so perfectly and so brilliantly," said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at comScore . While Hardy often plays intense characters, he has remarkable range, he said. This will not be Hardy's first turn as a comic book villain. He played the terrorist Bane in "The Dark Knight Rises," the 2012 finale to Christopher Nolan's acclaimed Batman trilogy. Venom first showed up on the silver screen in 2007 in "Spider-Man 3." The portrayal by "That 70s Show" star Topher Grace is widely regarded as one of the weakest parts of the original Spidey trilogy. News that Hardy would portray Venom quickly became a trending topic on Twitter, adding to the social media wind at Sony's back. In April, the latest trailer for its upcoming "Spider-Man: Homecoming" generated massive buzz. "With several moves they can turn this around," Dergarabedian said. "If the Sony-based Marvel universe starts casting actors and actresses of this caliber and on this level and with this kind of reputation, you are literally building on the backs of these actors and actresses a really strong foundation." Production for "Venom" begins this fall. The film is slated to premiere in October 2018. The studio is in final negotiations with "Zombieland" director Ruben Fleischer to helm the film, according to The Hollywood Reporter. President Donald Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia could be a boost for the big ambitions of Saudi Arabia's young deputy crown prince, who is trying to steer the kingdom's fortunes away from oil. For Mohammed bin Salman, the U.S. brings an arms deal worth $350 billion over a decade, while affirming its decades long support as Saudi Arabia's regional power struggle with Iran intensifies. For Trump, it's a reset of what was a less friendly U.S.-Saudi relationship under President Barack Obama, and a show of Saudi support for the U.S. in the fight against ISIS. "I think Trump will relish spending time in a country that is absolutely thrilled with his election. MBS will be looking for assurances that we will work alongside the Kingdom in rolling back Iran's regional ambitions," said Helima Croft, head of global commodities strategy at RBC. Bin Salman's Vision 2030 will get U.S. endorsement on his home turf. The 31-year old son of King Salman, known as MBS, is behind the program aimed at transforming Saudi Arabia into a more diverse economy. As part of that arrangement, Softbank announced on Saturday that it had pulled in $93 billion in committed capital for a planned technology fund, fueled in large part by Saudi investment. His longer term plan is to create thousands of jobs in industries, such as tourism and technology. The program also includes the funding of a giant sovereign wealth fund, with the proceeds of the the IPO of state oil company Saudi Aramco, expected sometime next year. "Vision 2030 is the signature initiative of MBS, but it is facing quiet opposition at home and disbelief in international financial circles. Trump's support in the White House statement for it when MBS was in D.C. were helpful to MBS. He is likely to mention it again this time. Such support also helps MBS in his ambition to be the new face of Saudi Arabia. But succession politics in the royal family are complicated, so the U.S. needs to be cautious," said Simon Henderson, Baker fellow at The Washington Institute and director of the Institute's Gulf and Energy Policy Program. Trump also visits Saudi Arabia just ahead of Thursday's OPEC meeting where the kingdom will lead the cartel in a decision on extending its production cuts. Saudi Arabia has suggested production cuts lasting nine month instead of six months as previously expected. There also was talk that OPEC is considering expanding the current 1.8 million barrels a day cut, but it's not clear whether there would be support for that. President Donald Trump's first overseas trip since taking office is all about rebuilding relationships that were strained in Europe by his own proclamations and in the Mideast by the Obama administration, said Ambassador Nicholas Burns, whose 27-year career in foreign service spanned both Republican and Democratic presidents. Stopping first in Saudi Arabia on Saturday and then in Israel on Monday, President Trump is going to engage in a "tightening up of American policy" against a common foe, Iran, said Burns, who served as U.S. ambassador to NATO and the State Department's third-ranking diplomat during George W. Bush's presidency. "I think you're going to see a bigger effort by the United States to promote arms sales to Saudi Arabia, to the other Gulf states, [and] to help Egypt and Jordan cope with this as well as Israel," he said on "Squawk on the Street." Ties with Israel and the Saudis and other Mideast allies were "frayed in the Obama administration," Burns said. But to be sure, he added, Trump faces the same difficulties in the region as President Barack Obama. "You're seeing the United States struggle with the instability and the violence produced by the Arab revolutions of 2011." "President Trump can't realistically hope for an immediate boost in the polls or any real respite from his critics at home. But he can get a significant shot in the arm internationally as he plays the role of deal maker and promoter of a wider peace." The silver lining is that some other traditional foes in the Middle East are now banding together. One of the worst-kept secrets over the past two to three years is that Israel and the Saudis have been co-operating in efforts to fight ISIS and defend themselves against Iranian aggression. For the Saudis, this makes practical sense. As much as the Saudis may hate Israel, they fear Iran and ISIS more. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend" is a major theme here. Enter President Trump who is unlikely to retract his earlier attacks on Saudi Arabia, but is appears willing to make amends with Riyadh and use a strengthened relationship as leverage against the Iranians and ISIS. He's expected to formally announce a massive $300 billion arms sale to the Saudis that includes a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-ballistic missile system, littoral combat ships designed to fight in shallow water close to shore, and precision guided munitions designed to limit civilian casualties. Much of the deal was actually put together by the Obama administration, but put on hold last year. Now, President Trump can take credit for being the savior in what was a deteriorating relationship. President Trump can't realistically hope for an immediate boost in the polls or any real respite from his critics at home. But he can get a significant shot in the arm internationally as he plays the role of deal maker and promoter of a wider peace. The religious imagery of the trip in total is also a powerful statement to much of his base, as he will follow his visit to Saudi Arabia with a stop in Israel and then the Vatican. But Trump must avoid stumbles and scandals, which could make this trip about him and not about new policy. The Trump team is making a choice of the lesser of two evils, and that's not always an easy argument to make. The good news is that with the Israelis doing the same thing, Trump has some decent strategic and diplomatic backup on this one. The Saudis are making a similar tough choice by ignoring Trump's past rhetoric and polls that show that most Saudi people believe the president is "anti-Muslim." One of the most serious criticisms of President Trump is not that his policies are bad, but that he has no comprehensive and consistent policies at all. With this trip beginning in Saudi Arabia with a $300 billion deal in tow and a clear message for the Iranians, the White House can start to answer that criticism with more than just lip service. Commentary by Jake Novak, CNBC.com senior columnist. Follow him on Twitter @jakejakeny. For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter. On Thursday, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross suggested the White House would aim to boost LNG exports not just to China , but other nations with whom the United States posts a trade deficit, including Japan, the world's top LNG importer. Last week, the U.S. Commerce Department said it had reached an agreement with Chinese authorities that would see Beijing give state-owned companies the green light to negotiate long-term contracts with U.S. LNG exporters, something it has been hesitant to do. A deal to open the Chinese market to U.S. liquefied natural gas exports could break Qatar 's grip on LNG pricing even if no additional American supplies ever reach the Asian powerhouse. [Chinese compannies] don't have to import any U.S. LNG. They just have to have that sledgehammer in their pocket when they go to negotiate their other contracts The mere prospect of China buying more of the fuel from the United States stands to upend the global LNG market. It would give the world's biggest buyers Japan, South Korea and China leverage in negotiations with top supplier Qatar and other major players. That could in turn shift prices paid for LNG across the world. In Asian markets, most LNG is sold in long-term contracts, with prices indexed to the price of oil. Those contracts can be renegotiated, and last week's deal between Beijing and Washington could loom large in future negotiations, according to Benjamin Salisbury, senior energy policy analyst at FBR Capital Markets. Chinese companies "don't have to import any U.S. LNG. They just have to have that sledgehammer in their pocket when they go to negotiate their other contracts," he said. Much like a technological revolution in U.S. drilling flooded the market with oil and overturned the global oil price order, the threat of American LNG exporters penetrating key markets could rock the LNG market. This comes as exporters are already grappling with softer-than-anticipated demand, weak LNG prices and a looming boom in export terminal openings all of which have converged to create a buyer's market. Cheniere Energy currently operates the only LNG export terminal in the lower 48 states, but four others are under construction in Texas, Louisiana and Maryland. They are slated to come online by 2021, and will push U.S. export capacity to 9.2 billion cubic feet nearly equal to Japan's total LNG imports in 2015. "Once you get sufficient critical mass of U.S. LNG capacity in the pipeline, so to speak, then it disrupts the entire global pricing mechanism," Salisbury said. "You've got to view all of these discussions through that window. What does it do to [Chinese buyers'] negotiating power elsewhere?" U.S. LNG export forecast Salisbury said he believes Beijing's real goal is to break the Qataris' monopoly over setting Asian LNG prices. To be sure, Qatar has already seen that monopoly erode, said Massimo Di-Odoardo, head of global gas and LNG research at energy research firm Wood Mackenzie. The Qataris have been forced to renegotiate contracts in light of falling Asian LNG prices and new competition. The ability to enter long-term contracts with American firms doesn't change the appetite for LNG in China, he said, but it does put pressure on the region's dominant suppliers like Qatar and Australia. If U.S. exporters can lock in at least a few long-term contracts with Chinese buyers, those deals could underwrite investment in new U.S. export capacity, he added. U.S. LNG is attractive for another reason: The American natural gas market is highly transparent, affording buyers greater clarity on costs than they have in other regions, said Rick Smead, a managing director at advisory firm RBN Energy who has advised Qatar on energy policy in the past. That transparency will help determine what others can charge and push the opaque, fractured LNG trade toward becoming a mature, functioning market governed by supply and demand, he said. Whether China turns into the LNG demand center some foresee will depend on a number of issues, said Smead, including the role of coal in its energy mix, natural gas pipeline imports from Russia and the potential adoption of the same drilling methods that are inching the United States toward energy independence. But the push by the Trump administration is not insignificant, according to Smead. "The more synchronization you can see in the objectives and motivation between industry and the government, the more of a force you are," he said. President Donald Trump's early days in office were subjected to almost universally negative news coverage, a Harvard study has found. The Trump presidency is "setting a new standard for unfavorable press coverage of a president," according to the report from Thomas E. Patterson, professor of government and the press at the Harvard Kennedy School and Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy. The study looked at Trump's first 100 days and examined coverage in the print editions of The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post, as well as broadcast outlets CNN, CBS, Fox News and CNBC parent NBC, and European news outlets the Financial Times, BBC and ARD in Germany. Of the total news stories examined, 41 percent focused on Trump, which was triple the coverage for previous presidents for the same period And of that group, the tone was resoundingly negative 80 percent of all stories, to be exact. That would be just shy of double the first 100 days of Barack Obama and significantly more than George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. Trump frequently has criticized his coverage, stating this week that "no politician in history" has been treated worse. Sources: Stephen J. Farnsworth and S. Robert Lichter, The Mediated President (2006), p. 37 for Clinton and Bush; Center for Media & Public Affairs for Obama; Media Tenor for Trump. "Trump's coverage during his first 100 days set a new standard for negativity," Patterson wrote. "Trump's coverage was unsparing. In no week did the coverage drop below 70 percent negative and it reached 90 percent negative at its peak." The "high" point for Trump came after he ordered retaliatory missile attacks against Syria when the Assad regime reportedly gassed its own citizens. The low points were when a court struck down an executive order restricting immigration from several predominately Muslim countries, and when a Republican effort to overturn Obamacare failed. Insurers are obligated by the Affordable Care Act to grant the subsidies, known as cost-sharing reductions, to eligible customers. "No final decisions have been made at this time, and all options are on the table," the official said. A White House official told CNBC on Friday, "The White House has told Congress that it will make" payments to the insurers for May, "but has not made any commitment on further payments." Trump told advisers Tuesday he wants to stop reimbursing health insurers for important Obamacare subsidies, which could spark political blowback for him and other Republicans as premiums rise, Politico.com reported. President Donald Trump now reportedly wants to pull the plug on a big pot of Obamacare money which could send insurance prices soaring for millions of Americans. Politico posted the story before a group including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, America's Health Insurance Plans and the American Medical Association sent the Senate a letter urging Congress to take action to guarantee a steady stream of cost-sharing reduction funding through 2018. "Such action would represent a strong, positive step for all consumers who buy their own insurance by eliminating the single most destabilizing factor causing double-digit premium increases for 2018," the letter said. The subsidies reduce the out-of-pocket charges such as co-payments, deductibles, and coinsurance that people have to pay when they receive health treatment, prescription medication and other medical services. The federal government, in turn, is supposed to reimburse insurers for their cost estimated at $7 billion this year. The Republican-controlled House of Representatives has challenged the legality of the federal reimbursements in court, claiming the Obama administration was paying insurers without congressional appropriation. A federal judge agreed with the House but stayed her ruling as the Obama administration appealed. On Thursday, 16 Democratic state attorneys general sought to intervene in the appeal, with the goal of keeping the funding for insurers in place. Their filings said Trump is using decisions that could affect health insurance for millions of people "as little more than political bargaining chips," according to their court filing. On Monday, the Trump administration is scheduled to tell the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia how, or if, it will resolve the House's lawsuit. However, as Politico noted, the administration and the House could ask Monday for the case to be put on hold for 90 days. A staunch critic of Obamacare, Trump could order an end to the payments even as that appeal, now being handled by his administration, remains pending. But until this week it was not clear that he actually wanted to do so. Politico reported that "many senior administration officials, including Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, are leery of ending the payments, however, because it could immediately unravel the Obamacare insurance markets and strongly discourage insurers from participating next year." Health analysts say insurers would be forced to hike their premium prices for individual health plans sharply to make up for the lost federal funding, while still being required to offer reduced out-of-pocket costs for lower-income customers. In a letter Wednesday to Trump's budget director, Mick Mulvaney, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and The Center for Insurance Policy and Research said that "the one concern" that insurers "consistently raise as they consider whether to participate" in Obamacare markets in 2018 is uncertainty over the subsidies. And even if they do participate, insurers have told state regulators "the uncertainty of this funding could add a 15-20% load to" premium rates "or even more." The letter, a version of which was also sent to leaders in the Senate, urged "the Administration to continue full funding for the cost-sharing reduction payments for 2017 and make a commitment that such payments will continue, unless the law is changed." Andy Slavitt, who oversaw Obamacare for the Obama administration, told CNBC, "The insurance commissioners know, politics aside, ordinary Americans are going to be hurt by these policies." "The Trump Administration can only try to break the ACA and [flout] the law for so long before everyone begins to squeal," said Slavitt, who had been acting administrator for the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. People whose household incomes are less than 250 percent of the federal poverty level are eligible for the subsidies, which are different from the financial aid most Obamacare customers receive to lower their monthly premiums. To get the cost-sharing reductions, eligible customers must sign up for a so-called silver plan on government-run Obamacare exchanges. Silver plans cover 70 percent of their customers' health expenses, with customers being responsible for the balance out-of-pocket, if they are not eligible for cost-sharing assistance. On Thursday, the Los Angeles Times reported that a top Trump administration health official, Seema Verma, in April, suggested that insurers could receive the cost-sharing reduction funds from the government if insurers backed Trump's plan to repeal and replace Obamacare. Verma, who is administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, "stunned insurance industry officials by suggesting a bargain: The administration would fund the CSRs if insurers supported the House Republican bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act," the LA Times reported. The Times quoted CMS spokeswoman Jane Norris, after being asked about that claim, as denying Verma made any such quid pro quo suggestion. "What she said at the ... meeting in April was that no decisions had been made about CSRs," Norris said. On Friday, Norris told CNBC in an emailed statement, "The LA Times story is completely false. The assertion that Administrator Verma offered to fund the CSR in exchange for support for legislation is preposterous." Noam Levey, the Times reporter for that article, said, "I appreciate CMS' comments, which we were happy to include in the article when they were provided. Others that we spoke to in the course of extensively researching the article had a different sense of that meeting. We felt it was important to report that." Watch: Trump threatens to cut Obamacare subsidies JERUSALEM You've heard of armored vehicles for world leaders and A-list celebrities. Now President Donald Trump is about to get an armored hotel suite. A huge security operation has been launched that aims to envelop the president and his 1,000-person entourage during his visit to Jerusalem and Bethlehem next week. Trump's accommodation during the second stop on his trip will be a bomb-proof, poison gas-proof and bulletproof hotel room built to withstand the collapse of the entire building, according to Sheldon Ritz, operations manager for Jerusalem's King David Hotel. More from NBC News: State Dept. summons Turkish envoy after bloody DC brawl The House may need to vote on health care (again!) Pres. Trump: Russia investigation is a 'witch hunt' "The presidential suites have independent air conditioning in case of a gas attack and are built to withstand a RPG [rocket-propelled grenade]," he said of the super-luxurious suites that cost around $5,700 per night. "But still the U.S. is bringing rocket-proof glass to put in front of the window." "If the whole hotel blows up the suite will come down in one piece, so maybe a few broken bones, but they will be alive," said Ritz, adding that the King David would become a "mini White House." In order to prevent explosives-laden cars from ramming the hotel, two buses full of heavy equipment will be placed at the entrance to the main road. Balloons carrying infrared cameras will float above the building while bomb-spotting robots will lurk in sewers beneath it. Every piece of food for the president will be certified as safe, with a tester overseen by Israeli and U.S. security officials perusing every meal destined for Trump and his family. The hotel which has been targeted before, most famously in 1946 when militant Zionists fighting for an independent state bombed the building and killed 91 is only part of the plan to safeguard the president. Israel's Operation "Blue Shield" will involve undercover police, special patrols, motorcycle officers, sniffer dogs and helicopters. More than 10,000 police officers will be tasked with securing his trip throughout Jerusalem, the restive holy city that both Israelis and Palestinians claim as their capital. "It is a top priority that there is close coordination with the U.S., making sure the visit goes exactly according to plan," said Micky Rosenfeld, a spokesman for the Israeli police. On Thursday, local media began reporting that a full-blown U.S. airlift had begun. Laden with equipment and dozens of vehicles, around 30 C-17 military planes arrived in Israel. The sprawling security operation in Israel and the West Bank underscored the longstanding tensions in the region. At the heart of the conflict is the Palestinians' desire for an independent state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem land captured by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War. According to Israeli emergency services, some 48 Israelis have been killed and 608 wounded in attacks by individual Palestinians since August 2015 the latest bout of violence. During the same period, around 260 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces and more than 18,000 wounded, according to Palestinian officials. Coordination between different countries' security agencies will be a major priority given the size and importance of the operation, said Christopher Hagon, managing director of Florida-based security consultancy Incident Management Group. "The more resources you have, the more someone has to organize them that would be a really big task," said Hagon, who was a personal protection officer to Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in the 1980s. "People tend to look at this stuff as basic protection that they can see, but what they don't see is that 90 percent is underwater. And it is made more complicated by other agencies wanting this, asking for that." He added: "I always had concerns that if it was overkill it might jeopardize the operation." And there certainly will be a lot going on during Trump's visit. The president's entourage will include his wife Melania, daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner. Trump, who professes to have an exceptionally warm relationship with Israel, will also be traveling to the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem, where Christians believe Christ was born. His trip will include a visit the one of Christianity's holiest sites, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and he will be the first sitting president to visit the Western Wall in East Jerusalem. Trump has said he is hoping to broker a peace deal between the Palestinians and Israelis, a feat that has eluded world leaders for decades. Back at the King David, workers are preparing for Sunday when the U.S. delegation will transform the hotel into a fortress ahead of the president's arrival the following day.. The hotel's 233 rooms will be occupied not only by Trump and his family but also the U.S. Secret Service, Army Rangers, Navy SEALs, as well as Israeli security officials, according to Ritz. A giant billboard bearing portraits of US President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia's King Salman, is seen on a main road in Riyadh, on May 19, 2017. Guiseppe Cacace | AFP | Getty Images Saudi Arabian investors are confident over future business opportunities with the U.S. following President Donald Trump's visit over the weekend. As the country tries to put concerns over a slowdown in oil prices aside, investors eye opportunities in the technological sector. "The U.S. is a key market for Saudi Arabia," Jamal Al Kishi, CEO of Middle East and Africa at Deutsche Bank told CNBC. watch now "In terms of investments by U.S. and Saudi into U.S., outlook is very positive, as Saudi Arabia is privatizing...Saudi also investing abroad to bring in technology to open market for its own products," he added. Ammar AlKhudairy , chairman and founder of the private equity firm Amwal AlKhaleej, told CNBC last Friday that the modernization of the Saudi Arabian economy should mean opportunities across different sectors for American investors. "We have two major themes going on, which is the drop of the oil price - that's the bad news and then we have the national transformation plan, which is the good news," he said. watch now "We need to pick the interest of multinational companies to come and invest in Saudi Arabiain various fields," AlKhudairy told CNBC. "So this visit, the economic or the business aspect of it, is very exciting because we hope that it will raise the awareness of many more U.S. corporations into Saudi Arabia," he said. Fahd al Rasheed, Group CEO of King Abdullah Economic City, sees the private sector re-shifting its portfolio. "You're talking about housing, logistics, tourism, leisure, all hyper-growth sectors," he said. First Overseas Trip watch now The Bismarck School Board plans to discuss the school district's $23,000 debt accrued over 10 years and involving 1,110 families not paying for their children's lunches. School Board President Matt Sagsveen said he added the item for discussion at the meeting, which will take place on Monday. Im not sure I have all the information I need right now," he said. "Obviously, with that amount of money, it raises concerns, so I think we, as a board, should hear some of the details on how that debt has accrued and then we can talk about how we want to collect it." Superintendent Tamara Uselman said, previously, the negative balance will likely have to come from the district's general fund, as many of these negative accounts are for former students. In November, the district adopted a new policy that outlined the steps the district now takes to recoup money from delinquent parents, including sending texts and emails twice a week and sending certified letters alerting parents that their debt will be forwarded to a collection agency. The $23,000 is owed to the district's child nutrition department, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The school board meeting will be held at 5:15 p.m. Monday in the Tom Baker Room in the City/County Building. U.S. government debt prices fell on Friday as investors become less worried over the stability of the U.S. administration. News reports that President Donald Trump asked former FBI director James Comey to end his investigation into former national security advisor Michael Flynn raised the prospects of legal issues for the president, and that concerned investors. Trump last week fired Comey, who was investigating the Trump campaign's ties to Russia. The Justice Department Wednesday appointed a special counsel to investigate Russian influence in the election. Flynn has been at the heart of the investigation into the Trump campaign. The news pushed yields lower as investors sought out safety, but those worries eased Thursday and Friday. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury notes, which moves inversely to price, was higher at around 2.247 percent, while the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond was lower at 2.910 percent. Nevertheless, yields held near one-month lows reached earlier this week. The U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York announced the arrest of a trader on securities and wire fraud charges, who allegedly manipulated Fitbit shares last year with a fake tender offer from a Chinese company he registered with the SEC. "As alleged, Robert Walter Murray created a fake tender offer for Fitbit to drive up its share price and then illegally profit from his manipulation of the market. After profiting at the expense of the public, Murray allegedly took elaborate steps to hide that he was behind the fraud," acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said in the statement. The SEC also filed civil charges against Murray and noted in its release that the alleged scheme only netted him $3,100 in profit. The government alleges Murray submitted a filing on the SEC's Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval, or "EDGAR," system on Nov. 9, 2016, which said a China-based firm called "ABM Capital" offered to acquire Fitbit for $12.50 a share. Fitbit shares then rose on Nov. 10 to $9.27 from the previous day's close of $8.55, resulting in a "manipulation of the market by over $100 million," according to Kim. Murray allegedly bought call options for Fitbit stock around Nov. 9, 2016, and then sold the options for a profit after the "sham tender offer" moved the company's shares, according to the complaint. Murray was arrested in Virginia and will be brought to federal court in Manhattan on Friday. He is a mechanical engineer, according to the SEC release. Fitbit shares are down nearly 25 percent this year through Thursday compared with the S&P 500's 6 percent return. The company's stock was up 1. 7 percent in late trading Friday to $5.51. The WannaCry cyberattack which hit 200,000 computers across the world was the result of a "huge screw-up" by the U.S. government as a result of its spying practices, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales told CNBC on Friday. Last week, a virus known as WannaCry exploited a security flaw in Microsoft's Windows XP operating system. The vulnerability was originally discovered by the National Security Agency (NSA) to spy on users. While Microsoft had released a fix for the bug in March, many users had not updated their software. When the bug was leaked online in April, the hackers were able to see the flaw to launch the WannaCry attack which locked users' files on their computer and demanded they pay a ransom in the cryptocurrency bitcoin to get it back. On Sunday, Microsoft's Chief Legal Officer Brad Smith criticized the U.S. government and said the cyberattack shows the dangers of spy agencies "stockpiling" these security vulnerabilities like they would weapons. Wales backed Smith. "I would join with Microsoft and the other leaders of the industry in saying this is a huge screw-up by the government," Wales told CNBC. "This is an issue that should have been, the moment the NSA found it, they should have notified Microsoft so they could quietly issue a patch and really chivvy people along long before it became a huge problem. So I think it's very problematic when we see the security services stockpiling and weaponizing what are things that are very risky to the public." Wales compared it to a stash of Tomahawk missiles that have been stolen and then deployed. "That's not OK," he added. President Donald Trump waves as he boards Air Force One prior to departing from Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images Donald Trump is embarking on his first trip abroad, and the people of the Middle East have surprisingly diverse views about the U.S. president. The president visits Saudi Arabia and Israel before moving on to Europe. The tour marks the president's first step on the world stage and will include talks with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz and his deputy crown prince on a $100 billion arms deal, as well as discussions on fighting in Iraq, Syria and Yemen. Trump is also expected to deliver a major speech addressing radical Islamic terrorism. He will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem and the Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem. In anticipation of the trip, Reuters photographers captured viewpoints from people across the Middle East regarding the president and his policies. What follows is a sampling of their views: CNBC's Adam Jeffery contributed to this report Djamel Bouktech, 66, merchant in Algiers, Algeria Djamel Bouktech, 66, sells dates at his shop in the old city of Algiers, Algeria. "I think it's just a simple courtesy visit because the Arabs of the Middle East are and will always be friends and strong allies of the USA. They have common interests also," Bouktech said. "This will have a positive effect for the allies of the USA and negative for the others in the Middle East in the long term because of the fragility of the region." Ramzi Boudina | Reuters "I think it's just a simple courtesy visit, because the Arabs of the Middle East are and will always be friends and strong allies of the USA. They have common interests also. This will have a positive effect for the allies of the USA and negative for the others in the Middle East in the long term because of the fragility of the region." Abdulwali Ahmed Qadhi of Sanaa, Yemen Sanaa resident Abdulwali Ahmed Qadhi, on a bridge in the old city of Sanaa, Yemen. "What Trump is doing in the Middle East is terrorizing, just terrorizing. An idiot with no policy but terrorizing. He wants countries to recognize Israel," Qadhi said. Khaled Abdullah | Reuters "What Trump is doing in the Middle East is terrorizing, just terrorizing. An idiot with no policy but terrorizing. He wants countries to recognize Israel." Somar Hazim, 35, pub operator in Old Damascus, Syria Somar Hazim, 35, inside his pub in Old Damascus, Syria. "The change is his Syria policy based on interests, in the sense that there's no clear methodology," Hazim said. "As for the issue of arming the Kurds, I do not oppose this as long as the goal is fighting a common enemy for the Syrian state, which is Daesh, provided that these weapons are not exploited to create a partitioned idea of Syria." Omar Sanadiki | Reuters "The change is his Syria policy based on interests, in the sense that there's no clear methodology. As for the issue of arming the Kurds, I do not oppose this as long as the goal is fighting a common enemy for the Syrian state, which is Daesh" another name for ISIS "provided that these weapons are not exploited to create a partitioned idea of Syria." Ali Bassem, 26, Iraqi Emergency Response Division, Mosul, Iraq Ali Bassem, 26, a member of Iraqi Emergency Response Division force, at a front line during clashes with Islamic State fighters in western Mosul, Iraq. Danish Siddiqui | Reuters "He is a hero. He got Daesh out of Iraq. He is cooperative with the Iraqi people and we and the Americans are one nation. We are brothers." Artist Charbel Fares, near Sidon, Lebanon Artist Charbel Fares near his sculptures at his house near Sidon, southern Lebanon. "Trump's policies will lead us either to a world war with the Middle East as its center stage or towards a compromise between all the conflicting powers based on dividing our countries and changing the boundaries determined by the Sykes-Picot agreement (between Britain and France in 1916)," Ali Hashisho | Reuters "Trump's policies will lead us either to a world war with the Middle East as its center stage or towards a compromise between all the conflicting powers based on dividing our countries and changing the boundaries determined by the Sykes-Picot agreement" that was drawn up by Imperial Britain and France in 1916. Sherine Haji, 23, Kurdish fighter with the People's Protection Units (YPG) in Qamishli city, Syria Sherine Haji, 23, a Kurdish female fighter from the People's Protection Units (YPG), rests in a hospital in Qamishli city, Syria. "The plan to arm the YPG is a decision taken late. We have experienced many heavy battles. If this support was happening in the first place, the advances would have been quicker. We would not have to sacrifice many lives," Haji said. "Now I'm wounded, I've lost two legs, but rather than aching because of my pain, I'm worried for my people. This must end, no one else should be in pain. There must be free and peaceful life in this country." Rodi Said | Reuters "The plan to arm the YPG is a decision taken late. We have experienced many heavy battles. If this support was happening in the first place, the advances would have been quicker. We would not have to sacrifice many lives. Now I'm wounded, I've lost two legs, but rather than aching because of my pain, I'm worried for my people. This must end, no one else should be in pain. There must be free and peaceful life in this country." Nayef al-Hayzan, 28, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Nayef al-Hayzan, 28, at a cafe in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. "I expect that Trump's visit will have a positive impact on the Saudi economy, and discussions are expected to tackle the problems in Syria and (energy giant) Aramco's privatization in international markets and U.S. markets in particular," al-Hayzan said. Faisal Al Nasser | Reuter "I expect that Trump's visit will have a positive impact on the Saudi economy, and discussions are expected to tackle the problems in Syria and [energy giant] Aramco's privatization in international markets and U.S. markets in particular." Crafts salesman Hidaya Muhyiddin, 35, in Erbil, Iraq (Kurdistan) Crafts salesman Hidaya Muhyiddin, 35, in Erbil, Iraq. "Trump should take speedy decisions, and for Kurds, they are oppressed and America has the right to arm them and support them militarily and financially. America must help Kurds not only in Syria but in all Kurdish areas," Muhyiddin said. Azad Lashkari | Reuters "Trump should take speedy decisions, and for Kurds, they are oppressed and America has the right to arm them and support them militarily and financially. America must help Kurds not only in Syria but in all Kurdish areas." Ovad Chen, falafel shop proprietor, Jerusalem Ovad Chen at his falafel shop in Jerusalem. "I see myself as a very simple person and I believe that at the end of the day, God controls everything. Therefore, it doesn't really matter what Trump is saying or doing in the Middle East or anywhere else," Chen said. "Even if we might think people are in any sort of control or power, this is all an illusion. God is the real king." Nir Elias | Reuters "I see myself as a very simple person, and I believe that at the end of the day, God controls everything. Therefore, it doesn't really matter what Trump is saying or doing in the Middle East or anywhere else. Even if we might think people are in any sort of control or power, this is all an illusion. God is the real king." Fine arts graduate Marla Awad, Old Damascus, Syria Fine arts graduate Marla Awad, who works at an import and export company, outside a pub in Old Damascus, Syria. "What matters to me was one very negative decision - his refusal to allow the Syrians to immigrate to America in a racist way, because travelling to it was a dream for me to fulfil my ambitions to study and work," Awad said. Omar Sanadiki | Reuters "What matters to me was one very negative decision his refusal to allow the Syrians to immigrate to America in a racist way, because traveling to it was a dream for me to fulfill my ambitions to study and work." George Gharib, accessories shop proprietor, Beirut, Lebanon George Gharib at his accessories shop in Beirut, Lebanon. "I do not expect any change in American policies towards the region, especially since President Trump is committed to moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and there is no intention to pressure Israel," Gharib said. "He will be like all previous presidents who came before him with bias and abiding by Israeli interests." Aziz Taher | Reuters "I do not expect any change in American policies toward the region, especially since President Trump is committed to moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, and there is no intention to pressure Israel. He will be like all previous presidents who came before him with bias and abiding by Israeli interests." Anonymous female fighter from the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), Gaza Strip Anonymous female fighter from the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) at a training camp in the southern Gaza Strip. "Trump is a man of war, he works on spreading war, chaos and killing among people. Like other presidents who came before him, I do not see he will bring about peace or any good to the Palestinian people," she said. "I see that there is another war coming." Ibraheem Abu Mustafa | Reuters "Trump is a man of war, he works on spreading war, chaos and killing among people. Like other presidents who came before him, I do not see he will bring about peace or any good to the Palestinian people. I see that there is another war coming." Sattar Muhsin Ali, 60, stationery store owner, Baghdad, Iraq Sattar Muhsin Ali, 60, a stationary store owner in Baghdad, Iraq. "I think the core policy of Trump is focusing on eliminating terrorism and drying out its financial sources in the world and curbing the terror-supporting states, especially those neighboring Iraq," Ali said. "The impact of Trump's policy on the future of the Middle East will hold positive elements. For example, Iraq suffered a lot from the policy of the former American administrations which led to the spread of chaos and finally to the emergence of Daesh." Thaier Al-Sudani | Reuters "I think the core policy of Trump is focusing on eliminating terrorism and drying out its financial sources in the world and curbing the terror-supporting states, especially those neighboring Iraq. The impact of Trump's policy on the future of the Middle East will hold positive elements. For example, Iraq suffered a lot from the policy of the former American administrations which led to the spread of chaos and finally to the emergence of Daesh." Lara Shahin, 35, Syrian refugee in Amman, Jordan Lara Shahin, 35, a Syrian refugee, at a workshop run under Jasmine, a project which hires and trains Syrian refugee women to create handicrafts, in Amman, Jordan. "Trump's decision to strike at the air base was a surprise move that raised my hopes the U.S. president will take bolder decisions in future that would end President Bashar al-Assad's rule and allow me to return home to a democratic country," Shahin said. Muhammad Hamed | Reuters "Trump's decision to strike at the air base was a surprise move that raised my hopes the U.S. president will take bolder decisions in the future that would end President Bashar al-Assad's rule and allow me to return home to a democratic country." Mubarak Mashali, 20, student in Cairo, Egypt Mubarak Mashali, 20, a student at Cairo University, speaks during an interview with Reuters in Cairo, Egypt. "I think Trump is going to ruin things and make them worse than they already are throughout the whole Middle East," Mashali said. Mohamed Abd El Ghany | Reuters "I think Trump is going to ruin things and make them worse than they already are throughout the whole Middle East." Banker and blogger Mohammed Ateeq in Manama, Bahrain Banker and blogger Mohammed Ateeq in Manama, Bahrain. "President Trump has promised to dramatically change America's stance in the Middle East most notably by scrapping the Iran nuclear agreement, getting involved to eradicate terrorists in ISIS ... and to negotiate a peace agreement between the Israelis and Palestinians," Ateeq said. "All of these are common promises and rhetoric outlined by most U.S. candidates and previous presidents. Hamad I Mohammed | Reuters Todays collectors certainly have a mixed relationship with the U.S. Mint. On one hand, collectors love the surprises like the use of the Philadelphia Mints P mark on 2017 Lincoln cents. On the other hand, collectors along with Coin Worlds staff remain frustrated by easily confused sales figures and mintage numbers, and collectors have problems as well with attempting to order popular new releases. As Coin Worlds managing editor William T. Gibbs pointed out in his editors letter last month, it could be worse. The Royal Canadian Mint no longer publishes any kind of mintage information for some programs, including its Maple Leaf gold and silver bullion coins. We have plenty on the off-metal 1943 Lincoln Cents and on the origin of Q. David Bowers column: A reader wonders how much his 1943 cent struck on a dime planchet is worth, while a long-time numismatist wonders why the origins of two new bronze 1943 cents were revealed. Coin Worlds Freedom of Information Request to the U.S. Mint revealed that just 79,640 American Eagle silver bullion coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 2015. The discovery instantly created a new key in the series (though one that is only identifiable by context). Since the American Eagle silver bullion coins struck from the Philadelphia, San Francisco and West Point Mints each lack a Mint mark, they can be identified based on information found only on the 500-coin boxes of tubes that are sent to authorized purchasers. Many of the 79,640 2015 American Eagle silver coins struck at the Philadelphia Mint have long been removed from their original context in the Mint boxes, so identifiable examples will remain scarce. Connect with Coin World: Sign up for our free eNewsletter Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Several Professional Coin Grading Service Mint State 69 examples sold on eBay in April for $649. Prices now have moved to the $450 to $500 level. On May 4 a PCGS MS-70 example brought $5,201 on eBay, and in April they were selling for even more. Will future collectors recognize this as a distinctive issue, since the coins themselves from the three Mints are indistinguishable by appearance alone? Only time will tell, and because the Philadelphia Mint American Eagle silver bullion coins are unidentifiable on their face, we are waiting to assess the long-term collector response before adding the Philadelphia Mint coins to Coin Worlds Coin Values. The marketplace is also showing interest in a set recently offered by the U.S. Mint. All 75,000 2017 Congratulations sets sold out in two minutes on April 4 at an issue price of $54.95, with collectors drawn to the Proof 2017-S American Eagle silver dollar. Today these sets sell at the $150 level on eBay, allowing quick profits for speedy buyers and presenting an expensive decision for collectors who didnt have the chance to purchase one directly from the Mint. Finally, a once-steady area in the market generic Proof gold and silver American Eagles has fallen in the past few months as interest from buyers placing examples in individual retirement accounts has dropped. The silver coins used to trade steadily at the $45 to $50 level, but market makers have lowered buy prices to the $33 to $36 level with little uptick in demand seen even at these new low levels. Though the U.S. Senate has not yet received the House-passed GOP health care reform bill, Sen. Heidi Heitkamp says senators including herself are already working on it. Heitkamp met Friday with a diverse group of health industry leaders, disability advocates, those who work with Native Americans and the heads of teachers and farmers unions in Bismarck to discuss the new health care bill. Heitkamp spoke about changes she would like to see with the health care law and assured the group who voiced concerns over the bill that she's not willing to rollback Medicaid expansion and reduce benefits. "There are a number of colleagues on the other side who have, in fact, contacted me. I have a simple rule: I'm willing to talk to anyone about the health care law, but I'm not willing to go backwards," she said. "I have some pretty strong ideas about what backwards looks like, and its center is the Medicaid program." The House passed the American Health Care Act on May 4. The bill would get rid of Medicaid expansion by 2020. The Medicaid program provides coverage for about 20,000 North Dakotans, according the the state Department of Human Services. Heitkamp said she believes there are things in Obamacare that work, such as coverage for pre-existing conditions and allowing children to stay on their parent's insurance plans. "Why would we get rid of those?" she said. "Let's fix what doesn't work, which I think is the small business marketplace." Heitkamp largely criticized the Republican health care bill, which she said just shifts health care costs onto the states. Disability advocates and the president of the North Dakota Farmers Union spoke about the need for the Medicaid program in the state. Vicky Peterson, of Family Voices North Dakota, which advocates for families with children with disabilities, said there are many children with pre-existing conditions in North Dakota who rely on Medicaid coverage. We have a lot of children in our state with certain medically fragile needs (and) rare conditions in North Dakota, Peterson said. To have to choose to put food on your table or medication to save your child is not a choice anybody should make. Peterson said she has a child with autism and an intellectual disability, and without Medicaid, if she had to find specialized daycare, it would probably run her at the least $2,500 a month. "Which I cannot afford; I'm a single mother," she said. "We have a lot of that in the state of North Dakota." Without Medicaid, Peterson said she would be forced to find help through another program. "And then are we really good? To me, it is we are going backwards," she said. "I believe ... we can figure out the problems that do exist with Medicaid, I mean, every big system has it problems, but taking the entitlement away for our most vulnerably people is not a solution." The executive director of a local nonprofit that helps Native Americans in the Bismarck area urged the senator not to reduce health care coverage. "I'm really glad to hear you say let's not take any step backwards, because any little step backward for Indian Country has a domino effect," said Cheryl Kary, of the Sacred Pipe Resource Center. The Sacred Pipe Resource Center is working to open a new community clinic in Bismarck to serve a need for uninsured Native Americans. The center applied for a grant using testimony from those in the community. "We asked Native people in this community to provide letters of support and testimony, and those, too, would have brought tears to your eyes. The people who are going without coverage that are living with chronic pain, chronic diseases, (and have) family members who are sick," Kary said. Pretty much all these avenues that weve been expanding, in order to provide better health care even basic health care for Native American people is at risk." Mark Watne, president of the state's Farmers Union, said he supports Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. What were finding is, when we get the farmers in the room, we get the sob stories of making that choice. Right now, farmings got a silent economic disaster. Its not well known yet, but its really growing. And they make a choice, here, youve got the best food production system in the world, and youve got farmers out there choosing between health care and food," Watne said. Heitkamp told the group she would continue to work on health care reform with her colleagues. Forgot politics and ideology, logically, it doesnt work, she said. And so were just going to keep working through this. A woman outside the City/County Building held a sign reading, "There is more to Bismarck than downtown," Thursday as city staff announced petitioners attempting to recall Bismarck Mayor Mike Seminary were deemed to be 160 signatures short. The petitioners needed 1,898 valid signatures for the recall election to take place. City Administrator Keith Hunke said, of the 2,405 signatures submitted, 305 signatures were disqualified for being from signers outside city limits, 198 signatures were invalid because they were collected by an unqualified circulator, 29 were duplications or ineligible voters and 136 were deemed illegible or incomplete. Hunke said, if petitioners wish to appeal his office's findings, they can file a challenge in district court. Paul Maloney, one of the petition circulators, said he's disappointed but not surprised by the number of signatures declared invalid. "Unfortunately, this is proof of the reason why we want to recall," said Maloney, who says organizers do have some questions and have been in contact with lawyers. "The circulator should not be what invalidates. How would you feel if you signed a petition and your signature was thrown out on a technicality?" Of the circulators, there was only one Maloney said he could think of whose residency might have been questioned. However, that person intentionally waited 30 days to start circulating, according to Maloney, who said he feels this has robbed some signers of their First Amendment rights. Hunke said the unqualified circulator did not meet residency requirements. According to the North Dakota Secretary of State's recall handbook on its website, "Petition circulators and signers must be qualified voters of the district affected by the petition." Hunke said there were a number of issues with the circulator in question, including days the person had lived in Bismarck and actions not taken to establish residency, such as change of address or vehicle registration needed to qualify as a legal voter. A North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation agent who investigated the signatures suspected to be fraudulent did not find any instances of criminal action, according to Hunke, who said it would be up to BCI or the Secretary of State's office to decide whether to pursue any action against the unqualified circulator. Seminary thanked city staff for the time put into validating signatures and thanked those who have called him with messages of support during the recall process. "Im the mayor of the city of Bismarck until June of next year, and we have a lot of work to do," Seminary said. The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form A 19-year-old was sentenced Friday to 10 years in state prison for a drunken driving crash that killed a Bismarck woman who was on her way to volunteer at a monastery last fall. The fatal crash occurred Oct. 10 in Bismarck on University Drive just south of Burleigh Avenue. Alexus Hankinson rear-ended a pickup driven by Ralph von Ruden, 67. His wife, Janet von Ruden, 65, was a passenger. Prosecutor Julie Lawyer said Hankinson was fleeing from a Bismarck Police officer. Her 2010 Dodge Challenger reached speeds of more than 90 mph when the officer stopped pursuing the vehicle, per department policy. About a mile down the road, she crashed. Both von Rudens were taken to the hospital, and Janet von Ruden died a week later of her injuries. Before South Central District Judge John Grinsteiner handed down the sentence to Hankinson, he heard from the von Rudens. There have been times in my life when Ive seen other people in so much grief, that Ive wondered how theyre physically able to put one foot in front of the other and move forward, said daughter Angela von Ruden-Doll, who is from Minnesota, her voice quavering with emotion. "I never imagined myself in that position, and Alexus actions put me there twice. The first time was when the intensive care unit doctor told her and her family that her moms brain damage was the worst any of the doctors at Sanford had ever seen. And again, a week later, walking down the very long center aisle at Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Bismarck for her moms funeral. Most people live their life expecting to outlive their parents, but most of us dont expect their mother to be killed by a drunk driver whos 18 years old going 115 mph, trying to flee police on a Monday morning while their mother is on their way to the monastery to volunteer with the nuns," Von Ruden-Doll said. The audience in the courtroom made up of more than a dozen family members wept. Hankinson cried, too. Then, Von Ruden-Doll held up a picture that her 6-year-old daughter drew in school on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, that asks, If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be? It shows two people and a car with a big, red "X" through the middle. Her daughter told her one is a police officer and the other is a drunken driver, and her daughter's teacher wrote down below it, There would be no drinking and driving." I want my daughters message to become your message. I want you to think about the decisions that you made and the consequences that reach far beyond yourself," Von Ruden-Doll told Hankinson. Ralph Von Ruden is deacon at Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. When asked by the judge what sentence he would like to see imposed, he spoke of forgiveness and just wanting Hankinson to learn from the accident. Judge Grinsteiner asked Hankinson if there was anything she would like to say before he sentenced her. Im sorry, Hankinson cried, following the muttering of some words that were inaudible due to her shaking. I take full responsibility for what happened that day." Both families talked inside the courtroom after the hearing ended. (Hankinsons family is) going through a lot of grief and misery, too, Ralph von Ruden said after the hearing. We wanted to express our feeling that everybody lost in that situation, you know, and her choosing to drink. Indian researchers computer hacked in Singapore Singapore, hit hard by the recent ransomware attack, suffered another hacker attack. In the latest case, two researchers, one of Indian origin, were hit by a phishing incident at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Prosanta Gupta is a science research fellow at NUS and is involved in a security project funded by the Defence Ministry. His computer was hit by a phishing incident when he clicked on a link in a phishing email, which then sent out more such emails to other colleagues, a spokesperson at NUS confirmed. Computer of an Indian origin scientist at Singapore was hacked. Photo courtesy: sacredheart.edu Phishing is the fraudulent practice of sending emails purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers. A spokesperson of NUS said, This was an isolated phishing attempt that is not related to the recent advanced persistent threat (APT) attack or global ransomware attack. She added, Immediate action was taken to block access to the phishing website. The user has also changed his password and account information as a precaution. We did not find signs of malware or data loss. The incident has come almost a week after it was revealed that NUS and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) had suffered separate IT network breaches in April, the first sophisticated cyberattack on Singapore universities, according to local media reports. The varsity reiterated that it takes cybersecurity and the integrity of its IT systems very seriously, and that its community receives regular advisories on good cybersecurity and information security practices, including how to spot and report phishing emails. If a change in tax or spending involves winners and losers then usually the cheers of the winners are downed out by the protest of the losers. An example of this is the Governments proposal for a fairer schools funding formula. At present some schools receive more than 2,000 per pupil, per year, less than other schools. There is a cross party campaign group called f40 which backs this. But those areas (such as London) which faced budget cuts were rather louder in attacking the Government. So the Conservative Manifesto has proposed bringing in the change gradually so that no school will actually face a budget cut: The way funding is distributed to schools in England is not fair. Across the country, children with the same needs and expectations receive markedly different rates of funding for their school place. We have begun to correct this and in the next parliament we will make funding fairer still. We appreciate that it is hard for schools receiving a higher level of funding to make cuts in order to pay for increases elsewhere, so while we will make funding fairer over the course of the parliament, we will make sure that no school has its budget cut as a result of the new formula. We will increase the overall schools budget by 4 billion by 2022, representing more than a real terms increase for every year of the parliament. We will continue to protect the Pupil Premium to support those who need it. A very sensible way to proceed. Few aspects of the European Union have been more disastrous than the Common Fisheries Policy. This is the scheme that caused a quarter of the fish caught being thrown dead back into the water a waste of a million tons of fish a year worth around 1.6 billion. It all represents a very bad deal for the UK 70 per cent of the fish caught in our waters are allocated to fishermen from other EU states. The Conservative manifesto in 2005 included seeking to pull out of the CFP. It is rather doubtful as to whether that could have been achieved. The manifesto for this year is able to be rather emphatic and credible: Decades of profound economic change have left their mark on coastal communities around Britain. We will continue to work to ensure these communities enjoy the vitality and opportunity they deserve. In England, we will extend our successful Coastal Communities Fund to 2022, helping our seaside towns thrive. When we leave the European Union and its Common Fisheries Policy, we will be fully responsible for the access and management of the waters where we have historically exercised sovereign control. A new Conservative government will work with the fishing industry and with our world-class marine scientists, as well as the devolved administrations, to introduce a new regime for commercial fishing that will preserve and increase fish stocks and help to ensure prosperity for a new generation of fishermen. To provide complete legal certainty to our neighbours and clarity during our negotiations with the European Union, we will withdraw from the London Fisheries Convention. We will continue our work to conserve the marine environment off the coast of the United Kingdom. The CFP has been an ecological catastrophe and has amounted to the betrayal of one of our finest industries. It is welcome that, among other things, Brexit will mean our withdrawal from such an iniquitous arrangement. Iain Dale is Presenter of LBC Drive, Managing Director of Biteback Publishing, a columnist and broadcaster and a former Conservative Parliamentary candidate. If there is a Conservative landslide of anything like the scale most pundits seem to expect, I think the Prime Minister will need to think very carefully about her relationship with Conservative backbenchers. After all, dealing with 390 or 400 MPs is very different to dealing with 330. May I make a suggestion? Instead of appointing only one PPS, Theresa May should appoint two, or even three. David Cameron sometimes had two, and May needs to do the same. George Hollingbery has done the job up to now, but he will quite reasonably expect a junior ministerial post after serving her for several years. If I were the Prime Minister, Id appoint a greybeard from the 97 or 01 intake, an MP from the 2015 intake and maybe in the autumn one from the 2017 intake. It will be very important for her to keep her new MPs onside and it will be a very difficult task. There are enough discontents in the 2010 and 2015 intakes who believe their talents have so far been overlooked. After a couple of years, there will be another 40 or 50 from the new intake who will wonder why May isnt recognising them. A second idea is to recreate the backbench committees that the Party ran in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, which the 1922 Committee is apparently in the process of doing. There was one shadowing each government department, and they were an opportunity for MPs to shine in their specialist policy areas by becoming an officer of a particular group. They were abandoned after 1997 for the simple reason that there werent enough MPs to populate them. That wont be a problem after 8 June. The best quote of the campaign so far has come from YouGovs Joe Twyman, talking about the manifestos: You might like the sound of some of the things on the menu, but if you dont like the look of the restaurant, youll probably eat elsewhere. I was due to have lunch at the Commons yesterday, but the election put paid to that. The occasion was the 90th birthday of a friend of mine, Audrey Barker, who was the Conservative Agent in Norwich North during the 1987 general election, when I was the campaign manager. Audrey was a real old school party agent, and didnt suffer fools (or politicians) gladly. She really did regard candidates as a legal necessity, and didnt think twice about telling anyone exactly what she thought of them. In the end, Audreys son entertained us to lunch as the Royal Overseas League Club on Piccadilly more commonly known as the in and out. I still want to take her for lunch at the Commons, though. Shes now a constituent of Chuka Umunna, so Id like to introduce her to him. Assuming he manages to retain his seat, of course Best headline of the week is from The Economist: Labours Economic Programme: Old McDonnell has plan. He eyes IOUs. So why havent the Liberal Democrats made any sort of breakthrough in the polls since May called the election? A new YouGov poll this week might have supplied the explanation. It showed that the Lib Dem policy of appealing to the 48 per cent who voted Remain last June has fallen at the first hurdle. It seems the 48 per cent is now 22 per cent since, apparently, only 22 per cent of Britons believe that the Government should do a reverse ferret and stay in the EU and go against the June 2016 referendum result. 68 per cent of us think the government should embrace Brexit and just get on with it. It appears that 23 per cent of those who originally voted Remain now believe that the Government should respect the result and get on with Brexit. All this goes some way to explaining why the Lib Dem vote share hasnt moved at all, even in places where the party is expected to win seats. In the South West, it has gone up from 15 per cent to 16 per cent since May 2015 but, meanwhile, the Tories have gone from 47 per cent to 52 per cent. Even Labour have risen by four per cent there. In London, theyve gone from eight per cent to 14 per cent, but will this really be enough to win back the seats that they unexpectedly lost in 2015? It has been reported that canvassers in Kingston & Surbiton, which the Conservatives won from Ed Davey in 2015, are having great difficulty identifying Tory Remain voters who are intending now to move their votes back to the Lib Dems. Without them, the latter can rightly fear hearing the expression Conservative Hold on election night. They may well lose Carshalton & Wallington, too. When I interviewed Michael Gove last week, I asked him if hed accept a Cabinet job were Theresa May to win the election and then offer him one. Without hesitation, he looked me in the eye, and said yes. He then laughed it off and said it was very unlikely to happen, as youd expect him to, but I did think to myself: hmmm, I wonder. Since then hes been used by CCHQ as a party spokesman more than once and again yesterday he popped up speaking for the party in one or two morning interviews. When she sacked him, May apparently told Gove hed have to earn his passage back. Since then he has been unfalteringly loyal, and I suppose I would be less surprised than most if that passage back turned into a Cabinet post on June 9th. The question is, which one? Ill speculate on a reshuffle next week or the week after, but personally Id love to see him back at either one of his previous departmental posts. He understood what needed to be done on prison reform, and it would be nice if he could see it through. Or how about him being sent to Health! Can you imagine faces on the Left if that happened? It would be what Sir Humphrey might call a courageous appointment. I wonder if anyone else has wondered what will happens to John Bercow in the event of a Tory landslide victory. Its true that he hasnt annoyed the Conservatives quite as much since May become Prime Minister, but there is still a lot of anti-Bercow feeling on the Tory benches, even if Simon Burns will no longer bethere to tweak his tail. In the event of such a big win, we have to assume that Lindsay Hoyle would be swallowed up by the Tory tsunami and wouldnt be available to succeed Bercow, whenever that might be. I imagine that Eleanor Laing would fancy the job, given that she is next in line in seniority, but I suspect she might face a very strong challenge from Jacob Rees-Mogg. Hes quite popular on the opposition benches, and one can only imagine the delights wed have in store. Im sure Jess Phillips would happily be his cheerleader-in-chief and whip Labour MPs into line. There is a feeling that May would not be happy to support a Speaker putsch, but the price for that might well be for Bercow to make it clear that he will depart within two years as promised. Some two and a half years ago, with a general election looming, ConservativeHome tried to stand back from the immediate fray, suspend its usual assumptions, and ask: what would be the best reason for voting Tory in 2015? The answer we gave was not one that all our readers would share, but it was, as we put it, that Conservative reformers are delivering Grown-Up Government. We cited Michael Goves work at Education, Iain Duncan Smiths at Work and Pensions, Francis Maudes Whitehall reforms, Chris Graylings rehabilitation work and Theresa Mays record at the Home Office. We concluded Some of these plans may fail. Others, arguably, are mistaken (though this site is usually a supporter of them). But all are unmistakably a serious attempt by serious people to deliver serious change. The Conservative Manifesto published yesterday represents an intensification of that spirit, and a broad, deep application of it that could scarcely be more ambitious. Gone are the Gordon Brown-style drawing of artificial dividing lines, the debt traps, benefit caps and surplus traps of the Cameron-Osborne era: politics is not a game. Vanished, too, is the sense understandable and prudent in itself that some challenges are too hazardous for politicians to tackle and, after cursory inspection, must speedily be returned to the Too Difficult Box. You may be apprehensive about the effects of the Prime Ministers Christian Democrat-flavoured politics on the unity of a previously free market-committed party, as we are. You may, too, be troubled about some of the policies she is proposing as we are again (consider, to take just one example, the proposed energy price cap). But there can be no doubt that the sum of Mays manifesto is a real attempt to address directly some of the great issues of our time an ageing population, high immigration, job insecurity, disillusion with our political system. ConservativeHome could scarcely have asked for more. We wanted a sober plan to tackle inter-generational injustice, provide more homes, and boost the status of technical education. The housing numbers look robust (though finding land to build on will be as hard as ever). The review of tertiary education funding suggests a rebalacing between the academic and the vocational just what we have proposed. There is specific reference to the size of the Lords, and some intriguing language about reviewing the honours system to ensure that recipients uphold the integrity of the honours bestowed. Above all, the language on Brexit is rock-solid. The Prime Minister has delivered on five of the six main policy priorities that we campaigned for and on much elsewhere, such as a crackdown on electoral fraud. The missing area is families policy. There is a very brief section on childcare for working parents, with a vague reference to examing best practice abroad. Downing Street has a blind spot where it could range more broadly. But the biggest, boldest plans of all are for a fairer balance of power between the generations. One way of viewing Mays social care plan is that it has the potential to help drive a housing revolution. Many older people will strive to avoid their savings, in the form of property, from falling into the hands of the state. They will surely seek to transfer its ownership to their children or, in the last resort, sell. This would dynamite the Treasurys assumptions about the revenue that the plan will raise, but have the effect of exerting downward pressure on the price of housing (all other things being equal, which admittedly they seldom are). Through a glass darkly, one can spy a Britain more like that of 50 years ago in which houses were homes rather than also a form of saving, and in which the rise in their value did not cascade down the generations. The core of the Prime Ministers argument is that people cannot reasonably expect the taxpayer to pick up the bill for their social care when they can help meet some of it with money locked up their homes. She is right. But this is a hazardous political enterprise, and may well have an effect on this election. Some, perhaps many, Tory voters will vote yellow or purple in protest or simply not vote at all. May has presumably discounted such a development. To put it crudely, she has chosen Nick Timothy over Lynton Crosby in other words, she seems prepared to trade off a bigger majority for a wider mandate. How the Tory press responds to what many of its readers will view as a direct attack on their interests will be crucial at least, in terms of to what degree the broad centre-right family swings in line behind the Prime Minister. The Daily Mail today praises a PM who is not afraid to be honest. The Daily Telegraph describes the Prime Minister as reaching out to those who feel left behind. The Sun will be less troubled by the effect of Mays inter-generational strategy on its readers. It lauds the manifesto. The Daily Express appears to have returned home after its affair with UKIP. The Prime Minister is still set for a clear majority in June, though the polls may wobble which, paradoxically, would be good news for the Crosby core strategy of presenting this election as a closer call than it is. But getting the full support of Tory MPs for her Erdington conservatism could be a lot harder. None the less, they will not dissent from the main point above. We asked for Grown-Up Government. Now weve got it. Washington man accused of selling heroin, trafficking woman A 43-year-old Seattle man is accused of bringing a woman to Bismarck to work as a prostitute, promising her heroin in exchange for her work. Harold Nunnelly is charged with sexual servitude and possession of heroin with intent to deliver. According to a police affidavit, Nunnelly convinced the 28-year-old woman to come with him to Bismarck and post ads on Backpage.com, a website commonly used to advertise prostitution. The woman allegedly told police Nunnelly promised to supply her with heroin, as she is an addict. She also told police that Nunnelly would take any money she earned. The woman said she arrived in Bismarck the night prior. Police encountered the woman while searching for a burglary suspect on the 500 block of Memorial Highway in Bismarck on May 10, according to the affidavit. In the apartment, police also allegedly found 22 grams of heroin, which the woman told police belonged to Nunnelly. In an interview with police, Nunnelly said he knew the woman from Washington, according to the affidavit. He denied knowledge of the drugs. South Central District Judge Bruce Romanick set bond for him at $25,000 on May 11. If convicted, he could face up to 40 years in prison. CORNWALL, Ontario Robert Myers, 53 of Cornwall was arrested on May 18th, 2017 and charged with the following: Mischief Arson- disregard for human life Arson by negligence Arson Possession of incendiary material Occupant injuring building It is alleged the man was responsible for a fire that occurred on May 17th, 2017 that damage three St.Felix Street residences. On May 18th, 2017 the man was taken into custody, charged accordingly and released to appear in court on June 15th, 2017. SOUTH GLENGARRY, Ontario On May 17, 2017 Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Community Drug Action Team (CDAT) officers assisted by OPP Emergency Response Team (ERT), Canine Unit and Crime Unit members executed a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrant at a residence on Arlington Road, South Glengarry Township. A large quantity of suspected marijuana (processed/plants), cannabis resin and growing equipment was seized with an estimated street value of over $70,000. An adult male was arrested. Marc RONDEAU (45) of South Glengarry Township is charged with; Produce a Controlled Substance Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking (2 counts) He was released and scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Alexandria on June 7, 2017. More than 350 people are expected to participate Saturday in Walk MS: Bismarck, raising nearly $50,000 to support research and programs for people living with multiple sclerosis. The event starts at 11 a.m. at the Elks Lodge on South Washington Street. Since 1988, hundreds of thousands of people have taken part in Walk MS events across the country raising funds and awareness for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. This year, the cumulative fundraising since 1988 is expected to surpass $1 billion. Walk MS is a joyous gathering with a wonderful were in this together feeling, said Cyndi Zagieboylo, president and CEO of the National MS Society. Every participant, volunteer, donor and sponsor is helping to drive us toward this exciting $1 billion milestone. Together, we are accelerating progress in making life-changing breakthroughs so that each person with MS can live her or his best life. In 2016, nearly 300,000 people at more than 550 locations across the country walked to create a world free of MS, raising nearly $50 million. Visit walkMS.org, call 855-372-1331 or email fundraisingsupport@nmss.org. Society has certain obligations it should try to meet. One of those is making sure children dont go hungry. In parts of the world its a difficult goal to achieve, but in North Dakota its doable. In the Bismarck Public School District theres a program to help families that cant afford meals. The children get fed. The United Way has a program where they send children home with food for the weekend. Its an effort to guarantee the children get something to eat when not in school. Its difficult to perform in the classroom if you are distracted by hunger. So it has to be frustrating for the Bismarck district that parents who can afford to pay for their kids school lunches arent paying the bills. During the last 10 years the parents of about 1,100 students havent paid for their meals and that has resulted in a $23,000 debt. The school district, understandably, wants its money. Bismarck appears to be the leader in the state with parents in arrears. Fargo Public Schools, the second-largest district in the state, had about a $600 deficit at the end of the last school year. Some families in Bismarck owe at least that much. The district has been working on a solution to pay the federally funded child nutrition department. Unfortunately, until now, it hasnt had a policy for getting parents to pay their bills. Some schools tried "lunch shaming," giving cheese sandwiches instead of hot meals to students who owed lunch money. They dont do this anymore, which is good because its punishing the wrong people. Parents and guardians, not kids, are responsible for paying for lunch. The school district is now complying with a U.S. Department of Agriculture mandate to create an unpaid meal policy by July 1. The Bismarck districts policy eliminates lunch shaming and it means kids get a hot meal, money or no money. Thats how it should be no hungry students in classrooms. What the district is developing is a process for getting money from delinquent parents. The six-step process starts with text and email to parents twice a week, and works its way up to a certified letter, stating that a report may be given to social services for child neglect and the debt will be forwarded to a collection agency. Thats a logical procedure to follow. Put the burden on parents and guardians and dont put kids in a bad light with their peers. Its a difficult situation for schools, but shaming seems like a form of bullying that school districts shouldnt use. Parents should be ashamed if they arent paying the lunch bills. The Bismarck district is willing, and happy, to work with parents who may be having financial difficulties. They will develop a workable payment plan. Its unfortunate the Bismarck district got into this situation. They probably didnt expect the problem to escalate since Bismarck has been enjoying a robust economy during most of the last 10 years. The school lunch problem isnt unique to Bismarck. In a 2016 survey by the School Nutrition Association, about 75 percent of nearly 1,000 school nutrition directors nationwide reported they had negative lunch balances at the end of the 2015-16 school year, up from 70.8 percent of districts reporting debt in 2014. Thats a discouraging number. Still, society needs to remember the importance of feeding the children. For most of the year schools provide a place where teachers and administrators can monitor kids to see if they are healthy and getting meals. Schools deserve praise for going beyond teaching to watching over the welfare of their young charges. Parents and guardians need to pay the lunch bills. By doing so they provide a lesson at home in responsibility. D.H. Lawrence in Studies in Classic American Literature. Never trust the artist. Trust the tale. The proper function of the critic is to save the tale from the artist who created it. Cloud News MSP Logicworks Expands Industry-Focused Automation Platform For AWS Joseph Tsidulko Share this Logicworks, a New York City-based managed services provider that has been at the forefront of transformations in the channel in recent years, introduced on Thursday a range of software services it built to automate Amazon Web Services deployments for enterprise customers. The customer-facing tools for deploying and managing infrastructure, packaged as the Central Automation Platform, stem from years of experience implementing cloud workloads for large customers, Logicworks CEO Kenneth Ziegler told CRN. The software release illustrates a significant channel trend in which partners are developing intellectual property to streamline internal processes, then making those tools available to customers, or even the larger market. [Related: SADA Systems Will Be First Partner To Use Google's Orbitera Platform To Service Google Cloud Customers] Logicworks' platform allows enterprises to embrace the latest AWS capabilities while ensuring their deployments are highly scalable, self-healing, enforce strict compliance and regulatory standards, and effectively manage cost, Ziegler told CRN. "Our goal is to bring to bear Amazon's innovations to our customers via our automation systems," Ziegler said. The platform "removes all human error, achieves compliance and security and best practices. It gives you availability above and beyond what clients have in traditional IT." The platform consists of cloud-formation templates that deploy infrastructure stacks tuned to the standards and goals of specific industries, as well as about two dozen bots that automate low-level tasks such as staging test and development environments or ensuring workloads are running in the right AWS regions. "Ninety percent of our competitors are still doing this manually," Ziegler said, but that's "impossible to scale and have customer control. The public cloud was designed to be programmable, and weve created software to run the public cloud." Logicworks was recently named a leader in Gartner's Magic Quadrant for public cloud MSPs. The company has been in business for more than two decades as a managed hosting provider, but about five years ago it pivoted toward AWS and the public cloud. Upon making that shift, Logicworks launched a product division that, in building out software, leverages the experience gained from managing AWS and Microsoft Azure for enterprises. In December, the company raised $135 million to complete development of the platform project, expand its customer-facing tools, and improve user interfaces for them. The Central Automation Platform can rapidly create industry-specific environments across multiple clouds, using the various bots to implement the desired state. That means for health care customers, the system automatically ensures HIPAA compliance; or PCI compliance for those doing e-commerce. Media companies receive the benefits of maximum scalability. The regulatory automation is particularly valuable to the financial services industry about 40 percent of Logicworks' revenue last year came from brokers, asset managers or investment banks which require "extraordinary governance and security." The platform currently is sold as a complete bundle, but Logicworks is exploring the potential to sell the various tools it contains a la carte. Logicworks is also getting closer to enabling customers to entirely self-service their clouds. But it's important to keep up guardrails, Ziegler said, and not give customers access to options they shouldn't control. The company is also tackling a new challenge that solution providers on the vanguard of the industry increasingly face: finding and striking deals with their own implementation partners. Ziegler said his company is hoping to ink agreements with three to five global systems integrators and data center operators who can distribute the platform to a larger market. Security News Cloud Security Vendor iBoss Bulks Up To Handle Growing Client Base Rick Saia Share this Cloud security vendor iBoss wants to grab a bigger share of the growing market for secure web gateways, and it's looking to double its staff to about 400, partly by moving closer to where that talent can be found. iBoss has shifted its headquarters from San Diego to Boston, in part to allow the company to recruit from a talent pool near firms as Carbon Black, Mimecast and Rapid7 and the North American base for other firms such as Sophos and Kaspersky Lab. iBoss President and co-founder Peter Martini says the company's client base is expanding internationally. The company says its client list numbers more than 4,000. [RELATED: 2016 Partner Program Guide iBoss] "The level of talent in Boston [is] very, very robust," iBoss President and co-founder Peter Martini told CRN. "You really can't beat it." The 200 employees iBoss plans to hire would be about evenly split between Boston and San Diego, where iBoss will still maintain a significant presence, Martini said. It's especially looking to add people with a "strong background" in Software as a Service to its leadership team, he added. iBoss opened its new 23,000-square-foot headquarters in downtown Boston on Wednesday not far from its Boston office that it opened last year - during a press conference with Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker. The company makes a distributed gateway platform to help better secure distributed organizations. About two-thirds of its sales come via channel partners, and the company has about 180 channel partners in North America. The company says its platform, which has been installed at more than 4,000 client organizations globally and the new Boston location will help with global growth. From Boston, Martini said, "we can easily commute back and forth" between the hemispheres. The company's partners include channel heavyweights CDW, Presidio and Optiv, as well as "a lot of regional partners," Martini said. "We're focused on the mid- to large enterprise and as we expand, we're focusing on bringing on distributors." The platform allows organizations to do a "drop and replacement" for legacy solutions, Martini said. "Our channel strategy is simple: If you're selling a legacy product right now in the channel you're not really selling for the future." The challenge is that many businesses don't want to rearchitect their infrastructures for the cloud just yet, Martini added. While many businesses will accept an enticement of tax breaks to move operations to different geographies, the headquarters move will actually cost iBoss more in taxes, as well as a higher cost of living compared with San Diego, according to Martini. But those costs are not the big issue, he said. "At the end of the day, the most expensive thing is [the] opportunity costs" associated with not being able to serve clients, he told CRN. "It's much more expensive every day that goes by without filling a role or filling a role with the right people than it is." Security News Fishtech To Build New Cloud Security Operations Center, The Next Step In A Managed Security Evolution Sarah Kuranda Share this As more companies move to the cloud, current methods of managed security just aren't good enough. That's what the Fishtech Group believes, and the Kansas City, Mo.-based security solution provider is ready to help as it announced on Thursday that it would launch a new Cloud Security Operations Center (CSOC). "Our vision is that you have to think differently," CEO Gary Fish said in an interview with CRN. "We think traditional MSPs and security providers will have a tough time transitioning their business to both [cloud and traditional security]. We think there is an opportunity here for people like us that have the security DNA to completely specialize and solve hybrid cloud security." [Related: Crowdstrike Lands $100M Funding Round, Looks To Expand Globally And Invest In Partners] Fish founded Fishtech last year to be a solution provider focused on cloud security. Fish is a well-known entrepreneur in the security solution provider space, founding FishNet Security (now Optiv Security after its merger with Accuvant), as well as being the founder and CEO of FireMon, a network security policy management vendor. As Fishtech built out its cloud security business, Fish said the company saw an opportunity to fill a gap left open by traditional managed service providers around managed security services specifically tailored to the cloud. He said traditional MSPs have struggled to address this market, as it requires a transition to a new sales compensation structure, sales mindset, and culture. However, change is needed, he said, as more companies adopt cloud solutions that sit outside of the perimeter defenses that traditional MSPs manage. "As the border of the network has extended out to multiple clouds and data centers, we have to think about security a little bit differently," Fish said. "We're in a unique position to take [security] from the network out and provide a solution." Fishtech plans to build the CSOC on 12 acres of land near the company's headquarters in Kansas City, starting this summer. Fish said Fishtech plans to launch a cloud managed security services offering in the fall out of the company's current facilities, with the CSOC facilities expected to be completed next summer. He said Fishtech is close to hiring a leader for the CSOC and ultimately plans to hire between 40 and 50 people to operate it. The CSOC itself, purpose-built for cloud security, will include security services around Office 365, AWS, Azure and Endpoint Security-as-a-Service. The solutions will include multiple vendor solutions, including offerings from companies that Fishtech has invested in through Fishtech Ventures. These include MSSP Foresite and big data and analytics platform Haystax. Fishtech will look to use the data from the CSOC for additional analytics and artificial intelligence capabilities, Fish said, hiring data scientists and other similar positions. The CSOC will also include services such as threat monitoring, threat hunting, and incident response, he said. "We're taking a lot of technology and putting it together to build out our own special sauce. We're not just using other people's technology to start solving the problem, we're solving it with our own technology as well," Fish said. The CSOC solution isn't designed to replace traditional managed services offerings, Fish said. Instead, he said it would be complementary, where traditional managed service providers focus on securing and managing inside the firewall, and the CSOC focused on managing everything outside the firewall, including endpoints and the cloud. "We see the opportunity to coexist. We're not trying to go after that space," Fish said. "Since the border of the network's extended out to multiple clouds and data centers, we have to think about security a little bit differently." While some companies might choose one or the other, Fish said he sees many opportunities to work alongside traditional MSPs, with Fishtech securing the cloud assets and the MSPs handling more traditional environments. With the launch of the CSOC, Fishtech is also planning an evolution of its own business. Fish said Fishtech would work to have separate sales forces for services, including the CSOC, and technology. He said the company is working to evolve that currently. CARRINGTON -- Chris Zenker drove from Gackle to a farm just north of Carrington in east-central North Dakota on Wednesday morning to pick up enough industrial hemp seed to plant 100 acres. Zenker is one of 35 farmers and growers who received a special license from the North Dakota Department of Agriculture to grow industrial hemp for 2017 -- an increase from just five farmers last year. We heard it (industrial hemp) grows good on poor soils, Zenker said, so were going to try it on some poor soils and see how it does. Zenker said he is trying hemp as a way to introduce a different crop in the rotation. He said he also likes that hemp has the potential to be a cash crop. Zenker traveled to the farm of Roger Gussiaas. Gussiaas farm received the largest of four shipments of industrial hemp seed, 64,000 pounds, that the state Department of Agriculture had shipped from Canada for distribution to farmers and growers approved to grow hemp in 2017. The state will receive a total of 84,250 pounds of industrial hemp seed this year with seed distributed in 50-pound bags. Gussiaas said last year he grew 15 acres of hemp as part of the states pilot project. He said he found hemp to be an easy-growing crop. Its a fun crop to watch grow because it grows so fast, he said. Gussiaas said hemp does a good job of canopying the ground, which helps prevent weeds from growing. He said he liked growing hemp because it produces a great oilseed. He and his family run a business called Healthy Oil Seeds from the farm that processes and exports oilseeds to 18 countries. Hemp is very healthy, well-balanced oilseed, he said. Its one of the only vegetable sources that has the same type of amino acids as meat. Rachel Spilde, a plant protection specialist and industrial hemp project coordinator for the state Department of Agriculture, said in 2016 the department had 17 growers apply to be part of North Dakotas pilot hemp growing project. Only five growers were chosen and 70 acres were planted. She said this year 42 growers applied and 35 were chosen. They will plant 3,000 acres of industrial hemp. Spilde said the Agriculture Department collected data from the five growers on industrial hemp. She said the growers reported the grain they harvested from the hemp was high quality and had high yields. The producers also had an easier time harvesting the grain than we anticipated, she said. Spilde said all of the industrial hemp seed arriving in North Dakota is permitted through the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. All growers who applied to the program underwent background checks. All who were selected signed agreements with the Agriculture Department that include rules for securely storing the seed. Anyone who has access to the seed through the participating growers also underwent background checks. Upward of 60 million people can get the flu every year in America, sending more than 30 million to a doctor, with some 200,000 hospitalized and 3,000 to 49,000 killed by flu-related causes, according to the CDC. What if it could all go away? No annual flu epidemic! What if that solution came from an organic compound mined from the the skin of a frog? Wait, what? Currently, the best defenses are vaccines and antivirals that target as many strains of the flu virus as researchers can identify, with some of those stains becoming resistant to the drugs we have on hand to kill them. Consequently, the hunt is ever on for new drugs that can combat new and resistant strains, with the Holy Grail being a universal anti-flu drug, one that kills all viruses regardless of specific strain. Some of those hunting for this universal flu drug are "bio-prospectors," said Dr. James Crowe with the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn. These scientists are "prospecting like you would prospect for gold, but in this case you look for natural molecules that can be used for drugs." And, that's where the frogs come in, Crowe said. Researchers from Emory University have found a peptide, a chain of compounds, in the secretions from the skin of a South Indian frog that acts in the lab like a promising universal flu drug. The results, published in the journal Immunity, show the frog compound not only kills flu viruses in a way that makes all strain susceptible but also "protected naive mice from lethal influenza infection," the scientist wrote. In other words, once they injected the mice with the frog compound and then injected them with a virulent strain of the flu virus, the mice survived. Crowe wrote a review of the study in the same issue of Immunity titled "Treating Flu with Skin of Frog." In the essay, Crowe explains that it's not accidental that researchers happened to find a promising drug in frog skin. Our skin not only keeps stuff in, but it keeps a lot of stuff out. Frog skin is much more porous than human skin, since they get water and oxygen through it. "... using such a highly absorptive body surface in wet natural settings has its challenges, as the microbial diversity in environmental water is enormous. To counter the threat of microbial invasion, frog skin possesses glands that secrete diverse protective substances, including collections of short peptides with antimicrobial function," Crowe wrote. So, that's a good place to look for antibiotic, antiviral compounds in nature, if that's where you want to start ... as opposed to creating millions of synthetic compounds and testing them in a "brute force" mass effort to find one that works. Crowe explained that traditional medicines were collected from plants and animals and some of them actually worked, because of specific compounds in the plant or animal. So bio-prospectors are digging into the chemistry of those traditional medicines to figure out which ones work. And while these researchers may have hit upon a compound that can lead to a antiviral that will kill any and all flu viruses, the drug still has a long road ahead of it. "I wouldn't oversell it," he said, "because it has to be safe and not toxic. A lot of compounds from frogs are toxic. (The frog-based flu-fighter) was not immediately lethal to cells, but a lot of work would have to be done to make sure it is safe. "There's a lot of future development that has to be done before you can convert an interesting discovery in to a drug, and the naturally occurring materials are harder to work with and harder to covert into drugs." Jake Ellison can be reached at jakeellisonjournalism@gmail.com. Follow Jake on Twitter at twitter.com/Jake_News. Also, swing by and *LIKE* his page on Facebook. If Google Plus is your thing, check out our science coverage here. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WESTPORT Tucked in between a chain craft store and a Chinese restaurant sits Village Bagels of Westport. A little shop in the Westport Plaza Shopping Center on the Post Road, Village Bagels is known for its sandwiches, its coffee and, unsurprisingly, its bagels. It is less well known as a go-to breakfast spot for former FBI director James Comey. Back when Comey lived in town and worked for the largest hedge fund in the world, he and his family were weekend regulars at the small Westport eatery. Former FBI director James Comeys firing last week while he was leading an investigation into whether the Trump campaign worked with Russia to alter the presidential elections outcome has been dominating the headlines. But Abdul Khedira, manager of Village Bagels, knew Comey and his family as weekend regulars at the small Westport eatery. He came on the weekend all the time, said Abdul Khedira, the manager of Village Bagels. Khedira, who described Comey as super nice, said he was not the sort of person who came across as a high-profile personality. Super nice. I mean nobody would realize or everybody who would come across him would realize hes a high-profile personality, he added. Comey first came to Westport in 2010 to serve as general counsel for Bridgewater Associates, which manages around $160 billion. He was nominated for FBI director by then- President Barack Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in July 2013. Even after getting his new gig, Comey did not abandon his breakfast joint on the Post Road. In fact, Comey was such a fan of Village Bagels, he referred a team of Secret Service agents to the place around December 2014. One time, (the Secret Service) came after I closed and I helped them, Khedira said. Comey sold his Westport house earlier this year for $2.47 million and, although it has been a while since Comey dropped by to grab a bite to eat, Khedira has been following his name in the news. When Trump unexpectedly fired the nations top law enforcement official on May 9, Khedira said he believed it was because of Comeys commitment to independence. I think (Comey) is very independent. Quite independent. Nobody will blackmail him, Khedira said. Many top legislators have taken issue with the way in which Comey was let go. Instead of having a face-to-face meeting with Comey, Trump decided to fire him while the FBI director was on a trip to Los Angeles. There has been a lot of turmoil surrounding the reasoning for Comeys dismissal. In the letter firing Comey, Trump said he was acting upon the recommendations of the attorney general and the deputy attorney general of the United States. But in a May 11 interview with NBCs Lester Holt, Trump said he fired Comey on his own volition, a statement contrary to the message of his communications team. Also at issue is the fact Trump fired the person heading an investigation into his own campaigns possible collusion with Russia to affect the presidential elections outcome. On Wednesday, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed former FBI director Robert Mueller as a special prosecutor to investigate the matter. Youre on the cusp of a business milestone: your first year to post $1 million in revenue. Time to celebrate. But better keep the party short as you now have to gear up for a new and probably more challenging phase in your career as an entrepreneur. Recording your first million means your business is growing and succeeding. But as you rack up more sales and more marketplace wins, youre bound to encounter more and sometimes bigger hurdles. Chances are youll need more people, more skills, more money and, most important of all, more patience and wisdom. That was certainly my experience when my company, BlueVine, hit the million-dollar mark a couple of years ago. And thats what many other small businesses on the verge of becoming significantly bigger go through. For most fast-growing small businesses, reaching that milestone means important changes. Here are four of them: Be ready to hire more people. You probably took on multiple roles as you were starting your business. You were head of the company, as well as the accountant, the press release writer, the social media manager and the cleaning guy. You brought on more people as the business grew. By the time you close in on the million-dollar mark, your human resources needs are likely going to be bigger and more complex. Youre no longer just the head of the company with an immediate staff. You need people to focus on more specialized functions, from finance to sales to marketing. Eventually, if you continue to grow, you need a management team in place to make strategic decisions. Related: Strategically Discussing Strategy Hiring itself becomes a formal process. When youre a small company, you hire people based on who you hear is looking for a job. So you rely on your network or the networks of friends. When youre already around 10 people, your search for talent becomes more sophisticated, involving professional recruiters and advertising. Let me stress an important point here: as you become a million-dollar company, hiring and growing your organization will be one of your primary concerns. In fact, thats where I think BlueVine stumbled a bit. We should have hired faster and more aggressively. When your company is growing fast, you simply cant underestimate the importance of talent. Be ready to make changes in the way you operate. Like most entrepreneurs, you may have started your small business based on a basic legal structure, as a sole proprietorship or a partnership, perhaps. You may have had to change this as you got bigger, transforming the business into an LLC or a corporation. Now, you may have to make more changes in your legal structure as you get bigger to ensure that you have the necessary legal protections in such areas as liability, taxes, contracts and intellectual property. This is an area where some business owners make serious mistakes. Many of these legal issues are complicated and its usually best to get proper legal representation and advice, especially when youre already a million-dollar company. This is leads us to another question: should you just pay for the services of an outside attorney or is it time to set up your own legal team? This question applies to other needs and functions, including marketing, customer support, and accounting and finance. You need to consider these needs very carefully. At BlueVine, I actually wish we had invested earlier in some of our processes. As your business grows, you need to invest to keep up with that growth. Otherwise, you end up spending more time and money to realign your support functions in the future. Be ready to rethink the way you finance your business. Chances are you started your business with the help of your personal savings or your credit card or money from friends and family. You later turned to other types of financing, including bank loans and business lines of credit. For a consumer, debt is something you try to avoid as much as possible. For a business owner, debt is a tool. Managed properly, debt can help your business stay afloat and even grow. And when youve reached the million-dollar mark, your financing should evolve and potentially grow as you take on bigger challenges, whether its more competition or the need to expand. Related: Debt vs. Equity Financing: Which Way Should Your Business Go? You could bring in new investors, but that would dilute your ownership. Smart debt financing may be a better to way to grow and scale. Also, remember that working capital is not just about financing. Its also about what terms you give your customers and how you manage your expenses. For example, you could begin to decide to buy certain supplies or inventory in bulk to reduce expenses. When your business was small, the differences in costs may not be a big deal. But as you start getting bigger, how you structure these financial transactions starts to matter. Heres another example: if you are getting paid by your customers on net-30 day terms, instead of being paid on delivery, that makes a big difference when you start getting to large amounts. Its not a big deal if the transactions involve just a few thousand dollars. But if youre floating 30 days worth of sales worth $100,000, youre essentially providing $100,000 of financing to your customer. Be ready to transition from entrepreneur to CEO. The million-dollar mark is also when you start making the transition from being an entrepreneur to a CEO. When you become a larger company, you start embracing the mindset of a CEO. Not only do you need to work with more people, you also have to learn to empower and inspire the people you are leading. This is not always a natural thing to do for small business owners. Entrepreneurs typically want to do everything themselves, but this is not sustainable when youre running a larger company. You become disruptive to your business for the simple reason that you dont scale. You cant make multiple copies of you. You need to get comfortable with the fact youre going to need to hire and trust more people. Ideally youll make the right hires and bring in good people. But in no way will even the best hires do things exactly as you would. Theyll have their own style and ways of doing things. Many entrepreneurs fail in this. Its hard for them to let go, to make the transition from doing everything or knowing everything to being able to trust other people to do what needs to be done for the business. Related: Why The Best Leaders Delegate? This attitude shift is also important when it comes to an important area: mistakes. You need to be able to accept that you and the people who work for you can and will make mistakes. Accepting and dealing with mistakes are part of the journey. Thats part of building a business. This point was underscored to me by one BlueVine executive who felt that I was being too much of a micromanager and who asked me to step back a bit. Give me accountability, the executive said. And if I screw this up, fire me. But give me accountability. Let me do what I need to do my way. That really resonated with me. In the beginning you feel that youre accountable for everything so you feel that you need to control everything. I actually stepped back after that, and we were able to move forward. Related: Your First $1 Million: How to Prepare For a Business Milestone Why These 10 Companies Turning 100 or Older in 2017 Still Matter Penning A Success Story Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Trey BundyRevealMay 18, 2017A former Jehovahs Witness in Australia is scheduled to appear in court this week to face charges that he sexually abused four teenage boys between 1993 and 2013, according to a news report.The case is significant because it stems from an ongoing investigation by the Australian Royal Commission Into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, which found that Jehovahs Witnesses do not to report child sexual abuse to law enforcement as a matter of policy.The commission obtained records from the religions headquarters in Australia detailing allegations of child abuse going back to 1950. Investigators identified 1,006 alleged abusers, none of whom had been reported to authorities. The commission referred hundreds of those cases to law enforcement and now were starting to see criminal charges filed.We hope that this arrest is one of many that police make against perpetrators within the JW faith that have got away with their crimes for far too long, said Lisa Flynn, an attorney who has represented hundreds of victims of child sexual abuse, including former Jehovahs Witnesses and some who have appeared before the Royal Commission. It is a very positive step that we are seeing police investigations, and now, subsequent arrests.Meanwhile, the U.S., which is home to more than a million Jehovahs Witnesses and the religions global headquarters, appears to be doing nothing.As part of a three-year investigation into the Jehovahs Witnesses child sexual abuse policies, Reveal contacted the FBI, attorneys general in New York and California, the Brooklyn District Attorneys Office and several members of Congress, and found no indication of a government investigation.This despite at least 20 child sexual abuse lawsuits pending against the Jehovahs Witnesses across the country, including some in which the religions leaders have violated court orders to turn over a national database containing the names and congregations of child abusers going back decades.Irwin Zalkin, a San Diego attorney who represents victims of abuse, has gone to court repeatedly to get the Jehovahs Witnesses to turn over their child abuse database. But so far, the organization has has defied judges orders to give up the names of any perpetrators. Zalkin worries that they could still be abusing children.Its a public safety issue, Zalkin told Reveal last year. At this point, this needs to be investigated.If the U.S. is looking for a model of how to turn evidence into prosecutions, it could look to the Australian Royal Commission, which investigates child abuse in secular, government and religious institutions, including the Jehovahs Witnesses.In a statement reported this week by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Justice Peter McClellan said the commission which he heads has reviewed 1.2 million documents and heard evidence from 1,200 witnesses.McClellan said the commission had referred 2,025 cases to law enforcement. So far, 127 of them had been investigated by the authorities.The volume of referrals is so great it will take some time before all matters are processed, McClellan said.In 2015, the commission found, among other problems, that Jehovahs Witnesses do not report child sexual abuse to police or other authorities and subsequently place children at risk of further abuse.In their response, the Jehovahs Witnesses took issue with virtually all of the commissions findings, including the risk of further abuse of children.The mere presence of an offender within a congregation does not necessarily entail that other children in a congregation or the community are at risk, they wrote in their response.Do you have any information related to the Jehovahs Witness cover-up? Contact Trey Bundy at tbundy@revealnews.org. Follow him on Twitter: @treybundy . You can send us information securely here. 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. MOSS POINT, Miss. - Bradley Scott Davis, 36, former deputy with the Jackson County Sheriff's Department plead guilty on Thursday to one count of unlawful sexual activity. Davis was an 11-year veteran with the sheriff's department until he was indicted in June 2016 for having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a female inmate while he was on duty. Jackson County District Attorney Tony Lawrence said that while law enforcement are held to a higher standard, they are not above the law. "Law enforcement swear to uphold the law when they take their oath and wear the badge. There are many great members of law enforcement who serve the public and follow the law every day. It is a sad affair when one violates the honor of the badge," he said. Judge Stephen Simpson deferred Davis's sentencing to a later date. PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- In a press release, Ward 3 Republican nominee Stephen Burrow said he's staying in the council race despite a Wednesday ruling from the state Ethics Commission regarding a potential conflict of interest involving him and incoming councilwoman at-large Jennifer Colmer. While Colmer won the councilwoman at-large seat outright defeating Brenda Simkins, Burrow is set to face independent challenger Marcel Kinnard in the June 6 general election. Based on an inquiry from city attorney Eddie Williams, the Ethics Commission in its ruling decided that a conflict of interest does exist in Colmer and potentially Burrow in occupying either council seat. Burrow is a partner at the Heidelberg, Steinberger, and Colmer law firm handling the Jackson County Utility Authority's defense. Jennifer Colmer's husband is also a partner within the firm. The question posed to the commission was whether a law firm could continue to represent a utility authority if a firm partner and the spouse of a partner took office on a city council that pays large sums of money to the utility authority. Executive Director Tom Hood stated, "No. If the two candidates take office and the utility authority continues to use city funds to pay the law firm, then the two council members will be in violation of Section 109, Miss. Const. of 1890, and Section 25-4-105(2), Miss. Code of 1972." Burrow, however, said that the facts before the Ethics Commission were "incomplete and mischaracterized." "I am surprised by the Advisory Opinion from the Ethics Commission. The City Attorney, Eddie Williams, did not notify me he requested one, nor did the Ethics Commission contact me to ask for any response before it published its opinion. In other words, the Commission has heard only one side of this issue." "I disagree with the Commission's conclusions, which are based upon incomplete and mischaracterized facts. Mr. Williams says he contacted me about the alleged conflict, and I disagreed with his personal opinion. That much is correct. What Mr. Williams omits is he contacted me about the alleged conflict on January 3, 2017, less than one hour after I submitted my qualifying papers as a candidate. However, Mr. Williams did not solicit the Commission's advisory opinion until after I had won the primary election and defeated the incumbent councilman." "Had I received this advisory opinion in January, I may have withdrawn as a candidate, leaving the option open for other residents of Ward 3 to seek the office well before the March 1 qualifying deadline. However if I withdraw from the election now, then the Ward 3 candidate in the June 6 general election could be the very incumbent councilman the voters defeated in the primary." "I remain a candidate for Ward 3 in the June 6 general election. To do otherwise would thwart the will of the people who elected me. Although I still believe there is no conflict of interest, if I am elected I assure the citizens of Pascagoula there will be no alleged conflict before I take office." According to Williams, only "drastic" options would exist if Colmer and Burrow were set to take council seats. "One of the options would be for them to no longer represent the Jackson County Utility Authority -- another option would be for those two lawyers (Burrow and Colmer) to leave the firm -- there may be some option where they can work out some arrangement where Pascagoula's money we pay them is not used to pay their attorneys' fees and I'm not sure how they would do that -- that would have to pass the Ethics Commission if that's what they chose to do," Williams said. David Tadlock (file photo/Gulflive.com) Incumbent Ward 3 councilman David Tadlock took to his Facebook account on Friday to address a similar conflict of interest he faced from the Ethics Commission. He said he "did what was right by the city of Pascagoula, her citizens, and state ethics laws and hopes future candidates would choose similar paths. "After the primary election, I pointed out that these elected roles can sometimes include great sacrifice. That said, and in light of recent news surrounding issues concerning conflicts of interest with incoming candidates, I too was faced with a similar decision roughly two months before the primary election. I was interviewed and strongly considered by a coastal company for work to be performed in neighboring counties. However, because of contractual work they had performed for the city of Pascagoula, the same ethics statute that is being addressed with incoming candidates was applied in my case as well. "I sought input/advice from legal counsel, our city attorney, and the state Ethics Commission; all before deciding on how to proceed. That advice was returned by all with the same conclusion; that I should not engage a career opportunity with this company even though I would be working 100% apart from the city and strictly providing for my family. "The Ethics Commission opinion found it would be unethical for me to take the job and upon mutual understanding between myself and the company, choose to uphold the state ethics statute thereby causing them to withdraw the offer...there were no 'grey options.' It would be a violation even if I were to resign my city role to take the job because one must wait a year post term before assuming such a role. "This was a great career opportunity for me, but because 'what is right' played out here, I chose honesty and integrity over bending the rules, challenging the law, or worse, skirting the law. Let me be clear, I have in no way been involved or in collusion with any party to what has taken place through the MS Ethics Commission inquiry by our city attorney in regards to the candidates named in that inquiry. "While I'm well aware of those connections and conflicts they face, I chose to run a clean campaign based on the issues within our city and my accomplishments and ability to affect change for good. I can only hope that those who were voted to serve via a fair election process, will choose honesty and integrity over bending the rules, challenging the law, or skirting the law." The Mississippi Press was unable to immediately reach Jennifer Colmer to inquire if she would continue on a path to become councilwoman at-large. Northern Nigeria is made up of 19 states and in many of these cities, there are amazing destinations which tourists love to visit. In Kaduna, the magnificent Kajuru Castle is sited, the ancient Kano City Wall in Kano, the popular Yankari Games reserve in Bauchi, the Gashaka Gumpti park between Adamawa and Taraba and the Chappal Waddi Mountain in Taraba with the tallest mountain in Nigeria. There is so much to discover in this part of Nigeria. For tourists who are craving for a hitch free adventure in Northern Nigeria, Jovago.com, Africa's No.1 hotel booking portal roll-out some helpful tips. Do not dress scantily A large chunk of the states in Northern Nigeria are predominantly Muslim. The religion has a huge influence on their way of life. In line with religious beliefs, women wear clothes which cover their body. Therefore, one of the things that will endear tourists to the locals especially for the women is to cover their body, They take exception to scantily clad women. And do not always cover your hair whether you are a Muslim or non-Muslim. Prepare for the hot climate The climate in Northern Nigeria is very hot. So, this is one of the battles you have to overcome on a visit to the region. So, you need a hat, sunglasses and bottles of water. So, you have to plan your itinerary properly so that your trip is not disrupted by the scorching sun. Importantly, do not go mountain climbing if you cannot withstand the stress. Get a local who speak hausa fluently Having someone who can speak the local language has its pros. You get everything you buy at an affordable price, and you will feel secured especially when you are among strangers. The truth is that you cannot find your way if you do not speak Hausa. So hire someone who speak hausa. Stay away from religious arguments Whether you agree or disagree with their religious creed, you should keep it to yourself. As a tourists you should focus on exploring the various destination at your disposal. They do not joke with their religion especially persons. Do not allow anyone drag you into any religious argument. Always remember that you are a tourists. Avoid public display of affection Men and women mingling is not frowned let alone displaying your affection to your lover. If you want to display any affection, you must do private and also ensure that men and women do things separately. Be security conscious The government is winning the war against Boko Haram and peace is returning to Northeast Nigeria. However, this doesn't wander indiscriminately. In addition, always remember to inform your friends about your whereabouts. This summer, children can enjoy free meals through the Summer Meal Program sponsored by Beaverton School District, Nutrition Services Department. The Summer Meal Program is a federally-funded nutrition program open to all children ages 1-18 years. No applications are necessary to drop in, and all children and teens are welcome. In addition to lunch, some sites offer breakfast in conjunction with scheduled summer school programs. The Summer Meal Program ensures all children have the opportunity to eat healthy food during the summer months when they can't eat at school. To make the program welcoming and accessible, meals are served at locations where children congregate during the summer, such as summer schools and local parks and recreation centers. The Summer Meal Program is meeting a real need in our communities. Approximately one in five children in Oregon are food insecure, meaning they have limited or uncertain access to safe and nutritious food. Children who are hungry or food insecure are more likely to be in poor health and less likely to form friendships, be curious, and learn. Summer meal programs respond to this problem. The meals, along with positive enrichment activities, ensure kids return to school healthy and ready to learn. There are 18 school sites providing meals at no charge to all children in the community ages 1 to 18 years, adults can eat for just $3.50. All children are encouraged and welcome to come join in the fun! Bring your children or tell a friend: To find a meal site near you, call 1-800-SAFENET (toll free) or visit www.SummerFoodOregon.org. This online resource shows maps of summer food sites across the state, serving times and local contact information. Operation days can be different for some sites so please check the Nutrition Services Summer Meal Program website for dates, locations, and times: https://www.beaverton.k12.or.us/depts/nutserv/Pages/summer-meals.aspx. Lunches will be served Monday - Friday, June 26 through August 18, 2017 at most of the following sites: Elementary Schools: Aloha-Huber Park K-8, Barnes, Beaver Acres, Chehalem, Elmonica, Fir Grove, Greenway, Kinnaman, McKay, McKinley, and William Walker Middle Schools: Mountain View, and Whitford High Schools: Aloha, Beaverton, Southridge, Sunset, and Health & Science School (HS2) In addition, lunches will be delivered to the following mobile site locations this summer: Beaverton City Park Cedar Hills Recreation Center Eichler Park Police Activities League THPRD Howard M. Terpenning Complex, Skate Park Southminster Church Kinnaman Townhomes Merlo Station Apartments Willow Springs Apartments Wonderland Park For more information on lunch schedules and days of service, please visit the District's Nutrition Services website. For more information, please contact Lisa Vincent, at 503-356-3969. Many viewers have been upset by the harrowing ordeal of watching Three Girls, the dramatisation of the Rochdale grooming scandal shown over three nights on BBC1 this week. I can sympathise, of course but just imagine what it was like for the hundreds of girls who lived (and are living) through such abuse. Surely we owe it to them to hear their story and keep looking with a clear eye as the wretchedness of their torment is exposed? Nicole Taylors script did not flinch from depicting the sleazy horror endured by Ruby (Liv Hill), Amber (Ria Zmitrowicz) and Holly (Molly Windsor). Scroll down for video The writer used these three characters to tell the true story of how a group of nine men of predominantly Pakistani origin groomed white girls for sex in the Greater Manchester area between 2005 and 2012. It was no secret to the police and social workers what was going on but, shamefully, fear of being seen as racist hampered them from accusing the abusers. Political correctness kept the men free to do as they wished for at least seven long years. However, after heroic attempts to bring them to trial, the men were found guilty and sentenced for up to 25 years in jail. Horrifically, the principal witness at the trial the Holly character in Three Girls had been abused by all nine of them. Thankfully there were no graphic sex scenes in the drama, but from the grotty curry house back rooms to the leering men and the broken little girls shuffling home afterwards, we got the message. Loud and clear. In reports at the time, the girls were always described as vulnerable a word so often used as a social services lasso to describe the victims of anything, anywhere, that it has become almost meaningless. Here, we are reminded of exactly what it represents. Amber, Ruby and Lorna Bowen in the second episode of the drama which airs on BBC One at 9pm on Wednesday The girls on screen are troubled, estranged from their families, unaware of their own naivete and running wild. One of them has special needs. With their ponytails, nose studs, scabbed nail polish and trackie bottoms, these girls are just like many other urban teens. And at first they are thrilled by the mens attention, plus the free takeaway food, cigarettes and booze. For in their hollowed-out lives empty of treats, money, affection and a stable family structure all this seems glamorous and fun. Then the men who have groomed and befriended them begin to reveal their true motives. When are you going to give me sex? wheedles Daddy (Simon Nagra), a middle-aged man in a crochet topi, the cap usually worn by Pakistani Muslims at prayer services. Have we reached peak Peake? I think so What a time for Maxine Peake. The actress, a committed Left-wing activist, added a touch of glamour when she helped Jeremy Corbyn to launch his election campaign. Next it emerged that she has a company registered with a tax efficient accountant. She is sole director and shareholder of Flat Cap Ltd, which deals with payments for her acting, writing and directing a cosy arrangement that can slash tax bills! Then she appeared in Three Girls, playing a Birkenstock-wearing sexual health worker described as Erin Brockovich in an anorak in her battle for the abused girls. Does all this mean we have reached peak Peake? I think so. Advertisement All the things I have given you, the kebabs, tikka, vodka, cigarettes. It is part of the deal. I buy you things and you give me things. He then pushes Holly onto a dirty mattress in the back room of a curry house and proceeds to have his way. No, Three Girls is not the sort of thing you would uncork a bottle of wine and snuggle down to enjoy of an evening. The performances especially from the three young actresses may have been flawless, but few of us could have felt wonderful after enduring its three, relentlessly grim hours. However, I did feel I knew a little more about something important, something terrible that happened in a British town, and about the awful mutation in our society that allowed it to happen. Yet I do take issue with where Three Girls unstintingly laid the blame for this outrage at the door of the local authorities. Certainly, there were terrible failings by police and social services. These girls and many others were let down terribly, of that there is no doubt. Yet let us not forget who the real culprits are here. Not the cops, not the social workers and not the parents who failed to provide security and a loving home for their daughters although they must accept their share of the blame. The ultimate wrongdoers are the monsters who cultivated and then repeatedly molested these lost girls. Some of these men were pillars of Rochdales Pakistani community. Among the nine men jailed, one was a Muslim preacher. They were married fathers, taxi drivers, restaurant workers people who were respected by their neighbours but did unspeakable things in private. Top row left to right: Abdul Rauf, Hamid Safi, Mohammed Sajid and Abdul Aziz; Bottom row left to right: Abdul Qayyum, Adil Khan, Mohammed Amin and Kabeer Hassan The Daddy who actually led the gang Shabir Ahmed is locked up in Leeds prison and, like other offenders, is currently fighting efforts to deport him back to his native Pakistan. As we saw last night, in words taken from the actual court transcripts, he tried to dismiss the prosecution as white lies and called the judge and jury racist. Is it too much to hope that all nine of them are kicked out of our tolerant, beautiful country? Thats why Three Girls is so important. Without being voyeuristic, sensational or opportunist, it shone a light on a fetid corner of modern British life. And because it did, a lot of girls may be a little bit safer on the streets tonight. We don't need your lectures, Ched Ched Evans, that fine and upstanding defender of womens virtue, has spoken out on the issue of female safety. In an interview with The Times, the Sheffield United player warned women they are putting themselves in danger by drinking because there are genuine rapists out there who will prey on them. Genuine rapists? As opposed to what? Assailants who dont really mean it? Last year, you might recall that Evans was found not guilty of raping a 19-year-old woman. Unusually, this was his second trial, having been convicted for the first time in 2012 and sentenced to five years in jail. Ched Evans (pictured) has rejoined Sheffield United - the club he played for when he was first accused of rape Today, he is an innocent man and has even been re-signed by his old club. Perhaps he believes his rehabilitation will be complete if he makes the right concerned noises about sexual consent and his belief that the police only targeted him because he was famous. Shall we remind ourselves of the facts? One sordid night six years ago, Evans responded to a 3am text from a friend that he had got a girl and taken her back to their hotel. Evans whizzed round in a taxi, had sex with the girl after his mate did, while his brother tried to film events through the bedroom window. Evans later made his exit via the hotels fire escape ever the gentleman! Such touching concern for the safety of a young woman. He really shames us all. What is it with Taylor Swift and British boys? Taylor's latest Brit on the side What is it with Taylor Swift and British boys? The pop star, who could have her pick of lovers, has a thing about the high and mighty from Blighty. From One Directions Harry Styles to DJ Calvin Harris to arch thesp Tom Hiddleston, Taylor has a taste for handsome, tall men who call a toh-mato a tomato and apologise all the time. And to her list of conquests we can now add aspiring actor Joe Alwyn, a floppy-haired hunk who looks about five and whom she has secretly been dating for months. Does his mum even know? Why all these British boys? Perhaps she loves their cultured accents, which can make lots of Americans sound like loudmouthed jocks, even when they are not. Perhaps she thinks they give her a touch of class and a whiff of exotica, being foreign but not too foreign? Who knows the secrets of the Swiftian heart? All I do know is that Taylor has been spending days at a time in London with her pal Joe, wearing a wig to escape detection. Funnily enough, I saw a woman with really strange hair acting oddly the other day but it turned out to be Nicola Sturgeon en route to a TV studio. Lavinia Woodward (pictured) attacked her Tinder date with a knife It pays to be posh in court Lucky for lovely Lavinia Woodward that she has a posh name, pretty hair and a good education. The drug-addicted Oxford student and aspiring surgeon (right) attacked her Tinder date with a knife quite a serious crime, you might think. However, in court she was given a second chance from a kindly judge who worried that a custodial sentence would harm her promising career. To prevent this extraordinary, able young lady from following her long-held desire to enter the profession she wishes to, would be a sentence which would be too severe, he said. How very thoughtful of him. However, had she been a tattooed trainee nail technician called Chardonnay Chav-Lambrini who had stabbed her Tinder date while high on a crack binge, would the judge have been quite so lenient? No, thought not. Scientists testing what kind of books women enjoy most have discovered that they get more pleasure out of reading Jamie Olivers 30-Minute Meals than E. L. Greys Fifty Shades Of Grey bonkaramas. Arent boffins adorable? They went to all the trouble of hooking women up to lots of machines to test their reading reactions, when all they had to do was ask. Because forget the whay-hey, for millions of us its got to be Jamie all the way. There is something thrilling about recipes, even if you have no intention of making them. And there is far more pleasure to be had in studying exactly what Jamie is going to rub into his spicy Cajun pork than in any of that panting Fifty Shades nonsense. Burberry is reporting that its 825 poncho has been so successful that it has boosted the companys once flagging profits. What? It looks like the kind of travelling rug once found in the boot of a Morris Minor. Or perhaps something youd throw over Dobbins sweating flanks after he had come second last in the Grand National. Fashion? Being stylish gets more confusing by the week. A bride tossing her bouquet might not seem like a strange occurrence at a wedding in the United States - but what about a bride and groom drinking out of a chamber pot? There are tons of weird wedding traditions from around the world that you likely have never heard of. Dating site Elite Singles has rounded up some of the most perplexing wedding rituals from numerous different countries, and they range from quirky to downright disgusting. Common themes include having the newlywed couple solve a puzzle or complete a task together in order to symbolize their newfound union. Plenty of other wedding traditions involve the bride getting kidnapped in some form. In the end, though, all of these traditions are in the fun of the matrimonial spirit. I do! Wedding traditions from around the world come in all shapes and sizes - some are unique challenges for the couple, while others are humorous pranks THE AMERICAS In the Southern United States, betrothed couples sometimes 'bury the bourbon' before a wedding. According to superstition, if a couple buries a full bottle of the liquor at the site of their marriage, the booze will ward off the rain and make for a sunny wedding day. The best part? The couple gets to dig up the bourbon at the ceremony and everyone gets to partake (if they're of legal age, of course). Meanwhile, in the French-speaking areas of Canada, young singles at a wedding sometimes perform a 'silly sock dance.' The aptly-titled dance involves the singles strutting their stuff in brightly colored hosiery. Rain, rain go away: In the Southern United States, some couples will bury a bottle of bourbon at the site of their vows in order to ward off bad weather on their wedding day Fancy feet: In Canada, singles attending a wedding will sometimes perform a 'silly sock dance' that involves the brightly-colored footwear seen above Down in Mexico, couples who have just said their vows are literally lassoed by friends and family. Though, this isn't your average cowboy rope - the lassos are often elaborately decorated with crystals and beads before they are used to physically - and symbolically - string the newlywed couple together. In Guatemala, the wedding ceremony is followed by an act known as 'breaking the bell.' Following the reception, wedding guests will head to the groom's home, where a bell filled with rice, flour, and other grains hangs over the door. When the groom's mom smashes the bell, she releases these symbols of 'abundance.' Argentina has a ceremony similar to the American act of tossing the bouquet. At the reception, bachelorettes take turns pulling ribbons from a cake. Whoever pulls the ribbon with the ring attached to it is said to be the next in line for marriage. Tied together: Couples in Mexico are roped together - symbolically and literally - with a bedazzled cord Breaking the bell: Newlyweds in Guatemala look forward to the groom's mother smashing a bell full of grains - which symbolizes prosperity for the marriage EUROPE Europe has some of the most interesting wedding traditions, beginning with Germany's act of 'sawing the log.' After the wedding ceremony, the bride and groom - still dressed in their finery - work together to quite literally saw a log in half. The teamwork needed for the task is said to set the stage for a harmonious marriage. In Hungary, brides beware! At the wedding reception the bride will be put 'up for sale.' Whoever puts money into a collective pot gets their chance to dance with the bride - that is, until the groom attempts to steal her away. Similarly, in Finland, the bride will be 'kidnapped' and held for ransom. In order to win her back, the groom must perform silly tasks - such as dancing or writing his new bride a poem on the spot. Scottish brides (and sometimes grooms) are taken by friends a few days before the wedding and paraded through the streets covered in dirt. Supposedly, conquering this humiliation will make marital problems seem easy. One thing is certain - Europeans certainly love kidnapping brides! Brides in Belgium are given a handkerchief with their name embroidered on it. As each female member of the family gets married, the handkerchief is passed down and the new names are added. In Spain, friends of the groom will cut his tie into pieces. The swatches are then auctioned off as tokens of good luck. Teamwork! In Germany, couples go from the altar to the logging stand and work together to saw a hefty branch in half Snip! In Spain, grooms can expect to have their ties cut into pieces - the swatches are then auctioned off to friends as good luck charms Yuck! Newlyweds in France can expect to drink an alcoholic concoction out of a chamber pot Norwegian couples find out how many kids they're going to have at the wedding. This is done when the pair attempts to pluck the top layer from an elaborate cake known as a Kransekake. However many layers they manage to grab in one go (there can be up to 18) represents the future offspring they'll have. Newlyweds in the Czech Republic must perform an especially strange challenge that involves the couple wrapping themselves together in a blanket and attempting to eat soup from one bowl, with one spoon. Lets hope no one spills split pea on the bridal gown! France undoubtedly has one of the most unpleasant wedding traditions - and yes, it involves a chamber pot. Towards the end of the wedding, friends of the newlyweds will fill said old school toilet with various liquors and force the couple to drink the contents of the pot in its entirety before they are allowed to leave. A dirty business: In Scotland, engaged couples may participate in a 'blackening' that sees them covered with filth and paraded through town Yum! Czech couples participate in a tasty ritual that sees them wrapped together in a cloth and sharing a bowl of soup ASIA AND OCEANIA Betrothed men in South Korea are put through the ringer by friends, who take the groom-to-be and slap his feet with fish. Supposedly, this will bring vitality to the groom - plus, it must look hilarious. More often than not, weddings in New Zealand take place with their doors left open. In fact, it was illegal to have a wedding with a closed door as recently as 1994. Hopefully the couple picks a sunny day for the wedding. In India, the bride and groom's families take part in a game known as Joota chupai, or 'stealing the shoes.' When the groom removes his shoes en route to the altar, the bride's family snatches the shoes and attempts to hide them. Thus, an intern-family battle worthy of Romeo and Juliet begins to recapture the shoes. Bridesmaids in Russia are the ones who challenge the groom. When the husband-to-be comes to whisk away his bride, her friends will offer up a list of demands instead. This pseudo-ransom often involves the bridesmaids jokingly offering up a male friend in a wedding dress and veil in order to get the groom to 'pay' for his actual bride. Hide and seek! Grooms at Indian weddings better keep a close eye on their footwear - the bride's family might just steal them away in a tradition known as Joota Chupai The opening scene of the new series of Poldark will look familiar: a figure on horseback galloping along the windswept Cornish cliffs. Yet this is not swashbuckling Captain Ross Poldark, the dashing but flawed hero of the BBCs hit show set in 18th-century Cornwall. Its Elizabeth Warleggan, Poldarks first love and the woman he controversially forced himself upon in the last series. Its a risky enterprise for a woman just weeks away from giving birth but Elizabeths pregnancy is central to the first episode, the big question being just who is the father of her unborn child? The cast of Poldark including leading man Aidan Turner invite us backstage to the set of the new series of the hit series Is it her new husband, the banker George Warleggan, Poldarks nemesis who she married after the death of first husband Francis in the last series? Or did that single encounter with Ross have unintended consequences? I cant say anything about that, says Aidan Turner, who plays Ross and is today sporting a few days of stubble and his own tight-fitting black coat as we chat about the show between scenes. Its never been revealed, nobody knows for certain and even the original book on which the TV series is based doesnt make it clear although I have my suspicions. When the baby comes out with a scar on its face that might be a bit of a giveaway! ROSS'S HOOK-HANDED NEW FRIEND No new character seems likely to have as much of an impact in series three as Bartholomew Tholly Tregirls, a sailor friend of Rosss. Theres a line in one of the Poldark books about how Thollys scar makes Rosss look like a cat scratch, says Sean Gilder, who takes the role of Tholly (left, embracing Ross). So Pippa Woods, the make-up designer, has really gone to town on me. But its time-consuming. I can sit for half an hour each morning in the make-up chair having various seafaring tattoos and scars applied, including the big one that sits across the area of Thollys face where one of his eyes used to be, presumably before it was lost in a battle or a fight. Thankfully for the make-up team Im not a fiddler. Ill happily sit in the chair and go to sleep! Tholly also has a hook instead of a hand. Its actually hook mark two, laughs Sean. The original one wasnt strong enough, so I now have one that has a handle inside so I can grip things. And I have a rubber one for fight scenes so I dont hurt anyone! Advertisement He is of course referring to the scar Ross himself received while away fighting in the American War of Independence. The new baby is just one more problem for Ross Poldark to deal with. The first series saw him return from battle in 1783 to find his father had died and the family estate had gone to ruin. He brought his estate back to life, installed poor waif Demelza, played by Eleanor Tomlinson, as his kitchen maid and re-opened the family copper mine, Wheal Leisure. Ross and Demelza fell in love and married, but their baby daughter Julia tragically died of diphtheria. Ross was soon beset by crippling financial worries, and in series two he faced the hangmans noose on charges of theft, inciting a riot and attacking a customs officer after encouraging the local impoverished mineworker families to help themselves to the cargo coming ashore when his arch-rival George Warleggans ship was wrecked off Poldarks land. Elizabeth, Rosss former lover, had to face up to the loss of her husband Francis, who drowned when he fell into a pool of water in Poldarks mine when the ground collapsed beneath him shortly after discovering a vein of copper. Elizabeth at least secured her financial future, and that of her son Geoffrey Charles, by marrying Warleggan. And then there was that sexual moment between Ross and Elizabeth... The new series, filmed over the autumn and winter, is a nine-parter based on Winston Grahams fifth and sixth Poldark novels The Black Moon and The Four Swans, and will see Ross trying to rebuild his marriage to Demelza as question marks hang over the new babys parentage. Elizabeths covering all bases with the galloping horse ride, in case the child comes early which would suggest its not Georges but Rosss because of the timing, says the quietly spoken Icelandic actress Heida Reed who plays her. Shes doing all sorts of questionable things for a lady in her last term so that she can blame an early arrival on her activities rather than the time of conception. So she goes on long walks, lifts piles of heavy books, even fabricates a fall down the stairs, although its the horse-riding thats most dramatic and was most difficult to film. Beatie Edney, who plays Prudie, larks about with Gabriella Wilde, who plays Caroline Penvenen Aidan Turner as Ross gets a costume tweak on set 'We shot that opening scene quite a few times and I was wearing this huge pregnancy bump beneath a heavy wool skirt that got wetter and wetter as the shoot went on because it was raining so hard. I love riding but I didnt enjoy that scene. She even used a stuntwoman for some of the trickier riding sequences. Rosss indiscretion with Elizabeth will have lasting repercussions as the new series goes on, when a frisson develops between Demelza and new character Hugh Armitage, a playboy aristocrat. Not quite able to forgive Ross who admitted what had happened with Elizabeth to Demelza when she confronted him and got a whack round the face for it and seriously concerned that Elizabeths baby may be her husbands, Demelza is flattered by Hughs attentions. BEEFCAKE BROTHERS Demelzas brothers Drake and Sam Carne, played by Harry Richardson and Tom York, are the two new beefcakes this year, albeit very different in character. Sam is a devoted Methodist who feels compromised by his blacksmith brother Drakes passion for governess Morwenna. Of course you feel nervous joining such a successful show, says Tom. But we were fortunate that our first scene was together. Drake and Sam are carrying this giant beam, which Ross has found us for our house. It weighed a ton but carrying it meant we had to focus on the physical task rather than be nervous about our first day of filming. People often assume that he and Harry are real brothers because of their physical resemblance. We hang out a lot together now because we get on so well, says Tom, and I can see what people mean by us looking similar. It might have helped us get cast as the Carne brothers. Advertisement Josh Whitehouse, who appears as Armitage, reveals he landed the role partly due to the woman hes trying to seduce. I appeared with Eleanor in a movie last year called Alleycats and she suggested to the production team Id make a good Armitage, says Josh, whos as dashingly handsome in real-life as the character hes playing. When I first got the part I discovered all these online forums talking about my character and it became clear that in the books hes a scoundrel. So Ive tried to show his more innocent side and concentrate on the fact that he follows his heart, that hes a poet and a romantic. Whether it works for the viewers or not we shall see. Ellise Chappell, last seen playing the lead role in Skys Christmas fantasy-drama The Last Dragonslayer, plays Morwenna For some of the trickier riding sequences a stuntwoman is used to double Elizabeth While stunt men and women are used for certain scenes Aidan does ride Ross, meanwhile, is too busy with work on his farm and at the mine to pay much attention to his wifes wandering eye. He suspects something might be going on, he can detect a certain energy between the two of them, says Aidan. But to some extent its about Ross taking his eye off the ball. Theres more romance on the agenda as new characters are introduced including Drake and Sam Carne, two of Demelzas brothers. Sam is determined to spread the Methodist word like his father, but Drake, a handsome young blacksmith, will have a significant impact on the Poldarks lives as he falls for another new character Morwenna. Shes the governess to Elizabeth Warleggans son Geoffrey Charles, and their romance will further complicate ties between the Warleggan and Poldark families. Although its quite hard to see what Morwenna finds attractive in Drake as hes normally covered in grime from a hard day at the anvil, laughs Harry Richardson, who plays him. Ellise Chappell, last seen playing the lead role in Skys Christmas fantasy-drama The Last Dragonslayer, plays Morwenna, and says it wasnt entirely plain sailing as those tight-fitting corsets played havoc with her digestive system. SIX BOOKS DOWN - SIX TO GO Aidan Turner has already signed up for series four, which will be based on Winston Grahams seventh Poldark novel The Angry Tide, but then theres a decade-long gap in time before the next story, The Stranger From The Sea, which is set in 1810-11. Aidan could always add a few age lines to his face and grey streaks to his mane of black curls, but could it be the end of the line for him as Poldark especially as rumours persist that he might be the next James Bond? Whether its Aidan or someone else in the main role, the BBC seems determined to bring all 12 of Winston Grahams novels to the screen, and why shouldnt they when theyre proving so popular? I think I would always leave the door open on storylines, says writer Debbie Horsfield, even if I knew it was definitely going to be the last-ever episode. 'Id like people to imagine whats going to happen afterwards, whats going to become of these characters. Advertisement They put you in the right frame of mind for being part of that society but they can be painful, she says. Thankfully theres a little bit of elastic to help you breathe in the corset, but choosing the right lunch is crucial. Fish and vegetables are good, and peppermint tea afterwards helps the digestive process. Providing light relief and cracking one-liners at every turn is Rosss housekeeper Prudie (Beatie Edney), whose hard-drinking husband Jud has disappeared. Shes pleased to be shot of him, says Beatie. Theres a line in the first episode where she says she misses him like a ruptured spleen. To an extent this is a new Prudie. I asked Pippa Woods, the make-up designer, if I could do something really mad with my characters hair so its dyed pink in the new series. 'And theres a new character on the scene who Prudie has a past with, although she mainly ignores him. She doesnt harbour any passion for anyone. As long as shes comfy and has a drink, shes happy. That new character is Tholly Tregirls, a larger-than-life friend of Rosss late father who now becomes a friend to Ross. Hes a bit of a rogue with a hook for a hand, says Sean Gilder, the actor cast in the role. At one point he was going to have an eye patch as well and I was a bit worried he was going to look like a pantomime villain. I thought about turning up to the read-through for the series with an inflatable parrot on my shoulder. Thollys handy with his fists, which is useful as theres plenty of fighting in this new series. Its set in 1794, at the height of the French Revolution, and one of the main characters, Rosss old friend from their days fighting in the American War of Independence, Dr Dwight Enys (who reunited with his love Caroline Penvenen at the end of the last series), becomes caught up in the conflict in France and is taken prisoner. Ross decides to lead a party of men to rescue him. Cue a truly spectacular episode, perhaps the most ambitious in Poldark history, as Ross, Tholly and their team of mercenaries attempt to liberate Dwight from a prisoner-of-war camp. Aidan Turner is seen clutching his script as he larks about behind the camera for a change Poldark brought his estate back to life, installed poor waif Demelza, played by Eleanor Tomlinson, as his kitchen maid in the last series Weve been filming for four days here at the Bishops Palace in Wells, Somerset, which doubles as a disused convent thats been taken over by French revolutionaries, explains producer Michael Ray, chatting over coffee on the set. Weve had to rough the place up a bit its a truly beautiful building so weve put hay on the floor and old mattresses to show where the prisoners would have slept. All we have to do now is carry out this huge explosion as our heroes try to blow their way out. We only have two shots at it so there isnt a huge margin for error. The actors involved in the fight scenes received specialised musket training as real weapons, complete with real gunpowder, were used. A lot of soldiers at the time were injured by their own guns, and while Im sure the production team wouldnt take any chances with our actors, handling those weapons is slightly nerve-racking, says John Hollingworth, who plays Captain Henshawe, an old friend of Rosss and a key figure at the mine. Jack Farthing and Heida Reed as George and Elizabeth Warleggan on set Caroline Penvenen, Ross and Demelza gather for a christening scene in the new series There were experts around to talk us through what we were doing with the muskets and the scenes were exciting to do. It was like Poldark does The Three Musketeers and a real change from the norm for Henshawe. Previously hed been the guy who talked about copper and tin a lot while the nation made its tea. For Dubliner Aidan its been a momentous few years, making him one of the most talked-about actors in the world. It seems to be working out all right for me, he says. Although Im not sure I always know how people are perceiving Ross. My resting face is a bit intense. Sometimes Ill play a scene and Ill think Im being nice and then Ill see it back and think, Jesus! If thats how other people see me when Im being nice, goodness knows what they think when Ross is angry. Josh Whitehouse as Hugh Armitage Would I go for a drink with him? Yes, hes a good drinker, it would be a decent night out. Hes a good guy, a man of principle with a good sense of humour. Hed be good to hang out with. Hes flawed but hes always on the front foot, always trying to figure out ways to make it work. Hes courageous. Its not necessarily his principles that appeal to the viewers though. The Impact Award for the biggest TV moment of the year at the National TV Awards in 2016 went to Poldarks famous topless scything scene, and the scene where he was being attended to by Demelza in the bath in series two had viewers in a similar froth. You didnt actually see a great deal of Aidan in the bathtub, says writer Debbie Horsfield. It shows the power of imagination, audiences were imagining more than they were actually seeing! Executive producer Karen Thrussell adds, When we were trying to source the right bath and looking at different sizes, we actually thought wed see more of Aidan than we did, and yet it was still peoples favourite scene from last year. All of which leads to the big question, more pressing even than who the father of Elizabeths baby is. Does Ross go topless in series three? Youll have to wait and see, laughs Aidan, before letting Karen Thrussell answer the question. Dont forget we havent been filming in the summer this time around, and Cornwall in February is not a great time to be doing scything scenes. But if the story calls for it, if Ross and Demelza are in their bedroom perhaps, you never know... Poldark is returning to BBC1 in early June. Elisabeth Moss discusses her latest role in the Handmaid's Tale Since she left the gloss and glamour of Mad Men behind two years ago, Elisabeth Mosss career has taken a distinctly darker turn. She played PA turned advertising copywriter Peggy Olson through all seven series of the 60s-set show, but recent roles have replaced the sexiness of that world with something far edgier. As Detective Robin Griffin in acclaimed New Zealand-set police drama Top Of The Lake she dealt with a dying mother, a failed engagement, a historical rape, a town full of misogynists and, unsurprisingly, suicidal thoughts in a performance that earned her a Best Actress Golden Globe, not least for her faultless Kiwi accent. In her new drama The Handmaids Tale, a TV series based on Margaret Atwoods bleak 1985 novel set in a dystopian near future, shell find herself separated from her husband and daughter, degraded, terrified and placed into sexual slavery. Its my favourite stuff to do, says Elisabeth of these dark roles when we meet in Los Angeles. I love the emotional stuff. Im an actor, I dont want to sit around looking happy. If theres a scene where Im doing nothing and Im happy, Im bored. The Handmaids Tale is set in fictional Gilead, the former USA which has been turned into a totalitarian military dictatorship led by fanatical Christian fundamentalist men. Women have been stripped of their rights, their independence, their education and even, in the case of the handmaids women kept solely for the purpose of reproduction their names. When Elisabeths character Offred literally Of-Fred, the man who owns her learns of a resistance movement, her hopes of freedom are raised. But will they be fulfilled? Its certainly bleak, but Elisabeth says the role of warm, intelligent Offred was irresistible. Shes sort of an accidental heroine, in that shes a person, not just the heroine whos going to save the day. Shes not an expert on anything before Gilead was established she worked in publishing and was a wife and mother. The Handmaids Tale is set in fictional Gilead, the former USA which has been turned into a totalitarian military dictatorship led by fanatical Christian fundamentalist men 'She could be any one of us in that situation. It was important to me to play her like that because it asks the question, How would you learn to survive? One of my favourite things about the story which youll see as the series goes on is that Offred learns to work her way through the system. She takes what theyve used to enslave her her sexuality and her femininity and she uses it to survive. Shes very strong, interesting and complicated and I ended up liking her a lot. Elisabeth talked to the author, Margaret Atwood, at length about the book. Shes into history, and this idea is taken from Puritan times in America with the Salem witch trials and so on. 'But shes also thought a lot about men and women, and womens rights, and she wondered, If you were going to strip women of their rights, how would you do it? 'The way it was done in the book, and now in the TV series, is they shut down their bank accounts and took away their access to money, so they couldnt do anything and they couldnt leave the country to be free elsewhere. They were stuck. Elisabeth is also returning in a second series of Top Of The Lake, again written and co-directed by Jane Campion and this time also starring Nicole Kidman, fresh from success in Big Little Lies and sporting dramatically wild grey hair. Elisabeth's stars along side Nicole Kidman (pictured) in Top Of The Lake The first series saw Elisabeths character Detective Robin Griffin returning to the remote New Zealand mountain town where she grew up to investigate the pregnancy, and disappearance, of a 12-year-old girl. As well as finding the girl, the investigation forces her to confront her own rape when she was 15. For series two the action shifts to Australia. When an unidentified body washes up on Bondi Beach, Robin is drawn into the citys seamy criminal community to find the murderer, a trail that brings her into contact with Nicole Kidmans Australian mother Julia. I said if we were going to do this again, it was important that it be different, says Elisabeth. I said to Jane, Lets challenge ourselves and the audience. I think weve done that. It hasnt gone well for Robin in the four-year time lapse between seasons, which is what I asked for. Shes been through some terrible experiences which will be revealed in the show. Although its hard to imagine, shes in a much worse place now than she was before, an even lonelier position which seemed almost impossible, but shes done it. The look and the colours are very different this time. It feels very film noir, with the claustrophobia and sense of crime in a big city. And the actual crime at the centre of the story is more complicated and wider-reaching and more based in reality than the last one, so its more believable. Rich Sommer as Harry Crane, Vincent Kartheiser as Pete Campbell, Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson and Jon Hamm as Don Draper - Mad Men 'Its still super-weird though, with Janes very specific black sense of humour. She said the first season was about the wilderness outside, and the second is about the wilderness inside. Isnt that great? Brought up in Los Angeles, the daughter of two musicians, Elisabeths been acting since she was a little girl. My first leaning was towards ballet. Aged five or six I did The Sound Of Music at ballet school and an agent saw me and asked my mother if I wanted to go to auditions, and that was it. I dont really remember not wanting this. Her big break came when she was cast as President Bartlets daughter Zoey in The West Wing, but it was the role of Peggy Olson in 2007 that propelled Elisabeth into the big time. Mad Men was part of her life for the next eight years, and shes still in touch with the cast. Its hard to see them because everyones busy, she says. And I live in New York and everyone else except John Slattery lives in LA. But we have a text chain that erupts every once in a while youll wake up to 75 texts. She refuses to discuss her eight-month marriage a few years ago to American comedian Fred Armisen. It was rumoured her Scientology played a part in the break-up. I dont want to waste any more of my life talking about it, she has said of the unhappy union and if shes seeing anyone now shes keeping quiet about it. So, what does she look for in a relationship? Im a sucker for a sense of humour, but dishonesty or lack of communication is a deal-breaker. A relationship is difficult to plan a lot more difficult than a career. Jane Campion once said you have to plan for the future, but dont forget to enjoy where you are now. That makes a lot of sense. The Handmaids Tale, Channel 4, 9pm, 28th May. Top Of The Lake: China Girl is on BBC2 in the summer. Events move quickly after a woman is strangled to death in her home. Within hours her estranged husband, a shy academic and the father of her two children, has been arrested and charged with murder. He insists hes innocent and pleads not guilty as his trial begins, but how does his barrister go about securing an acquittal? And how does a prosecutor use the evidence to try to gain a guilty verdict? This scenario forms the heart of a compelling new reality show airing on five consecutive nights this week, looking at the workings of an English courtroom, where cameras are not allowed, in a way thats never been seen on TV before. Channel 4s The Trial: A Murder In The Family melds reality with fiction to create something as true to a real court experience as many people will ever encounter Channel 4s The Trial: A Murder In The Family melds reality with fiction to create something as true to a real court experience as many people will ever encounter. At the heart of the story is the fictional crime, written by a scriptwriter. Carla Davis, 38, is found strangled to death at home. The accused is her husband Simon, played by an actor. But the barristers, solicitors and judge are all real. The jury are members of the public, experiencing Simons court case just as they would in real life. The idea came about after the BAFTA-winning Channel 4 documentary The Murder Trial in 2013, which followed a real trial in Scotland where courtrooms do allow cameras. We were looking for ways to get back in the court but the issues around consent and access made it difficult, says Nick Holt, who directed both The Murder Trial and The Trial. At the heart of the story is the fictional crime, written by a scriptwriter Certain doors would always remain closed to us, such as the jury room and the conferences between lawyer and client. We wondered if there was a way we could do it again without sidelining them. Appearing in the show was a chance for the barristers to correct the way their work is often portrayed. Theres an abiding interest in what we do which is why there are so many court dramas, says Max Hill, counsel for the prosecution, a QC for nine years and a barrister for 30. What grabbed me was that this might dispel the myths and come close to showing how we actually do this job. During The Trial hes up against John Ryder, a QC for 17 years, whose cases included the Damilola Taylor murder and whos famous in court circles for his cross-examination skills. The key to making the show feel real was the preparation. The actors, led by Michael Gould who plays the defendant, spent two weeks building up their characters back stories so that every question could be answered, while 600 pages of documents as well as filmed police interviews were prepared with the help of legal advisers. The policemen and women involved in the filming were actors, but many of the witnesses were genuine pathologists and psychiatrists. The protagonists quickly forgot about the blurring of fact and fiction; Michael Gould would even write notes to his characters legal team to help them. The actors were all strikingly convincing, says John Ryder. Michael was entirely authentic as Simon. I believed in his relationship with his wife and children, in all the details of his life. The show was filmed over two weeks in a decommissioned court in Newbury, Berkshire, with locals invited to form the jury. They were treated exactly as a real jury would be and were even warned by the judge, Brian Barker, that they could not discuss the case unless all 12 were present, and not discuss it with anyone outside the jury room. There was so much going on we forgot we were being filmed, says Natalie, a 41-year-old teacher. It was a really interesting experience, seeing how people interpreted the information they were given. Aside from the actors, who filmed the murder so viewers will see what really happened after the verdict is given, no one will know whether they were right or wrong until they watch the show and see the murder at the end. If the truth turns out to be very different to what the jury thought theres potential for that to destabilise credibility around juries in general, says Max Hill. Well have to wait and see what happens. The Trial: A Murder In The Family, Sunday-Thursday, 9pm, Channel 4. The sheer genius of Ruby Wax comes in her ability to have you rolling around laughing at things that arent necessarily funny. Mental illness, maternal guilt, Donald Trump all these subjects are covered during our interview. What a hoot! And yet its hard to imagine having a more serious, or sobering, conversation with anyone. The skill has turned her into a bestselling author and now a world authority on the human condition. Ruby Wax is a comedian turned psychologist emerging from from Oxford University with a masters degree in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy It might have seemed like an unlikely move when she bailed out of what had been a hugely successful TV career to move into academia (specialist subject: the brain, and how it works). There were certainly raised eyebrows when she emerged from Oxford University with a masters degree in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in 2013. The true triumph, however, was in marrying her old skills making us laugh, basically with her new ones. For a woman who always seemed like the biggest show-off in showbiz, shes surprisingly modest about how much of a role fate played in her becoming the poster girl for mental health when her book Sane New World became a bestseller four years ago. It might not have worked out, but it did, she admits today. I mean I would have done it anyway. I would still have been absorbed by this world. When I was applying to Oxford I said, Ill read this stuff anyway, even if you dont want me. 'It was personal. But the book came out at a time when things were changing. It was the zeitgeist, I guess, and by accident I was on it. Ive never been on it before. I always miss fashion like with bell bottoms, I was years too late. But with that book I got it right. Trump asked Ruby to leave his plane during an interview she conducted in BBC1 Sane New World, which essentially reasons that its our own minds that jeopardise our sanity, might have sounded like a niche publication but it captured that all-important mainstream audience, meaning that it didnt get lost in the self-help sections of bookshops. It went to number one, so it got put in the front section in the stores, Ruby points out, with just a little glee. An entire new career beckoned, quite unexpectedly. She took her live show on a tour both of theatres and mental health clinics, went on to be awarded an OBE for services to mental health and in 2015 was appointed visiting professor in mental health nursing at the University of Surrey. Her latest book, A Mindfulness Guide For The Frazzled, is more mainstream again, focusing not on mental health problems per se, but teaching us how to recognise when were feeling frazzled defined as being stressed about being stressed and how to pull back before its too late. Why did she pick this topic? Ive spent most of my waking hours in the Land of Frazzledom, so I feel qualified to act as an expert tourist guide, she writes in the intro. Shes currently in the middle of a tour where she engages the audience as she talks about the book, which is hilarious and helpful in equal measure. Theres just enough science in there to make you realise this is a woman who knows what shes talking about, but whos also aware of bringing her audience with her. He looked at her as if she were mad, and when she scoffed at his ambitions for the White House he shouted, Take the jet down! I wanted to do a Bill Bryson-esque thing, take facts and spin them, to make a comedy, she says. The laughs are really crucial. If you make someone laugh, you go straight to their brain and to their heart. Her next book a work in progress sounds intriguing too. Its initial working title was The Manual How To Be Human (raising the idea of it being a bible for how to live) but its based on Rubys conversations with two men she introduced to each other, a neuroscientist and a monk. Kooky? Yes and no. Theyre the most brilliant people and Im asking their opinions on relationships, money, sex, everything really. Its fascinating. Actually, Ruby on the human condition is fascinating and much of her writing focuses on her own depression and her regrets that she didnt tackle her issues earlier. I missed much of my childrens childhoods. Even when I was there, I wasnt there. I was always hustling for work, always on the phone. I thought they wouldnt notice, she says poignantly. Shes always been interested in other people and what makes them tick. She found fame with her string of high-profile TV documentaries where she trailed celebs like Imelda Marcos (who can forget Ruby rummaging around her shoe collection), the Duchess of York (ditto her knicker drawer) and OJ Simpson. There was one interview she didnt feel she nailed, though, one that now haunts her for obvious reasons. In her meeting with Trump Ruby said she was witness to some of his truly appalling attitudes towards women At the turn of the Millennium, Ruby filmed a series for BBC1 called Rubys American Pie, which saw her getting to hang out with Donald Trump, who was at the time just another perma-tanned billionaire, albeit one who was, even then, talking about his ambitions to be president. Its fair to say they didnt get on. The encounter with Ruby trying to win him over on his private jet was excruciating, and jaw-dropping to watch in retrospect. Given that human behaviour is her area of expertise, when she recalls what happened it makes for a chilling conversation. Was I proud of that film? No! It wasnt a good interview at all. I mean I got thrown off the plane. Other interviews like Imelda or OJ were good, but I should have got more from that one. I could have flattered him more, but he hated me. Shes being hard on herself. The BBC should show the programme again because it offers a fascinating insight into Trump and how he deals with people. There were two problems with their relationship, according to Ruby. Trumps lack of a sense of humour I dont think he has a sense of humour, she says and her gender. I was a female he couldnt have sex with. I dont think hed ever seen that breed before. The interview was a car crash. She behaved like Ruby Wax flattering, cajoling, teasing. He looked at her as if she were mad, and when she scoffed at his ambitions for the White House he shouted, Take the jet down! The plane landed in Arkansas where Ruby and her crew were booted off, finally catching up with him in Nebraska where he was judging a Miss Nebraska contest. When he told me he wanted to be president one day I laughed heartily, she recalls. How does she feel now then? I dont even want to discuss it, its too shocking. The camera wasnt on, she says. But he was trying to be shocking about the way he treated women. He thought he was irresistible. She possibly blotted her copybook permanently when she also suggested he would find it easier to get women once he were in the White House. Eek! What does she think of the man, though? She doesnt mince her words. Hes a maniac, so watch out. Hes a narcissist. If he suddenly got insight into how crazy he is, hed probably clean up his act, but why should he if the country voted for him? During her time with Trump she saw a side to the man that didnt make it onto screen one which appalled her then. She remembers a car journey where they had a conversation in which he bragged about women. The camera wasnt on, she says. But he was trying to be shocking about the way he treated women. He thought he was irresistible. It sounds like a lurid conversation to be having with any stranger but a TV interviewer? It seems reckless. I was playing along, she says. I knew he was a narcissist and he hated me. I was trying to work out how I could get him to open up. I was trying to be as male stud as he was, but it didnt help. What does she feel his motivation was? Well, we were alone in a car. I think he was trying to see what my mettle was, how cool I was, if I could take it. I didnt start crying or going, This is womens lib. I gave it right back, so he knew I could be one of the boys. The ship has long since sailed on Rubys career as a TV interviewer now, and there are few regrets on her part over it. That job got taken. They put men in my place, she says of that past life. But I had 25 years, which was a fair run. I outlasted all the blondes. Would she consider a return to the fray? She says not, partly because the career shes now built up is so much more her and much healthier, but also partly because the TV world is unrecognisable to the one she knew. The celebrity world has changed. Theres no access now. You get ten minutes with them now. I got a week. How about a chat show? She could rock a chat show, with possibly a more mature and considered approach. It still wouldnt be boring, though Ruby Wax could never be boring. She sighs. Graham Norton is too good. Its unlikely, too, shell be tempted back into that world by a phone call from the present incumbent of the White House. We can conclude that she wont be doing another interview with President Trump, I ask? She laughs, sort of. He once told a famous sportsman that if he ever saw me again hed kill me, she says. For details of the Frazzled tour, visit rubywax.net. FOREST GROVE -- Pacific University has named Narcedalia Rodriguez as its chief equity diversity inclusion officer (CEDIO), serving as executive director for the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Rodriguez brings more than 25 years of higher education experience, with a substantial background in diversity and inclusion. Most recently, she has served as dean of student development at Portland Community College, Rock Creek Campus, where her other roles since 2000 have included interim campus president, retention and multicultural coordinator, and program advisor for the College Assistance Migrant Program. She also previously held positions at Portland State University, Arizona State University, and Oregon State University. She holds a master of arts in interdisciplinary studies -- higher education administration and women studies -- from Oregon State University, as well as a bachelor's in sociology and Spanish, also from OSU. As the CEDIO at Pacific, Rodriguez will be a key member of the Pacific University administration, helping to lead an institution-wide effort to support and further develop our diverse community. She will provide strategic, operational and organizational leadership, working collaboratively with stakeholders throughout the university. She was one of 75 applicants, nationwide, who expressed enthusiastic interest in the position. "I am delighted to find such a highly qualified leader from right here in our community," said Pacific University President, Dr. Lesley Hallick. "We are excited to welcome Narce and look forward to continuing our work in growing and supporting a diverse and inclusive community for students, employees and community members here at Pacific." The executive director for equity, diversity and inclusion is a key leadership position designed to further support the university's long-time tradition for as a nurturing and supportive learning environment, preparing diverse students for success in a global community. Pacific University is a comprehensive university serving about 3,800 students, with undergraduate, graduate and professional programs in the arts and sciences, business, education, health professions and optometry at campuses in Forest Grove, Hillsboro, Eugene and Woodburn. Rodriguez begins her appointment on July 5. Most of the time packing for a holiday involves reaching for the five closest pairs of pants, a handful of tops and your toothbrush. But when you find yourself struggling to fit in your essentials, it might be time to rethink your strategy. We've all heard about the benefits of using packing cubes and rolling instead of folding your clothes but there are other ways to make the most of your precious suitcase space. Expert organiser Michelle Thompson-Laing has written about some of her genius packing tips on Keep Calm Get Organised. We've all heard about the benefits of using packing cubes and rolling instead of folding your clothes but there are other ways to make the most of precious little available space PACK YOUR OUTFIT INTO A SOCK 'Keeping with the theme of rolling your clothes I would like to introduce you to possibly the most genius of packing hacks around. I call it outfit in a sock,' she writes. 'It is most useful for childrens clothes as grown ups tend to have bulkier outfits, although it can work with a top or light skirt. 'It is most useful for childrens clothes as grown ups tend to have bulkier outfits, although it can work with a top or light skirt,' she said 'I use this technique to pack my boys clothes when we travel and I then put them in zip lock bags and write on the outside with a marker to show what is inside and who it belongs to,' Ms Thompson-Laing said. As demonstrated in the image provided Ms Thompson-Laing folds her sons underwear and tops inside a pair of green socks to minimise the amount of space his outfits take up. CLING WRAP OVER YOUR LIQUIDS If you've ever been on a plane you'll know that make up containers and jars don't stay secure under the intensive air pressure. They often open up mid flight and wreak havoc on your carefully ironed clothes. 'Top all your bottles with cling wrap and then put the lids on to prevent leaks,' Ms Thompson-Laing recommends to solve the problem. You can also pop a makeup pad over your powder compacts to prevent them cracking in your bag, she suggests. Popping some of your liquid makeup into a spare contacts container can also prevent spillage 'Top all your bottles with cling wrap and then put the lids on to prevent leaks,' Ms Thompson-Laing recommends to solve the problem PACK UNDERWEAR IN YOUR BRA In order to prevent your bras from becoming bent on the way to your destination Ms Thompson-Laing spills on her easy underwear trick. 'Fold bras in half, fold the cups into each other and then stuff them with your underwear. No more misshapen bras,' she said. After about eight months bras become stretched from general wear and washing so try to invest in good quality under garments yearly. 'Fold bras in half, fold the cups into each other and then stuff them with your underwear. No more misshapen bras,' she said FIT A SHOWER CAP OVER YOUR SHOES 'Wrap your shoes in shower caps to prevent marking your clothes. 'Plus put breakables inside or stuff them with socks to utilise all available space,' the expert packer recommends. Investing in cheap shower caps for your shoes could make or break that perfectly styled white ensemble hidden deep within your bag for a good night out. You won't want to wear it with marks on it. You can follow Michelle Thompson-Laing's organising website for more. Ever since Taryn Williams was a child, she's always had an interest in disrupting things. After the former model was scouted in Australia at age 15, she later founded her own modelling agency at 21, WINK, which focuses on the equality of the models it looks after and fair pay. Ms Williams later disrupted her own industry again, by launching The Right Fit last year. This is a marketplace connecting creative talent directly with clients, removing the agent middle man. 'The fastest way to go backwards in business is to stand still,' the 31-year-old multi-million-dollar CEO told Daily Mail Australia. Taryn Williams (pictured) was a model before she launched her own modelling agency - she shared her tips for female entrepreneurs with FEMAIL 'The fastest way to go backwards in business is to stand still,' the 31-year-old multi-million-dollar CEO (pictured) told Daily Mail Australia TIPS FOR FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS * Learn to delegate - you can't do everything yourself. * Hire a team of people you trust and who will inspire you. * Sit down and try to understand the business financial model. The cash flow is the most important thing - plenty of good ideas have struggled because of a lack of understanding about the finances. * Don't stop or stand still - things are always evolving and changing; move with them. * Ask for help when you need it. * Get a great mentor who you can use as an independent sounding board - who you can speak to for support when you can't discuss things with your team as CEO. * Be prepared to be tenacious and have grit. Things won't always go your way. * Set clear targets and goals. * Take stock every month and ask yourself what you've learned. Advertisement Ms Williams said she always had a bit of the 'headstrong' entrepreneurial spirit in her, even when she was working as a successful model for the likes of Westfield in her late teens. But when she launched her first business at 21, it wasn't seen as unusual: 'I was surrounded with people who had their own successful businesses,' the 31-year-old CEO told FEMAIL. 'I didn't think it was unrealistic to launch my own company.' Ten years down the track - and with WINK still operating as a highly successful modelling agency - Ms Williams said there are many things she has learned from running her own business: 'I was a real control freak back in the day and I had a huge fear of delegating,' Ms Williams said. 'At the beginning, I did everything in that business - from answering the phones to running the books. I've learned how important it is to hire a successful team who can inspire you - and to trust them. 'I also didn't have a huge understanding of the business cash flow when I was in my early 20s, but with the help of a great accountant, I've learned how important it is to understand your financial model.' Ten years after launching her first business, Ms Williams said there are many things she has learned - 'I was a real control freak back in the day and I had a huge fear of delegating,' she said (stock image) These days, the entrepreneur has a better understanding of the values of a team, as well as the business cash flow 'I've learned how much value you need to put into a team as a CEO, as it can be lonely and you can't always speak to certain people about certain things,' Ms Williams said Ms Williams recently founded a second business, The Right Fit, in 2016 - she is now focusing on it full-time: A DAY IN THE LIFE OF TARYN WILLIAMS * 5.30am: She gets up and goes to the gym. 'I'm a horrible person if I don't get my morning adrenaline rush,' Ms Williams said. * 7.30am: Daily stand-up meeting with the team. * Through the morning: Client meetings, international calls etc. * Afternoon: Public speaking engagements. Advertisement 'In the last few years, we've seen a sea change in the industry and the advent of social media,' she said. 'There wasn't a way for influencers to connect to brands in the way there is one for models.' Ms Williams's Right Fit is therefore a fast and effective marketplace to connect those people with the brands they need to reach. While it is early days, Ms Williams's business model is already gaining plaudits: 'It's all consuming, but it's going well,' she said. 'I've learned how much value you need to put into a team as a CEO, as it can be lonely and you can't always speak to certain people about certain things. 'Having a good team around you - as well as an independent sounding board of a mentor - is crucial.' The entrepreneur also said women shouldn't be afraid to ask for advice The Right Fit is Ms Williams's second business (pictured) - it connects influencers to brands and cuts out the middle man, showing how she disrupted her own industry once again Ms Williams has many tips for female entrepreneurs, which she has gathered over the course of a decade in the industry: 'Surround yourself by people who are awesome, and who inspire you, and you'll never feel alone,' she said. 'Also, there are still so many women who are afraid of putting their hands up and asking for advice. Getting a support network is hugely useful, as is a great mentor. 'I've had several over the past ten years, and I speak to my current mentor most days. You need that sounding board for when you can't discuss things with your team.' The former model said the quality which has helped her most as an entrepreneur is 'grit and tenacity': 'Things will not always go your way, and you need to be prepared to be challenged. Set very clear goals, make sure you're not just busy being busy and take stock every month and ask: What have I achieved in the past 30 days? 'I thrive on routine and structure, and people say I would be horrible if I didn't have my two businesses,' Ms Williams added. 'But I love problem solving and feel there will always be new companies on the horizon for me - hopefully.' To find out more about WINK, click here. To read about The Right Fit, click here. Ms Williams will be speaking at the Yahoo 7 x Vivid Ideas event. For more information, click here. In mid 2016, the social media world was sent into meltdown after trendy cafes started serving steaming hot coffee in all kinds of weird and wonderful desserts. Whether it was served in a cookie cup or a cake, customers were going wild for the quirky trend and posing with their decadent delights online. And now, much to the delight of the country's coffee lovers, the company behind the #coffeeinacone trend has announced they are planning to launch in Australia at the end of May. In mid 2016, the social media world was sent into meltdown after trendy cafes started serving steaming hot coffee in all kinds of weird and wonderful desserts And now, much to the delight of the country's coffee-loving sweet tooths, the company behind the #coffeeinacone trend has announced they are planning to launch in Australia Dubbed the 'World's Most Instagrammable Coffee', the concept was developed by South African cafe owner Dayne Levinrad who serves up espressos and cappuccinos in chocolate coated ice cream cones. According to the Coffee in a Cone website, the 'cone is coated in a special chocolate compound made from various types of cacao in order to make it leak-proof'. 'Customers have around 10 minutes to drink from the cone before all the chocolate melts,' the website reads. The delicious drinks will cost between $6 and $6.50. Dubbed the 'World's Most Instagrammable Coffee', the concept was developed by South African cafe owner Dayne Levinrad who serves up espressos and cappuccinos in chocolate coated ice cream cones According to the Coffee in a Cone website, the 'cone is coated in a special chocolate compound made from various types of cacao in order to make it leak-proof' Already available in South Africa, Hong Kong, London, Canada, Greece, the delectable caffeine treat will be brought to Australia by Enright Foods, a distributor of exotic and international fine foods. The company have been busy promoting the exciting launch with a sea of eye-popping images onInstagram and are looking for Australian coffee shops interested in partnering with them. In 2016, Mr Levinrad, claimed that his #coffeeinacone concept has become the most 'liked' coffee-style shot on Instagram. 'Customers have around 10min to drink from the cone before all the chocolate melts,' the website reads And he's not wrong, with millions of the unique coffee-laden creations being shared and liked on social media ever since. Sydney-based cafe, Piccolo Me, also made headlines for serving coffees in cookie cups, ice cream cones and cakes. One of the most memorable treats was a Nutella cookie up topped with crushed M&M peanuts filled with a steaming hot Piccolo Latte. The Duchess of Cornwall welcomed some of the leading lights of British theatre to Clarence House last night. Camilla, who looked glamorous in a bold red dress, black heels, and diamond jewellery, hosted a star-studded dinner in honour of the playwright and screenwriter Sir Tom Stoppard, president of the London Library. The Duchess, herself a patron of the library, chatted to guests including Zoe Wanamaker and Tom Hollander - who just scooped a BAFTA for his performance in The Night Manager - as well as businessman Maurice Saatchi. The Duchess of Cornwall hosted a dinner at Clarence House in honour of the President of the London Library, Sir Tom Stoppard The Duchess, who looked glamorous in a bold red gown accessorised with diamond drop earrings, poses for a snap with actress Zoe Wanamaker The Duchess accessorised her striking red dress with a pair of dazzling diamond earrings, a black clutch and black heels. She was snapped holding a glass of wine as she chatted to her guests and posed for pictures at the relaxed event. After dinner, the intimate party enjoyed a series of readings in honour of Sir Tom. Founded in 1841, the London Library is the UK's leading literary institution, and the Oscar winner has been its president since 2005. Camilla with the actor Tom Hollander, who just scooped a BAFTA for his performance in the hit drama The Night Manager Camilla, who is patron of the London Library, chats to guests at the dinner on Thursday Maurice Saatchi was among the guests at the dinner at Clarence House, attended by some of the leading lights of British theatre Guests enjoyed a series of readings as well as a meal in honour of Sir Tom Stoppard The Duchess' relaxed dinner this week came after a trip to Oxford with Prince Charles on Tuesday, where they visited the city's historic covered market. The pair were snapped chatting to vendors and sampling produce from the stalls, and Camilla happily posed for selfies with traders and fellow shoppers. The exact contents of the Queen's ever-present handbag have long been a subject of speculation, but now she has a new addition to keep her coins in. Her Majesty was seen carrying a bespoke coin purse last night, as she made a rare outing for dinner to The Ivy in London, which had been personalised with an image of a woman with two children. The picture shows her long-standing friend and relative, Archduchess Helen of Austria, who is also a cousin of the Duke of Edinburgh. Known in royal circles as Helen of Hapsburg, she is a member of the inner circle of the Europes reigning and once-reigning royalty, as her mother was the late Princess Elizabeth of Greece. She was a close friend of the Queens later sister, Princess Margaret, and knows most of the British royal family including Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and Princess Alexandra. The archduchess and her family hired out the famous London eaterie on Thursday night for a party to celebrate her 80th birthday and the purses were given to the guests as gifts as they departed. The Queen was seen brandishing a bespoke purse as she left The Ivy restaurant in London last night, personalised with an image of a woman with two children The image shows Archduchess Helen of Austria, a close family friend of the Queen's who celebrated her 80th birthday at The Ivy last night Archduchess Helen is the daughter of Count Carl Theodor zu Toerring-Jettenbach and Princess Elisabeth of Greece. She married Archduke Ferdinand of Austria in 1956 and the couple spent five happy decades together before his death in 2004. The couple had three children Elisabeth, who sadly died in 1983, Sophie and Maximilian. For last night's outing, the Queen looked elegant in a silver embellished ensemble and even donned a pair of heels for the celebratory occasion. The monarch carried the purse alongside her ever-present Launer patent handbag For last night's outing, the Queen looked elegant in a silver embellished ensemble and a grey shawl Her Majesty looked in great spirits despite the wet weather, and even donned a pair of heels for the occasion With the weather less than favourable Her Majesty chose to wrap up in a black paisley printed shawl for her arrival. Her ears, neck and fingers were dripping with some rarely-seen diamonds. And while the Queen was clearly in attendance to celebrate her friend's special day she may too have been tempted along by the other dinner guests. Archduchess Helen Of Austria pictured with her daughter in 1963 Britain's Got Talent judge David Walliams who is part responsible for deciding what act will be put before the Queen at the Royal Variety Show later this year was also in attendance. The restaurant was closed to the public but Walliams was one of the lucky few to secure an invitation. Prince and Princess Michael of Kent were also among the guests and were surely glad to catch up with their royal relative. Statement sleeves have been all over the catwalks in recent seasons, and the trend clearly hasn't gone unnoticed by stylish royals. Both Queen Maxima of the Netherlands and Qatar's Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser sported striking sleeves in The Hague, where the two women were attending a law seminar. The Dutch Queen opted for a vibrant blue dress with sleeves that ballooned at the elbows, while Sheikha Mozah's pale pink blouse featured dramatic pleated sleeves. Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser joined the Dutch Queen Maxima in The Hague today Queen Maxima greeted Qatar's Sheikha Mozah with a kiss on the cheek in The Hague The pleats were echoed in Sheikha Mozah's black ankle length skirt, and her pink head wrap perfectly matched her statement blouse. The fashion forward royal added drop earrings, a pearl necklace, and a black patent handbag. Maxima, meanwhile, let her dress do the talking, adding pared back nude courts and a coordinating clutch, plus a dazzling bracelet and earrings with blue stones to match her frock. A sparkling brooch was the finishing touch. Glamour: The stylish royals are seen striding towards the seminar at The Hague Institute for Global Justice Dressed in a striking blue frock, Queen Maxima flashes a smile for the camera The two stylish royals were snapped together wearing very different but equally striking outfits Sheikha Mozah opted for pearl jewellery while the Dutch Queen chose dazzling diamonds The blue gems in Queen Maxima's drop earrings and bracelet perfectly matched her dress Sheikha Mozah is the second of Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani's three wives. He is the former Emir of the state of Qatar. Sheikha Mozah was speaking at The Hague Institute for Global Justice on Law, Education and the SDGs seminar in her role as founder of the foundation Education Above All. Jaw-dropping videos showing women's baby bumps appear to vanish in seconds are sweeping social media. The clips are part of a growing trend for a technique called 'belly pumping', part of an increasingly popular exercise programme for mothers. Women film themselves breathing deeply through the diaphragm - as opposed to the chest - which not only helps to de-stress but also appears to make their baby bump all but disappear. Recent Instagram videos have racked up as many as 4,000 views and hundreds of comments from women dying to know more about the technique. The exercise programme, called the Bloom Method, originated in Boulder, Colorado and promises to help expectant mothers keep up their core strength during pregnancy. The brainchild of pregnancy specialist Brooke Cates, who is currently planning a series of online classes, it focuses on a range of pelvic health and abdominal exercises. And Cates insists that far from harming the baby, performing Belly pumps (or 'BPs') simply makes the child 'slide up' towards the rib cage. A recent video, which has since gone viral, shows instructor Rachel activating her transverse abdominal muscles to 'hug' her baby. According to Babble, this 'creates a contraction between the pelvic floor and deep core muscles and lifts and activates the pelvic floor'. Instructor Rachel tests out the Bloom Method and starts by showing off her baby bump Her bump slowly begins to disappear as Rachel breathes upwards through the diaphragm Within seconds, the baby appears to vanish as it moves upwards towards the rib cage As Rachel inhales, the baby bump protrudes again in the video which has since gone viral Writing on the Bloom Method's Instagram page, Cates explained: 'Belly Pumps are a must for all mamas, while we teach a series of deep core engagement exercises these are super yummy and easy for any woman to incorporate into her pregnancy. 'Adding BP's to your day may feel weird at first as most of us are chest breathers before we draw awareness to the imporantace of diaphragmatic breathing. 'Stick with it and be patient... your body came into this world breathing this way, it just has to remember.' Cates, who said she would be trying for her first baby in a few months, told Babble: 'I'm greatly looking forward to having my mind completely blown when I go through pregnancy for myself!' A mall in Colombia wants to de-stigmatize breastfeeding in public, and is taking steps to do so by installing a new collection of mannequins that look like nursing moms. Bogota's largest shopping center, Centro Mayor, put up the plastic silhouettes last month in an effort to make mothers feel like they were welcome to breastfeed their children at all times. The mannequins are made to look like women who have taken a seat while shopping to nurse their babies. Scroll down for video Initiative: Centro Mayor mall in Bogota, Colombia put up mannequins that look like nursing moms in an attempt to de-stigmatize breastfeeding among its customers No shame in that game: The mannequins are made to look like women holding babies in their arms and nursing the children in various settings Statement: The initiative, which lasted through all of April and is still being advertised on social media, comes from Amigos De La Lactancia, a pro-nursing organisation Shop assistants could be seen setting up the mannequins and dressing them in clothes from various brands. The initiative, which lasted through all of April and is still being advertised on social media, comes from Amigos De La Lactancia (Friends Of Breastfeeding), a pro-nursing organisation. Each of the mannequins was accompanied by a sign that explained in Spanish that the shopping center supported becoming a space where mothers could nurse freely. Customers looked intrigued as they stopped to take a closer look at the breastfeeding mannequins. Attention: The project could bring more awareness to breastfeeding, which is practiced at a lower rate in Colombia than in the US About 49 per cent of Colombian babies are nursed according to UNICEF , while 81 per cent of American children are breastfed, as reported by the CDC 'I think it's something that draws attention, so that everyone knows that there are special places for mothers to breastfeed their babies,' customer Gloria Maria Hernandez said. 'I believe that these spaces should be everywhere, but with a suitable place so that they do not disturb people who do not like to see breastfeeding mothers, and also because it gives both the mother and the baby a free, quiet, comfortable and relaxed space.' The project could bring more awareness to breastfeeding, which is practiced at a lower rate in Colombia than in the US. About 49 per cent of Colombian babies are nursed according to UNICEF, while 81 per cent of American children are breastfed, as reported by the CDC. Practicing witches in the United States are angry at Donald Trump after the President referred to political resistance against him as a 'witch hunt'. On Thursday, Trump took to Twitter to complain about the new special counsel appointed to investigate his campaign's ties to Russia, calling it the 'single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history!' Quite a few politicians, academics, and members of the general public accused Trump of being hyperbolic, but his words seem to have offended a surprising group as well: self-identified witches. President Trump complained about the appointment of a special prosecutor on Thursday He tweeted that the Russia probe is the 'single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history' Soon, practicing witches took to social media to publicly distance themselves from the President Besides referring to the investigation as a witch hunt on Twitter, Trump went on to complain about it further in a joint press conference with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. 'The entire thing has been a witch hunt and there is no collusion, certainly myself and my campaign but I can only speak for myself and the Russians.' Quickly, men and women who call themselves witches took to social media to hit back. 'Please stop referring to Trump as a "witch". It's literally offensive to actual witches,' a woman named Lola wrote on Twitter shortly after Trump himself tweeted. 'As a witch, I am offended at being connected to Trump in any way, shape, or form, unless I can drive the moving van when he is impeached,' added someone name JD. An Army veteran named Patrick warned the President against making such claims, tweeting: 'Mr. Trump. I am a witch and trust me. You have no clue what a witch hunt is.' 'Trump gives good witches a bad name,' chimed in one more. A Twitter user who goes by Witches Against Trump was particularly adamant in distancing those who identify as witches or practice Wicca from Trump. 'BREAKING: Witches deny any links to Trump,' she wrote. 'We welcome a special investigation to clear our good name.' She also pointed out that historically, 'witches were traditionally women who were persecuted by men. Trump fits the MO of the hunter, not the hunted!' Witches were angry that he compared himself to them, and also pointed out that what he is facing is nothing like what accused witches have faced in history Trump repeated his witch hunt claims during joint press conference with Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos (left) Touche! Seth Moulton, a US Representative whose district includes Salem, Massachusetts, also called out Trump Rep. Moulton was applauded for the tweet, which has been liked over 353,000 times. This particular criticism was picked up by several non-witches as well, many of whom pointed out that in the US, witches were hanged or burned at the stake based simply on the word of another. Even Democratic Representative Seth Moulton of Massachusetts's 6th congressional district offered a one-line hit. 'As the Representative of Salem, MA, I can confirm that this is false,' he said in reply to Trump's tweet.The sassy tweet has been liked over 353,000 times. While most of the 'witches' who were hanged during the Salem witch trials were women who did not practice politics, elected constable John Willard was among the executed. We have heard the stark warnings about the impact the ageing population is placing on health services. Yet, new figures suggest an alarming number of older GPs may trigger a health crisis. Eleven English regions have been identified as 'high risk' for a GP shortage as an increasing number of doctors approach retirement age. In seven of these areas, more than 20 per cent of doctors are over 55 - prompting fears the problem may be imminent. The Royal College of GPs (RCGP) has warned the NHS would be 'fighting a losing battle' if more GPs are leaving the profession than entering it. The findings come as a leading doctor from the British Medical Association's GP committee declared the UK's general practice is on the 'brink of collapse' as an 'avalanche of work' is deterring young doctors from joining the profession. Map reveals the English regions where most GPs aged over 55 work, suggesting a future crisis Results, published by the Health Service Journal, were compiled by NHS Improvement to highlight the areas at the greatest risk of GP supply problems. Kent and Medway (24.2 per cent), Somerset (24 per cent) and Lincolnshire (22.5 per cent) were found to have the highest proportions of GPs aged over 55. Regions considered to have a medium GP crisis risk include areas such as Sussex, Coventry and Northumberland, where 18.2 per cent, 17.7 per cent and 17.4 per cent of doctors are aged over 55 respectively. Derbyshire has the lowest proportion of GPs over 55 (10.9 per cent), followed by Leicester and Nottinghamshire (both 12.4 per cent). The NHS Improvement's report on the data said: 'High numbers of older GPs could be indicative of future supply problems.' Leading expert Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chairman of the British Medical Association's GP committee, said: 'Even a seemingly secure practice is just one partner away from retiring to set off a domino effect, which could lead to collapse.' The RCGP said retaining the existing workforce 'must be a top priority'. Its Chair Helen Stokes-Lampard said: 'Progress is being made in recruiting more junior doctors into general practice, but overall GP numbers are down on last year. 'No matter how many more trainees we recruit, if more GPs are leaving the profession than entering it, we are fighting a losing battle. 'Given that these figures show more than 20 per cent of GPs are approaching average retirement age in some areas, it hammers home that retaining our existing workforce must become a top priority. 'Ultimately we need to improve the working conditions for all GPs and alleviate the intense resource and workforce pressures facing our profession.' THE 11 AREAS AT HIGH RISK OF FACING A GP SHORTAGE Region Total GP number GPs per 10,000 population Percentage of GPs over 55 Kent and Medway 851 4.73 24.2 Somerset 338 6.3 24 Lincolnshire 363 4.93 22.5 Mid and South Essex 562 4.84 22.4 Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire and Luton 454 4.92 21.9 Gloucestershire 346 5.61 21.2 Hertfordshire and West Essex 739 5.1 20.4 Bath, Swindon and Wiltshire 474 5.3 19.3 South West London 823 5.61 19.1 Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly 314 5.69 19.1 North East London 967 5.02 19 Dr Nagpaul said GP practices have become 'frighteningly vulnerable', highlighting the 'avalanche of work' facing doctors that is leaving the service 'several thousand GPs short', in a recent speech to the national conference of Local Medical Committees, which represents grassroot GPs. He accused politicians of turning a blind eye to 'spiraling pressures' affecting the health and social care systems in England. In the UK, GPs can retire at 60, 65 or 67 years of age, depending on when they joined the NHS pension scheme. Last month, NHS England launched a scheme offering financial and training incentives to keep GPs in the profession. NHS England claims its past research suggests that experienced GPs may remain practicing if they had an opportunity to work more flexibly. Reductions to the lifetime pension limit allowance, made in 2015, may have contributed to the rising number of GPs retiring early - a point raised recently by the Commons public accounts committee. Its report said: 'We were concerned about the impact that pension arrangements are having on the retention of GPs. 'The Department of Health told us the arrangements have contributed to GPs leaving the profession.' MailOnline has approached NHS Improvement for comment. We are in a remarkable era. Emerging technologies are reshaping everything from transportation to healthcare to manufacturing, and more. This impacts how we learn, how we work, and how companies discover and hire talent. Udacity is committed to connecting learning to jobs in this new economy, and together with some of the most forwarding-thinking organizations and companies in the world, we are developing new, agile, and effective ways to train workforces for the jobs of today, tomorrow, and beyond. Think Local Across the U.S., local communities are taking it upon themselves to find innovative new ways to create local job opportunities, to skill up local talent, and to encourage the growth of tech sectors in their regions. Udacity is extremely excited to help spearhead such an effort in Nevada, specifically in the Reno-Lake Tahoe region. This first-of-its-kind effort represents a collaborative public and private partnership with local employers as well as workforce and economic development entities, including the Governors Office of Economic Development (GOED) and the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN). Tech jobs have driven a significant portion of Nevadas economic recovery, and companies like Tesla, Google, Apple, and Amazon are now opening facilities there. But despite this progress, Reno is still facing a skills gap for tech jobs. This is where Udacity can contribute significantly, through offering job-relevant learning programs with affordable costs and high returns, that empower local learners to join the new knowledge-based economy. Nevada is enjoying significant economic development success and the best companies in the world are coming here. Partnerships with innovation leaders are central to promoting job growth that is consistent, sustainable and diversified, and were excited to join Udacity, local employers and EDAWN for a program that will create powerful connections between our rapidly-growing technology sector and our local talent. Brian Sandoval, Governor of Nevada Udacity Connect: Reno-Tahoe Udacity will provide a blended learning program in Reno-Tahoe, known as Udacity Connect, that will offer a combination of online courses and in-person study sessions, to be held at The Innevation Center, University of Nevada, Reno. This program will initially train Reno-Tahoe residents to become full stack web developersskills currently in high demand in Reno. As the program grows, we plan to add courses in robotics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and more. We share with Udacity a genuine excitement about the potential in this region, and we knew from the start this program presented a real opportunity not just to develop and support local talent, but provide them with exciting opportunities to advance their careers. Bombora cant wait to begin hiring these graduates! Rob Armstrong, Co-founder and SVP of Product & Technology, Bombora Hire Local Every participant in this groundbreaking collaboration brings something critical to the table. Local employers are advising on the skills theyre looking for (allowing us to tailor curriculum to suit the needs of regional industry) and committing to hiring program graduates. Businesses throughout the region are signing on to sponsor current employees to add new skills. The Governors Office of Economic Development is providing merit and need based scholarships for qualified students, as part of a workforce development program funded through the Workforce Innovations for a New Nevada. We are excited about the collaboration with Udacity and the University of Nevada Reno on this new program which will provide Nevadans with the opportunity to train for high-wage technology jobs in our region ensuring that Nevadans are put to work at our states leading companies is a top priority for Governor Sandoval and the Governors Office of Economic Development. Steve Hill, Director of the Governors Office of Economic Development From innovative startups like Bombora, Cycle, No-IP, and ConvergenceHealth, to the largest IT employers in the area such as Renown Health, our hiring partners are making a concerted effort to encourage wage growth and solve for underemployment in their region. As a company committed to powering new innovation and harnessing the potential of emerging new technologies, were thrilled to see Udacitys program launching in Renothe opportunity to meet and review local candidates who possess the cutting-edge skills were looking for is very exciting. Michelle Sanchez-Bickley, Vice President of Human Resources, Renown Health Work Local At Udacity, we know firsthand that learning has no boundaries. Our students come from all over the globe to learn with us, better their lives, and master the skills needed in todays world. It is imperative we find ways for these lifelong learners to work locally, to become contributors to their own local economies, and to help encourage business growth in their own regions. Renos remarkable transformation into one of the countrys best performing economies highlights how innovative collaborations that bring technology together with both the public and private sectors can serve to close the opportunity gap. We are excited to partner with Udacity on this pioneering program that will further accelerate growth in our regional technology ecosystem, and provide a successful blueprint for other cities across the nation. Mike Kazmierski, President & CEO, EDAWN We are extremely excited to replicate this inaugural initiative in other regions where similarly innovative collaborations are percolating, and Renos already-impressive successes make clear why this region is an ideal choice for a first launch: Udacity will contribute to our innovation ecosystem by helping to build the in-demand skillset and competitiveness of our regions workforce. Mridul Gautam, Vice President for Research & Innovation at the University of Nevada, Reno Connections It is a happy coincidence that Connect should already be our programs name, as this entire coordinated effort really is about connections. It is about connecting learning to jobs. It is about connecting employers to talent. It is about connecting businesses to their surrounding communities. Most of all, it is about connecting the present to the future. As we look forward toward the rapidly-evolving future of work, we feel confident that across the country, even across the world, programs like the one we launch today in Nevada will help foster connections that promote local growth, local opportunity, and local success. ~ Learn more about Udacity Connect: Reno-Tahoe today! Being overweight during childhood triples the risk of developing depression in later life, according to new research. People who are overweight at the age of eight or 13 are more at risk of depression than those who suffer weight problems in middle age, the study found. Carrying excess weight throughout your life quadruples your chances of developing the mental health disorder, the research adds. The researchers suggest that childhood obesity may permanently damage self-esteem, resulting in depression later on. One in three children in the US and UK are overweight or obese, previous research has shown. Being overweight during your childhood triples your risk of developing depression in later life ARE YOU DEPRESSED? TRY THESE MOOD-LIFTING TIPS Go for a walk - exercise lifts your mood. Get some sunlight - inadequate vitamin D supplies makes us feel low. Stand tall - having an open posture boosts our self worth. Ditch the sugar - crashes affect our emotions. Be social - others can offer emotional support. Take St. John's Wort - it has been used for centuries to lift our moods. Read - the NHS endorses books that help target depression and anxiety. Reminisce - a trip down memory lane can combat feelings of isolation. Brush and floss - depression can weaken our immune systems, affecting oral health. Embrace your age - stressing about getting older has been linked to low mood. Advertisement Researchers from VU University Medical Centre in the Netherlands enlisted 889 people living in Reykjavik, Iceland, with an average age of 75. Study participants were assessed to determine whether they had symptoms of depression or if they had previously been diagnosed with the condition. The researchers then looked at school records dating back almost seven decades to find out if the participants were overweight as children, defined as having a BMI between 25 and 29.9. Data revealing their weight at the age of 50 was gathered from a previous study with the same participants in Reykjavik. Results revealed that carrying excess weight in childhood is a stronger predictor of depression later down the line than being overweight in middle age. The findings showed being overweight at the age of eight or 13 more than triples the risk, while carrying excess weight throughout your life quadruples your chances of the mental health disorder. Previous studies have shown that people who are obese are more likely to become depressed, but few have looked at the long-term influence of childhood obesity. The scientists, who presented their findings at this year's European Congress on Obesity, said: 'Our findings suggest that some of the underlying mechanisms linking overweight or obesity to depression stem from childhood. Scientists believe being overweight as a child may permanently damage self-esteem (stock) 'A shared genetic risk or low self-esteem, which is frequently associated with those who do not conform to the ideal body type, could be responsible. 'Given the rise in adolescents' obesity and greater influence of social media on body image, understanding the associations between childhood obesity and depression is critical.' This comes after researchers from the University of Navarra in Spain found eating one or two meat-free meals a week halves the risk of becoming obese. The so-called flexitarian lifestyle also encourages people to eat more fruit and vegetables, they found. The most worrying 'superbug' on the CDC's radar is sweeping the United States at alarming speed, officials warn. Candida auris, a harmful form of yeast resistant to most drugs with a 60 percent mortality rate, is emerging as a new menace. It started in New York and New Jersey, but has now been spotted in Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts and Oklahoma. The spread has triggered the CDC to update its guidelines - urging medics to quarantine C auris sufferers. Health officials sounded alarms last year because two of the three kinds of commonly used antifungal drugs had little effect in treatment. Candida auris, a harmful form of yeast, is the latest superbug on the CDC's radar after dozens of cases broke out in hospitals in New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts and Oklahoma First identified in Japan in 2009, the fungus has spread to more than twelve countries around the globe. At the end of April, data showed there had been 66 cases since 2013. By May 12, that figure rocketed up to 77, with another 45 people being monitored for 'close contact' with affected patients. In a report published this week, the CDC analyzed the first 35 clinical isolates. Their findings showed that 86 percent were resistant to fluconazole, 43 percent were resistant to amphotericin B, and 3 percent were resistant to echinocandins - the standard treatment for a bacterial infection like this. Most cases, they said, were spread in hospitals or between family members. 'In Illinois, three cases were associated with the same long-term care facility,' the researchers wrote in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 'In New York and New Jersey, cases were identified in multiple acute care hospitals, but further investigation found most had overlapping stays at interconnected long-term care facilities and acute care hospitals within a limited geographic area. 'The case in Massachusetts was linked to the Illinois cases.' Screening of 390 close contacts showed that 12 percent were colonized by C auris. Testing of patients' rooms also recovered C auris from 'mattresses, beds, windowsills, chairs, infusion pumps, and countertops.... C auris was not isolated from rooms after thorough cleaning with a sodium hypochloritebased disinfectant.' What also makes the fungus so dangerous is that its difficult to recognize and is often misidentified as other related yeasts - many might not determine that they actually have a serious infection on hand. 'It's acting like a superbug' bacteria, said Dr Paige Armstrong of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. WHAT IS C AURIS? Candida auris (C auris) is a harmful form of yeast, identified by the CDC as a 'superbug' fungus. It tends to be diagnosed in patients after they've been in hospitals for several weeks. The fungus can infect wounds, ears and the bloodstream and take root in the urinary tract. The source of the infection for C auris isn't the person who got sick but rather the hospital environment, including catheters, counters, and other surfaces. It was first identified in Japan in 2009 and has since spread to more than a dozen countries worldwide. Two of the three kinds of commonly used antifungal drugs have had little effect in treatment. About 60 percent of those who've been infected with C auris have died. Advertisement The fungus has been found on surfaces in hospital rooms and on the skin of nurses and patients - even after patients were treated with antifungal medications. The most vulnerable to the superbug are fragile hospital patients, particularly newborns and the elderly. It tends to be diagnosed in patients after they've been in hospitals for several weeks. The fungus can infect wounds, ears and the bloodstream and take root in the urinary tract. US clinicians have been warned to watch for the fungus in hospitals. Patients who have undergone recent surgery, used central venous catheters, or been hospitalized for lengthy periods, as well as those with diabetes, are particularly at risk. About 60 percent of those who've been infected with C auris have died, the CDC said. The agency warned US hospitals in June 2016, and again in November, to begin watching for the pathogen because of how differently it behaves from other fungal infections. Aside from one case in Rochester, all were in New York City, at 15 hospitals and a doctor's office. No site has had more than six cases. Seventeen New York patients have died, but state officials say everyone infected had other illnesses and the fungus was not necessarily the cause of death. New Jersey has had 15 cases, and there have been four in Illinois as well as one case each in Indiana, Maryland and Massachusetts, according to the CDC. The US and UK lagged far behind other leading nations in a new global healthcare report. Although both nations are seen as world leaders, they each scored disappointingly low marks in regards to quality of care. America landed in a dismal 35th slot, sparking a researcher to call his homeland an 'embarrassment' and the UK was not too far ahead at number 30. At No. 1 for the first worldwide study was tiny Andorra, which sits between Spain and France, and Australia was among the top 10 coming in sixth place. Scroll down for video Although the US and UK are known as world leaders, they each scored disappointingly in regards to quality of care offered to citizens. America landed in a dismal 35th slot and the UK was at number 30. Pictured: Map of the healthcare access and quality ratings The study looked at 195 nations and assessed countries for health care quality and access, ranking them 0 to 100. Researchers created a Healthcare Access and Quality index based on numbers of deaths from 32 causes that could be avoided by 'timely and effective' medical care. Dr Christopher Murray, a senior author and a director at the University of Washington, said: 'America's ranking is an embarrassment, especially considering the US spends more than $9,000 per person on health care annually, more than any other country. 'Anyone with a stake in the current health care debate, including elected officials at the federal, state, and local levels, should take a look at where the US is falling short.' Among nations with more than a million souls, after Andorra, top honors for 2015 went to Switzerland, followed by Sweden and Norway. Also in the top ten were Iceland (No. 2), Finland (No. 7), Spain (No. 8) the Netherlands (No. 9) and banking center Luxembourg rounded out the first 10 finishers, according to a comprehensive study published in the medical journal The Lancet. Of the 20 countries heading up the list, including France (No. 15), all but Australia and Japan (No. 11) are in western Europe, where virtually every nation boasts some form of universal health coverage. WORLD'S 10 MOST FATAL ILLNESSES Of the 56.4 million deaths worldwide in 2015, more than half (54 percent) were due to the top 10 causes. Here are the top 10 causes of death in the world for 2015: 1. Ischaemic heart disease 2. Stroke 3. Lower respiratory infections 4. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 5. Trachea, lung and bronchus cancer 6. Diabetes 7. Alzheimer's disease and other dementias 8. Diarrhoeal disease 9. Tuberculosis 10. Road injury Source: WHO.org Advertisement Professor Martin McKee, from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, who co-led the study, said: 'The UK has made consistent progress since 1990, but with a score of 85, it now lags behind many of its European neighbors, including Finland, Sweden, Spain and Italy, all of which have health systems very similar to the British NHS and so are most directly comparable. 'The gap between what the UK achieves and what it would be expected to, given its level of development, is also wider than in other western European countries.' The Healthcare Access and Quality Index tracked progress in each nation compared to the benchmark year of 1990. Virtually all countries improved over that period, but many - especially in Africa and Oceania - fell further behind others in providing basic care for their citizens. With the exceptions of Afghanistan, Haiti and Yemen, the 30 countries at the bottom of the ranking were all in sub-Saharan Africa, with the Central African Republic suffering the worst standards of all. Dr Murray said: 'Despite improvements in healthcare quality and access over 25 years, inequality between the best and worst performing countries has grown. Furthermore, he added in a statement, the standard of primary care was lower in many nations than expected given levels of wealth and development. The biggest underachievers in Asia included Indonesia, the Philippines, India and tiny Brunei, while in Africa it was Botswana, South Africa and Lesotho that had the most room for improvement. Regions with healthcare systems under-performing relative to wealth included Oceania, the Caribbean and Central Asia. Among rich nations, the worst offender in this category was the United States, which tops the world in per capita healthcare expenditure by some measures. The gap between actual and expected rating widened over the last quarter century in 62 of the 195 nations examined. 'Overall, our results are a warning sign that heightened healthcare access and quality is not an inevitable product of increased development,' Dr Murray said. Between 1990 and 2015, countries that made the biggest improvements in delivering healthcare included South Korea, Turkey, Peru, China and the Maldives. The 32 diseases for which death rates were tracked included tuberculosis and other respiratory infections; illnesses that can be prevented with vaccines (diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus and measles); several forms of treatable cancer and heart disease; and maternal or neonatal disorders. The International Court of Justice on Thursday ordered Pakistan not to execute an Indian naval officer convicted of espionage and terrorism, a case that has further strained relations between the Asian neighbors. The officer, Kulbhushan Jadhav, was convicted in Pakistan and sentenced to death on April 10. The U.N. court ruled unanimously that Pakistan shouldn't put Jadhav to death until India's allegation that Pakistan breached his right to consular assistance is legally resolved. Friends of Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav celebrate the International Court of Justice order on Jadhav as they gather near a portrait of him in Mumbai, India 'Pakistan shall take all measures at its disposal to ensure that Mr. Jadhav is not executed,' court President Ronny Abraham said at a hearing in the ornate Great Hall of Justice in The Hague. India welcomed the ruling. 'I personally was very relieved and I'm sure every Indian is relieved to hear this order,' Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Gopal Baglay said. Presiding judge Ronny Abraham of France, right, enters to read the World Court's verdict in the case brought by India against Pakistan in The Hague Baglay said it means that until the court issues a final decision in the case, 'Sri Kulbhushan Jadhav cannot be executed by Pakistan.' Jadhav's friends and family in the city of Mumbai celebrated the decision by setting off firecrackers and distributing candy. Pakistan and India have a history of bitter relations, and Jadhav's death sentence has further strained ties. Dr. Deepak Mittal, joint secretary of India's Ministry of External Affairs (left) and Moazzam Ahmad Khan, head of Pakistan's delegation and ambassador (second right) wait for judges Pakistan sought to play down the significance of the order, saying in a written statement that, 'the court's decision today has not changed the status of Commander Jadhav's case in any manner.' The foreign ministry statement said Jadhav 'still has ample time to petition for clemency.' In court on Monday, India called Jadhav's trial a 'serious miscarriage of justice' because he wasn't allowed to see Indian diplomats or choose his own defense lawyer. Indian lawyers argued that the restrictions amounted to a breach of the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. Moazzam Ahmad Khan, head of Pakistan's delegation and ambassador to the Netherlands, makes a brief statement after hearing the World Court's verdict in The Hague Pakistan argued that Jadhav's rights weren't breached and that the court didn't need to issue an urgent order to stay his execution because it wasn't imminent. A lawyer for Pakistan added that a bilateral agreement allows either country to decide on consular access in cases involving 'political or security' issues. Pakistani representative Mohammad Faisal on Monday showed judges a copy of an Indian passport he said Jadhav was carrying at the time of his detention. It bore the name Hussein Mubarak Patel, which was an 'obvious indication of covert and illegal activity,' Faisal said. He said Jadhav 'has confessed to having been sent by India to wage terror on the innocent civilians and infrastructure of Pakistan.' Dr. Deepak Mittal, joint secretary of India's Ministry of External Affairs The case will take months or years to settle at the United Nations' highest judicial organ, so judges issued Thursday's order to ensure that Jadhav isn't executed before the case ends. 'I assure the nation that under the leadership of Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi we will leave no stone unturned' to save Jadhav, India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted. Rulings by the court are final and binding on the countries involved. Union Minister Maneka Gandhi raised the contentious triple talaq issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016, and maintains retrograde practices in any religion should be weeded out. Her comments came a day after the Supreme Court concluded hearing arguments against and in favour of the Islamic divorce practice that allows men to split up with their wives by saying 'talaq' thrice. 'The matter came to me after a court order and I took it to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as far back as in 2016,' she said. 'After this, a group of ministers was formed and the government's stand was very sensible, which was the same as my stand. We want the happiness and well-being of all women, irrespective of religion or region... Union Minister Maneka Gandhi 'Therefore, any custom that is unfair should be weeded out. It has nothing to do with Muslim or Hindu community. It's just women,' Gandhi said in the exclusive interview. Thousands of Muslim women from across India have raised their voices against the instant divorce practice that has been barred by more than 20 Muslim countries including Pakistan, Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia. The minister said she is also trying to stop female genital mutilation in the Bohra community. Girls in the nearly 1.2-million member Muslim sect based primarily in Mumbai have to go through the painful rite of passage called khatna, or khafz. Talking about Modi's flagship social scheme 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao', Gandhi said her milestone in making the programme work is institutionalisation of women giving birth, as opposed to the traditional practice of inviting a midwife. 'Earlier, when a girl was born, it was easy to kill the girl. We pursue Beti Bachao Beti Padhao by giving awards to girls who get a share in property amid other achievements,' Gandhi said. The minister added that she was worried when she started working on the scheme, which took off in 2015 to curb female infanticide and educating girl children across the country. 'Any custom that is unfair should be weeded out' Ghandi said 'My first apprehension, when I took up the programme... I thought it will take long to increase the number. Within a year, it went up by 100 points in Haryana. So I will call the scheme a resounding success,' she said. Talking about dowry deaths, Gandhi said the ministry will have to think about how to campaign against this crime against women. 'I called boys who had demanded dowry and asked them if their parents could not buy them a bed, trunk, a little scooter, or a cycle that they have to take it from the girl,' she said. 'When I came into this ministry, it was a post office ministry which gave salaries to anganwadi and did nothing else. This ministry had to organise itself,' Gandhi said. 'When the National Policy for Women comes out, you will know how forward looking it is,' Gandhi added. Explaining her work on eliminating malnutrition along with the PM, she said, 'Give me a year more and we are changing the whole system of feeding children. I learnt this from Uttarakhand's pilot study, which the Prime Minister is also very particular about. 'They did not feed the usual mixture of wheat and rice but a mixture children can drink which showed effective results within two months after kids gained 2-3 kilos. This reflected in the pilot study and we will try and get every state on board.' Was Belt and Road Forum (BRF) summit an overall success? Yes, from the Chinese point of view, the BRF summit was a hit because most of the key nations through which the Belt and Road projects pass through, barring India, attended the summit at the highest level. Thus it added substance to China's bid to create a new world order across Asia. But the EU representatives (including those from Belgium, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Italy and Spain) struck a jarring note by rejecting a Chinese text related to a trade prepared at the summit. Reports According to media reports, EU representatives explained that for Europe, the BR initiative would only succeed if it was based on transparency and co-ownership. The EU representative had also raised the issue of profitability of the project, which remains a big question mark. This, in a way, vindicated India's perceptions on the BR initiative. Chinese President Xi Jinping and foreign delegation heads and guests pose at the Leaders' Roundtable Summit of the Belt and Road Forum (BRF) for International Cooperation at Yanqi Lake International Convention Center Internally, the successful conclusion of BRF has given Chinese President Xi Jinping's image a big boost, making him 'the master of all he surveys', as the cliche goes. This would further strengthen his control over the three echelons of power: the CPC, the government and People's Liberation Army (PLA). But his acid test will be to successfully carry forward the project and deliver on his promises on OBOR to the people. This may not be an easy task, given the complexities of the BR initiative and the imponderables on its gruelling course. As for India's decision to boycott the forum, opinions are divided in the country. This is evident from editorials in national dailies, which are equally divided on the issue. There are merits and demerits in the decision taken by India. Aung San Suu Kyi, State Counsellor of Myanmar, leaves Beijing after Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation The boycott is in keeping with the government's policy decision, which was crystallised after China chose to ignore India's repeated expressions of concern about the CPEC's violation of Indian sovereignty in illegally occupied Indian territory in Kashmir. Our foreign secretary has explained India's deep concerns explicitly to the Chinese counterparts on a number of occasions. On the negative side, by boycotting the BRF, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lost a very good opportunity to put across the Indian perspectives and reservations on the OBOR and the CPEC at the forum attended by heads of state and high dignitaries from 29 countries. Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomes Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang before the Leaders' Roundtable Summit of the Belt and Road Forum (BRF) I presume, the government took an informed decision to boycott the summit, considering the pros and cons in the entirety. I also expect the government to have worked out a post-boycott action strategy. We will have to wait and see the developments in this regard in the coming weeks. No one can deny that the BRF has given a boost to Pakistan. The Chinese gave place of prominence to Pakistan in the summit and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was basking in its glory. It has come at the right time for him when his political fortunes at home have gone south rapidly. He had been plagued by uncertainties about his future on two counts: uneasy relations with the army, which is a power centre outside the constitution in Pakistan. Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) attends a meeting with Argentina's President Mauricio Macri (2nd R) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Probe The other is the judicial probe into the offshore accounts of his sons, the details of which were leaked out in the Panama Papers. It continues to haunt him. Considering this, the BRF probably worked as a shot in the arm for him, as his body language and broad smile in the visuals of the forum indicate. But on his triumphal return home, Nawaz Sharif will be facing flak from the opposition and the media, which have been critical of the lack of transparency in the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. This has gathered more mass, particularly after the Karachi newspaper Dawn published two CPEC project documents for the first time. These indicate the great game the Chinese are playing in Pakistan. I am not sure how the Pakistan intelligentsia and politicians will react to China planning to call the shots in all walks of life in Pakistan in the next decade plus, as visualised in the project papers. Overall, we can expect the Pakistani Prime Minister to be fully occupied with damage control measures to salvage his reputation, already in tatters. The Pakistan army will be very happy with the BRF outcome as it has been an unflinching supporter of the CPEC. Chinese President Xi Jinping, foreign delegation heads and guests walk out of the Yanqi Lake International Convention Center Military As China's powerful ally in Pakistan, the army will benefit immensely from the strategic alliance with the Chinese, not only on the military front but in internal power play as well. It is likely to increase as the CPEC matures further in the coming days. Beefing up of infrastructure visualised under the project would add to rapid manoeuvrability of Pakistan's armed forces in the coming years, particularly along its western borders along Iran and Afghanistan. Of course, along our western borders, improved communication networks to be executed under the project could add form and content to the Pakistani army's muscle-flexing in tandem with its Chinese allies. So we can expect increased belligerence from the army, hiking up provocative activities through jihadi proxies in the Kashmir Valley to tie up our forces in fighting rearguard actions. This would add depth to safely execute the CPEC project in PoK in areas close to the border. It should also be a matter of concern for our national security planners, as the days may not be far off when the Pakistan army carries out a joint exercise with the PLA close to our western borders. So the moot question is are the Indian armed forces ready to face an increasingly belligerent Pakistan army, egged on by China's elbow strength likely to increasingly figure on the nation's security ouija board in the coming months and years. A prisoner who was jailed for life nine years ago for murder has finally been caught by cops after going on the run for nine years - during which time he is thought to have killed a further nine victims. The gangster from Haryana jumped parole and he and his associates have allegedly murdered nine people since then, before the long arm of the law reeled him back in. Satish, alias Kaala, alias Mauna is among five notorious criminals accused of over a dozen murders who were netted by Gurugram crime branch in an operation on Thursday. Satish is among 5 criminals accused of over a dozen murders who were netted by Gurugram crime branch Cops found him cooped up at a poultry farm. Among the people Satish allegedly killed since jumping parole in 2008 was Raju Sethi, a close aide of another gangster, Sandeep Gadoli. 'That was supari killing and the contract was given by dreaded gangster of Gurugram Birender Singh Dayma, alias Bindar Gujjar,' a senior police officer said. Sethi was gunned down at a petrol pump on Diwali in 2015. The killing of Raju Sethi, a close aide of another gangster, Sandeep Gadoli, was captured by CCTV cameras at a petrol pump in Gurugram on Diwali in 2015 The murder triggered a gang war in Gurugram, which led to Gadoli's death in February 2016 when five crime branch officers killed him at a Mumbai hotel in an alleged fake encounter. Bindar Gujjar had reportedly paid the cops Rs 5 crore to eliminate Gadoli. Four of the policemen were arrested. But the murder of a real estate agent in Gurugram brought the focus back on Satish. Bharat Bhushan was shot multiple times and his body was found in a vacant plot adjacent to his office on March 10. Cops suspected the involvement of Satish and his men. 'The matter was quite sensitive as the influence of Satish was rising in the area. The crime branch team acted on a tip-off that Satish and his gang members were hiding in a poultry farm at Hisar's Haibalpur village. They raided the place and nabbed them on Thursday,' said Sandeep Khirwar, commissioner of police, Gurugram. Sethi was gunned down at a petrol pump on Diwali in 2015 Apart from Satish, who had a Rs 1-lakh bounty on his head, his close aide Arvind, alias Pundit, with a Rs 50,000 bounty, was also nabbed. The other members of the gang were identified as Naresh, alias Pahalwan, Surender, alias Fauji, and Aswani, alias Pannu. The crime branch team also recovered two country-made revolvers, one pistol, 30 live bullets and a car from their possession. Satish, a native of Kilod village in Haryana's Sonipat district entered the world of crime in 2000 when he allegedly murdered someone from his own village. He was then linked to the killing of two more people from his native district. The murder triggered a gang war in Gurugram Sonipat police arrested him on the charge of murder and during the trial he allegedly killed an inmate at the district jail. He was then awarded life imprisonment by a Sonipat court in all four murders and was behind bars for eight years until he got parole for a month for good behaviour. 'After he was released on parole for one month, he never returned to jail again and carried on with his old crimes, including murders and killing on contract,' Khirwar said. Satish allegedly committed four murders in 2010 and attacked the personal assistant of MLA Satpal Sangwan the next year. He was purportedly caught on CCTV camera chasing and killing Raju Sethi. Gurugram cops also suspect that Satish and his gang have close links with some notorious gangsters from Delhi. Theresa May has pledged to abolish the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) as she seeks to overhaul how white collar crime is tackled in Britain. In the Conservative Party manifesto, the Prime Minister said she would fold the organisation into the National Crime Agency (NCA) if she wins the general election. The pledge follows a string of clashes between the SFO and May, who as Home Secretary in David Camerons government had argued that it should be part of the NCA, which fights organised crime. Pledge: Theresa May will fold the SFO into the National Crime Agency if she wins the general election But the move dismayed lawyers and anti-corruption groups. The SFO is currently investigating claims of fraud at Barclays over a Qatari fundraising in the financial crisis, whether senior Bank of England staff sought to rig Libor rates, and allegations about drug maker GlaxoSmithKline. This is a political pledge and we cannot comment, it said in a statement. Stephen Parkinson, a partner at law firm Kingsley Napley, said it was dreadful news. He said: I have two main concerns. Firstly, that there will be organisational paralysis; people will leave the SFO in droves so it will lose expertise. Secondly, I fear momentum will be lost and there will be a failure to open cases that should be taken up. David Corker, a partner at law firm Corker Binning, said: The NCA has not yet proved its effectiveness and there is a great danger that the fight against fraud would be compromised if the SFOs work was absorbed into its broad remit. Naomi Hirst, senior campaigner at Global Witness, said: It is absolutely vital that the SFO remains independent from Government interference. Rolling the SFO into the NCA could seriously jeopardise the integrity of Britains response to white collar crime, not strengthen it. The SFO thought it had removed the cloud over its future with a landmark victory over Rolls-Royce. In January, the engine maker agreed to hand over 497.3m to settle bribery claims and avoid a prosecution. Insiders said it showed the agencys approach was working and that it was able to take on big businesses. Another key victory came last month when Tesco handed over 129m following an investigation into an accounting scandal. But the organisation has been plagued by failures. In 2006, it abandoned a corruption probe into BAE Systems after pressure from Saudi Arabi. It also had to pay damages to the entrepreneur Tchenguiz brothers. The SFO has had chronic problems with funding, relying on 34m a year, less than the sum many of its targets might be prepared to spend. Tory donor fraud quiz The Conservatives have received a 50,000 donation from a Syrian-born businessman recently questioned by the Serious Fraud Office. Ayman Asfari, 58, chief executive of oil services group Petrofac, made the donation this month. His wife Sawsan donated 50,000 to the Tories at the same time. Asfari was quizzed by the SFO as part of a probe of Unaoil, a Monaco-based firm accused of corruptly securing contracts. Petrofac used Unaoil for consultancy work in Kazakhstan between 2002 and 2009. Lee Robert Moore was jailed for 20 years for sending obscene messages and images to minors A Secret Service Agent sent explicit messages and pictures of his penis to underage girls while on duty at the White House. Lee Robert Moore has been jailed for 20 years after sending the indecent material to a police officer who he thought was a 14-year-old girl. Moore, 38, from Maryland, had also sent explicit images to real girls in Florida, Texas and Missouri. He used the mobile apps Kik and Meet24, NBC reports, and sent some of the messages while he was on duty in Washington DC. Moore was arrested after his activities were revealed by the Delaware Child Predator Task Force. A letter from Moore's wife urged US District Judge Daniel T. K. Hurley to show leniency. It stated: 'I can honestly say he is still a genuinely good and decent person. 'I ask that you consider the lowest possible sentence as it would greatly benefit our children, as well as myself.' Yet papers submitted by prosecutors called for Moore to be sentenced to life in prison. He was on guard duty outside the White House when he sent some of the messages, prosecutors revealed The court documents said: 'It is particularly galling that he was himself an armed guard at the single most important residence in our constitutional republic, yet he repeatedly used that guard booth to take photos of his penis and send them to underage girls.' Moore admitted participating in sexual chat sessions and sending explicit photos of himself. Moore worked at the White House as a uniformed Secret Service officer when he was arrested in 2015. Stranded: Akilah Robertson and her two young children were stranded in Spain after low-cost airline EuroWings insisted on serving nuts on their flight home despite the severe allergy of her son Jamil, pictured A mother and her two young children were stranded in Spain after a low-cost airline insisted on serving nuts on their flight home despite her son's severe allergy. Akilah Robertson was left 645 out of pocket and her children in tears when she got off a Eurowings flight from Majorca to London via Hamburg due to fears for her son, Jamil, two. Ms Robertson, 30, had asked Eurowings cabin staff if they could not sell nuts and make an appeal to other passengers not to eat them during the two-hour flight as her toddler Jamil could become dangerously ill. But the Eurowings cabin crew told her they could not 'inconvenience the whole aircraft because of one passenger' and questioned whether she was properly equipped to travel with her 'vulnerable' child. The mother-of-two, from London, told MailOnline: 'I am angry and frustrated at the way Eurowings treated us. It was really awful. My daughter was crying, worrying about how we were going to get home. 'Jamil has had an allergic attack before and I didn't want it to happen again. 'At first they said they would reimburse me for the cost of new tickets but now they don't want to know. It is not fair.' She said her son was taken to hospital with a severe allergic reaction after eating a mouthful of food containing nuts just a few months before. Dispute: Ms Robertson, 30, asked Eurowings cabin staff not to sell nuts ask other passengers not to eat them during the two-hour flight as Jamil, pictured could become dangerously ill Denied: But Eurowings cabin crew told Ms Robertson, pictured with her daughter Amaiya, six, that they could not 'inconvenience the whole aircraft because of one passenger' Allergic: Ms Robertson said her son Jamil, two, pictured, was taken to hospital with a severe allergic reaction after eating a mouthful of food containing nuts just a few months before Reaction: During an attack Jamil's lip blistered, eyes swelled and he was at threat of having anaphylactic shock, which can cause the wind-pipe to swells up and restricts breathing His lip blistered, his eyes swelled up and he was in danger of going into anaphylactic shock, which can cause sufferers to suffocate as their wind-pipe swells up, restricting their breathing. Ms Robertson's anguish was made worse when she claims that Eurowings ground staff then failed to honour a pledge to reimburse her the cost of a replacement flight. She had jetted off to Majorca with a girlfriend and their children to enjoy a few days in the sun during the Easter holiday. Her daughter Amaiya, six, and Jamil had enjoyed paddling in the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea and Ms Robertson and her friend Natalie had relaxed soaking up the sun. The two families had booked the four-day trip at the last minute and had struggled to find return flights from London to Majorca. They had travelled out via Gatwick with Ryanair but had booked a return flight to London with German low-cost carrier Eurowings via Hamburg. Ms Robertson told MailOnline: 'We had a lovely time in Spain. The weather was good and the kids loved playing on the beach and in the sea. 'We had had a really good break but all that relaxation ended when we got to the airport. Holiday row: Ms Robertson, from London, had taken her daughter Amaiya, six, and Jamil, two, for a sunshine break to Majorca in Spain, pictured, with a friend for a short holiday Anger: Ms Robertson said the incident that prevented Jamil, pictured, flying home was made worse because she claims she didn't receive a promised refund on the cost of a new flight Out of pocket: Ms Robertson said she paid 645 for the cheapest flight she could find with EasyJet because she didn't want her son Jamil, pictured, and sister staying overnight in a hotel 'On the way out I had asked the cabin crew on the Ryanair flight not to serve nuts and they were fine. They said they wouldn't serve any nuts and made an appeal to other passengers that there was someone on board with a severe nut allergy. 'I did the same when I got on the Eurowings flights but they said they couldn't do that. 'One of the cabin crew said; 'I cannot inconvenience all of the other passengers because of only one passenger'. I had made a totally reasonable request but they wouldn't listen. 'Another member of the cabin crew came over and suggested I was not properly equipped to travel if my son had such a 'dangerous medical condition'. 'But I always carry a epi-pen [one-dose antidote injection] and a doctor's letter about Jamil's allergy. But I did not want try to deal with him going into anaphylactic shock in the air because they would not stop serving nuts so I had to get off the plane. 'I went to the customer service desk and they couldn't believe what had happened. They said it was quite normal for cabin crew not to give out nuts and make an appeal to the rest of the passengers. 'That was all I was asking for a request not to serve nuts and a request for other passengers not to eat nuts. I really don't think it is too much to ask.' Ms Robertson then tried to find a flight to take her and the children back to the UK. 'The customer service staff put me on the phone to someone from Eurowings. He said there wasn't another Eurowings flight that day so I could wait until the next day or if I had to get back they would pay me back for the cost of the flight. 'I didn't want to stay overnight in the airport or get a hotel. The kids were tired and I wanted to get home. So I found the cheapest flight I could back to London for 645 with EasyJet. I had to wait in the airport for eight hours but at least we got home. Holiday row: Eurowings said it is 'not possible' to stop the sale on nuts on its aircraft despite Jamil's allergy, pictured, and refused to reimburse his mother for the cost of alternative flights No refund: Ms Robertson, who showed MailOnline her original tickets, pictured, said: 'I am angry and frustrated at the way Eurowings treated us. It was really awful.' 'But now Eurowings say they are not going to pay me back. I have contacted their customer services department. I have sent them all of the receipts and everything but I have heard nothing. 'This just adds insult to injury.' Eurowings said it is 'not possible' to stop the sale on nuts on its aircraft and has refused to reimburse Ms Robinson for the cost of alternative flights. In a statement the airline spokeswoman Katharina Muscalla told MailOnline: 'In according to our customer service we can't offer any refund. 'A complete exclusion of the sale of any goods containing peanuts and nuts is not possible. In addition, we would like to point out that a proliferation of nut traces cannot be prevented despite regular and in-depth cleaning of the aircraft due to its construction. Guests with the chance of an allergic reaction travel at their own risk. 'Nevertheless, we work with high commitment in order to offer our passengers a reliable and high quality product. We kindly ask for your understanding and apologise that Ms Robinson did not feel treated in the right way on board.' The Cannes Film Festival is one of the most hotly-anticipated events on Hollywood's social calendar, made even more exciting this year by its milestone 70th anniversary. The sophistication of Cannes tends to invoke more risque, avant garde choices than generally seen on American red carpets, setting the stage for some incredible couture and some almighty fashion fails. While this year's carpet was largely owned by the supermodel set, including Bella Hadid and Emily Ratajkowski, it also featured some of our favourite Hollywood stalwarts and fresh fashion faces to watch. Bella Hadid A less daring look than last year, the supermodel still commanded attention in this stunning, soft pink Alexandre Gauthie gown, which skimmed her slender figure from head to toe. Emily Ratajkowski Emily Ratajkowski arrived in a glossy nude gown by Twinset, in a shade to match her model mate Bella's. The simple but sexy choice was given a classy twist with a slick up 'do and choppy fringe. Jessica Chastain Jessica Chastain contrasted her fiery locks with a black embroidered Alexander McQueen gown. Channelling old-Hollywood glamour, the strapless frock featured a velvet bodice embroidered with delicate flowers and doves. Elle Fanning Fanning stole the show in this regal cream gown by Vivienne Westwood. Reminiscent of Angelina Jolie's wedding dress, the stiff, strapless neckline, figure-hugging corset and embroidery on the train made for a mature yet playful choice. Uma Thurman Cementing her status as an ageless beauty, Uma Thurman was pretty in pink in this statuesque Versace gown. Sara Sampaio Victoria's Secret model Sara Sampaio stood out from the wash of soft shades - and tied in with the carpet - when she arrived in this dramatic Spanish-inspired gown by Zuhair Murad. queeniebridesmaid yellow bridesmaid dresses | chiffon bridesmaid dresses The UN's counter-terrorism chief is convinced ISIS will carry out terror attacks on flights using laptop bombs. Speaking after officials decided not to ban personal computers on flights from the EU to US, Jean-Paul Laborde said it was a case of 'when, not if' terrorists conceal explosives in electronic devices. The US introduced rules in March forbidding devices 'larger than a smartphone' on flights from Turkey, Morocco, Jordan, Egypt, UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Mr Laborde went on to say defeated ISIS fighters returning to Europe would be 'more dangerous' than previous waves. Jean-Paul Laborde said it was a case of 'when, not if' terrorists conceal explosives in electronic devices He said he does not know whether ISIS has the capability to carry out laptop bomb attacks but believes organised crime groups can. The UN chief, who said he had previously identified threats years before they occurred, claimed it could be 'one, two or three years' before terrorists begin using laptop bombs. Threat levels in Western Europe are high following a spate of deadly attacks that killed dozens over the past two years, with many nations concerned about their ability to guard their borders. Laborde said the foreign fighters seeking to return to Europe now are much 'more dangerous' than previous waves of returnees, full of resentment after years on the battlefield including in recent confrontations. Islamic State has lost large swathes of territory during military campaigns, including by the Russian-backed Syrian army and U.S.-backed militias. 'On average, these people are much more committed, more experienced and more skilled,' Laborde told reporters. Mr Laborde went on to say defeated ISIS fighters returning to Europe would be 'more dangerous' than previous waves 'In spite of the travel restrictions ... still you will have a number of foreign terrorist fighters which will probably slip through the borders and go back, come back to these countries, especially with smuggling networks,' he said. However, restrictions have worked to help dramatically curb the flow of foreign terrorist fighters leaving to join the ranks of the Islamic State, he said. The number of foreign fighters flowing to IS-controlled regions dropped by 90 per cent in the past year, the US secretary of state said recently. Based on estimates compiled from governments, the UN says 40 to 50 percent of some 30,000 foreign fighters, not all of them from Europe, have already left territories controlled by the Islamic State group. Parts of Queensland have experienced heavy downpours and more of the same is on the way with predictions a month's worth of rain is set to fall within a day. The heavy rain moved in on Thursday and continued throughout Friday morning courtesy of a low-pressure system, with flood warnings now in place. Much of Australia's east-coast will be impacted by the system, with Sydney and Brisbane expecting widespread rain throughout Friday and Saturday. Friday will also be a wet day in Melbourne, Canberra, Perth and Adelaide. 'The worst [of the weather] is going to be in north-eastern Queensland where we've got a flood watch between Rollingstone and Gladstone and also extending to inland areas adjacent to that,' Weatherzone senior meteorologist Rob Sharpe said on the Today show. 'We've already seen some places pick up close to 200mm and there's still probably another 100mm in it for some locations in that stretch of coastline.' Scroll down for video A Bureau of Meteorology image showing the rain band along Australia's east-coast and also parts of the west Parts of Queensland have experienced heavy rain over the past 24 hours, including in Townsville (pictured) Townsville (pictured) received more than 100mm of rain from Thursday night into Friday morning, more than three times the city's monthly rainfall average for May The rain is set to lash Brisbane (pictured) on Friday and Saturday, with up to 60mm forecast Mr Sharpe said Townsville received 108mm overnight on Thursday into Friday morning, the heaviest rain the city has seen in 14 months. It is more than three times the city's monthly rainfall average for May. The Bureau of Meteorology is also predicting some areas of Queensland will receive more than a month's worth of rain just on Friday. 'We're expecting widespread falls between 50 to 80mm across the south-east coast from Gold Coast all the way through to Sunshine Coast,' Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Julian de Morton told 9news.com.au. 'A lot of areas on the south-east coast will exceed or come close to their monthly average [Friday].' Mr Sharpe said Sydney can also expect widespread rain throughout Friday and Saturday, although it won't be as much as Brisbane. Heavy rain is expected to fall on the Gold Coast (pictured) on Friday, with areas within the region expected to receive a month's worth of rain in just one day Brisbane (pictured) is in for a drenching on Friday as a low-pressure system tracks south The Gold Coast (pictured) is forecast to receive up to 80mm The weather across Queensland is expected to clear-up substantially by Sunday 'In total, in the Sydney area, [there will be] probably between 20mm and 40mm... while in Brisbane it will be a bit more - 30mm to 60mm,' he said. Mr Sharpe said there will likely be some flooding in north-eastern and south-western Queensland and also parts of the northern rivers area of Tasmania as a result of the low-pressure system. But the rain is expected to clear-up substantially by Sunday. 'It should be quite a nice day,' Mr Sharpe said. President Trump has cancelled a visit and a planned speech at a historic Israel site because he was not allowed to arrive using his helicopter. Trump refused to visit the Masada National Park because 'it was too hot' and he would have to travel using a cable car - even though other presidents including Bill Clinton, George Bush and Barack Obama have travelled to the site in cable cars. The president will rather be speaking at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem during his visit on May 22, according to the Jerusalem post. 'Well Masada was too hot, so we found a great spot instead for POTUS,' Eitan Weiss, deputy spokesperson for the Israeli Foreign Ministry tweeted, seemingly mocking the president, according to Newsweek report. Referencing manuscripts found at the museum, he added: '@IsraelMuseum. The Dead Sea Scrolls make an important setting.' President Trump has cancelled a visit and a planned speech at the Masada National Park because he was not allowed to arrive using his helicopter . The president is pictured here on May 17, arriving on the South Lawn from his presidential helicopter, Marine One Trump refused to visit the ancient Israeli site because he would have to travel using a cable car. Pictured is a cable car on its way to the top of the ancient hilltop fortress of Masada on May 16 The Masada is one of Israel's most important historic sites. The fortress became a symbol of Jewish heroism after dozens of Jews there chose to kill themselves, 960 in total, rather than surrender to the Romans in 70 AD. An Israeli military helicopter damaged famous historic ruins in 1997, when it landed on the site with the chopper. Since then, authorities have banned planes or helicopters from landing at the site and visitors have had to use cable cars or walk up 100 steps to get to the top. 'When Clinton visited in 1998, he came up with the old cable car and walked up 100 steps,' director of the National Masada park Eitan Campbell told the Jerusalem Post on Monday 'George W. Bush came by the new cable car. We were saved the 100 steps. ' Masada fortress became a symbol of Jewish heroism after dozens of Jews there chose to kill themselves, 960 in total, rather than surrender to their enemies George Bush, pictured with then-Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (left) - toured the Masada in 2008 after he had served office The former president, pictured here on May 15, traveled in a cable car to make it to the top of the landmark Former president Clinton visited the site in 1998. The Clintons did not use the cable cars on offer and walked up 100 steps to get to the top of the landmark. They are pictured here with their host Benjamin Netanyahu (left) The former president and Netanyahu had a fraught relationship during his term because of stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. The Clintons are pictured here with their daughter Chelsea (far right) as well as Netanyahu and his wife Sarah (center) Trump will be visiting Israel and Palestinian territories on May 22 and 23 - amid reports of a 'sour' relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanhyahu, since last week's report that he had given the Russian foreign minister and ambassador classified information provided by Israel. What's more, before the visit White House officials refused to allow Benjamin Nyetenyahu to accompany Trump at the Western Wall - making him the first sitting US president to visit the historic site - because they did not consider the West Bank a part of Israeli land. This announcement left Netanyahu's angry and White House officials had to reiterate that this was not Trump's position. As part of his eight-day foreign trip, Trump will also be visiting Saudi Arabia, the Vatican City, Italy and Belgium. A Sydney man who stabbed his wife over 30 times in front of one of their daughters has been sentenced to 22 years in prison for her murder. On Friday, Justice Peter Garling, who had also found Haydar Haydar guilty of wounding their daughter with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, set a maximum term of 22 years. Haydar, 60 was found guilty of murder rather than manslaughter by a judge in March after the attack on Salwa Haydar in early 2015. The former taxi driver yelled 'sl*t' at his wife in Arabic as he repeatedly stabbed her at their home in Bexley, south Sydney. Haydar Haydar covers his face as he is escorted from a Corrective Services van at the NSW Supreme Court in Sydney on Friday Ola Haydar, the daughter of Salwa Haydar leaves the Supreme Court after her father Haydar Haydar was sentenced to a minimum of 18 years in prison for the murder of his wife Ola Haydar told the court that 'not a day goes by where I am not reminded and traumatised by the events of that evening.' A judge in March found Haydar Haydar (pictured), 60, guilty of murder rather than manslaughter over his wife's death Salwa Haydar (pictured) was stabbed more than 30 times by her husband Haydar Haydar at the family home in March 2015 Nour and Ola Haydar, the daughters of Salwa Haydar, leave the NSW Supreme Court in Sydney after sentencing submissions for their father Haydar Haydar Their daughter Ola Haydar was also injured in the incident as she tried to free her mother and injured her hand in the process. Haydar was additionally found guilty of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Along with her two sisters, Amani and Nour, Ola and her siblings read out moving victim impact statements describing their suffering following their mothers death at their fathers sentence hearing. 'Not a day goes by where I am not reminded and traumatised by the events of that evening,' Ola Haydar said. '(Her father) has been the subject of my nightmares for two years; all I can hope for is that I never have to come face to face with him again.' Ola Haydar said she is forced to relive seeing he father stab her mother to death every time she is handed cutlery at the dinner table, or happens to glance at a kitchen knife. 'The offender's total lack of remorse has exposed us to the cold and callous side of life,' Amani Haydar told the court. Ola, (right) and Nour Haydar speak to media as they leave the NSW Supreme Court Ola Haydar (left) is pictured with her mother Salwa Haydar. Ola told a court she is still traumatised by seeing her father stab her mother to death 'I have spent two years trying to comprehend how someone could have such disregard for their wife and children.' She and Ola were forced to move house because 'the floorboards and furniture remain bloodstained' at their previous home. Ola Haydar said her father was meant to protect her - not scare her. 'I had my mother stolen from me at 18 years old by this man, and 18 years is hardly long enough time for me to have known her,' she said. Justice Peter Garling previously found the attack was predominantly caused by Haydar's jealousy and anger at his wife because he perceived she had been unfaithful. Pictured is the knife Haydar Haydar used to stab his wife to death Another man has been charged over a tax evasion scheme that allegedly stole $165 million from the Australian Tax Office. Simon Paul Anquetil, from Sydney's north shore, is the 10th person to be charged in relation to the scheme and is due to face Sydney's Central Local court on Friday. He's charged with conspiracy to defraud the commonwealth, the same as his co-accused Adam Cranston, the son of senior tax official Michael Cranston. Mr Anquetil, 34, was the former CEO and Chairman of Plutus Payroll Australia - a legitimate company at the centre of a complex web of alleged deception. Mr Anquetil (left, with former Miss Australia Erin Holland, who is not in any way implicated or charged), 34, has been charged with conspiracy to defraud the Commonwealth Former Plutus director Simon Anquetil (pictured) has been named as the 10th person charged over an alleged tax evasion scheme The parents of Simon Anquetil arrived at Sydney Police Centre on Thursday after he was charged Mr Anquetil paid former Miss World Australia winner Erin Holland to lure clients in to big events hosted by the payroll company. Ms Holland, who took out the 2013 beauty pageant, was paraded at Plutus promotional parties and featured heavily in its social media advertisements. 'Continuing to be spoilt rotten by my wonderful client Plutus Payroll Australia!' Ms Holland wrote on her Facebook page, according to The Australian. 'Erin Holland was engaged by Plutus Payroll to perform and host events curated by Plutus Payroll,' Ms Holland's agent told Daily Mail Australia in a statement. 'At no time did Erin Holland have any involvement in, or knowledge of, alleged misconduct or alleged criminal activity by any person associated with Plutus Payroll or its related businesses.' The fraud ring allegedly diverted $165 million in taxpayers' money to fund their 'lavish lifestyles' (co-acused Adam Cranston pictured leaving court on Thursday) Adam Cranston and his sister are among nine people who were arrested on Wednesday. AFP allege the group used stolen taxpayer funds to fund their 'lavish lifestyles' (pictured, $1 million in seized cash) Mr Anquetil (parents pictured with lawyer, left) has been charged with conspiracy to defraud the Commonwealth Police allege the elaborate syndicate ran the payroll company and accepted money from clients to process payroll on their behalf. Money was transferred to subcontracted or second-tier companies which made the payroll payments. That was legal but police allege what happened next was not. The subcontracted companies were fronts controlled by the syndicate and failed to pass on complete PAYG contributions to the tax office. The allegedly stolen money was transferred to the conspirators through a series of companies and trusts and used to fund lavish lifestyles. Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Ms Holland had any involvement in, or knowledge, of the alleged misconduct. Among those linked to the alleged criminal conspiracy is senior tax official Michael Cranston his 30-year-old son, Adam, and 24-year-old daughter, Lauren. ATO deputy commissioner Michael Cranston (pictured leaving Sydney court) will be charged following an investigation over a major tax evasion scheme allegedly involving his son and daughter, AFP said AFP seized in excess of 100 bank accounts and share trading accounts along with luxury jewellery (pictured) Mr Cranston, 58, was issued a court attendance notice for allegedly publicly abusing his position as a senior official of the Commonwealth, after an eight-month investigation by the Australian Federal Police. Mr Cranston allegedly tried to cut a deal with high-ranking colleagues after learning his son was among nine people under investigation for a $165 million taxation fraud syndicate. He faces up to 10 years in prison if found guilty of the fraud offences he is facing, and dodged media after he was released from Surry Hills Police Station on Thursday. The seven others arrested on Wednesday include tax lawyer Dev Menon, Devyn Michelle Hammond, Daniel Rostankovski, Jason Cornell Onley, Christopher James Guillan, Aaron Leo Paul and Daniel Simon Hausman. Also arrested on Wednesday over the alleged tax fraud syndicate were Lauren Cranston (right) and Jay Onley (left) Shepard Smith kicked off his Fox News program on Thursday by delivering an impassioned and emotional 15-minute speech in which he celebrated the life and legacy of Roger Ailes. It proved to be by far the most poignant and heartfelt tribute to the complicated man, with Smith also making sure to acknowledge his former boss' personal scandals and the victims of his alleged sexual harassment. The speech was also a deeply personal one for the normally reserved Smith, who in recent months has become more open about his life. At one point, the anchor even spoke publicly about his longtime boyfriend Gio Graziano, revealing that Ailes and his wife Elizabeth opened their arms and their home to the couple last July in their first official outing together at a work event. It was just days after that Fourth of July party that Gretchen Carlson filed her sexual harassment lawsuit against Ailes and Fox News, leading to the swift downfall of the man who launched the popular cable news network 20 years prior. Ten months later he passed away at the age if 77. Scroll down for video Poignant: Shepard Smith delivered an emotional tribute to his former boss Roger Ailes on his Fox News show Thursday (above) Happy couple: Smith, 53, also spoke about his boyfriend Gio Graziano for the first time publicly, revealing that Ailes was supportive of the pair's relationship (Graziano and Smith above in 2015) 'My partner, Gio and I went to a party at his amazingly beautiful home overlooking West Point,' said Smith halfway through his tribute. 'He said, "Ill man the turret if anybody gets near this place." He had one. 'We had not attended a work function the two of us together before. As we arrived, Roger and his son and Beth greeted us on a glorious day. 'Beth took Gio by his him and gave him a tour of the estate. They never met.' Smith continued: 'She and Roger treated Gio and me like family. It was a signal to our Fox team and to everyone else that our relationship is a good thing, respect it. 'Roger had and he did.' He then finished up the story by stating: 'At that event, Roger told the 150 or so friends on hand the history of our nation through the view below us. He was awe-inspiring. 'They arranged for fireworks to celebrate America's birth. We ate barbecue, laughed through the day and night. I'll never forget it.' Smith opened up about his sexuality just a few weeks back as well during a speech at the University of Mississippi, confirming that he was in fact in a relationship with another man and that being gay has not had any negative impact on his job at Fox News. 'I dont think about it. Its not a thing,' said Smith according to The Clarion-Ledger. 'I go to work. I manage a lot of people. I cover the news. I deal with holy hell around me. I go home to the man Im in love with.' He also spoke about the October interview with Huffington Post in which he publicly reveled that he was a gay man. 'Someone asked me if [former Fox News CEO] Roger Ailes had been abusive to me, and I said, "No. He was always good to me, and that was the truth,"' said Smith. 'And when I told the truth, I guess it was considered that I outed myself. I didnt even think about it, because I didnt think I was in.' Graziano was a production assistant on Smith's Fox News show for just over a year starting in 2011, moving over to Varney & Co. on the Fox Business Network in 2012 where he now works as a producer. Dynamic duo: He referred to Ailes as a 'father figure' and detailed the close bond he shared with his boss during his two decades at the network (Ailes and Smith above in 2006) Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com Smith also spoke about his close bound with Ailes, something that his co-worker Sean Hannity also mentioned in his tribute earlier in the day on Thursday, recalling a meeting he had with the boss 17 years ago. 'My dad came up in the conversation. We talked about how important father-son relationships are,' said Smith. 'Roger and Beth Ailes just had a son, Zach. He was the love of Roger's life. He wanted to help make America a better place for his new son. That's how he thought. 'We talked about how close my father and I are. How my relationship had survived and thrived in a messy divorce. 'He asked about growing up in Mississippi. Roger was a small town boy. Born in Ohio. No connection to power. Look what he accomplished. 'I could too. "Stick to your instincts." He told me, "Be good, treat peoplewell and be happy. Negative people make positive people sick." '"Stick with me," said Roger Ailes. "Sky is the limit." 'As we finish the 15-minute that suddenly was an hour, as I stood to leave his office, a hug. A big embrace. '"Love you" he said. "Tell your father I think the world of you. I want to meet him soon. Go get him. 'The boss loves me, cares about my father, has a new baby for whom he wants to make the world a better place. 'It was heavy. Felt important. I was sold.' He again spoke of his admiration for Ailes towards the end of his speech, before very openly addressing the one topic that everyone else at the company had made a point of side-stepping or ignoring in their tributes. 'I never left his office, never once, no matter how uncomfortable overall experience might have been without finishing with a big embrace and those comforting and telling words from Mr. Ailes, "Keep up the good work, I love you." 'Roger helped everyone in his life and he never spoke of it. He gave his time and his money and influence and gave his heart.' Big debut: The couple attended Ailes' Fourth of July party at his West Point home days before the sexual harassment scandal broke at Fox News New gig: Graziano, 29, was a former production assistant on Smith's show who is now a producer for Varney & Co. Smith then switched gears, addressing the scandal that rocked the network and involved not only his boss but a number of his co-workers, who accused the former CEO of sexual harassment. 'Then last year, last year we began to learn of another side of Roger Ailes, another part of his life,' said Smith. 'I didn't believe it could be true at first. This man I so admired despite our differences. It all came to a head as hundreds of us were in Cleveland for the Republican convention. 'The accusations were mortifying. All cameras were trained on us, all of them. We were the news. 'Tears flowed daily off camera. So far from headquarters, confused an helpless and under attack. 'Roger would want us to perform to serve our audience, and we did somehow. In our private work space there by then surrounded by guards keeping prying reporters away from us, a cell phone was being passed around. '"Rogers on the line." 'I took it in my hand and said, "Roger - hey, how are you doing?" 'His voice was firm and reassuring. "I'm okay, Roger. We're all working hard." 'There was a private exchange then. He told me keep up the good work. Keep everybody motivated and on point. We'll get through this. "I love you." Smith said it was the last time that the two ever spoke. A teenage girl from Guinea was held in a Sydney home against her will for weeks and used as a sex slave. Police have issued a call-out for a 'Good Samaritan' who picked up the girl early in the morning last month and took the 17-year-old to an Asylum Seeker Centre in Newtown. The girl says she had been brought to Australia on the promise of a cleaning job - but was held in a room and sexually assaulted by multiple men instead. A 17-year-old girl from Guinea arrived at an Asylum Seeker Centre in Newtown (pictured) last month after escaping a Sydney house where she had been held in a room and sexually assaulted by multiple men She met the man who held her against her will in January and came to Australia with him via Paris, in a journey that lasted days, in early April. Police believe he is a Guinean national, or at least an African male judging from descriptions given by the girl. During her time in the unit, she was sexually assaulted by multiple men, including her captor. 'The victim has told us she was subjected to sexual assaults from numerous men, including the man she travelled to Australia with during the period of time she was in that unit,' said NSW Police Acting Superintendent Mick Haddow. 'It's a very traumatic situation [for the girl]. This takes months, years, or really, to get over something like this can take forever.' She escaped the home, believed to be in the Sydney metropolitan area, in the early hours of April 27, and ran from the property until she was picked up. Police have not yet been able to discern where the unit is, or even what suburb it is in due to language barriers. 'We believe [the unit] is close to the Newtown area but it could be kilometres away so we are not very close at all to identifying the unit,' said Acting Superintendent Haddow. 'This has been a very very difficult investigation. There are cultural and language issues to deal with. The statement has taken days and days to complete.' After arriving at the Asylum Seeker Centre, the teenager spoke with the Anti-Slavery Unit at the University of Technology and was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital for treatment. She is now in the care of Family and Community Services. The girl had met the man who kept her captive in Guinea in January, and the pair travelled back to Australia via Paris in early April. She had been told she was coming to Australia to work as his cleaner (stock image) The AFP's Human Trafficking Unit are investigating the allegations, and looking to determine when the girl arrived in Australia and identify the man she arrived with. The NSWPF State Crime Command's Sex Crimes Squad are also investigating, and are currently focused on identifying the teenager's Good Samaritan. It is believed her name is Nicole and she drives a small red car, which could be a hatchback. Police are also keen to speak with anyone who may have seen or heard the girl after she escaped from the home. AFP Commander Chris Sheehan says there has been a 'significant increase' in reports of human trafficking in the last financial year - from 119 to 169. 'That probably means two things,' he said. 'There have been more of these types of crimes occurring and there's more awareness of these types of time and that more people are willing to come forward and report it.' Anyone who has information that may assist with the investigations is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or 131 AFP on 131 237. The number of atheists in this country could be as much as 10 times more than previous estimates, according a study published earlier this year. The percentage of atheists in the US varies depending on who - and how - you ask. According to a Gallup poll in 2016, only one in 10 Americans answered 'no' to the question: 'Do you believe in God?' Even fewer actively identify as atheist, with numbers clocking in at 3 percent, according to a Public Religion Research Institute poll in the summer of 2016. With research showing there is a stigma surrounding atheists, the authors of a new study found a way for subjects to indirectly reveal their beliefs and found 26 percent of Americans do not believe in God. Trump signed an executive order to allow tax-exempt churches to participate in politics earlier this month. He said 'We are a nation of believers' and affirmed the history of religion in the US While more than two thirds of those 65 or older say being a Christian is an important part of being American, the landscape of society is shifting, with only one third of adults ages 18 to 29 who agree, according to a 2015 study. But research shows a certain level of stigma is still attached to atheists. More than one third of Americans believe atheists should be banned from becoming president, for example, and so far no one outside Christianity has been elected into the country's highest office (John F. Kennedy was the only Catholic). Will Gervais and Maxine Najle of the University of Kentucky set out to conduct a study that might sidestep some of that stigma. They set up two groups. The control group was presented with a list of nine statements, like 'I eat meat' or 'I have visited New York City', while a test group was presented the same nine questions with the added statement 'I do not believe in God.' The number of atheists in this country could be as much as 10 times more than previous estimates, according a study published earlier this year (file photo) Members of both groups were asked to identify the number of statements true to them before the researchers compared the findings between the two groups. The study concluded that 26 percent of Americans likely do not believe in God - figures significantly higher than previous figures of 3 or 10 percent. The researchers wrote: 'This implies the existence of potentially more than 80million American atheists. 'The disparity between self-report and indirectly measured atheism rates underscores the potent stigma faced by atheists as even in an anonymous online survey, about a third of American atheists may be effectively "closeted," even in anonymous telephone polls.' The marketing for Hebridean Sea Salt said it was pure as nature and hand-harvested from Loch Erisort on the Isle of Lewis The marketing said it was pure as nature and hand-harvested from Loch Erisort on the Isle of Lewis. But the credibility of the company behind Hebridean Sea Salt found on the shelves of Waitrose and Sainsburys is in tatters after food standards officials revealed that most of it is imported table salt. Earlier this year, Food Standards Scotland began an investigation into the company, owned by mother-of-three Natalie Crayton, 35, after a former employee alleged the product was bulked out with salt from Israel. She claimed the bullying FSS destroyed her business over what she claimed was a minor labelling issue prompting the FSS to take the unusual step of disclosing details of a still active case, condemning the companys deception and revealing that the product was 80 per cent imported table salt. It said: This is not simply a case of mis-labelling. Miss Crayton claims that she was told to recall her products from supermarkets. Since the business shut, she says she has had to start claiming benefits. Hebridean Sea Salt, which was launched six years ago, could now face legal action to recover public funding if it ceases trading. Highlands and Islands Enterprise gave Hebridean Sea Salt 147,405 in grants over five years. It recently confirmed grants may be partly or fully recoverable if the recipient ceases to trade. The business also received assistance from the Princes Trust and the Scottish Edge entrepreneurial fund, plus 180,000 from private investors and the Bank of Scotland. Private schools will have to sponsor the state sector as part of Tory plans to turn Britain into the worlds great meritocracy. Headteachers of at least 100 top independent schools will be told they must help run an academy or set up a free school if they want to keep their charitable tax status. The raft of reforms also includes a ban on councils expanding badly performing schools, and a promise to tackle selection by house price with a review of admissions rules. The party also confirmed its commitment to new grammar schools, which would allow bright pupils to enter at a range of ages. Private schools will have to sponsor the state sector as part of Tory plans to turn Britain into the worlds great meritocracy The manifesto said one million pupils are still in substandard schools and that for too many children, particularly in the Midlands and the North, a good school remains out of reach. In Knowsley, Merseyside, every secondary school was found to be underperforming last year. The manifesto said: The greatest injustice in Britain today is that your life is still largely determined not by your efforts and talents but by where you come from, who your parents are and what schools you attend. This is wrong. We want to make Britain the worlds great meritocracy: a country where everyone has a fair chance to go as far as their talent and their hard work will allow. The Tories ban on expanding schools rated inadequate or requires improvement by Ofsted will stop desperate councils dumping ever larger numbers of children into substandard institutions. Last year, it emerged over half of new secondary school places across the country had been created in failing schools over the previous five years. The manifesto said one million pupils are still in substandard schools and that for too many children, particularly in the Midlands and the North, a good school remains out of reach Councils have a legal obligation to provide a school place for every child, and because of a population bulge partly fuelled by migration, some have resorted to allowing poorly performing schools to create extra places. The Conservatives also want more state schools to be sponsored by the private sector, which can share its expertise and resources. Their manifesto warns that the party would be keeping open the option of changing the tax status of independent schools if progress if not made. Yesterday, Barnaby Lenon of the Independent Schools Council, which represents most private headteachers, said many were already involved in this work and others with capacity would be willing to increase support. Mike Buchanan, chairman of the Headmasters and Headmistresses Conference, added: Independent schools are part of the solution to social mobility, not the problem. The reforms also include a pledge to offer forgiveness on student loan repayments for teachers. And schools have been promised an extra 4billion by 2022 to plug budget holes, in an apparent partial climbdown on a national funding formula announced last year. Shoe-leather politics. Shifting demographics. Lower-than-average voter turnout. Those are the factors that likely contributed to 18-year-old Mike Floyd unseating a two-term incumbent to win a school board seat in a large suburban Texas district. The victory drew national headlines, not just because Floyd is only 18, but also because he will take office Tuesday, three days before he graduates from high school. He will join the seven-member board in the Pearland Independent schools, a 21,000-student district just south of Houston. Yesterday, 18yearold @mikael_floyd was elected to Pearland ISD board--becoming one of the youngest elected officials: https://t.co/L1kFhW64ps pic.twitter.com/p90iggmF81 Texas Democrats (@texasdemocrats) May 7, 2017 While school boards have had student representatives for decades, Floyd is the youngest person in recent memory elected to a school board in Texasand perhaps the nation. It is fair to say that it is rare for a student to run for, let alone win, a school board election, said Barbara Williams, spokeswoman for the Texas School Boards Association. But no one seems to knows how rare. A National School Boards Association survey conducted in 2010 found that 0.4 percent of school board members nationwide are younger than 30. Thats about 1 in every 250 school board members. The survey didnt ask participants whether they were younger than 20, or even 25. But at seven years old, that survey data is dated. Shifting Demographics While Floyds win has a local teen does good feel to it, his team ran a sophisticated campaign that belied his age, two political science professors at the University of Houston said. He must have been a very good candidate on the doorstep, said Richard Murray, a political science professor at the University of Houston. I would assume that either he or people that were supporting him must have talked to an awful lot of voters. Education Week could not reach Floyd for comment for this report. Murray knows the Pearland district well. He has done consulting work with the district in the past, helping gauge support for bond issues. Once a predominately white, semi-rural area, Pearland is now a more ethnically and racially diverse suburbbut divisions remain. Half of the district remains filled with white residents, many of whom are conservative Republicans. The other half has experienced an influx of African-Americans, Latino, and Asian residents, Murray said. Its sort of two districts now, said Murray, who is also the director of the Survey Research Institute at the universitys Center for Public Policy. Its changing, its growing, and the conservative vote is not growing much. Floyd likely capitalized on the growing diversity in the district, where his opponent, Rusty DeBorde, and the district superintendent, John Kelly, took heat for their stances on Muslims and transgender bathroom access, Murray said. In what became a public duel with the parent of a transgender child, Kelly argued against letting the student choose the facilities that matched their gender identity. Floyd made transgender bathroom access part of his campaign platform. Kelly has not commented publicly on Floyds victory. DeBorde made a last-minute apology after his inflammatory social media posts that raised concerns about a Muslim candidate running for a seat on the Pearland City Council in the days leading up to the election. Education Week could not reach DeBorde for comment. Floyds campaign likely drew out voters offended by the superintendents stance and DeBordes Facebook post, said Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science professor at the University of Houston. The suburbs are slowly becoming more progressive, in part driven by migration from other cities and states, but also a younger population thats moved in, Rottinghaus said. Though the traditional narrative is that the suburbs tend to be more conservative and thats true, there are pockets of progressive politics that give new voices and opportunity. The low-voter turnout in the May 6 election also buoyed Floyds chances, Murray and Rottinghaus said. Only about 10 percent of voters cast ballots in the off-cycle election. In a [high turnout election], I think he wouldve probably been swamped. In a low-turnout, if you can get your friends and supporters to go vote, you can pull some surprises, Murray said. The usual suspects who typically vote in school elections are school employees, and so they would be inclined to support the incumbent board members. But if you have somebody out there running a different kind of campaign, it can change the mix. Cowboy parking firms, nuisance cold callers, inflated rail fares and soaring energy bills were all targeted in a manifesto that aims to end rip-off Britain. As well as trying to keep taxes as low as possible, the Tories pledged to make consumer markets work fairly to reduce the cost of living. Announcing a raft of measures to protect households, the manifesto stated: Poor information, complex pricing and exploitative behaviour prevents markets operating efficiently for the benefit of all. The manifesto reiterated Theresa Mays commitment to a cap on energy bills, designed to protect around 17 million households on standard variable tariffs from unfair price hikes. As well as trying to keep taxes as low as possible, the Tories under May (pictured) pledged to make consumer markets work fairly to reduce the cost of living in a bid to end 'rip-off Britain' It also offered hope to millions trying to move home or get on the property ladder with the promise to make the tortuous home-buying process more efficient, less costly. A key focus will be on solicitors hefty conveyancing fees which depend on the value of the home and can run into thousands of pounds. Meanwhile, with the boom in online shopping, the manifesto included a commitment to protect people who buy goods and services online. Plans include ending the abusive use of subscription services for example, making it clearer when free trials come to an end. A Tory government would force telecoms firms to make phone bills easier to understand, including making it clear when a customer on a monthly contract has paid off the price of their handset. A ban on cold calling by no win no fee ambulance chasers encouraging people to make bogus personal injury claims is being considered. Bid to shield UK firms from hostile takeovers The PM yesterday pledged to crack down on foreign take-overs and hinted that rogue bosses who bleed pension pots dry could be jailed. Declaring that the Tories do not believe in untrammelled free markets, she vowed to tackle fat cat pay and give workers a boardroom voice. Mrs May pledged to outlaw deals driven by excessive asset-stripping or tax avoidance. It follows a spate of foreign takeovers, including US giant Kraft acquiring Cadbury and breaking a pledge to keep UK factories open. The Tories also vowed to prevent a repeat of the Sir Philip Green pension scandal at BHS. Mrs May declared: We will consider a new criminal offence for company directors who deliberately or recklessly put at risk the ability of a pension scheme to meet its obligations. Firms listed on the stock market would have to publish pay ratios outlining executive pay compared to the rest of the workforce, while investors would be given an annual vote on executive pay packages, rather than a binding vote every three years. But business groups claimed more red tape would damage the economy. Advertisement This follows a pledge by the government to ban cold calling by pension scam firms. The Tories said they would tackle rogue private parking operators, whose practices have been repeatedly exposed by the Daily Mail. This echoes a promise made by the Coalition government, which it failed to follow through on. The manifesto promised to pay immediate attention to the retail energy market if the Tories win the general election. In a blistering attack on the big six firms, it said: Customers trust established brands and mistakenly assume their loyalty is rewarded. Energy suppliers have long operated a two-tier market, where those constantly checking for the best deal can do well but others are punished for inactivity with higher prices. A safeguard tariff cap will protect around 17million households on standard variable tariffs from abusive price increases. This will extend price caps already in place for the most vulnerable customers. Smart meters will be offered to every household and business by the end of 2020. The Tories also made a commitment to improve the energy efficiency of existing homes for those living in fuel poverty. This includes funding better insulation. An independent review will be commissioned into the cost of energy, with the aim to give the UK the lowest energy costs in Europe. On housing, reforms could look at speeding up the buying process which can take months to stop so many purchases falling through. Ministers were last year said to be considering introducing a ban on gazumping, where a buyer makes a higher offer for a property than another offer that has already been accepted. This was not included in the manifesto. But Tory sources said the review is likely to look at digitising the laborious conveyancing process which is still heavily reliant on pen and paper. One option would be enabling home buyers to use digital signatures rather than having to print forms. Left-wing firebrand Anthony Albanese has been forced to deny rumours he is conspiring to knife Bill Shorten and replace him as leader of the Labor Party. Labor frontbencher Mr Albanese, who narrowly missed out on the Labor leadership in 2013, stirred leadership tensions this week when he contradicted Mr Shorten in his interpretation of the Turnbull Budget. 'It was an overwhelming victory for the ALP, it was the Budget of ideological surrender,' he said in Perth on Thursday. Scroll down for video Labor frontbencher Mr Albanese (pictured on the Today show on Friday) stirred Labor leadership tensions this week when he contradicted Opposition leader Bill Shorten's interpretation of the Turnbull Budget His remarks contradicted his leader Bill Shorten's Budget reply speech in which Shorten said 'make no mistake, this is not a Labor Budget'. Appearing on the Today show on Friday, Mr Albanese was forced to quash rumours there is a rift within the Labor Party. '(It's) ridiculous, this is fake news, to quote a prominent American,' he said. He said he was happy to be 'a minister in a Shorten government', and had no aspirations to be leader. 'The only rift is on the other side (of politics) between Malcolm Turnbull and Tony Abbott, who are at war with each other.' '(It's) ridiculous, this is fake news, to quote a prominent American,' Mr Albanese said in response to the rumours on Friday Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne (right) said there was no doubt Mr Albanese (left) had 'thrown Bill under the bus this week' Also appearing on the Today show on Friday was Liberal Party minister Christopher Pyne. Mr Pyne said there was no doubt Mr Albanese had 'thrown Bill under the bus this week'. 'That speech marks the beginning of Anthony Albanese's campaign for the Labor leadership,' he said. 'Bill Shorten's numbers in the polls are so bad and have been consistently so bad that he's holding back the Labor vote. Anthony knows it and so does the rest of the Labor party.' 'That speech marks the beginning of Anthony Albanese's campaign for the Labor leadership,' Mr Pyne said Mr Pyne said Mr Albanese's interpretation of the Budget clearly marked the beginning of a rift. 'Anthony Albanese's tried to endorse the Budget whereas Bill Shorten tried to attack it, so clearly we're seeing them taking each other on,' he said. 'You can't wriggle out of this, you fired the starter gun, you're out of the blocks,' Mr Pyne said. He wished Mr Albanese luck on his 'campaign for the Labor leadership'. From the red team: Left-wing firebrand Anthony Albanese stirs Labor leadership tension 'Good luck to you, you'll be much better than Bill, at least you believe in things, at least you've got some conviction. It's a compliment,' he said. Mr Albanese laughed off the suggestion. 'That's absolutely untrue and you know it,' he said. 'Christopher, all the division is on your side and you know that that's the case.' Opposition Leader Bill Shorten told parliament last week the 2017 was 'not a Labor Budget' In Mr Albanese's controversial speech on Thursday he cited the Turnbull Government's acceptance of universal health care, needs-based schools funding and the backing of the National Disability Insurance Scheme with a hike in the Medicare levy. Mr Shorten, who comes from Melbourne, has repeatedly dismissed media descriptions of the Turnbull Government's second budget as 'Labor-lite'. 'Make no mistake, this is not a Labor budget,' Mr Shorten said in his budget reply speech last week. Mr Albanese, who won more votes from Labor Party members in the 2013 leadership ballot, appears to have contradicted Mr Shorten, who hails from the right faction. 'Budget 2017 was an overwhelming victory for the Australian Labor Party and the broader labour movement,' he said. Bill Shorten (left) and Anthony Albanese (right) both competed for the Labor leadership in 2013 'After years of negativity and culture wars, the coalition used the budget to offload much of its ideological baggage and embrace Labor values on some core issues - at least at a superficial level.' The Labor frontbencher said the government had 'finally accepted' Australians supported universal healthcare, needs-based school funding and that the national disability insurance scheme was a 'critical reform'. However, while the coalition had 'raised the ideological white flag', their words had not been matched with money. 'For example, they say they embrace needs-based education funding but they are still cutting investment by $22 billion over the next decade,' he said. Anthony Albanese contradicted Bill Shorten by urging Labor to 'declare an overwhelming victory' Mr Albanese later told reporters in Perth what he had said was in line with Mr Shorten's view, and the speech had been shown to the Opposition Leader's office before it was delivered. 'What I said is perfectly consistent with what Mr Shorten said,' Mr Albanese said, adding the Turnbull Government was 'trying to capture Labor ideas because they don't have any of their own'. Asked whether he backed Mr Shorten to lead the party to the next election, he said: 'Absolutely. We are a team and I'm committed to doing the best I can on infrastructure, transport, regional development, cities and tourism.' Earlier this month, Mr Albanese described a video Mr Shorten fronted as a 'shocker' because it featured only one Asian woman and 11 white Australian workers. Time Magazine has created a striking new cover for its latest edition, showing the White House being overtaken by Moscow's St Basils Cathedral. The artwork dominates the cover, as the magazine opted not to include a headline for the first time in more than a decade. In the picture, the famous cathedral's spires, which seemingly represent Russia's growing influence and presence in Washington, tower above the White House. The landmarks's red bricks also cover more than half of the DC building. The magazine's cover story, Trump's Loyalty Test, looks into the growing reported links between Trump's White House and Russia. Time Magazine's latest cover shows the White House being overtaken by the famous red bricks and colorful spires of Moscow's St Basils Cathedral It was reported this week by the Washington Post the president shared highly classified information during an Oval Office meeting with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov. Reuters then reported Thursday that the Trump campaign allegedly shared at least 18 calls and emails with Russians in the final stages of the presidential race. Michael Flynn and other advisers contacted people with Kremlin ties during the last seven months of the campaign, according to current and former US officials familiar with the exchanges. Former FBI Director James Comey was also fired reportedly just days after he asked for resources to expand the investigation into potential Russian ties to Trump's White House. Donald Trump is pictured speaking to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the Oval Office a the White House on May 10 Time Magazine has featured a series of covers about Donald Trump in recent months, including these two memorable ones Trump was also named 'Person of the Year' (left) by the magazine, and his election win was covered in detail The magazine predicted his potential win ahead of the election (left), and has covered its chaotic beginning (right) The story could cause the president to sour on the prestigious magazine. Trump has featured on the cover of Time multiple times, and he has referred to it as 'a great honor'. But in the months since Trump's election win, most of his appearances on the cover of the magazine have been critical of his performance - largely due to the avalanche of reported scandals besieging his presidency. Trump has denied there was collusion between Russia and his campaign, and claimed in a tweet Thursday he has been subject to 'the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history!' Trump of the United States, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and Russia's Ambassador to the United States Sergei Kislyak (4th L) during a meeting in the Oval Office at the White House Two of the magazine's covers in recent months are seen: one immediately after his win (left), and one from after the inauguration (right) Three brazen thieves have walked away empty handed after they failed to rob an ATM inside a shopping centre after their ute broke down. The brazen robbers smashed down the Williams Landing shopping centre doors in Melbourne's west before attempting to crack open the ATM, according to 9News. However, the thieves became unstuck when their ute broke down resulting in the hopeful thieves fleeing empty-handed. The ATM was still standing after the thieves attempted to crack it open according to Nine News Footage of the ute shows the front of the car unhinged, while the ATM was damaged but still standing. Police are investigating the incident and are on the search for the men. The Salt Creek hero who rescued two backpackers from a 'beach creep' has slammed three off-duty police officers who continued fishing instead of coming to the aid of the Brazilian and German women. Roman Heinze, 61, was jailed for at least 17 years on Wednesday after being found guilty of six charges including indecent assault, aggravated kidnapping and endangering life in relation to his attacks on two young backpackers at the remote beach in Coorong, South Australia. Adam Stewart has been hailed a hero by Supreme Court judge Trish Kelly, who praised him in her sentencing remarks but berated the off-duty police officers who did not immediately come to the women's aid in the February 2016 attack. Mr Stewart says it's a mistake the three officers will have to deal with for the rest of their lives, he told The Australian. Scroll down for video 'It ended up being probably one of the biggest cases in Australia and the bloke gets basically arrested and done by the local hamburger maker,' said local hero Adam Stewart (pictured) Roman Heinze (pictured) was jailed for at least 17 years on Wednesday after being found guilty of six charges over the attacks 'Bottom line is these coppers, they made a big mistake, they didn't take it seriously, they didn't get involved. They did f*** all,' he told The Australian. 'They just didn't man up on the day.' Mr Stewart, who owns the Salt Creek roadhouse diner, helped capture the sex predator over a period of three hours. 'It ended up being probably one of the biggest cases in Australia and the bloke gets basically arrested and done by the local hamburger maker,' he said. A gruesome picture from the Salt Creek scene in February last year is pictured The campsite where Heinze and the Brazilian and German backpackers were staying at the time of the horrific attacks Justice Kelly (right) has hailed Mr Stewart (left) and other heroes as 'fine young men' Justice Kelly described him and other rescuers as 'fine young men', but took a swipe at the inaction of three off-duty police officers. 'Fortunately there were some decent Australian men about the place that day,' Justice Kelly said. 'I'm not referring to the three off-duty police officers whose only apparent role in the drama unfolding on the beach around them that afternoon was apparently to drag a couple of eskies across the entrance to the beach and to carry on fishing. 'No, I'm not referring to them.' Justice Kelly said the heroes were two brothers, a group of fishermen and Mr Stewart who, she said, all played a role in rescuing the women as well as helping police capture their attacker despite the terror and fear they felt on the day. Salt Creek attacker Heinze is pictured at a beach years prior to the incident Heinze was jailed for 17 years on Wednesday but has already launched an appeal Video captured by Mr Stewart shows local officers arrest Heinze at the front of the roadhouse owner's car on sand dunes. 'He came here to do his evil work and two hours into it he's handcuffed at the front of my car,' Mr Stewart said. He also warned people not to get lifts with strangers. 'Be safe, be sure, and don't get lifts with a creepy guy. I can't save your life,' he said. 'Don't go roaming with Roman.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Stewart. Heinze met his victims through the Gumtree website, where the Brazilian and German women had sought a ride to Melbourne. DETAILS OF ROMAN HEINZE'S ATTACKS 2016 SALT CREEK ATTACKS: * Two female backpackers are attacked on the rugged sand dunes at Salt Creek by 61-year-old Roman Heinze whom they meet after one posts an advertisement on the website Gumtree seeking a lift from Adelaide to Melbourne. * A Brazilian woman is thrown down on the sand, her arms tied with rope. Heinze then takes out a knife and cuts off her bikini before indecently assaulting her. * Heinze then goes after the German backpacker with a hammer, hitting her in the head four times. As she tries to flee he also drives at her in his 4WD, knocking her down several times. * A jury found Heinze guilty of six charges including indecent assault, aggravated kidnapping and endangering life but not guilty of attempted murder. 2014 ATTACK: * Heinze pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting another backpacker at a property in Adelaide's south in 2014. He had also agreed to give the woman a ride interstate. 2014 ASSAULT: * Heinze was placed on a bond in relation to an assault on a woman in December 2014. THE SENTENCE: * Justice Trish Kelly jailed Heinze for a total of 22 years and four months with a non-parole period of 17 years. * Justice Kelly described his offending as depraved and defying any rational or reasonable explanation. She said his crimes had a common theme - sudden, violent and predatory sexual behaviour. Advertisement Heinze drove the women to the isolated dunes and launched his violent assaults after setting up camp (pictured) He drove them to the isolated dunes and launched his violent assaults after setting up camp. That included tying up and sexually assaulting a Brazilian woman and hitting a German women in the head several times with a hammer before trying to repeatedly run her over with his 4WD. Justice Kelly said Heinze had not shown the slightest remorse or contrition for any of his crimes and there were no reasonable prospects of rehabilitation. 'In fact, the totality of the evidence convinces me, that if undetected, your offending would have continued and quite probably escalated,' she said. But Heinze has already launched an appeal against his convictions and is scheduled to appear in court in June to seek leave to overturn the verdicts. Heinze was found guilty of six charges including indecent assault, aggravated kidnapping and endangering life in relation to his attacks on the two young backpackers Former AFL star Justin Murphy has been jailed for six months after pleading guilty to stalking, threatening to kill and maiming his ex-girlfriend Jill Scott with a blowtorch. The 41-year-old plead guilty to a total of 28 charges, and was taken into custody when he appeared at a Melbourne Magistrate's Court on Thursday, reported 7News. Murphy had claimed he had been impacted by his dependence on ice and the party drug GHB, but Magistrate John O'Callaghan declared his behaviour towards Ms Scott 'appalling and unacceptable'. Former AFL star Justin Murphy was jailed for six months after pleading guilty to 28 charges, which included unlawful assault, aggravated burglary and making threats to kill In November 2016, Murphy used a blowtorch to maim his ex-girlfriend Jill Scott, who consequently lost her middle finger The former sportsman attacked his ex-girlfriend with a blowtorch in November 2016, causing her to lose her middle finger. 'I have flashes for life, dreams for life. I wake up screaming,' she told 7 News. 'Evil. That's pretty much the word for it.' The multiple charges Murphy faced included unlawful assault, aggravated burglary and making threats to kill. His lawyer argued Murphy had taken steps to curb his 'significant' problem with ice by completing a three-month rehabilitation program. In sentencing, Magistrate O'Callaghan said he could not accept Murphy's actions towards Ms Scott. 'I cannot accept violence against women. I cannot accept this campaign of terror you put this lady through,' he said. Police want to appeal the decision to dismiss Kelly Landry's AVO against her husband Anthony Bell - with the TV star's supporters slammed the ruling as setting 'a terrible precedent' for other women. A magistrate on Thursday dismissed an interim apprehended violence order against the former Getaway star's estranged celebrity accountant husband. Magistrate Robert Williams found there was no need for an AVO because he saw little to no chance of the millionaire financier being violent to Ms Landry in the future. Kay Schubach, a domestic violence campaigner who is one of Ms Landry's top supporters, said: 'It's a terrible precedent and a very dangerous decision'. Ms Schubach said police prosecutors were 'keen' for an appeal through the Director of Public Prosecutions. A New South Wales police spokeswoman said the agency was 'reviewing the decision.' Scroll down for video It's not over yet: Kelly Landry appeared tearful after the AVO decision was handed down on Thursday - but Daily Mail Australia has been told prosecutors are 'keen' for an appeal Mr Bell was almost glowing with relief after the court win - telling reporters he felt relieved that 'justice has prevailed' and hoping to put the past six months behind them Both Mr Bell and Ms Landry believe they have had a 'harrowing' past six months Ms Landry hasn't had any discussions yet but is aware prosecutors have expressed interest in an appeal. Susannah Quinn, a lawyer advising Ms Landry, said it was 'likely' police will consider whether an appeal should be sought for an expanded legal precedent. Key Kelly Landry supporter Kay Schubach said prosecutors were keen on appealing the decision Ms Schubach said she was 'perplexed' the magistrate had accepted Ms Landry had been in 'fear for her safety' last November, but at the same time dismiss the AVO. 'Anthony Bell is free to walk into the family home... I think it has placed Kelly in a dangerous situation. 'It has exposed her to danger again. It does set a really dangerous precedent'. The magistrate accepted Ms Landry's version of events that Mr Bell knocked her arm into a wall on November 18. That resulted in their young daughter's head hitting the wall, all of which was caught in audio made by Ms Landry and tendered to court. Mr Williams told the court: 'The cry from (Ms Landry) and what both parties agree was the sound of the child's head hitting the wall cannot easily be forgotten. 'They were chilling sounds.' But Mr Williams said he was not satisfied by Ms Landry's broader claim Mr Bell had been abusive or controlling. And the magistrate found he could not be satisfied by Ms Landry's evidence that Mr Bell had fallen on top of her, put his hand around her throat and thrown her onto a bed during another alleged incident in 2012. Mr Bell had strenuously denied both allegations of abuse. But what's next? Ms Landry and her supporters were 'perplexed' by the magistrate's decision Ms Landry and her family were resting and relaxing on Friday in the wake of the decision In the audio, Ms Landry could be heard saying she was 'scared' as he tried to jimmy open the door to her bedroom with a butter knife. 'You are carrying on Anthony, you are acting psycho,' she could heard saying. Meantime, Mr Bell said she was 'video-taping illegally to try and set me up. 'I'm not going to let you set me up for nothing I did. 'I am so scared of you Kel, because you've done this before'. Then there was the sound of an altercation, a woman crying 'oww' and a child's scream. Ms Landry is believed to be 'exhausted' after the harrowing months-long legal process. A magistrate accepted Ms Landry's evidence about one version of events, but was not satisfied by another incident She looked gutted when the decision was handed down on Thursday. But a source close to her said she saw the decision as a 'win in some regards' thanks to the magistrate's finding about the November incident. 'That (finding) is what it was all about in the first place,' a source close to Ms Landry said. 'It's absolutely relieving to have gotten the result,' said Mr Bell, who hopes to put the decision behind them Ms Landry was understood to be resting and relaxing with her family on Friday. Meantime, her estranged husband was almost glowing with relief following the decision. 'I'm pleased justice has prevailed,' he said. 'It is absolutely relieving to have gotten the result. 'In saying that, we've got a couple of great children Kel and I. 'And my children love their mum very much. 'And it's very important... that I honour that position.' The Sydney to Hobart champion said he wouldn't be speaking about his relationship with Ms Landry, except for a pledge to work on 'raising a couple of great kids together'. He said he had grown up with a single mother and a sister and his values towards women were important to him. 'I hope that the events of the last six months can be put behind us,' Mr Bell said. Cassie Sainsbury is reportedly being well looked after and sharing her Colombian jail cell with a fellow Australian. The accused drug mule's case is also swiftly proceeding through the South American country's justice system and she's signed a document revealing that it has been 'sentenced' to go to the Supreme Court, according to the Kyle and Jackie O show. The latest news on the 22-year-old, who has been languishing in the El Buen Pastor prison for more than a month after being arrested, came from a segment on Friday. The presenters tasked producer Pedro, who has been working on the show for around six months, with finding a scoop on Sainsbury in an hour or less. Cassie Sainsbury is reportedly being well looked after and sharing her Colombian jail cell with a fellow Australian Pedro says he was then provided with an interview authorisation form (pictured) that was filled out by Sainsbury herself While Pedro had no money to spend to help him, he was armed with a vital tool the ability to speak Spanish. 'We didn't give you a budget of a million dollars like 60 Minutes are rumoured to be paying,' Kyle says. 'We gave you a budget of zero dollars.' Jackie O adds: 'Just the ability to talk Spanish. So what did you do, Pedro, and what have you come up with?' Pedro replies: 'The first thing that I tried to do was contact some people that I know from overseas, in South America.' He contacted his uncle, who lives in Medellin, and he was able to provide him with the number of the women's prison where Sainsbury is being held. Pedro said he managed to reach a guard at the jail, but was then directed to the jail's media department. He says: 'So what I did, I emailed the gentleman and I asked him, 'Hey, can I speak to a guard? Can I speak to Cassie? Can I speak to anyone who can give me information?' The latest news come from Pedro, an employee of the Kyle and Jackie O show, after the presenters (pictured) who tasked him with getting a scoop on Sainsbury in an hour Pedro says he was then provided with an interview authorisation form that was filled out by Sainsbury herself. 'It has her full name, her passport number, her fingerprint, everything there. It's a legit document,' he says. He explains that the form had two boxes one for accused and the other for sentenced and that this document was marked sentenced. 'Now, as far as we're concerned and all the media's concerned in Australia, she hasn't been sentenced at all, she's accused but in this box, she actually ticked sentenced,' he says. 'That's when I got a bit worried cause I thought that's a bit different to what I've heard so what I've done is called up a different number that is at the bottom of that paper. 'I called up and confirmed she hasn't been sentenced with years of jail just yet but she's been sentenced to go to the Supreme Court.' At this stage, Kyle notes that Sainsbury has indicated in a handwritten note that she does not wish to be contacted by any media. 'Yeah, that's why we couldn't get her on the phone,' Pedro says. But he adds that he was able to get more information out of the person he spoke to including that Sainsbury is staying in cell block five with other English-speaking inmates including an Australian woman. While the conversation with the jail spokesman is in Spanish, Pedro translates. 'She's saying she spoke to her boss that morning, [Cassie] is in block five, she's in good conditions and she's been put in with other people that speak English in her cell. 'She's not the only one that speaks English. 'So they've helped her out, they've put her in a cell where there are people from other countries, another Australian would help her out.' Scott Broadbridge (left, with Sainsbury) says her flight to Colombia was a surprise to him And although he did try to speak to that Australian, Pedro had no luck. 'I did try, they couldn't give me that information, they couldn't give it to me, they couldn't even give me a name, I tried to find it,' he said. But he noted that the tidbits he was given appear to contradict reports that Sainsbury is being treated badly in the jail. He added: 'It's going against all the media reports that are going at the moment that she's getting bullied and harassed, that she's not getting looked after by anyone. 'It's all hashtag 'fake news.' I've confirmed with the jail, they've been comforting her, putting her in a cell with other people. 'The news is that she is being looked after, she's been put in a cell with other people who speak English, it's not as bad as the media in Australia are making it to look.' In a soon to air interview with Channel Seven, Scott Broadbridge (pictured) has reportedly conceded Sainsbury will admit her role in an international drug syndicate Sainsbury, who is still behind bars in Colombia, is understood to have given her fiance (pictured) permission to sell his side of the story It comes after the revelation that Sainsbury is expected to confess to acting as a cocaine mule. In a soon-to-air interview with Channel Seven, her fiance Scott Broadbridge has reportedly conceded that she was admit her role in an international drug syndicate. Sainsbury is understood to have given her husband-to-be permission to sell his side of the story. In a promo for the tell-all, Mr Broadbridge is expected to reveal what he knows about the syndicate. Meanwhile, Sainsbury's mother Lisa Evans and sister Khala Sainsbury have reportedly sold their story to 60 Minutes for approximately $1million. Ms Sainsbury's mother and sister travelled to Colombia this week for the first time since her arrest on April 11. She was caught with 5.8kg of cocaine hidden in her suitcase at El Dorado International Airport. There are still many reasons to love classic movie The Graduate, which is half a century old this year, and just about to get a shiny new restoration for cinema release. Who can forget the Simon & Garfunkel soundtrack; the way the film spoke for a generation disaffected with their parents way of doing things; the enigmatic but oddly satisfying ending; the humour; the sexiness; the romance; the one-liners? It is a funny, brilliantly observed and rightly venerated film, which overnight turned the little-known Dustin Hoffman who months earlier had been living on his uppers in New York into a major star. Scroll down for video The Graduate tells the story of Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman, left) fresh from college, who comes from a monied California family and has the world at his feet. He has a sordid affair with Elaines mother (Anne Bancroft, right), an alcoholic trapped in a sexless marriage The Graduate tells the story of Benjamin Braddock (Hoffman) fresh from college, who comes from a monied California family and seems to have the world at his feet. At his homecoming party, in one of the films most famous lines, a family friend tells him to go into plastics. But Benjamin feels disillusioned and aimless. Meanwhile, his mother is desperate for him to marry Elaine Robinson (Katharine Ross), the beautiful daughter of close family friends. But by the time he gets round to doing his duty and asking her out, Benjamin is having a sordid affair with Elaines mother (Anne Bancroft), an alcoholic trapped in a sexless marriage. He tries to make Elaine reject him, but falls for her and she for him . . . until she realises what has been happening behind her back. So Benjamin must woo her properly, but thats not easy: she hates him. Yet for all its brilliance and enduring appeal, The Graduates racy story and difficult characters meant it was never a sure-fire hit and was nearly not made at all . . . THE STRUGGLE TO FIND CASH BACKING The project began in 1963 when a movie producer called Lawrence Turman paid $1,000 for the screen rights to the book, by 24-year-old, first-time novelist Charles Webb. To direct, Turman wanted Mike Nichols, who was himself only 33. But he was a theatre director, with no cachet in Hollywood. Major studios declined to finance the project, until Nichols made a movie based on his own Broadway production of Whos Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?, starring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. That 1966 film won five Academy Awards, and producer Joseph E. Levines Embassy Pictures duly agreed to back The Graduate. In a bedroom scene Hoffman, unbidden by his director or the script, placed his hand on Bancroft's breast. Hoffman realised he was about to crack up so he walked away and started banging his head against the wall. It would be one of the films most iconic moments WHY REDFORD WAS TOO SEXY For the director the biggest challenge was finding someone to cast in the lead role, as the listless Benjamin. He considered an unknown Harrison Ford, Warren Beatty, Steve McQueen, Robert Duvall and even Britains Albert Finney. But it was Robert Redford who really wanted the part, and he and Nichols were friends. Redford did a screen test, but Nichols quickly realised he was too dishy to play a cack-handed, impressionable virgin who had trouble unfastening a bra strap. The Graduate was a highly sexual film before the movies had really discovered sex, or certainly nudity, but it needed a clumsy seduction scene. Nichols let his pal down gently. Had Redford ever had trouble picking up girls, he asked. What do you mean? asked Redford. Yes, said Nichols, that was precisely his point. THE POSTER AND THE PINS The Graduate was a huge hit when it came out in December 1967. Even the movie poster became famous. In it, a self-conscious Benjamin watches a stocking being slipped sexily off a shapely female leg. But the leg belonged to an unknown model called Linda Gray, who was paid $25 ($195 today). Even The Graduate's movie poster became famous. In it, a self-conscious Benjamin watches a stocking being slipped sexily off a shapely female leg She later played Sue Ellen Ewing in long-running TV drama Dallas. Neatly, when The Graduate was performed on the London stage in 2002, Gray played Mrs Robinson (left). Times had changed; the part required full-frontal nudity. But a naked Mrs Robinson couldnt have made Nicholss film better. It was perfect as it was and it still is. Actress Linda Gray in her first performance as Mrs Robinson in a scene from the play the Graduate at the Gielgud Theatre Advertisement THE FUMBLE IN THE BEDROOM As for Benjamins screen seductress, Nichols endlessly discussed the casting with Turman, who drew up a shortlist of some of Hollywoods biggest names, including Lana Turner, Ava Gardner, Ingrid Bergman, Rita Hayworth, Deborah Kerr and sexy French actress Jeanne Moreau. The script was also sent to Doris Day, who found the story so offensive she refused even to consider the role. Nichols chose Bancroft to play Mrs Robinson and, once filming began, Hoffman radiated the neurotic perfectionism that later earned him a deserved reputation as difficult. He drove Nichols mad. But he had a talent for improvisation. In a bedroom scene he suddenly, unbidden by either Bancroft or the script, placed his hand on her breast. Behind the camera, Nichols started to laugh. Hoffman realised he was about to crack up too, so he walked away and started banging his head against the wall. It would be one of the films most iconic moments. OLDER WOMAN WHO WASN'T OLD AT ALL There were other problems. Benjamin was meant to be an unworldly 21 and Hoffman was about to turn 30. Indeed, the ages of the actors represent another quirk of The Graduate. Mrs Robinson is supposed to be a generation older than Ben. But Bancroft was only 35, not much older than Hoffman and just eight years older than Ross, her daughter. DUSTIN'S BUTTOCK-PINCHING ANTICS When Hoffman went to Hollywood to meet Nichols and Levine, the story goes that Levine mistook him for the office window-cleaner. Hoffman, ever the Method actor, took out his handkerchief and started wiping the windows. It was a bad start and at the screen test things got worse. Nichols had invited Katharine Ross along as well, having finally picked her from a list of possibles to play Elaine. It had included Jane Fonda, Goldie Hawn, Natalie Wood, Lee Remick and Hayley Mills. Unfortunately, Hoffman, already racked with nerves, was dazzled by the beauty of his potential co-star. To overcome his nerves and break the ice, he abruptly pinched her buttocks. Ross was horrified and screamed at him never to do that again. Later, she said he seemed completely humourless, and looked about three feet tall. The film, she thought, would be a disaster. For Nichols, however, Hoffman had unwittingly shown just the kind of awkwardness that he wanted in the film. A few days later, he told him he had the part. THE SONGS THAT CHANGED MOVIES Nothing is more iconic than the Simon & Garfunkel soundtrack Nothing is more iconic than the Simon & Garfunkel soundtrack. Nichols was half-way through filming before he asked the folk-rock duo (below) for three new songs, with lyrics that would sum up Benjamins existential plight. It was a pioneering move; no traditional dramatic picture had been scored like this. In the end, Nichols chose The Sound of Silence and Scarborough Fair, which had already been recorded, but he needed one more track. Garfunkel told him Simon was working on a song called Mrs Roosevelt, about former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Nichols begged him to change it to Mrs Robinson and the rest really is history. Those songs changed the way movies sounded. OFF-SET RUMOURS OF ROMANCE Hoffman was paid $17,000 ($132,000 in todays money). Once he had paid tax and settled his debts, he had just $4,000. He also had to settle his own bill at the hotel, where a fellow guest was Elizabeth Wilson, the actress playing his mother. They became friends and frequently had dinner together. Soon, rumours began to circulate that life was imitating art, and they were having an inappropriate affair just like Benjamin and Mrs Robinson. The 50th anniversary re-release of The Graduate is in cinemas from June 23, and on DVD and Blu-ray on July 24. A transgender woman has been allowed to sue her former employer for sex discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act, even though the ADA explicitly excludes transgender people from protection. Kate Lynn Blatt, 36, from Pottsville, Pennsylvania, has become the first transgender person to be allowed to sue under the ADA for gender dysphoria, a condition where a person feels their emotional and psychological identity is opposite to their biological sex. US District Judge Joseph Leeson ruled Thursday that Blatt would be allowed to sue her former employer Cabela's under the ADA. He avoided ruling on the constitutionality of the ADA, as Blatt and her Philadelphia-based lawyer Neelima Vanguri sought, under the legal principle that courts should avoid decisions made on constitutional grounds if possible. Kate Lynn Blatt, 36, pictured, from Pottsville, Pennsylvania, has become the first transgender person to be allowed to sue under the Americans for Disability Act after a US District judge's ruling Thursday Blatt, pictured in 2016, is suing her former employer, Cabela's Inc, for sex discrimination under the ADA for gender dysphoria Leeson, from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, found the case could go forward in part because the law should be broadly construed to give people with disabilities recourse to pursue discrimination claims. Being transgender is not considered a disorder by the American Psychiatric Association but it can give rise to gender dysphoria, a type of anxiety that may require medical treatment. Gender dysphoria forms Blatt's basis for making a claim under the ADA. Blatt is suing her former employer for sex discrimination, saying she was fired after a pattern of harassment that included denying her use of the women's bathroom and temporarily forcing her to wear a name tag with her male name given at birth. Blatt worked at the Cabela's store in Hamburg, Pennsylvania, in 2006 and 2007. She was fired, she said, when Cabela's alleged she threatened a co-worker's child during an altercation at work, a claim Blatt denies. Cabela's representatives did not respond to after-hours requests for comment. The company previously declined to comment because the litigation was pending. The retailer sells outdoor recreation merchandise including hunting, fishing, boating, camping and shooting equipment. Blatt says she was fired from Cabela's after a pattern of harassment including denying her use of women's bathrooms and temporarily forcing her to wear a name tag with her male birth name, James. Pictured is a photo of Blatt in the fifth grade when she was James Blatt, right, is pictured in 2016 with her wife Lindsey Nowak, center, who is also a transgender woman, and Blatt's mother Arlene, left In 2006 and 2007, Blatt worked at the Cabela's in Hamburg, Pennsylvania, pictured. Cabela's representatives did not respond to after-hours requests for comment after the ruling Thursday The ADA passed in 1990 as a landmark law protecting people with disabilities. But the lawsuit, filed in 2014, challenges a little-known clause in ADA that 'disability' shall not include 'transsexualism'. The lawsuit, which also cites protections in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 against sex discrimination in employment, had asked the judge to rule that the ADA clause violates the US Constitution because it denies equal protection for all under the law. Vanguri said she would have preferred that the judge had ruled on the constitutional question, but that this was still a victory because of similar cases that other plaintiffs filed after Blatt. 'Other courts will look to this decision,' Vanguri said. 'I'm hopeful we will be able to expand civil rights for transgender people just a little.' The lawsuit that Blatt filed in 2014 asked the judge to rule on the constitutionality of the ADA, which denies protections for transgender people, but US District Judge Joseph Leeson did not rule on the act's constitutionality. Blatt, right, is pictured with her wife Nowak, left, at the 15th Annual Trans-Health Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Hey, arent you a little old to be a student here? That may be something heard in a newand somewhat unconventionaldocumentary series about an American high school coming to cable TV. The as-yet unnamed show will appear on the A&E cable channel after filming took place at Highland Park High School in Topeka, Kan., during the spring semester this year. The unconventional factor is that the show will follow seven young adultsreportedly ages 21 to 26who have personal motivations for embedding in the school and acting like students, the channel says. Highland Park High School is emblematic of schools across America today, Elaine Frontain Bryant, A&Es executive vice president and head of programming, said in a news release . Through immersive content and unprecedented access, viewers return to high school for a unique look into life as an American teen today, a topic at the forefront of todays cultural conversation. The Topeka Capital-Journal had a story this week that quoted a Topeka school district spokeswoman and the principal of Highland Park High as revealing that the participants include a teacher, a youth minister, a motivational speaker, and others who are part of causes to help struggling high school students. The seven embedded students were all vetted with background checks and screenings by the production and the school system. The students went to classes, did homework, and took tests (though not state achievement tests), the Capital-Journal said. Most teachers and students did not know the participants were actually young adults, but if the participants were asked about it, they had to be forthcoming, Topeka district spokeswoman Misty Kruger told the Capital-Journal. The Topeka district is led by Superintendent Tiffany Anderson, who was one of Education Weeks 2015 Leaders to Learn From when she led a Missouri district. (The premise does remind me of a San Francisco Chronicle series quite some time ago in which a 26-year-old reporter removed her wedding ring and tried to blend in as an undercover high school student. Students were quickly dubious, saying Hi, narc when they passed her in the halls.) Highland Park High School Principal Beryl New told the Capital-Journal said she only agreed to allow the project after producers assured her it would be a good thing and not damaging to the school. The newspaper said the production would donate an unspecified amount of money to the Topeka Public Schools Foundation for scholarships, as well as donating some video equipment and helping teach some master classes in a career education program. A&E is known for such reality shows as Storage Wars, Dog the Bounty Hunter, and Born This Way, an Emmy Award-winning series about seven young adults born with Down syndrome. The network said in a May 15 release that the title and airdate for the show will be released shortly. One can only imagine what was going through Vice President Mike Pence's mind as the Secretary of the Interior flung his wife around during a series of wild dance moves. Pence spent Friday evening at a campaign rally in Billings, Montana, speaking on behalf of Republican US House candidate Greg Gianforte. But his wife, Karen Pence, stole the show. Shortly after Pence finished his remarks, the Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, grabbed her by the hands as they spun around. One can only imagine what was going through Vice President Mike Pence's mind as he watched his wife, Karen (left in navy blue), flung around in a series of dance moves by the Secretary of the Interior, Ryan Zinke (far left) Pence arrived in Billings, Montana on Friday to speak on behalf of Republican US House candidate Greg Gianforte at a campaign rally. Shortly after Pence finished his remarks, Zinke (left in cowboy hat), grabbed Mrs Pence by the hands as they spun around Zinke then sent Mrs Pence twirling as the VP shook hands with his supporters Zinke then sent Mrs Pence twirling before picking her up and swinging her from side-to-side in a series of line-dance moves. The pair received cheers from the crowd despite Mrs Pence's shock. And the Vice President didn't seem to mind as he stood off to the side laughing and clapping. The VP also gave Zinke a high-five before embracing him on stage. Zinke is well known for his hands-on approach in office. Zinke picked Mrs Pence up and swung her from side-to-side in a series of line-dance moves The hilarious moment is one of many bold moves by Zinke, who rode a horse to the office on his first day The pair received cheers from the crowd despite Mrs Pence's shock He rode a horse into the office on his first day and shoveled snow off the Lincoln Memorial steps, according to the Independent Journal Review. Zinke also scrubbed the Vietnam Memorial. Over the weekend, the Vice President took some time off and went fishing at a pond in Fishtail, Montana, before attending a service at Nye Community Church on Sunday. Pence and Zinke also went horseback riding together. And the Vice President didn't seem to mind as he stood off to the side laughing and clapping. The VP also gave Zinke a high-five (pictured) before embracing him on stage James Comey once tried to hide among the curtains in the White House in a bid to try and avoid speaking to Donald Trump. Comey, who was spectacularly ousted as the FBI director last week, was said to be 'disgusted' when Trump tried to hug him in a public display of closeness, according to Comey's friend Benjamin Wittes in a Lawfare blog post. Just two days after Trump entered office, he gave Comey a special shout out during a ceremony at the White House to honor law enforcement officials who provided security at his inauguration. Comey, who wore a blue suit, tried to blend in with the blue curtains in the room, only to have to cross the room in front of a crowd to greet Trump, who went in for a hug after the FBI director extended his hand. 'Comey was disgusted. He regarded the episode as a physical attempt to show closeness and warmth in a fashion calculated to compromise him before Democrats who already mistrusted him,' Wittes wrote. Comey was also unsettled by Trump's attempts to establish a personal relationship with him and feared their interactions might jeopardize the investigation into the Trump campaign's ties to Russia, according to associates who spoke to the New York Times. Donald Trump tried to cozy up to fired FBI director James Comey, according to his friends and associates those who have read the fired FBI director's memos On January 22, Trump gave a special shout out to Comey during a ceremony to honor law enforcement officials who offered security at inauguration Comey had spent the evening trying to blend in to the curtains, and resigned himself to shaking the president's hand as he crossed the room in embarassment, his friend said. He was greeted instead with a hug, which was not reciprocated He kept a paper trail documenting his communication with the president - in one instance, the president asked Comey to take a pledge of loyalty, and later suggested he close a federal investigation into disgraced National Security Advisor Mike Flynn by saying: 'I hope you can let this go.' On another occasion, Trump called Comey to ask when the feds were going to spread the news that he was not personally under investigation in relation to Russia, according to two people briefed on the call who later spoke to the Times. Comey was troubled by Trump's attempts to cozy up to him and spoke of 'training' the president to follow protocol and submit inquiries about the active investigation through the Justice Department. Wittes said decided to go public with his friendly conversations with Comey to discount the president's accusations on Twitter that there were 'leakers' among the intelligence community. 'We communicate regularly, but I am not among his close intimates or advisers. I know nothing about the Russia investigation that isnt public. Comey has never talked to me about a live investigative matterand Ive never asked him to,' Wittes said, explaining his relationship to Comey. 'Sometimes, as friends do, we have lunch, and when we do so, we talk about things of mutual interest.' In interviews with the New York Times, and an account published on Lawfare where he works as editor-in-chief, Wittes said Comey did not want to attend Trump's ceremony on January 22. Wittes wrote: 'There was an additional sensitivity here too, because many Democrats blamed Comey for Trumps election, so he didnt want any shows of closeness between the two that might reinforce a perception that he had put a thumb on the scale in Trumps favor. 'But he also felt that he could not refuse a presidential invitation, particularly not one that went to a broad array of law enforcement leadership. So he went.' Standing at 6'8", Comey spent the evening trying to blend in to the curtains, according to Wittes - until Trump announced in front of the entire room: 'Oh and there's Jim. He's become more famous than me.' The moment was caught on video, and Wittes detailed Comey's embarrassment at being singled out. As Comey bounded across the room, he resigned himself to shaking hands with Trump, only to be pulled into a one-sided hug, Wittes said. 'Comey took the long walk across the room determined, he told me, that there was not going to be a hug. Bad enough that he was there; bad enough that there would be a handshake; he emphatically did not want any show of warmth,' according to Wittes. Comey's friend Benjamin Wittes (left), a fellow at Brookings Institute, spoke out about the fired FBI director's discomfort interacting with Trump Five days later, Trump is said to have demanded loyalty from Comey during a private dinner at the White House, associates of the now fired FBI director claim. Comey told associates that he was summoned to the White House for a one-on-one dinner with Trump, during which Trump asked Comey twice to pledge loyalty to him as the new Commander in Chief. Sources claim Comey declined to do so but said he told the President he would always be honest with him. According to Wittes' conversations with Comey, Trump was 'perceptibly uncomfortable' with the FBI director's answer - and followed up by 'trying to be chummy in a fashion that Comey felt was designed to absorb him into Trumps worldto make him part of the team.' Weeks after Trump entered office, he asked Comey when federal authorities were going to release news that he was not personally under investigation. Comey informed the president that he should not speak to him directly and advised him to follow Justice Department guidelines, which prohibit conversations with the White House about active criminal investigations. Unless they are 'important for the performance of the presidents duties and appropriate from a law enforcement perspective,' inquiries are to be submitted to the Justice Department, with the attorney general or deputy attorney general acting as a liaison if necessary. Wittes said: 'I do know this: Comey understood Trumps people as having neither knowledge of nor respect for the independence of the law enforcement function. 'And he saw it as an ongoing task on his part to protect the rest of the Bureau from improper contacts and interferences from a group of people he did not regard as honorable.' It remains unclear if Comey answered any of Trump's questions. In the letter announcing the FBI director's dismissal, the president wrote: 'I greatly appreciate you informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation.' In the letter announcing the FBI director's dismissal, the president wrote: 'I greatly appreciate you informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation.' Trump then called Comey in for a meeting on February 14, one day after Flynn was forced out of his National Security Advisor position, and suggested he drop the investigation Trump then called Comey in for a meeting on February 14, 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.' The next day, Reince Priebus, the White House chief of staff, asked Comey to refute news reports that Trump's associates had been in contact with Russians during the campaign. Sean Spicer, however, has hit back at the reports, saying :'There was never any attempt to interfere in this investigation. As the president previously stated, he respects the ongoing investigations and will continue working to fulfill his promises to the American people.' And on March 1, Comey was told the president needed to talk to him urgently. He delayed boarding a helicopter, only to realize Trump simply wanted to squeeze in some chitchat, according to Wittes. 'What bothered Comey was twofoldthe fact that the conversation happened at all (why was Trump calling him to exchange pleasantries?) and the fact that there was an undercurrent of Trumps trying to get him to kiss the ring,' Wittes wrote. Comey was troubled by what he perceived was Trump's repeated attempts to foster a personal relationship, and thought any contact was 'inappropriate'. While Wittes said his conversations with Comey only serve as 'pieces of a much larger mosaic', his takeaway was that Trump kept the FBI director around thinking he could somehow quash him into submission. 'Once he realized that he couldnt do that -- and that the Russia matter was thus not going away -- he pulled the trigger,' Wittes concluded. The day after that, Reince Priebus, the White House chief of staff, asked Comey to refute news reports that Trump's associates had been in contact with Russians during the campaign Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House oversight committee, requested on Tuesday to see any and all documentation the fired FBI director James Comey kept of his communications with President Donald Trump by May 24. On Thursday, Chaffetz said he will resign from Congress next month, a move that calls into question the future of the House Oversight Committee's investigation of President Donald Trump and his campaign's ties with Russia. Chaffetz, a Republican, said in a letter sent to media and constituents that his last day will be June 30. He said last month that he would not seek re-election in 2018 and that he was considering leaving office early. The statement does not mention the investigation he is overseeing into Comey's dismissal as well as the Trump campaign's role in Russia's alleged efforts to meddle in the 2016 presidential election. Chaffetz said in the letter he wants to spend time with his family, return to the private sector and possibly run for Utah governor. A campaign is underway to reunite a stuffed toy bunny left on the train after it was dropped from a pram. Fellow passenger Andrew Parker took a solemn photo of the lonely bunny sitting on the train after the toy was left behind at Wynyard Station in central Sydney on Friday about 10.05am. 'I'm sad. A child dropped bunny from pram getting off at Wynyard as doors closed. @T1SydneyTrains please help to reunite! #sadbunny,' the man wrote on Twitter alongside the photo. Fellow passenger Andrew Parker took a solemn photo of the lonely bunny sitting on the train after the toy was left behind at Wynyard Station in central Sydney on Friday about 10.05am 'I'm sad. A child dropped bunny from pram getting off at Wynyard as doors closed. @T1SydneyTrains please help to reunite! #sadbunny,' the man wrote on Twitter 'DO YOU KNOW THIS BUNNY!?' @T1SydneyTrains wrote on Thursday morning on Twitter The tweet is trending in Sydney with more than 200 retweets. Labor leader Bill Shorten and Christine Forster, the sister of former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, were among those to retweet the call for help. The official Twitter account for Sydney Trains is searching for the child who lost their best friend. 'DO YOU KNOW THIS BUNNY!?' @T1SydneyTrains wrote on Thursday morning on Twitter. A social media moderator for the service then asked Mr Parker which train line and carriage the bunny was on. Mr Parker responded with a photo of the carriage number, and was asked if he could hand the bunny in to staff when he alights the train. The toy bunny was dropped on the train at Wynyard Station (stock image) in central Sydney '#Cheerupbunny,' a woman wrote on Twitter on Friday morning A social media moderator for the service then asked Mr Parker which train line and carriage the bunny was on He famously quit Harvard in 2004 to develop Facebook full-time. But it seems that even as a pre-college teen, Mark Zuckerberg was less than enthusiastic about attending the Ivy League school. In a video filmed by his father as he opened his acceptance email from the prestigious school, young Zuckerberg said flatly: 'Yay. I got in.' Now 33 and with a fortune of $60 billion thanks to his world-changing social network, the CEO shared the footage with friends on Thursday to mark the fact that he is returning to Harvard next week to finally obtain his degree. 'My dad took this video when I got accepted to Harvard. Next week I'm going back for commencement to get my degree,' Zuckerberg said of the footage. Scroll down for video Zuckerberg was filmed by his father learning that he had been accepted into Harvard. He opened his acceptance email and told his father calmly 'Yay. I got in.' The video, filmed in the bedroom of his parents' home in Dobbs Ferry, New York, shows Zuckerberg perched on the end of his bed at the computer. His excited father Edward can be heard from behind the camera: 'There is an email from Harvard. Is that correct?!' Nonchalant, the teen replied: 'Yes'. On his now outdated desktop, Zuckerberg then pulled up the email. 'All right. So you want me to open this?' he asked monotonically. 'What does it say?!' Edward continued, zooming the camera in on to focus on a blurry screen. Zuckerberg quit Harvard after founding Facebook in 2004. He is pictured in the same year with co-founder Dustin Moscowitz on campus before leaving Zuckerberg's father Edward (above with his mother Karen) filmed the video of him being accepted into Harvard excitedly 'Argh... put it away for a second,' Zuckerberg then erupted, struck suddenly with nerves. Scrolling through the email silently, the teenager then muttered calmly: 'Yay'. 'What!?' his father begged, prompting the simple response: 'I got accepted.' As his father shouted and cheered, Zuckerberg gazed quietly at the scene. The Facebook CEO never obtained his degree Eventually, after more encouragement from his proud parent, he declared: 'That's awesome!' Zuckerberg was a psychology major and was due to graduate in 2006. But his designs for Facebook, which was inspired by his classmates and the entire college structure, took him away from the books. In 2004, after formally founding the social network, he quit. In 2005, he vowed never to return. 'I'm not coming back,' he said during an impromptu visit to the campus to recruit others for the website. Despite his previous promise, he will return to the school's campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, next week as the commencement speaker for the class of 2017. Johnny Depp would carry on Alec Baldwin's famous impersonation of Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live if given the chance. During an interview with Ellen DeGeneres, Depp, who won laughs for his own portrayal of the president in a 2016 Funny or Die sketch, was forthcoming when asked if he would take over should Baldwin step down. 'Uh, sure' he said, adding: 'Because then basically, Alec's done all of the work. I can just copy him.' Scroll down for videos Johnny Depp (left on Thursday promoting Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales) said he would replace Alec Baldwin and impersonate Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live As the audience applauded, he continued: 'Well, I've seen Trump do Trump, which is shocking to me.' Depp has been a vocal critic of the president since he launched his bid for the White House. Baldwin's weekly impressions of the president on Saturday Night Live are devoured by the administration's critics. The show's comedians have been so relentless in mocking Trump and his aides that the president himself has even spoken out against them, calling Baldwin 'unfunny' and reserving not much more praise for the rest of the production. Despite the enormous popularity which the sketches have won him, Baldwin revealed earlier this year that he doesn't plan to keep the impersonation up for long. He told Extra's Mario Lopez in March: 'Trump just overwhelmingly lacks any kind of sportsmanship. He remains bitter and angry. 'His policies aside which you can hate, I thought he would have just relaxed and said 'hey man'. Depp made the comment during an interview with Ellen DeGeneres on The Ellen Show Depp parodied the president in a 2016 Funny or Die film which mocked his book The Art of the Deal Baldwin's impressions of the president are enormously popular. He is pictured in one sketch with his Saturday Night Live co-star Kate McKinnon who parodies Hillary Clinton 'There's a style that a president has to have and I think the maliciousness of this White House has people very worried. Which is why I'm not going to do it very much longer by the way, I don't think people can take it.' Not amused: President Trump deemed Baldwin's impressions of him 'unfunny' Depp parodied the president in a Funny or Die film last year, appearing in a commercial for a fictitious film based on his book The Art of the Deal. While his Funny or Die skit poked fun at the billionaire, he takes a more serious tone when discussing his policies while out of character. In May last year, before the election, the 53-year-old suggested that Trump would be such a disastrous president that he would wipe 'If Donald Trump is elected President of the United States, in a kind of historical way it's exciting because we will see the actual last president because it just won't work after that. 'I'm not in to that stuff.' Months earlier, he labeled Trump a 'brat' during a university Q&A session. 'It's not just about being a rich kid or anything like that. There's a pretense. There's something created about him in the sense of bullydom. 'But what he is, I believe, is a brat,' he said. A married brain surgeon and two nurses he was having affairs with have been charged by California authorities in a child sex abuse ring involving seven victims under the age of 13. Watsonville Police Chief David Honda said Thursday Dr James Kohut, and nurses Emily Stephens, 29, and Rashel Brandon, 42, have been arrested over alleged sex crimes against children. Honda described the case as 'disturbing' and 'disgusting'. He added three children were sexually abused, and the victims included a three-year-old boy, a five-year-old girl, and a nine-year-old boy. Dr James Kohut is one of the three people charged by California authorities in a child sex abuse ring involving seven victims under the age of 13 Kohut, 57, made his first appearance in court Wednesday after he was arrested Sunday at his home in Santa Cruz. Nick Cvietkovich, the surgeon's lawyer, spoke to KSBW as he left court. 'Doctor Kohut has spent his life saving people's lives. He is a renowned brain surgeon,' he said. 'This is not conduct that he would participate in. And I think at the end of the day, the evidence will show this is not true.' The surgeon's court appearance comes after Brandon was arrested May 9 and charged with 11 felonies involving child sexual abuse as well as multiple charges related to the production of child pornography. Stephens, who was arrested at her home in Arizona on May 12, is charged with committing sexual penetration, oral copulation, and sodomy against three children, according to the network. Kohut, 57, made his first appearance in court Wednesday after he was arrested Sunday at his home in Santa Cruz Nurses Emily Stephens (left), 29, and Rashel Brandon (right), 42, have been arrested and charged with sex crimes against children. The surgeon was having affairs with the two women, who would also film each other 'committing graphic sex acts together against children', an arrest warrant states The father-of-two surgeon was having affairs with both nurses, and children were abused during some of the sexual encounters, a warrant issued by the Pima County Sheriff's Department stated. Watsonville Police began investigating the incident Brandon's husband found a tape of his wife and Stephens 'committing graphic sex acts together against the children' and gave it to authorities, the warrant states. Honda, according to KSBW, said the tape was recorded in a hotel room in March this year. Brandon, who was the first of the trio to be arrested, confessed to detectives who the second woman in the tape of her was. At the same time, she also gave investigators information about Kohut's role in the disturbing ring. The warrant also provided more detail on the alleged affair between Kohut and the 29-year-old Stephens, which is said to have lasted eight years. The document states the surgeon paid most of the nurses bills, before detailing some of the alleged activities the trio took part in. Kohut (pictured), 57, was arrested Sunday at his home in Santa Cruz on suspicion of committing a lewd act upon a minor under age 10, a lewd act upon a child under 14, and a forcible lewd act upon a child under the age of 14 The two women would also send him copies of the sex tapes, which allegedly involved children, after filming them. 'Emily had obtained payments from Dr. Kohut. There is also information that Rochelle (sic) traveled to Tucson to meet with Emily on several occasions,' it stated, KSBW reports. 'It is highly likely that the same sexual abuse occurred in Tucson since both Dr Kohut and Rochelle (sic) traveled to Tucson.' The alleged abuses took place between January 2016 and May 9, 2017. Kohut had recently joined Sparks Clinic Neuroscience Center in Fort Smith, Arkansas, after he was sacked from his job at Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz for 'making unwanted sexual advances toward female nurses'. He was also disciplined in 2002 by the state medical board for watching pornography at work. The 57-year-old has since been fired by Sparks Clinic. Kohut is married and has two college-age children; while Brandon is also married and has three children. They both remain in custody at the Santa Cruz County Jail, while Stephens is being extradited from Arizona to California. The trio could face life behind bars if convicted. Twenty-four teenagers were sent to hospital after inhaling chemicals at their high school. Paramedics were called to Millmerran State High School, which is around 200km west of Brisbane, after a 'chemical inhalation incident' at about 10am on Friday. Queensland Ambulance said the students were taken to Millmerran Hospital in a stable condition. Twenty-four teenagers were sent to hospital after inhaling chemicals at their high school A Queensland Fire and Emergency spokesman told Daily Mail Australia that firefighters were sent to the affected part of the school in breathing apparatus. They carried out atmospheric testing for toxic substances in the air, which came back negative, and ventilated the area. It is not yet known exactly what caused the Hazmat incident. But initial reports suggested there was an inhalation of sulphur gas after a rock was heated, according to the Chronicle. Queensland Ambulance said the teens were taken to Millmerran Hospital in a stable condition A 37-year-old man has been arrested and charged over the alleged fatal stabbing of four-year-old Luna the labrador. Luna was tragically killed in front of her 22-year-old owner in Apple Blossom Polyantha Reserve in Mirrabooka, Perth, on Wednesday during a night time walk. Police arrested the Mirrabooka man on Friday and charged him with animal cruelty, and he will appear in Perth Magistrates Court on June 15, according to police. The maximum sentence for animal cruelty carries a five year jail term. Four-year-old labrador Luna was fatally stabbed at a park when it ran over to a stranger The owner spoke about the horrifying moment she watched a man stab her beloved dog to death before fleeing into the night. 'I just picked her up and lay her on top of me and felt her heart and I couldn't feel anything. When I couldn't feel her breathing I knew she was gone,' a tearful Bridgette told 7news. Bridgette was taking her four-year-old Labrador for a walk in a park on Wednesday night at 6.00pm when a man wearing a tan coloured hoodie walked over to Luna and stabbed her, according to police. Bridgette (pictured with Luna) recalled the horrifying moment her beloved dog was stabbed Luna was off the lead and playfully approached the strange man before he crouched down and then walked away as the dog collapsed to the ground. Bridgette quickly realised her Luna had been stabbed and held her much-loved dog in her arms as she bled out. 'I just dropped to the ground and just started screaming,' Bridgette recalled. She then rushed Luna to the vet, but unfortunately she died at the hospital. 'I just dropped to the ground and just started screaming,' Bridgette tearfully recalled Bridgette (pictured) quickly realised her Luna had been stabbed and held her much-loved dog in her arms as she bled out Police are investigating the death of a golden labrador after it was stabbed in a park Convicted drug runner Schapelle Corby's has pleaded for help from her parole officers ahead of her return to Australia. Parole officers visited her Bali home to check on her welfare after she told of her fear of the media pack camping outside her home while her parole ends. Corby's sister Mercedes told parole officials she is scared to leave the house and begged the media to give her space, reports Courier Mail. Convicted drug runner Schapelle Corby's has pleaded for help from her parole officers (pictured) The head of Corrections at Bali Law and Human Rights Ministry, Surung Pasaribu, said he was worried when Corby greeted him covering her face with a sarong. 'I am very afraid. I am sick', she replied. He said she is particularly scared of the ever-present media coverage ahead of her May 27 release. 'The point of what she said is, I already undergo guidance until the end. Please help me. Don't make me scared. She is afraid. She doesn't know who is chasing her, who will see her, who will interview her. 'So, Corby's sister told us that Corby feels scare to go out from the house, stressed. So our parole officers should monitor her. And based on her, she is very afraid to meet people,' Mr Pasaribu saidd. Tony Wilson, the only writer given full access to her family, this week revealed the convicted drug smuggler was 'not as well as some people think'. Schapelle Corby has reportedly told parole officials she is scared to leave the house The only writer given full access to her family revealed the convicted drug smuggler was 'not as well as some people think' 'Her mental health issues were always very serious and from the mid-2000s she had to be controlled by drugs. I dont know exactly what regime of drugs she is on now but I do fear how shell deal with Australia,' he told the Courier Mail. Officials 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. Ousted National Security Adviser Michael Flynn claimed that President Donald Trump told him to 'stay strong' months after he was fired in February. In April, Flynn met with a small group of loyalists in Virginia to discuss future business opportunities. But some of the individuals were more concerned with what Flynn thought of the president who fired him from his position. Flynn not only remained loyal to Trump, but he indicated the he and the president are still communicating. 'I just got a message from the president to stay strong,' Flynn said during the dinner on April 25, sources told Yahoo News. Ousted National Security Adviser Michael Flynn claimed that President Donald Trump told him to 'stay strong' months after he was fired in February In April, Flynn (pictured) met with a small group of loyalists in Virginia to discuss future business opportunities. According to sources, he told the group: 'I just got a message from the president to stay strong' The sources did not say how Trump had sent the message to Flynn. But if the claims are true and the two men have stayed in contact, it could raise questions about the president's reported request to James Comey, the ex-FBI head, to shut down a federal investigation of Flynn, according to Yahoo News. As the probe into Russia's meddling in the 2016 presidential election deepens, Flynn is still being investigated. The chairman of the Senate intelligence committee said Thursday that Flynn hadn't responded to a subpoena from the panel for its Russia investigation. Legal experts say it's unlikely Flynn would agree to turn over the personal documents because he would be waiving his constitutional protection against self-incrimination by doing so. Flynn, though his lawyer, had earlier asked for immunity from 'unfair prosecution' in exchange for agreeing to cooperate with the committee. Flynn's attorney Robert Kelner did not respond to phone messages and emails seeking comment. The Senate committee is one of several on Capitol Hill investigating possible collusion between Russia and Trump's 2016 campaign. Flynn is also the target of other congressional investigations as well as an ongoing FBI counterintelligence probe and a separate federal investigation in Virginia. The retired Army lieutenant general was fired from his position as Trump's national security adviser in February. At the time, Trump said he fired Flynn because he misled senior administration officials, including Vice President Mike Pence, about his contacts with Russian officials. The Senate committee issued the subpoena for Flynn's records on May 10 after he declined to cooperate with an April 28 request for documents. That request was similar to ones received by other Trump associates, including former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, Trump associate Roger Stone and former Trump foreign policy adviser Carter Page, a person familiar with the Senate investigation said. Page and Stone shared copies of their request letters with The Associated Press. Those letters sought a wide array of electronic and paper records related to any contacts made between people affiliated with the Trump campaign and Russian officials and businesses. If the claims are true and the two men have stayed in contact, it could raise questions about the president's reported request to James Comey, the ex-FBI head, to shut down a federal investigation of Flynn Emails, text messages, letters, phone records and information about financial and real estate holdings associated with Russia were among the information requested by the committee. Nina Ginsberg, a veteran Washington defense attorney with extensive experience in national security cases, said that without an ironclad immunity deal from the committee, Flynn would be exposed to questioning from investigators about any personal documents he gave up. Providing those records to the committee would provide authorities with 'a lot more information and the legal basis for questioning him about them,' she said. Opening himself up to questioning from Senate investigations would be risky for Flynn given his current legal troubles. Flynn has been under scrutiny from the Justice Department since at least November 30, when the department's Foreign Agent Registration Act unit sent him a letter questioning whether he needed to register as a foreign agent for lobbying work he performed for a Turkish businessman. He is separately being investigated by the Defense Department's inspector general. That inquiry is looking into whether Flynn was fully forthcoming about his foreign contacts and earnings from organizations linked to the governments of Russia and Turkey. The top Democrat and Republican on a House oversight committee have said Flynn likely broke federal law by failing to get approval from the US government to accept foreign payments, including $33,000 in 2015 from RT, Russia's state-sponsored television network. RT has been branded a propaganda outlet by US intelligence officials. Dozens of residents are leaving the state to pursue work abroad or in other areas of Myanmar, participants at a dialogue organized by the Nyein Foundation said. Its unclear how many of those residents return, and if they do come back, whether they stay. The May 17-18 meeting in Mrauk-U focused on challenges in the state, including migration, farmland laws and the idealized federal system of governance. The May 17 discussion focused on the challenges posed by a large exodus of migrant workers from Rakhine (Arakan) State, which is one of the poorest in the country. U Zaw Win Tun, chair of the Arakan Patriot Party (APP), said participants proposed solutions in a roundtable discussion. One favored idea was to draft a law that would involve getting the state government and parliament to oversee the migrant work system. A 2015 survey by the International Labour Organisation raised concerns nationally about brain drain and brain waste, as a large number of the countrys young, university-educated jobseekers turned overseas for work. Over 40 representatives from political, social and civil society groups attended the Mrauk-U dialogue, which was held in a monastery. Translated by Thida Linn Edited by Laignee Barron Video captured Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan watching as his government security detail and several armed individuals violently clashed with protesters. Eleven people were injured, including a police officer, and nine were taken to a hospital, after men in suits attacked the protesters on Embassy Row in Washington, DC. The incident occurred outsides the residence of the Turkish ambassador with the president watching for a few seconds before turning to go inside. Video captured Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (center) watching as his government security detail and several armed individuals violently clashed with protesters on Tuesday The protesters had gathered on Embassy Row in a peaceful dissent of the Turkish leader's policies on a range of issues such as his government's stance toward the Kurds and Armenians to his perceived assault on the country's democratic institutions Because the altercation took place in broad daylight, many wonder if the US will charge the security personnel and other Erdogan supporters involved in the attack - all of whom could potentially claim diplomatic immunity (Erdogan is pictured on Thursday in Istanbul) The video, recorded by Voice of America's Turkish service, showed security forces brutally kicking and punching protesters before Erdogan emerges from a black Mercedes in the driveway to watch the incident. It remains unclear if Erdogan communicated with the assailants while he was sitting in the car. He turns to head inside the Turkish ambassador's residence but not before stopping to look back one last time. Roughly two dozen protesters had gathered outside of the embassy in a peaceful protest of the Turkish leader's policies on a range of issues such as his government's stance toward the Kurds and Armenians to his perceived assault on the country's democratic institutions. Social media was ablaze with witnesses reporting on the chaotic scene, which occurred in the middle of rush hour traffic along stately Embassy Row. The video showed two men bleeding from the head and men in dark suits punching and kicking protesters, some lying on the ground. Because the altercation took place in broad daylight, many wonder if the US will charge the security personnel and other Erdogan supporters involved in the attack - all of whom could potentially claim diplomatic immunity. Eleven people were injured, including a police officer, and nine were taken to a hospital, after men in suits brutally kicked and punched the protestors. Several of the attackers claimed diplomatic immunity Erdogan turned away from the brawl and headed inside the Turkish ambassador's residence but not before stopping to look back one last time Erdogan was in Washington, DC to meet with President Donald Trump (pictured together on Tuesday), who praised him as a loyal ally in the battle against Islamic extremism. The White House has remained silent on the episode The Turkish Embassy claimed on Wednesday that Erdogan's bodyguards were acting in 'self-defense' during the incident and the protesters were affiliated with the terrorist group PKK. But a protest leader denied that anyone involved had any ties or sympathies to the PKK. 'We are communicating our concern to the Turkish government in the strongest possible terms,' said Heather Nauert, a State Department spokeswoman. Erdogan was in Washington, DC to meet with President Donald Trump, who praised him as a loyal ally in the battle against Islamic extremism. The White House has remained silent on the episode, with White House press secretary Sean Spicer referring reporters to the State Department. A retired Special Operations police officer has been found dead inside an industrial factory at Braeside in Melbourne's south-east. Police discovered the former officer's body shortly before 10am on Friday after a man, 45, handed himself in at the Mordialloc Police Station. The 45-year-old man is being held in custody, but police have not confirmed if the death is being treated as suspicious. Police believe the two men were known to each other. Homicide Squad detectives were called to the scene on Governor Road at Braeside in Melbourne where the man's body was found on Friday morning Homicide Squad detectives and Victoria Police remain at the scene on Governor Road investigating the 41-year-old man's death The 41-year-old man found dead was reportedly a member of the Victoria Police's elite Special Operations Group. He reportedly held the rank of senior constable until he retired in 2010 after being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Homicide squad detectives remain at the scene. A man is being held in police custody after he handed himself in on Friday morning, triggering the police investigation The Oregon governor has pardoned a fourth-grade boy who confessed to taking a hazelnut and a pen during a recent tour of the state Capitol. Gov. Kate Brown, 56, on Thursday tweeted out a photo of Samuel Revenko's apology letter along with the hashtag #cutestmailever and the caption, 'I think we can forgive Samuel, don't you think, Oregonians?' The tweet immediately got many likes and retweets. In the pencil-written letter, the fourth grader explains that he visited the Capitol Building on a classroom tour on April 19 and took the items. Gov. Kate Brown,56, - pictured in April at the Capitol Ceremonial office in Salem, Oregon - pardoned a fourth-grade boy who admitted to taking a hazelnut and a pen during a recent tour of the state Capitol. In the hand- written letter (pictured), Samuel Revenko explains that he visited the Capitol Building on a classroom tour on April 19 and swiped the items 'These things were not mine and it was wrong for me to take them. I'm very sorry,' he wrote. 'I hope you and the people of Oregon can forgive me.' Included with the letter were the pen and $1 to cover the cost of the stolen hazelnut. In a return letter, Brown said she accepted his apology and forgave him on behalf of all Oregonians. 'Oregon is a special place. I hope we can work together to keep it that way,' the governor wrote. As a final gesture of goodwill, she enclosed a new pen for Samuel to 'remember this event.' A workshop held by the University of Melbourne Student Union has slammed 'Australian banter', the pressure to give academic answers and resulted in calls for men to 'speak more like women'. The workshop, titled How Privilege Manifests In Tutorials, was 'incredible', according to a report provided by Sinead Manning, Officer for Education (Public Affairs). A common problem for students was the use of 'Australian banter', which apparently 'excludes students who do not have the same cultural touchstones or background from participation'. Students at the University of Melbourne attended a workshop titled How Privilege Manifests In Tutorials in March, which raised issue with banter and using English as 'the de facto language' (stock image) Some found issue with 'the pressure to give academic answers' in class, and found tutorials favoured students who had completed schooling in Australia 'through the way in which questions are structured'. Others questioned the use of English as the de facto language, bemoaned the 'language flexibility' and noted there were many Mandarin-speaking students on campus. Some of the more rational concerns included the responsibility of the tutor to ensure all students were able to participate if there was a participation grade, the lack of Indigenous staff teaching Indigenous studies and the responsibility of students to act on their annoyances rather than concealing their displeasure. Female students and students from foreign backgrounds also revealed their concerns about being interrupted during class. 'People talk over us, making us question whether we know anything,' one student said. The workshop centred heavily on the issues faced by women and people of colour in class, and advised men to 'learn how to speak like women' to help solve the problem In order to solve their issues, students raised potential actions that could be taken to combat their issues. One solution was to 'support minorities by repeating their idea' and suggested giving credit to the student until the idea was acknowledged by the tutor. People in 'positions of privilege' were also advised to monitor 'how much you are talking in relation to others'. Students were advised to question themselves when they felt the desire to speak in a tutorial as to why they wanted to contribute. 'Is it to self-aggrandise or to learn and contribute,' the report asked, and suggested some questions could be left until after class. The report also noted women should 'stop second-guessing their intelligence', but also declared 'men should learn how to speak like women, i.e. not speak with absolute confidence when they are in fact not sure or expressing an opinion rather than fact'. Students who attended the workshop also were interested in 'making subjects that force students to think about privilege compulsory, including compulsory Indigenous studies'. The group also wanted to create subjects that force students to think about privilege, and make the classes compulsory (stock image) Yan Zhuang, President of the University of Melbourne Student Union says the workshops were simply an opportunity to 'discuss their own experience of being in classes and tutorials'. 'Beyond that, students are encouraged to question the status quo and apply rigorous critical practice to their own lives and personal situations,' she said. 'The workshops explore how university spaces can be inaccessible to students and the ways in which unconscious bias affects their experiences. All students should be given an equal opportunity to participate in any university space. 'The workshops allow students and tutors to discuss their experience and strategies in tutorial and seminar settings. 'No male students have been instructed to modify their behaviour on campus. University staff have not received recommendations as a result of these workshops. Ms Zhuang also said the workshops were an important way of gauging issues among the student population and finding solutions. 'When students share their experiences of life at the University, we think it is important to listen to what those students have to say and to respond in a constructive way. 'If students say that they feel that they have been unable to speak in a tutorial or that they are marginalised by the conduct of other students should we, as students, respond by entrenching and reinforcing that experience, or should we acknowledge that experience and contribute to the development of a thriving academic and social community?' Four Duggar sisters have filed privacy lawsuits suit against the magazine and Arkansas city that revealed that they told police their brother Josh molested them. The suit was filed against the city of Springdale and Washington County, Arkansas, and the publisher of inTouch Weekly after they revealed the identities of Jill Duggar Dillard, 26, Jessa Duggar Seewald, 24, Jinger Duggar Vuolo, 23, and 19-year-old Joy Duggar. They are seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. Their attorneys allege in a 39-page complaint that an anonymous tipster told city and county investigators that Josh Duggar had molested the four sisters between March 2002 and March 2003, when they were minors. Jill Duggar Dillard (left), 26, and Jessa Duggar Seewald (right), 24, along with their other two sisters, filed a breach-of-privacy suit on Thursday against the city of Springdale and Washington County, Arkansas, and publishers of InTouch Weekly magazine The suit alleges the magazine first revealed the identities of the sisters, including Jinger Duggar Vuolo (left), 23, and Joy Duggar (right), 19,. They are seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages When the investigators approached the sisters, they demanded and received promises of confidentiality, but the city and county breached that promise when documents requested by the magazine under the Freedom of Information Act contained information that made it easy to identify the sisters. They allege the magazine then exposed them globally. 'This case is solely about protecting children who are victims of abuse,' the sisters' attorneys said in a statement. 'Revealing juvenile identities under these circumstances is unacceptable, and it's against the law. Previously, only Jessa and Jill spoke publicly about the molestation; they were the only two sisters married at the time 'We didn't choose to come out and tell our story,' Jill told Megyn Kelly in 2015 Joy, the youngest sister in the suit, recently got engaged (pictured), while second-youngest Jinger married in November 'The media and custodians of public records who let these children down must be held accountable,' their attorneys said. Messages left with representatives of the city, county and publishers of the magazine drew no responses Thursday. The four were among the '19 Kids and Counting' on the TLC reality show that chronicled the personal life of Arkansas parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar. It was pulled from the network last year over revelations that Josh, the oldest of the Duggar siblings, had molested four of his sisters and a babysitter. Soon after, however, TLC began airing a spin-off show, Counting On, which stars members of the Duggar family. Their attorneys allege in a 39-page complaint that an anonymous tipster told city and county investigators that Josh Duggar (pictured in 2015) had molested the four sisters between March 2002 and March 2003, when they were minors The suit comes shortly after the youngest of the four sisters involved, Joy, announced her engagement to Austin Forsyth this year. Jill, Jessa, and Jinger are all married. In 2015, Jill and Jessa the only two sisters married at the time sat down with Megyn Kelly for an interview about the molestation and aftermath. Neither Jinger nor Joy, both unmarried when the interview aired, spoke publicly about the ordeal. 'We didn't choose to come out and tell our story,' Jill said on the show. 'This wouldn't have been our first choice, but now that this story has been brought about, we really feel like, as we've been seeing these headlines... we feel like, as victims, we have to come out and speak.' The inquest into a Brisbane chef who took his own life after killing and cooking his transgender partner has found there was nothing that authorities should have done to prevent the deaths. Marcus Volke's gruesome murder of Indonesian escort Mayang Prasetyo made headline news in 2014, but on Friday state coroner Terry Ryan ruled too little was known about the couple to learn from the tragedy. Ms Prasetyo is believed to have been stabbed to death in the early hours of October 3 after a prolonged argument with Volke at their Teneriffe unit. Mayang Prasetyo (pictured) was brutally murdered by her partner Marcus Volke, who took his own life after killing and then cooking Ms Prasetyo Ms Prasetyo is believed to have been stabbed to death in the early hours of October 3, 2014 at the couple's Teneriffe unit Marcus Volke (pictured) was found dead inside an industrial bin in an underground car park with significant injuries to his neck and wrists after killing his partner Over the next two days, Volke purchased a range of items to dispose of the 27-year-old's body including rubber gloves, bleach, a meat cleaver, stockpot and strainer. The Brisbane Coroner's Court heard Volke tried to explain away a foul smell coming from his apartment by telling people it was pig's broth that boiled over when in fact it was human body parts dissolving in chemicals. Police were called to the apartment on the evening of October 4 after the unit manager, who was investigating an electrical fault in the building, noticed blood on Volke's carpet and other damage. After initially speaking to two officers outside in the hallway, Volke went back into the unit under the guise of securing his dogs and locked the door. As the couple had only just moved to Queensland, there was very limited information about the nature of their relationship, the state's coroner said on Friday Queensland state coroner Terry Ryan on Friday said Ms Prasetyo's death was the result of domestic violence Volke tried to explain away a foul smell coming from his apartment by telling people it was pig's broth The Queensland state coroner ruled too little was known about the couple to learn from their tragedy He then fled the area and was later found dead inside an industrial bin in the underground car park with significant injuries to his neck and wrists. The officers thought it was a 'sick' Halloween-type prank when they found parts of Ms Prasetyo strewn about the apartment, including her feet in a stockpot. Mr Ryan said the officers who spoke to Volke acted professionally and could not be criticised for the way they responded to such an unforeseeable situation. He said Ms Prasetyo's death was the result of domestic violence but because the couple had only just moved to Queensland there was very limited information about the nature of their relationship. The state coroner noted the case was a devastating reminder of the existence and reality of domestic violence for LGBTI people In the two days following his partner's death, Volke purchased a range of items to dispose of Ms Prasetyo's body including rubber gloves, bleach, a meat cleaver, stockpot and strainer The couple lived at the Teneriffe apartment complex for just a couple of months before Ms Prasetyo was killed 'I have been unable to identify any opportunities for intervention that were missed by formal service providers,' Mr Ryan said. Mr Ryan noted the case was a devastating reminder of the existence and reality of domestic violence for LGBTI people, whose suffering remains largely hidden. Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. National domestic violence helpline: 1800 737 732 or 1800RESPECT. In an emergency call triple-zero. Three girls who drove 500 kilometres down the Australian east coast in one of their mother's stolen cars were driving to see a Sydney rapper with drug paraphernalia in the car, police allege. The girls, aged 15, 13 and 12, were found at a McDonald's restaurant on the Pacific Highway rest stop in Glenthorpe, Taree, on the NSW Mid-North Coast about 4pm on Monday. They had driven from the 13-year-old girl's Coomera home on the Gold Coast, where they left the home at some point between 11pm Sunday and 5am Monday morning in the girl's family four-wheel drive Nissan Nivara. The friends were hoping to drive to see Campbelltown rapper Kerser of western Sydney, about 850km from where their joyride began in Coomera. The 13-year-old girl's mother told Gold Coast Bulletin she wanted the friends to be dealt with harshly after the car was returned to them littered with drug paraphernalia. Scroll down for video The three children who drove 500 kilometres down the Australian east coast in a stolen car took a selfie in the back of a police van after being caught at a highway McDonald's restaurant 'I want her to be charged,' the mother told Gold Coast Bulletin. She claims police did not drug test the children, and slammed police for not putting an Amber Alert out. 'The public needed to know there was three drugged up kids with no driving experience which could have killed their loved ones, something should have been done,' she said. A Queensland Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia an Amber Alert was not relevant to the situation. The girls, aged 15, 13, and 12, were found at the highway rest stop on the Pacific Highway at Glenthorpe in Taree South on the New South Wales Mid-North Coast (turn-off pictured) Police found the 15-year-old girl in the driver's seat and the other two girls in the passenger seats in the carpark at the service station The friends were hoping to drive to see Campbelltown rapper Kerser (pictured) of western Sydney, about 850km from where their joyride began in Coomera Queensland Police charged the eldest two girls under the Youth Justice Act for the unlawful use of a motor vehicle, stealing, and possession of drug utensils. There are conflicting reports on whether the eldest child was 15 or 16. One of the other mothers put an end to the joyride when she convinced the girls over the phone to stop and eat something, before alerting staff at the McDonald's restaurant. Police then arrived and found the girls sitting in the car in the carpark. The girls then took a selfie in the back of a police van while they ate cheeseburgers. They were taken into the care of the NSW Department of Family and Community Services. The incident follows a similar case last month involving a 12-year-old boy who drove about 1300km across NSW on his way to Perth. He set off from a home in Kendall near Port Macquarie and was only stopped at Broken Hill when police noticed the car's bumper dragging on the ground. Children seeking assistance through family issues should contact Kids Help Line on 1800 55 1800. The girls drove the four-wheel drive from the 13-year-old girl's home in Coomera on the Gold Coast, where they stole the car about 5am on Monday Vice President Mike Pence may have been 'intentionally' kept out of the dark about Michael Flynn's lobbying work for Turkey, a source claims. According to a New York Times report on Wednesday, two people familiar with the Flynn case told the former national security adviser he was under investigation for working as a foreign agent representing the interests of the Turkish government. Flynn then reportedly told Trump's chief lawyer Donald McGahn about the investigation on January 4, more than two weeks before inauguration, according to the Times. But an anonymous source close to the White House spoke to NBC and said: 'If he told McGahn that during the transition, it's also a fact that not only was Pence not made aware of that, no one around Pence was as well. 'And that's an egregious error and it has to be intentional. It's either malpractice or intentional, and either are unacceptable.' Vice President Mike Pence may have been 'intentionally' kept out of the dark about Michael Flynn's lobbying work for Turkey, a source claims Michael Flynn reportedly told Donald Trump and his transition team he was under investigation weeks before the president moved into the White House. But a source claims Pence was unaware Flynn, according to the Times, had another conversation with lawyers on the transition team two days later. Those reported conversations, if true, would suggest Trump and his team knew about the investigation into Flynn well before it was reported. But the White House said in March Trump was unaware of Flynn's foreign agent status, and blasted the latest Times report as 'flat wrong'. And Pence, who claimed in March that he learned about Flynn's lobbying work through the news, stuck to his guns. He issued a statement to Politico on Thursday, saying: 'The Vice President stands by his comments in March upon first hearing the news regarding General Flynn's ties to Turkey and fully supports the President's decision to ask for General Flynn's resignation.' The source who spoke to NBC pointed to the troubling 'pattern' that Pence was not being kept in the loop. Attorney General Sally Yates testified before Congress last week saying she had told McGahn Flynn 'likely could be blackmailed by the Russians.' 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. Flynn was fired just 24 days into his job after lying to the vice president about his contacts with the Russian ambassador to the United States, but his time with the White House has had a lingering impact. The New York Times reports Flynn himself told the Trump camp: 'he was under federal investigation for secretly working as a paid lobbyist for Turkey during the campaign' James Comey was fired on May 9. Prior to that, it has been reported Donald Trump asked him to end the investigation into Flynn After he was sacked, Trump reportedly tried to get former FBI Director James Comey to drop the investigation into the ex-general. Comey did not. He was controversially fired by the president on May 9. It was also reported by CNN this month President Barack Obama warned Trump against hiring Flynn during a face-to-face meeting in November. The Times reports the White House would not comment on whether it was aware of Flynns legal status prior to January's inauguration. The newspaper goes on to state it has seen one of the subpoenas that is part of a grand jury inquiry in Northern Virginia into Flynn's lobbying. It reportedly demands access to 'records, research, contracts, bank records, communications' linked to Flynn's work with his lobbying group - which he set up in 2014. Flynn reportedly told Don McGahn (pictured in Trump Tower on November 15) he was under federal investigation on January 4 Donald Trump and Mike Flynn are seen on stage together in Colorado on October 18, 2016 Specifically, according to the Times, the investigation is based on work Flynn did for Inovo BV, a Dutch company owned by Turkish businessman Ekim Alptekin. Alptekin is known to have close ties to Turkish President Recep Erdogan. The newspaper claims Flynn's company signed a $600,000 deal with Inovo in August last year to 'run an influence campaign aimed at discrediting Fethullah Gulen'. Gulen was accused by Erdogan of trying to orchestrate a coup in Turkey. The Times reports Flynn failed to report he had been hired by Alptekin - as he is required to do by US law, and only did so retroactively in March this year. In November, Flynn wrote a piece blasting Gulen - calling him 'a shady Islamic mullah'. The op-ed also called on American politicians to recognize Turkey as 'vital to US interests', and he attacked President Obama for keeping the country at 'arm's length'. Pauline Hanson has slammed Malcolm Turnbull for praising Indonesia as a moderate Islamic nation and 'a great example to the world'. The One Nation Party leader took to Twitter on Friday to savage the prime minister for claiming Indonesia, the largest majority Muslim country in the world, lived in harmony. 'In Indonesia, politicians are jailed for insulting Islam and gays are flogged. Yet Turnbull praised it as a moderate Islamic nation,' she said. Scroll down for video 'In Indonesia, politicians are jailed for insulting Islam and gays are flogged. Yet Turnbull praised it as a moderate Islamic nation,' Ms Hanson said on Friday Speaking to media on Friday, Mr Turnbull said Indonesia served as 'proof that Islam democracy and moderation are compatible'. 'A quarter of a billion Muslims live in Indonesia and it is a nation where democracy and moderation, tolerance, mutual respect operate hand in hand,' he said. Mr Turnbull said it was something Australia should aspire to. 'It's a great example to the world,' he said. Ms Hanson took to Twitter on Friday to rubbish Mr Turnbull's claim Indonesia was a 'great example to the world' Speaking to media on Friday, Mr Turnbull said Indonesia served as 'proof that Islam democracy and moderation are compatible' Ms Hanson, who previously said Islam was a disease and called for a complete Muslim ban in Australia, disagreed with Mr Turnbull's sentiment. She highlighted Indonesia's punishment of two men who were sentenced to 85 lashes in May this year after they were found guilty of gay sex. The men, both in their early 20s, were charged with homosexuality in Indonesia's conservative Aceh province. Two Indonesian men arrive for their trials at a sharia court in Aceh on May 17 to be sentenced for gay sex Two Indonesian men walk into a cell prior to their trials at the sharia court The punishment was imposed under sharia law. Ms Hanson also mentioned Indonesia's punishment of a man who was found guilty of sex outside of marriage. The 27-year-old man was caned eight times in front of a crowd in Aceh in February this year. A religious officer canes an Acehnese man (L) for having sex outside marriage, which is against sharia law, in Banda Aceh Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (pictured) was charged with blasphemy after he referenced a passage of the Quran during a re-election campaign speech in September Ms Hanson also highlighted the imprisonment of an Indonesian governor after he was accused of insulting the holy Quran. Jakarta's Christian governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama was charged with blasphemy after he referenced a passage of the Quran during a re-election campaign speech in September. Hard-line Islamist groups claimed he insulted the holy book and he was sentenced to two years jail. Alongside each reference, Ms Hanson wrote: 'Malcolm Turnbull's moderate Islam'. Cassie Sainsbury's mother is seen breaking down in tears in a preview for the family's tell-all interview with 60 Minutes. Channel Nine assisted the accused cocaine smuggler's mother Lisa Evans and sister Khala Sainsbury with their travel to Colombia this week, the first time they have been near her since the 22-year-old's arrest on April 11. Channel 9 said reports that the interview cost $1 million were 'ludicrous' but it was pursuing the story as it was a 'national interest'. Sainsbury was caught with 5.8kg of cocaine hidden inside black plastic packaging in her suitcase at El Dorado International Airport. Cassie Sainsbury's mother is seen breaking down in tears in a preview for the family's tell-all interview with 60 Minutes She has languished in the overcrowded El Buen Pastor women's prison in Bogota since her arrest but maintains her innocence. In a sneak peek ahead of Sunday's program, Ms Evans is seen sitting in a car telling her daughter over the phone: 'I'm here to help you, we're sitting around the corner.' Later, she is seen collapsing on the ground in tears. It comes after reports that Sainsbury is being well looked after in the Colombian prison and sharing a cell with a fellow Australian. Her case is also swiftly proceeding through the country's justice system and she's signed a document revealing that it is moving to the Supreme Court. The latest news on the 22-year-old, who has been languishing in the El Buen Pastor prison for more than a month after being arrested, came from a segment on the Kyle and Jackie O show on Friday. The presenters tasked producer Pedro, who has been working on the show for around six months, with finding a scoop on Sainsbury in an hour or less. Sainsbury's mother (right) is seen sitting in a car telling her daughter over the phone: 'I'm here to help you, we're sitting around the corner' Cassie Sainsbury is reportedly being well looked after and sharing her Colombian jail cell with a fellow Australian A producer on Kyle and Jackie O's radio show says he was provided with an interview authorisation form (pictured) that was filled out by Sainsbury herself While Pedro had no money to spend to help him, he was armed with a vital tool the ability to speak Spanish. 'We didn't give you a budget of a million dollars like 60 Minutes are rumoured to be paying,' Kyle says. 'We gave you a budget of zero dollars.' Jackie O adds: 'Just the ability to talk Spanish. So what did you do, Pedro, and what have you come up with?' Pedro replies: 'The first thing that I tried to do was contact some people that I know from overseas, in South America.' He contacted his uncle, who lives in Medellin, and he was able to provide him with the number of the women's prison where Sainsbury is being held. Pedro said he managed to reach a guard at the jail, but was then directed to the jail's media department. He says: 'So what I did, I emailed the gentleman and I asked him, 'Hey, can I speak to a guard? Can I speak to Cassie? Can I speak to anyone who can give me information?' The latest news come from Pedro, an employee of the Kyle and Jackie O show, after the presenters (pictured) who tasked him with getting a scoop on Sainsbury in an hour Pedro says he was then provided with an interview authorisation form that was filled out by Sainsbury herself. 'It has her full name, her passport number, her fingerprint, everything there. It's a legit document,' he says. He explains that the form had two boxes one for accused and the other for sentenced and that this document was marked sentenced. 'Now, as far as we're concerned and all the media's concerned in Australia, she hasn't been sentenced at all, she's accused but in this box, she actually ticked sentenced,' he says. 'That's when I got a bit worried cause I thought that's a bit different to what I've heard so what I've done is called up a different number that is at the bottom of that paper. 'I called up and confirmed she hasn't been sentenced with years of jail just yet but she's been sentenced to go to the Supreme Court.' At this stage, Kyle notes that Sainsbury has indicated in a handwritten note that she does not wish to be contacted by any media. 'Yeah, that's why we couldn't get her on the phone,' Pedro says. But he adds that he was able to get more information out of the person he spoke to including that Sainsbury is staying in cell block five with other English-speaking inmates including an Australian woman. While the conversation with the jail spokesman is in Spanish, Pedro translates. 'She's saying she spoke to her boss that morning, [Cassie] is in block five, she's in good conditions and she's been put in with other people that speak English in her cell. 'She's not the only one that speaks English. 'So they've helped her out, they've put her in a cell where there are people from other countries, another Australian would help her out.' Scott Broadbridge (left, with Sainsbury) says her flight to Colombia was a surprise to him And although he did try to speak to that Australian, Pedro had no luck. 'I did try, they couldn't give me that information, they couldn't give it to me, they couldn't even give me a name, I tried to find it,' he said. But he noted that the tidbits he was given appear to contradict reports that Sainsbury is being treated badly in the jail. He added: 'It's going against all the media reports that are going at the moment that she's getting bullied and harassed, that she's not getting looked after by anyone. 'It's all hashtag 'fake news.' I've confirmed with the jail, they've been comforting her, putting her in a cell with other people. 'The news is that she is being looked after, she's been put in a cell with other people who speak English, it's not as bad as the media in Australia are making it to look.' In a soon to air interview with Channel Seven, Scott Broadbridge (pictured) has reportedly conceded Sainsbury will admit her role in an international drug syndicate Sainsbury, who is still behind bars in Colombia, is understood to have given her fiance (pictured) permission to sell his side of the story It comes after the revelation that Sainsbury is expected to confess to acting as a cocaine mule. In a soon-to-air interview with Channel Seven, her fiance Scott Broadbridge has reportedly conceded that she was admit her role in an international drug syndicate. Sainsbury is understood to have given her husband-to-be permission to sell his side of the story. In a promo for the tell-all, Mr Broadbridge is expected to reveal what he knows about the syndicate. The government should not neglect the desires of the ethnic people to be involved in the peace process, said the Nationalities Brotherhood Federation, which is comprised of 24 ethnic political parties from seven states. We urge the government to allow ethnic people to hold ethnic-based national-level political dialogues in suitable areas in line with their desire. We urge the government not to neglect the desire of the ethnic people who still have not been allowed to hold the ethnic-based national-level political dialogue, the NBF said in a statement following a May 17 meeting in Yangon. National-level political dialogues are restricted to areas where the main ethnic armed group has signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA). The dialogues can be held regionally, ethnically or topically. So far, dialogues have successfully been held in Tanintharyi and Bago Regions, and Shan and Chin states. But the government has not given permission to hold dialogues in Rakhine or Kachin states, due to sensitivity concerns and ongoing fighting respectively. The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has also not signed a ceasefire. Translated by Thida Linn Edited by Laignee Barron Thirteen people were injured Thursday evening when another train derailed outside of New York City during rush hour. Four people required medical treatment at a hospital after a Metro-North train derailed in Westchester around 5pm, according to NBC New York. According to MTA officials, the derailment led to significant delays after five of the 12 cars slid off the tracks not too far from the Rye station on the New Haven line. Thirteen people were injured Thursday evening when another train derailed outside of New York City during rush hour. MTA Chief Ronnie Hakim (pictured) toured the site where the train derailed. All passengers were moved onto another train by 6.30pm Four people required medical treatment at a hospital after a Metro-North train derailed in Westchester around 5pm. At least one person was seen being taken off the train by stretcher The train was scheduled to get into Grand Central at 5.42pm, officials said. Westchester County Executive Robert Astorino told NBC that the train appeared to be going around a curve at a speed faster than the 10mph allowed. Astorino indicated that it was likely that the 'excessive speed' could have played a role in the derailment. However, MTA would not confirm Astorino's statement about the speed, but said a speed restriction was set for the curve Thursday because of hot weather, according to NBC. Passengers were transferred to another train by 6.30pm. According to the MTA's Twitter page, crews worked well into the night to remove the derailed train. The MTA said on Twitter that it's optimistic that it will be a 'relatively normal' commute for Metro-North riders on Friday morning Transportation officials are still investigating the cause of the accident The MTA said on Twitter that it's optimistic that it will be a 'relatively normal' commute for Metro-North riders on Friday morning. Transportation officials are investigating the cause of the accident. In early April, Penn Station suffered its second derailment in less than two weeks when an NJ Transit train went off track, causing a handful of injuries and delays. The Northeast Corridor train, which departed Trenton at 7.31am, had a 'slow-speed derailment' as it pulled into Track 9 around 9am. Two weeks before that derailment, an Amtrak train had a slow-speed derailment on Track 6 at Penn Station. The DC-bound train sideswiped an incoming NJ Transit locomotive on March 24 on Track 3, causing minor delays and halting service. Donald Trump has complained about the appointment of ex-FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel to investigate potential Russian interference in the election. The president told a host of television anchors and personalities over a meeting in Washington on Thursday he believes the investigation to determine if there was any outside impact on the election 'divides the country'. 'I believe it hurts our country terribly because it shows we're divided, mixed up, not a unified country,' he said. 'And we have very important things to be doing right now, whether it's trade deals, whether it's military, whether it's stopping nuclear, all of the things that we have discussed today and I think this shows a very divided country.' Donald Trump has complained about the appointment of ex-FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel to investigate potential Russian interference in the election Trump then tried to deflect by claiming the appointment and entire investigation was a result of the Democrats being upset at the election result. 'It also happens to be a pure excuse for the Democrats having lost an election that they should have won because of the Electoral College being slanted so much in their way,' he said. 'That's all this is. I think it shows division and it shows that we're not together as a country and I think it's a very, very negative thing and hopefully this can go quickly because we have to show unity if we're going to do great things with respect to the rest of the world.' However, Democrats did not see it that way, as Senator Richard Blumenthal said the investigation was looking into a potentially 'criminal' matter. Blumenthal said Mueller is leading a probe of 'criminal allegations that are extremely serious, including possible obstruction of justice', while speaking to reporters Thursday. Meanwhile, it appears as though Trump went further on Thursday than just complaining about the appointment, according to theDaily Beast. The website reports the president huddled up with his legal to discuss a potential path forward in the face of the escalating investigation. The report states: 'the discussion... centered around the nuts and bolts of how the investigation would work and how the administration will need to handle the inquiry'. The Justice Department announced Mueller would serve as special counsel, and would have 'all appropriate resources' to carry out the probe on Wednesday 'I believe it hurts our country terribly because it shows we're divided, mixed up, not unified country,' Trump said One of the legal minds who took part in the meeting was Michael Cohen, Trump's personal counsel. The Daily Beast added White House Counsel Don McGahn and his team has been working to explain the process to Trump, as they are concerned about his potentially 'hurting himself any further'. Earlier on Thursday Trump had again attacked the investigation and the appointment of Mueller, speaking during a press conference with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. 'Well, I respect the move but the entire thing has been a witchhunt and there is no collusion, certainly myself and my campaign but I can only speak for myself and the Russians,' Trump said at the White House presser. There was no collusion. Everybody, even my enemies, have said there is no collusion.' James Comey, Robert Mueller, and President Barack Obama are pictured in the Rose Garden in June 2013 Trump attacked the investigation, calling it a 'witch-hunt' during a press conference on Thursday It comes after the Justice Department announced Mueller would serve as special counsel, and would have 'all appropriate resources' to carry out the probe on Wednesday. The news came during a week when Donald Trump's White House was battered by disclosures about his contacts with the Russians and his firing of former FBI Director James Comey. The White House has spent weeks batting back efforts to install an independent outsider to lead the Russia probe. As Special Counsel, Mueller will have a wide berth to follow the investigation where he sees fit, and set his own terms for how much information he wants to reveal or withhold. Democrats in Congress have been pushing for an independent investigation that would be free from interference from Trump administration officials, as well as a special congressional commission that might probe deeper into charges that Russia tried to sway the election through hacking and other means. Advertisement Thousands of men lined the streets of Pyongyang to give scientists and workers behind North Korea's latest missile test a hero's welcome. Pictures from the despotic state showed hundreds of developers wearing military garb and saluting giant statues of late leaders Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jong-Il that dominate the centre of the capital. Others showed residents waving red flags and artificial flowers as they turned out to greet a convoy of buses carrying the workers. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un waves to North Korean scientists and technicians, who developed the Hwasong-12 missile Developers of North Korea's latest missiles were given a hero's reception in Pyongyang, state media reported North Korean scientists and technicians, who developed missile Hwasong-12, were given a hero's reception in the secretive state's capital Thousands of people lined the streets to greet workers responsible for the Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile Developers waved to the crowds as they drove through the streets of the North Korean capital Rodong Sinmun newspaper, the official mouthpiece of the ruling Workers' Party, praised those responsible for the Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile for showing the world 'the strength of the powerful self-reliant nuclear state'. 'People's enthusiastic welcome for defence science warriors,' ran a front-page headline in the newspaper, alongside pictures of the developers of what appears to be its longest-range ballistic missile. The official Korean Central News Agency said: 'Streets of the capital city of Pyongyang were full of festive atmosphere to greet the scientists of national defence. Hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life and school youth and children were waiting for the merited persons along the streets.' On Sunday, North Korea test-fired what analysts say was its longest-range rocket yet as it accelerates efforts to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the continental United States. Pyongyang has long had missiles that can reach targets across the South -- the 500 kilometre Scud -- and Japan, the 1,000-1,300 kilometre Rodong. Pictures released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency present the parade as a jubilant affair in Pyongyang Residents waved red flags and artificial flowers as they turned out to greet a convoy of buses carrying the workers This picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on May 19 shows people greeting buses carrying developers of the ground-to-ground medium-to-long range strategic ballistic rocket Hwasong-12 in Pyongyang North Korea has carried out two atomic tests and dozens of missile launches since the beginning of last year. Kim Jong-Un is pictured reacting during a test launch the Hwasong-12 missile on Sunday People cheer as developers of the ground-to-ground medium-to-long range strategic ballistic rocket Hwasong-12 arrive in Pyongyang North Koreans lined the streets to greet the workers, who travelled in buses for the procession This photo, released 15 May by North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), shows the test-firing of the ballistic rocket Hwasong-12 on 14 May. North Korean authorities claim the missile is capable of carrying a big nuclear warhead but analysts are skeptical that this is the case North Korean leader Kim Jong Un views a missile after the regime test-fired a new ground-to-ground medium long-range strategic ballistic rocket capable of hitting US bases on the Pacific island of Guam But with an imputed range of 4,500 kilometres the Hwasong-12 puts US bases on the Pacific island of Guam within reach. Leader Kim Jong-Un oversaw the launch and warned of 'the worst-ever disaster' if the US provoked the secrative state, claiming it is in 'range of (nuclear) strikes', according to Rodong Sinmun on Monday. But there are questions over whether Pyongyang can miniaturise a nuclear weapon sufficiently to fit it onto a missile nose cone, or has mastered the re-entry technology needed to ensure it survives returning into Earth's atmosphere. The North has carried out two atomic tests and dozens of missile launches since the beginning of last year. The body of 26-year-old Sinead Wooding was found in woodland in Leeds on Sunday Two people have been charged with murdering a 26-year-old woman whose body was found in woodland. Akshar Ali, 26, of Hyde Park, and Yasmin Ahmed, 27, of Potternewton, are both due before magistrates in Leeds accused of murdering Sinead Wooding, who is believed to be a mother. Her body was found by joggers on Sunday in woods near Alwoodley Crags car park in the north of the city. Asim Ali, 20, also of Hyde Park, has been charged with assisting an offender and is also due before court, officers added. Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Spencer from West Yorkshire Police said that Miss Wooding's family were 'completely devastated about her death'. He added that specially-trained family liaison officers are supporting the family 'at what is obviously an incredibly difficult time'. Her body was found on Sunday in woods near Alwoodley Crags car park in the city, police said A Toyota slipped down a boat ramp and sunk to the bottom of a harbour on Friday. Witnesses watched on in disbelief as the car became submerged in water in the Kiama Harbour, on the New South Wales south coast. It is believed the owner left the car at the top of the boat ramp and exited the vehicle but did not apply the handbrake. A Toyota become submerged in the Kiama Harbour about midday on Friday It is believed the owner had left the car at the top of the boat ramp and exited the vehicle but did not apply the handbrake Witnesses also reported seeing the vehicle's headlights on and windscreen wipers going as the car slipped into the water 'The headlights were on and the windscreen wipers were going,' witness Rachel Wiegold told the Illawarra Mecury. She said it did not take long for the car to become fully engulfed by water at about midday. Ms Wiegold alerted emergency services, but paramedics were not required as no injuries were reported. Divers were sent into the water to help retrieve the car, which was later pulled out by a tow truck. Witnesses said it wasn't long before the vehicle became submerged in the water Emergency services were alerted but paramedics were not required on scene as no injuries were reported Schapelle Corby's brother has been spotted wearing a grotesque mask as he fronted media waiting at his home in the days before her flight back home to Australia. Michael Corby was snapped by waiting photographers wearing a strange disguise while emerging from the bushes in the Bali villa he shares with Corby ahead of her deportation next week. Her sister Mercedes has said Corby is 'stressed' and by the frenzied media attention and is hiding in her room in fear of the menacing cameras, ABC reports. Scroll down for video Michael Corby (pictured) was snapped wearing a strange disguise as he emerged from the bushes at his Bali villa Corby (pictured) has been desperately trying to avoid the frenzied media as she spends her last days in Bali The convicted drug smuggler (left) has been sharing a Bali villa with her brother Michael (right) 'She hates people staring and pointing at her. And she hates people pointing cameras at her. Her eyes were always darting constantly She freaks at all of that,' exclusive journalist to the Corby family Tony Wilson told the Courier Mail. Mercedes also said Corby is scared to leave the house and has taken to covering her face with a sarong. The convicted drug smuggler is returning home to the Gold Coast in Queensland exactly 12 years after she was found with four kilograms of marijuana en route to Bali. Parole officers visited her Bali home to check on her welfare after she told of her fear of the media pack camping outside her home while her parole ends. Mr Wilson has also warned her mental health has rapidly deteriorated during her prison stint and will struggle to handle her notoriety back in Australia. Her sister Mercedes also said Corby (pictured) is scared to leave the house and has taken to covering her face with a sarong The convicted drug smuggler is returning home to the Gold Coast in Queensland exactly 12 years after she was found with four kilograms of marijuana en route to Bali The former Gold Coast Bulletin reporter questioned how Corby would handle even the mundane task of going shopping back at home with people staring at her. Her sister Mercedes also told Woman's Day that Corby was 'heartbroken' at the idea of leaving, including becoming separated from her boyfriend and pet dogs. Their mother Rosleigh Rose said returning to Australia would be 'hard for her'. 'I think she's kind of frightened,' she said. Corby is due to return from the Indonesian island to Australia on Saturday May 27, after serving nine years for drug trafficking. Advertisement President Donald Trump has departed on a five-stop diplomacy tour through Europe and the Middle East that will cover 15,600 miles in the air over the course of nine days. The president, the first lady Melania Trump, Chief of staff Reince Priebus, Jared Kushner, and Trump's eldest daughter, Ivanka, left the White House aboard Marine One just before 2pm Friday, EST. Fifteen minutes later, the group arrived at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. The first couple stopped and waved as they boarded Air Force One. They are currently on a 12-hour flight to Saudi Arabia. The chaos-courting leader of the free world is meeting his crucial first test abroad while facing a chain-reaction scandal of his own making, which exploded when he fired his FBI director last week. No sooner had the President and his entourage left terra firma on Friday, more revelations threatened to add fuel to the fire under the president. The New York Times claim that when President Trump met with Russian officials he called then FBI Director Comey 'crazy and 'a real nut job.' Then the Washington Post claimed the FBI investigation of Russian interference during the 2016 election pointed the finger at a senior White House official close to the president. A New York Magazine reporter then claimed in an unconfirmed tweet that the person is senior adviser and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner. Scroll down for video President Donald Trump has departed on a five-stop diplomacy tour through Europe and the Middle East that will cover 15,600 miles in the air over the course of nine days He and First Lady Melania Trump are seen boarding Air Force One on Friday afternoon at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump are also on the nine day trip that has its first stop in Saudi Arabia Windblown: It wasn't revealed that Ivanka would be traveling with her husband and father until the last minute The president, the first lady, Chief of staff Reince Priebus, Jared Kushner, and Trump's eldest daughter, Ivanka, left the White House aboard Marine One just before 2pm Eastern Vice President Mike Pence (right) was on hand to see President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump off The president waves goodbye, hopefully to leave the turmoil of the last week behind as he leaves for his first foreign trip Tete-a-tete: The President and Vice President share some last words as Pence gets set to say farewell to the departing leader MAKE SURE IT'S STILL HERE WHEN I GET BACK: Trump heads to the Middle East and Europe under a cloud of suspicion over his firing of firing of FBI Director James Comey, who he reportedly tried to influence I'M COUNTING ON YOU, MIKE: Pence will hold down the White House while Trump is gone on his nine-day overseas trip Ring a ding ding: The First Lady's diamond engagement ring is front and center as she recahes to embrace the vice president Moving in for the smooch. Melania is clearly very fond of the Vice President! ONE FOR THE ROAD: Vice President Mike Pence gives First Lady Melania Trump a kiss on the cheek as she prepares to depart for Joint Base Andrews with her husband TA TA FOR NOW: The president and first lady pose for pictures as they walk to Marine One on the South Lawn President Donald Trump said Friday, after a quiet morning at the White House he was 'getting ready for my big foreign trip' The last four presidents confirmed their first trips abroad to Canada and Mexico, but Trump is going big before going home The last four U.S. presidents kept their first international voyages confined to North America. Not so for Trump. He will deliver a high-stakes speech about Islam in the heart of Saudi Arabia, meet with both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his nemesis Mahmoud Abbas and take in an audience with Pope Francis. And that's before a NATO summit and a meeting of the G7 leaders. Trump said Friday, after a quiet morning at the White House he was 'getting ready for my big foreign trip.' 'Will be strongly protecting American interests - that's what I like to do!' he said. Now, with the eyes of the world upon him, the president will embark on his big trip carrying the baggage of dire troubles at home. As he tries to calm allies worried about his 'America First' message, he'll be followed at every step by news the appointment of a special counsel to probe his campaign's alleged ties with Russia. 'Welcome to the White House abroad,' said Ari Fleischer, President George W. Bush's former press secretary. 'This is a great opportunity for the president to change the subject, to make real news. But the downside is that it could be dominated by domestic-style questions. ... Every first trip is over-scrutinized. The whole world is watching.' 'There has never been a president taking his first international trip being dogged by scandal like this,' said Larry Sabato, head of the University of Virginia Center for Politics. 'He's already a president viewed skeptically by much of the world. And while the pictures from the trip may be great, the White House can't change the headlines that will follow him wherever he goes.' Trump's itinerary is heavy with religious symbolism. He'll visit the birthplace of Islam, the Jewish homeland and the Vatican. Officials say the message is 'unity.' 'He strongly believes that it is the strength of the faith of people in these religions that will stand up and ultimately be victorious over ... forces of terrorism,' Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said. The president, the first lady Melania Trump and Vice President Pence left the White House aboard Marine One just before 2pm Eastern ARE YOU READY? The first couple will spend 12 hours in the air on their overnight flight to Saudi Arabia HAND IN HAND: Jared and Ivanka, both of whom are senior advisors to the president, are traveling on Air Force One, too It looks like Jared and Ivanka left there three children behind to escort the president on his nine-day trip With the eyes of the world upon him, the president will embark on his big trip carrying the baggage of dire troubles at home Trump will have an audience with Pope Francis and coffee with the Saudi king. Mid-East peace meetings are scheduled with both Netanyahu and Abbas 'Will be strongly protecting American interests - that's what I like to do!' Trump said in a Friday morning tweet that preceded his departure IN: Reince Priebus, the president's chief of staff (second from right) and Keith Schiller, the president's personal security guard (far right); OUT: Vice President Mike Pence and Counselor Kellyanne Conway (far left) The Saudi government is playing up the Trump visit, hinting at cooperation with the U.S. to fight Islamic radicalism in the region United States flag is seen as royal guard patrols the hotel where US President Donald Trump will stay in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Friday In Saudi Arabia, the president whose campaign was marked by heated anti-Muslim rhetoric and whose administration has tried to enact a travel ban from several Muslim-majority countries will deliver a speech to the Islamic world meant to be a clear contrast with the vision Obama laid out in his first trip to the region. In Israel, Trump will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, looking to smooth over fresh tensions. Israel was in an uproar earlier this week after U.S. officials confirmed Trump shared highly classified intelligence about the Islamic State group with senior Russian officials visiting the White House. The information, about an ISIS threat related to the use of laptops on aircraft, came from Israel and there were concerns a valuable Israeli asset could be in danger, a U.S. official said, requesting anonymity to discuss the sensitive material. National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster added to the alarm by refusing to declare the Western Wall a part of Israel. U.S. policy holds that ownership of the holiest site where Jews can pray, as with the rest of Jerusalem, is subject to Israeli-Palestinian negotiation. In Rome, the president will call upon Pope Francis, the popular, liberal-minded pontiff. Trump denounced Francis during the campaign, calling the holiest man in the Catholic faith 'disgraceful' for questioning his faith. THE DONALD'S DIPLOMACY TOUR President Trump embarks Friday on a 15,500-mile trek through the Middle East and Europe, courting controversy at every stop. His itinerary: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA, May 20-21 The president will meet with King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for coffee and participate in a signing ceremony expected to focus on arms sales. After a meeting with leaders of more than a dozen Muslim-majority countries, he will deliver a speech about Islam that the White House is hoping will diffuse tensions resulting from his travel ban while also cementing the U.S.-Saudi relationship as a bulwark against both ISIS and Iran's nuclear ambitions. Trump will also participate in the grand opening of a cultural center dedicated to fighting Islamic radicalism and promoting a more moderate approach to practicing the religion. TEL AVIV AND JERUSALEM, ISRAEL, May 22-23 Trump will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and visit Jerusalem's famed Western Wall. A planned trip to the ancient Masada fort was scrapped after it was determined that the Marine One helicopter couldn't land there and the U.S. Secret Service was unwilling to put the president in a dangling cable car. Trump does plan to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built on the site where Christians believe Jesus Christ was buried and rose from the dead. He will also stop to pray at the Western Wall and lay a wreath at Yad Vashem, a Holocaust memorial. BETHLEHEM, THE WEST BANK, May 23 A high-stakes meeting with Mahmoud Abbas will mark Trump's second sit-down with the Palestinian Authority's president. Making progress toward an ever-elusive peace deal between Arabs and Jews is the most crucial foreign policy objective of the trip, according to White House insiders. VATICAN CITY, May 24 Trump's audience with Pope Francis could be a tense one, since the Pontiff questioned Trump's commitment to Christianity during last year's election campaign in reaction to his pledge to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico. Trump fired back, writing that '[f]or a religious leader to question a persons faith is disgraceful.' Still, he will take advantage of the Holy See's hospitality with a full tour of St. Peter's. BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, May 24-25 The president's first meeting with leaders from all 28 NATO member nations will provide him the opportunity to press them for greater financial contributions toward keeping Russia in check. His scheduled speech at the summit will also give him the breathing room to proclaim America's undying commitment to NATO, even though Trump called the alliance 'obsolete' while he was campaigning. Along the way the president will meet Belgium's King Philippe and Queen Mathilde and Prime Minister Charles Michel. He will also have a working lunch with newly elected French president Emmanuel Macron. TAORMINA, ITALY, May 26-27 The 43rd G7 summit, held on the island of Sicily, will be a chance for Trump to 'press America's economic agenda and call for greater security cooperation,' according to National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster. It will also allow the president to appear presidential and calm the free world's top economic powers about his leadership style. Trump will also attend a dinner hosted by Italian President Sergio Mattarella, after seeing the famed La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra perform. Advertisement Trump will meet with his old friend Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel ... In Brussels, Trump will attend a meeting of NATO, the World War II-era alliance which Trump has repeatedly mused about abandoning because member states weren't paying their fair share. He recently has shifted to reassure wary allies that he remains committed to the pact. And in Sicily, the president will meet with the other leaders of the G7, a gathering of Western economic powers. Key parts of the group are unsettled by Trump's unpredictability and his willingness to cheer on nationalist sentiment. Trump's trip was always going to be dramatic. U.S. allies have been rattled by his warnings about pulling back from the world. He is tasked with urging a united front against terror by appealing to some of the same corners of the Muslim world he has tried to keep out of the United States with his travel ban. Last week, he added new layers of complication by disclosing classified intelligence to a longtime adversary. Still, the White House once hoped the trip, wrapped in the pomp and circumstance of diplomatic protocol, could offer a chance at a reset after a tumultuous first four months in office. Trump's advisers saw it as an opportunity for the United States to boldly reassert itself on the world stage and resume a leadership role that the administration believes was abdicated by President Barack Obama. ... and also pay a visit to Mahmoud Abbas, the leader of the Palestinian Authority The U.S. Secret Service won't allow Trump to travel on a dangling cable car to the old Masada fortress in the Judean desert, so he has been forced to skip that part of his planned itinerary Pope Frances feuded with Trump last year, questioning his Christianity and drawing a retort form the future president that he was 'disgraceful' but the two men will meet at the Vatican After the Pontiff questioned Trump's Christianity over his promise to wall off Mexico from the United States, the then-presidnetial candidate fired off a vicious reply on Facebook Trump's powerful senior adviser, his son-in-law Jared Kushner, led a West Wing team to craft the agenda, laden with religious symbolism. But Trump hasn't been eager to seize the opportunity. It's been more than a half-century since any president waited as long to take his first foreign trip. The itinerary is a startlingly ambitious excursion for a president who dislikes travel and has displayed a shaky grasp of foreign affairs. Administration officials believe the unexpected move of going to Saudi Arabia first was meant to underscore the seriousness of the United States' commitment to fighting extremist groups like the Islamic State. Trump, whose denunciations of Iran have been welcomed by the Saudis, wants to frame the conflict not as one between the West and Islam, but simply between good and evil, according to his aides. While some Middle East leaders will likely greet Trump warmly, he could receive a far cooler reception in Europe. Though Pope Francis has said he'd 'never make a judgment about a person without hearing him out,' others on the continent have sharply criticized Trump. That includes France's newly elected President Emmanuel Macron, who denounced Trump's musings on abandoning the Paris climate treaty, a likely point of contention in Sicily. Trump's inauguration sparked thousands of protesters to fill the streets of several European capitals, chaotic scenes that could be repeated during his stops in Rome, Brussels and Sicily. A woman has been ordered to pay the RSPCA almost $80,000 in just six months and has been banned from owning or caring for an animal for the next five years after neglecting her pregnant dog. Tammy Lee Chapman, was found guilty on two counts of breaching her duty of care to the dog in Bundaberg on Thursday, after it was found she failed to provide sufficient food to the pregnant animal, News Mail reported. The 31-year-old's german shepherd Ava had been found on the street on April 24 last year and was taken to the vet, where the two-year-old pup has remained. According to a report from the RSPCA Ava was 'very emaciated and heavily pregnant and also suffering from tapeworm infestation at time of seizure'. A woman has been ordered to pay almost $80,000 after she was found to have neglected her two-year-old german shepherd, Ava (pictured after seizure by the RSPCA) After she was seized, Ava gave birth to 10 pups, but one was euthanised. Before the Bundaberg Magistrate's Court, RSPCA Wide Bay inspector Penny Flaherty said she had visited Chapman prior to Ava's seizure and discussed feeding the dog more. But less than two weeks later, Ava was taken to the vet in a very poor condition. Magistrate John Smith ruled that 'all the dog needed was food in sufficient quantities'. Chapman was ordered to compensate the RSPCA for the costs of flying witnesses in for the trial and professional costs, as well as boarding and vet care for Ava and her pups over 388 days. The dog was seized in April last year and the RSPCA described her as 'very emaciated and heavily pregnant and also suffering from tapeworm infestation' at the time. She is now back to full health (pictured) and has given birth to 10 pups Solicitor for the RSPCA, Nicole McEldowney explained the organisation had given Chapman multiple opportunities to mitigate the cost through surrendering Ava and her pups, but she declined. Magistrate John Smith ordered Chapman to pay the RSPCA the full $79,405.59 they were owed within six months, as well as a $1000 fine. Her conviction has been recorded and she is prohibited from owning or caring for any animal for the next five years without authorisation from the RSPCA. Ava is now in a 'very healthy' condition, according to a report supplied by the organisation. Details have emerged of how A Current Affair let an inside scoop into one of the nation's biggest white-collar tax rorts slip through their fingers. ACA executive producer Grant Williams has revealed how a journalist involved in the $165million tax fraud investigation was willing to divulge details to the program in January. Documents tendered in Sydney's Central Local Court on Thursday revealed veteran journalist Steve Barrett allegedly blackmailed members of the tax fraud syndicate on February 1. But while the documents were being submitted, Barrett sat in ACA's office on Sydney's north shore offering to cover the story, according to The Age. Details have emerged of how A Current Affair let an inside scoop into one of the nation's biggest white-collar tax rorts slip through their fingers. Pictured: ACA's office on Sydney's north shore ACA executive producer Grant Williams has revealed how journalist Steve Barrett (pictured) - who is involved in the $165million tax fraud investigation - was willing to divulge details to the program in January Mr Williams said Barrett called him in January to ask if he was interested in a major tax scandal involving the son of Australian Tax Office Deputy Commissioner Michael Cranston (pictured) 'I should probably sack myself. But the premise of it seemed so unlikely,' Mr Williams said. Mr Williams said Barrett called him in January to ask if he was interested in a major tax scandal involving son of the Australian Tax Office Deputy Commissioner Michael Cranston. The ACA executive producer said he would like to do the story, and Barrett told him he would 'get back' to him. However Mr Williams said the former crime reporter wasn't commissioned to do the story and didn't mention it again - until Thursday. Barrett left the ACA office after lunch on Thursday, but news was already breaking about his alleged involvement in the $165million rort. Pictured: AFP seizing two aircraft (pictured) after an eight-month long investigation AFP seized two aircraft and 25 luxury cars (pictured) after an eight-month long investigation in the tax fraud 'He came to the office about 10.30am and was here for a few hours chatting away about everything he knew about it,' Mr Williams said, according to The Age. 'He told me straight away that they were even trying to say that he had blackmailed one of the blokes.' Mr Williams said he assumed those allegations were coming from members of the tax fraud syndicate, and was only worried about gaining details of the story. Barrett left the ACA office after lunch on Thursday, but news was already breaking about his alleged involvement in the rort and the story opportunity vanished. Seized items are displayed at a press conference at the AFP headquarters in Sydney after nine people were arrested Court documents seen by Fairfax Media allege that one syndicate member, Daniel Rostankovski, and Barrett allegedly threatened to extort the syndicate by threatening to go public with the operation. 'Police allege ... Rostankovski and Barrett attempted to blackmail the co-conspirators in relation to their involvement in the conspiracy,' the documents read, according to Fairfax Media. It's alleged Rostankovski and Barrett demanded $5million during a February meeting at the Martin Place office of Clamenz Lawyers. Barrett is the only person who attended the meeting that has not been charged over the tax fraud. Two women and a child were injured after falling approximately 18 feet from a Ferris wheel at a festival in Washington State in the USA. The incident occurred at the Rhododendron Festival in Port Townsend at approximately 6pm local time yesterday. A 7-year-old boy, a 59-year-old woman and a 47-year-old woman, fell 15 to 18 feet and landed on the metal base at the bottom of the ride, according to East Jefferson Fire Department spokesman Bill Beezley. Two women and a child were injured after falling approximately 18 feet from a Ferris wheel at the at the Rhododendron Festival in Port Townsend, Washington State in the USA A fourth person was slightly injured after he was clipped by one of the victims who fell from the Ferris wheel but he refused medical treatment, ABC News reports. The 59-year-old woman was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. She has multiple fractures and an open head injury according to Mr Beezley. 'The women took the brunt of the fall. The other people fell on her,' Mr Beezley said. A boy aged 7, and two women aged 59 and 47, fell 15 to 18 feet and landed on the metal base at the bottom of the ride, all three were hospitalised and one was injured critically in the accident Hospital staff report that she is in a critical, but stable condition with non-life threatening injuries. According to Kiro News, witnesses told police that the ride 'made a grinding sound' and 'something appeared to fall out, the cart slowly tipped over and dumped the passengers.' Kiro News reports that the passengers tried to hold on before they fell to the ground. The other woman and the boy were taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The boy has since been released. According to Kiro News , witnesses told police that the ride 'made a grinding sound' and 'something appeared to fall out, the cart slowly tipped over and dumped the passengers' 'According to an eyewitness, one of the Ferris wheel carts flopped upside down, ejecting three occupants,' Mr Beezley said, as reported in Komo News. The ride has been shut down and cordoned off for the investigation into the incident. But officials have said that the festival will not be cancelled. The festival Vice-President Brandi Hamon and President Debbie La Follete's sons were at the top of the Ferris wheel during the accident. It took approximately one hour to get everyone off the Ferris wheel. According to an eyewitness, one of the Ferris wheel carts flopped upside down, ejecting three occupants who hit the metal base at the bottom of the ride at the Rhododendron Festival They asked for prayers for the victims and everyone involved in the accident. 'This was a tragic event and our thoughts and prayers are with all involved. At this time we are letting the Port Townsend Police Department, East Jefferson Fire and Rescue and Funtastic Traveling Shows (which the carnival is owned and operated by) conduct their investigations,' their statement read. 'Thank you to all the volunteers and employees that stepped up out of the crowd to make sure the victims were attended to and the incident was controlled. Once again please keep the victims and their families in your prayers.' Independent inspectors are due to join the investigation with state and federal authorities onsite today. Funtastic has been in operation since the 1950s. President Ron Burback told Kiro News that the company hosts annual, week-long safety seminars, attended by amusement ride operators and government officials from around the country. The KNU signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) in 2015, which as they were recently reminded, restricts them from carrying guns in areas not under their control. The Kayin State Minister of Security and Border Affairs sent a letter of rebuke to the KNU Central Liaison Office on May 10. He said the KNU Hlaingbwe townships secretary Pdoh Saw Eh Htee Kaw was recently carrying a fire arm to a cultural exchange event on Kawlon Island in Hlaingbwe township between May 3-4. We will need to negotiate this at the ground level. He sent the letter because he has the responsibility to send it, said Major Saw Shee Sho. According to chapter 3 of the Military Code of Conduct, the Tatmadaw and ethnic armed groups agreed that members of their parties can travel freely if they are unarmed and in civilian clothes. They may carry arms only in areas under their control. A member of the state-level Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee, Nan Say Awar, said the misunderstanding arose in this incident because the territories have not yet been clearly demarcated, and not all troops are familiar with the code of conduct. Saw Lay Nge, an elder from the village where the recent event was held, said he saw no issue with the KNUs attendance. The KNU came because we invited them. We dont need to be afraid or feel bothered if they bring their weapons with them. This territory is often visited by both the KNU and the government, he said. Translated by Thida Linn Edited by Laignee Barron The principal of an exclusive Sydney girls' school says it's a relief a 16-year-old student who flew to the US to meet a 39-year-old man for sex is home again with her family. The Lindfield teenager allegedly met Sean Price on social media app Snapchat in October 2016. Six months later she was on a plane to Los Angeles with the pair then driving across the country to New York. Sean Price, 39, is accused of grooming a 16-year-old schoolgirl from Sydney for months before convincing her to board a plane to Los Angeles to engage in sexual activity The Australian teenager vanished from one of the county's most affluent suburbs was rescued from the hands of a convicted killer who allegedly lured her to America via Snapchat for sex (stock) Price is now behind bars in New York accused of contacting the girl and enticing her overseas for sex. The girl's parents reported her missing more than a month ago - the same day she left Sydney. 'Our thoughts are with both the student and her family at this difficult time,' Pymble Ladies' College principal Vicki Waters said in a message to parents on Friday. She told them their daughters had been 'advised to avoid commenting on the situation amongst friends and especially on social media'. 'Due to the fact the student is legally a child and that the police are now investigating the situation, we have impressed upon the girls the need to maintain confidentiality,' the principal wrote. His estranged wife, Ryhse Price, told Mail Online she was sickened by the news but was not surprised ( Rhyse Price pictured left) Police found the 16-year-old in the basement of Price's mother's home (pictured) in New York last week It's alleged Price transferred about $2000 to the girl's bank account before she fled overseas. US prosecutors allege the pair met and drove in a hire car to New York where Price lived with his mother in Queens. NYPD officers went to Price's home on May 12 and caught him and the girl hiding in the basement. Asked if she had a message for Price (pictured), his estranged wife said: 'To Sean: I hope your daughter never has to suffer the sins you have placed in her name' The teen reportedly suffers from anxiety disorder and was having troubles at home when she met the killer online (stock) Australia Federal Police confirmed on Friday, the girl has since returned to Australia, 'We are relieved to hear that she is home and safe,' Ms Waters said. The girl, referred to in US court documents as 'Jane Doe', was reported missing on April 11 and a search of flight records revealed she had left the country, the AFP told AAP. The 16-year-old's parents are working with Australian and US officials to determine exactly what happened to lead the girl to leave Sydney. US authorities allege the teen landed at Los Angeles airport before Price (pictured) rented a car and drove the teenager 12,000km to New York David Lee (pictured) fled to Spain while awaiting sentence and posted gloating Facebook messages from his sunny bolthole, a court heard A man who fled to Spain while awaiting sentence for handling stolen goods posted gloating Facebook messages from his sunny bolthole, a court heard. One of the messages from prolific criminal David Lee, 40, from Lechlade, was: 'I'll be back in the winter to do my time, LOL,' Gloucester crown court was told. Another posting from Lee said: 'I'm in Spain - Ha Ha ha.' His final message was: 'Love it, so much money!' But police had the last laugh when Lee sailed back to Britain after two months away and was arrested as he got off the ferry. And this week the justice he had tried so hard to avoid finally caught up with him when he was jailed for 14 months. He pleaded guilty to jumping bail, dishonestly handling a stolen boat and trailer valued at 8-10,000, and breaching a three months suspended sentence imposed last year for handling a stolen Range Rover. Lee was told by Judge Jamie Tabor QC: 'You say you regret your actions and leaving the country was an act of desperation. 'But I can't accept that. You have spent your life flagrantly disobeying orders of the court. You have more failures to appear at court on your record than anyone else I have come across. 'You have an extraordinarily long and varied list of previous convictions. It is time you changed. 'You say you went off to Spain because you were stressed but the messages you sent suggest you were cocking a snook at the system.' The judge passed a three month sentence for breach of bail by going to Spain, three months consecutively for the breach of suspended sentence and another eight months for handling the boat and trailer. Prosecutor Nick O'Brien said the boat and trailer, owned by Mark Savage, were taken from Milestone House, Fairford, on June 1 last year. The boat and trailer were in the garage there. Mr O'Brien said the boat was a specialist reed cutting vessel which would cost 30,000 new. One of the messages from prolific criminal David Lee, 40, from Lechlade, was: 'I'll be back in the winter to do my time, LOL,' Gloucester crown court (pictured) was told Lee had denied he was the thief but he must have been 'extremely close' to the thief because he had taken photographs of it in the garage some weeks before it was stolen, said Mr O'Brien. After the theft the owner made enquiries himself and they led to the boat and trailer being found in a gateway near Kemble, about 12 miles away. Police suspected Lee and, with the help of his son, made a phone call to him. He told them he was out of the county. Immediately after receiving that call Lee had deleted his photos of the boat from his phone but when he was later arrested the police were able to retrieve them. Mr O'Brien told the court Lee had 66 convictions on a criminal record dating back to when he was 17. Sabhia Pathan, defending, said: 'He is adamant that he had nothing to do with the stealing of the boat at all. 'At the time of this offence he was effectively homeless when he and his partner were expecting a child. Their relationship deteriorated and he found himself homeless and went into a shelter.' But she said things were now going better for him and he was determined not to offend again. After Judge Tabor had passed sentence on Lee, he replied: 'You won't see me again.' ISIS savages have executed and then dismembered dozens of women and children amid fears the terror group is plotting a wave of massacres in Shiite villages. Extremists beheaded some prisoners and used bricks to kill children before hacking off their limbs during horrific raids in Hama province in central Syria. More than 50 were killed during clashes including at least 24 women and children in villages where many residents belong to the Ismaili branch of Shiite Islam. It has raised fears of a new atrocities mirroring those ISIS carried out in other minority communities - including Yazidi areas - in Syria and Iraq. ISIS savages have executed and then dismembered dozens of women and children amid fears the terror group is plotting a wave of massacres in Shiite villages. Body bags were laid out on the floor after an ISIS raid in Aqareb (pictured) The villages, Aqareb and Al-Mabujeh, are located near the town of Salamiyeh and the highway that links the capital, Damascus, to the northern city of Aleppo. The two villages are home to members of several religious minority sects, and Al-Mabujeh has been targeted by IS before. In March 2015, the group killed dozens of people and kidnapped some 50 civilians in an attack there. Media reports and doctors in the area said some of those killed in the latest raid were beheaded and others dismembered. At least three of the civilians, a man and his two children, were executed with knives, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. ISIS extremists are notorious for mutilating bodies of their adversaries, particularly members of other sects than Sunni Islam. Extremists beheaded some prisoners and used bricks to kill children before hacking off their limbs during horrific raids in Hama province in central Syria The militants stormed homes in the southern part of Aqareb al-Safi village before government forces pushed them back into the desert, the state news agency SANA reported. The head of the National Hospital in Salamiyeh, Dr. Noufal Safar, said it received 52 bodies, including 11 women and 17 children. Some of the bodies were badly mutilated, beheaded or had their limbs severed but 'most appear to have died as a result of gunfire,' Safar told The Associated Press by telephone. Rami Razzouk, a coroner at the hospital who inspected the bodies, said those of children were brought in mostly dismembered while the men had died from shelling or heavy machine-gun fire. He said at least nine children were beaten on the head with heavy objects such as bricks or stones. The Syrian Observatory also said that 52 people were killed in the fighting, with the dead including 15 civilians, 27 Syrian soldiers and 10 unidentified people. Razzouk said 120 people were wounded; SANA said 40 were wounded. The militants stormed homes in the southern part of Aqareb al-Safi village before government forces pushed them back into the desert, the state news agency SANA reported (file picture) The ISIS-linked Aamaq news agency said the militants captured villages of Aqareb al-Safi and Mabouja. It identified residents as members of Assad's Alawite sect, an off-shoot of Shiite Islam. The Sunni extremists view Shiites as apostates deserving of death. ISIS has massacred thousands of Shiites and other opponents in Syria and Iraq, often boasting about the killings and circulating photos and videos of them online. Aamaq claimed that 100 Syrian troops and pro-government gunmen were killed in the fighting. 'Dozens of people are missing but it is not clear if they were kidnapped' by IS, the Observatory's chief Rami Abdurrahman said. Creepy CCTV footage showing people mysteriously tumble down a set of steps has split opinion amid reports the stairs are haunted by a poltergeist. Several incidents have been reported and the clip shows a number of people seemingly incapable of coming down the staircase, in the town of Keningau, Malaysia, without tumbling to the ground. The property is rumoured to be haunted by a poltergeist, according to local reports. Creepy CCTV footage has divided opinion after appearing to show people thrown down haunted steps by a ghostly spirit Several incidents have been recorded in the clip where people seem incapable of coming down the staircase without tumbling to the ground The video was posted to social media where it quickly gathered thousands of people online quick to say the victims must have been pushed by a ghostly force. The footage was uploaded to social media by Mohd Faizal who said it was shot in the town of Keningau, in Sabah State, Malaysia. Some commentators pointed out the stairs were placed too widely apart causing people to lose their balance. Others claimed that it looked as if some of the people who come a cropper had been drinking. But other commentators insisted that it looks as if the stairs were haunted, and advised an exorcist was the best way to make the stairs safe rather than bothering to rebuild them. There was no official comment from the owner of the property about the claims that he had a poltergeist - a ghost capable of making its presence felt on the physical plane. The ringleader of the Rochdale child sex ring is continuing to fight his extradition to Pakistan at taxpayer expense. Shabir Ahmed - who told his victims to call him 'daddy' - was the head of the gang portrayed in the shocking BBC drama Three Girls this week. As the programme shone a further spotlight on the scandal, it emerged that Ahmed - who was jailed in 2012 - is still trying to stay in Britain. Shabir Ahmed, the ringleader of the Rochdale sex gang, who was played by Simon Nagra in the BBC drama Three Girls (right), is fighting plans to deport him to Pakistan Ahmed, a Pakistani who acquired British citizenship by naturalisation, was set to be removed from the UK following his conviction for the sickening crimes. He, along with at least eight others, plied girls as young as 13 with drink and drugs before 'passing them around' for sex, their trial heard. Earlier this year, immigration judges rejected claims that removing them from the UK would affect the welfare of their children. But they have now been given permission to argue their publicly-funded case before the Court of Appeal. At an Immigration Tribunal in Manchester last year, Ahmed railed against then-Home Secretary, now Prime Minister, Theresa May. He said: 'She (Theresa May) says all her trouble is coming from Muslims, yet she's the biggest trouble causer in the world.' (Left to right) Adil Khan, Abdul Aziz and Qari Abdul Rauf are also fighting deportation Ahmed was jailed for 30 rapes after he and his gang groomed girls in Rochdale (pictured) He said he was convicted by 'eleven white jurors', adding: 'It's become fashionable to blame everything on Muslims these days.' Three times married Ahmed told the court he had four children living in the UK, had lived here for nearly 50 years and had 83,000 in a UK bank account. Of the nine men convicted over the scandal in 2012, only Shabir Ahmed, 64, who was caged for 22 years, and Mohammed Sajid, 40, who was jailed for 12 years, remain behind bars. Mohammed Amin, 50; Abdul Qayyum, 49; and Hamid Safi, 27, were all jailed for five years or less and have now completed their sentences. Adil Khan, 47; Abdul Rauf, 48; Abdul Aziz, 46; and Kabeer Hassan, 30, are all believed to have been released on licence after going beyond the half-way point of their sentences. The other three mounting the case against deportation are Adil Khan, Abdul Rauf and Abdul Aziz. The case received renewed attention during the BBC's Three Girls drama with Maxine Peake A Home Office spokesman said: 'All four men have been granted permission to appeal at the Court of Appeal and it would be inappropriate to comment further on ongoing legal proceedings.' Ahmed, known as Daddy, had previously taken a case to the European Court of Human Rights claiming that his all-white jury was biased and he wasn't given a fair trial. But judges in Strasbourg unanimously threw out his case, insisting that there was 'simply no proof' jurors acted improperly. Yesterday one of the gangs victims told how she just froze when she came face-to-face with one of the abusers in Rochdale only a few weeks ago. Speaking under the pseudonym Lily, the woman who was groomed from the age of 11 told Good Morning Britain that she hadnt been taken seriously by the authorities. Speaking under the pseudonym Lily, the woman who was groomed from the age of 11 told Good Morning Britain that she hadnt been taken seriously by the authorities I actually bumped into one [of the abusers] in my hometown a few weeks ago, she told the ITV programme. I just, I just froze. I was like, theres nothing I can do Ive brought it to court, he was sentenced and now hes out. Lily, who had been unhappy in her foster home, said she was first targeted as a child while wandering the streets. I was just kind of on my own, she said, describing how the paedophiles built her trust by buying her alcohol and cigarettes. I genuinely thought I was in a relationship, she added. She spoke of her frustration at the lack of action taken by authorities following her rape ordeal aged 15. I had been told that this thing that had happened to me was really, really horrific but when I tried to report it, nothing happened, she said. That made me go back to thinking there was nothing wrong with what was going on. If something was wrong, and it was really bad, then the police would have done something. Ex-Labour MP Simon Danczuk slams his old party for refusing to pick social worker who smashed the Rochdale grooming scandal as a candidate for the General Election Labour party bosses have been slammed for refusing to pick the courageous health worker who smashed the Rochdale grooming scandal to stand as the town's MP. Sexual health worker Sara Rowbotham's brave battle to expose the town's child sex gangs has been portrayed by Maxine Peake in the hard-hitting BBC1 drama Three Girls this week. A decision by Labour not to make Rochdale social worker Sara Rowbotham (left) its parliamentary candidate has been criticised by the area's former MP Simon Danczuk (right) But she was overlooked for the Labour nomination to run as the town's MP when the party chose former police and crime commissioner Tony Lloyd. Former Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk, who spoke to victims and campaigned to raise awareness of the issue, has criticised the decision. He said: 'Labour missed a real opportunity to select a candidate with a fantastic track record, who broke up Rochdale's grooming gang. 'I wouldn't be standing as an independent if Sara - a great local councillor - had been chosen. People in Rochdale would have preferred her.' Ms Rowbotham worked for the NHS' crisis intervention team in Rochdale from 2004 to 2014 and referred cases of abused girls to police, only for her concerns to be ignored. Ms Rowbotham's battle to expose grooming in the town was portrayed by Maxine Peake in the harrowing BBC drama Three Girls this week Ms Rowbotham said: 'Tony is the best candidate for Rochdale and will make an excellent MP. I applied for the vacancy and was pleased myapplication to be interviewed by the party was successful. 'It was a fair and open selection process and the best candidate won. Tony is far more experienced and has the support of the people of Rochdale.' A five-year-old boy saved the lives of his parents and baby sister after walking two blocks to get help after the adults overdosed on heroin. The young child was barefoot and knocked on his step-grandfather's door and told him that his parents were dead. Stunned Kenneth Currey said he rushed to the house after being alerted to the danger, and hailed the boy for his quick thinking. Lee Johnson and Chelsie Marshall, the child's parents, were found unconscious in their home Step-grandfather Kenneth Currey said he was 'very proud' of the boy, who has been credited with saving his parents' and his sister's lives Mr Currey told WLWT: 'I'm very proud of the boy, very proud of him, but it's just tragedy.' He arrived at the boy's home to find Lee Johnson and Chelsie Marshall, the child's parents, passed out on the floor. Their youngest child, aged just three months, was strapped into a car seat, despite being indoors. Currey called 911, and police revived the couple, with Marshall requiring 14 doses of Narcan to bring her back to consciousness. It happened at 5.30am yesterday morning in Middletown, Ohio. Middletown police Chief Rodney Muterspaw branded the boy a hero, and called on heroin users to take note of the case. Middletown police chief Rodney Muterspaw called on heroin users to take note of the case, which 'could've turned out really bad for two children that don't deserve it' He told WLWT: 'People that are doing this, you're not just hurting you, you're hurting your families and your kids. I mean this could've turned out really bad for two children that don't deserve it.' Lee and Johnson, who the police chief said acted like it wasn't a big deal when they were revived, have been charged with two counts of endangering children and one of disorderly conduct with heroin. Their children are being looked after by other family members. Tragic: Baroness Marion Lambert, 73, was knocked over by a double decker outside Bond Street station A world-renowned art collector died after walking into the path of a bus during rush hour traffic in central London. Baroness Marion Lambert, 73, was knocked over by a double decker as she crossed the road outside Bond Street station. The philanthropist suffered severe injuries as a result of the crash and died at St Marys Hospital four days later. Westminster Coroners Court heard that if she had checked that the road was clear she would not have been injured. Baroness Lambert lived in Switzerland and Italy and is thought to have been visiting her venture capitalist son Henri Lambert, who was living in Earls Court, on the day of the crash on May 24 last year. The familys life had been marred by tragedy - the Baroness' daughter Philippine took her own life in 1997 after claiming she had been raped by family friend Vincent Meyer, in her suicide note. Her mother spent years campaigning for justice against Millionaire Meyer, but charges against him were dropped three years after Philippines death. On the day of the accident, the Baroness had been on her way to meet friend and auctioneer Simon de Pury to talk about how the art world could help the Syrian refugee crisis. Baroness Lambert was described as being known for her unique artistic vision and eclectic eye. She had amassed an impressive collection of over 300 pieces, including a 1953 portrait of Marilyn Monroe by Gene Korman as well as work by Barbara Kruger and Andy Warhol. Among Baroness Lambert's extensive collection were Barbara Kruger's 'I shop therefore I am' and the iconic Marilyn Monroe photograph by Gene Korman Her pieces were thought to be one of the most valuable arrays of 20th century art. Works from her collection fetched nearly 15million at the Frieze art fair, with the money going to charity. She once said: 'Money is the opposite of art. Art is the expression of ideas - some of them very foresighted - of lofty ideals, of political insights, and of deep-felt emotions. 'As such, it should not be price-tagged.' Just after he death, a friend described her as a 'wonderful woman, very passionate about art and photography, and her death has come as a tragic shock to us all.' Mr Lambert claimed the context was missing from his mother's inquest and wanted the police to disclose information about other accidents involving buses and pedestrians on Oxford Street. Pictured: Baroness Lambert with husband Philippe Lambert and actress Marisa Berenson He said he wanted information not just for my mother but for everyone else who has been affected by these accidents to know about the pattern of these accidents in and around Oxford Street. He said: This was not an isolated incident but a pattern of incidents.' Mr Lambert also requested the history of accidents at Arriva specifically and wanted the police to verify the drivers claim he had eight hours sleep the night before. He said: The driver had been up since 5am and was in the middle of his second shift, in rush hour.' Dr Radcliffe said she did not know how to verify if the driver slept for eight hours maybe they would need the drivers shift patterns. Mr Lambert asked for the Metropolitan Police to disclose the drivers statement after officers refused his initial request. Dr Radcliffe said she did not have the power to disclose the information but would read the very detailed report made my PC Jack Lee, from the Collision Investigation Unit (CIU). She would then decide if she could change the Detective Inspectors mind about disclosure. Dr Radcliffe said the report by PC Lee was extremely detailed and covers all the relevant facts. In conjunction with the CCTV there is little else one would want to know, she said. DS John Hartfree, senior investigator at the CIU, said he had no problem with Mr Lambert having the documents but his DI didnt agree and felt the report was enough. Just after he death, a friend described the Baroness as a 'wonderful woman' who was 'very passionate about art and photography' Dr Radcliffe said: It is quite clear the experienced collision investigator has considered that there was no mechanical deficiencies in the bus. It was daylight with good visibility, no environmental issues, with a high level of pedestrian traffic. She said the report showed Baroness Lambert walked into the middle of the road and continued walking without having looked in the direction that the bus came. If she had checked that the road was clear she would not have been injured. Dr Radcliffe added: The experienced collision investigator says, tragically, the cause of this accident is the choice Baroness Lambert made stepping out in the middle of the road without looking. Dr Radcliffe explained the accident didnt occur on a pedestrian crossing, the bus did not go against a traffic light when he shouldnt have or mount the curb. In my experience that is generally the case in these accidents, she said. Mr Lambert said he was not suggesting that his mother was not responsible but the incident was being looked at in isolation He suggested the speed limit in the area be reduced from 30mph to 20mph, in line with residential areas. The bus that hit baroness Lambert, although it was accelerating, was travelling at 16mph and would not have gone above 20mph on the busy road. PC Lee said reducing the speed limit would not have altered the outcome. Dr Radcliffe said accidents of this kind were people walking into buses not the other way around. DS Hartfree said a report from the CIUs traffic manager would be provided giving details of accidents on Oxford Street in the last 12 months. Dr Radcliffe asked: What is the situation with road safety in Oxford Street?' She told the hearing, that she had done inquests into a number of them and they were often if not always due to pedestrian error. The philanthropist suffered severe injuries as a result of the crash in Bond Street (pictured) and died at St Marys Hospital four days later Dr Radcliffe said: Often elderly people not looking where they are going or recently arrived travellers from abroad who have looked in the wrong direction.' She also said there had not been any submission about hazards in the road by the police in the collision report. Oxford Street is only open to buses and taxis between 7am and 7pm and there are plans in place to pedestrianise it. Dr Radcliffe said it was her view that the driver of the Arriva-operated bus, who stopped at the scene, should not be called to give evidence as it could cause unnecessary distress. She said it was clear from the report that he could have not avoided the collision. Dr Radcliffe added that she would read the traffic collision report and decide the extra documentation Mr Lambert requested should be disclosed to him. Another pre-inquest review will take place on 2 August when a decision will be made and an inquest date will be set. Advertisement Julian Assange lectured Britain on human rights last night while showing no sign of leaving his embassy bolthole. I do not forgive or forget, he said, blaming everyone but himself for his five years of self-imposed detention. The 45-year-old WikiLeaks chief has been free to leave his Knightsbridge sanctuary at any time and yesterday Sweden withdrew a warrant for his arrest on a rape allegation. Elisabeth Fritz, who represents Assanges accuser, said the woman was shocked by the decision and stood by her claims. It is a scandal that a suspected rapist can disregard the judiciary and thus avoid trial, she added. The 13million farce is set to carry on because the US wants Assange for leaking secrets. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has made his first public appearance since Sweden dropped its rape probe against him earlier today The 45-year-old Wikileaks emerged onto the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy where he has been under house arrest for five years In a display of astonishing arrogance, Assange emerged from the Ecuadorean embassy in London yesterday, posing on its balcony for photographs with his fist raised in a victory salute. The pale-looking Australian computer hacker gravely claimed to be the victim of a terrible injustice. He said the Swedish decision was a victory for human rights and attacked the British government for threatening to enforce the now withdrawn extradition request. It does not erase seven years of detention without charge in prison, under house arrest and almost five years here in this embassy without sunlight, he said. Seven years without charge while my children grow up without me. That is something that I cannot forgive and something that I cannot forget. 'The war is just commencing,' Assange said during a rare appearance on the balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy. 'The UK has said it will arrest me regardless. The US has said I and other Wikileaks staff have no rights and our arrest is a priority' Assange's appearance on the balcony of the central London building came hours after Sweden's Director of Public Prosecutions discontinued the sexual assault allegations against him The day of drama began when Swedens top prosecutor said an investigation into allegations that Assange raped a woman during a visit in 2010 had been discontinued. Marianne Ny told a press conference that it was effectively a lost cause because there was no way of getting Assange to properly answer questions. She said since there was no prospect of bringing Assange to Sweden it was no longer proportionate to maintain a European arrest warrant. The Metropolitan Police said it would still arrest Assange under a warrant issued for breaching bail when he fled to the embassy in 2012. Julian Assange posted this picture of himself in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London today moments after Sweden dropped an investigation in to rape allegations This afternoon Assange tweeted: 'Detained for 7 years without charge while my children grew up and my name was slandered. I do not forgive or forget' A police officer walks past the Ecuadorian embassy in London this morning as it emerged that Sweden had dropped its investigation into Julian Assange ASSANGE RAILS AGAINST UNFAIR LEGAL SYSTEMS WHICH STOPPED HIM SEEING SUNLIGHT FOR FIVE YEARS Julian Assange today declared a victory for Chelsea Manning, the transgender soldier convicted of giving classified government materials to WikiLeaks. Addressing supporters and journalists huddled under the balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy, he hailed her release from prison '28 years early' as an 'important victory'. Referring to the former American soldier as 'he', Assange said: 'After an extensive fight, we had him released 28 years early.' The Wikileaks founder also launched a scathing attack on the system which allowed him to be 'imprisoned' and held under house arrest without charge. He branded his situation as a 'terrible injustice', adding: 'Detention and extradition without charge has become a feature of the EU. 'That is not how we expect a civilised state to behave. Similarly, extradition without charge is not something we expect in the rule of law in the UK. He thanked the United Nations, referring to it as 'a last resort we all have when we are bound up... in the particular politics of a country'. He also thanked the people of Ecuador and its asylum system for standing by him 'despite intense pressure' including the use of the 'EU trade system to penalise Ecuadorian exporters in a terrible violation'. In an apparent attack on the UK and US, he continued: 'The war is just commencing. 'The UK has said it will arrest me regardless. The US... has said I and other Wikileaks staff have no rights and our arrest is a priority. 'That's not acceptable. Wikileaks will continue its publications. Today we published new material from a CIA system to penetrate and spy on anyone the CIA happens to be interested in. 'Such measures are conducted without warrant and the threats to me, staff and wiki will not be tolerated.' Advertisement He had spent two years in prison or under house arrest as he took his battle against extradition to the High Court. A police spokesman said the Met was obliged to execute the warrant but pointed out that Assange was wanted for a much less serious offence. The Metropolitan Police will provide a level of resourcing which is proportionate to that offence, added the spokesman. Although the penalty for the bail offence might only be a fine or a day in the cells, the arrest would allow the US authorities to serve extradition papers. This would prevent Assange being able to travel to Ecuador where he has been granted political asylum. The dramatic decision was revealed by Sweden 's Director of Public Prosecution, Marianne Ny (pictured today), who said the probe had been 'discontinued' The 45-year-old Australian has been living inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London (pictured today) for almost five years and has been granted political asylum ASSANGE: SOME QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Why was Julian Assange wanted by Sweden? Sweden issued an arrest warrant for Mr Assange over rape allegations relating to 2010. The accusation against Assange dated from August of that year when the alleged victim, who says she met him at a WikiLeaks conference in Stockholm a few days earlier, filed a complaint. She accused him of having sex with her as she slept without using a condom despite repeatedly having denied him unprotected sex. He has always denied the claims. Why did he go to the Ecuadorian Embassy in London? The 45-year-old has been living in the embassy in London since 2012, after seeking asylum to avoid extradition to Sweden to face the rape allegation. He feared the claims would see him extradited to the United States and tried over the leaking of hundreds of thousands of secret US military and diplomatic documents. Ecuador's Foreign Minster Ricardo Patino said Mr Assange's human rights would be at risk if he were extradited. The 45-year-old has been living in the embassy in London since 2012, after seeking asylum to avoid extradition to Sweden to face the rape allegation Why has Sweden dropped the charges? Swedish prosecutors dropped cases of alleged sexual misconduct when the statute of limitations ran out in 2015, leaving only the rape allegation. Marianne Ny, the Swedish director of public prosecutions announced Friday that she was dropping the rape case because there is no prospect of bringing Assange to Sweden 'in the foreseeable future' and it is 'no longer proportionate' to maintain the European arrest warrant. She told a news conference in Stockholm that the investigation could be reopened if Assange returns to Sweden before the statute of limitations lapses in 2020. Ny said the case was not being dropped because Assange has been found innocent. Assange feared the claims would see him extradited to the United States and tried over the leaking of hundreds of thousands of secret US military and diplomatic documents 'We don't make any statement of guilty or not,' she said. Are there other charges against Assange? That's unclear. Assange suspects there is a secret U.S. indictment against him for WikiLeaks' publication of leaked classified American documents. CIA Director Mike Pompeo has branded WikiLeaks a 'hostile intelligence service,' and Attorney General Jeff Sessions said last month that Assange's arrest is a priority. Both U.S. and British officials have declined to comment on whether there is a warrant for Assange's arrest. Does Sweden's action make Assange safer? Some legal experts say it makes his position less secure. Until Friday, Britain was bound to honour Sweden's extradition request before any warrant from the United States. That is no longer the case. Lawyer David Allen Green, who has followed the case, tweeted: 'Once outside embassy, Assange more at risk from any U.S. extradition attempt than if he had gone to Sweden.' Assange could fight any U.S. extradition request in the British courts, a process that could take years. Advertisement Q&A Now the rape probe is over, will he leave the Ecuadorean embassy? Assange is very unlikely to without a formal assurance that he will not be arrested, either in the street or at a border. He said his legal team have contacted the UK authorities to find the best way forward. What is his lifestyle? Assange complains about living without sunlight. He has made a comfortable albeit cramped home at 3 Hans Crescent near Harrods in central London. His 194 sq ft room has a bed, computer, sun lamp, treadmill and a microwave, and he has a cat. Pamela Anderson is a regular visitor. What will happen if he simply walks out? Scotland Yard insists he still faces arrest for breaching bail when he fled to the embassy in 2012. A bench warrant was issued by local magistrates and remains valid. What is the penalty? Breaching bail is a low level offence and may only lead to a fine but has a maximum sentence of one year in jail. However, the process will give the US a chance to serve extradition papers and demand he is remanded in custody as a flight risk or potential absconder. Why DOES the US want to put Assange on trial? He is accused of leaking tens of thousands of US military and diplomatic documents. Charges could include conspiracy, theft of government property and violations of the Espionage Act. The source for that material was army private Chelsea Manning, then Bradley, who was jailed for 35 years. This was commuted after seven years by Barack Obama and she was released this week. President Trump supports Assanges arrest. It is possible a sealed indictment has already been drawn up. The US justice department, White House and British government all declined to comment yesterday. What are his chances of getting to Ecuador? Once the bail offence has been dealt with, it might still be possible for Assange to go to Ecuador. The countrys foreign minister, Guillaume Long, says London must now grant safe passage in accordance with international asylum laws. Advertisement The Trump administration has taken a tough line on WikiLeaks, which some suspect of being in league with Russian hackers. CIA director Mike Pompeo says it is a hostile intelligence service. Attorney general Jeff Sessions said Assanges arrest was one of his priorities. Scotland Yard has already been lambasted for spending more than 12.5million on a security operation around the Ecuadorean embassy. This high-profile watch was abandoned in October 2015 in favour of more low profile and cheaper methods, believed to involve CCTV monitoring. But the cost of the stand-off continues to rise because of the police operation and legal and diplomatic negotiations. Ecuadorian ambassador to Britain, Carlos Antonio Abad Ortiz arrives at his Embassy this morning WHAT NEXT FOR THE WIKILEAKS FOUNDER? Prison time in Britain? Extradition to the United States? Another five years in Ecuador's London embassy? WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's future could now follow many different paths. Swedish prosecutors on Friday said they were dropping a rape investigation against Assange because there was no reason to believe he would be brought to Sweden in the foreseeable future. He claimed asylum with Ecuador in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden - and, he feared, from there on to the United States, to face trial for leaking secret US military and diplomatic documents. The Australian former computer hacker has been holed up inside the Ecuadoran embassy ever since. If he leaves the embassy, he faces arrest by the British police for jumping bail. Having broken his bail conditions before, it is unlikely he would be trusted with bail again and would be detained in a secure prison while the case against him progresses. Here are the main possible scenarios: Fine - Assange goes quickly through the British courts process and is given a minor fine. He is then free to go about his business and resume his WikiLeaks work more directly and publicly. Jail term - The maximum punishment for skipping bail in Britain is one year in jail. However long the courts process against him takes, time served while in custody would be deducted. In theory he could therefore be sentenced to a prison term and then immediately walk free. Investigators had today been expected to reveal whether they would lift a Europe-wide arrest warrant against him in a seven-year-old case Extradition to the United States - US Attorney General Jeff Sessions said last month that 'we will seek to put some people in jail' when asked if arresting Assange was a 'priority' for Washington. Prosecutors have been drafting a memo that looks at charges against Assange and WikiLeaks members that possibly include conspiracy, theft of government property and violations of the Espionage Act, according to the Washington Post newspaper. US President Donald Trump's administration has put heat on WikiLeaks after it embarrassed the Central Intelligence Agency in March by releasing files and computer code from the spy agency's top-secret hacking operations. Extradition to Sweden - David Allen Green, a law commentator for the Financial Times newspaper, suggested that if Assange left the embassy and was arrested, Sweden could resume its case. He said the case being dropped was 'an administrative decision to stop expending resources' where there was 'no clear path to extradition'. 'If Assange went into British custody then the Swedes may well revisit their decision on proportionality, as extradition suddenly easier,' he tweeted. And Sweden does remain interested in the case: Marianne Ny, their director of public prosecutions, said the investigation could be reopened if Assange returns to Sweden before August 2020 when the allegations against him elapse under Swedish law. Safe passage to Ecuador - Quito has said it is planning to intensify diplomatic efforts with London so that Assange can gain safe passage to enjoy his asylum in Ecuador, the Press Association news agency reported. This possibility might only take place once the English legal system has finished with him for jumping bail. Stay put - Assange stays right where he is, in the red-brick flat at 3 Hans Crescent, continuing his work with WikiLeaks. His room, which measures 194 square feet, has a bed, computer, sun lamp, treadmill and a microwave, and he has a cat for company. Advertisement Moments after the Swedish decision, Assange tweeted a picture of himself smiling. It was immediately endorsed by actress Pamela Anderson, a close friend and frequent visitor. More than 200 journalists, as well as a handful of supporters, gathered outside the embassy, which is close to Harrods. During his seven-minute sermon, in which he was heckled by a drunk, Assange labelled himself the victim of geopolitics between different countries. Today is an important victory, for me, and for the United Nations human rights system, he claimed. The focus will now move to the governments of the UK and the US and whether Assange will fly to Ecuador to avoid extradition to America WILL TRUMP ASK THE UK TO EXTRADITE JULIAN ASSANGE OR LET HIM SLIP AWAY? The White House and the Justice Department have remained tight-lipped after Swedish authorities announced the decision to drop their investigation into Julian Assange. The Trump administration's Justice Department has not confirmed whether it will seek the WikiLeaks founders extradition, or charge him, over the United States diplomatic cables leak in 2010. However, President Trump has made a number of emotional announcements about Assange, and leakers in general, through his Twitter account. 'It's OK with me,' President Trump said, when asked about the Justice Department potentially charging Assange If the U.S. attempts to extradite Mr Assange, the administration would be engaged in a huge effort to try a fugitive who Trump hailed during his campaign trail. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has stated that charging Assange is a priority for the Justice Department. President Trump replied: 'It's OK with me', when asked about the Justice Department potentially charging Assange. However, the President's own statements defending the WikiLeaks founder could complicate any legal action. President Trump has defended Julian Assange on Twitter Trump tweeted in January, just days before he took office: 'Julian Assange said 'a 14 year old could have hacked Podesta ' why was DNC so careless? Also said Russians did not give him the info! '. He was referencing the hack on Hillary Clinton campaign chair John Podesta's emails, which U.S. intelligence said was carried out by the Russians before being published by WikiLeaks. After Assange appeared on 'Hannity' on Fox News in January, Trump tweeted: '@FoxNews: Julian Assange on U.S. media coverage: "It's very dishonest." #Hannity "More dishonest than anyone knows." Advertisement Criticising the European arrest warrant system, he added: The UK government changed the law to prevent further extradition without charge from the UK. But it is still a problem for the rest of the European Union. I would like to thank the UN, particularly its human rights organisation. Today is an important victory and important vindication the road is far from over. The war, the proper war is just commencing as the UK has said it will arrest me regardless. James Berry, a Tory parliamentary candidate, said the situation was ridiculous. Moments after this morning's decision, he tweeted a picture of himself smiling. It was immediately retweeted by actress Pamela Anderson who has visited him at the embassy several times (pictured, in October) Sweden has decided to drop its investigation in to rape allegations made against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, it has emerged It is unbelievable Julian Assange is still a drain on the British taxpayer, he added. Huge amounts of money have been spent and he still refuses to surrender to British law enforcement. 'He is still wanted for breach of bail and he should do the decent thing and hand himself in and bring this whole thing to an end. Miss Fritz said: Proof of evidence in the case is available and that evidence should have been tried in court. Assange had initially faced four sex charges relating to two women. There was a secret plan to 'protect the Republic' had far-right candidate Marine Le Pen won the French election, it has been revealed. The emergency plan was drawn up by a small group of ministers, chiefs of staff and top civil servants and would have been launched had Le Pen defeated Emmanuel Macron on May 7. The plan prepared for 'extreme violence' - mainly from disgruntled far-left protesters - that was feared in the event of a Le Pen victory. An unnamed senior official said: 'It was like a multi-stage rocket. The philosophy, and the absolute imperative, was to keep the peace, while also respecting our constitutional rules.' There was a secret plan to 'protect the Republic' had far-right candidate Marine Le Pen won the French election, it's been revealed Fearing the country would have found itself on 'the brink of chaos', the plan involved 'freezing' the political situation by convening parliament in emergency session and keeping the outgoing prime minister in office. Le Pen would have had to 'cohabit' with a government and prime minister from a different party, which she could have changed only in the unlikely event of winning a parliamentary majority. Parliament would have been recalled on May 11 to discuss the 'national crisis and outbreaks of violence' caused by Le Pen's victory, the report from L'Obs claimed. A source told L'Obs magazine: 'The country would have come to a halt and the government would have just one priority, assuring the security of the state.' There were fears of 'outbreaks of violence' and a wave of protests (which there were before the election) had Le Pen won on May 7 Even before the first round of voting on April 23, intelligence services had announced that 'without exception, every local public safety directorate has expressed its concern', Le Parisien reported. And two days before the second round, the national public safety directorate issued a warning saying protesters were ready to 'deploy fireworks, mortars and incendiary bombs.' In the end, centrist Macron defeated Le Pen by 66 per cent to 34 per cent. Le Pen is now counting on the 10.6 million votes she received as a presidential candidate to propel her anti-immigration party into parliament in the June 11 and June 18 elections. She said: 'We are in reality the only opposition movement. We will have an essential role to play (and) a role in the recomposing of political life.' There were clashes between police and National Front supporters in the lead up to the election Le Pen will run for a seat in a district in her northern stronghold of Henin-Beaumont, a former mining region where she lost a similar bid in 2012. A new failure could jinx her bid to unite the National Front and to make it France's leading opposition party. Le Pen announced her candidacy while facing forces of division that could frustrate her new goals. Her popular niece Marion Marechal-Le Pen is leaving politics (at least temporarily), her disruptive father Jean-Marie Le Pen is back and her party is in disarray. Moreover recent polls have suggested support for the new movement formed by Macron is growing. The survey showed his La Republique en Marche party on 32 per cent of the vote, up six points since the May 7 election and well clear of its centre-right Les Republicains rivals on 19 per cent. The new president now is looking across the political spectrum to obtain a parliamentary majority to support his agenda. Le Pen announced her candidacy while facing forces of division that could frustrate her new goals Macron defeated Le Pen by 66 per cent to 34 per cent so the emergency plan was not needed In her first TV appearance since losing to Macron, Le Pen said last night that she had been too aggressive in the live debates. She said she wanted to appear 'pugnacious' but voters had viewed her as a 'little abrupt'. However she insisted she had been right to question Macron's pro-European agenda, adding: 'Perhaps history will show that I was right.' Shocking video has emerged showing the flurry of punches a Sydney boxer received to the head one round before he was dealt a fatal blow. Professional boxer Davey Browne, 28, died days after he was knocked to the canvas in the final moments of a super featherweight title fight at the Ingleburn RSL in 2015. An inquest heard the boxer was likely concussed after the round 11 onslaught, and therefore lacked the ability to defend himself during the final round. The inquest was shown footage of the bout's final moments, in which Browne received a blow that led to his death. Video has emerged showing the flurry of punches a Sydney boxer received to the head one round before he was dealt a fatal blow In the video, Browne receives a devastating combination of punches from Filipino Carlo Magali that sends him to the canvas In the video, Browne squares up in front of Filipino Carlo Magali with his arms lowered. Magali takes the opportunity and jabs the defenseless Browne with his left hand. The attack appears to stun Browne, as Magali follows up immediately with a devastating right-hand punch that causes the Australian to lose his balance. Browne tumbles to the canvas while his counterpart is ordered to return to his corner. The umpire begins to give Browne an eight-count, before he regains his feet and is given the all-clear to continue fighting. He was punched again soon after and fell back into the ropes shortly before the bell rang. 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: Browne with his wife and children The inquest heard that Browne's support team was more worried about him losing than his health when he returned injured to the corner. With the result still in doubt and with only one round to go, the referee continued the fight. Browne then stepped out for the final round in a 'perilous state', neurosurgeon Professor Brian Owler told the inquest. He said Browne's haemorrhage was the result of a violent and uncontrolled head movement, sustained in the final round. 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 'If someone had been in a position to defend themselves, to deflect or avoid that blow, then it wouldn't have struck the head in a manner to move it so violently,' he said. Browne's brother and cornerman Tommy Browne told the Glebe Coroner's Court on Thursday that they didn't 'really think too much' about how he was feeling after the flurry of punches. 'There should have been more concern for that than getting through the 12th round,' he told the inquest. Deputy state coroner Teresa O'Sullivan will determine whether Browne should have been assessed by a doctor after the 11th round and if trainer Todd Makelim, referee Charlie Lucas or ringside doctor Lawrence Noonan should have stopped the fight. Tommy Browne said he now wished someone from the corner had thrown in the towel. 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 One of the fight's judges, Kevin Hogan, said he's sure the referee also wishes he'd stopped it, but that it would have been difficult when Browne was close to a possible win. 'They didn't [stop] because it was at the end of the fight,' Mr Hogan, who said he thought the fight should have been stopped in the 11th round, told the inquest. Mr Hogan got the impression Mr Lucas had been close to calling it a few times. Both he and Tommy Browne said ringside doctors should have to inspect fighters more regularly. Browne's injuries were deemed unsurvivable at hospital and his family decided to turn off his life support. Two men were today arrested over the disappearance of a lawyer who mysteriously vanished after dropping her daughter off at school three weeks ago. Polish-born Renata Antczak was reported missing after leaving her home in Hull, East Yorkshire, on April 25. The 49-year-old has not been seen since leaving her house after dropping her 11-year-old daughter at school earlier that day. Today there was a large police presence outside Mrs Antczak's home and Humberside Police released a statement to confirm the arrests. Polish-born Renata Antczak was reported missing after leaving her home in Hull, East Yorkshire, on April 25. She is pictured with her dentist husband Majid Mustafa Mrs Antczak has not been seen since leaving her house after dropping her 11-year-old daughter at school earlier that day Keith Marston, who lives next door to the property, said: 'There were lots of cop cars and there was a police van and officers with white suits on. One of those officers got in (her) car and took it away.' A force spokesman said: 'Today we have arrested two men, aged 45 and 47, in connection with the disappearance of 49-year-old Renata Antczak on April 25. 'The arrests follow new information about her disappearance coming to light as part of the investigation into her whereabouts. 'In addition we are searching a number of addresses in Hull as part of ongoing enquiries. At this time no further details about the arrest will be made available.' A neighbour, who didn't wish to be named, spotted police outside the property at 7.30am but believed they could have been there much before. Today there was a large police presence outside Mrs Antczak's home in Hull, East Yorkshire Humberside Police stand outside the house of missing Mrs Antczak, 49, in Hull today The neighbour said: 'I saw two police at 7.30am and they were talking to someone at the door and I don't think the guy who lives there is there. 'Then a forensic team turned up with their white suits and hats and one of the forensic officers got in the Mercedes and drove it away from the drive onto a flatbed truck. Wedding day: Mrs Antczak's husband, Majid Mustafa, has previously said his wife had gone back to her native Poland to join a cult 'Then the detective turned up as well and you can tell it was a detective because he was all suited up. 'We don't know them very well. They tend to keep themselves to themselves and I've never even seen their little girl.' Forensic investigators have been seen going inside the property. Mrs Antczak's husband, Majid Mustafa, has said he believes his wife had gone back to her native Poland to join a cult. He said his wife had asked for a divorce in March and wanted to take their daughter, Victoria with her. Speaking about where he thought his wife may be, Mr Mustafa said: 'She said she was going to find a job and would put Victoria in a Polish school. 'I said I didn't accept that. I said, 'If you want to go to Poland and leave us and find a job, I don't think it's a good idea to take Victoria'. 'I was really surprised because there was nothing really wrong. I told her people divorce for more serious reasons, but she said no, she wanted a divorce. She wanted to be independent.' Police investigating Mrs Antczak's disappearance have said there is no evidence that she has left the country. Pensioners in Scotland will avoid cuts to the 300-a-year winter fuel payment in England, it emerged last night. Millions of English pensioners are expected to lose the payment under plans for means-testing, with the money saved spent on propping up the creaking social-care system. The payment is worth 200 a year for over-65s and 300 for over-80s. But yesterday Scottish Tories said the payments would continue north of the border because it is colder. Powers over welfare have been devolved to the Scottish government. Theresa May and Ruth Davidson shared the stage in Edinburgh today where they launched the Scottish Tory Party's manifesto, which will not cut winter fuel allowance Ms Davidson raced up the steps to introduce the PM on stage. She said the Scottish Tories have decided not to means-test winter fuel payments because of Scotland's colder weather The revelation sparked a furious row as writing in the Daily Mail today, Theresa May issues a stark warning against complacency and cautioned that the Tories were just six seats away from an election defeat; the Institute for Fiscal Studies warned that Labours plan to scrap the cap on public-sector pay rises would cost taxpayers 9billion a year; shadow chancellor John McDonnell caused fury by claiming previous praise for the sacrifice of IRA killers was an attempt to bring peace to Northern Ireland; and foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said he was still opposed to expanding Heathrow, despite the Conservative pledge to build a third runway in their manifesto. On Thursday, Mrs May said annual winter fuel payments which are paid to 12million pensioners should be means-tested. But pensioner groups and opposition politicians yesterday attacked the plan, saying all older people should keep the benefit, which costs the taxpayer 2billion a year. Mr McDonnell defended handing the cash to millionaires such as Sir Mick Jagger and Sir Alan Sugar, saying it was fair. He also said he kept the payment himself, despite earning nearly 100,000 a year. But Mrs May insisted the least well-off pensioners would be protected from cuts in England and said devolution meant that Scotland made its own decisions. Theresa May, pictured at the Scottish Tory Party's manifesto launch in Edinburgh today, has announced that the winter fuel allowance will be means-tested in England and Wales She said her Government would provide dignity for older people in their old age, but in a way that is fair across the generations. Asked why it was fair for people in Scotland to keep the payments while those in England lose them, she said: As a government we have given the Scottish government significant powers in relation to welfare. No deadline on migration No timetable has been set for the Tory plan to cut net migration to the tens of thousands, the Defence Secretary has admitted. Sir Michael Fallon said the aim to reduce the flow of migrants to Britain would come at a cost to the economy but the party could not calculate how high this will be as there is no fixed deadline. He told BBC Newsnight it was an ambition to get numbers down, but repeatedly refused to call the pledge a policy. The Conservative manifesto retained the target of getting net migration below 100,000 first introduced by David Cameron but Prime Minister Theresa May refused to set an arbitrary date to achieve it. Sir Michael suggested Brexit would make meeting the target easier. Advertisement The decision weve made about winter fuel payments is that we will continue to ensure that the least well-off pensioners are supported. But there is a principle of fairness where you see well-off pensioners getting help with their fuel bills and struggling ordinary families are not having that help. The money that is released from the change in the winter fuel payments will go into health and social care. Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson said the decision was made because Scotland had a colder climate and different housing stock. She also revealed Scotland would receive even more money as a result of the means-testing decision totalling some 200million. Pensioner groups reacted angrily to the decision. Caroline Abrahams, from Age UK, said: Theres an enormous risk that means-testing winter fuel payment will not only impact on the well-off, but also on those on modest incomes and some of the poorest and most disadvantaged older people of all. Jan Shortt, of the National Pensioners Convention, added: Pensioners will be outraged that the Conservatives are going to introduce a blatant postcode lottery for the winter fuel allowance. Labour campaign chief Andrew Gwynne said: The attack on winter fuel allowance is outrageous. Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said: The Tories are utter hypocrites. How can they take cash off English pensioners and then give it to Scottish pensioners? A tram driver has been suspended after appearing to fall asleep at the controls just three stops from the sites of last year's fatal Croydon disaster. The shocking incident occurred after the tram, heading towards Wimbledon, stopped at a red signal near East Croydon, but never set off again. Commuters said that when they went to investigate, they found the driver asleep, and had to bang on his compartment's windows in order to wake him up. A tram driver has been suspended after footage emerged of him appearing to fall asleep at the controls just three stops from the sites of last year's fatal Croydon disaster An urgent investigation has been launched by the tram operators, FirstGroup, while London Mayor Sadiq Khan has expressed that he is 'furious' over the incident, which was on Wednesday morning at around 8am. He is the second tram driver to be caught seemingly dozing off, after footage emerged of a similar incident just days after the tragedy. Mr Khan said: 'I am absolutely furious about this incident and I'm sure all Londoners will be as shocked as I am today. 'I have spoken to the chief executive of First Group, who operate the trams, to make my feelings crystal clear. 'I've demanded urgent answers from First Group, as well as a reassurance that every possible measure will be taken to keep passengers safe. 'I have also ordered TfL to immediately report this urgent matter to the Office of Rail and Road, and to the Rail Accident Investigation Branch.' Stunned commuters on the tram claimed there were around 50 passengers on board, including several young children. London Mayor Sadiq Khan took to Facebook to express that he is 'furious' over the footage A tram driver has been suspended after appearing to fall asleep at the controls just three stops from the sites of last year's fatal Croydon disaster (pictured) One told the Evening Standard: 'The tram stopped at the lights because he just fell asleep. We had to hit the windows to wake him up. 'I think he was there for about two minutes. If we didn't wake him up he'd have been asleep even longer.' Last month, four current and former drivers also admitted to the BBC that they have fallen asleep while driving a tram. They also said that a 'dead man's handle', a safety lever designed to stop the vehicle when it was on the move, did not work. A spokesman for First Group said: 'We are very clear that it is unacceptable for tram drivers to lose concentration, for any reason, during their shift. 'We have commenced a full investigation into this incident and will take all appropriate action. 'The driver in question has been suspended from duty pending the outcome of this investigation. 'We do not tolerate any violation of our safety policies, processes and procedures. 'Any employee found to be in contravention of these will face disciplinary action.' He is the second tram driver to be caught seemingly dozing off, after footage emerged of a similar incident (pictured) just days after the tragedy Leon Daniels, Managing Director, Surface Transport at TfL, said: 'We have taken immediate action to refer this footage to the industry regulator, the Office of Rail and Road and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, for urgent investigation. 'We have also instructed First Group, who operate the tram network, to take any further action necessary to ensure that they are dealing with driver tiredness in order to keep passengers completely safe.' Six men and one woman lost their lives in last November's Croydon tragedy, while of the 51 injured eight suffered serious or life threatening injuries and several passengers had limbs amputated. The driver was the only member of staff on board. The seven victims of the crash were Dane Chinnery, 19, Philip Logan, 52, Philip Seary, 57, Dorota Rynkiewicz, 35, and Robert Huxley, 63, all from New Addington, and Mark Smith, 35 and Donald Collett, 62, both from Croydon. The incident occurred at around 6.10am on a sharp bend near the Sandilands stop as the vehicle travelled from New Addington to Wimbledon. Pictured: The tram carriage that crashed at Sandilands station in Croydon on November 9 Investigators said the tram was travelling at a 'significantly higher speed' than the 12mph limit and are probing whether the driver had fallen asleep or was on his phone. A report by the RAIB, the UK's independent body for the investigation of tramway and railway accidents, said it was dark and raining heavily at the time of the crash but there is a reflective board noting the speed restriction. After leaving the previous station at Lloyd Park the tram travelled at up to 50mph in accordance with speed restriction. But the report says it entered the curve on the approach to Sandilands Junction at 43.5mph. Experts say it travelled for more than 80ft on its right side after derailing. The driver of the tram has since been revealed to be 42-year-old Alfred Dorris,from Beckenham. Labour party bosses have been slammed for refusing to pick the courageous health worker who smashed the Rochdale grooming scandal to stand as the town's MP. Sexual health worker Sara Rowbotham's brave battle to expose the town's child sex gangs has been portrayed by Maxine Peake in the hard-hitting BBC1 drama Three Girls this week. But she was overlooked for the Labour nomination to run as the town's MP when the party chose former police and crime commissioner Tony Lloyd. A decision by Labour not to make Rochdale social worker Sara Rowbotham (left) its parliamentary candidate has been criticised by the area's former MP Simon Danczuk (right) Ms Rowbotham's battle to expose grooming in the town was portrayed by Maxine Peake in the harrowing BBC drama Three Girls this week Former Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk, who spoke to victims and campaigned to raise awareness of the issue, has criticised the decision. He said: 'Labour missed a real opportunity to select a candidate with a fantastic track record, who broke up Rochdale's grooming gang. 'I wouldn't be standing as an independent if Sara - a great local councillor - had been chosen. People in Rochdale would have preferred her.' Ms Rowbotham worked for the NHS' crisis intervention team in Rochdale from 2004 to 2014 and referred cases of abused girls to police, only for her concerns to be ignored. She reportedly made more than 100 referrals to police, beginning in 2004, but it wasn't until 2012 that convictions were made against nine of the men involved in the abuse. Viewers were furious to discover she lost her job after the scandal finally emerged, but she has since become a local councillor and insists she is not against Labour's decision to pick Mr Lloyd as a candidate. Labour decided to make former Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd its candidate Ms Rowbotham said: 'Tony is the best candidate for Rochdale and will make an excellent MP. I applied for the vacancy and was pleased myapplication to be interviewed by the party was successful. 'It was a fair and open selection process and the best candidate won. Tony is far more experienced and has the support of the people of Rochdale.' Ms Rowbotham suffered personally with poor health after the true nature of the sex ring was exposed and was redundant from her job in 2014. She previously wrote in the Guardian: 'My calls to police were ignored and social workers told me the girls were making lifestyle choices. 'We'd make them a cup of tea, take them to a sexual health clinic to test for and treat sexually transmitted infections and call the police. But, again, the police didn't want to know.' The scandal in the north west town has been brought into focus by the drama which aired this week. Pictured, actresses Ria Zmitrowicz, Liv Hull and Lisa Riley She added: 'How it took the police so long to act to protect children from evil criminals, why social services showed wilful blindness in ignoring what was happening and how so many agencies had collectively failed to act much earlier.' Simon Danczuk resigned from Labour this month after he was banned from standing as the partys candidate at the general election next month. The 50-year-old is now running as an independent for the seat at the same time as being the subject of an investigation into a rape allegation, which he denies. Leaving Fox News - the station he founded - 'broke' Roger Ailes' heart and he was 'never the same' after his departure, his former colleague Bill O'Reilly said yesterday. The media guru and political strategist died yesterday in Palm Beach, Florida aged 77. And in an op-ed published Friday, he added, 'Roger Ailes experienced.. hatred and it killed him. That is the truth.' Ailes resigned from Fox in July after accusations of sexual harassment while O'Reilly left the network last month. Ailes died Thursday after falling in his Florida home. Bill O'Reilly says the hatred killed him During a four-minute tribute on his podcast yesterday, Mr O'Reilly praised Mr Ailes as a visionary and someone who 'didn't take any guff from the left or the right' politically. Mr O'Reilly said that Mr Ailes' departure from Fox News 'broke his heart,' and after he was forced out Ailes was 'never the same.' Mr O'Reilly was fired from his top-rated show at Fox in April after reports surfaced that the network had settled lawsuits with five women who alleged he sexually harassed them. Mr O'Reilly has denied those accusations. In USA Today O'Reilly called his former boss 'a force of nature with an agenda... to infuse America with traditional philosophy.' And he defended him despite the allegations of sexual assault In 1996 Roger Ailes accepted a challenge from media titan Rupert Murdoch to build a news network from scratch to compete with CNN and other TV outlets they deemed left-leaning 'When Roger departed Fox News last July under a cloud of suspicion, the vast majority of Fox employees were sad... It's easy to make judgments from afar but fair people know that seeking the truth is a complicated and demanding process. 'We are living in a rough age, with technological advances changing behavior and perspective. The downside of that is turning us into a nation where hatred is almost celebrated in some quarters. 'Roger Ailes experienced that hatred and it killed him. That is the truth.' O'Reilly ended by writing, 'It was a privilege to know him.' Mr Ailes is credited with transforming television news and America's political conversation by creating and ruling the Fox News Channel for two decades before being ousted last year for alleged sexual harassment. A former GOP operative to candidates including Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush and a one-time adviser to President Donald Trump, Ailes' TV network changed the face of 24-hour news. In early 1996, he accepted a challenge from media titan Rupert Murdoch to build a news network from scratch to compete with CNN and other TV outlets they deemed left-leaning. But in little more than two weeks, both his legacy and job unraveled following allegations by former anchor Gretchen Carlson that he had forced her out of Fox News after she spurned his sexual advances. The lawsuit quickly triggered accounts from more than 20 women with similar stories. According to reports, Fox news settled for $20 million after former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson filed a sexual harassment lawsuit on July 6, 2016 against the former Fox News chief Authorities in Florida said that Roger Ailes died of bleeding on the brain caused by an earlier fall at his home. The Palm Beach County Medical Examiner's Office said Mr Ailes died of a subdural hematoma - or bleeding on the brain - caused by the fall. The death has been ruled accidental and there was no evidence of foul play. According to a Palm Beach police report, a caller contacted 911 dispatchers just before 2 p.m. on May 10, saying Ailes had fallen in his bathroom, hit his head and had serious bleeding. News Corporation chief Rupert Murdoch (R) speaking at the press conference where it was announced that Roger Ailes (L) would head the new Fox 24-hour news network. Murdoch said he would spend $80 million a year on the project to compete with CNN and silmilar networks The caller said Ailes was not responding appropriately to questions and was still on the ground. Paramedics arrived within a minute and he was taken to a hospital. Many other tributes have flooded social media platforms and the airwaves to mourn the Fox News founder's death. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich also paid public tribute to the Fox News Channel founder. 'In the years I worked with Ailes he was a great mentor, deeply patriotic, committed to Fox News and really worried about America,' Gingrich, a Republican, wrote on Twitter. 'Roger Ailes was a genius at politics and the news media. His advice to Presidents Nixon and Reagan was historic and helped elect both,' he said. David Axelrod, a longtime political adviser to former President Barack Obama, also acknowledged the legacy of former Fox News chief Roger Ailes. A former GOP operative to candidates including Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush and a one-time adviser to President Donald Trump, Ailes' TV network changed the face of 24-hour news. He died yesterday, aged 77 after a fall at his home in Florida 'For better or worse & the ignominious end to his reign at Fox News, the impact of Roger Ailes on American politics & media was indisputable,' Mr Axelrod tweeted yesterday. In 2009, Mr Axelrod said the Fox News Channel is 'not really a news station' and that much of the programming is 'not really news.' Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a former Fox News personality and Roger Ailes' friend, called the former Fox chief 'a genius.' 'More than anyone, Roger knew how to frame the message and communicate it to the masses,' Huckabee said. 'The GOP has long had a problem speaking to people beyond the board room and country club - Roger changed that. He was a genius.' Former President George H.W. Bush also added his voice to the many on social media mourning Ailes, saying his election in 1988 was in part due to the media strategist. Ailes acted as a consultant to Bush during his 1988 presidential bid, as well as helping former Presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. 'He wasn't perfect, but Roger Ailes was my friend & I loved him. Not sure I would have been President w/o his great talent, loyal help. RIP' Fox personalities including Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham also shared their memories of Mr Ailes. 'Roger Ailes founded one of the most important and successful media outlets in American history. I will miss his friendship dearly. RIP,' Ingraham wrote on Twitter. Sean Hannity also took to the microblogging site to mourn his old boss: 'He has dramatically and forever changed the political and the media landscape singlehandedly for the better.' Fox News executive chairman Rupert Murdoch issued a statement on the death of Roger Ailes, saying the media giant was 'shocked and grieved' by his passing. 'A brilliant broadcaster, Roger played a huge role in shaping America's media over the last 30 years. He will be remembered by the many people on both sides of the camera that he discovered, nurtured and promoted,' the statement read. 'Roger and I shared a big idea which he executed in a way no one else could have. In addition, Roger was a great patriot who never ceased fighting for his beliefs.' Advertisement Residents at one of the world's largest centres of Tibetan Buddhism have been evicted and their homes have been destroyed in a bid to cut the area's population in half. Authorities in China are seeking to cut the population at Larung Gar, a world renowned Buddhism centre down to 5,000. Overseas Tibetan groups claim that the forced evictions and demolitions are an attempt by the Chinese government to stop the spread of Buddhism in the country. In these images taken on Monday April 3, workers are seen near Timber debris among a demolished part of the monastery Chinese authorities in southwestern Sichuan province have evicted followers and demolished hundreds of homes at one of the world's largest centres of Tibetan Buddhism The demolishion of the living quarters in the area has caused outrage among overseas Tibetan groups who claim that the Chinese government are trying to stop people from engaging in religious activities Photos taken on April 3 show the effect of the demolition with selected houses across the mountainside left destroyed. Chinese officials are hoping to curb the area's population to 5,000, half of what it is now Larung Gar is one of the biggest Tibetan Buddhism centres in the world. The academy and monastery was founded in 1980 and attracts thousands who wish to study Buddhism there. Photos show a selection of houses that have been demolished on the mountain side. Monks can also be seen walking alongside demolition workers as they try to continue their lives as normally as possible. Local officials claim that they are carrying out the evictions and demolitions in order to prevent overcrowding. They also say they want to renovate Larung Gar, a sprawling mountainside settlement which houses nuns and monks staying at the centre for several months. While Hong Kong Free Press reported officials claiming they were improving tourist paths, public safety and fire risk while also modernising the area. Larung Gar is one of the biggest Tibetan Buddhism centres in the world. The academy and monastery was founded in 1980 and attracts thousands who wish to study Buddhism there Local officials claim that they are carrying out the evictions and demolitions in order to prevent overcrowding. However another official warned last year that the centre needed to integrate into modern life Officials were also reported saying that they were improving tourist paths, public safety and fire risk while also modernising the area. However many overseas Tibetan groups argue that the government is aiming to deter people from visiting Photos show the demolition underway: Earlier this year, a video circulated on social media showing young Tibetan nuns from the monastery being directed to pledge their patriotic loyalty inside a government building In May last year, members of the Larung Gar Buddhist Academy were told they needed to upgrade basic facilities to let the monastery integrate into modern life and modern civilisation. Cui Baohua, a senior Sichuan official asked the monks and nuns to support their work. Overseas Tibetan groups claim that the government is trying to stop overseas visitors and China's Han ethnic majority from being attracted to the area. China is considered to be an atheist country. Overseas Tibetan groups claim that the government is trying to stop overseas visitors and China's Han ethnic majority from being attracted to the area Tibetan Buddhist nuns and monks gather near demolition workers at the house and monastery complex built on the mountain also known as Sertar Buddhist Institution or Larung Gar Last year several United Nations special rapporteurs wrote to the Chinese government in November last year to express concern about the 'serious repression' of Buddhist Tibetan cultural and religious practices in the region Earlier this year, a video circulated on social media showing young Tibetan nuns from the monastery being directed to pledge their patriotic loyalty inside a government building. While several United Nations special rapporteurs wrote to the Chinese government in November last year to express concern about 'serious repression' of Buddhist Tibetan cultural and religious practices in the region. Radio Free Asia has also reported that those who have already left the area have been moved on again by the government. Chinese authorities in southwestern Sichuan province have evicted followers and razed scores of homes at one of the world's largest centres of Tibetan Buddhist centres Local officials claim that they are carrying out the evictions and demolitions in order to prevent overcrowding. They also say they want to renovate Larung Gar, a sprawling mountainside settlement which houses nuns and monks staying at the centre for several months Overseas Tibetan groups claim that the government is trying to stop overseas visitors and China's Han ethnic majority from being attracted to the area Netflix faced embarrassment at the Cannes Film Festival when the world premiere of its $50million movie Okja was stopped because of a technical glitch and audience members booed when its logo appeared at the beginning. 'Okja', starring Tilda Swinton and Jake Gyllenhaal, is one of the hottest movies at this year's festival but has proved controversial because Netflix has refused to screen it in French cinemas. The movie was jeered when its logo first appeared and there were further boos when the film stopped five minutes in after what the festival described as 'a technical incident'. Actors Jake Gyllenhaal and Tilda Swinton star in 'Okja'. They are pictured at a photocall in Cannes on Friday with South Korean director Bong Joon-ho Film journalists tweeting about the 'chaos' in the screening room said riots were about to break out. 'Okja starts, huge boos at Netflix logo. Then film plays in wrong aspect ratio and Grand Lumiere almost rioted. Movie stopped,' IndieWire's David Ehrlich said. French journalist Elena Lazic tweeted: 'That didn't start well. Screen not open properly, significantly cropped at top. 20 riotous minutes before projectionist stopped projection.' The festival quickly issued an apology, insisting the error was technical and not anti-Netflix sabotage. Audience member Ernesto Garratt, a journalist with the Chilean newspaper El Mercurio, said the crowd started booing partly because the aspect ratio was wrong [which cut off the edges of the picture] but also because of the distribution dispute. 'They were booing for both reasons', he said. Staff adjusted the curtains at the side of the screen and restarted the film from the beginning shortly afterwards and there was a warm round of applause at the end. Tilda Swinton is pictured in 'Okja', a $50-million creature feature about a young country girl who tries to save a beast created by an unscrupulous multinational company. The film had been touted as a possible winner of the festival's top prize, the Palme d'Or 'Okja starts, huge boos at Netflix logo. Then film plays in wrong aspect ratio and Grand Lumiere almost rioted. Movie stopped,' IndieWire's David Ehrlich said 'Okja', starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Tilda Swinton, and directed by Bong Joon Ho is one of the hottest movies at this year's festival Actors Jake Gyllenhaal, from left, Tilda Swinton and director Bong Joon-Ho pose for photographers during the photo call for the film Okja at the 70th international film festival Director Bong Joon-Ho, from left, actresses Tilda Swinton and Ahn Seo-Hyun in Cannes - there has been controversy at Netflix's decision not to screen the film in French cinemas Actors Byung Heebong, from left, Steven Yeun, Ahn Seo-Hyun, Devon Bostick, Lily Collins and Paul Dano pose for photographers during the photo call for the film Okja The film is a South Korean-American adventure movie about a young girl named Mija who tries to prevent a multi-national company from kidnapping her best friend, a massive super-pig named Okja. Earlier this week, Cannes jury chair Pedro Almodovar agreed that films should have to be screened in cinemas if producers wanted them to be considered. Director of Okja, Bong Joon Ho, said he 'loved working with Netflix', saying it was a luxury to be given such an enormous budget. He said: 'I loved working with Netflix - they gave me great support and the budget for the film is considerable. That is unusual for a director. 'I had total liberty - they never intervened, they truly respected me from beginning to end.' He made light of the technical glitch that prompted the festival to restart the film. 'I'm quite happy with it because it forces you people to watch the opening sequence twice,' he said. 'There is so (much) information and story elements there. So very educational. I love it.' A view of 'Okja' film signage during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival. Netflix sparked controversy by refusing to show the film in French cinemas ahead of the festival Swinton, who stars in the film, also defended it saying: 'The truth is we didn't actually come here for prizes - we came to show this film to the Cannes film festival and people who gathered here from all over the world. 'Let's be honest, there are thousands of films that are screened in the Cannes film festival that people don't see in the cinema. 'It's all an evolutionary process and Netflix have given Bong Joon-Ho the chance to make this absolutely liberated vision a reality and for that I am so grateful.' Gyllenhaal, who co-stars in the film as the hysterical TV host of a nature programme, defended streaming as the easiest way to get adventurous movies to the biggest possible audience worldwide. 'I think the platform of a film - how far it can reach, to how many people it can get to to communicate a message - is extraordinarily important,' he said. 'I think it's truly a blessing when any art gets to reach one person, let alone hundreds of thousands upon millions of people.' In a statement the festival said: 'This incident was entirely the responsibility of the Festival's technical service, which offers its apologies to the director, his teams, the producers and the audience at the showing.' In a separate incident at the Cannes Film Festival, there were also booing on Thursday when the Amazon logo appeared at the start of Wonderstruck, which stars Julianne Moore and Michelle Williams. Senior Democrats have urged caution amid calls to oust Donald Trump from the White House. On Wednesday Representative Al Green called on the House to impeach the President following his firing of FBI Director James Comey. But Representative Adam B Schiff, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, warned it could be interpreted as a means of nullifying the election 'by other means'. Democrat Adam Schiff warned that impeachment calls could be seen as a means of nullifying the election 'by other means' Schiff said, the New York Times reports: 'No one ought to, in my view, rush to embrace the most extraordinary remedy that involves the removal of the president from office.' He warned that pressing for an impeachment could 'be perceived as an effort to nullify the election by other means'. Schiff also warned that a lot more information is needed before a decision can be made on impeachment. But he has described claims the President shared sensitive information with Russian officials, which emerged last week, as 'deeply disturbing'. The House Intelligence Committee, of which he is the most senior Democratic member, yesterday requested more documents from the Department of Justice and the FBI related to its ongoing Russia probe. These would include any on Trump's dismissal of Comey. In a statement he and Republican Mike Conaway said they were seeking the documents as part of their own ongoing probe into alleged Russian interference into the 2016 US election. Trump himself claimed to be the victim of the greatest political witch- hunt in US history after a former FBI chief was appointed to investigate his alleged links to Russia On Wednesday Green told the Senate: 'This is about my position. This is about what I believe. And this is where I stand. I will not be moved. The President must be impeached.' Trump himself claimed to be the victim of the greatest political witch- hunt in US history after a former FBI chief was appointed to investigate his alleged links to Russia. Robert Mueller has sweeping powers to examine suspicions Moscow helped Trump win the presidency last year. The move ups the stakes in the scandal that has been compared to Watergate. It is the biggest legal threat to a president since Kenneth Starr was hired to investigate Bill Clinton over the Monica Lewinsky scandal, which led to his failed impeachment. Robert Mueller has sweeping powers to examine suspicions Moscow helped Trump win the presidency last year Special counsel Mr Mueller has almost total independence and the authority to prosecute any crimes he uncovers. Trump, who was told of the appointment only after it had been confirmed, lashed out on Twitter, asking why former rival Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama had not been probed. He wrote: With all of the illegal acts that took place in the Clinton campaign & Obama Administration, there was never a special councel [sic] appointed! This is the single greatest witch-hunt of a politician in American history! The appointment of Meuller has not satisfied some within the Democratic party calling for Trump's removal, however. Charles Chamberlain, executive director of the liberal advocacy group Democracy for America said, the New York Times reports: 'This latest move by the Trump administration is too little, too late. We cannot afford to have Congress sit back and watch this play out the same way it just did, with Trump and his stooges obstructing another investigation into their corruption and high crimes. 'Congress needs to act now to impeach Trump.' And Democratic reps John Yarmuth Mark Pocan have said Democrats are 'pretty close' to considering impeachment, and Comey's firing moved Trump's 'impeachment clock' an 'hour closer'. Schiff, speaking of claims that Trump shared intelligence during meetings with Russian officials, said: 'That the Russians would be the potential recipients of this intelligence and may be able to determine its source is all the more problematic, since the Russian interest in Syria and elsewhere is, in many respects, deeply antithetical to our own.' He added that he wants the House intelligence committee fully briefed on what, if anything, was shared with the Russian officials. US House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has pushed back against calls by at least two congressional Democrats for President Donald Trump to be impeached Earlier this week Democratic House leader Nancy Pelosi pushed back against calls from within her party to impeach the President Trump following allegations he disclosed top secret information to top Russian officials. The minority leader in the House of Representatives was responding to calls by at least two congressional Democrats for Trump to be impeached in the wake of Monday's explosive Washington Post report. 'I don't subscribe to that,' Pelosi told a CNN town hall Monday night. 'What are the facts that you would make a case on? What are the rules that he may have violated? 'If you don't have that case, you're just participating in more hearsay.' This is the horrifying moment a university student violently kicks a little girl at a Chinese restaurant on May 12. According to reports, the student was fed up with the girl screaming which she claimed had disturbed her romantic date. Video footage shows the incident turning into a giant brawl between the two parties inside a restaurant in northern Dalian, China. Vicious: The university student goes over to the table and brutally kicks the child The mother intervenes and starts to beat the student in retaliation for the attack They continue to fight for some time and restaurant staff are forced to intervene The video was filmed in the Hang Lung Plaza shopping mall at around 7.30 in the evening. In the footage, the student can be seen sat eating with her date. The child is on the table behind the couple and gets up and moves around. All of a sudden, the student angrily gets up and goes over to the girl who is behind a chair. According to news.china.com, the student cursed at the girl and 'told her to die'. The student viciously kicks the young child. Shocking: The brawl continues for some time as restaurant staff try to break it up According to reports, the female student threatened to kill the child for being too noisy As soon as the student kicks the four-year-old girl, the mother rushes over and starts to fight the student. The boyfriend of the student comes over to try and break up the fight. But other people with the mother also join in. Restaurant staff are forced to try and intervene. The student threw a bottle at a friend of the mother who was holding the girl. She leaves and the mother tries to chase her. Bizarrely the mother then gets into an altercation with a member of restaurant staff trying to hold her back. They too then start fighting. A 44-year-old woman has been accused of faking a brain tumour to collect $40,000 in donations from friends and family before travelling overseas to splash her cash. Debbie Coughlan from Murwillumbah, NSW, told her friends she was diagnosed with a pineal brain tumour and desperately needed medical funds. She claimed the only doctor who could operate on her tumour was a clinic in the U.S., and asked for money to fly there, A Current Affair reports. Debbie Coughlan (pictured) told friends she was suffering from a brain tumour and desperately needed funds to pay for surgery Her local town rallied together to donate money to her cause - but now have reason to believe she never had brain cancer The town rallied together and managed to raise around $40,000 in generous donations. One man - Mark Lawrence - even donated $700 of his own cash to a woman he thought was dying. A fundraiser with dozens of attendees was even held in Ms Coughlan's name to help raise the funds. But her friends now claim she lied about having the disease. 'It just baffled me that someone would do that... and to their so-called friends,' one man said. 'It demeans what cancer patients are going through. It just makes a joke of it,' another female friend said. Ms Coughlan told people she was heading to Skull Base Institute in Los Angeles to receive life-saving surgery, but her friends claim there was little proof she ever went there. A fundraiser with dozens of attendees and friends was even held in Ms Coughlan's name A Gofundme page was even made to raise funds for Ms Coughlan (pictured) and she received a total of $40,000 in donations Ms Coughlan told people she was heading to Skull Base Institute in Los Angeles to receive life-saving surgery, but her friends found little proof she ever went there. Cancer survivor Karen Court asked Ms Coughlan to provide documents to prove she was heading to LA for surgery, but said she refused to cough them up. Ms Coughlan then travelled to America in October 2016 for her alleged surgery, but photos surfaced on social media of her sight-seeing and even attending a wedding when she was supposed to be recovering. A Current Affair contacted Skull Base Institute in LA but surgeons there claimed they have never heard of Ms Coughlan. She also claims to have received chemotherapy at another hospital that says she has never stepped foot in the door. "What has changed is that the House of Saud is now dealing directly with a member of the Trump family." Quite a lede in this New York Times story on the role that Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner played in a $110 Billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia, just before Trump's very first overseas trip as President to, you guessed it, Saudi Arabia. On the afternoon of May 1, President Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, welcomed a high-level delegation of Saudis to a gilded reception room next door to the White House and delivered a brisk pep talk: "Let's get this done today." Mr. Kushner was referring to a $100 billion-plus arms deal that the administration hoped to seal with Saudi Arabia in time to announce it during Mr. Trump's visit to the kingdom this weekend. The two sides discussed a shopping list that included planes, ships and precision-guided bombs. Then an American official raised the idea of the Saudis' buying a sophisticated radar system designed to shoot down ballistic missiles. Sensing that the cost might be a problem, several administration officials said, Mr. Kushner picked up the phone and called Marillyn A. Hewson the chief executive of Lockheed Martin, which makes the radar system and asked her whether she could cut the price. As his guests watched slack-jawed, Ms. Hewson told him she would look into it, officials said. A gentle reminder that Kushner was not elected to public office. The striking similarity between the rise of Jared Kushner in America and Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia: https://t.co/9HwetaGgT3 pic.twitter.com/y7C0tq9OFM The New Yorker (@NewYorker) May 12, 2017 NEW: Jared Kushner worked with Saudi Arabia to seal deal to invest as $40 billion in U.S. infrastructure. @DNair5 https://t.co/Lz57cQR8Jd Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) May 11, 2017 The Tories are facing calls to set out when their immigration target will be hit. A row has broken out the day after the Prime Minister unveiled the party's manifesto, including bold pitches for Labour's traditional voters. Mrs May insisted she was the only leader who could be trusted to take hard choices as she said wealthy pensioners would have to contribute more to help out the younger generation. Sir Michael Fallon was grilled over the goal of reducing net annual immigration below 100,000 The document also renewed the Tory pledge to bring net migration down below 100,000 a year - from its current level of around 270,000. But Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has been pressed on whether the figure amounts to a firm target. Interviewed on BBC2's Newsnight programme, Sir Michael repeatedly described it as an 'aim' and an 'ambition'. And he declined to say when the level, which was also including in the 2010 and 2015 Tory manifestos, could be reached. Presenter Evan Davis asked Sir Michael: 'It is a policy to get immigration down to tens of thousands isn't it, or is it not?' Mr Fallon replied: 'It's our ambition to get it down to the tens of thousands. It's an ambition and we've had it in previous manifestos.' He added: 'It is an aim and we intend to continue to aim to reduce the level of immigration.' The Prime Minister yesterday unveiled a crackdown on foreign citizens exploiting the immigration system while keeping the pledge to slash the numbers coming here to the 'tens of thousands'. Vowing to 'bear down on immigration from outside the EU', Theresa May promised tougher rules and a fresh drive to tackle health tourism. Prime Minister Theresa May's Tory manifesto, published yesterday, commits the Conservatives to pulling out of the single market, the customs union and European Court of Justice, and reaffirms the PMs threat to walk away from a bad trade deal The Tory Party manifesto warned migration was 'too high and too fast', threatening social cohesion. It said that, at 273,000 in the year to September, net migration the number of migrants arriving in the UK minus those leaving needed to be cut to 'sustainable levels'. Mrs May said a raft of proposals would allow a Tory government to lower net migration to below 100,000 but she refused to set an arbitrary date for hitting the target. Firms employing skilled non-EU workers would see the Immigration Skills Charge double to 2,000 a year per employee, with the cash used to train millions of apprentices. It aims to deter businesses from avoiding obligations to improve the skills of the British workforce, and the manifesto does not rule out extending the levy to EU workers after Brexit. The Prime Minister has been launching the Scottish Tory manifesto in Edinburgh today Explosive: The PM launched her party's manifesto in Halifax yesterday morning, left, before meeting David Armstrong from the missiles producer MBDA in Bolton, right. The manifesto contains major reforms to social care, ditches the pensions triple-lock and scraps free school lunches in favour of free primary school breakfasts Mrs May faced down a Cabinet revolt by vowing to keep foreign students in the migration figures. Removing them could slash the headline number by more than a third, but she believes doing so would be duping the public. The manifesto also promised tougher visa requirements for overseas students. It said: 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. Figures show 50,000 foreign students a year stay in the UK after completing courses. And the Tories would raise the 18,600 salary threshold UK citizens must meet before their non-EU spouses can gain a British visa. The party also unveiled measures to combat health tourism. Patients would be issued an NHS number only if they could prove they were eligible for free healthcare. This is the ten-digit number given to all patients either at birth or when they first register with a GP. Those without an NHS number who needed emergency care would still be treated, but given an invoice afterwards. The Tories also promised to treble the immigration surcharge insurance fees paid by migrants to cover the cost of NHS care. It would rise to 650, with international students paying 150. Advertisement A photographer has captured the incredible moment a daredevil highliner stepped onto a wire with the Milky Way and Southern Lights glowing behind him. Professional highliner Lukas Irmler walked along the wire at popular highlining spot Cape Pillar, Tasmania in February. Photographer Valentin Rapp - who was a former highliner himself - captured the moment and said he was in shock when he realised he was witnessing Aurora Australis. A photographer has captured the incredible moment a daredevil highliner stepped onto a wire with the Milky Way and Southern Lights glowing behind him Professional highliner Lukas Irmler walked along the wire at popular highlining spot Cape Pillar, Tasmania in February 'When I set up my casual night timelapse I saw some weird green shadows in the test pictures and wasn't sure what was happening,' Mr Rapp said. 'I did some more test shots and saw that the green lights were moving every frame, but then it suddenly clicked what it was I was seeing.' Mr Rapp's perfectly timed images show the highliner walking across a wire with a picturesque backdrop of the Milky Way and Aurora Australis. 'I really had not expected to see the Aurora at all, I was so excited about being able to see the real thing,' he said. Photographer Valentin Rapp - who was a former highliner himself - captured the moment and said he was in shock when he realised he was witnessing Aurora Australis Earlier this month, Mr Rapp also photographed Mr Irmler suspended 400m above crashing waves and jagged rocks in Tasmania 'I started highlining before I became a professional photographer. Usually I also walk all the highlines I take photos of. 'It is always very exciting for me because I know exactly what they are feeling in that moment of being on the line.' Earlier this month, Mr Rapp also photographed Mr Irmler suspended 400m above crashing waves and jagged rocks in Tasmania. Mr Irmler teeters between two sea cliffs as the breathtaking snapshots capture him holding his arms out while nervously crossing the wire. Ke Xu is trying to be deported to make his fortune in China This is the 'Billion Dollar Brain' investment genius who is trying to be deported so he can make his fortune in China, after he memorised trade secrets worth 31million. Ke Xu, 33, was locked up for hacking into the computers at the London hedge fund he worked for, Trenchant, and stealing its money-making algorithms. Trenchant are now fighting to keep their former employee in the country to stop him taking the algorithms, used to programme trading strategies into computers, to rival firms in the Far East. They are willing to pay the 33-year-old up to 48,000 a year to live in the UK until the sequences, said to be stored 'in his head', become redundant in August 2018. The company's lawyers have urged Home Office officials to postpone deportation proceedings against Xu, who was jailed for four years after hacking into computer systems and accessing intellectual property worth millions of dollars on the stock market in 2014. The Cambridge maths graduate - who was jailed for a further 18 months in January after refusing to return the codes - is using human rights laws to oppose the plan, claiming the financial tech firm wants to keep him trapped and under surveillance in a 'gilded cage'. He earned 485,000 including bonuses from Trenchant in 2013, but became disillusioned, believing he should have been paid more than 1 million. Sin city: Ke Xu was locked up for hacking into the computers at the London hedge fund he worked for Xu had stolen the codes by the time he abruptly resigned in August 2014 and flew to Hong Kong to tout himself to headhunters in the financial sector - but he was arrested and extradited to the UK in December 2014. The former Goldman Sachs analyst claims his parents dumped his computers in the Yangtze River to stop him getting in any more trouble after he was jailed in 2015. Xu told jurors the computers they didn't dump were given to his two cousins - he claims one has since died and had a laptop cremated with him, while the other hardware was stolen in a burglary. His defence barrister Tom Wainwright said: 'Physical copies have gone, but I accept it is still in his head.' Judge David Tomlinson, who must decide whether Xu can leave the UK when he leaves prison on licence, observed: 'And possibly also in the heads of others.' A Tanzanian woman made her fortune by pretending to be a man working in a mine - and only had her identity unmasked when she was accused of rape. Pili Hussein was 31 when she ran away from her abusive husband and in search of work, she arrived in the small town of Mererani, the only place in the world where mining for a rare, violet-blue gemstone called tanzanite takes place. However women were not allowed in the mining area and so she hatched a cunning plan to enter the mine, located just south of Africa's highest mountain, Kilimanjaro. Pili Hussein, 60, disguised herself as a man to work in a mine in Tanzania She was 31 when she ran away from her abusive husband and in search of work, she arrived in Mererani (pictured), the only place in the world where mining for tanzanite takes place 'I took on the name of Mjomba Hussein (Uncle Hussein)', she told UN Women. 'My ski cap hid my hair and part of my face. I abandoned my skirt for loose trousers and long sleeved shirts. 'I worked alongside men for 10 12 hours every day; they never suspected that I was a woman. I drank Konyagi (local gin) and joked with the men about which village women I liked. 'The miners treated me as an equal and even sought my counsel. I was able to convince them to stop harassing the village women.' Speaking to the BBC Magazine, she added: 'I acted like a gorilla. 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.' After about a year she uncovered two massive clusters of tanzanite stones, 1000 grams and 800 grams each. With the money 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. Her true identity was only unmasked due to an extraordinary turn of events. A local woman had claimed she'd been raped by some of the miners and Pili was arrested as a suspect. She was taken to a police station and had no choice but to come clean. She asked the police to find a woman to physically examine her, to prove she couldn't be responsible, and she was released straight away. After about a year she uncovered two massive clusters of tanzanite stones, 1000 grams and 800 grams each Her fellow miners found it hard to believe she was a woman, until she married in 2001. However with the money she made, the 60-year-old was able to set up her own mining company and now employs 70 workers, as well as having 150 acres of land, 100 cows and a tractor. She told UN Women: 'I have sent 32 children from my family to school. I want to work with younger women to teach them how to do business in the mining sector. I never had anyone to guide me and had to live with a false identity as a man, just to access the mines. It doesn't have to be this way for the next generation.' A conman branded a 'snake oil salesman' by a judge for duping overweight people out of 400,000 by renting them fake slimming machines, has walked free from court A conman branded a 'snake oil salesman' by a judge for duping overweight people out of 400,000 by renting them fake slimming machines, has walked free from court. Aaron O'Brian Nickols, 34, from Burbage, Leicestershire, boasted in advertisements that the machines were a 'revolutionary treatment' which promised to melt away fat for users with no exercise. Customers were told to rub a jelly on their bodies and place the circular pads of the 'liposuction' device on themselves. But the device was actually designed to polish metal and could be dangerous if used on the body. Nickols paid 170 for the machines on eBay and rented them out for 49-a-week through his company, UK Weight Loss Network. He raked in around 400,000 with the scam over an 18-month period between May 2014 and October 2015. Trading Standards officials launched an investigation after customers complained the machines didn't work and gave people electric shocks. Last month he admitted supplying unsafe appliances, engaging in a commercial practice which contravened the requirements of professional diligence and false advertising. Nickols received a nine month sentence, suspended for two years, when he appeared at Coventry Crown Court on Thursday. He was also handed 150 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay 5,000 in prosecution costs. Recorder Peter Ievins said: 'I'm satisfied you are a snake oil salesman, and I sentence you for the two of the offences on the indictment to which you have pleaded guilty, and for a summary-only offence. Aaron O'Brian Nickols, 34, (pictured) boasted in advertisements that the machines were a 'revolutionary treatment' which promised to melt away fat for users with no exercise 'These are serious offences that cover a significant period of time. Large sums of money are involved, which afforded you a comfortable lifestyle. 'I am satisfied the devices were entirely sham.' The court heard how the crook set up the UK Weight Loss Network in 2013 as a sole trader, after previously being prohibited from working as a financial advisor. Nickols, who has county court judgements against him and was made bankrupt in 2011, placed false ads in newspapers for his 'cavitation' weight loss method. Trading under the name Paul Jones, Nickols also denied customers their legal cancellation rights. Pictured, Trading Standards officer Eleanor Lake holding the device Despite trading in Rugby and Wolston, Nickols used false addresses, including an address in Manchester which was just a virtual post box. Tony Watkin, prosecuting on behalf of Warwickshire Trading Standards, said: 'If they [customers] placed the device on fatty areas of their body, low frequency ultrasound would break the fat down, and waste fat would be excreted through urination. 'The defendant bought something in the order of 400 of them from a Chinese manufacturer via eBay, paying 170 for each. THE RISE OF AUTOMATIC SLIMMING MACHINES... Although in this case the device was designed to polish metal, the popularity of purpose-built slimming machines and 'ultrasonic liposuction' devices has grown and grown in recent years. 'Ultrasonic liposuction' machines are being sold for hundreds of pounds online but some medical professionals have questioned whether they really work. Marshall Partington, an American plastic surgeon, said: 'Many of us see patients who have been disappointed with their results from this expensive technology and seek more aggressive and predictable results with suction assisted liposculpture.' Another doctor Laura Sudarsky added: 'Ultrasonic cavitation damages the fat cells, but does not remove them as in traditional liposuction. 'You have multiple treatments, and will see minimal results.' Advertisement 'It was suggested the advertised rental price of 49 a week was half price, although there's no evidence it was ever higher than that. 'The devices themselves were not safe, and were no subjected to safety tests and regulations when they were imported. 'They didn't meet electrical safety requirements, and on occasions overheated or were giving off electric shocks. 'A number of consumers had complained about the safety of the devices. 'One said it kept giving him shocks, another said it blew up when he turned it on, another said the head came undone, revealing the wires, and another said it was overheating hot enough to burn her skin.' Nickols was contacted by Trading Standards, 'but he continued to fail to comply with the law', the court heard. Since April he has refunded all but one customer who requested a refund. Tim Pole, defending, said: 'There is a significant difference between fraudulent trading and the regulatory offences this defendant has pleaded guilty to, and which the prosecution have accepted. 'The key element, of course, is dishonesty and acting fraudulently, which is not present in the offences Your Honour has to deal with this defendant for. 'It seems obvious now in hindsight that those products provided little effect. He has ceased trading.' The anti-vaccine mother who snatched her wheelchair-bound four-year-old from hospital has now had him taken from her by police and social services. In a video posted to Facebook, police arrived at a Newcastle mother's residence on Friday to take her son. The parents have been issued with a Court Protection Order and will front court on Tuesday. The mother, 26, and her partner, 28, had taken their son from Brisbane's Lady Cilento Children's Hospital last month, which led to an amber alert being issued by police. Scroll down for video In the video, posted to Facebook on Friday night, the mother (right) and police can be seen arguing, as the boy cries in the background In a confronting video posted to Facebook police arrived at the mother's Newcastle residence to take her son (police pictured left, Family and Corrective Services worker pictured right) The four-year-old was found a day later in Newcastle, north of Sydney, and was later allowed to be taken home by his parents. In the video, posted to Facebook on Friday night, the mother and police can be seen arguing, as the young boy cries in the background. 'I understand you're upset but we can't leave here without the child,' a police officer can be heard saying in front of a group of people. The woman recording the video explains 'the police are trying to take [my son] they're going to put him on poisonous food and medicine again.' The police appear to take the four-year-old away as his mother continues to argue inside. In a statement NSW police said: 'At 4.30pm on Friday police attended a premises on Hunter Street in Newcastle in support of Family and Corrective Services regarding a child at risk. After extensive negotiations a four-year-old child was taken to John Hunter hospital for medical assessment.' The parents received a Child Protection Order via email dated May 17. A grab of the email was uploaded to Facebook. It reads: 'We advise the Director of Child Protection Litigation has made an application for a child protection order in relation to [the boy].' The mother posted on Facebook one day before her son's disappearance last month that they stopped vaccinating him at age two because it gave him seizures. She also alleged the vaccination caused him to develop 'spastic, quadriplegic cerebral palsy and undiagnosed, uncontrolled epilepsy'. The mother claimed on January 18 the Department of Child Safety threatened to take her son unless they took him to hospital that night to be fed. 'They still think that they have the right to feed my son this formula synthetic s***,' she said. The mother said her son's health improved after he went off medication, started eating organic food and took medicinal marijuana. 'He's happy, he's stopped seizuring (sic), he's coming back and still it's not good enough,' she said. The mother said she would take him to hospital but would insist he be given medicinal marijuana to keep him alive. 'I will be doing this and if they choose not to do it.... I'll walk out of that hospital,' she said. 'I don't care if child services have to get a court order to come get him, at least I know I saved my child and I'll keep doing it, I will not stop.' Traffic was brought to standstill on a busy road when a a man was beaten to the floor in a three-on-one road rage attack. The dramatic footage - filmed by a motorist - is believed to have happened near Birmingham City Hospital yesterday. A minute-long clip shows a man in a white t-shirt sitting on the bonnet of a black Volkswagen to stop it from leaving, as the driver tries to push him out of the way. The 1-minute clip shows a man in a white t-shirt sitting on the bonnet of a black Volkswagen to stop it from leaving The man, who appears to be calling the police, tells the driver: 'You can't go nowhere, you can't go nowhere.' He replies: 'Yo, just get your face out the car.' The driver accelerates, causing him to jump off the bonnet then stops several metres away. His passenger leaps out and storms towards the man, throwing punches at him. The driver then joins in, swinging wildly and ripping the man's shirt as he bravely tries to fight them off. The driver and passenger start swinging wildly and ripping the man's shirt as he bravely tries to fight them off Witnesses rush to intervene, shouting: 'Oi. Oi.' But the vicious attack rages on and a third assailant punches the man in the head from behind, knocking him to the ground. The thugs run back to their car and speed away down the wrong side of the road. Witnesses rush to the victim's aid as he collapses to the tarmac. Facebook users were appalled by the 'cowardly' attack. The brawl has been widely condemned by social media users after they forced traffic to come to a standstill Mo Azim said: 'Cowards rushed one man on his own.' Gavin Dring wrote: 'What a shameful pathetic spectacle. I just wish people like this could be deleted off the planet.' Callum Hughes added: 'Winds me up, man. You can tell the geezer could probably handle himself but you ain't got no chance if there's 3 geezers coming at you from all directions.' West Midlands Police has been asked to comment. Advertisement President Donald Trump (right) will meet Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu (left), during his visit to Israel next week President Donald Trump's first trip abroad will be to the volatile Middle East, so security will be paramount for the commander in chief. On his second stop, Israel, the president will be staying overnight in one of the safest places on earth a bomb-proof, bullet-proof, poison gas-proof $5,700-a-night hotel suite that can withstand a rocket-propelled grenade or even a building collapse, NBC News reported on Friday. Trump will first arrive for a visit to Saudi Arabia on Saturday. He will spend two days inside the desert monarchy during which he will meet King Salman as well as other Gulf leaders. On Monday, Trump will travel to Israel, where he will meet the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and take in historic sites in Jerusalem. On Monday night, he will bed down at the luxurious King David Hotel in central Jerusalem, where specially made preparations have been made for his arrival, according to the hotel's operations manager. 'The presidential suites have independent air conditioning in case of a gas attack and are built to withstand a RPG [rocket-propelled grenade],' Sheldon Ritz said. 'But still the US is bringing rocket-proof glass to put in front of the window.' Ritz said that for one night the hotel will be turned into a 'mini White House' that is ready for any contingency. 'If the whole hotel blows up the suite will come down in one piece, so maybe a few broken bones, but they will be alive,' he said. Trump and his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, will be staying at the presidential suite of the King David Hotel in central Jerusalem on Monday night American security officials aren't taking any chances during Trump's visit, as evidenced by the rocket-proof glass that they have installed on the windows of Trump's suite. The bed in the presidential suite is seen above The King David Hotel, which usually hosts foreign dignitaries visiting Israel, is a site with historical significance in the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. In 1946, Zionist militants detonated a powerful bomb in the hotel - which served as the administrative headquarters of the British Mandatory government in Palestine - killing 91 people. The Israelis are rolling out all the stops to make sure Trump's visit goes off without a hitch. Two buses full of heavy equipment will be placed at the entrance to the main road leading to the hotel in order to prevent car bombs from penetrating through. There will also be balloons equipped with infrared cameras deployed above the hotel. The room where the Trumps will be staying offers all of the amenities that befit a head of state The room will also be bomb-proof, bullet-proof, and poison-gas proof. It will have its own air conditioning system that is independent from the central cooling apparatus in the hotel The room is considered the most secure of any in the hotel - so much so that the hotel operations manager says that it could withstand the collapse of the entire building Israeli police also said that 10,000 officers on motorcycle, special patrols, and undercover details will provide additional security for Trump while he is in Jerusalem. The scale and scope of the security operation is exacerbated by the presence of key figures in Trump's entourage, including daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner. On Tuesday, Trump plans to meet with the Israeli president before visiting the West Bank city of Bethlehem. Trump plans on visiting the Western Wall, which will make him the first sitting president to do so. The visit will be fraught with symbolism, particularly in light of recent controversies surrounding the American position on the political status of Jerusalem and its holy sites. An Israeli official said on Monday that Israel wants the White House to explain why a US diplomat preparing Trump's visit to Jerusalem said the wall, one of the holiest sites in Judaism, is part of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Trump's suit will offer a breathtaking, panoramic view of the Old City of Jerusalem (as seen through the window above) US and Israeli security officials have reportedly hired 'testers' who will sample the food that is being delivered to the Trumps to make sure that there is no poisoning The King David will turn into 'the mini White House' with all of the attendant security arrangements for the night that the Trumps will stay there, according to the hotel's operations manager, Sheldon Ritz Israeli police also said that 10,000 officers on motorcycle, special patrols, and undercover details will provide additional security for Trump while he is in Jerusalem. The scale and scope of the security operation is exacerbated by the presence of key figures in Trump's entourage, including daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner. On Tuesday, Trump plans to meet with the Israeli president before visiting the West Bank city of Bethlehem. The view of Jerusalem as seen from the King David Hotel includes the walls of the Old City with the Dome of the Rock slightly peering out The King David Hotel is a site with historical significance in the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. In 1946, Zionist militants detonated a bomb in the hotel - which served as the administrative headquarters of the British Mandatory government in Palestine - killing 91 people (above) Israel considers all of Jerusalem as its indivisible capital, a claim that is not recognized internationally, and the Western Wall - a holy prayer site for Jews - is part of territory it captured in the 1967 Middle East war. Israel's Channel 2 reported that during a planning meeting between US and Israeli officials, the Israelis were told that Trump's visit to the Western Wall was private, Israel did not have jurisdiction in the area and that Netanyahu was not welcome to accompany Trump there. A policeman is seen standing guard in front of the hotel during President George W. Bush's visit in January 2008 Trump plans on visiting the Western Wall (seen above on the right with the Dome of the Rock overlooking it on the left), which will make him the first sitting president to do so Trump's administration has been sending mixed messages in its dealings with a right-wing Israeli government that had hoped for a more sympathetic attitude from the Republican president after a rocky relationship with his Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama. 'The statement that the Western Wall is in an area in the West Bank was received with shock,' said the official in Netanyahu's office. 'We are convinced that this statement is contrary to the policy of President Trump ... Israel has made contact with the US on this matter,' the official said. Ivanka Trump will travel with the president to Saudi Arabia, Israel and Italy on his upcoming foreign trip, a White House official said. A senior adviser to President Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump will be present for six days of the nine-day trip, which begins Friday, the official said. She'll join her father for some events, but will also hold some of her own, the official said. The official said that in Saudi Arabia, Ivanka Trump will take part in a roundtable discussion with Saudi women about women's economic issues. Ivanka Trump wants to hear about the challenges women in the country face and the progress they have made, the official said. Scroll down for video Ivanka Trump will accompany her father for his first foreign trip abroad, it was announced on Friday (the first daughter pictured above on Wednesday) The person was not authorized to be quoted by name discussing the details of the plan in advance of the formal announcement and spoke on condition of anonymity. In Israel, Ivanka Trump - who converted to Judaism when she married husband Jared Kushner - will visit the Western Wall with the president. And in Rome, she will take part in a discussion about human trafficking with the Community of Sant'Egidio, an aid group with ties to the Vatican. She will also take part in a meeting with the Pope. The meetings build on some issues the first daughter has already worked on at the White House. She has held meetings on women's economic empowerment and human trafficking. The places Trump will visit on his first international trip is seen on the map above. Ivanka joins him for the first six days This is the president's first international trip, but Ivanka Trump made a brief trip to Germany in April to appear on a panel at a conference dedicated to helping women in business. The foreign trip comes amid tumult for the White House after a series of damaging reports, culminating with the appointment of a special counsel to probe ties between Russia and President Donald Trump's campaign and associates. Many White House aides have been hoping the trip will provide an opportunity for the young administration to refocus. Ivanka Trump stepped away from running her clothing brand and from an executive role at the Trump Organization before she joined her father's administration as an unpaid adviser. She still owns the brand, which could be boosted by her high-profile stint at the White House. Theresa May delivered a stinging slapdown to Nicola Sturgeon over Brexit today saying her 'obsession' about tearing up the UK won't be allowed to undermine negotiations with the EU. The Prime Minister ratcheted up her feud with the SNP leader as she appealed for Scottish voters to back her on June 8. She also made clear Scotland would get a good share of the money that will be freed up when Britain stops paying into Brussels coffers in two years' time. Polls have been showing a Tory surge north of the border, amid hopes they could up their tally of Commons seats there from just one to eight or even more. A new YouGov poll for The Times shows the party's leader in Scotland Ruth Davidson, is running nearly neck and neck with Miss Sturgeon on popularity. But the First Minister insisted she still expected to record a 'comprehensive' victory in the election next month, and said her MPs would be a 'strong voice' against Mrs May at Westminster. The Prime Minister, pictured at the Scottish Tory manifesto launch in Edinburgh today, ratcheted up her feud with the SNP leader as she appealed for Scottish voters to back her Mrs May visited Andrew Black Haulage in Edinburgh after unveiling the manifesto today First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, pictured campaigning in Moffat today, insisted she still expected to record a 'comprehensive' victory in the election next month Miss Sturgeon said today that her MPs would be a 'strong voice' against Mrs May's Tories at Westminster after June 8 She had a positive rating of 43 per cent, compared to 46 per cent for the First Minister. Launching the Scottish Tory manifesto in Edinburgh today, Mrs May made clear she would not back down in the row with Miss Sturgeon. The PM warned that Jeremy Corbyn was not 'strong enough' to stand up to the SNP's demands for a fresh independence vote as early as autumn next year. 'I will never stand by and let our union drift apart,' she said. Making a virtue of the Tory commitment to Brexit, Mrs May said Scotland would share in the proceeds of the money saved ending contributions to Brussels. She pointed out that Miss Sturgeon wanted to take an independent Scotland 'straight back into full membership of the EU, and straight back into the grip of the Common Fisheries Policy'. 'My clear message to voters in Scotland's coastal communities is this a vote for me is a vote for a better future for fishing. A vote for the SNP is a vote for the Common Fisheries Policy,' she said. 'And the contrast between a Unionist government at the service of ordinary working families, and a Nationalist government with a tunnel-vision obsession with its own ideology is clear. 'After a decade of SNP neglect, standards in Scottish education which were once the envy of the civilised world have become a national scandal. 'The SNP's tunnel-vision obsession with independence above everything else has meant young people in Scotland are being let down.' The PM warned today that Jeremy Corbyn was not 'strong enough' to stand up to the SNP's demands for a fresh independence vote Pollls show Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson (pictured at the launch today) running almost neck and neck with Miss Sturgeon (pictured right at a debate last night) for popularity Mrs May said she cared 'just as much about the futures of children from Ayrshire and Angus as I do about the futures of children in Kent or Carlisle'. 'That is because of a simple truth. Across the United Kingdom, we may be four nations, but at heart we are one people. We all have a stake in each other's success,' she said. Ms Davidson also laid into Miss Sturgeon over the demand for a second referendum, and said it would not happen unless polls showed overwhelming support among the Scottish public. 'The principle is you cannot ask people to make a decision about the constitutional future of our country when you don't know what that future looks like,' she said. 'You don't know what Brexit looks like, how it plays out, and you don't know what independence looks like because they haven't outlined that either. 'We've seen time and time again that there is no public consent for it, people don't want to be dragged back there.' Miss Sturgeon has staged a series of colourful photo ops during the election campaign so far - including trying out a bike in Moffat today The YouGov survey for the Times today confirmed the Tories as the second biggest party in Scotland, on 29 points - ahead of Labour who are on 19 points. The SNP are on 42 points, the poll also found. More than a third of those polled (35 per cent) gave Mrs May the thumbs up, while Jeremy Corbyn trailed on just 24 per cent. Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Miss Sturgeon said: 'Every poll that's published in Scotland shows that the SNP is on course to win this election and win it comprehensively. 'The Tories are doing better, there's no getting away from that. They're doing better largely at the expense of Labour. 'What we've seen over the past few years in Scotland is a collapse in the Labour vote - much of it has turned to the SNP - we're now seeing Labour lose a lot of its remaining support to the Conservatives.' The SNP leader added: 'This is a Westminster election, it's about who represents Scotland at Westminster. Tory MPs from Scotland will be rubber-stamps for whatever Theresa May wants them to do, so if we want to have strong voices of opposition standing up for Scotland given the big challenges that lie ahead, then we need to make sure that there are SNP voices doing that.' Special snowflake Donald Trump has been thwarted in his plan to land a helicopter on Masada, an ancient fortress in Israel that Unesco has declared to be a World Heritage Site; he'll have to ride the cablecar up it just like every other world leader who's visited it since 1998. In 1997, an Israeli Air Force helicopter landed in the middle of Masada, one of Israel's most ancient and famous archaeological parks. It was carrying then-US Air Force commander Gen. Michael Ryan who had asked to visit the fortress, a recognized UNESCO World Heritage Site. But when the helicopter landed, it threw up far more than just sand and dust. Signs blew off their posts and the wind caused by the helicopter's powerful propellers caused damage to the ruins. It was the last time a helicopter was allowed to land in the middle of Masada, the fortress built by Herod the Great that overlooks the Dead Sea on the edge of the Judean Desert. Since then, the only plane on Masada was a Cessna light aircraft that accidentally crashed into the site in 2006. A Wisconsin woman didn't know she was having a stroke when she went to her daughter for help, but the eighth grader knew exactly what was going on. Katie Murphy, 14, recognized what Christa Murphy, 45, was experiencing thanks to a memorable science lesson just two days earlier at St. John's Lutheran School in Lannon, Wisconsin, according to WISN. Her teacher, Beth Tomlin, used a story to drive home what it looks like when the flow of oxygen to the brain is blocked and the teen used that knowledge to save her mother's life. Katie Murphy (pictured), 14, saved the life of her mother, Christa Murphy, 45, when she had a stroke, thanks to a science lesson two days earlier at St. John's Lutheran School in Wisconsin Christa Murphy didn't know she was having a stroke when she went to her daughter for help, but the eighth grader knew exactly what was going on 'I tell stories constantly so I knew a story was something they would grasp on to,' Tomlin said. The teaching tactic worked for Katie Murphy. When Christa Murphy found herself having trouble completing simple tasks around her house, like putting toothpaste on her toothbrush, she turned to her daughter for help. Her teacher, Beth Tomlin (left), used a story to drive home what it looks like when the flow of oxygen to the brain is blocked, which saved the life of Christa Murphy (right) Katie Murphy (fourth from left) is seen here with classmates in Tomlin's class Both Tomlin (pictured) and Christa Murphy said they felt God had a hand in the situation Remembering from the lesson that confused speech was a key indicator of a stroke, the teen was able to act quickly and call 911. 'Her speech was all mixed up, [and did] not make sense at all,' Katie Murphy said. 'I had gone back to that story and I was like, "Maybe she's having a stroke."' Her mother was taken to the hospital where doctor's confirmed her diagnosis. 'I could not believe at the age of 45 that that was happening,' Christa Murphy said. Both Tomlin and Christa Murphy said they felt God had a hand in preventing the worst, especially considering Katie Murphy was supposed to be out of the house at sleepover but stayed home with her mother, instead. 'I'm extremely blessed to be sitting here today,' Christa Murphy said. The exact cause of her stroke remains unknown, but she is now taking medication to prevent a similar medical emergency in the future. The mayor of Cincinnati teared up during his apology to the city's police officers Thursday after accidentally approving a proclamation that honors a man who killed an officer in 2015. Mayor John Cranley tearfully apologized at the police union hall, saying the proclamation, which honored Trepierre Hummons, had been stamped by a new staffer. Hummons shot and killed police officer Sonny Kim in June of 2015 before being gunned down by another officer. Scroll down for video Mayor John Cranley tearfully apologized at the police union hall, saying the proclamation had been stamped by a new staffer Trepierre Hummons (right) killed Officer Sonny Kim in June of 2015 before being gunned down by another officer, investigators claim. Police described the shooting as 'suicide by cop' The proclamation said that June 1, 2017, would be known as 'Tre Day' in honor Trepierre Hummons and mental illness, reported CBS. Officer Kim was a 27 year veteran of the department, and was killed after officers were called to the scene of a man with a gun in Madisonville, Ohio, on June 19, 2015. After the incident, Hummons ex-girlfriend told police that: 'He felt alone. He had gone through a lot, he wanted to put himself in a situation where he would die.' Video courtesy of Fox19.com Mayor Cranley said that the request, which was submitted by Hummons' father, did not mention his full name. It was meant to honor his commitment to fighting mental illness, which he said took his son's life. It was also meant to recognize the work of a foundation that bears Hummons' name, and was started by his father, which helps people who are struggling with mental illness. Mayor Cranley said that the request, which was submitted by Hummons' father, did not mention his full name. It was meant to honor his commitment to fighting mental illness, which he said took his son's life The proclamation has since been retracted. Cranley visited the Fraternal Order of Police on Thursday night to apologize, saying: 'This was a huge mistake. It was done intentionally. It was human error, but the buck stops with me. 'I got into public life to make the city better and to support law enforcement and to support the people that make our city better and our streets safe. I love our police department. I walk with them, I ride with them and I would never do anything to hurt (them). I'm sorry.' Officer Kim was a 27 year veteran of the department, and was killed after officers were called to the scene of a man with a gun in Madisonville, Ohio, on June 19, 2015. Pictured is from Officer Kim's dashcam footage the day he was killed The Mayor also personally apologized to Kim's widow, the police chief and the other officer on the scene when Kim was killed. His communication's director said that she approved the proclamation to raise awareness of mental illness and child abuse, not realizing the connection to the cop's death. Cranley did not physically sign the proclamation. Thousands of taxpayer dollars have been given to a UFO enthusiasts group, and a disbelieving federal minister wants to know why. Social Services Minister Christian Porter is leading a probe to determine how Tuggerah Lakes UFO Group on the New South Wales central coast has received nearly $6,000 in government grants since 2013. Mr Porter said he was unaware that his department had approved the grants. Social Services Minister Christian Porter is leading a probe to determine how Tuggerah Lakes UFO Group on the New South Wales central coast has received nearly $6,000 in government grants since 2013 Mr Porter (pictured) said he was unaware that his department had approved the grants The funding, uncovered by The Daily Telegraph, was initially provided by the Labor government to assist with the cost of transporting volunteers with disabilities. 'I'm sure they're very nice people and there are lots of volunteers who are getting something out of it, but looking at it from my perspective, representing taxpayers, it didn't seem to pass a common sense test,' Mr Porter told the ABC. 'I asked the department to hold the transmission of funds until they could give me a little more detail around what the group does.' Records state the department approved $2,645 for the UFO group this year. Tuggerah Lakes UFO Group has 800 member on Facebook. The group was set up to 'share information on UFO and related topics. Support and encourage like-minded people. Encourage UFO Disclosure, welcome new members, respect for various beliefs.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted Tuggerah Lakes UFO Group for comment. Anthony Weiner wept in court on Friday while begging for forgiveness as he entered a plea of guilty to a single charge of transferring obscene material to a minor. 'I have a sickness, but I do not have an excuse,' Weiner told the court, while agreeing to accept any prison sentence of less than 27 months and register as a sex offender. He was also forced to forfeit his iPhone and any other cellular devices in court on Friday, where his brother Jason was the lone family member in attendance. Weiner's day in court came eight months after DailyMail.com revealed that the disgraced Congressman had been exchanging sexually-charged messages and explicit photos with a 15-year-old high school student in North Carolina. The exchanges began in January of last year after the teenager reached out to Weiner on Twitter, and continued through late spring. Weiner was 51 and still married to Huma Abedin when he sent the texts and images to the minor female, during a time when his primary responsibility was the care of his son Jordan, now 5, while Abedin was on the campaign trail with Hillary Clinton. Abedin did not appear in court on Friday, but was involved in her own legal proceeding as she officially filed for divorce from Weiner. It was the FBI's investigation into Weiner's inappropriate sexting that led to the discovery of classified emails forwarded by Huma to his computer - and the decision by FBI director James Comey to reopen the investigation into Clinton. Prosecutors are recommending that Weiner serve a two-year sentence as part of the deal, with the charge carrying a maximum prison term of 10 years and maximum fine of $250,000. He was released on bail and will be sentenced on September 8, four days after his 53rd birthday. Scroll down for video Facing the cameras: Anthony Weiner wept in court as he plead guilty to a single charge of transferring obscene material to a minor in federal court on Friday (above leaving court) Page him: He was also forced to forfeit his iPhone and any other cellular devices as part of his plea deal Helping hand: Weiner was consoled by his attorney (illustration above) as he broke down while reading from his prepared statement in front of the court Gaunt: The former Congressman and the US attorney's office finalized the plea deal this week, and Weiner said he would not appeal a sentence of less than 27 months Emerging from the shadows: Weiner agreed to register as a sex offender during the proceedings on Friday Weiner was pictured wearing his wedding ring despite his estranged wife announcing the couple's separation in August of last year Victim: DailyMail.com revealed in September that Weiner had been exchanging sexually explicit photos and texts with a 15-year-old high school student in North Carolina (above) Weiner appeared strained from the moment he entered courtroom on Friday, looking alarmingly gaunt and surprising many by showing off his wedding band despite Abedin announcing the couple had separated last August. He spoke briefly with his counsel before signing off on paperwork admitting to his guilt ahead of the proceedings, and then sat back and waited for the hearing to get underway. Weiner struggled to smile at one point as he awaited the arrival of Judge Preska, who quickly moved things along after calling the court to order on Friday. He calmly answered the Judge Loretta Preska's inquiries after entering his plea and stated that he understood the charges and the implications of his plea. When instructed to tell the court what he had done, Weiner, dressed in a burgundy Gucci tie and navy blue suit, asked to read a prepared written statement. He then began to break down in tears, having until that point remained composed and seemingly calm in court. Weiner struggled to speak at first when delivering his statement, with his attorney Arlo Devlin Brown placed a reassuring hand on his back while Judge Preska told him to 'take his time.' He began by stating: 'Through approximately March 2016, I engaged in obscene communications with this teenager, including sharing explicit images and encouraging her to engage in sexually explicit conduct, just as I had done and continued to do with adult women. 'I knew this was as morally wrong as it was unlawful.' Weiner went on to acknowledge the 'devastating consequences' that these indiscretions had brought upon both his public and private lives, managing to end his political career and his marriage. It was at this point that Weiner's voice dried up and he was forced to take a sip from his water bottle. He continued by admitting that even then he did not stop his conduct or try and change his ways, 'even as my world fell apart around me.' Here's Tony: Weiner was chauffeured back to his New York City apartment after his appearance on Friday (above exiting car) Summer break: Weiner will be back in court in September to be sentenced in the case Brother's keeper: Weiner's brother Jason (above) was the lone family member who appeared at court on Friday Weiner stated that he had engaged in communications with the teen starting in 2016 even though he know it was 'morally wrong and unlawful.' He went on to sat that he then 'hit bottom' late last year and made a 'moral inventory' of his crimes so that he could attempt to make amends. Weiner also stated that he was in regular therapy. 'I apologize for everyone I have hurt and to the teenage girl I have hurt so badly,' said Weiner while struggling to maintain his composure and wiping tears from his eyes. The father of the young victim spoke with DailyMail.com after learning that Weiner would be entering a guilty plea, saying: 'I don't know if it's justice. I don't know what the sentence is gonna be. I would like to see, is [the sentence] fair or not fair? Just because he's pleading guilty doesn't mean he's going to do a bit of time.' Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said in a statement after the hearing: 'Today, former Congressman Anthony Weiner admitted and pled guilty to sending sexually explicit images and directions to engage in sexual conduct to a girl he knew to be 15 years old. 'Weiners conduct was not only reprehensible, but a federal crime, one for which he is now convicted and will be sentenced. We thank the FBI and the NYPD for their work in this investigation.' FBI Assistant Director in Charge William F. Sweeney Jr. also chimed in, saying: 'We work every day in the FBI and law enforcement to stop adults from preying on vulnerable children. 'Our partnership with the NYPD cannot be stressed enough in this case, and we would like to thank the Special Victims Unit for all the work and effort they put into this investigation.' Weiner's brother Jason refused to comment on the proceedings when approached by DailyMail.com outside the courtroom. Outreach: Weiner confessed to having 'compulsively sought' the company of women online for both 'sexual and non-sexual communication' Coming clean: Weiner admitted that he had engaged in communications with the teen starting in 2016 Off he goes: 'I apologize for everyone I have hurt and to the teenage girl I have hurt so badly,' said Weiner in court Picking up the pieces: Weiner acknowledged the 'devastating consequences' that these indiscretions had brought upon both his public and private lives, managing to end his political career and his marriage Private details: In texts obtained by DailyMail.com, Weiner complained to the girl that he rarely had sex with Abedin Not sold: The father of the young victim spoke with DailyMail.com after learning that Weiner would be entering a guilty plea, saying: 'I don't know if it's justice' The disclosure of Weiner's exchanges with the minor female led to an FBI probe back in September, and in late October it was revealed that the same probe had also uncovered possible evidence of Abedin forwarding classified emails to her husband's personal laptop computer. That discovery was later revealed in a very public manner by former FBI Director James Comey a little over a week before the election. Clinton would later state that she believed the timing of the incident played a role in her loss to Donald Trump. The victim - whose name was withheld because of her age - told DailyMail.com that the sexting began while she was a sophomore in high school. In texts obtained by DailyMail.com, Weiner complained to the girl that he rarely had sex with Abedin while also lamenting the fact that he was tasked with caring for the couple's son. He also referred to himself as 'T Dog.' Weiner was aware that the girl was underage, according to DailyMail.com interviews with the victim and her father, as well as a cache of online messages. Weiner sent bare-chested photos of himself to the underage girl, repeatedly called her 'baby' and complimented her body, and told her that he woke up 'hard' after thinking about her, according to copies of the conversations. In one particularly lewd message, he told the teen: 'I would bust that tight p***y so hard and so often that you would leak and limp for a week.' When confronted with the claims, Weiner did not deny exchanging 'flirtatious' messages with the teen. He declined however to comment on the specifics of the allegations on the record, but provided copies of two emails the girl sent him that he contends raised questions about her claims. Weiner also gave a statement to DailyMail.com, saying at one point: 'I have repeatedly demonstrated terrible judgement about the people I have communicated with online and the things I have sent. I am filled with regret and heartbroken for those I have hurt.' WEINER PLEA ALLOCUTION 'Beginning with my service in Congress and continuing into the first half of last year, I have compulsively sought attention from women who contacted me on social media, and I engaged with many of them in both sexual and non-sexual conversation. These destructive impulses brought great devastation to family and friends, and destroyed my life's dream of public service. And yet I remained in denial even as the world around me fell apart. 'In late January 2016, I was contacted and began exchanging online messages with a stranger who said she was a high school student and who I understood to be 15 years old. Through approximately March 2016, I engaged in obscene communications with this teenager, including sharing explicit images and encouraging her to engage in sexually explicit conduct, just as I had done and continued to do with adult women. I knew this was as morally wrong as it was unlawful. 'This fall, I came to grips for the first time with the depths of my sickness. I had hit bottom. I entered intensive treatment, found the courage to take a moral inventory of my defects, and began a program of recovery and mental health treatment that I continue to follow everyday. 'I accept full responsibility for my conduct. I have a sickness, but I do not have an excuse. I apologize to everyone I have hurt. I apologize to the teenage girl, whom I mistreated so badly. I am committed to making amends to all those I have harmed. Thank you. ' Advertisement Evidence: Weiner is now facing up to 10 years in prison, and will likely have to register as a sex offender (text exchanges above) Warped view: When confronted with the claims, Weiner did not deny exchanging 'flirtatious' messages with the teen DailyMail.com reached out to the 15-year-old girl's family after receiving information about her relationship with Weiner. The young victim said that she did not want to press charges against the former congressman because she thought their relationship was consensual. Her father meanwhile said that he chose to go public with the story out of concern that Weiner might be texting other minor females. Weiner previously admitted back in 2011 to sending five private Twitter messages to a 17-year-old girl during his first sexting scandal, but said the messages 'were neither explicit nor indecent.' Through interviews and a collection of online messages from applications such as Twitter, Facebook, Kik, and Confide, DailyMail.com was able to piece together a timeline of Weiner's relationship with the underage girl. The girl first reached out to Weiner on the evening of January 23, 2016, when she noticed his Twitter page allowed non-followers to contact him through direct private messages. She told DailyMail.com she was interested in politics and had heard about his sexting scandals, and was curious to see what he was like. It was clear from the messages that she was encouraging Weiner to engage with her in a sexual manner. She told DailyMail.com she didn't consider Weiner her boyfriend, but thought the relationship was a 'romantic' one. She acknowledged during interviews that she had developed an obsession with Weiner, and sought him out on Twitter in January while trying to write a book about him. She said she continued to write the book as their relationship developed. 'Why did I message you [in January]?' the girl wrote in an email to Weiner last week. 'I was studying you- for a book of course. You were my Hannibal Lecter. 'I wanted to know what made you tick. As we chatted, I pretended to not know EVERYTHING about you. I didn't want to appear suspicious.' She also told Weiner: 'I was obsessed with you.' Weiner quickly messaged her back, and they struck up a conversation. Over time, their exchanges became increasingly intimate, with Weiner making sexual innuendos and sending photos of himself in various states of undress. Soon after the young victim spoke publicly about her online relationship with Weiner he checked himself into The Ranch, a rehab center in Tennessee where he stayed for more than a month in a bid to cure himself of his sex addiction. First time around: Abedin and Weiner enter their home in Queens on June 16, 2011 just before he announced his resignation from Congress in the wake of his first sexting scandal Deja vu: Abedin stood by her husband's side after the second scandal broke as a news conference on July 23, 2013 (above), with Weiner opting to stay in the race for NYC mayor Heated Huma: Abedin was photographed storming out of a Hamptons fundraiser for Clinton in August moments after learning about her husband's third scandal Seasoned pro: Abedin popped on some shades and flashed her Hillary tote in her first appearance after Weiner's fourth sexting scandal , with her disgraced husband seen scurrying off behind his estranged wife on September 21, 2016 (above) The fourth sexting scandal came just one month after Abedin announced she was ending the marriage, a decision that came hot on the heels of a New York Post story revealing that Weiner had sexted yet another lewd picture of himself to a woman. That photo showed Weiner lying in bed wearing nothing but his boxer briefs while his young son, who was 4 at the time, lay sleeping next to him. 'Someone just climbed into my bed,' Weiner wrote to the woman before sending the photo, which clearly showed the outline of his manhood. She responded by writing back: 'You do realize you can see you[r] Weiner in that pic??' The photo was sent shortly after 3am on July 31, 2015 by Weiner. In the accompanying text exchange, Weiner also discussed the massage parlors near his old apartment while making frequent references to the largesse of his manhood. 'Id put someone's eye out with this thing. #Overdue,' wrote Weiner at one point. In other texts sent to the woman, a brunette divorcee, Weiner spoke about being 'horny as f***' and sent a variety of emojis that were sexual in nature. Weiner also reportedly admitted to masturbating while thinking about the woman in a text, calling her a 'fantasy chick.' One month later, things got even worse, landing the once shining star and perceived presidential hopeful in court and possibly prison. The Democratic congressman served seven terms in the House of Representatives for the state of New York before stepping down in June 2011 in the wake of his first sexting scandal. He then made the decision to run for mayor of New York City, and found himself an unlikely frontrunner in the race, until it was revealed that he had once again been exchanging lewd messages, this time with a woman named Sydney Leathers. It was that second scandal which also revealed Weiner's nom de plume when sending lewd messages and images over the Internet - Carlos Danger. The scandal destroyed Weiner's chances in the mayoral race and took an even bigger toll on his marriage, especially since Abedin had agreed to help work on her husband's campaign and share with him her invaluable Rolodex of big-money donors which she obtained over the course of two decades with the Clintons. That entire campaign, from humble start and soaring high to epic fall from grace, was captured by a documentary film crew who had been following him during the campaign and granted complete access to the politician before the scandal broke. 'Weiner' was released last year to critical accolades, while the subject himself has remained mostly out-of-work since that time. Abedin is also navigating a new job frontier after landing back in New York City and not Washington DC after the election. Weiner and Abedin married in July 2010 in a ceremony that was officiated by Bill Clinton and covered in the pages of Vogue, with Abedin getting pregnant with the couple's first child just a few months later. The couple was not even a year into their marriage when news broke that Weiner had been sexting women online after he tweeted out a photo of his erect penis that he had meant to privately send to a woman on the social media site. He resigned from Congress and in December of that year Abedin gave birth to Jordan. In the wake of the second sexting scandal, things seemed to be on an upswing for the couple, with Abedin poised to become the White House Chief of Staff and Weiner playing the doting stay-at-home dad. Once powerful political players: Weiner and Abedin married in July 2010 in a ceremony that was officiated by Bill Clinton Squad: Abedin left Weiner in charge of child care for most of the past three years while she was on the campaign trail with Clinton Daddy day care: 'Someone just climbed into my bed,' Weiner wrote to his adult pen pal before sending the above photo, which clearly showed the outline of his manhood The eternally reserved Abedin even spoke about the couple's relationship in an interview on the Call Your Girlfriend podcast early last year, saying: 'You know, I think that a marriage really only works in any situation, whether you're in politics or not, if one partner is fully supportive of the other. 'I think it's a little it's often a little more challenging when you're in politics because your private life, and I think everybody craves their own privacy, and so I think your private life is displayed to the world in a way that you otherwise wouldn't have to deal with if one spouse is a private person and the other person's in politics as was the case certainly in my marriage. 'But I think it works if you fully support each other.' She then noted that her husband had taken over much of the parenting of their son as she was away from home. 'I'm on the road a lot on the campaign. As I mentioned earlier I have a four-year-old son and I don't think I could do this if I didn't have the support of a spouse who is willing to basically be a stay-at- home dad as much as he possibly can so I'm able to be on the road,' said Abedin. 'I miss my son but I don't worry about him because I know between this little village we've created between Anthony and my in-laws and my mom and our families and this wonderful woman who we have helping us I can go out and be the best professional woman that I can be because I have that support.' Just a few months later the photo of Weiner in bed with the couple's son was published, ending the couple's marriage. 'After long and painful consideration and work on my marriage, I have made the decision to separate from my husband,' said Abedin in a statement. 'Anthony and I remain devoted to doing what is best for our son, who is the light of our life. During this difficult time, I ask for respect for our privacy.' Abedin also found herself surrounded by cameras when that scandal erupted, with photos showing the aide fleeing a fundraiser in the Hamptons after learning that the story would be running online and on the cover of the Post the next morning. Three members of a rowdy stag do party were arrested by Spanish police after fighting on a Ryanair flight to Majorca. The group began brawling on the early morning service from Manchester Airport to Palma, during take-off at around 6.20am on Thursday. A fellow passenger said the group, made up of about 15 men, were drinking bottles of wine and Jagermeister before they set off. Three members of a rowdy stag do party were arrested by Spanish police after fighting on a Ryanair flight to Majorca He said members of the group began swearing at each other and being abusive, delaying take-off. One of the stags reportedly took off his trousers, stripping down to a 'tiny pair of boxers', while another put his hand through the overhead panel above the seat. The passenger, who asked not to be named, said: 'It was a nightmare from start to finish - it was stressful. I'm a nervous flyer and there were kids on-board. The flight was delayed by about 20 minutes. They wouldn't sit down before take off. 'As the flight went on, it was just a nightmare. They were messing about, fighting and drinking their own alcohol. They were swearing at each other and fighting, slapping each other. 'They were drinking bottles of their own wine and Jager. People were complaining, there were kids on the plane. 'When they all started fighting in the middle, I ended up having to move to the front. 'Nobody could get a drink, staff couldn't get a trolley through. What can you do if they are being that aggressive?' Three members of a rowdy stag do party were kicked off a plane by Spanish police after fighting on a Ryanair flight to Majorca Cabin crew called police at Palma ahead of landing to ask for assistance, a Ryanair spokesman confirmed. They said that three men were then detained by officers. He added: 'The crew of this flight from Manchester to Palma called ahead to request police assistance after three passengers became disruptive in-flight. 'The aircraft landed normally and local police removed and detained these customers upon arrival into Palma. 'The safety and comfort of our customers, crew and aircraft is our number one priority and we will not tolerate unruly or disruptive behaviour at any time. This is now a matter for local police.' Dear Mr President, My favourite poem is only two lines long. Its called Self-pity and was written by my fellow Brit, DH Lawrence. I never saw a wild thing sorry for itself, it reads. A small bird will drop frozen dead from a bough without ever having felt sorry for itself. Its meaning is simple: human beings are uniquely susceptible to self-indulgent, emotional wallowing. Animals, by contrast, are only concerned with survival and devote all their energy to that achieving that goal. I thought of this when I heard you say on Wednesday: No politician in history has been treated worse or more unfairly. Really? Dear Mr President. Your pitiful claim of being treated worse than any politician in history wasn't just factually inaccurate, the tone was that of a President Snowflake. Calm down As many rushed to point out, assassinated US presidents Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy probably had it worse. Oh, and on the wider world stage, Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in a tiny prison cell and Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi was kept under house arrest for 15 years. When you get to Italy next week, they may remind you of Roman emperor Julius Caesar who was stabbed 23 times by his friends and colleagues? Or Sicilian tyrant Phalaris, who was roasted alive in a giant bronze bull he used to torture opponents You get my drift. By comparison to all these politicians, Mr Trump, youve indisputably had it easy. But it wasnt your factually inaccurate claim that perturbed me so much as the self-pitying tone that went with it. Since when, and I say this with great respect, did you turn into President Snowflake? What happened to the tough, no-nonsense, fearless winner who was going to make America great again? The guy that campaigned so brilliantly to pull off the greatest coup in US election history wouldnt recognise the one begging us to feel sorry for him now. In fact, hed probably be repulsed by him, wouldnt he? Hed surely consider him a loser? Someone who couldnt stand the heat when he got into the White House kitchen? Yesterday, you doubled down on this lamentably weak thought process by tweeting: This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history! Hmmm. This kind of all-consuming media scrutiny is nothing new. Both Clintons were both subjected to witch hunts of torrid relentlessness. The Clintons were both subject to relentless witch hunts Obama was put through the mincer by Trump himself over his certificate, and George W. Bush was savaged for everything from Iraq to Katrina Barack Obama was put through the mincer too, not least when a certain Donald J. Trump suggested he wasnt born in America and demanded to see his birth certificate. Ronald Reagan was ripped to pieces when he won his election, condemned as a lightweight B-movie actor who didnt know what he was doing. And George W. Bush was brutally savaged for everything from Katrina to Iraq. Negativity goes with the territory for any world leader these days, albeit increasingly fuelled by social media hysteria and slathering 24-hour cable news punditry. Its how you deal with it that defines you. President Trump, youre an unbelievably controversial, divisive character who people either seem to love with a passion or hate with a vengeance. A major part of your appeal to those who voted for you is your strength to handle anything thats thrown at you. Time and again in the campaign, you were battered by scandalous storms that would have destroyed weaker-minded candidates. On each occasion, you stood up, put your big boy pants on, beat your chest and stared down your critics. That Donald Trump was the man Ive known for the past decade; a rough, tough charismatic tycoon who likes nothing more than fighting for what he wants and whacking back anyone who whacks him. The President Trump I saw whining away on Wednesday about how mean everyones being to him was a pitiful parody of Candidate Trump. Im not saying all your complaints are invalid. Its true that since the first few months of your campaign in 2015, when the print and TV media gleefully gifted you more friendly airtime than all your 18 Republican nominee rivals combined, youve been targeted for some pretty vindictive attention and coverage. But its also true that youve brought much of this on yourself by constantly branding mainstream media fake news and pouring scorn on your own intelligence agencies and the judiciary. These institutions make for very powerful and unforgiving enemies, as you are beginning to discover. If you keep attacking them, they will keep attacking you and eventually, they will win. They always do. Smart generals of the type you love will tell you that its never a good idea to wage a war you cant win. So CALM DOWN and start treating them with more respect. Accept you have to all work together for the good of the country. It wont stop them doing their jobs, and that might be very uncomfortable for you at times, but it might stop them doing what theyre doing now which is actively trying to destroy your presidency through endless selective damaging leaks. As I wrote two days ago, its been your worst week as President. But two things have conspired to give you a lifeline. First, the Russia collusion investigation is now in the hands of a Special Counsel. This, if you and your campaign team are all telling the truth about having no nefarious links to Russia and no such evidence has so far emerged - is a good thing because it will clear things up once and for all AND you can refuse to discuss the investigation any more on the basis that the Special Counsel is handling it. Second, youre flying off today for your first foreign tour; a major 9-day trip to many important countries including Saudi Arabia, Israel and Italy, during which youll meet myriad Kings, prime ministers and the Pope. This has been the worst week of your presidency. Stop whining and be the strong man that American elected. As you head off, please, don't f*** it up! Stay on message, stay off Twitter and play to your strengths - be charming and do some good deals This is a golden chance to repair the damage of this past week. So, dont **** it up! That means staying ON message, not firing off incendiary abuse to all sundry on Twitter at 3am. It also means playing to your strengths of charming world leaders and doing deals with them, just as we saw with President Ji of China. Most importantly, it means behaving in a strong, confident and dare I say it, PRESIDENTIAL manner ditching the whiny brat boo-hoo stuff that must dismay your base as much as it delights your enemies. This is the moment to put those big boy pants back on again and be the President your voters assumed they were getting. Its also a moment to change the habit of a lifetime and be very disciplined with your tongue. An old Arab proverb says: The smarter you get, the less you speak. If you come back in ten days time without veering off script, and having gathered positive not poisonous headlines, you will be immeasurably stronger than you are now. Bill Clinton was nearly dragged down by the Monica Lewinsky scandal but instead of wallowing in self-pity, he decided the best strategy was to put his head down and get on with his job. The economy roared and he ended up a hugely popular president. That scenario could yet happen to you if you curb your worst instincts. Kind regards, Piers. A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by Ahmed Mohamed's father, saying the family will not get a payout from the city of Irving, Texas or the school district for the 'clock boy' scandal, DailyMail.com has learned. On September 14, 2015, 14-year-old Ahmed gained national attention when his high school teacher suspected he brought a bomb to school. Ahmed was surprised and showed the teacher it was actually a homemade alarm clock. She told the Muslim teen she would keep it behind her desk for the rest of the day. Scroll down for video Ahmed Mohamed's (left) father Mohamed Mohamed (right) filed a lawsuit claiming his son was owed unspecified damages from the City of Irving, Texas and the school district. He accused the parties of violating Ahmed's Fifth Amendment rights for his wrongful arrest Later that day, the teacher called the police who arrested Ahmed at MacArthur High School. Ahmed's father, Mohamed Mohamed, claimed the officers were overly forceful in pulling him from his chair. He said they yanked his arms up and behind his back so far that his right hand touched the back of his neck. Ahmed was booked, finger printed, interrogated and had his mugshot taken for the offense of a 'hoax bomb'. The charges were later dropped. Mohamed filed a Federal lawsuit against the City of Irving, Texas and Irving Independent School District accusing them of violating his son's civil rights. Ahmed was arrested at MacArthur high school in 2015 for his 'hoax bomb' which was actually a homemade alarm clock. His father alleged the way Ahmed was arrested was overly forceful The judge ruled Ahmed was not intentionally discriminated against because of his race or religion and he was not entitled to damages Court papers obtained by DailyMail.com reveal on May 18, a judge dismissed the entire case. The lawsuit sought unspecified compensatory and punitive damages along with attorney fees. The judge wrote: 'Plaintiff does not allege any facts from which this court can reasonably infer that any IISD employee intentionally discriminated against Ahmed Mohamed based on his race or religion.' Further, he notes that the suit failed to identify any policy, custom, or practice of the City that was allegedly the moving force behind any violation of Ahmed's Fifth Amendment rights. When the lawsuit was first filed in 2016, the district hit back at the Mohamed family's allegations saying Ahmed deliberately disobeyed his teacher by activating the clock despite her warning. The judge said they failed to allege any facts from which the court could reasonably conclude that Ahmed was discriminated against based on his race or religion. Ahmed's family initially filed a lawsuit claiming they were entitled to $15 million for the 'clock boy' incident. The most recent lawsuit requested unspecified compensatory and punitive damages along with attorney fees. The ruling said the suit had: 'Absent allegations of intentional discrimination, or allegations from which the court can reasonably infer intentional discrimination, Plaintiff fails to allege an equal protection violation against the IISD.' Mohamed's complaint also said Irving Independent School District has an 'ugly history of race struggles,' and the State of Texas and the IISD have a 'history of discrimination against Muslims in Texas curriculum and schools.' Prior to filing the most recent lawsuit, the family demanded $15 million dollars in damages in the months after the arrest. Damages are only granted for intentional discrimination. Mohamed is allowed to file an amended complaint by June 1. Thousands of caterpillars spooked residents after spinning a 20ft web outside their homes. The hungry insects covered a bush to cocoon their chosen feeding plants and protect it from predators. The giant web baffled locals in Luton, Bedfordshire, with many thinking that an army of spiders could be responsible. Scroll down for video Thousands of caterpillars spooked residents after spinning a 20ft web outside their homes The hungry insects covered a bush to cocoon their chosen feeding plants and protect it from predators in Luton Kate Arnold, who spotted it on her way home from work, said: 'When I drove past it I had to stop and have a look. 'Insects don't really creep me out and I was so intrigued to see this. 'It's so surreal, I have never seen anything like it before, when I got out the car I expected a 20ft spider like the one out of Harry Potter to be there. She added: 'At first I thought it would be spiders, but when I went to have a look I realised that it was caterpillars. 'I have done some research and I don't think that there aren't many sightings of webs this big in the UK which is really strange.' It's thought the web over the last couple of weeks. Resident Brian Platon, 40, first spotted it on Monday whilst walking his dog. He said: 'When I saw the webs it did freak me out a bit. When you look up close you realise that it is thousands of caterpillars that are crawling around in the bush. The giant web baffled locals in Luton, Bedfordshire, with many thinking that an army of spiders could be responsible It is believed the webs (pictured) were created by Spindle Ermine caterpillars, which are fairly common throughout Britain 'I called an ecologist who went and had a look and identified it as ''Spindle Ermine'', a fairly common Caterpillar. 'They aren't harmful and they will soon turn into moths and populate the district.' Spindle Ermine caterpillars are common throughout Britain, with their bodies being mostly white. It's expected they will move on from the site in a number of weeks. According to The Royal Horticultural Society, several species of moth have caterpillars that live within sheets of extensive webbing on plants. The webs tend to occur in trees or hedgerow, and are designed to protect the caterpillars and their food. Several large-scale infestations have made the news in the past, including a 20ft moth web which was spotted in bushes outside Belmarsh Prison in east London in 2012. The terror suspect who was arrested with a backpack full of knives just yards from Downing Street told the Old Bailey he does not need a lawyer because he is represented by Allah. Khalid Mohammed Omar Ali, 27, is facing terror charges after being arrested by armed officers yards from Downing Street after a stop and search on 27 April. He appeared at the Old Bailey today in a bright green and yellow jumpsuit, but was without a lawyer. Khalid Mohammed Omar Ali, 27, is facing terror charges after being arrested by armed officers yards from Downing Street after a stop and search on 27 April When asked if he planned on instructing a barrister, he replied: My legal representative is Allah, but from your side, why would I need any one? Ali was arrested 100 yards from the spot where Khalid Masood was shot and killed after mowing down bystanders in a hired car driven over Westminster Bridge five weeks before. He faces two charges under the Explosives Substances Act 1883 on 28 January 2012 and 6 July 2012, and one charge of preparation of terrorist acts on 27 April this year. He appeared at the Old Bailey (pictured) today in a bright green and yellow jumpsuit, but was without a lawyer Listing his case for trial on 6 November, Mr Justice Holroyd said: It may be in your interests to have a professional lawyer in this case. Justice Holroyd relisted the case for a further hearing on 9 June. Bearded Ali, from Tottenham, north London, is charged with one count of preparation of terrorist acts and two counts of possession of explosive substances. Ali has previously stated that he does not recognise the charges against him. He was flanked by two officers in the video link booth. A four-year-old British boy has drowned in a tragic accident in Spain despite the heroic efforts of his dad who tried desperately to save him. The distraught father was reportedly ploughing land on a rural property in Granada when he realised the toddler had slipped and fallen into a pool on the farm. He apparently threw himself into the water to try and save him. He then rushed the child to a health centre in Orgiva, alerting the emergency services and the police whilst on his way. The boy's distraught father was reportedly ploughing land on a rural property in Granada when he realised the toddler had slipped and fallen into a pool on the farm (file photo of Alhambra palace in Granada) Once there, doctors tried to revive the boy but there was nothing they could do and he was declared dead. An investigation is underway to determine exactly what happened. The toddler's body has been taken to a forensic institute in Granada where the cause of death will be verified. The emergency services confirmed the father had made his frantic call at 11am this morning and that the police, rescue helicopter, Civil Guard and medical team had all been called out. It is understood that at one stage, the ambulance helicopter either flew or was about to fly the boy to hospital though the sequence of events is still unclear. No details have been given about the boy's identity except for confirmation of his British nationality. It is believed the family lived on the rural property because the father was working on the land around the house. After diving into the pool to save his son, the father rushed him to a health centre in Orgiva, but doctors could not revive him It comes a day after a three-year-old British boy was in intensive care after falling into the swimming pool of his family home in Spain. The youngster was rushed to hospital in the holiday resort of Denia before being transferred to the city of Valencia further north. His condition today was said to be serious but stable. The unnamed boy's parents raised the alarm just before 2pm on Wednesday after discovering him in the pool of their villa. Shelter is a human necessity second only to food on Maslow's hierarchy of needs; but it's also an asset-class that is increasingly relied upon by the world's super-rich for money-laundering, rent-extraction and simple investment this creates a dilemma for governments, who are under pressure to ratchet up the cost of a fundamental human necessity in order to enrich a minority of wealthy land- and property-owners. This doesn't just lead to widespread fraud and financial collapse (as we saw in 2007/8), and in the erosion of quality of life, distorted tax policies (for example, the US mortgage interest deduction) and the systematic elimination of tenancy protections (to buoy up the value of rental properties) it also means that people can't afford to have children. This is playing out in all kinds of weird ways around the world, with delayed fertility, lowered birth-rates, and an increase in childlessness. This is a long-fused reverse population bomb: in 20 years, we'll all be living under Chinese circumstances, with huge cohorts of aging people beyond working years dependent on much smaller numbers of working-aged people to pay into the social security system. China's central government gave us the One Child Policy by decree; the rest of the world got a One or Fewer Children Policy, courtesy of the "free market." Earlier this week, The ABC published a report arguing that childless couples will be Australia's most common family type by 2023: One sociologist says the trend is already happening, and future government policy will determine whether the traditional family model continues to exist. For many millennials changing financial and social realities are important factors in the choice to have kids. couples [are] delaying their decision to extend their families, a trend which paired with Australia's ageing population means the nuclear family is in decline. The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates between 2023 and 2029, there will be more people in a relationship living without children than families with kids Rise in childless couples? Blame the bubble [Leith van Onselen/Macrobusiness] Quelle Surprise! Pricey Housing Discourages Having Kids [Yves Smith/Naked Capitalism] (Image: Casey Serin, CC-BY) Ivor Gifford faces jail after learning how to use internet chatrooms to meet girls for sex A 92-year-old RAF veteran has become Britain's oldest paedophile to be caught by online vigilantes after trying to meet an 11-year-old girl for sex. Ivor Gifford, of Abertillery, South Wales, faces jail after learning how to use internet chatrooms to meet young girls for sex. He was trapped by The Hunted One, a group aiming to catch child groomers by creating fake social network profiles. Gifford told police after his arrest: 'I hope I die before this is out. I know how my family will react.' A court heard Gifford began talking to what he thought were two girls named Jessie and Jodie, aged 11 and 12. Within just half an hour he began talking about sex and tried to meet Jessie, telling her to 'wear something sexy'. Newport Crown Court heard that over several weeks, he sexually groomed her and sent over explicit photographs of himself. But unbeknown to Gifford, he was actually speaking to members of The Hunted One. He was confronted by the group when he arrived to meet the fictional girl at Llanhilleth train station near Abertillery. It was filmed and the court was shown him arriving at the railway station in a taxi when he is called over by the hunters. One of them can be heard saying to Gifford: 'You're 81 years older than this child. We catch a load of guys - you're the oldest, it's unbelievable. When we found out your age, we were shocked.' The video clip ends with police arriving and leading Gifford into their car. Prosecutor Owen Williams said: 'He was persistent in his attempts. In over 100 pages of messages, you will see that the vast majority refer to a sexual act. 'Mr Gifford graphically describes sexual acts. He sent images of himself naked.' Mr Williams told how The Hunted One create the phoney profiles but never begin conversations themselves and instead wait for others to speak to them first. The court heard group members Daniel Cook and Andy Bradstoc 'set up in 2015 with the aim of raising awareness of online grooming, exposing those who engage in such behaviour, and reporting them to the police'. Mr Williams said: 'They placed profiles of "children" on various chat websites. Though a photograph and a name is given, the child does not exist. These are fake profiles.' Mr Williams said they do not instigate conversations, but reply with a message mentioning the child's age when someone gets in touch. Gifford was confronted by the group when he arrived to meet the fictional girl at Llanhilleth train station (pictured) near Abertillery in South Wales He said: 'They do not instigate conversations of a sexual nature but wait for the "contacter" to do that. 'He then went a stage further, having groomed online he made arrangements to meet her,' said Mr Williams. 'Directing a child, who doesn't know how to get from Cardiff to Abertillery, how to get a bus then a train.' Mr Williams said the purpose was to 'potentially sexually abuse or exploit' a child for sex. Gifford denied two charges of attempting to incite a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, and attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming. The former RAF man began to use the internet two years ago to find a housekeeper after his wife, 68, died died in 2014. He said he was 'lonely' and learned to use the chat sites to meet people to talk to. He said that he believed the girls to be much older - but a jury rejected that and found him guilty. Gifford was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on June 2. Gifford had been talking to what he thought were two girls named Jessie and Jodie, 11 and 12 After the case, Detective Superintendent Leanne Brustad, head of public protection for Gwent Police, warned about the dangers of vigilantism. She said: 'Revealing the identity of suspected paedophiles gives the suspect the opportunity to destroy evidence before the police can investigate them. 'It also leads to people who have been identified going missing or raising concerns for their safety. 'This can divert significant resources into protecting suspects, which would be better invested in investigating and, where there is evidence, prosecuting them.' An NSPCC spokesman said: 'Although the children Gifford was arranging to meet were not real, the danger he poses to young children is. 'He set out to groom girls with the intention of sexually abusing them. This kind of predatory behaviour can ruin childhoods with the devastating effects lasting into adulthood. 'We believe that identifying offenders and investigating crimes like these is best left to the police. 'When members of the public take the law into their own hands it can run the risk of driving offenders underground, jeopardise on-going and complex police work or result in innocent people being harassed - all of which may put more children at risk of harm.' A Welsh council binman who converted to Islam and became 'deeply radicalised' has been jailed for five years for terrorism offences. Isis supporter Aabid Ali, from Wrexham, said the murder of Lee Rigby was justified, looked up security arrangements at Number 10 and was found with maps of Parliament, Manchester Crown Court heard. The 49-year-old also told his wife, who worked at an army based, that he wanted to kill soldiers and spoke of using a car as a jihadi weapon before he was eventually arrested in his hi-vis work jacket. He had changed his name from Darren Glennon and converted to Islam 20 years ago, the court heard. Isis supporter Aabid Ali, from Wrexham, said the murder of Lee Rigby was justified and was found with maps of Parliament but was arrested in his hi-vis council binman jacket The council refuse collector became increasingly fixated with extremist ideology in the last two years, 'almost daily' watching videos of Isis beheadings, stonings and bombings and looking up how to make explosives. He had visited Downing Street and said he hoped to meet the 'war criminal' prime minister, regarding the West and its military as legitimate targets for jihad. He also told his wife of his desire to bomb an RAF base and attack nightclubs. When she told police it led to heightened security at the army barracks where she worked, the court heard. Ali told officers: 'Everyone loves a bomb. I like the sound of a bang.' He pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to two offences of having Isis publications, bomb making manuals, useful for terrorist purposes and a further count of encouraging terrorism, all committed last autumn. Ali, who has a shaved head and ginger goatee beard, shrugged his shoulders as he was jailed for five years and four months by the Honorary Recorder of Manchester Judge David Stockdale, who said he had shown, 'no remorse, no regret, no apology'. He added: 'This is extremely serious offending, you are patently fixated with extremism and terrorism and you are minded to encourage terrorism in others. Police searching the house in Wrexham after swooping on the address. The council refuse collector became increasingly fixated with extremist ideology in the last two years Police searched his home on November 10 last year, seizing his mobile phone and tablet device, showing a substantial quantity of 'mindset evidence' 'You show no sense whatsoever of retreating from your path into radicalisation.' Earlier Simon Davies, prosecuting, told the court on October 5 last year Ali had met officers working on the national Prevent strategy, to counter radicalisation, after his wife told police of her husband's extreme views and sympathy for Isis. He told officers he agreed with the Isis declaration of a caliphate in Syria, regarded the UK military as legitimate targets and listened to the preachings of jailed radical preacher Anjem Choudary and influential US-born Islamist cleric Anwar Al Awlaki. He was warned about his conduct but refused to engage in 'state sponsored mind bending', he said. His wife told police her husband had become increasingly fixated with radical Islam and he had said he wanted to kill a soldier with a car and described him as 'driven' in his attitudes. Police searched his home on November 10 last year, seizing his mobile phone and tablet device, showing a substantial quantity of 'mindset evidence'. This included downloading Inspire 13, an al Qaida bomb making manual, and Palestine: Betrayal Of A Guilty Conscience, a similar document showing how to make a pressure cooker bomb. The court heard a 'flavour' of the internet searches Ali carried out included information on travelling to the Middle East, radical preachings, GCHQ and spying, pipe bombs, SAS barracks locations and how to make bomb detonators and maps of Parliament. The 49-year-old also told his wife, who worked at an army based, that he wanted to kill soldiers and spoke of using a car as a jihadi Counter-terror police also found he had posted a comment on YouTube, on or before November 10 last year, intended to directly encourage others to commit, prepare or instigate acts of terrorism. After his arrest he denied ever trying to make a bomb and made no comment when asked if he intended to carry out terrorist acts himself. Paul Smith, mitigating, said the defendant had never 'crossed the line' into actually preparing an act of terrorism himself. His wife told police her husband had always felt the need to be 'part of a brotherhood' and had in the past been a member of the BNP and a biker group. Mr Smith said Ali was a vulnerable man radicalised by others. 'This is a man who is influenced, rather than an influencer,' he added. Assistant Chief Constable Richard Debicki of North Wales Police said: 'Nobody is better placed to detect something that is out of place in their communities than the people living in them. 'To effectively combat the terrorism threat the police, businesses, government and the general public need to work together.' A high school senior in Texas is outraged that she's been denied the honor of valedictorian because of an error that was out of her control. Allyson Talbott says she was named salutatorian in March, when Rogers High School administrators tabulated grades for graduation honors. The cheerleader says she was fine coming in second place in her class, but she started to have second thoughts after her professor at Temple College, where she is taking advanced classes, started posting grades online last week. Talbott recalculated her weighted grade point average herself, and found that Temple had actually recorded her grade as a 92 per cent instead of a 97.5 - which would have put her at the very top of her high school class. Scroll down for video Allyson Talbott says she's been denied the honor of valedictorian because of a clerical error The Rogers High School cheerleader says the college where she is taking advanced credits sent the wrong grade to her high school 'I just want everyone to know that I rightfully deserve the title as Valedictorian at graduation but Rogers High School is refusing to recalculate my CORRECT grade in,' Talbott wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday Video courtesy of KWTX The aspiring nurse contacted Temple which immediately rectified the situation, resubmitting her grade to her high school and even sending an apology letter to the school. But Talbott says that her high school has refused to change her class standing. 'I just want everyone to know that I rightfully deserve the title as Valedictorian at graduation but Rogers High School is refusing to recalculate my CORRECT grade in,' Talbott wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday. She added: 'This is utterly wrong and disrespectful. I earned a 5 POINT HIGHER GRADE and the school reported it as a 92 which caused me to be #2 by such a small margin. 'I was fine with being #2 but after realizing my grade was calculated incorrectly and the school is refusing to recalculate it, I am beyond mad.' Talbott says she recalculated her GPA herself and found that she should have been valdictorian Temple College resubmitted her grades and sent a letter of apology to Rogers High School But Talbott said that the school has refused to update her GPA and give her the valedictorian title Talbott said her issue is with the school, Talbott says that when she went to the school, they said that the rule was that class standings at graduation are based off of what grades were on March 10. While Talbott's grades were lower when they were submitted on March 10, she says that's because of Temple College's mistake. After Talbott started posting about the issue on Facebook, and giving interviews with local news stations, the school released a statement saying they did the right thing and wouldn't be changing the class standings. 'We determined, through consult with our school attorney, the district followed our board policy in naming the valedictorian and salutatorian for the graduation ceremony based on the information that was available to us at time set in the established policy,' Superintendent Joe Craig said. While Talbott likely won't get to walk as valedictorian at graduation, she may eventually get the title. The school said that it recalculates class standings at the very end of the year, after all final grades have been posted. On Friday, Talbott took to Facebook again to clarify that her issue is with the school, not with the current valedictorian. 'This whole ordeal is not about class rank. It is about the school doing the right thing. They have constantly been going behind our backs and being hypocritical,' she wrote. 'Do the right thing, be honest, that's what we've learned all four years in high school and I just wish the school would own up to the things they tell us to do,' she told KWTX. Talbott pictured above in a photo prom. She is set to study nursing at Baylor next fall 'This whole ordeal is not about class rank. It is about the school doing the right thing. They have constantly been going behind our backs and being hypocritical,' she wrote. Talbott says she's going to fight for her rightful place as valedictorian all the way up until graduation on May 25. Talbott took her issue to the school board Wednesday night and they plan to hold an emergency meeting on Monday to rule on the issue. Talbott plans to attend Baylor University in the fall, where she will study nursing. After Talbott went public with her story, a former Rogers student came forward to say a similar thing happened to her. The young woman - who asked not to be identified - told KCEN that the issue with her year was not how her grades were calculated, but how they were calculated for the other top students in her year. She said that at the time, if students were taking courses at Temple College they would get extra weight added to their grades for passing with a B grade or above, which she did. The same applied for students who took AP classes, and then sat for the AP exam, which is optional. In a statement, the school (center) superintendent said that they had followed school protocols The woman says that the valedictorian and salutatorian from her year took AP classes but never took the exam. Nonetheless, she says the two got extra weight added to their grade anyway. 'When my parents and I approached administrators about this issue, we were informed that the handbook had been amended at a board meeting, but no proper documentation could be presented when it was requested by my father,' the student said. 'Because of this, they remained barely above me in ranking although they should not have been. The administration also told us they would not recalculate grades for graduation even if proper documentation could be found since it would require additional work that they felt they lacked sufficient time to perform.' The student said that being denied the honor of valedictorian or salutatorian meant she lost out on potential scholarships. 'We explained that it was very unfair that there were students who were possibly denied acceptance from certain colleges based on their class rankings due to the issue,' she said. 'Ethically, the administration should have followed the handbook that was written and set into place, but it was not.' An Air France flight heading from Paris to Birmingham declared a mid-air emergency after it was hit by a bolt of lightning. The passenger flight was leaving Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport and was heading to the West Midlands when an alert was sounded. It later landed safely at Birmingham Airport with no one hurt during the incident. An Air France flight heading from Paris to Birmingham has declared a mid-air emergency (file photo) Pictured: The flight-plan of the Air France flight, after an mid-flight emergency was called A spokesman said: 'I can confirm that AF1064 was hit by lightning during flight from Paris with an emergency being declared as a precaution. 'The aircraft has since landed safely at Birmingham Airport with no emergency response needed and with no injuries to passengers or crew. 'All passengers have since disembarked the aircraft safely from the airport stand as usual. A graphic of the plane's flight-path was shared on the Nik's News Twitter account, an aviation-watch site. Both the White House and the Justice Department were tight-lipped on Friday after Swedish authorities announced the decision to drop their investigation of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. That decision puts increased pressure on the Trump administration's Justice Department to seek his extradition or charge him. Adding to the prosecutorial challenges of building a case and gaining physical custody of Assange to bring a case are political pressures fueled in part by Trump's emotional pronouncements about Assange and leakers generally. If the U.S. extradites him, the administration would be engaged in a multi-year effort to try a fugitive who Trump hailed from the campaign trail. Failing to do so, absent a successful prosecution by Great Britain or another country, could lead to a continuation of the current stand-off. Adding to the urgency is the possibility Assange will bolt the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he has been ensconced for years, to go to another country. The Justice Department is weighing whether to charge Assange in connection to WikiLeaks published in 2010. 'It's OK with me,' President Trump said, when asked about the Justice Department potentially charging Assange Attorney General Jeff Sessions has said charging Assange is a priority for the Justice Department and president Trump has said he is 'okay' with it. 'It's OK with me,' Trump said, when asked about the Justice Department potentially charging Assange. Complicating the political situation should the U.S. go after Assange are the president's own statements defending him. Trump tweeted in January, just days before he took office: 'Julian Assange said 'a 14 year old could have hacked Podesta ' why was DNC so careless? Also said Russians did not give him the info! ' one Trump tweet said. He was referencing the hack of Hillary Clinton campaign chair John Podesta's emails, which U.S. intelligence says was carried out by the Russians before turning up on WikiLeaks. The U.S. government is weighing whether to charge Julian Assange of WikiLeaks After Assange appeared on 'Hannity' on Fox News in January, Trump tweeted: '@FoxNews: Julian Assange on U.S. media coverage: 'It's very dishonest.' #Hannity ' More dishonest than anyone knows.' Another quoted Assange as describing US media coverage on the issue as 'very dishonest'. Trump added: 'More dishonest than anyone knows.' 'We will decline to comment on this matter at this time,' a Justice Department spokesman told DailyMail.com. The White House also didn't provide immediate comment. Trump has repeatedly urged going after leakers, following a series of disclosures about his own campaign staff and administration in-fighting. Assange conducted the interview from the Ecuadoran embassy in London, where he has spent the past five years to avoid extradition. The Justice Department opened an investigation of Assange and WikiLeaks in 2010, after former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning (formerly Bradley Manning) leaked thousands of State Department documents. President Trump has defended Julian Assange on Twitter Julian Assange posted this picture of himself in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London today moments after Sweden dropped an investigation in to rape allegations FILE - In this Feb. 5, 2016 file photo, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange speaks from the balcony of the Ecuadorean Embassy in London. Sweden's top prosecutor said Friday May 19, 2017, she is dropping an investigation into a rape claim against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange after almost seven years. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File) A police officer walks past people gathering outside the Ecuadorian embassy in London, Friday May 19, 2017. Sweden's top prosecutor says she is dropping an investigation into a rape claim against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange after almost seven years. Assange took refuge in Ecuador's embassy in London in 2012 to escape extradition to Sweden to answer questions about sex-crime allegations from two women. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) Trump also said during the campaign that 'I love WikiLeaks,' after hacked emails provided a stream of embarrassing fodder about the Clinton campaign. But he once publicly took a more critical view. Back in 2010, before he ran for president, Trump called WikiLeaks 'disgraceful' and even brought up the death penalty. 'I think it's disgraceful, I think there should be like death penalty or something,' he said, CNN reported during the campaign. Assange has complained he has unfairly missed seven years of his children growing up due to his 'detention' after Sweden dropped its rape probe against him. The 45-year-old said 'I do not forgive or forget' hours after Sweden's top prosecutor, Marianne Ny, said the investigation had been 'discontinued' having effectively become a lost cause. Assange, who denies the 2010 rape claims. It isn't entirely clear whether the government has already requested his extradition or whether they it be able to obtain a warrant before he flees Britain. Friday was the deadline for Sweden's public prosecutor's office to either renew the pan-European arrest warrant or lift it. it is not yet clear whether Assange would be arrested should he try to leave his London hide-out or whether he would be stopped at airport security if he attempted to leave the country. President Donald Trump said Thursday that FBI employees will be 'very, very thrilled' when they learn who he's chosen to be their new director shortly after he confirmed that former Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman is a frontfunner for the position. Trump said he's looking forward to making the announcement and plans to do it 'very soon.' Lieberman's old colleagues in the Democratic caucus are not nearly as ecstatic as the president about the prospect of the lawyer, who works for a firm that represents Trump, becoming the nation's top cop. They doubled down on their assertions Thursday that Trump should choose someone who has never worked in politics, on either side of the aisle, as Republicans lined up behind the former vice presidential candidate from the opposing party. President Donald Trump said Thursday that FBI employees will be 'very, very thrilled' when they learn who he's chosen to be their new director shortly after he confirmed that former Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman (pictured) is a frontfunner for the position A report in Politico detailed Democratic opposition from the tip-top of of the totem pole down to the Senate's rank and file. 'This is a moment for someone with a law enforcement background,' said Chris Murphy, the Democrat who replaced Lieberman in the Senate. 'Its really important to restore peoples faith in the FBI.' The Senate has to confirm Trump's FBI pick. Only a bare majority of votes, 51, is needed to confirm the appointment, but a sensitive nomination like this will require broad Senate support for it to be a success in the court of public opinion. Trump's approval rating has already dropped several points since he fired James Comey. The president's press secretary, Sean Spicer, said earlier this week that Trump 'wants someone with high integrity and the leadership skills to lead the entity' to replace Comey. 'The FBI is the crown jewel of law enforcement and they deserve a leader that can properly lead the institution,' Spicer said. He would not comment on charges from both ends of the political spectrum that the next FBI director should not be a partisan. Lieberman ran for president in 2004 as a Democrat. He was the vice presidential nominee for Democrats in 2000. He's now an Independent and has endorsed Republican and Democratic nominees for president. 'I dont think there's going to be much excitement about that from our side of the aisle. Not because we dont respect Joe Lieberman. But we need a law enforcement professional, not someone whos run for office before,' Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri said. Lieberman's old colleagues in the Democratic caucus are not nearly as ecstatic as the president about the prospect of the lawyer, who works for a firm that represents Trump, becoming the nation's top cop She told Politico: 'We dont need anyone whos put on a red shirt or blue shirt or whos campaigned for president. The prospect of Lieberman becoming FBI director has some senators who opposed a current or former politician changing their tunes, though. Sen. Lindsey Graham had been among the senators telling Trump to pick a career law enforcement official. He said Thursday that he thought Lieberman was a 'good choice' in a complete change of position. Texas Sen. John Cornyn, the Republican whip in the Senate, said Lieberman could get 100 votes in the Senate, according to Politico. Trump suggested this week that he would name an FBI director before his nine-day trip abroad that starts this afternoon. The president said twice on Thursday that he would be making an announcement 'very soon.' 'We're going to have a director who is going to be outstanding. Ill be announcing that director very soon, and I look forward to doing it,' he during a joint press conference with the Colombian president. The White House has previously suggested Lieberman was on Trump's short list for FBI director on Wednesday, when it revealed that the Democrat-turned-Independent and three other candidates were sitting down for formal interviews with the president. Senators on both sides of the aisle have encouraged Trump to pick someone who did not work in politics to succeed Comey. Democratic leader Chuck Schumer reiterated his position on Thursday on the Senate floor. 'A career politician of either party or anyone who suggests a lack of impartiality should not be considered,' he said in a shot at Lieberman. Richard Blumenthal, the other senator from Connecticut, slapped down the idea down the idea, as well. 'This appointment is so important that we should try to insist on someone who has no political background,' the Democrat from Lieberman's home state said. Meanwhile, Lieberman pal John McCain, the 2008 GOP nominee for president, argued in his former colleague's favor. 'He's the greatest man I've ever known,' the Arizona Republican said Thursday on Morning Joe. CHANGED MY MIND: Sen. Lindsey Graham had been among the senators telling Trump to pick a career law enforcement official. He said Thursday that he thought Lieberman was a 'good choice' in a complete change of position Another friend of Lieberman's, Graham, chimed in Thursday to say the former lawmaker is a 'pillar of credibility.' 'I think he'd be a good choice. But now you have a special counsel the new FBI director doesn't have to worry about riding herd over an investigation of the man who appointed him,' he said. Three potential FBI directors the Justice Department initially interviewed have publicly dropped out of the running, whittling down Trump's list of potential nominees for him. Alice Fisher, an assistant attorney general in George W. Bush's Justice Department, has taken herself out of contention, CNN reports. She pulled out as Justice announced that it appointed a special prosecutor to take over the Russia case. Cornyn announced his intentions Tuesday to remain in the U.S. Senate. He had previously served as Texas' attorney general. Republican Rep. Trey Gowdy, a former prosecutor and state's attorney in South Carolina, told DOJ he was bowing out on Monday. President Donald Trump's short list for FBI director got shorter this week when Alice Fisher, an assistant attorney general in George W. Bush's Justice Department, took herself out of the running John Cornyn, a Texas Republican who served as his state's attorney general, announced his intentions Tuesday to remain in the U.S. Senate. Republican Rep. Trey Gowdy, a former prosecutor and state's attorney in South Carolina, told DOJ he was bowing out on Monday U.S. appeals court Judge Merrick Garland, Barack Obama's nominee for the Supreme Court, said this week that he didn't want the job, either, after his name was put forward by the top Republican in the Senate. That leaves Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe and former U.S. attorney Michael Garcia from Justice's original list, according to Politico. Trump interviewed McCabe and three other candidates for the vacancy on Wednesday. Lieberman, 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, were seen leaving the White House on Wednesday. 'Let's just say we had a good conversation,' Keating said as he came out. '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 said after his meeting that the interview 'was unexpected. Not something I was seeking.' 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 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 The former lawmaker, 75, would indeed be an unconventional choice if Trump follows though. Although he declared his independence from political parties in 2006, he endorsed Hillary Clinton in the November election. The retired former senator has already pitched in to help Trump once this year, though, warmly introducing David Friedman during his Senate confirmation hearing for the post of ambassador to Israel. Lieerman served as Connecticut's attorney general before first running for the U.S. Senate in 1988. The other three candidates on Trump's meeting list were 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. Retired Congressman Mike Rogers, a former agent who advised Trump during the transition, was also said to be under consideration, although he was not one of the candidates Trump spoke to Wednesday at the White House President Trump fired director James Comey eight days ago, and has wasted little time identifying and interviewing possible replacements Advertisement The crazed driver accused of plowing down pedestrians in New York's Times Square told police he laced his marijuana with the hallucinogenic drug PCP to create the 'zombie drug' Spice. Richard Rojas, a 26-year-old from the Bronx, was charged with murder after killing 18-year-old Alyssa Elsman and injuring 22 others when he sped down one of the busiest sidewalks in the US in his car for three blocks on Thursday. He was arraigned in a Manhattan court on Friday where he was held without bail and did not enter a plea. According to the criminal complaint, Rojas told police after his arrest: 'I smoked marijuana. I laced the marijuana with PCP.' It comes as it's revealed Rojas had a troubled history - including time served in a military prison - that descended into paranoia and harassment in the weeks leading up to the deadly crash. Rojas, who was taken to a psychiatric hospital for evaluation after his arrest, gave a number of excuses for the rampage when he was questioned by police - including that he was 'hearing voices'. Scroll down for video Richard Rojas, 26, was arraigned in a Manhattan court on Friday - a day after he was charged with killing an 18-year-old Michigan girl and injuring 22 others in a driving rampage in Times Square Richard Rojas, a 26-year-old from the Bronx, was charged with murder after killing 18-year-old Alyssa Elsman and injuring 22 others when he sped through Times Square on Thursday He also told investigators that he had wanted to provoke police into killing him after mowing down the pedestrians and that God had made him carry out the attack. 'You were supposed to shoot me. I wanted to kill them,' he allegedly told police. Law enforcement sources initially said they believe he smoked synthetic marijuana, also known as K2, or the 'zombie drug' Spice, beforehand. While police are still investigating Rojas' motives, the picture that quickly emerged of him from neighbors and authorities was of a man with many problems. He has been arrested a number of times in recent years, spent time in a military prison and was eventually discharged from the US Navy following disciplinary problems. Friends have said he was never the same after leaving the Navy. They say his paranoia took over as he started drinking heavily and smoking marijuana and that he often spoke about 'conspiracies, demons and devils'. A week ago, Rojas was arrested and charged after pulling a knife on a notary and asking him: 'Do you feel safe?'. He thought the man was trying to steal his identity, according to an arrest report obtained by Dailymail.com. Rojas pleaded guilty to a harassment violation and was allowed to walk free after striking up a deal with the Bronx District Attorney's Office. In previous arrests, Rojas told authorities he believed he was being harassed and followed, according to a law enforcement officials. This is the harrowing moment Rojas mercilessly plowed through pedestrians in Times Square on Thursday before telling police when he was arrested that he wanted to kill them 'all' and then be shot dead himself Rojas has been arrested a number of times in recent years (pictured left in a 2012 mugshot), spent time in a military prison and was eventually discharged from the US Navy following disciplinary problems Rojas, pictured in court on Friday, was charged with one count of murder, 20 counts of attempted murder and five of aggravated vehicular homicide late on Thursday night Rojas, pictured following his arrest on Thursday, was charged with one count of murder, 20 counts of attempted murder and five of aggravated vehicular homicide Rojas was arrested on charges of driving while intoxicated in 2008 and 2015 in Queens and Manhattan, and in 2016 for menacing in different areas of New York. He had his license suspended for 90 days for both drunk driving incidents, but after the 2015 episode he was ordered to complete a drunk-driving prevention program. A neighborhood friend in the Bronx, Harrison Ramos, told the Associated Press that Rojas wasn't the same when he came back from the Navy in 2014. 'He's been going through a real tough time,' he said. Rojas enlisted in 2011 and spent four months stationed at Illinois. He was stationed in Jacksonville, Florida where he reached the rank of an electrician's mate fireman apprentice. In 2012 he served aboard the U.S.S. Carney, a destroyer. That same year he was arrested outside the Naval base for attacking a taxi driver. His arrest report indicated that he had been drinking and that he had threatened 'to kill all police and military police he might see after he is released from jail.' Navy records show that in 2013 he spent two months at a naval brig in Charleston, South Carolina but they don't specify why. Rojas spent his final months in the Navy at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida, before being discharged in 2014 as the result of a special court martial, a Navy official said. Details were not immediately available but a friend told the New York Times that Rojas had been dishonorably discharged. Following his exit from the Navy, Rojas moved back to the Bronx apartment he shared with his mother. Friends of Rojas had said he appeared in high spirits on Wednesday night and gave no indication of what he was planning before he got behind the wheel of his car and headed to Times Square. The 18-year-old woman killed by the car was identified as Alyssa Elsman - a tourist from Portage, Michigan who was visiting the city with her family A bystander captured the moment the speeding car crashed into a pole, causing it to flying off the ground Planet Hollywood bouncer Ken Bradix (pictured wearing a black t-shirt and hat) was the first to stop the US Navy veteran. He tackled Rojas to the ground before NYPD officers got to him Rojas was arrested at the scene moments later by NYPD officers. He was later taken to a psychiatric hospital for evaluation After he drove through crowds at the popular tourist destination and crashed into steel security barriers, he emerged from the wreck running, yelling and jumping before police and bystanders could subdue him in chaotic scenes. 'He began screaming, no particular words but just utter screaming. He was swinging his arms at the same time, said Ken Bradix, a bouncer at a nearby Planet Hollywood restaurant who tackled Rojas. Footage captured Rojas getting into a fistfight with an officer as they struggled to arrest him, before he was eventually bundled into a squad car. Thursday's mayhem began at noon on a hot, clear day that brought large crowds of people into the streets to enjoy the good weather. Harrowing video footage captured Rojas plowing into pedestrians at ferocious speed in Times Square. The 50-second clip captures the driver hurtling down the sidewalk before crashing into a pole. Moments earlier, he had fatally struck an 18-year-old woman identified as Alyssa Elsman. She was a tourist from Portage, Michigan who was visiting the city with her family. Elsman graduated last year from Portage Central High School. She was walking around Times Square with her 13-year-old sister who was also struck but survived. Rojas was charged with one count of murder, 20 counts of attempted murder and five of aggravated vehicular homicide late on Thursday night. A woman, believed to be dead, was seen lying on the sidewalk with her face covered with a sheet. Other victims could be seen sprawled out across the pavement Elvis Presley's last privately-owned jet will be auctioned on May 27, after sitting for more than 30 years on the tarmac in Roswell, New Mexico. The 1962 red Lockheed JetStarOne, which has been referred to as the 'lost' jet, is expected to fetch between $2million and $3.5million, according to liveauctioneers.com, which is the site handling the bidding. The aircraft is one of three jets owned by the King of Rock and Roll throughout his lifetime, and was particularly special to him as he owned it with his father, Vernon Presley. Elvis Presley's last privately-owned jet will be auctioned on May 27, after sitting for more than 30 years on the tarmac in Roswell, New Mexico The cockpit, along with the rest of the jet, has never been restored; the plane has no engines Presley customized the interior of the plane completely, 'down to the the gold-tone, woodwork, inlay and red velvet seats and red shag carpet 'This aircraft has never been restored and features original external painting and detailing, as well as original interior,' the listing reads. 'The interior was custom designed to Elvis' specifications. Down to the gold-tone, woodwork, inlay and red velvet seats and red shag carpet.' The jet is currently owned by a private collector, who has not been named. The owner has kept the collectors' item its original condition all this time. The jet has never been restored, kept in its original condition by a private collector The 1962 red Lockheed JetStarOne, which has been referred to as the 'lost' jet, is expected to fetch between $2 million and $3.5 million This rare airplane is one of only 204 aircraft manufactured between 1957 and 1978 in a private collaboration between Jetstar and Lockheed The aircraft is one of three jets owned by Elvis Presley (right) throughout his lifetime, and was particularly special to him as he owned it with his father, Vernon Presley (left); the two are pictured here in 1958 This rare airplane is one of only 204 aircraft manufactured between 1957 and 1978 in a private collaboration between Jetstar and Lockheed. The cockpit, along with the rest of the jet, has never been restored. The bidding has already started with a $10,000 offer, despite the fact that the plane currently does not have any engines. Presley posed here with two flight attendants in Los Angeles on August 16, 1956 Presley's plane is part of a larger celebrity memorabilia sell-off, including 315 lots in total. The auction is being run by GWS Auctions, Inc out of Agoura Hills, California. The plane is being sold without reserve and will go to the highest bidder on May 27. The It's Now Or Never hitmaker's other two jets are now owned by The Elvis Presley Museum. France's new president dined with troops in Mali after vowing the country will be 'uncompromising' in its fight against jihadis who are based in the African nation. Speaking at the Gao military base in northern Mali, Macron said he will increase cooperation with its EU partner Germany in a bid to eradicate the terror threat to Europe. Around 1,600 French soldiers are stationed in Gao, France's largest foreign base, as part of the larger 'Barkhane' counter-terror force operating across the Sahel region. The operation comprises around 4,000 soldiers who are deployed in five countries - Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Chad and Burkina Faso. France's new president Emmanuel Macron (pictured) dined with troops in northern Mali today He was seen choosing different options before sitting down with the troops of France's Barkhane counter-terrorism operation in Africa's Sahel region in Gao President Macron later cleared his plate and looked very happy to have spent time with the soldiers This comes after he vowed to be 'uncompromising' in its fight against jihadis in Mali Macron (pictured) said he will increase cooperation with its EU partner Germany to rid the terror threat to Europe Macron said he wants greater action by the Malian government in implementing a peace accord signed in 2015 which has repeatedly faltered in the face of ongoing rivalries between the patchwork of armed groups operating in the north. 'My wish is for us to accelerate' the deal, Macron said at a press conference, describing the so-called Algiers Accord as the top priority to ensure Mali's security. Seventeen French soldiers have died in Mali since 2013, when Hollande launched an intervention to chase out jihadists linked with Al-Qaeda who had overtaken key northern cities. Jihadists continue to roam the country's north and centre, mounting attacks on civilians and the army, as well as French and UN forces still stationed there. Macron emphasised the need for closer European cooperation in the fight against jihadists, especially with fellow EU heavyweight Germany. 'My desire in the framework of our military involvement in Africa is to do even more with Europe, more with Germany, but in a pragmatic manner,' Macron told journalists. Germany currently contributes 550 troops to the multi-national UN force in Mali, called MINUSMA, forming the largest European contingent. During his campaign, Macron spoke of his desire to re-calibrate France's role on the African continent Around 1,600 French soldiers are stationed in Gao, France's largest foreign base, as part of the larger 'Barkhane' counter-terror force operating across the Sahel region Macron said he wants greater action by the Malian government in implementing a peace accord signed in 2015 The peace deal has repeatedly faltered in the face of ongoing rivalries between the patchwork of armed groups operating in the north The new president discussed the issue with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Monday during his first visit to a foreign leader since taking power. Stationed in Mali since July 2013, MINUSMA has just over 12,000 military and police personnel working on what is considered the UN's most dangerous active peacekeeping deployment. France wants a 'new Franco-German impetus so that Europe plays a greater role in defence and security matters especially in Africa and the Sahel', a source in Macron's team said. During his campaign, Macron spoke of his desire to re-calibrate France's role on the African continent. He was criticised at home for describing France's colonial war in Algeria as a 'crime against humanity' and 'genuinely barbaric'. The comments were well-received in Algeria and other former colonies but condemned by Macron's far-right rival in the presidential vote, Marine Le Pen. France has promised 'constant' military, diplomatic and political support with the help of the French Development Agency (AFD), he said. Macron emphasised the need for closer European cooperation in the fight against jihadists, especially with fellow EU heavyweight Germany. 'My desire in the framework of our military involvement in Africa is to do even more with Europe, more with Germany, but in a pragmatic manner,' Macron (pictured at his inaugration) told journalists. Macron's predecessor Francois Hollande said in January that France would boost the AFD's budget for Africa by 15 percent over the coming years to 23 billion euros ($25.7 billion). Macron is travelling with Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, who as the former defence minister knows Gao well, and his replacement in that job, Sylvie Goulard, as well as AFD chief Remy Rioux. The French president said he would also attend a meeting of the G5 Sahel countries, the same nations where the Barkhane force has a presence, in the coming weeks. This is the terrifying moment a bull raged into someone's home and injured a man who was later admitted to hospital. The video starts with the bull running at a group of men in the narrow streets of Cabanes in Spain's Castellon province. In a panic the men take refuge in the home, which backs on the street, but the enraged bull follows them before they could close the door. Terrifying: The bull smashes his way into the lounge Attack: The bull approaches the group of men who didn't have enough time to shut the door Before: The rampaging bovine about to enter the house from the streets The footage flips to inside the house showing the family rushing for safety and the bull standing still in the dining room despite shouting from outside. The stillness didn't last long as the distressed bull backs onto a chest of drawers, smashing an ornament resting on top, and an object that appears to be a lamp. Before more the bull causes more destruction a bell toll can be heard from the street and the beast retreats to the corridor. However it remains in the corridor breathing deeply and facing towards the house until it's pulled out from behind by someone on the street. The pulsating clip finishes with family members peering out of the living room window at the chaotic scene. According to Cuatro the home owner, 41, was gored in the chest by the bull, requiring an operation, and is in a serious condition after the incident last Thursday. For the annual Patron saint of Cabanes festival the Valencian town holds numerous bull fights in the open. Smash: The beast breaks backs into a chest of drawers breaking several items Welp. From the NYT: President Trump told Russian officials in the Oval Office this month that firing the F.B.I. director, James B. Comey, had relieved "great pressure" on him, according to a document summarizing the meeting. "I just fired the head of the F.B.I. He was crazy, a real nut job," Mr. Trump said, according to the document, which was read to The New York Times by an American official. "I faced great pressure because of Russia. That's taken off." Mr. Trump added, "I'm not under investigation." The levels of crazy in this story 1. he said this to the Russians of all people 2. Bragging about canning Comey 3. the thing actually leaked Sam Stein (@samsteinhp) May 19, 2017 Literally SECONDS before the NYT story broke https://t.co/jzkIbNfZUk Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) May 19, 2017 This is the most stunning thing in the story: "Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, did not dispute the account." Tom Namako (@TomNamako) May 19, 2017 The White House didn't deny Trump's comments, but says "the real story" is "the leaking of private and highly classified conversations." https://t.co/5JOasxBRf7 Chris Megerian (@ChrisMegerian) May 19, 2017 Recall who was in the Oval Office during this from BOTH sides: https://t.co/Mupyl76wgA Michael Barbaro (@mikiebarb) May 19, 2017 I seriously thought this was a headline from The Onion. https://t.co/GwVBG5nONO Stephen Engelberg (@SteveEngelberg) May 19, 2017 Dept. of HILARIOUS SPIN pic.twitter.com/YZYiZINNQU Sam Stein (@samsteinhp) May 19, 2017 So I think we can all dispense with "Hmm, will we ever really know why Trump fired Comey?" https://t.co/PkoOq24pgK James Poniewozik (@poniewozik) May 19, 2017 That's the same meeting that #Trump disclosed high classified Intel, US press was barred and now Russia says it has a transcript. Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) May 19, 2017 This is the moment US warplanes launched an airstrike on a convoy of pro-Assad fighters as they tried to advance towards an American-backed rebel base in Syria. Footage shows men walking towards the scene of a blast near the southern town of Tanf with smoke rising from a military-style vehicle. But seconds later another rocket slams in to the convoy sending a huge cloud of smoke into the sky. The air raid targeted a militia loyal to Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad near the border with Jordan, destroying at least one tank and a bulldozer. Jets fired warning shots to stop the convoy of Syrian and Iranian-backed fighters from advancing - but it was ignored. The coalition said 'apparent' Russian attempts to stop the group, which had come to within 17 miles of the base, also failed. Syria condemned the strike as a 'brazen attack' and said it would 'not be intimidated' after the surprise assault while Russia called America's actions 'unacceptable'. Dramatic footage captures the moment US warplanes launched an airstrike on a convoy of pro-Assad fighters as they tried to advanc towards an American-backed rebel base in Syria Video shows men walking towards the scene of a blast near the southern town of Tanf with smoke rising from a military-stlye vehicle Seconds later another rocket slams in to the convoy sending a huge cloud of smoke into the sky 'Such actions that were carried out against the Syrian armed forces... this is completely unacceptable, this is a breach of Syrian sovereignty,' deputy foreign minister Gennady Gatilov was quoted as saying by state-run RIA Novosti in Geneva. Last month, the US fired 59 missiles at a government air base in central Syria as punishment for a chemical attack blamed on Assad's forces that killed nearly 90 people. This morning, Muzahem al Saloum, from the US-backed Maghawir al Thwra group said jets then struck after the militia advanced to a base used by the US and fighters supported by Washington. 'We notified the coalition that we were being attacked by the Syrian army and Iranians in this point, and the coalition came and destroyed the advancing convoy,' Saloum said. The region around Tanf, where the borders of Jordan, Syria and Iraq meet, has been considered a de-conflicted zone, under an agreement between the US and Russia. Speaking to reporters, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said the US will defend its troops in case of 'aggressive' steps against them. He was asked if the airstrike increases the US role in the Syrian war. 'We are not increasing our role in the Syrian civil war, but we will defend our troops,' Mattis said. 'And that is a coalition element made up of more than just U.S. troops, and so we will defend ourselves (if) people take aggressive steps against us.' The 'defensive' strike was also an apparent signal to Assad to keep his forces out of a zone where US-backed rebels are fighting ISIS. US warplanes have launched an airstrike on a convoy of pro-Assad fighters seen advancing towards a US-backed rebel base in Tanf, Syria A man checks the damage at the mountain resort town of Zabadani in the Damascus countryside in Syria on Thursday. A US airstrike struck pro-Syrian government forces for the first time, hitting a convoy in the desert near the border with Jordan, officials and activists said 'This action was taken after apparent Russian attempts to dissuade Syrian pro-regime movement south... were unsuccessful, a coalition aircraft show of force, and the firing of warning shots,' the U.S.-led coalitions aid. It said coalition forces have been operating in the area 'for many months training and advising vetted partner forces' in the battle against ISIS. A Syrian military sources told state media the strike had produced 'a number of martyrs and material damage.' 'This brazen attack by the so-called international coalition exposes the falseness of its claims to be fighting terrorism,' it added. 'The Syrian Arab Army is fighting terrorism on its territory, and no party has the right to determine the course of its operations,' the source said. 'The Syrian Arab Army will... not be intimidated by the attempts of the so-called coalition to stop it from performing its sacred duties.' The US strike marks a new approach in what has become an intensely crowded and complicated war zone. Thursday's strike was the coalition's first on pro-Assad forces in the battlefield. The coalition had so far kept its military operations focused on ISIS militants and al-Qaeda-linked groups. An increasingly visible US role in Syria has also raised the possibilities of friction with the various forces on the ground. America is backing Syrian Kurdish forces who are also fighting ISIS to the country's east. The strikes would be the first against fighters aligned with Syria's government since the United States waged cruise missile strikes on a Syrian air base in April. The above image shows a Tomahawk missile being fired from the USS Porter on April 7, 2017 US troops have sent patrols in the area to act as a buffer between Turkish troops and the Kurdish fighters. Turkey views the US-backed Kurdish fighters as an extension of its own insurgent group. In recent days, near the border with Jordan, another set of U.S-backed rebel fighters have been on a collision course with government troops in the area of Tanf. The government launched a new offensive in recent days in the area, and activists say pro-government militiamen, mainly from Iran and the Lebanese Shiite militant Hezbollah group, have deployed there aiming to secure the main highway that runs from Damascus to Baghdad and beyond, to Tehran. Tensions have been building as part of a race for control of territory stretching from the provincial capital of Deir el-Zour in northeastern Syria to the Iraq border. The area gained attention as the battle for the Iraqi city of Mosul escalated in recent weeks. An estimated 10,000 ISIS fighters uprooted from Mosul are believed to be massing in the border area. US officials said the American airstrike hit the pro-Syrian government forces as they were setting up fighting positions in a protected area near Tanf. They said a tank and a bulldozer were also hit. One official said the pro-regime forces had entered a so-called 'de-confliction' zone without authorisation and were perceived as a threat to US-allied troops there. The air raid targeted a militia loyal to Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad near the southern town of Tanf near the border with Jordan, destroying at least one tank and a bulldozer. A huge Syrian National flag hangs out of a damage building at the mountain resort town of Zabadani in the Damascus countryside A Syrian opposition media group, the Palmyra News Network, said the attack occurred at the Zarka juncture, about 17 miles from the border, destroyed a number of vehicles and caused casualties. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also said the strike destroyed vehicles and killed eight militiamen. There was no immediate comment from the pro-government side. In September 2016, the coalition erroneously struck at Syrian government troops in Deir el-Zour, killing over 90 soldiers. The US at the time said it was a mistake, as it was targeting ISIS positions. Further to the north, ISIS militants on Thursday attacked several government-held villages in central Syria, capturing at least one and killing 52 people. The dead included more than two dozen women and children, some of whom were beheaded, as well as Syrian troops, according to state media, medical officials and an opposition monitoring group. The US-backed Syrian Kurdish-rebels are closing in on Raqqa, the de facto capital of ISIS in Syria. That battle has already caused clashes between government forces and Syrian rebels and raised concern of pro-government militias making a bid for controlling the border with Iraq. The ISIS attack in the central Hama province, meanwhile, targeted villages where most residents belong to the Ismaili branch of Shiite Islam, raising fears of massacres such as those ISIS carried out in other minority communities in Syria and Iraq. Jets fired warning shots to stop a convoy of fighters loyal to Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad (pictured) The villages are located near the town of Salamiyeh and the highway that links the capital, Damascus, to the northern city of Aleppo, but state media said traffic was not affected. Media reports and doctors in the area said some of the killed, which included women and children, were beheaded and others dismembered. ISIS extremists are notorious for mutilating bodies of their adversaries, particularly members of other sects than Sunni Islam. The militants stormed homes in the southern part of Aqareb al-Safi village before government forces pushed them back into the desert, the state news agency SANA reported. The head of the National Hospital in Salamiyeh, Dr. Noufal Safar, said it received 52 bodies, including 11 women and 17 children. Some of the bodies were badly mutilated, beheaded or had their limbs severed but 'most appear to have died as a result of gunfire,' Safar told The Associated Press by telephone. Rami Razzouk, a coroner at the hospital who inspected the bodies, said those of children were brought in mostly dismembered while the men had died from shelling or heavy machine-gun fire. He said at least nine children were beaten on the head with heavy objects such as bricks or stones. The Observatory also said that 52 people were killed in the fighting, with the dead including 15 civilians, 27 Syrian soldiers and 10 unidentified people. Razzouk said 120 people were wounded; SANA said 40 were wounded. The ISIS-linked Aamaq news agency said the militants captured villages of Aqareb al-Safi and Mabouja. It identified residents as members of Assad's Alawite sect, an off-shoot of Shiite Islam. The Sunni extremists view Shiites as apostates deserving of death. ISIS has massacred thousands of Shiites and other opponents in Syria and Iraq, often boasting about the killings and circulating photos and videos of them online. Aamaq claimed that 100 Syrian troops and pro-government gunmen were killed in the fighting. 'Dozens of people are missing but it is not clear if they were kidnapped' by IS, the Observatory's chief Rami Abdurrahman said. Advertisement Torrential rain left vans struggling to get through a flooded road today - with one vehicle left submerged and unable to move - as parts of Britain prepared for a wet weekend. Downpours are expected across Scotland tonight before thundery showers and lightning follow in some areas of the UK tomorrow and on Sunday with rain also expected to hit the start of next week. Rainfall overnight in Essex caused routes to flood, with one van driver getting stuck in 3ft of water in Ingatestone, where a flock of ducks were seen swimming above the road. Another pick-up driver just about made it through. In Leicestershire there are concerns over imminent flooding of low-lying agricultural land around Lower River Soar, with concerns over water levels rising as 0.6in (15mm) of rain falls this afternoon and evening. But the heavy rain in recent days that brought the wettest day in eight years to parts of Britain on Wednesday has failed to alleviate drought fears because it was the 'wrong type of rain'. Heavy overnight rain in Essex caused some roads to flood, such as this one near Ingatestone where a driver got his van stuck A duck with their ducklings makes their way across the road which was covered by more than three feet of water in Essex A pick-up van driver managed to get his vehicle through the flooded road in Ingatestone as parts of the UK were hit by rain This van was stuck in the water in Ingatestone. Tonight will bring rain to Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England The emergency services came to the rescue of the driver whose car became stuck on the flooded road in Ingatestone Affinity Water, which has four million customers across the South East, said it needs light rain to ease its water shortage, not the sort of downpours experienced this week which ran off hard ground into rivers. It warned of hosepipe bans this summer and said rainfall had been down 70 per cent so far this year in parts of its region before yesterday's deluge. The firm blamed low groundwater levels, the source of 60 per cent of its water. Tonight will bring outbreaks of rain to Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England, although it is expected to be largely dry elsewhere with clear spells and just isolated showers around. Much of the UK will have some sunny spells tomorrow, but there will be showers pushing east and these could be heavy and frequent with the risk of lightning. North of the border there will be longer spells of rain for Scotland. There will be lots of cloud around on Sunday with the risk of a few showers and outbreaks of rain expected to push into the far north-west of Scotland later. However it is expected to feel warm in the South East of England. On Monday, a band of showery rain is expected to move in from the West across northern areas, while there will be sunny spells further south but also the risk of a few showers. Met Office forecaster Grahame Madge told MailOnline: 'What we've got is remains of a weather system which is working its way into Scotland, where parts will have a bit of wet start tomorrow. 'Elsewhere we're going to see showers, but as is the nature with showers they could develop more or less anywhere, but affect small scale areas. But not everybody will see those. Temperatures will feel fresher with most of England and Wales sitting in the mid to high teens through the weekend 'For those people who don't the chances are tomorrow could be quite a nice day. Sunday we are looking at relatively clear start, bit more breezy, so there'll be the odd patch of rain and drizzle. 'As we work through to the middle of the day rain will be a little bit heavier in North West England and parts of Scotland, but after conditions will dry again. So most of England will be dry for most of the day. 'But there will be some chances of light rain in the North West and in the later evening parts of Scotland will see some light rain, and that's ahead of a front moving in on Monday. 'That will bring some rain but as it clears into Tuesday and Wednesday we should have more settled conditions into the weekend.' Temperatures will also feel fresher with most of England and Wales sitting in the mid to high teens through the weekend, after yesterday's UK high of 20.6C (68F) in Hull, East Yorkshire. Wednesday saw highs of 25C (77F) in Langdon Bay, Kent, just less than the hottest day of the year on Tuesday, which saw temperatures of 25.8C (78F) in Gravesend, Kent. But farmers warned that a week of rain will not offset the months of dry weather since the start of the year. While the wet weather will provide 'short-term' respite for soil moisture levels, the Centre of Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) warned that 'substantial' rainfall would be needed to reverse the outlook. People took part in a world record attempt to get more than 2,000 people waltzing at the same time at Saltburn Pier today The record of 1,510 couples waltzing was not broken, but dancers still enjoyed it despite the rain in Saltburn-by-the-Sea People dressed up while others wore ponchos as they took part in the world record attempt in Saltburn-by-the-Sea today Two people dry off after a dip in the North Sea today in the pouring rain at Saltburn-by-the-Sea in North Yorkshire The damp spell comes after the CEH revealed the last ten months were the driest July to April for southern England in records stretching back more than 100 years. But with some areas receiving an inch and a half of rain in 24 hours and heavy showers forecast for the weekend the thoughts of drought were far away from most people's mind. Experts predict dry soils and low river flows throughout the summer, which could cause issues for agriculture and put pressure on the environment in rivers, streams, ponds and wetlands. Simon Parry, a hydrologist at CEH, said: 'It looks like there's going to be some wet weather over the next few days, and I think it probably will provide a bit of short-term relief in terms of soil moisture. 'Soils have been fairly dry for the time of year for much of the south and east of the UK. But we would need more of this kind of rainfall in the coming weeks and months to substantially change the long-term outlook.' Mr Parry added that even with 'some of the wetter rainfall scenarios', groundwater levels would probably remain below normal during the summer due to evaporation. 'From April time onward, we generally expect the rainfall not to have much of an impact - which is why winter rainfall is so important in the UK,' he said. A huge ferry crashed into a pier at a port in the Dominican Republic when its ramp broke. The collision occurred in the port of Sansouci, in the city of Santo Domingo, the country's capital. According to reports, the ropes on the Caribbean ferry 'Kydon' collapsed when the ramp was being lowered but it was pushed by the current and collided with the pier, slamming into the containers. According to reports, the ferry had just arrived in Santo Domingo and was already partially tied up with ramp being lowered, but was pushed by the current and collided with the pier Containers on the port were crushed by the ferry as it crashed into the port The port authority official statement said: 'There was a situation of breaking one of the cables that was tied to the docks of the pier causing the impact. 'It resulted in displacement of some containers causing damage to the infrastructure of the perimeter gate of the port and property damage. 'The situation is under control and the operations of the port and those of the Caribbean Ferries remain normal.' Victor Gomez Casanova, the director of the Dominican Port Authority, said neither the crew nor any passengers were injured and everyone aboard the ferry managed to evacuate the boat without incident. A video recorded by witnesses showed the moment the ramp moved away and crashed into the containers, while people could be seen running away in panic. The ferry, operated by Ferries Del Caribe, provides service between San Juan, Puerto Rico and Santo Domingo The ferry, operated by Ferries Del Caribe, provides service between San Juan, Puerto Rico and Santo Domingo. The activity of the port is continuing as normal, but the area where the crash took place will remain closed as repairs are carried out. Nestor Gonzalez Garcia, the President of the company Ferries Del Caribe, said the emergency protocol was activated and worked properly which prevented anyone being injured. He also said the boat will resume service again in around two weeks as it was not badly damaged. It had only recently resumed service on May 3 after the fire on the Caribbean Fantasy last August put the service on hold. The youngest child always wants to be the centre of attention. When a painful wobbly tooth made Dylan's older brother Quinny the sole focus of their parents' love, Dylan decided something drastic needed to be done so that he could take centre stage once more. Quinny had been panicking as his parents prepared to pull out his wobbly tooth at their home in Calgary, Canada. Luckily - or unluckily - for him, his no-nonsense brother, Dylan, became bored with the building hysteria and decided to take control of the situation in a hilarious video. In the mobile phone footage, Quinny's parents had fastened one end of dental floss to his wobbly tooth, and the other end to a door handle in their home. His mother was all set to slam the door and therefore pull his tooth out in the blink of an eye, but Quinny started to backtrack and try to stop the inevitable from happening. She said: 'It's too late. We have to do it.' When a painful wobbly tooth made Dylan's older brother Quinny, pictured left, the sole focus of their parents' love, Dylan, whose foot is pictured in the background of the shot, left, decided something drastic needed to be done so that he could take centre stage once more In the build up to the moment his tooth would be wrenched from his mouth Quinny became anxious and apprehensive about the pain he would feel. He said: 'I'm too scared' But in the build up to the moment his tooth would be wrenched from his mouth Quinny became more and more worked up, anxious and apprehensive about the pain he would feel. He said: 'I'm too scared. I'm too scared.' Quinny's father tried to make his son act more macho. He said: 'Do you want to be crying in the video, or do you want to be happy and brave?' As large tears began to roll down Quinny's face, his parents tried to console him, offering icecream and sweets as a prize for his courage. Meanwhile, Dylan, left, looked increasingly bored and slightly peeved at not being the centre of attention. Out of nowhere, he decided to intervene and smacked the floss with a stick, wrenching his older brother's tooth out of his mouth, right Meanwhile, Dylan looked increasingly bored and slightly peeved at not being the centre of attention. Out of nowhere, Dylan decided to intervene and smacked the floss with a stick he had been waving around. Quinny's tooth pinged easily out of the gum and soared across the room. After a moment of shocked silence, everyone laughed with relief. The two brothers squealed with delight at the tiny tooth glistening on the carpet. Quinny's tooth was successfully pulled out, and Dylan switched all the attention back to himself. Everyone's a winner. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein called James Comey a 'role' model, in his first official comments about the firing on Friday, but he is standing by the memo he wrote that President Trump used to justify his firing of FBI Director. 'I wrote it. I believe it. I stand by it,' Rosenstein told lawmakers in two closed-door meetings Friday. 'It is a candid memorandum about the FBI Director's public statements concerning a high-profile criminal investigation,' Rosenstein said, according to a copy of his opening statement, The Hill reported. Although he piled on Comey in the memo and called for new leadership, he stopped short of calling for his firing. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein arrives for a closed briefing for members of the House of Representatives to discuss the firing of former FBI Director James Comey, on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., May 19, 2017 'I thought the July 5 press conference [by Comey] was profoundly wrong and unfair both to the Department of Justice and Secretary Clinton. It explicitly usurped the role of the Attorney General, the Deputy Attorney General and the entire Department of Justice; it violated deeply engrained rules and traditions; and it guaranteed that some people would accuse the FBI of interfering in the election,' Rosenstein said, according to a copy of his opening remarks. 'My memorandum is not a finding of official misconduct; the inspector general will render his judgement about the issue in due course,' Rosenstein said, referencing an internal probe of Comey's handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation. 'Notwithstanding my personal affection for Director Comey, I thought it was appropriate to seek a new leader,' Rosenstein said. He went a bit into the dramatic events that led to Comey's ouster, and repeated his statement that he knew Comey was going to get fired before he wrote it. 'I informed the senior attorney that the president was going to remove Director Comey, that I was writing a memorandum to the attorney general summarizing my own concerns and that I wanted to confirm that everything in my memorandum was accurate,' Rosenstein said. Deputy U.S. Attorney General Rod Rosenstein (C) arrives to brief the full U.S. Senate on details of President Donald Trump's recent firing of FBI Director James Comey at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. Rosenstein told the White House of his decision to name a special counsel to probe Russian election meddling after he had already signed the order Deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein knew that President Trump was going to fire FBI Director James Comey when he wrote a memo about Comey's conduct in the Clnton investigation, senators said Thursday Rosenstein praised Comey even as he acknowledged telling Attorney General Jeff Sessions he thought Comey should go. "I have known Jim Comey since approximately 2002. In 2005, when Mr. Comey was Deputy Attorney General, he participated in selecting me to serve as a US attorney,' Rosenstein said. 'As a federal prosecutor, he was a role model. His speeches about leadership and public service inspired me.' But he said Comey's decision to hold a press conference announcing his decision not to recommend charging Hillary Clinton 'was profoundly wrong.' He repeated his statement from Thursday to Senators that he knew Trump was going to fire Comey when he wrote the letter trashing Comey's handling of the Clinton email inevstigation. 'On May 8, I learned that President Trump intended to remove Director Comey and sought my advice and input. Notwithstanding my personal affection for Director Comey, I thought it was appropriate to seek a new leader,' Rosenstein said. 'I wrote a brief memorandum to the Attorney General summarizing my longstanding concerns about Director Comeys public statements concerning the Secretary Clinton email investigation.' Rosenstein's opening statement to lawmakers Good afternoon. I welcome the opportunity to discuss my role in the removal of FBI Director James Comey, although I know you understand that I will not discuss the special counsels ongoing investigation. Most importantly, I want to emphasize my unshakeable commitment to protecting the integrity of every federal criminal investigation. There never has been, and never will be, any political interference in any matter under my supervision in the United States Department of Justice. Before I discuss the events of the past two weeks, I want to provide some background about my previous relationship with former Director Comey. I have known Jim Comey since approximately 2002. In 2005, when Mr. Comey was Deputy Attorney General, he participated in selecting me to serve as a U.S. Attorney. As a federal prosecutor, he was a role model. His speeches about leadership and public service inspired me. On July 5, 2016, Director Comey held his press conference concerning the federal grand jury investigation of Secretary Clintons emails. At the start of the press conference, the Director stated that he had not coordinated or reviewed this statement in any way with the Department of Justice. They do not know what I am about to say. Director Comey went on to declare that he would publicly disclose what we did; what we found; and what we are recommending to the Department of Justice. He proceeded to disclose details about the evidence; assert that the American people deserve to know details; declare that no reasonable prosecutor would file charges; and criticize Secretary Clinton. I thought the July 5 press conference was profoundly wrong and unfair both to the Department of Justice and Secretary Clinton. It explicitly usurped the role of the Attorney General, the Deputy Attorney General and the entire Department of Justice; it violated deeply engrained rules and traditions; and it guaranteed that some people would accuse the FBI of interfering in the election. There are lawful and appropriate mechanisms to deal with unusual circumstances in which public confidence in the rule of law may be jeopardized. Such mechanisms preserve the traditional balance of power between investigators and prosecutors, and protect the rights of citizens. Director Comey attended the Maryland U.S. Attorneys Office training seminar on October 27, 2016, and gave a detailed explanation of his reasons for making public statements about the conclusion of the Secretary Clinton email investigation. I strongly disagreed with his analysis, but I believe that he made his decisions in good faith. The next day, October 28, Mr. Comey sent his letter to the Congress announcing that the FBI was reopening the Clinton email investigation. He subsequently has said that he believed he was obligated to send the letter. I completely disagree. He again usurped the authority of the Department of Justice, by sending the letter over the objection of the Department of Justice; flouted rules and deeply engrained traditions; and guaranteed that some people would accuse the FBI of interfering in the election. Before the Senate Judiciary Committee on May 3, 2017, Director Comey testified under oath about his public statements concerning the Secretary Clinton email investigation. I strongly disagreed with his explanations, particularly his assertion that maintaining confidentiality about criminal investigations constitutes concealment. Nonetheless, I respected him personally. Former Department of Justice officials from both political parties have criticized Director Comeys decisions. It was not just an isolated mistake; the series of public statements about the email investigation, in my opinion, departed from the proper role of the FBI Director and damaged public confidence in the Bureau and the Department. In one of my first meetings with then-Senator Jeff Sessions last winter, we discussed the need for new leadership at the FBI. Among the concerns that I recall were to restore the credibility of the FBI, respect the established authority of the Department of Justice, limit public statements and eliminate leaks. On May 8, I learned that President Trump intended to remove Director Comey and sought my advice and input. Notwithstanding my personal affection for Director Comey, I thought it was appropriate to seek a new leader. I wrote a brief memorandum to the Attorney General summarizing my longstanding concerns about Director Comeys public statements concerning the Secretary Clinton email investigation. I chose the issues to include in my memorandum. Before finalizing the memorandum on May 9, I asked a senior career attorney on my staff to review it. That attorney is an ethics expert who has worked in the Office of the Deputy Attorney General during multiple administrations. He was familiar with the issues. I informed the senior attorney that the President was going to remove Director Comey, that I was writing a memorandum to the Attorney General summarizing my own concerns, and that I wanted to confirm that everything in my memorandum was accurate. He concurred with the points raised in my memorandum. I also asked several other career Department attorneys to review the memorandum and provide edits. My memorandum is not a legal brief; these are not issues of law. My memorandum is not a finding of official misconduct; the Inspector General will render his judgment about that issue in due course. My memorandum is not a statement of reasons to justify a for-cause termination. My memorandum is not a survey of FBI morale or performance. My memorandum is not a press release. It is a candid internal memorandum about the FBI Directors public statements concerning a high-profile criminal investigation. I sent my signed memorandum to the Attorney General after noon on Tuesday, May 9. I wrote it. I believe it. I stand by it. Finally, I want to address the media claims that the FBI asked for additional resources for the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. I am not aware of any such request. Moreover, I consulted my staff and Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe, and none of them recalls such a request. Advertisement Then he added: 'I chose the issues to include in my memorandum' essentially taking on those who have argued President Trump demanded the memo. The letter Rosenstein penned severely criticizing Comey's handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation. Comey came out with a public statement in July where he castigated Clinton for her 'extreme carelessness.' Then, days before the election, he told lawmakers the inquiry was gearing up again to look at Clinton emails that ended up on disgraced Rep. Anthony Weiner's computer. 'I cannot defend the director's handling of the conclusion of the investigation of Secretary Clinton's emails, and I do not understand his refusal to accept the nearly universal judgment that he was mistaken,' Rosenstein wrote in a letter the White House released immediately after Trump fired Comey. Senators said Thursday that Rosenstein knew that President Trump was going to fire Comey before he wrote a memo raking Comey over the coals for his handling of the Clinton email scandal. Rosenstein briefed senators Thursday, just a week after Trump's stunning decision to fire Comey. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) told reporters afterward that Rosenstein revealed new information about the letter he penned, which Trump cited to justify Comey's firing. 'He did acknowledge that he learned Comey would be removed prior to him writing his memo,' McCaskill said. 'He knew that Comey was going to be removed prior to him writing his memo,' the Missouri senator added. Her account of the closed meeting was backed up by Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.). 'Yes,' Durbin said, asked whether Rosenstein knew Comey was getting fired before he wrote it. 'He knew the day before,' he said, adding that Rosentein learned May 8th, the date he wrote the memo. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, the former wrestler turned blockbuster film actor, continues to entertain the possibility of challenging President Donald Trump for the White House in 2020. During an appearance on The Tonight Show on Thursday, Johnson told host Jimmy Fallon that he has been astonished and flattered at the publics reaction to a statement he made last week in which he said he would consider running for the president. Ive been really been blown away, Johnson said. And its so flattering. And I think you have to question why. I think its because, you know, a lot of people want to see a different leadership today Im sorry, not different, but better leadership today, right? A better leadership. During an appearance on The Tonight Show on Thursday, Dwayne Johnson (left) told host Jimmy Fallon (right) that he has been astonished and flattered at the publics reaction to a statement he made last week in which he said he would consider running for the president Johnson said that he was surprised by the way an off-hand comment he made to a journalist at GQ magazine about perhaps running for president has reverberated Johnson said that he was surprised by the way an off-hand comment he made to a journalist at GQ magazine about perhaps running for president has reverberated. When asked what qualities make him fit to be commander in chief, he said: I think more poised, less noise. And I also think that over the years Ive become a guy that a lot of people kind of relate to: get up early in the morning at a ridiculous hour, go to work and spend time with the troops, take care of my family. I love taking care of people. And I think that kind of thing really resonates with people, especially today. I love coming here to The Tonight Show crowd. As the studio audience applauded Johnson, he added: Three and a half years is a long ways away. So well see. The 45-year-old actor-and-wrestler told GQ last week he believes he has what it takes to rule the US and has been considering the idea of moving into politics 'more and more' over the past year The 45-year-old actor-and-wrestler told GQ last week he believes he has what it takes to rule the US and has been considering the idea of moving into politics 'more and more' over the past year. 'A year ago, it started coming up more and more. There was a real sense of earnestness, which made me go home and think, "Let me really rethink my answer and make sure I am giving an answer that is truthful and also respectful."' And the Fate Of The Furious star claimed he would be a confident leader of the United States as he would take 'responsibility' for all of its citizens. He told the fashion monthly magazine: 'Personally, I feel that if I were president, poise would be important. Leadership would be important. Taking responsibility for everybody. '[If I didn't agree with someone] on something, I wouldn't shut them out. I would actually include them. 'The first thing we'd do is we'd come and sit down and we'd talk about it. 'We all have issues, and we all gotta work our s**t out. And I feel like one of the qualities of a great leader is not shutting people out. I miss that part. Even if we disagree, we've got to figure it out.' A former US official responsible for arms control has warned that North Korea is in a position to strike American territory, and all current methods to counter the threat have failed. Stephen Rademaker, who was an assistant secretary of state responsible for arms control and nonproliferation between 2002 and 2006 said there is 'no acceptable military solution to the problem'. Last weekend the secretive state tested a new missile it claims is a new medium-long range ballistic rocket which could carry a nuclear warhead. Every effort to contain the threat from North Korea, now led by despot leader Kim Jong-un, have failed, expert Stephen Rademaker said Last weekend the secretive state tested a new missile it claims is a new medium-long range ballistic rocket which could carry a nuclear warhead He warned that for too long US officials have relied on China to deal with the nuclear threat from North Korea, but over the past 25 years it 'manifestly could do more'. Writing in the Washington Post, Rademaker said: 'In the absence of good military options or a Chinese deus ex machina, the remaining options for eliminating the threat are limited. 'Weve tried them all, and all have failed. Bill Clinton pursued engagement, which lasted until North Korea was caught cheating on its commitments to us. He said North Korea has 'repeatedly demonstrated that it can withstand sanctions and that it will pocket whatever inducements we offer without abandoning its nuclear weapons program' Rademaker said Trump should consider returning nuclear weapons to the peninsula, as an undertaking by George H. W. Bush to denuclearize the peninsula have failed 'George W. Bush switched to confrontation, until North Korea tested its first nuclear weapon. 'Then he reverted to engagement, but Barack Obama found the results so disappointing that he shifted to ignoring the problem (or, as his administration called it, strategic patience).' He continued that while the Trump administration can try the same approaches, North Korea has 'repeatedly demonstrated that it can withstand sanctions and that it will pocket whatever inducements we offer without abandoning its nuclear weapons program'. Rademaker described the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system as a 'welcome first step', but said in future it needs to be built up. He said limits on South Korean ballistic missile ranges 'make no sense' and should be lifted, while strike options should be made available to allies in the region. And Rademaker suggested the US should consider returning tactical nuclear weapons to the peninsula, having withdrawn them in 1991 under the George H. W. Bush presidency. He wrote: 'North Korea has never respected that agreement, so we need not defer to it, either.' A City worker who swindled a multi-billion pound company out of nearly 270,000 after he became hooked on cocaine partying with colleagues was spared jail today. Dean Hunt, 31, of Enfield, north London, brazenly transferred the cash into his own bank account while working as a purchase ledger assistant at top commercial property firm CBRE Ltd. He then transferred 93,340 of the stolen money to family and friends including 33,000 for his boyfriend. Hunt, who earned 25,000 a year, failed to disguise the money trail and was rumbled by a colleague who traced a missing payment on the company's records to his bank account. City worker Dean Hunt (pictured outside the Old Bailey), who swindled a multi-billion pound company out of nearly 270,000 after he became hooked on cocaine partying with colleagues, was spared jail today. Hunt, 31, of Enfield, north London, brazenly transferred the cash into his own bank account He claimed he needed the money to repay a drugs debt after becoming hooked on cocaine with colleagues at the firm. But Judge Stephen Kramer QC decided not to send him to prison and handed him a suspended sentence at the Old Bailey. Judge Kramer said: 'Between January and October 2016 on 20 different occasions you stole money from your employer to the tune of 269,634.70. 'That is a huge amount of money and would have required deliberate and conscious acts. Hunt carried out the bank transfers while working as a purchase ledger assistant at top commercial property firm CBRE Ltd. (File image) 'However, you are clearly a vulnerable person and I am sure that you will never do anything like this again. 'There would be no useful purpose in sending you to prison today. I hope you can put all this behind you and try to life a positive life. This is a wholly exceptional case.' CBRE Ltd, which advises on commercial property and real estate services, had a revenue of more than 10billion in 2016. Tobias Long, prosecuting, said: 'Mr Hunt was a purchase ledger assistant at a company called CBRE Ltd, where he worked since August 2015 on a salary of 25,000. 'Part of the role he was given in that company was to manage refunds from and payments to sellers. 'When a refund was to be processed, it was Mr Hunt's job to give the details of the bank account for funds to be put into. 'Hunt provided not the company's bank details but his own bank account details, so the funds were diverted into his own account.' Between January and October 2016, 20 different payments were made totalling 269,634.70. Mr Long said: 'On 10 October, Mr Hunt's colleague Andy Hope became aware of a missing payment from a company called Secrutiny of 234,486.61. 'He contacted Secrutiny and they confirmed the payment had been made and gave the details of the account the money had been paid into. 'Mr Hope went through the company records and Mr Hunt's bank account details came up. 'He knew they were his details because the company puts his wages into that account.' Hunt was arrested on October 18, 2016 and gave a no comment interview to police. He was bailed and returned to the police station on January 10, 2016 where he admitted the offences. Mr Long continued: 'He said it had got out of control and he knew he would be caught. 'He said he didn't know what he wanted to do with the money.' Gerwyn Wise, defending Hunt, said: 'While it was an abuse of trust over a long period of time, this is clearly not a well thought-out fraudulent enterprise. 'It was inevitable that Mr Hunt was going to get caught because he was transferring the money into his own bank account. 'Of the 93,340 he transferred, he gave 33,000 to his boyfriend - which has been frozen in a bank account and remains there. 'He started to use cocaine with his colleagues at CBRE and worked up a drugs debt. 'To say that Mr Hunt has been terrified in the hearings he has attended would be an understatement.' Hunt admitted one count of fraud by abuse of position and one count of transferring criminal property. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment suspended for two years on each offence, to run concurrently. Hunt must also complete a 40-day rehabilitation activity programme and repay a remaining balance of 3,357.21. To date he has repaid 106,969.65 and the rest has been 'dissipated', the court heard. Fred Talbot, 67, pictured, is on trial accused of indecently assaulting several teenage boys on school trips to Scotland TV weatherman Fred Talbot smeared margarine on a 12-year-old boy's genital area during a school trip while he worked as a teacher, a court heard. The alleged victim - now aged 51 - said he had gone for a wash before bedtime when the incident happened in 1978. He said: 'There was a bit more horseplay and someone jumped on me, just mucking around, nothing serious but it finished with Fred rubbing margarine on my testicles and that is how it stopped. 'There was a galley area and the horseplay had gone over to the table where Fred was sat and there must have been margarine on the table which he used.' 'I thought it was part of the horseplay and didn't think about it to be honest. 'Looking back as an adult though it was an inappropriate thing to do. Talbot, 67, is on trial at Lanark Sheriff Court accused of indecently assaulting nine schoolboys during trips to Scotland. He denies a total of nine charges dating between 1978 and 1981. Earlier the court heard allegations that the weatherman had told a schoolboy he had a nice backside before trying to touch him during a school camping trip. Talbot had returned from a pub near a campsite where he was staying with a group of boys in Moffat, Dumfriesshire, jurors were told. The alleged victim, who is now 54, said he was on the trip in 1980 when a drunken Talbot, who was then a biology teacher at a grammar school in the Manchester area, told him he had a 'nice a***' before trying to touch him. The man - who was 17 at the time of the alleged incident - said Talbot stopped after being warned off. The alleged victim told a jury Talbot had come into the tent he was sharing with his friends. Earlier the court heard allegations that the weatherman had told a schoolboy he had a nice backside before trying to touch him during a school camping trip He said: 'The incident happened at turning in time and I think it was on the last night we were there. 'We were sat round the campfire and me and another boy were the last to go to bed. 'I think Fred had had a few to drink because the adults had gone to the pub with the sixth formers but I didn't go.' He added: 'I remember getting into the sleeping bag and was just wearing my underpants. 'Fred just grabbed my backside and said, 'you've got a nice arse'.' 'He put his hand out on my backside like he was patting it but didn't get a good hold before saying how nice it was. 'I just thought 'what have you done that for' and treated him with disdain but it didn't upset me or anything. I said, 'Fred what are you doing?'' 'We then threw him out, there was five of us in a four man tent and they weren't that good quality so we just bundled him out.' The case is being heard at Lanark Sheriff Court, pictured, in Scotland. Talbot denies all the charges against him The trial also heard claims Talbot had touched a 17-year-old boy's genitals during the same trip. The alleged victim, now aged 54, said he was groped in a tent he was sharing with the weatherman and another boy. He said: 'We all got into the tent and I was getting undressed, getting my socks and jeans off. 'As I was getting into my sleeping bag, Fred reached over and touched my genitals over my underpants. 'I said to him, 'get back in your sleeping bag and go to sleep'. 'If he had pushed it then I would've done something but I said stop and he did stop so that was it. 'I was a bit shocked and he put his hands away after I told him and that was pretty much it. 'I'm certain that it was not accidental.' The man said the incident hadn't impacted heavily on him but added: 'There was a sense of embarrassment especially when Fred came on television as a weatherman and my parents would go 'oh look, there's your teacher'.' The trial continues. Some lectures by historian Sybille Steinbacher will be given in the former HQ of the I.G. Farben company which in wartime made the poison gas used to massacre Jews in their millions A female professor took up her appointment at a prestigious German university this week as the country's first academic to teach the Nazi Holocaust to students. Some lectures by historian Sybille Steinbacher will be given in the former HQ of the I.G. Farben company which in wartime made the poison gas used to massacre Jews in their millions. Professor Steinbacher's appointment by the Goethe University and the Frankfurt Fritz Bauer Institute was described as 'a milestone on the way to a better understanding of the Nazi crimes and their impact on history into the present' by Hesse state science Minister Boris Rhein. The professor of contemporary history, who had been teaching at the University of Vienna, is regarded as a renowned expert in Holocaust research. The new professorship is supported with grants of close to 400,000 a year. Born in Munich in 1966, Steinbacher studied history and political science in Munich. In 1998 she was awarded a PhD at the Ruhr-Universitat Bochum and subsequently worked as a scientific assistant at the chair of modern and recent history. She has been a fellow at the German Historical Institute in Warsaw, Harvard University, and a fellow at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. The faculty is to be located in the former IG Farben building, once the biggest office space in the world. IG Farben was the sprawling Third Reich-era industrial conglomerate which, among many other things, manufactured the pesticide Zyklon-B which the Nazis used in the gas chambers of Auschwitz. In the wartime, the I.G. Farben company which in wartime made the poison gas used to massacre Jews in their millions Berlin ceded the IG Farben building to the university in 1998 and it opened after extensive renovations in 2001. A plaque at the front commemorates the victims of IG Farben slave labour plants as well as those of Zyklon-B. Students will learn of the methodology, demography, sociology, and psychology of the Nazi extermination programme which claimed six million Jewish lives. Minister Rhein said; 'We wanted to ensure that there is a Holocaust chair in Frankfurt, the first in Germany. It will be a unique selling point for the city, along with the Fritz-Bauer-Institute.' The institute, based at the university, is already devoted to the history and impact of the Holocaust. Davi Moreira looks like any other young Rio de Janeiro beach lover as he heads down to the Ipanema surf each week - at least until he dons his blue mermaid's tail. Other bathers watch on in astonishment as Moreira, 22, performs his weekly ritual. However, as part of a trend in Brazil and as far away as Holland and Canada, he is far from alone. He said: 'It's a lifestyle, a way of expressing my love and respect for the sea and this encounter between two worlds. When I'm in the water I feel like another person.' Davi de Oliveira Moreira, known as Sereio (merman in Portuguese), poses in his mermaid tail costume at Arpoador Rock on Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janeiro Moreira was inspired from childhood by Disney's popular animated movie 'The Little Mermaid' Moreira, who also has a 'Little Mermaid' tattoo, has adopted the persona of 'Davi Sereio,' or 'Davi Mermaid' in Portuguese Donning a mermaid's tail is part of a trend in Brazil and as far away as Holland and Canada Like many who feel the need to dress up as mermaids and swim with the up and down motion of the broad tail, Moreira was inspired from childhood by Disney's popular animated movie 'The Little Mermaid.' His obsession to be a second Ariel, the main character in the movie, extends to dry land. His bedroom is full of references to the movie: Ariel-themed bedcover, 'Little Mermaid' cups, Ariel shirts, Ariel dolls, every Ariel movie or series, Ariel pictures... Moreira, who also has a 'Little Mermaid' tattoo, has adopted the persona of 'Davi Sereio,' or 'Davi Mermaid' in Portuguese, and has recorded a gay spoof version of the Disney film on YouTube. But he says not everyone accepts his passion. Some insult him, while others suggest he get psychological help. Moreira says his mermaid obsession is an answer to a 'cruel' world. 'People laugh at me because I am different, but I laugh back because they are all the same,' he said. 'I'm not trying to escape reality. I know perfectly well how to deal with adult life. But this makes me happy and I'm not causing anyone any harm.' The 22-year-old Brazilian is part of a growing mermaid craze in Brazil His bedroom is full of references to the Little Mermaid movie: Ariel-themed bedcover, 'Little Mermaid' cups, Ariel shirts, Ariel dolls, every Ariel movie or series, Ariel pictures Brazil already has its traditional sea goddess called Iemanja. However, the popular telenovela 'A Forca de Querer' is swimming in another direction with a character played by Brazilian actress Isis Valverde who seduces two men - and the audience - with her free spirit and love of taking a dip in a big orange mermaid tail. Behind Valverde's on-screen swimming skills is Mirella Ferraz, who describes herself as Brazil's 'first professional mermaid.' She trained the actress for four months so that she could convincingly use the mermaid costume. Ferraz, 34, says she had to overcome years of mockery and bullying but now she says she's 'happy that it's fashionable, although I think many people do it for the looks, without knowing the myth of the sirens or our environmental activism.' Ferraz estimates there are about 1,000 mermaid aficionados in Brazil and that the numbers are rising. Online sales of her mermaid tails reach some 90 a month now, up from just 10 or so when she started in 2012. Back then, it was mostly for girls wanting to be Ariels. Today, many buyers are men. 'For many it might be a fad, but not for me,' Moreira says, admitting that his only weakness as a Brazilian mermaid is an inability to sing. The 22-year-old squeezing into his blue mermaid tail to swim Moreira says his mermaid obsession is an answer to a 'cruel' world A family GP who trafficked a 'slave nanny' into the UK from Nigeria and threatened to beat her when she asked to be paid is facing jail today. Dr Ayodeji Adewakun, 44, and her nurse husband Abimbola Adewakun, 48, lured the woman to the UK from Nigeria with promises of a salary of 500 per month. The couple confiscated her passport as soon as she arrived in February 2007 and subjected her to 'constant demands and verbal abuse'. Dr Ayodeji Adewakun and husband Abimbola Adewakun face jail for trafficking a 'slave nanny' She managed to escape two years later after finally receiving just 350 - the equivalent of a wage of 15 a month. The couple were convicted of trafficking by a jury at Southwark Crown Court today following an investigation my Scotland Yard's Modern Slavery and Kidnap Unit. Jurors were unable to reach a verdict in relation to Dr Adewakun on a charge of trafficking a second alleged victim. Her husband was cleared of that charge. Judge Martin Beddoe warned the couple face 'a significant sentence of immediate imprisonment' before granting them bail until next month. Mr Adewakun and his wife claimed they brought the woman here to give her 'a better life' than she would have had in Nigeria The couple were said to have persuaded the woman to come and care for their two children in Erith, south-east London, years earlier in 2005. The 37-year-old victim told Southwark Crown Court she was later forced to work all day cleaning the house, cook for the family and was even woken if the doctor got home late and wanted a snack. She met the Adewakuns during their visits back to Nigeria where her father was employed in a similar role by Mr Adewakun's parents. The jury heard she was promised 500 per month in a similar arrangement before 'she too was subject to constant demands and verbal abuse' from Mrs Adewakun. She described a typical working day involving cleaning the house, cooking for the family, preparing the children for school, running errands and sometimes working through to midnight before being allowed to finally go to bed. After being threatened she was 'lucky not to be beaten like the last girl', she finally demanded payment in February 2009 after two years without receiving any money. A bank account was then opened with a 50 deposit followed by further payments of 100, prompting her to flee the home. The couple, who live in this street in south east London, kept the woman at their home When she finally managed to get her passport back she sought help from a charity and an investigation was opened into the Adewakuns. Dr Adewakun, based at the Abbey Wood surgery, told the court the woman was brought to the UK from Nigeria 'for a better life'. The GP insisted she paid each the same wages as she did to her previous European au-pair, who was hired from a website. She claimed to have used contract template from Google and denied the suggestion the Nigerian woman was used because 'no European woman would take [her] physical and verbal abuse'. The couple, both of Erith, denied two counts of trafficking a person into the UK for exploitation. Both were convicted of one count. They will be sentenced on 16 June. A judge at Southwark Crown Court (pictured) said they can expect jail sentences next month Investigating Officer Detective Sergeant Nick Goldwater said: 'This couple deceived the victim by promising her a regular wage, which was far higher than her earnings in Nigeria. She hoped that she would be able to send money home and improve her family's standard of living. 'In reality, she was made to work day and night and barely paid anything. She was subject to intimidating behaviour by Dr Adewakun, who exerted control over her by keeping her socially isolated and withholding her passport. 'I hope that these convictions serve as a warning to anyone else committing this crime and encourages anyone being exploited to come forward. I also hope it brings a measure of comfort to the brave victim in this case.' A 17-year-old boy has died at one of Britain's most prestigious boarding schools after suffering a suspected heart attack. Charles Evenden was a Year 13 pupil at the 25,000-a-year Ratcliffe College in Syston, Leicestershire. The 825-pupil college today said it was 'deeply saddened' by the news and described the death as a 'tragedy'. Leicestershire Police were called to the 200-acre campus at around 9pm on Thursday but say they are not treating the death as suspicious. Charles Evenden, 17, went to the 25,000-a-year Ratcliffe College (pictured) in Syston, Leicestershire A Police spokesman said: 'The Evenden family are understandably struggling to come to terms with their loss and they have asked that their privacy is respected. 'The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file is being prepared for HM Coroner.' The school said devastated pupils are now being offered support and parents have been informed of the news. A statement from the college said: 'Ratcliffe College is deeply saddened to confirm the death of a Year 13 pupil on Thursday May 18. 'There were no suspicious circumstances surrounding this incident. Our thoughts and prayers are with the pupil's family and friends at this difficult time. 'In response, the school has implemented a plan which gives pupils the opportunity to talk about their thoughts and feelings with trained staff. 'A letter has been sent by the school to parents, informing them of this tragic incident and providing information on the support services available. 'We respectfully ask that the family and school community are left alone to grieve and to come to terms with their loss.' The 825-pupil college (pictured) said it was 'deeply saddened' by the news and described the death as a 'tragedy' A spokeswoman for East Midlands Ambulance Service said: 'We received a call at 20:52 to Ratcliffe College, the patient was reported to be in cardiac arrest. 'We sent a Paramedic on a Fast Response Vehicle, a double crewed ambulance, and two doctors. 'The caller also retrieved a defibrillator to use on the patient. The patient was then transported to Leicester Royal Infirmary.' Ratcliffe College was founded in 1847, and has nearly 1,000 students aged between 11 and 18. Among the Roman Catholic School's famous alumni is Sir Gordon Reece, former advisor to Margaret Thatcher and Richard Wallace, former editor of the Daily Mirror. The Rt. Hon Lord St. John of Fawsley, a former Tory minister under Thatcher, and England and Tigers rugby star Louis Deacon also attended the school. The college received an 'excellent' rating in every category of its March 2015 Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) report. The New York City judge whose body was found floating in the Hudson River last month unwittingly cut her husband out of her estate due to an outdated will. Sheila Abdus-Salaam, who was the first black woman to be appointed to New York's highest court, signed her will in December of 2004, and did not update it again before her death, reported the New York Post. As a result, her widower, Reverend Gregory Jacobs, who she married in June 2016 will inherit none of her belongings. Scroll down for video Sheila Abdus-Salaam (left) unwittingly cut her husband, Referend Gregory Jacobs (right), out of her estate due to an outdated will Sheila Abdus-Salaam was the first black woman to be appointed to New York's highest court The will leaves her entire estate to her mother and siblings, and was written during a contentious split from her third husband, Hector Nova. She wanted to ensure that he would not inherit her money if she suddenly died. The will reads, 'I am presently married to, but in the midst of divorce proceedings with, Hector Nova.' As a result of the outdated will, her widower, Reverend Gregory Jacobs, who she married in June 2016 will inherit none of her belongings Abdus-Salaam met Nova when she hired him to do renovations on her Harlem townhouse. She filed for divorce in 2003, but the two battled in court for two years before it was finalized. The judge's largest asset was the brownstone on West 131st Street, which court papers valued at $2million. She also had $50,000 in 'personal belongings,' which will have to be divided up. The estate lawyer, Lawrence Blumberg, is asking for a rush approval of the will. 'There are assets that need immediate attention, including the brownstone in which the decedent resided, and bills to be paid,' he wrote. Abdus-Salaam's final will gives 25 percent of her assets to her mother, who died in 2012. The rest will be equally divided to her five brothers and sisters, according to a copy. 'I'm surprised she doesn't have an updated will,' a close friend of the late 65-year-old's told the Post. 'I'm happy to know that they are the beneficiaries.' The friend also said that the judge was very 'thoughtful and helpful' toward the family. Police initially believed that Salaam committed suicide, but NYPD opened an investigation after the fact, determining that her death was 'suspicious'. Though the investigation was closed early in May, the Medical Examiner's Office has yet to determine a cause of death. The judge's largest asset was the brownstone on West 131st Street, pictured, which court papers valued at $2million Her body was retrieved fully clothed a day after her husband reported her missing by the NYPD harbor unit. Witnesses noticed Abdus-Salaam's body floating in the water near 132nd Street and Hudson Parkway in Manhattan at around 1.45pm and called 911, police said. Abdus-Salaam was noted for being the first African-American woman to serve on New York's Court of Appeals when she was appointed by Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2013. Cuomo issued a statement after her death, memorializing her as a 'trailblazing jurist whose life in public service was in pursuit of a more fair and more just New York for all'. Witnesses noticed Abdus-Salaam's body floating in the water near 132nd Street and Hudson Parkway in Manhattan at around 1.45pm and called 911, police said Abdus-Salaam worked as an attorney before she began her career as a judge in the Civil Court of the City of New York in 1992. She joined the Supreme Court of New York County in 1993 before she was appointed to the highest court 20 years later, where she served until her death. Chief Judge Janet DiFiore said her colleague will be 'missed deeply.' President Donald Trump's lawyers wanted him to file a financial disclosure report that did not bear his signature vouching for its truthfulness, government documents reveal. Correspondence with the Office of Government Ethics reveals a prickly back-and-forth communications with Sheri Dillon the same attorney who appeared with Trump during the campaign to state his plan to retain ownership of his business empire while during control over to his adult sons. 'As we discussed, OGE will provide this assistance on the condition that the President is committed to certifying that the contents of his report are true, complete and correct,' OGE director Walter Shaub wrote in a May 10 letter. 'When we met on April 27, 2017, you requested that he be excused from providing this certification.' President Donald Trump's lawyers wanted him to file a financial disclosure report that did not bear his signature vouching for its truthfulness Shaub has clashed with members of the Trump administration over ethics issues writing a stinging letter after Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway hawked Ivanka Trump's products during a TV interview at the White House. As a seasoned government official, Shaub would have been fully cognizant that his communications would end up in the public record, memorializing the Trump teams request to keep his John Hancock off the catalogue of his wealth and assets. Trump's attorneys originally wanted him to submit an updated financial disclosure without certifying the information as true, the correspondence reveals. Attorney Sheri Dillon said she saw no need for Trump to sign his 2016 personal financial disclosure because he is filing voluntarily this year. Shaub said his office would only work with Dillon if she agreed to follow the typical process of having Trump make the certification. That is standard practice for the thousands of financial disclosure forms OGE processes each year. 'I agreed with your analysis that [the president] is not legally required to file, but I indicated that OGE would be unwilling to certify a report that failed to meet the requirements generally applicable to public financial disclsoure in the executive branch,' he wrote. The letters were published on the OGE's website. The Associated Press first obtained the letters under a Freedom of Information Act request. In her letter to Shaub, Dillon says the president will 'sign and file' documents regarding his 2016 financials by mid-June - an indication that she agreed to the OGE requirement that the president certify the information as true to the best of his knowledge. President Donald Trump is filing a financial disclosure report voluntarily, as predecessors have done President-elect Donald Trump's lawyer Sheri A. Dillon speaks during a press conference at Trump Tower in New York, NY on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017 Dillon also stressed in her letter, dated May 9, that Trump is under no obligation to file a financial disclosure this year and is doing so voluntarily. 'President Trump welcomes the opportunity to provide this optional disclosure to the public, and hopes to file it shortly,' she wrote. 'This filing will be voluntary, because, having filed a report during the campaign, the President is not required to file a new report until next May,' she wrote. Trump has taken criticism for his break with four decades of tradition by failing to release his tax return. Personal financial disclosures include an accounting of a person's personal income, assets and liabilities. Trump's 2016 form will span his general election candidacy, election and transition to power - potentially shedding light on the immediate impact his Republican nomination and election had on his Trump Organization. The Office of Government Ethics has exchanged letters with President Trump's attorney about the president's new financial disclosure form The Office of Government Ethics has exchanged letters with President Trump's attorney about the president's new financial disclosure form The Office of Government Ethics has exchanged letters with President Trump's attorney about the president's new financial disclosure form However, the information is no substitute for tax returns, which Trump has chosen not to release - breaking the long tradition of his predecessors. Tax documents would show his effective rate of income tax and detail the extent of his charitable giving. Last May, then-candidate Trump's disclosure form showed his business empire had grown in value while he was running for office. He claimed it had grown to a value of $10 billion, although independent analyses have shown his worth to be far less. Dillon sought 'consultation' with OGE. She said it was 'especially advisable because the President's disclosure will include an atypically large number of investments and entities, and because the President's affairs have been totally restructured since his prior filing.' She was referencing Trump's decision to put the Trump Organization under the control of Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and an executive, while retaining ownership. Trump's decision to file a personal financial disclosure puts him in the company of past Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and others. Shaub references that history in the first line of his letter to Dillon: 'Thank you for your letter dated May 9, 2017, regarding the President's decision to adhere to the longstanding tradition of voluntarily filing a public financial disclosure report in the first year after taking office.' A 35-year-old chemistry teacher in Florida has been arrested for having sex with a 17-year-old student. Port St. Lucie High School teacher Tiffany Geliga was arrested on Thursday on two counts of sexual battery of a victim age 16 or 17. Authorities say they started investigating Geliga when the mother of another student at the school noticed her son texting with the teacher. Tiffany Geliga, 35, was arrested on Thursday for having sex with a 17-year-old student The student in question said that he had sex with Geliga on two occasions in April 2017 and May 2017 Her son told administrators at the school that he believed Geliga was in a sexual relationship with another student. Cops listened in on a call between the student in question and Geliga and she admitted to the sex acts. The student said that he had sex with Geliga in her car on two separate occasions, once in April 2017 and again in May 2017. Geliga had been working at the school since August 2014. A spokesman for St. Lucie County Schools issued a statement, reading: 'St. Lucie Public Schools is aware that an employee has been arrested amid allegations of inappropriate conduct with a student. This individual is non-reappointed for the coming school year and has been placed on temporary duty assignment away from students while the investigation continues. 'Allegations of this sort are a serious breach of ethics. Such behavior is inexcusable and is of great concern to the School District as it is contrary to the mission of providing a safe and caring teaching and learning environment.' Julian Fyffe says he and a friend were left bleeding and handcuffed in a Connecticut street for nearly 20 minutes without medical attention after being shot by a police officer. His 15-year-old friend, Jayson Negron, died at the scene following the May 9 shooting in Bridgeport. 'They didn't do anything. They just kept walking by us,' Fyffe said. 'It took forever to get me in the ambulance. I'm on the floor coughing up blood, bleeding out.' Julian Fyffe was shot by Bridgeport police during an encounter on May 9, that left his 15-year-old friend dead Fyffe displays the exit wound in his upper chest. He says he and a friend were left bleeding and handcuffed on a Bridgeport street for nearly 20 minutes without medical attention His 15-year-old friend, Jayson Negron, was still breathing after being shot, but Fyffe only learned later that he died at the scene Jayson Negron appears to be shown in his video handcuffed and lying on Fairfield Avenue after being shot When the camera pans back, Negron's head is facing the opposite direction - some believe this proves he was alive on the ground and bleeding to death Fyffe questioned why police and other first responders did not immediately provide medical care. All cadets at the Bridgeport police academy receive 60 hours of training in emergency medical care, including initial treatment of gunshot wounds, said spokeswoman Rowena White. But city officials did not return messages Friday seeking comment on Fyffe's account. Questions about medical response times also have been raised in other fatal police shootings in the U.S., with aftermath videos in some cases leaving the impression there was little urgency to try to save the wounded men. The video camera pans away for four seconds and focuses on more officers arriving Law enforcement experts say it's not a sign of callousness, but of trying to ensure the officers and others are safe before approaching someone who could be armed or remain a threat even after they've been shot. A bystander recorded a one-minute video of the aftermath of the shooting of Negron and Fyffe. It's unknown how long after the shooting the video was taken. At the 18-second mark, an officer bends down and touches Negron, but stands back up. Near the end of the video, an officer wearing blue latex gloves bends down and touches Negron. Fyffe was shot in his left arm and back. Negron died from gunshot wounds to his chest, the medical examiner said. Jason Negron, 15, was a sophomore at Bunnell High School in Stratford who was shot by Bridgeport Officer James Boulay Julian Fyffe, 21, was shot by Bridgeport Officer James Boulay last week and is now suing the city Bridgeport Police Chief Armando Perez has said a rookie officer, James Boulay, opened fire when a stolen sport-utility vehicle driven by Negron suddenly went into reverse and nearly ran over Boulay. Officers had stopped the SUV after a chase and were trying to remove Negron and Fyffe when Boulay fired his gun, Perez said. Fyffe said there was no chase and he and Negron were trying to surrender. He said the SUV started moving in reverse by accident when Boulay tried to pull Negron out of the vehicle and Negron's foot came off the brake. Fyffe said Boulay stepped back into the clear and began shooting. Perez has not returned repeated messages from the AP about the shooting. State police, who are investigating Boulay's actions, say they will not comment until after the probe is finished. 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, May 10 'Animals are treated better than these two men were,' said Fyffe's lawyer, Peter Finch. 'It's really sickening.' Fyffe already has filed a $6 million lawsuit against the city, Boulay, Perez and other officers. City attorney R. Christopher Meyer told the Connecticut Post, 'This was a very tragic and sad event, and I'm surprised that anyone would file a lawsuit at this time before the final investigation detailing what happened is complete.' Boulay was placed on paid administrative leave after the shooting. He and other officers also are being sued in connection with the alleged beating of another man during a traffic stop last November. Cornell University junior Aalaap Narasipura, 20, has been missing since May 17 Authorities are still searching for a missing 20-year-old Cornell University student who has not been seen for more than two days. In a Facebook post, Cornell University Police said that Aalaap Narasipura, 20, was last seen by friends on May 17 between 2am and 3am, inside Sage Hall, home of the Ithaca, New York university's graduate business school. Officers from campus police, Ithaca Police Department, New York State Police, Ithaca Fire Department and Cornell Office of Emergency Management are searching for Narasipura, according to The Post-Standard. In addition to searching his residence, academic spaces and routine travel routes, authorities have been scouring the gorges and nearby nature areas. They have not yet found any signs or clues to where Narasipura might be or what has happened to him. It is final exam week at Cornell and his friends have said that he has missed at least one exam and 'is not responding to any communication attempts', according to 14850 Magazine. There has been one report so far unconfirmed that he was seen at a campus computer lab on Wednesday afternoon, several hours after he was last reported seen by his friends. Narasipura has not responded to any of his friends' attempts at communicating with him Narasipura, who is from Utah, is a studying electrical and computer engineering at Cornell Narasipura is a junior, studying electrical and computer engineering. He hails from the area of Salt Lake City, Utah. Friends on social media have said that his family has now traveled to Ithaca to join the search. In an e-mail to students on May 17, Cornell's Vice President Ryan Lombardi said: 'We are in regular contact with his family, and we are dedicating significant resources to the search process and coordinating with local and state agencies. 'We are all hopeful for a positive outcome, and I know you will join me in keeping Aalaap and his family and friends in our thoughts right now.' Authorities said he is 5-feet-9 inches tall, 121 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing shorts and a flannel shirt with bright blue socks and leather sandals, police said. He may have had an earth-tone backpack. Cornell University Police are asking the public to send in any tips on Narasipura's whereabouts Diana Wendel, 42, was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old female at Ramona Convent Secondary School in Alhambra, California A female teacher at an all-girls Catholic school has been accused of having a sexual relationship with a student after a graphic text message was allegedly uncovered by the girl's parents. Diana Wendel, a teacher at Ramona Convent Secondary School, was arrested on Wednesday in Alhambra, California. The 42-year-old, who has taught at the school for three years, is accused of having a sexual relationship with the 17-year-old girl over the past two to three months. The sexual contact allegedly took place on the school's campus in Wendel's car. Police said the girl's father alerted them to the situation after being made aware of a graphic text message on Tuesday night. 'A concerned relative of the female victim actually discovered the sexually graphic text messages and obviously alerted the parent who in turn came to the police department to report this,' Alhambra Police Sgt. Steven Carr told ABC7. Wendel has taught at Ramona Convent Secondary School in California for the past three years 'It appears there was some unlawful sexual contact between the 42-year-old suspect and the 17-year-old minor over the course of perhaps the past two to three months.' Wendel, who also uses the surname Yniguez, was the alleged victim's math teacher last year. She was arrested for child molestation and contacting a minor for the purpose of committing sex crimes. Authorities were concerned there may be more alleged victims given Wendel has been a teacher at various Los Angeles schools for 18 years. A century-old document found inside a box in southern New Mexico has shed more light on the shooting death of the Old West lawman who gained fame for killing Billy the Kid. The newly-discovered coroner's jury report, dated July 9, 1908 has added more credibility to the idea that it was, in fact, Wayne Brazel who took the life of Sheriff Pat Garrett. Garrett, who shot and killed The Kid on July 14, 1881 in Fort Sumner, New Mexico, died on February 29, 1908 at the age of 57. The document was found in the Don Ana County Clerks office's stockpile of unarchived records. A newly-discovered coroner's jury report, dated July 9, 1908 has added more credibility to the idea that it was Wayne Brazel who took the life of Sheriff Pat Garrett, the Old West lawman who shot and killed Billy the Kid in 1881; This undated file photo (left) is thought to be an image of famed gunslinger Billy the Kid, aka William Bonney, near the age of 18; Garrett is pictured (right) circa 1890 Records and Filing Supervisor Angelica Valenzuela, who found the coroner jury's report, poses at the Dona Ana County Clerk's Office in New Mexico on Friday Pictured here is a portrait of outlaw Billy the Kid holding his revolver, with two other guns in his waistband, circa 1875-80 Garrett served as sheriff in Lincoln and Dona Ana counties before being appointed as a customs collector along the US-Mexico border. Historians have searched for years for additional official documents beyond court records and newspaper articles from the time that assigned blame for Garrett's shooting death since some have their own theories about who pulled the trigger. The nearly illegible handwritten document signed by several justices of the peace and coroners states that Garrett was reported dead in Dona Ana County in the territory of New Mexico about five miles northeast of Las Cruces. They found that 'the deceased came to his death by gunshot wounds inflicted by one Wayne Brazel.' Pictured (left to right): Pat Garrett, James Brent and John W Poe, the sheriffs of Lincoln County, New Mexico from around 1880-1882 Some historians have said that the one witness to the shooting never testified and records show Brazel was acquitted of Garrett's murder after a one-day trial in which his attorney successfully argued self-defense. Garrett was no longer working in law enforcement, but was the lessor of a horse ranch at the time of his death, according to Encyclopaedia Britannica. Brazel was his lessee, who allegedly shot him over a heated dispute about their arrangement. Brazel argued that Garrett drew his gun on him, and so Brazel shot and killed him in self defense. Theories have long since lingered, however, that Brazel, or possibly other enemies he collected while working for the law, conspired to kill Garrett. Billy the Kid, who had been killed by Garrett 27 years prior to his own death, was believed to be just about 22 years old at the time of his death, according to History.com. Wild West criminal Billy the Kid (1859 - 1881) meets his end at the hands of Sheriff Pat Garrett in Fort Sumner, New Mexico; This violent scene is the finale of G Waldo Browne's 'Dandy Rock, the Man from Texas' Henry McCarty (1859-1881) best known as Billy the Kid, American outlaw and gunman. Also used aliases William H Bonney and Henry Antrim The infamous outlaw came upon the nickname Billy the Kid after adopting the alias 'William H. Bonney' in 1877, the same year that he killed his first man in an Arizona saloon The Kid was believed to have been born Henry McCarty in 1859 in New York, and became an orphan at age 14, a few years after migrating to New Mexico in the early 1870s. He came upon the nickname Billy the Kid after adopting the alias 'William H. Bonney' in 1877, the same year that he killed his first man in an Arizona saloon. His first run-in with the law was just two years prior in 1875, reportedly for the minor offense of stealing clothing. He's believed to have been responsible for the murders of at least nine men, four of which he's been credited as killing single-handedly. Billy the Kid is believed to have been responsible for the murders of at least nine men, four of which he's been credited as killing single-handedly The document was found in November by Angelica Valenzuela, the records and filing supervisor with the Don Ana County Clerk's office, as part of a preservation effort that involved records spanning the last half of the 1800s through the mid-1960s. 'She knew as soon as she saw it that it was worth gold,' county spokesman Jess Williams said of the signed jury report. Pointing to the discovery, the county is seeking additional grant funding for its work to preserve historical records and make them more accessible. 'Our goal is to provide full access to the public,' said County Clerk Scott Krahling. 'Since family roots run deep in Dona Ana County, our hope is that these documents enrich our stories and get more people excited about our history and culture.' William H. Bonney (1859-1881), outlaw known as Billy the Kid in seen here in a portrait circa 1880 with an inset of Sheriff Pat Garrett For now, the document is locked away in a safety deposit box. The county is planning a public unveiling next month. Arizona State University professor emeritus Robert Stahl is among those who have written in support of more preservation funding for the county. 'Once they are found, filed and made available, hundreds of historians, genealogists and just 'plain folk' will come from all over the world and spend millions of dollars each year to get their eyes on what you have,' he wrote. 'You are sitting on a gold mine in more ways than one.' Local historian Christopher Schurtz is among those who have combed through the county's records, which include everything from Old West files to the city of Las Cruces' original plat. 'As a historian, I believe the more that the people who hold these records make this stuff available and the more that is preserved, the better,' Schurtz said. As part of the effort, the clerk's office plans to institute one-hour, supervised appointments for people interested in viewing archived historical documents. The most significant items uncovered during the archival process will be turned over to the state records center in Santa Fe for long-term preservation, officials said. Thousands of documents still have to be reviewed, Krahling said. 'We know some of what we have, and it's pretty exciting,' he said. Boris Johnson has defied Theresa May to launch an attack on the expansion of Heathrow Airport - describing it as not the 'right solution'. In an extraordinary act of dissent, the Foreign Secretary broke ranks just a day after his party's manifesto re-committed itself to highly controversial plans to build a third runway. Speaking to ITV News, the Cabinet minister said: 'I don't think it's the right solution. Boris Johnson, pictured today in Hounslow, west London, has hit out at plans to expand Heathrow Airport just a day after his party's manifesto re-committed to the plan 'I'll be honest with I think it's very difficult to deliver. 'I just think noise pollution, the vehicular pollution, the air pollution, these are things that really have to be addressed.' His comments are likely to enrage Theresa May and put him at odds with his own party's manifesto, which commits them to supporting the 'great project'. Mr Johnson, who as London Mayor called for a 'Boris Island' airport to be built in Kent, has been a vocal critic of the 18billion Heathrow expansion. He has predicted the expansion will be held up indefinitely by a string of legal challenges. Boris Johnson, pictured with his cabinet colleague in Halifax yesterday where the Tory Party launched its manifesto. Just 24 hours later he has broken ranks to oppose one of its policies Boris Johnson and Zac Goldsmith enjoying a pint together. The two Tories have both been outspoken critics of Heathrow's expansion, warning about the levels of noise pollution Zac Goldsmith looked dejected when he lost his seat to Sarah Olney last December. He had quit and triggered a by-election over his opposition to Heathrow expansion But the timing of his latest comments - coming in the middle of the General Election campaign - are likely to shock his Cabinet colleagues. What does the Tory Party manifesto say about Heathrow? The Tory Party's manifesto commits the party to supporting the planned Heathrow expansion. It states: 'We are investing to reduce travel time and cost, increase capacity and attract investment here in the UK. 'We will continue our programme of strategic national investments including.... the expansion of Heathrow Airport.' Advertisement Speaking last October, he said: 'The day when the bulldozers appear is a long way off, if indeed they ever materialise to build that third runway because after all there are at least four Conservative-led councils that have already made clear they are going to litigate against it. 'My view is that the whole proceeding will be snarled up in objections of one kind of another, legal objections of one kind or another. 'And I just really repeat my point: do we want the greatest city on earth to be transformed into, parts of it, a hell of aircraft noise? 'I don't think we do. 'I think there are far better solutions and as long as I'm able to I'm respectfully going to make that point.' Plans to build a third runway at Heathrow are hugely controversial. Theresa May, pictured today in Edinburgh where she launched the Scottish Tory Party's manifesto, is likely to be furious with Boris Johnson over his remarks Locals living beneath the flight path have warned that the noise pollution will make their lives intolerable. Heathrow expansion timeline: December 2003: Labour government publishes plans for a third runway at Heathrow, but warns that strict limits on noise and air quality must be met. August 2007: protesters set up camp near Heathrow and clash with police. September 2008: The Tory opposition pledge to scrap the expansion. January 2009: The Labour government approves a third runway. Then mayor of London Boris Johnson denounces the decision and proposes Boris island airport plan instead. May 2010 The newly elected Coalition government scraps plans for a third runway. September 2014: The 'Boris Island' Thames Estuary airport plan is officially rejected by the Airports Commission. July 2015: Long-awaited report by the Airports Commission recommends a new runway be built at Heathrow. October 2016 The government finally announces a new runway at Heathrow Advertisement And the plan, which was finally approved last October, has already caused trouble within the Tory Party after Zac Goldsmith sensationally quit as a Tory MP over the issue. The former London mayor candidate lost his Richmond Park seat to the Lib Dem Sarah Olney in the by-election that followed. He is hoping to win his seat back in the General Election on June 8. The debate over whether Heathrow Airport should be expanded has been a protracted saga spanning over a decade and several governments. The Labour government in December 2003 published plans to build a third runway, which they said should be constructed over the next 12 years. In August 2007 protesters set up camp near Heathrow and clashed with police. The following year the then leader of the opposition, David Cameron, pledged to scrap the plan if voted in. Labour said they would press ahead with the plans, but they were hit by a series of delays and when the Coalition was voted in in 2010 the Tories and Lib Dems announce they will scrap the plans. But business leaders hit out at the move and following mounting pressure members of the Cabinet including George Osborne began to drop their opposition to the scheme. Gatwick and Heathrow both re-submitted expansion plans and in July 2015 the Airports Commission recommended that ministers go with Heathrow's plans. In October last year the government finally announced that a new runway will be built at Heathrow. Las Vegas Doctor Binh Chung (pictured), accused of drugging and raping unconscious patients, testified and told jurors that he has a 'Sleeping Beauty' fetish, but that he is innocent A Las Vegas doctor accused of drugging and raping unconscious patients told jurors that he has a 'Sleeping Beauty' fetish but maintained he is innocent. Binh 'Ben' Chung told jurors that he acted out his fetish with a woman who he was having an affair with, and videotaped it. However, he insisted that the entire thing was consensual, and said that while she appeared unconscious, she was just acting to his fantasy, reported the Las Vegas Review-Journal. During a four-hour testimony, Chung explained to jurors that he had sex with the woman at her apartment, in his car and his southwest valley office at Sundance Medical center. Prosecutor Alex Chen grilled him with questions, and his statement came across as confusing and sometimes contradictory. 'Sleeping Beauty, kind of like a Disney movie, right?' Chen asked. Chung explained that 'Sleeping Beauty' meant 'Princess.' He also discussed his fetish, which is known as somnophilia and defined as sexual arousal by another's unconsciousness. He also said that, while he doesn't find the fetish weird, he feels 'very ashamed and embarrassed to even talk about this'. During a four-hour testimony, Chung explained to jurors that he had sex with the woman at her apartment, in his car and his southwest valley office at Sundance Medical center (pictured) Later in the testimony he told jurors that he no longer feels desire to do such an act, but that it's still 'erotic' to him, according to the Review-Journal. The prosecutor then played the video, which shows Chung having sex with what appears to be an unconscious woman, and asked why the woman's body appeared limp when the doctor re-positioned her. Chung explained that the woman is a very good actor, then pointed to a moment where her head rolled to show that she was actually awake. The doctor also denied visiting websites that depicted sexual assaults on sleeping women. Prosecutors also said that Chung sedated patients with drugs such as ketamine or midazolam, which they found in excess in a junk drawer while raiding his office (stock image) Chung also testified at one point that he had a doctor-patient fetish to explain why he was wearing a latex clove in the video, but later reneged on that statement, saying that he had just 'absentmindedly' forgotten to remove the glove, reported the Review-Journal. The defendant is also accused of drugging and molesting two other women, as well as a teenage girl. In an encounter with one of the other women at his office, Chung taped a procedure to document her treatment, saying that she agreed to it. He first claimed that written consent should have been part of the victim's medical record, then later said that she gave verbal consent. Chung also claimed that the video that prosecutors say depict him having sex with a teenage girl are actually of him having sex with the woman with whom he had an affair. The doctor has denied ever touching, kissing or molesting the girl, according to the Las Vegas publication. An investigation into Chung first began in 2015 when his then-wife, Brenda Wong, discovered video recordings of the alleged rapes in which she recognized one of the victims and said she appeared unconscious. Authorities searched Chung's computers and hard drives and found 10 videos of child pornography. Prosecutors also said that Chung sedated patients with drugs such as ketamine or midazolam, which they found in excess in a junk drawer while raiding his office. Two of the victims filed a lawsuit against he and his wife, alleging intentional infliction of emotional distress, battery, false imprisonment and negligence. Chung has been in custody since June 2015 and his medical license is indefinitely suspended. An 11-year-old boy called 911 and told dispatchers, 'I think my dad sells drugs' after the boy found more than 200 grams of drugs worth $8,500 in his father's suitcase. The boy's father, Yamil Mercado, 40, turned himself into police Thursday and was charged with drug trafficking and child endangerment. Mercado's 11-year-old son and his 13-year-old cousin were in Mercado's bedroom in Lawrence, Massachusetts, looking through his things when they found what they thought were drugs in Mercado's suitcase. Yamil Mercado, 40, pictured, turned himself into police Thursday after his 11-year-old son called 911 because he found drugs in Mercado's bedroom Police came to the apartment and discovered 212 grams of suspected heroin and fentanyl in plastic bags, pictured. They estimate the drugs cost about $8,500 That's when the boy called police and said: 'I think my dad sells drugs.' Lawrence Police Chief James Fitzpatrick said the 11-year-old also saw his father selling drugs earlier in the day, according to WCVB. The boy had also called the Department of Children and Families about a year ago to report his father for dealing drugs, according to the Boston Globe. Police were allowed into the apartment by the boy's grandmother on Wednesday night. Mercado and his son had just moved into the boy's maternal grandmother's home, according to the Boston Globe. In Mercado's bedroom they found 212 grams of suspected heroin and fentanyl in plastic bags, estimated to be valued at $8,500, according to the Boston Herald. Mercado, pictured, was arraigned Friday in Lawrence District Court and plead not guilty to charges of drug trafficking and child endangerment. He is being held without bail Neighbors have been living in fear with drug exchanges happening on their street, according to Boston 25 News. On Friday, Mercado was arraigned in Lawrence District Court. He plead not guilty and is being held without bail. Mercado is the father of three boys, the oldest of which is 16, according to the Boston Herald. His son is being kept in a secure location, investigators say according to Boston 25 News, and the Department of Children and Families is investigating. Fitzpatrick said: 'I commend this young man for being brave enough to come forward and report that these dangerous substances were in his home.' Mercado and his son had recently moved into the boy's maternal grandmother's home in Lawrence. The child's grandmother gave permission for police to enter the apartment A chef who trained under Marco Pierre White and Raymond Blanc has to payout nearly 10,000 after diners got food poisoning from under-cooked calf's liver. One diner suffered from campylobacter food poisoning - which is a severe version of food poisoning caused by bacteria on raw or undercooked meat - after eating the meat at Stephen Luscombe's prestigious restaurant at the The Golden Ball, in Lower Assendon, Oxfordshire in August 2015. Another customer suffered from food poisoning while others suffered symptoms after eating another dish that contained the meat at the Michelin Guide recommended establishment. Stephen Luscombe (pictured with Gary Lineker) has been fined 10,000 after a few diners suffered from food poisoning after eating calf's liver at his restaurant in August 2015 Luscombe's restaurant, which is at The Golden Ball, in Lower Assendon, Oxfordshire, is recommended by the Michelin guide Luscombe, who has run the restaurant since 2008, admitted serving food that was unsafe as it had been inadequately cooked Oxford Magistrates Court heard that council officers carried out a surprise visit to the top eatery days later and found the set menu calves' liver was cooked at too low a temperature. The restaurant was found to have no protocol to make sure high-risk ingredients were properly cooked, and monitoring food safety records had not been carried out for three months. Luscombe, who has run the restaurant since 2008, admitted serving food that was unsafe as it had been inadequately cooked and failing to implement and maintain legally required food safety procedures, including those for the safe cooking of high-risk foods. He told the Henley Standard it would never happen again, and that he was proud of his restaurant's reputation. 'This was a one-off incident that I very much regret,' he said. 'I accept the court's position and I have learned from this and have taken all appropriate steps to ensure that nothing of a similar nature will happen in future.' He also highlighted comments made in court about his previous food-safety record, which reduced his fine, and claimed he would continue running his restaurant with pride. Luscombe trained under chef Marco Pierre White, who hung up his chef whites in 1999 Luscombe later moved to Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in Great Milton, Oxfordshire, under Raymond Blanc Luscombe cut his teeth at top London restaurants, working under likes of Marco Pierre White and Herbert Berger, before honing his skills at the renown Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in Great Milton, Oxfordshire, under Raymond Blanc. He was fined 4,434 and ordered to pay costs of 5,284, plus a 120 victim surcharge, at Oxford Magistrates' Court on Thursday, May 11. Since the incident, the restaurant has improved its Scores on the Doors food hygiene rating from one out of five to five. Diane Moore, food and safety manager at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: 'This case demonstrates how important it is for businesses to follow food hygiene rules and make sure food is safe to eat. 'Liver is a well-publicised potential source of campylobacter food poisoning, which in some case can be fatal. It is essential that high-risk products like this are thoroughly cooked.' Children as young as six are carrying knives and 10-year-olds are arming themselves with weapons out of fear, the country's top police officer has been told. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick heard children 'feel naked' without them, while some are too scared to cross the capital's roads unarmed. Ms Dick vowed to get to the root of knife crime as she visited a youth centre in Putney, south-west London, meeting community leaders, reformed gang members and the family of Lewis Elwin - a 20-year-old trainee electrician stabbed to death in Tooting last year. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick was told that children were arming themselves with weapons because they are scared while visiting a youth centre in Putney The family of Lewis Elwin, a student who was fatally stabbed in Tooting last year, spoke to the commissioner. Pictured is Byron, Aaron and Sandra Douglas-Letts The Commissioner promised more officers in schools and others in every ward to help build relationships with young people. She was told community groups are 'screaming out' for a relationship with police, but the force is 'not following up'. One woman told Ms Dick knife crime affects children far younger than the teenagers and young men normally associated with it. She said: 'On the housing estate, it's six-year-olds that are carrying knives, because they think they won't be stopped. You need to start there, in the primary schools - you need to tell much younger people.' Josh Osbourne, a mentor at youth charity Carney's Community, said 10-year-olds live in fear, saying: 'They can't even cross the road because they're at odds or in a dispute with somebody else from literally the same postcode but across the road.' Andy Smith, from social enterprise The Feel Good Bakery, told Ms Dick young people carry blades for protection, saying: 'They say they feel naked if they haven't got their knife with them.' She was told community groups are 'screaming out' for a relationship with police, but the force is 'not following up' Scotland Yard launched the latest phase of Operation Sceptre earlier this month, cracking down on knife crime. Pictured is the Comissioner with Borough Commander A/DCS Peter Laverick The capital has seen a wave of knife attacks in recent weeks, with more than a dozen people killed or seriously injured. Scotland Yard launched the latest phase of Operation Sceptre earlier this month, cracking down on knife crime. But despite more than 70 arrests for possession of offensive weapons and knives, within a week three more people had been fatally stabbed. Speaking to the media after the meeting, Ms Dick said it was 'pretty horrifying' to hear of armed six-year-olds. She said: 'It's outrageous to hear a six-year-old is carrying a knife, for whatever reason. 'That's something a police officer by themselves or even a police force isn't going to be able to have very much impact on. The question there is what are the parents doing? What are the school doing?' Ms Dick said youngsters often carry knives for 'some kind of respect, some kind of kudos', but added: 'I do accept there are places where some of our young people are scared and they feel it makes sense to carry a knife. L-R Commander David Musker, Byron, Sandra, Aaron, Tanya Douglas-Letts and other members of the family Outlining her plans for early intervention to tackle the epidemic, Ms Dick said she wants to try and stop knife crime attacks before they happen 'I can say as long as I live that it does not make them safer. They may not hear that message from me... we need to get people in communities, we need to get people in schools, we need to get parents understanding and helping young people to understand... it will end in tragedy, probably, for them.' Outlining her plans for early intervention to tackle the epidemic, Ms Dick said: 'I want to shift us further into prevention. I want all of us to be working on stopping this before it happens. 'Community groups will be an incredibly important part of that. We need to play our part, but it is only a part.' The Commissioner still has work to do to reach those communities - Mr Osbourne said the meeting was 'about as much use as a chocolate teapot'. He added: 'We have realised that the things that we need, the Commissioner is unable to provide.' David Archer, 53, of Essex, who used an adult website to run a 16million prostitution empire from his 'semi-legitimate' hotels and a 20-room brothel was jailed for 13 years today A property tycoon who used an adult website to run a 16million prostitution empire from his 'semi-legitimate' hotels and a 20-room brothel was jailed for 13 years today. David Archer, 53, of Essex, recruited 'vulnerable' women to work as prostitutes while cruising around shopping areas, before creating profiles for them on adultwork.com. He kept the sex workers at his properties, including two hotels and a residential house which was converted into a brothel to cater for large numbers of punters. Described in court as a 'psycho' by one prostitute, Archer imposed strict rules on the women, forcing them to wear underwear at all times and monitoring them with CCTV cameras 24 hours a day. He recruited one woman after finding her crying at a bus stop and offered her a place to stay in 2015. Archer also forced one of his victims to pose for explicit photographs before groping her. 'She was scared and she was desperate,' said Judge Sheelagh Canavan. 'She was so desperate to get away she saw just one client to get enough money to leave.' He was finally arrested in January 2016 after one of his victims called police after being locked inside a bedroom at Archer's home in Hornchurch, Essex. Archer was convicted of three sex attacks on two of the workers after a trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court. He had pleaded guilty to controlling prostitution, sex trafficking and concealing criminal property. Archer's total assets including his properties are valued at 16million and he earned 1.6million from the brothels in just one year, the court heard. Sending him to prison, Judge Canavan said Archer was involved in the 'wholesale commercial management of properties and prostitutes'. 'It's said that prostitution is the oldest profession in the world,' she told the court. 'It's clear there is an enduring demand for sex work. Archer's trusted associates, Emma Cox (left), 41, and Zobia Taqi (right), 29, were spared jail after they pleaded guilty to controlling prostitution One of Archer's brothels was run from rooms within the Travel Inn (pictured) in Forest Gate. He recruited 'vulnerable' women to work as prostitutes while cruising around shopping areas, before creating profiles for them on adultwork.com 'If this was a Hollywood movie there would be a happy ending before the credits roll. 'The reality is very different - rarely is this decision taken by choice. Some prostitutes are trafficked into the UK and forced in sex work. 'They are forced to sell their body for money, the work is degrading and demeaning. 'Prostitutes face a constant struggle to find somewhere to work where they feel safe and they are at risk from physical harm from clients. 'You were involved in wholesale commercial management of a multiplicity of properties and prostitutes. 'You looked on women as commodities. You cruised the Stratford shopping area looking for women to work. This was a business run most definitely by you, for you.' Two of Archer's brothels were run from rooms within the Excel Hotel in Barking Road, Romford, and the Travel Inn on Romford Road, Forest Gate. Another property on Romford Road, Forest Gate, was converted from a residential house into a 20-room brothel. Archer also ran brothels from his properties in Northumblerand Avenue, Wanstead, and a rented house in the upmarket neighbourhood of Clonmel Road, Fulham. Archer's trusted associates, Emma Cox, 41, and Zobia Taqi, 29, were spared jail after they pleaded guilty to controlling prostitution. CCTV cameras installed on all the sites showed them collecting cash from prostitutes when a client visited. He even recruited one woman after finding her crying at a bus stop and offered her a place to stay in 2015. Pictured, Excel hotel in Romford where he used one of the rooms as a brothel Archer also ran brothels from a rented house in the upmarket neighbourhood of Clonmel Road (pictured), Fulham Ian McLoughlin, prosecuting, said: 'David Archer controlled the money, taking a percentage of their income. David Archer charged inflated rates in order to make the money he had. 'He also controlled the way in which the women advertised their services to the outside world. 'Many of the women were vulnerable individuals, women who found themselves with no choice but to work as a prostitute. 'Some were not from London, and were working in an unfamiliar surrounding. 'The vulnerability of the women and his comparative position of power created an imbalance of power which he exploited financially and also sexually.' Archer, of Hornchurch, Essex, was jailed for ten years after being convicted of three counts of sexual assault, three years consecutive for controlling prostitution, and one year concurrent for three counts of trafficking, one of concealing criminal property and one of identity fraud, making a total of 13 years. Archer's total assets including his properties are valued at 16million and he earned 1.6million from the brothels in just one year, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard (pictured) Cox, of Worthing, West Sussex, received nine months in jail suspended for two years. Taqi, of Ilford, was given 12 months imprisonment, suspended for two years. Detective Sergeant John Kirby, of the Met's Sexual Offences Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, said: 'Archer exploited vulnerable women to build his lucrative empire in the sex industry over a number of years. 'The vulnerability of the women and his position of strength created an imbalance which he exploited again and again - financially, emotionally, and in some cases sexually. 'He advertised the brothels as women-run businesses and once he lured the women, they were instructed to pose for explicit photos, and in some cases forced to engage in sexual activity. 'Once under his control, he transported the women between his venues to maximise his profit.' 'The women involved went through horrendous ordeals. Some of the victims testified during the trial, and I praise them for their bravery and courage. 'This has been a complex investigation with distressed victims that have suffered significant trauma, and I would like to acknowledge the roles of other agencies that have helped support the victims during the course of the investigation, and stopped other women becoming victims in the future. 'It is possible that there are further victims that have not yet come forward, and we would urge them to speak to police.' A 14-year-old boy from Northern California led police on a high speed chase through the streets of Santa Rosa early on Friday morning. The hot tail pursuit which lasted for 16 minutes saw the teenager reaching speeds of up to 100mph in a stolen car, travelling for more than 14 miles. Police first noticed the suspects car just before 2am driving in downtown Cotati, with its headlights off. After a sergeant attempted to stop the car, the driver sped off, police said. A 14-year-old boy from Santa Rosa led police on a high speed chase through the city streets early on Friday morning. He was eventually caught and found to have 10 warrants (file photo) Incredibly, despite the high speeds the teenager managed to avoid injuring anyone, although he sideswiped a car that was pulling over to get out of the way of the chase. When the driver attempted to drive over the center median at Highway 101, two of the cars ties blew out, bringing the pursuit to a stop. The driver's two passengers, aged 14 and 15, were arrested. When police tracked the cars registration, they discovered it had been stolen just hours earlier. The driver was found to have ten warrants out for his arrest, although it is unclear for what crimes. The driver was booked on suspicion of felony evading, felony possession of a stolen vehicle and the outstanding warrants that had been previously issued. A white Oklahoma police officer acquitted in the killing of an unarmed black man will be allowed to return to work, Tulsa police Chief Chuck Jordan said Friday. Jordan announced his decision in an emailed statement that said officer Betty Shelby will return to active duty, but she won't be patrolling Tulsa streets. Shelby was put on unpaid leave September 22 when she was charged with manslaughter in the shooting of 40-year-old Terence Crutcher. A jury found Shelby not guilty Wednesday. Scroll down for video Tulsa, Oklahoma police officer Betty Shelby will be allowed to return to duty after she was acquitted of manslaughter in the shooting death of 40-year-old Terence Crutcher (right) Shelby's attorney said she isn't sure if she even wants to return to duty. Above, a still showing a moment from the shooting Shelby's attorney, Shannon McMurray, told The Associated Press on Thursday that her client is unsure she would even want to go back to the Tulsa Police Department. McMurray said it would be dangerous for Shelby to patrol the streets again. 'She's going to self-guess herself and get herself killed or somebody else,' McMurray said. Crutcher's family has called for city leadership to block Shelby from returning to her job. Jurors also said in a post-trial court filing on Friday that Shelby could have used a less-lethal method to subdue Crutcher and could have saved his life. The foreman of the jury also says in a three-page memo that jurors weren't comfortable with the idea that Shelby was 'blameless' in Crutcher's death. Shelby was found not guilty in Crutcher's killing in court on Wednesday (pictured leaving court that day above) Shelby said she shot Crutcher because he was reaching into his car and she feared he was trying to get a weapon. Pictured above leaving court on Wednesday The foreman and others don't identify themselves in the memo. The jury comprised eight women and four men and included three African-Americans. Shelby's attorney acknowledged the officer could have fired a stun gun instead of a firearm but said the officer had to make a 'split-second' decision because Shelby thought Crutcher was armed. No gun was found. Shelby said she fired her weapon out of fear because Crutcher ignored her commands to lie down and appeared to reach inside his SUV for what she thought was a gun. She told prosecutors that police training videos showed her that if suspects are allowed to reach back into their vehicle, they 'can pull out guns and kill you'. 'I'm told in my training that you don't let them pull their arm back out,' Shelby added, referring to the open window of a vehicle. But prosecutors said she overreacted, arguing that Crutcher had his hands in the air and wasn't combative, part of which was confirmed by police video that showed Crutcher walking away from Shelby with his hands above his head. Protestors gather in front of the Mayo Hotel after a not guilty verdict for Shelby on Wednesday A group of protesters block Denver Avenue near the Tulsa County Courthouse after the verdict was read on Wednesday Shelby also said she feared Crutcher was under the influence of PCP, a powerful hallucinogenic known as Angel Dust that makes users erratic, unpredictable and combative. An autopsy showed PCP was in Crutcher's system, and police said they found a vial of it in his SUV. Shelby, who had never fired her weapon on duty before shooting Crutcher dead, said she does not regret what she did. The killing of 40-year-old Crutcher was among a spate of officer-involved shootings in recent years that helped galvanize the Black Lives Matter movement and prompted calls for more police accountability. Defense attorney Shannon McMurray argued that prosecutors rushed to charge Shelby for political reasons, fearing civil unrest like the angry street protests that erupted in Charlotte, North Carolina, after the fatal shooting of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott four days after Crutcher was killed. In the aftermath of the verdict this week demonstrators blocked a main road in downtown Tulsa for a short period of time. The road was eventually cleared and the protesters voluntarily moved to a nearby street corner. The family of Terence Crutcher leaves the courtroom after the jury returned a verdict in the trial of Shelby on Wednesday Tiffany Crutcher, center, the twin sister of Terence Crutcher, talks with the media as she leaves the courtroom on Wednesday Huma Abedin may soon be a free woman. The estranged wife of Anthony Weiner, 52, made it very clear how she felt about the disgraced politician on Friday by officially filing for divorce in Manhattan Supreme Court according to the New York Post, nine months after she announced that the couple had separated in the wake of his third sexting scandal. She filed the papers on the same day Weiner learned he could be spending up to 10 years in prison after entering a guilty plea on a single charge of transferring obscene material to a minor. That offense was made public in the wake of Weiner's fourth sexting scandal this past September, one mother after Abedin, 40, announced their split. Weiner's day in court came eight months after DailyMail.com revealed that the disgraced Congressman had been exchanging sexually-charged messages and explicit photos with a 15-year-old high school student in North Carolina. It is unclear if Weiner knew of Abedin's plan to file the papers on Friday as the former Congressman wore his wedding band in court. Scroll down for videos Boy, bye: Huma Abedin filed divorce papers on Friday in Manhattan Supreme Court, nine months after announcing her split from husband Anthony Weiner (couple above at the 2016 Met Ball) Holding on to hope: Weiner wore his wedding band for his court appearance, which he made a point of obviously displaying to those in the courtroom Cleaning house: Abedin was spotted without her wedding band on back in September while out on a school run with son Jordan (above) Abedin is asking the court to keep the case under seal in hopes of keeping the proceedings out of the press, which may prove to be difficult given her husband's recent legal woes. The filing is uncontested however, meaning there is little chance that Abedin and Weiner will be waging any public battles pertaining to the division of their assets or custody of 5-year-old son Jordan. It is likely that both are also hoping for a swift resolution ahead of Weiner's sentencing in September, with federal prosecutors recommending he serve two years in prison on the obscene material charge. Weiner wept in court on Friday while begging for forgiveness as he entered a plea of guilty to a single charge of transferring obscene material to a minor. 'I have a sickness, but I do not have an excuse,' Weiner told the court, while agreeing to accept any prison sentence of less than 27 months and register as a sex offender. He was also forced to forfeit his iPhone and any other cellular devices in court on Friday, where his brother Jason was the lone family member in attendance. Weiner's day in court came eight months after DailyMail.com revealed that the disgraced Congressman had been exchanging sexually-charged messages and explicit photos with a 15-year-old high school student in North Carolina. The exchanges began in January of last year after the teenager reached out to Weiner on Twitter, and continued through late spring. Weiner was 51 and still married to Huma Abedin when he sent the texts and images to the minor female, during a time when his primary responsibility was the care of his son Jordan, now 5, while Abedin was on the campaign trail with Hillary Clinton. Abedin did not appear in court on Friday, but was involved in her own legal proceeding as she officially filed for divorce from Weiner. It was the FBI's investigation into Weiner's inappropriate sexting that led to the discovery of classified emails forwarded by Huma to his computer - and the decision by FBI director James Comey to reopen the investigation into Clinton. Prosecutors are recommending that Weiner serve a two-year sentence as part of the deal, with the charge carrying a maximum prison term of 10 years and maximum fine of $250,000. He was released on bail and will be sentenced on September 8, four days after his 53rd birthday. First time around: Abedin and Weiner enter their home in Queens on June 16, 2011 just before he announced his resignation from Congress in the wake of his first sexting scandal Deja vu: Abedin stood by her husband's side after the second scandal broke as a news conference on July 23, 2013 (above), with Weiner opting to stay in the race for NYC mayor Heated Huma: Abedin was photographed storming out of a Hamptons fundraiser for Clinton in August moments after learning about her husband's third scandal Seasoned pro: Abedin popped on some shades and flashed her Hillary tote in her first appearance after Weiner's fourth sexting scandal , with her disgraced husband seen scurrying off behind his estranged wife on September 21, 2016 (above) It was discovered that Weiner had committed that offense just one month after Abedin announced she was ending their marriage, a decision that came hot on the heels of a New York Post story revealing that Weiner had sexted yet another lewd picture of himself to a woman. That photo showed Weiner lying in bed wearing nothing but his boxer briefs while his young son, who was 4 at the time, lay sleeping next to him. 'Someone just climbed into my bed,' Weiner wrote to the woman before sending the photo, which clearly showed the outline of his manhood. She responded by writing back: 'You do realize you can see you[r] Weiner in that pic??' The photo was sent shortly after 3am on July 31, 2015 by Weiner. In the accompanying text exchange, Weiner also discussed the massage parlors near his old apartment while making frequent references to the largesse of his manhood. 'Id put someone's eye out with this thing. #Overdue,' wrote Weiner at one point. In other texts sent to the woman, a brunette divorcee, Weiner spoke about being 'horny as f***' and sent a variety of emojis that were sexual in nature. Weiner also reportedly admitted to masturbating while thinking about the woman in a text, calling her a 'fantasy chick.' It all came crashing down for Weiner five years after the Democratic congressman stepped down after seven terms in the House of Representatives for New York following his first sexting scandal. He then made the decision to run for mayor of New York City two years later, and found himself an unlikely frontrunner in the race, until it was revealed that he had once again been exchanging lewd messages, this time with a woman named Sydney Leathers. It was that second scandal which also revealed Weiner's nom de plume when sending lewd messages and images over the Internet - Carlos Danger. The scandal destroyed Weiner's chances in the mayoral race and took an even bigger toll on his marriage, especially since Abedin had agreed to help work on her husband's campaign and share with him her invaluable Rolodex of big-money donors which she obtained over the course of two decades with the Clintons. That entire campaign, from humble start and brief soaring high to epic fall from grace, was captured by a documentary film crew who had been following Weiner during the race and been granted complete access to the politician before the scandal broke. 'Weiner' was released last year to critical accolades, while the subject himself has remained mostly out-of-work since that time. Abedin is also navigating a new job frontier after landing back in New York City and not Washington DC after the election. Daddy day care: 'Someone just climbed into my bed,' Weiner wrote to his adult pen pal before sending the above photo, which clearly showed the outline of his manhood Victim: DailyMail.com revealed in September that Weiner had been exchanging sexually explicit photos and texts with a 15-year-old high school student in North Carolina (above with her father) Private details: In texts obtained by DailyMail.com, Weiner complained to the female minor that he rarely had sex with Abedin Weiner and Abedin married in July 2010 in a ceremony that was officiated by Bill Clinton and covered in the pages of Vogue, with Abedin getting pregnant with the couple's first child just a few months later. The couple was not even a year into their marriage when news broke that Weiner had been sexting women online after he tweeted out a photo of his erect penis that he had meant to privately send to a woman on the social media site. He resigned from Congress and in December of that year Abedin gave birth to Jordan. In the wake of the second sexting scandal, things seemed to be on an upswing for the couple, with Abedin poised to become the White House Chief of Staff and Weiner a dutiful stay-at-home dad. The eternally reserved Abedin even spoke about the couple's relationship in an interview on the Call Your Girlfriend podcast early last year, saying: 'You know, I think that a marriage really only works in any situation, whether you're in politics or not, if one partner is fully supportive of the other. 'I think it's a little it's often a little more challenging when you're in politics because your private life, and I think everybody craves their own privacy, and so I think your private life is displayed to the world in a way that you otherwise wouldn't have to deal with if one spouse is a private person and the other person's in politics as was the case certainly in my marriage. 'But I think it works if you fully support each other.' She then noted that her husband had taken over much of the parenting of their son as she was away from home. 'I'm on the road a lot on the campaign. As I mentioned earlier I have a four-year-old son and I don't think I could do this if I didn't have the support of a spouse who is willing to basically be a stay-at- home dad as much as he possibly can so I'm able to be on the road,' said Abedin. 'I miss my son but I don't worry about him because I know between this little village we've created between Anthony and my in-laws and my mom and our families and this wonderful woman who we have helping us I can go out and be the best professional woman that I can be because I have that support.' Just a few months later the photo of Weiner in bed with the couple's son was published, ending the couple's marriage. 'After long and painful consideration and work on my marriage, I have made the decision to separate from my husband,' said Abedin in a statement. 'Anthony and I remain devoted to doing what is best for our son, who is the light of our life. During this difficult time, I ask for respect for our privacy.' Gaunt: The former Congressman and the US attorney's office finalized the plea deal this week, and Weiner said he would not appeal a sentence of less than 27 months Helping hand: Weiner was consoled by his attorney (illustration above) as he broke down while reading from his prepared statement in front of the court Here's Tony: Weiner was chauffeured back to his New York City apartment after his appearance on Friday (above exiting car) That split is now the least of the couple's worries as Weiner is facing serious time behind bars. Weiner appeared strained from the moment he entered courtroom on Friday, looking alarmingly gaunt and surprising many by showing off his wedding band despite Abedin announcing the couple had separated last August. He spoke briefly with his counsel before signing off on paperwork admitting to his guilt ahead of the proceedings, and then sat back and waited for the hearing to get underway. Weiner struggled to smile at one point as he awaited the arrival of Judge Preska, who quickly moved things along after calling the court to order on Friday. He calmly answered the Judge Loretta Preska's inquiries after entering his plea and stated that he understood the charges and the implications of his plea. When instructed to tell the court what he had done, Weiner, dressed in a burgundy Gucci tie and navy blue suit, asked to read a prepared written statement. He then began to break down in tears, having until that point remained composed and seemingly calm in court. Weiner struggled to speak at first when delivering his statement, with his attorney Arlo Devlin Brown placed a reassuring hand on his back while Judge Preska told him to 'take his time.' He began by stating: 'Through approximately March 2016, I engaged in obscene communications with this teenager, including sharing explicit images and encouraging her to engage in sexually explicit conduct, just as I had done and continued to do with adult women. 'I knew this was as morally wrong as it was unlawful.' Brother's keeper: Weiner's brother Jason (above) was the lone family member who appeared at court on Friday Scooby van: Hillary Clinton was seen exiting her office while hidden away in her van on Friday though it was not known if Huma was with her (above) Weiner went on to acknowledge the 'devastating consequences' that these indiscretions had brought upon both his public and private lives, managing to end his political career and his marriage. It was at this point that Weiner's voice dried up and he was forced to take a sip from his water bottle. He continued by admitting that even then he did not stop his conduct or try and change his ways, 'even as my world fell apart around me.' Weiner stated that he had engaged in communications with the teen starting in 2016 even though he know it was 'morally wrong and unlawful.' He went on to sat that he then 'hit bottom' late last year and made a 'moral inventory' of his crimes so that he could attempt to make amends. Weiner also stated that he was in regular therapy. 'I apologize for everyone I have hurt and to the teenage girl I have hurt so badly,' said Weiner while struggling to maintain his composure and wiping tears from his eyes. The father of the young victim spoke with DailyMail.com after learning that Weiner would be entering a guilty plea, saying: 'I don't know if it's justice. I don't know what the sentence is gonna be. I would like to see, is [the sentence] fair or not fair? Just because he's pleading guilty doesn't mean he's going to do a bit of time.' A top prosecutor has accused Brazil's president Michel Temer of corruption and obstruction of justice. Mr Temer fought for his political life on Friday after being accused of attempting to derail a massive corruption investigation known as 'Car Wash.' It comes after a secret recording emerged, reportedly showing the president giving a business executive his blessing to make monthly payments of hush money to a jailed politician. A top prosecutor has accused Brazil's president Michel Temer (pictured) of attempting to derail a massive corruption investigation known as 'Car Wash' That politician - former lower house speaker Eduardo Cunha - is in prison after being convicted of bribe-taking in a sprawling anti-corruption drive named operation 'Car Wash.' Mr Temer was placed under investigation by the police on Thursday after the recording emerged. Temer and a senior senator, Aecio Neves, were among those 'who attempted to prevent the Car Wash investigations from advancing,' Prosecutor General Rodrigo Janot wrote in a court filing on Friday. The accusation of wide-scale obstruction of justice raised the stakes in a crisis threatening to topple Mr Temer barely a year after the center-right politician took over from impeached leftist president Dilma Rousseff. The investigation has upended Brazil with scores of politicians indicted or subject to probes into alleged bribe taking and embezzlement. And Cunha, formerly one of the most powerful insiders in Congress, has long been rumored to have threatened to spill secrets on other politicians to prosecutors. Mr Temer angrily denied any wrongdoing in a televised address Thursday and rebutted mounting calls for his resignation. He had not spoken in public Friday. The beleaguered president was holed up at the presidential palace with close aides, a government source, who asked not to be identified, told AFP. A secret recording reportedly showed the president (left) giving a business executive his blessing to make monthly payments of hush money to a jailed politician Eduardo Cunha (right) The accusation of wide-scale obstruction of justice raised the stakes in a crisis threatening to topple Mr Temer barely a year after the center-right politician took over from impeached leftist president Dilma Rousseff (pictured) 'The government is working on three fronts to end the crisis: political, judicial and economic,' the source said. According to the source, Mr Temer was 'angry' and had no intention of stepping down. However, opponents piled on the pressure, with eight impeachment requests filed in Congress. There are also calls for large-scale street protests to demand his resignation. Mr Temer's conservative government has angered millions of Brazilians with its ambitious austerity reforms, which include the planned raising of the retirement age to fix the country's unaffordable pension system. Mr Temer says the reforms are already helping to end a two-year recession, but with 13.7 percent unemployment many Brazilians do not feel the supposed improvements. He is also loathed on the left for his role in the impeachment just a year ago of leftist president Dilma Rousseff. As her vice president, he immediately took over when she was pushed out. On Thursday, thousands of people demonstrated against Mr Temer in the capital Brasilia and in Rio de Janeiro. Rousseff's leftist Workers' Party planned nationwide protests on Sunday, with turnout likely proving an important barometer of the national mood. Even a former chief justice of the Supreme Court, Joaquim Barbosa, called for Mr Temer's head. 'There is no other way out. Brazilians must mobilize, must take to the streets to forcefully demand the immediate resignation of Michel Temer,' he said on Twitter. On Thursday, thousands of people demonstrated against Mr Temer in the capital Brasilia and in Rio de Janeiro Rousseff's leftist Workers' Party planned nationwide protests on Sunday, with turnout likely proving an important barometer of the national mood However, the Vem Pra Rua group which was active in bringing down Rousseff last year, abruptly cancelled plans for its own mass protests, saying there wasn't enough time to plan security. Mr Temer faces a perilous investigation in the Supreme Court. However, his more immediate danger is a collapse of his base in Congress, opening the way to impeachment. 'That's why today the main question is to know whether the parties that form the government's base will leave,' said Thomaz Pereira, a constitutional law professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation in Rio. So far only one minister, the culture secretary, has quit, but several others have been rumored to have one foot out of the door. Folha newspaper referred to 'a climate of confusion.' Mr Temer's PMDB party is the biggest in Congress but the key to his coalition is the center-right PSDB Social Democrats. They have given mixed signals, but so far are staying in the government. 'Our ministers continue to work and we will not take any action with regard to their staying in the government before we have a conversation with President Temer,' the party's Senate leader, Paulo Bauer, told Globo. Ironically, the legislature that now holds Mr Temer's fate in its hands is itself riddled with corruption scandals. Some two-thirds of lawmakers have had brushes with the law at some point. And a third of the Senate is currently being probed in the 'Operation Car Wash' investigation that has uncovered massive bribery and embezzlement in Brazil's elite - with Mr Temer's probe being just the latest offshoot. Two Swedish brothers who were accused of killing a four-year-old boy in 1998 today demanded a police apology as they spoke about the case for the first time. Robin Dalen, 24, and Christian Karlsson, 26, were just five and seven-years-old when Kevin Hjalmarsson was found dead near a lake in Arvika, Sweden, in a case which shocked the entire nation. Kevin's grandfather found his dead body lying near the edge of lake Glafsfjorden hours after he failed to return home from playing with his friends. The brothers, who were held responsible for his death though never publicly linked to it, have broken their silence for the first time in a Swedish TV documentary called 'Kevinfallet' - or 'The Kevin Case'. Robin Dalen (left), 24, and Christian Karlsson (right), 26, were just five and seven years old when they were accused of killing Kevin Hjalmarsson, four The brothers - who police believed at the time were responsible for the death of the toddler - have broken their silence on the case which shocked Sweden A new documentary suggests officers made mistakes during the investigation into the death of Kevin (pictured) and pressured the brothers during 30 interrogation sessions Robin and Christian were questioned days after Kevin's body was found near a lake in Arvika, but only as witnesses at first The police told Kevin's heartbroken family that Kevin's playmates Robin and Christian, five and seven respectively at the time, killed him during a game gone horribly wrong in August 1998. The boys were questioned days later as witnesses but in November, Swedish Police announced the boys had confessed and killed Kevin. They were not formally convicted or prosecuted because they were younger than 15-years-old. For nearly 19 years, Kevin's parents believed the brothers killed their son but now, in a remarkable development, new investigations have cast doubt on the investigation. 'I do not know what to believe anymore,' Kevin's father Patrick Skog told Aftonbladet. 'It feels like falling into a big darkness again. Patrick said he has been trying to process the police conclusion for almost two decades. He added: 'I'm busy trying to understand this new information, everything feels a bit chaotic. It's even more question marks than ever before. 'Had the police done their work in 1998, we might not have been in this painful situation now.' Kevin's alleged killers were taken into care and decided to speak to for the first time about the case in a three-part documentary series which is being watched by millions in Sweden. Christian Karlsson, 26, (pictured) was just seven years old when the toddler was found dead in Sweden This is the spot in Arvika, Sweden, where four-year-old Kevin was found dead in 1998 Their involvement in the murder has always been questioned and the brothers are now hoping for a total acquittal - and an apology. According to Swedish newspaper Sydsvenskan, the documentary suggests officers made mistakes during the investigation and pressured the brothers during 30 interrogation sessions. During the interviews, the boys typically would be quizzed without any plaintiff counsel present or parents. The site also reports that the alleged confession from the brothers has since been doubted whether it was true or not. The documentary also suggests that the two boys had an alibi because another family had visited their family when the murder took place. Mr Karlsson, the older brother, said: 'They have taken years of my life that I will never ever get back. 'Now a new chapter begins, one can finally settle down. I do not need to be afraid anymore.' His brother, Mr Dalen, added: 'Should anyone come up today and ask, "Are you involved in this case with Kevin?", Then I can answer 'yes'. 'You get p***** off, angry and disappointed that it's possible for something like this to happen.' Rolf Sandberg (pictured) was the head of the police investigation into the death of Kevin in 1998 A TRAGIC TIMELINE OF KEVIN'S DEATH August 16, 1998: Kevin's grandfather finds his dead body on Church Bay beach in the Dottevik area of Arvika. He had been missing for several hours. August 22, 1998: The father of Christian, seven, and Robin, five, tells the police they have important information related to his death. Late October: After questioning the two brothers without a lawyer or their parents present, the police determine they must have been Kevin to death November 1998: The police held a press conference to say Kevin was killed when the boys were playing and it 'got out of hand'. The boys who killed him were handed over to social services. April 2017 (19 years later): The Daily News paper launched a review of Kevin's case ahead of an SVT documentary also about his death. May 4, 2017: Lawyer Tomas Olsson, representing the brothers Robin and Christian, now 23 and 25, announces the investigation into Kevin's death is to be re-opened. May 8, 2017: Public Prosecution Office in Karlstad says investigation has been resumed. On the same day, SVT and Dagens Nyheter news outlets reveal flaws in the previous investigation, including a statement from a key witness that alleged the brothers were not there when he was killed. Advertisement Their mother, Annika Dalen, said: 'It's terrible, shocking. Tough to handle and I feel violated, like a brick in a game that got an enormous significance in the end.' The prosecutor has said that a decision about a pre-trial investigation into the brothers will be made in the autumn. Jerzy Sarnecki, a criminologist, said the brothers have been subjected to a 'very serious abuse of the rule of law' - even if they are proven guilty. He also said that what happened to Kevin is unlikely to ever be found out. Mr Dalen, who is hoping for a total acquittal, added: 'If I am cleared of these charges, then I have gotten my reparation. 'Then I would also like to have a public apology from Rolf Sandberg and the rest of the police officers who were involved.' Fired FBI Director James Comey has agreed to publicly testify in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee in a hearing that will be scheduled for after Memorial Day. Chairman Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) said he hopes Comey's testimony 'will clarify for the American people recent events that have been broadly reported in the media' as the committee continues its investigation into Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 elections. Vice Chairman Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) said he hoped Comey would 'answer some of the questions that have arisen since Director Comey was so suddenly dismissed by the President.' The bombshell announcement on Friday evening came just hours after a summary of a May 10 Oval Office meeting between President Donald Trump and Russia's ambassador and foreign minister was read to aNew York Times reporter. According to the meeting notes that White House aides circulated internally, President Donald Trump met with Sergey Lavrov and Sergey Kislyak just one day after Comey was fired and told them the ousted FBI director was 'a real nut job' whose departure would make life easier for him. 'I just fired the head of the F.B.I. He was crazy, a real nut job,' Trump said, according to the summary. 'I faced great pressure because of Russia. That's taken off.' Trump also assured the Russian envoys: 'I'm not under investigation.' Fired FBI Director James Comey has agreed to publicly testify in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee in a hearing that will be scheduled for after Memorial Day Chairman Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) said he hopes Comey's testimony 'will clarify for the American people recent events that have been broadly reported in the media' News broke shortly after it was revealed Trump (pictured with Sergey Lavrov) told his Russian guests on May 10 that James Comey was 'a real nut job' The president has offered a variety of explanations for Comey's firing. The White House initially cited a memo by deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein cataloging Comey's handling of the HIllary Clinton email investigation. Trump later said Comey wasn't doing a good job, and told NBC News that Russia was on his mind when he decided Comey had to go. During a Thursday afternoon press conference, Trump said Comey had turned in a 'poor, poor performance' testifying in the Senate, and slammed him for giving false testimony about about emails from Clinton aide Huma Abedin that ended up on her disgraced then-husband Rep. Anthony Weiner's computer. The White House says the pot-shot at Comey was meant to ease tensions with Lavrov and help him ease into a negotiating posture 'That was a poor, poor performance. So poor in fact that I believe and you'd have to ask him because I don't like to speak for other people but I believe that's why the deputy attorney general went out and wrote his very, very strong letter,' Trump said. 'And then on top of that, after the Wednesday performance by Director Comey, you had a person come and have to readjust the record, which many people have never seen before because they were misstatements made. And I thought that was was something that was terrible.' The Comey firing got another airing on Capitol Hill when Rosenstein briefed House members Friday. Rosenstein called James Comey a 'role' model, in his first official comments about the firing, but he is standing by the memo he wrote that PresidentTrump used to justify his firing of FBI Director. 'I wrote it. I believe it. I stand by it,' Rosenstein told lawmakers in two closed-door meetings Friday. 'It is a candid memorandum about the FBI Director's public statements concerning a high-profile criminal investigation,' Rosenstein said. Although he piled on Comey in the memo and called for new leadership, he stopped short of calling for his firing. 'I thought the July 5 press conference [by Comey] was profoundly wrong and unfair both to the Department of Justice and Secretary Clinton. It explicitly usurped the role of the Attorney General, the Deputy Attorney General and the entire Department of Justice; it violated deeply engrained rules and traditions; and it guaranteed that some people would accuse the FBI of interfering in the election,' Rosenstein said, according to a copy of his opening remarks. The president's ties to Russia have become the subject of great speculation among Democrats who are convinced his presidential campaign colluded with Moscow to meddle in the November election and tilt it in his favor. ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS 1. Special counsel Robert Mueller is overseeing the investigation into 'any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump'. The investigation also includes any possible cover up or obstruction of justice. 2. The House and Senate Intelligence Committees are looking more broadly into Russia's interference in the 2016 elections and any ties between Russia and the Trump campaign. 3. The Senate Judiciary Committee and House Oversight and Government Reform Committee are investigating Flynn's ties foreign entities after he failed to report his lobbying work for Turkey. He also lied about the nature of his communications with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. The investigation has expanded to investigate whether Trump told Comey to go easy on Flynn and whether that would count as obstruction of justice. Advertisement Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in a speech this week compared the dizzying scandals to Watergate and the Iran Contra scandal. Soon afterward, Rosenstein announced he was naming a special counsel to probe alleged Russian election interference. Making matters more awkward for Trump, an ill-timed leak established that he revealed sensitive Israeli intelligence to his Russian guests about a new ISIS plot to detonate laptop-computer bombs aboard commercial aircraft. Both houses of Congress and the FBI have been conducting a troika of investigations, and the Department of Justice this week appointed former FBI director Robert Mueller as a special counsel empowered to probe any criminal wrongdoing. Comey (left) is on the outs but former FBI director Robert Mueller (left) has been named as an independent counsel to probe Trumpworld's alleged Russia ties In Thursday's presser, Trump called the broad menu of investigation a collective 'witch hunt.' 'And there is no collusion between, certainly, myself and my campaign but I can always speak for myself and the Russians,' he said. 'Zero.' On Friday Spicer insisted, as the Trump has repeatedly, that malicious leaks from inside the administration are a bigger danger to the United States than anything Russia-related. He also took pot-shots at Comey, who exploded a tactical grenade in Trump's face by revealing through his associates that he had written notes of at least one February meeting with Trump. In one memo read aloud to a Times reporter, Comey wrote the president suggested he close a federal investigation into disgraced National Security Advisor Mike Flynn by saying: 'I hope you can let this go.' Congressional committees clamored to get Comey to testify in the wake of the reports, and House Oversight Chairman Jason Chaffetz announced a hearing next week - despite not being able to find Comey's new phone number to get him to attend. Chaffetz also wrote a letter to the FBI, requesting all 'memoranda, notes, summaries and recordings' of discussions between Comey and Trump be turned over by May 24. News that Comey will testify broke as Trump was on the way to Saudi Arabia in his first international trip overseas. Spicer said in a statement: 'The President has always emphasized the importance of making deals with Russia as it relates to Syria, Ukraine, defeating ISIS and other key issues for the benefit and safety of the American people. 'By grandstanding and politicizing the investigation into Russia's actions, James Comey created unnecessary pressure on our ability to engage and negotiate with Russia.' 'The investigation would have always continued, and obviously, the termination of Comey would not have ended it. Once again, the real story is that our national security has been undermined by the leaking of private and highly classified conversations,' Spicer added. Spicer's statement deny that the president made the statements reportedly quoted in the memo. Trump insisted during a press conference on Thursday that there was 'no collusion between, certainly myself and my campaign but I can always speak for myself and the Russians' Democrats are demanding any transcripts of Trump's Russia meeting following a report that Trump gave the Russians highly classified intelligence information. Russian President Vladimir Putin, pushing back, offered to produce his own government's a written account, although the Russians had no known recording of the event. The Times' reporters were briefed by an American official. It was 'based on notes taken from inside the Oval Office and has been circulated as the official account of the meeting,' according to the paper. Separately, The Washington Post reported on Friday that investigators have identified a senior White House adviser as a significant person of interest. The official is someone close to the president, according to officials, who wouldn't identify the person by name. A New York Magazine reporter then claimed in an unconfirmed tweet that the person is senior adviser and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner. The focus on a current senior administration official takes the investigation inside the Trump White House for the first time. Previous reports have indicated a focus on campaign officials and Trump associates who are no longer part of his inner circle. Investigators probing Russian interference in the presidential election have identified a senior White House advisor as a significant person of interest, the Washington Post reported. The official is someone close to the president, according to officials cited in the story, who wouldn't identify the senior advisor by name. The focus on a current senior administration official takes the investigation inside the Trump White House. Previous reports have indicated a focus on campaign officials and Trump associates who are no longer there. Investigators probing Russian interference in the presidential election have identified a senior White House advisor as a significant person of interest Among those being targeted is fired national security advisor Mike Flynn, who was revealed to have had Russia contacts during the transition and who also spoke at an RT banquet in 2015 where he was seated next to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Senate Intelligence Committee has asked Flynn for documents, but his attorney has so far indicated he will not honor it, Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina said Thursday. Trump on Thursday at a press conference denied any collusion with the Russians, but also said he was speaking 'for myself.' 'There is no collusion between, certainly myself and my campaign but I can always speak for myself and the Russians zero,' Trump said. White House press secretary Sean Spicer said in a statement in response to the story: 'As the President has stated before a thorough investigation will confirm that there was no collusion between the campaign and any foreign entity.' President Donald Trump (L) of the United States and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during a meeting in the Oval Office at the White House. Alexander Shcherbak/TASS WASHINGTON, D.C., USA - MAY 10, 2017: President Donald Trump of the United States, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and Russia's Ambassador to the United States Sergei Kislyak (4th L) during a meeting in the Oval Office at the White House. Alexander Shcherbak/TASS President Trump went back to his initial explanation for his sudden firing of FBI Director James Comey on Comey's handling of the investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails Thursday The story included a statement from White House press secretary Sean Spicer, who said: 'As the president has stated before, a thorough investigation will confirm that there was no collusion between the campaign and any foreign entity.' Investigators remain interested in former Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort, whose ties to a pro-Moscow Ukrainian political party drew scrutiny even while he was helping helm Trump's campaign. Multiple Trump campaign officials have been revealed to have had contacts with Sergey Kislyak, Russia's ambassador to the U.S. Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with top military officials May 19, 2017 in Sochi, Russia. Vladimir Putin is spending a busy week in Sochi looking into Army Forces development and the defence-industrial sector, his spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Among them are Flynn, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Trump continues to search for a new FBI director. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein this week named former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel to lead a probe of Russian election interference. Trump told Russia's ambassador and foreign minister last week that James Comey, the ousted FBI director, was 'a real nut job' whose departure would make life easier for him. The May 10 Oval Office meeting with Sergey Lavrov and Sergey Kislyak was summarized in notes that White House aides circulated internally afterward. One official read sections of it to a New York Times reporter, leaving press secretary Sean Spicer flummoxed as he left town on Trump's first overseas voyage as president. 'I just fired the head of the F.B.I. He was crazy, a real nut job,' Trump said, according to the summary. 'I faced great pressure because of Russia. That's taken off.' Trump also assured the Russian envoys: 'I'm not under investigation.' The first fighter ace of WW2 who defended the UK in the Battle of Britain was a Polish war hero who ended up in a Soviet Gulag. Stanislaw Skalski is believed to have downed 22 enemy aircraft and became only the second ever Polish Operating Commander of an RAF squadron. Skalski had the distinction of being the first Allied ace of the Second World War, with a confirmed four individual and one shared victory during the Polish Campaign of 1939. Scroll down for video Stanislaw Skalski (pictured) was the first Allied ace of the Second World War, with a confirmed four individual and one shared victory during the Polish Campaign of 1939 Skalski (left and right), was described as a ruthless 'eagle in the air' by colleagues. He was fuelled with hatred for what the Germans had done to his country Skalski's wartime achievements, as well as his post-war persecution, make him arguably the most distinguished of all Polish airmen. He is pictured right talking to of pilots In 1940 he fought in the Battle of Britain for 501 Squadron, where he shot down four planes. He was also shot down himself and bailed out with severe burns, which hospitalised him for six weeks. Skalski's wartime achievements, as well as his post-war persecution, make him arguably the most distinguished of all Polish airmen and an icon of the country's Air Force. The details of his life and images, which offer an insight into his incredible feats, are included in a new book: Skalski: Against All Odds. A squadron group picture taken at Kenley, in October 1940. Skalski had just returned from hospital and sports a smart moustache in the front row, third from the right The details of his life and images, which offer an insight into his incredible feats, are included in a new book: Skalski: Against All Odds. This is the only known photo of Skalski in a 501 Sqn Hurricane The book says that Skalski, who was described as a ruthless 'eagle in the air' by colleagues, was fuelled with hatred for what the Germans had done to his country. After two years of constant fighting, Skalski was rested in November 1942 and he became the chief flying instructor at a Spitfire training unit. However, Skalski was determined to return to a fighting unit and eventually became leader of the newly-created Polish Fighting Team (PFT) in January 1943. Known as 'Skalski's Circus', the elite team of 15 Polish fighter pilots left for North Africa attached to No 145 Squadron flying the latest Spitfire Mk IXs. Secretary of State Sir Howard Kingsley Wood, is pictured welcoming the first group of Polish airmen to arrive to Britain After the war Skalski (pictured right with two friends) was offered a commission in the RAF, but he declined and returned to his home country After returning to Poland Skalski, (pictured left aged four) served at the headquarters of the Soviet-dominated Polish Air Force. Because of his links with the RAF and the increasing tension between the Soviet Union and the West, he was arrested a year later (mugshot right) The team claimed its first victory in March when Skalski shot down a Junkers 88 bomber. He then destroyed two Me 109 fighters and damaged a third. By May 13, when the final German forces in Tunisia surrendered, the Polish team had destroyed 30 enemy aircraft. Skalski was given command of No 601 Squadron in Malta, making him only the second Pole to be put in charge of a RAF squadron. One of the most impressive shows of his flying skills came on June 24, 1944 when he chased two Me 109s over Rouen, causing them to collide without firing a shot. They were his final claims of WWII, which he ended the war as Poland's highest-scoring fighter pilot. After the war Skalski was offered a commission in the RAF, but he declined and returned to his home country in June 1947, where he served at the headquarters of the Soviet-dominated Polish Air Force. The WW2 hero was arrested on false charges of espionage and treason. He was condemned to death and spent six years awaiting his execution in the overcrowded Wronki Prison His sentence was eventually reduced to life in prison before he was finally released in 1956, after eight years in jail. After his release Skalski was re-admitted to the Air Force However, because of his links with the RAF and the increasing tension between the Soviet Union and the West, he was arrested a year later and falsely charged with espionage and treason. It was a fate that befell many ex-RAF Polish airmen. In 1949 he was condemned to death and spent six years awaiting his execution in the overcrowded Wronki Prison. His sentence was eventually reduced to life in prison before he was finally released in 1956, after eight years in jail. After his release Skalski was re-admitted to the Air Force and flew the Soviet-built MIG fighters. In 1972 he ended a distinguished career with the rank of general. He died alone in Warsaw on November 12, 2004 at the age of 88 Skalski: against All Odds, by Franciszek Grabowski, is published by Fonthill Media. The hardback is available now for 20. The Coast Guard announced late Thursday that it was suspending the search for a missing small plane believed to have crashed into the waters off the Bahamas with four people on board. Jennifer Blumin, 40, was with her two sons, ages three and four, in a two-engine plane piloted by her new boyfriend Nathan Ulrich, 52, when air traffic control lost radar and radio contact on Monday. The Coast Guard found debris floating in the water 15 miles off the coast of Eleuthera, Bahamas, from a twin-engine MU-2B - the same model aircraft that Blumin, her kids, and Ulrich were on when they vanished. Air traffic control lost contact with the MU-2B aircraft while it was heading to Florida from Puerto Rico. Scroll down for video Rescue teams suspended their search 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 James Ramsey's two sons were with his ex, Blumin, and her pilot boyfriend, Ulrich, when their aircraft went missing over the Bahamas (pictured together) A search that included the Coast Guard and Bahamas Defense Forces located plane debris east of the Bahamian island of Eleuthera. A Coast Guard statement said the search area covered an expanse of ocean the size of Massachusetts before it was suspended late Thursday. An image posted on the Seventh District Coast Guard's Twitter page on Wednesday shows the debris from two plane seats along with an engine intake plug with a label warning 'remove before flight'. '#Update @USCG image of debris, confirmed components of an MU-2B aircraft recovered 15 miles E of Eleuthera, Bahamas; search continues,' they tweeted. But the Coast Guard said they were still trying to pin down 'something with specifics' to match the debris to the plane Ulrich was flying. No bodies have been recovered. The father of Blumin's two young boys who were aboard the plane shared his devastation on Wednesday. Ramsey told the New York Daily News: 'I lost what I loved more than anything. 'I keep hoping its not real and I'll wake up. Wouldn't wish this pain on the worst person in the world.' Authorities have now covered more than 8,200 sq mi over 30 hrs in search of the missing plane, and continue their efforts on Wednesday. None of the passengers have been found 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 '#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 The plane was 24,000 feet in the air en route from Borniquen, Puerto Rico to Titusville, Florida on Monday when air traffic control lost 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. 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. '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 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 $3.7million. 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. His parents also issued a statement that read: 'We were devastated and shocked to learn that Nathan, Jennifer and her children have been missing since leaving from Puerto Rico on Monday. '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.' 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. 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. Rosie O'Donnell has been a constant presence on social media in the months since President Trump took office, but has avoided making many public appearances since last November's election. She explained why that was the case on Wednesday night, when she was one of the guests at a special Trump-roast edition of John Fugelsang's comedy show 'WTF Donny' at Caroline's in New York City. 'This is the second time Ive been in public since hes been elected because I go to the mall sometimes and Trump people go, "Hey f*** you,"' O'Donnell told the audience according to Page Six. She went on to say that the outbursts were not just directed at her either, but also her teenage daughter Vivienne. Rosie O'Donnell said on Wednesday that she has avoided going out in public since the election of President Trump out of fear of public attacks (O'Donnell above with John Fugelsang on Wednesday) Harassment: 'The boys in public school in New Jersey said to my 14-year-old daughter ... "Tell your mom Im gonna grab your p****,"' said O'Donnell (daughter Vivienne above) Family matters: O'Donnell also urged people to try and have sympathy for Ivanka Trump (left), who she said is the daughter of a 'cult leader' (President Trump right) 'The boys in public school in New Jersey said to my 14-year-old daughter the next day, "Tell your mom Im gonna grab your p****." 'It has affected my entire life and my entire family for a tremendous amount of years - over a decade.' Later in her set, O'Donnell turned her attention to Ivanka Trump, speaking about how difficult her life must be as her father's favorite child. 'The next time you or I want to make fun of Ivanka, I want you to carefully think with compassion - about what . . . [she] had to do to survive,' O'Donnell told the audience. She then described Ivanka as the 'chosen child' of a 'cult leader who has the power to fool a nation' before stating: 'It is not a fun, healthy or recoverable place to be.' O'Donnell was joined at the event by an all-star lineup that included Frank Conniff, Travon Free, Judah Friedlander and Judy Gold. There was also a visit from David Crosby, who O'Donnell got to hang with backstage. Free posted a photo of himself and O'Donnell on Instragram after the roast with the caption: 'Our smiles are sign language for f*** Donald Trump.' A-list talent: O'Donnell was joined at the event by an all-star lineup that included David Crosby, Frank Conniff, Travon Free, Judah Friedlander and Judy Gold Social media shade: Free posted a photo of himself and O'Donnell on Instragram after the roast with the caption: 'Our smiles are sign language for f*** Donald Trump' This is not the first time that O'Donnell has spoken publicly about Ivanka, penning a poem about a chance encounter with her back in October at the Japanese eatery Nobu. O'Donnell was at the expensive and exclusive outpost of the popular restaurant with rumored girlfriend Dana Schiff while Ivanka was with her husband Jared Kushner. She wrote: 'that is the most beautiful woman i have ever seen"i say aloud to dana / she turns to look turns back at me thats ivanka."' O'Donnell has been far more hostile on the subject of Ivanka's father, going so far as to call for martial law in an attempt to prevent him from taking office. In a series of tweets posted back in January, she called for the implementation of a military government and the suspension of all laws in the United States until Trump has been cleared of any role in the Russian hacking scandal. 'I FULLY SUPPORT IMPOSING MARTIAL LAW - DELAYING THE INAUGURATION - UNTIL TRUMP IS "CLEARED" OF ALL CHARGES,' wrote O'Donnell. O'Donnell later pinned her tweet about martial law so it appeared at the top of her page, defending to one commenter why she feels this is what has to be done. 'He cheated - and its not about hillary - its about delaying the swearing him in - til we investigate all charges,' wrote O'Donnell. A state of martial law has been declared less than 20 times in the history of the country, and almost always occurred in the aftermath of a major or war or natural disaster. That same day O'Donnell also tweeted that Trump had mental problems and 'sux.' A man in the hospital was reunited with his two dogs while he was recovering from injuries he received during a tornado that destroyed everything he owned. Ron Belcher, from Barron County, Wisconsin believes he was knocked out in a tornado that touched down in Wisconsin on Tuesday. When he woke up, he saw the destruction and thought he would never see his dogs again. Ron Belcher, pictured, was reunited with his two dogs while he was recovering in the hospital after a tornado destroyed his house Belcher didn't think he would ever see his Huskey Cocoa, left, or his Pomeranian Taz, right, after he saw the destruction left behind from the storm Cocoa, a Huskey, and Taz, a Pomeranian, are both almost 15, according to WEAU News. Belcher described them as being like his own children. The tornado destroyed Belcher's home as well as the homes of his neighbors at Prairie Late Estates, a mobile home park. 'These trailers, if you look around it just makes you want to cry. We lost everything we had,' Belcher told WQOW.com. He was taken to Lakeview Medical Hospital on Tuesday for multiple broken bones, stitches and a head injury, according to the site. Belcher was taken to Lakeview Medical Hospital on Tuesday and a nurse there spent her free time trying to track down Belcher's dogs The nurse eventually found them at Chetek Animal Hospital and brought them in Thursday for a surprise visit to Belcher in the hospital Belcher was still recovering in Lakeview Medical when he was finally reunited with Cocoa and Taz on Thursday. Marshfield Clinic nurse Ciara Rockow tracked down the dogs in her free time, eventually finding them at Chetek Animal Hospital. 'It's a good feeling to help a patient be reunited with his dogs especially when he cant do it himself. Now he can focus on recovering physically and not be worried about his dogs,' she told WEAU. Belcher's recovery is expected to take six to eight weeks according to hospital staff. He told WQOW: 'They're alive, both of them. This is God's gift, that's what keeps me moving no matter how many bad things happen.' He was brought to Lakeview Medical with multiple broken bones, stitches and a head injury and his recovery is expected to take six to eight weeks One of her most recent Facebook pictures has Lavinia Woodward posing demurely next to a famous quotation by Coco Chanel: 'A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.' It helps if you have rich parents. Miss Woodward does. How many students, after all even in the 'dreaming spires' of Oxford where the 24-year-old is studying medicine turn up to lectures with a Chanel handbag slung over their shoulder? The minimum price of such an accessory, incidentally, is around 1,000. Lavinia Woodward spends much of her time at her mother's stunning Italian villa, perched on a hill surrounded by pines, a few miles from Lake Como. Her father, who also went to Oxford, is a senior oil company executive. The same Lavinia Woodward appeared in the dock at Oxford Crown Court this week. The charge: unlawful wounding ('when a person unlawfully and maliciously, either wounds another person or inflicts grievous bodily harm upon another person'). Oxford University student Lavinia Woodward (pictured here on a night out) stabbed a Cambridge graduate with a bread knife The details which emerged could scarcely have provided a more shocking contrast with her gilded lifestyle and aspirations to be a heart surgeon after winning a place at Christ Church, Oxford's most socially prestigious college. Woodward had met a young Cambridge graduate on an online dating site. During a drink and drug-fuelled rage last September, she punched him and swiped at him with a bread knife, stabbed him in the leg then hurled a laptop at him, followed by a glass and a jam jar. 'Pretty awful,' is how the judge, Ian Pringle, QC, described those events. The offence, to which she pleaded guilty, would normally mean a custodial term, he said, but he delayed sentencing for four months and hinted Woodward would not be jailed, giving her time to prove she was conquering her cocaine habit. Perhaps he was right to do so. But his reasons for showing compassion to a clearly troubled young woman have caused much controversy. It comes as it was alleged that Woodward attacked her Tinder date, Thomas Fairclough, on two other occasions, according to The Sun. The newspaper reports the student faced two further accusations of assault against Mr Fairclough. She had already pleaded guilty to wounding the former Cambridge student on September 30, 2016. But she also denied two separate claims of assaulting him shortly after - on November 25 and December 12 - and reportedly denied both claims and it was later ruled they would lie on file. A CPS spokesman told paper: 'The judge agreed to leave the lesser charges on file after a discussion between defence and prosecution. 'The plea to the more serious charge was acceptable to the prosecution.' During her court hearing, the judge was concerned, he said, that imprisonment could affect her career after hearing that her college might allow her to return in October, although the university stressed that 'no final decision has been reached'. 'It seems to me that if this was a one-off, a complete one-off, to prevent this extraordinarily able young lady from following her long-held desire to enter the [medical] profession she wishes to would be a sentence which would be too severe,' he 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.' It was clearly not his intention, but his remarks created the impression that if Lavinia Woodward had been working on the checkout at Tesco, instead of being at Oxford with a glittering future ahead of her, she might have been sent to prison. Everyone is equal before the law, in other words, but some in society, like Woodward, would seem more equal than others. Many commentators have expressed such a view on radio and TV and in the Press over the past few days. Not surprisingly, the case also provoked a furious backlash on social media. In Oxford, one 'revelation' has been greeted with incredulity: the suggestion that the offence which landed her in court was 'a one-off'. Woodward may not have previous convictions for violence, but she has been involved in a string of disturbing incidents at university. One female contemporary, in the same accommodation block, asked to be moved after Woodward physically assaulted her in the street for no other reason, it seems, than she saw her chatting to an ex-boyfriend. Another (male) student reported Woodward to the police after she made violent threats against him when he tried to help her overcome her cocaine problem. Others said they felt intimidated by unsavoury characters who visited Woodward at her rooms at Christ Church and were suspected of keeping her supplied with drugs. Students we spoke to this week asked not to be identified because they were concerned for their safety if Woodward did resume her studies at Oxford which, in itself, is revealing. Surely, there can't be many undergraduates, male or female, at any university, let alone Oxford, who could induce such trepidation among their peers. And it seems clear from their testimonies that Lavinia Woodward's knife attack on Mr Fairclough at Christ Church last September was the culmination of a pattern of behaviour by a deeply unstable young woman who had a 'very short fuse', to quote someone who got on the wrong side of her. Unstable, but also quite brilliant, even by Oxford standards. The student (pictured) punched and stabbed the young man in the leg before hurling a laptop at him Woodward, who has an older brother (an anthropology graduate from Durham University) was educated at The British School of Milan, formerly known as The Sir James Henderson School, where fees can top 16,000 a year and which is close to her mother's 1 million villa in the Italian village of Sirtori. She left for Oxford in 2010. 'Offer from OXFORD to read MEDICINE AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH,' she wrote on Facebook . . . 'must be a mistake!!!' It was the beginning of an exceptional academic career. She came top in the pre-clinical tests all Oxford medical students take at the end of their third year. Her name appears on a number of papers in prestigious academic journals, where she is credited with contributing to research (including The Journal of Physiology, Biophysical Journal and The Annals of Thoracic Surgery and Hypertension). Her ambition, she made it known at college, was to cure heart disease. Woodward's jetset lifestyle away from Oxford is also chronicled on Facebook. There are pictures of her boarding a plane, on a boat, on holiday in Madeira. But most of them have one thing in common: she's alone; no friends; no boyfriends, although she had a number of relationships at college. One girl who did get to know Woodward thought she was 'very cool' and likeable, to begin with. But the charm soon wore off. The reasons were all too apparent. Behind her fashionable appearance, behind the glitzy trips abroad, behind the brains and the beauty, Lavinia Woodward had descended into a sordid and potentially dangerous world. 'She consumed an obscene amount of cocaine,' the former college friend said. 'She insisted she didn't have a problem, that it was just 'recreational'. 'But she would often just leave the room then return and behave manically. Sometimes she would start taking cocaine at 10am just to get her through the day.' A number of 'really unpleasant people' regularly came to see her at Christ Church, including one man who wore a gold chain around his neck and a dark hoodie. 'She was often seen in his company,' said another friend. 'He was a very scary and intimidating individual. He had convictions for drugs and making threats.' Whether her cocaine dependence was entirely to blame for what fellow students described as her 'psychotic' tendencies, it is impossible to say. Her defence team insist that it was. The confrontation in the street, mentioned earlier, occurred around the time Woodward attacked 25-year-old Thomas Fairclough. It began when she started screaming at another student on the other side of the road who was simply speaking to an old flame of hers. A witness who knew the victim takes up the story. 'She called her horrible names like slut, bimbo and traitor. My friend crossed the road to calm her down. She [Woodward] then began lashing out at her, slapping her and trying to shove her head against a gatepost. 'My friend was very, very shook up. She lived in the same university block as Lavinia Woodward so she wrote to the college authorities and they moved her almost immediately.' The Proctors' Office at Oxford, which investigates students' complaints, were aware of 'lots of people' who had problems with Woodward, according to someone else who fell foul of her. Miss Woodward (pictured) spends much of her time at her mother's stunning Italian villa near Lake Como This student in question also felt compelled to report her to the police. He asked not to disclose the chain of events that persuaded him to do so in case it identified him, other than to say Woodward's threats of violence against him left him genuinely in fear of her. Police issued him with an incident number and put a 'red flag' against it, so that they would react to any future calls from him urgently, 'like with a victim of domestic abuse'. Not long afterwards, Woodward attacked Mr Fairclough, the young man she met on dating site Tinder. The row escalated when Mr Fairclough called Woodward's mother on Skype, apparently to report her increasingly worrying behaviour. The extent of his injuries were not disclosed in court and, so far, he has chosen not to make any statement in the aftermath of the furore surrounding the case. Countless others have, though, on social media, including a student from Magdalen College, Oxford. Her tweet summed up the feelings of many. 'I'm not exactly a prison advocate but . . . a sentence should be a sentence, regardless of how smart/well-off/well-educated you are . . .' Woodward's barrister said the assault on Mr Fairclough had resulted from her drug addiction. He told the court her dreams of becoming a surgeon were 'almost impossible' as her conviction would have to be disclosed. But her career options would not be entirely blighted if she avoided prison because, in due course, any community penalty would be expunged. If she qualified as a doctor and applied for registration, the General Medical Council could consider her application. It is by no means certain, though, that Woodward will be allowed to resume her studies even if she is spared prison. She is currently studying at Christ Church (pictured), Oxford's most socially prestigious college 'A decision on continuing study will always take full account of the health, well-being and best interests of both the student and the wider student community,' the university stressed in a statement yesterday. 'No one outside the College and University can guarantee the right of a return to study. No final decision has been reached or guarantee made.' Of course, a much fuller picture of Woodward's past has now emerged. When we contacted her about these further allegations, her lawyers informed us that 'she was not doing any interviews and has no comment to make save through her counsel on 25 September [the date of her sentencing]'. 'We ask you to respect her right to privacy and the fact that she is seeking help for her addiction.' Yet, their 'client' has already announced that she is 'seeking help' on Facebook. In January, she posted a picture of herself outside The Priory's Life Works addiction treatment centre in Woking, Surrey. She wrote: 'Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, she began to fly#rehab#lifeworks#the priory. Time for a new beginning.' Was it just a coincidence that her very public admission that she was striving to rehabilitate herself came to light before throwing herself on the mercy of Judge Ian Pringle, QC, this week? Only Woodward herself can answer that. Additional reporting, Tim Stewart A photo posted on Twitter of a student's comment on President Donald Trump in a Minnesota school has sparked controversy. For the 2017 edition of their yearbook, Brainerd High School in Brainerd, Minnesota decided to dedicate a page to the 45th President of the United States so student's could comment what they pleased. One sophomore student, who's photo was next to her comment, shared that she didn't like the president. For the 2017 edition of their yearbook, Brainerd High School in Brainerd, Minnesota decided to dedicate a page to the 45th President of the United States so student's could comment what they pleased One sophomore said: 'I would like to behead him. I do not like him' She said: 'I would like to behead him. I do not like him.' Former Joanie Loves Chachi and Republican National Convention speaker Scott Baio shared a photo of the page, tagging the president, FBI, Sean Hannity and Kellyanne Conway. In the tweet, Scott alerts their attention to the photo saying: 'This is in a high school yearbook. Top left comment. @realDonaldTrump @FBI @seanhannity @KellyannePolls.' Many voiced their disgust and several called for the school to be contacted and condemned immediately. In the tweet, Scott shared the photo and said: 'This is in a high school yearbook. Top left comment. @realDonaldTrump @FBI @seanhannity @KellyannePolls' Many voiced their disgust and several called for the school to be contacted and condemned immediately. User @Carolyn62845727 tweeted: 'The world is divided between good and evil. The evil side is being displayed in a yearbook' @Christopherjmi wanted more reprimanding to happen and said: 'Contact the Secret Service / FBI too... this is a felony, threatening the life of the President, and it's printed so there's a solid record' @BonBlossman cosigned saying: 'Unbelievable. Hope they are proud of themselves for spreading hate' User @Carolyn62845727 tweeted: 'The world is divided between good and evil. The evil side is being displayed in a yearbook.' @Christopherjmi wanted more reprimanding to happen and said: 'Contact the Secret Service / FBI too... this is a felony, threatening the life of the President, and it's printed so there's a solid record.' @BonBlossman cosigned saying: 'Unbelievable. Hope they are proud of themselves for spreading hate.' The Brainerd School District released a statement on Friday, saying they had been notified about the yearbook and that it didn't reflect their school district stance on the matter. The Brainerd School District released a statement on Friday, saying they had been notified about the yearbook and that it didn't reflect their school district stance on the matter They added that while they didn't condone what was said, they supported the importance of free speech. 'While the District supports Free Speech, the disrespectful statements in the yearbook are contrary to the basic educational mission of the District and should not have been included in a school sponsored publication,' they said in the statement. 'The Administration deeply regrets that the existing processes for reviewing the yearbook did not result in the removal of the inappropriate comments.' Edward Klein, a retired federal law enforcement officer, was charged in the May 16 shooting of an Amtrak train conductor in Naperville, Illinois A retired federal law enforcement officer is accused of shooting and seriously injuring an Amtrak train conductor because he wasn't allowed to de-board early at a suburban Chicago stop. Prosecutors have charged Edward Klein, 79, of East Allis, Wisconsin with attempted murder and aggravated battery charges, the DuPage County state's attorney's office said in a statement on Friday. He was ordered held in lieu of $1.5million bail. Klein allegedly shot an Amtrak conductor, identified as 45-year-old Michael Case, who was standing on the platform in Naperville, Illinois on Tuesday at 4:45pm. After he tried to crawl out a window, passengers subdued him. The retired Klein had worked for the Federal Protective Services, a branch of Homeland Security responsible for protecting federal buildings. He resides in a suburban Milwaukee independent-living facility, prosecutors told the court. Scroll down for video Michael Case (left) is married to Sara (right) and has four children; he is in stable but very serious condition The shooting happened as the train was on the platform at the Naperville station in Illinois As for why he shot the conductor, prosecutors said that the elderly man told investigators: 'I had built up all this anger and I blew him away.' The 45-year-old conductor, from Homewood, Illinois, underwent emergency surgery and remains in intensive care. He suffered damage to his liver and pancreas and was using a breathing tube, reported The Chicago Tribune. Case is a Navy veteran and father of four, according to WGN-TV. A GoFundMe has been set up to help with his medical expenses. Passengers said Klein was exhibiting 'disturbing' behavior before the incident and reportedly staff had arranged to have someone pick him up in Chicago as his behavior was so alarming Amtrak conductor Michael Case (above) is a former Navy man and father of four 'He's the kind of guy if I got backed into a corner, I would want him on my side,' friend Jenny Gipson told NBC 5 Chicago. Klein had gotten off a westbound train in Kansas City, Missouri, Tuesday after he aborted plans to visit a friend in Las Vegas, state's attorney spokesman Paul Darrah said, citing prosecutors at the hearing. He then boarded the Chicago-bound train. But when conductors said he couldn't disembark in Naperville and had a stop to go before reaching the destination on his ticket, Chicago, he pulled out a revolver, leaned from a train window and fired once; he hit the conductor standing outside in the abdomen, prosecutors said. Amtrak staff had been concerned for his welfare prior to the Naperville stop and helped arrange for someone to pick him up in Chicago and take him to Milwaukee, the state's attorney spokesman said. Klein reportedly lived in an independent living facility at VMP Manor Park (above) in West Allis After Klein fired, he tried to climb out a window and other passengers and train personnel restrained him until police arrived, prosecutors said. At the hearing on Friday, Klein didn't appear to grasp the seriousness of the situation and was under the impression he would be leaving soon, said the outlet. He reportedly declined a public defender, saying 'I don't need one if I'm leaving.' A status hearing is set for June 12. Klein lived in VMP Manor Park, which houses more than 500 people in independent, assisted, and skilled nursing facilities. Klein reportedly lived in an independent facility, meaning he could come and go as he pleased. 'He's lived here about a year and a half, so he's somewhat new to our campus,' Sean Callahan, the center's director of strategic initiatives, who could not say whether he has family due to privacy laws. Naperville police Cmdr. Lou Cammiso said the suspect's mental and emotional state wouldn't be discussed until his court hearing. Passengers, however, said he displayed 'disturbing behavior' on the train to Chicago. Klein had also already had his concealed weapon permit revoked, and had pulled his weapon during two other altercations, said prosecutors, but did not elaborate. It was unclear why he would still have a gun. Amtrak only does random screening of passengers and bags, said spokesman Marc Magliari. Many stops are unstaffed, leaving passengers to board without being checked. Guns are not allowed in carry-on baggage but can be checked and stored under certain conditions, he said. Magliari called the incident 'highly unusual.' A woman who was waiting to board the train at the time said there were no announcements on the platform as to what had happened, according to NBC 5. 140517ABG WARNED TO BE CAUTIOUS IN ITS DECISIONS By Aloysius Laukai The ABG leadership must be cautious when making and implementing policies and decisions especially during this point in time when referendum is just around the corner. This call was made by a chief from Buin and former combatants spokesperson on referendum issues, MR. JOHN KINANI. He said that the key factor that the ABG leadership must consider is transparency when making decisions and passing policies. MR. KINANI said the leaders must also consider those who will be affected plus the key stakeholders in the Bougainville Peace Agreement. This is why they say the Government by the people and for the people. He said one clear example has been the controversial appointment of the new EM for Buin which created a lot of frustration and caused division among the pace loving people of Buin. MR. KINANI said that the way the Bougainville Executive Council dictated this issue show an undemocratic spirit of the current leadership. He said Bougainvilleans at all levels must be aware that the Bougainville Peace Agreement ended only the open military confrontation with the enemy but the war is still continuing in another form known as psychological warfare. Ends A Pennsylvania mother whose 22-month-old son was kept in a cage by the child's father says local child welfare officials had seen the enclosure and 'had no problem with it.' Tiffany George, 26, broke her silence on Thursday after police arrested 38-year-old Cecil Eugene Kutz on child endangerment charges. State police say Kutz locked his toddler son in a makeshift wooden cage and left him home alone with his two younger siblings, including his daughter who was born just hours earlier. Standing by her man: Tiffany George, 26 (left), says she is upset her boyfriend, Cecil Eugene Kutz, 39 (right), left their three young children home alone, the eldest one in a cage, but she insists he is 'a good dad' George claims local child welfare officials had seen this makeshift enclosure for their 22-month-old son and 'had no problem with it' George, who gave birth at home to her third child on Tuesday, told the Associated Press the homemade pen was meant to keep the older child safe so he would not go wandering around and hurt himself. 'We did not have the intentions of locking our children in a cage,' an indignant George told the station WFMZ. 'Its a playpen, It's a crib. It's not a cage.' According to George, caseworkers who had visited their home were concerned that their oldest son would be able to climb the lattice, so the parents constructed a detachable lid to keep him inside. 'They are the ones that asked us to modify it,' George said of the Children and Youth Services officials. Child welfare officials are declining comment on George's claim they had no problem with the enclosure. In another interview with Reading Eagle, George said she's angry Kutz left their kids alone while she was hospitalized after suffering complications during childbirth, but she insisted he's 'a good dad' who made a bad decision, possibly in a state of panic. George was transported to a hospital Wednesday complaining of excessive bleeding and later underwent surgery to remove the remainder of her placenta. She says she thought Kutz and her oldest children were following her to the hospital, but they never made it there. Kutz was arrested on Wednesday after police received a tip and went to the family's home outside Pottsville, Pennsylvania. He is accused of leaving the three children alone in the home for at least 40 minutes. Troopers went inside the home after their knocks went unanswered and they found the three children, inclduing the newborn, just inside the front door. The 22-month-old boy was found inside the cage made of plywood and wooden lattice that had been locked from the outside. The box measured 74-by-38.5 inches, with a height on the inside of 33 inches, and topped with a lid, which George claimed they had built after caseworkers visited their home and expressed concern their son might get out The 26-year-old delivered their daughter in their rural home (pictured) but had to go to the hospital after suffering from a hemorrhage The box measured 74-by-38.5 inches, with a height on the inside of 33 inches. Police found his younger brother in a playpen and his hours-old sister in a car seat nearby. The baby was rushed to hospital for evaluation and all three children were taken into the care of the county's Children and Youth Services. Authorities apprehended the father when he returned to the home. Kutz was charged with three counts of endangering the welfare of children and three counts of recklessly endangering another person. Kutz remains in Schuylkill County Prison on a $250,000 cash bail. George admitted that she has a history of run-ins with the law and does not have parental custody of her two sons, but she said her children are not abused. All three of the woman's children are now in foster care. So far, no charges have been filed against George. One is a rotund television presenter, who married into the heart of New Labour. The other is a spiky behind-the-scenes operator, with unflinching loyalty to the Prime Minister. Now an extraordinary feud has broken out between the pair: Sky News editor at large Adam Boulton and Fiona Hill, Theresa Mays co-chief of staff feared as something of a rottweiler. Boulton, 58, has publicly complained that Sky News is being frozen out of key interviews with ministers, as part of a furious retaliation against aspects of Skys political coverage. An extraordinary feud has broken out between the pair: Sky News editor at large Adam Boulton (pictured) and Fiona Hill, Theresa Mays co-chief of staff feared as something of a rottweiler On Thursday shortly before Mrs May launched her Conservative manifesto he told viewers that he had asked for an interview with Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt. But the Conservative Party, or Mrs Mays advisers, are blocking interviews to Sky News by senior ministers. Instead, he gave an interview to the BBC, Mr Boulton said. It is the sort of stand-off that often happens behind the scenes of news organisations but rarely bubble to the surface. But Boulton whose portly figure has earned him the Westminster nickname of Bunter decided his grievance needed airing. The barb was symptomatic of a bigger thorn in Boultons side. Sky has been getting the cold shoulder for weeks. The broadcaster was not asked to join Mrs Mays battle bus at the start of the campaign, and sources claim it has not been called on to ask as many questions in press conferences as its rivals. Fiona Hill (pictured) and Boulton openly clashed in the moments before Mrs May called the general election A Sky News spokesman said: Since early in the campaign, Sky News has not been getting live interviews on election issues with Conservative ministers. Also, we werent initially invited to follow the leaders tour. 'We understand this to be because members of the Prime Ministers team are unhappy with aspects of our political coverage. Miss Hill, who worked for Sky News herself in the Nineties, is likely to agree on the last point. She and Boulton openly clashed in the moments before Mrs May called the general election. Knowing that there was a big announcement in the offing, Boulton reported that Mrs May who has Type 1 diabetes could be poised to resign because of ill health. Miss Hill, 43, sent a furious message in response. You might want to tell Bunter that he should watch what he is saying about my bosss health, utterly unfounded and untrue. 'We will be making a formal complaint to [head of Sky news] John Riley, she said. It was presumably not a message meant for public consumption. But Boulton read it out on air. He said: I think we can probably take that as a denial from Downing Street. Boulton has been used to rather different treatment from the offices of prime ministers. He is married to Anji Hunter, who was gatekeeper to Tony Blair. The pair were both married with children when they met, but left their partners to pursue a relationship. As for Miss Hill, it is not the first time that she has launched herself into a row in this manner. A spokeswoman for Sky confirmed a dispute with aides close to Prime Minister Theresa May (pictured launching her manifetso today) were 'unhappy' with their coverage According to insiders she is notorious for holding a grudge, sometimes rude, and loyal to her boss at all costs. Last year she branded the former education secretary Nicky Morgan that woman in a text row about the Prime Ministers leather trousers. Miss Morgan had publicly criticised Mrs Mays decision to wear the 1,000 designer trousers for a photo shoot. Miss Hill who shares style tips with her boss responded by disinviting Miss Morgan from joining fellow Conservative Alistair Burt at a meeting with the Prime Minister. Dont bring that woman to No 10 again, she said. And in 2014 she retaliated against the then education secretary Michael Gove for a briefing he gave to The Times, in which Mrs May was blamed for letting Islamic extremists infiltrate schools in Birmingham. Miss Hill went for the jugular and published a private Cabinet letter pointing the finger at Mr Gove instead. A furious David Cameron forced Mrs May to sack her loyal aide. However, Mrs May repaid the debt as soon as she became PM, and made Miss Hill one of her two chiefs of staff. THE TV MAN ADAM BOULTON Age: 58 Background: Oxford graduate Job: Political editor of Sky News from its 1989 launch to 2014. Now Sky News anchor Partner: Married to Anji Hunter, Tony Blairs former special assistant. They have five children between them Previous bust-ups: Clashed with former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell after the 2010 election, who accused him of being upset that David Cameron is not prime minister. Boulton responded: Dont keep telling me what I think. Advertisement Arthur Neweys now-detached house is a symbol of his defiance. The row of terraced houses that once adjoined his home were demolished long ago Standing alone next to the main road, Arthur Neweys now-detached house is a symbol of his defiance. The row of terraced houses that once adjoined his home were demolished long ago. But for 18 years the pensioner has blocked the councils attempts to force him out and knock his home down too so they can widen the road. The implacable Yorkshireman is now battling a fresh bid by the local authority to launch a compulsory purchase of his three-bedroom house in Rotherham. Mr Newey described the council as rotten pigs and has no intention of giving up without a fight. He said he will only consider selling if they offer him 1million for the property. The great-grandfather also said he has become something of a community hero and that he is treated like a celebrity when he goes down the pub. Mr Newey, who has six children, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, has lived his entire life in Rotherham and bought the house around 40 years ago. Rotherham Council first attempted a compulsory purchase, where councils can seize land without the owners consent, in 1999. Mr Newey appealed to then deputy prime minister John Prescott and in 2004 a public inquiry ruled in his favour. Scroll down for video For 18 years, the pensioner has blocked the councils attempts to force him out and knock his home down too so they can widen the road. The implacable Yorkshireman is now battling a fresh bid by the local authority to launch a compulsory purchase of his three-bedroom house in Rotherham. Above, the house as it looks now Mr Newey believes the stress of taking on the council to save their beloved home played a part in the death of his his wife Barbara, 73, from cancer in 2007. Now, after years of inactivity, the council has launched a fresh bid to knock down his home so they can widen the A630 road. Three weeks ago two officials visited and said they wish to value and buy the house. The retired electrician said: I told them I want 500,000 for the house and 500,000 compensation for what they have done to me. If they promise to pay me 1 million I might consider it. If they go ahead with this I will take it to a public inquiry again. I know the system inside out now. Last time it was me against two barristers and John Prescott ruled in my favour and Ill do it again on my own if necessary. How the row of houses looked in 2008, before the others were demolished. Now, after years of inactivity, the council has launched a fresh bid to knock down his home so they can widen the A630 road He added: They will not get away with it and they will not get my house. Everyone is supporting me. Ive had a message from someone in California and if I go down the shops I get mobbed. Its a fight against bureaucracy. Mr Newey was offered 32,000 the first time, and his neighbours in the other four houses sold up. In 2007 a suspicious fire wrecked the four empty homes and they were later knocked down, with a new outer wall built around Mr Neweys solitary home. These days he sleeps downstairs on a mattress in the living room and his tractor, which he sometimes uses to go to the shops, is parked outside. Mr Neweys daughter Nancy Thorpe said: Its absolutely disgusting what the council is doing. Hes a very clever man who speaks his mind, as the council has already found out. Mr Newey insists he isnt blocking a vital highways scheme, arguing that while the road does get busy, they could widen it on the other side but that would mean a bend in the road and they dont want that. Paul Woodcock, of Rotherham Council, said there are ongoing problems with congestion and that officers visited Mr Newey to see if he was willing to sell after a For Sale sign was seen outside his house. Mr Newey said it was briefly put up months ago by my grandson as a joke. Just yards from the entrance to the Walsall secondary school is a sign in large red letters that reads: Danger. It warns of an obstacle near steps leading into the Willenhall E-ACT Academy, but, in the light of this week's events, it has taken on an altogether different meaning. Because following its latest Ofsted inspection, Willenhall has found itself dubbed one of the 'worst schools' in Britain. While its GCSE exam results are poor enough only 40 per cent managed a C or better in English and maths, well below the national average of almost 60 per cent the main point of criticism was the shockingly bad behaviour of its pupils. (Or, more precisely, the bad behaviour of those pupils who bother to turn up one-third regularly play truant.) The main point of criticism was the shockingly bad behaviour of the pupils at Willenhall E-ACT Academy (stock photograph) Inspectors found that lessons were routinely disrupted and witnessed staff being belittled by those they were trying to teach. As for the children, many reported they did not feel safe in the school, such was the extent of bullying. Disabled children or those with special educational needs were particular targets. So much so that to avoid the fighting and swearing they would hide away at break times. Worst behaved of all were the younger pupils disturbing sixth-form lessons by knocking on classroom doors, being rude to staff and hanging around litter-filled stairwells in gangs when exasperated teachers snapped and kicked them out of lessons. And if all that were not bad enough, the Ofsted team experienced their very own Willenhall 'welcome' first-hand. Inspectors were pelted with food while pupils were rude and jostled them in the corridors. Unsurprisingly, the team rated the school as 'inadequate' in all five inspection categories and placed it into special measures, meaning management had to produce an action plan to turn it around, and it would be more closely monitored. In response, E-ACT, an independent sponsor which manages 24 academies across the UK, said it was 'disappointed' at Ofsted's findings. Quite why, it is hard to know. Because talking to parents, pupils and former employees, it is clear that the writing has been on the wall for Willenhall for some years now. In 2013, a year after coming out of local authority control (becoming a self-governing but still state-funded academy) the school was found to be failing by Ofsted and was placed into special measures. While there were slight improvements in the following years, it must have been evident to management that all was far from well. Take this staggering statistic: in 2015 and 2016, some 70 per cent of the school's teachers left. Headteachers were equally temporary, with four coming and going in as many years. At the same time, E-ACT was at the centre of a storm. Its bosses were censured for blowing taxpayers' cash on first-class travel and bar bills, while its educational failings saw it forced to hand over the running of ten of its schools to other academy chains, overseen by the Department for Education. Given what is now known of Willenhall, a lucky escape, some might say. Parent Dan Gosling was so appalled by events at the school that he removed his children after six weeks. Writing on social media, he claimed: 'Someone pulled a carpet knife and had a fight with another pupil causing horrific injuries. My daughter was stabbed with a diabetic syringe and it was brushed aside.' Another parent revealed: 'My son got caught smoking a spliff and was suspended for three weeks. He said he'd been buying it from kids at the school where they were dealing weed off the back of mopeds.' Martin Rist, 31, a security guard employed by the school, added: 'A lad once tried to stab me with an Allen key set. When I complained, the school wanted me to apologise. Many of the children reported they did not feel safe in the school (pictured), such was the extent of bullying 'The boy, aged about 12, got away with it. There was no point being there pupils had overrun the place and did what they wanted. When we confronted their parents, they always denied that their kids did anything. 'They even used to threaten me, saying things like: 'We'll wait until you finish.' ' Another parent from the school said: 'In a nutshell, the kids don't know from one day to the next who their teacher is going to be. 'There's no discipline and the kids are rude, feral and don't care. Every day I watch them smoking, fighting and running amok. The inspectors didn't see half of it they're lucky they were only here for a couple of days rather than seven years.' It's a statement that Donna Cox would more than agree with. The 40-year-old's daughter Safa finished primary school last year and started at Willenhall in September. A confident 11-year-old, within weeks she found herself being singled out by a group of four girls in her year. 'One of them called her a 'dirty little Arab',' says Mrs Cox, who works in accounts. 'I am English, but her dad is a Muslim from Tunisia. Other girls joined in, saying she didn't fit in and didn't belong there. 'It's a joke we only live round the corner from the school. They also called her a lesbian. The bullying was to her face and on Instagram.' Mrs Cox complained to the school, but far from modifying their behaviour, her daughter's bullies became more aggressive. 'They told her they were going to come to our house and blow it up with her inside it,' says Mrs Cox. Fed up with the school's lack of action, she contacted the police. But she says they told her there was little they could do as the bullying was taking place during school hours. Mrs Cox went back to the school. Following its latest Ofsted inspection, Willenhall (pictured) has found itself dubbed one of the 'worst schools' in Britain 'All they would say is Safa could stay in at break times, ' she says. 'I was amazed why should she be penalised and have to stop in, not her bullies? She was scared to go to school and scared to walk home.' Having kept her out of classes for a month, Mrs Cox arranged for her to switch schools last December. 'She's getting on fine now,' she says. 'She's enjoying it. At Willenhall the kids are unruly and the teachers try to be their friends rather than discipline them. When you have parents who don't care either, then you really have got a problem.' Another parent, who asked not to be named, says her 14-year-old son was attacked at the school and, she claims, the school failed to act. The incident happened one lunchtime last June when four girls allegedly assaulted him. 'When he came home, he had cuts all over him, scratches down his face, neck and arms there was blood all over his shirt,' she says. 'I phoned the school and they said they weren't aware of anything. I then phoned the police because it was assault, but they wouldn't do anything because it had taken place on school premises. They said it was up to the school to sort it.' She claims that despite numerous phone calls and meetings with staff, her son's principal attacker was not excluded from the school. Instead, she kept her son out of classes, arranging for him to switch schools at the start of this academic year. What makes it worse is that she attended the school as a pupil and chose it for her son because she had such positive memories. 'When I was there it was brilliant, one of the best schools in the area,' the 31-year-old says. 'They did absolute wonders with me. But when my son started, things quickly began to go downhill. Staff were leaving left, right and centre. 'How can anyone at that school get a proper education when there is no consistency with teachers? The kids have got unruly because they can get away with it, which means the teachers can't handle them and end up leaving because of stress. It's a vicious cycle.' When he came home, he had cuts all over him, scratches down his face, neck and arms A mother whose 14-year-old son goes to the school For pupils like 13-year-old Chloe Howell, that means a disrupted education. Speaking with her mother Lisa by her side, she says: 'Some of us really want to learn, but other pupils are disruptive in class mostly the boys. The teachers are not very strict and get a lot of cheek. Sometimes there's swearing.' When the former comprehensive was taken over by E-ACT in January 2012, parents were promised it would be for the benefit of its 1,430 pupils. E-ACT's mission statement was to focus on schools in challenging areas. In the coming years, the organisation would go on to sponsor more than 30 such schools, with ambitions to amass a portfolio of 200. Willenhall fitted the bill. Pupils were predominantly white British with about half drawn from disadvantaged backgrounds. The catchment area has one of the highest youth unemployment rates in Britain. 'We are committed to ensuring all our students enjoy an exceptionally high standard of education and the Willenhall E-ACT Academy will do just that,' said Sir Bruce Liddington, Tony Blair's schools commissioner and then director general of E-ACT. 'It has all the hallmarks of an academy that will soon become outstanding in every way.' But things would pan out differently. Not just for the school, but for Sir Bruce and E-ACT as well. In September 2013, Ofsted inspected the school and highlighted poor teaching and a lack of leadership resulting in poor academic results. It rated the school as inadequate and placed it in special measures. Tom Ashley, the newly appointed head, vowed to turn it around. 'Willenhall E-ACT Academy has for too long been a sleeping giant in Walsall and has the potential to set the standards rather than follow them,' he said. As part of being in special measures, Ofsted carried out four inspections of the school in 2014. While noting improvements, it raised problems including poor punctuality and large numbers of staff leaving 32 at the end of the 2014 summer term alone. Despite this, in March 2015 the school was taken out of special measures following another inspection, and its grade changed to 'requires improvement'. By then, however, serious questions had been raised about E-ACT on a national level. In 2013, Sir Bruce, who earned 280,017 a year, resigned after the trust received a Government warning over 'financial mis-management'. While there was no suggestion of fraud, auditors warned of a culture of 'extravagance', including taxpayers' money being spent on firstclass travel, top hotels, dinners and fourfigure drinks bills. Worse was to come in 2014 when, following more school inspections, E-ACT was forced to hand over control of ten schools to other sponsors. Ofsted warned 'an overwhelming proportion' of its pupils were not receiving a good education. So it is against this background that the continued failings at Willenhall need to be seen. 'It's an appalling situation and cannot be allowed to continue,' says Local Tory councillor Chris Towe. 'I despair and feel sorry for the children who are trying to achieve and are being held back by pupils who don't want to achieve. They are our children and it's our responsibility to give them the best start in life we can.' Russ Bragger, general secretary of Walsall's National Union of Teachers, said the turnover of headteachers and 'ill-thought-out' changes imposed on staff had left them in an impossible position. 'The teachers have consistently expressed their concern for the safety of pupils and staff and have demanded more support and capacity in the behaviour and pastoral systems to allow them to do their jobs,' he says. 'It is the lack of this support that has led to the very high staff turnover. 'E-ACT should not be 'disappointed' at Ofsted's decision, it knew the consequences of the problems it has created at the school. It should be sorry for what it has done to so many children's education and for the distress caused to dedicated staff.' For its part, E-ACT insists Willenhall is an exception, saying 'almost two-thirds of our academies are rated at least 'good' by Ofsted', while admitting the school had posed 'challenges'. A spokesman says: 'Under the strong leadership of our recently appointed headteacher, and with the close support we provide across all aspects of the academy, we are confident Willenhall will continue to make rapid progress so we can offer the best possible education to our students. 'The Ofsted report recognises that E-ACT has already begun to address the aspects of greatest concern, and we are committed to turning this academy around.' He says extra staff have been brought in to focus on improving student behaviour. 'We will also continue to work closely with parents and guardians, who are being kept updated on every stage of progress,' he adds. Given the relatively brief period that parents entrust their children to a secondary school, for some pupils that will almost certainly be too little, too late. They say when there is a will there is a way. A legless girl has inspired millions of people in China after refusing to give up her dreams of dancing. Jiang Zhang Ziyi, 12, lost both of her legs in a car accident at the age of six. Despite the dramatic changes in life, the little girl has managed to fight against the odds and become the ballet dancer she has always wanted to be. Scroll down for video Jiang Zhang Ziyi, 12, has learnt to dance since 2013 and wishes to become a ballet dancer The girls twirlled as she practised at a dance school in her hometown in south-east China Jiang encouraged other physically challenged people to stay strong and live happily every day Jiang was run over by an out-of-control SUV while walking back home from school by herself in 2010 in Jiangsu Province, China. Her mother, Zhang Shuixiang, rushed to the accident scene and took her to the hospital. The doctors informed Jiang's family that they were not able to keep her legs and both of her limbs were amputated. Worrying about the future of her daughter, Jiang's mother, Ms Zhang, cried day and night. However, a strong-willed Jiang didn't shed a single tear. Instead, she comforted Zhang by saying: 'Mother, a day will pass whether you cry or laugh. Why don't we treat it as a good day?' Jiang, then aged eight, performed with her mother on national programme 'Amazing Dance' The performance by Jiang and her mother's moved the hosts, judges and millions of viewers Three years later, in 2013, Jiang told her mother that she saw the county council was organising a talent show. 'I want to learn ballet!' A fearless Jiang told her mother. 'Don't worry mother, you can be my legs.' Jiang, who was eight at the time, took up ballet lessons. She practised tirelessly every day until the eve of the competition. Thanks to her diligence and determination, Jiang won the talent show. Her incredible story soon caught the attention of Chinese media. In the same year, Jiang was invited to perform at 'Amazing Dance', another talent show organised by popular Hunan Television. The performance by Jiang and her mother's moved the hosts, judges and millions of viewers. Her mother held her up and swung her around on the stage as the background music told Jiang's story. The song went: 'I want to be a ballet dancer.' Zhang Shuixiang held her daughter before going on stage to perform in 2013 in Hunan Jiang's dream of becoming a ballet dancer has never changed despite the tragic life event This week, a new set of pictures emerged showing a 12-year-old Jiang. The girl is still pursuing her dreams and hopes to be a ballet dancer, according to Peoples Daily China. Jiang, who is in her sixth grade, now studies at the No. 10 Elementary School in Shangrao. She explained to the reporters she could feel closer to the others while dancing. She also said that it helps her gain respect from the others. Her parents supported their daughter wholeheartedly. They sent her to a ballet school to learn proper positions and moves. 'Throughout the years, people have wanted to donate money to us, but we have turned them down,' said Jiang's parents. They explained that they wanted Jiang to be independent and not to rely on other people's offerings. Through reporters, little Jiang also encouraged other physically challenged people to stay strong and live happily every day. Mohenjo Daro was the centre of a powerful ancient civilisation and one of the world's earliest cities, The Bronze Age metropolis boasted flush toilets and a water and waste system to rival many in modern Pakistan. Now, 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 if nothing is done to protect the site from high summer temperatures, mistreatment by locals and the threat posed by terrorists groups, it could be lost forever. And researchers have decided to stop uncovering more of the site, believe that it is safer to leave it buried. Archaeologists warn that if nothing is done to protect Pakistan's Mohenjo Daro ruins (pictured), it will be destroyed. The site could be key to unlocking the Indus script, which has never been deciphered MOHENJO DARO Mohenjo Daro is an archaeological site on the banks of the Indus river in Pakistan's southern Sindh province. It was built by the Indus Valley people, around 5,000 years ago in 3,000 BC. 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. The site could hold the key to unlocking the Indus script, which has never been deciphered. But the race is on to preserve the crumbling city, before it is lost to the annals of history. In the summer, temperatures can soar to above 46 degrees Celsius (115 Fahrenheit) which is damaging the ruins. Pakistan's bloody fight against militancy has also raised the spectre of destruction by an Islamist group. And ordinary citizens of the country have shown wanton disregard for Mohenjo Daro, or 'mound of the dead', according to the society that is working to protect it from further damage. Advertisement '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. Dr 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 to above 46 degrees Celsius (115 Fahrenheit). 'There is enormous thermo-stress,' says Dr Jansen, adding that salt from the underground water table is also damaging the ruins. 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. There is also a 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. Dr 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. Archaeologists believe the Mohenjo Daro ruins (pictured) 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 THE INDUS PEOPLE The Indus civilisation flourished for half a millennium from about 2600 BC to 1900 BC, before it mysteriously declined and vanished from view. It remained invisible for almost 4,000 years until its ruins were discovered by accident in the 1920s by British and Indian archaeologists. Following almost a century of excavation, it is today regarded as a civilisation worthy of comparison with those of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, as the beginning of Indian civilisation and possibly as the origin of Hinduism. More than a thousand Indus settlements covered at least 800,000 square kilometres (309,000 square miles) of what is now Pakistan and northwestern India. It was the most extensive urban culture of its period, with an estimated population of one million and a vigorous maritime export trade. Advertisement 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, Dr 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. 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. A Buddhist stupa (pictured) at the UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site of Mohenjo Daro in Pakistan, which experts believe was the centre of a the ancient, powerful Indus Valley civilisation 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. 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. At their peak during the Bronze Age, the Indus Valley people are believed to have numbered up to five million, with Mohenjo Daro, in modern day Pakistan, their largest and most advanced settlement Mohenjo Daro is an archaeological site on the banks of the Indus river in Pakistan's southern Sindh province 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 Dr Lashari and Dr 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. Pope Francis has praised scientists working on treatments for genetic diseases, but condemned any use of human embryos in medical research. The controversial topic was brought up at a Vatican event on Thursday aimed at raising awareness of Huntington's disease, an incurable genetic disorder. 'I encourage you to carry out (your work) in ways that do not contribute to nourishing the 'throwaway culture' that sometimes creeps into the world of scientific research,' he said. Scroll down for video Pope Francis has praised scientists working on treatments for genetic diseases but condemned any use of human embryos in medical research. Pictured is Pope Francis addressing an ecumenical event at the Malmo Arena last October in Malmo, Sweden GENETIC MODIFICATION OF EMBRYOS In 2015, an extensive report from a group of leading scientists said that g enetically modifying human embryos should be allowed and is 'essential' for understanding basic biology. The call was made by the Hinxton Group, a worldwide network of science and ethics experts, which believes gene editing is of 'tremendous value' to scientific research. It also said preventing research in the area is 'dangerous', but acknowledged that the technology is not yet advanced enough for clinical applications. Advertisement 'We know that no end, even a noble one like the expectation of a benefit for science, for other human beings or for society, can justify the destruction of human embryos,' the Pope added. Fertility chiefs previous been accused of putting science before ethical principles after giving the go-ahead for scientists to edit the genes of human embryos. For instance, last year researchers in the UK were granted a licence to 'cut and paste' the DNA of donated embryos as part of an investigation into miscarriage. The work is controversial because it involves altering 'germline' DNA that is inherited. All the embryos used will must be destroyed after two weeks and it will be illegal to implant them into a womb. But critics say regulators acted too hastily, and set scientists on the start of a slippery slope towards the creation of genetically modified 'designer babies'. Pope Francis echoed these concerns at an event at the Vatican yesterday. Of those that attended the Vatican event, 150 suffered from Huntington's, whom the Pope personally greeted upon arrival. The disease is a degenerative brain condition that can eventually make a person unable to walk, talk or swallow. It is a genetic disorder that causes brain cells to die resulting in personality changes, mood swings, involuntary movements and slurred speech. Many attendees travelled from Latin America, where some countries are disproportionately affected by the disease, to listen to the Argentine pontiff. The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) says 2.7 people in every 100,000 globally present the disease - not including gene carriers. Last November, Pope Francis praised atheist Stephen Hawking for his brilliant work during an audience with scientists at the Vatican. The pair met in Rome as members of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences gathered for a conference But prevalence is up to 1,000 times higher in pockets of Latin America, where social stigma often leads to the isolation of those affected. Thursday's Vatican event was not the first time that the pontiff has addressed the scientific community on their work. Last November, Pope Francis praised atheist Stephen Hawking for his brilliant work during an audience with scientists at the Vatican. The pair met in Rome as members of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences gathered for a conference. Francis appeared delighted to greet the theoretical physicist, who has met three previous Popes, by touching his shoulder as he welcomed him warmly. The pontiff then addressed a group of scientists, saying their role in finding creative solutions to the world's problems is more urgent than ever. He also praised the increasing collaboration between scientific and religious communities in stopping climate change. 'It falls to scientists, who work free of political, economic or ideological interests, to develop a cultural model which can face the crisis of climatic change and its social consequences, so that the vast potential of productivity will not be reserved only for the few,' the Pope said. He called on science and religion to work together to address water shortages, renewable forms of energy and food security. The future of virtual reality porn could see people create avatars of former lovers to carry out perverse and violent acts on them, a new study warned. The blurring between reality and fantasy is pushing the dangers of porn to a whole new level and could encourage the spread of degrading behaviour. Models based on real ex partners could be the future of revenge porn, warned the study, who call urgently for manufacturers to set guidelines on their technology. Scroll down for video The blurring between reality and fantasy is pushing the dangers of sex and porn to a whole new level, encouraging the spread of a new breed of degrading behaviour (stock image) WHAT ARE THE RISKS? Vindictive former sexual partners could use the technology to create an immersive experience whereby instead of merely just viewing an explicit two-dimensional image, it would be in three dimensions. This would allow others to 'have sex' with the image of the revenge porn victim in the virtual world. The team warn that the greater sense of realism provided by virtual reality may also heighten body image problems in women. Women may feel a need to conform to fantasy body images presented on the headsets. Advertisement Through headsets such as the Facebook owned Oculus Rift and Playstation VR, users can become an active part of these 'new' sexual experiences. Researchers at Newcastle University are calling on the digital community to help inform the development of this 'very prominent, but not often talked about, 'human-computer' interaction'. Vindictive former sexual partners could use the technology to create an immersive experience whereby instead of merely just viewing an explicit two-dimensional image, it would be in three dimensions. This would allow others to 'have sex' with the image of the revenge porn victim in the virtual world. Researchers at Newcastle University also said the growing popularity of VR technologies that put users into experiences where previously they were an onlooker, could make extreme, degrading or even abusive imagery in pornography becoming all the more 'real' to users. Dr Madeline Balaam, co-author of the research, explains: 'As a society we are always looking for new and novel experiences but the porn industry brings with it an added risk because of its sexist stance and exploitation of women. 'We are already obsessed with body image and the digital industry is no different, creating the perfect virtual woman from Lara Croft to sex-robots. VR porn has the potential to escalate this. Former partners could use the technology to create an immersive experience. Instead of viewing an explicit two-dimensional image, it would be in three dimensions (stock image) 'Our research highlighted not only a drive for perfection, but also a crossover between reality and fantasy. Some of our findings highlighted the potential for creating 3D models of real life people, raising questions over what consent means in VR experiences. If a user created a VR version of their real life girlfriend, for example, would they do things to her that they knew she would refuse in the real world?' WHAT DID THEY DO? The research involved potential users of VR Porn being asked to write about how they imagined a VR porn scenario would develop. Forty five participants were asked to describe their first virtual reality porn experience as a fictional character, 'Jack'. The team found that the scenarios mainly fell into two types. One was the 'perfect' scenario, which included lavish and fantastical events, where the participants imagined that the VR experience would be 'better than the real thing. In the second scenario, participants described what the researchers called a 'precarious' scenario. Researcher Matthew Wood said 'these stories often went beyond what would be acceptable in real life with sometimes violent imagery, featuring men performing degrading sexual acts on women or forcing themselves upon them.' Advertisement The team warn that the greater sense of realism provided by virtual reality may also heighten body image problems in women. Women may feel a need to conform to fantasy body images presented on the headsets. Research lead and PhD student Matthew Wood, added: 'Pornography has played a key role in the development of new and emerging technologies - from the stereoscope in the 1800s through home video and now virtual reality. 'But what VR offers for the first time is the opportunity to move from being simply an observer to being a participant and this changes the experience massively. 'One of our findings suggested VR pornography could be something more like cheating on a partner because of the increasing 'reality' of the VR experience. 'We found that for most people the potential of a VR porn experience opened the doors to an apparently 'perfect' sexual experience - a scenario which in the real world no-one could live up to. For others it meant pushing the boundaries, often with highly explicit and violent imagery, and we know from current research into pornography that exposure to this content has the potential to become addictive and more extreme over time.' The research involved potential users of VR Porn being asked to write about how they imagined a VR porn scenario would develop. Forty five participants were asked to describe their first virtual reality porn experience as a fictional character, 'Jack'. The team found that the scenarios mainly fell into two types. One was the 'perfect' scenario, which included lavish and fantastical events, where the participants imagined that the VR experience would be 'better than the real thing. In the second scenario, participants described what the researchers called a 'precarious' scenario. Researcher Matthew Wood said 'these stories often went beyond what would be acceptable in real life with sometimes violent imagery, featuring men performing degrading sexual acts on women or forcing themselves upon them.' Given the rise in 'DIY porn', the researchers said it was not unforeseeable 'models based on real people are used in VR pornographic settings could become the future form of revenge porn.' US satellites are increasingly vulnerable to attack by space weaponry from other countries, warned Senator Ted Cruz. The US national security is heavily dependent on satellites which are responsible for everything from military communications to everyday things such as ATM withdrawals. Senator Cruz described the development of space ammunition as 'truly chilling' and warned that both China and Russia are developing anti-satellite technology. Scroll down for video Senator Cruz, who is on the Senate's Armed Services Committee, said the US was very dependent on its satellites which are at risk from foreign attack (stock image) SPACE BATTLES Senator Cruz described the development of space ammunition as 'truly chilling' and warned that both China and Russia are developing anti-satellite technology. 'The development that other countries are making in space weaponry, to take out our communication equipment, is truly chilling', he said. The comments by Senator Cruz - which didn't detail the type of attack at risk - mirror those of a Chinese military expert in March. Richard Fisher said China is developing its own arsenal of lasers, electromagnetic railguns and high-power microwave weapons for use in future space-based 'light war' satellite attacks. Advertisement 'I will tell you, some of the classified briefings would take your breath away at the potential threats we face', Senator Cruz said at a webcast event about space in Washington DC on Tuesday. 'The development that other countries are making in space weaponry, to take out our communication equipment, is truly chilling', he said at the event, which was organised by The Atlantic magazine. Senator Cruz, who is on the Senate's Armed Services Committee, said economically and in terms of security, the country was very dependent on its satellites, writes Live Science. 'With our satellite infrastructure being vulnerable, the basic steps of commerce and life are threatened profoundly, and I think we need serious investment to address that vulnerability', he told Ross Anderson from the Atlantic in an interview. 'I think sticking our heads in the sand and saying, 'We don't want an arms race, so we're just going to ignore the threats' that's not a prudent step', he said. The comments by Senator Cruz - which didn't detail the type of attack at risk - mirror those of a Chinese military expert in March. Richard Fisher said China is developing its own arsenal of lasers, electromagnetic railguns and high-power microwave weapons for use in future space-based 'light war' satellite attacks. The US national security is heavily dependent on satellites (such as Nasa's Solar and Heliospheric Observatory satellite, pictured) which are responsible for everything from military communications to everyday things such as ATM withdrawals China's push to produce these weapons aims to neutralise America's web of intelligence, communication and navigation satellites capable of unmatched precision strikes. While giving congressional testimony last month, Fisher, from the International Assessment and Strategy Centre, confirmed that China has a laser weapons program and warned that the country could be rapidly militarising space. 'The Chinese government would not hesitate to use the lives of its astronauts as a shield to deceive the world about the real purpose of its space station,' said Fisher. 'Having gained the advantage of surprise, the combat space station could begin attacks against key US satellites, thus blinding the US to the launch of new combat satellites that would attack many more US satellites,' he added. Fisher believes the US should respond to the threat of Chinese space weapons by developing its own versions. Apple boss Tim Cook has been testing a device that attaches to an Apple Watch and could be revolutionary for people with diabetes, according to a new report. The glucose monitor could provide real-time information for millions on how exercise and food changes blood sugar levels. It is described as the 'holy grail' of life sciences, because it's difficult to monitor blood sugar without breaking the skin. Scroll down for video Apple CEO Tim Cook (pictured) displays his personal Apple Watch to customers at an Apple Store on April 10, 2015 in Palo Alto, California. According to a new report he is trailing a wearable glucose monitor THE PROJECT Apple has hired a team of biomedical engineers to develop non-invasive sensors which could detect diabetes and monitor blood-sugar levels. The engineers are expected to work at a nondescript office in Palo Alto, around 15 miles away from the new corporate headquarters in Cupertino, California. If the non-invasive sensors come to fruition, it would be a breakthrough moment for medical science. The late Apple CEO Steve Jobs envisaged the devices as another form of wearable technology, similar to a smartwatch or fitness monitor. Advertisement Cook has been spotted trailing a prototype of the wearable device on the Apple campus, according to CNBC. In February Cook told students at the University of Glasgow he was 'really excited' about its potential in health care. 'I've been wearing a continuous glucose monitor for a few weeks,' he told the students. 'I just took it off before coming on this trip', he said. Sources suggests the company is already doing trials in the Bay Area. The project - envisioned by co-founder Steve Jobs before his death - could lead to 'breakthrough' wearable devices that detect the disease and monitor blood-sugar levels. Apple has hired a team of biomedical engineers as part of the secret initiative, according to reports in CNBC. Up to 30 people are believed to be working on the project, which has be running for five years - according to CNBC's sources. They say the firm has been carrying out clinical trials in San Francisco and has hired consultants to look into the rules and regulations around bringing such a product to market. The engineers are said to be working from a nondescript office in Palo Alto, around 15 miles away from the new Apple corporate headquarters in Cupertino, California. Apple has hired a team of biomedical engineers to develop non-invasive sensors which could detect diabetes and monitor blood-sugar levels (stock image) The researchers have been tasked with developing bio-sensors to monitor blood sugar levels. Currently this involves taking regular blood samples, which can involve anything from a thumb-prick test to intravenous extraction. WHAT IS DIABETES Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar Hyperglycaemia, or raised blood sugar, is a common effect of uncontrolled diabetes and over time leads to serious damage to many of the body's systems, especially the nerves and blood vessels The number of people with diabetes has risen from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014 - the latest year for which global figures are available - according to the World Heath Organisation. Advertisement The late Apple CEO envisaged the devices as another form of wearable technology, similar to a smartwatch or fitness monitors And if the non-invasive sensors come to fruition, it would be a breakthrough moment for medical science. 'There is a cemetery full of efforts' to measure glucose in a non-invasive way, said DexCom chief executive Terrance Gregg, whose firm is known for minimally invasive blood-sugar motechniques. To succeed would require 'several hundred million dollars or even a billion dollars,' he previously told Reuters. The number of people with diabetes has risen from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014 - the latest year for which global figures are available - according to the World Heath Organisation. The news comes at a time when the line between pharmaceuticals and technology is blurring. A secret new research project being undertaken by Apple could lead to new sensors to detect diabetes. For many, the condition is managed with daily injections (stock image) Companies are joining forces to tackle chronic diseases using high-tech devices that combine biology, software and hardware. This has jump-starting a new field of medicine called bio-electronics. Last year, GlaxoSmithKline Plc and Google parent Alphabet Inc unveiled a joint company aimed at marketing bio-electronic devices to fight illness by attaching to individual nerves. U.S. biotech firms Setpoint Medical and EnteroMedics Inc have already demonstrated some early progress of bio-electronics in treating rheumatoid arthritis and suppressing appetite in the obese. Other companies exploring the technology include Medtronic Plc, Proteus Digital Technology, Sanofi SA and Biogen Inc. 190517 LAWYER WANTS INVESTIGATION By Aloysius Laukai A Bougainville Lawyer with the Papua New Guinea Education Department, JOEL NAWA has called for investigation on the appointment of PETER KAMUAI to the Buin Executive Managers position. MR. NAWA who is currently studying in New Zealand commented on New Dawn FM site from New Zealand that the appointment needs further investigation. He questioned if he formally resigned from his previous position as senior primary school inspector to be appointed to that position. And if he was still getting paid by the National Department of Education based on his previous position. Meanwhile the Education car under his possession is still in Buin. The Police Commander, EMMART TSIMES when asked why they have not returned the car to Buka said that One of the resolutions made in reply to the Makis peoples petition this week was that the car be given to MR. KAMUAI to take it himself to Buka. Ends A creationist who believes the Grand Canyon formed after Noah's flood is suing park authorities for not letting him remove rocks for study. Research in the 1.84-billion-year-old landmark is restricted, especially if it involves removing material. In 2013 creationist Andrew Snelling - who also has a PhD - was denied the right to remove 50 to 60 fist-sized rocks for research. Last week he sued park administrators and the Department of Interior because he believes he was denied his research permit because of religious beliefs. Scroll down for video Andrew Snelling sued Grand Canyon park administrators and the Department of Interior because he believes he was denied his research permit because of his religious beliefs (stock) THE CONTROVERSY In 2013 creationist Andrew Snelling - who also has a PhD - was denied the right to remove 50 to 60 fist-sized rocks for research. Dr Snelling is a Young-Earth creationist who believe the earth is only a few thousand years old. He believes the Grand Canyon was part of the biblical account in the creation of Earth. Research in the 1.84-billion-year-old landmark is restricted, especially if it involves removing material. Last week he sued park administrators and the Department of Interior because he believes he was denied his research permit because of his religious beliefs. Advertisement Dr Snelling is a Young-Earth creationist who believes the Earth is only a few thousand years old. The Australian-based scientist also thinks the Grand Canyon was part of the biblical account in the creation of Earth. He holds a doctorate in geology from the University of Sydney and has conducted previous research at the site. 'The government isn't allowed to discriminate against someone based on their viewpoint, and National Park officials have absolutely no legal justification in stopping a scientist from conducting research simply because they don't agree with his views,' Gary McCaleb, senior counsel at the Alliance Defending Freedom working behalf of Mr Snelling told theWashington Times. 'Using someone's views to screen them for a government benefit is unconstitutional.' A Christian legal advocacy group filed the lawsuit on behalf of Dr Snelling for being prevented from carrying out his research because of his religious beliefs, writes The Atlantic. 'National Park Service: Research in Grand Canyon okay for geologistsbut not Christian ones', the organisation wrote in a press release. 'Dr Snelling has conducted geological research in Australia and the United States, published works in peer-reviewed journals, and has substantial field and laboratory experience with both theoretical and practical geological research', they said. In 2013 creationist Andrew Snelling - who also has a PhD - was denied the right to remove 50 to 60 fist-sized rocks from the park for research (stock image) YOUNG-EARTH CREATIONISTS Young-creationists believe the Book of Genesis, which tells the story of the creation of the earth, should be taken literally. They believe Earth and all life on it was created in six days around 10,000 years ago. They believe around 2,300 - 3,300 years before Christ the Earth was radically changed by Noah's Flood. All creatures that were not on Noah's Ark perished and many of them were also buried under rocks. According to their beliefs, this flood is therefore responsible for almost all fossils and rock layers. This is why the Grand Canyon park is such an important area of study. Advertisement 'Nonetheless, National Park Service officials denied his routine request to obtain a few fist-sized rock samples from the Grand Canyon after learning of his Christian views about the Earth's beginnings', they said. Between 15 and 40 per cent of Americans believe the planet is only 10,000 years old. Although heavily restricted, the park does hold around 80 research projects each year. 'Despite the fact that Dr Snelling had accomplished prior research in the Canyon, Park officials ran him through a gamut of red tape for more than three years', the organisation said. Reports suggests a park officer said the project was not granted because the rock he wanted is freely available outside the park. Other geologists denounced his work as not scientifically valid. The reasons why the park declined Dr Snelling's application is now being dealt with in a litigation. MailOnline has contacted the US Department of the Interior and Grand Canyon National Park Service for comment. Russia could be preparing for a space war after reactivating a group of satellites that military observers believed were inoperative. The objects first attracted attention for their unusual manoeuvrability which led some to suspect they were weapons, but they appeared to lay dormant for almost two years. Now the spacecraft have sprung back into action, raising concerns that the Kremlin is stepping up its space race. Mysterious Russian 'killer satellites', including Komsos-2504 (pictured at launch), have shown the first signs of life since 2015. The craft passed within 1,183 metres of a defunct Chinese weather satellite, extremely close in astronomical terms (Stock image) KOSMOS SATELLITES Three Russian satellites first caught the attention of armed forces in the west after they were spotted making a series of similar nimble manoeuvres. The trio of craft, which were launched between 2013 and 2015, were smuggled into space under the cover of routine launches of communications satellites. Experts speculated that they were built for combat or spying, and could be prototypes for a next generation of space weapons. The nimble vehicles, dubbed Kosmos-2491, -2499 and -2504, seemed to become inactive and remained so for almost two years. Back in March, Komsos-2504 suddenly resumed its manoeuvres, showing the first signs of life since October 2015. Last month the craft passed within 1,183 metres of a defunct Chinese weather satellite, extremely close in astronomical terms. Advertisement The agile craft, dubbed Kosmos-2491, -2499 and -2504, were smuggled into space under the cover of the routine launch of communications satellites. In March, Komsos-2504 suddenly resumed its manoeuvres, showing the first signs of life since October 2015. Last month the craft passed within 1,183 metres of a defunct Chinese weather satellite, extremely close in astronomical terms. And Kosmos-2499 was also seen undertaking some strange movements of its own in recent months. Dr Laura Grego, a space expert with the Massachusetts-based Union of Concerned Scientists, said in an interview with The Daily Beast: 'I do find it very interesting that the satellite would go dormant for two years and then come back to life to manoeuvre. 'One strategy to keep satellites stealthy is to pretend they are debris, i.e. not to have them manoeuvre at all at first, and then come to life later. 'To be confident this works, you might want to be able to test if your equipment works after being idle for months or years.' The trio of craft, which were launched between 2013 and 2015, caught the attention of armed forces in the west after they were spotted making a series of similar nimble manoeuvres. This led experts to suspect they were built for combat or spying. This speculation led Russian space agency chief Oleg Ostapenko to declare that the vehicles were not 'killer satellites' at a press conference held in December 15, 2014. The first of the craft, Kosmos-2491, was launched in May 2014 from the Plesetsk spaceport in the Arkhangelsk region. It is usual for these Rodnik communications satellites to be deployed in threes, but in this instance Moscow listed four spacecraft to be launched, in a notification to the United Nations. Experts fear previously dormant Russian satellites that have sprung back to life after two years inactivity could be prototype space weapons. A trio of the unusually agile craft were launched between 2013 and 2015, including Kosmos-2499 (pictured in a stock image) Rodnik communication satellites, like most orbital spacecraft, do not have engines and are therefore not able to propel themselves. It therefore surprised observers on the ground when the fourth mystery satellite, boosted itself into a slightly different orbit, according to American military correspondent David Axe. Over the next year and a half, Russian launched two more of the mysterious objects, which are about the size of a mini-fridge. The three unusually nimble satellites are able to get within a few dozen feet of other satellites, and are potentially able to spy-on, hijack and even destroy other spacecraft. The Kosmos-2491 (pictured) was launched in May 2014. The Kremlin's move in launching the mysterious craft was particularly provocative towards the U.S. which is highly dependent on its space resources and therefore more vulnerable (stock image) It is clear from their capabilities that they have the potential to become anti-satellite weapons. 'Looking at the history of space technology, it often starts with a small and cheap satellite that's easy to launch, then the same technology gets incorporated into something larger,' said Anatoly Zak, a Russian-born journalist and space historian. 'You can probably equip them with lasers, maybe put some explosives on them,' he added. 'If [one] comes very close to some military satellite, it probably can do some harm.' Russia is not the only country to be trialling technology with the potential to be employed for the destruction of satellites. Astronomers have issued an internet-wide call to action after discovering this morning that Tabbys Star has once again begun to dim. The mysterious phenomenon was first detected in 2015, when a star in the constellation Cygnus was found to be winking, with dramatic fluctuations in brightness but, scientists arent quite sure whats causing it. Among several theories that have arisen, some experts have suggested that a rotating alien megastructure known as a Dyson Sphere could be to blame. Now, scientists are calling on observatories around the world to point their telescopes toward Tabbys Star so they can gather new data as it moves through the dimming cycle. In 2015, astronomers spotted a star, known as Tabby's Star that could be seen mysteriously brightening and dimming. Astronomers have issued an internet-wide call for action after discovering this morning that Tabbys Star has once again begun to dim (artist's impression) 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 ALERT: @tsboyajians star is dipping. This is not a drill, Jason Wright, Penn State Associate Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics tweeted Friday morning. Astro tweeps on telescopes in the next 48 hours: spectra please! And, Tabetha Boyajian the scientist for whom the star earned its nickname tweeted CALL TO ACTION!!, calling for instruments including NASAs Kepler to observe the phenomenon. According to Boyajian, the dip was at 2 percent as of Friday morning, and it looks like its the start. This will offer scientists an extraordinary chance to measure the light from Tabbys Star, officially called KIC 8462852, in efforts to uncover the mysterious cause behind the dimming. Since it was first detected, scientists have been hard at work attempting to explain the fluctuations, which have seen brightness dip as much as 20 percent before reverting to normal. If an 'alien megastructure' really is to blame, one scientist has suggested that spotting it could be relatively easy as long as experts focus on the right places. Scientists are calling on observatories around the world to point their telescopes toward Tabbys Star so they can gather new data as it moves through the dimming cycle. Tabetha Boyajian the scientist for whom the star earned its nickname tweeted CALL TO ACTION!! According to Boyajian, the dip was at 2 percent as of Friday morning, and it looks like its the start. This will offer scientists an extraordinary chance to measure the light from Tabbys Star, officially called KIC 8462852, in efforts to uncover the mysterious cause behind the dimming 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. 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. Several theories were suggested for Tabby Star's behaviour, with one expert suggesting that this 'winking' may have been caused by the rotation of an alien megastructrure, called a Dyson's Sphere 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 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. 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. The first European travellers to discover the delights of Peru were Spanish explorers in 1532. Led by Francisco Pizarro, they settled on a dramatic spot, backed by tall cliffs and the foaming Pacific, and inhabited by native tribes. Several hundred years later, the once tiny settlement has grown into a throbbing metropolis of eight million people and towering skyscrapers. An oceanic endeavour: Lima is engagingly pitched on cliffs above the Pacific And travellers dropping in on Lima en route to the Amazon, Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu will not be disappointed. Home away from home Hotel B (hotelb.pe). The 'B' stands for 'Barranco', the neighbourhood, but it could stand for 'beautiful', 'bohemian' and 'brilliant'. Housed in a grand belle epoque-style mansion that was a summer residence built in 1914, it features 17 stately suites with surrealist art and vintage furniture. There's even free champagne at check-in. Happy hour It has to be a pisco sour. The national drink is made from a local spirit and flavoured with bitters and lime juice. Several places, including El Bolivarcito (elbolivarcitoperu.com), claim to have invented it in the Twenties, though pisco has been enjoyed for much longer. Try it with araza juice (a fruit from the Amazon) at Amaz (amaz.com.pe). Grub's up Peruvian cuisine is all the rage with restaurants popping up in cities around the world, including London. Try the real deal in Lima: ceviche (raw fish marinated in zingy lime juice) at La Mar (lamarcebicheria.com) or pan-seared cuy (guinea pig) at hip Malabar (malabar.com.pe). Craving something sweet? Enjoy Amazonian ice cream from La Fiorentina Gelateria outside the Mercado Central. Heading back to the past: The city is awash with colonial architecture - its cathedral included History lesson Discover how Lima became one of the most important cities in the Spanish Empire. Evidence can be found everywhere, from glorious colonial buildings in the Centro Historico to ruined city walls in Parque de la Murella. But you can go back further, to the days of the Incas. Huaca Pucllana a temple from AD500 is in the heart of the city. Don't miss the 16th-century cathedral famed for its Baroque gold leaf altar, final resting place of Pizarro, the city's founder. Mad about markets At buzzing Mercado Central, foodies stock up on exotic fruits and potions. Head across town to the coastal neighbourhood of Chorrillos, where you'll find the early morning fish market. Pick up quality arts and crafts at trendy Dedalo (dedaloarte.blogspot.com) in Barranco. Travel Facts Journey Latin America (journeylatinamerica.co.uk, 020 8600 188) offers three nights in Lima from 1,689pp, including flights, hotel, excursions, transfers and some meals. Further information on via the Peru Tourist Board (peru.travel). Advertisement Oh, the joys of not getting on a plane for a thorough detox in uplifting countryside. The Clover Mill is an Ayurvedic detox centre, housed in a restored 17th-century water mill near Malvern. It has a yoga studio and treatment rooms built around vintage grain bins and milling equipment. Drop in, switch off: The Clover Mill offers Ayurvedic therapies in leafy Worcestershire You're plugged straight in to nature, with accommodation in three starkly beautiful eco-lodges. The lodges, built with natural materials, are aligned east to west so you are woken by the rise of the sun. It's like staying at a healing house party; intimate and relaxing, with only six guests at a time. Pottering to pre-breakfast yoga in pyjamas is de rigueur. Owner Julie Dent, an ex-scientist convinced of the health benefits of Ayurveda, runs a tight ship. She oversees timetables and ensures your stay is hiccup-free. She cooks outstanding vegetarian food according to your Ayurvedic dosha type. Ayurveda is an ancient Indian system of alternative medicine based on maintaining a balanced emotional and physical state. There are three main body types, or doshas; Vata, Pitta and Kapha. On the first night we filled out our dosha questionnaires. They were extraordinarily accurate in terms of personality types. Apparently, we were all prone to illness or emotional disharmony when out of alignment with our dominant dosha. What gives The Clover Mill an unparalleled edge over most UK spas is the quality of the treatments. You will have a holistic experience worthy of any top-notch Eastern destination spa - without the jet lag. A real draw is therapist Amanda Phillips, who performs a technique called Conscious Breathing, which can release powerful emotions such as grief, anxiety and fury. I released them. Unhurried escapism: The retreat can only take in six guests at any one time I sobbed through the Conscious Breathing sessions; I scraped my tongue to aid detox; I drank a foul herb called Triphala to unclog my intestines; and I luxuriated for hours, alone, in my lodge. The atmosphere is nurturing and unpretentious. Perfect if you need a pause from daily life to let go of stress. I left feeling physically and psychologically lighter. My Pitta dosha in balance? Perhaps. It's a popular excuse for being absent from the office without burning through sick days or holiday time. Yet a staggering one in four Brits have, in fact, been out of the country while claiming to be 'working from home'. Research by a mobile network surveyed 1,500 office-based employees across the UK, finding that 24 per cent of them have bluffed their way abroad with the phrase. Scroll down for video Home and away: The average Brit now works 3.5 days a month 'from home' or 42 every year Nearly a quarter of staff have manipulated the advent of technology to acquire roughly 3.5 days away from work, each month, the EE survey revealed. That equates to a total of eight weeks of untitled leave, every year. Of the 24 per cent, a third of them have been on a European City break when they were meant to be working. However, not all those questioned use the time for adventure. The survey also revealed that one in ten adults stay in bed all day, while - of those who actually get up - 36 per cent regularly dont even bother to dress. Meanwhile, almost one in ten (seven per cent) have used a 'home' day to facilitate a family day out, while 23 per cent use them to indulge in long lunches. Trips to the hairdressers are also common (10 per cent). Get away! EE's study found 24 per cent claim to be working remotely, while actually abroad Pulling a fast one: Of the 24 per cent who lie about working remotely, a third of them have been on a European city break when they were meant to be grafting Predictably, however, it doesnt always go to plan for the nations workers - as almost a quarter (23 per cent) have been caught out not being where they should have been after calling the office or joining a video conference call. That ruse is even more likely to be rumbled if officials across Europe and America decide to widen the controversial laptop ban. UK and EU representatives met with US counter-terrorism officials in Brussels, this week, to thrash-out a deal concerning transatlantic trips, which sees 65million people travel between Europe and North American on 400 daily flights, each year. It comes just hours after Australia's Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, revealed that his government is also 'looking ... very closely' at a similar move. It would effectively stop people having access to anything greater than a smartphone in flight cabins. She is the mother of two adorable kids, six-month-old daughter Dream and four-year-old King Cairo. But on Thursday Blac Chyna proved she has already bounced back after giving birth late last year. The 29-year-old model wore purple hair as she lounged poolside in a shot she shared on Snapchat. Lounging: Blac Chyna shared this poolside shot of herself relaxing on Thursday afternoon She chose a white two-piece swimsuit as she soaked up the sun and dipped her toes into the water. In another photo, she shared a close-up shot of her impossibly small waist, just six months after giving birth to Dream. Her white swim top had a high neckline, but still managed to flash the ample star's underboob via a cutout on it's lower part. On display: The social media star made sure she showed off her enviable figure in her swimsuit Her large collection of tattoos were on display up her thigh and on the side of her stomach. Blac, born Angela Renee White, was clearly enjoying the Southern California sunshine, relaxing after weeks of traveling and events. The stunner threw herself belated birthday bash earlier in the week, having turned 29 on May 11. Dream come true: She snuggled with her six-month-old daughter with Rob Kardashian Proud mama: Her son King Cairo (L), four, is from her relationship with rapper Tyga joined the girls for Mothers Day Prior to that, she was in Las Vegas for a friend's wedding, Miami for a photo shoot and Atlantic City to judge a twerking contest. Chyna's on-again, off-again fiance Rob Kardashian was not seen with her on any of the trips or on Thursday's backyard lounge session. Though he did wish her a Happy Mother's Day on social media, the pair have not been spotted together in over a month. She entertained guests with a playfully intimate exchange at the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival opening ceremony on Wednesday evening. But after fulfilling her role as Master of Ceremonies at the glamorous event, during which she passionately kissed co-host Alex Lutz as part of an onstage skit, it was a relaxed Monica Bellucci who made an appearance in the French resort town the following night. The Italian model and actress, 52, caught the eye in a form-fitting sheer dress that served to accentuate her curves as she descended a set of steps outside the lavish JW Marriot Hotel. Scroll down for video Stunning: Monica Bellucci caught the eye in a form-fitting sheer dress that served to accentuate her curves as she descended a set of steps outside the lavish JW Marriot Hotel in Cannes on Thursday evening Fully exposing her matching black bra, the dress ensured she commanded attention during a short walk from the hotel foyer to a waiting car. Black tights and towering Christian Louboutin heels added to a subdued colour scheme, while soft, smoky make-up accentuated her already striking features. Pausing to acknowledge fans, the former Bond girl was in high spirits during her latest appearance in Cannes. Sheer elegance: Black tights and towering Christian Louboutin heels added to a subdued colour scheme Unmissable: Fully exposing her matching black bra, the dress ensured she commanded attention during a short walk from the hotel foyer to a waiting car Greetings: Pausing to acknowledge fans, the former Bond girl was in high spirits during her latest appearance in Cannes The sultry star was joined by actress Jessica Chastain, 40, who looked typically elegant in a sleeveless black evening dress as she followed Monica out of the hotel. French star Juliette Binoche was also present on the night, and she caught the eye in a sheer top and matching black trousers. Completing her look with a smart white jacket and peep-toe heels, the 53-year old greeted onlookers with a warm smile as she made her way onto the street. Tasteful: Soft, smoky make-up accentuated her already striking features. Stepping out: French star Juliette Binoche was also present on the night, and she caught the eye in a sheer top and matching black trousers High glamour: The sultry star was joined by actress Jessica Chastain, 40, who looked typically elegant in a sleeveless black evening dress as she followed Monica out of the hotel During Wednesday evening's opening ceremony Monica stunned onlookers at the Palais des Festivals et des Congres by passionately kissing French comedian Lutz. 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. Looking good: Juliette completed her look with a smart white jacket Upbeat: The 53-year old greeted onlookers with a warm smile as she made her way onto the street 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.' It was the grand finale of Britain's Next Top Model on Thursday night. And host Abbey Clancy certainly stepped up to the occasion, wowing in a sparkly black mini dress as she filmed the final scenes of the series in Cape Verde. The 31-year-old put on a leggy display in the tight-fitting number, which featured dramatic fringe detailing that reached the floor. Stunning: Abbey Clancy put on a leggy display in a sparkly black mini dress during the final of Britain's Next Top Model, which was filmed in Cape Verde The Liverpudlian beauty showed off her statuesque frame in the daring frock, which featured a semi-sheer zig zag panel around the hem. She finished off the stunning look with a pair of black strappy heels, elongating her legs even further. Wearing her blonde locks down over her shoulders, Abbey accentuated her lips with a dark plum lipstick, before accentuating her eyes with lashings of mascara and a slick of liquid liner. Ending on a high: The 31-year-old looked to be in high spirits for the final, which saw the contestants take part in a nude photoshoot before hitting the catwalk for the last time Dazzling: The Liverpudlian beauty showed off her statuesque frame in her daring frock, which featured a semi-sheer zig zag panel around the hem Abbey looked to be in high spirits for the final, which saw the contestants take part in a nude photoshoot before hitting the catwalk for the last time. She was seen sharing a laugh with fellow judges Paul Sculfor and Nick Johnston as Olivia Wardell was crowned this year's winner. The 18-year-old beat Jennifer Malengele, 18, and Alannah Beirne, 23, to win the coveted contract with Models 1. Glam: Abbey, pictured with guest judge Savannah Miller looked sensational in her sparkly number, which featured dramatic floor-length fringe detailing That's a wrap! BNTM judges, from L to R: Nicky Johnston, Abbey, Hilary Alexander, Paul Sculfor and fashion designer Savannah Big night: The panel all dressed to impress as they filmed the final scenes of this year's series Abbey was on hand to offer her advice to Olivia during the nude photoshoot, telling her: 'You're so exposed, you've got nothing on - you're wearing all your body. 'Put your face where the light is. Impress us, because this is your last chance to.' Reflecting on her win, Olivia, who has been sworn to secrecy on her victory since filming wrapped up last year, told FEMAIL: 'I haven't known what to do between winning and it being on TV. 'My friends have been asking if I know who the winner is and I've been saying, "Yeah, I know her pretty well. Pretty well!"' Strike a pose: The judges appeared to be in a playful mood as they wrapped up filming Strong opinions: Abbey was on hand to offer her advice to eventual winner Olivia during the nude photoshoot Abbey appeared on Britain's Next Top Model in the summer of 2006, the second cycle of the show, as she made it to the final and came second to Lianna Fowler over the 10 week stint on the programme. Having returned to judge the rebooted version of the series in 2016, Abbey has strived to impart her wisdom on the gaggle of contestants - but things haven't been plain sailing. Speaking to Now magazine ahead of the series, Abbey admitted things got heated in the house among the girls. Clashes: The head judge admitted things got heated in the house among the girls Applause: However, the judges appeared to be delighted by the girls' efforts during the finale High fives all round! They congratulated one another on the success of the series She said: 'I think its bigger and better than last year. I think weve got a great bunch of girls and Im really excited. 'Put a group of girls in a house together and my God youre bound to have drama! Ive got two little girls and you know girls with girls arent the same as a group of lads together. 'But its a competition and theyre all there with the same goal to win. Its a big mishmash of personalities so youre bound to have a bit of drama.' Winner: Olivia Wardell, 18, was crowned the winner of this year's series of BNTM Beauty: She impressed judges throughout the finale, despite needing encouragement from Abbey during the nude photoshoot Finalists: Olivia beat fellow contestant Jennifer Malengele (L) to claim the coveted Models 1 contract She is set to star opposite Elle Fanning in the upcoming romantic comedy flick How To Talk To Girls At Parties. And new teaser clips of Nicole Kidman, 49, have emerged, showing the iconic actress looking almost unrecognisable as she transforms into a punk-rock alien for her role. With her trademark fiery locks tucked beneath a white, mullet-cut wig, Nicole certainly looked the part of a grungy extra-terrestrial being. Is that you, Nicole? New teaser clips of Nicole Kidman, 49, have emerged, showing the iconic actress looking almost unrecognisable as she transforms into a punk-rock alien for her role in How To Talk To Girls At Parties Nicole's red carpet glamour was replaced with a hard-edged makeup look, which included an angular eyebrow shape and a swipe of bold under-eye kohl liner. The movie is set to premiere this weekend at the Cannes Film Festival and will open in cinemas later this year. How To Talk To Girls, based on Gaimain's short story of the same name, tells the tale of two teenage boys who meet girls at a party, only to discover that they are actually aliens. Grunge: With her trademark fiery locks tucked beneath a white, mullet-cut wig Nicole certainly looked the part of a grungy extra-terrestrial being Edgy: Nicole's red carpet glamour was replaced with a hard-edged makeup look, which included an angular eyebrow shape and a swipe of bold under-eye kohl liner Sneak peek: Nicole also looks almost unrecognisable in the trailer for Top of the Lake: China Girl, sporting a grey wig and freckled complexion Its not the only surprising new sported by Nicole in recent weeks. Earlier this month, the trailer was released for season two of Jane Campions crime mystery China Girl, the highly-anticipated next installment of the Top of the Lake mini-series. Nicole once again looked almost unrecognisable in the trailer, sporting a grey wig and freckled complexion. Plot: The Academy Award-winner stars in the local production as Julia, a mother whose story intersects with Detective Robin Griffin's (played by Elisabeth Moss) search for the identity of 'China Girl' The actress stars in the local production as Julia, a mother whose story intersects with Detective Robin Griffin's (played by Elisabeth Moss) search for the identity of 'China Girl'. Scenes within the trailer see Nicole cutting a much older figure for her character, sporting a grey curly wig. Her complexion is also slightly weathered with significant freckling. Playing a local mother Julia, Nicole's attire is rather subdued and conservative. The next installment for the Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated mini-series, sees Elisabeth Moss reprise her lead role as Detective Robin Griffin. The Mad Men star is also joined by Nicole, Gwendoline Christie of Game of Thrones, David Dencik from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, as well as Alice Englert and Ewen Leslie. Attempting to rebuild her life, Detective Robin Griffin returns to Sydney, Australia. Starring role: The next installment for the Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated mini-series, sees Elisabeth Moss (left) reprise her role as Detective Robin Griffin Starting over: Attempting to rebuild her life, Detective Robin Griffin returns to Sydney, Australia A mystery Asian woman's body is found ashore on Bondi Beach, making Robin's mission to hunt for the killer of 'China Girl'. Not much is given away as to Nicole's character, however it is noted that Julia's history plays a pivotal part in Robin's quest for the perpetrator. The last time Nicole was in Australia for a local production was back in 1989 for the three-part miniseries Bangkok Hilton. For this project, the red head returned Down Under for five weeks and brought daughters Faith and Sunday Rose along with her. Quest: A mystery Asian woman's body is found ashore on Bondi Beach, making Robin's mission to hunt for the killer of 'China Girl' According to The Daily Telegraph, Foxtel boss Brian Walsh said it had taken a year to secure Nicole, having signed the contract in June last year. 'Having Nicole on board is such a great endorsement of the high-concept television we are producing here now,' Brian said. 'I don't think theres been a better time for Australian television,' he added. Top of the Lake: China Girl will premiere at Cannes Film Festival later this month. The series will then go to air on BBC First later in the year. 190517POLICE ON PEACE IN SOUTH BOUGAINVILLE By Aloysius Laukai The Commander for the South Bougainville Police, SENIOR SERGEANT EMMART TSIMES has appealed to the people of South Bougainville to maintain peace and stability throughout South Bougainville. He made these comments on New Dawn FM today when thanking the people for maintaining the rule of law throughout South Bougainville. Commander TSIMES also commended on the development taking place in Buin town and called on the people to respect the people working on the Buin town streets. He said law and order is the essence for more development to come to Southy Bougainville. Ends She's the American actress who transformed her body for the new Baywatch reboot. And Alexandra Daddario, 31, says landing the gig was empowering after having spent most of high school feeling like somewhat of an ugly duckling. 'It was thrilling, I felt like I got all the revenge on all the high school boys that turned me down - I could finally be a Baywatch babe... it was exciting,' she told Today's Richard Wilkins on Thursday. Scroll down for video Confidence boost: Alexandra Daddario, 31, recently said landing her new Baywatch gig was empowering after having spent most of high school feeling like somewhat of an ugly duckling Alexandra plays Summer Quinn, who is actor Zac Efron's on-screen love interest in the new reboot of 90s drama Baywatch. The brunette beauty recently revealed that she underwent a dramatic body transformation for her Baywatch bikini. She started eating more so she could build muscle mass, the star told the June issue of Women's Health. 'It was thrilling, I felt like I got all the revenge on all the high school boys that turned me down - I could finally be a Baywatch babe... it was exciting,' she told Today's Richard Wilkins on Thursday Reboot: Alexandra (2-L) plays Summer Quinn, who is actor Zac Efron's (3-L) on-screen love interest in the 90s reboot 'It was kind of amazing, the transformation I went through,' she said. 'For Baywatch, I started doing weight training, which I had never done before, and I saw a huge difference.' Daddario worked with Efron's personal trainer Patrick Murphy because she figured: 'Patrick trains Zac; Zac's body is insane.' American hunk Zac, who plays disgraced former Olympian Matt Brody in the movie, recently gushed about his new role - 'I mean, our whole cast is fantastic. We're making a movie about, like, summer, dream come true, it's sexy, it's got all the action, all the humour' They went at it up to five-day-a-week with very intense sessions that lasted an hour. Patrick had her use free weights, sliders, TRX straps, resistant bands and BOSU balls, she told the publication. American hunk Zac, who plays disgraced former Olympian Matt Brody in the movie, recently gushed about his new role. Making a return: Original stars David Hasselhoff (pictured) and Pamela Anderson are set to make cameos in the film 'Oh, man. It's pretty cool I got to say. They're great people, man, the Rock is awesome,' he said. 'I mean, our whole cast is fantastic. We're making a movie about, like, summer, dream come true, it's sexy, it's got all the action, all the humour.' He added: 'I like to call it like rush hour on the beach. You know. It's like really fun. It's really fun. It's exciting.' Original stars David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson are set to make cameos in the film. 'We took a lot of flack for that show in the very beginning. And you know, 26 years later and 245 episodes later, it's so great to see that everyone still cares,' David said. Pamela added: 'I'm just so happy that the brand is still alive and you know, I signed a lot of CJ dolls. A lot of merchandise everywhere and all over the world.' Audiences were given their first glimpse of the lavish Dynasty revival in a brand new trailer on Thursday. The CW saga, like the 80s original that famously featured Joan Collins as Alexis Carrington, will follow the lives of the ridiculously wealthy Carrington and Colby families as they battle for dominance of their ultra-rich world. In the new trailer, the words 'Welcome to the one-percent of the one-percent' appear onscreen, before giving viewers a taste of the Dynasty high-life, complete with glasses of bubbling champagne, chauffeured cars, luxe mansions, and much more. Scroll down for video Juicy first peek: The first trailer for The CW's Dynasty came out Thursday, revealing just some of the over-the-top drama the series promises The tale will be told from the perspective of two upscale rivals, Fallon Carrington and Cristal Flores. Elizabeth Giles of Victorious plays the spoiled heiress Fallon while Nathalie Kelley of The Vampire Diaries plays Cristal, a fierce Latina who is engaged to Fallon's father Blake, played in the revamp by Grant Show of former Melrose Place fame. Leading lady: Elizabeth Giles plays the shrewd Fallon Carrington in the reboot 'Welcome to the one-percent of the one-percent': The trailer gives viewers a taste of the Dynasty high-life, complete with private jets, mansions and plenty of devoted staff Caught in the act! After Fallon walks in on her dad, played by Grant Show, and his new fiance Cristal, she declares war against the 'gold-digger' From the very start, the trailer promises all the sex, squabbles and style of the original. After Fallon walks in on her dad and his new fiance Cristal getting frisky, she declares war against the 'gold-digger.' 'Family dynasties flow through blood. Wives just come and go' the socialite tells her brother Steven (played by James Mackay). Oh brother! Miss Carrington's brother Steven is played by James Mackay 'This means war': The clip culminates in one of Dynasty's iconic catfights, complete with hair pulling, dress ripping and an epic slap While Kristal complains that the heiress 'will never see [her] as anything except the girl' patriarch Blake Carrington in 'banging', her cunning rival Fallon schemes. 'There's no point in getting upset,' the blue eyed beauty tells Kristal, before snarkily adding, 'It's only an engagement.' Fallon's dedicated driver gets roped into the drama, catching Cristal as she passionately puckers up to a dark and handsome mystery man. 'It's only an engagement': Fallon stops at nothing to halt her rival from wedding her dad Cristal clear: Clearly on the outside, the fierce fiance must fight for her rightful place in the family Who's he? The cunning heiress enlists the help of her devoted driver to spy on her dad's fiancee 'Whatever you found, I can explain' says Kelley's character. The whole clip culminates with one of Dynasty's iconic catfights, showing Cristal and Fallon go into full hair-pulling, dress-ripping, expletive screaming glory. 'Face it, this is war,' declares Fallon, before the clip winds down. 'Wives just come and go': The cunning Fallon fears her new stepmom has selfish intentions, while brother Steven endures his own drama The new series was developed by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, who both have a strong track record with teen soaps. They both worked on the CW's Gossip Girl, and Savage also worked on the mid-aughties hit The OC, which was heavily compared to Dynasty during its four-season run on FOX. Dynasty was greenlit for a whole season May 10, with the series premiere set for Fall 2017. Then and Now Revamp: Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll's Elizabeth Gillies will take over the part of the headstrong and promiscuous heiress Fallon Carrington (originally played by Pamela Sue Martin) Joan Collins' scene-stealing diva Alexis was a major part of the original series but her character was clearly inimitable as there is no replacement for her in the new version Cristal is played by Nathalie Kelley of The Vampire Diaries in the new version, a fierce Latina who is engaged to Fallon's father Blake. Linda Evans played the 1980s character The classic scene in when Fallon walks in on her dad and his new fiance Cristal, and she declares war against the 'gold-digger' has been re-made in the contemporary version Pamela Sue Martin (left) who played Fallon Carrington in the original Dynasty TV series. Fallon will be played by Elizabeth Giles of Victorious in the Dynasty re-make John Forsythe who played Blake Carrington in the original Dynasty TV series Actors Al Corley, Pamela Sue Martin and John Forsythe who starred in the original Dynasty series which was popular in the 1980s She was spotted on a romantic stroll with girlfriend Ruby Rose on Wednesday. But on Thursday Jessica Origliasso jetted into Brisbane airport without Ruby, accompanied instead by sister Lisa. The Veronicas are heading to Darwin for a performance on Saturday. Missing Ruby Rose? The Veronicas' Jessica Origliasso hugs pillow tightly and checks phone as her and sister Lisa head to Darwin for concert The 32-year-old arrived into Brisbane from Los Angeles on Thursday alongside twin Lisa. Jessica hugged a pillow tightly as she made her way through the airport, checking her phone at the same time. Makeup free, Jessica dressed for the cool temperature in a faux-fur coat and trackpants. Jet setters! The 32-year-old arrived into Brisbane from Los Angeles on Thursday alongside twin Lisa A bit chilly! Sister Lisa was also similarly attired in a fluffy coat and loose-fitting trousers Meanwhile, her sister Lisa was also similarly attired in a fluffy coat and loose-fitting trousers. The two sisters were flying from Brisbane to Darwin, where they will perform on Saturday. After that the sister act will leave Australia for New Zealand. Earlier this week, Jessica was spotted spending time with girlfriend Ruby Rose in Los Angeles. Making the most of their time together? Earlier this week Jessica was spotted spending time with girlfriend Ruby Rose in Los Angeles Back together: Ruby and Jessica, who previously dated in 2008, reunited after starring in video clip By Your Side together The loved-up couple walked arm-in-arm along the street, appearing closer than ever since rekindling their romance last November. Ruby and Jessica, who previously dated in 2008, reunited after starring in video clip By Your Side together. Jessica told the Herald Sun she had not expected to get back together with Ruby but things felt new again. 'There was such explicit chemistry between Ruby and I,' Jessica said. They're the Instagram models known for flaunting their enviable physiques in racy bikinis. And on Wednesday, dynamic duo Devin Brugman, 27, and Tash Oakley, 26, left the beach for a day out in New York. Walking hand-in-hand, the brunette and blonde beauty went braless during the hot day. Scroll down for video Big Apple bound: On Wednesday, dynamic duo Tash Oakley (on left), 26, and Devin Brugman (on right), 27, left the beach for a day out in New York Devin showcased her curvy figure in a black singlet and skinny jeans that had rips in the knees. Accessorising with round aviators and a western belt, she also sported a black backpack. Devin also wore black block heels that featured buttons at the top of the ankles. Busting out! Both Tash and Devin went braless during the outing Dangerous curves: Devin showcased her curvy figure in a black singlet and skinny jeans that had rips in the knees Linking arms with best friend Tash, the brunette beauty let her shoulder length tresses down for the hot day. Trying to keep cool from the New York heat, she walked around with a half finished icy cold drink. Taut: Meanwhile, Tash also kept her outfit simple with a pair of dark jeans and a cropped white T-shirt that exposed her taut and toned tummy Chic: The Australian swimwear designer matched her ensemble with a pair of tan block heels as she walked around the city Busy bees: Both women chatted away as they made their way down the sidewalk Meanwhile, Tash also kept her outfit simple with a pair of dark jeans and a cropped white T-shirt that exposed her taut and toned tummy. The Australian swimwear designer matched her ensemble with a pair of tan block heels as she walked around the city. Accessorising her look with a silver watch and a grey Louis Vuitton bag, Tash also held her iPhone tight in her hand. Refreshment: Devin kept cool by sipping an iced coffee Filtered reality: The business partners made headlines recently after unflattering paparazzi snaps of the two surfaced online with fans questioning whether their bikini figures were really genuine. The beach babe went makeup free and kept her blonde locks left natural and out. The business partners made headlines recently after unflattering paparazzi snaps of the two surfaced online with fans questioning whether their bikini figures were really genuine. Making a shocking confession to The Daily Telegraph last year, Tash admitted to photoshopping her images. 'I think that everyone is doing that (retouching) because of what they see in the media,' she said unwillingly. She is enjoying a career resurgence since winning I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here earlier this year. And Casey Donovan is taking advantage of the media attention she's garnered in recent months, including the social media response to her 'annoying' Coles TV ad. The 29-year-old was spotted leaving the Channel Seven studios on Thursday after performing her latest single 'Lonely' while she puffed away on an e-cigarette. Beating the bad habit: Casey Donovan was spotted leaving the Channel Seven studios on Thursday after performing her latest single 'Lonely' while she puffed away on an e-cigarette The bubbly vocalist, who attempted to give up smoking during her time on the reality show in the South African jungle, appeared break. She stood alone in a street near the Martin Place location of the network's main studio as she inhaled and then blew out the smoke from the electronic device. She wore her signature voluminous hair in a mass of curls and had professional makeup done for her on-camera gig. Puff away: The bubbly vocalist vowed to give up smoking during her time on the reality show I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! Down time: She stood alone in a street near the Martin Place location of the network's main studio as she inhaled and then blew out the smoke from the electronic device Signature: She wore her voluminous hair in a mass of curls and had professional makeup done for her on-camera gig She wore an all-black outfit of a ruched dress that flaunted her ample cleavage and a casual jacket buttoned-up for the chillier temperatures outside. The former Australian Idol contestant carried her beloved guitar with her, which she played during her spirited performance of her new track. She took pictures with the show's hosts, Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies, before leaving the building with an unidentified friend. Monochrome: She wore an all-black outfit of a ruched dress that flaunted her ample cleavage and a casual jacket buttoned-up for the chillier temperatures outside Musician: The former Australian Idol contestant carried her beloved guitar with her, which she played during her spirited performance of her new track Buzzing: She's taking advantage of the media attention she's garnered in recent months, including the social media response to her 'annoying' Coles TV ad Comeback: She is enjoying a career resurgence since winning I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here earlier this year She recently said she is 'grateful' for landing a deal with retail chain Coles, despite her commercial being slammed as 'annoying' by critics. 'I've worked very hard to get to where I am in life and my career,' she told The Daily Telegraph this week. 'They've brought me on board to have some fun and I'm grateful for this opportunity so for anyone to call me a sell out, that is just words,' she continued. Popular: She took pictures with the show's hosts, Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies, before leaving the building with an unidentified friend They recently returned from an idyllic honeymoon on a tropical island in Fiji. And Peter Stefanovic and his wife Sylvia Jeffreys appeared to be still enjoying the early days of marriage bliss as they hit the town for an intimate dinner date on Thursday night. The besotted pair, who wed last month in a glamorous Southern Highlands affair, were all smiles as they left a restaurant in Sydney's trendy suburb of Paddington. Glamour couple coming through! Peter Stefanovic and his wife Sylvia Jeffreys appeared to be still enjoying the early days of marriage bliss as they hit the town for an intimate dinner date on Thursday night Sylvia looked typically stylish in an all-black ensemble consisting of a long-sleeved top, skinny jeans and duster coat. She accessorised her chic look with a pair of brogue-inspired slip-on shoes, a bandana choker and a leather messenger bag. Her trademark blonde locks were left to hang loose by her shoulders, while her makeup was kept fresh and feminine with a touch of blush and a swipe of mascara. Style queen: Sylvia looked typically stylish in an all-black ensemble consisting of a long-sleeved top, skinny jeans and duster coat Meanwhile, Peter cut a sleek figure in a navy jumper, white shirt and blue jeans. Since tying the knot the newlyweds have been bombarded with pregnancy rumours. Sylvia recently told The Daily Telegraph: 'Someone tweeted me this morning and asked me if I'm hiding a baby (bump) because I was wearing a peplum jacket, here we go, it begins!' Baby rumours: While the 30-year-old has remained tight-lipped about her baby plans, she and her journalist husband have purchased a $2.7 million family home in Sydney, which suggests children might be on their radar While the 30-year-old has remained tight-lipped about her baby plans, she and her journalist husband have purchased a $2.7 million family home in Sydney, which suggests children might be on their radar. The blonde beauty also revealed to the publication that she will not be taking her husband's surname, most likely for professional reasons. 'We decided it is the best thing for me to keep it,' she told the publication. Bryan Cranston and Jennifer Garner were snapped at a New York City screening of their new film Wakefield, held at the Landmark Sunshine Cinema Thursday. At the screening, which was hosted by The Cinema Society and FIJI Water, Garner, 45, wore a strapless black dress with golden highlights and black pointy-toed heels. The Golden Globe-winning Alias actress had her brown tresses down and a minimal, clean makeup job. Cranston was outfitted in a shadow grey suit with a black tie and black shoes. Star power: Bryan Cranston, 61, and Jennifer Garner, 45, were well-outfitted Thursday for the premiere of their drama, Wakefield In the film, which is based off a E.L. Doctorow short story, the 61-year-old actor plays a New York City attorney named Howard Wakefield who has something of a nervous breakdown, retreating to his attic and watching events unfold in the wake of his vanishing. Garner plays his wife Diana in the drama, which is directed by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Robin Swicord. Swicord, speaking with the blog Women and Hollywood, hailed her film's leading man as 'an amazing actor, director, writer, and producer. Leading the charge: Director Robin Swicord (L) posed with Cranston and Garner at the event Hideout: Cranston in the film plays Howard Wakefield, the husband of Garner's character Breaking good: Cranston was hailed by Swicord as a generous person with 'a huge heart' 'Theres nothing that he cant do. Hes a person with many gifts and a huge heart,' she said. 'He is a big, big star, and he should be.' Swicord, a veteran writer (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Memoirs of a Geisha), chat with the outlet on her venture into direction, as her other feature film was 2007's The Jane Austen Book Club. Asked why the public generally associates the director role as a male one, Swicord told the outlet the misconception isn't limited to show business. Fierce fashionista: Garner was nicely dressed at the screening in a black ensemble Next up: Garner has another drama due out this year titled The Tribes of Palos Verdes 'Its a systemic problem everywhere,' she said. 'Women are not viewed as serious contenders for important jobs. 'Every woman has to kind of invent her own path, because the doors havent really opened.' The movie, which co-stars Beverly D'Angelo, Jason O'Mara and Ian Anthony Dale, opens Friday. In demand: The beauty signed autographs in the Big Apple as she arrived at the screening Beaming: The mother-of-three looked amazing as she made her way into the Landmark Sunshine Theater Front and center: Upstart actresses Victoria Bruno (L), who appears in the film, and Zoe Kazan (R) posed as they arrived to the screening It is probably the most famous movie blooper of all time. And now a documentary maker is setting out to find out: who was the Stormtrooper who banged his head on the Death Star door? Jamie Stangroom, the producer behind the These Are The Actors You're Looking For web series has launched an Indiegogo funding campaign to track down the clumsy actor who was a little tall for a Stormtrooper. Scroll down for video The Empire Strikes door: A documentary maker is setting out to find out: who was the Stormtrooper who banged his head on the Death Star door, the most famous movie blooper ever In the fateful scene in 1977's Star Wars: A New Hope, a squad of Imperial troopers force their way into the control room aboard the space station as C-3PO and R2-D2 are trying to help Luke Skywalker and co escape the trash compactor. But after the door raises, one of the Stormtroopers rushing into the room runs headfirst into the foot of the door; the scene somehow remained in the final cut of the film becoming immortalized among Star Wars fans. However, Stangroom has discovered that THREE different actors claim to be infamous spatially-unaware soldier, and he intends using a polygraph test to help him get to the bottom of the 40-year-old mystery. 'One released a YouTube video stating it was him - but then refused to talk to me,' he told DailyMail.com Bounty hunter: Jamie Stangroom has launched an Indiegogo funding campaign to track down the clumsy actor who was a little tall for a Stormtrooper Star Wars trilogy: Stangroom has discovered that THREE different actors claim to be infamous spatially-unaware soldier, and he intends using a polygraph test to help him get to the bottom of the 40-year-old mystery 'Another is a former Captain Birdseye actor who is adamant it was him - due to his enormous head - he brands the others who claim it was them as "pretenders". 'And finally we have Laurie Goode who says he had diarrhea, which led to him bumping his head... I call him the Stormpooper,' he added. 'He disputes Birdseye's claims, saying that was never even on set.' Aye aye: One is a former Captain Birdseye actor who is adamant it was him - due to his enormous head Stormpooper: One says he had diarrhea, which led to him bumping his head The plot thickens: The third actor - 'the milkman from Eastenders' who made a YouTube video claiming it was he - has since passed away While 'Birdseye' and 'Stormpooper' have agreed to the polygraph test, the third actor - 'the milkman from Eastenders' - has since passed away. As part of the investigation, he also wants to track down witnesses, including the other actors who were on set at Elstree Studios that day, producer Gary Kurtz, the Assistant Director, and even the Stormtrooper costume designers and prop makers. The Indegogo campaign to raise funds for The Empire Strikes Door goes live on Monday. Obsessed: Stangroom is the producer behind the These Are The Actors You're Looking For web series (pictured with Darth Vader actor Dave Prowse) Mariah Carey was photographed swinging by a Santa Monica grocery store on Thursday, having pulled herself into a skintight black tank top. She'd let a tiny black jacket slide off her shoulders and emphasized her curves in a pair of black leggings with red flower patterns running down the sides. Famous for her love for jewels, Mariah didn't disappoint on Thursday, sprucing up her cleavage-baring ensemble with multiple glistening rings and bracelets. Scroll down for video Beaming: Mariah Carey was photographed swinging by a Santa Monica grocery store on Thursday, having pulled herself into a skintight black tank top A massive pair of hoop earrings dangled amid her wavy hair, and she was seen emerging from the venue and heading across the parking lot on open-toe stilettos. She'd been seen this past Sunday evening celebrating Mother's Day out with her two children - six-year-old twins Morocco and Monroe - and their father Nick Cannon. The pop diva showed off her zaftig legs in a tuxedo mini-dress she'd teamed with a pair of Christian Louboutins for dinner with the ex and children at Nobu Malibu. Springtime: She'd let a tiny black jacket slide off her shoulders and emphasized her curves in a pair of black leggings with red flower patterns running down the sides Nick and Mariah had begun their marriage, his first and her second, back in 2008, but he filed in 2014 for a divorce that was ultimately finalized this past November. Mariah's been a fixture on Nick's Intsagram page lately - though always with the children - and rumors are swirling that he and Mariah are back together. Yet the comedian's denied rekindling a romance with his ex-wife, insisting as much during a full-hour guest shot on The Wendy Williams Show near the end of April. Reliable glitz: Famous for her love for jewels, Mariah didn't disappoint on Thursday, sprucing up her cleavage-baring ensemble with multiple glistening rings and bracelets Mariah had previously had a go at matrimony with music executive Tommy Mottola, whom she'd been married to from 1993 and 1998 with no children to show for it. Since splitting from Nick, the infamously mercurial songstress has kept busy, including via a now-shattered engagement to Australian billionaire James Packer. After Mariah and James were over, she apparently veered into a dalliance with her backup dancer Bryan Tanaka, but in early April, People reported they'd broken up. Her night: She'd been seen this past Sunday evening celebrating Mother's Day out with her two children - six-year-old twins Morocco and Monroe - and their father Nick Cannon Her husband Joe owns the Giuseppe's Homestyle Pizzeria while she has released three best-selling cook books. And on Thursday, Teresa Guidice joined sister-in-law Melissa Gorga to celebrate the opening of Gorga's Homemade Pasta & Pizza in Hanover, New Jersey. While the Italian eatery is owned by Melissa's husband -and Teresa's brother- Joe, it was the gorgeous women who were easily the night's shining stars. Family business: On Thursday, Teresa Guidice, 45, joined sister-in-law Melissa Gorga, 38, to celebrate the opening of Gorga's Homemade Pasta & Pizza in Hanover, New Jersey Teresa looked glamorous for the evening, toned arms on display in a red lace dress. The mother-of-four wore her highlighted, caramel locks down and parted through the middle. The Real Housewives of New Jersey star accessorized with dangle earrings and bracelets. Her make-up featured a heavily-contoured face, a smokey eye and pale lips. Just shilling: Melissa and Teresa made sure to showcase their finest angles and products for the photographer Chow time! The ladies playfully fed each other food Style buddies: Teresa looked glamorous for the evening, toned arms on display in a red lace dress. Melissa's bronzed skin was the perfect backdrop for her blush, off-the-shoulder dress Authentic! Teresa showcased her pasta-making skills, naturally Melissa looked stunning in a blush, off-the-shoulder dress that showcased her glowing skin. The mother-of-three pulled her hair in a taut ponytail, which drew attention to her well-done make-up. Melissa's face showcased a classic smokey eye and pale lip combo. She accessorized with layered tings, multiple bracelets, hoops and a necklace. All in the family: The reality star's expertise were passed down from late mother Antonio Gorgeous and glowing! Melissa looked stunning in a blush, off-the-shoulder dress that showcased her tanned skin Saucy: Joe chased his wife around the eatery with a large pizza paddle For the camera: The reality celebrities engaged in a variety of cheesy poses to push their products Melissa's husband - and restaurant owner - Joe, had quite the good time at his grand opening. The 37-year-old was joined by dessert connoisseur Buddy Valastro, 40, of Carlo's Bake Shop. The two had a good time as they playfully fed each other food between grins. All in good fun: Restaurant owner Joe, 37, had quite the good time at his grand opening Brotherly love: The father-of-three was joined by dessert connoisseur Buddy Valastro, 40, of Carlo's Bake Shop When you're family, you're family: The three seemed to have a great time cooking up a storm in the kitchen The eatery was developed in honor of Teresa and Joe's late mother, Antonia. In an interview with People, the pair spoke of their mom's influence that gave them such an interest in cooking. 'My mother loved to cook; it was like her drug,' Joe began. 'I always told her I was gonna open up a restaurant for her. Then I got busy. While I signed a contract on this place we lost her. So this is for her.' 'We wanted to share her recipes with the world,' noted Teresa. 'I always would say, "Mom, everyone has to try your food!" because that's how I learned to cook.' 190517TFF FAILING THE PEOPLE By Wesley Bunpalau The tuition fee free education policy is failing to achieve its purpose, said incumbent Member for South Bougainville, Timothy Masiu. Mr Masiu said there was a lot of lies in the tuition fee free (TFF) policy because there were no physical signs of the policy impacting on schools in Bougainville. That is the message being sounded by Mr Masiu when officiating at ceremonies to open new classrooms and teachers houses funded under the education support improvement fund. Mr Masiu has attended opening ceremonies in five primary schools and three elementary schools so far with invitations already received to more opening ceremonies. He said a lot of schools on Bougainville have run down facilities because the TFF money was being hijacked and getting lost on the way before they reach the schools. So in that sense the TFF policy has failed, said Mr Masiu. As the siting member of parliament, I ask four your support to bring me back because I want to do more to improve schools in South Bougainville, said Mr Masiu. ENDS/TM/WB It's the blossoming new romance that continues to set tongues wagging. And as Karl Stefanovic's relationship with model Jasmine Yarbrough heats up, radio host Meshel Laurie became the latest to weigh in and had some harsh words for the happy couple. Just days after KIIS FM's Jackie O Henderson empathised with fellow mum Cassandra Thorburn live on-air, Matt and Meshel co-host Meshel blasted Karl and Jasmine's constant PDA as 'insensitive' and 'shameless.' Unimpressed: As Karl Stefanovic's relationship with model Jasmine Yarbrough heats up, radio host Meshel Laurie (pictured) became the latest to weigh in and had some harsh words for the happy couple 'It feels a little insensitive, obviously I don't know these people,' she said. 'Is it criminal? No. Is it illegal? No, is it a bit bloody shameless and rotten? Maybe. She added: 'All you ever see are photos of the ex [Cassandra] cleaning out the house. She's got the kids, she's doing the life and Karl is at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, or he's flying off overseas for holidays.' Criticism: Just days after KIIS FM's Jackie O Henderson empathised with fellow mum Cassandra Thorburn live on-air, Matt and Meshel co-host Meshel blasted Karl and Jasmine's constant PDA as 'insensitive' and 'shameless' Meshel's comments came one day after Karl and Jasmine posed for a loved-up snap at a local hair salon following their Fashion Week outing. 'Well you know what? I think this is a bit rude ... Fashion Week was out there, I thought 'oh ok' - [now] he's posed for a cute photo waiting for his girlfriend to get her hair done,' said Meshsel. 'If you don't want to be talked about, that's probably the wrong way to go about it. Model boyfriend! On Thursday, Jasmine was pictured at a hairdressers in Sydney's CBD... with the Today show host right by her side She added: 'Do you know what? [Jasmine] can just cop it mate because he's got kids and an ex-wife who's stood by him for 100 years and they have a life together that still needs to be protected.' On Thursday, Jasmine, 33, and Karl, 42, looked smitten as they spent quality time at Blown Lux salon in Sydney's Bangaroo. The model was seen getting her hair done while her Today host beau sat close beside her, pretending to look at his watch. Talk of the town: The pair have been the talk of the town after they made their big public debut at Fashion Week The blonde beauty was seen drinking a glass of champagne and tucking into a cheese platter while Karl looked a little lost. Over the past few days, the pair have been pictured attending various shows and parties at Fashion Week. They also took their mothers along for the outings. Jasmine was 'tipped for the catwalk' during Fashion Week, with Karl watching at the sidelines, but she ended up being a no show. The bombshell is a fashion designer herself and is no stranger to the runway, but hasn't been pictured on the catwalk since Rosemount Australian Fashion Week in 2011. Back in 2011, the flawless beauty took a jaunt down the runway in skimpy Rebecca Manning hypercolour swimwear, exposed her assets in an Argua Bendita two-piece and added some svelte style in a full-length red gown. No show: Jasmine was 'tipped for the catwalk' during Fashion Week, with Karl watching at the sidelines, but she ended up being a no show Style: Back in 2011, the Mara & Mine took a jaunt down the runway in some skimpy Rebecca Manning hypercolour swimwea and added some svelte style in a full-length red gown The shoe designer is regularly snapped out and about, flaunting her slender frame in designer items and accessories from her Mara & Mine label. Likewise, Karl, has played the supportive boyfriend in recent times, sporting a notably increased focus on fashion since their loved-up relationship went public in February. Split: Karl and Jasmine reportedly first met in December last year, months after his split from wife-of-21-years Cassandra Karl and Jasmine reportedly first met in December last year, months after his split from wife-of-21-years Cassandra. It was recently claimed Karl had settled his divorce, with his with his estranged wife taking home a reported $6 million in cash and assets, plus child support and 'ongoing payments' in the couple's settlement. The Today Show star earns nearly $3 million a year at Channel Nine. She's previously admitted falling in love with her now-husband hit her at 'a million miles an hour'. And Kate Bosworth looked as though she was more smitten than ever with Michael Polish as the couple attended the 19th Annual Slavery To Freedom Gala at Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles on Thursday night. Gazing adoringly at her director beau, 46, as they hit the red carpet, the actress, 34, dazzled in a chic black midi-dress with puffball sleeves and cut-out detailing. Scroll down for video The look of love: Kate Bosworth and Michael Polish looked more smitten than ever at the 19th Annual Slavery To Freedom Gala at Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles on Thursday night Staring into each other's eyes, the couple - who have been married for almost four years - could have passed for newlyweds with their romantic red carpet display. Kate teamed her elegant gown with flat black pointed shoes and clutched a small box-shaped bag in her hands as she wowed at the philanthropic event, held in association with the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking. The annual gala is an evening that brings together survivors, celebrities, civic leaders and socially-conscious entrepreneurs for the cause of ending modern slavery. The Still Alice star accessorised with dramatic black drop earrings and wore her blonde locks slicked back from her face in a sleek ponytail. Can't take my eyes off of you: Gazing adoringly at the director, 46, as they hit the red carpet, the actress, 34, dazzled in a black midi-dress with puffball sleeves and cut-out detailing Dressed to impress: Kate teamed her elegant gown with flat black pointed shoes and clutched a small box-shaped bag in her hands as she wowed at the philanthropic event Loved up: Staring into each other's eyes, the couple - who have been married for almost four years - could have passed for newlyweds with their romantic display Kate completed her red carpet look by with low-key make-up to accentuate her naturally striking features. The actress certainly wasn't let down in the sartorial department by her handsome husband, who complemented her look in a slick black tailored suit, which he teamed with a crisp white shirt and black tie. Earlier in the evening, the couple were seen strolling hand-in-hand to a boutique in West Hollywood, perhaps stocking up on a couple of last minute bits before heading to the gala. Kate has previously spoken of her love of dressing up on the red carpet, but admitted it took some time for her to accept her body type. Chic: The Still Alice star accessorised with dramatic black drop earrings and wore her blonde locks slicked back from her face in a sleek ponytail Natural beauty: Kate completed her red carpet look by with low-key make-up to accentuate her naturally striking features Speaking to Fashion magazine earlier this year, she said: 'Ill look at someone like Beyonce and say, "That dress is so amazing on her," but I know that my body type is completely different. 'I have more of a boyish figure, so anything thats too loose or shapeless isnt the most flattering for me. 'When it comes to dressing up, I dont have any anxiety at all - its actually something I really enjoy. 'Its the quickest way to communicate a feeling - culturally and individually, clothing can represent something about our time or what is going on inside us. Fashion is the most immediate way to see something evolve.' Dapper dude: The actress' handsome husband complemented her look in a slick black tailored suit, which he teamed with a crisp white shirt and black tie Kate and Michael - who has a daughter Jasper, 19, from his previous marriage - met when he directed her in a cinematic adaptation of Jack Kerouacs 1962 novel Big Sur in 2011. The couple tied the knot two years later in a romantic ceremony in Philipsburg, Montana, in August 2013. Speaking in an interview with British Marie Claire magazine in January 2015, Kate admitted she was cautious about rushing into a relationship with her director while they were filming on set in California. She explained: 'There are so many people that hook up on movies, and you wonder if that's real, so we didn't go there. A busy night: Earlier in the evening, the couple were seen strolling hand-in-hand to a boutique in West Hollywood, perhaps stocking up on last minute bits before heading to the gala 'I think we were both experienced to know that if this was the real deal, we could wait to see what would happen.' Having adopted a patient approach to her romance with the director, Kate admits it wasnt long before she discovered he was The One'. She recalled: 'That's when it hit me, at about a million miles an hour I almost fell off my chair. They always say, "You know when you know," and I had found that quite frustrating my whole life. 'I thought, "Yeah, but how do you really know?" But it's true he walked in and it hit me, like nothing I'd ever felt before Love story: Kate and Michael met when he directed her in a cinematic adaptation of Jack Kerouacs 1962 novel Big Sur in 2011, and tied the knot two years later in 2013 'Meeting Michael honestly felt like coming home. It feels comfortable and secure but also exciting.' It's an exciting time career-wise for Kate Bosworth at present, as she is starring in the National Geographic channel's scripted military drama The Long Road Home. The eight-episode mini series is based on the true events of April 4, 2004, when a platoon from the 1st Cavalry Division in Fort Hood, Texas, was ambushed in Sadr City in Baghdad. Kate plays the wife of an officer, played by Jason Ritter, who leads the rescue mission for the embattled platoon. Philanthropic: Kate posed with Kay Buck, CEO of the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking, at the charity gala Good cause: The annual gala is an evening that brings together survivors, celebrities, civic leaders and socially-conscious entrepreneurs for the cause of ending modern slavery They became parents last year with the birth of their daughter, Birdie. And Brenton Thwaites and Chloe Pacey enjoyed a night out on Thursday at the premiere of Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. The 27-year-old and his stunning partner joined the other stars in the film, including fellow Australian Geoffrey Rush, on the red carpet at the Dolby Theatre. Scroll down for video Lovebirds: Brenton Thwaites and Chloe Pacey enjoyed a night out on Thursday at the premiere of Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales The couple have been together since meeting on the Gold Coast in 2015, where Brenton filmed the latest installment of the record-breaking Pirates movie franchise. The actor looked dapper in a grey three-piece suit paired with a maroon tie for the blockbuster's premiere in Los Angeles. His girlfriend wore a blue dress with sleeves that featured a slight ruffle design and her shoulder-length hair coiffed in soft waves. Chic: The actor looked dapper in a smoky blue three-piece suit paired with a maroon tie for the blockbuster's premiere in Los Angeles The brunette beauty accented her stunning features with a smoky eye and nude lip and accessoried with silver drop earrings and a nose piercing. Cairns-born Brenton appeared on television soap Home and Away for one season and moved to the United States in 2012 to pursue a film career. He has appeared in big-budget movies including Maleficent, Gods Of Egypt and the latest Pirates Of The Caribbean feature. Stardom: Cairns-born Brenton appeared on television soap Home and Away for one season and moved to the United States in 2012 to pursue a film career Popular: He has appeared in big-budget movies, including Maleficent, Gods Of Egypt and the latest Pirates Of The Caribbean feature He plays Henry Turner in the new film, the estranged son of Orlando Bloom's Will Turner character and Keira Knightley's Elizabeth Swann character. Also at the film's premiere was screen veteran Geoffrey Rush, who has played the villainous Captain Hector Barbossa in each update of the swashbuckling series. Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales is released in cinemas on May 26. Olivia Culpo flashed quite a lot of leg on Thursday evening at Saks Fifth Avenue when the New York department store celebrated the launch of The Collective. Saks Fifth Avenue The Collective is the name of a branch of the shop that opened February 2 on 200 Greenwich Avenue in Greenwich, Connecticut, per Westchester. Olivia'd shown up to Saks on Thursday cutting a springtime chic figure in a white off-the-shoulder mini-dress her Instagram page revealed was from Alexis. Scroll down for video Grinning: Olivia Culpo flashed quite a lot of leg on Thursday evening at Saks Fifth Avenue at a celebrity-strewn event the iconic New York City department store was holding Puffed out sleeves ended shortly past the elbow, and though the figure-hugging middle portion of the dress was solid white, grey stripes lined the bit over her bust. Similar grey stripes streaked across the section of the dress near the curving hem, which at the front stopped above the knee but at the back was nearly ankle-length. The largely black stilettos she'd slid into featured white straps at her ankles, and she'd tucked her hair behind her ears, slipping on drop earrings and a necklace. Ramy Brook's white ensemble was from her own collection with the designer wearing the off-the-shoulder Allie Jumpsuit. Hand at the waist: Olivia had turned up to the Thursday night event cutting a springtime chic figure in a white off-the-shoulder mini-dress her Instagram page revealed was from Alexis Beaming: Ramy Brook's white ensemble was of course from her own collection and the Allie Jumpsuit was off-the-shoulder as well An elaborately designed choker complemented the wavy blonde hair she let fall free, and she held a pale pink clutch against her outfit, emphasizing the contrast. Julia Restoin-Roitfeld - daughter of Carine Roitfeld, ex-editor-in-chief of Vogue Paris - gleamed in a chrome floor-length gown over which she'd flung a tiny brown coat. Jamie Chung had pulled on a small and heavily pleated navy blue mini-dress from Ramy Brook that had got a cinched-in waistline, as well as bits of fabric carved out over her shoulders. Shining: Julia Restoin-Roitfeld - daughter of Carine Roitfeld, ex-editor-in-chief of Vogue Paris - gleamed in a chrome floor-length gown over which she'd flung a tiny brown coat Legs for days: Jamie Chung had pulled on a small and heavily pleated navy blue Ramy Brook mini-dress that had got a cinched-in waistline, as well as cut outs over her shoulders The hem stopped at about mid-thigh, allowing her to show off her tanned and taut stems, and she'd completed the look by way of heavily strapped open-toe stilettos. Cindy Bruna showed a bit of leg via the asymmetric hem of the cleavage-baring black sleeveless gown she'd worn with a pair of matching ankle-strap high heels. Nicky Hilton, sister of Paris, struck a casual tone in skintight jeans she'd teamed with a metallic-speckled red full-sleeved blouse, black shoes and a black clutch. Chic as ever: Cindy Bruna showed a bit of leg via the asymmetric hem of the cleavage-baring black sleeveless gown she'd worn with a pair of matching ankle-strap high heels He's the Australian actor best known for his long-running role as Wolverine in the X-Men franchise. And on Thursday, Australian actor, Hugh Jackman, took off his Wolverine costume to watch Bette Midler perform on Broadway. Taking to Instagram, the 48-year-old shared a picture with fans posing alongside Bette and wife Deborra-Lee Furness. The stars have aligned: Taking to Instagram, 48-year-old Hugh (right) shared a picture with fans posing alongside Bette (middle) and wife Deborra (left) 'An icon in action!' captioned Hugh, tagging Bette and her show, Hello Dolly. The couple donned coordinating outfits, both opting to dress in black casual attire. Hugh looked relaxed, wearing a polo shirt and pair of dark slacks, but was still as dapper as ever. Showtime: The Hello Dolly star smiled happily with the couple Deborra dressed up her monochrome garb by accessorising with a large gold cuff and long necklace. With her hair in tight blonde ringlets, 71-year-old Bette wore an antique dusty pink dress that featured buttons to mid-way, with a matching cardigan that sported a crocheted neckline. The dolled up Hello Dolly star smiled happily with the couple, and sporting heavy makeup. Suited up: Referred to as one of the nicest stars in Hollywood, the Australian actor is known to have a special spot for Broadway Theatre fan: The X-Men star recently took to Instagram to share a picture with Russel Crowe after his stint on Broadway to Oz last year Referred to as one of the nicest stars in Hollywood, the Australian actor is known to have a special spot for Broadway. The X Men star recently took to Instagram to share a picture with Russel Crowe after his stint on Broadway to Oz last year. 'Awesome sharing the stage with you tonight mate,' he captioned the image. It was a jam-packed day for Melissa Benoist. The 28-year-old star of The CW's Supergirl made multiple appearances for her home network during the annual Upfronts in New York City Thursday, as networks show advertisers their programming for the forthcoming fall season. Melissa was initially snapped at The London Hotel in a sleeveless red blouson dress with matching red heels. The 5ft8 stunner was perfectly made up with her dark blonde locks pulled back, with light bangs. Gorgeous: Lucy Hale wore a lavish, feathery black ensemble at The CW Network's party at Avra Madison Estiatorio Thursday Bra-vo: The petite star showed her undergarment in the sheer attire She was subsequently snapped at the network's bash held at the swanky Greek seafood restaurant Avra Madison Estiatorio. There, she posed with other CW stars such as Lucy Hale, the 27-year-old star of the upcoming dramatic comedy Life Sentence; Elizabeth Gillies, 23, who is featured in the network's highly-anticipated Dynasty remake; Rachel Bloom, 30, of the comedy Crazy Ex-Girlfriend; and Christina Ochoa, 32, of the military drama Valor. Leading ladies: Life Sentence actress, 27, posed with Supergirl stunner Melissa Benoist, 28 Out and about: (L-R) Stars Elizabeth Gillies, Melissa Benoist, The CW's President Mark Pedowitz, Rachel Bloom and Christina Ochoa posed in this group shot Mingling: Gillies posed with Benoist (L) while Christina Ochoa and Hale looked nice in a shot (R) The ladies posed in a group shot with the network's president Mark Pedowitz, who told attendees at the swanky function that 'the CW lineup is better and broader than its ever been.' In the spotlight: Melissa donned a light red dress for The CW Upfronts at The London Hotel in NYC Lady in red: Benoist has successfully headlined three seasons of Supergirl for the CW No looking back: In her titular role on The CW hit series, Melissa has crossed over on shows such as Arrow and The Flash For the party, Benoist wore a black patterned dress with her locks down, while Hale was outfitted in an elaborate black dress with large feathers on the top. Hale had her dark locks pulled back and a crisp makeup job with dangling earrings. During the Upfronts, Hale said of her new show, 'I have never been more proud of anything in my life,' Variety reported. Other notable happenings at the event included a performance from the band Muse, and a display of puppies from Guide Dogs of America, an organization The CW has partnered up with for its philanthropic endeavors. She's the stunning cover girl for InStyle Australia's latest issue. And Jessica Gomes showed exactly why she's in high demand as an international model during a recent swimwear photo shoot in Sydney. The 32-year-old took to Manly Beach on Wednesday to pose in a variety of bathing suits that flaunted her enviable figure. Scroll down for video Top of her game: Jessica Gomes showed exactly why she's in high demand as an international model during a recent swimwear photo shoot in Sydney The shoot, which appeared to be a continuation of one in the same location from a day earlier, featured the statuesque brunette who look fit and tanned in several bikinis and one-piece suits. The brunette beauty posed seductively with her eyes closed and her slender arms raised joyfully above her head. The David Jones ambassador donned a floral-patterned bikini that showcased her ample cleavage and enviable curves. Knockout: The 32-year-old took to Manly Beach on Wednesday to pose in a variety of bathing suits that flaunted her enviable figure Smouldering: The brunette beauty posed seductively with her eyes closed and her slender arms raised joyfully above her head Professional: The shoot, which appeared to be a continuation of one in the same location from a day earlier, featured the statuesque brunette looking fit and tanned She wore natural makeup that complimented the outdoor vibe of the shoot, with her hair coiffed in soft waves that cascaded down her back. Forest greenery provided a lush backdrop for the photos, which were captured in front of a rock pool with a retro-looking blue slide. The beauty entrepreneur shared with Daily Mail Australia last year that 'no alcohol and lots of sleep' was the key to her fabulous physique. Chic: The David Jones ambassador donned a floral-patterned bikini that showcased her ample cleavage and enviable curves Bronzed: She wore natural makeup that complimented the outdoor vibe of the shoot, with her hair coiffed in soft waves that cascaded down her back Natural: Forest greenery provided a lush backdrop for the photos, which were captured in front of a rock pool with a retro-looking blue slide Focused: The beauty entrepreneur shared with Daily Mail Australia last year that 'no alcohol and lots of sleep' was the key to her fabulous physique 'I did a lot of cardio, Pilates and just eating super clean and healthy,' she described of her routine for catwalk gigs and photo shoots. '[It's] the usual stuff,' she continued. 'Drinking lots of water, no alcohol and lots of sleep.' The Perth-born stunner told The West Australian in 2009 she loves that she is 'a sexy, curvy, exotic beauty'. She's the 57-year-old cooking hopeful who was eliminated from MasterChef on Thursday. Following on from contestant Benita Orwell's departure, fans have taken to social media to accuse the popular reality show of ageism. 'Four dishes today showed beautiful flavour and great technique... but one cook took their eye off the ball, albeit for a moment,' judge Matt Preston said in his assessment of Bonita's dish. Too old? Following on from MasterChef contestant Benita Orwell's departure on Thursday, fans have taken to social media to accuse the popular reality show of ageism While fans of the eliminated contestant were quick to offer their support on social media, an equal measure questioned the show over the fact that after Bonita's exit, there are no contestants over 40 on the show. 'What a surprise,' one fan wrote on Facebook after Thursday's elimination. 'The 2 oldest contestants going home so soon? Is there even anyone left over 40? Ageism at its best in my opinion.' Tough call: 'The 2 oldest contestants going home so soon? Is there even anyone left over 40? Ageism at its best in my opinion,' one fan commented on Facebook Another went further saying that historically it had always been the older cooks that had failed to make it to the final rounds. 'She was lovely - but let's face it, the older contestants always exit early on this program.' When one follower commented with: '...back to the nursing home darl,' another was quick to retort with an angry: 'Seriously - what has age got to do with cooking ability - or anything for that matter? - You, too, will be 57 one day and will say to yourself-"that's not old at all!".....think about it!' (SIC) Hard sell: It was a similar situation on Twitter as one fan said: 'phew! They must be relieved now that the only senior and least marketable participant is out of the way' It was a similar situation on Twitter as one fan said: 'phew! They must be relieved now that the only senior and least marketable participant is out of the way.' Benita decided to cook a complex prawn wonton dish, trading half of her allotted 90 minutes of cooking time for her ingredients. However, she was caught out after a strong smell wafted through the kitchen and she checked her broth before realising that it was burnt. With Bonita's exit on Thursday, and fellow contestant Pia Gava, 49, eliminated earlier this week, the oldest contestant on the show is Ray Silva, 42. Anna Heinrich attended the InStyle and Audi Women Of Style Awards in Sydney on Wednesday night, while her Bachelor beau Tim Robards was a no-show. But the pair seemed as close as ever on Friday, with Tim taking to Instagram Stories to document a loved-up getaway in Broome's Cable Beach with his blonde beauty. The Chiropractor, 33, doted over Anna as he filmed her lounging by the pool in a bikini, commenting: 'Yeah, work it!' 'Yeah, work it!' Tim Robards doted over bikini-clad girlfriend Anna Heinrich poolside during romantic getaway The former criminal lawyer flaunted her slender frame in the two-piece as she gave the peace sign to her beau while he aimed the camera at her. Earlier in the day, Tim filmed their descent into Broome from the airplane, pretending to sleep on Anna's shoulder. It didn't take long for the reality stars to strip down to their swimwear to cool off on their resort retreat. Bikini babe! The former criminal lawyer flaunted her slender frame in the two-piece as her beau aimed the camera at her Looking good! Tim's ripped abs and muscular pecs glistened in the sun, as he ran to the pool after declaring it was 'time for a swim' Cooling off! His waterproof camera captured the star submerged underwater as he swam with a huge grin Tim's ripped abs and muscular pecs glistened in the sun, as he ran to the pool after declaring: 'Time for a swim!' His waterproof camera captured the star submerged underwater, as he swam with a huge grin. Anna showcased her taut stomach and cleavage in the stripey bikini, which was highlighted as Tim zoomed into her body from behind the lens. Romantic retreat: The pair seemed as close as ever on Friday, with Tim taking to Instagram Stories to document a loved-up getaway in Broome's Cable Beach with his blonde beauty Last month, Tim delighted fans when he hinted at an upcoming marriage proposal to Anna. 'Let's just say 2017 is going to be a good year,' the fitness entrepreneur told TV Week magazine. His girlfriend meanwhile, was thrilled to hear the hunk's comment. 'That's the first I've heard of it. But it obviously it would be great,' she gushed. 'Let's just say 2017 is going to be a good year': Tim recently hinted that 2017 would be the year he would potentially propose to Anna Meanwhile, it's not the first time the reality couple have been probed about their marriage plans. The personal trainer previously spoke candidly to The Kyle & Jackie 'O' Show about popping the question, saying it's 'getting around that time.' 'It's three years on, so probably getting around that time,' he said in October. 'I know where I'd probably go to get [the ring] ... I know what she likes. I need to steal one of her other ones to find out the size.' She was dragged into Mel B and Stephen Belafonte's bitter divorce battle after confessing to having a threesome with the couple. But Lady Victoria Hervey put the drama behind her as she soaked up the atmosphere at the second day of the 70th Cannes Film Festival in the South of France on Thursday. Leaving little to the imagination, the socialite, 40, ensured all eyes were on her thanks to her rather racy attire as she treated herself to a tasty ice cream. Scroll down for video Tasty treat: Lady Victoria Hervey soaked up the atmosphere at the second day of the 70th Cannes Film Festival in the South of France on Thursday Going braless and flashing a glimpse of her pert derriere, the heiress wore a bright cobalt sheer dress with aqua and fuchsia embellishments. Lady Victoria sashayed through the bustling streets in a pair of sky-high strappy stiletto heels in the same nude colour as her briefs. The former 'It' girl accessorised with drop silver earrings, mismatched with a glitzy golden clutch. Risque: Leaving little to the imagination, the socialite, 40, ensured all eyes were on her thanks to her rather racy attire as she treated herself to a tasty ice cream Bottoms up: Going braless and flashing a glimpse of her pert derriere, the heiress wore a bright cobalt sheer dress with aqua and fuchsia embellishments The aristocrat styled her golden tresses in a series of curls, with one side pinned back to show off her golden touches of makeup. The daring look was worlds away from Victoria's relatively demure ensemble as she attended the premiere of Russian drama Loveless at the Palais des Festivals earlier in the evening. Confident in her risque style, she previously told the Daily Mail: 'Women in London are too conservative and dont have the courage to wear sexy outfits. Its an English thing. 'I grew up in the South of France so I have a much more international approach. Its empowering to dress provocatively.' Racy lady: Lady Victoria sashayed through the bustling streets in a pair of sky-high strappy stiletto heels in the same nude colour as her briefs Lady Victoria looked completely relaxed at the annual festival after she was dragged into the bitter divorce battle of Mel B, 41, and her estranged husband Stephen Belafonte. The model confirmed she had a threesome with the married couple but then went on to reveal the former Spice Girl had suffered at the hands of Stephen, 42. She told The Sun: 'She said he controlled all her finances and she wasn't initially strong enough to leave him. All eyes on her: The former 'It' girl accessorised with drop silver earrings, mismatched with a glitzy golden clutch Golden girl: The aristocrat styled her golden tresses in a series of curls, with one side pinned back to show off her golden touches of make-up 'She said she waited until everything fell into place before she could do it and finally everything fell in to place and she knew it was time. No woman should suffer like she has, I feel terribly for her.' Addressing the night they spent together, she explained that Mel reached out to her via Instagram, adding: 'Mel said she just doesn't know if videos exist of that night but she reassured me that they are unlikely to be coming out.' The claim dated back to 2007 but it came to light amid accusations that the 'open' nature of their relationship led to the demise of their 10-year marriage. Chilled out: The star looked completely relaxed after she was dragged into Mel B, 41, and her estranged husband Stephen Belafonte's bitter divorce battle He was eliminated from the latest season of Dancing With The Stars on the fifth week of the competition. But Gleb Savchenko had plenty to smile about as he attended the LA premiere of the latest movie in the Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise, Dead Men Tell No Tales. The beaming 33-year-old was accompanying his stunning wife Elena Samodanova, who is currently pregnant with their second daughter. Scroll down for video Strictly expecting: Gleb Savchenko plants a loving kiss on pregnant wife Elena Samodanova's blossoming bump at the LA premiere of Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Elena, 32, looked slick in a plunging black floor-length gown, which tumbled around her bump, yet still showed it off. She wore her blonde locks straight and loose, swept neatly behind her shoulders. Around her neck was a lacy black choker adding a Buccaneering twist to the proceedings - a nod to the movie they were about to watch. The pretty blonde wore a splash of bright red lipstick and carried a black clutch bag in one hand - the same hand that showed off her sparkling diamond engagement ring. Pregnancy chic: Elena, 32, looked slick in a plunging black floor-length gown, which tumbled around her bump, yet still showed it off Happy couple: Around her neck was a lacy black choker adding a Buccaneering twist to the proceedings - a nod to the movie they were about to watch Gleb rocked maritime debonairness with a black shirt and blazer, white boating slacks and polished tan loafers. The former Strictly Comes Dancing pro rested his hand happily on Elena's bump, before kneeling down and planting a tender kiss on it. He clearly couldn't contain his love for his wife, pecking her on the cheek as well. Gleb quit Strictly last year, reportedly to protect his marriage, amid fears he could fall victim to the show's 'curse'. Loving husband: The former Strictly Comes Dancing pro rested his hand happily on Elena's bump, before kneeling down and planting a tender kiss on it. He clearly couldn't contain his love for his wife, pecking her on the cheek as well The Russian native announced he would not take part last autumn's 14th season due to 'family commitments,' as it was claimed he wanted to spend more time with his wife and daughter. The 'Strictly curse' began in 2004 when newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky began an alleged affair with her dancing partner Brendan Cole. And it has struck repeatedly since with a string of celebrities and their pro partners having got together over the years. A source close to the dancer denied that there were any marital problems for Gleb and Elena, and instead claimed it was more a problem of geography, with his eldest daughter approaching the age that she would need to attend a school. Short-lived: Gleb's latest stint on season 24 of Dancing With The Stars was cut short however, when he and partner Erika Jayne of The Real Housewives Of Beverley Hills Gleb has since announced that he and Elena are expecting their second child and are mostly seen in America. His latest stint on season 24 of Dancing With The Stars was cut short however, when he and partner Erika Jayne of The Real Housewives Of Beverley Hills. On the fifth week, which was Disney-themed, the couple performed a Finding Dory-themed Viennese Waltz. The couple had gone into the fifth week following a poor performance the episode before, as Erika said she had never 'felt that disconnected' to an audience. 'I should be performing better than I am, I think I am capable of that, maybe I am holding back,' said a tearful Erika as she admitted she was questioning everything she was doing. Getting emotional: Erika cried while discussing her prior poor performances New feeling: The reality star confided to partner Gleb about her disappointment over not connecting with the audience She told the cameras she was dancing to one of her favorite songs and hoped that would help her breakthrough. And her performance went down very well with the judges. Bruno told her he felt it was 'the first time' he had 'met' Erika and called it 'an honest' performance by the reality TV star. After the dance Erika told Erin she 'had no choice' but to perform after being 'broken down' the previous week. However, in the end it was Erika and Gleb who ended their run on the show and were eliminated. Giving Oprah a run for her money, broadcasting duo Kyle and Jackie 0 gifted a massive 12 cars on their Sydney morning show on Friday, making radio history in the process. All that the lucky fans had to do to score a brand-new Hyundai i30 was call in to the KIIS 1065 programme and be featured on air. Kyle Sandilands, 45, and his on-air partner Jackie 'O' Henderson, 42, seemed to be having a blast offloading the vehicles in their You Get A Car segment. Wheely happy: KIIS 1065's Kyle Sandilands (pictured second from left) and Jackie O (pictured centre) gave away Hyundai i30s to lucky callers including Jayden, Angela and Tania (pictured left to right) in their You Get A Car segment on Friday The competition was the largest car giveaway ever on Australian radio. At one point, the pair tricked callers into thinking they hadn't been successful before revealing they'd actually be picking up the keys to a new ride. 'Sorry mate you didn't get on,' Kyle told one dejected caller. The shock jock didn't keep up the charade for long though. Free car frenzy: The competition was the largest car giveaway ever on Australian radio He soon added: 'But you are on now, so really that means you get a Hyundai as well, doesn't it? In another hilarious prank with a winner, Kyle and Jackie O pretended to not be able to hear a caller, acting as though they were going to call someone else to gift them a car instead. 'Daniel, last chance before we go to another caller,' Kyle said as the caller desperately pleaded to be heard on the other end of the line. 'Last chance buddy. If you're there speak up or you won't win a car.' Pranksters: Kyle and Jackie had fun with their callers, pretending several callers hadn't won a car, before revealing they had in fact been successful Finally, Jackie O stepped in to reveal to Daniel that he had in fact been successful in getting through and would be soon be rewarded with the Hyundai. Among the winners were Jayden from Linden, Tania from Ingleburn, Hai (Angela) from Moorebank, Michael from Mona Vale, Kasey from Toongabie and Tessa from Tumbi Umbi. Also scoring a set of wheels were: Natasha from Central Coast, Lucy from Revesby, Vincent from Greenacre, Dean from Deniliquin, Lauren from Gladesville and Daniel from Earlwood. They're the fashion-forward it-couple who went from a weekend with the parents in Brisbane to a smitten soiree in Sydney. And on Friday, Karl Stefanovic, 42 and new flame Jasmine Yarbrough, 33, celebrated their snowballing romance with a bottle of champagne and a third-wheel. Spotted popping a bottle of bubbly at Barangaroo's lavish Lotus restaurant, the duo and a lucky friend put some of the lessons they learned at Fashion week into practice, flaunting their street style on a stroll around the quay. Model boyfriend! Karl Stefanovic flaunted his newfound street style in Sydney on Friday, enjoying a stroll around Barangaroo before sitting down for a champagne lunch Sporting the same youthful smile that's been stretched across his face since going public with his stunning younger girlfriend, the Today Show host walked briskly to keep up with Jasmine out in front. Dressed in a pair of slim denim jeans, a snug navy bomber jacket and blue t-shirt, he put his trusty loafers to the test and caught up in quick time. His new squeeze looked radiant and stylish as ever, pairing some vintage acid-wash high-waisted jeans with a leather Dolce & Gabbana belt and a $908 Alberta Ferreti wool and cashmere sweater. She styled her hair in a simple ponytail, clutching a shopping bag from pricey boutique hair-care brand Oribe. Fab three! The smitten duo and a lucky friend then put some of the lessons they learned at Fashion week intro practice, flaunting their street style on a stroll around the quay Best of friends! Blonde bombshell Jasmine didn't have any issues with sharing her man for the day No arm done! The 33-year-old laughed and joked alongside her beau and their friend Nothing to get cross over! Flaunting her effortless beauty in a pair of vintage jeans and $908 Alberta Ferreti wool and cashmere sweater, she crossed her arms Despite the morbid weather, the lovers spirits were almost as high as their lucky companion, who laughed and joked with the obliging pair. After onlookers got a good look at their street style, the trio ducked into lavish Lotus Restaurant to enjoy a VERY jovial champagne celebration. It appeared that the relatively empty establishment had enough seats for the whole group, but that didn't stop the couple's friend from taking a seat on Karl's lap, laughing along with Jasmine as she popped the cork on a bottle of bubbly. Champagne lunch! After onlookers got a good look at their street style, the trio ducked into lavish Lotus Restaurant to enjoy a VERY jovial champagne celebration Pour Karl! It appeared that the relatively empty establishment had enough seats for the whole group, but that didn't stop the couple's friend from taking a seat on Karl's lap Tech trouble! With their glasses three-quarters full, the TV star had an other urgent matter to attend to, as he appeared to require his younger girlfriend's help with an issue plaguing his iPhone With their glasses three-quarters full, the TV star had an urgent matter to attend to, appearing to require his younger girlfriend's help with an issue plaguing his iPhone. And the blonde bombshell was more than obliging, knowing full well that the millionaire was far too busy to attend any of the free beginner's smartphone classes held at the local library. As the luncheon went on, and the glasses got emptier, the trio's spirits went sky-high, spotted gathering around their acquaintances newfound chair to check out something on her phone. Sky high! As the luncheon went on, and the glasses got emptier, the trio's spirits went sky-high Who me? Karl is pictured pointing at himself and laughing at a joke All eyes on the iphone! They were then spotted gathering around their acquaintances newfound chair to check out something on her phone All that tech talk may have burned the father-of-three out, who opted to step outside for a bit of a breather to gather his thoughts. He kept his hands in his pockets and his gaze downcast throughout the short moment of solace, before being rejoined by his boisterous party. Karl has played the supportive boyfriend in recent times, sporting a notably increased focus on fashion since their loved-up relationship went public in February. Tech headache? All that tech talk may have burned the father-of-three out, who opted to step out side for a bit of a breather to gather his thoughts Hands to himself! He kept his hands in his pockets and his gaze downcast throughout the short moment of solace, before being rejoined by his boisterous party Rejoined! The happy trio then hit the town once more Supportive! Karl, has played the supportive boyfriend in recent times, sporting a notably increased focus on fashion since their loved-up relationship went public in February Meeting! Karl and Jasmine reportedly first met in December last year One famous incident even saw the divorced father-of-three embracing the wide-brimmed Fedora trend made popular by the likes of Johnny Depp, Pharell Williams and Beyonce. Karl and Jasmine reportedly first met in December last year, months after his split from wife-of-21-years Cassandra Thorburn. It was recently claimed Karl had settled his divorce, with his with his estranged wife reportedly taking home a reported $6 million in cash and assets, plus child support and 'ongoing payments' in the couple's settlement. The Today Show star earns nearly $3 million a year at Channel Nine. They welcomed the pitter-patter of tiny feet in December with the arrival of their first child. Now, Kaya Scodelario, 25, and husband Benjamin Walker, 34, put parenting duties on the back burner as they enjoyed a romantic night out at the Los Angeles premiere of her new flick Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales on Thursday night. The British beauty dazzled in a sweetheart neckline gown which hugged her enviable curves to perfection as she celebrated her new flick with her other half. Scroll down for video Look of love: Kaya Scodelario and Benjamin Walker put parenting duties on the back burner as they put on a romantic display for the Los Angeles premiere of her new flick Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales on Thursday night Looking endlessly into her man's eyes, she commanded attention in her old Hollywood inspired ensemble which featured a daring thigh-high slit. Teasing at her honed pins, she highlighted her hourglass figure in the waist-cinching garment made of stunning velvet fabric while highlighting her narrow torso further with an eye-catching gold waist belt that featured colourful drop crystal detailing. Equipped with vintage wave, she added inches to her petite frame, the actress sauntered down the carpet in a pair of platform sandals with her Burberry-clad beau. While commanding attention on the sea green carpet, the actress - who came to prominence playing the elusive Effy Stonem in Skins - opened up to The Guardian's G2 magazine about her fears that she would have to kiss an older man in the film. Dazzling: The 25-year-old dazzled in a sweetheart neckline gown which hugged her enviable curves to perfection as she celebrated her new flick with her other half Now a part of one of the biggest film franchises, she was interestingly the only woman part of an otherwise all male casts of men in their 40s upwards when shooting the movie in 2015. Although admitting she has come to terms with double -standards, she insisted she still gets annoyed by the gender politics in Hollywood. She explained: 'It does. It's like there's this expiry date for us and it's such b******t, because my mind isn't going to change. If anything I will grow and I will learn and I will be better.' Relief: Playing Johnny Depp's (L) sidekick, Carina Smyth, Kaya admitted she was relieved that her character's object of affection was 26-year-old Brenton Thwaites - who plays Orlando Bloom's son - instead of a man in his 50s which she has become accustomed to seeing Playing Johnny Depp's sidekick, Carina Smyth, Kaya admitted she was relieved that her character's object of affection was 26-year-old Brenton Thwaites - who plays Orlando Bloom's son - instead of a man in his 50s which she has become accustomed to seeing. 'I was concerned that they would want me to play a romantic part against someone in their 50s and that would be heartbreaking,' she said. 'So I was extremely relieved that Brenton [Thwaites] is only a year older than me.' 'But, yeah, nine times out of 10 times, if I read a script, it will be with a man that is twice my age, which is really f***ing weird'. Stand out: Now apart of one of the biggest film franchises, she was interestingly the only woman part of an otherwise all male casts of men in their 40s upwards when shooting the movie in 2015 Frustrated: Although admitting she has come to terms with double -standards, she insisted she still gets annoyed by the gender politics in Hollywood Back in December, The Maze Runner star had taken to Instagram to share the happy news that she and husband Benjamin had welcomed a son into the world. Benjamin and Kaya met on the set of The Moon and The Sun and got engaged in December 2014 after just a few months of dating. The pair married the following year, before announcing they were expecting in June 2016 with a sweet social media snap of Ben cradling her blossoming bump. Happy: Benjamin - who wore Burberry at the event - and Kaya met on the set of The Moon and the Sun and got engaged in December 2014 after just a few months of dating In her footsteps: Kaya will appear in the film as Depp's sidekick - just as Keira Knightley, 32, did back in 2003 Meanwhile, Kaya will appear in the film as Depp's sidekick - just as Keira Knightley, 32, did back in 2003. Keira meanwhile confirmed she will be reprising her role as Elizabeth Swann, for the first time in ten years, in the new film by appearing in its international trailer. In a very brief appearance, the actress is seen staring wistfully at the ocean as her character Elizabeth in the trailer - clad in a typical period floral gown and a smattering of jewellery. Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar's Revenge is in cinemas on May 26. She's regularly seen looking loved-up with the man she said 'yes' to on The Bachelorette. But for Georgia Love, there's no harm in a bit of virtual flirting with hunky Australian tourist Zac Efron. On Friday night, the 28-year-old took to her Instagram Story to blow a passionate kiss at the Baywatch actor, who was oblivious by virtue of being on a TV screen. Look away Lee! On Friday night, Georgia Love took to her Instagram story to blow a passionate kiss at the Bay Watch actor, who was oblivious by virtue of being on a TV screen Tuning into the hunk's appearance on The Project, the occasional Studio 10 host couldn't help but express her feelings, puckering up to offer a virtual kiss. Ensuring it reached its destination, she stuck her hand out to guide the airborne love virus in the direction of its new host. The brunette beauty stared longingly into Zac's eyes, who was on a TV screen, so naturally didn't look back. While there have been rumours that Georgia and beau Lee Elliott were on the rocks, this exchange is unlikely to tip the scales for the lovers. Screening her calls? The brunette beauty stared longingly into Zac's eyes, who was on a TV screen promoting his Baywatch reboot, so naturally didn't look back Meanwhile, in Sunday's Stellar magazine, Georgia Love revealed that she and her genetically-blessed beau are in no rush to move in together because of 'public perception'. Insisting they're happy to progress on their own terms, the 28-year-old also stated that a wedding and babies are not on the cards. 'We want to move in together when we both decide we want to stay together every single night, not because of the public perception,' Georgia told the publication. Nothing like the real thing! While there has certainly been rumours that Georgia and beau Lee Elliott were on the rocks, this exchange is unlikely to tip the scales for the lovers Moving in? Meanwhile, in Sunday's Stellar magazine, Georgia Love revealed that she and her genetically-blessed beau are in no rush to move in together because of 'public perception' And while their whirlwind romance certainly creates headlines, the journalist insisted they're happy to progress at their own rate. 'A wedding isn't on the cards, and a baby definitely is not on the cards,' Georgia added. Zac is in the country with stunning new talent Alexandra Daddario to promote the upcoming Baywatch reboot. Rumours have been rife for weeks about a romance heating up between Baywatch co-stars Zac Efron and Alexandra Daddario. And when the sizzling hot pair were asked point blank on The Project on Friday night whether there was anything going on between them, Zac was left blushing. 'Nothing but a shared... love of pickles,' the 29-year-old responded, laughing, but he didn't completely quash the rumours, adding: 'So far.' Keeping coy: Zac Efron (pictured left) admits he and Baywatch co-star Alexandra Daddario (pictured right) both have late-night cravings for pickles but refuses to confirm relationship rumours on The Project on Friday night Previously in the interview, the 29-year-old had revealed to the Channel Ten show's hosts that the strict eating plan required for his toned body in his latest role left him craving weird things at night, such as fried pickles. 'You're laying in bed and you haven't had carbohydrates in five days and you think, I really want fried pickles,' he divulged. The actor's love of the snack was something apparently shared by Alexandra, who said that she also craved, 'fried pickles' late at night. The shared craving prompted The Project's hosts to ask about whether the pair shared anything else in bed, a question which left Zac lost for words. What else do they share in bed? Zac says he and Alexandra have 'Nothing but a shared... love of pickles' following swirling rumours of a romance between the pair It's not the first time this week an interview has left Zac blushing. Speaking to Yahoo!7's Be this week, Alexandra gushed about her co-star's body, making Zac almost speechless. 'I have never touched a man with as many abs as yours so it is other-worldly,' the 31-year-old told Zac. A man temporarily of few words, Zac offered a coy response. Cute couple? The genetically blessed stars can't stop the whispers that they are dating 'Well thankyou,' he laughed. 'Thats really sweet... umm cool.' The duo have been making a splash Down Under during their press trip to promote the new film. On Thursday, they enjoyed a sunset boat ride around Sydney Harbour, appearing in high spirits as they took in stunning views. Harbour cruise: Zac Efron and Alexandra Daddario enjoyed a sunset boat ride around Sydney harbour on Thursday Chic: The brunette beauty showed off her taut torso in a black crop top paired with blue skinny jeans and a vibrant pink winter coat Earlier this week, the stars denied speculation that they are more than friends. 'As far as I know, she hasn't said yes,' Zac told The Daily Telegraph. American beauty Alexandra added that romance speculation 'makes sense because we are love interests in the movie - But [he] is a lot for me to handle.' Romance rumors were first reported by gossip site Hollywood Life, with a source claiming the pair have been secretly dating for months. She dazzled the Palais de Festival with her array of jaw-dropping looks. Yet, it appears Emily Ratajkowski's appearance at the 70th Cannes Film Festival was simply a flying visit as she was pictured jetting out of Nice airport on Friday. The 25-year-old actress worked a decidedly laid back look as she stepped out in a double denim ensemble sauntering through the terminal. Scroll down for video Denim days: Emily Ratajkowski's appearance at the 70th Cannes Film Festival was simply a flying visit as she was pictured jetting out of Nice airport on Friday The We Are Your Friends star highlighted her endless honed pins in a pair of mom fit jeans which she stylish rolled up at her ankles to display the denim's cuffs. Adding to her Canadian tuxedo inspired attire, she wrapped a light wash Levi's denim jacket around her slender figure while clutching onto her passport. The fashion darling - who has graced the cover of GQ, Harper's Bazaar and InStyle - teamed her look with a bright yellow blouse with floral print across it. Emily teetered through the airport in a pair of peep-toe tan heels as she donned a pair of circular shades indoors. What a darling: The 25-year-old actress worked a decidedly laid back look as she stepped out in a double denim ensemble sauntering through the terminal Pin-credible: The We Are Your Friends star highlighted her endless honed pins in a pair of mom fit jeans which she stylish rolled up at her ankles to display the denim's cuffs Signing it off: Adding to her Canadian tuxedo inspired attire, she wrapped a light wash denim jacket around her slender figure as she signed autographs Looking at ease, Emily - who shot to stardom in Robin Thicke's 2013 music video for Blurred Lines - tamed her locks into a centre parting which cascaded down her shoulders in a straight style. The style maven accentuated her flawless complexion with a slick of nude gloss across her lips while signing autographs. Elsewhere, the Gone Girl actress has been enjoying herself since landing in the South of France earlier this week, having spent time at A-list hotspot Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, documenting her envy-inducing trip on social media. Red carpet ready: Emily stunned in her racy black ensemble, created by Norwegian designer Peter Dundas Ruling the red carpet: Emily's demure look was worlds away from her dazzling champagne coloured silk gown at the Cannes Film Festival Opening Ceremony the previous evening And she had cause for significantly more Instagram and Snapchat activity while rubbing shoulders with a host of stars on Thursday evening at the Loveless premiere. She also made quite the splash at the film festival's opening ceremony alongside her pals Bella Hadid, Hailey Baldwin and Adriana Lima. Her stylish displays comes after she enjoyed a glamorous night out at the opening ceremony of the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival which saw her continuing the party as they put on a rather raunchy display while boogying the night away on a luxury yacht after the main event. Copping a feel: Bella Hadid, 20, was so impressed by her friend Emily Ratajkowski's assets, she couldn't help but grab them during a dance session while attending the opening night festivities of the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday Chilling: Documenting their evening on Instagram, the beauties were seen changing out of their designer dresses into more comfortable jeans as they relaxed Emily and her pal Bella Hadid , 20, was evidently so impressed with the We Are Your Friends star's assets that she couldn't help but grope her as they got their groove on in a racy Instagram video, with Emily captioning the clip: 'She loves me.' The two gorgeous women, along with Hailey Baldwin, were dancing up a storm in similar off-the-shoulder sexy tops and jeans. Clearly enjoying their time in the French Riviera, Emily was quick to share a number of videos of their dance party on Instagram. Boat party: Bella Hadid, Emily Ratajkowski and Hailey Baldwin let their hair down in a more casual fashion after the glitzy Cannes Film Festival Opening Gala on Wednesday In one clip, the sister of supermodel Gigi is even seen holding on to Emily's famously busty chest as they writhe against each other on the desk of the luxurious yacht. Emily opts for a solo session by posting a video of herself strutting her stuff to Nicky Minaj. She captioned the video: '@nickyminaj you the queen' with a crown emoji instead of the word queen. Judith Light has dropped a big hint. The 68-year-old star said at The Paley Honors: Celebrating Women In Television event in NYC on Wednesday that there could be a Who's The Boss? reboot. 'People have talked about that for a really long time,' the blonde told Us Weekly. 'I have no idea. All of us are working so Im not sure how we would all get together, but I never say never to anything!' Clever: Judith Light has dropped a big hint. The 68-year-old star said at The Paley Honors: Celebrating Women In Television event in NYC on Wednesday that there could be a Who's The Boss? reboot Her big hit: Light's biggest role was on Who's The Boss? She played assertive advertising executive Angela Bower on the ABC sitcom with Tony Danza Light's biggest role was on Who's The Boss? She played assertive advertising executive Angela Bower on the ABC sitcom. Tony Danza played her housekeeper and later her lover. From employee to more: The star worked with Danza, who starred as her babysitter then turned into her lover This cutie: Also on the show was child actress Alyssa Milano The show ran for eight seasons from 1984 to 1992. The series was successful in the ratings, consistently ranked in the top ten in the final primetime ratings between the years of 1985 and 1989, and has since continued in syndication. Light still has her good looks. The star appeared youthful when she attended the 32nd Annual Lucille Lortel Awards at NYU Skirball Center on Sunday. Showing off pretty blonde locks and a fit figure, the icon doesn't seem to have aged much in the past three decades. Sofia Vergara let her natural beauty shine through during a visit to a Los Angeles hair salon on Thursday. The 44-year-old Modern Family diva squeezed into ultra-tight brown capri pants, which she paired with a green long-sleeve top, beige peep-toe heels, and an orange purse. The four-time Golden Globe nominee flashed her mega-watt smile as she went make-up free for her outing. Scroll down for video Out and about: Sofia Vergara let her natural beauty shine through during a visit to a Los Angeles hair salon on Thursday Time to size up? The 44-year-old Modern Family diva squeezed into ultra-tight brown capri pants, which she paired with a green long-sleeve top, beige heels, and an orange purse Fresh faced: The four-time Golden Globe nominee flashed her mega-watt smile as she went make-up free for her outing On Tuesday, Sofia's second husband Joe Manganiello was hard at work on the set of his latest Men's Health shoot. The 40-year-old Smurfs actor's personal trainer Ron Mathews shared a sneak peek at the upcoming fitness spread on Instagram. The 6ft5in Italian stallion has been featured on cover of the men's magazine around seven times. 'Looks pretty good!' On Tuesday, Sofia's second husband Joe Manganiello was hard at work on the set of his latest Men's Health shoot In his second home: The 40-year-old Smurfs actor's personal trainer Ron Mathews shared a sneak peek at the upcoming fitness spread on Instagram Fit: The 6ft5in Italian stallion has been featured on cover of the men's magazine around seven times Manganiello helped Vergara celebrate Mother's Day last Sunday with her 24-year-old son, attorney Manolo, from her first marriage to Joe Gonzalez. On May 10, ABC renewed Modern Family, in which the Colombian bombshell plays Gloria Delgado-Pritchett, for a ninth and 10th season to premiere this September. Sofia will next voice Flamenco Dancer in the Sony animated comedy The Emoji Movie, which hits US theaters July 28 and UK theaters August 4. Her day: Manganiello helped Vergara celebrate Mother's Day last Sunday with her 24-year-old son, attorney Manolo, from her first marriage to Joe Gonzalez Congrats! On May 10, ABC renewed Modern Family, in which the Colombian bombshell plays Gloria Delgado-Pritchett, for a ninth and 10th season to premiere this September 'She is always doing the Flamenco. She does it in the morning when she gets up, she does it when she's eating, she probably does it when she's sleeping. It makes things like driving or putting on her makeup very difficult,' the Simpsons guest star told People last month. 'I thought it was a great adventure and who doesn't like an emoji? I thought it was going to be a perfect role for me because people are always saying that I look like her!' The expressive 'app-venture' in Textopolis also features Anna Faris, T.J. Miller, Patrick Stewart, James Corden, Christina Aguilera, Maya Rudolph, and Steven Wright. 'People are always saying that I look like her!' Sofia will next voice Flamenco Dancer in the animated comedy The Emoji Movie, which hits US theaters July 28 and UK theaters August 4 She married the love of her life on December 2nd last year. And Joanna Burgess has revealed some of the secret, magical details of her big day with NRL star husband George, 25. The 27-year-old opened up to The Lane bridal magazine, spilling details about her Noosa wedding, held in the steamy summer and attended by just 85 guests. Loved up: Joanna Burgess has revealed some of the secret, magical details of her big day with NRL star husband George, 25 The nuptials were held at a private property in Eumundi in Queensland where two homesteads were located for guests and family, followed by a reception hosted at Noosa Beach House. Joanna gushed, 'George and I held our ceremony on the property, surrounded by nature and under an ancient leafy tree that was perfect for shade on the day.' The beauty wore a Pallas Couture wedding gown, with it's lace detailing made to fit her growing baby bump. Because Joanna was pregnant, fittings had to be narrowed down to 'just weeks before the wedding' to accommodate Joanna's 'ever-growing baby bump and changing figure'. Summer loving: The 27-year-old opened up to The Lane bridal magazine, spilling details about her Noosa wedding, held in the steamy summer and attended by just 85 guests Bump! The beauty wore a Pallas Couture wedding gown, with it's lace detailing made to fit her growing baby bump The new mum also revealed that her engagement ring, which was made in the 1930s, was hand-picked by her husband George. She said: 'George secretly picked out my engagement ring from Isabellas Fine & Antique Jewellery in Noosa which is where we went back to get our wedding bands made'. A wedding ring with eight diamonds, to symbolise George's lucky number, was custom made to match the vintage engagement ring. What a romantic: The new mum also revealed that her engagement ring, which was made in the 1930s, was hand-picked by her husband George Joanna gave birth to son Boston in April this year, and she revealed to The Daily Telegraph that motherhood has strengthened her relationship with George. 'It's brought George and I even closer,' the blonde gushed. 'It's been a challenge but the best challenge - words can't even describe it,' Joanna told the publication of first-time motherhood. Closer: Joanna gave birth to son Boston in April this year, and she revealed to The Daily Telegraph that motherhood has strengthened her relationship with George 'There is just so much love in our life. And it's brought George and I even closer,' she continued. The interior design student also added that little Boston 'definitely looks like his dad.' Lizzie Cundy has been left 'genuinely scared' after receiving a death threat. The former WAG, 48, was seen enjoying a night out in London with a handsome mystery man on Thursday and seemed in great spirits. However, a source revealed exclusively to MailOnline that whilst she has been attempting to keep up appearances, she has been left shaken by a threat following her night out with Nigel Farage. Scroll down for video Loving life: 48-year-old former WAG Lizzie Cundy was seen enjoying a night out in London with a handsome mystery man on Thursday and seemed in great spirits Lizzie partied with the former UKIP leader at her birthday this month after they met at the premiere for Brexit: The Movie. Yet after pictures of the pair surfaced, she was shocked to discover the uproar it had caused. An insider revealed: 'She got a death threat from being linked with him, it was a nasty note on her car window screen after her radio show. 'She was genuinely very scared about it as there are some nutters out there. She definitely won't be going out with Nigel again.' Worrying: Whilst Lizzie has been attempting to keep up appearances, she has been left shaken by a threat following her night out with Nigel Farage Shocking: Lizzie partied with the former UKIP leader at her birthday this month. Yet after pictures of the pair surfaced, she was shocked to discover the uproar it had caused Disturbing: An insider revealed: 'She got a death threat from being linked with him, it was a nasty note on her car window screen after her radio show' Firm friends: Nigel and Lizzie met at the premiere for Brexit: The Movie in May Lizzie previously revealed that she and Farage have become friends after attending several parties together, including the launch of Brexit: The Movie. The pair met at the premiere of the documentary - a crowdfunded film advocating Britain's departure from the European Union - back in May. She told MailOnline of his antics at her birthday party: 'Farage just wanted to let his hair down. I know Nigel from various events and went to the Brexit The Movie and went for drinks after. He liked my sense of humour.' Moving on: Lizzie's threats seemed to be in the back of her mind, however, as she headed on a dinner date to the Ivy in Chelsea with her mystery man Lizzie's threats seemed to be in the back of her mind, however, as she headed on a dinner date to the Ivy in Chelsea with her mystery man. The model looked sensational in a plunging white blouse that she teamed with a stylish cream mini skirt. Adding to the glamour, the mother-of-two donned a pair of knee high boots as she teetered along under the shelter of a large pink umbrella. Her handsome companion seemed in great spirits as he accompanied her on the outing, beaming broadly as he looked over at her. She's an international superstar as well as a mother of three kids (two of them are twins). So Julia Roberts is probably better than anyone to give close friend, ultra-celeb and soon-to-be father of twins George Clooney parenting tips. While appearing on Ellen Friday, the 49-year-old darling explained parenting boils down to 'trial and error and a whole lot of tears' but that her Ocean's Eleven costar and wife Amal 'are a great couple and don't need advice.' Scroll down for video Parenting pro! Julia Roberts offered some choice advice to pal George Clooney about raising twins while visiting Ellen Friday She described her friendship with the 56-year-old heartthrob as 'the goofiest pals ever.' Then Julia explained that parenting is always a learning experience. 'You know, nobody's there at three o'clock in the morning when you're just going "What are we doing? Where did they come from?" she said. The Runaway Bride actress finished by offering her vote of confidence for the power couple, telling Ellen that Amal and George 'are a great couple and they don't need advice from me or anybody else.' Goofballs! The 49-year-old starlet described she and her Ocean's Eleven castmate as the 'goofiest pals ever'. Above Julia and buddy are pictured at Canne Film Festival in May 2016 Trial and error! The star explained that raising kids requires lots of learning on the job, because 'nobody's there at three o'clock in the morning when you're just going "What are we doing?" While George is just starting his parenting journey, Julia's twins are growing up quick. Hazel and Finn, who the Pretty Woman described as 'very different', celebrate their 13th birthday in November. She and husband of 15 years Danny Moder also have a younger son, Henry, who is almost 10. Superlative starlet: The Runaway Bride beauty revealed her fifth time as People's 'Most Beautiful Woman' is both a 'sweet, but... also embarrassing' honor And after three children, the Georgia native still easily earned the title of People's 'Most Beautiful Woman' this year, an honor which Ellen was sure to discuss with the starlet. Showing off the sweetheart's 'Most Beautiful' People Magazine cover, the hostess asked Julia how it feels to grace the cover for the fifth time. 'It's sweet, but it's also embarrassing... and it's flattering but we could poll people's secret thoughts and there'd be a group of people who say "I don't get it,"' the star explained, 'But I have those days also.' Giving back: Red Nose Day founder Richard Curtis stopped by to talk about the org's mission and how Roberts has been working with them Eye opening: The Georgia-born starlet also talked about her recent trip to rural Africa with Bear Grylls, where they delivered vaccines in partnership with Red Nose Day At the show, Julia, who kept things casual in an orange T-shirt, black jeans, black blazer and a simple pair of Ippolita earrings, also talked about her latest adventure with Red Nose Day. The star just returned from an eye-opening mission to Africa with Bear Grylls where they delivered life saving vaccines to rural villages with the non-profit. Though the actress admitted she initially signed up 'to impress' hubby Danny Moder with her journey, it was a 'life-changing experience.' Head in the clouds: Ellen and Julia played a game of Heads Up with the Love Actually creator Big bucks! Shutterfly generously donated $25k to the organization, which Ellen and Julia presented with a giant check Ellen and Julia were joined by Red Nose Day founder, filmmaker Richard Curtis to talk a bit about their mission and play a fun game. At the show, the Love Actually creator announced that donations made on rednoseday.org/ellen will be matched by partners the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Getting a chance to raise even more funds, Julia and Richard joined Ellen for a game of Heads Up, which ended with a surprise donation of $25k courtesy of Shutterfly. Julia Roberts visit with Ellen airs Friday May 19 on NBC. Red Nose Day is Thursday May 25. She confirmed she was expecting her second child with her businessman husband in March. And Bar Refaeli clearly can't wait to hear the sound of tiny feet once again, taking to Instagram on Friday to share a snap of her blossoming baby bump. The model, 31, relaxed in a bikini emblazoned with gold and white vertical stripes while appearing to glance down at her tummy. Scroll down for video Excitement: Bar Refaeli, 31, showed off her baby bump in a joyful swimsuit selfie two months after announcing she was pregnant with her second child The landscape shot showed off Bar's slender legs, and her blonde locks tumbled down her sun-kissed skin, which was still moist from the swimming pool. The catwalk queen accessorised with a pair of crystal stud earrings and collection of colourful bangles on her wrist. Sharing the darling snap with her 2.5 million followers, she wrote: 'Days like these' and 'Shabbat Shalom', a traditional Jewish greeting. Stunning: The Israeli model is expecting her second child with businessman husband Adi Ezra The Israeli model is expecting her second child with businessman husband Adi Ezra and confirmed the happy news by posting a sweet snap of her growing baby bump on her Instagram page on March 28. It was just eight months after the couple - who tied the knot in their native Israel in September 2015 - welcomed their baby daughter Liv in August 2016. Bar playfully wrote alongside the shot: 'Something's cooking'. The former girlfriend of Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio announced her first pregnancy via Instagram last January. Big news: The former girlfriend of Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio announced her first pregnancy via Instagram last January In an interview with Hello! Fashion Monthly in 2015, the model admitted family is everything to her and she's planning to have a large brood. 'I think this will be a decade of family... I come from a family of four children,' she told the publication. 'A lot of mums could read this and think, "Yeah, try having one first". Hopefully, Ill have a big family, but Ill take it one by one. A regular on the 100 sexiest women lists, the free-spirited model has fronted campaigns for brands ranging from Chanel and Escada to Reebok and Gap. Advertisement In the studio, he's rubbed shoulders with some of the most high-profile musicians at the planet. But until now, Sony Music big-wig Tim Prescott's home life has been considerably more low-key. According to realestate.com.au, the guru who's worked with the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Pink, Beyonce, Usher and John Mayer shifted his lavish Avalon, Sydney waterfront hideaway for at least $4.5 million. Sold! Tim Prescott, music excec to the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Pink and John Mayer sold his lavish Avalon waterfront hideaway for $4.5 million this week Quiet life: Sony Music big-wig Tim Prescott's home life has been considerably more low-key Despite boasting a three-story main property and a boat shed, jetty, slipway and boat pen across a whopping 1000 square meters, the secluded, beach pad took 225 days to sell. In the main house, views from the balcony overlook stunning Pittwater, with two massive decks and multiple living areas highlighting the abode. Industrial design elements coalesce with rustic, beach villa fare in the spacey home. Views: In the main house, views from the balcony overlook stunning Pittwater, with two massive decks and multiple living areas highlighting the abode Rustic: Industrial design elements coalesce with rustic, beach villa fare Cooking up a storm: In the kitchen, metallic pendant lights hang over a large, natural wooden table with wicker chairs surrounding the water-facing room In the kitchen, metallic pendant lights hang over a large, natural wooden table with wicker chairs surrounding the water-facing room. The airy, light and clean look continues into the timber decked boatshed, with white-on-white furnishings, thick-rope hangings and exposed timber beams creating a very typical beach resort vibe. The hammock and bunting that spans the wall closest to the stunning yacht-lined waterfront added to the beach feel. Bright: The home has an airy, light and clean look with white-on-white furnishings Big names: In his time in heavy-hitter roles for the likes of Sony, BMG, Polydor and PolyGram, Tim worked directly with Bruce Springsteen, Pink, Beyonce and John Mayer Nevertheless, the publication reported that despite it taking the better part of a year to shift, the property sold for no less than its $4.5-$4.6m guide. In his time in heavy-hitter roles for the likes of Sony, BMG, Polydor and PolyGram, Tim worked with Bruce Springsteen, Pink, Beyonce, John Mayer, User and many more. While the music executive and interior designer wife Frances Georgeson are on their way out of the exuberant home, realestate.com.au claimed that they will still be hunting for property in the Avalon area. The high-profile personality has dialed-back his responsibilities of later, now focusing on his own company, titled Double Drummer music. Pretty designs: The hammock and bunting that spans the wall closest to the stunning yacht-lined waterfront added to the beach feel Right by the water: Despite boasting a three-story main property and a boat shed, jetty, slipway and boat pen across a whopping 1000 square meters, the secluded, beach pad took 225 days to sell She recently admirably shrugged off an unfortunate near-identical outfit mishap with fellow Channel Seven star Sam Armytage. And on Friday, Kylie Gillies, 50, debunked another outfit misnomer, proving there's nothing wrong with wearing the same outfit on Instagram twice. Leaning up against the wall at the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles, California, the Morning Show co-host looked absolutely age-defying in a tiny polka-dot dress. Age-defying! On Friday, Kylie Gillies flaunted her age-defying beauty in a tiny polka dot dress, leaning up against the iconic pink wall of the Beverly Hills Hotel The above-the-knee, kneck-tied number marked its surprising fourth appearance on her Instagram feed in as many days, with the smiling brunette completely un-phased by that fact. 'And I did wear more than one dress in LA. We shoot many stories in one day!' she informed readers. Her 90,100 Instagram followers had been treated to glimpses of the beauty's slender frame in the ensemble several times already, with shots from inside the iconic hotel and from a park bench all featuring the outfit. Looking statuesque and radiant in a pair of black stiletto heels, Kylie added: 'I'm pretty sure it's an Instagram rule. When you visit The Beverly Hills Hotel...you MUST take this pic.' Repeat! Her 90,100 Instagram followers had been treated to glimpses of the 50-year-old's slender frame in the ensemble several times already This isn't the first time Kylie has had to defend an outfit choice this week, with the star learning on Tuesday night that she has a very similar taste in fashion to Sam Armytage. The two Channel Seven stars turned up to InStyle Women Of Style Awards in very similar ensembles. Sam graced the red carpet at The Star, Sydney in a stunning black dress, featuring a bare shoulder and ruffles on the hemline. Twinning: This isn't the first time Kylie has had to defend an outfit choice this week, with the star learning on Tuesday night that she has a very similar taste in fashion to Sam Armytage The blonde beauty styled her hair in a subtle quiff style and coloured her cheeks with a rosy blush. Sam finished off her fashionable look with black stilettos and a matching clutch. Meanwhile, Kylie went for an edgy one-shoulder jumpsuit cinched in at the waist with a metallic belt. Beauty in black: Sam graced the red carpet at The Star, Sydney in a stunning black dress, featuring a bare shoulder and ruffles on the hemline Strike a pose! The confident TV presenter showed off her finest moves for the photographers She too wore very similar high heels to Sam, and carried a cut baby pink Valentino clutch. Taking the incident in good fun, Kylie took to Instagram, sharing a snap alongside Sam on the red carpet. 'Kylie & Sam..you know we're pretty armless,' the brunette captioned the photo. She's stepped out in an array of elegant looks at Cannes so far this year. And Julianne Moore put on a typically chic display as she swept the red carpet at the Okja premiere on Friday night. The actress, 56, looked stunning in a shimmering black column dress, featuring a daring thigh-high split. Typically chic: Julianne Moore looked stunning in a shimmering black column dress as she swept the red carpet at the Okja premiere on Friday night The Still Alice star flashed the gown's white underskirt through the daring slit, while showing off her pins as she sashayed down the red carpet. She teamed the glamorous number with a pair of towering black heels, adding a a pair of statement earrings to finish. Wearing her trademark fiery locks down over her shoulders, she opted for a smoky eyeshadow, while accentuating her lips with a pink gloss. Stunning: The Still Alice star flashed the gown's white underskirt through the daring slit, while showing off her pins as she sashayed down the red carpet Dazzling: She teamed the glamorous number with a pair of towering black heels, adding a a pair of statement earrings to finish Julianne has been busy promoting her new film Wonderstruck at Cannes, alongside co-star Michelle Williams. The film, which is adapted from a novel by Brian Selznicktells, covers two different time periods, telling the story of a young boy in the Midwest and a girl in New York. Julianne wowed in a embellished white dress for the world premiere of the movie, which is competing for Palme d'Or - the most esteemed prize at the festival. Beauty: Wearing her trademark fiery locks down over her shoulders, she opted for a smoky eyeshadow, while accentuating her lips with a pink gloss Busy lady: Julianne has been busy promoting her new film Wonderstruck at Cannes, alongside co-star Michelle Williams She had previously put on a showstopping the previous night in a Givenchy Couture gown for the opening night of the gala. Wonderstruck is one of 49 films being screened at this year's festival with two of the final flicks produced by streaming service Netflix, including Okja and The Meyerowitz Stories. The decision to include them has not gone down well, with viewers booing Okja at the festival and almost causing a 'riot' at the screening earlier on Friday. Following the controversy, the festival has announced that from 2018 only movies set to be released on the big screen will be considered for selection. Glam: The Oscar-winner has showcased her impeccable red carpet style while at Cannes so far this year Verdict: Utterly beguiling... a notable triumph Rating: ***** There is a row rumbling on in Cannes over whether Netflix productions should be allowed to compete for the prestigious Palme DOr. Movie star Will Smith, a member of the jury, says theres no reason why not. But the jury president, the great Spanish director Pedro Almodovar, thinks that films not getting a cinema release should be ineligible. So that explains the sporadic booing and cheering today at the start of Okja, starring Tilda Swinton and Jake Gyllenhaal, and one of two Netflix movies in competition. Then there was practically a riot - misreported by the BBC as a coordinated protest against Netflix - when the film was initially projected in the wrong ratio, which meant that some people in the huge Cannes auditorium couldnt see it properly. To paraphrase an old joke, apart from all that, Mrs Lincoln, how was the film? Scroll down for video In the running: Okja, starring Tilda Swinton (pictured) is one of two Netflix movies in competition at the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival Utterly beguiling, actually. And what a shame that it is not due a theatrical release. Okja, directed and co-written (with the British journalist Jon Ronson) by the accomplished South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho, is a gleeful satire about the rapacious US food industry - embodied here by a powerful conglomerate called the Mirando Corporation - wrapped neatly around a moving, almost Disney-esque story of a girl and her pet. The corporations head honcho is Lucy Mirando (Swinton), who has evidently ousted her twin sister Nancy (also Swinton) in a boardroom coup. Lucy wears a brace on her teeth, as if to signify that she is a hormonal teenager at heart, eaten up by sibling jealousy. She is also utterly unscrupulous, and contemptuous of consumers. While pretending not to, she sneakily endorses genetic modification practices in her laboratories. Triumphant: Directed and co-written (with the British journalist Jon Ronson) by the accomplished South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho, Okja is a gleeful satire about the rapacious US food industry Yet to her loyal, brainwashed employees, and to the world at large, Lucy presents herself as a noble altruist, eager to solve the planets food shortages. She claims that her company scientists have reared, by natural, non-sinister means, 26 super-piglets, which can be bred into a whole new species, and will each grow big enough to feed thousands of people. The piglets will each be placed with a farmer in the 26 countries where the Mirando Corporation has offices, and the project will take a decade, culminating in a competition to determine which is the biggest and best super-pig. Ten years duly pass, by which time a South Korean girl called Mija (a lovely performance by An Seo-hyun), living on a remote mountaintop with her grandfather, has raised Okja from piglethood. They do everything together and have an unbreakable bond; we even see Okja save Mijas life, in a beautifully realised scene that might have been lifted from one of those old Disney made-for-TV movies about a girl communing with her animal sidekick, except for the fact that the sidekick here looks like a cross between a hippo, a St Bernard and a moomintroll. Powerful: It would be wrong to regard Okja as purely a childrens film Soon, a corporate posse come to transport Okja first to Seoul and on to New York, where she will be paraded as the biggest, and presumably tastiest, of all the super-pigs. They are led by the face of Mirando, a squeakily exuberant TV personality named Dr Johnny (cartoonishly over-acted by Gyllenhaal, the film's one discordant note), who presents a show called Animal Magic. Any resemblance to the long-running BBC Bristol TV series of that name, and its presenter Johnny Morris of beloved memory, I should think is purely accidental. Naturally, Mija is heartbroken at the loss of her best friend, and hurries to Seoul herself, where it soon transpires that she is not the only one trying to set her super-pig free. A group of radical animal rights activists, led by a slick American called Jay (Paul Dano) also want to prize Okja from Mirando clutches. But they, it transpires, have a more complex agenda. Dubious: The film features a squeakily exuberant TV personality named Dr Johnny (cartoonishly over-acted by Jake Gyllenhaal, the film's one discordant note) There are echoes of King Kong as Okja is whisked to New York and turned into an animal celebrity, prior to being carted off to a huge industrial abattoir. By now, Lucy has herself been ousted by her more ruthless twin Nancy Swinton clearly channelling, or perhaps Chanel-ing, the fashion maven Anna Winter. But Mija has come to New York, too, and knows the way to Nancys stony heart. It would be wrong to regard Okja as purely a childrens film. There are some disturbing scenes of animal slaughter, in a compound clearly designed to evoke a Nazi concentration camp. But more robust children will love it, though beware, because if theyre not vegetarian already, they might be by the final credits. For an older audience, there are some subtle but priceless gags at the expense not just of the food industry, but also animal activists (one of whom wont eat anything at all, so that he can leave the smallest possible carbon footprint). Whether it can be considered a family film rather depends on your family, but its very stylishly and charmingly done, with wonderful visual effects. Despite todays hullabaloo, Okja is a notable triumph for Netflix. It is not only a showcase for Hollywood's forthcoming esteemed movies but also a display of some of the most glamorous fashions in the world of celebrity. And while the 70th Cannes Film Festival has had some sartorial wins, Friday's Okja premiere red carpet was littered with a bevy of shocks as Victoria Bonya, Victoria Silvstedt, Victoria Hervey and Aishwarya Rai went for outlandish gowns. The Russian model, 37, led the way in a dramatic baby blue marabou jacket over a racy sheer gown while she was joined by Aishwarya, 42, in a similar colour while the other two Victorias went for equally bold ensembles. Scroll down for video Oh my! It is not only a showcase for Hollywood's forthcoming esteemed movies but also a display of some of the most glamorous fashions in the world of celebrity While none of the beauties seemed to have any connection to the films at Cannes, they appeared in a bid to add to the glamour - and that they did. Bonya, who has previously posed for Playboy, oozed wild glamour in her baby blue coat which drowned out the rest of her sexy ensemble which boasted a sheer panel plunging down the front of her cleavage. Her dead straight blonde locks fell in lengths tumbling down her back while her make-up was lavishly applied with her pout highlighted by a slick of plum gloss. Silvstedt meanwhile went for a two-piece in which the floral patterned top tumbled off her shoulders while tucked into a satin purple skirt which was huge in volume and engulfed her famously stunning frame. Shock look: And while the 70th Cannes Film Festival has had some sartorial wins, Friday's red carpet was littered with a bevy of shocks as stars including Victoria Bonya, Victoria Silvstedt, Victoria Hervey and Aishwarya Rai (pictured) went for outlandish gowns Sizzling: Bonya, who has previously posed for Playboy, oozed wild glamour in her baby blue coat which drowned out the rest of her sexy ensemble which boasted a sheer panel plunging down the front of her cleavage Wowzers! Her dead straight blonde locks fell in lengths tumbling down her back while her make-up was lavishly applied with her pout highlighted by a slick of plum gloss Chic: Silvstedt meanwhile went for a two-piece in which the floral patterned top tumbled off her shoulders while tucked into a satin purple skirt which was huge in volume and engulfed her famously stunning frame While stars including Rihanna and Bella Hadid were dazzling in block coloured gowns, naturally Lady Victoria Hervey brought her trademark scanty glamour to proceedings. No doubt stunning fans in that her assets were not boldly on display, she still showed off her lithe frame in the golden gown complete with corset-style cups and a totally bejewelled top half. Contrasting themes, the top of her look was structured and stiff yet the bottom dropped into a volumunious sweeping skirt with a train and acres of fluffy chiffon. Oh my! While stars including Rihanna and Bella Hadid were dazzling in block coloured gowns, naturally Lady Victoria Hervey brought her trademark scanty glamour to proceedings Golden girl: No doubt stunning fans in that her assets were not boldly on display, she still showed off her lithe frame in the golden gown complete with corset-style cups and a totally bejewelled top half Sweeping: While Lady Victoria was determined to showcase her incredible frame in the slinky gown, Aishwarya was opting for volume over sex appeal in her look Oh my! The blue gown was vast in width at the base, yet her tiny waist was highlighted by the contrast of a boned top alongside a Bardot neckline While Lady Victoria was determined to showcase her incredible frame in the slinky gown, Aishwarya was opting for volume over sex appeal in her look. The blue gown was vast in width at the base, yet her tiny waist was highlighted by the contrast of a boned top alongside a Bardot neckline. Making for a spectacular entrance, the blue gown was adorned with a 3D flower decal which added further to the mass of material in which she drowned. Earlier in the day she went for a similarly dramatic gown, complete with a volumunious skirt although this particular garment was ankle-skimming in length and boasted a bold floral print on a white base. A wave to her fans: Making for a spectacular entrance, the blue gown was adorned with a 3D flower decal which added further to the mass of material in which she drowned. A wave to her fans She shot to fame playing tough Roxy Mitchell for a decade. And former EastEnders star Rita Simons has been keeping a low-profile ever since as illustrated when she enjoyed a low-key lunch with friends at a branch of Starbucks in Elstree on Friday, where she puffed on an electronic vape pen. The 40-year-old actress was inhaling through the smoking replacement, yet bizarrely still held a box of cigarettes in her other hand, although there was nothing to imply the tobacco in her hand was her own. Scroll down for video Puffing away: Former EastEnders star Rita Simons has been keeping a low-profile ever since as illustrated when she enjoyed a low-key lunch with friends at a branch of Starbucks in Elstree on Friday, where she puffed on an electronic vape pen Rita joined EastEnders in 2007 alongside Samantha Womack who played her on-screen sister Ronnie before the duo died in a tragic drowning incident in a pool shortly after the latter wed Scott Maslen's character Jack Branning. Despite setting her sights on Hollywood at the end of her soap life, Rita has been enjoying some well-deserved time off as seen when she chilled on Friday. Slipping into a casual slogan T-shirt, adorned with the words Fiesta And Siesta, the blonde beauty also showed off her legs in a pair of skin-tight black jeans. Adding to the casual nature of the ensemble, she wore a bomber jacket with a pair of box-fresh trendy white trainers which combined to make an extremely stylish look - perfectly suited to a low-key coffee date with pals. Fiesta and Siesta: The 40-year-old actress was inhaling through the smoking replacement, yet bizarrely still held a box of cigarettes in her other hand, although there was nothing to imply the tobacco in her hand was her own Sister, sister: Rita joined EastEnders in 2007 alongside Samantha Womack who played her on-screen sister Ronnie before the duo died in a tragic drowning incident in a pool shortly after the latter wed Scott Maslen's character Jack Branning Despite going low-key, Rita's blonde tresses were perfectly styled into bouncy waves which cascaded over her shoulders falling from a centre parting. Before puffing on a huge vape pen - often used as a cigarette replacement - yet she was also seen holding on to a pack of cigarettes and a lighter while also holding on to her iPhone. Earlier this year, Rita spoke about the decision of new BBC One producer Sean O'Connor to get rid of the fan favourite sisters and also her plans for after the show. She told The Sunday people: 'EastEnders was a great job but its time to move on.I now want to do gangster roles, edgy dramas and comedy. Stunner: Despite going low-key, Rita's blonde tresses were perfectly styled into bouncy waves which cascaded over her shoulders falling from a centre parting Smokey: Before puffing on a huge vape pen, she was also seen holding on to a pack of cigarettes and a lighter while also holding on to her iPhone 'Im capable of doing so much. I can do any accent and Im way sillier than people realise. As Roxy, I didnt get to show all these different sides of my personality.' The star also admitted she could not have stayed on the soap if her on-screen sister had died first: 'Going through the exit with Samantha was my saving grace. Because we knew what each other were going through. 'If Sam had gone and I hadnt, I wouldnt have been far behind her. During the end of our time we were constantly in a state of swings and roundabouts. 'I would have a really bad day, just seeing all my friends on set. I would get upset knowing I would be leaving them.' Advertisement The first screening of their movie may have caused chaos at the 70th annual festival in the South of France. But Lily Collins, 28, and Tilda Swinton, 56, were determined to rise above the drama as they defiantly stepped out for the Cannes Film Festival premiere of Okja on Friday evening. The actresses put on a united front as they oozed glamour on their arrival, making sure all eyes were firmly on them as they strutted along the red carpet at the famous Palais de Festivals. Glamorous: Lily Collins and Tilda Swinton were determined to rise above the drama Okja's first screening had brought as they defiantly stepped out for the Cannes Film Festival premiere of Okja on Friday evening Love, Rosie star Lily looked simply stunning as she graced the premiere in an ethereal gown that fell perfectly around her slender frame. Its semi-sheer design subtly teased a look at Lily's enviable pins underneath, thanks to its daring thigh-high split, and boasted a sweetheart neckline that the actress accentuated with a dazzling diamond necklace. Lily's dress certainly made sure to turn heads with its glittering bodice and skirt, as well as its dramatic train that the starlet made sure to flaunt as she sashayed her way into the venue in front of the gathered photographers. Simply stunning: The Love, Rosie star looked sensational as she graced the premiere in an ethereal gown that fell perfectly around her slender frame Elegant: Lily's dress certainly made sure to turn heads with its glittering bodice and skirt, as well as its dramatic train that the starlet made sure to flaunt as she sashayed her way into the venue in front of the gathered photographers Beauty: She stunned on the beauty front too as she wore her glossy brunette locks down in a sleek and straight style to frame her face and graze her shoulders The actress teamed her beautiful gown with a pair of towering platform heels by Charlotte Olympia. Along with her elegant sartorial offering, Lily stunned on the beauty front too as she wore her glossy brunette locks down in a sleek and straight style to frame her face and graze her shoulders. Her ensemble was completed with a flawless make-up look that included perfectly defined brows, bronzed eye-shadow that was paired with feminine eye-liner flicks and mascara-clad lashes. She wore a slick of nude pink lipstick across her lips and made sure to strike a series of poses to showcase her red carpet attire before joining her co-stars. Sophisticated chic: Tilda, meanwhile, opted for a chic floor-length gown that cinched in at the waist with a satin belt to showcase her svelte physique Tilda, meanwhile, opted for a chic floor-length gown that cinched in at the waist with a satin belt to showcase her svelte physique. The bodice of her white dress was cropped and boasted a statement shoulder, while its skirt travelled down to the floor, gathering around the Doctor Strange star's ankles before falling into a mini-train. Tilda sported a pair of pointed court heels to complement her get up that fasted with an ankle strap and grabbed attention by styling her ice-blonde tresses into a perfectly coiffed that fell into a gorgeous pin curl at the front of her bonce. Edgy touch: The Doctor Strange star grabbed attention by styling her ice-blonde tresses into a perfectly coiffed that fell into a gorgeous pin curl at the front of her bonce That wasn't the only edgy touch to the movie star's ensemble as she wore a quirky gold ear-piece around one ear. Tilda finished off her red carpet look with a splash of fuchsia pink lipstick. She was seen clutching hands with her Okja co-star Paul Dano and the director of the movie Bong Joon-Ho as its cast gathered together before heading into the premiere to watch back the fruits of their labour. They were joined by a bevy of stars including Bella Hadid and Rihanna to view the Netflix film - a Korean drama which follows Mija, a young girl who risks it all to prevent a powerful, multi-national company from kidnapping her best friend, a giant pig named Okja. Smile! Lily was flanked by her co-stars Jake Gyllenhall (left) and Paul Dano (right) who were both suited and booted for the premier of the Netflix movie Lily Collins plays Red in the movie while Tilda undertakes the role of villainous Lucy Mirando opposite Jake Gyllenhaal's Dr. Johnny Wilcox and Paul Dano's, Jay. The cast had appeared in high spirits together despite the earlier chaos the first screening of Okja had caused at the festival. It had to endure audience members booing when its logo first appeared at the beginning of its first screening that aired earlier in the day on Friday. Defiant in the face of drama: The cast appeared in good spirits despite Okja being booed by audience members during its first screening at Cannes Film Festival earlier in the day on Friday Rising above it: Lily didn't seem fazed by the earlier reception as she worked the red carpet in her gorgeous trailing gown Helping hand: Although she had to rely on Jake Gyllenhaal to keep an eye on her glittering train - the star was spotted holding it up for the young actress as she and the cast stopped for photographs together And the movie faced further boos, thanks to a technical glitch five minutes into the viewing, that the festival described as a 'technical incident'. The film has been under much scrutiny since it was revealed that it would be one of 19 films competing at the renowned film festival following Netflix's announcement that it wouldn't be brought to French cinemas. While the film has been hotly anticipated at this year's festival thanks to its star-studded cast, it has proved controversial because of Netflix's decision. Film journalists tweeting about the 'chaos' in the screening room said riots were about to break out - with IndieWire's David Ehrlich stating: 'Okja starts, huge boos at Netflix logo. Then film plays in wrong aspect ratio and Grand Lumiere almost rioted. Movie stopped.' While French journalist Elena Lazic added: 'That didn't start well. Screen not open properly, significantly cropped at top. 20 riotous minutes before projectionist stopped projection.' United front: The cast were seen linking arms as they stood together outside the famous Palais de Festivals Okja: The film has been under much scrutiny since it was revealed that it would be one of 19 films competing at the renowned film festival after Netflix announced it wouldn't be brought to French cinemas According to the BBC's Laura Turner: 'There was shouting from the upper seats and it became apparent the aspect ratio was wrong, so they restarted it after about 10 minutes. 'The second time around the audience booed the Netflix logo again. But there was also some cheering at the same time and a warm round of applause at the end.' However the festival quickly issued an apology, insisting the error was technical and not anti-Netflix sabotage - with the film restarted shortly afterwards, and receiving a round of applause at the end. A statement from the Cannes Film Festival told MailOnline: 'A technical incident disrupted the beginning of the screening of Bong Joon-hos film, OKJA, which was shown this morning at a press screening at the Lumiere Auditorium. 'The session was interrupted for a few minutes but was then able to carry on as normal. 'This incident was entirely the responsibility of the Festivals technical service, which offers its apologies to the director, his teams, the producers and the audience at the showing.' Business / Economy by Staff reporter As the national debate the about the benefits of Zimbabwe adopting the South African rand as its anchor currency continues to rage, former Finance minister Tendai Biti says the discourse is futile as the country's deepening economic rot can never be stemmed with President Robert Mugabe and his warring ruling Zanu-PF in power.Biti entrance into the rationalization debate comes as there is growing panic among both ordinary Zimbabweans and businesses amid fears that the dying local economy is hurtling towards the debilitating lows of 2008 and as the country's acute cash shortages continue to worsen.Zimbabwe's business leaders want Government to evoke the law in order to enforce economy-wide use of the South African rand and end cash shortages.An in-house discussion paper by the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries prescribes denominating all goods and services in rand via a Statutory Instrument.The paper, "Steps to implement 'Randisation' and resolve the liquidity situation", further proposes converting all salaries and wages into that currency at a specific exchange rate.Part of the document reads: "This (adoption of the Rand) will transform the cost structures of both Government and the private sector into soft currency from the current hard currency scenario, setting the stage for recovery in competitiveness.- Advertisement -"It will also result in the vast majority of transactions in the market taking place in rand, significantly reducing externalisation risk."On automated teller machines dispensing rand notes, the paper says: "This will provide a strong incentive to consumers to take the rand for transaction purposes. This step is recommended because of the current lack of confidence in the banking system and the perception that funds in the banking system are liable to (being) 'hijacked' for other purposes."The paper, which The Sunday Mail has seen, argues that rand adoption could force price correction and enhance manufacturing competitiveness, paving way for economic growth. Business, according to the document, wants the US dollar to be used solely for external transactions, though remaining in the banking system as a value store.In addition, CZI proposes that envisaged rand transactions should be conducted via the Sadc Integrated Regional Electronic Settlement System (Siress).Siress is a regional electronic system that promotes smooth payment settlement and clearance, and eliminates intermediaries often a United States or European correspondent bank thereby keeping money in the region.The South African rand is the choicest currency in Siress."Using Siress will ensure that when rand are transferred from bank to bank, they are 100 percent backed by rand available for foreign payments."Asked to comment on the paper, CZI president Mr Busisa Moyo said, "We are being misunderstood: We are not calling for adoption of the rand or joining the rand monetary union. What we are calling for is the wider circulation of the rand as part of the solution to the liquidity and competitiveness challenges."We are not calling for the dumping of the US dollar; what we are saying is that we need to look at a framework that ensures the little hard currency that we may have is ring-fenced."Our argument is that when we adopt the rand, we cannot have an individual coming from, say, Pakistan searching for the rand. We can continue importing US dollars, but history has shown that that alone cannot be a sustainable solution to the problem."He added: "It was when the rand started devaluing around 2014 that the market and people started rejecting it. It was the consuming public that was not keen to transact in the rand because everyday they were getting less dollars in exchange for the rand. That is what created the panic."But given the changed circumstances that we have now and a more stable rand, we need to have a conversation to say: 'How do we respond to a volatile rand if we are to use it more widely?'"Zimbabwe has been reeling under cash shortages since April 2016 mainly due to externalisation and hoarding of the United States dollar.Though the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe continues to import cash weekly and offer Bond note incentives, the cash shortages have endured with some increasingly depending on "plastic money".The Bankers' Association of Zimbabwe has previously advocated rand adoption a proposition monetary authorities have ruled out.RBZ governor Dr John Mangudya recently told The Sunday Mail that they would actively promote the full multi-currency basket and stimulate manufacturing capacity.Over the weeks, economists have also argued against rand adoption, citing the currency's volatility.Harare-based economist Mr Brains Muchemwa remarked at one point: "In any case, it is still the same uncompetitive currency that the same businesspeople rejected for bond coins not so long ago." He famously starred as supervillain Bane in The Dark Knight Rises. And Tom Hardy is set to return to the Marvel Universe as anti-hero Venom in a new Spider-Man spin-off. A snap showed the 39-year-old wearing a T-shirt printed with the face of the character as the exciting announcement was made. Scroll down for video New role: Tom Hardy is set to return to the Marvel Universe as anti-hero Venom in a new Spider-Man spin-off Production on the film - directed by Ruben Fleischer - will start this autumn, with a release date set for October 2018. Sony Pictures revealed the casting of the British hunk as Venom, also known as Eddie Brock, in a Twitter post on Friday. Meanwhile, the hotly-anticipated Spider-Man: Homecoming, which stars Tom Holland in the lead role, is set to hit screens in July. Exciting announcement: A snap showed the 39-year-old wearing a T-shirt printed with the face of the character as the announcement was revealed Hardy has had a busy schedule of late, starring in the blockbuster Dunkirk this summer. A trailer for the WWII movie showed Tom, who stars as Farrier, in the cockpit of his RAF fighter jet while involved in a dogfight with German bombers above the sea. The film - directed by Christopher Nolan - boasts a cast of celebrated British stars, amongst them Kenneth Branagh, Cillian Murphy and One Direction star Harry Styles, who makes his acting debut in the film. Blockbuster: Hardy has had a busy schedule of late, starring in Dunkirk this summer Action man: A trailer for the WWII movie showed Tom, who stars as Farrier, in the cockpit of his RAF fighter jet Speaking about the movie in January, Hardy told The Wrap: 'Its a very profound story. Whats lovely about it is that its a classic film, its so epic in the storytelling, and Chris [Nolan] has gone back to an old school film from the 1940s, 1950s and retold it.' He added that there was a 'lot of pressure' being involved in the movie, explaining: 'I grew up in the generation of their granddads talking about the war. 'Everyone was colored by that experience - Dunkirk was a big turning point in the war.' She was last spotted with her mystery boyfriend in September last year. But Kimberley Garner has revealed she has broken up with her unknown beau and is on the hunt for someone with a 'great personality'. The former Made in Chelsea star, 27, told MailOnline: 'I ended the relationship recently. It was a really wonderful three years and we are still good friends today.' Scroll down for video Newly single: Former Made in Chelsea star Kimberley Garner has broken up with her mystery boyfriend of three years and is on the lookout for a new beau with a 'great personality' The socialite has been notoriously tight-lipped about the identity of her long-term boyfriend, who was often seen with the personality in west London. But while the split is still raw, she admits she's open to the prospect of dating - as long as her suitor meets the right criteria. Speaking to The Sun during her appearance at the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival, she said: 'It was a great relationship. Id love to meet someone with a great personality its all about the personality for me.' Kimberley, who enjoyed a holiday in Anguilla earlier in May, has been making the most of her time in the South of France. Former flame: The couple were often seen out and about in west London and the socialite, 27, told the Sun it was 'a great relationship' Over the past 24 hours, she's been whisked off on a helicopter ride, attended a dress fitting and enjoyed a decadent night out. Kimberley was spotted strutting to her next appointment on Friday afternoon in a cute red polka-dot mini-dress. The former Made In Chelsea star looked effortlessly pretty as she made her way along the street in the cute ensemble, which featured a ruffled pattern down the front. Garner in the gust! Kimberley clutches the hem of her fluttering minidress as it blows in the Cannes breeze to reveal her endless bronze pins... after a busy 24 hours of dress fittings and partying The long-sleeved dress hid the socialite's toned arms, but her leggy pins were on full display as the breeze tickled the hem of her dress. The swimwear entrepreneur casually held on to the hem of the dress, carefully ensuring it didn't leave her red-faced, as she strolled along in beige heeled sandals and dark shades. Her straight blonde locks hung loosely around her shoulders and she let her tan do the talking with minimal natural make-up. Work it: Her straight blonde locks hung loosely around her shoulders and she let her tan do the talking with minimal natural make-up Miss Scarlet: In one of her Instagram Stories, the blonde beauty posted a shot of her being measured for the gown, which was sleeveless and sheer, adorned with sparkling details and descending into a dramatic all-round train Video diary: Kimberley has catalogued the rest of her trip so far, seen in a helicopter with a brunette pal Taking to the skies: The two posed with headsets on as they were given a privet tour of the sun-soaked surrounds Kimberley was, earlier in the day, at a dress fitting for a forthcoming evening appearance in Cannes. In one of her Instagram Stories, the blonde beauty posted a shot of her being measured for the gown, which was sleeveless and sheer, adorned with sparkling details and descending into a dramatic all-round train. The gown was made in a decadent Merlot shade, and was see-through at the very top, teasing a hint of her perky cleavage. Meanwhile, Kimberley has catalogued the rest of her trip so far, seen in a helicopter with Bollywood actress Amy Jackson. The two posed with headsets on as they were given a privet tour of the sun-soaked surrounds. Jet set: Kimberley and Bollywood actress Amy Jackson were both out and about on Thursday evening, having a blast, enjoying cocktails Naughty: She was seen stealing a spoonful of a molten chocolate pudding Gals gone wild: Kimberley was seen cosying up to Amy while they laughed and danced together They were both out and about on Thursday evening, having a blast, enjoying cocktails, molten chocolate desserts and cosying up while they laughed and danced together. Kimberley joined Made In Chelsea in March 2012 for the show's third season, only sticking around for one run of episodes and not returning for the fourth. She featured in some extremely tumultuous storylines, notably involving the men of the show - accepting dates with the likes of Spencer Matthews, Jamie Liang and Richard Dinan. Letting loose: Kimberley joined Made In Chelsea in March 2012 for the show's third season, only sticking around for one run of episodes and not returning for the fourth Drama: She featured in some extremely tumultuous story-lines, notably involving the men of the show - accepting dates with the likes of Spencer Matthews, Jamie Liang and Richard Dinan Wild child: Since then she has become a designer and red carpet fixture, meaning Cannes was an essential hot spot for the star to hit all the hot parties She ended up dating the latter, much to the chagrin of Cheska Hull, who was furious about their friendship at the time. This led to much bad feeling, and the situation came to a head when the three of them went on holiday in a group, with Binky Felstead, Ollie Locke and Gabriella Ellis. Since then she has become a designer and red carpet fixture, meaning Cannes was an essential hot spot for the star to hit all the hot parties. The blonde beauty slipped into a sexy bralet for the Magnum event on Thursday night, and was joined on the red carpet by the likes of Daisy Lowe, Tallia Storm, Ore Oduba and Jean Bernard Fernandez Versini. She's been spotted mingling with some of Sydney's A-list during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week alongside boyfriend Karl Stefanovic, 42. And Jasmine Yabrough, 33, can also boast a friendship with PR queen Roxy Jacenko, who told BW Magazine the pair have known each other for 'many years'. It comes as Jasmine and Karl have been spotted enjoying a series of romantic meals this past fortnight at restaurants represented by the Sweaty Betty founder. 'Jasmine is a lovely girl': Roxy Jacenko reveals longstanding friendship with Karl Stefanovic's girlfriend Yarbrough as the pair are spotted at restaurants represented by the PR queen Roxy's PR company previously represented Jasmine's footwear company Mara & Mine. 'Jasmine is a lovely girl, and a seriously talented footwear designer,' Roxy told the publication. She also explained that her friendship with Jasmine went back to when she was working as a model. 'I have known her for many years': Roxy's PR company previously represented Jasmine's footwear company Mara & Mine 'I have known her for many years, pre her move to LA when she was a model here in Sydney - great girl!' She said. Meanwhile the Today host and his lady love have been been spotted out recently at China Doll, Bar Machiavelli and Bistro Moncur - all eateries promoted by Roxy, who also counts Karl as a close acquaintance. The Sweaty Betty founder told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday she was delighted to see Jasmine and Karl dining at restaurants her firm represented. Out and about: This past week Karl and Jasmine have been spotted at some of Sydney's most exclusive restaurants 'We work on a huge restaurant and bar portfolio here at Sweaty Betty PR all of which are known as institutions on the dining front Jasmine and Karl are friends of my agency so its a pleasure to welcome them in,' Roxy said. Roxy denied the high profile couple were getting meals for free, adding: 'If anything is comp, it is a signature cocktail on arrival.' On Wednesday night, Karl and Jasmine enjoyed a romantic date at swanky French restaurant Bistro Moncur, the couple's chemistry evident as they enjoyed their meal by a window. Loved up: Karl and Jasmine reportedly met in December last year and were spotted canoodling on a yacht in February Roxy regularly promotes all three restaurants Karl and Jasmine have dined at recently through posts on her personal Instagram account and Sweaty Betty's page. Karl and Jasmine reportedly met in December last year and were spotted canoodling on a yacht in February. The Today host allegedly finalised his divorce from wife of 21 years, Cassandra Thorburn, in April after they split in October last year. The couple attended their first public event together on Monday when they sat front row at Justin Cassin fashion show. Megan Fox welcomed her third child, a son named Journey, only nine months ago. And the Transformers star lost the weight very quickly, wowing her fans within weeks of leaving the maternity ward. On Friday the 31-year-old wife of Brian Austin Green gave a hint at how she was able to shed the weight when she was spotted leaving a yoga session in LA. Post workout: Megan Fox was seen leaving her yoga session in LA on Friday Rock on: Fox looked headbanger chic a white KISS rocker T-shirt with pink accents Fox looked headbanger chic a white KISS rocker T-shirt with pink accents. A pair of black and pink capri leggings from Champion were fun. But they paled when compared with her fuzzy slides that had pink, grey, black and blue in them. She needs a large handbag: The star was weighed down by a pink yoga mat, a bag from BURRO and a purple bag as well as a bottle of water and her cell phone Tight: A pair of black and pink capri leggings from Champion were fun Cute look: But they paled when compared with her fuzzy slides that had pink, grey, black and blue in them With baby number three: Fox with her son in her tummy in May 2016 The star was weighed down by a pink yoga mat, a bag from BURRO - an artsy store offering a selection of women's apparel, handbags, art books, stationery in Venice Beach, California - and a purple bag as well as a bottle of water and her cell phone. Fox met Beverly Hills, 90210 alum Green in 2004 and they wed in 2010. They are already parents of sons Noah, aged four, and Bodhi, aged three. Green shares son Kassius, 14, with ex Vanessa Marcil. Happy together: Fox met Beverly Hills, 90210 alum Green in 2004 and they wed in 2010; here they are seen in 2014 Megan and Brian's son Journey River Green arrived in August. 'I knew I was always going to be a mother; I felt like that was always a big part of my path,' she said in June on Chelsea Handler's Netflix series, Chelsea. 'But I never knew I was going to have three in such rapid succession.' The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles actress filed for divorce in August 2015 after five years of marriage but then got pregnant with Brian again, making her want to reconcile. She is certainly a bright spark in the future of fashion. And Kendall Jenner opted to borrow from the future in a funky silver gown complete with a structured corset as she made a show-stopping arrival at the space-themed Chopard bash during the Cannes Film Festival on Friday. The 21-year-old Keeping Up With The Kardashians star dazzled as she joined the great and good of the fashion world at the party while showing off her incredible frame and braless form. Scroll down for video Wow! Kendall Jenner opted to borrow from the future in a funky silver gown complete with a structured corset as she made a show-stopping arrival at the space-themed Chopard bash during the Cannes Film Festival on Friday Kendall looked sensational as she swept into the SPACE-themed party held at Port Pierre Canto and organised by Chopard president Caroline Scheufele and Rihanna. With the dress code reading as Galactic with a touch of diamonds, Kendall was wholeheartedly throwing herself into the idea of the evening in her silver gown by Ralph & Russo. The cheeky dress was dazzling in its floor-sweeping length and cleavage boosting top while the sheer sides gave a flash of her bare skin underneath. Showing off her slender frame, the structured top of the gown nipped in at her waist before the dress dropped into a pillar shape from her slender frame. Elegance personified: The 21-year-old Keeping Up With The Kardashians star dazzled as she joined the great and good of the fashion world at the party while showing off her incredible frame and braless form Blinged up: Kendall looked sensational as she swept into the SPACE-themed party held at Port Pierre Canto and organised by Chopard president Caroline Scheufele and Rihanna Wild thing! Aware of the outlandish nature of the cut and style of her dress, she kept her beauty regimen pared-back and simple - complete with straight hair and dewy make-up Given the event being organised by one of the world's top jewellers, Kendall was naturally loaned a plethora of sensational gems. Sporting a coordinating earrings and necklace set, seemingly comprising of sapphires and diamonds, the stunning star off-set her dress perfectly. Aware of the outlandish nature of the cut and style of her dress, she kept her beauty regimen simple with a slick bob and glossy lip. Silver sensation: Opting for a similar outfit was Kendall's best pal Bella Hadid - who looked incredible in a silver gown Roberto Cavalli Couture with raunchy cut-out details Cheeky! She too went braless as she wowed in the silver dress which boasted a hankerchief top half - complete with dainty tie at the back and neck Just caught the train: The billowing back of the dress extended behind the star in long lavish lengths Loving life: Bella was clearly in high spirits as she enjoyed the night out Opting for a similar outfit was Kendall's best pal Bella Hadid - who looked incredible in a silver gown by Roberto Cavalli Couture, with raunchy cut-out details and a slinky shape. She too went braless as she wowed in the silver dress which boasted a hankerchief top half - complete with dainty tie at the back and neck. The bottom of the dress featured a silver sheath material with a split extending to the top of her thigh while strappy sandals extended the length of her leg. Look at me! Bella was wowing the crowd in her slinky gown Leading lady: Soon joining the fray was woman of the hour herself Rihanna, who was one of the lavish bash's hosts for the evening alongside Chopard president Caroline Scheufele Dreamy: The pop star, 29, really was the belle of the ball in a pale blue Victoriana gown, reminiscent of that of fairy tales with a tight corset bodice and draped off-shoulder sleeves Standing tall: Rihanna boosted her height in a pair of strappy heels which showed off her matching baby blue heels The best for the best: Rihanna was adorned with an array of lavish jewels Dream team: The songstress cosied up to Chopard's co-president Caroline Scheufele Soon joining the fray was woman of the hour herself Rihanna, who was one of the lavish bash's hosts for the evening alongside Chopard president Caroline Scheufele. The pop star, 29, really was the belle of the ball in a pale blue Victoriana gown, reminiscent of that of fairy tales with a tight corset bodice and draped off-shoulder sleeves. Remaining traditional with the bodice and lacing at the back, Rihanna then injected a hint of her typically saucy style by adding a daring split to the skirt - which revealed almost all of her long and slender leg underneath. She swept her raven tresses off her face to reveal her glowing skin to all, and accessorised with tribal jewels of glistening teal and silver as she hit the carpet. Va va voom! Rihanna worked the garment's soaring split as she sexily perched one leg forward Stunning: She swept her raven tresses off her face to reveal her glowing skin to all, and accessorised with tribal jewels of glistening teal and silver as she hit the carpet Model material: Joining the bash was Winnie Harlow, who sported an elaborate red ballgown, complete with a beaded bodice and saucy thigh-high split, as she posed for cameras ahead of a night of partying Joining the bash was Winnie Harlow, who sported an elaborate red ballgown, complete with a beaded bodice and saucy thigh-high split, as she posed for cameras ahead of a night of partying. The star, who rose to fame on America's Next Top Model, oozed confidence and elegance as fiercely posed in her lavish red gown by Zuhair Murad. The dress cut into a stylish strapless neckline at the top, to display her decolletage and plenty of smooth skin to all, before hugging her slim figure with a shimmering beaded bodice to her petite waist. Making the look more dramatic, the scarlet gown then burst out into a full pleated skirt which cascaded gorgeously to the floor. Red hot: The star, who rose to fame on America's Next Top Model, oozed confidence and elegance as fiercely posed in her lavish red gown Striking: The dress cut into a stylish strapless neckline at the top, to display her decolletage and smooth skin to all, before hugging her slim figure with a shimmering beaded bodice Never failing to show off her impeccable model figure however, the dress then split into a saucy thigh-high split on one side, to flash almost all of her svelte pins underneath as she paraded the carpet. Adding further height to her statuesque frame with towering black heels, Winnie tied her look together with a dazzling silver and emerald necklace - which glistened in the light as she posed. Leaving her hair pin-straight and adding only a classic red lip, the starlet oozed natural glamour and confidence during her fierce appearance at the party. Leggy lady: Never failing to show off her impeccable model figure however, the dress then split into a saucy thigh-high split on one side, to flash almost all of her svelte pins underneath Bit of bling: Winnie tied her look together with a dazzling silver and emerald necklace - which glistened in the light as she posed Winnie shot to fame after being discovered by supermodel and entrepreneur Tyra Banks on her hit reality show - but recently revealed she had never believed she would make it on the show. She said: 'When America's Next Top Model was casting for the new season I asked all my fans online to tag Tyra Banks so she could see my photos - and they did!' 'My little sister started a Facebook page for me and one of the producers from the show sent a message showing interest. Confidence is key: Putting her best foot forward in black heels, the catwalk queen was the picture of confidence and elegance as she beamed for cameras Stunning: Leaving her hair pin-straight and adding only a classic red lip, the starlet oozed natural glamour and confidence during her fierce appearance at the party This is my moment: Winnie has become a household name in the fashion industry after finding fame on America's Next Top Model - but recently revealed she thought she would make it 'Initially I didn't believe it but I followed through and ended up being on the show for season 21. After Tyra gave me that opportunity it was my time.' While she has now shot to prominence as a hugely successful model with vitiligo, the catwalk beauty recent admitted she is not a fan of being branded a 'role model' -as people shouldn't want to emulate others. She told Elle Canada: 'I feel like I am an inspiration. Thats the word I prefer. Star-studded: Winnie joined a host of other top models at the bash, including Czech beauty Petra Nemcova (above) Brave: The 37-year-old once again opted for a risque split Elie Saab gown - clearly unfazed by the fact she accidentally flashed her underwear at last night's Loveless premiere Chic: Eva Herzigova also attended the party, dazzling in a black velvet mini dress Leggy display: The 44-year-old showed off her enviably toned pins in the thigh-skimming number, which featured a statement ruffle at the shoulder 'I dont believe that I have to be a role model, someone to be emulated. My mom inspires me, and I take great things from her, but there are things from my mom that I would never do.' Winnie joined a host of other top models at the bash, including Czech beauty Petra Nemcova. The 37-year-old once again opted for a risque split Elie Saab gown - clearly unfazed by the fact she accidentally flashed her underwear at last night's Loveless premiere. Star quality: Also in attendance was Victoria's Secret stalwart Adriana Lima, who opted for a demure black gown by Reem Acra with a statement shimmering neckline Back to black: The mother-of-two showed off her enviable figure in the Gothic gown, formed of a slinky black dress with a sleeved cape on top Chic: Adriana oozed elegance in the regal number Silver lining: A pair of dangling silver earrings framed her striking features Fellow model Eva Herzigova also attended the party, dazzling in a black velvet mini dress. The 44-year-old showed off her enviably toned pins in the thigh-skimming number, which featured a statement ruffle at the shoulder. Also in attendance was Victoria's Secret stalwart Adriana Lima, who opted for a demure Reem Acra gown with a statement shimmering neckline. Fit to bust! Julianne Moore followed suit in an all-black look, made sexier by its plunging neckline which displayed a saucy hint of cleavage Chic: The dress stood out from the crowd with its sleek velvet material, interspersed with shining satin panels to show off the shape of her womanly frame Meanwhile actress Julianne Moore arrived in a sophisticated velvet gown by Alexander McQueen, which flashed her womanly cleavage with a sexy plunging neckline. Luxurious jeweller Chopard was hosting a bash in Cannes as an official partner of the annual festival. Making this year's event more exciting however, the brand is commemorating the festival's 70th anniversary by creating a diamond-set edition of the coveted Palme d'Or - the highest prize that can be won at Cannes. All eyes on her: Model Sara Sampaio stunned in a semi-sheer black gown embellished with sequins, also by Elie Saab Sensational: Sara (L) stunned beside French actress Isabelle Huppert (R), who looked far younger than her 64 years in a vibrant mustard gown by custom Nina Ricci The floor-length sheer lace gown was adorned by glitter-encrusted embellishment, delicately covering her modesty Glam: Amping up the red carpet glamour, Sara dazzled in statement diamond drop earrings and an eye-catching ring Purple power: Model Arizona Muse dazzled in a beaded purple gown and matching satin clutch Shaking it up! Meanwhile Brazilian model Isabeli Fontana opted for a trendy sequin jumpsuit adorned with gold and black stars all over Incredible: Natasha Poly, 31, dressed to accentuate her slender frame in a light blue lace dress as she continued her sartorially savvy display Enviable figure: Natasha looked sensational in the striking figure-hugging number as she worked her angles like a pro Beauty: She doused her pout in red lipstick and kept the rest of her make-up natural Tallia Storm looked absolutely incredible as she flashed her lean legs in a stylish white semi-sheer dress As the temperatures rose in Los Angeles on Friday, so did the hemlines. Sofia Richie chose a flirty gypsy top which flashed her abs, as she stepped out for lunch with her pals at Zinque Cafe in West Hollywood. The 18-year-old daughter of Lionel Richie was spotted looking top of the crops, as she showcased the figure which has, apparently, caught the eye of Lewis Hamilton. Top of the crops: Sofia Richie chose a flirty gypsy top which flashed her abs, as she stepped out for lunch with her pals at Zinque Cafe in West Hollywood The ex-girlfriend of Justin Bieber was no doubt trying to keep her cool, as she also wore black boyfriend jeans and sneakers. She added box-fresh white sneakers, and kept a tight hold of her stylish cream and snakeskin bag. The honey-haired beauty wore her tresses in a loose bun, with tendrils framing her pretty face. Sun's out, tum's out: The 18-year-old daughter of Lionel Richie was spotted looking top of the crops, as she showcased the figure which has, apparently, caught the eye of Lewis Hamilton Sizzling: The ex-girlfriend of Justin Bieber was no doubt trying to keep her cool, as she also wore black boyfriend jeans and sneakers Who you texting? Sofia seemed engrossed in her phone as she emerged from Barneys New York Giant sunglasses covered her eyes, and she kept her make-up fresh with a peachy blush and nude lip. Sofia also shared a candid snap with her famous father on Friday. The teen captioned the picture, which was taken outside with Lionel standing behind her, while they both look serious: 'My heart @zang' Retail therapy: Sofia sported a number of bags on her arm - clearly showing she had dropped some serious money while shopping Stylish star: Even on a low-key day, Sofia was hard to miss Stepping out: She added box-fresh white sneakers, and kept a tight hold of her stylish cream and snakeskin bag Pretty: The honey-haired beauty wore her tresses in a loose bun, with tendrils framing her pretty face After her exhausting lunch schedule, the beauty posted a picture showing her flopped out on her sofa at home. She's seen relaxing on the gold furniture, in the picture captioned: 'home'. Sofia last teased fans that she is still seeing Lewis Hamilton, when she posted a picture a week ago with the F1 ace's English bulldog. It's Lionel! She also shared a candid snap with her famous father on Friday Justin Theroux is suing his New York neighbor for $350,000 and punitive damages. The actor took the action in response to what he sees as the neighbor's inappropriate response when the man was angered by the noise caused by renovations at Theroux's upstairs apartment. Theroux has been having adjustments made to the Greenwich Village place, and his downstairs neighbor was allegedly infuriated by the noise this caused. Trouble with the neighbors: Justin Theroux, 45, is in a legal battle with a neighbor in New York City's Greenwich Village, suing the man for $350,000 and punitive damages. Theroux was snapped outside of the home in 2013 In response the neighbor demanded that Justin provide funds of up to $30,000 for sound-proofing, according toTMZ,. Theroux, wed to actress Jennifer Aniston, said that after he declined to shell out the funds, the neighbor set out to antagonize the construction workers making the renovations. He claims he vowed a number of actions that would make life unpleasant for the actor. Among them: he'd disconnect the water and electricity to The Leftovers star's home; and go public with the beef in an effort to smear Theroux and Aniston publicly. Out and about: Jennifer Aniston and Theroux were snapped near the place last fall The neighbor told Theroux in an email that any legal moves he took would open 'the door to a broad range of allegations that would become publicly available, and which would not please Justin or his wife or their respective publicists,' according to the outlet. The Girl on the Train actor this summer will celebrated his second wedding anniversary to his wife. He talked about their heavily-scrutinized relationship last month in a chat with Esquire, as he said that a friend had joked with him, 'Another you has been born, this insane person whos constantly breaking up, getting back together, having a baby, losing a baby.' Justin, who's penned such comedies as Tropic Thunder and Zoolander 2, told the publication that he often tests his comedic material on his spouse, known for her roles in comedies such as Friends, We're the Millers and Horrible Bosses. 'I have very funny friends and a very funny wife. I bounce ideas off of them,' Theroux said. 'If I get a deep belly laugh, I know Ive hit something.' She often puts in a stylish appearance when attending glamorous events. And Olga Kurylenko certainly didn't disappoint as she attended the 9th annual Filmmakers Dinner at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cannes on Friday night. The former Bond Girl, 37, showed off her svelte figure in a chic jumpsuit, featuring a risque star-shaped cut-out motif. Stylish: Olga Kurylenko showed off her svelte figure in a chic jumpsuit as she attended the 9th annual Filmmakers Dinner at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cannes on Friday night While the stylish number looked fairly conservative from the front, the detailing down the sides of the jumpsuit added an edge to the ensemble. The Ukrainian-born beauty completed the stylish look with a pair of black heels, before adding a structured bronze clutch to finish. Wearing her brunette tresses down in voluminous waves, she accentuated her eyes with lashings of mascara, before adding a rose-tinted lipstick to finish. Unusual: While the stylish number looked fairly conservative from the front, the star-shaped detailing down the sides of the jumpsuit added an edge to the ensemble Olga caught up with co-star Ben Cura at the dinner, with the pair starring together in forthcoming movie Salty. The pair star alongside Antonio Banderas in the movie, which tells the story of an aging rock star who gets kidnapped while on holiday in Thailand. The actress is also set to star in new film The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, alongside Adam Driver and Stellan Skarsgard. Co-star: Olga caught up with co-star Ben Cura at the dinner, with the pair starring together in forthcoming movie Salty Filming is already underway for the movie, which is directed by Terry Gillam and is due out next year. Her other upcoming projects include sci-fi film Android, in which she stars alongside Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul, as well as the thriller Mara. Olga is in a relationship with journalist Max Benitz, with whom she shares one-year-old son with Alexander. She recently broke up with her boyfriend of three years. And newly single Kimberley Garner turned heads as she walked the Global Gift Gala red carpet in a sheer gold dress on Friday. The former Made In Chelsea star, 27, left little to the imagination in the transparent number, which fell gracefully to the floor. Scroll down for video Hot to trot: Newly single Kimberley Garner attended the Global Gift Gala at the Cannes Film Festival in a sheer sparkling gown that showed off her incredible figure Kimberley covered her modesty in a black thong and nude bra, which was attached to her gauzy gown by label Berta. Her backless dress featured sweeping fan patterns outlined in the golden glitter in a nod to art deco chic. The socialite glistened in the evening light as she bared all for the cameras. The transparent fabric came up to Kimberley's collarbone, where the design was finished off with more sparkling stripes. On show: Kimberley, 27, glittered in the evening light in a Berta dress covered in a golden fan pattern in a nod to art deco chic The dress, which showed off Kimberley's derriere, extended into a train, which fell on the red carpet. Kimberley glowed at the gala in natural makeup with a defined brow and a pink lip. She pulled her honeyed locks in a low ponytail, letting her golden mane fall behind her back. Baring all: The former Made In Chelsea star covered her modesty in a black thong and bra, which was attached to her gauzy gown The reality star let two strands of hair loose at the front of her head, which she pulled back behind her ears. She paired her ensemble with pink platform heels and didn't wear any jewellery. Kimberley struck a pose on the red carpet with her model friend Amy Jackson, who wore a futuristic white and silver slit gown. Natural beauty: Kimberley pulled her honeyed locks in a low ponytail, letting her golden mane fall behind her back Earlier on Friday, it was revealed that Kimberley broke up with her mystery boyfriend, who she has been dating for three years. She told MailOnline: 'I ended the relationship recently. It was a really wonderful three years and we are still good friends today.' And it appears that Kimberley is on the lookout for a new man. She told the Sun: 'Id love to meet someone with a great personality its all about the personality for me.' Illusion: The transparent fabric came up to Kimberley's collarbone, where the design was finished off with more glittering stripes She commanded attention in two show-stopping frocks at her events in Paris and Edinburgh earlier this week. And Eva Longoria proved good things really do come in threes, as she pulled out all the style stops for her Global Gift Gala at the Cannes Film Festival on Friday night. The 42-year-old actress ensured all eyes were on her in a striking white ruffled gown, which hugged her sensational figure from top to toe, as she arrived at her exciting charity event. Scroll down for video Leading lady: Eva Longoria proved good things really do come in threes, as she pulled out all the style stops for her thied Global Gift Gala of the week at the Cannes Film Festival on Friday The Desperate Housewives star looked truly stunning in the figure-hugging white gown, which highlighted her waist and hugged her slim frame all the way to its train. Cutting across into a simple sweetheart neckline, the floor-length frock teased a hint of cleavage and showed off ample amounts of her smooth, tanned skin as she posed glamorously for cameras. Making her look more striking however, the dress was then adorned with a big and bold frill on one side - secured on with a string of glittering navy sequins and pearls. Sensationally slender: The Desperate Housewives star looked truly stunning in the figure-hugging white gown, which hugged her waist and slim frame all the way to its train The Over Her Dead Body star swept her brunette hair back into a simple, messy up-do, to keep all attention on her eye-catching look - which she co-ordinated with matching pearl earrings. Adding a soft pink lip and a sweeping of blusher to her face, Eva proved her striking natural beauty for all to see as she waved and beamed at fans on her way inside. Eva is one of many stars 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. Making a statement: Making her look more striking however, the dress was then adorned with a big and bold frill on one side - secured on with a string of glittering navy sequins and pearls Through events such as the various galas and fundraisers the charity funds several projects, including The Eva Longoria Foundation. The charity, founded in 2012, aims to help Latinas build better futures through education and entrepreneurship, and confront the issue of poverty in their culture. This week alone, Eva has enjoyed galas in both Paris and Edinburgh before jetting to the Riviera with her husband Jose Baston for the Cannes edition. The events are always star-studded affairs - with Pamela Anderson attending the bash in the French captial, and British stars Vogue Williams, Ashley James and Katie Piper venturing to bonny Scotland for the UK edition. Leading lady: Adding a soft pink lip and a sweeping of blusher to her face, Eva proved her striking natural beauty for all to see as she waved on her way in to the charity event she hosts A helping hand: Eva needed a little assistance to navigate the stairs in her towering heels Incredible: The structure of Eva's dress was wonderfully striking, cementing her place as one of the best dressed Third time's a charm: Eva showed no signs of fatigue in Cannes - having already dazzled at her own Global Gift Galas in Paris (L) and Edinburgh (R) this week alone Eva posed on the red carpet in Cannes alone however despite arriving in the stunning beach hot spot with husband Jose, who she is celebrating her first wedding anniversary with on Sunday. Speaking ahead of their big day, Eva told People magazine: '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!' Eva and Jose, 49, got married in a romantic ceremony in Mexico in May 2016 after a six-month engagement, before enjoying a honeymoon in Cambodia. Sheer-ly not! Eva was joined by a number of glamorous stars for the big event - including Kimberley Garner, who certainly turned heads in her daring semi-sheer gown Saucy: The blonde confidently flaunted her impressively slender figure in the skin-tight gown, formed of mesh and gold glitter to flash her thong and bare skin beneath Eva was joined by a number of glamorous stars for the big event - including Kimberley Garner, who certainly turned heads in her daring semi-sheer gown. The blonde, who had a fleeting role on E4's Made In Chelsea, confidently flaunted her impressively slender figure in the skin-tight gown, formed of mesh and gold glitter to flash her thong and bare skin beneath. Secured with a sweeping Grecian-style strap across her decolletage, the dress was then made even saucier with its statement cups across her chest, separated by a daring plunge. Sexy: Secured with a sweeping Grecian-style strap across her decolletage, the dress was then made even saucier with its statement cups across her chest, separated by a daring plunge All eyes on me: Kimberley pulled her hair into a loose ponytail and added a slick of liquid eyeliner in a finishing touch of glamour Keeping her elaborate look simple elsewhere, Kimberley pulled her hair into a loose ponytail and added a slick of liquid eyeliner in a finishing touch of glamour. The British reality star was joined by model and actress Amy Jackson, who flaunted her killer body in a slinky white maxi number. The 25-year-old, born on the Isle Of Man, displayed her tiny waist and enviably long legs in the dress, which featured a saucy thigh-high split on one side and jagged cut-outs across the front. Slicking her hair back to match Kimberley's, the Bollywood film star tied her look together with a thick slick of red lipstick as she supported Eva on her big night. Model material: The British reality star was joined by model and actress Amy Jackson, who flaunted her killer body in a slinky white maxi number Thigh's the limit: The 25-year-old, born on the Isle Of Man, displayed her tiny waist and enviably long legs in the dress, which featured a saucy thigh-high split on one side News / Local by Staff Reporter A Mozambican national was allegedly robbed of $1 900 and more than 90kgs of mbanje and threatened with death by three detectives stationed at Checheche Growth Point.The trio, Detective Constable Kusi, Detective Constable Gonamombe and Detective Constable Marichi appeared before senior Chipinge magistrate, Mr Noah Gwatidzo last Friday facing theft charges.They pleaded not guilty and were remanded out of custody to yesterday (Thursday) for trial.Public prosecutor, Mr Themba Dhliwayo, told the court that on April 15, the three detectives got information from an informant at Checheche Growth Point to the effect that a Mozambican national only identified as Jimsen was at the business Centre selling mbanje."The three detectives set up a trap to arrest Jimsen. They made use of Peter Verenga who pretended to be a buyer. They phoned Jimsen and told him to supply them with mbanje. Jimsen told them to come to his homestead in Chibota Village in Mozambique to collect their order."Jimsen phoned his relative, Caleb Muchakotama of Chapo Village under Chief Musikavanhu's area of Chipinge to pick the three detectives at D-Zone Bar at Rimbi Business Centre. Caleb was to transport the detectives to Jimsen's homestead to collect the consignment," said Mr Dhliwayo.Mr Dhliwayo said on April 16 at around 8pm, the three detectives arrived at Chibota Township in Mozambique where they met Jimsen."They told him that they had come to collect the mbanje. Jimsen accompanied them to his homestead where they loaded the mbanje in a Toyota Noah, silver in colour. They asked Jimsen to enter into the car to receive his payment. Both parties agreed on a payment of $1 500. Jimsen set between the two accused persons."During the course of the journey, the three detectives flashed their police identity cards to Jimsen and told him that he was under arrest for dealing in mbanje."They tried to handcuff him, but he resisted. He told them that the arrest was illegal since they were the ones who had initiated the deal and came to Mozambique," he said.Mr Dhliwayo said the three detectives assaulted Jimsen saying they were trained to deal with people like him."One of the accused detectives pointed a pistol at Jimsen and threatened to kill him if he continued resisting the arrest. Jimsen was eventually arrested."They drove to Rimbi Business Centre. While they were on their way, the detectives searched Jimsen and took $600 which was in the pocket of the pair of shorts he was wearing."They arrived at D-Zone Bar at Rimbi at around 1140pm and the detectives told Jimsen to contact some relatives to assist him to raise the money they had demanded from him. Jimsen contacted Saute Ngezimani who assisted him with $1 300 which he gave to the accused persons," he said.The court heard that they later drove to Checheche Growth Point."They proceeded to Checheche Growth Point where the three detectives ordered Jimsen to leave the car. He left the detectives in possession of the mbanje they had collected from him in Mozambique. The accused persons took away the two sacks of mbanje and the money. Jimsen made a police report at Chisumbanje Police Station leading to the arrest of the three," said Mr Dhliwayo.The three detectives were remanded out of custody and were expected to appear in court for trial. US President Donald Trump waves as he boards Air Force One for a trip last month. His first trip abroad will include six stops in the Middle East and Europe From Riyadh to Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Rome, Brussels and Sicily, Donald Trump leaves a swirl of domestic woes behind Friday to embark on a first foreign trip that will be closely watched in capitals the world over. Trump's extraordinarily dense first trip -- six stops in eight days, and countless face-to-face meetings from Saudi King Salman to Pope Francis via France's new leader, Emmanuel Macron -- is fraught with perils for the president. The avalanche of revelations in the run-up to his departure have eroded Trump's standing at home -- where the parallels with Richard Nixon's ill-fated presidency are now being openly drawn. They also revived questions about his ability to strike a presidential tone with his foreign counterparts. "Truth is, nobody knows how Donald Trump is going to act or what he's going to say in meetings of this kind because he's never done it before," summed up Stephen Sestanovich of the Council on Foreign Relations. White House staff cast the 70-year-old's "friendly but candid" style as an asset in his dealings with foreign leaders. But as the Republican takes his first steps as head of state on the world stage, his every word, action and tweet will be under the microscope. Known to dislike long trips, the president will be joined by his wife Melania, who has until now cut a highly discreet figure at his side. His daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner -- two of his closest advisors -- will also be on board Air Force One. What message will Trump be taking to the world? On foreign policy, the president has pulled back spectacularly from his most provocative campaign pledges, towards a stance in many respects similar to his predecessor Barack Obama. But the real estate magnate will still need to explain to foreign partners how his favorite slogan -- "America First" -- can be compatible with multilateralism. "President Trump understands that America First does not mean American alone -- to the contrary," insisted his national security advisor, H.R. McMaster. Catchphrases aside, many questions remain unanswered. - Speech on Islam - The White House touts a "historic" trip during which Trump -- in visits to Saudi Arabia, the Vatican and Jerusalem -- will reach out to leaders of the world's major monotheistic faiths. During his two days in Riyadh, he will likely seek to strike a contrast with the Democrat Obama, who was widely viewed with suspicion by the Sunni Muslim monarchies of the Gulf. The combination of tough talk on Shiite Iran, a lower-key focus on human rights, and the likely announcement of new arms deals should in theory earn the US leader a warm welcome. Trump is visiting Saudi Arabia, Israel, the Palestinian territories, the Vatican, Belgium and Italy Trump's delivery of a speech on Islam before dozens of Muslim leaders gathered in the Saudi capital could prove a far more delicate exercise, however, given the tensions sparked by his travel ban targeting several Muslim-majority nations -- now stuck in the US courts. "I'll speak with Muslim leaders and challenge them to fight hatred and extremism, and embrace a peaceful future for their faith," Trump promised ahead of the trip. In Israel, Trump has hopes -- though it is still unclear how -- of reviving the moribund peace process, meeting both his "friend" Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas in Bethlehem. But the Israeli leg of his trip is already awash in controversy -- from a row over his visit to Jerusalem's Western Wall, the holiest prayer site for Jews, to Trump's alleged disclosure of Israeli intelligence to Russian officials. Trump's meeting with Pope Francis -- two men at odds on everything from climate change to refugee policy -- remains highly unpredictable, although the pontiff says he will give America's bullish leader an open-minded hearing. Finally, the president's trip will wrap up in Europe where his shifting pronouncements on Brexit, NATO and the future of the European Union have sown confusion among longstanding allies. Trump will meet members of the North Atlantic alliance in Brussels, before heading on to a G7 summit in Taormina, a picturesque Sicilian town overlooking the Mediterranean. "Does he invest in the relationship with the Atlantic partners in the same way that every president has done since Pearl Harbor?" wondered Charles Kupchan, former advisor to Obama. "He came into office suggesting not. He has since said and done things suggesting maybe. But I think everyone will be watching for that." Trump has yet to personally reassert the US commitment to Article 5, NATO's mutual defense clause. - The Nixon trip - How his trip is perceived by fellow Americans is key for the president. Trump holds an executive memorandum on defeating the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria in January. He has made fighting the jihadist group a top priority. Well aware of heightened concerns about terrorism, the Republican hopes to bring back hard commitments from US allies in the fight against the Islamic State group. But however powerful the images of Trump's globe-trotting turn out to be, they have little chance of eclipsing the scandals convulsing his White House back home. For ex-CIA analyst Bruce Riedel, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, the comparison that springs most obviously to mind is with Nixon's 1974 trip to the Middle East, which he hoped would yield a diplomatic success to "divert attention away from the Watergate scandal." "It did not work," said Riedel. "The American media concentrated on the Watergate scandal, they treated the trip as a side show... and the Watergate scandal kept dripping and dripping." The political stakes could not be higher as an embattled President Donald Trump embarks on his first foreigh trip Most US presidents make their first foreign trip an easy-peasy one-day hop to visit friendly neighbors in Canada or Mexico, but not Donald Trump. On Friday the 70-year-old president will go "yuge" -- embarking on an eight-day six-stop behemoth trip that would test an experienced administration and may push his already weary staff to breaking point. For bystanders snapping pictures of the motorcade as it whizzes though the emptied streets of a foreign capital, presidential travel looks graceful, maybe even enjoyable. But behind the scenes is a steeplechase of tension, tears, jetlag and sleep deprivation. If Trump is looking for a break from the rolling scandals plaguing his White House, foreign travel will offer a change of scenery, but little respite. The tempo is relentless, and the political stakes could not be higher. "What makes it especially difficult is the fact that virtually every second of the president's time, every step he takes is carefully plotted," said Ned Price, a former spokesman for Barack Obama's National Security Council. - Hard landing - Even before Trump's feet hit the hot desert tarmac in Saudi Arabia -- after a long overnight flight on Air Force One -- the show is underway. As Obama found out the hard way, everything -- down to the choice of aircraft steps -- can become a presidential-scale problem. US President Donald Trump is embark on an eight-day six-stop behemoth trip that is expected to test his already weary staff Last September, when Secret Service agents in Hangzhou could not find a red-carpet step operator who spoke English, the call was made for Obama to exit from steps that fold out from the belly of the plane. The outcry was swift. "They won't even give him stairs, proper stairs to get out of the airplane. You see that?" then candidate Trump chimed in, seeing evidence of a snub. "I've got to tell you, if that were me, I would say, 'You know what, folks, I respect you a lot but close the doors, let's get out of here.'" By the end of his visit to Saudi Arabia, Israel, the Palestinian territories, the Vatican, Brussels and Sicily, Trump may be a little more understanding. In some ways, Trump's visit has already begun. Around a month beforehand, a platoon of officials from the White House, Secret Service, military and National Security Council walk through each and every step. Protocol officers discuss what flag goes where, and the president's doctors scout hospitals for requisite facilities in case of the unspeakable. The aim is to make sure any logistical problems are solved before Air Force One -- filled with aides, Secret Service, the traveling press and of course the president -- lands, along with a chase plane full of staff and military transport aircraft carrying everything from podiums to "the Beast" -- the president's hardened limousine. For staff and other travelers, days normally begin before dawn and after perpetual movement end long after dusk -- if they end at all. Food comes in boxes, if at all. - Away from staff - A typical day could involve a bilateral meeting, a welcome ceremony, several summit sessions on everything from trade to security, a family photo, a concert and a working dinner. At each step the president will have to hit his mark, sounding the right message, making "asks" and ensuring "deliverables" -- or concrete deals -- come through. Donald Trump will be joined on his first foreign trip by his wife Melania, daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner Not even the act of moving a president from point A to point B -- be it just down the hall, is straightforward. Rooms have to be swept by Secret Service, areas secured and unwelcome political figures kept at arm's length. Staff will have to "work through POTUS time and DC time," facing crises with difficult communications across time zones, said Loren DeJonge Schulman, another Obama National Security Council. Trump himself will face the challenge of being far from his staff and usual sources of information. "For a man accustomed to watching cable news all day, foreign POTUS travel will be like sensory deprivation," Schulman tweeted recently. - Policy pitfalls - Despite the best laid efforts, some things just happen. "Anything -- from a hot mic to a protocol gaffe -- will have outsized consequences when the president is on foreign soil," said Price. Trump visit to Europe and Middle East If the logistical problems were not enough, the policy pitfalls of giving a speech on Islam in Saudi Arabia, or musing about the peace process in the powder keg Middle East are obvious. The sheer scale of the trip has left some on the president's staff with trepidations. Many privately admit they are happy not to be involved in transplanting the malaise of the Trump White House thousands of miles east -- under even more stressful conditions. Britain came 30th in a worldwide ranking of healthcare while the US was 35th. Tiny Andorra topped the study of 195 countries published in The Lancet Neither Canada nor Japan cracked the top 10, and the United States finished a dismal 35th, according to a much anticipated ranking of healthcare quality in 195 countries, released Friday. Among nations with more than a million souls, top honours for 2015 went to Switzerland, followed by Sweden and Norway, though the healthcare gold standard remains tiny Andorra, a postage stamp of a country nestled between Spain (No. 8) and France (No. 15). Iceland (No. 2), Australia (No. 6), Finland (No. 7), the Netherlands (No. 9) and financial and banking centre Luxembourg rounded out the first 10 finishers, according to a comprehensive study published in the medical journal The Lancet. Of the 20 countries heading up the list, all but Australia and Japan (No. 11) are in western Europe, where virtually every nation boasts some form of universal health coverage. The United States -- where a Republican Congress wants to peel back reforms that gave millions of people access to health insurance for the first time -- ranked below Britain, which placed 30th. The Healthcare Access and Quality Index, based on death rates for 32 diseases that can be avoided or effectively treated with proper medical care, also tracked progress in each nation compared to the benchmark year of 1990. Virtually all countries improved over that period, but many -- especially in Africa and Oceania -- fell further behind others in providing basic care for their citizens. With the exceptions of Afghanistan, Haiti and Yemen, the 30 countries at the bottom of the ranking were all in sub-Saharan Africa, with the Central African Republic suffering the worst standards of all. "Despite improvements in healthcare quality and access over 25 years, inequality between the best and worst performing countries has grown," said Christopher Murray, director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, and leader of a consortium of hundreds of contributing experts. - A warning sign - Furthermore, he added in a statement, the standard of primary care was lower in many nations than expected given levels of wealth and development. The biggest underachievers in Asia included Indonesia, the Philippines, India and tiny Brunei, while in Africa it was Botswana, South Africa and Lesotho that had the most room for improvement. Regions with healthcare systems underperforming relative to wealth included Oceania, the Caribbean and Central Asia. Among rich nations, the worst offender in this category was the United States, which tops the world in per capita healthcare expenditure by some measures. Within Europe, Britain ranked well below expected levels. "The UK does well in some areas, including cerebrovascular disease," noted co-author Marin McKee, a professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. "But it lags behind in outcomes of some cancers." The gap between actual and expected rating widened over the last quarter century in 62 of the 195 nations examined. "Overall, our results are a warning sign that heightened healthcare access and quality is not an inevitable product of increased development," Murray said. Between 1990 and 2015, countries that made the biggest improvements in delivering healthcare included South Korea, Turkey, Peru, China and the Maldives. The 32 diseases for which death rates were tracked included tuberculosis and other respiratory infections; illnesses that can be prevented with vaccines (diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus and measles); several forms of treatable cancer and heart disease; and maternal or neonatal disorders. SENEGAL-GAMBIA-MEDIA-FREEDOM-BOOK Two fugitive former army officers have been indicted over the 2004 murder of prominent Gambian journalist Deyda Hydara, judicial sources said. The court in Banjul also separately issued an arrest warrant for ex-interior minister Ousman Sonko over the death of former intelligence chief Daba Marenah. Hydara, 65, an outspoken critic of then president Yahya Jammeh, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in his car on the outskirts of Banjul in December 2004. He was the editor and co-founder of the independent newspaper The Point and a one-time Gambia correspondent for Agence France-Presse (AFP). Jammeh, whose regime was accused of numerous human rights violations, went into exile at the end of January after more than 22 years in power following his defeat in December's presidential election by Adama Barrow. Police prosecutors Thursday charged former colonel Kawsu Camara and major Sanna Manjang, an army deserter, with "murder and conspiracy" over the killing of Hydara, a judicial source told AFP. It is the first time authorities have openly linked the pair to the killing. The two men are however long believed to have been members of Jammeh's ultra-loyal death squad, known as the "Jungulars", which has been accused of carrying out extrajudicial killings and torture by the United Nations and rights groups. Police asked the court in Banjul to issue arrest warrants for the two men after they were charged, the source said. Principal Magistrate Isatou Janneh agreed to the request. - Ex-interior minister held in Switzerland - "The Gambian authorities will present the arrest warrant to Interpol or the country where they are hiding for them to be extradited to Gambia," the source said. Manjang left the Gambia for Guinea-Bissau the day that Jammeh went into exile after contesting the election results for six weeks. In 2009, Camara was arrested and charged with treason over a failed coup, along with former defence chief Lang Tombong Tamba and other soldiers. He was convicted and sentenced to death in 2010 but his sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. Jammeh pardoned Camara in 2015 and he left for Senegal. The magistrate also issued an arrest warrant for Sonko and eight other suspects over the death of Marenah, former director of the National Intelligence Agency, another judicial source said. After he was sacked in September 2016, Sonko fled to Sweden and then Switzerland, where he is currently being held in a crimes against humanity probe. Sonko has been accused of overseeing and committing torture while heading the interior ministry from 2006 to 2016. The other suspects named in the arrest warrant include general Bora Colley and other army officers. The suspects are accused of being involved in the deaths of Marenah and several other people who were believed to have been executed. Marenah has been missing since his arrest in March 2006, along with several soldiers, over an alleged coup attempt. The government had claimed they escaped while being transferred from the State Central Prison on the outskirts of Banjul to another jail. The government of new President Barrow has said a body will be set up to investigate forced disappearances in the small west African nation. Paramedic Patricia September and her colleagues have to take their lives in their hands on duty in gang-ridden parts of Cape Town, where they need a police escort When an emergency call comes in from one of South Africa's most crime-ridden neighbourhoods, ambulances do not rush straight to the scene but to a police station first to request an armed escort. A surge in attacks on ambulance workers has led to parts of Cape Town being declared danger "red zones" but beefing up security means delayed response times in some of the poorest districts. Robbery, theft, vandalism, violence, at times linked to criminal gangs -- more than 100 attacks against paramedics and drivers were reported in the Western Cape province last year. Patricia September and her colleague, both ambulance workers, were driving on a road bordering one of the red zones in the early morning hours when two gunshots rang out. A brick hit the windscreen, causing her colleague to battle to control the ambulance from rolling, she recalled. "The whole ambulance was shaking," 51-year-old September told AFP. The stoning of vehicles is a frequent hijacking ploy and medics are not spared. - 'Fear on their faces' Armed police protection for ambulances during nighttime call-outs was introduced last year but workers told AFP they still do not feel any safer. Sometimes the police escort can even make matters worse. More than once, September, a single mother of twins, has been caught up in shoot-outs between gang members and the police, who are targeted for their weapons. "When they start shooting at the police, you can actually see the fear on the officers' faces," she said. September, who has 15 years' experience under her belt, pulls the ambulance into a derelict cul-de-sac to collect a patient in one of the red zones. Ambulances working in gang-ridden parts of town stay close to their police escorts in areas designated as unsafe for ambulance crews -- but sometimes the gangs target the police for their weapons The police park just ahead. But nobody leaves their vehicles. Instead, September radios the dispatcher to instruct the patient to come to the waiting ambulance. Only after spotting a woman moving slowly down a flight of stairs, wheezing heavily, does the team judge that it is safe to assist. September quickly moves the ambulance to a main road nearby. The team is still deep in a red zone, but the police are now nowhere to be seen. They leave as soon as the patient boards the ambulance. - Long waits - Another emergency worker, Papinkie Lebelo, was robbed at knife point on Christmas Eve last year, just moments after his police escort pulled away. On his arrival, the patient had already been taken privately to hospital due to the wait for the escorted ambulance. Lebelo was unhurt but was forced to hand over his cellphone and cash to his attacker. "How can you attack an ambulance that is coming to help?" he asked. In poorer neighbourhoods where crime is endemic, ambulances are targets of the same robbers that local communities face. "By virtue of the fact that they deliver services within the community they become part of that community and are thus subjected to the same issues," said the provincial head of emergency medical services, Shaheem de Vries. A 17-year veteran of the service, Lebelo said the attacks first began about three years ago. But the escort system, he said, wasn't helping -- only slowing down the response times. Ambulances have, at times, had to wait up to three hours before a police van is available, several ambulance staff told AFP. Ambulances are not permitted into red zones without a police escort. - 'Mind boggling' - Outside the police station in Nyanga township, notorious as the murder capital of South Africa and one of 10 designated red zones around the city, AFP spoke to paramedics, who had been waiting half an hour for an escort to the scene of a multiple stabbing. What if the patient dies while waiting? our AFP reporter asked. The ambulance driver shrugged. "They brought this on themselves," she said. But Martin Makasi, head of Nyanga's policing forum that acts as an intermediary between the community and police, said locals feel they are being unfairly punished for the actions of a few criminals. "It concerns us that people will lose their lives because they are waiting for paramedics," he told AFP. "It also boggles the minds of the community to understand why the attacks are happening." - 'Losing staff' - Paramedics Patricia September and Simphiwe Ngavu are bathed in the blue light of the South African Police Services van sticking close to them as they attend to a call in the crime-ridden Cape Town township of Nyanga Western Cape province lost over 3,000 work days last year to staff being off after traumatic incidents. Some employees have asked for transfers out of the city to quieter, safer towns. Although attacks have occurred countrywide, Cape Town is the epicentre of the problem. De Vries said his biggest challenge was retaining staff. "Whether they are suffering from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and staying away, or because they're resigning and leaving for safer harbours," he said. "I'm losing staff." Even harder, he says, is attracting new applicants. "Young school-leavers, who are looking at career choices, are now having second thoughts about whether or not they want to enter the industry at all," he added. Six months after her attack, September is still traumatised. "Everybody standing along the road, everybody who approaches you -- you feel threatened by them," she said. "You feel so scared that it's going to happen again." US President Donald Trump and Saudi Deputy Crown Prince and Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman shake hands at the White House on March 14, 2017. Trump heads to Saudi Arabia this weekend on his first foreign trip since taking office Saudi Arabia is looking to assert its regional leadership against Iran by hosting a summit between visiting US President Donald Trump and Muslim leaders from around the world, analysts say. Trump, on his first foreign trip since taking office in January, will tell Muslim leaders of his "hopes for a peaceful vision of Islam" as he seeks support for the war against radical Islamists, Washington has said. Muslim leaders may also be looking for Trump to build bridges after allegations of Islamophobia against his administration and its effort to bar travellers from six Muslim-majority countries. But for Riyadh, analysts say, a primary goal is to showcase its leadership of the Muslim world, especially in the face of regional rival Iran. "This is as much a sign of Saudi regional leadership" as of US assertiveness, and aims to show the extent to which the kingdom can gather key Muslim leaders, said Adam Baron, a visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. Leaders and representatives of 55 countries -- from the southeast Asian sultanate of Brunei to Africa's Niger and heavyweights including Turkey -- have been invited by King Salman for Sunday's summit with Trump. The summit will be one of three weekend meetings, as Trump holds bilateral talks with top Saudi officials and with leaders of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) which includes Saudi Arabia. The bilateral summit on Saturday comes with Saudi leaders rebuilding crucial ties with Washington after feeling that Trump's predecessor Barack Obama tilted too much toward Tehran. The 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers including the United States was a major step toward ending Tehran's international isolation but raised serious concerns in Arab capitals. - Doing 'the dirty work' - Iran, the Middle East's second largest power by economy and population, is the Shiite Muslim rival of regional Sunni giant Saudi Arabia. Saudi leaders regularly accuse Iran of stirring regional conflicts by supporting Shiite movements in Syria, Iraq and Bahrain as well as in Yemen. Tehran denies the charges and in turn says Riyadh supports radical Islamist groups. Iran, which holds a presidential election on Friday pitting moderate incumbent Hassan Rouhani against hardline jurist Ebrahim Raisi, is also likely to loom large over Sunday's summit, analysts said. "This summit has a very clear message to the radical Iranian regime that there will be a global consensus and global agreement between the United States and the Arab and Muslim world," said Salman al-Ansari, president of the Saudi American Public Relation Affairs Committee (SAPRAC), a private initiative to strengthen Saudi-US ties. Andreas Krieg, of the Defence Studies Department at King's College London, said King Salman is trying to use the US to forge a "pan-Islamic alliance under Saudi leadership as a bulwark against jihadism and Iran." The summit is part of preparations for a new US strategy mobilising the Muslim world against the Sunni jihadists of the Islamic State group, as well as against Iran-backed militias such as Lebanon-based Hezbollah, said Mustafa Alani, a senior adviser to the Gulf Research Centre. "I think this is going to be important because it's supposed to translate into action on the ground, financial participation, troop participation, intelligence exchange." Alani said the new US administration recognises that Saudi Arabia is a "super-regional state" whose help is required to contain Iran and combat "terrorism". "We are witnessing now a change in the tone, change in policy" from Trump, he said. Krieg agreed Trump needs a partner -- but one to do "the dirty work" for a country that does not want its own military deeply involved, reflecting Trump's policy of "America First". "In the end 'America First' means using the GCC and Arab partners as proxies and surrogates, propped up with US equipment and training (paid for by these partners), to implement US policy," he said. Japan dispatched four planes, including two F-15 fighters and an airborne warning and control system (AWACS) plane to waters surrounding the islets, Japan's defence ministry said Japan said Friday it scrambled fighter jets after a Chinese vessel sailing in disputed waters launched a drone, the latest bout of tension in a longstanding territorial row. The two countries are at odds over a group of small uninhabited islands in the East China Sea administered as the Senkakus by Japan but claimed as the Diaoyus by China. Yoshihide Suga, Japan's top government spokesman, told a regular briefing that the incident took place Thursday and that Japan lodged a "strong protest", accusing China of "unilaterally escalating" tensions. Japan dispatched four planes, including two F-15 fighters and an airborne warning and control system (AWACS) plane to waters surrounding the islets, Japan's defence ministry said. Coast guard ships from the two nations routinely patrol the area, known for rich fishing grounds and possible energy reserves, to back up their claims. The countries have also occasionally engaged in potentially dangerous encounters in the air and at sea over the dispute but have avoided actual conflict. The latest incident came as the Japan Coast Guard said four Chinese ships entered Japanese territorial waters Thursday. "This is the first time we see what appears to be a drone flown by Chinese ships that are sailing within territorial waters," Suga said. "This is a new form of activity by China," he added. "We strictly protested that this is a unilateral escalation and that we absolutely cannot accept it." But speaking at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Friday, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said: "Of course we cannot accept the so-called negotiations or protests of the Japanese side." "As far as I know, the Chinese coast guard did not send or fly the unmanned aerial vehicle. It was used by the media for aerial photography; it was not a military action, as some media have hyped," she said, without providing further details about the media outlet in question. It was China's "inherent right" to conduct regular patrols in its own territory, she noted. Japan has said its military scrambled a record number of jets last year, mostly in response to an increase in approaching Chinese aircraft. Japanese officials believe China has been trying to analyse the capacity and response patterns of Japan's defence and coastguard personnel. Hong Kong will mark the 20th anniversary of its transfer from Britain back to China on July 1 2017. Divided by age, wealth and politics, the people of Hong Kong will mark the 20th anniversary of its transfer from Britain back to China with contrasting emotions: anger and pessimism, pride and celebration. The semi-autonomous city still enjoys freedoms unseen on the mainland, but in recent years there has been increasing unrest. Hong Kong still enjoys freedoms unseen on the mainland. But in recent years there has been increasing unrest, with massive rallies for democratic reform and the emergence of an independence movement by those who feel Beijing is meddling. There have been rallies for democratic reform and an independence movement has emerged in response to what some regard as meddling by Beijing. Soaring property prices and low wages have also fuelled unhappiness, particularly among young people. But for some, Hong Kong remains a land of opportunity, and being part of China a source of stability and security. Three residents talk about their hopes, dreams and fears, as the anniversary of the July 1, 1997, handover approaches. Here three residents talk about their hopes, dreams and fears, as the anniversary of the July 1, 1997, handover approaches. - The protester - Hong Kong student Chau Ho-oi, aged 20, works with pro-democracy party Demosisto and was the youngest protester arrested during the Umbrella Movement rallies in 2014. Dressed in a white t-shirt, net skirt and with pale green streaks through her hair, Chau Ho-oi plays with her phone as she sits in a park in her home neighbourhood of Prince Edward. Born in 1997 to a music teacher father and office worker mother, the 20-year-old student's earliest aspiration was to be a police officer. Instead, she became the youngest protester arrested during mass pro-democracy Umbrella Movement rallies three years ago. "I thought being in the police was righteous, but now I think there are other ways to serve justice," she says. Chau is part of a new wave of activists pushing back at Beijing and works with pro-democracy party Demosisto, co-founded by leading campaigner Joshua Wong. Hong Kong student and pro-democracy activist Chau Ho-oi holds a board upon which she wrote Chinese characters to sum up her Hong Kong. It says: 'To hold onto.' Student rallies in 2012 against lessons promoting Chinese patriotism first made her realise young people could change things, says Chau. She then went on to join a student activism group, before joining the 2014 protests. Her experiences have left her angry and she believes authorities don't care about young people's concerns. "This government views young people as antagonists. When they say they want to strengthen communication, it's really nonsense," she says. Chau still lives with her family, sharing a room with her older sister, and says her parents have allowed her to find her own way in life. While some of her friends are politically apathetic and others frustrated at a lack of progress, Chau says she wants to fight on as a activist. She explains: "I think I have the ability to change this society -- we're not at the point of hopelessness yet. We have to create our own hope." - The financier - "Life in Hong Kong, compared to other cities, is much more vibrant. This is a great advantage for our competitiveness," says 40-year-old financier Cedric Ko. Financier Cedric Ko spends his days working in a skyscraper overlooking Hong Kong's famous harbour. Smart in a crisp white shirt and dark suit, he praises the bustling city for its high-octane buzz. "Life in Hong Kong, compared to other cities, is much more vibrant. This is a great advantage for our competitiveness and commercial aspects of society," says the 40-year-old father of two. But his enthusiasm is tempered by a feeling of unease about the future. Things are harder than when he was young, says Ko, who remembers a relaxed childhood in Hong Kong and university days in Canada, where he was studying in 1997. Financier Cedric Ko holds a board upon which he wrote a word to sum up his Hong Kong, ahead of the 20th anniversary of the city's transfer from Britain back to China. "I had a lot of time to explore and think. I don't think children have that now -- everything's about achieving an objective," says Ko. He is concerned his kids may grow up blinkered in a conservative results-driven education system, which he believes does not encourage them to think for themselves. "Children today, especially those who are more obedient, believe the government is always right," he says. And while Ko and his family can afford a three-bedroom apartment, he worries about the lack of space and comfort others endure, which he feels fosters public discontent. Although his children are still only eight-years-old and three-months-old, Ko is already considering sending them to study abroad "to learn about different cultures and ways". Sceptical Hong Kong can solve its political and social issues, he is one of a growing number of residents who hope eventually to emigrate. "I think the problems in Hong Kong will remain -- if not get worse," he says. - The medicine man - Like many Hong Kong residents of his generation, 72-year-old Tan Kin Hua originally arrived from mainland China during the upheaval of the Cultural Revolution, which saw mass political purges. Tan Kin Hua fiddles with a wooden abacus at his Chinese medicine shop in the busy commercial district of Mong Kok, neatly stacked with ointments and herbs. He is a spry 72 and the shop is a fulfilment of his dream: to leave his home village in southern mainland China and seek a better life. "It was a tough life when I was very small. My father passed away when I was nine- years-old," says Tan. "Everybody was looking for a chance to get out and develop in a big city." Many Hong Kong residents of his generation originally came from poverty-stricken mainland China and, like Tan, sought an exit during the upheaval of China's Cultural Revolution, which saw mass political purges. He shies away from talking about that time, saying simply: "It wasn't as free then." Tan arrived in Hong Kong by train in 1972 and started as a factory worker, earning just HK$8 ($1) a day. Chinese medicine shop owner Tan Kin Hua, 72, holds a board upon which he wrote Chinese characters to sum up his hopes for Hong Kong over the next 20 years. It says: 'Prosperity'. After learning Cantonese, the local language, he moved into Chinese medicine which he had studied back home -- by 1997 he was about to start his own business, which he still runs today. "My daughter is learning the trade, my friend is helping me and we are working together. I hope to bring my experience to the younger generation," says Tan, a grandfather-of-two. He criticises the 2014 democracy protests which brought parts of the city to a standstill as "annoying" and is against the independence movement, arguing that Hong Kong is part of China and people should work together to improve residents' livelihoods. Tan still has faith life will improve in the years ahead. He insists: "The Chinese government really supports the city. It will be better in the future." Snickers bar: check. Can of Coke: check. Maserati: check. An innovative car show room in land-starved Singapore is using a vending machine-style system to sell luxury cars A vending machine that dispenses luxury cars to well-heeled buyers is the latest space-saving innovation in land-starved Singapore -- just don't try to shake it if it gets stuck. Used car dealer Gary Hong has taken to displaying his wares in a glass-fronted, 15-storey building. Like choosing a chocolate bar, the buyer can see everything on display, before pressing some buttons and having their choice delivered. Hong, 45, said he got the inspiration for the new showroom during a trip with his four-year-son to buy toy cars. Customers use a hand-held device to select their Ferrari, Maserati or Lamborghini, and watch a promotional video while the vehicle is automatically transported down in a lift "From there I realised that the Matchbox arrangement is a mini version of our inventories that can be displayed and arranged nicely," he told AFP. From the comfort of a plush sofa on the ground floor, potential buyers can order a Ferrari, Maserati or Lamborghini among other brands, all with the touch of a hand-held device. Once a selection is made, a promotional video of that car is played on a flat-screen television while the vehicle is automatically transported down by a lift. People accustomed to kicking a vending machine if their chocolate bar gets stuck might like to think again with this car dispenser in Singapore, where luxury motors cost tens of thousands of dollars "When the customers see a car that is presented in a best way like a beauty pageant, they just decide that this is a winner, and we got a deal," said Hong, who added that sales have risen by 30 percent since the move to the new premises in December. With a population density ranked by the World Bank to be third highest in the world, behind Macau and Monaco, land comes at a premium in the tiny city-state. But Hong said his unorthodox Sg$3.0 million ($2.15 million) solution can boost land use. I think I'll have that one: buyers choose their desired car from the comfort of a plush sofa, and then wait while it gets delivered by a lift The company stores between 70-80 cars at its facility -- an amount that would otherwise require five times the space if the vehicles are parked traditionally, Hong said. A similar car vending concept currently exists in the United States, through online auto retailer Carvana, which was last reported by US media to have five such facilities around the country as of April. Flying the KMT flag: the party is however at the lowest ebb in its more than 100-year history The Kuomintang party dominated Taiwan for decades with its wealth and an iron fist -- but now it is battling to keep a foothold in the island's shifting political landscape. Founded by Chinese revolutionary Sun Yat-sen and later led by nationalist Chiang Kai-shek, the KMT is at its lowest ebb in its more than 100-year history as it prepares to select a new leader Saturday. Cultivating warmer relations with rival Beijing -- which still sees self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory -- backfired with a sceptical public that is increasingly embracing an independent Taiwanese identity. As a result, the KMT lost the presidency last year and, for the first time, its control of parliament. It vowed to reform, but has since been riven by infighting and targeted by a government probe into its extensive assets which has seen its accounts frozen and hundreds of jobs axed. While it is still the main opposition party, analysts say it is struggling to find direction. "The demographic shifts in Taiwan do not bode well for the KMT," said Timothy Rich, an assistant professor of political science at the Western Kentucky University. More Taiwanese are opposed to eventual unification with the mainland, Rich says. The monumental Kuomintang logo stands in front of the Chiang Kai-skek Memorial Hall in Taipei As ties deteriorate rapidly between Beijing and China-sceptic president Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party, some in the KMT hope its cross-strait ties will remain a trump card. But others disagree. "The KMT still believes its China card gives it an upper hand, but we can see from last year's elections that is not the case anymore," said political scientist Fan Shih-ping. "If your only hand is no longer working, what market do you still have in Taiwan?" added Fan, a professor at the National Taiwan Normal University. Now, even Beijing is turning its back on the KMT, he says. "The communist party is very pragmatic. It only wants to deal with people with influence and power," he told AFP. Under Tsai, Beijing has cut all official ties with Taipei. Cross-strait interactions have been limited to unofficial dialogue between academics and city-level exchanges. - Young blood - The KMT retreated to Taiwan from the mainland after losing a civil war in 1949 to communist forces. Under Chiang Kai-shek and his son, the party ruled by martial law until 1987 but never formally declared independence from China. Beijing has said it would respond with force if Taiwan were ever to try to formally split. The Kuomintang was founded by Chinese revolutionary Sun Yat-sen and later led by nationalist Chiang Kai-shek, shown here with Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong Democratic reforms eventually led to fully free elections in 1996, and the KMT lost the leadership for the first time in 2000. Ma-Ying-jeou regained the presidency for the KMT eight years later, launching an unprecedented rapprochement with Beijing by acknowledging that Taiwan was still part of "one China", but that the two sides were allowed different interpretations. Warming ties were touted as a route to prosperity, but critical voters said the resulting trade deals only benefited big business, not ordinary citizens. With Ma's conciliatory approach now rejected by the public, some in the party say it needs to look to younger members for new ideas. Among those in the frame is Chiang Kai-shek's great-grandson. Chiang Wan-an, a US-educated former lawyer, won his first legislative seat for the KMT last year and may stand for Taipei mayor next year -- a position historically a springboard to the presidency. Chiang, 38, says his party needs to become more transparent and receptive to the younger generation. "We need to broaden our vision," he told AFP. But the six candidates in the running for the party leadership on Saturday are very much the old guard. They include straight-talking current chairwoman Hung Hsiu-chu, who is pro-reunification with the mainland. Analysts say she would marginalise the party even further if she won again. "Their problem is that they don't have a vision for Taiwan right now beyond Ma Ying-jeou's vision," says Nathan Batto, an associate research fellow at the Academia Sinica in Taipei. "They need to have somebody come up with a new formula for what Taiwan is, what Taiwan's relationship with China and the rest of the world is." News / Local by Staff Reporter Aging President Robert Mugabe gave his four day guest King Letsie III of Lesotho pictures as a goodbye present.King Letsie III returned to Lesotho on Thursday armed with two albums of pictures chronicling his stay in the country."The pictures included his arrival on Monday, the State banquet hosted by President Mugabe, as well as his visit to the Heroes Acre, Lion and Cheetah Park, Zimbabwe Museum of Human Sciences, Victoria Falls, Crocodile Farm and a lunch cruise on the Zambezi River" state controlled Herald said.It further said "an elated King Letsie III took time to view some of the pictures before he left". Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko. Reports of the emperor's desire to retire surprised Japan when they emerged last July The Japanese government on Friday approved a one-off bill allowing ageing Emperor Akihito to step down from the Chrysanthemum Throne, in the first such abdication in two centuries. The bill is likely to receive swift final approval in parliament, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's cabinet signed off on the legislation. Abdication must take place within three years of the bill becoming law. Earlier this year reports suggested that 83-year-old Akihito could step down at the end of December 2018 and be replaced by Crown Prince Naruhito on January 1, 2019. Reports of his desire to retire surprised Japan when they emerged last July. In August he publicly cited age and declining health, which was interpreted as his wish to hand the crown to his eldest son. Japan's royal dynasty But current Japanese law has no provision for abdication, thus requiring politicians to craft legislation to make it possible. The status of the emperor is highly sensitive in Japan given its 20th century history of war waged in the name of Akihito's father Hirohito, who died in 1989. Revered as a demigod before and during the conflict, Hirohito was reduced to a mere figurehead as part of postwar reforms. Akihito has won plaudits for seizing upon the constitutionally-prescribed role of national symbol and there is wide sympathy for his wish to retire. He has been treated for prostate cancer and also had heart surgery. And though he has cut back on some of his duties, he still maintains a busy official schedule, including occasional overseas visits. A majority of the Japanese public supports a permanent law on abdication and they have also expressed support for the current bill to help enable Akihito's smooth transition from the throne. "He hasn't had a way to retire, but I think he should be able to and enjoy his golden years," 75-year-old Seio Ichijo told AFP as he strolled outside the Imperial Palace with his wife. - 'Real danger' - The leading opposition Democratic Party has argued the law should be permanently changed to ensure stable future successions, but has reportedly agreed to the current one-off bill after talks with the ruling bloc. This January 2, 2015 file picture shows Japan's Emperor Akihito (2nd R) and Empress Michiko (R) waving to well-wishers while Crown Prince Naruhito (2nd L) and his wife Crown Princess Masako (L) look on during their new year greetings in Tokyo Some scholars and politicians have argued that changing the law to allow any emperor to abdicate would risk Japan's monarchs becoming subject to political manipulation. While abdications are far from unknown in Japanese history -- the last one was in 1817 -- some people still believe being emperor is a lifetime job. Akashi Kiyomiya, 81, who was also walking near the palace, said he was taught as a child that rulers serve until the end. "I don't want him to retire. I want him to be emperor until he leaves this world," he said. The abdication issue has highlighted concerns over a potential succession crisis in one of the world's oldest monarchies. A government panel in April issued a warning over the dwindling number of male heirs. Only men are allowed to become emperor under current law, though Japan has been ruled by empresses in past centuries. Female members of the imperial family must give up their royal status when marrying a commoner, a convention highlighted by news this week that one of Akihito's granddaughters plans to marry her college sweetheart. When Naruhito, who has a daughter but no sons, ascends the throne, his younger brother Akishino will be next in line, followed by Hisahito, Akishino's 10-year-old son. But after that there are no more eligible males, meaning the centuries-old succession would be broken if Hisahito fails to have a son in the future. Many Japanese believe the issue can be solved by allowing for female succession, but traditionalists vehemently oppose the idea. Other ideas floated include allowing women to retain royal status upon marriage -- meaning their male children would be eligible -- or reinstating the titles of families stripped of their ranks under cost-cutting reforms during the US occupation of Japan after World War II. "The sustainability of the imperial system is in real danger," Takashi Mikuriya, head of the government panel on the abdication issue, told the Mainichi Shimbun daily after the body released recommendations last month that the succession crisis needed to be addressed quickly. An Indonesian customs officer displays a reptile after authorities arrested a suspected wildlife smuggler from Japan A Japanese man has been arrested in Indonesia for allegedly trying to smuggle hundreds of reptiles out of the archipelago, including snakes, lizards and turtles, authorities and environmentalists said Friday. Katsuhide Naito, believed to be a major player in the wildlife-smuggling trade, was detained at Jakarta's main airport as he was about to board a flight to Tokyo with over 250 animals hidden in his bags. "Officials became suspicious seeing him with so many suitcases," Tisna Nando, spokeswoman for NGO the Wildlife Conservation Society, which was involved in the investigation, told AFP. "After they were opened, we found hundreds of reptiles, most of them were alive." The reptiles were stuffed into four suitcases and one box and four were dead, said Nando. Ruchyana, an official from the airport operator who like many Indonesians goes by one name, said the 51-year-old was caught late Monday carrying protected species including green tree pythons, lizards from Borneo island and pig-nosed turtles. Before arriving in Jakarta, Naito had been in Medan, on the jungle-clad Indonesian island of Sumatra. He could face up to three years in prison if found guilty of breaking Indonesian wildlife laws. The Wildlife Conservation Society believes Naito was part of a larger wildlife-smuggling syndicate. "We believe he is a big player and part of a syndicate which has been active in wildlife trading for more than 12 years," Nando said. He was arrested in 2005 in Australia for attempting to smuggle reptiles into the country from Southeast Asia, she said. Indonesia is home to vast rainforests and a kaleidoscope of exotic animals. But wildlife smuggling is common, with environmentalists saying a lack of resources and corruption are undermining law enforcement efforts. Bangladesh's Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), an elite security force, said it had raided a community centre south of the capital Dhaka where the men had gathered Bangladeshi police raided a party and arrested 27 young men early Friday in a rare crackdown on homosexuality in the conservative Muslim-majority country, where gay sex is a crime. The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), the elite security force that conducted the raid, said it had arrested the men from a a community centre south of the capital Dhaka for "homosexuality", although they were later charged with drug offenses instead. "We've arrested 27 people for homosexuality. They are homosexuals. They held a get-together there," said Major Manzur of the RAB, who asked to be identified only by his rank and given name. However, they were later transferred to the custody of the regular police where they were charged with drugs-related crimes. "We have filed a narcotics case against them as the RAB found Yaba (methamphetamine) and marijuana among their possessions," local police chief Mohammad Jubayer told AFP. Gays and lesbians in Bangladesh frequently suffer discrimination and other rights abuses and many are forced to hide their sexual identity and live double lives for fear of reprisals. Bangladesh criminalises gay sex under a law dating back to the British colonial era that has never been repealed but is rarely enforced. Last year two prominent LGBT activists including an editor of the country's only magazine for gay people were hacked to death by Islamist extremists linked to Al-Qaeda. Many prominent homosexual activists have since fled the country after several of them received death threats. The sea of lotuses in Khao Sam Roi Yot national park, three hours south of Bangkok, is a show-stopping feat of nature that has tourists pouring into the area For the first time in a decade a Thai lake has given up its dazzling secret -- the pink blooms of tens of thousands of lotuses. The sea of colour in Khao Sam Roi Yot national park, three hours south of Bangkok, is a show-stopping feat of nature that has locals hoping for a tourist bonanza. But it has also sparked warnings over the fragility of the environment with park rangers pleading with people not to visit until the lake is healthy enough to deal with an influx of tourists. A local tourist guide uses a lotus leaf to shield his head during a summer storm on a lake in the Khao Sam Roi Yot national park in southern Thailand The flowers, considered sacred in Thai culture, are good news for locals who have been ferrying camera-toting visitors through the lotuses which lie in knots on the lake's vast waters. But "currently they should not come," said head ranger Rungroj Aswakultarin. "The national park is in the process of restoring the lotuses. When it comes to the right time the park will open them up to the public," he said. Rungroj's caution is understandable. For the last decade the park -- a stunning jumble of lakes, tributaries and towering limestone karsts three hours south of Bangkok -- saw no widespread lotus bloom. Thailand struggles to balance its lucrative tourism industry with preserving the environment No-one has been able to pinpoint exactly why. But officials blame a mixture of drought and pollution from fertilisers and nearby seafood farms. In recent years rangers have tried to clean up the park and this year were rewarded with a sea of pink flowers. Thailand struggles to balance its lucrative tourism industry with preserving the environment. Few countries have experienced the kind of stratospheric growth in tourism. In the last decade the number of foreign arrivals has more than doubled from 13.8 million in 2006 to a record 32.5 million last year, growth partly powered by Chinese arrivals. Those expecting to find the kind of pristine, untouched beaches in tourist brochures are often left disappointed among hordes of visitors. Thailand's tourism minister has called for the industry to chase fewer holidaymakers but ones with deep pockets. In recent years rangers have tried to clean up the Thai park and this year were rewarded with a sea of pink flowers This week some 61 national parks, including 25 marine parks, closed to visitors for the monsoon season, an annual move to try and help them recover. But some environmentalists have argued the most vulnerable ecosystems need to close for longer, or face much stronger restrictions on visitor numbers. The IS group is one the defensive as the Syrian army battles it in Aleppo province as well as Hama The Syrian army has regained full control of two central villages from the Islamic State group after an attack that killed dozens of people, a monitor said on Friday. Troops and allied militiamen retook the Hama province villages of Aqareb and Al-Mabujeh a day after the jihadist assault, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The IS attack killed 25 civilians, including five children, and 27 pro-government fighters, the Britain-based monitor said. At least three of the civilians, a man and his two children, were executed with knives, it added. The Observatory reported 10 IS fighters killed in the assault, which began at dawn on Thursday and saw jihadists briefly seize all of Aqareb and parts of Al-Mabujeh. State news agency SANA said 52 people had been killed, among them 15 children, adding that many of the dead had been beheaded and mutilated. The two villages are home to members of several religious minority sects, and Al-Mabujeh has been targeted by IS before. In March 2015, the group killed dozens of people and kidnapped some 50 civilians in an attack there. IS is on the defensive across most of the territory it still holds in Syria, with an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters pressing towards its most important bastion, Raqa in the north. The army is also battling the jihadist group in the eastern part of Aleppo province. The Observatory said at least 22 government troops and allied militiamen and 40 IS fighters had been killed in clashes in the area in the past 24 hours. And in the eastern city of Deir Ezzor, which is largely under IS control, jihadist shelling of a government-held neighbourhood killed at least 14 people, the monitor said. A dozen people were also wounded by the artillery fire, which hit a wedding party. 14-year-old Khin Khin Tun displays deep scars on her arms and neck, sustained when her former employer poured two flasks of boiling water over her flesh -- one for each orange she was accused of stealing A Myanmar widow who threw boiling water on a 14-year-old servant leaving her with horrific burns has been jailed for seven years, a rare flicker of justice for the country's legion of child domestic workers. Aye Aye Soe was arrested late last year for pouring two flasks of boiling water on the girl -- one for each orange she was accused of stealing. The attack left her victim, Khin Khin Tun, with severe burns across her back. The widow was also accused of routine physical abuse of Khin Khin Tun's younger sister, who also worked for her. The sisters were among tens of thousands of youngsters who support their families through domestic work for the growing urban elite in Myanmar's booming cities. But invisible and without any legal protection, they are vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. On Thursday a judge in Mawlamyine township, a few hours south of Yangon, jailed Aye Aye Soe for seven years on charges including grievous bodily harm, the victim's lawyer told AFP. "The judgment was suitable and fair under the powers of the court," lawyer Yin Min San said, explaining tougher child abuse and trafficking charges were not brought limiting the judge's sentencing powers. In February this year AFP reporters visited Khin Khin Tun who showed the extensive burns to her body, explaining she was abused over three years as a virtual slave for Aye Aye Soe. The sisters were frequently accused of stealing, beaten with burning wood and forced to hit each other until they bled. The sentence was met with anger from the local activist who uncovered the abuse. "The victims are still afraid," Thi Thi Nwe from the Myitta Sone Zee rights group in Mawlamyine told AFP. "Our concern is that the defendant will be free within the next six years and she could make trouble for the the victims again... the defendant is powerful here." The issue of abuse of child servants came to light last year when two teenage domestic helpers were freed from a tailor shop in Yangon, where they said they spent five years being beaten, stabbed and deprived of sleep and food. Critics say Myanmar's legal system is slow and easily bent by powerful interests and cash -- leaving poor children unable to access justice. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, attends independence day celebrations on December 31, 2016 Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court, will not join an Islamic summit in Saudi Arabia with US President Donald Trump, his office said Friday. "President Omar al-Bashir has apologised to King Salman of Saudi Arabia for being unable to attend the Riyadh summit," a statement from his office carried by the official SUNA news agency said. It said he had been unable to accept the king's invitation for "personal reasons." Bashir has evaded arrest since his indictment by the ICC for alleged genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the 14-year-old conflict in Darfur that has killed tens of thousands of people. His planned attendance at Sunday's summit of Arab and Muslim leaders in Riyadh had drawn strong criticism from Washington. 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 on Tuesday. 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. But the US embassy in Khartoum said on Wednesday that it opposed "invitations, facilitation or support for travel by any person subject to outstanding International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants, including President Bashir". South Africa, which is a signatory to the Rome Statute, is currently facing proceedings before the ICC for failing to arrest Bashir during a 2015 visit. Last year, the ICC referred Chad, Djibouti and Uganda to the UN for also failing to arrest Bashir. So far no action has been taken against them. The Sudanese leader was also a guest at a March Arab League summit hosted by Rome Statute signatory Jordan. France's President Emmanuel Macron is visiting French troops in Mali on his first official trip outside Europe since taking power at the weekend New French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday urged faster progress in a Mali peace accord signed in 2015 on his first official visit outside Europe, while reaffirming strong military cooperation with the United States in Africa. At the end of his first week in office, Macron left Gao, a city in Mali's deeply-troubled north, after lunching with French troops and sitting for talks with Malian counterpart Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. Macron was keen to display his defence and security credentials after promising to meet with some of the 1,700 French soldiers stationed in Gao at France's largest foreign base, part of the larger "Barkhane" counter-terror force operating across the Sahel region. The operation comprises around 4,000 soldiers who are deployed in five countries -- Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Chad and Burkina Faso -- all of which are menaced by the jihadist threat across porous borders. Reaffirming a commitment for France's troops to remain "until the day there is no more Islamic terrorism in the region and the full sovereignty of the Sahel is restored, not before", Macron also had warm words for American military cooperation in Africa. He described an "exemplary" relationship with the United States on counter-terror efforts, adding that he "did not doubt" such cooperation with the Trump administration would be maintained. The United States has carried out military training in Chad and Mauritania and has increased its special operations presence on the continent. Macron also made clear his desire for greater action by the Malian government in implementing its 2015 peace deal, which has repeatedly faltered in the face of inaction and ongoing rivalries between the patchwork of armed groups operating in the north who signed the accord. "My wish is for us to accelerate" the deal's implementation, Macron said at a news conference, describing the so-called Algiers Accord as the top priority to ensure Mali's security. - 'Antidote' to jihad - Macron is keen to promote economic development rather than military might, with hopes that improving young Malians' lives will dim the allure of joining jihadist groups. Investing in infrastructure, education and health, Macron said, all of which have suffered badly from the Malian state's near absence in large swathes of its northern territory, was the "best antidote" to jihad. Operation Barkhane is a French counter-terror operation involving some 4,000 soldiers which has been working since 2014 to flush out jihadist groups operating in Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Chad and Burkina Faso To that end, France promised "constant" military, diplomatic and political support with the help of the French Development Agency (AFD), he said. Macron's predecessor Francois Hollande said in January that France would boost the AFD's budget for Africa by 15 percent over the coming years to 23 billion euros ($25.7 billion). Macron is travelling with Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, who as the former defence minister knows Gao well, and his replacement in that job, Sylvie Goulard, as well as AFD chief Remy Rioux. The French president said he would also attend a meeting of the G5 Sahel countries, the same nations where the Barkhane force has a presence, in the coming weeks. - New approach? - Nineteen French soldiers have died serving in Mali since 2013 when Hollande launched an intervention to chase out jihadists linked to Al-Qaeda who had overtaken key northern cities, according to the latest defence ministry figures. Jihadists continue to roam the country's north and centre, mounting attacks on civilians and the army, as well as French and UN forces still stationed there. Macron emphasised the need for closer European cooperation in the fight against jihadists, especially with fellow EU heavyweight Germany. French President Emmanuel Macron flew into Gao, a city in deeply-troubled northern Mali, where 1,700 French troops are based "My desire in the framework of our military involvement in Africa is to do even more with Europe, more with Germany, but in a pragmatic manner," Macron told journalists. Germany currently contributes 550 troops to the multi-national UN force in Mali, called MINUSMA, forming the largest European contingent. The new president discussed the issue with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Monday during his first visit to a foreign leader since taking power. Stationed in Mali since July 2013, MINUSMA has just over 12,000 military and police personnel working on what is considered the UN's most dangerous active peacekeeping deployment. During his campaign, Macron spoke of his desire to re-calibrate France's role on the African continent. He was criticised at home for describing France's colonial war in Algeria as a "crime against humanity" and "genuinely barbaric". The comments were well-received in Algeria and other former colonies but condemned by Macron's far-right rival in the presidential vote, Marine Le Pen. leb-ach-sst-jom/har Emperor Akihito, second right, with Empress Michiko, right, is prearing to stand down in favour of Crown Prince Naruhito, second right, seen with his wife Crown Princess Masako Japan is setting the stage for its first imperial abdication in two centuries after the government on Friday approved a bill that will eventually allow 83-year-old Emperor Akihito to step down. Here are five things to know about Japan's royals: Ancient history The Japanese imperial family is believed to be the world's oldest, with a myth-filled history that dates back more than 2,600 years. Akihito is the 125th emperor since Emperor Jimmu, said to be a descendant of the legendary sun goddess Amaterasu. Emperors have played a crucial role in the country's native Shinto religion, conducting various annual rites and prayers for the prosperity of the nation. Constitutional symbol The greatest threat to the imperial family's long history came with Japan's defeat in World War II. Some in the Allied camp wanted to end the monarchy in whose name Japanese armies marched through the Asia-Pacific. But US General Douglas MacArthur, who led the post-war occupation, called for it to be retained, though its power was greatly curbed. The current US-imposed constitution took away the emperor's semidivine status and turned him into a national "symbol" as part of a radical democratisation. Popularity Unlike in some countries with royal families, there is no republican movement in Japan and the emperor and royal family have won the admiration of the vast majority of the country. Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko journey to sites of natural disasters to console victims, most notably after the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster. Akihito also repeatedly warned that Japan must not downplay its 20th-century militarism and actions in World War II -- remarks seen as a rebuke to the nationalist stance of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and likeminded conservatives. Gentlemen's club The family operates under hereditary, male-only succession rules, although there have been eight empresses in past centuries. Upon the abdication of Akihito, his oldest son Crown Prince Naruhito will assume the Chrysanthemum Throne. Naruhito's younger brother, Prince Akishino, is next in line. The only other male heir, 10-year-old Prince Hisahito, Akishino's son, is third in line to the throne. The future If Hisahito only has daughters, the family is likely to face a succession crisis unless laws are changed. The scarcity of young men in the family has prompted talk of alternatives, including letting women ascend the throne, though traditionalists abhor the idea. Some have suggested that female members of the family who marry commoners should stop losing their royal status -- as will happen to Akihito's granddaughter Princess Mako when she weds her college sweetheart. Others advocate expanding the family to include distant relatives. Sri Lankan rescue personnel on the site of a building collapse in Colombo on May 19, 2017 Sri Lanka said Friday it will demolish an estimated 10,000 illegally built homes and offices in Colombo, a day after a seven-storey wedding hall collapsed, killing one and wounding 23. Urban Development Minister Champika Ranawaka said the casualties could have been much higher if the hall had been hosting a wedding at the time of its collapse, and that the owners would face criminal charges. "This wedding hall is a clear example of the dangers posed by unauthorised construction in Colombo," the minister told reporters in Colombo. "A structural failure led to the collapse." The capital has a population of over 750,000 people, while another half a million travel to it daily for work. "Our estimate is that there are at least 10,000 illegally built homes, apartments and offices in the city of Colombo," the minister said. "We will take immediate steps to remove them." Construction accidents are rare in Sri Lanka, but concerns have been raised about building standards during a construction boom in the aftermath of the island's 37-year-long civil war that ended in 2009. News / National by Staff reporter The Zanu-PF Politburo meeting which was scheduled for tomorrow at the party's headquarters has been postponed.The meeting was expected to seal the fate of the party's national commissar Saviour Kasukuwere.The revolutionary party's secretary for administration Ignatius Chombo confirmed the development today."The meeting has been postponed and all Politburo members are being advised of the development," he said, without stating reasons."We will let you know of the new date but for now there is nothing."Indications are that President Mugabe, who is the Zanu-PF First Secretary, has a busy schedule this week which includes hosting King Letsie 111 of Lesotho.The Lesotho leader arrived in the country for a four day State visit which ends Thursday. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said China's leaders threatened to go to war when he told them Manila planned to drill for oil in the disputed South China Sea Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Friday China's leaders told him they were prepared to go to war over competing claims in the South China Sea. Duterte, who met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing this week, said he was making the threat public in response to domestic criticism he was being too weak with China over the dispute. "I really said it to their face. That is ours and we intend to drill oil there," Duterte said, revealing his previously unreported plans to explore for natural resources in disputed areas. "And they told me: 'Well, we're friends. We do not want to quarrel with you. We want to maintain the present warm relationship. But if you force the issue we'll go to war.'" The competing claims to the sea, which is believed to sit atop vast oil and gas deposits, have for decades made it one of Asia's potential military flashpoints. China claims most of the sea, a key waterway for global shipping, and has reclaimed disputed reefs and installed military facilities on them. Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Taiwan also have overlapping claims. An international tribunal ruled in July last year that China's claims to most of the sea were without legal basis, in a case filed by the Philippines under Duterte's predecessor, Benigno Aquino. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (L) shakes hands with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte before a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing But China vowed to ignore the ruling and warned the Philippines against trying to use the verdict as leverage. Duterte, who began his six-year term in June last year, agreed to take a soft stance with China, claiming that if he did it might lead to war. Duterte has also sought closer ties with China to win billions of dollars of Chinese investments and loans, while loosening the Philippines' long-standing alliance with the United States. That change of tack earned Duterte a state visit to China in October last year, when he met with Xi. Duterte returned to China this week to take part in a summit on a Chinese plan to expand its trade and infrastructure links around the world. On his return to Manila on Tuesday Duterte said he was open to exploring the sea's natural resources with China and Vietnam, but did not mention the other claimants. Duterte also reiterated on Tuesday he had no immediate plans to pressure Beijing over the arbitral tribunal's ruling. A member of the self-proclaimed Libyan National Army (LNA) fires a machine gun in the eastern coastal city of Benghazi, on March 26, 2017 The United Nations envoy to Libya on Friday condemned a deadly attack by forces loyal to the unity government on a military base controlled by forces backing a rival administration. Members of the Third Force militia loyal to the UN-backed Government of National Accord in Tripoli attacked an airbase used by military strongman Khalifa Haftar's self-proclaimed Libyan National Army, military sources said. There was no independent word on casualties in the assault on the Brak al-Shati base, but Libyan media reported at least 60 dead. "I am outraged by reports of significant numbers of fatalities, including civilians and by reports that summary executions may have taken place," UN envoy Martin Kobler said in a statement. The unity government, the rival administration in eastern Libya and their respective backers are battling for influence in the North African country which has been wracked by chaos since the fall of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011. The LNA does not recognise the authority of the GNA and instead supports the rival authorities based in the east. Britain's ambassador to Libya, Peter Millett, also denounced the airbase assault. "Disgusted by attack on Brak al-Shati & reports of mass executions. Perpetrators must be brought to justice," he wrote on Twitter. The incident at the Brak base in Wadi al-Shati district comes a month after an attack by the LNA on the Tamenhant airbase controlled by the Third Force near the region's main city of Sebha further south. That attack was abandoned after a reconciliation meeting between Haftar and unity government head Fayez al-Sarraj in Abu Dhabi on May 2. The speaker of the eastern-based parliament, which is supported by the LNA, accused the Misrata-based Third Force of a "serious breach of the truce agreement reached in Abu Dhabi". Aguila Saleh said there were a "number of martyrs" in LNA ranks, without giving a figure. The first jail break involved Makala prison in central Kinshasa which was built when the country was under Belgian rule (1908-1960) Dozens of prisoners escaped from a jail in Democratic Republic of Congo early Friday, less than 48 hours after rebels attacked Kinshasa's main prison, freeing their leader and 50 others. "Among the 74 prisoners housed in the dilapidated prison in Kasangulu, 68 escaped," local lawmaker Jean-Claude Vuemba told AFP, saying the breakout occurred at around 1:00 am. The town lies about 40 kilometres (25 miles) southwest of the capital Kinshasa in the Kongo Central province. Ten of the escaped prisoners were quickly "recaptured," said Vuemba who criticised the inmates' living conditions as deplorable. A local human rights activist who visited the prison on Friday said she had seen only four people there, two of them women. It was not immediately clear how the prisoners escaped, with police saying investigators had been dispatched from Kinshasa. The incident occurred just two days after rebels from an outlawed political-religious group attacked Kinshasa's central prison. The pre-dawn attack was carried out by followers of Bundu Dia Kongo (BDK), a secessionist rebel group that rejects Kinshasa's authority and wants to set up a parallel state in the west of the country. Government sources said at least eight people died during exchanges of gunfire in the assault to free Ne Muanda Nsemi, an MP who is the spiritual leader of the BDK -- a group based in Kongo Central. Nsemi was arrested in early March following a violent two-week siege of his home. The government has blamed his followers for a string of violent attacks since the start of the year. By Wednesday evening, more than 4,000 of the 8,000 prisoners held in Makala prison were still missing, while 86 escapees had been returned, prisoner sources said. There was no immediate suggestion the two jail breaks were related. Iranian presidential candidate Ebrahim Raisi gestures after casting his ballot for the presidential elections at a polling station in southern Tehran on May 19, 2017 Before voting had even concluded in Iran's presidential election on Friday, the head of the opposition campaign complained of multiple "infractions" and called for an intervention by authorities. The campaign chief for hardline cleric Ebrahim Raisi said there had been "propaganda actions by certain officials and supporters of the government" in favour of President Hassan Rouhani, who is seeking re-election. "Such infractions are immoral actions that violate people's rights," said Ali Nikzad. Iranian election rules state that no one can seek to influence voters once the campaign finishes 24 hours before the polls open. Another official in Raisi's campaign said there had been 219 infractions so far on Friday, and that not enough ballot papers had been distributed in areas thought to favour Raisi, including his home city of Mashhad. There was no immediate comment from Rouhani's team. The conservative-dominated Guardian Council must validate the results of election. Meanwhile, officials announced they would keep polling stations open for an extra two hours on Friday evening after many people queued for hours to cast their ballots in the presidential and council elections. Rouhani, a moderate cleric who has sought to rebuild relations with the world, has been leading in unofficial polls but faces a tough battle for re-election against Raisi, who has called for a tougher approach to the West and more support for the poor. Chief executive Leung Chun-ying in 2014 denied allegations made by an Australian newspaper that he had failed to declare HK$50 million ($6.5 million), which he received from Australian engineering company UGL while in office Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmakers announced Friday they will pursue a bid to impeach the citys outgoing leader after he intervened in a probe into his own acceptance of large undeclared payments from an Australian company. Chief executive Leung Chun-ying in 2014 denied allegations made by an Australian newspaper that he had failed to declare HK$50 million ($6.5 million), which he received from Australian engineering company UGL while in office. The payments relate to a deal struck in December 2011 -- months before Leung took office, but a week after he announced his candidacy -- during UGL's purchase of insolvent property services firm DTZ, for which Leung was director and chairman of its regional operations. Pro-democracy lawmakers on Friday decided to pursue impeachment after it was found on Monday that a document submitted to a legislative committee looking into the issue contained changes that were traced back to the chief executive. "We want the legislative council archives to record that as chief executive, Leung has done something as improper as this, and to defend the legislative council, which should not face interference from the chief executive," pro-democracy lawmaker Dennis Kwok told reporters Friday. "Theres still slightly over a month to go for Leungs term, but we feel this matter is very serious, so after some deliberation we decided we should still go ahead with the impeachment," lawmaker James To said, adding the impeachment motion is expected to be finalised on Monday. Leung is set to be replaced by his deputy Carrie Lam on July 1. The outgoing leader on Tuesday had admitted he made the changes but denied any wrongdoing, adding that he made suggestions to the "scope" of the investigation. The citys graft-buster, the Independent Commission Against Corruption, has also been investigating the case for more than two years, but has not arrived at any conclusion. In February, Hong Kongs former leader Donald Tsang was found guilty of misconduct during his time at the helm in a high-profile corruption trial that rocked the city. He was given a 20-month jail sentence but was granted bail in April. In 2014, Tsang's deputy Rafael Hui was jailed for seven-and-a-half years after being found guilty of taking bribes from Hong Kong property tycoon Thomas Kwok. Hashem Safieddine (L), a senior member of the Hezbollah Executive Council, pays his condolences to Ali Badreddine, the son of Hezbollah commander Mustafa Badreddine who was killed in an attack in Syria in May As US President Donald Trump prepared to head to Saudi Arabia on Friday, Washington and Riyadh issued their first "joint terrorist designation" -- blacklisting a Hezbollah leader. Hashem Safieddine is head of the executive council of Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Lebanese armed movement which Washington has branded a "foreign terrorist organization." "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia joined the United States in designating Hashem Safieddine," the State Department said in a statement. "As a result, any of his assets held in Saudi Arabia are frozen, and transfers through the Kingdom's financial sector, are prohibited." Separately, the department's Bureau of Counterterrorism tweeted that this marked the "first-ever" State Department and foreign nation "joint terrorist designation", underlining the close cooperation between US and Saudi officials. "The action against Safieddine is the latest example of the strong partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia in combatting the financing of terrorism," the State Department said. - Extremist threat - The official Saudi news agency SPA confirmed Safieddine's listing, and alleged he had given his organization advice on carrying out terrorist acts and on supplying support to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime. Trump has chosen the kingdom as the venue of his first foreign presidential visit, and this weekend he will meet King Salman and address an audience of up to 50 leaders from across the Muslim world on the threat of extremism. Safieddine, a Lebanese citizen who is in his 50s, is the head of Hezbollah's executive council, which runs the group's political affairs and social and economic programs in Lebanon's Shiite community. He is a cousin of Hezbollah's overall leader Hassan Nasrallah, and is spoken of a potential candidate to succeed him and take charge of perhaps the most powerful non-state movement in an unstable region. The US designation order did not link him to any recent Hezbollah attacks, but noted the group's historical involvement in the 1983 bombing of a US Marines barracks in Beirut, a US embassy bombing in 1984 and a passenger jet hijacking in 1985. In the same statement, the State Department also added Muhammad al-Isawi -- whom it said had taken over the leadership of the Islamic State group franchise in Egypt's Sinai peninsula in August 2016 -- to the sanctions list. As "specially designated global terrorists," Safieddine and al-Isawi will see any assets they hold in areas under US jurisdiction frozen, and US citizens will be forbidden from any dealings with them. Separately but simultaneously, the US Treasury added two Yemeni tribal leaders, Hashim Muhsin Aydarus al-Hamid and Khalid Ali Mabkhut al-Aradah, to its own sanctions list, branding them leaders of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. "If you don't believe that this government has the majority required to vote through its programme, call parliament to sit," President Jose Mario Vaz said in a statement aimed at the opposition during a gathering in Bissau Guinea Bissau's President Jose Mario Vaz dared his adversaries to open parliament on Friday, threatening the administration of his own party after its failure to sit for more than a year. The tiny west African state has been in the grip of a power struggle since August 2015, when Vaz sacked then premier Domingos Simoes Pereira, leader of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC). A new prime minister, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, was sworn in last December but the PAIGC rejected him, accusing Vaz of breaching an agreement calling for a consensual choice. "If you don't believe that this government has the majority required to vote through its programme, call parliament to sit," President Vaz said in a statement during a gathering in Bissau. The PAIGC no longer claims an absolute majority due to 15 rebel lawmakers among the 57 seats it has in the 102-seat assembly. The rebels support the president, while the majority of the party rejected his choice. An alternative majority could be drawn from the 41 MPs of the Social Renewal Party (PRS) along with these 15 rebels. The UN Security Council on May 11 urged Vaz to appoint a prime minister who enjoys broad political support. Council members said the crisis was "as a result of the inability of political stakeholders to reach a lasting and consensual solution, leading to the current gridlock". A car plunged into pedestrians in Times Square in New York on May 18, 2017 The US Navy veteran charged with murder after plowing a car into pedestrians in Times Square suffers from mental health problems and intentionally lashed out, New York's mayor said Friday. Thursday's incident sparked fear in the US financial capital after deadly car-rammings in London, Berlin and the French city of Nice, but authorities said there was no evidence the crash was terror-related. An 18-year-old woman from Michigan was killed and 22 other people injured, including the woman's 13-year-old sister. The sister remains in a critical condition and a Canadian citizen was seriously injured, officials said. Richard Rojas, 26, a former Navy electrician from the Bronx, was arrested at the scene and charged with one count of murder in the death of an 18-year-old tourist and with 20 counts of attempted murder. "What we know right now continues to confirm it was not an act of terror," Mayor Bill de Blasio told WNYC public radio on Friday. Rojas "had demonstrated mental health issues going back to childhood," he added. "He was troubled and lashing out," the mayor said. "At the root of this, from what we know so far, is an untreated mental health issue going back probably decades." Toxicology tests are yet to determine whether drugs in his system played a role in his behavior. "We don't know the full analysis and whether the type of drugs in his system exacerbated his feelings in a negative way," the mayor told WNYC. De Blasio, a progressive Democrat seeking re-election this year, said authorities would assess whether they needed to step up security to stop similar incidents from happening in the future. Police patrols in Times Square, one of the world's busiest districts, were already beefed up in recent years, following a 2010 car bombing attempt. Police also bolstered security for public gatherings in the wake of attacks in Europe. "We don't allow vehicles to cross the path of... parades anymore, and we put barrier trucks, sand trucks, in the way," de Blasio said. Shortly before noon on Thursday, Rojas's Honda Accord mounted the sidewalk at high speed, bowling over pedestrians and sending others fleeing in fright for three blocks in Times Square -- one of the world's busiest districts -- police said. Rojas was arrested for drunk driving in 2008 and 2015, and detained earlier this month on charges of menacing behavior, police said. News reports also drew a portrait of a troubled young man who seemed changed when he returned home in 2014 from a three-year stint in the US Navy. During his arrest, Rojas allegedly told police: "You were supposed to shoot me! I wanted to kill them," New York newspapers reported. He also said that he "hears voices." Protective bollards -- short, sturdy posts to prevent vehicles from driving onto sidewalks -- were installed in Times Square last year, just in time for the New Year's Eve celebration that regularly brings a million or more people to the area. Ridesharing service Uber , whose San Francisco headquarters is seen here, has announced an expansion into trucking with cargo deliveries via smartphone app Uber is expanding into a new field with a version of its on-demand ride application that lets truckers book cargo hauls with simple taps on smartphones. Uber Freight rolling out in the US was touted by the company as an app that matches truckers or trucking companies with loads, and streamlines payments. "We take the guesswork out of finding and booking freight, which is often the most stressful part of a driver's day," Uber said in a blog post available online Friday. "What used to take several hours and multiple phone calls can now be achieved with the touch of a button." Truckers signing onto the service are vetted, according to Uber, which did not provide details regarding checks done on those involved. San Francisco-based Uber made no mention of its efforts in self-driving vehicles, particularly trucks for cargo or deliveries. Uber acquired commercial transport-focused tech startup Otto late last year as the company pressed ahead with its pursuit of self-driving technology. Google parent Alphabet in February filed a lawsuit accusing Uber and its self-driving vehicle unit Otto of stealing technology from Waymo, the former Google car division. The suit contends that Waymo manager Anthony Levandowski took technical data with him when he left to launch a competing venture that went on to become Otto. Levandowski, a co-founder of 90-person startup Otto, was put in charge of Uber's efforts to develop self-driving technology for personal driving, delivery and trucking. The case is making its way through the court, but a partial injunction issued by a US district court judge ordered Uber to do everything in its power to prevent information taken from Waymo from being used at the on-demand ride company and to return all copies to Waymo, or the court, by the end of this month. North Korea's deputy UN ambassador Kim In Ryong denies his government is behind cyberattacks while wearing a pin with images of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un and his late father Kim Kim Jong-il, at the UN headquarters in New York on May 19, 2017. North Korea on Friday angrily dismissed reports linking its isolated regime to the global cyberattack that held thousands of computers to virtual ransom. Up to 300,000 computers in 150 countries were hit by the WannaCry worm, which seizes systems and demands payment in Bitcoin to return control to users. The code used in the latest attack is similar to that used in past hacks blamed on Kim Jong-Un's regime, leading some to point the finger at Pyongyang. But the North has now denied the claims, notably but not exclusively advanced by South Korean experts, and hit back Friday to accuse its opponents of spreading propaganda. "It is ridiculous," Kim In-Ryong, North Korea's deputy ambassador to the United Nations, told reporters, suggesting Washington and Seoul were behind the allegation. "Whenever something strange happens, it is the stereotyped way of the United States and the hostile forces to kick off a noisy anti-DPRK campaign." Seoul internet security firm Hauri, known for its vast troves of data on Pyongyang's hacking activities, has been warning of ransomware attacks since last year. The firm's Simon Choi told AFP that the WannaCry malware shares code with tools used to target Sony Pictures and Bangladesh, in previous attacks blamed on the North. Researchers in the US, Russia and Israel have also pointed to a potential North Korean link -- but it is notoriously hard to attribute cyberattacks. Google researcher Neel Mehta has shown similarities between WannaCry and code used by the Lazarus hacking group, widely believed to be connected to Pyongyang. News / National by Itai Mushekwe COLOGNE - Vice President, Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, is set to be in office as the second republic President of Zimbabwe, officially until 21 August 2018, should he takeover from President Robert Mugabe, between now and before then, a parliamentary and legal watchdog has hinted.Spotlight Zimbabwe, was among the first online publications since last year, to report at length about Mnangagwa's pending shock presidency, which ruling Zanu PF top officials say is going to happen within the next 15 months, before the make or break July 2018 presidential and parliamentary polls.According to the watchdog Veritas "Bill Watch" update, Zanu PF will be in power until 21 August next year even if Mugabe steps down from office. The development simply means that Mnangagwa, who is all but now certain to succeed Mugabe based on our intelligence gathering and briefings from government insiders, is poised to enjoy a brief stint as president, the shortest tenure in the country's history, as Mugabe is unlikely to finish off his full five year term, owing to a plethora of ills, ranging from health challenges to his old age.Veritas provides information on the work of the Parliament of Zimbabwe and the Laws of Zimbabwe and makes public domain information widely available.Mugabe was sworn into power on 22 August 2013, therefore his five-year term expires at midnight on 21 August 2018, Veritas argues."The five-year term would not be prematurely terminated if President Mugabe were to cease to be President before the end of the term," Veritas says. "In that event, there are two stages provided for by the Constitution:"1. Acting President - the Vice-President who last acted as President takes over until his party [ZANU-PF] notifies the Speaker of Parliament who it has nominated as a successor [notification must be within 90 days]"2. Substantive President - the nominee notified to the Speaker by ZANU-PF must assume office as President by taking the Presidential oath of office within the next 48 hours before the Chief Justice. The new President then holds office until the swearing-in of the person elected at the next general election in July or August 2018."The watchdog said the earliest date for polling is 23 July 2018 while the last date is 21 August."Based on the earliest polling date of 23rd July 2018 the Proclamation must be gazetted in the period 30th April to 9th June 2018. Based on the latest polling date of 21st August 2018, the Proclamation must be gazetted in the period 30th May to 9th July 2018. So the earliest possible proclamation date is Monday 30th April 2018 for polling on Monday 23rd July. And the latest possible proclamation date is Monday 9th July 2018 for polling on Wednesday 21st August."The disclosures are coming hard on the heels of former finance minister, and now People's Democratic Party (PDP) leader, Tendai Biti, making an observation this week that Mnangagwa is a stone's throw away from succeeding Mugabe. Biti wrote to an online magazine called The Gravitas, that the former State Intelligence chef at Independence in 1980, is in a good position of taking over from Mugabe after successfully projecting himself as a tough and capable politician."The one-self evident conclusion is that in the short-term, Zanu PF cannot be dislodged. That its control of the patronage economy and the new social base is absolute," Biti wrote. "That despite its fractures, the opposition, even in a grand coalition, cannot dislodge Zanu PF. That a post-Mugabe candidate must be found who is, first of all, strong but with an acceptable veneer of reform capacity. Inevitably, this self-serving proselytising leads to destination (Emmerson) Mnangagwa," Biti was quoted as saying in his contribution by a local daily.Biti however urged the opposition to be in synergy to stop Mnangagwa from becoming the country's next president.This publication has exclusively revealed that Mnangagwa's anticipated presidency is now unstoppable, as he has reportedly secured support from China, Britain, and Iran among other world players, and that Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Commander, General Constantino Guveya Chiwenga, is set to become his vice president pick.Chiwenga will thus become the first highest ranking military chief in the country's history, to assume the second most powerful office in the land, after his predecessor, the late General Vitalis Zvinavashe, came within a whisker of taking up the same office in 2004 following the death of VP Simon Muzenda, in a thrilling grand political plan that has been brewing since 2008, reportedly mooted and involving former Ethiopian leader, Mengistu Haile Mariam now exiled in Zimbabwe after receiving asylum in 1991, who is said to be the brainchild of the scheme, as a hired national security consultant of the military, our sources say.Spotlight Zimbabwe, reported on 18 November 2016, that although Mugabe's administration has put up a brave face to endorse him as the ruling party's candidate for 2018, with top officials falling over each other to shower him with praise and calls for a life presidency, indications are that the ailing Zanu PF strongman is not going to stand for re-election, and that a "shock announcement" in this regard will be made at the appropriate time.Mugabe has over the years endured a cocktail of health woes, including eye cataract problems, reported prostate cancer and paining swollen feet. A cataract is a clouding of the eye's natural lens, which lies behind the iris and the pupil. Cataracts are the most common cause of vision loss in people over age 40 and is the principal cause of blindness in the world.It also come to light last year, that Mugabe had drastically reduced his daily working routine to 30-minute afternoon sessions. The revelation was made by a Japanese columnist, Ken Yamamoto, who is believed to have access to state secrets around Mugabe and his regime."Except when he has pressing meetings, Mugabe now works 30 minutes a day, often coming to his office around 3pm and leaving half an hour or so afterwards to go home and sleep," Yamamoto has been quoted by the media as saying.We project that Mnangagwa is going to face-off with former prime minister, Morgan Tsvangirai ,as the two main political candidates in the July 2018 elections, where Mnangagwa is likely to lose and handover presidential office to Tsvangirai, who increasingly looks set to become the country's third republic leader, when Mnangagwa's last day in office, 21 August 2018 expires. US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis holds a press briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, May 19, 2017 A pro-regime convoy that was struck by US-led warplanes inside Syria this week likely was directed by Iran, Pentagon chief Jim Mattis said Friday. The strike on the convoy heading toward a coalition garrison near the Jordanian border was "necessitated by offensive movement with offensive capability of what we believe were Iranian-directed forces," Mattis said, adding he was not sure if there were Iranians on the ground. Thursday's strike occurred inside an established "deconfliction zone" northwest of the At-Tanf garrison, where British and US commandos have been training and advising local forces fighting the Islamic State group. Such zones are agreed upon between Russia and the coalition, and are designed to stop either side inadvertently striking the other's forces on the ground and in the air. The Pentagon says coalition attempts to stop the convoy from proceeding had included a call to the Russians -- who work with the Syrian regime -- then a "show of force" in the skies above the vehicles, followed by warning shots. It appeared the convoy had moved into the area against the advice of the Russians, Mattis said. "It looks like the Russians tried to dissuade them," he said. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, pictured on May 11, 2017, said he was "unaware" that Russia had been given any warning ahead of the US strike The Pentagon has stressed the attack did not signal broader US involvement in Syria's civil war, but Damascus on Friday condemned the strike on pro-government forces as a "brazen attack" and said it would "not be intimidated." Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called the strike a violation of Syrian sovereignty and said he was "unaware" that Russia had been given any warning ahead of the strike. An array of regular and irregular forces are battling alongside the government against rebels, including Russian and Iranian soldiers and militants from Iraq and Lebanon's Hezbollah group. Thursday's strike comes in the context of growing tension over which forces will take on IS in Syria's east. President Bashar al-Assad's army is trying to prevent US-backed forces from leading that fight. A US appeals court struck down a ruling Friday aimed at forcing recreational drone owners to register their tiny aircraft with the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA had ordered owners of small drones characterized as 'model aircraft' to register them, with the aim of curbing illegal flights near airports or interfering with civil aviation, but critics said the move went too far. The decision by the federal appeals court in Washington was a snub for the FAA, which drew up the rule in 2015 after consulting with aviation experts on ways to tackle the growing number of drones taking to the air, and which were seen as a potential threat to flight safety and personal privacy. A federal appeals court struck down a federal rule that required owners of drones to register the devices with the Federal Aviation Administration The ruling is a win for model aircraft enthusiasts who complained that the registration requirement was too burdensome The new rule stipulated that anyone owning a drone weighing more than half a pound (227 grams) would have to register their name and address with the FAA, as well as place an identification number on the vehicle's motor. But drone owner John Taylor launched a legal challenge, arguing that the new demands infringed on his right to fly his drone at his home in the US capital. He argued that the FAA did not have jurisdiction over the flights of model aircraft -- a line the three judges of appeals court accepted, ordering the rule to be overturned. Small remote-controlled drones can be as much a child's toy as a sophisticated machine capable of performing acrobatic flights or shooting aerial footage in the hands of enthusiasts. US law in theory prohibits drones from flying at more than 400 feet in the vicinity of airports or within restricted areas like the center of the capital city. But authorities find it difficult to enforce those rules in practice, and drone users frequently ignore them. In a statement the FAA said the registration rule had aimed 'to ensure that drones are operated in a way that is safe and does not pose security and privacy threats.' 'We are in the process of considering our options and response to the decision,' it said. People attend an event marking the first anniversary of the EgyptAir MS804 flight, that crashed in the Mediterranean Sea, in the capital Cairo on May 19, 2017 Egypt held a sombre ceremony on the first anniversary of the EgyptAir MS804 disaster in Cairo Friday, but no answers were forthcoming on why the flight crashed into the Mediterranean killing all passengers on board. During the ceremony at Cairo airport, relatives of the victims laid flowers at the foot of a memorial wall bearing the names of all 66 passengers and crew killed when the Airbus A320 flying from Paris to Cairo crashed. The ceremony came two weeks after a source close to the French investigation ruled out that explosives caused the crash, contradicting Egyptian investigators who had said explosive traces were found on the victims' bodies. After the ceremony on Friday, Egyptian Aviation Minister Sherif Fathy refused to comment on the result of the French investigation, saying he had no seen any "official statements" from them. Asked by AFP why Egypt had not announced the results of its investigation a year after the crash, Fathy said the prosecution had taken over the probe. "The investigation is still ongoing. There are no conclusions," he said. "We will present the conclusions we have at the appropriate time." In December, an official Egyptian investigative committee had said it found traces of explosives on victims' remains, but French officials at the time refused to draw conclusions on the cause of the accident. No group has come forward to claim responsibility for the crash, which killed 40 Egyptians, including the 10-member crew, 15 French citizens and victims from several other countries. French investigators had always favoured a mechanical fault as the crash cause, saying a fire broke out in or near the cockpit of the plane before it plunged 22,000 feet and swerved sharply prior to disappearing from radar screens. The French investigation source said earlier this month "the combustion or self-combustion of a tablet in the cockpit" was "the working hypothesis". But elements needed to prove it -- such as debris from "the cabin or flight recorders" -- were in Egypt and "the Egyptians have not shown a great willingness to collaborate", the source said. The White House was rocked by a further revelation Friday, when reports emerged that Trump said his sacking of FBI director James Comey has relieved "great pressure" on him caused by the Russia investigation The FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's ties with Russia has extended to a current senior White House official, the Washington Post reported Friday. The newspaper cited unnamed sources familiar with the probe as saying a current top White House official has been identified as a "significant person of interest," without disclosing the name of the person. The revelation undercuts President Donald Trump's insistence that his campaign had nothing to do with the Kremlin. The Russian government is accused by US intelligence of trying to tilt the 2016 election in Trump's favor. The president's son-in-law Jared Kushner is among those whose contacts with the Russian government have come under scrutiny. On Thursday, Trump declared himself the victim of the "greatest witch hunt" in American political history and denied allegations of collusion. "There is no collusion between certainly myself and my campaign, but I can always speak for myself, and the Russians -- zero," Trump told reporters. The White House on Friday predicted that the investigation would back up Trump's account. "As the president has stated before -- a thorough investigation will confirm that there was no collusion between the campaign and any foreign entity," said spokesman Sean Spicer. The White House was rocked by a further revelation Friday, when reports emerged that Trump said his sacking of FBI director James Comey has relieved "great pressure" on him caused by the Russia investigation. The New York Times reported that Trump told Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov last week that Comey was a "nut job." "I faced great pressure because of Russia. That's taken off," Trump told his guest in the Oval Office, the Times said, quoting notes taken at the meeting and read to the paper by a US official. That flies in the face of the White House's public insistence that Comey's dismissal was not linked to his ongoing investigation. Spicer offered a new explanation for that firing, saying that Trump had been trying to improve relations with Russia -- and Comey got in the way. "By grandstanding and politicizing the investigation into Russia's actions, James Comey created unnecessary pressure on our ability to engage and negotiate with Russia," he said. People greet buses carrying developers of the ground-to-ground medium-to-long range strategic ballistic rocket Hwasong-12 in Pyongyang on May 18, 2017 Pentagon chief Jim Mattis delivered a somber caution on North Korea on Friday, saying any military attempts to resolve the crisis would be "tragic on an unbelievable scale." Mattis was speaking to reporters at the Pentagon days after North Korea test-fired what analysts say was its longest-range rocket yet. Despite tough talk from top US officials in recent weeks and the deployment of an aircraft carrier strike group to the region, Mattis said the best option for North Korea is finding an international solution to effectively apply pressure on Pyongyang. "As you know, if this goes to a military solution, it is going to be tragic on an unbelievable scale, and so our effort is to work with the UN, work with China, work with Japan, work with South Korea to try to find a way out of this situation," he said. Pyongyang is accelerating efforts to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the continental United States. Though Mattis said Pyongyang isn't listening to cautions from the international community, he credited China's efforts to apply pressure as having some limited influence. "There appears to be some impact by the Chinese working here," he said. Mattis said the rocket tested Sunday had gone very high and North Korean scientists likely learned a lot from the test, but he would not say if it was clear the missile made a controlled re-entry from outside the atmosphere. Pentagon chief Jim Mattis, pictured on May 19, 2017, says the best option for North Korea is finding an international solution to effectively apply pressure on Pyongyang In Pyongyang on Friday, thousands of residents lined the streets to give the scientists and workers behind Sunday's missile test a hero's welcome, state media reported. Even without its missiles, North Korea has amassed artillery units along its border with South Korea and any military action from Pyongyang could be devastating. The capital, Seoul, is only about 35 miles (55 kilometers) away and some of the North's canons could rain shells onto the city of 10 million. Ahmed Mohamed, who was 14 at the time, became an internet sensation after being handcuffed and detained for hours for bringing his "invention" -- a circuit board wired to a digital display -- to school in the Texas city of Irving, near Dallas A court in Texas has dismissed a lawsuit by the family of a Muslim teen who was invited to the White House by Barack Obama after having constructed a clock that police mistook for a bomb. Ahmed Mohamed, who was 14 at the time, became an internet sensation after being handcuffed and detained for hours for bringing his "invention" -- a circuit board wired to a digital display -- to school in the Texas city of Irving, near Dallas. He was charged with making a "hoax bomb," though the charge was later dropped. Ahmed said he merely wanted to show his work to a new teacher to impress her. The Irving school system suspended Ahmed for three days even after determining that his clock was harmless. The lawsuit contended he was discriminated against because of his race or religion (his parents immigrated from Sudan). But in a decision Thursday, federal judge Sam Lindsay found that the plaintiffs had offered no facts "from which this court can reasonably infer that any (Irving school district) employee intentionally discriminated against A.M. based on his race or religion." An attorney representing the Mohameds said they planned to appeal the decision. The story of the inventive teen whose electronics hobby made him a terror suspect gained worldwide attention when it arose in September 2015. It was seen by some as evidence of widespread anti-Muslim sentiment among American police. But others flocked to support him. "Cool clock, Ahmed," then president Obama tweeted at the time. "Want to bring it to the White House? We should inspire more kids like you to like science." The young man's family accepted Obama's offer, and the following month Ahmed visited the presidential residence during a day devoted to the sciences. The young inventor -- quickly dubbed the "clock boy" on social media -- received an avalanche of supportive messages in America and abroad. Silicon Valley's leading institutions sent sympathetic messages; he received offers to intern at Twitter and to visit the offices of Google and Facebook. But his family announced not long afterward that they would be moving to Qatar. President Donald Trump has told the Pentagon to 'annihilate' the Islamic State group in Syria to prevent the escaped foreign fighters from returning home. Instead of targeting jihadists as they leave a city, Trump has instructed the Pentagon to have jihadists encircled and killed, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Friday. This campaign shows an increased urgency to stop battle-hardened jihadists from bringing their military expertise and ideology back to European capitals and other areas. Scroll sown for video Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine General Joe Dunford, left, and Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, right, spoke to reporters about President Donald Trump's campaign to defeat ISIS Friday The briefing happened just as President Trump was going on his first trip out of the country as president. He is pictured Saturday at a bilateral meeting with the Saudi Crown Prince in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud shake hands during a signing ceremony at the Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh The president has 'directed a tactical shift from shoving ISIS out of safe locations in an attrition fight to surrounding the enemy in their strongholds so we can annihilate ISIS,' Mattis said. 'The intent is to prevent the return home of escaped foreign fighters.' Though the campaign against ISIS fighters has been accelerated, Mattis said civilians in war zones were not put in greater risk, according to the New York Times. Marine General Joe Dunford, who chairs the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also said the US is working successfully with Russia to 'deconflict' military operations in Syria. Trump, who campaigned on a pledge to quickly defeat ISIS, signed an executive order soon after taking office giving his generals 30 days to come up with a revised plan to wipe the jihadists out. The review resulted in the new 'annihilation campaign' and saw commanders gain greater autonomy to make battlefield decisions. Critics of Barack Obama's administration frequently complained of White House micromanagement and a lengthy approval process causing delays on the ground. Mattis called foreign fighters a 'strategic threat' should they return home and said the annihilation effort would prevent the problem from being transplanted from one location to another. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis stands in front of a map of Syria and Iraq during a news conference at the Pentagon. He told reporters that President Donald Trump instructed the Pentagon to 'annihilate' the Islamic State group in Syria Dunford, right, Mattis, center, and Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIS Brett McGurk, left, are pictured Friday. Mattis told reporters that instead of targeting jihadists as they leave a city, Trump has instructed the Pentagon to have jihadists encircled and killed A member of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, made up of an alliance of Arab and Kurdish fighters, removes an Islamic State group flag in the town of Tabqa, April 30, 2017 The US-led coalition has been battling ISIS since late summer 2014, supporting local fighters on the ground with a combination of considerable air support, training and weaponry. Trump this month authorized the United States to arm the Kurdish faction of an alliance fighting IS in northern Syria, much to the consternation of Turkey, which views them as terrorists. Though the jihadists have lost 55 per cent of the territory they once held in Iraq and Syria and over four million people have been liberated, ISIS still controls the Syrian stronghold Raqqa, swaths of the Euphrates River valley and other areas including a small part of Mosul in Iraq. Syrian government forces gather in a street of Damascus' northeastern al-Qaboun suburb on May 16, 2017, after they retook the formerly rebel-held neighbourhood, during a tour which they provided A view shows damaged buildings in Qaboun neighbourhood of Damascus, in this handout picture provided by SANA on May 16, 2017, Syria Operations in Syria are further complicated by the country's tangled knot of groups fighting in the civil war. Russia joined that conflict in late 2015 to prop up President Bashar al-Assad, bringing a new dimension of complexity and risk. Russia and the US have been working together successfully, according to Dunford. The two sides established a hotline to inform each other of their forces' location to avoid any mishaps. Dunford hinted the US had a 'proposal' to further enhance deconfliction, but he didn't give any details. 'My sense is that the Russians are as enthusiastic as we are to deconflict operations and ensure that we can continue to take the campaign to ISIS and ensure the safety of our personnel,' he said. Separately, the Pentagon announced that Dunford has been nominated to serve a second two-year term in his job as the country's top military officer. Yemeni female fighters supporting the Shiite Huthi rebels, and carrying weapons used for ceremonial purposes, take part in an anti-Saudi rally in the capital Sanaa on January 17, 2017 Saudi Arabia said it shot down a ballistic missile, fired by Yemeni rebels, southwest of the capital Riyadh late Friday, ahead of US President Donald Trump's arrival in the Sunni-led kingdom. Air defence units "intercepted a ballistic missile that was launched by Huthi militias", and it fell over an unpopulated area 180 kilometres from Riyadh, the Saudi-led coalition said in a statement. Trump, whose country provides weapons, intelligence and aerial refuelling for the coalition, is due to arrive on Saturday for two days of summits with Saudi, Gulf and Muslim leaders. The missile would be the longest range attempted by the Huthi rebels and their allies, former members of Yemen's security forces linked to ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh, since they began retaliatory attacks against the kingdom two years ago. Occasional ballistic missile attacks, as well as more frequent short-range rocket fire over the southern border, have been conducted after coalition air strikes against the rebels in Yemen. The coalition intervened in Yemen more than two years ago to support President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi. Huthi-run Al-Masirah television said on its Twitter account that the rebels' "rocket forces launched a Volcano-2 (Borkan) ballistic missile on the capital of Saudi Arabia". This coincided with coalition air strikes against the rebel-held capital Sanaa, other tweets from Al-Masirah said. Riyadh and Washington accuse Iran of supplying weapons to the Huthis but a United Nations Panel of Experts in January reported that it "has not seen sufficient evidence to confirm any direct large-scale supply of arms" from Iran, Riyadh's regional rival. Huthis claim to have locally-developed the Borkan missile, but the UN panel said the rebels have "initiated a propaganda campaign claiming the use of locally manufactured, as opposed to improvised, missiles." It said they have, however, fired Scud-variant short-range ballistic missiles and free-flight rockets. Saudi Arabia has deployed Patriot missiles to counter such attacks. In October the rebels launched one of their longest-range strikes against Saudi Arabia, firing a ballistic missile that was brought down near the holy Muslim city of Mecca, an attack condemned by Riyadh's Gulf allies. The rebels insisted that the missile had been fired at Jeddah, the Red Sea city in the sprawling Mecca region, not at the holy city itself. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - Puerto Rico nationalist Oscar Lopez Rivera emerged from house arrest Wednesday and was celebrated by supporters after decades in custody, freed in a case that made him a martyr for some but angered those who lost loved ones in a string of bombings. Wearing black jeans and a shirt decorated with a Puerto Rican flag pin, the 74-year-old left his daughter's San Juan home escorted by the mayor of Puerto Rico's capital and New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. A celebration for Lopez in a plaza near the University of Puerto Rico drew at least 1,000 people by late afternoon, some embracing and wearing T-shirts reading: "Welcome to your homeland!" Arrival of Puerto Rican nationalist Oscar Lopez Rivera arrives for a press conference, surrounded by supporters, on El Escambron Beach following his release from house arrest after decades in custody, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, May 17, 2017. 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. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti) PUERTO RICO OUT - NO PUBLICAR EN PUERTO RICO 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 dozens. 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. In an interview with The Associated Press, Lopez said he had no regrets about his involvement with the FALN. But he stressed that "the issue of violence is discarded completely" by Puerto Rican "independentistas" and he described their struggle as a peaceful one for many years. "Whatever we did, whatever was done, whatever the struggle called for in the 1970s is not there today. We have evolved, the conditions in Puerto Rico have changed," he told AP. While some Puerto Ricans support Lopez as a sort of patriot and political prisoner, those seeking independence remain a small group. The option garnered less than 6 percent of the vote in four referendums that Puerto Rico has held on its political status. Lopez vowed to soon undertake a pilgrimage across the island mired in a decade-long recession to "share ideas and promote unity." In a written statement, he also blasted "colonialists," who he described as local elites who "helped Washington and Wall Street" run the island for over a century. "What quality of life do the colonialists offer the people? All they know how to do is squeeze the last dollar from the pockets of every Boricua who works and sweats for our country," he said, using the term Puerto Ricans call themselves. Puerto Rico has been under U.S. jurisdiction since 1898, and its people have been U.S. citizens since 1917. The island is home to numerous military veterans, though Puerto Ricans can't vote for president and their representative in Congress has no vote. They pay Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes but not federal income tax. A campaign to free Lopez over the years drew support from Pope Francis, former President Jimmy Carter and Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of the American musical "Hamilton." "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 feted in Chicago later this week. Supporters also plan to honor 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 U.S. 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 U.S. 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 stayed with his daughter at her apartment in San Juan's Santurce district. 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. The June parade in New York comes on the same day as the latest referendum on Puerto Rico's status, which is to include three options: statehood, territoriality or independence. Lopez told AP he believed his compatriots would not opt for statehood and the referendum would be "another exercise in futility." He also said in a statement: "I want to make it very clear that independentistas do not hate Americans as our people are constantly being told." The island's previous referendums resulted in no action from U.S. Congress, which has final say on any changes in the island's political status. In the last one, in 2012, 54 percent said they wanted a change in status. Sixty-one percent who answered a second question said they favored statehood, but nearly 500,000 left that question blank, leading many to question the results. ___ Associated Press writer Carlos Rivera Giusti reported this story in San Juan and AP writer David McFadden reported from Port-au-Prince, Haiti. AP writer Colleen Long in New York contributed to this report. Former prisoner Luis Rosa, back to camera, welcomes Puerto Rican nationalist Oscar Lopez Rivera upon arrival for a press conference on El Escambron Beach following Lopez's release from house arrest after decades in custody, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, May 17, 2017. 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. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti) PUERTO RICO OUT - NO PUBLICAR EN PUERTO RICO CORRECTS ORDER OF NAMES - Former prisoners, from left, Luis Rosa, Carmen Valentin, Oscar Lopez Rivera, Adolfo Matos and Luis Alberto Torres, walk with Puerto Rican nationalist Lopez to a press conference following his release from house arrest after decades in custody, on El Escambron Beach in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, May 17, 2017. 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. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti) PUERTO RICO OUT - NO PUBLICAR EN PUERTO RICO Puerto Rican nationalist Oscar Lopez Rivera greets well wishers as he is released from home confinement after 36 years in federal custody, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, May 17, 2017. Lopez was considered a top leader of Puerto Rican militant group that said it was responsible for more than 100 bombings in several U.S. cities and Puerto Rico during the 1970s and early 1980s. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti) From the left, Carmen Yulin Cruz Soto, mayor of San Juan, and Melissa Mark-Viverito, speaker of the New York City Council, celebrate while Puerto Rican nationalist Oscar Lopez Rivera is released from home confinement after 36 years in federal custody, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, May 17, 2017. Lopez was considered a top leader of Puerto Rican militant group that said it was responsible for more than 100 bombings in several U.S. cities and Puerto Rico during the 1970s and early 1980s. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti) Puerto Rican nationalist Oscar Lopez Rivera is released from home confinement after 36 years in federal custody, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, May 17, 2017. Lopez was considered a top leader of Puerto Rican militant group that said it was responsible for more than 100 bombings in several U.S. cities and Puerto Rico during the 1970s and early 1980s. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti) BOSTON (AP) - People who lost loved ones in a fungal meningitis outbreak traced to tainted steroids were stunned when a pharmacy executive was acquitted of murder charges in 25 deaths, and some legal experts are questioning whether the vote by the jury was unanimous, as required in federal criminal trials. The verdict found Barry Cadden guilty of conspiracy, mail fraud and other charges but acquitted him of the most serious charges he faced under federal racketeering law: second-degree murder. But on the verdict form , the jury wrote numbers next to "guilty" and "not guilty" on those counts, leading some observers to suspect the jury was divided. For example, for many of the murder acts, 8 was written on a line next to "guilty" and 4 was written on a line next to "not guilty," making it appear as if eight jurors voted to convict Cadden and four voted to acquit him. FILE - In this March 16, 2017, file photo, Barry Cadden, president of New England Compounding Center, arrives at the federal courthouse in Boston. On March 22 he was acquitted of murder charges but convicted on other counts in a fungal meningitis outbreak from tainted steroids manufactured by the pharmacy, which killed more than two dozen and sickened hundreds of people in 2012. Some legal experts are questioning whether the vote by the jury was unanimous, as required in all federal criminal trials. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File) Complicating that is a handwritten notation that appears on some pages of the verdict form, indicating a check mark means "unanimous." The jury put check marks next to "not guilty" on all 25 second-degree murder counts. Some legal experts believe the numbers could represent an earlier division among jurors before they reached a unanimous decision. But others believe the numbers show the jury remained divided on those counts. "The numbers are so quizzical - it is just out of left field," said David Schumacher, a formal federal prosecutor in Boston who was deputy chief of the health care fraud unit that prosecuted Cadden. "I've never seen anything like it." Cadden was the president and co-founder of the New England Compounding Center in Framingham. A 2012 outbreak of fungal meningitis and other infections in 20 states was traced to contaminated injections of medical steroids made by NECC. The tainted drugs killed 64 people and sickened about 700 others. Indiana, Michigan and Tennessee were hit hardest. When the verdict was read aloud in court March 22, only Judge Richard Stearns and his clerk had seen it. Neither prosecutors nor Cadden's lawyers saw the form until after the verdict was entered into the record. Once that happened, it was too late to do anything about it, said Daniel Medwed, a professor of law and criminal justice at Northeastern University. Medwed said it would be highly unlikely for prosecutors to try to challenge the not guilty verdicts now. "Once someone is acquitted of a charge and that is formally entered, then double jeopardy attaches and you can't be tried again for the same crime," he said. A spokeswoman for federal prosecutors wouldn't comment on whether they've considered challenging the not guilty verdicts. Cadden's lawyer, Bruce Singal, also declined to comment. The only people who know for sure what the numbers mean are the jurors, and their identities haven't been released. The verdict form has baffled the families of people who died in the meningitis outbreak. When they saw that the verdict form seemed to indicate that a majority of jurors had voted "guilty," they were confused, upset and hurt, said Ray Gipson, whose wife of 45 years, Gayle Gipson, died after receiving an injection for back pain at a Michigan pain clinic. "We couldn't make heads nor tails out of it," he said. "It was so confusing to us that we had no idea what the hell they were talking about." Before deliberations, the judge told jurors their verdict "must be unanimous as to whether Mr. Cadden is guilty or not guilty on each of the charges." Just before the verdict was announced, the judge looked at the verdict form and noted aloud that in some places "the jurors indicate how they voted in terms of a division." "That need not be read, just the verdict itself," he said. After the verdict was read, the clerk first asked the jury foreman, then the jury, to affirm it was correct, which they did. Schumacher, the formal federal prosecutor, said the judge may have assumed the jury rendered all unanimous verdicts, despite the handwritten numbers. The jurors were not polled individually, leaving some to wonder. "At the end of the day, only the jurors know for sure what they were intending to communicate with respect to those numbers," Schumacher said. "Who knows what it means?" News / National by Staff reporter Zanu-PF youths have yesterday summarily suspended provincial chairperson Dennis Ndlovu ostensibly because he is a stooge of under fire political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere.Ndlovu was one of the four Zanu-PF provincial chairpersons who on Monday reportedly attended a meeting in Harare that was called by Kasukuwere.Ndlovu recently said the province will course summon and reprimand five senior party officials fingered in a plot to destabilise the party's provincial structures.He said the party cannot be held to ransom by a few senior party officials whose names keep popping up whenever cases of indiscipline erupt in the province.Ndlovu said the senior members are well known and they face disciplinary action if they continue with their activities.The Bulawayo provincial chairman, who declined to name the alleged members, said the party has been patient with them but their behaviour cannot continue unchecked.He said the party has been patient with the unnamed bigwigs who are causing divisions even in the provincial Youth League executive.Ndlovu said the senior party officials were fingered in the recent rebellion that saw six youth leaders resigning from their posts.The youths resigned in protest against their chairperson Anna Mokgohloa."The youth seem to be in disarray and are also being divided by the same people."The other thing leading to the youths being indisciplined is that they don't understand politics."They are just children who join the party without proper orientation. So when they come across someone who is willing to give them money they become easily swayed," said Ndlovu.He said the party would continue to hold seminars to educate youths on how they should conduct themselves in the party.Ndlovu said employment creation was key for youths and their empowerment would see them being more disciplined.More to follow... SETAUKET, N.Y. (AP) - New York state is bestowing a special designation upon a stretch of road on Long Island's North Shore that was used by a Revolutionary War spy ring working for George Washington. Route 25A from Great Neck to Port Jefferson, about a 50-mile stretch, is being officially designated Thursday as the Washington Spy Trail. More than two dozen spy ring signs will be installed along the route. The Culper spy ring, considered the nation's first espionage group, used the route to slip through British lines and deliver secret messages to Washington during the American Revolution. Washington later used the same route to thank his spies for their contribution to winning the war. State and local officials are joining tourism leaders for the dedication ceremony in Setauket. PITTSBURGH (AP) - A judge has thrown out most criminal charges against a Pennsylvania woman accused of endangering and concealing the whereabouts of her twins, who haven't been seen in more than 10 years. Allegheny County Judge Thomas Flaherty let stand a charge of unsworn falsification, which alleges Patricia Fowler, 48, made misleading statements to police who began investigating the whereabouts of the twins last year. But the judge, in a ruling issued late Wednesday, found there's insufficient evidence the Penn Hills woman obstructed justice, concealed the children's whereabouts from their incarcerated father or endangered the twins. Fowler didn't obstruct a child abuse case or endanger the children because there's no evidence they've been harmed - they simply can't be accounted for, the judge ruled. At Fowler's preliminary hearing in October, Allegheny County Detective Michael Kuma testified he believed Ivon and Inisha Fowler, a boy and girl who would be almost 19 now, were dead. Kuma said he believes that because their older brother, Datwon, who will be 20 in August, told police he believed the twins were sick the last time he saw them more than a decade ago. Patricia Fowler remains jailed on charges she's collected nearly $50,000 in welfare benefits for the twins despite having not seen them for years. Her public defender, Aaron Sontz, has a policy of not commenting to the media. Flaherty took the Allegheny County Office of Children, Youth and Families to task for not keeping better track of the children. That agency has refused to comment on the case because its dealings with allegedly abused children are confidential. The judge noted Ivon was badly scalded in a bathtub when he was about 2, but welfare caseworkers didn't alert police or begin the process to have him removed from Fowler's care. A caseworker testified at another hearing in 2006 that the twins were reportedly living with relatives in North Carolina and doing well, but five months later the agency closed the case after the agency told a judge that the twins couldn't be found. CYF was not able to validate that the two children viewed by caseworkers in 2006 "were actually the twins, as the child presented as Ivon did not have any scars from the severe burns he suffered in 2000," the judge wrote." Penn Hills and county police became involved with Fowler and her children again in June after CYF caseworkers asked for help removing four other minor children from the home for unspecified medical neglect. About two weeks later, the agency called back and told police about Ivon and Inisha, saying they hadn't been seen since at least 2006. Fowler at various times told police the twins were living with friends or relatives in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. She even claimed once that she sold for $2,000 each to a woman she didn't know in a deal brokered by a man she met in a bar, but later acknowledged that was a lie, authorities said. Police have been unable to find any school records using the children's names, birthdates and Social Security numbers. District Attorney's spokesman Mike Manko said the office is reviewing Flaherty's ruling. The office could appeal it to Superior Court or try to refile the charges and present more evidence. Datwon Fowler remains jailed on charges including conspiracy and criminal use of a cellphone, which he's accused of using to text a detective while claiming to be Ivon in August. The cellphone text message claimed the boy was safe. But GPS tracked the phone to the address where Datwon Fowler lived with his mother, not out of state, where the Fowlers claimed the twins were living. Police say Datwon Fowler then acknowledged lying and pretending to be Ivon. Datwon's attorney, Richard McCague, didn't immediately comment Thursday. AKRON, Ohio (AP) - Police and state fire marshal's investigators have been searching several houses in Akron near the fire-ravaged home where two adults and five children died. State Fire Marshal spokeswoman Kelly Stincer says the searches Thursday are connected with the deadly blaze. The cause of the fire that engulfed the two-story home early Monday morning hasn't been determined. An Akron fire official has said investigators are trying to determine if the fire was intentionally set. The two adults have been identified as 35-year-old Dennis Huggins and his partner, 38-year-old Angela Boggs. The children are 1-year-old Cameron Huggins, 3-year-old Alivia Huggins, 5-year-old Kylle Huggins, 6-year-old Daisia Huggins and 14-year-old Jered Boggs. A medical examiner says all seven died of smoke inhalation and had no injuries unrelated to the fire. WASHINGTON (AP) - House Speaker Paul Ryan insisted on Thursday that Congress will overhaul the U.S. tax system this year despite the chaos consuming Washington and the political divisions in Congress. "I feel very confident we can meet this goal," Ryan, R-Wis., told reporters. Ryan was bolstered by skittish business leaders who began an aggressive lobbying effort to ensure that their vision for a tax overhaul isn't lost in the daily distractions of President Donald Trump's administration. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, May 18, 2017, to testify before the Senate Banking Committee hearing on tax overhaul. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) The conservative Koch brothers' political network announced it is preparing to spend millions of dollars toward that end. The announcement came on the same day a handful of business executives told a congressional committee that the current tax system makes U.S. companies uncompetitive. "We no longer live in a world where the U.S. can set a corporate tax rate without considering what our international competition looks like," John Stephen, AT&T's chief financial officer, told the House Ways and Means Committee. "Countries are vigorously competing against each other to attract investment and jobs, but the U.S. has done little to retain its competitive advantage." The Trump administration released a one-page tax proposal last month that included massive tax cuts for businesses, a bigger standard tax deduction for middle-income families, lower investment taxes for the wealthy, and an end to the federal estate tax for the very rich. Thirty-one years after the last overhaul, there is widespread agreement that the current tax system is too complicated and picks too many winners and losers, compelling companies to make business decisions based on tax implications instead of sound business reasons. But there are deep political and practical disagreements over how to fix it. Is it OK for a tax overhaul to add to the nation's debt? Should corporations pay less? Should rich people pay more? "I do believe that there are very serious and legitimate concerns to any version of tax reform, and we're going to have to accommodate those concerns as we move to a new tax system," Ryan said. Billionaire industrialists Charles and David Koch are undertaking a multimillion-dollar campaign through the summer to ensure their conservative tax plan is not forgotten, said James Davis, spokesman for the Kochs' political network. The campaign will include digital ads and town hall meetings, along with phone banks and direct mail. "Now is the time. We've got to unite around these principles," Davis said. "The White House hopefully will see this as a jolt to support them in driving this forward." The Koch push reflects broader concerns from the nation's business community that Trump's promise of a tax overhaul may fall victim to his mounting political challenges. The stock market on Wednesday suffered its largest single-day loss of the Trump presidency. That was before the Justice Department appointed a special counsel to investigate allegations that Trump's campaign collaborated with Russia to sway the 2016 election. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said 100 people at his department are working on an overhaul, and that the goal is to bring "meaningful relief" to the middle class and make American businesses competitive. Mnuchin testified before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee - his first appearance before that committee since being sworn in. He said the U.S. can achieve 3 percent economic growth or more if the United States makes historic changes in taxes and regulations. Democratic lawmakers weren't buying that economic growth would pay for Trump's tax cuts. "I think all you're doing is just adding to the deficit, which is incredibly irresponsible to the children of this country," said Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind. Mnuchin replied, "I can assure you we have no interest in doing that." Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., pressed Mnuchin to commit that the Trump administration's tax overhaul wouldn't raise taxes on those Americans making less than $250,000. Mnuchin said that the administration's goal is tax relief for the middle class. "I can assure that the president's objective and my objective is that we create a middle-income tax cut and that we do not raise taxes on the middle income, if anything, the opposite, we are trying to create a middle-income tax cut," Mnuchin said. ___ Associated Press writer Steve Peoples in New York contributed to this report. WASHINGTON (AP) - The Trump administration on Thursday announced plans to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement with Mexico and Canada - a move that could shake up business across the continent. Here's what's at stake: ___ WHAT IS NAFTA? Negotiated by President George H.W. Bush and signed into law by President Bill Clinton, NAFTA took effect on Jan. 1, 1994. The trade pact eliminated tariffs - taxes on imports - and other trade barriers among the United States, Canada and Mexico. The impact on some vulnerable U.S. industries was delayed. Tariffs on textiles and clothing, for instance, were phased out only gradually. So were many trade barriers in the auto industry. Supporters said the agreement would promote trade and create jobs across a North American single market. It would be, in other words, a victory for everyone. Critics countered that low-wage competition from Mexico would wipe out American factory jobs. In 1992, U.S. presidential candidate Ross Perot famously predicted "a giant sucking sound" as American jobs migrated south across the border. ___ SO WHAT ACTUALLY DID HAPPEN? Trade among NAFTA countries exploded. But so did America's trade deficit with Mexico. In 1993, the year before NAFTA took effect, the United States had sold Mexico $41.6 billion in goods and bought $39.9 billion for a trade surplus of $1.7 billion. In 2016, the U.S. had exported $231 billion in goods to Mexico (a 455 percent increase) and imported $294.2 billion (up 637 percent). That created a trade deficit in goods of more than $63 billion. Trump has invoked the trade gap to argue that naive American policymakers had been out-negotiated by their Mexican counterparts. But the trade gap has widened partly because American consumers are eager to buy relatively low-priced cars and other goods from Mexico. NAFTA's impact on the economy was more modest than partisans on either side of the debate had expected. In part, that's because trade represents a surprisingly small portion of the U.S. economy - 28 per cent in 2015, according to the World Bank, one of the lowest shares in the world. And trade with Mexico is a smaller portion still. The Congressional Research Service has concluded that the impact of NAFTA on the U.S. economy "has been relatively small." The Peterson Institute for International Economics, a pro-free trade think-tank in Washington, estimates that the U.S. loses about 203,000 jobs and gains 188,000 annually" on account of two-way trade with Mexico." That's a net loss of 15,000 jobs a year - a mere rounding error in a country with 145 million jobs. ___ WHAT DOES TRUMP WANT TO DO? The president has vowed to negotiate a better NAFTA - or to walk away from the agreement if he can't get one. On Thursday, U.S. Trade Rep. Robert Lighthizer sent a letter to congressional leaders, starting 90 days of consultations with lawmakers over how to revamp the agreement. After that, talks with Canada and Mexico can begin. The two-page letter offered few details about what changes the administration would seek in the negotiations. Gary Hufbauer, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute, says the United States could seek modest "technocratic" changes, including provisions to update NAFTA to reflect technologies that have emerged since the original agreement was negotiated. Or it could take a more aggressive approach, putting pressure on Mexico to reduce the trade gap, perhaps by dropping a value-added tax Mexico slaps on goods coming across the border. (Mexico also imposes the tax on products Mexican companies sell domestically but not on products they export to the United States and other countries.) After NAFTA, automakers began producing small cars in Mexico and shipping them across the border to the United States. Mexican auto workers still earn less than $10 an hour, allowing manufacturers to keep small car prices low and affordable to U.S. families on a budget. But U.S. and other companies have built complicated supply chains that span the U.S.-Mexico border. They worry that their operations will be thrown into disarray by a major NAFTA rewrite - or if Trump follows through on threats to pull out of the deal altogether and impose big tariffs on Mexican imports. Although they build cars in Mexico, U.S. companies also do a big business ($30 billion worth in 2015) shipping auto parts to Mexico. There also has been some speculation that the United States would seek separate deals with Canada and Mexico, rather than retaining a three-country arrangement. But Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray on Thursday told reporters that "NAFTA is a trilateral treaty and must have a trilateral nature. That is our position." ___ Luis Alonso Lugo in Washington contributed to this story. Follow Paul Wiseman on Twitter at https://twitter.com/PaulWisemanAP ___ Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0-ZertLJ9Q NEW YORK (AP) - Federal appeals court judges don't seem eager to embrace the arguments of lawyers seeking a new trial for Republican former New York Senate leader Dean Skelos (SKEH'-lohs) and his son. Skelos was convicted of strong-arming three companies into giving his son $300,000 and was sentenced to five years in prison. A three-judge panel Thursday heard attorney Alexandra Shapiro argue on Skelos' behalf the convictions of him and his son should be vacated. Shapiro says that would be consistent with a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling reversing the conviction of a former Virginia governor. The government disagrees. FILE - In a Friday, Dec. 11, 2015 file photo, former New York state Senate leader Dean Skelos, left, and his son Adam Skelos leave federal court, in New York. Lawyers are seeking a new trial for Republican former New York Senate leader Dean Skelos and his son. A three-judge panel Thursday, May 18, 2017, heard attorney Alexandra Shapiro argue on Skelos' behalf the convictions of him and his son should be vacated. Skelos and his son were convicted of federal extortion charges. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File) Circuit Judge Reena Raggi of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals challenged Shapiro repeatedly, saying Shapiro was being "a little selective in the facts." TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - A 76-year-old man was recovering Thursday from a gunshot wound to the arm after a shootout with Border Patrol agents at a checkpoint in Arizona, authorities said. Gary Smith of Tombstone fired his gun at agents after crashing through traffic barriers Wednesday at the checkpoint on State Route 80 near Tombstone that was temporarily closed because of bad weather, Tucson Sector Acting Chief Patrol Agent Felix Chavez said. He said it appears two agents fired back at Smith, striking him in the upper left arm. Agents administered first aid before Smith was transported via helicopter to a hospital. Earlier that day, Smith's daughter called 911 to report that her father, who has medical issues, had driven off with guns and alcohol, according to the Cochise County Sheriff's Department. Chavez said investigators found two guns at the scene. The two agents have been placed on standard administrative leave while the FBI, Tombstone Marshal's Office and Cochise County Sheriff's Department investigate. The Customs and Border Protection's Office of Professional Responsibility is also involved. Chavez said it was an example of the complex and dynamic situations law enforcement agents face on the job. "Our agents performed admirably," he said. It was the second shootout at a U.S. immigration checkpoint in the past two months. On April 9, an unidentified man was injured in a shootout with agents on Interstate 25 in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Authorities later said the man's fatal gunshot wound was self-inflicted. Customs and Border Protection said the shooting occurred as agents questioned the driver after he was referred to a second inspection. The FBI, which investigated the shooting, said in a news release that agents heard a gunshot and fired their weapons. No agents were injured in either one of the incidents. The man died nearly a month after the shooting. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A teacher who led police on a nationwide manhunt after taking a 15-year-old student has been indicted on federal charges, federal prosecutors said Thursday. A federal grand jury has charged Tad Cummins with taking a minor across state lines for sex and for obstruction of justice, according to a statement from Jack Smith, the acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee. An FBI agent testified recently that the 50-year-old health science teacher told authorities that he had sex with the girl most nights during the 38 days he was on the run with her. The teacher had tried to take the girl out of the country by trying to kayak his way with her from San Diego to Mexico, according to that testimony. The teacher gave up that idea and turned back because the waters were treacherous, the FBI agent said at detention hearing. FILE - This undated file photo released by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations shows Tad Cummins in Tennessee. Authorities said Cummins, a Tennessee teacher who led police on a nationwide manhunt after taking a 15-year-old student, was indicted on federal charges Thursday, May 18, 2017. (Tennessee Bureau of Investigations via AP, File) At the hearing, prosecutors had tried to show that Cummins abused his position of authority and preyed upon a vulnerable girl who had been abused at home and bullied at school. The teacher's lawyer, however, had argued that he never took the girl against her will and did not harm her. Afterward, a federal judge ordered the married teacher held, saying Cummins was a fight risk and a danger to the community. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of ten years in prison. The teacher was arrested last month and the girl was found safe in a remote area of northern California following a tip from a man who recognized that they were wanted by police. Cummins' attorney didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment. He also faces state charges of aggravated kidnapping and sexual contact with a minor. NEW YORK (AP) - Police say an 18-year-old woman killed by a car that plowed through pedestrians in Times Square was a tourist from Portage, Michigan. Alyssa Elsman died Thursday when a man drove his car down the sidewalk for three blocks into the heart of New York City's theater district. Twenty-three people were struck by the car before it was stopped by a security barrier. Police officers in protective clothes look over evidence at the scene of a fatal car crash, where a man steered his car onto a sidewalk and mowed down pedestrians, in Times Square, New York, Thursday, May 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Police say Elsman's 13-year-old sister was among the people who were struck but survived. Police identify the driver of the car as Richard Rojas, a Navy veteran from the Bronx. They say he was captured at the scene and arrested. He's in custody. SEATTLE (AP) - Celebrity crab-boat captain Sig Hansen was arrested after he allegedly spat on an Uber driver in Seattle and kicked and dented the driver's car upon learning he couldn't pay cash for his ride home. The Seattle Times reports (https://goo.gl/YncYuT ) the 51-year-old had been in the Ballard neighborhood celebrating Norway's Constitution Day with family and was arrested early Thursday at his Shoreline home. Police reports say when officers confronted Hansen, he appeared "obviously intoxicated," denied the altercation happened and initially resisted arrest. King County Jail records show Hansen was booked in connection with misdemeanor assault and property destruction charges. He was released after posting $2,000 bail Thursday, and is set to be arraigned Saturday. In a statement released through a publicist, Hansen said he was "terribly sorry" for his behavior and was "very embarrassed" by it. ___ Information from: The Seattle Times, http://www.seattletimes.com News / National by Hazel Ndebele PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe has of late become the centre of attention in Zimbabwe's political sphere, not because of soaring rhetoric which he was once famous for, but for his increasingly deteriorating health ahead of the crunch 2018 general election.A video showing a visibly frail and tired Mugabe at the National Heroes' Acre on Saturday has gone viral on social media - generating more debate on his health and old age. This has become a regular occurence. The video, recorded by the South African Broadcasting Corporation at the burial of former Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku, shows the 93-year-old president, who has been in office for 37 years, struggling to climb a small staircase.Mugabe tried to climb the staircase while balancing on the railings with one hand, but still failed to maintain his balance such that he had to hold on to the railings with both hands as if he was climbing Mount Everest.First Lady Grace Mugabe, who used to walk side-by-side with Mugabe, is seen walking closely behind her husband in the video, obviously to rescue him if he happens to miss a step and fall. One of Mugabe's aides is also seen closely behind him on his right side as he climbs the staircase.Mugabe's aides have been more careful around him ever since his infamous fall at the Harare International Airport in January 2015, while returning from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he had taken over the rotational African Union chairmanship.While those images may evoke pity for some, others deride and blame the 93-year-old for desperately clinging onto power despite evident frailty.Although it is expected for elders in their nineties to struggle to walk, among other old age and health complications, Mugabe's case is different because he is still holding onto power despite his age, making it an issue of serious national concern.Hence, those in politics are watching Mugabe's steps closely and carefully, albeit for different reasons. Mugabe's health has become the biggest single factor in Zimbabwean politics; it has a bearing on his succession, general elections and the country's future.From an election point of view, politicians are watching to see if his health will allow him to contest in the 2018 polls as a Zanu-PF presidential candidate. Last week, the Zimbabwe Independent revealed that it is no longer business as usual for Mugabe as ill-health and old age take a serious toll on him. Those close to him confirm his frailty and how he no longer has the stamina to function properly given the strenuous demands of his position.Politicians hope that Mugabe's health could be a factor which will bring the succession race to an end, with Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa and others reportedly waiting in the wings to take over as from him.Political analysts say Mugabe's health has also become an important factor on the security services' role in local politics. On Mugabe's watch, the military has become entrenched in politics with vested interest in the nonagenarian leader's failing health.Mugabe's health is important to the securocrats who are desperate to protect their material gains accumulated during the 93-year-old's reign.The opposition parties are hoping that Mugabe's deteriorating health will eliminate him from the presidential race and give them a chance to defeat Zanu-PF. However, various studies on dictators have shown that if a dictator dies or is removed by other means (for instance, through a coup) - in other words other than through elections, nothing changes politically.Mugabe's removal through death may be celebrated by some, but it has high chances of leading to a replay of dictatorship as Zanu-PF will just field a different candidate to replace him.Political analyst Eldred Masunungure said if the opposition hopes that Mugabe's departure will enhance its chances of winning elections, it might be disappointed."When Mugabe's health deteriorates, it has a clear negative implication in politics, policies and governing in general. His ill-health becomes a destabilising factor in Zimbabwe politics and the trajectory towards the 2018 elections and beyond," said Masunungure."However, if the opposition hopes that the departure of Mugabe due to ill-health will enhance their electoral prospects, they will be bitterly disappointed. They probably think that Zanu-PF and Mugabe are one and the same thing, therefore exit Mugabe exit Zanu-PF, but that is not the case; it is not as simple as that."Masunungure said if the opposition has Mugabe's health factor as part of its strategies, then it will be sorely disappointed as Zanu-PF has become an institution in its own right with deep roots in Zimbabwe's society."The opposition needs to revisit its thinking in that regard because in any case we have two of the most powerful leaders (in the country's body politic) battling ill-health. Both Mugabe and (MDC-T leader Morgan) Tsvangirai are not well, so does it mean that exit Tsvangirai exit MDC-T?" he asked.According to analysts, Mugabe plays the role of unifier of his party. They say even if Mugabe is ailing, he remains Zanu-PF's electoral trump card as he keeps the party together and running. Some argue that Mugabe is even more popular than his party. So severe are the ructions in Zanu-PF that the only person uniting the party is him. Those fighting are united by one shared belief: that Mugabe should be their leader.Analysts say Mugabe is more feared than respected, hence he has managed to remain the Zanu-PF unifier. An indication that Mugabe is feared is that his deputies never show their ambition to become President as they are afraid of being eliminated like what happened to former Vice-President Joice Mujuru.But Mugabe's infirmity can no longer be hidden no matter how much government officials try to play propaganda.Another video of him taken during the Independence Day celebrations shows Mugabe failing to light the Independence flame on his own and had to be helped by a youth, giving further evidence of increasing dotage.Commentator Maxwell Saungweme said it is unfortunate that the political focus is now on Mugabe's health."It is so sad that Zimbabwe political actors' focus is on an ailing man. He has become a national liability", he said. MANILA, Philippines (AP) - Twenty-five South Koreans have been arrested in metropolitan Manila on suspicion of internet fraud or illegal online gambling, Philippine authorities said Friday. Twelve of the suspects are wanted back home for allegedly duping their compatriots into investing money in bogus real estate projects in the Philippines, Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said. Their arrests Wednesday in a posh condominium followed the bureau's apprehension on Monday of four other South Koreans for alleged fraud and voice phishing. They're accused of duping hundreds of their compatriots who lost money after revealing private information to callers impersonating legitimate companies. The National Bureau of Investigation also presented to the media on Friday five South Korean nationals arrested for running a website for illegal online sports betting and casino gambling in an upscale subdivision. The arrested men, wearing orange T-shirts, tried to cover their faces with their hands or shirt as they faced the cameras during the news conference. They are facing illegal gambling complaints, said NBI Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin, adding the activity also facilitated money laundering. The five were apprehended Tuesday, a day after the NBI also arrested four South Korean women for allegedly operating an illegal online casino inside a mall. BEIJING (AP) - China and the 10 countries in the Association of Southeast Asia Nations have agreed on the rough outline of a legally binding code of conduct designed to prevent clashes in the strategic South China Sea, officials said. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin was quoted in state media Friday as saying the agreement laid a "solid foundation" for further negotiations. "All parties have vowed to continue to constructively advance the negotiations" toward the early conclusion of the code of conduct, Liu was quoted as telling Xinhua News Agency following Thursday's meeting in the southern Chinese city of Guiyang. FILE - In this April 21, 2017, file photo, Chinese structures and an airstrip on the man-made Subi Reef at the Spratly group of islands in the South China Sea are seen from a Philippine Air Force C-130. China on Friday, May 19, 2017, said it reached agreement with the 10 countries of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) on the rough outline of a legally binding code of conduct designed to prevent clashes in the strategic South China Sea. (Francis Malasig/Pool Photo via AP, File) The Philippines welcomed the finalization of the draft of the framework. It contains elements that the parties agreed upon and will be presented to Chinese and ASEAN foreign ministers in August for consideration, the statement from the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said. Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Chee Wee Kiong said the sides hoped that would produce needed "political support" from the ministers. No details were given and Liu said the text of the framework agreement would remain secret for now. No date was given for the adoption of a full code of conduct. Also Friday, Liu and the Philippines ambassador to Beijing Jose Santiago "Chito" Santa Romana were to meet separately to discuss an agenda for future talks on their dispute over islands and waters in the eastern portion of the South China Sea. China was enraged by a ruling last year from a Hague tribunal invalidating most of its South China Sea claims in a case brought by the Philippines. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has downplayed that ruling as part of his push for a broad improvement in relations between the sides since taking office in June that has cast a shadow over Manila's ties to its longtime ally, the United States. Despite the thaw in relations, China protested a visit last month by Manila's defense and military chiefs to a disputed island in the South China Sea. The Philippine government maintained that it owns the territory where Filipino troops and villagers have lived for decades. At a briefing in Beijing earlier this week, Romana said the sides had "turned a new page" on dealing with their South China Sea issues. "Generally, the situation has eased in terms of tensions between the Philippines and China," he said, citing regained access by Philippine fishermen to Scarborough Shoal after years of being blocked by Chinese ships. "It does not mean the differences have disappeared. As (Duterte) told President Xi (Jinping), there will still be problems, but we are willing to discuss the issues with the Chinese side and he is optimistic that the bilateral negotiations and bilateral dialogue is the way to go," Romana said. China and the members of ASEAN committed 15 years ago to signing a code of conduct, but progress has been slow amid disputes over the body of water that China claims virtually in its entirety. In the absence of such an agreement, they have followed a separate document called the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, or DOC, which among other provisions, commits the parties to "exploring ways for building trust and confidence ... on the basis of equality and mutual respect." Along with the Philippines, ASEAN members Malaysia, Vietnam and Brunei also maintain claims in the South China Sea that overlap with those of China and Taiwan. An estimated $5 trillion in global trade annually passes through the South China Sea, which is also home to rich fishing grounds and a potential wealth of oil, gas and other natural resources. In this Oct. 27, 2015, photo, provided by Renato Etac, a Chinese Coast Guard boat circles a Filipino fishing boat near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. China on Friday, May 19, 2017, said it reached agreement with the 10 countries of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) on the rough outline of a legally binding code of conduct designed to prevent clashes in the strategic South China Sea. (Renato Etac via AP) TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Millions of Iranians voted late into the night Friday to decide whether incumbent President Hassan Rouhani deserves another four years in office after securing a landmark nuclear deal, or if the sluggish economy demands a new hard-line leader who could return the country to a more confrontational path with the West. The Islamic Republic's first presidential election since the 2015 nuclear accord drew surprisingly large numbers of voters to polling stations, with some reporting waiting in line for hours to cast their votes. Election officials extended voting hours at least three times at the more than 63,000 polling places to accommodate the crowds. Four candidates remain in the race. But for most voters only two mattered, both of them clerics with very different views for the country's future: Rouhani and hard-line law professor and former prosecutor Ebrahim Raisi. Female voters queue at a polling station for the presidential and municipal council election in the city of Qom, 78 miles (125 kilometers) south of the capital Tehran, Iran, Friday, May 19, 2017. Iranians began voting Friday in the country's first presidential election since its nuclear deal with world powers, as incumbent Hassan Rouhani faced a staunch challenge from a hard-line opponent over his outreach to the wider world. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) Rouhani is a political moderate by Iranian standards, but the 68-year-old has come to embody more liberal and reform-minded Iranians' hopes for greater political freedom at home and better relations with the outside world. His supporters are also hoping he can make better progress on improving the economy, a key issue on the minds of the country's 56 million eligible voters. Many say they are yet to see the benefits of the nuclear deal, which saw Iran limit its contested nuclear program over the objection of hard-liners in exchange for the lifting of some sanctions. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the most powerful man in Iran, symbolically cast the election's first vote. He called for a large turnout, saying "the country is in the hands of all people." In Tehran, whose liberal and affluent voters form the bedrock of support for Rouhani, lines at some precincts were much longer than those in his 2013 win. Analysts have suggested a high turnout will aid Rouhani in securing a second four-year term. "I am happy I could vote for Rouhani," said Zohreh Amini, a 21-year-old woman studying painting at Tehran Azad University. "He kept the shadow of war far from our country." Voters who spoke to The Associated Press from the cities of Bandar Abbas, Hamadan, Isfahan, Rashat, Shiraz and Tabriz also described crowded polling places. The turnout may have spooked Raisi's camp, who filed a complaint to authorities over what they called "election violations" even before the polls closed, according to a report by the semi-official Tasnim news agency. Tehran Friday prayer leader Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Movahedi Kermani urged voters to elect someone who won't be a "hostage" to Western governments and their culture. "The next president should not be someone who makes the enemies happy when he is elected," said Kermani, who is an adviser to Khamenei. Rouhani has history on his side in the election. No incumbent president has failed to win re-election since 1981, when Khamenei himself became president. The 56-year-old Raisi, who heads an influential religious charitable foundation with vast business holdings, is seen by many as close to Khamenei. Raisi has even been discussed as a possible successor, though Khamenei has stopped short of endorsing anyone. Raisi won the support of two major clerical bodies and promised to boost welfare payments to the poor. His populist posture, anti-corruption rhetoric and get-tough reputation - bolstered by his alleged role condemning inmates to death during Iran's 1988 mass execution of thousands of political prisoners - hold appeal for conservative rural and working-class voters. "Rouhani has turned our foreign policies into a mess and damaged our religion," said Sedigheh Davoodabadi, a 59-year-old housewife in Iran's holy city of Qom who voted for Raisi. "Rouhani gave everything to the U.S. outright" in the nuclear deal. Both candidates urged voters to respect the outcome of the vote. Mostafa Hashemitaba, a pro-reform figure who previously ran for president in 2001, and Mostafa Mirsalim, a former culture minister, also remain in the race. Iranians overseas were also voting in over 300 locations, including 55 in the U.S., where more than 1 million Iranians live. Hard-liners remain suspicious of America, decades after the 1953 U.S.-engineered coup that toppled Iran's prime minister and the 1979 U.S. Embassy takeover and hostage crisis in Tehran. President Donald Trump's tougher stance on Iran has stoked concern as well, though his administration this week took a key step toward preserving the Obama-era nuclear deal. Iran's political system combines conservative clerical oversight and state control over large parts of the economy with tightly regulated but still hotly contested elections for key government posts. All candidates for elected office must be vetted, a process that excludes anyone calling for radical change, along with most reformists. No woman has ever been approved to run for president. The president of the Islamic Republic oversees a vast state bureaucracy employing more than 2 million people, is charged with naming Cabinet members and other officials to key posts, and plays a significant role in shaping both domestic and foreign policy. But he remains subordinate to the supreme leader, who is chosen by a clerical panel and has the ultimate say over all matters of state. The race has heated emotions and pushed public discourse in Iran into areas typically untouched in the tightly controlled state media. That includes Rouhani openly criticizing hard-liners and Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard, a paramilitary force now involved in the war in Syria and the fight against Islamic State militants in neighboring Iraq. Rouhani also found his vehicle besieged by angry coal miners during a visit to a northern mine struck by a deadly explosion earlier this month. But authorities worry about tempers rising too high, especially after the 2009 disputed re-election of former hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that saw unrest, mass arrests and killings. Authorities barred Ahmadinejad from running in Friday's election, and Khamenei warned this week that anyone fomenting unrest "will definitely be slapped in the face." That hasn't stopped those at Rouhani rallies from shouting for the release of the house-arrested leaders of the 2009 Green Movement. Opposition websites have said Green Movement leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mahdi Karroubi both have endorsed Rouhani against Raisi. Rouhani promised in his 2013 campaign to free the men, but that pledge so far remains unfulfilled. Mohammad Khatami, another reformist who served as Iran's president from 1997 to 2005, also has endorsed Rouhani and received a raucous welcome when he voted, according to a clip shared on social media. Iranian authorities say they believe the vote will exceed a 70 percent turnout. ___ Associated Press journalists Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran, Ebrahim Noroozi in Qom, Iran, and Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report. ___ Follow Adam Schreck on Twitter at www.twitter.com/adamschreck and Nasser Karimi at www.twitter.com/ncarrimi . In this photo released by official website of the office of the Iranian Presidency, President Hassan Rouhani holds his ballot while voting for the presidential and municipal councils election at a polling station in Tehran, Iran, Friday, May 19, 2017. Iranians began voting Friday in the country's first presidential election since its nuclear deal with world powers, as incumbent Hassan Rouhani faced a staunch challenge from a hard-line opponent over his outreach to the wider world. (Iranian Presidency Office via AP) Iranian Clerics queue to vote for the presidential and municipal councils elections, in the city of Qom, south of the capital Tehran, Iran, Friday, May 19, 2017. Iranians began voting Friday in the country's first presidential election since its nuclear deal with world powers, as incumbent Hassan Rouhani faced a staunch challenge from a hard-line opponent over his outreach to the West. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) Voters wait to get ballots to cast in the presidential and municipal council election at a polling station in Tehran, Iran, Friday, May 19, 2017. Iranians began voting Friday in the country's first presidential election since its nuclear deal with world powers, as incumbent Hassan Rouhani faced a staunch challenge from a hard-line opponent over his outreach to the wider world. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) A man fills out his ballots to vote in the presidential and municipal council election in Tehran, Iran, Friday, May 19, 2017. Iranians began voting Friday in the country's first presidential election since its nuclear deal with world powers, as incumbent Hassan Rouhani faced a staunch challenge from a hard-line opponent over his outreach to the wider world. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) In this picture released by an official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei casts his ballot for the presidential election in Tehran, Iran, Friday, May 19, 2017. Iranians voted Friday in the country's first presidential election since its nuclear deal with world powers, as incumbent Hassan Rouhani faced a staunch challenge from a hard-line opponent over his outreach to the West. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP) Female voters queue at a polling station for the presidential and municipal council election in the city of Qom, 78 miles (125 kilometers) south of the capital Tehran, Iran, Friday, May 19, 2017. Iranians began voting Friday in the country's first presidential election since its nuclear deal with world powers, as incumbent Hassan Rouhani faced a staunch challenge from a hard-line opponent over his outreach to the wider world. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) Iranian women queue to vote for the presidential and municipal councils elections, in the city of Qom, south of the capital Tehran, Iran, Friday, May 19, 2017. Iranians began voting Friday in the country's first presidential election since its nuclear deal with world powers, as incumbent Hassan Rouhani faced a staunch challenge from a hard-line opponent over his outreach to the West. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) Voters wait to get ballots to cast in the presidential and municipal council election at a polling station in the city of Qom, 78 miles (125 kilometers) south of the capital Tehran, Iran, Friday, May 19, 2017. Iranians began voting Friday in the country's first presidential election since its nuclear deal with world powers, as incumbent Hassan Rouhani faced a staunch challenge from a hard-line opponent over his outreach to the wider world. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) Iranian voters enter a polling station for the presidential and municipal councils elections in Tehran, Iran, Friday, May 19, 2017. Iranians began voting Friday in the country's first presidential election since its nuclear deal with world powers, as incumbent Hassan Rouhani faced a staunch challenge from a hard-line opponent over his outreach to the wider world. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) Iranian women queue at a polling station to vote for the presidential and municipal councils elections, in the city of Qom, south of the capital Tehran, Iran, Friday, May 19, 2017. Iranians began voting Friday in the country's first presidential election since its nuclear deal with world powers, as incumbent Hassan Rouhani faced a staunch challenge from a hard-line opponent over his outreach to the West. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) Iranian women queue at a polling station to vote for the presidential and municipal councils elections, in the city of Qom, south of the capital Tehran, Iran, Friday, May 19, 2017. Iranians began voting Friday in the country's first presidential election since its nuclear deal with world powers, as incumbent Hassan Rouhani faced a staunch challenge from a hard-line opponent over his outreach to the West. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) Iranian men queue at a polling station to vote for the presidential and municipal councils elections, in the city of Qom, south of the capital Tehran, Iran, Friday, May 19, 2017. Iranians began voting Friday in the country's first presidential election since its nuclear deal with world powers, as incumbent Hassan Rouhani faced a staunch challenge from a hard-line opponent over his outreach to the West. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) A cleric voter casts her ballot during the presidential and municipal council election at a polling station in the city of Qom, 78 miles (125 kilometers) south of the capital Tehran, Iran, Friday, May 19, 2017. Iranians began voting Friday in the country's first presidential election since its nuclear deal with world powers, as incumbent Hassan Rouhani faced a staunch challenge from a hard-line opponent over his outreach to the wider world. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) Iranian voters queue at a polling station for the presidential and municipal council election in the city of Qom, 78 miles (125 kilometers) south of the capital Tehran, Iran, Friday, May 19, 2017. Iranians began voting Friday in the country's first presidential election since its nuclear deal with world powers, as incumbent Hassan Rouhani faced a staunch challenge from a hard-line opponent over his outreach to the wider world. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) An Iranian voter casts her ballot during the presidential and municipal council election at a polling station in the city of Qom, 78 miles (125 kilometers) south of the capital Tehran, Iran, Friday, May 19, 2017. Iranians began voting Friday in the country's first presidential election since its nuclear deal with world powers, as incumbent Hassan Rouhani faced a staunch challenge from a hard-line opponent over his outreach to the wider world. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) ELIZABETH, N.J. (AP) - A Christian man who had been living in the United States for 16 years after fleeing religious persecution in Indonesia has been deported back to the country, immigration officials said. Arino Massie was deported to Indonesia on Thursday after being held at the Elizabeth Detention Center in New Jersey since last week, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials. Massie leaves behind his wife and a 13-year-old son, who is a U.S. citizen. Massie was one of four Indonesian Christian men who were detained by ICE after checking in with officials in Newark. The other three men remain in detention. They all escaped religious persecution in Indonesia in the 1990s. About 50 supporters rallied outside of the Elizabeth Detention Center on Thursday afternoon, but he already had been sent to Indonesia, NJ.com reported (http://bit.ly/2rxNqdF ). The former Metuchen resident does not have a criminal record. He was ordered deported years ago but allowed to stay in the country as long as he checked in with immigration officials periodically. Rev. Seth Kaper-Dale, of The Reformed Church of Highland Park, led Massie's group of supporters. The gubernatorial candidate stressed Massie's unique situation. "There's no reason to send him away right now; he's absolutely not a criminal," Kaper-Dale said. "These are family people who happen to have final deportation orders." Under Republican President Donald Trump, the scope of those subject to deportation was broadened. In many cases, even people who don't have criminal records are no longer allowed to stay in the U.S., Kaper-Dale. "Our folks got caught up in that new dragnet," he said. Democrat U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone sent a letter to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials asking them to allow the men to remain in the country. Pallone cited the group's original agreement with immigration officials. ICE spokesman Luis Martinez confirmed Massie's deportation but did not comment further on the case. A court filing by Massey's attorney seeking permission for his client to remain in the United States was denied Thursday morning, Kaper-Dale said. Massie waved goodbye to the U.S. a few hours later. ___ This story has been corrected to show that Massie was living in Metuchen, not that he was born there. ___ Information from: NJ.com, http://www.nj.com TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iranians head to the polls Friday to vote in the Islamic Republic's presidential election. The contest is largely seen as a referendum on the incumbent president's more moderate political stance, which helped pave the way for the country's nuclear deal with world powers. President Hassan Rouhani is widely seen as the front-runner after his moderate administration struck the atomic accord. He could face tough competition from hard-line cleric Ebrahim Raisi, who is perceived to be close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Two other candidates also are running. Under Iran's constitution, the supreme leader has final say on all state matters. Iran's president is subordinate but still powerful, with considerable influence over both domestic policy and foreign affairs. FILE - In this Tuesday, May 9, 2017 file photo, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks in a campaign rally for May 19 presidential election in Tehran, Iran. Iranians head to the polls Friday to vote in the Islamic Republic's presidential election, casting ballots in a contest largely seen as a referendum on the country's nuclear deal with world powers. Rouhani, 68, is a moderate cleric elected in 2013 on pledges of greater personal freedoms and improved relations with the West. His government negotiated the 2015 nuclear deal, which saw Iran accept curbs on its nuclear program in exchange for relief from crippling international sanctions. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi, File) Here's a look at the candidates competing. HASSAN ROUHANI Rouhani, 68, is a moderate cleric elected in 2013 on pledges of greater personal freedoms and improved relations with the West. His government negotiated the 2015 nuclear deal, which saw Iran accept curbs on its nuclear program in exchange for relief from crippling international sanctions. Rouhani has faced pushback from conservatives and hard-liners, who criticize the accord as giving too much away. Since the deal went into effect, Iran has doubled its oil exports and inked multi-billion-dollar aircraft deals with Boeing and Airbus. But critics of the deal say the economic benefits have yet to reach ordinary Iranians. The poor, both young and old, can be seen in Iranian cities searching trash for food or cleaning car windows for loose change. Early in his tenure, Rouhani shared a 2013 phone call with then-U.S. President Barack Obama, the highest-level exchange between the two countries since Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution and the U.S. Embassy hostage crisis. During the campaign, Rouhani also increasingly has criticized Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard, a hard-line paramilitary force answering only to Khamenei, something he so far has been hesitant to do while in office. EBRAHIM RAISI Raisi, 56, is a hard-line cleric close to Khamenei who has vowed to combat poverty and corruption. He could pose the biggest challenge to Rouhani, especially if he can unify hard-liners. Raisi also has promised monthly cash payments to the poor, a populist move that's been popular with Iranian voters in the past. Last year, Khamenei appointed Raisi as head of the Imam Reza charity foundation, which manages a vast conglomerate of businesses and endowments in Iran. Khamenei called Raisi a "trustworthy and highly experienced" person, causing many to wonder if he might also be a possible successor to the supreme leader himself. Raisi, who works as a law professor, previously served as an attorney general and Iran's deputy judiciary chief. Two major clerical bodies, which declined to endorse anyone in the 2013 election, have backed Raisi in a snub to Rouhani, who himself is a cleric himself. However, his candidacy also has revived the controversy surrounding the 1988 mass execution of thousands in Iran, one of the darkest moments of Iran's post-revolution history still not recognized by its government. Raisi allegedly served on a panel involved in sentencing the prisoners to death. While he hasn't commented publicly on the accusation, his supporters appear to have released a video offering a hard-line justification for the executions. MOSTAFA HASHEMITABA Hashemitaba, 70, served as minister of industry in the 1980s. He is a pro-reform figure who previously ran for president in 2001. MOSTAFA MIRSALIM Mirsalim, 69, was shot and wounded during the unrest leading up to the 1979 revolution. He went on to serve as deputy interior minister and police chief. He served as culture minister for four years under Rafsanjani. FILE - In this Friday, April 14, 2017 file photo, Iranian cleric Ebrahim Raisi looks at media while registering his candidacy for the May 19 presidential elections at the Interior Ministry in Tehran, Iran. Iranians head to the polls Friday to vote in the Islamic Republic's presidential election, casting ballots in a contest largely seen as a referendum on the country's nuclear deal with world powers. Raisi, 56, is a hard-line cleric close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who has vowed to combat poverty and corruption. He could pose the biggest challenge to President Hassan Rouhani, especially if he can unify hard-liners. Raisi also has promised monthly cash payments to the poor, a populist move that's been popular with Iranian voters in the past. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi, File) FILE - In this Tuesday, April 11, 2017 file photo, Iranian presidential candidate Mostafa Mirsalim, a former culture minister, speaks with photographers and cameramen while attending at the Interior Ministry to register his candidacy for the May 19 presidential elections in Tehran, Iran. Iranians head to the polls Friday to vote in the Islamic Republic's presidential election, casting ballots in a contest largely seen as a referendum on the country's nuclear deal with world powers. Mirsalim, 69, was shot and wounded during the unrest leading up to the 1979 revolution. He went on to serve as deputy interior minister and police chief. He served as culture minister for four years under former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi, File) WASHINGTON (AP) - Vice President Mike Pence has stepped gingerly through the chaos engulfing the White House - offering loyalty to his boss, while trying to avoid the spreading stain of scandal. It hasn't been easy, and it's getting harder by the day. While some conservatives view Pence as a calming force in an administration mired in turmoil, Democrats are eager to tie him to President Donald Trump's vulnerabilities. The appointment of a special counsel to probe ties between Russia and Trump's campaign and associates has turned up the heat for everyone in Trump's orbit. Vice President Mike Pence pauses while speaking at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce during their "Invest in America!" Summit, Thursday, May 18, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) And there are fresh questions about how much Pence knew as head of Trump's transition team. The vice president was under new scrutiny Thursday after reports that former National Security Adviser Mike Flynn in January alerted the transition team about a Justice Department inquiry into whether he was secretly working as a foreign lobbyist for Turkish interests. The White House has said Flynn was fired in February for lying to Pence about his contacts with Russia's ambassador. An administration official said Thursday that Pence knew nothing about Flynn's activities at the time and referred to the vice president's comments in a Fox News interview in March in which Pence said, "Hearing that story today was the first I heard of it." Democrats said that strained credibility. "Pence was the head of the transition team that tapped Flynn for national security adviser. That is not good," said Stephanie Schriock, the president of EMILY's List, a Democratic group that backs female candidates who support abortion rights. Unlike his boss, who has raged in tweets and speeches, Pence has been careful in his comments about the multiple probes into the campaign's contacts with Russia. In the wake of Trump's abrupt dismissal of FBI Director James Comey, Pence has been circumspect. He has not publicly commented on the naming of former FBI Director Robert Mueller to serve as the special counsel investigating the allegations, and he only obliquely referred to the tumult surrounding the administration in a speech to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Thursday. "Whatever Washington, D.C., may be focused on at any given time, rest assured, President Donald Trump will never stop fighting for the issues that matter most to the American people," he said. But the Comey episode has revived questions about whether Pence is out of the loop at the White House, or less than truthful in his public statements. When Trump ousted Comey, administration officials said the president only did so after receiving a memo from Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Pence reiterated those claims to reporters, saying again and again that the decision came only after Trump decided to "accept" and "support" Rosenstein's recommendations. Two days later, Trump said in an interview with NBC News that he was planning to fire Comey anyway and had considered it since the start of his administration. Matt Schlapp, a veteran Republican consultant who leads the American Conservative Union, said Trump's candor and authenticity, attributes that helped get him elected, make it more difficult for Pence and other members of his team to stay in step. "There are going to be these moments that, for the vice president and for everybody in the White House staff and the Trump orbit, when they explain something one way but that's not where the president's head is on that. It will always be awkward," Schlapp said. "My guess is this was an honest mistake and there is still deep respect between the president and the vice president." Asked how Pence advised the president on Comey, an administration official would not detail the conversations between the pair but stressed that the vice president supported the decision to fire the FBI head. The official - who was not authorized to speak about Pence's activities publicly, and agreed to be interviewed only on condition of anonymity - also said Pence was not part of the president's meeting last week with Russian diplomats, noting that he was on Capitol Hill for Senate business. The Comey firing represents a second rough patch for Pence. At the start of the administration, the vice president publicly defended Flynn against allegations that he had discussed sanctions with Russia's ambassador to the U.S. before Trump's inauguration. Flynn had denied those conversations to Pence and other top officials; he was forced out after it was discovered that he had misled the vice president. Throughout the upheavals, Pence has maintained political life as usual. He has carved out a role as the administration's top lobbyist on Capitol Hill and was instrumental in helping Republicans pass a health care plan in the House. While Trump is away on his first foreign trip, Pence will be addressing graduates at a Pennsylvania Christian college and at Notre Dame while working on budget and policy issues in Washington. And political life never strays far from money. Pence this week registered a fundraising committee that enables him to cultivate donors outside of the president's mostly low-dollar money network. The vice president is a far more traditional politician when it comes to raising money, and this group - called the Great America Committee - can collect up to $5,000 per donor and parcel out funds to candidates supportive of White House policies. ___ Associated Press writer Julie Bykowicz contributed to this report. WASHINGTON (AP) - To the White House and its supporters, the big story in Washington isn't the investigation into possible Trump campaign ties to Russia. It's about leakers working to undermine the president. "SABOTAGE," read the subject line of emails sent out by President Donald Trump's re-election campaign and the Republican Party, which pointed to "people within our own unelected bureaucracy that want to sabotage President Trump and our entire America First movement." Trump tweeted Thursday that he's facing "the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history!" The language reveals much about how Trump and his backers are explaining the seemingly never-ending blitz of bad news rocking the White House. As Democrats talk about possible obstruction of justice and dream of removing Trump from office, the president and his allies reject that he bears responsibility for his woes. They see a plot to undermine him at every turn, as evidenced by the anonymous sources disclosing the embarrassing and damaging information - some of it classified. President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Thursday, May 18, 2017, during his meeting with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) All administrations have to deal with leaks, from the release of the Pentagon Papers on Vietnam policy to Edward Snowden's dump of national security files. But the scope and frequency experienced by the Trump White House is remarkable. In addition to an endless stream of gossip and internal squabbling, news outlets have been privy to everything from details of draft documents to the president's private phone conversations with foreign leaders. This week came reports that the president had shared highly classified information with Russian officials during an Oval Office meeting, revealed by those with knowledge of the conversation. "This has all the markings of a coordinated, silent coup," said Michael Caputo, who worked on Trump's campaign and keeps in touch with administration officials. Leaks are hardly the only cause of Trump's problems - the uproar over FBI Director James Comey's dismissal wasn't the result of a leak. But Trump-friendly talking heads see something that stretches the realms of believability. Far-right radio host Alex Jones warns of a plot by "deep-state" globalists to impeach Trump. On Fox News, Sean Hannity warned Wednesday of a "destroy Trump alliance" that is now "aligning to take down President Trump." But even if some claims go too far, Trump clearly does face opposition from within his own government. Running on a pledge to tear apart Washington, Trump still depends to some extent on Obama administration holdovers and career government employees, many of whom oppose him. Clashes among Trump aides also create an environment in which staff leak information to undercut rivals. Ari Fleischer, who served as press secretary to President George W. Bush, blamed Trump for creating an environment that promotes leaks, saying that starts at the top. "I do think there is a serious problem with leakers inside the administration and holdovers who can't stand the president and will do anything they can to hurt him. Leaks are a real problem," he said. "But Donald Trump created many of these problems for himself." A sense of fatigue and despondence has set in as White House officials wait for new balls to drop. Again and again, they have tried to push forward with their agenda, only to see news reports dominated by near-daily leaks. "Somebody is selectively leaking information and facts. And there's a reason it's selective," said White House press secretary Sean Spicer, who once demanded that staffers turn over their cell phones so he could inspect them for unauthorized communication. "It's because they're trying to create ... at least it appears as though somebody is trying to create a narrative or a problem." "It's extremely troubling," he said. The focus on leaks has also been embraced by Republicans in Congress, who have urged reporters to pay more attention to the source of their stories - a familiar strategy to deflect the conversation away from bad news. In many cases, Trump aides have leaked gossip to cement their public standings or tried to communicate with the president through news stories, which he devours. Erick Erickson, a conservative activist who has been critical of the president, recently wrote that because the notoriously thin-skinned president doesn't like internal criticism, some aides "are left with no other option but to go to the media, leak the story, and hope that the intense blowback gives the president a swift kick in the butt." White House officials have not said whether there is a leak investigation going on. But they're not the first to rail against leaks and leakers - or try to root them out. In 2013, for instance, the Obama Justice Department secretly obtained two months of phone records for reporters and editors of The Associated Press, which appeared to be linked to a criminal investigation into leaks about a foiled terrorist plot to bomb an airliner. __ Follow Colvin on Twitter at https://twitter.com/colvinj JUBA, South Sudan (AP) - South Sudanese pro-government forces killed 114 civilians in a single town last year and brutally raped girls and women in front of their families amid growing ethnic violence in the country's civil war, a new United Nations report said Friday. The investigation released by the U.N. human rights office said those cases and other abuses in Yei between July and January may amount to crimes against humanity. Abuses included the indiscriminate shelling of civilians, attacks on funerals, looting and burning. Yei is where The Associated Press late last year witnessed bodies with their hands bound. Satellite images showed "widespread burning of homes and businesses," the report said. South Sudan's President Salva Kiir attends a ceremony marking the 34th anniversary of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) in the capital Juba, South Sudan Thursday, May 18, 2017. South Sudan's civil war has killed tens of thousands and driven out more than 1.5 million people in the past three years, creating the world's largest refugee crisis. (AP Photo/Bullen Chol) The new report pointed out the "startling level of impunity in South Sudan" that has fed cycles of deadly ethnic violence. South Sudan government spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny rejected the report's findings, saying the government is operating within the law. "It's not true," he told the AP. "(Ethnic) Dinkas in that area were being targeted by rebels." Ethnic Dinkas dominate the military and government of President Salva Kiir. Opposition forces also have been responsible for abuses in South Sudan's conflict, now in its fourth year. "The extent of the abuses by armed opposition groups remains unclear due to lack of access to areas where these groups are active," the report said. Until last year, Yei had been largely peaceful with 200,000 to 300,000 people from various tribes. But after deadly violence erupted in the capital, Juba, in July, fighting spread to parts of South Sudan that had been spared by the conflict. As rebel leader Riek Machar fled into neighboring Congo, fighting broke out in Yei and elsewhere along his path. Tens of thousands have been killed in the civil war. More than 1.8 million have fled the country in what has become the world's fastest growing refugee crisis. The U.N. called on all sides to lay down their arms and for the government to investigate abuses and prosecute those responsible. FILE - In this Monday, Nov. 14, 2016 file photo, women stand outside a UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) site distributing soap, blankets, and other items in Yei, in southern South Sudan. South Sudanese pro-government forces killed 114 civilians in the town of Yei between July 2016 and January 2017, a new United Nations report said Friday, May 19, 2017, saying those cases and other abuses may amount to crimes against humanity. (AP Photo/Justin Lynch, File) Soldiers cheer at a ceremony marking the 34th anniversary of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), attended by President Salva Kiir, in the capital Juba, South Sudan, Thursday, May 18, 2017. South Sudan's civil war has killed tens of thousands and driven out more than 1.5 million people in the past three years, creating the world's largest refugee crisis. (AP Photo/Samir Bol) FILE - In this Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016 file photo, students line up outside a classroom with a map of Africa on its wall, in Yei, in southern South Sudan. South Sudanese pro-government forces killed 114 civilians in the town of Yei between July 2016 and January 2017, a new United Nations report said Friday, May 19, 2017, saying those cases and other abuses may amount to crimes against humanity. (AP Photo/Justin Lynch, File) Soldiers parade at a ceremony marking the 34th anniversary of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), attended by President Salva Kiir, in the capital Juba, South Sudan Thursday, May 18, 2017. South Sudan's civil war has killed tens of thousands and driven out more than 1.5 million people in the past three years, creating the world's largest refugee crisis. (AP Photo/Bullen Chol) LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) - The IOC's decision on whether to award Olympic hosting rights to both Los Angeles and Paris will be announced on June 9. The IOC says its executive board will meet in Lausanne to discuss the 2024 and 2028 bid processes, and reforming rules for 2026 Winter Games candidates. IOC President Thomas Bach asked the board's four vice presidents in March to advise on combining the 2024-2028 awards. Co-president of Paris 2024 bid Tony Estanguet, front right, takes a selfie of the back row from left, International Olympic Committee Evaluation Commission Chair Patrick Baumann and new French President Emmanuel Macron, member of the IOC Guy Drut and co-president of the Paris 2024 bid Bernard Lapasset as they pose during a group photo at the Elysee palace in Paris, France, May 16, 2017. France's new President Emmanuel Macron is hosting the International Olympic Committee to try to boost Paris' bid to beat out Los Angeles in the heated race for the 2024 Games. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) Bach often says the existing process produces "too many losers." He is expected to want to reward LA and Paris with either the 2024 or 2028 Olympics. Leaders of both campaigns come to Lausanne for July 9-12 meetings of the IOC board and full membership. IOC members are scheduled to choose the 2024 host on Sept. 13 in Lima, Peru. Report: FBI probe moves into White House WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump told Russian diplomats last week his firing of "nut job" James Comey had eased the pressure on him, even as the FBI's Trump-Russia investigation had moved into the White House, according to reports Friday that pursued the president as he began his maiden foreign trip. White House hopes that Trump could leave scandalous allegations at home were crushed in a one-two punch of revelations that landed shortly after his departure. A Washington Post report, citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter, said a senior Trump adviser is now considered a "person of interest" in the law enforcement investigation into whether Trump's campaign associates coordinated with Russia in an effort to sway the 2016 election. And The New York Times reported that the president had told Russian officials he felt the dismissal of his FBI director had relieved "great pressure" on him. The White House has said the firing was unrelated to the FBI's Russia investigation. Late Friday, the Senate intelligence committee announced that Comey had agreed to testify at an open hearing at an undetermined date after Memorial Day. Comey will certainly be asked about encounters that precipitated his firing, including a January dinner in which, Comey has told associates, Trump asked for his loyalty. In the Oval Office weeks later, Comey told associates, the president asked him to shut down an investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn. ___ Trump to Muslims on first foreign trip: Drive out terrorists WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump will use his first visit to the Middle East to call for unity in the fight against radicalism in the Muslim world, casting the challenge as a "battle between good and evil" and urging Arab leaders to "drive out the terrorists from your places of worship," according to a draft of the speech obtained by The Associated Press. Abandoning some of the harsh anti-Muslim rhetoric of his presidential campaign, the draft of the speech, slated to be delivered in Saudi Arabia on Sunday, envisions new partnerships with America's traditional allies in the Middle East. It notably refrains from mentioning democracy and human rights - topics Arab leaders often view as U.S. moralizing - in favor of the more limited goals of peace and stability. "We are not here to lecture - to tell other peoples how to live, what to do or who to be. We are here instead to offer partnership in building a better future for us all," the document said. Trump left Washington Friday afternoon for Riyadh, the first stop on his maiden trip overseas trip as president. The marathon trip will also take him to Israel, the Vatican, Belgium and Italy. The trip is a key test of the president's diplomatic skills and a chance to add substance to a foreign policy he has described broadly as "America First." Two different sources provided the AP with copies of the draft of his remarks, billed as a marquee speech of the trip. One version, obtained late Thursday, included edits with comments from an administration official, indicating it was still a work in progress. ___ Weiner pleads guilty in sexting case, could go to prison NEW YORK (AP) - Former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner, whose penchant for sexting strangers ended his political career and sparked a probe that upended the presidential race, pleaded guilty Friday to a sex charge, tearfully apologizing for communications with a 15-year-old girl that he said destroyed his "life's dream in public service." Weiner, who could go to prison, pleaded guilty to a single count of transmitting obscene material to a minor. He admitted exchanging online messages with the girl beginning in January 2015 and "sharing explicit images and encouraging her to engage in sexually explicit conduct." "I have a sickness, but I do not have an excuse," he said. In court, the 52-year-old former Democratic congressman paused repeatedly as he fought back tears and tried to compose himself. He said he knew the texting was "as morally wrong as it was unlawful." Pleading to the charge, which requires him to register as a sex offender, could bring a sentence of up to 10 years. But Weiner is likely to serve much less time if he is sentenced to prison. ___ Prosecutors: Times Square driver wanted to 'kill them all' NEW YORK (AP) - A man who was behind the wheel of a car that barreled through crowds of pedestrians in Times Square told police after his arrest that he had been smoking marijuana laced with the hallucinogenic drug PCP, according to a criminal complaint. Richard Rojas, 26, made his first court appearance Friday, a day after he was arrested in what police are now calling an intentional attack that killed an 18-year-old Michigan woman and injured 22 other people. "He murdered in cold blood," Assistant District Attorney Harrison Schweiloch said during the brief proceeding. Rojas, wearing the same red T-shirt and jeans he was photographed in a day earlier, appeared subdued as prosecutors detailed murder and attempted murder charges. He didn't enter a plea and was held without bail. ___ Rape inquiry dropped, WikiLeaks' Assange remains in embassy LONDON (AP) - WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange no longer is the subject of an active rape investigation in Sweden, but he remains holed up in Ecuador's embassy in London facing an unclear future because of uncertainty over whether American authorities will try to get him handed over next. Sweden's top prosecutor dropped a long-running inquiry into a rape claim against Assange on Friday, saying there was no way to detain or charge him "in the foreseeable future" because of his protected status inside the embassy. Prosecutor Marianne Ny said she could not judge whether the 45-year-old Australian native was guilty or innocent because the investigation had been thwarted. Ny said the case could be reopened if Assange comes to Sweden before the statute of limitations expires in 2020. British police said they would arrest Assange if he leaves the embassy on the relatively minor charge of jumping bail, but the more severe threat is a possible sealed U.S. indictment against him. The sun-starved WikiLeaks provocateur, looking healthy if pale, emerged Friday afternoon to address the media in the open air of the embassy's balcony. He said the day marked an "important victory," but noted that he still could be prosecuted by the United States. ___ In New Orleans, Confederate monuments are gone _ Lee last NEW ORLEANS (AP) - They were among the city's oldest landmarks, as cemented to the landscape of New Orleans as the Superdome and St. Louis Cathedral: a stone obelisk heralding white supremacy and three statues of Confederate stalwarts. But after decades standing sentinel over this Southern city, the Confederate monuments are gone, amid a controversy that at times hearkened back to the divisiveness of the Civil War they commemorated. The last of the monuments - a statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee facing defiantly north with his arms crossed - was lifted by a crane from its pedestal late Friday. As air was seen between Lee's statue and the pedestal below it, a cheer went out from the crowd who recorded the history with their phones and shook hands with each other in congratulations. Many in the crowd had waited since morning. "I never thought I would see this day!" shouted Melanie Morel-Ensminger with joy. "But look! It's happening." Lee's was the last of four monuments to Confederate-era figures to be removed under a 2015 City Council vote on a proposal by Mayor Mitch Landrieu. It caps a nearly two-year-long process that has been railed against by those who feel the monuments are a part of Southern heritage and honor the dead. But removal of the monuments has drawn praise from those who saw them as brutal reminders of slavery and symbols of the historic oppression of black people. ___ Teen charged in death says 19-year-old shot Mississippi boy JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - A Mississippi teenager charged with murder in the death of a 6-year-old told investigators that the boy was actually shot by another of the three teen suspects, according to an investigator's sworn statement. The Associated Press obtained the sworn statement Friday from a source with knowledge of the case involving the death of Kingston Frazier. The boy was found shot to death at the side of a dead-end road inside his mother's abandoned car, hours after someone stole the Toyota Camry from a supermarket parking lot. Mississippi Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Rusty Clark said in the sworn statement filed in connection with the case that 17-year-old Dwan Wakefield of Ridgeland told Clark and another investigator 19-year-old Byron McBride of Pickens was at fault. "During this interview, Wakefield implicated Byron McBride as the person who actually stole the vehicle and shot and killed Frazier," Clark's statement said. When asked for further comment, MBI spokesman Warren Strain declined, saying "the court document speaks for itself." ___ How did a drug bust in Bali become an Australian obsession? SYDNEY (AP) - She has riveted Australia for more than a decade, the everyday Aussie beach girl who somehow sparked diplomatic rows, furious protests and a media bonanza on par with America's O.J. Simpson trial. She is so notorious Down Under that she needs no last name: She's just Schapelle. Next week, after an exhaustively chronicled stint in a Balinese prison for smuggling marijuana to the Indonesian island, Schapelle Corby is expected to return to Australia. Her homecoming marks the climax of a tale that divided and in many ways defined Australia, where the obsession with the woman the nation once protectively dubbed "Our Schapelle" has not faded, even if belief in her innocence has. Not since the notorious case of Lindy Chamberlain - whose baby daughter was killed by a dingo during an Outback camping trip - has a legal saga so mesmerized the country. But exactly why Corby's plight achieved such prominence can be, at first glance, a bit puzzling. She wasn't famous before her arrest and she was hardly the first Aussie to be busted for drugs while traveling abroad. As The Australian newspaper once put it: "Corby is an ordinary suburban Australian woman who worked in a takeaway shop, saved up for a holiday in Bali, and somehow galvanized an entire nation." Fueling the fixation was everything from the unprecedented media coverage of her trial, to the made-for-TV courtroom theatrics, to the empathy ordinary Australians felt for a woman they viewed as one of their own. Her case also coincided with an era of cultural upheaval, tapping into a surge of nationalism and fear heightened by bombings in Bali that killed 88 Australians just two years before Corby's arrest. Anthony Lambert, who spent years studying Australia's response to the case, once described Corby as "the daughter who is Australia." And in some ways, she still is. ___ Brazil's top prosecutor accuses Temer of obstructing justice RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - Brazil's top prosecutor is accusing President Michel Temer of corruption and obstruction of justice, according to an investigation released Friday by the supreme court, dramatically escalating pressure to force the embattled leader from office. At the same time, other released documents said the owner of a major meatpacker has told prosecutors that he transferred $150 million to offshore accounts for the campaigns of Temer's two predecessors in the presidency. Attorney General Rodrigo Janot's charges against Temer threaten to drive him from the presidency and represent an extraordinary development in a corruption probe that is upending politics and just about everything else in Latin America's largest nation. For Temer, a 76-year-old career politician who was not elected, the fallout could cost him his job. Temer, then vice president, took power a year ago after President Dilma Rousseff was impeached and later removed from office for illegally managing the federal budget. By Friday afternoon, O Globo, the flagship paper of Brazil's largest media company, was calling for Temer's resignation, delivering a significant blow to Temer's prospects for survival. The media group had supported Temer's proposed economic overhaul, and more generally wields enormous influence because of its popular soap operas and media dominance. ___ Iranians turn out in large numbers for closely watched vote TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Millions of Iranians voted late into the night Friday to decide whether incumbent President Hassan Rouhani deserves another four years in office after securing a landmark nuclear deal, or if the sluggish economy demands a new hard-line leader who could return the country to a more confrontational path with the West. The Islamic Republic's first presidential election since the 2015 nuclear accord drew surprisingly large numbers of voters to polling stations, with some reporting waiting in line for hours to cast their votes. Election officials extended voting hours at least three times at the more than 63,000 polling places to accommodate the crowds. Four candidates remain in the race. But for most voters only two mattered, both of them clerics with very different views for the country's future: Rouhani and hard-line law professor and former prosecutor Ebrahim Raisi. Rouhani is a political moderate by Iranian standards, but the 68-year-old has come to embody more liberal and reform-minded Iranians' hopes for greater political freedom at home and better relations with the outside world. His supporters are also hoping he can make better progress on improving the economy, a key issue on the minds of the country's 56 million eligible voters. Many say they are yet to see the benefits of the nuclear deal, which saw Iran limit its contested nuclear program over the objection of hard-liners in exchange for the lifting of some sanctions. News / National by Staff reporter ZIMBABWE'S co-Vice-Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko - the two remaining liberation struggle stalwarts in government besides President Robert Mugabe and a few others - fiercely clashed in cabinet over the command agriculture project and the official economic blueprint, ZimAsset.Command agriculture is a government scheme initially aimed at producing two million tonnes of maize on 400 000 hectares of land, using farmers identified and given inputs, irrigation and mechanised equipment for the purpose. ZimAsset, in full the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation, is government's official five-year economic blueprint.High-profile official sources said Mnangagwa, who chairs the cabinet committee on food security and nutrition and is thus spearheading command agriculture, clashed with Mphoko as simmering tensions over the project finally erupted in front of Mugabe."Mphoko, since last week, but more so directly this week in cabinet triggered the fight when he said command agriculture has now become a parallel programme run by an individual for self-serving ends while undermining ZimAsset," a senior official said."He went on to suggest Mnangagwa was now operating as a lone ranger with his faction and this was detrimental to ZimAsset. Mphoko also said ZimAsset sought to create two million jobs by 2018, but this was being sabotaged by those employing soldiers in command agriculture when army officers are already employed. This basically sparked off the fight."Another official said Mnangagwa furiously hit back, saying Mphoko's comments were strange and needless."Mnangagwa fought back, saying command agriculture is a government project and Mphoko should know that as this has been explained in cabinet and in public; he also said it was weird such questions were now being asked in the first place. But Mphoko went ballistic, warning Mnangagwa could not silence him because they are equals. He reminded him that his boss is Mugabe, not him. All the while Mugabe just kept quiet."At least 2 000 farmers were expected to participate in the US$515 million scheme. Mnangagwa has said government's project got oversubscribed to about US$1 billion. He said the banking sector offered US$300 million; Sakunda US$264 million and National Social Security Authority US$20 million, among other offers.President Robert Mugabe's spokesperson George Charamba - who is in the Mnangagwa Zanu-PF faction - said on Tuesday while addressing mourners at the burial of his late wife, Idaishe Olivia Chengu-Charamba, in Mutorashanga, Sakunda was funding the programme. Sakunda is owned by Zanu-PF benefactor Kuda Tagwirei."Let it be known that command agriculture is not being funded by public funds, nothing is coming from taxpayers. The money is coming from Sakunda Holdings through their company Trafigura," he said. "These are committed Zimbabweans bound by the love of their country who came to fund the project."Higher and Tertiary Education minister Jonathan Moyo, who together with Mphoko belongs to Grace Mugabe's G40 faction, has said command agriculture has largely been a failure as it has used US$500 million to contract 247 035 hectares of which 191 124ha (77%) were tilled, while only 153 102,6% (61%) were actually planted.Another G40 ally, Agriculture minister Joseph Made, has said only US$190 million had been used to plant 160 000ha of maize.However, Mnangagwa and his allies have hailed the project as a huge success, exposing serious policy discord over the issue in government.But Policy Co-ordination and Promotion of Socio-Economic Ventures minister Simon Khaya Moyo said yesterday there was no policy clash within government, adding the two programmes were meant to complement each other."There is no confusion at all in government. As you know, ZimAsset is the official government blueprint that was crafted by the party (Zanu-PF) and adopted by government after the 2013 elections," he said. "This blueprint is premised on four clusters which include food security. There is no contradiction between the two as command agriculture ensures food security."Government's decision to embark on command agriculture was necessitated by worsening national food insecurity, from about 12% in 2011 to 42% last year.The Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Report has said four million Zimbabweans need food aid because of an El-Nino-induced drought. Food insecurity became entrenched after government's violent and chaotic land reform programme, which destroyed agriculture.Officials said Mphoko also attacked Mnangagwa for allegedly militarising the command agriculture project.The Independent understands nine lieutenant-colonels and 65 majors from the Zimbabwe National Army and other senior Zimbabwe Defence Forces officers have been deployed under the command agriculture programme.The sources said Mnangagwa defended himself, saying the project has not been militarised and was voluntary - not Soviet-style or Stalinist. Mugabe, sources said, did not intervene during the harsh exchanges between his two deputies. Mphoko bitterly complained the command agriculture programme was now sabotaging the over-ambitious US$27 billion ZimAsset and that was unacceptable."The contestation was on factional lines with ministers backing the two vice-presidents clearly showing their political prefrences," a source said.This week in parliament, Buhera South legislator Joseph Chinotimba made a statement of privilege glorifying the command agriculture programme before MDC-T MP Murisi Zwizai countered him, saying the programme was not there to support individual agendas."As Members of Parliament, God blessed us with enough rains and people were able to produce a lot or crops through command agriculture. As parliament, we would like to support such initiatives. We would like to thank the minister and the vice-president. They should remain steadfast so that we continue to have a good harvest. If we have bumper harvests, we will not be perpetually bothering (Public Service) Minister (Priscah) Mupfumira for food support. If possible, these people should be promoted. I thank you," Chinotimba said.Zwizai countered Chinotimba, saying: "I rise on a point of correction. As parliament, we are not here to belittle the President. He is the one who initiated the command agriculture. We do not accept Zanu-PF factions to come here to compete and praise those that are in the succession race. Mr Speaker, this House is not an arena for factions that are in the succession race. Command agriculture was initiated by His Excellency, the President Cde RG Mugabe. If you want to thank (anyone), you should thank him. I thank you." BRUSSELS (AP) - The Latest on relations between the European Union and Turkey (all times local): 3:45 p.m. The chief of Europe's top human rights body is urging Turkey's courts to stick to European legal standards in trying thousands of people who were jailed in the wake of last year's attempted coup. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses a business meeting in Istanbul, Thursday, May 18, 2017. Turkey has told the United States it will not join in any military operations that include Kurdish fighters in Syria, Erdogan said Thursday, while vowing to strike the U.S.-backed Kurds if they threaten Turkey's security.(Presidency Press Service, Pool photo via AP) Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland told The Associated Press in an interview on Friday it "wouldn't be in the interest" of Turkey if its courts don't abide by those standards. He says Turkey could face "thousands and thousands of condemnations" from the European Court of Human Rights if it fails to do so. Jagland said: "This will not be good for Turkey. It will not be good for Europe." Turkey declared a state of emergency following the July coup attempt and arrested more than 47,000 people. Another 100,000 have been fired from government jobs. ___ 1:35 p.m. Germany's Foreign Ministry says a diplomat has been able to meet with a German-Turkish journalist imprisoned in the Istanbul area but there's still no information about a second German journalist in custody in Turkey. Spokesman Martin Schaefer said Consul General Georg Birgelein met for 80 minutes with Die Welt correspondent Deniz Yucel on Thursday for an unsupervised conversation. Yucel was taken into custody earlier this year on charges of producing terrorist propaganda and incitement to hatred - accusations that he denies. Germany has called for his release. Several dozen journalists have been incarcerated since last year's failed coup attempt in Turkey. Schaefer said Friday that Germany has been given no information about another journalist, Mesale Tolu, a 33-year-old German with Turkish roots who's been in custody for more than two weeks. ___ 1:30 p.m. European Union top officials will meet with Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan next Thursday in Brussels to discuss the unraveling relations between both sides. The EU announced Friday that Council President Donald Tusk and Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker will host the Erdogan for a bilateral meeting ahead of the NATO summit later in the day. Even though the EU and Turkey have an agreement that has stemmed the flow of people fleeing war and poverty coming into the European heartland, relations have worsened in the wake of last year's failed coup attempt in Turkey. Erdogan has insulted EU nations like Germany and the Netherlands by comparing them with Nazis and has hinted that he is seeking to bring back the death penalty, which would doom Turkey's EU membership aspirations. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses a business meeting in Istanbul, Thursday, May 18, 2017. Turkey has told the United States it will not join in any military operations that include Kurdish fighters in Syria, Erdogan said Thursday, while vowing to strike the U.S.-backed Kurds if they threaten Turkey's security.(Presidency Press Service, Pool photo via AP) Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses a business meeting in Istanbul, Thursday, May 18, 2017. Turkey has told the United States it will not join in any military operations that include Kurdish fighters in Syria, Erdogan said Thursday, while vowing to strike the U.S.-backed Kurds if they threaten Turkey's security.(Presidency Press Service, Pool photo via AP) Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses a business meeting in Istanbul, Thursday, May 18, 2017. Turkey has told the United States it will not join in any military operations that include Kurdish fighters in Syria, Erdogan said Thursday, while vowing to strike the U.S.-backed Kurds if they threaten Turkey's security.(Presidency Press Service, Pool photo via AP) KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - A roadside bombing killed 11 people in eastern Afghanistan on Friday as they were traveling to a wedding in the country's east, a local official said. Also Friday, five Afghan policemen were killed in fighting with the Taliban in eastern Kapisa province. Earlier, a policeman turned his rifle on his colleagues as they slept at an outpost in eastern Nangarhar province on Thursday night, killing five. Those killed by the roadside bomb in Logar province - five women, five children and a man - were all from the same family, said Salim Salleh, the spokesman for the provincial governor of Logar. In Kapisa, the Taliban attacked a police checkpoint early Friday morning, killing five policemen, according to Qais Qaderi, the spokesman for the provincial governor. He said the assault took place in Tagab district, adding that 10 Taliban fighters were also killed, including two commanders. In the Thursday night attack, district governor, Abdul Wahab Momand, said the policeman shot his colleagues at an outpost in the district of Ghanikhil. After the shooting, the attacker, who was only identified by one name, Nasratullah, seized all the victims' firearms and fled the scene, the governor said. Neither the Taliban nor the Islamic State group - the two militant groups who operate in the area - immediately claimed responsibility for the attack in Nangarhar, a mountainous province that borders Pakistan. There was also no claim of responsibility for the attack in Logar but Salleh, the spokesman, accused the Taliban of planting the roadside bomb. Afghanistan has the highest number of mine victims in the world, which along with roadside bombs kill or wound an estimated 140 people every month. The Taliban have stepped up their attacks since announcing their spring offensive last month. Elsewhere in Afghanistan, another roadside bomb targeted a U.S. militarily convoy in northern Parwan province on Friday, the international mission's media officer, Doug High, said. The explosion disabled an armored vehicle but caused no injuries, High said. After recovering the vehicle, the convoy continued on its mission, he added. ATLANTA (AP) - Documents show that an Atlanta police officer who shot a tourist who was in town to attend a motocross event at the Georgia Dome has been fired. WSB-TV reports (http://2wsb.tv/2qAxtpH ) that it obtained documents that Sgt. Mathieu Cadeau was notified of the firing May 8. Authorities said Cadeau was working an off-duty job directing traffic near the dome in February. Cadeau told investigators that he shot Noel Hall of Morganton, North Carolina, because he feared for his safety. Officials said at the time that Hall disregarded the officer's commands and drove in his direction. But Hall told WSB that he and his family drove around the officer, not at him, and the officer responded by shooting him and missing his heart by a couple of inches. No charges have been filed. ___ Information from: WSB-TV, http://www.wsbtv.com/index.html MANASSAS, Va. (AP) - A man was shot and wounded by officers in northern Virginia after police say he called 911 to report a shooting that didn't happen, described the SUV he was driving, then struck pursuing cruisers. Prince William County police said in a statement that after Manassas City Police officers tried to stop the SUV the caller described Friday, the SUV hit two cruisers before stopping in a parking lot. Spokesman Sgt. Jonathan Perok says there was a confrontation and the 18-year-old driver was shot. He has serious injuries, but is expected to survive. A BB gun was recovered at the scene. Perok says officers and a 15-year-old girl inside the SUV weren't injured. Manassas Police Chief Doug Keen says six officers are on administrative leave, including two involved in the shooting. BRUSSELS (AP) - European Union top officials will meet with Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan next Thursday in Brussels to discuss the unraveling relations between both sides. The EU announced Friday that Council President Donald Tusk and Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker will host the Erdogan for a bilateral meeting ahead of the NATO summit later in the day. Even though the EU and Turkey have an agreement that has stemmed the flow of people fleeing war and poverty coming into the European heartland, relations have worsened in the wake of last year's failed coup attempt in Turkey. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses a business meeting in Istanbul, Thursday, May 18, 2017. Turkey has told the United States it will not join in any military operations that include Kurdish fighters in Syria, Erdogan said Thursday, while vowing to strike the U.S.-backed Kurds if they threaten Turkey's security.(Presidency Press Service, Pool photo via AP) Erdogan has insulted EU nations like Germany and the Netherlands by comparing them with Nazis and has hinted that he is seeking to bring back the death penalty, which would doom Turkey's EU membership aspirations. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses a business meeting in Istanbul, Thursday, May 18, 2017. Turkey has told the United States it will not join in any military operations that include Kurdish fighters in Syria, Erdogan said Thursday, while vowing to strike the U.S.-backed Kurds if they threaten Turkey's security.(Presidency Press Service, Pool photo via AP) Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses a business meeting in Istanbul, Thursday, May 18, 2017. Turkey has told the United States it will not join in any military operations that include Kurdish fighters in Syria, Erdogan said Thursday, while vowing to strike the U.S.-backed Kurds if they threaten Turkey's security.(Presidency Press Service, Pool photo via AP) Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses a business meeting in Istanbul, Thursday, May 18, 2017. Turkey has told the United States it will not join in any military operations that include Kurdish fighters in Syria, Erdogan said Thursday, while vowing to strike the U.S.-backed Kurds if they threaten Turkey's security.(Presidency Press Service, Pool photo via AP) LONDON (AP) - Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, has won his battle against extradition to Sweden, which wanted to question him about a rape allegation. He has spent nearly five years inside the Embassy of Ecuador in London to avoid being sent to Sweden, which announced Friday that the investigation has been discontinued. Here are key events in the Assange saga: 2010 Aug. 20: Swedish prosecutor issues arrest warrant for Assange based on one woman's allegation of rape and another woman's allegation of molestation. Aug. 21: Arrest warrant is withdrawn. Prosecutor Eva Finne says there appears to be insufficient evidence for allegation of rape. Aug. 31: Swedish police question Assange, who denies the allegations. Sept. 1: Sweden's director of prosecutions, Marianne Ny, reopens rape investigation. Sept. 27: Assange leaves Sweden for Britain. Nov. 18: Stockholm court approves request to detain Assange for questioning. Nov. 20: Swedish police issue international arrest warrant for Assange. Dec. 8: Assange surrenders to police in London and is detained pending extradition hearing. Dec. 14: Assange is granted bail but prosecutors appeal. Dec. 16: High Court grants bail. Assange is released after supporters pledge 240,000 pounds ($375,000) in cash and sureties. 2011 Feb. 24: District court in Britain rules Assange should be extradited to Sweden. Nov. 2: High Court rejects Assange's appeal against extradition. Dec. 5: Assange granted an appeal to the Supreme Court. 2012 May 30: Supreme Court rejects Assange's appeal. June 12: Assange asks Supreme Court to reopen case. June 14: Supreme Court refuses to reopen case. June 19: Assange enters Ecuadorean embassy in central London, seeking asylum. Police set up round-the-clock guard to arrest him if he steps outside. Aug. 16: Assange is granted political asylum by Ecuador. 2013 June: Assange tells journalists he will not leave the embassy even if sex allegations against him are dropped because he fears he will be extradited to the United States. 2014 July: Assange loses bid to have an arrest warrant issued in Sweden against him canceled. A judge in Stockholm upholds the warrant alleging sexual offences against two women. September: Assange's lawyers submit a complaint against Sweden and Britain to the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention claiming his situation in the embassy amounts to illegal detention. November: Assange loses a legal move in a Swedish appeal court aimed at revoking his arrest warrant. 2015 March: Swedish prosecutors ask to question Assange at the Ecuadorean embassy. June: Assange claims the Swedish prosecutor has canceled an appointment to interview him at the embassy. Aug. 13: Swedish prosecutors drop investigations into some allegations against Assange because of the statute of limitations; investigation into a rape allegation remains active. Aug. 16: British Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire says Ecuador's decision to harbor Assange had prevented the proper course of justice. Oct. 12: Metropolitan Police end their 24-hour guard outside the Ecuadorean embassy but say they will use overt and covert means to track and arrest Assange if he leaves. It ends a three-year police operation which is estimated to have cost more than 12 million pounds ($17 million). 2016 Feb. 5: Assange claims "total vindication" as the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention finds that he has been unlawfully detained and recommends he be immediately freed and given compensation. Britain and Sweden say the finding will have no impact on their policy. British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond calls the finding "frankly ridiculous." 2017 Jan. 19: Assange retreats from offer to accept extradition to the U.S. if Chelsea Manning was granted clemency. His lawyers say Assange was really asking for a pardon for Manning. April 6: Ecuador's president-elect, Lenin Moreno, warns Assange that as a condition of asylum granted in 2012, he is not allowed to meddle in politics. The rebuke followed Assange's Twitter blast at the losing candidate. May 19: Prosecutor Marianne Ny announces that investigation has been suspended and the European arrest warrant has been withdrawn because she sees no realistic possibility of bringing Assange to Sweden. British police say he is still wanted for jumping bail in 2012. MIAMI (AP) - The Coast Guard says authorities have suspended the search for a small plane that apparently crashed into the ocean in the Bahamas with four people on board, including two children and a prominent New York businesswoman. Air traffic control lost contact with the Mitsubishi MU-2B aircraft while it was heading to Florida from Puerto Rico. A search that included the Coast Guard and Bahamas Defense Forces located plane debris east of the Bahamian island of Eleuthera. 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- and 4-year-old sons. A Coast Guard statement said the search area covered an expanse of ocean the size of Massachusetts before it was suspended late Thursday. CHEVERLY, Md. (AP) - An ambulance stolen from a hospital in Washington's Maryland suburbs has been recovered and a man is in custody. Prince George's County Police spokesman Officer Tyler Hunter says the unoccupied ambulance was taken from Prince George's Hospital Center early Friday. An officer spotted the ambulance and began to follow it. Maryland State Police and the Charles County Sheriff's Office joined in. Video shows at least a dozen police vehicles following the ambulance down a highway. The ambulance headed into Charles County but returned to Prince George's County, where it stopped in Temple Hills. Prince George's County police said in a statement Friday afternoon that officers arrested 43-year-old William Person of Temple Hills. He was treated and released from a hospital and charged with auto theft and malicious destruction of property. MADRID (AP) - The Spanish government has called on Catalan president Carles Puigdemont to present his proposal for a regional independence referendum before Parliament because the issue affects all of Spain and would require a change in the country's constitution. Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria made the offer Friday in apparent response to complaints by Puigdemont that Spain refuses to discuss his regional government's secession demands. The government says it cannot permit a secession referendum as it is unconstitutional. Relations between the central and regional governments have soured greatly over the issue. Puidgemont is to speak on the issue Monday at a private conference in Madrid's town hall that has triggered protests. Catalonia, which represents a fifth of Spain's GDP, insists it will hold the vote in September. News / National by Staff reporter PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace neither attended the funeral of the wife of the president's long-serving press secretary George Charamba nor sent a public condolence message to the family, exposing severely frayed relations as Zanu-PF factional and succession battles intensify.Idaishe Olivia Charamba died aged 45 on Sunday after battling liver and kidney problems. She was laid to rest at her rural home in Mutorashanga on Tuesday.Charamba, who also serves as permanent secretary in the Information ministry, has worked for Mugabe for 30 years. The president was expected to either attend the burial or at least pay his condolences at Charamba's home in Harare.Government officials believe the no-show could be attributed to the fallout between Grace and Charamba. Grace is leading the G40 faction, while Charamba is associated with the Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa-led faction.Some of the most prominent government officials who attended the funeral include Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander General Constantino Chiwenga, Foreign Affairs minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Misheck Sibanda, Central Intelligence Organisation director-general Happyton Bonyongwe, Deputy Information minister Thokozile Mathuthu and Foreign Affairs secretary Ambassador Joey Bimha.Mnangagwa spent the better part of Sunday evening (the day Idaishe died) at the Charambas' home in Alexandra Park, along with other ministers. Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko also went to pay his condolences.Zanu-PF political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere and Higher Education minister Jonathan Moyo, who are linked to the G40 faction, reportedly made "cameo" appearances at the family home.Home Affairs minister Ignatius Chombo apparently represented government - not Mugabe's family - at the funeral.A fallout between Grace and Charamba was exposed last year at a Women's League rally when former Zanu-PF Women's League secretary for finance Sarah Mahoka, who used to be a Grace's close ally, denigrated Charamba when she challenged the president to state if he had authorised his spokesperson to grant ZiFM a radio interview.In the interview, Charamba attacked the G40 faction whom he accused of being succesionists. He warned that they should start worrying about their careers, in a statement believed to have been directed at Moyo.Charamba accused G40 of undermining Mugabe and pushing the succession narrative within the governing party."What they have to worry about are their own careers, not me," Charamba said.An article Charamba wrote for the state-controlled Herald newspaper in 2011 explains his close relationship with Mugabe and how the two have worked together since 1988." I have had the privilege of working with President Mugabe since 1988, more intensively since 1990 as head of his small Press Unit, then Deputy Principal Private Secretary before going back to the Press Department, this time as its director," wrote Charamba. "I grew in that seat until I doubled up as a Permanent Secretary and his spokesman, a duality that has since discomfited the Prime Minister and his party. All this means I have worked with the president for slightly over two decades, clearly his longest-serving press secretary to date, possibly ever."Charamba had not yet responded to a message sent to him by the Zimbabwe Independent by the time of going to print. LONDON (AP) - Maria Sharapova will play in the Wimbledon qualifying tournament. The 2004 champion at the All England Club, who returned last month from a 15-month doping ban, said Friday in a post on her website that she will not request a wild card into the main draw at Wimbledon. "Because of my improved ranking after the first three tournaments of my return, I will also be playing the Qualifying of Wimbledon in Roehampton, and will not be requesting a wild card into the main draw," the five-time Grand Slam champion wrote. Maria Sharapova, of Russia, serves the ball to Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, of Croatia, during the Italian Open tennis tournament, in Rome, Tuesday, May 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Earlier this week, the former top-ranked Russian had her request for a French Open wild card rejected by Roland Garros officials. The snub was criticized by the WTA, which said there were "no grounds to penalize her further." The 30-year-old Sharapova, ranked only 211th but set to break into the top 200 on Monday, retired from her second-round match at the Italian Open on Tuesday after apparently injuring her left thigh. "I have already started getting treatment on the injury I sustained a few days ago in Rome, and will begin my preparation as soon I get better," Sharapova wrote. Since the end of her ban, Sharapova has used wild-card entries to play three events on the WTA Tour to get her world ranking up to a level where she can automatically enter anywhere again. In her first tournament in Stuttgart, Sharapova won three matches to reach the semifinals before losing to Kristina Mladenovic. Then, after defeating Mirjana Lucic-Baroni in her opening match in Madrid, she came up against Eugenie Bouchard, a Canadian who said Sharapova was a "cheater" and should be banned for life for doping. Bouchard won 7-5, 2-6, 6-4. Other players, including Andy Murray and Angelique Kerber, have been outspoken about Sharapova receiving free passes into events. On Thursday, Sharapova was granted a wild card to play in the pre-Wimbledon tournament in Birmingham. The Aegon Classic begins on June 19, two weeks before Wimbledon. Ironically, the last time Sharapova was forced to qualify for an event was at the Birmingham tournament in 2003. Wimbledon qualifying starts on June 26 and Sharapova will need to win three matches to enter the main tournament. The grass-court Grand Slam was where Sharapova won her first major tournament, beating Serena Williams in a one-sided final in 2004 when she was only 17. She had to wait another seven years before reaching the final again, losing to Petra Kvitova. Maria Sharapova of Russia relaxes during a pause of her match against Mirjana Lucic-Baroni of Croatia at the Italian Open tennis tournament, in Rome, Tuesday, May 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) MOSCOW (AP) - While their country has become a daily source of headlines and political intrigue in the United States, most Russians are watching the drama over President Donald Trump's relationship with Moscow with resignation, even indifference. Russian media, state-owned and private, chronicle Trump's troubles matter-of-factly. Regular citizens generally care little about them. Many share the view that what's unfolded in Washington has dimmed prospects for the mended Russia-U.S. ties his candidacy represented here and thus have lost interest. "I live in Russia, and that's why I'm not so much interested in what's going on in the United States," musician Artem Burnat said. "Yes, the president is a controversial and unpredictable person. But this is their country and their president." FILE - In this May 10, 2017 file handout photo released by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, President Donald Trump meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. The U.S. and Israel are publicly brushing aside President Donald Trump's reported sharing of a highly classified tip from Israel with Russia, but spy professionals on both sides are frustrated and fearful about the repercussions to a critical intelligence partnership. (Russian Foreign Ministry via AP) Opinion surveys have indicated that initial expectations of a thaw have given way to apathy, and perceptions of Trump have become more negative. Although many Russians attribute his travails to Democrats' anger over losing the election, they don't see the billionaire businessman as someone to stand up for. "The vote was split nearly in half, and he didn't even have the majority of votes," manager Andrei Tereshkovich, 56, said on the streets of Moscow. "There is a strong desire to change things, people are upset, and the situation is unstable. Trump lacks resources to put an end to that." The Justice Department's decision to appoint a special counsel to investigate possible collusion between Russia and the Republican campaign also was widely seen in Russia as part of relentless efforts by Trump's foes to weaken and sideline him. The reports this week that the president shared highly sensitive classified information with Russia's foreign minister and ambassador to the United States were viewed as more of the same. "Anyone with his kind of persona would draw attacks," poultry farmer Oleg Matveyenko said, referring to Trump's combative ways. Matveyenko, 54, said that he supported Russia's liberal pro-Western Yabloko party during the 1990s, but added that Western-style democracy had since lost its appeal. "Neither Europe, nor the United States can serve as an example for us," he said. "There is a crisis of democracy there, a systemic crisis." The Kremlin has staunchly denied meddling in the U.S. election. Russian state television and other media have offered detailed coverage of the U.S. political infighting and developments such as the ouster of FBI Director James Comey, maintaining a neutral tone. Tereshkovich predicted that Trump won't face impeachment proceedings as long as Republicans have the majority in the U.S. Senate. Yet despite his sophisticated knowledge of American politics, he confesses to having only passing curiosity about the biggest political scandal in modern U.S. history interest "I don't really care about the developments in the United States and the rest of the world," Tereshkovich said. ___ Iuliia Subbotovska in Moscow contributed to this report. Ford is pumping $350million into a manufacturing plant outside of Detroit, Michigan, where a new transmission for fuel-efficient vehicles will be built. The Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker said Friday that the investment in the Livonia Transmission Plant is expected to create or keep 800 jobs. Some of those jobs are expected to be added this year, but most will be filled over the next two years. Ford announced that it will invest $300 million in Michigan's Livonia Transmission Plant to build a new fuel-efficient transmission, resulting in the creation or retention of 800 jobs Livonia Transmission Plant employees (in 2007) blow water from a transmission during a test A Ford spokeswoman declined to state how many of those 800 jobs would be new opportunities, as opposed to merely repurposed existing positions, the Detroit News reported. However, the majority of the jobs will be filled by current Ford hourly workers, the spokesperson said. Ford says the advanced transmission that would be manufactured at the Livonia plant would provide better fuel efficiency and performance in upcoming front-wheel drive vehicles. 'We remain committed to American manufacturing and investing in our people and facilities,' Joe Hinrichs, Ford president of The Americas, said in a statement. 'Even as the industry's largest employer of hourly workers in the United States and biggest producer of American-made vehicles, we believe it is important to continue investing right here in our home market.' Upgrades to the Livonia facility are part of more than $2.25billion in investments in Michigan that the Ford Motor Co. previously announced that it would making. Ford announced last year that it was investing $1.4billion in the Livonia plant to manufacture a new 10-speed transmission for trucks including the 2017 F-150 raptor (pictured here) Last year, Ford said it would be spending $1.4billion at the Livonia plant alone, for the purpose of manufacturing a new 10-speed transmission for the 2017 F-150 Raptor and other F-150 pick up truck models. About 1,800 workers are currently employed at the Livonia plant, building six-speed and 10-speed transmissions for use in popular Ford cars including the Mustang, F-150, Transit and Expedition. Earlier this week, Ford announced it would offer targeted buyouts to 1,400 salaried workers in North America and Asia to help it trim costs. The Livonia Transmission Plant opened in 1952 and is considered one of the city's major employers. GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) - Two opposition lawmakers and four ex-officials in Guyana have been charged with allegedly mismanaging a sprawling public finance program. Justice officials with President David Granger's government on Friday accused the six of misappropriating much of a special rice fund linked to Venezuela's Petrocaribe program that has provided fuel to regional nations at market prices but under generous credit terms. Guyana exchanged roughly US$500 million worth of rice for oil. Venezuela stopped buying much of Guyana's rice in 2015 amid an escalating border dispute between the South American neighbors. Anil Nandlall is an ex-attorney general and lawyer for the six suspects with the opposition People's Progressive Party. He says there's no evidence vast sums of money went missing from the rice fund and the party is being persecuted. CHICAGO (AP) - Illinois is set to eliminate the statute of limitations in child sex-abuse cases, a change prosecutors and a victim of former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert called for after Hastert was imprisoned for violating banking laws while trying to silence a student he abused decades ago. The Illinois House unanimously approved the legislation Thursday, sending it to Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, who supports it. State Attorney General Lisa Madigan argued Hastert's case provided a prime example of why Illinois should join 36 other states and the federal government in removing its time limits for charging people accused of child-sex crimes. FILE - In this April 27, 2016, file photo, former House Speaker Dennis Hastert, who is is serving a 15-month prison term in a sexual abuse case, departs the federal courthouse in Chicago. Illinois is set to eliminate the statute of limitations in child sex abuse cases through legislation passed with support from a victim of imprisoned former U.S. Rep. Hastert. The Illinois House unanimously approved the measure on Thursday, May 18, 2017, sending it to a supportive Gov. Bruce Rauner. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File) A federal judge dubbed Hastert "a serial child molester" at his sentencing last year, saying the former speaker sexually abused at least four former students at Yorkville High School in suburban Chicago from 1965 to 1981. But Illinois law, which states victims of sex abuse have 20 years from their 18th birthday to report the crime so it can be prosecuted, prevented prosecutors from charging Hastert with sex abuse. Instead he was charged with banking violations as he withdrew thousands of dollars, starting in 2010, to pay what was supposed to be millions in hush money to a victim. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison. Victim Scott Cross told lawmakers at a hearing last fall that the sentence amounts to "a slap on the wrist" and that his victims were "silenced by Illinois' legal system." His voice shaking at times, the 54-year-old said it can take years for victims to come to terms with their abuse and overcome feelings of shame before they tell anyone. Madigan said that child victims can spend their whole lives "trying to recover and heal." "There should be no limitation on the pursuit of justice for felony sex crimes committed against children," she said Thursday in an emailed statement. "We must ensure survivors are able to come forward in their own time and receive the support they need and deserve." Former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Zachary Fardon, who resigned in March, has said he would have pressed for sex-abuse charges against the Illinois Republican but the statute of limitations had long since run out. CANNES, France (AP) - In a first for the Vatican, Pope Francis has participated in a documentary that producers tout as "a historic nonfiction film." Focus Features announced Friday at the Cannes Film Festival that it has acquired worldwide rights to "Pope Francis - A Man of His Word." The film, directed by Wim Wenders, is a co-production with the Vatican. It's only the second time the Vatican has collaborated with outside filmmakers and the first to grant direct access to a pope. FILE - In this Wednesday, May 17, 2017 file photo, Pope Francis waves as he arrives for his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. On Friday, May 19, 2017, Focus Features announced that it has acquired worldwide rights to "Pope Francis - A Man of His Word." The film, directed by Wim Wenders, is a co-production with the Vatican. It's only the second time the Vatican has collaborated with outside filmmakers and the first to grant direct access to a Pope. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Producers said Wenders' film features Pope Francis responding to questions from around the globe and discussing ecology, immigration, consumerism and social justice. Wenders, the German filmmaker of the angels-on-Earth classic "Wings of Desire," was granted several lengthy audiences with the pope for the film. No release date was announced. VATICAN CITY (AP) - The cold-call pope has struck again, with Pope Francis surprising a dozen families with an afternoon visit to their homes to perform an annual springtime blessing. Francis played the role of parish priest Friday as he rang apartment buzzers in Ostia, a beach community on Rome's outskirts, and blessed homes of residents. The ritual is a post-Easter tradition in Italy, with priests posting notices on buildings announcing the dates and times they'll pass by. Pope Francis blesses an home during a visit to a popular neighborhood in Ostia, near Roma, where he made a surprise visit along with local priest, stopping in various homes to bless the families living there, Friday, May 19, 2017. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool via AP) The Vatican said the local Ostia priest did so, only Francis showed up instead. Francis frequently surprises a few lucky souls with surprise visits and phone calls. He even rang Pope Benedict XVI the night he was elected, but no one picked up. Benedict was watching TV broadcasts of the election and didn't hear the phone ring. FILE - In this Wednesday, May 17, 2017 file photo, Pope Francis waves as he arrives for his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. On Friday, May 19, 2017, Focus Features announced that it has acquired worldwide rights to "Pope Francis - A Man of His Word." The film, directed by Wim Wenders, is a co-production with the Vatican. It's only the second time the Vatican has collaborated with outside filmmakers and the first to grant direct access to a Pope. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Pope Francis visits a popular neighborhood in Ostia, near Roma, where he made a surprise visit along with local priest, stopping in various homes to bless the families living there, Friday, May 19, 2017. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool via AP) Pope Francis visits a popular neighborhood in Ostia, near Roma, where he made a surprise visit along with local priest, stopping in various homes to bless the families living there, Friday, May 19, 2017. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool via AP) Pope Francis visits a popular neighborhood in Ostia, near Roma, where he made a surprise visit along with local priest, stopping in various homes to bless the families living there, Friday, May 19, 2017. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool via AP) RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - Brazil's top prosecutor is accusing President Michel Temer of corruption and obstruction of justice, according to an investigation released Friday by the supreme court, dramatically escalating pressure to force the embattled leader from office. At the same time, other released documents said the owner of a major meatpacker has told prosecutors that he transferred $150 million to offshore accounts for the campaigns of Temer's two predecessors in the presidency. Attorney General Rodrigo Janot's charges against Temer threaten to drive him from the presidency and represent an extraordinary development in a corruption probe that is upending politics and just about everything else in Latin America's largest nation. Demonstrators protest Brazil's President Michel Temer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, May 18, 2017. Brazil's political crisis deepened sharply on Thursday with corruption allegations that threatened to topple the president, undermine reforms aimed at pulling the economy from recession and leave Latin America's largest nation rudderless. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo) For Temer, a 76-year-old career politician who was not elected, the fallout could cost him his job. Temer, then vice president, took power a year ago after President Dilma Rousseff was impeached and later removed from office for illegally managing the federal budget. By Friday afternoon, O Globo, the flagship paper of Brazil's largest media company, was calling for Temer's resignation, delivering a significant blow to Temer's prospects for survival. The media group had supported Temer's proposed economic overhaul, and more generally wields enormous influence because of its popular soap operas and media dominance. The attorney general's formal presentation of evidence is the latest revelation related to a secretly recorded audio that purportedly captured Temer endorsing the paying of hush money to an ex-lawmaker now serving a 15-year prison sentence for corruption. The audio was first reported by O Globo on Wednesday night and has been rocking the country ever since. In a plea bargain that was part of the documents released Friday by the Supreme Federal Tribunal, the same man who reportedly recorded the president also says he paid $1.5 million in bribes to Temer. Janot says Temer and Sen. Aecio Neves have tried to derail the three-year-old "Car Wash" investigation into a huge kickback scheme at the state-run oil company Petrobras via legislative means and by influencing police investigators. "In this way, there is evidence of possibly committing the crime of obstructing justice," Janot wrote. Because the case involves a sitting president, the process is different than in any other kind of criminal case. With a formal investigation now opened, Janot's next step will be to decide whether his case is strong enough to send it for consideration by the lower Chamber of Deputies in Congress. If at least two-thirds of the members of the lower house voted in favor, the case would be sent back to the top court, which would then decide whether to put Temer on trial. If the court decided to try Temer, he would be suspended from office for up to 180 days. A conviction would permanently remove him from office. At least eight pieces of proposed legislation to impeach Temer have been submitted in Congress, and a stream of people from many walks of life has been calling for him to step down. On Friday, former Chief Justice Joaquim Barbosa added his voice. "There is not another way out: Brazilians must organize, go to the streets and demand with strength the immediate resignation of Michel Temer," Barbosa Tweeted. Temer's administration began questioning both the legality and content of the recording first reported by O Globo. "President Michel Temer does not believe in the veracity of the declarations" in the recording, according to a statement from his office. The statement also noted that the person who made the recording, JBS meat-packing company executive Joesley Batista, is under investigation himself and thus was "taking advantage" of the situation. The recording was turned over to prosecutors as part of a Batista plea bargain. In the documents released Friday, Batista also said his company paid Temer about $1.5 million from 2010 to 2017. Some of those funds were disguised as legal campaign donations and others were channeled to Temer's public image consultant Elsinho Mouco, Batista said. Attempts to locate Mouco for comment were not successful. The presidency also didn't immediately respond to queries seeking comment about the latest revelations. In Batista's plea bargain, he also told authorities that he transferred $150 million to offshore bank accounts for campaigns of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his successor in the presidency, Dilma Rousseff. Batista said former finance minister Guido Mantega was the middle man in the operation. He also said both former presidents were aware of the transfers, but did not say where the accounts were based. Batista also didn't say for which campaigns the money was transferred. Rousseff denied the accusations in a statement and said she never had offshore bank accounts. Silva's spokesman said Batista's accusations are hearsay that was never investigated. For Silva, president between 2003 and 2010, the accusations add to a long list of corruption cases against him, which may ultimately keep him from running for the presidency in 2018. The sprawling "Car Wash" probe has already put dozens of Brazil's top businessmen and politicians in prison. Many more are being investigated. After the O Globo report on Temer, Brazil's highest court opened an investigation into the accusation late Thursday and lifted the seal on the nearly 39-minute recording, which is scratchy and often inaudible. In it, two men can be heard talking about former Lower House Speaker Eduardo Cunha, now serving a 15-year prison sentence for corruption and money laundering. Globo's report identified the men as Temer and Batista. One man, apparently Temer, complains that Cunha could potentially embarrass him. "Within my limits, I did the most I could there. I settled everything," responds the other man, apparently Batista. "He came and collected, etc., etc., etc. I am good with Eduardo, OK?" The first man then says: "You have to keep that up, see?" To which the second man responds: "Every month." In a national address Thursday, Temer emphatically denied that he had authorized any bribes and defiantly vowed to continue in office. His short speech did little to calm nerves during a volatile day that saw a 10 percent drop in Brazil's stock market and an 8 percent drop in the real against the U.S. dollar. By late Friday, the real had risen 3 percent and stocks were up nearly 2 percent in the Ibovespa exchange. ___ Peter Prengaman on Twitter: twitter.com/peterprengaman Mauricio Savarese on Twitter: twitter.com/MSavarese A demonstrator holds a photo of Brazil's President Michel Temer that reads in Spanish "Get out Satan!" in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, May 18, 2017. Brazil's political crisis deepened sharply on Thursday with corruption allegations that threatened to topple the president, undermine reforms aimed at pulling the economy from recession and leave Latin America's largest nation rudderless. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo) A demonstrator carries a sign that reads in Portuguese "Get out Temer" to protest Brazilian President Michel Temer in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Thursday, May 18, 2017. Brazil's political crisis deepened sharply on Thursday with corruption allegations that threatened to topple the president, undermine reforms aimed at pulling the economy from recession and leave Latin America's largest nation rudderless. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) Brazil's President Michel Temer says he will fight allegations that he endorsed the paying of hush money to an ex-lawmaker jailed for corruption, during a national address at the Planalto presidential palace in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, May 18, 2017. It was the first appearance since the Globo newspaper published a report Wednesday night that Temer was recorded supporting payments to former Lower House Speaker Eduardo Cunha. (AP Photo/Ricardo Botelho) A mock coffin with a photo of Brazil's President Michel Temer is lit by candles during a protest in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, May 18, 2017. Temer rejected calls for his resignation, saying he will fight allegations that he endorsed the paying of hush money to a former lawmaker jailed for corruption. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo) Demonstrators shout slogans against Brazilian President Michel Temer in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Thursday, May 18, 2017. Brazil's political crisis deepened sharply on Thursday with corruption allegations that threatened to topple the president, undermine reforms aimed at pulling the economy from recession and leave Latin America's largest nation rudderless. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) Costumers watch the live broadcast of Brazilian President Michel Temer, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Thursday, May 18, 2017. Temer said he will fight allegations that he endorsed the paying of hush money to an ex-lawmaker jailed for corruption, during a national address. It was the first appearance since the Globo newspaper published a report Wednesday night that Temer was recorded supporting payments to former Lower House Speaker Eduardo Cunha. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) A woman reacts to a national address by Brazil's President Michel Temer in which he said he would not resign in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, May 18, 2017. Temer struck a defiant note, promising he would be found innocent in a Supreme Court investigation into allegations he endorsed a scheme to pay hush money. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo) Demonstrators protest Brazilian President Michel Temer in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Thursday, May 18, 2017. Brazil's political crisis deepened sharply on Thursday with corruption allegations that threatened to topple the president, undermine reforms aimed at pulling the economy from recession and leave Latin America's largest nation rudderless. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) Demonstrators march carrying a banner that reads in Portuguese "Get out Temer and your reforms" to protest Brazilian President Michel Temer in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Thursday, May 18, 2017. Brazil's political crisis deepened sharply on Thursday with corruption allegations that threatened to topple the president, undermine reforms aimed at pulling the economy from recession and leave Latin America's largest nation rudderless. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) Demonstrators confront police during a protest against Brazil's President Michel Temer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, May 18, 2017. Brazil's political crisis deepened sharply on Thursday with corruption allegations that threatened to topple the president, undermine reforms aimed at pulling the economy from recession and leave Latin America's largest nation rudderless. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo) Eds: Major scheduled events for the week of May 21 - 27. Note that many events are subject to change at the last minute. The following economic reports will be issued in Washington (all times EDT), unless otherwise noted: SUNDAY: No events of note. MONDAY: No events of note. TUESDAY: Commerce Department releases new home sales for April, 10 a.m. WEDNESDAY: National Association of Realtors releases existing home sales for April, 10 a.m.; Federal Reserve releases minutes from April interest-rate meeting. Lowe's reports quarterly financial results before the market opens. THURSDAY: Labor Department releases weekly jobless claims, 8:30 a.m.; Freddie Mac, the mortgage company, releases weekly mortgage rates, 10 a.m. FRIDAY: Commerce Department releases durable goods for April, 8:30 a.m.; Commerce Department releases first-quarter gross domestic product, 8:30 a.m. SATURDAY: No events of note. ___ SUNDAY, MAY 21 No events of note. ___ MONDAY, MAY 22 President Donald Trump visits Saudi Arabia, Israel, the Vatican, Belgium and Italy, through May 27. WASHINGTON - Supreme Court issues orders and opinions. ___ TUESDAY, MAY 23 WASHINGTON - Trump administration releases its detailed budget proposals for federal departments and agencies for the 2018 budget year. WASHINGTON - Former CIA Director John Brennan testifies before the House intelligence committee on the Russia investigation. WASHINGTON - House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on the U.S. response to Zika. WASHINGTON - House Homeland Security subcommittee hearing on visa overstays. WASHINGTON - House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee hearing on efforts to limit the use of Social Security numbers. WASHINGTON - House Appropriations subcommittee oversight hearing on the IRS. WASHINGTON - Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee on worldwide threats. BERLIN - Germany's Ifo institute releases its monthly business confidence index, a key indicator for Europe's biggest economy. ___ WEDNESDAY, MAY 24 WASHINGTON - White House budget director Mick Mulvaney testifies before the House Budget Committee on President Donald Trump's proposed 2018 budget. WASHINGTON - Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue testify before separate House Appropriations subcommittees on President Donald Trump's proposed 2018 budget. WASHINGTON - House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on the FBI. WASHINGTON - House Foreign Affairs subcommittee hearing on Iran. WASHINGTON - Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on MS-13 and other transnational criminal organizations. WASHINGTON - Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation subcommittee hearing on pool safety. WASHINGTON - Congressional Budget Office expects to releases its analysis of the House health care bill. ___ THURSDAY, MAY 25 WASHINGTON - Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross testifies before a House Appropriations subcommittee on President Donald Trump's proposed 2018 budget. WASHINGTON - White House budget director Mick Mulvaney testifies before the Senate Budget Committee on President Donald Trump's proposed 2018 budget. WASHINGTON - Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs subcommittee hearing on synthetic opioids. WASHINGTON - Attorney General Jeff Sessions testifies before a Senate Appropriations subcommittees on President Donald Trump's proposed 2018 budget. WASHINGTON - Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin testifies before the Senate Finance Committee on President Donald Trump's proposed 2018 budget. ___ FRIDAY, MAY 26 Vice President Mike Pence speaks at the U.S. Naval Academy's graduation. ___ SATURDAY, MAY 27 OXON HILL, Md. - Scripps National Spelling Bee, through June 3. DOVER, Del. (AP) - The head of the division in charge of Delaware's prisons has left the post in the wake of a fatal inmate riot and hostage taking. Department of Correction officials confirmed Friday that Christopher Klein has been replaced as chief of the Bureau of Prisons. Klein has been given a new job as deputy principal assistant at the Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security, which is led by Robert Coupe, his former boss at the Department of Correction. As bureau chief under both Coupe and current DOC commissioner Perry Phelps, Klein oversaw Delaware's four prisons, including the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center. Inmates took over a building at Vaughn on Feb. 1, taking four staffers hostage. Correctional officer Steven Floyd was killed. The former warden at Vaughn, David Pierce, was reassigned after the prison riot. Officials announced Friday that Air Force Lt. Col. Dana Metzger has been named warden at the Vaughn prison. Klein, meanwhile, is being replaced as bureau chief of prisons by Steven Wesley, the current warden at Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in Wilmington. "We look forward to working with Bureau Chief Wesley, and he will be a tremendous asset to the department in his new position," said Geoff Klopp, president of the Correctional Officers Association of Delaware. Klopp said he also looked forward to meeting and working with Metzger, a 22-year Air Force veteran who currently serves as commander of the security forces squadron at Dover Air Force Base. "Warden Wesley and Lt. Colonel Metzger are proven leaders who have earned the respect of their colleagues and communities over the course of their careers," Phelps said in a prepared statement. Meanwhile, Delaware State Police are continuing a criminal investigation into the inmate uprising and Floyd's death. Gov. John Carney also has ordered a separate, independent investigation. A preliminary report is expected by June 1. Floyd's family and five other officers who survived the prison riot have sued the state in federal court, blaming the deadly uprising on security and staffing problems that officials had ignored for years. News / National by Staff reporter GOVERNMENT has virtually admitted that the country's economic blueprint, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (ZimAsset), has all but failed and is now dead in the water. This has prompted the introduction of stop-gap economic programmes to salvage a semblance of success from the discredited blueprint ahead of next year's crucial general elections.This comes at a time conflict is brewing in cabinet over ZimAsset and the "command economy" programme which some government officials are touting in the wake of what they claim to be a success story - command agriculture.ZimAsset is anchored on free market economy enterprise whereas the command economy is a socialist relic in which the state as the main driver of production and distribution.Some ministers say if the command economy is to be implemented full swing, it will undermine and displace ZimAsset without cabinet approval.ZimAsset, which was derived from the Zanu-PF 2013 elections manifesto, is mainly associated with the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) and minsters such as Jonathan Moyo, who is a known critic of Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Mnangagwa is the driving force behind the command economy programme, bringing a factional dimension to the conflict, although policy differences are also a major source of the problem.However, there is consensus in government that the targets set under ZimAsset are now out of reach given the dismal performance of the economy since Zanu-PF controversially won the 2013 elections.The ambitious programme, which is supposed to guide the government's economic development thrust until December 2018, requires funding of US$27 billion and, among other deliverables, aims to create 2,2 million jobs by 2018.Under the programme, government projected 7,7% average annual GDP growth between 2013 and 2018, with peak growth targets of as much as 9,9% in 2018.However, limited funding capacity, policy inconsistencies, an underperforming public sector and poor corporate governance, among other reasons, have hampered the programme, forcing the government to come up with crash economic programmes.In an interview this week on the sidelines of a United Nations media workshop on development reporting in Nyanga, the director of implementation, monitoring and evaluation in the OPC, Anderson Chiraya, said government had reviewed downwards all the priorities of the ZimAsset clusters due to a lack of funding."Having evaluated that most of the things require funding and that we are only left with a year to 2018, government reviewed all the priorities downwards," Chiraya said. "The blueprint has been reviewed for 2017 to 2018 and priorities have been scaled down so that we can achieve what we can manage between now and 2018."Government has had serious fiscal challenges and the bulk of the money to implement ZimAsset was supposed to come from development partners and this did not take place."Chiraya also said challenges which constrained ZimAsset implementation include, among many others, included "depressed economic performance and the liquidity crunch, lack of initiatives that could lower the wage bill and lack of effective policies for plugging revenue leakages and promoting accountability as persistently highlighted by the auditor-general."The results-based economic turnaround agenda, which was centred on the Zanu-PF election manifesto, is built around four strategic clusters that were meant to enable Zimbabwe to achieve economic growth and reposition the country as one of the strongest economies in the region and Africa.The four strategic clusters are: food security and nutrition, social services and poverty eradication, infrastructure and utilities, and value addition and beneficiation.The climbdown comes at a time most Zimbabweans are reeling under the worsening economic meltdown characterised by a severe cash crisis and uncertainty over the bond notes which evoke sad memories of the traumatic Zimbabwe dollar era.In its largely unrealistic 2013 election manifesto, Zanu-PF promised to create 2,2 million jobs, but instead the country was hit by massive company closures and retrenchments. In addition, Zanu-PF pledged to unlock economic value of US$1,8 trillion while pledging that the economy would grow by an average 6,6%, but this has proved to be pie in the sky.The current economic meltdown is reflected by the high unemployment rate, which stands at a staggering 95%, according to the International Labour Organisation.So far this year, at least 236 companies have shut shop, resulting in the loss of hundreds of jobs, according to the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions. WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on President Donald Trump's trip to Saudi Arabia (all times local): 5:20 p.m. President Donald Trump will issue a call for unity in the fight against radicalism in the Muslim world, casting the challenge as a "battle between good and evil." Air Force One with President Donald Trump aboard, taxis for takeoff at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Friday, May 19, 2017. Trump is departing for his first overseas trip. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) According to a draft of the speech obtained by The Associated Press, Trump will abandon some of the harsh anti-Muslim rhetoric of his campaign when he addresses the leaders of Arab and Muslim nations in Saudi Arabia on Sunday. The speech envisions new partnerships with America's traditional allies in the Middle East. It noticeably refrains from mentioning democracy and human rights - topics Arab leaders often view as U.S. moralizing - in favor of the more limited goals of peace and stability. The White House says this is not a final draft and it could change leading up to Sunday's speech. __ 2:55 p.m. President Donald Trump has departed for his maiden overseas trip as president amid the controversy surrounding investigations into whether his campaign associates collaborated with Russia to sway the election. Air Force One departed Friday from Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, outside Washington, with the president, first lady Melania Trump, his daughter Ivanka and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, as well as a group of senior advisers and journalists covering the trip. The president's first stop on the trip is Saudi Arabia, where he'll address a summit of Arab and Muslim leaders. The president also plans to travel to Israel, the Vatican, Brussels and Sicily. COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) - Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton declared Americans "ready for that new beginning" in Iowa Friday, walking a delicate path by raising his national political profile at a time of turmoil for Donald Trump's White House. The 40-year-old freshman Republican senator sounded national themes as the guest at the Pottawattamie County Republican Party's annual fundraiser in Council Bluffs in conservative western Iowa. It was a role thick with presidential implications despite Trump's solid standing among Iowa Republicans less than four months into his term. "I'm ready for that new beginning," Cotton added, in closing his 20-minute speech to more than 100 Iowa GOP loyalists and prompting a standing ovation. FILE - In this Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017 file photo, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., questions Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen as she testifies in front of the Senate Banking Committee in Washington. Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton was meeting Friday, May 19, 2017 with Republican activists in the early presidential testing ground of Iowa, walking a delicate path by raising his national political profile at a time of turmoil for Donald Trump's White House. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) However, Cotton offered a simple "no" when asked if he was laying the groundwork for a 2020 presidential campaign, or hedging his bets should the Republican Trump not seek re-election. "I'm up for re-election in Arkansas" in 2020, Cotton told The Associated Press before the fundraising dinner at an event center. Cotton's hosts were standing by the president, and calling their guest's appearance an opportunity for Republican activists to meet a potential future leader. But the event had all the trappings of an early White House exploration. Despite his unambiguous "no," Cotton offered a broad message, as would-be White House prospects often do in Iowa. The veteran of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan suggested the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, were a unifying point for a new generation of Americans. "I've spent most of my days since 9/11 trying to stop another day like that from happening," he told the fundraising crowd. "But I also want to revive the spirt of the days following." On matters swirling around Trump, Cotton, also tread carefully. Having previously said a special counsel was unnecessary, he declined Friday to endorse Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein's appointment of former FBI Director Bob Mueller to investigate any collusion between Trump's presidential campaign and the Russian government's interference in the campaign. "I can't evaluate whether it's a good decision or not, the right decision or not. I don't have all the facts, all the reasoning the deputy attorney general had," he told the AP, while praising Mueller as widely respected. Former FBI Director James Comey is expected to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee, on which Cotton sits. Cotton said he hoped to learn what exchanges Comey had with Trump before the president abruptly fired him last week and to see the memos Comey is alleged to have kept. Pottawattamie County Republican Chairman Jeff Jorgensen said he expects to invite Cotton back to western Iowa. "He was a big hit. He has an open invitation to come back anytime," Jorgensen said after the dinner. "I'm going to get a lot of requests to have him back." Trump, who departed Friday for the first overseas trip of his presidency, would seem to have few worries within the party base in Iowa, at the moment. The GOP base overwhelmingly supports him, said Iowa Republican strategist Doug Gross, a former nominee for governor. That's despite low national approval and the shroud of congressional committees - and now a special counsel - investigating whether Trump's campaign colluded with Russia to sway the 2016 presidential election. Only if Trump is impeached or the economy turns sour will Trump not be re-nominated, said Gross, who has been a Trump critic. Still, Cotton has begun making friends in Iowa, a move that could pay future dividends - or backfire. "I think a guy like Tom Cotton could actually hurt himself by coming out too early like this," Gross said. Cotton has made inroads with Iowa Republicans. Early this month, he spoke to the Des Moines Chamber of Commerce's conference in Washington. "He's clearly someone who has a rising national profile," said Joe Murphy of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, one of about 200 who saw Cotton's speech. "He's extremely well versed in many different issues." Besides being a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, which is investigating Trump's campaign and Russia, Cotton is part of the Senate Republican working group charged with writing health care legislation, now that the GOP-controlled House has passed legislation undoing broad portions of the 2010 Affordable Care Act. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - Fred Funk shot a 7-under 65 on Friday to take the second-round lead in the Regions Tradition. The 60-year-old Funk, seeking his first PGA Tour Champions individual title since 2012, had a one-stroke lead over Scott Parel in the first of the 50-and-over circuit's five majors. Funk birdied three of the five par 3s at Greystone, the last on No. 17, and finished at 12-under 132. That followed a string of three birdies that ended at No. 14, and set up a third-round pairing for the two friends. "The irony is Scott and I have become really good buddies and I've never played with him yet," Funk said after his lowest round of the season. "I was just thinking, 'Boy, it would be nice to play with him in the last round, last group.' I've got him, so that works out really good. "I think combined we're not 6 foot, but that's OK." The 5-foot-5 Parel, who turned pro at 31 and went through Q-school in 2016, shot a 66. Parel gained entry after Fred Couples withdrew late last week. He made a long putt to save par on No. 18, extending his bogey-free streak to 32 holes. Parel said his 7:30 a.m. start "was a perfect tee time." "I had a great pairing, twosomes, set your own pace," he said. "Greens are fresh. That's about right where you want to be." The third round Saturday will have a two-tee start because of expected bad weather. Scott McCarron, part of a four-way tie for the first-round lead, was three shots back after a 70. He three-putted the final hole for par. "I had 45 feet just coming down the hill and almost made it," McCarron said. "I thought I made it, but the ball just rolled out about six feet past actually and then (I) missed the next come-backer. The breeze is coming back in your face so it's a tough drive, and with that hole location being on the front of the green, it's tough to get it close." He had his second eagle of the week on the par-5 13th. Funk had an up-and-down week in preparation for the major. He said he had eight birdies and no bogeys Monday and two days later "played horrible" in a pro-am. "I was really bad," Funk said. "My whole body shut down. I couldn't swing. No matter what I did, my body wouldn't let me do what I wanted to do. And I got about 10 hours sleep that night and got worked on a little bit and I've been fighting. My back's been getting really tight. I felt a lot better (Thursday) and I felt good today, so hopefully it will hold out." Kenny Perry (70), Jeff Sluman (71), Kevin Sutherland (68) and Miguel Angel Jimenez (71) were 8 under Perry, the 2014 winner, had a bogey on the final hole that could have been worse. He had to take a drop after his second shot went into the hazard. Perry was grateful that he was warned against his initial spot "because somebody would have called in, 'Hey, that guy just had an illegal drop.'" Defending champion Bernhard Langer was five shots back after his second straight 69. Insperity Invitational winner John Daly was 2 under after a pair of 71s. JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - The Latest on the death of a 6-year-old boy who was in a car that was stolen in Mississippi (all times local): 6 p.m. A sworn statement shows a Mississippi teenager charged with murder in the death of a 6-year-old boy told investigators that the boy was shot by another of the three suspects. This Madison County Detention Center booking photograph taken Thursday, May 18, 2017 shows Tyreek Washington. Madison County District Attorney Michael Guest announced at a news conference that authorities plan to charge Washington, Dwan Wakefield, and Byron McBride,in the death of 6-year old Kingston Frazier. Authorities found Frazier shot at least once in the back seat of his mother's stolen car, which Jackson Police Cmdr. Tyree Jones said was abandoned in a muddy ditch about 15 miles (20 kilometers) north of Jackson, Miss. (Madison County Sheriff's Office via AP) The statement was obtained Friday by The Associated Press from a source with knowledge of the case. Mississippi Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Rusty Clark says in the sworn statement that 17-year-old Dwan Wakefield of Ridgeland told Clark and another investigator that 19-year-old Byron McBride of Pickens stole the car with Kingston Frazier inside and then shot the 6-year-old. Wakefield, McBride and 17-year-old D'Allen Washington of Ridgeland are being held without bail in Madison County, just north of Jackson, awaiting Monday morning court appearances. McBride could face the death penalty. ___ 4:30 p.m. Authorities are looking for a gun in the killing of a 6-year-old Mississippi boy. District Attorney Michael Guest said Friday that authorities are seeking the weapon but are confident they have enough evidence against the three teen suspects to proceed without it. Officials say the teens killed the boy after stealing his mother's car. They face capital murder charges and are set for initial court appearances Monday morning. For now, they are jailed without bail in Madison County, just north of Jackson. Guest won't say if any of the men have confessed. It's unclear if any of the three have lawyers. All three were arrested Thursday after authorities found the body of Kingston Frazier dead from gunshot wounds in the back of his mother's stolen car, abandoned on a dead-end road. Madison County Coroner Alex Breeland says Kingston was shot multiple times. ___ 6 a.m. Three young Mississippi men have been arrested in connection with the killing of a 6-year-old boy found shot in his mother's stolen car. Madison County District Attorney Michael Guest said authorities will charge Byron McBride, D'Allen Washington and Dwan Wakefield with capital murder in the death of Kingston Frazier. The three were arrested after authorities said the mother's car was stolen before dawn Thursday from a supermarket parking lot in Jackson. The car was later found abandoned in a muddy ditch in the suburb of Gluckstadt. Guest says the three men will make their first appearance in court Monday. A lawyer for one of the men didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. Guest says the other two do not yet have lawyers. This Madison County Detention Center booking photograph taken Thursday, May 18, 2017 shows Byron McBride. Madison County District Attorney Michael Guest announced at a news conference that authorities plan to charge McBride, Dwan Wakefield, and Tyreek Washington,in the death of 6-year old Kingston Frazier. Authorities found Frazier shot at least once in the back seat of his mother's stolen car, which Jackson Police Cmdr. Tyree Jones said was abandoned in a muddy ditch about 15 miles (20 kilometers) north of Jackson, Miss. (Madison County Sheriff's Office via AP) This Madison County Detention Center booking photograph taken Thursday, May 18, 2017 shows Dwan Wakefield. Madison County District Attorney Michael Guest announced at a news conference that authorities plan to charge Wakefield, Byron McBride, and D'Allen Washington and Dwan Wakefield in the death of 6-year old Kingston Frazier. Authorities found Frazier shot at least once in the back seat of his mother's stolen car, which Jackson Police Cmdr. Tyree Jones said was abandoned in a muddy ditch about 15 miles (20 kilometers) north of Jackson, Miss. (Madison County Sheriff's Office via AP) Family members carry a grief stricken Ebony Archie, mother of Kingston Frazier, after learning the young boy was found dead after being kidnapped during the theft of his mother's vehicle from a Kroger parking lot, Thursday, May 18, 2017, in Jackson, Miss. (Elijah Baylis/The Clarion-Ledger via AP) Family member Martin Archie, left, comforts Ruby Archie, after learning that Kingston Frazier, 6, was found dead after being kidnapped during the theft of his mother's vehicle from a Kroger parking lot, Thursday, May 18, 2017, in Jackson, Miss. (Elijah Baylis/The Clarion-Ledger via AP) Annual net immigration will be reduced to tens of thousands if the Conservatives retain power, the partys manifesto said. The policy document said the current figure of 273,000 people heading to Britain was still too high and promised to slash the number to sustainable levels. Companies employing migrant workers will see the Immigration Skills Charge doubled to 2,000-a-year by the end of the parliament, with the revenue generated to be invested in higher level skills training for UK workers. The party hopes the plan will deter businesses or government from avoiding their obligations to improve the skills of the British workforce. Companies employing migrant workers will see the Immigration Skills Charge doubled to 2,000-a-year (John Giles/PA) There are also proposals to seek recommendations about better aligning the visa system with industrial strategy, with the intention of enabling the government to set aside significant numbers of visas for workers in strategically-important sectors without adding to net migration as a whole. Overseas students will remain in the immigration statistics but the manifesto sets out plans to heighten requirements for students hoping to remain in the country to work after their course has finished. It also pledged to increase the earnings threshold for people wishing to sponsor migrants for family visas for those coming from outside the EU. The party promises to create an immigration policy which allows the country to attract the skilled workers our economy needs while reducing and controlling the number who come to Britain from the EU. On integration, the party promises to bring forward an integration strategy to help people in more isolated communities to engage with the wider world including helping women in work and teaching more people to speak English. We will work with schools to make sure that those with intakes from one predominant racial, cultural or religious background teach their students about pluralistic, British values and help them to get to know people with different ways of life, the manifesto adds. US president Donald Trump has said the appointment of a special counsel to investigate allegations that his campaign collaborated with Russia to sway the 2016 election is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history. The US justice department appointed former FBI director Robert Mueller to lead the investigation. Mr Mueller will have sweeping powers and the authority to prosecute any crimes he uncovers. The surprise announcement to hand the probe over to Mr Mueller, who commands deep bipartisan respect, was a striking shift for Mr Trumps justice department, which had resisted calls from Democrats for an outside prosecutor. It immediately escalated the legal stakes and the potential political damage for a president who has tried to dismiss the matter as a partisan witch hunt and a hoax. Mr Trump later tweeted: With all of the illegal acts that took place in the Clinton campaign & Obama Administration, there was never a special councel (sic) appointed! He did not provide examples or evidence of any alleged illegal acts. The announcement was made by deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein. The White House counsels office was alerted only after the order appointing Mr Mueller was signed, according to a senior White House official. In a written statement, Mr Trump insisted again that there were no nefarious ties between his presidential election campaign and Russia. A thorough investigation will confirm what we already know there was no collusion between my campaign and any foreign entity, he declared. Donald Trump remains defiant (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP) I look forward to this matter concluding quickly. Mr Muellers broad mandate gives him not only oversight of the Russia probe, but also any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation. That would surely include Mr Trumps firing of FBI director James Comey. Mr Mueller, a former federal prosecutor at the justice department, was confirmed as FBI director days before the September 11 2001 attacks which would ultimately shape his tenure. Former FBI director Robert Mueller The FBIs counter-terror mission was elevated in those years as the US intelligence agencies adjusted to better position America to prevent another attack of such magnitude. He was so valued that former president Barack Obama asked him to stay on two years longer than his 10-year term. Mr Comey succeeded him, having been appointed by Mr Obama. James Comey Republicans have largely stood behind Mr Trump in the first months of his presidency as the FBI and congressional investigations into Russias election meddling intensified. However, Republican representatives have grown increasingly anxious since Mr Trump sacked Mr Comey, who had been leading the bureaus probe especially after Mr Comeys associates said he had notes from a meeting in which Mr Trump asked him to shut down the investigation into the Russian ties of his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn. US House Speaker Paul Ryan said the appointment was consistent with his goal of ensuring that thorough and independent investigations are allowed to follow the facts wherever they may lead. Facebook has been slapped with a 110 million euro (94.5 million) fine after the EUs anti-trust watchdog said it provided incorrect or misleading information regarding its 19 billion US dollar (15.3 billion) takeover of WhatsApp. The European Commission said the US social network inaccurately claimed it would be unable to combine user data between the two companies accounts. #Mergers: @EU_Commission fines Facebook 110 million for providing misleading information about WhatsApp takeover https://t.co/zWRsc8X9yk Ricardo Cardoso (@RCardosoEU) May 18, 2017 Contrary to Facebooks statements in the 2014 merger review process, the technical possibility of automatically matching Facebook and WhatsApp users identities already existed in 2014, and Facebook staff were aware of such a possibility, the commission said. Facebook logo (Niall Carson/PA) It added that the ruling does not affect its decision to approve the merger. We need accurate #facts to do our job. @facebook now fined 110 mio for giving wrong/misleading information when it took over WhatsApp. Margrethe Vestager (@vestager) May 18, 2017 Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, who has recently put the tax affairs of a number of high-profile firms including Apple, Amazon and Google under the microscope, said the sanction was proportionate and deterrent. She added: Todays decision sends a clear signal to companies that they must comply with all aspects of EU merger rules, including the obligation to provide correct information. And it imposes a proportionate and deterrent fine on Facebook. The commission must be able to take decisions about mergers effects on competition in full knowledge of accurate facts. Children as young as six are carrying knives in the capital, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick heard as she discussed the devastating impact of the weapons with community leaders, victims and reformed gang members. Ms Dick vowed to get to the root of knife crime as she visited a youth centre in Putney, south-west London, where she met the family of a young man stabbed to death last year. The capital has seen a wave of knife attacks in recent weeks, with more than a dozen people left dead or seriously injured. Cmsr's priority to #StopKnifeCrime I feel hopeful this movement against violence will expand &grow to bring a positive change in mind-sets pic.twitter.com/XmWToGko0j Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) May 18, 2017 Earlier this month, Scotland Yard launched the latest phase of Operation Sceptre, its campaign to crack down on knife crime. But despite more than 70 arrests over possession of offensive weapons and knives, within a week three more people had been fatally stabbed. Meeting with community representatives at the Ashburton Youth Centre in Wandsworth, Ms Dick said the area has been profoundly affected by knife crime. Sandra Elwin Three young people have been fatally stabbed in the borough in 2017, as many as the whole of 2016. Ms Dick told them Wandsworth is generally a safe borough, London is generally a very safe city, but she said the level of knife crime is unacceptable. But the commissioner was told violent attacks are becoming more frequent, and young people are carrying knives more and more often. If you have info about anyone carrying/using knives contact your local police via 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 #StopKnifeCrime Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) May 18, 2017 One woman told Ms Dick the issue is affecting children far younger than the teenagers and young men normally associated with carrying knives. The woman said: You are talking about teenagers carrying knives, but on the housing estate its six-year-olds that are carrying knives, because they think they wont be stopped. You need to start there, in the primary schools you need to tell much younger people. Lewis Elwin, 18, was stabbed to death in #Tooting last April. A 20,000 reward has been offered to help find his killer/s #StopKnifeCrime pic.twitter.com/SrQTMyvHMT Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) May 18, 2017 The commissioner agreed the anti-knife message needs to reach much younger children, saying: I am sure we not necessarily the police, because were not the best people often to give these messages, but possibly the police we need to start at an early age. Josh Osbourne, a mentor at the youth charity Carneys Community, said: The feeling that Im getting from a lot of the young people that I work with is a feeling of fear. They cant even cross the road because theyre at odds or in a dispute with somebody else from literally the same postcode but across the road. When Ms Dick asked him which age groups are affected, Mr Osbourne said: From the age of as young as 10 or 11, from what Ive witnessed, up until the age of mid-20s. Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson will make a direct pitch to Labour voters north of the border as she launches her partys General Election manifesto. Ms Davidson will pledge that she could do a job for Labour supporters while their party is engulfed in a state of civil war. She will claim that with the help of Labour voters, her party can defeat the SNP in many places across Scotland. Todays UK Conservative manifesto is a plan that delivers for Scotland:https://t.co/HZ6hDSuzfQ#GE2017 pic.twitter.com/oqSjOy6xVS Scottish Conservatives (@ScotTories) May 18, 2017 The launch comes the day after the UK Tories unveiled their General Election prospectus, which included a commitment to deliver a strong and stable Union, with no divisive Scottish referendum at this time. Scottish Labour was forced to suspend all nine of its councillors in Aberdeen this week after they went against orders and formed a coalition with the Conservatives in the city. The action, ordered by party leader Kezia Dugdale, has left voters in Aberdeen betrayed and council colleagues suspended because shed rather prop up the SNP than work together with the Conservatives, Ms Davidson will claim. She will add: This week the Scottish Labour Party already weakened has entered a state of civil war. So, after today, @scottishlabour has 5 councillors north of Dundee (6 if you count Carse of Gowrie). Only @ScotTories can stand up to SNP. Ruth Davidson (@RuthDavidsonPC) May 17, 2017 Appealing to Labour members and supporters, she will say: The truth is, your party has left you, not the other way around. And it may well find its way back. But you know and I know it wont be at this election. So let me do a job for you. In great swathes of the country, it is only the Scottish Conservatives who are strong enough to take on the SNP. And in many places we can only win if you join with us. The Scottish Conservatives are rooted to the centre ground and in the last year have proven we can take on the SNP. (Lauren Hurley/PA) We did it last May at the Holyrood elections and a fortnight ago in the local government elections, too. We are committed to workers rights, boosting low pay, getting a good deal for our fishermen and improving the education of our young people so cruelly let down by this Scottish Government. Together, with your help, we can lead the fightback against the SNP and stop Nicola Sturgeon trying to pull our country apart. James Kelly, Scottish Labours General Election campaign manager, said: Ruth Davidson wants people to believe that shes a different kind of Tory, but the reality is that the Scottish Tories are the party of the rape clause and a hard Brexit. This is what Ruth Davidson has to say about the rape clause. pic.twitter.com/vT3Hl1CjQr Scottish Labour (@ScottishLabour) May 3, 2017 The Tories reckless Brexit gamble has given the nationalists the excuse they have been looking for to try to force another divisive independence referendum. In many areas all across Scotland, only Labour can defeat the SNP. In Edinburgh South its a straight contest between Labour and the SNP. In seats like East Lothian, Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill, East Renfrewshire and others, Labour is in second place to the nationalists. That means Conservatives, Lib Dems and independents who have never backed us before must vote Labour on June 8 to send a message to Nicola Sturgeon that Scotland doesnt want another divisive independence referendum. Theresa May has said Britain will never turn its back on those in need as party leaders stressed their commitment to helping the worlds poorest. International aid will play a major role in Britains future outside of Europe, the Prime Minister said in an editorial in the Church Times, as she defended her record on tackling the refugee crisis, famine and stabilising Afghanistan. But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn warned against pulling up the drawbridge in times of austerity, while Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said eradicating poverty should be seen as a moral duty rather than a security issue. In the Church Times tomorrow: the 3 main party leaders on overseas aid, & we introduce our new back-page columnist https://t.co/p4vbRfS0ZZ pic.twitter.com/zMbHpwGkyN Church Times (@ChurchTimes) May 18, 2017 Writing in the newspaper, Mrs May said: Our commitment to helping the most disadvantaged people in the world says something important about Britain. It says that we are a kind and generous country that will never turn its back on those in need. Reaffirming her manifesto commitment to maintain foreign aid spending, she added: As the UK forges a new role for itself in the world outside the EU, we will seize the opportunity to build a truly global Britain. Our work in the field of international aid will be a major part of that effort. (Jack Hill/The Times/PA) In a separate article for the newspaper, Mr Corbyn railed against the bogus choice between domestic policy and foreign aid and vowed that Labour would never play politics with human suffering. He added: Britain is one of the richest countries in the world, so it is not a question of whether we have the resources but whether we have the political and moral will to use them in the interests of the many and not the few. (Jonathan Brady/PA) Mr Farron also said the Government needed to play its part. He added: We have many needs of our own in the UK - and I have recently announced my plans to add a penny on income tax to fund our over-stretched NHS and protect schools funding, for example. (Philip Toscano/PA) But it would be wrong to fail to recognise how our standard of living and opportunities compare to many of those in great need in other countries. All three parties have pledged to retain the 0.7% spending commitment on foreign aid, despite concern the Tories were planning to drop the pledge. News / National by Staff reporter ZIMBABWE will again this year extend its begging bowl to the international donor community for poverty alleviation and development assistance.As has been the case before, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is expected to play a significant role in responding to Zimbabwe's social needs.UNDP's resident representative, Bishow Parajuli, said they were hopeful that they would enlist the same level of funding as was the case in 2016, if not better."In fact, Zimbabwe needs really good help and we are extremely committed to doing our very best in mobilising resources and doing our best in supporting all areas. One of the areas, which we looked at is to do with poverty reduction (and this is) where we think we need to do more and we will be focusing more on that area," he said.The UNDP intends to address high levels of poverty by promoting investment and economic reforms.Sirak Gebrehiwot, a communications specialist at the UN offices in Harare, said while humanitarian assistance will be scaled down, development aid would be critical as the country works to get its economy back on track.The UN estimates that Zimbabwe consumes an estimated 1,4 metric tonnes of grain annually.Because of its weakening economy, the good harvest from the 2016/17 agricultural season will not result in reduced demand for donor assistance.Despite the good rains received during the summer season, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has long warned that the effects of the 2015/2016 El Nino-induced drought would go beyond the current year.FAO said the drought left the majority of the country's subsistence farmers incapacitated.Nearly 70 percent of the country's 14 million people are subsistence farmers.On its part, the World Food Programme has launched a five-year strategic plan running between this year and 2021 to achieve zero hunger.The plan focuses on long-term national social protection, resilience and strengthening systems and institutions.Zimbabwe has endured more than one and a half decades of political instability and economic decline, making it dependent on external support for both humanitarian and developmental needs.Between 2015 and 2016, the country experienced one of its worst droughts, which forced it to request for US$326 million-worth of assistance through the UN to help drought-stricken victims.Since the commencement of the land reform programme in 2000, the country has failed to produce a third of its average national food requirements.Critical in supporting Zimbabwe's social needs is the Zimbabwe United Nations Development Assistance Framework (ZUNDAF).Running from 2016 to 2020, ZUNDAF is co-chaired by government and the UN.It is supporting national development efforts in a number of areas aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely social services and protection, poverty reduction and value addition, food and nutrition, gender equality, HIV and Aids and public administration and governance.Parajuli said ZUNDAF mobilised US$403 million worth of financial support from development partners last year.Some 150 senior officials from government, the UN, development partners and civil society recently met to validate programme results achieved by ZUNDAF so far.The food and nutrition security result area was redirected to life-saving assistance, which supported two million people with food aid.Close to 140 000 vulnerable people were also supported with community asset-building programmes.ZUNDAF's support in education has seen increased enrolment of children with disabilities in primary and secondary education by 24 percent (from 40 226 to 49 692).TwitterA National Social Security Strategy was also launched and cash transfers to over 55 000 vulnerable households were sustained.Over 58 000 household latrines have been constructed and are fully functional.In the HIV and Aids area, sustained anti-retroviral therapy is being provided to nearly one million people living with the virus, enabling them to lead healthy and productive lives."Our prevention efforts through male circumcision, awareness raising and voluntary counselling and testing has stopped the epidemic in its tracks and reversing the trend downwards."Now efforts must be geared towards closing the leaking tap on young and adolescent new infections and eliminate 100 percent the transmission of the virus from mother-to-child," a statement from the UN said.ZUNDAF also supports gender equality and has provided support to national advocacy, resulting in the outlawing of child marriages and the development of the National Action Plan on Ending Child Marriages to ensure girls stay in school and take charge of their own economic empowerment.Support has also been provided to strengthen both the capacity of women parliamentarians and women representation in the National Assembly and other governance structures.In the areas of public administration and good governance, Zimbabwe has accepted 142 recommendations for implementation through a UN facilitated multi-stakeholders' consultation engagement.The UN is also supporting the alignment of laws to the Constitution.Technical support was provided during the formulation of the 2016-2018 Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy, the review of the National Labour Migration Policy and the launch of the Diaspora policy to engage Zimbabweans who live abroad in national development.A multi-donor resilience fund was launched in 2016 and has so far reached over 86 000 households with income generating opportunities (both on and off farm), markets and value chains, services delivery and community-based natural resources management.The UN says the 2016-2020 ZUNDAF joint efforts will continue to build and strengthen national capacity to achieve the SDGs, and reduce underlying causes of vulnerabilities to external shocks as a result of climate change that has caused recurrent droughts and flooding.An Inter-Agency Flooding Rapid Assessment report on Tsholotsho district released by the Civil Protection Unit ascertained the scale and scope of flooding in the area and recommended the development of a relocation plan for all flood-prone areas in the district and support for the construction of basic infrastructure.It called for the development of a recovery livelihood support framework for affected communities. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has revealed his future will be finalised after next weeks FA Cup final. The 67-year-old has just two matches remaining before his current contract expires but has yet to announce publicly if he will sign fresh terms to remain at the Emirates Stadium. Wenger is approaching 21 years in charge of the Gunners but faces an uphill task to continue a proud record of finishing inside the Premier League top four in all of his full seasons at the helm. Arsenal go into the final round of league fixtures in fifth, needing to beat Everton at home and hope either Liverpool or Manchester City slip up to allow them to gatecrash the Champions League places. After that, Wenger will prepare his players for a third FA Cup final in five years when they take on Chelsea at Wembley on May 27. The Frenchman has been batting away questions over his future for the last few months, but confirmed a meeting held in the days following the final - where he will be looking to win a record eighth FA Cup - will be when his future is discussed. Asked when the board meeting is scheduled for, Wenger replied: I think it is after the FA Cup final. The manager is in place - and you can watch his final @premierleague press conference of the season LIVE https://t.co/whwNwOYZWT pic.twitter.com/747Qi09g6l Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 19, 2017 When pushed on whether that is when a decision on his future will be finalised he said: Yes. You have certainly to know that there are many aspects of a football club which have to be discussed at a board meeting. One of them is, of course, what is happening with the manager, the future, the players who have to come in, the renewal of contracts. You dont miss problems in a board meeting. Of course I will be there. At the moment I think we should focus on short term and whats going on on Sunday and in the cup final. A number of vocal Arsenal supporters have been leading protests in recent weeks against Wenger remaining in charge beyond this season. Banners have been flown over stadiums on planes, marches have taken place outside the Emirates Stadium and Tuesdays win over Sunderland was boycotted by large swathes of fans. Their protestations have largely been paid for by crowdfunding websites, and it remains to be seen what sort of reaction Wenger and his players will receive during the usual end of season parade lap on Sunday. Arsenal fans protest outside the ground (Simon Cooper/EMPICS) Those supporters will still be unaware of Wengers future but he does not believe that will matter ahead of what is a big day for the club, as they will discover whether they are playing Champions League football next year. Asked if the visit of Everton will be his last game in charge of Arsenal at the Emirates, he said: Of the seasonyes. I think what is the most important for us is to win the football game we play on Sunday. After that, what happens to me is less important. Im here to serve the club and the best way to do that is to win the next game. Eleven years ago today, @Arsenal wore red and white for the final time at Highbury as we beat Everton 7-0 pic.twitter.com/TJ6EiOC0VS Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 11, 2016 Arsenal go into Sundays final game with continuing fitness doubts over Laurent Koscielny. The France international revealed earlier in the week that he requires daily treatment on an Achilles problem, but it is a slight calf injury which is currently causing him grief. He missed the win over Sunderland in the hope of being fit to face Everton, but could now be left on the sidelines with one eye on the cup final. Julian Assange has signalled he will remain inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London despite the Swedish authorities suddenly dropping a seven-year investigation against him. The WikiLeaks founder made a rare appearance on the balcony of the central London building to hail the decision by Swedens Director of Public Prosecutions as an important victory. He gave a clenched fist salute to his supporters, and scores of journalists and TV crews, before maintaining that a legal conflict with the United States and the UK continues. Detention and extradition without charge had become a feature of the EU, but it was not something expected from the rule of law in the UK, he said. Mr Assange thanked the government of Ecuador for granting him political asylum despite intense pressure, as well as his legal team and others who had stood by him. We have today won an important victory, but the road is far from over. The proper war is just commencing. Detained for 7 years without charge by while my children grew up and my name was slandered. I do not forgive or forget. Defend Assange Campaign (@DefendAssange) May 19, 2017 He pledged that WikiLeaks will continue distributing material about the activities of the CIA in the United States and will accelerate its publications. The claim that the UK has the right to arrest me for seeking asylum in a case where there have been no charges is simply untenable. My legal staff have contacted the UK authorities and we hope to engage in a dialogue about what is the best way forward. (Yui Mok/PA) Mr Assange said the UK had refused to confirm or deny whether there is a warrant from the US for his extradition, insisting he was happy to talk to the US Justice Department. He returned into the building which has been his home for almost five years, without answering questions. The Ecuadorian government is to step up efforts to allow Mr Assange to continue his asylum in its country after Swedens Director of Public Prosecutions Marianne Ny said she had decided to discontinue her investigation. Scotland Yard said it was obliged to execute a warrant issued by Westminster Magistrates Court for the arrest of Mr Assange following his failure to surrender to the court in June 2012, should he leave the embassy. New French President Emmanuel Macron has highlighted his determination to crush extremism with a visit to French-led military forces combating jihadist groups in west Africa. The terror threat in the region is clearly a risk for Europe, he said. On his first official trip outside Europe, Mr Macron was greeted by Malian counterpart Ibrahim Boubacar Keita at an air base in the eastern city of Gao, home to Frances largest overseas military operation. Emmanuel Macron is greeted by Mali's Ibrahim Boubacar Keita (Christophe Petit Tesson, Pool via AP) Mr Macron vowed to maintain Frances military operations in Mali and be intractable with extremist groups in the region. At a joint news conference with Mr Keita, he also asked Germany to provide more support to French-led efforts to eradicate the extremists. Mr Macron said he spoke to German Chancellor Angela Merkel earlier this week about getting more logistical support and said she backs the idea. Mr Keita expressed his gratitude to France for its military intervention that began in 2013 after extremist groups overran the countrys vast northern region. The groups were quickly pushed from strongholds but remain a deadly threat. The road is long but we are going forward and we will succeed, Mr Keita said. French President Emmanuel Macron reviews troops Mr Macron repeatedly pledged ahead of the May 7 election that fighting terror would be his priority, after multiple attacks in France since 2015 have killed more than 230 people. Most of the west African extremist groups France is combating trace their origins to al Qaidas North Africa branch. Frances Operation Barkhane has about 4,000 soldiers in Mali, Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso and Mauritania. Gao is home of the permanent French military base in Mali, with 1,600 troops. Mr Macron highlighted his determination to crush extremism (Christophe Petit Tesson, Pool via AP) Gao is where a suicide attack on a Malian army camp killed more than 75 people in January. That attack, claimed by the al Qaida-linked al-Mourabitoun extremist group, happened days after former French president Francois Hollande visited the city. The victims were soldiers and former fighters trying to stabilise the region after a 2015 agreement with the government. The attack was a major blow to peace efforts in northern Mali, where rival groups have been vying for control or outright independence. US President Donald Trump told Russian diplomats that firing the nut job FBI director had relieved great pressure on him, according to The New York Times. The newspaper cited the White Houses official written account of the Oval Office meeting. It said one official had read quotations to the Times and another had confirmed the broad outlines of the discussion. As the Representative of Salem, MA, I can confirm that this is false. https://t.co/8yJIzZBSE8 Seth Moulton (@sethmoulton) May 18, 2017 Fridays report quotes Mr Trump calling ousted FBI director James Comey crazy and a real nut job. It says the president then told Russias foreign minister and ambassador that he faced great pressure because of Russia. Thats taken off. Mr Trump met with the Russians on May 10, the day after he fired Mr Comey. Donald Trump shakes hands with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos (Susan Walsh/AP) The reports emerged as Mr Trump departed for his first overseas trip as US president amid the controversy surrounding investigations into whether his campaign associates collaborated with Russia to sway the election. Air Force One departed from Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, outside Washington, with the president, first lady Melania Trump, his daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner, as well as a group of senior advisers and journalists covering the trip. The presidents first stop is Saudi Arabia, where he will address a summit of Arab and Muslim leaders. He also plans to travel to Israel, the Vatican, Brussels and Sicily. Robert Mueller will lead the Trump-Russia probe (J Scott Applewhite/AP) Mr Trump has tried to put investigations into his campaign and his first four months in office behind him. Amid claims about his campaigns relations with Russia and whether he tried to stop an FBI probe into the issue, Mr Trump has claimed to be the most hounded president in history. Mr Trump said he was about to name a replacement for Mr Comey, another effort to settle the waters, with former senator Joe Lieberman seen as the front-runner. Mr Trump clearly knew what he wanted to say as he took a few questions at a news briefing with visiting Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. Asked if he urged Mr Comey at a February meeting to drop his probe of the Russia connections of Mr Trumps national security adviser, Michael Flynn, the president said: No. No. Next question. Did he collude with Russia in his campaign to defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton? Everybody, even my enemies, have said there is no collusion, he replied. He added: The entire thing has been a witch hunt. This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history! Across town, deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein was briefing the Senate about his decision to appoint former FBI director Robert Mueller to lead the independent Trump-Russia probe. Senators said Mr Rosenstein steered clear of specifics while making clear Mr Mueller has wide latitude to pursue the investigation wherever it leads, potentially including criminal charges. Despite the presidents furious reaction, some fellow Republicans welcomed Mr Muellers appointment and expressed hopes it would restore some composure to a capital plunged in chaos. Theresa May has appealed to Scots to strengthen my hand as I fight to strengthen the Union by voting Conservative in the General Election. The Prime Minister made her pitch at the launch of the Scottish Tory manifesto in Edinburgh. Scottish party leader Ruth Davidson used the same event to call on voters to use the June 8 poll to bring the SNP down to size. .@theresa_may tells Scot Tory manifesto launch only her party has the "strength and credibility" to stand up to SNP pic.twitter.com/2Xs3jdR3GV Laura Paterson (@LauraPatersonPA) May 19, 2017 Mrs May told supporters Scotland can play a bigger role in our shared national life as she promised to help the country grow and flourish. However the SNP said the Prime Minister would prioritise a hard Brexit over protecting Scottish jobs. While the 2015 election saw voters elect just one Scottish Conservative MP, the party is now targeting several seats north of the border, having made significant progress in Mays local elections. Theresa May and Ruth Davidson during the Scottish Conservatives manifesto launch (PA) Mrs May said: A General Election which is defined by one question, and one question only: who can lead us through Brexit and get a deal that works for the whole United Kingdom? Who can lead our country, and strengthen our Union, in the years ahead? Every vote for me and my team will strengthen my hand in the negotiations to come. Every vote will help me get a better deal for the whole United Kingdom. And every vote from Scotland will strengthen my hand when I stand up for our United Kingdom here at home. Fighting for a stronger, fairer, more prosperous United Kingdom.#GE2017 pic.twitter.com/BbudWoJnDH Scottish Conservatives (@ScotTories) May 19, 2017 Scots voted by a margin of 62% to 38% to remain in the European Union last June, while the UK as a whole opted to leave a result which led Scotlands First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to call for a second vote on independence. Mrs May said only her party has the strength and credibility to stand up to the nationalists. The Tory manifesto asserts that another ballot cannot take place until the Brexit process has played out and unless there is public consent for it to happen. Mrs May said: I have been clear that now is not the time for another independence referendum. This is a time to pull together, not apart. As long as I am Prime Minister, I will never stand by and let our Union drift apart. .@RuthDavidsonMSP "We wont roll over when they demand a rerun."#GE2017 pic.twitter.com/yBxl7blUIW Scottish Conservatives (@ScotTories) May 19, 2017 Pitching the Tories as a party of the centre ground, Ms Davidson appealed for Labour voters to back her party to defeat the SNP. With Labour forced to suspend all of its councillors on Aberdeen City Council after they formed a coalition with the Tories against party orders, she said: This week the Scottish Labour Party already weakened has entered a state of civil war. She told Labour supporters: The truth is, your party has left you, not the other way around. You can read our manifesto for a stronger Scotland, here:https://t.co/UwJ56tBRpO pic.twitter.com/ebdsduqHJ9 Scottish Conservatives (@ScotTories) May 19, 2017 It may well find its way back. But you know and I know it wont be at this election. We are committed to workers rights, boosting low pay, getting a good deal for our fishermen and improving the education of our young people so cruelly let down by this Scottish Government. So, together, with your help, we can lead the fightback against the SNP and stop Nicola Sturgeon trying to pull our country apart. Colombias Fernando Gaviria claimed a fourth victory of the Giro dItalia on Fridays 13th stage to Tortona. The 167-kilometres stage from Reggio Emilia finished as expected in a mass sprint and Gaviria (QuickStep-Floors) proved his pedigree as the fastest man in the race once more. Irelands Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe) was second and Belgiums Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo) third as Gaviria added to his victories on the third, fifth and 12th stages. Fernando Gaviria 26 stage wins for Colombia, the same of Russia #Giro100 pic.twitter.com/g3PCSZ1gdY Giro d'Italia (@giroditalia) May 19, 2017 The top of the general classification was unchanged, with Hollands Tom Dumoulin (Team Sunweb) in the pink jersey. Dumoulin has a lead of two minutes 23 seconds over Colombias Nairo Quintana (Movistar) ahead of Saturdays 14th stage. The 131km route from Castellania to Oropa features a summit finish, when Dumoulins rivals could seek to regain some valuable time. Tom Dumoulin is the 60th rider in history with at least 10 career Maglie Rosa. Bravo Tom! #Giro100 pic.twitter.com/GM9k8mxIhp Giro d'Italia (@giroditalia) May 19, 2017 Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) is third, 2mins 38secs behind. Britains Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) is no longer in contention after withdrawing ahead of Fridays stage. Thomas was nursing knee and shoulder injuries following last Sundays crash, caused by a stationary police motorbike, and opted not to continue despite a second-placed finish behind Dumoulin in Tuesdays individual time-trial. That saw Thomas enhance his hopes of a top-five finish, or possibly even a podium, but the pain was too much and he has now refocused on supporting Chris Froome in Julys Tour de France. The race against the clock also saw Dumoulin prove his credentials for overall victory in Milan on May 28. But the overall hopefuls were able to keep their counsel on Friday as the sprint trains controlled the peloton. And Gaviria came from behind to go up the right-hand side of the road and win by half a bike length from Bennett. Brazils top prosecutor is accusing President Michel Temer of corruption and obstruction of justice, according to an investigation released by the countrys supreme court on Friday. Attorney General Rodrigo Janots charges dramatically increase the threat to drive the president out of office and represent an extraordinary escalation of a corruption probe. The formal accusations are the latest revelations related to a secretly recorded audio that purportedly captured Mr Temer endorsing the paying of hush money to an ex-politician now serving a 15-year prison sentence for corruption. The audio was first reported by Globo newspaper on Wednesday night. (Eraldo Peres/AP/PA) In a plea bargain by the same man who recorded Mr Temer, released as part of the document dump by the Supreme Tribunal Federal, the president is accused of taking 1.5 million dollars (1.15 million) in bribes. Mr Janot says Mr Temer and Senator Aecio Neves have tried to derail the Car Wash probe via legislative means and by influencing police investigators. In this way, there is evidence of possibly committing the crime of obstructing justice, Mr Janot wrote. Meanwhile, Mr Temers administration began questioning both the legality and content of the recording. President Michel Temer does not believe in the veracity of the declarations in the recording, according to a statement from his office. (Silvia Izquierdo/AP/PA) The statement also noted the person who made the recording, JBS meat-packing company executive Joesley Batista, is under investigation and thus was taking advantage of the situation. The recording was turned over to prosecutors as part of a Batista plea bargain. Local media outlets reported the president planned to have the audio analysed, though his office declined to confirm that. In the documents released on Friday, Mr Batista also said his company paid Mr Temer about 1.5 million dollars from 2010 to 2017. Some of those funds were disguised as legal campaign donations and others were channelled to his public image consultant Elsinho Mouco, according to Mr Batista. Brazils highest court opened an investigation into the accusation against Mr Temer on Thursday and lifted the seal on the nearly 39-minute recording, which is scratchy and often inaudible. Mr Temer addressed the nation on Thursday, denying he had authorised any bribes and vowing to continue in office. The revelations are the latest fallout from the Car Wash investigation into a kickback scheme at state oil company Petrobras. (Andre Penner/AP/PA) Launched three years ago, dozens of the countrys top businessmen and politicians have been jailed and many more are being investigated. Later on Friday, the entirety of Batistas plea bargain was expected to be released. At least eight pieces of proposed legislation to impeach Mr Temer have been submitted in Congress and a steady stream of people from many walks of life are continue to call for him to step down. On Friday, former Chief Justice Joaquim Barbosa added his voice. There is not another way out: Brazilians must organise, go to the streets and demand with strength the immediate resignation of Michel Temer, tweeted Mr Barbosa. Emily Thornberry risked reopening Labour divisions over the nuclear deterrent by indicating the partys support for Trident could not be guaranteed. Labours leadership has said Trident will be covered in a defence review if Jeremy Corbyn a long-standing campaigner for nuclear disarmament was in Number 10. Labours policy, set by the party conference, supports Trident but shadow foreign secretary Ms Thornberry said she could not guarantee what the outcome of the review would be. Ms Thornberry, who said she was sceptical about Trident, was asked in a radio interview to confirm that the missile system would remain as Labour policy after the review. She replied: Well no, of course not, if you are going to have a review, you have to have a review. On LBC Radio she said: Overwhelmingly we need to make sure that our policy is up to date and meets 21st century threats and no one can disagree with that, surely? Only Labour has a plan ambitious enough to unleash this countrys potential Watch highlights of @jeremycorbyn unveiling our manifesto. RT pic.twitter.com/iw9w7SxPbu The Labour Party (@UKLabour) May 19, 2017 You know there was a time when we gave up on sabres or horses, you need to keep updating your defence policy and meeting the most pressing and most obvious needs. We need to make sure any war that may be fought, will be fought on 21st century terms. Asked if she was pushing for a change in the policy of supporting Trident, she said: I think that what we should do is we should have a modern policy on defence and we should make sure first and foremost that Britain is safe. That is the first and overwhelming obligation of any government, that is where we start. (PA graphic) Party sources had previously insisted said that although the deterrent would be covered by the review, the renewal programme to replace the submarines carrying the Trident nuclear missiles was not in question. Labours manifesto published on Tuesday included support for the nuclear deterrent. Labour supports the renewal of the Trident nuclear deterrent, the document said. As a nuclear-armed power, our country has a responsibility to fulfil our obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Labour will lead multilateral efforts with international partners and the UN to create a nuclear-free world. Ms Thornberry said: How much does the public feel that their safety and security is dependent on us having a nuclear deterrent? And how much are we a safe world by having so many countries with nuclear deterrents? (PA graphic) Because in the end, if countries continue to have nuclear deterrents then we are actually making our world less safe, we are making it more likely that there will be a nuclear attack. Senior Tory Bob Neill said: Jeremy Corbyn and Emily Thornberry want to disarm Britain and put our security at risk. Corbyns coalition of chaos would scrap Trident, abandon our allies and would rather talk to Daesh than strike its barbaric leader. Only Theresa May and the Conservatives will provide the strong and stable leadership needed to defend our values against those who seek to destroy our way of life. Simona Halep ended qualifier Anett Kontaveits run at the Italian Open in Rome with a straight sets win to reach the semi-finals. Sixth seed Haleps clay court brilliance secured her a 6-2 6-4 victory against Kontaveit and the Romanian will now meet Hollands Kiki Bertens in the last four. Estonias Kontaveit, who dispatched world number one Angelique Kerber and Mirjana Lucic-Baroni earlier in the tournament, made too many errors against in-form Halep, who secured victory on her third match point in one hour and 20 minutes. Simona Halep Bertens, the 15th seed, was also in fine form and halted the progress of another qualifier, Daria Gavrilova, with a comfortable 6-3 6-3 win to reach her first semi-final of the year. Australian world number 33 Gavrilova was forced to play through the qualifying rounds after she forgot to sign up for the tournament. All but one of her five previous matches had gone to three sets and she ran out of steam against Bertens, who was in top form on her favourite surface to progress in one hour and 27 minutes. Elina Svitolina caused an upset as she won through to her first semi-final in Rome with a convincing 6-3 7-6 (9/7) victory over second seed Karolina Pliskova. Eighth seed Svitolina had lost all four of her previous matches against the Czech Republics Pliskova, including the semi-finals in Brisbane earlier this year, but held her nerve in a tense second set tie-break to seal victory. Svitolina will face third seed Garbine Muguruza in the last four after the Spaniard overcame Venus Williams in a hard-fought 6-2 3-6 6-2 win. Muguruza, who will climb back into the worlds top five when the new rankings are released on Monday, won the first four matches and comfortably took the opening set. Williams saved five breaks points in the second before seizing her only chance to take the match into a decider, but Muguruza recovered her composure to see off the American veteran in an hour and 46 minutes. DAKAR, May 17 (Reuters) - Red Cross workers have found 115 bodies in Central African Republic's diamond-mining town of Bangassou after several days of militia attacks, the president of the aid group's local branch said on Wednesday. "We found 115 bodies and 34 have been buried," Antoine Mbao Bogo told Reuters by phone from the capital Bangui. "They died in various ways: from knives, from clubs and bullet wounds." A senior U.N. official had previously reported 26 civilian deaths. (Reporting by Emma Farge; Editing by Andrew Heavens) Opinion / Columnist Zimbabwe's economic situation has reached the point where millions are suffered in dumb anguish and hundreds are dying every month unnecessarily for no other reason other than that they are poor. The situation is man-made and per se it is within our powers as a nation to resolve it.One of the reasons why Zimbabwe is in this economic mess is because there are too many people out there who have never stopped to ask why the country was in a mess much less lift a finger to get the country out of the mess. Many of us expect "someone else" to do the think for us and then do whatever needs to be done.Ask these people to name just one person of whom that "someone else" is and they do not say!"I also live in the same conditions as everybody else, whatever struggle is there, I also experience that, I live here, I am a Zimbabwean, I stay here," answered Mtukudzi. Pindai Dube had asked him his thoughts on the economic crisis in Zimbabwe."Unfortunately, I'm not a politician. I don't know what to say, I don't know who is wrong. I don't know who can make it right. But I think as Zimbabweans we have to be optimistic that its going to be better."Sorry, but that has to be one of the cheapest cop-out in human history!Who can anyone claim they do not know who is wrong, after 37 years of living under one of the most corrupt and tyrannical regimes in Africa. Surely brother Mtukudzi must have heard of Zimbabwe's corruption. A year and half ago, Mugabe himself admitting that $15 billions in diamond revenue was swindled. To date, no one has been arrested and not a single dollar recovered was recovered.How many countries in the world, much less ones like Zimbabwe with a misery $10 billion GDP, can sustain such a serious economic haemorrhage? It is therefore not surprising that Zimbabwe's economy is in a real mess, unemployment has soared to world record heights of 90% and has been this high now for decades.An AfrAsia Bank report has just confirmed that Zimbabweans are now the poorest in the poorest continent on earth, Africa. Millions of our people now live in abject poverty and hundreds are dying every month of poverty related diseases and/or hardships.On the political front this Zanu PF has murdered over 30 000 innocent Zimbabweans to establish and retain its de facto one-party cum one-man dictatorship.The nation had hoped for meaningful political change to come out of the 2008 to 2013 GNU. Sadly, Zanu PF was able to blatantly rig the 2013 elections, thanks to Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC friends' failure to implement even one democratic reform to stop the vote rigging."Mazivanhu eMDC adzidza kudya anyerere!" (MDC people have learnt to enjoy the gravy train lifestyle and not rock the boat!) Was the boastful reply from one Mugabe crony during the GNU in response to the universal apprehension why MDC leaders were not implementing any reforms.It is inconceivable that anyone, anyone at all will not be aware of the sorry economic state Zimbabwe is in because there is poverty, rot and decay everywhere! It is clear it is the decades of gross mismanagement and rampant corruption by our political leaders that has landed us in this mess. It should also be clear that unless there is meaningful political change this country will continue to sink in hopelessness and despair."And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country," was the rally call of John F Kennedy in his 1961 inaugural speech.If there was ever a time the people of Zimbabwe, wherever they are whoever they are, must ask themselves "What can I do for my country, Zimbabwe?" then there will never be a better time than now.What can you do? Stop Zimbabwe going into yet another meaningless election by demanding the implementation of the democratic reforms BEFORE elections are held.If elections go ahead with no reforms then Zanu PF will rig the vote, just as they did in 2013. That will deepen the country's economic and political situation, just as the regime's 2013 victory deepened the crisis.The pressure point here is to force the opportunistic oppositions to withdraw from the elections and deny Zanu PF democratic credibility which opposition participation gives them, as David Coltart readily admitted in his Book."The worst aspect for me about the failure to agree a coalition was that both MDCs couldn't now do the obvious withdraw from the elections," explained Coltart."The electoral process was so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw, which would compel SADC to hold Zanu PF to account. But such was the distrust between the MDC-T and MDC-N that neither could withdraw for fear that the other would remain in the elections, winning seats and giving the process credibility."In 2014, Tsvangirai and his MDC friends promised not to contest future elections until the reforms are implemented but they have since changed their minds. They now plan to contest the 2018 elections knowing fully well the elections will be rigged for the same reason the contested the flawed 2013 elections - greed.It is now incumbent on every Zimbabwe to force Tsvangirai and his opposition opportunist and greed friends to honour their "No reform, no election!" party resolution. It will take the effort of all Zimbabweans to force through the demand for political reform and restore all our freedoms, human rights including the right to free, fair and credible elections.In 1980 Zimbabwe had the potential to become the South Korea of Africa but, as we can see, it also had the potential to become the corrupt and tyrannical North Korea of Africa. We can save ourselves and posterity from the nightmare of poverty and hopelessness but only if we play our part in ending this Zanu PF dictatorship and not always wait for others to think and act for us.Mukoma Oliver Mtukudzi you can go to any maternity ward anywhere you want, you will never find a baby stamped "Politician" on its bum. In a country where our political leaders control every facet of human activity with disastrous consequences affected us all; we are all politicians. We must all play our part in the fight to end the Zanu PF dictatorship because it is destroying us all! By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS, May 18 (Reuters) - Some eight months after the U.N. Security Council authorized the deployment of an extra 4,000 peacekeepers to war-torn South Sudan, the first of those troops have just trickled in amid bureaucratic hurdles by the country's reluctant government. "Meanwhile the situation in the country has deteriorated at a rapid pace," U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a monthly report on the status of the deployment and obstacles facing some 13,000 peacekeepers already on the ground. The 15-member Security Council approved the additional troops - known as a regional protection force (RPF) - in August, following several days of heavy fighting in the capital Juba between troops loyal to President Salva Kiir and those backing former Vice President Riek Machar. The force is part of the U.N. peacekeeping mission known as UNMISS, which has been in South Sudan since its independence from Sudan in 2011. The country spiraled into civil war - with violence along ethnic lines - after Kiir sacked Machar in 2013. "Deployment of some of the first wave elements of the RPF ... has begun," Guterres told the Security Council in a report, seen by Reuters on Thursday. While it usually takes several months for the United Nations to get the troop contributions needed for a deployment, the world body has also had to contend with the South Sudanese government's red tape and unwillingness to cooperate. "It is indeed unfortunate that the first troops associated with the RPF have only begun to arrive eight months after they were initially mandated by the Security Council," Guterres wrote, adding that as of May 15 there were 31 members of the Bangladesh Construction Engineering Company on the ground. The Security Council had threatened to impose an arms embargo if Kiir's government did not cooperate with the deployment or allow peacekeepers already on the ground to move freely to protect civilians. But when the United States put the measure to a vote in December it failed to get the nine votes needed to pass. Guterres told the Security Council that UNMISS "continued to be obstructed and restricted - in some cases encountering aggression from government forces." He also said humanitarian aid deliveries were being hindered. The United Nations estimates about 3 million South Sudanese - a quarter of the population - have fled their homes, parts of the oil-producing country are in famine and top U.N. officials have warned of a possible genocide. (Editing by Alistair Bell) BOGOTA, May 18 (Reuters) - Colombia's Constitutional Court has struck down two provisions meant to speed approval of laws on the government's peace deal with Marxist FARC rebels, which will likely extend congressional debate on the accord. The decision, announced late on Wednesday, was made after the right-wing Democratic Center party, which opposes the peace accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas, sued over parts of a broad peace law already approved by Congress. The ruling requires more than one round of congressional voting on accord-related laws and will likely draw out debate on pending laws about rural reform and political participation for the FARC, which are opposed by the Democratic Center. Delays may spark complaints about government slowness from the rebels, who are in special camps handing over their weapons. However, President Juan Manuel Santos' coalition has a majority in Congress and the laws still look set to be approved. The ruling will add "legitimacy" to the laws, Luis Guillermo Guerrero, the head of the court, told journalists on Thursday. Many laws related to the accord have already been approved, including one to give amnesty to the majority of FARC fighters. The ruling will not affect those laws. "The implementation of the peace deal and the advances in Congress to support it are not at risk," Alfonso Prada, the president's general secretary, said on Thursday. Prada said he spoke to Santos, who was visiting U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, about the ruling early on Thursday. "We have confidence that Congress will continue processing the laws to implement the peace accord," Prada said. Despite government optimism, the FARC said in a statement later in the day that the ruling put the peace accord in its most difficult position since the start of talks. "The decision presents the danger of renegotiating the accord in Congress once again and, it must be said, of sparking a sabotage of its legal development, which has been the declared intention of the ultra-right," the group said. (Reporting by Julia Symmes Cobb, Luis Jaime Acosta and Carlos Vargas; Editing by Grant McCool and Leslie Adler) By Mitra Taj MEXICO CITY, May 17 (Reuters) - Mexico expects to import a record amount of yellow corn from Brazil this year after its livestock producers secured lower prices in deals with suppliers on a recent visit to South America as NAFTA talks loom, a Mexican official said Thursday. Alejandro Vazquez, a government official who was part of a Mexican delegation that visited Brazil and Argentina last week, said Mexican livestock companies on the trip had negotiated directly with suppliers and cut out commodities traders such as Cargill Inc and Louis Dreyfus that normally arrange shipments. Following repeated threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to pull out of the North American Free Trade Agreement, Mexico, a net grains importer, has been eager to show the United States that it has options to trade elsewhere. It has touted an upcoming visit to China and trade talks under way with the European Union, Brazil and Argentina , while looking for new suppliers for the U.S. grains that make up most of its imports of corn, wheat and soybeans. The Trump administration launched the process for opening NAFTA for revisions on Thursday and will likely face pressures from the politically connected U.S. corn industry to maintain market access to Mexico, one of its biggest customers. Higher costs and longer shipping times have in the past limited Mexican imports from South America. Before the trip, yellow corn from Brazil cost about $15 per tonne more for Mexico than U.S. corn. But Mexican companies signed deals in Brazil for two shipments of 30,000 tonnes each for delivery in August that were only $3 to $5 per tonne higher, part of the 300,000-tonne total they plan to import between August and October at roughly the same price, Vazquez said. "If prices become even more attractive, they could import even more," Vasquez said, adding that bigger deals could cut margins further. "And in some regions of Brazil, yellow corn is even cheaper than in the U.S." for Mexico. Vazquez, the head of Aserca, an agency in the Agriculture Ministry that promotes Mexican products, said the livestock companies chose to pay more for Brazilian yellow corn as an investment in case NAFTA unravels and disrupts the cheap access to U.S. corn they use for animal feed. "For them, it's not an option to be closing their plants," Vazquez said. The 300,000 tonnes of yellow corn from Brazil this year would be a tiny fraction of the 12.75 million tonnes that Mexico imported from the United States last year. But it would be nearly five times more than it imported from Brazil last year and a record, Vazquez said. Vazquez said Mexico should have shopped around for alternatives to U.S. grains long ago. "Mexico was in a comfort zone," he said. "We didn't need to go and seek these opportunities that we're finding now." (Reporting By Mitra Taj; Editing by Bill Trott) TOKYO, May 18 (Reuters) - Japan scrambled fighter jets on Thursday after four Chinese coastguard vessels entered what Japan considers its territorial waters near disputed East China Sea islets and a drone-like object flew near one ship, Japan said. It was the first such flight near the islands witnessed by Japanese officials, although the incident took to 13 the number of intrusions this year by Chinese coastguard ships in the contested waters, Japan's coastguard said. Japan and China have long been at loggerheads over the tiny, uninhabited islands, called the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China. They are controlled by Japan but claimed also by China. "This is escalating the situation and absolutely unacceptable," Defence Minister Tomomi Inada told a news conference on Friday, referring to the incursion and drone flight. "We regard this as a serious infringement of Japan's sovereignty." Inada said two F-15 fighter jets, one E-2C early warning aircraft and an AWACS surveillance plane were sent to the scene. In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the drone had been released by "relevant media" for aerial photography, rather than by the coast guard, but did not name the organisation. "This is not a military action as has been hyped up by some media," Hua told a daily news briefing. As the islands are Chinese territory, China has every right to carry out normal coast guard patrols there, she added. "As for the so-called representations or protest by the Japanese side, of course we can't accept it." Kenji Kanasugi, director-general of the Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, lodged a stern protest with the Chinese embassy in Tokyo by telephone, a ministry official said. The Chinese embassy responded to the protest by reiterating China's stance on the islands, the official added. China routinely rejects Japanese criticism of such patrols, saying its ships have every right to operate in what China calls its territorial waters. In a brief statement on its website, China's State Oceanic Administration confirmed that four coastguard vessels had been patrolling by the islands, but made no mention of any drone. (Reporting by Nobuhiro Kubo and Kiyoshi Takenaka; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Beijing; Editing by Clarence Fernandez, Robert Birsel) By Jeff Mason WASHINGTON, May 19 (Reuters) - With turmoil enveloping his administration at home, President Donald Trump heads abroad on Friday for a trip the White House hopes will shift focus away from domestic controversies and on to his foreign policy agenda. Trump leaves for Saudi Arabia on Friday afternoon and will make stops next week in Israel, Belgium and Italy. The trip was billed as a chance to visit places sacred to three of the world's major religions while creating face time with Arab, Israeli and European leaders. But a political uproar in Washington over Trump's firing of former FBI Director James Comey, allegations that he pressed Comey to stop investigating former national security adviser Michael Flynn, and the subsequent appointment of a special counsel to look into allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 election and potential ties with Trump's campaign threaten to overshadow his trip. "We look forward to getting this whole situation behind us," the Republican president told a news conference at the White House on Thursday. The sojourn abroad, his first foreign trip since taking office in January, may or may not help. Trump is expected to be welcomed warmly by leaders in Riyadh and Jerusalem, but lingering questions over his views on the Iran nuclear deal, commitment to NATO security and skepticism of the Paris climate agreement could generate tension at meetings with European counterparts in Brussels and Sicily. "It's almost always true that when a president goes on a big foreign trip, especially one that has some important summits ... that that dominates the news and knocks most other stuff out," said Republican strategist Charlie Black. "Whether by accident or design, this will help him in terms of Russia news for a while." 'MESSAGE OF UNITY' The White House laid out three purposes for the trip: reaffirming U.S. leadership globally, building relationships with world leaders and broadcasting "a message of unity to America's friends and to the faithful of three of the world's greatest religions," said national security adviser H.R. McMaster. "What President Trump is seeking is to unite peoples of all faiths around a common vision of peace, progress and prosperity," he told reporters. Trump generated controversy as a presidential candidate with his call that Muslims be banned temporarily from entering the United States. His administration's proposal to limit travel from several Muslim-majority countries is tied up in court. McMaster said Trump would deliver a speech in Saudi Arabia expressing hope that a peaceful vision of Islam would resonate worldwide. The national security adviser, who publicly defended Trump this week against allegations that he improperly shared intelligence information with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during an Oval Office meeting, has a lot riding on the trip himself. "Hes already on thin ice after his attempt to defend the presidents discussion of intelligence with the Russians, and he urged the president to do this trip, which may have been a bad idea," said one U.S. official. "Its too long and covers too much ground and too many topics. If it goes badly, no matter whos fault it is, it will be H.R.s." Although he kept a grueling schedule as a presidential candidate, Trump is fond of being home at night, often flying back to New York after campaign events to sleep in his own bed. The nine-day trip will be his longest since becoming president. (Additional reporting by Steve Holland and John Walcott; Editing by Peter Cooney) BUCHAREST, May 19 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Romanian financial markets on Friday. BOND TENDER Romania sold a planned 500 million lei ($121.83 million) worth of Feb. 2020 treasury bonds on Thursday, with the average accepted yield at 1.86 percent, central bank data showed. Debt managers last issued the bond last month at an average yield of 1.98 percent. OECD Romania is ready to start accession talks to join the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu said. CEE MARKETS Central European currencies fell sharply from recent highs on Thursday as growing worries over Donald Trump's U.S. presidency led investors to cut risk. For the long-term Romanian diary, click on For emerging markets economic events, click on For an index of all diaries, click on For other related news, double click on: --------------------------------------------------------------- Romanian equities RO-E E.Europe equities .CEE Romanian money RO-M Romanian debt RO-D Eastern Europe EEU All emerging markets EMRG Hot stocks HOT Stock markets STX Market debt news DBT Forex news FRX For real-time index quotes, double click on: Bucharest BETI Warsaw WIG20 Budapest BUX Prague PX -------------------------------------------------------- ($1 = 4.0929 lei) By Robin Pomeroy CANNES, France, May 19 (Reuters) - A technical glitch on Friday halted the screening of Netflix's first movie to compete at the Cannes Film Festival, but "Okja", starring Tilda Swinton and Jake Gyllenhaal, which opened to boos, ended to hearty applause. One of the most keenly anticipated films of the festival, because of its stellar cast and director as well as the video streaming company's decision to give it only a limited theatrical release, opened to a packed press screening. As the Netflix logo hit the screen, sections of the crowd booed, and the opening scene was difficult to hear due to heckling and slow handclapping - apparently due to the film being projected in the wrong aspect ratio. The projection was stopped, the screen adjusted and the movie then restarted, with the Netflix logo again being booed, but the rest of the film watched in respectful silence. "This incident was entirely the responsibility of the Festivals technical service, which offers its apologies to the director, his teams, the producers and the audience at the showing," the festival said in a statement. Directed by Korean Bong Joon-ho, known for "Snowpiercer" and "The Host", "Okja" is the story of a little girl's relationship to an intelligent giant pig-like animal which has, unknown to her, been bred by a U.S. biotech company to produce cheap meat. The animal is saved, but also used, by activists from the Animal Liberation Front (ALF). With elements of "King Kong", British magazine Sight and Sound said the "snazzy science fiction succeeds as both a critique of the modern meat industry and a bittersweet tale of the bond between a girl and a mighty beast". Gyllenhaal made light of speculation the screening glitch had been sabotage, possibly by Netflix's opponents in the French movie industry angry at its refusal to release the film in theatres, saying: "It was the ALF I guess." French rules mean that movies cannot be streamed online until three years after their theatrical release, and Netflix has ruled out any such release in France - creating a controversy that has been hard to avoid at the festival. Pedro Almodovar, the head of the jury that will award this year's big prize, said he did not think a film not shown on the big screen should get the Palme d'Or. Swinton, a co-producer on "Okja" who has served on the Cannes jury twice, said thousands of "the most beautiful and esoteric films" are screened at Cannes but never get seen in cinemas, and defended the U.S. company for giving the director free-rein on such a big budget film. "Netflix have given Bong Joon-Ho the chance to make his absolutely liberated vision a reality, and for that I am so grateful." (Editing by Andrew Heavens) TOKYO, May 19 (Reuters) - Japan tightened regulations on high-frequency trading (HFT) this week, passing into law measures that will require HFT firms to register with regulators. Other nations in Europe and elsewhere in Asia are looking to tighten the leash on high-frequency traders who program ultra-fast computers to trade in milliseconds without human intervention. Some major U.S. exchanges want to introduce speed limits on trading. The growing presence of HFT on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) has raised concerns high-speed trading could destabilise markets and leave retail investors at a disadvantage. The law was passed by parliament on Wednesday and the new regulations could come into force as early as 2018. Japan's market regulator, the Financial Services Agency (FSA), has said previously it wanted HFT participants to register and to ensure proper risk management measures were in place. "The definition has not yet been created. We can guess at who might be affected, but we don't know for sure the full scope of who will be affected," said Seth Friedman, chief executive of advisory firm Shiroyama Consulting Co.. The new rules stipulate that a company engaging in HFT will have to establish an office in Japan or be represented in the country by an agent. HFT accounted for about 70 percent of orders on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2016, FSA estimates show. High-speed trading accounted for slightly less than half of actual traded value, according to market participants, taking into account order cancellations. That would amount to slightly less than 321 trillion yen ($2.9 trillion) based on figures on the TSE website for total trade in cash equity of 643 trillion yen. (Reporting by Lisa Twaronite; Editing by) VIENNA, May 19 (Reuters) - Austria's conservatives, the People's Party (OVP), shot to the top of opinion polls on Friday, pushing past the main far-right and centre-left movements after naming a new leader with his own tough line on immigration. The far-right Freedom Party (FPO) fell from first to second place with 26 percent in two surveys - a share of the vote that could still make it a powerful player and possible coalition partner after snap elections due in October. Any return of the Freedom Party to coalition government, just months after its candidate's narrow defeat in presidential elections, would mark a boost for Europe's populist causes, which have faced reversals in elections in France and the Netherlands. Friday's surveys were the first published since the conservatives chose Sebastian Kurz, who has said he opposes what he calls the "welcoming culture" towards migrants in neighbouring Germany. As foreign minister in the current coalition, he helped coordinate the closure of a major migrant route across the Balkans, a popular move among many Austrians. Soon after his nomination on Sunday, Kurz blew the coalition with the centre-left SPO apart by demanding elections. Freedom Party leader Heinz-Christian Strache said he could now expect the support of a quarter of the electorate - "25 percent at least should be possible," he told News magazine in an interview published on Friday. Asked whether the FPO would prefer to help the OVP or the centre-left Social Democrats into government, Strache said his party was "equidistant" to both. Austria's coalition of the centre-right OVP and centre-left SPO, both of which have dominated politics since World War II, agreed on fresh elections last week. Their members have spent much of the time since then trading accusations over business and education reforms, a standoff seen limiting the chances of another centrist coalition. In a poll published in tabloid Oesterreich on Friday, the Conservatives got 35 percent, the FPO 26 percent and the SPO 20 percent. The margin of error was 4 percent among 600 participants, according to election information portal Neuwal. In the Unique poll of 800 people, the OVP got 33 percent and SPO and FPO 26 percent each. Before Kurz became its leader, the OVP had occupied third place for months. "The OVP with Sebastian Kurz has a very good starting position," said Unique. "It remains to be seen whether he can keep those throughout the campaign, which is expected to include significantly more attacks on his person." The Social Democrats ruled with the FPO from 1983 to 1987 in a centre-left, far-right government, which would be unthinkable elsewhere in Europe. In 2000, the OVP and FPO agreed on a government headed by the OVP's Wolfgang Schuessel, which led to a six-month diplomatic boycott of Austria by other European Union member states. (Reporting by Shadia Nasralla; Editing by Andrew Heavens) By Humeyra Pamuk ISTANBUL, May 19 (Reuters) - Turkish authorities have issued arrest warrants for the owner and three employees of an opposition newspaper, a police source and the paper said on Friday, part of a continuing media crackdown that has alarmed rights groups and Turkey's Western allies. The four are accused of committing crimes on behalf of the network of U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, they said. Gulen is blamed by Ankara for masterminding last July's failed coup against President Tayyip Erdogan, a charge he denies. Turkish police carried out searches at the homes of the owner and the three employees of Sozcu newspaper, which is fiercely critical of Erdogan and his ruling AK Party, and also detained the paper's internet editor, the police source said. The paper's owner is currently abroad, he added. The state-run Anadolu news agency said the charges against the four suspects included planning "the assassination of the President and physical assault" and "armed rebellion against the government of the Turkish Republic". Metin Yilmaz, editor-in-chief of the secularist, nationalist Sozcu, confirmed the police raids but denied the accusations, saying his paper had long criticised Gulen and his supporters. "The only thing we do is journalism. But doing that in this country is a crime in itself," he said in a statement published on the paper's web site. "Writing the truth, criticising and doing stories are all crimes." The investigation drew sharp criticism from Turkey's main opposition party CHP. Its leader, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, said the probe was "unacceptable", while senior CHP lawmaker Ozgur Ozel said it aimed to silence all dissent. JAILING JOURNALISTS Since the failed coup, Turkish authorities have shut more than 130 media outlets and a press union says more than 150 journalists have been jailed, raising concerns about media freedom in a country that aspires to join the European Union. The arrest warrants for Sozcu came days after a court jailed the online editor of another opposition newspaper Cumhuriyet, pending trial, on a charge of spreading terrorist propaganda. Around a dozen journalists from the paper, long a pillar of Turkey's old secularist establishment, are already in jail facing sentences of up to 43 years in prison, accused of supporting Gulen's network. Turkey has also suspended or dismissed more than 150,000 judges, teachers, police and civil servants and has arrested nearly 50,000 others suspected of links to the Gulen movement. Turkish officials say the crackdown is necessary because the Gulen movement had set up a "state within a state" that threatened national security. They point to the gravity of last July's coup, when rogue troops commandeered warplanes to bomb parliament and used tanks to kill 240 people. But Erdogan's critics in Turkey and abroad say he is using the coup to purge opponents and muzzle dissent. Last month he narrowly won a referendum that grants him sweeping new powers. (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by Gareth Jones) Opinion / Columnist THIS is the third in a series of articles of a detailed research paper by British academic Hazel Cameron on the state-sponsored killings of civilians by Zimbabwean security forces between 1982 and 1987 under the pretext of suppressing dissidents in the atrocities now widely referred to as the Gukurahundi massacres.On March 5 1983, United States Secretary of State George Shultz claimed that "what we are addressing is not simply a bad policy choice by the GOZ (Government of Zimbabwe) to deal with a difcult security situation in a section of their country. What is involved is the very fundamental issue of relations between the two parties, between the Ndebele and the Shona (a struggle for dominance dating back a century and a half)".Of signicance, Shultz also noted that the "mailed st policy of the Government of Zimbabwe" was directed not only "against dissidents themselves, but against the entire Ndebele populace which is deemed to be the sea in which the enemy sh swim".One RP Ralph, a member of the secretariat during the Lancaster House conference wrote a condential letter to senior staff of the British High Commission, Harare, which he copied to the British Foreign and Commonwealth Ofce (FCO) and the Central African Department of the FCO. He noted that a few days previously, during a visit to Bulawayo on February 1619 1983: "There was much talk - and evidence - of widespread brutality by 5 Brigade towards villagers."Many people - including women and children - had evidently been killed; precise numbers will probably never be known, but reports of 500 may not be exaggerated All this was seen in largely tribal terms as a Shona vendetta In the long-term the brutality was seen as creating a tribal powder keg Everybody I talked to feared some sort of tribal war of the security forces did not stop killing Ndebele Most people hoped HMG (Her Majesty's Government) 'could do something'."Handwritten comments on this document, made by FCO staff, note "(s)ome interesting variation on the standard reporting" - presumably referring to the sanitised information on the scale of Fifth Brigade depredations, which they had been receiving from the British High Commission, Harare.An additional comment in a different hand notes "(d)epressing and now rather old but worth reading".Crucially, handwritten notes conrm that a copy of this letter was forwarded to the Cabinet Ofce.The West German ambassador to Zimbabwe, Richard Ellerkmann, thought it "ominous" that "(Prime Minister Robert) Mugabe, in his latest speech in Manicaland, had used the Shona equivalent of 'wipe out' with reference to the Ndebele people, not just Zapu people, if they didn't stop supporting the dissidents".However, "most poignant for Ellerkmann was the remark of a German-Jewish refugee in Bulawayo who said the situation reminded him of how the Nazis treated Jews in the 1930s" there can be no doubt that Gukurahundi was Zimbabwean government policy.On March 7 1983, Roland "Tiny" Rowland, a British businessman and chief executive of the Lonrho conglomerate with heavy economic commitments in Zimbabwe, met with Mugabe and then subsequently reported to the American ambassador in Harare that he was absolutely convinced that Mugabe was "fully aware of what is happening in Matabeleland and it is government policy. (Emmerson) Munangagwa (sic) (Secretary of State for Security) is fully aware and he was in the meeting when they discussed the situation in detail. Tiny described Mugabe as blunt and unyielding".Gukurahundi only came to an end seven years later with the signing of the Zimbabwean Unity Accord of 1987, which made no recognition whatsoever of the victims of the violence. There was no public admission of guilt for the atrocities or measures proffered for reparations. Instead, a blanket amnesty was offered to all those involved in the Matabeleland MassacresBritain and newly independent ZimA key British gure throughout this period was Robin Byatt, the British High Commissioner to Zimbabwe (appointed in April 1980).Byatt was to nd himself overseeing British diplomatic responsibility in a country that, as noted, very quickly became embroiled in mass state-sponsored political violence. He was proud that he enjoyed "a good relationship really" with Mugabe during his posting as High Commissioner in Harare.Byatt's wife Jilly "was on very good terms with Sally Mugabe (Mugabe's then-wife), who was a charming person". Indeed, Byatt notes that "Jilly's relationship with her (Sally) could be useful in a practical way, trying to get round the Prime Minister's ofce".It was on January 14 1983 that the FCO in London were made aware by British diplomatic cable from Harare that, as a result of increased dissident activity in Matabeleland in the period leading up to and covering Christmas and the New Year, the Zimbabwe government had "deployed some extra security forces to Matabeleland to little avail".David McMillan of the British High Commission noted that "(t)he government's attitude is not encouraging A further depl oyment of troops and more toughness will not help if they simply mean more brutality towards the Ndebele peasant. 'Blind swipes' by large numbers of troops are almost bound to be counter-productive".On the same date, during a visit to Zimbabwe, Cranley Onslow, British Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, met with the Zimbabwean Deputy Prime Minister Simon Muzenda and Joshua Nkomo, at which time Nkomo "pointed out (to Onslow) that the problem (in Matabeleland) is essentially a political one which needs a political solution".The following week the Fifth Brigade, clearly identiable by their red berets, were deployed to Matabeleland North. Units were assigned particular areas covering the entire province and, once deployed, they went village-to-village conducting their shocking spectacle of violence against civilians, civil servants, Zapu party chairpersons, and only very occasionally, dissidents.Within one week, Zapu parliamentarians had lodged a complaint in parliament that widespread and indiscriminate atrocities were being committed.By the last few days of January 1983, violence by Fifth Brigade was raging. Yet despite being in possession of intelligence that "5 Brigade have beaten up Ndebele workers at a Shangani mine and arbitrarily executed three Tsholotsho villagers", Byatt informed London on January 28 1983 that "information reaching us up to a few days ago suggested that army brutality in Matabeleland had considerably lessened".He continued: "At a press conference in Harare today (28 January 1983) Nkomo claimed that security forces had killed many innocent civilians (95 murders reported: by yesterday: 47 conrmed: the gure might now be much higher) in anti-dissident operations in Matabeleland since 22 January.Nkomo said at least some of the murders had been carried out by members of 'support unit' 5 Brigade who had told the people they were being punished for supporting dissidents and that the Ndebele would be taught a lesson."Nkomo had already discussed his concerns the previous day with acting Prime Minister Muzenda so as "to seek an end to the carnage".According to Nkomo, Muzenda "had been very disturbed and said he would immediately consult with the Ministers of Defence and Home Affairs.Byatt met with the Zimbabwean Minister of Defence, Sydney Sekeremayi, on the same day and "sought to urge that ruthlessness would merely compound the government's problem". However, Sekeremayi appeared to Byatt "convinced that a "tough line " is inescapable.Just over two weeks later, the British defence attache in Harare noted in a cable to the British Ministry of Defence (MOD) that "although 1 BDE (Brigade) are still reporting to army ops room 5 BDE are not. I presume COMD (Command) 5 BDE to be operating on the loose direction of (Rex) Nhongo or Sekeramayi", and not the ZNA (Zimbabwe National Army) High Command.The British defence attache continued: "You (MOD) have some details of 5 BDE excesses. Ministerial statements in the last 24 hours have given full support for their (Fifth Brigade) actions indications are that they (Fifth Brigade) have been launched as a 'mailed st' to deal not only with dissidents, but to scare the local population out of providing support for them. We have reports of murders and beatings by 5 BDE. There is no doubt that the situation has seriously deteriorated in Matabeleland."At this early stage, it appears that the British High Commissioner was unclear on the command structure in relation to the acts of violence committed by the Fifth Brigade in Matabeleland. However, he does claim that there was ministerial support for the "murders and beatings by 5 BDE".In spite of this knowledge, the British MOD, who had by this point already trained six Fifth Brigade personnel, continued to offer their assistance in the training of Fifth Brigade, including the 43 members of Fifth Brigade who were at that point in time attending courses at the British Military Advisory and Training Team base of Inkomo. A copy of this cable was also forwarded to the FCO by the British defence attache.Further credible intelligence of ongoing atrocities was available to the British government, including in the form of a letter written by the Catholic Bishop of Bulawayo Henry Karlen to Mugabe, detailing atrocities witnessed by priests and a German Catholic missionary doctor in Lupane.The missionary recorded incidents she had witnessed in the rst few days of February, noting that "in the village of Isilwane in Jibajiba ward 52 people were killed as the soldiers moved from home-to-home on February 6 1983".Dr Cameron teaches International Relations at the University of St Andrews in Britain. Her main research interests include state crime; external institutional bystanders and international criminal law; state and corporate complicity in genocide, war crime and crimes against humanity; intersection of criminality and the extractive industries in the DRC; and Rwandan state violence. She has written a monograph of her doctoral research titled Britain's Hidden Role in the Rwandan Genocide. BEIJING, May 19 (Reuters) - China's current cross-border capital flows are stabilising and improving, the head of the country's foreign exchange regulator said in a meeting with foreign firms on Friday, according to a post on the regulator's website. Pan Gongsheng, head of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, said that maintaining a stable foreign exchange market required cooperation between regulators and market entities. China's foreign exchange regulator will continue reforms and opening, and improve the convenience of cross-border trade and investment, according to the notice on SAFE's website. (Reporting by Beijing Monitoring Desk and Elias Glenn; Editing by Richard Borsuk) By Martin Petty and Manuel Mogato MANILA, May 19 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian nations and China should start with a "gentleman's agreement" on the busy South China Sea waterway because no mechanism exists to legally enforce any deal, the Philippine foreign minister said on Friday. The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China on Thursday finished a draft framework for negotiating a code of conduct, despite regional scepticism whether Beijing will commit to rules likely to restrain its maritime ambitions. Southeast Asian nations with claims in the South China Sea have long wanted to sign China up to a legally binding and enforceable code. It was unclear if that was mentioned in the framework draft, which has not been made public. Philippine Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano played down the importance of a legally binding contract. "If it's legally binding, which court can the parties go to? And the countries that do not comply, will they respect that court?" he asked reporters. "Let's start with it being binding, gentlemen's agreement. We have a community of nations that signed it." China claims most of the energy-rich South China Sea, through which about $5 trillion in sea-borne trade passes every year. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims. Last year, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague invalidated China's claim to sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, in a case filed on maritime boundaries filed by the previous Philippine government in 2013. A code of conduct is the key objective of a 2002 Declaration on Conduct, large parts of which China has ignored, particularly a commitment not to occupy or reclaim uninhabited features. China has piled sand upon reefs to build seven islands in disputed parts of the Spratly archipelago. China has unfinished business there and has been transforming three of the reefs into what experts believe could be forward operating bases. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday described them as "some kind of armed garrison." The code framework would envisage a round-the-clock hotline and urge defence officials to find ways to follow the code, Chee Wee Kiong of Singapore's foreign ministry said on Thursday. Some ASEAN diplomats fear China's sudden interest in completing it could be a strategy to buy time for Beijing to wrap up construction activities. Experts say China wants to appear to engage ASEAN or bind its claimant states to a weak code at a time when U.S. policy on the South China Sea is in a state of flux. One ASEAN diplomat said the latest draft did not mention any dispute settlement mechanism or sanctions for violations, but focused mostly on managing tension and building trust. "We are very realistic and practical," said the source, who declined to be identified. "We wanted first to pick the low hanging fruit. If we went straight to the contentious issues, we would not get to where we are now." The framework represented progress, but expectations should be realistic, said Jay Batongbacal, a Philippine academic and expert on the South China Sea. "Given it's been 15 years to get to a draft, I'm not really holding my breath," he added. (Editing by Clarence Fernandez) DUBAI, May 19 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia said on Friday it had blacklisted Hashem Safieddine, a prominent leader of the Lebanese Shi'ite Muslim group Hezbollah that is a close ally of Riyadh's arch-regional adversary Iran. The United States Treasury Department also added Safieddine to its counter-terrorism blacklist on Friday, a day before U.S. President Donald Trump travels to Saudi Arabia. Riyadh is the first stop on Trump's maiden international trip since taking office in January, and he is expected to conclude important security and trade agreements there with Saudi officials. "The Saudi government today designated a leader of Hezbollah, whose name is Hashem Safieddine," Saudi state news agency SPA said. Safieddine's name was posted on the counter terrorism blacklist on the U.S. Treasury Department website. Safieddine was working in the interest of Hezbollah in the Middle East and provided advice to launch "terrorist operations" and support the Syrian regime, SPA said. Safieddine is president of Hezbollah's executive council, which oversees the group's social and economic activities. Hezbollah is regarded by Washington as a terrorist organisation. The group, which was formed in the 1980s to fight Israel's occupation of southern Lebanon that ended in 2000, is now fighting in Syria alongside President Bashar al-Assad's forces against rebels backed by Sunni Gulf Arab states. Shi'ite Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia have been locked in a harsh rivalry over power and influence in the Middle East, sometimes deploying sectarian rhetoric. Saudi Arabia and Gulf Arab countries declared Hezbollah a terrorist organization in 2016, and said they would punish anyone who belongs to it, sympathises with it, supports it financially or harbours any of its members. "We will continue to designate Hezbollah's operatives, leaders and businesses, impose sanctions as a result of designation, and disrupt its radical activities," SPA said. (Reporting by Aziz El Yaakoubi in Dubai and Angus McDowall in Beirut) By Brad Brooks and Lisandra Paraguassu SAO PAULO/BRASILIA, May 19 (Reuters) - Brazil's Supreme Court released explosive plea-bargain testimony on Friday accusing President Michel Temer, along with former presidents Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff, of receiving millions in bribes. The testimony raises serious doubts about whether Temer, who replaced the impeached Rousseff last year, can maintain his grip on the presidency amid the string of corruption scandals that has engulfed vast swaths of Brazil's political class and business elites. Austerity reforms pushed by Temer, who has denied any wrongdoing, are considered crucial to revive the economy of Latin America's biggest country, mired in its worst recession on record. The bombshell revelations came from testimony given by executives at JBS SA, a meatpacking company that grew quickly through acquisitions funded by low-cost loans from Brazil's development bank during 13 years of government by Lula and Rousseff's leftist Workers Party. The testimony implicates both ruling and opposition parties and indicates that Temer, a conservative, took 15 million reais ($4.6 million) in bribes from JBS, which ranks as the world's largest meat processor. It also alleges that Lula, who is already facing five corruption trials, received $50 million in bribes in offshore accounts from JBS, while Rousseff took $30 million in bribes, also in offshore accounts. Lawyers for Lula said he was innocent. A lawyer for Rousseff could not immediately be located, though the former leader has repeatedly said she has committed no corrupt acts. The corruption scandals that have polarized Brazil center on political kickbacks in exchange for firms winning contracts at state-run enterprises, especially at oil company Petrobras . They have led to over 90 convictions of businessmen and politicians and prompted the investigation of dozens of sitting congressmen and a third of Temer's cabinet. Supreme Court Justice Edson Fachin wrote this week that an immediate investigation into Temer was required because the alleged criminal practices "are underway or about to occur." Temer on Thursday, in a terse address to the nation, said he would not resign from the presidency. His defiance came as the Supreme Court released an audio tape of him speaking with JBS Chairman Joesley Batista. In the recording, secretly made by Batista in a March visit to Temer, the president appeared to condone the payment of hush money to former lower house speaker Eduardo Cunha, who last year orchestrated Rousseff's impeachment and was later convicted for corruption. Many politicians fear that if Cunha should turn state's witness, his testimony could implicate scores of congressmen and members of the executive branch. The constant march of indictments and new scandals has led to near paralysis in Brasilia, the capital, and led to widespread calls among Brazilians for new elections. ($1 = 3.2893 reais) (Reporting by Brad Brooks in Sao Paulo and Lisandra Paraguassu in Brasilia; Editing by Daniel Flynn and Tom Brown) KABUL, May 19 (Reuters) - Afghanistan's embattled vice president, Abdul Rashid Dostum, left Kabul for Turkey on Friday night, according to Afghan officials, amid unresolved accusations that he ordered his men to abduct, beat, and rape a political rival last year. There was no official word from the government about Dostum's future, and officials declined to say whether his departure was linked to Afghan authorities' investigation of the incident. Dostum has not been charged with any offence and the status of the government's investigation remains unclear. His spokesman Bashir Ahmad Tayanj said he had left for a medical checkup, and would be back soon after the treatment. "General Dostum never leaves the country but remains alongside his people during difficult times," Tayanj said. Dostum, a powerful ethnic Uzbek warlord with decades of experience in Afghanistan's turbulent politics, faces accusations that he ordered members of his personal militia to seize and detain Ahmad Ishchi, a former ally. He has denied the accusations. Ishchi says he was subjected to days of severe beatings and sexual abuse, prompting demands from Western allies of the government for an investigation and trial. Over the past months, however, the government has failed to bring Dostum in for questioning and the standoff has become something of a stalemate, leading to increased speculation that Dostum would be forced into exile in Turkey instead. It would not be the first exile in Turkey for Dostum, a man the U.S. State Department once called the "quintessential warlord." In 2008 he left for Turkey amid similar accusations that his men had abducted, beaten and sexually assaulted a political rival in Kabul, then fired on police responding to the incident. Dostum later returned and re-entered Afghan politics, eventually becoming vice president to President Ashraf Ghani in the 2014 elections. (Reporting by Hamid Shalizi; Writing by Josh Smith; Editing by Mark Trevelyan) At least 52 passengers-including 21 men and 31 women-had been injured following a head on collision of an SLTB and a private bus at the Kiyanduwa area on the on the Matara-Akuressa main road this morning, the Police said. They said the injured were admitted to the Akuressa hospital. Later six persons who were in critical condition were transferred to the Matara Hospital. The drivers were also among the injured, they said. The SLTB bus was heading to Colombo from Akuressa and the private bus was heading to Akuressa from Matara at the time of accident. The Police said the accident occurred due to the reckless driving and the two buses were taken to the Akuressa Police. The Akuressa Police are conducting investigations. (Chaturanga Pradeep) President Trump railed against his Justice Departments decision to appoint a special counsel to investigate Russian meddling in the 2016 campaign. With all the illegal acts that took place in the Clinton campaign & Obama Administration, there was never a special councel appointed! the president wrote first thing Thursday morning, misspelling counsel. Trump followed that up with: This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history! Former FBI Director Robert Mueller, who served a decade and was then reappointed by President Obama, will take over the executive branch investigation. The Justice Department announced that Mueller would serve as special counsel, and would have all appropriate resources to carry out the probe during a week when Donald Trumps White House was battered by disclosures about his contacts with the Russians and his firing of former FBI Director James Comey. The White House has spent weeks batting back efforts to install an independent outsider to lead the Russia probe, saying there are already sufficient probes. As Special Counsel, Mueller will have a wide berth to follow the investigation where he sees fit, and set his own terms for how much information he wants to reveal or withhold. It wasnt immediately clear how or whether Trumps contacts with Comey and reported efforts to either steer or inquire about the FBIs Russia probes played a role in the decision. (Daily Mail, US), 18 May 2017 - Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne said yesterday two world-renowned German companies, the Airbus and Benz have pledged to invest in an air and land ambulance service which would include 24 helicopters. The ministry said the assurance was given to the minister during discussion with representatives of the two companies and officials of the German Government during his visit to that country. "The free ambulance package includes 24, helicopters, 1,050 ambulances and 240 breakdown vehicles. The Benz Company will invest in the ambulances and breakdown vehicles while 24 helicopters will be provided by the Air Bus Company," it said in a statement. The investment for this huge social welfare service programme will come through a soft loan from the two companies after the minister explained the necessity for free ambulance service similar to that provided by India. Germany has undertaken to train the Sri Lankan staff and crew to operate the air and land ambulance service. The Indian funded Pre-Hospital Care Emergency Ambulance Service which was a gift by Premier Narendra Modi to Sri Lanka was launched in July last year with 88 Indian-manufactured ambulances. At a public rally at the Norwood Grounds in Dikoya recently Prime Minister Modi assured he would expand the free ambulance service to cover the nine provinces. (Sandun A Jayasekera) Asus Sri Lanka hosted its key performing partners along with its sales teams and loved ones to the Asus Avurudu Fiesta recently, in celebration of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. The event brought together partners and their families for a day of fun and fellowship where the attendees took part in traditional Avurudu games such as kana mutti, kotta pora and tug of war to name a few. Parallel to these festivities, Asus also held a special felicitation ceremony to recognize and appreciate its Gold partners dedication and commitment to their partnership during the past year. Forty Gold partners who attended the event were handed certificates in honour of their efforts and achievements during this event. Further, the company also officially launched all-expenses paid incentive trip offers to Russia and Bangkok for the partners in lieu of their performance in the first two quarters of 2017. Speaking at the event, Asus Sri Lanka Country Channel Manager Ishkey Irshard said, We have grown our systems division business considerably thanks to our partners and the Avurudu Fiesta, which we hope is an enjoyable experience for them, is a great way for us to say thank you for their efforts. Moreover, it is with great pleasure that we announce the incentive trip we have launched to Russia and Bangkok for their 1Q and 2Q performance. CA Sri Lanka President Lasantha Wickremasinghe and Wayamba University Vice Chancellor Prof. S.J.B.A. Jayasekera exchange the MoU in the presence of CA Sri Lanka Vice President Jagath Perera, CEO Aruna Alwis, Wayamba University Accountancy Department Head Dr. Kumara Uluwatta and Accountancy Department Lecturers B.A.C.H. Wijesinghe and W.A. Nadeesha Priyadarshanie The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Accountancy Department of the Wayamba University in an effort to enhance the cooperation between the two bodies, which will pave the way for further development of the accounting profession in the country. The MoU signed by CA Sri Lanka President Lasantha Wickremasinghe and Wayamba University Vice Chancellor Prof. S.J.B.A. Jayasekera will result in the institute providing exemptions to the undergraduates of the Accountancy Department to sit for the CA Sri Lanka examinations and qualify as chartered accountants. CA Sri Lanka will also offer scholarships to the university undergraduates to follow the CA programme, while the institute will also award a gold medal to the most outstanding student in the accounting discipline at the annual convocation of the Wayamba University. The agreement will also allow both the institute and university to invite resource personnel from each body to engage in activities such seminars and workshops, while CA Sri Lanka in its capacity as the national body of accountants will assist the undergraduates of the Accountancy Department to obtain practical training opportunities in business organisations, audit firms and state corporations. Both bodies will undertake research work in relation to the accounting discipline in their joint efforts to enhance and further develop the accounting profession in the country. The agreement will also allow the Accountancy Department students association, CA Students Society and CA School of Accounting and Business student association to jointly organise research conferences, accounting forums, workshops for students thereby helping them enhance their knowledge on pertinent topics, which will be of relevance to them as future accounting professionals. Speaking at the event, Wickremasinghe emphasized that as a leading professional accounting body, CA Sri Lanka has always remained proactive in ensuring the accounting standards practiced in Sri Lanka were second to none in a global context. We adhere to the latest internationally recognized standards and every effort is taken to ensure our members are relevant and stand shoulder to shoulder with their global counterparts. In such a scenario, it is important to nurture our future generation of accounting professionals because we firmly believe it is the quality that matters and not quantity. Therefore, our MoU with the Wayamba University is an important initiative in ensuring Sri Lanka continues to produce exceptionally talented chartered accountants even in the future, he added. CA Sri Lanka Chief Executive Officer Aruna Alwis said that it is increasingly important for both professional bodies and academic bodies to come together to enhance the accounting profession further. We have over the years signed agreements with leading universities in the country in our efforts fulfil this objective. Our agreement with the Wayamba University Accountancy Department will no doubt contribute towards the further development of the accounting profession as well as Sri Lankas forward journey, he added. Opinion / Columnist "Even on a day turned night by the black clouds, the sun will sometimes break through or be it for a fleeting moment!" my late mother, full of proverbs, would say. "You must always listen careful to everyone and never prejudge, because even the certified insane have their sane moments!"As politicians go, Tendai Biti, as with all the other MDC politician of the GNU, is certified insane not if or but about that! In failing to get even one democratic reform implemented in five years of the GNU Tsvangirai, Biti and the rest of the MDC leaders proved beyond all reasonable doubt that they are insane.They are corrupt, President Mugabe bribed the MDC leaders with the trappings of high office, generous salary and allowances for all MDC leaders, tinted glass limos for all the senior leaders, ministerial posts galore as the seize of the usually bloated government swelled from a mouse to an elephant, a njambanja seized farm for Welshman Ncube, a $4 million mansion for Tsvangirai, etc., etc. All the MDC leaders had to do in return was kick the reforms into the tall grass and that is what they did.Yes, MDC leaders are corrupt but whoever said the insane are not corrupt too, especially when the consequences of the failure to implement the reforms that they lost their gravy train privileges over night as the result of Zanu PF rigging the 2013 elections!"The one self-evident conclusion is that in the short-term, ZANU PF cannot be dislodged. That despite its fractures, the opposition, even in a grand coalition, cannot dislodge Zanu PF," comment the otherwise certified insane Tendai Biti in one of the rare moments of sanity.The rays of enlightenment did not last long enough to allow Biti to say why Zanu PF will win next year's elections. There are two competing schools of thought as to why President Mugabe and his Zanu PF party will win:a) Those who say President Mugabe will win because he is loved and popular with the electorate.Mugabe won the 2013 elections because he had "tangible deliveries to the electorate and has loyal supporters who stick to the values of the revolutionary party," argued two UK academics, Stephen Chan and Julia Gallagher, in the book.Given that President Mugabe has failed to deliver even one new job out of the 2.2 million promised in his party's 2013 election manifesto and Zimbabweans are now the poorest in Africa, according to a recent AfrAsia Bank report. It is hard to see what these "tangible deliveries" are!In his 37 years in power President Mugabe has murdered over 30 000 innocent Zimbabweans to establish and retain his one-party dictatorship.So, why would Zimbabweans love someone who has made them suffer and murdered them?b) Those who say Zanu PF will win as long as the elections are held in the present environment, with no reforms, so the party has the license to blatantly rig the vote.Following the watershed 2008 elections in which Zanu PF rolled out its vote rigging machine in all its ugliness, everyone refused to recognised President Mugabe's 84% electoral victory as genuine expression of a free people. SADC forced President Mugabe to form a GNU which was then tasked to implement a raft of reforms to ensure future elections will be free, fair and credible and not a repeat of the barbarism of the 2008 elections.Sadly, as noted above, the corrupt and insane MDC leaders failed to implement even one reform and so Zanu PF was once again able to rig the 2013 elections. The party has since made it clear it will not implement any reforms."You can't expect us to reform ourselves out of power," boasted Professor Jonathan Moyo, Zanu PF's self-anointed propaganda guru. He does not deny that the GNU failed to implement the democratic reforms to restore the people's democratic freedoms and human rights including the right to have a meaningful say in the governance of the country. Since when brutal repression and vote rigging to stop regime change at all cost become an absolute of the tyrant to trump the UN Universal Rights of the individual!If the all too brief moment of Tendai Biti's sanity had lasted just another moment longer, I am convinced he would have told us that President Mugabe and Zanu PF would win next year's elections because the grand coalition, for all the hip and euphoria from all those promoting it, will do nothing to stop Zanu PF rigging the vote.The opposition herd, know they need reforms but having failed to get any implemented have come up with all manner of counter measures which will do nothing to stop the vote rigging. Some even claim to have plan B. If their best plan, plan A, is to contest a flawed election; I do not want to know plan B!The primary purpose of all these string of utter useless counter measures and stupid plan B, C, D, is therapeutic. The herd is painfully aware of the futility of contesting flawed elections only to lose them and so the useless counter measures, etc. are to suggest the circumstances of the 2018 elections are materially different from the 2013 elections and so they are not insane. All nonsense, of course, since it is implementing the reforms that will make the elections different.If we want to stop Zanu PF rigging the elections and dislodge the regime then we must implement the democratic reforms; plain and simple.Contesting elections you know are flawed and will be rigged again and again and expecting a different result, dislodge Zanu PF, is itself an act of insanity. There are nights when the lycanthrope, the werewolf, does not stir; the period when moon's influence on man, beast and the tide is at its lowest ebb; in that brief period, the insane may see the madness of their rat race world. They will be shocked coming face to face with their madness like a hideous monster staring at its own reflection in horror!"ZANU PF cannot be dislodged! ZANU PF cannot be dislodged!" They will repeat over and over again until the strong sedatives finally take over! Sri Lankas Central Bank has set a target of US $1.2 billion in direct market purchases of dollars to boost the island nations reserves this year, the monetary authoritys chief Indrajit Coomaraswamy said yesterday. The move comes after Sri Lanka missed its end-December reserves target agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a US $1.5 billion, 36-month loan. Thats our target, Central Bank Governor Coomaraswamy told a forum of the Foreign Correspondents Association of Sri Lanka. Now we are beginning to see the reserves build up. All in all, we are projecting US $7.2 billion by the end of the year. The Central Bank early this year decided to stop intervening in the market, noting that past attempts to defend the currency have been followed by sharp falls in the rupee. Coomaraswamy said a US $1.5 billion inflow from a recent sovereign bond, another US $450 million from a syndicated loan, which is already completed, and a fresh US $250 million syndicated loan in the coming weeks, could help to achieve the US $7.2 billion year-end reserve target. We have already purchased around US $400 million from the market, he said. U.S. dollar inflows have helped the rupee stabilise after a sharp fall of around 14 percent since January 2015. The Central Bank, however, has been adjusting the spot rupee reference rate down, and the currency has fallen 1.8 percent so far this year. The spot reference rate was last adjusted down to 152.50 on May 5, from 150.00 at the start of the year. The Central Bank has allowed the currency to gradually depreciate since mid-December, revising its spot reference rate down multiple times as it sought to boost export competitiveness and spur a sluggish economy. It has said that defending the currency with foreign exchange reserves did not seem sensible. Dealers said the currency market could panic because the move might put the rupee under downward pressure. This move will definitely put a lot of pressure on the rupee at a time the Central Bank is not defending it and the market is determining the exchange rate with lack of supply, a currency dealer said asking not to be named. (REUTERS) The Central Bank has released its new publication A Guide to Financial Services in Sri Lanka specifically compiled for the awareness of the general public on the financial institutions in Sri Lanka. This publication was authored by Deputy Governor P. Samarasiri in honour and gratitude to A.S. Jayawardena, the Governor of the Central Bank from November 1995 to June 2004, who proposed and guided Samarasiri to compile and release this publication first time in April 2002 in order to educate the general public on basic financial services in Sri Lanka. The publication contains basic information on financial institutions, their services, lists of various institutions licensed by the Central Bank, nature of regulation and supervision and safety of public transactions with financial institutions etc. It is presented in a reader-friendly language while keeping its original format. Sinhala and Tamil editions of the publication will be released in due course. The price of the publication is Rs. 50 and is available for purchase at publication sales counters of the Central Bank and Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka. China, (Daily Mail), 18 May 2017 - Beijing has unveiled a homegrown combat chopper thats said to be capable of destroying the most powerful tank in the world. Two-seat Z-19E, also known as Black Hurricane, is built to cater to the international market as Beijing aims to expand its presence in the global market for military aircraft. Chinese state media claimed that the single-rotor, narrow-body aircraft is one of the most advanced helicopters of its kind worldwide. The light attack helicopter debuted to the public in September, 2015, and made its maiden flight today in Harbin, north-east China, according to Peoples Daily Online. The aircraft is expected to perform air-to-ground strikes, air-to-ground fire support and air-to-air combat in complicated weather conditions. The newspaper claimed it has excellent combat abilities. The helicopter is said to feature a multiple rocket launcher, which could fire more than a dozen rockets at the same time. The Army will call off the rescue operations at the site of the collapsed building in Wellawatte, because there is no sign of anyone trapped under the rubble, Army Spokesman Roshan Seneviratne said today. This is a private land. There is no evidence of further victims trapped under the rubble. We will inform the owner to continue with the rest of the work, as there was no need to deploy our personnel any further, he said. But Wellawatte Fire Brigade Section Officer Aruna De Silva said their personnel were continuing search operations based on information received from the workers at the site at the time the building collapsed that there were still two of their co-workers missing. Meanwhile, the Police and the Special Task Force (STF) media said their officers they too would continue search operations. A 31-year-old man identified as Udaya Kumara Ratnayake, a resident of Hasalaka had died while 22 others were injured in this tragedy. Nineteen of those injured are still in hospital. Police believe that proper quality standards had not been maintained when adding more floors to the structure, which could have resulted in the building collapsing. (Thilanka Kanakarathna) Tomorrow is the United Nations World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development virtues that are important for Sri Lanka in this post-conflict era. According to the UN, three-quarters of the worlds major conflicts have a cultural dimension. Bridging the gap between cultures is urgent and necessary for peace, stability and development. Cultural diversity is a driving force of development, not only for economic growth, but also as a means of leading a more fulfilling intellectual, emotional, moral and spiritual life. The UN says this is captured in the seven culture conventions, which provide a solid basis for the promotion of cultural diversity -- an asset that is indispensable for poverty reduction and the achievement of sustainable development. At the same time, acceptance and recognition of cultural diversity in particular through innovative use of media and Information and Communication Technologies are conducive to dialogue among civilizations and cultures, respect and mutual understanding. In 2001, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) adopted the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity and in December 2002, the UN General Assembly, in a resolution, declared May 21 to be the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. The UN says the day provides us with an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the values of cultural diversity and to advance the four goals of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions adopted on October 20, 2005. The four main goals are, support sustainable systems of governance for culture; a balanced flow of cultural goods and services and increase mobility of artistes and cultural professionals; integrate culture in sustainable development frameworks and to promote human rights and fundamental freedoms. UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova in a message says, just as natural diversity is vital to sustain ecosystems, cultural diversity is the lifeblood of vibrant societies. She says cultural diversity provides fresh ideas and perspectives that enrich our lives in countless ways, allowing us to grow and thrive together. A culturally diverse classroom is not only more inclusive, it boosts student learning and achievement. A culturally diverse workplace is not only more innovative, it is also more productive and economically profitable. Tomorrows event is an opportunity for us to celebrate the tremendous benefits of cultural diversity, including humanitys rich intangible heritage, and to reaffirm our commitment to building a more peaceful world, founded on the values of mutual understanding and intercultural dialogue, Ms Bokova says. According to the UNESCO Chief, with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the international community has recognized the essential role of culture as a driver of change and development. Achieving the 17 goals will be impossible without drawing upon the strength and creative potential of humanitys diversity of cultures, without engaging in continuous dialogue to ensure that all members of society benefit from development. Even as we celebrate cultural diversity, we must remember that it is increasingly under threat. Across the world, violent extremists have targeted cultural minorities and destroyed our shared heritage, to weaken the essential links between people and their history. At another level, unchecked urban development threatens to standardize our cities, depleting their social diversity and identities Martin Luther King Jr. once said: Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. In this spirit, I believe that we need a new humanism for the 21st century, to renew the fundamental aspirations to justice, mutual understanding and dignity that guide all women and men, Ms. Bokova says. In Sri Lanka the National Unity Government has committed itself to build a peaceful, just and all- inclusive society mainly through religious, ethnic and cultural unity in diversity. It has already launched missions for poverty alleviation and to bring about a more equitable distribution of wealth and resources among all people. Sri Lanka has been blessed with the virtues of the worlds four major religions Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and Islam, all with their own cultures. We also have people of three major races, the Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim people besides Burghers, Malays and others who have their own cultures. While we accept and practice our own religion and culture we need to grow in our respect for the religious beliefs and cultures of others. That will be a solid foundation for a just society. Recent trends in dengue indicate a slight change in the disease progression A child with dengue shock syndrome As a growing epidemic with statistics indicating a sweeping rise in the number of victims falling prey to an irrepressible mosquito menace, Dengue has become one of the biggest threats that needs to be defeated by healthcare officials and the public. While eradicating mosquito breeding grounds has become a strenuous struggle, it is also surprising to note how recent trends indicate a slight change in the disease progression. With hospital staff continuously baffled by how to accommodate and provide equal attention and care to the rising number of patients being admitted to hospitals, the health sector is currently facing a huge challenge on how best to address the escalating dengue epidemic evident countrywide. Speaking to Daily Mirror, several experts representing the health sector shared their views and spoke on how best to address the dengue epidemic while highlighting the red flags that need to be tackled. Excerpts of their comments are given below. Other than Paracetamol, any other medication should not be administered Staff and hospital facilities are inadequate to manage dengue patients People seek treatment late and believe in medical myths Traditionally during the months of May, June and July, there is a dengue peak season with the monsoon - Dr. Hasitha A. Tissera When asked about the current dengue epidemic in the country, Dr. Hasitha A. Tissera, Consultant Epidemiologist at the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health, said dengue was globally on the rise and is not just an issue in Sri Lanka. There are several countries where cases of dengue have increased and whose numbers are expected to rise over the next couple of months. Vietnam, Thailand and even Singapore have reported an increase in dengue cases due to the prevalent warm weather. The epidemic has also affected India and discussions regarding the issue are being held in Cambodia. An upsurge in the number of dengue patients are expected in these countries. A new trend currently being observed is the gradual spread of dengue to North America and Europe. One reason Dr. Hasitha gave for the drastic rise of dengue in the country was the change in global weather patterns. The dry humid season which is relatively warmer with unexpected rain spells in between and an erratic monsoon pattern has had an effect on the transmission of diseases through mosquitoes. Dengue is a viral disease. As long as the mosquito responsible- the Aedes mosquito- thrives in the environment, it would result in the spread and transmission of the disease, as their survival is co-related to environmental conditions. He further emphasized that another reason for the increase in dengue patients was due to the migration of people from relatively rural areas to urban areas on a regular basis. When non-endemic people migrate to endemic areas, they are exposed to the mosquitoes and thereby transmission increases with more people getting infected in the process.There are four distinct types of dengue infections and multiple types of the virus. So during the transmission of the disease at a given time, a larger group of people get infected due to the co-circulation of these multiple types. "People collect water during the dry season for household chores and these containers house breeding dengue mosquitoes" He also mentioned that the major involvement of other stakeholders other than health and community has been inadequate in order to suppress the condition. The media, local government, both public and private institutions and public administrative units each have a role to play and help mobilize and empower people to bear social responsibility to safeguard the community. It should be a continuous exercise. We live in a self-centred community. The environment is equally important when it comes to dengue. Children especially must be educated on the protection of the environment. The more polluted the environment is, the more dengue breeding sites there will be. Construction, urbanization and globalization are other issues we cannot control but if the methods through which they are implemented are properly monitored and regulated, the ill-effects can be minimized. He said awareness of dengue amongst the public was gradually deteriorating. When the death toll from dengue decreases, awareness on the disease also decreases among people. They take it lightly. This is not good. The spike in the numbers of dengue patients have been astonishing, especially with the dry spell that has been experienced in the country thus far. People collect water during the dry season for household chores and these containers house breeding dengue mosquitoes. Starting from the month of May, the south west monsoons are expected to go on for three months until the end of July. This is considered the period when dengue reaches its peak. Thus, heavy concerns are raised regarding the rise of dengue patients when the monsoon starts. "Many of these measures were discussed. A three-month continuous programme has been drawn out and it will be in effect from the first of June" Therefore, in order to suppress the epidemic and control the number of dengue victims with the upcoming monsoon season, President Maithripala Sirisena has held a special meeting on May 16 regarding dengue concerns. All stakeholders and the presidential task force were summoned by him to the meeting and the President has directed the relevant authorities to take measures to protect the public. Many of these measures were discussed. A three-month continuous programme has been drawn out and it will be in effect from the first of June. Traditionally during the months of May, June and July, there is a dengue peak season with the monsoon. The monsoon season is expected to start at the end of this month. Therefore this is a very timely intervention. Already 600,000 premises have been inspected with the help of the tri-forces and police carrying out extensive programmes over the last four months. On May 18 and 19, another programme is scheduled to be held in selected high-risk localities according to Dr. Hasitha. During these three months we hope to make a sustainable effort. In the health sector, we are making changes in our day-to-day routine in hospitals to develop the capacity to cope with the increasing number of dengue patients. On the preventive side, the President has asked all institutions in the country- both public and private- including schools, railway stations and bus depots, to conduct a regular programme for one hour at least on a weekly basis to clean their surroundings, he added. Dr. Hasitha sees this as a golden opportunity for the community to make up for their carelessness and take responsibility for the problem. On a final note, as a message to the public, Dr. Hasitha requests the people not to take health matters into their own hands and to seek proper professional medical assistance when the first symptoms of dengue appear. Avoid strenuous activities, seek medical advice in case of a fever -Dr. Anil Jasinghe Deputy Director General of the National Hospital Sri Lanka (NHSL) Dr. Anil Jasinghe, said that currently there were about 100 Dengue patients admitted to NHSL, with about 25 patients who need close monitoring. About 20 new patients are being admitted daily. He said recent initiatives had been taken in the hospital to expand the number of High Dependency Unit beds, which are reserved for patients in the critical stages of dengue, to 60. He advised the general public to avoid strenuous activities and to seek medical advice in case of a fever, and if hospitalized, to strictly follow the doctors advice to drink fluid, because fluid management is a critical part of the treatment of dengue patients "About 100 Dengue patients have been admitted to NHSL, with about 25 patients who need close monitoring. About 20 new patients are being admitted daily" 2,211 dengue patients admitted so far -Dr. Vajira Dissanayake Deputy Director of the Colombo North (Ragama)Teaching Hospital (CNTH), Dr. Vajira Dissanayake said there were 138 dengue patients in the ward as of midnight on May 14. A total of 2,211 dengue patients have been admitted to the CNTH within this year, with 22 deaths. She said wards were overcrowded with more than 90 patients to 40 beds. The nursing staff and minor staff are also severely inadequate, according to Dr. Vajira. She stressed on the importance of early diagnosis of the disease, because many deaths from dengue were due to the delay in seeking treatment, with patients only coming to hospital when they were in the critical phase. "Wards were overcrowded with more than 90 patients to 40 beds" Number of patients will increase with rainy season Dr. Chandana Kendagamuwa Director (acting), Teaching Hospital Kurunegala, Dr. Chandana Kendagamuwa said that by 7 am on May 15, the number of confirmed dengue patients admitted to the hospital was 188, with 56 suspected cases. The hospital staff is not adequate to manage the heavy patient load, so they are getting help from the army and have requested the Director General of Health Services for more staff from the rural hospitals of the area. Dr. Kendagamuwa added that several hospital staff too had recently contracted dengue, further affecting the shortage of staff. Even though it cannot be confirmed that the staff contracted the disease from within hospital premises, preventive measures are being put in place daily. Dr. Kendagamuwa predicts a possible further increase in the number of dengue patients with the beginning of the rainy season, and urges the general public to contribute to the prevention of dengue by destroying possible mosquito breeding sites in their homes and workplaces. "Dr. Kendagamuwa added that several hospital staff too had recently contracted dengue, further affecting the shortage of staff" 50% of dengue patients are from the Western Province - Professor Arjuna de Silva Dengue has risen drastically this year, and it has been the main focus of many medical professionals all over the island. Professor Arjuna de Silva, Consultant Physician, Teaching Hospital, Ragama also expressed his views on the matter. The dengue epidemic we are facing this year is the largest we have faced so far. Only five months of this year have passed and there are over 40,000 dengue patients already. The current viral trend of dengue type 2 is a virulent virus type with more deaths taking place under dengue type 2. Fifty percent of dengue patients are from the Western Province. More HDUs (high dependency units) have to be introduced to all major hospitals so that more care can be given to patients with serious conditions. Preventive measures are of utmost importance. A vaccine against dengue is on trial these days. It has to be finalized as soon as possible so that we can suppress the rising condition of dengue in the country. The dengue vaccine is anticipated to be finalized by next year. There is a possibility of a large epidemic spreading - Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama The number of dengue patients presently being reported is quite high when compared to earlier, says Consultant Physician of the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama. He commented that with the onset of the monsoon, the possibility of a large epidemic taking place in the country was evident. Noting that the patient intake at the Infectious Diseases Hospital is also on a rapid rise, he said around ninety to a hundred dengue patients were admitted to the hospital on a daily basis. There have been a couple of deaths reported owing to dengue fever. The main cause triggering these deaths was the result of patients being admitted to hospital quite late; almost at the last minute. We have advised the public to take a blood test at the end of the second day after developing a fever. However, in the event the fever becomes subdued, some patients tend to avoid getting their blood tested as recommended on the second day but consider getting admitted only when the fever worsens again. Some of these patients were given painkillers while suffering from dengue fever. Other than Paracetamol, any other pill or painkiller should not be administered while a patient is suffering from dengue. Taking such painkillers could cause serious complications in a dengue patient Dr. Wijewickrama said. " We have advised the public to take a blood test at the end of the second day after developing a fever. However, in the event the fever becomes subdued, some patients tend to avoid getting their blood tested as recommended on the second day" Noting that the symptoms of dengue fever have not changed overtime, Dr. Wijewickrama stressed that symptoms of dengue fever may include high fever, body aches, headaches and nausea. These are the commonest symptoms. When asked if plasma leakage could indicate a symptom progression in the patient, he explained that plasma leakage is one of the complications that must be detected early in patients. There could be changes in the rate and timing of health complications depending on each patient. The main risk factor for the rising trend in the number of dengue patients reported is directly linked to the deadly increase in the number of dengue mosquito breeding grounds evident throughout the country. Due to the high number of dengue patients being admitted to the hospitals, the biggest issue faced by the health sector is how to accommodate all these patients in hospitals. Most hospitals in Colombo including those in Kalubowila, IDH, Homagama, Negombo and Ragama are filled with dengue patients beyond capacity, he added. Type 2 dengue, a more virulent virus plaguing the country - Dr. Prachila Samaraweera Speaking to , Dr. Prachila Samaraweera of the Dengue Control Unit of Colombo provided a better insight to the state of the dengue epidemic that currently exists in the country and the reason for the sudden spike in the number of dengue patients. According to Dr. Prachila, there are four types of dengue viruses, namely types 1,2,3 and 4 and out of the 4, types 1 and 4 have existed in Sri Lanka so far, type 1 being predominant since 2009. Since mid-2016 however, type 2 has also been plaguing the country. This Dr. Prachila says, may be due to migrations. The Type 2 dengue virus is a virulent virus compared to types 1 and 4. People infected with type 1 subsequently also get infected with type 2 and ultimately develop the dengue haemorrhagic fever state. For seven years, our country has not been exposed to the type 2 dengue virus, so people do not build up immunity to type 2 easily. She further reasoned that people did not build up immunity to type 2 as it displayed different symptom patterns when compared with dengue types 1 and 4. In dengue types 1 and 4, to reach the severe stage of the disease, it takes a while, with the progression of time. But in type 2, people reach the severe stages in a very short time where the platelet count drops rapidly. "The Type 2 dengue virus is a virulent virus compared to types 1 and 4. People infected with type 1 subsequently also get infected with type 2 and ultimately develop the dengue haemorrhagic fever state" When observing the dengue statistics of 2016 and 2017 in comparison, it is not wrong to say that dengue has reached an epidemic state this year. Dr. Prachila said that in 2016, 55,000 dengue patients were reported island wide with a death toll of 97 but when the current year is taken into consideration, for just five months, a number of 44,000 dengue patients were reported from across the island with a death toll of 115. Dr. Prachila also said the highest number of dengue patients were reported from Colombo, which according to her might be due to urbanization. There have been various efforts on the governments part in their attempts to reduce the spread of dengue in the country. Health campaigns, health inspection visits to houses and other premises to inspect dengue breeding sites, fumigation and pilot dengue vaccination programs are namely some. Despite all of these attempts, dengue has reached an epidemic state. Upon admission of a dengue patient to the hospital, the hospital authorities inform the Health Ministry and our health inspectors visit the residential premises of the patients in order to inspect the area for dengue breeding sites. There are only 2,000 health inspectors and the public expects our teams to show up and clean the premises to get rid of potential mosquito breeding sites. In other instances, when notified that health inspectors are visiting the locality, only then does the public take an interest in cleaning up their homes. This will not do. The public must clean their premises themselves. The Health Ministry cannot be expected to clean each and every potential site for dengue mosquito breeding. To reduce the number of dengue victims, there has to be cooperation and support from the public. When speaking of fumigation, it is only effective on flying mosquitoes at the time of fumigating. It does not affect dengue breeding sites which are the source of the dengue problem, says Dr. Prachila. When asked whether she felt that awareness levels about dengue had risen among the public, she mentioned that a lack of awareness was not the issue. People know about this. They just dont care. People come to hospitals at the last minute to get treatment. They follow untested myths such as cures through the extracted juice of the papaya leaf, which are of no use whatsoever. If a patient contracts fever, it is now advised to consult a doctor and get a blood count within 24 hours. She also added that people have to be vigilant for symptoms in order to receive proper medical treatment on time. In 2015, there were reports of 30,000 dengue patients with a death toll of 54. Over the years the number of patients have increased along with the death toll. There is a directly proportional increase between the number of deaths and the number of dengue patients. When the number of patients decrease, the rate of deaths follow. However when the rate increases, the health sector cannot cope with the number of patients. Each and every patient needs to be individually attended to. When the resources are limited, the death toll rises as facilities will not be helpful. Dr. Prachila also said that during the special meeting held by the President on May 16 which addressed the dengue issue, he advised on the addition and constructing of new wings to the Kalubowila and Ragama teaching hospitals, with the intention of improving space facilities to accommodate the rising numbers of dengue patients. He also mentioned that schools premises too would have to be kept free of dengue breeding sites with proper maintenance. Dr. Prachila further stresses that in order to reduce the number of dengue patients reported every year and thereby to reduce the death toll, it is of utmost importance to reduce dengue mosquito breeding sites. Dr. Prachila mentioned that the public should be ready to act and support the Health Ministry hand-in-hand in its efforts to reduce the number of people falling victim to the clutches of dengue. Is there a change in dengue symptoms? In an interview Daily Mirror conducted with Professor Ranjan Premarathne, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya and Consultant Physician of the North Colombo Teaching Hospital, Prof. Premarathne revealed yet another twist in the Dengue situation. He said some recent trends in the disease progression of dengue had been observed, which caused subtle changes in the clinical picture. No, symptoms have not changed. But we have observed some recent trends in the disease progression when compared to earlier, said Prof. Premarathne. The critical phase of dengue, also called the Leaking Phase, normally occurs after the third day ensuing fever, usually around the fifth or sixth day of the illness. However, there is an increasing number of patients entering the critical phase quite early after developing the fever. Such patients may show signs of going into the leaking phase as early as the third day since developing the fever. This is a condition that is common even in patients whose fever continues for more days than the expected time period. There is also an increase in the number of patients commonly known as late leakers. These patients may suddenly go into the critical phase despite not experiencing fever for a few days he added. Speaking to Daily Mirror , Consultant Paediatrician at the Epidemiology Unit, Dr. Jayantha Weeraman said the subtle changes occurring in the disease progression pattern was due to a change in the dengue virus strain. There are four strains of the dengue virus. The strains frequently seen in the majority of patients in our country were types 1 and 4. However there has been a recent increase in the number of patients being infected with type 2. This will account for the change in the clinical picture of the disease he said. The general public has no cause to be worried, as the symptoms as well as the management plan of the disease remain unchanged. But the need for early hospital admittance should be highlighted even more. He advises any patient with fever to be cautious and to immediately go for a check-up if they experience any warning signs of dengue, as there is a risk that they may be going into a state of shock. Warning signs of dengue are severe abdominal pain, continuous vomiting, drowsiness, restlessness, unusual bleeding like gum bleeding, nose bleeds, vomit the colour of coffee, unusual urinary bleeding or red urine and reduced urine output, Dr. Weeraman added. Advice to the community Id like to stress that the confirmation test for dengue, called the NS1 antigen test, is only valid if done within the first two days of the fever. If done later than that, the result will be negative even if the patient is having Dengue fever. After three days of fever a full blood count test should be done. It is the responsibility of the primary care doctor to prescribe the relevant test for patients with fever and direct the patient to a hospital if required. Many casualties of dengue could be avoided if these instructions are followed by the community, avoiding unnecessary delay in diagnosis. The prevention of dengue in Sri Lanka is the most critical step that needs to be taken. The staff and hospital facilities are severely inadequate in managing the increasing number of patients, due to the heavy patient burden of dengue. With two, sometimes three, patients sharing the same beds in a ward, there is insufficient care given to each patient. As a result, attention given to patients with other illnesses has also dropped drastically. Therefore, it is the duty of the relevant authorities to prevent the spread of dengue by controlling mosquito breeding, Prof. Premarathne concluded. REUTERS: The European Commission will propose extending by 10 years its approval for weed-killer glyphosate, used in Monsantos Roundup, a spokeswoman said this week. A transatlantic row over possible risks to human health has prompted investigations by congressional committees in the United States, and in Europe has forced a delay to a re-licensing decision for Monsantos big-selling Roundup herbicide. A new study issued in March by the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) paved the way for the Commissions decision to restart negotiations with EU nations over renewing the licence for glyphosate, despite opposition from environmental groups. The EU body, which regulates chemicals and biocides, said glyphosate, the key ingredient in Roundup, should not be classified as a substance causing cancer. A spokeswoman for the Commission said it had taken into account the latest state of scientific research and would work with the Member States to find a solution that enjoys the largest possible support. No date has yet been set for when discussions with representatives of EU member states will start. Pending the results of the ECHA study, the EU granted an 18-month extension last July of its approval for the weed killer after a proposal for full licence renewal met opposition from member states and campaign groups. While the World Health Organizations cancer agency, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), classifies glyphosate as probably carcinogenic, many other government regulators, including in the United States, see the weed killer as unlikely to pose a cancer risk to humans. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has found that glyphosate is unlikely to pose a carcinogenic hazard to humans. But environmental groups said doubts remain over its safety. It makes no sense to accept the wide range of risks associated with glyphosate, said Bart Staes, a Green group member of the European Parliament. The decision to seek a 10-year rather than a longer approval was also criticised by supporters of the herbicide. The European Crop Protection group called it short-sighted, saying it pandered to activists. According to data published by IARC, glyphosate was registered in over 130 countries as of 2010 and is one of the worlds most heavily used weed killers. Analysts have estimated that Monsanto could lose out on up to $100 million of sales if glyphosate was banned in Europe. Several Police officers attached to the Kilinochchi Police, escaped unhurt when their vehicle was shot at by an unidentified gunman, while driving along the road bordering a forest area in Kilinochchi early this morning, the Police said. They said the suspect had escaped after shooting at the officers. The Army and Police officers have launched a search operation in the area to track down the suspect, they said. The incident occurred at about 12.30 am in the Arasakeni Kachcharu area in Palai, Kilinochchi. (Romesh Madushanka) India last week once again spurned Chinas ambitious economic agenda for the world the US$ 950 billion One-Belt-One-Road project. This time it did so in full view of the world media. A cartoon drawn by Indias world renowned Satish Acharya said it all. It showed a Bengali Tiger, depicting India, proudly walking away from a road sign marked as Chinese Circus. The Tiger tells China, depicted as a man with a belt in his hand, that belts are for dogs. But India, perhaps, acted like a wounded tiger. India, which has a number of times in recent past declined Chinas invitation to join the OBOR, decided not to send even its ambassador in the Chinese capital for Sundays summit attended by 29 state leaders, including Russias Vladimir Putin, Pakistans Nawaz Sharif and Sri Lankas Ranil Wickeremesinghe. Even the United States and Japan sent representatives to the summit, though they too have serious reservations about President Xi Jinpings grand project. Indias political melodrama was made of all the emotions -- anger, fear, disgust and also glee. Yes it was apparently elated that at the head-of-state level, the summit was poorly attended though invitations were sent out to about 100 countries. Some saw the boycott as Indias way of settling scores with China -- a retaliation of sort for Chinas veto against Indias membership bid earlier this year at the Nuclear Suppliers Group. India fears the OBOR or the Chinas Silk Road project would not only expedite Chinas rise to the worlds number one position, but also increase Pakistans economic and military strength to pose a bigger security threat to India over the disputed Kashmir. The US$ 48 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), part of the OBOR project, is expected to transform Pakistan into a modern day Ferghana valley of the ancient silk route fame. Regarded as Pakistans Marshal Plan, the CPEC has the potential to make Pakistan a key trade hub, linking four crucial regions -- West Asia, Central Asia, South Asia and China. True, in the CPEC, there is more gain for China than for Pakistan. Similarly, in the OBOR, China stands to gain more than those countries which join the OBOR project. President Xi launched the Belt and Road initiative to revive Chinas economy which has reached saturation and in recent years has experienced a slowdown. Perhaps, it was also aimed at sustaining Chinas dominance over world economy. The project will also enable China to have a firm foothold in strategic locations worldwide -- a global presence much more expansive than that of the United States with all its military bases in some 30 countries. Loans China extends to OBOR member nations for infrastructure projects Sri Lanka is being offered US$ 24 billion -- will give Beijing a greater clout in world politics, with loan receiving nations depending more and more on Chinas largesse while plunging deeper into debt crises. Whether one likes it or not, Chinas is only a decade away from overtaking the US as the number one global power in terms of economic performance and military strength. But to look at the OBOR in military and political power terms alone is like missing the wood for the trees. The benefits are humongous. Increased trade through increased connectivity promotes interdependency and sustainable peace. But India has its concerns. India denounces OBOR because CPEC goes through Gilgit. India claims Gilgit as its sovereign territory, though it is part of Pakistan-administered Kashmir and its people see India as an adversary. The Narendra Modi government believes that if it joins Chinas Belt and Road initiative, it may be seen as granting recognition to Pakistans occupation of Kashmir. No country can accept a project that ignores its core concerns on sovereignty and territorial integrity, said Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Gopal Bagley, in rejecting the invitation to the OBOR summit. "No country can accept a project that ignores its core concerns on sovereignty and territorial integrity" Moreover, India, which is predicted to surpass the United States economy by 2040, sees itself as Chinas equal. India has now begun to think in terms of global power status. Yet its South Asian policing territory has severely been infringed upon by China and it lacks the necessary power to check Chinas military presence in South Asian waters. Chinese submarines are regularly spotted in the South Asian seas. It was only some ten days ago that Sri Lanka declined Chinas request to dock a military submarine at the Colombo port while the Indian premier was in town. In 2014, the then Sri Lankan government allowed two Chinese submarines to visit Colombo. One such visit was when Japans Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was in Sri Lanka. The bottom line is there is a cold war between India and China in South Asia. Sri Lanka has wittingly or unwittingly allowed itself to become a key theatre of this cold war. To what extent protests against the Hambantota port deal and the Trincomalee oil tank lease are home-made and to what extent they are sponsored by India or China are key questions that Sri Lankans should ask themselves. Sri Lanka needs the support of both India and China to overcome its economic woes and challenges it faces at international forums over allegations of war crimes. Prime Minister Wickremesinghe by attending the OBOR summit, a day after being a gracious host to Modi in Sri Lanka, has displayed an equidistant foreign policy vis-a-vis China and India. Sri Lanka which is a key hub in the OBOR project should say yes to trade but no to any military or strategic ties with any big power. But this is not enough. Sri Lanka needs to work towards ending the cold war between India and China, just as the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Government played a productive role in ending the 1962 India-China war. Sri Lanka, which often finds itself in a dilemma vis-a-vis its ties with India and China, should persuade India to join the OBOR. India should stop taking pride in its strategic importance to the United States to check China. The way forward is for all Asian economic powerhouses China, Japan and India to become partners in making Asia the centre of world growth just as Europe had been since the end of World War II until recently. OBOR should lead to an Asian economic union. Connectivity and inclusivity are the passwords to the next level in the world economys forward march. China wants India in the OBOR. If India can join the China-led Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank (AIIB), be an equal partner in BRICS an economic cooperation grouping which also includes Brazil, Russia, India and Chinaand appoint an Indian as the governor of the BRICS bank in Beijing, then why cant it become an OBOR member and be a partner in the coming world trade revolution? Forget Gilgit. It is a fait accompli; India wont get it. But OBOR is an opportunity that awaits India. Given the fragile nature of the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe Govt. and the crowd pulling capacity of Mahinda Rajapaksa, will New Delhi re-position itself to a state of preparedness to interact with him at Sri Lankas helm again? By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Vesak festivity in Sri Lanka acquired an international dimension this year with the Island nation hosting the United Nations International Vesak day. The icing on this Vesak event cake was the participation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as chief guest in the celebrations. Even though President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe basked in the glow of Narendra Modis brief trip described officially as a religious visit, the political highlight of the Indian premiers stay in Sri Lanka was the nocturnal rendezvous with former Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The meeting between Modi and Rajapaksa was held late at night on Thursday, May 11, 2017. The meeting came as a surprise to many because it was not part of the original itinerary devised for Prime Minister Modi in Sri Lanka. Moreover, the possibility of such a meeting seemed very remote as the political group headed by Mahinda Rajapaksa known as the Joint Opposition had been harshly critical of Modis visit to Sri Lanka. In fact, one of the opposition leaders had called for the hoisting of black flags to protest against Modi in the presence of Mahinda Rajapaksa at a May Day rally. It was politically unlikely that the avowed leader of the Joint Opposition would have a friendly meeting with a foreign leader, who was being critically targeted by his loyalists. Against this backdrop few would have envisaged that Mahendra would be meeting with Narendra. Nevertheless the meeting did take place and that too at the request of Rajapaksa himself. But then Sri Lanka is a land of political paradoxes. The unscheduled meeting took place at the official residence of the Indian High Commissioner in Colombo on Munidasa Cumaratunga Mawatte (Formerly Thurstan Road) known as India House. President Sirisena had hosted a banquet in honour of Premier Modi on Thursday, May 11. Mahinda Rajapaksa called on Prime Minister Modi after the banquet later that night. Indian envoy Taranjit Singh Sandhu told media that the talks had been cordial and friendly and lasted for over a half an hour. Subsequently Mahinda Rajapaksa tweeted, As always, a cordial meeting with PM Narendra Modi. Happy to see him in Sri Lanka for International Vesak Day Celebrations. Mahinda Rajapaksa was accompanied by two persons. One was his younger brother and former Defence Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa. The other was ex- Foreign minister and current Podu Jana Peramuna party Chairman, Prof Gamini Lakshman Peiris. Also present on the Indian side were Indias National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Indias Foreign Secretary Dr. Subramaniam Jaishankar and the Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, Taranjit Singh Sandhu. According to Informed sources the meeting was in two segments and had lasted 40 minutes. In the first segment of 25 minutes both Modi and Rajapaksa had been conversing within earshot of the others. However, the others had not participated in the talks apart from answering a few queries put to them occasionally. The second segment of fifteen minutes had been a strict one-on-one exchange of views between Mahinda Rajapaksa and Narendra Modi. When I See You My Tiredness Vanishes According to informed sources a vibrant spirit of bonhomie exuded throughout the conversation between both leaders. Despite the negative political currents preceding Modis Lankan visit, the unscheduled meeting with Rajapaksa went off very well. The conversation had started off on a promising note, when Rajapaksa apologised to Modi for meeting him late in the night and remarked that the Indian Premier would be very tired due to his hectic schedule. Narendra Modi with a disarming smile responded Yes, I am tired, but when I see you my tiredness vanishes. Rajapaksa beamed. According to some, Prime Minister Modi seemed to be visibly happy to meet with and talk to the ex-president of Sri Lanka. Thereafter the meeting had continued positively. The body language between both suggested a sense of relaxed confidence. They touched upon sensitive, prickly issues in a calm and composed manner airing their views amiably. Modi inquired about the Chinese role in Hambantota and Mahinda answered him in detail. Likewise Modi took great pains to explain that the recent Memorandum of Understanding signed by both countries with emphasis on Trincomalee was in no way a threat to the unity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka. Rajapaksa also tried to clarify the position of the opposition in calling for a protest during Modis visit and stated that it was by no means an instance of personal antipathy towards the Indian Premier. Modi listened attentively and then said that he understood the political dynamics of the situation. The meeting concluded satisfactorily with Modi inviting Rajapaksa to visit New Delhi for further conversation and Rajapaksa accepting the offer. Mahindas Gamana to New Delhi is likely to take place very soon. Mahindas meeting with Modi had its inevitable fall -out. There was much curiosity and excitement in the country. After all it was only ten days ago on May 1st that Mahindas political lackey, Wimal Weerawansa, the National Freedom Front leader had called for a black flag protest during Modis visit during Vesak. Mahinda Rajapaksa was on the same platform then and had said nothing thus implying that he was in agreement with the call. Moreover, opposition politicians and sympathetic analysts had been extremely critical of India and Modi. Some had even charged that Modi was trying to annex Sri Lanka through an insidious agenda and make it an Indian puppet state. It appeared from the orchestrated India trashing and Modi bashing that Mahinda Rajapaksa and his political acolytes were going to use the India and Modi card to whip up support for their political campaign against the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe Govt. Narendra Modi was going to be the whipping boy. But now in a flagrant volte-face the Medamulana Machiavelli had sought a meeting with the so-called enemy and engaged in cordially conversation and amicable dialogue. What a contradiction! President Sirisena was quick to exploit the issue. He revealed that the Indian High Commissioner had told him of the ex-presidents request to meet the Indian PM and that he had told the envoy to accede to the request. The President ridiculed this disconnect between public posture and private discourse. With Beijing and New Delhi competing for greater influence over the strategically located Island in the Indian ocean, a successful visit by the Indian Prime Minister would have effectively conveyed the message that notwithstanding recent inroads made by China, it was India that held sway in Sri Lanka as the pivotal and naturally pre-eminent power in South Asia. He observed sarcastically that those who wanted the people to hoist black flags and demonstrate against the Indian PM were clandestinely meeting Modi at night. Mahinda Rajapaksas loyalists and political comrades were also flabbergasted by news of the meeting. The unkindest cut of all was that except for a few, most political stalwarts in the Medamulana camp were totally in the dark about the meeting which occurred during the darkness of night. A well-informed fellow traveller of the Mahinda camp revealed that even senior political leader of the Joint Opposition Dinesh Gunawardane was not told of the meeting prior to being held. Unilateralism Of The Rajapaksas In characteristic Kurakkan Sataka style, Mahinda Rajapaksa had neither informed the Joint Opposition leaders before the meeting nor briefed them in detail afterwards. These acts of commission and omission by Mahinda have caused much embarrassment to the Apey Mahinda fan club particularly to those at the forefront of anti-Modi agitation. However, there is very little anyone can do about the fait accompli at this stage except to fret and fume. An articulate member of this group told this columnist I guess I voice the ire of the JO at the unilateralism of the Rajapaksas. Mahindas perceived volte-face in abandoning his Joint Opposition allies and meeting with Narendra Modi should be viewed in this context. He played his cards close to his chest because he did not want to upset his chances of meeting Modi. Now that the deed is done he would pacify his political allies in due course after the current furor ceases. Mahinda is supremely confident that his Joint Opposition fellow politicians would see the wisdom and imperative need for re-configuring relations with India and appreciate the importance of the nocturnal rendezvous with Narendra Modi in this respect What then led to Mahindas meeting with Modi? Technically it is correct that it was the former President, who made the formal request for the meeting. However, it appears that Kautilyan machinations were engineered by Indias South Block Brahmins (not a casteist reference) to bring about such a meeting to help contain the rising tide of potential anti-Modi protests. According to informed sources two persons in the Mahinda camp were tapped. One was an ex-minister and Rajapaksa sibling with connections to Bharat. The other an intellectual heavyweight was also a former Minister. They were both asked to interact with Mahinda Rajapaksa on this matter. Indian officials had been worried about the negative implications of widespread anti- Indian and anti- Modi protests during the course of the Modi Vesak visit. From an Indian perspective the entire visit was to be a gigantic public relations exercise aimed at winning the hearts and minds of Sri Lankas majority Buddhists. There was no trip to Jaffna or sensitive Trincomalee on the agenda. The emphasis and focus was on the common heritage of Buddhism. While the Modi trip was overtly a religious visit there was an underlying politico-diplomatic objective also. With Beijing and New Delhi competing for greater influence over the strategically located Island in the Indian ocean, a successful visit by the Indian Prime Minister would have effectively conveyed the message that notwithstanding recent inroads made by China, it was India that held sway in Sri Lanka as the pivotal and naturally pre-eminent power in South Asia. This envisaged politico-diplomatic exercise could have turned into a great disaster instead of a triumph if there had been massive anti- Modi protest demonstrations. The huge crowds at the Joint Opposition May Day rally at Galle Face Green had demonstrated the power of the Rajapaksa camp. The stoppage of work by Petroleum employees protesting the alleged hand-over of Trincomalee to India had illustrated the capability of trade unions controlled by the Opposition to virtually paralyse the nation. If the protests got out of control resulting in violence or if the Sri Lankan law enforcement authorities resorted to force to suppress the protests, the trip could turn politically counter-productive for Modi and reflect badly upon India internationally. As such India was averse to any mass protests or demonstrations against Modi, while he was expected to be in Sri Lanka. There was also the chance of an Island -wide black flag protest taking place without any likelihood of violence. The visual spectacle of black flags against Modi would have undermined Indias image drastically. Of course there was always the possibility of a black flag protest turning into a damp squib on account of Vesak. Buddhists would not like to raise black flags during Vesak in general and particularly at a time when International Day of Vesak was being observed proudly in Lanka. Potential Anti-India Protests Moreover, it was doubtful whether Sri Lankans were in a mood to campaign vigorously against Modi at the present juncture. Even some Joint Opposition politicians had been lukewarm in responding to the call for a black flag protest when made by Weerawansa. However, India could not take any chances and had to take pre-emptive measures to avert protests. It was with this objective that Indian officials initiated covert, unofficial moves to win over Mahinda Rajapaksa and neutralise potential anti-India protests. As stated earlier, efforts were made to interact with and win over Mahinda Rajapaksa through two intermediaries. Apparently there was very little need for persuasion because Mahinda Rajapaksa being a consummate politician was realistic enough to understand the limits of anti-Indianism at this point of time. Turning a blind eye or deaf ear to rhetorical anti - Indian criticism could be a tolerable gamble but engaging in active anti -Indian protests was akin to skating dangerously on thin ice. Even on earlier occasions, Mahinda had been somewhat critical of secret agreements with India but had not condemned India outright. Thus Mahinda Rajapaksa was ready, able and willing to be amenable when the overtures were made to him. Mahinda made the obligatory request for a meeting with Modi and took G.L. Peiris and Gotabhaya along with him but refrained from keeping others in his camp informed. Manoeuvres made by the land of Kautilya to wean away Mahinda from his strident anti-Indian allies, seems to have succeeded even before Modis arrival in Sri Lanka. Despite Weerawansas call for a black flag demonstration and other related demands hostile to India, the anti-Modi campaign never gathered momentum. In fact it never got off the ground. The main reason for this was the lack of interest or lethargy shown by Mahinda Rajapaksa in pursuing or encouraging this campaign. Anticipating correctly perhaps that rapprochement with New Delhi was a distinct possibility, the ex-President shrewdly avoided exacerbation of tensions with India. Thus not a single black flag was visible when Narendra Modi was in Sri Lanka. Our sister publication Sunday Times even had a photo of Weerawansas towering mansion at Hokandara without any black flag defying the breeze. Mahinda Rajapaksa is the sun around which the Joint Oppositions lesser planets revolve. Once he opted out of the anti-Modi mode the whole thing simply fizzled out. The Indians had smartly calculated that Mahinda was ripe for reconciliation and played their cards deftly. Likewise the Machiavelli of Medamulana also may have gauged Indian thinking correctly and in an adroit gambit sacrificed his pawn Weerawansa. The Rajapaksa regimes relations with India had soured to some extent after Ajit Doval became national security adviser under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. There was much friction between Ajit Doval and Sri Lankas former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. The bone of contention was Sri Lankas perceived closeness to China. There was simmering tension between India and Sri Lanka due to this. A flashpoint of tension was triggered off by the visits of Chinese nuclear submarines to Colombo. Relations deteriorated at a subterraneous level to the extent where the Rajapaksa regime suspected the Indian espionage agency -Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) - of conspiring to topple Mahinda and bring about regime change in Sri Lanka. RAW Station Chief In Colombo The then Defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa complained to Indian national security adviser Ajit Doval about the RAW station chief in Colombo, K. Ilango, who was functioning as Minister Counsellor at the High Commission. Ilango was transferred back to India shortly before the 2015 Presidential poll. India however denied any RAW involvement in Sri Lanka and maintained that Ilangos transfer was a routine affair as the diplomat had served for three years in Sri Lanka. If the RAW station chief had indeed plotted a regime change then K. Ilangos transfer appeared to be a case of shutting the stable door after the horse had bolted. The 2015 January 8 election saw Mahinda Rajapaksa being defeated by Maithripala Sirisena. Details of RAW involvement and expulsion of its station chief was first scooped by our sister paper Sunday Times of December, 28, 2014. A January 17, 2015 dated Reuters report filed by John Chalmers and Sanjiv Miglani provided extensive and interesting details of the alleged exercise by the RAW in bringing about regime change in Sri Lanka. Excerpts of the Reuters report are reproduced here - Sri Lanka expelled the Colombo station chief of Indias spy agency in the run-up to this months presidential election, political and intelligence sources said, accusing him of helping the opposition oust President Mahinda Rajapaksa. An Indian foreign ministry spokesman denied any expulsion and said that transfers were routine decisions. Rajapaksa, voted out of office in the January 8 election, told Reuters he did not know all the facts, while the new government in Colombo has said it is aware of the reports but cannot confirm them. But several sources in both Colombo and New Delhi said India was asked to recall the agent in December for helping gather support for Maithripala Sirisena after persuading him to ditch Rajapaksas cabinet. A sketchy report in Sri Lankas Sunday Times newspaper on December 28 said that Links with the common opposition had cost Indias Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) station chief his job in Colombo. India has often been involved in the internal politics of the small island nation off its southern coast - it sent troops there in 1987 in a botched effort to broker peace between the Government and Tamil Tiger rebels. Rajapaksas unexpected defeat after two terms in office coincided with growing concern in India that it was losing influence in Sri Lanka because of the former Presidents tilt toward regional rival China. Two Chinese Submarines Dock In Sri Lanka The concern turned to alarm late last year when Rajapaksa allowed two Chinese submarines to dock in Sri Lanka without warning New Delhi as he should have under a standing agreement, the sources said. Sirisena, the new President, has said he will visit New Delhi on his first foreign trip next month and has said India is the first, main concern of his foreign policy. An Indian official said the RAW agent was recalled after complaints that he had worked with Sri Lankas usually fractious opposition parties to agree on a joint contender for the election. Then, he was accused of facilitating meetings to encourage several lawmakers, among them Sirisena, to defect from Rajapaksas party, the official said. The agent was accused of playing a role in convincing the main leader of the opposition and former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe not to contest against Rajapaksa in the election and stand aside for someone, who could be sure of winning, said the officer and a Sri Lankan lawmaker, who also maintains close contacts with India. The agent was also in touch with former President Chandrika Kumaratunga, who was a key player in convincing Sirisena to stand, said the officer and the lawmaker, who also confirmed that the agent had been asked to leave. They actively were involved, talking to Ranil, getting those things organised, talking to Chandrika, the lawmaker told Reuters. Wickremesinghe, who is now Prime Minister again in Sirisenas Government, met two or three times with the man identified as the agent in the months before the vote, as well as with the Indian high commissioner, or ambassador, the prime ministers spokesman said. They discussed the current political situation, Wickremesinghes spokesman said, but he denied that the Indians had advised him. He does not know if he advised other politicians.It was not clear if Wickremesinghe was aware at the time that he was meeting with an intelligence official. Indias RAW officers are usually given diplomatic posts, when assigned to foreign missions. Former President Kumaratunga did not respond to requests for comment. Rajapaksa declined to confirm the involvement of India in the campaign against him. I dont know, I wont suspect anybody until I get my real facts, he said at his party headquarters.There are certain things you dont talk about, a close associate of the Rajapaksa family said, but added that there were clear signs of a deep campaign by foreign elements. Sri Lankas then Defence Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa - a brother of the former president - complained about the agents activities to Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval in November when Doval was visiting the island nation for a defence seminar, the Indian official said. Another Indian official, who monitors the region for security threats, said New Delhi had been watching Beijings growing influence and heavy investments in Sri Lanka under Rajapaksa, who visited China seven times since becoming President in 2005. But India was stunned and angry last year when the Chinese submarines docked in Sri Lanka on two separate occasions, a step New Delhi saw as part of Beijings string of pearls strategy to secure a foothold in South Asia and maritime access through the Indian Ocean. Modi Raised The Issue With Rajapaksa The turning point in the relationship was the submarines. There was real anger, the Indian security official said. Indian military officials said that New Delhi reminded Sri Lanka it was obliged to inform its neighbours about such port calls under a maritime pact, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue with Rajapaksa at a meeting in New York. In a possible sign of shifting allegiances, Indias top envoy in Colombo, High Commissioner Y.K. Sinha, presented Sirisena with a large bouquet of flowers just hours after the results were announced on Jan 9. Chinas ambassador was only able to meet the new President six days later. Following his defeat in 2015, Mahinda Rajapaksa alleged that he was overthrown as a result of an international conspiracy. He also referred to RAW involvement in his defeat at times. However, Mahinda never effectively played up the RAW angle in his defeat to the extent he could have done so had he wanted to. In recent times Mahinda began soft pedalling the issue and displayed a marked reluctance to blame the RAW or rake up the past role of RAW. In a recent TV interview to Padma Rao Sundarji of WION, Mahinda Rajapaksa evaded the question. He also said that he as well as former Sri Lankan President J.R. Jayewardene had learnt geo political lessons well. Here are relevant excerpts - Padma Rao Sundarji: You had accused India, specifically its Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) of engineering your election defeat in 2015. How so? Mahinda Rajapaksa (laughs): You know, I dont want to go into the past. Whats done is done. Its a new page now. Maintain Equilibrium Between Two Asian Giants Padma Rao Sundarji: If you were to return to power either with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) faction that supports you or some other new party, would you want to recalibrate your relationship to India which was very tense during your years in office? Mahinda Rajapaksa: Frankly, I think both my Government and this Government and may I say even earlier Governments like that of President J.R. Jayewardene have learned lessons in geopolitics and economics! No Sri Lankan Government can fail to recognise that Sri Lanka cannot afford to antagonise the two Asian giants China and India. We have learned our lessons by now. So its in our national interest to very carefully balance and maintain equilibrium between the two. The above excerpts from the Padma Rao interview indicate that Mahinda Rajapaksa does not want to adopt an anti - Indian course and that he wants to establish good relations with India and let by-gones be by-gones. Mahinda Rajapaksas readiness to meet with Narendra Modi reinforces this approach further. Regardless of whether Indias RAW played a role in his downfall or not, Mahinda Rajapaksa wants to re-configure relations with New Delhi and re-align with India. Mahinda of Medamulana is presently riding the crest of a popular wave and is positioning himself for a possible return to power. He realises that India factors crucially in this quest. Even if India does not support him, India must not oppose him. Worse still, India must not try to topple him in the future, if and when he captures power. Hence Mahinda is prepared to get into Indias good books again and play ball with New Delhi. Mahindas perceived volte-face in abandoning his Joint Opposition allies and meeting with Narendra Modi should be viewed in this context. He played his cards close to his chest because he did not want to upset his chances of meeting Modi. Now that the deed is done he would pacify his political allies in due course after the current furor ceases. Mahinda is supremely confident that his Joint Opposition fellow politicians would see the wisdom and imperative need for re-configuring relations with India and appreciate the importance of the nocturnal rendezvous with Narendra Modi in this respect. In any case even if his allies are cheesed off with Mahinda there is very little they can do because they need him more than he needs them. Mahinda would therefore follow up Modis invitation and embark upon a passage to India soon. Knowledgeable Indian journalists opine that Narendra Modi enjoys an easy camaraderie with Mahinda Rajapaksa. Sirisena-Wickremesinghe -Kumaratunga Triumvirate The important multi-million dollar question at this stage is How will India respond to Mahindas attempt to re-configure his relationship with India? Given the fragile nature of the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe Govt. and the crowd pulling capacity of Mahinda Rajapaksa, will New Delhi re-position itself to a state of preparedness to interact with him at Sri Lankas helm again? Or will South Block be wary of Mahinda due to past experiences and prefer to entrench and strengthen the Sirisena - Wickremesinghe - Kumaratunga triumvirate? Unfolding events will provide answers in the days to come. We live in interesting times! D.B.S.Jeyaraj can be reached at dbsjeyaraj@yahoo.com Opinion / Columnist Whilst some treat democracy as an expense and burdensome, others think otherwise, it is interesting how this article will walk into the mysterious path of democracy. It is within the interest of the researcher to skirt out all that which has been said and not said about this democracy which Lincoln believes is a government of the people for the people and by the people. In as much as the form of democracy is cast in the mould of culture of a people as Aziz rightly noted it is very essential to note at this juncture how different societies and diverse circumstances require different arrangements for the realization of democratic principles as noted by Chikerema (2016). Therefore, there is serious need to come up with a more democratic theory that recognizes its potential for variation and dynamism.Illegitimate governments exist today; governments which are not elected by the people are in power today and cannot leave power because of the undying need to further their aggrandizement. To vote in or out a government is no longer a matter today since the buck stops with those with real power. They will just say, "This thing is legal because I wish it".It is meticulously and painstakingly conspicuous that whether in Africa, Asia, Europe, America, democratic tenets will remain democratic tenets and some argue that democracy is not simply a prescription of political practice but the actual distillation of practice itself. Some tenets of democracy include:-rule of law-promotion of freedoms-apolitical institutions-respect and observance of human rights-level political playing field-voter education, registration etc-equal access to state media and fair reportingFrom the democratic tenets, it is clear that democracy is universally applicable. 'The right to life has to be granted either way so long human beings are involved. Ostensibly, some African leaders regard the issue of rights as alien and they are either autocratic/ authoritarian or dictators. These people are disdained at consolidating power hence are against the issue of rights.In Zimbabwe any one against the government or who talks about succession is charged with treason. But I believe it is more treasonous to keep quiet when people decide to turn a deaf ear to the disorganized tunes played by their government. A leaf can be drawn closer home from the Justice Factor in South Africa according to A.F Chikerema.I am not impressed by Hastings K. Banda who ruled Malawi and had the audacity to bring such an argument that democracy is expensive and brings disunity. He further said that God in Heaven has no opposition and there is no need of opposition in Malawi. That is so pathetic if I may say. How can one equalize himself to His Creator, My Goodness that's blasphemous or rather utter apostasy.Opposition should forever exist to put pressure on the governments so that they revise the modus operandi , if not so, they should completely remove the government and open a new chapter in what I call the small and sensible book of politics.Consider Zimbabwe for example, poor political contestation, how opposition political parties are forming grand coalition with the unbridled team spirit of making Zimbabwe better next year.I stand to refute the expenses and disunity that most African leaders think oscillate around the phenomenon of democracy. How much is this country losing due to corruption daily? How then is it that there is limited scope to think that democracy is expensive hence no need for transparency and accountability in public enterprises. Tender procedures in Zimbabwe are not clear. Meritocracy is something of the past. To those who have, more is being added unto them. A number are landless today but some have lost count of their pieces of land even their exact positions. There is a lot of hero worship going on, corruption, mismanagement of resources, politics of patronage, spoils, oppression and the immediate result is under development. If democracy is expensive, I think dictatorship is seriously expensive to the extent that one cannot afford it.People's freedoms should be guaranteed and no man should override the view of another. The problem is that just like in a church, anything can be preached on but the gospel of repentance does not augur well with numbers though it is the truth. Facts are stubborn, democracy doesn't bring disunity neither is it expensive.Zimbabwe is endowed with so many natural resources but there is no development to talk of. Zimbabwe has turned out to be a street economy where people sell whatever they lay their hands upon because of desperation. Moreover, a surrogate currency, the bond is all that we have, people sleeping in queues at banks and not to be given their full amounts but forced to drink from the cup of poor government management.Policy programs are becoming white elephants daily at the pretext that democracy is Western and expensive. I am quite honored to quote Mutiso in his book on Philology that, "We are not crying for the white man's things". Democracy is not a tradition of the whites. We want to vote and not to be harassed and beaten, we want neutral electoral bodies, clear separation of power, freedoms, transparency and accountability, rule of law, we yearn for democracy and that's it.May I bring this to your audience that, a number of things are dysfunctional in Zimbabwe, in Africa, in the World because of leaders who harbor unempirical thoughts on democracy. It's high time that political parties too exercise democracy and relinquish leadership for the better. Elections should be done and not endowments of certain individuals. The castle of democracy should not just start from the central government but even at grass root level it matters too.I am worried by the lethal condition of women in Africa. Things as little as pads for their menstrual cycles are not provided for by their government yet remain quiet as if everything is okay. Theodore Roosevelt says, "It is unpatriotic not to tell the truth, whether about the President or anyone else." Girls miss out classes for a week because they do not have pads. Some end up using leaves. Where is the government when girls and women are using leaves for their menstrual cycles? Is this the government that we should entrust with power when it fails to do the little things for its electorate? I wonder and become more unimpressed.Essentially, democracies should ensure periodic review of electoral justice system to ensure that it fulfills its function in guaranteeing the holding of free and fair genuine elections. The time is now that elections bring change from the gross suffering o masses to a new dawn of enjoying all democratic dictates and sound governance. No to smoke screen elections or window dressing ritual type of elections.May the flag of democracy fly higher and may the need of a clear constitutional framework for electoral justice be realized. Electoral justice plays a pivotal role in ensuring the stability of a political system and adherence to the legal framework, thus contributing to the consolidation of democratic governance. Democracy is not expensive, indigenize the democracy yes, but do not derail from its tenets!!!Written by Patricia Masiyakurima a Third YearStudent in the Department of Politics and Public Management at Midlands State University Zimbabwe. The UAE-based retail and leisure giant LuLu Group entered Sri Lanka by opening a US $ 8 million food packaging facility in the Katunayake Export Processing Zone on May 17th to supply LuLu operations worldwide. LuLu Group Chairman and Managing Director Yusuff Ali met with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe the next day, to discuss the groups future plans for investments in Sri Lanka. The Integrated Design Department of the University of Moratuwa announced the launch of the Sri Lanka Design Code 2017 exhibition, which is to be held on May 20 and 21, 2017, at the Trace Expert City, Maradhana. The announcement was made at a media conference held on May 17, at the National Library Auditorium. Its a well-known fact that the University of Moratuwa is the most sought-after technological university in Sri Lanka. Completing the tangle of creativity and technology, the Integrated Design Department stands as the peerless government university specialized in the field of design in Sri Lanka. Addressing the necessities of the Sri Lankan design industry through a unique learning process, it acts as the integrated solution in design innovations. Carrying out the above-mentioned mission, the Integrated Design Department launched the Sri Lanka Design Code 2017 exhibition, thus catering to the emerging design economy in Sri Lanka. The creativity of students, which is challenged by the conventional method of university entry based on the advanced level, is to be preserved as a national responsibility. In the Integrated Design Department studies are conducted via three streams: media and communication design, product design, and fashion and lifestyle design. Continuous assessments based on modules are used to assess the students, which are supported by field visits and workshops. Building connections between foreign and local universities, widening the exposure of students in the design industry has been identified as a social and an economical need. Design talks, a series of discussions by industry experts and foreign designers, workshops focused on school students to enhance their creative abilities will be conducted at the exhibition. The design executions of students in every academic year will be exhibited. Products developed by taking bamboo as a raw material, empowering young design entrepreneurship and local craft economy will be presented by second year students to fulfil an academic and moreover national need. As the climax of the event, Avant-Garde and graduation collections will be exhibited on an outdoor fashion ramp. This exhibition taken as a step to establish the design industry in Sri Lanka will open up new opportunities for the Sri Lankan design communities. The National War Heroes Commemoration ceremony would be held today (19) at 4.00 pm at the Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte site of the War Heroes Memorial under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena and with the participation of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. This ceremony is organized by the Ranaviru Services Authority of the State Ministry of Defense under the theme Lakmaniyange Surakshitha Idirigamana Venuven Sidukala Sadanusmaraneeya Kepakireemata Pidena Gawravanvitha Kruthaguna Dakweema (Distinguished felicitation for the dedication shown towards the secured forward march of mother Sri Lanka) This function is scheduled to begin with singing the National Anthem.The President, the Prime Minister and the distinguished invitees would then offer floral tributes at the Ranaviru Monument. Thereafter the President is due to address the nation. The Commanders of the three forces, the IGP, security services heads and families of war heroes who laid down their lives for the Motherland are scheduled to participate in the event. (Ariyarathne Ranabahu) APRC Chairman Tissa Vitharana handing over the committee's interim report to former President Rajapaksa on January 2008 A National Policy on Reconciliation and Co-existence has been drafted by the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR), funded by taxpayers money and is under the Presidential Secretariat. It sounds, the fault so far has been that Sri Lanka had not had a policy laid down for Reconciliation. This by itself proves, the ONUR leadership is no different to donor funded local organisations that ran peace projects for decades to achieve nothing. There is no quick fix solution to the long and ever growing polarisation of this society. Reconciliation today is not only about depolarising Sinhala and Tamil differences and enmity growing on a dominant Sinhala Buddhist political platform. It is also about Sinhala-Muslim and Tamil-Muslim polarisations in society that for different reasons and through different politico-historical conflicts have got tangled into a complex web of overlapping issues. These issues are being used for ethno religious power politics.Racist mind sets created over decades are used to mobilise votes. With 74.9 per cent Sinhala and 70.1 per cent Buddhist, the two main political parties and their electoral alliances vie against each other at all elections to gain majority Sinhala Buddhist votes. They believe, if they can project themselves as more Sinhala Buddhist than the other, that provides enough Sinhala Buddhist votes to form a government. Such Sinhala racist campaigning leaves a more polarised Sri Lanka after every election. Sinhala power & free market Once in power and often as a rule,Sinhala leaders always escorted by the media, first visit the chief prelates of Asgiriya and Malwatte chapters to promise, Buddhist prelates will always be respected and their advice sought. In accepted Sinhala parlance that always means Sinhala Buddhist dominance will not be hampered.The opposition as a rule challenges the governing party on a Sinhala Buddhist platform. Post independent history is full of such low and unprincipled politics. The two main Southern parties keep swapping roles in opposing anything that can be campaigned on as compromising Sinhala interests. These racist campaigns are financed by the business community. For the business community, especially after the State was pulled out in 1978 from regulating investments and the market, to facilitate private business for improved profits, it is not democracy and ethnic peace they need for big profits. Profits now depend on big city economic activities and militarised rural life on pro majority ethno religious politics. Ethno religious politics is used to make the majority poor feel they run the government. Indias Modi thus relies on Hindu campaigns and in Sri Lanka it is those vocal Sinhala leaders who dominate Southern politics. Behind all such racist campaigns, neo liberal economies create more black money and is used to buy political power, irrespective of political allegiances and loyalties. These black money economies have no geographical boundaries.Ethno religious identities are irrelevant. Therefore reconciliation is not a necessity for usurping power to accrue wealth and profits. Who then wants Reconciliation and what importance has it? Its the ordinary people, the majority voter who need to find space for peaceful and dignified living. They need to pin hopes on a better tomorrow to live today. They need answers for their immediate post war issues to gain unobstructed social space to come together for a common and a shared future. For the majority, that is whatReconciliation is. But working it out politically is not as simple as reading those few sentences. That therefore necessitates a government with a strong political will with a well designed programme for implementation. ONUR's Education for Reconciliation programme Rajapaksa creations Ironically, it was Rajapaksa who had two well crafted Reports done under his presidency that could ensure reconciliation and a consensual political solution to the ethnic conflict.After the war was brought to a brutal end,Rajapaksa left them in cold storage for the benefit of a blown up image of a Sinhala Buddhist hero. The first of them is the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) Final Report and the second, the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) Report with recommendations. If this government is honestly serious and sincere in finding a decent, consensual answer to the festering ethnic conflict, all it has to do is to table the two Reports in parliament for discussion and approval. There is absolutely no necessity anymore to waste time in re-inventing the cycle that Rajapaksa most effectively and successfully concluded. The All Party Conference convened by Rajapaksa as President on 11 July, 2006 was required to have a committee of permanent representatives (APRC) for continual dialogue.The APRC was mandated by President Rajapaksa to formulate a homegrown new constitution which will provide a comprehensive approach to the resolution of the national question. After almost 04 years of painstaking deliberations, the APRC Final Report on proposals for a new Constitution was finalised. Handed over to President Rajapaksa in July 2010, it carried with it a broad consensus from Champika Ranawakas JHU to Dinesh Gunawardnes MEP and the main SLFP, with all 03 left parties then in parliament, the Muslim parties and all Tamil parties except the TNA, consenting. The TNA leadership and the SLMC in particular can use their political power in the Northern PC and the EPC to adopt resolutions demanding these two Reports be used for finding answers for Reconciliation Racist campaigning leaves more polarized SL after every poll Ordinary citizens want reconciliation for peaceful, dignified living LLRC report has pragmatic recommendations; neither MR nor JO can oppose The depth of power sharing spelt out in the final report of the APRC that Southern Sinhala leaders have agreed upon,say it would be a Unitary State, in the sense in which it shall be deemed to be an undivided and integrated State structure, where the State power shall be shared among the Centre and the Provinces. It proposes a new structure for unhindered power devolved to the periphery in a parliamentary form of government at the Centre. For the first time,APRC recognised the importance of cultural identities of Muslim and Up country Tamil people and has proposed two Community Councils for them. Thus it is a complete proposal the TNA should accept, to improve upon if they want to. The LLRC Report is the other with very pragmatic recommendations, neither Rajapaksa nor the JO can now oppose. This was presented in parliament on 16 December 2011 by Nimal Siripala de Silva then Chief Government Whip and now, Minister of Transport. It was accepted by the UNHRC too, subject to the condition the GoSL should come up with a time table for its implementation. The Rajapaksa government dragged it over the years and left it unattended,compelling the UNHRC to resort to its own proposal on a new resolution. The LLRC Recommendations have practical and rational answers for most problems this government is afraid of providing answers for. It has answers for major issues the North and East war survivors are agitating and demanding answers for. It has answers this government can now use if they are seriously in want of answers for Northern and Eastern post war issues. ONUR in fact should work out modalities for implementation, if they want to be worth the money people spend on them. Dodging responsibilities Interestingly, the SLFP ministers in government are also responsible for these two reports. All SLFPers in this government were part of the Rajapaksa government, including President Sirisena.Even ministers Rajitha Senaratne, Champika Ranawaka, Rauf Hakeem and Rishad Bathiudeen are party to it. They have a responsibility to implement the two reports. With these two reports, the JO too doesnt have the opportunity they now have in laying down conditions on drafts proposed by the present Committees set up for Constitution making.Not making political use of such opportunities proves this government is never serious on Reconciliation. Sadly too, the TNA leadership is hoping against hope this government would deliver on their requests.They are still piggy backing a Sinhala government that for over two years dragged issues without solutions.Problems,TNA voters keep agitating continually for this day and want settled. A government that for two years dodged even small issues like releasing Tamil detainees held without charges, will not now take any of the issues the TNA would want answers for.In very plain language, this government is running behind the Sinhala mantle the Rajapaksas carry and that leaves out the TNA and the Tamil people. It leaves out Muslims too. For pragmatism Yet in practical terms,this government, the TNA and the Muslim parties can take over what Rajapaksa has left without implementing, to their own political advantage. They could use it to pressurise Sinhala leaders to create much needed space for social compromise in the South. These are two proposals that can be discussed in the Sinhala South, with the JO on board.Any opposition would corner them in a very uncomfortable position. It is therefore a hard bargain for Rajapaksa to lead his JO against these two Reports. To begin with, the TNA leadership and the SLMC in particular can use their political power in the Northern PC and the EPC to adopt resolutions demanding these two Reports be used for finding answers for Reconciliation. TNA should accept they have on political miscalculations walked into a dark void, no Indian government, not even Modi can find answers for.TNA let down has given way for ad hoc ground level protests in North and Vanni.That creates confusion in the North and pushes this government more into Sinhala politics. Bottom line is, reconciliation is not dependent on policy statements. Reconciliation to be achieved needs social space the Sinhala opposition will have to agree to. It is these two reports by the APRC and the LLRC that can constructively engage the Rajapaksa led JO to provide such social space in the South.That needs to be worked on, for the benefit of all in the North, South, East and West. Hard on the heels of his fast unto death in prison calling for his release on bail, National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa was again in the news and became a laughing stock by calling for the hoisting of the black flag against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the latters visit to Sri Lanka to participate in the United Nations International Vesak Festival. Pathetically there were no takers for his call even within his political group, the Joint Opposition. Also the government very cleverly countered the call by tying it up with the main event where the Indian leader was to attend, the International Vesak Festival. They interpreted that Weerawansa was calling for the hoisting of black flags on the day of Vesak. It was while addressing a massive crowd that had thronged the Galle Face green for the May Day rally that the former Minister called on the countrymen to hoist black flags to protest against the Indian Premiers visit. Although no politicians in his camp joined his call, his view was indirectly supported by some of them after Modi concluded his tour. Citing the Indian Premiers address to the people of Indian origin in Norwood the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader Udaya Gammanpila who always competes with Weerawansa in racially motivated utterances, said that Modi had treated Sri Lanka as another State of India. Former head of the Civil Security Department and former MP Sarath Weerasekara also had expressed similar views against Modis speech in Norwood. However the stories about their opposition to the Indian Prime Minister was overshadowed by the stories in the media of a meeting their leader, the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his brother former Defence Secretray Gotabhaya Rajapaksa had with Modi during the latters visit to the island. In fact their protest was countered by the Rajapaksa-Modi meeting. Before his meeting with Modi, Rajapaksa attempted to save Weerawansa from the predicament the latter had been facing due to the black flag call and owing to his would-be meeting with the Indian Premier. Responding to a question by the journalists during one of the casual meetings he has been having with them daily, after his downfall in 2015, Rajapaksa denied that the NFF leader had made such a request, in spite of the NFF leader having made it before the massive crowd that attended the JOs May Day rally. Interestingly, the meeting with the former President and the Indian Premier had taken place according to the Indian High Commission, at the request of the former while his loyalists were furious over the latters address to the people of Indian origin. However, the opposition to the Indian Premiers visit to the areas where the people of Indian origin live is not without basis. The argument behind the opposition was that when the people of Indian origin had already been assimilated into the Sri Lankan society, the Indian Prime Ministers visit to them is divisive in nature. The argument is further vindicated by a request last year by a leader of the very community of Indian descendants, Co-existence, Dialogue and National Languages Minister, Mano Ganesan, said that his community should no longer be referred to as former Indians, as they have already become fully-fledged Sri Lankans. However Mr. Ganesan was in the forefront in welcoming the Indian leader who while addressing the plantation workers in Norwood reminded them of the Indian ancestry, while people like Gammanpila were saying that the Plantation Tamils were fully-fledged Sri Lankans. Nevertheless, Modi has not visited only the plantation areas where the Tamils of Indian origin mainly live. During his visit to the island in 2015 he also toured another Tamil dominated area, the Northern Province. Nobody protested against that tour to the war ravaged province. The fact remains that the Indian Premier had not forgotten politics during both his visits. Although some leaders of the current government said that the latest visit of the Indian leader who is considered by many as a Hindu extremist, had only a religious significance, as he was to attend only the Vesak celebrations, he could not or did not hide the political aspect in his tour. However, the meeting between the former President and the Indian Prime Minister was indeed a slap in the face of those who protested the visit of the latter before and after it, especially the NFF leader who wanted the Sri Lankans to fly black flags during the visit. Their plight was further aggravated by another statement by another bigwig of the Joint Opposition, Professor G.L.Peiris who is also the leader of the JOs official political party, the Podujana Nidahas Peramuna. The former External Affairs Minister said that the meeting between the Rajapaksas and Modi was confidential. It is amusing to note the leader of the JO having a confidential meeting with an Indian leader while his loyalists were berating him for treating Sri Lanka as another State of India, and Rajapaksa himself accusing the government of having secret agreements with India on the eve of Modis visit. In spite of Rajapaksa and his loyalists attempting to take political mileage from the Indian Premiers Sri Lanka visit, as people craving for power again, the Rajapaksas very well know the weight of the geo-political reality in respect of Indo-Sri Lanka relations. This had been clearly manifested in an interview the former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa had with the Indian journalist V.K. Shashikumar, which was published by the Media Centre for National Development on May 18, 2010. Gotabhaya told the Indian journalist as to why India is exceptional to Sri Lanka in its foreign relations. He said We knew that only India influenced us militarily. India is a huge power in our neighbourhood and our proximity to Tamil Nadu with 60 million Tamils sensitive to whats going on in Sri Lanka made the situation extremely complex for us. We knew that while other countries could or would resort to economic sanctions, only India had the power to militarily influence the course of our war operations. He pointed out how India scuttled the Operation Liberation or the Operation Vadamarachchi in 1987 which would have been successful in defeating the LTTE, by launching the Operation Poomalai involving its air force. Nonetheless, Sri Lankan individuals and groups in politics have used the anti Indian feeling that is deep rooted in the Sri Lankan masses, especially the Sinhalese to find a way out of the political mess they were in or to outsmart the opponents.The wary attitude towards the Indians stems from the history taught in Sri Lankan schools which elaborate the Indian invasions against Sri Lanka as a result of which the kingdom of Sri Lankan kings had been pushed down southwards from Anuradhapura to Gampola and Kandy via Yapahuwa, Dambadeniya and Kurunegala. The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna attempted to capitalize this anti-Indian feeling to the core during its two insurrections in 1971 and 1988/89. Before the first insurrection the senior cadres of the party held a lecture under the topic of Indian Expansionism for their newcomers and the second insurrection was directly against a rebellion against the so-called Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) that had been deployed in Sri Lanka under the highly controversial Indo-Sri Lanka Accord of 1987. However, former leader of the JVP, Somawansa Amarasinghe, who was only a polit-bureau member to save his life during the governments crackdown during their second insurrection, had later thanked the former Indian Prime Minister V.P. Singh for helping him to flee the country. It would have been very easy for Weerawansa to take an anti-India stance and call for the hoisting of black flags against the Indian Premier, as he had entered politics as a young JVP cadre amidst a bloody armed struggle by his party, the JVP with slogans against the Indian armed forces whom they called an army of monkeys, likening them to Ramas army of monkeys deployed against the Sri Lankan King Ravana. However, as happened many a time the anti-India struggle this time also proved to be just a political gimmick. Vehicular travel had been limited and police advised motorists to use alternative routes to avoid traffic congestion due to a road cave-in near Kohilawatte junction on the at Ambathale-Thotalanga road, police said. They said a side of the road near Kelani River and close to Kohilawatte cemetery had cave-in at Ambathale old junction on Avissawella road. Police informed the motorists to use the road leading to Colombo via Kotikawatta - Wellampitiya to avoid traffic.(Chaturanga Pradeep) Video by Susantha Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi REUTERS: The Sri Lankan rupee ended steady yesterday, erasing gains from earlier in the day on investor concerns that the currency would fall after the Central Bank set a target for buying dollars directly from the market in a bid to boost reserves. Rupee forwards were active, with spot-next forwards closing steady at 152.85/90 per dollar. One-week forwards also were steady at the close of trade, at 152.95/153.00 per dollar. Sri Lankas Central Bank is targeting US$1.2 billion in direct market purchases of dollars to boost the island nations reserves this year, said Indrajit Coomaraswamy, the monetary authoritys chief yesterday. That comes after Sri Lanka missed its end-December reserves target agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a US$1.5 billion, 36-month loan. The move will definitely put pressure on the rupee at a time when the central bank is not defending it and the market is determining the exchange rate, a currency dealer said asking not to be named. The spot rupee did not trade yesterday. The Central Bank fixed the spot rupee reference rate at 152.50 on May 5. The Central Bank has allowed the currency to gradually depreciate since mid-December, revising its spot reference rate multiple times. The exchange of MoUs between Sri Lanka-China Business Council - Guangxi Autonomous Region China, Peoples Bank of Sri Lanka - China Development Bank (Guangxi Branch) and Electroteks Network Services Pte Ltd-Guilin CEKE Communication Equipment Co. Ltd. Pic by Nisal Baduge By Shabiya Ali Ahlam The friendly handshake between China and Sri Lanka got firmer yesterday with a large delegation from Guangxi having arrived in Colombo to engage in discussions and exchange proposals to further boost trade. In an effort initiate and strengthen relationships between the two countries, jointly organized was a China (Guangxi) Sri Lanka Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum. The forum is the first to be held in strengthening partnership with Guangxi. The event took place just days after Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Xiang in China, to address a host of bilateral issues faced by both nations. Guangxi is identified as one of Chinas business destinations that consist of significant development potential and investment opportunities. The province has been successful in attracting of about US$ 34.2 billion from more than 70 countries in 2016. The forum served as a platform for the local private sector to engage with over 50 visiting delegates representing 28 leading companies. The visiting companies looked to partner in the areas of infrastructure, medical, logistics, finance, construction, manufacturing, tourism, tea, gem & jewellery, and electro communication. While expressing interest in investing in Sri Lanka, especially in the areas of logistics to complement the Silk Road Economic Road agenda, visiting government heads of Guangxi highlighted industries the local business communities could benefit from by partnering in their territory. Addressing the fully paced forum from China was Secretary of Communist Party of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Committee Penh Qinghua, Commercial Counsellor of the Embassy of Peoples Republic of China in Sri Lanka Yang Zuoyuan, and Deputy Mayor of Wuzhou Municipal Government. Highlighting investment opportunities in Sri Lanka was State Minister of National Integration and Reconciliation A. H. M. Fowzie, Sector Head of Chinese Investment Promotion of BOI Vipula Jayasingha. The forum was followed by a series of B2B meetings between the private sector representatives from both nations. Fugitive whistleblower Edward Snowden hit back at the Hong Kong government on Thursday for rejecting the protection bids of a group of refugees including Sri Lankans who sheltered him while he was hiding out in the city, the AFP reported. The impoverished Philippine and Sri Lankan refugees helped the former US National Security Agency contractor evade authorities in 2013 by hiding him in their cramped homes after he initiated one of the largest data leaks in US history. They have spent years hoping the Hong Kong government would recognise their cases and save them from being sent back to their home countries where they say they were persecuted. But the family of four, a mother and her daughter and a single man saw their protection claims rejected Monday by the citys immigration authorities, which said there were no substantial grounds for believing they would be at risk if they went home. They now face deportation. These are good people that were driven from their homes by torture, rape, abuse, blackmail and war, circumstances that are really difficult for us to imagine, Snowden said in a video released Thursday. Now what theyre facing is a transparent injustice from the very people that they asked to protect them, he said. Someone in the Hong Kong government has decided that they want to make these families disappear immediately, no matter the cost, Snowden added in the video. He has been living in exile in Russia since the summer of 2013. Russias immigration service in January extended Snowdens residency permit to 2020. The refugees lawyer, Robert Tibbo has called the decision by Hong Kong authorities completely unreasonable, and said he had less than two weeks to submit appeals before the families were deported. He said there was a risk his clients could be detained and their children placed in government custody. Hong Kong is not a signatory to the UNs refugee convention and does not grant asylum. However, it is bound by the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT) and considers claims for protection based on those grounds. One of the refugees, Vanessa Rodel from the Philippines, who lives in Hong Kong with her five-year-old daughter, broke down over the news of the decision. Another of the refugees, Ajith Pushpakumara from Sri Lanka, told AFP the government had taken his whole life. Lawyers for the Snowden refugees have separately lodged an asylum petition with the Canadian government and are calling for to be expedited. President of SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry Suraj Vaidya (right) presenting their SAARC Investment Outlook manual to Minister Rishad Bathiudeen as President Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Industry Sri Lanka Sarath Kahapalaarchchi (left) looks on By Shabiya Ali Ahlam Come September, Sri Lanka will host the annual SAARC Trade Fair and Investment Forum, nurturing greater economic and social cooperation within the SAARC region. Themed Unleashing South Asia, the event that will bring the island nation under international spotlight, will be held in Colombo from 6 to 9 September. The annual forum is organized by the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI), the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industries Sri Lanka (FCCISL), and MP Events Lanka. The investment forum, to be held at Hilton Colombo on 6 September, is expected to draw over 250 investors (local and international) and will be attended by entrepreneurs, fund managers, CEOs and other senior corporate representatives from the SAARC region. The forum will kick off with a panel discussion which will explore the investment outlook of the South Asian region and is expected to give added emphasis to tourism, renewable energy, construction, real estate and manufacturing amongst other areas. The one-day forum would also be followed by an individual country presentation sighting investment opportunities available within the region. While the forum aims at opening avenues to boost regional trade, it will also feature a session that would allow the discussion of investment proposals. The SAARC Trade Fair will be held from 7 to 9 September at the Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre (SLECC). In addition to country pavilions, the trade show will feature over 175 exhibition booths. The organizers expressed confidence in the event creating an ideal platform for regional business cooperation and facilitating trade and business integration. Furthermore, the event is identified to create networking opportunities amongst member countries. The FCCSL expressed confidence that local businesses would be able to capitalize from the immediate opportunities that would open up. Free movement for business within SAARC emphasized Head of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) yesterday urged Sri Lanka to take the leadership in pushing policies amongst SAARC countries to allow business leaders move freely within the region. The visiting SAARC CCI President Suraj Vaidya stressed it is time the investment-hungry SAARC region take greater steps in allowing free movement of people for business and investment purposes within the region. Calling Sri Lanka a nation that has a forward looking government, which has tremendous respect within South Asia, Vaidya urged the island nations leadership to push the agenda for at least a two-year business visa for business leaders of South Asia. While the US, Europe and China issue business visas that have a validity period ranging from three to ten years, business visas within the SAARC region for member countries is valid for a mere three months. We will not be able to move forward unless you allow us to move freely. We understand the concerns of security. The US, Europe and China have the same concern of security but they do not let the threat of security hamper the prosperity that business brings along, Vaidya asserted. He questioned as to why a Chinese business person is given preference in the South Asian region when he is not even a part of the fraternity. Although South Asia has been identified as the fastest growing region in the world having achieved 7.1 percent growth in 2016, trade within the SAARC countries hovers around 6 percent. During the French election no candidate talked about Frances nuclear weapons. In Britain, the subject has been raised at its election in an attempt to undermine the Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn. But the long-time anti-bomb activist compromised his views, saying in effect he was against them but Labour Party policy was for them. Meanwhile, the Western nations worry and rage about North Korea developing nuclear weapons. There is a lack of principle and honesty as well as an overdose of self-delusion as to their effectiveness as a deterrent in this whole bomb game. We were standing in Hiroshima looking at a stone wall. All there was to see was a shadow of a man. It had been etched into the wall at the moment of his obliteration by the blinding light of the first atomic bomb. Olof Palme, prime minister of Sweden, stared hard at it. An hour later he had to give a speech as head of the Independent Commission on Disarmament of which I was a member. My fear, he remarked, is that mankind itself will end up as nothing more than a shadow on a wall. Its time not just to rant about North Koreas bomb but to get on with disarmament in the West and Russia, even taking unilateral moves. After all, that was the pledge they made in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Charles de Gaulle once observed, After a nuclear war the two sides would have neither powers, nor laws, nor cities, nor cultures, nor cradles, nor tombs. Nikita Khrushchev, who presided over the Soviet Union in the days of the Cuban missile crisis, later wrote, When I learned all the facts about nuclear power I couldnt sleep for several days. And one of his successors, Mikhail Gorbachev, once recounted how during training to use his nuclear suitcase, he never pretended to give the order to fire. Yet against this sense and sensibility is arrayed popular inertia on one side and an extraordinarily deeply embedded culture of nuclear deterrence on the other. As former West German chancellor, Helmut Schmidt analysed it, There is an enormous body of vested interests not only through lobbying in Washington and Moscow but through influence on intellectuals, on people who write books and articles in newspapers and do features on television. And, in a shrewd afterthought, he added, Its very difficult as a reader or as a consumer of TV to distinguish by ones own judgment what is led by these interests and what is led by rational conclusion. There are two main issues -- moral and political -- in any discussion on nuclear weapons. For some, nuclear armaments are so wicked, so evil, in their capacity to execute life as we know it that there can be no talk of modifying or controlling them; they must be banned, if necessary unilaterally renounced. Deterrence, even if it could be proved to have kept the peace, is profoundly immoral in concept and tone, for the threat to destroy is as wrong as the act itself. This latter observation is true. But equally it can lead to the conclusion that we have to deal with the problem by multilateral means -- by agreement between the antagonists. The means of getting rid of them is as important a moral issue as the means of deterrence. If a reduction of the stockpile was done in such a way as to increase instability and the likelihood of war, this would be as reprehensible an act as one which provoked war by initiating a new round in the arms race. Thomas Nagel in his essay, War and Massacres, has suggested that we are working between two poles of moral intuition. We know that there are some outcomes that must be avoided at all costs and we know that there are some costs that can never be morally justified. We must face the possibility, Nagel argues, that these two forms of moral intuition are not capable of being brought together into a single coherent moral system. There is an enormous body of vested interests not only through lobbying in Washington and Moscow but through influence on intellectuals, on people who write books and articles in newspapers and do features on television Yes, but. We have to be careful not to be carried away with the tortuous logic of such an argument. I suspect that John Mearsheimer, Americas pre-eminent balance of power theorist, might find comfort in this rather fine moral balancing. He has called nuclear weapons a powerful force for peace. Today he advocates well-managed proliferation, and he would like to see Germany and Japan armed with nuclear weapons. The title of Herman Kahns book on Cold War nuclear strategy, Thinking the Unthinkable, captured the dilemma perfectly: That it is unthinkable to imagine the wholesale slaughter of societies, yet at the same time it appears necessary to do so, in the hope that you hit upon some formulation of deterrence that will preclude the act. But then in the process you may wind up amassing forces that engender the very outcome you hope to avoid. Its time not just to rant about North Koreas bomb but to get on with disarmament in the West and Russia, even taking unilateral moves. After all, that was the pledge they made in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. For 17 years the writer worked as a foreign affairs columnist for the International Herald Tribune. By Sari Horwitz, Ashley Parker, Ed OKeefe, (c) 2017, The Washington Post May 19, 2017 - WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump on Thursday said there was no collusion between his campaign and Russia, while adding the caveat that he can only speak for himself, and denied ever asking FBI Director James Comey to back off his agencys investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn. Trump spoke in the wake of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosensteins decision to appoint a special counsel to investigate any coordination between Trump associates and Russian officials. I respect the move, but the entire thing has been a witch hunt, and there is no collusion between - certainly myself and my campaign, but I can only speak for myself and the Russians. Zero, Trump said, at a joint news conference Thursday afternoon with President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia. Believe me, theres no collusion. Asked whether he urged Comey - as the fired FBI chief said he did in notes written after a meeting with the president - to drop the Flynn investigation, Trump said, No, no, before ordering the media to move on to the next question. Also Thursday afternoon, Rosenstein went to Capitol Hill and indicated to the full Senate that the White Houses initial account of Comeys firing was not accurate because he said he knew that Comey would be fired before he wrote a controversial memo that the White House initially used as its justification for the dismissal. Rosenstein did, however, emphasize to the senators the independent authority that the new special counsel has in the Russian investigation. THE HAGUE AFP May18, 2017-The UNs top court on Thursday ordered Pakistan to stay the execution of an Indian national convicted of spying, in a decision hailed by New Delhi. Judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in a unanimous and binding decision that Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav must not be put to death by Islamabad until they have had time to pass final judgement in the case. Jadhav was arrested in the restive southwestern Pakistani province of Balochistan in March 2016 and Pakistani officials claim he has confessed to spying for Indian intelligence services. He was convicted last month by a military court and sentenced to death. Pakistan shall take all measures at its disposal to ensure that Mr Jadhav is not executed pending the final decision in these proceedings, said the courts president Ronny Abraham. Court ordered Pakistan to inform the tribunal that it has implemented the decision, and stressed ICJ decisions are binding on all member states. (c) 2017, The Washington Post Missy Ryan NATIONAL, WORLD, POLITICS, MIDDLE-EAST May 19, 2017 - American aircraft struck a convoy of troops loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad on Thursday, in a rare direct assault by the United States on forces affiliated with the Syrian government. Assads government had no immediate response to the incident, which occurred in far southern Syria near an area where American Special Operations forces are working with local fighters. A defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss details of an overseas operation, said that U.S. aircraft struck a convoy of several dozen vehicles, including a small number of tanks, that were advancing toward a U.S.-occupied garrison in Tanf, along the Syria-Iraq border. This action was taken after apparent Russian attempts to dissuade Syrian pro-regime movement south towards [Tanf] were unsuccessful, a Pentagon statement said. U.S. officials said the vehicles were slowly advancing within a 30-mile ground and air exclusion zone that the United States has established around Tanf. Before the attack, the aircraft conducted a show of force by flying by the convoy and fired warning shots, the official said. The Syrian fighters did not choose to turn away, the official said. AFP: American oil production is approaching record levels again, led by shale projects, potentially foiling efforts by OPEC to support prices. Oil prices were boosted this week after Saudi Arabia and Russia signaled they intend to extend an agreement to limit output. That raised expectations the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will sign off on prolonging the existing production agreement at its May 25 meeting. Petroleum exporters efforts to push prices higher have helped American producers as well, especially shale producers who can react quickly to market developments. Oil prices currently trade between US$45 and US$55 a barrel, up from US$26 a barrel in February 2016. American shale has been particularly responsive to the higher price range because it is less capital intensive than other ventures. With respect to shale oil, the investment decisions and cycles are shorter because it only takes a month to drill and bring a well online, said Ben Shattuck of Wood Mackenzie. As prices either move up or down, the industry can be pretty nimble in terms of responding to that. US production has risen 850,000 barrels per day (bpd) from its 2016 lows to 9.3 million bpd now, not far from the all-time record set in 2015. US producers have streamlined spending and been more selective in the wells they drill. The cost to drill for shale has fallen by more than one-third in the last two years, analysts said. New wells have an average break-even price between US$43 and US$45 a barrel in the current market, said Reed Olmstead of IHS Markit. We are only drilling the best locations but also we are drilling bigger wells, Olmstead said in an interview. Operators are really pushing the limits of what they can get the rocks to produce. New techniques to boost the flow of oil means a well in a region like he Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico has roughly twice the productivity as the same well in late 2014, he said. Martijn Rats of Morgan Stanley said the US rig count has doubled in a year, making it the strongest recovery in the last 30 years. Analysts estimate that every dollar that oil prices rise between US$45 and US$55 a barrel results in an additional 1.2 billion barrels that become economic to produce. But too much shale output will threaten to drive down oil prices back down again, and at a certain point more drilling means higher production costs as more operators hire rigs. Art Abramov, vice president of analysis at Rystad Energy, reported steep cost escalation in several key segments, including pressure pumping and purchase of tubular goods. The second edition of the Staff Talks between high-ranking officers of the US Navy and the SL Navy was held at the Naval Headquarters on May 16 and 17, the navy headquarters said. The SLN delegation was led by the SL Navy's Director General Operations, Rear Admiral Piyal De Silva while the US delegation was headed by Captain Brian Anderson of the 7th Fleet. The discussions highlighted the importance of similar dialogue in view of furthering the mutual cooperation between the two Navies. Speaking on the occasion, Captain Brian Anderson expressed his contentment over a range of matters including bilateral cooperation, training and ports of call made over the past years, the Navy headquarters said. The book business isnt easy for anyone right now An unhealthy marketplace for books because of Amazons dominance It is increasingly difficult for them to make a decent living In Sri Lanka, the relationship between authors and publishers has never been clear-cut While Sri Lankan authors have always had a tough time with their publishers, their counterparts in the UK and the US too face hardships, though for different reasons altogether. In an open letter to Britains publishers, the Society of Authors said a recent survey found that the median income of a professional author stands at 11,000 pounds today. It added that only a mere 11.5% of British writers make a living by writing only. Many others engage in various other jobs. Some established writers even seek financial assistance. It is a daunting landscape, far more savage and hostile to the author than any we have seen before In the US, the Authors Guild said the median income for members has plummeted 24% in five years as a result of piracy, Amazon and publishers cost-cutting. The median income for an American author in 2014 was $8,000. Some 56 per cent of American writers declared they earned less than the $11,670 estimated in 2014 to have been the minimum income needed by a one-person American household. Philip Pullman, author of the bestselling His Dark Materials and UK Authors Guild President, declared bluntly: From our positions as individual creators, whether of fiction or non-fiction, we see a landscape occupied by several large interests, some of them amassing profits in billions, some displaying a questionable attitude to paying tax and some others colonising the internet with projects whose reach is limitless and attitude to creators rights roughly that of the steamroller to the ant. It is a daunting landscape, far more savage and hostile to the author than any we have seen before. But one thing hasnt changed, which is ignored, unacknowledged but complete dependence of those great interests on us and on our talents and the work we do in the quiet of our solitude. They have enormous financial and political clout, but no creative power whatsoever. Whether we are poets, historians, writers of cookery books, novelists or travel writers, we originate the material they exploit. Several Gratiaen winners have told this writer how they must do the rounds of various Colombo bookshops to collect money summing to a few thousand rupees The society would like authors to receive at least 50 per cent of e-book revenue, rather than half, 25 per cent. They ask publishers not to discriminate the writers who are deprived of powerful agents. The Authors Guild letter added: Some publishers are excellent, but we see many inequitable contracts. Without serious contract reforms, the professional author will become an endangered species and the publishers as well as the society at large will be left with less and less quality content. Unless publishers treat their authors more equitably, the decline in the number of full-time writers could have serious implications for the girth breadth and quality of content that drives economic success and cultural reputation of our creative industries in the UK. Daniel Hahn, author, translator and chair of the societys management committee said: I understand the book business isnt easy for anyone right now well, nearly anybody and that plenty of good publishers are struggling too. But today, weve reached a point where the professional author is under serious threat, and thats not a state of affairs that is good for any of us not for publishers, not for writers, and certainly not for readers and the wider culture. We must not allow ourselves to drift into a situation where only the already-wealthy can afford to be writers, and so its time to re-balance the scales a little. In the US, the publishing industry claims dominance by Amazon has forced it into a corner. US Authors Guild Executive Director Mary Rasenberger said: First, we have an unhealthy marketplace for books because of Amazons dominance of the US book market. Thousands of bookstores have closed as are unable to compete with Amazon. Many readers can only find books they want through Amazon the pure click business has forced publishers to accept terms it dictates, often unhealthy. Realising that a publisher cannot survive without Amazon in todays world, the business capitalises by forcing them to accept unfair terms and conditions. The publishers then pass on the losses incurred as a result of Amazons tactics to its authors. She went on to add that there was no rational justification, however, for publishers to give a 25% royalty to e-books, when they cost much less to produce than the traditional print version. The US Authors Guild, backed by a group of high-profile authors headed by Douglas Preston, has called on the US Justice Department to investigate Amazon. Richard Mollet, Chief Executive of the UK Publishers Association, said while publishers share the frustration of the author community that it is increasingly difficult for them to make a decent living, the principal source of this problem lies not in contractual relations between the publisher and author in deeper market factors. In an increasingly polarised Western book market, the top ten per cent of authors took 58 per cent of all earning made by professional authors in 2013. The top five per cent who make more than 100,000 pounds a year took 42.3 per cent of all earnings. A record number of UK authors have applied for emergency financial assistance. The Societys Chief Executive Nicola Solomon said: There are more worthy applicants. These are people whom you might call proper writers, who have made a living out of writing in their entire career. They are not people who once wrote a poem. It is depressing to see the dilemma they are trapped in. Publishers are less willing to take risks, focusing on series and writers who have become brands, so the midlist is suffering terribly, Solomon added, People who could get a decent advance for a book that would earn steady sales arent getting the support they used to, they are being dropped after one or two titles. This spells big trouble for writers who are approaching the end of their careers as many publishers do not want to let authors assume control when books go out of print. Solomon says: Publishers are demanding all the rights and then hanging on to them, fearing that some new platform for exploiting them is just around the corner. In Sri Lanka, the relationship between authors and publishers has never been clear-cut. Royalties are unheard of, and advances for books are usually given on the basis of personal preferences. An author who has an established, long-term association with a big name publisher may ask for an advance in case of a wedding or similar personal matter. Then, he or she will write a book to pay off that advance, which in fact is a loan. Publishers are usually miserly in their payments made on the basis of sales. Several Gratiaen winners have told this writer how they must do the rounds of various Colombo bookshops to collect money summing to a few thousand rupees, the equivalent of a grocery bill. Some writers, especially in the Sinhala medium, make astonishing claims about book sales and how much they make. They remain to be verified. Those who find the means resort to self-publishing. Some, including a few poets, have successfully used the public domain, facebook, as a sales interface. As yet, Sri Lankan writers face no big threat from the internet. The biggest danger is presented by publishers, who are generally unprofessional and often unscrupulous. May 18, 2017, would certainly go down in history as a day when India scored a true moral victory over its belligerent neighbour Pakistan. In the interim verdict pronounced by the International Court of Justice at The Hague on the issue of Kulbhushan Jadhav, it instructed Pakistan to take all measures at its disposal" to ensure that he is "not executed pending a final judgement of the Court". Jadhav whom Pakistan alleges to be an Indian spy causing sabotage of national security and indulging in subversive activities in Balochistan and northwest Pakistan, but who, according to Indian authorities, is a retired naval officer who was conducting business in Iran was sentenced to death by the Pakistani military court on April 10 this year. Important.Here's why Kulbhushan Jadhav's trial by a Court Martial by the Pakistan Army is a sham: pic.twitter.com/aXgt3U3v2C Navdeep Singh (@SinghNavdeep) April 10, 2017 The proceedings of the military court were kept secret, and many observers in India think that it was precisely because the evidence against Jadhav was so flimsy that he was tried in a military court and not a civilian court. Precisely why he was also denied consular access under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, 1963. While the ICJ has ordered a provisional stay on the execution of Jadhav, which the Indian officials fear could be carried out clandestinely in the absence of a binding international jurisdictional order, the fact that The Hague has not pronounced a binding judgment on Pakistan providing consular access, and leaving it hanging at the mere observation that not giving consular access under Article 36 (a) of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations amounted to denial of rights, means that India still doesnt know in what state Kulbhushan Jadhav is at present. Or, in fact, in which Pakistani jail is he currently languishing. However, the unanimous decision by the 11-judge bench at The Hague, presided over by Frances Ronny Abraham, means that India at least has the breathing space to both push for consular access the court observation supports Indias plausible claims and to find legal remedy to eventually free Jadhav from the clutches of Pakistani military-industrial elite. There lies the rub. As expected, in the wake of the moral victory at The Hague, both Indian and Pakistani TV media have gone on an overdrive trying to hammer in the respective stance. In Indias case, phrases and hashtags like India slaps Pakistan, India defeats Pakistan, Pakistan taught a lesson, India saves Jadhav, have all been thrown around with casual abandon, as if the provisional order would have any bearing on the eventual decision of either the ICJ or the Pakistani military court which would decide the fate of Kulbhushan Jadhav. In the case of Pakistan, already ultranationalists have decided that Islamabad should ignore the ICJ injunction and go ahead with Jadhavs execution. Jingoists, foreign policy hawks, anti-India military-industrial elite, including retired justices, national security experts, journalists and former ministers have joined in the chorus saying that the ICJ does not have jurisdiction, despite the ICJ clearly spelling out that it, in fact, does have the same. Its Pakistans mistake to have appeared there. They have shot themselves in the foot. The lawyers were ill-prepared. Lines like these pretty much betray Pakistans sense of humiliation and betrayal at the hands of The Hague, the one which had in fact ruled in its favour in 1971. The situation in Pakistan is volatile enough to push the military elite risk international opprobrium and go ahead and execute Jadhav. As former Pakistani ambassador to the United States and one of its most trenchant critics as well as political chroniclers, Husain Haqqani says, Notwithstanding the final outcome of the ICJ proceedings, it is unlikely that Pakistans real goal in the Jadhav matter will be achieved. That goal is to convince the world that India is as much to blame, if not more, for terrorism on Pakistani soil as Pakistan is for terrorism in India and beyond. (Photo: DailyO) Haqqani hits the nail on its head when he says that the ICJ verdict has put a spanner in the wheel of machinations by the Pakistani military elite, who by fronting Jadhav as a captured Indian spy whos been tried and found guilty as per the law of Pakistan, are trying to bolster the carefully calibrated narrative of India fuelling tensions in Pakistans northwest and Balochistan areas. In fact, senior journalist Praveen Swami points out that the mainstream and social media wing of the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI-M) has been busy orchestrating a Twitter frenzy over Jadhav and the ICJ verdict, positing Pakistan as the wronged party. By doing this, the military wing of Pakistan wants to equate the presence and capture of Jadhav as equivalent to its own nurturing of terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and other parts of Pakistan, engineering, funding cross-border terrorism on a routine basis and carrying on the policy of bleeding India by a thousand cuts to maintain its ideological supremacy over Pakistans much bruised political imaginary. Given that the Kulbhushan Jadhav case has snowballed into a power tussle between India and Pakistan, each trying to further its own narrative of being the wronged party, each fearing that they could lose the narrative control of the Kashmir crisis, and affiliated issues such as international terrorism, nuclear weapons, among others, the ICJ verdict has only managed to intensify the tension to unprecedented heights. While New Delhi has tasted success with third party/multilateral mediation, something it has been wont to do for over four decades, Islamabad feels cornered and might spring to impulsive action against Jadhav to maintain its domestic sway on the issues of at stake. By exposing India as another perpetrator of clandestine cross-border subversive activities that compromise Pakistans national security, Islamabad wants a moral equivalence with New Delhi, its more statesmanly older cousin in the global world order. Coming back to the original point, how does the Indian TV media help Jadhavs case by constantly humiliating Pakistan in ever more unacceptable language, inviting Pakistani spokespersons to speak on the panels and insult them no end, offered as public spectacle to shore up petty TRPs? In fact, both Indian and Pakistani TV media would do their respective legal case no favours by constantly vitiating the atmosphere, exactly as the respective battery of lawyers present their case at the ICJ. However, needless to say that the adverse effect of Indian TV going ballistic is far more, because a humiliated Pakistan might use the ruse of Indias maniacal laughter to prove its own twisted point, and hang Jadhav risking global condemnation. It could still expect China to stand by its side if it does that. And since America and Russia are way too embroiled in their own tangled messes over the presidential scandals involving Trump-Putin bonhomie, it could very well be said that both Washington and Moscow wouldnt spring to any tangible action other issuing strong condemnation of Islamabads thoughtlessness. But thats precisely what the military-industrial elite in Pakistan aim to achieve. With China at its side, the temptation to ignore the ICJ interim ruling is too strong for Pakistan, something India simply cannot risk if it wants to save Jadhav from the gallows and also not leave him in a Pakistani jail to rot forever. They took it upon themselves to expose the might of the United States of America and paid a heavy price for it. Julian Assange, that feral prophet of internet freedom, and Chelsea (formerly Bradley) Manning, can finally feel vindicated, and in Mannings case, celebrate her liberty at last, as they enjoy this moment of glory. Chelsea Manning, who served seven of 35 years in the US prison for ferrying out classified US files exposing American war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan to Julian Assanges WikiLeaks, finally walked to her freedom and out of the US jail after a release order signed by former US President Barack Obama came into effect on May 18. The world breathed a sigh of relief as this glorious heroine of digital democracy and dissent walked into the sunset in one piece, despite being charged with espionage under US law and sentenced to life, much of it solitary confinement: Manning tweeted: As #ChelseaIsFree trended worldwide, Twitter erupted in joy and welcomed Manning with open arms. She put out this picture of her, ready to face the world, happy and free. On May 19, Swedish prosecutors dropped the rape charges against WikiLeaks founder and editor-in-chief Julian Assange, which were brought against him by a plaintiff who attended a seminar with him in Stockholm, in 2010. Prosecutor Marriane Ny said his European Arrest warrant was being revoked as it was impossible to serve him notice at the Ecuadorean embassy in London where he has been confined since 2012. Assange feared that if he were arrested by Swedish police on (what he said were trumped up) rape charges, he would be immediately extradited to the United States and tried for espionage and waging war against America. For a good length of time, Julian Assange and later Edward Snowden (who leaked the NSA files on the agencys illegal surveillance on foreign powers) were the most wanted men in the US, just short of being deemed terrorists. The government of Sweden continues to be in breach of the UN's findings in Assange v Sweden https://t.co/0VmWWBkWo4 https://t.co/hrPyGrl3Tp Julian Assange (@JulianAssange) April 4, 2017 Assange, who has been represented by top human rights' lawyers, including the British-Lebanese barrister Amal Clooney, posted an angry tweet after the news of the Swedish prosecutor withdrawing the rape charges came about. Detained for 7 years without charge by while my children grew up and my name was slandered. I do not forgive or forget. Julian Assange (@JulianAssange) May 19, 2017 But as his earlier tweet, with a smiling face, indicates, the transparency crusader and one of the prime players in the current US-Russia, Trump-Putin imbroglio, is more than happy that he stands vindicated after spending five years confined to the Ecuadorean embassy, without stepping into the sun even once. Though the seven-year legal stand-off has come to an end, the Swedish prosecutor has said that in case Assange does travel to Sweden before or by August 2020, when the statute for the case expires, he could still be arrested. Assange, on his part, has decided to seek political exile in Emmanuel Macrons France, which has just witnessed a landmark election, voting in the 39-year-old president who has been hailed as the new champion of progressive politics. [Photo: Reuters] Both Chelsea Manning and Julian Assange have paid too dear a price for their fearless contributions towards a more transparent and accountable world. While Assange has reconfigured journalism altogether, with WikiLeaks changing and moulding data-driven hardcore investigative reportage and showing America its distorted face in the mirror, Manning has beholden to the greater moral call of duty towards her country, and not to the government in power. Exposing the abuses of American military in Iraq and Afghanistan had a domino effect on American politics, which led to the election of Barack Obama, an anti-Iraq War candidate, in 2008. Assange and Manning transformed the world and awoke it to the hypocrisies of post-9/11 America. Pressure Cooker Recipes You Should Try Tonight Five Super Easy Pressure Cooker Recipes That Will Change Your Life The AskMen editorial team thoroughly researches & reviews the best gear, services and staples for life. AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service. So you bought a pressure cooker, because theyre all the rave. They cook your meals 70% faster than the regular way, retain flavor and act as a great conversation starter for your dinner party (something along the lines of, what do you mean dinner for all 20 of us is pressurizing in that shiny silver cauldron, and what do you mean it will only take thirty minutes?) But in order to meet the awe-struck bewilderment of your guests gawking over what they call the one-pot-wonder, what is cooking up inside the pressure cooker needs to do justice to the experience. RELATED: Instapot Pressure Cooker Review We put together five of the best pressure cooker recipes that are sure to dazzle and delight your palette and impress your guests. The great thing about pressure cookers, aside for their inherent speediness, is that the process of cooking with it is as enjoyable (or adventurous, shall we say) as the food it doles out. Have fun and bon appetit! 1. Barbeque Chicken Wings This is the perfect, finger-licking game-night recipe that will keep your guests well-sated, sticky and wanting more. It doesnt get much simpler than this ingredient list by Amy and Jacky. Really, anyone could do it. Pressure cookers allow you to cook raw meat in no time, so you can keep churning out wings for your fired-up guests all night long. Game on! Ingredients: 2 pounds Chicken Wings & Drumettes cup your favorite BBQ sauce Pressure Cook The Wings: Place 1 cup of cold running tap water and a trivet into the pressure cooker. Place the wings and drumettes on top of the trivet. Close lid and pressure cook at High Pressure for 5 minutes + Full Natural Release Open the lid carefully. While the wings and drumettes are natural releasing, preheat oven to 450F. Remove wings and drumettes from the pressure cooker. Pat dry with paper towels. Apply sauce and finish in the oven: In a large mixing bowl, toss wings and drumettes with cup (125ml) of your favorite BBQ sauce. Place the wings and drumettes in a single layer on a wire rack in a baking tray. Bake until sauce is glossy and caramelized, for 815 minutes. 2. Plum Sauce Short Ribs The New York Times shares a truly amazing short rib recipe, perfect for summertime dinner parties in the backyard. What would typically take hours to conjure up, only takes a small fraction of the time with your newfound kitchen companion. The ingredient list is a bit more comprehensive and the directions require a smidgen more effort, but the final product will be one to remember, long after the last bite. Ingredients: 4 pounds meaty short ribs, excess fat removed 1 cups chicken or beef broth 1 cup coarsely chopped leeks (green parts included) or onions 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, plus more if needed 2 tablespoons Japanese soy sauce 1 cups tightly packed pitted prunes 4 to 6 large Yukon Gold potatoes, washed and left whole 1 to 1 tablespoons grated fresh ginger Salt and freshly ground pepper cup thinly sliced scallions, for garnish Directions: Trim excess surface fat from the ribs. In a 6-quart or larger pressure cooker, combine broth, leeks and vinegar. Pour 2 tablespoons of soy sauce onto a large plate, and turn the meat in it to coat thoroughly. Place meat in the cooker with any unabsorbed soy sauce. Scatter prunes around the sides; distribute the potatoes on top. Lock lid in place. Over high heat, bring to high pressure. Reduce heat just enough to maintain high pressure. Cook for 30 minutes. Turn off heat and allow pressure to decrease naturally, about 15 minutes. Remove lid, tilting it away from you to allow the steam to escape. Remove potatoes, and set aside. The ribs should be fork tender. If not, simmer with lid ajar until done. Transfer meat to a platter. Strain the broth, and degrease in a fat separator or refrigerate overnight. Discard congealed fat. Return broth and solids to the cooker. To thicken the sauce and intensify the taste, boil over high heat, stirring often, until syrupy, 3 to 5 minutes. Add more vinegar, if needed, to balance the sweetness and intensify the flavors. Stir in ginger to taste. Adjust seasonings with salt and pepper. Quarter the potatoes, and return them and the meat to the cooker to reheat and coat with sauce. Transfer to a platter or individual plates, and garnish with scallions. Serve any extra sauce on the side. 3. Spiced Coconut Chicken With Rice Epicurious For a flavorful chicken dinner, this Epicurious-approved recipe is a true winner. Made with the Instapot pressure cooker (this recipe is actually pulled from their own cookbook), this deliciously creamy, curry dish with a refreshing zest of lime packs in a very tasty punch. Its fit for families or groups of of 4-5, or make a big batch to eat throughout the week, because who doesnt love leftovers when theyre this good. Ingredients: 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1 onion, cut into 1/4-inch slices 1 (1-inch) piece ginger, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch slices 3 medium garlic cloves, minced 1 tablespoon curry powder 1 teaspoon ground turmeric 2 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs Kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper 1 (14-ounce) can light coconut milk 1/2 cup water 1 1/3 cups jasmine rice, rinsed 2 tablespoons cilantro leaves plus stems, stems and leaves divided 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar 1 lime, halved (one half cut into wedges, for serving) Directions: Select Saute on high heat on the Instant Pot and add the oil. Once hot, add the onion and ginger and saute for 2 minutes. Add the garlic, curry powder, and turmeric and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the chicken and season with salt and pepper. Add the coconut milk and water. Secure the lid. Select Manual and cook for 13 minutes on high pressure. When cooking is complete, use a quick release. Transfer the chicken to a platter. Add the rice, chopped cilantro stems, and sugar and secure the lid. Select Manual and cook on high pressure for 4 minutes. Meanwhile, remove the skin and bones from the chicken and discard. When the rice is cooked, select Cancel and let naturally release for 10 minutes. Release any remaining steam. Add the chicken back to the pot and add the juice of half the lime. Stir and season with salt and pepper. Serve in bowls topped with cilantro leaves and lime wedges. 4. Butternut Squash Risotto With Frizzled Sage And Brown Butter Serious Eats Are you having your boss over for dinner? Or perhaps a lady friend (to whom you may have embellished the extent of your cooking skills)? This Serious Eats recipe is save-the-day meal youre looking for. Yes, theres a bit more to it, but the final product will be so delectable that the lasting praise will have been worth the extra work. Good things in life never come easy, but using the pressure cooker at least makes it as quicker. Show them what you got. Ingredients: 3 1/2 pounds butternut squash, peeled and seeded 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided 3 medium cloves garlic, crushed 1/2 peeled and cored Golden Delicious apple Pinch red pepper flakes 2 sprigs sage plus 8 sage leaves, divided Kosher salt 2 tablespoons maple syrup 1 teaspoon white or yellow miso 3 3/4 cups homemade or store-bought low-sodium vegetable broth, divided 1 medium yellow onion, minced 2 cups risotto rice, such as Arborio 1/2 cup dry white wine 4 tablespoons unsalted butter Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, for grating Directions: Preheat oven to 400F. Cut about half the squash into 1-inch chunks to yield 4 cups. Cut remaining squash into 1/4-inch dice. In a large mixing bowl, toss large squash chunks with 2 tablespoons olive oil, garlic, apple, red pepper flakes, sage sprigs, and a large pinch of salt until evenly coated, then spread in an even layer on a rimmed baking sheet. In a separate bowl, toss small diced squash with 2 tablespoons olive oil, maple syrup, and a pinch of salt, then spread in an even layer on a second rimmed baking sheet. Bake both trays of squash, stirring once or twice during baking, until large chunks are very tender, about 45 minutes, and small diced squash is browned in spots, about 30 minutes. Discard sage sprigs from large squash chunks. Transfer large squash chunks, apple, and garlic cloves to a food processor, blender, or the container of a stick blender. Add miso and 1/4 cup broth and blend until a smooth puree forms. Season with salt. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a pressure cooker over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add onion and cook, stirring, until translucent but not browned, about 4 minutes. Add rice and cook, stirring, until rice is evenly coated in oil and toasted but not browned, 3-4 minutes (rice grains should start to look like tiny ice cubes: translucent around the edges and cloudy in the center). Add wine and cook, stirring, until raw alcohol smell has cooked off and wine is almost fully evaporated, about 2 minutes. Stir in remaining 3 1/2 cups broth, scrape any grains of rice or pieces of onion from side of pressure cooker so that they are fully submerged. Close pressure cooker and bring up to low pressure (10 psi on most units). Cook at low pressure for 5 minutes, then depressurize cooker either by running it under cold water if it is not electric, or using the steam-release valve if it is electric. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, melt butter over medium-high heat until foaming subsides, 2-3 minutes. Add remaining 8 sage leaves and fry, gently swirling, until milk solids in butter turn hazelnut brown color, 1-2 minutes longer. Remove from heat. Using a slotted spoon, transfer sage leaves to a paper towel-lined plate. Open pressure cooker and stir to combine rice and cooking liquid; it should begin to form a creamy consistency. Stir in squash puree. Stir in brown butter. If risotto is too soupy, cook for a few minutes longer, stirring, until it begins to thicken more; it should look like a smooth creamy sauce. Stir in a generous grating of Parmesan cheese, followed by the maple-roasted diced squash. Season with salt. Spoon risotto onto plates, top with fried sage leaves and more grated cheese. 5. Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Creative Bites This healthier chicken dish on The Creative Bites site calls for a sweet and savoury amalgam of flavor, made with crushed pineapple (yum) and traditional barbeque sauce. Its a great summer dish, if not only for its tangy zest but for its tropical, Hawaiian promise that summer is near. The ingredient list is short and sweet, and the directions are likewise simple. THeres little room for err, and plenty of room for enjoyment (and likely seconds). The site gives some great serving suggestions so you can make this meal more than once, varying between Hawaiian buns or even a pizza garnish. Your guests wont know what to say, except Mahalo! Ingredients: 8 oz can crushed pineapple tsp. Salt c. your favorite BBQ sauce 2 lb chicken breasts Directions: Electric Pressure Cooker - Add the crushed pineapple, salt, bbq sauce and chicken to the Instant Pot. Cook thawed chicken on high pressure for 12 minutes. (Cook frozen chicken on high pressure for 20 minutes.) Turn the pressure valve to Vent to release all of the pressure. Remove the chicken breasts from the pot and place on a plate or cutting board. Shred the chicken using two forks. Remove 2/3 cup of liquid from the pot. (Reserve the liquid for cooking rice.) Return the shredded chicken to pot and stir until well combined. AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service. To find out more, please read our complete terms of use. Juno-nominated Canadian groove masters Five Alarm Funk are gearing up for a string of U.S. tour dates in support of their recently released album Sweat. The summer run will kick off June 9 with a performance at the Riverbend Festival on the Bud Light Stage at 8 p.m. and include stops in Northern California, Boise, Id., Seattle, Wa., Whitefish, Mt., Cleveland, Oh. and Rochester, N.Y. Review for Five Alarm Funk: The live experience is where the eight-piece collective really shines--hot, sweaty dance floors with feet stomping and everybody moving. Five Alarm Funk has taken their relentless and unforgettable live show to clubs and major festivals across Canada and the United States for over a decade; some highlights include the Ottawa Jazz Festival, Saskatoon Jazz Festival, Sunfest, and Summer Meltdown in Washington. The band recently released a live DVD/album called LIVE In The Moment and a clip of them performing "Gods (May The Funk Be With You)" can be seen here . Their most recent album, Sweat, released March 3, is the latest in a string of projects that has earned Five Alarm Funk a Juno nomination and several Western Canadian Music Awards. Sweat is produced by Ben Kaplan (Rise Against, Mother Mother, Biffy Clyro), who also worked on their 2014 release Abandon Earth. "Sweat is the culmination of over a decade of writing and playing music together," drummer/vocalist Tayo Branston explains. "It's by far the hottest, funkiest work we have ever created! Five Alarm Funk - Tayo Branston (drums/vocals), Gabe Boothroyd (guitar), Oliver Gibson (guitar), Jason Smith (bass), Thomas Towers (congas), Carl Julig (timbales), Eli Bennett (saxophone) and Kent Wallace (trumpet)--remains as impossible as ever to put into a box. Although they are rooted in the style that gives the outfit its name, Five Alarm Funk thrives on being able to transcend genre by seamlessly mixing in elements of gypsy rock, Afro-funk, Latin, ska, punk and even prog-metal. Brenda Lowe and Mitzi Duggan have joined Pinnacle Financial Partners. They are based at the firms Cleveland office on 10 Church St. Ms. Lowe brings more than 39 years of mortgage and financial services experience to her role of senior vice president and mortgage advisor. She most recently comes from Athens Federal Community Bank, where she served as a vice president with responsibility for mortgage, consumer and commercial lending. Prior roles included serving in mortgage loan officer positions for Branch Banking and Trust Company, Citizens National Bank and First Citizens Bank. Ms. Lowe attended Cleveland State Community College, where she studied computer programming and office and small business management. Ms. Duggan, with 12 years of experience, joins Pinnacle as a client service advisor. She comes from FSG Bank, NA, where she was a lending portfolio specialist. Previously, Ms. Duggan was with OneMain Financial (CitiFinancial), where roles included serving as a branch manager and senior branch account executive. Ms. Duggan also attended Cleveland State Community College. Pinnacle Financial Partners provides a full range of banking, investment, trust, mortgage and insurance products and services designed for businesses and their owners and individuals interested in a relationship with their financial institution. The firm earned a place on Fortunes 2017 list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in the U.S., and American Banker recognized Pinnacle as the sixth-best bank to work for in 2016. Six state court chief justices signed a charter in support of the Regional Opioid Initiative, which has developed an action plan with strategies to combat the growing opioid epidemic. The RJOIs founding states include Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee. Americas opioid epidemic is a nationwide problem, but the impact in this region has been particularly significant, especially in towns and counties along state borders. The initiative is the result of a Regional Judicial Opioid Summit held in August of 2016, which brought together multi-disciplinary representatives from across the multi-state region. RJOI is the first initiative of its kind where the collective leadership of state courts has come together to address the opioid epidemic at a regional level. The RJOI seeks to leverage local, state and federal partnerships and resources to explore solutions to an epidemic that is not confined by state borders. While each state within the RJOI has established working groups to combat the opioid epidemic within their respective state, the RJOI focuses on problem-solving at a regional level. A cross- section of all three branches of state and local governments and partners in the private sector must tackle this problem head-on. RJOI stakeholders are comprised of chief justices, state court administrators, judges, executive branch leaders, legislators, behavioral health treatment providers, community supervision agencies, medical experts, prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) managers, regulatory agencies, child welfare representatives, and others. Partners from federal and national organizations, such as the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Casey Family Programs, and the National Center for State Courts, also support the initiative. "Americas judicial system occupies a critical place in the quest for solutions to the opioid epidemic. It is also unquestioned that judges play an important role in their local communities to convene partners across the branches of government and the operations of government. There are significant issues that can be addressed by the regional approach to combating opioid use, including to reduce the number of opioids in circulation, track the overprescribing and abuse of the drugs, address regional information sharing issues, provide access to effective treatment for individuals and families in the criminal justice system, and ultimately reduce the number of deaths from opioid overdose and incidences of neonatal abstinence syndrome," officials said. The RJOI Action Plan addresses the following areas: PDMP access and regional reciprocity; Overdose and reverse tracking; Data sharing across multiple systems (e.g., PDMP, medical (including overdose and neonatal abstinence syndrome), criminal justice, child welfare, treatment and public health); Implementation of evidence-based and best practices; Advocacy and outreach; Training and education; Regional treatment standards of care and reciprocity; Addiction workforce; Recovery Oriented Systems of Care(ROSC); and Regional treatment capacity. "Through the Action Plan, RJOI will continue to work regionally to improve outcomes for those individuals and families that enter the criminal justice and child welfare systems because of an opioid use disorder. This includes considering what happens when they move across state lines and the interstate challenges that movement presents," officials said. Basecamp, 346 Frazier Ave., is a new restaurant on the Northshore that will specialize in Southern comfort food and craft beer. Hours will be 11 a.m.-midnight on weekdays and it will stay open until 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. The Pub on Frazier was formerly in that location. Barley, at 235 M.L.K., will be divided into a package store selling to-go beer in growlers, a tasting room for on-premise beer, which has 64 taps of all craft beer, and another 1,000 square feet for event rentals. Jack Browns Beer & Burger Joint, 818 Georgia Ave., will be the 10th location for a small chain of restaurants. Some other locations are in Birmingham and Nashville. Specialty burgers and craft beer from eight taps will be available. Hours are 11 a.m.2 a.m. seven days a week. Sip, 14 W. Kent St., behind the Big Chill, is a new American Cuisine restaurant run by owners of the Southside Social. The capacity is around 80 including seating inside and on two porches. Sweet Melissas Billiards,1966 Northpoint Blvd., will offer pool and darts and a seating area with a TV for people who only want to dine, said owner Melissa Smith. Smoking is permitted, which means no person under 18 is allowed inside. Hours are from 2 p.m.-3 a.m. weekdays, from noon until 3 p.m. on Saturday and noon until midnight on Sundays. The Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce Leadership Luncheon, featuring the 2016-17 Leadership Chattanooga graduates, will be Friday from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. There will be a keynote address from Stacy Lightfoot, vice president of College & Career Success with the Public Education Foundation. The event will be held at the Chattanooga Convention Center, 1150 Carter St. Operation Famous Salute returns for an 11th year to all Tennessee Famous Daves restaurant locations, including the local metro location in East Brainerd over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Operation Famous Salute is a letter writing campaign geared to deliver thank you messages and notes of encouragement to our nations active and recovering military service members. Beginning Friday, May 26, all Tennessee Famous Daves locations will invite patrons to write to active services members and those recovering in our nations military hospitals. In turn, Famous Daves will provide all stationary, a coloring page for children, and all the postage costs to send these messages to our nations military members. This is one of the best things we can do to honor those who have given their lives in service to defend our nation, and each one of us, said franchise co-owner Tamara Lister. And that is, to take care of those presently serving...to remind those men and women that we are always thinking of them. Since its inception, Operation Famous Salute has collected over 13,000 letters and sent them to military personnel serving around the world, and recovering stateside. Famous Daves locations will collect letters beginning Friday, May 26, through the close of business on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29. For questions or more information about how to participate, email info1@homeofthebigslab.com. The states 2017-18 hunting seasons will be set when the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission holds its next meeting, May 23-24, on the campus of Bryan College in Dayton. The meeting will begin on Tuesday, May 23 at 1 p.m. (EDT) with the committee sessions. The formal meeting starts at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, May 24. The location is in the Rhea County room. At the TFWCs April meeting, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency staff presented recommendations for the 2017-18 hunting seasons, offering few changes to its regulations. TWRA staff will review this years proposals and address specific questions raised during last months meeting. The full commission vote on the proclamation is Thursday. After hearing the agencys proposals in April, the TFWC discussed turkey harvest and bag limits, possibilities of minor changes in bear hunting days and establishing a consistent opening day, and the definition of what constitutes an antlered buck. The commission is expected to continue the discussion during the May meeting. Various changes were recommended on wildlife management areas, public hunting areas, and national wildlife refuges. A public comment period on the proposals was held through May 15. After an emaciated prisoner was found dead in a jail cell in Hampton in 2015, apparently overlooked or ignored by everyone who was supposed to attend to him, a wave of outrage spread across the commonwealth. But still the deaths continue. This newspaper was among the many critics who condemned the Hampton Regional Jail staffs lack of care, and who questioned the states role in ensuring prisoner safety. As it turned out, the authority to investigate such acts of callousness apparently was located nowhere clearly in state statute. The General Assembly attempted to close that loophole by passing a law this year requiring official inquiries into prisoner deaths at Virginia jails and assigning that authority to the Virginia Board of Corrections. Since the law was passed on Feb. 25, seven more inmates have died in local or regional jails. But thats not even the worst of it. Six others deaths occurred this year prior to Feb. 25. Thats 13 deaths in just under five months. After all the scrutiny of jails procedures, and condemnation of their laxity, over recent months, it is inconceivable that deaths should continue at this rate. The statute passed in February can have no possibility of impact until July; laws passed by a session of the legislature, in this or any other year, are traditionally slated to take effect on July 1. However, as a Richmond Times-Dispatch story points out, there is some doubt as to how effective the new law can be as of that date. The state Board of Corrections, the group thats supposed to oversee investigations, is described as being in limbo. The new law also requires board members to have qualifications such as experience running a jail, investigating deaths or working in the mental health system. (Many prisoners have mental health problems; jails have become repositories for mentally ill persons who have no place else to go. But thats another editorial). All of those requirements are wise and necessary, considering that the boards new responsibilities will require expertise in exactly such areas. But the current board members might, or might not, fit those new criteria. Just this week, they heard from an official with the state secretariat of public safety and homeland security who discussed the new rules and encouraged the board members to reapply for their positions. Its May, and the new requirements go into effect in less than two months. What if the current board members cannot remain in place under the requirements? How quickly could new board members be appointed and be brought up to speed on their new duties? Current board members already have been doing their part by educating themselves and the public about jail deficiencies. They deserve much credit for that work. But it does not serve the commonwealth to suffer a lag time between the taking effect of the new law on paper and the ability of the board to implement it in practice. We cannot afford further delay while prisoners many of them mentally ill continue to be potentially at risk. Following National Foster Care Month in May, Chambliss Center for Children will host a free Foster Care Info Night on Tuesday, June 6, from 5:30-7 p.m. With an estimated 750 to 800 children in the Tennessee Valley in state care at any given time, there is a critical need for quality, loving foster homes in this area. The public is invited to attend this free Foster Care Info Night to learn more about fostering a child who has been removed from their home. The event will feature a short film on a childs experience in foster care and the value of a loving, safe foster home. There will be an opportunity to learn more about Chambliss Center for Children, the foster care system, requirements for fostering, and to hear from current foster parents. There is a critical need for loving foster families in this community, said Jennifer McDonald, foster home recruiter/trainer with Chambliss Center for Childrens Residential Program. This event provides a great opportunity for anyone interested in fostering children, either now or in the future, to get more information, ask questions, and hear real-life experiences. The event will be held at Chambliss Center for Children, 315 Gillespie Road. Free, on-site parking is available. Kindly RSVP to 693-2580 by Thursday, June 1, so accurate preparations for refreshments may be made. Child care is also available, but must be scheduled by Thursday, June 1, as well. Chambliss Center for Children is a local non-profit organization that has been caring for this communitys children 24-hours-a-day, 365-days-a-year for 145 years. The mission of the agency is to preserve family unity and to help prevent the dependency, neglect, abuse and delinquency of children by responding to the communitys child care needs. This is done by providing affordable, accessible and quality care for over 650 children every day through an Early Childhood Education and Extended Child Care Program, as well as a Residential Program, which recruits and trains foster families and operates a group home for children in state custody. In addition to these two programs, the agency also manages five off-site childcare centers and educates and cares for the young children of teachers in eleven Hamilton County Schools. For more information, visit www.chamblisscenter.org or call 698-2456. Here is the weekly road construction report for Hamilton County: U.S. 27 (I-124) widening from I-24/U.S. 27 interchange to north of the Olgiati Bridge over the Tennessee River, including widening the Olgiati Bridge: Work on this project continues. The speed limit on U.S. 27 in the construction zone is 45 MPH. The contractor may have temporary lane or shoulder closures on U.S. 27 between 7 p.m.-6 a.m. On weekdays during this report period between the hours of 9 a.m.3-p.m., the contractor will have a temporary right lane closure on eastbound MLK Blvd. between the U.S. 27 North exit ramp and Carter St. and on westbound MLK Blvd. between Chestnut St. and the U.S. 27 North entrance ramp to work on new signals. Ramp traffic will not be affected. This work is weather permitting. As the project progresses, there may be short term temporary lane closures for the safety of the traveling public on city streets within the project area. Flaggers will assist with these closures and they will be properly signed in accordance with the Federal Highway Administrations Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. During Phase 1 of the U.S. 27 project, the contractor will be working on the northbound side of U.S. 27 on the bridges. Work will consist of demolishing and reconstructing the outside sections of the bridges along U.S. 27 North. Also on U.S. 27 South, they will be constructing a large retaining wall between the Olgiati Bridge and 6th Street. At least one lane will remain open in each direction on U.S. 27. THP will assist with traffic control on the project as necessary. Estimated project completion date is July 2019. For more info, visit the project website http://www.tn.gov/tdot/topic/US27-reconstruction-chattanooga. [Dement Construction Co., LLC/JM/CNP230] SR 317 (Apison Pike) the grading, drainage and paving on from Old Lee Highway (LM 5.58) to SR-321 (Ooltewah-Ringgold Road) (LM 7.84): Work on this project continues. During this report period the contractor may have intermittent lane closures throughout the project from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Flaggers will assist with traffic control as needed. Estimated project completion date is May. [Wright Brothers Const. Co. /Pruett/CNN279] SR-320 (East Brainerd Road) grading, drainage, installation of signals, construction of seven retaining walls and paving from east of Graysville Road to east of Bel-Air Road: Work on this project continues. During this report period, the contractor will have intermittent lane closures between 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. This work may affect either direction of East Brainerd Road or side streets from Graysville Road to Hamlett Drive as the contractor installs road crossings and borings. Traffic has been switched onto the newly-constructed section from the west end of the project to the Hurricane Creek Road/East Brainerd Road intersection, allowing the contractor to work on the other side of the roadway. The contractor may have short-term lane closures to perform various operations on an as-needed basis. Flaggers will assist with traffic control as needed. Original completion date is June. Estimated project completion date is December. [Jones Brothers Contractors, LLC /Pruett/CNN383] SR-153/SR-319 (Hixson Pike) bridge repair on Hixson Pike over SR-153: Work on this project continues. The outside lanes in both directions on the bridge on Hixson Pike over SR-153 are now closed. This lane closure will be in place until late November. During this report period the contractor may have intermittent lane closures on SR-153 from 9 p.m.-6 a.m. to do work under the bridge. If there are any temporary closures needed on SR-153 as part of this project, they will take place at nighttime on Sundays through Thursdays between 9 p.m.-6 a.m. and on weekdays on SR-153 South between 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and on SR-153 North between 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Flaggers will assist with traffic control as necessary during these temporary closures. Estimated project completion date is May 2018. [Mid-State Construction Co. /Micka/CNQ941] U.S. 27 (SR-29) resurfacing from north of Signal Mountain Road (LM. 3.02) to north of SR-29 (MM. 6.0/LM 6.07): Work on this project has begun. The contractor will have temporary intermittent lane closures on Sundays through Thursdays between the hours of 8 p.m. each evening to 6 a.m. the following morning to mill and pave the roadway. THP and flaggers will assist with traffic control as necessary during these temporary closures. Estimated project completion date is June. [Wright Brothers Construction Co, Inc./Micka/CNQ189] The tunnel cleaning of the McCallie Tunnel on U.S. 11 (US 64, SR-2), the Stringers Ridge Tunnel on U.S. 127 (SR-8), and the Bachman Tubes on U.S. 41 (U.S. 76, SR-8): The nighttime cleaning operation of McCallie Tunnels, Stringers Ridge Tunnel, and Bachman Tubes occurs normally on Wednesday and Thursday nights during the week with the 3rd Tuesday of the month. Work hours are between 8 p.m.-6 a.m. Tunnels will be closed during cleaning, and detours will be marked accordingly as each tunnel is cleaned. Contract completion date is June. [Diamond Specialized, Inc./Micka/CNQ174] Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park will conduct artillery programs at Chickamauga Battlefield on June 3. Programs, lasting approximately 30 minutes, are scheduled at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. near Tour Stop 3, along Poe Road. Follow the Special Event signs to the program site. There are no admission fees for these programs. On Sept. 20, 1863, Confederates under the command of Braxton Bragg attacked Union positions all along LaFayette Road. Employing artillery as an offensive weapon, the Confederates were able to break the Union line, and Confederate shells rained down on the retreating Union soldiers. The park will host these artillery demonstrations highlighting the role of cannon in supporting the Confederate attack. There will also be a special panel discussion and battlefield tour about General Braxton Bragg, commander of the Confederate Army of Tennessee, on Saturday, June 3. Presenting their views about the leadership of General Bragg will be three Bragg scholars: Dr. Earl Hess, Robert Carter, and David A. Powell. The 1-hour panel begins at 11 a.m., while a special two hour car caravan tour about General Bragg begins at 1 p.m. Both programs start inside the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center. Today, the name Braxton Bragg is one of the most disparaged generals in American History, considered by many to have been incompetent, universally hated, and one of the main reasons that the Confederacy lost the war, but is that true? As with many things, the truth is much more complicated. This panel will look to give a better understanding of Bragg and if he is indeed, the most Hated Man in the Confederacy. Recent scholarship on the Battle of Chickamauga and the Western Theater have started asking that question, the writings of Dr. Earl Hess, author of Braxton Bragg: The Most Hated Man of the Confederacy, David A. Powell, author of The Maps of Chickamauga, Failure in the Saddle, The Chickamauga Campaign: a Mad Irregular Battle, The Chickamauga Campaign: Glory or the Grave, and the Chickamauga Campaign: Barren Victory, and Robert L. Carter, author of The Fight for Snodgrass Hill and the Rock of Chickamauga and Longstreets Breakthrough at Chickamauga being notable among them. The authors will also conduct book signings inside the Eastern National Bookstore from 10-11 a.m. and throughout the afternoon. For more information about programs at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, contact the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center at 706.866-9241, the Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center at 821-7786, or visit the park website at www.nps.gov/chch Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park and the American Hiking Society are looking for volunteers for National Trails Day on Saturday, June 3, at 8:30 a.m. Volunteers should meet at the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center (3370 LaFayette Road) and can expect to return to the visitor center at approximately 12 p.m. Tools and supplies will be provided, and all volunteers are asked to wear long pants with sturdy, close-toed shoes. If planning to volunteer, please RSVP by emailing will_wilson@nps.gov or by calling 752-5213 x137. Each year, on the first Saturday of June, the American Hiking Society and the trails community invite Americans of all ages and abilities to find their own adventure and to discover their unique story at one of the thousands of events hosted throughout the country. For more information about programs at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, contact the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center at 706.866-9241, the Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center at 821-7786, or visit the parks website at www.nps.gov/chch. Mumbai: The all-powerful Goods and Services Tax or GST Council on day two will discuss rates on services on Friday. The Council is chaired by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and has all state finance ministers as its members. The fourteenth meet of the Council has been termed as historic as it is being held in Jammu and Kashmir's capital Srinagar. Presently, the services are charged at 15 per cent that includes both central and state levies at different stages. Players in services sector fear that services will become costlier if government decides to put them under 18 per cent tax bracket. Most of the players demand a 12 per cent tax net for services, which will make services slightly cheaper. GST Council will meet one more time if tax for all items are not decided by Friday," Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said. At today's meeting, rates on precious metal gold, and rates for services are to be taken up for discussion and final conclusion. It may be noted that some states have sought a 4 per cent tax on gold and services though the rate does not form part of the four-tier tax structure under the GST which has been fixed at 5 per cent, 12 per cent, 18 per cent and 28 per cent respectively. All states along with the Centre yesterday unanimously approved rates for 1,211 goods barring such items as services, gold, biscuits, footwear and packaged cereals. Tax rates for these items will be taken up and decided today. The Council has exempted 7 per cent of total goods from GST. It has brought 14 per cent of good under 5 per cent tax bracket. Further, 17 per cent of goods will be put under 12 per cent tax net. And, 43 per cent under 18 per cent tax net which is apart from 19 per cent goods that come under 28 per cent bracket. Sen. Duckworth Joins Call For Investigation Into AG Jeff Sessions By aaroncynic in News on May 19, 2017 4:59PM Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee during his confirmation hearing to be the U.S. Attorney General. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty. U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth joined a group of senators in a call for the Inspector General of the Department of Justice to investigate Attorney General Jeff Sessions involvement in the firing of former FBI Director James Comey. Duckworth and eight other senators sent a letter to the Inspector General Thursday saying that his role in Comeys firing could be in violation from Sessions recusal from investigations into 2016 campaigns. 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, reads the letter. 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. The letter is the latest in a series of moves by Democratic lawmakers to investigate and potentially hold the Trump administration accountable for a numerous and seemingly never-ending set of gaffes, missteps, scandals, and outright lies surrounding probes into the Presidents potential ties to Russia during his campaign. Earlier this week both Duckworth and her colleague Senator Dick Durbin expressed their outrage towards Trump over him sharing classified intelligence with Russian officials, and praised the appointment of Robert Mueller as special counsel to lead an investigation into Trump and Russia. Appointing a special counsel is a positive step to help protect our democracy and ensure Trump-Russia ties are fully investigated https://t.co/Euqg1xa3vH Tammy Duckworth (@SenDuckworth) May 17, 2017 I worked with Bob Mueller when he was at FBI over a span of more than 12 years. I have the highest regard for his integrity and intelligence Senator Dick Durbin (@SenatorDurbin) May 18, 2017 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. New Delhi: Consumers stand to gain from the GST rates announced for daily consumption items which will also help keeping a check on prices, Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said today. FMCG firms Dabur and Emami welcomed the rates on commonly used consumer items stating it would be beneficial but said more clarity is needed to understand overall impact. "The move will benefit consumers at large as they will pay less. Free movement of goods will ensure easy availability and keep prices under check," Paswan told PTI. On the first day of a two-day meeting of the GST Council, headed by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, it has been decided that commonly used products like hair oil, soaps and toothpaste will be charged with a single national sales tax or GST of 18 per cent. These items at present attract 22-24 per cent tax incidence through a combination of central and state government levies. "The announcement of 18 per cent GST rate for soaps, toothpaste and hair oil is along expected lines and is certainly welcome. It will have a positive impact on our business," Dabur India Ltd CEO Sunil Duggal said. He, however, said this covered only about 20 per cent of the company's business and "we are still awaiting clarity on categories like health supplements, shampoos, packaged juices (among others)." Expressing similar views, Emami CEO (Finance, Strategy and Business Development) said: "It appears that the rate will benefit us and industry but we need to understand GST (rates) in entirety to comment on the subject." Edible oil industry body Solvent Extractors Association Executive Director B V Mehta said as far as the sector is concerned there is no change in tax. "It is a no gain no loss situation for us although we had asked the Finance Minister to classify edible oil in zero tax category," he said. Mumbai: The Ministry of Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises (MSME) has a target to employ around five crore people through the khadi industry over the next five years, Union minister Giriraj Singh has said. "We have made a plan to introduce solar-run spinning wheels in KVIC (Khadi and Village Industries Commission) so that it can provide employment to over five crore people throughout the nation in the next five years," Singh told PTI here yesterday. The Union Minister of State for MSME was speaking here on the sidelines of an event, 'Khadi by Raymond'. "Presently khadi is less than one per cent of textiles, but due to concerted efforts in the last two years, the khadi industry sales have gone up from Rs 35,000 crore in 2014 to about Rs 52,000 crore," he said. The MSME ministry is taking various steps to boost the KVIC. Along with coir industry, the khadi industry is on top of the ministry's agenda, Singh said. "Various schemes, including interest subsidies, financial assistance under the market promotion and development scheme, cluster-based development opportunities, as well as design-oriented public private partnerships, are being promoted by the ministry," he said. The KVIC has partnered with private players, including Arvind, Raymond and others, for joint promotion of the fabric. The aim is to popularise and boost the use of khadi, especially among the youth and corporates. Singh said that fashion designers are also being involved for launching eco and user-friendly products. "The new scheme of 'zero defect, zero effect', launched by the prime minister, will help increase the quality to match the global standards," he said. KVIC is looking to promote khadi as a fashionable fabric and to open premium lounges in major cities, he said. There are more than 7,000 showrooms of the KVIC which can be used as selling points of khadi products. The ministry is also looking to expand the khadi stores network through more franchisees and tie-ups with partners for e-commerce sales, Singh said. KVIC is also looking to digitise its systems to facilitate e-governance to reduce paperwork and save time, he said. Mumbai: The Maharashtra Legislature will begin a special three-day session from tomorrow to pass the state Goods and Services Tax (SGST) bill. The legislature will pass three bills the main 116-page SGST Act, a bill related to the Compensation to Local Authorities and a bill on to the existing state laws that are to be repealed when the SGST comes into effect from July 1. This is for the first time that the Legislature will have a sitting on a Sunday, that is May 21. Sources in the Vidhan Bhavan said that the main SGST bill will first be tabled in the Legislative Assembly for debate and passage on May 20. On the same day, the Legislative Council will debate on the main SGST bill later in the afternoon, the sources said. "It shall depend upon the state Legislature whether to adopt both the main SGST and Compensation bills together or separately for debate and passage. The passage of the third bill pertaining to abolition of some Acts is expected to be a mere formality once the two main bills are passed," the source said. The main SGST bill will seek to confer powers upon the state to levy the tax on supply of goods and services or both which takes place within the state. It shall empower the state to levy taxes on all intra-state supplies of goods and services or both, except on supply of alcoholic liquor for human consumption, at a rate to be notified not exceeding 20 per cent. The third bill deals with the state Acts to be repealed with the passage of the Maharashtra Goods and Services Tax (MGST) Act 2017. These include ? Betting Tax Act-1925, Purchase Tax on Sugarcane Act-1962, Advertisements Tax Act-1967, Forest Development (Tax on sale of Forest Produce by Government or Forest Development Corporation Act-1983, Tax on Luxuries Act-1987, Tax on Entry of Motor Vehicles into Local Areas Act- 1987, Tax on Entry of Goods into Local Areas Act-2002 and the Maharashtra Tax on Lotteries Act-2006. New Delhi: Steel PSUs are not holy cows and should step out of their comfort zone to perform and compete with private players, Steel Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh said today. "I have told my PSUs, especially those that produce steel, that there is a new environment where PSU is not a holy cow. You should perform and compete with your private players," the minister said in an interview to PTI. The minister warned that the PSUs cannot afford to sit on their laurels in the changing scenario in the world. "So, either perform or perish," Singh said, in a blunt message. The PSUs should diversify their activities and go for high-end steel production, Singh suggested. "Diversify your activities, go for high-end steel production and also diversify into those activities where you can make best use of your land which is available to you. There is about one lakh acres of land with steel plants of our PSUs," Singh said. According to steel ministry sources, the minister had earlier talked about SAIL barely achieving blast furnace productivity at 1.7 tonnes per cubic metre per day (tpcm/d) in contrast to over 2.5 tpcm/d by its private counterparts and global standard of over 3 tpcm/d. The minister had earlier rapped SAIL for slow progress in modernisation as well as capacity ramp-up as deadlines were missed. The government has already set up a committee to suggest measures to fast-track modernisation of steel public sector firms SAIL and RINL. The panel is chaired by the steel secretary and has CMDs of SAIL and RINL as its members. Boston Consulting Group (BCG), a leading global management consultancy, is also part of the panel, besides outside experts. Till February, Rs 64,986 crore have been spent by SAIL towards modernisation and expansion, mines and related schemes. 'Simran', directed by Hansal Mehta, is written by Apurva Asrani and stars Kangana Ranaut in the lead. Mumbai: Opening up about the allegations of 'Simran' writer Apurva Asrani, director Hansal Mehta on Thursday said that he is not bothered by name calling on social media by someone desperate to seek attention and gain sympathy. Asrani has alleged that the film's lead actress, Kangana Ranaut, who has been credited as 'additional dialogue and story writer' tried to discredit his work in public by saying that she developed the story with Mehta from a one-line script. Mehta, however, without taking any names said that he will continue to credit people who work to improve his films. "Yes I am guilty. Guilty of crediting individuals who contribute to making my films very special to many of us," Mehta tweeted. "Call me names, as many names as you want. But in your desperation to seek attention and gain sympathy do not try to harm my film," said the director about his writing partner in films like 'Shahid' and 'Aligarh'. Alluding to Asrani's comment that Mehta should show some spine and clear the air over the controversy, the director wrote, "My spine is whatever it is, weak or strong, it is only for my film and nothing else. If I chose not to speak it is for my film. "And when I do speak it will only be in the service of my film, not driven by any blackmail or any noise on social media where dignity is perceived as weakness and conversation is replaced by allegation." Mehta said he did not owe any explanation to anyone except to those who were genuine stakeholders in his film. The director also took pot-hots at those who had criticised him for staying silent on the issue. Here's his post: Yes I am guilty. Guilty of crediting individuals who contribute to making my films very special to many of us. And.. pic.twitter.com/QCm55uSwyj Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) May 18, 2017 Asrani responded on Twitter saying, "If only he mentioned 'the truth' as many times as he has mentioned 'MY film', he wouldn't have found himself in this degrading situation." If only he mentioned 'the truth' as many times as he has mentioned 'MY film', he wouldn't have found himself in this degrading situation. Apurva Asrani (@Apurvasrani) May 18, 2017 The credit row took an ugly turn with Asrani saying he was arm-twisted into giving in Kangana's demand, an allegation denied by the film's producer Shailesh Singh who said Asrani was creating a ruckus for publicity. Meanwhile, another writer, Sameer Gautam, has accused Asrani of stealing credits for 'Shahid' though he praised Mehta for being concerned about that. Mumbai: Irrfan Khan starrer Hindi Medium has created quite a stir even before its release. The film has been declared tax-free in Maharashtra and Gujarat. Hindi Medium has an important message, which is creatively packaged with humour and a powerful narrative. Producers Dinesh Vijan and Bhushan would personally like to thank the Chief Minister of Maharashtra and Gujarat for making the movie tax-free. It is a thought provoking film that highlights the challenges faced by parents to enroll their kids in high-end English schools and underlines the importance of speaking our national language, Hindi. Produced by Dinesh Vijan and Bhushan Kumar, Hindi Medium is scheduled to release on May 19. Mumbai: Finally the Rajini-darbar comes to an end, with the Thalaiva addressing the fans on the fourth day. During the addressal, the Tamil superstar said, after living in Tamil Nadu for 43 years and receiving the fans' appreciation, he has now turned into a ' true-Tamilian.' Looks like, this came as a befitting reply to Sarath Kumar's outsider remark against him, earlier this year. "I am 67 years old. I lived in Karnataka for 23 years and in Tamil Nadu for 43 years. I have lived and grown with you. You have been truly loving and welcoming and made me a true Tamilian. If I have to live anywhere in this world that will be in Tamil Nadu," he said. I lived in Karnataka for 23 years & Tamil Nadu for 43 years, Although I am from K'taka, you welcomed me, made me true Tamilian: Rajinikanth pic.twitter.com/T6gqHTWVXZ ANI (@ANI_news) May 19, 2017 For the unversed, actor-turned-politician Sarath Kumar, in the past, labeled Rajinikanth an outsider Kannadiga, who stepped into Tamil Nadu to find work. This remark came after the ' Kabali' star, at an event, observed that he misses actor-political satirist Cho Ramaswamy, at a time of unusual political developments in the state, following the demise of late chief minister Jayalalithaa. His statement was touted to be in reference to Sasikala taking the reins of AIADMK. Kumar, who contested on the AIADMK symbol in the Assembly election from Tiruchendur in Tamil Nadu in May 2016, on this note, said that Rajinikanth should be careful about his comments on public platforms; adding that the former will be the first to oppose the ' 2.0' star, if he tries his hands in politics. During the event, Rajinikanth today further said, "Both support and oppose is a part of the system. You can't grow without any opposition. And in politics, it is inevitable and you have to live with it." He also thanked the organizers and the fans for their relentless support. "I thank the staffs and the police, who made this event a success. I also thank my fans for their relentless support over the years," he said. In the Rajini-darbar, the superstar met his fans in batches, between May 15 and 19. Invitations were sent to all the respective fan clubs to attend the various sessions. Mumbai: Suniel Shetty says rather than resenting the success of his contemporaries, he seeks inspiration from their achievements. "I am mentally very secure. Financially, there will be ups and downs. I have been saying no (to films) so I am not seen enough but that's okay," the actor told PTI. The 55-year-old actor says his contemporaries are doing much better work today and he is happy for them. "People like Salman, Shah Rukh, Akshay, Ajay Devgn, Aamir Khan inspire me. And more so Salman, Ajay and Akshay as I am close to them," he said. Suniel will be now seen on the big screen after a gap of three years with 'Reloaded', starring Sidharth Malhotra and Jacqueline Fernandez, and choreographer-turned-director Bosco Martis's 'Circus'. Apart from these two projects, the actor says he is also working in a silent film. He would be also seen as a reality show 'India's Asli Champion..Hai Dum!', to be aired on &TV channel. Mumbai: Phullu is a social drama about a man who cares, cares enough to make sanitary pads for the women in his village, and beyond, at affordable prices. The film is about an uneducated man they call 'Phullu,' who leads a nondescript life in a small town. His only claim to fame is the fact that he travels to the city to get things for the villagers. Eventually, he learns about sanitary napkins through one of his visits. Learning about it, he decides he wants to provide the same for his wife and other ladies at an affordable price. Thus begins his journey from the village idiot to the renaissance man. Phullu is directed by Abhishek Saxena, starring Sharib Ali Hashmi, Jyotii Sethi and Nutan Surya. The film is produced by Pusha Chaudhary, Dr. Anmol Kapoor, Kshitij Chaudhary and Raman Kapoor in association with AmbiAbhi Production. Story, screenplay and dialogue are by Shaheen Iqbal. The film is slated to release on the 16th of June, 2017. Watch the trailer here: CHENNAI: Superstar Rajinikanths possible plunge in politics may have excited his numerous fans and triggered a debate in political circles, but the matinee idol on Thursday declined to answer any political questions. hough this could have disappointed his fans and media as well, former judge of Supreme Court Justice Markandey Katju has expressed a different view on Rajinis ability in handling political affairs. Like Amitabh Bachchan, Rajinikanth has nothing in his head, he expressed. On Thursday Rajini declined to answer any political questions, amidst speculation over his possible political plunge. Please dont ask political questions, he replied when reporters enquired about his recent comments on entering politics. He however expressed joy over meeting his fans after an eight-year gap, and said the next round of meeting with his fans would be finalised in the coming days. Asked what message he had for his fans, the 66-year-old superstar said, take care of your family. Give up all vices. He had given the same advice to fans on Monday, asking them not to touch cigarettes and alcohol. He had also said he would keep away money-minded people. My life is in the hands of God. Im not sure what he has in store for me. But I will always perform the duty that he bestows on me. So, dont feel disappointed if I dont enter politics, he had told his fans here. Northwestern Protesters Shut Down Classroom Visit From ICE Employee By Emma G. Gallegos in News on May 19, 2017 7:49PM Harris Hall where the ICE rep was hosted at Northwestern (Google Maps) Students at Northwestern held a protest Tuesday that shut down a visit from a public relations representative from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Prof. Beth Redbird hosted an ICE representative on Tuesday for her Sociology 201 class "Social Inequality: Race, Class, & Power." Redbird invited protesters into the classroom to engage in dialogue, but the "disruptive" behavior of a few of them prompted the representative to leave. Redbird said that once the rep left, many protesters and students stayed behind to engage in what she considered a "productive" dialogue on public policy and free speech, she said in an email to Chicagoist. Redbird clarified that these representatives did not have arrest powers and that she made attendance that day optional. She told Chicagoist, "The purpose of the visit was to allow my students to ask questions about the structure of these agencies and the realities of immigration enforcement." A rep from the Executive Office for Immigration Review from the Department of Justice was also scheduled to speak that day, but that was canceled as well. Redbird also canceled a planned visit from an undocumented immigrant planned for Thursday, because she felt like she could no longer assure him his privacy. Protesters raised banners and chanted outside the Hall. Here's a photo of protesters from outside: University, ASG release statements in response to protest of ICE public relations representative https://t.co/PkABcxniVB pic.twitter.com/7LA3DYo4Zw Daily Northwestern (@thedailynu) May 19, 2017 Protesters said even the presence of an ICE officer on campus legitimized the organization and could be disturbing or harmful. April Navarro, a MEChA member who helped organize the protest, told The Northwestern Daily she didn't see the good of hosting a "good, nice conversation" with an organization that tears families apart. ICE has recently ramped up its efforts in Chicago and across the country to detain undocumented immigrants, Though Donald Trump promised he'd only be targeting "bad hombres" those with no criminal records or very minor offenses have been swept up in the raids as well. "We're not interested in having those types of conversations that would be like, 'Oh, let's listen to their side of it' because that's making them passive rule-followers rather than active proponents of violence," Navarro told The Daily. "We're not engaging in those kinds of things; it legitimizes ICE's violence, it makes Northwestern complicit in this. There's an unequal power balance that happens when you deal with state apparatuses." Redbird said she was hoping that her students could learn about the structure of ICE and how it operateseven if they are opposed to the agency and its methods. "I strongly believe that my students are best served by an open dialogue and exposure to opposing viewpoints, and I will continue to look for ways to give my students the tools they need to engage with their world," Redbird wrote in an email to Chicagoist. "In our society, knowledge is power, and I want to see my students as powerful as possible." One of Redbird's students Nefertari Bilal told The Daily that she felt like the methods of the protest shut down any chance at dialogue. "We wanted ICE to come," Bilal said. "There was a general consensus. We wanted to have the opportunity to see how they present themselves, who does their outreach work, how do they try to convince people to follow their point of view and to challenge them on what they were saying." The Northwestern administration released a statement saying they were "deeply disappointed" in the behavior of protesters: At Northwestern, our faculty members are free to encourage academic discussions within their classrooms, including inviting speakers of their choice. While we understand the point of view expressed by the students protesting the guest lecturers invited to speak here, the resulting disturbance not only limited the academic inquiry central to our campus, it also forced invited speakers to leave and violated the rights of other enrolled students who were present to learn. We recognize the need for robust discussion about difficult and at times, polarizing issues. Free expression must be protected and should be countered with more debate, close examination and critical thinking not censorship. The student coalition wasn't happy with that response, and they told The Daily, "The university statement ignores the trauma of undocumented and racialized peoples and perpetuates violence cloaked in the distracting and irrelevant rhetoric of 'academic freedom of speech.'" The incident was picked up by right-wing media, which has taken up the mantle of free speech when provocateurs like Milo Yiannopoulos and Ann Coulter are shut down by protesters at left-leaning campus. "The protesters were making an unsafe environment for the students, for the professor, for the guest," Sammy Cuautle, a member of Northwestern College Republicans, told "Fox & Friends." He added, "This is a very troubling trend around the whole country where universities are becoming less safe for freedom of speech and less safe for expression and different ideas which is really, really disappointing." Chennai: Despite the government putting in a lot of effort in supplying medicines for tuberculosis (TB), the disease burden continues to remain extremely high in the country. A recent study had found that a large percentage of pulmonary TB patients in India suffer from malnutrition, a problem that most experts have overlooked. Amidst mounting international pressure to bring down the tuberculosis (TB) burden in the country, experts feel that looking into the nutrition aspect is now the need of the hour. Under-nutrition increases the severity of TB, it reduces patients' speed of recovery and also increases their chances of suffering side-effects of the medicine. The likelihood of their becoming one among the 4,80,000 Indian lives that TB claims every year is also possible, said pulmonologist Dr S. Patrick. On World TB Day this year, government has released a guideline 'Nutritional Care and Support for TB Patients in India', which is the first country-level adaptation of the 2013 World Health Organization guideline for the nutritional care and support of TB patients. Low weight is a classic symptom of TB, a disease associated with wasting away of fat and muscle, said Dr Patrick. Stating that malnutrition is one of the main epistemological factors in the causation of TB, Dr Murugan from the Institute of Thoracic Medicine, said, A malnutrition patient tends to have a very poor immune status. Almost 40 per cent of Indian population has what is known as latent TB infection and those with poor immunity levels tend to develop the disease sooner than a well-nourished person. Under-nutrition is the stark reality of 90 per cent of pulmonary TB cases in India, or more than one million patients. The two tend to have a two-way causal association and malnutrition has only been serving to complicate India's TB problem. Some states like Tamil Nadu have introduced schemes to provide school going children with food and therefore tend to see fewer numbers of children with malnutrition. Only if the government takes up various initiatives like this, along with support from the public sector, will the country be able to bring down the burden, said pulmonologist Dr Santosh Mathew. Flavoured drug for TB In what may be seen as good news for children suffering from tuberculosis (TB), the government has introduced the world's first easily dissolvable and flavoured drug, which will serve as a relief from the usually bitter drug. The pilot programme, which has been rolled out in five states, will be introduced in 18 states by the end of July. The child-friendly tablets, which will come in candy flavours like orange and strawberry, are expected to be a game-changer in improving treatment. With the country being the first to introduce the same, the government is of the hope that it will serve towards bringing down number of lives lost, said pulmanologist Dr Santosh Mathew. In a published report, Dr Jagdish Prasad, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), said, This is for the first time that Union health ministry has come up with flavored and tasty medicine for tuberculosis for kids. India is the first country in the world to start with candy-flavored medicine for TB at a national level. Stating that taking treatment for TB is not a very good experience, Dr Murugan from the Institute of Thoracic Medicine, said, Earlier, consumption of the medicines used to be much more difficult. Though it has changed, the recent most initiative of introducing falvoured tablets will definitely serve to help parents in the process of giving their children the tablets. The bangle is made of durable plastic and is water-resistant with a long-lasting battery that does not require charging throughout the duration of a pregnancy. (Photo: Youtube) A high-tech bangle that alerts pregnant women of toxic fumes and issues audio tips promises to boost maternal health in South Asia, as smart devices deliver ever more services to remote communities. The colorful, lightweight bangle also bypasses phone-owning men - feeding information directly to expectant mothers - and is built to withstand the rigors of village life."In rural areas, mobile connectivity - and mobile access for women - is an issue, as phones are controlled by men," said Pavel Hoq, chief operating officer at Intel Social Business, which developed the new device. "While we had also developed mobile apps for maternal health, we realized a wearable device solely for women, something she would likely wear all the time, would be better to connect with women in rural areas," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.Made of durable plastic, the bangle is water-resistant and has a long-lasting battery that does not require charging throughout the duration of a pregnancy.Nor does it not need an internet connection to work. Coel, or carbon monoxide exposure limiter, was created by Intel Social Business Ltd., a joint venture of Intel Corporation, and Bangladesh non-profit Grameen Trust. The device can be recharged and reused many times, Hoq said. New Jewels It will join a woman's regular array of bracelets, with most married women in South Asia wearing bangles made of glass, plastic or gold. The decorative finish differentiates the bangle from many other wrist-worn fitness devices or smart watches. Coel, which is designed to withstand the rough and tumble of daily chores, delivers two wellness messages a week in the local language, including what to eat and when to see the doctor.An alarm also sounds if high levels of carbon monoxide fumes are generated when cooking with firewood, charcoal or dung, warning the wearer to move away. Every day, about 830 women worldwide die from pregnancy or childbirth-related complications, according to the World Health Organization. Nearly a third of these deaths are in South Asia. Maternal mortality is higher among women living in rural areas and poorer communities, where access to healthcare is often forbidden or curtailed due to a lack of female medics. In Bangladesh, where more than 70 percent of babies are born at home, about 5,000 maternal deaths and nearly 77,000 neonatal deaths are reported annually, according to WHO.At the same time, wearable devices including smart watches, shoes and glasses, are increasingly used for remote healthcare, such as to monitor a patient's cholesterol or insulin levels. It is a growing market: about 2.5 million such wearable devices were sold in India last year, most priced under $50, according to research firm International Data Corporation.Coel, which will be priced initially at about $12-$15, will be sold in India and Bangladesh first, then in Nepal, said Hoq."Easy access to knowledge is crucial in these countries, particularly for first-time mothers," he said."We want this device to be a tool of empowerment for women." The video of the Chinese bride shows her photographer lighting the fire but things take a turn for the worse unlike what they expected. (Photo: Youtube) Weddings are the most important days for many people in their lives and there is nothing that will stop them from making it perfect with the best photographs. A bride however took her wedding photographs a little too seriously when she decided to do something dangerous that most of us wouldnt think of even in our wildest dreams. According to a media report, a Chinese bride recently told her photographer to take really good photographs of her in her wedding gown. However, in the excitement of the getting the perfect photographs, the bride and the photographer got a little too ambitious and the former let the latter burn her dress. The situation got worse as the fire couldnt be controlled and it reached all the way up to her lower back before a woman standing nearby stepped in to douse the fire. The video has now gone viral on social media and has over 17,000 views. It certainly looks like people can go to dangerous lengths in the name of the perfect photograph. Thiruvananthapuram: Burglary cases might have dropped but newer entrants specialise in robberies, including chain snatchings. As a result, robbery cases have increased from 725 in 2012 to 903 last year. On the other hand, burglars, including intestate gangs, have improved their tactics while breaking into buildings. As per senior officials, the modus operandi (MO) register which used to be the core tool while probing burglary cases has now become less significant. "Earlier, some burglar would cook food in the house after taking valuables. Some others take a bath. Certain others enter houses by bending window grill of the kitchen. However, now burglars less often stick to the same MO. The same guy would pour acid and melt the door to enter a house and might storm the kitchen door as well," said Mr Ashok Kumar, Thiruvananthapuram SP. CCTVs are the first to be broken by masked burglars. So, local police now bank intensively on scientific investigation using finger print verification and forensics. Due to technological advancement and increased dependency on forensics, identifying those involved in burglary or dacoity (robbery involving five people) has become easier for the police. After doing a cost-benefit analysis, newer touts opt for robbery. Old masters in the art of burglary continue their work mostly in rural areas. "Chain-snatching or mobile phone theft can help them earn quick bucks. On the other hand, planning and executing burglary has become a time-consuming affair. There is a higher chance of burglars finding more valuables in modern houses but it is harder to get away unnoticed due to increased population density," said another official. Modernisation gives police an edge A retired police officer remembers that there used to be only one sniffer dog for three districts three decades ago. "MLAs and MPs would recommend availing of dogs at specific crime spots. The lone sniffer dog would be tied up under some tree in AR camps those days. At the crime spot, the dog will get tensed as hundreds of curious people assemble. Today things have changed. There are six to eight police dogs in each district. They come in air-conditioned vehicles and do their job with is. This is where modernisation has helped us," he added. A sub-inspector of police said that finger print experts and canines could be brought in even if a copper wire is stolen from your premises. "Today, we scan for tower locations around crime scenes and zero in on habitual suspects. Apart from this are CCTV visuals," he said. A few decades ago, the detection rate was low and conviction rates were mere a 40 to 30 percent. Today, the detection rate stands well over 70 per cent and Kerala flaunts the highest conviction rate in India. Ahmedabad: Fed up with the "torture" by her husband and in-laws for being unable to bear a male child, a woman, along with her two daughters, including a 13-day-old girl, on Friday allegedly set herself ablaze at her residence in Morbi town, police said. According to an FIR lodged by the Morbi town police, the 26-year-old woman, Sheetal Parmar, allegedly committed suicide along with her two daughters as she was fed up with the torture from her husband and in-laws for "failing to give birth to a baby boy". "When we reached her house, we found charred bodies of Sheetal and daughters Payal (13 days old) and Jinkal (3). Prima facie, she poured kerosene over herself and the daughters and set her and them ablaze this morning," Sub- Inspector H B Bhadaniya said. Based on a complaint lodged by Sheetal's brother Amarsinh Ganjaria, the Morbi police filed a case of abetment of suicide under section 306 of Indian Penal Code against Sheetal's husband Dayaram and in-laws Narsinh and Sharda, he said. The accused trio was not present at the house when the police reached there, he said. "As per Ganjaria, Dayaram and his parents started tormenting Sheetal soon after she gave birth to her second daughter. They used to taunt her for failing to give birth to a boy," Bhadaniya added. "The complainant alleged that Sheetal took the extreme step as the torture from her husband and in-laws" was unbearable," he said, adding the hunt is on to nab the accused. The number of sexual assault cases registered in 2015 was 671, which increased to 819 in 2016, and in less than three months this year, 84 cases have been registered.(Representational image) Hyderabad: Every second child between 12 to 18 years of age in India suffers some form of sexual harassment, according to a survey by World Vision India, a humanitarian organisation. Some 45,844 children from different parts of the country responded to the survey, whose findings are alarming. The survey revealed that one in five children is vulnerable to sexual harassment and one in every four families did not complain about sexual abuse of the child. Every day two or three incidents of child sexual abuse are reported. The perpetrators are people known to the child such as relatives, neighbours, teachers, watchmen and drivers. There is an increase in cases pertaining to sexual assault and sexual harassment registered in the state under different sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (PoCSO) Act. Is this Telangana?. The number of sexual assault cases registered in 2015 was 671, which increased to 819 in 2016, and in less than three months this year, 84 cases have been registered. More disturbing is the fact that these figures might not be revealing the actual situation since many cases go unreported.There is a common misconception that children from well-to-do families are immune to sexual abuse. Gender, education and income do not provide any security against this crime for them. In a majority of cases, the suspect is known to the child. Identifying the abuser, who may be close to the family or a part of the family, is often a hard task. Many children face sexual violence from persons related to them, and so do not share their trauma with anyone else. Alerting children against strangers is easy, but how to make them watch out for abusers within the family? At some point of time, one out of every two children in India faces sexual exploitation said Achyuta Rao, honorary president of Balala Hakkula Sangham, a Hyderabad-based NGO that works to protect children A great deal needs to be done to improve the manner in which the police and courts handle cases of child abuse. The child, already traumatised, is exposed to the public while questioning at police stations which adds to the trauma, Mr Rao says. Victims and their families are called to the police station and the victims are taken there in police vehicles, which is not allowed. The two finger test is still in vogue even though it is banned. A sexual abuse victim is eligible for compensation which is not being given by the concerned authority, Mr Rao said. Chennai: The Chennai police on Thursday arrested a 21-year-old youth for allegedly extorting valuables and cash to the tune of Rs 8 lakh from his ex-girl friend studying in an engineering college by threatening to upload her morphed obscene pictures on the internet and other social media platforms. Police arrested Amalesh, a native of Cuddalore working in Valasaravakkam after finishing his diploma in engineering and three of his friends named Gokul, Rudra and Michael. Amalesh and three of his friends had rented a room in Valasaravakkam and were staying together. Amalesh came in contact with the college girl through Facebook. Police said Amalesh had been a friend of the girl, hailing from West Saidapet, since 2014. After coming into contact via Facebook, they fell in love. The two were also trying to get a break in cinema. The girl had taken many selfies and other photos with Amalesh, as he was her boyfriend. After their relationship turned sour a year ago, Amalesh started threatening her with morphed photographs. He told her he would upload them on social networking sites and also circulate them in WhatsApp groups. His friends too had joined him in threatening the girl and extorting money and valuables from her. She tried to silence him by giving him an iPhone and laptops among others things. She had also given him money every month to keep him in good humour. But with his demands starting to increase, she approached Kumaran Nagar police. Police estimate that the suspects had extorted cash and articles worth about Rs 8 lakh from her. The four have been booked under section 120 (B) (Punishment of criminal conspiracy), 384 (extortion), 506 (i) (criminal intimidation) and section 4 of Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear the plea of Justice C.S.Karnan of the Calcutta High Court, now said to be in Chennai, for early listing of his petition to recall the May 9 order sentencing him to six months imprisonment for contempt of court. Advocate Mathews Nedumapara, appearing for Justice Karnan made a `mention again today before a Bench headed by Chief Justice J.S. Khehar and said Justice Karnan was willing to tender an unconditional apology. Counsel said Justice Karnan has been sent to jail without even giving him an opportunity and without the sanctity of Parliament which alone can remove him. The CJI told the counsel, we have already made it clear to you that the matter will be listed if the Registry clears it. Dont do it every day, dont do it again, otherwise you will be thrown out of this court. Dont make these statements here, go and tell the Press. In his petition, Justice Karnan said that the entire proceeding from February 8, when contempt notice was issued at the hands of the CJI in constituting the Seven-Judge Bench finally culminating in his conviction and sentence, is without jurisdiction. He said from a mere reading of the provisions of Contempt of Courts Act, it is manifest that what could constitute a criminal contempt is any publication which scandalizes, or tends to scandalise, or lowers or tends to lower the authority of, any Court. Justice Karnan said the allegations contained in the said letter are against the Judges named therein and not against any Court neither the High Court of Madras nor the Supreme Court. If the said allegations are untrue, they would at the most amount to defamation which will entail an actionable right, both civil and criminal, in the Judges named in the said letter. The May 9 order sending him to jail for six months was passed in his absence, he pointed out and sought a declaration that the contempt notice issued on February 8 is void and to recall the order and as an interim measure stay of all proceedings pursuant to the notice. New Delhi: The infighting within the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) shows no sign of slowing down as Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Friday filed a criminal defamation case against sacked minister Kapil Mishra. Jain has also filed a suit against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MLA Manjinder Sirsa in the Tis Hazari Court in Delhi. Earlier on Wednesday, Mishra took the fight against Kejriwal to the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and filed a complaint against the former for financial irregularities. 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 evidences of corruption against Arvind Kejriwal. Mishra has also alleged that for three continuous years, black money was converted into white and spent on foreign trips of AAP leaders. "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 crore to Kejriwal. The funds received from these companies were sent to same branch of Axis Bank where there were allegations of converting black money into white at the time of demonetisation," he added. New Delhi: The internal tussle within the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) shows no sign of slowing down as Health Minister Satyendra Jain on Friday filed a criminal defamation case sacked minister Kapil Mishra. Jain has also filed a suit against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MLA Manjinder S. Sirsa in the Tis Hazari Court here. Earlier on Wednesday, Mishra took the fight against Kejriwal to the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and filed a complaint against the former for financial irregularities. 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 has also alleged that for three continuous years, black money was converted into white and spent on foreign trips of AAP leaders. "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 crore to Kejriwal. The funds received from these companies were sent to same branch of Axis Bank where there were allegations of converting black money into white at the time of demonetisation," he added. Illinois On Track To Create 'Obama Day' (But You'll Still Have To Go To Work) By Emma G. Gallegos in News on May 19, 2017 9:21PM McCormick Place (Photo by Tyler LaRiviere/Chicagoist) Nary an Illinois Republican could find fault with a bill that officially proclaims Aug. 4 "Barack Obama Day" in the state. State lawmakers voted unanimously to give the former president his own day, and the bill now goes to Gov. Bruce Rauner's desk. Earlier proposals for Barack Obama Day failed because they would actually have some bearing on the state budget. Many Republicans refused to vote for a bill that would give state workers and students the day off. Sorry, kids. Rauner had also said he didn't want to sign any bill into law that would create a new state holiday, but he sounded amenable to a bill that wouldn't cost the state anything when discussing it previously, according to the Chicago Tribune. "It's incredibly proud for Illinois that the president came from Illinois," Rauner said, when other similar bills failed. "I think it's awesome, and I think we should celebrate it." The bill heralds Obama's work in his adopted home state as a state lawmaker and U.S. senator and says he "dedicated his life to protecting the rights of Americans and building bridges across communities." Republicans had nice, if not exactly effusive, praise for Obama Day. Rep. Steve Andersson, R-Geneva told the Chicago Tribune, "He's the first African-American president. He deserves this honor." New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought a response from former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanithi Maran and others on an Enforcement Directorate (ED) plea against their discharge in the Aircel-Maxis case. ED had, on May 2, moved the High Court challenging a special court's February 2 order discharging the Maran brothers and others in the Aircel-Maxis money laundering case. The special court had said that the charges were based on "misreading of official files", speculation and surmises of the complainant. Special CBI Judge O P Saini, while discharging them, had also said that no prima facie case warranting framing of charges against any of the accused was made out on the basis of the materials placed on record before it. In the money laundering case, ED had filed charge sheet against the Maran brothers, Kalanithi's wife Kavery, Managing Director of South Asia FM Ltd (SAFL) K Shanmugam, SAFL and Sun Direct TV Pvt Ltd (SDTPL) under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Hyderabad: Setting the goal of coming to power in Telangana in 2019, the BJP has worked out a plan to deploy full-time workers in the state, just the way it did in Assam and Uttar Pradesh. A full-timer, referred to as 'vistarak' by the BJP, is expected to work for the party's success in the next state Assembly polls. The party is likely to have around 250 full-timers in the state who will work for its success in the 2019 Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, Telangana BJP unit spokesperson Krishna Saagar Rao told PTI today. These full-timers would work in the 119 Assembly segments of the state. The party is likely to provide accommodation and transport facilities to them, he said. "We used it (the services of full-timers) in Assam and again very successfully in Uttar Pradesh. We now plan to use the same in Telangana," he said. BJP's Telangana unit has received motor bikes used in Uttar Pradesh polls. The state party unit now plans to distribute these vehicles to the full-timers in Telangana. Some of these bikes are now parked in the party's office here. Telangana BJP president K Laxman is likely to hand over the bikes to the full-timers by this month-end, after party national president Amit Shah's three-day visit to the state next week. Telangana is one of the states identified by BJP for gaining power after its successful campaigns in Assam and Haryana, which are not its traditional strongholds. "With BJP national president Amit Shah focusing on this state and the people of Telangana willing to give the party a chance to fulfil their aspirations, BJP's rise to power to cater to the dire needs of the people of Telangana is a certainty," Rao said. "It's just a matter of time for the BJP to form government in Telangana," he said. Of the 3 convicted public servants, Gupta was accused in 11 cases while Kropha and Samaria were allegedly involved in eight and six cases of coal scam respectively. (Photo: PTI/File/Representational) New Delhi: The coal block allocation scam unearthed during the previous UPA government on Friday claimed the first set of casualty among public servants, with the conviction of a former and two serving bureaucrats by a Delhi Court. H C Gupta, who was the Coal Secretary from December 31, 2005 to November 2008, then joint secretary K S Kropha and then director K C Samaria in the Ministry of Coal, were on Friday held guilty in a case related to irregularities in the allocation of Thesgora-B Rudrapuri coal block in Madhya Pradesh to Kamal Sponge Steel and Power Ltd (KSSPL). Gupta was accused in 11 cases while Kropha and Samaria were allegedly involved in eight and six cases of coal scam respectively. A total of 28 cases had arisen from the coal block allocation scam, the investigation of which was monitored by the Supreme Court. At first, the CBI was probing the allocation from 2004 to 2010 and later its ambit was expanded to cover them since 1993. Until now, three cases have been decided with the first conviction order passed on March 28, 2016 in a case pertaining to irregularities in allotment of a coal block in Jharkhand to a firm Jharkhand Ispat Pvt Ltd (JIPL) whose two directors R S Rungta and R C Rungta were awarded four-year jail term. The second conviction followed four months later on July 26 in which Rathi Steel and Power Ltd (RSPL) and three of its officials --Managing Director Pradeep Rathi, Chief Executive Officer Udit Rathi and AGM Kushal Aggarwal -- were held guilty by the court for deceiving the government by making false representation even before then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Friday's decision by Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar, who was appointed exclusively to deal with the coal scam cases, was the third. Besides the three public servants, others convicted are the firm KSSPL and its managing director Pawan Kumar Ahluwalia. Among the other important cases arising out of the coal scam is the one related to the allocation of Talabira II coal block in Odisha to M/s Hindalco in 2005 in which the name of then PM Manmohan Singh was dragged as one of the accused. Singh was then also holding the charge of the Coal Ministry. The proceedings in the case against Singh was stayed by the Supreme Court on April 1, 2015, after he moved it opposing the order of the special court which had on March 11, 2015, summoned him and others, including the then Coal Secretary P C Parakh and industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla as accused. The two other officials of the Aditya Birla Group -- Shubhendu Amitabh (since left) and D Bhattacharya -- were also accused in the case. One important case arising out of the scam related to the alleged involvement of Congress leader and industrialist Naveen Jindal in the allocation of Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block in Jharkhand in which Gupta is also an accused. In another case pertaining to allocation of coal blocks to Vini Iron and Steel Udyog Ltd in Jharkhand's Rajhara town, also involving former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda as accused, the court is currently hearing the final arguments. Gupta is also an accused in the allocation of coal block to AMR Iron and Steel Pvt Ltd which also involves former Minister of State for Coal Santosh Bagrodia and Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Darda as accused. The other case related to irregularities in allocation of a Chhattisgarh-based coal block to SKS Ispat and Power Ltd also involves Kropha as accused. Gupta, Kropha and Samaria are facing trial in the case of alleged irregularities in the allotment of 'Mahuagarhi Coal Block' in Jharkhand to JAS Infrastructure Capital Pvt Ltd (JICPL). The three are also facing trial in another case involving M/s Navbharat Power Pvt Ltd (NPPL), now known as Brahmani Thermal Power Pvt Ltd (BTPPL). Another case filed against the three of them related to the allocation of Fatehpur (East) coal block in Chhattisgarh to accused firm JLD Yavatmal Pvt Ltd in which it had earlier rejected CBI's closure report. The three are also accused in a case pertaining to the alleged irregularities in allocation of Moira and Madhujore (North and South) coal blocks in West Bengal to Vikash Metals and Power Ltd. Gupta and Kropha are further accused before the court in a case of alleged irregularities in allocation of a Chattisgarh coal block to SKS Ispat and Power Ltd and another case involving Grace Industries Ltd. New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) will hold a live demonstration of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail System (VVPATs) on Saturday in Delhi. There will also be a press conference on the EVM Challenge. Earlier this week, the poll panel had said it would offer an 'opportunity' to the political parties to prove that EVMs used in the recently held assembly polls were tampered with or can be tampered even with laid down safeguards. The ECI also convened an all-party meeting over the issue of EVM and other electoral reforms. In its communication to the presidents of all the seven national and 48 state political parties, the poll panel sent a status paper on EVMs and VVPAT. Last month, sixteen opposition parties had urged the Election Commission to revert to the paper ballot system saying that the alleged tampering has created trust deficit in the credibility of the EVMs. However, the poll body has been maintaining that EVMs are tamper proof and cannot be manipulated. The Union Cabinet had given its nod to sanctioned funds of nearly Rs 3,200 crore to procure more than 16 lakh VVPATs as sought by the Election Commission. Besides EVMs, the meeting is expected to deliberate on making bribery in elections a cognisable offence, disqualification on framing of charges for the offences of bribery in elections and suggestions in VVPAT recount rules. On Tuesday, the AAP, during a special session of the Delhi assembly, conducted a live demonstration on how EVMs can be tampered with. Reacting to the demonstration, the poll panel said the machine used to conduct live demonstration was a 'look-alike' which was made to function in a 'tampered' manner. A day before the all-party meeting, the AAP earlier forwarded a new demand, calling for an all party committee to be formed under the monitoring of the Election Commission to ascertain whether EVMS were hacked in the recently held elections or not. New Delhi: A special court here on Friday convicted former coal secretary H C Gupta and two others in a coal scam case. Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar also convicted the coal ministry's then joint secretary K S Kropha and then director K C Samaria besides others in the case pertaining to alleged irregularities in allocation of Thesgora-B Rudrapuri coal block in Madhya Pradesh to KSSPL. The court will pronounce the order on quantum of sentence on May 22. The court, however, acquitted chartered accountant Amit Goyal in the case. Besides Gupta, Kropha and Samria, the court also convicted the firm KSSPL and its managing director Pawan Kumar Ahluwalia. Kropha was the then joint secretary in the Ministry of Coal, while Samria was the then director (coal allocation-I) in the ministry. During the hearing, the CBI had alleged that the application filed by KSSPL for the coal block was incomplete and was supposed to be rejected by the ministry as it was not in accordance with the guidelines issued. The CBI had charged that the firm had misrepresented its net worth and existing capacity, adding that state government had also not recommended the firm for the allocation of any coal block. The accused, however, denied the allegations during the arguments. The court had in October last year framed charges against the accused observing that former prime minister Manmohan Singh was kept in the "dark" by Gupta, who had prima facie violated the law and the trust reposed in him on the issue of coal block allocation. Around eight different charge sheets have been filed against Gupta and proceedings are going on individually. The Supreme Court had recently dismissed his plea seeking joint trial in all these cases. Srinagar: Defence Minister, Arun Jaitley, on Friday asked the troops defending the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir to sustain 'tight vigil' along the de facto border, thwart attempts of infiltration and give a 'strong and befitting' reply to any misadventure from across by Pakistan. Jaitley was on a visit of the LoC in Rampur sector of Baramulla district. Accompanied by GOC of Baramulla-based Army division, Maj. Gen. RP Kalita, the Defence Minister interacted with the troops and "praised their grit, determination and selfless service to the nation, defence spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said. The Defence Minister expressed his happiness to be amidst the soldiers and said that the entire country recognised the challenging circumstances that they were operating in and stood behind them in all their endeavours, the spokesman said. He reiterated the need to maintain strict vigil at all times to thwart any nefarious designs of forces inimical to national interests, the spokesman said. Parts of the 740-km long LoC witnessed escalation in tensions following the beheading of two Indian soldiers allegedly by Pakistan armys Border Action Team (BAT) on May 1 and subsequent skirmishes in which several civilians were killed and have forced the border dwellers to desert their shell-hit hamlets, mainly in Rajouri district. Jaitley was on a two-day visit of restive Jammu and Kashmir during which he and Army Chief General Bipin Rawat held a series of meetings with local commander to review the security situations along the LoC and in the hinterland in the backdrop of unending student protests and streets clashes and a series of recent terror strikes by militants including the murder of a young Kashmiri Muslim Army officer Lieutenant Ummer Fayaz Parry. The issues were discussed threadbare also at his one-on-one meeting with Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti. At a meeting with senior Army commanders held at Srinagars Badami Bagh cantonment on Wednesday, he had asked the Army and other security forces to go all out against militants and terrorists and target them wherever they are in Jammu and Kashmir. He had also stressed upon the need to sustain 'tight vigil' along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB) with Pakistan and thwart any attempts of infiltration from across the borders. The government has already given the Army and the Border Security Force (BSF) a free hand to respond to any misadventure from across the borders, the sources here said. Jaitley, however, also asked the security forces that while going tough against militants they should avoid collateral damage during counter insurgency operations in J&K and 'ensure safety of the innocent people while dealing firmly with the inimical elements' and step up people-friendly initiatives under its Sadhbhavana campaign. Apart from the Army Chief, the Defence Secretary (designate) Sanjay Mitra also attended the security review meetings and the briefing held at the headquarters of the 15 Army Corps which is also known as Chinar Corps. Jaitley was during the briefing apprised of the various measures initiated to strengthen the robust counter infiltration grid along the LoC. He was also briefed on the close coordination amongst all the government agencies towards bringing back normalcy in the region, the defence spokesman said. Jaitley also chaired the 14th GST Council as Finance Minister held at Srinagars Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC). The two-day crucial meet on new tax regime was attended by finance ministers, finance secretaries and other taxation officials from all the states and union territories and is considered a crucial meet on new tax regime. Jaitley was briefed on the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir at Badami Bagh Cantonment. (Photo: ANI Twitter) New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday reviewed the security in Jammu and Kashmir and applauded troops for their readiness to any misadventure by the enemy. "The aggressive domination & readiness of troops for befitting response to any misadventure by the enemy is very satisfying," he tweeted after holding a meeting and reviewing the security situation. Earlier in the day, Jaitley had a meeting with senior commanders and troops at a forward post along the Line of Control (LoC) and reviewed the security situation. Jaitley is presently in Srinagar for the 14th Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council meet. This comes after Jaitley reviewed the overall security situation in the Valley on Thursday. He was briefed on the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir at Badami Bagh Cantonment. General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Army Staff and other senior Army officers were present in the review meeting as well. Sanjay Mitra, Defence Secretary (Designate) was also in attendance. The 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 towards bringing back normalcy in the region. Jaitley lauded the valour, sacrifice and patriotic fervour of every soldier who was serving in these challenging situations for national integrity, which the entire country is proud of. He urged all the defence personnel to continue the good job and ensure safety of the innocent people while dealing firmly with the inimical elements. He also directed the commanders to maintain strict vigil along the Line of Control and remain prepared to give a befitting reply to any misadventure from across the border. Anurag Tiwari was in his sleepwear when he was found dead on May 17, which also happened to be his birthday. (Photo: ANI) Bengaluru: With the BJP demanding a CBI probe into the mysterious death of an IAS officer, Anurag Tiwari, in Lucknow amid suspicions of foul play behind it, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said his government will cooperate in any enquiry into it. Tiwari, a 2007 batch IAS officer serving as commissioner of the Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department, was found dead under mysterious circumstances by a roadside in Lucknow's Hazratganj area on May 17 morning. "Tiwari is a Karnataka officer, he has died in Lucknow. We don't know what the reason is. Post-mortem examination report says death was due to the cardiac arrest. Let UP police do any enquiry, the government will give all co-operation," Siddaramaiah said in Bengaluru. Asked about the suspicions that Tiwari may have been murdered because he was probing into a scam involving the food department, he said, "Don't say all these things just because someone is saying it. Let them investigate, everything will be known." The Uttar Pradesh police set up a Special Investigation Team on Thursday to probe into Tiwari's death. Tiwari's father, B N Tiwari has alleged his son was eliminated, while his brother Mayank has demanded a CBI probe into the matter. "My son was very honest. Corrupt officers did not like him. They must have somehow got him murdered," he had said. The Karnataka government had on May 17 sent two senior officials to Lucknow to get details of Tiwari's death. Speaking to reporters in Chitradurga, state BJP President B S Yeddyurappa demanded a CBI probe into the case. "His (Tiwari's) brother has said he was murdered as he was unearthing about Rs 2,000 crore scam in the Food department. The chief minister has to take direct responsibility for this," he said. "As this is a matter that is of concern to Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka, I urge that the case be immediately handed over to the CBI for the truth to come out. If the chief minister is honest, he has to order a CBI enquiry or else the Uttar Pradesh chief minister will do it," Yeddyurappa added. BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje, who has spoken to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath about the case, has also written to him for the second time since the incident took place, expressing suspicion of foul play behind Tiwari's death. Reminding him of her May 17 letter, requesting a thorough probe as the tragedy looks murky, Karandlaje in her letter on Friday, said "Now I am getting information from credible sources that Tiwari could be a victim of food grain smuggling mafia. This is what middle-level officials in Karnataka government are discussing among themselves in hushed tones." Stating that a multi-crore scam was unearthed in the Department of Food and Civil Supplies some time ago, she said Tiwari was probing it in his capacity as commissioner and he is said to have prepared a detailed dossier about the scandal. This is one important angle which needs to be probed, she said. Citing similar fears expressed by Tiwari's brothers, Karandlaje said the matter warrants a CBI investigation since the entire episode involves two states. Tiwari, who had also served as deputy commissioner in Bidar and Kodagu districts in the past was staying at Meera Bai guest house with a batch mate after attending a mid-career training programme at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie. He was in his sleepwear when he was found dead on May 17, which also happened to be his birthday. Expressing grief over the officer's death, Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Minister U T Khader had said Tiwari had sought permission for the programme and had again sought an extension on May 10. New Delhi: Kulbhushan Jadhav's case could be one of the rare cases before the International Court of Justice, which often sees matters related to maritime and territorial dispute. The ICJ yesterday stayed the execution of Jadhav, sentenced to death by a Pakistan military court which said he was an Indian spy. Currently, there are 15 cases, including Jadhav's, before the ICJ. Of these seven are about maritime and territorial dispute. An information officer at the ICJ told PTI the number of cases at The Hague was increasing steadily, but did not give figures. "Since the ICJ has almost a universal jurisdiction, we get a varied number of cases, but most of these matters relate to land and sea boundary," the official said. For instance, there is a maritime dispute between Nicaragua and Costa Rica in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. A similar dispute over maritime boundary in the Indian Ocean is pending with the court involving Somalia and Kenya. The question of delimitation of the continental shelf between Nicaragua and Colombia beyond 200 nautical miles from the Nicaraguan coast is also awaiting a decision. There are also cases such as Iran instituting proceedings against the United States with regard to a dispute concerning alleged violations of the 1955 Treaty of Amity. The ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations with a seat at the Peace Palace in The Hague in the Netherlands. It began work in 1946, when it replaced the Permanent Court of International Justice which had functioned in the Peace Palace since 1922. The court is composed of 15 judges elected to nine-year terms of office by the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council. Elections are held every three years for one-third of the seats, and retiring judges may be re-elected. The members of the Court do not represent their governments but are independent magistrates. An Indian judge, Justice Dalveer Bhandari, is among the judges at the ICJ. Dr Deepak Mittal, joint secretary in the ministry of external affairs (right) waits for judges to read the World Courts verdict in The Hague, Netherlands on Thursday. (Photo: AP) New Delhi / Islamabad: India on Thursday asserted that the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), staying the execution of former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, is binding on Pakistan and termed the verdict as unanimous and unambiguous. Hours after the ICJ in The Hague pronounced its provisional order in the case, the external affairs ministry said the government will do everything possible to save the life of Jadhav. Addressing a crowed press conference here, MEA spokesperson Gopal Baglay said the provisional relief provided by the ICJ is the first step in ensuring justice to Jadhav. The order by the ICJ is unanimous, favourable, clear and unambiguous. The verdict a matter of great relief for people of the country, he said. Replying to a volley of questions on Indias possible response if Pakistan does not implement the ICJ order, Mr Baglay said the order is binding on Pakistan. Meanwhile, Pakistan said that International Court of Justice had no jurisdiction to hear case of Kulbushan Jadhav as it pertained to the security of Pakistan. Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria in Islamabad said that Pakistans reply to the ICJ was submitted in line with Article 36 of the United Nations Charter, explaining that Pakistan, in some issues, does not recognise the jurisdiction of the ICJ. Zakaria said Pakistan has already informed the ICJ that it does not accept its jurisdiction in matters related to the national security. However, Pakistans Punjab province law minister Rana Sanaullah said Islamabad would accept the decision of the International Court of Justice. His statement was in conflict with that of the foreign office which said Pakistan does not accept ICJs jurisdiction in matters related to the national security. We will accept the decision of International Court of Justice on Kulbhushan, Sanaullah told reporters at the Punjab Assembly. Although Kulbhushans case does not fall in the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice but Pakistan accepts its decision, he said. The minister further said Pakistan has strong evidence of Kulbhushans involvement in espionage. Vandal Spray-Painted 'F*** Racism' At Site Of Controversial Frat House Cinco De Mayo Party By Emma G. Gallegos in News on May 19, 2017 4:50PM The FIJI frat house at the University of Chicago (Photo courtesy of Richard Oyeniran) A University of Chicago house where a fraternity held a controversial party on Cinco De Mayo was vandalized early Wednesday morning. The Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) fraternity house was spray-painted with the phrase "F*** Racism," according to student newspaper The Chicago Maroon. By Wednesday afternoon the Department of Streets and Sanitation had cleaned up the spray paint. Robert Tamillow, corporation president of the fraternity, told Chicagoist that the house was vandalized at 4:49 a.m. in an act caught on video but the perpetrator was masked. They are cooperating with police in their investigation. The vandalism comes in the wake of criticism aimed at the fraternity, which hosted a party on Cinco De Mayo. According to The Chicago Maroon, the theme was "FIJI Presents: Get Hammered," and it was inspired by the fact that the frat house has been under construction. One fraternity brother posted on the event page, "What's the mustache policy for tonight? Asking for an amigo." On May 4, multicultural campus groups warned students not to perpetuate racist stereotypes on the holiday. Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlan (MEChA) said that they personally reached out to FIJI, asking them to change the theme of the party. The theme was changed last-minute and the date of the party was changed to midnight May 6 so as to avoid the Cinco De Mayo connection. However, students were spotted dressed in construction gear, including hard hats and construction vests, on the night of the party. MECha released a statement expressing their disappointment in the "racially insensitive" party, co-signed by Organization of Latin American Students (OLAS), the Organization of Black Students (OBS), the African Caribbean Students Association (ACSA), the Muslim Students Association (MSA), and the PanAsia Solidarity Coalition (PanAsia). They wrote: The chapter went against their word, and broke their stated values of "morality" and "leadership," and completely disregarded the concern expressed by MEChA de UChicagost and various other individuals and cultural groups on campus. For these reasons, MEChA believes the fraternity followed through with their plans of a construction-themed party to demonstrate their privilege and authority by blatantly disregarding the concerns of marginalized groups without facing disciplinary actions. Moreover, this event was an attack on the mental and emotional well-being of marginalized students on campus. In response, the fraternity released a statement to The Maroon saying that the event was never described as a Cinco De Mayo party, and there were no Mexican-themed decorations. The member who connected the theme to Cinco De Mayo been suspended and their post was taken down. FIJI president Clyde Anderson told the Maroon that the fraternity was apologizing on behalf of members who showed up in construction gear despite the party's theme being changed: "We would like to express our sincerest apologies to any individual who may have felt discriminated against by the event. We should have been more proactive in preventing any sort of perceived discrimination to be involved in our event. Our intent was only to host an event in celebration of the (near) completion of the lengthy construction process of our house, which is still ongoing. The intent was entirely positive, and in no way meant to belittle any people group. Still, unintended consequences are consequences." The group told DNAinfo that they do not believe a member of their group committed the vandalism and that they did not condone it. They added that "this incident highlights the racial tensions prevalent on our school campus." MEChA told Chicagoist they were holding a rally at the administration building this morning, asking the University of Chicago to take action on issues of racism on campus. This post has been updated to include a comment from the fraternity's corporation president. The mortal remains of Anil Dave were consigned to flames on the banks of Narmada in Madhya Pradesh's Hoshangabad district on Friday. (Photo: PTI) Bhopal: The mortal remains of Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave were consigned to flames on the banks of the river Narmada at Bandrabhan in Madhya Pradesh's Hoshangabad district on Friday, with full state honours. Dave, who died in New Delhi on Thursday at the age of 60, had expressed the desire to be cremated on the banks of Narmada, a river that was close to his heart and ran through his home state of Madhya Pradesh. The funeral pyre was lit by his brother and nephew amid a tearful adieu by those present on the occasion at Bandrabhan, where Dave used to organise international river festivals to create awareness among people on the issue of conserving rivers, BJP spokesman Rajneesh Agrawal said. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union ministers Harsh Vardhan, Uma Bharti, Anant Kumar, Narendra Singh Tomar and Thawar Chand Gehlot, senior RSS leaders Bhaiyyaji Joshi, Dattatreya Hosabole and Suresh Soni, BJP general secretary Kailash Vijaywargiya among others were present on the occasion. The mortal remains of Dave were brought early this morning to Bandrabhan from his home, 'Nadi Ka Ghar', in the state capital. Chouhan and other BJP leaders lent their shoulders to the departed leader. A guard of honour was also given as a mark of respect. The Madhya Pradesh government on Thursday declared a two-day state mourning following Dave's death. Leaders cutting across party lines expressed profound grief over his demise. A pall of gloom on Thursday descended on 'Nadi Ka Ghar' with Dave's supporters flocking to the three-storey building set up by him which was also used to run Narmada Samagra, an NGO for conserving the river regarded as the lifeline of MP. Born on July 6, 1956, at Barnagar in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain district, Dave, a bachelor, used to live in this house whenever he was in Bhopal. The house was his nerve centre for running the river conservation campaign as well as to formulate strategies for contesting elections. Dave, in his will dated July 23, 2012, said, "If you want to cherish my memories, plant trees and save them. This would give me pleasure," He also mentioned in his will that he did not want any statue, memorial or award instituted in his name. The one-night stay in Northeast directive comes two years after the Prime Minister's Office planned fortnightly visits of Union ministers to the region. (Photo: AP/File) New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has now made one-night stays mandatory for Union ministers who visit the north-eastern states -- an effort to send out a message that the insurgency-hit region is safe for all. The directive comes two years after the Prime Minister's Office planned fortnightly visits of Union ministers to the region. Tourism and Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma said linking tourism and development in the Northeast and making it a tourist destination for people from all over the world is the Prime Minister's dream. "To ensure that, he has asked all the Union ministers to not only take trips to the Northeast states, but also to stay the night there," he said. Sources in the Tourism Ministry said the government is keen to change the popular perception about the Northeast as a security nightmare plagued with insurgencies. "And what better way to showcase its safety than to have senior Union ministers stay there overnight," a source said. As a result of this move, Sharma visited Assam in the first week of April to be part of the Namami Brahmaputra Festival, which is the biggest river festival in Guwahati. Union minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju was also present during the event. Sharma will follow this up with a visit to Manipur on Saturday to attend the Siroy Lily Festival which began on May 16. Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jitendra Singh also visited the region in the second week of this month to participate in a tourism event. The BJP's MODI (Making of Developed India) Festival, scheduled to begin on May 26 to mark the third anniversary of its government, is likely to be kick-started from the Northeast by the Prime Minister. BJP president Amit Shah too had recently made a trip to Tripura. "The focus of all these visits is to draw attention to the Northeast, build connectivity and attract tourists. In the next two years, the idea is to build on the victories in Assam, Arunachal and Manipur and repeat it in 2019. This, they have decided, will be built on the plank of tourism in the region," said a senior official in the Tourism Ministry. An image of former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav being shown during a press conference by Pakistan's army spokesman and the Information Minister, in Islamabad, Pakistan. (Photo: AP/File) New Delhi: India may have got a breather from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case, but his well-being still remains a matter of concern as Pakistan has provided no information about his location or health condition. The ICJ had yesterday stayed the execution of 46-year-old Jadhav, who was sentenced to death last month by a Pakistan military court that convicted him of alleged spying and subversive activities. The retired Indian Navy officer has been in Pakistan custody for more than a year. According to government sources, since the case has reached the international court, it is incumbent on Pakistan to produce "material evidence" about his whereabout and well-being. They also stressed on the requirement for Pakistan to produce evidence of proper trial which it claimed to have conducted in the case. Asked if the government has information on Jadhav's location in Pakistan, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Gopal Baglay said, "As of today, the Pakistan government has not provided any information about Jadhav's condition or where he has been kept there. This has been a matter of concern." Last month, India had also asked the Pakistan government to provide a report on his medical condition. On Jadhav's appeal process, he said, "Unfortunately, India has no information on the issue." There is also no information on what has happened to the appeal by Jadhav's mother which was handed over to the Pakistan foreign secretary by the Indian high commissioner in Islamabad, he added. According to the Pakistani side, Jadhav had 40 days to appeal from the date of verdict which was April 10. Baglay also noted that as per the information available, Pakistan has also not taken any action on the visa request by Jadhav's family to travel to Pakistan to meet him and appeal in person, if required. Pakistan claims its security forces arrested the Indian national from its restive Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran. However, India maintains that he was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Navy. Cuttack: The Orissa High Court on Friday granted conditional bail to Trinamool Congress MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay, arrested for his alleged involvement in the Rose Valley Group chit fund scam. The bench of Justice J P Das had reserved the order on his bail plea after hearing arguments from both the prosecution and defence on May 8. Bandyopadhyay had approached the High Court in February seeking regular bail on health grounds after his bail applications were rejected by the designated CBI court in Bhubaneswar and the Khurda district sessions court. The CBI had arrested the Trinamool Congress leader in Lok Sabha from Kolkata on January 3, while probing the scam on the Supreme Court's directions. The CBI has arrested another TMC MP, Tapas Pal, for his alleged involvement in the scam. The agency had earlier accused Rose Valley chairman Gautam Kundu and three others of defrauding investors from across the country of more than Rs 17,000 crore. New Delhi: Expelled AIADMK MP Sasikala Pushpa has approached the Delhi police, alleging that some members of the party were circulating her morphed pictures and obscene articles about her on social media. An FIR has been registered against unidentified persons with the Economic Offences Wing based on a complaint filed by the Rajya Sabha MP and its cyber cell is looking into the matter, Delhi Police PRO Madhur Verma said. The official said the case was registered on the charges of "forgery for harming reputation, criminal intimidation and insulting a woman's modesty". Sasikala, who was expelled from the AIADMK in August last year, had earlier alleged she was slapped by a party leader in Chennai and was facing death threats. She alleged that 15 people belonging to the AIADMK were behind circulating her "morphed" pictures and "obscene" articles on the Internet. The police said that websites have been asked to provide details of it. Doctors have objected to the implementation of the Central Clinical Establishment Act which has been approved by the Telangana Government. They want the existing act in state to be implemented strictly. Hyderabad: Doctors have objected to the implementation of the Central Clinical Establishment Act which has been approved by the Telangana Government. They want the existing act in state to be implemented strictly. Dr Narsing Reddy, the president of the Indian Medical Association of Telangana, says, The State Clinical Establishment Act has been present from 2007. When there is an existing act why does the government require another one? The state act was drafted in consultation with all the stakeholders, but the central act is different. It has clauses that we do not agree with. The IMA believes that the existence of two acts will cause confusion at the ground level. It also believes that not all clinics, hospitals, pathological laboratories and nursing homes follow the existing rules. Records at the District Medical and Health Office of Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy indicate that the number of medical outlets registered in the two districts are 600 and 300 respectively. These numbers are far below the actual number of outlets that exist, which are around 1,800 and 1,000 respectively. Since not all medical outlets are registered, and proper follow up is not carried out by government officers, there isnt adequately accurate data regarding the prevalence of various infectious and seasonal diseases; and the World Health Organisation insists on the maintenance of these records. The existing Integrated Disease Surveillance Program requires the collection of data pertaining to different types of fevers including malaria, dengue, typhoid, Japanese encephalitis, measles, tuberculosis, diarrhoea, cholera, and jaundice. At present, data is collected from government hospitals and only 15 accredited super speciality hospitals. A senior officer says, For most of the numbers we are dependent on media communication and WhatsApp groups. But it has to be verified properly, as it is often misleading. Doctors at private hospitals say that they are ready to share data, but there isnt a user-friendly data collection system in place. In some instances, private setups do not have personnel trained in the collection, maintenance and sharing of data. While there are rules in place, ineffective implementation is the crux of the problem. A senior officer of the state Health Department, on condition of anonymity, says, District Health Officers and small private setups have been unable to follow the existing act. DMHO officers do not carry out regular checks, and private hospitals have failed to renew their registrations. Due to this, the collection of data, prevalence of diseases, hospital rate-cards, and issues regarding patient care are not being monitored effectively. We are trying to do away with these flaws in the central act. The UIDAI has also sought technical details on how access was gained for the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) site -- one of the four portals where the alleged leak happened. (Photo: File/Representational) New Delhi: Aadhaar-issuing authority, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), has asked research firm Centre for Internet and Society (CIS) to explain its sensational claim that 13 crore Aadhaar numbers were leaked and provide details of servers where they are stored currently. In a precursor to initiating a probe into the matter, the UIDAI also wants CIS to clarify just how much of such sensitive data are still with it or anyone else. The UIDAI -- which has vehemently denied any breach of its database -- shot off a letter to CIS on Thursday asking for the details, including the servers where the downloaded sensitive data are residing and information about usage or sharing of such data. Underscoring the importance of bringing to justice those involved in hacking such sensitive information, the UIDAI sought CIS' assistance in this regard and has given it time until May 30 to revert on the issue. Your report mentions 13 crore people's data have been leaked. Please specify how much (of) this data have been downloaded by you or are in your possession, or in the possession of any other persons that you know, the UIDAI said in its communication to CIS. Interestingly, in what market watchers described as an apparent flip-flop, CIS has now clarified that there was no leak' or 'breach' of Aadhaar numbers, but rather 'public disclosure'. Meanwhile, the UIDAI has quoted sections of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Aadhaar Act to emphasise that violation of the clauses are punishable with rigorous imprisonment of up to 10 years. "While your report suggests that there is a need to strengthen IT security of the government websites, it is also important that persons involved in hacking such sensitive information are brought to justice for which your assistance is required under the law," it said. The UIDAI has also sought technical details on how access was gained for the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) site -- one of the four portals where the alleged leak happened. When contacted, UIDAI CEO Ajay Bhushan Pandey said, "We do not comment on individual matters." The UIDAI has also asked for details of systems that were involved in downloading and storing of the sensitive data so that forensic examination of such machines can be conducted to assess the quantum and extent of damage to privacy of data. The UIDAI letter comes after a CIS' report early this month which claimed that Aadhaar numbers and personal information of as many as 135 million Indians could have been leaked from four government portals due to lack of IT security practices. "Based on the numbers available on the websites looked at, estimated number of Aadhaar numbers leaked through these four portals could be around 130-135 million," the report had said. However, in an apparent course correction on May 16, a day before the UIDAI's letter went out -- CIS updated its report and clarified that although the term 'leak' was originally used 22 times in its report, it is "best characterised as an illegal data disclosure or publication and not a breach or a leak". CIS has also claimed that some of its findings were misunderstood or misinterpreted by the media and that it never suggested that the biometric database had been breached. "We completely agree with both Dr Pandey (UIDAI CEO) and Sharma (Trai Chairman R S Sharma) that CIDR (Aadhaar central repository) has not been breached, nor is it suggested anywhere in the report," CIS said in its latest update. CHENNAI: Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palanisamy on Friday asserted that no one except former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa was responsible for his growth in politics and recalled that he was a party functionary in 1974 itself. Palanisami said he began his political career as Sivanmalai branch secretary of the party and formed Jayalalithaa Peravai in 1985. He further said he won from Edappadi constituency in the 1989 Assembly elections when the Jayalalithaa faction contested the elections alone and then was reelected from the same seat in 1991 on the Two Leaves symbol. The Chief Minister recalled that he was chosen as the party candidate for the Tiruchengode Parliament constituency in 1998. He said he was elected from Edappadi seat in the 2011 and 2016 Assembly elections and was made a minister on both the terms. He was nominated as the propaganda secretary and the headquarters secretary by Jayalalithaa, Palanisami said and asserted that no one other than Jayalalithaa was instrumental in his political growth. NASHIK: The Malegaon police on Friday registered a case to probe allegations that the Nathpanthya Davri Gosavi jat panchayat ostracised 10 Nashik families four years ago after a girl had married a relative from her own community against the wishes of her family. The ostracised families are related to the womans husband, Sagar Rajkapoor Shinde. It was the father of the woman, Hema Sagar Shinde, who allegedly approached the panchayat. The Kakhurdi police station in Malegaon tehsil registered the case on a complaint by the couple. The couple took the help of a member of the NGO Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (ANS), Krishna Chandgude, to seek action against the panchayat. According to Ms Shinde, her family had arranged for her to be married to an individual in whom she was not interested on April 15 2012. When she declined, she was allegedly threatened by her family and beaten up. She then contemplated suicide by throwing herself in front of a train. While waiting for the train, however, she called up Mr Shinde and told him her quandary. When he appeared empathetic, she asked him whether he would marry her. He agreed and she went to his house in Malegaon. Mr Shindes father immediately called up Ms Shindes family in Pune and informed them that she was with them. Later, Ms Shindes grandfather Gangaram Shegar, uncles Babaji and Narayan, father Subhash all residents of Daund in Pune - and cousins Sagar, Suresh and Nitin Shegar arrived at Mr Shindes home. According to Ms Shinde, her cousins began abusing her now-husbands family and threatened them with dire consequences if the couple were to get married. Her brothers and uncles allegedly tried to strangle her with her scarf but her husbands family and villagers prevailed and she survived, according to the complaint. On April 17 2012, the family went to the jat panchayat Pune and urged the body to ostracise Mr Shinde and his relatives. Mr Chandgude said that the Maharashtra government had made a law on jat panchayats and sent it the Centre for its sanction. New Delhi: The noose around Karti Chidambaram, son of former finance minister P. Chidambaram, tightened further with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) registering a money laundering case against him and others. The ED has named Karti, INX media and its directors, Peter and Indrani Mukerjea, and others in its probe report. The case has been registered under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Sources said the ED will probe the alleged proceeds of crime generated in this case and may also attach assets of the accused. It is the ED which had provided information about the alleged illegal payments made by INX media, based on which the CBI had filed its FIR, they added. The CBI FIR was made out against Karti, his company Chess Management Services, the Mukerjeas (currently in jail on charges of murder their daughter Sheena Bora), INX Media, Advantage Strategic Consulting Services and its director Padma Vishwanathan. The ED will soon call all accused, including Karti, for questioning, sources said. However, Karti on Thursday left for London on what his father described as a scheduled trip. This is the blog of China defense, where professional analysts and serious defense enthusiasts share findings on a rising military power. New Delhi/Islamabad: Stunned at the setback at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case and with the Nawaz Sharif government facing enormous pressure over the fiasco, Pakistan will constitute a new team of lawyers to vigorously present its case. Meanwhile, eminent lawyer Harish Salve, who successfully argued Indias case at the ICJ, told a TV channel that India had a Plan A and a Plan B in the case. He said the Plan A would involve efforts to secure an outright release of Jadhav from Pakistans custody and (if this was not possible) the Plan B would be to press for an annulment of the death sentence and to get Jadhav proper legal representation in Pakistan so that he can be tried in a manner acceptable to civilised society. Jadhav, an Indian former naval officer, was in April this year sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and sabotage following which India had on May 8, dragged Pakistan to the ICJ. In what was a major victory for India on Thursday, the ICJ at The Hague had barred Pakistan from executing Jadhav till the court pronounces its final decision in the case. The international court is not a court of appeal where we show his innocence. It is a court where we say the procedure which Pakistan had adopted to arrive at this death sentence violates the principles of Vienna Convention which is a multilateral treaty, Mr Salve was quoted by the news channel. He was quoted saying that Plan A is the option to argue that such egregious violation of human rights must compel the man being released. CHENNAI: Popular actor Rajinikanth giving an indication that he would take a decision on entering politics at the time of elections has met with opposition from BJP leaders and Tamil nationalist groups, while others including DMK working president M.K. Stalin reacted cautiously. BJP state president Tamilisai Soundarrajan took strong exception to Rajinikanth appreciating Stalin and other leaders, but leaving out Prime Minister Narendra Modi. When the actor wanted to reform the system, he should have praised Modi, she said and added that Rajinikanth should not have appreciated Stalin who is corrupt. Going a step further, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy said, By merely wearing a black shirt, he cannot become a Dravidian leader, since he is a Marathi. Tamil people will not accept him if he wears a black shirt, he said. BJPs opponent and TNCC president S. Thirunavukkarasar described the actors remarks as a sign of his wish to enter politics. In an apparent reading that Rajinikanth would not join the BJP, Thirunavukkarasar said The actor would not join any national party, but would form his own outfit. Naam Thamizhar leader P. Seeman said only a man born in Tamil soil should rule the state. Tamizhar Desiya Periyakkam leader P. Maniarasan said Rajinikanth is not a Tamil and he was not faithful to Tamil Nadu in the Cauvery row between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Anbumani Ramadoss said Actors have ruled the state for 50 years and this is enough. TN which is in ICU needs a doctor at the helm. Chennai: The woes of Padur are not over with the closure of the tasmac shop, for which almost this entire Dalit village barely 20 km from Chennai had fought. Though the Kancheepuram district collector ordered the closure of the government liquor shop, yielding to public pressure and media glare, the local police are still out with lathis drawn. The shocking truth here is that in the FIR registered at the Kelambakkam police station, 140 people of Padur have been listed as accused-the charge is that they indulged in rioting and damaged government property (liquor) worth Rs 1.60 lakh in that agitation on April 15. On Friday, Inspector A. Govindaraj issued a warning that mass arrests would be resorted to, unless they all obtained anticipatory bail. I got a call from the Inspector today afternoon telling me that he would arrest 114 persons in the FIR, who have not yet obtained anticipatory bail, unless they obtain that by Sunday. How do we arrange for anticipatory bail during the weekend? We are all poor Dalits, said K.A.S. Sudhakar, who was among the protest-leaders. He and 17 others have obtained anticipatory bail, while eight others got released on bail after arrest-which leaves 114 Dalits out in the open. I am merely doing my duty, insisted Inspector Govindaraj. The Chengalpet magistrate has instructed us to arrest these 114 protesters", he told Deccan Chronicle, when asked why the villagers were being harassed even after the Collector ordered the closure of the tasmac shop. Or, perhaps it is this forced closure of the booze shop that is causing problems for the Dalit villagers from influential quarters annoyed by the protest and its positive outcome. Seven-year-old Aakash Anandan had hogged media attention on April 19 by squatting before the tasmac shop in his school uniform and holding a placard in Tamil that read, quit drinking, allow us to study. Now his father Anandan has come under fresh attack from the booze lobby. One Radhakrishnan, owner of the bar built adjacent to the tasmac shop has lodged a complaint with the excise commissioner alleging that Anandan had demanded five lakh rupees as ransom for allowing him to run his business and triggered the anti-tasmac protest when he refused to pay. Anandan approached us with his demand even before we constructed the tasmac shop. We had the required permissions from the revenue officials, the tasmac and the sub-collector. Why should we encourage him? When we did not pay, he triggered that agitation and now he is using his son to make money, Radhakrishnan was quoted saying in online media. Shocked at the 'ransom' charge, Anandan told DC, I have no idea who Radhakrishnan is. How can he frame false charges against me? My son had campaigned for helmets; does that mean we took money from helmet manufacturers? We fight for good causes and the anti-tasmac agitation is just that. A child crusader I would be happy to go to jail if that is for a good cause. That was the spontaneous response from Aakaash Anandan, when DC asked him if he was not scared of police action for taking a leading role in the anti-tasmac stir in his Padur village. The seven-year-old is already a media celebrity with several newspapers, magazines and TV channels featuring his novel protest on April 19 squatting before the tasmac shop in his school uniform and holding a placard in Tamil that said, Kudiyai Vidu, Padikka Vidu (give up liquor, allow us to study). Following that, he met Kancheepuram district collector P. Ponniah along with the villagers to present a petition pleading for closure of the tasmac shop, which was done finally on May 15. The class three student could not have imagined that his social activism would land his family in big trouble, as his father has now been accused of demanding ransom of five lakh rupees from the bar owner for allowing him to run business. My father is an honest man and has taught me moral values. They are making false charges against him because they have lost their liquor shop due to our agitation. This is sad, said the brave kid. Hyderabad: With the government speeding up the works, construction of about 22,000 2BHKs is nearing completion, while another 18,000 houses are in various stages of construction across TS. Approval has been accorded for the construction of 82,000 houses so far. The government has set a target of constructing 2.60 lakh 2BHKs this year, of which 1 lakh would be in GHMC limits alone. This is for the first time in the country that 2BHK houses are being provided to poor for free. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has devised the 2BHK housing scheme in such a manner that government will bear the entire expense and there is no need for beneficiaries to contribute even a single paisa, said housing minister A. Indrakaran Reddy. He reviewed the progress of 2BHKs in old Mahbubnagar district on Friday by visiting the construction sites. Progress was slow in all districts in the first two years as contractors did not come forward to take up projects. After the government offered subsidised cement, free sand and other incentives, the pace of work picked up in the last six months, he added. Mr Reddy said that the CM had allotted 1,400 2BKHs for each Assembly constituency. In GHMC limits, construction activity has commenced in 18 locations. The government is keen to complete 2.60 lakh 2BHKs and hand them over to beneficiaries before the 2019 elections to ensure that the Opposition is unable to go to the people saying that the TRS failed to fulfil its 2014 poll promise. S. Venkatapathi, president of TTCDA said, Online sellers do not have licenses and they do not comply with norms set by the Medical Council of India (MCI). Hyderabad: Telangana Chemists and Druggists Association (TTCDA) will take part in a bandh on May 30 called by All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists to protest against online pharmacy and sale of medicines through e-portals. R. Srinivas, general secretary of TTCDA, said, We are urging the governments at the Centre and at the state to not allow the e-retail system in medicals as it would be a lot of inconvenience to customers. In many villages and remote areas basic infrastructure like power and Internet connection are missing. When a patient walks in to a pharmacy to buy medicines, he will have to wait for a longer time till the retailer finishes the formalities of doing online registration and giving away the medicines, so the process is time consuming. S. Venkatapathi, president of TTCDA said, Online sellers do not have licenses and they do not comply with norms set by the Medical Council of India (MCI). He noted, The Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 (Rule 1945) Section 64(2) provides certain parameters for issuing licenses by which is neglected. The proposed additional fee for operational charges or operating E-platform will be an extra burden on retailers and wholesalers. Average business revenue is not sufficient to invest in required basic infrastructure as proposed in public notice. If the proposed public notice is enacted then there will be no other alternative apart from shutting down the establishments, added the president. Around 50 people had gathered on the bridge to watch the rescue efforts when it gave way and they plunged into the water. (Photo: PTI) Panaji: As rescue efforts were on for two people feared drowned due to the collapse of an ageing bridge on a river in Goa, the state government on Friday said all the dilapidated and unsafe bridges would be dismantled soon. The bridge across Sanvordem river, a tributary of the Zuari in South Goa, collapsed on Thursday evening under the weight of scores of onlookers watching a man trying to commit suicide. The search resumed on Friday morning as several persons are feared missing, which was taken over by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) on Friday afternoon from the Navy and local agency. "The work of preparing a list of dilapidated bridges across the state and then dismantling them will be taken up seriously," State Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai said after visiting the site. "The government will also carry out a safety audit of bridges and those which are found unsafe and not used by commuters, would be dismantled," Sardesai said. The minister met the people who were rescued on Thursday and are being treated at the district hospital in Margao. Two persons had drowned while around 20 swam to safety after the bridge, connecting Sanvordem and Curchorem villages in South Goa district, collapsed. Fourteen people were rescued and taken to nearby hospitals. The rescue operations resumed at 7.30 am on Friday to trace if more lives had been lost. However, the divers of the Indian Navy and a private agency engaged in search stopped the operation in the afternoon as they did not find any more bodies, Superintendent of Police (South) Shekhar Prabhudesai said. "Since morning not a single body was found even though the divers of Indian Navy and Drishti Lifesaving Services, the private agency, have been conducting searches," Prabhudesai added. Meanwhile, an NDRF team from Pune took charge of the search operations. "An NDRF team from Pune has arrived at the site and it is now assessing the situation. We have not yet called off the search and rescue operations," South Goa district collector Swapnil Naik said. "The NDRF team will assess the situation and advise us about whether we should stop the operation or not. Divers from Indian Navy have already stopped the search operation as they could not find any body in the water," Naik added. A spokesman of the Indian Navy said the collapsed part of the bridge had been removed last night. He said since crocodiles are present in the river, precautions are being taken for the safety of the divers. The Portuguese-era bridge collapsed when the fire and emergency services personnel were busy rescuing a man, who tried to commit suicide. Around 50 people had gathered on the bridge to watch the rescue efforts when it gave way and they plunged into the water. The bridge has been closed for traffic for the last four years. Bengaluru: Virtually kicking off his partys campaign for the coming assembly poll, state BJP president B.S.Yeddyurappa declared on Thursday while setting off on his 36-day tour of drought- hit districts that his party would fight this corrupt government in big way and organise protest rallies across the state to take it on. Mr Siddaramaiah has criticised me for going on this tour after it has begun raining in some part of Karnataka, but this is the second leg of my partys tour. Our leaders have already covered over 5000 kms across the state to assess the drought, he said at the inaugural event of his tour in Tumakuru. Once again coming down heavily on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for not releasing funds from the state budget for drought relief work, he charged that it was completely dead, and unresponsive to the peoples needs. Once we come to power, we will waive the farmers loans, but I want to see Mr. Siddaramaiah doing this as well before he quits his post, Mr. Yeddyurappa maintained. Heaping praise on Union Minister for Fertilizers and Chemicals, Ananth Kumar, for reducing the price of urea and increasing its production, he claimed the Centre was doing everything possible to develop the country, but the state governments contribution was zero. It was the BJP government in the state that began work on drinking water projects in Tumakuru, but the Siddaramaiah government has released no money for the district, he charged. Among those present at the function was senior leader, K S Eshwarappa, who has finally decided to join the official party tour despite his differences with Mr Yeddyurappa. Later, the BJP chief visited the Siddaganga Mutt in Tumakuru accompanied by Union ministers, Ananth Kumar and D.V. Sadananda Gowda, before setting off for Chitradurga as part of the tour. New Delhi: Ousted Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) minister Kapil Mishra, upping the ante in the fight against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, has on Friday has challenged the Delhi CM to tell the Income Tax department about Mukesh Kumars donation. Earlier on Friday, businessman Mukesh Sharma had claimed that he had donated Rs 2 crore to AAP in the form of a demand draft. Rubbishing the claims made by Mukesh Kumar of having donated Rs. 2 crore to AAP, Mishra said it was all plotted by Kejriwal to conceal the identity of Hem Prakash Sharma, who is director in several companies. I challenge Arvind Kejriwal to tell Income Tax Department that the donation was received from Mukesh Kumar. Mukesh Kumar's company is a bank defaulter. How can he donate Rs 2 crore to Aam Aadmi Party?, he claimed. "Mukesh Kumar's company is also VAT defaulter. Instead of paying VAT to Delhi government, the company donated money to AAP. Delhi government had issued notice to SKN associates, which later donated money to the party," he added. Mishra also presented evidence to prove that the party received the money through 'hawala network'. He showed a powerpoint presentation in a press conference as 'evidence' to back his claim that the party received funds from shell companies. "Arvind Kejriwal is keeping quiet despite me providing clinching evidence of his corrupt practices. I have also presented evidence on the Hawala charge last Sunday. It has been one week, but no one from the AAP has come up with any clarification. It is evident from this presentation how AAP forged letter heads to shell companies. Even the letter heads were fake," he said. Further alleging the video tweeted by Kejriwal was fake, Mishra said, "I will prove two things. Aam Aadmi Party gets fund from Hawala operators. They are avoiding my questions. The video which was tweeted by Kejriwal on Twitter on Thursday was fake. The letterhead of companies, who gave donation to Aam Aadmi Party are forged , " "Why doesn't the Chief Minister give an answer? Kejriwal will have to leave the country the day party leaders' foreign trips come to light," he continued in a strained vein," he added. Talking to media, Mishra claimed that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had opposed the demonetisation move as it threatened to "derail" his "money laundering" attempts. Mishra said that the AAP had got money funnelled through shell companies and wondered how it accepted donations from companies that were slapped notices "for not paying VAT". "Why did he (Kejriwal) fiercely oppose demonetisation? Why did he travel across the country against the move? Because his men, who hoard black money, were being raided by enforcement agencies," he claimed. Meanwhile, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain has filed a defamation case against Mishra and MLA Manjinder Sirsa. Mishra accused Kejriwal of corruption, claiming that he witnessed Jain handing over Rs 2 crore to the Chief Minister. On Thursday, an east Delhi resident had claimed that he owned the four companies that had donated Rs 50 lakh each to the party in April 2014. Hyderabad: Stating that the BJP doesnt need to visit the houses of Congress leaders and beg them to join the party, TS BJP president K. Laxman on Friday took a dig at TPCC president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and said that only Congress leaders who have a fairly good image would be welcomed. Speaking to newsmen on the eve of the partys national president Amit Shah three-day visit to TS from May 22, Dr Laxman said that the BJP central leadership has included TS in Category-1, the list of states the party plans to go all-out and capture power. We will only pick persons who have a good image in the public. We will welcome those leaders who are in touch with us, there is no need to beg. BJP is the largest party in the world now and with the positive image Prime Minister Narendra Modi enjoys today, many leaders are approaching us on their own to join the BJP, he said. Dr Laxman said that loyal BJP workers will not be ignored and no new leader will be pampered at the cost of the partys old guard. Starting with Amit Shahs visit, we will revamp our party units at various levels; performance will be the sole criteria. We are contemplating announcing party candidates six month before the general elections, he said. In the ongoing hearings on triple talaq, the Supreme Court had asked the All India Muslim Personal Law Board if it would be agreeable to the idea of a woman rejecting triple talaq (uttered in a single sitting, or via SMS) and inscribing this wish in the nikahnama, the marriage contract. On Thursday, the AIMPLB readily accepted the suggestion and said it would pass a resolution to that effect, and send a model nikahnama incorporating this, alongside an advisory to the effect, to qazis, religious officials who preside over Muslim marriages. This is decidedly a step forward, although it doesnt cover women who are already married. Also, by implication, triple talaq itself doesnt become extinct if a woman desires the provision. The BJP government has been campaigning for a ban of triple talaq on the ground of gender equality, although data shows just one per cent of Muslim marriages are affected by it. The AIMPLB has accepted that triple talaq is sinful and has no place in the Quran but has grown through custom and practice over 1,400 years. But it appeared reluctant to let the Supreme Court test its constitutional validity under Article 25 (freedom to practise religion), saying the nations highest court would be up a slippery slope if it did so. AIMPLB counsel Kapil Sibal instead said if the government amended the law, it would be logical for the court to regulate (if a matter came before it). It is salutary that detailed discussions are taking place on social issues and personal laws. Archaeologists in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, northwest China, have discovered 13 sites that have hundreds of Neolithic artifacts, Xinhua was told Thursday. The 13 sites, in the city of Guyuan, include tombs, kilns and cave dwellings, human bones, and pottery utensils and fragments of red and black pottery. "The sites have been linked to the Qijia culture, around 4,000 years ago, which was a transitional period from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age," said Ma Qiang with the Ningxia Regional Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology. "The discoveries at the sites will be used to inform research into the Qijia Culture," he said. The sites were found during a month-long project. Archaeologists also discovered 10 sites containing artifacts and tombs from the Zhou Dynasty (1046-221 BC), which could be used by researchers concerned with the relationship between ethnic minorities and the Great Wall. Ma told Xinhua that the team had applied for an excavation license. It makes me laugh when I meet gullible foreigners during my travels, and they get glassy eyed about India and Indians. You are so fortunate to live in such a spiritual country! they often say, their eyes moist, their voices quivering. Sometimes, when I am playing the Wicked Witch from the East to the hilt, I egg them on and talk in lofty terms about our great heritage, our holy men and women, our incredible culture. I make no reference to holy cows, of course. After a five-minute discourse, I leave the group in a semi-trance, as they nod their heads and agree India is indeed an evolved place to be the land of karma. And the Kama Sutra. They cant hear me laugh! I was thinking about how glibly we lie and fib and concoct a misleading mythology about our inner peace, our tranquillity, our souls. All bogus claims. Just look around you at the levels of rage and violence across the board. Nobody is spared. Today, doctors and nurses are getting beaten up by irate patients. Road rage takes several lives daily. We seem to hate everybody. And blame the world for everything thats going wrong. Scan newspaper headlines at your own peril. Most front page stories are about violence in some form or the other. Beheadings cause the most revulsion. As expected. When our soldiers are mutilated and murdered, national outrage overwhelms one billion patriots who start baying for the enemys blood. Gory revenge and vendetta sagas, which drive the TRPs of soap operas across the world, are played out in India so routinely, nobody really blinks. Stories of young brides being tortured and hacked to death over a few pieces of gold elicit yawns, not howls of protest. Children being abused at home, at school, just about anywhere, are greeted with a sense of deja vu (Didnt I read the same story yesterday? No? Oh well... it sounds identical!). The only ones to escape collective rage so far are our politicians. And that, to me, is the biggest mystery. How come we treat netas with so much consideration? Apart from a few notable cases of face blackening and similar humiliation, even our most despised politicians get away with murder literally and figuratively. We like to think we are a calm people. Philosophical and fatalistic. Not true! We are pretty horrid! To each other and others. Notice how rapidly an altercation on a busy road grows into a full-blown street fight with idle bystanders and complete strangers getting into a brawl and landing a few punches without having a clue what the cause of the argument was in the first place. Were we always like this? Thats a question for sociologists to answer. But I can tell you, as compared to my own childhood years, the level of public warfare has dramatically escalated. And here, I am not even bothering to include the hatred one finds on the social media. Our trolls are pretty unique! Talking to a psychologist on this issue recently, I was given a few insights into the warped national psyche and how the average Indian is a far more aggressive creature than the earlier generation. We are touchier. And far less patient. We want instant resolutions to conflict. If a bride has not produced a son in the first year of her marriage, its okay to kill her and get another one. If the neighbour argues about noise pollution emanating from your home, its fine to set his car on fire. If the food in the restaurant is not good enough, breaking plates and cursing the chef is considered justifiable conduct. We stone stray dogs, we kill elephants, we attack animals why? Because we can. And of course we lynch those we suspect. Suspect? It could be any suspicion. But these days it involves cows and buffaloes. Neighbours are top targets, specially if their religious beliefs and food habits are different from ours. We spew hate with such generosity, it kills! None of this offends or shocks. We rapidly move on to the next horror show. When did we become this dehumanised? Today, we expect our learned judges to run the country. Most of them are only too happy to oblige. Never mind that one judge from Kolkata is notoriously off-the-wall... even his shenanigans are treated casually. Cruelty and callousness have come to define urban living. More and more stories have started to surface about neighbours lying dead inside locked apartments for months before anybody complains. We used to pat ourselves on the back and boast that our padosis were like an extended family. Today, the nuclear family itself is rapidly breaking up. Get used to it, we tell ourselves. There will be more acid attacks, hangings, suicides and murders, as we rage on... Take a look at the faces of motorists in adjoining cars at traffic signals. Notice their expressions flared nostrils, furrowed foreheads and angry eyes. Scowls. No smiles. And as for greetings and conversation even with co-passengers forget it! I tell myself: Its a phase... India is in transition. Once we figure out who we are, everything will be just fine. I know I am kidding myself. Can a country sign up for anger management courses? The Indian summer is upon us. My brain is melting. I want to jump on that flight out to a kinder, gentler place. I am sure it exists. Will let you know if and when I find it. Happy vacations! Yay, I got accepted, was what the teen Mark Zuckerberg said after learning he got into the prestigious university Harvard. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg on May 18 shared a video, shot by his dad, on social media showing the moment he found he got accepted into Harvard. My dad took this video when I got accepted to Harvard. Next week I'm going back for commencement to get my degree, the 33-year-old Zuckerberg wrote in his post. Mr. Zuckerberg enrolled in Harvard College in 2002 as a member of the class of 2006. However, later after two years he dropped out of the elite university and moved to Silicon Valley to devote his full time to a social media website he developed during his college daysthat evolved into Facebook. Mr. Zuckerberg is now said to be the fifth richest person in the world with Facebook worth an estimated $58.6 billion. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Cairo: Sudan's state news agency says Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who has been indicted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court, will not attend the Islamic Summit in Saudi Arabia where US President Donald Trump is the guest of honour. SUNA news agency says today al-Bashir has excused himself from attending the summit Sunday "for personal reasons." It didn't elaborate. More than 50 Muslim leaders are expected to attend the summit in Riyadh. Al-Bashir's invitation to the summit was a source of unease for US officials. Washington had shunned al-Bashir, who has been Sudan's leader since 1989, and is wanted by the ICC on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Sudan's Darfur region. The UN estimates 300,000 people have died in the last decade as conflict raged in the region. New York: A 26-year-old Indian-American man is reported missing in Boston and police is 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. Jayakumar's 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, 5'6'' 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. Patel arrived at the Atlanta airport on May 10 on a flight from Ecuador. (Photo: AFP) New York: A 58-year-old Indian who was detained by American customs officials last week for not possessing necessary immigration documents while entering the country died in custody at an Atlanta hospital. Atul Kumar Babubhai Patel was taken in custody by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Atlanta City Detention Center for two days. He died on Tuesday afternoon at the hospital with the officials stating the preliminary cause of his demise as complications from congestive heart failure. Patel arrived at the Atlanta airport on May 10 on a flight from Ecuador. US Customs and Border Protection subsequently denied him entry into the country as he did not possess the necessary immigration documents, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said in a statement. Patel was transferred into the ICE custody last week at the Atlanta City Detention Center where he received an initial medical screening and was found to have high blood pressure and diabetes. On Saturday, two days after being in the ICE custody, a nurse checking Patel's blood sugar noticed he had a breathing problem following which he was shifted to a hospital where he passed away. ICE said it is firmly committed to the health and welfare of all those in its custody and is "undertaking a comprehensive agency-wide review of the incident, as it does in all such cases". The agency informed the Indian consular representatives who notified Patel's kin about his demise. The agency added that fatalities in its custody are "exceedingly rare" and occur at a fraction of the rate of the US detained population as a whole. Patel is the eighth such individual who died in the custody of ICE the fiscal year 2017. Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force Su-30 fighter, right, flies along with a H-6K bomber as they take part in a drill near the East China Sea. (Photo: AP) Washington: Two Chinese SU-30 aircraft carried out what the US military described on Thursday as an "unprofessional" intercept of a US aircraft designed to detect radiation while it was flying in international airspace over the East China Sea. "The issue is being addressed with China through appropriate diplomatic and military channels," said Air Force spokeswoman Lieutenant Colonel Lori Hodge. Hodge said the US characterization of the incident was based on initial reports from the US aircrew aboard the WC-135 Constant Phoenix aircraft "due to the maneuvers by the Chinese pilot, as well as the speeds and proximity of both aircraft." "Distances always have a bearing on how we characterize interactions," Hodge said, adding a US military investigation into the intercept was underway. She said the WC-135 was carrying out a routine mission at the time and was operating in accordance with international law. China is deeply suspicious of any US military activity in the resource-rich South China Sea. On Feb. 8, a US Navy P-3 spy plane and a Chinese military aircraft came close to each other over the South China Sea in an incident the Navy saw as unsafe but also inadvertent. Reuters reported at the time that the aircraft came within 1,000 feet (305 meters) of each other in the vicinity of the Scarborough Shoal, between the Philippines and the Chinese mainland. Shaw was at home for winter break in 2015, struggling to find a topic for a written thesis, when he told his mother, Michelle Shaw, about the creative thesis option. (Photo: AP) Boston: While other Harvard University students were writing papers for their senior theses, Obasi Shaw was busy rapping his. Shaw is the first student in Harvard's history to submit a rap album as a senior thesis in the English Department, the university said. The album, called "Liminal Minds," has earned the equivalent of an A-minus grade, good enough to guarantee that Shaw will graduate with honours next week. Count Shaw among those most surprised by the success. "I never thought it would be accepted by Harvard," said Shaw, a 20-year-old from Stone Mountain, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. "I didn't think they would respect rap as an art form enough for me to do it." Shaw describes the 10-track album as a dark and moody take on what it means to be black in America. Each song is told from a different character's perspective, an idea inspired by Geoffrey Chaucer's 14th-century classic "The Canterbury Tales." Shaw, who's black, also draws on the works of writer James Baldwin while tackling topics ranging from police violence to slavery. Shaw's thesis adviser, Harvard English lecturer Josh Bell, said Shaw is a "serious artist and he's an amazing guy." "He was able to turn around an album that people in the English Department would like very much but also that people who like rap music might like," Bell said. Harvard undergraduates aren't obligated to submit senior theses, but most departments require it to graduate with honors. Often it takes the form of a research paper, but students can apply to turn in an artistic work as a creative thesis. Some submit screenplays, novels or poetry collections. Shaw was at home for winter break in 2015, struggling to find a topic for a written thesis, when he told his mother, Michelle Shaw, about the creative thesis option. He had recently started writing his own raps and performing them at open-microphone nights on campus. His mother connected the dots and suggested he record an album for his thesis. It took Shaw more than a year to write the songs and record them at a studio on Harvard's campus. His friends supplied many of the beats, while he taught himself how to mix the tracks into a polished product. "I'm still not satisfied with the quality of the production just yet, but I'm constantly learning and growing," Shaw said. Rap and hip-hop have drawn growing interest from academia in recent years. Harvard established a fellowship for scholars of hip-hop in 2013, and other schools including the University of Arizona have started to offer minors in hip-hop studies. Clemson University announced in February that a doctoral student submitted a 34-track rap album as his dissertation, a first for the South Carolina University. Shaw plans to circulate the album online for free and hopes it opens doors to the music industry. In the meantime, he's headed to Seattle to work as a software engineer at Google. New York: A US court has sentenced two persons to three years in prison after charging them with hate crime for brutally assaulting a Sikh-American man last year in California. Chase Little and Colton Leblanc were found guilty of felony assault and hate crime charges. They were sentenced to a three-year term in the California state prison for attacking Maan Singh Khalsa. Khalsa, a Sikh American father and IT specialist, was brutally assaulted in Richmond Bay area, California in September last year. The Sikh-American was stopped at an intersection and the attackers got out of their truck and assaulted by hitting his face repeatedly, knocking off his turban and cutting his religiously-mandated unshorn hair with a knife. "The recognition of the attack as a hate crime as harm to my dignity and my entire community is the first step in the process," said Khalsa, who had recognised his attackers during his statement in court on Thursday. "I still consider you my brothers, and I hope that you will learn about me and my community, and one day consider me your brother, too," he said according to a statement issued on Thursday yesterday by the rights group named The Sikh Coalition. Prior to the charges, the coalition, community leaders, and a group of civil rights organisations advocated vigorously on behalf of Khalsa, urging for a hate crime investigation and prosecution. "The attack upon Khalsa based upon his perceived religion and identity is an attack upon us all," Contra Costa County Deputy District Attorney Simon O Connell said. "As a community we must do better and it is my hope that today's sentence moves us further in that direction, he said. The Sikh Coalition said in the last 15 years after the 9/11 attack, Sikhs remain hundreds of times more likely to be targeted in cases of profiling, bigotry and backlash than the average American. In March this year, a Sikh man was shot in Kent city of Washington state after the attacker told him to "go back to your own country", it said. In May, Sikh-American Prabhjot Singh who has experienced hate violence firsthand testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee about the urgent need to address hate crimes in the United States. "Acknowledging that this bias-based attack is a hate crime under state law both recognises the deep dignitary harm to Khalsa, and ensures that we, as a society, confront the problems of Islamophobia, racism and xenophobia that make the Sikh community a target for violence," the coalition's staff attorney Pawanpreet Kaur said. Xavier was convicted by guilty plea in January on two counts of wire fraud. (Representational Image) New York: A 44-year-old Indian-American has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for duping over a 100 investors of USD 33 million through fraudulent schemes. Navin Shankar Subramaniam Xavier, a resident of Florida, was the former Chief Executive Officer of Essex Holdings, the company through which he carried out two fraud schemes. He was sentenced on Thursday to 15 years in prison by US District Judge Darrin Gayles in Miami. The first scheme involved nearly 100 investors who purchased USD 30 million worth of promissory notes purported secured by interests in iron ore mining in Chile. The second scheme involved unlawfully obtaining USD 1.2 million in economic development funds as well as valuable industrial property from the State of South Carolina. Xavier was convicted by guilty plea in January on two counts of wire fraud. One wire fraud count related to the investment fraud scheme and the other count to the South Carolina economic development scheme. According to documents filed in court, from September 2010 through May 2014, Xavier operated Essex Holdings from an office in Miami and rose more than USD 30 million from nearly 100 investors for supposed investments in sugar transportation and shipping, as well as iron ore mining in Chile. He used false financial statements, forged documents and false promises of fixed rates of return, to induce people to invest in company. Most of the money was used for purposes other than what was promised, including to support lavish spending by Xavier and his wife for expensive jewelry, luxury vehicles, wedding expenses, and cosmetic surgery. Eventually, Xavier used new investor money to pay old investors in a Ponzi-like fashion before the scheme collapsed. Evidence filed in court showed that the actual investor losses from the scheme exceeded USD 29 million. The second scheme involved Xavier using Essex Holdings to obtain USD 1.2 million in payments and approximately USD 1.5 million worth of commercial real estate from the South Carolina Coordinating Council for Economic Development (SCCCED), a division of the South Carolina state government that was supposed to be used to develop a dilapidated industrial property into a diaper plant and rice packaging facility. According to documents filed in the court, he provided false financial documentation to SCCCED in order to obtain the contract, and later provided fake contractor invoices and fake bank statements in order to get paid under the contract. As with the investment fraud scheme, Xavier spent a significant portion of the development money for his personal expenses, and wired some of it to the same overseas accounts used in the investment fraud. The sentencing in the case is scheduled for August 11. (FIle Photo) Washington: An Indian-American woman from Alabama has pleaded guilty to her involvement in a multi-million dollar scam in which people in the US were cheated by India-based call centres. Nilam Parikh, 46, pleaded guilty before US District Court Judge David Hittner of southern district of Texas. She along with three other Indian nationals committed the frauds, the US Justice Department said on Thursday. The sentencing in the case is scheduled for August 11. According to the admissions made in connection with the plea, Parikh and her co-conspirators perpetrated a complex scheme in which individuals from call centres located in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad posed as IRS or US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officials to defraud people located across America, it said. Using information obtained from data brokers and other sources, the operators of the call centres targeted victims and threatened them with arrest, imprisonment, fines or deportation if they did not pay the alleged monies owed to the government. Those who agreed to pay the scammers were instructed how to make the payment, including by purchasing stored value cards or wiring money. After the payment, the call center employees would immediately turn to a network of "runners" based in the US to liquidate and launder the fraudulently-obtained funds, the Justice Department said. Since December 2013, Parikh worked as a runner operating in Alabama. In connection with her plea, Parikh admitted that at the direction of an India-based co-conspirator, often via WhatsApp texts, she purchased reloadable cards registered with misappropriated personal identifying information of US citizens. Once the fraudulently proceeds were loaded onto those cards, she liquidated them on the cards and transferred the funds into various bank accounts, while keeping some part of the funds for herself. Parikh also admitted to sending and receiving scam proceeds to and from her co-conspirators via Federal Express. Till date, Parikh and 55 other individuals and five India-based call centres have been charged for their roles in the fraud and money laundering scheme in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Texas on October 19, 2016. 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. The official said in Israel, she will visit the Western Wall with the president, and in Rome, she will discuss human trafficking. (Photo: AP) Washington: Ivanka Trump will travel with the president to Saudi Arabia, Israel and Italy on his upcoming foreign trip. Ivanka Trump is a senior adviser to President Donald Trump. A White House adviser says that Ivanka Trump will be along for six days of the nine-day trip, which begins on Friday. She'll join her father for some events and also hold some of her own. The official insisted on anonymity in order to discuss planning details. The official says in Saudi Arabia, Ivanka Trump will take part in a roundtable to discuss women's economic issues. Ivanka Trump converted to Judaism when she married husband Jared Kushner. The official says in Israel, she will visit the Western Wall with the president, and in Rome, she will discuss human trafficking. Clay is facing a mandatory prison term for life and will not be eligible for parole. (Photo: AP) Michigan: A man has been convicted of accidentally choking and murdering a 22-year-old woman while they were having aggressive sex in his car. According to a report in Daily Mail, the 28-year-old man, Daniel Clay met 22-year-old Chelsea Bruck at a Halloween party. Bruck was last seen after the party on October 26, 2014 in Frenchtown Township, Michigan. She went missing after the party and her body was found six months later in the woods nearby. On the night of the incident, Bruck and Clay had consumed drugs and alcohol at the party. DNA evidence on the victims costume led investigators to Clay and he was arrested following which he was found guilty of first-degree murder. Prosecutors said that injuries on Brucks face suggested that she had been beaten by Clay. He claimed that he accidentally choked her to death while they were having rough sex after the party in his car. Prosecutor Michael Roehrig said, The defendant murdered Chelsea Bruck, then discarded her lifeless, naked body. Clearly he never wanted to be caught. Clay is facing a mandatory prison term for life and will not be eligible for parole. After completing a maintenance period and sea trials in Yokosuka, Japan, the USS Ronald departed for the Korean Peninsula. (Photo: AP) New York: The US Navy has dispatched the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier to the Korean Peninsula, where it will conduct dual-carrier training exercises with the USS Carl Vinson amid heightened tensions in the region. This significant development comes days after United States has warned that North Korea's latest ballistic missile launch is potentially more dangerous than previous launches. After completing a maintenance period and sea trials in Yokosuka, Japan, the USS Ronald departed for the Korean Peninsula. "Coming out of along in-port maintenance period we have to ensure that Ronald Regan and the remainder of the strike group are integrated properly as we move forward," The CNN quoted Rear Adm. Charles Williams as saying. The North Korea has also continued its barrage of aggressive language, its forces are combat-ready to sink a US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier with a single strike, the state media reported. There was also no claim of responsibility for the attack in Logar but Salleh, the spokesman, accused the Taliban of planting the roadside bomb. (Photo: AP/Representational) Kabul: A roadside bombing killed 11 people in eastern Afghanistan on Friday as they were travelling to a wedding in the country's east, a local official said. Also today, five Afghan policemen were killed in fighting with the Taliban in eastern Kapisa province. Earlier, a policeman turned his rifle on his colleagues as they slept at an outpost in eastern Nangarhar province on Thursday night, killing five. Those killed by the roadside bomb in Logar province - five women, five children and a man - were all from the same family, said Salim Salleh, the spokesman for the provincial governor of Logar. In Kapisa, the Taliban attacked a police checkpoint early today morning, killing five policemen, according to Qais Qaderi, the spokesman for the provincial governor. He said the assault took place in Tagab district, adding that 10 Taliban fighters were also killed, including two commanders. In the Thursday night attack, district governor, Abdul Wahab Momand, said the policeman shot his colleagues at an outpost in the district of Ghanikhil. After the shooting, the attacker, who was only identified by one name, Nasratullah, seized all the victims' firearms and fled the scene, the governor said. Neither the Taliban nor the Islamic State group the two militant groups who operate in the area immediately claimed responsibility for the attack in Nangarhar, a mountainous province that borders Pakistan. There was also no claim of responsibility for the attack in Logar but Salleh, the spokesman, accused the Taliban of planting the roadside bomb. Afghanistan has the highest number of mine victims in the world, which along with roadside bombs kill or wound an estimated 140 people every month. The Taliban have stepped up their attacks since announcing their spring offensive last month. Elsewhere in Afghanistan, another roadside bomb targeted a US militarily convoy in northern Parwan province on Friday, the international mission's media officer, Doug High, said. The explosion disabled an armoured vehicle but caused no injuries, High said. After recovering the vehicle, the convoy continued on its mission, he added. The unidentified man doused himself with gasoline before lighting himself on fire outside the gate of the embassy around noon, police said. (Photo: AP) Bangkok: Thai police said an Iranian man set himself on fire Friday in front of the Iranian Embassy in Bangkok to protest his country's presidential election. The unidentified man doused himself with gasoline before lighting himself on fire outside the gate of the embassy around noon, police said. The man suffered burns all over his body and was taken to a hospital. Pol Lt Col Noppadol Samart said the man was protesting on Friday's presidential vote in Iran, though he did not know exactly what about the election the man was opposed to. Iranians are voting in the first presidential election since the country's nuclear deal with world powers. The election is largely viewed as a referendum on the current president's more moderate policies as well as economic issues. Paris: Emerging from her crushing defeat in France's presidential contest, far-right leader Marine Le Pen said Thursday she will run for a parliamentary seat in June elections and that her National Front party has "an essential role" in a new political landscape. Le Pen will run for a seat in a district in her northern stronghold of Henin-Beaumont, a hardscrabble former mining region where she lost a similar bid in 2012. A new failure could jinx her bid to unite the National Front and to make it France's leading opposition party. "I cannot imagine not being at the head of my troops in a battle I consider fundamental," Le Pen said in an interview on the TF1 television station, her first public appearance since her May 7 loss to centrist Emmanuel Macron. Le Pen announced her candidacy while facing forces of division that could frustrate her new goals. Her popular niece is leaving politics, her disruptive father is back in the ring and her party is in disarray. At the same time, Macron has upset the political equation, drawing from the left and right to win the presidency and to create his government. The new president now is looking across the political spectrum to obtain a parliamentary majority to support his agenda. "We are in reality the only opposition movement," Le Pen said. "We will have an essential role to play (and) a role in the recomposing of political life," she said, reiterating her contention that the left-right divide has been replaced by "globalists, Europeanists and nationalists" like herself. Le Pen is counting on the 10.6 million votes she received as a presidential candidate to propel her anti-immigration party into parliament in the June 11 and June 18 elections. The party also hopes to pick up votes from "electoral orphans" unsatisfied with Macron and feeling betrayed by the mainstream right, National Front Secretary-General Nicolas Bay said this week. The National Front plans to field candidates for each of France's 577 electoral districts, hoping to block Macron's movement from obtaining a majority of seats and to secure a strong bloc of its own to counter his new government. Le Pen dismissed the notion that there were links between her loss and a series of events widely seen as potentially weakening the National Front. The party recently lost a rising star who served as a unifier on its conservative southern flank. One of the National Front's two current lawmakers - Le Pen's niece, Marion Marechal-Le Pen announced last week that she was leaving politics, at least temporarily. Enter Jean-Marie Le Pen, who likened his granddaughter's exit from politics to a "desertion." The elder Le Pen, who was expelled from the party he co-founded because of his penchant for making anti-Semitic comments, is backing up to 200 parliamentary candidates through an ultra-conservative alliance, the Union of Patriots. Some of the five parties represented in the alliance are headed by former National Front militants who, like Jean-Marie Le Pen, were expelled by his daughter in her bid to scrub up the party's image for the presidential contest. His own Jeanne Committees will present some 35 of the 200 candidates. The decision smacks of revenge, but the elder Le Pen's aide denied that was the case. "This is not meant to cause trouble for the National Front. It is to defend the values that the National Front no longer defends," the aide, Lorrain de Saint Affrique, said. The risk that other far-right parties would challenge the National Front "has existed since the National Front decided to exclude Jean-Marie Le Pen," De Saint Affrique said. "They should have thought of that then." The competition from all but obscure parties is not a substantial threat to Le Pen, but mirrors frustrations roiling the National Front, some of which became public following Le Pen's defeat. More menacing, her top lieutenant, Florian Philippot suggested after Le Pen's loss to Macron that he would leave the party if it decided to do away with the goal of leaving the euro currency - a divisive proposal but at the top of Le Pen's presidential platform. "I'm not there to keep a post at any price and defend the reverse of my deep convictions," he said last week on RMC radio. Le Pen conceded Thursday that the subject of the euro "considerably worried the French" and would be discussed after the parliamentary elections. "We will have to take this into account, reflect," she said. She welcomed Philippot's launching this week of an association, called The Patriots, which could be seen as the budding of a potential rival, like the movement Macron started 13 months ago, En Marche (On the Move). The Hague: Pakistan violated Kulbhushan Jadhav's basic human rights by not allowing India consular access to him, Justice Dalveer Bhandari, the Indian judge on the ICJ bench, said in his declaration in the case. The declaration was issued along with the unanimous ruling of the International Court of Justice staying the execution of Jadhav, sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court for alleged espionage. "The case gives rise to questions pertaining to the basic violation of human rights through the denial of consular access during the pendency of court proceedings in Pakistan, which culminated with Jadhav's death sentence," Judge Bhandari, who has been a member of the ICJ since April 2012, said. He outlined the facts pertaining to India's application instituting proceedings as well as to India's request for provisional measures. He stated four requirements for the indication of provisional measures -- prima facie jurisdiction; plausibility; real and imminent risk of irreparable prejudice and the link between the rights claimed on the merits and the provisional measures requested. Bhandari mentioned the role of the 2008 India-Pakistan Agreement on Consular Access. He agreed with the court that there is nothing which prima facie suggests that the parties, by concluding the 2008 Agreement, had limited or set aside their reciprocal obligations under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. On the contrary, the 2008 Agreement amplifies, confirms and extends the parties' reciprocal obligations relating to consular assistance, for which the Vienna Convention is a framework. Therefore, the 2008 Agreement does not exclude the Court's jurisdiction in the present case," he said. He stressed that India did not rely on the 2008 Agreement, but only claimed the violation of the Vienna Convention. He said the rights claimed by India on the merits were plausible because they concerned consular access to a person who was indisputably an Indian national, who had been arrested, tried and convicted in a foreign country. "Therefore, it is plausible that India holds the rights it is claiming in the circumstances of the case, namely with respect to Jadhav," he said. Concerning real and imminent risk of irreparable prejudice, he stated the similarities between the present case and the three previous death penalty and Vienna Convention-related cases fought at the world court during the trial. The three cases were Mexico vs US, Germany vs US and Paraguay vs US. "In addition to issues of consular relations, this is a case in which it regrettably appears, on a preliminary examination of the facts, that the basic human rights of Jadhav have been violated by not allowing India to have consular access to him after his arrest and during the pendency of the criminal proceedings against him in Pakistan," he said. The UN's highest judicial body also asked Pakistan to take "all measures" to ensure that Jadhav, sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court for alleged espionage, was not executed till the court had delivered its final verdict on the issue. India welcomed the court's unanimous decision on Jadhav, 46, while Islamabad said it had informed the ICJ that it did not accept the court's jurisdiction in matters related to national security. Pakistan, which announced the sentence on Jadhav on April 10, claims its security forces arrested him from its restive Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran. However, India maintains that he was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Navy. Jadhav's case is the latest flash-point in the tensions between Pakistan and India. The two countries last faced off at the ICJ 18 years ago when Islamabad sought its intervention over the shooting down of its naval aircraft. Moscow: Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said on Friday that a US military strike against militia supported by the Syrian government had hit civilians and was unacceptable, Russian news agencies reported. Gatilov, who the agencies said was speaking in Geneva, said the US strike had violated Syria's sovereignty and would not help efforts to find a political solution to the conflict there. The US military carried out the air strike on Thursday against militia supported by the Syrian government that posed a threat to US and US backed Syrian fighters in the country's south, US officials said. A military source on the Syrian government side said on Friday that the air strike had hit "one of our military points", without elaborating, Syrian state TV reported. The air strike late on Thursday killed several people and caused material damage, the source said, saying that this hampered efforts by the Syrian army and its allies to fight Islamic State. Stockholm: Swedish prosecutors Friday dropped a seven-year rape investigation into Julian Assange, a legal victory for the WikiLeaks founder who has been holed up in the Ecuadoran embassy in London since 2012. "Director of Public Prosecution, Marianne Ny, has today decided to discontinue the investigation regarding suspected rape by Julian Assange," the prosecutor's office said in a statement. Friday was the deadline for the public prosecutor's office to either renew or lift Assange's arrest warrant before a Stockholm court. Shortly after the decision, Assange posted a picture of himself smiling broadly, without comment. Ny and Chief Prosecutor Ingrid Isgren are to brief reporters on the decision at 12:00pm (1000 GMT) on Friday. The 45-year-old Australian has always denied the 2010 allegations, which he feared would see him extradited to the United States and tried over the leaking of hundreds of thousands of secret US military and diplomatic documents. He has been living at the Ecuadoran embassy in London since 2012 and risks being arrested by British police if he steps out of the building. British police have said they will arrest Assange as soon as he walks out of the embassy because he has broken his conditions for bail -- a relatively minor offence under British law -- by failing to surrender on June 29, 2012 for extradition to Sweden. Assange's Swedish lawyer last month filed a new motion demanding that the arrest warrant be lifted after US Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in April that arresting Assange would be "a priority". "This implies that we can now demonstrate that the US has a will to take action... this is why we ask for the arrest warrant to be cancelled so that Julian Assange can fly to Ecuador and enjoy his political asylum," lawyer Per Samuelsson told AFP at the time. The accusation against Assange dated from August 2010 when the alleged victim, who says she met him at a WikiLeaks conference in Stockholm a few days earlier, filed a complaint. She accused him of having sex with her as she slept without using a condom despite repeatedly having denied him unprotected sex. Endless delays "I am entirely innocent," Assange wrote in a 19-page testimony released in December 2016. He argues that the sex was consensual and has denounced the accusations as "politically motived". The investigation had suffered from multiple procedural complications since it began. The statute of limitations on the rape allegation expires in August 2020. In a letter sent to the Swedish government on May 8, Ecuador condemned "the obvious lack of progress" in the investigation despite Assange's questioning in the presence of the Swedish prosecutor at the embassy in November 2016. "It is extremely worrying that six months after the hearing at the Embassy of Ecuador in the United Kingdom, the Swedish prosecutor's office has not yet decided on the judicial situation of Julian Assange," the Ecuadoran Foreign Ministry said in the letter seen by AFP. Swedish judges have refused to take into account the opinion of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which in February 2016 said Assange was effectively "arbitrarily detained" by Sweden and Britain and called for the arrest warrant to be annulled. Stockholm: British police said WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange would still be arrested if he leaves the Ecuadorean embassy in London after Swedish prosecutors said on Friday they would drop a preliminary investigation into an allegation of rape against him. Assange, 45, has been holed up in the embassy since 2012 after skipping bail to avoid extradition to Sweden over the allegation of rape, which he denies. "Westminster Magistrates' Court issued a warrant for the arrest of Julian Assange following him failing to surrender to the court on the 29 June 2012," London police said in a statement. "The Metropolitan Police Service is obliged to execute that warrant should he leave the Embassy. Don't be surprised when you ask an expat in China for a business card, he offers to add you to his WeChat account. A new survey has found they are more active on the popular social media app than Chinese. An Italian follower of WeChat Italy displaying VougueItalia OA. [Photo/Xinhua] According to a report released by WeChat, a service by Tencent Holdings Ltd, on Wednesday, foreigners send 60 percent more messages each month compared with typical Chinese users born in the 1980s or the 1990s. It also showed that expats living in China favor communicating through emoji stickers, voice calls and video chats, using them 45 percent, 42 percent and 13 percent more respectively than Chinese. Six out of 10 foreigners said they use WeChat Pay for transportation, food deliveries, restaurants, hotels, supermarkets and online shopping. Red envelopes, a digitalized Chinese tradition of sending each other a sum of money as a gift, is also frequently used by foreigners, who send 10 red envelopes monthly on average through WeChat. Shintaro Koido, a 27-year-old teacher in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, said he usually sends red envelopes to his colleagues during the Chinese Lunar New Year. "I like to use WeChat because it combines all aspects of other social media, such as video, picture sharing, payments, voice calls, all in one," he said. Raz Gal-Or, a 22-year-old Israeli student at Peking University and co-founder of a program to study the behavior of expats in China, said he found mobile phone apps and online games developed by Chinese companies were becoming more and more popular with them. An 11-year-old cyber ninja stunned an audience of security experts on Tuesday by hacking into a teddy bear via bluetooth to show how interconnected smart toys can be weaponised. American wunderkid Reuben Paul may be still only in 5th grade at his school in Austin, Texas, but he and his teddy bear Bob wowed hundreds at a timely cyber security conference in The Netherlands. From airplanes to automobiles, from smart phones to smart homes, anything or any toy can be part of the Internet of Things (IOT), he said. From terminators to teddy bears, anything or any toy can be weaponised. To demonstrate, he deployed his cuddly bear, which connects to the icloud via wifi and bluetooth smart technology to receive and transmit messages. Plugging into his laptop a rogue device known as a raspberry pi a small credit card size computer Reuben scanned the hall for available bluetooth devices, and to everyones amazement including his own, suddenly downloaded dozens of numbers including some of top officials. Then using a computer language programme, called Python, he hacked into his bear via its bluetooth address to turn on one of its lights and record a message from the audience. Most internet-connected things have a bluetooth functionality ... I basically showed how I could connect to it, and send commands to it, by recording audio and playing the light, he said. IOT home appliances, things that can be used in our everyday lives, our cars, lights, refrigerators, everything like this that is connected can be used and weaponised to spy on us or harm us. They can be used to steal private information such as passwords, as remote surveillance to spy on kids, or employ a GPS to find out where a person is. More chillingly, a toy could say meet me at this location and I will pick you up, Reuben said. His father, information technology expert Mano Paul, told how aged about six Reuben had revealed his early IT skills, correcting him during a business call. Tehran (Iran): Iranians head to the polls Friday to vote in the Islamic Republics presidential election. The contest is largely seen as a referendum on the incumbent presidents more moderate political stance, which helped pave the way for the countrys nuclear deal with world powers. President Hassan Rouhani is widely seen as the front-runner after his moderate administration struck the atomic accord. He could face tough competition from hard-line cleric Ebrahim Raisi, who is perceived to be close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Two other candidates also are running. Under Irans constitution, the supreme leader has final say on all state matters. Irans president is subordinate but still powerful, with considerable influence over both domestic policy and foreign affairs. Heres a look at the candidates competing. Hassan Rouhani Rouhani, 68, is a moderate cleric elected in 2013 on pledges of greater personal freedoms and improved relations with the West. His government negotiated the 2015 nuclear deal, which saw Iran accept curbs on its nuclear program in exchange for relief from crippling international sanctions. Rouhani has faced pushback from conservatives and hard-liners, who criticize the accord as giving too much away. Since the deal went into effect, Iran has doubled its oil exports and inked multi-billion-dollar aircraft deals with Boeing and Airbus. But critics of the deal say the economic benefits have yet to reach ordinary Iranians. The poor, both young and old, can be seen in Iranian cities searching trash for food or cleaning car windows for loose change. Early in his tenure, Rouhani shared a 2013 phone call with then US President Barack Obama, the highest-level exchange between the two countries since Irans 1979 Islamic Revolution and the US Embassy hostage crisis. During the campaign, Rouhani also increasingly has criticized Irans powerful Revolutionary Guard, a hard-line paramilitary force answering only to Khamenei, something he so far has been hesitant to do while in office. Ebrahim Raisi Raisi, 56, is a hard-line cleric close to Khamenei who has vowed to combat poverty and corruption. He could pose the biggest challenge to Rouhani, especially if he can unify hard-liners. Raisi also has promised monthly cash payments to the poor, a populist move thats been popular with Iranian voters in the past. Last year, Khamenei appointed Raisi as head of the Imam Reza charity foundation, which manages a vast conglomerate of businesses and endowments in Iran. Khamenei called Raisi a trustworthy and highly experienced person, causing many to wonder if he might also be a possible successor to the supreme leader himself. Raisi, who works as a law professor, previously served as an attorney general and Irans deputy judiciary chief. Two major clerical bodies, which declined to endorse anyone in the 2013 election, have backed Raisi in a snub to Rouhani, who himself is a cleric himself. However, his candidacy also has revived the controversy surrounding the 1988 mass execution of thousands in Iran, one of the darkest moments of Irans post-revolution history still not recognized by its government. Raisi allegedly served on a panel involved in sentencing the prisoners to death. While he hasnt commented publicly on the accusation, his supporters appear to have released a video offering a hard-line justification for the executions. Mostafa Hashemitaba Hashemitaba, 70, served as minister of industry in the 1980s. He is a pro-reform figure who previously ran for president in 2001. Mostafa Mirsalim Mirsalim, 69, was shot and wounded during the unrest leading up to the 1979 revolution. He went on to serve as deputy interior minister and police chief. He served as culture minister for four years under Rafsanjani. Islamabad: Pakistan does not accept the International Court of Justice's jurisdiction in matters related to national security, its Foreign Office said on Thursday after the UN court stayed the execution of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav. Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria also hit out at India, saying the country has been "trying to hide its real face" by taking the case of Jadhav to ICJ. Jadhav, 46, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court and India approached the highest UN judicial body with the plea to stay his execution. The Hague-based ICJ heard the two sides on Monday where Pakistan had challenged the jurisdiction of the court but in its decision the court prime facie exercised the jurisdiction and accepted Indian pleas. The court today instructed Pakistan to take all "necessary measures at its disposal" to ensure that Jadhav was not executed pending a final decision by it. Pakistan was in shock as it was confident that the ICJ will throw out the case on the grounds of jurisdiction. Talking to the state-run Pakistan Television after the ruling was delivered, Zakaria said India has been "trying to hide its real face" by taking the case of Jadhav to ICJ. "The real face of India will be exposed before the world," he said, adding that Jadhav has confessed his crimes of sabotage, terrorism and subversion activities not only once but twice. He said Pakistan has already informed the ICJ that it does not accept its jurisdiction in matters related to the national security. "We do not accept the jurisdiction of the ICJ in matters related to the national security of the country," he was quoted as saying by the Dunya TV. However, he said Pakistan "will present solid evidence against the Indian spy in the International Court. Earlier, Zakaria said at the weekly press briefing said India was trying to portray Jadhav's case "as a humanitarian issue to divert the world's attention from his role in fomenting terrorism" inside Pakistan. He said Pakistan's position was clear as it was a matter of national security. He said Pakistan's reply to ICJ was in line with Article 36 (2) of the Vienna Convention that Pakistan does not recognise the jurisdiction of the ICJ in this case. Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said that issuing of stay by the ICJ in interim case of Jadhav is not something extraordinary. He said courts sometimes grant such orders which do not have any bearing on long-term running of the case. Aziz said it is wrong impression that the selection of counsel in the case was not appropriate. He said the matter of consular access was not included in operational order of the court. "Our stance is that security reasons are also very important," he added. Information Minister Mariyum Aurangzeb said no compromise will be done on Pakistan's nation security. Commenting on the ICJ ruling, Pakistan's Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf Ali's Office said the ICJ's decision has not changed the status of Jadhav's case in any manner. In a statement, it said in today's interim order, ICJ has stated that by way of provisional measures, the status quo be maintained in the case of Commander Jadhav. The court has clearly underscored that the provisional measures are without prejudice to the final determination of the merits and jurisdiction of the case. The statement said the provisional measures are a procedural process only to enable the court to have full consideration at a later hearing. It said these measures have no bearing whatsoever on the final decision of the Court. It said Pakistan attended the hearing out of its utmost respect for the court and pursuant to the established jurisprudence that the challenge to jurisdiction can be made via appearance and not by abstaining from the process. In addition, Pakistan attended because of its conviction that the only way to resolve all outstanding issues is through peaceful means, the statement added. "We are confident that India would not be able to hide the subversive activities it is trying to carry out through its agents like Jadhav," it said. The statement said in Pakistan had assured the court unambiguously that Jadhav would be provided every opportunity and remedy available under the law to defend his case. Meanwhile, experts and the opposition leaders blasted ICJ order as failure of the Nawaz Sharif government to press the case properly. "We based our case on jurisdiction and it proved weak. More arguments should have been made regarding espionage," Pakistan People's Party leader Sherry Rehman said. Justice (retd.) Shaiq Usmani told Dawn News the decision is alarming because "ICJ does not have jurisdiction. It's Pakistan's mistake to have appeared there. They shouldn't have attended. They have shot themselves in the foot." London-based Barrister Rashid Aslam said Pakistan was ill-prepared and did not utilise the 90 minutes it had to make its argument. Kulbhushan Jadhav was arrested in March 2016 in the restive Balochistan province and was accused of being a RAW agent. (Photo: Screengrab) Islamabad: Adviser to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has said that Islamabad will form a new team of lawyers to present Pakistan's stance vigorously in the Kulbushan Jadhav case that is before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Radio Pakistan quoted Aziz as saying that Pakistan's counsel had courageously presented Pakistan's stance in ICJ on Jadhav. The Pakistan's Foreign Office said on Thursday that the ICJ has no jurisdiction over the county's national security matters, which in this instance was the execution of Jadhav. Foreign Office Spokesman Nafees Zakaria said the decision to challenge the ICJ's jurisdiction was taken after consultation with all government institutions and agencies. Zakaria said Pakistan's reply to the court was submitted in line with Article 36 of the Vienna Convention. He pointed out that there exists a bilateral pact on consular access between Pakistan and India since 2008 and added that article 6 of the pact solely relates to consular access being determined on the merit of the case. Zakaria said, "After India stood exposed on state-sponsored terrorism and financing terrorism, it tried to divert attention by presenting the Kulbushan Jadhav case with a humanitarian angle." The ICJ, the primary judicial organ of the United Nations, stayed the death sentence awarded to former Indian Naval officer and alleged Indian spy Jadhav by the Pakistan military court, citing that both - India and Pakistan - were bound by the Vienna Convention and that the rights invoked by New Delhi under the Vienna Convention were plausible. Islamabad: Pakistan stands at a "crossroads" in its fight against extremism and must decide whether it wants to enjoy the benefits of its young demography or suffer at the hands of terrorism, Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa said on Friday. Gen Bajwa, speaking on the role of 'Youth In Rejecting Extremism' here, said the Army would defeat terrorists but it needed the support of the nation to wipe out extremism from the society. "Please remember, while the Army fights terrorists, terrorism and extremism is fought by law enforcing agencies and society," he said. Pakistan is a young nation, the army chief said, adding that demographically, more than 50 per cent of population is projected to be less than 25 years of age. "We are standing at a crossroads; ten year down the line, we will either be enjoying the fruits of a youth dividend or suffering at the hands of a youth bulge, especially with the youth which remains vulnerable to extremism," he said. "A youth driven towards extremism is a youth without a clear idea of his values and identity," Gen Bajwa said. Talking about India caught in extremism, he said: "Just next door, India seems to have given in to extremism to such an extent that it has become the new normal. Hate has been mainstreamed in India and it is distorting their national outlook." "The Hindutva extremism of the RSS and their GaoRakshaks, deprivation of Palestinians, the burning and desecration of mosques or gurdwaras in western capitals, the rise of hyper nationalists and the monster of racism, are all manifestations of extremism." He said Pakistani youth is getting exploited due to poor governance and lack of justice in the society. "Our challenges are very real but there are positive sides to the picture as well. Not only have we survived the worst onslaught of terrorism in modern history, we have reversed the tide. In fact, security has now achieved conditions to help development take off," he said. He accused enemies of Pakistan for waging war. "Our enemies, both state and non-state, are actively pursuing divisive tendencies in society. Let me say that they are waging the biggest and most sustained 'Hybrid War' against us from multiple directions and using multiple ways," he said. He said the "enemy" was using social media to achieve its objective. "We are being targeted by not only terrorists but also spin masters of multiple hostile agencies, trying to subvert our minds, particularly that of our youth. Being denied opportunities in the mainstream media, they are using faceless platforms on the internet and smart phones," he said. He said the Indian leadership has made no secret of its involvement in proxy struggle in the erstwhile East Pakistan (which later became Bangladesh) and now in Balochistan. He said Pakistan took action affiant "terrorists of all hues and colours" and ensured the writ of state in the farthest and remotest corners of the country. "Today there are no safe havens for any miscreants in Pakistan," he said. He vowed that extremism will also be defeated as terrorism was defeated in Pakistan. Islamabad: Pakistan has accused India on Friday of diverting nuclear materials it had obtained for peaceful purposes under the Nuclear Suppliers Group waiver to make weapons. Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria on Thursday told reporters that Pakistan has been underscoring for decades the risks of diversion by India of imported nuclear fuel, equipment and technology, received pursuant to civil nuclear cooperation agreements and the 2008 NSG waiver. "The concerns over diversion are neither new nor unfounded. India enjoys the rare distinction of diverting nuclear material, obtained on its peaceful use commitment, to its nuclear weapons programme," he said. "The past and potential misuse of nuclear materials by India entails not only serious issues of nuclear proliferation but also carry grave implications for strategic stability in South Asia and national security of Pakistan," he alleged. Zakaria also said media reports and papers substantiate an otherwise largely "ignored fact" that India's nuclear weapons programme is the fastest growing in the world. Talking about a paper recently released by Harvard Kennedy School, he said that this paper and other several reports corroborate growing concerns related to the use of nuclear material acquired by India from abroad in its existing and future non-safeguarded nuclear reactors, plants and facilities for development of nuclear weapons. "The recent Belfer paper inter alia concludes that India has accumulated nuclear material for over 2600 nuclear weapons," he said. He said that NSG states have a responsibility to take into account these well-founded concerns while considering transfer of nuclear material to India and its NSG membership bid. He claimed that many international nuclear experts, think tanks and media reports in the past years have consistently raised concerns over the lack of transparency, absence of international safeguards, and the potential for diversion of non-safeguarded nuclear material for nuclear weapons in India. Zakaria also said that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was establishing units in Kashmir, which were managed by non-Kashmiri activists. "Their increasing presence in (Kashmir)is to terrorise Kashmiris and deter them from participating in the self-determination movement," he alleged. Zakaria called on the international community to take notice of the situation in Kashmir and condemned the ban on social media and TV channels in the valley. He said Pakistan extends full cooperation to United Nations Military Observers in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) in monitoring situation on the Line of Control and the Working Boundary. Talking about the issue of medical visas by India, he said most patients who were travelling to India from Pakistan have serious ailments requiring urgent medical attention. "Despite paying for their treatment themselves, these patients are being deprived of their basic right to health, due to political consideration on the part of India," he said. "While granting or denying a visa is a sovereign right of any country, this Indian move is unprecedented in inter-state relations," he said. Islamabad on Friday filed a plea in The Hague to rehear the case within six weeks. (Photo: AP) Islamabad: A day after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) stayed the death sentence awarded to former Indian Naval officer and alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav by the Pakistan military court, Islamabad on Friday filed a plea in The Hague to rehear the case within six weeks. "Pakistan was set to re-challenge the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice after it granted injunction on Thursday on an Indian plea to stay Jadhav's execution," said Dunya News. According to the report, Khawar Qureshi will continue to represent Pakistan in the court. Earlier in a major reprieve to India, the primary judicial organ of the United Nations cited that both - India and Pakistan - were bound by the Vienna Convention and that the rights invoked by New Delhi under the Vienna Convention were plausible. Justice Ronny Abraham of the ICJ said that the case was indeed debatable, while also adding that the ICJ had prime facie jurisdiction in the case. Abraham added that under the Vienna Convention, India should have received consular access to seek justice for the former Indian Naval officer. A military court awarded death sentence to Jadhav on April 10 on spying and terrorism charges. According to law, he can make a clemency appeal to the Chief of the Pakistan Army within 60 days of the verdict of the appellate court. This means Jadhav can challenge till the end of Saturday his death sentence in an appellate court. Tension prevailed for some time at the Congress Bhavan on Race Course Road on Thursday as supporters of youth Congress leaders indulged in heated arguments over malpractice in the elections to office-bearers of Bengaluru City youth Congress Committee. Two groups of youth Congress workers indulged in arguments, accusing each other of rigging the elections. Some of the workers even staged a protest in front of the Congress Bhavan, demanding that the party should declare the elections as null and void. They were charging that ballot boxes were tampered with and hundreds of bogus votes have been cast. Later, a group of youth Congress workers barged into the Congress Bhavan premises where counting of votes was taking place and tried to manhandle the returning officers. The situation was brought under control with the intervention of the police. Counting of votes was suspended for nearly four hours due to the chaos. However, the counting resumed later. Some of the supporters of those who have contested the elections had recently complained to the Indian Youth Congress that a section of leaders was indulging in malpractice. Polling was held between May 14 and 16 to elect office-bearers of district and state youth Congress committees. Counting of votes for the election of state office-bearers is scheduled to be held on May 20 in Bengaluru. Senior leaders of the faction-ridden state BJP put up a show of unity on Thursday. The leaders chose Tumakuru to join hands to create an impression that all is well within the party. BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa, his detractor K S Eshwarappa, Union Ministers Ananth Kumar and D V Sadananda Gowda, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Jagadish Shettar and BJP general secretary in-charge of Karnataka P Muralidhar Rao, assembled at the Siddaganga Mutt on Thursday morning and took the blessings of Shivakumar Swami. Later, they began their drought study tour under the banner Jansamparka Abhiyana. The BJP leaders visited a Dalit colony in Tumakuru. They had thatte idli for breakfast at the residence of party worker Hanumanthappa, at the Dalit colony. While addressing the party workers, the leaders criticised the Siddaramaiah government with the choicest words. Yeddyurappa said, The Siddaramaiah government is the Number One corrupt government in the country. Law and order situation has deteriorated in the state. As many as 6,524 murders have taken place in the state in the last four years and nearly 4,000 farmers have committed suicide. The chief minister is unaware of the prevailing drought situation. He said the Centre has released funds for taking up drought relief work in Karnataka. But the same has not reached the beneficiaries. The state is not distributing even rice and wheat supplied by the Centre under the public distribution system, he added. Eshwarappa said There are some minor differences among us. We will set them right. The party would face the next Assembly elections under the leadership of Yeddyurappa and he would be the next chief minister. Siddaramaiah became chief minister accidentally, because the BJP had split.Ananth Kumar claimed that there is crisis in the Congress and the JD(S) but unity in the BJP. The BJP is in power in 15 states. Karnataka too would become free of the Congress in 2018. The Narendra Modi government has released sufficient funds to handle drought in Karnataka. Siddaramaiah should come out with the facts, he said. Shettar said the Siddaramaiah government, which has completed four years, has just secured pass marks. Later, the BJP team moved to Gubbi where a public rally was organised. As in Tumakuru, here too the BJP leaders continued their attack on Siddaramaiah. Eshwarappa said, The Congress cant tolerate me and Yeddyurappa working together. In the evening, the leaders again addressed the party workers in Tumakuru city. Yeddyurappa said the BJP president Amit Shah is conducting a secret survey in Karnataka to find winnable candidates for the next Assembly elections. The team would move to Chitradurga on Friday to hold public meetings. 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] By putting $124 billion on the table, towards his ambitious $5 trillion 60 country grand plan, Chinese President Xi Jinping made it to the front page of world news, politics and economics. At the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF), Xi made it clear that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is at the center of a new Chinese soft power and trade approach, not just regionally, but globally. In all, over 100 nations sent representatives, of which over 60 have, or are in the process of signing up to the BRI. Some have nicknamed it "WTO 2.0." Notable was Xi's "rising tide" exposition of inclusive predictability, contrasted sharply with Trump's "America First" situational impulsiveness. But, as China moves into the Trump vacuum - while money talks, it also divides - so as countries are looking at the opportunities, China will need to continue shouldering the challenges and possibilities. Regional to global, "WTO 2.0" The WTO ushered in a tide of prosperity that linked nations, but not always people; BRI takes the WTO idea one level deeper, but without the ideological baggage. BRI is aimed at physically, economically and socially linking both countries and their citizens. For example: Farmers in remote parts of Thailand, Kazakhstan or Sri Lanka, might have heard of WTO, but without physical access to roads, rail or ports, it meant nothing. Under BRI, for those nations that participate, farmers will get the physical access and internet tools they need, to reach markets around the world. But, while China is leading this bold new effort, it cannot do it alone and will need partners. Dealing with such partners will require an understanding of their political, economic, linguistic, social and cultural realities. This will require a learning curve, part of which Beijing is attempting to solve with person to person cultural and educational exchanges and scholarships. As Xi's frequent references to the time and distance made clear, this is not a short term political feel good project to appease a restive electorate, but a carefully staged multi-level far reaching initiative. So, what was initially a response to the U.S. maritime encirclement effort, has become the focal point of China's efforts to: change global governance and finance models away from ideological absolutes towards pragmatic consensus; modernize its economy; create new sustainable markets; and escape a looming middle income trap. Trade and soft power China's BRI is a new kind of trade initiative, one that dispenses with the post WWII ideological trade doctrines championed by the World Bank, IMF, ADB, large corporate interest and many developed nations, in favor of a non-interventionist inclusive pragmatism focused on sustainable trade and market development. The idea seems to be to figure out ways to stabilize the world by creating moderate prosperity regionally and now globally. BRI's ability to gather under one roof Iran and Saudi Arabia, Palestine and Israel, rivalling only the UN in this area, is a testament to the possibilities of this approach. But, the world does not change in a day, and the certitude of American exceptionalists and those who champion an inflexible version of Liberal, Democratic Capitalism, remain unconvinced. For the developing and emerging nations it is a vital lifeline to the infrastructure they need to develop their economies and stabilize their countries. Concerns about basic human rights are essential, but there has been little progress trying to solve them using the barrel of a gun. Under the BRI, if a country does not like the actions of another country, it can simply not trade with them, or put the matter before the UN, but no mandate of righteous will exist to force a solution by arms. As such, China's BRI is not only a trade vehicle, but a soft power initiative, one that will emphasize consensus over corporate models of interaction between countries. 100, 54 and 29 Over 100 hundred nations and international organizations attended the BRF, of which 54 have signed on in some capacity. 29 country heads attended, but, the BRI has a way to go, as not all countries, identified in the BRI, sent heads of states or senior representatives. At the next forum, scheduled for 2019, given the amount of attention and, dependent on China's progress, it is probable that the number will go up dramatically. For example: the presence of the ABC's, Argentina, Brazil and Chile, all represented by their presidents, except for Brazil, makes it clear that the allure of Xi's grand plan is now global. In Chile's case they cemented an agreement to join the AIIB, which now has 77 members and will be at 85 by year end. The membership of Chile, Bolivia and Brazil and possibly Argentina, in the future, is an important milestone which shows both the global attraction of Xi's plan and the drift away from Trump's notions. China and the U.S. Ironically, given the history of why the BRI was created, the U.S. sent a delegation headed by a senior member of the Trump team, which acknowledged the importance of the BRI and then lobbied for American firms to be included in future projects. Interestingly, they were welcomed, just as was the DPRK, as Beijing went to great lengths to demonstrate, that politics was not part of the BRI. But, to the majority of the world, the take-a-way will continue to be the contrast between Trump's Me first vs. Xi's rising tide; a contrast which is reshaping trade and soft power, as countries like Mexico, shift their wheat and corn imports from the U.S. to Argentina and Brazil. Money talks, money divides The numbers immediately drew the eyes of the world, the flip side was a spirited jockeying, by those attending, for inclusion as benefactors and participants. The question is; will countries see the value in Xi's grand plan or just fight over who gets what. Challenges, opportunities and solutions Xi's BRI has a long road ahead of it, and it seems China is willing to be patient. The main challenges will be: understanding their partners, convincing a critical mass of them to see the value of the system, a sometimes hostile or indifferent international press and ideological, spheres of influence and territorial conflicts. On the opportunities side, it could change global governance towards a more consensus rather than corporate driven model, help China through its middle income trap period, soak up excess industrial capacity, create new markets for goods and services and politically and economically stabilize countries, by offering better economic alternative and opportunities. On the solutions side, for Xi's part his willingness to step forward and attach resources to his grand plan indicates a willingness to take a leader's role; his attention to political, economic, linguistic, social and cultural understanding is a measured path to avoiding misunderstandings. But in the end it will be the smaller, but vital pieces of roads, rails, sea ports, airports, agreements, financing and the things which make them work; like the TIR Convention China joined last summer, which allows sealed containers to pass from source to destination, without the need to have inspections or pay tariffs along the way. It is a grand plan and one which envisions a different future, the only question is will the world react positively or be content to struggle under the system we have now. Einar Tangen is a political and economic affairs commentator, author and columnist Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. The mystery behind the death of Karnataka cadre IAS officer Anurag Tewari, who was found dead in the state capital on Wednesday morning, acquired political overtones on Thursday. The BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government sought to link Tewaris death to what it claimed was the IAS officers role in exposing scams involving thousands of crores in the Congress-ruled Karnataka. The family of the officer said that he was about to expose scams worth thousands of crores in the Congress government in Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Suresh Kumar Khanna said in the Assembly on Thursday. The matter was raised in the House by Leader of the Opposition and Samajwadi Party member Ram Govind Chaudhary, who alleged that the officer was murdered. He demanded a thorough probe. In his reply, Khanna said that a panel of four doctors had conducted the postmortem. The cause of the death was not conclusively established... his viscera has been preserved, he said. The minister said the government has nothing to hide. We have nothing to hide. The government will probe the matter and the guilty will not be spared, he said. The Opposition members, however, said that the incident exposed the governments tall claims about law and order in the state. They later staged a walkout. Tewari, who was the commissioner in the department of food, civil supplies and consumer affairs in Karnataka, had arrived in the state capital from Mussoorie in Uttarakhand after undergoing training, and had been staying at the Meerabai Guest House in the city for the past two days. His body was found lying on the side of the road, a few metres away from the guest house. Family cries foul The family of Tewari has claimed that he was an honest officer and might have fallen victim to a conspiracy hatched by some corrupt officials. Tewaris brother Alok said that the officer had become a villain in the eyes of his superiors after he had unearthed a scam worth Rs 2,000 crore in the department of food, civil supplies and consumer affairs in Karnataka. He was under tremendous pressure from his superiors. He had brought the scam to the notice of senior officials, but they did not take any action, Alok charged. The family members also claimed that Tewari apprehended threat to his life and wanted to change his cadre. He had also sought a months leave as he was under great stress, but his leave application was rejected and was he asked to report for duty immediately. The officers father B N Tewari had recently retired as a faculty member in the department of chemistry at a degree college in Bahraich. The father refused to allow a second post-mortem of his sons body, which was taken to Bahraich on Thursday for performing last rites. Age is only a number and sightings are by sheer luck for the volunteers in the three-day elephant census. A S Krishnamurthy, a 59-year-old banker from Mysuru, is among those who proved that age is just a number. He had planned to participate in the census with his son. But since the latter did not get leave, Krishnamurthy is doing it independently, but with enormous energy and enthusiasm. This is his third census. Krishnamurthy is staying in the anti-poaching camp at Maralahalla in Kaddamatturkatte. My age does not stop me and the forest officials are convinced of my health as I gave them my medical certificate, he said. There are two to three more people like him in the two prime tiger reserves of Karnataka - Bandipur and Nagarahole - for the census. After doing a head count of the elephants on Day One, the staff and volunteers were busy counting and assessing the elephant dung on Day Two. Animesh Das from Kolkata, who works in a software firm in Bengaluru, said he took four days leave for the census. Not sighting any elephant has not disappointed him. He is excited about learning and living the life of a forest guard. Food and Civil Supplies Minister U T Khader on Thursday said Anurag Tewari, the commissioner of the department, had not brought any scam in the department to his notice. He (Tewari) never mentioned about any scam in the department. He was also in charge of the Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Corporation. If there was any such scam, he would have brought it to my notice, he said, on seeking his reaction to the statement by Tewaris brothers Mayank that the officer was about to expose a major scam. Mayank had said honest officers were being targeted in Karnataka and suspected that his brother was one of the victims. He claimed that Anurag was about to expose a scam worth over Rs 2,000 crore in the state. Anurags family members have been suspecting foul play. Sources in the department said Tewari had not mentioned any major scam in any of the official correspondences with the government. He used to take leave very often, it is said. The Japanese government today approved a one-off bill allowing ageing Emperor Akihito to step down from the Chrysanthemum Throne, in the first such abdication in two centuries. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's cabinet signed off on the legislation, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters. It will now be sent to parliament for debate and final approval. Reports of the 83-year-old Akihito's desire to retire surprised Japan when they emerged last July. In August he publicly cited age and declining health, which was interpreted as his wish to hand the crown to his eldest son, Crown Prince Naruhito. But current Japanese law has no provision for abdication, thus requiring politicians to craft legislation to make it possible. The status of the emperor is highly sensitive in Japan given its 20th century history of war waged in the name of Akihito's father Hirohito, who died in 1989. No abdication is expected until at least the end of 2018, according to reports. A special court here today convicted former coal secretary H C Gupta in a coal scam case. Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar also convicted the coal ministry's then joint secretary K S Kropha and then director K C Samaria besides others in the case pertaining to alleged irregularities in allocation of Thesgora-B Rudrapuri coal block in Madhya Pradesh to KSSPL. The court will pronounce the order on quantum of sentence on May 22. The court, however, acquitted chartered accountant Amit Goyal in the case. Besides Gupta, Kropha and Samria, the court also convicted the firm KSSPL and its managing director Pawan Kumar Ahluwalia. Kropha was the then joint secretary in the Ministry of Coal, while Samria was the then director (coal allocation-I) in the ministry. During the hearing, the CBI had alleged that the application filed by KSSPL for the coal block was incomplete and was supposed to be rejected by the ministry as it was not in accordance with the guidelines issued. The CBI had charged that the firm had misrepresented its net worth and existing capacity, adding that state government had also not recommended the firm for the allocation of any coal block. The accused, however, denied the allegations during the arguments. The court had in October last year framed charges against the accused observing that former prime minister Manmohan Singh was kept in the "dark" by Gupta, who had prima facie violated the law and the trust reposed in him on the issue of coal block allocation. Around eight different charge sheets have been filed against Gupta and proceedings are going on individually. The Supreme Court had recently dismissed his plea seeking joint trial in all these cases. Trump has approved the supplying of weapons to Kurdish forces battling the Islamic State group in Syria, a US official said on May 9, 2017. The funding "to provide support to the YPG has been approved," the official said on condition of anonymity. [Xinhua/AFP Photo] In his first grand introduction with the Muslim world and Islam, President Donald Trump has chosen Saudi Arabia - a highly symbolic gesture, as the country is home to the two holiest mosques of Islam. It is also Trump's first ever foreign trip since taking office in January when over the weekend he meets a group of Muslim leaders during the three unique summits. The first summit is between Saudi Arabia and United States and will focus on bilateral ties. The second is regional and Trump will sit with leaders of six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The third provides a grand occasion for Trump to meet leaders and representatives of over 50 Muslim countries at the Arab-Islamic-American summit. According to reports in Saudi media, Donald Trump will give a speech on Islam to the Muslim leaders. The summit leaders will discuss combating extremism and cracking down on illicit financing under the summit slogan: "Together we prevail." He will join King Abdullah II of Jordan, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Pakistani Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai and others for a discussion on fighting extremism and terrorism in the digital age. In hindsight, what a transformation. Once Donald Trump blamed Muslims for all ills in the world and was eager to ban their entry in the United States. And here he is out on his first foreign venture to Saudi Arabia, the country blamed by many American and Western experts at the center of "promoting and patronizing radical Islam." Trump's predecessor Barack Obama also tried to reach out to Muslims in the early days of his presidency. He was more circumspect and had chosen Cairo where he addressed a gathering of Muslims and talked about his vision of ties between the U.S. and Islam. Egypt has been pivotal to efforts of a revival of pan-Arab and pan-Islam sentiments. It has also suffered a lot due to extremism. With a secular military government, Cairo is determined to fight militancy with force but has far less political clout than Saudi Arabia. Trump's dash to Riyadh shows not only the importance of the oil-rich kingdom, but a desire on the part of the White House to mend ties damaged due to Obama's overtures towards Iran. The Saudis and Israelis were against the nuclear deal, which has opened up ways for the lifting of sanction on Tehran. Saudi Arabia also wants to exhibit its sway over Muslim countries by showing its convening powers. Reports suggest that over 50 countries are turning up for the summit with Trump. King Salman has termed it a new beginning in the relationship between the Islamic world and the United States, which will have a positive impact on global security. Iran and Syria have not been invited due to their rift with the Kingdom. It will further widen the gulf between Shia and Sunni Islam, as represented by Iran and Saudi Arabia. Syria is in a state of war and mired in regional and global geo-strategic rivalries. Its absence is understandable. Terrorism and extremism is expected to dominate the exchanges but other regional and political issues like the Iranian bid to expand influence in the region and the issue of Palestine should also be on the list of topics to be covered. Trump will pay a visit to Israel after the Saudi trip and he will have to confront questions over his pronouncements in relation to shifting the embassy to Jerusalem. He is also trying to revive the peace talks between Israel and Palestine and support from 50 plus Muslim nations would be an asset for any initiative. The summit with Muslim leaders can play a role in removing some of the basic misunderstandings between Trump's America and Islam. However, on the key issue of terrorism, no major feat should be expected. The U.S. is already doing what it probably can to crush it through force. The Muslim leaders will reiterate their support for measures to defeat militancy. One can expect a lot about Islam being a religion of peace and that only a handful of militants are misusing its fair name. The problem is that many Muslim countries, which are also allies of Washington, follow policies that create space for extremist thinking, while the U.S. follies rooted in wrong policies and repeated on the battlefields perpetuate this menace. And there is no quick fix to these fundamental contradictions. Sajjad Malik is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/SajjadMalik.htm Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. A Special CBI Court convicted former Coal Ministry Secretary HC Gupta and four others in a coal mining block allocation scam case here on Friday. Former joint secretary of the Coal Ministry K S Kropha, then director K C Samaria, Kamal Sponge Steel and Power Ltd (KSSPL) and its managing director Pawan Kumar Ahluwalia were the four others who were held guilty by the Special Court in this case. The Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar, however, acquitted chartered accountant Amit Goyal in the case. The Court will pronounce its order on the quantum of sentence to be handed down to five convicts on May 22. The case pertained to the irregularities in allocation of Thesgora-B Rudrapuri coal block to KSSPL in Madhya Pradesh. The Court ordered framing of charges against the accused in the case in October 2015 for offences under section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) read with 420 (cheating), 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant) of the Indian penal Code (IPC) and under relevant provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act. It also then observed that Gupta prima facie violated the law and the trust imposed on him as kept the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in dark in the matter. The Court issued summons to Gupta and other accused on July 31, 2015. It had earlier refused to accept the CBI's closure report, directing the investigation agency to further investigate the case. This is the first case of coal scam in which accused have been convicted. Gupta, was Coal Secretary for two years during the Congress-led United progressive Alliance (UPA) regime before he retired in 2008, is facing trial in seven other cases of the scam. According to the CBI, the mining right was granted to the KSSPL even as the firm's application was incomplete and not in accordance with the guidelines. In its application, the company had misrepresented its net worth and existing capacity. Besides, the State Government had also not given its recommendation for allocation of any coal block to the company. The conviction of the former Coal Ministry Secretary was seen in the bureaucratic circles as a test case for them to decide as to what extent a government officer should take risk of taking decisions on competing commercial interests. The IAS officers association last year came in support of Gupta after he broke down in the Court saying he did not have capacity to hire a lawyer to contest his case. The association then offered to pay his lawyers' fees but raised the issue of culpability in decision making. The CBI began investigation into coal scam and registered several FIRs following recommendation of the Central Vigilance Commission in 2012. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Hansraj Ahir (now Union Minister of State for Home Affairs) had lodged a complaint with the CVC. Reminding him of her May 17 letter requesting a thorough probe as the tragedy looks "murky," Karandlaje in her letter today, said "Now I am getting information from credible sources that Tiwari could be a victim of food grain smuggling mafia. This is what middle-level officials in Karnataka government are discussing among themselves in hushed tones." Stating that a multi-crore scam was unearthed in the Department of Food and Civil Supplies some time ago, she said Tiwari was probing it in his capacity as commissioner and he is said to have prepared a detailed dossier about the scandal. This is one important angle which needs to be probed, she said. Citing similar fears expressed by Tiwari's brothers, Karandlaje said the matter warrants a CBI investigation since the entire episode involves two states. Tiwari, who had also served as deputy commissioner in Bidar and Kodagu districts in the past was staying at Meera Bai guest house with a batch mate after attending a mid-career training programme at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie. He was in his sleepwear when he was found dead on May 17, which also happened to be his birthday. Expressing grief over the officer's death, Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Minister U T Khader had said Tiwari had sought permission for the programme and had again sought an extension on May 10. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today asked his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath to order a thorough probe into the circumstances leading to the death of an "upright" state-cadre IAS officer. As the family of late IAS officer Anurag Tiwari and the Opposition raised questions over the "mystery" surrounding his death, Siddaramaiah shot off a letter to Adityanath seeking probe by a "competent team" of investigators."It is very important that the whole incident including the circumstances leading to and the cause of death is thoroughly investigated by a competent team of investigators and professionals," Siddaramaiah said. He requested Adityanath to direct the authorities concerned to "do the needful." Describing Tiwari as an upright IAS officer, Siddaramaiah said his "untimely and unfortunate demise has caused great anguish to us."Tiwari, a 2007-batch IAS officer serving as commissioner of the Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department, was found dead under mysterious circumstances by a roadside in Lucknow's Hazratganj area on May 17 morning.Speaking to the reporters earlier, Siddaramaiah said, "He (Tiwari) was a Karnataka officer, he died there (Lucknow). We don't know what the reason is. Post-mortem report says death was due to cardiac arrest. Let them (UP police) do any inquiry, the government will give all cooperation."Asked about the suspicions that Tiwari may have been murdered because he was probing into a scam involving the food department, he said, "Don't say all these things just because someone is saying it. Let them investigate, everything will be known."The Uttar Pradesh police set up a Special Investigation Team yesterday to probe into Tiwari's death. Tiwari's father B N Tiwari has alleged his son was eliminated, while his brother Mayank has demanded a CBI probe into the matter. "My son was very honest. Corrupt officers did not like him. They must have somehow got him murdered," he had said.The Karnataka government had on May 17 sent two senior officials to Lucknow to get details of Tiwari's death. Speaking to reporters in Chitradurga, state BJP President B S Yeddyurappa demanded a CBI probe into the case."His (Tiwari's) brother has said he was murdered as he was unearthing about Rs 2,000 crore scam in the Food department. The chief minister has to take direct responsibility for this," he said. "As this is a matter that is of concern to Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka, I urge that the case be immediately handed over to the CBI for the truth to come out.""If the chief minister is honest, he has to order a CBI enquiry or else the Uttar Pradesh chief minister will do it." BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje, who has spoken to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath about the case, has also written to him for a second time since the incident took place, expressing suspicion of foul play behind Tiwari's death. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath and Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav on Friday traded barbs in the state assembly over law and order situation in the state. Akhilesh, while making a speech in the legislative council, said that the crime graph had shot up in the state during the BJP rule and the chief minister had failed to rein in the criminals. ''The law and order situation has turned for the worse in the past two months,'' Akhilesh said as he accused the state government of being on a ''witch hunt''. The former chief minister also criticised the government for setting up 'anti-Romeo Squad'. Adityanath, whose two-month stint came in for sharp criticism for his alleged failure on the law and order front, said in the vidhan sabha that his government was committed to establish the rule of law in the state. ''There is no place for criminals in the state...we will not spare those, who provide shelter to the criminals,'' he said while making a reply on the motion of thanks on the governor's address to the joint session of the house. The chief minister slammed the behaviour of the opposition in the assembly during governor's address and said that it had lowered the dignity of the house. ''Some members whistled in the house during the address....we know well who whistle.....there are traffic cops, who whistle...for the the others there is anti-romeo squad,'' he remarked. Flash "China has become an important destination for tourists worldwide, and traces of Chinese tourists can be found in every corner of the world," said Tony Wheeler, co-founder of the world's largest travel guide series, Lonely Planet. Wheeler made the statement on his 20th trip to China, just before the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation kicked off in Beijing. The 71-year-old told the People's Daily that China has experienced a dramatic transformation over the past 30 or 40 years. Wheeler has become something of a China expert after his many trips to the country; he knows the best place for roast duck in Beijing, and loves to ride around Beihai Park on a bicycle. Before arriving in China, Wheeler traveled through Thailand, Cambodia and Laos in a 40-year-old vintage car. His route approximately followed the "Belt and Road" route, starting from Xi'an and Urumqi, and stretching all the way to Kazakhstan. Wheeler's travels first started in 1972 when the newly married man decided to spend a year touring the world with his wife. With a shared passion for travel, the two set out from the U.K., ultimately arriving in Australia after crossing Asia. "There were barely any channels to receive information at that time," Wheeler said, adding that they felt obliged to share their travel experiences with other people when they finished the trip. That was how Wheeler came to establish Lonely Planet. Wheeler said that traveling is the process of discovering the world. New places offer excitement while old ones trigger nostalgia. "There are so many places in the world waiting for us to discover," he added. A special court today ordered the production of AIADMK (Amma) faction leader T T V Dhinakaran on police's plea seeking his consent to obtain voice sample required for its investigation in the Election Commission bribery case. Special Judge Poonam Chaudhry issued a production warrant directing the Tihar Jail authorities to produce Dhinakaran, who is in judicial custody. The court's direction came on Delhi Police Crime Branch's plea seeking to obtain Dhinakaran's consent for voice sample. The court had yesterday allowed the police to take steps for obtaining his consent. The police had earlier sought permission to obtain the consent of Dhinakaran and arrested alleged middleman Sukesh Chandrashekar to compare their voices with those contained in a CD recovered during the investigation. While Dhinakaran had raised objection on the maintainability of the police's plea, Chandrashekar had refused to give his consent for taking his voice samples. The court also listed for tomorrow the bail plea of Chandrashekar, who has sought the relief claiming he was made a scapegoat and falsely implicated in the case. Dhinakaran, his close aide Mallikarjuna, Chandrashekar and suspected hawala operator Nathu Singh, another accused in the case, are lodged in judicial custody till May 29. Fifth accused, suspected hawala operator Lalit Kumar alias Babu Bhai, was arrested yesterday and is presently under police custody till tomorrow. Dhinakaran was arrested here on the night of April 25 after four days of questioning for allegedly attempting to bribe unidentified EC officials to get the undivided AIADMK's 'two leaves' election symbol. His faction had hoped to obtain the symbol for by- election to the R K Nagar Assembly seat in Tamil Nadu, which was later on cancelled by the EC after the alleged irregularities were reported in the media. The EC had frozen the AIADMK's symbol after two factions of the party -- one led by Dhinakaran's aunt Sasikala and the other by former chief minister O Panneerselvam -- staked a claim to it. Dhinakaran has been accused of allegedly arranging money from undisclosed sources and getting it transferred from Chennai to Delhi through illegal channels. Mallikarjuna was arrested for allegedly facilitating the Rs 50 crore deal between Dhinakaran and Chandrashekar, who was arrested on April 16. India may have got a breather from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case, but his well-being still remains a matter of concern as Pakistan has provided no information about his location or health condition. The ICJ had yesterday stayed the execution of 46-year-old Jadhav, who was sentenced to death last month by a Pakistan military court that convicted him of alleged spying and subversive activities. The retired Indian Navy officer has been in Pakistan custody for more than a year. According to government sources, since the case has reached the international court, it is incumbent on Pakistan to produce "material evidence" about his whereabout and well-being. They also stressed on the requirement for Pakistan to produce evidence of proper trial which it claimed to have conducted in the case. Asked if the government has information on Jadhav's location in Pakistan, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Gopal Baglay said, "As of today, the Pakistan government has not provided any information about Jadhav's condition or where he has been kept there. This has been a matter of concern." Last month, India had also asked the Pakistan government to provide a report on his medical condition. On Jadhav's appeal process, he said, "Unfortunately, India has no information on the issue." There is also no information on what has happened to the appeal by Jadhav's mother which was handed over to the Pakistan foreign secretary by the Indian high commissioner in Islamabad, he added. According to the Pakistani side, Jadhav had 40 days to appeal from the date of verdict which was April 10. Baglay also noted that as per the information available, Pakistan has also not taken any action on the visa request by Jadhav's family to travel to Pakistan to meet him and appeal in person, if required. Pakistan claims its security forces arrested the Indian national from its restive Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran. However, India maintains that he was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Navy. A 10-year-old Rohtak girl, who was found to be five months pregnant after being allegedly raped by her stepfather, underwent an abortion today, after the district court had left the matter to a medical board here. "The process (of abortion) is complete now. The girl is recovering," said the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS) Rohtak doctor, Prashant Kumar. The medical board of PGIMS on May 16 had decided to abort the foetus of the rape victim after the district court left it to the panel of doctors to take a call on the matter. The gruesome incident that has received wide-spread condemnation from across the nation came to light on May 14 when the girl's mother took her to a hospital where her pregnancy was confirmed by the doctors. The mother, in a complaint lodged with the police, had alleged that the girl's stepfather had been raping her for a long time and threatened the girl of dire consequences if she dared to disclose it to anyone. She had reasoned that her family was not financially well off and therefore was in no condition to bring up the child. She already has four children, according to police. The accused, identified as Suresh, was already arrested under section 506 (Punishment for Criminal Intimidation) of the IPC and relevant section of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act) 2012. The family, originally hailing from Bihar, was residing at Durga Colony here. Next time someone caught defecating in the open may have to shell out a heavy penalty. After its failed attempt to use drones to identify people who defecate in the open, Haryana has now decided to fine people up to Rs 11,000 if they are caught defecating in the open. Perhaps in a first in a village in Haryanas Rohtak, one person has already been fined Rs 500 for open defecation "offence". The practice of open defecation is widespread in many parts of the state despite several awareness programmes and other initiatives to curb the practice. Rightly or otherwise, the authorities found this the best way to stem the practice. The process has already begun with one villager already handed out the fine slip of Rs 500 for open defecation, sources said. He has been warned against repeating the "violation". The governments experiment in this regard has been started in 139 panchayats in Jat dominated Rohtak district, sources said. Powers have been given to local panchayats to fine any person found defecating in the open up to Rs 11,000. The amount could be as low as Rs 10. Certain provisions in the Act have been evoked to execute the plan. Panchayats in some area have put up banners and writings on the walls to broadcast the provisions of fine. Authorities have advised Panchayat representatives to initially go soft on those who violate the rule and later impose fine. The fine may go up for habitual offenders. The experiment is unlikely to go down well with natives in the area who are likely to resist any penalty move. The governments earlier plan to use low-flying drones to identify people who defecate in the open was grounded in wake of resistance from villagers, many who felt the would tantamount to shaming people who defecate in the open. The plan was formulated on a pilot basis for Yamunanagar district in Haryana. Every other district is in a race to bag the open defecation free status. The problem is rampant in many parts of the state where people use open fields for defecation despite having functional toilets at home. Congress is all set to launch massive five-day team building exercise in poll-bound Karnataka and Rajasthan to forge unity among the leaders and the cadre ahead of the elections next year. Newly-appointed AICC General Secretaries K C Venugopal and Avinash Pande will chair the meetings in Bengaluru and Jaipur respectively beginning Monday when leaders from each district would interact with the leadership and thrash out differences. In Karnataka, the five-day session would be followed by a reshuffle in the state unit of the Congress and also of the Council of Ministers, if necessary. The party has already made it clear that it would contest the elections next year under the leadership of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Besides leaders from district, functionaries of the party's state unit, ministers, MLAs, MPs, former legislators have been asked to be present for the meeting. At a coordination committee meeting in Bengaluru last week, several leaders had complained about the non-availibility of district in-charge ministers to address the grievances of the voters and party cadre. Venugopal had already hinted at changes in the state unit and announced that a new PCC chief would be appointed this month itself. The names of D K Shivakumar, M B Patil, S R Patil are doing the rounds as successor to incumbent G Parmeshwara. In Rajasthan, Pandey's task would be to unite the factions led by AICC General Secretaries Ashok Gehlot and C P Joshi who are proving to be a bugbear for state unit chief Sachin Pilot. Pandey has called a meeting of all the leaders in the state from Monday onwards to get feedback from them on reviving the party in the state where Congress could not win a single seat in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The long wait of family members of Raju Das came to an end when his body arrived at Jaipur airport from Saudi Arabia after 90 days of his death. Raju, a native of Barmer village died under suspicious circumstances in Riyadh where he was working as a shepherd. Within four months of joining his new job in Riyadh, Raju, a 37-year-old resident of Kasmir village in Barmer district of Rajasthan, died on February 19 in the Saudi Arabia capital. After the intervention of Indian Embassy in Riyadh, his body was dispatched on Friday by the Saudi Arabia authorities. Since noon family members and neighbours of Das who had come from his village, 400 kms away from the capital, were waiting in the lawns of the airport. His body arrived at 4:15 PM in Etihad Airlines 208 - direct flight between Riyadh and Jaipur. Airport authorities handed over his body to his brother Bhupendas and Kumbha Ram. "I am happy and sad at the same time. Happy, because we were able to get his body back and sad because his death has left the family shattered. In last three months, his wife and children have almost become lifeless." Raju's brother Bhupendas told DH. According to his brother, he got a job of a shepherd to graze cattle in Riyadh. The job was suggested to him by his brother in law. As per an official at district administration around 250 people from Barmer are working in Saudi Arabia as labourers or cattle rearers. On February 20, Rajus family received the news of his death from a relative who too worked at Saudi Arabia. Since then the family had been seeking help from the district administration and politicians, including BJP legislator Manvendra Singh, to bring back his body. "Soon after his family members approached me, I got in touch with the Indian Embassy officials in Riyadh. The delay happened firstly because it was a suicide case and Saudi Arabia police do not hand over body till they are satisfied with the investigation. Police officials were communicating with me on regular basis and I used to inform his family members. After the police investigation was done, the second thing that delayed the process was non-availability of a local document known as 'Iqama', usually sponsor of the visa has to produce it." Manvendra Singh told DH. Both Manvendra Singh and Rajus family is thankful to Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj for speeding up the process and bringing body of the deceased back to India. Last rituals will be carried on Saturday in his village at Barmer, family members informed. Raju Das is survived by his 65-year-old mother, 70-year-old father, wife Guddi Devi and two children Ramesh 5 years and Kavita 3 years. Class X and Class XII board students of the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) will get digitally signed marksheets and pass certificates from the DigiLocker from this year. They will also continue to get hard copies of their statement of marks and pass certificates. The CISCE has decided to send the academic certificates of the students of its schools to the DigiLocker, a a facility created by the Department of Electronics and Information Technology for under 'Digital India' programme for safe storage and retrieval of the academic certificates and other important documents of the citizens. The students who took board examinations this year will be the first once to get digitally signed statement of marks and pass certificates, Chief Executive and Secretary of the CISCE Gerry Arathoon told DH. Students will also be able to access digitally signed migration certificates from the DigiLocker from this year, he added. The CISCE has partnered with the Department of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India, in enabling extension of the DigiLocker to candidates of Class X (ICSE) and Class XII (ISC) of its affiliated schools, the Council earlier said in a statement. The DigiLocker provides dedicated personal electronic space in a Government-owned public cloud storage where an individual can keep his or her documents, files or certificates. The individual is also able to download or share them online with various stakeholders as and when required. The storage space is linked to the Aaadhar number of the user. The service is free, secure and user friendly, Arathoon said. To access the digitally signed documents, candidates are required to create an account with the DigiLocker. After logging into the DigiLocker account, the candidates can follow the instructions on the dashboard to access the required documents, the Council said. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) began sending marksheets and other certificates of its class X and XII board students to DigiLocker for their safe storage and retrieval last year. The Special Investigating Team (SIT) probing the ''mystery'' behind the death of Karnataka cadre IAS officer Anurag Tiwari, would question his friend P.N.Singh, an IAS officer, who reportedly stayed in the same room at the government guest house with Tiwari on the night before his body was found. According to the sources in the police, the SIT would be submitting its report to the government within 72-hours. The probe team, sources said, inspected the room where Tiwari had been staying as well as the spot, where his body was found. Sources said that there was no CCTV footage showing Tiwari's departure from the guest house. Incidentally the guest house also did not have any record if any one had visited the Karnataka cadre IAS officer during his stay. ''The investigation is on,'' quipped a police official when queried about the probe on Friday. Tiwari's family members have raised questions over the investigation and demanded a CBI probe into his death. Tiwari, who was commissioner, food, civil supplies and consumer affairs department in Karnataka, was found dead here on Wednesday. His body was found lying on the side of the road a few metres away from the Meerabai Guest House. The postmortem examination of Tiwari's body remained inconclusive prompting the doctors to preserve his viscera and heart for forensic tests. The Union Ministry of Environment has asked the Bihar government to immediately stop the ongoing work at the biggest shopping mall in Patna. The mall was coming up on the land owned by RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadavs wife Rabri Devi and son Tejaswi. The Centre has found the charges, which alleged that the 12-floor mall was being constructed without the prior approval of the states environment ministry, true. A directive in this regard, a copy of which is with DH, has been issued by the Centre to the Bihar State Pollution Control Board and Principal Secretary of the Forest and Environment Department, Bihar and others concerned. The BJP had charged that since Tejaswis elder brother Tej Pratap was Bihars Forest and Environment Minister, the builder, Meridian Construction India Limited, owned by RJD MLA Abu Duzana, did not deem it fit to get prior approval from the competent authority in the state. The shopping mall, which is being constructed on a 7.66 lakh sqft area, was earlier mired in controversy. When Lalu was the railway minister, an industrialist Harsh Kochar was given two railway hotels one in Ranchi and the other in Puri (Odisha). In return, a plot in Patna around two acres was transferred in February 2005 to Delight Marketing Private Limited, whose director is RJD MP Prem Chand Gupta, Lalus key aide, senior BJP leader Sushil Modi said. Flash China, California's No 1 overseas tourist market, continues to contribute to the travel and tourism industry, the state's key economic driver, which expanded for the seventh consecutive year in 2016. Tourism spending in 2016 injected a record $126 billion into California's economy, a 3.1 percent increase over 2015, outpacing the nation by nearly a percentage point, according to an annual economic impact report released by Visit California this month. The tourism industry generated $10.3 billion in tax revenue and supported 1.1 million jobs in the state last year, said the report. It shows travelers in California have spent nearly $2.16 trillion, created more than 410,000 jobs and generated more than $165.3 billion in local and state tax revenues in the past 25 years. "This report shows that tourism is a powerhouse that generates community benefits and economic value for all Californians," said Visit California President and CEO Caroline Beteta. Spending in California by international travelers alone equals the combined value of the state's top four product exports civilian aircraft, computer parts, non-industrial diamonds, and voice/image/data equipment. However, last year saw a declining share of international travel in California due to the strength of the US dollar and decreased visitation, said the report. But Chinese visitors to California continued to outpace all other overseas markets with a record of 1.3 million visitors last year. They spent more than $2.9 billion on those visits more than the spending of the UK, France and Germany combined. The Chinese market is expected to surpass Canada as California's largest international market by the year 2020 with a projected 2 million visitors. In San Francisco, the international volume was forecast to grow at only 0.3 percent in 2017 due to strong US dollar and adverse political climate. The San Francisco Travel Association also bets big on the Chinese market. The largest overseas market to the city will continue to be China with 526,090 visitors projected for this year, a 9.58 percent increase over 2016. Amy Zhao, general manager of a Bay Area travel agency MGM Holidays, said she has been busy taking calls from China. "The peak season is coming," she said. Most of her business comes from Chinese student tours. To capitalize on the China market growth, Visit California has been heavily investing in marketing efforts. This year's China Mission took nearly 30 industry partners to four Chinese cities Chengdu, Guangzhou and Hangzhou and Shanghai last month. The cities were chosen to expand their market to China's Tier 2 cities. During the mission, travel trade appointments, agency visits and training seminars were provided to educate and engage with travel trade industry in China. The California delegation also got to share story angles and pitch their products. The growth of the Chinese market is undeniable it is the "superlative" market for California, Visit California told the California industry in the China Mission brochure. Theres nothing much to cheer for the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in the SSLC and II PU results released last week. The corporations schools have fared poorly, with a pass percentage of 41.18 which is a steep drop from 50.32 in 2016. Of the 1,418 students who appeared for the SSLC examination this year, only 584 cleared it successfully. The pass percentage of PU colleges also shows a downward trend, dipping from 61 to 57.57. BBMP runs 33 high schools and 13 PU colleges. S G Raveendra, special commissioner for education, BBMP, said he has called a meeting of principals of all corporation high schools and pre-university colleges to seek an explanation. He said students in BBMP schools tend to do poorly in language papers. Urdu and Tamil students, whose mother tongue is not Kannada, tend to find the language difficult, he said. Raveendra said they wanted to conduct remedial classes for weak students. I had asked all principals to send me a list of students who scored below 50% in the school-level exams so that we could give them extra classes. I had even spoken to some private degree colleges and they were willing to spare their students for helping our students free of cost. But they never sent me a list, Raveendra said. In the case of pre-university colleges, he admitted that students had received textbooks too late in the academic year. Because of issues with the tender, we were not able to provide textbooks on time last year. This time, we are being cautious and we will provide everything on time, he said. A teacher in a corporation school attributed the dipping pass percentage to shortage of permanent teachers. We dont have permanent teachers for Science and Mathematics which students find difficult. The corporation provides shoes, uniforms and textbooks but if there are no quality teachers, the results will not improve, the teacher said. The special commissioner said they had enough teachers as the corporation has employed the services of 563 outsourced teachers through an agency. As for recruiting permanent teachers, he said it was a policy decision left to the government. Japanese trucks and light commercial vehicles giant Isuzu has evinced plans to establish India as an export base for its pickup truck business, which happens to be the single largest contributor to its global revenues. The company began its India operations in 2012 with the intent of retailing its vehicles D-Max and mu-7. Initially, it began by selling 180 CBUs in India, which were sold out in three weeks. Last year, it opened its own manufacturing facility at Sri City, Andhra Pradesh, with an annual capacity of 50,000 units. Today, it retails three models D-Max (with 70% localisation), D-Max V-Cross (partly localised), and the just launched mu-X luxury SUV, which will be sourced in the form of CKDs from Japan and Thailand, and assembled in India. An important focus for us with regard to our India business is to transform the country into an export hub for pickups. We have commenced exporting our pickups to Nepal from last year. Currently, we are studying export prospects for other neighbouring markets, apart from looking at the possibility of exporting to the Middle East and Africa as soon as possible, Isuzu Motors India Deputy Managing Director Hitoshi Kono told DH, adding that as a pickup brand, Isuzu operates in the up to 3.5-tonne gross vehicle weight (GVW) segment. The Indian pickup segment is to the tune of 2 lakh units, and overall, is one of the fastest growing spaces in the auto market. While there are many players in the pickup space, it all depends upon the reliability they offer in last-mile delivery. What we offer as a company is faster turnaround time with speed, efficiency, safety and security. Along with that we believe that the need for the market to realise is that in order to increase productivity, one needs better comfort, Kono claimed. Last year, Isuzu sold 1,300 units of the V-Cross and nearly 1,000 units of the D-Max. Meanwhile, the prices of the Isuzu mu-X, which was launched in Bengaluru on Friday, begin from Rs 24,36,269 (ex-showroom Bengaluru). The mu-X is powered by the 3.0 litre ISUZU Ddi VGS Turbo Hi-Power engine which gives a maximum power output of 130 kW (177 PS) and a maximum torque of 380 Nm with a superior flat torque curve. The mu-X will be available in both 4x2 and 4x4 variants with a 5-speed sequential shift automatic transmission. Aditya Birla group controlled company Grasim has posted a flat net profit for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 at Rs 1,063.62 crore compared with Rs 1,055.26 crore in the same quarter previous fiscal. Total income for the company grew 6% during the quarter to Rs 11,409.41 crore compared with Rs 10,763.70 crore in Q4FY16. The companys strong sales volume supported by firm international prices helped drive an excellent performance in the viscose staple fibre business. Even though the captive pulp plant at Harihar remained shut from February 2017 onwards, due to water shortage, the production of VSF remained unaffected as the business ensured running of operations with external pulp supplies. Net revenue increased by 12% to Rs 1,945 crore while Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA) rose 30% to Rs 345 crore despite the rise in pulp and energy costs, led by higher realisation and improved operating efficiencies, Grasim said. The VSF business will continue to focus on expanding the VSF market in India by partnering with the textile value chain, achieving better customer connect through Brand Liva and enriching the product mix through a larger share of specialty fibre. The company is in the process of debottlenecking of its plants to meet the growing demand, Grasim said. The demand for caustic soda in India is expected to grow with rising consumption from the alumina and textile sectors. However, the increase in supply on account of new capacities in the industry may create a temporary imbalance in demand supply. In cement, the demand is expected to grow, driven by the government's focus on infrastructure development and affordable housing. The company is well positioned across the country to cater to the growth in demand, it added. Swedens top prosecutor on Friday dropped an investigation into a rape claim against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange after almost seven years, saying thats because there is no possibility of arresting him in the foreseeable future. The announcement means the outspoken WikiLeaks leader no longer faces sex crime allegations in Sweden, although the British police say he is still wanted for jumping bail in Britain in 2012. It does not clear Assanges name. Assange (45), took refuge in Ecuadors embassy in London in 2012 to escape extradition to Sweden to answer questions about sex crime allegations from two women. Per E Samuelson, Assanges lawyer in Sweden, told AP that it was a day of victory for the WikiLeaks founder. He said Assange had convinced Swedish prosecutors during a November meeting last year that he was not guilty of any sex offences. Important victory Assange hailed Swedens decision as an important victory even as he attacked the countrys authorities for detaining him for seven years without charge. Today is an important victory for me and for the UNs human rights system but it by no means erases the years of detention without charge in prison, under house arrest , he told reporters. Former minister G Janardhana Reddy appeared before the Special Investigation team (SIT) on Friday in connection with an allegation he had made in 2006 that the then chief minister H D Kumaraswamy and two members of his Cabinet had received a Rs 150-crore kickback from mining companies. Appearing before the investigating officer at the SITs office on Ballari Road, Reddy sought three weeks to submit evidence to support the allegation. On July 6, 2006, Reddy, then a BJP MLC, had alleged that Kumaraswamy and two of his Cabinet colleagues had received a Rs 150-crore kickback from mining companies in Ballari. He referred to audio recordings where miners and exporters were heard complaining how they were under pressure to bribe the chief minister. He then called a press conference in Bengaluru to disclose audio and video CDs to substantiate the allegation. But it turned out to be a damp squib with Reddy releasing only one blurred video of unrelated conversation. The SIT is looking into different cases of illegal mining in Karnataka following the directions of the Supreme Court in a petition filed by activist T J Abraham. It had summoned Reddy as a witness following the allegation. Reddy was in the SIT office for about two hours. A source in the SIT said Reddy sought time to collect and submit evidence. I dont have any document as of now. But I will collect all the evidence and submit it to the SIT in three weeks, Reddy said. When asked whether the CD he had mentioned in 2006 ever existed, he quipped: It was something between me and the IO. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said Kannada should be used in district courts. It would be good if it is used in the high court as well, he said on Friday after honouring judges who pronounced judgments in Kannada and public prosecutors who argued cases in Kannada in 2015-16 and 2016-17. It is important for clients to understand the judgment. Moreover, since the administrative language is Kannada, it is good if judgments, records and arguments are in the language. Law Minister T B Jayachandra said the government prefers those who know Kannada in appointments to courts. Around 69 judges and 19 prosecutors from various parts of the state had gathered at the function. They were given away a cash prize of Rs 10,000 and a citation. Thieves smashed the windows of a car and made away with Rs 5 lakh cash from its glove compartment in Bagalagunte, off Peenya on Thursday afternoon. According to the police, around 2 pm, Ramakrishna of Nelamangala came to the Bagalagunte branch of Central Bank of India and withdrew Rs 5 lakh. He put the cash in the cars glove compartment and drove towards Ayappa Swamy temple. He parked the car, locked it and went to meet his friend. When he returned after 15 minutes, he noticed that his cars windows were broken and the cash was missing. He immediately dialled 100 and summoned the police. The police arrived and conducted inquiries. They also retrieved CCTV footage from the area where the car was parked. Ramakrishnas friend whom he had met near the Ayappa Swamy temple is being questioned, the police said. In another incident, unidentified men broke open the windows of a car parked on the Ramanagaram taluk office premises on Friday and made away with Rs 1.5 lakh cash and a debit card. A few minutes later, they withdrew Rs 40,000 from an ATM in Bidadi using the debit card, the police said. The victim, Chikkegowda of Hunasanahalli had gone to the taluk office on an official work after parking his car at the parking lot. The incident came to light when he returned to the car to take the cash and found that the window panes of the car was smashed and the cash bag in the dashboard was missing. The Ijoor police have registered a case and are verifying CCTV footage of the ATM kiosk to identify the culprits. Complaining about civic problems may not help people until they bring them to the notice of the authorities concerned at an appropriate forum. DH and Prajavani are giving people the right platform to air their grievances. Janaspandana Citizens for Change now beckons people living in the Yeshwantpur Assembly constituency. The grievance redress event will be held at Swami Vivekananda Yoga Kendra, 1st Stage, BEL Layout, Herohalli, at 10 am. Yeshwantpur MLA, S T Somashekhar, corporators of Doddabidarakallu, Herohalli, Ullala, Kengeri and Hemmigepura, and officials of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), the BMTC, Bescom and the police will listen to peoples problems and address them instantly. Problems such as waste disposal, streetlights, stray dog menace, roads, drains, water and sewerage, electricity, health, public transport services, footpaths, parks, playgrounds, traffic and law and order will be discussed at length and resolved instantly. Similar events in different parts of the city have helped people resolve most of their civic problems. Those willing to take part in the event should reach the venue by 9 am and register at the temporary reception counter. For any queries, call 9448914995. Flash Senior officials from China and ASEAN countries attend the 14th senior officials' meeting on the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, May 18, 2017. (Xinhua/Liu Xu) Senior officials from China and ASEAN countries Thursday agreed on a framework for the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea. The consensus came during the 14th senior officials' meeting on the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). The meeting, co-chaired by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin and Singapore's Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Chee Wee Kiong, was held ahead of the upcoming China-ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting in July. The approval of the framework was reached earlier than scheduled, Liu told the press after the meeting, adding that according to the work plan, China and ASEAN countries were expected to finish consultation on the draft framework for the COC by the first half of this year. The framework, which represents a crucial phased result in the entire COC negotiation process, has laid a solid foundation for further negotiations, Liu stressed. Liu said all parties have vowed to continue to constructively advance the negotiations toward the early conclusion of the COC. During the meeting, all parties also agreed to continue to implement the DOC and reaffirmed plans to solve disputes via negotiation, manage differences with a regional framework of regulations, deepen maritime cooperation, and move forward COC negotiation to safeguard peace and stability of the region. The meeting approved a paper on the establishment of three technological committees, agreed on outcomes of the trial application of the China-ASEAN senior diplomats' hotline platform, and updated the 2016-2018 work plan. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the signing of the DOC. All parties pledged to implement the DOC to build a South China Sea environment of peace, friendship and cooperation. Prior to the meeting, the 21st Joint Working Group meeting on the Implementation of the DOC was held. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday finalised modalities to launch the ambitious Indira Canteen project offering subsidised breakfast and meals to the urban poor in Bengaluru. At a meeting at his official residence, Siddaramaiah directed starting the project from August 15. The state government is pumping in Rs 100 crore for the project while the BBMP will be the nodal agency for its implementation. Mayor G Padmavathi told reporters after the meeting that canteens will be made up of pre-cast structures manufactured by KEF Infra at their Tamil Nadu facility. The firm has quoted Rs 32 lakh for constructing each canteen with a carpet area of 860 sq ft. She said Siddaramaiah has directed officials to negotiate with KEF Infra to reduce the construction cost. Padmavathi said, There will be 199 canteens including the one at the BBMP head office and 28 kitchens, one each in every Assembly constituency in the city. These canteens can accommodate 70 to 80 people at a time. There will be a coupon system offering meals and tiffin to a maximum of 250 people in one slot. The Mayor said each canteen will have two toilets, a CCTV camera and food a distribution court. The utensils will belong to the state government so that services are not hampered in case food supply contract is terminated and transferred to another agency. The contracts will be finalised by May 30 and work would commence from June 1. By August 1, these canteens will be completely ready to start the programme from August 15, said Padmavathi. Regarding the menu, she said beaten rice bath, uppittu (upma) and idli will be offered for breakfast while the meal will consist of sambar, rasam, rice and pickle. On Sundays, there will be one special item like tomato rice, jeera rice, puliyogare and lemon rice. BBMP commissioner N Manjunatha Prasad said locations for setting up the canteens have been identified. He said the canteens have been designed by different architects. Stree Shakti Sanghas to cook meals The government will rope in Stree Shakti Sanghas (SSS) for preparing meals, said Mayor Padmavathi. At least 33% of these canteens and their kitchens will be managed by the SSS, said the Mayor adding that the idea is to empower these SSS. Citizen groups have opposed the construction of a skywalk being built on Sankey Road to cross from Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium to National Military Memorial Park. Notwithstanding the opposition, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) claims the skywalk is needed. Vasanathnagar Residents Welfare Association (VRWA) says that skywalk will not serve anyone. The association is not just sceptical about the skywalk but also the elevator facility to be installed by a private agency. General secretary for VRWA, Raj Kumar Dugar said: The elevator on KG Road, between Corporation and Mysore Bank, often does not work and at a few other skywalks, staff deployed to handle the lifts are not present. The association members also pointed that a subway built by the Palike in the vicinity remains unused and 200 metres away, the skywalk at Sophia School is always deserted. Dugar questioned the rationale behind the skywalk where hardly 10 people cross the road daily to reach National Military Memorial Park. It will remain useless, he said. BBMP Executive Engineer (Road Infrastructure - Special division), B Prabhakar told DH that a few brigadiers wanted a skywalk at the memorial park. For any project, there will be brickbats and bouquets. We are not going to face any loss with this project as the private firm, Pioneer Publicity Corporation Private Limited, with whom we have tied up will be bearing the entire construction cost. The skywalk construction began a few days ago with pillars being erected on both sides. The skywalk is expected to be ready in the next three months, according to the Palike. The cost of the project is estimated to be around Rs 1. 5 crore, said BBMP sources. Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Never miss a story and read the latest headlines with our free email updates The Derby Telegraph scooped a hat-trick of top accolades at this year's Regional Press Awards including being crowned Newspaper of the Year. Judges hailed the paper as "an example to the industry" as it scooped three awards and a further two commendations at a prestigious ceremony in London. As well as being named Newspaper of the Year for titles with a print circulation under 20,000, the paper saw reporter Robin Johnson awarded the Business and Finance Journalist of the Year prize, while Scoop of the Year was awarded to Isaac Crowson for his reporting of abuse at Aston Hall care home. Isaac was also highly commended in the Daily Reporter of the Year category, while our 'Horrors of Aston Hall' revelations were highly commended in the Campaign of the Year award. Judges said the Derby Telegraph is an example to the industry "of how to tackle difficult issues in a campaigning style". Isaac's reporting was described as "an absolutely riveting and veritable iceberg of a story" and the paper's uncovering of the abuse as "investigative journalism at its finest, told with rigour and confidence". Taking to the stage after the Derby Telegraph was declared Newspaper of the Year, editor Steve Hall said: "I'd just like to thank the team in Derby who every day give lie to the claim that journalists these days are only interested in click-bait [journalism]. "I'd also like to thank everybody in the room. The rooms we hold these events in may have got smaller over the years but the talent has never been as big." Collecting his Scoop of the Year award, Isaac said: "This is absolutely amazing. Everyone in this room deserves to be here the standard is absolutely fantastic. Just being here is a huge achievement. I want to very quickly say thank you to the current editor Steve Hall for his support, and to the previous editor Neil White for his support, as well as everyone at the Derby Telegraph." Isaac, who is the paper's crime correspondent, went on to praise the bravery of the Aston Hall victims who came forward and publicly shared their "truly horrific" experiences. Earlier, Robin said he was "really thrilled" to be crowned Business and Finance Journalist of the Year an accolade he dedicated to his late father. Robin, who was nominated in the category for the eighth successive year, said: "Twenty years ago, my dad wrote to the Derby Telegraph and got me some work experience after they'd turned me down. The managing director at the time gave me a week and, yeah, 20 years on I'm not doing too bad." Here's how the Derby Telegraph did at the awards: DAILY/SUNDAY NEWSPAPER (BELOW 20,000) Winner: Derby Telegraph Highly commended: Western Mail SCOOP OF THE YEAR sponsored by Google Winner: Horrors of Aston Hall, Isaac Crowson, Derby Telegraph Highly commended: Pennine Acute: The Shocking Truth, Jennifer Williams, Manchester Evening News and Unmasked: Isis Terror Queen, Ali Gordon, Sunday Life BUSINESS AND FINANCE JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR sponsored by Foot Anstey Winner: Robin Johnson, Derby Telegraph Highly commended: Les Reid, Coventry Observer DAILY/SUNDAY REPORTER OF THE YEAR sponsored by UK Power Networks Winner: Ali Gordon, Sunday Life Highly commended: Isaac Crowson, Derby Telegraph CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR - sponsored by Asda Winner: Birmingham Pub Bombing, Birmingham Mail Highly commended: The Horrors of Aston Hall Hospital, Derby Telegraph Flash Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov speaks during a press conference in Moscow, Russia, Jan. 21, 2015. (File photo / Xinhua) Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed on Thursday U.S. press reports that President Donald Trump passed classified information to him when they met recently in the White House. During a working visit to Cyprus, Lavrov said that what Trump actually told him was that Islamic State (IS) terrorists were capable of staffing untraceable explosives in laptops. "As far as I can recall, maybe one month or two months before, the Trump administration had an official ban on laptops on airlines from seven Middle Eastern countries ... So if you are talking about that, I see no secret here," Lavrov told reporters in Nicosia during a joint news conference with Cypriot foreign minister Ioannis Kasoulides. Lavrov's comments on the issue were the first since his meeting with Trump and after allegations were made by two U.S. officials on May 15 that the U.S. President had divulged secrets to Lavrov about planned IS operations. Lavrov arrived in Nicosia on Thursday to attend a foreign ministers' meeting of the Council of Europe at the end of Cyprus's presidency this month. At the press conference, Lavrov also said Russia would like to improve its relations with the European Union (EU). "The current state of relations is beneficial to neither side," he said, expressing hope for a re-evaluation of the situation that would lead to a "mutually-beneficial re-engagement". He said the relationship must be based on mutual respect and chided Brussels for playing "a one-way street game" on the issue. Speaking about Ukraine, the issue that brought EU sanctions on Russia, Lavrov said he was in favor of fully implementing the Minsk agreement, blaming Kiev for not applying the accord. "Recent action by the Ukrainian authorities shows that it is either not willing or incapable of doing so," Lavrov added. Flash Police found the bodies of seven murdered men outside an avocado plantation on Thursday in the town of Salvador Escalante in the western state of Michoacan, the state government announced. The Michoacan prosecutor-general's office said the bodies were found next to a path connecting Salvador Escalante with the neighboring town of Ario de Rosales. Photos published by local media show the seven bodies face down on the side of the road. The victims have not been identified by the police at this time but investigators believe they were local farmers. Michoacan has long been known as one of Mexico's more violent states with a number of violent criminal gangs fighting for control of local drug trade. Flash U.S. President Donald Trump (C) gestures to media before boarding Marine One departing for Andrews Air Force Base en route to West Palm Beach, Florida, at White House in Washington D.C.,the United States, Feb. 3, 2017. (File photo / Xinhua) Some Republicans in U.S. Congress are beginning to distance themselves from President Donald Trump amid allegations that he shared intel with Russia, sparking speculation that more Republican lawmakers may follow. The Washington Post on Monday sparked a firestorm when it revealed that Trump shared sensitive intel with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during a White House meeting last week. This is the latest in a string of allegations that the Trump administration is in bed with Russia - which the president vehemently denies. U.S. conservative media has noted that U.S. presidents have broad legal authority to classify or declassify any intel they want to. Some pundits also note that the Post story failed to disclose just how senior its sources are and whether the sources really have a grasp on what a president is permitted and not permitted to do. The Post story also has been accused of editorializing instead of simply reporting facts. Observers also note that the White House routinely shared intel with other countries. But there's more to the scandal. At the same time, Trump is under scrutiny for allegedly asking James Comey, former FBI director just fired by Trump, to halt an investigation into the relations between former Trump's national security adviser Mike Flynn and Russia. Critics said Trump fired Comey as an effort to prevent embarrassing information from getting out. Trump has also strongly denied the accusations. But whatever the truth, the media frenzy may be pushing Republican lawmakers away from Trump in the lead-up to the 2018 mid-term elections. Indeed, some Republican lawmakers want to look into the matter more closely. Republican Representative Jason Chaffetz, chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, recently penned a letter to acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe, requesting access to Comey's notes when Trump allegedly asked him to pull the plug on the inquiry over Flynn. House Speaker Paul Ryan agreed with the request, according to a statement from his spokesperson, Ashlee Strong. "At this point, the Republican Congress is trying to find a way to get to the bottom of the allegations about the ties between members of the Trump Administration and Russia," Dan Mahaffee, senior vice president and director of policy at the Center for the Study of Congress and the Presidency, told Xinhua. Republican lawmakers also want to "distance themselves from a scandal that is threatening to overwhelm this Presidency," Mahaffee said. He said the firing of Comey opened the floodgates surrounding this scandal, and many Republican leaders have to be now thinking about the broader damage to the party in 2018 and beyond, referring to the mid-term elections next year. "Unless they are able to completely change the course of this crisis - perhaps by setting up an independent investigation and getting everything out in the open - the Trump policy agenda, and many key GOP goals, are on life support," Mahaffee said. Darrell West, vice president and director of governance studies of the Brookings Institution, told Xinhua the controversy is "a major setback for Trump's policy agenda." Indeed, Trump was elected in large part as an agent that could rejuvenate an economy that has still not fully recovered from the 2007-2008 economic disaster. Now experts said the dust-up could distract him from his policy agenda. "Instead of discussing tax reform and healthcare repeal, leaders are focused on the Russia investigation and whether Trump obstructed justice in this case," West said. The whole situation has taken the president and congressional leaders off-message and forced them to explain what the ties were between Trump's staff and Russia, he said. Republicans have criticized Trump for his actions on Comey, but have not been very forceful at pushing an investigation. They are worried about Trump's declining poll numbers, but most Republican legislators have been pretty muted in their comments. "They are waiting to see what gets uncovered and how much trouble the president is in," West added. Ajay Devgn Has An Important Advise For Aspiring Actors Photo taken on May 18, 2017 shows the scene of a car crash incident at Times Square in New York City, the United States. One young woman was killed and 22 people injured after a car plowed into pedestrians in Times Square on Thursday, officials said. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) The man who drove a car into a crowd in Times Square on Thursday was in custody, in which one was killed and 22 others injured, New York's mayor said. Mayor Bill de Blasio told a news conference here that based on the information they had, "there is no indication that this was an act of terrorism." The driver, 26-year-old Richard Rojas from the Bronx, served in the U.S. Navy and has a criminal record, the mayor said, adding that cause of the incident is under investigation. "The car was driving at 80 or 85 m/h against traffic, and it came here, I said 'stop! stop! stop!' but it didn't," Abdul Hamid, owner of a food cart at the corner of Broadway and W45W street, told Xinhua. The red Honda car crashed into a pole and came to rest at W45th Street and Broadway. Officials said Rojas made a U-turn onto a sidewalk in Times Square. He drove on the sidewalk for three blocks, striking an 18-year-old woman who died of injuries. The 22 injured are receiving treatment in nearby hospitals. Consulate General of China in New York said in a statement that its officials had asked hospital authorities to provide injured pedestrians' information, adding that so far no Chinese nationals had been reportedly injured in the car incident. According to police, the car driver is in custody, it is believed to be an isolated incident. Times Square is a major commercial intersection, tourist destination in New York City. Hundreds of thousands of people, many of them tourists from around the world, pass daily through the commercial area, the heart of the Broadway theater district. Police closed off the area after the incident. Scientists at the University of Birminghams Institute of Applied Health Research have published new findings that discredit myths around the so-called metabolically healthy obesity phenotype. This controversial theory says that it is possible to have a high Body Mass Index (BMI) while having relatively normal metabolic parameters and a low risk of developing conditions such as heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. The BMI is currently the recommended fat-related biomarker for identifying high risk individuals. Last year, however, it emerged that relying solely on BMI for predicting heart disease, in particular, was misguided. The study, published at the time in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, suggested that a high volume of visceral fat in the abdominal region was far more reflective of risks than BMI or waist circumference. This past research already casted doubt about assuming that an overweight or obese person is not predisposed to disease without knowing if he or she does not have a dangerously high amount of fat spilling into the liver, pancreas, heart or other vital organs. This may also explain why this new study of 3.5 million Britons has found that obese participants otherwise regarded as healthy had a 49 per cent increased risk of coronary heart disease and a 96 per cent higher risk of heart failure. According to the findings, presented at the European Congress on Obesity, in Portugal, this held true even when blood pressure was normal and cholesterol levels were in balance, as well as in non-smokers. On the basis of these results, obtained after analysing 20 years worth of health records for adults initially free of heart disease, it is now suggested that there is no such thing as metabolically healthy obesity. Researchers emphasised that obesity is not a harmless condition and that it raises risks for a lot of silent killers, like peripheral vascular disease. People who are obese also have a two-fold increased risk for multiple cancers and live about ten years less than lean individuals. In addition to that, and as discussed earlier, the accumulation of fat in the liver and pancreas in obese individuals is the main driver of dysregulated insulin signaling and consequent elevated blood sugars, which raises risks for type 2 diabetes. Controversy will continue to rage regarding the benign obesity paradox, but these findings should be taken seriously as they suggest obesity remains one of the primary risk factors for heart conditions and type 2 diabetes. Flash Thai Students celebrate the Mid-autumn Day, a traditional Chinese Festival at Xingmin Primary School, Phitsanulok Province in 2016. [Photo/Gong Shuwan] "Thai teachers at primary school can pronounce 'Belt and Road' in Chinese," Gong Shuwan recalls. This Chinese girl just concluded three-year volunteer work teaching Chinese at Confucius Classes in Thailand a month ago. Gong successfully applied to be a volunteer teacher through the Office of Chinese Language Council International when she graduated from university. "I struggled and was frustrated during the first three months, not only for the humid climate, but also for the communication barrier and culture shock," she said. "But I realized I shouldn't consider myself a foreign teacher but more as a local to get adapted to the lifestyle and working modes, so as to influence people in a more acceptable way." Soon the Chinese girl got used to her work and life there, and was awarded the council's Outstanding Volunteer prize. Since the Belt and Road Initiative was proposed in 2013, increasing numbers of people living along the route have begun learning Mandarin. There are more than 100 universities applying to host Confucius Institutes, according to the Office of Chinese Language Council International. Data from the office show that as of May, 134 Confucius Institutes and 130 Confucius Chinese-language study classes had been established in 51 Belt and Road countries, with 17,341 classes opened, 465,302 students registered and 8368 culture activities held in 2016. Chinese has become the second foreign language in Thailand, following English. There are 15 Confucius Institutes at local universities and 11 Confucius Classes at middle and primary schools. "Chinese has been set as a compulsory course at the primary school I worked for, with every child required to attend five classes per week," Gong told us. Except for the traditional language course, there are classes focused on paper-cutting, Chinese knot making and martial arts. "During traditional Chinese festivals, we organized activities to make people aware of our culture." After three years, Gong fell in love with her Thai students and job. When she left for China in 2014, one student wrote her a letter in Chinese saying, "Dear Miss Gong, I feel sad about you leaving. I am really thankful for what you taught me this year. I will keep learning Chinese and go to study in China. I love you!" The kid went on to study at South China Normal University in Guangzhou in 2015. Gong believes language teachers represent their home country, and are supposed to serve to build a cultural bridge. In June, she will return to Thailand as an administrative teacher of the Office of Chinese Language Council International. Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. Trump announces plans to renegotiate NAFTA Last month, White House aides spread word that President Trump was ready to pull out of NAFTA. Within hours, the president reversed course and said that he'd seek a better deal first. By PAUL WISEMAN AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON Making good on a campaign promise, the Trump administration formally told Congress Thursday that it intends to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico. U.S. Trade Rep. Robert Lighthizer sent a letter to congressional leaders Thursday, starting 90 days of consultations with lawmakers over how to revamp the pact. Talks with Canada and Mexico can begin after that. The two-page letter offered few details about what changes the administration would seek in the 23-year-old pact that President Donald Trump has called a disaster. Lighthizer told reporters that any new deal should do a better job of protecting U.S. factory workers and should be updated to reflect new technologies. Last month, White House aides spread word that Trump was ready to pull out of NAFTA. Within hours, the president reversed course and said that he'd seek a better deal first. We are going to give renegotiation a good strong shot, Lighthizer said. He refused to say whether leaving NAFTA remained an option. The trade agreement has been a lightning rod for criticism since it was being negotiated in the early 1990s. During the 1992 presidential campaign, independent candidate Ross Perot famously predicted a giant sucking sound as NAFTA pulled U.S. factory jobs south of the border into Mexico. Campaigning last year, Trump vowed to renegotiate NAFTA and pull out of it he couldn't get a better deal. NAFTA took effect in 1994 and triggered a big increase in trade among the three countries. American farmers have mostly benefited from the reduction in trade barriers. But the pact did encourage American manufacturers to relocate some operations to Mexico to take advantage of cheaper labor there; so critics blame NAFTA for wiping out U.S. factory jobs. Since the signing of NAFTA, we have seen our manufacturing industry decimated, factories shuttered, and countless workers left jobless, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said in a statement. President Trump is going to change that. In March, the administration circulated an eight-page draft letter on NAFTA that disappointed critics by appearing to keep much of the existing trade agreement in place. Thursday's letter had fewer specifics. Lori Wallach, director of Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch, called it markedly vague. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi complained that the president's vague NAFTA letter is a stark contrast with the aggressive promises he made to hard-working families during the campaign. But Republican congressional leaders promised to work with the administration to craft a better deal. We look forward to working with the administration to strengthen the agreement in a seamless way and ensure that we retain the current benefits for American workers, farmers and businesses, said Texas Republican Rep. Kevin Brady, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. Mexico and Canada signaled that they welcomed the opportunity to modernize the agreement. Gary Hufbauer, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute, said the United States could seek modest technocratic changes, including provisions to update NAFTA to reflect technologies that have emerged since the original agreement was negotiated. Or it could take a more aggressive approach, putting pressure on Mexico to reduce the trade gap, perhaps by dropping a value-added tax Mexico slaps on goods coming across the border. Thomas Donohue, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, urged the administration to reach a deal quickly. Political pressures in 2018 a presidential election in Mexico and congressional elections in the United States could make it harder to seal an agreement next year. Subscriber content preview TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) Environmental advocates have filed a second lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over whether enough is being done to address the toxic algae problem in Lake Erie. The Bladereports that Chicago-based Environmental Law and Policy Center and members of Advocates for a Clean Lake Erie filed the federal lawsuit Wednesday in Toledo. Environmental groups last month filed a similar lawsuit in Washington. . . . Subscriber content preview BERLIN (AP) Munich's city council has rejected an attempt to take the froth off beer prices at the annual Oktoberfest. Deputy mayor Josef Schmid, who oversees the Bavarian capital's annual beer extravaganza, had sought a legal cap for the next three years on the price of the traditional Mass, a one-liter (two-pint) glass of beer. He wanted to fix the maximum price at the highest figure from last year's festival, 10.70 euros ($11.80). . . . Subscriber content preview SEATTLE Dexter Station, at 1101 Dexter Ave. N., has sold for $286 million, according to King County records. The seller was 1101 Dexter Avenue Investors LLC, which is associated with developer Capstone Partners and its financial partner, San Francisco-based Stockbridge Capital Group. . . . Flash The Swedish Prosecution Authority announced on Friday that it would drop its case against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been under investigation of sex crimes allegedly committed in Sweden. Sweden's director of public prosecutions, Marianne Ny, filed a request to the Stockholm District Court to revoke Assange's arrest warrant that was issued seven years ago. Ny said in a statement, Assange "has escaped all attempts by the Swedish and British authorities to execute the decision to surrender him to Sweden in accordance with the EU rules concerning the European Arrest Warrant. My assessment is that the surrender cannot be executed in the foreseeable future." Assange, 45, has been holed up in Ecuador's London embassy since 2012, trying to avoid extradition to Sweden. He feared being extradited to the U.S. if sent to Sweden as he could face trial there over the leaking of hundreds of thousands of secret U.S. military and diplomatic documents. "In view of the fact that all prospects of pursuing the investigation under present circumstances are exhausted, it appears that it is no longer proportionate to maintain the arrest of Julian Assange in his absence," Ny said. "Consequently, there is no basis upon which to continue the investigation." After CBI, ED registers case against Karti Chidambaram, others Following the Central Bureau of Investigation raids on the premises of former Union cabinet minister P Chidambaram, his son Karti, and others, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a money laundering case against Karti Chidambaram, INX Media and its directors Peter and Indrani Mukerjea, and others, taking cognisance the CBI First Information Report against them. Officials said the ED registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), the ED equivalent of a police FIR, against the accused named in the CBI complaint. The ECIR has been registered under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Meanwhile Karti, who is under investigation for alleged bribery and corruption, on Thursday left for London on what his father described as a scheduled trip. "Karti is travelling as per earlier travel plans. He will return after a few days. There is no ban on his travel," senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said. The CBI on Tuesday had carried out searches at Karti's homes and offices in four cities to probe charges that he had received money from a media firm owned by Indrani and Peter Mukerjea (who are currently in jail in a murder case) to help them evade a tax probe. Karti Chidambaram has denied all charges against him. (See: CBI raids Chidambaram, Indrani, Peter Mukherjea over FIPB approvals to INX Media). The CBI had filed an FIR against Karti and the Mukerjeas on charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating, receiving illegal gratification, influencing public servants and criminal misconduct. It 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 conditions for an investment from Mauritius. They said the ED will probe the alleged "proceeds of crime" generated in this case and may also attach assets of the various accused. It was the ED, which had provided information about the alleged illegal payments made by INX media, based on which the CBI had filed its FIR. India to host African Development Bank's annual meetings next week India will be hosting the annual meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB), from 22 to 26 May, during which members and partner countries will dwell on developing and expanding Africa's agricultural economy. The core theme of the event is ''Transforming Agriculture for wealth creation in Africa.'' Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the annual meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB), at Gandhinagar, on 23 May. It is the first time in the history of the AfDB Group that India is hosting the annual meetings of the Bank. About 3,000 delegates from 81 member countries from across the world are expected to gather at the sprawling Mahatma Mandir Convention Centre in Gandhinagar. During the course of the event, the board of governors of the AfDB will dwell upon the major developmental challenges facing African countries and the ways to achieve an inclusive and sustainable growth. The bank has adopted a strategy called ''High 5s'', which focuses on five major developmental priorities comprising agriculture, energy, industrialisation, regional connectivity, and improved quality of life through access to social and economic opportunities. The core theme of the event, which is ''Transforming Agriculture for wealth creation in Africa'', has tremendous scope for cooperation between India and Africa. During India Africa Forum Summit 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced a $10-billion line of credit to African countries, which marked a new beginning in India's constructive engagement with African countries. India's support through lines of credit has not only helped finance the projects in African countries, but has also contributed to capacity building, IT education, and higher education. India is expected to leverage this occasion to further deepen its economic cooperation with the African countries through various other events. India is organising an Africa India Cooperation Event, in partnership with CII, on the sidelines of the main event. The sessions would primarily focus on agriculture, healthcare, e-governance, renewable energy, skill development and education, manufacturing, trade and investment. The government is also organising an exhibition in partnership with FICCI, to showcase the capabilities of Indian companies in terms of technology, innovation, and start-ups, which could be relevant for African countries. The theme of the exhibition is centered on the priority areas of the bank. It will witness the presence of a wide spectrum of industry leaders from India. India joined the African Development Fund (ADF) in 1982 and the African Development Bank (AfDB) in 1983, initiating a long history of cooperation spanning more than 30 years. India's collaboration with the bank group is built around four main pillars: Contributing to the General Capital Increase (GCI); Contributing to ADF replenishment and a bilateral trust fund; Providing resources to support Highly Indebted Poor Countries; and The Multilateral Debt Reduction Initiative. Since joining the bank, India has contributed to all its General Capital Increases. For the most recent African Development Fund replenishment, ADF-14 (2017-19) India pledged $29 million consisting of a grant and bridge loan in November 2016. The lines of credit executed through Exim Bank have 152 LOCs totaling $7.60 billion extended to 44 African countries. Of these, 147 LOCs aggregating to $7.51 billion to 41 countries are extended on behalf of, and guaranteed by GOI. Under the India Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme, around 5,000 scholarships have been offered to officials from African countries. The ITEC courses have been hugely popular with our partner countries in Africa. In last financial year around 4,000 scholarships were used by African partners. India is also looking forward to cooperation with Africa on the International Solar Alliance (ISA) initiative, which was launched at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris in November 2015. The ISA is conceived as a coalition of solar resource rich countries to address their special energy needs. A total of 24 countries, most of them from Africa (Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Nauru, Niger, Republic of Guinea, Senegal, Sudan, Tanzania and Tonga) have signed the ISA Framework Agreement in Marrakech on 15 November 2016. Rwanda singed the Framework Agreement on 9 January 2017, while Guatemala, Djibouti, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Mauritius, Chad, Yemen, Comoros and Somalia have also conveyed that they are ready to sign the ISA framework agreement. Stage set for Japan's Emperor Akihito to abdicate in 2018 Japan's cabinet on Friday approved a bill that will allow Emperor Akihito to hand over the Chrysanthemum Throne to his heir, Naruhito. The bill will make it possible to circumvent the imperial law that currently prevents the Emperor from abdicating. The law has been sent to parliament, where the government hopes it will be approved without obstruction by mid-June. If approved, this will be the first abdication of a Japanese emperor in 200 years, after Emperor Kokaku stepped down in 1817. The government rushed to devise new legislation after Akihito, 83, suggested in a rare televised address last summer that he feared his age and declining health would leave him unable to perform official duties. But it has refused to make legal changes that would address the country's dearth of male heirs. On Friday, Japanese media quoted officials as saying that Akihito would likely step down in December 2018, at the earliest, paving the way for his eldest son, Crown Prince Naruhito, to become the 126th occupant of the Chrysanthemum Throne. The government believes that it is the ideal moment for the abdication as the Emperor turns 85 and completes three decades as head of state. The bill has been designed specifically for Akihito in order to prevent future abdications, given the problems facing the imperial family regarding its succession line. These problems were highlighted when Akihito's granddaughter, Princess Mako, 25, announced early this week that she plans to marry her college friend, which will result in the princess losing her royal status. In addition to prohibiting abdication, the 1947 imperial law does not recognise the so-called collateral institutional branches, making female members of the royal family lose their royal status when marrying a commoner, which has since substantially reduced the number of members of the Japanese royal family. Prime minister Shinzo Abe has resisted opposition pressure to include a clause allowing princesses to establish their own branches within the imperial family after they marry commoners enabling them to take on their share of official duties and their sons to become emperors. Under pressure from conservative supporters in his ruling Liberal Democratic party, Abe opposed the change, claiming it would create pressure to end the male-only succession law. With Mako leaving the palace, the Japanese royal family, the world's oldest reigning hereditary dynasty, will be left with 18 members. Among those only three, apart from Akihito, are male with access to the throne: Crown Prince Naruhito, 57, his brother Akishino, 51, and Akishino's son Hisahito, 10, who is Princess Mako's younger brother. Although abdication has been common throughout the history of the Chrysanthemum Throne and women were, in the past, eligible for the throne (the last one in the 18th century), the 1947 law allows only men to occupy the throne. Alliant Management Services of Louisville, Kentucky, announced Thursday afternoon that it has signed a lease with the Healthcare Authority of Eufaula to manage Medical Center Barbour. Medical Center Barbour had previously been under the umbrella of Southeast Alabama Medical Center in Dothan. Eufaula Mayor Jack Tibbs has been working on getting a new partner to manage MCB for about five months. We understand the importance of good health and want to provide our community with convenient quality healthcare right here at home, Medical Center Barbour CEO Ralph Clark said. We strive daily to provide quality healthcare services. At Medical Center Barbour, we understand the importance of being your neighborhood hospital. We sincerely want to be, as our slogan says, Here for you. Medical Center Barbour has a rich history of caring for its community and region and we are thrilled to start working on a partnership with an organization that shares so many of our values. Medical Center Barbour is a not for profit, State certified acute care facility licensed for 74 beds. For more than 50 years, it has served the healthcare needs of Eufaulas community through emergency, surgical and acute care services. Southeast Alabama Medical Center noted in the news release that it was supportive of MCBs decision to seek a new partner. Our goal throughout our relationship with the Healthcare Authority of the City of Eufaula has always been to ensure the residents of Barbour County had access to quality care. AMS has demonstrated they can operate successfully in rural markets and we believe this new relationship will be beneficial for all parties, said Rick Sutton, CEO for Southeast Alabama Medical Center. Tibbs said the new partnership could be a real positive thing for Eufaula. Since 1978, Alliant Management Services (AMS) has performed at the forefront of community healthcare, sharing affordable, innovative support systems in virtually all areas of hospital management. AMSs brings an unmatched combination of clinical and financial resources to the partnership. Its mission statement, AMS said that it is committed to quality healthcare and has a long-standing relationship with partner hospitals and a history of success. These relationships clearly demonstrate that the benefits of professional management and access to a vast network of resources can be enjoyed without sacrificing autonomy. AMS manages, leases and owns hospitals. Among the hospitals AMS has purchased is Northwest Florida Community Hospital in Chipley, Florida. Also under its management is Calhoun Liberty Hospital in Blountstown, Florida. MCB will be AMS only hospital in Alabama. AMS manages one in North Carolina, five in Kentucky and five in Illinois. (AMS) niche has been rural hospitals, Tibbs said. Theyre not taking over because our hospital is doing great right now. (MCB) is having a profitable year. Weve got a really good rural hospital. But, these guys can come in and see what can be added. Southeast Alabama Medical Centers contract with Medical Center Barbour expires in December, but Tibbs believes AMS could take over as soon as October after the fiscal year ends. AMS and Medical Center Barbours partnership will assist Medical Center Barbour in treating every patient with the deepest respect, concern and compassion as an individual, said Michael A. Kozar, Associate of AMS and CEO for Northwest Florida Community Hospital. Together we will meet the healthcare needs of patients and provide safe, compassionate, comprehensive healthcare in Barbour County, We value the long relationship that Medical Center Barbour has had with Southeast Alabama Medical Center and want to continue to partner with them to meet the future healthcare needs of the citizens of Barbour County. In this partnership, AMS and Medical Center Barbour staff members will work together. With quality of care as AMSs first priority, specialized skills and resources will be offered to help Medical Center Barbour function and be recognized as customer-driven healthcare provider that is uniquely responsive to the needs of patients, physicians, employees and the community, the news release said. Alliant Management Services is an experienced hospital management company with the expertise and resources required to anticipate these challenges and turn them into opportunities for managed hospitals. AMSs approach to this lease is to match individualized services to the needs of Medical Center Barbour in order to maintain the highest quality of patient care and strengthen the hospitals position in the marketplace. Since the 1970s the Parade of Homes has brought the latest construction skills and technology advancements to anyone in the market for a new construction home. This year is no different. The Home Builders Association of Dothan and the Wiregrass Area kicked off its annual Parade of Homes Friday. The parade will run Saturday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m., rain or shine. The Parade of Homes is a paramount event for home builders, trade contractors and so many more , said the Home Builders Association of Dothan and the Wiregrass Area Executive Director Marella Collins. This event allows them to showcase the latest homes being built today. This event is not just for families in the market for a new home, it also benefits the families that are wishing to modernize and renovate their current home. In the past we have also seen families stop by just to get ideas on future home building. This event actually just serves so many purposes. During the parade individuals can visit with the home builders as well as everyone involved in the many different stages associated with building a home. In order for a home builder to participate and display their homes in the parade, the builder must be a member of the Alabama Home Builders Association. The home must also be 80 percent complete, and the builder is required to pay a fee which helps with the marketing campaign for Parade of Homes. This year we have 10 home builders showing more than 25 homes in the parade, Collins said. We have homes in several locations all across Dothan and nearby areas as well, such as Headland and Kinsey. I feel this years parade is appealing to everyone. The homes participating are definitely putting the builders best on display. The 2017 Decorator Showcase Home this year, which also is the kickoff location located at 3628 Oak Ridge Lane, is built by Everett Construction. Our showcase home is beautiful and unique just like all the homes participating in the parade, Collins said. However, this home has been decorated with the finest decor available by Rudd Furniture. This home allows everyone a chance to not only see what home plans are being spotlighted, but what decor items are featured as well. The 2017 Parade of Homes Chairman and owner of Blissett Construction, Mike Blissett, is no stranger to the parade or to home building. He has been participating in the parade , and building homes for more than 25 years. This event offers so much information to everyone. Whether you are in the market for a new home, or maybe you just want to spruce up your current home, the ideas that made theses homes can help you determine what ideas are available to you , Blissett said. Blissett has seen first-hand just how much home building has changed over the years. I am a second-generation home builder, Blissett said. Home building has changed over the years. Since 1993, I have provided more than 300 homes to residents across south Alabama. As a home builder I have seen many changes such as the improvements with technology and automation. It is all about making a home more efficient and more comfortable for the owner. Individuals can visit the homes in the parade, and just see what a few of the changes include, from building materials, hands-free faucets to the latest appliance available on the market today. For a detailed map of homes participating in the 2017 Parade of Homes, visit www.hbaofdothan.org. Skoda's SUV onslaught continues with new Mazda CX-3 rival. The Czech brand has unveiled another new SUV, the Karoq. The name is derived from an indigenous language of a tribe that lives off the coast of Alaska, following the theme of the brand's larger seven-seat Kodiaq SUV which goes on-sale locally next month. Featuring Skoda's new design language - that is also present on the new Kodiaq - which mirrors the more conservative styling we've come to expect from Skoda, with the exception of the oddly placed fog lights immediately below the LEd headlights. Skoda's styling direction is also breaking the trend of funky-styles most manufacturers dip into when launching an urban-focused small SUV. The Karoq will be built on the Volkswagen Group's flexible MQB platform that forms the basis for the Karoq's larger sibling as well as the Volkswagen Tiguan, Drive's reigning Car of the Year. Measuring almost 4.4m long, the Karoq is a more than 300mm shorter than the Kodiaq and is only slightly larger than its future competitor the Toyota C-HR. But a long wheelbase - more than 2.6m - and shorter front overhangs have made for a more spacious interior. New technology for the Karoq - a crucial element to be successful in the baby SUV space - includes for the first time a digital instrument display, mirroring similar tech seen first in its group partner, Audi. Besides its own infotainment system, Skoda will also offer smartphone mirroring through both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Czech car maker will also offer a variety of diesel and petrol engines which will range from small 1.0-litre displacement units through 1.5-litre petrol variants - that will feature cylinder deactivation technology to increase efficiency - and on to the 140kW 2.0-litre turbo diesel unit seen throughout the Volkswagen Group's models. Skoda has stated that it will offer either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission on most models, there will also be both front- and all-wheel drive options within the range. The Skoda Karoq also points to a future baby Volkswagen SUV, which is lacking from the brand's current range. At the 2016 Geneva motor show Volkswagen teased a new city SUV with its T-Cross Breeze concept with the expectation that a production version would arrive in Australia by 2018. According to a report in the national media today, the chief suspect in the murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe was detained by the United States' Homeland Security for immigration offences. The man, who is in his mid-20s was taken into custody in New York by officials yesterday. It is believed he was arrested for overstaying his visa. This development opens the possibility for his deportation back to Ireland where Gardai will get the opportunity to speak to him regarding the killing of Garda Donohoe, which took place at Lordship Credit Union in January 2013. A four man gang were involved in the murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe which happened during a robbery at the Credit Union. On the fourth anniversary of Adrian's death earlier this year Garda Commissioner Noirin OSullivan praised the work done by local Gardai to date. "The investigation team in Dundalk has done incredible work and An Garda Siochana will continue its efforts in this vain until justice is done. "We cannot do this alone, we still need the publics help. Even the smallest piece of information could be vital. At this time, I would appeal to anyone with information on Adrians murder to come forward and help us with our enquiries. There are still people out there who know who the killers are. It is never too late to do the right thing. Any information provided will be treated sensitively." Birth Certificate Finally Reflects Restored Life Contact: Liberty Counsel, 407-875-1776, Media@LC.org; Press Kit SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 19, 2017 /Christian Newswire/ -- It was 34 years to the day that Walt Heyer's birth certificate was changed from "male" to "female" that his restored birth certificate finally arrived in his mail reflecting his birth sex as "male." Heyer's first attempt to restore his birth certificate was in 1989, after realizing his "sex reassignment surgery" was a grave mistake. He made numerous unsuccessful attempts over 28 years to restore his original certificate to "male." In 2017, with help from Liberty Counsel, Heyer was finally successful in having his birth certificate changed back to "male," after he had experienced numerous denials by the State of California. Sexually abused as a boy by a family member, combined with his grandmother's decision to secretly clothe him as a girl, Heyer struggled with gender dysphoria, sexual abuse, alcohol and drug abuse. Heyer finally experienced restoration and healing from the transgender lifestyle after he embraced a relationship with Jesus Christ. Now, Heyer publicly shares his story at numerous conferences and churches throughout the country, and he has been featured in the January 2017 publication of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association' Decision Magazine and in World Magazine in February of this year. Heyer's work on transgenderism includes 19 articles published in thefederalist.com and nine articles published in thepublicdiscourse.com. "I see the tragic consequences of polices to expand gender/sex beyond male and female, in the desperate letters I receive from those who regret gender transitioning and from the families of those who are still caught in the transgender delusion," said Heyer. "Liberty Counsel is honored to stand with Walt Heyer," said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. "He is an amazing testimony of the life-transforming power of Jesus. Walt was searching for identity in the wrong places until he found his identity in Jesus. To suggest that people can change their sex like they change clothes or dye their hair is dangerous. Walt realized that neither hormone medicine nor plastic surgery satisfied the void in his heart. That void was satisfied by Jesus and his true identity was restored. Children should be affirmed in who they really are, not as the pro-LGBT activists push them to be," said Staver. Liberty Counsel is an international nonprofit, litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family since 1989, by providing pro bono assistance and representation on these and related topics. Dundalk Councillor John McGahon has confirmed that he will be supporting Minister Leo Varadkar TD in the Fine Gael leadership race. Councillor McGahon said: "In politics you have to make a choice. I have been a long term supporter of Leo and I am delighted to confirm that he is my choice for the next leader of the Fine Gael party and Taoiseach of this country. "Ireland is constantly changing, society is constantly changing, politics is constantly changing. Leo is the epitome of that change. He represents a generational shift within Fine Gael and I believe he will be able to lead our party with strength, courage and conviction. "Leo is a social and economic liberal who has achieved a lot in his six years as a Minister, spanning three different departments. "In Transport, Tourism and Sport he led the case for the introduction, and subsequent retention of the 9% VAT rate for the hospitality sector. In recent years, tourism numbers have surged, last year there were over 9.5 million overseas visits to Ireland. This was helped, in no small part, by the 9% VAT rate. "In Health, he defused the row over medical cards by putting in place more human and sensible arrangements which resulted in a doubling of the number of 'discretionary' medical cards given to sick people who do not qualify under the means test. "In Social Protection he secured the first increase in 8 years for carers, people with disabilities, widows, the blind, jobseekers, lone parents and people on illness benefit (800,000 people). "Leo is a powerful communicator, he transcends the traditional lines of party politics and is a leader whom I firmly believe in and am thrilled to be able to support." Profit with a Higher Purpose -- A Christian Guide to Business Leadership Contact: Peet van Biljon, 202-378-0294, press@profitwithahigherpurpose.org MCLEAN, Va., May 19, 2017 /Christian Newswire/ -- How can businesses be run to be more people-centric than profit-centric? How can business leaders reconcile their work and faith lives? That's what Peet van Biljon and James C. Sprouse address in their book, "Profit with a Higher Purpose a Christian Guide to Business Leadership" (CreateSpace, 2017, ISBN 13: 978-1543117677) now available at Amazon. Business decisions greatly affect the lives of employees, customers, suppliers, and society at large. In pursuit of short-term profits, businesses may underpay and overwork employees, use unethical sales techniques, sell dangerous products to vulnerable consumers, cut costs so it harms people, and take other questionable actions that while legal, do not conform to highest ethical standards. It doesn't have to be this way. "Profit with a Higher Purpose" tackles vexing topics in chapters such as: The Many Sacrifices of the Ideal Worker Shackles of the Shareholder-Primacy Demon A Principled Life in an Imperfect World "The book focuses on the core business decisions executives make every day, not just those usually thought of as ethical decisions," says co-author Peet van Biljon. "We examine each business decision through both an economic and an ethical lens, and provide the reader with practical guidance." Whether it is providing a framework to navigate the challenges of automation and globalization, or advocating for fair employee compensation and reasonable work hours, "Profit with a Higher Purpose" connects the world of modern business with that of faith. "We are inviting business leaders into a conversation," says co-author James C. Sprouse. "The book provides a theological and ethical platform for looking at business issues in a way that is both new, and yet based on age-old wisdom." Peet van Biljon advises companies on strategy, innovation and ethics. He has worked in the business world for thirty years. He has been a management consultant at McKinsey and CEB, and has held executive positions in several companies internationally. James C. Sprouse is senior pastor at Trinity United Methodist Church in McLean, Virginia. Sprouse has been serving as a pastor for over forty years. Visit profitwithahigherpurpose.org for a press kit and author blogs. Email to request a free review copy. The book is published by JPSB Media LLC through CreateSpace. It is available at Amazon in paperback and Kindle. Contact: Peet van Biljon, (202) 378-0294 press@profitwithahigherpurpose.org Video footage of a senseless murder in Cleveland, posted after the fact on Facebook Live, has attracted national attention to the role of the platform in criminals minds. Authorities Tuesday morning announced that Steve Stephens the 37-year-old suspect wanted for the cold-blooded shooting of Robert Godwin Sr. shot himself to death after a short pursuit by Pennsylvania State Police. Officials had responded to a tip about a sighting of Stephens white Ford Fusion in a McDonalds parking lot in Erie, Pennsylvania. We are grateful this has ended, said Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams. We would prefer that it had not ended this way, because there are a lot of questions Im sure that not only family, but the city in general would have had for Steve, as to why this transpired. Stephens had been on the run after allegedly killing 74-year-old Godwin shortly after he left an Easter Sunday dinner with family. Stephens apparently chose his victim at random and shot him at point blank range before taking off in a white Ford Fusion. Stephens uploaded the shooting to Facebook Live later on Sunday. He claimed that he had shot 15 other people as well, but officials said that claim thus far appears unfounded. Philadelphia police officials confirmed via Twitter that several schools in the city were put on lockdown Monday afternoon, amid reports that Stephens was in the area of the Belmont Plateau in Fairmount Park in Philadelphia. Police later said that the lockdown was lifted, and they found no information indicating the suspect was in the city. Cleveland P. D.s Williams confirmed that a cellphone ping from Erie had been noted earlier during the manhunt, but he was not aware why the suspect was in the Erie area. Platform for Violence? The video of the shooting, which went viral across social media over the weekend, has put Facebook on the defensive, raising new questions about the suspects use of the live-streaming feature to commit a cold-blooded murder against an innocent man that he didnt even know. The suspect posted a video to Facebook announcing his intent to commit a murder, and then two minutes later posted another video of himself shooting an elderly man, who turned out to be Godwin, Facebook VP of Global Operations Justin Osofsky said Monday. A few minutes later, Stephens went live, confessing to the killing. Facebook is reviewing its reporting flows to be sure people can report videos and other material that violates Facebook standards as easily and quickly as possible, Osofsky said, noting that the report about the shooting video did not come into Facebook until an hour and 45 minutes after it was posted. The suspects account was closed 23 minutes after Facebook received the report about the murder video and two hours after it received a report of any kind, he noted. Artificial intelligence plays a major part in preventing unacceptable videos from being reshared, Osofsky said, adding that the company was working on improving its review process. Thousands of people around the world review millions of items that are reported to the company every week, he pointed out, and Facebook prioritizes items that have serious safety implications. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, speaking at the companys F8 developer conference on Tuesday, expressed his condolences to Godwins family and friends. We have a lot more to do here and we will keep doing all we can to prevent tragedies like this from happening, he said. Law enforcement authorities have cautioned before that people not live their lives on social media, Cleveland P. D.s Williams said in response to a reporters question. The shooting was not something that should have been shared around the world, he added. Facebook Live drew attention last summer, following its use to document the immediate aftermath of the police shooting of Philando Castile in Minnesota. St. Anthony Police Officer Jeronimo Yanez is facing a charge of second-degree manslaughter and two counts of intentional discharge of a dangerous weapon in that case. Castiles fiancee, who was sitting next to him during the traffic stop that led to the shooting, filmed the aftermath while he was in the car bleeding to death. Other violent events have been live-streamed on Facebook in the past, including a triple shooting in Norfolk, Virginia, in 2016. Criminals Thought Processes Certain types of personalities may be prone to using social media as a platform for promoting their crimes. Like any social media, it depends on the person behind the screen, observed Tina Meier, executive director of the Megan Meier Foundation, a nonprofit that focuses on cyberbullying and harassment. I do think that live feeds allow [the type of people] who want to commit crimes or certain actions to feel powerful, knowing that it can be seen by hundreds, thousands or even millions of people in an instant, she told the E-Commerce Times. Social media companies may need to take further steps to restrict live video feeds to prevent violent actions from being broadcast. If a pattern of copycat incidents should follow this latest tragedy, it could justify a case for additional regulation of the platform, said Rick Edmonds, a media business analyst at Poynter. However, Facebook cannot be held responsible for any wrongdoing in this case, he suggested. As commentators have noted, there are precedents mercifully infrequent, he told the E-Commerce Times. There have been two on-air suicides, and the shooting of the young morning show film crew in Virginia, a few years back, Edmonds recalled, but no one is talking about closing down TV live shots as a precaution. Instagram on Wednesday announced that it had reached a milestone of 700 million members while enjoying the fastest-ever growth rate in the companys history. The network has grown by more than 100 million members in the last four months, Instagram reported, although it took six months to accomplish its previous 100 million member increase. The increased growth rate can be credited to new features like Stories, live video and disappearing messages in Direct, the company said. Ostensibly copied from Snapchat, the feature was significant in driving the ephemeral messaging app to an IPO, said Zach Fuller, an analyst at Midia Research. Yet since Instagram copied Stories, Snapchats user growth has slowed to 82 percent, he told the E-Commerce Times, whilst Instagram has continued to thrive. Instagram last summer launched its Stories feature, which allows users to share multiple photos and videos in a slideshow format. The posts disappear after 24 hours and dont appear in a users feed or profile grid. Better Stories Instagram recently updated its Stories features with new capabilities, including live video. It also announced plans to let businesses put immersive, full-screen video ads into Stories. User engagement with Stories has grown to more than 200 million people per day, up from 150 million at the beginning of the year. Instagram late last year added the ability to save posts, and 46 percent of users have saved at least one post since then, the company said. Another new capability that became available earlier this year is the ability to save live video to mobile phones at the end of a broadcast. The rapid growth at Instagram is in part due to younger social media users switching to it from rival platforms, noted Midias Fuller. Instagram competes directly with Snapchat but is better to use and integrates better with Facebook, Michael Jude, a Stratecast/Frost & Sullivan program manager, told the E-Commerce Times. Facebook acquired Instagram in 2012 for $1 billion, two years after CEO Kevin Systrom and CTO Mike Krieger founded the company. Snaps Tough Road Ahead Snap, the parent of Snapchat, earlier this year launched one of the tech industrys most successful IPOs in years, raising US$3.91 billion. However, the firms financial results have revealed telltale signs that the battle between Instagram and Snapchat has begun to take a toll. The company reported 2016 revenue of $404.5 million; however it widened its net losses to $514.6 million for the year, compared with $372.9 the year before. In filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Snap disclosed that it had 158 million daily users who were creating more than 2.5 billion Snaps every day. Snapchat faces competition from rivals like Instagram and Facebook, which have copied some of its best features, according to an IHS Markit report. Further, Snapchats reliance on younger social media users poses a potential risk because brand loyalty can be fleeting. Facebook, through Instagram, is working to stunt Snapchats growth, noted Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group. It is emulating what Snapchat does, making it redundant and new users less likely to download it, he told the E-Commerce Times. Instagram started out being far larger, it is backed by far better-funded Facebook, and there appears to be little you can do on Snapchat that Instagram cant do at least as well, Enderle pointed out. Since on social networks the power is in number of people on them, all Facebooks Instagram has to do, he said, is be close enough to Snapchat so that users make their decision with regard to which one to use based on the apps user population, where Instagram has a huge current advantage. Gender bias affects contributions to the open source community, according to a paper published Monday in the open access journal PeerJ Computer Science. Female programmers suggestions for code changes in open source projects called pull requests were accepted more often than those of their male counterparts 78.7 percent for women versus 74.6 percent for men when gender was unspecified. However, that changed when the gender of a pull requests author could be identified. Authors who could be identified by name or a profile picture as women had lower pull request acceptance rates (58 percent) than those who could be identified as men (61 percent). On the other hand, women with gender-neutral profiles had higher acceptance rates (70 percent) than any other group, including men with gender-neutral profiles (65 percent). Our explanation for why all women were doing better than women who could be identified as women is gender bias, said Emerson Murphy-Hill, an associate professor of computer science at North Carolina State University. Murphy-Hill authored the study with Josh Terrell, a former undergraduate at Cal Poly; Andrew Kofink, a former undergraduate at NC State; Justin Middleton, a Ph.D. student at NC State; Clarissa Rainear, an undergraduate at NC State; Chris Parnin, an assistant professor of computer science at NC State; and Jon Stallings, as assistant professor of statistics at NC State. Higher Bar for Women The studys findings, which were published in preliminary form last year, are based on analysis of 3 million pull requests from 330,000 GitHub users, including 21,000 women. GitHub is an online programming community that fosters collaboration on open source software projects. Despite their being vastly outnumbered on GitHub, women overall performed better than men on pull requests. Our intuition is that the women who are on GitHub if theyve made it to that point in their careers they may be more competent to the average man in that position, Murphy-Hill told LinuxInsider. Prior research has shown that women in the workplace are held to higher performance standards, he pointed out. By the time women reach the point in their careers where theyre contributing to open source projects, most of the less competent women have exited the career path, Murphy-Hill maintained. Assessed with Different Lens The findings by the NC State researchers arent applicable to women programmers alone, noted Barbara Annis, a founding partner in the Gender Intelligence Group. When women are identified as women, their ideas tend to get dismissed more, not only in the tech industry but in other industries as well, she told LinuxInsider. We see women in organizations being assessed with a different lens, she added. For example, in an experiment the Gender Intelligence Group performed at a financial services company, one group of women had gender identifiers on their resume while another did not. Of the gender-identified women, only 18 percent received job interviews. However, 71 percent of the non-gender identified got interviews. They still didnt get the job, because in the interview you could see the candidate was a woman, Annis said. It can be worse in the programming field, she added, because the culture and mindset there is still very male. Future Research What might be the next step for the researchers? A look at the people judging pull requests could be enlightening, Murphy-Hill noted. Prior work suggests that women tend to be especially hard on other women, he said. When some people read this paper, they think men are the villains here, Murphy-Hill continued. I dont think thats the way to read the paper at all. I think everybody has implicit biases, whether theyre men or women, and biases can manifest no matter who you are. Another possibility is that the original research may have focused on the wrong issue, suggested Jennifer Bryan, an associate professor at the University of British Columbia who teaches data analysis and statistics. I thought the story should have been much more about how few contributions were coming from women, she told LinuxInsider, than the rather modest differences in acceptance rates. 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According to emails obtained by DeSmog through an open records request, this privilege of reviewing and editing the draft approval was granted exclusively to Spectra and not to the general public. Editing Compressor Projects Draft Pollution Permit As part of the project, a planned expansion of Spectras Algonquin pipeline through the northeast U.S., the company intends to build a new gas compressor station in Weymouth, Massachusetts. In February, Spectra was officially acquired by Canadian energy giant, Enbridge. Since the compressor station will emit various pollutants, it requires environmental permits from state authorities. Spectra submitted an air quality application to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in October 2015. Emails show that within a few months, state officials had already drafted a preliminary permit or plan approval, of the application. Then, in February 2016, the DEPs Permitting Chief for the Southeast Region, Thomas Cushing, sent the draft for editing to David Cotter of Trinity Consultants, Spectras air pollution contractor in the project. Cushing wrote, David, [A]s discussed, I attached a rough draft of the Algonquin approval for your review and comment. At that point, the draft was already written on the DEPs official letterhead and addressed to Spectras Houston headquarters. Cotter returned the draft to Cushing in early April 2016, after revising it in numerous places using Microsoft Words track changes tool. In his edits, Cotter changed text, deleted several words and data, and inserted comments. Thank you for offering us the opportunity to provide comment on the preliminary draft of the Weymouth permit, Cotter wrote to DEPs Cushing. Based on your responses to our recommended edits and changes the next version of the draft permit will be forwarded to Spectra for review. We look forward to working with you as we move forward to the final permit. Cushing wrote back to Cotter, saying: I took a quick read and can accept most changes, but some I cant. Can I call Friday and discuss? Early Draft Will Not Be Provided to the Public In late April Cotter provided an update to Kate Brown, Spectras consulting scientist in the project, saying that Cushing will send soon the draft for Spectras review and comment. Note that this is a client review copy and will not be provided to the public, Cotter assured Brown. From an email between Spectra consultant David Cotter and Spectras consulting scientist, Kate Brown, indicating the companys exclusivity in editing the draft permit. On June 17, 2016, DEPs Cushing finally sent the draft approval to Brown and Ralph Child, an attorney for Mintz Levin, a firm providing legal and permitting services to Spectra in the project. Please provide comment as appropriate, Cushing wrote. Feel free to call me to discuss. Brown sent Spectras edits on the document back to Cushing in December, writing: Hi Tom, [A]ttached is the draft Weymouth Compressor Station plan approval, incorporating language as discussed in our meeting last week. As Cotter had done previously, Brown changed and deleted text, and inserted comments. Cushing allowed Spectra one more round of edits in January this year. Spectras Brown wrote to him on Jan. 13: Hi TomAttached is the draft Weymouth Compressor Station plan approval, including all Algonquin comments on the plan approval, to date, and incorporating the additional information you requested when we last spoke on 12/29/16. Cushing also asked Spectra to resubmit a modified application for the permit. What the Public Didnt See in the Draft Permit On March 30 this year, the DEP published on its website the draft plan approval, addressed to Spectras corporate vice president of field operation. Due to the contentious nature of the project, the DEP allowed for a month-long public comment period on the draft before deciding on a final permit. Comparing Cushings original draft approval document to the Spectra-revised and final one reveals the DEP had accepted many of the companys edits. For example, Spectra increased the threshold for what will be considered a leak from a pipe seal, from Cushings original 2,000 parts per million by volume (ppmv) to 10,000 ppmv. Spectra also removed from the original draft a requirement for the stations initial compliance testing for sulfur dioxide and PM10, which refers to small particulate matter. Both were edited out of the draft approval published online. On the top, from DEPs original draft approval of the Weymouth compressor pollution permit. Below that, the draft with edits by Spectra Energy. Following the publication of the draft approval, the DEP received many public comments in opposition to the draft permit. These include a letter by 13 Massachusetts lawmakers who cite various health and safety hazards to the many residents living close to the station, as well as the projects contradiction to the states goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Spectra Asks for Exemptions from Emission Standards Spectra apparently also benefitted from the constant phone communication with Cushing, the state official. Emails show that Cushing originally planned to include the stations separator vessel and condensate storage tanks as individual emission units subject to the states pollution standards. But following Spectras request to include these as fugitive emissions exempt from individual emission standards, Cushing seems to have changed his mind. Tom was fine with us wanting to include the tanks as fugitives and asked that we send him an email containing a description on how the tanks operate along with our reasoning on why they should be included as fugitives so that he could review, Cotter reported to Spectra in April 2016. These revelations come shortly after Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Matthew Beaton promised to assess Spectras pending state permits on their merits and not in any predetermined way. Yet DeSmog recently revealed the cozy relationship the companys lobbyists in the state had forged in the past two years with its top environmental decision makers, particularly Beaton and his undersecretary, Ned Bartlett. Another of Spectras lobbyists, ML Strategies, the lobbying arm of law firm Mintz Levin, has connections to Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker. DeSmog reached out to but did not receive responses from Spectra Energy, Massachusetts DEP and Thomas Cushing. Reposted with permission from our media associate DeSmogBlog. Politicos Morning Energy reported Wednesday that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has assigned 110 staffers to meet a court-ordered July 1 deadline to produce a study of the agencys impact on coal jobs. This many staff on the job may be overkill, particularly since a recent Columbia Center on Global Energy Policy report already quantified the impact of EPA regulations on coal. While President Trump and Scott Pruitt have always been eager to blame the EPA for the fall of coal, the folks at Columbia Center found regulations for a scant 3.5 percent of the industrys decline. The biggest winner in the so-called War on Coal has been, as we and others have said, natural gas. Per the Columbia Center report, natural gas is responsible for half of the coal industrys decline, while reduced demand (thanks to energy efficiency) is responsible for a quarter and renewables 18 percent. Were guessing these findings are not what the Trump administration wants to hear, so it will be interesting to see how the EPA report lines up with Columbia Centers. Lets take a look at what stats the oil and gas lobby are propping up. A new post and graphic from the Koch-funded American Enterprise Institute (AEI) purports to prove that it takes 79 solar workers to produce the same amount of energy as one coal employee (or two natural gas workers). In other words, AEI is trying to argue that fossil fuels are better because they provide less employmentnot quite as silly as it may seem in the context of Trumps incessant coal jobs drumbeat. Before you get too excited about slamming AEI and praising solars 80x job creation benefit over coal, remember the parable of the broken window. You can break windows and hire people to fix them, but that doesnt really grow the economy since that money could have been spent on anything else without having destroyed the windows. Solar is certainly creating lots of jobs, but that doesnt mean you should buy into AEIs framing. Jobs dont exist just for their own sake, its the value they create over the long term that really matters to the economy. Thats not to say that AEI is right in its criticism (and no, we dont think solar jobs are a broken window-type issue). Whats more, even if you were to accept AEIs premise, it didnt even get the numbers right. Peter OConnor at the Union of Concerned Scientists checked the math and found AEIs figures to be wrong by roughly half (so only 35-50 solar workers to one coal job, instead of 79). But theres an even bigger problem with AEIs comparison. A solar worker installs a solar panel that will then produce power for decades, whereas coal labor is measured on an annual basis. Factoring in this crucial distinction cuts the figure down considerably. By OConnors rough estimate, its actually only two solar jobs per coal job. Theres more! OConnor continues by pointing out that because of the incredibly risky nature of coal jobs and the fact that even unsubsidized solar is now cheaper than coal, solar is making a more efficient use of materials and labor, which is a more economically valid metric. So while the Trump administration seems to be intent on going back to a time when coal was the undisputed king, the data clearly shows that theres no coming back for the industry. Wed suggest Republicans update their talking points ASAP to reflect this new reality, but given the stream of highly concerning leaks that have been Russian out of the White House, well let this go. (At least for now) 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. Related: What Are The Top States For Solar Incentives? 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. (Photo: Peter Kenny)The Brandenburger Gate on August 26, 2015. More than 100,000 Christians are expected to flock to Berlin, Germany next week where Angela Merkel and Barack Obama will kick off the Ascension Day weekend of the 36th Protestant Kirchentag (Church Assembly) under the iconic Brandenburger Gate. In his first major appearance since leaving the U.S. presidency, Obama will join German Chancellor Merkel on Ascension Day, May 25, in a conversation to talk about "Being Involved in Democracy: Taking on Responsibility Locally and Globally". About 80,000 people are expected to attend the open-air event that is jointly organised by the Obama Foundation and the Kirchentag. Lutheran bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, the head of the EKD, the body representing Germany's 25 million Protestants said "President Barack Obama's attending the Kirchentag in Berlin, which will ring in the Reformation Summer. "It underlines the international character of our 500th anniversary celebrations. The churches form a global civil society network of over two billion Christians. "Together, as people of faith, we live from the firm hope for a better world. Anyone who is pious also has to be politically minded," said Bedford-Strohm, who will chair the conversation between the two world leaders. DONALD TRUMPS VISITS NATO Obama's presence will coincide with President Donald Trump's first foreign visit to NATO and the G7 on May 25. The evening before on May 24, three open-air services in Berlin will officially start the spiritual part of the Kirchentag, followed by a huge street market and a chance for participants to mingle. With over 2,000 events in Berlin and Wittenberg over the four-day weekend, Germany's Reformation Summer officially starts to commemorate 500 years ago when the then Catholic priest Martin Luther nailed 95 theses against the Wittenberg Church door, setting in motion the Reformation. There will be political and spiritual discussions, cultural events and various art and historical exhibitions. The bi-annual Kirchentag was started by lay Protestant Christians after the Second World War to confront and deal with the complacency of the churches during the Nazi regime. During the 1970s and 1980s, it became a platform for the peace movement and Christian pacifism. The current president of the Kirchentag, Swiss theologian Christina Aus der Au has stressed, "We are continuing in that tradition to look at and question our societies." The Kirchentag will end with an ecumenical open-air service in Wittenberg on Ascension Day Sunday. The outspoken South African Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba will lead the service. It is expected that about 20,000 people will attend this service. In Wittenberg, the origin of the Reformation, the churches and the German State have been preparing for the last decade. Yet nowhere else in Germany are the numbers of Protestants lower than here in the town where Luther lived and worked for much of his life. There are only 15 percent Christians in the town itself and in the surrounding East German federal state of Saxony Anhalt only 14.7 percent of the people call themselves Protestant, seen as the result of more than 40 years of East German Communist rule. It is also in these former East German regions where support for the ultra-right wing party the AFD is most prevalent. The party has a "Christians in the AFD" section and their leader Frauke Petry was previously married to a Lutheran pastor in a congregation near Leipzig. She herself sang in the Leipzig Bach choir and played church organ. In a controversial move the Protestant bishop of Berlin Markus Droge and a representative of Christians in the AFD will debate each other on stage. Outraged Kirchentag participants have started a petition to try and prevent this event from taking place next week. Droge however told the German religious news agencies kna (Catholic) and epd (Protestant) this week: "I trust in the culture of dialogue of the Kirchentag. I have also spoken with AFD members in private. I have even invited those who sent me e-mails for a cup of tea in my office and talked quite extensively to them." In a more and more secular German society the Kirchentag will also try and reach out to non-believers Aus der Au said. In a city where the influx of refugees is felt, the Kirchentag has encouraged the active participation of refugees. Other events will include ecumenical and inter-faith dialogue. One of the highlights will be a discussion between Germany's conservative Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere and the Grand Imam of the al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo, Sheikh Ahmad al-Tayyeb, the leader of the world's Sunni Muslims. While the Berlin Kirchentag will be a more global event, eight other East German towns and cities where Martin Luther was active or his presence felt, will celebrate six individual local Kirchentage with the focus on themes closer to home. These cities are: Leipzig, Magdeburg, Erfurt, Jena/ Weimar, Dessau-Rolau and Halle/Eisleben. The six Kirchentage will encompass an additional 2,000 cultural, spiritual and tourism events. After the Kirchentag, the Reformation celebrations will continue until the 31 October anniversary. The controversy as school choice philanthropist and GOP donor Betsy DeVos took office as the U.S. secretary of education this year might conjure up sentiments from the old Buffalo Springfield song: Nobodys right when everybodys wrong. Yet, as a longtime school choice supporter who for nearly two years has served alongside some wonderful people on my local school board, I would argue that regarding school choice, nobodys wrong when everybodys right. School choice proponents and opponents see traditional public schools in completely different ways. Ironically, each view is accurate. This difference in understanding occurred to me a few months after taking office, when I casually mentioned in a gathering of fellow school board members and school leaders that as a kid I had hated school, just as my kids now hate school. Jaws dropped. People offered their sympathy. It was as if I had announced a stage-four stomach cancer diagnosis at the same time my kids were stricken with hereditary leukemia. Many backers of traditional public schools find it hard to imagine that many good people (and their kids) really do hate school. Though they are usually too polite to say so, these public school supporters believe such people (and their kids) must have serious flaws. For most school choice opponents, support for traditional public schoolsand only those schoolsis not a rational matter subject to social science. Support for traditional public schools is an emotional attachment akin to religious faith or loyalty to ones spouse. Traditional public schools provided many good people sufficient preparation for work, as well as lifelong friends, a sense of belonging, and memories of dances, dates, and big games. When these Americans think of public school, they see teachers and principals who get up early every morning and stay late every night to manage the activities holding school communities together. Like attracts like, so the people who choose to work in public education or run for school board love American public schools as they are, not as school reformers like me would like them to be. Naturally, they resist reform. No amount of grumbling that Belgians or Canadians have higher test scores will change their views. School choice supporters see a different reality. For us, traditional public schools have seen substantial budget increases since the 1960s, yet fail to produce voters who understand their nations Constitution, something all too apparent in the recent presidential contest. Further, as Dana Goldstein, the author of The Teacher Wars, points out, most American teachers have below-average SAT scores and graduate from nonselective colleges and universities. In practice, that means we lack sufficient numbers of teachers with the capacity to develop our most academically motivated students, so we must import our technical talent from overseas. The people who choose to work in public education or run for school board love American public schools as they are, not as school reformers like me would like them to be." Similarly, too few educators have the dedication and cultural awareness to mentor the third of American students now raised in single-parent homes . Coming from a blue-collar background, I saw firsthand the negative impacts of single parenting on class mobility among friends and family members. As Susan Mayers research in What Money Cant Buy supports, its simply far harder, in terms of time, patience, and every other resource, for single parents to raise kids. Indeed, the analysis of Stanford Universitys Raj Chetty and other researchers identifies family stability as one of the primary factors correlated with upward mobility within a community. In the school choice debate, both sides are sincere and both sides are right. In my experience working in more than 150 schools throughout the course of my career, our traditional public schools succeed with students from two-parent homes who intend to go straight into the workplace after graduation or to the local state college. That is no small thing. In fact, it is a bigger success than most education reformers could manage. Yet those same public schools, which succeed with many children, too often fail to serve students from single-parent homes, who need more mentoring than traditional public schools can provide. For those studentsas a range of research summarized in Floyd Hammacks journal article Schooling for Social Mobility suggestsmore-encompassing, intensive institutions like the Knowledge Is Power Program charter schools are more likely to provide a path to the middle class. KIPP and similar schools were started and largely staffed by teachers from outside traditional education schools, such as Teach For America alums. Similarly, our traditional public schools have trouble challenging students with the talent and drive to make it at top colleges. My own fieldwork has convinced me that such students may better succeed in certain charter schools where, in the words of Education Next journalist June Kronholz, teachers are scholars. Many traditional public schools simply cant attract these scholarly teachers. In her 2013 essay Closing the Opportunity Gap, Billie Gastic, of New York University, points out that back in 1971 roughly a quarter of women in the top tenth of their high school classes became teachers; today, only a tenth of that talented tenth teach. Women no longer face severely limited job prospects, so the exceptionally gifted women who used to teach now enter other fields. Until we address this brain drain, we will never have public schools that effectively educate, rather than merely house, the students at the top and bottom of the motivation bell curve. Given these manifold realities, Secretary DeVos and her state-level counterpartsthe latter of whom matter most in the Every Student Succeeds erashould never attack traditional public schools. They should praise those schools and their hard-working educators, who succeed with many of our children. Policymakers should promote school choice for the others, the outsiders, the kids who just dont fit in traditional public schools. Kids like me. Huge potential for aqua feed milling in Indonesia: Buhler With more than 17,000 islands, a coastline of 81,000 square kilometres, and only a fraction of the total area suitable for aquaculture being farmed, Indonesia has huge potential for the aqua feed milling industry, Buhler's sales in charge for the country told eFeedLink at Indo Livestock 2017 Expo & Forum in Surabaya. "Figures show that out of the 52% of the area suitable for mariculture, a mere 0.03% is currently used. The figures are 30 and 11% for freshwater aquaculture and 17 and 39% for brackish water aquaculture. Mariculture areas include Aceh, Padang, Lampung, Bali and Maluku, and the fish species include grouper and barramundi," says Mr. Jimmy De Mey, sales in charge for Buhler's feed milling business in Indonesia which was started more than 25 years ago. "Buhler is a 100% Swiss family-owned company, and is committed to sales stability, investing 5% of its annual turnover in R&D. Its 2016 turnover was CHF 2.45 billion. Buhler has 27 manufacturing sites and over 90 service stations around the world, with 11,000 employees in over 140 countries. Buhler Indonesia was formed in 2012, with workshops in Surabaya, and an office and laboratory service in Jakarta. Our engineers provide support and servicing to our customers in the country," says Mr. De Mey. Specifically for aqua feed milling, Mr. De Mey also describes Buhler as having "good partnerships" to set up aqua feed plants in the country. "We have various machines in our portfolio, such as our single screw and twin screw extruders, which define the wide range of aqua feed which we can produce, such as sinking and floating feeds. We also provide feed mill customers turnkey solutions along their whole process line," highlights Mr. De Mey. Indonesia's rapid population growth and increasing need for food are also driving other sectors in the industry, which Buhler has been capitalising on. Of the five poultry market zones designated in the country, the company already has customers in all of them. "If trade issues such as the import of commodities work in our favour, we are aiming for a two-digit growth for the Indonesian market within the next five years," concludes Mr. De Mey. 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. It is a known fact that former president, Barack Obama, was strongly pulling for Hillary Clinton during this past election. What comes as a surprise to many though is just how strong his dislike for Donald Trump runs. "He's nothing but a bullsh-ter," Obama told close friends according to PEOPLE. Other words that Obama has used to describe Trump in the past include "unfit" and "woefully unprepared." A source connected to Obama revealed to PEOPLE that his opinion of the current president "hasn't gotten any better." In the past, Trump has been harsh and critical of Obama and his policies, even calling some of them a disaster situation. In a phone call on election night though, Trump reportedly told former president that he had a lot of "respect" and "admiration" for him. This change of expression from the businessman came as quite a surprise. When it comes to Obama and his life after the presidency, a friend of the president told PEOPLE that he is taking a hands off approach. "He's 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," says political strategist and friend of Obama, David Axelrod. "Obviously, this now is a unique set of circumstances, but my sense is that he's going to try and respect that tradition while reserving the right to speak out in given moments when things rise to that level." What do you think about Obama's opinion on Trump? Do you think he was out of line to say what he did? Let us know in the comments. The former CEO of Fox News, Roger Ailes, died Thursday at the age of 77, his wife Elizabeth Ailes shared in a statement without revealing the cause or place of death. "I am profoundly sad and heartbroken to report that my husband, Roger Ailes, passed away this morning," Elizabeth said in the statement. "Roger was a loving husband to me, to his son Zachary, and a loyal friend to many. He was also a patriot, profoundly grateful to live in a country that gave him so much opportunity to work hard, to rise -- and to give back." Ailes became CEO of Fox News since it was founded in1996, where he was a pivotal character in building up the media powerhouse. He held the position until 2016, when he resigned due to allegations of sexual harassment from Gretchen Carlson, a former news anchor. Other such allegations had been made against him in the past. While many on social media are coming together to mourn Ailes, there are those who are looking back on him with distaste due to his sexual harassment history. Aside from his work with Fox News, Ailes was also known for being a media consultant for several past presidents, such as Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush. More recently, he worked on debate preparations in the presidential campaign of now president, Donald Trump. Ailes leaves behind his wife, along with their son, Zachary Ailes. His cause of death is said to have been from a blood clot that he received during a fall, according to a Twitter posted by reporter Gabriel Sherman citing two family friends. Sherman also reports that he died in Palm Beach, Florida. In his 2013 biography, Ailes, who had hemophilia, discussed his inevitable death saying that "I've been prepared to face death all of my life. When it comes, I'll be fine, calm. I'll miss life, though. Especially my family." Our thoughts and prayers go out to Elizabeth and the rest of the Alies family. Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) has set itself a goal of modernising the collection of statistics, while also fine tuning trade statistics. Tabling the Budget Vote of Stat SA in Parliament - Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Minister Jeff Radebe said trade statistics play a crucial role in planning the countrys development. Trade statistics play a critical role in understanding a countrys inclination to strengthen its economy by increasing exports. For our country, a preliminary review of our administrative data suggests that they are in need of repair. Statistics are not only crucial in assessing our current status, but they form the basis of any future planning. For without indicators, without comparative data of any kind, it is nearly impossible to set yourself any growth targets or even gauge your own progress. Evidence that is scientific is what we need, said the Minister on Thursday. The Minister said Stats SA turned a new leaf in June 2016, when a seven decades-long practice of the production of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) estimates in two separate institutions was ended. Statistician General Pali Lehohla and Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago held a briefing where the Reserve Bank handed the responsibility of the compilation of the expenditure on GDP to Stats SA. Minister Radebe said the housing of GDP under one roof has with greater clarity highlighted the defects, shedding light on prospective illicit financial flows. It sets us on the right path and taking the first step in implementing the recommendation of the Illicit Financial Flows Commission. Our major programme, therefore, is unravelling and addressing trade statistics. We shall focus on modernising statistical collection. We shall also remove the pain from the customer by easing the use of statistical evidence. This will be done by the implementation of technology and getting geography to work for South Africa. Through the production of spatial statistics, the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluations new responsibility for the SPLUMA [Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act] will be greatly assisted, said Minister Radebe. Furthermore, the Minister said the system will be reformed through a revamped and enabling statistical law. Budget Minister Radebe said of the current 2016/17 financial year budget of R2.1 billion, R229 million is for economic statistics and R128 million is for population and social statistics. Methodology and research is allocated R67 million; statistical support and informatics has R258 million, and statistical collection and outreach is allocated R585 million. Survey operations have been allocated R191 million, and administration -- which pays for office accommodation, transport, training and other central services and includes and the national statistics system coordination -- is allocated R 688 million. Funding and independence Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Buti Manamela, said Stats SA will need to be properly funded to discharge of its duties and responsibilities. The Deputy Minister also spoke of the importance of the statistical body. Independence is a very interesting issue, for it remains a lot stronger when it is not curtailed in whatever form. Resource constraints can indirectly compromise the integrity of any independent agency. For an agency like Stats SA, it would be detrimental when it cannot be fully funded, said the Deputy Minister. Meanwhile, Stats SA will host the 28th International Union for the Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP) to be held in Cape Town in October. Stats SA produces 246 products on the state of the South African economy and 67 products on the social state of South Africa. The European Physical Society Accelerator Group (EPS-AG) has awarded the ESRFs Accelerator & Source Director, Dr. Pantaleo Raimondi, the 2017 Gersh Budker Prize, for his outstanding contribution to the accelerator field in the form of his invention of the Hybrid Multi Bend Achromat (HMBA) lattice, which has become the design basis of most future 4th generation synchrotron sources. Awarded once every 2-3 years, the prestigious Gersh Budker Prize recognizes a recent, significant, original contribution to the accelerator field. The Prize was awarded today, 18 May 2017, during the International Particle Accelerator Conference, IPAC17, in Copenhagen (DK). According to the EPS-AG, the HMBA-lattice shows Raimondis ability to foster new ideas, his deep understanding of accelerator physics and mastering of technological aspects. This Prize is also a great honour for the ESRF as the design has inspired the design of other big light-source facilities around the world, as underlined by the EPS-AG: The HMBA-lattice has been adopted as the basis for the design for most future 4th generation storage ring light sources such as the Advanced Photon Source upgrade at Argonne National Laboratory and the Advanced Light Source Upgrade at Berkeley Lab in the US (APS-U and ALS-U); Spring8-2 at the Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute; and the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility and the Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility in China (SSRF and IHEP). The new lattice will improve the brilliance of the ESRF light source by a factor of 100 while fulfilling the constraint to keep the original beam line structure, thanks to an innovative magnet design. With its larger dynamic aperture, smaller sextupole settings and smaller emittance with respect to previous proposals, the HMBA-lattice has made a large impact on the light source community. It is currently being implemented at the ESRF as the foundation of the 150M Extremely Brilliant Source upgrade project, lasting from 2015 to 2020. Presently in the component procurement and production phase, the project will see the facilitys user program put on hold at the end of 2018 while the existing accelerator is removed and new girders pre-assembled with the novel magnet arrangement are installed and commissioned in the storage ring before the start-up of the user programme in summer 2020. This will be followed by the construction of new state-of-the-art beamlines, an ambitious instrumentation programme with a particular focus on high-performance detectors and an intensified big data strategy, designed to exploit the enhanced brilliance, coherence flux and performances of the new X-ray synchrotron source. Dr. Raimondis ability to foster new ideas is based on a long and rich experience in research and development at accelerators including ENEA, CERN, SLAC and INFN, where he gained in-depth knowledge of all aspects of accelerator design and commissioning, from the development of RF power systems, linacs and microtrons to the operation, design and realisation of linear and circular colliders. During a career spanning 30 years, he has written over 300 publications and developed several new techniques, including the revolutionary crab waist scheme implemented at the DAFNE PHI-Factory in Italy in 2009 that significantly improved luminosity in the circular electron-positron colliders and strongly influenced the development of similar kinds of accelerators. Dr Raimondi said, I am very pleased and honoured to be nominated for the award. This is a very important recognition of all the efforts made by the accelerator community to improve the performance of storage rings and to extend the scientific reach of the research based on such machines. Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Get the latest on all the biggest court and crime news in Essex direct from our expert court reporter A paedophile who viewed the sexual abuse of a dead chicken, downloaded more than a thousand indecent images of children and then shared them online with other like-minded sex offenders has been spared jail. Ryan Clements, 28, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent photographs of children, two counts of distributing indecent photographs of children and possession of prohibited images of children. He also pleaded guilty to possession of extreme pornographic material, which featured an image of a dead chicken being sexually abused. Accompanied by his mother, Clements, of Cam Green, South Ockendon , appeared before Basildon Crown Court to be sentenced on Thursday (May 18). Explaining to the court how Clements came to the attention of police, prosecutor Carolyn Gardiner said: "The police in 2016 received intelligence indicating that a user of an internet protocol had accessed indecent images of children on May 5. "Officers attended the address and arrested the defendant on suspicion of making and distributing indecent images of children. "They seized one touch tablet, a disk from his bedroom and a USB memory card." When officers searched the devices, they found a range of explicit photographs and videos of young children, with 310 coming from the most serious Category A, 191 from Category B and 461 from Category C. It was also discovered that Clements had sent 31 of these images to someone in a Skype message. In addition to the vile horde of child abuse images, police found that Clements had also downloaded 265 prohibited images of children, which came in a Japanese cartoon-style. "When the defendant was arrested he made admissions to downloading the indecent images," said Ms Gardiner. "He used a website which showed males masturbating into young children's underwear." Using the name 'Essex Paedo', Clements went onto chat rooms and used the app 'Kik' to find groups where he could find images to feed his perverted tendencies. Clements gave his Dropbox account password out to other paedophiles so they too could access his sick collection - the majority of which featured children under the age of four. Despite receiving a police caution in 2011 for viewing indecent images, the court heard how Clements "was fine for a couple of years" but ended up indulging in his vile hobby. When asked how it made him feel, Clements said: "I just seems I always make my way to it. When I see a child in the street I never think of them in that way." Mitigating for Clements, Iain Lancaster said: "There's sufficient prospect of rehabilitation through the treatment programme suggested by the probation service. "He has not faced anything like this in his life before. The defendant has demonstrated remorse, not only in his interview, but more so in the pre-sentence report." Mr Lancaster implored Judge David Pugh to punish Clements with a community order and to take into account the early admission, guilty plea and lack of previous convictions. Passing sentence, Judge Pugh said: "It is worth noting that these are not victimless crimes. "Every single child you have viewed has been abused - it is people like you that means abuse of children continues." Judge Pugh, however, felt that Clements would not be able to access the rehabilitative treatment he needed in prison. "It is for that reason alone that I am prepared to suspend the two-year sentence for a period of two years," said Judge Pugh. Clements received two years in prison for the making and distribution offences, a one-year sentence for possession of extreme pornography and one year imprisonment for possession of the prohibited images, all of which were suspended for two years and to run concurrently. In addition, he was ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work , complete 60 days of rehabilitative treatment and made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years. The EU Parliament said that EU countries must fulfill their obligations to accept asylum seekers from Italy and Greece, giving priority to unaccompanied minors. The Parliament further said that Malta and Finland were the only member states on track to reach their target and that relocation measures must be extended until the reform of the Dublin asylum system. The EU Commission was also urged to consider infringement procedures. Most member states still lag behind their targets and two are still not participating in the scheme at all. MEPs have furthermore condemned the fact that despite having agreed to take in 160,000 refugees from both countries by September 2017, EU member states have relocated just 11% of their total obligations. They find the lack of solidarity and responsibility-sharing disappointing. The Parliament urged EU countries to honor their commitments and prioritize the relocation of unaccompanied children and other vulnerable applicants. MEPs point out that only one single unaccompanied minor was relocated so far. MEPs also criticized a number of member states for very restrictive and discriminatory preferences, such as granting relocation only to single mothers or excluding applicants from specific nationalities, such as Eritreans, and applying very extensive security checks. Parliament also made clear that even if relocation targets are not reached by September, EU countries will have to continue transferring eligible applicants. MEPs also think that the relocation scheme should be extended until the new Dublin Regulation on asylum is adopted. To address the refugee crisis in the summer of 2015, the EU adopted two emergency measures to relocate asylum seekers to accept 160,000 migrants with a high chance to be granted refugee status from Italy and Greece and to grant 54,000 places out of 160,000 to be used for the admission of Syrian refugees from Turkey, as part of the EU-Turkey migration agreement. According to UNHCR data, around 50,000 asylum-seekers are still in Greece, while Italy logged a new record last year with 181.436 new arrivals. There is hardly a region from which the United States has been able to extricate itself as quickly, after having exerted a substantial military footprint and having played a major role in the post-conflict reconstruction, as it has from the Western Balkans. The withdrawal has been a product of both choice and necessity; the previous two U.S. administrations maintained that the region should be the European Unions responsibility and, more importantly, there were a number of more pressing issues for the U.S. national interest from the Middle East to East Asia. Thus, the Balkans have been largely deprioritised from the US foreign policy agenda since the early years of the George W. Bush administration up to the end of Barack Obamas presidency. There has been significant continuity during the two administrations in their approach to the region. This has been evident in the U.S. governments insistence that the EU should take the lead in stabilization efforts and mediation of sensitive issues. However, the degree to which the EU was left to take the lead differed significantly between the two administrations. It appears that under President Obama, particularly during his first term, there was a more conscious effort to work with EU officials in diplomatic efforts in the region. Moreover, both administrations subscribed to the policy of dual engagement with Kosovo and Serbia, which has been seen in the aid allocated to both, as well as in more recent initiatives to deepen trade links and military cooperation. Equally, under both Bush and Obama there were attempts to set the agenda on political reforms in Bosnia-Herzegovina, both of which failed to yield results. Furthermore, the Obama administration began to grow increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress in the countries and even signalled there might be a need to rethink the international communitys approach that emanated from the Dayton Peace Agreement. Likewise, both administrations were similarly adamant that neither Kosovo nor Bosnia-Herzegovina represented precedents that could be applied in the other states. Despite the initial involvement of the Bush administration in Macedonia to help broker the Ohrid Framework Agreement and Macedonias membership in the U.S.-Adriatic Charter, there has been a more limited engagement with the country on part of both administrations. This was due to competing regional priorities which placed focus on Kosovo, Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Bushs focus on Kosovo and NATO However, there were a number of instances in which the U.S. Western Balkans policy clearly reflected presidential priorities. For example, under President Bush, there was a more active push to address Kosovos status that was mainly reactive to the escalation of violence in early 2004. The response was shaped by the administrations embrace of democracy promotion and support for nation building later in the first term. Moreover, the administrations strategic activism on the U.S.-Adriatic Charter reflected the White Houses stance on NATO enlargement and the need to expand the coalition of the willing. Obama prioritised diplomacy and economic growth to counter other regional powers The Obama administrations diplomatic approach to the region was different from his predecessors. Top officials from the Obama administration travelled to the region quite frequently, particularly in the first term, signalling a renewed focus on the region in order to deal with unfinished business. Some of them, like Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, had prior experience in the region in the nineties, which enabled them to take on a more active role in diplomatic engagement. Moreover, under President Obama there was significant agenda setting on trade with the region, essentially enabling the private sector take the lead as economic aid continued to dwindle. Perhaps most significantly, as other major powers began increasing their presence and influence in the region, the Obama administration began to formulate a more comprehensive regional policy. This was invoked by senior U.S. diplomats and interagency delegations in Obamas second term and focused on economic development through trade and investment, promotion of energy independence and further support for democratic consolidation. This broader strategic response was a reaction to the growing influence of Russia primarily, but equally to that of other major powers such as Turkey and China. The US regional strategy was in line with the administrations European policy, which emphasised the need to limit Russias malign influence following the annexation of Crimea and the war in Donbass. Clearly, there is still a lot of unfinished business in the region in both the political and economic spheres. More worryingly, increasing ethnic tensions and security concerns in Macedonia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo and Montenegro over the past year have drawn the attention of major foreign capitals. Just like its two predecessors, the new administration in Washington will most certainly face circumstances which will require a U.S. response, given its security guarantor status. Trumps policy entrepreneurs still unclear but expect less support for Democratization and Human Rights So far, there has been very little indication of what sort of regional policy we should expect to see from Trump. However, the respective records of the past two administrations might offer some pointers. In particular, it seems that the Presidential doctrines and top-level appointees had a huge impact on the approach to the region, despite the appearance that policy making had shifted mostly to the lower levels of bureaucracy. If the White House continues to shape the policy from afar, there is likely to be less priority placed on promoting democratization and respect for human rights across the region. Moreover, it would be hard to imagine that the Trump administration would be active in promoting trade with the region in a similar fashion to that of Obama. On the other hand, there might be a continuation of support for energy projects such as the construction of the LNG terminal in Croatia, as this area is well within the scope of Secretary of State Rex Tillersons professional experience. There is, perhaps, an even more likely scenario, which would see a policy of relative neglect, unless there is a dramatic change in circumstances. After all, America First was one of the central messages of Trumps campaign, despite having witnessed some notable rhetorical and substantive reversals over the past weeks. Moreover, in the absence of top US officials who have had prior dealings with the region, it is hard to identify who the policy entrepreneurs might be. If this proves to be the case, a lot will hinge on the EUs response to increasing threats to regional stability. Until the final outcomes of the French and German elections are known, there will be some uncertainty over policy specifics in the medium to long term. Finally, less active U.S. policy would leave significant leeway for other powers in the region. Much will depend, therefore, on the nature of relationships between major powers, particularly that between U.S. and Russia. The opinions articulated above represent the views of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the position of the European Leadership Network or any of its members. The ELNs aim is to encourage debates that will help develop Europes capacity to address the pressing foreign, defence, and security challenges of our time. Guys, I am based out in Bangalore, India. I have applied for Canadian PR. I have a home loan of INR 25 Lakhs and also i have a property(Home) worth INR 75 Lakhs or bit more than that. So, for showing the financial support, i wanted to get the property assessment done. Can any of you guys suggest me on from whom exactly i should get my property assessed and What all documents are required for getting this done? Also, how should I present it to CIA people? Many Thanks in advance, Sunil I think I suggested this to you years ago. Rome has a large metropolitan city area. Or even the broader province. In most cases you can be in the city centre of Rome in 30 minutes or a bit more. Really no worse then some of the outer parts of main city. Prices are much lower. Like for like even more so. For example the sort of studio apartment you'd be lucky to find in the outskirts of Rome for 100K will often be less then 50K in the greater area. Worse the 100k apartment will be in an area that's less nice. A new type of malware is quietly spreading throughout computer systems that may hit more people than the large-scale ransomware attack that shut down machines around the globe Friday, cybersecurity firm Proofpoint said. Called Adylkuzz, the computer virus runs silently in the background on computers, zapping their power to use for themselves, Proofpoint said in recently-published analysis. And so far statistics suggest it may be larger in scale than WannaCry, the report said. Instead of a flashy attack that locks a computer down and demands ransom like the WannaCry attack, Adylkuzz slows computer performance. For now its unclear which regions have been hardest hit by the attack, but Moscow cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab said Wednesday most of the attacks it has found so far are in Russia. Some researchers say Adylkuzz may spread farther than WannaCry, but most users wont know that their computers been hijacked. Average home users, or small-to-medium-sized businesses are particularly vulnerable to this type of malware, said Brad Morrison, CEO of Innove, LLC in San Antonio. If you look at the general populace, I think that target demographic of older generations that may not be as computer savvy, there could be more issues there, Morrison said. Innove is a technology and cybersecurity consulting provider that serves both the federal government and commercial critical infrastructure clients. Technology is moving so fast that there is always going to be a workaround by hackers to exploit technology, Morrison said. WannaCry hijacked a users computer and threatened to delete files unless a ransom was paid using Bitcoin, a form of digital currency that allows both parties to remain anonymous. When WannaCry began spreading rapidly last week, local firms were on pins and needles seeing how it propagated, said John Dickson, principal at San Antonio-based application security company Denim Group, Ltd. And while his company didnt get any reports from clients that WannaCry impacted them, he noted that nobody in the IT world right now is doing a victory lap, because these things will mutate, these things will morph. Adylkuzz is different from WannaCry in that it is much more stealthy, with a different goal, McAfee Chief Technology Officer Steve Grobman said Wednesday via email. Adylkuzz allows hackers to hijack computing power from other systems to generate a type of digital currency called Monero, which is similar to Bitcoin. One difference between Adylkuzz and WannaCry is that it is advantageous for Adylkuzz to remain undetected and run as long as possible to maximize the amount of time a machine can be used for mining, Grobman added via email. This creates an incentive for the cybercriminals of Adylkuzz to cause minimal damage and fly under the radar whereas WannaCry loudly informs the user that a compromise has occurred and causes massive destruction to the data on a platform. WannaCry infected more than 300,000 computers in about 150 countries across the globe, Tom Bossert, assistant to the president for homeland security and counterterrorism, said on Monday. And Proofpoint says Adylkuzz has hit hundreds of thousands of PCs and servers worldwide so far. Proofpoint also found in their analysis that the attack started before WannaCry: at least on May 2 and possibly as early as April 24. Adylkuzz may have in fact limited the spread of last weeks WannaCry infection, Proofpoint said. To be sure, Kaspersky Lab said Wednesday that so far Adylkuzz does not appear to have infected as many systems as WannaCry. Kaspersky Lab said via email on Wednesday it is continuing to monitor the threat. The company has detected and blocked (Adylkuzz) attacks on 2,300 unique users during the last two weeks, most of them (70 percent) located in Russia, the lab said in a statement via email. Other affected countries include Ukraine, India, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Mexico, Tunisia, Italy and South Africa. Morrison surmised the U.S. had not seen the impact as much because its core information technology infrastructure is more advanced than other countries. 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. And Chris Gerritz, founder of San Antonio-based Infocyte, said via email that he thinks the impact of the attack will be limited compared to WannaCry, noting that WannaCry denied use of 200,000-plus systems, including systems being used for surgeries. Stealing people's extra CPU cycles will likely not be noticed by most infected, and due to how far and wide it is spreading, it is well captured by the security community and industry, so mitigation is being implemented, said Gerritz, whos a retired Air Force officer. Gerritz implemented the branchs first interactive defensive counter cyberspace practice. While Morrison hadnt personally seen the malware attack any of his clients, he said its another reminder that people and businesses should focus on updating their systems as fast as possible. Things like this are wakeup calls you do kind of question: are people taking this serious or not? he said, adding, Is there a breaking point where people will finally say, yeah this is definitely something I need to pay more particular attention to? McAfees Grobman said WannaCry and the Adylkuzz attack show how important security patches are in building and maintaining those effective defenses. The two recent attacks are the most recent reminders, he said, that the way companies analyze risk to decide whether to patch needs to be rethought within organizations worldwide. sehlinger@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A former West Texas official has agreed to plead guilty to taking bribes he allegedly split with Texas Sen. Carlos Uresti, about $850,000, while a Lubbock businessman accused of providing the money denied the charges Thursday. Jimmy Galindo, 53, who was County Judge of Reeves County from January 1995 to December 2006, signed a plea deal in which he plans to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery and failure to file tax returns. The plea deal was filed late Thursday, though his plea hearing has not been scheduled. Neither Galindo nor his lawyer could be reached for comment late Thursday, but prosecutors agreed not to present Galindos case to a grand jury. Instead, he was charged by criminal information, which was filed Thursday with his plea deal. He agrees to fully cooperate in the investigation and prosecution of any and all criminal transactions known to the defendant, including the case against Uresti, his plea deal shows. In exchange, the government agreed that Galindos sentence on each charge should run concurrently, rather than stacked. And, prosecutors will not contest that he get downward adjustments at sentencing for accepting responsibility. The maximum punishment for the bribery conspiracy is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum for failing to file tax returns is one year of imprisonment and a $100,000 fine. Because of his plea deal, the most he can get is five years in prison. In the meantime, the businessman, Vernon Farthing III, 44, turned himself in Thursday to the FBI, and filed a waiver of arraignment at his initial hearing in federal court in San Antonio. He was released on $50,000 unsecured bond. Federal prosecutors obtained an indictment Tuesday against Farthing and Uresti, charging them with conspiracy to commit bribery and conspiracy to commit money laundering. They also obtained a separate indictment against Uresti and two other co-defendants. That indictment accuses the San Antonio legislator of fraud-related charges relating to his involvement in bankrupt San Antonio oil-field services company FourWinds Logistics. Galindos plea documents say that in exchange for Galindo helping Farthings company, Physicians Network Associates, land a multimillion dollar medical contract at the Reeves County Correctional Center in 2006, Farthing agreed PNA would hire Uresti as a consultant for marketing at $120,000 a year, or $10,000 a month. Uresti, in turn, agreed to pay Galindo approximately half of the money he received from Farthings company, the plea documents said. The pair met on Aug. 7, 2006, in Fort Stockton to discuss the consulting agreement. Uresti was retained as a consultant from Sept. 15, 2006 until Sept. 30, 2016. Uresti was initially paid $10,000 a month, though the amount was later reduced, the documents said. Galindo provided Farthing and his company with information that was not known to the public, and PNA used the information to price PNAs bid in a manner favorable to PNA and disadvantageous to Reeves County, the documents said. Galindo also assisted Farthings company through the negotiation of the contract. The documents said Uresti used his consulting company, Turning Point Strategies and his law firms bank accounts to pay Galindo his share of the bribes from Farthing and PNA, and to hide and cover-up this conspiracy from the taxpayers, citizens and county commissioners of Reeves County, amongst others. Beginning in 2007, Uresti deducted between $250 and $500 for office rent, the plea deal said. Galindo never rented an office from Uresti, the plea deal said. Further, Uresti refused to rent Galindo an office when Galindo requested one. Uresti received a total of $600,000 between Sept. 20, 2006 to Dec. 31, 2011, and Galindo received $285,000 of that, the documents said. From Jan. 1, 2012, through Dec. 31, 2015, Farthings company, and its successor companies, paid Uresti $252,500. Of that, Uresti paid Galindo about $116,740, the plea deal said. The plea documents also said Galindo failed to file tax returns from 2004 through the present. From 2004 through 2013 alone, the failure to file resulted in at least $292,979 in tax loss to the government, the plea deal said. In 2013 alone, the plea documents said, Galindo was married and living in Selma and received gross income of $27,500 from Public Policy Partners, wage income of $131,000 from ML Construction, about $32,500 from The GEO Group, which runs the Reeves County Correctional Center and about $31,000 from Urestis law firm which was part of the bribery arrangement. Uresti asserted his innocence once again in a statement Thursday, and Farthing did so as well. I look forward to being vindicated in a court of law, Farthing told reporters after posting bond. Physicians Network Associates has since become a part of Nashville-based Correct Care Solutions and CHC Companies, LLC. Physicians Network Association, Inc., a subsidiary of CHC Companies, LLC, acknowledges that one of its employees has been indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice, the company said in a statement issued by former U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton, who is now a partner in a private law firm with former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft. Physicians Network Association, Inc. has at all times cooperated in full with the DOJs investigation and has given this matter its full attention. Due to the fact that this is an ongoing investigation we respectfully decline any further comment. The Reeves County prison is an immigration detention facility with a capacity of 3,763 inmates that has been repeatedly criticized for its staffing shortages in guards and medical staff. The alleged corruption encompasses a time when the facility, which is run by the GEO Group, saw numerous incidents that included prisoners dying because of medical neglect, accusations of other abysmal medical care and two riots as a result of that alleged deficient care. This is a case where you can draw a direct line between the alleged corruption and the human suffering inside the prison, said Carl Takei, staff attorney with the ACLUs National Prison Project. The indictment is one of two handed up Tuesday against Uresti. In the second, he is charged with two co-defendants, Stanley Bates, 45, and Gary L. Cain, 60, with several fraud counts related to the fracking sand company FourWinds Logistics. Bates was CEO of that company; Cain was a consultant. 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, Cain and Uresti all dispute the allegations. The trio were freed on bond Wednesday and are scheduled for arraignments on May 31, though they are expected to file waivers, which means they dont appear for the hearing, but a not guilty plea is entered. gcontreras@express-news.net Twitter: @gmaninfedland Staff Writer Patrick Danner contributed to this story A settlement has been reached between the City of Ingram and a grocer there who brought a federal civil rights suit over the citys demand that he hook his business into the municipal sewer system and pay a $5,000 connection fee. A check for $17,500 was cut May 4 to plaintiff John Sheffield of the Ole Ingram Grocery Store and his attorney, Richard Ellison, by the Texas Municipal League, which insures the small city in Kerr County and handled its legal defense. In exchange, officials say Sheffield agreed to pay the connection fee and utilize the sewer system. Im sure everybody is glad its over with, said Ingram City Administrator Mark Bosma. He said the city council on Tuesday endorsed the settlement during a briefing in closed session, without actually voting on it upon emerging. The suit initially was filed in state district court in Kerr County in May 2015 and included as defendants Mayor James Salter and City Secretary Stephanie Breckenridge. It was quickly moved to U.S. District Court in San Antonio, where Breckenridge and Salter were dropped from it last year. A federal trial was set for June 5 before the the parties announced last month that a settlement had resolved all of the issues. Salter, who resigned as mayor in early 2016, was unaware of the suits status when reached Wednesday. Im glad its settled, he said. Sheffield, whose store is served by a septic tank, claimed in the suit that the city lacked authority to force him to instead use sewers, noting hed been acquitted at trial in municipal court of violating a city ordinance that required him to apply to hook up. The suit also cited instances where other businesses had connected to the sewer system without paying the connection fee. City leaders had called those cases exceptions that predated the adoption of the ordinance that established a connection fee for businesses. Despite Sheffields acquittal by a municipal judge, the city subsequently issued him a new notice to connect to the sewers within 90 days. A violation of the ordinance carries a fine of up to $500. The suit also alleged the city retaliated against Sheffield for exercising his freedom of speech, and asserted claims of malicious prosecution and defamation. He asked the court to bar the city from enforcing its unconstitutional rate scheme. The city denied the allegations. Ingram officials said in response to an open records request that it did not have a copy of the settlement document. zeke@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SAN ANTONIO Scott Deem, the 31-year-old firefighter who died Thursday night in a massive fire at Spartan Gym, was a father of two and his widow is pregnant with the couple's third child, the fire department announced Friday. The San Antonio Fire Department, along with Mayor Ivy Taylor and members of city council, mourned the loss of one of their brothers following the death of Deem in a 4-alarm fire Thursday night. SAFD Chief Charles Hood and Mayor Taylor both addressed the tragedy that occurred in the 6700 block of Ingram Road. READ MORE: S.A. honors, prays for firefighters killed, injured in 4-alarm blaze on Northwest Side Last night we had our worst day, Hood said Friday during a news conference. Hood said the department intends to rally behind Deem's family in this difficult time. Taylor expressed her condolences for the fire department and Deems family. One of our best did not make it home, Taylor said during todays news conference. Deem started with SAFD on Jan. 3, 2011, and was assigned to L35 "A" Shift. He graduated from Southwest High School in 2004 and entered the SAFD Academy in 2011. He was married with two kids and one on the way. His wife was Jennifer and his children are daughter Dakota, 13, and son Tyler, 7, Hood said. Two other firefighters were injured and rescued from the blaze. Robert Vasquez suffered non-life-threatening injuries and has since been discharged from University Hospital, Hood said. He started with SAFD on Dec. 23, 2006. Brad Phipps was seriously injured and was transported to San Antonio Military Medical Center, where he remains in critical-but-stable condition, the chief said. Phipps started with SAFD on April 18, 2006. Hood broke down the minute details of the rescue efforts made Thursday night at the Spartan Gym, which was fully engulfed in flames and producing heavy thick smoke. RELATED: Firefighter killed, 2 injured in major blaze on Northwest Side The smoke was so thick you couldnt see anything, Hood said. A Mayday call was sounded about 20 minutes into the incident, with two firefighters being listed as being unaccounted for, the chief said. Phipps was found about 26 minutes into the incident and was immediately transported to Brooke Army Medical Center while fire crews continued to search the structure for the second missing firefighters. Vasquez was rescued from the blaze 48 minutes into the blaze, Hood said. After several attempts to try and located one of the missing firefighters, officials, Hood included, decided it was too dangerous to continue searching for Deem, which Hood said was "one of the most difficult decisions of my life." At 11:34 p.m. Thursday, firefighters were able to see Deem's equipment from outside the structure. When the found Deems body in the building, they draped the flag from his Station, No. 35, over him as they took him to the medical examiners office, Hood said. The department will honor Deems memory by having all members of the department walk the building where he died to understand his death and mourn his loss, Hood said. After that, the department will celebrate his life and career with the department. We will celebrate Scott Deem that is only befitting a hero in this city, Hood said. Text "NEWS" to 77453 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com twhite@mysa.com Twitter: @tylerlwhite WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, who has been more outspoken than many other Republicans on allegations surrounding the White House, said Thursday he is eager to see former FBI Director James Comeys memos alleging that President Donald Trump pressured him to drop an investigation. I think its important to understand the context of the memos and what drove former director Comey to do those memos, Hurd said, referring to reports that Comey made notes of a meeting in which Trump pressured him to drop an investigation of embattled former national security director Michael Flynn. Hurd, R-San Antonio, said in his most extensive comments on the recent allegations that he also wants to know whether Trump shared highly sensitive information with Russians at the White House that may have imperiled intelligence sources. I spent most of my adult life collecting intelligence and protecting it, Hurd, a former CIA caseworker, said. Im always concerned if there are questions about the improper sharing of information. Congressional Republicans appeared to breathe easier after the Justice Departments surprise announcement Wednesday of former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel to investigate possible coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia leading up to the 2016 presidential election. Members of Congress are besieged with requests for comments on the latest developments and now can refer to Mueller's investigation as a means to get at the truth. U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, in his first comments on Muellers appointment, said Thursday he didnt believe that a special counsel was needed. Nonetheless, Smith described Mueller as a good choice. He has served in both Republican and Democratic administrations and he has a reputation for integrity I trust that Mr. Mueller will bring this review to a speedy conclusion. Hurd and other Republicans asserted that Congress will continue its own investigations despite questions about whether Muellers criminal investigation could impede those inquiries. Hurd sits on two of the committees looking into allegations, House Intelligence and the Oversight and Government Reform committees. The Oversight panel has asked Comey to appear at a hearing as early as next week and to turn over copies of the notes in which he reportedly noted pressure from Trump related to investigating Flynn. The recent allegations surrounding the White House appeared to threaten the aggressive agenda of the Republican-led Congress, which is holding initial hearings this week aimed at a monumental changes in taxation. Much of what Congress is doing has been overshadowed by the scandals, including passage Wednesday of Hurds legislation to modernize federal computer systems with new purchasing methods and a $500 million fund. Were going to have to show that we can walk and chew gum at the same time, Hurd said, referring to ongoing investigations. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., used the same phrase when recounting to reporters some recent legislative successes, including Hurds information technology bill. Its always nice to have less drama, Ryan said, referring to the White House troubles. I realize that theres a lot in the media these days. That doesnt seize up Congress. That doesnt stop us from doing our jobs. blambrecht@express-news.net An attorney for a girl who reported to police that the late Kerrville City Councilman Gary Stork had molested her last summer has told the citys mayor that Stork admitted it to police and told an investigator hed previously been counseled for sex addiction. The attorney, Richard Ellison, said he gave Mayor Bonnie White copies of police files in the case that he had obtained from the city in an ongoing lawsuit against Storks estate files the mayor had not been able to get from investigators. He also released a letter he emailed White on Tuesday, which said police looking into the girls complaint had found numerous incidents in which women had accused Stork of groping them, or worse. This may go much deeper than what has come to light to date, wrote Ellison, who is representing the girl, now 14 and identified in the lawsuit as Jane Doe. One (victim) was drugged with sedatives secretly put in her wine glass, then raped, and the hospital where she sought treatment contacted police but she declined to pursue prosecution, the letter states. Stork, a real estate agent who was elected to a second term last May, was found shot to death with his wife, Peggy, at their home Sept. 24 in a suspected murder-suicide. Both were 54. Ellison and others assert police should have quickly arrested Stork based on his admissions when questioned by an investigator in September, especially since he was licensed to carry a concealed handgun. They exposed the public to the risk of violence, Ellison said in his letter, adding, Many times when people commit suicide they decide to take out their supposed enemies. Calling the developments astounding and disturbing, White said she reviewed the investigative files with City Manager Mark McDaniel and will put the topic on the executive session agenda of Tuesdays council meeting. It will be the first time weve ever really engaged in the details of this, she said Thursday. Police Chief David Knight has defended the agencys handling of the case, saying investigators were still compiling evidence when the Storks died. He confirmed Gary Stork had previously been the subject of complaints by more than one adult woman. The suspect in this case was afforded no special treatment and the investigation was conducted without regard for his status or position, Knight said last month, adding, City Hall had nothing to do with the decision not to arrest. White often clashed at council meetings with Stork and complained after his death that former City Manager Todd Parton and other city staff didnt tell council members about the criminal allegation. Parton had said his handling of the issue was appropriate, since Stork had not been charged and was presumed innocent. Police were preparing to take the molestation case to a Kerr County grand jury on Sept. 27, but dropped it after Storks death. The investigation into the Storks deaths is ongoing, with police awaiting the results of lab testing on evidence. Gary Storks death was ruled a suicide by a justice of the peace, but no determination has been made on Peggy Storks manner of death. Police revealed the criminal complaint in a press release announcing the deaths. The city has declined to release police files on either case in response to open records requests. Ellison declined to provide copies of the files he gave the mayor. The girls complaint, made to police July 31, alleged that Stork described as a family friend groped her during Independence Day celebrations at Louise Hays Park. Ellison released an affidavit in which the girl said Stork asked her to sit on his lap at a concert and then twice touched her breast and her crotch once, prompting her to push his hands away and walk off. The girl also recalled visiting the Storks home with her siblings at Halloween. He would hug us very hard and lick our faces, she wrote. Ellisons letter to White said Stork admitted to a Kerrville police investigator that he touched the breast of the girl, then 13, at the July 4 event but then claimed he was so intoxicated he couldnt remember exactly what he did. In another conversation, Ellison wrote, Stork told the investigator that he had been counseled for sex addiction, had considered a surgical procedure to remedy his behavior and admitted that similar incidents, not involving children, had happened in the past. The mayor wouldnt discuss details of the police files, which the city gave Ellison this month as part of the lawsuit discovery process, but confirmed that Ellisons letter reflected their contents. Ellisons letter suggested White could ask the Texas Rangers to investigate the possibility that Stork molested other children. Right now my goal is to get council apprised of all the facts and have the city attorney brief us, White said. Then well have a discussion as lengthy as theyd like to have and collectively determine what action we need to take. Angela Stork, the Storks daughter and executor of Gary Storks estate, has previously declined requests for comment. zeke@express-news.net AUSTIN Ask Sen. Carlos Uresti how he has managed the stress of legislating under the cloud of an FBI investigation and he cites prayer, friends, family, the weight of his responsibility and war games. His Marine training prepared him to focus on whatever task he has at hand under fire, said the San Antonio Democrat, who this session has worked on numerous bills, including a high-profile, bipartisan effort to reform child-protective services. I have a job to do, and about 850,000 people back home counting on me to get that job done. So I get up every morning and come to work. Havent missed a day, he said in an interview in early May, before his indictment this week on fraud, bribery and money-laundering charges. Uresti made the point then that all lawmakers face the stress of passing their bills during the 140-day legislative session while maintaining their families and their livelihoods. Pressed about how his military background prepared him for the pressure, enhanced this session by the FBI probe, he was detailed. As a Marine, I was trained with how to deal with stress, he said. I was not in combat, but the training is all about stressful situations. Marines charging a hill. Machine guns firing at you. People yelling at you. So that when youre actually in combat, you know how to manage it and how to control it. In the Senate, whose members are known to refer to themselves as family, lawmakers have stepped lightly around the investigation. His Senate colleagues said they didnt talk about it and had seen no sign of it affecting the job Uresti is doing. If I didnt know that this challenge was lurking in the background, I would have no idea, because hes just coming across like a serious hardworking senator, Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, said before he was indicted. A harder edge was taken by a House lawmaker whod be interested if Urestis seat became vacant. Hes certainly a grown man. He is a lawyer as well, so he knows the consequences of his actions. I think that for the people of District 19, they just have to ask themselves, can he represent me effectively, having this shroud over him? said Rep. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, after the indictment. For Uresti, it was business as usual when he returned to the Texas Capitol hours after appearing in handcuffs in a San Antonio courtroom Wednesday. Im back to work, he said after he left a House committee hearing Wednesday evening, walking with Sen. Van Taylor, R-Plano. Taylor credited Uresti with single-handedly saving House Bill 136, a bill that would put a focus on career and technology education in schools. It has drawn opposition from tea party groups who voiced concern over a reference to workforce training, seeing that as a way for government and big business to impose early workforce paths on students. Republican and Democratic senators said in interviews before the indictment that Uresti shows up, does the job and is respected for his expertise, particularly on his signature issue of protecting children from abuse and neglect. Uresti has prime committee spots courtesy of Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, including a coveted post on the Senate Finance Committee. The two were Senate freshmen together a decade ago long before Patrick was elected to preside over the chamber as lieutenant governor and Uresti says theyre very good friends. When the FBI raided Urestis law office in February the senator said he met with Patrick to let him know. He just said, Carlos, hang in there. And if you need anything, let me know. We didnt get into any details. I just wanted to give him a heads up, Uresti said. After Urestis indictment Tuesday, Patrick said in a statement, Everyone is afforded the same constitutional protections to ensure a fair and just result in our justice system. It is now time for that legal system to play out. Plum assignments Although Patrick removed Uresti from the Legislative Budget Board last year and didnt reappoint him to the Natural Resources and Economic Development Committee this year, he gave the senator other plum spots besides his Finance seat. Uresti is vice-chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee and serves on the Education and Veteran Affairs and Border Security committees. Still, Uresti has voted this session against some bills favored by Patrick, including a voucher-style bill to allow people to access tax money for private school tuition; a bill to restrict which public restrooms can be used by transgender people; and a measure to restrict how much local entities can raise from property taxes without triggering an automatic vote of the people. But he isnt always in lockstep with the majority Democratic sentiment. In 2011, Uresti voted for a Patrick-championed bill to require women to have a sonogram before an abortion after changes were made to the waiting period to accommodate the challenges of Urestis sprawling district. And while Democrats and Republicans voted for the Senates version of the state budget early in the session, Uresti spoke up for it in the same vein as the Finance Committees Republican chair, saying, This is a lean budget but its not a mean budget. I know its a work in progress. Working on legislation Uresti is one of three primary authors of Senate Bill 11, a key child protective services reform measure pushed by Senate Health and Human Services Chair Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown. Senate Finance Chair Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, is the third primary author of the bill, which unanimously passed the Senate and was given preliminary approval Thursday by the House. Schwertner said Uresti and his staff have been very vigorous contributors to the process. I havent seen one bit of his work being affected, said Schwertner before the indictment. Certainly we all have challenges ... But he has been a very effective legislator and a very good partner regarding a whole host of issues including child protective services. As committee vice chair, Uresti acts as chairman in his Schwertners absence. Schwertner said when he wants to figure out where Democrats stand on a bill, I look to him and he gives me a straight answer. . Hes always here, always attentive and a great representative and advocate for the people of his district. Among his bills, SB495 would allow a court to decline to enter a judgment on a mediated child custody settlement if the agreement would allow a person who is a registered sex offender or has a history of abuse to live with or have unsupervised access to the child. It has been approved by lawmakers and sent to Gov. Greg Abbott. Some bills are specific to his district, such as SB686 to ensure Real County has the authority to impose a county hotel occupancy tax. It has passed the Senate and is set for House consideration Friday. House Bill 2761 by Rep. Philip Cortez, D-San Antonio, which Uresti is sponsoring, would give a defense base development authority to participate as a member of a limited liability company to finance redevelopment projects. It has passed the House and is set for Senate consideration Friday. It has been supported by Brooks City Base and Port San Antonio. Senate Bill 1622 would set up a statewide Camo Alert system for missing military members who have post-traumatic stress disorder or a traumatic brain injury. It would be similar to the Amber and Silver alerts for children and elderly people. It passed the Senate and was referred to the House Defense and Veterans Affairs Committee, which is chaired by Gutierrez, but wasnt set for a committee hearing. Republicans in my committee dont like it. They feel that its redundant. They feel the Silver Alert covers veterans in need, Gutierrez said. Effective legislator When it comes to dealing with local officials, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff in early May said Uresti has always been a supporter of county issues and has been an effective legislator. Our relationship hasnt changed, Wolff said in early May. Its been a good one. Jeff Coyle, director of government and public affairs for the city of San Antonio said in early May, Weve had a really strong working relationship with Sen. Uresti for many years and he remains a key member of the San Antonio Senate delegation. Lobbyist Bill Miller in early May called Uresti a well-liked, funny, interesting man who tries to do a good job every day. Doesnt take stuff personal. And overall is a very clever politician. He reads tea leaves well. Hes a guy that doesnt look for acclaim, he just goes about his work. He kind of has his sights set on what he sets them on, and goes about his work kind of quietly and effectively. On the Finance Committee, Uresti was part of a working group on human services where his focus included increasing the funding for child-abuse prevention programs and sustaining salary increases at the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services. Sen. Kirk Watson, an Austin Democrat who serves on the Finance Committee, cited Urestis work on prevention and said he made a difference in funding for child protective services. My hope is that before the end of all this there will be some more (money) in it. Im not satisfied. But Ill tell you, theres more in it because hes been there than there would have been, Watson said in an interview in late April. Uresti has an impressive intricate knowledge of the details of how things work and what children face. And so when he talks about things it gets a deference. And he is there advocating for it, Watson said. A sense of humor Senate Finance Chair Nelson also had praise for Uresti, saying in late April, Carlos has been a very productive member of the Finance Committee.She said then that the investigation never comes up. We never talk about it. Ever. . I have to tell you, I have never talked to Carlos about it, ever. We all have our personal lives and our political lives. Hes a good senator. Watson, who like Patrick was a freshman senator with Uresti, said he also appreciates his humor, citing Urestis role in light-hearted moments such as hazing new senators. When Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, was presenting his first bill, which had to do with tax assessor-collectors, he found his colleagues had switched his talking points. He read them anyway, at Patricks insistence. They began, Senate Bill 929 fixes a problem that Ive known about for quite a few years and Sen. Uresti has has known about for his entire life: tax assessor-collectors are out of control. Urestis brother, Albert, is Bexar Countys tax assessor-collector. That (Senate) floor can get pretty intense, and hes somebody that relieves some of the tension, Watson said. His easy way of making people laugh is something thats important. Were debating issues where theres some very strong divisions and differences and a little humor helps bring people together. Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen, in late April said he saw stress in Uresti at the beginning of the session, but his friend and fellow Marine hit his stride and benefited from immersing himself in a heavy workload. When the session started there was a lot of uncertainty and a period of stress for him, in that we were just starting the session, and his workload was about to increase tremendously, and being here in the Senate he would be under a spotlight and being closely watched as to how he would handle his responsibility as senator. Hes done very well, said Hinojosa. He is a very active, very focused, hardworking individual. He participates in committee hearings. He asks good questions. He presents his bills well. He participates in debate. He meets with constituents and other senators. It has not impacted his production and effectiveness. Uresti said relationships are key. I threw grenades in the Marines. I dont throw em on the Senate floor, he said, referring to his legislative style. Its all about relationships here at the Capitol. Its all about relationships. And knowing that Ive got 30 other colleagues that I can go to on a bill or a piece of legislation, they trust me, they confide in me, they know Im never going to misrepresent on a bill or on an amendment. I have that confidence when I walk on to the Senate floor that Im respected, when I give you my word, my word is my bond. Uresti has a distinction coming to him on the last day of the legislative session, when he is scheduled to be elected by his colleagues as the Senate president pro tempore. In that role, he will serve as governor when both Gov. Greg Abbott and Patrick are out of state. The title goes to the most senior senator who hasnt previously served as pro tem. The Senate president pro tem has the option of having a Governor for a Day celebration. Former San Antonio Sen. Leticia Van de Putte had one in 2013, and Uresti said in the early May interview that he planned to do so this summer. I think it would be cool, he said then. Itll be fun to be governor for the day and make a big event of it and invite the community so Im looking forward to it. Staff writer Elena Mejia Lutz contributed to this report pfikac@express-news.net Twitter: @pfikac Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts asked grain industry officials from Mexico and the United States join him Tuesday for a press conference to highlight the importance of Mexico to U.S. agriculture and how the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has benefited both countries. Bilateral trade with Mexico has helped grow agriculture in our state over the years, said Governor Ricketts. 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. Im encouraged by local and national discussions to expand trade, and am committed to helping grow our trade relationship with Mexico so we can continue to grow Nebraska. The Nebraska Corn Board, the U.S. Grains Council, and the National Corn Growers Association are hosting a team of Mexican grain and industry officials in Nebraska for a town hall and industry meetings. Approximately 20 percent of U.S. corn and corn co-products are exported and Mexico is the largest market for U.S. corn. In 2016, U.S. corn exports to Mexico totaled 13.3 million metric tons (523.5 million bushels) of corn, valued at $2.5 billion. The U.S. also exported 1.9 million metric tons of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), a byproduct of ethanol. Having these industry leaders here in the United States this week to share how NAFTA has impacted their companies and their country is invaluable to helping us communicate how important strong trade policy with our nearest neighbors is to the continued success of U.S. grain producers and exporters, said USGC CEO Tom Sleight. Click here to see more... The EUs top court has confirmed that in at least one controversial area, such deals must be approved by all 28 of the organizations member states. Since some EU members, such as Belgium, require the consent of regional as well as national legislatures, this confirms Ottawas worst fears: the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and the EU must be OKd by no fewer than 38 separate European parliaments before it comes into full effect. Tuesdays ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union was ostensibly about a 2013 free trade deal between Singapore and the EU. But it sets a precedent for similar yet far more important pacts, including CETA. In effect, the court ruled that any deal allowing foreign investors to challenge national governments, such as the proposed investment court system within CETA, must be unanimously approved by all EU states. The investment court system, sometimes called the investor-state dispute mechanism, would allow foreign companies to challenge domestic laws that threaten their profitability. It has long been a flash point in Europe. Pointing to Canadas sorry experience with a similar system under the North American Free Trade Agreement, critics argue correctly that it lets foreign investors override democratically elected legislatures. Source: MeatBusiness The future of Fauquier Times now depends on community support. Your donation will help us continue to improve our journalism through in-depth local news coverage and expanded reader engagement. Support Page Content Sustainable Fisheries in the Black Sea 07 June 2017 JDE 51 09:30h 13:30h In the context of recent works within the Commission for natural resources (NAT) of the European Committee of the Regions in the field of fisheries and sustainable ocean governance, the CoR NAT Commission is organizing a conference on Sustainable Fisheries in the Black Sea, chaired by the first Vice-President of the NAT Commission Mr. Anthony BUCHANAN (UK/European Alliance). The event aims at a constructive discussion with all stakeholders in the Black Sea region, touching upon Common Fisheries Policy, fisheries management tools and relations with third countries. Taking into account the goal the Common fisheries policy to introduce multiannual ecosystem-based management tools for smarter and greener fisheries, the European Committee of the Regions supports the efforts of coastal communities in transitions and has commented on multiple occasions on the challenges of the CFP. The objective for this stakeholder event is to provide an overview of the situation on the ground for decision-makers and provide a voice for coastal communities and fishermen on European level. REGISTRATION IS CLOSED Participants are kindly asked to organise their own transportation. All participants are responsible for booking and paying for their own accommodation. Page Content Local and regional politicians from EU Member States met in Sofia on Friday 19 May to discover the city's efforts in the fields of cultural policy and social inclusion of migrants and minorities. President of the European Committee of the Regions Markku Markkula and Mayor of Sofia Yordanka Fandakova highlighted that the Bulgarian capital is among the first cities that have established an encompassing Cultural Innovations Fund to support and develop creativity and culture in the city through a partnership between public institutions and private sector. The year 2018 has been declared as the European Year of Cultural Heritage and it coincides with the Bulgarian presidency of the Council of the EU during the first semester. According to President Markkula, this will be an opportunity to promote Europe's cultural heritage as a pivotal component of cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue. "The European Year of Cultural Heritage which will be launched here in Bulgaria in January 2018 by Commissioner Tibor Navracsics will be an opportunity to involve citizens from all backgrounds, in particular children and young people, in events and projects emphasising Europe's heritage and values, helping to strengthen a sense of belonging to a European family", he stated. It is estimated that cultural and creative sectors provide over 80 000 jobs in Bulgaria. Mayor Yordanka Fandakova emphasized that Sofia has been the first city in Bulgaria to create a long-term municipal strategy for culture. "We will continue to implement this strategy and more, we will continue to increase the budget for culture because we have proven that investment in culture means jobs and economic development and that contributes primarily to tackling one of the serious European problems youth unemployment. It is no coincidence that the unemployment rate in Sofia is low, also by European standards", Ms Fandakova said. Delivering the keynote speech at the seminar organised by the CoR's commission for Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research and Culture (SEDEC) in partnership with the city of Sofia, SEDEC Chair Yoomi Renstrom (SE/PES) stressed: "Regions and cities that put in place cultural development strategies, tap into the extraordinary potential of the cultural and creative sectors in terms of socioeconomic development. In this context, culture is a defining element for cities and regions, which do not only provide the biggest share of funding for culture in most parts of Europe, but also act as laboratories for cultural, creative and social experimentation and innovation." CoR member Malina Edreva (BG/EPP), who chairs the Committee on Education and Culture in the Sofia Municipal Council, highlighted the importance of the EU Urban Agenda where Sofia is an active partner in three of the 12 priority themes, co-coordinating the one on Digital Transition. "The Smart City model, which responds to the challenges of evolving technological and environmental changes, creates facilities for the integration of different communities", Ms Edreva said. "To promote European values and democracy, we need the participation of people and policies that improve the quality of life. Education, culture and social innovation are key to achieving this goal", she added. Member of European Parliament Eva Maydell (BG/EPP) participated in a discussion on the potential of culture in digital society and the role of technologies for cultural and social inclusion. "Digital technologies are re-shaping not only the way we live and work but also the way we access culture. New EU legislation on copyright has the potential to boost growth in the sector, but in order for it to be successful we need seamless implementation on national and regional level", Ms Maydell stated. More information: CoR president Markku Markkula was a keynote speaker at the European Heritage Congress 2017 organised by Europa Nostra in Turku, Finland on 1115 May. During the ceremony, the EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards were presented to 29 winners from 18 countries taking part in the EUs Creative Europe programme. In addition, two exemplary projects from Switzerland and Turkey also received a Europa Nostra Award. Contact: Lauri Ouvinen Tel. +32 22822063 lauri.ouvinen@cor.europa.eu Susan Sarandon believes "staying curious" has kept her looking young. Susan Sarandon The 70-year-old actress is "shocked" she has reached the milestone, which she has described as a "strange moment" in her life, and she has claimed the "secret" to having younger-looking skin is "staying engaged", being inquisitive and to have a "good time" without smoking. The flame-haired beauty told Vogue.co.uk: "I'm shocked to be 70 myself! I keep thinking I'm younger, and I feel that inside! It was kind of a strange moment, that milestone. "The secret - I mean, honestly, I think staying engaged and staying curious and having a good time is really a lot of it. And not smoking is really important." The 'Stepmom' star also think staying hydrated and avoiding anything too extreme has benefitted her complexion, as well as genetics. She added: "I think that staying hydrated and not doing anything too extreme, too... Also I'm not really a drinker. I think a little bit of wine in moderation is probably good, but I think really if you drink heavily it's not great. But I guess good genes. I thank my mother." The L'Oreal spokesperson regularly asks the cosmetics company to send her new products to sample, although she relies on the brand's Age Perfect Golden Age Soin Jour Rose moisturiser. She said: "For me a lot of it is all about moisturising. The new L'Oreal Paris moisturiser - Age Perfect Golden Age Soin Jour Rose - is so luxurious. I'm really fond of that. As you get older the key is that it really penetrates but isn't greasy. "That's a great advantage of working with L'Oreal, to be able to see things when they first come out. I always ask them to send new things my way. A lot of the lipsticks are really beautiful, really fun colours. I love the one that I've been wearing here in Cannes." Kaya Scodelario has admitted filming 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales' was "hell". Kaya Scodelario The 25-year-old actress plays Carina Smyth in the upcoming fifth instalment of the popular swashbuckling adventure franchise - in which she stars opposite Johnny Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow - and has said she hated having to "constantly be wet" in order to film the all important pirate ship scenes. She said: "[It was] hell, we were in a giant warehouse that was just blue screen all the way around and we were in there for about three weeks. I didn't see daylight. We had to constantly be wet, so this poor, lovely makeup lady would come come over with a cold bottle of spritzer and apologise and then just spray it in my face, periodically throughout the day." And the star admitted that after accepting the role, she feared she would be romantically paired up with a much older actor, and was "extremely relieved" when Brenton Thwaites - who plays the son of Orlando Bloom's Will Turner - arrived on set. She explained: "I was concerned that they would want me to play a romantic part against someone in their 50's and that would be heartbreaking. So I was extremely relieved that Brenton is only a year older than me." Kaya - who rose to prominence when she starred as Effy Stonem in UK teen drama 'Skins' - admitted that being cast opposite an older "love" interest is a regular occurrence for her. She continued: "But, yeah, nine out of 10 times, if I read a script, it will be me with a guy that is twice my age, which is really f***ing weird." Looking to the future, Kaya plans to use her 'Pirates of the Caribbean' pay cheque to fund her dream of becoming a film producer. She said: "Doing a movie like this means I can finance my own independent movies and, eventually, that's what I want to do, I want to produce and I want to work with female crews." But in the meantime, the brunette beauty admits she's still trying to get her head round the sheer scale of extras involved in the Disney franchise, especially that the animal actors are taken as seriously as human roles. She told The Guardian newspaper: "I mean, you walk on set and there's 500 extras, and there's a dog that's an actor and a rat that's an actor. I tried to pet the dog and they were like, 'please don't, he's working'. That was just like, wow." 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales' is out on May 26. The Kooks have nearly completed their new record. The Kooks The 'Naive' hitmakers are in the process of moving record labels from Virgin EMI after a decade and are planning to drop their next studio album in 2018. Frontman Luke Pritchard told HMV: "We're almost finished with the new album. We're also about to move from our label so this compilation is basically a farewell to them as we move on with the new album. We've been with Virgin for 10 years so it's good to say goodbye. We'll be finishing the new album over the summer, I was hoping it'd be this year, but I think it'll be early next year." The indie rockers debuted new songs 'Be Who You Are' and 'Broken Vow' from their 'Best of... So Far' LP at their Alexandra Palace recently, and the 32-year-old rocker was a bit nervous to perform the new tracks. He joked: "Thank you for listening to our new song. I know what you're thinking, you think 'Luke, it's a best of songs, what are you doing, man, what are you thinking?' But we really appreciate you guys listening to it, we hope you've enjoyed it." Formed in 2004, The Kooks had a successful debut album 'Inside In/Inside Out', which won Best UK and Ireland Act at the MTV Awards in 2006. Luke described the success as both a "blessing and a curse" but the tour and new album is a celebration of the old songs. He told BANG Showbiz: "It's a blessing and curse. We can't be too annoyed by it. When everyone is comparing your old work to your new record, because it was so well-received, you want to break free of that. "We made a great record and it's cool that people still dig it. And that's why we are doing the Best Of tour. "We're celebrating the old songs. It was pretty great." The Kooks perform at the Isle of Wight festival held on June 8 to June 11 at Seaclose Park in Newport. Pippa Middleton's wedding will have a Scottish theme. Pippa Middleton The 33-year-old socialite is set to wed her partner James Matthews in the village of Englefield in Berkshire on Saturday (20.05.17) but the couple are determined to give their 300 guests a day to remember as well as they've arranged for a huge selection of grub - including haggis canapes and lamb - from the region around Glen Affric. They've also hired a bagpiper, had some of the finest whiskey transported to the venue and received 40,000 worth of caviar, which was donated by an anonymous Russian. A source told the Daily Mail newspaper: "Everything will be Scottish in nature - bagpipes, the lot." It's not known why the couple are so keen to incorporate Scotland into their lavish wedding as Pippa - the sister of the Duchess of Cambridge - isn't believed to have any ties to the country except from the fact she did go to Edinburgh University. James, on the other hand, is well connected to Scotland as his father David owns a castle and 10,000-acre estate just a short drive from Loch Ness in the Highlands. And the brunette beauty has made sure no expenses are spared on her big day as she will travel from her parents' home in Bucklebury to the church in Englefield in a horse and carriage. A source said: "I have heard on good authority that Pippa will be riding in a carriage from Bucklebury to the church in Englefield, just like a princess. A livery yard owner has been told that she will be driven in a carriage to the church." Plans are also being made in terms of policing now it has been confirmed that Prince Harry's girlfriend Meghan Markle will be attending the wedding alongside her royal partner. A source explained: "A police officer told all the villagers that once the announcement was made that Megan was definitely coming, security planning went into overdrive. "That security has been in evidence in the village and the police said it had been taken up several notches with the announcement because of the media interest in her and her relationship with Prince Harry. She has international appeal and there are Spanish film crews in the village. People might come here just because of her." Marimekko Corporation achieved net sales of 22.5 million in the first quarter of 2017, recording a growth of 7 per cent compared to net sales of 20.9 million in the first quarter of 2016. Operating result improved compared to last year and was 0.9 million. The comparison period's operating result included a restructuring expense of 0.8 million. Operating result was boosted by growth in sales in Finland, an increase in relative sales margin and a lower cost level than in the comparison period, said the company in its interim report for the January-March period of 2017. "Our net sales and earnings for the first quarter of 2017 grew as expected. Net sales rose by 7 per cent. The main reason for the growth was a change in the timing of our annual sales promotion in Finland: this year the promotion was timed for the turn of March and April whereas last year it was held entirely during the second quarter," said Tiina Alahuhta-Kasko, president and CEO, Marimekko Corporation. Marimekko Corporation achieved net sales of 22.5 million in the first quarter of 2017, recording a growth of 7 per cent compared to net sales of 20.9 million in the first quarter of 2016. Operating result improved compared to last year and was 0.9 million. The comparison period's operating result included a restructuring expense of 0.8 million.# "Sales in Finland grew by 17 per cent. Our operating result improved compared with the same period in the previous year. This was influenced by growth in sales in Finland, an increase in relative sales margin and action taken last year to boost profitability. It is worth noting that, in our business sector, net sales are typically low on a seasonal basis during the first quarter relative to operating costs," added Alahuhta-Kasko. The Marimekko Group's net sales and comparable operating profit for 2017 are forecast to be at the same level as in the previous year. Finland, Marimekkos important domestic market, accounts for about half of the companys net sales. There are signs of a more positive vibe for retailing, and the trend is forecast to be moderate. Nonrecurring promotional deliveries had a positive impact on the company's sales in 2016, but no similarly large deliveries are in sight for 2017. Marimekko's sales in Finland, excluding income from nonrecurring promotional deliveries, are expected to be roughly on a par with the previous year. Most of the Marimekko stores and shop-in-shops to be opened in 2017 will be in the Asia-Pacific region, and the company sees growing demand for its products in this area especially in the longer term. In Australia, prospects are expected to continue to be positive. In 2017, the main thrust in expansion will continue to be on openings of retailer-owned Marimekko stores. The aim is to open around 10-20 new Marimekko stores and shop-in-shops. The majority of the new stores will be shop-in-shops. Furthermore, the company will continue the enhancement of the operations of Marimekko stores opened in recent years. The companys own e-commerce and other online sales channels are forecast to continue to grow. (KD) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) has welcomed the decision of the Trump administration to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). President Trump had announced US intention to engage in negotiations related to NAFTA on February 2, 2017. Now, the US States trade representative Robert Lighthizer has notified Congress. Through renegotiations, the United States seeks to support higher-paying jobs in the United States and to grow the US economy by improving US opportunities to trade with Canada and Mexico, Lighthizer said in the letter sent to Congressional leadership. President Trump fulfilled one of his key promises to the American people. For years, politicians have called for the renegotiation of this agreement, but President Trump is the first to follow through with that promise, said ambassador Lighthizer. USTR will now continue consultations with Congress and American stakeholders to create an agreement that advances the interests of Americas workers, farmers, ranchers, and businesses. National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) has welcomed the decision of the Trump administration to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). President Trump had announced US' intention to engage in negotiations related to NAFTA on February 2, 2017. Now, the US States trade representative Robert Lighthizer has notified Congress.# USTR will publish a notice in the Federal Register requesting public input on the direction, focus, and content of the negotiations for NAFTA, a trilateral free trade agreement between the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Reacting to the announcement, NCTO president and CEO Auggie Tantillo said, The US textile industry welcomes President Trumps decision to renegotiate NAFTA It is in Americas national interest to modernise the agreement. Let me be clear: NAFTA is vital to the prosperity of the US textile industry, and NCTO steadfastly supports continuing the agreement. With that said, NAFTA can be improved to incentivise more textile and apparel jobs and production in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Tantillo added. Eliminating loopholes that shift production to third-party countries like China and devoting more customs enforcement resources to stop illegal third-country trans-shipments are two changes that would make the agreement better, he said. (RKS) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India Zund Plotting Systems (UK) Ltd., the UK-based industry leader in the supply and service of precision digital cutting systems located in St. Albans, England, has become a subsidiary of Zund Systemtechnik AG, a family-owned business with operations worldwide, that specialises in developing and manufacturing digital cutting systems, based in Switzerland.As an official distribution and service partner of Zund Systemtechnik since 1993, Zund UK has been taking care of hundreds of satisfied Zund customers in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Zund Plotting Systems (UK) Ltd., the UK-based industry leader in the supply and service of precision digital cutting systems located in St. Albans, England, has become a subsidiary of Zund Systemtechnik AG, a family-owned business with operations worldwide, that specialises in developing and manufacturing digital cutting systems, based in Switzerland.# Following its acquisition, Zund Systemtechnik AG welcomes Zund Plotting Systems (UK) Ltd. as a long-time reseller and distributor into the global family of Zund companies. Zund UK will continue to serve the UK and Irish markets as in the past, but with the added benefit of being even more closely aligned with its parent company in terms of sales, service, and support of Zund digital cutting systems. Tim Taylor, founder and commercial director of Zund UK, will remain with the company, heading up UK sales. As newly appointed managing director, Stuart Cole will be overseeing daily operations.Oliver Zund, Zund Systemtechnik AG CEO said, We are delighted to be able to welcome Zund Plotting Systems (UK) Ltd. to our global group of companies. Working closely with our newest subsidiary, we look forward to strengthening our position in the UK market and continuing to expand our customer base. This acquisition represents an important milestone in our company history, and we are proud to have our own representation in the United Kingdom moving forward. There is no doubt in my mind that, together with Zund Plotting Systems (UK)s highly qualified and experienced staff, we will be able to offer our UK and Irish customers the best possible support, now and in the future.Tim Taylor said, The acquisition of the company by Zund Systemtechnik AG is the natural progression in a long and successful relationship between our two businesses. The additional resources Zund Systemtechnik can provide will accelerate our growth and further integrate our customer support. At the same time, this secures our companys future and lays the foundations for continued and sustainable development of Zund UK. (GK) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India HON PM BAINIMARAMA ADDRESS AT COP CONSULTATIONS IN BONN Vinaka vakalevu. Thank you. Your Excellency the President of COP22.Your Excellency the Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC,Your Excellencies,Distinguished delegates,Ladies and Gentlemen,Bula vinaka and a very good morning to you all,Im delighted to join you all in Bonn towards the end of your current deliberations but at the start of a very big year for me personally as incoming President of COP23.I want to begin by paying tribute to the current President of COP22 His Excellency, Mr. Salaheddine Mezouar, his Chief Negotiator Ambassador Aziz Mekouar and the Climate Champion Hakima El Haite and to say how much the global community has appreciated Moroccos leadership. It has had a challenging mission as the first nation to assume the Presidency after the historic agreement that we reached in Paris in 2015.Certainly, the ball is being passed to Fiji this year at a very critical time. But we very much appreciate the way that ball has been positioned to give us the best opportunity to kick it forward ourselves. And as incoming President, I very much appreciate the assistance of the Moroccans to this point and their pledge to continue to support us, just as we will assist Poland when the time comes for us to do so in 2018.Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I also want to acknowledge and thank the Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, Her Excellency Patricia Espinosa, and her entire team for the support they are giving Fiji. And, of course, I want to pay special tribute to the Government and people of Germany for their wonderful gesture facilitating COP23 being held here in the beautiful city of Bonn.This has enabled Fiji to become the first Small Island Developing State to assume the Presidency of this very important process which encompasses the formal negotiations and the partnerships for action.By extending a hand of friendship to Fijians and Pacific Islanders, Germany is empowering us and giving us a voice that we would never have had without that assistance.So vinaka vakalevu thank you to the people of Germany and the people of Bonn for embracing us in the way that you have. And we look forward very much to working together in a spirit of friendship and collaboration to make COP23 Fiji Bonn an unqualified success.Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I also want to thank you all for the support you have given Fiji in these sessions - to our Chief Negotiator, Ambassador Nazhat Shameem-Khan, our Climate Champion, Minister Inia Seruiratu, our Climate Ambassador, Ambassador Deo Saran and our Pacific Special Representative, Amena Yauvoli. Many of you have already had the benefit of meeting them. But for those of you who havent may I ask them to stand. Because you will certainly be seeing a lot more of them in the coming months, along with the rest of Team Fiji. (pause)Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, as incoming COP President, I will be relying a great deal on my team, and especially Ambassador Shameem-Khan. I see myself more as the team captain, leading from the front, giving encouragement and persuasion where its needed. And fulfilling my promise to bring the non-state actors closer to this process by not only spending a great deal of time here in what we are calling the Bula Zone, but over in the Bonn Zone down the road. Because I am convinced that pursuing an inclusive process that ultimately involves every global citizen is the best way the only way to move our collective agenda forward.My role, of course, is to be impartial, to act in the collective interest of all nations. But I certainly bring my own perspective to these negotiations. And it is that of a Fijian, a Pacific Islander, who comes from a region of the world that is bearing the brunt of climate change. Whether it is the rising seas, extreme weather events or changes to agriculture, that threaten our way of life and in some cases, our very existence.We who are most vulnerable must be heard, whether we come from the Pacific or other Small Island Developing States, other low lying nations and states or threatened cities in the developed world like Miami, New York, Venice or Rotterdam. But together we must speak out for the whole world - every global citizen - because no-one, no matter who they are or where they live, will ultimately escape the impact of climate change.Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, many of you have asked what Fijis vision is for COP23. The principles that will govern our Presidency. Our aims and objectives. Well, acknowledging the important leadership roles of past COP Presidencies in laying the foundation for a robust COP23, Fiji's vision for COP23 is this: To advance the work of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and preserve the multilateral consensus for decisive action to address the underlying causes of climate change, respecting climate science. To uphold and advance the Paris Agreement, ensure progress on the implementation guidelines and undertake consultations together with the Moroccan COP22 Presidency to design the process for the Facilitative Dialogue in 2018. To build greater resilience for all vulnerable nations to the impacts of climate change, including extreme weather events and rising sea levels; to enable access to climate adaptation finance, renewable energy, clean water and affordable climate risk and disaster insurance; and to promote sustainable agriculture. To forge a grand coalition to accelerate climate action before 2020 and beyond between civil society, the scientific community, the private sector and all levels of government, including cities and regions. I repeat: We are all vulnerable and we all need to act. To harness innovation, enterprise and investment to fast track the development and deployment of climate solutions that will build future economies with net zero greenhouse gas emissions, in an effort to limit the rise of global temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. To draw a stronger link between the health of the worlds oceans and seas and the impacts of, and solutions to, climate change as part of a holistic approach to the protection of our planet. To infuse COP23 with the Fijian Bula Spirit of inclusiveness, friendliness and solidarity and promote the Pacific concept of talanoa. This is a process of inclusive, participatory and transparent dialogue that builds empathy and leads to decision making for the collective good. It is not about finger pointing and laying blame but is about listening to each other, learning from each other, sharing stories, skills and experiences. By focusing on the benefits of action, this process will move the global climate agenda forward.In summary, Fiji's vision is for a Presidency that is transparent and inclusive of all, advances the Paris Agreement and accelerates climate action for all vulnerable societies, drawing on our own experiences as a Small Island Developing State in the Pacific.So Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, that is Fijis vision for COP23, one that is inclusive and is very much focused on maintaining the momentum for the implementation of what was agreed in Paris at the end of 2015. A diplomatic triumph that I have described as Frances gift to the world for the sake of all 7.5 billion people on earth.Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, for a small nation like Fiji with limited capacity and a tropical cyclone last year that wiped out one third of our GDP, this Presidency is a financial challenge.I would like to warmly thank those nations that have already contributed to Fijis Presidency China, the United States, the European Union and Germany, and organisations such as UNDP and the Asian Development Bank. I also have the great pleasure to announce that during the course of the last few days we have been given a significant contribution from Australia and financial support from NZ. We are extremely grateful for these contributions. We are in discussions with a number other countries and organisations regarding additional financial assistance, but we would welcome any assistance from those who have the means to support us.Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, in closing I have the great pleasure to formally unveil Fijis dedicated website for COP23. On it, you will find a range of information about our plans for the coming year, as well as information about the effects of climate change on our people and other Pacific Islanders. Plus, of course, general information about Fiji and our engagement with the rest of the world.Those of you with computer access can log on now at www.cop23.com.fj but I hope you will all eventually access this very important tool for our Presidency. As well as our mission to explain the impact of climate change on our own people and the rest of the Pacific.Thank you for your attention and I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible, not only during the rest of this session but when we gather together again in Bonn in November. I see myself as very much a peoples President and undoubtedly by the end of this process, a guy called Frank from Fiji will have selfies with people from all over the world. Taking Good Care! Despite being divorced, Hrithik and Sussanne meet up often and are taking good care of their children. Responsible Parents Hrithik and Sussanne are responsible parents and are not letting their children feel the impact of their divorce. Custody Of The Kids Sussanne Khan has won the custody of the kids and the court also gave Hrithik Roshan full rights to visit them whenever he wants. A Strong Bond! Even after their divorce, Hrithik Roshan and Sussanne Khan's bond remains the same. Kaabil During the release of Kaabil, Sussanne Khan came out and supported the movie during the promotions. Hrithik-Sussanne-Yami Sussanne also attended the special screening of Kaabil along with Hrithik and Yami. Very Supportive Even after their divorce, Sussanne and Hrithik have been very supportive of each other. Plush New Apartment It is reported that Hrithik has gifted his ex-wife Sussanne Khan a plush new apartment in Juhu. Hrithik-Sussanne The new apartment is very close by to Hrithik Roshan's residence. Winning Her Back? Well, if Hrithik Roshan is really planning to win her back, we wish him the best for it! On Being A Bad Boy "The unique part about my character was that it was a slightly negative role, which was quite dynamic. The role was that of a bad boy. The girl falls for him and he dumps her." The Scene Which Failed To Make It In The Film "The director wrote a scene where my character confronts his mother, and in a Freudian way, accuses her of being with other men. It was a different angle, but later, one of the producers found it too much and cut it from the film." Preity Kept Talking About Her Cheques And Career This film also marked the first collaboration between Saif and Preity. Speaking about his co-star, Saif revealed, "Preity was great fun to work with-so bubbly and energetic-she kept talking about her cheques and career." When Preity Asked 'How's The Heart-Attack?' He added, "She talked non-stop throughout the film's shoot. Kundan almost had a heart attack at that time, not directly related to her I hope, and she asked him, 'Sir, how is the heart attack?' and he said, 'Very good'!" Saif's Oops Moment "We were shooting in Switzerland and I was giving a shot while rolling down a hill or something, and I tore my black leather pants and you could see my white underwear. I think they printed it because they couldn't get it again. I was hoping no one would notice." On Why He Doesn't Watch Kya Kehna When It Airs On TV "I had too bad a haircut to do that (watch the film). I very rarely watch my films again." Sathish Ninasam is currently busy with the post-production of his next film Tiger Galli, which will be hitting the screens next month. Meanwhile, we hear that the actor has silently signed his next film to be directed by a debutant. Sathish is also shooting for Chambal which is directed by Jacob Varghese of Savari and Prithvi fame. Nandish, an associate director of Jacob approached Sathish, with his script which the actor loved in first hearing and agreed to be a part of it. Nandish has named the film as Godhra. Godhra is a place in Gujarat and it was in news a decade ago for all the wrong reasons. It is not clear whether the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce has approved the title. Shraddha Srinath has been confirmed to play the female lead and she will be sharing the screen space with Sathish for the first time. She has confirmed the news to leading publication and has said, she knew the director for two years now and she liked his narration. Shraddha has also compared the script to the films made by maverick film-maker Ram Gopal Varma in early 90s. Director is currently busy finalizing the rest of the cast and crew. He intends to go on floors by end of the June. Both Sathish and Shraddha are looking forward to their next films releasing next month. Tiger Galli audio was launched recently and the film will release in latter part of June. Operation Alamelamma music will be launched soon and makers intend to release the film in second week of June. Dulquer Salmaan and Amaal Sufiya, the cutest star couple of Malayalam movie industry welcomed their first child, a baby girl, on May 5. As per the reports, Dulquer and Amaal have finally named their little princess. Recently, the young couple proudly announced the name of their baby girl through a thanksgiving card. The baby has been named as Maryam Ameerah Salmaan. The pictures of the card have been going viral on social media. The Card Here are the pictures of the thanksgiving card, with the name of the baby. The pictures are taken from the Facebook page of popular makeup artist Reshma Grace. Double Joy For Dulquer The baby girl was born on May 5, Friday, which was also the release date of Dulquer Salmaan's latest movie Comrade In America. It was a double joy for the actor, as the movie also went to become a big success. The Dream-Come-True Moment Dulquer Salmaan, who announced the birth of his daughter, had revealed that his biggest dream was to become a father. Well, we are sure that DQ will be a super-cool father. Anniversary Gift For Mammootty & Sulfath Maryam Ameerah Salmaan was born just a day before the 38th wedding anniversary of her paternal grandparents, megastar Mammootty and Sulfath. Most Popular Star Kid Maryam Ameerah is undoubtedly the most popular star kid of the current slot. Well, we are eagerly waiting for the pictures of Dulquer and Amaal's little princess. Maryam Ameerah Salmaan is the first girl of the youngest generation of Mammootty's family. Dulquer Salmaan's elder sister is blessed with two sons. As per the reports, the mother and baby are still in Chennai, at Amaal's residence. Dulquer Salmaan and Amaal Sufiya tied the knot in December 2011. It was purely an arranged marriage for the couple, who were introduced to each other by the actor's mother Sulfath Mammootty. Reportedly, Sulfath chose Amaal for her son, after spotting her at a few social gatherings. Amaal Sufiya, who is an architect by profession, is also an expert in interior designing. Dulquer Salmaan has always stated that his wife is his best friend, and wants to follow his father Mammootty's footsteps in the roles of husband and father. Mohanlal and Priyadarshan are one of the most celebrated actor-director duos of Malayalam cinema. The schoolmates-turned-best buddies have set a great example for friendship by standing for each other through the thick and thin. Now, the social media is going gaga over an unseen selfie of Mohanlal's son Pranav Mohanlal, and Priyadarshan's daughter Kalyani Priyadarshan. The fans are quite excited to know that the kids of the actor-director duo are close friends too. However, the selfie of Pranav Mohanlal and Kalyani Priyadarshan, which has been going viral on social media, is not a recent one. It was clicked during the wedding of Mohanlal's brother-in-law Suresh Balaje's daughter Sithara Suresh, last year. Kalyani Priyadarshan had recently made her movie debut, as the assistant art director of the Vikram starrer Iru Mugan. She finished her graduation from the Parsons School Of Design, New York, and aspires to be an art director. As per the reports, Kalyani has absolutely no plans to start an acting career but is more interested in the technical aspects of cinema. The sources close to the star kid had denied the rumours regarding her acting debut, recently. Pranav Mohanlal, on the other hand, is all set to enter the film industry as a lead actor, with the upcoming Jeethu Joseph project. The movie, which is said to be an action thriller, is expected to start rolling soon. CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 09/11/17 -- NuVista Energy Ltd. ("NuVista" or the "Company") (TSX: NVA) is pleased to provide a significant operational update including the startup at Bilbo block of our largest pad drilled to date; powerful IP30 success from Elmworth block high intensity fractured wells (HiFi); the successful and on-time conclusion of the Keyera Simonette gas plant planned turnaround; and the achievement of a compelling well test in our emerging Pipestone block. This test provides early flow data, increasing our confidence in above-typecurve results. Bilbo Block The Bilbo compression and dehydration facility is now at capacity with peak production up to 20,000 Boe/d depending on normal operational fluctuations. Our largest pad, containing six wells, has now been successfully started up at Bilbo. Initial results are very encouraging as the wells all move through their early days of flowback and cleanup. Despite the shorter lateral length of 1425 to 1500 m on these wells and the early stage of cleanup, they are averaging approximately 3.8 MMcf/d raw gas and over 1,000 Bbl/d of condensate each. We look forward to providing the IP30 flowback information for this pad once available. Elmworth Block Completion activities progressed very well with summer weather, and all 9 planned new Elmworth wells have been completed successfully and are in various stages of tie-in and initial flowback. Two of these wells have HiFi completions and have nearly reached IP30 with flow rates which eclipse prior Elmworth results. The wells flowed an average of 2,200 Boe/d including 9.9 MMcf/d raw gas and 723 Bbl/d of condensate each. This represents more than 2.5x the condensate rate of our Elmworth HiFi typecurve and more than double the condensate rate of our Elmworth historical average results. The IP30 CGR was 73 Bbls/MMcf versus the typecurve CGR of 40. If these results are repeated for the other HiFi wells which are coming on stream in Elmworth, it would represent a step-change improvement in well economics. We expect to see continued production increases in our Elmworth facilities through the fall as these 9 wells are tied in and started up. Pipestone Block As previously reported, we have concluded the drilling of our first well in this emerging block. The well was drilled to a lateral length of 3,100 m in just 19 days, and has now been successfully completed with regular fracture intensity including 26 stages. The initial cleanup and flowtest was conducted within the limit of environmental flaring regulations, with very encouraging results. The well flowed for approximately 3.5 days with the final 24 hour rate being over 1,400 Boe/d including 6 MMcf/d raw gas and 600 Bbl/d condensate, with rates still increasing at the end of the short test period. Although the well was still cleaning up, these early indications provide a CGR greater than 100 Bbl/MMcf versus initial type-curve expectation of 60 Bbl/MMcf. The raw gas result was also favorable. The well will remain shut in until our Pipestone block facilities are in place. We are pleased to note that ongoing positive offsetting industry results also continue to confirm the areal extent and potential of our Pipestone block. The Pipestone stakeholder and development plan is proceeding well to underpin our planned future growth in this area. Lower Montney NuVista has recently completed the drilling of our first Lower Montney horizontal well, at Bilbo. We expect to complete this test well by early 2018 in this newly emerging layer of the Montney formation. We continue to be excited and encouraged by the progress across all of our operations. The planned Keyera Simonette gas plant turnaround was completed on schedule, allowing our Bilbo block to resume operations. Current corporate production is returning to the prior run rate of 33,000 Boe/d, and we expect to push beyond those levels in the coming weeks as we remove welltest equipment from these new wells and bring them on to permanent production. With drilling and completion costs continuing in the expected range, we anticipate being in the upper portion of our capital guidance range of $280 - $300 million as previously communicated. We reiterate the production guidance ranges for the third quarter at 26,000 to 29,000 Boe/d and fourth quarter at 35,000 to 38,000 Boe/d. Guidance for the full year of 2017 is also unchanged at 28,000 to 31,000 Boe/d. Given top quality assets and a management team focused upon relentless improvement, NuVista will continue to optimize well results, improve margins, and grow our production profitably toward our 2021 goal of 60,000 Boe/d. We would like to thank our staff, contractors, and suppliers for their continued dedication and delivery, and we thank our board of directors and our shareholders for their guidance and support as we build an ever more valuable future for NuVista. Please note that our corporate presentation is being updated and will be available at www.nuvistaenergy.com on September 11, 2017. Basis of presentation Unless otherwise noted, the financial data presented in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") also known as International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). The reporting and measurement currency is the Canadian dollar. Boe Equivalency This news release contains the term barrels of oil equivalent ("Boe"). Natural gas is converted to a barrel of oil equivalent ("Boe") using six thousand cubic feet of gas to one barrel of oil. Boes may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A conversion ratio of one barrel to six thousand cubic feet of natural gas is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. Given that the value ratio based on the current price of crude oil as compared to natural gas is significantly different from the energy equivalency of 6:1, utilizing a conversion ratio on a 6:1 basis may be misleading as an indication of value. Initial Production (IP) Rates Any reference in this news release to IP rates such as IP30 are useful in confirming the presence of hydrocarbons, however, such rates are not determinative of the rates at which such wells will continue production and decline thereafter. While encouraging, readers are cautioned not to place reliance on such rates in calculating the aggregate production for NuVista. Such rates are based on field estimates and may be based on limited data available at this time. Typecurve Information The typecurve information included in this news release represents estimates of the production decline and ultimate volumes expected to be recovered from wells over the life of the well. This information is based on internally generated typecurves based on a combination of historical performance of older wells and management's expectation of what might be achieved from future wells. The information represents what management thinks an average well will achieve. Individual wells may be higher or lower but over a larger number of wells management expects the average to come out to the typecurve. Over time typecurves can and will change based on achieving more production history on older wells or more recent completion information on newer wells. There is no certainty that future wells will generate results to match historic typecurves presented herein. Advisory regarding forward-looking information and statements This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words "will", "expects", "believe", "plans", "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forward looking statements, including anticipated production, expected condensate to gas ratios, anticipated well economics and typecurves, tie-in and completion plans, development plans at Pipestone, our capital and production guidance and our plans to continue to optimize well results, improve margins and grow production. By their nature, forward-looking statements are based upon certain assumptions and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond NuVista's control, including the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, current and future commodity prices, currency and interest rates, anticipated production rates, borrowing, operating and other costs and funds from operations, the timing, allocation and amount of capital expenditures and the results therefrom, anticipated reserves and the imprecision of reserve estimates, the performance of existing wells, the success obtained in drilling new wells, the sufficiency of budgeted capital expenditures in carrying out planned activities, access to infrastructure and markets, competition from other industry participants, availability of qualified personnel or services and drilling and related equipment, stock market volatility, effects of regulation by governmental agencies including changes in environmental regulations, tax laws and royalties; the ability to access sufficient capital from internal sources and bank and equity markets; and including, without limitation, those risks considered under "Risk Factors" in our Annual Information Form. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, 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. NuVista's actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements, or if any of them do so, what benefits NuVista will derive therefrom. NuVista has included the forward-looking statements in this news release in order to provide readers with a more complete perspective on NuVista's future operations and such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. NuVista 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: NuVista Energy Ltd. Jonathan A. Wright President and CEO (403) 538-8501 NuVista Energy Ltd. Ross L. Andreachuk VP, Finance and CFO (403) 538-8539 Royal Holiday Offers Affordable Luxury Travel for the Whole Family MONTEREY N.L., MEXICO / ACCESSWIRE / November 17, 2017 / The holidays are a hectic time of year, especially for families with children. In addition to the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping and the time commitment of decorating, many parents struggle to keep up with obligations that include hosting family feasts and traveling to visit extended family members each year. There's no need to succumb to the stress and struggles of this increasingly busy season. Instead, families can join the Royal Holiday Vacation Club and spend their winter holiday on a sun-drenched beach or cruising the Caribbean. It's natural for families on a budget to assume that luxury travel is out of the question, especially with the kids it tow. It's just too expensive. However, Royal Holiday has the solution. This flexible and convenient means of booking travel operates on a unique system of credits that allows families to purchase the membership level that works best for them and lock in rates on travel for 30 years. In addition, Royal Holiday understands that travel with children can be unpredictable, so it's easy to change bookings, add days, upgrade to larger rooms, or add extras like rollaway beds for kids that just can't share. As for holiday travel specifically, locked-in rates mean that prices never fluctuate, so parents won't find themselves paying through the nose during the busy travel season (although early booking is wise). The only question remaining is where parents will decide to go, and there are hundreds of destinations to choose from. The perfect winter getaway might include leaving the snow and freezing temperatures behind in favor of sun, sand, and surf. A few days of relaxing on the beach at the Grand Park Royal Cozumel or the Torre Condomar Sunscape Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa should fit the bill. For families that include avid skiers and snowboarders, a trip to The Westin Resort & Spa Whistler is the perfect escape. After days spent on the mountain, kids can jump in the pool while parents lounge in the sauna or the truly adventurous can go ziplining. Members can choose from destinations across North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, and there are even dozens of cruises that make for the easiest, all-inclusive vacations around. Families looking for the ultimate in relaxation and entertainment can't go wrong with one of the many Christmas and New Year Cruises offered by Royal Holiday. Any family looking for a better way to celebrate winter holidays and ring in the new year will find endless luxury resort accommodations and thrilling destinations to choose from when they sign up for the Royal Holiday Vacation Club. About Royal Holiday Vacation Club: Royal Holiday Vacation Club is a Mexico-based vacation club that was established in Geneva, Switzerland in 1992. Members enjoy access to over 180 destinations in 52 countries in North America, South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia. Royal Holiday Vacation Club currently has over 100,000 satisfied members. Royal Holiday offers five levels of membership with a variety of perks that allow members to explore the world of leisure in luxury. For more information, visit: https://royal-holiday.com/en/us/. Royal Holiday Vacation Club (81) 5980-1140 monterrey@royal-holiday.com SOURCE: Royal Holiday Vacation Club MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 05/26/17 -- Garda World Security Corporation (the "Company" or "GardaWorld") announced today that as of 8:00 a.m., New York City time on May 26, 2017, which was the "Expiration Time" for the previously announced cash tender offer and consent solicitation (the "Offer") for any and all of its outstanding U.S. dollar denominated 7.25% Senior Notes due 2021 (CUSIP Nos./ISINs 36485M AG4/US36485MAG42, C36025 AC5/USC36025AC51, 36485M AJ8/US36485MAJ80 and C36025 AD3/USC36025AD35) (the "Notes"), as reported by the tender agent, U.S. $83,137,000 principal amount of the Notes had been tendered in the Offer and not validly withdrawn, representing approximately 18.89% of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Notes. The Company also announced that on May 26, 2017, it had accepted for purchase and purchased all Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the terms of the Offer. Holders who validly tendered their Notes at or before 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on April 21, 2017 (the "Early Tender Deadline") received the total consideration equal to US$1,015 per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes purchased pursuant to the Offer, plus accrued and unpaid interest from the last interest payment date up to but not including the payment date. Holders who tendered their Notes and whose Notes were accepted for purchase at or prior to the Expiration Time but after the Early Tender Deadline received the tender offer consideration equal to US$960 per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes purchased pursuant to the Offer, plus accrued and unpaid interest from the last interest payment date up to but not including the payment date. The Offer is a separate offer from the Company's offer to purchase the Notes (the "Change of Control Offer") made pursuant to the Company's Offer to Purchase, dated April 17, 2017, as amended by press releases issued on May 8, 2017 and May 18, 2017. The Change of Control Offer was made pursuant to the indenture dated as of November 8, 2013, under which the Notes were issued in order to satisfy the requirement to make an offer to repurchase the Notes upon the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined in the indenture). The information agent for the Offer and consent solicitation is D.F. King & Co., Inc. Holders with questions may call the information agent, D.F. King & Co., Inc., toll-free at (800) 864-1460 or (212) 269-5550 (collect) or email garda@dfking.com. Questions regarding the terms of the Offer and consent solicitation can be directed to the dealer manager for the Offer and solicitation agent for the consent solicitation, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (800) 558-3745 (toll-free) and (212) 723-6106 (collect). About The Company GardaWorld is one of the world's largest privately owned security services providers, offering a range of highly focused business solutions including cash services, protective services and aviation services. GardaWorld's more than 62,000 highly trained, dedicated professionals serve clients throughout North America, the Middle East, Africa and Europe. GardaWorld works across a broad range of sectors, including financial services, infrastructure, natural resources and retail, and services Fortune 500 companies, governments and humanitarian relief organizations. For more information, visit www.garda.com. Cautionary Statement on Forward Looking Statements Information provided and statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the applicable securities laws. Certain statements in this press release may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of securities laws. Forward-looking information may relate to GardaWorld's future outlook and anticipated events, business, operations, financial performance, financial condition or results and, in some cases, can be identified by terminology such as "may"; "will"; "should"; "expect"; "plan"; "anticipate"; "believe"; "intend"; "estimate"; "predict"; "potential"; "continue"; "foresee", "ensure" or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. In particular, statements regarding the Company's future operating results and economic performance and its objectives and strategies are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on certain factors and assumptions including expected growth, results of operations, performance and business prospects and opportunities, which GardaWorld believes are reasonable as of the current date. While management considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to the Company, they may prove to be incorrect. The Company cautions the reader that the current economic conditions make forward-looking information and the underlying assumptions subject to greater uncertainty and that, consequently, they may not materialize, or the results may significantly differ from the Company's expectations. It is impossible for GardaWorld to predict with certainty the impact that the current economic may have on future results. Forward-looking information is also subject to certain factors, including risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from what GardaWorld currently expects. These factors include growth management, market competition, cost of financing, key personnel, government regulations, standard customer service contracts, insurance, strikes and other labor protests, information technology systems, operations outside Canada and the United States, currency fluctuations, credit risk, reputational risk, and financial covenants risk. Therefore, future events and results may vary significantly from what management currently foresees. The reader should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. The Company will not update these statements unless applicable securities laws require the Company to do so. The reader should also take knowledge of GardaWorld's Annual MD&A and audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2017. Contacts: Garda World Security Corporation Media Relations media@garda.com MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 05/26/17 -- Garda World Security Corporation (the "Company" or "GardaWorld") announced today that as of 8:00 a.m., New York City time on May 26, 2017, which was the Expiration Time (as defined in the Company's Offer to Purchase, dated April 17, 2017 (the "Statement") for the previously announced cash tender offer (the "Offer") for any and all of its outstanding U.S. dollar denominated 7.25% Senior Notes due 2021 (CUSIP Nos./ISINs 36485M AG4/US36485MAG42, C36025 AC5/USC36025AC51, 36485M AJ8/US36485MAJ80 and C36025 AD3/USC36025AD35) (the "Notes"), as reported by the tender agent, U.S. $182,465,000 principal amount of the Notes had been tendered in the Offer and not validly withdrawn, representing approximately 41.47% of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Notes. The Company has also announced that on May 26, 2017, it had accepted for purchase and purchased all Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the terms of the Offer. Holders who validly tendered their Notes at or prior to the Expiration Time received the Tender Offer Consideration equal to US$1,010 per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes purchased pursuant to the Offer, plus accrued and unpaid interest in respect of their purchased Notes from the last interest payment date to, but not including, the payment date for the Notes. The Offer was made pursuant to the indenture dated as of November 8, 2013 (as amended and supplemented to the date hereof, the "Indenture") among the Company, the guarantors party thereto, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as U.S. trustee and Computershare Trust Company of Canada, as Canadian trustee, under which the Notes were issued. The Indenture and the Notes provide that the Company must make an offer to repurchase Notes from holders in connection with the occurrence of a "Change of Control" (as defined in the Indenture), which offer, pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, may be made in advance of, and conditioned upon the occurrence of, such Change of Control. Upon consummation of the Stock Purchase (as defined below) on the date hereof, a Change of Control occurred with respect to the Company. Accordingly, the Company has offered to purchase, in advance of and conditioned upon the occurrence of the Change of Control, any and all Notes at a purchase price of 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest up to, but not including, the Payment Date (as defined below) (the "Tender Offer Consideration"). Pursuant to the Indenture, as a result of the completion of the Stock Purchase and the Offer, the Company has no further obligation to make any further offer to repurchase the Notes as a result of or in connection with the completion of the Stock Purchase. The Offer is a separate offer from the Company's offer to purchase and consent solicitation with respect to the Notes (the "Concurrent Offer") made pursuant to the Company's Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation, dated March 31, 2017, as amended by the press releases issued on April 14, 2017, April 17, 2017, May 8, 2017 and May 18, 2017. The information agent for the Offer is D.F. King & Co., Inc. Holders with questions may call the information agent, D.F. King & Co., Inc., toll-free at (800) 864-1460 or (212) 269-5550 (collect) or email garda@dfking.com. This news release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell the Notes. The Offer was made only pursuant to the Statement, as amended by this press release dated May 26, 2017 and the press releases dated May 8, 2017 and May 18, 2017, and the related Letter of Transmittal (collectively with the Statement, the "Offer Documents"). About GardaWorld GardaWorld is one of the world's largest privately owned security services providers, offering a range of highly focused business solutions including cash services, protective services and aviation services. GardaWorld's more than 62,000 highly trained, dedicated professionals serve clients throughout North America, the Middle East, Africa and Europe. GardaWorld works across a broad range of sectors, including financial services, infrastructure, natural resources and retail, and services Fortune 500 companies, governments and humanitarian relief organizations. For more information, visit www.garda.com. Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements Information provided and statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the applicable securities laws. Certain statements in this press release may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of securities laws. Forward-looking information may relate to GardaWorld's future outlook and anticipated events, business, operations, financial performance, financial condition or results and, in some cases, can be identified by terminology such as "may"; "will"; "should"; "expect"; "plan"; "anticipate"; "believe"; "intend"; "estimate"; "predict"; "potential"; "continue"; "foresee", "ensure" or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. In particular, statements regarding the Company's future operating results and economic performance and its objectives and strategies are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on certain factors and assumptions including expected growth, results of operations, performance and business prospects and opportunities, which GardaWorld believes are reasonable as of the current date. While management considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to the Company, they may prove to be incorrect. The Company cautions the reader that the current economic conditions make forward-looking information and the underlying assumptions subject to greater uncertainty and that, consequently, they may not materialize, or the results may significantly differ from the Company's expectations. It is impossible for GardaWorld to predict with certainty the impact that the current economic may have on future results. Forward-looking information is also subject to certain factors, including risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from what GardaWorld currently expects. These factors include growth management, market competition, cost of financing, key personnel, government regulations, standard customer service contracts, insurance, strikes and other labor protests, information technology systems, operations outside Canada and the United States, currency fluctuations, credit risk, reputational risk, and financial covenants risk. Therefore, future events and results may vary significantly from what management currently foresees. The reader should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. The Company will not update these statements unless applicable securities laws require the Company to do so. The reader should also take knowledge of GardaWorld's Annual MD&A and audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2017. Contacts: GardaWorld Media Relations: media@garda.com With machine learning technology, EasyScan GO automatically and accurately detects malaria parasites within minutes, providing important decision support to microscopists and enabling effective tracking of the mutating disease through standardized diagnoses. The future of automated quality diagnosis begins now. Advanced microscope designer and manufacturer Motic China Group Co., Ltd, a subsidiary of Motic (Xiamen) Electric Group Co Ltd (SHE: 300341), announced today at MEDICA 2017 that it has partnered with the Global Good Fund, a collaboration between Intellectual Ventures and Bill Gates to develop technologies for humanitarian impact. This new collaboration will create and distribute the EasyScan GO*, a breakthrough AI-powered microscope to fight the spread of drug-resistant malaria and assist in case management. Using custom image recognition software, EasyScan GO is capable of identifying and counting malaria parasites in a blood smear in as little as 20 minutes. "This collaboration, combining Global Good's impact invention focus with Motic's engineering, manufacturing and distribution capabilities, represents the type of innovative healthcare solution that is needed to improve health in emerging and low-income markets," said Maurizio Vecchione, Intellectual Ventures' Executive Vice President of Global Good and Research. "By distributing and commercializing an intelligent microscope, Global Good and Motic are creating a future where quality diagnosis of multiple diseases is within reach for everyone everywhere." "Malaria is one of the hardest diseases to identify on a microscope slide," said David Bell, Director of Global Health Technologies supporting Global Good. "By putting machine learning-enabled microscopes in the hands of laboratory technicians, we can overcome two major barriers to combating the mutating parasite-improving diagnosis in case management and standardizing detection across geographies and time." Every year, malaria kills almost half a million people, and researchers estimate nearly half the world's population is at risk of contracting it. The rapid spread of a multidrug-resistant strain in parts of Southeast Asia is a particularly alarming development detailed by researchers in a letter published recently in The Lancet. Accurate detection of severe and drug-resistant cases requires analysis of a blood smear by a WHO-certified expert microscopist, which takes roughly 20 minutes per slide. Automating the process with an intelligent microscope can alleviate the shortfall of trained personnel in under-resourced countries. Field tests of an early prototype of the microscope presented at the International Conference on Computer Vision (ICCV) showed that the machine learning algorithm developed by Global Good is as reliable as an expert microscopist. "Our goal in integrating Global Good's advanced software into Motic's high-quality, affordable digital slide scanner is to simplify and standardize malaria detection," said Richard Yeung, Vice President of Motic China. "Success with the most difficult-to-identify disease paves the way for the EasyScan product line to excel at almost any microscopy task and to detect other major diseases that affect developed and emerging markets alike." The EasyScan GO is currently being trained to recognize all species of malaria and other parasites and traits commonly found on a blood film, including Chagas disease, microfilaria and sickle cell. The team will also explore its application to other sample types, such as sputum, feces and tissue, as well some forms of cancer. For more, please visit: www.easyscango.com. About Intellectual Ventures' Global Good Fund Global Good is dedicated to inventing technology for humanitarian impact. Millions of people suffer and die each year in poor countries from causes that humanity has the scientific and technical ability to solve. Funded by Bill Gates and focused on a shared vision with Nathan Myhrvold, Global Good invents technology to solve some of humanity's most daunting problems. Global Good does this by collaborating with leading humanitarian organizations, forward-looking governments, research institutions, and corporate and private sector partners that bring our inventions to market. www.globalgood.com About Motic Motic is a groundbreaking company specialized in manufacturing conventional compound microscopes. Thanks to our optical expertise, our thorough and heartfelt customer service, and to our aim to enhance the microscopy experience, we have grown into a global brand within everyone's reach. We are committed to stand by our young scientists from their early steps, improve healthcare and support the progress of scientific research, by adapting to the market trends and by focusing on advanced digital solutions aimed to fulfill the needs of today and exceed the expectations of tomorrow. www.motic.com *Motic EasyScan is a product line of Motic Group, all rights reserved. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171113005307/en/ Contacts: Revere on behalf of Global Good Clare Sayas, 206-334-0459 press@easyscango.com or Motic Laura Canudas laura.canudas@moticeurope.com Mitsubishi Motors Public Relations Department http://www.mitsubishi-motors.com +81-3-6852-4275 JAKARTA, Oct 4, 2017 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) today announced that XPANDER, its new multi-purpose vehicle, has enjoyed one of the most successful launches of any vehicle introduced in Indonesia.Since Mitsubishi Motors unveiled the XPANDER at the GAIKINDO Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) in August, it has taken more than 23,000 orders for the MPV, specially designed for Indonesian drivers. More than 5,000 orders were placed during GIIAS itself, more than were placed for any car model launched by any brand at the show since 2010.This early success was celebrated today at a ceremony to mark the first XPANDERs to roll off the production line at Mitsubishi Motors' new Bekasi assembly plant, which began making vehicles in April. The company has begun delivering the new MPV to the first customers.http://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_MitsubishiMotorsXPANDER.jpgTrevor Mann, Chief Operating Officer at Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, said:"The rollout of our all-new XPANDER MPV is an important milestone for Mitsubishi Motors, not just here in Indonesia but across the ASEAN region.""The high demand for the XPANDER reflects how well-suited this new-generation of MPV is to meet the needs of our Indonesian customers.""With a young population of more than 260 million people and the opportunity for higher levels of vehicle ownership, Indonesia is a strategic priority for Mitsubishi Motors."The XPANDER has taken more orders following a motor show launch than any previous Mitsubishi Motors vehicle.The XPANDER is the first all-new vehicle since Mitsubishi Motors embarked on its V-shaped recovery, and highlights the company's ambition for growth in Indonesia. The company's new MPV was designed with the growing demand among Indonesian consumers for high quality, reliable passenger vehicles in mind.The XPANDER MPV combines Mitsubishi Motors' SUV strengths and toughness with the MPV know-how the company has built up over many years.Mitsubishi Motors is now working to deliver the XPANDER MPV to customers as soon as possible. Reflecting the level of demand, the company has brought forward by one month the introduction of a second shift at the Bekasi facility.Opened earlier this year, the Bekasi facility is situated 37 km east of Jakarta and covers an area of 30 hectares. This facility has provided jobs for close to 12,000 people between our workers and suppliers, and is built for growth with plans to increase vehicle production in the future.Following the roll out of the XPANDER MPV in Indonesia, Mitsubishi Motors plans to make the new model available across the ASEAN region. Beginning in early 2018, this is also planned to be the first Mitsubishi Motors vehicle to be exported from Indonesia.About Mitsubishi MotorsMitsubishi Motors Corporation is the fifth largest automaker in Japan and the fifteenth largest in the world by global unit sales. It is part of the Mitsubishi keiretsu, formerly the biggest industrial group in Japan, and was formed in 1970 from the automotive division of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.Throughout its history it has courted alliances with foreign partners, a strategy pioneered by their first president Tomio Kubo to encourage expansion, and continued by his successors. A significant stake was sold to Chrysler Corporation in 1971 which it held for 22 years, while DaimlerChrysler was a controlling shareholder between 2000 and 2005. Long term joint manufacturing and technology licencing deals with the Hyundai Motor Company in South Korea and Proton in Malaysia were also forged, while in Europe the company co-owned the largest automobile manufacturing plant in the Netherlands with Volvo for ten years in the 1990s, before taking sole ownership in 2001.Source: Mitsubishi MotorsContact:Copyright 2017 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. NEW ORLEANS, LA--(Marketwired - August 04, 2017) - Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until September 29, 2017 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against IntelliPharmaCeutics International, Inc. (NASDAQ: IPCI), if they purchased the Company's shares between January 14, 2016 and July 26, 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 shares of IntelliPharmaCeutics 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, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit http://ksfcounsel.com/cases/nasdaqcm-ipci/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by September 29, 2017. About the Lawsuit IntelliPharmaCeutics and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. The alleged false and misleading statements and omissions include, but are not limited to, that: (i) the Company failed to perform human abuse testing to support the New Drug Application ("NDA") for Rexista; (ii) the Company failed to include studies conducted to support Rexista's label claims regarding human abuse by various pathways; (iii) the Company was not submitting data to sufficiently support approval of the NDA; and (iv) as a result of the foregoing, IntelliPharmaCeutics' financial statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, whose partners include 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 CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The New Zealand dollar weakened against the other major currencies in the Asian session on Friday. The NZ dollar fell to 2-day lows of 0.6881 against the U.S. dollar, 1.6140 against the euro and 1.0787 against the Australian dollar, from yesterday's closing quotes of 0.6899, 1.6089 and 1.0751, respectively. Against the yen, the kiwi edged down to 76.49 from yesterday's closing value of 76.91. If the kiwi extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 0.67 against the greenback, 1.62 against the euro, 1.09 against the aussie and 75.00 against the yen. 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. PLANEGG/MUNICH, GERMANY / ACCESSWIRE / May 19, 2017 / MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment, TecDAX; OTC: MPSYY) announced today the completion of the first part of a phase 1 clinical study in healthy volunteers with the investigational drug candidate MOR107 ahead of schedule. MOR107 is a selective agonist of the angiotensin II receptor type 2 (AT2-R), and is a lanthipeptide based on the proprietary technology platform of MorphoSys's subsidiary Lanthio Pharma. MOR107 is also the first lanthipeptide in MorphoSys's clinical pipeline. Based on an initial analysis of subjects enrolled to date, in all doses tested in this first-in-human trial, based on blinded data, there were no clinically relevant safety events seen, and all adverse events observed thus far were mild and transient in nature. Moreover, a dose-dependent pharmacokinetic profile for MOR107 was observed. "We are very pleased with the initial data from the first part of the phase 1 clinical study of our MOR107 lanthipeptide in healthy volunteers conducted by our subsidiary Lanthio Pharma", commented Dr. Malte Peters, Chief Development Officer of MorphoSys AG. "Preparations for the second part of the trial are ongoing." The study has been conducted by MorphoSys's fully owned subsidiary Lanthio Pharma B.V., Groningen, Netherlands. About Lanthio Pharma and MOR107 Lanthio Pharma B.V., a wholly owned subsidiary of MorphoSys AG since 2015, is a Dutch biopharmaceutical company committed to developing and commercializing therapeutic peptides to activate difficult to target receptors (e.g. GPCRs). With its proprietary technology, Lanthio Pharma is generating lanthipeptides, a new class of cyclical peptide molecules which have been engineered with the intention of achieving enhanced stability and selectivity. Research is focused on the protective arm of the Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS). Lanthio Pharma has currently two programs targeting the two key receptors in this pathway. The lead product is MOR107 (formerly LP2-3), a selective angiotensin II receptor type 2 receptor (AT2-R) agonist. MOR107 is currently being investigated in a "first-in-human" phase 1 clinical study in healthy volunteers. About MorphoSys MorphoSys is committed to developing exceptional new treatments for patients suffering from serious diseases. A leader in the field of therapeutic antibodies today, MorphoSys is driven by the ambition of creating the most valuable pipeline of biopharmaceuticals in the biotechnology industry. Based on its proprietary technology platforms, MorphoSys, together with its partners, has built a therapeutic pipeline of more than 110 programs in R&D, around a quarter of which is currently in clinical development. In its proprietary development segment, MorphoSys, alone or with partners, is developing new therapeutic candidates, mainly focusing on cancer and inflammation. In its partnered discovery segment, MorphoSys uses its technologies to discover new drug candidates for pharmaceutical partners and participates from the programs' further development success, through success-based payments and royalties. MorphoSys is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol MOR. For regular updates about MorphoSys, visit http://www.morphosys.com. HuCAL(R), HuCAL GOLD(R), HuCAL PLATINUM(R), CysDisplay(R), RapMAT(R), arYla(R), Ylanthia(R), 100 billion high potentials(R), Slonomics(R), Lanthio Pharma(R) and LanthioPep(R) are registered trademarks of the MorphoSys Group. This communication contains certain forward-looking statements concerning the MorphoSys group of companies. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the judgment of MorphoSys as of the date of this release and involve risks and uncertainties. Should actual conditions differ from the Company's assumptions, actual results and actions may differ from those anticipated, MorphoSys does not intend to update any of these forward-looking statements as far as the wording of the relevant press release is concerned. For more information, please contact: MorphoSys AG Anke Linnartz Head of Corporate Communications & IR Jochen Orlowski Associate Director Corporate Communications & IR Alexandra Goller Senior Manager Corporate Communications & IR Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-404 investors@morphosys.com SOURCE: MorphoSys AG via the EQS Newswire distribution service including Press Releases and Regulatory Announcements CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The Canadian dollar strengthened against other major currencies in the European session on Thursday, as crude oil price rose after U.S. government data revealed the biggest weekly decline in domestic crude production in almost a year. The crude oil delivery for August is currently up by 0.45 percent or $45.19 per barrel. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released its weekly petroleum status report showing that the gasoline stocks fell by 894,000 barrels, compared with analysts' expectations for a larger drop. However, U.S. commercial crude inventories increased by 100,000 barrels last week, EIA said. In the Asian trading, the Canadian dollar showed mixed trading against its major rivals. In the European trading, the Canadian dollar rose to more than a 4-month high of 86.55 against the yen, from an early low of 86.05. The loonie is likely to find resistance around the 88.00 region. The loonie advanced to 1.3007 against the U.S. dollar, from an early low of 1.3044. This may be compared to an early near 5-month high of 1.3006. On the upside, 1.29 is seen as the next resistance level for the loonie. Against the euro and the Australian dollar, the loonie edged up to 1.4829 and 0.9973 from early lows of 1.4889 and 1.0007, respectively. If the loonie extends its uptrend, it is likely to find resistance around 1.44 against the euro and 0.98 against the aussie. Looking ahead, German flash CPI data for June, U.S. GDP data for the first quarter, U.S. weekly jobless claims for the week ended June 24 are slated for release shortly. At 2:30 pm ET, European Central Bank Executive board member Ignazio Angeloni will give a dinner speech at the Florence School of Banking & Finance Executive Seminar on Financing Banking Resolution in Florence, Italy. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Mitsubishi Motors Public Relations Department http://www.mitsubishi-motors.com +81-3-6852-4275 TOKYO, May 19, 2017 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) announced today that cumulative engine production reached five million units at Shenyang Aerospace Mitsubishi Motors Engine Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (SAME), MMC's engine joint-venture in Shenyang, China.SAME was established in August 1997 and started production in 1998. Supplying engines to Mitsubishi Motors brand as well as several Chinese automakers in the expanding auto market in China, cumulative production at the company reached three million units in 2014 and four million units in 2016.MMC President, CEO Osamu Masuko attended the commemoration ceremony and stated: "Mitsubishi Motors is very proud of achieving this milestone, having produced five million engines, at China's leading engine supplier, Shenyang Aerospace Mitsubishi Motors Engine Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (SAME). This represents a 25% increase from last year and demonstrates the strong growth in the passenger car segment. That gives us great confidence in the future of SAME, and Mitsubishi Motors is excited to be able to contribute to the continued development of the Chinese automotive industry."SAME started production of the 4A9 engine in June 2009. Used to power small cars, this low displacement and lightweight unit incorporates MMC's eco-friendly MIVEC (Mitsubishi Innovative Valve Timing Electronic Control) variable valve timing mechanism. SAME sold 750,000 units of engines in 2016. SAME also have launched the production of 4K2 series as the successor to the 4G6 engine, expanding its business to support the market demands with high-quality products in timely manner.SAME is currently focusing on strengthening its product lineup and improving environmental performance in order to meet the diversifying needs of the Chinese market as it continues to contribute to the growth and development of the Chinese auto industry.Outline of Shenyang Aerospace Mitsubishi Motors Engine Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Headquarters: Shenyang, Liaoning provinceEstablished: August 1997 (started production in August 1998)Major shareholders:China Aerospace Automotive Industry Group Co. - 30%Mitsubishi Motors Corporation - 25%Shenyang Jianhua Motors Engine Co., Ltd. - 21%MCIC Holdings Sdn. Bhd. - 14.7%Mitsubishi Corporation - 9.3%Production lines: 4G6 engine (2.0L, 2.4L), 4A9 engine (1.3L, 1.5L, 1.6L), 4K2 engine (1.8L, 2.0L, 2.4L)Production volume: 748,353 units (CY2016)About Mitsubishi MotorsMitsubishi Motors Corporation is the fifth largest automaker in Japan and the fifteenth largest in the world by global unit sales. It is part of the Mitsubishi keiretsu, formerly the biggest industrial group in Japan, and was formed in 1970 from the automotive division of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.Throughout its history it has courted alliances with foreign partners, a strategy pioneered by their first president Tomio Kubo to encourage expansion, and continued by his successors. A significant stake was sold to Chrysler Corporation in 1971 which it held for 22 years, while DaimlerChrysler was a controlling shareholder between 2000 and 2005. Long term joint manufacturing and technology licencing deals with the Hyundai Motor Company in South Korea and Proton in Malaysia were also forged, while in Europe the company co-owned the largest automobile manufacturing plant in the Netherlands with Volvo for ten years in the 1990s, before taking sole ownership in 2001.Source: Mitsubishi MotorsContact:Copyright 2017 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. WADDINXVEEN, The Netherlands, June 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Food production results in hidden impacts for people and planet. Financial auditor EY and sustainability consultant Soil & More have now developed a method for small and medium-sized enterprises to calculate these hidden or 'external' costs. To illustrate the method, they calculated the impacts of organic distributor Eosta for nine types of produce and the company as a whole. For soil and health impact, large differences were found between organic and non-organic production. The report was presented at the EAT Food Forum in Stockholm, on 13 June 2017. (Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/522738/Eosta_Nature_More_True_Cost_Accounting_in_Food_Farming_and_Finance.jpg ) The 'True Cost Accounting in Food, Farming, and Finance' study calculated the cost of water pollution, pesticide exposure, greenhouse gas emissions, and soil erosion for several types of produce. A comparison was made between organic products and non-organic products. The report includes an Integrated Profit and Loss statement for Eosta, one of the first to be published for a SME company worldwide. Volkert Engelsman, CEO of Eosta, presented the report to Peter Bakker, President of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. Bakker commented: "True Cost Accounting changes the definition of profit and tackles perverse incentives. I predict that it will seriously affect the valuation of companies and their access to capital within a few years." Volkert Engelsman added: "We need TCA to empower consumers and stakeholders, including the finance sector, to act responsibly and make informed business decisions. It's a game-changer." One of the findings is a difference between organic and non-organic products in health costs as a result of pesticide application. The study combined data from Danish scientist Peter Fantke, the European Food and Safety Authority, and the EcoInvent database to determine the effects of pesticide exposure. The WHO provided the metrics to monetize health impacts. The difference was biggest for apples from Argentina-with an advantage of the organic variety of 0.19 per kilo. The soil erosion difference was significant as well; on average, organic produce had a positive impact in terms of cost while conventional production had a negative impact. At a consolidated Eosta level, the difference for erosion was 1.8 million. The pilot was supported by Triodos Bank and Hivos. Eosta is a leading distributor of organic fruit and vegetables, based in the Netherlands. Nature&More is its "trace & tell" transparency trademark. More information:http://www.natureandmore.com andhttp://www.eosta.com. Alumni Marty Schweitzer Invited to Speak at Monarch Battalion Annual Military Ball NORFOLK, VA / ACCESSWIRE / May 19, 2017 / Marty Schweitzer, a retired Brigadier General (BG) of the U.S. Army, was welcomed as the guest of honor and guest speaker at Old Dominion University's Monarch Battalion 49th Annual Military Ball, held on Friday, March 24th, 2017 at the Norfolk Waterside Marriot. Marty Schweitzer is a distinguished alumnus of Old Dominion University. As the guest speaker, BG Marty Schweitzer addressed the assembled battalion, including Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) students, as well as 27 Senior Cadets, who will graduate and commission as 2nd Lieutenants on May 5th, 2017. The number of senior cadets graduating this year and going on to lead combat mission in the coming years is exceedingly high, making this year's celebration particularly special. BG Marty Schweitzer provided words of wisdom gained through 40 years of leadership and participation in combat and operational tours across the globe. BG Schweitzer was introduced by the Battalion Commander, who noted some of his many accomplishments, including his participation in Operation Just Cause, Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, and Operation Enduring Freedom, as well as non-combat missions in Rwanda and the Congo, among others. The Battalion Commander also noted in his introductory remarks that BG Schweitzer, "culminated his career as the Deputy Director for Regional Operations on the Joint Staff, where he managed the day to day military global risk for our nation." Major Hunter Bowers, the Professor of Military Science (PMS) at Old Dominion University, noted that the event was made all the more memorable by having a distinguished alumnus such as BG Marty Schweitzer as the guest speaker. Said Bowers, "His insight in what it takes and the responsibilities that surround being an officer are exactly what made his speech so impactful. It is not every day in which a Cadet gets to see someone that was in their shoes before and the success that they have had, and realize that there is a chance that they, too, could have the same success." In addition to BG Schweitzer, other alumni and guests present at the event included LTC Brett Venable, former APMS LTC Darrell Ward, and former PMS LTC Barry Hendricks. The Annual Military Ball, a formal affair, is a long-standing tradition, celebrated by Old Dominion University's ROTC. The ball honors not only ROTC students at the University, but also specifically acknowledges Senior Cadets slated to culminate with commission. The cadets of Old Dominion University's ROTC execute the event annually, in keeping with tradition. This year, the event was organized by Old Dominion University's Army ROTC Secretary, Linda Baker. About Marty Schweitzer: Marty Schweitzer earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Old Dominion University in 1985, before going on to earn a Master of Science degree in Education, Instructional Systems Technology from Indiana University in 1995 and a Master of Science degree in National Security Strategy from the National War College in 2006. He rose to the level of Brigadier General in the U.S. Army before retiring from military service in 2014. He currently serves as President, CEO, and COO of Network Designs, Inc. and serves as a member of Boards of Advisory for Red Gate Group, Ballard Brands LLC, and Ballard Hospitality LLC. CONTACT: Marty Schweitzer Network Designs, Inc. 800-NDI-5665 contact@netdes.com SOURCE: Marty Schweitzer To free its Program customers from expensive ferry fees, company will never charge them for positioning an aircraft anywhere in the world. -- Positioning fees can cost customers an additional five-figures on each flight. -- Other business aviation companies charge for positioning fees when leaving their limited service areas. -- The announcement is a result of VistaJet's $2.5bn investment in its global fleet and proprietary backend operations technology. -- Company took on 15 new business jets in 2016, taking the total fleet to over 70, to offer one-way pricing around the globe. -- Follows 100,000th VistaJet flight record. LONDON, May 19, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VistaJet, the first and only global aviation company, announced today that it has abolished hourly ferry flight fees for new Program customers globally. Uniquely in the industry, the commitment applies no matter where in the world a customer is flying to or from. The move signals a significant commitment to VistaJet's mission to be the first operator to offer a truly global service. Its customers now have complete freedom when booking, without bearing the burden of paying a ferry flight hourly rate for an aircraft to return to a home base or service area, and enjoying truly transparent pricing. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/46cb434c-23ad-4110-8c4f-bc871 1b071e2 http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5e0064d2-a46b-4f9b-9935-b1ff3 47144f0 http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8a1f5882-737f-42be-996b-adbf4 e8f529e http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a6207715-7e21-42f4-ab50-9229b ae68fba Positioning fees have traditionally been a frustrating and unexpected cost for business aviation clients. Currently, most companies in the sector make their customers pay for the cost of returning the empty plane to its home airport or service area after a flight is completed. Depending on location, this can add tens of thousands to the overall cost of a flight. For example, if a customer stepped onboard a London based aircraft towards Australia, the cost of returning the aircraft to its home base could add more than $100,000 to the overall cost of the journey. The revolutionary new offering has been made possible by the $2.5bn investment the company has made to grow its fleet to a global scale, as well as its effort to establish a global customer base through its 10 sales offices around the globe. The company's unique business model, built on removing the notion of a home base for its aircraft, means customers only pay for the time they are in the air: when a VistaJet Program customer books a flight, VistaJet will simply move the nearest plane to pick them up. Unlike business jet charter, VistaJet owns every one of the over 70 silver and red aircraft in its fleet, so customers know what will greet them on the tarmac anytime, anywhere in the world. The company has invested in an industry leading operations centre in the European country of Malta, and created an innovative infrastructure with the capacity to manage global flights 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It has also established offices on 5 continents, managing flights to over 1,600 airports in 187 countries to date. Chairman and Founder Thomas Flohr said: "When you call a taxi, you don't worry about paying for its journey to you. Today's entrepreneur or business executive will be flying to America one week, Asia or South America the next, and Europe in between, so it's become critical to offer them a truly global service. The sustained investment we've made for the past 13 years has been calculated to ensure we can offer our customers something completely ground-breaking: one way pricing around the globe. At VistaJet, we challenge ourselves every day to offer the best experience in the industry. So along with knowing that our customers will only pay for the time they are in the air, when they fly with us they know that they will receive the very best service, with everything tailored to their specific needs." About VistaJet VistaJet is the first and only global aviation company. On its fleet of silver and red business jets, VistaJet has flown corporations, governments and private clients to 187 countries worldwide. Founded in 2004 by Thomas Flohr, the company pioneered an innovative business model where customers pay only for the hours they fly, free of the responsibilities and asset risks linked to aircraft ownership. VistaJet's signature Program service offers customers a bespoke subscription of flight hours on its fleet of mid and long range jets, to fly them anywhere and at any time. More VistaJet information and news at vistajet.com. Information Jennifer Tyler VistaJet International T: +44 203 617 3077 M: +44 7834 335505 jennifer.tyler@vistajet.com James Leviton Finsbury +44 207 251 3851 VistaJet@finsbury.com Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The euro advanced against its most major rivals in the early European session on Friday, as European shares recovered from heavy losses driven by U.S. political turmoil and data showed that German producer prices increased at the fastest pace since late 2011. The Justice Department's appointment of former FBI chief Robert Mueller on Wednesday to probe Russian interference in the election helped to assuage investor concerns over the Trump administration. Also, the Trump administration took the first step toward renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement, helping ease concerns over the president's ability to deliver on his economic agenda. Oil extended gains for the third straight session on optimism that oil producing nations will agree on an extension of output deal, which expires in June. Figures from Destatis showed that producer prices grew by more-than-expected 3.4 percent year-on-year in April, faster than the 3.1 percent rise in March. This was the biggest increase since December 2011. Economists had forecast 3.2 percent increase. On a monthly basis, producer prices climbed 0.4 percent after staying flat in March. Prices were forecast to rise 0.2 percent. Greece's lawmakers approved a reforms package that includes pension cuts and tax hikes as demanded by the country's lenders in return for unlocking another tranche of bailout funds and to start discussions over debt relief. The parliament nod came ahead of the Eurogroup meeting on May 22 when euro area finance ministers would consider disbursement of the bailout funds and discuss debt relief. German bond yields rose, with the benchmark yield on the 10-year note rising 0.35 percent. Yields move inversely to bond prices. The euro showed mixed performance in the Asian session. While the currency rose against the greenback and the franc, it held steady against the pound and the yen. The euro rose to 1.1149 against the greenback, compared to 1.1101 hit late New York Thursday. Continuation of the euro's uptrend may see it challenging resistance around the 1.13 zone. The euro that ended Thursday's trading at 1.0879 against the franc edged up to 1.0905. If the euro-franc pair extends gain, 1.10 is likely seen as its next resistance level. The single currency climbed to a 2-day high of 124.46 against the Japanese yen from Thursday's closing value of 123.74. On the upside, the euro is likely to locate resistance around the 126.00 mark. The 19-nation currency strengthened to 1.6178 against the kiwi, a level not seen since June 2016. The euro is poised to target resistance around the 1.63 area. Figures from Statistics New Zealand showed that New Zealand's net migration increased in April from a year ago, driven by more migrant arrivals and fewer migrant departures. In the year to April 30, the country recorded a net migration of 71,885, up from 68,110 in the same period of 2016. At the same time, it remained almost in line with the 71,932 in March 2017. The single currency bounced off to 1.4988 against the aussie and 1.5146 against the loonie, from its early low of 1.4935 and a 2-day low of 1.5089, respectively. On the upside, 1.51 and 1.53 are possibly seen as the next resistance levels for the euro against the aussie and the loonie, respectively. On the flip side, the euro pared some of its early gains against the pound with the pair trading at 0.8575, down from an early high of 0.8594. The euro is likely to target 0.845 as the next support level. The latest Quarterly International Trade Outlook published by the British Chambers of Commerce and DHL showed that British manufacturers and service providers were more confident that their turnover and profitability would increase in coming twelve months. The BCC/DHL Trade Confidence Index rose 5.5 percent in the first quarter from the prior three months. The indicator climbed 9.06 percent from the previous year to 126.55, standing at its second highest level since records began in 2004. Looking ahead, at 7:00 am ET, the European Central Bank member Benoit Cure participates in the Geneva conference on the world economy organized by the International Center for Monetary and Banking Studies in Geneva, Switzerland. The European Central Bank member Vitor Constancio gives keynote speech on 'Banking union and capital markets union: interaction and synergies' at the Joint ECB/European Commission Conference on Financial Market Integration in Brussels, Belgium, at 8:00 am ET. In the New York session, Canada consumer prices for April and retail sales for March as well as Eurozone preliminary consumer sentiment index for May will be out. At 9:15 am ET, St. Louis Fed President James Bullard speaks on the U.S. economy and monetary policy before the Association for Corporate Growth - St. Louis Chapter. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de LONDON, June 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today marks the official start to the British Strawberry season with growers predicting a six percent increase in production of the iconic fruit this year. The cool, dry winter, coupled with recent warm weather, which saw temperatures rise to 26C in one of the hottest days of the year, has created the perfect growing conditions for this year's crop of strawberries. The deliciously juicy and slow-ripened strawberries are now on supermarket shelves in abundance, helping to meet the increasing consumer demand for one of the UK's favourite fruits. Over the past year, more than 126000 tonnes of strawberries were sold in the UK, with shoppers spending more than 580 million on the delectable berry. The consumption of fresh berries, which includes strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries, has grown by an impressive 132 percent since 2007, outstripping the 49 percent increase of fruit consumption as a whole. The steady rise in demand comes from an increase in the number of health-conscious shoppers, who are recognising the serious nutritional punch berries pack for every calorie consumed. Berries now make up a remarkable 22 percent of all fruit sold in the UK, and this has pushed the value of the berry industry above 1.2 billion. Where apples and bananas were once the traditional, staple fruit, fresh berries are now the most popular fruit item in shoppers' baskets. Dr Emma Derbyshire, British Summer Fruits' public health nutritionist, explained: "Berries are a great healthy, summer snack which is backed up by one of the largest bodies of research. They are an abundant source of vitamins, minerals and phyto (plant) nutrients which have been linked to a diverse range of health benefits.New Imperial research recently highlighted that we may need to strive for 10 portions of fruit and vegetablesa day to lower chronic disease risk. Snacking on punnets of berries this summer - be it at a picnic, barbeque or when on a lunch break, is a great and easy way to boost our fruit intake for adults and kids alike." Innovation in growing technique has ensured this season's quintessential British crop will be a mouth-watering treat. Amongst the many varieties available on shelves will be Malling Centenary, Sweet Eve, Sonata, Elsanta, Driscoll's Zara and Ava Joy. Laurence Olins, Chairman of British Summer Fruits, the industry body that represents 98 percent of berries sold in UK supermarkets said: "This season's strawberry production reflects a robust and expanding soft fruit category that is able to meet the growing consumer demand." "More and more people understand the fantastic health benefits of snacking on a punnet of berries, and fortunately we have been able to match this growing demand with innovation in the industry, to ensure consumers can look forward to good quality British berries on their supermarket shelves." THORNTON, CO -- (Marketwired) -- 05/19/17 -- Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. (OTCQB: ASTI), a developer and manufacturer of state-of-the-art, lightweight, and flexible thin-film photovoltaic (PV) solutions, reported results for the quarter ended March 31, 2017. Q1 2017 Financial Results: The Company posted net revenue of $281K for Q1 2017, a decline of approximately 60% from the corresponding quarter in 2016 of $710K. The revenue decline is a direct result of the Company's exit from the EnerPlex branded consumer business, which was primarily distributed through traditional brick and mortar retail outlets. As previously noted, the company has decided to limit its consumer business to e-commerce platform and OEM model, and instead focus more on the specialty PV market such as defense, drones, aerospace and satellite markets. Notwithstanding the revenue decline, the loss from operations improved approximately 39% to $4.6M from $7.5M in the first quarter of 2016. This improvement was due mainly to the corresponding reduction in expenses resulting from the above-mentioned exit from the brick and mortar consumer market. Lower depreciation and amortization as well as progressive cost reduction initiatives in R&D and manufacturing operations also contributed to the improvement in operational loss. These expenses are expected to decline further as the Company continues to restructure and streamline its operations. The net loss for the quarter was $5.2M, which included approximately $540K, net in non-cash interest expense and losses on extinguishment of liabilities associated with the outstanding convertible notes and convertible preferred stock, offset by non-cash gains related to changes in the fair value of derivatives and to the sale of the EnerPlex brand. Overall, the net loss also improved sharply by about $5.3M, or approximately 51% from $10.5M in Q1 2016. Management Comments: "Now that we have reduced the consumer business concentration, we will continue to streamline our business model to better allocate our resources in order to focus on our core strength; developing specialty PV markets with high entry barriers like the military, 1st responders, emergency power, aviation (drones), space and near-space applications," commented Victor Lee, President and CEO of Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. "The Company has made significant progress in these developing high-value markets, and we will continue to sharpen our focus in such areas where Ascent is truly at the forefront of the competition." "We believe our recent achievement of being the first and only flexible CIGS manufacturer to achieve ISO 9001:2015 certification, will speed up our sales velocity and enable us to better serve those premium market customers who demand highly robust and fail-proof products that are manufactured under a superlative Quality Management System," Mr. Lee concluded. "We are optimistic and certainly look forward to a stronger 2017 and beyond, as our high-value PV market focus begins to take shape. We look forward to updating our shareholders as we make continued progress." ABOUT ASCENT SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC: Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. is a developer of thin-film photovoltaic modules using flexible substrate materials that are more versatile and rugged than traditional solar panels. Ascent Solar modules were named as one of the top 100 technologies in both 2010 and 2015 by R&D Magazine, and one of TIME Magazine's 50 best inventions for 2011. The technology described above represents the cutting edge of flexible power and can be directly integrated into consumer products and off-grid applications, as well as other aerospace applications. Ascent Solar is headquartered in Thornton, Colorado, where the company's quality management system has achieved ISO 9001:2015 certification. More information can be found at www.ascentsolar.com. Forward-Looking Statements: Statements in this press release that are not statements of historical or current fact constitute "forward-looking statements." Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other unknown factors that could cause the Company's actual operating results to be materially different from any historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition to statements that explicitly describe these risks and uncertainties, readers are urged to consider statements that contain terms such as "believes," "belief," "expects," "expect," "intends," "intend," "anticipate," "anticipates," "plans," "plan," to be uncertain and forward-looking. The forward-looking statements contained herein are also subject generally to other risks and uncertainties that are described from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Ascent Solar Technologies Investor Relations: PCG Advisory Group Media Relations Adam Holdsworth adamh@pcgadvisory.com +1-646-862-4607 DUBLIN, September 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Advanced Authentication Market- 2017 - 2022" report has been added to Research and Markets' offering. Security threats have been increasing continuously. Hackers are finding new ways to steal the data while new viruses are being developed to steal sensitive information from enterprises and individual users. With most of the users now preferring to perform transactions online, it becomes imperative of the organization to deploy authentication solutions which help in convenient and secure access. Every organization needs a reliable security system as a way to confirm the truth of something or the identity of a person. The basic or traditional password method is too often breached or copied or share, thereby exposing data to theft or malicious intrusions. The other factor which is contributing to the growth of advanced authentication solutions market is increased adoption of mobility. Enterprises are feeling pressure to enable employees, partners and other stakeholders to access more sensitive information from anywhere and any device. This is making advanced authentication systems a critical aspect of an enterprise's organizational strategy. Vendors of advanced authentication solutions are developing and improving their existing authentication methods. Some of the most commonly used authentication methods are biometrics, smartcards, token and several others for mitigating security risks. Existing authentication methods have not been able to fulfill the advanced security threats. This has led to an increase in investments in research and development of advanced authentication technologies. The different kinds of advanced authentication methods are smartcards, biometrics, mobile smart credentials, tokens, user-based public key infrastructure, and others. The report describes each of these methods in detail along with its market share and forecast. Some of the major vendors mentioned in the report are Fujitsu, Gemalto, NEC Corporation, Safran, Suprema and RSA Security. There are some other vendors like NetMotion Wireless, CJIS Solutions and WideBand Corporation who are serving the market with their unique offerings. Key Topics Covered: 1. Introduction 2. Executive Summary 3. Market Insights 4. Technology Overview 5. Advanced Authentication Market by Authentication Methods 6. Advanced Authentication Market by End-User Industry 7. Advanced Authentication Market by Regions 8. Advanced Authentication Vendor Market Share 9. Competitive Intelligence and Profiles of Advanced Authentication Solution Vendors 10. The Challengers 11. Investment Analysis 12. Future of Advanced Authentication Market 13. List of Figures 14. List of Tables 15. Abbreviations 16. Works Cited Companies Featured Fujitsu Gemalto NEC Corporation Safran Suprema RSA Security Lumidigm ValidSoft PistolStar SecurEnvoy For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/fs2gj9/global_advanced 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 Regulatory News: Euronext (Paris:ENX) (Amsterdam:ENX) (Brussels:ENX) today announced that, in its Annual General Meeting (AGM) that took place today, all the items on the agenda were approved. These items were as follows: 1. Proposal to adopt the 2016 financial statements 2. Proposal to adopt a dividend of EUR 1.42 per ordinary share 3. Proposal to discharge the members of the Managing Board in respect of their duties performed during the year 2016 4. Proposal to discharge the members of the Supervisory Board in respect of their duties performed during the year 2016 5. Appointment of Paulo Rodrigues da Silva as a member of the Managing Board 6. Proposal to appoint the external auditor 7. Proposal to designate the Managing Board as the competent body to issue ordinary shares 8. Proposal to designate the Managing Board as the competent body to restrict or exclude the pre-emptive rights of shareholders 9. Proposal to authorise the Managing Board to acquire ordinary shares in the share capital of the company on behalf of the company As a reminder, the payment of the annual dividend will occur on 26 May 2017, with ex-dividend on 24 May and record date on 25 May. About Euronext Euronext is the leading pan-European exchange in the Eurozone with nearly 1,300 listed issuers worth close to 3.5 trillion in market capitalisation as of end March 2017, an unmatched blue chip franchise consisting of 25 issuers in the EURO STOXX 50 benchmark and a strong diverse domestic and international client base. Euronext operates regulated and transparent equity and derivatives markets. Its total product offering includes Equities, Exchange Traded Funds, Warrants Certificates, Bonds, Derivatives, Commodities and Indices. Euronext also leverages its expertise in running markets by providing technology and managed services to third parties. Euronext operates regulated markets, Alternext and the Free Market; in addition it offers EnterNext, which facilitates SMEs' access to capital markets. For the latest news, find us on Twitter (twitter.com/euronext) and LinkedIn (linkedin.com/euronext). Disclaimer This press release is for information purposes only and is not a recommendation to engage in investment activities. This press release is provided "as is" without representation or warranty of any kind. While all reasonable care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the content, Euronext does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness. Euronext will not be held liable for any loss or damages of any nature ensuing from using, trusting or acting on information provided. No information set out or referred to in this publication may be regarded as creating any right or obligation. The creation of rights and obligations in respect of financial products that are traded on the exchanges operated by Euronext's subsidiaries shall depend solely on the applicable rules of the market operator. All proprietary rights and interest in or connected with this publication shall vest in Euronext. This press release speaks only as of this date. Euronext refers to Euronext N.V. and its affiliates. Information regarding trademarks and intellectual property rights of Euronext is located at www.euronext.com/terms-use. 2017, Euronext N.V. All rights reserved. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170519005260/en/ Contacts: Euronext MEDIA Pauline Bucaille(Europe): +33 1 70 48 24 41 pbucaille@euronext.com or Alice Jentink (Amsterdam): +31 20 721 4488 ajentink@euronext.com or Pascal Brabant (Brussels): +32 2 620 15 50 pbrabant@euronext.com or Sandra Machado (Lisbon): +351 210 600 614 smachado@euronext.com or Aichata Tandjigora (Paris): +33 1 70 48 24 43 atandjigora@euronext.com or ANALYSTS & INVESTORS Stephanie Bia +33 1 70 48 24 17 sbia@euronext.com MINSK, Belarus, May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 17, Sustainable Business, a leading edition in the area of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainable development in the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), announced the results of the BestinCSR contest for 2016. IBA Group - http://www.ibagroupit.com - and the project entitled Promotion of IT in Belarus among People with Disabilities was selected the winner in the category The Best Case in Belarus. (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/514009/IBA_Group_Logo.jpg ) Implemented by IBA Institute, a member of IBA Group, the project Promotion of IT in Belarus among People with Disabilities was the first IT education initiative for disabled people in Belarus. A group of 120 disabled was trained in system administration, including 89 remotely. Following the course, IBA Group organized a national contest in system administration for people with disabilities with 45 course graduates joining the competition and ten qualifying for the final. After the project was completed, former students volunteered transfer of their competencies to peers and six graduates, including the contest winner, were offered IT jobs. According to the BestinCSR organizers, the contest generated more than 50,000 visits and nearly 10,000 unique votes within the two years of its existence. The winners were selected based on the online voting of the edition's visitors. Vladimir Dyubkov, Chancellor of IBA Institute, said: "The project Promotion of IT in Belarus among People with Disabilities brought me together with very brave and firm people, and also inspired to start new projects. In March of this year, IBA Institute launched the project Educational and Professional Empowerment of People with Disabilities to Help Them Find Employment and Achieve Economic Independence. Recently, IBA Institute celebrated 15 years. Since our creation, more than 15,000 students have received education at IBA Institute and we keep doing all we can to raise the professional level of our students." Previously, the project Promotion of IT in Belarus among People with Disabilities was selected the winner of CEE Shared Services & Outsourcing Award 2017 in the category Top CSR initiative of the Year and Award for Corporate Social Responsibility in the 2016 GSA Awards organized by Global Sourcing Association. See the winner list at http://csrjournal.com/24701-obyavleny-pobediteli-konkursa-bestincsr-2016.html VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 19, 2017 / Renaissance Gold Inc. (TSX-V: REN) ("RenGold" or the "Company") reports that Coeur Mining, Inc. (NYSE: CDE) has advised the Company that it is withdrawing from the exploration and earn-in agreement dated February 24, 2016, concerning the Arabia exploration property located in Pershing County, Nevada. Assay results from the recently concluded reverse circulation drilling program failed to meet their minimum investment criteria to continue. The Arabia property comprises 59 unpatented mining claims, 12 patented mining claims (7 of which are owned by the Company), and 299 acres of leased fee land, all totaling in excess of 1,700 acres (688 hectares). Field work completed during the past two years leading to the recent drill program included project wide geologic mapping, rock and soil sampling and gravity and magnetic geophysical surveys. Reverse circulation drilling conducted at Arabia from March 7, 2017 to March 27, 2017 with a total of 7,380 feet (2250 meters) of drilling completed in 8 drill holes. Several exploration targets were tested, including those beneath the historic Electric and Montezuma mine workings exploring for extensions of mesothermal quartz veins and stockworks. These and other exploration targets were confirmed but were found to contain lower than expected values. Precious metal values reported from the drilling for 5 foot (1.5 meter) drilled intervals ranged from less than 0.005 grams/ton to 0.574 grams/ton gold and from less than 0.1 grams per ton to 36.7 grams/ton silver. Other anomalous metals in the drilling included copper (4 to 598 ppm), lead (3 to 5319 ppm), zinc (15 to 2563 ppm), and antimony (2 to 1251 ppm). The best multi-sample drill interval contained 15.08 grams/ton silver over 25 feet (7.62 meters) using a 10 grams/ton cut-off grade from 0 to 25 feet (0 to 7.62 m) in drillhole AR-17-07. RenGold is continuing to evaluate the results of the exploration program to determine plans for further activity. Qualified Person All technical data disclosed in this press release, has been verified by the RenGold's Qualified Person Daniel W Pace - Registered Member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME). All samples were analyzed at Bureau Veritas of Reno, Nevada. Samples were analyzed by fire assay for gold and 4 acid digestions for multi-element geochemistry. Standards and blanks were submitted into the sample chain to make up approximately 5 % of the overall sample volume. About Renaissance Gold Inc. Renaissance Gold Inc. is a gold/silver exploration company that has a large portfolio of exploration projects in Nevada and Utah. RenGold's objective is to place the projects in exploration earn-in agreements with industry partners who provide exploration funding. RenGold applies the extensive exploration experience and high-end technical skills of its founders and team members to search for and acquire new precious metal exploration projects that are then offered for joint venture. For further information, contact: Ronald L. Parratt, 775-337-1545 or rparratt@rengold.com 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 news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking" statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could," or "should" occur. Although Renaissance Gold Inc. believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of Renaissance Gold Inc's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, Renaissance Gold Inc. undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. SOURCE: Renaissance Gold Inc. Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Europe Naphtha Demand Supply Analysis, By End Use (Gasoline Blending, Reforming, Steam Cracking and Others), Forecast Opportunities, 2011-2026" report to their offering. Europe naphtha consumption market is projected to register negative CAGR by 2026 The reason behind the negative CAGR can be attributed to the closure of naphtha based crackers as they have become uneconomical owing to price volatility associated with naphtha and easy availability of cheaper alternative feedstock i.e. natural gas. New cracker capacities are being added that use natural gas as feedstock and are very price competitive in comparison to petrochemicals derived from naphtha cracking. The shale gas boom in the United States has altered economics of global petrochemical business making them competitive to prices offered by Middle East and Africa. Prominent European players in petrochemical business are adding gas based cracker capacities with the US supplying ethane for feeding their expanding capacities. The study is useful in providing answers to past, current and future trends of naphtha consumption in Europe market. This study helps in analysing specific country naphtha consumption trend which are useful for industry stakeholders such as naphtha producers (refiners), Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) plants, crude oil suppliers, naphtha traders, shipping companies, regulatory bodies. Key Topics Covered: 1. Product Overview 2. Research Methodology 3. Analyst View 4. Global Naphtha Market Outlook 5. Europe Naphtha Market Outlook For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/3h3zc8/europe_naphtha View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170519005280/en/ Contacts: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Related Topics: Petrochemicals NEW YORK, NEW YORK -- (Marketwired) -- 05/19/17 -- This press release is issued pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 62-104 - Take-Over Bids and Issuer Bids and National Instrument 62-103 - The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues. Electrum Strategic Opportunities Fund L.P. ("Electrum") announces that pursuant to a private placement (the "Financing") of North Arrow Minerals Inc. (the "issuer") which closed on May 18, 2017 (the "Closing"), Electrum subscribed for and purchased 8,000,000 units of the issuer (the "Units") at an aggregate subscription price of CAD$2,000,000 or CAD$0.25 per Unit. Each Unit is comprised of one common share in the capital of the issuer (a "Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant, with each whole Common Share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant") entitling the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at a price of CAD$0.40 until May 18, 2020. As a result of the closing of the Financing, the Offeror owns 8,000,000 Common Shares and 8,000,000 Warrants representing 10.50% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the issuer or 19.01% upon exercise of the Warrants (assuming the exercise of all of the Warrants beneficially owned by the Offeror, and that no other securities, including those convertible into, or exercisable for, the issuer's securities, are issued, converted or exercised prior to the closing of the Financing). Prior to the Financing the Offeror did not own any securities of the issuer. The Units referred to above were acquired for investment purposes and Electrum and/or one or more of its affiliates may, depending on market and other conditions, increase or decrease its beneficial ownership of Common Shares or other securities of the issuer whether in the open market, by privately negotiated agreement or otherwise. The Offeror and the issuer entered into a purchase agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") to acquire the Units. The Purchase Agreement contains customary representations, warranties, covenants, closing conditions and indemnification provisions for a transaction of a similar size and nature. The Purchase Agreement gives the Offeror the right to participate in any future offering by the issuer of equity or voting securities or any securities which are exercisable, exchangeable, or convertible into equity or voting securities to the extent of its pro-rata ownership percentage so long as the Offeror owns directly or indirectly more than 10% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the issuer (on a partially diluted basis). Electrum is an "accredited investor" (as such term is defined in National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions adopted by the Canadian Securities Administrators ("NI 45-106")) because Electrum is a "person" (as such term is defined in NI 45-106) in respect of which all of the owners of interests, direct, indirect or beneficial, except the voting securities required by law to be owned by directors, are persons that are "accredited investors". The issuer is located at 960 - 789 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 1H2, Canada. Electrum is located at 700 Madison Avenue, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10065, USA. A copy of the early warning report to which this news release relates can be obtained from Michael Williams (646-365-1600) or on the SEDAR profile of the issuer at www.sedar.com. Contacts: Michael Williams 646-365-1600 JERICHO, NY -- (Marketwired) -- 05/19/17 -- Ecosciences, Inc. (OTC PINK: ECEZ) ("Ecosciences" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the kickoff of its marketing of EcoNow commercial products with its attendance as an exhibitor at the National Restaurant Association Show (https://show.restaurant.org/Home). The National Restaurant Association (NRA) Show is a 4-day event being held from May 20 - 23, 2017 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. The entire spectrum of the foodservice industry is represented at the NRA show including commercial and non-commercial chains, quick service restaurants, independent operations, fine dining, supermarkets, convenience stores, hotels, dealers and distributors. Mr. Cohen, COO of Ecosciences, commented, "Attending the National Restaurant Association Show will provide us with the opportunity to showcase our innovative Trap-Eze Tabs. Trap-Eze tabs break-down and digest fats, oils and grease in grease traps in food service establishments, eliminating the need to manually clean and pump grease traps, thereby eliminating significant cost and benefiting the environment. We will be introducing our new literature and packaging, and welcome the opportunity to connect with buyers and marketing representatives. We expect this launch of EcoNow commercial products at the NRA show will lead to long-term vendor relationships. We can be found at Booth 1090." About Ecosciences, Inc. Ecosciences, Inc. focuses on building, acquiring and investing in businesses around ecological and life sciences. From waste water remediation to healthcare and more, Ecosciences, Inc. is committed to building a better living environment for all people. The Company currently has one wholly-owned subsidiary, Eco-logical Concepts, Inc., which operates the Company's core business of producing and selling bio-remediation products under the brand EcoNow (www.econowsolutions.com.) The contents of the website are not incorporated by reference herein. For additional information, please visit the Company's website at www.ecosciences.company, the contents of which are not incorporated into this press release. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS The foregoing contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We intend for these forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the federal securities laws relating to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include statements relating to, or representing management's beliefs about, our future transactions, strategies, operations, events and financial results. Such forward-looking statements often contain words such as "will," "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "is targeting," "may," "should" and other similar words or expressions. Forward-looking statements are made based upon management's current expectations and beliefs and are not guarantees of future performance. Our actual business, financial condition or results of operations may differ materially from those suggested by forward-looking statements as a result of risks and uncertainties which include, among others, those risks and uncertainties described in any of our other filings with the SEC. Certain other factors which may impact our business, financial condition or results of operations or which may cause actual results to differ from such forward-looking statements are discussed or included in our periodic reports filed with the SEC and are available on our website at www.ecosciences.company under "Investor Info." You are urged to carefully consider all such factors. We do not undertake or plan to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in plans, assumptions, estimates or projections, or other circumstances occurring after the date of this news release, even if such results, changes or circumstances make it clear that any forward-looking information will not be realized. If we make any future public statements or disclosures which modify or impact any of the forward-looking statements contained in or accompanying this news release, such statements or disclosures will be deemed to modify or supersede such statements in this news release. Disclaimer: This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Contact Information Ecosciences, Inc. Investor Relations Phone: 888-417-8625 Email: ECEZ@ecosciences.company The Class-A Pharmaceutical Warehouse will be 432,000 Square Feet, with the Option to Expand by an Additional 432,000 Square Feet LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 19, 2017 / CRG, the real estate arm of Clayco, is developing a 432,000-square-foot Class-A pharmaceutical warehouse in Greenville, South Carolina pre-leased to Bausch + Lomb. This is the first phase of the project. Phase two allows Bausch + Lomb to expand operations by an additional 432,000 square feet. "In partnership with Gramercy Property Trust, CRG is pleased to announce the development of the state-of-the-art facility in Greenville, South Carolina," CRG president Chris McKee said. "This development is important to Bausch + Lomb's already established operations in the area." Bausch + Lomb already operates a manufacturing facility located 4 miles from the new site with close proximity to I-85 and I-385. "CRG has been a great partner to work with throughout the design and building process. We are looking forward to a successful completion of this project and being able to move into our new site." Valeant Distribution and Logistics Executive Director Len Westermann said. Parent company Clayco is the design-build firm. Its subsidiary Forum Studio Inc. is the architect. Once completed, the 432,000 square foot facility will include a 38 foot clear height temperature controlled warehouse, ESFR sprinkler system, 42 loading docks, one drive-in door, an expansion pad adjacent to the building, 101 trailer spaces and 94 auto spaces. The development represents significant growth in the area. South Carolina's largest employer, Michelin North America, is currently expanding operations at its Greenville location. BMW US Manufacturing Company has a plant located in nearby Greer, South Carolina. Clayco's construction began back in March, with the pouring of the footings, foundation and floor slabs already completed. Steel slab erection is expected to begin soon. The building will be available for occupancy in October 2017. For more information go to www.realcrg.com/projects/bausch-lomb-pharmaceutical-warehouse. About CRG: CRG is a leading North American real estate developer headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, with offices in Chicago, Sacramento, Atlanta, Pittsburgh and Northern New Jersey. The CRG team has developed more than 5,000 acres of land and delivered over 160 million square feet of commercial, industrial, multi-family and institutional assets exceeding $9 billion in value. For more information visit www.realcrg.com. Follow CRG on Twitter @CRG_Real_Estate. About Clayco: Clayco is a full-service, turnkey real estate development, master planning, architecture, engineering and construction firm that delivers clients around the world the highest quality solutions on time, on budget, and above and beyond expectations. With $1.691 billion in revenue for 2016, Clayco specializes in the "art and science of building," providing fast track, efficient solutions globally for commercial, institutional and residential related building projects. For more information, visit www.claycorp.com. About Bausch + Lomb: Bausch + Lomb, a Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. company, is a leading global eye health organization that is solely focused on protecting, enhancing and restoring people's eyesight. Its core businesses include over-the-counter supplements, eye care products, ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, contact lenses, lens care products, ophthalmic surgical devices and instruments. Bausch + Lomb develops, manufactures and markets one of the most comprehensive product portfolios in the industry, which is available in more than 100 countries. About Gramercy Property Trust: Gramercy Property Trust is a leading global investor and asset manager of commercial real estate. The Company specializes in acquiring and managing single-tenant, net-leased industrial and office properties. The Company focuses on income producing properties leased to high quality tenants in major markets in the United States and Europe. To review the Company's latest news releases and other corporate documents, please visit the Company's website at www.gptreit.com or contact Investor Relations at 212-297-1000. Contact: Brittany Burke Director of Communications - CRG burkebr@realcrg.com (314) 595-6366 SOURCE: Clayco SEATTLE, WA -- (Marketwired) -- 05/19/17 -- CFN Media Group ("CFN Media", "CannabisFN"), the leading agency and digital media network dedicated to the North American cannabis industry, today announced that Lifestyle Delivery Systems Inc. (CNSX: LDS) (OTCQB: LDSYF) has engaged CFN Media to conduct a 3-month investor and market visibility program beginning on May 18, 2017. "Lifestyle Delivery Systems is a fully diversified seed-to-sale operation in California poised for growth," said Frank Lane, President of CFN Media. "The company has made tremendous progress in growing its consulting revenue while working to complete its Adelanto Facility by June 2017 with extraction expected to begin the following month. The facility will also focus on manufacturing infused CannaStrips that are a safer and healthier way to consume cannabinoids." Brad Eckenweiler, CEO of Lifestyle Delivery Systems, states, "We believe it to be extremely advantageous for our shareholders and investors to retain the professional services of CFN Media at this stage of our corporate development. As represented in our previous press releases, we anticipate a very active second half of 2017 from our cultivation, manufacturing and CannaStrip sales." CFN Media will leverage its extensive reach and presence with mainstream and cannabis-focused investors and media across North America to elevate Lifestyle Delivery Systems' brand and attract high-quality long-term investors. Learn how to become a CFN Media client company, brand or entrepreneur: http://www.cannabisfn.com/become-featured-company/ Download the CFN Media iOS mobile app to access the world of cannabis from the palm of your hand: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cannabisfn/id988009247?ls=1&mt=8 Or visit our homepage and enter your mobile number under the Apple App Store logo to receive a download link text on your iPhone: http://www.cannabisfn.com About CFN Media CFN Media (CannabisFN), the leading creative agency and media network dedicated to the worldwide cannabis industry, helps marijuana businesses attract investors, customers (B2B, B2C), capital, and publicity. Private and public marijuana companies and brands in the US and Canada rely on CFN Media to grow and succeed. The company launched in June of 2013 to initially serve the growing universe of publicly traded marijuana companies across North America. Today, CFN Media is also the digital media choice for the emerging brands in the space. About Lifestyle Delivery Systems The Company's technology produces infused strips (similar to breath strips) that are not only a safer, healthier option to smoking, but also a new way to accurately meter the dosage and assure the purity of the product. In addition, with the entering into its management services agreements with NHMC, Inc. and CSPA Group, Inc., the Company has begun its foray into being directly involved in the growing of medicinal ingredients for, and the manufacturing of, its products. From seed to sale, the Company's products and ingredients will be tested for quality and composition throughout the formulation and production processes, resulting in a delivery system that is safe, consistent and effective. CFN Media Frank Lane 206-369-7050 flane@cannabisfn.com The 3 bar industry experts will go across Canada and back in 122 days with 1 Jeep, 1 half-bar half-trailer, 1 drone, 3 One-Wheels and 9 cameras, spanning 10 provinces, 22 major cities and 29 national parks VICTORIA, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 19, 2017 / The aptly named Nimble Bar Company will launch their company on June 1, 2017 with an epic cross-Canada adventure. They'll visit every major city as well as 29 of Canada's national parks. Cocktail bartenders Kyle Guilfoyle and Nate Caudle have partnered with bar veteran and digital marketing wizard Reese Richards to form the Nimble Bar Company. A digital media, consulting and event company with a focus on the hospitality industry, the company plans to tell the stories of bars and restaurants worldwide. As can be witnessed by the videos on their website, the Nimble Bar Company takes a unique approach towards storytelling, events and videography. To learn more about Nimble Bar Company, check out http://nimblebar.co, read their blog, sign up to follow their escapades or tune into Nimble Bar TV. The company can also be found on YouTube (Nimble Bar Co.), Twitter (@nimblebarco), Facebook (Nimble Bar Co.), Instagram (@nimblebarco), Snapchat (@nimblebarco), and Pinterest (Nimble Bar Co.). "Whether it's getting that perfect aerial shot with the drone, filming action shots with the GoPros or choosing the right lens for the perfect outdoor product shot, we go out of our way to capture that special blend of style and creativity," says Nate. While most media companies would simply perform a service, charge a fee, produce the content and leave, Nimble Bar Company takes a different approach. Kyle, Nate, and Reese create and capture viral experiences between bar owners and patrons. The boys train bartending staff on the wonders of absinthe or bitters and then capture the result. Or they collaborate with bar staff on a classy evening of drinks in the wilderness. The Nimble Bar Company goes to great lengths to create unforgettable moments for bars and their patrons which then turns into an unforgettable piece of digital media that the bar owner can use in future marketing efforts. "The idea of launching the Nimble Bar Company by way of an epic trip from one coast of Canada to the other came about as a result of a series of events," says Reese. "The first of these events was the free admission to all of the country's national parks to celebrate Canada's 150th anniversary. The second event was the launch of the next generation OneWheel, called the OneWheel+. Those two events coupled with our company's core value of BeNimble, eventually led to the idea of touring across Canada, camping at every national park along the way as well as meeting and interviewing bar and restaurant staff from every major city in Canada." "Nimble is clearly an important aspect of our brand, so we need to make sure we're living it," says Kyle. About Nimble Bar Company: The Nimble Bar Company is the brainchild of bartenders Kyle Guilfoyle and Nate Caudle and bar veteran and digital marketing wizard Reese Richards. The three men are bar industry experts with a passion for helping their clients tell their stories through state-of-the-art imagery, eye-catching video, interesting prose and creative events. For advertising and sponsorship opportunities, please visit http://nimblebar.co. Contact: Kyle Guilfoyle kyle@nimblebar.co 250-589-7222 SOURCE: Nimble Bar Company STAMFORD, Connecticut and LUCCA, Italy, May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Conference to Include Unveiling of CCH Tagetik's Vision for Finance Transformation, Including Announcement of New Offering to Elevate Finance's Ability to Use Financial and Operational Data for Strategic Advice and Insights The 10th annual CCH Tagetik global conference, CCH Tagetik in Touch , will be held from May 22 to 24 in Lucca.The conference will be the company's first since its acquisition by Wolters Kluwer in March 2017. CCH Tagetik is part of Wolters Kluwer, a global provider of leading software solutions and information services for professionals. (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/492891/Tagetik_Logo.jpg ) The conference includes more than 50 sessions, including panel and roundtable discussions, case studies, partner presentations, live demos, and product-focused "tips and tricks." More than 500 are expected to attend and executives from Astaldi, BUPA, and Generali are among the customers scheduled to present. CCH Tagetik in Touch Platinum sponsors include Accenture, Amazon Web Services, Cognizant, Deloitte, KPMG, Microsoft, PwC and Qlik. Paul Hamerman, vice president and principal analyst for Forrester, and Gary Simon, chief executive of FSN, will be among the industry analysts and experts presenting. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet and collaborate with peers from around the globe, as well as CCH Tagetik executives, product experts, consultants, and partners. "We are pleased that the conference is in Lucca this year because we know that Lucca is the center of the values and culture that have made CCH Tagetik successful over the past decade and that continues as part of Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting," said Ian Rhind, CEO, Corporate Performance Solutions, Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting."Going forward, CCH Tagetik will benefit from an expanded global footprint along with financial strength and technology expertise. Now, CFOs around the world can get gold-standard solutions in CPM as well as tax, accounting, audit and controls management all from one trusted partner, Wolters Kluwer. "This year's conference theme, "Collaborate. Innovate. Elevate.," is especially meaningful because we will be revealing our vision for how CCH Tagetik will support the transformation of finance through an expanded solution that allows for even greater collaboration across the enterprise, fosters and supports accelerated business innovation, and overall, continues to elevate the role of finance," said Manuel Vellutini, EVP Commercial, CCH Tagetik."We are committed to helping CFOs harness the power of big data and analytics; in ways that are simpler, more usable, and more flexible than what we've seen in the market to date; in order to help their companies explore new markets, products, and channels." Conference attendees will have the opportunity to learn about other recent and upcoming CCH Tagetik enhancements including: CCH Tagetik Visualization (for Solvency II) provides new pre-built dashboards for Solvency II Pillar 3 data, bringing instant insight into key business drivers and quick drill-downs to granular detail. CCH Tagetik Magazine simplifies report navigation and value by giving CFOs and other business users the ability to subscribe to a set of reports automatically linked to executive dashboards CCH Tagetik's IFRS solution portfolio enables finance teams to meet new and evolving reporting standards. CCH Tagetik IFRS 9, CCH Tagetik Revenue Accounting (IFRS 15), CCH Tagetik Lease Accounting (IFRS 16) and CCH Tagetik IFRS 17 solutions all help professionals get compliant quickly, efficiently and confidently "As always, our latest enhancements and planned offerings are based on our work with customers and partners," said Marco Pierallini, EVP Product, CCH Tagetik."We are leveraging the knowledge and practical insights gained from working alongside customers in ways that all customers can benefit. This collaboration has been a key ingredient in the development of some of our most innovative solutions and continues to contribute to our roadmap for the future." For more information on CCH Tagetik in Touch, as well as the hands-on product workshops following the conference, click here . CCH Tagetik understands the complex challenges that face the Office of the CFO and translates that knowledge into intuitive, enterprise-scale CCH Tagetik performance management software solutions that drive business results. Learn more about CCH Tagetik at www.tagetik.com. About Wolters Kluwer Wolters Kluwer (AEX: WKL) is a global leader in professional information services and solutions for professionals in the health, tax and accounting, risk and compliance, finance and legal sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with specialized technology and services. Wolters Kluwer reported 2016 annual revenues of 4.3 billion. The company, headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands, serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries and employs 19,000 people worldwide. Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting is a leading provider of software solutions and local expertise that helps tax, accounting and audit professionals research and navigate complex regulations, comply with legislation, manage their businesses and advise clients with speed, accuracy and efficiency. CCH Tagetik a part of the Tax and Accounting division, provide solutions to CFOS for Corporate Performance Management. For more information about our solutions and organization, visit www.wolterskluwer.com, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Media Contacts: Greta Bartoli CCH Tagetik +39-058396811 office gretabartoli@tagetik.com Linda Galloway insidHR Communications +1-303-863-8620 office +1-203-733-7446 mobile lgalloway@insidhr.com ALISO VIEJO, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 07/10/17 -- BrainChip Holdings Ltd. (ASX: BRN) Appointment of highly regarded Silicon Valley executive, Emmanuel Hernandez, as Non-Executive Director. Brings more than 40 years of operating and board member experience including key roles with several of Silicon Valley's largest and most successful companies such as Cypress Semiconductor and ON Semiconductor. Adds world-class technology expertise that will be invaluable to BrainChip as the Company scales to meet customer demand. BrainChip Holdings Ltd. ("BrainChip" or the "Company"), (ASX: BRN), a leading developer of software and hardware accelerated solutions for advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning applications, today announced that Emmanuel ("Manny") T. Hernandez has joined the Company as a Non-Executive Director. Mr. Hernandez is a highly regarded Silicon Valley technology executive with over 40 years of operating and board member experience. His professional resume includes key roles with some of Silicon Valley's largest and most successful technology companies including National Semiconductor (acquired by Texas Instruments in 2012, (US$76.7B market cap), Cypress Semiconductor ($US4.4B market cap) and ON Semiconductor (NASDAQ: ON) (US$5.8B market cap). "Manny brings enormous depth, experience and insight to our board. He is a seasoned Silicon Valley executive with great experience in finance and operations at industry-leading technology companies. He has supported the growth of emerging technology companies and has been a significant contributor as a public company director. We are very fortunate to have a world-class technology leader join our board as we scale to meet the demands of customers in the burgeoning Artificial Intelligence market," commented BrainChip's President and CEO, Louis DiNardo. Mr. Hernandez added, "BrainChip is executing well in market selection, product development and commercial engagement. The Company has a proven technology with highly regarded customers in Civil and Commercial Surveillance and is on the cusp of launching a hardware accelerated solution to meet the most challenging demands faced by Homeland Security and Law Enforcement Agencies as well as supporting customers in the commercial arena such as gaming, retail and advertising. I am excited to be part of BrainChip and look forward to supporting the Company as we drive revenue growth, achieve profitability and an increase in shareholder value." Mr. Hernandez began his career with National Semiconductor where he served in various finance capacities between 1976-1993. Subsequently, he joined Cypress Semiconductor where he served as EVP Finance and Administration and CFO between 1993-2004. Following Cypress, Mr. Hernandez joined SunPower Corporation where he served as CFO between 2005-2008. Mr. Hernandez's executive successes have led him to be a highly sought after operating consultant and board member including having been an operating Partner at Khosla Ventures, a prominent Silicon Valley venture capital firm. Mr. Hernandez currently sits on two boards including fifteen years with ON Semiconductor beginning in 2002, and eight years with SunEdison (formerly known as MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc.). Other previous board service includes Aruba Networks, an enterprise networking company acquired by Hewlett Packard Enterprise in 2015, EnStorage, Inc., a private company that develops flow battery/storage technology for the renewable energy industry, Soraa, Inc., a private company that is developing LED and laser technology and Integration Associates Incorporated which was acquired by Silicon Labs in 2008. About BrainChip Holdings Ltd (ASX: BRN) BrainChip Holdings Ltd. is a leading provider of software and hardware accelerated solutions for Advanced Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning applications. The Company has developed a revolutionary new Spiking Neural Adaptive Processor (SNAP) technology that can learn autonomously, evolve and associate information just like the human brain. The technology, which is proprietary, is fast, completely digital, and consumes very low power. The Company provides software and hardware solutions that address the high-performance requirements in Civil Surveillance, Gaming, Facial Recognition and Visual Inspection systems. www.brainchipinc.com. Company Contact Robert Beachler Email Contact +1 (949) 330-6750 Media Contact: Tamera Hopkin Publitek Email Contact +1 (208) 317-6890 Investor Relations (US): Laura Guerrant-Oiye Principal Email Contact +1 (808) 960-2642 Investor Relations (Australia): Gabriella Hold Media and Capital Partners Email Contact +61 411 364 382 CORONA, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 06/26/17 -- Saleen Automotive's (OTCQB: SLNN) assembly shop has been totally redesigned and furnished with Dannmar Equipment lifts, compressors, electrical connections, and all necessary equipment to each station in the Saleen shop. This state-of-the-art upgrade will facilitate a quicker turnaround in building new Saleen vehicles. Dannmar Equipment, located in Moorpark, California, was tapped by Steve Saleen to revamp the Saleen Automotive shop. "We have the best technicians who deserve the best equipment. When it was time to upgrade, Dannmar Equipment was the obvious choice," said CEO Steve Saleen. Danmar was founded by Danette and Gary Henthorn and has been in business for 13 years. Mike O'Connell, director of operations stated, "Dannmar is proud to be part of Saleen Automotive's continued growth and expansion. We are pleased to be an exclusive provider of automotive lifts and accessories for their ever-expanding production facilities! We look forward to a long and prosperous partnership for years to come! Many thanks to Steve and his team with making our participation effortless!" About Saleen Automotive, Inc. Saleen is an American specialty manufacturer of high-performance vehicles, technical performance parts, lifestyle accessories, and apparel. Founder Steve Saleen has continually set the bar for automotive design and performance engineering in both street and racing applications. Saleen plans to utilize its existing strategic partnerships and dealer network to refine its design and engineering prowess, continue development of emerging automotive technologies, and expand its presence nationwide with a combination of automotive retail services, aftermarket parts, and new vehicle sales to build significant long-term value. Learn more at www.saleen.com. Safe Harbor Statement This release contains "forward-looking statements" that include information relating to future events and future financial and operating performance. The words "may," "would," "will," "expect," "estimate," "can," "believe," "potential" and similar expressions and variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which that performance or those results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time they are made and/or management's good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause these differences include, but are not limited to: fluctuations in demand for Saleen Automotive's products, the introduction of new products, the Company's ability to maintain customer and strategic business relationships, the impact of competitive products and pricing, growth in targeted markets, the adequacy of the Company's liquidity and financial strength to support its growth, and other information that may be detailed from time-to-time in Saleen Automotive's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Examples of such forward looking statements in this release include statements regarding product offerings and marketing. For a more detailed description of the risk factors and uncertainties affecting Saleen Automotive, please refer to the Company's recent Securities and Exchange Commission filings, which are available at www.sec.gov. Saleen Automotive undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. About Dannmar Equipment Based in Moorpark, California, Dannmar (www.dannmar.com) is a global leading supplier of four-post lifts, alignment lifts, two-post lifts, motorcycle lifts, and shop equipment for home/hobby and commercial use applications. Dannmar and MaxJax-related marks are registered trademarks of Dannmar Inc. Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3151491 Additional information at www.saleen.com Media contact: pr@saleen.com Saleen Automotive, Inc. 2735 Wardlow Road Corona, CA 92882 714.400.2121 TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 05/19/17 -- Beleave Inc. ("Beleave" or the "Company") (CSE: BE)(CSE: BE.CN)(CNSX: BE) is pleased to announce that its wholly-owned subsidiary, First Access Medical Inc. ("FAM"), has been granted a licence to cultivate medical cannabis pursuant to the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (the "ACMPR"). "We are ecstatic to have achieved our goal of becoming a licensed producer," commented Beleave CEO Roger Ferreira. "We have remained diligent and focused throughout the process and understand that this is just the beginning of a much bigger plan and vision for Beleave. We remain committed to building a strong foundation of research expertise that we hope will translate into the cultivation of exceptional products for qualified Canadians. Finally, we would like to thank all of our stakeholders for their patience and support over the past three years. We very much look forward to growing with you." About Beleave Beleave Inc. is a biotech company and Beleave's wholly-owned subsidiary FAM is a licensed producer pursuant to the ACMPR. Beleave's purpose-built facility is located in Hamilton, Ontario. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking information. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the Company's ability to satisfy the conditions associated with its cultivation licence, the Company's ability to obtain a sales licence and the related timing considerations, the availability of further financing, consumer interest in its products, competition, regulation, operational and technological risks, and anticipated and unanticipated costs and delays. Since forward-looking information addresses future events and conditions, by its very nature it involves inherent risks and uncertainties. This information speak only as of the date of this news release. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks including various risk factors discussed in the Company's disclosure documents, which can be found under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com. Contacts: Beleave Inc. Sebastian de Kloet 1 (905) 979-5173 Sebastian@beleave.com LOS ANGELES, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 05/19/17 -- Citing his support for veterans issues such as improved healthcare, mental health, job creation and combatting homelessness, Put Vets First! Political Action Committee endorsed Robert Lee Ahn for the 34th Congressional District. "Robert Lee Ahn is a true champion for American veterans. His commitment to making sure the VA uses its resources to serve veterans, rather than line executives' pockets, is proof that he is the Congressman veterans need, both in his district and around the nation," stated Maj. Brian Hampton USAR (ret) Chairman, Put Vets First! PAC. There are 22 million veterans in the U.S., over 1.7 million of whom live in California; more than any other state. Over 100,000 will be homeless at some point this year, 570,000 are unemployed, and 3.4 million have a service connected disability, Hampton said. "Veterans deserve more from Sacramento and Washington with their struggles finding jobs, battling PTSD and substance abuse and getting affordable housing," Ahn added. "It is criminal that our government has let down these brave men and women. I am honored to receive this endorsement and take the fight for them to Washington." Los Angeles has more than 1,200 homeless veterans living on its streets, the most of any American city, despite an infusion of federal rent vouchers which have helped place more than 8,000 veterans in housing since 2014. "With servicemembers returning from conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, we need an effective voice in Washington to get more federal assistance for these men and women," Ahn added. Since 2011, Put Vets First! PAC has worked to make the plight of veterans a top national priority by supporting candidates willing to be champions for veterans, raising the profile of veterans nationwide, and opposing the election of those who refuse to support veteran's assistance. It is non-partisan and supports both Democratic and Republican candidates. The 34th District represents all of Koreatown, Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Little Bangladesh, as well as parts of Historic Filipinotown, Hollywood, Hancock Park, Downtown, Eagle Rock, Boyle Heights, City Terrace, Echo Park, El Sereno, Glassell Park, Highland Park, Lincoln Heights, Mt. Washington, Montecito Heights, and Westlake/Pico Union. For more information, go to www.AhnforCongress.com. The general election is June 6th. Contact: David Meraz Campaign Manager (661) 443-4842 Email Contact NASHVILLE, TN -- (Marketwired) -- 05/19/17 -- Host Analytics is pleased to announce the winners of the second annual Cloud EPM Awards, or "EPMmys". The EPMmys recognize Host Analytics customers that perform at their best and drive finance and operational success across their organizations using the industry's leading cloud EPM platform, Host Analytics. The winners of the 2017 Cloud EPM Awards are: Evraz North America, Golden State Foods, Masimo, and Room & Board. The winners were honored in a gala event last night in Nashville at Host Analytics World 2017, the premier cloud Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) event. "The theme of this year's Host Analytics World is 'Perform', and this year's winners could not be a better illustration of performance excellence," said Alison Holmlund, SVP, Customers for Life at Host Analytics. "Congratulations to all the winners, and to all of our customers that are achieving their finance and operational goals with Host Analytics. We are proud to be partners in your success." The Cloud EPM Awards nominations are reviewed by a panel of judges. Winners are chosen based on the most innovative and creative use of cloud EPM, the most compelling business benefits and ROI, best cloud EPM breakthrough results, and the future vision of cloud EPM within the customer's organization. 2017 Cloud EPM Awards Winners The 2017 EPMmy winners are using Host Analytics in innovative ways, effecting organizational change, and increasing business results. Read below to see how the winners are leveraging Host Analytics. Evraz North America has been a customer of Host Analytics since 2012. The company has expanded its use of Host Analytics to now include Planning, Forecasting, and Reporting in multi-currency. The Evraz team uses Host Analytics Consolidation to consolidate financials across multiple steel mill locations and give end-users real-time access to data. Most recently, they implemented the Excel front-end for reporting and analysis. Golden State Foods, one of the largest diversified suppliers to the food service industry, initially started using Host Analytics Consolidation to support growth of joint ventures and to manage complexity around intercompany eliminations and accurately account for minority interests. Host Analytics is also used for management and customer-centric reporting, Board and Executive Reports, bank compliance, and audited financials. More recently, the Golden State Foods team has rolled out Host Analytics Planning to the corporate departments for workforce and operational expense planning. The Golden State Foods team co-chairs the Southern California Host Analytics User Group (HUG). Masimo, a California-based manufacturer of noninvasive patient monitoring technologies, has been a customer since 2009. The Masimo team uses Host Analytics Planning, Workforce Planning, Consolidation and automated data loads. They have seen a significant reduction in turnaround time for updating their six quarter rolling forecast for the FP&A team and have received very positive feedback from the sales organization, citing increased simplicity of the submission process, consistency in the format and the ability to submit their data in local currency. Room & Board has been a Host Analytics customer since 2012. Their use of Workforce Planning has saved weeks in preparation time for the payroll planning process. Host Analytic Reporting enables the team to meet corporate close deadlines on time, with more timely and efficient distribution or reporting. All company leaders receive sales results for the prior month on Day 1 by 7:00am. Financial Package Publisher has reduced preparation time for the monthly results package. Utilizing Time Sets automates a future year forecast, saving hundreds of hours of managers' time. About Host Analytics Host Analytics is the industry's leading provider of scalable, cloud-based enterprise performance management (EPM) solutions. Companies of all sizes, from $10 million startups to $10 billion multi-nationals, rely on Host Analytics to provide financial planning, budgeting, modeling, consolidations, and reporting. Host Analytics has 700 customers in 90 countries including Bose, Boston Red Sox, FitBit, La-Z-Boy, Mayo Clinic, NPR, OpenTable, Peet's Coffee & Tea, Pinterest, Swissport, TOMS Shoes, True Value, and Vitamin Shoppe. Host Analytics is a private company backed by leading venture capitalists and is headquartered in Silicon Valley. For more information about Host Analytics, please visit www.hostanalytics.com Read the Host Analytics blog at www.hostanalytics.com/blog Follow Host Analytics on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/host-analytics-inc. Become a fan of Host Analytics on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HostAnalyticsInc MEDIA CONTACT: Stefanie Maragna Host Analytics (650) 430-3667 press@hostanalytics.com The partnership makes Ingram Micro the first Pan-European distributor of Gamber-Johnson's best-selling Zebra docking station STEVENS POINT, Wis., May 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --Gamber-Johnson, a global leader in rugged electronic mounting systems for fleet vehicles, announced it has signed a distribution agreement with Ingram Micro, a leading distributor of data capture and point of sale systems and solutions. Chief among the new products Ingram Micro will now be offering its customers is the Gamber-Johnson Zebra docking station designed for the Zebra ET50/55 8" or 10" rugged frame tablet. The docking station has unique features for warehouse and fleet performance including a new powered RS232 serial port. With the new Aport, legacy peripherals with RS232, such as hand-held computers or scanner guns, can be connected directly to the docking station. In addition, Ingram Micro will offer Gamber-Johnson's supporting accessories for the Zebra Docks enabling mounting in both material handling and road vehicles. "We are excited that Ingram Micro has seen the value of Gamber-Johnson's products and has signed on as a Distributor," said Gautam Malik, Gamber-Johnson's COO. "With the partnership, their resellers will now have access to the most rugged and reliable products to mount Zebra Tablets in their customers' material handling and road vehicles." "Adding Gamber-Johnson's products to Ingram Micro DCPOS's already broad solution ecosystem affords our customers even greater solution possibilities, particularly in combination with Zebra products, for which we are a leading distributor in Europe" added Mark Cheetham, Ingram Micro's director of DC/POS in EMEA. "Ingram Micro brings together products from leading manufacturers to offer our customers best-in-class data capture and POS solutions, with one-stop-shop convenience and added-value through technical and product knowledge and expertise." About Gamber-Johnson Gamber-Johnson, along with their Canadian subsidiary PMT and Swedish subsidiary Zirkona, is considered one of the leading manufacturers of rugged mounting systems that safely secure computers, radios, and other electronics in professional vehicles. Their systems are used by law enforcement, public safety, military, and warehouse fleets around the globe. More at www.gamberjohnson.com About Ingram Micro Inc. Ingram Micro helps businesses Realize the Promise of Technology'. It delivers a full spectrum of global technology and supply chain services to businesses around the world. Deep expertise in technology solutions, mobility, cloud, and supply chain solutions enables its business partners to operate efficiently and successfully in the markets they serve. Unrivaled agility, deep market insights and the trust and dependability that come from decades of proven relationships, set Ingram Micro apart and ahead. More at www.ingrammicro.com Media contacts: Gamber-Johnson Ian Davies European Manager ian.davies@gamberjohnson.com +44 (0) 7876 575 331 Ingram Micro Alex Brown Sr Manager, Marketing EMEA alexanderbrown@ingrammicro.com Related Images image1.jpg image2.jpg Washington D.C.--(Newsfile Corp. - May 19, 2017) - The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that David L. Peavler, Associate Director of Enforcement in the Fort Worth Regional Office, is leaving the agency this month after more than 15 years of service. Mr. Peavler joined the SEC staff as a Staff Attorney and went on to serve as a Branch Chief and then an Assistant Director before being named Associate Director in November 2011. Mr. Peavler has supervised a staff of more than 60 attorneys and other professionals responsible for investigating potential violations of the federal securities laws by a wide range of market participants. Mr. Peavler received the SEC's Irving Pollack Award last year in recognition of his "fairness and compassion in dealings with the public and staff, scholarship and professional expertise in execution of their legal duties, and adherence to the highest standards of personal and professional integrity." He received the agency's Arthur F. Mathews Award in 2004 for "sustained demonstrated creativity in applying federal securities laws for the benefit of investors." Stephanie Avakian, Acting Director of the SEC's Enforcement Division, said, "David is an exceptional attorney and a dedicated public servant who has led and supervised an array of complex and high-impact actions. He has demonstrated time and time again his commitment to protecting investors and our markets." Shamoil T. Shipchandler, Director of the SEC's Fort Worth Regional Office, added, "David's consistency, creativity, professionalism, and integrity are unparalleled, and he has led not only by word but by example. His leadership of Fort Worth's enforcement program will be emulated but never duplicated." Mr. Peavler said, "I'm fortunate to have served with so many skilled and dedicated people. Their untiring commitment to investor protection has truly been inspirational, and I'm proud of our achievements." Among the enforcement actions taken by the SEC's Fort Worth office under Mr. Peavler's leadership: Seaboard Corporation, in which the SEC first set forth its corporate cooperation guidance. Royal Dutch Shell, which paid $120 million to settle fraud charges arising from its 4.5 billion barrel proved reserves misstatement. i2 Technologies and three of its former senior officers, who collectively paid more than $20 million to settle fraud charges relating to a billion dollar software revenue overstatement. The former CEO and CFO of Quest Resources Corporation, who were charged with misappropriating millions of dollars through undisclosed insider loans. Millennium Bank and its founder, who operated a $100 million international Ponzi scheme. Life Partners Holdings and its former senior officers, who a jury found liable for fraud in connection with disclosures and accounting for life settlements. They were ordered to pay millions of dollars in penalties. KBR Inc. and SandRidge Energy, which each settled allegations arising from their use of improper non-disclosure agreements that inhibited employees from reporting fraud and misconduct to the SEC. Mr. Peavler received his undergraduate degree in accounting and economics from Baylor University in 1989 and his law degree from the University of Texas in 1992. Adocia (Paris:ADOC) (Euronext Paris: FR0011184241 ADOC) will hold its annual shareholders' meeting ("AGM") on June 27, 2017, at 10 am at Hotel de Talleyrand, at Jones Day offices, 2 rue Saint-Florentin, in Paris (75001). The notice of this shareholders' meeting serving as convening notice published today, in the French Bulletin des Annonces Legales Obligatoires ("BALO") includes the agenda, the proposed resolutions as well as instructions to participate and vote for this meeting. This notice is also available on the company's website: http://www.adocia.fr/WP/investors-welcome/shareholders-meeting. All documentation regarding this AGM will be made available to shareholders in accordance with existing regulations and will be available on the company's website from June 09, 2017 Precisions regarding the AGM: Only shareholders having registered their shares at least two business days prior to the date of the AGM, by midnight Paris time, will be able to participate in the AGM. Shareholders holding bearer shares ("actions au porteur") will need to obtain a certificate of shareholding ("attestation de participation") from their brokers. This "attestation de participation" must be attached to the proxy form or to the appropriate voting form if shareholders wish to designate a proxy or vote by post. The "attestation de participation" may replace the admission card for shareholders wishing to attend the AGM in person. Each shareholder may submit a question in writing to the Board of Directors, this question being treated during the shareholders meeting. Questions should be sent by registered mail with return receipt to the following address: ADOCIA, 115 avenue Lacassagne 69003 Lyon or electronic communication to the following address: ag2017@adocia.com. The written question must be sent no later than the fourth business day preceding the date of the general meeting and must imperatively be accompanied by a certificate of attendance in order to be treated. Shareholders may obtain the legal documentation in preparation of the AGM as described in the article R.225-83 of the French Commercial Code by sending a request: By regular mail to: Adocia Service Relations Investisseurs 115 avenue Lacassagne, 69003 Lyon, or By e-mail to: ag2017@adocia.com. About ADOCIA Adocia is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that specializes in the development of innovative formulations of already-approved therapeutic proteins. Adocia's portfolio of injectable treatments for diabetes, featuring four clinical-stage products and six preclinical products, is among the largest and most differentiated of the industry. The proprietary BioChaperone technological platform is designed to enhance the effectiveness and/or safety of therapeutic proteins while making them easier for patients to use. Adocia customizes BioChaperone to each protein for a given application in order to address specific patient needs. Adocia's clinical pipeline includes four novel insulin formulations for the treatment of diabetes: two ultra-rapid formulations of insulin analogs (BioChaperone Lispro U100 and U200), a rapid-acting formulation of human insulin (HinsBet U100) and a combination of basal insulin glargine and rapid-acting insulin lispro (BioChaperone Combo). Adocia is also developing an aqueous formulation of human glucagon (BioChaperone Human Glucagon), two combinations of insulin glargine with GLP-1s (BioChaperone Glargine Dulaglutide and BioChaperone Glargine Liraglutide), two combinations of insulin lispro with synergistic prandial hormones (BioChaperone Lispro Pramlintide and BioChaperone Lispro Exenatide), and a concentrated, rapid-acting formulation of human insulin (HinsBet U500), all of which are in preclinical development. Adocia aims to deliver "Innovative medicine for everyone, everywhere." To learn more about Adocia, please visit us at www.adocia.com View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170519005365/en/ Contacts: Adocia Gerard Soula Chairman and CEO Ph.: +33 4 72 610 610 contactinvestisseurs@adocia.com or Adocia Press Relations Europe MC Services AG Raimund Gabriel, Ph.: +49 89 210 228 0 adocia@mc-services.euor or Adocia Investor Relations USA The Ruth Group Tram Bui, Ph.: +1 646 536 7035 tbui@theruthgroup.com BALLERUP, Denmark, May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Opinion from CHMP: "On 18 May 2017, theCommittee for Medicinal Products for Human Use(CHMP) adopted a positive opinion, recommending the granting of amarketing authorisation for themedicinal product[brodalumab], intended for the treatment of psoriasis[...]The benefits with [brodalumab] are its ability to inhibit the inflammation and clinical symptoms associated with psoriasis. The most common side effects are arthralgia, headache, fatigue, diarrhoea, and oropharyngeal pain[...]The fullindicationis: [brodalumab] is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adult patients who are candidates for systemic therapy." LEO Pharma today announced that it received a positive opinion from the European Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) recommending marketing authorisation for brodalumab, a novel biologic treatment for adult patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy.[1] Brodalumab is the only fully human monoclonal antibody that selectively targets the IL-17 receptor subunit A.[2],[3] By binding to the receptor with high affinity, brodalumab effectively blocks the biological activity of several pro-inflammatory IL-17 cytokines, which are important in psoriasis.[3],[4] Brodalumab is not currently licensed in the EU. The positive opinion from the CHMP is supported by data from three clinical trials, AMAGINE-1 (n=661), AMAGINE-2 (n=1831) and AMAGINE-3 (n=1881), with a total of 4,373 patients with moderate to severe psoriasis;[5],[6] the largest study population of any new biologic treatment in psoriasis to date.[7],[8],[9],[10],[11],[12],[13] All three studies evaluated the efficacy and safety of different doses of brodalumab compared to placebo.[5],[6] AMAGINE-2 and AMAGINE-3 also compared brodalumab to ustekinumab.[5] Results showed brodalumab offered many patients complete skin clearance (PASI 100) at 12 weeks compared to patients treated with ustekinumab [AMAGINE-2: 44% (n=272) versus 22% (n=65), p<0.001; AMAGINE-3: 37% (n=229) versus 19% (n=58), p<0.001].[5]In AMAGINE-1 83% of patients on brodalumab 210mg achieved PASI 75[*] compared to 3% of patients treated with placebo at 12 weeks [83.3% (n=185) versus 2.7% (n=6), p<0.001] and 76% of patients achieved sPGA["] success versus 1% of patients treated with placebo [75.7% (n=168) versus 1.4% (n=3), p<0.001].[6] High levels of skin clearance were sustained with continuous brodalumab treatment through week 52.[6],[14] "Brodalumab works by blocking the pro-inflammatory cascade that leads to psoriasis, resulting in normalisation of skin inflammation. In the brodalumab clinical trials, the majority of patients achieve clear or almost clear skin within 3 months of treatment as measured by the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) 100 or 90. In real terms, this means that patients get to the point where their psoriasis no longer bothers them and this is the ultimate treatment goal," commented Professor Kristian Reich, Dermatologist and Principal Investigator of the AMAGINE Phase 3 clinical trials programme for brodalumab, Hamburg, Germany. Patients also reported experiencing improved health related quality of life after 4 weeks of treatment with brodalumab. After 12 weeks of treatment, seven in ten patients (72%, n=29/40, p<0.0001) reported psoriasis no longer impaired their health related quality of life, (0/1 DLQI) compared with placebo (5%, n=2/37).[15] "It is critical that people with psoriasis have the necessary tools and support to help them get through life as unhindered by their condition as possible and don't feel it controls their life. At LEO Pharma we are committed to improving the lives of people with skin conditions, and this positive opinion from the CHMP takes us one step closer to being able to do exactly that for the people who matter most to us. The evidence for brodalumab demonstrates real promise and we hope that we can provide not only a new treatment option, but also the opportunity to help people living with moderate-to-severe psoriasis to take control of their condition and improve their lives significantly," says Kim Domela Kjoeller, Executive Vice President of Global Research and Development at LEO Pharma. Data from the three large randomised, controlled AMAGINE clinical trials, found brodalumab to be well tolerated, with an acceptable safety profile.[6],[16] The most common adverse events were arthralgia (joint pain), nasopharyngitis (inflammation of the nose and pharynx), headache, and upper respiratory tract infection.[5] Cases of suicidal ideation and behaviour, including completed suicide, were reported in the clinical trials programme.[17] A causal association between treatment with brodalumab and increased risk of suicidal ideation and behaviour has not been established.[17] Brodalumab will be supported by post-marketing pharmacovigilance activities to capture and follow up on any reports of safety events. The CHMP's recommendation will now be referred to the European Commission, which has the authority to approve medicines for use in all EU countries. This announcement follows the approval of brodalumab by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for plaque psoriasis in February 2017; and the approval by the Japanese Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency for psoriasis vulgaris, psoriatic arthritis, pustular psoriasis and psoriatic erythroderma in 2016. -------------------------------------------------- *. PASI 75 is defined 75% improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score ". sPGA success is defined as patients who achieved a static Physician's Global Assessment 0 or 1 NOTES TO EDITORS About Brodalumab Brodalumab is the only fully human monoclonal antibody that selectively targets the IL-17 receptor subunit A.[2],[3] By binding to the receptor with high affinity, brodalumab effectively blocks the biological activity of several pro-inflammatory IL-17 cytokines, which are important in psoriasis.[3],[4] Brodalumab is not currently licensed in the EU. In July 2016, LEO Pharma entered into a partnership agreement with AstraZeneca granting LEO exclusive licence to develop and commercialise brodalumab in Europe. Outside of Europe, Valeant Pharmaceuticals has global commercial rights for brodalumab except in Japan and certain other Asian countries, where the rights are held by Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd. About LEO Pharma LEO Pharma helps people achieve healthy skin. By offering care solutions to patients in more than 100 countries globally, LEO Pharma supports people in managing their skin conditions. Founded in 1908 and owned by the LEO Foundation, the healthcare company has devoted decades of research and development to delivering products and solutions to people with skin conditions. LEO Pharma is headquartered in Denmark and employs around 5,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.leo-pharma.com Subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/leopharmaglobal Follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/leohealthyskin Visit us at LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/leo-pharma About Psoriasis An estimated 125 million people worldwide live with psoriasis,[18] including nearly 14 million Europeans.[19] While there are several types of psoriasis, of which plaque psoriasis is most common affecting up to 97% of patients, the most frequently reported symptoms include thickening and scaling of the skin, itching and erythema (superficial reddening of the skin, usually in patches).[20] Psoriasis can be a painful, disabling and stigmatising condition with substantial social and psychological impact on a person's life.[20] Although the systemic nature of psoriasis often remains unrecognised, the inflammatory processes involved may be associated with the development of comorbidities[21] such as cardiovascular and metabolic diseases which are more prevalent in people with moderate-to-severe psoriasis.[22],[23] Research shows that people with moderate-to-severe psoriasis have a two to three-fold risk of anxiety, depression and suicidal behaviour compared to the general public.[24] According to the World Health Organization, the burden of living with psoriasis is underestimated and it urges for action to fight stigma and improve treatment.[20] References 1.European Medicines Agency, 18 May 2017. Available from: http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/index.jsp?curl=pages/medicines/human/medicines/003959/smops/Positive/human_smop_001146.jsp&mid=WC0b01ac058001d127 2.Campa M, et al. Dermatol Ther. 2016;6:1-12 3. Coimbra S, et al. Core Evidence. 2014;9:89-97 4. Papp K, et al. N Engl J Med 2012;336:1181-9 5. Lebwohl M, et al. N Engl J Med 2015;373:1318-28 6.Papp K, et al. Br J Dermatol. 2016;175:273-286 7.European Medicines Agency. EPAR summary for the public: Cosentyx. 2015. Available from: http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/EPAR_-_Summary_for_the_public/human/003729/WC500183132.pdf (Accessed May 2017) 8.Taltz. Summary of Product Characteristics 2016. Available from: http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/EPAR_-_Product_Information/human/003943/WC500205804.pdf (Accessed May 2017) 9. Stelara. Summary of Product Characteristics 2009. Available from: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/32569 (Accessed May 2017) 10. Enbrel. Summary of Product Characteristics 2000. Available from: http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/EPAR_-_Product_Information/human/000262/WC500027361.pdf (Accessed May 2017) 11.Humira. Summary of Product Charateristics 2003. Available from: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/31860 (Accessed May 2017) 12.Remicade. Summary of Product Characteristics 1999. Available from: http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/EPAR_-_Product_Information/human/000240/WC500050888.pdf (Accessed May 2017) 13.National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Psoriasis: assessment and management guidelines. Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg153/chapter/1-Guidancesystemic-therapy (Accessed May 2017) 14.Supplement to: Lebwohl M, et al. N Engl J Med. 2015;373:1318-28 15.Gordon KB, et al. Br J Dermatol. 2014;170:705-15 16.Attia A, et al. Clin Drug Investig. 2017; DOI: 10.1007/s40261-017-0500-9 17.Lebwohl, M. et al. The American Academy of Dermatology annual meeting 2017. Poster 4908 18.The International Federation of Psoriasis Associations. World Psoriasis Day. Available from: https://ifpa-pso.com/our-actions/world-psoriasis-day/ (Accessed May 2017) 19.Ortonne J, et al. Eur J Dermatol. 2004;14:41-45 20.World Health Organization (WHO). Global Report on Psoriasis. Available from: http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/204417/1/9789241565189_eng.pdf (Accessed May 2017) 21.Reich K. Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2012; 26(2):3-11 22.Kimball AB, et al. Br J Dermatol. 2014;171(1):137-147 23.Feldman S, et al. J Man Care and Specialty Pharm. 2015;21(10):874-888 24.Dalgard F, et al. JID. 2015;135(4), 984-991 DUBLIN, May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Coffee Pods Market 2017-2021" report to their offering. The analysts forecast the global coffee pods market to grow at a CAGR of 9.55% during the period 2017-2021. The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global coffee pods market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated from the sales of coffee pods. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market. With the increasing awareness of the negative impacts of synthetic products on one's health, as well as, the environment, most informed consumers have now started looking for organic products. This scenario can be seen across the board and applies to the industrial chocolate sector as well. Organic foods and beverages are perceived as healthy and are gaining traction in the market as consumers are increasingly becoming concerned about the origin and quality of the ingredients that are used in the preparation of food products. In line with these changes in end-consumers' preferences, players like Republica, WHITE RHINO COFFEE, ALOHA ISLAND COFFEE, PODhead.com, Infusi, Podista, and others are popular for their organic coffee pod offerings. It is expected that with the growing trend of organic products in the market, demand for organic coffee pods is likely going to increase during the forecast period. According to the report, the demand for the convenient products is on the rise from the past decade. Many countries around the world are experiencing rapid developments and rapid rates of urbanization in the recent years. This expansion of urbanized population is inculcating new habits and trends of developing preferences for international food trends. The urbanized population is demanding for ready packaged food and beverages. Hence, various super and hypermarkets are storing more of convenient packaged food and beverages. In case of coffee, convenient forms like coffee pods are becoming popular among masses (especially in western countries like North America and Western Europe) to prepare consistently good coffee in the comfort of home, in less time. This is because, with regular coffee machines, consumers need to go through a lot of steps like learn how to operate it in terms of settings, before preparing a simple coffee like espresso. Further, the report states that the high cost of coffee pods is one of the biggest challenge impacting the overall growth of the market as using coffee pods is more expensive than using ground coffee or whole coffee beans. For instance, Nescafe Dolce Gusto PRELUDIO cost $4.85 while NESCAFE Coffee- Classic (for 100 grams' jar) cost is $3.52. Thus, many consumers (especially in emerging countries) prefer buying conventional coffee as more cups of coffee can be made from one regular can of coffee than from a package of coffee pods. It is important for the players to scale down the prices of coffee pods to entice consumers toward coffee pods. Many players are currently taking initiatives for lowering the prices of coffee pods. For instance, in 2016, Nespresso lowered the prices of coffee capsules (like Kazaar and Dharkan capsules that previously priced $1.07 each are now 76 cents each from the company's Singapore boutiques and website) in Singapore. It is expected that many players would lower the prices of coffee pods during the forecast period, which would further help to increase the sales of coffee pods globally. Market trends Trends in compostable coffee pods Increasing demand for organic and fairtrade coffee pods Burgeoning marketing initiatives Key vendors Nestle Kraft Foods LUIGI LAVAZZA SPA Keurig Green Mountain Other prominent vendors Coffechino DUNKIN' DONUTS ETHICAL COFFEE COMPANY The Folger Coffee Company Gloria Jean's Coffees Coffees Jacobs Douwe Egberts Melitta coffee pods Seattle's Best Coffee Best Coffee STARBUCKS Key Topics Covered: Part 01: Executive summary Part 02: Scope of the report Part 03: Research Methodology Part 04: Introduction Part 05: Market landscape Part 06: Market segmentation by type Part 07: Market segmentation by distribution channel Part 08: Geographical segmentation Part 09: Key leading countries Part 10: Decision framework Part 11: Drivers and challenges Part 12: Market trends Part 13: Vendor landscape Part 14: Key vendor analysis Part 15: Appendix For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/6fhbk3/global_coffee 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 Greekfest kicked off at 11 a.m. on Friday, and by 11:05 a.m. it was already in full swing. Showing up early to avoid the crowds turned out to be a popular idea. Scores of people lined up at the food stands, braving the heat to get their hands on some of their favorite Greek dishes. Outside, smoke poured from the many grills that are pressed into service each year for three days of hard labor. The gyro line, though vast, moved quickly and the mood was decidedly upbeat. People chatted loudly with their neighbors in an effort to compete with the rousing Greek music that blared through the loudspeaker and inspired a few to bust a move or two. Nearby, sounds of Opa filled the air, capturing the attention of some who waited in the gyro line. The Saganaki spectacle always manages to coax a smile from bystanders, playing out as it has hundreds, if not thousands, of times before. To execute the dish, volunteers carefully cut squares of Kefalotiri cheese and saute them until golden brown before setting them alight with brandy, amidst the cries of opa. The crowd-pleaser never seems to get old, nor do the flaming photos shared on many social media accounts. Some festivalgoers, pressed for time, ordered their food to go, while others headed to the bright yellow tent erected on the grounds. Patricia Peters and her husband, Mike, sat with their daughter in front of a fan that blew a cool mist over the crowd. The Harrisburg residents brought their 5-year-old daughter Charlotte to the event. When questioned about her favorite food, Charlottes eyes grew wide. She carefully selected a piece of calamari, put it in her mouth and broke into a big smile. Then, as if to indicate that wasnt all, she grabbed a slice of spanakopita and bit off a big bite before breaking out in giggles. Charlotte likes everything here, said Patricia, adding that the new seasoned Greek fries are a must-try. Inside the main building, most tables were filled by 11:30 a.m. Carrie Conn traveled from Lancaster and was overheard recommending the chocolate-dipped strawberries to her friend Deb Kinney from Millerstown, who was a festival first timer. Theyre from Mantangos, said Conn, which prompted her mother, Carol Marquez, to reminisce about the Harrisburg candy store. We used to go there when you were a kid, said Marquez of Newport. Mother and daughter, although differing on their favorite dishes, said they each liked something that they dont usually enjoy elsewhere. I like the moussaka, and I dont like eggplant, Marquez said. And I dont like meatloaf, or formed meat of any kind, but I love the meatballs here, said Conn, referring to the Greek meatballs in tomato sauce, otherwise known as Keftedes. After eating in the main building, many took the time to venture to the cool basement to check out the shops selling everything from fidget spinners, to jewelry, crafts and apparel. Katherine Kamouski was handing out maps and stickers that said Opa and Yassou, a Greek greeting. For Kamouski, its a family endeavor. Ive been helping my father Peter Capataides, has it been 45 years? she asked herself. We are giving back to the community, sharing our heritage, our religion, our customs, and of course, our food. BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - The European markets ended Friday's session with modest gains, recovering some of the lost ground from the previous two days. However, the markets suffered their worst week since November due to the mid-week sell-off. The FTSE 100 of the UK was a notable exception. The market strung together four straight days of gains, helped by a mini flash crash in the value of the pound on Thursday. The Trump administration took the first step toward renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement, which helped to ease concerns over the President's ability to deliver on his economic agenda. Investors were also encouraged by the continued rise in crude oil prices, which climbed back above $50 a barrel at the end of the trading week. Greece's lawmakers approved a reforms package on Thursday that includes pension cuts and tax hikes as demanded by the country's lenders in return for unlocking another tranche of bailout funds and to start discussions over debt relief. The parliament nod came ahead of the Eurogroup meeting on May 22 when euro area finance ministers would consider disbursement of the bailout funds and discuss debt relief. At the start of the month, Greece had reached a deal with its international creditors on reforms, thus paving the way for the disbursement of the next tranche of funds from the EUR 86 billion bailout agreed in 2015 and the start of talks on a possible debt relief. It was these reforms that lawmakers approved on Thursday even as demonstrators, mainly public-sector trade unions, staged protests outside the parliament and hurled firebombs at police who responded with tear gas. The pan-European Stoxx Europe 600 index advanced 0.57 percent. The Euro Stoxx 50 index of eurozone bluechip stocks increased 0.70 percent, while the Stoxx Europe 50 index, which includes some major U.K. companies, added 0.45 percent. The DAX of Germany climbed 0.39 percent and the CAC 40 of France rose 0.66 percent. The FTSE 100 of the U.K. gained 0.46 percent and the SMI of Switzerland finished higher by 0.94 percent. In Frankfurt, Wirecard climbed 2.69 percent after Goldman Sachs raised its price target on the stock. In Paris, telecom giant Orange rose 0.49 percent after it entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire a controlling stake in Business & Decision. Danone advanced 1.31 percent. The food group is targeting an operating margin of above 16 percent in 2020. In London, Shire increased 0.78 percent after saying it would highlight new research on the treatment of chronic hypoparathyroidism at the upcoming 19th Annual Meeting of the European Congress of Endocrinology in Portugal on May 20-23. Hikma Pharma climbed 2.12 percent after the drug-maker cut its full-year revenue forecasts, citing delays to the approval of its generic version of GlaxoSmithKline's asthma drug. Travel retailer Dufry soared 4.92 percent in Zurich after Richemont bought a 5 percent stake in the company. Food group Aryzta rallied 4.19 percent after appointing Dublin Airport Authority Chief Executive Kevin Toland as its new chief executive. Eurozone consumer confidence strengthened for a third consecutive month in May to its highest level in nearly a decade, preliminary data from the European Commission showed Friday. The flash consumer confidence index climbed to -3.3 from April's -3.6. Economists had forecast a score of -3. The euro area current account surplus declined in March largely due to widening shortfall on secondary income, figures from the European Central Bank showed Friday. The current account surplus fell to a seasonally adjusted EUR 34.1 billion in March from a record EUR 37.8 billion in February. Germany's producer prices increased at the fastest pace since late 2011, figures from Destatis showed Friday. Producer prices grew by more-than-expected 3.4 percent year-on-year in April, faster than the 3.1 percent rise in March. This was the biggest increase since December 2011. Economists had forecast 3.2 percent increase. British manufacturing order books improved in May and output growth picked up pace, the Industrial Trends Survey from the Confederation of British Industry showed Friday. The order book balance rose to 9 percent in May from 4 percent in April. The score was forecast to remain at 4 percent. The balance reached its highest level since February 2015. British manufacturers and service providers were more confident that their turnover and profitability would increase in coming twelve months, the latest Quarterly International Trade Outlook published by the British Chambers of Commerce and DHL showed Friday. The BCC/DHL Trade Confidence Index rose 5.5 percent in the first quarter from the prior three months. The indicator climbed 9.06 percent from the previous year to 126.55, standing at its second highest level since records began in 2004. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Availability of documentation for the Shareholders' Meeting Regulatory News: The Shareholders of the Company are invited to participate in the Combined Shareholders' Meeting of Ipsen SA to be held on Wednesday 7 June 2017 at 3 pm (Paris time) at La Maison des Arts et Metiers (salon La Rochefoucauld), 9 bis avenue d'Iena, 75116 Paris, France. The preliminary notice of meeting containing the agenda and the proposed resolutions has been published in the Bulletin des Annonces Legales Obligatoires (BALO) dated 19 April 2017 and is available on Ipsen's website at the following address: www.ipsen.com. Documents and information relating to this Meeting are made available to shareholders under the conditions provided for by legal and regulatory provisions in force. In accordance with applicable regulatory provisions: Registered shareholders can, until the fifth day (inclusive) before the Meeting, request from the Company supply of the said documents, including at their request, by way of an electronic mail. For holders of bearer shares, the exercise of this right is subject to the presentation of a certificate of attendance in the bearer share accounts kept by the empowered intermediary; All shareholders can consult these documents at the Company's headquarters. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170519005620/en/ Contacts: For further information: Ipsen Media Didier Veron, +33 (0)1 58 33 51 16 Senior Vice President, Public Affairs and Communication didier.veron@ipsen.com or Financial Community Eugenia Litz, +44 (0) 1753 627721 Vice President, Investor Relations eugenia.litz@ipsen.com or Brigitte Le Guennec, +33 (0)1 58 33 51 17 Corporate External Communication Manager brigitte.le.guennec@ipsen.com or Come de La Tour du Pin, +33 (0)1 58 33 53 31 Investor Relations Manager come.de.la.tour.du.pin@ipsen.com Regulatory News: Total Gabon's (Paris:EC) ordinary Annual Shareholders' Meeting was held on May 19, 2017 in Libreville, chaired by Mr. Guy MAURICE. Shareholders approved all of the resolutions recommended by the Board of Directors, including: Approval of the 2016 financial statements, including a net income of $6 million (US Dollars); Approval of the payment of a net dividend of $4.5 (US Dollars) per share related to the financial year 2016 which represents $20.25 million (US Dollars); Ratification of Mr. Michel ANTSELEVE's co-optation as director for the remainder of his predecessor's term, until the Annual Shareholders' Meeting called to approve the 2016 financial statements; Ratification of Mr. Emmanuel CHAPON's co-optation as director for the remainder of his predecessor's term, until the Annual Shareholders' Meeting called to approve the 2017 financial statements; Renewal of the directors mandates of Mr. Michel ANTSELEVE, Patrick GUENKEL, Frederic AGNES, Jean-Fidele OTANDAULT, Philippe PONTET and Guy MAURICE for two-year terms expiring at the end of the Annual Shareholders' Meeting called to approve the 2018 financial statements; Determination of the global compensation of the statutory auditors for preparing their reports on the 2016 financial statements. A detailed breakdown of the vote tallies will be posted on the Company's website www.total.ga in the coming days. The Board of Directors in its meeting today approved the modalities of the dividend payment. The $4.5 (US Dollars) per share dividend will be paid as from June 9, 2017 in an equivalent amount of 4.03 per share (or its equivalent in CFA francs), based on the European Central Bank's rate of 0.8945 per $1 on May 19, 2017. Payment will be made through the following entities: In Gabon: Union Gabonaise de Banque (UGB) ; In France: BNP Paribas Securities Services acting on behalf of other banks and any financial institution that manages an account. Total Gabon is owned 58.28% by Total, 25% by the Gabonese Republic and 16.72% by private sector investors. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170519005625/en/ Contacts: Florent CAILLET florent.caillet@total.com Washington D.C.--(Newsfile Corp. - May 19, 2017) - The Securities and Exchange Commission today filed fraud charges against a Virginia-based mechanical engineer accused of scheming to manipulate the price of Fitbit stock by making a phony regulatory filing. According to the SEC's complaint, Robert W. Murray purchased Fitbit call options just minutes before a fake tender offer that he orchestrated was filed on the SEC's EDGAR system purporting that a company named ABM Capital LTD sought to acquire Fitbit's outstanding shares at a substantial premium. Fitbit's stock price temporarily spiked when the tender offer became publicly available on Nov. 10, 2016, and Murray sold all of his options for a profit of approximately $3,100. The SEC alleges that Murray created an email account under the name of someone he found on the internet, and the email account was used to gain access to the EDGAR system. Murray then allegedly listed that person as the CFO of ABM Capital and used a business address associated with that person in the fake filing. The SEC also alleges that Murray attempted to conceal his identity and actual location at the time of the filing after conducting research into prior SEC cases that highlighted the IP addresses the false filers used to submit forms on EDGAR. According to the SEC's complaint, it appeared as though the system was being accessed from a different state by using an IP address registered to a company located in Napa, California. "As alleged in our complaint, Murray used deceptive techniques in a concerted effort to evade detection, but we were able to connect the dots quickly and hold him accountable," said Stephanie Avakian, Acting Director of the SEC Enforcement Division. In a parallel action, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York today filed criminal charges against Murray. The SEC's complaint charges Murray with violating antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws, including Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Sections 10(b) and 14(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and Rules 10b-5 and 14e-8. The SEC's continuing investigation is being conducted by David W. Snyder, Assunta Vivolo, Kelly L. Gibson, and Patrick A. McCluskey in the Market Abuse Unit in Philadelphia. The case is being supervised by unit co-chiefs Robert A. Cohen and Joseph G. Sansone. The litigation will be led by Julia C. Green and Christopher R. Kelly of the Philadelphia office. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - A friend of James Comey has suggested the former FBI Director was disturbed by President Donald Trump's repeated efforts to undermine his independence. Benjamin Wittes, editor in chief of the Lawfare blog and a Brookings Institution senior fellow, claims Comey was particularly upset by a hug from Trump at a White House event after the inauguration. Wittes alleged in a post on Lawfare on Thursday that Comey was 'disgusted' by the hug, which he regarded as an attempt to show closeness and warmth in order to compromise him before Democrats. 'Comey took the long walk across the room determined, he told me, that there was not going to be a hug,' Wittes wrote. 'Bad enough that he was there; bad enough that there would be a handshake; he emphatically did not want any show of warmth.' 'Again, look at the video, and you'll see Comey preemptively reaching out to shake hands. Trump grabs his hand and attempts an embrace,' he added. 'The embrace, however, is entirely one sided.' Wittes suggests the hug was part of a series of actions by Trump intended absorb Comey into the president's world. 'Trump kept Comey on board only as long as it took him to figure out that there was no way to make Comey part of the team,' Wittes wrote. 'Once he realized that he couldn't do that-and that the Russia matter was thus not going away-he pulled the trigger.' Trump has recently come under fire for his decision to fire Comey despite an ongoing investigation of possible collusion between the president's campaign and Russia. Reports also claim Trump asked Comey to drop a federal investigation of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, although the president flatly denied the accusation during a press conference on Thursday. 'While I am not in the habit of discussing with reporters my confidential communications with friends, I decided that the things Comey had told me needed to be made public,' Wittes wrote. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 19, 2017 / Bullman Minerals Inc. (TSXV: BUL) (the "Issuer") announces, further to its news release of May 11, 2017, that it has closed the final tranche of its previously announced $7 million common share financing for gross proceeds of $850,000. The proceeds will be added to general working capital. The Issuer issued a total of 8,500,000 common shares at $0.10 per common share to D&S International Investments Ltd. ("D&S") (Anping Wang & Xinyu Zhang, beneficial owners), which is a control person of the Issuer arising from this multi-tranche placement. In addition, 340,000 common shares were issued to the finder, An Yue Chen of Shenzhen, China, in payment of services rendered. The 8,840,000 shares will be subject to a hold period under applicable Canadian securities laws expiring on September 20, 2017. Pursuant to the early warning requirements of applicable legislation, D&S, with an address of Unit 1005, 10/F, Prosperous Building, 48-52 Des Voeus Road Central, Hong Kong, acquired 8,500,000 common shares of the Issuer representing 6.9% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Issuer. D&S now holds 65,000,000 common shaes of the Issuer representing 50.6% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Issuer. The common shares were acquired for investment purposes and the acquiror may acquire ownership of additional common shares of the Issuer. D&S is acting independently and has concurrently completed and filed an early warning report with the applicable securities regulators in respect of the above transaction which will be available at www.sedar.com under Bullman's SEDAR profile. On behalf of the Board of Directors SIGNED: "Peter Yue" Peter Yue, CEO and Director Contact: Peter Yue (604) 336-8618 About Bullman The Issuer owns 100% of the Siguri gold project and Balandougouba gold project in Guinea, West Africa. Both projects consist of six mining licenses with each license covering between one and two square kilometers. Environmental permits have also been secured which licenses and permits allow the Issuer to engage in mining extraction in the two project areas. In addition, the Issuer renewed six exploration permits with respect to surrounding lands. The six exploration permits was obtained in May of 2013 covering roughly 600 square kilometers and were due to expire in May of this year. After returning 50% of the gross permitted lands to the government of Guinea as required by the Guinea mining law, the exploration permits were extended for an additional 2 years. The Issuer is carrying out exploration programs on both of its projects and planning to commence trial surface mining with the financing proceeds received. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. In particular, forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the business of the Issuer. Although the Issuer believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements. United States Statement The securities referred to in this news release have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from the U.S. registration requirements. This news release does not constitute an offer for sale of securities for sale, nor a solicitation for offers to buy any securities. Any public offering of securities in the United States must be made by means of a prospectus containing detailed information about the company and management, as well as financial statements. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES SOURCE: Bullman Minerals Inc. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Disgraced former Congressman Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., pleaded guilty Friday to transferring obscene material to a minor in a case involving sexting with a 15-year-old girl. Weiner, who resigned from Congress in 2011 amid a separate sexting scandal, wept openly in federal court and said he accepts full responsibility for his conduct. 'I have a sickness, but I do not have an excuse,' Weiner said. 'I apologize to everyone I have hurt. I apologize to the teenage girl, whom I mistreated so badly. I am committed to making amends to all those I have harmed.' Weiner admitted to sending sexually explicit images and directions to engage in sexual conduct to a girl he knew to be 15 years old. As part of a plea agreement, prosecutors asked that Weiner serve between 21 and 27 months in prison. He must also register as a sex offender. 'Weiner's conduct was not only reprehensible, but a federal crime, one for which he is now convicted and will be sentenced,' said acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon Kim. The estranged husband of top Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin, Weiner was released on bail pending sentencing scheduled for September 8th. Weiner's name resurfaced during the presidential election when emails from Clinton to Abedin containing classified information were found on his laptop. The discovery led then-FBI Director James Comey to reveal that the agency was re-opening its investigation of Clinton's use of a private email server, just 11 days before the election. Two days before the election, the FBI once again cleared Clinton of criminal charges related to her use of a private email server while Secretary of State. 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. (Newsfile Corp. - May 19, 2017) - The management of Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) will be holding a conference call to discuss the Company's First Quarter 2017 Financial and Operating Results on May 23, 2017. The conference call will start at: 18:00 MSK (Moscow) 16:00 GMT (London) 11:00 EST (New York) To take part in the conference call, please dial one of the following telephone numbers and quote the confirmation code, 8402574. From Russia: + 7 495 213 1767 From the UK: + 44(0)330 336 9105 From the US: + 1 719 457 1036 The conference call will also be available at: http://www.mtsgsm.com/news/reports/ via audio webcast. The earnings release will be posted at approximately 15:00 MSK/13:00 GMT at: http://www.mtsgsm.com/news/reports/. A replay of the conference call will be available for seven days on the following telephone numbers: From the US: +1 719 457 0820 PIN 8402574 From the UK: +44(0)207 984 7568 PIN 8402574 From Russia: 810 800 2702 1012 * * * For further information, please contact in Moscow: Joshua B. Tulgan Director, Department of Corporate Finance and Investor Relations Mobile TeleSystems PJSC Tel: +7 495 223 2025 E-mail: ir@mts.ru Learn more about MTS. Visit the official blog of the Investor Relations Department at www.mtsgsm.com/blog/. * * * Mobile TeleSystems PJSC ("MTS" - NYSE:MBT; MOEX:MTSS), the leading telecommunications group in Russia and the CIS, provides a range of mobile and fixed-line communications services. We serve about 110 million mobile subscribers in Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Turkmenistan, and Belarus, and about 9 million customers of fixed-line services, that include fixed voice, broadband internet, and pay-TV. To keep pace with evolving customer demand, MTS is redefining what telecommunications services are by offering innovative products beyond its core network-related businesses in various tech segments, including Big Data, financial and banking services, internet of things, OTT, cloud computing, systems integration and e-commerce. We leverage our market-leading retail network as a platform for customer services and sales of devices and accessories. For more information, please visit: www.mtsgsm.com. * * * Some of the information in this press release may contain projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future financial performance of MTS, as defined in the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify forward looking statements by terms such as "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "will," "could," "may" or "might," and the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. We wish to caution you that these statements are only predictions and that actual events or results may differ materially. We do not undertake or intend to update these statements to reflect events and circumstances occurring after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. We refer you to the documents MTS files from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically the Company's most recent Form 20-F. These documents contain and identify important factors, including those contained in the section captioned "Risk Factors" that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contained in our projections or forward-looking statements, including, among others, the severity and duration of current economic and financial conditions, including volatility in interest and exchange rates, commodity and equity prices and the value of financial assets; the impact of Russian, U.S. and other foreign government programs to restore liquidity and stimulate national and global economies, our ability to maintain our current credit rating and the impact on our funding costs and competitive position if we do not do so, strategic actions, including acquisitions and dispositions and our success in integrating acquired businesses, potential fluctuations in quarterly results, our competitive environment, dependence on new service development and tariff structures, rapid technological and market change, acquisition strategy, risks associated with telecommunications infrastructure, governmental regulation of the telecommunications industries and other risks associated with operating in Russia and the CIS, volatility of stock price, financial risk management and future growth subject to risks. TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 05/19/17 -- Itafos (TSX VENTURE: IFOS) and Stonegate Agricom Ltd. (TSX: ST) ("Stonegate") are pleased to announce that they have entered into an arrangement agreement dated May 18, 2017 (the "Arrangement Agreement") pursuant to which Itafos would acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Stonegate (the "Stonegate Shares") not already owned directly or indirectly by it by way of a court-approved plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) (the "Arrangement"). Under the terms of the Arrangement Agreement, each shareholder of Stonegate (a "Stonegate Shareholder") will receive 0.008 of an ordinary share of Itafos (an "Itafos Share") for each Stonegate Share held. Itafos anticipates issuing an aggregate of approximately 2,985,777 Itafos Shares to Stonegate Shareholders pursuant to the Arrangement. The Arrangement is expected to provide Stonegate Shareholders with the opportunity to participate in a larger phosphate entity, with a diversified portfolio of phosphate projects and a prospect for growth in the short to medium term. The Arrangement is subject to the approval of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) and (i) at least two-thirds of the votes cast by Stonegate Shareholders at the Stonegate Meeting (as defined below); and (ii) a majority of the votes cast by disinterested Stonegate Shareholders at the Stonegate Meeting. In addition to the aforementioned approvals, completion of the Arrangement is subject to other customary conditions, including the receipt of all necessary regulatory and stock exchange approvals. The Arrangement is expected to close by August 2017. The Arrangement Agreement contains customary non-solicitation provisions which are subject to Stonegate's right to consider and accept a superior proposal subject to a matching right in favour of Itafos. In the event that the Arrangement is not completed as a result of a superior proposal or for other certain specified circumstances, Stonegate will pay Itafos a termination fee. The Arrangement constitutes a "business combination" under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") for Stonegate and a "related party transaction" under MI 61-101 for Itafos as Itafos currently indirectly owns 202,450,642 Stonegate Shares, representing approximately 35.2% of the issued and outstanding Stonegate Shares. Itafos is relying on the formal valuation exemption in section 5.5(b) of MI 61-101, on the basis that no securities of Itafos are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX") or other specified markets, and the minority approval exemption in section 5.7(a) of MI 61-101, on the basis that neither the fair market value of the Stonegate Shares to be acquired pursuant to the Arrangement nor the consideration to be paid for the Stonegate Shares exceeds 25% of Itafos' market capitalization. As required by MI 61-101, Stonegate will obtain a formal valuation (the "Valuation") from Echelon Wealth Partners Inc. ("Echelon") and will seek the requisite approvals of the Arrangement from Stonegate Shareholders at a special meeting which is expected to be held in July 2017 (the "Stonegate Meeting"). The Valuation is being prepared under the supervision of a special committee of the board of directors of Stonegate consisting of independent and disinterested directors (the "Stonegate Special Committee") and will be included in the management information circular (the "Circular") to be mailed to Stonegate Shareholders in connection with the Stonegate Meeting. Prior to the execution of the Arrangement Agreement, Echelon provided a verbal opinion that, based upon and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications in such opinion, the consideration to be received by Stonegate Shareholders is fair, from a financial point of view, to Stonegate Shareholders (other than Itafos and its affiliates). A copy of the fairness opinion will also be included in the Circular. All Stonegate Shareholders (other than Itafos and its affiliates) will be treated on the same basis and no additional consideration or benefit is available to any Stonegate Shareholder (other than Itafos and its affiliates). In connection with the Arrangement, all outstanding options of Stonegate will be cancelled, and the 100,000,000 outstanding common share purchase warrants of Stonegate will be exchanged for replacement warrants of Itafos exercisable to acquire that number of Itafos Shares as is equal to 0.008 multiplied by the number of Stonegate Shares that the holders of the warrants so transferred and assigned would have acquired if such holders had exercised such warrants immediately prior to the effective time of the Arrangement. The Stonegate Special Committee, following a review of the terms and conditions of the Arrangement Agreement and consideration of a number of factors, unanimously recommended that the board of directors of Stonegate (the "Stonegate Board") approve the Arrangement. After receiving the recommendation of the Stonegate Special Committee and advice from its advisors, the disinterested members of the Stonegate Board have unanimously determined that the Arrangement is in the best interests of Stonegate and is fair to Stonegate shareholders (other than Itafos and its affiliates) and will recommend that Stonegate Shareholders vote in favour of the Arrangement. Mr. Brian Zatarain, a director of Stonegate and Chief Executive Officer of Itafos, is a related party and, as such, declared his interest to the Stonegate Board in connection with the Arrangement and did not attend the meetings of the Stonegate Board relating to the Arrangement. All of the directors and senior officers of Stonegate, as well Mr. Lloyd I. Miller, III (a Stonegate Shareholder who beneficially owns, or controls or directs, directly or indirectly 21.3% of the Stonegate Shares), have entered into customary support agreements (collectively, the "Support Agreements") with Itafos pursuant to which, among other things, they have agreed to vote their Stonegate Shares in favour of the Arrangement. If the Arrangement is completed, the Stonegate Shares will be delisted from the TSX. A copy of the Arrangement Agreement is available through Stonegate's and Itafos' filings with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada in SEDAR at www.sedar.com. None of the securities to be issued pursuant to the Arrangement Agreement have been or will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and any securities issued in the Arrangement are anticipated to be issued in reliance upon available exemptions from such registration requirements pursuant to Section 3(a)(10) of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable exemptions under state securities laws. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities. Itafos will file an updated early warning report in connection with entering into the Arrangement Agreement and the Support Agreements. A copy of the report will be available under Stonegate's profile at www.sedar.com, or by contacting Brian Zatarain, the Chief Executive Officer of Itafos at brian.zatarain@itafos.com. ADVISORS Echelon Wealth Partners Inc. is acting as the financial advisor to Stonegate in connection with the Arrangement. Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP is acting as Canadian legal counsel to Stonegate, Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP is acting as US legal counsel to Stonegate and Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP is acting as legal counsel to Itafos in connection with the Arrangement. ABOUT ITAFOS Itafos (TSX VENTURE: IFOS) is focused on becoming a significant integrated producer of phosphate based fertilizers and related products. Itafos has an experienced team with significant experience in the business of fertilizer operations, management, marketing and finance. Itafos owns and operates the Itafos-Arraias SSP Operations, which consists of an integrated fertilizer producing facility comprised of a phosphate mine, a mill, a beneficiation plant, a sulphuric acid plant, an SSP plant and a granulation plant and related infrastructure located in central Brazil. Itafos' exploration portfolio includes a number of additional projects in Brazil, including the Santana Project, a high-grade phosphate deposit located in close proximity to the largest fertilizer market of Mato Grosso State and animal feed market of Para State, and the Araxa Project, a high-grade rare earth elements, niobium and phosphate deposit located in close proximity to two operating mines, therefore benefiting from existing local infrastructure. In addition, Itafos owns an approximate 31.3% interest in GB Minerals Ltd. which owns the Farim Project, a high-grade phosphate deposit located in Guinea Bissau and an approximate 35.2% interest in Stonegate Agricom Ltd. which owns the Paris Hills Project, a high-grade phosphate deposit located in Idaho, United States and the Mantaro Project, a highgrade phosphate deposit located in Peru. ABOUT STONEGATE AGRICOM LTD. Stonegate Agricom (TSX: ST), which is engaged in acquiring and developing agricultural nutrient projects, is currently focused on the development of the Paris Hills Phosphate Project located in Idaho. More information is available at www.stonegateagricom.com. FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION Certain information contained in this news release constitutes forward looking information. All information other than information of historical fact is forward looking information. The use of any of the words "intend", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "should", "would", "believe", "predict" and "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking information. This information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward looking information. No assurance can be given that this information will prove to be correct and such forward looking information included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. The forward looking information provided in this news release is based upon a number of material factors and assumptions including, without limitation: (a) that the Arrangement will be completed in the timelines and on the terms currently anticipated; (b) that all necessary TSX, TSXV, court and regulatory approvals will be obtained on the timelines and in the manner currently anticipated; (c) that all necessary Stonegate Shareholder approvals will be obtained; and (d) general assumptions respecting the business and operations of both Itafos and Stonegate, including that each business will continue to operate in a manner consistent with past practice and pursuant to certain industry and market conditions. Forward looking information is subject to a number of risks and other factors that could cause actual results and events to vary materially from that anticipated by such forward looking information. In particular, the completion of the Arrangement is subject to a number of risks including, without limitation: (a) TSX, TSXV, court and regulatory approvals may not be obtained in the timelines or on the terms currently anticipated or at all; (b) necessary Stonegate Shareholder approvals may not be obtained; (c) the Arrangement is subject to a number of closing conditions and no assurance can be given that all such conditions will be met or will be met in the timelines required by the Arrangement Agreement; and (d) the business, operational and/or financial performance or achievements of Itafos or Stonegate may be materially different from that currently anticipated. In particular, the benefits anticipated in respect of the Arrangement are based on the current business, operational and financial position of each of Itafos and Stonegate, which are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of risks, uncertainties and assumptions are not exhaustive. The forward looking information included in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and is made as of the date of this news release. Neither Itafos nor Stonegate undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward looking information except as required by applicable securities laws. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Contacts: Itafos Brian Zatarain Chief Executive Officer 1.713.239.2700 brian.zatarain@itafos.com www.itafos.com Stonegate Agricom Ltd. Ian J. McDonald Chairman and Chief Executive Officer 416.864.0303 info@stonegateagricom.com www.stonegateagricom.com RICHMOND, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 05/19/17 -- Canadian retailer, London Drugs, today launched Welcoming150, a special program and donation drive that will support 150 new Canadian families across Western Canada who left their country of origin sometimes due to unsafe circumstances. As part of celebrating Canada 150, the program will support families identified as still-in-need by participating agencies in the various markets where London Drugs stores are located. Starting May 19, people can visit their local London Drugs to learn about the families adopted by that particular store, and donate items based on the specific needs of those families. Items collected will then be delivered to the participating 150 families across Western Canada before Canada Day on July 1, 2017. "Welcoming and helping newcomers distinguishes what makes Canada great and so we are very excited to launch and facilitate this support program in all London Drugs stores in June, across Western Canada," said Clint Mahlman, executive vice president and chief operating officer, London Drugs. "As a proud family-owned 72-year-old Canadian company, we will also be contributing corporately, alongside the donations from our customers and staff to ensure each family's immediate needs are met." Each London Drugs location will celebrate and support their families in individual ways and demonstrate Canadian pride during the donation drive. "We are grateful to London Drugs for offering a program like this to continue to support refugee families primarily from Syria, Iraq, Somalia and Eritrea," said Patricia Woroch, CEO, ISSofBC. "We are still seeing great needs from many of the families we work with across B.C. While it's encouraging to see many of these people thrive as new residents of Canada, it is important that we don't forget about those who do need more time to adjust to such a significant change." The Continued Need for Refugee Support According to Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia, there is continued need amongst refugee families across Canada. Items needed currently include: -- Hygiene products such as soap, shampoo, deodorant, tooth paste, etc. -- Kitchen wares such as dishes, cutlery, cooking utensils, small appliances, etc. -- Linens for the kitchen, bath and bedroom. -- Food including snacks, cooking oil, rice, pasta, flour, cereal, juice, etc. -- Cleaning supplies including laundry soap, broom, dust pan, iron, etc. -- Family needs such as books, games or puzzles. The inspiration behind Welcoming150 is two-fold. First, it provides continued support for new Canadian families who come from unsafe backgrounds. Second, it honours the legacy of Tong Louie, whose family acquired London Drugs in 1945 and grew the company to what it is today. In 1914, Tong Louie was born to an immigrant Chinese family who owned a wholesale food business. Tong Louie and the Louie family have been instrumental in shaping today's retail industry in Canada. To learn more about the Welcoming150, the families, and how you can support, please visit http://www.londondrugs.com/welcoming150. ABOUT LONDON DRUGS Founded in 1945, B.C.-based London Drugs has 79 stores in more than 35 major markets throughout British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba including its online store www.londondrugs.com London Drugs offers consumers a range of products from digital cameras and cosmetics to computers and televisions. Renowned for its creative approach to retailing, the company employs more than 7,000 people with pharmacy and health care services being the heart of its business. Committed to innovation and superior customer service, London Drugs has established itself as a reputable and caring company and continues to position itself for future growth and development. ABOUT IMMIGRANT SERVICES SOCIETY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA Starting a new life in another country can be very hard, especially when you're unfamiliar with the culture, language and laws. If you're new to Canada, ISSofBC can help. Since 1972, we've been providing a variety of support services for immigrants and refugees to help them get settled, find careers and learn all they need to know about starting their new lives in Canada. Through our dedicated staff, volunteers and community partners, we provide settlement, education and employment services for over 25,000 clients every year. ISSofBC is the largest agency of its kind in Western Canada, with targeted programs for refugees, women, children and youth, plus support services in over 45 languages. Our programs and services are available throughout Metro Vancouver, Squamish and the Okanagan. Learn more at https://issbc.org/. Contacts: For interviews, photos/video, or local fundraising event information, please contact: Wendy Hartley 604-817-2758 Wendy@HartleyPR.com It will likely be a few more weeks before a decision is reached on whether a 128-home cluster development adjacent to Allenberry Resort in Monroe Township can move forward. On Wednesday, the Monroe Township Board of Supervisors heard final testimony as part of a conditional use hearing for Breeches at Allenberry. The supervisors unanimously voted to continue the hearing until 7 p.m. June 1, when they will begin deliberation. Trinity MSB, which owns Allenberry Resort, submitted plans for the development for conditional use approval. During Wednesdays testimony, several members of Friends of Cockleys Meadow a group of residents with properties near the proposed development voiced concerns that drilling wells for each of the homes could impact water quality and supply and exacerbate issues with sinkholes in the area. I am deeply concerned because it doesnt appear to me, and I am not a geologist or an engineer, that anybody is taking into consideration the sinkholes and how they can destroy properties and lives, Kathlein Ambridge said. Attorney Robert Walker, who represents Trinity MSB, acknowledged that Cumberland County is prone to sinkholes. Walker did not directly address Ambridges concern about the impact of well drilling or sinkhole formation during the meeting and declined comment after the meeting. Sinkholes Paul Martino, a professional geologist hired by Monroe Township for this matter, said it is not new or news that the county is prone to sinkholes. At the end of the day its better for you guys to have public water, Duane Stone, who represents Friends of Cockleys Meadow, said, addressing the developers. Its better for (the neighbors) and its better for the new people. What we do know is if we can get public water in here, everybodys happy and all you have to do is make an agreement. Ambridge said she has spoken with member of the South Middleton Township Municipal Authority who said the authority is willing and able to provide public water to the proposed development subject to an agreement between South Middleton Township and Monroe Township. Walker refuted the assertion that public water was readily available and said his clients have made efforts to reach an agreement with South Middleton Township. Its not ready to provide, Walker told Ambridge. They are willing and able to provide, Ambridge responded. The point I am trying to make is, and my clients certainly can testify and I think they already did testify to this is, just because (South Middleton Township) is willing and able, but subject to an agreement, thats a big, big gap to close, Walker said. Thats where my clients have been for months and months and months. Before closing the meeting, Monroe Township Supervisor Bill Castle said he would like time to review the evidence before making a decision. I think Allenberry would be a great asset to our community, and I think everybody agrees with that, Castle said. I have some concerns, and Ive asked people who understand water better than I do. If youve got a cup of water, Castle said, placing a paper cup in front of him. How many straws can you put in there. Thats what Im wondering. DUBLIN, May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Glycerol Market 2017-2021" report to their offering. The global glycerol market to grow at a CAGR of 8.73% during the period 2017-2021. The report, Global Glycerol Market 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market. One trend in market is growth of personal care industry. Glycerol is extensively used as a thickening agent, emulsifier, lubricant, and humectant in cosmetic and personal care applications. Consumers in developed as well as developing countries such as the US, the UK, Australia, Canada, France, China, India, Saudi Arabia, and Germany spend heavily on cosmetics. So, the consumption of cosmetic products is high in these countries, which is attributed to the high disposable income. According to the report, one driver in market is growing production of biodiesel. Globally, there is a growing interest in alternate fuels on account of the uncertainty in global fuel prices, energy security, and the continuous rise in emission levels. There is a demand for fuels that reduce the carbon emission levels and have commercial possibilities. The gradual depletion of fossil fuel reserves has given rise to renewable biofuels. The R&D efforts worldwide have led to the use of biofuels, which are gradually moving to large-scale commercialization because their performance is similar to gasoline and diesel. Biofuel blends are now being used in regular vehicles with little or no modification to the engines, which is encouraging the use of blended fuels in vehicles. Biofuels produce lesser greenhouse gas emissions in comparison to conventional fuels depending on the blend. Biofuels also reduce the amount of sulfur and hydrocarbon emissions in the air. Key vendors Emery Oleochemicals IOI Group Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad Oleon Wilmar International Other prominent vendors Archer Daniels Midland Cargill CREMER OLEO Croda International Godrej Industries Procter & Gamble Kao Key Topics Covered: PART 01: Executive summary PART 02: Scope of the report PART 03: Research Methodology PART 04: Introduction PART 05: Market landscape PART 06: Market segmentation by source PART 07: Market segmentation by application PART 08: Geographical segmentation PART 09: Decision framework PART 10: Drivers and challenges PART 11: Market trends PART 12: Vendor landscape PART 13: Key vendor analysis PART 14: Appendix For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/7l97x2/global_glycerol 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 DUBLIN, May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Distribution Automation Solutions Market 2017-2021" report to their offering. The global distribution automation solutions market to grow at a CAGR of 5.51% during the period 2017-2021. The report, Global Distribution Automation Solutions Market 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market. One trend in market is emergence of Internet of Things. IoT is the next generation technology for all industrial, commercial, and residential applications due to its superior advantages in the connectivity. At present, the IoT has already been commercialized to a degree in the factory, thereby bringing an industrial revolution with the concept of Industry 4.0. According to the report, one driver in market is rising need for grid efficiency and reliability. The demand for electricity is ramping up due to the rising population and urbanization across the world. This has created a shortage of electricity due to limited resources. Another difficulty that further complicates the situation is the variation in load demand to a large extent through the years. Thus, electricity supplying vendors must constantly match supply with demand every second to maintain reliability. The rising adoption of variable generation resources such as the wind and solar, intensifies higher levels of non-dispatchable resources to the system. Further, the report states that one challenge in market is lack of interoperability within devices. The cost of distribution automation has increased greatly due to rising interoperability issues among existing systems. The present distribution automation systems lack the integrational capabilities. Therefore, the limited infrastructure in power distribution needs to be revamped with fully functional digital workflows to maintain effective data sharing between systems. Since the distribution automation is still in its embryonic stage, it will be challenging for electricity service providers to integrate all systems in a seamless manner. Key vendors ABB Grid Solutions S&C Electric Company Schneider Electric Siemens Other prominent vendors Atlantic City Electric Eaton G&W Electric Kalkitech Kyland Key Topics Covered: PART 01: Executive summary PART 02: Scope of the report PART 03: Research Methodology PART 04: Introduction PART 05: Market landscape PART 06: Market segmentation by product PART 07: Market segmentation by end-user PART 08: Geographical segmentation PART 09: Decision framework PART 10: Drivers and challenges PART 11: Market trends PART 12: Vendor landscape PART 13: Key vendor analysis PART 14: Key takeaways PART 15: Appendix For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/nlmlxc/global 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 CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 05/19/17 -- Veresen Inc. ("Veresen") (TSX: VSN) announces that its Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend for May 2017 of $0.0833 per common share. The dividend will be paid on June 23, 2017 to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 31, 2017. This dividend is designated an "eligible dividend" for Canadian income tax purposes. Preferred Shares Series A, Series C and Series E Veresen's Board of Directors also declared the regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.275 per share, $0.3125 per share and $0.3125 per share for the period ended June 30, 2017 on its Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares Series A, Series C and Series E, respectively. These dividends will be paid on June 30, 2017 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 15, 2017. These dividends are designated an "eligible dividend" for Canadian income tax purposes. About Veresen Inc. Veresen is a publicly-traded dividend paying corporation based in Calgary, Alberta that owns and operates energy infrastructure assets across North America. Veresen is engaged in three principal businesses: a pipeline transportation business comprised of interests in the Alliance Pipeline, the Ruby Pipeline and the Alberta Ethane Gathering System; a midstream business which includes a partnership interest in Veresen Midstream Limited Partnership which owns assets in western Canada, and an ownership interest in Aux Sable which owns a world-class natural gas liquids (NGL) extraction facility near Chicago and other natural gas and NGL processing infrastructure; and a power business comprised of a portfolio of assets in Canada. Veresen is also working to advance Jordan Cove LNG, a 7.8 million tonne per annum natural gas liquefaction facility proposed to be constructed in Coos Bay, Oregon, and the associated Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline. In the normal course of business, Veresen regularly evaluates and pursues acquisition and development opportunities. Veresen's Common Shares, Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares, Series A, Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares, Series C, and Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares, Series E trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols "VSN", "VSN.PR.A", "VSN.PR.C" and "VSN.PR.E", respectively. For further information, please visit www.vereseninc.com. Contacts: Veresen Inc. Mark Chyc-Cies Vice President, Corporate Planning & Investor Relations (403) 213-3633 investor-relations@vereseninc.com www.vereseninc.com SAN JOSE, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 05/19/17 -- Martin A. Kropelnicki, President & Chief Executive Officer of California Water Service Group (NYSE: CWT) (Cal Water), returned to the Subcommittee on Environment of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce today to testify at its hearing on a discussion draft of "H.R.___, Drinking Water System Improvement Act and Related Issues of Funding, Management, and Compliance Assistance Under the Safe Drinking Water Act." Kropelnicki, appearing on behalf of the National Association of Water Companies (NAWC), which represents private water utilities across the country, first testified at the Subcommittee's hearing in March 2017 to discuss the challenges facing the water industry and the country's drinking water infrastructure. In his testimony on the Subcommittee's draft legislation, Kropelnicki provided recommendations to enact effective utility management practices and hold drinking water systems that are consistently non-compliant with health and safety standards accountable. Kroplenicki explored solutions that included: Compelling failing and non-compliant systems to pursue partnerships or consolidation with able owners or operators Reserving federal funding for failing systems that are geographically unable to pursue such measures and for projects to incentivize water suppliers to implement the Environmental Protection Agency's principles of effective utility management Utilizing full-cost pricing in setting water rates Providing incentives for private utilities to leverage their decades of experience solving complex water challenges and expertise in infrastructure investments, such as providing utilities safe harbor protections when they assume responsibility for turning around failing water systems "NAWC and our member utilities are committed to ensuring the customers we serve always have a safe and reliable water supply," said Kropelnicki, who currently serves as President of NAWC. "With technical, managerial, and financial expertise, we continue to stand able, ready, and willing to partner with the public sector to help ensure all Americans have the same safe, reliable, and high-quality water utility service." The full hearing, in which Kropelnicki testified with Lisa Daniels, on behalf of the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators; Steve Fletcher, on behalf of the National Rural Water Association; Scott Potter, on behalf of the American Municipal Water Association; James Proctor, of McWane, Inc.; Lynn Thorp, of Clean Water Action; and Kurt Vause, on behalf of the American Water Works Association; can be viewed at http://bit.ly/2rw51DB. Kropelnicki's written testimony to the Subcommittee can be read at http://bit.ly/2qBFnNE. California Water Service Group is the parent company of California Water Service, Washington Water Service, New Mexico Water Service, Hawaii Water Service, CWS Utility Services, and HWS Utility Services. The subsidiaries provide regulated and non-regulated water service to nearly 2 million people in 100 communities. The Company's common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "CWT." Additional information about the company is available online at www.calwatergroup.com. 1720 North First Street San Jose, CA 95112-4598 Contact: Yvonne Kingman (310) 257-1434 DUBLIN, May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Allergy Rhinitis Drugs Market 2017-2021" report to their offering. The analysts forecast the global allergy rhinitis drugs market to grow at a CAGR of 3.05% during the period 2017-2021. The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global allergy rhinitis drugs market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report presents a detailed picture of the market by way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market. Allergic diseases are one of the fastest-growing chronic diseases globally. If not managed properly at an early stage, allergic diseases such as rhinitis can increase the risk of asthma in the later stage of life. Several organizations around the world work to better understand the pathogenesis of allergic diseases. According to the report, one driver in the market is increasing awareness about allergic rhinitis. The increasing awareness about allergic rhinitis is fueling the market growth. Due to various environmental factors, the prevalence of allergic rhinitis is increasing in US. In the US, awareness programs and initiatives are undertaken by various organizations to spread disease awareness among the target population. Further, the report states that one challenge in the market is patent expiries and generic competition. The patent expiry of major drugs approved for allergy rhinitis is expected to adversely affect the market and slow down its growth during the forecast period. The patent expiry of a drug often results in the loss of the exclusive market, leading to a rapid decline in sales. Key vendors GlaxoSmithKline Sanofi ALK-Abello Meda Pharmaceuticals Key Topics Covered: Part 01: Executive summary Part 02: Scope of the report Part 03: Research Methodology Part 04: Introduction Part 05: Pipeline Landscape Part 06: Market landscape Part 07: Market segmentation by drug class Part 08: Geographical segmentation Part 09: Decision framework Part 10: Drivers and challenges Part 11: Market trends Self-medication using OTC products Part 12: Vendor Landscape Part 13: Vendor landscape Part 14: Appendix For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/ns498x/global_allergy 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 International Wire Group Holdings, Inc. (the "Company") (OTC Pink:ITWG) today received a 2016 Pinnacle Award for Supplier Excellence from Delphi, its most prestigious supplier honor. International Wire was recognized for its contributions to Delphi's Excellence culture and commitment to quality, value and cost performance. "I want to thank Delphi for recognizing International Wire with the 2016 Pinnacle Award for supplier excellence. Receiving this award is a testament to IWG's commitment to exceptional customer service and sustained continuous improvement and I want to thank and congratulate the IWG team on this prestigious achievement. Delphi is a key customer for both our North American and European businesses and I look forward to further strengthening the Delphi-IWG relationship while growing our businesses together," said Edwin J. Flynn, Chief Executive Officer of International Wire Group Holdings, Inc. "Suppliers like International Wire play a significant role in Delphi's success," said Sidney Johnson, senior vice president, Delphi supply chain management. "At Delphi, it isn't just about what we make, but what we make possible a future where vehicles are safer, greener and more connected. Thank you for playing an important role in creating that future." Delphi recognized 19 suppliers with its 2016 Pinnacle Award. About International Wire Group Holdings, Inc. International Wire Group Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is a manufacturer and marketer of wire products, including bare, silver-plated, nickel-plated and tin-plated copper wire, engineered wire products and high performance conductors, for other wire suppliers, distributors and original equipment manufacturers. Its products include a broad spectrum of copper wire configurations and gauges with a variety of electrical and conductive characteristics and are utilized by a wide variety of customers primarily in the industrial and energy, electronics and data communications, automotive/specialty vehicles, aerospace and defense, medical products and consumer and appliance industries. The Company has eighteen manufacturing facilities and one distribution facility located throughout the United States, France, Italy and Poland. Forward-Looking Information is Subject to Risk and Uncertainty Certain statements in this release may constitute "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts and can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as the words "expect," "may," "will," "anticipate" or the negative of any thereof or other variations thereof or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy or intentions. Undue reliance should not be placed on any forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's current beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management as of the date they were made. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Many factors could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, fluctuations in our operating results and customer orders, unexpected decreases in demand or increases in inventory levels, changes in the price of copper, tin, nickel and silver, developments in the competitive environments of the markets we serve, our reliance on our significant customers, lack of long-term contracts, our substantial dependence on business outside of the U.S. and changes in exchange rates and other risks associated with our international operations, limitations due to our indebtedness, potential loss of key employees or the deterioration in our relationship with employees, litigation, claims, liability from environmental laws and regulations and other factors. ITWG-G View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170519005730/en/ Contacts: International Wire Group Holdings, Inc. Donald F. DeKay, 315-245-3800 Senior Vice-President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary GENEVA, SWITZERLAND -- (Marketwired) -- 05/19/17 -- Note to Editors: There are five photos associated with this press release. Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) today highlighted a number of achievements related to its turbofan engine families that demonstrate the company's leadership in the business jet sector. P&WC is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX). "Our PW300 engine family, with a power capability that ranges from 4,700 to 8,000 pounds thrust, has proven itself time and again to be the go-to powerplant for a wide variety of business jets in the medium to large cabin classes," said Michael Perodeau, Vice President, Marketing, Business Aviation, P&WC. "A number of our PW300 programs are achieving flight-hour milestones that speak to the sustained popularity of these engines, their operating efficiencies and their durability. This complements the experience gained on our other, smaller turbofan models, and together provides the foundation for developing our larger PurePower PW800 family of engines. High levels of flying hours mean we have extensive sources of data across the whole spectrum of operating environments to enable us to: -- develop and optimize engine features and maintenance and methods; -- continuously develop and introduce improvements over time to our products and services; and -- develop and introduce creative predictive tools to maximize aircraft availability. An Impressive Record of Engine Flying Hours and Engine Models Perodeau points out that the company's PW307A/D engines - which power the Dassault Falcon 7X and Falcon 8X respectively, have recently surpassed 1.5 million hours of flight time. The Cessna Citation Latitude, powered by the PW306D1 engine, was the most delivered mid-sized jet in 2016 with 42 aircraft delivered. The PW306 series engine has accumulated some two million flight hours, and the PW308C engine which powers the Falcon 2000LXS and S aircraft from Dassault is rapidly approaching 2 million hours in service. "In as much as the PW300 engine family was built from the learnings of our original turbofan engine program, the JT15D, the PW300 serves as a foundation from which we have built subsequent engine programs," says Perodeau. "Our PW500 and PW600 engine families are also celebrating important milestones with Embraer. This March, the first Phenom 100 EV (PW617F1-E engine) aircraft was delivered by Embraer, complemented by the delivery of the 400th Phenom 300 (PW535E engine). Moreover, on May 19, the PW617F1-E engine was granted European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) validation adding to the list of milestones in P&WC's turbofan engine family. The arc of gas turbine innovation and learning we've followed over the past 88 years, which includes 37 engine turbofan engine models certified in the last 46 years, continues today with the PurePower PW800 engine which has received FAA approval and is poised for Entry into Service by the end of this year, ahead of schedule." Customer Service Solutions for Peace of Mind and Availability Business Aviation engine operators can count on the support from our worldwide network and experienced service experts. Our customers have access to P&WC's Eagle Service Plan (ESP), a flexible pay-per-hour plan that offers peace of mind by helping to plan maintenance costs and maximize aircraft availability. Our customer service solutions are a testament to P&WC's commitment to rapid, customized service that addresses operators' changing needs. More information about the ESP program is available at www.pwc.ca/service-support. About Pratt & Whitney Canada Founded in 1928, P&WC is a global leader in aerospace that is shaping the future of aviation with dependable, high- technology engines. Based in Longueuil, Quebec (Canada), P&WC is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. United Technologies Corp., based in Farmington, Connecticut, provides high-technology systems and services to the global aerospace and building systems industries. This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning future business opportunities. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to challenges in the design, development, production, support, performance, and realization of anticipated benefits of advanced technologies; as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in United Technologies Corp.'s Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Note to Editors: For more information, visit our media page at www.pwc.ca/ebace-media. Follow us on Twitter (www.twitter.com/pwcanada) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/PrattWhitneyCanada) for our latest news and updates. To view the photos associated with this press release, please visit the following links: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20170519-PW307D_LRG.jpg http://www.marketwire.com/library/20170519-PW308C_LRG.jpg http://www.marketwire.com/library/20170519-PW535E_LRG.jpg http://www.marketwire.com/library/20170519-PW617F_LRG.jpg http://www.marketwire.com/library/20170519-PW814GA_LRG.jpg Contacts: Media Contact: Isabelle Gagne Pratt & Whitney Canada, Longueuil 1+514-262-3497 isabelle.gagne@pwc.ca www.pwc.ca MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 05/19/17 -- New Look Vision Group Inc. (TSX: BCI) ("New Look Vision") announced today that Derrick Giannoumis, CPA, CA, Senior Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer, will retire from the Company effective June 2nd, 2017. A search has commenced for his replacement. In the meantime, financial and investor queries will be handled by New Look Vision's President, Antoine Amiel. Mr. Amiel stated that: "Derrick joined us from Greiche & Scaff after its acquisition in October 2014 and contributed to its successful integration into New Look Vision as well as other accomplishments on our behalf. The Board of Directors, senior management and I wish him well in his new endeavours." As of April 30th, 2017, New Look Vision had 13,579,077 Class A common shares issued and outstanding. New Look Vision is a leader in the eye care industry in Eastern Canada having a network of 227 corporate stores mainly under the New Look Eyewear, Vogue Optical and Greiche & Scaff banners and laboratory facilities using state-of-the-art technologies. Tax information regarding payments to shareholders is available at www.newlookvision.ca in the Investors section. For additional information please see our Web site www.newlookvision.ca. Contacts: Lise Melanson (514) 877-4299, ext. 2234 DUBLIN, May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) Drugs Market 2017-2021" report to their offering. The global benign prostatic hyperplasia drugs market to grow at a CAGR of 7.07% during the period 2017-2021. The report, Global Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Drugs 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. According to the report, one driver in market is growing geriatric male population. The presence of a large population with BPH symptoms is expected to drive the market growth. The risk of BPH increases exponentially with the rise in the age of an individual. Approximately, 80% of men who reach 60 years and above have mild to strong symptoms of BPH. This disorder affects one in 38 individuals in the age group of 40-59 years; however, in the age group of 60-69 years, it affects one in 14 individuals. However, the chances of developing this disorder among the population of under 40 years are rare. This indicates that rising aging male population is directly proportional to the risk of BPH. Currently, out of the total older population in the world, those aged above 65 years are the fastest-growing population group, accounting for 8.1% of the total population in 2014. This group is expected to reach 16% by 2050. This scenario is expected to drive the market growth. Key vendors Astellas Pharma Eli Lilly GlaxoSmithKline Sanofi Other prominent vendors ADC Therapeutics Advaxis Agennix ANI Pharmaceuticals Bayer HealthCare BHR Pharma Bristol- Myers Squibb Boehringer Ingelheim Others Key Topics Covered: PART 01: Executive summary PART 02: Scope of the report PART 03: Research Methodology PART 04: Introduction PART 05: BPH diagnostics PART 06: Pipeline landscape PART 07: Market landscape PART 08: Market segmentation by MOA PART 09: Geographical segmentation PART 10: Decision framework PART 11: Drivers and challenges PART 12: Market trends PART 13: Vendor landscape PART 14: Key vendor analysis PART 15: Appendix For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/z68gcw/global_benign 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 CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 05/19/17 -- Jura Energy Corporation (TSX VENTURE: JEC) ("Jura") today announced that Shahzad Ashfaq, director of Jura since July 2012, has advised the board of directors of Jura (the "Board") that he will resign from the Board following the annual and special meeting of shareholders to be held on Thursday, May 25, 2017 at the office of Jura located at Suite 5100, 150 - 6 Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta at 8 a.m. (Calgary time) (the "Shareholder Meeting"). Mr. Ashfaq is stepping down from the Board to devote more time to his other business interests. The Board has acknowledged Mr. Ashfaq's important contributions to Jura during the period in which he served as a director, and particularly as a member of the Board's audit and reserves committees, and wishes Mr. Ashfaq every success for the future. The Shareholder Meeting will proceed as planned and there is no need for shareholders to alter their votes that have already been submitted as a result of this resignation. Jura mailed a management information circular (the "Circular") in respect of the Shareholder Meeting to shareholders on or about April 28, 2017, in which management proposed to nominate all of the incumbent directors for re-election. As indicated in the Circular, it is the intention of the management nominee to vote proxies in the form accompanying the Circular in favour of the election of all of the following seven nominees: Stephen C. Akerfeldt, Shahzad Ashfaq, Timothy M. Elliott, Shahid Hameed, Akbar Kazmi, Stephen Smith and Frank J. Turner. Management of Jura will not nominate another candidate in Mr. Ashfaq's place, and Mr. Ashfaq's resignation will be effective immediately following the close of the Shareholder Meeting. Presuming that there are no other nominees for the Board who are elected at the Shareholder Meeting, Jura will have a six-member Board, and the Board will consider whether it would be beneficial to conduct a search for an additional director or directors. About Jura Energy Corporation Jura is an international energy company engaged in the exploration, development and production of petroleum and natural gas properties in Pakistan. Jura is based in Calgary, Alberta, and listed on the TSX-V trading under the symbol JEC. Jura conducts its business in Pakistan through its subsidiaries, Frontier Holdings Limited and Spud Energy Pty Limited. Forward Looking Advisory This press release contains certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. The words "will", "approximately", and similar expressions are used to identify forward looking information. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date the statements and are made in light of management's experience and other factors management believes are appropriate in the circumstances, and include the outcome of the election of directors at the Shareholder Meeting, and the voting of proxies by the management nominee at the Shareholder Meeting. Jura undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statement 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 Jura's control. These assumptions and risks include, but are not limited to: the votes cast by shareholders, including Jura's majority shareholder Eastern Petroleum Limited, at the Shareholder Meeting, and the proper holding of the Shareholder Meeting, including meeting the necessary quorum requirements. 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. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Contacts: Mr. Shahid Hameed Interim CEO Tel: +92 51 2270702-5 Fax: +92 51 227 0701 Website: www.juraenergy.com E-Mail: info@juraenergy.com CSquared, a tech company focused on deploying wholesale, carrier-neutral, open-access fiber optic networks across Sub-Saharan Africa, is to receive up to $100m in funding. Backers included World Bank Group member IFC, Google, Inc., Convergence Partners, and Mitsui & Co. The operation part of IFCs Digital Infrastructure Initiative, which aims to increase internet access in under served regions intends to improve broadband connectivity in Sub-Saharan Africa where the lack of dependable internet access impairs economic growth, competitiveness, and the development of basic services. It will also expand Googles existing operations in Uganda and Ghana, with the goal of entering several new markets over the next five years. Fiber optic cable, however, is expensivejust one kilometer can cost between $15,000 and $30,000and Africa needs at least half a million more kilometers. Deploying and operating infrastructure on a shared basisCsquareds business modelcan help lower installation and consumer costs. CSquared aims to offer high-quality, affordable wholesale services to all licensed operators. CSquared is a technology company, making commercially driven investments into broadband-enabling infrastructure throughout Africa. It has built more than 800 km of fiber in Kampala and Entebbe, Uganda; and more than 840 km of fiber in the Ghanaian cities of Accra, Tema, and Kumasi. More than 25 internet service providers and mobile network operators now use the companys fiber networks to offer broadband services and 4G data to end users, with over 1,200 tower and commercial building sites connected directly to its fiber infrastructure. FinSMEs 19/05/2017 IronCore Labs, Inc., a Boulder, Colorado, and Bozeman, Montana-based developer of a customer-controlled data platform for software vendors, closed a $1.5m seed round of funding. The round was led by Next Frontier Capital with participation from Blue Note Ventures, PV Ventures, v1.vc, and several private investors. In conjunction with the funding, Richard Harjes, General Partner at Bozeman-based Next Frontier Capital, is joining the IronCore Board of Directors. The company will use its funds to launch its solution publicly. Led by Patrick Walsh, CEO, IronCore provides cloud software companies with a SaaS-based customer-controlled data service that shifts control of security and compliance keys to the owner of the data enabling enterprises to store sensitive data in the cloud without loss of security or control, and SaaS vendors to get to sell more software. FinSMEs 19/05/2017 Iterum Therapeutics Limited, a Dublin, EIRE-based clinical-stage pharmaceutical company, raised $65m in Series B funding. The round was led by Arix Bioscience plc (LSE: ARIX) with participation from new investors Advent Life Sciences, Domain Associates, Bay City Capital and Pivotal bioVenture Partners. and previous investors Frazier Healthcare Partners, Canaan Partners, Sofinnova Ventures and New Leaf Venture Partners. In conjunction with the funding, Arix Biosciences Mark Chin will join Iterums Board of Directors. Led by CEO Corey Fishman and CSO Michael Dunne MD, Iterum is developing sulopenem, a novel oral and intravenous antibiotic, known as a penem, for the treatment of Gram-negative multi-drug resistant infections. Sulopenem, with a safety and efficacy profile similar to other penems, has demonstrated broad-spectrum coverage, including Gram-negative pathogens, and has shown potent in-vitro activity against Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL) mutants of E. coli and K. pneumonia. These pathogens are the most commonly associated with our initial indications of interest: uncomplicated urinary tract infections, complicated urinary tract infections and complicated intra-abdominal infections (uUTI, cUTI and cIAI). The proceeds of this financing will be used to complete a Phase 3 pivotal trial in uUTI and to advance the broader Phase 3 pivotal program. Trials are expected to begin in the first half of 2018 and Iterum plans to file an NDA with the FDA by year end 2019. FinSMEs 19/05/2017 Qupital, a Hong Kong based online invoice discounting exchange, secured $2m in seed funding. The round was led by MindWorks Ventures and Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund, with participation from DRL Capital, Aria Group and others. The company plans to use the funds to expand its small and medium enterprise (SME) financing platform and accelerate its regional expansion. Founded in March 2016 by Andy Chan, a Brown University alumnus, and Winston Wong, a Hong Kong University of Science and Technology alumnus, in Hong Kong to address a lack of efficient SME financing solutions in the market, Qupital currently serves a wide range of SMEs in the export, manufacturing, and distribution sectors. The company actively approaches hedge funds, family offices and other mature professional investors to fund the invoices. FinSMEs 19/05/2017 Decentralised solar power, when utilised by unelectrified households, reduces money spent on kerosene but is not conducive to accessing larger social and economic benefits, a study published in Science Advances, an online publication, has found. The study was conducted over a year in 1,281 households from 81 non-electrified rural communities in Suratganj block of Barabanki district, Uttar Pradesh. While half of the population was selected randomly and put into a "treatment" group, which was offered cost-effective solar microgrids by solar service provider Mera Gao Power, the other half, the "control" group, was not given power. The researchers observed over the period of the study that basic energy access through the micro-grid did not appear to provide broader socio-economic benefits. Installing a solar lighting system had little effect on the household patterns of time spent on work, studying using the light, expenditures, savings or business ownership. However, after comparing the treatment and control groups, the study found that electrification rates (percentage of households with access to electricity) in the former increased by 29-36 percent. The electrified households also spent about Rs 47-49 less on black market kerosene per month, while the average spending earlier on black market kerosene was about Rs 73. "We worked in very small and marginalised communities, even by Uttar Pradesh standards," Michael Aklin, one of the authors of the paper, told IndiaSpend over email. "For instance, other communities might differ considerably in terms of how wealthy they are or how close they are to the grid. Similarly, if we think about other countries, we would also need to think about the price of kerosene. The impact of these microgrids could be larger in places in which kerosene is more expensive (which would be the case, for instance, in places without government subsidies)." Around 90 million households still use kerosene for cooking and lighting requirements, according to estimates by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). Companies like Mera Gao Power that build small energy grids to power a few households or a village, have the potential to reach 73 million unelectrified households that still use kerosene as their primary source of electricity -- a polluting source that produces earth-warming carbon dioxide, in addition to emitting gases such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter, with severe health consequences. An estimated 1.16 billion people (17 percent of the world's population) did not have access to electricity in 2015; an estimated 615 million of them are in Asia and the majority of those in India (306 million), according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), an inter-governmental organisation that supports transitions to sustainable energy. For people without access to electricity, off-grid renewable systems, which are cheaper than extending the national grid, are the most economical way to get electricity, according to IRENA. The Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM), one of eight missions initiated to combat climate change through clean energy generation, is a major policy initiative to promote solar energy, including off-grid power development, IRENA said. India aims to add 2,000 MW off-grid solar applications by 2022 under the JNNSM. This is a part of a larger target to install 175 GW (1 GW is 1000 MW) of renewable generating capacity by 2022, under its commitment to the 2015 Paris Agreement to combat global warming. Off-grid installations will make up a very minuscule part of this target. Between 2013-17, the mission is expected to deploy around one million solar lighting systems. By March 2017, the government had installed 462.54 MW of solar photovoltaic systems under off-grid applications, according to MNRE. While the government has provided these decentralised power systems for rural electrification since 2001, the sector has seen a surge of private companies recently, according to the Global Network on Energy for Sustainable Development (GNESD). "The households could use electricity only at night, beginning at sunset and ending by 11 pm," Aklin said. "The main problem is not the number of hours but the amount of power available. The micro-grids we studied only gave people access to mobile charging and two LED lights." "Larger systems that can power appliances and machinery would have more substantial impacts but the capital cost would be higher. The challenges here concern the cost of these systems and the relative poverty of the potential customers. Public policy could be particularly useful here to help customers borrow money to buy (or rent) more powerful off-grid technologies," Aklin added. The poorest of the poor often pay the highest rates for basic electricity services, and regulation of off-grid markets is needed, according to the World Resources Institute (WRI), a global research organisation. It also said that erratic supply offsets the full economic benefits of electrification programmes. Access to electricity is not binary and cannot be answered with just a yes or no. Communities' experience of electricity is shaped by attributes such as reliability, affordability, and capacity for powering different services, according to a WRI paper. As of 16 May, 2017, 73 percent of villages were electrified but only eight per cent had all its households electrified, according to data published by the ministry of power. However, this provides no information about the quality of power provided. Beijing: China on Thursday again invoked the Panchsheel agreement to discuss the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) with India, a multi-million dollar project that has emerged as the latest irritant between the two countries. Beijing again sought to allay New Delhi's fear that China would meddle in the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan. "I think we have already had so much discussion on this issue. We have expressed our position many times on CPEC," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said here. "I want to reiterate that we would like to follow the five principles of co-existence in developing friendly relations with other countries, including our efforts in promoting regional connectivity," Hua said, referring to the Panchsheel pact. "I am sure you would have noticed that during the Belt and Road Forum of International Cooperation, President Xi also said that we would follow the principle of peaceful coexistence to promote friendly cooperation along the Belt and Road. "So I think in this way the concerns from the Indian side must be addressed." In 1954, India and China signed five principles of peaceful co-existence or Panchsheel that talked about mutual respect for each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty, mutual non-aggression, mutual non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit and peaceful co-existence. But the two neighbours fought a brief war in 1962. The CPEC has emerged as the sore point between India and China. The $46 billion economic route passes through Pakistan-administered Kashmir, claimed by New Delhi. The CPEC is one of the key components of China's Belt and Road project, which aims to connect Asia, Europe, and Africa through a network of roads, railway lines and ports. India skipped the Belt and Road forum in Beijing in opposition to the CPEC. "We have already expressed our position as you can see the Belt and Road Initiative is an open and inclusive one and follows the principles of extensive consultations and shared benefits. The CPEC is an important part of the belt and road will bring benefit to regional connectivity and common development and prosperity." Hua said. "Regarding the Kashmir region, as we said before, it is an issue between India and Pakistan and the Belt and Road initiative will not change China's positions on the Kashmir issue." she added. General Motors came to India nearly two decades ago, if you remember they came in with Opel and offered products like the Astra back then. They ran a reasonably successful business until the last three years. Just yesterday General Motors announced they would no longer have any domestic sales in India by the end of 2017, focusing their entire business on manufacturing for exports alone. Its a huge blow not just for General Motors, but for the entire automotive industry. General Motors failure is a strong indicator of what manufacturers like them fail to do in India, for long thought to be one of the toughest markets anywhere in the world. Here in my opinion are some of the biggest factors leading to their new status quo in this market. 1. A lack of products: What do Maruti and Hyundai two of the strongest players in India have that makes them so strong. A robust product pipeline that is diverse, affordable, reliable and contemporary. Both Maruti and Hyundai have a diverse product portfolio, every Rs 10,000 can get you an entirely different car. And both update their portfolio with alarming pace so you never feel any single product is outdated. General Motors biggest drawback was an aging portfolio based on specific South East Asian market products, which were not entirely global like their competitors products. The bulk of GM sales came from just three products, the Chevrolet Beat, the Tavera and the Cruze, the latter despite its age continues to have a strong following in the market. However, all three products have been flogged for so long, they long lost their appeal despite being mass players. In addition the Tavera got hammered because it did not comply with certain emission requirements and General Motors tried to cover up those discrepancies, think the Volkswagen scandal, albeit smaller, if you can call a nearly 1.2 lakh vehicle recall that! Anyway, GM also flogged the Beat by introducing variant after variant, facelift after facelift, never really being able to completely revamp that brand to keep up with the times. In comparison, newer cars cropped up from Maruti, Hyundai, Nissan, Volkswagen, Skoda, Renault, etc which managed to snatch market share away from General Motors. Even the Cruze lost out to newer and better products from Toyota, Skoda and Hyundai, even though that end of the market was shrinking. A critical failure was the Captiva, though a good product, the Hyundai Creta sized SUV for some reason never managed to capture enough attention. Probably by this time the consumers had already started losing faith in the brand. 2. Network: Marutis biggest strength in India is its dealer and service network. They have over 1,200 touchpoints, in comparison their biggest competitor has just a little under 700 dealers. This allows Maruti to reach out to some of the most far flung regions of India making sure their coverage is absolute. Their service network is even larger and early on Maruti learnt very quickly to encourage even the smallest mom and pop service outlets to go legit and adopt Maruti Suzuki practices. General Motors had at one point in time a robust enough network with over 400 dealers, but diminishing consumer confidence in the products and strained relations between consumers and dealers (several claimed to be unethical with shady dealings) shrunk those numbers to just a little over 200 touchpoints. 3. Outdated technology: Most of GMs cars barely matched up to what their competitors were offering. The platforms themselves were nearly a decade old, the engines older. In trying to be cost efficient and still meet certain emission requirements General Motors used technology that barely helped them scrape through. With extremely low tolerance levels these engines sometimes met the emission requirements, sometimes they didnt! Plus, the quality of components over time got poorer and poorer. Cost cutting measures forced General Motors to use cheaper components. One of their last big launches, the Chevrolet Enjoy though ideally positioned to capture a decent market share lost out because the quality was simply shoddy. 4. Inability to read the market and adapt quickly: One aspect that General Motors failed to work on was their preparedness to adapt to the dynamics of the market. When SUVs started coming into the limelight they were left floundering over MPVs and hatchbacks. Even though they brought in the Trailblazer, it was too far up the price scale to make any serious headway in the mass market. Neither did General Motors enjoy the reputation that Toyota has earned and which helps them sell the Fortuner like hot cakes. When 2.0-litre diesel engines came under a microscope General Motors had nothing that could work as a contingency plan for some of their products. And now with the move to BSIV, and by the turn of the decade the shift to BSVI meant that further investments would lead to greater losses without products that could create an impact in the market. Shutting domestic sales was definitely a smarter plan to cut their losses. 5. Global challenges: One big concern that General Motors faced was the bailout they needed a decade ago after chapter 11 proceedings. It meant shaping up and consolidating their businesses around the world. Government Motors thereafter had the big task of restructuring their businesses around the world, and in it, India had a big role to play. Unfortunately, in the larger scheme of things as other regions got a stimulus, India got ignored until recently when a new play would have been made based around products like the new Beat and the Essentia. Unfortunately it seems that play came in too late. In the meantime competitors got so strong and market share for GM shrunk to so low a level, it would never be able to crawl out of there profitably for a long time to come. Globally General Motors has also been shifting focus to electric cars, with the Chevy Volt and others being prepared for futures growth. In that scheme of things there really wasnt any space for developing markets like India that has still a long way to go before electric cars can find suitable atmosphere here. General Motors in fact was the first manufacturer in the world to launch an all-electric vehicle and they have constantly followed that up with others like the Spark EV, the Bolt EV and their latest the hybrid-electric Volt. None of these has a future in India. 6. Weak leadership teams: Over time General Motors has also been plagued with a team of leaders that really couldnt take their mandates too far. Of course, the challenges for the American brand were huge but without visionaries and strong long term planners this could be one of the reasons the company never managed to get far ahead of its competition. The organisation here in India turned out more bureaucratic than any other automotive manufacturer in India and that has been a critical reason for its downfall. (The writer is Editor-in-chief of Overdrive magazine) Gandhinagar: India is eyeing cooperation with African nations on the International Solar Alliance (ISA) initiative and looking forward to deepen economic cooperation during the upcoming annual meetings of African Development Bank (AfDB) Group here from 22 May. For the first time, India would be hosting the annual meetings of the bank here from May 22-26. The annual meet will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 23 May. "India would seek to leverage this occasion to further deepen her economic cooperation with the African countries. India is also looking forward to cooperation with Africa on the International Solar Alliance (ISA) initiative," the Finance Ministry said here in a statement on Thursday. The ISA initiative was launched at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris in November 2015. The ISA is conceived as a coalition of solar resource-rich countries to address their special energy needs. "The annual meetings of the bank this year would be another opportunity to discuss the issues facing the regional member countries, while India would seek to leverage this occasion to further deepen our economic cooperation with the African countries," the statement said. The core theme of the event is "Transforming Agriculture for wealth creation in Africa", which has tremendous scope for cooperation between India and Africa. The annual meetings are the largest event of the bank, which would witness about 3,000 delegates from 81 member-countries from across the world gathering at the Mahatma Mandir convention centre here in Gujarat. AfDB has adopted a strategy called 'High 5s', which focuses on five major developmental priorities comprising agriculture, energy, industrialisation, regional connectivity and improved quality of life through access to social and economic opportunities. During the course of the event, the Board of Governors of the bank will meet to dwell upon the major developmental challenges facing the African countries and the ways to achieve an inclusive and sustainable growth. India will be organising an Africa India Cooperation Event on the sidelines of the main event. The sessions would primarily focus on agriculture, healthcare, e-governance, renewable energy, skill development and education, trade and investment and manufacturing. The government is also planning an exhibition to showcase the capabilities of Indian companies in terms of technology, innovation, and start-ups, which could be relevant to African countries. The theme of the exhibition is centred on the priority areas of the bank. During India Africa Forum Summit 2015, the announcement of $10 billion line of credit by Modi marked a new beginning in India's approach to engage with African countries in a more constructive manner. India's support through lines of credit has not only helped finance the projects in African countries, but has also contributed to capacity building, IT education, and higher education. India joined the African Development Fund (ADF) in 1982 and the African Development Bank (AfDB) in 1983, initiating a long history of cooperation spanning over 30 years. India's collaboration with the bank group is built around three main pillars -- contributions to the General Capital Increase (GCI), contributions to African Development Fund replenishment and a bilateral trust fund and providing resources to support highly indebted poor countries and the multilateral debt reduction initiative. State Bank of India (SBI) has once again proved to be an outlier in the crisis-ridden public sector banking space. In the March quarter the bank has done well on almost every key financial parameters. The net profit more than doubled to Rs 2,814.82 crore from Rs 1,263.81 crore a year ago, net interest income rose 17.3 percent to Rs 18,071 crore while total provisions declined 11 percent to Rs 11,740 crore from Rs 13,174 crore in the year-ago period. More importantly, the gross non-performing assets (GNPA) has shown improvement on a quarter on quarter basis. In the March quarter, the figure fell to 6.90 percent from 7.23 percent in the December quarter and 7.14 percent in the quarter before that. A steady improvement in the NPA figures is commendable at a time when majority of the state-run banks are neck-deep in bad loans. At the end of March, there are currently fourteen state-run banks who have GNPAs above 10 percent. The top NPA-cases in the chart are Indian Overseas Bank (IoB), which has 22.39 percent GNPAs, IDBI bank with 21.25 percent, Central Bank and UCO Bank (both with above 17 percent GNPAs). In the case of IoB, the bank has posted seven consecutive quarters of loss while IDBI Bank has been posting two successive quarters of loss. As a point of comparison, the accumulated losses of IoB in the seven quarters is at Rs 6,433 crore, not far from its current market capitalisation of Rs 6,800 crore. On account of IDBI Bank's dangerous levels of NPAs and negative return on assets (RoAs), the Reserve Bank of India, early this month, had initiated a prompt corrective action" (PCA). Compared with state-run banks, private sector banks have fared better. Except J&K Bank, no other bank has GNPAs in double digits. But that doesnt mean everything is alright with the private sector banks. ICICI Bank, one of the largest private lenders in the country, has seen its bad loan levels inching up over the last few quarters. At the end of March, its GNPAs stood at 7.89 percent of its loans, compared with 7.2 percent in the December quarter and 6.82 percent in the quarter prior to that. But, except for a few cases, private sector banks are relatively in a better position. An excellent case study for the Modi-government to find out what is wrong with the sarkari banks that private lenders have cracked to their advantage. Right now, the bad loan scenario in the banking sector can be termed nothing short of a crisis situation with at least 10 percent of the total loans given by banks in the stressed category. This is, however, only a conservative estimate that is taken into account. PSB's gross non-performing assets (% of net advances) Bank Q4-FY17 Q3-FY17 Q2-FY17 Q1-FY17 Q4-FY16 I O B 22.39 22.42 21.77 20.48 17.40 IDBI Bank 21.25 15.16 13.05 11.92 10.98 Central Bank 17.81 14.14 13.70 13.52 11.95 UCO Bank 17.12 17.18 16.51 17.19 15.43 Bank of Maharashtra 16.93 15.08 14.08 12.64 9.34 Dena Bank 16.27 14.79 13.79 11.88 9.98 United Bank 15.53 15.98 16.26 14.29 13.26 Oriental Bank 13.73 13.80 12.36 11.45 9.57 Allahabad Bank 13.09 12.51 12.28 12.33 9.76 Punjab National Bank 12.53 13.70 13.63 13.75 12.90 Andhra Bank 12.25 11.88 11.49 10.30 8.39 Union Bank 11.17 11.70 10.73 10.16 8.70 Bank of Baroda 10.46 11.40 11.35 11.15 9.99 Punjab & Sind Bank 10.45 9.40 8.63 7.23 6.48 Canara Bank 9.63 9.97 9.81 9.71 9.40 Syndicate Bank 8.50 8.69 7.72 7.53 6.70 Indian Bank 7.47 7.69 7.28 6.97 6.66 State Bank of India 6.90 7.23 7.14 6.94 6.50 Vijaya Bank 6.59 6.98 7.07 7.31 6.64 Source: CapitalinePlus After making several efforts to crack the NPA problem such as 5:25 scheme, strategic debt restructuring (SDR) and, the scheme for sustainable structuring of stressed asset (S4A), the RBI and the government has now initiated their last ditch efforts. The recent government ordinance to give greater powers to the RBI to directly involve in the NPA battle might not yield great results (read an earlier piece here) since the permanent solution lies in offering the much-needed operational autonomy to the state-run banks by privatising them and also infusing them with private capital available. This remains a promise so far, though the government kept assuring that it wouldnt involve itself in the operations of state-run banks. Once the current round of bad loan clean-up is over, these banks will require large amount of capital to fill the fund gap. Since the fundamental reasons that lead to bad loan build-up do not change, after a while, NPAs will yet again start piling up. A fiscally constrained government may not be in a position to keep feeding these banks. It is even more critical now for the Modi-government to give a serious thought to give up control from the public sector banks and let market competition decide the winners and losers. (Data contribution by Kishor Kadam) Let me just clarify at the onset: I love Kangana Ranaut. In her journey from Manali to Mumbai, Kangana has proven time and again that she marches to the beat of her own drum. Films like Fashion, Queen and Tanu Weds Manu have proven the powerhouse talent that she is. But what I loved about Kangana most is that she says it like she sees it. She might have multiple National Awards but over the years Kangana has always been very honest about her faults and failings. It is refreshing to see a personality and spunk behind the glitz and glamour of Bollywood. Whether it is (was?) her accent or her edgy fashion, Kangana is an original. But its become increasingly tough to support her. We are not even half way though 2017 and we are in the middle of controversy number two for the actress. After the very acrimonious nepotism row with Karan Johar that made headlines for almost a month, this time Kanagna is battling accusations of stealing writing credits from National Award-winning script writer Apurva Asrani for Simran. If Apurva is to be believed, the films lead actress arm-twisted director Hansal Mehta into giving her credit of additional story and additional dialogue. Over the last few days, the Simran controversy has picked up momentum. All three artists Hansal, Kangana and Apurva, have clarified their side of the story. But the problem with Kanganas explanation is that rumours of her interference on the sets of all of her recent films paint a completely different picture. Kangana comes across as a bully who is pushing her A-list clout for more acclaim. Queen was the first film where she got more than just an acting credit. At the time of release, director Vikas Behl said that Kanganas improvisation made her character, and hence the film, more realistic. He also credited her with having suggested multiple scenes including the one where her character Rani kisses the Italian chef in the second half of the film. But those associated with the film tell a different story. They insist that Kangana did nothing more what any good actor genuinely invested in a film would do. Govinda improvised his dialogues in all his film. He gave suggestions for scene but he never asked for additional credit. All actors collaborate with the director or writer. I have seen actors suggest how a camera man shoots a scene, they dont get additional cinematographer credit, scoffs a crewmember. A filmmaker, who wishes to remain anonymous, recently developed cold feet about casting her because of a clause in her contract. She wanted approval on the final edited version of the film. The final approval always rests with the director. Actors have been known to get involved but I have never seen an artist mention this in their contract, he explains. Then there are rumours from the sets of Rangoon. Apparently Kanagna wanted to be credited as a co-director but Vishal Bharadwaj refused. If thats not enough, yesterday director Ketan Mehta has sent a legal notice to the actress for hijacking one of this most ambitious film projects Rani of Jhasi: The Warrior Queen. According to Mehta, he had approached the actress to play the role of Rani Lakshmibai in June 2015. Kangana even talked about doing the film with him, but earlier this month she launched Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi with South-Indian director Krish at the helm. Ambition is never bad thing. Clearly Kangana has ambitions of being more an actress. But stepping on toes and bullying is not the best way to succeed. Kangana has gone from being a rank outsider to one of the best actresses of her generation because of sheer determination and talent. She got a lot of support during the Hrithik saga and even the nepotism row, but it seems to be impossible to support her in this credit row. Maybe its time Kangana took a long, hard look in mirror and decided what kind of an artiste she wants to be one who is collaborative or someone who just wants all the credit. Mumbai: Irrfan Khan starrer Hindi Medium has been declared tax-free by the Government of Maharashtra, the film's producer said on Thursday. "I would like to thank Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for announcing our film Hindi Medium as tax-free in the state. The film has already got a tax exemption in Gujarat. We are very glad to share the news," producer Bhushan Kumar told media here during a special screening of the film. Actor Irrfan Khan, who was also present at the screening, said, "This is a great step, more people will watch the movie as it is tax-free now. The film addresses a social issue and it is a family entertainer. So it needs to reach a wider audience. I hope the film gets tax exemption in other states as well." The screening was attended by celebrities like Imtiaz Ali, Sushant Singh Rajput, Swara Bhaskar, Sonal Chawla, Deepak Dobriyal, among others. Hindi Medium is releasing on Friday, 19 May. By Daniel Trotta and Jonathan Allen | NEW YORK NEW YORK A speeding car plowed into pedestrians on a sidewalk in New York City's busy Times Square on Thursday, killing one person and injuring 22, and authorities said there was no indication it was an act of terrorism.Witnesses said the motorist was driving against traffic before his burgundy Honda sedan mounted the sidewalk and struck pedestrians. The car hit a pole and came to rest at 45th Street and Broadway before police took the driver away.One woman was covered with a bloodstained blanket following the collision, which occurred close to noon ET (1600 GMT) at the Midtown Manhattan tourist venue, a Reuters witness said. Shoes were scattered at the scene.New York Mayor Bill de Blasio told reporters there was no indication it was an act of terrorism and that the driver had two previous arrests for drunk driving. Police identified the motorist as Richard Rojas, 26, of New York.City officials said the dead woman was 18 years old. Hundreds of thousands of people, many of them tourists from around the world, pass daily through the bustling commercial area, the heart of the Broadway theater district. Police heavily patrol the area. Many sidewalks are lined with barricades and planters for fear of vehicle attacks on pedestrians of a sort seen in recent months in Britain, France, Germany and Sweden."People were being hit and rolling off the car," said Josh Duboff, an employee at the adjacent Thomson Reuters headquarters who jumped out of the way to avoid being struck.Television footage showed police officers restraining a man in a dark T-shirt and placing him in a police car. "One male in custody in the #TimesSquare vehicle collision," the NYPD said on Twitter. "It is believed to be an isolated incident, it remains under investigation."LOCAL SUSPECT Police cordoned off an area from 41st to 47th streets and from 6th to 8th avenues, effectively shutting down one of the busiest parts of one of the busiest cities in the world. The crash occurred near the headquarters of the Reuters news agency, 3 Times Square. Building foreman Rodney Muir said he heard what sounded like a big bang and crunching metal. He said he looked out and saw what appeared to be a body lying on the street in front of the building.Cheryl Howard and her daughter were out shopping when the car sped down the sidewalk. "I'm so freaked out!" the daughter said. "They mowed everyone down."Howard had blood dripping down her right arm and a swollen bruise above her left eye. One injured woman nearby had a large open wound on her leg. Initial reports of the incident revived memories of July last year when a man driving a truck killed at least 84 people, 10 of them children, and injured 202 in the French city of Nice. Islamic State claimed responsibility.On March 22, five people were killed in London and about 40 injured after a car hit pedestrians and a suspected Islamist-inspired attacker stabbed a policeman near Britain's parliament. (Additional reporting by Daniel Bases, Jonathan Spicer and Barbara Goldberg; Writing by Daniel Wallis; Editing by Howard Goller) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Zeba Siddiqui | MUMBAI MUMBAI India's drug pricing regulator has demanded explanations from 65 domestic and global drugmakers for selling new forms of essential diabetes and antibiotic drugs without its approval. The move could bring penalties for the drugmakers, among them Abbott Laboratories, Sanofi, Novartis and Indian firms such as Sun Pharmaceutical Industries and Lupin, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) said on its website.Wednesday's action is the pricing authority's latest move to tighten control of drug prices, piling pressure on drugmakers grappling with slowing growth in international markets. It follows a February order capping prices of cardiac stents."These companies have launched formulations by altering (an essential drug) ... without even applying for price approval from NPPA as required," it said in its notice.The action targets a group of more than 300 medicines that India defines as essential, whose prices it controls to ensure they are affordable. By law, drugmakers must seek NPPA approval for new dosages or combinations of such drugs.Many companies are flouting the rule, however, the regulator said, adding that it had asked them for details of drug sales and pricing by a deadline of June 15, after which it would take action. The Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance, the largest drug industry grouping, will wait for the companies named to confirm the data the regulator used, the industry body's secretary-general, D.G. Shah, told Reuters in a statement.India's largest drugmaker by sales, Sun Pharma, will check every product listed in the regulator's notice to ascertain its status and respond in time, a spokesman told Reuters.Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, another drugmaker named in the notice, aims to respond to the pricing authority at the earliest, a company spokesman said in an email. Other companies contacted individually did not immediately respond to requests for comment.It was not clear if many of the drugs had approval from the central drug regulator, the pricing authority added."It is also not clear whether these formulations have the approval of the Central Drug Standard Control Organisation and whether these are rational or irrational combination drugs," it said, referring to India's main drug regulator. About half the medicines sold in India are cocktails of two or more drugs in fixed doses, known as fixed-dose combinations. The health ministry banned hundreds of such drug cocktails last year, as being lacking in therapeutic efficacy and regulatory approval, besides having potential to cause harm.The industry filed hundreds of lawsuits against the government, obtaining stay orders on the ban, and the Supreme Court will hear the cases collectively from July.Until then, the law allows the NPPA, a part of India's chemicals ministry, to fine offending companies and recover the overcharged amounts. (Reporting by Zeba Siddiqui in Mumbai; Editing by Euan Rocha and Clarence Fernandez) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Daniel Trotta and Jonathan Allen | NEW YORK NEW YORK A former U.S. Navy sailor slammed his car into pedestrians in New York City's packed Times Square on Thursday, killing an 18-year-old woman and wounding 22 people, and authorities said there was no indication it was an act of terrorism.Witnesses said the motorist mounted the sidewalk in a burgundy Honda sedan and sped along more than three city blocks, knocking people over before the car hit a pole and came to rest at 45th Street and Broadway in Midtown Manhattan. (For a graphic on Times Square car crash, click here%20YORK-CRASH/010041782M2/NEWYORK.jpg) Police who took the driver into custody identified him as Richard Rojas, 26, of the New York City borough of the Bronx. They said he had been arrested twice for drunken driving in 2008 and 2015, and once earlier this month for menacing.There was "no indication" it was an act of terrorism, Mayor Bill de Blasio told a news conference at the scene.Initial reports of the incident brought to mind vehicle attacks on pedestrians like those seen in recent months in Britain, France, Germany, Israel and Sweden."People were being hit and rolling off the car," said Josh Duboff, who works at the nearby Thomson Reuters headquarters. He said he leaped out of the way to avoid being struck.A woman's body lay covered with a bloodstained blanket. A police officer kept vigil nearby, sadly shaking his head. Shoes were scattered on the sidewalk. Hundreds of thousands of people, many of them tourists from around the world, pass daily through Times Square, the heart of the Broadway theatre district.The bustling streets are heavily patrolled by police, some on horseback. Many, but not all, sidewalks are lined with barricades and planters for fear of vehicle attacks.The incident took place close to noon ET (1600 GMT) on a bright, sunny day. Security camera footage showed the car slam into pedestrians who moments earlier were ambling along, some carrying shopping bags and others pushing baby strollers.A bouncer from the Planet Hollywood restaurant and a ticket agent were among onlookers who helped police subdue the suspect when he tried to flee the scene, media reports said. 'MOWED EVERYONE DOWN' Court records showed Rojas was also arrested at a naval base in Jacksonville, Florida, in September 2012 after he yelled, "my life is over," and threatened to kill police.After Thursday's incident, authorities cordoned off an area from 41st to 47th streets and from 6th to 8th avenues for several hours, effectively shutting down one of the busiest parts of one of the busiest cities in the world.The crash occurred near the headquarters of the Reuters news agency, 3 Times Square. Building foreman Rodney Muir said he heard what sounded like a big bang and crunching metal. He said he looked out and saw what appeared to be a body in the street. One of the injured, Cheryl Howard, had blood dripping down her right arm and a bruise above her left eye. She and her daughter were shopping when the car sped toward them. "I'm so freaked out!" Howard's daughter said. "They mowed everyone down."One injured woman nearby had a large open wound on her leg.Times Square was evacuated in May 2010 when a car bomb that failed to explode was found in an SUV. Faisal Shahzad, a naturalized American and Taliban-trained militant, later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life imprisonment.Six months ago the city completed a $55 million, nearly 6-year renovation of Times Square that turned roadways into pedestrian zones. It aimed to improve traffic congestion and safety, but not all sidewalks were fitted with safety bollards or barriers to vehicles.Thursday's incident revived memories of July last year when a man driving a truck killed at least 84 people, 10 of them children, and injured 202 in the French city of Nice. Islamic State claimed responsibility.On March 22, five people were killed in London and about 40 injured after a car hit pedestrians and a suspected Islamist-inspired attacker stabbed a policeman near Britain's parliament. (Additional reporting by Daniel Bases, Andrew Chung, Grant McCool, Jonathan Spicer, Barbara Goldberg, Joseph Ax, Hilary Russ, Peter Szekely, Letitia Stein, Colleen Jenkins and Emily Flitter; Writing by Daniel Wallis; Editing by Howard Goller) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. At the heart of the day-long raids by the CBI at the residences of former finance minister P Chidambaram and his son, Karti, lie New Delhis attempts to lift the thick smokescreen that for decades has helped many route illegal cash: Indias growing menace of suitcase companies. Although a bulk of the raids by the countrys premier investigating agency and other agencies took place in Delhi, Chennai and Gurgaon, the Ministry of Finance continues to focus on Kolkata, home to hundreds and thousands of such shell companies. And how many of them were owned by Karti and his close associates? The raids on the residences of the former finance minister and his son, claimed sources in the CBI, was mainly to get this very grip on the shell companies Karti had allegedly created to divert what the investigators claimed as illegal cash. Top income tax officials in Delhi said raids have continued unabated slowly, yet steadily on chartered accountants in Kolkata who helped open such dubious companies whose owners are businessmen, traders and brokers from Chennai, Ahmedabad and Mumbai. "We are probing because we had information that Karti has a number of such shell companies operating out of Kolkata," said a top CBI source on condition of anonymity. Chidambaram Sr, meanwhile, refused to comment on the raids and whether his son had shell companies. "I don't subscribe to the idea of debating charges in the media, my initial statement is sufficient," he said in a texted message to this reporter. Earlier, when the raids took place, the former FM had blamed it on a vendetta and said he was being targeted by the ruling BJP for being vocal as an Opposition leader. In a recent meeting with bureaucrats, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it explicitly clear that he wants to eradicate corruption at any cost. "The prime minister made it known that he wants to see who owns what," claimed Gopal Aggarwal, the head of the BJPs economic affairs cell, and a seasoned tracker of black money. The finance ministry and its investigating agencies are slowly getting a grip on these shell companies some of them operating out of letterheads and visiting cards owned by various brokers and traders fronting for corporate entities and even politicians, claimed Aggarwal in an interview. "The prime ministers emphasis was on corruption, especially in the financial and commodities markets, and the nexus between corrupt bureaucrats and ministers and corporate captains. This is no witch hunt... May I humbly remind critics of this raids that probe into Kartis companies started more than a decade ago, but stopped midway for no reason?" asked Aggarwal, who has done meticulous research into black money and its origins in India. This is not all. Aggarwal said the finance ministry has gathered clinching evidence where brokers have used corrupt bureaucrats to pressurise (read influence) financial institutions and market regulator Securities and Exchanges Board of India (SEBI) to suppress operations conducted through these very shell companies, both in India and abroad. "Once caught, those who own these shell companies do everything to come clean. They try hard to prevent tough actions by SEBI. They routinely challenge SEBIs actions in the Security Appellate Tribunal (SAT). It has come to the governments notice that these brokers and traders even try to influence SAT members to circumvent the actions initiated by SEBI. There have been occasions when they have managed to get away scot-free," said Aggarwal. In one such case, a senior bureaucrat, allegedly close to the former finance minister, did not make the mandatory disclosure on joining SAT as a member that his daughter was employed with the National Stock Exchange (NSE). "How will the member handle cases of NSE in SAT, wont his impartiality come under question?" The raids on the residences of the former finance minister and his son, claimed sources in the CBI, was to get a grip on the shell companies created to divert illegal cash. "Its a very complex maze of companies and companies within companies. But in a lot of work that has been done, the investigating agencies have joined up the dots to understand the complex nature of these structures," said Deepak Kanth, head of the BJP I-T cell. And in probing Karti, the CBI investigators have now come across a host of such shell companies the son of the former finance minister allegedly created to hoodwink the government. Worse, in most cases, sources in the CBI revealed, loyal retainers of the 'babus' are appointed as directors and shareholders in the companies. In some cases, even lowly attendants, office secretaries were listed as directors of the companies owned by Karti. Interestingly, many of the CBIs recent cases deal with busting bank frauds, where the shell companies were used to draw up fake invoices and challans to route out money taken as loans from the banks. And strangely, Kolkata a city known for its artistic temperament is in the thick of it. "We are looking into Kartis possible involvement in some of these shell companies in Kolkata to route cash," said the sources. Interestingly, the Enforcement Directorate raided some operations of Vasant Healthcare in Kolkata early this year to probe money laundering and tax evasion charges following financial intelligence reports indicating Vasans connections with Karti. Strangely, Vasan has shut down some of its operations in Kolkata. But the search has opened up a pandoras box, and officers of the countrys premier investigating agency claim they are over the moon. The agency has already registered a case against Arti Infosystems Limited for a Rs 138-crore bank fraud using a single shell company. Another company, Maheshwari Ispat is in the dock for a Rs 180-crore bank fraud using a shell company. In cases of multiple shell companies, the ones that drew the attention of the investigators were Bengal India Global Infrastructure Limited for bank fraud worth Rs 170 crore using six shell companies. K.Live Space Style and Industries duped the banks of Rs 100 crore using four shell companies. There was Global Softech Limited carried out a Rs 126-crore bank fraud using 18 shell companies. SPS Steel Rolling Mills Limited duped the banks of Rs 70 crore using nince shell companies. The CBI raids have only supplemented what the ED claimed early this year after a nationwide raid on dubious companies suspected of money laundering on behalf of businesses and individuals including two top politicians. As many as 300-odd shell companies were identified by ED, many fronts for a slew of illegal transactions. Some of these companies were involved in major money laundering cases related to Chaggan Bhujbal, Andhra politician YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, former Noida chief engineer Yadav Singh, NHRM scam in Uttar Pradesh, Hyderabad-based AGS Infotech and diamond importer Rajeshwar Exports. "Shell companies were formed to launder money and then discarded, in some cases one person opened as many as 700-800 shell companies," said ED spokesperson AK Rawal in a telephonic conversation. Aggarwal said the prime ministers message to the bureaucrats was to boost them to weed out corruption, take on dubious corporates, even ministers both past and present indulging in corruption. "The government is keen to bust the unholy politician-bureaucrat-corporate nexus," said Aggarwal, adding, "Especially bureaucrats considered close to the former finance minister." Sources in Delhi claim it has come to the notice of the government how a host of lobbyists close to Chidambaram Sr were pushing hard to place a number of bureaucrats in plum positions one of the seats on their radar being the one to be vacated by economic affairs secretary Shaktikanta Das on 31 May, 2017. In the National Capital, there are enough indications that the CBI could move in to demand the arrest of a host of Trinamool Congress MPs and legislators caught on tape taking cash from an investigative journalist for granting favours for investments in Bengal. "The prime minister is hitting hard at Indias ever-growing shadow economy," said Aggarwal. Seasoned political commentator MD Nalapat feels that the government is sending out strong signals to weed out corruption. "The prime is hitting where it hurts most, the jugalbandi of corrupt bureaucrats and politicians," said Nalapat. "The raids on the family of the former finance minister will help the CBI under where Karti used his fathers influence to conduct business and how many shell companies he owned," said Nalapat. And there have been many instances when the former FM himself avoided questions from the CBI. For the records, Chidambaram on 6 December, 2014 told the CBI that he was not aware that Malaysian company Maxis investment in Aircel was above Rs 600 crore, when he approved the Foreign Investment Promotion Boards (FIPB) recommendation on 7 March, 2006. Certain senior finance ministry officials made similar statements to the investigating agency. Now, with both Karti and Chidambaram under the heat, the Aircel-Maxis case, among other cases, are coming to the fore. CBI and income tax officials are not saying when their probe would end, merely indicating this is the first of many rounds which will soon take place at the homes of the rich and corrupt. Seasoned political analyst Mohan Guruswamy said the raids must produce results and prove Karti benefitted from his fathers prowess, else the raids will lose relevance. "If the prime minister is keen to clean up the country, there should be no exceptions, else it will be called a vendetta by the Opposition parties." He remembered when Fidel Castro wanted nationalisation in Cuban agriculture sector, he first took his fathers farm. "We need such examples in India, then the best spring cleaning will happen." New Delhi: A special court here today convicted former coal secretary H C Gupta in a coal scam case. Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar also convicted the coal ministry's then joint secretary K S Kropha and then director K C Samaria besides others in the case pertaining to alleged irregularities in allocation of ThesgoraB Rudrapuri coal block in Madhya Pradesh to KSSPL. The court will pronounce the order on quantum of sentence on 22 May. The court, however, acquitted chartered accountant Amit Goyal in the case. Besides Gupta, Kropha and Samria, the court also convicted the firm KSSPL and its managing director Pawan Kumar Ahluwalia. Kropha was the then joint secretary in the Ministry of Coal, while Samria was the then director (coal allocationI) in the ministry. During the hearing, the CBI had alleged that the application filed by KSSPL for the coal block was incomplete and was supposed to be rejected by the ministry as it was not in accordance with the guidelines issued. The CBI had charged that the firm had misrepresented its net worth and existing capacity, adding that state government had also not recommended the firm for the allocation of any coal block. The accused, however, denied the allegations during the arguments. The court had in October last year framed charges against the accused observing that former prime minister Manmohan Singh was kept in the "dark" by Gupta, who had prima facie violated the law and the trust reposed in him on the issue of coal block allocation. Around eight different charge sheets have been filed against Gupta and proceedings are going on individually. The Supreme Court had recently dismissed his plea seeking joint trial in all these cases. Editor's Note: This is the final piece in a multi-part series on the nature of human excesses that have imperilled the fragile ecosystem of the Western Ghats, home to at least 325 globally threatened species of flora and fauna, by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's reckoning. The last week of April and the first week of May witnessed water wars over the two major reservoirs built on the Krishna river Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar with both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana vying for more share even though the reservoirs were at dead storage levels. The Krishna and the Godavari, the two main perennial rivers that irrigate both Telugu speaking states, originate from the Western Ghats and have been reduced to a trickle this summer. Considering the growing demand for drinking water in both the states, the Krishna River Management Board has ordered release of 9 tmc-feet of water from the balanced storage available at the dams. At the Nagarjunasagar reservoir, the present level is 507.5 feet, compared to its full capacity of 590 feet. The dead storage level is 510 feet. At the Srisailam reservoir, the present level is 804.1 feet, compared to its full capacity of 885 feet, and its dead storage level of 800 feet. The Nagarjunasagar's left canal, which is under Telangana's control, is divided into three zones. While Zone 1 is entirely in Telangana and Zone 3 is entirely in Andhra, Zone 2 runs between the two states. We are only drawing water for drinking purposes as of now, said S Suneel, chief engineer of the Nagarjunasagar Project for Telangana. On 2 May, fresh water wars broke out between the two states. Irrigation engineers from both the states resorted to a showdown, including fistfights, over the release of water into the right canal for the drinking water needs of some AP districts. Andhra engineers accused their Telangana counterparts of using the Special Protection Force (SPF) to scuttle the direction of the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) for the release of 5.6 tmc-feet of water. The Telangana government is contemplating lodging a fresh complaint with the KRMB over excess release of water from the dam. The Telangana government is unhappy that the board has allocated only 4 tmc-feet for the water needs of Hyderabad city as against a demand of 5 tmc-feet. In this backdrop, the release of 2 tmc-feet to Andhra Pradesh was contested. N Venkateswara Rao, deputy engineer from the AP Irrigation Department said that executive engineer Jabbar and a host of junior engineers were roughed up by the SPF personnel when they challenged the action of the Telangana engineers. A complaint was lodged against the SPF officials allegedly manhandling the Andhra engineers. As the wars rage on, inhabitants of the tail-end areas in Krishna district such as Nagayalanka, Avanigadda and Kaikaluru are left high and dry. They are reportedly not entitled to receive the water in view of the Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Scheme launched by the AP government to supply 80 tmc-feet of Godavari water for the Krishna delta. We dont get either Godavari or Krishna water though we are at the mouth where both rivers merge with the sea, said farmer leader Akkineni Bhavani Prasad. Gimmicks For Water Scarcity Both the states are reeling under drought as Krishna and Godavari water has reduced thanks to urbanisation of upper catchment areas, leaving the lower areas parched. Both the state governments have come up with solutions bordering on the absurd in a bid to relieve the water scarcity. The ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government subsidised the use of rain guns used to create rain dances in film shooting to irrigate the standing crops of Anantapur, Prakasam, Srikakulam and Guntur. In Telangana, the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) government encouraged the deployment of water tankers on a big scale to save the withering standing crops of maize, turmeric and chillies. We saved 6.7 lakh-acres, including 4 lakh-acres of groundnut in Rayalaseema and 70,000 acres in other parts of coastal Andhra, said AP Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. Following the Karnataka experiment, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR) promoted the concept of water tankers to irrigate fields, as 21 lakh borewells had gone dry and the mega irrigation projects underway in the state Mission Kakatiya and Mission Bhagiratha were yet to deliver. Mobile water tanks were deployed in Karimangar, Warangal, Nizamabad and Medak districts to bring the much needed water for standing crops of maize and chillies of poor farmers holding less than 10 acres of farm land. Local MLAs and MPs drew from their constituency funds and paid the transportation cost. It cost very little but earned us a lot of goodwill from farmers, said V Prasanth Reddy, MLA of Balakonda in Nizamabad district. In Warangal and other districts, water from minor tanks and rivulets were used. In view of last years disastrous drought which killed crops over several lakhs of acres in Telangana, the government made this arrangement very silently without much ado, said Sri Manohar Reddy Dasari, TRS legislator of Peddapalli in Karimnagar district. But with groundwater depleting rapidly and despite the heavy rains of September and October last year, paddy farmers have borne the brunt. With crops drying up and withering away, some farmers are simply burning them, while others are selling them as fodder. Whatever be the (Telangana) government effort, it was just a tip of the iceberg and not even 10-20 percent of the crops have been saved, said TDP working president L Ramana. The new state has about 55 lakh farm holdings and devoid of any major irrigation infrastructure, agriculture in the state has always been exposed to the vagaries of nature. Scientists at the Professor Jayashankar Agriculture University say about 63 percent of the crop is rain-fed and 84 percent of the irrigated area is catered to through borewells, dug wells and farm-powered motors. In spite of warning and caution, about 70 percent of farmers opted to cultivate paddy, said Telangana agriculture minister Sri Pocharam. Farmer leaders have also refuted the claims of government about their water tankers. Such supply is only in 15-25 percent of the affected areas, only a few areas and a majority of the crops withered in this season, said Sarampallly Malla Reddy, vice-president of the All India Kisan Sabha. Almost 42 percent of the crop area had paddy while the North East monsoon (September-October) had wetted only 22-27 percent of the crop area, said Ravi, convenor, Rythu Joint Action Committee, adding that the government had not done enough to ensure farmers opted for alternate crops for the summer. During the discussion on the 2017-18 Budget in the state Assembly, KCR said Telangana would be drought-free in three years after both Mission Kakatiya and Mission Bhagiratha were completed. Both the projects, costing over Rs 25,000 crores, will include modernisation of 44,000 minor irrigation tanks and laying of 1.26 lakh kilometres of pipelines. We doubt the talks of completion in three years, in view of allocations and progress of work underway which are inadequate and tardy, said TDP legislator A Revanth Reddy, a critic of KCR. Drought And Demonetisation Hit Rabi In AP The rabi crop in AP has also been hit due to drought and demonetisation, alleges secretary of the Federation of Farmers Associations, C Koti Reddy. He says that a large number of farmers dropped plans to raise crops even in the fertile delta area, because of the cash crunch post-demonetisation which in turn hit the livelihoods of thousands of farm labourers, driving them to migration to nearby Chennai and Bengaluru. Water storage in Rayalaseemas 28 major and medium irrigation projects, with a combined capacity of 129.09 tmc-feet, is down to 13.18 tmc-feet, or 10.21 percent. Groundwater is literally at rock bottom 20.52 metres below ground level on average. In Anantapur district, one can find moisture at 26.79 metres, comparable to 30 metres in Ramgarh, on the edge of the Thar desert in Rajasthan. The other three districts of Rayalaseema fare little better Chittoor is at 21.84 metres, Kadapa at 21.45 metres and Kurnool at 11.9 metres. Ironically the Tungabhadra, another river originating in the Western Ghats, brings water to Kurnool district and this river too has gone dry this year. A majority of APs 12,952 irrigation and drinking water tanks have gone dry since March this year. For the first time in years, Mantralayam, the temple town in Kurnool district on the banks of the Tungabhadra, is facing an acute water scarcity. Even pits dug on the riverbed have yielded no water. For the first time, the farmers of Kurnool are migrating to neighbouring Karnataka for work and livelihood and many have sole livestock to slaughter-houses or let them free to bellow their guts out on the dry river beds and die. 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 Part 8: How one man struggles to help Nallamalla's monkeys survive the summer Part 9: Man-animal conflicts rise in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana over receding groundwater Area residents are invited to attend a grand opening ceremony and open house on Monday for Leadwoods brand new city hall, located at 708 Bank St. Its been almost two years since the former building was damaged in a fire, but city business is now being conducted in the newly completed structure. Officially opened for business on May 9, a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house will be held on Monday from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. in order to celebrate the halls completion. Complimentary refreshments, including hotdogs, cookies and drinks will be served. On May 4, city officials closed the temporary office in the basement of the United Methodist Church directly across the street from the former (and new) city hall in order to move into the new building. Although city staff are still moving some remaining belongings from the temporary office, organizing the new space and putting stuff away, the buildings three main employees Water Department Clerk Winnie Gallaher, Municipal Court Clerk Marti Francis and City Clerk Charlotte Lewis can be found at their new work stations. Additionally, the hall contains a small office for Mayor Dennis Parks, who will share the space with the municipal judge and any other court officials who may need to use a private room before or during court hearings. There is also a large public space, complete with a bench and seating for the judge during court and for the mayor and board of alderpersons during city meetings. The room is large enough for most city board meetings and all municipal court hearings. People will no longer have to wait outside the Leadwood Police Department in order to appear for court. For questions or more information, contact the city hall at 573-562-7125. Bhopal: The mortal remains of Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave were consigned to flames on the banks of the river Narmada at Bandrabhan in Madhya Pradesh's Hoshangabad district on Friday, with full state honours. Dave, who died in New Delhi at the age of 60 on Thursday, had expressed the desire to be cremated on the banks of the Narmada, a river that was close to his heart and ran through his home state of Madhya Pradesh. The funeral pyre was lit by his brother and nephew amid a tearful adieu by those present on the occasion at Bandrabhan, where Dave used to organise international river festivals to create awareness among people on the issue of conserving rivers, BJP spokesman Rajnish Agrawal said. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union ministers Harsh Vardhan, Uma Bharti, Anant Kumar, Narendra Singh Tomar and Thawar Chand Gehlot, senior RSS leaders Bhaiyyaji Joshi, Dattatraya Hosbole and Suresh Soni, BJP general secretary Kailash Vijaywargiya among others were present on the occasion. The mortal remains of Dave were brought early morning to Bandrabhan from his home, 'Nadi Ka Ghar', in the state capital. Chouhan and other BJP leaders lent their shoulders to the departed leader. A guard of honour was also given as a mark of respect him. The Madhya Pradesh government had declared a two-day state mourning following Dave's death. Leaders cutting across party lines expressed profound grief over his demise. A pall of gloom descended on 'Nadi Ka Ghar' on Thursday, with supporters flocking to the three-storey building set up by him which was also used to run Narmada Samagra, an NGO for conserving the river regarded as the lifeline of MP. Dave was born on 6 July, 1956, at Barnagar in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain district, A bachelor, he used to live in this house whenever he was in Bhopal. The house was his nerve centre for running the river conservation campaign as well as to formulate strategies for contesting elections. In his will dated 23 July, 2012, Dave said, "If you want to cherish my memories, plant trees and save them. This would give me pleasure." He also mentioned in his will that he did not want any statue, memorial or award instituted in his name. Editor's Note: Fort Kochi and Mattancherry, 10 kilometres to the west of Ernakulam, were once bustling commercial hubs till the late 20th Century. Today, the various ethnic communities that had made this place home are struggling to stay relevant, trying to keep their businesses and traditions. In this multi-part series, Firstpost looks at these communities and their place in the history of Mattancherry. This is the fourth part of the series. Sixty-five-year-old Raghavan's pension is barely enough to meet his family's needs. But that doesn't stop him from setting aside at least Rs 300 per month to get his family's clothes washed. Once a week, he takes the clothes to a traditional dhobis group. Many like Raghavan in Fort Kochi and nearby areas have been using the services of these dhobis for washing and ironing their clothes. This Dhobi Khana, believed to be the only one in Kerala, have a rich history behind it. The dhobis belong to the Vannar community of Tamil Nadu. Though there are different accounts about their settlement in Fort Kochi, it is widely believed that the settlement is more than three-centuries-old. One account says that they were brought by the Dutch 300 years ago to do laundry for their soldiers while another theory is that the King of Kochi brought them from Coimbatore and Tirunelveli to wash the army uniforms of the Portuguese, who came before the Dutch. The King had allotted them 13 acres of land at Veli for their work and living. They had 70 ponds to wash the clothes. However, in 1976, the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) took away a part of the land and in return built a shed with washing facility for the community. The shed has 40 washing pens, each assigned to a family. Next to the shed is a drying yard with cross poles and ropes. The washed clothes are left out to dry in the sun. The clothes are tucked in between ropes to secure them, thus avoiding the use of clips. The Kochi-Muziris Biennale Foundation (KMB) had donated an industrial Washing machine to the Dhobi Khana last year but the washer folk prefer to use traditional washing methods. Devadas, who started working at the age of 15, said that he was not using the machine as his customers preferred hand wash. People from various parts of the city come to us because we wash the clothes in the traditional way. They are confident that we do not use any harmful chemicals. We use soap for washing and rice water to starch them. Harder clothes are washed by beating them on the stones, said the 61-year-old. Dhobi Khana Association secretary Satheesh said that the low rates charged by them for washing and ironing clothes was one of their USPs. He said that they were charging only half the usual price in the market. We are charging only Rs 25 for washing and ironing a pant or shirt as against Rs 50 charged by the modern laundries and dry cleaners, said Satheesh, who is a software engineer by profession. He works at the Dhobi Khana during off days. Satheesh claimed that they were able to make a decent earning even with the lesser charges. Rajashekharan, 51, said he could build a house for himself, another for his brother, educate his two sons, marry off his sisters and take care of his aged parents with the earnings he made from Dhobi Khana. The Dhobi Khana has given me everything. I started from the scratch at the age of 10. I could not go to school. I worked hard and gave better education to my children. Both of them have gone abroad and are supporting me now. I can afford to relax now, said a contented Rajashekharan. People like Sreenivasan do not agree with Rajashekharan. He said that he could not meet all the needs of his family despite working very hard. He attributed this to the fall in business. He said there werent enough jobs for all in the Dhobi Khana. Many of us get work only for 15 to 20 days a month. There is absolutely no work during the monsoon. As a result, many are leaving the profession. The older folks are also finding it difficult to cope with the strenuous work, said 55-year-old Sreenivasan. Satheesh does not share this view. He said there were enough jobs if people were ready to work. Apart from the locals, clothes are brought to the Dhobi Khana from hotels, home stays, hospitals and even cruise ships. Members of the association are also free to canvas business individually. He said many were already going out and collecting clothes from areas not just in Fort Kochi and Mattancherry, but also from entire Ernakulam. His only worry is whether there will be enough people to do the job. He said that the new generation, who are educated, were looking for white collar jobs. They find the laundry work inferior to their status. The association is trying to address this problem by modernising the laundry. Satheesh said that the association had drawn up a project to install washing machines, dryers, steam irons, and all the modern methods of laundry as part of the modernisation of the Dhobi Khana. This, he hopes, will bring the new generation to the traditional profession. The modernisation will cost Rs 50 lakhs. We have approached the government for financial assistance. If we get the funds, we will start the modernisation works immediately and bring the new generation back to the field, he told Firstpost. He said that they had great goodwill among the people. If we leverage this by installing modern equipments we can bring the youngsters back to the Dhobi Khana. Our attempt is to make it a decent and remunerative job, he added. The members of the association also have a feeling that the government is not doing anything for them. While the state government has several welfare schemes for the working class, the dhobis are not even covered under the pension and insurance schemes. Satheesh said they had submitted representation to the government for bringing them under the schemes. The association has introduced a medical insurance scheme to take care of those who are not able to meet the medical expenses. The dhobis live as a community on Dhobi Street adjacent to the Dhobi Khana. Earlier, the members of the community used to live in row houses which resembled a typical village in Tamil Nadu. Now many have demolished the thatched huts and built Kerala-style concrete buildings in their places. Some of them have even purchased cars. Though the community has blended well with the locals, they maintain their distinct identity. They have two temples dedicated to Goddess Mariyamman and Lord Siva. They celebrate the traditional Mulakottu festival in August. The eight-day festival is celebrated with traditional Tamil songs and dance. On the last day of the celebrations on 15 August, the Vannar community members move in a group, dancing and singing through the streets of Fort Kochi, till they reach the beach to take a holy dip in the sea. About 70 families reside on Dhobi Street. The street has many common facilities, including a library, park, common rest room, badminton court gymnasium, and a room for indoor games. Like most other ethnic groups, the members of the Vannar community are at home in Fort Kochi and Mattancherry. This is our home, we and our next generations will live on this land, says 52-year-old Selvan, who was born and brought up in Fort Kochi. Other members of the community also share the same opinion. They are hopeful that Kochi that gave them shelter will also provide them with means of livelihood. Part 1: Century-old settlements fight to retain historical legacy Part 2: Big retail, local players push entrenched Gujarati trader community towards migration Part 3: Persecuted for centuries, Konkanis found home in a small plot of land in Kochi Rohtak: A 10-year-old Rohtak girl, who was found to be five months pregnant after being allegedly raped by her stepfather, underwent an abortion on Friday, after the district court had left the matter to a medical board here. "The process (of abortion) is complete now. The girl is recovering," said the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS) Rohtak doctor, Prashant Kumar. The medical board of PGIMS on 16 May had decided to abort the foetus of the rape victim after the district court left it to the panel of doctors to take a call on the matter. The gruesome incident that has received wide-spread condemnation from across the nation came to light on 14 May when the girl's mother took her to a hospital where her pregnancy was confirmed by the doctors. The mother, in a complaint lodged with the police, had alleged that the girl's stepfather had been raping her for a long time and threatened the girl of dire consequences if she dared to disclose it to anyone. She had reasoned that her family was not financially well off and therefore was in no condition to bring up the child. She already has four children, according to police. The accused, identified as Suresh, was already arrested under section 506 (Punishment for Criminal Intimidation) of the IPC and relevant section of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act) 2012. The family, originally hailing from Bihar, was residing at Durga Colony here. The Pakistan government faced flak over its handling of Kulbhushan Jadhav's case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), with several legal experts from the country, questioning the strategy adopted and asking why it accepted the global court's jurisdiction. The Hague-based court, the UN's highest judicial body, told Pakistan on Thursday to put the execution of Jadhav on hold. The 46-year-old retired naval officer, who is considered to be a spy by Pakistan, was sentenced to death by a military court in Pakistan. The ruling triggered criticism of the the Pakistan foreign office for its "poor handling" and also for its choice of Khawar Qureshi, who represented Pakistan's case before the ICJ. The Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) had recommended some other counsel, The Express Tribune reported. According to former Pakistan Bar Council vice-chairman Farogh Naseem, Pakistan should have immediately withdrawn its 29 March, 2017 declaration accepting the compulsory jurisdiction of the ICJ. Instead of contesting the matter, Pakistan should have withdrawn the declaration immediately after India took Jadhav's case to the ICJ, he said. "Why did Pakistan not take the glaring and brutal human rights violations in Kashmir before the court, despite the fact that Islamabad had a strong case in this regard?" Many analysts also criticised the counsel's argument at the ICJ as "weak" and "damaging". Dawn quoted a retired Pakistani judge as saying that the decision by The Hague-based court is alarming because "ICJ does not have jurisdiction". "Pakistans mistake to have appeared there. They shouldn't have attended. They have shot themselves in the foot." Former additional attorney general Tariq Khokhar, an expert in international law, regretted that Pakistan had accepted ICJ jurisdiction through a declaration, which should have been withdrawn once Pakistan knew that India would invoke the ICJ's jurisdiction against it. "Being an arbitration forum, each contesting State was allowed to nominate one person of its choice to act as an ad hoc judge at the ICJ... India did nominate one but Pakistan did not," Khokhar said, adding that Pakistan's counsel did not argue for the full allotted time either. Eminent lawyer and human rights activist Asma Jahangir suggested that rather than making the ICJ ruling a matter of ego, "we should sit down, join our heads and find a way out by going through the ruling thoroughly", "Who gave the opinion to deny consular access to Jadhav in the first place?" she asked. International law expert Ahmer Bilal Soofi was of the view that Pakistan should prepare for the second phase of the case, which was "more important because it would be contested on merit and would provide Pakistan the chance to document Indias intervention inside Pakistan through Jadhav". London-based senior lawyer Rashid Aslam said Pakistan was ill-prepared and did not utilise the 90 minutes it had to make its argument. "Pakistan had 90 minutes of argument time but we wasted 40 minutes. I was surprised why we finished our arguments in such little time. I think Khawar Qureshi didn't consume all the time that was afforded to him," Aslam reportedly said. As I had predicted in my earlier tweets the ICJ decision was a foregone conclusion. We did not have to go to ICJ to begin with but we did Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) May 18, 2017 "Pakistans mistake to have appeared there. They shouldn't have attended. They have shot themselves in the foot." Islamabad could insist on cooperation from India on the investigation into Jadhavs activities, he said. Former law minister SM Zafar said prima facie, it was a wrong decision. "I could not understand why the ICJ issued a stay order in the Jadhav case without even understanding the case." According to him, Pakistan should change its legal strategy and concentrate more on the terrorism angle. A senior official told The Express Tribune that India had been successful in managing the ICJ's registrar office, which has vast powers to fix cases before the court. "We were very surprised how swiftly Jadhavs case was fixed before the ICJ," he said. A senior official in the law ministry told The Express Tribune that Pakistan's lead lawyer Qureshi made two mistakes. "He did not nominate ad hoc judge before the hearing and he did not respond to the argument of Indian lawyer regarding the 2008 bilateral agreement between India and Pakistan on consular access," he said. Adding to the argument, analyst Zahid Hussain told Dawn that ICJ is binding on morally, not legally. He added that it cannot be said that the verdict is in Indias favour but it can be said that the court has just ordered to overturn the implementation of execution, and has refused Pakistans challenge of its own jurisdiction. There is no point in criticizing our defense. Had you sent angels from the sky this would have been the outcome. Plain. Farrukh K. Pitafi (@FarrukhKPitafi) May 18, 2017 The agreement says both the States will not give consular access to terrorists. However, Haresh Salve, counsel for India, contended that the agreement was not registered with the United Nations. The official said the foreign office had also failed to register the bilateral agreement with the UN. Legal experts recommended that as the government now has a couple of months to evolve future strategy, it should not take a decision on appointment of an ad hoc judge in haste. They also wondered why Pakistan wanted to appoint foreigner as an ad hoc judge when every state prefers to nominate its own lawyers. Pakistan Bar Council executive member Raheel Kamran Sheikh said it was a matter of concern that the success rate of Pakistan in international arbitration cases was 2 percent while India's success rate was 60 percent. "We lost important cases at the international forum in the last couple of years. Likewise, we spent more than Rs 1 billion on lawyers fees in those cases," he said. Sheikh said mishandling of Jadhavs case was a classic example of how in the power struggle between military and political institutions, gaps in foreign policy and national security perspectives had grown. "And they [gaps] have grown to such an extent that if the situation is not arrested and improved immediately in the national interest by both the centres of power, irreparable damage shall be caused to the state," he said. With input from agencies New Delhi: The lawyers representing Calcutta High Court judge C S Karnan today claimed that a representation has been made to the president seeking suspension of the Supreme Court order sentencing him to six months imprisonment for contempt of court. However, the president's office said, "It was not aware of any such representation". The lawyers said a memorandum/representation under Article 72 of the Constitution was sent through email on behalf of Justice Karnan seeking "suspension/stay of his sentence of six months imposed on him" by a sevenjudge bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar. Article 72 states that the president shall have the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites or remissions of punishment or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offence. The representation prepared by Justice Karnan's counsel Mathews J Nedumpara and A C Philip referred to the developments since the 9 May judgement. His lawyers had earlier claimed that the judge had shot off letters to the president, the prime minister and others against his jail term. Justice Karnan has also moved a petition in the apex court seeking recall of the 9 May order but has been denied urgent hearing by the CJI. Srinagar: Defence Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday expressed satisfaction over the "aggressive domination" and "readiness" of troops along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir to give a befitting response to any "misadventure" by Pakistan. Jaitley held a meeting with senior army commanders at a forward post along the LoC in north Kashmir and reviewed the security situation in the valley which has been witnessing spiralling violence. "Had a meeting with senior commanders & troops at a forward post along the LoC, and reviewed the security situation. "The aggressive domination and readiness of troops for befitting response to any misadventure by enemy is very satisfying," he tweeted. Jaitley, who also holds the finance portfolio, is in Srinagar to primarily attend a two-day meeting of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council which began yesterday. He conducted an aerial survey of forward posts along the LoC and interacted with troops in Rampur sector where he told them to maintain vigil and foil any misadventure from across the border, an army official said. Jaitley, who was accompanied by General Officer Commanding of Chinar Corps, lauded the high morale of the troops and assured them that the entire nation was with them, he added. His visit in Srinagar comes weeks after Pakistani Army beheaded two Indian security personnel in Poonch district which was termed "barbaric" by India. While Army Chief General Bipin Rawat had 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". On Wednesday, in a meeting to review the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, had asked the Army to remain prepared to give a befitting reply to any misadventure from across the border. The Kashmir valley has witnessed a spurt in incidents of violence and militant attacks in the last couple of months. New Delhi: A Delhi court on Friday refused to direct the city police to file an FIR against Gujarat MP K C Patel on allegations of rape by a woman lawyer in Delhi, saying she had not come before it with clean hands. Metropolitan Magistrate Harvinder Singh also said she failed to answer various queries put forward by it. The woman is currently arrested in a separate case filed by Patel that he was honey trapped and blackmailed by her. The court had on 12 May asked the counsel for the woman to apprise it on whether there were similar complaints filed by her against others, as argued by public prosecutor Atul Kumar Shrivastava. However, her counsel Shahid Anwar said there was no need to answer such questions at this stage. While opposing the woman's application, Shrivastava had claimed that she had a habit of filing cases of sexual offence against other parliamentarians and police officers for "extortion". He had also told the court that the woman had first approached the police for registration of a rape case against Patel, but later retracted her allegations. The submissions were made by the police in an Action Taken Report (ATR) filed in pursuance to the court order asking them to examine the case since when the woman had approached it for registration of FIR against Patel. However, during the intervening period, she moved an application before the investigators to retract her allegations against Patel, a sitting BJP Lok Sabha MP from Valsad in Gujarat, the police said. The MP, in the meantime, had also approached the police which arrested the woman, who is now in judicial custody. The police, in the ATR, said that in the complaints filed against others as well, the woman had later retracted her claims since her intention was only to extort money. The defence counsel had alleged that the politician was misusing the police and his client was arrested in a false case filed by the MP. The court had last month sought an ATR from the SHO of North Avenue Police Station here on the woman's allegations. She had approached the court alleging that the police did not cooperate and refused to lodge the FIR on her complaint. She had alleged that she was raped by the politician several times at his official residence and other places and added that the MP had threatened her of dire consequences if she did not maintain silence. However, the woman was arrested by the Delhi Police on 2 May on the MP's complaint that the woman had honey-trapped him and demanded Rs 5 crore. He had alleged that he was drugged and obscene videos and photos were shot by the woman who had threatened him to file a rape case. Patel had alleged that the woman had invited him to a place in Ghaziabad for some work where she offered him a soft drink which was laced with sedatives, police said. Thirunelveli: When he joined the massive protest against the nuclear power plant at Kudankulam, in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu in 2011, Pepsi Ganeshan had never imagined that it will ruin his life. He got an inkling of things to come when his wife, Jayalekshmy, was dismissed from the firefighting wing of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) in 2014. The reason, apparently, was his participation in the agitation. Ganeshan realised the gravity of the situation when the passport office at Tirunelveli refused to renew his passport. He had applied for the renewal after he got a job in Dubai. The passport authorities told him that they can renew the passport only after the cases registered against him by the state police were closed. The 43-year-old, who holds an MPhil degree in history, does not have any hope of finding a job, either abroad or in the country, since he is grappling with as many as 113 cases 43 of them are sedition charges. Ganeshan is not alone, many like him have lost out on similar opportunities. Bernard Joseph, a 28-year-old who got a visa for a job in Saudi Arabia, could not board the flight as his passport was revoked after the police slapped six cases of sedition against him. He lost nearly Rs one lakh that he had spent on the visa as a result. The movement has brought the education of another young man to an abrupt end. Cross Krishnan, 22, was thrown out of college after police arrested him on campus five years ago. But, that's not all. The Kudankulam plant seems to have adversely affected even the fish in the area. Fishermen at Idinthakari, the epicentre of the protests, and the neighbouring villages complain that the fish catch has dropped drastically since the commissioning of the plant. "We used to get a lot of fish near the coast earlier. Now, our fishermen cannot find fish even after going miles into the sea," said a woman, who sells fish near the beach. She believes that the effluents discharged into the sea by the Kudankulam plant had driven the fish away. SP Udayakumar, leader of Peoples Movement against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) that spearheaded the agitation against the plant explains that the contamination of the sea water due to the discharge of effluents had led to the depletion of fish stock in the area. "Nuclear reactors need water for steam generation and cooling. The water used for cooling is later released into the sea at a higher temperature. This upsets the marine ecosystem and destroys the species that survive there," Udayakumar said. He said that the depletion of the fish stock had pushed the fishermen, who depended on the sea for their livelihood, into poverty and misery. The Kudankulam plant will wreck the lives of fishermen not only in Tamil Nadu but also in the neighbouring state of Kerala, he added. The nuclear power plant has affected not only the catch but also the fish marketing. Fishermen said that people were reluctant to buy the fish from their village as they considered them to be contaminated with radioactive effluents. Two ice plants at Idinthikarai are on the verge of closure as a result of this, the fishermen said. The villagers had joined the struggle against the power plant because of its long-term adverse impacts on their lives. But their immediate worry is the police cases hanging over their head, like the Damocles sword. According to PMANE activists, 107 FIRs were registered at just one local police station against more than 55,000 people, in just a matter of two months. That is about 30 percent of the total eligible voters in that Assembly constituency. About 6,000 people in Idinthakari village are living under the shadow of sedition now. Perhaps this may be the only village in the country where so many people are facing sedition cases. The police did not spare even women and children. Sundari, who had mobilised the women against the Kudankulam plant, is grappling with over 300 cases. More than a dozen of these are sedition charges. She languished in jail for 98 days as a result. "Six women and 63 men were arrested along with me on 10 September, 2012. Four women were granted bail after 45 days. Two were detained for 80 days. Since I was arrested under the Anti-Terrorism Act, I had to approach the high court for bail. I got it only after 98 days," Sundari said. Sundari was granted bail on the condition that she would sign the police register at Madurai, which is 240 kilometres away from her village. She was forced to stay in a hostel at the faraway place, leaving behind her nine and eight-year-old children alone with her husband for two months. She said her husband could not go for his job during her incarceration and subsequent stay in Madurai. This has left the family in great financial difficulty. Sundari and her husband are now struggling to put their life back on track. The cases and the sufferings, however, have not deterred the protestors. Mildred Raj, a woman leader who faces 127 cases, said that they will resume the agitation in another two months. Udaykumar said that they were working out their future course of action. "This is a fight to live. The government says the plant is for the nation. Do they want the poor to perish for the rest of the nation? We are ready to die, but what about our children? What would be their future? We are fighting for the next generation. We will fight till we win," said Mildred. An employee at the health centre in Idinthikarai said the adverse impact of the Kudankulam plant on the health of the local people had started becoming visible. The official, who did not want to be identified, claimed that cases of miscarriages and premature births had registered an increase following the commissioning of the plant. The protests against the Kudankulam plant had begun from the time it was conceived in the late 1980s, with the collaboration of Soviet Union. The project was shelved following the collapse of the Soviet Union and taken up again in 1997. The plant reached criticality in 2013, amidst several bouts of protests since then. Dismayed by the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Thursday to stall Kulbhushan Jadhavs death sentence, Pakistans media and Opposition parties lashed out at the poor handling of the case by Pakistans foreign offices officials. Demanding a revamp of the legal office of Pakistans foreign office, Pakistan analysts observed that its officials failed to give proper advice to deal with the case, reported The Express Tribune. A senior official revealed to the news daily that India has been successful in managing the ICJs registrar office, which has vast power to fix cases before the court. We were very surprised how swiftly Jadhavs case was fixed before the ICJ, he said. Terming the verdict a setback, Pakistani media outlets questioned the need of Pakistan of going to the ICJ at the first place. "It's Pakistans mistake to have appeared there. They shouldn't have attended. They have shot themselves in the foot, said a retired judge to Dawn. Echoing the sentiment, Shireen Mazari, a prominent Pakistani politician tweeted: As I had predicted in my earlier tweets the ICJ decision was a foregone conclusion. We did not have to go to ICJ to begin with but we did Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) May 18, 2017 Senior PPP leader Sherry Rehman said, "We based our case on jurisdiction and it proved weak. More arguments should have been made regarding espionage." In a unanimous decision, the 11-judge bench stayed the execution of Jadhav by Pakistani military court until further notice. The bench also observed that prima facie the Vienna Convention will also apply in the case. Pakistani analysts who were earlier confident that the ICJ does not have jurisdiction to stay Jadhavs execution, observed after the verdict that the jurisdiction argument was weak and damaging, reported Dawn. Some Pakistan news outlets even criticised Khawar Qureshi, who is fighting for Pakistan at ICJ, for his inability to counter Harish Salves argument regarding the 2008 bilateral agreement between India and Pakistan on consular access. According to a report published in The Express Tribune, the agreement says both the states will not give consular access to terrorists. However, Salve, counsel for India, successfully contended that the agreement was not registered with the United Nations. Quoting an official, The Express Tribune wrote, Here, Qureshi could have referred to three cases in which the ICJ had admitted unregistered bilateral agreements, said the official. Similarly, he could have submitted written arguments before the ICJ to assure the UNs court that Pakistan would not hang Jadhav till its final decision. In view of this assurance, the ICJs order on halting the execution could have been avoided, the official added. Amidst the mounting criticism, Pakistan government however came out with a bold face and played down the directives issued by the United Nations judicial arm. The Express Tribune reported quoting Prime Ministers Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz that the ICJs provisional order will not have any bearing on the trial and legal process that was currently underway in Pakistan against Jadhav. A stay is granted automatically even in our courts when you file an appeal. But it doesnt mean that you have lost the case, Aziz said on Thursday. He insisted that the ICJ had yet to adjudicate on the question of jurisdiction as well as merits of the case. When that stage comes, Pakistan will forcefully present its case. Educational Talent Search (ETS) Director Cindy Burnett, of Farmington, has announced she will retire from Mineral Area College this year. She has worked for the college full time since November 1988. Burnett holds an associate degree from MAC, a bachelors degree in business administration and psychology from CMU, and a masters degree in clinical counseling from CMU. She is a member of the Missouri-Kansas-Nebraska chapter of the Educational Opportunity Association. My entire working career has been at MAC, she said. Im proud of my journey here. I began work here as evening division secretary/receptionist and ended as director of Educational Talent Search. In my time here, Ive had the opportunity to change positions and work with students in a variety of roles. Burnett said its hard to choose a high point of her career, but if she had to, she said there were two: watching the progress of her students and being able to oversee the program that helped them progress. In my current position, the high point is seeing the growth of students when they start ETS in sixth grade through graduation, she said. Its even better when I see them walk across the stage at MAC graduation. Im also proud of the fact that both grants have been renewed twice in my time with ETS, which speaks to the success of the programs. While she said shell miss the great people who work at MAC, shes looking forward to spending more time with her husband, Ryan, and her kids, Kaitlyn Hahn, Kelsey Hahn, and Kwinton Burnett. Claiming that they have not presented all sides of the Kulbhushan Jadhav case, the Pakistani counsel has demanded a re-hearing of the case at the International Court of Justice. According to CNN-News18, an application has been moved to the ICJ by the Pakistani side, where they want to challenge the jurisdiction of the ICJ itself. According to a Pakistani news portal Dunya News, Pakistan has reported re-challenged the jurisdiction of the ICJ after the court, on Thursday, granted injunction on India's plea to put a hold on the execution of Jadhav. The site reported that Pakistani lawyer Khawar Qureshi will continue to represent Pakistan counsel. One of the major aspects to anticipate would be what new facts Pakistan could present to the court. According to law, Jadhav can challenge till the end of Saturday his death sentence in an appellate court. A military court sentenced him to death on 10 April on spying and terrorism charges. In the judgment released by the ICJ at The Hague on Thursday, the tribunal asked Pakistan to take all "necessary measures at its disposal" to ensure that Jadhav was not executed pending a final decision by it. India had moved the UN's highest judicial body against Jadhav's death sentence after Pakistan ignored its request for consular access to the former navyman 16 times. Pakistan Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz stated on Friday that the ICJ did not order Pakistan to provide consular access to Jadhav, but has merely put forward an opinion. He said a decision to provide consular access to Jadhav is yet to be made. Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria dismissed the ICJ's provisional measures stating Article 36 (2) of the Vienna Convention, "Pakistan does not accept the ICJ's jurisdiction in matters related to national security." According to Pakistan, Jadhav was seized by its security forces in the restive Balochistan province on 3 March, 2016 after he reportedly entered from Iran. India has disputed the claim and said Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests. The Hague-based ICJ heard the two sides on Monday where Pakistan had challenged the jurisdiction of the court but in its decision, the court prime facie exercised the jurisdiction and accepted Indian pleas unanimously. Pakistani analysts, who were earlier confident that the ICJ does not have jurisdiction to stay Jadhavs execution, observed after the verdict that the jurisdiction argument was weak and damaging, reported Dawn. Some Pakistan news outlets even criticised UK-based Qureshi for his inability to counter Harish Salves argument regarding the 2008 bilateral agreement between India and Pakistan on consular access. Pakistan stated on Friday that it will constitute a new team of lawyers to "vigorously" present its case against Jadhav at the ICJ, the prime minister's advisor on foreign affairs said on Friday as the government faced flak over the handling of the case. The announcement by Sartaj Aziz came amid criticism by experts and opposition leaders over the Pakistan government's handling of the case at the ICJ. Aziz maintained that Qureshi had "courageously" presented Pakistan's case in the court. He said the ICJ had given its point of view on Jadhav's case to get consular access, according to PTI. "Pakistans security is so important and we have to maintain our fundamental sovereign right," Aziz was quoted as saying, reported PTI. Jadhav's case is the latest flash-point in the tensions between Pakistan and India. The two countries last face-off at the ICJ was 18 years ago when Islamabad sought its intervention over the shooting down of its naval aircraft. India may have got a breather from the ICJ, but his well-being still remains a matter of concern as Pakistan has provided no information about his location or health condition. Asked if the government has information on Jadhav's location in Pakistan, Gopal Baglay, spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs, said on Friday, "The Pakistan government has not provided any information about Jadhav's condition or where he has been kept there. This has been a matter of concern." Meanwhile, the Pakistan government came under attack from the opposition for "mishandling" the Jadhav's case and two opposition leaders linked the weak defence put up by Pakistan at the ICJ to a meeting Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had with Indian business tycoon Sajjan Jindal. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) leader Shafqat Mehmood asked Sharif to disclose details of his "secret meetings" with Jindal, the Dawn reported. He said the ICJ decision was an outcome of the Sharif-Jindal talks. Another PTI leader, Shirin Mazari, accused the Pakistan government of deliberately playing a game to advance Indian interests. "They wanted the ICJ to give a stay. This was a game which started after Jindal's visit to Pakistan," she said. Another opposition leader, Kamil Ali Agha, described the ICJ decision as the "biggest diplomatic defeat" for Pakistan. Minister of State for Information Marriyam Aurangzeb, however, said the case was fought in the best possible manner and advised the opposition not to play politics over issues of national security. According to IANS, Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that the issue of Jadhav concerns the nation's security and there will be no compromise on it. The minister said the Jadhav was convicted after fulfilling all necessary legal procedures and any decision on the matter will be taken keeping in view national security. With inputs from agencies Thursday's verdict by the International Court of Justice to hold the execution of Kulbhushan Jadhav sentenced to death by a military court in Pakistan is no doubt a big diplomatic and legal victory for India at the highest level. More than that, though, it is a huge political win for Narendra Modi. India has allowed herself to be bogged down by hesitations of history in dragging bilateral disputes with Pakistan to international forums. Despite his enormous political capital, the prime minister and his Cabinet colleagues couldn't have taken lightly the decision to knock on ICJ's doors, much less foreseen the verdict. Bear in mind that the ICJ was not even in session when senior counsel Harish Salve flew to The Hague on 8 May and submitted an urgent application to the United Court's registrar along with an "intense" 20-minute briefing. The risks involved were considerable. The ICJ could have simply ignored India's application. And even when it did agree for an oral hearing, India wasn't assured of a favourable ruling. The decision to move the judicial arm of United Nations drew many skeptics to conclude that this move turns a bilateral issue into a multilateral one and Pakistan will henceforth seize this chance to highlight the trouble in Kashmir. It was argued that since the ICJ lacks enforceability, India has nothing to gain and everything to lose because it opens us up to international scrutiny. If the prime minister showed considerable appetite for risk-taking in playing the ICJ gambit, he has been handsomely paid off. Thursday's ruling uplifts India's diplomatic stature and significantly strengthens Modi's hands. In passing a judgment upholding Salve's appeal for provisional measures and throwing out Pakistan's objections, the ICJ has handed Modi a resounding political win that may also have far-reaching strategic ramifications. India has long remained a victim of defeatism in foreign policy and it required a bold step from the Modi government to remove the mental cobwebs. The resounding verdict should instill confidence in us that India isn't a rogue nation like Pakistan. ICJ's unanimous judgement signifies that a rule-based state that respects international laws is more likely to benefit from moving disputes from a bilateral to multilateral framework especially when it concerns revisionist states. In fact, irresponsible states with weak democratic structures like Pakistan are more likely to abide by international rules and conventions when coerced by major powers to do so. The move to take the Jadhav case to the ICJ, therefore, may be read as a turning point in India's foreign policy. And Modi must get the credit for it. Not only was the court's verdict unfavourable for Pakistan, its language was quite harsh. It dismissed Pakistan's contention that there is no "urgency" in the case, established that it enjoys jurisdiction over interpretation of Article 36 of Vienna Convention (which India had invoked) and observed: "Pakistan shall take all measures at its disposal to ensure that Jadhav is not executed pending the final decision in these proceedings and shall inform the Court of all the measures taken in implementation of the present Order. The Court also decides that, until it has given its final decision, it shall remain seised of the matters which form the subject-matter of this Order." To the extent that international courts lack enforceability in its judgments against sovereign states, it could still be argued that India's 'victory' is more a diplomatic and tactical than a legal one. ICJ, however, has been quite clear that the order is binding on Pakistan and any violation of it will open the state to international sanctions. If Pakistan still decides to brazen it out and carry out the execution in contravention of the order, it shall not only open itself up to censure, it will be exposed further as a rogue state that carries no credibility. Such an eventuality will carry a deep diplomatic price. It is evident, therefore, that Modi has also scored a diplomatic victory over Pakistan without having to take recourse to coercion or force against a nuclear-armed nation. These gains, however, fade in the face of Modi's huge political windfall. India has contested Pakistan's claim that Jadhav is a spy. Even if, for arguments' sake, we assume that the Indian national was indeed involved in acts of espionage, that ought not to lessen India's moral obligation in striving for his release. Statecraft is not governed by questions of ethics, however. Spies, when caught, are summarily disowned by their governments. This is where Modi has scored a massive moral and political victory. As Praveen Swami points out in his piece for The Indian Express, spies do an utterly thankless job. "Few governments," he writes, "Indian or otherwise, have fought as hard for the lives of their citizens as New Delhi has done for Jadhav those in the secret service are, by custom, abandoned to the torturer's custody." New Delhi could have simply shrugged off all connections with Jadhav to avoid uncomfortable questions. Though it has claimed that Jadhav wasn't a spy, there are enough unanswered questions in India's narrative that the retired Indian naval officer was merely a private citizen minding his own business at Chabahar port. Do remember that India was careful not to contest the merits of the case at ICJ. In choosing to fight for the Indian national's release, however, the government has shown admirable moral commitment. I assure the nation that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi we will leave no stone unturned to save #KulbhushanJadhav. Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) May 18, 2017 It has broken unwritten rules of India's foreign policy to stay the execution and secure Jadhav's release. This shows Modi as a humane leader for whom the life of an Indian national is more important than statecraft. This considerably increases his already formidable political capital and leaves precious little space for Opposition parties to exploit. Since the country against whom India has locked horns over Jadhav is Pakistan, this further enhances Modi's 'strongman' image as someone who shall never be cowed down by the rogue state. This is of course not to argue that we have heard the last of this intriguing battle. Rest assured that Pakistan will react with increased belligerence. For now at least, it will not risk going against the court's verdict and risk international opprobrium. For the foreseeable future, this qualifies as an unqualified victory for Modi. New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a money laundering case against Karti Chidambaram, son of former finance minister P Chidambaram, and others, taking cognisance of a recent FIR by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against them. Officials said the central probe agency registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), ED's equivalent of a police FIR, against the accused named in the CBI complaint including Karti, INX Media and its directors, Peter and Indrani Mukerjea, and others. The ECIR has been registered under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), they said. They said the ED will probe the alleged "proceeds of crime" generated in this case and may also attach assets of the various accused. It is the ED which had provided information about the alleged illegal payments made by INX media, based on which the CBI had filed its FIR. The CBI, on Tuesday, had carried out searches at the homes and offices of Karti across four cities for allegedly receiving money from the media firm owned by the Mukerjeas to scuttle a tax probe. The Chidambarams had denied all the charges made against them. The CBI had filed an FIR against Karti and the Mukerjeas 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. The CBI had also recovered vouchers of Rs 10 lakh which were allegedly paid for the services. These vouchers were issued in favour of Advantage Strategic Consulting (P) Limited, a firm "indirectly" owned by Karti, the CBI had alleged. The senior Chidambaram, after the CBI searches on 16 May, had issued a strong statement in response to the raids saying 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 had said. The CBI FIR was made out against Karti, his company Chess Management Services, the Mukerjeas (currently in jail on charges of murder their daughter Sheena Bora), INX Media, Advantage Strategic Consulting Services and its director Padma Vishwanathan. Raipur: Two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were injured in an IED blast triggered by Naxals at a forest in Chhattisgarh's insurgencyhit Sukma district on Friday, police said. The incident took place this morning when a team of CRPF's 2nd battalion was out on an anti-Maoist operation in a forest area under Kerlapal police station limits, Deputy Inspector General (Dantewada range) Sundarraj P told PTI. While they were cordoningoff a forested patch near Pariya village, the Naxals triggered an improvised explosive device (IED) in which two CRPF jawans suffered injuries, he said. Reinforcements were rushed to the spot soon after, he said. The injured jawans were admitted in a local hospital in Sukma. They were stated to be out of danger, the DIG said. Meanwhile, a combing operation was underway in the region, he said. On 24 April, as many as 25 CRPF personnel were killed and seven others injured when Naxals attacked a patrol party of the paramilitary troops while they were ensuring security to road construction work near Burkapal village in Sukma district. New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday registered a preliminary enquiry (PE) against hardline Kashmiri separatist leaders, including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, for alleged involvement in subversive activities and receiving funds from Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Saeed. The others named in the PE are Naeem Khan, who was seen on television during a sting operation purportedly confessing to receiving money from Pakistanbased terror groups, Farooq Ahmed Dar alias Bitta Karate and Gazi Javed Baba of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, an NIA spokesman said. The separatists were receiving funds from Saeed to carry out subversive activities in the Kashmir Valley, including pelting stones at security forces, damaging public property and burning schools and other government establishments, the spokesman alleged. The NIA has also taken cognizance of the news item related to the recording of conversations between a TV reporter and leaders of separatist groups operating in the Kashmir Valley in this regard, he said. For a country not used to overt shows of diplomatic muscle over contentious issues with Pakistan, there has understandably been considerable triumphalism over ICJ's verdict on Thursday. By all means, Thursday's judgment at the Peace Palace in The Hague was a spectacle. On a neutral venue, before live TV, judges of the International Court of Justice publicly chided Pakistan, threw out its arguments and upheld India's appeal for provisional measures. We also got to witness Pakistan's legal representatives beating a hasty retreat while avoiding questions from media. What's not to like? Don't let joyless critics and stiff-lipped legal eagles persuade you that this was an insignificant victory. It was not. Faced with a belligerent neighbour out to make an example of an Indian national, whom it claimed to have arrested under mysterious circumstances and hoped to flaunt as "proof of India's perfidies" and eventually send him to the gallows, India needed to act fast. As this writer has contended, the Narendra Modi government took no small amount of risk in shaking off hesitations of history and dragging Pakistan to United Nation's highest court. India argued with strength and conviction and was more than vindicated by the verdict. The court honoured our concerns, acknowledged urgency in the case, found fault with Pakistan for denying India consular access and directed it to stay Jadhav's execution until the ICJ reaches a final judgment. All of Pakistan's arguments were unambiguously and unanimously rejected. Finally, the court reminded a famously recalcitrant nation that the order on it was "binding". By all accounts, this was an utterly comprehensive victory. To quote Sarabjit Singh's Pakistani lawyer Awais Sheikh, who had to seek asylum in Sweden for representing the Indian national who was tortured and killed in custody by Pakistan, India can legitimately claim victory. In an interview to News18, Sheikh applauded India's "excellent and very timely move" to approach the ICJ and described the Jadhav verdict as a "legal, moral, psychological and diplomatic gain." But he was careful to warn that bigger struggles await. "It will be immature to celebrate the order at this stage The task before India is to get Kulbhushan back home safe and secure. To achieve this, India needs to tread carefully and exhaust all possible means intelligently." Which brings us to the nub of the issue. India has won fair and square the first round of a long-winding, treacherous diplomatic combat. Initial euphoria about a judgment from UN's top court going our way apart, the actual "legal" gains in sum are modest. Jadhav still continues to languish in Pakistan's custody, assuming the rogue State's military has not already carried out the execution, and ICJ's verdict at best is an interim relief that ensures the well-being of the Indian national until such time that the court delivers its final judgment. The ruling provides Jadhav with a lifeline much beyond the August 2017 deadline as such cases typically drag on for years. A lot has been written about how Pakistan may walk the path treaded by the US in defying ICJ verdicts and carrying out executions, or China in defying The Hague tribunal's ruling on South China Sea. Critics have argued that in all these cases, the international courts could do little when their orders were violated and international opprobrium was either minimal or insignificant. Fair points. But in assuming that Pakistan can emulate the US or China, we forget that it enjoys not even a fraction of their global influence. Foreign policies are never tested on the touchstones of 'truth', 'justice', 'ethics' or 'morality'. Geopolitical and economic clout are the core determinants in relationship between nations. Therefore, even if Pakistan does indeed have a strong case against Jadhav, executing him in contravention of the ICJ order would reinforce its status as a pariah nation, quite unlike the US or China who are immune to these pitfalls. It would be delusional, therefore, on the part of Pakistan to think that it can flout the ICJ verdict with impunity. There are other costs, too, involved in the process. As Husain Haqqani, former Pakistan ambassador to the US and director for South and Central Asia at the Hudson Institute in Washington DC, writes in The Indian Express, "Pakistan could ignore the ICJs injunction, as some hyper-nationalists are already suggesting, but doing so would come at a price in international goodwill. As it is, Pakistans standing in the comity of nations is not very high at the moment. Refusing to implement the decision of the international court on grounds of sovereignty might get applause at home, but will not improve Pakistans relations with a world already sceptical of Pakistans policies." It follows that Jadhav's life is safe for the foreseeable future. The bigger problem is to bring him home unharmed. It is here that an arduous struggle stares at us for reasons not entirely within our control. To begin, precedence tells us that ICJ's final verdict could be little more than a nudge to Pakistan to "review and reconsider" its judgment on Jadhav. This is because ICJ is not a court in the strictest sense of the term, certainly not an international court to handle disputes arising out of mishandling of criminal cases in sovereign nations. Its powers are limited. Even if it were to annul the Pakistani kangaroo court's verdict, it will be incumbent on Pakistan to comply and its decision whether or not to hang Jadhav or release him will be based on a cost-benefit analysis. Queering India's pitch is the fact that Pakistan is a weak democracy. Countries have armies. But in Pakistan, it is said that the army has a country. This is what makes diplomatic engagements with Pakistan on any issue leave alone a sensitive topic like Jadhav's release treacherous. Since the verdict, many commentators have advised that India must reduce its triumphalism and engage Pakistan with sober diplomacy to bring Jadhav home. It may appear sound but is ultimately useless advice. How do you engage with a nation diplomatically when you are unsure whether its civilian government carries any authority to take decisions? The Jadhav case, as Praveen Swami writes in The Indian Express, will ultimately rest "in the hands of the Generals who seized him from Iran. He was, and remains, a pawn in the Armys battle for supremacy against the political leadership." This is India's biggest worry. If Nawaz Sharif's civilian government loses agency his stature right now is somewhere between perilous and precarious due to the Panama Papers Jadhav will be sucked into the vortex of army's battle to retain its primacy in a nation which has been led to believe that the only thing that stands between a "hostile Hindustan" and its "awaam" is the army. In fact, it is not restricted within the realms of pure speculation that the elaborate Jadhav charade was the Rawalpindi khakis' move to checkmate Sharif from being too cozy towards India. The infamous Dawn Leaks and its aftermath ought to tell us that the Pakistani prime minister cannot afford to antagonise the army if he hopes to retain power. This makes any sovereign negotiation with him meaningless. In the final reckoning, Jadhav's fate will be shaped by a factor almost entirely outside India's control. If the Pakistani army decides that exhibiting Jadhav as the "biggest example of India's terrorism in Pakistan" is a futile exercise already too much international attention has been drawn to the case anyway rendering such effort meaningless then there is hope for straightforward diplomacy and hard-nosed bargain. It seems like criminals in Puducherry are having a field day, with no fear of consequences. Recently, the state grabbed headlines when Vinod, one of the alleged killers of a 17-year-old boy Suvethan, transported the victim's severed head to a Tamil Nadu police station around 10 km away and tossed it there, in full view of CCTV cameras. When questioned, Vinod reportedly said that he transported the head so he could serve his sentence in the Cuddalore jail instead of a Puducherry facility. While this may be an isolated case of gruesome violence, this year has seen some of the most daring murders in the otherwise peaceful Union Territory. The government has now prevented unlawful assembly through Section 144 of the CrPC (Criminal Procedure Code) to try and control the deteriorating law and order situation. This year has been witness to some high-profile murders in the UT. In January, former Assembly speaker, VMC Sivakumar was attacked with country bombs and hacked to death in broad daylight in Karaikal. A history-sheeter, Murali, was also hacked to death in a busy part of Puducherry at 2.30 in the afternoon. Puducherry averages around 30 murders a year. In 2017, while there were only two murders in January, February and March put together, since the beginning of April, there have been 12 murders in a row. The most prominent one is the murder of Velalagan, a labour contractor, where the local police brought in the CBCID to deal with the case. Four people were arrested, including an All India NR Congress functionary, for throwing a country-made bomb on Velalagan's car and hacking him to death. The police, however, say that even though it is a worrying trend, none of the murders are connected. One troubling aspect that has surfaced is the polices involvement in the murders. V Deivasigamani, a police superintendent, was recently suspended for insufficient investigation of the Velalagan murder case. "The police officer in question is known to be involved in many illegal dealings, but he was still awarded the President's Award last year. Now, Deivasigamani has less than a year of service left, so his suspension seems almost pointless," Rajasekar, a senior journalist said. Typically, murders in Puducherry happen on the spur of the moment, when people are drinking together and fights break out. Premeditated murder is not very common, a police officer says. The 12 murders in the last month and a half, however, have all been planned. There are two cases of wives plotting to murder their husbands, and the remainder were mostly petty criminals murdered by rivals. The audacity and the frequency of the murders have instilled fear in the residents and a distrust of the authorities ability to ensure their safety. Police and the government are now taking measures to mitigate the situation. "In almost every case, we have arrested the culprits in less than 48 hours," said Rajiv Ranjan, senior superintendent of police (law and order). They are also identifying known offenders, and so far have banned around 10 to 15 repeat offenders from the UT. The government and police are also identifying criminals to be booked under the Goondas Act. "We have also conducted a meeting with police from bordering districts of Villupuram and Cuddalore to control the situation at the border," he said. "The problem is not only with the police," Ranjan said. "Most murderers in Puducherry know they will be out on bail as soon as we file the chargesheet. The conviction rate of criminals is very poor, and the judiciary needs to cooperate with the police to instil fear amongst the criminals," he said. The ruling Congress government said they are trying to improve the law and order situation. "Despite their differences, Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi and Chief Minister V Narayanasamy have been working together to bring Puducherrys law and order under control," K Lakshminarayanan, parliamentary secretary to the chief minister, said. Speaking of the allegations against the police, a senior officer said there are several policemen who are known to have dealings with criminals. Without suitable punishment, the law and order situation would not improve. "In 2012, for example, a group of police officers teamed up with a gangster to kill Jagan, a history-sheeter, who was being transported from Puducherry jail to Karaikal. Jagan was murdered inside the police van, which would not have been possible without police cooperation," he said. According to a retired Tamil Nadu police officer, the nexus between politicians, police and criminals in Puducherry is legendary. "Each politician has around 10 or 15 rowdies that work with them closely," he said. The suspension of the superintendent of police is the only time action has been taken against a senior officer, he said. Contrasting Puducherry with Tamil Nadu, he said that in Tamil Nadu, the government ensures that criminals with over two murder cases are booked under Goondas Act, something that has not happened in the UT for several years. "Even the investigations are very poor, with the police presenting insufficient evidence to ensure a conviction," he said. Political parties and activists say the police are to blame, and the current government needs to do more. CPI National Council Member, Nara Kalainathan spoke of how meetings with the Tamil Nadu police have not yielded results over the years. "For a murderer to dare to throw a severed head into a police station in full view of the cameras is unconscionable. There is no fear of punishment amongst criminals, making the crimes more audacious. This spate of murders is only a culmination of years of inaction on the part of the police and the government," he said. CPM unit secretary R Rajangam emphasises the need for more control over the police. "Although one police officer has been suspended, there are several more that have been known to have associations with criminals, but nothing has been done," he said. Rather than just suspending an officer, Rajangam recommends severe action be taken against officers who liaise with criminals. Activists agree, saying the action taken is too little, too late. Citing the example of the 2012 Jagan murder case, activist Log Iyappan said blood from the murder site was swapped with dogs blood when it was sent to the forensic team. "Unless strict action is taken to weed out these officers, there is very little chance of the crime rate reducing," Iyappan said. Panaji: Rescue teams on Friday recovered the body of a man, who had allegedly committed suicide by jumping into Sanvordem river last evening, police said. Crowding of onlookers on an old bridge on the river to watch the efforts to rescue the man after he jumped into water had led to the collapse of the bridge, in which at least two persons died, police said. The rescue teams had on Thursday night recovered bodies of two victims, who fell into the river after the bridge collapse, police said. "The third body was recovered during the rescue operation today. The body is that of the man, who had committed suicide before the bridge collapse," a senior police official told PTI. The bridge across Sanvordem river, a tributary of the Zuari in South Goa, had caved in under the weight of scores of onlookers watching the rescue operation of the man, who committed suicide. Two persons had drowned while around 20 swam to safety after the bridge, connecting Sanvordem and Curchorem villages in South Goa district, collapsed. Fourteen people were rescued and taken to nearby hospitals. Around 50 people had gathered on the bridge to watch the rescue efforts when it gave way and they fell into the water. The bridge has been closed for traffic for the last four years. The search, which resumed Friday morning as several persons were still feared missing, was taken over by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Friday afternoon from the Navy and a local agency. The search and rescue operation which was called off at 3.30 am, had resumed at 7.30 am. While there was no breakthrough during the entire day, the third body was retrieved around 4.30 pm, police said. "The rescue operations resumed at 7.30 am today to trace if more lives had been lost. However, the divers of the Indian Navy and Drishti Lifesaving Services engaged in the search stopped the operation in the afternoon as they did not find any more bodies," Superintendent of Police (South) Shekhar Prabhudesai said. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team from Pune took charge of the search operations in the afternoon. "An NDRF team from Pune arrived at the site and started assessing the situation. We have not yet called off the search and rescue operations. The decision whether to continue the search or withdraw it would be decided after National Disaster Response Force assesses the situation," South District Collector Swapnil Naik told PTI. At present, there are no bodies in the water near the accident site and there is a possibility that they might have been swept away in the river, he said. A spokesman of the Indian Navy said since crocodiles are present in the river, precautions are being taken for the safety of the divers. Meanwhile, the state government announced that all the "dilapidated and unsafe" bridges would be dismantled soon. "The work of preparing a list of dilapidated bridges across the state and then dismantling them will be taken up seriously," State Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai told reporters after visiting the site. "The government will also carry out a safety audit of bridges and those which are found unsafe and not used by commuters, would be dismantled," he said. The minister met the people who were rescued on Thursday and are being treated at the district hospital in Margao. The Tamil Nadu government has announced results for Class X board examinations on Friday, and students may check their marks on the official website. The results will be available on the tnresults.nic.in web page. All students have been advised to keep all relevant details like roll numbers handy to avoid delays. The results are being announced exactly a week after the state government revealed Class XII grades on 12 May. Like it had done last week, even for the Class X results, the board has abolished the practice of disclosing the names of toppers. It is doing so to promote "healthy competition", government officials had said last week. State education minister KA Sengottaiyan was quoted by India Today as saying, "The first three ranks will not be announced because students these days are mentally affected even if they lose a mark. So, even parents won't pressure students too much. This will make sure that imparting knowledge is the focus of our educational institutes." In the Class XII results which were announced last Friday, the overall pass percentage stood at 92.1 percent. Girls comfortably outshone the boys, registering a pass percentage of 94.5 percent, as against 89.3 percent for the boys. A total of 8,93,262 students had appeared for the exams held in March this year. Hyderabad: Hyderabad police on Thursday registered a case of sedition against three alleged Islamic State sympathisers. The police had on Wednesday summoned Salman Mohiuddin, Abdullah Basith and Qureshi, who were arrested for allegedly trying to join the Islamic State and later released on bail. They were questioned on Wednesday when a news channel aired their interview, showing they were allegedly linked to the Middle East terror organisation. A case was registered on Thursday against the trio on the charges of waging or attempting to wage war against the Government of India, sedition and under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. "After questioning, we placed the three under preventive arrest under the Criminal Procedure Code and produced before the executive magistrate. They were let off after execution of bonds," a police officer said. The police also issued a notice to the TV channel, seeking the original interview tape. "We will verify the content of the tape," Deputy Commissioner Avinash Mohanty said. Mohiuddin, a US-returned engineer, was arrested in Hyderabad in 2015 when he was preparing to board a flight to Dubai, allegedly on the way to Syria to join the Islamic State . Basith was among the three men who were arrested from Nagpur in December 2015 when they were allegedly on their way to join the terror group. Qureshi, held on a similar charge, had been let off after counselling. New Delhi: An order restricting lawyers from meeting their under-trial clients in the Tihar Jail here to once a week has been challenged in the Delhi High Court, which has sought the response of the Director General (Prison) on the issue. A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gitta Mittal and Justice Navin Chawla directed Tihar DG Sudhir Yadav to file a status report also indicating the facilities for lawyers who visit the jail. Claiming that legal access had been "unlawfully restricted to one legal interview per week", Advocate Amit Sahni has sought quashing of a February 2013 order under which lawyers are not allowed to meet their clients more than once a week. He said the order is against the right of a prisoner to seek legal advice and "curtailing the right of any prisoner under the garb of impugned standing order to have legal interview once a week is bad in law and against constitutional provisions". The advocate moved the court alleging that the change in the rules by the authorities for visitors to Tihar Jail had restricted lawyers' access to their incarcerated clients. The plea claimed that lawyers were forced to wait for long outside the jail as the paperwork for their visit is processed and sought modernization of facilities through online applications for them to visit their jailed clients. He has also sought directions to the jail authorities to provide better facilities to advocates visiting the jail for legal interviews. The petitioner has sought a proper place for them to sit, besides facilities like drinking water, parking and entry sticker for vehicles. Srinagar: The police on Friday registered a case against a television journalist after Kashmir separatist leader Yasin Malik said she entered his bedroom without permission. The reporter claimed that Malik assaulted her cameraman, who had accompanied her, and damaged their mobile phones. Malik claimed the journalist entered his house in Maisuma on Friday, saying that she had an appointment with him. In his complaint to the police, he alleged the journalist barged into his bedroom and started asking him questions about the NIA probe into the funding of separatist leaders. "She had lied to my sister that she had an appointment with me. The fact is she never called for an appointment," he told reporters at a press conference here after filing a complaint with the police for "breach of privacy". The police have registered a case against the journalist and the cameraman under section 448 of the Ranbir Penal Code (illegal trespassing), which carries a punishment of up to one year in prison and a fine of Rs 1,000. "Is this journalism? The Indian media has raped journalistic ethics," Malik said. The journalist alleged Malik pushed the channel's cameraman down a flight of stairs. She said he also smashed their mobile phones. The chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), who denied that he had assaulted her, said he had taken away her mobile phone because he feared she was using it as a recorder. The journalist claimed she and the cameraman had made a "legal and ethical entry" into his house. "Malik could have asked us to leave the location. Instead, he smashed our mobile phones. He assaulted the cameraperson and pushed him from the stairs," the reporter said on her television channel. She said he accused them of trying to carry out a "sting operation" on him. "We asked questions. If you don't want to answer at least say you don't want to speak," the journalist said. Malik was also asked at the conference about the NIA registering a case on the funding of separatist leaders. "I am not concerned with what NIA has to do," he said. Shimla: Himachal Pradesh BJP in-charge Mangal Pandey said the party will fight the state Assembly polls on the developmental plank and form a government that lasts three terms. The stress should be on strengthening the party at the booth-level by reaching out to people with the policies and programmes of the central government, he said in his first visit to the state after his appointment. "More important than getting majority is having a government that lasts for 15 years and breaks the five-year cycle," Pandey said. Hitting-out at the Congress government in the state, he said, "It has become synonymous with corruption and must be exposed and rooted out in the interest of Himachal Pradesh and the people." Pandey alleged that the state government was not implementing the developmental and welfare policies of the Narendra Modi government. "After making the country 'Congress Mukt' (Congress free), the focus would be on making India 'BJP Yukt'," the leader said. On the Assembly polls, Pandey said, "The party was looking for a person who can ensure the party's victory in three consecutive elections." Pandey, who is on four-day visit to the state, will meet party leaders and workers, and get their feedbacks. New Delhi: The Congress accused the government of indulging in "witch-hunting" and carrying out "selective and opportunistic" prosecution of opposition leaders using investigation agencies. AICC spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said this while referring to raids by the CBI and the Income-Tax Department on the residences and properties of P Chidambaram of the Congress and Lalu Prasad Yadav of the RJD over alleged corruption. Singhvi said the Enforcement Directorate and the CBI have initiated prosecution proceedings against 34 political leaders under the NDA government, of which 30 belong to opposition parties. The government has refrained from taking action against its own leaders in scams like VYAPAM and GSPL, he alleged. "It is carrying out opportunistic and selective investigations against opposition leaders. It is indulging in witch-hunts, and selective and opportunistic prosecution," he told reporters. Singhvi asked why the government did not take action against former BJP minister and mining baron G Janardhan Reddy who allegedly spent around Rs 500 crore on his daughter's wedding and in the Sahara-Birla papers. The Congress leader also sought to know why no action was taken in the Vyapam scam despite the Supreme Court handing over the probe into it to the CBI. "What has happened so far ... why have you not handed over the probe into in the GSPL case to the CBI?" he asked. Mumbai: Maharashtra Congress president Ashok Chavan criticised the state government for its decision to increase surcharge on petrol, saying that there was no financial planning and the expenditure was on the rise. "The rate of petrol in Maharashtra is the highest in the country. This despite the Centre reducing the petrol prices. The total surcharge on petrol is now Rs 11 and the state Congress will protest against this," Chavan said at a press conference. The state government this week increased the surcharge on petrol by two rupees. The government took the decision just four weeks after it introduced a price hike in petrol. "There is no proper financial planning and the state's expenditure is mounting. The common man is at the receiving end because of a slew of taxes," the former state chief minister alleged. Chavan also questioned the Centre's project of air connectivity between smaller cities. "Only two cities in Maharashtra were selected for the intra-state connectivity. But six additional air connectivity routes were announced between Maharashtra and Gujarat. Is this UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) project only for Gujarat," he asked. The Congress leader also criticised the increase in the stamp duty saying the construction business was already in trouble. By increasing the stamp duty, the common man is now in more trouble, he said. Chavan ridiculed the "Samvad Yatra" being organised by the ruling BJP. "This means there was no samvad (dialogue) earlier...and who will lead it- Raosaheb Danve, the state party president, who recently passed derogatory remarks against farmers," he alleged. The Congress in West Bengal is miffed with the party high command for not giving importance to their views. The Bengal unit is also of the opinion that the recent bonhomie between the Congress leadership and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee will put the party's political existence at stake in the state, which has been bleeding hard due to repeated poll setbacks and defections to the TMC. The meeting between Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Banerjee in New Delhi on 16 May to discuss a strategy for the upcoming presidential polls, has irked the state Congress leadership, which feels any kind of bonhomie with TMC is fatal for the state unit at a time when it's fighting hard to keep its flock together from the "poaching policy" of the TMC. The Bengal unit of the Congress also feels that BJP will milk the issue and eat into Congress votes in the state. "Although the meeting was regarding the presidential elections, yet it is a matter of concern as party workers and leaders are asking several questions and we don't have any proper answers. At a time when the TMC is trying to finish off Congress in the state either by use of violence or poaching on our elected representatives, a meeting with our top leadership with the TMC is sending out a wrong message," said Deepa Dasmunsi, a former Congress MP. "It is tough to convince party workers who were beaten up by TMC goons on the local bodies polling day, that there has been no compromise," she said. State Congress president Adhir Chowdhury had shot off a letter to Sonia Gandhi on 13 May, urging her not to allow any equation of national politics hamper the prospects of the party in the state. Chowdhury felt the Congress workers were "miffed" and "it was destiny of the Bengal Congress to suffer due to equations of national politics". "Yes, there are lots of apprehensions and questions among the grassroots workers, who despite all sorts of threat and intimidation by TMC, has been carrying the party flag. We are trying to answer those queries, but we are not sure whether we can convince them. Congress in Bengal has been suffering for a long time due to equations of national politics," Chowdhury told PTI. "In 2004, Congress vote bank got eroded and TMC benefitted when it was decided that we will take the Left's support to form a government at the Centre. Now, due to this (meeting), BJP is trying to squeeze benefit," he said. Chowdhury, however, underlined that the party high command has not asked the state unit to back out from protesting against the ruling TMC. AICC general secretary Shakeel Ahmed rubbished the apprehensions and said "no one should equate the considerations and equations of national politics with state politics. We are trying to get BJD from Odisha with us in this presidential polls. The party workers in Odisha are not raising such questions". Ahmed is confident that the state Congress unit is "intelligent enough to understand the complications and equations of fighting a communal force like BJP". Since the Assembly elections in May 2016, the tally of Congress MLAs in the Assembly has come down to 39 from 44 as five MLAs switched over to TMC. The Congress also lost two of its Zilla Parishads Malda and Murshidabad. A senior state Congress leader and MLA, who did not wish to be named, lashed out at the high command for not giving importance to state leaders and imposing decisions. "Although the party high command has not asked the state unit to back out from protesting against the TMC, but with this meeting and bonhomie between our leaders and TMC after demonetisation, the message has already gone. The damage has been done and BJP will eat into our vote bank," the senior leader said. The BJP, propagating itself as the 'real opposition' in Bengal, said the meeting between Sonia Gandhi and Banerjee is a signal of both parties planning to open a front against BJP. "We have been saying for the last one year that only BJP can fight against the misrule of TMC as both the Left and the Congress have surrendered before Mamata Banerjee in Bengal," state BJP president Dilip Ghosh said. New Delhi: The EVMs are tamper-proof and the use of paper trail will further enhance the confidence of the voters in the poll process, the Election Commission told a parliamentary panel on Friday. Senior officials of the commission appeared before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law and Personnel and said the EVMs are tamper-proof and very reliable. Over the last 23 years, the commission has successfully conducted 107 Assembly and three Lok Sabha elections using EVMs, officials told the panel. Since September 2013, Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines have also been used in various state Assembly and parliamentary constituencies for enhanced transparency and credibility in the voting process, they said. Senior officials assured the parliamentary panel that the EVMs are tamper-proof and the commission has decided to use VVPAT or paper trail machines in all future elections which will further enhance the confidence of the voters in these machines, a member of the panel said. The stand of the commission before the parliamentary panel comes a day before it is to announce its 'EVM challenge' at a press conference. Contrary to misinformation and as alleged by some, the EC does not use any EVMs produced abroad, the officials said. The EVMs are produced indigenously by two state-run firms; Bharat Electronics and Electronics Corporation of India. Even the Software Programme Code of these EVMs is written in-house, by these two companies, not outsourced, and subjected to security procedures at factory level to maintain the highest levels of integrity, officials said. They said that the programme is converted into machine code and only then given to the chip manufacturer abroad as India does not have the capability of producing semi-conductor microchips within the country. Elaborating further, the officials said it is not possible to replace microchip as all microchips are subjected to functional tests with regard to the software. Any attempt to replace the microchip is detectable and can make the EVM in-operative. The commission was represented by deputy election commissioners Umesh Sinha and Vijay Dev, besides other officials. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel and Law, headed by Congress leader Anand Sharma, had on Friday summoned the Election Commission officials and the Legislative Secretary of the Law Ministry over the issue of electoral reforms. After several opposition parties urged the EC to revert to ballot paper system, the parliamentary committee had summoned senior officials of the poll panel to discuss issues related to the reliability of EVMs. The EC has also thrown a challenge to political parties to prove that the EVMs used in the recent assembly polls were tampered with after several opposition parties questioned their reliability and demanded going back to the paper ballot system. It is not politics but policy that binds the State and the civil society in purpose. The Constitution binds us more than any book of faith. Only by strictly adhering to it can we turn equality from an ideal into reality. It seems that Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das isnt completely familiar with the text of the Constitution. Or his duty to uphold it. According to Article 163: (1) There shall be a Council of Ministers with the Chief Minister at the head to aid and advise the Governor in the exercise of his functions, except in so far as he is by or under this Constitution required to exercise his functions or any of them in his discretion. (2) If any question arises whether any matter is or is not a matter as respects which the Governor is by or under this Constitution required to act in his discretion, the decision of the Governor in his discretion shall be final, and the validity of anything done by the Governor shall not be called in question on the ground that he ought or ought not to have acted in his discretion. (3) The question whether any, and if so what, advice was tendered by Ministers to the Governor shall not be inquired into in any court. According to Article 164: (1) The Chief Minister shall be appointed by the Governor and the other Ministers shall be appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Chief Minister, and the Ministers shall hold office during the pleasure of the Governor: Provided that in the States of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa, there shall be a Minister in charge of tribal welfare who may in addition be in charge of the welfare of the Scheduled Castes and backward classes or any other work. (1A) The total number of Ministers, including the Chief Minister, in the Council of Ministers in a State shall not exceed fifteen percent of the total number of members of the Legislative Assembly of that State. Asleep at the wheel To sum up: There are only 11 ministers in Das' council, even though the Constitution prescribes 12. The government has completed two years in power but still hasnt begun any procedure to appoint minister number 12. Jharkhand Governor Draupadi Murmu recently summoned Saryu Rai, minister in charge of Parliamentary Affairs and Food and Civil Supplies in the BJP-led government, to express concern over that the Cabinet had only 11 ministers and was thus not functioning in accordance with the Constitution. According to sources, Rai wrote a letter to Das, intimating him about the governor's concerns. Sources said the reply he received from the chief minister was something to the effect of : "Your letter has been forwarded to the concerned department." Meanwhile, former Assembly speaker Inder Singh Namdhaari told Firstpost that former governor Ved Marwah threatened to suspend the Arjun Munda government over this issue, after which Munda swore in minister number 12 into the Cabinet. Former Lok Sabha secretary general PDT Acharya told Firstpost that any state Cabinet must have a minimum of 12 ministers and not doing so violates the Constitution. Acharya also said that because of Section 164 (1A), even a state like Goa, which has a small number of legislators, must have 12 ministers. Acharya said that in such a situation, Jharkhand Governor Draupadi Murmu must take suo moto action and that the chief minister should be forced to appoint minister number 12 quickly because it is the governor's duty to uphold and protect the Constitution. A pattern emerges If one was to look at the incident in isolation, one can consider it an oversight during the ebb and flow of governance. However, this isn't the only way in which Das is flouting the Constitution. As per the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution, a tribal welfare minister must be appointed in Jharkhand, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh. In Jharkhand, the tribal welfare department has been merged with the Department of Social Welfare, Women and Child Development. Jharkhand's Scheduled Tribes (ST) population, as per the 2001 census, stands at 70 lakh. That's 26.3 percent of the state population, which is around 2.7 crore. Scheduled Tribes are primarily rural: 91.7 percent of them live in villages. Population wise, Gumla district has the highest number of STs (68.4 percent). STs constitute more than half the population in Lohardaga and Pashchimi Singhbhum districts, whereas Ranchi and Pakaur districts have 41.8 44.6 percent of STs. Kodarma district (0.8 percent) and Chatra district (3.8 percent) have the lowest proportion of the STs. Jharkhand has 32 tribal groups. Sources within the state government say that Murmu questioned State Women and Child Development Minister Louis Marandi on the lack of a separate tribal welfare minister. Sources said that Marandi told Murmu that the tribal welfare department had been merged with her department. The governor told Marandi that the delay in setting up a new division is tantamount to disrespecting the Constitution. Saryu Rai then wrote to the chief minister yet again. However, the same reply was forthcoming: "Your letter has been forwarded to the concerned department." The big question Does the BJP government believe in the Constitution? Babulal Marandi, Jharkhand's first chief minister, and member of the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha, says that the BJP has not heeded the law. As a key ministerial post lies vacant, ministers are shocked and the governor is worried. However, the chief minister remains unfazed. For now, Das is floating above it alllike the flying elephantthe state mascot for the Global Investors Summit that took place in February. But for how long? Translated by Pallavi Rebbapragada Former minister Kapil Mishra contributed his bit to the noise pollution in Delhi on Friday. He occupied television space for about half-an-hour. He made a PowerPoint presentation. And he uttered brave, dire words against Arvind Kejriwal. He must be mighty happy with himself. The only problem is he was not achingly original in his allegations against the Delhi chief minister. Shell companies, mysterious donors, fudged records and under-declaration of funds before the Election Commission havent we heard all this before? The BJP had made the same allegations long ago and has been repeating these over time. Theres nothing original in his charges on dubious foreign funding and the use of the hawala route. Mishras only addition was slightly deeper information on Mukesh Sharmas business and the suspected role of Hem Prakash Sharma, director of several companies, in the questionable transactions of the Aam Aadmi Party. He threatened to take Kejriwal to Tihar jail. If it was on the basis of what he revealed on Friday, then the Delhi chief minister can breathe easy. Whatever incriminating evidence Mishra produced is already under the scrutiny of relevant agencies. Mukesh Sharma, for those in the know, is the businessman who is supposed to have donated the controversial Rs 2-crore to the AAPs kitty in 2014. Earlier, Mishra had claimed that the money was funneled through shell companies. Rebutting it a couple of days ago, Sharma, a property and tobacco dealer, told the media that he indeed had made the contribution through a demand draft in March 2014 and the shell company allegation was without merit. Mishra, on Friday, tried to substantiate his allegation with proof. This follows his indefinite fast a few days earlier over the demand that the party reveals the details of foreign trips of five senior leaders. Kejriwal and his party wont mind the show at all. They could have some complaints about the decibel level though. It was not long ago they were doing the same to others calling media persons and hurling high voltage allegations with proof against others. So they would accept the 'Kapil show' with some empathy. Friday's episode is another chapter in the unending farce involving the AAP. But how long would we be subjected to this torture? The charges on donations have been floating around for over two years. It should not take the government agencies, if they are serious, too long to get to the core of the transactions and unearth wrongdoing, if theres any. One has no reason to be sympathetic to the AAP, but theres a feeling that the delay is deliberate. It allows space for political drama. The drama follows a tired script. Since it has nothing fresh to offer it has to discover new actors every few days to keep the audience interest going. If it is Mishra today, it will be someone else tomorrow. The director is invisible yet no one is in doubt who it could be. The AAP would like to believe it is the BJP because the party has a vested interest in destabilising the Delhi government. If the government collapses under the weight of graft allegations and internal power struggles, the BJP could move in to fill the space. But till that happens the drama has to be repeated, no matter how insufferable it is. It serves a purpose for everybody. The likes of Mishra get their television space, the Opposition parties get to attack Kejriwal, the latter gets the opportunity to play victim and the media get something to talk about. So get ready for another episode of the farce around AAP. A new actor could be rehearsing his lines already. 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Ireland United States Minor Outlying Islands United States of America Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe New Delhi: Suspended AAP leader Kapil Mishra on Friday alleged a nexus between Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and those involved in hawala transactions. The sacked minister asked the Chief Minister to step down to ensure a fair probe into the allegations. "A false video was retweeted by Kejriwalji on Thursday claiming that (Delhi businessman) Mukesh Kumar gave Rs 2 crore as donation to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in 2014", Mishra told the media. Mishra's remarks came a day after Kejriwal retweeted a news report of Mukesh Kumar who claimed to have donated Rs 2 crore to AAP in 2014. Showing the letterheads of four companies; Skyline Metal and Alloys Pvt Ltd, Glodmine Buildcon Pvt Ltd, Infoline Software Solution Ltd and Sunvision company from which the AAP received Rs 2 crore donation in 2014, Mishra said he has evidence to back his claims. Mishra "challenged" the AAP national convenor to tell the Income Tax department that his party received donation of Rs 2 crore from Mukesh Kumar. He claimed the letterheads of the companies which made donations to AAP were fake. He also raised questions regarding the identity of Mukesh Kumar, and asked, "Why is Mukesh Kumar being made a scapegoat by Kejriwal? Who is Kejriwal trying to save?". Mishra alleged that Mukesh Kumar became CEO of one of the companies days before the Delhi civic polls, though the donations were made in 2014. Launching an attack on Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Mishra said, "Mukesh Kumar was a VAT defaulter with the Delhi government, and his company was sent notices, yet this company was given tenders by the government". He claimed Kejriwal and Sisodia were aware of the "corruption activities". He questioned Kejriwal's silence in the matter. Mishra revealed the name of one more person Hem Prakash Sharma, whose signatures were on two letter heads and said that he was the Additional Director of the companies Skyline Metal and Alloys Pvt Ltd and Goldmine Buildcon Pvt Ltd alongwith Mukesh Kumar. The sacked minister said that Hem Prakash Sharma was also Director in a company alongwith lawyer Rohit Tandon, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in December last year for converting black money into white. "This is the biggest proof of hawala nexus against Kejriwal", Mishra said. "The man who donated Rs 2 crore to AAP is wanted by CBI, ED and the IT officials, but he meets Kejriwal", Mishra added "This is the reason why Kejriwal was shouting so much after the government's demonetisation move and was coming out on the streets against it. If Kejriwal has any shame left he must step down", Mishra demanded, adding that he has submitted the balancesheet of AAP signed by Kejriwal to the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). He said he has also given the details of Rohit Tandon to the CBDT. He termed Kejriwal a "mafia" and said he fears for his life as he can be attacked. Is the BJP going to apply its successful Assam formula to Nagaland? That's the question that is on everyone's mind after a few veterans of Nagaland politics launched a new political party on Wednesday ahead of next year's Assembly elections. After all, the party's North East playbookbringing high-profile dissidents into the foldhas paid off handsomely in the past. The formation of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) by Member of Parliament Chingwang Konyak, who was once a close aide of Neiphiu Rio, the former chief minister of Nagaland, is seen by many as an attempt by the BJP to win the Assembly elections by roping in several dissidents from the ruling Naga People's Front (NPF). Rio, a Member of Parliament, was suspended from the NPF a year ago. Although no direct link between the BJP and DPP can be drawn at the moment, speculation is rampant that Rio is close to BJP leadership at the Centre. Just before the DPP was formed, Nagaland Page reported: "The new regional party is expected to be led by former Lok Sabha MP Chingwang Konyak and remote-controlled by suspended NPF Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio." Speaking to Firstpost, DPP president Konyak said: We expect many leaders from various parties to join us. As of now, few leaders from the NPF, who are not MLAs would be joining us. Two days ago, P Mulang, Officer on Special Duty (Backward Tribe), resigned as NPF general secretary. Although Mulang has not joined the DPP, the resignation is seen as a significant development. The Nagaland Post, speculating that a number of NPF MLAs would join the DPP, reported: In the recent reshuffle after Chief Minister Shurhozelie Liezietsu took over, several ministers and parliamentary secretaries were dropped from the ministry. It is believed that all of them will likely join the newly-floated DPP in the upcoming weeks ahead of the state Assembly election. The newspaper also reported that Rios loyalists have been sidelined in the Nagaland government, though a few of them have been given positions such as parliamentary secretaries and advisers. Speculation is rife that Rio may join the DPP along with his MLAs. Rio, a former three-time Nagaland chief minister, contested parliamentary elections in 2014, expecting a Cabinet berth in the NDA government. He left his associate TR Zeliang to lead the state. However, things didn't work out for him. In 2016, Rio was suspended from the NPF after he was seen making a play to reclaim his former position as Nagaland chief minister by throwing his weight behind a group of dissident MLAs. His second attempt in early 2017after the then chief minister TR Zeliang had to step down in the face of a mass protest over 33% reservation of seats for women in the civic body pollsalso proved unsuccessful. An NPF leader, speaking to Hindustan Times on the condition of anonymity, hinted that Rio had the support of BJP leadership second time around. The BJP helped Zeliang and Rio patch up in Delhi, for the latter to take over as chief minister, the leader reportedly told the newspaper. Rio flew from Delhi to Kohima and garnered support from a number of MLAs, but party leadership neither approved of this development nor revoked his suspension. Rather, party president Shurhozelie Liezietsu stepped in and took over as chief minister. At a time when his followers are sidelined in the corridors of power, it is more than a little likely that Rio will join the DPP. Speaking to Firstpost, Rio didn't seem opposed to the idea. I am a Member of Parliament. Hence, I cannot be part of forming a new outfit. But if the people want a change, no one can stop it from happening. After all, we live in a democracy." Interestingly, Rio also criticised the NPF, saying there was a huge demand for a new regional party in his state as the ruling NPF has not adequately dealt with crises. In the case of 33% reservation of seats for women in civic body polls, the government was seen as confronting the public rather than consulting them." If speculations are proved correct about Rio joining the DPP, the former chief minister who led a nascent NPF to power on three occasions will massively shift the political equation in Nagaland. The growing anti-incumbency against the NPF-led government, which has been in power for three terms, leaves the situation ripe for a change. Nagaland's political landscape is dominated by the NPF. The party has 48 MLAs in the 60-member state Assembly. Among the remaining 12 MLAs, four are from the BJP and eight are independent. All of them are allied with the NPF, which means there is basically no Opposition in the Assembly. The DPP could very well fit this gap and potentially emerge as the alternative to the NPF. Rio is first among equalsthe most powerful of the dissidents who are constantly at loggerheads with the NPFand is likely to find this party as a suitable vehicle for his return to power. The chatter in the political circles is that the DPP may well come in handy for the BJP to gain power in the Christian-dominated state. The BJP, a junior partner in the NPF-led government, may not be in a position to expand its electoral dominance on its own, although it is raring to go. Joel Naga, a Nagaland social activist, explains the resistance to the BJP. I would not say that the Naga people are against the BJP. However, they are wary, especially after the beef ban row. We are very sensitive about our eating habits." Naga, speaking on another hurdle for the BJP, added, At the moment, the people have no reason to believe that the BJP is different from the NPF-led Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN). The BJP has been an ally to what is viewed as one of the most corrupt governments in state history. We have had scams larger than the Bihar fodder scam. But the BJP continues to remain an NPF ally." A BJP state leader, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that the BJP's growth in Nagaland has been hamstrung due to a lack of high-profile leaders. We did not have powerful leaders in Assam and Manipur. But that gap was filled in by bringing in people from the Congress and having them go up against their former colleagues. But the same formula can't be applied in Nagaland. Here, the ruling party is a long-time NDA ally. If we start poaching their leaders it will send the wrong message," he said. In such a catch-22 situation, if a party like DPP emerges with strong leadership, it can definitely bail us out. After the election, it might be possible for us to claim a greater share of power if we help form the government," he added. Minor variations in the Assam formula can be brought by striking a pre-poll seat sharing alliance with DPP, to ensure that anti-NPF votes are shared only between the two allies.Given the strong anti-incumbency against NPF, the number of votes against it is likely to increase by leaps and bounds, he explained. The leader also said that a prospective alliance with DPP can be extended after the election, or the new party can be absorbed by the BJP. In the North East, defections in large numbers from a regional party to a national party is nothing new. In 2016, the BJP formed the first full-fledged government in the region after Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu and 33 MLAs from the People's Party of Arunachal defected to it. But for all that to happen, NPF bigwigs have to join the DPP or defect to us. Until then, we are keeping our fingers crossed," the BJP leader said. The son of former Uttar Pradesh minister Rajendra Singh Rana was booked on Thursday over a provocative post on social media. He had appealed to members of the Thakur community in the post to gather at Shabbirpur village, where communal clashes had erupted earlier this month. Rajendra, who was an MLA from Deoband with the Samajwadi Party and also minister of state in the Akhilesh Yadav government, had died of cancer in 2015. Senior superintendent of police, Subhash Chandra Dubey, said that a case had been lodged against Kartikey Rana, Rajendra's son, at Badgaon police station under the IT Act. Uttar Pradesh Police searched for Rana at many places, including his residence on Jain College Road, but he was not found. Prabal Pratap, the new SP (city) said that any kind of inflammatory post on social media would not be tolerated. A heavy police force was deployed at Rana's paternal village Bhaila in Saharanpur, where he reached in the afternoon and submitted a letter to the administration officials, in which he had kept forward his various demands. The police, however, were unable to arrest Rana from the village as he was accompanied by a large crowd of supporters. In his letter, Rana demanded the arrest of Shabbirpur village head, former MLA Ravindra Molhus; Bheem Army founder and lawyer Chandrasekhar's arrest by 20 May; arrest of those posting controversial things/comments on social media, and the withdrawal of cases against members of the Thakur community, who were "wrongly charged" in the case. Meanwhile, the police crackdown on those posting objectionable material on social media is underway. Dubey said that a case was lodged against two persons at Sadar Bazar police station recently for posting controversial messages on social media to disrupt the social harmony. Recently, a man identified as Mansharam was booked for posting an indecent message in connection with the Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath. The other case was lodged against Chandrasekhar, who claims to be the founder of Bheem Army. Members of this organisation, led by the 30-year-old lawyer, were involved in the clashes at Shabbirpur village in Saharanpur on 5 May. Hyderabad: Setting the goal of coming to power in Telangana in 2019, the BJP has worked out a plan to deploy full-time workers in the state, just the way it did in Assam and Uttar Pradesh. A full-timer, referred to as 'vistarak' by the BJP, is expected to work for the party's success in the next state Assembly polls. The party is likely to have around 250 full-timers in the state who will work for its success in the 2019 Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, Telangana BJP unit spokesperson Krishna Saagar Rao told PTI on Friday. These full-timers would work in the 119 Assembly segments of the state. The party is likely to provide accommodation and transport facilities to them, he said. "We used it (the services of full-timers) in Assam and again very successfully in Uttar Pradesh. We now plan to use the same in Telangana," he said. BJP's Telangana unit has received motor bikes used in Uttar Pradesh polls. The state party unit now plans to distribute these vehicles to the full-timers in Telangana. Some of these bikes are now parked in the party's office here. Telangana BJP president K Laxman is likely to hand over the bikes to the full-timers by this month-end, after party national president Amit Shah's three-day visit to the state next week. Telangana is one of the states identified by BJP for gaining power after its successful campaigns in Assam and Haryana, which are not its traditional strongholds. "With BJP national president Amit Shah focusing on this state and the people of Telangana willing to give the party a chance to fulfil their aspirations, BJP's rise to power to cater to the dire needs of the people of Telangana is a certainty," Rao said. "It's just a matter of time for the BJP to form government in Telangana," he said. Anniversaries are occasions for assessing the good, bad and ugly. When it comes to leaders who evoke extreme responses, appraisals resemble lavish eulogies or end up as outright condemnation. Assessments of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's performance in the past three years have contrasted from #TeenSaalBemisaal to #TeenSaalGolmaal. It would be prudent to step aside and instead of merely focussing on government functioning, also evaluate the performance of another element vital for his current political invincibility the party. In the wake of the Bharatiya Janata Party's electoral sweep of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, a smart headline writer termed it as Bharatiya Juggernaut Party. If he was in the party where creating alliterations is a favoured mental exercise, the wordsmith would have received a fair share of kudos. After all, the switched word means something that is "a massive inexorable force that seems to crush everything in its way". In the context in which it was made, the alteration couldn't have been apter. If in the past three years, we have witnessed the emergence of a new BJP, a party that shed its tradition of closed-door meetings appearing like a goshthi or conventions that resemble a jamboree, then India has also seen the emergence of Amit Shah as president, who combines ruthlessness, unprecedented administrative acumen and political cunning. He is a man more awed than admired. He too spawned several notable headlines, 'The Shah of Permanent War' being just one. Elections for him and the party are actually, nothing less than war. If he enters into a combat, the objective is always resounding victory. In the run-up to Uttar Pradesh polls, he reportedly told party colleagues unsure of the terrain and its outcome, "Chunav spashtata se lada jata hai, chunav ka lakshya jeet hota hai." (Elections are fought with clarity of mind with the single objective of victory)". It is ironical that the man without who no discussion on the BJP begins or ends was not a certain to be elevated as president when the results were declared in May 2014. He was even weighed as a potential junior minister in the Prime Minister's Office. Initially, speculation revolved over Rajnath Singh's ambition to continue as party chief and stay out of government. That arrangement, however, was unsuitable for Modi because it would have resulted in the dual power centre. Modi wouldn't have allowed the party and government to be at cross purposes. Eventually, Modi inducted Singh into his cabinet and appointed Shah as party president. The reasons behind this can be understood by juxtaposing Shah's fundamental trait with that of the other contender JP Nadda. Though a Modi loyalist for long, Nadda remains a genial person and quintessential satrap. Modi needed a merciless workhorse, completely focussed on the task in hand and someone not averse to blunt-speak regardless of who was before him. When Shah assumed the reins of Uttar Pradesh for the 2014 parliamentary poll, the party was in shambles. Local leaders squabbled among each other and its fabled organisational network had withered away. Affiliates of the Sangh Parivar were not motivated as party leaders did little to encourage a sense of participation in them. The party continued contesting elections on old strategies, unable to harness technological capacities that had been done in Gujarat. Consequently, Shah made several changes and results were phenomenal. When he became party president, the national picture was no different and Shah initiated similar alterations. Besides modernising the structure of the party, introducing new ideas like technology-based mass membership drive, and irrigating the organisation at the lowest rungs, Shah brought in corporate-style system of vertical heads heading programmes in contrast to the horizontal nature of the party under presidents prior to him. Tasks were allocated and targets set. In the aftermath of the loss in Bihar, four senior leaders LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Arun Shourie and Shanta Kumar accused Shah of centralising the party's decision-making process. To an extent this was true, but it has to be contextualised in the backdrop of the existence of contrasting theories of leadership and principles of functioning within the Sangh Parivar. The RSS was established by KB Hedgewar on the principle of Ek Chalak Anuvartitva (follow one leader) and the same principle was practised by MS Golwalkar. But Balasaheb Deoras introduced the notion of Sah Chalak Anuvartitva (follow many leaders) and Sarva Samaveshak or inclusive leadership. Evidently, the Modi-Shah duo is more attuned to the Hedgewar-Golwalkar theory of intra-organisational functioning. This marks a decisive shift from the collegiate style of functioning BJP after it was remoulded from the Janata Party's debris. Undoubtedly, Modi is the presiding deity in this BJP and Shah is the proverbial Hanuman to Lord Ram. The government has its priorities sorted out and the party is expected to trumpet these periodically. Whenever party leaders appear to be falling short, Shah spurs them on. Recall when he asked MPs and other leaders to campaign in their constituencies on positives of demonetisation. Centralisation of the decision-making process, firmness while tackling aspirations within the party (remember Yogi Adityanath's limited role in ticket distribution) and no-nonsense work style has proved infectious down the ranks. The biggest achievement of the Modi-Shah duo is to develop a sense of participation in the wider Parivar and ensure that each key person at the lowest level develops a stake in ensuring BJP's uninterrupted run. Currently, the BJP on its own or with allies controls 17 states and this adds up to nearly two-third of the Indian population. For a party in disarray till late 2012, this is no mean achievement. Inner-party democracy may be a casualty but that is the price most are willing to pay. Ideological dominance and share of the political pie cannot but come at a cost and if this means maintaining strategic silence, so be it. Shah has to just ensure that cronyism is kept out of the party, spoils are fairly distributed and hard work is rewarded. Before the next parliamentary polls, assembly elections are due in ten states of which Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh will witness a direct contest with the Congress. While in Karnataka, the party is most likely faced with a triangular battlefield, of the four northeastern states of Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura, the BJP is making a concerted bid for power at least in Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura, a Left bastion for long. There will be thus little reason to change tack. Issues remain for the party in states where regional parties are strong, especially because aggressive attempts of Shah to emerge as a dominant party may cause unease among regional allies. The task will not be uniformly easy as recent results of local polls in West Bengal established. Whenever Modi is mentioned, conversation invariably shifts to his reasonable chances of re-election in 2019 ensuring continuance in office till 2024. What gets ignored is that Shah's first of the two full presidential tenures he is entitled to ends only in January 2019, months before the next Lok Sabha is due. There are little chances of a change of guard close to polls and if the verdict is positive, there is a likelihood for Shah to remain at the helm till 2022 or later. By then, the BJP would have acquired a firmer grip on Indian politics. Shah has a clear agenda - work for a new phase of single-party dominance in the country. He aims to preside over the party when it will truly be "another Congress", but of yore when electoral sweeps by the Jawaharlal Nehru was the routine. New Delhi: A Delhi-based businessman today claimed he had donated Rs 2 crore to the AAP, rubbishing sacked Delhi minister Kapil Mishra's allegation that the amount was paid by a shell company. Mukesh Sharma, a property dealer and tobacco trader, said he had donated the money through a demand draft on 31 March,2014. "The public support to the AAP at that time was over-whelming and I had donated the money to the party hoping that it will do good for Delhi and for the nation", Sharma said. Mishra had on Sunday alleged "massive irregularities" in the funding of the AAP and raised questions about the "suspicious" donation of Rs 2 crore. He had also claimed that several shell companies had given money to the AAP and the party knew it. Asked what took him so long to claim that he donated the money, Sharma said, "I was tired of the allegations that it was given by shell companies." He added that tax men are probing him since last twoandhalf years over the donation made to the party. A video clip of Sharma's interview by a news channel was also retweeted by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Lucknow: Appropriate action is being taken into the allegations of encroachment of WAQF and government property against former minister Azam Khan, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has informed Governor Ram Naik. Adityanath wrote a letter to the governor in response to his letter sent on 26 April with regard to the allegations made by Congress leader of Rampur Faisal Khan Lala. "We have received your letter regarding the charges of encroachment of WAQF and government property and misuse of government funds by former minister Azam Khan and the departments concerned are taking appropriate action in this connection," the chief minister wrote. Lala had, in a two-page letter to the governor, levelled 14 allegations including one that Khan illegally displaced innocent people to encroach land in the name of Jauhar university in Rampur. By J.R. Wu | TAIPEI TAIPEI Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen is signalling she needs more give and take from China to rein in hardliners on an island China considers its own, officials say, but Beijing is unlikely to budge months before its five-yearly Communist Party Congress. As she marks one year in office on Saturday, Tsai, leader of the ruling independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), is facing a surge in anti-China sentiment amid pressure from Beijing on the proudly democratic island to bow to its "one China" policy. It is becoming more difficult to hold the line against independence-minded constituents and even tougher for Tsai to offer concessions to Beijing, one senior government official told Reuters on the condition of anonymity. "President Tsai's attitude is that she is very determined to maintain the status quo of democracy and cross-Strait relations," the official said, referring to the body of water separating the two sides. "She hopes China can respond in a positive manner so she can also respond in a positive manner and narrow the distance with China."China has claimed Taiwan as its own since defeated Nationalists fled to the island in 1949 after losing a civil war with the Communists. Only a handful of countries recognise Taiwan as a country, making it ineligible, for instance, for membership of UN organisations.In recent weeks, Tsai has given a series of interviews after a half-year break and taken to Twitter to talk about Taiwan being shut out of a UN health meeting and made her first extensive comments on the detention of a Taiwan activist in China.This is all an effort to give Beijing a roadmap on where "goodwill" can be extended and in turn give her a chance to reciprocate, said Taiwan sources, on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.FEARS OF A "COLLISION" At least 70 percent of Taiwanese do not accept the "one China" policy, with 58.4 percent blaming Beijing as being the more provocative of the two since Tsai took office on May 20 last year, according to a poll by the Cross-Strait Policy Association, which is comprised of prominent academics and bipartisan figures."My concern right now is that on some level of cross-Strait relations, a collision is about to begin," said Fan Shih-ping, an association member and a political science professor at National Taiwan Normal University. Fan said he would not have predicted this development a year ago, but now, pointing to social media and online conversations in Taiwan and in China, there was a growing sense of "mutual disgust".A spokesman for China's Taiwan Affairs Office said last week everything wrong with the current relations could be blamed on the DPP and its refusal to accept "one China"."No matter what new flowery language the DPP comes up with, it can't shift its responsibility for this reality," spokesman An Fengshan said. Taiwan minority opposition party lawmaker Freddy Lim recently decried Beijing for pressuring Taiwan to recognise "one China" if it wanted to attend the World Health Organisation's annual meeting in Geneva next week. He said China was forcing Taiwan to "castrate" itself.Cross-strait academics in Taipei have also been spooked by the detention of Taiwanese rights activist Li Ming-che, who travelled to China for medical consultations in March only to disappear.It was 10 days before Beijing confirmed Li had been detained for security reasons, but so far it has not disclosed Li's whereabouts and last month cancelled his wife's visa to stop her from going to China to look for him.GROWING POLARISATION Tsai has said both sides should look for a "new model" for ties but has not defined it, a senior DPP official said, mainly to show Beijing she is open to ideas."I hope Chairman Xi Jinping, as a leader of a large country and who sees himself as a leader, can show a pattern and flexibility, use a different angle to look at cross-Strait relations, and allow the future of cross-Strait ties to have a different kind of pattern," Tsai told Reuters in an interview last month. China's biggest fear is that Tsai does something rash, like call an independence referendum, said a Beijing-based Western diplomat. That would give the hardliners in the Chinese military an upper hand for a forceful response, he added.China has never ruled out the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control.Tsai and the DPP understand that before China's party congress in the autumn, Chinese President Xi won't be able to offer breakthroughs in ties even if he wanted to, Taiwan sources say. "What we can see is that ahead of the 19th party congress, the Taiwan issue will be caught up in the power struggle of the top echelon of China's Communists," Fan said.One foreign representative based in Taipei said the party congress and how ties develop between China and the United States, Taiwan's most important political ally, were variables Tsai could not control. "She's got to map out all the pressure points and try to mitigate them," he said. (Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in BEIJING; Editing by Nick Macfie) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Simon Johnson and Michael Holden | STOCKHOLM/LONDON STOCKHOLM/LONDON Swedish prosecutors dropped an investigation of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Friday over a rape allegation, but British police said he would still be arrested if he left the Ecuadorean embassy in London where he has been holed up for five years.Assange, 45, took refuge in the embassy in June 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden after two women made rape and sexual molestation allegations against him, which he denies. He feared Sweden would hand him over to the United States to face prosecution over WikiLeaks' publication of swathes of classified military and diplomatic documents in one of the largest information leaks in U.S. history.Appearing on the balcony of the embassy after the Swedish announcement, Assange said he was ready to talk to Britain "about what is the best way forward" and with the U.S. Department of Justice, but also defended his right to stay put."The road is far from over. The war, the proper war is just commencing," he told supporters and media after raising a clenched fist in a gesture of victory.Police in London said they were still obliged to arrest Assange if he left the embassy for skipping bail. They said this was a much less serious offence than rape, but he could still face up to a year in jail if convicted.Assange is a cyber hero to some for exposing government abuses of power and championing free speech, but to others he is a criminal who has undermined the security of the West. The former computer hacker enraged Washington by publishing hundreds of thousands of secret U.S. diplomatic cables that laid bare often highly critical U.S. appraisals of world leaders from Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Saudi royal family.Earlier on Friday Swedish Chief Prosecutor Marianne Ny said the rape investigation could not proceed due to legal obstacles. "We are not making a statement about his guilt," Ny said, adding that the investigation could be reopened if Assange came to Sweden before the statute of limitations deadline for the rape allegation in 2020. Assange always denied the rape allegations and said they were a ploy to get him whisked off to the United States.WANTED BY WASHINGTON In January, Assange said he stood by an offer to go to the United States providing his rights were upheld and if former military intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning, who was responsible for a 2010 leak of classified materials to Assange's anti-secrecy group, was freed.Manning was released on Wednesday after spending seven years in a U.S. military prison for passing the documents to WikiLeaks.British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Friday it would be "an operational matter for the police" to decide whether to arrest Assange if he left the embassy. Asked if she would support Britain extraditing Assange to the United States, she said: "We look at extradition requests when we receive them on a case-by-case basis."While Assange may still not be able to leave the embassy in the upmarket Knightsbridge area of London, the prosecutor's decision to stop the investigation into allegations of rape brings to an end a seven-year stand-off with Sweden.The Ecuadorean government welcomed the decision and in a statement called on Britain to grant Assange safe passage to Ecuador. Foreign Minister Guillaume Long said Assange was welcome to stay in the embassy if this was not granted."As long as we fear that this is a case of political persecution ... as long as we fear for Mr. Assange's integrity and human rights, we will continue with our policy of offering him asylum," Long said in a telephone interview.He said that recent statements by U.S. President Donald Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions indicating that United States authorities would seek to arrest Assange were a sign that he still faces persecution outside Britain. "HOSTILE INTELLIGENCE SERVICE" Last month CIA Director Mike Pompeo called WikiLeaks a "hostile intelligence service", and Sessions, responding to a question about Assange, said the Trump administration was stepping up its efforts against all leaks of sensitive information."Whenever a case can be made, we will seek to put some people in jail," Sessions said.During last year's U.S. presidential election campaign, WikiLeaks published emails from Hillary Clinton's staff and the Democratic National Committee which some believe helped to lose her the election to Trump. U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded the Russian government hacked the emails as part of an effort by Moscow to tilt the election in Trump's favour.The Assange case has raised questions about the Swedish justice system, with a United Nations panel saying Assange had been subject to "arbitrary detention". Prosecutors have been accused of vacillating, first dropping the preliminary investigation and then re-opening it and of dragging their heels over questioning Assange. Prosecutors first interviewed Assange in November last year in the Ecuadorean embassy. They were not allowed to question him directly but only through an Ecuadorean prosecutor.Assange's lawyer, Per Samuelson, hailed Sweden's decision to drop the investigation as "a total victory for us". (Additional reporting by Alexandra Valencia, Brian Ellsworth, Johannes Hellstrom, Johan Ahlander, Niklas Pollard, Olof Swahnberg, Costas Pitas, Wiliam Schomberg and Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Gareth Jones and Frances Kerry) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. BEIJING China and Southeast Asian countries agreed on Thursday to a framework for a long-mooted code of conduct for the disputed South China Sea, China's foreign ministry said, as both sides step up efforts to ease tension in the strategic waterway.China and the members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) had been hoping to this year agree on the framework, 15 years after committing to draft it. Some ASEAN diplomats have expressed concern about whether China is being sincere, or whether ASEAN has enough leverage to get China to commit to a set of rules.Some Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam and the Philippines, as well as the United States, have expressed concern at what they see as China's militarisation of the South China Sea, including building air strips on man-made islands.After a meeting between Chinese and ASEAN officials in the Chinese city of Guiyang, China's foreign ministry said the framework had been agreed upon, although it gave no details of its contents. The talks had been candid and deep and made positive achievements, it added in a statement.All parties "uphold using the framework of regional rules to manage and control disputes, to deepen practical maritime cooperation, to promote consultation on the code and jointly maintain the peace and stability of the South China Sea", it added.Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin, in comments carried on state television, said the framework was comprehensive and took into account the concerns of all sides. But he called on others to stay out, apparently a coded message to the United States."We hope that our consultations on the code are not subject to any outside interference," Liu said. The permanent secretary of Singapore's foreign ministry, Chee Wee Kiong, said what he called a "draft" framework would be submitted to a meeting between the foreign ministers of China and the ASEAN states in August in the Philippines."We hope to continue the positive momentum of consultation and make steady progress towards a substantive CoC based on consensus as directed by our leaders," Chee said, in remarks also shown on Chinese state television, referring to the code of conduct.China claims almost the entire South China Sea, through which about $5 trillion in goods pass every year. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims.Negotiators from China and ASEAN met in Indonesia and Cambodia in the last few months to try to reach a final draft, which could be approved ahead of the August meeting of Southeast Asian foreign ministers in the Philippines.(In 8th paragraph, corrects spelling of name of Chinese vice foreign minister to Liu Zhenmin, not Liu Zhemin) (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Clarence Fernandez, Robert Birsel) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. The China-made attack helicopter Z-19E made its deput flight from the Harbin airport on Friday marking a major step towards the country's entry into the global market for combative choppers. Also called the "Black Whirlwind," the Z-19E, which took the maiden flight on Thursday, is the first export-oriented attack helicopter developed by the AVIC Harbin Aircraft Industry Group. Based on the Z-19's design, the 19E can be used in quick-response, low-impact and frequent attack missions, the China National Radio reported. China has rattled nerves around the region with its plan to reform its military, the world's largest, focusing on quality over quantity and replacing old equipment and tactics dating back decades, underpinned by billions of dollars in spending. The Z-19E, developed by the state-owned AVIC Harbin Aircraft Industry, took to the skies over the city of Harbin for its maiden flight, with images carried on state television. "The helicopter is the latest narrow-body tandem-seat armed helicopter. It is also the country's first export-oriented helicopter made especially for attack purposes," state news agency Xinhua said. It is specifically designed to meet the requirements of the foreign market, the news agency added. "It is able to be deployed for battlefield support and a variety of other missions in a complicated battlefield environment during both day and night," Li Shengwei, deputy chief designer of AVIC Harbin Aircraft Industry, told Xinhua. The Z-19E is mainly intended to attack tanks, armoured vehicles and other ground targets, flying at very low altitudes, Xinhua added. With a tandem dual-seat cabin, it provides both pilots with good line of vision, it said. China has rolled out a series of increasingly advanced equipment in recent years, including stealth fighter jets and the first domestically developed aircraft carrier. China has also increasingly been focused at getting more defense orders on the world market, trying to shed a reputation for poor reliability or cloning weapons. Deputy chief designer Li Shengwei said the helicopter is equipped with safety features to improve the pilot's survival rate. "The Z-19E and Z-9 are similar in many respects," Li said. In terms of manoeuvrability and functions, the Z-19E meets international standards and its operating interface is in English, he said. "The Z-19E has strong market potential as some of its components are compatible with other countries' military systems," Song Zhongping, a military expert who served in the PLA Rocket Force, told the state-run Global Times. Song also noted that the helicopter would fare well in the global market. It is aimed at countries which require light military helicopters with medium-level attack power, he said. With inputs from agencies US president Donald Trump has called the situation in Venezuela a "disgrace to humanity" and said that the deadly political crisis was possibly the worst of its kind in "decades." "We haven't really seen a problem like that... in decades, in terms of the kind of violence that we're witnessing," Trump told a joint press conference on Thursday, with visiting Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos. "People don't have enough to eat. People have no food. There's great violence. And we will do whatever is necessary and we will work together to do whatever is necessary to help with fixing that... What is happening is really a disgrace to humanity." Trump's comments came a day after the Venezuelan government announced it was sending more than 2,500 troops to a trouble-hit region on the border with Colombia to try to quell weeks of violence that claimed 43 lives in Venezuela. Despite its vast oil reserves, Venezuela is suffering chronic shortages of food, medicine and other basic supplies, something the center-right Opposition blames on mismanagement and corruption in the Socialist government. President Nicolas Maduro, in turn, blames sabotage by the "bourgeois" opposition, which he says is backed by Washington. "When you look at the oil reserves that they have, when you look at the potential wealth that Venezuela has, you sort of have to wonder why is that happening, how is that possible?" said Trump. "It has been unbelievably poorly run for a long period of time, and hopefully that will change and they could use those assets for the good, and to take care of their people," he said. The Hague: Lawmakers have voiced opposition to a proposal by Amsterdam's top police official to consider allowing female Muslim agents to wear headscarfs, Dutch media reported. At least six major political parties are against plans from Commissioner Pieter-Jaap Aalbersberg to introduce Islamic headscarfs to women's uniforms as part of a recruitment drive to diversify law enforcement in the Dutch capital. Aalbersberg on Thursday said he wanted to boost multiculturalism among Amsterdam's police, saying he wanted at least half of all new recruits in the tourist hotspot to come from a non-Dutch background. His proposal also included allowing police officers to wear religious symbols such as crosses, Jewish yarmulkes or Islamic headscarfs. "Amsterdam's population is changing in terms of its make- up. It has to be debated," he told the daily tabloid Algemeen Dagblad in an interview. Aalbersberg said 52 percent of Amsterdam's residents were from a non-Dutch background, but that was not reflected in the composition of the city's police force, in which only 18 percent of officers have more diverse roots. Major political parties however including the Liberal VVD party - which won the most seats during March elections - the progressive D66 and left-wing Socialist Party are against the idea, the daily tabloid De Telegraaf said. Dutch police in 2011 adopted a code of conduct that bars the wearing of any religious symbols "as it does not fit in with the neutrality of the police." "It's important for a police officer to project an image of neutrality for his or her authority and safety," outgoing Safety and Justice Ministry Stef Blok told the paper. "We support a drive towards more diversity, but allowing headscarfs is not the right way to do it," added VVD parliamentarian Ockje Tellegen. "It's not true that heaps of women rule out a career in the police just because they're not allowed to wear headscarfs," she said. Socialist Party lawmaker Ronald van Raak told the paper "police wear a uniform because they're neutral." "Amsterdam cannot decide to do things differently. The same police uniform is worn across the country," he said. The papers pointed out that headscarfs are worn by Muslim policewomen in many countries including Australia, Britain, Canada and in some parts of the United States. By John Whitesides | WASHINGTON WASHINGTON In Washington, the chatter about a deepening, Watergate-style crisis has engulfed the White House - and those conversations are echoed in big cities across the country and in a succession of headlines that seem to suggest almost certain doom for the young Trump administration.But for many Americans, including President Donald Trumps staunchest supporters, the "crisis in Washington" is not about possible missteps by Trump or questions over whether his campaign colluded with Russia. For them, its the latest egregious example of mainstream media bias and of Washington insiders desperate to preserve their status taking revenge on the New York celebrity businessman.In such an intensely polarized political environment that distrust of mainstream media will make it less likely that Trump supporters - and the Republican officeholders who rely on their votes - will abandon the president any time soon."The more negativity, the more we're for him. It's backfiring on them," Arizona resident Nadia Larsen said of media reports about possible collusion with Russia or Trumps conversations with then-FBI Director James Comey.Reports from the Washington Post and New York Times that Trump shared classified information with Russias foreign minister and pressured Comey to end an inquiry into former national security adviser Michael Flynn have been met with skepticism by Larsen and many other Trump supporters.More credible, they say, is news from prominent conservative media outlets, from the Trump-friendly airwaves of Fox News to websites such as Breitbart. Those outlets have cast the allegations as an ideological attack by Obama administration holdovers or the revenge of the "deep state," a term used by the far right to refer to what they see as a deeply entrenched bureaucracy opposed to Trump."The only news I watch is Fox, but the only news I watch and believe is whatever comes out of the president's mouth and whatever he tweets," said Larsen, an Israeli-born immigrant who has lived in Tucson, Arizona, for 25 years. Several Trump supporters decried what they described as baseless news from anonymous sources and said they have not seen any concrete evidence to support the allegations against Trump."This is what I expected," said Jeff Klusmeier, an insurance agent in Louisville, Kentucky. "I expected the media to attack Trump. I expected the Democrats to attack him and call for impeachment. So it's par for the course for me."Conservative media outlets have developed their own theories about the recent spate of negative headlines. The Breitbart News Network, once headed by Trump chief strategist Stephen Bannon, reported that some of the recent accusations were driven by associates of Comey, who was fired by Trump last week, in a story headlined "Comey Strikes Back."Among the headlines on the Drudge Report, a popular conservative news aggregator, were "Media Reach Peak Meltdown" and "Sabotage in DC." "The anti-Trump press believes it smells blood in the water," said Fox News commentator Sean Hannity, a staunch Trump supporter who accused the mainstream media of "hyperventilating breathlessness."Hannity tweeted on Wednesday that five groups were trying to destroy Trump: the media, Democrats, deep state/intelligence operatives, establishment Republicans and "never Trumpers."'WITCH HUNT' "This effort, this plan, this desire to upend and stop the Trump presidency got going probably on election night and certainly within 24 hours. And now we're seeing it manifest itself," radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh said. On Wednesday, the Justice Department appointed former FBI head Robert Mueller as a special counsel to investigate possible ties between Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and Russia.Trump has fed the theory that the media is out to get him, saying "no politician in history" has been treated more unfairly. On Thursday he tweeted that the probe of Russian collusion was "the single greatest witch hunt" in U.S. history."The overwhelming majority of conservatives and Republicans believe that whatever you may think of Donald Trump, this is clearly being driven by many quarters of the media that chose sides in the election and were very upfront about it and haven't changed," Republican consultant Keith Appell told Reuters.Trump's approval ratings have been low for a new president, remaining mired in the high 30s to low 40s. But 77 percent of Republicans approve of Trump's performance, according to the most recent Reuters/Ipsos survey, a figure that has stayed relatively steady since his inauguration.Bradd Bostick, a Reynoldsburg, Ohio, resident who started a Bikers for Trump group after the president's inauguration in January, said he was not concerned about the recent controversies because "most of us do not believe anything we hear in the mainstream media.""The media thinks it's about Trump, and it's not," said Steve Deace, an Iowa-based commentator for Conservative Review and a former talk-radio host who has been critical of Trump. "It's not about Trump's credibility, it's about the media's credibility." (Additional reporting by Steve Bittenbinder in Kentucky, Kim Palmer in Ohio, Michelle McManimon in Arizona and Kelly Arnold in Kansas; Editing by Jason Szep and Ross Colvin) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. New York: A 44-year-old Indian-American has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for duping over a 100 investors of $33 million through fraudulent schemes. Navin Shankar Subramaniam Xavier, a resident of Florida, was the former chief executive officer of Essex Holdings, the company through which he carried out two fraud schemes. He was sentenced on Thursday to 15 years in prison by US District Judge Darrin Gayles in Miami. The first scheme involved nearly 100 investors who purchased $30 million worth of promissory notes purported secured by interests in iron ore mining in Chile. The second scheme involved unlawfully obtained $1.2 million in economic development funds as well as valuable industrial property from the state of South Carolina. He used false financial statements, forged documents and false promises of fixed rates of return, to induce people to invest in company. Most of the money was used for purposes other than what was promised, including to support lavish spending by Xavier and his wife for expensive jewelry, luxury vehicles, wedding expenses, and cosmetic surgery. Eventually, Xavier used new investor money to pay old investors in a Ponzi-like fashion before the scheme collapsed. Evidence filed in court showed that the actual investor losses from the scheme exceeded $29 million. The second scheme involved Xavier using Essex Holdings to obtain $1.2 million in payments and approximately $1.5 million worth of commercial real estate from the South Carolina Coordinating Council for Economic Development (SCCCED), a division of the South Carolina state government, that was supposed to be used to develop a dilapidated industrial property into a diaper plant and rice packaging facility. According to documents filed in the court, he provided false financial documentation to SCCCED in order to obtain the contract, and later provided fake contractor invoices and fake bank statements in order to get paid under the contract. As with the investment fraud scheme, Xavier spent a significant portion of the development money for his personal expenses, and wired some of it to the same overseas accounts used in the investment fraud. Tehran: Polls opened in Iran with voters set to give their verdict on president Hassan Rouhani's policy of opening up to the world and efforts to rebuild the stagnant economy. He faces stiff competition from hardline cleric Ebrahim Raisi, 56, who has positioned himself as a defender of the poor and called for a much tougher line with the West. Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei cast his ballot just minutes after polls opened at 8 am. "The destiny of the country is in the hand of Iranians," he told reporters as he voted in his compound in Tehran. Long lines had already formed at polling stations around the country. Rouhani, a 68-year-old moderate cleric, has sought to frame the election as a choice between greater civil liberties and "extremism". He has pushed the boundaries over the past fortnight, criticising the continued arrest of reformist leaders and activists, and calling on security agencies not to interfere in the vote. Raisi says he will stick by the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, that saw curbs to Iran's atomic programme in exchange for sanctions relief, but he points to the continued economic slump as proof that Rouhani's diplomatic efforts have failed. "Instead of using the capable hands of our youths to resolve problems, they are putting our economy in the hands of foreigners," Raisi said at a final rally in the holy city of Mashhad on Wednesday. Rouhani responded by calling on voters to keep hardliners away from Iran's delicate diplomatic levers. "One wrong decision by the president can mean war and a correct decision can mean peace," he said at his own Mashhad rally. The election comes at a tense moment in US-Iran relations. Rouhani gained a reprieve on Wednesday when the administration of US president Donald Trump agreed to continue waiving nuclear-related sanctions, keeping the deal on track for now. But Trump has launched a 90-day review of the accord that could see it abandoned, and is visiting Iran's bitter regional rival Saudi Arabia this weekend. "For me, Rouhani's dialogue with the world and moderation in society are very important," said Zahra, a 32-year-old PhD student in food science. Under former hardline president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, "the sanctions really hurt us. It was hard to get lab equipment and very difficult to get visas to study abroad. Now my colleagues can travel to France and the US," she said. Islamabad: Pakistan will constitute a new team of lawyers to "vigorously" present its case against Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav at the ICJ, the Prime Minister's advisor on foreign affairs said on Friday as the government faced flak over the handling of the case. The announcement by Sartaj Aziz came amid criticism by experts and opposition leaders over the government's handling of the case at the International Court of Justice. The Hague-based court had on Thursday stayed the execution of Jadhav, 46, considered to be a spy by Pakistan. The UN's highest judicial body also asked Pakistan to take "all measures" to ensure that Jadhav, sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court for alleged espionage, was not executed till the court had delivered its final verdict on the issue. The ruling triggered criticism of the Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) for its "poor handling" and also for its choice of UK-based Khawar Qureshi, who represented Pakistan's case before the ICJ. Aziz, however, maintained that Qureshi had "courageously" presented Pakistan's case in the court, the Nation reported. He said the ICJ had given its point of view on Jadhav's case to get counselor access. "Pakistans security is so important and we have to maintain our fundamental sovereign right," Aziz was quoted as saying by the daily. Pakistan, which announced the sentence on Jadhav on 10 April, claims its security forces arrested him from its restive Balochistan province on 3 March last year after he reportedly entered from Iran. However, India maintains that he was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Navy. Jadhav's case is the latest flash-point in the tensions between Pakistan and India. The two countries last faced off at the ICJ 18 years ago when Islamabad sought its intervention over the shooting down of its naval aircraft. By Jonathan Allen | NEW YORK NEW YORK The U.S. Navy recruit who drove his car along a crowded Times Square sidewalk, killing a young woman and injuring many others, is due to appear in court in Manhattan on Friday to face charges of murder, attempted murder and vehicular homicide.Richard Rojas, 26, knocked pedestrians into the air as he sped for three blocks in his burgundy Honda sedan through one of the city's busiest areas on Thursday before crashing into a metal stanchion, the New York Police Department said.Rojas, who is from the Bronx area of New York City, had been arrested twice for drunken driving, in 2008 and 2015, and once this month on a charge of menacing for threatening another man with a knife, police said.Police said Rojas was evidently intoxicated on Thursday. He was initially taken to a nearby hospital after he was detained. "We know he had something in his system, but we haven't had the toxicology back yet," said police department spokesman Adam NavarroCity officials do not consider the incident an act of terrorism, Mayor Bill de Blasio said during a visit to the scene on Thursday. Police said the young woman killed on the sidewalk was Alyssa Elsman, 18, who was on vacation with her family from Michigan. Twenty-two people were injured. Rojas was due to appear in Manhattan's criminal court on Friday to be arraigned on one count of second-degree murder, five counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and 20 counts of attempted murder. Although only one person was killed, a driver can face multiple counts of vehicular homicide under New York law if other people are seriously injured. It was unclear if Rojas has a lawyer. Navy records show Rojas enlisted in September 2011 and was based in Illinois and Florida, working as an electrician's mate fireman apprentice. He was arrested a year later at a naval base in Jacksonville, Florida, where officials said he attacked a cab driver, shouted "my life is over," and threatened to kill police, according to court records. Rojas was charged at the time with misdemeanor battery and resisting an officer without violence, but it was unclear how the case was resolved.Navy records show he spent two months in a military prison in Charleston, South Carolina, in the summer of 2013, but did not say why. He left the Navy in May 2014. (Reporting by Jonathan Allen; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Lisa Von Ahn) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. New Delhi: Trade ministers of 16 countries, including India and China, will meet on 21 and 22 May in Vietnam to discuss progress in the ongoing negotiations of proposed mega trade deal RCEP. So far, negotiators of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) have held 18 rounds of negotiations. "This will be a crucial meeting in Hanoi. Ministers would deliberate on the single-tier system of duty relaxations, besides issues related to services and investments," an official said. Under the single-tier system, the RCEP member countries are trying to finalise the maximum number of goods on which duties will either be eliminated or reduced drastically. Chief negotiators and senior officials of all the countries recently held discussions in the Philippines on this regard. The 16-member bloc RCEP comprises 10 ASEAN members (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Laos and Vietnam) and their six FTA partners India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. RCEP is a mega trade deal that aims to cover goods, services, investments, economic and technical co-operation, competition and intellectual property rights. As the domestic industry has apprehensions over a deluge in imports from countries such as China after the duty cut under the agreement, India may take certain deviations for such countries. India already has implemented a free trade agreement with the ASEAN, Japan and South Korea. On the other hand, the country is negotiating similar pacts with Australia and New Zealand. The talks for the pact started in Phnom Penh in November 2012. The 16 countries account for over a quarter of the world's economy, estimated to be more than $ 75 trillion. Russia on Friday condemned strikes by the US-led coalition against Syrian forces as "unacceptable", the state media reported, after the bombing of pro-government troops. "Any military actions that lead to a deterioration in the situation in Syria obviously impact the political process," deputy foreign minister Gennady Gatilov was quoted as saying by state-run RIA Novosti in Geneva. "Such actions that were carried out against the Syrian armed forces... this is completely unacceptable, this is a breach of Syrian sovereignty," he said. US-led warplanes on Thursday carried out a strike in the east of the country against a convoy of pro-government forces headed towards a remote coalition garrison near the border with Jordan. In a statement, the US-led coalition said it had struck "pro-regime forces... that posed a threat to US and partner forces." The coalition said the strike came after unsuccessful "Russian attempts to dissuade Syrian pro-regime movement" as well as "a coalition aircraft show of force, and the firing of warning shots." Russia and Iran have deployed forces to Syria to back up leader Bashar al-Assad while the US and many of its regional and Western allies have called for the strongman to leave power. The United States in April infuriated the Kremlin by bombing a Syrian regime airbase in response to an alleged chemical attack by Damascus. Representatives of Syria's government and opposition High Negotiations Committee are in Switzerland for the sixth round of UN-backed peace negotiations, but there has been little sign of progress. In the first concrete results from talks this week on ending Syria's conflict, the United Nations said the warring sides had agreed to set up expert committees to discuss "constitutional issues." Another deputy foreign minister, Mikhail Bogdanov, told TASS news agency that Russia "supports" the move. A blog about life under, and resisting, a dictatorship Colombo: An unidentified gunman on Friday opened fire on police in Sri Lanka's former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) stronghold of Kilinochchi, a day after Tamils observed the eighth anniversary of the end of the three-decade long civil war. Several police officers of the police station in the war-ravaged northern province escaped unhurt in the incident that that took place in the wee hours. The army and police officers have launched a search operation in the area to find the suspect who fled after attacking the officers. The military and the police conducted a joint cordon and search operation in the former LTTE stronghold of Kilinochchi this morning following an alleged shooting at a police vehicle. Police said part of a gun was found nearby. Tamils in war-ravaged northern and eastern provinces yesterday observed the eighth anniversary of the end of the three-decade brutal civil war in the country in 2009. The Tamil Genocide Remembrance day was marked by various events at Mullivaikkal, the location of the final battle between the Lankan troops and the LTTE. There was tension in the commemoration ceremony between the hardline and moderate Tamil leadership, Tamil sources said. Northern province Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran had criticised the presence of around 150,000 military personnel in the north. "The truth is that there is no need for army, navy and air force," he said. The presence of military with hostile intentions is only detrimental to the peace, security and wellbeing of the people, Wigneswaran said. "I have lit this flame, raising above the political party limits and boundaries. This Remembrance Day should be marked so also in the future," he said while lighting the common flame of sacrifice with four civilians whose relatives are missing. Opposition Leader R Sampanthan was confronted by the people who accused him of having a soft policy towards the government, the sources said. By Simon Johnson and Michael Holden | STOCKHOLM/LONDON STOCKHOLM/LONDON Swedish prosecutors dropped an investigation of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Friday over a rape allegation, but British police said he would still be arrested if he left the Ecuadorean embassy in London where he has been holed up for five years.Assange, 45, took refuge in the embassy in June 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden after two women made rape and sexual molestation allegations against him, which he denies.He feared Sweden would hand him over to the United States to face prosecution over WikiLeaks' publication of swathes of classified military and diplomatic documents in one of the largest information leaks in U.S. history.Assange tweeted on Friday that he would not forgive those behind the investigation: "Detained for 7 years without charge while my children grew up and my name was slandered. I do not forgive or forget."Earlier Swedish Chief Prosecutor Marianne Ny said the rape investigation could not proceed because of legal obstacles. "We are not making a statement about his guilt," Ny said, adding that the investigation could be reopened if Assange came to Sweden before the statute of limitations deadline for the rape allegation in 2020.However, police in London said they were still obliged to arrest Assange if he left the embassy for skipping bail. They said this was a much less serious offence than rape, but he could still face up to a year in jail if convicted.Assange is a cyber hero to some for exposing government abuses of power and championing free speech, but to others he is a criminal who has undermined the security of the West. The former computer hacker enraged Washington by publishing hundreds of thousands of secret U.S. diplomatic cables that laid bare often highly critical U.S. appraisals of world leaders from Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Saudi royal family.He always denied the rape allegations in Sweden and said they were a ploy to get him whisked off to the United States. WANTED BY WASHINGTON In January, Assange said he stood by an offer to go to the United States providing his rights were upheld and if former military intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning, who was responsible for a 2010 leak of classified materials to Assange's anti-secrecy group, was freed.Manning was released on Wednesday after spending seven years in a U.S. military prison for passing the documents to WikiLeaks.British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Friday it would be "an operational matter for the police" to decide whether to arrest Assange if he left the embassy.Asked if she would support Britain extraditing Assange to the United States, she said: "We look at extradition requests when we receive them on a case-by-case basis." While Assange may still not be able to leave the embassy in the upmarket Knightsbridge area of London, the prosecutor's decision to stop the investigation into allegations of rape brings to an end a seven-year stand-off with Sweden.The Ecuadorean government welcomed the decision and in a statement called on Britain to grant Assange safe passage to Ecuador. Foreign Minister Guillaume Long said Assange was welcome to stay in the embassy if this was not granted."As long as we fear that this is a case of political persecution ... as long as we fear for Mr. Assange's integrity and human rights, we will continue with our policy of offering him asylum," Long said in a telephone interview.He said that recent statements by U.S. President Donald Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions indicating that United States authorities would seek to arrest Assange were a sign that he still faces persecution outside Britain.'HOSTILE INTELLIGENCE SERVICE' Last month CIA Director Mike Pompeo called WikiLeaks a "hostile intelligence service", and Sessions, responding to a question about Assange, said the Trump administration was stepping up its efforts against all leaks of sensitive information."Whenever a case can be made, we will seek to put some people in jail," Sessions said.During last year's U.S. presidential election campaign, WikiLeaks published emails from Hillary Clinton's staff and the Democratic National Committee which some believe helped to lose her the election to Trump. U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded the Russian government hacked the emails as part of an effort by Moscow to tilt the election in Trump's favour. The Assange case has raised questions about the Swedish justice system, with a United Nations panel saying Assange had been subject to "arbitrary detention". Prosecutors have been accused of vacillating, first dropping the preliminary investigation and then re-opening it and of dragging their heels over questioning Assange. Prosecutors first interviewed Assange in November last year in the Ecuadorean embassy. They were not allowed to question him directly but only through an Ecuadorean prosecutor.Assange's lawyer, Per Samuelson, hailed Sweden's decision to drop the investigation as "a total victory for us"."That's because we finally were able to get the interview done (with the Swedish side) and he could describe what really happened and also because we could show that the United States is hunting him, which we could not do before," Samuelson said. (Additional reporting by Alexandra Valencia, Brian Ellsworth, Johannes Hellstrom,; Johan Ahlander, Niklas Pollard and Olof Swahnberg; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge, Gareth Jones and Frances Kerry) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Stockholm: Sweden's top prosecutor said on Friday she is dropping an investigation into a rape claim against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange after almost seven years. The Swedish Prosecution Authority said in a statement Friday that Marianne Ny "has decided to discontinue the investigation." Assange took refuge in Ecuador's embassy in London in 2012 to escape extradition to Sweden to answer questions about sex-crime allegations from two women. He has been there ever since, fearing that if he is arrested he might ultimately be extradited to the United States. Last month, President Donald Trump said he would support any decision by the Justice Department to charge Assange. WikiLeaks tweeted after the Swedish announcement: "UK refuses to confirm or deny whether it has already received a US extradition warrant for Julian Assange. Focus now moves to UK," Friday's announcement means Assange is no longer under any investigation in Sweden. British police said before the announcement that Assange is still wanted in Britain for jumping bail. It is not clear if that may change now that the investigation has been dropped. Friday was the deadline for the Swedish prosecution to send a request to Stockholm District Court in the Assange case. The 45-year-old Australian computer hacker was wanted in Sweden for questioning over a rape allegation stemming from a 2010 visit. "This is a total victory for Julian Assange. He is now free to leave the embassy when he wants. We have won the Assange case. He is of course happy and relieved. He has been critical that it has lasted that long," Per E Samuelsson, his lawyer in Sweden, told Swedish Radio. Samuelsson was not immediately available for comments. Stockholm: Prison time in Britain? A life in Ecuador? Extradition to the United States? Another five years in Ecuador's London embassy? WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's future could now follow many different paths. Swedish prosecutors said Friday that they were dropping a rape investigation into Assange because there was no reason to believe he would be brought to Sweden in the foreseeable future. He claimed asylum in Ecuador in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden and, he feared, from there to the United States, to face trial for leaking secret US military and diplomatic documents. The Australian former computer hacker has been holed up inside the Ecuadoran embassy ever since. Police say an arrest warrant remains active for Assange for breaching his bail conditions after he failed to appear in court to accept his extradition. Here are the main possible scenarios: Fine Assange leaves the embassy and is arrested, but moves quickly through the British court's process, before being given a minor fine. He is then free to go about his business and resume his WikiLeaks work more directly and publicly. Jail term Assange is arrested and held for months while his case progresses, before being given a prison sentence that could reach a maximum of one year. Extradition to the United States US Attorney General Jeff Sessions said last month that, "we will seek to put some people in jail" when asked if arresting Assange was a "priority" for Washington. Prosecutors have been drafting a memo that looks at charges against Assange and WikiLeaks members that possibly include conspiracy, theft of government property and violations of the Espionage Act, according to The Washington Post. US President Donald Trump's administration has put heat on WikiLeaks after it embarrassed the Central Intelligence Agency in March by releasing files and computer code from the spy agency's top-secret hacking operations. Extradition to Sweden David Allen Green, a law commentator for The Financial Times, suggested that if Assange left the embassy and was arrested, Sweden could resume its case. He said the case being dropped was "an administrative decision to stop expending resources" when there was "no clear path to extradition". "If Assange went into British custody then the Swedes may well revisit their decision on proportionality, as extradition suddenly easier," he tweeted. Marianne Ny, Sweden's director of public prosecutions, said the investigation could be reopened if Assange returns to Sweden before August 2020, when the statute of limitations on the allegations against him ends. Safe passage to Ecuador Ecuador on Friday urged Britain to grant Assange "safe passage" out of the country. "The European Arrest Warrant no longer holds. The UK must now grant safe passage to Mr Julian Assange," Foreign Minister Guillaume Long wrote on Twitter. 6) The European Arrest Warrant no longer holds. The UK must now grant safe passage to Mr Julian Assange Guillaume Long (@GuillaumeLong) May 19, 2017 This possibility could take place only once the English legal system has finished with him for jumping bail. Stay put Assange stays right where he is, in the red-brick flat at 3 Hans Crescent, continuing his work with WikiLeaks. His room, which measures 18 square metres (190 square feet), has a bed, computer, sun lamp, treadmill and a microwave, and he has a cat for company. By Jonathan Allen and Gina Cherelus | NEW YORK NEW YORK Three people remained in critical condition on Friday after a driver plowed into pedestrians in New York City's Times Square the day before, killing a young woman on vacation and injuring her sister and 19 others, police said. Richard Rojas, the 26-year-old motorist, accelerated as he turned onto the sidewalk and appeared to have intentionally tried to mow down pedestrians, Mayor Bill de Blasio and police said. He is due in court in Manhattan later on Friday to face charges of murder, attempted murder and vehicular homicide.Rojas, who had served in the U.S. Navy, has prior convictions for drunk driving. Police said he was intoxicated as he knocked pedestrians into the air while speeding for three blocks in his burgundy Honda sedan through one of the city's busiest areas. The car crashed into a metal stanchion."People are being dragged, they're on top of the car," Bill Aubry, a New York Police Department assistant chief, told a news conference on Friday. "He left his house at 10:30 yesterday morning, and at 11:54 he came to Times Square," Aubry said. "There were no incidents in between. That goes to his state of mind. He waited for these cars to pass, and he accelerated."Results of drug tests on Rojas are expected in the next few days, Aubry said. City officials do not consider the incident an act of terrorism, de Blasio said."It appears to be intentional in the sense that he was troubled and lashing out," the mayor said in an interview with radio station WNYC. He said Rojas had "an untreated mental health issue going back probably decades."Police said the young woman killed on the sidewalk was Alyssa Elsman, 18, who was on vacation with her family from Michigan. People were leaving flowers, photographs of Elsman and a stuffed teddy bear on Friday near the spot where she died. Her sister remained in the hospital in critical condition, with a collapsed lung and broken pelvis, Aubry said. A 38-year-old woman from Canada was in very critical condition. The fire department said earlier that 22 people were injured, but police on Friday said the number was 20. Rojas, who lives with his mother in New York City's Bronx borough, had been arrested twice for drunken driving, in 2008 and 2015, and once this month on a charge of menacing for threatening another man with a knife, police said. Rojas faces charges of one count of second-degree murder, five counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and 20 counts of attempted murder, police said. Although only one person was killed, a driver can face multiple counts of vehicular homicide under New York law if other people are seriously injured. It was unclear if Rojas has a lawyer. Navy records show Rojas enlisted in September 2011 and was based in Illinois and Florida, working as an electrician's mate fireman apprentice. He was arrested a year later at a naval base in Jacksonville, Florida, where officials said he attacked a cab driver, shouted "my life is over," and threatened to kill police, according to court records. Rojas was charged at the time with misdemeanor battery and resisting an officer without violence, but it was unclear how the case was resolved.He spent two months in a military prison in Charleston, South Carolina, in the summer of 2013, but the Navy records did not say why. He left the Navy in May 2014. (Reporting by Jonathan Allen and Gina Cherelus; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Lisa Von Ahn) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Roberta Rampton and Patricia Zengerle | WASHINGTON WASHINGTON President Donald Trump, striking a defiant tone on Thursday after days of political tumult, denied asking former FBI Director James Comey to drop a probe into his former national security adviser and decried a "witch hunt" against him. Trump's terse denial followed reports by Reuters and other media about a memo written by Comey alleging that Trump made the request to close down the investigation into Michael Flynn and Russia back in February. Trump fired Comey on May 9."No. No. Next question," Trump told a news conference in the White House, when asked if he "in any way, shape or form" ever urged Comey to end the probe.Comey's dismissal last week set off a series of jarring developments that culminated on Wednesday in the Justice Department's appointment of a special counsel to probe possible ties between Russia and Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.They included media reports that Trump discussed sensitive intelligence on Islamic State with Russia's foreign minister. In a pair of morning tweets and at a later news conference, the Republican president described calls by some on the left for his impeachment as "ridiculous" and said he had done nothing to warrant criminal charges."The entire thing has been a witch hunt and there is no collusion between certainly myself and my campaign - but I can always speak for myself - and the Russians. Zero," he told the news conference, standing alongside Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos.In his earlier Twitter posts, Trump criticized the naming of former FBI Director Robert Mueller as a special counsel by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, an official he himself appointed."With all of the illegal acts that took place in the Clinton campaign & Obama Administration, there was never a special counsel appointed!" Trump wrote on Thursday morning. He did not offer any evidence of such acts in his reference to former Democratic President Barack Obama and former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. "This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history!" added Trump.Democrats rejected Trump's characterization."This is a truth hunt," said Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar.Russia has denied U.S. intelligence agencies' conclusion that it interfered in the election campaign to try to tilt the vote in Trump's favor. Trump has long bristled at the notion that Russia played any role in his November election victory over Clinton.Trump fired Flynn on Feb. 14 for misleading Vice President Mike Pence about the extent of his conversations last year with Russia's ambassador. Reuters reported on Thursday that Flynn and other Trump campaign advisers were in contact with Russian officials and others with Kremlin ties in at least 18 calls and emails during the last seven months of the presidential race.U.S. stocks recovered ground on Thursday as upbeat economic data emboldened investors to return to the market, a day after Wall Street saw the biggest selloff in eight months on worries the political turmoil could undermine Trump initiatives such as tax cuts that investors see as favoring economic growth.DIVIDING THE COUNTRY Rosenstein, the No. 2 Justice Department official, named Mueller amid mounting pressure in Congress for an independent investigation beyond existing FBI and congressional probes into the Russia issue.Trump later told news anchors at the White House that Mueller's appointment was a "very, very negative thing," adding: "I believe it hurts our country terribly, because it shows we're a divided, mixed-up, not-unified country."Rosenstein briefed senators on Thursday, but made no public comments. One of the attendees, speaking on condition of anonymity, described Rosenstein as anxious and nervous and said he drank multiple glasses "and spilled one."Afterward, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told reporters that "everything he said was that you need to treat this investigation as if it may be a criminal investigation."Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill said Rosenstein told senators that he knew Comey would be fired before he wrote his letter accusing him of missteps as FBI director, including his handling of an election-year probe into Clinton's use of a private email server while she was secretary of state.The White House initially said last week that Trump was prompted to fire Comey after reading the Rosenstein letter. Trump later said he had already decided to dismiss him and was thinking of "this Russia thing."The New York Times reported on Thursday that Trump called Comey weeks after he took office on Jan. 20 and asked him when federal authorities were going to say Trump was not under investigation. It cited two people briefed on the call. Comey told Trump he should not contact him directly about FBI investigations but follow procedure and have the White House counsel ask the Justice Department, which oversees the FBI, the Times reported.A key issue Mueller may have to tackle is whether Trump has committed obstruction of justice, an offense that could be used in any effort in the Republican-led Congress to impeach him and remove him from office. Asked about possible obstruction of justice, Republican House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan told reporters the special counsel would "follow the facts where ever they may lead" and that "it is premature to prejudge anything at this point." (Reporting by Doina Chiacu and Patricia Zengerle; Additional reporting by Mark Hosenball, Susan Heavey, David Alexander, Jonathan Landay and Amanda Becker; Writing by Will Dunham and Phil Stewart; Editing by Frances Kerry and Peter Cooney) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump said on Thursday the appointment of a special counsel to investigate Russia and the U.S. presidential election "hurts our country terribly" as it shows how divided the United States is, CNN and CNBC reported. "I believe it hurts our country terribly, because it shows we're a divided, mixed-up, not-unified country," Trump told the news outlets. (Reporting by Tim Ahmann and Eric Beech; Editing by Chris Reese and Grant McCool) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. WASHINGTON U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Friday he had not yet made a recommendation on troop levels for Afghanistan to President Donald Trump. Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon on Friday, Mattis said he would be presenting the recommendation soon. Reuters reported in late April that the Trump administration was weighing sending between 3,000 and 5,000 U.S. and coalition troops to Afghanistan. (Reporting by David Alexander and Phil Stewart; Writing by Yara Bayoumy; Editing by Jonathan Oatis) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Patricia Zengerle and Matt Spetalnick | WASHINGTON WASHINGTON The Trump administration imposed sanctions on the chief judge and seven other members of Venezuelas Supreme Court on Thursday as punishment for seizing powers from the opposition-led Congress earlier this year, U.S. officials said.The new sanctions package was aimed at stepping up pressure on supporters of the leftist government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro amid growing U.S. concern over a crackdown on mass street protests.Venezuela's latest wave of anti-government unrest, which has left at least 44 people dead in the last six weeks, began with the Supreme Court, packed with Maduro loyalists, assuming the powers of the opposition-led Congress in late March. There was swift and widespread international condemnation of the de facto annulment of the National Assembly, which the opposition won in late 2015 during an unprecedented economic and social crisis that has seen Maduro's popularity plummet, and the decision was later partially reversed.The Venezuelan people are suffering from a collapsing economy brought about by their governments mismanagement and corruption. Members of the countrys Supreme Court of Justice have exacerbated the situation by consistently interfering with the legislative branchs authority, U.S Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.By imposing these targeted sanctions, the United States is supporting the Venezuelan people in their efforts to protect and advance democratic governance in their country. Among those hit with sanctions was Maikel Moreno, a Maduro ally who became president of the 32-judge court in February. All of those targeted will have their assets frozen within U.S. jurisdiction, and American citizens will be barred from doing business with them, the Treasury Department said.UNREST Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets in the South American nation of 30 million in protest against the Maduros government, demanding 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."The Treasury Department has in the past sanctioned Venezuelan officials or former officials, charging them with trafficking or corruption, a designation that allows their assets in the United States to be frozen and bars them from conducting financial transactions through the United States.The officials have denied the charges and called them a pretext as part of an effort to topple Maduro's government. U.S. President Donald Trump has called the situation in Venezuela a mess and his aides have threatened tougher measures against Caracas. But sanctions so far have stopped short of hitting the oil sector in Venezuela, which is a major U.S. oil supplier.With the latest sanctions, the U.S. government said the court members were being targeted because they had usurped the authority of Venezuelas democratically elected legislature.In March, the court explicitly stated it was assuming the congress' role in a ruling authorizing Maduro to create oil joint ventures without the previously mandated congressional approval. It said the National Assembly was in contempt.The charge stems from vote-buying accusations against three lawmakers from southern Amazonas state. Even though they no longer sit in congress, the court said parliamentary leaders had not handled their case legally.Critics of Maduro say it is an excuse for him to consolidate power and muzzle the opposition. (Additional reporting by John Walcott and David Brunnstrom in Washington, Girish Gupta in Caracas; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Cynthia Oserman) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Pentagon chief Jim Mattis stressed on Friday that the United States is not getting more involved in Syria's civil war after the US-led coalition struck a pro-regime convoy heading towards a remote coalition garrison. "We are not increasing our role in the Syrian civil war, but we will defend our troops," Mattis said. "We will defend ourselves (if) people take aggressive steps against us. And that's been a going-in policy of ours for a long time." Venezuela turning into another Syria? On Thursday, US president Donald Trump had called the situation in Venezuela a "disgrace to humanity" and had said that the deadly political crisis was possibly the worst of its kind in "decades." "We haven't really seen a problem like that... in decades, in terms of the kind of violence that we're witnessing," Trump told a joint press conference on Thursday, with visiting Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos. Trump's comments came a day after the Venezuelan government announced it was sending more than 2,500 troops to a trouble-hit region on the border with Colombia to try to quell weeks of violence that claimed 43 lives in Venezuela. Privacy Overview This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. America parties from Memorial Day weekend in the last week of May to Labor day in early September. For the pinch hitters of U.S. mainstream media, Robert Muellers appointment as a special counsel to oversee the F.B.I.s investigation into possible collusion between Donald Trumps 2016 Presidential campaign and the Russian government could not have come at a better time. Shock and celebration rippled across newsrooms in America as the news sunk in. Not at Breitbart, though, which is standing firm on Trumps side. Meanwhile at the White House, close Trump aides are reportedly advising Trump to hire an outside lawyer to deal with the landmines up ahead, there is word that the on-camera press briefing spectacles will take a backseat and crown prince Jared Kushner will oversee a Trump team overhaul with immediate effect. Breathe easy and in parallel beware of dangerous times ahead, US media is telling Americans as the weekend arrives and Trump leaves for his longest stint away from Washington D.C after calling the Mueller appointment a witch hunt. Trump will travel to Saudi Arabia, Israel, Italy and Belgium on his first foreign trip as president, starting Friday. "This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history!" Trump wrote on Twitter before he heads to the Middle East to tangle with leaders of the Muslim world. Theres no collusion between, certainly, myself and my campaign but I can only speak for myself and the Russians zero, Trump told reporters. Newswire AFP explains the role of a special counsel like Mueller in the wide arc of American political history: One of the best known special prosecutors was Archibald Cox, named to lead the Watergate investigation that led to Richard Nixon's resignation in 1974. Nixon wanted Cox fired after he issued subpoenas for copies of taped conversations Nixon made in the Oval Office. Attorney General Elliot Richardson refused to fire Cox, and resigned. His deputy William Ruckelshaus did the same in what came to be known as the "Saturday Night Massacre. The New York Times warns readers of uncertain times ahead, of government gridlock and emergencies, it rewinds to a time when Nixons presidency was on cliff edge and he was drinking heavily, unable to bear the strain of what was to come. I hope that cabinet members are keeping one anothers cellphone numbers handy in case an emergency meeting becomes necessary for our nation", writes Nicholas Kristoff in the NYT. After months of scoops that simply refused to dent Trumps standing, the Russia gloop has finally stuck but that just one reason the media are celebrating. That the legal system is working like its most ardent believers expect it to and Americas checks and balances are whirring into action is what the press corps is delighted about. Closure is another reason. The prospect of a legitimate investigation is getting a bear hug. And while Trump may not know it, the special counsel has offered his flailing presidency a lifeline, reports The Denver Post. After all, what if Mueller finds nothing. Ultimately, though, the big news here is that an independent figure will take over a criminal probe that could well determine the fate of Trumps Presidency. In firing Comey after allegedly pressing him to drop the Flynn investigation, Trump grossly abused his power, and launched a serious attack on the institutions of American democracy. On Wednesday, one of those institutionsthe Justice Departmentstruck back. And that is something to be very grateful for, says a New Yorker analyis. Despite the flames licking at The White House front door, Trumps voters are nervy but not throwing in the towel yet. For six months, Bloomberg tracked a group of Trump supporters from the four key states that swung the election and as yet, no signs of remorse. Yet, it's also true that 24 hours is a lot on Planet Trump. Even those who were saying that impeachment is a liberal fantasy and little else are now saying it is not impossible. But 77 percent of Republicans approve of Trump's performance, according to the most recent Reuters/Ipsos survey, a figure that has stayed relatively steady since his inauguration. If Mueller finds real dirt on the President, the Republicans still with Trump may bend. If Democrats capture the House of Representatives in 2018, they may vote to impeach Trump. For Trump's defenders though, the deepening White House turmoil is politics as usual, spun by the same "fake news" factories that lost the plot when Trump won the 2016 election. Small difference this time is that the strike has come from within, it's Trump's Justice Department that has appointed Robert Mueller, the insurgent in the White House has competition. Washington: US president Donald Trump says he is "very close" to naming a new FBI director. An announcement could come Friday, the soft deadline Trump set for himself. The president departs Friday on his inaugural overseas trip, a four-country, five-stop journey tour of West Asia and Europe that will keep him out of the country for more than a week. "We're very close to an FBI director," Trump said Thursday when asked about the search during an Oval Office appearance with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. He said an announcement could come "soon" and that former senator Joe Lieberman was among his top candidates. Lieberman was among four candidates Trump interviewed at the White House this week. The former Connecticut senator flashed a thumbs-up as he left the White House on Wednesday after meeting with Trump and said they had a "good meeting." Trump also met with former Oklahoma governor Frank Keating; Richard McFeely, a former top FBI official; and acting FBI director Andrew McCabe. Trump needs a new FBI director because he fired James Comey last week, an unexpected move that drew bipartisan criticism. Comey was overseeing the FBI's investigation into Russia's role in the presidential election, including ties between Russian government officials and Trump associates. In an attempt to quell the furor over Comey's ouster, the Justice Department this week hired former FBI director Robert Mueller as a special counsel to oversee the investigation. Trump has denounced the probe as a "witch hunt." The Senate must confirm Trump's candidate for the FBI job. Word of Lieberman's standing in the candidate search drew a mixed reaction from Capitol Hill, with Senate Republicans praising the Democrat turned independent, and Democrats seeming less than enthused about their former colleague. Senator Lindsey Graham called Lieberman a "pillar of credibility." Senator John Cornyn of Texas, the number 2 Republican in the Senate, said Lieberman "may be the only potential nominee that could get 100 votes that I know of. Everybody likes and respects Joe Lieberman." But several Democratic senators said during a caucus lunch Thursday that they would not support Lieberman, according to a person familiar with the meeting who declined to be identified because the lunch was private. Among their concerns was Lieberman's past praise of Michael Flynn, Trump's first national security adviser, who was fired in February after misleading officials about his talks with Russian officials. Flynn has figured prominently in the FBI investigation into Russia and the election. Washington: Ivanka Trump will travel with the US president Donald Trump to Saudi Arabia, Israel and Italy on his upcoming foreign trip. Ivanka Trump is a senior adviser to Trump. A White House adviser says that Ivanka Trump will be along for six days of the nine-day trip, which begins Saturday. She'll join her father for some events and also hold some of her own. The official insisted on anonymity in order to discuss planning details. The official says in Saudi Arabia, Ivanka Trump will take part in a roundtable to discuss women's economic issues. Ivanka Trump converted to Judaism when she married husband Jared Kushner. The official says in Israel, she will visit the Western Wall with the president, and in Rome, she will discuss human trafficking. A lawyer for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Friday welcomed the decision of Swedish prosecutors to drop a seven-year rape investigation against him, saying it was the "end of his nightmare". "We have been waiting a long time for this decision," Christophe Marchand, a member of Assange's Brussels-based legal team, told AFP. "Assange has been a victim of a huge abuse of procedure. We are very pleased and very moved, as this marks the end of his nightmare," he added. Swedens director of public prosecutions Marianne Ny had earlier said on Friday that Assange's arrest warrant was being revoked as it was impossible to serve him notice of his alleged crimes. In order to proceed with the case, Julian Assange would have to be formally notified of the criminal suspicions against him. We cannot expect to receive assistance from Ecuador regarding this. Therefore the investigation is discontinued," Ny said, according to The Guardian. However, she added that if at a later date Assange makes himself available, the investigation will be resumed immediately, the report added. Marchand also said that lawyers for the Australian, who are based around the world, were discussing the implications of the decision. A picture of Assange smiling broadly was posted from his Twitter account. The 45-year-old has been living in the Ecuadoran embassy in London since 2012, after seeking asylum to avoid extradition to Sweden to face allegations of rape dating back to 2010. With the threat of extradition to Sweden dropped, the he could potentially opt to leave the embassy. He has always denied the charges, which he feared would see him extradited to the United States and tried over the leaking of hundreds of thousands of secret United States military and diplomatic documents. With inputs from AFP Hes the biggest swindler in business history Bernard Madoff. Mastermind behind the $65 billion Ponzi scheme, he caused financial ruin for countless people and organizations. Some of the most influential people including Steven Spielberg and Kevin Bacon lost millions. In 2009, Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in a federal prison. It wasnt until 2010 that Madoff granted New York Times veteran journalist and author, Diana B. Henriques his first in-person interview since the sentencing. When I got a message from Madoffs lawyer that he was considering, I was stunned, Henriques tells FOX Business. With just two hours and armed with only a notepad, pen and list of questions I had to make every second count what can only he tell me? adds Henriques. It was the most intense interview I have ever done as a journalist in almost 50 years. For Henriques, it was all about persistency. Letter after letter, argument after argument she spent years trying to convince Madoff to give her an interview. What I said in one of my letters which I think might have been the hook, might have touched him was, I said, you know this could well be the book that your grandchildren and their children turn to, to understand what happened in their family, says Henriques. Now, nearly ten years since his arrest, HBO is taking Henrqiues best-selling book, The Wizard of Lies: Bernie Madoff and the Death of Trust and bringing it to life on the small screen. Directed by Hollywood legend Barry Levinson (Diner, Rain Man) and starring Robert DeNiro (Raging Bull, The Godfather II) as Bernie Madoff and Michelle Pfeiffer (The Fabulous Baker Boys, Scarface) and Ruth Madoff. Henriques was brought on to help craft the screenplay, share insight on the real life portrayals and locations, as well as play herself in the film. The character portrayals are spot on, they are amazing. And in DeNiros case as Bernie Madoff, they are supernatural, says Henriques. Chronicling Madoffs far fall from the top and crumbling relationships, The Wizard of Lies pulls from over 100 interviews and countless research from Henriques book. I think its important to for this story to be told now and to be told as powerful as this to remind people how vulnerable we are to falling under the spell of a plausible con man like Bernie Madoff, and the next Bernie Madoff, says Henriques. The Wizard of Lies premieres on HBO Saturday May 20 and be sure to watch Henriques full interview above. The Obama administration may be out of office, but Gold and Silver Pawn Shop owner Rick Harrison said right now business in the U.S. is aliterally a nightmare.a aThe effect of the eight years of Obama is finally showing up,a Harrison told the FOX Business Network. aWe had .7 GDP [growth]ain the last quarter and if you figure GDP the way we did four years ago, that would be negative growth. Four years agoathey decided all R&D [suddenly] goes into the plus column instead of the expense column andait was a way the administration actually boosted up GDP,a he said, adding that President Trump should make it easier to do business in the country. The reality star and entrepreneur also hopes Trump will put an end to debilitating regulations and ObamaCare, as well as pass tax reform so he can open more businesses. aItas death by a thousand cuts a just my pawn business. The Obama administration made it illegal for me to loan any money to anyone in the military. I have one compliance guy just for a pawn shop. Itas everything from Homeland Security, FBI, the local police department, IRS a all these regulations I have to keep an eye on constantly and itas just overwhelming for a small business,a he said. This wasn't supposed to happen toMacy's(NYSE: M). Shares of the venerable department store chain have fallen by two thirds since hitting their peak nearly two years ago. Profits have steadily declined along with comparable sales. Following its earnings report last week, when adjusted earnings per share fell from $0.40 to $0.24 and comparable sales dropped 4.6%, the stock plunged 17%. However, the venerable retailer's real estate portfolio, including its flagship store in New York's Herald Square, was supposed to act as a bottom to the stock. But even as Macy's has begun selling off some of its real estate, generating hundreds of millions of dollars, investors have mostly ignored the windfall as the chain's core business deteriorates andstores close. Image source: Macy's. The real estate case Still, a number of investors and analysts have made the case for Macy's as a real estate play. Around the time the stock peaked in 2015, activist investor Starboard Value took a stake in the department store chain, arguing that its property holdings were worth as much as $21 billion. Starboard pushed the company to unlock that value in a Real Estate Investment Trust, which would separate the real estate from the retail business,allowing investors to profit from the valuable rent roll. Sears Holdingswent this route in 2015 when the company sold 235 stores toSeritage Growth Partners, a REIT it spun off. The move generated $2.7 billion but failed to stop the slide in Sears stock. In a presentation, Starboard Value said Macy's real estate was "extremely valuable and these real estate assets are underappreciated by the market," as it outlined the case for converting Macy's into a joint venture that would unlock the real estate value. Macy's, however, rejected that idea, saying in its earnings report in Nov. 2015 that "the board of directors has concluded that a REIT does not offer sufficient upside potential for value creation." It did allow for the option of revisiting the idea if circumstances change in the future. In March, Starboard finally exited its stake after watching it dwindle and seeing Macy's management refuse to act. Is there a floor to the stock? If Macy's real estate offered value when the company was worth $22.5 billion back in 2015, then it certainly should now when the market value has shrunk to just $7 billion. In its presentation, Starboard said that the Herald Square location and its seven downtown locations and those in other major cities, including Chicago and San Francisco, were worth that much combined. In other words, the value of Macy's property should eventually be able to prop up the stock, especially as the company now offers a dividend yield approaching 7%. However, the department store may need to stabilize its core business before investors start to see value in its real estate again. As the demise of Sears shows, once those valuable assets are sold off, there is little left to hold up the stock. Macy's is not in the same predicament, as it's still profitable, but those earnings may quickly evaporate. The company's guidance calls for adjusted earnings per share of $2.90 to $3.15, which doesn't include a $0.47 per share gain on the sale of its Union Square men's store in San Francisco. If Macy's can actually meet that forecast and stabilize its future profits, the stock would present evident value with its rich collection of property, juicy dividend, and a P/E of 7.5 times based on this year's guidance. Still, after last week's earnings report, I'd be skeptical that Macy's and the rest of the department store sector can pull it off. 10 stocks we like better than Macy'sWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.* David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Macy's wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys. Click here to learn about these picks! *Stock Advisor returns as of May 1, 2017 Jeremy Bowman has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 2022 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. FAQ - New Privacy Policy Czech President Milos Zeman says he is ready to accept a proposal for a new finance minister, a step that will end the country's political crisis. Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka has asked Zeman to appoint Ivan Pilny, the former head of Microsoft's operations in the Czech Republic. That followed Sobotka's request for Zeman to fire the current finance minister, Andrej Babis, one of the richest men in the country, over unexplained business dealings. Babis denied wrongdoing and initially said he wouldn't resign. Zeman refused to fire him, saying he considered Babis a successful minister. But in an effort to solve the crisis, Babis himself proposed Pilny, from his centrist ANO movement, as a replacement. Sobotka agreed and the presidential office said Friday that Zeman is expected to appoint Pilny next week. The Ho-Chunk Nation is pushing back against a rival tribe's lawsuit seeking to halt the Ho-Chunk's plans to expand a northern Wisconsin casino, arguing in new filings that the lawsuit has little chance of success and a judge should reject it. The Ho-Chunk filed a brief Thursday contending that the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans' preliminary injunction demand is an extraordinary remedy to the all-too ordinary business problem of competition. "Even if (the Stockbridge-Munsee's) allegations are accepted at face value, they amount to nothing more than a poorly disguised attempt to protect its revenue stream by interfering with the business operations of a competitor," the brief said. Stockbridge-Munsee spokeswoman Megan Hakes said the tribe remains confident. "All we are seeking is fair enforcement of gaming compacts for all tribes," she said in an email. The dispute centers on the Ho-Chunk's efforts to add hundreds of slot machines, table games, a restaurant and a hotel to its casino in Wittenberg, about 20 miles east of Wausau. Construction is already underway. The Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans runs the North Star casino-resort about 20 miles east of Wittenberg and fears the Ho-Chunk expansion will hurt the North Star's profits. The Stockbridge-Munsee filed a federal lawsuit last month against the Ho-Chunk and the state arguing that the Ho-Chunk's gambling compact allows only an ancillary facility, an operation where less than half the revenue comes from gambling, in Wittenberg. It says the planned expansion would be larger than that. The lawsuit also argues the Ho-Chunk can't legally offer gambling in Wittenberg at all. Federal law prohibits gambling on trust land acquired after 1988. The Ho-Chunk received the land from the Native American Church in 1969 contingent on building housing on it in five years. No housing construction occurred in that span so the land technically reverted back to the church in 1974, the lawsuit alleges. The Stockbridge-Munsee want a preliminary injunction halting construction while the lawsuit is pending. The Ho-Chunk argued in its brief that the Stockbridge-Munsee hasn't shown its lawsuit has any chance of succeeding and both the Ho-Chunk and the state are immune from such actions. The Ho-Chunk amended its compact with the state in 2003 to redefine an ancillary facility as one where non-gambling business operations make up at least half of the activities on the property, making revenue irrelevant, the filings said. As for whether it has the right to offer gambling on the land, the Ho-Chunk tribe argued that it built housing for church members on the site shortly after the 1969 deed was signed, fulfilling the housing condition to retain the land and church leaders acknowledged as much in 2008 when the Ho-Chunk first opened a casino on the property. Even if a deed condition wasn't satisfied, the Ho-Chunk wouldn't have automatically lost the land under state and federal law, the filings contend. The Ho-Chunk also argued that a preliminary injunction would hurt them more than the Stockbridge-Munsee. An injunction would result in construction delays that would create fears among workers about job security and cost thousands of dollars in lost revenue daily. It also would interfere with the Ho-Chunk's right to self-government on its lands. If a judge issues an injunction the Stockbridge-Munsee should be required to post a bond of at least $10 million to protect the Ho-Chunk from potential damage. The Stockbridge-Munsee's fears of losing revenue at the North Star are speculative, the Ho-Chunk said. The tribe can always withhold gambling payments to the state as a way of saving money, the filings said. The Stockbridge-Munsee already has warned Gov. Scott Walker's administration that it intends to withhold $923,000 in payments over the dispute. ___ Follow Todd Richmond on Twitter at https://twitter.com/trichmond1 The Latest on Swedish prosecutor ending investigation of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange (all times local): 4:55 p.m. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says his legal team will contact U.K. officials to seek a way forward in resolving in resolving his status. Although Sweden has dropped its investigation of rape allegations against Assange, British police say they still intend to arrest him on a charge of jumping bail if he leaves the Ecuadorean Embassy. He also says he would be "happy" to discuss the case with the U.S. Department of Justice despite U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions saying that arresting Assange is a priority. President Donald Trump has said it is "OK" with him if Sessions does that. Assange contends the United States should recognize his First Amendment rights as a journalist. ___ 4:45 p.m. Julian Assange says Sweden's decision to drop a rape inveatigation against him is "an important victory for me and for the U.N. human rights system." Speaking from the balcony of Ecuador's London embassy, the WikiLeaks founder says his seven-year legal ordeal which he calls unjust detention "is not something that I can forgive." He says says his battle is not over, and "the proper war is just commencing." Assange believes the United States wants him extradited and arrested in connection with WikiLeaks' publication of classified U.S. documents. ___ 4:30 p.m. Ecuador's Foreign Minister Guillaume Long celebrated the decision but expressed outrage over the lengthy delays by the Swedish prosecutors in resolving the case. He said recent comments by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and President Donald Trump in favor of arresting the Australian reaffirm Ecuador's belief that the rape charges against him were politically motivated and that Assange still faces a serious risk of prosecution. At a press conference in Quito, Long called on Britain allow Assange safe passage so he could take up his asylum in Ecuador. Long added: "This has gone on long enough. No more delays." ___ 1:15 p.m. Julian Assange's Swedish lawyer Per E. Samuelson says it is a "day of victory" for the WikiLeaks founder after Sweden's top prosecutor dropped an investigation into a rape claim against him. Samuelson tells The Associated Press that "this was consensual sex between two adults and nothing else," adding Assange was now "a free man." Samuelson says he spoke by telephone with Assange, who told him: "Yes, Per, it feels much better today. Finally we got there." Samuelson said Sweden's judicial system "spoiled and wasted five, six years of his life ... but he is happy today." ___ 12:45 p.m. A lawyer for the woman who alleges she was raped by Julian Assange says "it is a scandal that a suspected rapist can avoid the judicial system and thus avoid a trial in court." Elisabeth Massi Fritz says her client is shocked but adds that "she can't change her view that Assange has exposed her to a rape." ___ 12:05 p.m. Julian Assange's lawyer is asking French president Emmanuel Macron to intervene in support of the WikiLeaks founder. Juan Branco told The Associated Press in Paris that he wants Macron to help Assange leave the Ecuadorean Embassy in London. Branco says: "We need a political intervention to make this situation end. He is the only political prisoner in Western Europe." ___ 11:45 a.m. Sweden's top prosecutor says "costs were not a reason for putting down the investigation" of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Marianne Ny told a news conference: "When we investigate serious crimes, we do not consider the costs." In a written statement, officials said: "According to Swedish legislation, a criminal investigation is to be conducted as quickly as possible. At the point when a prosecutor has exhausted the possibilities to continue the investigation, the prosecutor is obliged to discontinue the investigation. "At this point, all possibilities to conduct the investigation are exhausted." ___ 11:25 a.m. Sweden's top prosecutor says the investigation of alleged sexual offenses could reopened if Julian Assange returns to Sweden before the statute of limitations lapses in 2020. The prosecutor, Marianne Ny, told a news conference in Stockholm that she could make no judgment on Assange's guilt or innocence. She says: "We don't make any statement of guilty or not." ___ 11:20 a.m. Sweden's top prosecutor, Marianne Ny, says she has withdrawn a European arrest warrant for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange after concluding that it won't be possible to bring him to Sweden. Ny told a news conference in Stockholm: "He has tried to dodge all attempts to avoid Swedish and British legal authorities. My assessment is the transfer cannot be carried out in a foreseeable future." Ny says she has withdrawn a European arrest warrant. However, British police say Assange still faces arrest for jumping bail if he leaves the Ecuadorean embassy in London. ___ 10:45 a.m. Despite Sweden's decision to drop a rape investigation, British police say that Julian Assange still faces arrest if he leaves Ecuador's London embassy. The Metropolitan Police force says that there is a British warrant for Assange's arrest after he jumped bail in 2012, and it "is obliged to execute that warrant should he leave the embassy." But it adds that Assange is now wanted for a "much less serious offense" than the original sex crimes claims, and police "will provide a level of resourcing which is proportionate to that offense." Police kept up round-the-clock guard outside the embassy until last year, when the operation was scaled back. ___ 10:30 a.m. WikiLeaks says the ball is now in Britain's court after Sweden's decision to drop its rape investigation of Julian Assange. Assange is wanted by British police for extradition to Sweden. But he also believes the United States wants to extradite him to face charges related to WikiLeaks' publication of classified American documents. After the Swedish announcement. WikiLeaks tweeted: "UK refuses to confirm or deny whether it has already received a US extradition warrant for Julian Assange. Focus now moves to UK." British police said before the announcement that Assange is still wanted in Britain for jumping bail. It is not clear if that may change now that the investigation has been dropped. ___ 10:20 a.m. Sweden's top prosecutor says she is dropping an investigation into a rape claim against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange after almost seven years. The Swedish Prosecution Authority said in a statement Friday that Marianne Ny "has decided to discontinue the investigation." Assange took refuge in Ecuador's embassy in London in 2012 to escape extradition to Sweden to answer questions about sex-crime allegations from two women. He has been there ever since, fearing that if he is arrested he might ultimately be extradited to the United States. Friday's announcement means Assange is no longer under any investigation in Sweden. British police said before the announcement that Assange is still wanted in Britain for jumping bail. It is not clear if that may change now that the investigation has been dropped. ___ AP Writer Gonzalo Solano contributed from Quito, Ecuador With turmoil enveloping his administration at home, President Donald Trump heads abroad on Friday for a trip the White House hopes will shift focus away from domestic controversies and on to his foreign policy agenda. Trump leaves for Saudi Arabia on Friday afternoon and will make stops next week in Israel, Belgium and Italy. The trip was billed as a chance to visit places sacred to three of the world's major religions while creating face time with Arab, Israeli and European leaders. But a political uproar in Washington over Trump's firing of former FBI Director James Comey, allegations that he pressed Comey to stop investigating former national security adviser Michael Flynn, and the subsequent appointment of a special counsel to look into allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 election and potential ties with Trump's campaign threaten to overshadow his trip. "We look forward to getting this whole situation behind us," the Republican president told a news conference at the White House on Thursday. The sojourn abroad, his first foreign trip since taking office in January, may or may not help. Trump is expected to be welcomed warmly by leaders in Riyadh and Jerusalem, but lingering questions over his views on the Iran nuclear deal, commitment to NATO security and skepticism of the Paris climate agreement could generate tension at meetings with European counterparts in Brussels and Sicily. "It's almost always true that when a president goes on a big foreign trip, especially one that has some important summits ... that dominates the news and knocks most other stuff out," said Republican strategist Charlie Black. "Whether by accident or design, this will help him in terms of Russia news for a while." 'MESSAGE OF UNITY' The White House laid out three purposes for the trip: reaffirming U.S. leadership globally, building relationships with world leaders and broadcasting "a message of unity to America's friends and to the faithful of three of the world's greatest religions," said national security adviser H.R. McMaster. "What President Trump is seeking is to unite peoples of all faiths around a common vision of peace, progress and prosperity," he told reporters. Trump generated controversy as a presidential candidate with his call that Muslims be banned temporarily from entering the United States. His administration's proposal to limit travel from several Muslim-majority countries is tied up in court. McMaster said Trump would deliver a speech in Saudi Arabia expressing hope that a peaceful vision of Islam would resonate worldwide. The national security adviser, who publicly defended Trump this week against allegations that he improperly shared intelligence information with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during an Oval Office meeting, has a lot riding on the trip himself. "Hes already on thin ice after his attempt to defend the presidents discussion of intelligence with the Russians, and he urged the president to do this trip, which may have been a bad idea," said one U.S. official. "Its too long and covers too much ground and too many topics. If it goes badly, no matter whos fault it is, it will be H.R.s. Although he kept a grueling schedule as a presidential candidate, Trump is fond of being home at night, often flying back to New York after campaign events to sleep in his own bed. The nine-day trip will be his longest since becoming president. (Additional reporting by Steve Holland and John Walcott; Editing by Peter Cooney) Former Vice President Joe Biden got a standing ovation on Thursday at the annual SALT Conference and made some headlines by keeping open the possibility that he could make another run for president, while also taking a dig at Hillary Clinton. Biden, the former Vice President under President Obama, appeared to be leaning to making another run for president during the finance conference at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. When asked if he would consider running for president, Biden said Could I? Yes. Would I? Probably no. However, when he was pressed by the moderator, he listed four objectives that he needed to accomplish before he ran for president, including writing his own book and getting his wife a beach house he promised her 44 years ago, and then said If I get those four things done and Im healthy and viable and it looks like Im the best person to do it, I may very well do it Biden, as hes done in the past, also emphasized that his family has to be back together before he goes back into public office again. What he meant by that was the struggles his family have gone through ever since his son, Beau Biden, died after battling brain cancer in May 2015. Although the former Vice President did not specify if he would consider running for the 2020 election, age could be another deciding factor for the Delaware native who will be 78 by the next election. Biden is one of the most experienced politicians in American history. He was a Senator for Delaware for 36 years until 2009 when he decided to make a run for president. He ended up becoming Obamas running mate where they went on to win the 2008 and 2012 elections. During the final days of the Obama presidency, Biden was awarded the Medal of Freedom with Obama calling Biden the best Vice President Americas ever had. The former Vice President also couldnt resist taking a jab at one of his previous colleagues, Hillary Clinton. When he was asked about his choice not to run for president for the 2016 election and if the former Secretary of State was the correct candidate at the time, Biden said "I never thought she was a great candidate. I thought I was a great candidate." Biden tried to walk it back, saying he thought she could have been a great president but then went on to suggest that Clinton, who eventually lost to Donald Trump in the general election, might not have been sure that she was the right person for the job. No man or woman should announce for the presidency unless they genuinely believe that for that moment in the nations history they are the most qualified person to deal with the issues facing the country, said Biden. Former Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke appeared on the FOX Business Network Friday to discuss the state of the U.S. economy, Federal Reserve policy and the impact of President Trumps policies. According to Bernanke, the Fed will begin to unwind its balance sheet by the end of this year or early next year, telling Maria Bartiromo, Its $4.5 trillion, which of course is a huge amount of money, but its about a quarter of U.S. GDP, similar to other large central banks. What they want to do is unwind it, reduce it probably to $3 trillion or so. Despite the big numbers, Bernanke predicts the unwinding will have little impact on the economy. I think its not going to cause a lot of problems, most people in America wont even be aware of it. Bernanke was positive on the progress the U.S. economy has made since the Great Recession. Unemployment rate, 4.4%, stock market is up as you mentioned, job creation, confidence all those things are very positive. Despite the improvements, Bernanke applauded President Trump for connecting to voters who are not benefiting from the recovering economy. He did identify some real dissatisfaction in the country and it relates to some very long-term trends, a lot of inequality, slow wage growth, lots of things, you know, in the middle part of the country and among people with less education that have held them back and made them pretty dissatisfied. Going forward, Bernanke sees the U.S. consumer as the key driver of the economy. In the consumer confidence surveys, how do they feel about their own financial situations? Theyre more upbeat about that than theyve been in quite a few years. So I do think that engine of the recovery will continue to be consumers. Though Bernanke was positive about the markets, he warned economic policies coming out of Washington, D.C. may not live up to what the markets hoped for. Good markets are justified, but as you say, from a policy perspective, U.S. policy, its not going to be as big or as effective as some of the markets originally anticipated. Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy (R) introduced legislation this week that encourages work requirements in exchange for Medicaid benefits. If you want to get free medical care from the American tax payer on Medicaid or if you are getting it and you are between the ages of 18 and 55 and you are not disabled and you dont have any children then you have to go to work, the Sen. Kennedy told FOX Business Stuart Varney. The Senate Appropriations Committee member said he doesnt want to take Medicaid away from people that need it, and adding work requirements will benefit tax payers. If we can get folks back into the work force they can support themselves and their families, it will be good for them. They will be healthier, they will be happier, they will be freer and the American tax payer will be much better off, Sen. Kennedy said. It was only a matter of time before Porsche took the plunge into the deep end of the superyacht market. With luxury car makers Bugatti launching its own seafarer earlier this year, the German automaker was bound to follow, recently revealing the 115-foot GTT 115 Hybrid vessel. Pairing with Monaco-based yacht builder, Dynamiq, Studio F.A. Porsche has designed a boat stylish enough for even the wealthiest of sailors. Studio FA, who are responsible for creating Porsche Design sunglasses, watches and other paraphernalia, took charge of the boats exterior styling, mimicking the body shapes that have made Porsches cars instantly recognisable throughout the companys history. FIRST LOOK: PORSCHE DESIGN TOWER'S SKY HIGH GARAGES: But its on the boats interior where designers have really gone to town with every inch of the yacht screaming luxury. Fitted with seven-foot-high ceilings on both decks, the spacious cabins are lined with carbon fibre and marble detailing throughout, with furniture and throw-pillows finished with the same material as the seats in a Porsche 911R. The boat has been designed to cater for a maximum of 12 people six passengers and six crew members. The vessel runs on two MAN diesel engines with a combined 12,594 horsepower, and also runs as a hybrid using two 20.8 kW electric motors. At full tilt, the GTT 115 Hyrid can reach a blistering 21 knots (24mph) while in diesel only mode. With prices starting at approximately 10 million [$13 million], its probably a little out of your price range. Which is lucky because the company plans to make just seven bespoke models in total, making the boat an incredibly rare addition to Porsches broad design portfolio. The first of these is due to be officially revealed at the Monaco Yacht Show in September. Dynamiq has also said they plan on creating two smaller 100-foot and 85-foot versions of the yacht. MORE AUTO NEWS FROM FOXNEWS.COM "Deadliest Catch" star Sig Hansen was arrested after things got heated between him and an Uber driver. According to police reports obtained by Q13 Fox, Hansen was arrested Thursday morning after allegedly spitting on an Uber driver and kicking a dent into his car. The police report states the altercation began when Hansen and three other people were picked up in an Uber in the Seattle neighborhood of Ballard. According to the driver, the trip was canceled which lead to an argument over payment. Q13 Fox reports police found a foot-sized dent in and some spit on the driver's headrest after examining the car. Hansen reportedly denied the incident when police confronted him saying he had been celebrating Norwegian Independence Day. According to the police records, Hansen continued to argue with police and it took two officers to handcuff him. Hansen told Fox News in a statement he is "terribly sorry for my behavior and am very embarrassed by it. "I owe a bunch of people apologies, first and foremost to our Uber driver, who was just trying to get us home safely. I hope I can make that apology in person. I have no excuse, and accept responsibility for my actions," Hansen said. Discovery Channel, which airs the "Deadliest Catch," declined to comment on Hansen's arrest when reached by Fox News on Friday. The network is currently airing episodes from "Deadliest Catch's" 13th season on Tuesday nights. This is not the first time Hansen has battled negative headlines this year. In March, Hansen's estranged daughter accused him of sexual abuse, claiming he assaulted her when she was a toddler. Hansen was investigated regarding the claims in the '90s, and in 1992, a judge cleared him of all allegations. "I'm a pretty plain-spoken guy, and to me, this is nothing more than a shakedown," Hansen said at the time. "The allegations are completely false, rehashed lies my ex-wife Lisa Eckstrom used nearly 30 years ago to take away my daughter, and has continued to try to use to extort money from me." According to the Seattle Times, prosecutors said in April they will not bring criminal charges against the Alaskan crab boat captain. His daughter, Melissa Eckstrom, is moving forward with a civil case against her estranged father. Discovery said at the time they were standing behind their star. "A court reviewed the facts 25 years ago and found there was no merit to the allegations," a rep for the show told Fox News in March. "...This does not impact the show." Captain Jack Sparrow and the rest of the cast are back for the latest installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. And star Javier Bardem thinks the Johnny Depps Sparrow character has played a huge part in the success of the franchise. Bardem, who plays Captain Salazar, told Fox News at the Los Angeles premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales on Thursday that he believes many things have led to the film franchises massive following. He added, One of them is to have such an iconic character -- most importantly an iconic character like Jack Sparrow that Johnny Depp invented. Bardem said of the new film simply, Its fun. Geoffrey Rush, who plays Captain Barbossa, said his character is reaching new heights with the latest installment. In most of [the films] Jack Sparrow is always on the quest to get ownership of the Black Pearl back, and he somehow never manages to do that, and in this story he is really dropped his bundle. He has no friends; he has no boats, drinks heavily; he is sad. Whereas Captain Barbossa has become very wealthy with a sense of style, so I am pleased. Im winning so far. Earlier this week, digital hackers reportedly got their hands on a copy of Disneys film. Deadline reported that the hackers demanded a handful of money or they would release the film. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney is working with the FBI and will not pay the ransom. The "Pirates of the Caribbean" series has earned Disney more than $3.72 billion worldwide since the release of its first film in 2003. The new film "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales" had a $230 million budget. Depp, Orlando Bloom, Bardem, and Rush star in the film. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales hits theaters May 26th. Ted Nugent is ready to serve his country whether that's in office or as a musician. The outspoken rock guitarist addressed rumors that began swirling in February that he planned to run for Senate in 2018. "Well, I'm a terminal 'we the people American patriot' and I think I'm doing the most important political job in the world and that is participating in the scared experiment of self government and demanding constitutional accountability from our elected employees," he said on "Fox & Friends." He added, "There's no limit to what I'd be willing to do to help make this country great." He's still mulling over a possible run for Senate and has been discussing his options with his "Republican friends." "I'm a hell raiser," he said. "I'm what the Founding Fathers wanted all Americans to be...and it's all about the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Ten Commandants, the Golden Rule, being the best that you can be, earning you're own way." He added sarcastically, "Wow, I'm a radical." While the 69-year-old weighs his options, he is glad to finally have a "hell raiser in the White House." He praised President Trump's efforts since assuming the presidency. "[Put] America first, make America great again, job security, secure the border. You know, it's so simple even guitar players can figure it out," he said of Trump's priorities. "If you're not pissing off the idiots you're an idiot," he added of Trump's critics. "He's not an idiot; He's driving the idiots crazy so I'm so proud of him." Michigan GOP press officer Sarah Anderson told Fox News in February that they have not spoken with Nugent but that "Ted Nugent would be a great candidate to win against Debbie Stabenow." Ola Ray became a part of music history when she appeared alongside Michael Jackson in his 1983 music video for "Thriller." The former Playboy Playmate beat out thousands of women hoping to be cast in the short film musical that became a sensation on MTV. However, life post-Thriller didnt go so smoothly for Ray. In 2002, PEOPLE Magazine revealed that after the "Thriller" video was released she stopped working because she refused to give sexual favors to producers. More than three decades later, a photo of the now 56-year-old Ray has been uncovered by Closer Weekly from her Facebook page. She has generally remained out of the public eye since her '80s fame. MICHAEL JACKSON'S LIFE AND DEATH EXPLORED IN 'SEARCHING FOR NEVERLAND' Ray also struggled with drugs. PEOPLE Magazine added that after she was charged in 1992 for cocaine possession, she agreed to spend nine months in a treatment facility. At age 41, Ray said she was clean. But Rays troubles didnt end there. She filed a lawsuit against Jacksons estate in May 2009, which was just a month after he died suddenly at the age of 50. Ray claimed that for years she wasnt properly compensated for her involvement in the now-iconic music video. She just wants to get her fair share of payments from this extremely successful project that shes very proud of, said her lawyer Jason Feldman to the New York Daily News at the time. "She did receive some payments early on, but we dont believe they were complete, and they were never timely. Feldman also added that a Jackson attorney reportedly paid an unspecified sum to Ray in 1988, but the payments had since fallen short. At the time, Ray was living away from the spotlight in Sacramento, Calif., as a stay-at-home mom to her 14-year-old daughter. ELVIS' GRANDDAUGHTER ON MICHAEL JACKSON: 'I LOVED HIM' In 2013 TMZ reported that Ray allegedly settled her lawsuit with the estate and earned a reported $55,000 with $20,000 going to her lawyer. That same year, she released a song dedicated to Jackson called "Remember." Despite the setbacks she faced after Thriller, Ray still seemed grateful for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I didnt know that I was going to be a part of history, she said in 2009. But thats the way it turned out, and Im thankful. The latest issue of Closer Weekly is currently in newsstands. A dispute over pizza toppings ended badly for all involved at one Georgia Pizza Hut restaurant. After a particularly intense verbal altercation, Anderson Ramon Lewis, an employee at the pizza chain in Sandy Springs, pepper-sprayed his coworker-- and now there's a warrant out for the attacker's arrest, reports the Atlantic Journal-Constitution. Witnesses of the altercation told police that Lewis confronted the victim about the way she was placing cheese and pepperoni on a pizza, telling her she needed to go home or get fired. PIZZA HUT LOSING MARKET SHARE TO DOMINO'S, PAPA JOHN'S The argument continued when the employee reportedly responded to Lewis by telling him he wasnt her manager. Lewis began threatening the worker's husband and even brought up the employee's recently deceased brother, according to the Atlantic Journal-Constitution. Police said the general manager of the store attempted to resolve the conflict by separating the employees, and told Lewis that he needed to leave the store. However, according to witnesses, he later returned to the Pizza Hut, and started spraying his co-worker with pepper spray. He was reportedly aiming for her face but ended up hitting her in the arm. Lewis then wrote his address on a napkin and slammed it on the counter, telling the victim that if she wanted to fight, she could find him at that location. On his way out, he also threw pizza and dough on the floor. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS The policeman responding to scene then attempted to contact Lewis after the incident. However, when he called the number provided, a man answered the phone and said not to contact him again from a blocked number or he wouldnt answer, before hanging up. As of Wednesday, police were still looking for Lewis. A British farmer says he's grown a chili pepper so insanely hot, one bite could kill you. Welsh plant grower Mike Smith from St. Asaph, Denbighshire is calling his new creation the "Dragons Breath" chili. Created with help from Nottingham Trent University, the new pepper has a Scoville scale rating of 2.4 million heat unitsblasting away the worlds current record holder, the Carolina Reaper, which scores about 1.5 million on the Scoville scale, reports the BBC. WORLD'S SPICIEST TORTILLA CHIP MAKE US CHOKE, CRY Smith himself has not actually taken a true bite of the pepper but told the BBC that it "would not be a pleasant sensation," adding that "the heat is beyond. The pepper itself is so hot, says the farmer, that its not meant for consumption but rather could be used as a natural anesthetic in developing countries where people may not have access to chemical versions. The oil from the pepper is so intensely fiery that it can reportedly numb the skin. "Its not been tried orally. Ive tried it on the tip of my tongue and it just burned and burned. I spat it out in about 10 seconds, Smith told The Daily Post. The heat intensity just grows. Growing the pepper has been a labor of love, with the Dragons Breath taking Smith about eight years of trial and error to develop. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS Smith, who owns local plant shop Tom Smiths Plants, will exhibit the Dragons Breath plant at the Chelsea Flower Show in London next week and says he hopes it will win in the Plant of the Year category. Smith also says he has sent in an official application to Guinness World Records officials and is currently awaiting confirmation that his new pepper is infact the world's hottest. Ed Currie, a farmer from South Carolina and the owner of The PuckButt Pepper Company, developed the current record holder-- the Smokin' Ed's Carolina Reaper pepper, which measures an average of 1,569,300 Scoville heat units. A mother in Oregon shared an alarming video of her young daughter struggling to stand after she was unknowingly bit by a tick, and the footage has since gone viral on Facebook. Amanda Lewis, who lives in eastern Oregon with her husband, Lantz, their their daughter. Evelyn, and a young son, said Evelyn had trouble standing earlier this week and had been acting strangely. She didnt want to stand up after her bath to get into her pajamas, Lewis posted on May 13. I helped her and got her in bed. She was a little fussy last night and I ended up sleeping in bed with her all night. This morning she was having a hard time standing. She could barely walk, or crawl, and could hardly use her arms, Lewis posted. DIARRHEA OUTBREAKS LINKED TO SWIMMING POOLS ON THE RISE IN US The concerned mother wrote that due to her husbands history with an undisclosed cancer, they sent a video of Evelyn struggling before taking her to the emergency room. The doctor talked to us for a minute and said over the past 15 years he had seen about 7 or 8 children her age with identical symptoms and more than likely she had a tick, Lewis posted. Doctors eventually found a tick hiding in Evelyns hair and diagnosed her with tick paralysis, which she has since recovered from. Lewis said she hopes that by sharing the video, other parents know what to look for if their child or pet starts acting oddly without any obvious causes. RESEARCHERS CONSIDER ZIKA VIRUS FOR BRAIN CANCER TREATMENT My husband and I are still in shock that this happened to our baby girl and I'm glad we were able to spread some awareness about this, Lewis wrote in an update to the post. It's not terribly common for this to happen but it's good to be aware that if your children or pets start having weakness in their limbs to look for a tick! The doctor told us that the type of tick that was found on her does not typically carry lyme disease (dog tick) but we are keeping a close eye on her anyway. As of Friday, Lewis video had racked up more than 8.9 million views and had over 301,000 shares. She thanked supporters for their concerns about Evelyn and encouraged others to be vigilant. Health officials have previously warned about an increase in the number of overall ticks this season after noting a growth in their population. A note from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the geographic ranges of ticks are expanding and infections from tick-borne diseases are steadily increasing. A Georgia mother said she was outraged when her teenage daughter with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) received a school award for "Most Likely to Not Pay Attention" on Tuesday. Nicole Edwards said her 14-year-old daughter, who attends Memorial Middle School in Rockdale County, came home with the trophy after going to a school assembly, according to Fox 5 DC. "I feel like it was very derogatory, I feel like it was humiliating and this was held as an assembly with the school," Edwards told Fox 5 DC. Edwards said her daughter was initially voted as "most likely to ask a question that has already been answered." SON OF FAMILY WHO ADOPTED GIRL WITHOUT LIMBS DEALT DEVASTATING CANCER DIAGNOSIS "You guys are calling me when youre having problems with her in school, when youre having problems with her not paying attention or not getting it and then you give her an award for it," Edwards said. "Why call me to discipline her, but yet you turn around and give her an award for it, it doesn't make sense." The mother said she wants the school to conduct an investigation into the incident and she was "deeply hurt" by the situation. Rockdale County Schools issued a statement to Fox 5 DC saying they are investigating the incident. "I can assure you that Rockdale County Public Schools will not condone anything that may cause student embarrassment or humiliation. We will take appropriate action to address this situation upon gathering all of the facts," the spokesperson said. Click here for more from Fox 5 DC. Italy has passed a law that will require parents to vaccinate their children before enrolling them in nursery school, with those refusing to comply subject to fines. The countrys cabinet approved the law on Friday, meaning children up to age six will now need to be immunized to attend school. QUINOA 'MILK' DIET KILLED BABY, AUTHORITIES WARN The lack of appropriate measures over the years and the spread of anti-scientific theories, especially in recent months, has brought about a reduction in protection, Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said at a news conference, according to Reuters. The required vaccinations include measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, meningitis, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis B, whooping cough and hemophilia B, Reuters reported. PHILIPPINES' DUTERTE BANS SMOKING IN PUBLIC The countrys health institute recorded 2,395 cases of measles so far this year, which is a stark increase to the 840 recorded in all of 2016, and 250 in 2015. The high numbers moved other countries to warn its citizens about potential exposure to the virus while visiting Italy. Gentilonis government accused the 5-Star Movement of spreading fear among parents about vaccine safety, potentially helping to populate the current measles epidemic. Members of 5-Star, who run Romes city hall, abstained from voting on Thursday, Reuters reported. Researchers in the U.K. are set to test whether the Zika virus can fight difficult-to-treat brain cancer by attacking its cells, potentially opening up new pathways to treat the aggressive disease. Researchers will focus on glioblastoma, which is the most common form of brain cancer and has a five-year survival rate of 5 percent, Reuters reported. QUINOA 'MILK' DIET KILLED BABY, AUTHORITIES SAY The Zika virus causes severe birth defects in an unborn fetus when contracted during pregnancy by attacking developing stem cells in the brain. However, the disease does not have the same devastating effect on fully developed brains, suggesting that if scientists can harness the virus ability to attack the cancer cells, which are similar to developing brain stem cells, healthy brain tissue will go unharmed. Were taking a different approach, and want to use these new insights to see if the virus can be unleashed against one of the hardest-to-treat cancers, Harry Bulstrode, a lead researcher at Cambridge University, said, in a statement to Reuters. ITALY VOTES TO MAKE VACCINES MANDATORY Researchers will use tumor cells in mice to test the virus, and hope that it will slow tumor growth. If we can learn lessons from Zikas ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and target brain stem cells selectively, we could be holding the key to future treatments, Bulstrode told Reuters. Active outbreaks of the mosquito-borne illness were reported in at least 51 countries and territories, with pregnant women advised to avoid travel to so-called virus hotbeds. In addition to birth defects, Zika has been associated with neurological disorders including brain and spinal cord infections. Long-term health consequences remain unclear. Reuters contributed to this report. As he leaves behind a maelstrom of domestic political troubles, President Trump must be one of the few people in the world who goes to the Middle East for some peace. However, the region badly needs some of Trumps characteristic disruption. On Saturday and Sunday, the president will meet Saudi leaders in Riyadh. The Saudis have organized a sprawling Arab Islamic American Summit around Trumps visit, with leaders from dozens of Muslim countries visiting. No doubt his hosts will want Mr. Trump to focus on strategic issues, in particular the threat to them and other Sunni states posed by Iran. Yet he should resist the temptation to read from Riyadhs script. For decades, there has been bipartisan concern in America about Saudi Arabias role in disseminating radical Islamist ideology around the world. After the initial shock of the 9/11 attacks, Sens. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) investigated the risks posed by Wahhabi ideology in the United States. Hearings uncovered a serious problem, but the Bush administration opted to focus on acts of violence, not the ideology underlying the violence. President Obamas former representative to Muslim communities, Farah Pandith, visited eighty countries between 2009 and 2014. In each place I visited, the Wahhabi influence was an insidious presence . . . funding all this was Saudi money, which paid for things like the textbooks, mosques, TV stations and the training of Imams, she wrote in 2015. Just last year, Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), stated that thousands of schools in Pakistan funded with Saudi money, teach a version of Islam that leads . . . into an . . . anti-Western militancy. Yet Obama, like Bush, did little to counter these Saudi efforts, despite their obviously harmful effects around the world. Americans elected Donald Trump because they wanted to shake things up, and not only in Washington, D.C. When he is in Saudi Arabia, Mr. Trump should shake things up by publicly raising three issues: 1. Salafi Wahhabi ideology In the 18th century, a desert warrior named Ibn Saud formed an alliance with a Hanbali religious reformer, Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab. Saud wanted power. Wahhab aimed to return to Islams pure early history. The two decided to join forces. In modern times, Saudi Arabias Wahhabist clergy has been given an effective monopoly over education and religious instruction in the Kingdom, while the royal family has run economics and foreign policy. The problem is that Wahhabi Islam is highly discriminatory towards women, non-Muslims and religious reformers. It fosters radical Islamic indoctrination (dawa) which lends itself easily to violent jihad. This is what Saudis Grand Mufti, ibn Baz, argued in an English-language book in 1998: The aim of dawa and jihad is not to shed blood, take wealth, or enslave women and children; these things happen incidentally but are not the aim. This only takes place when the disbelievers (non-Muslims) refrain from accepting the truth and persist in disbelief and refuse to be subdued and pay the jizya [the tax levied on free non-Muslims living under Muslim rule] when it is requested from them. In this case, Allah has prescribed the Muslims to kill them, take their wealth as booty and enslave their women and children . . . this religion (Islam) . . . is superior to every law and system. 2. The funding of dawa, the ideology of radical Islam From 1973 through 2002, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia spent an estimated $87 billion to promote dawa efforts abroad. Some of this money landed in the United States: Saudi Arabia helped finance at least 16 Islamic and cultural centers in California, Missouri, Michigan, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Virginia and Maryland. A study by Freedom Houses Center for Religious Freedom in 2005 found that Saudi-connected resources and publications on extremist ideology remain common reading and educational material in some of Americas main mosques . . . including Los Angeles, Oakland, Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Washington, and New York. The publications contained anti-American, anti-Semitic, and jihadist ideology, and advocated removing women from the public sphere entirely. Since 2005, a number of overtly hateful materials have been removed from American mosques, but as of 2017 the ideological infrastructure of political Islam in America remains largely intact. The Saudis also continue to influence Americas top universities. In 2005, Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Alsaud donated $20 million to Harvard and another $20 million to Georgetown to advance Islamic Studies. Georgetown created the Bridge Initiative against Islamophobia. Increasingly, that word Islamophobia is used to silence anyone, even Muslim reformers, who dare ask critical questions about radical Islam. President Trump must make it clear that this type of funding of dawa in the United States must stop immediatelyincluding contributions from Saudi NGOs and private individuals who support radical ideology within the United States. 3. The imams or the agents that are trained and funded by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and others Saudi Arabia has played a harmful role by indoctrinating Muslim clerics from around the world at Wahhabist institutions such as the University of Medina. Many Western citizens are concerned about the human rights abuses committed by the radical group Boko Haram, including the kidnapping of Nigerian schoolgirls. But how did radical Islam establish itself in Africas most populous state? The answer is: Saudi Arabia. According to one recent study, the spread of Islamic extremism in northern Nigeria began with graduates of the Islamic University of Medina who returned home in the 1990s and 2000s. Although the founder of Boko Haram, Muhammad Yusuf, was not himself a Medina graduate, he was a protege of Shaykh Jafar Mahmud Adam, who had studied at Medina. It happened here, too. Warith Deen Umar was for two decades the top imam in New Yorks prison system. With help from the Saudi government, Umar traveled to Saudi Arabia and returned to indoctrinate to New York's expanding ranks of Muslim prisoners with Wahhabism. Umar ministered to thousands of inmates and training dozens of chaplains. Yet this was the man who in 2003 told the Wall Street Journal that the 9/11 hijackers should be honored as martyrs. For decades, to be sure, American officials have raised these concerns with the Saudis, but only privately. The Saudis usually promise some improvement, which never materializes. Almost inevitably, short-term military considerations lead us to drop these concerns. After 9/11, the U.S. even accepted the Saudi demand not to associate Islamic terrorism with Islam itselfhence the endless repetition of the empty phrase that Islam is a religion of peace. The result is a worldwide epidemic. Saudi Salafi-Wahhabi Islam can now be found in all corners of the world, destabilizing Pakistan, the horn of Africa, Nigeria, and even Indonesia. More than 15 years after 9/11, it is now time to do things our way. During his election campaign, Donald Trump pulled no punches on the issue of Islamic extremism. He pledged to eradicate radical Islamic terrorism completely from the face of the earth. Former Muslims like me dared to hope that an American president might finally get serious by tackling not only terrorism but also the wells of extremist ideology from which terrorists drink long before they commit acts of violence. Yet for Mr. Trump, eager to seek a political success story after weeks of White House turmoil and negative media coverage, the old path of least resistance must now look tempting. No doubt he is being advised to raise the three issues I have described above only privately, if at all. No doubt he is being urged to focus on military cooperation, like his predecessors. But if Mr. Trump does not follow through on this promise to tackle radical Islamic ideology at the root, he will be passing up an historic opportunity. The world has suffered for too long from Saudi Arabias toxic ideological exports. The Kingdoms young reforming leader is not the first Saudi prince to ask for American help. This time, Donald Trump should ask for something meaningful in return. Now is not the time, and Saudi Arabia is definitely not the place, for the most disruptive president of modern times to dial it down. Ten years ago I got a crazy idea. It all began when I read Henry Wadsworth Longfellows amazing poem, Paul Reveres Ride. You probably know the first lines: Listen, my children, and you shall hear Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere. Id never read much past that, but when I did I was stunned: the poem was incredibly beautiful and inspiring. How had I missed it all these years? It was also very long! But it was so fantastic that I couldnt help wondering if my daughter and I might try to memorize it together. Generations of Americans had memorized it. That used to be one of the ways we passed on our cultural history and celebrated what we all had in common as Americans. So my daughter and I decided to give it a shot. And amazingly we succeeded! Because she was seven, my daughter got it memorized before I did. And because I was not seven I got choked up at many of the patriotic lines, which were deeply moving. One thing the poem did was make me realize how much I had failed to appreciate the magnificent nation in which I was privileged to be born and grow up. Its lines reminded me of the huge sacrifices so many made so that we could have the freedoms we have today freedoms many of us probably take for granted. I realized that my entire generation had missed out on what previous generations had not: celebrating the greatness of our nation and its heroes. The more I thought about it the more I realized it was a tremendous mistake, one that we are now paying for in many ways as our culture and nation become increasingly divided. Being an American is something we need to learn and understand. We are not an ethnic or religious group. America is the only nation in the world based on an idea freedom and self-government so if we dont understand that idea and what sacrifices were made to win that freedom and keep it for over two centuries, how can we possibly continue to keep it? How can we call ourselves Americans? So its a sad fact that since roughly the Sixties most of our schools have failed to teach us about who we are and why we should celebrate it. Often we have only focused on what weve done wrong as a nation. Of course we should face our sins and our mistakes. But if we get stuck there, and dont focus on where weve come from and how weve overcome those sins and mistakes, we are truly to be pitied. Every country has things to be proud of and to celebrate. Theres a Greek proverb that says: "If you don't boast about your home, it will fall down and crush you. I came to the conclusion that its vital that we teach our kids about our past and especially about the heroes of our past. So I actually wrote a whole book on this subject, titled "If You Can Keep It: the Forgotten Promise of American Liberty". As you might expect, I devote nearly a whole chapter to talking about Paul Reveres Ride. And everywhere I go I talk about whats in the book, and about my hopes of inspiring a new generation to love this great country. But two months ago, I got another idea. Since I now have a national radio program, I thought, what if I sponsored a contest for kids to memorize Paul Reveres Ride? The deadline for entries could be April 18th, the famous date in the poem. The problem was I got the idea so late that kids would barely have three weeks to do it. But even if five kids took me up on the huge challenge, it would be worth it. So I announced the contest on the air. The most creative and overall best recitation of the poem would win. Naturally theyd have to post their entries on youtube. I would take the winner and their parents to dinner here in New York, where I live, and Id also interview them on the radio program and give them signed copies of almost all of my books, plus Eric Metaxas Show mugs and tee-shirts! Im sure it was the tee-shirts that did the trick, because even though there were only three weeks, we got no less than fifty submissions and all of the kids had memorized the entire poem! One of them was four years old! Did I mention what a long poem it is? I was staggered. So many of the submissions were so terrific there was almost no way to pick a winner! Several of them involved props and costumes and three of them featured actual horses! One young lady traveled all the way from Indiana to the Old North Church in Boston to film her recitation there! Two kids from Lithuania even sent in videos, as did one from Berlin, Germany! And one kid recited it while riding his bike! Some of it is also absolutely bust-a-gut hilarious! Whether intentional or not I will leave up to you. If you watched all fifty videos without a break it would take you eight hours straight! So I thought we should make a fun compilation video featuring all of the kids who participated, in the hopes of getting you and your kids and your friends to watch it, so that maybe you would all get as excited as I am about it and maybe youd even challenge your own kids to memorize it! Well, that was my idea. Now its up to you. I want to make the video go viral and light a spark that will carry the torch of freedom onward, and Ill need the help of thousands of Paul Reveres like you and your kids to carry it. Is that too corny for you? Tough luck. Its the truth. Now get riding, podners! God bless you. And God bless America. Addressing the graduating class of the Coast Guard Academy this week, President Trump bragged, I wont talk about how much I saved you on the F-35 fighter jet, referring to Americas state-of-the-art military aircraft. What the president might not know is that those fighter planes require components made of materials that must be imported from China, because the United States is not producing them domestically. That fact became scarier on Friday, when two Chinese SU-30 aircraft intercepted a U.S. WC-135 Constant Phoenix aircraft conducting a routine mission in international airspace over the East China Sea. That dependence is just not acceptable to some lawmakers. We need to make sure that F-35 parts are made in America, says Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), who is proposing a bill to require U.S. production of strategic items like high-tech magnets for radar, jamming systems, landing gear and other electronic warfare (EW) products. If we cant make that happen, Hunter says, then my bill has no meaning. Hunter recently sent a request to the Department of Defense asking for assurances that all components for the F-35 were either American-made or came from a place that had been cleared by a so-called national security waiver (NSW). Hunter specifically asked about the place of origin of samarium cobalt, an alloy that is a key part of the permanent magnets that control the planes guidance system. The response was, at best, equivocal: In response to your concern, the Department conducted a query but found no instances of noncompliant cobalt alloys in the F-35 since those described in the attached report, read the letter from the Pentagon. That means that if military planners thought they needed to import those parts, they could ask for a waiver. These waivers are being granted without enough forethought about what they mean, Hunter told me. If were going to allow Japan, an ally, to buy the F-35, why should we let them get those materials from China, which has failed to put its foot on North Korea and obstructs us in other ways? While the U.S. currently imports 100 percent of its samarium and other so-called rare earths, known supplies exist in California, Colorado and Texas. Those magnets can also be made here. This is a bigger-picture problem that focuses on the most capability at the lowest cost without proper regard for security of supply, says Jeff Green, an independent military consultant. For at least two or three decades, the Pentagon has subscribed to the Harvard Business School mentality that we live in a global economy now and we should aim for the lowest costs. This administration is the first in a long time to challenge that notion. And, one hopes, to keep the ability to challenge any nation that thinks it can intercept U.S. aircraft without consequences. As custodian of Islams holiest sites, Mecca and Medina, and as leader of the 41-nation Islamic coalition established to combat terror, Saudi Arabia is on the front line of the global fight against radical jihadi terrorism. It is also the ultimate target of terrorist organizations that dream of controlling the center of the Islamic world and the nations vast oil wealth. President Trump, in making Riyadh his first overseas stop, is demonstrating this weekend that the U.S.-Saudi strategic relationship is a vital one, and that the kingdom is an essential partner in countering and crushing violent jihadi extremism. And yet, some critics in the West continue to ridicule any Saudi role in fighting terrorism. They accuse the kingdom of promoting Wahhabism, the conservative Islam practiced in Saudi Arabia, arguing that its teachings are a precursor to terrorism. This, despite the fact that the kingdom is itself in the crosshairs of ISIS, al-Qaeda and a revolutionary and belligerent Iran and has seen multiple terror attacks since 1995. In truth, the Saudi government understands that it has a problem, and it is working to temper the intolerance and rigid thinking of its clerics, a process that will be durable only if done gradually. Part of reforming its reactionary, conservative religious establishment involves utilizing it as a force that, while still not liberal by Western standards, can leverage its considerable stature, prestige and influence in the Muslim world to outlaw all forms of terrorism and ostracize those who promote them. Saudi Arabias progress in the fight against extremism will be also be marked by Mr. Trump when he attends the opening of a center in Riyadh intended to fight radicalism. By establishing and operating this center, our Muslim friends, including Saudi Arabia, are taking a firm stand against extremism and those who adopt a perverted interpretation of religion to advance their criminal and political agendas, National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster told journalists earlier this week. The kingdom is well-versed and battle-tested in this fight. The Saudi government has built a world-class anti-terrorism capability that uses intelligence, community outreach, rehabilitation and, when necessary, brute force to fight terrorism, perhaps more effectively than any other country facing such militancy in its homeland. Saudi Arabias commitment to the fight against terrorism may be hard to fathom for many Americans. After all, in the confusion following the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, a narrative developed that the terrorists attacked America because they wanted to change the American way of life. In fact, Al Qaeda a strain of which became ISIS has never held illusions about its capacity to spread its ideology in the United States. Instead, the 9/11 attacks were highly strategic, designed with one goal: to sever the strong SaudiU.S. alliance. There is a reason Al Qaeda deliberately chose 15 Saudis among the hijackers. It was not because of Wahhabism or because of a secret Saudi hatred of the Western way of life. It was because Al Qaedas goal has been, and remains, the provocation of a U.S.-Saudi divorce. Al Qaeda then, and ISIS today, hope to use terror to push the U.S. into withdrawing from the Gulf region, because they perceive the American presence as essential to preserving the existing political order in the Arabian Peninsula. Iran shares this strategy with ISIS, which is why it funds and arms destabilizing terror groups in the region, from Hezbollah in Syria to the Houthis in Yemen. Without an American presence in the region, jihadi leaders believe they could overthrow the Gulf monarchies. Meanwhile, campaigns of terror have only brought the U.S. and Saudi Arabia closer together, deepening a relationship that has endured for three-quarters of a century. Trumps decision to visit Riyadh first is evidence of that. This bilateral bond and strengthening alliance against terrorism between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia will ensure that neither Mecca nor Main Street, USA, will fall to the perverted and murderous ideology of radical jihadis. The Trump administration is signaling its strong understanding of the critical value Saudi Arabia brings to the table in its partnership against terror. Now thats an idea worth spreading in the U.S. Foreign trips are tricky terrain for new presidents. They involve complex diplomacy, obscure protocol and unfamiliar operating environments. President Trump will confront all of these complications during his first overseas visit, which begins today with each stop carrying its own challenges and potential for missteps. First, the president will spend several days meeting with Saudi officials in Riyadh, with the fight against ISIS topping the agenda. He will also give a speech on Islam remarks that would require a delicate rhetorical dance for any leader, but that will be especially tricky for a president who ran promising to implement a Muslim ban. He will need to use language that sends a positive message to the Saudis, to our other Arab allies and to moderate Muslim citizens whose help we need in the fight against extremism. Im dubious that Stephen Miller, who is reportedly writing all the major remarks for this trip, is up to that challenge. Trump then heads to Jerusalem, where Israelis are already expressing concern about several of his administrations recent decisions. He walked back a key campaign promise to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, and last week he gave highly classified Israeli intelligence to the Russian government, putting at risk Israels sensitive source with critical information on terrorist plotting. I hope the reports that Trump will spend only 15 minutes at Yad Vashem, Israels Holocaust museum, and that hell skip Masada altogether are proven wrong. These are important signals of commitment to the relationship. Next, Trump travels to the Vatican for meetings with Pope Francis, who has criticized some of the presidents rhetoric and policies, especially related to tolerance and acceptance of refugees. The pope will surely treat the president with respect, but he likely wont be shy in making his views clear and a lot of people will be listening to him. Finally, Trump will participate in his first series of multilateral meetings at NATO in Brussels and the G-7 in Sicily. These meetings can be tedious and highly-scripted affairs traits that do not play to the presidents strengths. NATO will be looking for signs that he now fully understands the importance of the alliance. And members of both NATO and of the G-7 will try to decipher exactly what role Trump wants America to play in the world. I traveled to more than 30 countries with Secretary of State John Kerry, so I know firsthand the difficulties that can arise on these trips. The time difference itself makes you feel very far removed from Washington and especially from the news cycle. For a president who is laser-focused on media coverage, being so out-of-sync will undoubtedly be frustrating. Trump also reportedly does not like to venture far from his comfort zone, which will make the fast-paced schedule with multiple nights in different cities even more discombobulating. This can lead to a whole host of problems, including clouded decision-making processes and heightened stress for the entire traveling team. Thats why most presidential candidates embark on foreign trips during their campaigns, as test runs to get their feet wet and show the American people they can represent them on the world stage. Candidate Trump did not take such a trip in the way his predecessors had he spent only part of one day in Mexico so this really is the first time he will face this situation. The presidents time is among his most precious assets. Spending nine days abroad means you have to come home with tangible deliverables photo ops arent enough. What will the Saudis actually commit to do on Syria or Yemen? Will the Trump administration return with a more fleshed-out plan to defeat ISIS, or more clarity on how it sees Syrian President Assads future? Will there be any concrete ideas floated to get Israeli-Palestinian talks moving again? Every American should want our president to succeed in the international arena politics really should stop at the waters edge. After weeks of political chaos here at home, the chance to head overseas probably seems like a welcome break. We will see if President Trump can rise to the occasion. I have some bad news for the kids at Brainerd High School in Minnesota your 2017 yearbook is not so much a celebration of you as it is an anti-Trump propaganda book. The 2017 edition of the yearbook included a section titled, Trump 2k17-2k20? How do you feel about him? And lets just say Im surprised the Secret Service hasnt paid a courtesy call to the campus. I would like to behead him, one student declared. I do not like him. Click here to join Todds newsletter! Its a must-read for conservatives! Now I may be mistaken but it sure sounds like she wants to chop off the presidents head. Did I mention that Brainerd High School is a public institution paid for with your tax dollars? I feel like Donald is very racist and sexist and doesnt care to give people a chance before knowing them, another student lamented. I dont like the way he comes off, he seems really rude, said yet another liberal urchin. So why did Brainerd Public Schools allow such a hate-filled piece of alt-left propaganda to be published in the school yearbook? The district posted a lengthy statement on its website condemning what it called highly disrespectful statements from students about political figures. The district does not support or otherwise endorse any disrespectful or politically based statements that are in the yearbook and apologizes for the statements that were included, the statement reads. Click here to join Todds conservative Facebook page! The district went on to express its deep regrets and said they are investigating how the page came to be published in the yearbook. In other words, the yearbook advisor might want to be dusting off his resume. Social networking pages have exploded with angry and incredulous comments regarding the story first reported by the Brainerd Dispatch. This just shows you whats going on in our schools. Its sick that they would allow this, one reader wrote. The Dispatch pointed out that President Trump carried Brainerd High School last fall during a mock election beating Hillary Clinton 688-397. So, it would seem the student body is conservative, but the student media is run by liberals. Sound familiar, good readers? Sadly, our public schools have become a breeding ground for junior varsity members of the Mainstream Media. You know back when I was in high school we used to have senior superlatives in our yearbook: Most LIkey to Succeed; Best Dressed; Class Clown. I dont think we had Most Likely to be John Wilkes Booth. The Tennessee law will expressly prohibit the use of so-called free speech zones to limit the areas of campus on which certain viewpoints can be heard. University administrators are prohibited from rescinding the invitations from students or faculty of speakers with whom they disagree or fear will cause disruption. The law also demands campuses use the actual legal definition of student-on-student harassment handed down by the Supreme Court, behavior so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive, and that so undermines and detracts from the victims educational experience, that the victim-students are effectively denied equal access to an institutions resources and opportunities. The peacemakers are not allowed to be blessed in Montgomery County, Virginia. The sheriff was ordered on May 17 to remove decals bearing a portion of a well-known Bible verse from patrol cars. The decal, which had been posted on vehicles in March, bore the words, Blessed are the peacemakersMatthew 5:9. Our intent was, and still is, to honor our fellow brothers and sisters in law enforcement, Sheriff C.H. Partin wrote in a statement to Fox News. Click here to for a free subscription to Todds newsletter: a must read for Conservatives! The sheriff said the decals were removed at the request of the countys board of supervisors. In the midst of National Police Week, we want to focus on those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving their communities, the sheriff said. The last thing that I want is for this to become a distraction to the men and women who serve their communities selflessly every day. I could not imagine any elected leaders giving such a detestable order so I reached out to the board of supervisors to verify the report. It turns out they really gave that detestable order. Click here to join Todd on Facebook one of the nations fastest-growing Conservative communities! In my mind, theres nothing wrong with the statement itself, supervisor Chris Tuck told me. Any individual can put that on your car however they would like. However, based on our legal advice, when you put, Blessed are the peacemakers and make the reference to Matthew 5:9, there are some serious concerns about the Establishment Clause and Separation of Church and State and the First Amendment. Mr. Tuck tells me the board made its decision after first consulting with their attorney. Their attorney told them the decals would be a violation of the First Amendment based on the current case law because of the reference to Matthew 5:9. It sounds to me like the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors is in desperate need of an attorney who understands the law. Mr. Tuck told me they couldve ignored their attorneys advice but that wouldve put the county at risk for hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees. I dont believe the citizens of Montgomery County want me to get into a situation where hundreds of thousands of dollars of tax money may end up having to be given to the ACLU, he said. Blessed are the attorneys for they shall inherit everyones money I was curious, though who raised a complaint about the decals in the first place? The first notice we had was an inquiry by the Roanoke Times, Mr. Tuck told me. That was the first that the board received. Well, there you have it, folks. This is why people dont like newspaper reporters. They stir up a stink when theres no stink to stir. Perhaps the readers of the Roanoke Times might want to keep that in mind when their subscription comes up for renewal. TIME magazine's latest cover art depicts the White House being transformed into Saint Basil's Cathedral, a metaphor for the Kremlin. The magazine tweeted a short video of the cover art, titled How Trumps loyalty test is straining Washington. The animated video shows the White House with one side being colored red and the cathedral's fancy, colorful columns popping out of the top. Our new cover this morning, its been a decade since @Time did not have a cover line, tweeted Matt Vella, TIME's executive editor. TRUMP RAILS AGAINST WITCH HUNT AMID SPECIAL COUNSEL APPOINTMENT Twitter users posted their reaction to TIMEs cover, including those who mocked it and others pointing out that it had similarities to Mad magazines December 2016 cover. Mad Magazine tweeted, "Once More, With Stealing Dept. TIME MAGAZINE RIPS OFF MAD MAGAZINE?" The magazine cover follows a week of news leaks and allegations surrounding the White House. Last week, President Donald Trump allegedly disclosed classified information to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during a White House visit. The meeting came a day after Trump fired the FBI Director James Comey. In another leak, Trump allegedly asked Comey to drop a federal investigation into retired Gen. Michael Flynn, the presidents former national security adviser. SENATOR SAYS FLYNN HASNT RESPONDED TO SUBPOENA Trump fired Flynn on February 13 after the White House said he misled Vice President Mike Pence and other officials about his communications with Russias ambassador to the United States. The White House has denounced the leaks. The Justice Department on Wednesday appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as a special counsel to lead the investigation into allegations that Trumps campaign collaborated with Russia to sway the 2016 election. Trump strongly denied the allegations and lashed out against the special counsel, tweeting Thursday morning that this is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history! This is not the magazine's first time it featured Trump on their cover. Trump was named the magazines person of the year in 2016. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Even an arms deal with one of our oldest and most reliable allies in the war on terror is eliciting cries of foul from critics of the Trump Administration. The White House is putting the finishing touches on an up to $300 billion arms sale with Saudi Arabia that will include the advanced Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-ballistic missile system, littoral combat ships designed to fight in shallow water close to shore and precision guided munitions designed to limit civilian casualties. The deal will initially be $100 billion but could reach $300 billion over a decade. The exact terms of the deal are expected to be released when President Trump is in Saudi Arabia on Friday. GULF STATES WARM TO ISRAEL, SEE POSSIBILITY OF PALESTINIAN PEACE DEAL Much of the arms sale was actually structured during the Obama Administration, before being shelved last October after Saudi jets bombed a Yemeni funeral hall, killing more than 100 people. Our support for Saudi-led military campaigns in places like Yemen are prolonging humanitarian misery and aiding extremism, said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn. But the Obama administration itself was divided over the Saudi deal. I think it was a mistake not to go forward with the sale, and I think it makes sense for the Trump administration to reverse that decision and go forward with it, said Gerald Feierstein, President Obamas ambassador to Yemen. I think its the right move. A current U.S. official briefed on the plan told Fox News that the deal gives Saudis the capability to conduct precision strike in order to minimize civilian casualties in Yemen. I think you will see additional precision capabilities for the Saudis, the official said, including a training program to improve their precision targeting and on the law of armed conflict. Critics argue that any escalation of the Yemeni conflict could ultimately backfire on efforts to restore stability to the region. "If the expected announcement contains plans to sell the Saudis offensive arms, like precision-guided munitions, I will strongly oppose it until we can certify that they are targeting terrorist organizations instead of civilians, Murphy told Fox News. But Feierstein and others say upgrading Saudi military capabilities is an effective option in dealing with the Houthi rebels in Yemen, whom Riyadh and Washington say are backed and led by Iran. We need to be more sympathetic than we have been to the Saudi concerns about the Iranian threat to security and stability and the danger that a pro-Iranian government would pose in Yemen on their southern border, Feierstein said. In my view, the arms deal increases the military pressure on the Houthis that there is not a solution through violence and armed conflict. Thats not where we are now. SAUDI ARABIA COUNTING DOWN THE SECONDS UNTIL TRUMP ARRIVES The U.S. official who spoke to Fox News confirms the Saudi arms deal is focused on Gulf security, particularly with an eye to Iran, given concerns about Iran following the JCPA, or Iran nuclear deal, to the letter. Indeed, Iran reportedly continues to develop ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons, despite United Nations prohibitions. While the Patriot anti-missile systems developed by U.S.-based Raytheon have intercepted Scuds launched by the Houthis against Saudi Arabia, the new ballistic missile capabilities reportedly being developed by Iran call for an upgrade to THAAD. Makes sense in South Korea. Makes sense in Saudi Arabia, Feierstein said. THAAD is designed by Lockheed Martin, and a deal this size is expected to have a massive impact on the U.S. defense sector, experts say. Just as important is what the deal does not include, the U.S. official told Fox News. No cluster munitions, no F-35s and no ManPads. Cluster munitions release many smaller bomblets on a target, and, if used improperly, can cause horrific numbers of civilian casualties. THE SAUDIS ARE COMING: SEVEN THINGS TEAM TRUMP NEEDS TO KNOW ManPads, or Man-Portable Air-Defense Systems, are generally shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles that Saudi Arabia has, in the past, expressed a desire to send to Syrian rebels. That raised concerns that these sophisticated systems would fall into the wrong hands. Meanwhile, the F-35 Lighting II is Americas newest fifth-generation supersonic stealth fighter bomber. While beset with development problems, the F-35 is still considered state-of-the-art. One of the things we have to keep our minds on is Israels qualitative military edge, said the U.S. official, who said the U.S. doesnt believe the arms deal upsets Israels lead in the balance of power in the region. The Trump administration is still developing its overall strategy for the Middle East. President Trump understands that America First does not mean America alone, National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster told reporters last week, To the contrary, prioritizing Americas interests means strengthening alliances. He will encourage our Arab and Muslim partners to take bold, new steps to promote peace and to confront those, from ISIS to al Qaeda to Iran to the Assad regime, who perpetuate chaos and violence that has inflicted so much suffering throughout the Muslim world and beyond. Some military analysts are worried that means too much of a hands-off approach. What the deal does not make clear is whether the United States will take a more active role in Yemen, Syria, and other hot spots, or will back off and let the Saudis take care of regional problems, said Mark Moyar, director of the Center for Military and Diplomatic History, If the United States takes a hands-off approach to Yemen, there seems to be little likelihood of a diplomatic resolution. Moyar said he would like to see American boots on the ground in Yemen in the form of combat advisors who can direct airstrikes. Training a new generation of Saudi air combat controllers takes time, he said. The best results, he said, are generational. Steven Joachim of the Fox News Research Department contributed. Huma Abedin reportedly filed for divorce from Anthony Weiner Friday, hours after the disgraced former congressman pleaded guilty to sexting a minor. Abedin, a long-time aide to Hillary Clinton, first separated from Weiner in August 2016, after learning of allegations that her husband had sent explicit photos to a then 15-year-old girl. Earlier Friday, a tearful Weiner pleaded guilty to sexting a minor, apologizing in court to the teenaged victim and blaming his own "destructive impulses" for the prison time that now awaits him. The New York federal judge accepted Weiner's admission to sending sexually explcit texts to a minor across state lines, and Weiner agreed to not appeal any sentence between 21 and 27 months in prison. He also must register as a sex offender. "I have compulsively sought attention from women who contacted me on social media, and I engaged with many of them in both sexual and non-sexual conversation," Weiner said in a prepared statement. "These destructive impulses brought great devastation to my family and friends, and destroyed my life's dream of public service. "I remained in denial even as the world around me fell apart," he added. In the statement, Weiner apologized to his family and the teenager and said he had come to grips with his twisted compulsions. "I have a sickness, but I do not have an excuse," Weiner said. The FBI began investigating Weiner in September after a 15-year-old North Carolina girl told a tabloid news site that she and the former politician had exchanged lewd messages for several months. She also accused him of asking her to undress on camera. The New York Times first reported that the former New York Democratic congressman would enter the plea Friday in Manhattan. The plea covers conduct from January to March of 2016. The charge reportedly carries a potential sentence ranging up to 10 years in prison though the former congressman also could avoid prison entirely. The outspoken politician resigned from Congress in 2011 after an errant tweet ended up exposing his sexting habits. He later mounted an unsuccessful run for New York City mayor. But the scandal, first reported by the Daily Mail, exposed that he had been sending explicit messages to a minor, the controversy took a turn into criminal territory. The investigation infamously intersected last year with the 2016 presidential campaign, when agents seized devices and found emails between Hillary Clinton and Huma Abedin, Weiner's estranged wife and a top Clinton adviser. This discovery led the FBI to revisit the case of Clintons personal email use as secretary of state while the case was again shuttered, Clinton has since cited that development as contributing to her defeat. The Associated Press contributed to this report. President Trump's former campaign manager told Fox News' "Hannity" Thursday night that Republican lawmakers "should have held tough" and resisted the appointment of a special prosecutor to lead the FBI investigation into possible connections between the Trump campaign and Russian officials. "There is no evidence of any wrongdoing. There is no evidence of collusion. There is no reason for this," Corey Lewandowski told host Sean Hannity. "The bottom line is, its a political witch-hunt. It is not necessary. "The Republicans are weak on this thing. They should have held tough," Lewandowski added. "They should have been stronger." Lewandowski also pointed out that Trump remained popular with Republican voters in some of the key states he won this past November. "[Trump's] numbers are higher by eight points in Ohio today. Theyre higher than they were on Election Day in Iowa," he said. "His approval rating among Republicans is 80 percent in the state of Pennsylvania, and what that tells you is you have to fight back." Lewandoski suggested that the president was being ill-served by his media surrogates, saying that Trump "needs the surrogates on TV who can go out and push back against this false narrative that theres not anything getting done in Washington. "The bottom line is, in the first 120 days, hes been more successful than most administrations have been in four years." Congressional Democrats already are speaking out against the prospect of former Sen. Joe Lieberman being nominated for FBI director, though President Trump has not announced his decision. The timetable for a nomination is unclear, with Trump leaving for his first international trip as commander-in-chief without naming his pick. Lieberman emerged a day earlier as the apparent front-runner, though, a development that received a largely positive response from Republicans. Lieberman is probably the only person who can get 100 votes in the Senate, Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, said on Capitol Hill on Thursday, after a Senate briefing with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. Cornyn had been on the White House shortlist to replace Comey, but with withdrew himself from consideration. But without Democrats, those 100 votes in the Senate would not materialize. There couldnt be a worse time to take the unprecedented step of handing the FBI over to a politicianthat includes Sen. Lieberman, an aide for Senate Democratic leadership told Fox News on Friday. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., argued against a career politician of either party to lead the FBI on Thursday morning on the Senate floor, but he did not specifically name Lieberman. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., also expressed disapproval, telling reporters on Capitol Hill Thursday that it would be a mistake to nominate him. I dont think theres going to be much excitement about that from our side of the aisle. Not because we dont respect Joe Lieberman. But we need a law enforcement professional, not someone whos run for office before, McCaskill said. We dont need anyone whos put on a red shirt, or a blue shirt or whos campaigned for president. Lieberman, 75, has extensive political, and law enforcement experience. He was a two-term attorney general for the state of Connecticut, spanning from 1983 until his resignation in 1989 when he was elected to the U.S. Senate, serving from 1989 until 2013first as a Democrat, then as an independent. Lieberman ran as a vice president on Al Gores 2000 ticket, and ran for president in 2004. He then became an independent after losing the Connecticut Democratic primary in 2006. He won re-election, and two years later, further angered Democrats by endorsing Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., for president against the eventual winner, Barack Obama. Lieberman even spoke at the 2008 Republican National Convention. Democrats considered tossing Lieberman out of their caucus after learning he spoke at the 2008 Republican National Convention, and years later, resentment still lingers. When he was in Congress, Lieberman joined forces with Sens. McCain and Lindsay Graham, R-S.C.they were referred to as the Three Amigos, especially at the time that they were pushing for the surge in Iraq, and during President Obamas first term. Graham celebrated the prospect of Lieberman replacing Comey and said: If the president picked Joe Lieberman, hed be doing the country a good service and, I think, the FBI, a good service. But Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., who holds Liebermans old seat, repeated the same sentiment heard from other Democrats on the Hill, including moderate Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., who praised the ex-senator but suggested a preference for an apolitical figure leading the FBI. He has a history of angering Democrats and Republicans, which is probably a good experience for being FBI director, Murphy said. But my concern is about someone with a political background. This is a moment for someone with a law enforcement background. Trump said Thursday that he was very close to naming a new FBI director, and said his leading contender was Lieberman, but White House officials told Fox News on Friday there would be no FBI announcements before the presidents overseas trip. Trump returns to Washington D.C. next Saturday. Fox News' Chad Pergram, Mike Emanuel and Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report. The America-loving Pakistani doctor who helped the CIA pinpoint Usama Bin Laden in advance of the raid that killed the worlds most wanted man could be on the cusp of freedom. Dr. Shakil Afridi, whose vaccination ruse helped the U.S. determine Bin Laden was holed up in an Abbottabad, Pakistan, compound before the May 2, 2011 raid by SEAL Team 6 members and CIA agents, has been imprisoned for nearly six years in the majority Muslim nation. But with Trump set to meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on his current Middle East trip, new hope has arisen that Afridi could be released on or around May 24, when he is due to appear in court. "It is evident that negotiations had started between the Pakistan and U.S. officials to release Dr. Afridi and we expect a good news at the May 24 hearing, said Qamar Nadim, Afridis attorney. The allegations against Dr. Afridi will be likely ruled out." "It is evident that negotiations had started between the Pakistan and U.S. officials to release Dr. Afridi and we expect a good news at the May 24 hearing. Qamar Nadim, Afridis attorney During his successful campaign, Trump pledged to get Afridi released in two minutes if elected, saying he would use the threat of revoking foreign aid as leverage. Pakistans interior minister responded in a statement, saying Contrary to Mr. Trumps misconception, Pakistan is not a colony of the United States of America. THE WEEK IN PICTURES This week, a senior official at the U.S. State Department told Fox News the Trump administration has and will continue to press the case for releasing Afridi. We believe Dr. Afridi has been unjustly imprisoned and have clearly communicated our position to Pakistan on Dr. Afridi's case, both in public and in private, the official said. We continue to raise this issue at the highest levels during discussions with Pakistan's leadership. Although the State Department official said Pakistan has offered assurances Afridi is being treated humanely and is in good health, a sit-down between Trump and Sharif, expected to take place in Riyadh in the next few days, would offer a chance for Trump to put pressure face-to-face on his counterpart. Afridi was hailed as a hero by U.S. officials for posing as a vaccination manager in the operation, obtaining DNA samples of bin Laden relatives and establishing his presence in the compound. But officials, including then-CIA Director Leon Panetta, made Afridis role public before the doctor and his family could get out of Pakistan, and he was quickly arrested. In a 2012 exclusive interview from his prison cell, Afridi told Fox News he was proud to have helped America get Bin Laden. I have a lot of respect and love for your people, he said, adding that he was proud to work with the CIA. Afridis case has been bogged down by endless appeals and court delays at a tribunal in Peshawar. While viewed as a hero to the United States, where he once lived, Afridi is seen by some in Pakistan as a traitor. The raid itself was seen as a violation of Pakistans sovereignty, even though the 9/11 mastermind and Al Qaeda leaders presence in Pakistan was not likely a secret to many in power. Sartaj Aziz, an adviser to Sharif on foreign affairs, confirmed that Sharif will meet President Trump but declined to comment on Afridi's case or negotiations between the nations for his release. However, a senior government official in Islamabad, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated a deal could be close. For improvement in the strained relations between Islamabad and Washington, it is the right time to resolve the pending issues including Dr. Afridis case, he said. In May 2012, Afridi was sentenced to 33 years behind bars, under murky charges. Pakistani officials initially reported he was convicted of treason. Then in 2013, his conviction was overturned and he was instead charged with the murder of a patient eight years earlier and his prison term reduced to 23 years. Afridi filed an appeal seeking a new trial, but his lawyer told Fox News in 2015 that the case ground to a halt when proceedings were repeatedly canceled. While the U.S. provides Pakistan with more than $800 million in foreign aid, the U.S needs the mostly Muslim nations cooperation in the war on terror. Big bucks from George Soros helped turn a Pennsylvania district attorney election on its head, in the latest example of the liberal billionaires influence in local U.S. politics. On April 28, Soros poured nearly $1.5 million into the Philadelphia Justice and Public Safety PAC, which supported candidate Larry Krasner in the Democratic primary. Krasner won on Tuesday, and by a wide margin. He is expected to win the general election this fall, as Philadelphia is a Democratic stronghold. How much of a difference the PAC money made is unclear, but the cash infusion helped pay for TV commercials, campaign literature, and online ads to promote the candidacy of the civil rights attorney who has never worked as a prosecutor. The race marked the first time a super PAC has supported a D.A. candidate in Philadelphia. Krasner, as the Daily Caller puts it, benefited from the kind of capital typically reserved for important national political campaigns. But its not the first time Soros has pumped cash into local D.A. races, in an apparent bid to shape the approach to law enforcement on the ground level. Last August, Politico reported that Soros had channeled more than $3 million into seven local district-attorney campaigns in six states over the past year. The Washington Times looked at all of 2015 and 2016, reporting Soros sunk more than $7 million into at least 11 local prosecutor races in 10 states in that period. The report described it as part of an effort to implement criminal justice reform from the inside. One race Soros supported in Texas already has led to a policy change. Kim Ogg, who won the election for district attorney of Harris County last fall, after a cash influx from Soros, announced she will decriminalize small amounts of marijuana in the Houston area. That goes against President Trumps Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who has taken a tough stance on marijuana and has said he is not in favor legalizing the drug. Fox News reached out to Soros for comment regarding the latest election. The Philadelphia PACs treasurer Whitney Tymas replied to Fox News and cited Krasners platform as the reason for supporting him. Philadelphia Justice & Public Safety supported Larry Krasner for district attorney because of his commitment to public safety and criminal justice reform, Tymas said. After his victory, Krasner spoke to reporters and said the Soros cash wouldnt affect his policies. I dont have to pick up the phone for anyone, Krasner told reporters. Its no disrespect to Mr. Soros, whom I have never met, or his organization, but the bottom line is I have held these views for a long time. Ben Waxman, a spokesman for Krasners campaign, told Fox News, Larry Krasner has been a civil rights attorney in Philadelphia for over 30 years. He has handled many cases and has a deep amount of criminal justice experience. In addition, he is an activist. He has been doing and saying the same thing for 30 years. He added, Other candidates spent a large amount of money in this campaign. The reason Krasner won is because of his ideas on criminal justice reform. When asked if Krasner appreciated the support offered by Soros and the Philadelphia Justice and Public Safety PAC, Waxman said the campaign had a strong coalition of voters. He is thankful to all of his supporters, he said, this deep Philly-based coalition including his volunteers and his staff. current and former U.S. officials familiar with the exchanges told Reuters. Click to expand... Who are they? This passes as journalism integrity. That might be the saddest thing of all this. That this crap is considered factual due to anonymous sources. This is the stuff that tabloids use to get sued over. Now, its considered factual in order to blame something else for losing an election. The United States is in one of its darkest hours and its not Donald Trump leading the way. It is our Journalism and a political party who has taken sore loser to a dangerous level. The Iranian regime is believed to be operating polling stations across the United States ahead of the countrys election on Friday, an effort that appears to violate U.S. laws barring Iranian agents from operating on American soil in this manner, according to sources apprised of the situation. There are nearly 50 such polling stations where Iranian expats can vote across the United States, including in major American cities such as New York City and Washington, D.C., according to a list of polling stations published online. Iranian polling stations have already been shut down in Canada and calls are mounting for the Trump administration to take similar action, according to a White House petition created by Iranian dissident groups that call on President Donald Trump to "shut down illegal Iranian regime election sites in the U.S." As Iran gears up to hold its presidential election on Fridaya process critics have described as corruptIranian regime opponents are warning that the polling sites will be staffed by agents of the Islamic Republic. This may be a violation of U.S. laws barring regime officials from traveling across America without explicit permission from the State Department. At least 27 polling sites appear to have been set up across the Eastern Seaboard, according to information published online, with more across the country. U.S. law prohibits agents of the Iranian regime from traveling 25 miles outside of New York City and Washington, D.C., without explicit permission from the government. Additionally, sanctions prohibit U.S. individuals from conducting business with representatives of the Iranian government. Click for more from The Washington Free Beacon. The Office of the First Lady announced Thursday that Melania Trump will deliver remarks to U.S. military families when she joins the president during his inaugural overseas trip. I am very excited for the upcoming trip, Melania Trump said in a statement. This will not just be an opportunity to support my husband as he works on important matters of national security and foreign relations, it will also be my honor to visit and speak with women and children from different countries, with different perspectives. The trip will include a four-country, five-stop tour that begins Friday. The Trumps will visit Saudi Arabia, Israel, Italy and Belgium, and the trip includes an audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican. The first lady is joining the president for some events, but will participate in other events on her own. The White House isn't releasing a comprehensive itinerary for Mrs. Trump, citing security concerns. Mrs. Trump, a native of the central European nation of Slovenia, says she'll spend time at her events speaking with women and children. The Trumps are scheduled to return to Washington on May 27. The Associated Press contributed to this report Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein firmly stood by the memo he wrote that outlined James Comeys offenses and later was cited by the White House to support President Trumps decision to fire the FBI director during briefings with Capitol Hill lawmakers, according to remarks obtained by Fox News. I wrote it. I believe it. I stand by it, he said, according to the opening statement provided by senior Justice Department officials. He maintained that Comeys handling of the Hillary Clinton email probe was wrong and unfair. The statement was first delivered to Senate lawmakers on Thursday and to House lawmakers during a similar briefing on Friday. Democratic lawmakers have claimed ever since Comey's firing that Rosenstein's memo was used as a mere pretext to can the director. Senators also said after the opening briefing that Rosenstein revealed he knew Comey was going to be removed before penning the Comey memo. This appeared to challenge initial White House statements citing that memo as rationale for the firing though Trump has acknowledged he planned to fire Comey regardless of any recommendation. But Rosensteins full statement provides a robust defense of his own actions, and a more complex and nuanced timeline leading up to Comeys ouster. He reiterated his judgments from the May 9 memo, saying Comey mishandled the Clinton email investigation. Rosenstein said Comey usurped the authority of the Justice Department, first with his July 2016 press conference outlining Clintons alleged offenses and recommending no charges, and second with his October call to notify Congress the probe was being reopened. Rosenstein said he also discussed the need for new leadership at the FBI with Jeff Sessions then a senator, now the attorney general last winter. Among the concerns that I recall were to restore the credibility of the FBI, respect the established authority of the Department of Justice, limit public statements and eliminate leaks, he said. He said he learned on May 8 that Trump intended to remove Comey and sought my advice and input. He said in the statement, Notwithstanding my personal affection for Director Comey, I thought it was appropriate to seek a new leader. Rosenstein said he then wrote the memo summarizing his longstanding concerns with Comey. I chose the issues to include in my memorandum, he said, adding it was reviewed by a senior career attorney. The statement challenges theories that Rosenstein was somehow put up to writing the memo to justify Trumps decision. At the same time, the timeline he provided makes clear that Rosenstein did not initiate the process in the final phase as senators said after Thursdays briefing. Some lawmakers expressed concern after Fridays briefing that the session caused more confusion. Rep. Donald Norcross, D-N.J., complained that while Rosenstein made bold statements on the memo, he refused to take questions on it. But lawmakers generally have voiced confidence in Rosensteins newly appointed special counsel to lead the Russia meddling investigation, Robert Mueller. Muellers a pro, Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., said Friday. Some Democrats have alleged that Trump fired Comey in order to blunt the Russia probe. Allegations also surfaced this week that Trump pressured Comey to end the investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn. The president has defended the firing of Comey as justified and denied pressuring him to end the Flynn probe. But lawmakers indicated after the Rosenstein briefings that the special counsel-led probe will look at all these factors. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., said the investigation will include questions regarding possible misconduct or interference. He said Rosenstein made clear that Mueller would have the freedom take the probe wherever he needs. There were questions well outside the Russian scope in there, Issa said. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., said Mueller would have complete discretion to take the investigation where it needs to go. On Thursday, Trump said there was no collusion between, certainly, myself and my campaign but I can only speak for myself and the Russians zero. Asked if he pressed Comey to drop the Flynn investigation, Trump said, No, no. Next question. Former FBI Director James Comey will testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee in public sometime after Memorial Day. The committee's chairman, Sen. Richard Burr, and the ranking Democrat, Sen. Mark Warner, announced Friday that Comey will testify in an open setting before the committee. The date of the hearing has not yet been set. Burr says the committee wants to hear from Comey on his role in the development of the U.S. intelligence agencies' assessment that Russia interfered in last year's election. He says he hopes Comey's testimony will answer some of the questions that have arisen since Comey was suddenly dismissed last week by President Donald Trump. This news after reports Friday in the New York Times and the Washington Post about the fallout from Trump's firing of Comey, as well as the inquiry into Russia's role in the 2016 election and possible collusion with the Trump campaign. The Times reported Friday that Trump told the Russians that recently fired FBI Director James Comey was a "nut job" whose ouster relieved "great pressure" on him. The Washington Post reported that a senior Trump administration official is now a "person of interest" in the Russia probe. Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings called Trump's reported comment about Comey "astonishing and extremely troubling." Cummings said the committee's GOP chairman, Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz, "should ... have his subpoena pen ready" to obtain any White House documents related to Trump's meeting with the Russian foreign minister and ambassador. Chaffetz has scheduled a hearing on Comey's firing next Wednesday, although it's not clear if Comey will testify. Meanwhile, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley and Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein today released a statement after Comey declined to testify before their committee that reads in part: Were extremely disappointed in James Comeys decision not to testify voluntarily before the Judiciary Committee. There is no reason he cant testify before both the Intelligence and Judiciary Committees, particularly given that the Judiciary Committee is the FBIs primary oversight committee with broad jurisdiction over federal law enforcement, FISA and the nomination of the next FBI director....He should reconsider his decision. Former FBI Director Robert Mueller was named Special Counsel for the Russia investigation on Wednesday. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The Trump administration is readying new action against members of Venezuela's increasingly authoritative, socialist ruling regime for further eroding national democratic institutions. The sanctions would fall on certain members of Venezuela's Supreme Court for a March decision which stripped the Venezuelan National Assembly of virtually all power. The court is packed with judges loyal to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. "They call it the Supreme Tribunal of Justice, and it's packed -- literally packed --with puppets who do [Maduro's] bidding," said Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida) on Wednesday. Rubio was making the case on the Senate floor for the exact sort of sanctions the White House is readying against the Venezuelan judges. "The Supreme Court of Venezuela is led by a murderer. Think about it for a moment, " said Rubio, referring to Judge Maikel Moreno, president of Venezuela's Supreme Court. "A condemned criminal presides over the Supreme Court of Venezuela. That is why I am not surprised that the members of the court have approved Maduro's illegitimate attempt to seize power. And they have created a political and humanitarian crisis," Rubio continued. Rubio called out other judges on the court by name in addition to Moreno, identifying Calixto Ortega, Arcadio Delgado, Federico Fuenmayor, Carmen Zuleta, Lourdes Suarez Anderson, and Juan Jose Mendoza specifically. "These are the people who have helped this coup override the democratic order in Venezuela and should be punished for what they have done," said Rubio. "I hope that President Trump in the next few days and weeks take action against these individuals ... who have plunged this nation and people into a constitutional, humanitarian and economic crisis," Rubio said. The situation has clearly caught the Trump's attention. "From the humanitarian standpoint [the situation in Venezuela] is like nothing we've seen in a very long time," the president said Thursday during a joint news conference at the White House with Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos. On Wednesday, UN Ambassador Nikki Haley briefed the UN Security Council on the situation in Venezuela, a potential clue sanctions were imminent. "In Venezuela, we are on the verge of a humanitarian crisis," Haley said prior to 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," she continued. The South American country has seen hundreds of thousands of people partake in near-daily protests following the Supreme Court's late-March ruling, many of which were were significantly violent. Over 2,000 people have been detained by government forces -- hundreds of others have been injured and so far more than 40 have been killed. Rubio commended the move to pursue sanctions made by the administration, saying in a prepared statement the step "sends a clear message to the people of Venezuela that we are firmly on their side." With persistent domestic controversies shadowing his presidency, President Trump left the United States on Friday for the first time in office. The presidents eight-day trip takes him through the Middle East and Europe where hell deliver his administrations message to Muslims, Israelis, Palestinians, NATO and the Pope. In the U.S., meanwhile, congressional committees and a special prosecutor will continue their investigations into Russian interference in the presidential election. People in the rest of the world do not have the time to pay attention to whats happening domestically here, said Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in response to a question from Fox News. They are more concerned about what they see happening in the relationship with their country and what we are bringing to address these very serious challenges that are affecting all of us. TRUMP'S FIRST FOREIGN TRIP: SCHEDULED STOPS IN SAUDI ARABIA, ISRAEL AND BEYOND The president began developing this trip during the transition and wants to reaffirm and build relationships and offer a message of unity to three of the worlds great religions Christianity, Islam and Judaism, according to administration officials. Many of the leaders, particularly in the part of the world well be traveling the Middle East, Central Asia, and even parts of Africa are ready for a period of what they view to have been neglect to outright dismissal of their concerns, said Tillerson, criticizing the Obama administration. Theyre ready for re-engagement with America. But others said all the controversies could be taking a toll. I'm worried that all this confusion and the contradictory statements coming out of the White House contributes to serious damage to U.S. credibility, and risks undermining the confidence of a lot of our allies, said Alexander Vershbow, the former U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Russia and NATO. America is expected to be leading, but these internal distractions are getting in way of leadership. President Trump also admitted sharing classified information with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during the diplomats meeting last week in the Oval office. National security adviser H.R. McMaster called the sharing wholly appropriate, though some questioned whether the president endangered international intelligence relationships by revealing too much information to an adversary. TRUMP EYES RESET WITH AMBITIOUS FOREIGN DIPLOMATIC TOUR I think we have some reassuring to do but I think the administration can be effective in convincing people that they can continue to share with us and we can share with them, said Vershbow. It's critical if we are going to deal with threats like ISIS, or deal with the threatening behavior of Russia that we are able to have full confidence in our key partners to both share intelligence with us and receive intelligence from us in the common fights that we are waging together. Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, when asked by Fox News if other nations had expressed reluctance to share sensitive information with the Trump administration, said the administration had the best interest of the country in mind. I interact with a great many foreign leaders at the ministerial level, my counterparts, and I share as much information with them as our laws allow, and they are open to that, Kelly said. In those places I cannot share more, they understand that, and the fact that this country, my department, our president, has the safety of our citizens and their citizens No. 1 in his mind. President Trump was hit with another set of Russia-related allegations late Friday moments after departing on his first foreign trip as commander-in-chief, with one report claiming the president trash-talked James Comey in a meeting with Moscow dignitaries and another saying the Russia probe has reached a current White House official. The New York Times reported that Trump called ousted FBI Director Comey crazy and a real nut job during a May meeting with Russian officials at the White House and said firing the top cop had relieved great pressure on him. I just fired the head of the FBI, Trump, according to a document read to the Times by an American official. I faced great pressure because of Russia. Thats taken off. The comments, allegedly made one day after Trump abruptly fired Comey, could fuel allegations Trump got rid of him because of the investigation into possible collusion between his 2016 presidential campaign and Russia. On May 10, Trump hosted Russias foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, along with the Russian ambassador to the United States, Sergey Kislyak. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer did not deny Trump made the comment but instead blamed the media on Friday for pulling focus from national security issues. "By grandstanding and politicizing the investigation into Russia's actions, James Comey created unnecessary pressure on our ability to engage and negotiate with Russia," Spicer said. "The investigation would have always continued, and obviously, the termination of Comey would not have ended it. Once again, the real story is that our national security has been undermined by the leaking of private and highly classified conversations." Trump has strongly denied any collusion between his 2016 campaign and Russia and has rejected allegations that he pressured Comey to drop a related investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn saying the entire thing has been a witch hunt. The Times report, and another in The Washington Post, surfaced as Trump was en route to Saudi Arabia for the first stop on his overseas tour that will take him through the Middle East and Europe. The trip is seen by some analysts as a chance for Trump to hit reset after more than a week of intense controversy in Washington in the wake of the Comey firing. But the new claims could make that reset more difficult. On the heels of a special counsel being named to oversee the Russia probe, the Post report late Friday said law enforcement officials looking into possible collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign have identified a senior White House adviser as a significant person of interest. Sources close to the investigation told the Post that the current White House official is someone very near Trump, but did not identify the individual. The sources added, however, that overall the investigation is still focused on people who previously worked with the Trump campaign and administration but are not part of it now namely former national security adviser Michael Flynn and former campaign chairman Paul Manafort. Spicer said in response to the Post report, as the President has stated before - a thorough investigation will confirm that there was no collusion between the campaign and any foreign entity." Trump personally denied any Russian collusion during a press conference Thursday. And as he stood by the decision to fire Comey, citing among other factors his unpopularity in Washington. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein on Friday also stood by a memo he wrote castigating Comeys handling of the Hillary Clinton email probe. That memo was cited as part of the rationale for firing Comey, though Trump apparently was looking to remove Comey before Rosenstein drafted his memo. Fox Business Network's Blake Burman contributed to this report. 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. President Donald Trump will stop in Israel and meet with the country's leaders during his first foreign trip as president this week. Here's a look at how Trump's views have evolved or remained steadfast throughout the years: Nov. 24, 2013 Donald Trump, prior to running for office, called former President Barack Obama a total disaster for Israel in a tweet. I do not understand how so many of my Jewish friends backed Obama in the last election, Trump said. He is a total disaster for Israel and always will be. Dec. 3, 2015 In an interview with the Associated Press, Trump asserted that Israel bears the responsibility of peace in the Middle East. I have a real question as to whether or not both sides want to make it, Trump said of peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians. A lot will have to do with Israel and whether or not Israel wants to make the deal whether or not Israels willing to sacrifice certain things, Trump said. They may not be, and I understand that, and Im OK with that. But then youre just not going to have a deal. TRUMP: ISRAELIS, PALESTINIANS MUST WORK TOGETHER ON PEACE DEAL Later that day, Trump received boos from the crowd gathered at a Republican Jewish Coalition event as he refused to answer if he would recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. You know what I want to do? I want to wait till I meet with Bibi, Trump said, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Just relax, OK? Youll like me very much, believe me, Trump said in response to the angered booing from the crowd. Dec. 10, 2015 Trump nixed his planned trip to Israel as a presidential candidate shortly after Netanyahu condemned his comments regarding Muslims. I have decided to postpone my trip to Israel and to schedule my meeting with [Netanyahu] at a later date after I become President of the U.S., Trump tweeted. Trump told Fox News that he didnt want to put Netanyahu under pressure with the meeting. I think the worst thing that ever happened to Israel happened to be Barack Obama, Trump added. ISRAEL LAUDS US SECURITY TIES FOLLOWING TRUMP DISCLOSURES March 21, 2016 Trump promised to move the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem during an address to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. We will move the American embassy to the eternal capital of the Jewish people, Jerusalem, Trump said, according to a transcript of the event. And we will send a clear signal that there is no daylight between America and our most reliable ally, the state of Israel. May 3, 2016 Trump encouraged Israel to keep moving forward on Jewish construction in the West Bank during an interview with the Daily Mail. They really have to keep going. They have to keep moving forward, Trump said. The Obama administration pressured Israel into pausing its settlement construction in an effort to negotiate peace between the Israelis and Palestinians. Trump told the Daily Mail that brokering peace between the two sides would be the all-time negotiation. I would love to see if peace could be negotiated, Trump said. A lot of people say thats not a deal thats possible. But I mean, lasting peace, not a peace that lasts for two weeks and they start launching missiles again. So well see what happens. July 13, 2016 Trump questioned if Obama is trying to destroy Israel in a tweet. Is President Obama trying to destroy Israel with all his bad moves? Think about it and let me know! Trump tweeted. Feb. 2, 2017 The Trump administration buckled down and called for a moratorium on Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank. TOP TRUMP AIDE WON'T SAY IF WESTERN WALL IS PART OF ISRAEL In a statement, the White House maintained that Trump has not taken an official position on settlement activity. While we dont believe the existence of settlements is an impediment to peace, the construction of new settlements or the expansion of existing settlements beyond their current borders may not be helpful in achieving that goal, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said. Feb. 3, 2017 During a joint press conference with Netanyahu, Trump slammed the United Nations for treating Israel very unfairly. Trumps comments came on the heels of a UN resolution that condemned Israeli settlements. As far as settlements, Id like to see you hold back on settlements for a little bit. Well work something out, Trump said. But I would like to see a deal be made. I think a deal will be made. ISRAEL DEMANDS EXPLANATION FROM WHITE HOUSE AFTER SPAT OVER TRUMP TRIP Bibi and I have known each other a long time a smart man, great negotiator, Trump said. And I think were going to make a deal. It might be a bigger and better deal than people in this room even understand. Trump also reiterated his support for moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem. May 3, 2017 Trump promised that he is "committed" to working toward a peace deal during a joint briefing with Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas. "The Palestinians and Israelis must work together to reach an agreement that allows both peoples to live, worship and thrive and prosper in peace," Trump said. "I will do whatever is necessary to facilitate the agreement, to mediate, to arbitrate anything they'd like to do." May 15, 2017 The White House walked back comments reportedly made by a senior U.S. official who declared a holy site to be part of the West Bank and not Israeli territory. The American official reportedly snapped at Israeli diplomats who were asking questions regarding Trumps upcoming trip to the Western Wall, including inquiring about the presence of Netanyahu and cameras, according to the Times of Israel. Its none of your business. Its not even part of your responsibility. Its not your territory. Its part of the West Bank, the official reportedly said. In a statement, the White House said the comments were not authorized communication and do not represent the position of the United States or Trump. Billions of years ago, rain on Mars was heavy enough to shape the planet's surface, carving channels into the red dirt and washing away parts of impact craters, new research suggests. Some of the Red Planet raindrops falling in the ancient past were likely even bigger than the ones we're used to here on Earth, according to the study. The study's authors Robert Craddock of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and Ralph Lorenz of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland modeled the rainfall of ancient Mars by taking into account how the planet's atmosphere has changed over the eons. [ Photos: The Search for Water on Mars ] Just after Mars formed about 4.5 billion years ago, it likely had a thick atmosphere with a pressure that was about four times that of Earth's current air, the researchers determined. They calculated that such high pressures would have resulted in tiny raindrops just 3 millimeters or so across. But pressure dropped on Mars as the years went on, changing the nature of the planet's rain, the researchers said. "By using basic physical principles to understand the relationship between the atmosphere, raindrop size and rainfall intensity, we have shown that Mars would have seen some pretty big raindrops that would have been able to make more drastic changes to the surface than the earlier fog-like droplets," Lorenz said in a statement . At an atmospheric pressure equivalent to that of Earth's, for example, Martian raindrop diameter likely maxed out at about 7.3 mm nearly 1 mm larger than current Earth drops, the researchers found. "However, rainfall from such a storm would be only about 70 percent as intense on Mars, primarily due to the lower Martian gravity and resulting lower terminal velocities of the raindrops," Craddock and Lorenz wrote in the new study, which was just published online in the journal Icarus . "There will always be some unknowns, of course, such as how high a storm cloud may have risen into the Martian atmosphere , but we made efforts to apply the range of published variables for rainfall on Earth," Craddock said in the statement. "It's unlikely that rainfall on early Mars would have been dramatically different than what's described in our paper. Our findings provide new, more definitive, constraints about the history of water and the climate on Mars." That history has been an eventful one. Data collected by NASA's Mars-orbiting MAVEN spacecraft suggests that, by 3.7 billion years ago, the solar wind had stripped away most of the Red Planet's air . Today, Mars' carbon dioxide-dominated atmosphere is just 1 percent as thick as that of Earth. As a result of this loss, Mars shifted from a relatively warm and wet world with rivers, lakes and perhaps even oceans to the cold and dry planet we know today. Follow Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall and Google+ . Follow us @Spacedotcom , Facebook or Google+ . Originally published on Space.com . Due to an expected increase in airline travelers this summer, the Transportation Security Administration is bolstering its workforce to avoid the long security checkpoints passengers dealt with last year. A report from trade group Airlines for America claims there will be a record 234.1 million passengers traveling on U.S.-based airlines this summeran increase of 9.3 million from the 224.8 million travelers last year. The 2.54 million passengers per day from June to August will put a serious strain on airports across the U.S., but TSA officials have announced they will be upgrading the workforce with 2,000 additional officers and 50 more canine teams, according to ABCNews.com. As we approach the summer break, securing the travel of millions of passengers daily remains our top priority, TSA administrator Huban A. Gowadia told ABC News. It is well known that terrorists continue to focus on aviation, which is why the TSA continues to focus on providing robust security screening. TSA officials are also working with airlines to provide automated screening lanes at the busiest airports in the country, including O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, Los Angeles International Airport and HartsfieldJackson Atlanta International Airport. The surge in travelers heading away from home isnt just confined to the summer, either, as AAA released a report that states an estimated 39.3 million people will venture at least 50 miles from home this upcoming Memorial Day weekend. Thats the highest expected total in the last 12 years and an increase from the 38 million travelers last year. There are a lot of things about this small Japanese island that make it unique. But its what the island doesnt have that could be the most remarkable thing about it: women. Okinoshima, an island steeped in Shinto religious tradition, takes ancient taboos seriously, including a controversial one that bans women from stepping foot on it. Even men have to tread carefully on the island, by stripping naked and undergoing a purification ritual before arriving. They cant take any souvenirs from the island with them when they leave not even a blade of grass and must never disclose details of their trip, BBC reports. ISLAND NATION OF PALAU ONLY WANTS RICH TOURISTS TO VISIT The whole island is considered sacred ground. Its population consists of priests who work at Okinoshimas shrine, which is part of the larger, Munakata Grand Shrine. Today, it is the priests who enforce the ban on women, although there isnt much known about why the ban exists. There are varying explanations for the ban, but some say it is because menstruation would defile the site, Ryo Hashimoto wrote in the Japan Times. Shinto treats blood as an impurity. Another reason may be that because sea journeys to the island were considered dangerous, women were banned from travelling there to protect them, as bearers of children. Okinoshima sat along important trade routes between Japan and the Korean Peninsula between the fourth and ninth centuries. Seafarers seeking protection from the gods would stop at the island to pray and make offerings, including beads, mirrors and swords. Over the centuries Okinoshima amassed about 80,000 of these precious trinkets, which are considered national treasures. And these treasures may be part of why Okinoshima has attracted the attention of UNESCO, which will consider granting the island World Heritage status in July. But the heritage declaration could come at a cost to the island. It would bring Okinoshima to the worlds attention and attract curious tourists and it may make the ban on women especially problematic. Currently, the island gets very few visitors each year. Men are allowed to visit once a year, on May 27, for a festival held to comfort the spirits of Japanese and Russian servicemen who died in battle in the Sea of Japan in 1905. There have been objections to Okinoshimas men-only rule, including by a Hindu group last year that demanded UNESCO deny the island heritage unless it allowed women to enter. But even if the island is granted the heritage listing, some say it will never change. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS Our stance will remain unchanged even if its registered in the World Heritage List, a Munakata Taisha official told the Mainichi Daily. Well continue to strictly regulate visits to the island. Takayuki Ashizu, chief priest of the Munakata Grand Shrine, agreed, told the Japan Times, We wouldnt open Okinoshima to the public even if it is inscribed on the UNESCO cultural heritage list because people shouldnt visit out of curiosity. One solution being considered by the Fukuoka prefectural government is setting up a facility where tourists can learn about the island without actually visiting it, the Japan Times repots. This story originally appeared on news.com.au. Two women and a 7-year-old boy are recovering after falling from a Ferris wheel in Washington state. The incident happened Thursday evening in Port Townsend during the town's annual Rhododendron Festival, Q13 Fox reported. A witness told rescue officials that a Ferris wheel cart flopped upside down, ejecting the three people. The two women and the boy fell 15 to 18 feet and landed on the ride's metal flooring. Officials said one woman, 59, is in serious but stable condition at Harborview Medical Center. She was transported to the hospital at around 7 p.m. Thursday in critical condition. AMTRAK ENGINEER ARRAIGNED ON CHARGES LINKED TO DEADLY CRASH The injuries to the other woman and the boy weren't life-threatening. The ride was shut down and cordoned off for an investigation. The festival said authorities and the company that owns the carnival equipment are investigating. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Betty Shelby, the white Oklahoma police officer who was acquitted of killing an unarmed black man, will be allowed to return to work Monday, according to Tulsa Police Chief Chuck Jordan. Pursuant to the jury verdict of acquittal in the criminal case of Officer Betty Shelby, she is being returned to duty, the Tulsa Police Department said in a statement provided to Fox News. She will not be assigned in a patrol capacity. TERENCE CRUTCHER CASE: OKLAHOMA OFFICER BETTY SHELBY ACQUITTED IN DEADLY SHOOTING Shelby was put on unpaid leave after being charged with manslaughter for the September 2016 shooting of 40-year-old Terence Crutcher. After deliberating for more than nine hours on Wednesday, the jury found Shelby not guilty, sparking outrage from Crutchers family and supporters. Protesters briefly blocked a street outside the courthouse when the verdict was announced, shouting No justice, no peace and Hands up, dont shoot. Shelby said she shot Crutcher out of fear after he disobeyed commands to lie on the ground and appeared to reach inside his SUV for what she thought was a gun. Prosecutors said the officer overreacted, arguing that Crutcher had his hands in the air and wasn't combative, part of which was confirmed by police video that showed Crutcher walking away from Shelby with his hands above his head. An autopsy found Crutcher had PCP, a drug that can trigger hallucinations, in his system when he died. His wife said that was irrelevant to the case. THE WEEK IN PICTURES In a post-trial court filing on Friday, jurors said Shelby could have used a less-lethal method to subdue Crutcher and could have saved his life. The jury foreman also noted in a memo that jurors werent comfortable with the idea Shelby was blameless in Crutchers death. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A photographer captured a stunning snap of the Blue Angels flying over a couple's beach wedding Sunday in Florida. Rachel and Chandler Mills were posing for photographs after their wedding at Johnson Beach in Pensacola when the Blue Angels, the U.S. Navys flight demonstration squadron, flew over, according to ABC News. People started pointing to the sky and screaming when they saw them, Jordan Burch, the Mills wedding photographer, said. But they went by so fast I couldnt adjust for them. CALIFORNIA COUPLE CLIMBS MOUNT EVEREST FOR SPECTACULAR WEDDING: SEE THE PHOTOS The couple got another chance when the Blue Angels suddenly flew over a second time. This time, Burch got the photo. We were in the middle of group portraits and I started to scream for everyone to get out of the photo because the Blues are coming, Burch said. Everyone ran to get out of the photo and Chandler just ran to Rachel and kissed her. The couple met at the University of Alabama at Huntsville. The two had been dating long distance after Chandler, 26, who is a U.S. Navy ensign, moved to Pensacola, to attend flight school. Rachel, 22, joined Chandler in Florida after she graduated. Rachel believes that her husbands Navy uniform may have been the reason the Blue Angels made two rounds in the sky. They were flying kind of low, and it was kind of an unusual take for them to come back to that spot and especially to release their smoke, Chandler told WHNT. BRAZILIAN TWIN SISTERS COMMEMORATE 100TH BIRTHDAY WITH STUNNING PHOTO SHOOT We are fortunate to be part of many great events throughout the year and we are honored that we were able to be part of their special day, Navy Lt. Joe Hontz, the Blue Angels public affairs officer, told WHNT. The couple plans to visit the Blue Angels base next week to thank the pilots for making their day memorable. Outraged Cincinnati cops received an apology from the mayor of the Ohio city after his office inadvertently issued a proclamation naming a day in honor of a cop killer. Mayor John Cranley issued the apology Thursday, saying that the proclamation never should have been approved, Fox19 Cincinnati reported Friday. I am sorry that my office, that we mistakenly issued a proclamation on behalf of a man that killed-- murdered-- Sonny Kim, said Cranley, according to the station. He said the proclamation quickly was retracted. Prosecutors say Trepierre Hummons ambushed Officer Kim, a 48-year-old father of three, on a Cincinnati street on June 19, 2015. After being shot, Kim wrestled away Hummons gun. Another cop who responded to the scene shot and killed Hummons, who was 21. Cincinnati happens to be honoring Kim and other fallen officers Friday, the New York Post reported. The proclamation declared June 1 Tre Day in Cincinnati and said in part that the sacrifice of Hummons will save lives of children for generations to come, the station reported. A cop on Thursday posted a photo of the proclamation on the Facebook page of Cincinnatis police union, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported. Am I the only one who sees something wrong with this, the cop said. If this is real, something must be done Im having trouble finding the words, another cop responded. Ronald Hummons sought the proclamation honoring his son to raise awareness of child abuse and mental illness, the station reported. Cranley said his communications director approved the request without notifying him, according to the station. The staffer then mailed Hummons the proclamation, which was stamped with the mayors signature. The head of the police union said he didnt fault Cranley for the screw-up, Fox19 reported. Click for more from Fox 19 Cincinnati. A father and a son graduated from a New Jersey university on Friday, becoming the first members of their family to earn college degrees. "It was amazing," Benjamin Jeanty told Fox News on Friday, just hours after he and his dad, Duvinson, moved their tassels from right to left at their graduation ceremony at William Paterson University. "Never in a million years did I ever dream of going to school with my father," Jeanty added. Jeanty, 27, said he was a senior in high school when his father, a Haitian immigrant, decided to go to college, who was 53 years old at the time. "He gave us the example that we should always look to better ourselves," Jeanty said. Duvinson Jeanty, who is now 63, came to the United States in the mid-1980s and worked as a bus driver for the N.J. Transit for 27 years. He retired in 2015. The younger Jeanty began classes at Rutgers University in 2008, but left a year later to work full-time at Smashburger. Three years later, he was itching to do something new, taking a cue from his father's advice. "I starting making good money, and making money is cool, but how am I serving the community? How am I helping others?" he said. NORTH TEXAS TRIPLETS GRADUATE AT TOP OF THEIR HIGH SCHOOL CLASS Jeanty went back to college and enrolled part-time while working at a special needs school. Meanwhile, his father continued to take classes at William Paterson University while working as a N.J. Transit bus driver. Jeanty transferred to the university last year. "I thought I was going to finish before him becuase I thought I knew it all back then," Jeanty said. On Friday morning, they both got their diplomas Ben in psychology and Duvinson in finance. "Graduation was unbelievable. This morning I was getting so emotional getting ready and listening to my favorite song," Jeanty recalled. Jeanty said he will be working full-time at the special needs school after graduation. His father, who is also looking to get his masters in finance, will be running his real estate company he started. Firefighters battling a brush fire near the Appalachian Trail in western Connecticut were dealing with another threat this week rattlesnakes. Authorities said the blaze burned about 200 acres of rugged terrain in an area known as Schaghticoke Mountain in Kent between Wednesday and Friday afternoon, when it was brought under control. Kent Volunteer Fire Chief Alan Gawel, the incident commander, said the fire disturbed dens of the timber rattlers and more than a dozen snakes were spotted fleeing the heat , including one that slithered between the legs of a firefighter on Thursday. "As you are trying to create a fire line in the rocks, boom, there's a snake," he said. "It's a real battle, not to mention what it does to your nerves." Several dozen firefighters from 17 departments helped battle the fire, and no one had been bitten. But authorities have alerted hospitals to make sure they have a supply of anti-venom. Because this was a wilderness fire, firefighters were not wearing typical heavy turnout gear and had no protection from snake strikes, Gawel said. Dennis Schain, a spokesman for the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, said while there is a large population of snakes in the area, they typically steer clear of people and would only pose a danger if stepped on or made to feel threatened. "They've been in these pockets of Connecticut for a long time, and hardly anybody ever sees them," he said. He said once the fire is out, state wildlife experts will go in looking to rescue any injured snakes, which would be brought to the Roger Williams Zoo in Rhode Island to be rehabilitated. Schain said the fire should not pose any permanent threat to the snake population in the area. Connecticut is home to just two venomous types of snakes, the timber rattlesnake and the northern copperhead. Federal officials should restore an Obama-era order that restricted access to some surplus military equipment to local law enforcement agencies, the Los Angeles County Sheriff said Wednesday. Sheriff Jim McDonnell told members of the House Judiciary Committee that officials should restore the flow of extra military equipment to ensure officers are not put in danger when responding to active shooter calls and terrorist attacks. McDonnell said its critical for the government to reconsider the curtailment of a program that provided military-style equipment, including military grenade launchers, bayonets, armored vehicles and high-powered firearms and ammunition, to state and local police departments. WITH TRUMP, POLICE HOPE TO DEPLOY MILITARY GEAR BANNED UNDER OBAMA In 2015, then-President Barack Obama issued an executive order that cut the program, restricting access to some excess military equipment after an outcry over the use of military gear when police confronted protesters in Ferguson, Mo., after the shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown. Police used riot gear and deployed tear gas, dogs and armored vehicles, and, at times, pointed assault rifles at protesters. Since the executive order was put into place, the Defense Logistics Agency recalled hundreds of pieces of surplus equipment that was provided to law enforcement agencies through the program. Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo disagreed, telling members of the House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigation that he did not see a problem with the program, but said police departments should enact policies to ensure the surplus equipment is used appropriately. He added that the equipment could also be used during natural disasters or major floods. State and local police organizations have insisted that military-style gear and vehicles help to protect officers and the public. In a terrorist situation, who gets the call? People call 911 and local police show up, McDonnell said. We cant expect our people to be successful in our attempts to do that if we dont give them the proper equipment to protect them in that effort. OUTRAGE AS MILITARY VEHICLES, EQUIPMENT TAKEN FROM OFFICERS IN WAKE OF OBAMA ORDER Through the program, Los Angeles sheriffs officials have received armored vehicles, ballistic vests and helmets, McDonnell said. Records show the sheriffs department also received at least one mine-resistant vehicle as part of the program. Some departments have not used their equipment in a way the public would be satisfied with, McDonnell said, adding that police agencies need to implement stringent guidelines for when the equipment is used. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The Latest on the removal of Confederate-related monuments from New Orleans (all times local): 9:45 a.m. About 100 people were on hand as a huge crane arrived at the New Orleans monument to Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. A statue of Lee was slated for removal Friday from atop a 60-foot-high pedestal where it was been since 1884. It's the last of four monuments to Confederate-era figures the city is removing. Opinions on the removal varied and crossed racial lines. A racially mixed group held signs supporting removal. One onlooker, John Renner, a white man and an Illinois native, said the statue should remain because it represents history. Al Kennedy, also white and a former New Orleans school board member, supported removal. Kennedy says he loves his native South. Of the Confederate past, he says: "It's my history, but it's not my heritage." __ 8:15 a.m. The city of New Orleans is taking down a statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee, completing the Southern city's removal of four Confederate-related statues that some called divisive. Lee commanded Confederate armies against the United States in the Civil War and is a revered figure among supporters of the old South. But the Louisiana city will take down a prominent statue of Lee on Friday. City officials are trying to divorce New Orleans from symbols celebrating the Confederacy. Many Southern areas have done the same since nine black parishioners were fatally shot in 2015 by an avowed racist at a church in Charleston, South Carolina. New Orleans has already removed statues of Confederate President Jefferson Davis and Confederate Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard. Crews also took down a monument memorializing a deadly white supremacist uprising in 1874. An 11-year-old boy helped Massachusetts cops bust his father on a drug trafficking charge. The boy dropped a dime on his father Wednesday, according to reports. Lawrence police quoted the boy as saying his father had a stash of drugs in a suitcase, and that he had seen him selling drugs earlier in the day. Yamil Mercado, 40, faced a judge Friday on charges of trafficking heroin and reckless endangerment. He was ordered held without bail. Lawrence Police Chief James Fitzpatrick called the boy brave. Police said they seized 200 grams of heroin mixed with the powerful opiod, fentanyl, from Mercado. The boy is in the care of family members. Child welfare workers are investigating. Investigators say the boy was with a 13-year-old cousin when he found the drugs, the North Andover Eagle-Tribune reported. A police report said the boy called a state agency a year ago to report his fathers drug dealing, but no action was taken, according to the paper. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y. told Fox News' "The Story with Martha MacCallum" that the appointment of former FBI Director Robert Mueller as a special counsel to oversee the ongoing Russia investigation "can be really dangerous." "I think if you go back to Lawrence Walsh and the Iran-Contra investigation [or] Ken Starr and the Whitewater investigation, theres so many innocent people along the way who get hurt by this," King told host Martha MacCallum. "These investigations, they start off on one issue and they go off." 'THE FIVE' TRUMP CALLS RUSSIAN PROBE A WITCH HUNT THAT IS DIVIDING THE COUNTRY 'TUCKER CARLSON TONIGHT' INSIDE THE DEMOCRATS' BIG LIE ABOUT TRUMP AND RUSSIA 'TUCKER CARLSON TONIGHT' KRAUTHAMMER ON HOW TRUMP GETS BACK ON TRACK TWO IF BY SEA A Russian firm on Thursday announced a weekly ferry service linking the Russian city of Vladivostock to North Korea's port, Rajin, despite the U.S. calling for world powers to isolate Pyongyang. The North Korean-flagged vessel's maiden voyage Thursday was shrouded in secrecy. Reuters reported that journalists were unable to watch the vessel leave Russia due to an unknown security concern. Experts see this as a possible sign that Pyongyang may be looking to make a friend. WHITE HOUSE SHAKE-UP? A senior administration source told Fox News that President Trump is planning changes at the press shop, eyeing a two-handed approach to the top jobs. Under the plan, Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders who has proven popular in the daily briefings as a sub for Press Secretary Sean Spicer would more frequently appear at the podium. WHO IS SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS? HOW HER FAMILY PREPPED HER FOR THE WHITE HOUSE BRIEFING ROOM MOTHER'S NIGHTMARE Three young Mississippi men on Thursday were arrested hours after a 6-year-old boy was found shot dead in his mother's stolen car and the suspects will be charged with capital murder, authorities said. COMING UP ON FOX BUSINESS 11 AM ET: Rep. Louie Gohmert will be on "Varney & Company" 1 PM ET: Tom Delay, former House Majority Leader will be on "Cavuto: Coast to Coast" 3 PM ET: Sam Zell, Equity Group Investments founder will be on Countdown to the "Closing Bell" 8 PM ET: Ben Bernanke on Wall Street Week New Mexico State Police arrested a high school teacher Thursday for allegedly having sex with a student four times. Tiana Sanchez is charged with four counts of criminal sexual penetration of a child. New Mexico State Police officers were contacted by the mother of the student, who was concerned her son may be having a sexual relationship with the teacher. She gave police her sons cellphone. During the investigation, police found sexual text messages and photographs that were sent between him and Sanchez. The boy also admitted to having sex with Sanchez four times within the last month. BOY CALLED POLICE TO SAY DAD HAD DRUGS IN LUGGAGE Sanchez was arrested and booked into the Grant County Detention Center. She was a teacher at Silver City High School in southwest New Mexico. The investigation is ongoing. Outraged Hispanic police groups are boycotting the Puerto Rican Day Parade next month because the event will celebrate a pardoned terrorist linked to one of the deadliest groups ever to target New York. The NYPD Hispanic Society and the Rafael Ramos Foundation have pulled out of the June 11 Fifth Avenue march after it was announced that former FALN kingpin Oscar Lopez Rivera will be honored as a National Freedom Hero at the event. Rivera, 74, had his 70-year sentence commuted by outgoing President Barack Obama in January. He had spent nearly 36 years in prison on conspiracy charges for his ties to the Puerto Rican nationalist group, which was responsible for more than 100 bombings in the 1970s and 80s including a 1982 blast at NYPD headquarters that left an officer maimed and a 1975 attack that killed four at Fraunces Tavern in the Financial District. Read the full story on The New York Post. A fourth-grade boy who swiped a hazelnut and pen during a tour of Oregon's Capitol Building was pardoned by the governor after sending her a handwritten apology letter. "Dear Governor Brown," Samuel Revenko wrote in the letter to Gov. Kate Brown. "While we were there I took a hazelnut and a pen from the Capitol Building. These things were not mine and it was wrong for me to take them. I'm very sorry." Revenko took the items during a classroom tour to the Capitol Building on April 19. "I hope you and the people of Oregon can forgive me," Revenko wrote. 105-YEAR-OLD WOMAN GETS WISH FULFILLED: A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA Brown was so touched by the apology that she posted the note on Facebook on Thursday. The governor wrote a return note, accepting Revenko's apology and pardoning him for the crime. "Thank you for your note of apology. On behalf of the people of Oregon, I accept your apology and forgive you," Brown said. "Oregon is a special place. I hope we can work together to keep it that way," she added. DOG FINDS FAMILY'S MISSING CAT UNDER HOUSE FIRE RUBBLE As a final gesture of appreciation for Revenko apologizing, Brown sent the boy his own pen to keep. "I hope the pen coming your way will be an adequate memento of your visit at the Capitol. Come back soon!" Brown wrote. Police say an 81-year-old Ohio man killed his wife after an argument and then drove himself to jail. The Dayton Daily News reports Donald Cleaver showed up at a county jail early Friday after 70-year-old Mary Cleaver was stabbed to death at the couple's home in Dayton. Police say a neighbor called 911 around 1 a.m. and told a dispatcher that Donald Cleaver had said he'd killed his wife and was "getting ready to head to the jail." Cleaver then showed up at the Montgomery County Jail, where he was booked. Homicide detectives say it appears that Cleaver stabbed his wife after she went to bed. Police say the case will be presented to a prosecutor for filing criminal charges. Officers in northern Virginia shot and seriously wounded an 18-year-old man who police say had a weapon. Prince William County police said in a statement that after a report of shots fired early Friday, Manassas City Police officers followed a vehicle into the county, where it stopped. Spokesman Sgt. Jonathan Perok says there was a confrontation and the driver, who had a weapon, was shot. He didn't know what led up to the shooting. The man was flown to a hospital with serious injuries. Perok says officers and a 15-year-old girl inside the vehicle weren't injured. Manassas Police Chief Doug Keen says six officers are on administrative leave, including two involved in the shooting. He declined to release the names and races of the officers and wounded man until relatives are notified. The Trump administration imposed its first terrorism sanctions jointly with Saudi Arabia on Friday as President Donald Trump travels to the kingdom on his first overseas trip. The State Department announced sanctions on senior Hezbollah leader Hashem Safieddine and Muhammad al-Isawi, a leader of the Islamic State group's operations on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. Saudi Arabia joined the U.S. in targeting Safieddine, who is said to oversee the financial empire of the Lebanon-based party. "As a result, any of his assets held in Saudi Arabia are frozen, and transfers through the kingdom's financial sector are prohibited," the State Department said in a statement. Hezbollah is close to Iran, Saudi Arabia's main rival for power in the region, and has played a key role in boosting the Syrian government of President Bashar Assad. The Saudis also accuse Iran and Hezbollah of fanning the war in Yemen by supporting the Houthi rebels. Hezbollah, which has members in Lebanon's parliament and Cabinet, is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. government. Also Friday, the Treasury Department imposed sanctions on two Yemen-based tribal leaders, Hashim Muhsin Aydarus al-Hamid and Khalid Ali Mabkhut al-Aradah. It said the two men facilitated the transfer of weapons and money and the movement of people in support of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, which has plotted attacks against the U.S. The Trump administration said the four men have "committed, or pose a serious risk of committing, acts of terrorism" and threaten U.S. national security. In all cases, the sanctions work to restrict those targeted from accessing funding or property. Trump is scheduled to arrive in Riyadh on Saturday morning at the start of his five-stop trip across the Middle East and Europe. France's new president has chosen the West African nation of Mali for his first official visit outside Europe. Why? Here's a look at Emmanuel Macron's trip on Friday to France's largest overseas military operation in a country where multiple extremist groups pose a growing danger to the region. WHAT'S THE THREAT? Several jihadist groups remain in northern Mali after occupying the vast region south of the Sahara in 2012, and they have been blamed for deadly attacks in neighboring countries that have alarmed the international community. A French-led military intervention pushed the extremists from their strongholds in 2013, but the fighters continue to target Malian and other military assets with suicide bombings, improvised explosives and kidnappings. In January, a suicide attack on a Mali army camp killed more than 75 people. The U.N. peacekeeping force in Mali has become the deadliest of the U.N.'s current missions worldwide. Most of the extremist groups in the region trace their origins to al-Qaida's North Africa branch. WHAT IS FRANCE'S MILITARY DOING THERE? France has led international counter-terrorism efforts in largely francophone West Africa, a role that the U.S. military has recognized and supported. "I have no doubt that the French will continue to make their own decisions in their own best interest and that the terrorists will not enjoy these decisions," U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said during a stop in the East African nation of Djibouti last month. France's new foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, is best known globally for leading the successful military campaign in Mali as French defense minister. France now has more than 4,000 soldiers in the West African nations of Mali, Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso and Mauritania as part of Operation Barkhane, which former French President Francois Hollande said is meant to "wipe out armed terrorist groups" in the Sahel region. The operation, France's largest overseas, began in 2014. In his first visit after his inauguration, Macron acknowledged the toll on the operation's French forces when he went to a military hospital in a Paris suburb and met with two soldiers injured in Mali last year. At least 19 French soldiers have died in the Sahel region since 2013, the French ambassador to the United Nations said in April. WHAT IS MACRON DOING IN MALI? The French president is expected to visit the eastern city of Gao, home of the permanent French military base in Mali. Gao is also where the deadly attack in January occurred. That attack, claimed by the al-Qaida-linked al-Mourabitoun extremist group, happened just days after Hollande visited the city. Al-Mourabitoun has since merged with the groups Ansar Dine and al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb to form the Mali-based Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen. The United States Coast Guard suspended its search on Thursday for a plane that disappeared near the Bahamas with four Americans, including two children, on board. "This was a swift and significant loss and its impact has reverberated through everyone that participated in the search," Christopher Eddy, the search and rescue mission coordinator, said. "Our hearts and prayers go out to all of the families involved." AUSTRALIAN GIRL, 8, SURVIVES CAR CRASH THAT KILLED HER MOTHER AND SIBLINGS Search crews spent three days scavenging more than 11,000 miles surrounding Eleuthera, Bahamas, where air traffic control in Miami lost radio and radar contact with the MU-2B aircraft on Monday. The plane carrying Nathan Ulrich, 52, Jennifer Blumin, 40, and her two sons, ages 3 and 4 left Borinquen, Puerto Rico about 11 a.m. that day and was heading to Titusville, Florida. A helicopter search crew spotted an oil slick and debris about 15 miles east of the island in the Bahamas on Tuesday. The materials were later confirmed to be from a twin-engine Mitsbubishi MU-2B aircraft. An accident investigator from the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the incident to determine the cause of the disappearance. James Ramsey, the father of Blumin's two sons, told the New York Daily News on Wednesday that he loved the two boys "more than anything. "I keep hoping its not real and Ill wake up. Wouldnt wish this pain on the worst person in the world," Ramsey said. NEARLY 30,000 WITHOUT WATER IN MISSISSIPPI AFTER WATER MAIN BREAKS Blumin, of New York, is the founder and CEO of Skylight Group, which provides New York City event space, specializing in the fashion industry. The company released a statement earlier this week 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. Ulrich, of Lee, New Hampshire, served as a Coast Guard Auxiliary pilot out of Air Station Cape Cod from 2005 to 2014 and is co-owner of a company that manufactures kick scooters and folding bicycles. "Nathan is our beloved son, brother and uncle and we wish for resolution as the Coast Guard search continues," the Ulrich family said in a statement. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Authorities in Bangladesh on Friday arrested 27 men on suspicion of being gay, a criminal offense in the Muslim-majority country, and plan to charge them with drug possession, an official said Friday. A commander of the Rapid Action Battalion, an elite police unit that made the arrests, said the suspects, mostly students aged 20-30 years, had traveled from across the country and were picked up in a raid on a community center at Keraniganj, outside the nation's capital, early Friday. Zahangir Hossain Matobbar said they recovered illegal drugs and condoms in their possession and plan to charge them with drug offenses and not homosexuality because they were detained before they engaged in sex. The agency also arrested the owner of the community center where the suspects used to gather every two months and stay overnight for partying. Last year, suspected militants killed a leading LGBT activist and his friend in Dhaka. The 35-year-old Xulhaz Mannan, a USAID official, was hacked to death in April last year at his home. He had founded the country's only LGBT magazine Roopbaan and was a leading organizer of gays, who are ostracized in Bangladesh. Since then, many of the gays and lesbians have left the country after they received death threats. Many still live double lives to avoid reprisals. Homosexuality is a crime in Bangladesh under a law dating back to the British colonial rule, and it has never been amended. The law is rarely enforced. Brazilian twin sisters participated in a photo shoot Monday as a way to celebrate their 100th birthday later this month. Twins Maria Pignaton Pontin and Paulina Pignaton Pandolfi of Ibiracu, Brazil, were featured on a local news report that caught the attention of a photographer, according to ABC News. Camila Lima, 28, contacted the sisters to see if they would be interested in being photographed. I am in love with the elderly and for about a year I have been developing photos with the elderly, Lima said to Fox News. I photograph many young couples, so my love for photographing older couples is a way to inspire younger couples. PENNSYLVANIA WOMAN, 105, FINALLY GETS WISH FULFILLED: A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA I had never met anyone 100-years-old, let alone twins! I got in touch with their family and offered the photo shoot as a gift, Lima also told Good Housekeeping. The photo shoot took an estimated two hours, which included makeup, hair styling, and matching dresses. CALIFORNIA COUPLE CLIMBS MOUNT EVEREST FOR SPECTACULAR WEDDING: SEE THE PHOTOS They did everything I asked and did not complain about tiredness, Lima said. The sisters were both very happy and satisfied with the photographs, according to Lima. On their birthday, May 20, the twins planned a large family celebration. Pontin has five children, 12 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren; while Pandolfi has six children, 19 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren, according to Gazeta News. A Russian firm on Thursday announced a weekly ferry service linking the Russian city of Vladivostock to North Korea's port, Rajin, despite the U.S. calling for world powers to isolate Pyongyang. The North Korean-flagged vessel's maiden voyage Thursday was shrouded in secrecy. Reuters reported that journalists were unable to watch the vessel leave Russia due to an unknown security concern. The ferrys operators said that the ferry is going to be used only for commercial purposes, but experts told the news agency that North Korea could be looking for a new friend in the event that China grows cold. Russia is one of the few countries with diplomatic ties to Pyongyang. The Washington Post reported that in 2014, Moscow wrote off 90 percent of North Koreas $11 billion Soviet-era debt. There are also railway deals and reportedly training opportunities for North Korean engineers. A spokeswoman from the U.S. State Department told the news agency that the U.S. calls on all countries to fully implement U.N. Security Council Resolutions, and sever or downgrade diplomatic and commercial relations with North Korea." The ferry operators said they hope to attract Chinese tourists who want to visit the Russian port. "It's our business, of our company, without any state subsidies, involvement and help," Mikhail Khmel, an official from Investstroytrest, the firm operating the ferry, told the news agency. Russian President Vladimir Putin has in the past spoken out against Pyongyangs missile launches, but he also warned other countries not to intimidate Pyongyang. I would like to confirm that we are categorically against the expansion of the club of nuclear states, including through the Korean Peninsula, Putin said, earlier this month. We are against it and consider it counterproductive, damaging, dangerous. Julian Assange warned Friday that even though Sweden planned to drop its investigation into a rape claim against him after almost seven years, his legal ordeal was "not something that I can forgive." Assange, 45, took refuge in Ecuador's Embassy in London in 2012 to escape extradition to Sweden to answer questions about sex-crime accusations from two women. He has been there ever since, claiming officials could ultimately extradite him to the United States. Friday's announcement meant Assange no longer was under any investigation in Sweden. However, British police said Assange was still wanted in the U.K. for jumping bail in 2012 -- so he could still face arrest if he leaves the Ecuadorean Embassy. Speaking from the building's balcony, Assange said, "The proper war is just commencing" over his legal troubles. He also said his lawyers would contact U.K. officials to seek a way forward in resolving his status. "It is a scandal that a suspected rapist can avoid the judicial system and thus avoid a trial in court," a lawyer for the woman who claimed Assange raped her responded. Elisabeth Massi Fritz said her client was shocked but "she can't change her view that Assange has exposed her to a rape." TEXT OF SWEDISH PROSECUTOR'S DECISION Moments after the announcement, Assange's Twitter account posted a photo of him smiling. Per E. Samuelson, Assange's lawyer in Sweden, told The Associated Press it was a "day of victory." He added that Assange was "very unhappy" about the long investigation, which he said cost his client "five, six years of his life." Assange also says he would be "happy" to discuss the case with the U.S. government even though Attorney General Jeff Sessions said that arresting Assange was a priority. President Donald Trump has said it is "OK" with him if Sessions does that. CONTEXT: WHAT'S NEXT FOR ASSANGE? Sweden's top prosecutor said "costs were not a reason for putting down the investigation." Marianne Ny told a news conference: "When we investigate serious crimes, we do not consider the costs." Fox News' Mike Arroyo and The Associated Press contributed to this report. German police say a man has died after setting fire to himself in a central square in Munich. His motives are unclear. Police said the 54-year-old Munich resident, whom they didn't identify, drove at about 3 a.m. Friday to the Marienplatz square, where the Bavarian capital's city hall is located. He poured several liters of gasoline over himself and set himself ablaze. Passers-by extinguished the flames. He was taken to a hospital but died about an hour later. Police said the man had scrawled slogans on his car along the lines of "Never again war on German soil" and "Amri is only the tip of the iceberg" a reference to Anis Amri, the Tunisian who attacked a Christmas market in Berlin and whom authorities had previously been unable to deport. Russia is offering to alleviate Venezuela's food shortage crisis, promising to send several thousand tons of wheat each month to the struggling South American country. The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry announced Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had promised to start delivering food after speaking on the phone with President Nicolas Maduro. STUDY: VENEZUELANS LOST 19 LBS. ON AVERAGE OVER PAST YEAR DUE TO LACK OF FOOD Flour is one of the hardest goods to come by in shortage-hit Venezuela. It is rarely available in regular grocery stores. Instead, people find it on the black market or wait in line for hours to buy two packages each at state-run stores. The gesture of support for the Maduro administration comes at a key moment. Regional governments have been distancing themelves from the embattled socialist president and calling on him to respect democratic norms. South Sudanese pro-government forces killed 114 civilians in a single town last year and brutally raped girls and women in front of their families amid growing ethnic violence in the country's civil war, a new United Nations report said Friday. The investigation released by the U.N. human rights office said those cases and other abuses in Yei between July and January may amount to crimes against humanity. Abuses included the indiscriminate shelling of civilians, attacks on funerals, looting and burning. Yei is where The Associated Press late last year witnessed bodies with their hands bound. Satellite images showed "widespread burning of homes and businesses," the report said. The new report pointed out the "startling level of impunity in South Sudan" that has fed cycles of deadly ethnic violence. South Sudan government spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny rejected the report's findings, saying the government is operating within the law. "It's not true," he told the AP. "(Ethnic) Dinkas in that area were being targeted by rebels." Ethnic Dinkas dominate the military and government of President Salva Kiir. Opposition forces also have been responsible for abuses in South Sudan's conflict, now in its fourth year. "The extent of the abuses by armed opposition groups remains unclear due to lack of access to areas where these groups are active," the report said. Until last year, Yei had been largely peaceful with 200,000 to 300,000 people from various tribes. But after deadly violence erupted in the capital, Juba, in July, fighting spread to parts of South Sudan that had been spared by the conflict. As rebel leader Riek Machar fled into neighboring Congo, fighting broke out in Yei and elsewhere along his path. Tens of thousands have been killed in the civil war. More than 1.8 million have fled the country in what has become the world's fastest growing refugee crisis. The U.N. called on all sides to lay down their arms and for the government to investigate abuses and prosecute those responsible. Two Chinese fighter jets intercepted an American radiation-sniffing surveillance plane over the East China Sea in an unprofessional maneuver the latest in a series of such incidents that has worried the Pentagon. They came much too close, a Pentagon source told Fox News Friday. Two Chinese Su-30 aircraft on Wednesday intercepted a U.S. WC-135 Constant Phoenix aircraft conducting a routine mission in international airspace over the East China Sea, the Air Force said Friday. While we are still investigating the incident, initial reports from the U.S. aircrew characterized the intercept as unprofessional, Air Force spokeswoman Lt. Col. Lori R. Hodge said. She said the crews characterization was "due to the maneuvers by the Chinese pilot as well as the speeds and proximity of both aircraft," Hodge said. "U.S. military aircraft routinely transit international airspace throughout the Pacific, including the East China Sea," she said. "This flight was no exception." The issue is being addressed with China through appropriate diplomatic and military channels, she added. The WC-135 aircraft is specifically designed to collect data about possible nuclear explosions, Bloomberg reported. In February, a Chinese early warning aircraft and U.S. Navy patrol plane had an "unsafe" encounter over the South China Sea again over international airspace. Such incidents have occurred occasionally over and within the South China Sea, which China claims virtually in its entirety. China declared an air defense identification zone over a large section of the East China Sea in 2013, a move the U.S. called illegitimate and has refused to recognize. China has demanded foreign aircraft operating within the zone declare their intentions and follow Chinese instructions. Hodge declined to say whether Wednesday's incident was within the self-declared Chinese zone. China's Ministry of National Defense did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Fox News national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin and The Associated Press contributed to this report. A secret recording has surfaced of a Venezuelan regional command meeting in which a high-level military commander is heard issuing orders to prepare to use snipers against anti-government protesters. The order by Venezuelan Army Division Gen. Jose Rafael Torrealba Perez, which can be heard in a recording that was obtained by El Nuevo Herald, was issued as members of the countrys military brass also discussed the legality and risks of using snipers on anti-government protesters. The meeting was held three weeks ago at a military base in the northwestern Venezuelan city of Barquisimeto. Begin to make preparations with those individuals that can serve as snipers, beginning with psychological and aptitude tests, Torrealba told his peers in the army, air force and national guard who were in attendance. There will come a time when we will have to employ them [the snipers] and I want us to be ready for the moment that we have to employ them because the president will not remain at a green [preparation] phase, gentlemen. Torrealba is purportedly referencing the Zamora Plan, a Venezuelan military strategy meant to be activated in the midst of an imminent foreign invasion. The generals voice matches the one heard on YouTube videos of his speeches, and he was identified as the speaker by the source who provided the recording to the Miami Heralds Spanish-language newspaper. Six weeks of anti-government unrest in Venezuela have resulted in at least 45 deaths, as well as hundreds of injuries and arrests in the worst turmoil of President Nicolas Maduro's four-year rule of the OPEC-member country. Protesters are demanding elections to kick out the socialist government that they accuse of wrecking the economy and turning Venezuela into a dictatorship. Maduro, 54, the successor to late leader Hugo Chavez, says his foes are seeking a violent coup. While one unnamed military leader objects to the use of snipers arguing that if the marksmen are put on the street all of us here will end up in jail and adding that if a photograph of a sniper is taken the media war is going to kill us it appears he was the only one in attendance to voice a dissenting opinion. Torrealba, who acknowledges that the use of snipers would be unconstitutional, orders those present to go ahead with preparations anyhow as he believes it is the only way to keep demonstrators off the streets. It will only be us [the military] that pulls through because once people start to see dead bodies, and dead bodies begin to appear, then everyone will begin to stay at home, Torrealba said. You will remember my words, the armed forces are the ones that have to solve this problem. Once people start to see dead bodies, and dead bodies begin to appear, then everyone will begin to stay at home. Venezuelan Army Division General Jose Rafael Torrealba Perez The generals comments from the April meeting contradict the recent public statements made by Venezuelan officials who claim that the nations military does not use firearms against the protestors. We dont use lethal firearms. There are no rifles, handguns or machine guns, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said earlier this week during the announcement of the second phase of the Zamora Plan in the mountainous border state of Tachira. In addition, President Nicolas Maduro, with his vision of statesman, and as president, has ordered us to recall even the weapons that are used for the restitution of order, which are shotguns with plastic munitions. Clashes and lootings raged overnight Wednesday in Tachira even though the government sent 2,000 troops to the state. Security forces fired tear gas at stone-throwing gangs, and crowds smashed their way into shops and offices in San Cristobal, the state capital, and elsewhere. Across the country four protestors were killed earlier this week and, while it is still unknown where the gunfire originated, the secretary of the Organization of American States, Luis Almargo, put the blame squarely on the countrys national guard. The Bolivarian National Guard and its head, Major General Benavides Torres, are directly responsible for the repression that has murdered, imprisoned and tortured people, Almargo said in a statement. The brutal repression shows the National Guard as the perpetrator of the violation of rights to life, freedom and guarantees of due process. Behind every detainee, every political prisoner, behind every person tortured and killed, there is someone institutionally responsible. Arrests have been made in just eight of the deaths, five of which involved police officers, according to the chief prosecutor's office. Maduro's government blames the opposition for the violence, saying they are purposely fomenting unrest in order to remove him from power. Opposition leaders deny that and say heavy-handed officers and armed, pro-government militias known as "colectivos" are responsible. Shortly after a meeting on Thursday with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, the Trump administration announced sanctions against eight Venezuelan government officials on the nation's Supreme Court in an effort to support the Venezuelan people "in their efforts to protect and advance democratic governance." The stable and peaceful Venezuela is in the best interest of the entire hemisphere, and America stands with all of the people in our great hemisphere yearning to be free, Trump said. It is a very, very horrible problem. And from a humanitarian standpoint, it is like nothing weve seen in quite a long time. The Associated Press contributed to this report. What does NATO stand for? NATO is an acronym for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military alliance established in 1949. Twelve founding members signed the North Atlantic Treaty at the time: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States. NATO was launched as "part of a broader effort to serve three purposes: deterring Soviet expansionism, forbidding the revival of nationalist militarism in Europe through a strong North American presence on the continent, and encouraging European political integration," its website says. What is NATO's goal? The alliance says its "essential purpose is to safeguard the freedom and security of its members through political and military means." How many members does NATO have? Twenty eight. Greece, Turkey, Germany, Spain, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Albania, and Croatia have all joined. How does collective defense work? If one NATO member is attacked, it's viewed as attacking the rest of the members. The idea is expressed in Article Five of the North Atlantic Treaty. NATO members "will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force," according to the article. The article was invoked for the first time in the wake of 9/11. Where are the NATO headquarters? NATO is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. Who is NATO's Secretary General? The former Prime Minister of Norway, Jens Stoltenberg, serves as its Secretary General. He's expected to chair committees, direct discussions, and make sure decisions go into effect, according to the alliance. How does NATO defense spending work? For NATO members, there is a target to spend 2 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defense. Five members - Estonia, Greece, Poland, the United Kingdom, and the United States - meet that goal. What exactly is the G7? The Group of Seven, or G7, is the name for Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. "The G7 is not an international organization but rather an informal top-level forum for debate that became structured over the years," the Embassy of Italy in Washington, D.C., wrote online. Italy is hosting this year's summit. How was the G7 first formed? The Group of Six was first launched in 1975 by "the world's six major industrialized democracies," the embassy said. The G6 nations - which included the United States, France, Germany, Japan, Italy and the United Kingdom - met in 1975 to deal with economic concerns. Canada joined in 1976, forming the G7. The G8 was formed in 1998 by adding Russia, though the country was suspended in 2014. TRUMP'S FIRST FOREIGN TRIP: SCHEDULED STOPS IN SAUDI ARABIA, ISRAEL AND BEYOND When is the 2017 summit? It's scheduled to take place May 26 - May 27 in Taormina, which is located in Sicily. President Donald Trump is expected to attend. Who is coming to the summit? Aside from Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, European Council President Donald Tusk, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May are expected to show up. What goes on at the summits? "At the summit meeting, the heads of government sit at one table to hold candid discussions on global challenges, and make decisions," the Japanese government says on its website. "Outcomes of the meeting are summarized in the form of a declaration." A variety of global issues have been discussed at the summit meetings. What about the group's agreements? The group's agreements are presented in the form of a final statement but aren't legally binding. Instead, they represent the leaders' political commitment to follow through. The Associated Press contributed to this report. When President Donald Trump heads to the Middle East as part of his first foreign trip, he will meet with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. Who is Mahmoud Abbas? Abbas, 82, is the leader of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, a territory bordered by Israel and Jordan. Sections of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip were meant to be operated by the Palestinian Authority, according to BBC. The Gaza Strip is bordered by Egypt and Israel. In 2005, Abbas was elected president of the Palestinian Authority. The Islamic militant group Hamas, however, won most legislative elections in 2006, the BBC report said. Hamas took Gaza in 2007, which led to the establishment of rival administrations Hamas in Gaza and the self-rule government that Abbas leads. Where and when will Trump meet Abbas? Trump is slated to meet Abbas in Bethlehem following meetings with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He is planning to "convey his administration's eagerness to facilitate an agreement that ends the [Israeli/Palestinian] conflict," National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster told reporters on Tuesday. TRUMP'S FIRST FOREIGN TRIP: SCHEDULED STOPS IN SAUDI ARABIA, ISRAEL AND BEYOND What else will Trump and Abbas discuss? Trump accepted an invitation from Abbas to "discuss ways to advance peace between the Israelis and Palestinians, as well as efforts to unlock the potential of the Palestinian economy," the White House said earlier this month. Have Trump and Abbas met before? Yes, Abbas met Trump at the White House in early May. At the time, Abbas said his people seek a Palestinian state and borders along the pre-1967 lines. Israel rejects the 1967 lines as a potential border, and says it would pose serious security risks. WHO IS KING SALMAN OF SAUDI ARABIA? What has Abbas said about their upcoming meeting? Last week, Abbas said the Palestinians were ready to cooperate with Trump's efforts to broker a peace deal. He has also said he's willing to meet with Netanyahu. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The new U.S. embassy in Israel is set to officially open in Jerusalem on Monday as President Trump has formally recognized the holy city as the countrys capital. The opening comes after a day of celebratory festivities in Israel juxtaposed with mass protests along the border of Israel that left at least 52 Palestinians dead and more than 1,000 injured Monday. It was the bloodiest day of weeks of demonstrations that has cast a cloud over the embassy opening. The Trump administrations decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital was heralded by many pro-Israel activists but decried by Palestinians and Americas Arab allies. Ahead of the opening, Trump tweeted its a great day for Israel." Read on to find out why the decision is so contentious and why it wasnt accomplished before. Finding the capital The international community and until 2017, the U.S. largely does not recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel as it is claimed by both Palestinians and Israelis. Like other countries, the U.S. kept its embassy in Tel Aviv, approximately an hour away. The U.S. moving its embassy could cause significant harm to the U.S. credibility as a mediator for peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians, said Dylan Williams, vice president of government affairs for J Street, a left-leaning pro-Israel advocacy organization. Williams added that the move could undermine confidence from Palestinians and Arab countries that the U.S. would remain an impartial negotiator in efforts to create peace in the Middle East. Even seemingly minor changes of Jerusalems status quo either in fact or in law have historically had the impact of sparking violence, Williams said. Support for Jerusalem Millions of evangelical eyes were on Trump, waiting to see if he would keep his campaign promise to move the embassy, longtime Pastor John Hagee told Fox News ahead of the president's official announcement. "I can assure you that 60 million evangelicals are watching this promise closely because if President Trump moves the embassy into Jerusalem, he will historically step into immortality," Hagee said. "He will be remembered for thousands of years for his act of courage to treat Israel like we already treat other nations." "If he does not, he will be remembered as just another president who made a promise he failed to keep which would generate massive disappointment in that strong evangelical base that went to vote for him against Hillary Clinton," he added. "Trump will be remembered for thousands of years for his act of courage to treat Israel like we already treat other nations." Pastor John Hagee Hagee is the founder and senior pastor of Cornerstone Church, a megachurch in San Antonio, Texas. He founded the nonprofit Christians United for Israel in 2006, as well. A March 2016 Gallup poll found that the majority of Americans didnt express an opinion when asked if the U.S. embassy should move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. But of those who did have an opinion, Americans were split with 24 percent supporting a move and 20 percent disagreeing with relocation. Congressional authority Trump isnt the only president to declare his intentions to move the U.S. embassy; both former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush also pledged to move the embassy only to abandon the idea once in the White House. Congress approved in 1995 the funding and relocation of the embassy to Jerusalem by 1999. But the law included a stipulation, allowing for presidents to sign continuous waivers to stall the relocation. Every president since had used the waiver in an effort to avoid conflict with the peace negotiations. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is off the hook, for the moment, regarding some of his problems. Authorities in Sweden on Friday dropped an investigation into an alleged rape in 2010. We were in Stockholm earlier this year doing an investigation on the case for Fox News. We got some indications that the matter was coming to a head. On Friday, Karin Rosander, spokesperson for the Swedish Prosecution Authority, confirmed to me that while they made no decision about Assanges innocence or guilt, a legal technicality got in the way. Basically, Assange wouldnt go back to Sweden. The Wikileak's founder left Sweden for the UK shortly after the alleged incident. And since 2012, he has been holed up in the Ecuador embassy here in London. Authorities did not speak with him until November 2016. And it was restricted. Former Swedish Chief Prosecutor Sven-Erik Ahlem told us today that the prosecution should have been more aggressive. JULIAN ASSANGE AFTER RAPE CHARGES DROPPED: PREPARE FOR 'WAR' In my opinion, he told Fox News, the interrogation should have happened much earlier. The reason Assange gave again on Friday for his years of exile is his purported fear of getting extradited to the U.S. on possible charges of posting classified Defense and State Department documents on the Wikileaks site. While the Trump administration is now talking tough about Assange, there is no confirmation that there is an indictment or extradition prepared. (The UK DOES say it will arrest Assange for jumping bail if he leaves the embassy) When we were in Sweden, the locals couldnt figure out what the fuss was about regarding extradition papers to the U.S. that werent confirmed to exist. There WAS an extradition request to Sweden. Now, thats dropped as well. While we also heard concern there for the alleged victims, many Swedish people we spoke with were tired of the nearly seven-year long saga of Assange. SWEDEN DROPS CASE, BUT WIKILEAKS' ASSANGE NOT IN THE CLEAR Many will probably be happy to see this over in whatever way. This seems about right for the Swedish people, Swedish legal expert Marten Schultz told me today. I asked Schultz if this would be seen as a defeat for the authorities. "It depends on who you're talking with," he answered. It does, indeed. Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries to Open Chesapeake, Virginia Restaurant on Monday, May 22 Retro-Themed Family-Friendly Diner Will Donate 10% of First Three Days Sales to For Kids May 19, 2017 // Franchising.com // Chesapeake, Virginia - Virginia is for lovers and Chesapeake, Virginia is going to love Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries, the highly lauded All-American family-friendly diner, which is set to open its second Virginia location on Monday, May 26. With the new restaurant located on 1445 Sams Drive, Suite 103 (located in the Walmart Way shopping center off Battlefield, Blvd.) residents of and visitors to Chesapeake will experience an inviting dining experience with fresh, never-frozen burgers, premium sliced cheesesteaks piled high on steamed hoagies, and frozen custard made in-house every day. With its open-grill design, the kitchen's dedication and care when hand-crafting meals is front and center. "We are very excited to bring good times and great food to the fine folks in Chesapeake, said Alex Tzekovsky, franchise owner for the Chesapeake restaurant. Hwy 55 already has a stellar reputation for having the best burgers youll find anywhere and we cant wait to open our doors for our new neighbors and old friends. Tzekovsky is planning several other locations in the Hampton Roads area in the coming years. Hwy 55 also has a restaurant in Blacksburg. While celebrating its 26th year in business, Hwy 55 has sold the rights to more than 1,000 franchise locations around the world. Hwy 55 has also signed franchise agreements for Texas, West Virginia, Louisiana, Kentucky and southern Indiana and Virginia in the past year. The brand plans to open approximately 25 locations in 2017. I founded Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries 25 years ago, to provide something that I felt was missing: great food, friendly service and honest value, said Hwy 55 president Kenney Moore, who flipped every burger himself for the brands first two years of business. Those principles continue today at all of our restaurants and we will look forward to treating more Virginians in Chesapeake and other areas in this great state in the coming years." Hwy 55 has not only resonated well with the burger-loving public, the restaurant and franchising industries have taken notice as well. Hwy 55 won BurgerBusiness.com's "Best Burger" in 2012 and in 2014, Franchise Business Review named Hwy 55 one of the best restaurant franchises in the country. The brand also was recently named a top 500 franchise in the United States by Entrepreneur magazine for the second consecutive year and a "Next 20" restaurant brand by Nation's Restaurant News. In keeping with Hwy 55s continued mission to give back to the communities it enters, Hwy 55s Andys Charitable Foundation and the Tzekovsky owner will donate 10% of sales from the restaurants first three days to the For Kids (www.forkidsva.org), one of the largest providers for homeless families in Virginia, touching over 37,000 lives annually through its holistic housing programs and extended services for families. Andys Charitable Foundation is Hwy 55s most visible commitment to community involvement. Hwy 55 Chesapeakes hours are 11 am 9 pm Sunday through Thursday and 11 am 10 pm on Friday and Saturday. For more information, call the restaurant at 757-301-9707. About Hwy 55 Hwy 55, the official restaurant of National Hamburger Day and National Cheeseburger Day, is a retro-themed diner that features fresh, never-frozen hand-pattied burgers, house-made frozen custard, and other classic favorites in a unique open-kitchen setting. Founded in Goldsboro, North Carolina in 1991, Hwy 55 reflects founder Kenney Moore's commitment to authentic hospitality, incredible service and the worlds best burgers. As the Hwy 55 has grown, the industry has taken notice, with the brand winning BurgerBusiness.com's "Best Burger" in 2012. In 2016, for the second consecutive year, Hwy 55 was named a top 500 franchise in the United States for by Entrepreneur magazine. It has also been acknowledged by Franchise Business Review as a top restaurant franchise in the country and by Nations Restaurant News as a Next 20 restaurant brand. Hwy 55 currently has 136 locations in 11 states, Denmark and the United Arab Emirates. Fans are invited to like Hwy 55 at https://www.facebook.com/Hwy55burgers or follow us at https://twitter.com/hwy55burgers. For more information, visit https://www.hwy55.com. Media Contact: Zane Beyer zane@150pr.com SOURCE Hwy 55 ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to discuss the music of the Grateful Dead without talking about drugs. But dont worry, we will talk about drugs. First, lets celebrate an anniversary. On May 8, 1977, the Grateful Dead played a concert at Cornell Universitys Barton Hall. Thanks to tapes circulating in the music community over the past 40 years, this concert was pinpointed as the single best night of the Grateful Deads long, strange touring career. Im not going to shill for the consensus, but it is a remarkable document. Theres a reason the Library of Congress added the concert recording to its National Recording Registry. Spotify recently made it available (its probably easily discovered elsewhere with a Google search) and its worth listening to, even if youre not a Grateful Dead fan. Most surprising are the short, first-set songs, some of them covers, that would later become half-hearted filler for many a Grateful Dead show. Marty Robbins El Paso was particularly lively that night at Cornell, as was Merle Haggards Mama Tried. You can hear the band members paying earnest homage to blues traditions as they sing dont you let that deal go down in Deal. If you want to argue that the Grateful Dead were musical anthropologists preserving the great American folk songbook, this concert might be your best evidence. Buddy Hollys Not Fade Away and the Motown classic Dancing in the Street also get the Grateful Dead treatment, to great effectsomething that wasnt always the case when the band tackled those songs in subsequent decades. Hardcore deadheads might lament the lack of an adventurous psychedelic jamthere is no Dark Star herebut the fact that the band seemed bent on reining in its most self-indulgent tendencies makes this a particularly accessible concert. There is improvisation, to be sure, but it is intentional. As the tie-dyed kids in the parking lot might say, its tight. Who were those kids, anyway? According to a recent book by Jesse Jarnow called Heads: A Biography of Psychedelic America, they were part of a sort of psychedelic nation-state that existed wherever the Grateful Dead set up shop. There were more permanent outposts for LSD-influenced citizensthe bay area in Northern California and The Northeast Kingdom in Vermont, for examplebut for Jarnow, the history of psychedelics in America hews closely to the history of the Grateful Dead. For fans of jam bands and the Grateful Dead who can get over Jarnows inexplicable use of present tense in a history book, its worth reading. It makes sense to focus on the Grateful Dead, a band that got its start jamming for blissed-out kids at Ken Keseys acid tests in San Francisco. Jarnow follows the blotter tabs and the bands fans to suss out psychedelic trails that lead to prominent visual artists, the founders of Apple, New York graffiti artists, Phish and the scientists who formed the internet. Its a neat trick, but almost too cute. Is it any wonder that one of the most beloved bands in history inspired some important people? Is it any wonder that people growing up in 60s and 70s America were turned on to (and by) peyote and magic mushrooms? Theres no doubt psychedelics were, and continue to be, part of our national zeitgest. They were also influential, to varying degrees, in some important peoples lives. And while the members of the Grateful Dead certainly used psychedelic drugs, that in no way means those drugs are necessary to enjoy the considerable merit of their music. That May night back in 1977 proves it. Tune in, turn on, and enjoy. At an NAACP event in March, Corvallis Police Chief Jon Sassaman said he wanted Spanish-speaking officers, female officers, and, above all else, officers with intelligence. He got all three with the four new officers joining the force this month. Bryan Alvarez, Lance M. Armstrong, Ryan W. Bell and Brittany M. Hughes graduated from the 366th Basic Police Class for the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training in Salem on May 12. The police officers joined deputies Daniel Ball and Caleb Riley of the Benton County Sheriffs Office and more than 30 other graduates from 24 law enforcement agencies throughout the state. The Corvallis Police Department had the most graduates in the class. The chief always emphasizes that we are looking for what is above the shoulders, said Capt. Nick Hurley, who oversees hiring as the head of the Corvallis Police Departments professional standards and support services. Were looking for smart problem-solvers. And thats what we got. The class as a whole received an academic citation after earning a 92 percent average on academy testing. Hurley, who recently returned to the department after two years of training officers at the state police academy, said it was rare to see a class average over 92 percent. I think I only had one class out of five that ever reached that when I taught there, Hurley said. So what I saw on the stage was a lot of young, educated and motivated people. Several of the officers also received individual commendations. Hughes, the class only female, was chosen as co-leader of the class and served on the color guard detail. Bell also served on the color guard detail. Alvarez was one of the class few bilingual speakers. Thats what were looking for is people who can navigate all of the different avenues of our community, Hurley said. The graduates represented a strong example of the departments revamped hiring process, Hurley said. Were trying to train the officers that we are guardians. We are here to protect our communities. The people are the police, and the police are the people, he said. The Basic Police Class is 16 weeks and includes dozens of training areas including survival skills, firearms, emergency vehicle operations, ethics, cultural diversity, problem solving, community policing, elder abuse and drug recognition. Prior to their training at the academy, the graduates were interviewed by citizens representing several different areas of the community, including OSU student leaders, members of the NAACP and the Linn-Benton Hispanic Advisory Community. But their training isnt over, said Lt. Dan Duncan of the Corvallis Police Department. Its great to get them back, and they all did really well, Duncan said. Now theyre going to do a bit of in-house training before they hit the streets. In conjunction with the state police academy, we do an in-house training academy thats tailored to the specific needs and laws in the community. The graduates will eventually replace four open positions in the department created through attrition. But the department is looking for more officers. Were recruiting for five more positions, Hurley said. The process takes time. Its a year from the date of hire till their solo status and working to contribute to the department for the community. There are many steps in the process. The first step, Hurley said, is visiting the corvallisoregon.gov, navigating to the Corvallis Police Department webpage from the department's list and clicking the recruiting now button. The two men run over by a train last month spent the hours before the incident at bars downtown, according to a search warrant filed in Fredericksburg Circuit Court this week. The detective handling the case also saw video of the incident. Jeremy David Day, 30, died and the other man was critically injured in the early-morning April 22 incident. Fredericksburg Fire Department units went to the scene near the Virginia Railway Express parking lot at about 3:30 a.m. and found the victims underneath a tanker car of a CSX train headed to Richmond. The section of track where the incident happened is elevated about 20 feet above street grade. Fire crews used ladders to access the tracks and treat the victims, then used a tower truck to remove the victims in basket-style stretchers. Both men were taken to Mary Washington Hospital, where Day died later that day. The other man was transported to a Richmondarea hospital. Detective Katie Pearce wrote in the affidavit that the man, who underwent surgery, remains in critical condition. He is sedated and unable to be interviewed. In the search warrant, a female friend told the detective that she and the men went to several bars prior to the incident. The men left her to go to another downtown bar, and when she went there they were gone. She called and spoke with the man who survived at about 2 a.m. He said they were walking down the train tracks, and were being followed by two females. He then said the two would meet up with her soon. When that didnt happen, she called and texted the men, prior to the incident, but got no answer. The detective watched video from a camera on the CSX train and saw that both males were lying on the tracks, trespassing, and did not appear to move when the train was approaching. It was unclear if the subjects were unconscious or not from the video. The detective also saw video from the downtown train station and saw two people running along the tracks at 2:11 a.m., about an hour and a half before rescue crews were called to the scene. The Marine Corps Historic Half welcomes thousands of spectators and local residents who cheer and support runners along the entire 13.1-mile course. Bands, shops and entertainerseven an animal petting areaare set up at a variety of on-course spots where spectators can enjoy the day. Transportation Shuttles will be available Sunday morning to transport spectators from the Walmart parking lot in Central Park to downtown. The shuttle will drop spectators at the intersection of George and Prince Edward streets, along Mile 7 of the Historic Half course. Shuttles will operate from 6:30 10:15 a.m. Viewing Locations Historic Half Start/Finish: Be there for all of the ceremonial excitement adjacent to Wegmans. Washington Avenue: near the scenic Kenmore Plantation Kenmore Avenue at Grove Avenue and Littlepage Street: Take the kids to the animal petting zone with the Blue-Gray Therapy Dogs. Prince Edward Street: Watch the runners from the picturesque neighborhood street. Princess Anne Street: View the runners in historic downtown. Caroline Street and Charlotte Street: Cheer on the runners outside the Fredericksburg Visitors Center. Caroline Street and George Street: See the Colonial Heritage Society Dancers perform in front of Goolricks Pharmacy. Riverside Drive: Cheer on runners adjacent to the picturesque Rappahannock River. Mary Washington Boulevard at Care Way: Motivate runners for the top of Hospital Hill, the most challenging hill on the course. Before Ryan Gandy was introduced as King George Countys new director of economic development and tourism Wednesday night, he spent six hours touring the county and seeing for himself the areas designated for potential growth. Gandy doesnt take over his new position until June 5, but hes already demonstrated hes a self-starter, said Neiman Young, King Georges county administrator. In addition to the homework he did Wednesday before his introduction at the countys annual Business Appreciation Dinner, Gandy also has reviewed King Georges Comprehensive Plan and has begun learning the challenges faced by our community, Young said. Gandy has been the economic development manager in Manassas Park for two years. While there, he wrote the citys economic development strategy, and King George leaders want him to lead the same effort in their rural county. Three current supervisorsRuby Brabo, Richard Granger and John Jenkins Jr.campaigned two years ago on the need to have a plan that spells out the countys vision for economic growth. Ryan is full of enthusiasm and is ready to hit the ground running, Brabo said. In her introduction of Gandy at the dinner, she pointed out its the first time the county has had an official tourism director. She also said Gandy, whos 37, has experience and education that will help county officials drive King George County into a bright and stable future. Bob Fuscaldo, a former base commander in Dahlgren and current chairman of the countys Economic Development Authority, lauded Gandys background in strategic planning as well as his experience. Hes not a youngster, but hes not an old guy, either. He seems to be in the sweet spot for what youre looking for, Fuscaldo said. Gandy was the community services director for Dumfries before he took the position in Manassas Park. Hes worked on projects with the Virginia Economic Development Association, Virginia Municipal League and the Prince William Chamber of Commerce. He has a bachelor of arts degree and masters in public administration from Valdosta University in Georgia near its border with Florida. Hes also earned economic development certification from Virginia Tech and completed a grant-writing course. Gandy said he sees a lot of opportunity for economic growth and creation of new jobs in King George. Thats kind of what drew me to the position, he said. He replaced Linwood Thomas, who served as director from September 2013 until March. Gandy was among 26 applicants from throughout the Fredericksburg region and beyond for the King George job. Hell earn $83,000 annually. If youve ever eaten a sandwich from your local 7Eleven, chances are youve tried the products of Stafford Countys business of the year. Greencore LLC won the award for 2017, which was presented at Stafford Countys business appreciation reception Thursday afternoon. The Irish-based company manufactures convenience store and vending machine sandwiches and has more than 400 employees in Stafford, according to Howard Owen, who presented the award for the countys Economic Development Authority. He also noted Greencores commitment to buying Virginia-grown ingredients. Stafford County wants to work with you, said Kent Zech, who manages the local Greencore plant. We grew from a $12 million-a-year business to an $80 million-per-year business because of Stafford County. The Stafford County Cornerstone Business award was given to Riverside Center for the Performing Arts, which recently celebrated 20 years and set attendance records last year with 50,000 guests. For a theater to stay in existence for 20 years is extraordinary, said Patrick Ahearn, producing artistic director. We want to be around for another 40, if not more. The Stafford County Stewardship Award was given to retiring House Speaker Bill Howell, R-Stafford, for his service in the Virginia legislature. The award was presented by Don Newlin, who said Howell dutifully served his constituents for more than 30 years. A Stafford EDA Centennial Award was also presented to the Marine Corps Base Quantico, commemorating its 100 years in Stafford. The award was accepted by base commander Col. Joseph Murray, who also gave the keynote speech. Murray said the events theme of innovation, progress, tradition is appropriate as Quantico looks to the next century in Stafford and remembers the innovation and collaboration of its first century. Jan. 6, 1950 May 15, 2017 Gregory C. Sullens, 67, of Sweet Home passed away Monday. He was born to Claud and Peggy (Dietz) Sullens. He graduated from Sweet Home High School in 1968, and enlisted with the United States Marine Corp. After basic training at Camp Pendleton, Greg was deployed to Vietnam, where he fought and served with honor until 1972. He was awarded the Purple Heart for his injuries sustained during combat. Upon returning home from Vietnam, Greg married Dee (Ego), and they started their family in Sweet Home. They had two children, Ali and Kyle. Greg worked for many years at the Champion Mill site in Lebanon until he and his wife purchased Santiam Spray Service in 1986. Greg owned and operated Santiam Spray Service for 21 years and was a leader in the field of herbicide and pesticide management. Upon his retirement in 2007, Greg was able to enjoy many years pursuing his hobbies and interests. There are several less sage rats in the state of Oregon, thanks to Gregs many hunting trips with friends. Greg was able to continue pursuing his love for vintage cars and trucks, and had many restored. Spending time at his cabin in the forest was one of his latest pastimes, as was traveling. He also enjoyed spending time helping out up on Kyles farm, where he and Dee raised their own kids. Many of his friends and acquaintances were the benefactors of his unique generosity and eccentric humor. Greg is survived by his two children, Ali Gardner and Kyle Sullens; and five grandchildren, Gavin and Grace Gardner, Amelia, Olivia and Sophia Sullens. He will be missed greatly by his family. A memorial service will be hosted by his children at 10 a.m. on Saturday June 3 at Sweet Home Funeral Chapel. Memorial donations can be made in Gregs name to SHEM (Sweet Home Emergency Ministries), one of the many charitable organizations that Greg supported locally. Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling arrangements. www.sweethomefuneral.com The operator of a Spotsylvania County gas station was convicted in federal court Thursday of participating in a conspiracy to traffic contraband cigarettes. According to a news release from the U.S. District Court in Richmond, Bernard Ekelemu, 60, was part of a scheme that operated from March 2014 to December of last year. The fraud involved the purchase of at least $7 million worth of cigarettes, much of which was provided to traffickers who resold them in New York and other states without paying the proper taxes. Court records state that a person acting at Ekelemus direction purchased the Gulf station at 5318 Jefferson Davis Highway on Nov. 13. The next month, Ekelemu obtained a state certificate that allowed him to purchase products without paying state sales taxes to the seller. Ekelemu and another person operating at his direction later opened memberships at various wholesale clubs or independent distributors, including BJs, Costco and Liberty USA, according to court records. Ekelemu and others stored cigarettes at storage facilities in Spotsylvania and Springfield. He then resold them in bulk quantities, usually at least 500 cartons, from the Gulf station and out of his storage unit in Springfield. As part of his conviction, Ekelemu will be required to forfeit at least $1.4 million worth of proceeds. Already authorities have seized $105,300 from the Gulf station and $67,625 from a Springfield location. Ekelemu will face a maximum penalty of five years in prison when he is sentenced Aug. 16 in Richmond. DEPUTY Attorney General Rod Rosenstein just did Donald Trump a favor. It may not look like that from the perspective of the president. His Twitter feed is filled with eruptions about the fraudulence of the Russia investigation. But by appointing former FBI Director Robert Mueller to investigate the matter, Rosenstein has quieted a crisis that was consuming Trumps presidency. The storm has been gathering for more than a week. It started when Trump impetuously fired FBI Director James Comey, claiming at first that he did so on the advice of Rosenstein. Then the president changed his story and told NBC News that he was going to fire Comey anyway and that part of this was because the bureaus Russia investigation was dragging on. The Comey camp soon struck back. First, his allies leaked that Trump had asked Comey for his loyalty back in January over dinner. Then in a more damaging story, The New York Times reported on a memo Comey had written to record a conversation in which Trump asked him to drop the investigation into Michael Flynn, the national security adviser Trump fired after three weeks on the job. To state the obvious, all of this made Trump look as if he had something to hide. And it did not take long for Democrats to seize on this theme, mounting a campaign for a special counsel as a condition to approve the next FBI director. Republicans also began to slide away from the leader of their party. Arizona Sen. John McCain said the Russia scandal was beginning to resemble Watergate. Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker said the White House was in a downward spiral. A Republican committee chairman asked the FBI to hand over Comeys notes of meetings with Trump. The Russia probe was consuming Trumps presidency. Now, Rosenstein has offered the president a reset. Trump has a chance to try to focus on foreign and domestic policy. And in this respect, the timing is fortunate. Trump will travel to Saudi Arabia, Israel, Italy and Belgium on his first foreign trip as president, starting Friday. He plans to press Arab allies to form a new alliance against Iran. He hopes to restart the IsraeliPalestinian peace process. He has a chance to lock down greater spending commitments from NATO allies. On the domestic front, Trump can now focus on getting his health-care legislation and tax cuts through the Senate. This is not to say there are not risks. A special counsel has the authority to pursue all kinds of leads, even if they are not about collusion with Russia during the election. As anyone who remembers the 1990s can attest, these investigations can begin by looking into shady land deals in Arkansas and end up documenting a presidents sexual dalliances with a White House intern. But Mueller is trusted by both parties. In his dozen years as FBI director, he avoided major scandals. He also sidestepped political pitfalls that have tarnished the legacy of Comey and another FBI director, Louis Freeh, who spent his years investigating the Clintons. This may end up offering a chance for redemption to Flynn, whom Trump has defended publicly since firing him. So far, much is unclearnot only whether Flynn is innocent or guilty, but even what law he might have broken. In interviews this week and in congressional testimony last week, former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates would not say what crime Flynn is alleged to have committed. She did say that she believed Flynn was compromised and vulnerable to blackmail because he had lied to Vice President Mike Pence about discussing U.S. sanctions with the Russians. On this point, Flynn and Trump should welcome a fresh set of eyes. This is because Yatess concern about potential blackmail appears on the surface to be risible. We dont yet know whether Flynn was authorized by Trump to discuss sanctions on the calls with the ambassador, Sergey Kislyak. Judging from Trumps campaign promises, this seems likely. When the story about Flynn broke, many news outlets reported that Flynn had violated an obscure law known as the Logan Act, which prohibits private citizens from conducting foreign policy independent from the government. This law has never been prosecuted, and if it were enforced it would make foreign policy preparations for an incoming administration illegal. So far, Flynn, Paul Manafort and two other Trump associatespolitical operative Roger Stone and businessman Carter Pagehave had their reputations stained in news stories quoting anonymous leaks. Mueller now has a chance to evaluate the investigation that has allegedly generated these leaks and pursue the facts where they lead. The prospect of closure and a legitimate investigation is good for the country. Its also good for Flynn, Manafort, Page and Stone, who have expressed through counsel and in their own words their innocence. And while Trump may not know it, the special counsel has offered his flailing presidency a lifeline. Eli Lake is a Bloomberg View columnist. He covered national security and intelligence for The Washington Times, the New York Sun and UPI. Getting to the bottom of the ever-evolving turmoil in Washington over allegations about Russias role in last Novembers election is crucial for our nation. Thats why were heartened by the U.S. Department of Justice decision to appoint former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel to oversee the federal investigation into allegations that Russia and associates of Donald Trumps campaign collaborated to influence the 2016 election. We join the chorus of Republicans and Democrats in Congress who have praised Muellers return to public service in this investigation to determine the facts of the case and restore confidence that foreign adversaries are not impacting our most-precious rights of free and fair elections. The 72-year-old Mueller has a resume that engenders confidence that the probe will get to the bottom of the affair. Hes a decorated Marine officer who led a rifle platoon in Vietnam; a University of Virginia law school graduate; and a federal prosecutor. He served 12 years as FBI director under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, taking the reins of the agency just a week before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Mueller understands the threats to our republic, both foreign and domestic, after transforming the FBI and its mission as threats have evolved following 9/11. He managed to do all this without drawing the spotlight on himself, an admirable trait in that position. A week ago in this space, we did not call for a special prosecutor, preferring to allow the Senate Intelligence Committee to do this difficult work on its own. Headed by North Carolina Republican Sen. Richard Burr and Virginia Democratic Sen. Mark Warner, the committee appears to be working in a bipartisan and deliberative fashion. In a joint statement released Wednesday night, Burr and Warner welcomed Muellers steady hand during these days of head-spinning developments. They said, in part: The appointment of former FBI Director and respected lawyer Robert Mueller as special counsel for the Russia investigation is a positive development and will provide some certainty for the American people that the investigation will proceed fairly and free of political influence. We wholeheartedly agree. Robert Mueller has a resume that engenders confidence that the probe will get to the bottom of the affair. Stimpson will curb taxes, guard liberty Its easy to stand up to the other party. Its not easy to stand up to leaders in your own party when they break their promises. Susan Stimpson has been fearless, and she embodies our Republican principles. Susan cut taxes and fought for pro-life issues when she served on the Stafford County Board of Supervisors. I know that as a leader in the Republican Party, she will best represent our creed of lower taxes and less government regulations. As a retired Air Force colonel, I know Susan will be relentless in protecting our liberty and security. She has my full support on June 13 in the Republican primary for the Virginia House of Delegates, and I hope you will cast your vote for Susan Stimpson. Eric Herr Stafford Time for new leader in Berkeley District At a recent Berkeley District gathering of concerned Spotsylvania County residents to discuss the future of an anti-terrorism training facility, current Berkeley Supervisor Greg Cebula claimed that making pre-decisions about future votes is not doing his job. But he made a pre-decision to skirt the rules of an upcoming Republicans-only mass meeting by inviting non-Republicans to attend. This is a clear violation of local committee rules and the Republican Party of Virginias Plan of Organization. He also called a candidate for his seat stupid for signing a pledge in support of residents of the Berkeley District. Supervisor Cebula is no longer a voice for the residents of the district, nor is he a supporter of the county Republican Committee. Its time for new leadership on the Board of Supervisors, and her name is Debbie Curcie. Deborah Smith Spotsylvania Wittmans AHCA vote a cruel blow to constituents Rep. Rob Wittmans recent vote for the passage of the Republican health care bill manages to combine gross incompetence and disregard for his constituents welfare. Its incompetent to support a bill remaking one-fifth of the American economy without a final Congressional Budget Office score, a score that would have informed the congressman of how many people the bill will impact, and how much it will cost. Its cruel disregard for Rep. Wittman to support cutting $880 billion from Medicaid, stripping schools of reimbursement for special education services, and allowing states to gut essential health benefits and protections for pre-existing conditions. If Rep. Wittman had the courage of his convictions, he would hold a public town hall to explain his vote to his constituents, many of whom stand to suffer as a direct result. We are waiting. Claudia Wack Spotsylvania Free Freightnet Membership List your company in the Freightnet directory. It's Free, it's Easy and your company can be displayed in front of potential freight buyers within 24 hours. Indications that the EU commission only wants to re-license glyphosate for another 10 years, rather than 15, has drawn sharp criticism from manufacturers and farm leaders, who say the authorities are giving in to the Facebook science of activists. The comments follow widespread reporting this week that EU food safety commissioner, Vytenis Andriukaitis, only wants to recommend a 10-year extension. This is despite the fact glyphosate has recently been given a clean bill of health by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), as well as the European Food Safety Authority (Efsa), which both dismissed claims the weedkiller is carcinogenic. See also: EU scientists reject glyphosate cancer claims This would normally pave the way for a 15-year licence renewal, but the commission believes a political compromise will be necessary. The European Crop Protection Association, representing manufacturers, described the EU Commissions position as short-sighted and one which undermines science and the EU approval system. How can the commission justify only a proposal for 10-years now, with a clean bill of health from ECHA, when it could justify a 15-year proposal 12 months ago without one? asked a spokesman. They are giving in to the Facebook science of activists. Negative impact EU farmers group Copa also expressed its frustration in the light of the clear advice from ECHA and Efsa. Creating doubt about EU science-based decision-making will only have an negative impact on the credibility of the EU authorities and jeopardise our high safety standards at the same time as putting our own farmers in a less competitive position vis a vis their competitors in non-EU countries, said secretary general Pekka Pesonen. Copa argues that glyphosate is essential to help farmers produce safe, affordable food, while also combining with catch crops to prevent soil erosion and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Farmers have welcomed plans to build a state-of-the art sugar beet factory in Yorkshire the first new processing facility to be built in the UK for 90 years. Al Khaleej International is seeking to submit a full planning application to construct and operate a processing facility east of Knaresborough, North Yorkshire. The factory would be built on the site of the former Allerton Park Quarry, adjacent to the A1. See also: New varieties added to sugar beet recommended list The company has submitted a scoping report to Harrogate Borough Council and intends to file a full planning application this July. Round-the-clock warehouse operations The plant would process 24,000-36,000t of sugar beet a day from September to March annually, with 24-hour warehouse and packaging operations. It would produce 5,000-6,000t of refined sugar a day. Construction of the proposed development would be undertaken over a period of about two years, and would be commissioned in 2020. The 65ha site would include ancillary buildings and four 80m-tall storage silos on land adjacent to Thornbar Farm, Marton Cum Grafton. Increased demand Increased demand for sugar beet could help push up prices to farmers and create new opportunities to grow the crop. The new factory would be about 80 miles from the nearest British Sugar plant at Newark. Some 3,500 farmers would be needed to supply the plant. As well as attracting new sugar beet growers, it could see some existing growers switch from supplying the Newark facility with beet. It could also see local growers who used to supply British Sugars York factory start growing the crop once again. The York factory closed 10 years ago. Welcome news NFU Sugar board chairman Michael Sly said: Proposals for a new sugar beet processing facility in North Yorkshire are welcome news for the industry. Farmers in the region were disappointed when the British Sugar factory closed in 2007 and it is encouraging that investors are considering a new, larger plant in the area. It would be the first sugar beet factory built in the UK for 90 years and represents a considerable vote of confidence for the sector. The sugar beet industry makes an important contribution to the rural economy, supporting nearly 10,000 jobs across the country, and is a valuable rotation crop for arable farmers. Al Khaleej Sugar already supplies produces 1.5m tonnes of fine and coarse sugar outside the UK. Two huge farms in Zambia are for sale with a combined price tag of $50m (38.66m). Sinazongwe and Chiawa farms in the southern Zambezi Valley total more than 26,500 acres, of which nearly 10,000 acres are farmable and used for irrigated arable cropping. An incoming buyer could extend the farmed area by a further 2,600 acres to satisfy growing demand for grain and soy in the country. See also: Most expensive Scottish farm for a decade hits market The farms are being sold together or separately by Zambeef, one of the largest food producers in Zambia, which says it will inject proceeds from the sale into another of its farming operations. The farms are part of a prime grain enterprise that operates a double-cropping rotation of winter wheat or maize with summer soya or maize. There is bulk storage for 10,000t of grain on both farms and the sites each have a 25t/hour dryer. Tanya Ware, director at Knight Frank, which is the selling agent, said the two operations are highly commercial with first-class machinery and excellent access to water. From the UK, we would expect an investment-fund type to be interested in a commercial business like this, she told Farmers Weekly. Zambia is one of the the fastest-growing economies in Sub-Saharan Africa, but only a small percentage of the countrys land is cultivated. Chiawa Farm $28m (21.65m) 20,285 acres at the convergence of the Kafue and Zambezi Rivers 5,325 acres of fully developed, irrigated arable land Potential to extend irrigated land by 2,600 acres Soya, maize and lucerne grown in double-cropping rotation Secure water rights from the rivers 10,000t bulk grain store and machinery buildings One of the largest farms in Zambia Sinazongwe Farm $22m (17.01m) Dog attacks on sheep show no sign of abating with a rising tide of farmers using social media to highlight the devastation it causes. Although farmers are sometimes legally entitled to shoot dogs endangering sheep, doing so can also result in legal action against the person pulling the trigger. Instead, more farmers are shooting photos rather than dogs publishing the pictures on Facebook and in the wider media. Warning graphic images of sheep worrying victims which may be distressing to some readers Our gallery of sheep worrying incidents may be gruesome, but the farmers behind the photos believe these pictures deserve a wider audience as a way of encouraging responsible behaviour by dog owners who are often oblivious to the dangers their pets pose. See also: The law on shooting dogs critical facts farmers must know Many people dont realise sheep worrying is a crime. Yet more farmers are reporting incidents, says the National Sheep Association (NSA), which has been researching sheep worrying incidents to establish a more accurate and up-to-date picture of the problem. Yet more farmers are reporting incidents, says the National Sheep Association (NSA), which has been researching sheep worrying incidents to establish a more accurate and up-to-date picture of the problem. Yet more farmers are reporting incidents, says the National Sheep Association (NSA), which has been researching sheep worrying incidents to establish a more accurate and up-to-date picture of the problem. Sheep worrying by dogs continues to be a real concern for sheep farmers across the UK, says NSA chief executive Phil Stocker. Recent media coverage of the problem may have raised awareness, but this has not necessarily translated into a reduction in cases of dog attacks. Last years NSA survey found some 85% of farmers affected by sheep worrying experienced stress, with 78% worried about future attacks. Some 46% of farmers were anxious about spending time away from home and 24% had even considered giving up keeping sheep. This year, survey questions concentrated on positive and negative ways to influence dog owner behaviour. The findings will be invaluable in the fight to keep the subject fresh in the minds of the general public, according to Mr Stocker. 1. Attack leaves farmer in tears (East Sussex, February) Farmer Peter Sandgrove speaks of his heartache in a Facebook video after two dogs kill 10 sheep at Nightingale Farm, Polegate near a popular trail for walkers. A further five sheep are so badly injured they had to be put down. I was crying as I had to shoot them, says Mr Sandgrove. 2. Remains strewn across four fields (Leicestershire, February) Dogs rampage through the village of Burton Overy, leaving five sheep dead and two fatally injured. Rose and Keith Holman find the grisly remains strewn across four different fields and floating in ditches and photos are published by local media. 3. 30 lambs killed or injured (Carmarthenshire, April) A dog attack leaves 30 lambs killed or seriously injured on a family farm near Ammanford. Eirlys Williams posts photos of the devastation on Facebook, where the pictures are shared more than 10,000 times, with more than 1,750 comments from viewers. 4. Two attacks in a single day (Somerset, April) Almost 20 sheep are left dead during two harrowing attacks on farms in the Mendips. Four sheep are killed and a further five mauled in a field between Street and Glastonbury. A separate incident sees two dogs discovered among 12 dead lambs and three injured ewes near Wells. 5. Lambs left with guts hanging out (Cheshire, April) Vet Gethin Edwards posts pictures on Twitter of a horrific dog attack on sheep at Wood Farm, Wirswall, near Whitchurch. Eleven animals are put down after the attack leaves lambs running around the field with intestines hanging from gaping wounds. Eleven animals are put down after the attack leaves lambs running around the field with intestines hanging from gaping wounds. 6. Dog owner just walks away (Lancashire, March) A dog attacks sheep, lambs and geese near Burnley. Three sheep survive the attack but Three sheep survive the attack but two sustain injuries so severe they are put down. The dog owner decides to walk away leaving the carnage and animals writhing in pain. 7. Pregnant ewes with twin lambs dead (Gloucestershire, March) Six pregnant ewes are left dead after being attacked by a dog which runs loose at Hartpury College farm. Farm manager Andrew Eastabrook says each ewe was carrying two lambs which also died following the attack at a total cost of some 1,500. 8. Dog attacks sheep on cliff edge (Devon, April) Devon farmer David Kennard films the moment a dog attacks his sheep feet from a cliff edge at Borough Farm at Morte Point, north Devon. Dog owners fail to report the incident the sixth in less than two weeks choosing to walk by doing nothing. 9. Sheep vital for protected landscape (East Sussex, February) A vicious dog attack on a flock of sheep kills three ewes at Telscombe. It is the third reported attack this year despite grazing sheep being vital for the maintenance of the chalk grasslands of the South Downs enjoyed by dog walkers. 10. Death threats to farmer who shoots dog (Fife, April) Farmer David Bell receives death threats after shooting a dog that attacked sheep on the Balcarres Estate, near Colinsburgh, Fife. The messages are sent to Mr Bell via Facebook after he shoots a Siberian husky, prompting a police investigation into the incident. Jones said plan is to play Friday since also chance of rain Thursday The Indians playoff motto is a familiar and simple one: Survive to play another game. The Indians did just that with a 60-23 win over Rock Hill this past Friday... Story Highlights Levels of worry decreased for all eight financial issues Americans worry most about retirement, unexpected medical costs Republicans significantly less worried about finances than in 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Americans are less worried about eight specific financial issues than they were last year, with concerns about some issues falling to their lowest levels in a decade or more. U.S. adults are most concerned about not having enough money for retirement and not being able to pay medical costs of a serious illness or accident, with 54% saying they are "very" or "moderately" worried about each. These two concerns have typically been the most worrisome issues for Americans since Gallup began asking about the collection of eight financial worries in 2001. Americans' Specific Financial Worries Down in 2017 Please tell me how concerned you are right now about each of the following financial matters, based on your current financial situation -- are you very worried, moderately worried, not too worried or not worried at all? (% Very/Moderately worried) 2016 2017 Change % % Pct. pts. Not having enough money for retirement 64 54 -10 Not being able to pay medical costs in the event of a serious illness or accident 60 54 -6 Not being able to pay medical costs for normal healthcare 45 41 -4 Not being able to maintain the standard of living you enjoy 51 40 -11 Not having enough money to pay for your children's college 37 35 -2 Not having enough to pay your normal monthly bills 41 31 -10 Not being able to pay your rent, mortgage or other housing costs 34 26 -8 Not being able to make the minimum payments on your credit cards 21 17 -4 GALLUP Gallup has asked Americans how concerned they are about a series of financial issues every April since 2001 as part of its annual Economy and Personal Finance survey. In 2007, Gallup introduced a question concerning worry about being able to pay for a child's college education. The latest data were collected April 5-9. Paying for retirement and expenses related to serious illnesses top the list of concerns. However, substantial percentages of Americans also worry about not being able to pay the medical costs for normal healthcare (41%), not being able to maintain their standard of living (40%), not having the money needed to pay for a child's college education (35%) and not having enough to pay their normal monthly bills (31%). Americans are least worried about not being able to pay their rent or mortgage (26%) and not being able to make the minimum payments on credit cards (17%). The largest decreases in financial worry since last year -- by 10 or 11 percentage points -- were in Americans' concerns about maintaining their standard of living, not having enough money for retirement and not having enough money to pay their normal monthly bills. Worries about these issues, as well as concerns about not being able to pay housing costs, are at their lowest levels since 2007 or earlier. The percentages of U.S. adults who are concerned about not being able to pay their rent, mortgage or other housing costs (down by eight points) and not having enough money to pay for unexpected medical costs (down by six points) also significantly declined. The poll finds slight, though not statistically significant, decreases in worry about the remaining three financial matters. Lower-Income Earners Show Little Change in Level of Worry About Finances Generally speaking, upper-income Americans are least likely to worry about each of the eight issues, while lower-income Americans are most likely to worry. Since last year, concern about the eight issues declined among upper- and middle-income Americans. Lower-income Americans, in contrast, show little change in their higher levels of worry compared with 2016, with two exceptions: Lower-income Americans are less concerned about paying their housing costs than they were a year ago, but they are more concerned about paying normal healthcare expenses and paying for their children's college. The breakdown of each income group's changes from 2016 to 2017 can be found at the end of the article. Republicans' Financial Worries Down Substantially From Last Year Republicans have had much more optimistic views since Donald Trump won the presidency. Positivity among Republicans has extended to their personal lives, with members of the party reporting much less worry about financial issues than they did during Barack Obama's tenure as a Democratic president. Since last year, Republicans' worries declined the most in terms of maintaining their standard of living and having enough money for retirement -- both falling by 20 percentage points or more. Republicans' Financial Worries, 2016 vs. 2017 % Very/Moderately worried 2016 2017 Change % % Pct. pts. Not being able to maintain the standard of living you enjoy 52 30 -22 Not having enough money for retirement 65 45 -20 Not being able to pay medical costs of a serious illness/accident 62 44 -18 Not being able to pay medical costs for normal healthcare 45 34 -11 Not having enough to pay your normal monthly bills 36 27 -9 Not having enough money to pay for your children's college 29 22 -7 Not being able to make the minimum payments on your credit cards 15 9 -6 Not being able to pay your rent, mortgage or other housing costs 24 21 -3 GALLUP Democrats' levels of worry have not changed on most issues since last year. The one exception is concern about having enough money for housing costs, which dipped by 12 points. Democrats' Financial Worries, 2016 vs. 2017 % Very/Moderately worried 2016 2017 Change % % Pct. pts. Not being able to pay your rent, mortgage or other housing costs 40 28 -12 Not having enough to pay your normal monthly bills 41 34 -7 Not being able to make the minimum payments on your credit cards 23 20 -3 Not having enough money for retirement 61 58 -3 Not having enough money to pay for your children's college 41 38 -3 Not being able to pay medical costs for normal healthcare 42 42 0 Not being able to maintain the standard of living you enjoy 47 48 +1 Not being able to pay medical costs of a serious illness/accident 57 61 +4 GALLUP As a result of these changes, Democrats are now more worried than Republicans about all eight issues, as opposed to last year, when the highest levels of concern over these issues shifted between the two parties. A closer examination of the data suggests that much of the partisan movement since last year is occurring among lower- and middle-income households. Upper-income Americans, regardless of party affiliation, show little change in their level of worry compared with last year. Bottom Line The economy has improved between April 2016 and April 2017 -- including a decline in the national unemployment rate of more than half a percentage point. These improvements may be easing Americans' worry about their personal financial situations, but the larger political shift in the country is likely also a factor. Republicans, whose party now controls Congress and the White House, are likely more optimistic that Washington's economic policies will be favorable for them personally. One of Republican leaders' greatest challenges -- which could determine whether they retain their power -- is improving economic conditions so that even Democrats feel some relief in their financial worries. Despite the national decreases in worry, such relief isn't being felt at the bottom. Not only are majorities of Americans who earn less than $30,000 worried about most of the issues Gallup polls on, but they are also about as worried in 2017 as they were last year, suggesting that improving conditions are not being felt at all income levels. These data are available in Gallup Analytics. Survey Methods Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted April 5-9, 2017, with a random sample of 1,019 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. For results based on the total sample of national adults, the margin of sampling error is 4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. All reported margins of sampling error include computed design effects for weighting. Each sample of national adults includes a minimum quota of 70% cellphone respondents and 30% landline respondents, with additional minimum quotas by time zone within region. Landline and cellular telephone numbers are selected using random-digit-dial methods. View survey methodology, complete question responses and trends. Learn more about how the Gallup Poll Social Series works. The Mid Valley Bicycle Club will hold its 16th annual memorial ride in honor of the late bicycle advocate Midge Cramer on Saturday. Cramer taught bicycle touring for Oregon State University, served on the local bike commissions and was a standout for many years on the Oregon Bicycle Advisory Committee. Saturdays ride will depart at 9 a.m. from the Osborn Aquatic Center, 1940 N.W. Highland Drive in Corvallis. Distance will range from 20 to 65 miles. All routes will return via Bellfountain Road, where an annual coasting contest will be held. Participants are encouraged to wear plaid clothing in remembrance of Cramer, who wore the same plaid shirt on many rides. G20 working group : Bad Neuenahr instead of Berlin Bad Neuenahr The G20 Employment Working Group is meeting in the Ahr valley. They are preparing for the G20 Summit which will take place in Hamburg in July. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken Activists gave a taste of what is to come when the G20 Summit takes place in Hamburg in July. On Thursday, they paddled in boats and displayed their banners on the Alster Lake in the heart of Hamburg, a prelude for demonstrations to come. The G20 Summit is scheduled for July 7-8, 2017. In contrast, no demonstrations were to be found in the Ahr valley on Thursday. Until Friday midday, a G20 Employment Working Group is meeting there in preparation for the summit. German Federal Minister of Labor Andrea Nahles was visibly pleased to welcome the group to the area of her home constituency. It doesnt always have to be Berlin, she called out to her colleagues. In light of globalization and digitalization, many people are asking if they can keep pace with a rapidly changing working world, said Nahles. She added, We take these concerns very seriously and want to do something about it. The minister named four areas of action that could be taken - in order to achieve prosperity and growth for all the people of the world. Continual improvement of education and training were key to make sure people did not fall through the cracks. Another area of focus is supporting the gainful employment of women, with better jobs and equal pay. We have done too little in the past years to make advances in this area, she said. The pay difference for men and women in the G20 remains at around 23 percent. She also said that one could learn from countries which offer women a guaranteed return to a full-time job after raising children. Nahles emphasized that integration of immigrants into the work market would also be key for their integration into society. The German Labor Minister said it was also hoped to strengthen corporate responsibility within the global supply chain. Its about adequate wages, better job protection and sending a clear signal against child and slave labor. Participants at the G20 meeting in Bad Neuenahr At a meeting of Democratic thought leaders earlier in the week, Elizabeth Warren posed a rhetorical question "Do you get the feeling that if Bernie Madoff werent in prison hed be in charge of the SEC right now?" I wonder if New Dem chairman and former Goldman-Sachs banker Jim Himes was in the room, though I doubt it, since he spends so much of his spare time shuffling from fundraiser to fundraiser. The Financial Sector is very generous to Himes, who serves Wall Street's interests from his perch on the House Financial Services Committee. Since he was first elected in 2008, they've given him $5,545,212-- pure bribery-- more than any Democrat in the House other than notoriously corrupt House leadership scumbags Steny Hoyer and Joe Crowley. Wall Street looks for the most easily corruptible congressmembers to lavish with immense bribes. Although they give many times more more to corrupt Republicans, in the 2016 cycle their top 3 bribees were Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI- $4,415,864), sleazy "ex"-Republican crook Patrick Murphy (New Dem-FL- $2,157,347) and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA- $2,139,229). The 5 Democrats, currently serving in the House, they found most easy to buy off were these buckets of disgusting slime: Joe Crowley (New Dem-NY)- $1,070,873 Kyrsten Sinema (Blue Dog-AZ)- $1,007,440 Jim Himes (New Dem-CT)- $979,235 Sean Patrick Maloney (New Dem-NY)- $928,002 Steny Hoyer (MD)- $811,276 What do they have in common? They all serve Wall Street banksters' interests in return for the massive infusions of cash into their careers. And they're all part of the Republican wing of the Democratic Party. They have all been groomed by Hoyer to take over the House Democratic leadership after he and Pelosi are gone. When I look at that list I start to understand why Ro Khanna was willing to team up with right-wing lunatic Jodey Arrington (R-TX) to introduce term limits legislation into Congress, a constitutional amendment that would limit members of the House to serving six two-year terms and members of the U.S. Senate to serving two six-year terms. From Khanna's office this week: Congress has a lower turnover rate than European monarchies, with 97 percent of Representatives and 93 percent of Senators winning reelection. This incumbency advantage for career politicians goes against what the Founding Fathers envisioned for the United States. Enacting term limits will give more voices the opportunity to serve in Congress and bring fresh ideas and new energy to Capitol Hill, said Rep. Ro Khanna. Being a member of Congress neednt be a lifetime career, but instead more people should have the chance to work in public service. International Business Times, David Sirota's expose in yesterday's Will Wall Street Money Turn Moderate Democrats Against Dodd-Frank? makes Khanna's point. He focuses in on Himes, the New Dem chieftain who was a former Goldman Sachs vice president and was feted Wednesday at a fundraiser at the Washington home of a Lou Costantino, a former Merrill Lynch lobbyist who is now the top lobbyist for the Managed Funds Association-- a major trade association for the hedge fund and private equity industries. In their yearslong quest to rescind bank regulations and oppose the Obama administrations fiduciary rule, financial executives have at times needed the help of a group of Wall Street-friendly Democratic lawmakers to secure votes necessary to advance their agenda. Now, as those executives and Republican lawmakers seek the votes needed to help Donald Trump dismantle Dodd-Frank rules, a caucus of moderate House Democrats has chosen a former Wall Street executive and a prolific fundraiser of finance industry money to lead them. ...[T]the timing of the event is significant, because it comes just as Wall Street lobbyists are looking to peel-off Democratic votes to change Dodd-Frank. Himes may be a top target because of his new position leading the New Democrat Coalition-- a group of 61 Democrats in the House who have in the past provided key support to Republicans and Wall Street in their efforts to block or weaken Obama administration financial rules. ...Himes has said he supports the overall Dodd-Frank bill and he did vote against the Financial CHOICE Act that passed the House Financial Services Committee along partisan lines earlier this month. But with Republicans having trouble finding enough votes to support a full Dodd-Frank repeal, they may pursue a more piecemeal strategy to chip away at the law and other financial regulations in the same manner Himes and the New Democrats have sought to in the past. For example, Himes co-sponsored legislation to weaken Dodd-Frank by reducing its mandated regulatory scrutiny of private equity firms. The bill, called the SBIC Advisers Relief Act of 2014, exempted advisers of small business investment companies (SBICs), a group which includes some private equity advisers, from SEC registration requirements. Likewise, Himes co-sponsored a bill that repealed Dodd-Franks push-out rule that required banks to push-out risky credit default swaps into separate entities that would be required to have higher capital requirements and would not be eligible for federal assistance. The Wall Street Journal called the push-out rule one of the most hated Dodd-Frank provisions on Wall Street. The legislation was ultimately included in an omnibus bill passed as part of a deal to fund the federal government. In 2011, Himes and the New Democrat Coalition opposed an early version of a proposed Fiduciary Rule designed to force financial advisers to prioritize their clients' best interests. Many of those positions have reflected the Managed Funds Associations agenda. Lobbying disclosures show the association has lobbied in recent years on the implementation of Dodd-Frank, as well as issues reflected in legislation Himes co-sponsored, including the regulation and oversight of investment advisers, and legislation and regulation impacting alternative investment vehicles. ...Wednesday's event for Himes at Costantinos appears to be the second Wall Street-linked fundraiser for the Connecticut Democrat since the 2016 election that produced major victories for Republicans promising to undo financial industry regulation. According to another invite obtained by Political Party Time, Himes held a fundraiser on March 14 at Heather Podesta + Partners, a lobbying firm that has since rebranded as Invariant LLC, and earlier this year lobbied on Dodd-Frank on behalf of Prudential Financial. Also this year, Invariant lobbied on issues relating to financial services and banking regulations on behalf of MacAndrews & Forbes, a diversified holding company led by billionaire Ronald Perelman. Himes, a favorite guest of Rachel Maddow-- she gravitates, inexplicably, towards conservative Democrats-- is widely considered, along with Joe Crowley, the leader of the congressional chapter of the Republican wing of the Democratic Party. As far as we can tell, he has no primary opponent in 2018. A primary is the only opportunity to hold Himes accountable. His southwest Connecticut district, abutting Westchester County in New York and including Bridgeport and tony suburbs like Greenwich, Stamford, Darien, Norwalk and New Canaan, is blue enough for Himes to not have to worry he won't be endless reelected. Trump only got 36.6% there and Himes, who had no primary in 2016 either, beat Republican John Shaban 60.1% to 39.9%. Himes spent $1,098,673 to Shaban's $158,208. Unless progressives start primarying him, we're stuck with this guy forever. Article Protecting the worlds oceans an important goal of Germanys climate diplomacy The worlds oceans are vital to our survival. They regulate the global climate and are a source of food and income for billions of people. Only a very small part of the seas enjoys legal protection, however. Our diplomats are working in New York right now to change this state of affairs. Daughter Of Late Moji Olaiya Defies Muslim Rites Wants Her Mother's Corpse Flown To Nigeria kacylee at 19-05-2017 07:00 AM (5 years ago) (f) The burial arrangement for late Nollywood actress, Moji Olaiya is causing an unexpected rift within the family. The burial arrangement for late Nollywood actress, Moji Olaiya is causing an unexpected rift within the family. DAILYPOST reported that the actress died yesterday in Canada. The late actress converted from Christianity to Islam as an adult and certain members of her family are suggesting that she be buried immediately according to Muslim rites. However, Olaiyas 20-year-old daughter, Adun has refused to give in to that, insisting that her mothers corpse be brought back for burial in Nigeria. Although some family members are still trying to calm her down, the grieving young lady kept repeating that she wants to see her mother. Adun said her mother Must be brought back. DAILYPOST reported that the actress died yesterday in Canada.The late actress converted from Christianity to Islam as an adult and certain members of her family are suggesting that she be buried immediately according to Muslim rites.However, Olaiyas 20-year-old daughter, Adun has refused to give in to that, insisting that her mothers corpse be brought back for burial in Nigeria. Although some family members are still trying to calm her down, the grieving young lady kept repeating that she wants to see her mother.Adun said her mother Must be brought back. Quote I dont care what anybody says, I just want my mothers body. Now it seems burying her according to Muslim rites would be difficult. It is understood that burial in developed countries is expensive. For instance in Canada where she died, funeral costs can rise as high as $15,000. However, bringing her corpse back to Nigeria could cost around half that amount. Now it seems burying her according to Muslim rites would be difficult. It is understood that burial in developed countries is expensive. For instance in Canada where she died, funeral costs can rise as high as $15,000. However, bringing her corpse back to Nigeria could cost around half that amount. Post Reply I have been reporting for several years now and I am very interested in visual news reportage with strong inclusion of photos and video multimedia. Posted: at 19-05-2017 07:00 AM (5 years ago) | Addicted Hero victorstic1 at 19-05-2017 08:04 AM (5 years ago) (m) PLEASE RESPECT THE WISH OF THE LITTLE GIRL, HOPE FRIENDS AND YEYEBRITIES CAN DIG THEIRS HANDS INSIDE THEIR POCKETS AND BRING OUT MONEY THIS IS WHEN U WONT SEE THEM AROUND AFTER THE BURIAL U WILL SEE THEM BUY GUCCI BAGS. HOPE NO IDIOTS WILL GO TO THE BURIAL AND START TAKING SELFIE Posted: at 19-05-2017 08:04 AM (5 years ago) | Gistmaniac PLEASE RESPECT THE WISH OF THE LITTLE GIRL, HOPE FRIENDS AND YEYEBRITIES CAN DIG THEIRS HANDS INSIDE THEIR POCKETS AND BRING OUT MONEY THIS IS WHEN U WONT SEE THEM AROUND AFTER THE BURIAL U WILL SEE THEM BUY GUCCI BAGS. HOPE NO IDIOTS WILL GO TO THE BURIAL AND START TAKING SELFIE Reply schmit at 19-05-2017 08:31 AM (5 years ago) (f) I understand her Posted: at 19-05-2017 08:31 AM (5 years ago) | Hero I understand her Reply maxzy277 at 19-05-2017 09:06 AM (5 years ago) (m) Let the corpse be brought back to Nigeria for her daughter to be satisfied Posted: at 19-05-2017 09:06 AM (5 years ago) | Gistmaniac Let the corpse be brought back to Nigeria for her daughter to be satisfied Reply gogoman at 19-05-2017 09:41 AM (5 years ago) (m) NA WA OOO Posted: at 19-05-2017 09:41 AM (5 years ago) | Addicted Hero NA WA OOO Reply jereva at 19-05-2017 10:24 AM (5 years ago) (m) Bring her mama back jare. She gas make peace with the fact say her momsy don quench. How you go bury her for country wey no he her own? Posted: at 19-05-2017 10:24 AM (5 years ago) | Upcoming Bring her mama back jare. She gas make peace with the fact say her momsy don quench. How you go bury her for country wey no he her own? Reply dynasty4all at 19-05-2017 10:52 AM (5 years ago) (m) I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH SOME YORUBAS. HOW CAN A CHRISTIAN IN HIS/HER RIGHT SENSE CONVERT TO ISLAM? HOW CAN YOU PREFER DARKNESS TO LIGHT? IS IT NOT STUPIDITY? NO WONDER FREETHINKER ALWAYS SAY THAT YORUBAS ARE 50-50, NOT HOT, NOT COLD Posted: at 19-05-2017 10:52 AM (5 years ago) | Gistmaniac I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH SOME YORUBAS.HOW CAN A CHRISTIAN IN HIS/HER RIGHT SENSE CONVERT TO ISLAM?HOW CAN YOU PREFER DARKNESS TO LIGHT?IS IT NOT STUPIDITY?NO WONDER FREETHINKER ALWAYS SAY THAT YORUBAS ARE 50-50, NOT HOT, NOT COLD Reply anitajoseph at 19-05-2017 02:58 PM (5 years ago) (f) Quote from: victorstic1 on 19-05-2017 08:04 AM PLEASE RESPECT THE WISH OF THE LITTLE GIRL, HOPE FRIENDS AND YEYEBRITIES CAN DIG THEIRS HANDS INSIDE THEIR POCKETS AND BRING OUT MONEY THIS IS WHEN U WONT SEE THEM AROUND AFTER THE BURIAL U WILL SEE THEM BUY GUCCI BAGS. HOPE NO IDIOTS WILL GO TO THE BURIAL AND START TAKING SELFIE WELL SAID THANK YOU. Posted: at 19-05-2017 02:58 PM (5 years ago) | Gistmaniac WELL SAIDTHANK YOU. Reply morgan1 at 19-05-2017 05:23 PM (5 years ago) (m) Eyah,,,,they should bring her back now..... Posted: at 19-05-2017 05:23 PM (5 years ago) | Hero Eyah,,,,they should bring her back now..... Reply bayonel3 at 19-05-2017 10:39 AM (5 years ago) (m) Fear of a possible coup detat in Nigeria has emerged, as reports reaching Post-Nigeria, revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari may defy his Doctors order, and cut short his medical vacation, to forestall the occurrence. Recall, that the 74-year-old Head of State, spent nearly two months on his medical leave in London, earlier this year. Fear of a possible coup detat in Nigeria has emerged, as reports reaching Post-Nigeria, revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari may defy his Doctors order, and cut short his medical vacation, to forestall the occurrence. Recall, that the 74-year-old Head of State, spent nearly two months on his medical leave in London, earlier this year. He left again on 7th May, handing over power to the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo. Analysts had previously warned that Buharis prolonged absence, could spark a power struggle ahead of the 2019 Presidential election, should the Leader become incapacitated. According to a source who spoke in confidence to Post-Nigeria via telephone: Information reaching us has it that Buhari is planning to cut short his medical vacation, because of fear of a possible military coup. Meanwhile, the information is still very vague. But I can assure you that Mr. President is no longer comfortable with the news of a possible military coup. His presence can douse a lot of tension. I can assure you that he will definitely cut short his leave. This came as the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, has now warned Army officials, against becoming involved in the countrys politics. He made the remarks on 16th May, after the Nigerian Army received information that, some individuals have been approaching some Officers and Soldiers, for undisclosed political reasons. Also speaking, a top security source stated: A coup is not likely to happen, given the precedent. There was similar pressure in 2010, with YarAdua terminally ill, but the soldiers stayed in their barracks. However, Buratais statement prompted the UK embassy in Nigeria, to issue a warning against non-democratic change of government in the country. There are elections. If youre not happy with your leaders, then you should change your leadership through the democratic process and through elections, the UK High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright said earlier. Although Analysts seem to believe a coup is possible but unlikely, there are fears that some Politicians loyal to Buhari, a Muslim from the North, could obstruct Osinbajo, a Christian from the South. Northern leaders will try to get a concrete deal that will at best, see Osinbajo step down for a Northern candidate to run in the 2019 poll, a source said. If that agreement cannot be reached, some figures may resort to extreme measures to get their way, and so a coup isnt ruled out, considering the top military establishments are in the North, and Northern soldiers dominate the Army. UK-based Security Analyst and Counter-Terrorism Expert, David Otto, believes a coup could succeed, only if Northerners were behind it, given the perception that top positions within the Army, are covered by people from Northern Nigeria. If a coup were to occur in Nigeria, with the composition of the military, it will not be successful, if a Southerner was behind it, he said. There could be genuine fear from the so called Northern Cabal (elite from northern Nigeria), that what happened with the previous leader YarAdua could happen to President Buhari: Leaving Osibanjo, a Southern Christian, to take charge and maybe run in 2019. The fact that Buhari is out of the country indefinitely is not good for Nigeria stability. President Buhari must either return to Nigeria , disclose whats wrong with him or put the interests of the country [first] and resign as a result of his unfortunate ill health, Otto concluded. He left again on 7th May, handing over power to the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo. Analysts had previously warned that Buharis prolonged absence, could spark a power struggle ahead of the 2019 Presidential election, should the Leader become incapacitated. According to a source who spoke in confidence to Post-Nigeria via telephone:This came as the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, has now warned Army officials, against becoming involved in the countrys politics. He made the remarks on 16th May, after the Nigerian Army received information that,Also speaking, a top security source stated:However, Buratais statement prompted the UK embassy in Nigeria, to issue a warning against non-democratic change of government in the country., the UK High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright said earlier. Although Analysts seem to believe a coup is possible but unlikely, there are fears that some Politicians loyal to Buhari, a Muslim from the North, could obstruct Osinbajo, a Christian from the South., a source said.UK-based Security Analyst and Counter-Terrorism Expert, David Otto, believes a coup could succeed, only if Northerners were behind it, given the perception that top positions within the Army, are covered by people from Northern Nigeria.he said.There could be genuine fear from the so called Northern Cabal (elite from northern Nigeria), that what happened with the previous leader YarAdua could happen to President Buhari: Leaving Osibanjo, a Southern Christian, to take charge and maybe run in 2019.The fact that Buhari is out of the country indefinitely is not good for Nigeria stability. President Buhari must either return to Nigeria , disclose whats wrong with him or put the interests of the country [first] and resign as a result of his unfortunate ill health, Otto concluded. Post Reply I scour the world wide web to bring you interesting stories from around the globe. [email protected] Posted: at 19-05-2017 10:39 AM (5 years ago) | Hero Best Xiaomi smartphones to buy in India: Redmi 4A, Redmi Note 4, Mi 5 and more Features oi -Harish Kumar Xiaomi is known for making some great devices and offering it at a budget-friendly price. Xiaomi the Chinese smartphone manufacturer is becoming one of the most demanded brands in India and is futher growing in popularity day-by-day. Sales of its phones in the Indian market have significantly propelled Xiaomi into the top smartphone manufacturers in India. The latest stats that has been revealed for smartphones in Q1 2017, show that Xiaomi is in the second position while Samsung is at the first. However, this is impressive as it seems that the company is set to go toe-to-toe with the likes of Samsung in creating demand and supply of the smartphones in the market. Xiaomi Redmi 4 vs other budget smartphones That being said, Xiaomi holds a reputation for building devices that are an extremely good value without making any compromises. Basically, the company provides smartphones with good design, high-end features at a relatively budget friendly price. And you might not have to spend a lot to get these performance devices. Xiaomi Redmi 4A to go on sale in India today: 10 alternative devices to consider For example you can get the Redmi Note 4 if you are looking for a budget friendly performance device. This device has received a lot of appreciation form fans and critics alike. However, Xiaomi provides many smartphones in different categories. You can choose from many options. So if you're interested in picking up a Xiaomi phone or just interested in the brand, here are some of the phones that are worth buying. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Highest selling best smartphones in Q1 2017: Xiaomi Redmi Note 4, Moto G5 Plus, Galaxy S8 and More Features oi -Harish Kumar These were the best-sellers in Q1 2017 The Indian smartphone market is witnessing a lot of launches almost every other day from both the domestic and global players. Some models become the best-sellers in the country due to their features and attractive price points. Likewise, the Chinese brand Xiaomi has become a popular one in the country. The smartphones announced by Xiaomi always have a high demand in the country for various reasons. One of the recent launches - the Redmi Note 4 is selling like hot cakes in India for its disruptive mid-range price point. it is not only Xiaomi, but many other brands that are doing well in the country. Best, recently launched budget smartphones under Rs 10,000 Today, we have listed some of the best selling smartphones in the country. These devices have topped the sales chart in the first quarter of this year that ended on March 31. Do take a look at these smartphones by scrolling the list given below. Best Mobiles in India Android Go to be released around October in India News oi -Samden Sherpa Android Go is Googles latest attempt at tapping the low-cost or entry-level segment. Google at its annual developer conference I/O 2017 announced 'Android Go' which is a lighter version of Android O. During the event, the company also announced that this version will optimize the latest release of Android to run smoothly on entry-level devices starting with Android O. Talking more about the new OS, it will be getting rebuilt set of Google apps that use less memory, storage space, and mobile data. There will also be a simple version of the play store which will include the whole app catalog. Basically, this version of the OS is optimized to work on entry-level smartphones. SEE ALSO: Android O beta is now available for download While these are only some aspects of Android GO, we should be hearing more about it in the coming days. However, with whatever Google has revealed about the new OS it seems like the company wants even the most basic, cheap smartphones to run Android O without facing any issues. As for the release date, it is expected to be rolled out sometime in October this year along with Android O. While it is too early to tell anything, a fresh report from Economic Times states that the new OS will reach India sometime around the festive season of Diwali. Basically, consumers will have to wait till then to get their hands on smartphones based on this new OS. That being said, Google will be looking to target Indian handset manufacturers like Micromax, Lava, and Karbonn to develop smartphones with Android GO. Interestingly, these companies were also its partners for Android One project. On the other hand, analysts suggest that Indian manufacturers may be little hesitant in committing investments for creating another set of Android devices on top of the existing ones. Android One failed to take off despite being the latest offering from Google. However, industry experts are little positive with Android GO. Unlike Android One system, Android Go is not geared towards hardware. This means that Google's partner handset makers will be able to differentiate their devices from products of rivals on price and experience while using the same OS. It further looks like Android Go is geared more towards the software front. SEE ALSO: Google Assistant will soon let you send and receive payments So it might be a win-win situation for both Google and its partners. But again it is too early to say anything firmly as we have a long way to go. Also, Google hasn't revealed the exact timing of the devices or the partners with whom it will be working. From our perspective, the move to develop such OS might be beneficial for the company as well as the users in India. There is a great potential for Google and its partners to upgrade million feature phone users to smartphone users. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications HTC plans to launch Desire series between Rs 10,000 and Rs 30,000 News oi -Priyanka HTC will also focus to improve its brand perception in the country. Taiwan - based smartphone brand HTC is planning to launch its new Desire series 4G smartphone in the price range of Rs 10,000 to 30,000 in India. However, the company said it will not sell any device under Rs 10,000. According to a PTI report, HTC will also focus to improve its brand perception in the country. Our brand in India is still solid good. We have the lot of things to improve upon (there)," PTI quoted Chialin Chang, the President of a smartphone and connected devices, HTC. According to the CMR Mobile Industry Consumer Insight (MICI) Report Samsung, Apple and HTC have emerged as the most successful mobile brands in the first decade of smartphones in India. The report says when probed on the names of successful premium smartphone brands in the last decade, almost all respondents (97percent) recalled Samsung. Apple and HTC secured percent and 78 percent recall respectively. Vodafone offers 45GB 4G data for free with Amazon exclusive smartphones The success of HTC was largely attributed to its innovativeness (76 percent); its design and looks (76 percent); and up-to-date technology (72 percent). Faisal Kawoosa, Principal Analyst, Industry Intelligence Group, CMR, "Customers with premium smartphones use multiple applications at the same time with the expectation that the applications perform seamlessly. To support the same, consumers today are looking for premium smartphones with higher RAM and processor for faster functioning and a longer battery life. To sustain their competitive position going forward, the mobile phone players must cater to the evolving needs of the smartphone users." Meanwhile, the company has recently launched its new smartphone HTC U11. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Intl. court asks Pakistan to stay execution of Indian 'spy' Iran Press TV Thu May 18, 2017 1:35PM The United Nations' top court has ordered Pakistan to stay the execution of an Indian man convicted of involvement in espionage and sabotage activities. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague ruled in a binding decision on Thursday that Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav must not be executed until Pakistan has time to hear the case brought by New Delhi. "Pakistan shall take all measures at its disposal to ensure that Mr Jadhav is not executed pending the final decision in these proceedings," said the court's president Ronny Abraham. He said India has the right to seek consular access for Jadhav, ordering Pakistan to inform the tribunal that it has implemented the decision. Outlining the reasons for its decision, Abraham said Pakistan had given no assurances Jadhav would not be executed before the court delivered its final decision. Indian lawyer Deepak Mittal ealier told the tribunal that Jadhav was "an innocent Indian national" who had been held incommunicado for more than a year on "concocted charges". Pakistani representatives, however, told the court Jadhav had confessed to having been sent by India "to wage terror on the innocent civilians and infrastructure of Pakistan". Judicial experts say the hearings and final decision could take more many months if not years. The unanimous decision by ICJ is considered a victory for New Delhi over its bitter rival. The last time India and Pakistan took a dispute to the court was in 1999 when Islamabad protested against the downing of a Pakistani navy plane that killed 16 people. In that case, the tribunal decided it was not competent to rule in the dispute and closed the case. The ICJ was set up in 1945 to rule on disputes between nations in accordance with international law. Jadhav was arrested in March 2016 in the southwestern province of Balochistan on charges of being an Indian spy and fueling unrest across the troubled province. Pakistani officials claim he has confessed to being a spy for the Indian intelligence. India and Pakistan routinely accuse each other of sending spies into their countries, and it is not uncommon for either nation to expel diplomats accused of espionage. However, death sentences have rarely been issued in such cases. Jadhav was convicted last month by a Pakistani military court and sentenced to death. New Delhi has warned Islamabad that any move to execute the Indian national would be "premeditated murder". Indian media have described Jadhav as a former naval officer, calling the proceedings against him "farcical". The developments come amid intensified cross-frontier shelling between the two sides along the Line of Control (LoC) in the disputed region of Kashmir, leading to deaths of civilians and soldiers. India and Pakistan have fought three wars over Kashmir since their independence from Britain in 1947. Pakistan has long accused India of fueling an ongoing insurgency in its restive Balochistan Province. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Former Israeli spy chiefs attack Trump for 'intel leak' Iran Press TV Thu May 18, 2017 7:41AM Two former directors of Israel's Mossad spy agency have attacked US President Donald Trump for his alleged sharing of highly classified, Israeli-obtained "intelligence" with Russia. President Trump was surrounded by controversy over the weekend, when The Washington Post alleged that he had divulged secret information with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ambassador to the US Sergei Kislyak during a recent meeting at the White House. While the Post did not reveal the origin of that information, it said the provider had not given "permission" to the US to share the info with Russia. The New York Times, citing unnamed sources, later claimed that the intelligence had come from Israel and was about the bomb-making capabilities of the Daesh terrorist group. Danny Yatom, who led Israel's spy organization from 1996 to 1998, said on Wednesday that Tel Aviv had to "punish the Americans" over the leakage. He said the disclosure would be a "catastrophe" if it turned out that the US president also compromised the Israeli "sources" in the Syrian city of Raqqah, Daesh's so-called headquarters in Syria, during the White House meeting with the Russians. "If we will assess that our sources of intelligence are in danger due to the way it will be handled by the United States, then we will have to keep the very sensitive information close to our chests," he further said. He said Israel had to refrain from "transferring information" to Trump or just provide him with "partial" intelligence lest he would "endanger" Mossad's sources. Unusually angry It was not clear why the alleged sharing of the information with Russia, which has been actively fighting Daesh and other terrorist groups in Syria, would "endanger" the Israeli "sources." But speculation has been raised that, in light of previous indications of quiet cooperation between Israel and Daesh, the Tel Aviv regime is now fearing a further revelation of its dealings with the internationally-designated terrorist group. The unusually angry remarks by Yatom and similar comments by his predecessor, Shabtai Shavit, have only strengthened such speculation. Shavit, who was Israel's spy chief from 1986 to 1996, for his part, lambasted Trump and referred to him as a "bull in a china shop," who he said could not run even a "corner shop." "Before he (Trump) makes any decision, he posts on Twitter. He tweets and then checks the responses in order to make his decision. Is that how you run a country?" Shavit said. There have been reports that Israel offers medical treatment to militants wounded while operating in Syria in hospitals set up on the Golan Heights, Syrian territory that has been occupied by Israel. Back on April 9, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tel Aviv would continue treating wounded militants from Syria as part of what he claimed to be a "humanitarian effort." The Israeli regime also conducts military strikes against fighters from the Lebanese Hezbollah movement, who are, like Russia, helping the Syrian government fight Daesh. The Syrian government says the Israeli strikes are meant to stiffen the spine of the anti-Damascus militants, who are facing increasing losses on the battlefield. Furthermore, the Syrian army has also repeatedly seized sizable quantities of Israeli-made weapons and advanced military equipment from the militants in Syria. In September last year, the Israeli daily Ha'aretz quoted Israeli parliament member Akram Hasoon as saying that Israel was directly aiding the Takfiri terrorist group Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, formerly known as al-Nusra Front, another terrorist group operating in Syria. He revealed that an earlier attack by the Nusra group on the Druze Village of Khadr had had the support of Israeli minister for military affairs Avigdor Lieberman. Most recently, Israel's housing and construction minister Yoav Galant said it was time to "assassinate" Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. He said on Tuesday that killing Assad would be the first step in confronting Syria's ally, Iran, which has also been offering advisory military help to the Syrian fight against terrorism. The controversy over Trump's alleged sharing of the information and the remarks by the former Israeli Mossad chiefs come ahead of Trump's first trip to Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Trump on the phone on Tuesday night, reportedly avoiding the topic of the controversy and only speaking about the US president's upcoming trip. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Court Orders Pakistan Not To Execute Indian Naval Officer RFE/RL May 18, 2017 The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ordered Pakistan not to execute an Indian naval officer convicted of espionage and terrorism. The UN court in The Hague said on May 18 that Pakistan should not carry out the death penalty against Kulbhushan Jadhav, pending the outcome of a case filed by India over the matter. Court President Ronny Abraham said the court decided unanimously to order Pakistan to "take all measures at its disposal to ensure that Mr. Jadhav is not executed." India lodged a case against Pakistan last week, alleging that Islamabad violated the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations by denying Jadhav's right to consular assistance following his arrest last year. With the case expected to take months or years to resolve, New Delhi also appealed for the court to impose emergency measures to suspend Jadhav's execution until the legal battle has concluded. The ICJ, also known as the World Court, was set up in 1945 to rule on disputes between states in accordance with international law. Its rulings are binding. "The ICJ order has come as a huge relief to the family of Kulbhushan Jadhav and people of India," the country's external affairs minister, Sushma Swaraj, wrote on a Twitter post. Meanwhile, Pakistan's ambassador to the Netherlands sought to play down the significance of the court's order, saying, "It's a very basic thing which the court has done, given its ruling on a provisional measure which is basically a procedural process and I think that is about it." The ICJ "has said nothing on the merits or the maintainability of the case," Ambassador Moazzam Ahmad Khan added. The case has further strained tense relations between the nuclear-armed neighbors. Pakistan says Jadhav,46, was arrested in March 2016 in the southwestern province of Balochistan, which has been hit by a separatist insurgency that Islamabad accuses India of backing. New Delhi denies Jadhav was a spy and claims he was kidnapped from Iran. In an emergency ICJ hearing on May 15, Indian representatives said Jadhav's death sentence last month followed an "unjust" trial in a Pakistani military court and that Islamabad failed to respond to New Delhi's demands for information about the case. But Pakistan's representatives told the tribunal that Jadhav "confessed to having been sent by India to wage terror on the innocent civilians and infrastructure of Pakistan." With reporting by AP and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/international-court-of-justice- india-pakistan-espionage/28494979.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Court Orders Pakistan Not to Execute Indian Officer Sputnik News 15:18 18.05.2017(updated 15:25 18.05.2017) On Thursday, the International Court of Justice ordered Pakistan to stay the execution of Kulbhushan Jadhav, who Pakistan claims to be an Indian spy, until the case is heard in full by the court in The Hague, the Netherlands. It also asked Pakistan to give India full consular access to Jadhav. New Delhi (Sputnik) The order came as a major relief to millions of Indians who were glued to the television and other media for the verdict. Pakistan claims that Jadhav is an Indian spy. He was arrested in Balochistan last year when he had an Indian passport in the name of Mubarak Hussein Patel. "Pakistan shall take all measures at its disposal to ensure that Jadhav is not executed pending the final decision in these proceedings and shall inform the court of all the measures taken in implementation of the present order. The court also decides that, until it has given its final decision, it shall remain seized of the matters which form the subject-matter of this order," court President Ronny Abraham said, after rejecting Pakistan's argument that the court did not have jurisdiction over the matter. "The ICJ order has come as a great relief to the family of Kulbhushan Jadhav and people of India. I assure the nation that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi we will leave no stone unturned to save Kulbhushan Jadhav," Sushma Swaraj, India's Minister for External Affairs, said. India filed its request for the indication of provisional measures on May 8, the same day that it initiated proceedings against Pakistan in a dispute concerning alleged violations of Article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of April 24, 1963, with respect to Jadhav's being sentenced to death in Pakistan. Earlier, the Pakistan military court had awarded death sentence to Jadhav alias Hussein Mubarak Patel for his involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan. "RAW agent Commander Kulbushan Sudhir Jadhav spy has been tried through Field General Court Martial (FGCM) under Section 59 of Pakistan Army Act (PAA) 1952 and Section 3 of Ofcial Secrets Act of 1923 and awarded death sentence. Today COAS, Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa has conrmed his death sentence awarded by FGCM," a statement released by the Inter-Service Public Relations of Pakistan said on April 10. Jadhav's family members said he had quit the Indian Navy and was running a small cargo transport business, ferrying cargo between two ports in Iran. He had an Iranian visa valid up to June 2016. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sweden Drops Case But Assange Still Not In Clear RFE/RL May 19, 2017 Sweden's top prosecutor has dropped a seven-year investigation into rape allegations against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, though he still faces an arrest warrant in Britain and possible extradition to the United States. While the move halts the proceedings in Sweden, Ny added it was not "any statement of guilty or not" and that the investigation could be reopened should Assange return to the country before the statute of limitations expires in 2020. While the move halts the proceedings in Sweden, Ny added that the investigation could be reopened should Assange return to the country before the statute of limitations expires in 2020. "My assessment is the transfer cannot be carried out in a foreseeable future," Ny told a news conference in Stockholm, adding that Assange had avoided all attempts by British and Swedish authorities to arrest him. "Detained for 7 years without charge by while my children grew up and my name was slandered. I do not forgive or forget," Assange said in a tweet after the announcement. The 45-year-old Australian, a polarizing figure who has acknowledged the release of confidential and classified information from the United States and other countries, has been holed up at the Ecuadoran Embassy in London since 2012 after he skipped bail to avoid extradition to Sweden. Assange has stayed in the embassy fearing he could be sent to Sweden by British officials and then perhaps extradited to the United States, where he is wanted over the release by WikiLeaks of 500,000 secret military files on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. It is not known whether U.S. authorities have officially requested Assange's arrest. British authorities have said they do not comment in such cases on whether there may be a sealed indictment in the case. Fidel Narvaez at the Ecuadorean Embassy in London said the embassy had no comment and was awaiting instructions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs back home. "We have been waiting a long time for this decision," Christophe Marchand, a member of Assange's Brussels-based legal team, told AFP. "Julian Assange has been a victim of a huge abuse of procedure. We are very pleased and very moved, as this marks the end of his nightmare." Assange posted a picture on Twitter of himself smiling broadly, without comment. London police said after the Swedish announcement that Assange would still be arrested if he left the embassy compound for failing to surrender to the court while out on bail. Prime Minister Theresa May said any decision about Assange will be an operational matter for the British police to decide. "UK refuses to confirm or deny whether it has already received a US extradition warrant for Julian Assange. Focus now moves to UK," WikiLeaks said in a tweet after the announcement in Sweden. The WikiLeaks founder has said the claims were politically motivated and insists he had only consensual sexual encounters with the women. With reporting by AP, Reuters, AFP, and the BBC Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/wikileaks-sweden-drops- assange-rape-investigation/28497444.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Inherent Resolve Strikes Target ISIS in Syria, Iraq From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release SOUTHWEST ASIA, May 18, 2017 U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria yesterday, conducting 32 strikes consisting of 101 engagements, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today. U.S. Central Command continues to work with partner nations to conduct targeted airstrikes in Iraq and Syria as part of the comprehensive strategy to degrade and defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS. Officials reported details of yesterday's strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports. Strikes in Syria In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 22 strikes consisting of 32 engagements against ISIS targets: -- Near Abu Kamal, seven strikes destroyed seven ISIS wellheads, four fighting positions, a front-end loader and a mortar system. -- Near Hawl, a strike destroyed a mortar system and a fighting position. -- Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes destroyed four ISIS fuel trucks and a vehicle. -- Near Raqqa, 11 strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units; destroyed five fighting positions, three mortar systems, three vehicles, two ISIS fuel trucks and an ISIS headquarters; and damaged an ISIS supply route. Additionally, two strikes were conducted May 16 in Syria for which details were not finalized in time for yesterday's report on that day's strikes: -- Near Abu Kamal, a strike destroyed four items of oil processing equipment. -- Near Raqqa, a strike damaged an ISIS supply route. -- Near Tabqah, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a fighting position. Strikes in Iraq In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 10 strikes consisting of 69 engagements against ISIS targets: -- Near Mosul, six strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units; destroyed eight fighting positions, four medium machine guns, four mortar systems, four vehicle-borne bombs, four rocket systems, three vehicles, three rocket-propelled-grenade systems, two ISIS-held buildings, two heavy machine guns, two ISIS staging areas, a supply cache, an anti-air artillery system, an ISIS fuel truck, a vehicle-borne-bomb facility and a fighting position; damaged 16 supply routes and four rocket systems; and suppressed two mortar teams and an ISIS tactical unit. -- Near Sinjar, a strike destroyed a tank. -- Near Tal Afar, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed an unmanned-aircraft-system factory, an improvised-explosive device factory and an ISIS staging area. Part of Operation Inherent Resolve These strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to destroy ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The destruction of ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria also further limits the group's ability to project terror and conduct external operations throughout the region and the rest of the world, task force officials said. The list above contains all strikes conducted by fighter, attack, bomber, rotary-wing or remotely piloted aircraft; rocket-propelled artillery; and some ground-based tactical artillery when fired on planned targets, officials noted. Ground-based artillery fired in counterfire or in fire support to maneuver roles is not classified as a strike, they added. A strike, as defined by the coalition, refers to one or more kinetic engagements that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single or cumulative effect. For example, task force officials explained, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIS vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against a group of ISIS-held buildings and weapon systems in a compound, having the cumulative effect of making that facility harder or impossible to use. Strike assessments are based on initial reports and may be refined, officials said. The task force does not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of individual munition impact points against a target. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Dunford: Counter-ISIS Coalition Would Benefit From NATO Membership By Jim Garamone DoD News, Defense Media Activity ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT, May 18, 2017 NATO chiefs of defense agreed there is merit in examining the possibility of the alliance becoming an official part of the counter-Islamic State of Iraq and Syria coalition, Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford told reporters traveling with him yesterday. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said that NATO joining the counter-ISIS coalition is a political decision, but that NATO's chiefs of defense see real benefits in the alliance becoming a member. All of the nations that compose NATO are individually members of the counter-ISIS coalition, but NATO as a separate entity is not. Communications, Intelligence-Sharing "Having NATO as a member of the defeat-ISIS coalition puts them at the table when we have discussions, and opens up information and intelligence sharing," Dunford said after attending the NATO Military Committee meeting in Brussels. There is a small group operating under NATO auspices in Iraq right now, he said. These troops are building the capacity and capabilities of Iraqi forces. The mission serves as a proof-of-concept for the alliance. There are many discussions and decisions that must occur before the alliance becomes a member, Dunford said. Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar Abadi has said his country will need foreign help in training security forces in the future. The prime minister must determine the long-term training requirements for Iraqi security forces, the chairman said. This will involve determining what's needed once the level of violence in the country is driven down to the point that local Iraqi security forces can deal with it, Dunford said. Iraqi forces are entering the final stages of the liberation of Mosul, but ISIS still controls areas west of Mosul and in al-Anbar province, the chairman said. That the Iraqis will need help is a given and the United States has pledged to provide some support. NATO Capabilities The discussion at NATO today isn't about whether Iraq will need support, but rather how to best provide it, Dunford said. The question then becomes what unique capabilities NATO can provide to the effort. "From my perspective, if you look at it long-term, you are going to need a framework for making political decisions and then you are going to need a framework for generating forces to meet requirements," the chairman said. If there was a long-term training mission approved to build defense capacity "then NATO has the organizational construct and processes to take on a mission like that and do it on an enduring basis," Dunford said. "It doesn't mean they would have to do everything. It just means they might be uniquely postured to provide a training mission for an enduring period of time." This does not mean NATO will take over command of the mission to build defense capacity in Iraq, Dunford said. "I think what we will see is NATO will continue with a fairly modest contribution in the near term and political leadership in the coming months will discuss the potential of NATO assuming some greater responsibility in Iraq," he said. Confronting Threats The Iraq mission is indicative of NATO's growing and evolving capabilities, the chairman said. The alliance now has two agreed-upon missions as a result of the Warsaw Summit: the traditional mission of European security against a state threat, and what's described as 360-degree security for the southern flank of the alliance. The threat to the south comes from terrorism and the problems caused by that, as well as growing radicalization, the refugee flow and more, the general said. "[The defense chiefs] make recommendations," Dunford said. "I certainly believe that NATO has some unique capabilities that would argue for it to contribute in Iraq." The chairman said there was no push-back from his fellow chiefs on the idea, but the details need to be worked out. "If the Iraqis agreed upon the need for a mission, I think NATO could make a contribution to logistics, acquisition, institutional capacity building -- leadership schools, academies -- and then you might have other tasks like advise and assist missions at corps level and division or brigade level," he said. The chairman said he's a strong believer in NATO -- he served as the NATO commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Kabul for 18 months. "I've seen what NATO can do in terms of sustaining an enduring mission in Afghanistan, and I think the political architecture and the processes that routinely happen in NATO -- heads of state meetings, foreign minister meetings, force generation led by the deputy supreme allied commander -- all those things are really good to leverage," he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO Chiefs Discuss Afghan Manning Ahead of Heads of State Meeting By Jim Garamone DoD News, Defense Media Activity ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT, May 18, 2017 No one is satisfied with a stalemate in Afghanistan and NATO defense chiefs in Brussels examined proposals that would increase the number of NATO and partner troops in the country, and to change the way those troops are employed. Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters traveling with him yesterday that Army Gen. John W. Nicholson, the commander of the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, briefed the defense chiefs of the NATO Military Committee via video from his headquarters in Kabul. The chiefs of defense collectively have a common understanding of what happened in Afghanistan since 2016, when the Afghan National Security Forces took responsibility for protecting their country. Afghan Forces "The Afghans have been in the lead for the last two years, taking casualties and demonstrating some strengths, but in other areas demonstrating they need more work," Dunford said. Nicholson testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee in February warning that the conflict in Afghanistan was turning into a stalemate. Nicholson said he would need more troops than the 13,000 he currently has to end the stalemate. The general did not cite a number. President Donald J. Trump will decide on U.S. options for Afghanistan by the end of the month, according to Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, the national security adviser. Trump and his fellow NATO leaders will meet next week in Brussels and the troop commitment in Afghanistan is one of the issues they will discuss. "[The chiefs'] understanding of where we are in the fight right now is consistent with mine and General Nicholson's, so everybody agrees that we want to do better," Dunford said. "We want to mitigate the risk of casualties; we want to give the Afghans a competitive advantage over the Taliban." Commander's Plan Nicholson's plan is based on the goals of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's four-year plan. Among the economic and political milestones in the plan is a security goal pushing for national forces to protect 80 percent of the population of the country. The plan "provides a useful way to think about this as political leadership contemplates the commitment," Dunford said. The chairman would like NATO allies to examine what Nicholson has requested in the plan and look at those requests through the unique capabilities each country brings to the fight. The chiefs also discussed changing the way service members are employed in Afghanistan. Currently, they do most of the advise and assist mission at the Afghan corps levels. "We talked today about the need to provide advise and assist below the corps level," the general said. This would move advisors to the brigade or even kandak (battalion) levels. Nicholson has an expeditionary advise and assist capability, Dunford said. This allows him to move forces to where he believes it is necessary. "He has the flexibility to do that now," Dunford said. "What we're doing is increasing the capacity of his expeditionary advise and assist so he can be in more places at one time." Terrorist Threats in Region The United States has national interests in success and peace in Afghanistan, Dunford said. There is still a terrorist threat in the region, he added. Al-Qaida planned and resourced the attacks on 9/11 from their sanctuary in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Ungoverned area attract these groups and there are still 18 or 19 different terrorist groups operating in South Asia "that have indicated a willingness, if not a capability, to attack the West," Dunford said. An ungoverned or a Taliban-governed Afghanistan would pose a danger to the United States and its allies, Dunford said. Keeping people safe from terror attacks is a national priority, the chairman said. So is "creating stability to mitigate the refugee flow from places like Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq and so forth," he added, "to keep the talent of Afghanistan in Afghanistan to move that country forward." The mission in Afghanistan will end when the underlying conditions that feed extremism and instability are resolved, the chairman said. Even then, the United States will continue to have enduring interests and influence in the region, Dunford said. In the future, that influence and presence may take the form of diplomatic missions or economic interests. "But right now, and for the foreseeable future, there's a military dimension to the influence we have to maintain in South Asia to mitigate those two primary threats and afford the Afghans the opportunity to develop effective governance and get their country back on track," the chairman said. "War is a clash of wills," he said. "And at the end of the day, to be successful you have to have more endurance than the opposition." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Army moves closer to establishing first Security Force Assistance Brigade By Master Sgt. Brian Hamilton May 18, 2017 Fort Knox, Ky. -- One of Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley's recent top initiatives is the permanent establishment of Security Force Assistance Brigades to advise and assist partner nations with their security force capabilities. With the first of six such planned brigades quickly approaching its implementation date of October 2017, officials at the U.S. Army Human Resources Command say they are on track to reaching the required 529 Soldiers of the all-volunteer force. As key leaders and support personnel already arriving to Fort Benning, Georgia begin establishing the needed infrastructure, the plan now is for personnel in HRC's Enlisted and Officer Personnel Management Divisions to round out the unit by screening potential candidates and making the necessary outreach to engage possible volunteers. "Our EP (Enlisted Personnel) and OP (Officer Personnel) divisions have been busy identifying Soldiers that meet all of the stringent requirements outlined by Gen. Milley, and then making the necessary phone calls to pitch the SFAB to them," said Lt. Col. Corey Brunkow, HRC Enlisted Personnel Management Division Infantry Branch Chief. "We're looking for branch qualified noncommissioned officers. That is, we're looking for former squad leaders as Staff Sergeants, and former platoon sergeants as a Sgt. 1st Class to fill advisor roles which will broaden their horizons and experiences in the Army," he said. Basic qualifications include an 85 or better Defense Language Aptitude Battery for primary advisors, a minimum of 240 or 70 points in each event on the APFT, possess a secret security clearance, and maintain a deployable status. In addition, a Soldiers Physical Profile Serial System, or PULHES as it is commonly referred to as, must be 111221 with only a minor inability in the hearing and ears, and eyes portion. "As far as recruitment, the difficulty now remains in some of the uncertainty of the career path for a lot of NCO's," said Brunkow. "These specific assignments with the SFAB are not codified in DA PAM 600-25, the NCO Career Model, so that leaves some uncertainty in the minds of some of the eligible Soldiers as to whether this would be a benefit to their careers or not. "To that I would say that this has the highest visibility of the Chief of Staff of the Army and the highest levels of Army leadership. They are embedded in the success of this mission," he said. Another hindrance to SFAB recruitment has been credibility in the field to those familiar with the prior Army initiatives like Transition Teams and the Afghanistan-Pakistan Hands program. Many in the field perceive past service in these types of formations to have been time away from their primary career field and potentially an obstacle to promotion. Maj. Nick Clemente, HRC G3/5 Readiness Branch, strategic planner, responded, "Army leaders at the highest levels are committed to making the SFABs a premier assignment. They understand the negative association with Transition Teams and the AFPAK Hands program and are taking proactive steps to ensure that SFABs are different." "Our senior leaders are committed to ensuring that each and every Soldier who serves in a SFAB is trained, ready, and properly utilized to provide a critical function to the nation. Over time, I expect that we will see positive promotion trends for officers and NCOs who excel during their SFAB tour." Potential volunteers are also having difficulty in distinguishing between the new SFAB formation and the Security Force Assistance Teams (SFAT) the Army deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan. Previously, SFATs were created by taking a brigade combat team and reconfiguring it for an advise and assist mission. The Army augmented the unit with experienced leaders who would act as advisors while most of the unit's junior Soldiers stayed at home station. "The previous method of providing advise and assist capability cost the Army decisive action readiness," Clemente said. "The creation of SFABs is intended to help alleviate this challenge by providing a purpose built advise and assist force while freeing up our BCTs to be ready for their primary mission." The Army currently has plans to put a total of six Security Force Assistance Brigades in place by the year 2024. With a focus on Infantry and Armor, five of those SFAB's will come from the Active component and one from the Army National Guard. While not currently included in the recruitment process, Active Guard and Reserve Soldiers serving with the Army Reserve are not necessarily excluded from volunteering for the SFAB's either. "The inclusion of AGR Soldiers definitely needs more study" said Clemente. "I think the challenge lies with the way units are authorized AGR Soldiers and the different pots of money that fund them. I would say that if there is a high enough interest level in addition to qualified candidates, then that certainly merits taking a closer look." Ultimately, the Army's newest unit is on track to begin training this fall despite tight timelines and demanding requirements. "We have been building an airplane in flight," Clemente said. "But the end result will provide a permanent advisory force that enhances Army readiness by reducing the demand on our BCTs to provide security force assistance capability." Soldiers interested in volunteering for a position with the Security Force Assistance Brigades should contact their career managers to see if they are eligible. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary General welcomes closer NATO-EU cooperation NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 18 May. 2017 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stressed the progress being made in closer cooperation between the Alliance and the European Union in a meeting with EU Defence Ministers on Thursday (18 May 2017). He highlighted that this cooperation has reached a new level. The Secretary General highlighted cyber defence as an example of tangible progress. During the recent ransomware attacks, NATO issued a warning to all Allies, as well as the EU, and exchanged information with the EU. The EU's cyber security hub CERT-EU has also been granted access to NATO's Malware Information Sharing Platform. "Now NATO and the EU are able to share information in real time on cyber-attacks," said Mr. Stoltenberg. The Secretary General and High Representative Mogherini will report on the progress of NATO-EU cooperation to the Councils of both organisations next month. This cooperation will also be highlighted at the upcoming meeting of NATO leaders in Brussels on May 25. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China, UAE pledge to advance military cooperation People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 09:10, May 18, 2017 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump slams Russia probe as 'greatest witch hunt in US history' Iran Press TV Thu May 18, 2017 3:37PM US president Donald Trump has condemned an investigation into possible collusion between his 2016 election campaign and Russia as the "greatest witch hunt" in the US history. "This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history," he tweeted on Thursday. The tweet came after the US Justice Department appointed a special counsel to oversee the investigation into alleged links between the Trump team and Moscow. "With all of the illegal acts that took place in the Clinton campaign & Obama Administration, there was never a special councel (sic) appointed!" Trump wrote. Former FBI director Robert Mueller was appointed by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to lead the probe which will also look into "related matters." "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 said in a statement on Wednesday. Mueller was at the helm of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for 12 years, between 2001 and 2013. Last week, the US media reported that Trump had asked ousted FBI Director James Comey to drop the investigation a day after former national security adviser Michael Flynn was forced out in mid-February over concerns about his contacts with Russian officials. In a statement released by the White House, Trump said, "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." Trump dismissed Comey last week citing his handling of the FBI investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server while at the State Department. The dismissal sent shockwaves through Washington, with critics accusing Trump of trying to thwart the FBI investigation into Russia's alleged interference in the US presidential election and his possible collusion with the Kremlin. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO not to join combat role against Daesh: Stoltenberg Iran Press TV Thu May 18, 2017 1:28PM The secretary general of the NATO has ruled out the possibility that the Western military alliance would help combat missions against Daesh if it joins the US-led coalition purportedly fighting the Takfiri terrorist group in Iraq and Syria. Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday that NATO members were discussing whether the organization should join the US-led coalition, but he insisted that the alliance would not participate in combat missions even if it agrees to be part of the drive. Stoltenberg, who was briefing reporters in Brussels, said it was "absolutely out of the question for NATO to go into combat operations." He also noted that NATO members had yet to really reach an agreement to allow the alliance to join the coalition against Daesh even though all are individual members of the US-led campaign. "No decision has been taken. The discussion is going on," Stoltenberg said, reiterating that NATO would not bow to pressure by US President Donald Trump, who is seeking a greater role for NATO in the campaign against militants in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. Trump is expected to hold a meeting with allied counterparts in Brussels on May 25. NATO currently provides training and aerial surveillance support to the so-called US-led coalition in Iraq and Syria, while maintaining its military presence in Afghanistan nearly 16 years after it joined the invasion of the country. Reports on Wednesday suggested that a top NATO general had recommended that the members accept Washington's demand for joining the US-led coalition. The coalition began carrying out airstrikes against Daesh in Iraq in 2014, after the terror group seized swathes of land in west and north of the Arab country. The US claims the coalition targets Daesh terrorists. However, the raids, which have done little to dislodge the terror group, have on numerous occasions claimed many civilian lives and inflicted damage on the country's infrastructure. The air campaign and ground operations were later expanded to cover Syria's northeast, where Daesh holds territories and claims its self-styled rule, with Raqqah as its self-proclaimed capital. Syria has repeatedly protested against the US-led intervention, saying it violates its sovereignty. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Meet the Elko Federal Credit Unions CEO ELKO Elko Federal Credit Union is hosting a meet and greet with CEO John Kelly from 5-8:30 p.m. May 24 at the Western Folklife Center. The evening was put together to give the local community the opportunity to get to know Kelly, and spend time with the board of directors and the Elko Federal Credit Union team. In addition to the great company, guests will be treated to appetizers and cocktails. To learn more about Elko Federal Credit Union, visit http://www.elkofcu.org/ or stop by their locations in Elko and Spring Creek. The Western Folklife Center is located at 501 Railroad St, Elko. For more information, visit http://www.westernfolklife.org/. Coldwell Banker in Presidents Circle ELKO Coldwell Banker Algerio Q-Team Realty has been named an International Presidents Circle Office for year-end 2016, one of the highest honors given to Coldwell Banker offices. The achievement of this designation is a testament to the hard work and dedication displayed by all and everyone at the Coldwell Banker Algerio Q-Team Realty office, according to Budge Huskey, president of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Coldwell Banker Algerio /Q-Team Realty exemplifies the standards of excellence for which Coldwell Banker affiliate offices are known, Huskey said. An accomplishment of this magnitude demonstrates a high level of teamwork. Coldwell Banker Algerio/ Q-Team Realty, located at 700 Idaho St. in Elko and 114 Tonka Lane in Spring Creek, can be reached at 738-4078 and 738-9866 and can be viewed on the web at www.CBElko.com. NV Energy provides $49,000 in scholarships RENO The NV Energy Foundation announced it has awarded 32 current high school seniors from northern Nevada with the Powerful Partnership Scholarship and 15 scholarships for current community college students, providing a total of $49,000 in scholarships. Since 2010, NV Energy has awarded nearly $600,000 in scholarships for northern Nevada students and since 2000, has awarded nearly $1.7 million in scholarships statewide. These scholarships support the efforts of students enrolled in higher education at any accredited university, college or trade school. The NV Energy Foundation is proud to provide scholarships, making these incredible recipients academic dreams a reality, said Mary Simmons, Vice President of Business Development and Community Strategy for NV Energy. Each of these young adults have promising futures, and we look forward to learning about their continued success in college and beyond. More than 70 students applied for scholarships, the most in the programs history. The scholarship funds are administered through the Community Foundation of Western Nevada. 2 sales associates honored Kathy Polkinghorne and Kaci Lynch of Elko, sales associates with Coldwell Banker Algerio Q-Team Realty, have been named to the companys 2016 International Presidents Elite. Only the top two percent of all sales associates / representatives worldwide in the Coldwell Banker system qualified for this distinguished group. I am honored to present the International Presidents Elite Award to Kathy Polkinghorne and Kaci Lynch. They are an invaluable asset to the Coldwell Bankera System and have proven their ability on a consistent basis, said Budge Huskey, President of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Coldwell Banker holds itself to a high standard of quality and professionalism. After several years of unprecedented growth in the housing market, it is people like Kathy and Kaci who are ensuring that the Coldwell Banker reputation as a leader in the real estate industry remains strong. Jim Winer, Broker/Owner of Coldwell Banker Algerio Q-Team Realty stated, To be in the top 2 percent of the hundreds of thousands of Coldwell Banker agents worldwide is an amazing accomplishment. KP and Kaci are dedicated to their profession and to their clients and it shows. Saudi regime offensive on Shia town enters 2nd week Iran Press TV Thu May 18, 2017 9:18AM Saudi regime forces have launched a fresh wave of shelling attacks against a besieged town in Saudi Arabia's Shia-populated Eastern Province, as a fierce crackdown on protesters there enters its second week. Saudi troops, equipped with heavy weapons, carried out an offensive against Awamiyah, located some 390 kilometers northeast of the capital, Riyadh, late on Wednesday, firing a full array of weapons, including rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), at different residential areas in the flashpoint town, London-based and Arabic-language Nabaa television news network reported. Other reports said that Saudi armored vehicles stormed the al-Jamimah and al-Shokrollah neighborhoods of the town and rained down heavy fire on residential buildings, destroying civilian cars. Earlier on Wednesday, regime forces had used incendiary bombs, filled with highly combustible chemicals, in the al-Mosara neighborhood. A number of human rights groups and activists have expressed deep concern regarding the use of violent methods to deal with political dissent in the area, warning about high civilian casualties. They also say locals in Awamiyah are suffering from a severe water shortage and are using private generators to produce electricity. There has been no precise figure of casualties among the civilians. According to local sources, the Saudi troops killed a young man, identified as Wahab Fakri al-Ma'yuf, earlier in the day. Last week, Saudi regime forces also shot dead a two-and-a-half-year-old child and a young man in Awamiyah. Lebanon's al-Ahed news website reported that the child's mother was also critically injured in the Thursday attack. Saudi regime forces have been attacking Awamiyah since May 10, after putting the town under a siege, in the wake of fierce clashes with local residents protesting the demolition of the historic al-Mosara neighborhood for a planned development project. Pictures and videos of bulldozers, escorted by heavily armored military vehicles and heading toward the site, have gone viral. Since February 2011, Saudi Arabia has stepped up security measures in the Shia-dominated Eastern Province, which has been rocked by anti-regime demonstrations, with protesters demanding free speech, the release of political prisoners, and an end to economic and religious discrimination. The protests have been met with a heavy-handed crackdown by the Saudi regime. Over the past years, Riyadh has also redefined its anti-terrorism law so as to repress pro-democracy movements. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey urges ouster of US envoy in 'anti-Daesh' coalition Iran Press TV Thu May 18, 2017 8:27AM Turkey has called for the removal of the US official coordinating the international coalition purportedly fighting Daesh Takfiri terrorists in Iraq and Syria amid growing tensions between Ankara and other members of the Washington-led alliance. On Thursday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu accused US diplomat Brett McGurk of backing the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which Ankara views as the Syrian branch of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) that has been fighting for an autonomous region inside Turkey since 1984. "Brett McGurk is definitely giving support to PKK and YPG. It would be useful if this person was replaced," Cavusoglu told the private NTV television. Turkey has stepped up its attacks against PKK positions in northern Iraq and YPG outposts in Syria over the past few weeks. This is while the US administration is set to use YPG forces in a planned US-led offensive to retake Daesh's Syrian stronghold of Raqqah. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has made it clear that he expects a turnaround from Washington on such a move. Tensions are also running high between Turkey and another coalition member, Germany, after Ankara refused to grant permission to German lawmakers to visit their country's soldiers serving in Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey. On Monday, Chancellor Angela Merkel's top spokesman Steffen Seibert condemned Turkey's decision and warned that Berlin would now "look into alternative locations" for its military personnel. Germany has more than 250 troops deployed to Incirlik, using the airbase for flying Tornado jets over Syria and refueling flights as part of the US-led coalition allegedly battling the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group in Iraq and Syria. German Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer suggested that Turkey's rejection of the visit was tied to Berlin's decision to grant asylum to Turkish soldiers accused by Ankara of participating in last year's failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. German media have reported that over 400 Turkish military personnel, diplomats, judges and other officials and their relatives had sought political asylum in Germany. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address White House Again Threatens To Quit NATO If Allies' Spending Does Not Rise May 18, 2017 U.S. President Donald Trump is "pleased" with pledges by NATO allies to spend more on defense, but he would consider withdrawing if they don't honor those pledges, a senior White House official said. "He's at a place now, he would like to stay in NATO...The president is pleased with what he's seeing," the official told foreign reporters on May 17. "But he also is not going to stay in NATO if NATO doesn't make a lot more progress much quicker." Last month, Trump said the alliance was "no longer obsolete" after having frequently criticized NATO allies on the campaign trail for not paying their fair share or doing more to fight global terrorism. NATO's top commanders earlier on May 17 appeared to answer one Trump concern by recommending that the alliance join the coalition fighting the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq. All of NATO's individual members currently are in the coalition. Trump will meet with other NATO leaders in Brussels on May 25 and is expected to keep up pressure on allies to bolster their defense spending. NATO members have committed to spend 2 percent of gross domestic product on defense, but most are far short of that goal. Based on reporting by dpa and AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/white-house-again-threatens-quit-nato -allies-dont-raise-spending-as-pledged/28494735.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey Calls For Ouster Of U.S. Envoy To Anti-IS Coalition RFE/RL May 18, 2017 Turkey is calling for the ouster of the U.S. envoy to the international coalition fighting the extremist group Islamic State (IS), accusing him of supporting Kurdish militias. Brett McGurk is "definitely giving support" to Turkey's outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in Syria, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on May 18. McGurk visited Kurdish-controlled areas in northern Syria on May 17 and met with YPG commanders, according to Kurdish media. "It would be useful if this person was replaced," Cavusoglu told broadcaster NTV after a visit by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Washington this week. Washington and Ankara are at odds over U.S. plans to support the YPG, a Syrian Kurdish militia battling IS militants. Ankara considers the YPG to be a terrorist group linked to the outlawed PKK, which has been fighting a decades-long insurgency in Turkey. The United States and the European Union also consider the PKK to be a terrorist organization. Cavusoglu also said that Germany is free to withdraw its troops stationed at the Incirlik air base near the Turkish border with Syria if it wants to, adding that Berlin should drop its "patronizing approach" to Ankara. Germany says it is considering moving the roughly 270 troops deployed at Incirlik to serve with the coalition against IS if Turkey continues to block German lawmakers from visiting the base. The Turkish move is seen in part as a response to Germany's decision to grant political asylum to Turkish soldiers accused of involvement in a failed coup last July. With reporting by Reuters, dpa, AFP, and Rudaw Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/turkey-calls-for-ouster- of-us-envoy-mcgurk/28495248.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump Decries 'Witch Hunt' After Special Counsel Appointed RFE/RL May 18, 2017 U.S. President Donald Trump has tweeted that he is facing "the single greatest witch hunt of a politician" in U.S. history, lashing out at the latest development in the controversy over suspected Russian interference in the 2016 election. Trump made the remark on Twitter on May 18, a day after the U.S. Justice Department appointed a special counsel to oversee a probe into Moscow's alleged meddling as well as possible collusion between Russia and his campaign. In a separate tweet a few minutes earlier, Trump said "there was never a special councel (sic) appointed" to investigate what he claimed were "illegal acts" carried out by his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton's campaign and the administration of his predecessor, Barack Obama. The president did not provide any details about those allegations. The FBI and Congress are conducting separate investigations into the alleged Russian interference in the election and into whether associates of Trump colluded with Russia to sway the November 8 vote in his favor. The Justice Department's appointment of former FBI chief Robert Mueller as special counsel to oversee the agency's probe, came amid rising demands by U.S. lawmakers for an independent enquiry. The move was welcomed by both Democrats and Republicans in Congress. Outsider Appointment On May 17, U.S. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said he decided to appoint Mueller because it was in the public interest to have an outsider -- not because he believes "crimes have been committed or that any prosecution is warranted." "A special counsel is necessary in order for the American people to have full confidence in the outcome" of the investigation," Rosenstein said. "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," he also said. A special counsel is considered independent because he has the authority to conduct an investigation with a staff of his own choosing and without any requirement to consult with or inform the Justice Department and White House about the course of the investigation. The special counsel also is authorized to prosecute any suspected crimes unearthed by the investigation. Suspicions that the White House may have tried to influence the Justice Department's own investigation of the Russian matter, which the FBI began last year, arose when Trump fired FBI Director James Comey a week ago. Further questions arose on May 16 when reports surfaced that Trump had asked Comey during his first weeks in office to end an investigation into Russia's ties with former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. Comey wrote about Trump's request as well as other conversations he had with Trump in memos that were widely reported by media on May 16. The White House denied Comey's account of his conversation with Trump about Flynn. Several congressional leaders said Trump's request to quash the Flynn investigation may have amounted to obstruction of justice -- a criminal offense in the United States. By the evening of May 17, three congressional committees had demanded to see Comey's memos and were seeking to have Comey testify about his experiences with Trump. Congressional leaders praised the decision to appoint a special counsel -- something Democrats have been urging since last year, with many Republicans joining the chorus in recent days. "I believe Mueller will be independent, he will be thorough, and he will be fair and he's not going to be easily swayed," said Elijah Cummings, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, which is also investigating the Russian matter. Republican Jason Chaffez, chairman of the House oversight panel, said Mueller was a "great selection. Impeccable credentials. Should be widely accepted." 'Undisclosed Russia Contacts' U.S. intelligence agencies concluded earlier this year that Russia interfered in the election, and the FBI's investigation was building on those findings. Moscow has repeatedly denied any interference. In another development on May 18, the Reuters news agency reported that advisers to Trump's election campaign were in contact with Russian officials and others with links to the Kremlin in at least 18 calls and electronic messages during the last seven months of the 2016 presidential race. Citing current and former U.S. officials it did not name, Reuters reported on May 18 that the previously undisclosed exchanges were part of the material being reviewed by investigators probing Russia's alleged meddling in the election and any Trump campaign ties. The 18 phone calls and e-mails took place between April and November 2016, according to the news agency. Six were calls between Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak and advisers to Trump, including Flynn. Contacts between the two accelerated after the election as the two discussed establishing a back channel for communication between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The White House and advisers to Trump's campaign have confirmed four meetings between Kislyak and Trump advisers during that time. There were no immediate reactions from the White House, Flynn, or Russia to the Reuters report. The agency quoted its sources as saying there was no evidence of wrongdoing or collusion between Trump's campaign and Russia in the communications reviewed so far, but the disclosure could increase the pressure on the president and his aides to provide a full account of exchanges with Russian officials and others with Kremlin ties. With reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/reuters-trump-campaign-18-undisclosed -contacts-with-russians/28495356.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Appoints Special Counsel To Oversee Probe Into Trump-Russia Ties RFE/RL May 18, 2017 The U.S. Justice Department on May 17 appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel to investigate possible collusion between Russia and President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign team. The move, which was welcomed by both Democrats and Republicans in Congress, came amid rising demands for an independent probe of alleged Russian efforts to sway the outcome of November's presidential election in favor of Trump and against Democrat Hillary Clinton. U.S. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said he decided to appoint a special counsel not because he believes "crimes have been committed or that any prosecution is warranted," but because he believes "a special counsel is necessary in order for the American people to have full confidence in the outcome" of the investigation. "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 said. A special counsel is considered independent because he has the authority to conduct an investigation with a staff of his own choosing and without any requirement to consult with or inform the Justice Department and White House about the course of the investigation. The special counsel also is authorized to prosecute any suspected crimes unearthed by the investigation. Suspicions that the White House may have tried to influence the Justice Department's own investigation of the Russian matter, which the FBI began last year, arose when Trump fired FBI Director James Comey a week ago. Further questions arose on May 16 when reports surfaced that Trump had asked Comey during his first weeks in office to end an investigation into Russia's ties with former national security adviser Michael Flynn. Comey wrote about Trump's request as well as other conversations he had with Trump in memos that were widely reported by media on May 16. The White House denied Comey's account of his conversation with Trump about Flynn. Several congressional leaders said Trump's request to quash the Flynn investigation may have amounted to obstruction of justice -- a criminal offense in the United States. By the evening of May 17, three congressional committees had demanded to see Comey's memos and were seeking to have Comey testify about his discussions with Trump. After the special counsel was named, Trump issued a statement late on May 16 saying that, once again, there were no questionable ties between Russia and his campaign. "A thorough investigation will confirm what we already know: There was no collusion between my campaign and any foreign entity," he said. "I look forward to this matter concluding quickly." Earlier in the day, Trump had complained about media coverage of the Russian matter, saying that "no politician in history -- and I say this with great surety -- has been treated worse or more unfairly." Congressional leaders praised the decision to appoint a special counsel -- something Democrats have been urging since last year, with many Republicans joining the chorus in recent days. Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer said Mueller, who served as FBI director from 2001 to 2013 during both Republican and Democratic administrations, was the right choice for the job. "A special counsel is very much needed in this situation and Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein has done the right thing," Schumer said. Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leader of the House of Representatives, called Mueller "a respected public servant of the highest integrity." She added that "a special prosecutor is the first step, but it cannot be the last. Director Mueller will still be in the chain of command under the Trump-appointed leadership of the Justice Department." "I believe Mueller will be independent, he will be thorough, and he will be fair, and he's not going to be easily swayed," said Elijah Cummings, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, which is also investigating the Russian matter. Republican Jason Chaffez, chairman of the House oversight panel, said Mueller was a "great selection. Impeccable credentials. Should be widely accepted." Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr, whose committee is also investigating the Russian matter, said appointing a special counsel was a "good decision" that "assures the American people that there's no undue influence" in the Russia investigation. U.S. intelligence agencies concluded earlier this year that Russia interfered in the election, and the FBI's investigation was building on those findings. Moscow has repeatedly denied any interference. With reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-appoints-special-prosecutor -fbi-director-mueller-investigate-trump -campaign-ties-russia/28494698.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Moldovan President Calls EU Aid 'Geopolitical Assistance' RFE/RL's Moldovan ServiceMay 18, 2017 CHISINAU -- Moldova's pro-Russian president, Igor Dodon, has accused the European Union of providing "geopolitical assistance" to his country in order to keep a series of pro-EU governments in power in Chisinau. Speaking in an exclusive interview with RFE/RL's Moldovan Service on May 17, Dodon said he had asked EU officials to freeze a proposed 100 million euro ($111 million) aid package for Moldova. Dodon also said he welcomed a May 16 decision by the European Parliament to postpone for at least a month a vote on whether the EU aid package should be disbursed to Chisinau. "Moldova has received massive support from our external partners, and I want to thank them for this," Dodon told RFE/RL. "But too often it was geopolitical assistance used not so much for the best of the Moldovan people, but for keeping in power a series of corrupt, oligarchic governments." "This is why, when we got the news from our European partners [about the postponed vote in the European parliament] I said it is a pity for the Republic of Moldova, but unfortunately, most of the time this money, was used to prop up the government [of the Democratic Party and Prime Minister Pavel Filip]," Dodon said, adding, "I even told this to [Head of the EU Delegation to Moldova Pirkka] Tapiola." "So if this freeze of aid will create problems for the government and lead to early [parliamentary] elections, it's all for the best. I want early elections." Dodon insisted that the next general elections in Moldova, currently scheduled to take place in 2018, will lead to a parliamentary majority for his political allies in Moldova's pro-Russian Party of Socialists. "We have to start getting used to feeding ourselves. Why was this possible from 2001 to 2007, and now it isn't anymore," he asked rhetorically, referring to the period which coincided mostly with the rule of Communist President Vladimir Voronin. Other Aid Sources Dodon also said he has already launched negotiations with other sources of foreign aid on annual financial support ranging from $500 million to $1 billion per year. However, he refused to confirm whether those negotiations were being conducted with the Kremlin. "Moldova needs external financing -- not to prop up the current government, but for infrastructure, and for improving the quality of life in the country," Dodon said. "You will see next year when the government changes after the early or normally scheduled parliamentary elections. Another majority will come [into parliament], and I promise you, we have already launched negotiations on this [foreign financial support]." "You will see from where," he continued. "And not necessarily from the European Union and from the International Monetary Fund." "There is money in the world," said Dodon, who has visited Moscow multiple times, both before and after coming to power in December. "There are partners. There are friends who are ready to help. And there will be enormous investments." Earlier this month, Dodon's presence by the side of Russian President Vladimir during the May 9th parade in Moscow, raised eyebrows, as he was the only foreign head of state present at the ceremony. Dodon has previously vowed to scrap an EU trade deal in favor of a rival Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union, and has predicted such a turn away from Brussels and toward Moscow would be inevitable if the pro-Russian Socialists come to power through Moldova's next general elections. The position echoes the sudden decision in 2013 by then Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych not to sign an association agreement with the EU under pressure from Russian President Vladimir Putin -- a decision that triggered the pro-Europe Maidan protests in Kyiv that eventually led to Yanukovych's ouster, Russia's annexation of Crimea, and its military intervention in eastern Ukraine. When asked by RFE/RL about his pro-Russia positions, Dodon insisted he is "a pro-Moldovan president and this will not change." "Yes, I have good strategic relations with Russia," Dodon told RFE/RL. "I admitted this openly. But I am not against good relations with the European Union and the United States." "Who made a mistake? The West did," Dodon said. "Why do they play this geopolitical game that I do not want? They financed [corrupt Moldovan] governments during the last seven years because they were afraid of the Russian tanks." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/moldova-dodon- eu-aid-geopolitical-assistance- russia/28495994.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Military Conducting Nearly 100 Special Ops in Africa at Any Time - Report Sputnik News 18:40 18.05.2017 US special operations forces are conducting nearly 100 operations at any time throughout Africa, according to a Special Operations Command Africa (SOCAFRICA) strategic planning report made public on Thursday. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) The October 2016 report was obtained by Vice News under the US Freedom of Information Act and released on Thursday. "At any given time, you will find SOCAFRICA conducting approximately 96 activities in 20 countries," SOCAFRICA commander Brig. Gen. Donald Bolduc stated in the report. In 2010, 3 percent of all US special operations forces deployed abroad were located in Africa, up from just 1 percent four years earlier. By 2016, the number had increased to 17 percent, according to Special Operations Command. In total, there are about 1,700 US commandos deployed throughout Africa and most of them are engaged in counter-terrorism operations with US partner nations. Vice News noted that Bolduc said in the 2016 report the United States is not at war in Africa, but the report lists seven terror groups that are the focus of US attention on the continent: al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, Daesh, Ansar al-Sharia, al-Murabitun, al-Shabaab, Boko Haram and the Lord's Resistance Army (all outlawed in Russia). On May 4, a US service member was killed in an operation against al-Shabaab near the Somali capital of Mogadishu. The service member, identified as Navy SEAL Kyle Milliken, was reportedly fighting alongside Somali forces. The US Africa Command had said earlier that US forces were conducting an advise-and-assist mission alongside members of the Somali National Army. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Joint Chiefs Chair Urges NATO to Officially Join Anti-Daesh Coalition Sputnik News 17:52 18.05.2017(updated 17:53 18.05.2017) The US Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman said the anti-Daesh coalition would benefit from the alliance's official participation. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford has attended the NATO Military Committee meeting in Brussels and said the coalition against Daesh would benefit from the alliance's official membership. "Having NATO as a member of the defeat-ISIS [Daesh] coalition puts them at the table when we have discussions and opens up information and intelligence sharing," Dunford said as quoted by the Defense Department News. At present, NATO has a small number of troops in Iraq assisting local forces with capacity and capability building. Dunford claimed NATO needs to decide about what is the best way to provide additional support. "I think what we will see is NATO will continue with a fairly modest contribution in the near term and political leadership in the coming months will discuss the potential of NATO assuming some greater responsibility in Iraq," he said. The US-led coalition of 68 nations is conducting airstrikes, ground-based and rocket-propelled artillery fire against Daesh in Syria and Iraq. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address S Korea Rejects Tokyo's Complaints Over Seoul's Activities Near Liancourt Rocks Sputnik News 14:02 18.05.2017(updated 14:15 18.05.2017) Seoul dismissed Tokyo's official objections over the operation of a South Korean research vessel in the area around the disputed Liancourt Rocks in the Sea of Japan, Foreign Ministry spokesman Cho June-hyuck said Thursday. TOKYO (Sputnik) Media reported earlier in the day, citing the Japanese Foreign Ministry, that Tokyo had lodged their second formal complaint in two days over the entrance of a South Korean ship in waters near the Liancourt Rocks without prior consent by Japan. "Our stance is that we will sternly respond to Japan's unjust claims to our inherent territory. There is no need for us to ask for prior admission [of the vessel to the sea], and we don't have to do such a thing," Cho told reporters as quoted by Yonhap news agency. The Liancourt Rocks, known as Dokdo in Korean and Takeshima in Japanese, have been administered by South Korea since 1954. Japan, however, has been disputing Seoul's sovereignty over the territory due to historical reasons. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address May 18 Taylor S. Bailey, 19, of Spring Creek was arrested on 529 Parkridge Parkway for driver failure to report accident with unattended vehicle or property, failure to decrease speed or use due care, driving with suspended license, minor in possession of alcoholic beverage in public, and use or possession of drug paraphernalia. Bail $2,685 Robert S. Disney IV, 47, of Wells was arrested at 340 Sixth St. on a warrant for failure by convicted person to register with local law enforcement. Bail: $640 Maelynn M. Esparaza, 22, of West Wendover was arrested at 1491 Pine St. on a warrant for failure to appear after bail of a misdemeanor and intent to utter fictitious bill, note or check. Bail: $1,990 Lester Geeting, 55, of Boulder, Colorado was arrested at 1575 Lamoille Highway on a warrant for failure to appear after bail on a felony. Bail: $10,000 Frankie Holden, 18, of Elko was arrested on Bush Street for a warrant charging failure to appear on a traffic citation. Bail: $415 Blane L. Paige, 24, of Elko was arrested at 1675 Lamoille Highway for failure to appear after bail on a misdemeanor. No bail listed. Christopher D. Theodore, 56, of Coburg, Oregon was arrested on a warrant at the Elko County Jail for failure to appear after bail on a misdemeanor. No bail listed. Challenges can derail Bosnia and Herzegovina from path of stability, Security Council told 18 May 2017 Though Bosnia and Herzegovina has continued its efforts towards membership in the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), negative incidents could still derail the country from the path of peace and stability, a senior diplomat told the United Nations Security Council today. "As we enter the third decade of peace implementation, it cannot be assumed that Bosnia and Herzegovina is on a glide path to a peaceful, viable State irreversibly on course for European integration," said High Representative Valentin Inzko during a briefing on the situation in the country. The Office of the High Representative was created in 1995 to oversee the Dayton Peace Agreement signed by the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia that formally ended the 1992-1995 Bosnian war. "We need to be mindful of the fact that Bosnia and Herzegovina is a complex political and security environment, where negative scenarios can quickly endanger the Dayton Peace Agreement and the progress achieved after Dayton," Mr. Inzko told the 15-member body, stressing the need for the international community to retain all the instruments at hand. In this regard, he supported the EU military force's presence on the ground with an executive mandate and its extension, an issue to be considered by the UN Security Council in November. The EU military force is "a relatively inexpensive but necessary investment in peace and stability in the Balkans," he said, as it provides an essential baseline of physical and psychological security that supports the EU, his Office and other international organizations. Regarding the Euro-Atlantic integration, Bosnia and Herzegovina authorities formally received the EU Questionnaire in December and the adaptation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU took place in the same month. Equally encouraging was the consensus and forward-looking pragmatism demonstrated by the country's Presidency in adopting the so-called Defense Review of military forces last November, one of the requirements to participate in the NATO Membership Action Plan. At the regional level, bilateral cooperation and overall reconciliation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia has continued to improve, he noted. Bosnia and Herzegovina, however, faced some significant challenges over the last six months, including the controversy between Bosniak political representatives and Serb political parties over whether the country should submit a request for revision of the International Criminal Court's 2007 judgment in the genocide case of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia vs. Serbia. In another negative development, Croat politicians have intensified calls for the "federalization," which was understood by some to imply the further ethnic division of the country into three to four "federal units," one of which would have a Croat majority. Further, the situation with regard to rule of law continued to deteriorate, with corruption a serious problem. These "will require continued attention and commitment from the international community," he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China, SE Asian Nations Agree on 'Code of Conduct' for South China Sea By VOA News May 18, 2017 China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have agreed to a framework for a code of conduct in the South China Sea, a development that could ease tensions in the disputed waters. China's foreign ministry said senior officials from ASEAN and China agreed to the framework that establishes guidelines for a final agreement. The terms were reached at a meeting in the southwestern province of Guizhou. China claims ownership of nearly all of the South China Sea, believed to be the source of vast oil and gas deposits, despite partial counterclaims from Taiwan and several ASEAN members. The dispute has created divisions among ASEAN members that usually try to operate by consensus. The issue escalated in recent years as China followed a strategy of constructing artificial islands in the sea that can support regional military facilities. The strategy has provoked intense reaction from other claimants and the U.S., which argues China's actions threaten the ability to navigate freely through the strategically important area. A draft of the framework describes the projected agreement as "a set of norms to guide the conduct of parties and promote maritime cooperation in the South China Sea," adding it is "not an instrument to settle territorial disputes." ASEAN and China adopted a non-binding declaration in 2002 not to use threats or force to assert claims to the territory. But China refused to honor the declaration as legally binding, and instead used the intervening time to build artificial islands. Former Philippines president Benigno Aquino had taken a firm position against China's claims, but relations between the two countries have warmed considerably since last year's election of President Rodrigo Duterte, who has declined to confront China on the issue with the hope of being rewarded with aid and investment. Chinese and Philippine officials will hold their first round of bilateral talks on their part of the dispute in China on Friday. Duterte said on Thursday he would be willing to explore the South China Sea's natural resources along with rival claimants China and Vietnam. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump: Special Counsel for Russia Probe 'Single Greatest Witch Hunt' By Ken Bredemeier May 18, 2017 U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday disparaged the appointment of a special counsel to investigate his campaign's links to Russian interests in last year's presidential election, calling it "the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history!" In a pair of early morning comments on his Twitter account, Trump complained that a special counsel was never named to investigate "all of the illegal acts that took place" in the campaign of his Democratic challenger, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and the administration of his predecessor, Barack Obama. Trump was reacting to Wednesday's appointment of Robert Mueller, a former director of the FBI, to lead the probe into whether any of Trump's aides criminally colluded with Russian officials in an effort to boost the Republican's chances of winning. This came days before Trump is about to embark on his first foreign trip to the Middle East and Europe, and amid questions of whether the U.S. leader has lost his credibility and leverage among foreign partners. At the State Department Thursday, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson came to Trump's defense. "I think the people in the rest of the world do not have the time to pay attention to what's happening domestically here," said Tillerson who's accompanying Trump on the trip. "They are more concerned about what they see happening in the relationship with their country and what we are bringing to address these very serious challenges that are affecting all of us." Tillerson told a joint news conference with his Mexican counterpart. The U.S. intelligence community already has concluded that Moscow meddled in the election to help Trump claim the White House by hacking into the computer files of Clinton campaign chief John Podesta. The anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks subsequently released thousands of his emails that cast an embarrassing look at behind-the-scenes efforts of Democratic operatives to help Clinton win her party's nomination. Mueller assumes his new role as the FBI and the intelligence committees in both the Senate and House are probing Trump campaign links to Russia. Trump has been dismissive of the Russia investigations. He has said the claims of Russia's involvement in the election are excuses by Democrats as an explanation for Clinton's upset loss. Trump said last week that he was thinking of "this Russia thing" as he fired the most recent FBI director, James Comey. On Thursday, the House Intelligence Committee said it has requested documents from the FBI and Justice Department related to the dismissal. Associates of Comey say notes he kept of a February meeting at the White House with Trump showed the president asking Comey to end his probe of Trump's first national security adviser, retired Army General Michael Flynn, whom Trump ousted after it was learned he had lied to Vice President Mike Pence about his contacts with the Russian ambassador to Washington. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein made the Mueller appointment, to the surprise of Trump and his aides. Rosenstein said Mueller's appointment 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." But he added, "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." Before his Thursday Twitter comments, Trump said, "A thorough investigation will confirm what we already know -- there was no collusion between my campaign and any foreign entity." 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 Comey, whose firing by Trump set off a political firestorm in Washington. 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 counsel also would seek indictments and lead court action against anyone charged with criminal acts as a result of discoveries during the probe. Numerous top lawmakers praised Mueller's appointment, saying that it gave them confidence that there will be a fair and thorough investigation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO Allies and partners reaffirm their Warsaw commitments to sustainable security in Afghanistan and to their strong partnership with Afghanistan NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 19 May. 2017 NATO Allies and operational partners contributing to the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission met today (19 May 2017), at NATO Headquarters, to review ongoing efforts in support to the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF) and long-term stability in Afghanistan. The President of Afghanistan, His Excellency Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, the Commander of the Resolute Support Mission (General John W. Nicholson), and the NATO Senior Civilian Representative to Afghanistan (Ambassador Cornelius Zimmermann) attended via video conference. Attendants noted the continued progress made by the Afghan security forces and institutions, just over two years since assumption of full security responsibility by Afghanistan. They also underscored the importance to continue supporting the ANDSF through training, advising and assistance efforts by the Resolute Support Mission. The meeting marked the completion of a process of periodic review of Resolute Support. It reaffirmed the commitment undertaken at the NATO Summit in Warsaw last year to sustain the NATO-led mission as a conditions-based mission, and to keep its configuration under review. NATO Allies and partners today reaffirmed the mission as conditions-based and through a flexible regional model. They also affirmed their support to the ongoing force generation process to ensure that the mission is properly resourced. Today's meeting provided also the opportunity to take stock of the continued efforts by Afghanistan's National Unity Government to boost internal reforms and maintain momentum on key areas for Afghanistan's stability, including good governance, the rule of law, regional cooperation, and the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address South Sudan troops killed 114 civilians in six months: UN Iran Press TV Fri May 19, 2017 3:26PM The United Nations says at least 114 civilians were killed in and around the South Sudanese town of Yei by pro-government forces in the period from July 2016 to January 2017. The UN human rights office on Friday also accused the pro-government troops of committing other human rights violations and abuses in and around Yei, including uncounted rapes and torture. "Attacks were committed with an alarming degree of brutality and, like elsewhere in the country, appeared to have an ethnic dimension," said a report on the findings of an investigation conducted by the UN. According to the report, the abuses included attacks on funerals and "indiscriminate shelling of civilians." South Sudan's army spokesman Colonel Santo Domic Chol Juba condemned the report as "baseless." "This is not the first time the UN has accused the SPLA and tried to portray us as enemies of the people," he said, referring to the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA). "The SPLA is one of the biggest military institutions in the country and it accommodates people from different background and the whole SPLA cannot go out and rape citizens... so it has to be specific that we have seen two or three SPLA soldiers in such location committing such crimes," he said, adding that President Salva Kiir had given orders to punish soldiers who commit rape. The report also exposed "cases of sexual violence perpetrated against women and girls, including those fleeing fighting." They were reportedly often committed in front of the victims' families. "Some of the human rights violations and abuses committed in and around Yei may amount to war crimes and/or crimes against humanity," the report added. Civil war broke out in South Sudan in 2013, when disagreements between President Kiir and then Vice President Riek Machar turned into an armed conflict between their loyalists. While fighting generally subsided early last year, clashes once again intensified in July 2016. Tens of thousands of people have died in the civil war, and more than three million people have been uprooted. According to the report, violence engulfed the once peaceful town of Yei after government forces pursued Machar, who fled with a small group of his followers into the Democratic Republic of the Congo, through South Sudan's Equatorias region following July's clashes. The pursuit led to the eruption of fighting along the route, especially in Yei, an ethnically diverse area by tradition, the report added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Bombs Syrian, Iranian-Backed Forces For First Time, Leaving Eight Dead RFE/RL May 19, 2017 U.S. forces have for the first time bombed a convoy of Syrian government and Iranian-backed militia forces after Russia was unable to keep them from entering an area where U.S. allies have been preparing to battle the Islamic State (IS) extremist group, the Pentagon says. The Syrian-allied forces were threatening U.S. troops and allied rebel forces operating near the town of Al-Tanf on Syria's border with Jordan, and were hit with air strikes after Russian intervention and warning shots failed to deter them, the Pentagon said on May 18. The attack left eight of the fighters dead, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The Syrian government condemned the strike. Bashar Ja'afari, Damascus's lead negotiator at peace talks in Geneva, said on May 19 that it was an act of "aggression" against the country. Asked if the move signaled a broadening of U.S. involvement in the six-year Syrian civil war, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said, "No. We are not increasing our role in the Syrian civil war. But we will defend our troops." Officials said the strikes were also intended as a signal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to keep his forces out of the region where the borders of Jordan, Syria, and Iraq meet, which was designated a de-confliction zone under an agreement between the United States and Russia. It also contains a key highway from Baghdad to Damascus that Iran has used to supply weapons to Syrian forces. The Syrian Observatory said most of the eight people killed in the strikes appeared to be "non-Syrian." It said four vehicles were also destroyed. The United States has led a coalition bombing IS in Syria since 2014, but in the past has avoided engaging with Syria or Iranian-backed forces battling rebel forces there. The Pentagon said it had been operating in the Al-Tanf area for months training partner forces to battle IS. Elsewhere in Syria on May 18, IS attacked several government-held villages in central Syria, capturing at least one of them. The attack left 52 people dead, including more than two dozen women and children, some of whom were beheaded, as well as Syrian troops, the monitoring group said. The observatory said it was the most violent IS attack so far this year. With reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-forces-bomb-syrian -iranian-forces-first-time-syria-al-tanf- leaving-eight-dead-mattis/28497003.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump Travels To Saudi Arabia, Israel In First Foreign Trip RFE/RL May 19, 2017 WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump is heading abroad on his first foreign trip since taking office, as the U.S. capital reels from the deepening crisis surrounding the investigation into Trump's associates and their ties to Russian officials. The Trump administration has been hoping that the visits to Saudi Arabia, Israel, Italy, the Vatican, and Brussels would help him reinforce close U.S. ties with key allies, particularly in the Middle East. But the trip has been overshadowed by Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey, who was overseeing the agency's investigations into communications between Russian officials and Trump associates. News reports later said Trump in February tried to pressure Comey into dropping the probe into Trump's first national security adviser, who had reportedly lied about his Russia communications. The White House also struggled to react to reports that during a visit by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Trump revealed highly classified intelligence about the Islamic State extremist group. The intelligence reportedly came from an Israeli spy in Syria. In a further blow to the White House, the Justice Department announced on May 17 the appointment of former FBI Director Robert Mueller to head a special probe into the Russia connections. Trump lashed out over that development on May 18, saying he was the victim of "the greatest political witch-hunt" in U.S. history. He later said that he "respected the move" but repeated that it was a "witch-hunt" and that "I think it divides the country." "Tomorrow...I'm going to Saudi Arabia, going to Israel, going to Rome, and we have the G7," he said -- a reference to a meeting of Western economic powers in Sicily. "We have a lot of great things going on so I hate to see anything that divides. I'm fine with whatever people want to do, but we have to get back to running this country really, really well." Saudi Arabia and Israel are among the United States' closest allies in the Middle East, and both are supporting of the U.S. effort to end the devastating 6-year-old war in Syria. Experts are also watching to see if Trump will signal any significant change in U.S. policy toward the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, in particular the disputed status of Jerusalem. Trump is scheduled to meet Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas during the trip, as well as Pope Francis, when he travels to the Vatican. In Brussels, the U.S. leader will meet with counterparts from NATO. There, leaders are hoping for a strong show of support following Trump's earlier criticism of the alliance. He repeatedly complained that members didn't contribute enough resources, and that the United States was shouldering too much of the alliance's burden. After the NATO meeting on May 25, Trump is due to meet with other leaders of the G7 -- a group of economic powers that comprises the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, and Japan-- at a gathering in Sicily on May 26-27. Speaking on May 18 in Washington, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who will accompany Trump, told reporters the trip was a signal to the world that the United States was "reengaging" with many of the world's problems. "Many of the leaders, particularly in the part of the world we'll be traveling...are ready for a period of what they view to have been neglect to outright dismissal of their concerns. They're ready for reengagement with America," he said. The trip, he said, "is really one of conveying a message that America is back in terms of our role as a convener, our role as a facilitator to address the daunting challenges that exist in that part of the world, most particularly the challenge of global terrorism and how we confront global terrorism as a global peoples," he said. With stops in the Middle East and at the Vatican, Trump's itinerary is rich in religious symbolism, and officials said the message was unity. "He strongly believes that it is the strength of the faith of people in these religions that will stand up and ultimately be victorious over these forces of terrorism," Tillerson said. With reporting by AP and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-trump-first-trip-abroad- israel-saudi-vatican-nato/28497084.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sweden Unveils Model of Its First Submarine With Tomahawk Missile Capability Sputnik News 17:37 19.05.2017(updated 17:59 19.05.2017) Sweden's Saab aerospace and defense company has unveiled its first conventional diesel-electric-powered submarine designed for using the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM). The model was demonstrated at the IMDEX Asia 2017 show in Singapore. Sweden's Saab has displayed a model of its A26 conventional diesel-electric-powered submarine (SSK) which has been designed with the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile capability (TLAM). The model was demonstrated at the IMDEX Asia 2017 maritime defense exhibition and conference, which wrapped up in Singapore on Thursday. This is the first time when a conventional submarine will carry the subsonic cruise missiles, according to Shephard Media website, which covered the show. Existing boats that have TLAM, the US Navy and UK Royal Navy submarines, are all nuclear-powered (SSN). The submarine will be equipped with a 10m section containing three vertical launch missile tubes, each containing six missiles. The only other land attack capability that is fitted to conventional submarines, the website says, has had to be through missiles fired through the torpedo tubes. "It is no small feat to install a vertical launch land attack capability onto an SSK, but the modular design means that a 10m section can be relatively easily installed. The modular section could also instead contain more batteries or AIP (air-independent propulsion system) depending on the customer requirements," it further explains. The Swedish company has reportedly received interest from a number of countries, which want a land attack capability in a smaller conventional submarine, but would not disclose their names. The experts however suggested that Poland could be among the potential buyers as it fits a number of existing restrictions. "Naturally, the country would have to be a close US ally due to the restrictions in the sale of cruise missiles. Most countries that could procure an A26 of this type either would not be allowed to buy TLAM or have already selected other submarine designs for their sub-surface capability," the website explains. Poland "has close relations with Sweden, and is also a close ally of the US being a part of NATO," it says. Warsaw is considering acquiring three submarines from 2023, with Saab bidding alongside French DCNS Arms industry company and ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems of Germany. In March 2015, Saab signed a contract to build two A26-class submarines for the Swedish Navy in a deal worth SEK 7.6 billion (US $862.4 million), with the first delivery in 2022 and the second in 2024. The new submarine project was intended to be an improved version of the Gotland class, which was considered obsolete around 2015-17 according to Per Skantz, development co-ordinator at the Marine headquarters in Stockholm. In its standard variant the submarine would displace 1,900 tones and have a crew complement of between 17 and 31 men. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address India, Singapore Begin Advanced Marine Drill in South China Sea Sputnik News 11:49 19.05.2017 India has begun advanced bilateral naval exercise with Singapore in the South China Sea on Thursday. The contingent has four warships, one maritime patrol and anti-submarine craft. New Delhi (Sputnik) The Indian ships, Shivalik, Sahyadri, Jyoti and Kamorta, as well as a P8-I maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft will be joined by Republic of Singapore Navy ships Supreme, Formidable, Victory and maritime patrol aircraft Fokker F50 in addition to the Republic of Singapore Air Force F-16 aircraft. Shivalik and Sahayadri are multi-role stealth frigates fitted with Klub anti-ship missile and land attack version of Brahmos missile. INS Kamorta is an anti-submarine warfare corvette while Jyoti is the fleet replenishment tanker of the Indian Navy. "This year's edition of SIMBEX-17 being held in the South China Sea would be the 24th in the series and is aimed to increase interoperability between the Republic of Singapore Navy and Indian Navy as well as develop common understanding and procedures for maritime security operations. The thrust of exercises at sea this year would be on anti-submarine warfare (ASW), integrated operations with surface, air and sub-surface forces, air defense and surface encounter exercises," an Indian Navy statement said. The current exercise will end on May 24. Meanwhile, Indian Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba concluded his five-day visit to Singapore where he met a number of Singaporean defense officials, including the defense minister, chief of defense forces, and navy chief. An Indian Navy statement said the visit "aims to consolidate existing maritime cooperation initiatives as well as explore new avenues". Bilateral cooperation between Singapore and India was first formalized when RSN ships began training with the Indian Navy in 1994. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Experts race against clock to quell Ebola outbreak in remote DR Congo province - UN 18 May 2017 A race against the clock has begun to contain an outbreak of Ebola in a remote northern area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) said today. Twenty cases of Ebola have been reported in the DRC's Bas Uele Province near the vast country's border with the Central African Republic two have been confirmed by laboratory tests and three people have died so far, the agency says. On 9 May, WHO noticed a cluster of unexplained illnesses and death, all with bleeding symptoms in the same area. WHO, the Congolese Government and the medical aid organization, Alima, immediately deployed a team to the field and lab tests confirmed it was Ebola. Two days later, the DRC Ministry of Health officially declared an outbreak of the virus. "It's important to note that Likati Health Zone is one of the most remote parts of the DRC. It is 1400 kilometres from Kinshasa and 350 kilometres from the nearest major town, Kisangani," said Dr. Peter Salama, the WHO Executive Director for Health and Emergencies Programmes, speaking to the press in Geneva. He also said there are only 20 kilometres of paved roads in that area and virtually no functional telecommunications. It is also an area that has been subject to insecurity and displacement. "The Lord's Resistance Army is believed to be active in the area and their displaced populations from the ongoing conflict in the Central African Republic," he noted. With the help of the UN, the first search teams, led by the DRC's Ministry of Health, flew into Likati on yesterday. Their immediate priority is to follow the 400 plus contacts of the suspected Ebola cases. The focus is on surveillance, getting the best information on the suspected cases, diagnosing people who have come in contact with an infected person, case management, isolating those who are infected to prevent the spread of the disease and more importantly engaging with the community, explained Dr. Salama. Meanwhile, the first Ebola treatment centre has been established in the Likati General Hospital. Protective gear has been dispatched to health workers and a mobile lab is being constructed and then deployed to the area. Immediate repairs to air strips and telecommunications are also being carried out. The first six months of the operation are expected to cost $10 million. Risk assessment 'high' at national level; 'low risk' globally WHO has determined overall that the risk assessment for this event is "high" at the national level, medium at the regional level and low at the global level. An experimental vaccine for Ebola is being tested in Guinea, where the first outbreak of Ebola in West Africa was reported. The trials there have been "promising" and the vaccines has proven to be efficient and safe so far, Dr. Salama told reporters, while Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, added that she is encouraged by the rapid response to quell the outbreak. "We have not received an official request from the Government for this vaccine but they have been made aware that this possibility exists both to benefit from this new tool and also to add their support in the testing of this vaccine, she said, reiterating the experimental nature of the vaccine and expressed hope the authorities "will work with us to consider this and make a decision." This is the eighth outbreak in the DRC since 1976. The most recent was in 2014, around the time more than 11,000 people died and some 28,000 cases were reported in the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, mainly in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Senior leaders discuss US space posture By Staff Sgt. Alyssa C. Gibson , Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs / Published May 18, 2017 WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- On May 17, 2017, Air Force senior leaders testified before the Senate Armed Service Committee Strategic Forces subcommittee on military space, organization, policy and programs. Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein, Gen. John Raymond, the Air Force Space Command commander and Lt. Gen. Samuel Greaves, the Space and Missile Systems Center commander, answered questions about the Air Force's current space capabilities and those needed for the future. The team presented the senators with information as to the department's plan for acquiring future and updated space systems to meet the evolution of space as a warfighting domain. "It's obvious, but it's probably worth repeating, that the U.S. is heavily dependent on space, and (our adversaries) know it is a vulnerability," Wilson said. "In any conflict, space will be contested and we haven't always assumed that in the past. There's been a change in culture a change in planning and training going on in the United States military because we cannot take space dominance for granted. While there is a lot more to do, I've been initially pleased by some of the things I see and what the Air Force is doing to improve training, to identify gaps and to experiment with new concepts of operations. Particularly in the last 18-24 months, there's a great deal that is going on with respect to addressing the needs of the nation to be able to prevail in space." More than 80 percent of the Defense Department's space actions are handled by the Air Force, and the service views space as one of its core missions. "Space superiority, like air superiority, is not an American birthright it requires vigilance and action," Goldfein said. "We have many more steps ahead of us, but America's Airmen remain committed to evolving our space organization, strategy, requirements, architecture and forces to adaptand ensure we gain and maintain space superiority." The Air Force has built upon 60 years of space operations by normalizing, integrating and elevating space, and streamlining decision-making for the enterprise. Currently, the Air Force is in a strategic shift from treating space as a benign domain from which the service monitors, senses and reports, to a warfighting domain in which it would fight should a war start or extend into space. According to Goldfein, the DOD and the Air Force are focused on four key areas within the space enterprise. First, solid strategy and policy must be in place for the Joint Chiefs of Staff to act upon. Next, the strategy and policy must be derived into a warfighting concept of operations that not only focuses on joint warfighting, but also integrates space across each warfighting domain. From the concept of operations comes solid acquisition requirements. "We have to acquire at a pace that allows us to be faster than our adversaries who are all investing in ways to take away our advantage," Goldfein said. "And the final element is how to organize, train, equip and present ready forces so the combatant commander can fight should a war extend into space." According to the AFSPC commander, space must be on the same level of acquisition decision authority with deliberate oversight of execution as each of the other warfighting domains. "Operationally, we're very sound we're the world's best space forces, and that shouldn't be lost to anybody," Raymond said. "I do think thoughshould the domain become a contested domain, we have to have the ability to move fast. And that's been one of my focuses to make sure we have the operational policies, processes and procedures, and the acquisition capabilities to move fast." This was Wilson's first Congressional hearing since swearing in as the 24th Secretary of the Air Force. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 45th Space Wing enables nation's space mission By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs / Published May 18, 2017 WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Space launches may soon be an almost weekly sight on Florida's Space Coast. As the need for space lift grows globally, partnerships between the Air Force, other government agencies and the commercial space industry are enhancing the 45th Space Wing's vision of remaining the world's premier gateway to space. With a mission of delivering assured space launch, range and combat capabilities for the nation, the space wing and its Eastern Range assets provide a vast network of radar, telemetry and communications instruments to facilitate the safe launch of all Department of Defense National Security Space, NASA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and commercial operations. According to Brig. Gen. Wayne Monteith, the 45th SW commander, the wing is developing plans to enable a launch a week to meet the growing demand of national, civil and commercial organizations to put capabilities on orbit. Today, the wing is on track to launch 30 times this year and has no plans of slowing down. One key initiative in reducing the time between launches is the implementation of the Autonomous Flight Safety System. The system enables the 45th SW to support more launches by expediting range turnaround times with more stringent safety standards, all while cutting launch costs. However, increasing launch capacity is only one of many achievements at the 45 SW. Over the past several years, the wing partnered with the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office and NASA to activate a new recovery site for the unmanned, reusable X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle. This partnership, along with the program's renovations to the former Space Shuttle Orbiter Processing Facilities, allowed the OTV to land at the Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility on May 7, 2017 after a record-breaking 718 days on orbit. "The Air Force provides space capabilities to protect the country. Increasingly, the American people and commerce depend on Air Force satellites for GPS navigation, timing signals for banking and ATM machines, and communications," said Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson, "The Air Force will continue to work with partners to drive innovation." The Air Force's partnership with NASA is not a one-way street. Col. Jack D. Fischer's arrival on the International Space Station in April showcased not only the Air Force's accomplishments in space, but also its partnership with NASA. During his four-month long stay, Fischer is assigned to Expedition 51, a multi-national team tasked with conducting more than 250 biological, biotechnology, physical and Earth-science experiments, gathering information that may one day lead to a mission to Mars. In March, the wing launched the ninth Boeing-built Wideband Global SATCOM satellite from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. WGS satellites play an integral part in the strategic and tactical coordination of military operations. This satellite will provide the United States and six allied nations with increased communications capabilities to prevent, protect against and respond to attacks. The WGS-9 satellite was funded through an agreement between the United States, Canada, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Australia. Each partner country gains access to the capabilities provided by the full WGS system, which includes flexible and secure communication transmissions in the X- and Ka-band frequencies. "The men and women of the 45th Space Wing and Air Force Space Command epitomize American ingenuity and innovation," said Under Secretary of the Air Force Lisa Disbrow. "Through them, we are delivering safe, reliable, effective, and efficient space launch for our nation and this excellent Air Force team is key to our ability to meet rapidly growing demands for launch services." Air Force space operations have been instrumental in national security power projection in five key space mission areas - support, application, control, enhancement and situational awareness. Through these accomplishments, the 45th SW and the Air Force continue to protect and defend America's advantage in the space warfighting domain. "Since 1954, Air Force leaders and space warriors have been at the cutting edge of technology. From Bennie Schriever, who we acknowledge as the pioneer of military space, through larger than life heroes like Kevin Chilton and Bob Kehler and Susan Helms and now John Hyten and Jay Raymond ... we have consistently broken barriers in space technology. We have and will own the high ground," said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein. On May 17, 2017, Wilson and Goldfein were accompanied by Gen. John Raymond, the AFSPC commander and Space and Lt. Gen. Samuel Greaves, the Missile Systems Center commander when they testified before Congress on the future of the U.S. space policy and posture. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Brazilian Supreme Court Authorizes Opening of Investigation Against President Sputnik News 20:13 18.05.2017(updated 22:20 18.05.2017) Federal Supreme Court minister Edson Fachin has authorized the opening of an investigation against President Michel Temer, Globo TV reported on Thursday without citing a source. The request was made by the Attorney General's Office (PGR). Fachin considered that the alleged crimes were committed during the exercise of the mandate since presidents have immunity for crimes committed before that. The Supreme Court authorization comes after Joesley Batista, the CEO of Brazilian meat processing titan JBS, claimed on Wednesday that he was part of a scheme to buy the silence of disgraced federal deputy Eduardo Cunha. The scheme allegedly involved Brazilian president Michel Temer. Batista also presented the Supreme Court and Brazilian newspaper O Globo with a recording that allegedly provided evidence of Temer encouraging one of his subordinates, former federal deputy Rodrigo Lourdes, to "resolve" a matter with JBS holding company J&F. In a dramatic development, photographs revealing the bribe involving Michel Temer and Aecio Neves were released on Thursday, again, by O Globo. The photos show Loures delivering an amount of 500,000 reals ($159,400), which supposedly would represent the first part of a promised value of 480 million reals. Temer has denied the allegations and is expected to make a public statement about the allegations later in the day. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lift Off: New Chinese Attack Chopper Takes Maiden Flight Sputnik News 22:19 18.05.2017(updated 22:20 18.05.2017) China's latest domestically produced military vehicle has made its first flight. The Z-19 helicopter conducted its maiden flight Thursday morning over the city of Harbin in northeastern China. State-owned AVIC Harbin Aircraft Industry developed the Z-19E attack chopper with the intention of selling it to foreign clients. The Z-19E is "the first export-oriented helicopter made especially for attack purposes," Chinese media reported. It will mainly fill capabilities gaps for foreign militaries seeking ground-target strikes. The helicopter is armed with anti-tank and anti-armored personnel carrier munitions, Xinhua reported. It will also be able to work with special operations forces in reconnaissance missions, Defence Blog noted. China "demonstrated that it was willing to provide arms to both combatants [in the Iran-Iraq war] in quantity and without conditions," according to a US Congressional Research Service report. Historically, Pakistan has been China's biggest client for defense equipment, the brief said. "Most Chinese weapons for export are less advanced and sophisticated than weaponry available from Western suppliers or Russia," the research service said. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ferry Service Launches Between Russia, North Korea Despite U.S. Demands RFE/RL May 19, 2017 A new ferry between North Korea and Russia has docked for the first time at the port of Vladivostok, despite U.S. calls for countries to downgrade relations with Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile-testing programs. The launch of the first-ever weekly service linking Vladivostok and the North Korean port of Rajin on May 18 was also not deterred by North Korea's test-firing of a ballistic missile on May 14 that landed in the sea near Russia. The ferry's Russian operator, Investstroytrest, said it was purely a commercial venture that was developed with no subsidies or involvement from Moscow. Investstroytrest said the ferry will provide transport for North Koreans working in Russia and Chinese tourists wanting to travel by sea to Vladivostok. China has no ports on the Sea of Japan, while Russia -- especially Vladivostok -- is home to one of the largest overseas communities of North Koreans. The ferry will also carry Russian tourists going to North Korea, Investstroytrest said, and will provide a faster route for cargo between the two ports, which currently takes 22 days traveling by land routes. The new service flies in the face of calls by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson for countries to fully implement United Nations sanctions and go further in an effort to step up pressure on North Korea to give up its weapons programs. "We call on all nations to fully implement UN Security Council resolutions, and sever or downgrade diplomatic and commercial relations with North Korea," U.S. State Department spokeswoman Katina Adams said on May 18 when asked about the ferry service. Adams said Russia had an "obligation" under UN Security Council resolutions "to inspect all cargo, including personal luggage, of any individual travelling to or from" North Korea. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on May 18 that the new ferry service didn't fall under existing UN sanctions, however. Japan, whose territorial waters have been violated by some North Korean missile tests, expressed concern about the development. "In our view, all countries, including Russia, should closely cooperate with the goal of preventing provocations [by Pyongyang] and complying with the UN resolutions," Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said. China, which is North Korea's largest trading partner, has held talks with the United States about stiffening UN sanctions. But Russia has taken a more benign stance toward Pyongyang than other major powers. Speaking in Beijing this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow was against North Korea's nuclear program, but the world should talk to Pyongyang instead of threatening it. "We must stop intimidating North Korea," Putin said. With reporting by AFP, Reuters, TASS, and Interfax Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ferry-service-launches -north-korea-russia-vladivostok-despite-us- demands-downgrade-relations/28496989.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pakistan says India has material to make 2,600 nuclear weapons IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Islamabad, May 18, IRNA -- Pakistan said that India has material to make 2,600 nuclear weapons which has serious implications for strategic stability in South Asia and national security of Pakistan. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nafees Zakaria at his weekly news briefing in Islamabad said that India's fastest growing nuclear program is a matter of concern for Pakistan. He said Pakistan has been highlighting the risk of diversion by India to imported nuclear fuel, equipment and technology that it received under the civil nuclear accord and 2008 energy waiver by Nuclear Suppliers Group. The spokesperson urged NSG members to consider risks involved in transfer of nuclear material to India and its NSG membership bid. To a question he said that joint survey of some villages on Pakistan-Afghanistan border has been completed and a decision about reopening of the border would be taken on the basis of its outcome. 272**1723**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address India, Russia Discuss Agreement on New Units for Kudankulam NPP Sputnik News 20:26 19.05.2017 India is working on a memorandum of understanding with Russia for units five and six of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. New Delhi (Sputnik) According to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, discussions on unit five and six of the Kudankulam plant is at the internal approval stage. "Discussions have been held on Kudankulam document. The process is at the stage of internal approval," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Gopal Baglay told media. Earlier, the general framework agreement for units five and six of the KNPP was cleared by the inter-ministerial group. There is every possibility that the MoU for the fifth and sixth units of KNPP will be signed during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Russia for the India-Russia Annual Summit which will be held in St. Petersburg on June 1. Russia is to build all the six nuclear reactors at Kudankulam in collaboration with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India. The first and second units of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Corporation are connected to India's southern power grid, while the third and fourth units are being constructed. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. State Department Issues Report on Human Rights Sanctions on Iran Media Note Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC May 17, 2017 Highlights Iran's Continuing Human Rights Abuses The State Department released today its semi-annual report to Congress detailing sanctions imposed on persons involved in human rights abuses in Iran. The report cites recent sanctions against the Tehran Prisons Organization and Sohrab Soleimani, the former head of the Tehran Prisons Organization, as required by the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions Accountability and Divestment Act of 2010, as amended by the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012. Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Ambassador Stuart Jones gave the following statement on the report: "As we continue to closely scrutinize Iran's 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. We urge our partners around the world to join us in calling out individuals and entities who violate international sanctions targeting Iran's human rights abuses. "Whether it's 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. The U.S. and its partners will continue to apply pressure on Iran to protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms for everyone in Iran. This includes the U.S. citizens wrongfully detained or missing in Iran, and we call on Iran to immediately return them to their families. "In addition to the actions taken today, we are communicating to the U.S. Congress that the United States continues to waive sanctions as required to continue implementing U.S. sanctions-lifting commitments in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. This ongoing review does not diminish the United States' resolve to continue countering Iran's 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. And above all, the United States will never allow the regime in Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon." The report's release coincides with the Department of the Treasury's announcement of new sanctions related to Iran's ballistic missile program. "Last month the Treasury Department imposed the first human rights-related sanctions designations against Iranian individuals and entities since December 2014, and we will continue to pursue initiatives around the world that uphold our core values of promoting and protecting human rights," said Jones. "The Treasury Department is imposing new sanctions on Iranian defense officials, an Iranian entity, and a China-based network that supplied missile-applicable items to a key Iranian defense entity. The action reflects concern with Iran's continued development of ballistic missiles, which is in inconsistent with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231. Iran continues to pursue missile-related technologies capable of delivering a nuclear weapon. 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." See here for the Treasury Department press release. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Analysis: Iran's Younger Generation Positioned To Restore Political Roar David Patrikarakos May 18, 2017 When Mahmud Ahmadinejad was elected to a second term as president in 2009 as a result of what is widely regarded as vote-rigging, Iran's younger generation played a leading role in the massive street protests that ensued and gave birth to the opposition Green Movement. Iran's rulers were shaken. For the first time since the days of the shah, Iranians screamed "death to the dictator!" from Tehran's rooftops. Iran's youth were energized -- and angry. It was Iran's younger generation (60 percent of the country's population is under the age of 30) that was at the heart of the Green Movement, and it was that generation's political spirit that the government sought to crush. The heavy-handed clampdown -- forever seared into memory by the shooting death of 26-year-old philosophy student and protester Neda Agha Soltan -- eventually muted the mass street demonstrations, jailed the moderate opposition's most ardent supporters and leaders, and allowed the establishment to continue on almost as before. For Iran's young, however, it was a different story. Bereft of morale or leadership, they became increasingly apolitical under the second term of the virulently anti-Western Ahmadinejad and watched -- almost helplessly -- as their country became more isolated and more mistrusted and more extreme. It was a source of depression for many Iranians, but an interesting thing happened: as young people became increasingly disenfranchised from politics, they poured their energies into other areas. According to an observer in Tehran who spoke to RFE/RL on condition of anonymity, recent years have witnessed an explosion of creativity in art, music and, above all, theater. As Ahmadinejad railed against the West, Iranian youth sculpted and painted and wrote. As he refused to negotiate over Iran's nuclear program, they directed plays and made underground documentaries. They created an oasis of culture in a political desert. Past Leaves Opening For Future Iran has always been autocratic -- the 1979 Islamic Revolution merely replaced shahs with clerics. Presidential elections in Iran are essentially a tiny democratic tick on an otherwise dictatorial body politic. But in its short life the country's 1905-11 Constitutional Revolution provided a lasting foundation for a parliament and other hallmarks of democracy that could not be abandoned decades later by the founders of the Islamic republic. Preeminent among the lasting democratic ideas was the holding of elections -- prime-ministerial (and later presidential) polls every four years, and parliamentary every two years. Iran's revolutionaries preserved this tradition as they recalibrated the state and rewrote the constitution to suit their new, Islamic, republic. The new model features the election of presidents -- whose power pales in comparison to that of the supreme leader but who have significant influence on domestic and foreign policy and serve as the face of the nation abroad -- but this doesn't mean that they emerge from a democratic exercise. The system is imperfect. The Guardians Council, a 12-member body that includes six jurists directly appointed by the supreme leader, strikes out the overwhelming majority of potential candidates (mainly for being too reformist-minded). This year, of the more than 1,600 who threw their hat into the ring, only six were approved as candidates for the May 19 election. Among those who didn't make the cut was Ahmadinejad, and the field narrowed further when two of the six dropped out of the race. Great Role To Play Enter -- or rather, reenter -- Iran's youth on the political scene. While their political impulse had appeared to die with the demise of the Green Movement, it turns out it merely went into hibernation. "The disappointment of 2009, and the scars of repression pushed some [of Iran's youth] to drop politics altogether," says the observer in Tehran. "But not all -- because in 2013 came [Hassan] Rohani." Rohani, a relative moderate, won the 2013 presidency on a platform of resolving Iran's nuclear crisis and improving its relations with the outside world -- policies that chime perfectly with the under-30 demographic. Now, the incumbent is running for reelection and the view from Tehran is cautiously positive. "Rohani won in 2013 partly by a mobilization of young people," the observer says. "If he wins this election, we can say that the young people will have played a great role." Things on the ground in Tehran are changing almost hourly. The emergence of Ebrahim Raisi, the ultraconservative candidate and confidante of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who along with Rohani is seen as a front-runner, has put a scare into people. If Raisi wins, Iran could see a return to the adversarial stance of the Ahmadinejad days. A dangerous deterioration of relations with Washington -- perhaps increasing the risk of military conflict -- becomes a very real possibility. The view from Tehran is clear. "A few hours before the election, people have woken up," the observer says. "Especially by the fear of Ebrahim Raisi and a return to the past. Rohani has raised the tone, too; he talks about freedoms, women's rights. It affects the undecideds. Young activists have also been mobilized. Many have moved to Tehran or other cities to get people out to vote." The West has talked about regime change in Iran since almost the very beginnings of the Islamic republic in 1979. The truth is that, like the Roman Empire, the system will almost certainly crumble from within. The young, frustrated by the lack of economic prospects and attempts to cut them off from the West, are too numerous to be ignored. Economic mismanagement over the course of decades has left the government unable to find many of them jobs in government like it once did -- and that is dangerous for the ruling elite. While the youth still have a political pulse, it is weak -- at least for the moment. But the ballot box remains one of the few ways for the younger generation to voice its displeasure with the state of affairs in Iran. The situation is not ideal -- their preferred candidate, Rohani, is a pragmatist, not a reformer. He will not give Iran's Western-facing young all the freedoms they want. But he is the best chance they have at seeing the more open Iran they desperately want. And if he wins tomorrow it will be because Iran's youth is, once again, beginning to roar. David Patrikarakos is a contributing editor at The Daily Beast and the author of Nuclear Iran: The Birth Of An Atomic State. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, The Guardian, Politico, Foreign Policy, The Spectator, The New Republic, The New Statesman, and many others Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-youth-positioned- to-restore-political-roar/28495856.html Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraqi volunteer forces recapture 2 airbases from Daesh terrorists Iran Press TV Thu May 18, 2017 4:10PM Iraqi fighters from the Popular Mobilization Units have established complete control over two airbases on the western outskirts of Mosul. Sami Masoudi, a commander of the pro-government forces -- commonly known by the Arabic word Hashd al-Sha'abi -- said in a statement on Thursday that his fellow fighters had liberated Washington military airport west of Mosul, Arabic-language al-Sumaria satellite television network reported. Masoudi said the recapture of the airbase was strategically important as the site would play a major role in supplying weapons and military equipment to Iraqi army soldiers. He further noted that Hashd al-Sha'abi fighters had retaken six villages, including Khalaf Idris, al-Khamisah, al-Madinah and Ayn Fathi, west of Mosul. The developments came shortly after Hashd al-Sha'abi fighters reclaimed control over Sahl Sinjar airbase south of al-Qairawan district. Separately, Commander of Federal Police Forces Lieutenant General Raed Shaker Jawdat said security personnel have retaken 291 square kilometers of land in the western flank of Mosul. The United Nations also said that another 200,000 people might flee their homes as fighting escalates in Mosul. UN humanitarian coordinator Lise Grande said nearly 700,000 people have already been displaced from Mosul ever since Iraqi army troopers and their allies launched a major operation on October 17, 2016 to retake the city from Daesh Takfiri terrorists. "The numbers of people fleeing their homes in western Mosul are overwhelming. They are fleeing under very difficult circumstances. Many are food insecure and haven't had access to safe drinking water and medicines for weeks or months," Grande said in a statement. She noted that Iraqi government and humanitarian aid agencies are rushing in supplies, but because of the large number of displaced "it's becoming more and more difficult to ensure civilians receive the assistance and protection they need." Bomb attack claims nine civilian lives in northern Iraq Meanwhile, at least nine people have been killed in a bomb explosion that ripped through a popular market in the town of Tuz Khurmatu, situated 25 kilometers south of the oil-rich city of Kirkuk. A security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the deadly incident took place when a bomber detonated his explosive-laden belt amongst the crowd. Eleven people sustained injuries in the attack. There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the act of violence. However, Iraqi authorities usually blame such attacks on the Daesh group Takfiri. The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) says a total of 317 Iraqi civilians were killed and another 403 injured in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict in April. According to the UN mission, the worst-affected area was the northern province of Nineveh, where violence took the lives of 153 civilians and left 123 others wounded. Fifty-five people also lost their lives in the capital province of Baghdad, and 179 others sustained injuries there. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address WASHINGTON, D.C.U.S. Senators Dean Heller (R-NV) and Mark Warner (D-VA) reintroduced the Good Samaritan Search and Recovery Act, legislation that allows Good Samaritans, or eligible search and recovery organizations, expedited access to certain public lands so that they may conduct searches for missing persons. Currently, the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture, the federal agencies that have jurisdiction over public lands, must grant permits to Good Samaritan organizations who apply to conduct search missions on public lands. In several cases, the permitting process has taken as long as a year. Heller initially introduced the legislation during the 113th Congress following the discovery of the bodies of Keith Goldberg and Air Force Staff Sgt. Antonio Tucker in the Lake Mead Recreation Area by Good Samaritan search and rescue teams. In both cases, the volunteer search teams had to wait nearly one year to obtain the proper permits and insurance before conducting their searches. Sen. Warners involvement was prompted by the experience of Jodi Goldberg of Alexandria, whose brother, Keith, was killed and whose body was left at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area near Las Vegas in 2012. His family worked for 10 months to get the permits and secure a one million-dollar liability insurance policy required by the National Park Service before it would allow a trained volunteer search and recovery team to search for his body in the national park. The Good Samaritan Search and Recovery Act accelerates the Good Samaritan permit approval process by requiring the Secretary of the Interior and Secretary of Agriculture to issue permits to search and rescue groups for their recovery missions within 48 hours of application. The legislation also waives the federal government from liability and does not require Good Samaritans to purchase liability insurance as a condition of approval. Additionally, the legislation requires the federal agencies to develop a plan to establish partnerships with search and recovery organizations in order to better coordinate search missions. When a loved one goes missing, the last thing any family would expect is the obstacle of the federal governments bureaucracy and the roadblock it creates to finding a missing person, said Heller. It should not take more than 48 hours for eligible, ready, and willing search and rescue teams to obtain a permit to conduct a recovery mission, and my bill makes sure of it. The Good Samaritan Search and Recovery Act is a commonsense bill that highlights the need for an all-hands-on-deck approach to either uniting missing individuals with their families or providing the closure that so many families need. Mosul: 200,000 more people could be displaced as battle nears Old City - UN 18 May 2017 As military operations against terrorists intensify and move closer to Mosul's Old City area, up to 200,000 more people could be displaced, a senior United Nations humanitarian official in Iraq warned today. "The numbers of people fleeing their homes in western Mosul are overwhelming," said Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq Lise Grande in a press release from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Since military operations against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) began in Mosul seven months ago, nearly 700,000 people have been displaced, including 500,000 people from the city's western neighbourhoods. Iraqi Security Forces have made rapid gains in north-west Mosul and ISIL terrorists are reportedly surrounded in the west of the city. "The military battle in Mosul isn't over yet and even when it is, the emergency will continue for months Hundreds of thousands of lives are at stake," said Ms. Grande, stressing the need to re-double efforts to mobilize more resources to assist the people in need. She said many are lacking food and haven't had access to safe drinking water and medicines for weeks or months. Acknowledging the generosity of people in other parts of Mosul who are opening their homes for displaced families, she said: "Without this support, the camps would have been overwhelmed long ago." To date, the $985 million appeal for Iraq is less than 30 per cent funded. About $331 million is being sought for the Mosul assistance. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Moon's special envoy heads to China for talks on THAAD, North Korea People's Daily Online (People's Daily Online) 10:53, May 18, 2017 A special envoy of South Korean President Moon Jae-in headed to China on the morning of May 18 for discussions about U.S. missile defense system THAAD and ways to contain North Korea, Yonhap News Agency reported. The special envoy, Lee Hae-chan, will reportedly hand over a personal letter from Moon Jae-in, explaining the political compass of his new government. Also high on the agenda of Lee's three-day visit will be discussions about a summit between the two countries' heads of state. The former South Korean prime minister is expected to meet with ranking Chinese officials, possibly including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Yonhap reported. At a regular press conference on May 11, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said Moon told Xi during a telephone conversation that Moon thinks highly of China's Belt and Road Initiative, and expects the initiative to bring development and prosperity to China, South Korea and other countries along the route. Moon, who officially assumed office on May 10, has repeatedly criticized the previous administration under impeached leader Park Geun-hye for agreeing to host the THAAD system without seeking parliamentary approval, according to Korean news outlets. In a May 17 report, Yonhap stated that Woo Won-shik, the floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party, said Seoul would consider uninstalling and returning the THAAD system to the United States. Woo also referenced the lack of parliamentary approval for this crucial national security decision. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Modernization of Russian Naval Support Base in Tartus May Take 5-7 Years Sputnik News 17:02 18.05.2017(updated 17:04 18.05.2017) A full modernization of the Russian Navy maintenance and support facility in Syrian Tartus may take five to seven years, Chairman of the State Duma's Defense Committee Vladimir Shamanov said Thursday. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Tartus hosted the Russian Navy maintenance and support facility since 1977. Currently, the Tartus facility is the Russian Navy's only support base in the Mediterranean Sea. "Planned [modernization] measures have already begun. It [facility] will be gradually expanded, and the nearest perspective is from five to seven years. The exact terms will depend on many issues and, first of all, on the allocation of financial resources," Shamanov told reporters. The agreement between Russia and Syria on the expansion and upgrades of the Russian naval maintenance facility in the Syrian port of Tartus was signed on January 18, 2017. The agreement is supposed to be in effect for 49 years and to extend automatically for 25-year periods after that. The deal stipulates that 11 Russian vessels can be present in the harbor of Tartus at once, including the ships equipped with with nuclear marine propulsion, provided that nuclear and environmental safety guidelines are respected. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Strategic Missile Forces Switching to Yars ICBMs - Putin Sputnik News 16:44 18.05.2017(updated 16:45 18.05.2017) Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the share of Yars modern missile systems in Russia's Strategic Missile Forces (SMF) would stand at 72 percent by the end of 2017. SOCHI (Sputnik) The RS-24 Yars was introduced into service in July 2010. It is an upgraded version of the Topol-M ballistic missile that can be fired both from a mobile launcher and silo. The RS-24 Yars (NATO reporting name SS-27 Mod 2) carries ICBMs with multiple independently targetable nuclear warheads and has a range of 6,800 miles. "The Strategic Missile Forces systematically switch to the mobile and mine-based Yars complexes. The Russian Strategic Missile Forces are armed with such modern complexes by 62%, while by the end of 2017 their share will increase to 72%," Putin said. Putin on Thursday held a regular meeting with military commanders and the leadership of the defense industry. The share of modern weapons in Russia's Aerospace Forces will reach 68 percent by the end of 2017, and the share of modern armaments in the Navy will increase to 55 percent by the end of the year, Putin added. "The share of modern weapons and military hardware in the navy is now 47 percent and should by the end of the year increase to 55 percent," he said. "The share of modern weapons in the Aerospace Forces has now been brought to 66 percent, and by the end of this year it should increase slightly and reach 68 percent." On Monday, Putin held another meeting with the Russian Defense Ministry officials and the military-industrial complex enterprises. He said that the Syrian combat experience, as well as the need to protect the country's territory in the west, south-west and the Arctic demands army's rearmament. Putin said that last year 5,600 new types of weapons have been received by the Russian army. Moreover, some 3,000 models of military and specialized equipment were repaired or modernized. He said that this year the Russian Armed Forces must be supplied with advanced weaponry by 62 percent. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump on way to Riyadh, planning to sell $350 billion arms: Pak media IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Islamabad, May 18, IRNA -- President Donald Trump will announce a mammoth US arms package in Riyadh for Saudi Arabia that could reach $350 billion, a Pakistani media report said. It says final details of the largest arms-sales deals in history are still being worked out, but the package will include between $98 billion and $128 billion in arms sales and over 10 years, total sales could reach $350 billion. When President Trump will arrive in Riyadh this week, he will also lay out his vision for a new regional security architecture White House officials call an "Arab NATO". 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. 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 (UAE), Egypt and Jordan, with the United States playing an organizing and supporting role while staying outside the alliance. 272**1723**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Saudi Arabia Hopes to Go Self-Sufficient With Weapons by 2030 Sputnik News 15:56 19.05.2017(updated 15:57 19.05.2017) The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is to establish a state-run arms manufacturing company, which will produce ammunition, rock-launchers, armored vehicles and radars for the country's steadily strengthening military. The country hopes to provide employment to over 40,000 people from within Saudi Arabia to the industry, with a focus on Saudi nationals rather than domestic workers of foreign origin. The Kingdom's government has also put forward the optimistic speculation that the industry could contribute upward of US$3.7 billion annually to the economy. The country's Deputy Defense Minister, Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman is quoted as saying that, "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. 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." The announcement comes at a time when it has been reported that the US is reportedly to enter into a gargantuan arms deal with Saudi Arabia, with Riyadh willing to commit upward of US$350 billion over a ten year period on American weaponry. Saudi Arabia has increased its weapons purchases and military upgrades over the past few years, including the establishment of a "Muslim NATO" force. The government-owned company, Saudi Arabian Military Industries, "aims to become one of the world's top 25 defense companies by 2030," according to a statement by the Saudi Public Investment Fund. Allegedly, President Trump will unveil as part of his trip to Saudi Arabia a joint security pact with the Gulf Kingdom, the details of which are being hashed out by Trump's son in law, Jared Kushner, and Deputy Defense Minister bin Salman. American defense contractors may be both overjoyed and concerned at the recent news. On one hand, it provides them with a new arms manufacturer to enter into joint research and development projects with, but on the other hand it could potentially shrink the monopoly enjoyed by US companies in arms exports to Saudi Arabia. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute said in a report in April that Riyadh was the world's forth-largest military spender, hitting approximately US$63.7 billion. Current, only two percent of the country's security and defense spending is local, but the government says it hopes to reach 50% by 2030. The establishment of a strong Saudi Arms industry could alter the position of the country within the world economy. Currently, it finds itself in cycle wherein much of their oil wealth if churned back into Western economics via arms purchases and investments. The self-sufficiency provided by having a stable domestic arms industry, could change all of that. It was last year, that crown prince bin Salman announced his vision for a 2030 reform scheme to increase the country's income to prepare for a possible future with lower oil-driven revenues. Saudi Arabia has been spearheading a military coalition over the past two years in neighboring Yemen, where it accuses Iran of backing the Houthi rebels as a proxy force. The announcement of the domestic Saudi arms industry will however, come as a great concern to human rights campaigners and activists who have accused the country of indiscriminate launching of missiles and egregious human rights violations. In the worst such case, in September 2015 missile hit a wedding party in the Yemeni capital of Sana'a, in which 131 people were killed. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syria sides agree to discuss draft constitution: UN Iran Press TV Thu May 18, 2017 6:36PM The UN says Syria's warring parties have agreed to set up expert committees to discuss "constitutional issues" as part of efforts to facilitate a political resolution of the deadly conflict in the Arab country. UN mediator Staffan de Mistura's office made the announcement on Thursday. De Mistura held a series of separate meetings with representatives from the Damascus government and opposition groups to discuss "legal and constitutional issues of relevance to the intra-Syrian talks". The sixth round of Syrian peace talks began under the auspices of the United Nations in the Swiss city of Geneva on Tuesday. De Mistura has presented Syria's main opposition bloc, the Syrian High Negotiations Committee (HNC), with a document proposing a team of civil society activists and technocrats tasked with mapping a way forward to a draft law. A new constitution for Syria is one of the four separate topics or "baskets" on the agenda at the ongoing talks, alongside governance, elections and combating "terrorism". Speaking to journalists shortly after the UN's announcement on Thursday, government delegation head Bashar al-Jaafari however said his team had "not discussed any baskets yet". The Syrian diplomat described the UN's earlier plan as "too ambitious". Jaafari also played down that the expert meetings would push the constitutional process forward. "The work of these experts will have nothing to do with the constitution... They will not take decisions." Since March 2011, Syria has been gripped by militancy it blames on some Western states and their regional allies that have long pushed for the ouster of the Damascus government. Several rounds of peace talks have been held in Geneva and the Kazakh capital, Astana. The Astana talks, brokered by Iran, Russia and Turkey, have most recently produced a memorandum of understanding on de-escalation zones in Syria, sharply reducing fighting in the country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Daesh executes over 50 people in northern Syrian villages: Group Iran Press TV Thu May 18, 2017 6:3PM Members of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group have executed more than 50 people in Syria's central province of Hama as they continue to lose more ground in battles against government forces and allied popular fighters. The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that at least 15 civilians and 27 pro-government fighters were killed when Daesh terrorists launched attacks against the villages of Aqarib al-Safi and al-Mabujeh on Thursday. Most of the civilians had been beheaded and mutilated, the Britain-based group said, noting that another 10 bodies were yet to be identified as pro-government fighters or local residents. It added that 15 Daesh militants were also killed in the dawn attack on the two villages. Syria's official news agency, SANA, reported that Syrian army forces and allied fighters had managed to repulse the attack on Aqarib al-Safi village and drive Daesh extremists away. In March 2015, Daesh executed at least 37 civilians and kidnapped 50 others, half of them women, during an assault on the village. Syria has been fighting different foreign-sponsored militant and terrorist groups since March 2011. United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura estimated last August that more than 400,000 people had been killed in the crisis until then. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syria army liberates more areas near one of Daesh's last strongholds in Aleppo: Group Iran Press TV Thu May 18, 2017 9:5AM Syrian army troops have made further advances in the strategic northern province of Aleppo, liberating 12 villages and districts near one of the last strongholds of the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group in the province, a monitoring group says. The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Thursday that the territorial gains had been made in the vicinity of al-Jarrah military airport, located about four kilometers from the northern Syrian town of Maskanah, on the eastern outskirts of Aleppo. The group further said that the Syrian air force had pushed the Takfiri terrorists out of the area. Figures were not made available on possible casualties on the side of Daesh. Syria has been gripped by unrest since March 2011. An assortment of militant groups supported by regional and extra-regional countries has been fighting inside Syria against the government in Damascus. The United Nations (UN)'s Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura estimated last August that more than 400,000 people had been killed in the crisis until then. Recent agreements between Damascus and the opposition have led to a major reduction in fighting. But terrorist groups, excluded from the agreements, continue to be targeted by the Syrian army. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey Not to Take Part in Raqqa Retaking Op Due to Kurds Involvement - Erdogan Sputnik News 18:46 18.05.2017(updated 20:16 18.05.2017) Turkey will not participate in the anti-Daesh Raqqa operation amid the YPG involvement in it, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday. ANKARA (Sputnik) Turkey will not participate in the operation to retake the Syrian city of Raqqa from Daesh (banned in Russia) terrorist group because the United States plans to involve Syrian Kurdish militia YPG in it, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday. "We discussed during the visit to the United States the operation in Raqqa and saw that the US sensitively perceives the operation in Raqqa. We said: if there is YPG there, we will not take part in it, you yourself will conduct the operation. Since your decision on Raqqa is like this, well, good luck," Erdogan said addressing industrialists and entrepreneurs in Istanbul. On Tuesday, Erdogan met with US President Donald Trump in Washington to discuss the Kurdish issue among other topics amid increased tensions over Trump's decision to arm the Syria-based Kurdish militia People's Protection Units (YPG). Ankara considers YPG to be affiliated to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is listed as a terrorist organization in Turkey, the United States and the European Union. The United States have been providing support to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which include YPG, with fighting against IS terrorists in Syria. In November 2016, SDF launched the operation Wrath of Euphrates aimed at capturing Raqqa, de facto IS capital. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The charred car was in such a bad state that almost nothing could be retrieved from it. The body inside the trunk was practically reduced to ashes. But the chassis number gave investigators a lead: the vehicle owner was Pedro Rodriguez, a member of Barcelonas local police force, the Guardia Urbana. And the remains of a prosthetic device that did not melt in the fire confirmed that the victim was Rodriguez himself. Peral and Lopez were arrested for killing a fellow police officer. It happened on the afternoon of May 4, near the Foix reservoir in Barcelona province. The regional police force, the Mossos dEsquadra, have arrested two people in connection with the case: Rosa Peral, the victims partner, and her former boyfriend Albert Lopez. All three are or were members of the Guardia Urbana, and all three had previously been involved in controversial cases and allegations of police abuse. The judge investigating the case in Vilanova i la Geltru has ordered both suspects remanded without bail, and charged them with either homicide or murder: Which one will be determined as the investigation progresses, she said in a release. The day after Rodriguez went missing, Peral and Lopez showed up together a lunch In statements to the judge, both officers accused one another of the death. According to the newspaper La Vanguardia, Rosal Peral told the court that Albert Lopez came to her house, killed her boyfriend and asked her to cover up for him. If you dont help me, I will make your daughters choke on their own vomit, he allegedly told Peral. For his part, Lopez claimed that he found Rodriguezs body inside the trunk of the car, and that he helped burn it down because he and Peral had gotten back together again, La Vanguardia reported. Rosa Peral arriving at the courthouse inside a regional police patrol car. EFE The victim had made news in the past after being suspended by Barcelona City Hall when he physically assaulted a motorist who ran through a road check last summer. His partner, Peral, also made headlines when she reported that an ex-boyfriend also with the local police force, but not involved in this case had subjected her to porno-revenge by sending out a sexually explicit photograph of her after she broke up with him. As for Albert Lopez, he was convicted of assaulting a street vendor, and had been the subject of a complaint on at least one more occasion. Peral and Lopez were patrol car partners at the Daytime Support Unit, which has among its duties the crackdown on illegal street vendors. In August 2014, one of these street peddlers fell down an embankment and died on their beat. Peral sustained injuries to her neck. The case was dismissed. When the Mossos arrested both of them as suspects in Rodriguezs death, Peral said that she and Rodriguez had had a fight on Tuesday night, and that he had not come home after that. Yet she did not immediately report his disappearance, or try to reach him in any way. She said that she had been too busy with her daughters that week, and simply thought that he was taking his time coming back. She was very self-possessed, said people who saw her at the time. The day after Rodriguez went missing, Peral and Lopez showed up together at a lunch with other unit colleagues. Some of them were surprised at seeing them arrive together. Rumor had it that the two had been a couple in the past, and that things had not ended well. Perals attitude seemed suspicious to some. She attended a small tribute organized by her colleagues at the spot where the burnt car had been found, and asked rhetorically: What were you doing here, Pedro? She also asked her superiors for a bodyguard, claiming she was scared for her safety following Rodriguezs murder. The request was granted. Deeply in love The Mossos arrested Peral on Saturday morning, as she was out on duty. They also arrested Lopez. The main theory of investigators is that the two had gotten back together behind Rodriguezs back, that he found out about it, and that this triggered a fatal series of events. Local and regional officials, as well as the police unions, have come out in defense of the Guardia Urbana. Meanwhile, non-profit groups like SOS Racisme are saying that when an officer is the subject of several complaints, he or she should be investigated. Rodriguezs friends are still in shock. He was deeply in love, said one of them. His WhatsApp status seemed to confirm it: After the storm comes the calm. I love you, princess!! English version by Susana Urra. Syrian Army Repelled Daesh Attack on Aqareb East of Hama Sputnik News 15:54 18.05.2017(updated 17:13 18.05.2017) The Syrian army repelled a Daesh attack on the town of Aqareb es Safi located east of the city of Hama. DAMASCUS (Sputnik) The Syrian army repelled a Daesh attack on the town of Aqareb es Safi located in 53 kilometers (33 miles) to the east of the city of Hama, a source told Sputnik on Thursday. "The IS [Daaesh] attack on Aqrab took place in the early hours of Thursday. The fight was intense. The army, backed by militia, managed to repel the attacks. The terrorists suffered great losses," the source said. Some 20 residents were killed and 45 wounded, local media reported. SANA news agency reported that the militants carried out their attack early in the morning killing civilians and looting their houses before the army units arrived to push them back. A medical source told the media that those wounded were admitted to the Salamiyeh National Hospital. On Monday, the army repelled a Daesh attack on a settlement located in 23 kilometers from Aqareb. Aqareb has a strategically important geographical position due to its location near the the M5 north-south motorway linking Aleppo with other Syrian provinces. The Syrian army along with militias loyal to Damascus has been fighting against numerous terrorist groups, including Daesh, within a civil war that has lasted for more than six years. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey Will Respond to Attacks by Syrian Kurds Without Warning US Erdogan Sputnik News 14:38 18.05.2017(updated 16:01 18.05.2017) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told his US counterpart Donald Trump during their recent meeting that Ankara has the right to take necessary measures if it is attacked by the Syrian Kurdish militia People's Protection Units (YPG) without holding consultations with Washington prior to its response, Daily Sabah newspaper reported Thursday. ANKARA (Sputnik) On Tuesday, Erdogan and Trump met at the White House, during which the two leaders discussed among other issues, the Kurds. This topic is particularly relevant as earlier in the month Trump approved a plan to arm the YPG in Syria in order to intensify the fight against terrorists, despite Turkey's objections. During a joint press briefing, Trump said that the US supports Turkey in its fight against Daesh and the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party), which is considered a terrorist organization by Ankara. "We openly told [the US administration] that any attack by the YPG on Turkey will immediately trigger a response as per Turkey's rules of engagement and no one will be consulted prior to our action," Erdogan told reporters after the meeting. Erdogan added that Turkey decided to abstain from joining the Kurdish-led operation to liberate Syria's Raqqa from Daesh terrorist group as the US-backed offensive would involve the YPG. "What we are telling them is this: We cannot be a party to such a policy. We cannot support you. We find cooperation with a terrorist group to free Raqqa wrong We told them to ignore terrorist groups and join us to combat terrorism. Unfortunately, they failed to agree," Erdogan stressed. Ankara considers the YPG to be affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is listed as a terror group in Turkey, the United States and the European Union. However, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) militia alliance, which includes the YPG, have been receiving support from the United States in fighting Daesh terrorists in Syria. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syrian Gov't Forces Regained Initiative From Terrorists in Civil War Sputnik News 12:34 18.05.2017 Syrian government forces have managed to gain initiative in the antiterrorist fight amid the nation's ongoing conflict, the head of the political department of the Syrian Army told Sputnik. DAMASCUS (Sputnik) Syrian government forces, supported by the foreign actors, have managed to push ahead of terrorists in the nation's ongoing conflict and stave off aggression, Col. Usama Khaddur, the head of the political department of the Syrian Army, told Sputnik. "Today I can say that the Syrian Arab Army with the support of its friends and allies was able to suppress this aggressive war and regain the initiative," the military official said. Damascus has successfully taken back control of most Syrian cities, while the militants are currently being besieged in separate territories and engulfed in internal strife, Khaddur said. "For over six years Syria has been in a severe terrorist war due to its geostrategic location This war is led by the terrorist groups, which receive all kinds of military and political support from a very large number of regimes within the region and around the world," the official added. Syria has been in a state of civil war since 2011, with government forces fighting Syrian opposition groups striving to overthrow the president. Damascus is also fighting numerous extremist and terrorist groups such as the Jabhat Fatah al Sham and the Islamic State, both outlawed in Russia. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Calls Grow for Upcoming Syria Talks to Focus on Detainee Conditions By Nike Ching May 18, 2017 With the United States accusing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government of mass killings of prisoners and use of a crematorium to burn the bodies, human rights advocates said the negotiations in Geneva this week on the Syria crisis should make detainee conditions a priority. United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura has been meeting separately with Syrian government and opposition delegations this week during the latest round of talks, hoping to bridge gaps between the rival sides, while ensuring any outcome is consistent with previously adopted U.N. Security Council resolutions. Dubbed as "proximity talks" in which government and opposition delegations are not expected to speak face to face, the latest gathering marks the third round in 2017. Allegations denied The U.S. State Department said on Monday that as many as 50 prisoners a day are being killed at the Saydnaya prison, one of Syria's largest and most secure prison complexes. It alleged that the government of President Bashar al-Assad then uses a crematorium installed inside the Saydnaya facility to hide evidence of the mass killings. Syria's Foreign Ministry denied the U.S. allegation, calling it a "Hollywood story detached from reality." Syria's opposition has been pressing the detainee issue for some time but met with limited progress. Advocacy group Human Rights Watch said its research found the systematic and widespread treatment of detained civilians in prisons across Syria, including Saydnaya prison, amounts to crimes against humanity. . "The parties should agree on ensuring access by independent monitors to Syrian government detention centers and prisons," said Sarah Margon, Human Rights Watch's Washington director. "Ultimately, accountability for the treatment of detainees will need to be part of a comprehensive U.S. policy for Syria," Margon added. Important step for US The rights group also said Washington's recent push on Moscow over the Syrian government's treatment of prisoners is an important step to bring more pressure to bear on Bashar al-Assad's daily atrocities. "The detainee file must be at the forefront of talks in Geneva," according to "Save Our Syria," a coalition of Syrian civil society and humanitarian groups, adding, "In order for the Syrian political process to be credible, it must deliver concrete progress on the detainee file a chief concern for the hundreds of thousands of Syrian families that have been affected by Assad's mass detention." Past Geneva talks have produced the agreement that the warring sides will discuss agendas including a new constitution, reformed governance, new elections and the fight against terrorism, but progress has not yet been made. 'Slim at best' Some analysts said the chances of progress at the new talks at Geneva are "slim at best." "Detainee issues will be a priority for the U.S. and for the U.N., but the Syrian government will simply deny everything. Progress on the issue is unlikely," Daniel Serwer, professor of conflict management at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies told VOA. This week's talks follow a deal by Russia, Turkey and Iran to arrange and monitor the so-called "de-escalation zones" in Syria to reduce the violent conflicts. "These new accusations from the State Department appear to be an attempt to pressure Russia even more strongly into exerting influence on Assad to play by the rules of law," Middle East Institute Senior Fellow Charles Lister told VOA. "For now, the international community's energy would be better focused on talks aimed at de-escalating the conflict on the ground in order to generate conditions more amenable to a meaningful political process," he added. Competing agendas In Geneva, a spokesperson from the High Negotiations Committee, the main Syrian opposition group, said on Wednesday, "We're here to try to save lives; but, the other party does not care about the lives of Syrians." Russia and the United States both regard the Islamic State militant group as an enemy and share limited information about terrorist threats. But the two nations have competing agendas in Syria, where Moscow has deployed military assets and personnel to support Assad. The top U.S. diplomat for the Middle East, Acting Assistant Secretary Stuart Jones, urged Russia to "exercise its influence over the Syrian regime to guarantee that horrific violations stop now" with great urgency. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey: German troops welcome to leave Incirlik Iran Press TV Thu May 18, 2017 3:58PM Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has hit back at German threats to pull its troops out of a key NATO base on its soil near Syria. Cavusoglu said Thursday that Germany was welcome to withdraw its troops from Incirlik air base in southern Turkey if it desired. "If they want to leave, let's just say goodbye," he told Turkey's broadcaster NTV, adding, "That's up to them and we won't beg." Cavusoglu also aired a previous grievance over Germany's decision to prevent him and other Turkish ministers from holding rallies on German soil before Turkey's April 16 referendum on expanding presidential powers. "If what we are doing is blackmail, then what was that?" he said. He was responding to comments from German politicians, who have raised the prospect of withdrawing troops from the base in southern Turkey. Turkey have prevented German lawmakers from visiting the country's soldiers at the base in response to Berlin's decision to grant asylum to Turkish soldiers accused of participating in last year's failed coup. Germany has about 250 military personnel stationed there, flying Tornado surveillance missions over Syria and refueling flights for partner nations allegedly battling Daesh militants. Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel in an interview with German newspaper Neue Osnabrucker Zeitung accused Ankara on Wednesday of "looking to blackmail" the German parliament. "If it is not possible to work normally at Incirlik - and this includes visits by German parliament lawmakers - then we will have to look for alternatives," Gabriel said. "I can only hope that the Turkish government will change its mind in the coming days. Otherwise, the parliament will no longer let our soldiers go to Turkey," he added. German Chancellor Angela Merkel earlier denounced Turkey's position as "unfortunate" and said Berlin would search for alternative bases, including in Jordan. Since Germany's military missions always require parliamentary mandates, "it is absolutely essential that our lawmakers are able to visit our soldiers," Merkel said. Over the past year, ties between the two NATO allies have been strained due to a number of issues, including Germany's move to grant asylum to alleged coup supporters. Their ties further strained during the recent Turkish referendum aimed at boosting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's powers and after Turkey jailed Deniz Yucel, a journalist for Die Welt daily, on charges of being a German "agent." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukrainian Navy's Flagship Frigate Breaks Down Immediately After Costly Repairs Sputnik News 15:15 19.05.2017(updated 15:34 19.05.2017) The Hetman Sahaydachniy, Ukraine's sole frigate and the flagship of the country's Navy, has broken down almost immediately after undergoing costly repairs. Speaking to Sputnik, military observer Alexander Perendzhiev said all the signs point to officials having simply stolen the money allotted for repair work. Military prosecutors in southern Ukraine have initiated a lawsuit against a contractor in the port city of Mykolaiv. The company had been entrusted to repair the frigate's diesel engine propulsion system, but the engine broke down shortly after repairs were said to have been completed. Prosecutors say the company has failed to fulfill its obligations, and to deal with the engine defects under warranty in the agreed-upon timeframe. "Taking into account the possible negative consequences for the combat readiness of the Ukrainian Navy, and with the aim of rectifying the legal violations, the military prosecutor's office has appealed to the court with a claim for the recovery of punitive damagesin the amount of 668,000 hryvnia [$25,000 US]," a press statement on the General Prosecutor's Office said. Ukrainian media previously reported that the Hetman Sahaydachniy had been sent in for repairs last week. The Defense Ministry was reported to have allocated a total of 14.5 million hryvnia (about $550,000 US) for the repair work. Asked for comment, Russian security and military expert Alexander Perendzhiev, an associate professor at the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, told Radio Sputnik that the story says a lot about the state of the Ukrainian military, and the country in general. The expert noted that in normal practice, when a ship is accepted back into the Navy following repairs, it undergoes readiness checks, and tests to check the quality of repairs. Unfortunately, Perendzhiev added that "as we can see, in Ukraine today this concept either no longer exists, or exists only formally. I believe that this case seriously stinks of the theft of funds." Pointing to the fact that the Leninskaya Kuznitsa Shipyard, the contractor responsible for the repair of the frigate, is owned by none other than Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, the observer noted that the present situation borders on the absurd. "Here we have the supreme commander-in-chief, who is supposed to be interested in a strong army and navy!" In this case, "everything came down to doing the repair work in such a way as to economize as much as possible, and to put as much as possible into [officials'] own pockets." "But corruption cannot lead to anything good, particularly in the military sphere," Perendzhiev stressed. "What we are seeing here is a very vivid picture. This isn't just any ship, but the flagship of the Ukrainian Navy. If it is not ready for combat, what can be said about Ukraine's other ships?" Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The vote of no confidence that the leftist political group Unidos Podemos is due to present today in Spains Congress now has its alternative candidate for prime minister: pony-tailed Podemos party leader Pablo Iglesias. The proposal for the vote by the anti-austerity party, which was born out of the so-called 15-M popular protest movement in Spain in 2011, is motivated, according to Podemos, by the fact that Spain is living in a state of democratic exception, with constant public looting, in reference to the numerous corruption cases that continue to plague the governing Popular Party (PP) . Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias in the Spanish Congress. Carlos Rosillo (EL PAIS) The timing of the vote is significant, given that it will be formalized just 48 hours before the election of a new secretary general for the Socialist Party (PSOE) Spains largest opposition party at primaries due to be held this weekend. Candidates in that ballot include Andalusia regional premier Susana Diaz, former party secretary general Pedro Sanchez, who lost out at Spains two most recent general elections, and Patxi Lopez, the one-time premier of the Basque Country. The motion is doomed to fail as the three candidates for the PSOE leadership have said they will not support it Pablo Iglesias announced his intention for a vote of no confidence on April 28, and since then has been negotiating with other political forces and consulting with its grass-roots supporters about the move. But since Monday there has been nothing to stop the party from tabling the vote, given that its voters assented to the maneuver. The presentation of the motion is urgent, said the partys parliamentary spokesperson, Irene Montero, at a press conference on Tuesday. The urgency is directly proportional to the urgency of the situation in which this country is living when the PP is feeding off the institutions. The motion will be tabled today, Friday, but without a candidate that has been agreed on by the other political parties. That said, under the Spanish Constitution, whoever emerges as the new PSOE leader could stand as a candidate, given that there is a two-day time frame after the motion is filed to present alternative candidates that is, until Monday or Tuesday. For the debate of no confidence itself, a minimum of five days has to pass from the filing until it is held, but the speaker of Congress has the right to set the date it will eventually take place. The three candidates for the PSOE leadership: Patxi Lopez, Susana Diaz and Pedro Sanchez. In a bid to display the support of the public for the vote of no confidence Podemos has organized a protest march in the center of Madrid for Saturday, chartering buses from all over the country to bring in supporters. The demonstration will take place from 6pm onward and will count on the participation of the main Podemos party leaders and their allies. Regardless of this support, the motion is doomed to fail in parliament, given that the three candidates for the leadership of the PSOE have announced that they will not support it (accounting for 85 votes in Congress), although Pedro Sanchez has not ruled out presenting his own candidacy. The PP (governing in the minority, with 137 seats), Ciudadanos (32) and the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) will also vote against the motion. Unidos Podemos counts on the support of the left-wing, green Compromis coalition (four deputies) and 11 other votes from other smaller parties. For the no confidence vote to prosper, Podemos would need an absolute majority of 176 votes. Spain is living in a state of democratic exception, with constant public looting Podemos For years now, the PP has been mired in a serious of corruption cases, the biggest of which involved an alleged slush fund overseen by its former treasurer, Luis Barcenas. However, over recent months a series of new scandals has come to light, the most recent of which involves Ignacio Gonzalez, a former regional premier of Madrid, who is now being investigated for alleged irregularities while in office. The perception of a corrupt political class in Spain has contributed to the rise of new parties such as Podemos and Ciudadanos, who have campaigned on platforms promising to clean up Spanish politics. Their success effectively brought an end to the two-party PP-PSOE system in Spain that had been in place since the country returned to democracy toward the end of the 1970s, with little separating the PSOE and Unidos Podemos in recent opinion polls. English version by Simon Hunter. Eco Oro Shareholders file Application with British Columbia Securities Commission to Cease Trade Recently Issued Options TORONTO, May 18, 2017 /CNW/ - Courtenay Wolfe and Harrington Global Opportunities Fund Ltd., concerned shareholders of Eco Oro Minerals Corp. (TSX: EOM) (Eco Oro or the Company), provide update to shareholders of Eco Oro in respect of the recent outrageous issuance of options by the Company, certain disclosure deficiencies and the status of the ongoing legal and regulatory proceedings in connection with the current proxy contest. Options Issuance Application Made to Cease Trade Options According to the Company's Q1 MD&A, on May 8, 2017, the Company granted 1,980,000 options to officers and employees of the Company, as well as 1,650,000 options to the directors (including 300,000 issued to Ms. Stylianides). Of the total 3,630,000 options issued, 2,310,000 vested immediately. This action is completely at odds with the Company's past practices and public disclosures. For example, in its management information circular dated March 27, 2017, the Company states it has "historically established a practice of granting stock options ... on an annual basis after the Company's annual general meeting". The only purpose of the options issuance appears to be entrenching the Board and circumventing the Ontario Securities Commission's April 23, 2017 order (described below). The directors know that they have lost the confidence of the current shareholders by virtue of the fact that a majority of shares (excluding the March 16, 2017 issuance of 10.6 million shares (the New Shares) to insiders) have been voted against them. In such circumstances, the current directors have no moral or legal right to issue shares or securities convertible into shares. This conduct raises significant concerns and engages the public interest mandate of the British Columbia Securities Commission. As a result, we have made an application pursuant to section 161 of the Securities Act (British Columbia) to permanently cease trade the options issued on May 8, 2017. Serious Disclosure Concerns in Q1 MD&A Notwithstanding the Company's earlier public statements that it had sufficient funds to meet its obligations and the fact that it had $16.6 million of cash as at March 31, 2017, in its Q1 MD&A it stated that it "is uncertain as to whether it has sufficient funding to satisfy all of the costs of its budgeted activities over the remainder of 2017". According to the Q1 MD&A, the Company also appears to have been in default under the Investment Agreements as a result of delays in obtaining various security-related documents. However, the Company has never disclosed this fact before, which we believe is in breach of securities laws. In addition, it was noted that the Company could be facing an event of default by May 24, 2017 under the contingent value rights certificates as a result of its extravagant spending in order to entrench the directors. We view these comments as threats to destroy shareholder value. The directors of the Company have been rejected by the shareholders and therefore must be particularly careful in this interim period to ensure that they take all necessary steps to protect the interests of the Company and its shareholders. If the directors fail to do so, we will pursue all available remedies to hold them personally responsible. Court and Commission Proceedings The OSC Order On March 27, 2017, we commenced an application before the Ontario Securities Commission. The OSC proceeding was an appeal from the decision of the Toronto Stock Exchange approving the issuance of the New Shares on conversion of unsecured convertible notes (the TSX Decision) and a public interest application to set the New Share issuance aside. On April 23, 2017, the OSC issued an order (the OSC Order) with reasons to follow. In its order, the OSC: set aside the TSX Decision; prevented the New Shares from being voted at any Eco Oro shareholders' meeting; required that the issuance of the New Shares be approved by disinterested shareholders no later than September 30, 2017, failing which, the issuance of the New Shares was to be reversed; and cease traded the New Shares. Eco Oro has filed a notice of appeal to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Divisional Court) from the OSC Order. Steps are being taken to try to expedite the appeal. Assuming the OSC Order is upheld, we are confident that we have the votes to win this proxy contest and reconstitute the Board of Eco Oro. More than 90% of shareholders (excluding Participating Shareholders) have voted against the Board. The British Columbia Proceedings On March 22, 2017, we filed a petition with the Supreme Court of British Columbia seeking to set aside the issuance of the New Shares on the basis of oppression. On April 24, 2017, two sets of reasons were released. The first dismissed the oppression petition, and the second adjourned the shareholders' meeting originally scheduled for April 25 to a date set by the Board before September 30, 2017. The adjournment was ordered on the court's own motion and without notice to any party. We have filed a notice of appeal to the British Columbia Court of Appeal from both decisions. On May 8, 2017, the British Columbia Court of Appeal granted an expedited hearing in respect of the appeal of the adjournment decision for May 23, 2017. Acting Jointly or in Concert Application On May 11, 2017, the Company launched a lawsuit against numerous shareholders of the Company alleging that they have been acting jointly or in concert. In our view the lawsuit is frivolous and vexatious. Since we began our efforts to reconstitute the Board, the directors and management of Eco Oro have repeatedly made these frivolous allegations in an attempt to intimidate shareholders and shut down public dissent. Their tactics have failed, and now having lost the vote, the Company is resorting to desperate measures by initiating this litigation. Our Commitment Our commitment to reconstitute the Board remains firm. The entrenched Board of Eco Oro continues to desperately hold onto power notwithstanding that, on two separate occasions, more than 90% of the non-Participating Shareholders have voted against management and the current Board of the Company. Once again we wish to thank all shareholders who have steadfastly supported us in this protracted proxy fight. SOURCE Concerned Shareholders of Eco Oro Minerals Corp. TORONTO, May 18, 2017 /CNW/ - AuRico Metals Inc. (TSX: AMI),("AuRico" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an Impact Benefits Agreement ("IBA") for the Kemess Underground Project with Takla Lake, Tsay Keh Dene and Kwadacha, collectively Tse Keh Nay ("TKN") an alliance of three Sekani First Nations. The IBA provides a framework that formalizes the long-term co-operative relationship between AuRico Metals and the TKN First Nations over the life of the project. The IBA captures the mutual commitment to consult and maintain an open, respectful and cooperative relationship throughout the development and operation of the Kemess Underground Project. The IBA further provides for meaningful TKN participation in Kemess Underground through training, employment, business opportunities, environmental protection and other means. The Tse Keh Nay Chiefs stated; "In order to celebrate the success we have achieved today, we must look back to the path that got us here. The original plan for Kemess North was to use Amazay Lake as a tailings pond. It was through our struggles to protect that sacred lake that the Tsay Keh Nay alliance was reunited and strengthened. Through the development of the Kemess Underground Project the Tsay Keh Nay alliance has remained strong; and continues to support each other in the pursuit of environmental integrity, cultural revitalization and community health. Today, Tse Keh Nay recognizes the environmental commitment made by AuRico Metals, and the respect for Tse Keh Nay rights, interests and genuine collaboration with the Tse Keh Nay alliance. Tse Keh Nay is excited about the opportunities and benefits that will be created by Kemess Underground through the IBA." Chris Richter, President and CEO of AuRico stated; "The signing of this IBA is a significant step forward for the Kemess Underground Project and further solidifies our strong relationship with our First Nations partners. We are grateful to have their support for the development of Kemess, which is expected to deliver significant economic opportunities and benefits to the region and all project stakeholders for many years to come." About AuRico Metals AuRico Metals is a mining development and royalty company with a 100% interest in the Kemess property in British Columbia, Canada. The Kemess property hosts the feasibility-stage Kemess Underground Gold-Copper Project, the Kemess East Exploration Project, and the infrastructure pertaining to the past producing Kemess South mine. AuRico's royalty portfolio includes a 1.5% NSR royalty on the Young-Davidson Gold Mine and a 2% NSR royalty on the Fosterville Mine, as well as a portfolio of additional producing and pre-production royalty assets located in North America and Australia. Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information Except for statements of historical fact relating to AuRico Metals Inc. certain information contained herein constitutes "forward-looking statements" as such term is used in applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements include statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or include words such as "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "believes", "considers", "intends", "targets", or negative versions thereof and other similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as "may", "will", "should", "would" and "could" in particular, statements related to the future development of the Kemess Underground Project and the expected economic benefits from the project. We provide forward-looking statements for the purpose of conveying information about our current expectations and plans relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. By its nature, this information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. Other than as specifically required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, whether as a result of new information, future events, results or otherwise. SOURCE AuRico Metals LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM--(Marketwired - May 19, 2017) - Horizonte Minerals Plc, (AIM:HZM)(TSX:HZM) ('Horizonte' or 'the Company') the nickel development company focussed in Brazil, is pleased to provide an update on the significant advancements the sustainability team has made towards the Installation Licence ('LI') submission for its 100% owned Araguaia Nickel Project ('Araguaia' or 'the Project') which is being developed as the next major nickel project in Brazil. Highlights The award of the LI together with mining concessions would permit construction of the Project Increased sustainability team with experts from a range of fields, including specialists sourced from within the Para State for fauna & flora campaigns Flora studies and programmes are being prioritised with a 25-day field work programme currently in progress Discussions held with Para's Federal University to look at options regarding the uses of slag product from Araguaia Socio-economic activities progressing positively ongoing engagement with the local community and social, economic and resettlement specialists have visited the site Focused on managing water requirements in the most sustainable way possible catchment scale hydrology and hydrogeology model being produced Horizonte CEO, Jeremy Martin said, "Horizonte is taking the appropriate steps to ensure it builds a resilient long term nickel business and that it plays a positive wider role in the Araguaia region. By drawing on the experience and talent of our team, we are implementing quality procedures during this development stage of the Project to provide a strong operational platform as we move towards the construction stage. The community continues to demonstrate a strong interest in the Project's progress, which is perceived as a key social and economic driver in a region where the average wage is low. "I look forward to providing an update on the further progressions towards the Installation Licence in due course." About the Project and Sustainability Activities Araguaia, which is 100% owned by Horizonte, is located on the eastern margin of the State of Para, north-eastern Brazil, to the north of the town of Conceicao do Araguaia (population of 46,206), south of the main Carajas Mining District. The Project has good regional infrastructure including a network of Federal highways and roads, with access to low tariff hydro-electric power. The Company is focused on delivering a 14,500 tonnes per annum nickel operation and anticipates a life of mine of 28 years. With this in mind the objective of the sustainability programme is to lay the foundations for a robust, long-term nickel mine. Specifically, the team aims to integrate the Vale dos Sonhos deposit into the advanced permitting schedule; obtain the Installation Licence and progress all other permits/licences which enable the Company to commence construction. The Brazilian mine permitting process with environmental agencies has three key stages: 1. The preliminary licence ('LP'), which confirms government approval for the viability of the project; 2. The LI, which permits the start of construction; 3. Finally the licence to operate (LO) awarded after construction is complete. The LP for Araguaia was approved in May 2016 with consideration of the terms set out in the Company's Social & Environmental Impact Assessment, and conditions outlined by the State Environmental Agency. Once the LI is awarded in parallel with the mining concession, construction may start. Recent Activities The Company is pleased to report that its safety track record during the Project's development to date, is good with no lost time hours. In terms of its sustainability team, the Company has hired new specialists in environmental and social disciplines. They bring a wealth of experience to the Project, including involvement in both Vale's Onca Puma nickel mine and Anglo American's Barro Alto and Codemin nickel mine. Local interns from State training and university institutions have also commenced work at the Project. Additionally, the team has been bolstered with regional experts from the Para State, including fauna & flora specialists hired through the Emilio Goeldi Museum of Belem, a research institution linked to the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. The institution also plays an important educational role in the country through the dissemination of knowledge and research of regional flora and fauna. An environmental team including biologists from Para State are on site for a 25-day work programme to complement flora collections previously undertaken in the region. The flora team will also conduct the inventory for flora suppression required to commence mine and plant construction. New fauna inventories are expected to commence in June/July 2017. In parallel the socio-economic team conducted numerous community presentations throughout 2017 in rural areas where the deposits are located. Consultants have also met with Para's Federal University to commence studies on possible uses of Araguaia's slag product. Air and gas monitoring has been collated over a 12-month period. Finally, a catchment-scale model has been created by Environmental Resources Management ('ERM') hydrology specialists in the United Kingdom in conjunction with Horizonte and ERM teams in Brazil. ERM is one of the leading independent environment and social consultants in the world and is highly experienced in preparing key environmental permits for mines in Brazil. This includes environmental impact assessments, environmental control plans and studies to support permits for large-scale projects. ERM supports the development and financing of hundreds of major projects around the globe every year and helps projects meet international environmental and social standards, including those of the IFC, the World Bank, Equator Principles, and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) amongst others. For further information visit www.horizonteminerals.com. About Horizonte Minerals: Horizonte Minerals Plc is an AIM and TSX-listed nickel development company focused in Brazil, which wholly owns the advanced Araguaia nickel laterite project located to the south of the Carajas mineral district of northern Brazil. The Company is developing Araguaia as the next major nickel mine in Brazil, with targeted production by 2019. The Project has good infrastructure in place including rail, road, water and power. Horizonte has a strong shareholder structure including Teck Resources Ltd. 17.9%, Lombard Odier Asset Management (Europe) Limited 14.11%, Richard Griffiths 13.8%, JP Morgan 8.98%, Hargreave Hale 6.84% and Glencore 6.4%. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION Except for statements of historical fact relating to the Company, certain information contained in this press release constitutes "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the potential of the Company's current or future property mineral projects; the success of exploration and mining activities; cost and timing of future exploration, production and development; the estimation of mineral resources and reserves and the ability of the Company to achieve its goals in respect of growing its mineral resources; and the realization of mineral resource and reserve estimates. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is based on the reasonable assumptions, estimates, analysis and opinions of management made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made, and are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to risks related to: exploration and mining risks, competition from competitors with greater capital; the Company's lack of experience with respect to development-stage mining operations; fluctuations in metal prices; uninsured risks; environmental and other regulatory requirements; exploration, mining and other licences; the Company's future payment obligations; potential disputes with respect to the Company's title to, and the area of, its mining concessions; the Company's dependence on its ability to obtain sufficient financing in the future; the Company's dependence on its relationships with third parties; the Company's joint ventures; the potential of currency fluctuations and political or economic instability in countries in which the Company operates; currency exchange fluctuations; the Company's ability to manage its growth effectively; the trading market for the ordinary shares of the Company; uncertainty with respect to the Company's plans to continue to develop its operations and new projects; the Company's dependence on key personnel; possible conflicts of interest of directors and officers of the Company, and various risks associated with the legal and regulatory framework within which the Company operates. Although management of the Company 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. 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. Judge grants Company's application for business rescue; liquidation now stayed. VANCOUVER, May 19, 2017 /CNW/ - Rockwell Diamonds Inc. ("Rockwell" or the "Company") (TSX:RDI; JSE:RDI) provides an update to the interim liquidation application brought by C-Rock Mining Limited (''CML'') against three subsidiaries of the Company, which resulted in a provisional winding-up order having been issued by a judge in Kimberley, South Africa on March 23, 2017 in respect of Rockwell Resources RSA (Pty) Ltd (Rockwell RSA), HC van Wyk Diamonds Ltd (HC van Wyk) and Saxendrift Mine (Pty) Ltd (Saxendrift). The Company's subsidiaries again attended in court in Kimberley, South Africa on May 18, 2017. The only issue at hand in the hearing was three applications to have the three subsidiaries placed in business rescue (as opposed to liquidation). The application was successful. The orders placing the subsidiaries in business rescue support the Company's contention that there is a reasonable prospect of rescuing the subsidiaries and restoring them to long-term profitability. The effect of the order is that the joint business rescue practitioners will oversee the affairs of the subsidiaries, work alongside the Company's management to right the businesses of the subsidiaries, and prepare a business rescue plan (to be approved by creditors of the subsidiaries) aimed at ensuring a return to commercial operations. The immediate effect is that all legal proceedings against the subsidiaries are stayed, and the liquidation process is suspended. The Company will also pursue its criminal and civil claims against CML and certain individuals involved in the business of CML. The business practitioners are Messrs. Peter van den Steen and Trevor Murgatroyd of Metis Strategic Advisors, who have been appointed by the Court on an interim basis, subject to ratification by creditors within the next 10 business days. They will be in contact with the creditors of the subsidiaries in the next week to make the necessary arrangements. In addition, they will work with management to review and refine the current business plan and assess whether there are further opportunities for optimization and implementation of the plan and report and represent progress to the creditors. The strategy remains the completion of the ramp-up of Wouterspan Mine to full production and to assess and where feasible implement measures to further increase production. A strategic review of all assets and opportunities will be conducted to assess possibilities of realizing short term value which may assist in expediting the repayment of creditors, and to ensure the businesses have sufficient capital to return to normal commercial operations where required. Business rescue is similar to Canadian work out arrangements, although a major distinction in South Africa is that commercial decisions are made by the management of the company in business rescue (the business rescue practitioners and directors), not the judge which is the practice in Canada. One similarity to the Canadian process is that the Company will need a court order to exit business rescue and to do so, the practitioners will have to be satisfied that the business is sound enough to meet its obligations as they fall due for the subsequent six months after exit. About Rockwell Diamonds: Rockwell is engaged in the business of operating and developing alluvial diamond deposits. The Company also evaluates consolidation opportunities that have the potential to expand its mineral resources and production profile and provide accretive value to the Company. Rockwell is known for producing large, high quality gemstones comprising a major portion of its diamond recoveries. This is enhanced through a beneficiation joint venture that enables Rockwell to participate in the profits on the sale of the polished and certain re-traded diamonds, which are not beneficiated. Rockwell has set a strategic goal to become a mid-tier diamond production company. In pursuit of this goal the Company has embarked on a strategy to grow its Middle Orange River ("MOR") operational base and minimise production and recovery volatility by setting a medium term target to process 500,000m3 of gravels per month from its MOR operations. Rockwell's common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the JSE Limited under the symbol "RDI". No regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained in this news release. Forward Looking Statements Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include uncertainties and costs related to the transaction and the ability of each party to satisfy the conditions precedent in a timely manner or at all, exploration and development activities, such as those related to determining whether mineral resources exist on a property; uncertainties related to expected production rates, timing of production and cash and total costs of production and milling; uncertainties related to the ability to obtain necessary licenses, permits, electricity, surface rights and title for development projects; operating and technical difficulties in connection with mining development activities; uncertainties related to the accuracy of our mineral resource estimates and our estimates of future production and future cash and total costs of production and diminishing quantities or grades of mineral resources; uncertainties related to unexpected judicial or regulatory procedures or changes in, and the effects of, the laws, regulations and government policies affecting our mining operations; changes in general economic conditions, the financial markets and the demand and market price for mineral commodities such as diesel fuel, steel, concrete, electricity, and other forms of energy, mining equipment, and fluctuations in exchange rates, particularly with respect to the value of the US dollar, Canadian dollar and South African Rand; changes in accounting policies and methods that we use to report our financial condition, including uncertainties associated with critical accounting assumptions and estimates; environmental issues and liabilities associated with mining and processing; geopolitical uncertainty and political and economic instability in countries in which we operate; and labour strikes, work stoppages, or other interruptions to, or difficulties in, the employment of labour in markets in which we operate our mines, or environmental hazards, industrial accidents or other events or occurrences, including third party interference that interrupt operation of our mines or development projects. For further information on Rockwell, Investors should review Rockwell's home jurisdiction filings that are available at www.sedar.com. SOURCE Rockwell Diamonds Inc. Spain was one of the first countries known to have been affected by the recent WannaCry cyberattack that froze up computers across the planet and asked for money in return for unlocking user files. A screen shot of the WannaCry message demanding ransom in Taipei, Taiwan. RITCHIE B. TONGO (EFE) This was due to the transparency of Telefonica, the Spanish telecoms giant, which confirmed the computer attack on Friday morning. Soon after that, news emerged that the WannaCry ransomware attack had crippled several hospitals in Britains public health system, infected computers at the shipping company FedEx and created trouble at Nissan and Renault car assembly plants. I think that a lot more [companies] were affected, but are keeping quiet about it Sergio de los Santos, cybersecurity expert China and Russia in particular were severely affected due to their heavy reliance on pirated software that is not subject to Microsofts periodic security updates, experts note. In Spain, the National Cybersecurity Institute (Incibe) confirmed on Monday that 1,200 computers were affected by two variants of WannaCry. Experts consulted by EL PAIS describe this figure as very low, considering the impact detected at Spanish companies. I understand that Incibe does not give out figures that are based on estimates, but it makes no sense to talk about such a low infection rate when you have huge companies like Telefonica that were affected, says Vicente Diaz, an analyst and security researcher at Kaspersky Lab, a multinational cybersecurity company. The impact was tremendous, because this cyber attack was designed to spread across companies. The bigger [the company], the worse [the impact], said Sergio de los Santos, who is Innovation and Labs Leader at ElevenPaths, Telefonicas cybersecurity unit. Telefonica acknowledged last Friday that it had been affected by the cyberattack. Efe I think that a lot more [companies] were affected, but are keeping quiet about it, he adds. There is a lack of transparency, and I dont think thats the right way to go. The cyber attack happened on a global scale and it could have affected anybody. The fact that we were open about it helped in some way to contain it and to initiate an early investigation into what happened. De los Santos, who is personally involved in the Telefonica investigation, told EL PAIS that the company is 100% operative and everything is back to normal, even as the investigation continues in partnership with the National Cryptology Center and Microsoft. Hospitals in trouble One source who has insider information about several Spanish companies that were affected by the attack said, on condition of anonymity, that one major hospital group is having a rough time right now. Everything has gone to hell. Most public hospitals in Spain have taken preventive measures. Health workers at the Salamanca Clinical Hospital and the Cruces University Hospital told this newspaper that several services on their internal network were affected by the cyber attack, but that patient treatment was in no way compromised. All the health centers consulted by this newspaper said their computers are running on the Windows 7 operating system, which still gets updates from Microsoft. Unsolved mystery The biggest mysteries namely, how the first infections occurred, and why they all started on the same day in different parts of the world even though they spread through local networks remain unsolved, notes this expert. De los Santos also underscored that companies have trouble keeping up with software updates: A month is an unmanageable time frame for many organizations. Big companies often have to test patches first to make sure that the products and services they offer will not be affected. Often there is no time for patches. You are always running a risk, and normally nothing serious ever happens until it happens. The impact was tremendous, because this cyber attack was designed to spread across companies Sergio de los Santos, cybersecurity expert This expert foresees that some companies will now take some proactive action on cybersecurity issues, but that once the ransomware attack becomes old news, we will forget all about it, as usual. It happened in 2003, in 2008, and it will happen again. Vicente Diaz, of Kaspersky, concurs. We never learn. English version by Susana Urra. Opposition forces in Brazil have taken to the streets calling for the new presidential elections in the wake of the release of details of an audio recording in which embattled President Michel Temer can allegedly be heard authorizing the payment of hush money to Eduardo Cunha, the former speaker of the lower house, and who is currently in prison for corruption. A protester against Brazilian president Temer in Sao Paulo. REUTERS More information La oposicion brasilena se moviliza para pedir nuevas elecciones Echoing the calls for change that came in 1984 when tens of thousands of Brazilians demanded the end of the countrys two decades of dictatorship, the opposition including high-profile figures such as former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of the Workers Party and head of the Sustainability Network (Rede) Marina Silva have gathered together using the slogan Diretas, ja (elections now) in response to revelations published in the O Globo newspaper. Nobody has heard the recording in question, and the government denies its existence. But according to the paper, Temer, who has already said he will not stand down, was secretly taped discussing monthly payments to Cunha to ensure his silence concerning what is widely thought to be his vast knowledge about corrupt dealings prosecutors are now investigating as part of the massive corruption case involving the state oil company Petrobras. Any popular presidential election now would benefit Lula who is riding high in the polls but faces corruption charges The publication of the allegations in O Globo has seen the opposition call for the resignation of Temer, who has failed to win the hearts and minds of Brazilians in his year in office. But the holding of a popular ballot to choose a new president is not straightforward, as it would require a change to the countrys Constitution. Currently, the resignation of a president can be followed by new direct presidential elections only if these are approved by Congress and if they take place within two years of the last such vote. But if that two-year period has already expired, as is currently the case, it is the Brazilian Congress who selects and votes on a new candidate. Opposition forces in Brazil are against this indirect election option because they feel it would compound the problems of legitimacy facing the present administration. Temer is the former second-in-charge under Dilma Rousseff, who was removed from office in 2016 after impeachment proceedings were launched against her by the now-imprisoned Cunha. He therefore came to power without an election having been held. Michel Temer (left) and Eduardo Cunha in March. In fact, a petition calling for the Constitution to be amended so that a direct presidential election can be called was lodged in Congress several months ago. A commission to study the proposal was even set up and could be reactivated if the political will was there. The proposal on the table makes provision for the calling of elections 90 days after the president leaves office, thus allowing time for the necessary constitutional reform a convoluted process that, even if pushed through as quickly as possible, is unlikely to take less than two months. One of the obstacles in the push for political consensus in Brazil is that any election held now would likely benefit Lula, who is riding high in the polls, but who is also a suspect in five separate investigations. Any final verdict in these cases, including a possible sentence banning him from public office is still a long way off. But if Lula were to win presidential elections, he would enjoy political immunity. Former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is hoping to make a return to the top job despite being named as a suspect in five corruption cases. Reuters Beyond elections, a second option for the removal of Temer is impeachment a lengthy process that needs to be approved by the two-thirds of both Congress and the Senate. Alternately, the Supreme Court could, if it finds evidence of criminal wrongdoing on the part of Temer during his time in office, seek approval from Congress to remove him. Again, this would require the vote of two-thirds of both the Congress and the Senate. There is a third possibility: one that is perhaps the fastest of all. On June 6, Brazils Electoral Supreme Court will look at banning Rousseff and Temer from public office over alleged illegal financing during the 2014 presidential campaign. If Temer is slapped with a ban an outcome that may be unlikely as the tribunal is headed up by a magistrate considered close to Temer a provisional president would take power. That person would be charged with calling presidential elections within 30 days. Under the present rules, that would be an indirect election, with the Congress making the final decision on who is to run the country. English version by George Mills. Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval signed a law on Wednesday outlawing licensed therapists from attempting to talk children out of being gay, an exercise that leading medical organizations say has been scientifically disproven.The law will prohibit psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, nurses and other clinical counselors in Nevada from attempting anti-gay conversion therapy on people under age 18 beginning next year.Some parents seek the treatment at anti-gay camps or religious-based therapy in an attempt to change children's sexual orientation."This bill is a major step forward in building a more equal and inclusive state," said sponsor Sen. David Parks, a Las Vegas Democrat.Nevada becomes the eighth state to ban the practice on children, according to LGBTQ rights think tank Movement Advancement Project, joining California, Connecticut, Illinois, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon and Vermont. New York prohibits private health insurance from covering conversion therapy and bars its use at state mental health facilities. Given the fact that government is the institution requiring equal pay and that public-sector salaries are often publicized, one would think that women would be better off as civil servants.Think again.According to a recent report from the online salary data firm Pay Scale, public administration has one of the highest gender pay gaps of 21 industries and professions. Women in the field, on average, make 25 percent -- or $16,900 -- less than men. Only finance and insurance; professional, scientific and technical servicing; and mining and quarrying have a bigger gap.There are many reasons for the disparity.Its not always that men are paid more than women for doing identical jobs. For one, men are far more likely to rise through the ranks in government and make more as a result. The gap is also a historical artifact of days when equal pay for equal work wasnt a generally accepted principal in human resources. When women make less than men and across-the-board raises are handed out, the pay gap lives on even while everyone takes more money home.But those reasons are true for practically any industry and dont explain why public administrations gap is so high.Lisa Maatz, vicepresident of government relationsfor the American Association of University Women, has a couple of guesses: Theres greater longevity in public-sector jobs, so pay gaps put into place years and sometimes decades ago tend to remain for a longer period than they would in the private sector. In addition, job transfers between and within departments tend to happen more often in government, so its easier for salary histories to follow employees around.Equal pay for equal work, generally, is still a big problem. Its a rampant issue, says Maatz. But as taxpayers, we have a vested interest in paying fairly. Taxpayer money shouldnt be used to discriminate [in the public sector].Some people would say that if women would just ask for more, theyd get more. And there are studies that show that women are increasingly willing to negotiate, says Maatz. But you cant negotiate around downright discrimination.To prevent discrimination, some states and cities are starting to take salary histories out of the equation. In the past year, politicians in Massachusetts , New Orleans, New York City and Philadelphia have all signed bills or executive orders to make it illegal for employers -- both public and private -- to ask job applicants what they made in previous positions. But Philadelphias new law, which was supposed to go into effect this month, has been temporarily put on hold by a federal judge in a lawsuit filed by the Chamber of Commerce.By nature of being women, some employers assume they should be paid less when they come in. But thats reinforced over time. So our solution was to say, lets not ask about pay history, says Ryan Berni, New Orleans deputy mayor of external affairs.Minnesota still asks employees about their salary history, but even so, its been remarkably successful at addressing pay equity. Female employees there made 69 percent of male employees' salaries in 1976, according to Edwin Wilson, deputy commissioner of the states office of management and budget. By 1982, it was 74 percent. In 1993, it was 84 percent. And in the most recent survey, done earlier this year, it was 95 percent -- one of the smallest pay gaps in the country.Minnesota has focused specifically on the pay gap for state workers by confronting the so-called motherhood penalty, the assumption that women are going to drop out of the workforce for a while when they have children, which places them at a disadvantage when it comes to promotions and pay. The state makes it easier for women -- and men -- with children to work by creating flexible work environments that allow for teleworking and paid parental leave.While Minnesota is closing the gap, it has reportedly widened in Texas. There, legislators threats to privatize government jobs have kept the state from being required to pay employees a living wage, according to Seth Hutchinson, president of the Texas State Employees Union.As a result, its not just women who are impacted but children and taxpayers, too: According to Hutchinson, 10,000 children of Texas state employees are on Medicaid, the governments health-care program for the poor. Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley on Thursday night emotionally apologized to the police union after the city "mistakenly" issued a proclamation in honor of a man who killed Officer Sonny Kim nearly two years ago.The father of Trepierre Hummons posted a proclamation on Facebook declaring June 1 as "Tre Day," prompting Cranley to issue an apology letter to the Fraternal Order of Police. Cranley's office also sent a letter to Ronald Hummons officially retracting the proclamation.Cranley, who's been a strong supporter of law enforcement, was visibly broken during a press conference standing alongside FOP President Dan Hils at the police union hall in Over-the-Rhine."This was a huge mistake," Cranley said. "It's not done intentionally. It's human error, but the buck stops with me.""I love our police department," he said, breaking down in tears. "I would never do anything to hurt them." A Growing Threat Cybersecurity Challenges The massive cyberattack that has infected computers in at least 150 countries this past week hasnt had a major impact on the federal government. But it has struck at least one county and several universities and prompted some state and local agencies to scramble to beef up their protections against the virus.In the Chicago area, the virus showed up on computers in some Cook County government offices. MIT and several other universities reported that some of their computers also had been compromised. In Connecticut, the state court system briefly shut down some of its computers to update anti-virus software. And in Michigan, state officials quickly began installing extra protection on servers, work stations and public kiosks.State IT officials say they often dont have enough money to effectively fight sophisticated cyber threats. And the scale of this one has made them even more concerned.This is a big wake-up call because it is cyber disruption, said Doug Robinson, executive director of the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO). States and local government need to address this because its a serious threat. We have urged states to take action immediately.Cybercriminals launched the fast-moving virus, dubbed WannaCry, last Friday. So far, it has infected more than 300,000 machines in countries from Russia to Brazil. Its victims have included Britains National Health Service, universities in China and Germanys train system.The attackers used ransomware, malicious software that hijacks computer systems, encrypts data and locks machines, holding them hostage until victims pay a ransom or restore the data on their own. Hackers demanded $300 to $600 in payments in bitcoin, digital currency that is transferred all over the internet, which makes payments difficult to trace.WannaCry spread across computers that run on Microsofts Windows operating systems. While Microsoft issued a patch, or security update, in March to protect against the virus, many systems that used older versions the company no longer supported remained vulnerable. Microsoft released special patches for the older versions after the cyberattack.Cybersecurity experts say theyre not sure why more computer systems in the U.S. havent been infected. But they caution that state and local governments still could be affected.Weve been getting a lot of emails from them wanting to know what they should do, said Brian Calkin, a vice president of the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center, a federally funded group that tracks cybersecurity issues for states and local governments. Our advice is to apply patches and keep your antivirus software up to date. Who knows what will happen?Hackers using ransomware increasingly have been attacking local governments, hospitals and police departments across the U.S. City and county governments, along with local school districts, have seen an exponential rise in threats in the last two years, said Srini Subramanian, a state cybersecurity specialist at the consulting firm Deloitte & Touche LLP. Victims have ranged from small police departments in Maine to a large hospital in Los Angeles.Even if government officials decide to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars in ransom, their computer networks and communications are often crippled for a day or more by the viruses. And if they dont pay, it can sometimes take days or even weeks to get their systems back up and running. In the meantime, public services for residents, schoolchildren and even hospital patients may be affected.While federal officials say the WannaCry ransomware attack apparently has only raised about $70,000 in ransom and the infection rate has been lower in the U.S. than in many other parts of the world, they caution that the crisis may not be over, as the malware morphs into other forms that could threaten more networks.Some state and local officials say they arent taking any chances.In Connecticut, the judicial branch this week performed preventive maintenance on its computer system at courthouses statewide, said spokeswoman Rhonda Stearley-Hebert. She said some parts of the system had to be shut down briefly, including at New Haven Superior Court, where cases were delayed for two hours Monday as staffers installed a software update.In Auburn, Massachusetts, Information Technology Director Mike Marino said his office installed anti-ransomware software this week on every computer on the network, including those at the municipal building, senior center, library and fire stations.Auburns school department was hit by a ransomware attack about a year and a half ago, and Marino said he doesnt want town offices to go through that kind of situation. Just the work required to get things back up and running is so time intensive, he said. Plus, any files that arent able to be backed up are just lost.Michigan took emergency steps to upgrade its network with the latest patch as soon as officials learned of the global cyberattack, said Rajiv Das, the states chief security officer. As of Thursday, all the work was completed other than at some employees desktops and kiosks used by the public.Right now, we are watching very carefully. This is definitely not the end, Das said. If you ask me, Im worried. Thats why my team is on guard.In Cook County, WannaCry was discovered on a small number of systems, according to spokesman Frank Shuftan. He said as of Thursday, almost everything had been restored and staffers were making additional security improvements, but he would not give any more details, citing security reasons.For IT chiefs at the state and local government level, the failure to protect computers is often a matter of dollars or indifference, said Dan Lohrmann, chief security officer for Security Mentor, a national security training firm that works with states.Some agencies may have the funding to do updates; some may not. Some may be interested in doing it; some may not, he said. In many cases, its very decentralized. So its more like herding cats.While cybersecurity has become the top priority for state IT officials, funding is often inadequate, according to a 2016 survey of top IT security officers from 48 states by NASCIO and Deloitte. The report found that in most states, spending on cybersecurity was only a fraction of the overall IT budget, ranging from zero to 2 percent.And while most elected and appointed state officials said they are very or extremely confident that IT security officials are well-prepared for cyber threats, the report found that only about a quarter of the security officials responsible for dealing with the threats were very or extremely confident that adequate measures are in place to protect the data.NASCIOs Robinson said a global, organized cyber threat like WannaCry shows how important it is for those measures to be in place.I dont think its over. Theres the chance they will regroup and do another targeted attack, he said. States need to patch their operating systems when the patches are released. They need to work to strengthen their firewalls and back up their computers. They need to be ready. Description GIS - 19 May, 2017: One should embark on an adventure of faith confronting risks and challenges and academic excellence at Higher School Certificate (HSC) level is the beginning of the journey not the end. This statement was made yesterday by the President of the Republic, Dr Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, at a reception held in honour of the 2016 HSC Laureates at the State House in Reduit in the presence of the Prime Minister, Minister of Home Affairs, External Communications and National Development Unit, Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth and Minister of Education and Human Resources, Tertiary Education and Scientific Research, Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun. The President lauded the 2016 HSC laureates for their remarkable and exceptional performance. She underlined that a certificate is a demarcation of education level but at the same time, it should reflect attitude, character-personality and righteous actions. It also indicates the distinctive achievement of the young Mauritian brains and the relentless efforts of parents as well as educators, she added. Speaking on the development of the youth, Dr Ameenah Gurib-Fakim , compared the journey of an individual to that of a navigator who has to gear up using his navigation skills and quick decision making in order to boldly venture in unexplored territories. Thus, she appealed to the youth to maximise on their learning to help to resolve daunting issues and stimulate new technologies for the benefit of the society in the future. For his part, Prime Minister Jugnauth stated that laureates should be placed at the forefront of societal transformation in order to induce creation, innovation and technology for a higher scale global competitiveness. He also called upon the laureates to put the knowledge and the experience that they will acquire abroad at the service of the country. He added that the strength of the youth resides in their capability to adapt and demonstrate resilience in a rapid changing global economy. Government, highlighted the Prime Minister, recognises that the strength of an economy is highly dependent on the intellect of the youth and the proper functioning of the socio-economic system relies on the efficiency of human resources. He underscored that Government will continue to value education and academic excellence and that no stone will be left unturned to encourage hard working youngsters. The Education Minister, Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun, stressed on the need to drive away the apprehension of the youth concerning unemployment. She further noted that youngsters should be responsive and they should judiciously make their choices for higher education as well as career path. She underlined that the laureates including other youngsters are eligible to the numerous facilities provided by Government to acquire entrepreneurial skills, launch their own enterprises and in turn, generate jobs in the Mauritian economy. Ridiculous or funny exam answers may be an internet staple but Gabriela Jarsun de Banfield, an English teacher at the Antonio Mentruyt School on the outskirts of the Argentinean capital of Buenos Aires, has found herself in hot water after sharing on Facebook an incorrect exam answer written by one of her students on Facebook. A file image of a girl doing an exam. JOSE JORDAN More information Suspendida una maestra argentina por bromear en Facebook sobre el examen de una alumna On May 9, Jarsun took a photo of the answer in which the student had replied to a question in an English test entirely in Spanish, adding the comment: They never cease to surprise me! She has now been suspended from teaching duties pending an investigation. Jarsuns post itself quickly attracted plenty of comments with some people mocking the students answer: I dont know if the Spanish answer passes either, one person wrote. But others strongly criticized the teacher for making fun of the youngster and called for her to be suspended and be stripped of her teaching qualifications. A screengrab of the offending Facebook post before Gabriela Jarsun deleted it. Although Jarsun did not name the pupil involved, and removed the offending post when the controversy started, classmates recognized the girls answers and began to send her messages, according to the girls mother, Angelica. The Saturday after [the message was posted] my daughter started to receive messages from her classmates with a screengrab of the teachers post. Some were laughing at her and some were sympathetic. [My daughter] broke down in tears and I tried to console her, the mother told local television station Todo Noticias, adding she had tried to get in touch with the teacher for an explanation but hadnt received an answer. It makes me angry that this teacher has no respect for one of my children When the mother sent a second message, Jarsun blocked her on Facebook. She then went to the media. It makes me angry that this teacher has no respect for one of my children. This woman doesnt have any right to hurt her, said Angelica, noting that any correction to her childs work should take place in the classroom and not be made available on social media. The school involved learned about the case via the media, at which point they called in the parents and launched an investigation to find out what had happened. An article of the teaching code of practice has been activated, which involves a temporary suspension of teaching duties, district education chief Monica Martinez told EL PAIS. Jarsun has been assigned new duties and could be out of the classroom for several months. According to Martinez, the case is the first of its kind, although she recognized that cyber bullying is on the rise worldwide and that increasing focus is being placed on the fight against the problem. While social media posts involving exam errors often go viral, cases where a student can be identified could constitute bullying. English version by George Mills. Description GIS - 19 May 2017: The Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Prithvirajsing Roopun, visited various historical museums including the Musee de la Photographie in Port-Louis, the National History Museum of Mahebourg and the Musee de la Petite Collection in Rose-Belle on 18 May 2017, in the context of the celebrations marking the 2017 International Museum Day. The International Museum Day is celebrated annually to raise awareness on how important museums are in the development of society. This years International Museum Day theme is: Museums and contested histories: Saying the unspeakable in museum . It highlights the essential role of museums as promoters of the free flow of ideas and knowledge, contributing to a more informed society. During his visit at the Musee de la Photographie, the Minister highlighted that this symbolic day is an opportune moment to bring to the fore the key role of museums in preserving, communicating and showcasing the past. T he legacy of our tangible and intangible cultural heritage in the form of artifacts inherited from past generations should be preserved and maintained, he pointed out. He added that museums are the prime custodians of history and help to the understanding of the national history and heritage and contribute to validate memories of the past. Art crafts not only vehicle past memories but are also connected and grounded in the present and will be relevant in the future, underlined the Minister. He highlighted Governments commitment to spearhead the recognition and promotion of history and national heritages and aim to encourage the passion of private collectors and preserve their collections. During the visit, the Minister also took note of the challenges and issues that museums face today. Description GIS - 19 May, 2017: The Mauritius Polytechnics Ltd (MPL) and Le College Communautaire du NouveauBrunswick du Canada (CCNB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) yesterday at the MITD House in Phoenix in the presence of the Minister of Education and Human Resources, Tertiary Education and Scientific Research, Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun. The Mauritius Polytechnics Ltd (MPL) and(CCNB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) yesterday at the MITD House in Phoenix in the presence of the Minister of Education and Human Resources, Tertiary Education and Scientific Research, Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun. The MoU between MPL and CCNB will provide for high-end technical trainings, bring awareness to all stakeholders on the importance of technical training. It will position Polytechnics as a well-defined and interesting alternative pathway to work in Mauritius. The CCNB is a Canadian public postsecondary vocational and technical education institution. It has been a leader in the education sector for over 40 years, working closely with the industry to ensure continuous training in line with the labour market and training of current and future workers, companies and individuals concerned with specialising or re-entering the labour market. In her address, Minister Dookun-Luchoomun stressed that one of the major project of Government is the development of Polytechnics in Mauritius for the advancement of the country. The main objective of Polytechnics in Mauritius, she said, will be to produce work-ready diploma holders of high quality to spearhead the development of the country into a knowledge-based and skills driven economy. Speaking about the new pillars mentioned in the Economic Vision 2030, she highlighted that Information Communication and Technology (ICT) is one particular area which can be achieved through the provision of high-end technical trainings given that this collaboration will be based mainly in the domain of ICT. The industry, she added, often complains about untrained graduates and to do away with this major problem of mismatch, MPL in collaboration with CCNB and the private sector will come up with new adapted courses with high-end technical trainings taking into consideration the needs of the industry and the country at large in terms of manpower. Moreover, the Minister outlined that the three polytechnics in Reduit, Montagne Blanche and Pamplemousses which deals in ICT related fields, tourism and hospitality, and nursing respectively will collaborate with foreign partners to provide trainings of international level. Polytechnics, she said, will help students upgrade their employability skills and enter the world of work easily with their acquired skills, trainings and experiences. For his part, the representative of CCNB, Professor Efia Assignon highlighted the collaboration between the CCNB and the MPL which will help local students to acquire the know-how and skills required to achieve qualifications of international level. He called on the private sector to work in close collaboration with the MPL and the CCNB to address the labor market mismatch. He also pointed out that the local students will be awarded diplomas from the CCNB and be able to pursue further studies in Canada. Demonstrated Excellence in Project Management Best Business Analysis*/Data Analytics Project (^new in 2018!) Best Application Serving an Agencys Business Needs Best Application Serving the Public Best IT Collaboration Among Organizations Most Innovative Use of Social Media/Citizen Engagement Best Mobile/Wireless Project An Evaluation Committee will review submissions in the following categories and select recipients. An awards ceremony will be held during the New York Digital Government Summit on September 21, 2018.Please join us for one of the highest levels of professional acknowledgement within the New York public sector IT community. Awards will be given in the following categories:For more information, contact Janet Grenslitt, Director of Surveys and Awards, Center for Digital Government jgrenslitt@centerdigitalgov.com Bi-partisan Senate Bill Would Require FCC to Collect Data on Wireless Broadband Coverage A bi-partisan group of senators has filed a bill that would require the FCC to collect accurate and up-to-date information about the availability of wireless broadband coverage. This legislation, dubbed the Rural Wireless Act of 2017 , was announced Wednesday, May 17 in press releases by two senators supporting the bill, Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.). Sponsors say the act would help ongoing efforts to ensure that all families, businesses, schools, farmers and others in rural areas have access to high-speed Internet, and it would do so by ensuring that current mobile broadband coverage data is correct. A similar bill was also recently introduced in the House. In addition to Sens. Manchin and Peters, others supporting the bill include Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.). In quotes on press releases from their offices, supportive senators described this bill as a step to make it easier for unserved and underserved communities to have equitable access to digital opportunities. Others voiced support for clearing up potential inaccuracies in the FCCs current reporting. I have consistently expressed concern that FCCs data does not reflect the real mobile broadband experience of consumers in rural America, said Wicker in the released put out by Manchins office. This bill would address that problem by directing the Commission to improve the accuracy of the data it collects. This is an important step to ensure federal funds are spent on deploying broadband in communities that truly need it. This bi-partisan news comes as controversy swirls around the FCCs recent decision to start rolling back net neutrality preventions put in place under President Obama. Louisville Plans to Expand Fiber Network As construction begins to bring ultra-fast Google Fiber Internet access to Louisville, Ky., city officials are voicing support for a plan that would vastly expand the citys own current fiber network and capabilities. In a post Wednesday May, 17 on, Louisville IT Manager Chris Seidt detailed the municipal effort to lay 96.5 miles of fiber-optic cable throughout the Louisville metro area, describing a build that will run from the citys downtown to the county border. To accomplish this, Louisville is partnering with Kentucky Wired , the state fiber build that is adding thousands of miles of such cable throughout Kentucky. Seidt wrote, similar to Louisville, the goal is to connect government buildings to the network, and expand the fiber footprint to draw additional private investment in the Internet market throughout the Commonwealth. Seidt went on to describe the financial nuances of this effort, as well as the ways that the city can leverage a new fiber backbone to enhance city services through smart city initiatives. Potential services mentioned include Wi-Fi hot spots, connected traffic signals capable of reducing congestion, and sensors that could monitor and improve public safety, air quality and transportation overall. This build was first proposed in Louisville Mayor Greg Fischers recommended fiscal 2017-2018 budget Meanwhile, Google has begun installing fiber-optic cables in Louisville homes, encouraging interested residents to reach out for more information Missouri State Website Centralizes Disaster Relief Efforts in Wake of Floods After flooding that caused water levels to hit near-record crests in late April and early May, the state of Missouri has created a website to centralize its recovery efforts and updates. Noting that residents and businesses throughout Missouri had suffered millions of dollars in damages, the site voices a firm commitment by the state government to work with federal and municipal agencies to facilitate recovery. It then lists recent updates about such efforts, related news coverage, and, perhaps most importantly, a set of resources available to those in need. The resources are broken down into 18 separate categories, including health, safety, clean up, insurance, taxes, housing and many others. In addition, there are also areas set aside for those who wish to give donations online, as well as for citizens who have spotted road damage, spills or scam attempts related to the flooding and subsequent recovery. (TNS) -- Philadelphia needs a coherent planning vision to solidify University City and western Center City into a financial and knowledge hub that can help the city prosper, scholars with the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank, said in a report to be released Thursday.Business, government, and academic leaders have ambitious plans for development aimed at supporting research-driven enterprises around Philadelphias universities and other institutions, but these initiatives need to be better coordinated to have maximum impact, the studys authors wrote.The study calls for a task force to address these development issues. Its one of several recommendations made by the authors to guide the emergence of an innovation district a dense, dynamic engine of economic activity from 17th Street to 43rd Street along the Market Street corridor, and south along the Schuylkill to Grays Ferry.Also recommended: efforts to link institutions in the district specializing in cell and gene therapies with entrepreneurs and business-support services; work to help start-ups across tech fields in the corridor; and attention to the economic needs of surrounding neighborhoods.There needs to be a stronger collaboration, Jennifer Vey, one of the reports coauthors, said in an interview.The study is the result of an assessment of the area that began in spring 2015 with the support of 10 Philadelphia institutions and firms, including Comcast Corp., Independence Blue Cross, Drexel University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University City Science Center.The reports authors say Philadelphia has an array of enviable assets concentrated in the area they examined, including some of the nations best universities and medical-research institutions and a growing technology sector. It also helps that these innovation-minded businesses and institutions are in close proximity to one another, aiding potential collaboration.But there are obstacles to capitalizing on these strengths, which Philadelphias leaders dont seem to be addressing. Businesses and financiers are doing too little to commercialize university research, while uneven development along Market Street is impeding needed physical connections between Center City and University City.Philadelphia has to step up its game, doing more with the assets it has and doing it smarter than it has had to before, the authors write in the study.Central to the authors prescription for Philadelphia is the establishment of a so-called Innovation Council of city leaders and stakeholders to carry out recommendations for business advancement, neighborhood enrichment, and street-level improvements.In terms of planning and development, the study backs serious consideration of improved infrastructure to aid transit between University City and western Center City, including the addition of Market-Frankford Line train stops between 15th and 30th Streets.Vey also said that planners behind the areas individual development projects, such as the Schuylkill Yards development , planned by Brandywine Realty Trust and Drexel, and the uCity Square project , being completed by Wexford Science & Technology and the University City Science Center, could make the district, as a whole, much better if their efforts were better coordinated.By recognizing this geography as an innovation ecosystem and better coordinating the kind of physical development activities that can help fuel that, we think youll ultimately have a stronger district thats better knitted together, she said. (TNS) - The San Antonio Fire Department chief is asking for prayers after one firefighter was killed and two were injured while battling a blaze late Thursday.Scott Deem, a six-year veteran with the department, died on scene of the fire at the Ingram Park shopping center in the 6800 block of Northwest Loop 410. More than 60 units responded to the blaze just after 9 p.m., said Chief Charles Hood at a press conference on scene that was recorded by KENS 5-TV on Facebook Live.It was a very rough decision to leave a firefighter behind. Thats not what we do but we had the risk of losing an additional 15 to 20 firefighters if we did not go on the defensive, Hood said.Two other firefighters were taken to nearby hospitals and are expected to survive.Firefighters initially entered the building as a search and rescue because they did not know if people were stuck inside but when conditions worsened inside, Deem was unable to escape, Hood said at the press conference.We had firefighters who fought fire desperately tonight to try to save their friends life, Hood said while fighting back tears.The firefighters lined up on each side of the ambulance carrying Deems body and saluted they left the scene, KENS 5-TV reported.Id like to ask the citizens of San Antonio to give us your prayers tonight, because were hurting, said Hood. But were gonna continue to do the good job we always do.Azia Branson: 817-390-7547, @aziabranson2017 the Fort Worth Star-TelegramVisit the Fort Worth Star-Telegram at www.star-telegram.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (TNS) - At the end of a rulemaking process held mostly behind closed doors, state regulators this year asked the public about Oregon's first effort in a decade to overhaul the rules for ousting unfit cops.Three people from the activist group Empower Portland answered the call for feedback from Department of Public Safety Standards and Training. All said they wanted to see more expansive state oversight."We need help from the state holding police accountable," wrote Standard Schaefer."Please please do something at the state level that will over-ride the systemic bigotry and complacency of our City Council," wrote Teresa Roberts.But commenter Julie Crosse had the most specific request of the agency that certifies Oregon police: Postpone taking action on your plan, and get more public input this time."I look forward to more transparent inclusion," she wrote.On Thursday, members of the agency's Police Policy Committee said they saw no reason to change course. Presented with a set of options from the agency's staff, they voted unanimously and without discussion to send the rule change forward."I move that we adopt option 1, no changes, and I think the staff did a great job addressing these complaints," Keizer Police Chief John Teague said.The new rules make sweeping changes to the circumstances of when and how officers will lose their certifications.Some of the changes could make it more difficult for the state to take badges away from troubled officers.Incompetence will no longer be grounds for revocation. Officers fired for cause will only automatically lose their certifications if they engaged in misconduct "under the color of office." And the revision appears to set a higher bar for revoking the certification of an officer for dishonesty or for disregarding someone's rights. The agency would have to show that officers "knowingly" did those things to lose their badges.Other revisions would expand the state's power to revoke an officer's certification. Domestic child abuse convictions would now result in automatic revocations. And so would convictions that require officers to register as sex offenders. The agency also would start to take into account criminal cases against officers that don't result in convictions.And the new rules would make some major process changes. The board would have the new option to suspend an officer's certification. Currently, the board can choose only to revoke or to not revoke an officer's certification. The new rules would additionally allow officers to make oral statements to the committee hearing their case.The dramatic rewrite of the rules for police is the first since 2008. The process began in 2015, when the board approved a "work group" to study to state's regulations. A 19-member work group met eight times the following year.State law encourages agencies to solicit comments from the public as soon as possible -- sometimes even before rule revisions begin.That didn't happen in this case. Instead, the agency chose to hold a series of meetings behind closed doors and without public notice.The department conceded the meetings should have been open to the public only after questions from The Oregonian/OregonLive. Under Oregon law, the group is considered an "advisory body" and subject to public meetings law requirements.The agency's director, Eriks Gabliks, said in an interview in March, "I think it's important that I say this: We don't believe that we did anything wrong."But the agency has since begun posting notices for its work group meetings.On Thursday, the agency's staff rejected criticism from commenters who wanted more public input.Rules Coordinator Jennifer Howald noted that the 19-member work group that crafted the new rules included a "public member."Patricia Patrick-Joling is a real estate agent who was appointed by the governor. Howald said that because Patrick-Joling was included, "the public not only participated in the development of the standards but voted to approve the standards."The fact that the group met eight times without any public notice was not mentioned.The agency's staff did explain why the new rules would eliminate incompetence as grounds for taking an officer's certification.Crosse, the Empower Portland activist, wrote: "I want it on record I'm opposed to officers that are found to be incompetent to be able to retain their certification to enable them to go elsewhere and attain another position that puts the public at risk of harm due to their incompetence."Howald said Thursday that state regulators didn't have the power to stop that."A legal review by the Department of Justice identified that the board lacks the necessary statutory support to take action on public safety certification for incompetence alone, since it's not necessarily an indicator of a demonstrated lack of moral fitness," Howald said.Before the rules take effect, the public safety agency's full governing board must approve them. That group next meets July 27.-- Rebecca Woolington contributed to this report.-- Carli Brosseau2017 The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.)Visit The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.) at www.oregonian.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. CHALLENGES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 'THIS IS HAPPENING' (TNS) -- The whirling tops of Uber's self-driving cars still turn heads as they roll up and down Pittsburgh's streets.But the wow factor is wearing off.It was a year ago that Uber announced it was testing autonomous vehicles on the city's streets.The tests ignited a new industry in Pittsburgh. They shined a spotlight on the depth of automation, robotics, artificial intelligence, computer sensing and perception and self-driving technology talent at the city's universities and startups.But the tests also brought to the surface questions about how cities should manage self-driving cars and the roles and responsibilities of the companies developing and testing them."It's true that people are not alarmed when they see self-driving cars on the street," said Laura Wiens, a member of Pittsburghers for Public Transit, who in February helped organize a protest of Uber in the Strip District. "What it means for our city is alarming."Uber needed to test its cars on city streets not just to test the technology but to test the reaction.The company has collected data throughout its tests in Pittsburgh and later in Tempe, Ariz., to improve its self-driving technology and how riders use it. Uber hasn't released data from its tests. A company spokesman said it's still early and the company is constantly finding ways to improve its technology."Real-world operations is critical to the development of our self-driving technology," Uber spokesman Craig Ewer told the Tribune-Review when asked what Uber has learned about self-driving cars in the last year. "One of the biggest challenges we have is changing the way people think about cars and the way we've traditionally designed our cities around them."Uber launched its ride-sharing service in Pittsburgh in early 2014. Mayor Bill Peduto, who advocated on behalf of Uber and its competitor, Lyft, when the Pennsylvania Utility Commission shut them down for operating in the state without the proper permits, said lobbying the company to base its self-driving development center in Pittsburgh and not San Francisco started that year as well."Anything that was required on the city side, we were able to deliver," Peduto said. "On the other side, we had expectations from them, and we still do."They haven't yet delivered on that part of it, but that doesn't mean that I don't think they will."Uber has said it is proud of its operations in Pittsburgh and that the company hopes to continue to have a positive presence in the city. The company has not commented on whether it would sign an agreement as Peduto has proposed.Wiens is disappointed more concerns weren't raised at the beginning of Uber's forays into autonomous vehicles. She said there wasn't enough foresight into what self-driving technology would do to jobs, especially driving jobs. There wasn't planning for training or for a transition for workers who could lose their jobs."We in Pittsburgh have seen what happens if you have automation happening in major industries," Wiens said. "And we don't really want to be the ones leading ourselves off the cliff again."Aside from the company temporarily suspending its testing in March when a self-driving Volvo was involved in a crash in Tempe, only minor bumps, scrapes and mishaps have been reported in Pittsburgh.The cars have integrated themselves almost seamlessly into Pittsburgh's traffic, a feat in and of itself."We demonstrated in Pittsburgh that it's really uneventful," said Stan Caldwell, executive director of Carnegie Mellon University's Traffic21 Institute. "The un-eventfulness of it is the significance of it."Caldwell said that no matter how advanced or life-changing a technology is, if it runs into public resistance or fails to gain wide public acceptance, "it's not going to go anywhere.""There was a lot of concern initially that when these vehicles hit the streets, there was going to be a lot of chaos," Caldwell said.Uber wasn't the first company to test self-driving cars. Google had logged more than 1.6 million miles in autonomous vehicles when Uber announced it was testing in Pittsburgh. Caldwell said other universities and teams at car companies were quietly working on self-driving technology until Uber started testing."What it's done, it's helped to advance the open competition," Caldwell said. "All of the sudden, this made this a very public competition as opposed to everyone working internally."That public competition has been good for Pittsburgh, said Mike Wagner, whose company, Edge Case Research , helps self-driving car companies improve the safety of their systems. He said Uber's tests in Pittsburgh have further re-enforced how central the city is to autonomous and self-driving technology.Companies looking to get into the self-driving car race are looking to Pittsburgh for talent more than before, Wagner said. Researchers from CMU are heading self-driving car projects at Uber and other companies. And companies like his are busy."We've definitely gotten a lot of attention that we have not gotten had Uber gone somewhere else," Wagner said.But even Wagner and the researchers at CMU are already working on what's next, and what's next in self-driving cars is how to integrate them. Wagner said he is talking with Pittsburgh city council members about what other technologies are out there to improve the safety of self-driving cars. Caldwell said his staff is focusing on the policy issues that need to be addressed and working with the city and PennDOT."Everyone, now, is believing that this is happening," Wagner said. As Infrastructure Week , held May 15-19 in Washington, D.C., began to wind down, local government leaders remained hopeful that the pressure for a renewed interest in rebuilding Americas roads, bridges and the rest of the system would persist.The initiative a national week of education and advocacy that brought together American businesses, workers, elected leaders and everyday citizens around one message: Its time to build sponsored several events held in conjunction with local and state government groups that represent shared interests in the federal government. The National League of Cities (NLC) hosted a panel discussing infrastructure financing, successful projects and tools local governments need to maintain and develop infrastructure nationwide.While the idea of investing resources in infrastructure garner widespread bipartisan support, recent revelations that the Trump administration and Congress' tax reform may scrap the tax-exempt status of municipal bonds has been met with resistance.You cant be for infrastructure, if not for tax-exempt municipal bonds, said Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett, who also serves as president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.Speaking passionately about the necessity of tax-exempt bonds, all members of the panel expressed their disapproval over the idea of cutting the provision. The need has never been greater for infrastructure investment, said Cleveland Council Member and NCL President Matt Zone.In a joint statement released in late April by the National Governors Association, National Association of Counties, NLC, U.S. Conference of Mayors, International City/County Management Association, National Conference of State Legislatures and the Council of State Governments, the organizations urged Congress to preserve the tax-free municipal bonds.Tax-exempt municipal bonds were part of the original tax code in 1913 and have long served to meet critical needs in our communities, reads the statement. These essential components of the tax code support vital investments in infrastructure, public safety and education, encourage economic growth and provide states and local governments with the flexibility to deliver essential services to our residents.The panel also pushed back on the idea that private investment could help fill the void if local governments would have to spend part of the funding on taxes. The current administration has given several indications that rather than finance most projects through direct federal financing, municipalities are encouraged to utilize a public-private partnership model wherever possible.While testifying in front of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao mentioned that the administration is hoping to release by the end of the month a set of principles for the oft-talked-about infrastructure package. The list is heavily anticipated by state and local leaders across the country."The proposal will likely include $200 billion in direct federal funds, which will be used to leverage $1 trillion in infrastructure investment over the next 10 years," Chao told senators. She also acknowledged that "not every project ... is a candidate for private investment."Zone still had concerns over the possible reliance on P3s. Over last two decades, about 93 percent of projects that have been funded would not have been eligible for P3 partnership, he said, adding that focusing on public-private partnerships as a uniform strategy doesn't really work.In order for P3s to work, Cornett explained, the conditions have to be just right. The best environment for successful partnerships takes are highly dense cities with extremely busy areas. Private partners are not interested in building rural roads, which are needed in Oklahoma, he explained.There is also a danger that relying on private partners could leave behind traditionally underserved populations. As local leaders, Zone said, we have an ethical and moral obligation to make sure that we look out for every citizen we represent. All projects should be looked at with an equity lens to make sure the most vulnerable and marginalized populations are provided for.Although there is a lot of focus on what's happening at the federal level, it is important to keep in mind the role local and state governments play in not only financing transportation projects, but also operating expenses. More than 75 percent of all public roads and 50 percent of bridges are owned by local governments, which also operate 93.7 percent of all public transit agencies.Real action is happening outside of Washington in cities, states and metropolitan areas across the country, said Eno Center for Transportation President and CEO Robert Puentes, who moderated the panel. (TNS) -- GE and Partners HealthCare are looking to revolutionize the way doctors treat patients by adding the manufacturing giants artificial intelligence expertise to a partnership with the nonprofit hospital and physicians network over the next decade.The goal is to transform the notoriously slow-to-innovate health care industry by better analyzing the mountains of data doctors juggle in the hopes of coming up with better treatment methods and clearer diagnoses for the patients of the not-so-distant future.We have more and more information, and the information comes at our clinicians in a way that can be unmanageable, said David Torchiana, CEO of Partners HealthCare. In the end, this is about making health care better and making the lives of our patients better.GE and Partners, which owns Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Womens Hospital, will spend the next 10 years creating artificial intelligence software that can detect how severe a stroke is and identify tumors in medical images. But more important than individual uses, officials said, will be an app store for health care AI algorithms, where hospitals can buy or sell software theyve made.A hospital using AI will improve patient care and allow doctors to spend more time with patients instead of toiling over mindless data entry tasks, GE Healthcare and Partners said, noting an AI infusion in health care worldwide could reduce costs and improve access.The first use of the technology will focus on medical images such as X-rays, MRIs and other scans and could help determine the impact of a stroke, quickly identify emergency room patients with fractures, and help track how tumors respond to new cancer treatments. A computer would analyze the images and pick out abnormal results rather than requiring a doctor or technician to spend time staring at scans.Doctors are spending time on things that really are incredibly redundant, and if a machine can do it, let them do it, said Zen Chu, faculty director of Massachusetts Institute of Technologys health care ventures course and the Hacking Medicine initiative. If theres an easier way to enter all that data, do it, he said, so doctors can spend more time with that patient.Still, many warnings about AIs impact on jobs focus on health care. Asked what the impact on Partners hospitals would be, Torchiana said it is impossible to know how the workforce will evolve. AI, he said, is far more powerful when surrounded by trained doctors and clinicians, and is more likely to make hospitals more efficient than to put doctors out of work.Health care, Torchiana said, generally has a problem in being incredibly labor-intensive and having shown relatively less gains in productivity than the rest of the economy.Teams from both companies will work out of an office in the Boston area, under Partners existing Center for Clinical Data Science. Partners and GE both refused to say how much money or how many employees would be dedicated to the effort, with GE Healthcare CEO John Flannery calling it a very significant investment. A GE Healthcare spokeswoman said the partnership is one of GEs biggest-ever investments in a digital initiative.I think the possibilities are vast and significant, Flannery said. As these solutions evolve and are just part of the fabric of health care, were going to see health care improve.The deal with Partners is GEs second big initiative with an entrenched Boston institution since its move to the city last year. In January, GE and the Celtics announced a deal to put the GE logo on jerseys, along with a data and analytics partnership. The Donald Trump administration is raising the tone against the decline of democracy in Venezuela. On Thursday, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions against the Venezuelan Supreme Courts chief magistrate and seven other judges who sit on that tribunals Constitutional Chamber, for issuing rulings in the past year that have usurped the authority of Venezuelas democratically elected legislature, the National Assembly, according to a statement released by the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control. Maikel Jose Moreno being sworn in at the Venezuela Supreme Court. EFE More information Estados Unidos sanciona al presidente y siete juristas del Supremo venezolano The statement indicates that the court has allowed the Executive Branch to rule through emergency decree, thereby restricting the rights and thwarting the will of the Venezuelan people. The National Assembly has been under the oppositions control since January 2016, and President Nicolas Maduro has been accused of using the courts to gradually reduce the powers of the legislative branch while increasing his own. The sanctions against the eight jurists mean that their assets within US jurisdiction are frozen, and that US citizens are barred from engaging in transactions with them. The Venezuelan people are suffering from a collapsing economy brought about by their governments mismanagement US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin The asset freeze is the latest move in an increasingly critical US stance against Venezuela, where at least 44 people have died in street protests over the last six weeks, after Maduro announced plans to bypass the National Assembly and draft a new Constitution, thereby adding to the popular unrest caused by food and medicine shortages. Shortly before the sanctions were announced, Trump had talked about the deteriorating situation in Venezuela at a joint press conference with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. It is really in a very bad state, he said. America stands with all of the people in our great hemisphere yearning to be free. We will be working with Colombia and other countries on the Venezuelan problem. A US government employee told Reuters that Washington is planning new future measures against bad actors in Venezuela. Anti-government protesters shielded themselves from tear gas canisters at a street protest in Caracas on Thursday. Ariana Cubillos (AP) The asset freeze represents the second round of US sanctions against top leaders of the South American nation. In February, the Treasury included Venezuelas vice-president, Tareck El Aissami, on its blacklist for his significant role in international drug trafficking. This made him the highest-ranking Venezuelan official to face sanctions from Washington. February was also when Maikel Jose Moreno Perez became the chief magistrate of the Supreme Court, a body that has become increasingly politicized in recent months. Moreno is a controversial public figure. Shortly before taking up his current position, he ratified the nearly 14-year prison sentence against the opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez for participating in protests against Maduro in 2014. And in 1987, he was accused of murdering a woman in southern Venezuela. The US Treasury justified its decision to impose sanctions by recalling some of the Supreme Courts most recent rulings. It mentioned the January 2017 decision that Maduro should give his annual address inside the court, rather than in the National Assembly, as the Constitution establishes. It also noted that in December 2016, the courts Constitutional Chamber appointed members of the National Electoral Council, a constitutional duty of the National Assembly. The Supreme Court has allowed the Executive Branch to rule through emergency decree, thereby restricting the rights and thwarting the will of the Venezuelan people US Treasury Office of Assets Control The Venezuelan people are suffering from a collapsing economy brought about by their governments mismanagement and corruption, the Treasury secretary, Steve Mnuchin, said in a statement. Members of the countrys Supreme Court of Justice have exacerbated the situation by consistently interfering with the legislative branchs authority. In early April, the Maduro administration authorized the Supreme Court to review the countrys criminal, civil and military laws. It also allowed it to take on parliaments powers for as long as there is a persisting situation of contempt and invalid actions by the National Assembly. But faced with pressure in the streets and from the international community, Maduro backtracked partially just a few days later. English version by Susana Urra. Three months after the departure of CIO Jason Allison and just weeks after the Florida Agency for State Technology (AST) was nearly defunded on Thursday, May 18 , Chief Information Security Officer Danielle Alvarez will be heading out the door for a related post in the private sector, a spokeswoman said. will leave Alvarez gave her notice on Friday, May 12, and state employ effective June 1, to join Tallahassee-based Hayes e-Government Resources Inc., as a cybersecurity strategist, AST Spokeswoman Erin Choy told, noting that the timing is unrelated.I think that Mr. Allison had been a part of state government for over a decade and as with any natural maturity, you want to continue to challenge yourself professionally. For him, it was an opportunity that found him, Choy said.She said Alvarezs move is a great opportunity for her to continue to build out Hayes cybersecurity practice, in a role that will have a degree of continued interaction with public agencies.Choy praised Alvarezs work in strengthening Floridas security posture, helping the state adopt a cybersecurity framework designed to National Institute of Standards and Technology specs; and coordinating a week of onsite SANS Institute cybersecurity training several months ago for about 150 officials in three states, including more than 100 information security managers across state government.That was a very big win, a very big success for Danielle, Choy said.Additionally her work with the Florida National Guard on hands-on, tactical cybersecurity training has been very well-received and is something weve done for a couple years now and will continue to do. We wish her good luck and well miss her, Choy added.Allison left the public sector on Feb. 13 to take a position as director of public affairs at law firm Foley & Lardner coincidentally also in Tallahassee.AST, however, has had a bumpy decade, losing its funding most recently in 2012 before being relaunched in 2014 under Allison, on a mission to modernize and streamline the beleaguered office.In November 2014, as that relaunch picked up steam, Allison elevated Alvarez, former manager of IT security and compliance for the Florida Department of Financial Services, to CISO as the agency released a strategic plan for security.She had also previously served as lead senior IT auditor for the Florida Auditor General.In a November 2015 interview with Government Technology , she said spotting cyberterrorists early and properly equipping the state workforce to combat them, is increasingly essential for public agencies.Staying informed of emerging threat trends (especially the tactics being used by bad cyberactors) is at the foundation of developing sound enterprise security strategies, Alvarez said.She added that spreading value enterprise-wide is essential whether it be a service that benefits all state agencies or specified training designed to improve the state workforces ability to protect citizen data.The previous month, Alvarez had received the third-annual Thomas M. Jarrett State Chief Information Security Officer Scholarship from the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) an award named for the organizations past president, known for his passion for cybersecurity.Alvarez, NASCIO said in a news release at the time, has worked diligently on state strategy, policy and process, through all major IT silos, strategically positioning her to thread security into all operational platforms and processes, and praised her work leading the Florida Cybersecurity Framework adoption effort, and a statewide risk assessment.She was nominated by Allison, who said then in a statement that with Danielle leading these initiatives, Florida is directed to a more secure and resilient future.Two years ago, Alvarez told, AST was in the second year of its five-year plan to standardize agency platforms and finish State Data Center (SDC) consolidation along recommended industry standards.As the SDC continues to standardize, our ability to secure Florida will only improve. So, continued support in the Legislature is critical, she said at the time.That work continues, but legislative support is another matter.On April 5 , the Florida House Appropriations Committee approved legislation that would have ended AST again just a week after the House Government Operations and Technology Appropriations subcommittee supported House Bill HB 5301 nearly unanimously, calling for the removal of ASTs management authority over the states data center.Ultimately, however, policymakers forged a deal that included quarterly reporting requirements on system updates and new activity but funded AST in the next fiscal year and widened its authority, allowing the CIO to appoint a state Chief Data Officer, and permitting the creation of a geographic information office.Choy said Interim CIO Eric Larson is in the position as the state begins discussions about hiring a new permanent CIO.The state will undertake a nationwide search to fill Alvarezs position and will not appoint an interim CISO, Choy said.I know that Danielle is looking for candidates," Chou said, "as is Eric Larson, our interim CIO, for candidates who will continue in the collaborative fashion that Danielle has shown in her role." The city of New York is down a chief digital officer following the sudden departure of Sree Sreenivasan.According to the mayors office, the change comes as part of a larger reorganization meant to bring the digital strategy under the umbrella of the recently appointed Chief Technology Officer Miguel Gamino Were proud of the work weve done together to strengthen NYCs tech ecosystem, and we wish Sree all the best. Moving forward, it was a natural fit to centralize Digital Strategy under the Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Miguel Gamino, and were excited about the incredible progress that will continue, Deputy Press Secretary Ben Serle toldvia email.The CDO was appointed to the post by Mayor Bill de Blasio in August 2016 , after serving as the CDO for the Metropolitan Museum of Art for nearly three years.When New York City unveiled plans in February for the Union Square Tech Hub, Sreenivasan toldat the time that it sends another clear signal to the tech community across the country and around the world that New York City is committed to the next generation of digital and technology innovation. Come build here, grow here, thrive here."Prior to his work with the city of New York, Sreenivasan served as the chief digital officer for Columbia University. He replaced former CDO Jessica Singleton in July 2016, when she departed public service for a role in the private sector. Sreenivasans last day with the de Blasio administration was May 12. (TNS) -- After John Olivers latest defense of net neutrality, comments flooded the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) website over 1.6 million to be exact. While many of those comments were bot accounts, fake comments, and pre-scripted messages, there were some that stood out for their original and colorful language.Some comments were death threats against FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, who revealed in April his plan to roll back strong regulations for net neutrality, a policy that expanded the federal governments control over internet service providers (ISPs). Oliver dedicated his Last Week Tonight show on May 7 to criticizing Pai for his plan.Other submissions included racist slurs and lots of profanity. Some people used a fake name, including John Oliver, Donald Trump, and Jesus Christ to submit their comments anonymously. Some used their real names either willingly or unknowingly. The Daily Caller released survey data Wednesday after polling 10,000 of the pro-net neutrality respondents. The right-leaning news outlet found that only 44 percent of respondents could recall submitting a comment, while 39 percent denied submitting a comment.InsideSources reached out to 20 individuals who used obscene language and publicly identified themselves on their FCC public comments about net neutrality. Only 2 people responded to emails, phone calls, Facebook messages, and LinkedIn messages regarding their comments. The people had a variety of jobs including business owners, technology professionals, and students.For example, theres a director of business operations for an information tech company, who submitted a comment to the FCC on May 8 that said , dont be a tard. keep ISPs in Title 2. And deport the bad arabs.Theres also a college student in Oregon who submitted a graphic comment on May 8 Fuck this shit take your act and shove it up your ass, youre never going to get rid of net neutrality you disgusting greedy fucks, he wrote. I honestly hope every single greedy politician, stubs their toe tomorrow and trips and face plants. You filthy piles of shit, how dare you and the sad part is I voted republican you guys are disgusting.However, InsideSources was able to speak with someone about their use of profanity in their submission.Meet Gregory Lookerse, an artist and professor , who submitted a comment to the FCC last week.If you dont want to destroy the American economy, if you dont want the US to remain a third world internet country, if you want America to remain the largest economic power in the world, then keep net neutrality regulations strong, he said in his comment on Friday.He wrote a decent amount about how he opposes a reversal of the FCCs reclassification of ISPs as common carrier public utilities under Title II of the Communications Act. Yet, he ended his comment with this:Also that giant Reeses mug is fucking retarded, he wrote referring to jokes Oliver made about how Pai often carries around a mug with the Reeses candy logo on it. You are a grown man leading a major federal organization, take off your diapers and do your job. Also, quit chortling on Verizons cock and balls.Lookerse admitted to writing the comment, saying how he disagrees with Pais actions.Its all this bullshit of putting together a fast lane or it being good for the consumer, but they dont give any details how, he told InsideSources. It seems so clear how they are helping their friends to make money. Its just a shame.But he added that he used the language at the end of his comment for comical humor after watching the Oliver segment.Im not one to use that sort of language in public, he said. Its just so clear that there is quid pro quo or helping ones friends instead of the entire economy and the American people. Its a public sphere and if any of my employers did not feel that I conducted myself well enough, that would be a shame. I was thinking it was very lighthearted, especially after watching the John Oliver bit, and it was quite funny and I wrote it as witty and tongue in cheek.Opponents of strong net neutrality rules claim the policy is a problem in search of a cause. The light-touch regulations Pai is bringing back into force have been in place since the Clinton administration, and there is a lack of examples of ISPs violating the stronger net neutrality rules instituted in 2015. Quite the opposite, one of net neutralitys biggest corporate backers, Netflix, was caught throttling traffic from AT&T and Verizon, but as an edge provider, the strong net neutrality rules supported by Oliver dont prohibit Netflix from throttling, only ISPs.It can be difficult for those posting public comments to navigate the work-life balance using free speech as a public citizen, yet also being identified for your profession.One person, who wished to remain anonymous because of his profession, was happy to speak about his opposition to the repeal of net neutrality, but was concerned after InsideSources asked him about his use of profanity in his comment submission to the FCC.It doesnt really bother me that this is public. I did edit some of my post upon realizing that, but honestly, Im shocked anyone noticed, he said. I think everyone deals with the things they are passionate about in their own way from complaining loudly to mocking to humor to being super fact based to speaking from the heart.Yet, he reiterated that he was speaking as a private citizen and not for his employer.When I write public comments on the FCC or the New Hampshire State House or when I write op-eds to newspapers or advocate for things that Im passionate about, I do so as a private citizen, not as a professional, he said. I think you can advocate for the things you are passionate about separate from your professional persona as long as you dont cross the line that forces your employer to decide if you exemplify morals consistent with the mission of your employer. I dont think that believing Ajit Pai is a self centered empty suit shill for the corporate overlords that want to control the internet is inconsistent with the mission of my employer.Despite understanding that his FCC comment about Pai was public, he still didnt want to risk being identified with his employer.I would say that I have a problem with Ajit Pai on a fundamental level because of the way he carries himself, he said. He comes across as unaware of the world around him. Ajit seems like the perfect example of a guy who believes a lot of things about how important and smart and funny he is and believes that other people think the same way about him. The [Reeses] coffee mug is representative of his inability to view the world from the lens of other people. In other words, he lacks empathy. How can a person in charge of making important decisions that affect every person in the country be someone with no empathy? Thats insane.Another man, Joe LaRoche of Arlington, Mass., also left a public comment illustrating a sexual act between Pai and President Donald Trump.I SUPPORT strong NET NEUTRALITY backed by Title II oversight of ISPs, he wrote in his May 8 comment . I DO NOT APROVE OF THE (BLATANT) CONFLICT OF INTEREST being perpetrated here by EX-VERIZON LACKEY AJIT PAI. By the way, the only thing Ajits ridiculously ugly mouth is good for is being Donald Trumps cock holster.LaRoche, the founder of a moving company called Metrosexual Movers just on the outskirts of Boston, took to Facebook to defend his joke, stating he used the term cock holster as a reference to late night host Stephen Colbert who used the same term to insinuate the sexual act between Trump and Vladimir Putin. The FCC has since opened an investigation into Colberts comments to see if his joke meets the U.S. Supreme Courts definition of obscene.Oh, and the bit about Ajit Pais mouth being good for nothing other than Trumps cock holster is because Pai, as Trumps appointed FCC Chairdouche is going after Stephen Colbert for using that reference about Trump on the air, LaRoche wrote on Facebook Knowing that there are millions of FCC comments and tweets about him, it seems Pai is taking it all in good stride. He responded to several of the offensive and funny tweets in a Jimmy Kimmel-like video. In some states, offenders with felony charges on their records have to go through stacks of paperwork and as long as two years of waiting to learn if the governor is willing to pardon an offense. Seeking to hasten a potentially lengthy ordeal, and in the process ease the bureaucratic burden on state government, South Dakota has now put such apps online. This new online pardon application process was first mentioned in Gov. Dennis Daugaards State of the State address earlier this year. Its official rollout was Tuesday, May 16, and it stands as the most recent step in the states ongoing efforts to make government more efficient and effective through the use of digital tools and civic tech efforts being spearheaded by the governor. With the previous system, a South Dakota resident seeking pardon had to go to the Department of Corrections website, find and download forms, print them, fill them out, and then mail them to the states Board of Pardons and Paroles. Oftentimes, these forms would be incomplete, or the applicant would put a lot of work into a form that did not apply to him or her, meaning it ultimately had to be sent back, said Sadie Stevens, South Dakotas director of constituent services. Receiving a pardon is an extraordinary act, but it doesnt mean it has to be confusing, Stevens said. So many of the governors initiatives while hes been in office have revolved around making the government more efficient and more transparent. Hes been a huge proponent of using technology to reach his goals. The previous pardon process it worked but there were ways we could make it more efficient and easier for the applicant to understand. On the new site, applicants can use an eligibility tracker that asks a series of simple yes or no questions to determine if they are eligible to receive a pardon, thereby cutting down on applications from those who are not. The goal was to provide potential applicants with as much easy-to-find information as possible up front. In addition to easing frustration and timeframes from those seeking pardons, the new site stands to make life quite a bit easier for the state workers who formerly handled paper applications, passing them on to a state board, who then determined which pardons reached the governor's desk. Now that its online, all the relevant information is stored digitally, where it can be forwarded with a click rather than via a 3- or 4-inch thick physical binder. Essentially, Stevens said, the point is that making it more accessible for the applicant has really made it easier for individuals on the state side, too. The governors office is lauding this site as the first online pardon application process in the nation. I am proud South Dakota is the first to have an online, paperless pardon process, said Gov. Daugaard in a statement. The task of making state government more efficient and accessible requires a constant effort. In the last six-and-a-half years we have also created a Boards and Commissions portal and an administrative rules website, and put more online than ever before. Economic development grants, restaurant inspections, payroll information and vendor payments are now posted and easy to find. For those who prefer, the state is also still accepting paper applications. (TNS) -- An entire team of experts works at the Mayo Clinic to ensure that 25,000 networked medical devices -- everything from digital cameras to proton beam therapy systems -- are hardened against cyberattacks like the WannaCry worm that affected hospitals from England to China last week.Its no easy job, but -- knock on wood -- there have been no reported successful cyberattacks or malicious outsiders hacking Mayos systems. Still, the WannaCry worm has infected at least some medical devices in the U.S., and well-funded hospitals like the Mayo Clinic may not be the first medical centers where successful hacking would crop up.Rather, the public ought to think about the more than 600 financially struggling hospitals in smaller communities that are on the verge of closure. Those are the people that we need to keep in mind for medical devices, not Mayo, said Kevin McDonald, Mayos director of clinical information security.It costs a ton of money to be able to do this, he said. Medical devices have now become the weakest link in your enterprise security defenses.McDonald spoke Thursday morning in Silver Spring, Md., on the first day of the Food and Drug Administrations latest public forum on cybersecurity and medical devices. The two-day event is called Cybersecurity of Medical Devices: A Regulatory Science Gap Analysis, and is intended to produce a document that will identify potential gaps in regulation, product design and basic research in med-tech cybersecurity.Unlike the previous meetings on med-tech cyber precautions, this weeks workshop takes place against the backdrop of a worldwide cyberattack that has affected hundreds of thousands of computers and put government agencies on high alert for another wave.The so-called WannaCry worm is based on a security vulnerability in older versions of Microsoft Windows, which is still run on many medical devices today. The Windows flaw was discovered by the National Security Agency years ago, and publicized recently after hackers got ahold of the NSA files. The worm is a form of ransomware that infects computers and computer networks, locking down critical files until the victim agrees to pay a ransom.A few years ago the biggest problem was the breach, which would allow a hacker to steal patient data and sell it on the black market for a profit. Whats really scary is now theyve figured out how to monetize the attacks directly, said workshop speaker Todd Carpenter, chief engineer at Minneapolis Adventium Labs.No U.S. hospital has yet publicly acknowledged being affected by the WannaCry worm. Nonprofit health care information-security organization Hitrust Alliance said it had seen evidence that devices made by Siemens and Bayers MedRad subsidiary, along with other unnamed device makers, have been affected by the worm since the news broke last Friday morning that WannaCry had crippled dozens of hospitals in the United Kingdom.Thursdays FDA meeting was part of the long-running effort in the U.S. to not just raise the profile of med-tech cybersecurity as an issue, but to break through the logjams that have stood in the way of progress. One key question is how to pay for it all.Health care institutions do not have the time, money or resources to independently fix the problems, said one of McDonalds slides, under the title Assumptions We Need to Make. The costs and effort for securing devices should not, and cannot, be the full responsibility of hospitals.The Star Tribune reported earlier this week that Hennepin County Medical Center will need to spend $200,000 to address vulnerabilities raised by WannaCry in a single machine.But the problem of cybersecurity vulnerabilities in medical devices is much deeper than figuring out whos going to write these large checks.Ken Hoyme, director of security for product and engineering systems at Boston Scientific, said hospitals sometimes buy expensive equipment whose service life doesnt take into account how long the underlying operating system will be current.There is this willingness to accept a device with an expiring operating system, when the buyer knows for certain that they are going to use it for 20 years, Hoyme said at the workshop. There are certainly research needs for something that would fill that niche [for a durable OS] in a way that is cost-effective and long-term supportable. (TNS) -- 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.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.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. A broken relationship between Kevin Magnussen and his former manager is heading to court. After his McLaren seat fell through after a single year, Magnussen reportedly split with his long-time manager Dorte Riis Madsen. We reported last year that the 24-year-old Dane had negotiated his own 2016 Renault seat, and was also assisted by his billionaire sponsor Anders Holch Povlsen as he put together his new multi-year Haas deal. Now, Ekstra Bladet newspaper says a court battle with Riis Madsen will begin on June 1. The case will be heard in Copenhagen, with Magnussen's former manager claiming damages for the driver's current and future income over breach of contract. "Attempts at an out of court settlement have failed," the Danish newspaper claimed. Former Danish racing driver Jason Watt said disputes over long-term contracts in motor racing are nothing new. "Contract lengths of 10-15 years are not unusual," he said. "A manager puts in money to build a career and it may take years before there is a return." Riis Madsen would not comment, and Magnussen said only: "I have nothing to say at this time." (GMM) Spains central government has moved to pre-emptively spoil an event scheduled for this coming Monday in Madrid, where Catalan premier Carles Puigdemont was going to present his proposal for an independence referendum in his region . The separatist leader has been asked to speak about his plans at Madrid City Hall. In response, the central government on Friday officially asked Puigdemont to come to Madrid to debate his idea for a referendum , but to do so in the right place for that, inside parliament. Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria after the cabinet meeting. EFE More information Catalonia to immediately declare independence if no referendum held The unprecedented invitation was issued by Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria, of the Popular Party (PP) conservatives, following the regular Friday Cabinet meeting. Santamaria said that Puigdemont should speak about his plans for Catalan sovereignty in Congress because they affect national sovereignty and that this requires a debate with the legitimate representatives of all Spaniards. She added that this is the democratic channel established by the Constitution for debates of this nature. Sources at the Catalan government said that Puigdemont would personally issue a reply later today, ahead of an event scheduled in Barcelona. But they added that no changes are being planned to the premiers agenda of events for Monday, which includes an address at Cibeles Palace, the seat of the Madrid city government, which is currently under a leftist administration headed by Mayor Manuela Carmena. Puigdemont must respect the rules of democracy, says the central government The issue was brought up by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy at the Cabinet meeting on Friday, according to official sources. The Spanish leader made the same offer to speak in Congress to Puigdemonts predecessor, Artur Mas, when the latter visited him in September 2012 to demand similar fiscal conditions for Catalonia as those enjoyed by the Basque Country. Rajoy replied that the only way to achieve that would be to convince a majority in parliament and make changes to the Spanish Constitution. The strategy this time around appears to be the same: no closed-door negotiations, but rather a public debate in Congress. There is a precedent for this in 2005, when the Basque premier at the time, Juan Jose Ibarretxe, took his ideas for a Basque Country that would be freely associated with Spain to Congress, which shot down the plan. Madrid wants to underscore that the Catalan government is trying to bypass the legal procedures that other regional leaders like Ibarretxe complied with in the past. The central governments main point is that the power to decide whether a region can hold a self-rule referendum does not fall to any one executive or political party or state agency, but to the body of representatives in the national legislature. Catalan premier Carles Puigdemont wants to hold a new referendum. Albert Garcia (EL PAIS) The government can neither negotiate nor authorize something that is set out in constitutional legislation, and which gives Mr Puigdemont a democratic channel to request support for that which he wishes. The Catalan premier and pro-sovereignty parties, she insisted, must respect the rules of democracy. Although Santamaria did not say it, the general opinion among Cabinet members is that this is the last possible offer by the central government to the Catalan leader as part of so-called Operation Dialogue, which the deputy prime minister has been pushing ever since the new political term began. Rajoys previous term in office was characterized by increasingly deteriorating relations between Madrid and Barcelona. On November 9, 2014 Catalonia held a non-binding vote on self-rule, and several government officials were later placed on trial for their alleged role in organizing it. Artur Mas was ultimately found guilty and barred from office for two years. His successor, Puigdemont, has vowed to carry out a new referendum this year. English version by Susana Urra. Chase Carey is expecting "turbulent" times ahead as negotiations with teams look set to kick off. As Liberty Media takes over and the Bernie Ecclestone era is put in the past, attention is already turning to the end of the current 'Concorde' agreements with teams. But as those post-2020 talks begin, new chief executive Carey's 'honeymoon period' may suddenly end. "I'm not sure my 'honeymoon period' as you put it lasted more than 24 hours," American Carey told the latest edition of France's Auto Hebdo. "The discussions will not be easy, and that's why we first must agree on our global vision of the sport. If we all work on the same project, the dialogue will be facilitated. "But life is not a long, quiet river -- I expect turbulence," Carey said. (GMM) Pirelli has agreed to axe its selection of hard tyres for a forthcoming grand prix. In Barcelona recently, drivers openly complained about the F1 supplier's selection of compounds. "In the drivers' briefing we brought up the tyres because we would prefer not to have these hard tyres anymore -- at any track. "We're supposed to use them in Silverstone but we're going to try to stop that," the Red Bull driver added. Now, Speed Week reports that the drivers have been successful in their campaign. Pirelli's Mario Isola said: "We agreed with the teams about the tyres for Spain. "We only had data from the winter tests and it wasn't enough. We also had to take into account the warmer temperatures compared to February and March," he explained." Speed Week said the decision has been taken at Pirelli's Milan headquarters to take the medium, soft and super-soft tyres to the British grand prix in July. (GMM) Armenia: EU and Armenia Hold annual Dialogue on Human Rights Todays Shushi, Occupied and Cleared of Armenians, is a Real Example of Turkish-Azerbaijani Policy of Ethnic Cleansing of Artsakh Ookla, the the global leader in internet testing and analysis has awarded Ucom Sweden will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union Google Ad Ameriabank: At the Vanguard of Armenia's Banking Sector STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS Google Ad There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol Armenia and Azerbaijan to do so without delay An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan". UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022 Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces LEVEL UP ONLY FOR STUDENTS: UCOM OFFERS X2 AND X3 MORE INTERNET STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments Delegation by Nancy Pelosi Accompanied by Alen Simonyan Visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi Arrives in Yerevan Senator John McCain: We should throw their ambassador the hell out of US U.S. Senator John McCain, one of the leading foreign policy voices in Congress, on Thursday urged the expulsion of Turkey's U.S. ambassador after violence erupted between protesters and Turkish security personnel during President Tayyip Erdogan's recent visit to Washington. Im still outraged at this Turkish beating, McCain said. We should throw their ambassador the hell out of the United States of America," McCain, the head of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told MSNBC in an interview on Thursday, adding that legal action could also be pursued. This is the United States of America, this isnt Turkey, this isnt a third-world country, and this kind of thing cannot go un-responded to diplomatically and maybe in other ways, McCain added. He suggested bringing lawsuits against those responsible. After all, they violated American laws in the United States of America, he said. So, you cannot have that happen in the United States of America. People have the right in our country to peacefully demonstrate and they were peacefully demonstrating, the Senator stressed. In a written statement, a spokesperson for the Turkish Embassy said: "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 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." uropean court obligates Armenia to pay 3,600 The European Court of Human Rights has obligated Armenia to pay a fine of 3,600 in the case Nikoghosyan vs Armenia. The applicants lawyer, Y Nikoghosyan, submitted the appeal in 2011, in accordance with Article 34 (Individual Application) of the European Convention on Human Rights. The applicant, a former employee of the State Revenue Committee, was dismissed from his job by an order of the Head of the Committee in February 2009. In March 2009 he brought an action against the Committee, requesting reinstatement in his job and payment for forced absence up to the day of his reinstatement. On 11 August 2009, the Kentron and Nork-Marash District Court of Yerevan ruled in favour of the applicant it ordered the applicants reinstatement in his previous position and awarded him compensation for lost earning. However, the courts decision was not fully implemented and the applicant was paid only part (AMD 6 million) of the compensation. The applicant argued that the domestic authorities had not undertaken all necessary measures to enforce the District Court judgment. The Court found that the Armenia acted in breach of the Convention, particularly Section 1, Article 6 thereof (Right to a fair trial), and Article 1 of Protocol No.1 (right to enjoyment of possessions). Until now, we have blamed the judges for laying down illegal judgments. The court decided to restore my rights at work and pay me compensation. But the corrupted head of the State Revenue Committee, Gagik Khachatryan did not execute the judgment for five years, Robert Nikoghosyan said to A1+. He considers the ECHR decision to be a moral victory. At the same time, he wonders why the money should be paid from the state budget, rather than from the pockets of state officials. To state the obvious: N.C. Senate leader Phil Bergers tepid defense of pilfering education funds for poor kids to preserve tax cuts for the wealthy was lame and insincere. Berger attempts to rationalize the switch as an effort to support initiatives that address opioid abuse without raising taxes. But what Berger and his fellow GOP lawmakers actually did was cut education programs in poor, Democratic-leaning districts to punish Democrats for daring to question the Republicans budget. Not a single Republican district was targeted for such cuts. Even worse, the state money the Republicans earmarked in the Senate to address opioid abuse only goes to the districts of GOP senators. Thats shameful. This is a moral issue as much as a fiscal one. Berger and the GOP are placing lower taxes for the well-off over the needs of struggling and suffering North Carolinians. There is no need to choose between poor schoolchildren and people who are struggling with addictions to painkillers. In 2015, roughly 1,000 North Carolinians died from accidental opioid overdoses. That an average of 2.7 per day. The rich can do without those cuts. Whats more, the state is running a budget surplus. Gov. Roy Cooper said as much when announcing a federal grant of $31 million to help battle the opioid addiction epidemic in North Carolina. We shouldnt have to choose between education funding and battling the opioid epidemic, the governor said in statement he shouldnt have had to make Thursday. We can and we should do both. Exactly. The state has the duty and the means to address opioid abuse and those education programs. And it has an obligation to help all North Carolinians who are addicted to opioids, not just those in Republican districts. How low can you go? Sad to say, we're close to finding out. The Republicans move was petty, mean-spirited and cold-hearted. I could think of some other choice words, but this is a family newspaper. The Greensboro Human Relations Commission never got to its agenda Monday night, but it accomplished something far more important. It listened to members of the community and responded in a way that made them feel that they had been heard. Many of the same people were in the gallery at both the HRC meeting on Monday and the Greensboro City Council meeting on Tuesday. But one meeting was conducted in an open manner that resulted in a broader sense of community satisfaction, while the other saw members of the public escorted out by police, a speech from one councilman impugning the character of people who have challenged the council and a further hardening of distrust and anger between council members and many of the people they represent. Neither body is perfect, and neither can solve, completely or overnight, the concerns being voiced by members the community. But the behavior of some City Council members is making the situation worse. With a large public turnout at the HRC meeting following the forced resignation of Lindy Perry-Garnette from the Police Community Review Board, which the HRC oversees, Chairman Zac Engle allowed members of the public to speak first. When hands later were raised, as the board subsequently discussed these issues, Engle allowed members of the public to ask questions, add information and make suggestions. It was a long but orderly meeting that never got out of hand. The increasingly autocratic and dismissive approach of the City Council led to a mass protest at its meeting on May 2 after Mayor Nancy Vaughan ordered activist Irving Allen removed from the chamber for speaking from the audience regarding the case of Jose Charles. When other protesters surrounded Allen, creating a standoff with police, the meeting abruptly was adjourned. Charles, who is African American, was 15 years old when an encounter with the GPD on July 4 resulted in multiple charges against him, including assault on a police officer, and a complaint filed against the officer by his mother, Tamara Figueroa, for misuse of force. It follows several high-profile cases of excessive force against African-Americans that many in the community attribute to a culture of racism within the police department. Those cases have renewed the call for transparency and accountability on the part of the GPD, including the release of body-camera footage, which now requires a judges order by state law. Additional police officers were present in the chamber Tuesday night, and after a few out-of-order comments, Vaughan ordered the officers to remove anyone who spoke out. Granted, shes in a tough spot. Councilmen Tony Wilkins and Mike Barber both of whom may run against her this fall publicly have criticized Vaughan for letting meetings get out of control. So she has the choice of having people accuse her of being weak or of being a tyrant. But those are not the only two choices. She could have suspended the regular meeting May 2 and turned it into an open forum during which all members of the public were allowed to speak. The council had almost nothing on the agenda that night, and it would have shown a receptiveness to the public that has been sorely lacking in recent months. She also could schedule a town hall meeting apart from the regular council meeting to allow citizens to be heard. The council should also take a lesson in listening from the HRC. At the beginning of the public comment period on Monday, Engle told his audience that his board would listen to understand instead of listening to respond. The council tends to start responding immediately to speakers during the public-comment period, which often kicks off a series of motions, consultations with the city attorney and arguments among council members that only serve to aggravate the situation. Let everyone be heard first. Then respond. Although Engle and other members of the HRC didnt agree always with comments from the audience, they did not treat them disrespectfully. As a result, there was a dialogue instead of a shouting match. At the council meeting, the response of council members went well beyond disrespect. Barber called out one speaker as a registered sex offender and asked City Attorney Tom Carruthers to determine if the man had violated the law by attending the HRC meeting, because it was held in a place that serves children. Barber cited the past criminal records of Charles parents and additional charges against Jose Charles that were a part of last weeks court proceedings the charges from July 4 were dropped when he pleaded guilty to charges of felony breaking and entering and conspiracy as a very sad cycle of crime and poverty. The representations of the convicted juvenile were grossly inaccurate, Barber said, but his portrayal was no less one-sided. He failed to mention that the bulk of additional charges against Charles occurred AFTER his July 4 encounter with the GPD, which his mother says resulted in PTSD. He did not mention evidence presented in court that Charles suffers from mental-health problems, which had been misdiagnosed and treated with medications that worsened his condition. Barber told audience members they were following false prophets with personal agendas and should work with agencies that feed children instead of getting in the way of the council doing the business of the city. Councilwoman Sharon Hightowers response was right on point. The business of this city is people, she said. We cant disregard peoples concerns. The council members who chose to do so are weakening both the citys reputation and their own political futures. The Greensboro Detachment of the Marine Corps League will host its annual Memorial Day Flag Raising ceremony at 8 a.m. May 29 at Friendly Center in Greensboro. Ceremonies are expected to last about 30 minutes. Daughters of the American Revolution representatives will be present to provide American flags. The Southeast Guilford High School NJROTC Color Guard will participate. Vocalist Jordan Winslow will present the national anthem, and N.C. Rep. Jon Hardister will make brief Memorial Day comments. For information, call 336-681-4435. Hayes-Taylor Y, church to host car show, festival Hayes-Taylor Memorial YMCA and Bethel AME Church-Sons of Allen will host a car show and festival fundraiser Saturday at Hayes-Taylor. The free event begins at 8 a.m. and lasts until 3 p.m. It will feature games, food trucks, a live DJ, a bouncy house for children, raffles and prizes. Proceeds will benefit the youth programs at Hayes-Taylor Memorial. Featuring cars from every era, Hayes-Taylor will be giving away prizes for the winner of each category which include cars, trucks and motorcycles. Registration is $25. For information, call 336-272-2131. Macys is raising money for YMCA camp scholarships The Macys at Friendly Center, 700 Friendly Center Road in Greensboro is accepting donations through Sunday for the Bryan YMCAs Camp Scholarship Program. Customers can give $3 at the register or on macys.com to help send kids to camp and receive a 25 percent off Fashion Pass to get discounts all day. For information, call 336-855-7711 or visit macys.com/fashionpass. Pettys to hold open house, 7th PettyFest at museum The seventh annual PettyFest will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 27 at the Petty Museum, 309 Branson Mill Road in Randleman. The open house event will feature a cruise-in competition, music, door prizes, a silent auction and food vendors. The first 100 cars will receive a dash plaque, signed by Richard Petty. Richard and Kyle Petty will sign autographs from 2 to 4 p.m. Richard Pettys grandson will sign autographs from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Admission is $10; children 5 and younger will be admitted free. For admission, call 336-495-1143 or visit www.rpmuseum.com/events/. Democrats to hold precinct organization meeting A Democratic precinct organization cluster meeting for G49, G58, G59 and G61 will be from 6 to 8 p.m. May 30 at the Hemphill Branch Library, 2301 W. Vandalia Road in Greensboro. This invite is for residents who vote at the following locations: Cedar Grove Tabernacle of Praise, Smith High School, Hemphill Branch Library and Alderman Elementary. Attendees will be identifying leadership for these communities. Hosts are Skip Alston, District 8 County Commissioner, and Heidi Fleshman, Greensboro vice chairwoman of the Guilford County Democratic Party. For more, email Fleshman at heidi.fleshman@gmail.com. Couple buys Camp Bow Wow pet franchise in Greensboro Rusty and Adrianna Jackson recently purchased the pet care franchise, Camp Bow Wow Greensboro. The franchise is at 6207 Chimney Center Blvd. in Greensboro. For information, call (336) 323-3133. Share a photo, and tell us why your dads special For Fathers Day, we invite you to share a photo of your father and tell us what makes the picture or your dad special. Include your name and town, your fathers name and up to 50 words. The photo should be a JPG attachment, at least 500 KB. Email life@greensboro.com and list father in the subject field. The deadline is June 12. Glenwood association to hold pie auction, carnival The Greater Glenwood Neighborhood Association will hold its inaugural pie auction and carnival from 4 to 8 p.m. May 27 at Grove Street at the Peoples Market. There will be carnival games, raffles and races, carnival Fairway food and pies. For information, call 336-543-3852. The pleasant surprise of the First 100 Days is over. The action was hectic, heated, often confused, but within the bounds of normalcy. Policy (e.g., health care) was being hashed out, a Supreme Court nominee confirmed, foreign policy challenges addressed. Donald Trumps character volatile, impulsive had not changed since the campaign. But it seemed as if the guardrails of our democracy Congress, the courts, the states, the media, the Cabinet were keeping things within bounds. Then came the last 10 days. The country is now caught in the internal maelstrom that is the mind of Donald Trump. We are in the realm of the id. Chaos reigns. No guardrails can hold. Normal activity disappears. North Koreas launch of an alarming new missile and a problematic visit from the president of Turkey barely evoke notice. Nothing can escape the black hole of a three-part presidential meltdown. First, the firing of James Comey. Trump, consumed by the perceived threat of the Russia probe to his legitimacy, executes a mindlessly impulsive dismissal of the FBI director. He then surrounds it with a bodyguard of lies, which his staff goes out and parrots. Only to be undermined and humiliated when the boss contradicts them within 48 hours. Result? Layers of falsehoods giving the impression of an elaborate cover-up in the absence of a crime. At least Nixon was trying to quash a third-rate burglary and associated felonies. Here we dont even have a body, let alone a smoking gun. Trump insists theres no there there but acts as if the there is everywhere. Second, Trumps divulging classified information to the Russians. A stupid, needless mistake. But despite the media hysteria, hardly an irreparable national security calamity. The Israelis, whose asset might have been jeopardized, are no doubt upset, but the notion that this will cause a great rupture to their (and others) intelligence relationship with the U.S. is nonsense. These kinds of things happen all the time. When the Obama administration spilled secrets of the anti-Iranian Stuxnet virus or blew the cover of a double agent in Yemen, there was none of the garment-rending that followed Trumps disclosure. Once again, the cover-up far exceeded the crime. Trump had three top officials come out and declare the disclosure story false. The next morning, Trump tweeted he was entirely within his rights to reveal what he revealed, thereby verifying the truth of the story. His national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, floundered through a news conference, trying to reconcile his initial denial with Trumps contradiction. Is it any wonder, therefore, that when the third crisis hit the Comey memo claiming Trump asked him to call off the FBI investigation of Michael Flynn Republicans hid under their beds rather than come out to defend the president? The White House denied the story. Its statement was unsigned. You want your name on a statement your boss could contradict in a twitter-second? Republicans are beginning to panic. One sign is the notion circulating that, perhaps to fend off ultimate impeachment, Trump be dumped by way of 25th Amendment, the post-Kennedy assassination measure that provides for removing an incapacitated president on the decision of the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet. This is the worst idea since Leno at 10 p.m. It perverts the very intent of the amendment. It was meant for a stroke, not stupidity; for Alzheimers, not narcissism. Otherwise, what it authorizes is a coup. I thought we had progressed beyond the Tudors and the Stuarts. This would be the most destabilizing event in American political history the gratuitous overthrow of an essential constant in American politics, namely the fixedness of the presidential term (save for high crimes and misdemeanors). Trumps behavior is deeply disturbing but hardly surprising. His mercurial nature is not the product of a post-inaugural adder sting at Mar-a-Lago. Its been there all along. And the American electorate chose him nonetheless. What to do? Strengthen the guardrails. Redouble oversight of this errant president. Follow the facts, especially the Comey memos. And let the chips fall where they may. But no tricks, constitutional or otherwise. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate STAMFORD Michael Stimma and his family moved their Villa Italia restaurant from the East Side to a promising parkside area in the city center three years ago. They have not regretted their decision a day since. The product of a public-private partnership investing tens of millions of dollars in improvements, the Mill River Park is growing into a Stamford version of Manhattans Central Park. Businesses around the park like Villa Italia comprise some of the main beneficiaries of its metamorphosis highlighted by new features such as a carousel as the influx of visitors to the green space translates into more patrons. Its brought a whole new energy to this area, definitely revitalizing the community, said Stimma, who is manager at Villa Italia, in an interview last week at the restaurant. The park used to be an eyesore. Now its just beautiful. Seeing potential Long overlooked as a nondescript patch of ground on the western edge of downtown, the park has undergone a transformation in the past decade. The Mill River Park Collaborative, a public-private partnership, is leading a $100 million project that includes expanding the park to 31 acres and creating a 3-mile greenway to Stamford Harbor. Under contract with the city to develop and operate the park, the collaborative has raised $15 million of its $20 million capital-campaign goal, according to its website. This month, the park reached another milestone with the opening of a carousel in the parks northwest corner. This park was a dump before it became a fabulously engaging and dynamic green space, said Sandy Goldstein, president of the Stamford Downtown Special Services District. Having a robust park within the downtown is essential for an economically vibrant city and for a healthy environment. Stimma and his family closely watched the parks beautification before they moved Villa Italia in early 2014 from its former address at 812 E. Main St. They considered locations in the downtown core to the east of the park, but settled on 26 Mill River St., where a Hampton Inn and Suites is located. We looked downtown, and everything was so congested, and there was no parking, Stimma said. I think its the best of both worlds here. Were centrally located, but it doesnt feel congested. About a year before Villa Italia moved to Mill River Street, an approximately 202,000-square-foot office building a few hundred yards away at 9 W. Broad St. sold for $14.5 million. The edifice languished with only one tenant, but the buyers were willing to take a chance on the property. If the Mill River Park had not begun what had started and if it wasnt at the point visually where it was four years ago, I honestly dont know if they would have bought the building, said Christian Bangert, executive vice president and principal of Rhys, the real-estate firm that has brokered all leases at 9 W. Broad St. in the past four years. It was an important puzzle piece. Reaping the dividends For Villa Italia, the sweeping views of the parks lush landscape framed by the downtown skyline represent one of its greatest draws. The restaurant attracts a range of regulars from the millennial generation to senior citizens. It also does robust business from functions such as baby showers. Coming here, it seems like youre in a different city, having all the greenery and Stamford skyline as the backdrop, Stimma said. It just seems so unique. Teff Stamford, an Ethiopian-Eritrean restaurant at 113 W. Main St., is also benefiting from the increased foot traffic in the park. Situated across the street from the Mill River Playground, the establishment attracts many families, who dine there before and after trips to the park. I think what the park is doing is exposing more people to how great the West Side is, said Teff general manager Senay Mekonen. Its the link between the downtown and West Side thats breaking the stereotypes about the West Side. People are finding out that the West Side is a really nice place. Stimma and Mekonen said they expect to see business grow as the carousel gains in popularity. The upcoming opening of an ice-skating rink on the east side of the park would generate another group of potential patrons. Meanwhile, the park has contributed to a turnaround at 9 W. Broad St., which is now about 80 percent occupied. We see it as an amenity to our building, Bangert said. Many employees during lunch hours and breaks will walk out of the building and go across the street and eat lunch or read a book. It provides a green outlet where people can relax. pschott@scni.com; 203-964-2236; Twitter: @paulschott If youre looking to learn as well as travel while on vacation, there is virtually no limit to the possibilities of what might be called road scholarship. Most local colleges and universities offer tours each year meant to be educational as well as fun. A Fairfield University fall trip designed for an immersion in Icelandic culture, as well as a chance to see the aurora borealis (aka the Northern Lights), has a waiting list for the sold-out tour. The Yale Educational Travel service offers a wide array of domestic and foreign travel opportunities easily located on its website (ivy.yale.edu). The service also has many staycation ideas for such close-to-home trips as New York City theater weekends, with stage professionals offering their behind-the-scenes expertise. The price for the fall theater excursions ($820) is about the same as the cost for one premium seat at the Bette Midler Hello, Dolly! or Hamilton. The shows arent chosen until closer to the tour dates, so hot new plays can be included as part of the weekend. Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam has been offering insider seven-night London theater tours for almost 40 years. The trips have become so popular the venue is offering a second week this year. Both take place in October and start at $5,295. The four shows often include the hottest tickets in the city. For a broad range of domestic and international learning trips, its hard to beat the Boston-based Road Scholar, which has been in business for 41 years. The nonprofit organizations website (roadscholar.org) connects you with the perfect trip within a few minutes. Each program is rated in terms of its activity level, from lots of walking, to tours where most of the time is spent in classrooms. What Road Scholar calls grandtraveling trips restricted to grandparents and their grandchildren has become increasingly popular in recent years. The middle group cant come along because that changes the dynamic. This is such a good way to get to know each other, says senior vice president of programming JoAnn Bell in a phone interview from Massachusetts. Youre not going to remember that Apple iPod you got from grandma, but (a trip) lives on in your memory. Although these Road Scholar domestic and global trips focus on grand relations, the company does have alternative family journeys if the middle layer insists on going, Bell says. In addition to multiweek trips, the website offers five-day excursions for under $1,000, including programs like a New York museum weekend or an architecture-centric visit to Chicago. Because Road Scholar has been in business so long, it has an international network of scholars and experts who plan and lead the local excursions. We have 200 different educational partners, so we can put together content that would be impossible for an individual to put together, Bell says. And our nonprofit status allows us to sell some tours that are not best-sellers that other travel companies wont bother with. The best-sellers at Road Scholar so far this year have been New Orleans domestically and Cuba internationally. The company has been averaging 2,000 people a year for its three different programs in New Orleans and 4,000 people for educational excursions to Cuba. Cuba is really hot right now. The first groups that went into Cuba had to have educational content so Road Scholar was one of the first (companies) in, Bell says. jmeyers@hearstmediact.com; Twitter: @joesview Long Island Sound is Connecticuts largest playground, but if you occasionally yearn for walks on long stretches of white sand, the roar of ocean breakers or strolls along the main street of an old seaside resort, then you must discover Rhode Islands Watch Hill. Its easy to get to (assuming you consider Interstate 95 a delight). Take the North Stonington exit 91 and make a right. Or if you are sailing or powering a yacht, set a heading for Fishers Island, leave it to starboard and consult your chart. It is no more than a two-hour drive from anywhere in Fairfield County; by yacht, well, that depends on you and your boat. Most stories about this idyllic southwestern corner of Rhode Island begin with the Ocean House and mega pop star Taylor Swift. So there, Ive checked those two boxes and well move on, returning a bit later. Watch Hill Road and Wauwinnet Avenue are the last legs of your approach to the Watch Hill peninsula. It is lined with large, beautiful houses of different New England styles: from ranch to American Four Square, from colonial to shingle style. In the last 30 years of the 20th century, Watch Hill went through a period of decline. Since 2000 or so, however, money has come back in a big way and the homes are once again beautifully detailed and landscaped. Bay Street marks your official entrance to Watch Hill, a coastal village in Westerly, R.I., and though wealth has restaked its claim here, it has not diminished its patina and charm. Leave your car behind as quickly as you can (there are several parking areas); the Watch Hill Historic District is best seen by foot. The entire loop starting at Bay Road is less than a mile long. Start down Bay Street with the quaint storefronts to the left and Watch Hill Cove on the right. Some classic wooden boats may be docked at one of two street-side marinas, and there are many beautiful yachts moored in the well-protected cove. Standing out among the storefronts is a classic beach-side bistro, the Olympia Tea Room, which last year celebrated its 100th anniversary. Proprietors Jack and Marcia Felber took ownership of what was already a well-established local institution in 1980. They made significant aesthetic changes to the dining area, replacing fluorescent light with glass bead and crystal chandeliers, and adding a floor of black and white square tiles. The wall space above the beautiful dark-stained wood paneling got a coat or two of cotton-candy pink paint. It is a marvelously warm and welcoming space that leads to a long wooden bar in the back, separated from the dining area by a half wall. Three shelves of bottles line the mirrored back of the bar, and the view to the west is spectacular. Many a time people have dropped in for a quick post-beach drink and stayed the evening. Best to make the Olympia Tea Room the last stop of the day, and enjoy the sunset from its large outdoor seating area. Just past the tea room, where Bay Street curls left and begins its uphill climb to the appropriately named Bluff Avenue, sits the Flying Horse Carousel, sometimes called the Watch Hill Merry-Go-Round. It is the oldest operating carousel in the country, and is still good fun in the digital age. As the carousel starts to spin, centrifugal force pushes the horses outward, hence the flying horses. At the carousel is the entrance to one of Watch Hills three beach areas, which charges day or seasonal admission rates. Our tour will continue up Bay Street, but if you have to leave us here you can branch off to the Napatree Point Conservation Area that offers a long sandy beach on both sides of its narrow point of land, as well as hiking areas and bird (and people) watching. If nature trails or beaches arent your thing, visit Small Axe Productions, a little shop that takes you back to the tie-dyed and batik days. Reaching Bluff Avenue is a relatively steep but short climb from Bay Street, and once there the view east across Block Island Sound is breathtaking. It is home to several Newport-style mansions, including one purchased for $17 million several years ago by the aforementioned Swift that towers over East Beach and is protected from slipping into the sea by a fortress of enormous boulders. Just down Bluff Avenue from the Swift mansion sits the Ocean House, which Forbes Magazine identifies as one of only 11 Forbes triple five-star hotels in the world. Obviously, it is the type of hotel where if you have to ask about rates you cant afford it. But that was not always the case. The original Ocean House was a sprawling wooden inn that stood guard over East Beach, the most popular of the Watch Hill beaches. Starting in 1970 or so, it fell into disrepair and barely managed to stay in business. People who stayed there describe it as part haunted house, part old New England inn and all part firetrap. But it was affordable for most, and all were welcome at the bar. Now it is open to guests only, and has even taken over the part of Each Beach directly below the hotel, which is roped off to keep out the unwanted. One can still walk the beach below the high tide line, but dont dare step foot on Ocean House property. East Beach provides the best body surfing and ocean swimming, and the sand extends for miles, so a walk along the waters edge can last for hours. The main public access is half a mile or so east from the Ocean House, but there is a hack if you dont feel like walking that far. Drive along Bluff Avenue and make a right onto Westerly Road, just past the Ocean House entrance. Several hundred yards down the road is a public access path to the beach marked by a sign that reads No Beach Drop-off. Those in the know come equipped for a quick escape from the car, dropping off passengers carrying beach chairs and umbrellas before someone tells them to stop. The driver then returns to a parking lot in town and makes the 10-minute walk back to the path. Watch Hill is a perfect spot for a weekend escape. While the Ocean House is beyond most peoples reach, Bay Street offers several inns and motels, including the Watch Hill and Bayside inns and the Harbor House. For those who come by boat, you can set anchor in the cove or rent a space at one of several marinas. Best to search the web for the most appropriate spot for your particular craft. Bob Horton is a columnist for the Greenwich Time and a regular contributor to Sunday Arts & Style. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate DANBURY Two more alleged victims of a local sex-trafficking ring that targeted disabled young men, including a man who claims to have been sexually assaulted when he was 15, have come forward in new court documents filed Thursday. The filings in state Superior Court in Bridgeport represent the latest people who said they have been victimized by a sex-trafficking ring authorities said was operated for more than two decades by Robert King, of Danbury, who was arrested on human-trafficking charges in March. Police say the ring preyed on young men with disabilities including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Some of the victims lived in area group homes. Also arrested on state trafficking charges in March were Westport resident and convicted sex offender William Trefzger, as well as Glastonbury businessman Bruce Bemer, owner of the Waterford Speedbowl, where he allegedly assaulted young men authorities said were victimized by the ring. The only way to stop these sick and depraved individuals is by taking their assets and putting them in prison, said New Haven-based attorney Joel T. Faxon, who is representing at least seven alleged victims in the case or their estates. We intend to fully cooperate with the state and in the event that there are federal investigations or prosecutions we would fully cooperate with them as well. None of the men arrested in connection with the ring are facing federal charges. Faxon declined comment when asked if he been in contact with federal authorities. On Thursday, Bemer agreed during a court hearing to withhold a certain portion of his assets in the event a judgment is lodged against him as part of the civil filings. Besides owning the Speedbowl, Bemer owns the Bemer Petrolium company in Glastonbury, several helicopters and an extensive collection of antique cars. Bemer is willing to pledge certain assets to satisfy a judgment we will undoubtedly obtain at the end of the case, said Faxon, who filed civil documents in court last month seeking to seize at least $10 million in assets owned by the defendants. Not only are they facing serious felony criminal charges, but I will make sure they are put out of business permanently. During Thursdays hearing before Judge Barbara Bellis in state Superior Court in Bridgeport, Faxon, said they were withdrawing their request to freeze Trefzgers assets because the man appears to have little financial means. He doesnt appear to have any assets we can attach, Faxon told the judge. Trefzgers lawyer, Bridgeport attorney Edward Gavin, declined comment. The victims, according to police, were plied with drugs and alcohol by King and pushed into prostitution when they had racked up significant drug debts. While 15 victims are named in arrest-warrant affidavits, attorneys said there could be hundreds of victims. The latest filings include a man who said he was abused when he was 15 and another man who authorities claim killed himself during a car chase with police eight years ago, Faxon said. These children and young men were preyed upon and intimidated by low-life criminals solely because they were known to be vulnerable, Faxon said. As more people have come forward, it is now clear that children were also ensnared in this filthy criminal enterprise. King, authorities said, had a shrine in his mobile home, which is located on the west side of the city, to the victim who allegedly killed himself. The shrine included a handwritten note from the victim. I felt so angry at Bob at myself guilty ashamed and discusted [sic], the note states, according to court documents. What hapened [sic] as an act of survival I was minibilated [sic] and taken advantage of. It wasnt my falt [sic]. Staff writer Dan Tepfer contributed to this story. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate GREENWICH Times are changing for Greenwich Academys Class of 2017. So is the world they are entering, speaker Deirdre Daly told graduates at the schools commencement ceremonies Thursday. It is our history that doors have not always been opened for women and sometimes women have felt, understandably, that they are left out in the cold, said Daly, the first woman to hold the post of U.S. attorney for the state of Connecticut. But always remember: You so belong. Speaking under a tent on the schools front lawn, Daly urged the female graduates to seize upon their resilience, empathy and humility as they leave high school. Each of you has a purpose and an ability to do such good in the world, she said. Large or small, commit some part of yourself to doing just that: to a cause greater than yourself. The world awaits you and we applaud you. In white floor-length gowns, 87 students received their diplomas in the schools 190th commencement. Some 71 girls in the class had older sisters who graduated from the school before them. You have had a phenomenal impact on Greenwich Academy, said Head of School Molly King. There are countless examples of your excellence that contribute to your legacy here. Chair of the Board of Trustees Thomas Dunn said, Your achievements for Greenwich Academy have been tremendous. Even more significantly know that the relationships you have forged at Greenwich Academy are lifetime bonds that will serve you in college and beyond. More Information Greenwich Academy May 18 The graduates: 87 Valedictorian: Renee Ong More inside For a full list of Greenwich Academy graduates, see A4 The graduates Belen Agrest Whitney Hayes Balanoff Graiden Bryce Berger Elizabeth Morgan Berner Lucy Elizabeth Burke Brenna McBride Carbone Emma Marie Clark Olivia Renee Coyle Johanna Christine DeWaal Morgan Robinson Doherty Caroline Ryan Dunleavy Whitney Elizabeth Elmlinger Blaire Stefany Fauser Olivia Lee Ferraro Sophia Marie Ferraro Emily Anne Fiorentino Courtney Jae Frauen Erinn Skye Goldman Jordyn Elyssa Gregoire Paige Zara Guerriero Maria Gabriela Guzman Nunez Lucy Fuller Hamilton Maren Catherine Hersam Nicole Peace Hessler Claire Ming Holtz Tate Rebecca Horowitz Madeleine Claire Howe Alice Margaret Hudson Katie Corinne Infelice Lily Moore Jeffrey Nina Jordao Molly Edersheim Kalb Samantha Elizabeth Kallman Meghan Sharp Keating Caroline Wilson Keller Samia Abdulwasi Khatih Anna Alexandra Khoury Olivia Brynn Koorbusch Erika Elizabeth Kraus Danielle Hilary Kwait Katherine Zerbe Larsen Q Lasley Lucia Jane Lefferts Mary Elizabeth Leonard Jessica Kaitlyn Liu Taylor Laine McDonald Riley Isabelle McHugh Kara Alexis Meacham Katherine Anne Miao Devon Duryea Mifflin Neli Radoslavova Mintcheva Alexis Grace Morris Parker Elisabeth Murphy Mary Dorothea Nixon Christina Marie Normile Jacqueline Marie O'Neill Renee Hui Lin Ong Arden Katherine Orwicz Eleanor Daisy Otton Ashmitha Padmanahan Lindsey Anna Elizabeth Pitts Brooke Campbell Powers Neha Vanessa Reddy Amelia Paget Riegel Chapin Skye Ruffa Julia Armstrong Saer Ines Sanchez-Asiain Anna Teresa Sargeantson Quinn Ryan Scannell Elizabeth Godfried Schmidt Haley Vaughn Scott Christine Charlotte Norwood Solsvig Caitlin Hinman Stern Jane Elizabeth Stevens Georgia Faye Tapsall Morgan Amanda Taylor Emily Kate Thomas Natalie Marie Threadgill Diana Leigh Tramontano Nicole Maria Vassiliou Susana Marie-Claire Adrienne Vik Dana Elaine Wadsworth-Hutton Olivia Rose Weiser Nicole Fu Li Windreich Rachel Fu Yan Windreich Caroline Anne Wortman Megan Juliette Yort See More Collapse A member of the robotics team, an artist and the ultimate STEAM scholar Renee Ong was named valedictorian of the class of 2017. Ong introduced Daly, who was nominated to her post by former President Barack Obama, and in her more than two decades with the Justice Department has prosecuted a wide range of cases from racketeering and murder to corruption and fraud. No one ever dreamed that I would be a government official in a position of authority, and certainly not the first woman U.S. Attorney in Connecticut, said Daly. So just think what these Gator graduates are capable of. Chosen by her peers, senior Eleanor Daisy Otton spoke to the crowd of families and friends about the fear of moving on from her school, matched by equal excitement for what lies ahead. Lasts are inevitable. You will walk away from hundreds of things in your life, said Otton. I have come to the conclusion it is less about what you leave behind and more about what you take away from a place. The class members chose the recipient of the only award of the afternoon, the Katherine Hewitt Award, also known as the Good Companion Award. Senior Alice Hudson was selected. She has simply been everywhere, taking expedition classes, captain of a varsity team, leading admission tours and most of all encouraging her friends in the hallway with a quick You got this, Head of the Upper School Tom Sullivan said of Hudson. Toward the end of the ceremony, second-, third- and fourth-grade girls in white dresses smocked with light green processed to the stage to exchange each seniors yellow rose for a bouquet of pink, purple or yellow flowers. The event was followed by a reception for the 87 new alumnae and their families. You can legally use marijuana in the state of Washington, and soon you likely will be able to use marijuana across the entire country of Canada. And yet, if you are traveling from Canada into Washington and you admit to a border officer that you have smoked marijuana in the past, you can get blocked from coming into the U.S. And not just for now, but forever. Welcome to the latest contradiction between local, state and federal policy when it comes to marijuana. Its such a mess that only one area of the economy seems certain to benefit. Im expecting my business to boom, immigration attorney Len Saunders told The Sacramento Bee. Related: Do Something That's Never Been Done Before, According to This Marijuana Tech CEO Moral Turpitude The Bee reported that a music journalist in British Columbia recently was denied access into the United States at the Washington border because he admitted to having smoked marijuana in the past. The man, 36-year-old Alan Ranta, said officials handcuffed and questioned him. He added that officials told him he had committed a crime of moral turpitude. Ranta was not carrying marijuana at the time. Neither was Matthew Harvey, a medical marijuana user who admitted to U.S. officials he had used marijuana recreationally in the past. He was barred for life from entering the U.S. in 2014. If this strict application of law continues, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will have a difficult time coming to his next meeting in the U.S. He admitted long ago to partaking of cannabis. Unless he plans on trying to lie about that now, thats going to be an issue if a border official decides to ask. What the law says. Finding the exact language is relatively easy its online. Here you can read the entirety of INA Act 212, which is the law border agents are using to keep past marijuana users out. The law outlines the various reasons a person can be denied entry into the United States. Section 2 addresses criminal and related backgrounds. This section bars drug dealers, prostitutes, human traffickers and foreign government officials who have violated religious freedoms in their country. Grouped in with that crowd are people who admit to having smoked marijuana where it was illegal at any time in the past. Related: Illinois Looks to Marijuana to Plug Huge Hole it Its Budget The pertinent section reads that a person can be barred for violating any law or regulation of a State, the United States, or a foreign country relating to a controlled substance. This applies to those convicted of such an act or anyone who admits having committed such an act. That means a Canadian who admits to a border official that they used marijuana when the laws in their area deemed it illegal can be barred from the United States for life. If such an admission is made, the only way into the U.S. is through a special waiver that takes time to get and costs almost $600. What to do. Its up to the discretion of border officials whether to even ask about past drug use. Of course, people can simply lie. In the case of Harvey, he never really thought about it. Harvey told the CBC he was detained six hours and questioned because he had a marijuana magazine in his car. As a medical marijuana card holder in Canada who was driving into Washington -- where marijuana is legal -- he told the truth about his cannabis use, even when questioned about past use. The issue will not go away if Canada legalizes recreational marijuana as expected in 2018. U.S. border officials can still ask about past use of marijuana before it was made legal. Some attorneys advise their clients to simply not answer the question, rather than lying. Canadian officials have voiced hope that a compromise can be found with U.S. officials. Canadian Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale called the current situation both ridiculous and ludicrous. Follow dispensaries.com on Twitter to stay up to date on the latest cannabis news. Related: Border Officials Are Banning Canadians Who Admit They've Smoked Marijuana Illinois Looks to Marijuana to Plug Huge Hole it Its Budget Israel Studies Potential of Medical Marijuana as a Treatment for Autism Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Foreign affairs MEPs to visit South Caucasus A Foreign Affairs Committee delegation, led by its Chair David McAllister (EPP, DE), will travel to Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia on 22-25 May to meet the Presidents, Speakers, parliamentarians from the ruling as well as opposition parties and civil society representatives. The 8 Members of the European Parliament are to take stock of a recent deal on a new EU-Armenia agreement, the advancement of negotiations on a new EU-Azerbaijan agreement and the deepening of EU-Georgia relations. Ahead of the visit Mr. McAllister said: My colleagues and I are very much looking forward to our visit to Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia next week. This is a region of great importance for the European Union and a major counterpart to our Eastern Partnership policy. We share many interests, notably in terms of promoting peace, security and trade, and we also seek to uphold our values especially democracy, rule of law, good governance, human rights and fundamental freedoms as we seek to further deepen our partnerships. In addition to Mr. McAllister, the EPs delegation will be composed of seven MEPs: Mr. Laszlo Tokes (EPP, HU), Ms. Zeljana Zovko (EPP, HR), Mr. Andrejs Mamikins (S&D, LV), Mr. Angel Dzhambazki (ECR, BG), Mr. Ivo Vajgl (ALDE, SL), Mr. Helmut Scholz (GUE/NGL, DE) and, representing the interparliamentary delegation, Ms. Heidi Hautala (Greens, FI). The delegation is planning to visit Azerbaijan on 22 May and meet the authorities including President Ilham Aliyev, the Chairman of the Milli Mejlis Ogtay Asadov and parliamentarians as well as with civil society representatives. On 23 May, the MEPs will head to Georgia to meet President Giorgui Margvelashvili, Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, the Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze, civil society organisations and to visit the EU monitoring mission (EUMM Georgia) in Mtskheta on 24 May. The EPs delegation is to finish its mission in Armenia on 25 May with meetings with President Serzh Sargsyan, the Speaker of the National Assembly and a visit of an EU funded field project. The EU is currently reshaping its relationship with Armenia and Azerbaijan through new agreements for which the negotiations have just ended (Armenia) or just started (Azerbaijan). The MEPs visit will feed into the European Parliaments report and recommendation on these agreements to be drawn up later this year. Startup database Crunchbase in April 2017 released some unsettling, if unfortunately not unexpected, data about who exactly receives venture capital money. In 2016, $94 billion was invested in companies that had only male founders, while $10 billion went to businesses with at least one female founder. Not only that, but 17 percent of VC-funded startups are led by women, which is a number that has remained stagnant for the last five years. And this kind of disparity doesn't only exist in the United States. Related: Only 17 Percent of Venture-Backed Startups Are Led by Women To investigate the role that gender stereotyping plays in these types of decisions, a trio of Swedish researchers sat in on closed-door conversations between venture capitalists to get a better understanding of how they view the pitches brought to them by male and female entrepreneurs. In Sweden, as a basis of comparison, one third of businesses are owned and led by women, but they only receive 13 to 18 percent of government venture funding. Throughout the course of the experiment, the researchers chronicled the decisions made about 125 companies, 99 of which were pitched by men and 26 by women. Related: Women Won't Have Equal Numbers of Board Seats Until 2055, New Study Finds Describing their experiment in May 2017 in the Harvard Business Review, Malin Malmstrom, Jeaneth Johansson and Joakim Wincent wrote, "Aside from a few exceptions, the financiers rhetorically produce stereotypical images of women as having qualities opposite to those considered important to being an entrepreneur, with VCs questioning their credibility, trustworthiness, experience, and knowledge." And how did the men fare? "Financiers leaned on stereotypical beliefs about men that reinforced their entrepreneurial potential," they explained. "Male entrepreneurs were commonly described as being assertive, innovative, competent, experienced, knowledgeable, and having established networks." So what are the phrases that the researchers identified that give voice to this financial divide? Related: 10 Facts That Will Change How You Think About Opportunity and Entrepreneurship Where men were "young and promising," women were "young, but inexperienced." When a man was "cautious, sensible and levelheaded," a woman was "too cautious and does not dare." When a male entrepreneur was "experienced but knowledgeable," a women entrepreneur was "experienced but worried." Of the 125 pitches put to the VCs in the study, female entrepreneurs on average were given 25 percent of the amount of money they applied for, while men got on average 52 percent of the figure they wanted. Nearly 53 percent of their applications were rejected altogether, while that happened to only 38 percent of men. Update, March 15, 2018 The same group of researchers built on this study in March 2018, and asked 11 venture capitalists from two Swedish government organizations about how gender stereotypes might have influenced the decisions they made about finance applications from 126 entrepreneurs. They took four core assumptions: that women are risk-averse while men are not, that women are more cost-conscious and have a reluctance to grow big businesses, that women don't have enough resources to develop a high growth company and men do and that women's companies underperform while men's startups do not. In assessing how both the male and female entrepreneurs fared with regard to things including earnings, turnover, number of employees, operating margins and literally how much money was in the bank, the researchers came to one solid conclusion. According to a summary of the findings from the researchers in Harvard Business Review, there were "no statistically significant differences between women and men who apply for finance. In total, none of the beliefs VCs expressed about female versus male entrepreneurs could be backed up by data related to how ventures actually performed." Related: New Data Illuminates VC Bias Against Women Why Women Make Better People Managers Than Men #3 Mistakes to Avoid When Building a Women-centric Social Media Campaign Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved This article originally appeared on entrepreneur.com NATO has adjusted its meetings to accommodate President Donald Trump's short attention span. Saudi Arabia arranged to serve the president's favorite dinner, steak and ketchup, along with the regular lamb and rice, according to the Associated Press. But what of foreign leaders in Riyadh, Rome, the Vatican, Brussels and other stops on his nine-day tour? How do they get on the mercurial American president's good side? How can they avoid offending or boring him? Fortunately, something of a primer for meeting with Trump has been cobbled together by ambassadors, embassy staff and their Washington consultants, according to the New York Times. Here is the checklist, as reported by the Times on Thursday: 1) "Keep it short no 30-minute monologue for a 30-second attention span." 2) "Do not assume he knows the history of the country or its major points of contention." 3) "Compliment him on his Electoral College victory." (Trump's fixation on winning the election is well-known abroad.) 4) "Contrast him favorably with President Barack Obama." 5) "Do not get hung up on whatever was said during the campaign." 6) "Stay in regular touch." 7) "Do not go in with a shopping list but bring some sort of deal he can call a victory." Former British ambassador to the U.S. Peter Westmacott put it in a nutshell: "If you were prepping people for Donald Trump, the two or three points would be: one, bear in mind this is still a guy who focuses on wins," he told the Times. "He likes to have wins for America and wins for himself from bilateral meetings." We might add one other item, for the menu planners. Two scoops of ice cream, not one, for his dessert. Everybody else gets one. Texas Becomes 46th U.S. State to Recognize Armenian Genocide The Texas House of Representatives unanimously passed House Resolution 191, titled Recognizing the Armenian Genocide, on Friday, thus making The Lone Star State the 46th state in the US to officially classify and commemorate the 1915-1923 annihilation of Ottoman Turkeys indigenous Christian Armenian community as genocide, asbarez.com reports. "We are grateful to the Texas House of Representatives for standing on the right side of history by making their dynamic state the latest member of our Union to unequivocally and vociferously honor the memory of the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide despite overwhelming Turkish opposition, remarked ANCA-WR Chair Nora Hovsepian. This incredible victory, which achieves universal recognition of the Armenian Genocide in the Western Regions 19 states, was possible because of the outstanding unity and activism demonstrated by the diverse Armenian community of Texas, the unflinching leadership of State Representative Scott Sanford and his fellow lawmakers, as well as the dedication and persistent work of our grassroots ANCA-Houston and ANCA-Dallas and staff. While many Texan Armenians and community groups were instrumental in the passage of and building ground for HR191, I would like to specifically recognize the former ANCA-Dallas founding chair Lucia Nazarian for initiating Texas recognition of the Armenian Genocide, as well as Focused Advocacy President Brandon Todd Aghamalian and University of Texas Austin Professor and Armenian Church of Austin representative Mihran Aroian for their leadership in bringing the Armenian community together to make this important recognition a reality, continued Hovsepian. More details can be found here Photo: Liz Clayman Hot pot is as much dinner as it is an activity. Coming together over aromatic, bubbling broth is a communal experience that requires participation beyond simply putting chopstick to mouth. You do the cooking, as diners dunk thinly sliced meat and various other ingredients (enoki mushrooms, pork belly, fish balls, chrysanthemum greens, etc.) until theyre ready. (Even the requisite dipping sauces are often made by diners at salsa-bar-like setups). Its a meal, its a night out, and its an exercise in proper cooking technique, and these are the five places where it is the absolute best. The Absolute Best 1. Lao Cheng Yi Guo 136-55 37th Ave., nr. Union St., Flushing; 646-240-5030 The Chinese import Lao Cheng Yi Guo (or Beijing First Lamb Shabu, Inc.) isnt like the other hot-pot spots in New York. The broth here can be had mild or spicy, but what youll always get is a robust lamb soup thats gamy, rich, and even a little sweet. Theres warm spice, with a subtle heat. Sichuan peppercorn lends its famed tingling property, and the broth itself comes with an ample serving of tender lamb. The meat is first-rate, as are the other ingredients: Chrysanthemum greens are peppery and vivid; baby bamboo retains a satisfying crunch. There are even delicate egg-crepe dumplings, a celebratory dish in China. (Just dont let them cook for too long.) Sides like puckery old vinegar peanuts and flaky fried clay-oven rolls will help you make a complete meal. And its essential to order some hand-pulled noodles, with which you can turn the broth into a proper soup. 2. Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot 105 Bowery, nr. Hester St.; 646-484-5707 136-59 37th Ave., nr. Union St., Flushing; 718-762-8881 Little Sheep a chain in China offers hot pot as nightlife, catering to a younger crowd with a brightly lit dining room and a soundtrack that mixes sugary EDM with Pitchfork-approved producers like Kaytranada. Broths include the mild, flavored with the East Asian fruit jujube; the sour pickled-cabbage version; and the spicy broth, which perfumes your table with the scent of Sichuan peppercorn. Meat options are plentiful, and you can spend a whole meal dunking different proteins: lamb shoulder, garlic beef, juicy beef meatballs, and various offal opportunities. And, as at other top hot-pot spots, the greens here are notably fresh, and take so well to the broth, youre liable to favor them over the (also-excellent) thin-sliced lamb. 3. Little Lamb Mongolian Hot Pot BBQ 40-24 College Point Blvd., nr. Roosevelt Ave., Flushing; 718-359-1668 5216 Eighth Ave., nr. 53rd St., Sunset Park; 718-436-7878 Little Lamb, a chain out of Inner Mongolia, offers five kinds of broth, including one enhanced by tomatoes and a Mongolian herbal broth with nuts and jujubes bobbing around. The sauce area is one of the most varied theres red and white fermented bean-curd sauce, satay sauce, crushed peanuts, etc. and 100-odd items for cooking. These range from the usual suspects (spongy tofu) to unexpected offal (duck flippers, beef aortas). Meats like beef rib eye and lamb are uniformly vibrant when they arrive at the table, while a vegetable platter offers a bouquet of flora, including several different greens. Those seeking a place for their hot-pot party are well-advised to keep the Flushing location of Little Lamb in mind: It seats 136 people and has private rooms, so no one will see you splashing broth on your shirt. 4. Mister Hotpot 5306 Eighth Ave., nr. 53rd St., Sunset Park; 718-633-5197 133-42 39th Ave., nr. Prince St., Unit G02, Flushing; 718-939-3334 You may find your head bobbing to this spots thumping electronica soundtrack, while you dip your sliced pork belly. The room itself has a modern look, with foggy glass panels snaking around booths; exposed ventilation and hanging lights; and vintage posters of early 20th-century China. Amid all of this is the hot pot that delivers. There are some tweaks to the traditional format, like a som-tum broth with cubes of pineapple and shellfish, and a creamy pork-bone soup thats worth ordering. Then there are showier items, like bacon-wrapped enoki mushrooms and fried-tofu-skin rolls served in a cone. Everybody seems to order the Mister Beef, which comes with a raw egg. It doesnt seem to make much of a difference once the beef is dunked in bubbling broth, but thats okay: They might make a show of things at Mister Hotpot, but the quality doesnt suffer as a result. 5. Hou Yi Hot Pot 92 Hester St., nr. Allen St.; 212-966-3420 97 Second Ave., nr. E. 6th St.; 212-625-8989 Hou Yi, which has locations in Chinatown and the East Village, nails the all-you-can-eat hot-pot experience. Customers can eat for a full hour before having to re-up or stop ordering. The broths are also more varied than mild and spicy. Theres pickled vegetable and beef, Vietnamese spicy beef curry, Italian-style tomato with pork, Thai spicy pork, and more. (Word of warning: Anything spicy is labeled that way for a reason they dont cut back on the chile heat here.) The quality of ingredients wont blow you away, but the enoki mushrooms are springy enough, the beef takes well to your DIY sauce (theres even peanut butter!), and the greens are up to snuff. Beer is, as ever, cheap, but what really makes Hou Yi a party is the self-serve ice-cream bar that you can hit up for several rounds of scoops. Haiti - News : Zapping... Sentence of Guy Philippe, date advanced Following a decision of the judge, elected Senator Guy Philippe who was to know his sentence on July 5, has seen this date advanced to June 21. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20754-haiti-flash-guy-philippe-confesses-and-risks-20-years-imprisonment.html The Haitian flag floats in Romana On the occasion of the 214th anniversary of our bicolour, the Haitian flag was hoisted in the square of the flag of La Romana in the Dominican Republic, in the presence among others of the Consul of Haiti Jean Tholbert Alexis, accompanied by the Mayor of La Romana Jose Reyes at the head of a delegation. 214th : Remarks of the Consul of Chicago As part of the commemoration of our bicolour, Lesly Conde the Consul General of Haiti in Chicago declared "Today our bicolour challenges us. He speaks to us of this unity that it symbolizes. He speaks of a destiny worthy of our ancestors since it represents the triumph of bravery face of tyranny. It is up to us to be proud of our national emblem and above all to draw from it the courage and determination we need to shape our destiny." We will need a national revival Thursday, during the Commemoration of the Flag Day and University in Arcahaie, the Rector of the State University of Haiti (UEH), Fritz Deshommes in his speech cited the intellectual Dantes Bellegarde to remember that "the University is Guardian of the Flag" and called on youth to reverse the current trend by fighting for the regeneration of our country "we will need a national revival, even an awakening to get Haiti out of the rut of poverty. This would be the best way," he said, to pay tribute to the Flag. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20979-haiti-politic-flag-day-jovenel-moise-speech-in-arcahaie.html Ambassador of France to Cap-Haitien The French Ambassador to Haiti, Elisabeth Beton Delegue was recently in Cap-Haitien where she was attending a conference as part of Europe Week. She took advantage of the visit to visit several schools as well as the hospital Justinian and met with local authorities and representatives of the North Chamber of Commerce and Industry. New Departmental Director of Immigration Max Rudolf Saint-Albin, the Minister of the Interior and Local Government installed as the new Departmental Director of Immigration and Emigration in Cap-Haitien. He replaces Joseph Cianciulli, promoted on 12 April as Director-General of Immigration and Emigration. HL/ HaitiLibre Published on 2017/05/19 | Source Added episodes 5 and 6 captures for the Korean drama "Suspicious Partner" (2017) Advertisement Directed by Park Seon-ho-I Written by Kwon Ki-yeong Network : SBS With Ji Chang-wook, Nam Ji-hyun, Choi Tae-joon, Kwon Nara, Lee Deok-hwa, Nam Gi-ae,... Formerly known as "Watch out for this Woman" ( , i yeo-ja-leul jo-sim-ha-se-yo) 40 episodes - Wed, Thu 22:00 Synopsis "Suspicious Partner" will be a romantic comedy in a judicial setting with a killer thrown into the mix. A Taekwondo practitioner turned judicial trainee turned murder suspect. Broadcast starting date in Korea : 2017/05/10 More North South Wines - General Manager Company background North South Wines (NSW) is a specialist multi-channel distribution company part owned by 3 wineries and the Management Team. Established in April 2014 by individuals with over 70 years of wine category experience NSW represents a number of high profile brands including De Bortoli (Australia), Waimea Family Estates (NZ), The Wine People (Italy), Cantina di Negrar (Italy), La Gioiosa & Villa Sandi (Prosecco), Vina Ventisquero (Chile), Francois Lurton (Argentina), Finca La Emperatriz (Rioja), Berberana & Monistrol (Spain), and KWV (South Africa). NSW also have the ability to source own and exclusive label products from all over the world. General Manager Independent On & Off Trade Salary: Flexible on experience + Benefits Based: Home Region: The whole of the UK (Living location ideally in the South/Midlands) Reporting to: Commercial Director Start Date: ASAP Closing date for Application: 2nd June 2017 Contact: jobs@northsouthwines.co.uk Website: www.northsouthwines.co.uk Due to rapid growth over the last 3 years we are now looking for a General Manager to manage a small patch as well as the Independent On & Off Trade channel for the business. Job Description To deliver sales and achieve the companys gross profit targets, increase prominence and visibility of key shareholder & agency wines whilst working towards increasing North South Wines profile within the Independent retailers & wholesalers in the On & Off trade sectors. As a General Manager, you will manage in the Independent On & Off Trade team (this is currently 4 BDMs but will grow in time). This will involve managing the team with, days in trade, performance reviews, target setting and ensuring that the Channel delivers the company budget and KPIs as a collective set by the Commercial Director. We would see the split between managing and selling directly as 40:60 with the current team size this will change as we grow further. You and your team will seek out profitable sales opportunities within your region and the total Channel whilst also adding further growth to existing business. You will have full responsibility for the Channels P&L, set within the companys criteria and KPIs. In many ways, youll be an ambassador for the business, introducing NSW and its suppliers to new business clients. You will look for sustainable, viable and commercially rewarding prospects to expand our current customer base in this growing channel. To succeed you will work closely with Marketing, Logistics, and in some cases the brand owners, to drive the strategic direction of the portfolio and boost the performance within the Channel. Whilst this role is home based you will be expected to become the eyes and ears for the channel and be out in trade at least 4 days out of 5 per week as a minimum. How do we maintain quality as English sparkling grows? By Jo Gilbert The biggest recent headline for English sparkling wine (ESW) so far in 2017 has been the prediction that one million vines are going to be planted between the start and the end of the year. This followed a string of similarly impressive headlines which came in quick succession, including former UK environment secretary Elizabeth Truss statement that the UKs sparkling wine industry would endeavour to increase its export volumes from 250,000 to 2.5 million bottles by 2020. There was also Hambledon owner Ian Kelletts prediction in Harpers earlier this year that ESW will have 50% of the Champagne market within 15 years. Whether or not the industry will hit those targets is something we have looked at more closely in Harpers May addition. But the other pertinent question is how do we maintain quality as the industry grows? Despite lower than average volume of 4.15 million bottles taken during 2016s harvest, the ESW industry is undoubtedly in growth. Alongside an increased presence at tastings and trade shows, volume and value sales are rising year-on-year and export optimism continues to grow. Meanwhile, producers such as Rathfinny, Ridgeview and Hattingley Valley are focusing heavily on export markets. Additionally, even those who are not yet exporting seem to be heading in that direction, whether they are ready to or not, (just talk to Langham Wine Estate in Dorset, where they have been pursued by buyers in Europe and S.E Asia, in the hope they can be persuaded into selling overseas). From our limited perspective there would appear to be a rapidly increasing awareness of English sparkling wine internationally, owner Justin Langham comments. At the moment, the English sparkling industry has managed to strike an enviably equal balance between price and quality, which, as Connoisseur Estates director Andrew Steel notes, means theres no entry level, which is brilliant, because theres no discussion on price, just quality. One way in which interested parties are aiming to maintain this balance, is by the efforts gone into securing a number of PDOs and PGIs. The ones currently being processed are PDO Darnibole, submitted by the Lindos at Camel Valley and also PDO Sussex - both of which have been approved by DEFRA and are now awaiting approval from the EU. Among other things, both PDOs and PGIs set quality parameters by stipulating that only wines made using the traditional method can be called, quality sparkling English wine. English (or Welsh) sparkling wine, with the exception of the quality, on the other hand, can also be produced by charmant method. Quality ESW is where the majority of the sparkling producers in this country are focusing their attention, which makes sense. It is undoubtedly where the long-term gains will be reaped, if producers and marketing departments can continue to avoid the road paved by Cava. But legal protections only form part of the picture. Chapel Down CEO Frazer Thompson believes that perception is equally important in the battle to maintain standards, pointing to the need for high quality, highly desirable, widely available brands as footholds for future success. We have seen the development of only two consumer brands in ESW of any scale or note: Chapel Down and Nyetimber, he says. Thats largely a factor of scale, but also investment and time. We are the only two brands investing any serious money into marketing and the only two with serious distribution. In terms of enough suitable land available to produce quality ESW, he argues: The whole of the North Downs, the majority of the South Downs and the Test Valley are the prime belts below 300 feet and on south facing slopes. Theres also good land elsewhere in Kent, Essex, Sussex and Hampshire and also for non-sparkling varietals. The amount of land under vine is certainly increasing. Whether its all in the right areas is a different matter. Unless its in Kent, Sussex or East Hampshire, its not likely to make much impact. Thats where the chalk and the climate is best. And in Kents case, the agricultural infrastructure too. The other variable which will affect EWSs longevity at the top-end is the ability to guarantee a long-term supply of high quality fruit. The frost which struck England and Champagne at the end of last month was a timely reminder of the impact the elements can have on the delicate balance of factors supporting the UKs growing wine industry. A carefully managed, long-term supply of fruit is absolutely essential to longevity, Denbies Chris White told Harpers following the frost. If English wineries such as Chapel Down want to build brands to rival the top Champagne houses, effective managing of supply must be a priority. You cant build brands by supplying a customer one year and not the next, Thompson points out. We are producing wine at the margins. That means its unique and difficult to copy (which is great), and deliciously refreshing and distinctive. But it also means its subject to higher risks of weather events, so yields vary more than elsewhere. To build a long term industry, we need to be able to weather the weather through the build-up of stock in particular reserve wines. A managers diary at Carlton & United Breweries revealed plans to "shoot the shit" out of workers and cut their supply lines and starve them out - through legal fees and defamation". The diary note was revealed at a Senate inquiry on Thursday and was part of a strategy to "win the war" against union workers protesting job cuts at its Abbotsford brewery in Melbourne. It was written last year by the brewerys plant manager, Sebastian Siccita, when the company faced a damaging boycott of its beer products. Siccita was caught off guard when the Senate committee chairman, Labor's Gavin Marshall, showed him the copy of the document and began questioning him on what he meant by the comments. In a statement in response to the revelations, CUB management said: The notes were written by one of the managers at the brewery during a difficult time in the dispute and did not reflect the strategy of CUB management, and were clearly not borne out by any actions that CUB took during the dispute. While it is disappointing that the managers missing notebook has been used in this fashion in a Senate committee, CUB and its new management team is focused on the future and good relations at all its worksites. The dispute began when CUB changed contractors and 55 maintenance workers were offered their jobs back on substantially reduced pay. But when Anheuser-Busch InBev took over CUB's parent company SABMiller they hired back the workers on their full pay and conditions. CUB vice-president of legal and corporate affairs Craig Katerberg told the Senate inquiry into corporate avoidance of the Fair Work Act that "it was clear CUB should have taken a more collaborative and consultative approach". Katerberg added that the company now required contractors to use enterprise agreements voted on by a representative sample of workers who were intended to be covered by the agreement. Electrical Trades Union state secretary Troy Gray said if the diary notes were Siccita's then he should resign. "I've been an official for 20 years and I'm fairly shocked and appalled by what was revealed today," he said. "I think the workforce would say if you have any moral fibre at all you should resign and resign immediately." SEEK Volunteer has created a new corporate volunteering portal, which has been designed to help employers give their workers an opportunity to make a positive impact in their communities. Kathleen McCudden, Group HR Director for SEEK, said 16 years ago the company recognised that volunteering plays an important role in many peoples lives and career journey. However, challenges existed in connecting people to volunteering organisations and opportunities to contribute to society. At SEEK we utilised our capabilities to build Australias single largest source for volunteering opportunities, and we are excited to now extend that offering into businesses, said McCudden. The new pilot volunteering portal, designed specifically for corporates, is currently being trialled by select businesses and will be rolled-out more widely in in the second half of this year. Feedback from many organisations Australia-wide inspired SEEK Volunteer to create this new corporate volunteering portal, said McCudden. SEEK Volunteer discovered there was a growing need for a corporate portal that sourced relevant volunteering opportunities on behalf of organisations. Across the country, many companies expressed their desire to offer volunteering opportunities to help increase their staff satisfaction and engagement but were struggling with the cost of resourcing and managing volunteer programs for their staff." To help solve this problem, SEEK Volunteer created a corporate volunteering portal that can be embedded into existing corporate intranets, allowing employees to search for volunteer roles, just like they would on the SEEK Volunteer website. Its hoped SEEK Volunteers new corporate volunteering portal will provide a user-friendly, time saving and streamlined solution for organisations to source an on-going supply of appealing and relevant volunteering opportunities for their staff, said McCudden. The corporate volunteering portal by SEEK Volunteer also features reporting tools for businesses, which is helpful in tracking employee engagement. For further information on the Corporate Volunteering Portal please call 03 8517 4553 Tesco has donated toys and hundreds of chocolate eggs to good causes. Town councillor David Eggleton collected the goodies from the supermarket off Reading Road, Henley, on behalf of the Gainsborough Residents Association, of which he is chairman. He will give the eggs, which were left over from an Easter egg hunt hosted by the branch, to schools around the town as well as Henley youth and community project Nomad, which is based at the d:two centre in Upper Market Place. The toys, which were donated by shoppers and include train sets and dolls, will be given to children at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford as part of the associations annual Santa run in December. Councillor Eggleton said: It will be nice for people who are struggling, like single mothers or the elderly, to be given the chocolate eggs as they rarely get treats. Its nice to know people are thinking of you. Nyree Brunger, the stores community champion, said: Hopefully these gifts will make a real difference to the people who receive them. The converted office in Kimmage had been used for training by the prison service. Photo: Colin O'Riordan This is one of 15 properties that will be used by Housing Minister Simon Coveney as a "family accommodation hub" to meet the July 1 deadline of moving all homeless families out of hotel rooms. The property, located among industrial buildings in Kimmage, Dublin 12, was formerly used by the Irish Prison Service, but will now be a temporary home for 24 families. The city council hopes to relocate them by the end of next month. The property had been used as an office for the training and transition of probationers. Temporarily In documents seen by the Herald, Dublin City Council (DCC) said it was "converting suitable buildings into family accommodation hubs across the Dublin region", with 15 being set up to house a total of 600 families, according to a Homeless Executive spokeswoman. This is in line with a deadline given by Mr Coveney of July 1 to have families out of hotels. However, the spokeswoman said the families would still be considered homeless and the buildings would be used temporarily. She denied that this was being done by the minister to reduce the number of homeless people recorded. "The use of commercial hotels for families is unsuitable and the new family hubs will have the capacity to provide play space, cooking and laundry facilities and communal recreation space," one DCC document said. "Other supports will also be available for families as they move on to other housing options when they become available." Planning permission was not deemed necessary for the renovation and change of purpose of the building as the City Manager deemed it "an emergency situation calling for immediate action". The decision was made without consulting any residents or businesses in the area, according to DCC, which said its policy was to make people aware only once the go-ahead was given. It is understood that a number of council officials, along with surveyors, have visited the site in recent weeks. However, despite queries from residents and businesses, they remained tight-lipped. All 24 families due to stay in the property have children, and the target group will have a connection to the area where possible. Some children may have to attend school outside of the immediate area. Jennifer and James Cromwell, who live opposite the property, said the plans were a "mystery" to them. They said they were worried that the building would be too cramped for so many families, but were happy for them to have somewhere to live. "I tried to go online myself to see what was happening at the address last weekend. We were getting suspicious because they wouldn't tell us what they were doing," said Ms Cromwell. It is understood city councillors were not made aware of the plans until an area meeting on Wednesday. Secrecy Other properties being developed are on Clonliffe Road, Dublin 3, and in Drum- condra. The hubs will be run by separate social support agencies. Councillor Mannix Flynn said that by not informing people, DCC was "operating at their own will". "This is a really bad culture of secrecy and a very dangerous precedent being set without informing a local community," he said. "You're taking people from the isolation of a hotel room to the isolation of an industrial building." A wheelchair user accused of exposing himself to a young woman on a Dublin bus after touching her bottom has pleaded not guilty to sexual assault. James Callaghan (53) is accused of groping the passenger after "engaging her in conversation" in the alleged incident during a bus journey in west Dublin. He entered his not guilty plea at Blanchardstown District Court yesterday and Judge David McHugh adjourned the case. The district court trial is scheduled to take place in September. Mr Callaghan, of Decies Road, Ballyfermot, is charged with one count of sexual assault on the alleged victim, who was in her late teens. The incident is alleged to have happened on February 1 last year. The case was before the court for the defendant to indicate whether he was pleading guilty or contesting the charge and seeking a trial date. "We are seeking a date for hearing," defence solicitor Simon Fleming said. Gda Sgt Maria Callaghan said the case "may take a while" and Judge McHugh set a date. Documents The defendant, who was present and in a wheelchair, did not address the court. He was remanded on continuing bail. On a previous court date, the judge accepted jurisdiction to deal with the charge after hearing an outline of the prosecution's case. Sgt Callaghan had said it would be alleged that the defendant was on the number 40 bus on the Neilstown Road when he engaged someone else in conversation. She was a "young female who was a passenger" on the bus. "He proceeded to touch her on the buttocks and expose his penis to her," Sgt O'Callaghan alleged. Judge McHugh accepted jurisdiction after hearing the summary of the allegations. Sgt Callaghan told the judge that there was CCTV evidence available from the bus. Mr Fleming applied for free legal aid on the accused's behalf, telling the judge that Mr Callaghan was in receipt of disability allowance. Judge McHugh granted this request. Mr Fleming said he had received all documents he needed in disclosure from the prosecution. Previously, the court was told the accused had "certain learning difficulties". Alan Fatpuss Bradley and his younger brother Wayne are understood to be potential targets Gang thug Alan 'Fatpuss' Bradley has been driving around in disguise for fear that he will be gunned down by rival criminals. Sources have revealed that 'Fatpuss' was wearing a wig and a bulletproof vest when he was pulled over by armed gardai in the city's northside recently. The Herald previously revealed that a 21-year-old up-and-coming criminal from Blanchardstown had been tasked with killing Bradley. It is understood that the hit has been ordered by a young Finglas drugs trafficker who has links to the Kinahan cartel. Last night, a source who knows 'Fatpuss' claimed that the 43-year-old "was not bothered at all". Chase "Alan has no problem with anyone. He is a smart lad and is keeping his head down," the source said. However, a major garda alert was put in place last month after officers received information that the rival criminal was driving around in a high-powered Audi car and was intending to shoot either 'Fatpuss' or his younger brother Wayne. On the night, the drugs trafficker was involved in a car chase with gardai in Dunboyne, Co Meath, but was not arrested. A senior source told the Herald at the time that the gangster "may be getting above his head" by becoming involved in a dispute with the Bradley brothers. However, it has now emerged that the 21-year-old, who has no previous convictions, is closely aligned with the Kinahan-linked gang who have taken over the drugs trade in Finglas and other areas of the northside. Gardai are aware of an incident last December, in which the Kinahan-aligned dealer threw an object, believed to be a rock, at an SUV that was carrying Finglas crime figure Wayne Bradley. It is not believed that anyone was injured but sources say the dealer's motivation was to show Bradley "who was the boss of the area", even though Wayne is not suspected of involvement in the local drugs trade. In fact, the 37-year-old "has been mostly keeping his head down" since being released from Portlaoise Prison in December 2015. Heat Wayne served a five-year jail sentence for acting as a look-out during a raid on a Tesco store in Celbridge in 2007 under the direction of slain gang boss Eamon 'The Don' Dunne, while Alan served a six-and-a-half year term and was released last year. The gang targeting 'Fatpuss' comprises at least 10 "out-of-control" individuals, who have links to more senior criminals in the locality, including a family-based mob whose members have convictions for drug dealing and firearms offences. They have loose links to a notorious hitman for the Kinahan cartel, who fled his Finglas home last year owing to the heat he was getting from gardai. He ran a "drugs superstore" in his Finglas west base before he fled but this has now been taken over by his pals. A criminal has been left with horrific facial injuries after he was sliced "from ear to ear" in a brutal attack in Mountjoy Prison. Jail bosses are investigating whether the attack on David Saunders (25), from Cabra, is linked to a bitter dispute among inmates. Saunders spent two nights in the Mater Hospital last weekend being treated for his injuries after the "shiv" attack late last Friday. Shivs are weapons made from a sharpened piece of metal with tape wrapped around the end to act as a handle. The chief suspect in the case is a 27-year-old criminal from Tallaght who was locked up last October for 18 months for burglary. He is expected to face internal disciplinary sanctions next week. Saunders has been in jail since November 2015 for a variety of offences. They include the unlawful taking of a vehicle, for which he received a two-and-a-half year sentence last May. The badly-scarred criminal is due to be released in December. Sources said that one line of inquiry being followed by jail bosses is that he was stabbed in the face as part of a dispute. Saunders, of Fassaugh Avenue, Cabra, is well-known to gardai and was only 19 when he was convicted of two counts of threatening and abusive behaviour in 2010. This was in relation to an incident in which he threw eggs and stones at gardai in Cabra. Dublin District Court heard there was a large group of youths at both of the incidents. Goading Saunders was among a number of teenagers who were goading gardai. Gda John Drennan said he drove to Fassaugh Avenue and, when Saunders saw the patrol car, he threw three eggs at the vehicle, hitting it once on the passenger door. The officer told the court he was on foot patrol on another date, again on Fassaugh Avenue, when Saunders threw stones at him. Saunders also admitted taking a pedal bike from an apartment complex on November 1, 2009. He rode on it to the Centra store at Royal Canal Park and ran away when he realised he had been followed by security staff. BRISTOL, Tenn. Bill Gatton has sold cars to generations of families across the Twin City and beyond. For almost as long, the businessman has been a philanthropist involved with his community, working with local non-profits and schools across the region. To honor Gatton and his 50 years of service to the community, Tennessee Rep. John Crawford, R-Kingsport, and other local leaders gathered at the Bill Gatton dealerships showroom on West State Street in Bristol Thursday to present him with a proclamation from the state. Bill Gatton has obtained the pinnacle of his profession and should be recognized for his accomplishments, Crawford told the crowd. He is a loyal supporter of higher education in the community and provided the largest single donation to Tennessee High School as well. Gatton also contributed $2 million to East Tennessee State Universitys College of Pharmacy, which now bears his name. A Kentucky native, he made a multi-million-dollar gift to the College of Business and Economics at the University of Kentucky. He also donated money to the formation of the gifted academy at Western Kentucky, which also bears his name. Gatton, 84, said the sales industry found him at a young age. I started selling watermelons on the side of the road at 8 years old, Gatton said. I then raised tobacco to pay for school and then got into the banking industry and then into cars. He earned a bachelors of science degree from the University of Kentucky and holds a masters in finance and banking from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton Graduate School. I had a Honda dealership in Owensboro, Kentucky before coming to Bristol 50 years ago, Gatton said. The people are what make Bristol special and they are truly honest people, too. Over the years, the dealership in Kentucky mushroomed into Bill Gatton Chevy-Cadillac, which know has eight dealerships in Alabama, Texas and Tennessee. After the presentation, Gatton told the Bristol Herald Courier he has no plans of slowing down. I enjoy making money so I can give it away, Gatton said. Theres no secret to our success, we have good people who take care of our customers and we give good buys on our cars, too. Chris Lee has worked as chief operating officer for Gatton Automotive for three decades and said its nice to see his boss honored for serving a community he loves so much. I started here 36 years ago and to see what Mr. Gatton has done for the area is amazing, Lee said. He could have gotten out of the business a long time ago, but he has stayed around and thats very pleasing to see. Mr. Gatton is very humble and he takes pride in everything. Lee said giving is the first word that comes to mind when thinking about Gatton. He wants us to make a little bit of money, but wants to give it away as well, Lee said. We have a lot of long-term employees and that wouldnt be possible without his leadership also. A man of few words, Gattons answer was simple when asked what the proclamation means to him. Its nice to be recognized, Gatton said. The proclamation ceremony means that Ive been here for 50 years and I hope to be here for 50 more years. We really take care of our people. 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. (JTA)-Only one religious group in the U.S. has a federally proclaimed month celebrating their history: the Jews. In 2006, President George W. Bush officially declared May as Jewish American Heritage Month. Yet Jewish American Heritage Month, or JAHM, hardly seems a priority-not in the government, not in the media, not even within the Jewish community. There is not a single paid employee working to organize the commemoration, and neither the federal government nor any Jewish organizations or foundations are funding its operations. (By contrast, for example, the organization that coordinates Women's History Month lists four staff members and 16 sponsors.) "To tell you the truth, I'm very disappointed," said Marcia Zerivitz, who was one of the driving forces behind lobbying Congress to establish the month. "We have struggled to get any money to do much of anything." The current annual budget for JAHM is about $10,000 and consists entirely of individual donations, according to Ivy Barsky, the director of the National Museum of American Jewish History and a member of the JAHM advisory committee. "It's its own tiny little 501C3, all with people who run their own institutions volunteering some time to work on JAHM," Barsky told JTA. "So like any of these things, until it has a dedicated staff person, it's always going to be a little patched together." Barsky hopes to change that. Her Philadelphia museum recently took over as JAHM's public face and organizer from the American Jewish Archives. She hopes that with the museum's support, the heritage month can raise its profile both within and outside the Jewish community. "One of the original goals of Jewish American Heritage Month that we haven't necessarily realized as well as we'd like is teaching the non-Jewish world in America about the contributions of American Jewry to this country," Barsky said. The museum is providing some financial and staff support, but Barsky hopes to obtain funding from corporations and foundations. Manischewitz has served as a sponsor, promoting JAHM on its products, and Empire Kosher Poultry provided funding, but the two kosher food producers are no longer doing so. Educating the wider American public was the goal of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who in 2005 introduced legislation in Congress to establish the month with the late Sen. Arlen Specter, a Pennsylvania Republican at the time (he later switched parties) and also Jewish. "If you educated and raised awareness about contributions throughout American history all over the country, it would make people more familiar with the Jewish community and our people and hopefully impact a reduction of anti-Semitism and intolerance," Wasserman Schultz told JTA about the inspiration for the legislation. She managed to get 250 Democrats and Republicans to sign on as co-sponsors for the bill, which the House passed unanimously. Zerivitz had lobbied for the month to be in January, to coincide with Florida Jewish History Month, but it was changed to May to concur with Jewish Heritage Week, which President Jimmy Carter proclaimed in 1980. Following the resolution's passage in the Senate, George W. Bush proclaimed the month. It was observed for the first time in 2006. Wasserman Schultz, who resigned as head of the Democratic National Committee last year following an email leak that suggested the organization was biased against presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, recalled the joy she felt upon the heritage month's proclamation. "It was exhilarating. It was the first legislation that I passed as a member of Congress, and I'm the first Jewish woman to represent Florida in Congress, so it was very significant for me personally," she said, citing experiences with anti-Semitism both in New York, where she grew up, and in Florida. But has the legislation lived up to its expectations? While calling the month "still a work in progress," Wasserman Schultz said she is "very satisfied with how it's been celebrated." However, Jonathan Sarna, a professor of American Jewish history at Brandeis University, disagrees. At the time of the proclamation, "there was considerable excitement," but JAHM has yet to live up to its potential, he said. "So much money is spent on Jewish education in the United States that the fact that we have not been able to harness this golden opportunity given to us by the government, and really develop a month that would affect every American Jew, is a sign of the disorganization that we've seen-ultimately it's a sign of a problem," Sarna told JTA. JAHM's website lists 17 events this month, most of them hosted by local groups, including a poetry reading organized by a social justice group in Connecticut and an event about Jews and jazz at a Florida library. The Library of Congress, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and the Jewish Community Relations Council of San Francisco are each hosting one event, and the National Museum of Jewish History is hosting two events. "Every Jewish newspaper and media outlet should be focused on American Jewish history during that month," Sarna said. "Programming materials should be sent to every rabbi, every synagogue. Synagogues should be encouraged to have a speaker dealing with American Jewish history." To be sure, JAHM celebrations have had some highlights over the years In 2010, President Barack Obama hosted the first Jewish American Heritage Month reception at the White House with such Jewish luminaries as Sandy Koufax and musician Regina Spektor, but the program was cut in 2013 due to the budget sequester. Also in 2010, Jewish-American astronaut Garret Reisman brought the original proclamation with him aboard the Atlantis space shuttle. Jewish groups, however, have been hesitant to commit money to the commemoration. "I would think that all these national [Jewish] organizations would get behind it, but everyone is struggling for funding," said Zerivitz, who is on the JAHM board. "[The] Holocaust gets the emotions going in the American Jewish community, and Holocaust things are much easier to fund than American Jewish history things," she added. Barsky said she looks to more prominent national commemorations for inspiration. "We hope we'll be able to fundraise and get some great attention for Jewish American Heritage Month, so that this can grow into something a little more akin to Women's History Month in March or African-American History Month in February," she said. "We've definitely got a vision for making it pretty big." Sarna also is optimistic about JAHM's future. "This is a lot easier than making peace in the Middle East, believe me," he said. About two years ago, I flew to Israel for the annual conference of the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies, held that year in Jerusalem. While in Jerusalem, I toured Yad Vashem, Israel's memorial to Holocaust victims. One of the very powerful exhibits honors "The Righteous Among the Nations"-that small minority who at great risk managed to rescue Jewish people during the Holocaust. YadVashem.org identifies the four major kinds of help that were provided by those few: Hiding Jews in the rescuers' home or on their property; Smuggling and assisting Jews to escape; The rescue of children; Providing false papers and false identities. I then travelled to Haifa to visit with Yosie and Tova Teitelbaum, with whom I had become acquainted with via email through an Orlando connection. Early on in our relationship, I had learned from Tova the extraordinary story of her father, Jonas Eckstein who did all of the above and more to help what turned out to be over 2,000 Jewish men, women and children in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia (now the capital of Slovakia). Prior to the Holocaust, Bratislava had the largest Jewish community in the country. Eckstein was the owner of a grocery store, an amateur wrestler in the Hakoach Sport Organization, and a community leader in Bratislava. All three roles helped him in the difficult years ahead, including having excellent contacts with the local police. As a result, he was able to help several thousand to survive after the Nazis arrived. Tova relayed some of her father's story to me in an email soon after we became acquainted: "The dark clouds began in 1939 when Jews were ordered to pay back taxes, an excuse to confiscate Jewish valuables at that time; in 1940 radios were confiscated, limiting information; in 1941-citizenship of Jews was revoked; in 1942 "It got really bad" with the beginning of the transport of Jews. Following the announcement that Jews would have to help with the war effort, the Gestapo first rounded up 1,000 young Jewish girls and sent them to Auschwitz." In the process of rounding them up, Jewish men were "enlisted" to renovate two abandoned buildings into holding places for those to be deported. As a former wrestler, Eckstein must have been a natural for the task. The leaders of the Jewish community in Bratislava obtained permission for kosher food to be brought to the two "assembly" points-Goring Lager and Patronka-for those being deported to Auschwitz. Eckstein, as a grocer, and his brother, Shumel, both active in the Jewish community, were allowed to bring food to the two locations. Under pain of death, the Eckstein brothers were not to talk/communicate with the prisoners in any way-no letters, notes, addresses to be exchanged. Many years later, Tova met a woman who had been kidnapped off the street in Bratislava at the age of 16 and brought to one of the two assembly points. The woman never forgot. Eckstein was able to sneak word to her family and they were able to ransom her the next day. Unfortunately, Eckstein's brother was caught bringing out a note. "He and his family were arrested and taken to Auschwitz because he did the most terrible thing, he tried to help someone else." Eckstein determined things were in a downward spiral, as people were being kidnapped off the streets. As Tova described, "He rescued many Jews, not by providing them with visas, but by physically hiding them in a bunker under our house. There were always 50 or 60 people living there at any one time He provided them with food and water and other necessities of life at a daily, hourly, minute-by-minute risk to his life. He did this rescue operation for a good many months. Besides bringing the physical necessities, he always had a good word, a joke, and most important, news from outside. I also was informed that there were bunkers in other parts of Bratislava, including one under the main synagogue." While Eckstein wasn't responsible for those bunkers, he took it on himself to bring food to the occupants, again at great risk. After Tova, the Eckstein's first child, was born in a Jewish hospital in Bratislava in 1942, her mother, Valerie (nicknamed Wally), worried for their safety and fled with newborn Tova before night fell. "I don't know where my mother went when she fled the hospital. She later often said that of those who stayed overnight no one survived." In 1943, leaders of Bratislava's Jewish community were brought together and cautioned that they had to avoid the fate of Jews in Poland. Word was "leaking" to the Jewish Underground in Slovakia from concentration camp escapees describing the mass exterminations. Under the leadership of Rabbi Michael Weissmandl, $50,000 was "scraped" together from the Jewish community, including about $25,000 given by Shlomo Stern of Bratislava. Tova learned from later testimonies that it was actually her father who was sent alone, with great trepidation, to hand over the bribe (untraceable cash) to German and Slovak officials. And, she learned, "The deportations did not stop, but it did become easier to walk on the streets without fear of being kidnapped off the street." The mass deportations of Jews abated for two years-from 1942-1944. And, important to note, it was only after the bribe had been given that it became possible to rescue children from Poland. At that time, Jews were safer in Slovakia than in Poland, where only 10 percent of the Jews survived the genocide. Between a number of dedicated Slovak and Polish Jews, Polish Jewish children were smuggled into Slovakia and then on to Hungary/ Rumania and eventually to Palestine. As Tova later learned from survivor testimonies, "Most of the children were brought to our house to recuperate till it was possible to move them on." Once Ecksten was picked up and jailed because the Gestapo suspected that he knew the whereabouts of four Polish refugees who had crossed into Slovakia. Eckstein was beaten and put in solitary confinement. After a couple of days they arrested his wife, Wally. She was also beaten and put into solitary confinement. Both kept silent. Eckstein was let out by concocting a ruse to help them catch the escapees-saying they stole from him and he wanted to catch them, too. Eventually both were released. At some point, Eckstein realized that it was too dangerous for anyone, including the family, to stay in the bunker because of frequent patrols by the Gestapo. Eckstein with Wally, Tova and another cousin, Ester Eckstein, sought refuge with the Payankos, a Christian family living in Lamec, a small village outside Bratislava. Because it was difficult to hide a child in a confined space, the Payankos eldest daughter, Manya, took Tova out of the house. As a train engineer, Payanko was able to provide Manya with a free pass on the Czech railroad. Manya spent days travelling around the country with little Tova. "Manya made me lie down and pretend that I was asleep so that people shouldn't bother us. In retrospect-how long can you ask a two-year-old to pretend to be asleep? Manya did this for weeks." Manya then returned to Lamac and told the neighbors that she had come home with her illegitimate child. Around Oct/Nov 1944, Eckstein and Wally left their hiding place somewhere in Lamac because there had been a rumor that the war was coming to an end and it was safe to return to Bratislava. It turned out not to be true. "A Nazi called Alois Brunner named my father on a personal list as someone who had to be found and sent to a concentration camp." Her parents were picked up and taken to Theresienstadt, which was a "camp-ghetto" where Czech Jews were interned pending transport to killing centers in Germany, Poland, etc. It also served as a ghetto-labor camp which was used for propaganda purposes as a place where certain Jews, based on their celebrity or skills, were presented to the outside world as a part of a "model Jewish settlement" where Jews were deployed for productive labor. Being a former wrestling champ may once again have paid off for Eckstein. "My parents were in Theresienstadt the last six months of the war in a special section where couples were allowed to stay together as husband and wife. One of my father's cousins was with them as well. This was very important and considered a privilege. To be separated would have been very demoralizing, because you didn't know what had happened to your family and usually lost the will to live." Tova's parents remained in Theresienstadt until liberation by the Russians in May 1945. They returned to Bratislava and then went to Lamec to retrieve Tova. While the family had hoped to move to Israel from Bratislava, they were unable to get the proper documents and so moved to Australia in 1948, where Eckstein opened a poultry store. Tova eventually went to college and married in Israel, and now lives in Haifa. While Tova's father had written a partial autobiography, her mother had told her not to read it. "My mother said 'I don't want you to know, you won't be able to sleep.'" In 1966, the Czechoslovakia Olim organization held a large event in Tel Aviv with hundreds of people attending. Eckstein flew in from Australia to attend. This was the first time Tova began to understand the breadth of what her father had done. "Many left testimonies and letters of thanks, so I started looking for these people. There were also a number of articles in the newspapers at the time. During a conference "Jews Saving Jews" about six years ago, Tova again discovered attendees who could say that they or their parents had been saved by her father. Tova "convinced" some of the survivors to talk to her by asking, "Is it right that there was no written record of what my father had done?" Jonas Eckstein as part of the forced labor force when the Jews were compelled to enlarge and renovate Patronka, an abandoned factory in Bratislava. "Yad Vashem was most unhelpful and I can say totally uninterested. A small interesting place called Haginzah in Bnei Brak was very helpful. They even had a file on my father. One person seemed to lead to another." After being contacted last year by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, Tova provided them with pictures and information on her family to include in their large collection, all available on their website. After decades of discoveries, "What I learned above all: My father himself often didn't know how much and what his next portion of food would be, but whatever he had he was willing to give away to someone in greater need. I have tears in my eyes as I am writing this, my father was an incredible person!" If you would like/or have more information on this rescue effort in Bratislava, please write Tova at teitel_j@netvision.net.il. JERUSALEM (JTA)-David Rubinger's iconic photograph of three paratroopers at the Western Wall is the defining image of the 1967 Six-Day War. The men in the photo-Dr. Yitzhak Yifat, Tzion Karasenti and Chaim Oshri-have proudly served as symbols of the historic Israeli victory for the past five decades. But in an interview with JTA, they said the war for them was just as much about loss. "To liberate the Kotel was something amazing," Yifat told JTA, referring to the Western Wall. "But we never celebrated. What was there to celebrate? We had lost many of our friends." Between June 5 and 15, in honor of the Six-Day War's 50th anniversary, the three former paratroopers, now in their 70s, will re-create Rubinger's photo in their first-ever tour of the United States. The tour, sponsored by Friends of the IDF, will stop at Jewish communities and other locations in the Cleveland, Detroit, San Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta, Boston and Baltimore areas. They will also recount some of the sacrifices that were made in the battle for Jerusalem. This week all three spoke to JTA at Tel Aviv University in a spirited four-way conversation arranged by Friends of the IDF. On June 5, 1967, the 55th Paratroopers Brigade was deployed to Jerusalem by bus. The official mission was to protect supply convoys headed to Mount Scopus, the only enclave in eastern Jerusalem that Israel had managed to hold on to in the 1948 War of Independence. But there was talk in the High Command and among soldiers about taking the Old City in Jordanian-controlled eastern Jerusalem. As they approached the divided city, Yifat recalled being surprised by how loud were the sounds of Jordanian shells hitting Jewish neighborhoods. He, Karasenti and Oshri were reservists in their early 20s and had never seen serious combat. Soon after they arrived, Jews came into the streets to greet them, offering coffee and sandwiches and welcoming them into their homes. Some of the paratroopers accepted offers to make phone calls to wives, girlfriends and parents back home. "It was amazing to see how everyone embraced us," Karasenti told JTA. "All the sectors of Israeli society came together, it didn't matter if you were Ashkenazi, Sephardi, religious, haredi, a kibbutznik, whatever." Following some hurried planning, the paratroopers crossed into no-man's land after midnight. Dozens were wounded by Jordanian fire before they even entered eastern Jerusalem. Through the night and the next day, the paratroopers fought their way toward Mount Scopus, the only Jewish enclave in eastern Jerusalem, and to the outskirts of the Old City. The 66th division-to which Karasenti, Yifat and Oshri were assigned-faced the hardest fighting, hand-to-hand combat against elite Jordanian troops in the trenches at Ammunition Hill, which overlooked the road to Mount Scopus. Yifat narrowly avoided being impaled by a Jordanian bayonet-and still has a scar on his face to show for it. "It was like a hell. The trenches were filled with bodies, and you couldn't tell if they were friends or enemies," Yifat said. "At one point, I jumped on an Arab and shot him dead. As I was reloading my magazine, another Arab attacked me with a bayonet, and got me right here. I kicked him between the legs and shot him dead, too." Nearly 100 of the paratroopers were killed and 400 wounded before they paused for the night. The next morning, June 7, the paratroopers found that most of the Jordanian troops had retreated from Jerusalem. Israel's Cabinet, long divided about whether to capture the Old City, finally gave the go-ahead. Motta Gur, the paratroopers' famed commander, delivered the news over the radio, saying: "Fifty-fifth paratroopers brigade, we are sitting on the ride overlooking the Old City, and we shall soon enter it-the Old City of Jerusalem, which generations have dreamed of and longed for. We will be the first to enter." The paratroopers rushed forward amid sniper fire from remaining Jordanian soldiers and rammed their way through the Lions' Gate of the Old City. From there they made their way through narrow stone alleys and up to the Temple Mount and the Western Wall. "The Temple Mount is in our hands," Gur reported. Religious and secular paratroopers alike were awed by their return to the heart of the ancient Jewish homeland. "I didn't realize where I was until I saw the Israeli flag flying above the stones, said Karasenti, an observant Jew. "I started to cry. Everyone was emotional. The whole nation of Israel was in ecstasy, euphoria. You can't even imagine what it was like." While Yifat, Karasenti and Chaim Oshri were walking along the wall, Rubinger, who died in March at 92, lay on the ground and snapped the photo that would make them-and him-famous. Within days, the image had appeared in newspapers around the world. After the war, Oshri became a chemist whose research was key in dairy production. In 1996 he worked for the minister of religious affairs. Karasenti, a director and choreographer, went on to a found a dance troupe and performed all over Israel. Yifat earned his medical degree from the Technion in Haifa in 1974 and specialized in gynecology. David Rubinger-GPO From left, Israeli paratroopers Tzion Karasenti, Yitzhak Yifat and Chaim Oshri standing at the Western Wall after Israel captured the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, June 7, 1967. Soon after the war-which saw Israel capture the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, the Golan Heights and the Sinai-the survivors of the 66th division returned to Ammunition Hill, where they stacked stones into a memorial for the paratroopers who died there. Atop of the pile, they placed a helmet. On the other side of the hill, they erected a smaller memorial for the Jordanian soldiers. "We thought they fought very bravely, and many of them died," Yifat said. "Somebody has since removed that memorial. I'm very angry about it" While Yifat has publicly expressed some ambivalence about Israel's rule over Palestinians who live in the territories it took in 1967, he said he had no doubt that Israel must retain all of Jerusalem. "We fought and lost so many friends to unite Jerusalem for the Jewish world," he said. "There's no going backwards." Featuring narrative poetry about real people from the Holocaust, author Holly Mandelkern will launch her first book, "Beneath White Stars: Holocaust Profiles in Poetry," at The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center on Sunday, May 21. The program will begin with refreshments starting at 2 p.m. and includes a performance by the Lake Nona High School Chorus, readings, introduction of honorees, and a book signing. Mandelkern is a poet, lecturer, librarian, and educator with a special interest in Holocaust studies. She traveled to Poland and Israel in 1991 to study Jewish resistance during the Holocaust, and, with other educators, took classes with some of the world's leading Holocaust scholars. "Beneath White Stars: Holocaust Profiles In Poetry" melds historical detail and keen insights with the grace of poetry. Tess Wise, survivor, scholar and founder of the Holocaust Center, endorsed the book, saying it is "a sensational read, bringing history to life in a poetic form, humane and edifying, touching the heart and mind." A special limited edition of "Beneath White Stars" will be available. Parking is available at The Roth Family Jewish Community Center where the Holocaust Center is located. ORLANDO-Medical marketing specialist and author Andrea T. Eliscu, BS, RN, just released "It's Personal: The Art of Building Your Practice," her latest book on how to successfully market medical practices and healthcare organizations. Published by the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), the book explores how in an increasingly digital world, developing and nurturing personal relationships with patients, referring physicians, staff, and the community can help medical practices and organizations grow and differentiate. "It's Personal: The Art of Building Your Practice" shares strategies, examples and case studies from Eliscu's work with medical practices across the country in an effort to help physicians and healthcare administrators tackle current market challenges. Eliscu addresses the need to spark connections, share unique stories, engage patients, deliver memorable experiences, and strengthen service and satisfaction to achieve market leadership. She also discusses how to harness the power of social media by cultivating loyal ambassadors who share their positive experiences and expand "world of mouth." "Healthcare has evolved from a physician-directed model to a patient-driven one," explained Eliscu. "So practicing medicine today means viewing a patient not just as someone who is ill and needs your help, but a consumer making a purchasing decision-that decision just happens to be related to the health and well-being of themselves or a loved one. And as the most successful businesses in other industries already know, strengthening relationships with your customers should always be your number one priority." Linda Zinkovich, chief operating officer for Orlando Health Physician Associates, one of the largest multi-specialty healthcare groups in Central Florida, agreed. "In 'It's Personal: The Art of Building Your Practice,' Andrea demonstrates that it's the unexpected-the little things, done right every day-that can make the biggest difference in growing your practice," she said. " It's Personal: The Art of Building your Practice," is available online at the MGMA store: http://www.mgma.com/store/books/printed/its-personal-the-art-of-building-your-practice. Andrea Eliscu, BS, RN, serves as president of Medical Marketing Inc., a healthcare marketing and public relations firm she co-founded in 1984. In this role, she provides leadership and guidance to clients throughout the country and also serves as a resource to industry trade organizations and media on healthcare-related issues. Eliscu has authored four books-the recently released "It's Personal: The Art of Building your Practice" as well as "A+ Marketing: Proven Tactics for Success," "Ready-Set-Market!" and "Position for Success! Strategic Marketing for Group Practices," all published by the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA). By Adam Abrams JNS.org As French citizens voted Sunday, their eventual president-elect reiterated previous statements ruling out unilateral French recognition of Palestinian statehood and committing to support for a two-state solution. On the eve of the election, pro-Europe centrist Emmanuel Macron of the En Marche partywho went on to win the presidential race with 64 percent of the vote, defeating far-right populist Marine Le Pen of the National Front partysaid unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state would create instability and damage Frances relationship with Israel. I defended the principle of a two-state solution, and Frances commitment to that, said Macron, recalling a 2015 visit to Israel as Frances minister of economy. He added, Unilateral recognition of Palestine, right now, will undermine stability[it would have] implications in the loss of the entire [French] relationship with the state of Israel. Macron has previously expressed support for Israels security and condemned the BDS movement, referring to anti-Israel boycotts as profoundly anti-Semitic and stating anti-Zionism leads directly to anti-Semitism. Following the election Sunday, World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder said he is confident Macron will work to support the state of Israel against its enemies in the international arena, in all its constructs, be it from the extreme left or the extreme right. French Ambassador to Israel Helene Le Gal tweeted Monday that 96.3 percent of French Israelis who cast their ballots in the cities of Tel Aviv, Netanya, Haifa, Ashdod, Eilat and Beer Sheva opted for Macron. Le Gal told Army Radio that Macron would be very friendly toward Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated the French president-elect, saying, I look forward to working with President-elect Macron to confront the common challenges and seize the common opportunities facing our two democracies. Netanyahu said Israel and France both face the threat of radical Islamic terror, and expressed confidence the longtime allies would continue to deepen relations. Leading up to election day, Jewish leaders inside and outside France had expressed concern about the strong showing of Macrons far-right competitor, Le Pen, in the first round of the French election. Last month, Le Pen came under fire for comments she made absolving France of responsibility for the roundup of French Jews during the Holocaust. She has indicated that, if elected, she would have moved to ban ritual slaughter of animals in France, a policy extending to kosher slaughter. Le Pen has also called on French Jews to give up wearing yarmulkes as part of her initiative to ban religious symbols in public and fight radical Islam, while stating her intent to ban dual citizenship with non-European Union countries, troubling French Jews who also hold Israeli citizenship. Francis Kalifat, president of the CRIF umbrella group for French-Jewish organizations, called Le Pens growing popularity is a real danger to our countrys democracy. Russian Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar had said, If Marine Le Pen is elected president of France, the Jews must leave. Chief Rabbi of France Haim Korsia had joined Muslim and Christian leaders in an endorsement of Macron against Le Pen. Fully aware that our roles require us to be non-partisan, we are, however, first and foremost responsible citizens and therefore openly are calling for a vote in favor of Emmanuel Macron, stated the religious leaders letter to voters, titled Call to Vote for Mr. Emmanuel Macron and issued by Korsias office. The letter was co-signed by Pastor Francois Clavairoly, president of the Protestant Federation of France, and Anouar Kbibech, president of the French Council of the Muslim Faith. The religious leaders open endorsement of a specific presidential candidate was considered a rare occurrence in France. At the same time, some Jews support Le Pen specifically because of her commitment to fighting radical Islam, and are willing to look the other way on her nationalistic agendas implications for matters such as Jewish ritual. The National Front party was founded by the current presidential candidates father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, a convicted Holocaust denier. The party, led by Marine Le Pen, expelled its founder in 2015. In a bid to combat being portrayed as anti-Semitic, Marine Le Pen last month discreetly visited a Marseille monument for French victims of the Holocaust, laying a wreath at the site. The wreath-laying took place, with no media present, at a memorial for 30 Jewish women and children who were rounded up by the Nazis in 1943. It is that time of year once again when Heritage Florida Jewish News is putting out feelers for one outstanding person in the Jewish community who has given his or her time or talent or monetary gifts to better the Orlando Jewish community. Nominations for the 2017 Heritage Human Service Award are now being accepted and the award will be presented at the annual meeting of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando, which will be held Aug. 27. For more than 27 years, individuals who have made major, voluntary contributions of their talent, time, energy and effort to the Central Florida community have been honored with the selection and presentation of this award, said Jeff Gaeser, editor and publisher of the Heritage. Last years recipient was Susie Bierman. Former recipients have included Loren London (2014) Bob Yarmuth (2004), and Claire Mercer (2003). According Gaeser, Each recipient chose their own path, but made considerable and long-lasting contributions to the Jewish community. Nominees for the 2017 award are individuals who do not look for recognition, but perform tikun olanrepairing the worldout of internal motivation. Nominations should be emailed to news@orlandoheritage.com with the subject Human Service Award, or typed on 8 1/2 x 11 paper and sent by mail to Heritage Florida Jewish News, Human Service Award, 207 OBrien Road, Suite 101, Fern Park, FL 32730. Included should be the name and phone number of the nominee, a documented list of his or her accomplishments, and the name and phone number of the nominator(s). The Heritage is accepting nominations until Friday, June 9. Teach Florida, a project of the Orthodox Union, secured a historic victory for Jewish schools in the 2017-18 Florida state budget, which allocates $645,000 to enhance security in Jewish day schools. This is the first time that the state of Florida has allocated security funds to Jewish schools, which face urgent security concerns in the face of rising anti-Semitism across the country. Teach Florida helped draft the legislation and advocated strongly for its passage. Teach Florida also advocated for expanding tax credit scholarships for nonpublic school students. The 2017-2018 budge will increase elementary school scholarships by nearly $500 and high school scholarships by more than $1,000 per student. We are extremely grateful to Governor Rick Scott, Senator Lauren Book, Representative Randy Fine, and all the members of the Florida legislature for making security for Jewish schools a priority in this years budget, said Mimi Jankovits, executive director of Teach Florida. Security is a public good, and we appreciate that Floridas elected officials have stepped up to help safeguard our students. This is a historic day in Florida, said Dr. Allan Jacob, chairman of Teach Florida. Next year, children in Jewish day schools across Florida will be safer and more secure. At the same time, our low-income students, along with the 98,000 low-income students across Florida, will have the financial support they need to attend the middle and high schools of their choice. We are proud to be a supporter of this important program. Teach Florida is an association of Jewish day schools and yeshivas, rabbis, community leaders and parents who are working for fair funding of nonpublic schools. Teach Florida is part of the Teach Advocacy Network, a project of the Orthodox Union. NEW YORK (JTA)-Ten days before Donald Trump was inaugurated, Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked visited the Jewish settlement in Hebron. A community of several hundred ensconced in a city of 150,000 Palestinians, Hebron's Jewish residents are considered to be among the most extremist and controversial Israeli settlers. Shaked, 41, wearing black jeans and a loose fleece, had come to support them. "No more excuses-in 10 days we need to keep building in Hebron!" she wrote on Facebook, referring to Trump's swearing-in. "We need to build again, to develop Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria. Because this is our home. This is our right." Like other opponents of a Palestinian state, Shaked cheered Trump's victory in November, viewing it as an opportunity to discard the United States' axiomatic support for the two-state solution. She had reason to be optimistic: The 2016 Republican platform removed any mention of a two-state solution. Trump's advisers on Israel included Orthodox Jews who had opposed Palestinian statehood. He had also pledged to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in what some viewed as a tacit endorsement of Israeli claims to the city. Six months later, Shaked may have reason to be disappointed. Ahead of a planned visit to Israel later this month, Trump has become committed to achieving what he has called "the ultimate deal." He dispatched his negotiator, Jason Greenblatt, to the region for apparently sympathetic talks with all sides. The president called it "an honor" to meet last week with his Palestinian Authority counterpart, Mahmoud Abbas, who the pro-Israel right insists continues to incite Palestinians against Israel and pays salaries to terrorists and their families. And that embassy move? It has yet to happen. But Shaked's hope is not yet lost. Because whatever Trump says, she doesn't believe a peace deal is possible. "I think we're in the midst of a historic opportunity, that there's an administration that really loves Israel," Shaked told JTA in an interview Sunday at The Jerusalem Post Conference here. "I believe that when they study the issue deeply and really, really see what's happening, they'll see that the gaps are too wide. And if they understand that, I think they'll really be partners in thinking outside the box about other solutions." Shaked is a rising star in Israeli politics. She entered Knesset in 2013 as a bridge builder, a secular woman from a posh neighborhood of northern Tel Aviv representing Jewish Home, a religious Zionist, pro-settler party. But living in Israel's liberal mecca hasn't pushed Shaked to the left: Along with opposing Palestinian statehood, she is opposed to letting African asylum seekers stay in the country, supported a bill to define Israel as the nation-state of the Jews and backed a measure requiring (largely left-wing) nongovernmental organizations to declare foreign government funding. She won Jewish Home's internal primary ahead of the 2015 elections, placing her in the No. 2 spot behind Naftali Bennett, the party leader. Later that year she was made the justice minister shortly before her 39th birthday-the youngest woman ever in the position. The post makes her the head of the Ministerial Committee for Legislation, which advances or blocks bills. She is also the only woman on the security cabinet, which votes on military action. Appearing at events like Sunday's conference, in front of an American Jewish audience, is a longstanding way for up-and-coming Israeli politicians to raise their profiles. But though Shaked offers the usual platitudes about how Israel values American Jews, she makes clear that she doesn't believe American Jews should have a say in how the Israeli government works. "We definitely need to work together with American Jewry, with cooperation and a lot of mutual respect," she told JTA. But she added that "the fate of Israel will be decided by the residents of the State of Israel, and I expect that also American Jewry will respect the final decision of the people and the citizens of the State of Israel." Shaked has been just as crusading within her ministry as she is on maintaining control of the West Bank, trying to push Israel's courts in a more conservative and less activist direction. Her legislative attempt last year to change the way Supreme Court justices are selected fell flat, but Shaked still managed to appoint four conservative justices to the 15-member court last week. They will remain until the mandatory retirement age of 70. Overall, Shaked has appointed 200 of the country's 750 judges, with something of an eye toward diversity. She named Israel's first two judges of Ethiopian descent, as well as the first female judge on the country's Islamic religious courts. Like many young politicians under the spotlight, Shaked is restrained in talking about her political future. She is more focused on using the power she has now to push Israel to the right-in the courts and in the land. "I am taking the system in a more conservative direction," she said of the courts. "I'm very happy with my office politically-two to three years ahead, it's hard to say. I hope this government completes its term. I think this is a good government." FBI Director James Comey preparing to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill, May 3, 2017. WASHINGTON (JTA)-"You make us better," James Comey told the Anti-Defamation League in his final public speech as FBI director. Judging from the applause in the conference room at the venerable Mayflower Hotel here, the feeling was mutual. Mired in investigations of the scandals of 2016 (Hillary Clinton's relationship with her email server) and 2017 (Donald Trump's relationship with Russia), not a lot of love ended up being lost between the FBI director and either party. Democrats called for Comey's firing last year when a week and a half before the election he reopened the Clinton case because of emails found on the laptop of former congressman Anthony Weiner in an unrelated case. President Donald Trump, who repeatedly praised the FBI director as a candidate, fired Comey on Tuesday, ostensibly because Comey treated Clinton unfairly last July-he excoriated her for her email habits in a news conference, but recommended against legal action. The firing was drawing attention for its timing: Comey is delving into ties between the Trump campaign and transition officials who may have had ties to Russia. Among the folks whose business it is to keep Jews safe-like those gathered Monday in the Mayflower for the ADL's leadership summit-admiration for Comey was fairly unequivocal. To a degree greater than most of his predecessors, he made the Jewish story central to the FBI mission. Comey required all FBI staffers to undergo a tour of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. "Good people helped to murder millions. And that's the most frightening lesson of all," he told a museum dinner in 2015. "That is why I send our agents and our analysts to the museum. I want them to stare at us and realize our capacity for rationalization and moral surrender." Comey, already known as a persuasive speaker, was especially adept at understanding what moved Jewish Americans. In his ADL speech this week, he recalled meeting a man who was not far from the scene when a gunman opened fire last June at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. "My name is Menachem Green and I'm Jewish," Comey quoted the man as saying, pronouncing Menachem impeccably, and went on to say that Green was pleased to tell him that he ran toward the shooting alongside a police officer he learned was a Muslim. "We were Jew and Muslim and Christian and white and black and Latino running to help people we didn't know," Comey recalled Green saying. Comey also noted the "Muslim activists who raised over $100,000 to repair Jewish headstones in St. Louis and Philadelphia-that makes us better." The now former FBI chief also embraced one of the ADL's signature issues, improving reporting of hate crimes by local authorities. "We must do a better job of tracking and reporting hate crime to fully understand what is happening in our country so we can stop it," he said. Just a week earlier, Comey was due to receive a recognition award from the Secure Community Network, the security affiliate of the Jewish Federations of North America. Paul Goldenberg, the SCN director, said Comey was to be recognized for his work with the community in tracking down the perpetrator of dozens of bomb hoaxes on JCCs and other Jewish institutions. "Director Comey put in extraordinary resources and showed tremendous commitment to the American Jewish community," Goldenberg said, noting that the FBI had deployed agents to Jewish communities across the states. Comey could not personally accept the recognition, and SCN delivered it to a surrogate, because Comey was on the Hill testifying to the Senate about how he handled the email and Russia scandals. In his testimony, he noted one of the FBI triumphs of recent months as a defense of the agency-helping to solve the JCC bomb threats. "Children frightened, old people frightened, terrifying threats of bombs at Jewish institutions, especially the Jewish community centers-the entire FBI surged in response to that threat," Comey said in his opening remarks Wednesday to the Senate Judiciary Committee. In March, an Israeli-American teen was arrested in Israel on suspicion of calling in more than 100 bomb threats. Last month, the U.S. Justice Department charged the teen, Michael Kadar, with making threatening calls to JCCs in Florida, conveying false information to the police and cyberstalking. "Working across all programs, all divisions, our technical wizards, using our vital international presence and using our partnerships especially with the Israeli national police, we made that case and the Israelis locked up the person behind those threats and stopped the terrifying plague against the Jewish community centers," Comey said. Comey may be gone, but the shock among Democrats-and some congressional Republicans-at his departure means his memory is unlikely to fade anytime soon. "We must have a special prosecutor," Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., the minority leader in the Senate, said in a statement delivered at a briefing for reporters late Tuesday. Schumer said he told Trump in a phone call that firing Comey was a "very big mistake." Trump fired back on Twitter, recalling that Schumer had said recently that he did not have confidence in Comey. "Then acts so indignant," Trump said, calling the New York lawmaker "Cryin' Chuck Schumer." Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., the ranking Democrat on the U.S. House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, which is also probing the Trump campaign's Russia ties, said there was no contradiction between being appalled at Comey's handling of the Clinton case and at his firing. Schiff noted that Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who has recused himself from the Russia investigation because he had met with a Russian diplomat during the transition, had signed off on the firing. "The decision by a president whose campaign associates are under investigation by the FBI for collusion with Russia to fire the man overseeing that investigation, upon the recommendation of an attorney general who has recused himself from that investigation, raises profound questions about whether the White House is brazenly interfering in a criminal matter," he said. The students of the Jewish Academy of Orlando took a step back in time as all grades visited the fifth grade Living History Museum. This interactive program is the culminating project of their colonial studies unit. The fifth grade students had the opportunity in March to travel to colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, for three days to see first-hand how the colonists lived. Historical figures who lived there in the 1700s were then chosen and researched. Presentations included period costumes and props, prepared speeches, hand-drawn and painted hanging backdrops, and a digital component. The students showed off their knowledge as the kindergarten through 4th grade students and their parents visited the museum to see colonial history come to life. For more information about the Jewish Academy of Orlando or to arrange a visit to the school, please contact Alan Rusonik, Head of School, at arusonik@myjao.org or 407-647-0713. Andy Brennan, security director of the Maitland Jewish Community Campus, was among more than 40 security directors from across the nation who convened in early May for a security summit in Washington, D.C. The summit was organized by Secure Community Network (SCN), an affiliate of the Jewish Federations of North America. Much discussion at the summit centered on the rash of bomb threats made against Jewish community centers across the nation, including the Maitland campus, earlier this year. Officials at the summit said the response to the threats helped to solidify the relationship between Jewish communities and the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security. The summit featured presentations on best practices for dealing with a bomb threat and trends in domestic terrorism, among other topics. Officials from the FBI and Homeland Security briefed the conference as well. Brennan, who was hired by the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando for the security post in January, said the Maitland campus has made tremendous strides in improving security in the wake of the bomb threats. "This summit was a great opportunity to learn about and share the experiences our Jewish communities have dealt with over the past months," Brennan said. "Our Greater Orlando Jewish community should take comfort in the fact that SCN and federal authorities truly are working side by side with us as partners to keep our campus safe." As campus security improvements continue, the Jewish Federation is still accepting donations to the Maitland Campus Security Fund. Visit http://www.jfgo.org/security for details. A man looking at an Emmanuel Macron poster at the French consulate in Jerusalem, May 7, 2017. PARIS (JTA)-French Jews may have voted en masse for Emmanuel Macron in the final round of France's presidential elections, but that doesn't make him their dream president. Like many other supporters of the 39-year-old former investment banker, who on Sunday became the youngest French president in recent history, Jews voted for Macron mainly to block his far-right opponent, Marine Le Pen. The centrist won with 65 percent of the vote to 34 percent for Le Pen. Leaders of French Jewry said they were relieved and even "happy" to see Macron elected, but the honeymoon may be short lived. A self-declared progressive with a foreign policy rooted in human rights, Macron even during the campaign demonstrated that like his Socialist predecessor, Francois Hollande, he is willing to clash over Israel and Islamism with the conservative and pro-Israel mainstream of French Jewry. To be sure, the youthful-looking Macron has charmed many voters, Jews and otherwise, on his own merits. He is known for an energetic oratory style, a profound understanding of finance and a passion for inter-European cooperation, and he promises to heal France's deeply divided society by building a post-partisan consensus based on tolerance. His good looks, coupled with his apparent devotion to his wife-his former high school teacher, who is 24 years his senior-have endeared him to women especially, according to Elle. Yet in a town hall meeting on March 22 with hundreds of Jewish voters Macron, an independent politician who had served for two years as Hollande's industry minister, showed why he and the Jewish mainstream may be on a collision course over Israel and Muslim extremism. For the first 90 minutes of the meeting, sponsored by the the CRIF Jewish federation, Macron discussed his economic vision lucidly and in great detail. Juggling data and well-chosen anecdotes, he was clearly in his element as he explained his support for free-market labor reforms, greater cooperation with Germany and no new taxes on corporations' revenue-producing capital. But then he turned to foreign policy-a weaker subject for the wunderkind who became the first candidate in decades to win a presidential election in France without the support of its main political parties. "My policy is to continue the current line of French diplomacy," Macron told the crowd of 700. To his evident surprise, the promise of continuity did not sit well with his listeners, whose hisses and booing forced him to pause. "Oh, no?" he mumbled in surprise when the booing started. "Perhaps it's not your policy, but it is mine," he said in the unapologetic style that helped him through debates with more seasoned speakers, including former Prime Minister Francois Fillon of The Republicans and the fiery far-left candidate, Jean-Luc Melenchon. Macron's attempts to appease the audience by proclaiming his attachment to Israel's security "as well as to the two-state solution" did not seem to have a particularly mollifying effect. Apparently unwittingly, he touched one of the raw nerves of French Jewry under Hollande, who has led a firm line-and according to some critics at times even a hostile one-on Israel. Leaders of French Jewry were especially angry when France voted last year in favor of at least two resolutions by UNESCO, the cultural body of the United Nations, that ignored Judaism's attachment to Jerusalem. Unusually, the country's chief rabbi, Haim Korsia, issued a written condemnation of the votes. CRIF condemned France's failed bid earlier this year to stage a Middle East peace conference in Paris without Israel's support. Hollande said France was organizing the conference out of a commitment to peace and as a "friend of Israel," but CRIF President Francis Kalifat clearly had his doubts. "Some pretend to be Israel's friend, but there is no such thing as friendship: There are proofs of friendship," Kalifat said at a protest rally in January against the summit in front of Israel's embassy in Paris. Israel's refusal to attend the conference ultimately led the Palestinians to pull out. CRIF called the ensuing summit a "grotesque" event in light of international inaction on the wholesale slaughter of civilians in Syria. French Jewry's mainstream also objected to France's leading role within the European Union in singling out Israeli West Bank settlements and their products, and to Socialist Party lawmakers who supported a unilateral declaration of Palestinian statehood. During the town hall meeting, Macron said that like Hollande, he would recognize a Palestinian state only after a negotiated settlement agreed upon by Israel and the Palestinians. Then there are fears that Macron's tolerance-driven agenda is too accommodating to Muslim fundamentalists. Many French Jews perceive Islamism as the main threat facing their communities following a string of deadly jihadist attacks on Jewish and non-Jewish targets. In Macron's official platform, he speaks of "fighting with determination against all radical streams that distort the values" of Islam. But whereas Le Pen and the right-of-center Fillon proposed concrete punitive steps, including revoking the French nationality of radicals and deporting them, Macron has remained vague, proposing to conduct the fight by "helping French Muslims to achieve the [restructuring] of their institutions." Sensing he was losing the audience's affection, Macron told the CRIF crowd, "Hang on, I can return to the UNESCO vote, which is a different matter." He added: "It's a mistake and I condemn it." But Macron also insisted that the UNESCO vote was a technical glitch, provoking more dismissive boos and laughter from dozens of listeners and an intervention by Kalifat. "Yes, but there were two votes, Mr. Macron," Kalifat said. "They were definitely not unintentional." Macron also infuriated prominent members of the French Jewish community when he visited a Holocaust monument during the last stretch of the campaign. Although the visit was meant to draw a contrast with the Holocaust denial roots of Le Pen's party, the prominent French-Jewish philosopher Alain Finkielkraut said Macron's actions turned the genocide into a "campaign argument." Regardless of their differences, Macron is nonetheless someone French Jews can respect, according to Philippe Karsenty, a French Jewish politician and pro-Israel activist who supported Fillon in the first round but switched to Macron against Le Pen. "I disagree with him on many issue-Israel, his vision of French history," Karsenty told JTA. "I think he's too naive, like former U.S. President Barack Obama or Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. But his background is in banking, in business. He's accomplished. And he understands the power of compromise." White House: Trump staffers Western Wall comment do not reflect administration policy WASHINGTON (JTA)Reported remarks by a Trump administration official rejecting Israels claim to the Western Wall were unauthorized and do not represent the position of President Donald Trump, the White House said. 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, a White House official told JTA. The remark that the Western Wall is not your territory, its part of the West Bank reportedly arose during conversations between an advance team planning Trumps visit to Israel next week and officials in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office. Netanyahu wanted to join Trump on his visit to the Wall, which is unprecedented for a sitting president. According to a report by Israels Channel 2, the Israeli delegation was so angry by the remark that members started shouting. An Israeli official told the station that the Jewish state was convinced that this statement contradicts President Trumps policy as expressed in his fierce opposition to the latest [United Nations] Security Council resolution and that it had asked the United States for clarification on the comment. In December, the U.N. Security Council passed an anti-settlement resolution with the U.S. abstaining. Trump slammed President Barack Obama for not vetoing the measure, calling it extremely unfair. Trump had said during his campaign he would move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, which would effectively recognize the city as Israels capital. He has since retreated from that pledge and is still contemplating the move. Adelsons to answer questions in corruption case against Netanyahu JERUSALEM (JTA)Jewish billionaire philanthropist Sheldon Adelson and his wife will testify in Israel in a corruption investigation into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israels Channel 2 news first reported Sunday evening that the Adelsons will testify next week during their visit to Israel. The couple is arriving in Israel ahead of the visit by President Donald Trump on May 22-23, and will remain for a few days afterward, at which time they will testify. Adelson and his wife, Miriam, agreed to testify in the investigation into the so-called Case 2000 after being assured that they were not suspected of wrongdoing. Adelson, a casino magnate, is the owner of the pro-Netanyahu daily newspaper Israel Hayom, which is distributed for free. Part of the case includes accusations that Netanyahu and Arnon Mozes, publisher of the daily Yediot Acharanot, discussed a deal in which Netanyahu would receive favorable coverage in Yediot in exchange for legislation that would cut into the circulation of Adelsons paper. Channel 2 reported that investigators will ask the Adelsons if they were aware of the deal. Miriam Adelson reportedly deals with the couples Israeli affairs. The couple is considered to be close friends of the Netanyahus. Sheldon Adelson, a major giver to Republican candidates, endorsed Trump when it was clear the reality TV star and real estate magnate would be the partys nominee. He subsequently donated tens of millions of dollars to the Trump election campaign, and later gave a record $5 million to fund inauguration celebrations. Trump considering how moving embassy to Jerusalem would affect peace process (JTA)President Donald Trump is considering how moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv would affect the peace process, according to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. The president, I think rightly, has taken a very deliberative approach to understanding the issue itself, listening to input from all the 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, Tillerson said at the end of a nearly 15-minute interview Sunday morning on NBCs Meet the Press. As you know, the president has recently expressed his view that he wants to put a lot of effort into seeing if we cannot advance a peace initiative between Israel and Palestine. Tillerson added that the decision will be informed by the parties involved in the talks. He said one factor would be whether Israel views it as helpful to a peace initiative or perhaps a distraction. The Israeli Prime Ministers Office later responded to Tillersons statement. Not only will the transfer of the embassy not harm the peace process, but quite the opposite, the statement said. It will advance it by correcting a historic injustice and by smashing the Palestinian fantasy that Jerusalem is not the capital of Israel. Osama bin Ladens son calls for attacks on Jewish targets (JTA)A son of Osama bin Laden called on Muslims and followers of al-Qaida to carry out attacks on Jewish targets around the world. In a 10-minute video released over the weekend, Hamza bin Laden urged Muslims in America, the West and occupied Palestine to carry out the attacks where they are. The video includes clips of terrorist attacks that have been perpetrated around the world, including in Israel. Bin Laden opines that it is not necessary, or even preferable, to travel to Syria and join the Islamic State. Know that inflicting punishment on Jews and crusaders where you are present is more vexing and severe for the enemy, he said. He said American and NATO targets are appropriate where there are no Jewish targets. Monument to non-Jewish Polish resistance fighter unveiled in Warsaw (JTA)A monument to a non-Jewish Polish Army officer who reported on atrocities at Auschwitz after allowing himself to be captured and later fought in the resistance was unveiled in Warsaw. Saturdays honor for Capt. Witold Pilecki came in the presence of his son and daughter and other descendants, The Associated Press reported. Pilecki allowed himself to be captured by German troops in 1940 in order to provide the anti-Nazi underground and their allies with reports from Auschwitz. He wrote and smuggled out reports on the death camp to his superiors before fleeing in April 1943, heading to Warsaw and fighting in the Polish resistance. After the war Pilecki went to Italy before returning to Soviet-dominated Poland, where he was executed in 1948 for espionage and treason by the communist authorities. His body was buried in a mass grave. ADL to train staff of Mexicos US consulates on how to help attack victims RIO DE JANEIRO (JTA)The Anti-Defamation League will train the staff of Mexicos 50 consulates in the United States on how to assist nationals who are victims of attacks and harassment. Through our regional offices we are the first to be called in case of a hate crime, ADL National Director Jonathan Greenblatt said at a Friday news conference in Mexico City, the Elance Judio news website reported. When a synagogue is defaced, when a Jewish person is assaulted, but also when black person is attacked or a Latino or a Hispanic person, often we get a call. We hope to share our expertise, to do hands-on training, to make it easier for Mexican consular officials to handle the incoming calls, to prepare their staff to reach out to understand whats happening and track the information more effectively. Several Mexican consulates have recently reached out to ADL to help deal with an increase in attacks against Mexicans and Americans of Mexican background. Many of the immigrants who are citizens or who are not yet citizens are afraid to call the authorities. They are afraid of the questions... for this reason they call the consulates. Ambassador [Geronimo] Gutierrez is very enthusiastic, said Greenblatt, who also praised Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto for his commitment to supporting his countrys Jewish community. This robust collaboration will allow your government to do its job to protect your own citizens and compatriots abroad and syncs with our mission, which is to fight discrimination. On May 21, Mexican-Jewish diplomat Andres Roemer, who was fired from his ambassador position for walking out of an anti-Israel vote at UNESCO in October, will receive the International Sephardic Leadership Award from the American Sephardic Federation. In March, the mayor of Mexico City laid the foundation stone of a Jewish community center slated to cost nearly $5.3 million. Miguel Angel Mancera considered the initiative a sign of trust in the countrys growth. Mexico is home to some 50,000 Jews, Latin Americas third largest Jewish community after Argentina and Brazil. Jewish mayor in Virginia faces anti-Semitic tweets in aftermath of white supremacist protests (JTA)The mayor of Charlottesville, Virginia, was hit with anti-Semitic tweets following protests by white nationalists over the removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from a local park. White supremacist leader Richard Spencer, who attended the nearby University of Virginia, led the protests on Saturdayone during the day and another at night with demonstrators holding tiki torches. The Charlottesville City Council had voted to remove the statues of Lee and another Confederate general, Stonewall Jackson, located in a different park. A court injunction will halt the action for six months. What brings us together is that we are white, we are a people, we will not be replaced! Spencer said during the daytime protest. Charlottesville Mayor Mike Signer, who is Jewish, issued a statement published Saturday on Facebook criticizing the protesters, calling them profoundly ignorant. 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 hearkens back to the days of the KKK, Signer wrote on his Facebook page. Either way, as mayor of this City, I want everyone to know this: we reject this intimidation. We are a welcoming City, but such intolerance is not welcome here. The statement sparked anti-Semitic and racist comments on Twitter. One tweet, from the account of someone calling themselves Great Patriot Trump, read I smell Jew. If so, you are going back to Israel. But you will not stay in power here. Not for long. Signer responded: Here is what this great country faces in this age of @realDonaldTrumpa sitting mayor subjected to anti-Semitism. I will not be intimidated. Signer told Reuters that the protests came on the day the city marked its annual Festival of Cultures celebrating diversity. Youre seeing anti-Semitism in these crazy tweets Im getting and youre seeing a display of torches at night, which is reminiscent of the KKK, Signer told Reuters. Theyre sort of a last gasp of the bigotry that this country has systematically overcome. Parents of American-born terror victim in Israel sue to recover damages (JTA)The parents of an American-born yeshiva student who was shot to death in 1996 at a West Bank bus stop have sued to recover the $156 million in damages they were awarded by a U.S. jury in a landmark verdict. On Friday, Stanley and Joyce Boim filed a federal lawsuit in Chicago against two U.S. Palestinian groups based in the cityAmerican Muslims for Palestine and Americans for Justice in Palestine Educational Foundationwho they claim are the alter egos of three Islamic fundraising groups that were found guilty in December 2004 of funding the terrorism that led to the death of their 17-year-old son, David, near the city of Beit El. One of the Boims lawyers, Stephen Landes, said Friday that the family has received only a small piece of the award, the Chicago Tribune reported, because the defendants claimed they had ceased operations and did not have the money to pay the judgment. Landed said the groups named in the suit formed shortly afterward, with many of the same leaders. The Anti-Terrorism Act cant be set aside simply by rebranding yourself, he told Reuters. The Boims, U.S. citizens who moved to Jerusalem some three decades ago, were awarded the $156 million to be paid by the Islamic Association for Palestine, the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, the Quranic Literacy Institute and Muhammad Salah, a Palestinian-American who was acquitted of terrorist charges in the U.S. but spent 4 1/2 years in Israeli prison for bankrolling terrorism. The verdict was the first by a jury holding U.S. citizens or organizations liable under a federal law that allows victims of terrorism to sue for civil damages. The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the judgment in 2008. U.S. Palestinian organizations say they have no relationship with groups outside the United States, including the four that were found guilty of funding terrorism. Its a frivolous lawsuit, American Muslims for Palestine Chairman Hatem Bazian told Reuters. They are using the Islamophobic environment we are in to try to tarnish and defame an organization that is in good standing, and has been working diligently to provide a perspective on the Palestine cause to the American public. Fire seriously damages historic Lower East Side synagogue (JTA)A fire seriously damaged a historic synagogue on Manhattans Lower East Side. The Sunday evening blaze at Beth Hamedrash Hagadol burned for several hours and took at least two hours for firefighters to bring under control, according to reports. It burned for several hours afterward. It is not clear how the fire started, according to reports. An investigation will be led by the fire marshal, though the fire chief has said the blaze started inside the building, NBC New York reported. The Gothic-style building was empty at the time of the fire. Two firefighters reportedly were injured trying bring it under control. Built in 1850 as a Baptist church, the building was purchased in 1885 to become the first Eastern European congregation founded in New York City and served Russian Jews. The congregation closed the synagogue in 2007 after determining it did not have the $3 million to $4 million needed for repairs. In 1967, the building was declared a city landmark, and in 2003 it was designated an endangered historic site. Local residents told the New York Post that another fire had broken out in the building last week, though it was not confirmed by the newspaper. The synagogue in recent years has sought to de-landmark the building, allowing for condominiums to be built on the site, with a small synagogue to be built on the ground floor. Palestinians marking catastrophe of Israels founding clash with troops JERUSALEM (JTA)Clashes broke out near Ramallah between Palestinians marking Nakba Day, referring to their perception of Israels founding as a catastrophe, and Israeli troops. Eleven Palestinians were injured Monday in the fighting at a checkpoint near the seat of the Palestinian Authority after Israeli soldiers fired rubber bullets and used other riot control measures in response to dozens of Palestinian youths throwing rocks at them. Thousands of Palestinians marched through Ramallah carrying Palestinian flags and waving keys to symbolize their former homes in Israel before 1948. Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, as well as Arabs around the world held rallies, marches and candlelight vigils to mark the day, which is marked each year on May 15. Each year, a siren is sounded throughout the West Bank for one second for every year since the Nakba. This year, a siren was sounded for 69 seconds as cars stopped and people stood at attention. On Sunday Marwan Barghouti, the high-profile Palestinian prisoner leading a hunger strike, issued a letter calling on Palestinians to carry out acts of civil disobedience on Nakba Day. Gaza Palestinian fishing boats on Sunday night and Monday attempted to breach a buffer zone of Israels coast set up by Israels Navy. The boats were fired on Monday morning, leading to the death of one of the Palestinian fishermen, according to the Palestinians Maan news agency. Saeb Erekat, the PLOs secretary-general and the chief Palestinian peace negotiator, in a statement issued Sunday said that Israeli recognition and apology for the Nakba were a necessary condition to achieve a just and lasting peace between Israel and Palestine. We call upon the Israeli government to open all its 1948 archives and show their own nation the truth of what was done to our people, including its ethnic cleansing policies and the policy of shooting to kill Palestinians that attempted to return home, Erekat said. He also called on Britain to apologize for the 1917 Balfour Declaration that led to the creation of a Jewish state. San Francisco State University has been a hotbed of anti-Semitism for decades. During this time, Jewish community leaders either ignored the hostile campus environment or worked quietly behind the scenes, failing to alleviate the problem. But a year after protesters from the General Union of Palestinian Students prevented Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat from speaking, shouting him down with amplified obscenities while the police stood by, the anger in the Jewish community has recently surfaced in a long series of published articles. SFSU President Leslie Wong, who is no friend of the Jewish community, declined to take any disciplinary action against GUPS. During his five-year tenure, anti-Semitism has gotten substantially worse at SFSU. Last month, students at the local Hillel chapter declared in a letter to Wong that SFSU suffers from institutional anti-Semitism. Even in the current climate of political correctness, safe spaces and capitulation to the demands of militant, marginalized students, SFSU possesses a unique view of the academic world. Since the tumultuous days of the late 1960s, SFSU has made its resources available to a segment of students and faculty less interested in the objective conduct of inquiry than in creating an activist base to organize identity groups. SFSU takes pride in its political activism, which it pursues at taxpayers expense. GUPS has a long history in the Middle East as the training center for numerous Palestinian militants and terrorists, including Yasser Arafat. It is also one of the best-organized and most politically influential groups on the SFSU campus. The most prominent alumnus of GUPS is Hatem Bazian. During Bazians student days, a controversial mural, a tribute to Malcolm X, was painted on the student union building. Within the mural were Jewish stars surrounded by dollar signs, invoking ancient tropes that denigrate Jews. Bazian organized a press conference to defend the mural. Although the press conference was held on school property, Jewish students were forcibly excluded from it. Jews are barred from participation in campus events for being Jewish, but there is almost nothing a Palestinian could do that would prevent him from being welcomed into the school. In August 2013, GUPS President Mohammad Hammad posed on social media while brandishing a knife, saying, I seriously can not get over how much I love this blade. It is the sharpest thing I own and cuts through everything like butter and just holding it makes me want to stab an Israeli soldier. Hammad also targeted a female Israeli soldier on her Facebook page writing, The only peace Im interested in is the head of this [expletive deleted] scum on a plate, as well as the heads of all others like her, and all others who support the IDF. SFSU claimed the school was not responsible, as Hammad was not enrolled at the time. Any other university administration, however, would have taken the threat seriously, especially if it applied to any other group. But without so much as informing Jewish faculty and students, whom Hammad clearly threatened, he was quietly readmitted to SFSU. Some two years after Hammads bloodthirsty rant, SFSU President Wong, speaking publicly of the GUPS, said the group has been an inspiration for me. He then said he has had to tell other community groups to mind their own business. GUPS is the very purpose of this great university. Knife-wielding maniacs who forcibly prevent free speech can provide inspiration only to those who share their prejudices. Asked to identify the other community groups that should mind their own business, Wong had a lapse of memory. His inspiration led to SFSU developing a partnership with An-Najah National University, located in Palestinian Authority-controlled Nablus and known for its ties to the terrorist group Hamas. The orchestrator of the relationship is Prof. Rabab Abdulhadi, who came under fire three years ago for using university funds to meet with convicted terrorist Leila Khaled in Jordan. Under the arrangement, students from An-Najah will be able to secure student visas to study at SFSU. Against this pro-Palestinian backdrop, Jewish students have been unable to hold events and were prevented from having a display at a recent human rights convocation. The feckless university president, Wong, keeps professing his concern about Jewish students being marginalized, but nothing changes. Wongs sympathies are with the pro-Palestinian camp. Wong should have been forced from his perch long ago. His views and conduct are antithetical to the very essence of a university. His connection to An-Najah will make the San Francisco Bay Area vulnerable to accepting international students who have been steeped in the ideology of terrorism and anti-Semitism. Abraham H. Miller is a distinguished fellow with the Haym Salomon Center and an emeritus professor of political science, University of Cincinnati. He served on the faculty of the University of California, Davis and the University of Illinois, Urbana. http://www.carolineglick.com By all accounts, U.S. President Donald Trump is a friend of the Jewish state. It is due to Trumps heartfelt support for Israel and the U.S.-Israel alliance that his meeting with PLO chief Mahmoud Abbas at the White House is most discouraging. By meeting with Abbas, and committing himself to working toward achieving a peace deal between Abbas and his PLO and Israel, Trump undermines Israel. He also undermines himself and his nation. Israel is the most immediate casualty of Trumps decision to embrace Abbas and the PLO, because the PLO is Israels enemy. Abbas is an anti-Semite. His doctoral dissertation, which he later published as a book, is a Holocaust denying screed. Abbas engages in anti-Semitic incitement on a daily basis, both directly and indirectly. It was Abbas who called for his people to kill Jews claiming that we pollute Judaisms most sacred site, the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, with our filthy feet. The Palestinian media and school system which he controls with an iron fist both regularly portray Jews as evil monsters, deserving of physical annihilation. Abbass PLO and his Palestinian Authority engage as a general practice in glorifying terrorist murderers. As has been widely reported in recent weeks, his PA and PLO also incentivize and underwrite terrorism to the tune of $300 million a year, which is paid, in accordance with PA law, to convicted terrorists sitting in Israeli prisons and their families. And thats just the money we know about. In welcoming Abbas to the White House, Trump chose to ignore all of this in the interest of fostering a peace deal between Israel and the PLO. There are three problems with this goal. First, the peace process between Israel and the PLO is predicated on the notion that the U.S. must pressure Israel to make massive concessions to the PLO. So simply by engaging in a negotiating process with the PLO, Trump has adopted an antagonistic position toward Israel. The second problem is that Abbas himself has proven, repeatedly, that he will never support a peace deal with Israel. Abbas opposed Israels peace offer at Camp David in 2000. He rejected then-prime minister Ehud Olmerts peace offer in 2008. He rejected then-president Barack Obamas peace offer in 2013. Since then, Abbas made no sign of moderating his position. The third problem with Trumps decision to engage in peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians is that any hypothetical deal a hypothetical Palestinian leader would accept, would endanger Israels very existence. So in the unlikely event that he reaches the deal, his achievement will imperil Israel, rather than protect it. Again, Israel isnt the only party harmed by Trumps decision to embrace the Palestinian dictator whose legal term of office ended eight years ago. Trump himself is harmed by his move. Trumps move is self-destructive for two reasons. First, he is setting himself up for failure. By positioning himself in the middle of a diplomatic initiative that will fail, he is guaranteeing that he will fail. Trumps move also endangers the support of one of his key constituencies. Evangelical Christians in the U.S. voted overwhelmingly for Trump in both the Republican primaries and in the general election. They rallied to his side due to Trumps pledge to support Israel. By initiating a diplomatic process that pits his administration against Israel, Trump places that support in jeopardy. Then there is the U.S. itself. Trumps engagement with the PLO harms U.S. core interests. First there is the issue of coalition building.The U.S.s chief challenge in the Middle East today is to form a coalition of states and actors that can help it stem Irans rise as a nuclear-armed, terrorism-sponsoring regional power. The members of such a coalition are clear. Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE stand united today in their opposition to Iran, its nuclear program, its support for Sunni and Shiite jihadists and terrorist groups, and its moves to establish an empire of vassals that spans westward through Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, southward to Yemen and eastward through Afghanistan. The members of Irans coalition include its Lebanese foreign legion Hezbollah, the Assad regime, the Shiite militias in Iraq, Hamas, other Sunni terrorist groups aligned with the Muslim Brotherhood and Yemens Houthis. By embracing the PLO, rather than build and strengthen the anti-Iranian alliance of Israel and the anti-Iranian, anti-Muslim-Brotherhood Arab states, Trump is tearing that alliance apart. In its place he is cobbling together an anti-Israel alliance comprised of Irans allies in Qatar and to a degree in Turkey, the PLO, and at least passively, Hamas. This anti-Israel alliance is supported, grudgingly, by the Saudis, Egyptians and others who cannot afford to be seen abandoning the Palestinians. In other words, by embracing the PLO, Trump is strengthening Iran and its supporters at the expense of Israel, the U.S.-aligned Sunni states and the U.S. itself. Moreover, by embracing the PLO Trump is directly undermining the U.S.s goal of defeating terrorism in two key ways. First, Trumps move undermines congressional efforts to block further U.S. funding of Palestinian terrorism. Today, the Taylor Force Act, which enjoys massive support in both houses of Congress, is making its way through Congress. The act will block U.S. funding of the PA due to its payments to terrorists and their families. To embrace Abbas, Trump will either have to veto the Taylor Force Act and other congressional initiatives or insist on receiving a presidential waiver for implementing them. Such waivers will ensure that U.S. taxpayers will continue to incentivize Palestinian terrorism against Israel. The second way Trumps decision to embrace the PLO harms the U.S.s efforts to fight terrorism became clear this week with Hamass new PR document. Hamass new policy document departs not one iota from the Muslim Brotherhood groups devotion to the goal of destroying Israel. In adopting its new document, which calls for Israel to withdraw, first and foremost, from Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem, Hamas has adopted the PLOs wildly successful strategy of engaging in a dual campaign against Israel, waging terrorist war against Israel on the one hand while winning the support of the West on the other. Hamass document is a restatement of the PLOs 1974 phased plan for destroying Israel. The PLOs plan involves accepting limited territorial gains from Israel. Under the phased plan, the PLO adopted the ruse that it is interested in territorial compromise with Israel, in order to advance its actual goal of destroying Israel piece by piece. Trumps decision to become the fourth U.S. president to welcome a PLO chief to the White House, and his apparent decision to continue funding the terrorist group are new evidence of the wild success of the PLOs strategy. Just as the Hamas document neither contradicts nor abrogates its genocidal pledge to eradicate Israel boldly asserted in its covenant, so the PLOs phased plan and its subsequent embrace of the peace process neither contradicted nor superseded its founding charter that calls for Israels destruction. PLO leaders simply stopped discussing their founding documents in their dealings with gullible Westerners keen to win peace prizes. In a similar fashion, the Western media received the news of Hamass PR stunt with respect and interest. Given the reception, Hamas has every reason to expect that in due time, its transparent ruse will open the doors of the chanceries of Europe and beyond to its terror masters. In other words, by embracing Abbas and the PLO on Wednesday, Trump empowered Hamas. There is no upside to Trumps move. It will not bring peace. It will not strengthen Israel. It will not help the U.S. to build a coalition to defeat Iran and its vassals. It does not advance the U.S. war on terror. It empowers terrorists to kill Israelis and others by using U.S. tax revenues to fund the PA. And it harms Trump by alienating a key constituency and undermining his relations with Congress. It is hard to see how Trump, now committed to this dangerous folly, can walk away from it. But to diminish the damage, a way must be found, quickly. Originally published in The Jerusalem Post. Caroline Glick is the senior Middle East Fellow at the Center for Security Policy in Washington, DC, the deputy managing editor of The Jerusalem Post and a contributor to the Jewish World Review. The Washington Posts chief correspondent in Israel has discarded all pretense of objectivity and is now openly lobbying for a political causeand its one of the most distasteful causes imaginable: justifying the Palestinian Authoritys (PA) policy of paying imprisoned terrorists and their families. William Booth, the Posts longtime Jerusalem bureau chief, has never been very careful about keeping his personal opinions out of his news articles. But his May 3 report on PA payments to terrorists crossed the line from journalism to outright advocacy. Israel and its congressional supporters, Booth reported, are urging President Donald Trump to press PA President Mahmoud Abbas to stop social welfare payments that the Palestinian Authority makes to the families of Palestinian prisoners and assailants either wounded or killed by Israeli forces during terrorist attacks. Lets dissect that remarkable sentence. Start with Booths phrase social welfare payments. The obvious purpose of the phrase social welfare is to make the payments seem more palatable. The dictionary definition of social welfare is: organized public or private social services for the assistance of disadvantaged groups. Booth apparently wants Washington Post readers to think the recipients of the funds are innocent widows and orphanswho, after all, should not be blamed for the acts of their terrorist relatives, and therefore deserve government support. That line of thinking is, of course, absurd. The family of Dylann Roof, perpetrator of the June 2015 South Carolina church massacre, is not responsible for what he didbut that does not mean they deserve to be supported by the U.S. government. The siblings of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh were not to blame for his deeds, but that does not mean they merit receiving social welfare payments because their brother was executed. There are two obvious reasons the PA financially supports terrorists families. One is the PA wants to encourage the terrorists to proceed with their murderous plans, by giving them the peace of mind that their families will be taken care of if they are killed or jailed. The second is the PA reveres the terrorists families, viewing them as an admired part of the Palestinian war against Israel. But you wont find any acknowledgment of these obvious facts in William Booths dispatches. The payments to the families, however, are just part of the problem. There is also the matter of PA payments made directly to the terrorists themselves. Mr. Booth somehow forgot to mention this inconvenient information. Thanks to a detailed report published by the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, we know that Palestinian terrorists who are currently in Israeli prisons receive up to $3,429 monthly from the PA. The longer a terrorists sentencemeaning, the more Jews murderedthe more the terrorist is paid. Some of the terrorists involved in the murder of my daughter Alisa, in 1995, are among the recipients of these generous PA stipends. There is an additional category of terrorists who receive payments directly from the PA. Terrorists who have been released from prison receive a grant of up to $25,000. Once again, the PA uses a sliding scalethe more time you served, the more you get paid. There are quite a few released terrorists who have received these PA grants. Some completed their jail sentences (why they were not given life sentences is beyond me). Some were set free in lopsided prisoner exchanges. Some were released in unreciprocated gesturesthe kind of gestures State Department officials such as Dennis Ross and Martin Indyk were always pressuring Israel to make, supposedly to encourage the PA to return to the negotiating table. I dont recall those gestures ever accomplishing anything except putting more killers on Israels streets. Nor do I recall William Booth ever writing any follow-up stories in The Washington Post about Palestinian terrorists who are set free and then return to terrorism. I dont remember Booth ever asking Ross or Indyk if they regret pressuring Israel to set terrorists free. The Post recently announced Booth is being promoted. Sometime this summer, he will relocate to London to become the newspapers bureau chief there. Is there any chance his successors in Jerusalem will be objective reporters, rather than advocates for the Palestinians, like Booth? Im not holding my breath. Stephen M. Flatow, a vice president of the Religious Zionists of America, is an attorney in New Jersey. He is the father of Alisa Flatow, who was murdered in an Iranian-sponsored Palestinian terrorist attack in 1995. On March 8, 2016, American Taylor Force was murdered along the Tel Aviv beach. Bashar Masalha stabbed Force and wounded 12 others, including a pregnant woman. Sadly, Force was not the first, and will likely not be the last, American victim of Palestinian Arab terror. More sadly, and shocking, your U.S. tax dollars indirectly motivate, and fund, such acts of terror against Americans, Israelis and others. In light of Palestinian Authority President Abbas meeting with President Trump recently, and outrageously claiming that they teach their children peace, it's important to highlight a perversion of the U.S.-PA relationship. The Palestinian Authority (PA) continues to incite and support violence and terror. These are the supposed "partners" with which Israel is to make peace. The dehumanizing of Jews and Israelis that's so widespread within the PA echoes the similar behavior of the Nazi regime, and precipitating the Final Solution. Yet this is not a precursor but rather a symptom of an ongoing, decades old, pathology. The PA also pays monthly stipends for families of "martyrs," terrorists killed while attempting to murder others, and "salaries" to terrorists that are caught and imprisoned. While it's nonsense that poverty motivates terror since there's poverty worldwide, but none with the culture of murder and "martyrdom" like the PA, providing such a stipend for one to go on a murderous terror spree is certainly an added perk. It's like getting a bonus at work for a job well done. Imprisoned terrorists' "salaries" can range from $364 to $3,120 a month, increasing with the length of the prison term. A stipend to the family of a married civilian "martyr" with two kids starts at about $2500 a year. The PA cumulatively allocates more than $303 million (in 2016) for this, representing about 7 percent of its annual budget. Here's the thing however. Rather than generating income to pay for a budget to operate the Palestinian Authority and its terror network through taxes on building, investing, and creating things, most of the PA's annual budget is paid for by other countries. The U.S. alone provides the PA with $300 million annually. At that rate, every American is actually underwriting a "terror tax" of almost $1 each. Therefore, at least indirectly, all Americans are paying the families of murderers of U.S. citizens and others, encouraging more terrorism and death. With the official PA news agency celebrating and reinforcing the perversion that Palestinian terrorists are heroes, they inspire kids to grow up and become murderers. Now, initiated by S.C. Senator Lindsay Graham, a group of U.S. senators are proposing the Taylor Force Act which would restrict funds "available for assistance for the West Bank and Gaza" unless the president affirms that the PA is "taking credible steps to end acts of violence against Israeli citizens" and that it "terminated payments for acts of terrorism against Israeli citizens." It's possible that cutting off of funding could destabilize the PA and eliminate meaningful projects that actually benefit Palestinians without harming others. It's not in Israel's interest to see anarchy and infighting that may spill over into Israel, creating more bloodshed. But if the alternative is continued U.S. funding of Palestinian terrorism and incitement, the Taylor Force Act certainly has merit and deserves support. Fortunately, President Trump addressed the issue head on. "There cannot be lasting peace unless the Palestinian leaders speak in a unified voice against incitement... to violence and hate. All children of God must be taught to value and respect human life, and condemn all of those who target the innocent." Perhaps that, along with a financial carrot and stick, the PA might actually make changes from celebrating their terrorists as national heroes, paying them and their families, and inspiring others to do so as well. Perhaps. Financial incentives have worked with other countries. Maybe this will work. It's certainly a step in the right direction. In addition to the Taylor Force Act, there's also the Koby Mandell Act. Named for 13-year-old Koby Mandell, an American-Israeli who was murdered by Palestinian Arab terrorists 16 years ago this week. The Koby Mandell Act directs the Department of Justice to "undertake steps to ensure that all American citizens harmed by terrorism overseas receive equal treatment by the U.S. government regardless of the terrorists' country of origin or residence, and to ensure that all terrorists involved in such attacks are pursued, prosecuted, and punished with equal vigor, regardless of the terrorists' country of origin or residence." Recently, the U.S. government requested the extradition of a Palestinian terrorist in Jordan. In another case, the U.S. has sought to bring charges against the murderers of Kristine Luken, an American Christian murdered by Palestinian terrorists, who have already been tried and convicted in Israel. The wheels of justice are slow, but supporting efforts like the Taylor Force Act today, and the Koby Mandell Act of 2001, provide momentum, and teeth, to make that happen. While the family of the murderer of Taylor Force continues to receive a stipend from the PA, that's not so with the murderers of Koby Mandell, and his friend Yosef Ishran. They escaped, and have never been found or brought to justice. Presumably, they are anonymous and get no stipend from the PA. In the year following his murder, Koby's parents, Rabbi Seth and Sherri Mandell, established the Koby Mandell Foundation (KMF). They turned their pain and grief into something inspiring that continues to help other families like theirs who have lost someone due to terror or other tragedy. The paradox, however, is vivid. The Palestinian Authority pays terrorists and families of "martyred" terrorists, and incredible organizations like the Koby Mandell Foundation that provide healing and comfort to the victims of these terrorists spend all year raising money to provide support for families of these terrorists' victims. The paradigm must change. KMF programs like the year-round Camp Koby for bereaved children, and the Women's Healing Program, connect family members of terror victims, and provide an array of therapeutic healing in an environment of unrestricted caring and love, in which these survivors can express themselves openly, verbally, just with a hug, or in absolute silence, among others who understand intuitively and completely. The KMF has established a scholarship fund, to enable more bereaved Israeli children to benefit from these invaluable programs. Other scholarships are needed as it costs $2000 to fund one child for a year of Camp Koby activities each year, as the programs are all free, and no government support is received. In advance of the busy summer Camp Koby season, this scholarship campaign will provide support for at least 100 bereaved children. It's outrageous that a family of a terrorist gets more money than it costs to provide one scholarship for a child of a terror victim. Regardless of, or maybe specifically because U.S. tax dollars fund PA terrorists, you can support Camp Koby's healing programs and make a positive difference. Jonathan Feldstein was born and educated in the U.S. and immigrated to Israel in 2004. He is married and the father of six. He has a three-decade career in nonprofit fundraising and marketing and throughout his life and career, he has become a respected bridge between Jews and Christians. He writes regularly on major Christian web sites about Israel and shares experiences of living as an Orthodox Jew in Israel. He can be reached at FirstPersonIsrael@gmail.com. This site uses cookies from Google to deliver its services, to personalize ads and to analyze traffic. Information about your use of this site is shared with Google. By using this site, you agree to its use of cookies. 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No one under 18 can enter our giveaways. No purchase is necessary. All winners have one week to claim their prize. USA shipping only. Offer void where prohibited. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants. This domain has expired. If you owned this domain, contact your domain registration service provider for further assistance. If you need help identifying your provider, visit https://www.tucowsdomains.com/ The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Thursday said Pakistan cannot hang Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav for now and ordered Islamabad to give consular access to him. Pakistan shall take all measures to ensure that Jadhav is not hanged until a final decision by the court, said ICJ judge Ronny Abraham. The circumstances of his arrest are in dispute... India should have been given consular access as per Vienna Convention. 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. India moved the ICJ citing imminent danger to Jadhavs life, after Pakistan didnt respond to 16 requests for consular access to the prisoner. The ICJ press release said Pakistans failure to provide consular notifications with regard to the arrest and detention of Jadhav appear to be capable of falling within the scope of the Convention. On this basis, the court concluded that it has prima facie jurisdiction under Article I of the Optional Protocol. Replying to the objection of Pakistan on jurisdiction, the ICJ observed: The existence of a 2008 bilateral Agreement between the Parties on consular relations does not change its conclusion on jurisdiction. On the merits, the ICJ held that the violation of consular rights alleged by India are plausible. The ICJ found that the link exists between the rights claimed by India and the provisional measures sought. Finally, on the question whether there is a risk of irreparable prejudice and urgency, the ICJ observed: Pakistan has given no assurance that Mr Jadhav will not be executed before the Court has rendered its final decision. Judge Cancardo Trindade a Brazilian -- has written a concurring opinion to the order of the ICJ. Judge Dalveer Bhandari an Indian --- has appended his declaration to the order of the court after considering at length the decisions in the LaGrand case (Germany vs United States) and Guinea v. France and Ukraine v. Russia. The ICJ verdict will now be tested in its execution or implementation against the recalcitrant Pakistan, which has declared that it is not going to honour the provisional measures. Unlike the orders passed by national courts, the orders passed by international judicial organs cannot be executed by judicial process of attachment or detention. The ICJ statute --- Article 41(2) --- mandates that the order shall forthwith be given to the Security Council (SC). But the point is: What can the SC do in the circumstances ? Is it strictly obliged to implement the order of the ICJ by sanctioning force or imposing economic sanctions against the recalcitrant Pakistan ? But Article 94(2) of the UN charter confers discretion on the Council, saying: If it deems necessary make recommendations or decide upon the measures to be taken to give effect to the judgment. The Council had faced difficulties in implementing such orders twice in the past: First, in the Anglo Iranian Oil case in 1951; and second, in the case filed by Nicaragua against the United States in 1986. The decision of the Security Council will be nothing but a political decision. If the non-compliance with the ICJ decision is a procedural matter under Art.27(2) of the UN Charter, the permanent members of the Council cannot exercise their veto power. The UN General Assemblys resolution of 1949 seem to support this interpretation. India may succeed in persuading the Council to save Jadhav from a certain gallows, if China among the five permanent members has no right to veto in favour of Pakistan, its ally. Mohan Katarki is a Supreme Court advocate The views expressed are personal Why watch somebody elses favourite films? The Om Puri retrospective, part of the Habitat Film Festival of some of the finest pan-Indian cinema, however, does a neat cherry-pick of seven of the actors movies: those from his early days through his breakthrough films to international fame and respectability. Om Puri (1950-2017), his directors say, was first and foremost, about The Face. It was his face rather his intensity of gaze through which the outrage of an ordinary man, at first breaking, then rebelling against the system, was first expressed on screen in the 80s. Puri, the son of an army subaltern, knew about lack, dead-ends and about feeling beaten. He marshalled these experiences in film after film, seven of which will be shown in the retrospective. These include director Govind Nihalanis Aakrosh (1980) Satyajit Rays Sadgati (1981) and Shyam Benegals Arohan (1982). He had to literally pull himself up from his bootstraps, pay for his own school, theatre scholarships, and he knew what that does to a man, says director Shyam Benegal who directed several of his films. But there were other shades to Puris craft. Puri was a consummate theatre artist and he brought a theatre actors temperament to the sets, says Benegal. Naseeruddin Shah, the actor with whom Puri has been most compared, was meditative, he says. Though both were rigorously trained in theatre, both of them had different ways of working to a part. One wishes that a film with the two of them could have been part of the retrospective. There are several Bhavni Bhavai, Jaane bhi do Yaaron, Maqbool to choose from. Naseer preferred not to be disturbed while preparing for his role. Om practised with everyone around. He even lugged cameras and reflectors for one of my film, Susman, all over Paris.... I often had to tell him just concentrate on your acting, we have people to take care of such things, recalls Benegal with a laugh. A still from East is East, a 1999 comedy in which Om Puri (R) plays a Pakistani patriarch raising a rebellious brood with his English wife, Linda Bassett (L). This role introduced Puri to an international audience. (Courtesy: Alamy Stock Photos) Puri was awarded his second National Film Award for Best Actor for Benegals film Arohan; the first one was for Nihalanis Aakrosh. In both films, Om Puri depicted the struggles of the Indian farmer; the latter shows the peasantrys initial encounter with the city. These films caught peoples eye and he began to be regarded as a front-ranking actor, says Benegal. The door opened for him to do other things. He didnt have to be just a character actor. A shocker: the year Arohan released to wide acclaim, Puri was also playing a two-bit role as Mithun Chakrabortys (Jimmy) manager in Disco Dancer. Puri acted in many of Nihalanis films. He had, after all, been the lead actor in Nihalanis debut film, Aakrosh, and his critically acclaimed telefilm on Partition, Tamas, based on the eponymous Hindi novel by Bhisham Sahni. The retrospective, in fact, opens on May 19 with Tamas. A poster of Nihalanis acclaimed 1988 TV series. (Courtesy: Habitat Film Festival) Ardh Satya, also a retrospective feature, is one of the finest of their collaborations.Nihalani, who will be paying a tribute to the actors legacy at the festival, says Puris presence was such that his fellow actors sometimes filled in gaps of direction by reacting to his intensity. Nihalani recalls one such instance when they were shooting the penultimate scene of Ardh Satya, which he says he did not know how to end. Puri, playing a righteous cop who falters and turns violent, comes to Smita Patil, his girlfriend in the movie, to confess, and she tells him the relationship is over. I dont know what was going on in his mind, says Nihalani. But the way Om took off as he started speaking his lines, his face expressing his love, and his sense of impotency, Smita involuntarily reached out to touch his hand. But stopped short. That gesture was not written for the scene. But I kept it in the film.Om was a very intense person. And one felt that aspect of his in your own skin if you were sitting 10 feet away. Smita was reacting to that. She was deeply affected. A still from Nihalanis Ardh Satya in which Puri plays a righteous cop who falters. The now landmark film won Puri a National Film Award for acting. It was in the 80s that Puri entered international cinema with an outstanding cameo in Richard Attenboroughs Gandhi. But it was East is East, a multicultural comedy of manners set in England, that made him a known face among global audiences. This film where Puri does a fine job of playing a tragi-comic Pakistani patriarch raising a rebellious brood with his English wife is a festival must-watch. To my mind, Puris method was his contemplative self and naturalness. He could invoke any rasa (mood) be it hasya (comic), roudra (anger) or karuna (empathy). In a much deeper sense, he was like Chaplin, says film historian Amrit Gangar. You will find further details on the retrospective as well as the festivals schedule here. What: 12th Habitat Film Festival When: May 19 to May 28, 2017 Where: Multiple venues, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road Nearest metro station: JLN Stadium Tickets: Entry is free on a first-come-first-serve-basis SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A BJP leader was among nine people arrested by the cyber cell of Madhya Pradesh police Thursday night for allegedly running an online sex racket from an upscale neighbourhood in the city. Neeraj Shakya, BJP SC/ST Cells media in-charge for the state was arrested along with eight others from an apartment in Arera Colony from where a gang allegedly ran a website called Bhopalcallgirl.in. On Friday, the BJPs state unit president Nandkumar Singh Chauhan sacked Shakya from the party as it tried to control the fallout of the scandal. The BJP leader also runs a business as sand supplier. Police said six of those arrested in Thursdays raid on an apartment in Arera Colony ran the racket while three were customers. Police also rescued four girls in the age group of 20 to 27 years from the apartment. Superintendent of Police (state cyber cell) Shailendra Singh Chouhan told reporters that police mounted the raid after a tip-off that some people were running an online sex racket from an apartment in Bhopals Arera Colony area through a website. The accused allegedly scoured job websites to target girls who desperately wanted jobs and had uploaded their resumes on the websites. Of the four girls rescued, two were from Maharashtra (Mumbai and Nagpur), one from Meghalaya and another from MPs Panna district. Chouhan said that the accused had put mobile numbers on the website. He said the police had put the website under surveillance for last three months during which they found that one of the phone numbers on the website was from Madhya Pradesh. Its location was eventually traced to the Arera Colony before police raided the apartment. Police said two of the accused were tasked with searching for girls on job websites on which they had put their profiles and mobile numbers. Then the accused would call them and promise them jobs as hotel receptionists, call centres executives or beauticians in beauty parlours. They would allegedly lure girls to Bhopal on the pretext of an interview while a customer posing as relationship manager or some senior representative of the company in which the girls had been promised a job. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Veteran actor Reema Lagoos death has not only shocked her fans and industry colleagues, but also left a void in their hearts, as they will miss watching Bollywoods favourite mom on-screen. In her career spanning almost four decades, Reema worked with a lot of senior actors and among the most popular names, Alok Nath tops the list. The two have shared screen space in many films such as Hum Aapke Hain Koun... !! (1994), Hum Sath Sath Hain (1999), Maine Pyar Kya (1989) among others. However, soon after news of Reemas death, Nath strangely went out of reach and his phone remained switched off the whole day. Finally, a day after we contacted him again, Nath admits that he was not in the right frame of mind to talk and wanted to stay detached for some time. Reema Lagoo played the role of Madhuri Dixits mother in Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!! (1994). Firstly, I was at a place where there is no network, so I couldnt say my obituaries. [Also], it was a heartbreaking moment but one has to face the reality. Just that now we have to live with it, says Nath, who is currently in Srinagar and will return to Mumbai on May 20. Stating that he was shocked to learn about the news of Reemas death, Nath says, I still dont know what exactly has happened. I just got a whatsapp message that Reema is no more and I couldnt believe it. Its really so sad, so tragic and I cannot digest it, even now. Reema Lagoo played the role of Salman Khans mother in Maine Pyar Kiya (1989) When asked to recall some cherished moments with his favourite co-actor, an emotional Nath says, Its so strange, you see. Earlier, we live with the person and now, one has to live with the lovely memories and whatever one learns from and shares with that person. So life goes on and we have to live with it. It doesnt stop for anyone. Expressing his deepest gratitude, Nath says that he would dearly remember Reema. I dont know why we have to go through this all the time. Everybody who comes in this world has to leave. But I feel she left us a little too soon. Follow @htshowbiz for more Actor Elli Avram might still be finding her feet in Bollywood, but she doesnt like being referred to as an outsider. The 26-year-old actor, who has worked in films such as Mickey Virus (2013), Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon (2015) and Naam Shabana (2017), says, I guess, Im very much a part of the industry. When you get work in Bollywood, you automatically become a part of it. The Swedish-Greek actor got popular after she took part in the reality show Bigg Boss 7 (2013) as a contestant, and her innocence won her many fans. However, making a mark in Bollywood still seems to be a long journey for her. Asked why she hasnt been getting enough offers, the 26-year-old actor says that she has often noticed that Bollywood filmmakers are not too keen on casting new actors from outside India. It is easy to have a perception of people but I feel that filmmakers should give the actor a chance to audition for a role, and after that, if they feel that one cant play the character, they are more than welcome to reject them, says Elli. She adds that a lot of people in the industry dont even know that she speaks Hindi fluently. Im very comfortable with the language and understand it very well. Rather, for all my script narrations, I get it done in Hindi only because it gives more clarity. If you narrate anything to me in English and I have to play the character in Hindi, it makes no sense, adds the actor, who has shared screen space with actors Maniesh Paul, Kapil Sharma and Akshay Kumar. Elli shares that directors impressed with her dialect often enquire, Hindi aati hai? And I keep looking at their faces because I dont [understand] why they have this perception, especially when I have been here for so long. I usually respond to them in Hindi and they get shocked, says Elli, admitting that it does get irritating. Because of this language barrier, you cant deprive me of a chance to audition for a hardcore Indian role. Obviously, it is not that I have to always play the real Elli Avram [with accent]. I can easily get into a different character. Thats something I feel should change and every actor should get the opportunity they deserve, states Elli. Follow @htshowbiz for more Actor Kangana Ranaut has landed herself in yet another controversy: Days after film writer-editor Apurva Asrani accused her of taking the screenplay and dialogues credit for Hansal Mehtas Simran, filmmaker Ketan Mehta has now sent a legal notice to the Queen star for hijacking one of his most ambitious film projects, Rani of Jhansi: The Warrior Queen. Kangana during the poster launch of Manikarnika. Sources close to the filmmaker have revealed that he had spent around ten years researching for the movie. This is regarding my project called Rani of Jhansi: The Warrior Queen and her (Kanganas) attempt and the producer Kamal Jain at hijacking the project. Since 2015, I was in contact with Kangana for the project. I was sharing research material and several drafts of the script with Kangana and she was actively participating, Ketan told Hindustan Times. My legal notice says how we have worked on the project for two years and how all of a sudden everything happened. We have asked for the film (Manikarnika) to stop as we plan to go ahead with our project (Ketans film), the filmmaker added. He also said that he learnt of Krishs Manikarnika only through newspapers and that he was shocked to see Kangana announcing Rani of Jhansi with another producer and director. Kangana being privy to all the documents and research material along with the script, has knowingly hijacked the project in collusion with producer Kamal Jain, he said. Kangana performed Ganga Aarti at Varanasi during the poster launch of Manikarnika. When asked if Kangana and Ketan had a fallout in March because the filmmaker wanted to make the film in English, he said, No! This was a fabricated piece of news. The film was supposed to be bilingual - English and Hindi. We believed it is a story that needs to be told not just in India, but abroad as well. Rani of Jhansi is one of the most fascinating characters of human history. Kangana introduced me to Mr Kamal Jain. We had an international producer and we were looking for an Indian co-producer. We had meetings with Mr Kamal where Kangana was also involved and we shared all the information. And then, suddenly, we hear about this project. It is completely unethical. And this was after we shared access to all our research material from past ten years, he added. Ketan is the maker of internationally acclaimed films like Mirch Masala, Sardar (on the life of Sardar Patel), Maya Memsaab, and Manjhi- The Mountain Man. Ketan said that he had confirmation that Kangana has received the notice but has not heard from her or the producers. Hindustan Times tried contacting Kanganas manager, but there was no response. Follow @htshowbiz for more Filmmaker Kundan Shahs Kya Kehna, which released in 2000, was touted to be a film way ahead of its time. Starring Preity Zinta, Saif Ali Khan and Chandrachur Singh in the lead roles, it was about an unwed girl who gets pregnant. Saif played the role of Preitys lover in the film who leaves her on learning about her pregnancy. The actor says it was this bad boy character that made him come on board. The unique part about my character was that it was a slightly negative role, which was quite dynamic. The role was that of a bad boy. The girl falls for him and he dumps her, says Saif. Actor Saif Ali Khan says he doesnt like his haircut in the film Kya Kehna. Talking about how filmmaker Kundan Shah made it interesting for him to make sense of the character, Saif narrates, He is not your typical commercial director. He needed to find a story for the guy. He said a person who treats girls like this must have an issue with his mother. So, he wrote a scene where my character confronts his mother, and in a Freudian way, accuses her of being with other men. It was a different angle, but later, one of the producers found it too much and cut it from the film. Shedding light on his experience of working with actor Preity Zinta, the 46-year-old says that he remembers her being very energetic on the sets of the film. Preity was great fun to work withso bubbly and energeticshe kept talking about her cheques and career. She talked non-stop throughout the films shoot. Kundan almost had a heart attack at that time, not directly related to her I hope, and she asked him, Sir, how is the heart attack? and he said, Very good, laughs Saif. Recalling some anecdotes while shooting the film, Saif talks about an incident when he had a wardrobe malfunction. We were shooting in Switzerland and I was giving a shot while rolling down a hill or something, and I tore my black leather pants and you could see my white underwear. I think they printed it because they couldn't get it again. I was hoping no one would notice, says Saif. The makers of Kya Kehna changed the work haramzaada to nawabzaada while dubbing for the film, says Saif. The actor adds, Another funny thing happened during the dubbing. In one of the scenes, my character says haramzaada, and they were like we cant dub that because its an expletive and needs to be changed. So, they changed that to nawabzaada, which is apparently as offensive as haramzada in post Nehru India. But being a nawabzada at that time was quite entertaining. The title had become a gaali. Ask him if he likes to watch the film when its aired on television, and he says, I had too bad a hair cut to do that (watch the film). I very rarely watch my films again. Follow @htshowbiz for more Salman Khan talked at length about his facial nerve disorder for the first time to the media recently. The actor was at the launch event for a song from his upcoming film Tubelight in Dubai where he revealed how unbearable the pain could be. I was suffering from this nerve problem called trigeminal neuralgia. So I couldnt talk. Had to talk like that (speaking with his mouth slightly closed) and huge amount of pain, he said in a video posted on YouTube by Gulf News. Trigeminal neuralgia is a disorder that affects the trigeminal nerve. It causes extreme, burning pain on a persons face that can last between a few seconds to a few minutes. The pain can be so severe that the disease often causes depression in patients, according to Facial Pain Assosiation. Thats one disease that basically has the highest rates of suicides. Over education, over everything. There is so much of pain...I suffered that, Salman added. A very serious Katrina kaif and super focused @BeingSalmanKhan on the set of @TigerZindaHai #behind the scenes. Friday Feelings :) pic.twitter.com/YC8hn5g1YT ali abbas zafar (@aliabbaszafar) May 12, 2017 However, the actor did not let the disease deter him from his path. So at that point of time, I realised that I need to work really hard. 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, he said. Salman even went to the US for treatment and is now well. He was in Dubai to shoot for Tiger Zinda Hai with Katrina Kaif, the sequel to the 2012 hit. Tubelight releases in theatres on June 23. Follow @htshowbiz for more Bollywood star Salman Khan told the media present at the Dubai launch of Tubelights first song, Radio, that he was suffering from a painful facial nerve disorder, Trigeminal neuralgia. The disease is also called the suicide disease because many patients develop suicidal tendencies. He shared that at one point he himself felt suicidal, although he channelled his energies and worked harder. He said, Thats one disease that basically has the highest rates of suicides...There is so much of pain...I suffered that, and added, So at that point of time, I realised that I need to work really hard. No matter how much pain you are going through. Salman first made the revelation about his medical condition in 2001,saying, There is a flex and hoarseness in my voice, its not because I am drunk , I dont drink during Ramadan , its because of this ailment. Im doing fine. Its just that now, I had no choice but to pay attention to my health. To understand the medical condition better, we spoke to Dr. Mohsin Wali, cardiologist and physician, and Dr. Deepak Agarwal, a consultant neurosurgeon, who provide the details on the disorder. What is Trigeminal neuralgia Salman Khan suffers from facial nerve disorder, called Trigeminal neuralgia. The disorder occurs due to the inflammation of trigeminal nerve in the face. And this inflammation can cause intense pain. The pain can be so severe that the disease often causes depression in patients, according to Facial Pain Assosiation. This problem can cause the patient to contort their face into a grimace, also forcing the patient to move their face back and forth or a tick. Why does it happen? The disorder is idiopathic in nature, meaning there is no particular reason why it happens. But few of the known reasons include compressed blood vessels, aneurysms, or tumours in the face. Symptoms of the disorder One of the main indicators of the disorder is acute pain on one side of the face. The pain is immense and can cause suicidal tendencies in the patient.It is usually triggered by brushing your teeth, washing your face. Excruciating pain can last from few seconds to minutes. There is no particular time period for the onset of the attack. The pain-free period is known as remission. Affected areas of the face include jaw, teeth, gums and lips. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Foreign direct investment inflows hit an all-time high of $60.1 billion in 2016-17, the commerce and industry ministry said on Friday, as the Narendra Modi government eased rules to lure global conglomerates to set up shop in sectors such as defence and railways. In the last three years, the government has eased 87 FDI rules across 21 sectors to accelerate economic growth and boost jobs. The country has now become the topmost attractive destination for foreign investment, the ministry said in a statement. FDI inflows were at $55.6 billion for the year ending March 2016, which was a record. In 2016-17, the FDI inflows were even higher at $60.08 billion. Since 2014, the Modi government opened up conservative sectors like rail infrastructure and defence. FDI reforms were also carried out in financial sector, medical devices and construction sectors. FDI rules were radically overhauled across sectors such as broadcasting, retail trading and air transport. The Modi government amended legislation to hike the foreign investment cap to 49% in insurance and pension from the earlier 26%. The momentum of positive business climate was further ignited with launch of Make in India initiative in September 2014, the ministry said. In addition, initiatives such as introduction of composite caps in the FDI policy and raising the FIPB approval limit were also undertaken to promote ease of doing business in the country. For retail trading of food products, the government permitted 100% FDI with unqualified condition that such food products have to be manufactured or produced in India. A unit of healthcare conglomerate Johnson & Johnson filed a lawsuit to block a copy of its rheumatoid arthritis drug Remicade made by South Koreas Samsung Bioepis Co Ltd from being sold in the United States. Janssen Biotech Inc, in a suit filed to the U.S. District Court of New Jersey dated Wednesday, seeks a preliminary or permanent injunction to block Samsung Bioepis biosimilar of Remicade from sale and argues the South Korean firm violated three of its patents. We have filed a lawsuit against Samsung to investigate whether their biosimilar infliximab infringes on our manufacturing process patents for Remicade, Janssen told Reuters in a statement on Friday. Remicade is Johnson & Johnsons biggest selling drug, with U.S. sales of about $5 billion a year. We are confident we do not infringe Janssens patents, Samsung Bioepis told Reuters in a statement, adding it believes Janssen is trying to delay the market entry of its Remicade copy. We will take all necessary measures against Janssens attempts to violate patient rights and deny patient access to effective, lower cost treatment options. Janssens lawsuit comes about a month after Samsung, an unlisted subsidiary of contract drug maker Samsung BioLogics Co Ltd, said it got U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval to sell its biosimilar of Remicade, which is marketed as Renflexis in the United States. Analysts say biotech makers face increasing competition from firms such as Samsung Bioepis, which make biosimilar copies of Remicade and other drugs and sell them for cheaper. The IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics say biosimilars could save healthcare systems in the United States and Europes top 5 markets as much as 98 billion euros ($108.79 billion) by 2020. Samsung Bioepis, part of South Koreas top conglomerate Samsung Group, develops copies of complex biotech drugs and has found early success in beating rivals to market with its versions of some of the worlds top selling drugs. Its Remicade biosimilar is already selling in the European Union, while its biosimilar of Amgens rheumatoid arthritis drug Enbrel is also selling there. The yield and weight of rare variety of mango called Noor Jahan, cultivated only in Alirajpur district in Madhya Pradesh, is likely to hit a low this season due to unfavourable weather conditions. The variety, originally belonging to Afghanistan, is now cultivated in Katthiwada region in Alirajpur district, around 250 kms from here. The unusual weather conditions continue to hit the Noor Jahan mango crop here this year as well. The Noor Jahan trees could not flower properly due to cloudy weather in January this year, Ishaq Mansoori, an expert, told PTI today. The Noor Jahan variety produces fruits towards the beginning of June. Last year, one mango of this variety weighed around 3.2 kg but this time it is expected to weigh around two kg, he added. Mansoori said that on an average, one mango used to weigh between 3.5-4 kg but its weight is going down due to the volatile climate. Now, only three trees of Noor Jahan mango are left which are decades old. The productivity of these trees is also going down, he added. During the peak demand, the cost of one Noor Jahan mango can go up to Rs 500, he added. Some six months after his visit to Donald Trumps Manhattan mansion cheered investors, Masayoshi Son, Japans richest man, is set to follow his friend to Saudi Arabia as the new U.S. president makes his first overseas trip since taking office. Son, head of Japans SoftBank Group Corp, travels to Riyadh this weekend where he is expected to announce the close of the first fundraising round for what will be the worlds biggest private equity fund, backed by Saudi Arabias sovereign wealth fund and Apple Inc. His appearance in the Saudi capital and the expected launch of the $100 billion Vision Fund coincide with Trumps official visit to the kingdom, one leg of a presidential trip that also includes Israel, Belgium and Italy. Son describes the fund as essential for setting up SoftBank for a data gold rush which he expects to happen as the global economy becomes increasingly digitised. The Vision Fund has created a framework for SoftBank to grow over the next 100, 200 and 300 years, Son said in February. The next 10 years would be the time for me to put the plan into practice while grooming successors. Son is scheduled to attend a forum of global chief executives in Riyadh on Saturday to be held on the sidelines of the Trump visit, a list of attendees showed. A SoftBank spokesman declined to comment on Sons schedule. The aggressive dealmaker made headlines in early December when he appeared in the marble lobby of Trump Tower in New York alongside the then president-elect, dressed in a red vest and near-identical red tie to the tycoon-turned-commander-in-chief. He was among the first in a series of Asian billionaires and leaders to pay tribute to Trump, who won office in November on a platform that focused heavily on national security and protecting American jobs. Sons pledge to Trump to invest $50 billion in the United States and create 50,000 new jobs was light on details but spoke to the presidents election promise to boost economic growth by making deals with individual companies, rather than through complicated trade deals. SoftBank Group shares surged after Sons December meeting with Trump and his announced investment. Foreign tycoons who paid homage to Trump after Son include Foxconn founder Terry Gou and Alibaba boss Jack Ma, who are both close business partners of Son. In November, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Trump in New York, less than two weeks after the U.S. election. If you watched the captions that scream out at you from your TV screens every night, their flaming orange hues designed to add to the heat, you would think that complex truths of the turmoil in Kashmir can be squeezed into 140 characters - just perfect for the Twitter age. But, like Akira Kuroswas Rashomon (Four people give different accounts of a rape and a murder) taught us, there can be multiple truths. Here are eight truths about Kashmir, seemingly paradoxical; simultaneously truthful. Things in the Valley have not been this bad in two decades. I dont measure this by violence, terrorism and fatalities - we have seen much worse years on that count. I say this because battling Pakistans armed proxies is much more straightforward than taking on your own people on the street. And cloaking militancy with a protective sheet of civilian agitations, women and teenagers among them, means many of the old conflict zone formulas wont work. Pakistans presence as instigator is at once more visible and more covert. Travel through villages of south Kashmir and you will see many more Pakistani flags than ever before. Quiz Kashmiris about why and some will laugh and say, Its just to irritate you people; its the one thing that always works. But, if earlier Pakistans role was easier to track, through infiltration, exfiltration and training camps across the border - now it is insidious, engineered through sophisticated social media videos and hawala transactions. Terrorism has not stopped targeting security personnel but propaganda has become a more critical weapon than earlier. Unlike the hashtag nationalism of venom-spewing anchors, the Army definitely wants political outreach. Soldiers do not want to be used as a substitute for either politicians or policemen. In fact the Army is not in favour of being deployed in situations that pit it against the locals. In the past several high ranking officers have refused to be drawn into managing violent street protests. Lt General DS Hooda, the erudite and never-frazzled officer who oversaw the surgical strikes across the Line of Control told me that it was a missed opportunity to not build on the strikes with a simultaneous domestic effort in the Valley. He points out that in addition to putting pressure on Pakistan it was as important to address the internal situation in Kashmir which had started calming down by this time. Elections in the state have been absolutely free and fair since 2002 but while poll participation signals an institutional improvement it does not mitigate the separatist sentiment. The fatal flaw in conflating voter-turnout with normalcy has returned to haunt us with the dismal showing in the Srinagar bypolls. We are trapped by the obvious corollary; if high voter numbers mean a rejection of secessionism what does the lowest voting statistic in 30 years (down to 2% in some parts of Srinagar, under 7% overall) tell us about how Kashmiris feel? Yes, the Hurriyat gets money and other support from Pakistan to instigate trouble in the state. But several of its members have also been courted on the back-channel by our intelligence agencies for years, obviously with different intents than Islamabad. Former R&AW chief AS Dulat outed the worst-kept secret when he revealed that not just separatists, but even militants had been engaged by Indian sleuths, both politically and financially. So whats wrong; its done the world over, Dulat told me. Corrupting someone with money is more ethical and smarter than killing him. Every separatist or militant who has attempted dialogue with New Delhi has been assassinated by Pakistan. The Vajpayee government succeeded in bringing a faction of the Hizbul Mujahideen, led by Abdul Majid Dar, to the table for talks. He was killed soon after. As was Hurriyat representative, Abdul Gani Lone, whose son Sajad is a minister in the present government. A mechanism that provides security and relevance to men willing to give up the gun has not yet taken root in Kashmir even 28 years after the insurgency began. The problem remains political but radicalisation and a growing Islamism is real. I met a teenage boy strapped to a hospital bed who marched for slain militant Burhan Wani because he protects Islam. The Internet has made many angry young Kashmiris part of a global ummah, exposing them to more fundamental strains of Islam. Both Wani and his successor Zakir Bhat released videos calling for a Caliphate. One officer argues, Earlier Islam was a subset of azaadi; now azaadi is a subset of Islam. If New Delhi does not start a dialogue process soon, there will be no one to talk to. Separatists have only pocket boroughs of influence and they are fast losing control of the street. Barkha Dutt is an award-winning journalist and author The views expressed are personal SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON When the history of Indian women is written, 2017 will go down as the year when the Plight of the Muslim Woman was uncovered. So grave is this plight that politicians have sworn one law for all citizens. So pitiable her condition that Supreme Court judges have sacrificed their vacation to come to judgment. Inside the court, men argue to follow practices that go back 1,400 years. The courts cannot interfere. Others say, they must, especially if religion clashes with fundamental rights. The clutch of petitions in court is led by Shayara Bano, a sociology postgraduate, divorced in 2015 by speed-post. She says no woman should have to go through this humiliation and wants the court to ban three practices permitted by her personal laws triple talaq, nikaah halala and polygamy. But the judges say they will focus only on triple talaq, not the others. Excuse me, why? How do five men decide which requires urgent hearing and which can wait? If triple talaq is an abhorrent practice, is polygamy better? When finally asked by the attorney general, the judges say, time is short -- an astounding reason, given that it is the judges who decided to sit during the vacation. Muslim women have waited 70 years for an answer: When two constitutional values the right to profess, practice and propagate religion and the right to equality clash, which takes precedence? The court could say triple talaq isnt fundamental to Islam. Or it could take up the greater challenge of gender crusader by testing discriminatory practices in every personal law that clash with fundamental rights. All other considerations have taken centre-stage, Zakia Soman of the Bhartiya Mahila Muslim Andolan, one of the other petitioners, writes to me in an email. Several secular minded people, including members of the judiciary, are extra sensitive to Muslim sensitivities and the gender rights issue is not being taken up with equal fervour. Madhavi Divan, counsel for the government, agrees: This is a historic opportunity for the court to settle the rights of a minority within a minority. Keeping women back is a sure recipe for keeping the community away from the mainstream. Patriarchy is the basis of all religion. But an aspirational generation of women is challenging that basis. We are equal, they insist. If you look beyond the stereotypes of the Plight of the Muslim Woman, you will realise that its Muslim women, articulate, intelligent and committed, who are demanding their rights. It is these women who will herald change. The challenge before the Supreme Court is to take an unambiguous stand that women are equal citizens; to state unequivocally that a secular democracy can have only one true faith. It is the Constitution of India. Namita Bhandare wites on social issues and gender The views expressed are personal SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Dehradun: Deaths of four infants in less than two months at a village in Chakrata area, barely 150 km away from the state capital Dehradun, has put a question mark on the claims of the BJP government of having improved the health services in the state. Chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat also holds the health portfolio. On Thursday, a three-month-old girl died due to high fever and pneumonia at village Buraswa in Chakrata. She was rushed to the nearest health centre, which was found locked, the locals claimed. The infant died as she failed to get medical attention on time. The incident has created unrest, with locals protesting against the abysmal health services in the region. Health units in the Chakrata area are reeling under acute shortage of doctors and health staff, affecting residents of over 200 villagesit is ironic that despite being just a couple of hours away from the state capital, our kids are dying in the absence of timely treatment, Nirmal Singh, one of the villagers told HT. Even for a small health problem, we are forced to travel over more than 30-50 kms as there are no doctors or trained health staff in most of the health centres in villages, said Usha Devi, another resident. The health department, meanwhile, has ordered a probe into the deaths. Director general (health) Dr D S Rawat told Hindustan Times that Dehraduns chief medical officer (CMO) has been asked to conduct an enquiry into the death of the infant and action will be taken against those who are found guilty of negligence in duty. Also, we are currently in the process of recruiting doctors to fulfil the shortage and should be able to deploy them in the (Chakrata) area soon. Were also asking our field health staff to maintain a constant contact with locals to ensure that they dont approach (for medical attention) when a health problem becomes serious, Rawat said. DEATH DOSSIER May 18: A three-month-old girl dies due to lack of timely treatment May 15: A newborn dies due to lack of post-birth care April 14: A three-month-old baby boy dies due to high fever March 31: Another newborn dies to lack of post-birth care SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Delhi University is in talks with the high commissions and embassies of various African nations as it has launched a special drive to enrol students from these countries. The university has also extended the last date of online registration for all foreign students to May 31 from April 20 for all programmes expect MBA. Officials said the enrolment drive is aimed at attracting young foreign students, including students from African countries. DU registrar Tarun Das said the university has received very enthusiastic response from the embassies. They have also shown positive inclination in instituting scholarships for their nationals for pursuing studies at the DU, he said. The universitys Foreign Students Registry has received more than 300 applications from African nationals. Officials said the university intends to increase this number by providing special attention to their specific needs. The Universitys mission is to reach international students including those from African continent which will result in strengthening the social, cultural and political ties between the countries, Das said. The university offers several programmes at various levels and does not conduct any entrance test for admissions to these courses for foreign students. These students can apply at fsr.du.ac.in, said officials. For Indian students the online registration process for admissions to around 54,000 seats in undergraduate courses in the university will begin from May 22 but the last date to fill the admission form has not been finalised yet. The online registration process for undergraduate courses, in which an entrance test is conducted, will begin from May 31. DU conducts entrance tests for courses such as Bachelor of Management Studies, BA (Hons) Business Economics, Bachelor of Business Administration (financial investment analysis). For postgraduate courses and research courses, the online registration will also start from May 31. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) on Thursday evening demolished a shelter home in southeast Delhis Nizamuddin, leaving around 100 homeless people without a roof. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal took to social media on Friday on comment on the demolition. V sad. Del govts shelter home demolished. Women, children rendered homeless. They r being shifted to another shelter home, he tweeted(sic). The home was reportedly a model shelter for the homeless and slum children who went there to study. Among the affected, 50 are children. Society For Promotion Of Youth And Masses (SPYM), the NGO that ran the shelter, said there was no prior intimation about the demolition. We have asked the Delhi government to move court to protect the homeless. There was no intimation by the DDA and we have somehow shifted a few of them to other shelters. The shelter was built after an order from the court and the DDA had assured there will be no demolition, said Rajesh Kumar, executive director, SPYM. But a senior DDA official claimed, It was an unauthorised construction with no approval. The NGO had even gone to the high court but it didnt give any relief to them and had specifically said it is an unauthorised construction. So, the action was taken. The homeless children were provided with basic necessities at the shelter and counsellors were involved to keep them away from bad habits. According to the Delhi Urban Shelter improvement Board (DUSIB), which manages shelters across Delhi, the land belongs to DDA and they were in touch with the authority. For the time being, the occupants are being shifted to a nearby shelter, said a DUSIB official. On Friday, the Delhi Commission for Woman took suo moto cognisance and ordered an inquiry into the demolition. The DCW said when their team visited the site, the homeless men and women alleged that they were lathicharged by the police. No prior information of demolition was given either to DUSIB or the NGO running the shelter or to the residents. The commission was informed that the shelter was demolished by DDA and Delhi Police...Residents were not even given adequate time to collect their meagre belongings, said an officer. The land pooling policy will fuel a housing boom in the Capital with 24 lakh dwelling units to become available in the next five years. 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 built only 11.69 lakh residential units in the city. Under the policy, the owners will have an option to give their land to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) for development. After the roads, and water, power, sewage lines are laid, a part of the developed land will be returned to the owners who can then build apartments on it by partnering with real estate developers. For implementation of the policy across 89 villages which were declared urbanised on Wednesday, the areas have been divided in five zones L, N, P-II, K-I and J. The land parcels for development fall west, north-west, south, south-west and north Delhi. The DDA claims it would see the emergence of new sub-cities such as Dwarka that came up in the late 1990s. Planned housing is also expected to help prevent growth of illegal colonies across the city. Zone N and L best areas Of the total five zones, at least two Zone N and L have the required physical and economic characteristics to evolve as self-sufficient sub-cities, the Delhi governments urban development department said. Zone N is the best as it is close to NH-10 and has the highest water table of 40-60 feet. It will also be connected by extension of Rithala-Narela Metro line planned under Phase-IV, an official said. Zone N covers an area of 13,975 hectares and includes villages like Kanjhawla, parts of Bawana, Chandpur, Salahpur Majra, and so on. Zone L is situated next to Dwarka which recently got a new water treatment facility. It is also the largest pocket with an area of 22,840 hectares and includes parts of Najafgarh, Dichaon Kalan, Qazipur and Samaspur Khalsa. Zone J is the smallest with just one village, Neb Sarai. Challenges Experts say several areas earmarked for land pooling are already among Delhis most water-stressed zones. The DDA and Delhi government will have to work together to revive defunct water reservoirs in the city to meet the demand in the newly developed areas, said Ramesh Menon, director, Certes Realty. Development in these areas is going to be vertical leading to higher population density which would need a robust water, sewage and transport network. Dwarka was developed as a sub-city too, but it got adequate water supply only two years ago. Similarly, Vasant Kunj too was supposed to be a planned sub-city, but the area too faced water crisis. The success of land pooling policy would lie in the coordination between agencies like DDA, MCDs, PWD. Last mile connectivity is also going to be a challenge, he added. Benefit for land owners According to the DDA, the land, which will be returned to farmers, will be like a gold mine as they would get fully developed residential pockets that they can later sell off at very good rate. They can even enter into an agreement with developers, which could facilitate building and selling residential units. Those giving their land will also have to pay an External Development Charge (EDC). When asked if the EDC clause would deter owners from surrendering their plots, a DDA official said, It is because of this that we have included the provision of waiving off EDC in lieu of 8% developed residential land. We are charging an EDC of Rs.1 crore for 1 acre of land, which comes to around Rs 2,500 per square feet. They are low by the standards in Delhi. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Women commandos will be deployed on 90 new Delhi Metro stations set to be opened in stages over the next year as part of its third phase of expansion. The women have gone through rigorous tactical and endurance training that, officials say, will enable them to tackle extreme threats such as terrorism, in addition to routine roles like beefing up security for female passengers. The Central Industrial Security Force, the agency that provides the security cover to the Delhi Metro and Indias airports, said women guards were initially hired for frisking duties alone. But over the years, we felt why should women personnel restrict themselves to frisking? said a CISF official, wishing to not be identified. We are now pushing more women into commando training so they have that extra skill to react in any untoward incident, the source said. The training includes a Filipino martial arts technique, knowing how to use everyday articles such as pens, belts, shoelaces and keys tactically to take on attackers. We also put them in a jungle with very little food so that they can learn how to survive in such a situation, the official said, explaining the 11-month process held in centres in Hyderabad and Chennai. These women have been given training in special martial art Pekiti-Tirsia Kali as this will allow them to capture attackers alive. Surviving suspects can be interrogated for further leads, the official added. The 160 metro stations currently in operation are guarded by 5,000 CISF personnel, of which 800 are women. The force has proposed to have about 3,500 more personnel for the phase-III network, and over 1,000 of them will be women. About one third of our total strength will be women. Women safety is our priority and well trained women commandoes will ensure that the metro system is secured, CISF director general OP Singh said. CISF will deploy 251 personnel on the Heritage Lines five stations expected to open by the end of this month end. The CISF squad is a mix of regular guards and those specially trained as commandos. The commandos are mainly deployed at sensitive stations such as Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Lok Kalyan Marg, Nehru Place, Anand Vihar, Sarai Kale Khan and Mandi House. But they also take patrol other stations, and the trains. The women commandos will be deployed in a similar manner. By the end of 2017, the total length of the metro network will be around 330 km spanning 250 stations. The daily ridership through the network is likely to go up to 45 lakh from the current 28 lakh. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal effected major changes in his cabinet on Friday, inducting two new ministers and shifting the ministries of some of his colleagues. The two new ministers, Kailash Gahlot and Rajender Pal Gautam, were allocated key ministries by the chief miister. Legislator from Najafgarh, Kailash Gahlot, replaced Satyendar Jain as Delhi transport minister. Gahlot, a member of state transport authority, told HT that ensuring last mile connectivity in rural areas of Delhi would be his primary focus. Gahlot will, however, face an uphill task as since its formation, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has not been able to add a single new bus to the fleet of Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC). Besides that, we need to come up with a plan to ensure that not-so-aam aadmis too use buses in the city, he said. Gahlot, who has been practising law in the Delhi High Court for nearly 18 years, has also been given the Law, justice and legislative affairs department apart from information technology and administrative reforms which were earlier with deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia. Rajender Pal Gautam, MLA from Seemapuri, has been given the water ministry, that was held by Kapil Mishra before he was sacked on May 6. After his sacking, Mishra had alleged that he had seen Satyendar Jain give Rs 2 crore to Kejriwal. Gautam, the AAPs Dalit face, has also been given social welfare, SC/ST, tourism, arts & culture and languages departments. With Gautam and Gahlots appointment, the Delhi cabinet will have a full strength of seven ministers after eight months. The position of SC/ST and social welfare had been lying vacant since the then minister Sandeep Kumar was sacked over an alleged sex scandal. The portfolios were allocated to Gahlot and Gautam after Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal administered the oath of office to the duo at Raj Niwas, the L-Gs office. Kejriwal and Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel attended the oath-taking ceremony. The ceremony was organised just hours after President Pranab Mukherjee gave his assent for removal of Kapil Mishra and appointment of the two new ministers. On Thursday, the Union home ministry had approved CM Kejriwals recommendations and had forwarded it to the President. The reshuffle assumes significance as the AAP seeks to regain lost ground after a defeat in the recent MCD polls and also in the Rajouri Garden bypoll. The government said some portfolios held by Sisodia and Jain were given to the newly appointed ministers as they were already loaded with several departments. However, Kejriwal continues to not hold any portfolio. The reshuffle was necessary as a lot needs to be done in three primary sectors health, education and transport. Work has been distributed to three different ministers so each one can focus on his core area, a government official said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A Class 9 student was allegedly murdered by two of his friends after they had an argument over a trivial issue. The boys allegedly stabbed him repeatedly, hit him with a blunt object on his head and then dumped the body in a park in southeast Delhis Govindpuri. According to the police, the 13-year-old went out for walk with his friends on Wednesday evening and did not return home till late night. His parents then started looking for him and his body was later found in a park by locals. He was bleeding profusely from his head and stomach and was rushed to the hospital where he was declared dead on arrival. The police have registered a case of murder in the matter and have detained a juvenile for questioning. The victims parents informed us after he did not reach home till late night. They tried calling him repeatedly but he was not answering his calls. His father then gathered some locals and they all went looking for him. They went to the house of his friends and even the tuition centre he studied at. It is only later that a local found his body in an adjoining park, a senior police officer said. His body has now been sent for a postmortem examination. It appears that he was stabbed repeatedly and then hit with a blunt object on his head, he added. The victims father gave a statement saying that he always objected to his friendship with the boys who were involved in cases of pick-pocketing. His father said that he had slapped him as he used to go out with those friends often. The boy even left his house in anger last year for two months after his father beat him up for not studying and roaming around with the boys. He however did not listen and continued to meet them. His father said that on Wednesday too he went to meet the same boys, a police officer said. The other boy is still at large and a team has been formed to nab him as well, said Romil Baaniya, deputy commissioner of police (south east). The national capital saw yet another politically charged day, as Kapil Mishra came out with a fresh round of claims against AAP while Delhi minister Satyendar Jain filed a defamation suit against him and BJP-SAD MLA Manjinder Sirsa. Sacked Aam Aadmi Party minister Kapil Mishra on Friday, continued his string of allegations against the party claiming in his latest expose that AAP had received money through hawala channels. At Fridays press conference, Mishra used a power point presentation to back his claim that the party received funds from dubious shell companies. The revelations came a day after a Delhi businessman claimed that he owned four companies that had provided funds to the party. The letter head of companies, who gave donation to AAP are forged. I challenge Arvind Kejriwal to tell Income Tax Department that the donation was received from Mukesh Kumar. Mukesh Kumars company is a bank defaulter. How can he donate Rs 2 crore to Aam Aadmi Party? Kapil Mishra said at the press conference. Trashing claims by Mukesh Kumar that he had donated Rs 2 crore to AAP, Mishra said it had been plotted by Arvind Kejriwal to conceal the identity of Hem Prakash Sharma, who is director in several companies. Mukesh Kumars company is also VAT defaulter. Instead of paying VAT to Delhi government, the company donated money to party. Delhi government had issued notice to SKN associates, which later donated money to Aam Aadmi Party, he added. Mishra also questioned why the Delhi chief minister had not bother answer his allegations. He added that Kejriwal will have to leave the country if the details of foreign trips by AAP leaders were revealed. He also alleged that the chief minister had been opposed to the demonetisation of currency notes as it hampered his hawala transactions. Meanwhile, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain filed a defamation case against Mishra and MLA Manjinder Sirsa at the Tis Hazarai Dustrict court. Reacting to Kapil Mishras fresh allegations, AAP leader Sanjay Singh said, Goebbels theory at play. Same lie is being repeated to prove it as the truth. Jain added that the Rs 2 crore funds had been received through legitimate channels and alleged that the BJP-ruled Centre was using the power at its disposal to corner the party. Centre has all agencies at its disposal. We are open to probe. Country is watching how the BJP targeting AAP, he said. In a separate press meet, AAP leader Gopal Rai announced a reorganisation plan to strengthen the partys booth presence. He announced that AAP will begin mera booth sabse majboot initiative and hold state-level convention on May 21 at Punjab Bagh. Sacked Delhi cabinet minister Kapil Mishra said he will expose the ruling partys links to hawala operators on Friday, a day after a man claimed he had donated Rs 200 lakh to the party in 2014. An east Delhi businessman Mukesh Sharma on Wednesday said he had donated Rs 50 lakh each through four of his companies to the Aam Aadmi Party. The revelation comes days after Mishra alleged that the party has been receiving money through donations from shell companies for the past three years. He also alleged that the party had declared only Rs 9 crore to the Election Commission in 2014 when in fact it had over Rs 45 crore in it account. The suspended AAP party member has been hurling allegations of financial irregularities at party founder and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, and other party members. Almost a fortnight ago, Mishra began is charge at AAP claiming he saw fellow cabinet minister Satyendar Jain give Kejriwal Rs 2 crore, and demanded to know where the money came from and what it was meant for. He has since also demanded details of foreign trips of five AAP ministers, carrying out a six-day hunger strike at his residence. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday banned open defecation and dumping of waste on the floodplains of the Yamuna and announced an environment compensation of Rs 5,000 for those who violated the order. A bench headed by NGT chairperson justice Swatanter Kumar also constituted a committee headed by Delhi Jal Board CEO to oversee the execution of work pertaining to cleaning of the river and asked it to submit reports at regular intervals. The Delhi government and the municipal corporations were directed to immediately take action against industries which operate in residential areas and are a major source of pollution to the river. The green panel noted that almost 67 per cent of the pollution reaching the Yamuna would be treated by the two sewage treatment plants (STP) located at Delhi Gate and Najafgarh under Phase 1 of the Maili se Nirmal Yamuna Revitalisation Project 2017. The apex green panel had on May 1 ordered inspection of the STPs at Delhi Gate and Okhla with a view to ensure that wastewater was cleaned before it reached the Yamuna. It had sought a report with regard to functioning of these plants. The tribunal was informed that a total of 14 STP projects are to be constructed to clean wastewater. Of these, seven are to be built by the Delhi Jal Board with its own funds. The directions came as the NGT was hearing a plea on the monitoring of implementation of the Maili se Nirmal Yamuna Revitalisation Project 2017. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday banned open defecation and dumping of waste on the Yamuna floodplains and directed the authorities, including Delhi police, to impose a fine of R 5,000 on violators. No waste of any kind and open defecation will be permitted in and around any water body and on the floodplains of the river Yamuna. The authorities, including police, would take stringent action against defaulting persons. Wvery defaulter would be liable to pay an environmental compensation of R 5,000 per incident, the bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar directed. The bench was hearing a petition filed by environmentalist Manoj Misra, who said the green body should monitor the Maili se Nirmal Yamuna Revitalisation Project 2017. The direction evoked mixed responses from activists, experts and government authorities who pointed at practical problems they might face while implementing the order. Some, however, sounded optimistic. The floodplains over the 22-km stretch between Wazirabad and Okhla sprawls over more than 11,000 acres. There is no fixed time for defecation and dumping of waste. How will it be possible for the authorities to keep a watch? asked an environment activist. The experts said that while on the one hand it would be difficult for police to prove in court who has defecated and where, it could also lead to corruption and false cases. It is only the poor and people in the lowest rung of the society who defecate in the open. How would they pay R 5,000? This could lead to corruption as cops might let off the violators charging lesser amounts, said an expert who didnt want to be named. Shortage of manpower would also be a hindrance, police said. There are around 77,000 police personnel for Delhis population of around 1.67 crore one cop for every 216 persons. But only around 25,000 personnel are posted at police stations. A police official said: This is a social problem. There are thousands of homeless people at ISBT near the Yamuna banks. They have no option but to go to the river banks. A section of activists and officials, however, claimed that though it might seem difficult, the order can be implemented if executed in the right manner and right intent. We have about a dozen night shelters on the Yamuna bed and all have toilet facilities in it. Even the slums around the Yamuna have toilets. If needed, we can construct more toilets to stop open defecation, said an official of Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB). DUSIB is constructing toilets across Delhi to end open defecation. The experts pointed out that if a few people are arrested from some areas, then the message would spread and would act as a deterrent for others. We will stop them from doing it as ordered by our seniors. Issuing fines in the next few days may act as a deterrent initially, said a police officer. DCP Madhur Verma, Delhi police spokesperson, said, We are yet to receive a copy of order but after receiving it, it will be followed in letter and spirit. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Delhi BJP wants Babar Road in Bengali Market to be renamed after Lieutenant Ummer Fayaz, a Rajputana Rifle soldier, who was abducted from a wedding at a relatives house and shot dead in Shopian in Kashmir on May 10. A farmers son, Fayaz, had been commissioned into the Indian Army in December 2016. Delhi BJP spokesperson Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga, in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requested the road should be named after the slain soldier. It will serve as a constant reminder to people who would visit the road of how a young man selflessly laid down his life for them and his Motherland. However, a party insider said the letter written by Bagga is in his personal capacity, it was never discussed at forum in the party. Bagga has also written to New Delhi MP Meenakshi Lekhi and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) chairman Naresh Kumar. The whole nation is mourning the sacrifice of Lt Fayaz of Rajputana Rifle. He fought for Bharat and demonstrated extraordinary valour and courage. As a tribute to the brave soul, this is my sincere plea to you to rename Babar Road to Lt Umar Fayaz Road, the letter said, which was also tweeted by Bagga. A senior official of the NDMC said the decision will be taken as per the laid down procedure for the future course of action once the letter is received. In August 2015, Aurangzeb Road was renamed after former President APJ Abdul Kalam. In September 2016, Race Course Road was renamed Lok Kalyan Marg. Then in March 2017, Dalhousie Road was renamed after Mughal prince Dara Shikoh. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has finally arrived at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival and accompanying her is her daughter Aaradhya. A post shared by AishwaryaRaiBachchan- OFFICIAL (@aishwaryaraiforever) on May 18, 2017 at 9:20am PDT The actor was welcomed to the Frech Riviera with a bouquet of roses, it seems. Her adorable 5-year-old daughter posed for the paparazzi -- outside their hotel in Cannes and as they were leaving for the Mumbai airport -- just like her mom does on the red carpet, hand to her waist and all. #AishwaryaAtCannes #AishwaryaRaiBachchan #AaradhyaBachchan #AishwaryaRai #Cannes #cannes2017 #cannes70 #filmfestival A post shared by Aishwarya Rai Fan - Amit (@amit_aishgang) on May 18, 2017 at 9:27am PDT A post shared by aishwaryaraibachchan (@aishwaryarai.arabfc) on May 18, 2017 at 12:14pm PDT Aishwarya wore a trench coat, blue denims and nude ballerinas with huge sunglasses. Her hair was poker straight with a hint of red. Aaradhya teamed her sporty dress -- with the word Adorable quite appropriately printed on it-- with a big, flowery hairband. A post shared by Aishwarya Rai Bachchan ~ ZEE (@zeeaishwaryarai) on May 18, 2017 at 8:23pm PDT The doting mother also took her daughter for an outing in Cannes. Aishwarya changed into a white Versace pant suit with embellished heels and Aaradhya wore a bright pink dress. Aishwarya will represent LOreal again as their brand ambassador this year at red carpet film screenings on Friday and Saturday. She has been a regular at the film festival for several years. Deepika Padukone has already made two red carpet outings at the fest while Sonam Kapoor is yet to arrive in Cannes. Follow @htshowbiz for more Taking a cue from the success of Rewari schoolgirls who sat on a hunger strike seeking a qualitative upgrade of their school, the students of Kadarpur government school in Gurgaon also sat on a protest on Friday outside their institution demanding that it be upgraded from class 10 to 12. Over 250 students locked the school gate at 8.30am on Friday and staged a sit-in, stepping up pressure on the authorities to accede to their demand. As per Haryana government norms, the high school must have at least 150 students in classes 9 and 10 to be upgraded to class 12.Though the school at Gothra Tappa Dahina in Rewari had 70 students in both classes, the state government tweaked its rules to upgrade the school after the girls went on a hunger strike for eight days. The girls said that the nearest school having class 11 was three kilometres away and many have been sexually harassed by men on motorcycles on way to the school in the neighbouring village. Read | When school girls taught Khattar govt a lesson Both boys and girls studying in the co-educational school in Gurgaon have been similarly vocal on the need to upgrade the institution. The Friday morning protest by the students forced the district education authorities and the SDM, Satish Yadav to rush to the school. Tough the government authorities assured the students that requisite steps would be taken soon, the students were adamant on continuing their protest. The students said that they have been urging the state education department to make the necessary upgrade over the last three years, but no action was taken. The girls said they have little option but to go to a school in a neighbouring village should they wish to take up higher studies. They said the difficult choice forced many girls to give up studies. Since the school lacks infrastructure to support higher studies beyond class 10, we have to take admission to a school in neighbouring Badshahpur if we wish to pursue higher education. However, there is no public transport and many girls have to give up studies. Our protest will continue till we see some action on the ground, said Sonia Dayma, a student and a resident of Kadarpur. The authorities told the students that they had already sent their application for upgradation to Chandigarh. This request came to us on April 14 and was sent to Chandigarh for required action. It will take some time, said Ritu Chowdhary, block education officer. The district education officer Neelam Bhandari, who also reached the spot after the students sat on protest urged them to call off the stir as their cause is being pursued vigorously and has already reached an advanced stage of settlement. Satish Yadav, SDM (South), said that they will take up the matter on priority and pleaded with the students to give up their protest. However, they held their ground and continued with their demonstration under the sun. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Investigative journalist Ian Halperin, who specialises in covering celebrities, claims that no one knows more about Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolies 11-year relationship than him. Hes making a documentary called Broken: The Incredible Story of Brangelina, which will prove, according to him, that the marriage was on the verge of breakup for years, and that the blame lies mostly on Jolie. In a recent interview to Today Extra (via Yahoo News), Halperin teased viewers with what they could expect from his film, expected to be released towards the end of 2017. In the documentary(I say) that the relationship was ripping at the seams for years. Poisonous barbs were being hurled at each other in the Jolie-Pitt household for so long, he says. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt arrive at the screening of her directorial debut In the Land of Blood and Honey in New York December 5, 2011. (REUTERS) But Halperin seems to have clearly picked a side in this battle. When asked if Pitts recent admission to his dependence on alcohol was the reason behind the split, he said, I definitely deal with his alcohol tendencies and his liking for smoking marijuana in the film. Does that make him a bad father? Absolutely not. Brad Pitts made a return to the limelight in an interview with GQ Style published May 3. In it, he detailed his struggles with alcohol and how he is dealing with the abrupt split. But Halperin makes it clear that his film wont be one-sided. What I did was try to give a very fair account. (Angelina) is a good ambassador, she has done some great stuff, shes visited impoverished nations, she has helped rape victims, I applaud her for that, he says. But she is an extremely difficult person with volcanic temper, which drove Brad Pitt, which I say in the film, pretty much to becoming an alcoholic. Halperin also claims that Pitt wanted to break up first, but was Jolie beat him to it, which he didnt take too well. He was blindsided with divorce papers by Angelina back in September of 2016 and what happened was she beat him to the punch, he says. Hollywood star Angelina Jolie during a press conference at a hotel in Siem Reap. Angelina Jolie had warm words for her estranged husband Brad Pitt and is optimistic about the future of their family, the Hollywood star said in an interview on February 21, 2017. This is a still from their film By the Sea. Because again, there were so many poisonous barbs between the two over the years, that Brad had threatened to get a divorce and she decided to beat him to the punch. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie split up when Jolie abruptly filed for divorce in September 2016. Theyd first met on the sets of Mr & Mrs Smith in 2005, when Pitt was still married to Jennifer Aniston. Follow @htshowbiz for more A new Baywatch clip featuring Priyanka Chopra gives us our best look at her villainous character Victoria Leeds. The 24-second clip introduces Victoria, who is said to be a real estate tycoon by day and drug kingpin by night. In an attempt to befriend Dwayne Johnsons Matt Buchannon and his team of lifeguards, Victoria invites them to a party. The invitation is laced with deviousness and condescension. I know the clubs kinda fancy and probably not your scene, she says, but you have a standing invitation. Then, she trips over her footstool (yes, shes standing on a footstool, probably because shes above everyone else, or maybe she just doesnt want her Louboutins to get dirty), and falls into The Rocks arms. She also seems to be putting on a variation of the American accent she uses in her show Quantico. At the films Miami premiere, Priyanka warned fans to not take their kids to the movie, because of its raunchy tone. Baywatch is directed by Seth Gordon and also stars Zac Efron, Alexandra Daddario, Kelly Rohrbach, Ilfenesh Hadera and Jon Bass. It is scheduled for a June 2 release. Follow @htshowbiz for more The first reactions to Wonder Woman, the fourth film in Warner Bros. DC Extended Universe, are out - and fans should breathe a sigh of relief because theyre all uniformly positive. Following the negative reception to 2016s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad, Warner Bros superhero universe got off to an unsteady start. And with rumours swirling around that the upcoming Justice League film is in trouble (the latest reports said that the film had almost completely been reshot), Wonder Woman had a lot riding on it. Fans would be glad to know that the moment the studio lifted the embargo on non-spoiler social media reactions, the internet was flooded with tweets from the journalists who were given advance screenings. Full reviews are still under embargo. Critics praised the films tone and writing, Patty Jenkins direction and Gal Gadots performance. The Israeli actor made her first appearance as the superhero in Batman v Superman, and will reprise her role in Novembers Justice League. Weve compiled top reactions here: WONDER WOMAN is great. My favorite of the recent DC movies. It's fierce, funny, well-written and badass. @GalGadot owns it. Her lasso FTW pic.twitter.com/rQ0ufZxWXP ErikDavis (@ErikDavis) May 19, 2017 I loved Wonder Woman. First act's a bit slow, but it's optimistic, emotional, and *gasp* funny. Best DC movie so far. Dave Schilling (@dave_schilling) May 19, 2017 Happy to report 'Wonder Woman' is a blast and @GalGadot is fantastic. Her chemistry with Chris Pine is magnetic. Absolutely recommended. pic.twitter.com/VPW4QW3IhM Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) May 19, 2017 Our own @JimmytotheO has seen #WonderWoman! He calls it "Fantastic! As touching as it is thrilling!" Full review soon! pic.twitter.com/9ZfpiQdV6L JoBlo.com (@joblocom) May 19, 2017 #WonderWoman is a flawless superhero movie. Loved every second of it. Amazing work, @PattyJenks! pic.twitter.com/UJMDI7Kb2k Jason Guerrasio (@JasonGuerrasio) May 19, 2017 I'm finally allowed to say it: I loved #WonderWoman! I teared up watching her fight. The Amazons kick ass! #SheIsWonderWoman @PattyJenks <3 JennaBusch (@JennaBusch) May 19, 2017 Very pleased to report that #WonderWoman is the best DC movie since THE DARK KNIGHT. I'm already looking forward to seeing it again. Silas Lesnick (@silaslesnick) May 19, 2017 Wonder Woman is the DC movie I've been waiting for. It's exciting, inspiring, funny, and has some truly awe-inspiring action scenes. Germain Lussier (@GermainLussier) May 19, 2017 WONDER WOMAN: Easily my favorite DCEU film. Has the humor and heart the franchise so desperately needs. Gadot and Pine are charming as hell. Kate Erbland (@katerbland) May 19, 2017 #WonderWoman is the best DCEU film so far. The heart of Gal Gadot's Diana powers it, and the shift from mythic into WWI story really works. (((Eric Eisenberg))) (@eeisenberg) May 19, 2017 Loved WONDER WOMAN. She reminds me of Christopher Reeve's Superman: true north superhero w/ no angst or cynicism, which is needed right now. Mike Ryan (@mikeryan) May 19, 2017 #WonderWoman is hands down the best DCEU Film to date! Film is SO GOOD. I absolutely loved it! Bravo @PattyJenks @GalGadot @GeoffJohns Umberto Gonzalez (@elmayimbe) May 19, 2017 The most wonderful thing about WONDER WOMAN is the wonderful Wonder Woman. Gal IS Wonder Woman. Now then, about WONDER WOMAN Josh L. Dickey (@JLDlite) May 19, 2017 Wonder Woman also stars Chris Pine, Danny Huston, Robin Wright, David Thewlis and Connie Nielsen. It is scheduled for a June 2 release. Follow @htshowbiz for more The performance will be held on the occasion of Vietnamese Day in Spain 2017, and celebrate the 40th anniversary of Vietnam-Spain diplomatic relations. A performance by Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre Peoples Artist Nguyen Hoang Tuan, Director of the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre and head of the delegation, said that the program will introduce international friends to the melodies of national music. Accordingly, folk songs will be performed. It is expected that the performance will leave a deep impression in foreigners./. Universal has unveiled a fresh (and final) trailer for its upcoming action blockbuster The Mummy, ahead of its release in theatres on June 9. The film, directed by Alex Kurtzman (Welcome to the People), casts Tom Cruise as Nick Morton, a man who suffers a sudden, violent death and then mysterious rebirth only to discover he has been cursed by an ancient evil, played by Sofia Boutella. The final trailer shows flashes of Mortons escape and the evil monster, as well as the films female lead British actor Annabelle Wallis and Dr Jekyll (Russell Crowe), who welcomes the audience to a new world of gods and monsters. The clip also sees Cruises character begin his transformation into a monster, with special powers and double pupils in each eye, as Crowes Dr. Jekyll forewarns that It takes a monster to defeat a monster. Follow @htshowbiz for more A woman from Assam has received the coveted Whitley Award, also known as the Green Oscar, for her efforts towards protecting the greater adjutant stork (leptoptilos dubius) and the wetlands it inhabits. Princess Anne presented the award, worth 35,000 in project funding, to 37-year-old Purnima Barman at Londons Royal Geographical Society on Thursday evening. A statement issued by Whitley Fund for Nature on Wednesday said Barman was selected for the prestigious award from a list of 166 researchers across 66 countries. Another Indian Sanjay Gubbi also figured among the six picked for the honour. He received the award for his efforts at curbing deforestation in Karnatakas tiger corridors. Over 380 students take out a rally for conservation of the once-reviled hargila in Assam. (HT Photo) Incidentally, hargila as the greater adjutant is called in Assam is also used to refer to lanky people in local parlance. It currently holds the unenviable endangered status in the IUCN red list of threatened species. Purnima mobilised the Hargila Army, an all-female team of conservationists dedicated to protecting the greater adjutant stork. They are offered sustainable livelihood, training and education opportunities through this programme. The project is giving marginalised women a voice, helping them change local perceptions. The number of stork nests has risen to over 150 from just 30 seven years ago, the Whitley statement said. Barman will use the award to scale up her work, encouraging householders to protect the birds and their nesting trees, the statement said. She will conduct research on the impact of pollution and garbage consumption on the storks reproduction, and undertake work to secure legal protection of its wetland habitat which is home to the largest nesting colony of greater adjutants, it added. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Assam has about 800 of the worlds estimated population of 1,800 greater adjutants. Bihar has around 160 of these storks. A greater adjutant nursing its chicks. The number of these storks in Assam has risen to over 800 in recent years. (HT Photo) Barman, a member of Assam-based NGO Aaranyak, had faced several challenges when she launched her campaign at three villages near Guwahati in 2008. Today, the people of Dadara, Pachariya and Hingimari take pride in preserving the hargila as well as its nesting trees which they once wanted to chop off to get rid of the irritating birds. The conservation efforts are monitored by the Hargila Army, which observes February 2 as Greater Adjutant Day to spread the good word. The conservationists attempts to embed the bird into the local culture have also succeeded, with the hargila finding its way into local handloom products as a popular motif as well as hymns sung at namghars (Vaishnav prayer halls) in the region. I dedicate the Whitley Award, the dream of every conservationist, to the villagers who have been working with me to make the world a better place for the greater adjutant. A 19th century ornithologist called the bird a prodigy of ugliness, but few are as beautiful as it is, Purnima said in an email after receiving the award. The United Kingdom-based Whitley Fund for Nature gives away monetary awards annually to support pioneers in national and regional wildlife conservation across the globe. Princess Anne, the daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, serves as a patron of over 200 social and animal welfare organisations across the globe. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Criminals threat to kidnap his daughter if he did not pay the extortion money allegedly drove a businessman in Bihar to commit suicide. The body of Mahmood Alam, 45, a wholesaler dealer in fire crackers, was found hanging from a ceiling fan at his Chhata Bazar house in town police station area of Muzaffarpur, 71 km north of state capital Patna, on Thursday night. The incident comes a few days after two engineers of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Limited, posted in Muzaffarpur district, quit Bihar apprehending threat to their lives and said they would never return. READ| Two NHPC engineers fear threat to life, quit Bihar People close to Alams family said the businessman took the extreme step after failing to meet the demands of extortionists. The criminals had threatened to kidnap Alams teenaged daughter if he did not pay Rs 5 lakh as protection money for running his business smoothly, they said. Traders brother Abdur Rehman said Alam had met the senior superintendent of police (SSP) and informed him about the threat. Had the police acted on time, Alam would not have committed suicide, Rehman said. READ| 2 held for 30 lakh extortion demand to Bihar doctor couple The suicide sparked tension and a police team which arrived at Chhata Bazar to probe the incident was chased away by an angry mob on Friday. Muzaffarpur SSP Vivek Kumar said a police team had been constituted to look into the matter. He, however, added that it was beyond comprehension that a person can commit suicide just for failing to meet the extortion demand. There is something amiss in the incident, which needs to be investigated, he said. PATNA: Days after I-T carried out raids in connection with alleged assets worth crores amassed by RJD chief Lalu Prasad and his family members, the Bihar strongman came out all guns blazing against PM Narendra Modi accusing him of indulging in a witchhunt against regional leaders in his bid to break the opposition and prevent their unity. He also dared the central tax agency to disclose the locations raided by it on May 16. I, my wife and my children have all along stayed in Patna. Give us the proof of where the raids were conducted. The hype about the I-T raids is just a part of the ploy to defame me and tarnish our public image, Prasad said, adding that the I-T action was a futile exercise aimed at intimidating him for his call to unite secular forces to fight the BJP-led NDA in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. BJP is rattled by the growing frustration among youths and opposition unity in the country. But I will not allow PM Modi to sleep peacefully. We will join hands to oust him from power in 2019, he said, referring to his proposed August 27 rally of opposition parties in Patna to forge a new secular front. He said BJP was playing the same trick of defaming other regional leaders like AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, BSP chief Mayawati and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee by implicating them in corruption cases. I am not the one to run away as my foot is firmly set on the ground like Angad (the mythological monkey prince whose feet could not be moved by mighty demons), he said. There was an air of defiance in Prasads interaction with the media today as he brushed off suggestions of acquiring property worth Rs 1000 crore, including a mall in Patna, through dubious means, as alleged by BJP. Every detail of property owned by me and my family is declared in I-T returns. Nothing is hidden. There has been no scam. Yes, my familys company has share in the mall, he said. He also sounded terse when asked about the reopening of trial against him in the fodder scam cases by a Supreme Court order, saying he was not the one to be cowed down by legal tangles and would face it boldly. Prasad recalled how he had won in a DA case in SC, even as his conviction in a fodder scam case was in appeal in the high court. Veering to politics, Prasad went about Narendra Modi bashing, accusing the PM of divisive politics and stoking fanaticism in the name of cow protection, triple talaq and Ram Mandir issues to hide his failures in three years after his promises of giving employment, assuring economic growth and repatriation of black money from abroad. PM Modi desh ka dushman hai aur desh ka tukra karna chahata hai (Modi wants to break the nation), he said, adding how the BJPs claim of the surgical strike and protecting interests of soldiers was a big sham. Its for the first time that Pakistani flags have been flying high in J&K while bodies of soldiers are being mutilated. Has stone pelting and Naxalism stopped after demonetisation? he asked. Prasad claimed that defeating BJP was not an impossible task as the saffron outfit had only taken advantage of opposition disunity post disintegration of UPA allies before 2014. He also attributed the BJPs landslide victory in the UP polls recently to the family feud in the Samajwadi Party and dissension within the BSP, saying a realignment of all secular forces in Bihar, UP, West Bengal and Punjab would help vanquish the saffron brigade in the 2019 elections. I have asked Congress president Sonia Gandhi to lead the way, he said. Recently, Prasad had called up Gandhi to invite her to the rally to initiate a Congress-led secular front, with Mamata and Mayawati likely to share the dais. QUOTE The hype about IT raids is just a part of the ploy to defame me and tarnish our public image. It is a futile exercise to intimidate me for my call to unite secular forces to fight the BJP led NDA in 2019 polls Lalu Prasad, RJD president SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Convicted in a teachers recruitment scam, former Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala could now land in a degree controversy, with official documents belying his family members claims that he has cleared Class XII with A grade. The octogenarian leader who is serving his 10-year sentence in Delhis Tihar jail has taken Class X examination and is awaiting results, documents show. The former CMs son Abhay Singh Chautala was quoted by newspapers as saying that his father who was on parole had gone back to jail last month to appear for Class XII examination at a centre set up in Tihar jail and secured A grade in the results declared recently. The examination was conducted by the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), Documents obtained by HT show that the 82-year-old Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) supremo took Class X examination last month with subjects, including social science, science and technology, Hindi, Indian culture and heritage, and business studies through Hindi medium. Class X result will be declared in the first week of June, said officials. Even Class XII results are expected to be declared by the end of May. Chautala had taken admission in Tihar Study Centre, Central Jail No. 7, Tihar Jail in New Delhi. How can he get grade A for Class XII when he took Class X exam? We were taken by surprise when we heard the news, said a NIOS official requesting anonymity. When contacted, INLD supremos younger son Abhay Chautala insisted that according to his information, his father had cleared Class XII with A grade. When told that his father actually took Class X examination, he said his nephew Digvijay Chautala had informed him about Class XII. Digvijay is the son of Abhays elder brother and former MP, Ajay Chautala, who was also jailed in the same case along with his father. Jail officials, too, expressed ignorance about Chautalas achievements as projected by his family. We have not received any report card related to the person. If he received his report at his residence, we do not know. The NIOS is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of human resource development. It offers open basic education, and academic and vocational courses for pre-degree level. It is one of the three national school boards, the other two being CBSE and ICSE. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Enforcement Directorate has registered a case of money laundering against Karti Chidambaram, the son of former Union finance minister P Chidambaram, after taking cognizance of an FIR filed by the CBI in connection with the alleged irregularities relating to foreign direct investments received by INX Media in 2007. The case was registered on Thursday against Karti, who is believed to have left India on the same day. There is, however, no lookout circular against Karti or an official ban on his travel, officials told the Hindustan Times. Agency officials said the ED will probe the allegation that Karti received payments in lieu of the services rendered to INX Media by his company Chess Management Services. According to the Central Bureau of Investigation, Karti used his influence in the finance ministry to help INX Media get an approval to receive foreign investments from three Mauritius-based investors. The investigation agency said INX Media allegedly received approval from (FIPB) for Rs 4.62 crore investment but got Rs 305 crore by sale of shares at a premium of Rs 800 per share instead of Rs 10 as mentioned by the media group in their application. Moreover, the company went against the decision of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) and made a downstream investment of 26% of its capital share. The FIPB had asked INX to seek permission from the ministry of information and broadcasting before making investments, said CBI. On Monday, the CBI filed an FIR against Karti, INX Media Pvt Ltd through its director Indrani Mukherjea, INX News Pvt Ltd through its director Peter Mukherjea, Advance Strategic Consulting Private Limited (ASCPL) through its director Padma Vishwanathan and other officials of the ministry. The CBI alleged that after the income tax department sought clarifications from FIPB, INX Media roped in Kartis Chess Management Services Pvt Ltd to get the issues resolved by influencing officials of the FIPB. The ED will probe the trail and use of the money allegedly received by Karti from INX. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In an apparent preparation for a crackdown on Kashmiri separatists, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) will hold a meeting in a couple of days to discuss if a criminal case could be made out against separatist leaders over their alleged involvement in money laundering and hawala transactions. ED director Karnal Singh has convened the meeting to look into the funding of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (TeH) and All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC), said official sources. While TeH is led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, the Hurriyat Conference is an alliance of over two dozen organisations, which, like TeH, seek either independence from India or merger with Pakistan. Agency sources told HT that sleuths have been asked to re-examine ongoing ED cases against separatist leaders, members allegedly belonging to the TeH or APHC, and suspected overground workers (OGW) of militant groups based in the Kashmir valley. The cases which the ED is currently probing will be discussed to underline the modus operandi employed by those already under investigation. The same cases will provide further insight into how money laundering and hawala transactions are used to facilitate activities of separatist groups in Jammu and Kashmir, an ED official told HT. Among the cases cited by the official include one of Aslam Wani, who was arrested by Delhi Police 12 years ago. Delhi Police had claimed that Wani allegedly told his interrogators he delivered Rs 2.25 crore to Democratic Freedom Party leader Shabir Shah. The money, police claimed, came through hawala channels. The ED is also probing the 2010 case of two Kashmiri individuals Firdous Ahmad Shah and Yar Mohammad Khan who allegedly used an Italian firm, Madina Trading, at Corso Garibaldi to receive money to the tune of Rs 1 lakh. Agencies believe Yar Mohammad is a TeH member. It is also looking into a case where a man named Mubarak Ali and and his maternal cousin, Inayatullah Wani, both residents of Jammu and Kashmirs Doda district, were arrested in Srinagar allegedly with Rs 5.4 lakh in cash. Police said the two were allegedly attempting to hand over the money to a Hizbul Mujahideen militant in the valley and that the duo was working as OGW for the banned group. During the ED investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), Mubarak Ali claimed that the seized money was carried by him and his cousin for his treatment of mouth cancer. It was later found out that Ali had received Rs 6 lakh, out of which he kept aside Rs 60,000 for medical treatment. The doctor, who was treating Mubarak Ali, said he was not suffering from mouth cancer and Alis treatment cost just Rs 10,000, an official said. The EDs meeting is likely to escalate the situation between the Centre and the separatists who recently gave a statement that they wont be having any dialogue with the Union government. At a joint seminar held at the Hurriyat Conferences Srinagar office, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik said, there could be no dialogue with fascists like RSS and BJP as they know only one language, which is to kill and muzzle genuine dissent. The Centre, on its part, has also refused to sit for talks with valley-based separatist groups. The multi-agency crackdown on separatist groups only indicates the hardened approach that the BJP government is going to take against such outfits in Kashmir. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON It didnt take long after demonetisation for almost everyone to hear about the special properties of the new Rs 2000 note, which was said to include a built-in GPS-enabled nano-chip. News of this high-tech feature spread rapidly, even though there was no notification about it from the Reserve Bank of India or any other government department. What there was, instead, was a popular WhatsApp message. WhatsApp messages were involved in another fake-news controversy the very same month, when word of a salt shortage in North India spread widely. The fake news unleashed panic, and in Hyderabad, among other places, salt prices increased by a factor of four. It even extracted a victim, a woman died in Bakarganj Bazaar, Kanpur, when she slipped and fell into a drain in a panicked buying melee. This isnt the only time that fake news that circulated on WhatsApp led to violence. In 2013, messages sent on WhatsApp helped to incite riots in Muzaffarnagar. A two-year old video of a lynching in Pakistan was mischievously promoted as an attack on two Hindu boys by Muslims in Kawal village of Muzaffarnagar. The video, in turn, provoked calls for revenge. Though the police blocked the video on the internet, its spread could not be stopped on the app. Facebook, WhatsApps parent company, has faced much flak for not curbing the circulation of fake news. On its part, Facebook has now said it will try to flag questionable news stories with the help of users and external fact checkers to cope with this problem. But the instant messaging app poses similar challenges in a particularly intractable form. WhatsApp offers a particularly private medium of communication, something many people like about it. A case currently being heard at the Supreme Court of India concerns the protection of this very quality while WhatsApp would like to allow Facebook to access its user data, a PIL contends that this move would be a violation of privacy. The same factors of WhatsApps design that protect its users also make it difficult or impossible to study many aspects of communication on the platform. Even as anecdotal evidence piles up that WhatsApp is being used to distribute fake news, then, it remains hard to know just what is happening or what can be done in response. Social medias biggest problem perhaps is becoming platform for fake news. (Shutterstock) Facebook vs WhatsApp The differences between WhatsApp and Facebook dictate the ways people share news on each platform. Facebook is a social platform where people express their concerns, react, and build perceptions based on an individuals posts, says Anoop Mishra, a digital marketing and social media consultant. However, on WhatsApp, which is an end-to-end messaging platform, people share content in a more personal and closed way. It is because the primary mode of sharing on instant messaging apps is one-to-one, as opposed to the one-to-many relationship on Facebook, that the former feels more personal. This personal quality of most of the content shared directly or on small groups via WhatsApp carries with it the implicit endorsement of people you know. Given that the app is now a large and growing part of peoples lives on mobile devices, the way it influences news consumption demands more attention. Lack of content moderation and privacy controls gives WhatsApp an edge over Facebook for sharing any type of multimedia content, says Mishra. For instance, to get your friends attention on Facebook, you need to tag them. Not every post by every friend shows up on your news feed; what you see is dictated by an algorithm. WhatsApp has a big advantage here since it works like a text message. You know that your message will be received by everyone you send it to. A black hole for content There is no non-anecdotal way to track the spread of content on WhatsApp. Facebook, for instance, is compatible with analytics tools capable of determining that a particular news report has been shared 7,000 times, say, or viewed 20,000 times. Such analysis is not feasible with WhatsApp, which offers no way to mine social media data to understand the patterns, trends, or reach of any given message. Even its original source is completely opaque. What is true of particular texts also applies to the total sum of activity on WhatsApp: it is impossible to determine what kinds of messages the public is sharing most, what sorts of conditions people are sharing these messages in, or where in the world they are spreading. Surpassing one billion WhatsApp arrived in India at the beginning of the decade. At that time, chat apps were generally considered to be interchangeable with text messages. Today theyre widely understood to support sharing of all forms of multimedia content photos, videos, audio files and even text documents. Simplicity is one of WhatsApps signature virtues. All you need to do is download it: the programme automatically scans your phone book and links up with your contacts who are also users. Crucially, you dont even need a password. According to Guide to Chat Apps, a report by the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia University, the requirement of a password is a significant barrier to entry for many people in emerging markets when it comes to other apps and social media platforms. In February 2016, WhatsApp crossed the one billion mark for active users worldwide. India is its largest market, with about 160 million active users. Months after India demonetised a major part of its currency, people used social media and WhatsApp to exchange and get information, which was not often true. (Ravi Choudhary/HT PHOTO) WhatsApping the news WhatsApps reach and growing role in the consumption of photos and videos has prompted media companies to take it seriously as a distribution channel. A report by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism highlights the increasing adoption of new social networks among young people and the growing importance of recommendations as a gateway to news. The digital generation expects the news to come to them, says the reports author journalist Nic Newman in a press release. Young people rarely go directly to a mainstream news website anymore. But unlike apps like WeChat and Snapchat, which are gaining currency among millennials, WhatsApp hasnt positioned itself as a media distribution platform. Media organisations have been experimenting nonetheless. For instance, the BBC ran pilots on WhatsApp and WeChat for the Indian elections in 2014. Users subscribed to the BBC news service on WhatsApp by adding a number to their contacts and sending a request message to join. They were then put on a broadcast list that sent them up to three updates a day in Hindi and English. Many media outlets, including ours, now have a WhatsApp sharing icon on their mobile websites. For all its susceptibility to the dissemination of fake news, WhatsApp presents unique challenges to the mass sharing of content, just as it does for the mass tracking of it. It has no official application program interface (API), the service which allows programmers to build applications that automate the functions of a platform. An official WhatsApp API release could spawn an entirely new industry of startups, in much the same way that the release of Twitters API did, says the Tow Center report. Except this time, it could be even bigger, given WhatsApps near-billion account user base. Reaching out to a wider audience on WhatsApp with either fake or authentic news needs to be performed manually, via broadcast lists, which allow you to send the same message to many people at once, and groups. State of control Fake news might lead only to harmless speculation or minor inconvenience, as it did with rumours about the Rs 2000 note, or it could be dangerous, as was the case during the Muzaffarnagar riots. Pranesh Prakash, a policy director at the Centre for Internet and Society, a research and advocacy group focused on digital technology, believes that social media rumours gain potency after the imposition of censorship, under which people begin to wonder what the government is trying to conceal. There is no way rumours can be completely quelled, he says, but the state can act against rumours through clear communication that calls out particular rumours, and tells people not to believe them. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Fed up with the torture by her husband and in-laws for being unable to bear a male child, a woman, along with her two daughters including a 13-day-old girl, allegedly set themselves ablaze at her residence in Morbi town in Gujarat on Friday, police said. According to a FIR lodged by the Morbi town police, the 26-year-old woman, Sheetal Parmar, allegedly committed suicide along with her two daughters as she was fed up with the torture from her husband and in-laws for failing to give birth to a baby boy. When we reached her house, we found charred bodies of Sheetal and daughters Payal (13 days old) and Jinkal (3). Prima facie, she poured kerosene over herself and the daughters and set her and them ablaze this morning, sub-inspector H B Bhadaniya said. Based on a complaint lodged by Sheetals brother Amarsinh Ganjaria, the Morbi police filed a case of abetment of suicide under section 306 of Indian Penal Code against Sheetals husband Dayaram and in-laws Narsinh and Sharda, he said. The accused trio was not present at the house when the police reached there, he said. As per Ganjaria, Dayaram and his parents started tormenting Sheetal soon after she gave birth to her second daughter. They used to taunt her for failing to give birth to a boy, Bhadaniya added. The complainant alleged that Sheetal took the extreme step as the torture from her husband and in-laws was unbearable, he said, adding that the hunt to nab the accused has already underway. Relief and a diplomatic victory are the big takeaways for India from an international courts provisional order on Thursday that prohibits Pakistan from executing an alleged Indian spy until the verdict is out. Also, The Hague-based International Court of Justices (ICJ) intervention is likely to bolster the Narendra Modi governments position that it will do everything to secure the release of former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav. The 46-year-old was allegedly arrested in Balochistan in March 2016 and a Pakistani military court convicted him of espionage and sabotage this April. India warned it would be considered a premeditated murder should Pakistan hang an innocent man. The ICJ order has come as a great relief to the family of Kulbhushan Jadhav and people of India, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said. India scored diplomatic points against its arch rivals, but the danger to Jadhavs life has not diminished as Pakistan might reject the UN courts order. Pakistan remained defiant and is likely to challenge the jurisdiction of the ICJ in matters of national security. As far as Pakistan is concerned, the decision has not changed the status of Jadhavs case in any manner, the nations attorney general said. Jadhav was sentenced to death for spying and for acts of terrorism, and has ample time to petition for clemency. We are determined to pursue this case to its logical end, he said. There are fears that Pakistan could hang Jadhav before the ICJ pronounces its verdict, though Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay said the international courts order is legally binding. The ICJ order is clear, favourable and unambiguous, he said. But there are instances of the US sidestepping a similar order of the court to go ahead with execution orders. India moved the ICJ citing imminent danger to Jadhavs life, after Pakistan didnt respond to 16 requests for consular access to the prisoner. The court order didnt explicitly deal with this particular Indian appeal to allow access to the man under the rules of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963. Increasingly tense bilateral ties could ensure the Jadhav case will drag on for months, if not years. India accuses Pakistan of supporting cross-border terrorism, especially in the restive Kashmir Valley, and holds the neighbour responsible for unprovoked shelling at frontier areas, and terrorist attacks on Indian military bases. Islamabad blames New Delhi for the insurgency in Balochistan. The two countries are no longer talking. Even routine bilateral exchanges were frozen. Foreign policy experts said a huge political will on both sides will be required to ease tension and improve ties. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Officials of the Vietnamese Embassy in Chile and visitors at the exhibition (Photo: VNA) The stall of the Vietnamese Embassy displayed paintings, books, stamps about ethnic minority communities, bronze drums, traditional long dress and handicraft products to promote the image of the country and people of Vietnam, as well as the friendship and cooperative relations between Hanoi and Santiago. At the event, more than 300 visitors learnt about the unique cultural features of handicraft products, showing the sophistication of Vietnamese artisans, and expressed interest in the cultural heritages of Vietnam recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Speaking at the exhibition, Vietnamese Ambassador to Chile Ngo Duc Thang, stressed that this is the first cultural diplomacy activity about Vietnam in Antofagasta on the occasion of the 127th birthday of President Ho Chi Minh. On this occasion, Ambassador Thang honoured Uncle Ho's image, thought and contribution to the struggle for national liberation, contributing to promoting the national liberation movements in the world. He appreciated the support of the people all over the world, including the Chilean people, during the war of resistance against the American imperialists, while emphasizing the development potential of the bilateral relationship. The Vietnamese Ambassador affirmed that this activity contributed to enhancing Chilean people's understanding of the country and people of Vietnam, and the tradition of solidarity and cohesion between the two nations. Earlier, the Vietnamese Embassy also organized an exhibition of paintings, photos, publications and handicraft products, attracting the attention of many Chileans and international visitors at Cumbres Hotel in San Pedro de Atacama town, Antofagasta on May 13th - 14th./. Pakistans two crucial arguments didnt work at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against an Indian appeal to save Kulbhushan Jadhav, an alleged spy sentenced to death. The Hague-based court ordered Pakistan on Thursday to stop the 46-year-old former Indian naval officers execution until the judgment is out. The order was along expected lines. But two aspects of the order are noteworthy, said Shashank Kumar, a Geneva-based lawyer who had worked with two judges of the international court. India went to the ICJ with the plea that an innocent mans life is in grave danger as Islamabad didnt respond to 16 requests for consular access after a Pakistani court convicted him on April 10 of spying. The ICJ was not convinced with Pakistans argument that there was no urgency because Jadhavs execution date was not fixed. The Pakistani counsel said legal recourse is available for Jadhav and it will take at least 150 days before he exhaust the options to appeal for clemency. Pakistans second argument failed too. It said a 2008 bilateral agreement exempts cases related to national security. The ICJ did not see the agreement between the countries as excluding its prima facie jurisdiction in this case, Kumar said. India contended that Article 120 of the United Nations Charter says UN organ shouldnt rely on treaties not registered with the secretariat of the world body. The ICJ is the judicial arm of the UN. So, rather than the bilateral pact, the court gave precedence to the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963, a multi-nation treaty that includes India and Pakistan as signatories. Besides, Jadhavs trial in a military court flouted all norms of international relations. Why did Pakistan use a military court and didnt allow consular access to India even after 16 requests. These questions beg answers, an official in New Delhi said. Thursdays court order brought temporary reprieve, but efforts to secure Jadhavs release will require navigation through tense bilateral ties. The easy part of the case is over ... the court will now consider in detail many of these issues during the merits. A reversal of Jadhavs conviction and his release, the relief requested by India, is far from a foregone conclusion, Kumar said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Pakistani government on Friday faced flak over its handling of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhavs case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), with several legal experts questioning the strategy adopted and asking why it accepted the global courts jurisdiction. The Hague-based court, the UNs highest judicial body, had stayed on Thursday the execution of Jadhav, 46, considered to be a spy by Pakistan. The ruling triggered criticism of the Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) for its poor handling and also for its choice of Khawar Qureshi, who represented Pakistans case before the ICJ. The Attorney general for Pakistan (AGP) had recommended some other counsel, The Express Tribune reported. According to former Pakistan Bar Council vice chairman Farogh Naseem, Pakistan should have immediately withdrawn its March 29, 2017 declaration accepting the compulsory jurisdiction of the ICJ. Instead of contesting the matter, Pakistan should have withdrawn the declaration immediately after India took Jadhavs case to the ICJ, he said. Why did Pakistan not take the glaring and brutal human rights violations in Kashmir before the court, despite the fact that Islamabad had a strong case in this regard? Former Additional Attorney General Tariq Khokhar, an expert in international law, regretted that Pakistan had accepted ICJ jurisdiction through a declaration, which should have been withdrawn once Pakistan knew that India would invoke the ICJs jurisdiction against it. Being an arbitration forum, each contesting state was allowed to nominate one person of its choice to act as an ad hoc judge at the ICJ...India did nominate one but Pakistan did not, Khokhar said, adding that Pakistans counsel did not argue for the full allotted time either. Eminent lawyer and human rights activist Asma Jahangir suggested that rather than making the ICJ ruling a matter of ego, we should sit down, join our heads and find a way out by going through the ruling thoroughly. Who gave the opinion to deny consular access to Jadhav in the first place? she asked. International law expert Ahmer Bilal Soofi was of the view that Pakistan should prepare for the second phase of the case, which was more important because it would be contested on merit and would provide Pakistan the chance to document Indias intervention inside Pakistan through Jadhav. Islamabad could insist on cooperation from India on the investigation into Jadhavs activities, he said. Former law minister S M Zafar said prime facie, it was a wrong decision. I could not understand why the ICJ issued a stay order in the Jadhav case without even understanding the case. According to him, Pakistan should change its legal strategy and concentrate more on the terrorism angle. A senior official told The Express Tribune that India had been successful in managing the ICJs registrar office, which has vast powers to fix cases before the court. We were very surprised how swiftly Jadhavs case was fixed before the ICJ, he said. A senior official in the law ministry told the Express Tribune that Pakistans lead lawyer Qureshi made two mistakes. He did not nominate ad hoc judge before the hearing and he did not respond to the argument of Indian lawyer regarding the 2008 bilateral agreement between India and Pakistan on consular access, he said. The agreement says both the states will not give consular access to terrorists. However, Haresh Salve, counsel for India, contended that the agreement was not registered with the United Nations. The official said the foreign office had also failed to register the bilateral agreement with the UN. Legal experts recommended that as the government now has a couple of months to evolve future strategy, it should not take a decision on appointment of an ad hoc judge in haste. They also wondered why Pakistan wanted to appoint foreigner as an ad hoc judge when every state prefers to nominate its own lawyers. Pakistan Bar Council executive member Raheel Kamran Sheikh said it was matter of concern that success rate of Pakistan in international arbitration cases was 2 per cent while Indias success rate was 60 per cent. We lost important cases at the international forum in the last couple of years. Likewise, we spent more than one billion rupees on lawyers fees in those cases, he said. Sheikh said mishandling of Jadhavs case was a classic example of how in the power struggle between military and political institutions, gaps in the foreign policy and national security perspectives had grown. And they [gaps] have grown to such an extent that if the situation is not arrested and improved immediately in the national interest by both the centres of power, irreparable damage shall be caused to the state, he said. Pakistani media reacted strongly to the International Court of Justice order on Friday staying the execution of Kulbhushan Jadhav, an Indian man accused of spying in Pakistan. While India celebrated the courts Thursday order as a diplomatic win, Pakistani media heavily criticised their governments handling of the case. Most of the reportage focused on the flaws in Pakistans legal strategy, while quoting experts who pointed out that the case was not yet closed. Here are reactions from some of the leading Pakistani news outlets: The Nation ICJ has no jurisdiction to hear Jadhav case, says Pakistans Foreign Office, reports The Nation. The report goes on to quote foreign office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria, who says that Pakistan has submitted its reply to the ICJ under Article 36 of the United Nations Charter. In some issues, Pakistan does recognise the jurisdiction of the ICJ. Jadhavs case is related to Pakistans security. India is just twisting the facts and trying to give this case a humanitarian angle...India is trying to defend a person whose actions have led to the killing of scores of innocent Pakistanis, says Zakaria. Dawn India didnt win, Pakistan didnt fail, reiterates a piece by international lawyer Taimur Malik in leading English-language daily, Dawn. The decision only relates to Indias request for provisional measures (which, by the way, doesnt even include a request for granting consular access to Jadhav). Malik points out that there has been no decision by the ICJ regarding Jadhavs death penalty. In fact, this point is not even under consideration and does not fall within the ICJs jurisdiction, he writes. He also mounts a defence of the legal team arguing the case, who have come under fire from all sides. They, and others supporting them, did not have the benefit of time available to the Indian team while preparing their arguments and performed well under a tight deadline. Another analysis on Dawns website quotes various experts who are of the view that Pakistan should never have accepted the ICJs jurisdiction in the case. The story quotes former Pakistan Bar Council Vice Chairman Dr Farogh Naseem, saying, Why did Pakistan not take the glaring and brutal human rights violations in India-held Kashmir before the court, despite the fact that Islamabad had a strong case in this regard, he asked, then answered his own question, saying that India had not conceded to the courts compulsory jurisdiction in this matter. The Express Tribune Legal experts blame FO for poor case handling, reads the headline of a piece on the Tribunes site. The story quotes an anonymous senior lawyer as saying, If Indians could show reservations over the ICJ jurisdiction on Kashmir, Pakistan might also adopt the same approach in the matter related to the trial of terrorists by civilian and military courts, he said. The piece goes on to point out flaws in Pakistans legal strategy, saying that the success rate of Pakistan in international arbitration cases was 2% while Indias success rate was 60%. A senior official revealed to The Express Tribune that India has been successful in managing the ICJs registrar office, which has vast power to fix cases before the court. We were very surprised how swiftly Jadhavs case was fixed before the ICJ, he said. Pakistan Today An editorial in Pakistan Today states how the case unfolded,and how the Modi governments decision to take it before the ICJ caught the Pakistani side by surprise. The editorial signs off by saying that Pakistan has to accept the verdict, but should hire the best legal minds to contest the case. Being a responsible member of the UN, Pakistan has no option but complying with the verdict even if it strongly disagrees with it. The government should also consult lawyers over taking some of the disputes with India to the ICJ, says the editorial. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON India is pushing full steam ahead on its plan to build an indigenous stealth fighter plane amid an uncertainty surrounding the proposed India-Russian fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA), a top government official said on Friday. While the advanced medium combat aircraft (AMCA) is still on the drawing board, doubts over the multi-billion dollar programme to develop the stealth fighter with the Russians appears to have lent fresh urgency to the AMCA project. Only the US, Russia and China have such programmes. The first prototype could be built in 10 to 12 years if all goes according to the Aeronautical Development Agencys plan, government sources said. If the FGFA project doesnt work out for some reason, the AMCA could be a good alternative. However, that would be a long term plan as production will begin only around 2035-37, a senior Indian Air Force (IAF) officer said. A three-member government committee is all set to submit its report on the viability of the FGFA programme. The panel was set up 3 months ago. India plans to cooperate with foreign military contractors on the AMCA project but no decision has been taken so far. European and American firms have offered technical consultancy for the stealth fighter programme. Sources said India has also conveyed to Russia that the FGFA project should bring in technology that benefits the proposed Indian programme. The sources said ADA was in discussions with companies such as Dassault Aviation and Boeing for the project but it would be premature to comment on who the foreign collaborator could be. Its too early to even speculate about that as we have not even tested the AMCA airframe. Thats still around a year away. So all options are open, the sources said. The IAF has 33 fighter squadrons compared to an optimum strength of 42. It is hoping to beef up its combat potential with the induction of the Tejas light combat aircraft, more Sukhoi-30s, Rafale jets, the FGFA and a medium-weight fighter that could be built in India in collaboration with a foreign vendor. One of the worlds oldest mountain railway systems is ending the very practice that helped sustain it for decades cannibalism. The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) will be signing the death warrant of this practice on Friday through an agreement with a public sector undertaking for supplying new antique spares to revive a fleet of narrow gauge steam locomotives, also called Iron Sherpas. The Guwahati-headquartered NFR controls the 138-year old Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), popularly called toy train. In railway jargon, cannibalism means killing one locomotive and using its parts to run another in better shape. This practice has helped DHR survive with a depleting fleet of steam locomotives whose makers had shut shop or switched to manufacturing something else 60-65 years ago. But cannibalism and replacement of unusable steam locomotives with diesel variants had a downside. These violated the conditions of conservation the DHR needed to adhere to as one of UNESCOs prime world heritage sites. The 78km DHR from West Bengals New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling had earned this tag in 1999. Downgrading it could have had a domino effect on the 46km Nilgiri Mountain Railway and the 96km Kalka-Shimla Railway that were later clubbed to form the Mountain Railways of India World Heritage Site. The only other standalone Indian Railway property with the World Heritage Site tag is Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai. We managed to salvage old steam locomotive layouts and manufacturing designs at DHRs Tindharia (habitation near Kurseong) workshop. Experts from the Ranchi-based Heavy Engineering Corporation Limited (HECL) studied them for almost two years to develop the technology to produce the vintage parts, an officer of the NFR said, declining to be quoted ahead of the formal inking of the agreement with the PSU. The DHR, he added, faced the prospect of being dropped from the world heritage site without the steam locomotives giving a feel of the mountain railway systems old-world charm. The possibility of DHRs demotion had made Indian Railways sign a find-in-trust (FIT) agreement with the UNESCO in January this year. The deal entails a comprehensive conservation management plan (CCMP) that the UNESCO will prepare for the DHR on payment of $533,332 in Indian rupees. The absence of such a plan, clearly defining the role of all stakeholders, for so long was a violation of the conditions that the UNs cultural agency had set when it declared the DHR a global heritage site in 1999. All such sites are required to have a functioning management plan. The plan goes beyond the role of the NFR in conserving its property along the 78km stretch the Darjeeling toy train travels. It includes other stakeholders such as the civil administration responsible for the road running alongside and people living in houses flanking the track. The settlement at Darjeeling began in 1828 with British interest. By 1835, it was separated from Sikkim for establishing a sanatorium for physically impaired servants of the East India Company. It then consisted of a monastery on observatory hill clustered with about 20 huts and a population of about 100 people. Planning for Darjeeling town began in 1839 with the construction of a hill road connecting Siliguri, Pankhabari, Kurseong and Darjeeling. By 1840, Darjeeling had about 30 buildings and a few respectable houses. Tea bushes were brought in by the British from China and tea plantations began spreading rapidly from 1857. To meet the expanding requirements, a new road fit for carts was planned in 1861. It came to be called the Hill Cart Road. Work on the DHR began along the Hill Cart Road in 1879. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Here are the top stories of the day you need to look out for: 1- ICJ order diplomatic victory for India but Kulbhushan Jadhavs life still under threat in Pakistan Relief and a diplomatic victory are the big takeaways for India from an international courts provisional order on Thursday that prohibits Pakistan from executing an alleged Indian spy until the verdict is out. India scored diplomatic points against its arch rivals, but the danger to Jadhavs life has not diminished as Pakistan might reject the UN courts order. Pakistan remained defiant and is likely to challenge the jurisdiction of the ICJ in matters of national security. As far as Pakistan is concerned, the decision has not changed the status of Jadhavs case in any manner, the nations attorney general said. Read the story here. 2- Kapil Mishra says he will reveal big truth on AAP-hawala operator nexus today Sacked Delhi cabinet minister Kapil Mishra said he will expose the ruling partys links to hawala operators on Friday, a day after a man claimed he had donated Rs 200 lakh to the party in 2014. An east Delhi businessman Mukesh Sharma on Wednesday said he had donated Rs 50 lakh each through four of his companies to the Aam Aadmi Party. The revelation comes days after Mishra alleged that the party has been receiving money through donations from shell companies for the past three years. Read the story here. 3- Opposition will leave no stone unturned to garner support: Mamata on Presidential poll The Opposition parties will leave no stone unturned to garner support for Presidential election, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said. In an exclusive chat with HT, she also hoped that the Opposition combination leads to an anti-BJP political formation for the 2019 general elections. We will talk to all possible sources of support. We will play our game and leave no stone unturned to reach out to other parties, she said. Read the story here. 4- 58-year-old Indian detained at Atlanta airport, dies in custody A 58-year-old Indian who was detained by American customs officials last week for not possessing necessary immigration documents while entering the country died in custody at an Atlanta hospital. US Customs and Border Protection subsequently denied Atul Kumar Babubhai Patel entry into the country as he did not possess the necessary immigration documents, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement said in a statement. Read the story here. 5- Did Chautala clear Class 12? Documents say he took Class 10 exam, result not out Convicted in a teachers recruitment scam, former Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala could now land in a degree controversy, with official documents belying his family members claims that he has cleared Class XII with A grade. The octogenarian leader who is serving his 10-year sentence in Delhis Tihar jail has taken Class X examination and is awaiting results, documents show. Read the story here. 6- NIA begins probe against Hurriyat leaders for receiving money from Pak, LeT Key members of the Kashmiri separatist group Hurriyat have been booked by the National Intelligence Agency for allegedly receiving funds from Pakistani sources such as LeTs Hafiz Saeed to foment violence in the Jammu and Kashmir region. Sources said the agency, which handles high-profile cases such as that of terrorism, will call for questioning Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Naeem Khan, Gazi Javed Baba and Farooq Ahmed Dar alias Bitta Karate four prominent separatist figures it named in a preliminary enquiry (PE) on Thursday. Read the story here. 7- Delhi: Land pooling to pave way for 24 lakh new houses in Dwarka-like sub-cities The land pooling policy will fuel a housing boom in the Capital with 24 lakh dwelling units to become available in the next five years. Under the policy, the owners will have an option to give their land to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) for development. After the roads, and water, power, sewage lines are laid, a part of the developed land will be returned to the owners who can then build apartments on it by partnering with real estate developers. Read the story here. 8- Japan cabinet approves bill allowing Emperor Akihitos abdication The Japanese government on Friday approved a one-off bill allowing ageing Emperor Akihito to step down from the Chrysanthemum Throne, the first such abdication in two centuries. Prime Minister Shinzo Abes cabinet signed off on the legislation and the bill will now be sent to parliament for debate and final approval. Reports of the 83-year-old Akihitos desire to retire surprised Japan when they emerged last July. Read the story here. 9- China intercepts US radiation-sniffing plane, Pentagon calls it unprofessional Two Chinese SU-30 aircraft carried out what the US military described as an unprofessional intercept of a US aircraft designed to detect radiation while it was flying in international airspace over the East China Sea. The issue is being addressed with China through appropriate diplomatic and military channels, said Air Force spokeswoman Lieutenant Colonel Lori Hodge. She said the WC-135 was carrying out a routine mission at the time and was operating in accordance with international law. China is deeply suspicious of any US military activity in the resource-rich South China Sea. Read the story here. 10- Uttarakhand CM has a dogged problem: Stray dogs near residence robbing him of sleep Guess whats giving sleepless nights to chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat? No, its not a security threat from any terror organisation and neither is it because of any political decision that he has to take. It is the stray dogs near CMs residence that are giving sleepless nights to Rawat and his security staff. The situation is so bad that a letter has been issued from CMs residence to Humane Society International (HSI) urging it sterilise the dogs in Dehradun Cantt area. Read the story here. 11- IPL 2017 qualifier: Mumbai Indians have history, Kolkata Knight Riders the momentum Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will hold a bit of an advantage going into the Indian Premier League (IPL) qualifier 2 match against Mumbai Indians (MI) today as their tie against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) has boosted their morale and given them an indication of how the M Chinnaswamy Stadium pitch in Bengaluru will behave. Read the story here. Hundreds of tribals have lynched seven people in separate incidents in Jharkhand in the past 24 hours over rumours of child abduction that spread like wildfire across the tribal belt in the states southern districts, police said on Friday. Stuck by fear that a few outsiders infiltrated into their villages to abduct children, tribals along the borders of Seraikela-Kharsawan, East Singhbhum and West Singhbhum districts, have picked up traditional weapons and are attacking every stranger. Seven people have been lynched in two separate incidents on Thursday, and at least six have escaped with injuries over the last 10 days. The seven people lynched on Thursday included four Muslims and three Hindus from neighbouring non-tribal villages and urban areas. These are highly superstitious acts that cannot be called communal, said East Singhbhum senior police superintendent of police, Anup T Mathew. He denied any incidents of child abduction. A massive awareness drive is required to check the attacks and killings, he said, adding that his men were moving village to village shouting on loud speakers to dispel fears of child lifters. The first incident occurred in Rajnagar blocks Sobhapur village where four Muslim youth, all cattle traders, were cornered and lynched by villagers. When police reached to rescue the traders, the villagers attacked and damaged the police van before fleeing. Police recovered three bodies from the spot while the fourth body was found on Friday from the woods near the village. Suspecting a communal angle to the murders, angry relatives refused to bury the bodies till the killers were arrested and the government paid Rs. 25 lakh each to the dependents. The four men lynched were cattle traders, who often frequented Sobhapur where their relatives live. Hence, they cannot be called strangers. There is certainly a different cause for the murder, which police should probe, said JMM leader Babar Khan. Later, in the evening, barely 20 kilometers from Sobhapur in Nagadih village, a mob of tribals lynched three young men, two of them brothers, and thrashed their grandmother. Eye witnesses said the attack was unprovoked and the victims were not given any chance to defend themselves. As many as 18 people were injured in two separate incidents of violence in Kashmir on Thursday. Four people including three policemen were wounded in a grenade attack on a Srinagar police station that afternoon. Somebody lobbed a grenade into the Safakadal police station compound. Two special police officers, a constable and a civilian were injured in the explosion. Fortunately, none of them are in a critical condition, said a police officer. In another incident, 14 people were injured when pellets and tear gas shells were fired in the course of a clash between security personnel and college students in the main town of south Kashmirs Kulgam district. The students, who hailed from the Government Degree College there, were agitating against the detention of their colleagues by state agencies. The Kulgam police control room said it has received clear instructions from superintendent of police Shridhar Patil to not interact with the media. Attempts to contact Patil and deputy superintendent of police (operations) Zaheer Abbas were unsuccessful. The Kulgam chief medical officer said 14 people injured in the clashes were treated at the district hospital. Most of them were students with pellet injuries. One of the students, who was hit in the eye, was referred to Srinagar hospital, he added. Police later released a press statement. Miscreants pelted stones at Kulgam market, forcing shopkeepers to down shutters. Police reached the spot and chased the miscreants away. Nobody suffered serious injuries, and the shops were reopened soon afterwards. The general public is requested to help police deal with miscreants, it said. According to sources, a video journalist covering the clashes was also injured. PDP leaders brother found dead The brother of a lower-rung PDP leader was found dead under mysterious circumstances in a hotel room at Dalgate, Srinagar, on Thursday. Identifying the deceased as 36-year-old Reyaz Ahmad Dar from Handwara in north Kashmirs Kupwara district, police said a case has been registered under section 174 of the Ranbir Penal Code. The body was handed to the victims next of kin after the completion of legal formalities. The Kerala government on Friday ditched its plan to inaugurate the Kochi metro project on May 30, stating that it would prefer to wait for a convenient date from Prime Minister Narendra Modi instead. The government backtracked after the BJP criticised the move, claiming that a date clashing with Modis upcoming Europe trip was deliberately chosen to prevent him from snipping the red ribbon. State tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran had earlier announced that chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan would inaugurate the project on May 30 to mark the first anniversary of the LDF government. There was some confusion over the ministers statement. We havent decided on the inauguration, and are awaiting a date from the Prime Minister, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said in Kannur. The state and central governments have equal stake in the project, which was built on the PPP model. If someone suspects that it is a deliberate attempt to avoid the Prime Minister, they cant be blamed. It is sad that the government decided on a date clashing with the foreign tour, which was announced much in advance, BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan had said, adding that the Union surface transport ministry was not consulted in this regard either. The Kochi Metro is unique in many ways. This is the first time a metro service would employ 23 trangendered people in various departments, based on their qualifications. Selected after a written test and interview, they were given vigorous training in the workings of the facility. Many more will be inducted after gauging their success, said Kerala Metro Rail Limited managing director Elias George. These people from the transgender community will be part of 530 workers from Kudumbasree, a successful women self-help group in the state, who will man the states first metro. Besides this, metro authorities have installed solar panels atop all stations to tap green energy in a big way. Once operational, almost half the power requirement of the transport facility will be met through solar energy. Around eight megawatts of electricity can be produced through these panels. The metro will cover a distance of 13 km Aluva to Palarivattom in the first phase. It will have 11 stops, with a total runtime of 20 minutes. The work on metro project began in 2012, after the erstwhile Oommen Chandy government entrusted the work to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation under the guidance of principal advisor E Sreedharan. It received the rail safety commissioners nod last week. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Centre plans to take stringent action against separatists and subversive elements in violence-torn Kashmir in the days to come, a home department official revealed on Friday. The cordon-and-search operation a law-enforcement strategy used in the violent 90s has been brought back as part of this decision, the official said, adding that the idea was to always keep ultras and terror sympathisers on their toes. A top BJP leader in Delhi, for his part, disclosed the governments plans to cut the supply lines that fuel street protests in Kashmir. Normalcy can be restored only if we nip the unrest at its source. Knowing that not every Kashmiri is a separatist, we have launched the process of identifying troublemakers, he said. Meanwhile, a National Investigation Agency (NIA) team has arrived in Srinagar to investigate alleged funds received by separatist leaders to pursue subversive activists. Yes, an NIA team is in Srinagar, director general of police SP Vaid told HT on Friday evening. The move came after some senior separatist leaders were heard admitting to being funded by Pakistani sources in a television sting operation. Ayaz Akbar, spokesperson of the hardliner Hurriyat faction, refused to comment. No official has approached us yet, he said. Kashmir deputy chief minister Nirmal Kumar Singh had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi the previous day to discuss security arrangements for the impending Amarnath Yatra amid the volatile situation in the Valley. The annual pilgrimage to the Himalayan heights of south Kashmir, which attracts lakhs of pilgrims from India and abroad, is scheduled to begin on June 29. A party source said Modi received detailed updates on violence in the state, cross-border shelling in Nowshera, and preparations for the Amarnath Yatra, during the 45-minute meeting. The Prime Minister was also briefed about the implementation of the Rs 80,000-crore development package for Kashmir, he said. Meanwhile, defence minister Arun Jaitley visited forward areas of Rampur sector in north Kashmir on Friday. Accompanied by major general RP Kalita, he interacted with troops and hailed them for their grit, determination and selfless service to the nation. (With inputs from Srinagar) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The ceremony held in Osaka (Photo: vov.vn) At the event, delegates offered incense to commemorate President Ho Chi Minh and shared memories and spiritual feelings about him. Speaking at the ceremony, Vietnamese Consul General in Osaka Tran Duc Binh highlighted the revolutionary activities of Uncle Ho, the genius leader of the people of Vietnam, the hero of national liberation, the world cultural celebrity honoured by UNESCO. On behalf of the delegates, Mr. Umeda Shoji, Head of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association in Osaka, highly appreciated the great contributions of President Ho Chi Minh to Vietnam's cause of national liberation and the national independence movements of the world in the 20th century. In particular, Prof. Tomita Kenji, former Head of the faculty of Vietnamese, Osaka University, shared the impressions and feelings of the Japanese people for Vietnamese people, as well as the respect for President Ho Chi Minh as seen through the pro-Vietnam movement in Japan during the war. He said that for the people of Japan, President Ho Chi Minh was not only known as the leader of the people of Vietnam to win in the war of resistance, but also a cultural celebrity with many famous works in the world. Ms. Le Phuong Quynh, Deputy Head of Kobe Viet Student Association, shared a story about Uncle Ho's experience in learning foreign language during the period of revolutionary activities. This is a very valuable experience for Vietnamese students studying in Japan to follow. Japanese friends and the Vietnamese community enjoyed songs praising Uncle Ho, performed by Vietnamese Student and Youth Associations of Osaka and Kyoto./. I started associating skin colour with danger in school, when a parent asked me and my friends to stay away from dark-coloured strangers. Because I grew up in Andhra Pradesh, this meant an almost comical fear of even the most harmless people the milkman, the postman and numerous school staff. In those years, getting photographed was a painful process because the studio owner would insist on dabbing fistfuls of powder on my 13-year-old face to make it beautiful. Once, when my mother protested, she was assured with photographs of beautiful Telugu heroines such as Tamannah and Kajal that fair skin was not only beauty but also a highway to success. Years later, I realised he wasnt joking. Discussing racism is an annual cycle that is activated when news of lynching or violence breaks when a Tanzanian woman is thrashed in Bengaluru or groups of Nigerian students are kicked and punched in Greater Noida. But Indias racist heart beats fastest in the periods of relative calm between these headlines, in the everyday biases that fuel our popular culture, the loathing of dark skin and the linking of blackness with evil. Ask any Congolese or Nigerian or Somali residing in Delhi and they will recount horror stories of being pushed out of housing, denied commercial space, or deprived of basic social consideration. African residents are seen as drug peddlers or sex workers. They are often discussed as if they were subhuman, as exemplified in the swirling rumours of them having eaten a local boy that sparked the Greater Noida violence. The causes of this prejudice arent obscure. Our movies and television tell us that dark skin is not only ugly but also a sign of dereliction the same mindset that lets us use kaala as an all-weather insult. Take Bollywood, where the roles of protagonists are reserved for fair-skinned artistes. Dark-skinned actors are either reduced to making jokes about their grotesque bodies, or they play detestable villains who are eventually vanquished. Their female counterparts are either vamps who are punished and pushed aside, or play side characters who function as the friend or the servant to the rose-tinted heroine. One of Bollywoods most iconic songs hum kale hai toh kya hua, hum dilwale hain is a testament to this. Mehmood says he loves Helen because of her fair skin and golden tresses, attempting to convince her that despite his complexion, he wants to be the lover of a fair-skinned woman the lyrics betraying the cinematic impossibility of such a union. Roughly a decade later, Indias biggest blockbuster Sholay sealed the role of the dark-skinned villain with Kaaliya, his name a derivative of kaala. The trend then was repeated with Gainda Singh (Tiranga) and Gokul (Dushman) and Khokha Singh (Trimurti). Actors were even given a coat of make-up to make them suit the dark complexion expected of a villain (Anupam Kher in Karma). Actresses with dark skin found it difficult to land leading roles even the talented Smita Patil spoke out about this and those who did, such as Kajol, transformed their complexions over the decades. Despite actors such as Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Nandita Das speaking against it, fair is success has remained a redoubtable mantra. This notion of beauty spilled over from Bollywood into other industries. In the south, for example, heroes could be dark such as Rajinikanth or Sivaji Ganesan but actresses had to be fair such as Jayalalithaa. Even modern films often get actresses from the north, such as Hansika Motwani or Kajal Aggarwal, to suit the requirement for a fair complexion. The belief that dark skin is a proxy for ugliness was sustained by our television serials, in which all iconic roles from Shanti to Tulsi to Jassi landed with fair-skinned artistes. Our Rs 3,000-crore fairness cream industry told us that we could get jobs, entice lovers and defeat patriarchy if only we were fair skinned. Our favourite movie actors told us that to appear fresh and modern and attractive, we had to dab these creams on our faces twice a day. We were made to be ashamed of our own bodies. Our movies are often shot abroad but there are no black people visible even at the margins, even in multi-ethnic cities such as New York. Our Incredible India campaign spent billions to appeal to white people but didnt spend a word to dissuade people from calling Africans habshi. We play Rihanna and Beyonce on our iTunes but recoil at the slightest hint of a black body on our local street. None of this is either surprising or old. The supremacy of fair skin is deeply embedded in our aesthetics and perpetuated by our biggest cultural influences. The paintings of Raja Ravi Verma, often called the father of Indian art, portray goddesses as fair skinned and upper-caste folk as possessing milky white skin. The other influential British company school of painting depicted peasantry and poor people as always decidedly dark, decrepit and insignificant. This then trickled down into our homes in the most ubiquitous form of culture calendar art that almost universally depicted gods, goddesses and holy men with pearly white skin. These hung in our bedrooms and prayer halls, suggesting that the colour dark was one of evil, of Ravana, of demons and monsters. Go back to your one-point source of mythology from your teenage years, Amar Chitra Katha, to see the same binary trope of black=evil/white=pure repeated. The impact of this has been such that in my home state of Bengal, Durga is now unimaginable as non-white. As a consequence, it has also become difficult for dark-skinned artists in the classical performance arts, which are based on myths and gods, to bag any leading roles fitting perfectly into the caste project of sanitizing these forms. This is also a thinly veiled, albeit erroneous, proxy for caste. The idea of purity the cornerstone of caste is assigned the colour white and upper-caste men and women are depicted as fair skinned. Have a 10-minute conversation with your local uncle to see how the colour of skin is still wrongly pegged to ones caste status. In the aftermath of Greater Noidas violence, India rushed to deny any race link to the episode. But for many of us, the bias is obvious in everyday life, when we switch on the television, when we walk into a cinema, or look at a painting. This is why we arent outraged when the nadir of Priyanka Chopras character in Fashion is a night with a black man. Until this mindset changes, there is little hope of dispelling racism. Dhrubo Jyoti is a staff writer and editor with HT and focuses on questions of culture, caste, gender and society. This is the fifth part of Lets Talk About Racism, a new HT campaign that addresses deep-rooted prejudices and discrimination in India. If you have faced racism, tweet using #LetsTalkAboutRacism or write to talktous@hindustantimes.com. HTs earlier series, LetsTalk About Rape and Lets Talk About Trolls, have focused attention on crucial issues. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The ICJ verdict on Thursday staying former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhavs execution was pronounced by its head Ronny Abraham, an international human rights law expert who has served in the Court of Justice of the European Communities. Abraham is a member of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) since February 15, 2005 and the president of the court since February 6, 2015. After months of bilateral tension, the ICJ ruling has come as a great relief to Jadhavs family and the people of India, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing satisfaction on the judgement. Pakistan shall take all measures at its disposal to ensure that Mr Jadhav is not executed pending the final decision in these proceedings, Abraham said while reading out the verdict. The UNs highest judicial body, which had earlier provisionally stayed Jadhavs sentence on May 9, also instructed Pakistan to inform it of all the measures taken in implementation of the present order. Abraham also served as the Director of Legal Affairs at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1998-2005), according to the ICJ website. Before his appointment to the ICJ, he served, from 1998 to 2005, as the head of the Legal Affairs Directorate at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in charge of advising the government on legal matters in the fields of general international public law, European Union law, international human rights law, the law of the sea and the Antarctic. The ICJ president was a member of the French delegation to the General Assembly of the United Nations (1998-2004) and the head of the French delegation to the Sixth Committee of the General Assembly (1998-2004). He also spent time in academia, being a professor of international law, at the Paris Institute of Political Studies (until 1998). Abraham also was an Associate Professor at the University of Paris X-Nanterre (1997-2003). ICJs Vice-President Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf has been a member of the court since February 6, 2009 and its vice- president since February 6, 2015. The Somalia-born judge has also served as a Legal Adviser and Director of the Office of International Standards and Legal Affairs (March 2001-January 2009). Other judges of the ICJ include Dalveer Bhandari (India), Hisashi Owada (Japan), Christopher Greenwood (the UK of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), Joan E Donoghue (the US), Xue Hanqin (China), James Richard Crawford (Australia) and Kirill Gevorgian (Russian Federation). Bhandari is a member of the ICJ since April 27, 2012 and his term is to expire on February 5, next year. Justice Bhandari had a distinguished and successful career as an attorney at law for 23 years before he became a judge in the Indian higher judiciary in 1991. The ICJ on Thursday also said, The court also decides that, until it has given its final decision, it shall remain seized of the matters which form the subject matter of this order. A National Investigation Agency (NIA) team arrived in Srinagar on Thursday to question top separatist leaders over funds allegedly received from Pakistani sources, including the banned terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), to fuel unrest in Kashmir. The agency -- which handles high-profile cases such as that of terrorism also named in a preliminary enquiry (PE) four prominent separatist figures including hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani. A PE is a precursor to an first investigation report (FIR) and subsequent probe, if necessary. The PE names LeT patron Hafiz Saeed as one of the sources for the funds, in addition to other unknown persons in Pakistan. Saeed is wanted in India in connection with the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that killed more than 160 people. The NIA probe signaled the BJP-led central government hardening its stand on the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC), an alliance of over two dozen organisations which seek either independence from India or merger with Pakistan. Those resorting to violence cannot be treated like average citizens. Terrorism and militancy, and those who have taken to violence, will be treated differently, the minister said in Srinagar on Thursday. Speaking about a TV sting operation that purportedly showed Hurriyat leaders talking about receiving money from Saeed and other Pakistani individuals, the minister said it has merely put on public domain what was already known to informed sources. Kashmir has seen widespread violence since July last year when the killing of a militant commander, Burhan Wani, sparked months-long street protests that left nearly hundred people dead. The PE also names Hurriyat provincial president Naeem Khan, Tehreek-e-Hurriyat leader Gazi Javed Baba and Farooq Ahmed Dar alias Bitta Karate of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), NIA officials said. Separately, Indias financial crime probe agency, the Enforcement Directorate, has called a meeting within a couple of days to discuss if a criminal case could be made out against the separatists for their alleged involvement in money laundering and hawala transactions, an illegal system of transferring money across borders. We suspect the money was distributed in the valley for various violent activities like stone pelting and torching of schools and government buildings, said a senior NIA official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The NIA on Thursday collected the memory devices and cameras used in the sting operation to verify the contents. They will be subjected to forensic tests, the official added. The PE said money is transferred from Pakistan to agents in Old Delhis Ballimaran and Chandni Chowk areas before it is taken to the valley. (With agency inputs) Read more | Separatist Geelani says army-run schools indoctrinating Kashmiri kids, BJP refutes charge SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Key members of the Kashmiri separatist group Hurriyat have been booked by the National Investigating Agency for allegedly receiving funds from Pakistani sources such as LeTs Hafiz Saeed to foment violence in the Jammu and Kashmir region. Sources said the agency, which handles high-profile cases such as that of terrorism, will call for questioning Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Naeem Khan, Gazi Javed Baba and Farooq Ahmed Dar alias Bitta Karate four prominent separatist figures it named in a preliminary enquiry (PE) on Thursday. An NIA team reached Srinagar in the afternoon to quiz the separatists, PTI reported. A PE is a precursor to an FIR (first investigation report), the first step to launching a probe. The four are suspected to have received funds from sources such as militant group Lashkar e-Tayyeba (LeT) to pay off people carrying out violent protests and arson in the Valley, where more than 100 civilians have been killed since July last year. We suspect the money was distributed in the Valley for various violent activities like stone pelting and torching of schools and government buildings, said a senior NIA official, insisting to not be identified since he was not authorised to speak on the matter. The money, NIA officials believe, was routed through hawala a system of transferring money across borders that is outlawed in India. The PE names LeT patron Hafiz Saeed as one of the sources for the funds, in addition to other unknown persons in Pakistan. The NIA will also verify allegations in a sting operation that showed some of the Hurriyat leaders talking about receiving money from Saeed and other Pakistani individuals. We are issuing notice to the news channel for providing us the memory devices and cameras used in the sting operation to verify the contents, said the official. The PE alleges that the hawala route is used to send money from Pakistan to agents sitting in Old Delhis Ballimaran and Chandni Chowk area before it is taken to the Valley. Violence in the Kashmir valley peaked after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in July. Kashmir is sought as a territory by Pakistan, a dispute that triggered the last war the two nuclear powers fought in 1999. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prime Minister Narendra Modi has now made one-night stays mandatory for Union ministers who visit the northeastern states -- an effort to send out a message that the insurgency-hit region is safe for all. The directive comes two years after the Prime Ministers Office planned fortnightly visits of Union ministers to the region. Tourism and Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma said linking tourism and development in the Northeast and making it a tourist destination for people from all over the world is the Prime Ministers dream. To ensure that, he has asked all the Union ministers to not only take trips to the Northeast states, but also to stay the night there, he said. Sources in the Tourism Ministry say the government is keen to change the popular perception about the Northeast as a security nightmare plagued with insurgency. And what better way to showcase its safety than to have senior Union ministers stay there overnight, a source said. As a result of this move, Sharma visited Assam in the first week of April to be part of the Namami Brahmaputra Festival, which is the biggest river festival in Guwahati. Union minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju was also present during the event. Sharma will follow this up with a visit to Manipur tomorrow to attend the Siroy Lily Festival which began on May 16. Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jitendra Singh also visited the region in the second week of this month to participate in a tourism event. The BJPs MODI (Making of Developed India) Festival, scheduled to begin on May 26 to mark the third anniversary of its government, is likely to be kickstarted from the Northeast by the prime minister. BJP president Amit Shah too had recently made a trip to Tripura. The focus of all these visits is to draw attention to the Northeast, build connectivity and attract tourists. In the next two years, the idea is to build on the victories in Assam Arunachal and Manipur and repeat it in 2019. This, they have decided, will be built on the plank of tourism in the region, said a senior official in the Tourism Ministry. The Opposition parties will leave no stone unturned to garner support for Presidential election, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said. In an exclusive chat with HT, she also hoped that the Opposition combination leads to an anti-BJP political formation for the 2019 general elections. We will talk to all possible sources of support. We will play our game and leave no stone unturned to reach out to other parties, she said. The term of President Pranab Mukherjee ends in July. Banerjee, who had tried to rope in her Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal in the Opposition camp, indicated she is in touch with her Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik, Shiv Sena and other parties. The Congress-led Opposition is falling short by more than 1.5 lakh votes from the majority mark and its an uphill task for them to get their candidate elected. The BJP-led NDA, which rules most of the bigger states and enjoys comfortable majority in the Lok Sabha, appears to have an advantage in the election. But Banerjee maintained, I will be really happy if Pranab da (President Mukherjee) gets another term in office. It all however depends on the government to build a consensus around his name. Odishas ruling BJD has around 36,500 votes in the electoral college of the Presidential election while Sena has more than 25,800 votes. Naveen and I are old friends. I am talking to him for Presidential election, said the Bengal CM. She is the second Opposition leader after CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury to woo Patnaik for the upcoming poll for the countrys top office. Banerjees Trinamool has the largest vote share after the BJP and the Congress in the electoral college with 64,500 votes. On Tuesday, she met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and pledged her support for an Opposition candidate. Trinamool sources said that she has also spoken to Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati. On the day she spoke to Gandhi, same evening Didi had a long conversation with Mayawati, claimed one of Banerjees trusted lieutenants. Banerjee is popularly referred to as Didi, meaning elder sister in Bengali. When asked that if the positioning of different parties for the Presidential poll can lead to a potential alliance, Banerjee said, I hope it leads to that situation. But right now, its too early to say. Parties should realize that the BJP is ruining the social and democratic fabric of our country. Even as her party fought against the Congress-Left combination in Bengal last year, Trinamool chief said, she maintains excellent equation with both Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi. We know each other for a long time. Sonia ji knows me very well. Some state-level Congress leaders behave very badly but that doesnt mean that my relationship with Gandhi family is spoiled, she said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Madhya Pradesh police seized over 200 kgs of beef from two men in Damoh district, 250 kms east of Bhopal on Thursday. The two persons, who have been arrested, were allegedly carrying the meat and cows legs in plastic bags in a car. Police seized the meat based on a tip off from a right wing organisation on Thursday night. On Friday morning, a veterinary doctor certified that meat was indeed beef. Hindoriya police station officer P D Minj said following a tipoff, they started vehicle checking on Damoh-Hindoriya-Katni highway. Word Press was also written on the car. A black Indica car was stopped. When it was checked, we founded 2 quintals and 10 kg of beef and legs of a cow in plastic bags. Mustkin Pathan who is a native of Hindoriya and presently living at Damoh and Imran Khan , a resident of Chaman Chouraha in Damoh city were taking the meat to Katni, he said. A case under MP Cow Protection Act 2004 was lodged against the two accused after the veterinary doctor certified the meat. Read more: Teen in possession of cow tail beaten up in Ujjain, hospitalised; 3 held Both accused were presented in court on Friday from where they were sent to jail, he added. Police investigation is going further on the basis of information received from these two accused. Under the Madhya Pradesh governments cow protection law, cow slaughter carries a seven-year imprisonment. The law has junked the legal principal of innocent until proven guilty and the onus of of proving innocence lies with the accused. On May 13, a teenager was beaten mercilessly by cow vigilantes in Ujjain after he was allegedly found with a cows tail in his possession. Pakistan is considering appointing an ad hoc judge for the International Court of Justices panel that is hearing the case of Kulbhushan Jadhav because of the presence of an Indian judge in the 12-member tribunal, Indian government sources said on Friday. Dalveer Bhandari, a former Supreme Court judge, is part of the panel that ordered Pakistan on Friday to stay the execution of Jadhav, a 46-year-old former Indian Navy officer sentenced to death by a military court for alleged involvement in espionage and terrorism. Article 31 of the ICJs statute states that if the panel includes a judge of the nationality of one of the parties, (the other) party may choose a person to sit as judge. An ad hoc judge can also be chosen if the panel includes no judge of the nationality of the parties, according to the article. Sources in Islamabad said the Pakistan government, which has already been criticised for not exercising the option provided by Article 31, is now considering the appointment of an ad hoc judge. An ad hoc judge would not necessarily have to be a Pakistani national and among the names doing the rounds in Islamabad are former Jordanian prime minister Awn Shawkat Al-Khasawneh, who has served as an ICJ judge, German jurist Bruno Simma, a former ICJ judge who served as Pakistans arbitrator the Kishenganga case, leading legal expert Ahmer Bilal Soofi or a former Supreme Court chief justice. Pakistan would be perfectly within their rights to appoint an ad hoc judge, a leading Indian legal expert, who did not want to be named, told Hindustan Times. Meanwhile, eyebrows have been raised in legal circles on both sides of the border because of Bhandaris comments to an Indian newspaper describing the ICJs order as a hugely satisfying interim pronouncement which is a great diplomatic victory for India. The Indian legal expert said the judge could have recused himself from the panel, which would have weakened any move by Pakistan to appoint an ad hoc judge. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Pakistans opposition parties have blasted the Nawaz Sharif government over the ICJs order staying the execution of Kulbhushan Jadhav amid a debate on whether the legal team representing the country at the UNs highest court should be changed. Some of Sharifs detractors even accused the Prime Minister of selling out to the Indian side and opposition parties described the International Court of Justices decision on Thursday as a setback for Pakistan. There was no official word on whether the government was considering a move to change the legal team at the ICJ, but some senior lawyers said authorities had started sending out feelers about such a possibility. Some law firms have been approached by the ministry of law to discuss such a possibility, said an official of the law ministry in Islamabad. There was also discussion about hiring a foreign law firm with a record of handling cases at The Hague-based ICJ. The consensus emerging in Pakistan is that while the country has a case, it was the legal team that let us down, commented leading analyst Zahid Hussain. Foreign policy chief Sartaj Aziz told the media that the ICJs order would not have any bearing on the legal process currently underway in Pakistan against Jadhav. A stay is granted automatically even in our courts when you file an appeal. But it doesnt mean that you have lost the case, Aziz, the adviser on foreign policy to the premier, said on Thursday. The ICJ is yet to adjudicate on the merits of Jadhavs case, he said. When that stage comes, Pakistan will forcefully present its case, he added. But the opposition accused the government of mishandling the case, with some leaders alleging the ICJs order was the result of a covert deal, and linking it to Sharifs recent meeting in Murree with Indian steel tycoon Sajjan Jindal. Shafqat Mehmood, a spokesman for Imran Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, demanded that Sharif disclose all details of his covert meeting with Jindal. In a statement, he raised critical questions on the matter and sought an explanation from the premier. Mehmood asked Sharif to come to the National Assembly and explain why Pakistan did not appoint an ad hoc judge at the ICJ because it had a right to do so, and why the Foreign Office did not take legal advice before initiating correspondence on the issue. There was also considerable debate on the performance of Khawar Qureshi, Pakistans lead lawyer, at the ICJ hearing on Monday. Qureshi, who is part of the London-based law firm Serle Court, became the youngest advocate to appear at the ICJ in 1993. But opposition leaders questioned why the government had selected a lawyer who had not a single international law case reported from the UK Supreme Court and why authorities had sent a first year associate from the attorney generals office to the ICJ instead of the attorney general himself. The Pakistan Peoples Party said the case in the ICJ had been mishandled and demanded that the government convene a meeting of the national security committee on the issue of Jadhav. PPP vice president Sherry Rehman told reporters that Pakistan failed to plead its case and the counsel completed his arguments within 50 minutes, as against the allocated time of 90 minutes. Rehman, a former minister, said Pakistan should have appointed an ad hoc judge under the ICJs rules as an Indian judge was part of the tribunal. She said the opportunity to do this was available till May 10 but was missed out. She added that Jadhavs issue should have also been raised at the UN General Assembly. Railway minister Suresh Prabhu will inaugurate the free Wi-Fi facility at 28 stations of Konkan Railway on Sunday, an official said on Friday. We have tied-up with Maharashtras leading broadband and internet service provider company Joister, which will provide free Wi-Fi hotspots at 28 stations on the Konkan Railway network and Railway minister Suresh Prabhu will inaugurate this facility on May 21, the official said. The move will help commuters of Konkan Railway and tourists to access essential information available on the internet. They will be able to use their time productively while waiting for the trains, the official added. The Wi-Fi service will be provided at stations located between Kolad and Madure, the official said adding that Prabhu will launch the services from Kudal railway station. Giving details about the service, Nikunj Kampani, CMD of Joister Infoserve said, Konkan Railway has tied up with us to provide 2 mbps, 24 hours free Wi-Fi service and it will cover the station entrance and the surrounding area with unlimited data download. As part of the governments Digital India campaign, Joister has so far set up total 700 free Wi-Fi hotspots in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Satara and Solapur, he said. Recently, Maharashtra police department gave its consent to us to set up free Wi-Fi services in Solapur, Konkan, Pune and Satara police stations, as well as in the offices of senior police officials, Kampani said. Minister Counsellor Nguyen Huu Trang (middle) discussing the topic B2B Webportal: German-Vietnamese Trade Bridge" (Photo: VNA) At the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Doan Xuan Hung highly appreciated the comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Germany during the past time. The two countries are facing new opportunities and challenges six years after establishing a "strategic partnership for the future." However, he emphasized that the economic, investment and trade cooperation between the two countries is still modest and not suitable to its potential. The delegates shared that "digitalisation" is the mainstream trend in the 21st century. It is a challenge but also an opportunity for economies in "Economy 4.0", also known as the "Fourth Industrial Revolution". In particular, the digital connection could be a good solution to connect the two countries in the future, but this requires the support and contribution of the business communities, as mentioned in the report "B2B Webportal: German-Vietnamese Trade Bridge" by the Vietnam-Germany Bridge Association. This year's Asia-Pacific Week takes place on May 15th-28th with the theme "Eurasia Dialogue in the Digital Age"./. The BJP is unlikely to support a second term for President Pranab Mukherjee. The 13th President of India completes his term on July 24 and the BJP wants its candidate to replace the veteran Congressman. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar was the first to support the demand for second term this week, and his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee backed the idea in a meeting with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. The question (for another term) does not arise, a senior BJP leader said. We have nothing against him but here is an opportunity for the party to get a president from within the family. At least three Union ministers HT spoke to said Mukherjees relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi remained warm. But there were moments of unease too. Mukherjees remarks at the height of the intolerance debate did not go down well with the ruling establishment. The government always felt the debate was manufactured and did not merit his intervention. An electoral college comprising MPs and MLAs elect the President and the ruling NDA is 20,000-odd votes short of the majority. Support from YSR Congress will fill that gap and any further help will only strengthen the NDAs position. Scientist APJ Abdul Kalam was the first, and the last, NDA candidate to become President in 2002. He did not belong to the BJP but was propped up to take the fizz out of the oppositions plan to block an NDA nominee to the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The NDA is better placed this time than in 2002 to get a non-Congress political leader elected to the top post. It will take us half an hour to decide on our candidate, a senior BJP leader told HT. We havent discussed names yet. Jharkhand governor Draupadi Murmu, Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, urban development minister M Venkaiah Naidu, and a few others are seen as contenders from the ruling side. A discussion with the RSS, the BJPs ideological mentor, will take place before the announcement of the name. The opposition, too, is discussing names, such as former West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi and former Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar, but a decision is yet to be taken. The Uttar Pradesh government has rebranded the much hyped anti-Romeo squad to crack down on sexual harassment of women at public places and will now be known as Nari Suraksha Bal or womens protection force in its new, refined avatar, a minister said on Thursday. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath announced the formation of these anti-Romeo squads in March just days after he assumed office. The police responded with alacrity in at least 11 districts of the countrys most populous state by raiding parks, malls and colleges to deter the so-called Romeos. The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court in March upheld the UP governments move to set up the anti-Romeo squads. The court, however, cautioned against overreacting and said the police must act only as per law and not do anything outside its purview. The move, however, invited criticism from several quarters following allegations that the police were invading private space of citizens. The opposition even sought central intervention into what they alleged violation of the Constitution in Uttar Pradesh by allowing anti-Romeo squads to ridicule democracy and the freedom of youngsters. Behen betiyon ka samman sarkaar ki prathmikta hai. Ab anti-Romeo squad ka naam Nari Suraksha Bal kar diya gaya hai (Protecting the honour of our sisters and daughters is the top priority for our government. Anti-Romeo squad would now be known as Nari Suraksha Bal), Rajendra Pratap Moti Singh said at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office in Lucknow. The minister didnt give any reason for the change in the name but some police officers admitted there was a feeling that the anti-Romeo squads that the BJP promised in its election manifesto were attracting negative publicity due to their wrong branding. The name change also comes amid sensitisation workshops that are now being held for the members of the women protection force that drew criticism, not just nationally but even in the international media, for being heavy handed and engaging more in moral policing. After state director general of police Sulkhan Singh said the anti-Romeo squads would be sensitised, officials of the force were asked to attend sensitisation workshops that are being held across the state. The training programme is aimed at sensitising police personnel about their work profile, communication skills, gesture and legal aspects of the campaign, inspector general of police (IGP) Navniet Sekera said. Sekera said it was being explained to them that they did not have to get involved in moral policing or troubling couples. Their mandate was to ensure that nobody troubled women at public places, outside schools and colleges and in market places, he added. The Haryana director general of police (DGP) on Thursday suspended two policemen and shunted out the station house officer of Sonepat city police station for their shoddy approach in dealing with the gangrape case of a 20-year-old woman. The decomposed body of the woman, who was gangraped and then smashed with bricks to death by her jilted lover, was found at a secluded spot in Rohtak last week. The mother of the victim had told the media that they had complained about their daughters jilted lover to the police some time ago. However, no action was taken against him. Taking cognisance of the mothers complaint, the DGP suspended Sonepat ASI Joginder Singh for not properly dealing with the complaint. He also shunted out SHO Ajay Malik and shifted him to police lines. The DGP also suspended ASI Samundar Singh from Rohtak on irregularities found in the paper work done for sending the victims body for post-mortem. The ASI had allegedly written the gender of the body as male, on which the forensic department at PGIMS had rapped them. Rohtak SP Pankaj Nain had maintained that it was a minor clerical error. The DGP said a departmental inquiry against three cops has also been initiated. He said taking note of the seriousness of the case, the police will complete its investigation and file a challan in the court within one month. He said their motive will be to get a daily hearing in the case and ensure the court pronounces its verdict against the accused within four months. Doctors terminated the unwanted pregnancy of a 10-year-old Rohtak rape survivor on Friday, completing a procedure that took almost 48 hours of medication because of her age. They ruled out any complication, saying the girl is doing fine. The medicines expelled the foetus out of the body, said Dr Prashant Kumar, spokesperson of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS), where the girl is being treated. She would be kept under observation for a couple of more days in the hospital. The girl was admitted to the PGIMS in Rohtak after her mother found out that she was pregnant. The child accused her 20-year-old stepfather of raping her multiple times and coercing her to not speak to anyone. Her condition triggered a debate as Indias strict anti-abortion law prohibits medical termination of foetuses above 20 weeks, except when the mothers life is under risk. An eight-member medical board of the PGIMS cleared the abortion after it deduced the foetuss age to be anywhere between 18 and 22 weeks. A local court agreed to go with the boards decision, clearing the legal hurdle for the procedure. The doctors began the process on Wednesday noon, administering a cocktail of medicines. It was a very simple process, but there were many hurdles due to her age, said Dr Raj Singh Sangwan, chairman of the district child welfare committee (CWC). The child will be brought to the CWC office after her discharge from hospital. The CWC will counsel her and see where she wants to go, deputy superintendent of police Pushpa Khatri said. Police are rounding up their investigation to ensure punishment for the stepfather, though his wife has argued that he hasnt committed an unpardonable crime and should be released from jail. We will send the DNA samples for tests in Madhuban and soon file a report in court, Khatri said. Police were unsure of sending the girl home after her mothers remarks about her second husband. The man is the younger brother of her first husband, an alcoholic who died of kidney failure. The woman, a mother of four and a migrant labourer from Bihar, said she cannot single-handedly take care of the poor family without the husbands help. The welfare committee is counselling the woman and has promised Rs 2,000 a month till the girl is 18. A scholarship for her younger daughter was promised too. The aid is viewed as an incentive to stop her from seeking her husbands release. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Orissa high court on Friday granted conditional bail to Trinamool Congress MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay, who was arrested by the CBI for his alleged involvement in the Rose Valley Group chit fund scam. The bench of Justice J P Das allowed the TMC leader to go on bail after depositing a sum of Rs 25 lakh in any nationalised bank and furnishing a bail bond of two sureties of Rs 50,000 each. Among other conditions, the MP has been asked to submit his passport in the trial court and cooperate with the investigating officer, as and when required. The bench had reserved the order on his bail plea after hearing arguments of both the prosecution and defence on May 8. Bandyopadhyay was arrested on January 3 by the CBI for his alleged involvement in the Rs 17,000 crore Rose Valley Chit fund case, which is being probed by the agency under the Supreme Courts directions. Besides pleading that the senior politician from West Bengal was not involved in the scam, his counsel said that Bandyopadhyay was seriously ill and, therefore, needed to be granted bail. The CBI has arrested another TMC MP, Tapas Pal, for his alleged involvement in the scam. The agency had earlier accused Rose Valley chairman Gautam Kundu and three others of defrauding investors from across the country of more than Rs 17,000 crore. PATNA: In a major blow to the embattled RJD chief Lalu Prasad, the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change has stopped the construction of a Rs 750-crore shopping mall being built by Delight Marketing Private Limited on the outskirts of the state capital. The upcoming shopping complex, considered to be the biggest in Bihar, came to public knowledge when senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi launched a campaign to expose dubious deals of the RJD chief and his family members to acquire property at various places, among them the site for a mall. The Union ministry of environment has stopped work on the ground that the construction firm, Meridian Construction, did not procure the mandatory prior clearance from the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), as pointed out by Modi. The construction firm has been building a 14-floor complex with a built-up area of 7.66 lakh square feet on a 115-kattha plot near Saguna Mor in Danapur area for Delight Marking Private Limited, owned by former chief minister Rabri Devi and her deputy minister son Tejashwi Prasad Yadav. In a letter dated May 15, the ministry has asked its regional office in Ranchi headed by the principal chief conservator of forests to enforce an immediate stop to the construction work and submit its report to the Centre within three weeks. Copies of the ministrys letter have also been sent to the member secretary, Bihar State Pollution Control Board, principal secretary, forests and environment, government of Bihar, SEIAA chairman besides chairman and managing director of Meridian Construction, Abu Dozana, also an RJD legislator, to ensure compliance of the order. Talking to mediapersons on Friday, Modi said the Union ministry had taken cognizance of his letter regarding violation of the laid down environmental norms that were given a go-by by the agencies like SEIAA and the forest department, as the shopping complex belonged to Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, who is also the deputy chief minister of Bihar. In the letter, the Union ministry categorically noted that the project required environmental clearance and it was a case of violation of provisions of the environment impact assessment notification, 2006, and clearance can be granted by the ministry only. The builder, in his application to SEIAA for clearance, has made it clear that the foundation work of the complex has begun, Modi said. Earlier, Modi had alleged that soil excavated for laying the foundation of the complex and building its basement were purchased by the Patna zoo without completing the formalities. It was a scam resorted to by the department of forest and environment being headed by the RJD chiefs elder son Tej Pratap Yadav, said the BJP leader. BLURBS The construction firm has been building a 14-floor complex with a built-up area of 7.66 lakh square feet on a 115-kattha plot near Saguna Mor in Danapur area for Delight Marking Private Limited, owned by former chief minister Rabri Devi and her deputy minister son Tejashwi Prasad Yadav. In a letter dated May 15, the ministry has asked its regional office in Ranchi headed by the principal chief conservator of forests to enforce an immediate stop to the construction work and submit its report to the Centre within three weeks. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The mortal remains of environment minister Anil Madhav Dave were consigned to flames on the banks of the river Narmada at Bandrabhan in Madhya Pradeshs Hoshangabad district on Friday, with full state honours. Dave, who died in New Delhi on Thursday at the age of 60, had expressed the desire to be cremated on the banks of the Narmada, a river that was close to his heart and ran through his home state of Madhya Pradesh. The funeral pyre was lit by his brother and nephew amid a tearful adieu by those present on the occasion at Bandrabhan, where Dave used to organise international river festivals to create awareness among people on the issue of conserving rivers, BJP spokesman Rajnish Agrawal told PTI. Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union ministers Harsh Vardhan, Uma Bharti, Anant Kumar, Narendra Singh Tomar and Thawar Chand Gehlot, senior RSS leaders Bhaiyyaji Joshi, Dattatraya Hosbole and Suresh Soni, BJP general secretary Kailash Vijaywargiya among others were present on the occasion. The mortal remains of Dave were brought early Friday morning to Bandrabhan from his home, Nadi Ka Ghar, in the state capital. Chouhan and other BJP leaders lent their shoulders to the departed leader. A guard of honour was also given as a mark of respect him. The Madhya Pradesh government On Thursday declared a two-day state mourning following Daves death. Leaders cutting across party lines expressed profound grief over his demise. A pall of gloom Thursday descended on Nadi Ka Ghar with Daves supporters flocking to the three-storey building set up by him which was also used to run Narmada Samagra, an NGO for conserving the river regarded as the lifeline of MP. Born on July 6, 1956 at Barnagar in Madhya Pradeshs Ujjain district, Dave, a bachelor, used to live in this house whenever he was in Bhopal. The house was his nerve centre for running the river conservation campaign as well as to formulate strategies for contesting elections. Dave, in his will dated July 23, 2012, said, If you want to cherish my memories, plant trees and save them. This would give me pleasure, He also mentioned in his will that he did not want any statue, memorial or award instituted in his name. Family members of Sepoy Sudesh Kumar, who was killed in a firing by the Pakistani troops along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir last year, started an indefinite fast, demanding that the chief minister visit their village, here on Friday. Villagers and family members of Sudesh, who laid down his life on October 16, 2016, sat on a fast in the Pansukha Milak village, claiming that despite promises by the BJP leaders, none of them had visited the family again. His mother Santosh Kumari said that if the chief minister did not visit them, she will commit suicide, while his wife Kavita Kumari said that many politicians came and made various promises, but none have been fulfilled. I will commit suicide if the CM does not come, she said. We were promised sanction for a petrol pump, construction of a road and memorial in the village and renaming a village primary school in Sudeshs name by the BJP leaders, but none of these promises were fulfilled, said Sudeshs brother Manoj Kumar. The martyrs other brother, Anil Kumar, said that they had lost trust in the local BJP leaders which was why they were demanding that chief minister Yogi Adityanath should visit them. Sudeshs father Brahmpal Singh too in is on an indefinite fast. The family had earlier refused to perform the last rites of the Sepoy till the then Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav visited them. Brahmpal claimed, The then chief minister had gone to a martyrs house in Etah as he was a Yadav. He should have come here too as there should not be any discrimination between martyrs. Sudesh, hailing from Sambhal district, was killed when the Pakistani Army fired on the Indian Army posts along the Line of Control in Rajouri district. As Akhilesh did not visit the martyrs family, BJP leaders had made it a political issue during the assembly polls. BJP vice president Shiv Pratap Shukla, state general secretary Ashok Kataria and local MP Satpal Saini had also visited them and had assured all help. A wanted militant of the United Liberation Front of Assam (Independent) has been killed in an encounter with security forces in the states Udalguri district, officials said on Friday. A PTI report said that acting on intelligence inputs, a joint operation was launched by the army and police in the district where the militant - identified as Ramesh Bora - was gunned down in an exchange of fire with the security forces on Thursday, a defence spokesperson said. Bora was the deputy of another hardcore ULFA(I) militant Rajan Deka and the self-styled area commander for the outfit in Udalgudi and Darrang districts, he said. An ANI report said the army recovered a grenade, a 9mm pistol, six 9mm live rounds and approximately Rs 6 lakh in Indian currency from the encounter site. The army cordoned off the area and launched a search operation. Film star Rajinikanth said on Friday that Tamil Nadus politics needs fixing and urged a gathering of his fans to take me to a level from where I can do anything, leading many to believe he was joining politics. Rajinikanth, regarded an icon by millions in his state, did not make a clear statement on his plans, saying that he will decide on joining politics when the time comes. Many believe his political plunge is inevitable, akin to many of the states most successful leaders. Five of seven chief ministers from Dravidian parties were actively involved in Tamil cinema either as writers or as actors. The most known among them being MG Ramachandran and his protege J Jayalalithaa. We have good leaders like (MK) Stalin, Anbumani (Ramadoss) and Seeman. But what do we do when the system is bad, democracy has deteriorated? This system needs to be changed and a change has to be brought in the minds of people, than only will the country flourish, Rajnikanth said, according to IANS. I have my profession, my job. I have some responsibilities and you have your jobs. Go back to your places and do your job. Lets meet when its time for war. Former chief minister O Panneerselvam appeared to have taken Rajinikanths comments to suggest the actor announced his entry to politics. He (Rajinikanth) is a very good person, we welcome his entry into politics, Panneerselvam said, according to ANI. Earlier this week, Rajinikanth had said: If its Gods will, I will join politics. PR STUNT? Political analyst Prof Bernard D Sami of Lyola College said suggestions that Rajinikanth fans such rumours right before a release of his films cannot be ruled out. In the past, such discussions dominated Tamil Nadu when his film Linga was released and, coincidentally, similar talk happened when Enthiran (Robot) was released. And how his Enthiran 2 is ready for a release, said Prof Sami. (with agency inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Hussain Rasheed is a brave man. For someone who lost his son just a month ago, he is completely calm and even manages to smile politely. But there is little doubt he is also a broken man - in search of justice. And he hopes for support from the country that he and his son saw as a second home. Rasheeds son, Yameen, a young and prominent Maldivian blogger critical of his government and the Islamist radicalisation in his country, was killed on April 23. It was one more killing in a country that many in the international community and opposition believe has taken an increasingly authoritarian turn over the past few years, with little space for dissent. The trajectory of the Rasheed family gives a glimpse into the political evolution of the island nation, how disillusionment gave way to hope and eventually to tragedy over the past three decades. The India connection Rasheed showed a picture of a 2-year old Yameen, celebrating his birthday in Keralas Thiruvananthapuram, in 1990. That was the year he shifted to India, to ensure a good education for his family. As they were growing up, Rasheed recalls he spoke to them of the inequality and corruption back home in Maldives. I sometimes think what happened to my son was because of me. I talked often about how one group of people were looting money, keeping it in their palace, as the country suffered. I spoke of justice. Yameen used to listen, he told the Hindustan Times over a conversation in Delhi. This was the time when Maldives was being run as a dictatorship under Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. Yameen went to school in Kerala, and college in Bengaluru. He was a trained IT professional, a programmer, who decided to return home in 2010 - a decision that would change, and cut short his life. It was a time of excitement and energy in Maldives. After a struggle for democracy and free and fair elections, the young and charismatic Mohammed Nasheed had taken over as the president. Hussain Rasheed himself had become a Nasheed supporter. Young Maldivians were returning home, to build a future for themselves and to build a better country. The dissent Yameen was not affiliated with any party but was an active participant in the public sphere through his blog. He began noticing the increasing Islamist radicalisation - and criticised it. He got his first death threat in 2011. When Nasheed was pushed out of office in 2012, Yameen spoke up for democracy. Things were getting grim for political activists and free speech. The same year Nasheed was overthrown, an MP Afrasheem Ali, who had spoken for women rights and argued Islam provided for it, was first forced to apologise and then killed. In 2014, Yameens closest friend and fellow blogger, Ahmed Rilwan, was abducted. In his blog, Yameen recalled that Rilwan had told him Islamism was a tool to prey on the young and vulnerable, who became foot soldiers in a political power struggle between corrupt forces one made even more distasteful to him because it invoked the name of God and employed it for the basest of human desires. Rilwan then began speaking against religious extremism and politicisation of religion. The government was trying to cover up the Rilwan case. Yameen was consistently exposing the cover up. This really brought him to public attention, a democracy activist from Male, who did not want to be named because of the threats, said. Rasheeds family too believes this case really was the trigger for the authorities turning against Yameen. Rilwans whereabouts are still not known. This was all happening under a new leader, president Abdulla Yameen, who had taken over Maldives in 2013. From the United Nation to all international human rights organisations, from the democratic opposition to even regional neighbours, there has been an increasing recognition that the government has relied on fear and suppression of rights to sustain its rule. The regimes international backers are primarily Saudi Arabia and China. And it has allied with Islamist radicals. But Yameen kept up his critique - even as death threats kept pouring in. He highlighted it on social media, he told police authorities, but there was little that would eventually help. Soon after returning from London, where he had got a generous prize for a start-up, Yameen was murdered in Male - in the same area his friend, Rilwan, was picked up from. A cry for help The government, Hussain Rasheed told HT, had issued a gag order on the increasingly controlled media in Maldives not to report on the case. The stated reason - this would obstruct investigations. The real reason, according to activists, was precisely to ensure that investigations are not scrutinised. What killed Yameen was an ideology, which poses a threat to liberal Maldivians. It was not a person. And the government authorities are in no mood to investigate the real story. There is a degree of political complicity, said the activist who wished to remain anonymous. Hussain Rasheed now lives with a family reeling from grief. The irony is that both of Yameens sisters work in the government. One is in the police itself; the other is an engineer in a government company. A brother is ill, and requires care. Hussain has only one appeal to the government of India. It is in your vicinity that radicalisation is happening. We need your help. Help us ensure an impartial investigation into my sons case. It may not be an easy request for Delhi to meet, but it is a voice it would do well to hear. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The body of a man from Barmer district, who died in Saudi Arabias capital Riyadh on February 19 in suspicious circumstances, was flown to Jaipur on Friday. The body of Raju Das (38) will reach his native village Kashmir in Sheo tehsil on Saturday morning, said local legislator Manvendra Singh who has been following up with the Centre for the past 90 days to bring the body back. Raju had left for Saudi Arabia six months ago in search of a job. He was working in Riyadh as a cattle grazer, Rajus brother Kumbha Ram said. His family was informed of his death on February 19 by a relative who was working in Saudi Arabia. The family sought help from the district administration and political leaders, including BJP MLA Manvendra Singh, to bring the body back. The MLA said external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had been in touch with the Saudi Arabia government to get the body back. The delay in bringing back Raju Dass body was due to his death in suspicious circumstances, Singh said. He claimed that the Riyadh police investigated the death as a case of suicide. After the investigation was over, lack of some documents related to Raju Das caused further delay. Harish Kathawale, deputy high commissioner at Indian embassy in Riyadh, informed the MLA on Thursday that Rajus body had been released. The body arrived at the Jaipur airport in a flight around 3pm on Friday. After being informed by Singh, Rajus family members went to Jaipur to receive the body. Raju is survived by his 65-year-old mother, 70-year-old father, his wife Guddi Devi and two kids Ramesh (5) and Kavita (3). The Alwar police formed an all-women team on Friday to crack down on people harassing women and girls on city streets. Launching the team, named Nirbhaya Squad, district collector Rajan Vishal called it a milestone in womens security. Six scooters are part of the squad that will roam the city and keep an eye on people who harass girls and women, Vishal said. It will create a sense of security in the minds of women, and will check incidents of street harassment. District police chief Rahul Prakash said a sigma team had earlier patrolled schools and colleges to prevent harassment and catcalls. But members of the team were men, so women and girls did not feel comfortable complaining to them about harassers, he said. The Nirbhaya Squad has policewomen to give girls and women a sense of comfort in discussing harassment. The squad, on receiving a complaint or noticing harassment, will inform the police control room for action, Prakash said. We have divided the city into six beats to be patrolled by the squad members on six scooters. The squad will patrol schools and colleges in daytime and keep an eye on malls, parks and other spots in the city, where harassment incidents are reported. Lauding the move, Alwar sub-divisional magistrate Shubham Chaudhary said, The squad will provide a sense of security to women who can move freely in the city. Honda company gave six Activa scooters to Alwar police to launch the Nirbhaya Squad. Two women constables will move on a scooter, with the pillion rider holding a stick. We will donate more scooters to Alwar police after the success of this initiative, said Harbhajan Singh, an official of the Honda company. Such squads have been launched in Udaipur and Jaipur. In Churu district, police have launched Operation Romeo, a drive against people who harass women in city areas. Rajasthan is progressing towards complete rural electrification with only one village, Dheeya in Udaipur district, remaining to be covered under Centres ambitious Deendayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY), Union power minister Piyush Goyal said Friday. Goya, however, added that about 22 lakh rural households in Rajasthan are still without a power connection. Nearly, 22 lakh households in rural areas are yet to get electricity supply, and the work will be completed in the next 18 months, Goyal said. A village is considered electrified if public places and 10 per cent of its households have access to electricity. Goyal said the government aims to provide electricity to hamlets in Rajasthan through off-grid projects and is drawing up a schedule to achieve the goal in the next 18 months. Many villages in remote or forest areas in state have already been given power connections through off-grid solar panel systems, the power minister said while interacting with the media in Jaipur and other cities via video conference from New Delhi. He accused the previous Congress government of utter mismanagement of state discoms and said it was the BJP that pulled the power distribution companies out of losses. When the BJP came to power in Rajasthan in 2013, the Discoms were suffering Rs 15,000 crore losses yearly, Goyal said while lauding the Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government for pulling out the discoms from the losses and mismanagement. There has to be a collective effort to achieve 24-hour uninterrupted electricity supply and cheap power. If people pay their bills in time and do not indulge in power theft, then it can be achieved, he said. According to Union power ministry data, 426 of the 495 villages in the state have been electrified under DDUGJY a Centre-sponsored electrification scheme. Of the remaining, 68 villages are inhabited whereas work in one village is pending, it said. Out of the total 90,46,216 households in the state, 21,78,845 are yet to be electrified under the scheme. The process of taking electricity to 69,058 villages is in progress, the data said. A Kolkata Police team on Friday grilled Angel Abraham, one of the directors of Naradanews.com in Delhi and asked her, among other things, how many times she and Mathew Samuel had met Trinamool Rajya Sabha MP, K D Singh. They questioned her at a coffee shop in sector 10 in Dwarka for more than three hours. In 2014, Samuel conducted a sting operation in Bengal and caught on camera 12 Trinamool MPs, MLAs and leaders while they were accepting money from him. Samuel had told them that he was a businessman. The sting, now famous as the Narada scam, is being investigated by both CBI and Enforcement Directorate. Read: Mamata Banerjee publicly defends the Narada accused In 2014, Samuel used to work for Tehelka.com, a company owned by K D Singh. Angel, who was his colleague, visited Kolkata a few times in 2014. The Narada sting operation has posed the toughest challenge to Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee since she came in power in May 2011. (HT Photo) Samuel claimed that the Kolkata Police team asked Angel whether Singh tried to him from making the videos public. They also asked her if any Trinamool leader contacted me after we made the videos went viral, Samuel told HT on Friday evening. Interestingly, the four officers from Muchipara police station who questioned Abraham, summoned her in connection with a case (No 52 of 14.2.2017) registered against Samuel at the police station. The case pertains to his alleged extortion of money from D P Yadav, a former MP from Bihar. Read: Narada case: Mention of Abhishek Banerjee in FIR sends Trinamool in tizzy They questioned her for more than three hours but their queries were mostly related to the sting operation and not the case the summon notice mentions. They asked Angel how many times she and I met K D Singh. They wanted to know details of the places I visited in Kolkata and the people I met in 2014, Samuel told HT from Kochi where he is recovering from three successive surgeries. Kolkata Police tried to find out if I regularly meet politicians, go to social gatherings and parties where political figures are seen. They even asked Angel about my drinking habits, said Samuel. To most of the questions that were not related to our work, Angel had no answer, he added. On Thursday, these officers even went to a bank in Delhi, where my wife and I have accounts, and asked for records of transactions made in 2014, said Samuel. Angel asked them why didnt the team question me when I was in Delhi. Curiously, the officers told her that they didnt want to disturb me, said Samuel. The CBI and ED had also sent summons to Samuel and wanted to interrogate him this week. He told the agencies that it was not physically possible for him to travel. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Post the discovery of buried subterranean storeys of Chhatar Manzil and Kothi Farhat Baksh, archaeologists are still scratching their heads as to how they got buried in earth. But the answer to what the archaeologists termed as an unexplained mystery, lies with the officials and experts at work. UPRNN officials and experts blamed the Central Drug and Research Institute (CDRI) for distorting the original structure of Chhatar Manzil. They called it CDRIs atrocious behaviour towards a structure that was part of the citys heritage. In 1950, the expansive structure was allocated to CDRI, the multidisciplinary research laboratory, to carry out research work. But while allocating the building , the government was perhaps least aware of the consequences. The flood marking of 1874. (Deepak Gupta/HTPhoto) Those engaged in the trenching work said while digging they found plastic pouches of pan masala that were not in vague when both the structure came into existence. Its a glaring example that the ground level was elevated decades later, said an employee engaged in the excavation work. He said it is also found that debris was used to bury the storey. While digging we found gravel, and modern bricks, another proof that the debris was dumped later to bury the storey of both the structures or to elevate the ground level, he added. Another excavator alleged, It was the CDRI that filled the debris into the storey to elevate the ground level, apprehending flood in river Gomti, that is just a few metres away.. Substantiating his stand, he said Chhatar Manzil had flood markings, a general practice in the British era. On the Chhatar Manzil, the first flood line is marked in the 1870s, then in September 1894, October 1958 and in September 1915. CDRI officials, fearing flood, elevated the ground level at the cost of the Chhatar Manzil and Kothi Farhat Bakshs storeys, up to the flood marking. And this is still visible, he said. He said that the CDRI laid water and electricity lines underneath and also constructed underground water tanks, putting the structures in jeopardy. He said the burial of the storeys not only marred the beauty of the structures but also weakened them. S Mohammed Haider, a corporate lawyer and heritage enthusiast, also blamed the CDRI for violating the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act (AMASR Act). At the time when CDRI was trying its best to destroy the structure, it used to be a protected monument, said Haider. ASIs records say it has delisted around 11 nawabi era architectural marvels in 1962. These includes the iconic Chhatar Manzil, Lal Baradari, Kothi Farhat Baksh, Kaiser Pasand and others. This information came in response to an RTI, filed by S Mohammed Haider, asking about the total number of centrally protected monuments (in Lucknow circle) that the ASI de-listed during the post independence era. The protected status was granted to all the aforementioned monuments in the 1920s. The status was given under Ancient Monuments Preservation Act 1904 that was passed on March 18, 1904 by British India during the regime of Lord Curzon of Kedleston as Viceroy of India. Haider said strict action should be initiated against the wrong doers, as it was a clear attempt to crush the citys rich heritage. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A 35-year-old building in Mumbais Mumbra is in the news. Reason: a for vegetarians only board which suddenly sprung up outside the structure in the Muslim-dominated area a few days ago. While office-bearers of Shiv Darshann society claimed there is no such rule, the police said the board, which may have been put up to create political tension, has been pulled down two days ago. Devta Mangla, a resident, said, I have been living here for 35 years. There is no such rule. When I was returning from a trip on Thursday morning, I saw the police removing a board which said residents cant sell or rent flats to meat-eaters. People have a right to decide who they want to sell their flat to and what they prefer to eat. The shops on the ground floor have been rented out to Chinese food stalls and a bar. Earlier, there was a womens bar, which was shut later. How can rules be different for residents and shopkeepers, she asked. Read more: RERA effect: Mumbaiites, you cant be denied home on grounds of religion, gender, eating habits A majority of residents here are meat-eaters. Some residents are not in favour of selling flats to Muslims, said another resident, requesting anonymity. The office-bearers, however, have refuted the claims. Ajay Gupta, one of the office-bearers of the society, said, There is no such board in the society. We have not imposed any restriction on residents. The news is false. R Tayade, senior inspector, Mumbra police station, said, The board was put up by a resident to create political tension in the area. We pulled it down two days ago. We have warned him against such acts in the future. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A BEST bus driver died in Charkop in Mumbai on Friday, after a branch of a mango tree fell on him. The mishap took place at Thakare Nagar bus station around 7.55am, when he was resting under a tree during his break. BEST spokesperson said the driver, Sumit Ankush Wagh, 39, was deputed at Gorai depot and worked on route number 245. He was rushed to a hospital in the vicinity, but he was declared dead on arrival. He was rushed to a private hospital, Saraswati Nursing Home, said BEST spokesperson. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Dadar-Sawantwadi-Dadar Express, a popular train among passengers to travel to the Konkan region, will be renamed Tutari Express from next week. The Indian Railways will be renaming the train in the presence of Railways minister Suresh Prabhu and other dignitaries in a function at Dadar on Monday. The Railways had introduced the Rajyarani Express on the Dadar-Sawantwadi route on July 1, 2011. Due to the quick overnight journey, the train became very popular among the people from Konkan area. As a sign of respect to revolutionary Marathi Poet Krishnaji Keshav Damle, who wrote under the pen name `Keshavsut, the railways has decided to rename the train Tutari Express, after the title of his famous Marathi poem Tutari which means a trumpet-like instrument in Marathi . Written during the British Rule in India, in the poem, Keshavsut calls for a fight for independence. The inspirational poem was popular among Maharshtrians during the freedom struggle. Keshavsut was born near the famous tourist destination Ganapatipule, in Ratnagiri district of Konkan. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday took possession of businessman Vijay Mallyas farmhouse located on the beachfront in the coastal town of Alibaug. The ED said the present market value of the property at Mandwa in Kolegaon is more than Rs100 crore. The farmhouse has a bungalow, swimming pool and overlooks the beach, said an ED officer. According to sources, the area around the farmhouse is one of the finest properties in Alibaug, a place where many celebrities own luxurious properties. The property is spread over more than 17 acres and the adjoining beach has a registry value of Rs25 crore. It belongs to M/s Mandwa Farms Private Limited, which was being controlled by Mallya, stated ED. The property was attached by the agency in September 2016. Later, the provisional attachment order was confirmed by the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) Adjudicating Authority (AA), New Delhi in February 2017. Read more: IN PICS: This is how Vijay Mallyas 100-crore bungalow in Maharashtra looks like The AA under PMLA is designated to function as the first appellate authority against attachment of assets made by the ED under stringent money laundering laws. Subsequent to the issuance of the eviction notice, M/s Mandwa Private Limited moved the appellate tribunal of PMLA for a stay against the eviction notice. However, it dismissed the application. ED had provisionally attached his immovable properties ,which include a flat in Bengaluru, and another in Mumbai, an industrial plot in Chennai, coffee plantation estate in Coorg, Karnataka, and residential and commercial structures in Karnataka. Mallya left India last year and went to London on a diplomatic passport. In April this year, Mallya, former Kingfisher boss and one of the biggest corporate loan defaulters in India, was arrested by Scotland Yard inspectors in London. The arrest was made following a request made by Indias Central Bureau of Investigation and ED. Mallya got bail within a few hours, after being produced in the Westminster Magistrates Court. Read Vijay Mallyas extradition hearing deferred to June 13 Vijay Mallya was freed after arrest by Scotland Yard on strict bail conditions SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Acting Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) Yakiv Smoliy is confident that Ukraine would successfully attract the new tranche from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF). "We have four key moments to be discussed: this is the pension reform, land reform, anti-corruption court and the development strategy for state-owned banks. I think that consensus will be reached for all the issues and we will receive the new tranche," he told reporters after the NBU conference in Kyiv on Thursday. Smoliy said that the NBU has settled all the issues regarding the bank sector. The central bank continues working with the government. "One of the issues that would be discussed jointly is the strategy for state-owned banks," he said. Smoliy said that the NBU anticipates that all the tranches scheduled for this year in the amount of $4.5 billion would be successfully attracted from the IMF by the country. As reported, the IMF mission on May 16 started working in Ukraine. The four-year EFF program launched by the IMF in March 2015, in the total amount of SDR 12.348 billion (around $17.25 billion), initially involved quarterly reviews of the program, with the first tranche of $5 billion, and the next three, SDR 1.18 billion each (around $1.65 billion), to be paid during 2015, and decreasing quarterly tranches to SDR 0.44 billion ($0.61 billion) in 2016-2018. Ukraine was able to receive, with a slight delay, the second tranche, $1.7 billion, under this program, in early August 2015, followed by a lengthy pause because of the country's failure to meet a number of conditions, political crisis and changes in the government. Since the arrival of a new government led by Volodymyr Groysman in April 2016 talks over continued funding have resumed but it was not until mid-September that the IMF decided to allocate the third tranche, $1 billion. The fourth tranche was received on April 3, 2017. According to the new schedule presented in the materials of the IMF, three reviews are planned for late 2017: fourth review in the middle of May, fifth in the middle of August and sixth in the middle of November. If Ukraine successfully conducts reforms after the fourth review the country could raise $1.907 billion, after the fifth review - $1.28 billion, sixth review - $1.28 billion. In general, some $4.46 billion could be attracted. In 2018, four more reviews will be conducted and Ukraine could raise around $955 million after each review or some $3.82 billion in general. The first Infectious Disease Research Laboratory in Maharashtra will soon start in Sindhudurg district, state health minister Deepak Sawant said on Friday. Sawant gave this information in Sindhudurg, where he held a meeting with the officials of the health and other departments concerned. In the Infectious Research Laboratory, four departments, such as microbiology, bacteriological department, blood sample study department and molecular division, are going to be created. The lab will work on 13 types of diseases and keep a detailed record of it, Sawant said. The minister also instructed the officials to complete the generator facility and the pending work of the second floor which will enable the lab to get uninterrupted power supply. The lab will have very low temperature storage facilities for the preservation purpose. It requires continued power supply. Read more: Beware, 13 more swine flu deaths in Maharashtra in 5 days, visit a doctor if you are unwell Sindhudurg district is currently affected by the Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), commonly known as the monkey fever. This year, the KFD infection has claimed more lives than the previous year. Talking about this disease, Sawant said, There should be proper coordination over KFD as the infection spreads through monkey. A repellent oil is also being made available to people so that they can avoid tick bites, Sawant said. Animal Husbandry Minister Mahadev Jankar, additional chief secretary of public health department VS Singh, chief secretary of revenue and forest department Vikas Kharage, director of health Dr Satish Pawar, National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune Director D T Maurya, Joint Director Dr M D Diggikar, Dr Pradeep Awate, Sindhudurg District Collector Uday Chaudhary and District Chief Executive Officer Shekhar Singh attended the meeting. Read: States 2nd infectious disease hospital in Pune Lit cigarettes disposed of at a wetland near the Airoli toll plaza could have sparked the massive fire that engulfed the patch on Thursday, said Maharashtra mangrove cell officials. The fire was massive, but was doused with the help of a fire truck. We have increased patrolling in the area to nab people who smoke here. While the wetland was partially destroyed, no mangrove trees burned down, said Makarand Ghodke, assistant conservator of forests, Mumbai Mangrove Conservation Unit. Residents, however, maintained that a five-acre mangrove patch had been destroyed. Citizen activist group Shree Ekvira Aai Pratishthan (SEAP) filed a complaint with the Maharashtra mangrove cell. A five-acre mangrove patch was fully burnt. We visited the site but couldnt assess the extent of the damage. Dry grass caught fire in the area around the mangroves. The fire quickly spread to the forest and damaged the trees, said Nandkumar Pawar, director, SEAP. It was unclear whether the grass was intentionally set on fire. If any culprits are identified, action needs to be taken against them. Why you should care Mangroves act as a buffer zone between the land and sea, protecting the land from erosion. Mangroves absorb the impact of cyclones. They are a breeding ground for a variety of marine animals. Mangroves also absorb carbon dioxide, making air cleaner to breathe. Mangroves are salt-tolerant plants that protect the Mumbais coastline from inundation. In 2005, the Bombay high court banned the destruction of mangrove forests across the state, and construction within 50m of mangrove areas. In 2014, the court banned all reclamation and construction on wetlands. A violation of this law amounts to an offence under the Environment Protection Act, 1986. So far, as many as 18 cases of mangrove destruction have taken place on private land every month this year. Over the past four years, Mumbai witnessed an average of eight cases a month in private areas. A report from the suburban collectors office on mangrove destruction on private land revealed 115 cases between April 1, 2016, and March 31, 2017. Of these, 74 cases were recorded between January and April this year and 21 cases were filed. However, not a single person has been arrested or convicted yet. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A sessions court in Mumbai on Thursday convicted a man, Gulab Yadav, for killing a 15-year-old boy who eloped with his daughter in 2014. Yadavs brother Subhash and accomplice Chandraprakash too have been sentenced to life imprisonment. The young couple, Abhishek Yadav, 15 , and Risu, 19, left their village in Jaunpur district of Uttar Pradesh on May 28, 2014, and came to Mumbai. Risus family, however, caught them at the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus. All of them left from the station in an autorickshaw. Yadav asked Chandraprakash and Risu to get off near a dhaba and told them he would return after dropping Abhishek. According to the prosecution, Yadav and Subhash took Abhishek to a hill near Nallasopara in an autorickshaw. They beat him to death and threatened the autorickshaw driver to keep mum. The duo called Abhisheks father, Vijay, who worked as a constable with India Reserve Battalion, and told him they had killed the boy and threatened him too, said the prosecution. It was alleged the family had made several attempts to kill the girl as well. However, later she committed suicide after learning that Abhishek was murdered. Vijay approached the Kurla police and registered a case. The Nallasopara police found Abhisheks body, but as there was no way to identify him, they buried him. The Kurla police solved the case with the help of several links and call data records and arrested the trio. The prosecution examined 19 witnesses, including Vijay, Abhisheks friend and the autorickshaw driver, who became the star witness in the trial. Gulab, Subhash and Chandraprakash were held guilty of hatching conspiracy, killing and kidnapping the boy, while Gulabs brother Subedar, who the prosecution claimed instigated them, was acquitted for want of evidence The Bombay high court recently granted bail to a woman who was arrested with 430 grams of mephedrone a narcotic substance also known as MD solely because she was searched by a woman constable in front of men after she was held. The woman was searched in front of men. This violates section 50 (4) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, said justice AS Gadkari. The judge said the section mandated that the police have regard for the privacy of a woman, which not honoured in this case. The act requires that a woman be searched in seclusion, without any men present, said the judge. Justice Gadkari also granted bail to the womans accomplice, Shahid Choudhary, saying that he was searched by a constable, which violates section 42 of the NDPS Act. According to the Act, only police personnel holding a rank higher than that of a constable can search someone suspected of carrying narcotic substances. A notification issued by Maharashtra government also empowers head-constables to search suspects. The woman and her accomplice were nabbed by the anti-narcotics cell of the Thane police on August 29, 2015. Acting on a tip-off, ANC officials had laid a trap at Viviana Mall in Thane. The woman was caught with 430 grams of mephedrone, while police discovered that Choudhary allegedly had 100 grams of the same drug. Both of them were searched at the mall, in the presence of five witnesses. The high court ordered that Choudhary and the woman be released on furnishing a bond of Rs50,000 each, with one or two sureties of the same amount from Mumbai, Thane or Palghar. They were also ordered to go to the anti-narcotic cell of the Thane police on the first Monday of every month. Two consecutive defaults will automatically cancel their bail. Passengers on board the Mumbai-Delhi August Kranti Rajdhani Express had a harrowing time on Thursday as pantry car staff of the train alighted to protest against the rule barring them from accepting tips. Sources said the train was held up at Mumbais Borivli and Virar stations for 8 and 14 minutes, respectively. The train left Virar only after the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation replaced the pantry car staff. Railway sources said the pantry staff of the premium train had an argument with the manager and pulled the chain after the train left Mumbai Central at 5.40pm. When the commercial department staff on board the train realised the pantry car workers were missing, they stopped at Borivli to arrange for pantry staff. Six staff members from Borivli station and six from Virar were sent to Mumbai Central by Flying Ranee train. Read more: Your travel on Rajdhani, August Kranti to get better SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A Mumbai man was found dead on the tracks, while two commuters, including a minor boy, were hurt in three separate railway accidents in Kalyan on Wednesday, said the government railway police (GRP). In one incident, an Ulhasnagar resident was found unconscious on the tracks near Vitthalwadi railway station around 6pm. Commuters took the man, Gurmeet Singh,34, to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead. The Kalyan GRP registered a case of accidental death. We are examining CCTV camera footage to find out how the man died and if he fell from a local train or was crossing the tracks when a train hit him, he added. In another incident, Chembur resident Madhuri Pathak, 28, was travelling by the Lucknow Express. When the train halted at Kalyan railway station, Pathak made her way to the footboard and was spitting, when she slipped and fell. She suffered injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital. In the third incident that day, Adesh Shelar, 3, was travelling with his family on the Rajyrani Express. Shelar was seated by the window, when the sliding window pane came loose and crushed his right hand around 9.25 am. The family alighted at Kalyan railway station and took him to a nearby medical aid unit. We have asked the railway authorities to fix the shutters in all the trains, added the officer. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Revisions to the syllabus and changes to the examination pattern led to mass failures at the University of Mumbai, reads a letter signed by 12,000 students and submitted to MU by a teachers union. The letter says the students were neither informed that the syllabus and exam pattern would be changed nor that new textbooks would not be given to them until the middle of the semester. The led to mass failures among first-year students of all streams, especially the commerce stream, claims the letter. The results indicate that not more than 15% students cleared the first semester examination, said a teacher associated with MU and College Teachers Union (BUCTU), which submitted the letter to the vice chancellor. Last year, MU started revising the curricula of all the courses. It introduced a choice-based credit system (CBCS), which allowed students to opt for subjects from departments other than their own. The university had also decided to do away with internal examinations for BA, BCom and BSc courses and set a uniform question paper for examinations held at the college-level too. All these changes were made effective for first-year students of all undergraduate courses last year. However, many academicians criticised the hasty manner in which the syllabus changing exercise was conducted. Ideally, the exercise should have started months before new academic session began. However, the university rushed through it and the new syllabus was introduced after colleges had started, added the teacher. BUCTU said the students told their teachers that they found it difficult to cope with the new syllabus, prompting the union to take students grievances to the varsity. The students, through their teachers, demanded that instead of the syllabus being revised mid-term, they should have been informed of the entire structure of the new CBCS curriculum for all three years, including core and elective subjects. They said this would enable them to make a choice in real sense. The letter said the credit-based continuous evaluation method is extremely stressful for students. We are always mechanically engaged in examinations. There is no time left for self study or extra-curricular activities, reads the letter. The university should shorten the examination period and follow the norm of only teaching for 180 days every semester, it adds. Students have also complained about MUs examination errors. They said they received their hall tickets just a day before the exams. Many hall tickets were riddled with errors, they claimed. The letter also suggests that delays in declaring results leads to many students losing out on good employment opportunities, appearing for competitive examinations and applying to other universities. Re-evaluation of answerbooks is delayed beyond the schedule of the next repeaters examination, it reads. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A Nigerian national was arrested for allegedly possessing cocaine worth Rs9 crore at a suburban railway station on Tuesday. A team from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) caught him after a tip-off by a ticket checker. According to an official, Eneh Amobi Wilfred, 47, was caught with a large quantity of contraband. Wilfried said he was as a tourist and as he wanted $200 to return home, he offered to smuggle the drug, Kumar Sanjay Jha, NCB zonal director, Mumbai and Goa region told HT. The drugs weighing 1.3kg was to be delivered to someone in the city, an official said. The drugs were concealed in courier packets and were in his bag. As foreign nationals are asked to show passports even for domestic flights, couriers prefer trains, said Jha. The agency said Amobi was one among the many couriers entrusted by a city-based cartel to smuggle the drugs into the city. We suspect that at least four people were involved. The packets changed hands at various railway stations to dodge authorities, said Jha. According to the police, the suspects booked tickets in first class AC, second AC and AC 3 tier. According to a source, Amobi got down from the Delhi-Mumbai Rajdhani Express and was about to take a local train. A ticket checker stopped him and asked for a ticket. NCB said it was all part of a trap to buy time after which Wilfried was caught. According to the NCB, cocaine is a higher class party drug, which is in huge demand. It is costly and used to enhance sexual performance, stated the agency. NCB suspects that the gang has their presence in other cities as well where the drug is being circulated through local peddlers. According to officials, cocaine is mainly produced in Latin American countries. It is transported to Brazil and from there it is taken to Africas Lagos or Lome for packaging. After that, it is smuggled to India. Across the country, local peddlers are given small quantities to be sold in metro cities. The peddlers are paid handsomely and they sell it to only specific clientele to avoid being arrested. The network of peddlers carrying small quantities and targeting mostly the youths make it difficult for agencies to bust the entire racket. Read How troubled Mumbai father of teen MD addict busted cartel, got drugs-on-bike seller arrested SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) recently arrested a Nigerian national who is a member of an international drug cartel and an important facilitator of drug trade in the city. According to officials, Lucky Steven also kept a list of Nigerians on trial for criminal cases in the city. This is the third arrest after a woman, Vanessa De Kock, from South Africa was arrested at the Mumbai international airport in March 5 this year with large quantity of the banned drug, Methaqualone, before boarding a flight. According to officials, Lucky was known to his peddlers as Jonathan alias Evanke alias David Goodluck. These names were adopted to hoodwink the investigating agencies in the event of any peddler being caught. Lucky used different names to dodge agencies. Investigations revealed that Kock lived in Luckys Navi Mumbai residence after she had arrived in the city, said Kumar Sanjay Jha, NCB zonal director, Mumbai and Goa. The NCB said that Lucky has been involved in monitoring court cases in which Nigerian nationals were being put on trial. Lucky kept a list of the Nigerians involved in criminal cases and has also been present in court hearings, said Jha, adding that they are investigating further. The second arrest in the case was in the end of March when another Nigerian national Douglous was arrested in the city. The cartel is involved in smuggling Methaqualone out of the country. Lucky is involved in arranging the stay and the movement of the accused, said Jha. The NCB is also keeping a close watch on peddlers arriving in the city. Investigations revealed that drugs were brought into the city from peddlers who come on a business visa. Luckys bank accounts are under scanner and investigations are on about other people involved. Read 47-year-old caught with cocaine worth 17 crore at Mumbai airport SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON When Nitin Bharadwaj was eight years old, he lost a 50-paise coin and ran short of the sum he needed to buy half a litre of milk. Afraid of the punishment if he returned home without it, he stole a coin from a temple. From that memory emerges the play Ek Rupaiya, which Bharadwaj has written and directed. His young protagonist Munna (Prashant Amlani) feels no guilt over stealing from a temple because he has convinced himself that whatever belongs to God, belongs to His devotee. The genteel poverty of his family (a result of an honest father), ceases to affect him until Shiva (Bhupesh Singh) and Hanuman (Akash Basnet) turn up on Earth and begin to ask him for their money back. A still from the play Ek Rupaiya. Shiva and Hanuman turn up on Earth and begin to ask for their money back. As they wait, Hanuman watches Ramayan on TV and Shiva is not averse to using his trident to fix a TV antenna. The simplicity of Ek Rupaiya is its most endearing feature. Ek Rupaiya When: Sunday, May 21 6.30pm and 9.15 pm Where: Prithvi Theatre, Juhu Tickets: Rs. 400 Only Munna can see the deities in their garish TV serial costumes. They are petulant and soon hooked to comics, as they casually follow the boy around, watching his desperate attempts to collect the money he owes them. Hanuman watches Ramayan on TV and Shiva is not averse to using his trident to fix a TV antenna. Munna does learn his lesson, which amuses and somewhat moves the viewer. I did return the 50 paise, says Bharadwaj, but I could never shake off the feeling that I would never be able to return the same coin I had taken. The simplicity of Ek Rupaiya is its most endearing feature. SURVIVAL OF A SPECIES A still from the play Museum of Species in Danger, which uses a series of monologues to explore perceptions of women as inferior, as property, and as tools for revenge. Museum of Species in Danger When:Saturday May 20, 6.30pm Where: Sitara Studio, Parel Tickets: Rs. 300 Names change. Locations change. But the story stays the same. Sita was abducted, Draupadi was seen fit to disrobe. Bhanwari Devi was gang-raped for protesting child marriage. Rinku Patil was raped and set ablaze at her geometry exam hall by a spurned suitor. Jyoti Singh was gang-raped and tortured in a bus on her way home. Theatre group, Being Association, responds to Indias continuing violence against women with Museum of Species in Danger, a play that looks at women across centuries, caste, class and economic strata. The series of monologues protests the perception of women as the inferior sex, as property, and as a tool for revenge. Director Rasika Agashe, says she conceptualised it a little after the December 16 Delhi rape, shaping it up over six months. Their motto was not simply to protest, or to see males as the enemy, but to speak up, raise questions and discuss consent. Play has had 35 shows across the country, and has been translated to Bengali and Punjabi. Two teams of actors alternate and are graduates of the National School of Drama or the Film and Television Institute of India. Knots and crosses Phir Se Shaadi When:Saturday, May 20, 6.30 pm and 9 pm Where: Prithvi Theatre, Juhu Tickets: Rs. 500 Heres a little known fact about Muslim marriage law: if couple is divorced, they cannot remarry each other unless the wife marries another man, and he divorces her after consummating the marriage. The custom is called Halala and presents obvious complications, as matters of the heart cannot always be controlled. Writer-director-actor Imran Rashid draws on a real-life incident involving the sister of a friend in Aligarh for Phir Se Shaadi, a play that nods to social reform with humour. The play has love, music, boisterous comedy and a pitch-perfect performance by Danish Husain. He plays Kamaal Khan, a professor entrusted to sort the Halala issue between two of his once-married students. A funny search follows, for a potential groom who will divorce the woman without a fuss. Then, the professor decides to marry her himself, over the vociferous protests of his own wife. To make matters worse, Khan breaks his own promise, refusing to divorce the young woman, because he has fallen in love with her. I engineered a happy ending, says Rasheed. The real story ended up with the professor having two wives. I also gave the girl a say in choosing a groom, when, unfortunately, it is men who decide these things. I made the girl bold and articulate, because in a play, I can show what seldom happens in traditional societies. Ukrzaliznytsia on June 12 to launch train to Chelm, denies annulment of trains to Russia from July 1 A train from Ukraine's Kovel to Poland's Chelm will make its first trip on June 12, Board Chairman of public joint-stock company Ukrzaliznytsia Wojciech Balczun said at a press conference in Kharkiv on Thursday. He said that it is planned that the rail bus will be used on the route. If there is large demand on tickets, Ukrzaliznytsia would use another train. Balczun recalled that this will be the second day train to Poland after the Kyiv-Lviv-Przemysl high-speed train for which the tickets are sold well. He also said that Ukrzaliznytsia plans to develop international relations not only with Poland, but also with other European countries, especially, taking into account that the visa free regime with the EU would be approximately introduced from June 11. "Now we are holding talks with Slovakia and Hungary, and demand on transportation to these countries would be large," he said. The press service of Ukrzaliznytsia told Interfax-Ukraine that information of some Russian media that allegedly Ukrzaliznytsia decided to terminate passenger railway transportation with Russia from July 1, 2017 is untrue. The Symphony Orchestra of India has been taking the concert out of the concert hall this summer. All May, a string quartet (two violins, a viola and a cello) plans to visit venues across Mumbai and play short sessions to new audiences for free. Theyve already performed Western Classical staples at a non-profit creche in Mumbai Central, a hospitals cancer ward and a home for senior citizens. By the end of the month, theyll have performed at a few corporate offices too. Weve done one-off performances outside of concert halls before, but this is the first time weve run it as a month-long series, says Kushroo Suntook, the orchestras co-founder and chairman of the National Centre for the Performing Arts. Its a casual initiative created by the musicians themselves, he says. Cellist Bianca Mendonca says its a great way to take classical music to those who wouldnt otherwise be exposed to it. I loved playing for the kids of construction workers, she says, of Thursdays creche performance. They respond to classical music differently theyll sit up straighter because its music they havent heard before. Their smiles light up their faces. For violinist Prabhat Kishre and violist Mark Nunes, the highlight is when listeners respond to the songs they know. Five-year-old Kirti added vocals to Zoobi Doobi, from the 2009 hit 3 Idiots; other kids kept time on the creches drums and tambourine. Western classical music is some of the greatest music ever written, says Suntook. First-timers unfailingly marvel at how lovely it sounds, and with initiatives like these, people can enjoy it on their own terms. Plans for a monsoon quartet are being prepared. Well wear gumboots and play, jokes Nunes. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Opposing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporations (BMC) parking policy, residents from A-ward (which includes Churchgate, Fort, Colaba and parts of Cuffe Parade) have decided to file a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Bombay High Court (HC). The residents will be moving court in the first week of June. Under the new civic policy, the BMC has increased charges at parking lots by 300% and would also charge residents for parking on streets. Prerak Chaudhary, an activist and a lawyer, who will be filing the PIL, said the BMC has framed the policy without doing its homework. We are clueless over its implementation. For instance, we don not know how will the plots be alloted to societies. For example, how will the BMC distribute 40 plots in case it receives 1,000 applications? Residents also raised doubts over the limited parking inventory. They also asked what steps the civic body would be taking to keep parking slots encroachment-free where it wants to implement 8pm to 8am parking deadline. Munaf Kapadia, a resident of Colaba, said, We will be supporting the PIL. About 20 organisations are already against the BMCs parking policy. The policy came into effect from April 2 after the Maharashtra government lifted its 2015 stay in February this year. The BMC is implementing the policy in the A ward for residential areas on trial basis. The state had stayed the policy in 2015 after residents opposed it. The policy makes it mandatory for residents to have permits for parking vehicles on road and will cost Rs 1,800 a month. Residential permit scheme Under this scheme, if you live in a housing society that does not have enough parking spaces, you can park your vehicle near your society. However, one has to submit an application along with residential proof at the ward office to claim a parking spot for 12 hours (8pm to 8am) annually. The parking charges will have to be paid in advance. So far, the BMC has received only 125 applications, mostly from Nariman Point and Kala Ghoda. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON For the first time in India, a police force has a special team of 50 personnel trained to deal with citizens issues, unruly crowds and agitated individuals not with force, but with compassion. The personnel were trained in what the police call emotional intelligence (EI) and the team has been holding workshops and programmes teach the techniques to 800 officers and 2,500 police personnel across the country. This initiative was taken by government of India. The 50 officers were selected by the government to train people all over the country. We have had these resources for the past year, but the officers were waiting for their official certificates, which they got after clearing an EI test, said Satish Mathur, director general of police, Maharashtra. Mathur said Maharashtra was one of the few states in the country that was selected for the training. Even though police personnel on the field handle a situation following laws, they are criticised for not being able to understand what the victims are going through. The performance of the force and the positive perception of the police by the public not only depends on their knowledge and skills, but also on their emotional intelligence of the officer, Mathur said. The trained officers are of the rank of assistant commissioner of police (ACP) and below. This is remarkable for us that the officers can hold classes in the state as well as outside state. We have been training personnel, but now we will also train others in the private sector. We want to reach out to other sections of people, said Mathur. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON While announcing the Shiv Senas campaign for a farm loan waiver in Maharashtra, party chief Uddhav Thackeray on Friday launched a scathing attack against ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis over the issue. Thackeray, who addressed a rally of farmers in Nashik, gave a veiled threat of pulling out of the government if his demand to waive off farmers loan is not accepted. The aggression with which the Sena is targeting the BJP, coupled with the personal attack on Fadnavis does not bode well for the future of the saffron alliance. Addressing the farmers, Thackeray said his party would give unconditional support to the government if it grants a farm loan waiver. Give a loan waiver and all the Sena ministers will vacate their seats and will give unconditional outside support. If the waiver is announced, we will ensure the government completes its full term, Thackeray said. The Senas campaign comes at a time when the Congress-NCP-led Opposition is stepping up its attack on the issue, demanding loans of more than Rs30,000 crore taken by farmers be written off. This also signals the end of a brief spell of cordial relations between the two ruling allies weeks after Thackeray participated in a meeting of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJPs unconditional support to the Sena to win power in the Mumbai civic body. For the past few days, the Sena has started targeting Fadnavis. Significantly, Fadnavis has taken a stand that a farm loan waiver cannot be a permanent solution to end farmers woes. The Sena organised the rally in Nashik, where farmers from the adjoining 140 villages took part to protest various issues from farm loan waivers to acquisition of farmland for the construction of the Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway. All Sena MPs and legislators were present at the rally. Member of Parliament Raju Shetti, a key ally of the BJP from Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, was also present at the rally. Thackeray said he will personally lead a march for a farm loan waiver with his party in Mumbai this July. Thackeray also launched a personal attack on the chief minister and said when Fadnavis was in the Opposition, he demanded a loan waiver for farmers, but after coming to power, he has transformed himself into a studious and sincere student who keeps studying issues. Thackerays taunt was prompted by Fadnavis response when the Opposition demanded he follow Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath to announce a farm loan waiver immediately after he took over as CM. The Fadnavis had replied saying the government would study the UP governments decision. The Sena chief said nothing had changed in Maharashtra in the two-and-a-half years since the BJP-led government came to power. We dont know if we have an opposition in the state. We have been asked many times why are we opposing even though we are in the government. Our commitment is to the society and farmers, Thackeray said. Attacking the government over the import of Tur daal, Thackeray demanded action against tur daal import scam. There was a bumper production of tur daal, so why did the government import tur? Whose brain came up with this idea? There should be a thorough investigation in tur import scam, he demanded. Earlier in the day, the Sena targeted CM Fadnavis pet project, the Mumbai-Nagpur expressway called Maharashtra Prosperity Corridor in its mouthpiece, criticising the way the farmers were being made to give their land for the same. The Prosperity Corridor is the dream project of Chief Minister Fadnavis. Why isnt his dream project to prevent the death of farmers? asked the editorial, which is regarded as opinion of the Sena chief. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party feud in Maharashtra intensified on Friday after the former targeted chief minister Devendra Fadnavis pet projectthe Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway. Earlier in the week, Sena leaders attacked Fadnavis over his flagship water conservation projectJalyukta Shivar. In an editorial in partys mouthpiece, Saamna, the Sena criticised the project and asked, The (Maharashtra) Prosperity Corridor is Chief Minister Fadnavis dream project. Why cant his dream project be to prevent the death of farmers instead? The Sena has organised a farmers rally in Nashik on Friday, where farmers from the adjoining 140 villages are expected to take part, to protest various issues from farm loan waivers to acquisition of farmland and construction of the 706-km Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway. Read: BJP-Sena alliance to run BMC possible if Saamana stops criticising Modi: Gadkari Titled the roar of the farmers, the editorial asked whether the government will call the farmers traitors for protesting. The government has prioritised the interests of builders and the rich and important over the interests of the farmers. Has the government ever thought of what the farmers want? it said. Although the Sena has never shied away from criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, the party rarely targeted CM Fadnavis. However, since the past few days, the Sena has directly attacked Fadnavis and his pet projects. In the editorial, Sena also targeted Modi for his poll promise of bringing black money stashed away in Swiss bank accounts back into the economy. It was the Modi governments promise to bring back black money. So get the black money and get rid of farmers debts, the editorial stated. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON There is bad blood between global popstars Katy Perry and Taylor Swift and we all know it. It all began when Swifts backup dancers left her world tour to join Katys world tour. It started a Twitter war between them and it led to Swift trashing Katy in her 2014 music video Bad Blood. And fans are now speculating on Twitter that Perry is finally getting her revenge on Swift, through her new single Swish Swish. The song also features rapper Nicki Minaj, who had also clashed with Swift in 2015 over MTV VMA awards, when Minaj was upset that her music video Anaconda was not nominated for video of the year but Swifts video Bad Blood was. Fans are suggesting that the title of the song Swish Swish sounds like Swift and are also linking it to the noise a snake makes. It seems the war has just begun. Here is the Twitter reaction: I love how Taylor played the victim in Bad Blood, but Katy pictures herself as a confident queen in Swish Swish. (@UriKatyCat) May 19, 2017 Swish - (verb) a prolonged "hissing" sound. Okay, Katy Perry's diss on Taylor Swift is pretty obvious on this one. #SWISHSWISH Jian Genovana (@jiangenovana) May 19, 2017 Is Taylor Swish still alive? Esteban (@EztGo) May 19, 2017 Oh my fucking god Swish Swish is a Taylor Swift diss track! pic.twitter.com/joi3qbmn3y Monster Reactions (@LMonsterReacts) May 19, 2017 Did she really come at Taylor in swish swish QUEEN ISABEL (@QUEEN_ISLAYBEL) May 19, 2017 Wait was Swish Swish supposed to be Katy's clapback to Taylor? boot da boot (@dietspritepapi) May 19, 2017 Why some people are upset because swish swish is supposed to be a diss track? Taylor did it first, so she deserves it Mau (@KatyCatMau) May 19, 2017 Is Katy shading Taylor on 'Swish Swish'? Lol? That's pretty hypocritical Skittles (@bIowzain) May 19, 2017 Katy : I'm not pitting women against one another. Also Katy : *releases Swish Swish, a supposedly diss track aimed at Taylor* pic.twitter.com/qtjy8Y4Cux .presley (@darkangeldown_) May 19, 2017 Let's be honest if Swish Swish wasn't allegedly about Taylor, @RubyRose would have nothing to say but pic.twitter.com/TgNVmtlDG8 fakehappy (@Illumi_NOTme) May 19, 2017 Still not sure? Then check out the music video SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A day after Dr Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU) announced a list of 450 colleges that have been issued a notice over irregularities in the admission process, the university administration has started a probe in the matter. After the probe, the university administration will decide on the legal course of action against colleges found involved in wrongdoings related to admission. A total of 50 colleges in Ghaziabad and 35 colleges in Gautam Budh Nagar have been issued notices by the university administration for submitting 615 and 215 irregular forms, respectively. More than 900 colleges are affiliated with AKTU across the state. In January, the AKTU administration had found that documents of more than 19,000 students were submitted with irregularities by affiliated colleges for academic session 2016-17. The university had then ordered a probe to find out the magnitude of fake admissions. After conducting a probe, the university issued notices to 450 colleges for irregularities in the admission of 5,250 students. Till Thursday evening, the university has identified 13 colleges of the 450 issued notice as having forged the marks tally of students to facilitate their admission. The college administration will now consider the technicalities of pursuing legal action against them. We have found that 13 colleges have committed grave wrongdoings by forging the marks tally of students. Now, the university committee will decide when to lodge an FIR against the college bodies. The committee will also decide on whether to cancel their affiliation, said Aashish Mishra, spokesperson, AKTU. Of the 13 colleges, two colleges are in Greater Noida and two in Ghaziabad. The university management declined to disclose the details of the wrongdoings committed by these colleges. We might add more colleges to this list after our probe is over. We have been sending notices and circulars to all colleges asking them to submit all complete documents of students. Now, our probe will focus on finding out if the colleges have been negligent in their working or if they deliberately forged marks, Mishra said. Dr Bharat Singh, director of Prince Institute of Technology and Management, one of the colleges issued notices, said, In 2016-17, a girl student wanted to pursue masters in management from our institute. She was unable to submit her third-year degree marksheet at the time of admission and she gave us a provisional marksheet instead. The confusion arose due to this and we are in touch with university representatives. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A delegation of plot allottees on Friday met Dr Prabhat Kumar, chairman of the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA), and demanded scrapping of a policy that allows bifurcation of a large plot into two. As per the policy, the authority wants to break up large plots into two. The policy came into being because the authority wants to allot smaller plots rather than big chunky ones. The authority is unable to allot large plots to applicants because farmers in a majority of such cases are not ready to part with their agricultural land that has been earmarked for residential sectors 18 and 20. This move (plot bifurcation) would be extremely unfair to allottees who have been patiently waiting for eight years against a promised possession timeline of 2013. Not only the original price, YERWA (Yamuna Expressway Residential Plot Owners Welfare Association) members have also paid the enhanced amount, as demanded by YEIDA. This has forced us to incur heavy losses and interest. It would be a gross injustice if the authority continues with this bifurcation policy, said Safal Suri, YERWA president. The YEIDA had in 2009 allotted 21,000 residential plots. But the authority has not yet offered possession of these plots because of farmer protests. Many farmers have gone to the court, challenging the acquisition. The authority has not been able to acquire enough land in sectors 18 and 20. The additional land that the authority gets from reducing plot sizes will enable it to give possession to more allottees. But why would we accept smaller plots? said Suri. Amarnath Upadhyaya, additional chief executive officer of YEIDA, said, We are thinking of a proposal to scrap this bifurcation policy. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON PATNA: The death of CRPF jawan Soham Kumar, 45, in judicial custody, is set to snowball into a major controversy, as his family has lodged a complaint against excise department officials for allegedly torturing him. The jawan was claimed to have been caught by sleuths of the excise department on May 17 at around 6.15pm at village Pakauli in Bidupur police station of Vaishali in a drunken state. Vaishali excise superintendent Arvind Kumar said two litres of country liquor had been seized from him and he was produced before the court with request for judicial custody on Thursday morning. However, during production, Soham, a jawan of the 60th battalion, started bleeding from the nose and the court asked excise officials to admit him to a hospital. He was admitted to the sadar hospital with information to the civil surgeon but at around 11.15pm on Thursday, he died in the hospital while still in custody, he added. Family members alleged that after Sohams arrest they had shown a doctors certificate, which prescribed alcohol for the jawan due to his long stay at high altitude. We showed it, but the excise officials did not accept it, said his mother Atiraj Devi, adding that she has lodged a named FIR against Ajay Shankar Sahay (excise SI), Gunjesh Kumar (excise SI) and others with the Bidupur police station over the death of her son. Sohams wife Baby Devi is in Kota for their sons examination. She has been informed about the tragic incident. Soham died due to torture in custody as money was being sought from him, Atiraj Devi alleged. Vaishali acting SP Rashid Zama said as per preliminary investigation, he was a deserter from the CRPF and a case regarding this was also registered with Chakradharpur police station in Jharkhand on November 26, 2016. We will investigate the matter in the light of the complaint, he added. Bihar sector CRPF IG MS Bhatia said the sector headquarters was monitoring the case. We are in touch with the Vaishali administration. A medical board will be constituted for post mortem under camera. Once the report comes, we will decide the future course of action, he added. Soham is the second person to have died in custody within the week after being caught on the charge of consuming liquor in dry Bihar. Earlier, one Chhotelal Bind had died in NMCH. He was arrested from Begumpur area under Bypass police station of Patna on charges of consuming liquor on May 11. TRAGIC Family members allege, after Sohans arrest they had shown docs certificate, prescribing alcohol for jawan due to his long stay at high altitude BLURB During production, Sohan, a jawan of 60th battalion, was bleeding from nose and the court asked excise officials to admit him to a hospital SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Learning lessons from the broad day light murder of bouncer Amit Sharma alias Meet, at Panchkulas Saketri area, on May 9, the UT Police have decided to maintain a record of all private security agencies in the city. The antecedents of the bouncers after verification would also be maintained. Manimajra resident Meet was supplying bouncers to 12 night clubs in the tricity under his firm named The Black Bull. Sources claim he had got employed 200 bouncers and finally business rivalry is stated to be the motive behind his murder. We have decided to identify unregistered security agency companies operating illegally and providing bouncers and guards in the region and legal action will be taken, said Eish Singhal, SSP Chandigarh. 103 pvt security agencies with 10,000 guards function now There are 103 registered private security agencies operating in Chandigarh that employ around 10,000 security guards with private agencies. In addition, 400 people, including college-going students, sportsmen and gym trainers are associated with the industry. The problem arises here that neither the administration nor the police has record of these guards. Law provides for five-yr licence According to the Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2005, in force in Chandigarh, no person or private Security Agency can engage or provide private security guard without licence that is to issued by the DC office and valid for 5 years against payment of fee ranging between Rs 5,000 and Rs 25,000. The application for renewal of license shall be made to the Controlling Authority, not less than 45 days before the date of expiry of the period of validity thereof. Every private security agency shall exhibit its license or a copy thereof at a conspicuous spot at the place of its business. A violation entails a maximum jail term or 1 year or a fine of Rs 25,000 or both. Administrations centre for training guards yet to take off It was in May 2016 the central government had picked Chandigarh for setting up a centre for imparting training to security guards employed with different private agencies registered in the city but the same is yet to see the light of the day. Chandigarh was chosen for the pilot project under Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act 2005. This was to be the first such centre in the country. Under this project Chandigarh administration was to impart training, in addition to the mandatory training given by private security agency, to the private security guards and supervisors. Investigation status in both cases The police found that only unlicenced and country-made weapons were used. None of the accused were holding arms licence, though most members of the two groups were carrying weapon. Three weapons were recovered. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Accounts of Yandex.Ukraine LLC in Ukraine have been blocked, the press service of the company told Interfax-Ukraine on Thursday. "As president's decree No. 133 took effect all our accounts that Yandex.Ukraine LLC could use to send remuneration to partners of the Yandex advertisement chain have been blocked. All funds are stayed on accounts created for partners, but we cannot send them to the accounts of partners," the press service said. The company is looking for a lawful decision to send the funds and continue cooperation. "It is important for us to implement commitments," the company said. Earlier Yandex.Ukraine denied statements of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), in particular, that the company did not respond to relevant inquiries. "We worked and are working strictly in line with legislation. We always react to the inquiries of the SBU and other law enforcement agencies of Ukraine meeting the rules. Yandex is not a social network. It does not have own social network that could spread content mentioned in the SBU's statement," the company said. Police claimed to have arrested two shooters Amandeep Singh Mani and Harjinder Singh Ladi in connection with bouncer Amit Sharma alias Meets murder case on Thursday. DCP Ashok Kumar told HT that the joint team of crime branch and Mansa Devi police station arrested the accused from Chandimandir. The SAS Nagar Police had claimed that the two accused had shot Meet in Panchkulas Saketri area last Monday at the behest of Meets old rival Gagandeep Singh. The murder plot was hatched from inside the Nabha jail, where Gagan was had been lodged in connection with an Arms Act case. This was revealed after SAS Nagar police got Gagandeeps custody two days after Meets murder. On Monday last week, the Panchkula police got his remand after which he was produced on production warrant from Nabha jail. The DCP claimed that the arrests were a major shot in the arm in the ongoing murder probe. The police will seek their remand after they are produced in a local court on Friday," he said One of the accused had worked as police informer Mani and Ladi had been involved in petty crimes earlier and it is for the first time that their names have figured in a murder case. A Zirakpur police official said Mani had been worked as an informer, after he had been acquitted. He had gone into hiding after his name cropped up in Amits murder case. Ladi worked as an electrician before he got involved in petty crime, His family is said to have disowned him. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In a move that will benefit residents of Ludhiana and adjoining districts, flight operations from the Sahnewal airport will start from next month under the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) scheme, MP Ravneet Singh Bittu has said. The airport has been lying defunct for nearly three years. The Ludhiana MP met minister of state (MoS) for civil aviation Jayant Sinha in New Delhi on Thursday to speed up the process. He also met Punjab officials in this regard. In a press release issued here, Bittu said Alliance Air will start regular flights in June while Deccan Charters will start flights in August. For flights having a distance of 500km or less or lasting not more than an hour, 50% seats per flight have been capped at Rs 2,500 apiece under the central scheme. To begin with, the Sahnewal airport will have flights to Delhi followed by Mumbai and other major cities. Bittu said the Punjab government will help the airlines ensure better air connectivity in the state. Earlier, the airlines had suspended flights from the airport as they incurred losses. But now, the state and cental governments will provide financial aid to these companies if they suffer losses. Bittu said the Punjab government has apprised him that it is cooperating with the Centre on issues like viability gap funding, relief on taxes on aviation fuel at refuelling facilities, exemption from landing charges and hanger facilities. The issue of adding length to the airstrip at the airport is also under the state governments consideration. In a bizarre protest over non-supply of potable water in Bahona village in the district, its Sikh sarpanch on Friday snipped off his beard and hung it on the door of the deputy commissioners office after the latter allegedly failed to fulfil his promise to ensure restoration of water supply. The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) had snapped the power connection of the tubewell that supplies potable water in Bahona in the wake of non-payment of pending bills amounting to Rs 16 lakh by the panchayat, resulting into an acute water crisis. On Thursday, Sarpanch Harbhajan Singh had held a protest with a black cloth worn around his mouth at the mini-secretariat here that houses the DC office. He had also vowed not to take water for the entire day. DC Dilraj Singh then assured him that he would get the water supply in his village restored till Thursday evening, but it was not restored. Harbhajan said that when he called up the DC on Thursday evening, the latter asked him to come on Friday to discuss the issue. I then told him that if he wont restore the water supply till 11 am on Friday, I will cut-off my beard over spoiling my reputation in the village, he said. However, when I went to meet the DC on Friday, he didnt entertain me and abruptly left his office without listening to me, which forced me to snip off my beard, he added. Harbhajan snipped off the lower part of his beard and hang it on the door of the DC office. The sarpanch later demanded strict action against the DC for abetting a Sikh man to snip off his beard. Watch: Sarpanch blames Moga DC WATER SUPPLY RESTORED When contacted, DC Dilraj said he was busy in a meeting due to which he could not meet the sarpanch. But I told him to submit an undertaking with the PSPCL office that the panchayat will pay the electricity bill for the village tubewell. However, he said, the sarpanch wanted free power for the tubewell. This is not possible as there is no provision to provide free water to the residential sector, he added. The DC said he later sent a team of officials to Bahona where villagers assured that they will pay the pending power bills, following which the water supply was restored to the village by the PSPCL officials. A mob of nearly 20 youths on Thursday lynched three men to death over false charges of child lifting, taking the toll to four killings and six assaults by the public in the last ten days over such rumours in Jharkhands Kolhan division. The incident took place at Sobhapur village under Rajnagar police station in Saraikela-Kharsawan district on Thursday morning. The victimsSheikh Naim, Md Halim and Md Sajjadwho were on way to Seraikela from Jamshedpur in a car, were intercepted by the villagers at Sobhapur. Suspecting them as members of child theft gang, they started thrashing the trio till they fell unconscious. The police reached the spot to rescue the trio, but were also attacked by the mob. The group of youths torched the police van and victims car. The police, however, rushed the injured to hospital where they died during treatment. Deputy inspector general (DIG) of Kolhan division, Prabhat Kumar, said three persons were killed in Rajnagar by the public, suspecting them as members of child theft gang. The police have witnessed that innocent persons have been killed by the people over false charges of child stealing gang operating in the division. However, no one has come forward with complaint of child theft. We have appealed Kolhan residents for not taking notice of such rumours, the DIG said. Seraikela-Kharsawan superintendent of police, Rakesh Bansal, too, confirmed that villagers attacked the three youths suspecting them as members of a child theft gang. After thrashing them severely, locals attacked police patrol party and torched their vehicle. Two police officials, Sarjan Soren and Gurunath Singh, sustained injuries in the incident, he added. Sarjans condition deteriorated later and he had to be shifted to Tata Main Hospital (TMH) in Jamshedpur for advanced treatment. The other injured were rushed to a local hospital, where they breathed last. Senior police personnel and senior officials of the district administration are camping at the site to maintain law and order, he said. Police have identified 20 locals allegedly involved in the attacked and have launched search operation to apprehend them. A couple of vehicles have been seized from the crime spot. The SP said though the deceased were from a minority community, the incident did not take communal colour and the situation was under control. We will spare no effort to book the culprits and ensure that rule of the land prevails, the SP said. Similar incidents of mob justice was witnessed on May 10 in East Singhbhum district when two persons were killed in Jadugoda and six others were assaulted in different regions of the district by the people who branded them as members of child lifters gang. A new era of industrialisation has begun in Jharkhand, chief minister Raghubar Das said on Thursday while laying foundation of 21 ventures and inaugurating three projects here at Hotwar. Nineteen companies are setting up 21 projects that include textile, food and feed processing, pharmaceuticals, waste management, health, footwear, warehouse and logistics at an estimated cost of Rs 710 crore. This would generate over 21,000 direct employment. The projects are taking ground 90 days after signing memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the states maiden Global Investors Submit (GIS) held from February 16-17 this year, Das said, adding, 30-35 more projects will come up by July this year. The state government had signed 210 MoUs worth Rs 3.10 lakh crore during the GIS, which was participated by 11,000 Indian and 600 foreign delegates. Government officials claimed the MoUs were divided into two categoriesshort term and long term. Over 100 short term MoUs would be implemented within a year, officials claimed. Earlier, Jharkhand was criticised for signing MoUs only but not making them operational. We had signed MoUs with the companies for not making headlines but to end poverty, unemployment and check migration from the state, Das said, adding, the state is ready to achieve Prime Minister Narendra Modis Make in India dream through Make in Jharkhand. He said hundreds of Jharkhand youths migrate to other states for employment and they faced social and economic exploitation. The scenario is changing. Now, they will get job in their home state. We will soon bring back 600 youths, who had migrated to Gurugram for jobs, and they will be employed here, he said. Jharkhands image has improved over the two and half years and it has become more conducive for industrialisation. We worked on 18 different policies and made them industry friendly. Chief minister and bureaucrats are also available 24x7 to listen and help the companies interested to invest in Jharkhand, Das said, adding, there is no land crisis in the state and companies would be provided within a month of their requisition. The state has also given much focus on skill development and provisioned Rs 700 crore in the budget for current fiscal. The investors would not face skilled manpower crisis, Das said. He added around 1,000-1,500 jobs would be created under Start Up India initiative in a couple of weeks. Some of the leading companies who are setting up the projects in the state, are Orient Craft, Shahi Exports, Kaveri Agri Warehousing, Dev Aahar Food Industries, Shaw Pharma, Matrix Clothing, Pragati Beverages and Thriveni Apparels. Orient Craft Limited (OCL) would set up a textile park on 25 acres of land at Hotwar at an investment of Rs 200 crore, which would create 15,000 direct jobs. OCL chairman-cum-managing director Sudhir Dhingra said, I had met Jharkhand chief minister in July last year. He had said the migration rate of youth in Jharhand is high and he wanted their ghar wapsi and job creation for them. This impressed me and prompted me to start textile unit in the state. Dhingra said garment industry is a job intensive sector, which creates 50 times more jobs than the other general industry. Work on the textile park will begin in two weeks and the world class plant will be operational in six to seven months, he said. Amit Oils Private Limiteds, managing director, CP Agarwal, said they would set up units of rice bran oil with 300 tonne per day capacity, edible oil refinery with 100 tonne per day and cattle feed with 200 tonne per day capacity. The project would create 1,000 direct jobs and 1,000 indirect jobs. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Rajini-darbar finally comes to an end on May 19, with Thalaiva addressing the fans on the fourth day. The actor who met his fans after 8 years, said how after living in Tamil Nadu for 43 years and receiving the fans appreciation, he has now turned into a true-Tamilian. Many are seeing this as a befitting reply to actor-turned-politician Sarath Kumars outsider remark against him, made earlier this year. I am 67 years old. I lived in Karnataka for 23 years and in Tamil Nadu for 43 years. I have lived and grown with you. You have been truly loving and welcoming and made me a true Tamilian. If I have to live anywhere in this world that will be in Tamil Nadu, he said. For the uninitiated Sarath Kumar, in the past, had labelled Rajinikanth an outsider Kannadiga, who stepped into Tamil Nadu to find work. This remark came after the Kabali star, at an event, observed that he misses actor-political satirist Cho Ramaswamy, at a time of unusual political developments in the state, following the demise of late chief minister J Jayalalithaa. His statement was touted to be in reference to Sasikala taking the reins of AIADMK. Kumar, who contested on the AIADMK symbol in the assembly election from Tiruchendur in Tamil Nadu in May 2016, on this note, said that Rajinikanth should be careful about his comments on public platforms, adding that he would be the first to oppose the 2.0 star, if he tries his hands in politics. During the event, Rajinikanth further said, Both support and oppose is a part of the system. You cant grow without any opposition. And in politics, it is inevitable and you have to live with it. One thing as @superstarrajini Fan i want 2 clarify No PoliticalLeader Has rights 2 say #Rajinikanth Shld not Rule TN Only People Shld Decide pic.twitter.com/dNdjDFDh6M Rajinikanth fans (@Rajni_FC) May 19, 2017 He also thanked the organizers and the fans for their relentless support. I thank the staff and the police, who made this event a success. I also thank my fans for their relentless support over the years, he said. Over a period of four days, the superstar met his fans in batches, between May 15 and 19. Invitations were sent to all the respective fan clubs to attend the various sessions. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop Actor Pooja Banerjee, who tied the knot with Asian Games gold medallist swimmer, Sandeep Sejwal, in March this year, is back to work now. The 25-year-old, who is shooting for her show Chandra Nandini, says that not much has changed after marriage. Sandeep is very supportive of my profession and understands when I have long shooting schedules. He is happy that I am following my passion and loves watching me on screen, says Pooja. Actor Pooja Banerjee says she always wanted to see snow and saw snow for the first time during her honeymoon. The actor, who went to Switzerland for her honeymoon, had a marvellous time there. Ive wanted to see snow for a long time. So this was the first time I encountered snow, and that too with my life partner. I couldnt have been more excited, says Pooja. Actor Pooja Banerjee says she has always been very comfortable with how she looks on screen. As talks veer to her professional life, Pooja says shes confident about the roles she takes up. While many television actors feel uncomfortable wearing a swimsuit on screen, Pooja, who sported a swimming costume in her show Swim Team, says she has always been very comfortable with her body on-screen. I have always been very happy with the way I look, even on days when I dont work out. I have been extremely comfortable while wearing swimsuits [for my show Swim Team] and Im also comfortable wearing heavy costumes for my current show. I have also grown up as an actor, so such scenes are no different than others and all you need is confidence in your script and yourself, says Pooja, who has been seen in shows such as The Adventures of Hatim and Ek Doosre Se Karte Hain Pyaar Hum. Follow @htshowbiz for more The Cannes Film Festival stopped the world premiere screening of the Netflix movie Okja after five minutes on Friday after sustained heckling from the audience. Okja, starring Tilda Swinton and Jake Gyllenhaal, is one of the hottest movies at this years festival but controversial because US video-on-demand company Netflix has refused to screen it in French cinemas. Cannes making an A+ case for the primacy of the cinema experience this AM by projecting the first ten mins of Okja in the wrong aspect ratio Robbie Collin (@robbiereviews) May 19, 2017 Disaster at OKJA. Movie starts with top of image cut off. Audience who already booed Netflix card clap, yell, scream. (1) #Cannes2017 Gregory Ellwood (@TheGregoryE) May 19, 2017 OKJA starts, huge boos at Netflix logo. Then film plays in wrong aspect ratio and Grand Lumiere almost rioted. movie stopped. #Cannes2017 david ehrlich (@davidehrlich) May 19, 2017 in other news, the first 5 minutes of OKJA are totes incredible, even when seen in an unfolding prison riot environment. david ehrlich (@davidehrlich) May 19, 2017 The Festival released the following press release A technical problem occurred during the press screening of OKJA, the film by Bong Joon ho, this morning at the 8.30am screening at the Auditorium Lumiere. After an interruption of several minutes, the screening started again and went normal. This incident is completely due to the technical staff of the Festival who deeply apologize to the director and his team, to the producers as well as to the audience. Okja, a $50-million creature feature about a young country girl who tries to save a beast created by an unscrupulous multinational company, had been touted as a possible winner of the festivals top prize, the Palme dOr. But a bitter row between the streaming giant and French cinema owners may have already put it, and the other film purchased by Netflix, The Meyerowitz Stories with Adam Sandler and Ben Stiller, out of contention. Netflix sparked uproar in France by refusing to put the movies on general release there, where subscription services must wait three years to stream films after they show in cinemas. Spanish director and jury president Pedro Almodovar dropped a bombshell Wednesday by suggesting they should not win anything. He said he could not imagine the Palme dOr nor any other prize being given to a film, and then not being able to see that film on a large screen. But his fellow jury member Hollywood star Will Smith took a strongly opposing view, singing Netflixs praises to reporters. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop A 58-year-old Indian who was detained by American customs officials last week for not possessing necessary immigration documents while entering the country died in custody at an Atlanta hospital. Atul Kumar Babubhai Patel was taken in custody by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Atlanta City Detention Center for two days. He died on Tuesday afternoon at the hospital with the officials stating the preliminary cause of his demise as complications from congestive heart failure. Patel arrived at the Atlanta airport on May 10 on a flight from Ecuador. US Customs and Border Protection subsequently denied him entry into the country as he did not possess the necessary immigration documents, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said in a statement. Patel was transferred into the ICE custody last week at the Atlanta City Detention Center where he received an initial medical screening and was found to have high blood pressure and diabetes. On Saturday, two days after being in the ICE custody, a nurse checking Patels blood sugar noticed he had a breathing problem following which he was shifted to a hospital where he passed away. ICE said it is firmly committed to the health and welfare of all those in its custody and is undertaking a comprehensive agency-wide review of the incident, as it does in all such cases. The agency the informed the Indian consular representatives who notified Patels kin about his demise. The agency added that fatalities in its custody are exceedingly rare and occur at a fraction of the rate of the US detained population as a whole. Patel is the eighth such individual who died in the custody of ICE the fiscal year 2017. A 58-year-old Indian who was detained by American customs officials last week for not possessing necessary immigration documents while entering the country died in custody at an Atlanta hospital. Atul Kumar Babubhai Patel was taken in custody by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Atlanta City Detention Center for two days. He died on Tuesday afternoon at the hospital with the officials stating the preliminary cause of his demise as complications from congestive heart failure. His body will be cremated in Atlanta. The CGI has been in regular touch with the family of late Shri Patel in India as well as the local Gujarati Samaj. The Consulate General has been authorised by Shri Patels family to cremate the body in Atlanta. The last rites will be performed once the body is handed over to the Consulate after post mortem. Patel arrived at the Atlanta airport on May 10 on a flight from Ecuador. US Customs and Border Protection subsequently denied him entry into the country as he did not possess the necessary immigration documents, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said in a statement. Patel was transferred into the ICE custody last week at the Atlanta City Detention Center where he received an initial medical screening and was found to have high blood pressure and diabetes. On Saturday, two days after being in the ICE custody, a nurse checking Patels blood sugar noticed he had a breathing problem following which he was shifted to a hospital where he passed away. ICE said it is firmly committed to the health and welfare of all those in its custody and is undertaking a comprehensive agency-wide review of the incident, as it does in all such cases. The agency the informed the Indian consular representatives who notified Patels kin about his demise. The agency added that fatalities in its custody are exceedingly rare and occur at a fraction of the rate of the US detained population as a whole. Patel is the eighth such individual who died in the custody of ICE the fiscal year 2017. Kyiv City Administration has signed a memorandum of cooperation with a Chinese consortium, consisting of China Railway International Group and China Pacific Construction Group, for the implementation of a project to build the fourth subway line in the city. According to a posting on the administration's website, Deputy Head of Kyiv City Administration Mykola Povoroznik signed the document during a visit of a Ukrainian delegation to China. The delegation took part in the dialog at the high level at the One Belt, One Road forum. Povoroznik said that under the memo the Chinese consortium having large experience in building infrastructure projects is a managing partner of the project to build the fourth subway line in Kyiv. The consortium intends to analyze the current state of the project implementation. "Specialists from China would study the current state of the implementation of the project on construction of the fourth subway line in Kyiv. They would consider technical details, the volume of financing and the legal way thanks to which the project will be completed. The study would also include the assessment of legal and financial viability of the project, including the feasibility study and the estimated spending," he said. According to the memo, the consortium of Chinese company could act as contractor operating under the Engineering, Procurement, Construction (EPC) conditions and implement projects using the EPC+F (EPC plus financing) model. The Chinese consortium would help Kyiv City Administration to attract funds of Chinese financial institutions, which would help to establish cooperation with the Chinese government and implement large infrastructure projects. A roadside bombing killed 11 people in eastern Afghanistan on Friday as they were travelling to a wedding in the countrys east, a local official said. The attack came just hours after an Afghan policeman turned his rifle on his colleagues as they slept at an outpost in eastern Nangarhar province on Thursday night, killing five. Those killed by the roadside bomb in Logar province five women, five children and a man were all from the same family, said Salim Salleh, the spokesman for the provincial governor of Logar. In the Thursday night attack, district governor, Abdul Wahab Momand, said the policeman shot his colleagues at an outpost in the district of Ghanikhil. After the shooting, the attacker, who was only identified by one name, Nasratullah, seized all the victims firearms and fled the scene, the governor said. Neither the Taliban nor the Islamic State group the two militant groups who operate in the area immediately claimed responsibility for the attack in Nangarhar, a mountainous province that borders Pakistan. There was also no claim of responsibility for the attack in Logar but Salleh, the spokesman, accused the Taliban of planting the roadside bomb. Afghanistan has the highest number of mine victims in the world, which along with roadside bombs kill or wound an estimated 140 people every month. The Taliban have stepped up their attacks since announcing their spring offensive last month. Elsewhere in Afghanistan, another roadside bomb targeted a U.S. militarily convoy in northern Parwan province on Friday, the international missions media officer, Doug High, said. The explosion disabled an armoured vehicle but caused no injuries, High said. After recovering the vehicle, the convoy continued on its mission, he added. Swedish prosecutors dropped an investigation of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Friday over a rape allegation, but British police said he would still be arrested if he left the Ecuadorean embassy in London where he has been holed up for five years. Assange, 45, took refuge in the embassy in June 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden after two women made rape and sexual molestation allegations against him, which he denies. He feared Sweden would hand him over to the United States to face prosecution over WikiLeaks publication of swathes of classified military and diplomatic documents in one of the largest information leaks in U.S. history. Appearing on the balcony of the embassy after the Swedish announcement, Assange said he was ready to talk to Britain about what is the best way forward and with the U.S. Department of Justice, but also defended his right to stay put. The road is far from over. The war, the proper war is just commencing, he told supporters and media after raising a clenched fist in a gesture of victory. Police in London said they were still obliged to arrest Assange if he left the embassy for skipping bail. They said this was a much less serious offence than rape, but he could still face up to a year in jail if convicted. Assange is a cyber hero to some for exposing government abuses of power and championing free speech, but to others he is a criminal who has undermined the security of the West. The former computer hacker enraged Washington by publishing hundreds of thousands of secret U.S. diplomatic cables that laid bare often highly critical U.S. appraisals of world leaders from Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Saudi royal family. Earlier on Friday Swedish Chief Prosecutor Marianne Ny said the rape investigation could not proceed due to legal obstacles. We are not making a statement about his guilt, Ny said, adding that the investigation could be reopened if Assange came to Sweden before the statute of limitations deadline for the rape allegation in 2020. Assange always denied the rape allegations and said they were a ploy to get him whisked off to the United States. WANTED BY WASHINGTON In January, Assange said he stood by an offer to go to the United States providing his rights were upheld and if former military intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning, who was responsible for a 2010 leak of classified materials to Assanges anti-secrecy group, was freed. Manning was released on Wednesday after spending seven years in a U.S. military prison for passing the documents to WikiLeaks. British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Friday it would be an operational matter for the police to decide whether to arrest Assange if he left the embassy. Asked if she would support Britain extraditing Assange to the United States, she said: We look at extradition requests when we receive them on a case-by-case basis. While Assange may still not be able to leave the embassy in the upmarket Knightsbridge area of London, the prosecutors decision to stop the investigation into allegations of rape brings to an end a seven-year stand-off with Sweden. The Ecuadorean government welcomed the decision and in a statement called on Britain to grant Assange safe passage to Ecuador. Foreign Minister Guillaume Long said Assange was welcome to stay in the embassy if this was not granted. As long as we fear that this is a case of political persecution ... as long as we fear for Mr. Assanges integrity and human rights, we will continue with our policy of offering him asylum, Long said in a telephone interview. He said that recent statements by U.S. President Donald Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions indicating that United States authorities would seek to arrest Assange were a sign that he still faces persecution outside Britain. HOSTILE INTELLIGENCE SERVICE Last month CIA Director Mike Pompeo called WikiLeaks a hostile intelligence service, and Sessions, responding to a question about Assange, said the Trump administration was stepping up its efforts against all leaks of sensitive information. Whenever a case can be made, we will seek to put some people in jail, Sessions said. During last years U.S. presidential election campaign, WikiLeaks published emails from Hillary Clintons staff and the Democratic National Committee which some believe helped to lose her the election to Trump. U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded the Russian government hacked the emails as part of an effort by Moscow to tilt the election in Trumps favour. The Assange case has raised questions about the Swedish justice system, with a United Nations panel saying Assange had been subject to arbitrary detention. Prosecutors have been accused of vacillating, first dropping the preliminary investigation and then re-opening it and of dragging their heels over questioning Assange. Prosecutors first interviewed Assange in November last year in the Ecuadorean embassy. They were not allowed to question him directly but only through an Ecuadorean prosecutor. Assanges lawyer, Per Samuelson, hailed Swedens decision to drop the investigation as a total victory for us. Brazils President Michel Temer defiantly refused to step down over allegations that he gave his blessing to payment of hush money for a politician convicted of corruption. I will not resign, he announced emphatically in a brief televised statement to the nation on Thursday. Less than 24 hours after an explosive report in O Globo newspaper that Temer was caught on tape agreeing to bribe the jailed politician, he faced three formal requests for his impeachment. There were also signs that his ruling coalition was crumbling, with some allies calling for his resignation. Piling on the pressure, the Supreme Court gave its green light to the opening of a formal investigation into Temers alleged involvement with the hush money. Demonstrators take part in a protest against Brazil's President Michel Temer in Sao Paulo on Thursday. (REUTERS) There had been growing speculation that Temer might use his televised address to resign. However, the veteran centre-right politician, who took over last year with a promise to restore Brazils stability after the impeachment of leftist president Dilma Rousseff, came out swinging. He highlighted signs this week that Brazils two-year recession is coming to an end and claimed that optimism was returning thanks to a program of austerity reforms that he is trying to pass in Congress. Now those efforts may come to nothing, he warned. Demonstrators shout slogans against Brazilian President Michel Temer in Sao Paulo. (AP) Backlash It remained unclear whether Temers defiance will be enough, with cracks growing in the ruling coalition, which is centered on Temers PMDB party and the PSDB Social Democrats, along with a coalition of smaller parties. Earlier, a PSDB leader, Ricardo Tripoli, told AFP that if the evidence is confirmed, then we will ask our (ministers) to leave the government. Senator Randolfe Rodrigues from the opposition Rede party promised demonstrations until Temer quits. Brazil has no government, Rodrigues said. The Sao Paulo stock market reacted in panic to the specter of Brazil losing its second president in just over 12 months. The Bovespa index crashed more than 10 percent after opening, triggering an automatic suspension of trading for 30 minutes. A demonstrator reacts near riot police officers during a protest against Brazil's President Michel Temer in Brasilia. (REUTERS) Investors have been counting on Temer pushing through the austerity reforms, which include a raising of the minimum retirement age, so that Brazils bloated public finances can be brought under control. Bribes Temer was reported late Wednesday by O Globo to have been secretly recorded agreeing to payments of hush money to Eduardo Cunha, the disgraced former speaker of the lower house of Congress. According to the report, the president discussed the matter with Joesley Batista, an executive from the meatpacking giant JBS, on March 7. Batista told Temer that he was paying money to make sure that Cunha -- thought to have encyclopedic knowledge of Brazils notoriously dirty political world -- would keep quiet while serving his jail sentence for taking bribes. In the recording, offered as evidence in a plea bargain between Batista and his brother Wesley with prosecutors, Temer allegedly can be heard telling Batista: You need to keep doing that, OK? In his statement Thursday, Temer angrily responded to the claim, saying: I never bought anyones silence. A separate secret recording made by Batista allegedly caught Senator Aecio Neves, head of the PSDB party and a close Temer ally, asking him for a bribe of two million reais, or around $600,000. The Supreme Court suspended Neves. Officers could be seen entering Neves property in Rio de Janeiro and his sister Andrea was arrested in Belo Horizonte. Globo published what seemed to be pictures showing men delivering a suitcase of cash for Neves. Limited presidential immunity The scandal is the latest shockwave from the wider Car Wash graft probe ripping through Brazilian politics. Investigators have uncovered a massive scheme in which politicians took bribes in exchange for getting big businesses overinflated contracts with state oil company Petrobras. The bribery and embezzlement then rippled far beyond, pulling in many of the countrys most famous executives and leaders. Former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a leftist icon for many in Latin America, faces five corruption trials, while a third of the Senate and a third of Temers own cabinet are under investigation. Until now Temer has managed to stay above the fray. Although previously alleged to have participated in large-scale bribery deals, Temer had limited immunity. He could not be prosecuted for crimes prior to his mandate. However, the hush money claims date from well within his time in office. China and the 10 countries in the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) have agreed on the rough outline of a legally binding code of conduct designed to prevent clashes in the strategic South China Sea, officials said. Chinese vice foreign minister Liu Zhenmin was quoted in state media on Friday as saying that the agreement laid a solid foundation for further negotiations. All parties have vowed to continue to constructively advance the negotiations toward the early conclusion of the code of conduct, Liu was quoted as telling Xinhua news agency following Thursdays meeting in the southern Chinese city of Guiyang. Map shows disputed claims in the South China Sea. (AFP) The Philippines welcomed the finalisation of the draft of the framework. It contains elements that the parties agreed upon and will be presented to Chinese and ASEAN foreign ministers in August for consideration, the statement from the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said. No details were given and Liu said the text of the framework agreement would remain secret for now. No date was given for the adoption of a full code of conduct. Also on Friday, China and the Philippines were to meet separately to discuss an agenda for future talks on their dispute over islands and waters in the eastern portion of the South China Sea. China was enraged by a ruling last year from a Hague tribunal invalidating most of its South China Sea claims in a case brought by the Philippines. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has downplayed that ruling as part of his push for a broad improvement in relations between the sides since taking office in June that has cast a shadow over Manilas ties to its longtime ally, the United States. Despite the thaw in relations, China protested a visit last month by Manilas defense and military chiefs to a disputed island in the South China Sea. The Philippine government maintained that it owns the territory where Filipino troops and villagers have lived for decades. China and the members of ASEAN committed 15 years ago to signing a code of conduct, but progress has been slow amid disputes over the body of water that China claims virtually in its entirety. In the absence of such an agreement, they have followed a separate document called the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, or DOC, which among other provisions, commits the parties to exploring ways for building trust and confidence ... on the basis of equality and mutual respect. Along with the Philippines, ASEAN members Malaysia, Vietnam and Brunei also maintain claims in the South China Sea that overlap with those of China and Taiwan. An estimated $5 trillion in global trade annually passes through the South China Sea, which is also home to rich fishing grounds and a potential wealth of oil, gas and other natural resources. Chinese authorities in south western Sichuan province have evicted followers and razed hundreds of homes at one of the worlds largest centers of Tibetan Buddhist learning in a months-long operation that has drawn protests from Tibetans in exile. Local officials in Garze prefecture said that they were carrying out demolitions to prevent overcrowding and to renovate Larung Gar, a sprawling, mountainside settlement that housed more than 10,000 monks and nuns who stayed and studied for months at a time. Authorities are reportedly seeking to cut the population by half, to 5,000. Overseas Tibetan groups said that the forced evictions and demolitions were meant to put a damper on the practice and spread of Tibetan Buddhism. Larung Gars academy has increasingly attracted large numbers of disciples from Chinas Han ethnic majority as well as foreign visitors. Earlier this year, a video circulated on social media that purportedly showed young Tibetan nuns from the monastery being directed to sing about their Chinese-ness and pledge their patriotic loyalty inside a government building. Several United Nations special rapporteurs wrote to the Chinese government in November to express concern about the serious repression of Buddhist Tibetan cultural and religious practices in the region. China on Friday reacted to a naval exercise between India and Singapore in the dispute-ridden South China Sea by saying it has an open attitude towards exchanges between countries that benefit regional peace and security. Beijings reaction came a day after the two countries began their week-long Simbex-17 naval exercise - which will focus on anti-submarine warfare - in the South China Sea, where China is locked in disputes over the ownership of islands and reefs with neighbours such as the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and Taiwan. If such exercises and cooperation are for the benefit of regional peace and stability, then we have no opposition, foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a regular news briefing. We hold a very open attitude to normal exchanges between countries, she said when asked to comment on the exercise in the South China Sea, which is claimed by China almost in its entirety. We just hope when relevant countries conduct such exchange and cooperation, they should bear in mind such activities not hurt the interests of other countries or have a negative impact on regional peace and stability, she said. India and Singapore held their first naval exercise in the South China Sea in 2005. Between 1994 and 2004, the two navies held their drills - then called Lion King - off the coast of Kochi. India has sent the warships Shivalik, Sahyadri, Jyoti and Kamorta and a P8-I maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft for this years drill. The Singapore Navy was represented by the warships Supreme, Formidable and Victory, Fokker F50 maritime patrol aircraft and RSAF F-16 aircraft. Simbex is an acronym for Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercises. The thrust of exercises at sea this year would be on anti-submarine warfare, integrated operations with surface, air and sub-surface forces, air defence and surface encounter exercises, said a statement from the Indian Navy. Media reports said a Yuan-class submarine of China's People's Liberation Army-Navy was "picked up" by India's P8-I aircraft as soon as it crossed the Malacca Strait during April 19-20. The submarine was later denied permission by Sri Lanka to dock in one of its harbours, the reports said. Singapore has military relations with China and India, though Beijing has occasionally been irked with the city states ties with Taiwan, which it considers a breakaway region. In November, 2015, India and Singapore signed a revised Defence Cooperation Agreement, deepening cooperation by establishing a defence ministers dialogue, strengthening maritime cooperation and encouraging cooperation between defence industries. In January this year, the two sides renewed an agreement to allow the Royal Singapore Air Force (RSAF) to continue joint military training at Kalaikunda air base in West Bengal for another five years. The renewed agreement will provide the RSAF with opportunities to train with India's advanced Su-30 combat jets. (eom) -- Two Chinese SU-30 aircraft carried out what the US military described on Thursday as an unprofessional intercept of a US aircraft designed to detect radiation while it was flying in international airspace over the East China Sea. The issue is being addressed with China through appropriate diplomatic and military channels, said Air Force spokeswoman Lieutenant Colonel Lori Hodge. Hodge said the U.S. characterization of the incident was based on initial reports from the U.S. aircrew aboard the WC-135 Constant Phoenix aircraft due to the maneuvers by the Chinese pilot, as well as the speeds and proximity of both aircraft. Distances always have a bearing on how we characterize interactions, Hodge said, adding a U.S. military investigation into the intercept was underway. She said the WC-135 was carrying out a routine mission at the time and was operating in accordance with international law. China is deeply suspicious of any US military activity in the resource-rich South China Sea. On Feb. 8, a US Navy P-3 spy plane and a Chinese military aircraft came close to each other over the South China Sea in an incident the Navy saw as unsafe but also inadvertent. Reuters reported at the time that the aircraft came within 1,000 feet (305 meters) of each other in the vicinity of the Scarborough Shoal, between the Philippines and the Chinese mainland. US President Donald Trump on Thursday called the situation in Venezuela a disgrace to humanity and said the deadly political crisis was possibly the worst of its kind in decades. We havent really seen a problem like that... in decades, in terms of the kind of violence that were witnessing, Trump told a press conference with visiting Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. People dont have enough to eat. People have no food. Theres great violence. And we will do whatever is necessary and we will work together to do whatever is necessary to help with fixing that. What is happening is really a disgrace to humanity. Shortly thereafter the US Treasury slapped sanctions on eight members of Venezuelas Supreme Court, charging them with undermining the deeply divided countrys democratic legislature in support of a corrupt government. Trumps comments came one day after the Venezuelan government announced it was sending more than 2,500 troops to a trouble-hit region on the border with Colombia to try to quell weeks of violence that have claimed 44 lives nationwide. Despite its vast oil reserves, Venezuela is suffering chronic shortages of food, medicine and other basic supplies. The center-right opposition blames it all on mismanagement and corruption in the Socialist government. President Nicolas Maduro in turn blames sabotage by the bourgeois opposition, which he says is backed by Washington. When you look at the oil reserves that they have, when you look at the potential wealth that Venezuela has, you sort of have to wonder why is that happening, how is that possible? said Trump. It has been unbelievably poorly run for a long period of time, and hopefully that will change and they could use those assets for the good and to take care of their people, he said. Tough sanctions The Treasury Department sanctions were Washingtons toughest action yet signalling support for hundreds of thousands of protestors seeking Maduros tight grip on power. The announcement followed a series of rulings since mid-2016 in which the court usurped the National Assemblys powers in support of Maduro. The sanctions freeze any assets the countrys most powerful judicial figures may have in US jurisdictions and lock them out of much of global banking. The Venezuelan people are suffering from a collapsing economy brought about by their governments mismanagement and corruption, Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. Members of the countrys Supreme Court of Justice have exacerbated the situation by consistently interfering with the legislative branchs authority, he said. By imposing these targeted sanctions, the United States is supporting the Venezuelan people in their efforts to protect and advance democratic governance in their country. Venezuelas foreign minister Delcy Rodriguez took to Twitter to reject the US-imposed measures, calling them outrageous and unacceptable. She said the sanctions are proof of the US authority and leadership in the destabilization of Venezuela. The Treasury cited recent Supreme Court rulings that have allowed Maduro to rule by executive decree, exempted the government from submitting its budget to the legislature, and taken away from the legislature the power to appoint the National Electoral Council. In March, the court stripped parliamentary immunity from members of the National Assembly and moved to assume legislative powers for itself. Those decisions have since been partially reversed. The eight named for sanctions include the president of the Supreme Court, Maikel Moreno, and the seven principal members of the courts Constitutional Chamber. In February, the US designated Maduros vice president and presumed heir Tareck El Aissami a major international drug trafficker. Former Democratic congressman Anthony Weiner pleaded guilty on Friday to the charge of sending obscene material to a minor. I am guilty your honour, Weiner said in a New York court, tearing up as he struggled to read a prepared statement, according to reports. I knew this was as morally wrong as it was unlawful. The charge is punishable with a maximum jail sentence of up to 10 years, but under the plea deal prosecutors are expect to seek between 24 and 27 months. Weiner was already in federal custody ahead of the hearing. The judge told him he would have to register as a sex offender. The FBI began investigating Weiner in September after the North Carolina girl told a tabloid news site, the Daily Mail, that she and the disgraced former politician had exchanged lewd messages for several months. She also accused him of asking her to undress on camera. The investigation led FBI agents to seize his laptop computer, which led to the discovery of a new cache of emails that Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton had sent to Huma Abedin, Weiners wife who is of Indian-Pakistani descent . In October, just days before the election, FBI director James Comey stunned the country by announcing that his agency was reopening its closed investigation into Clintons handling of State Department business on a private email server so it could analyze the newly discovered correspondence. That inquiry was brief. Comey announced shortly before the election that the new emails contained nothing to change his view that Clinton could not be charged with a crime. But Clinton partly blamed her election loss to Republican Donald Trump on Comeys announcement. (With agency inputs) French researchers said on Friday they have found a last-chance way for technicians to save Windows files encrypted by WannaCry, racing against a deadline as the ransomware threatens to start locking up victims computers first infected a week ago. A loose-knit team of security researchers scattered across the globe said they collaborated to develop a workaround to unlock the encryption key for files hit in the global attack, which several independent security researchers have confirmed. The group involved Adrien Guinet, Benajmin Delphy and Matthieu Suiche. Guinet works as a security expert, Suiche is an internationally known hacker, and Delphy took part at night, in his spare time, outside his day job at the Banque de France. The researchers warned that their solution would only work in certain conditions, namely if computers had not been rebooted since becoming infected and if victims applied the fix before WannaCry carried out its threat to lock their files permanently. Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers has approved sending information about beneficiaries of Ukrainian companies from the unified register of companies and individual businessmen to the global register of beneficial ownership. The decision was made at a government meeting on Thursday. Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman announced this resolution among those approved without discussion. "The Ukrainian state initiates the signing of a memorandum with Transparency International on joining the Ukrainian business register the global register of beneficial ownership to implement the Global Declaration Against Corruption that Ukraine joined in 2016," Justice Minister Pavlo Petrenko said. He said that thus, Ukraine is becoming the first country in Europe making the decision to transfer data on beneficiaries of its companies to the global register. "This is a serious step to admitting Ukraine's steps during three years regarding openness, transparency and fight against corruption. I think that next week the memorandum signing ceremony will take place with participation of the prime minister Ukraine will be the first in Europe that joined the global register being designed by U.S. partners and Transparency International," Petrenko said. During one month the volume of information that would be transferred from the Ukrainian register to the global register will be determined. In addition, the resolution sets a fee for the provision of information from the unified register of companies and individual businessmen. The fee is not collected for the provision of information about beneficiaries for it integration into the global register. The global register of beneficial ownership is being created under the OpenOwnership international project developed by leading nongovernmental organizations combating corruption, such as Global Witness, Open Contracting Partnership, Web Foundation, Transparency International, ONE Campaign, B Team and OpenCorporates. An unidentified gunman opened fire on Friday on police in Sri Lankas former LTTE stronghold of Kilinochchi, a day after Tamils observed the eighth anniversary of the end of the three-decade long civil war. Several police officers of the Kilinochchi police station in the war-ravaged northern province escaped unhurt in the incident that took place in the early hours. The army and police officers have launched a search operation in the area to find the suspect who fled after attacking the officers. The military and the police conducted a joint cordon and search operation in the former LTTE stronghold of Kilinochchi this morning following an alleged shooting at a police vehicle. Police said part of a gun was found nearby. Tamils in war-ravaged northern and eastern provinces observed on Thursday the eighth anniversary of the end of the three-decade brutal civil war in the country in 2009. The Tamil Genocide Remembrance day was marked by various events at Mullivaikkal, the location of the final battle between the Lankan troops and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). There was tension in the commemoration ceremony between the hardline and moderate Tamil leadership, Tamil sources said. Northern province chief minister CV Wigneswaran had criticised the presence of around 150,000 military personnel in the north. The truth is that there is no need for army, navy and air force, he said. The presence of military with hostile intentions is only detrimental to the peace, security and well-being of the people, Wigneswaran said. I have lit this flame, raising above the political party limits and boundaries. This Remembrance Day should be marked so also in the future, he said while lighting the common flame of sacrifice with four civilians whose relatives are missing. Opposition leader R Sampanthan was confronted by the people who accused him of having a soft policy towards the government, the sources said. Indian and Chinese officials have the tricky task of getting bilateral ties back on track in the coming months after New Delhis high-profile boycott of a two-day summit on Beijings new foreign policy thrust, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Detractors says the BRI, hinged on the twin wheels of economics and connectivity, has plenty of problems ahead but China is steaming ahead with $124 billions pledged for it. The Indian boycott of the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing during May 14-15 wouldnt have come as a shock to China. But it added to the count of problems in bilateral ties, riddled as they are with wide holes of mistrust born of old and new disputes, including one over the 3488-km unsettled border. India had repeatedly expressed its sovereignty concerns over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) passing through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The protests didnt convince Chinese diplomats, who drowned out Indias concerns with the repeated chorus: CPEC is an economic project and has no impact on Chinas stand on Kashmir. The boycott could seem like a snub not only to China but against its hexin or core, President Xi Jinping, the most powerful general secretary of the Communist Party of China in decades, who first talked about the BRI in Kazakhstan and Indonesia in late 2013. But bilateral ties arent a single issue relation both countries realise that. For one, the Chinese governments reaction to India skipping the summit has been broadly balanced even though foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying wanted her Indian counterpart Gopal Bagley to explain what he meant by meaningful dialogue on the BRI. India too has made it clear it is not against the BRI except the route the CPEC takes but wants the plans to follow the principle of transparency, for one. Indias former envoy to China AK Kantha had told the Chinese media about New Delhis views on the BRI back in 2015. We are very closely following these important initiatives and are aware that the Chinese government has attached high importance to them. However, some of the details have not been spelled out. At the same time, we understand that they are an important aspect of Chinas connectivity agenda and neighbourhood strategy, he had said. India also has its own plans of developing connectivity with countries of the region including China. Our approach is that wherever we have mutual interests and synergies we must work together. Thus, we are working together on the Bangladesh, China India Myanmar (BCIM) economic corridor and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Incidentally, it was in February 2014 that then state councilor Yang Jiechi invited India to join the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road during the 17th round of border talks with former national security advisor Shivshankar Menon in New Delhi. The Maritime Silk Road is one half of President Xis BRI, the other component being the Silk Road Economic Belt. It will be difficult for China to ignore Indias economic weight in terms of its huge market and ideally, with or without the BRI, Sino-India economic ties could be strengthened. Chinese experts think it wasnt a good idea for India to skip the Belt and Road Forum but this will not lead to a crisis. For India, it wasnt good diplomacy, said Lin Mingwang from the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai. Hu Shisheng, south Asia expert at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said: It is just a small hiccup. I personally think China doesnt need to talk about this boycott too much. I have a strong sense that India and China will meet somewhere, matching each others regional and sub-regional agendas. After all, major powers have more obligations to cooperate and coordinate for the sake of the people. Hu also said Xi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi should have more dialogue. Both leaders would then better understand that they both have ambitions to bring their countries into the global powers club. Mutual support should be one part of their strategic partnership but, of course, based on acceptable international norms, Hu said. The first of those meetings could happen at the China-led Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit at Astana in Kazakhstan next month, when India and Pakistan are set to become members. A series of ministerial-level meetings for the BRICS Summit at Xiamen in China in September also start next month, and Indian ministers and bureaucrats are expected to attend. Those meetings will provide opportunities for both sides to interact and share views on a range of topics. It will benefit both countries to create momentum in economic cooperation outside the BRI framework and not bunch all bilateral trade and economic collaborations within the initiative. Another person has pleaded guilty to playing a role in a scam run out of an Indian call-centre involving extortion of money from Americans and laundering the proceeds, according to the US justice department. Nilam Parikh, a 46-year-old resident of Alabama state, pleaded guilty on Thursday in a federal district court in Texas to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, becoming the fourth in this particular case, allegedly run out of a call centre in Ahmedabad, India. The other three who pleaded guilty are Bharatkumar Patel, Ashvinbhai Chaudhari and Harsh Patel. The justice department said in a statement Parikh and 55 other individuals and five India-based call centres have been charged for their roles in the fraud and money laundering scheme in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Texas on October 19, 2016. The suspects are charged with calling Americans posing as officers of the Internal Revenue Service the US income tax department and the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and demand made-up unpaid dues. They would threaten their victims whose identities were obtained from data brokers with arrest, imprisonment, fines and deportation for failure to pay. They would be told to pay through stored value cards or wire the amount. Runners such as Pariksh were tasked with collecting the money, laundering it and sending it to the call centre, using reloadable cards registered to genuine but stolen identities. Parikh admitted that she liquidated the proceeds on the cards and transferred the funds into money orders for deposit into various bank accounts, while keeping part of the victim funds for herself as payment, the justice department said, adding she also admitted to sending and receiving scam proceeds to and from her co-conspirators via Federal Express. Her sentencing is scheduled for August 11. A 44-year-old Indian-American man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for duping over 100 investors of $33 million through fraudulent schemes. Navin Shankar Subramaniam Xavier, a resident of Florida, was the former CEO of Essex Holdings, the company through which he carried out two fraud schemes. He was sentenced on Thursday to 15 years in prison by US district judge Darrin Gayles in Miami. The first scheme involved nearly 100 investors who purchased $30 million worth of promissory notes purported secured by interests in iron ore mining in Chile. The second scheme involved unlawfully obtaining $1.2 million in economic development funds as well as valuable industrial property from the state of South Carolina. Xavier was convicted by guilty plea in January on two counts of wire fraud. One wire fraud count related to the investment fraud scheme and the other count to the South Carolina economic development scheme. According to documents filed in court, from September 2010 through May 2014, Xavier operated Essex Holdings from an office in Miami and raised more than $30 million from nearly 100 investors for supposed investments in sugar transportation and shipping, as well as iron ore mining in Chile. He used false financial statements, forged documents and false promises of fixed rates of return, to induce people to invest in company. Most of the money was used for purposes other than what was promised, including to support lavish spending by Xavier and his wife for expensive jewellery, luxury vehicles, wedding expenses, and cosmetic surgery. Eventually, Xavier used new investor money to pay old investors in a Ponzi-like fashion before the scheme collapsed. Evidence filed in court showed that the actual investor losses from the scheme exceeded $29 million. The second scheme involved Xavier using Essex Holdings to obtain $1.2 million in payments and approximately $1.5 million worth of commercial real estate from the South Carolina Coordinating Council for Economic Development (SCCCED), a division of the South Carolina state government, that was supposed to be used to develop a dilapidated industrial property into a diaper plant and rice packaging facility. According to documents filed in the court, he provided false financial documentation to SCCCED in order to obtain the contract, and later provided fake contractor invoices and fake bank statements in order to get paid under the contract. As with the investment fraud scheme, Xavier spent a significant portion of the development money for his personal expenses, and wired some of it to the same overseas accounts used in the investment fraud. An Indian-American woman from Alabama has pleaded guilty to her involvement in a multi-million dollar scam in which people in the US were cheated by India-based call centres. Nilam Parikh, 46, pleaded guilty before US District Court Judge David Hittner of southern district of Texas. She along with three other Indian nationals committed the frauds, the US Justice Department said on Thursday. The sentencing in the case is scheduled for August 11. According to the admissions made in connection with the plea, Parikh and her co-conspirators perpetrated a complex scheme in which individuals from call centres located in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad posed as IRS or US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officials to defraud people located across America, it said. Using information obtained from data brokers and other sources, the operators of the call centres targeted victims and threatened them with arrest, imprisonment, fines or deportation if they did not pay the alleged monies owed to the government. Those who agreed to pay the scammers were instructed how to make the payment, including by purchasing stored value cards or wiring money. After the payment, the call center employees would immediately turn to a network of runners based in the US to liquidate and launder the fraudulently-obtained funds, the Justice Department said. Since December 2013, Parikh worked as a runner operating in Alabama. In connection with her plea, Parikh admitted that at the direction of an India-based co-conspirator, often via WhatsApp texts, she purchased reloadable cards registered with misappropriated personal identifying information of US citizens. Once the fraudulently proceeds were loaded onto those cards, she liquidated them on the cards and transferred the funds into various bank accounts, while keeping some part of the funds for herself. Parikh also admitted to sending and receiving scam proceeds to and from her co-conspirators via Federal Express. Till date, Parikh and 55 other individuals and five India-based call centres have been charged for their roles in the fraud and money laundering scheme in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Texas on October 19, 2016. The United States and Israel are trying to move past President Donald Trumps apparent sharing of Israeli intelligence with Russia. But American and Israeli spy professionals say theyre frustrated and fearful about the repercussions to the US-Israeli intelligence partnership. During a recent meeting with two Russian officials, Trump shared information about an Islamic State threat involving laptops on airplanes. According to a senior US official not authorized to discuss sensitive intelligence matters and speaking on condition of anonymity. The US-Israeli partnership is critical because Israel has spies in parts of the Mideast where the US doesnt. Israel also has robust cyber capabilities in the region. Former intelligence officials worry Israel will be more reluctant to share highly classified information with the Trump administration, especially if it could endanger spies. Japan scrambled fighter jets on Thursday after four Chinese coastguard vessels entered what Japan considers its territorial waters near disputed East China Sea islets and a drone-like object flew near one ship, Japan said. It was the first such flight near the islands witnessed by Japanese officials, although the incident took to 13 the number of intrusions this year by Chinese coastguard ships in the contested waters, Japans coastguard said. Japan and China have long been at loggerheads over the tiny, uninhabited islands, called the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China. They are controlled by Japan but claimed also by China. This is escalating the situation and absolutely unacceptable, defence minister Tomomi Inada told a news conference on Friday, referring to the incursion and drone flight. We regard this as a serious infringement of Japans sovereignty. Inada said two F-15 fighter jets, one E-2C early warning aircraft and an AWACS surveillance plane were sent to the scene. In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the drone had been released by relevant media for aerial photography, rather than by the coast guard, but did not name the organisation. This is not a military action as has been hyped up by some media, Hua told a daily news briefing. As the islands are Chinese territory, China has every right to carry out normal coast guard patrols there, she added. As for the so-called representations or protest by the Japanese side, of course we cant accept it. Kenji Kanasugi, director-general of the Japanese Foreign Ministrys Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, lodged a stern protest with the Chinese embassy in Tokyo by telephone, a ministry official said. The Chinese embassy responded to the protest by reiterating Chinas stance on the islands, the official added. Two men were sentenced to jail for three years by a California court on Thursday for assaulting a Sikh man in September 2016 they punched him, cut his hair and knocked off his turban in a case that was described by authorities as a hate crime. The assailants, Chase B Little and Colton T Leblanc, had been drinking and assaulted Maan S Khalsa, who they had encountered while driving to find food. They had assaulted him at a traffic light. They yanked my hair through the window and used a knife to saw parts of it off, Khalsa said in a statement to the court. He had driven away when the traffic light turn green, with damaged teeth, a black eye and cuts and bruises, but, most importantly, he said, my life is forever changed. Before September 25, 2016, I was so carefree. I considered myself an American like everyone else. I had never worried about being a victim of prejudice. I enjoyed my life fully working, volunteering across the country and globe, spending time with my family, horseback riding, working out in the gym and rock-climbing with my daughter. And now, nearly nine months after, there are lasting impacts on my health I have trouble with short-term memory, I have lost a body part (little finger), I struggle with PTSD, anxiety and depression, and it is difficult for me to sleep at night, he said, bringing up an aspect of hate-crime trauma that goes mostly unreported. At work, I have had to use much of my sick leave, and I cannot perform at the level I used to. Due to my memory issues, I have trouble remembering important protocols, and have made mistakes on the job. Due to the loss of my finger, I struggle to type an essential part of my job as an IT specialist. And, now he never steps out without pepper spray and when I interact with strangers, I am not as open as I used to be I am more likely to view others not as my brothers, but as possible threats to my safety. I used to travel across the country raising funds for my charity, openly talking to strangers about Sikhs and Sikhism, but now Im afraid of driving long distances on my own. Sikhs in America have suffered prejudice and hate-attacks mostly by those who mistake them for being Middle Eastern because of their beard and turban, especially after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack. The first victim of the backlash that followed was Balbir Singh Sodhi, a Sikh man, who was standing outside his gas station in Arizona, when he was shot by a man who later talked about the killing of a turban-head down the street. China unveiled an indigenously developed attack helicopter on Thursday as it eyes a lucrative export market and ramps up an ambitious modernisation programme. The Z-19E, developed by the state-owned AVIC Harbin Aircraft Industry, took to the skies over the city of Harbin for its maiden flight, with images carried on state television. Based on the Z-19s design, the Z-19E, also called the Black Whirlwind can be used in quick-response, low-impact and frequent attack missions, the China National Radio reported. The helicopter is the latest narrow-body tandem-seat armed helicopter. It is also the countrys first export-oriented helicopter made especially for attack purposes, state news agency Xinhua said. Deputy chief designer Li Shengwei said the helicopter is equipped with safety features to improve the pilots survival rate. The Z-19E and Z-9 are similar in many respects, Li said. Chinese-developed attack helicopter Z-19E is pictured during its maiden flight. (REUTERS) In terms of manoeuvrability and functions, the Z-19E meets international standards and its operating interface is in English, he said. The Z-19E has strong market potential as some of its components are compatible with other countries military systems, Song Zhongping, a military expert who served in the PLA Rocket Force, told the state-run Global Times. Song also noted that the helicopter would fare well in the global market. It is aimed at countries which require light military helicopters with medium-level attack power, he said. China has rolled out a series of increasingly advanced equipment in recent years, including stealth fighter jets and the first domestically developed aircraft carrier. China has also increasingly been focused at getting more defence orders on the world market, trying to shed a reputation for poor reliability or cloning weapons. Pakistan has accused India of diverting nuclear materials it had obtained for peaceful purposes under the NSG waiver to make weapons. Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria told reporters on Thursday that Pakistan has been underscoring for decades the risks of diversion by India of imported nuclear fuel, equipment and technology, received pursuant to civil nuclear cooperation agreements and the 2008 Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) waiver. The concerns over diversion are neither new nor unfounded. India enjoys the rare distinction of diverting nuclear material, obtained on its peaceful use commitment, to its nuclear weapons programme, he said. The past and potential misuse of nuclear materials by India entails not only serious issues of nuclear proliferation but also carry grave implications for strategic stability in South Asia and national security of Pakistan. He said media reports and papers substantiate an otherwise largely ignored fact that Indias nuclear weapons programme is the fastest growing in the world. Talking about a paper recently released by Harvard Kennedy School, he said that this paper and other several reports corroborate growing concerns related to the use of nuclear material acquired by India from abroad in its existing and future unsafeguarded nuclear reactors, plants and facilities for development of nuclear weapons. The recent Belfer paper inter alia concludes that India has accumulated nuclear material for over 2600 nuclear weapons, he said. He said that NSG states have a responsibility to take into account these well-founded concerns while considering transfer of nuclear material to India and its NSG membership bid. He claimed that many international nuclear experts, think tanks and media reports in the past years have consistently raised concerns over the lack of transparency, absence of international safeguards, and the potential for diversion of unsafeguarded nuclear material for nuclear weapons in India. Zakaria also said the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was establishing units in Kashmir, which were managed by non-Kashmiri activists. Their increasing presence in (Kashmir)is to terrorise Kashmiris and deter them from participating in the self- determination movement, he alleged. Zakaria called on the the international community to take notice of the situation in Kashmir and condemned the ban on social media and TV channels in the valley. He said Pakistan extends full cooperation to United Nations Military Observers in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) in monitoring situation on the Line of Control and the Working Boundary. Talking about the issue of medical visas by India, he said most patients who were travelling to India from Pakistan have serious ailments requiring urgent medical attention. Despite paying for their treatment themselves, these patients are being deprived of their basic right to health, due to political consideration on the part of India, he said. While granting or denying a visa is a sovereign right of any country, this Indian move is unprecedented in inter-state relations, he said. Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman has said that Ukraine ranks 56th in the Global Innovation Index, but has potential to climb the ratings. "I have information that we occupy the 56th place in the Global Innovation Index today. I can say for sure that this does not correspond to our real capabilities. Changing of the system, increasing funding will take us to the big leagues," he said during the meeting with scientists on the occasion of the Day of Science in Kyiv on Friday. The premier said that upon the condition of changing the system of scientific research on the principles of transparency, the Cabinet is ready to consider the possibility of substantially increasing government spending on science. Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa on Friday said the country is at a crossroad in its fight against extremism and must decide whether it wants to enjoy the benefits of its young demography or suffer at the hands of terrorism. Bajwa said the army would defeat terrorists but needed the support of the nation to wipe out extremism from the society. We are standing at a crossroads. Ten years down the line, we will either be enjoying the fruits of a youth dividend or suffering at the hands of a youth bulge, especially with the youth which remains vulnerable to extremism, he said. A youth driven towards extremism is a youth without a clear idea of his values and identity. He said the youth in Pakistan is getting exploited due to poor governance and lack of justice in society. Our challenges are very real but there are positive sides to the picture as well. Not only have we survived the worst onslaught of terrorism in modern history, we have reversed the tide. In fact, security has now achieved conditions to help development take off, he said. He also accused enemies of Pakistan of waging war against the country. Our enemies, both state and non-state, are actively pursuing divisive tendencies in society. Let me say that they are waging the biggest and most sustained Hybrid War against us from multiple directions and using multiple ways, he said. Pakistans foreign policy chief Sartaj Aziz has said a new team of lawyers will be formed to present the case against Kulbhushan Jadhav at the International Court of Justice even as opposition parties blasted the government for its handling of the matter. The current legal team was widely criticised after the ICJ ordered Pakistan on Thursday to stay Jadhavs execution till its final decision on Indias petition to annul his death sentence. Opposition parties sought the teams immediate removal. Aziz said a new team of lawyers will be constituted to present Pakistans stance vigorously at the ICJ. Pakistans security is so important and we have to maintain our fundamental sovereign right, he told Samaa news channel. He also defended the existing legal team, saying it had courageously presented Pakistans stance. Some senior lawyers said authorities had started sending out feelers about setting up the new legal team. Some law firms have been approached by the ministry of law to discuss such a possibility, said a law ministry official in Islamabad. There was also discussion about hiring a foreign law firm with a record of handling cases at The Hague-based ICJ. The consensus emerging in Pakistan is that while the country has a case, it was the legal team that let us down, said leading analyst Zahid Hussain. Some of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs detractors accused him of selling out to the Indian side and opposition parties described the ICJs decision as a setback for Pakistan. Some opposition leaders alleged the ICJs order was the result of a covert deal. They linked it to Sharifs recent meeting in Murree with Indian steel tycoon Sajjan Jindal. Shafqat Mehmood, a spokesman for Imran Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, demanded that Sharif disclose all details of his covert meeting with Jindal. In a statement, he raised critical questions on the matter and sought an explanation from the premier. Mehmood asked Sharif to come to the National Assembly and explain why Pakistan did not appoint an ad hoc judge at the ICJ because it had a right to do so, and why the Foreign Office did not take legal advice before initiating correspondence on the issue. There was considerable debate on the performance of Khawar Qureshi, Pakistans lead lawyer, at the ICJ hearing on Monday. Qureshi, part of the London-based law firm Serle Court, became the youngest advocate to appear at the ICJ in 1993. But opposition leaders questioned why the government had selected a lawyer who had not handled a single international law case at the UK Supreme Court, and why authorities had sent a first year associate from the attorney generals office to the ICJ instead of the attorney general himself. The Pakistan Peoples Party said the case at the ICJ had been mishandled and demanded the government convene a meeting of the national security committee on the issue of Jadhav. PPP vice president Sherry Rehman told reporters that Pakistan had failed to plead its case and the counsel completed his arguments within 50 minutes, as against the allocated time of 90 minutes. Rehman, a former minister, said Pakistan should have appointed an ad hoc judge under the ICJs rules as an Indian judge was part of the tribunal. She said the opportunity to do this was available till May 10 but was missed out. She added that Jadhavs issue should have also been raised at the UN General Assembly. But Aziz told the media the ICJs order would not have any bearing on the legal process currently underway in Pakistan against Jadhav. A stay is granted automatically even in our courts when you file an appeal. But it doesnt mean that you have lost the case, he said on Thursday. The ICJ is yet to adjudicate on the merits of Jadhavs case, he said. When that stage comes, Pakistan will forcefully present its case, he added. A US court has sentenced two persons to three years in prison after charging them with hate crime for brutally assaulting a Sikh-American man last year in California. Chase Little and Colton Leblanc were found guilty of felony assault and hate crime charges. They were sentenced to a three-year term in the California state prison for attacking Maan Singh Khalsa. Khalsa, a Sikh-American father and IT specialist, was brutally assaulted in Richmond Bay area in September last year. The Sikh American was stopped at an intersection and the attackers got out of their truck and assaulted him by hitting his face repeatedly, knocking off his turban and cutting his religiously-mandated unshorn hair with a knife. Maan Singh Khalsa, an IT specialist, was brutally assaulted in Richmond Bay. (Photo courtesy: Sikh Coalition/ Twitter) The recognition of the attack as a hate crime - as harm to my dignity and my entire community - is the first step in the process, said Khalsa, who recognised his attackers during his statement in court on Thursday. I still consider you my brothers, and I hope that you will learn about me and my community, and one day consider me your brother, too, he said, according to a statement issued by rights group The Sikh Coalition. Prior to the charges, the coalition, community leaders, and a group of civil rights organisations advocated vigorously on behalf of Khalsa, urging for a hate crime investigation and prosecution. The attack upon Khalsa based upon his perceived religion and identity is an attack upon us all, Contra Costa county deputy district attorney Simon OConnell said. As a community we must do better and it is my hope that todays sentence moves us further in that direction, he said. The Sikh Coalition said that in the last 15 years after the 9/11 attack, Sikhs remain hundreds of times more likely to be targeted in cases of profiling, bigotry and backlash than the average American. In March this year, a Sikh man was shot in Kent city of Washington state after the attacker told him to go back to your own country, it said. In May, Sikh American Prabhjot Singh who has experienced hate violence firsthand testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee about the urgent need to address hate crimes in the United States. Acknowledging that this bias-based attack is a hate crime under state law both recognises the deep dignitary harm to Khalsa, and ensures that we, as a society, confront the problems of Islamophobia, racism and xenophobia that make the Sikh community a target for violence, the coalitions staff attorney Pawanpreet Kaur said. Swedens top prosecutor said on Friday she is dropping an investigation into a rape claim against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange after almost seven years. The Swedish Prosecution Authority said in a statement that Marianne Ny has decided to discontinue the investigation. Assange took refuge in Ecuadors embassy in London in 2012 to escape extradition to Sweden to answer questions about sex-crime allegations from two women. He has been there ever since, fearing that if he is arrested he might ultimately be extradited to the US. Last month, President Donald Trump said he would support any decision by the justice department to charge Assange. A slick video with a foot-tapping Hindi song was one of the highlights of the Conservative Partys appeal to the Indian community for the 2015 elections, but there is no such overture this time around India finds no mention in the partys latest manifesto. In recent times, it is something of a ritual for top British leaders to visit Hindu temples and gurdwaras, sporting a tika, participating in aarti, and wearing a pagri, sari or salwar kameez, all of which make for photo opportunities for the British Asian news media. The 2015 Neela Hai Aasman video (Neela, which means blue, is the Conservative Partys colour) was a novelty, but no such sidelights are visible so far, with less than three weeks to go for the June 8 election prompted by Brexit politics. The odds favour the party to win comfortably. The 2015 election saw the partys connect with the community reach new heights under the leadership of David Cameron, who was assiduously wooing it since he became leader in 2005. The efforts brought dividends with large sections of the community voting for it. Cut to 2017, and India and the Indian community have so far not figured high in the partys priorities. Unlike significant mention about India in its 2015 manifesto, the latest one released by Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday is silent. Instead, it set out new visa curbs likely to affect Indians students, family members, professionals the most. There is also disquiet that it has fielded fewer Indian-origin candidates than in 2015, and none in the seats where sitting party MPs are not contesting (called retirement seats), where they would have a strong chance of winning. Some see this as a dilution of Camerons decade-long outreach to the community. As far as Labour Party is concerned, its manifesto does not mention India just like the one released in 2015 but has committed itself to an independent inquiry into Britains role in Operation Bluestar of 1984 if it comes to power. Once the favourite of the Indian community, young and aspirational sections have moved away in recent elections. The Liberal Democrats Party too makes no mention about India, but reiterated its commitment to outlaw caste discrimination, which is an issue that has sharply divided the Indian community in recent years. The government is currently holding a consultation on the issue. May has shown much enthusiasm on forging a free trade relationship with India after Brexit, but the only indirect reference to India in the manifesto is in the sections on global partnerships and alliances and a global champion of free trade. The manifesto said: We will strengthen our close links with our Commonwealth allies, continuing our mission together to promote democratic values around the world and build on our existing economic relationships to further our common trading interests. Open and free trade is key to international prosperity, stability and security it is an essential component of an economy that works for everyone. We believe the UK must seize the unique opportunities it has to forge a new set of trade and investment relationships around the world, building a global, outward-looking Britain. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON US-led coalition aircraft Thursday struck a pro-regime convoy apparently transporting Shia militiamen in Syria as it headed toward a remote coalition garrison near the Jordanian border, US defense officials said. While officials stressed the defensive strike did not signal deepening US involvement in Syrias civil war, it nonetheless raises questions about the ongoing feasibility for the coalition to maintain its singular focus on the Islamic State group. In a statement, the coalition said the strike had occurred well inside an established de-confliction zone northwest of the At-Tanf garrison, where British and US commandos have been training and advising local forces fighting IS. A convoy going down the road didnt respond to numerous ways for it to be warned off from getting too close to coalition forces in At-Tanf, a US defense official told AFP on condition of anonymity. Then there was finally a strike against the lead portion of that movement. A second defense official told AFP the forces in the convoy appeared to have been Shia militia. Attempts to stop the convoy included a call to the Russians -- who are working with the Syrian regime -- then a show of force in the skies above the vehicles, followed by warning shots. The first official said the convoy was significant in size, but only the lead vehicles were hit. Coalition officials said Russian forces had apparently unsuccessfully tried to dissuade the pro-regime movement south. Describing the hours-long event as an escalation-of-force situation, the official said it did not signal a strategic shift for the coalition, which remains focused on fighting IS group. Yehya al-Aridi, a spokesman for the Syrian opposition High Negotiations Committee in Geneva, praised the strike. We welcome robust action against the foreign forces who have turned Syria into a killing field, he said. Iran and its militias have kept (President Bashar-al) Assad in power. They cannot be allowed to wage war on our soil with impunity. America has been militarily involved in Syria since 2014 but has for the most part avoided engaging directly in the countrys civil war. The biggest exception to this was a US cruise missile attack on a Syrian airbase last month in response to a suspected chemical attack by the regime. At-Tanf has been the target of repeated attacks in recent months. Last month, US-led allied forces and Syrian rebels thwarted a significant IS attack on the base. And in June last year, Russian warplanes bombed the outpost, reportedly just one day after British special forces had pulled out. US officials say the Trump administration plans to announce $110 billion in advanced military equipment sales and training to Saudi Arabia this weekend as President Donald Trump visits the country. The package includes tanks, combat ships, missile defense systems, radar and communications and cybersecurity technology. The announcement is expected on Saturday. Officials providing details were not authorised to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Much of the package builds on commitments made before Trump took office. Separately, the administration on Friday informed Congress it will sell some $500 million in precision guided munitions to Saudi Arabia. The State Department says the munitions will improve Saudis targeting ability, particularly in Yemen where it has been criticised for civilian deaths in its fight against Iranian-backed rebels. From childhood through adulthood into old age, every Saudi woman passes from the control of one legal guardian to another, a male relative whose decisions or whims can determine the course of her life. First shes in the hands of her father, then she moves to her husband. Often, she ends up under the power of her son. Under Saudi law, the guardians permission is required for a woman to get a passport, to travel abroad or to marry. It is also often demanded whenever a woman tries to do any number of things, including rent an apartment, buy a car, undergo a medical procedure or take a job. As a result, women are consigned to the legal status of minors. Saudi Arabias ban on women driving is what often grabs the most attention, but rights advocates say guardianship laws are the factor that most powerfully enshrines inequality for women. President Donald Trump heads to Saudi Arabia this weekend to cement ties with the deeply conservative kingdom. Guardianship was a major reason for the outrage when Saudi Arabia was elected to a U.N. commission tasked with promoting gender equality and womens empowerment last month. The kingdom was nominated to the post by the Asia-Pacific region, and normally nominees are rubber-stamped automatically. In this case, the US requested a secret ballot vote, a move seen as a symbolic objection, though the kingdom won with 47 out of 54 votes. The Geneva-based rights group UN Watch denounced the acceptance of Saudi Arabia on the commission, calling it the worlds leading oppressor of women. Saudi law is based on one of the most conservative interpretations of Islamic Shariah, and no other Muslim countries enforce such strict guardianship measures. There have been some marginal improvements in womens rights in the kingdom in recent years. In a rare step to partially rein in guardianship, King Salman last week ordered government agencies to stop demanding guardians permission beyond the areas where the law actually requires it. Rights activists say that the system should be ended completely. The Associated Press spoke with three generations of women from a single family about its impact on their lives: THE GRANDMOTHER: Naila Mohammed Saleh Nasief, an outspoken 96-year-old, finds it frustrating and humorous that her son has been her guardian for the past three decades. I need his permission for everything, she said. My son, who I gave birth to and raised and made a man. Does this make sense? Her father, who worked in the Finance Ministry, and her husband, a doctor who at one time served as health minister, were both open-minded men and gave her freedom of choice, she said. She raised her sons and daughters as equals. Breaking with another cultural norm, Nasief has never worn the black face veil, known as the niqab, which most Saudi women don. Since her father and husbands deaths, her eldest son has also been accommodating. But that doesnt mean things are easy. Nasief said the rules aim to keep women at home and quiet. She lamented that some women support the system, seeing it as protecting them. I dont think these laws will change, not even in 50 years, because peoples minds are closed, she said. If you hear people talking, they say its better for men to rule us than to be out in the wild. Religion doesnt say to do this, she said. There isnt anything in the Quran that says a man rules over women. THE MOTHER: Sahar Nasief, Nailas daughter, was 53 when her son became her guardian. When she divorced her husband, her guardianship was transferred back to her father, Hassan Nasief. After he died, her three sons joked over who would be responsible for their mother, she says. In the end, she picked her middle son, then 32. She had to get his consent when she rented an apartment and when she bought a car. The dealer even demanded he co-sign on the car, even though Nasief, a now 63-year-old retired university professor, bought the car with her money. In 2013, when she defied the ban on women driving and got behind the wheel of car as part of a nationwide movement to push for womens rights, she was pulled over by police, who wouldnt release her until her son signed a pledge vowing his mother would never drive again. THE DAUGHTER: Lubna Jamjoom, Sahars daughter, is a 40-year-old interior designer with three children. But she needed her husband to accompany her to the bank in order for her to open an account for her children and she needed him to get her children passports. It doesnt make sense that he can decide these things for me as an adult and the mother of his children, she said. Unlike many Saudi women, Jamjoom knew her husband before marrying him. That was important for her, knowing how much sway he would have over her life. Even if the guy is kind or good, he can make a womans life difficult, she said. Jamjoom said she wants her daughter to grow up and be able to make their own decisions instead of relying on a man for nearly everything. This is the right God gave us, she said. We are born free. Before he gained a worldwide reputation as Lucky Lindy, Charles A. Lindbergh developed a solid repertoire of aviation skills. When Charles Lindbergh set out on his solo transatlantic flight in May 1927, it signaled the beginning of one of aviations most exciting episodes. But the 25-year-old pilot who would be called the prophet of a new era had already gained a wealth of experience as a wing-walker, barnstormer and airmail pilot before he set off from New Yorks Roosevelt Field to Paris on that misty May morning. He was born on February 4, 1902, in Detroit, Mich., and his last name would have been Manssonif his grandfather Ola had not changed his name to August Lindbergh after emigrating to America from his native Sweden in 1859. One of Augusts sons was named Charles August Lindbergh. He married Evangeline Land in March 1901, and a son was born to them 11 months later. Instead of being named after his father, the baby was given a middle name that was created by adding a single syllable. And so it was the Charles Augustus Lindbergh represented the third generation of Lindberghs in America. Young Charles early years were spent on a farm near Little Falls, Minn. His father was a lawyer who later represented his district as a U.S. congressman. The family moved numerous times, and Charles attended schools in a dozen different locations between Washington, D.C., and California. His travels included a trip to Panama with his mother in 1913 to see the Panama Canal under construction. Campaign trips with his father gave him the opportunity to drive an automobile and learn about its inner workings. His major interests developed along mechanical and scientific lines. After high school, Charles entered the College of Engineering at the University of Wisconsin. But, as he later admitted, The long hours of study at college were very trying for me. I had spent most of my life outdoors and had never before found in necessary to spend more than a part of my time in study. His recreations were pistol and rifle shooting, as well as riding a motorcycle. After finishing the first half of his sophomore year at Wisconsin in 1922, he motorcycled to Lincoln, Neb., and enrolled as a student at the Nebraska Aircraft Co., where he had his first flight in a Lincoln Standard. There was no ground school so he learned what he could about planes from the workers. His flying instructor was about to let him fly solo after eight hours, but the company required a student to furnish a bond to cover any damage, and Lindbergh could not afford it. Erold G. Bahl, one of the instructors, was planning a barnstorming trip through Nebraska, and Lindbergh asked if he could go along. To help attract customers for Bahl, he began wing-walking, and he made his first jump in June 1922. For the next few months, he also wing-walked and parachuted for H.J. Lynch and barnstormed until mid-October in Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana. Lynch frequently allowed him to take the controls, and the experience made him determined to buy a plane of his own. In April 1923 Lindbergh bought a war surplus Curtiss JN-4 Jenny in Americus, Ga., for $500. He received 30 minutes of dual instruction, then soloed without telling anyone. A few days later he made his first solo cross-country flight. He decided to barnstorm alone en route to Texas and sold his first passenger ride in Mississippi. He had his first accident when he nosed up in a farmers field near Maben, Miss., after which he replaced the prop and worked as a lone barnstormer for several months. Lindbergh learned that the Army Air Service was accepting applications for pilot training, and decided to apply because, as he said, I always wanted to fly modem and powerful planes. After passing the exams, he was ordered to report to Brooks Field, at San Antonio, Texas, on March 15, 1924. He sold his Jenny and joined Leon Klink, an automobile dealer, who had bought a Canuck (a slightly modified Canadian-built Curtiss JN-4C) and was learning to fly. The two barnstormed their way to San Antonio, Texas, via Mississippi and Florida, arriving in February. Since it was too early for Lindbergh to report for training, they decided to continue westward, but they had an accident at Maxon, Texas. By the time the Canuck was repaired, Lindbergh had to return to San Antonio, and Klink continued on to California alone. At that point, Lindbergh had logged 325 hours of pilot time. Lindbergh was enlisted as a flying cadet and completed the rigorous year off flying and ground school training at Brooks and Kelly fields. Training at the latter included cross-country and formation flying and gunnery in World War I de Havillands, then transition flights in more advanced aircraft. During a formation flight on March 6, 1925, Lindbergh made his first emergency parachute jump after his plane collided with another students. Both bailed out and were back flying again within an hour. In his barnstorming days, Lindbergh (left) frequently performed with buddy Harlan A. Bud Gurney. (Library of Congress) Out of a class of 104, only Lindbergh and 17 others received their wings in the spring of 1925. They were commissioned second lieutenants in the Air Service Reserve Corps and relieved from active duty to return to civilian life. Lindbergh promptly returned to barnstorming and carnival flying in a rented OX-5 Standard in St. Louis. He instructed students and flew on several circus and passenger-carrying engagements while waiting for a permanent job with the Robertson Aircraft Co. in St. Louis, hoping to fly the mail if the company was awarded a contract by the post office. On June 2, 1925, he was forced to make a second emergency jump while testing a new four-passenger plane for Robertson called a Plywood Special. Having put the plane in a spin to test its recovery capabilities, he could not pull it out. He finally jumped when only about 350 feet from the ground. A strong wind was drifting me towards a row of high tension poles, he recalled, and it was necessary to partially collapse the chute in order to reduce the descent and land before striking the wires. I landed rather solidly in a potato patch and was dragged over a road before several men arrived and collapsed the chute. Meanwhile, Lindbergh joined the 110th Observation Squadron of the Missouri National Guard and was commissioned a first lieutenant. A mail contract was awarded to Robertson on April 15, 1925, and Lindbergh began flying the St. Louis-Chicago route. Our route was not lighted at first and the intermediate airports were small and often in poor condition, he recalled. Our weather reports were unreliable and we developed the policy of taking off with the mail whenever local conditions permitted. We went as far as we could and if the visibility became too bad we landed and entrained the mail. Flying in fog and at night resulted in many accidents for airmail pilots. Those hazardous conditions caused Lindberghs next two emergency parachute jumps. One was on the night of September 16, 1926, after takeoff from Peoria under clear skies. He ran into fog but managed to fly under it and headed on a compass course for Chicagos Maywood Field. Lindbergh churned around for about two hours until his gas ran out and he had no choice; he jumped and landed in a cornfield. Six weeks later, on November 3, Lindbergh had to make another jump while en route at night from Springfield to Peoria. He was headed for Chicago when he encountered fog over Peoria and climbed to 13,000 feet, searching for cloud breaks. When he could not find any, and his gas was gone, he bailed out and landed near Covell, Ill., on a barbed-wire fence. Fortunately, the barbs did not penetrate his flying suit. He could not find the wreck in the fog, so he got a ride to Chicago, flew another plane to the area next morning, and located the remains of his original plane only 500 feet from where he had landed the night before. At that point he was the first pilot in history to have made four successful emergency parachute jumps. Lindbergh parachuted from this airplane when he ran our of gas while flying the St. LouisChicago Contract Airmail Route No. 2. (National Postal Museum) Shortly after that episode, Lindbergh began thinking about New York-to-Paris flight, motivated by the offer of French-born Raymond Orteig, who owned hotels in both cities. Orteigs Hotel Brevoort in New York City became headquarters for French and American aviators who had visited the city during World War I. Proud to be their host, Orteig joined the Aero Club of America. On May 22, 1919, Orteig had offered $25,000 to the first aviator who shall cross the Atlantic in land or water aircraft (heavier-than-air) from Paris or the shores of France to New York, or from New York to Paris or the shores of France, Without stop. The prize went unclaimed for seven years, but by 1926 several European and American pilots were planning to compete for it. The first to try flying eastbound from America was World War I French ace Rene Fonck with a crew of three in a Sikorsky S-35 trimotor, but they crashed on takeoff from Roosevelt Field, Long Island, on September 21, 1926, and two of the crew members were killed. Next, Noel Davis and Stanton H. Wooster became the first Americans to announce publicly their intention to fly from New York to Paris. Their plane was a modified Huff-Daland Keystone trimotor bomber. Then Richard E. Byrd, fresh from his acclaimed but unsubstantiated claim that he had reached the North Pole, declared he was going to make the flight in a Fokker trimotor. Clarence Chamberlain announced he was going to fly a single-engine Bellanca in the competition. French fliers planning to fly westbound included Charles Nungesser and one-eyed Francois Coli, who intended to fly a Levasseur-designed trimotor. Their competitors, Paul Tarascon and Dieudonne Coste, were obtaining a Breguet for their projected flight. British pilots Frank T. Courtney, F.W.M. Downer and R.A. Little planned to make their attempt in a Dornier Wal seaplane. German fliers were considering flights in Junkers-built planes. Custer was from the first 13 German immigrant families. They arrived in North America about 1693 from Krefeld and The Rhineland area in Germany. He had older-half siblings, a younger sister and unhealthy brother as well as two healthy younger brothers who served and died with him at Little Bighorn. He had a wide range of nicknames: Autie, Armstrong, Boy General, Iron Butt, Hard Ass, Ringlets. Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industrys standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum. It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its layout. The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters, as opposed to using Content here, content here, making it look like readable English. Many desktop publishing packages and web page editors now use Lorem Ipsum as their default model text, and a search for will uncover many web sites still in their infancy. Various versions have evolved over the years, sometimes by accident, sometimes on purpose (injected humour and the like). The more Lindbergh thought about how aircraft had improved since World War I, the more possible the flight seemed to him. Several facts soon became outstanding, he later recalled in his book We. The foremost was that with the modem radial air-cooled motor, high lift airfoils, and lightened construction, it would not only be possible to reach Paris but, under normal conditions, to land with a large reserve of fuel and have a high factor of safety throughout the entire trip as well. Lindbergh asked William B. Robertson, owner of Robertson Aircraft, and several St. Louis businessmen if they would finance such a project. They were cautiously encouraging, so he went to New York to obtain information about available planes, engines and equipment. He rationalized that a single-engine monoplane would be better than a trimotor biplane, saying: A single motored plane, while it is more liable to forced landings than one with three motors, has much less head resistance and consequently a greater cruising range. Also there is three times the chance of motor failure with a tri-motored ship, for the failure of one motor during the first part of the flight, although it would not cause a forced landing, would at least necessitate dropping part of the fuel and returning for another start. He first considered buying a single-engine Bellanca, but the price was too high and delivery would take too long. He also checked on a Fokker but Tony Fokker would not consider turning out a single-engine plane for such a flight. The Travel Air Co. of Wichita, then building a cabin plane, also turned him down. Lindbergh had learned through other pilots about an excellent monoplane used by airmail fliers built by Ryan Aeronautical Co. in San Diego. The companys founder, T. Claude Ryan, had dissolved his partnership with B. Franklin Mahoney but remained as manager, and the firm kept his name. Lindbergh wondered whether Mahoney and Ryan would consider selling one of their planes. It was difficult to convince the businessmen in St. Louis to bankroll his flight at first, but Lindberghs enthusiasm was persuasive and a fund of $15,000 was developed, including $2,000 of Lindberghs own savings. On February 3, 1927, a telegram, prepared by Lindbergh but signed as if coming from Robertson Aircraft Co. to get their attention, arrived at the Ryan factory in San Diego: Can you construct Whirlwind engine plane capable flying nonstop between New York and Paris stop If so please state cost and delivery date. Ryan called in Donald A Hall, a young engineer he had recently hired, to discuss the proposed flight. They agreed that the flight could be accomplished in a single-engine monoplane with a great overload of fuel. Ryan responded to Lindbergh: Can build plane similar M one but larger wings capable of making flight cost about six thousand without motor and instruments delivery about three months. An answer quickly followed, asking whether the plane could be built in less than three months because of the competition that was rapidly developing. Ryan replied that they could furnish a plane in two months and would require a 50 percent deposit. Lindbergh immediately went to San Diego and liked what he saw. He recommended the backers accept the deal, and an order was placed on February 28, 1927, for a plane equipped with a Wright Whirlwind engine, costing $4,000. Lindbergh and Hall worked closely on construction details of a plane resembling the M-2. Hall was surprised that Lindbergh was going to fly alone, but it made the designing easier. There would be no radios or night-flying equipment. To provide a structure capable of handling the weight of the extra fuel on takeoff an extended wing and wide-wheel-tread landing gear were designed. Lindbergh wanted the cockpit placed in the aft position behind the main fuselage tank, not between the engine and the tank, where he could be crushed in an accident. That restricted forward visibility, but Lindbergh did not see any disadvantage, noting that I will be flying by instruments and there will probably be no one I will run into out over the Atlantic Ocean. Workers at the plant, caught up in Lindberghs quiet enthusiasm, labored day and night on their new assignment. At one point during the assembly, a shy workman named A.C. Randolph, a former submariner, was concerned about the pilots restricted visibility. He approached Lindbergh with drawings for a simple periscope. Lindbergh approved the idea, and one was installed, although he preferred to poke his head out the window. The name of the plane, Spirit of St. Louis, had been agreed upon by the eight businessmen who had contributed to the fund. Lindbergh stayed at the plant as construction continued seven days a week. Some workers voluntarily put in double shifts. Hall, on one occasion, worked 36 hours without resting. Lindbergh had never made an overwater flight before or flown more than 500 miles nonstop. He gathered Rand McNally state maps for the flight to New York, but since he would be flying a great circle route over the ocean without landmarks, he spent hours plotting the track he would follow on a variety of charts. From New York to Paris; he said, I worked out a great circle, changing course every hundred miles or approximately every hour. I had decided to replace the weight of a navigator with extra fuel, and this gave me about three hundred miles additional range. Although the total distance was 3,610 miles, the water gap between Newfoundland and Ireland was only about 1,850 miles, and under normal conditions I could have arrived on the coast of Europe over three hundred miles off my course and still have enough fuel remaining to reach Paris or I might have struck the coastline as far north as Northern Scandinavia, or as far south as Southern Spain and landed without danger to myself or the plane, even though I had not reached my destination. With these facts in view, I believed the additional reserve of fuel to be more important on this flight than the accuracy of celestial navigation. The Ryan NYP (an acronym for New York to Paris) was named Spirit of St. Louis in honor of his supporters from the St. Louis Racquette Club. (National Archives) As the plane was taking shape, Lindbergh accumulated and carefully weighed the equipment he would carry, including a raft in case he had to ditch. In addition to food to eat during the flight, he included five cans of concentrated Army rations and a gallon of water, plus an Armburst cup, a device for condensing the moisture from human breath into drinking water. There would be no parachute. Meanwhile, the newspapers carried stories about others on their New York-to-Paris projects. Chamberlain had set an endurance record of more than 51 hours on April 14; Byrds plane had an accident on the 18th; and Nungesser stated that he would leave France on April 24. Two days later, Noel Davis and Stanton Wooster were killed on takeoff from Langley Field, Va. That left Byrd, whose plane was repaired, and Chamberlain still in the running, although Chamberlain had a takeoff accident on April 24. On April 28, 1927, just over two months after the order had been placed, Lindbergh was ready to give the Spirit its first test flight. Today, reality will check the claims of formula and theory on a scale which hope cant stretch a single hair, he said. Today, the reputation of the company, of the designing engineer, of the mechanics, in fact every man who had hand in building the Spirit of St. Louis, is at stake. And Im on trial too, for quick action on my part may counteract an error by someone else, or a faulty move may bring a washout crash. He was immediately pleased with the Spirits performance. The plane was off the ground in six and one-eighth seconds, or in 165 feet, he said, and was carrying over 400 lbs. in extra gas tanks and equipment. He noted its top speed was 130 miles per hour and that it was very stable in banks and stalls. Lindberghs greatest concern was weight. He made progressively heavier load tests away from prying newsmen at an abandoned Army post, and speed runs were flown on a three-kilometer course along Coronado Strand. When he was satisfied with its capabilities, he took the plane to nearby Rockwell Field and made more load tests with up to 300 gallons of fuel. On May 8, Nungesser and Coli left Paris, the first plane to take to the air en route to the other side 0f the Atlantic in the competition. Newspapers reported their expected progress, but they vanished and were never found. Now only Chamberlain in his Bellanca was left. as the most promising competitor, although Byrd was still hedging about his intended takeoff date and declared that he was not concerned about the prize. GET HISTORYS GREATEST TALESRIGHT IN YOUR INBOX Subscribe to our HistoryNet Now! newsletter for the best of the past, delivered every Wednesday. Close Thank you for subscribing! Lindbergh left from Rockwell Field on the afternoon of May 10 for St. Louis, escorted briefly by two Army Air Corps observation planes and a Ryan monoplane. He flew a compass course and headed over Arizonas wildest mountains as haze and darkness obscured checkpoints below. A lazy moon gave him some light, and all instruments were reportedly operating normally. Suddenly, the engine began to sputter and shake, a familiar danger sign. He was over mountains and could not identify any possible landing spaces in the darkness. He tried various throttle and mixture control settings, and in spite of the ominous coughing and sputtering, the Whirlwind engine was still putting out some power. He asked himself, Will some miracle keep my Whirlwind going while I circle between these mountain ridges through the night?Each minute makes my fuel load a little lighter, reduces my landing speed some fraction of a mile. Each minute separates me that much farther from the earthly impact thats almost certain to be crushing to my body and my plane. He considered returning to San Diego, which was five hours behind him, but that would mean flying over high mountains again, so he continued eastward as the engine continued its uncertain rhythm. He thought briefly he might turn south toward Mexico, where the mountains were lower. I have plenty of fuel in the tanks, he wrote in The Spirit of St. Louis (1953), but that would destroy the check on navigation which is the main object of the flight. Its extremely important to see how far off route I am when the sun rises. If serious errors have crept [in,] I must learn about them before I start across the ocean. He was able to ease up to 13,000 feet over the Continental Divide, and when he had cleared the summits, he descended into warmer air and the engine ran more smoothly. He knew then the problem was carburetor icing. Ill have a carburetor heater put on in New York, he told himself. The warning I received tonight may save my life over the North Atlantic, flying in still colder air. This incident was not revealed in We, his first book, published in 1927. No one knew for a long time how close he might have come to never realizing his dream. Reaching St. Louis in early morning, he circled the business district as he had promised his backers, then landed at Lambert Field 14 hours, 25 minutes after takeoff. Next morning, he departed Lambert and arrived at Curtiss Field, Long Island, 7 hours and 20 minutes later. The total flying time of 21hours, 45 minutes was an unofficial record for a coast-to-coast flight. Lindbergh was immediately besieged by photographers, newsreel cameramen and reporters. The question most often asked was when he would leave for Paris. His standard answer was, Ill go when everything is right, referring to the installation of a new compass, a thorough engine check and satisfactory weather. On a misty, wet Roosevelt Field, the Spirit of St. Louis has its 450-gallon gas tank topped off at dawn, May 20, 1927. (National Archives) The next few days were spent working with engine and instrument experts, and checking nearby Roosevelt Field, which seemed safer than Curtiss Field for the takeoff. When the plane was ready, it remained for Weather Bureau meteorologist James H. Kimball to indicate the best time to depart. On Thursday, May 19, the forecast was encouraging. The Spirit was moved to Roosevelt Field and the fuel tanks topped off. A barograph was installed by a representative of the National Aeronautic Association to ensure that the flight would be officially sanctioned. It was misty and raining lightly on Friday morning when Lindy, as the press had dubbed him, climbed into the wicker seat. Sitting in the cockpit, in seconds, minutes long, he recalled, the conviction surges through me that the wheels will leave the ground, that the wings will rise above the wires, that it is time to start the flight. It was 7:54 a.m., May 20, 1927, as he slowly began the takeoff. The plane felt like an overloaded truck at first, without the magic quality of flight. But gradually the controls stiffened as the halfway point passed. It bounced twice, as if to protest leaving the ground, but finally rose in triumph and cleared by 20 feet the telephone wires at the end of the field. The Spirit was quickly lost in the mist as it made its way into history. We know about the successful outcome of this flight and the unprecedented reception Lindbergh received. His flight had taken on a significance far beyond his imagination. I had entered a new environment of life, he said, and found myself surrounded by unforeseen opportunities, responsibilities, and problems. But everlasting fame was not to be denied. Louis Bleriot, first to cross the English Channel by air, summed up the achievement most succinctly when he kissed an embarrassed Lindbergh on both cheeks and said, You are the prophet of a new era. The late C.V. Glines was an award-winning author and a member of Aviation Historys Editorial Advisory Board. For additional reading: We, by Charles A. Lindbergh; The Spirit of St. Louis, by Charles A. Lindbergh; and Lindbergh, by A. Scott Berg. Originally published in the May 2002 issue of Aviation History. To subscribe, click here. Ukraine and Macedonia plan to update the provisions of the Free Trade Area (FTA) agreement in 2017 with the application of the rules of origin of goods stipulated by the Pan-Euro-Med Convention (pan-Euro-Mediterranean), the Ukrainian Ministry of Economic Development and Trade said after Ukrainian-Macedonian talks held in Kyiv on May 18. "This will allow us to apply the triangle of cumulation (Ukraine-Macedonia-EU) with the application of the appropriate preferences in future. Macedonia supported such an initiative," the ministry said in a press release. According to him, the negotiations were held by the Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Ukraine's Trade Representative Natalia Mykolska and Minister for Foreign Investments of Macedonia Bill Pavleski. The Ukrainian ministry noted on May 16, 2017 the EU invited Ukraine to join the Regional Convention on the pan-Euro-Mediterranean Preferential Rules of Origin (the Pan-Euro-Med Convention), and the completion of this process is expected before the end of this year. According to the State Statistics Service, Ukraine in 2016 doubled exports to Macedonia, to $25.91 million, while imports from Macedonia declined by 3.7%, to $11.71 million. The ban on laptops in the cabin luggage for commercial laptops is set to be expanded and the new list of countries will include certain European countries. All of these steps are being taken as security measures as techniques have been developed by terrorist to smuggle explosives in laptops and other devices larger than cell phones. The US Department of Homeland Security is considering the expansion of the list of countries which are prohibited from having laptops or other electronic devices in their cabin luggage. And, it is most likely that the list will now have some European countries included. So, non-stop flights from these countries to United States will be barred from carrying laptops on commercial flights, Reuters reported. It must be mentioned that the officials will most probably be meeting their European counterparts in Brussels on Wednesday to discuss the matter. At present the list of countries on which the ban on laptops has been imposed includes UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar amongst a few more. According to Business Insider, with the inclusion of European countries, which is being expected to happen soon, 400 nonstop flights mighty be affected, daily. And travel to the US during the summer might be chaotic for both the airline company as well as the passengers as the ban will be implemented very quickly once it is announced. However, it must be added that these security measures are being taken after intelligence reports suggested that techniques to hide explosive devices in laptops or other electronic devices, larger than a cell phone has been developed. Notably, previous reports on the inclusion of European countries had said that the US Department of Homeland Security is still contemplating an expansion on the ban on laptops, to include European countries. But the recent reports clearly indicate that the expansion is inevitable and it will happen. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The territorial disputes in the South China Sea have been creating tension among the disputing nations like Philippines, China, and Vietnam. But lately, President Rodrigo Duterte of the Republic of the Philippines just proposed joint exploration projects with the two other countries. With the latest reports, Duterte said in his press conference in his hometown Davao City, Philippines that he is planning to cooperate with China and Vietnam for series of exploration projects in the South China Sea. It was also claimed that his reason for doing this was to ease the tension which the disputing countries are now experiencing. According to Latin American Herald Tribune, after his trip to China for the New Silk Road Forum as well as meeting President Xi Jinping, Duterte said that the exploration projects were only the ways to achieve a balanced agreement among the three Asian countries. It can be recalled that this suggestion gained a lot of criticisms from public officials in the Philippines. When Duterte first proposed the exploration projects as a way to stop the tension in the South China Sea, some officials in the Philippines were not that pleased. According to them, the president should not be open to any means such as that since this only signifies that the country is giving up his rights over the said territory. However, it looks like President Rodrigo Duterte is firm on his proposition and would want to have a peaceful dispute with China and Vietnam over the South China Sea. If the other two countries accept his proposition, then anyone is already welcome to conduct research and other forms of exploration projects in the said territory. Meanwhile, reports were rife that China is also firm in claiming its rights over the South China Sea even if it was already decided in The Hague Tribunal Court that the Philippines has the historic rights over it. Because of this, Council of Councils confirmed that China is seeking for bilateral negotiations instead of the Hague ruling. Recent reports also suggested that China had put up rocket launchers in the South China Sea to ward off divers from the other countries. Accordingly, it was also claimed that the country is putting up a military base in the said area dismissing Duterte's proposition. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Brad Pitt was very open during his interview with the GQ magazine as he bared everything including his split from his ex, Angelina Jolie. As the actor revealed details about his bitter experiences, he said that he is already doing fine and is trying to fix things with his former wife. It was reported lately that Brad Pitt was actually considering reconciliation with Angelina Jolie but it was claimed by some sources that it was for their children. The actor thinks that despite the bitter divorce, he and Jolie still have responsibilities to fulfill when it comes to their six children. As he was also being interviewed, Brad Pitt said that it is just alright to share things about life since he finds talking about the human condition interesting. With this, PEOPLE reported that Brad was very frank when asked about his split from Angelina Jolie and how he was coping. Brad Pitt further revealed that he has been talking and working things with his ex, Angelina Jolie. Like what his former wife claimed before, everything they do is for the health and welfare of the family. After all, their six kids are their utmost priority. The "Allied" actor also considered his children as his life and his everything. Apart from these admissions, Brad Pitt also confessed that during the dark times of his life, he never thought of taking his own life. According to Rolling Stone, he claimed that he is not really suicidal and there was a sound of hope in his statements when he also said that there is so much beauty in life and love. After talking about his life, Brad Pitt also shared details about his upcoming film, "War Machine". Dealing into this, he said that he is against the decision of Donald Trump's administration to send more military troops in Afghanistan. Further, Brad Pitt also shared that he is already planning to quit acting and will focus on producing instead. He went on telling that as he grows older, he feels that he finds more passion in producing than in acting. Besides, the actor candidly said that producing will not take a person away from his family. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Latest reports have confirmed that Japan's Princess Mako is set to marry a commoner and with this, her royal status might be at stake. But the princess reportedly decided that she is really willing to give up her royal status to get married with her commoner boyfriend. With regards to the traditions of the Japanese Imperial family, any female member of the royal family who will marry a commoner will automatically lose her royal status. In the case of Princess Mako, if the wedding will push through, then she will abdicate from her responsibilities and privileges as a member of the royal family. According to CNN, the Japanese Imperial Family shared that plans for the engagement of Princess Mako and her boyfriend, Kei Komuro is on-going. It was reported too that the couple met five years ago when they were students at the International Christian University in Tokyo. Kei Komuro, who is set to marry Princess Mako, is a 25-year old law firm worker as well as a graduate student. Apart from this, if people can recall, he also starred in a tourism campaign being the "Prince of the Sea". With the impending engagement and wedding of Princess Mako and Kei Komuro, the Japanese Imperial Family is facing a dilemma. Since more and more members of the family are marrying commoners, the imperial is concerned about its shrinking size. As of the moment, the family has 19 members, 14 of whom are females. Apart from Princess Mako, six are left unmarried who will also lose their royal status once they decide to marry a commoner like the princess. If this trend continues, Vogue reported that the imperial household will not have enough members who will continue to perform important duties. Lastly, according to the imperial law, only the make heirs have the right to the throne and this time, there are only three. Japan's Princess Mako's engagement to Komuro will only become official once the ceremonial exchange of gifts takes place. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Chelsea Manning, formerly known as Bradley Manning, was finally released from the U.S. military prison last Wednesday after being arrested seven years back for giving secrets to WikiLeaks. Perhaps, with Manning's freedom, the founder of WikiLeaks will finally accept the extradition which was offered to her before. Latest reports confirmed that Chelsea Manning was finally freed from the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. According to Reuters, she made it sure that her release from the prison was remarkable by writing "First steps of Freedom" and posted on her social media. It can be recalled that way back 2013, Chelsea Manning was convicted of espionage because she was caught to have furnished a large number of documents and gave these to WikiLeaks. She did this while she was performing her duties as an intelligence analyst in Iraq. Apart from Manning, the founder of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange was also arrested because of the same crime. More than Manning, Assange was more of the priority and the objective of criminal investigations both in the U.S. and in Sweden. It can be recalled that she said and promised before that she was ready to accept extradition if Manning will be freed. Reports were rife that it was U.S. President Barack Obama who commuted the 35-year sentence of Manning to 28 years. This infuriated some Americans most especially the national security experts. According to them, Manning was responsible for putting the lives of Americans at risk. Apart from her case, Manning also gained the respect and admiration of some American activists most especially the transgender advocates since she embraced her transition to a female gender. Before becoming as Chelsea Manning, she was once known as Private First Class Bradley Manning. When she was still in prison, Manning revealed and announced her transition to the female gender identity. Because of what she did, ABC News reported that she was a victim of solitary confinement and that she was even denied of healthcare prerogatives. Manning's dilemma traced its roots from the policy before that transgender men and women cannot serve in the military. But it was just last year when the Defense Department lifted the ban since a great number of military officers and personnel are affected. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Two men in Indonesia were penalized just last Wednesday to 85 lashes in public because of having gay sex. But this angered a lot of rights activists since they believed that the punishment was extreme and harsh. Moreover, the latest report also claimed that the two men arrested is the first case being punished for homosexuality in the province of Aceh in Indonesia. The arrest, as well as the punishment, is based entirely on the strict Shariah law which is considered as the legal code of Islam. Most rights activists in Indonesia claimed that the punishment was not fair telling that it was severe and excessive. Because of this, ABC News reported that the punishment could trigger a dangerous turn of events in Aceh, Indonesia. Reports were rife that the two men were caught naked in bed by vigilantes. When they were caught, allegedly, the two men begged the witnesses not to report the incident to the Shariah police. But the people did not listen to them; instead, the two were beaten and were later handed to the local police officers. Since 2014, homosexuality has been regarded as illegal in Aceh, Indonesia considering that the place is also highly conservative. Even if some rights activists condemned the punishment, still the authorities and the police officers were firm in their decision and the imposition of the said punishment of 85 lashes. According to The New York Times, this is the first time people have been punished for homosexuality in the said province. Originally, the punishment for the act and the crime was 100 lashes but the court decided to give the two men 85 lashes each since they also apologized for what they did. Apart from Indonesia, there are also some countries which impose stringent punishment and laws for homosexuality and they even regard it as a punishable crime. In Iran, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia, homosexuality is even punishable by death. But even if that is the case, there are still other nations which implement non-discrimination laws to protect lesbians and gay men. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. China is said to be willing and very much interested in putting back on track its good ties and relationship with South Korea. But China also said that it still condemns the deployment of THAAD in Seoul and urges the country to resolve the tension. It can be recalled that China's good relationship and ties with South Korea has been thwarted by the issue and tension on THAAD. Previous reports from Reuters claimed that China is against the deployment of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense in South Korea. Moreover, due to the strong disagreement of China, it was also reported that the country has been boycotting South Korea's businesses and companies which are operating in China. To illustrate, the Chinese government implemented policies that directly affected the operations of Lotte stores in China. The Lotte Group of South Korea was the one which directly sponsored the deployment of the U.S. THAAD by approving land swap for the missile defense. As a result, most stores operated and managed by Lotte Group in China suffered as their sales and revenues decreased. With this, China has been asking South Korea not to support and sponsor the deployment of the THAAD but the latter was also firm in its stand and actions. Further, South Korea even responded that China should not blame them for this tension and issue telling that it was a matter of national security. The Telegraph just confirmed that China is now willing to talk and discuss things with South Korea particularly with its newly-elected president, Moon Jae-in. Moreover, it was claimed that China is also interested in having bilateral agreements with South Korea provided that Seoul will resolve the tension created by THAADD. As China restores its ties with South Korea, the two countries are looking forward to resolving tension created by North Korea's missile testing programs. Despite the issue on THAAD, the two countries are willing to work together for the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Biofarma LLC manufacturer of blood products (Kyiv) intends to seek a review of the decision on the results of a tender for the purchase of blood from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the winner of which was recognized the Italian pharmaceutical company Kedrion, whose offer was 30% ($600,000) more expensive than that of the national manufacturer. Biofarma President Kostiantyn Yefymenko said this at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine. "For us, this is a matter of principle. The Ministry of Health has all the means to stop the tender and specify all the details. We are ready to clarify it at any level, we are ready to talk with our opponents, with the UNDP, with experts, to attract experts from abroad. We are sure of our rightness and we want to solve the problem with hemophilia in Ukraine," he said. Yefymenko explained in early May the UNDP published the results of the tender announced in February for the purchase of medicines for the treatment of patients with hemophilia (factor XVIII). According to the published results, the winner was Italy's Kedrion, whose offer price was $0.16 per international unit (IU), while the offer by Biofarma was $0.11 per IU. According to the expert, Biofarma has repeatedly appealed to the UNDP for explanations regarding its decision and fulfilled all the procedures stipulated by the UNDP to contest the results of the tender, but has not received any response from the international organization. News, events, history, and other mid-week tidbits. Tuesday, October 25, 4:30 7 p.m. Orr Area EMS Open House Brats and burgers will be served. Event includes a new ambulance tour and blood pressure screenings. For more info: 218-780-3798. Orr Fire Hall 4540 Lake St., Orr Tuesday, October 25, 12 6 p.m. Essentia Health Job Fair Talent recruiters and department managers will be on-site at Essentia Health-Virginia. Candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to attendnurses, nursing and clinical assistants, surgery technicians, radiology technicians, respiratory therapists, human resource professionals, and those interested in environmental services or nutrition services. Essentia staff will greet candidates, conduct an initial screening and filter them to appropriate hiring managers for interviews. Select candidates will be verbally offered a position before leaving. Candidates are asked to bring a resume, but its not required. Attire is business casual. For more info: www.essentiacareers.org. 901 9th St. N., Virginia The Higher Specialized Court of Ukraine for consideration of civil and criminal cases has halted the execution of the ruling of Yuzhny City Court in Odesa region to recover $193 million from Odesa Port-Side Chemical Plant in favor of Ostchem belonging to Dmytro Firtash, according to the website of the State Property Fund of Ukraine (SPF). "The Higher Specialized Court of Ukraine for consideration of civil and criminal cases by its ruling of May 17 accepted a cassation appeal of the SPF in the case of Odesa port-side plant's debt to Ostchem. In addition, by the decision the court halted the execution of the ruling of Yuzhny City Court in Odesa region," the report reads. As reported, Yuzhny City Court by the decision dated March 6, 2017 granted the petition of Ostchem Holding Limited to recognize and permit the compulsory execution in Ukraine of a partial arbitration ruling of the Stockholm Arbitration of July 25, 2016 in the case on the recovery of $193.26 million of debt principal and $57.98 million of accrued interest from Odesa port-side plant in favor of Ostchem. This verdict was subsequently confirmed by the Court of Appeals of Odesa region. The SPF filed a cassation appeal to the Higher Specialized Court of Ukraine for consideration of civil and criminal cases on May 13, 2017. The Hospitality Management department at the Rochester Institute of Technology is housed in the College of Applied Science and Technology. I cannot imagine a more appropriate home for a hospitality program today, given the rapid incursion of technology in a historically tech-shy, high-touch oriented industry. Technology is everywhere: Josh Bersin notes that business models are being rapidly disrupted and organizations have to respond to the growth of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. Platform technologies and business models are displacing established ways of doing business. The hospitality industry is not immune to these developments witness Airbnb, a prime example of the platform revolution and its impact on legacy hospitality (if only at the peripheries at this point). Other technologies are advancing as well and as Carson Booth, Vice President Global Property Technology at Marriott International, notes, technology such as "AI will become embedded and ubiquitous" in the hospitality industry. The purpose of this essay is to understand some technologies that will impact the hospitality industry in the near future the year 2020 is arbitrary, I had first titled the article as 'Hospitality Technology 2025' but the pace of technological developments shifted the horizon! In a survey of the rapidly growing commentary stream on technology, it appears the following will have a great deal of impact on the hospitality industry: robotics, 3-D printing, internet of things and data, artificial intelligence, and "trust-through-algorithms-and-ratings". Each of these is elaborated in the next paragraphs. Caveat: This is a very quick overview. Each of these technologies is complex and is associated with a number of 'human' and moral questions. For example, who is responsible for a death if the vehicle causing the accident is a self-driving car? Are consumers ready to accept a high-tech, low touch hospitality environment? Is society ready to support displaced employees? And there are, of course, other technologies not covered here. Robotics has the potential to be a big disrupter of current hospitality industry models. A number of trends advances in robotics, the ability of robots to 'empathize', to touch, feel, the development of sensor technologies, and demographic and societal changes that accept robotics as a given in many service jobs means that robots will become increasingly common in the industry,. Already a number of hospitality organizations both large and small are 'proof-of-concept' testing robots in their front office and check-in operations for example Hilton (McLean, VA), and the Henn-Na Hotel (Japan). Other applications include in housekeeping and in the kitchens. Currently, Asian consumers appear to be more readily accepting of service and humanoid robot servers and support staff than in the West. The International Federation of Robotics predicts strong growth in a variety of applications to the end of this decade. This trend towards greater number of robots becoming inserted into the service-value chain is likely to grow stronger with advances in artificial general intelligence, deep machine-learning, and neural networks. 3-D Printing is another area that may have profound effects on a number of hospitality operations areas including in the kitchens, engineering, guest amenities and related areas. If spares can be printed on-demand, associated costs will probably change. On a larger scale, even complete hotel buildings can be 3-D printed an extension of the modular construction methods adopted by a number of hotel companies in Europe and in the US. A number of companies are experimenting with 3-D food printers for the domestic markets. How much longer before 3-D printers render room-service obsolete? When 3-D printed foods gain wide acceptance in the domestic markets, it has implications for take-away and eat-in restaurants alike. Together with robot kitchens that produce chef quality meals, 3-D printing will transform the F&B industry. Data Mining and the Internet of Things (IoT) is increasingly becoming important in industry. John Keller notes that "billions of sensor-driven devices [connected] to each other, the Internet, national networks and distant cloud-based applications" carry large amounts of data "that can be captured and analyzed" to enhance business operations. He identifies the hospitality industry as one that depends on the IoT to personalize the guest experience. Mobile devices are used by guests to check in and enter their rooms, sensors adjust room temperature and lighting to guest requirements and help provide the guest a unique experience. Data collected from guest stays help rationalize the use of power and utilities in hospitality operations. Some utility companies can now remotely manage home thermostat settings to reduce the consumption of fuel and provide economies to both homeowners and the utility. The data generated from the various devices that guests and hospitality associates use can provide valuable insights that will enhance guest experience; customized, individualized experiences will be only a button away. Artificial Intelligence (AI) appears to be the lifeblood of the advancements in robotics and IoT. Experts distinguish between generalized and specialized AI. Specialized AI is about using algorithms to figure out increasingly complex but narrow set of tasks; generalized AI refers to the ability to discern actionable patterns out of masses of data using neural networks and deep learning. The driverless car, IBM Watson's abilities, and Google's DeepMind project are examples of generalized AI. As AI becomes more sophisticated, a number of tasks in the service value chain can be replaced with AI driven robots for example, hotel room pricing decisions or inventory management. Already concierge services, room service delivery, and housekeeping operations are supported by AI. For the hospitality industry, simultaneous translation capable robots may replace consumer contact service individuals. Trust through algorithms and ratings is an area that has great significance for how hospitality operations are managed. EBay and Airbnb are examples of this: both buyer and seller rate each other and this defines the level of trust and propensity to do business again. It also defines the ability of the seller to attract new buyers. In an increasingly algorithm and ratings mediated business environment, organizations have to perhaps reimagine their customer relationship models how is trust in a brand generated? The ability to build trust through algorithms and the advent of the 'gig' economy may change the employer-employee relationships and have an impact on hospitality industry employment practices. Conclusion Hospitality organizations will have to respond as these various technologies are adopted at a higher rate in the general organizational environment. It is important that they adopt a proactive and strategic stance and fundamentally (re)design themselves as technology-centered organizations. Technology-driven transformations will impact the structure of the industry as well: in some organizations, technology will be used visibly front and center (for example, service robots) in guest interfaces and back-of-the house operations with the aim of economizing. In others, technology will be used in back-of-house and support operations but have human guest relations experts at the guest interface to provide the 'high touch' experience that those willing to pay premiums for it will demand. Back of the house operations such as inventory management, room pricing decisions, or human resource management are likely to be equally technology driven. The choices made about technology and human interfaces with guests will distinguish groups of organizations. Thus, it appears that the industry is on the cusp of a very big transformation driven not only by technology but also demographic and economic changes. References Namasivayam, K., Enz, C. A., & Siguaw, J. A. (2000). How wired are we? The selection and use of new technology in U.S. hotels [Electronic version]. Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly, 41(6), 40-48. Retrieved12/19/2016, from Cornell University, School of Hospitality Administration site: http://scholarship.sha.cornell.edu/articles/490/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/business-talent-hr-predictions-2017-everything-becoming-josh-bersin https://www.accenture.com/t20160804T100550__w__/us-en/_acnmedia/Accenture/Omobono/TechnologyVision/pdf/Technology-Trends-Technology-Vision-2016.pdf#zoom=50 http://www.hotel-online.com/...gence-ai-is-checking-into-your-hotel?utm_medium=email&utm_source=Offer&utm_campaign=10-18-2016#[10/18/2016 4:10:07 PM] Alec Ross (2016). The Industries of the Future. New York: Simon & Schuster, (p. 92). Scott Dadich with President Obama and Joi Ito. (November 2016). Wired: Frontiers, pp. 125- Alec Ross (2016). Ibid. http://intothefuture.eiu.com/robots-smart-and-getting-smarter/[11/16/2016 1:36:17 PM] http://www.intellibotrobotics.com/ http://www.moley.com/ www.ifr.org/fileadmin/user_upload/downloads/World_Robotics/2016/Executive_Summary_Service_Robots_2016.pdf https://intelligence.org/2013/08/11/what-is-agi/ Anonymous (1974). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/001088047401400412 https://3dprint.com/129130/foodini-food-3d-printer/ http://cbcommunity.comcast.com/browse-all/details/mining-the-internet-of-things https://www.ibm.com/blogs/internet-of-things/smart-meter-grid/ Alec Ross (2016). Ibid. Karthik Namasivayam Rochester Institute of Technology +15854755222 Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) When Barry Sternlicht founded Starwood Hotels in the 1990's, no one could have predicted its future status as a premier worldwide hotel brand. Last year, Starwood was acquired by Marriott for $13 billion, and its innovative culture was largely to thank. Starwood was successful because the team took risks, embraced collaboration, and dared to stand out. Its unique culture was most apparent in its W Hotel brand. "Starwood's legacy is really heavily shaped by W. It took a real disruptive, startup mentality. It used to be a separate business from the rest of the company, so it could flourish with its own culture and push the boundaries of hospitality," said Anthony Ingham, a global brand leader for W Hotels. Here are three ways to instill an innovative, startup mentality into your hospitality company culture: 1. Incentivize employee innovation. Your biggest source of ideas won't come from data or management, but rather from your coworkers on the frontlines. Every day, hotel staff interacts with guests in a multitude of ways, providing employees with valuable experience to recognize opportunities for improvements. That's why hospitality companies like Carlson Hotels build innovation into its corporate bonus plan. When staff members are encouraged to not only share their transformative ideas but also have a hand in implementing them, it gives them a sense of purpose and influences workplace culture. As former Two Roads Hospitality CEO Niki Leondakis said, "Creativity happens when our employees are empowered and they are not feeling any fear." 2. Diverse employees bring diverse ideas. Offering a varied set of hotel locations is often the goal for many hospitality companies. However, those locations are only as impressive as the diversity of workers that occupy them. International business travelers and tourists now expect the hotels they visit to have an inclusive and diverse workplace culture. Employers are also able to acquire the best talent by considering candidates from the largest pool possible. Bjorn Hanson, a clinical professor with the NYU Preston Robert Tisch Center for Hospitality and Tourism, claims one of W Hotel's key advantages was the new "caliber of hospitality employees" they hired. 3. Communicate management buy-in and support. Submitting a new idea to your manager can be intimidating. Many employees worry their ideas will fall on deaf ears or be rejected on the spot. For any hospitality organization looking to incorporate innovation into its culture, it must be made abundantly clear that failure will not only be tolerated but accepted. Managers must shift the risk from the employee to management, allowing for a free flow of ideas and feedback. This buy-in from management must be regularly communicated to the staff. For example, Bill Marriott Jr., Executive Chairman of Marriott International, is known for randomly dropping into Marriott locations and talking to employees. This kind of personal touch is the best way to encourage your colleagues to communicate their suggestions. Knowing Marriott's commitment to its staff, it's clear Starwood's innovative culture is in good hands. If you want to make innovation a part of your company's cultural DNA, start by communicating that to your employees and proving you mean it. ABOUT BEEKEEPER Beekeeper empowers frontline businesses and their workers with the digital solutions they need to do their best possible work. Founded in 2012, Beekeeper's mobile-first platform was designed and built for deskless employees who despite representing 80% of the global workforce have been chronically underserved when it comes to workplace technology. With Beekeeper's Frontline Success System, companies can automate paper-based processes, communicate with employees in real-time from anywhere, and improve the engagement, productivity, and safety of frontline teams. Website: www.beekeeper.io, Blog: www.beekeeper.io/blog, LinkedIn Corey McCarthy VP Marketing Beekeeper Speaker of the Seimas (Parliament) of Lithuania Viktoras Pranckietis has assured Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak of Lithuania's further support of the European choice of the Ukrainian people and condemnation of Russia's actions in Ukraine's east. "We will continue to support the Ukrainian people in their European choice and ensure the democratic processes that are currently taking place in your society. Lithuania will never recognize the annexation of Crimea by Russia, and also condemns the actions of the Russian Federation in the east of Ukraine," the Defense Ministry's press service quoted Pranckietis on Thursday evening. The Ukrainian defense minister during the meeting spoke about the latest developments in the country's east and presented the evidence of the presence of Russian troops in Donbas. It looks like you've reached a page that doesnt exist (anymore). Please use the navigation or search above to find content on Hospitality Net. Go back to home On May 22, a day after music biggest stars take to Las Vegas for the 2017 Billboard Music Awards, tickets will go on sale for Billboards Hot 100 Music Festival. Kicking off on the weekend of August 19th and 20th, headliners includes DJ Khaled, Big Sean, and Gucci Mane among others. Set to take place in New Yorks Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater, the festival is clear mix of the hottest stars in music across multiple genres with Hip-Hops front-runners certainly in full effect with the lineup further consisting of artists such as Blackbear, Lil Yachty, Ty Dolla $ign, Waka Flocka Flame, and T-Pain. More acts are set to be announced in the coming months. Tickets will be available for purchase via Live Nation. Billboard Music Fest Because lets be honest, who hasnt imagined Quavo for president? Its a new era, and a precedent for entertainers becoming president has been set. Even Dwayne The Rock Johnson wants in on the action. If you ever wondered what it would be like if Quavo was POTUS, today is your lucky day. NYDAILYNEWS interviewed the rising superstar and asked him about the ultimate what-if scenario. Quavo dishes on what his first action as president would be, stating On my first day in office as President Quavo, Id move my whole family into the White House. Second, Id pull all the troops back. Third, Id raise the minimum wage to a good, nice amount so people get paid. Respect to Quavo for thinking about the little guy. What do yall think? Would Quavo be an upgrade over the current POTUS? Quavo In support of his critically acclaimed debut album Process, Sampha has decided to link up with London-based designer Grace Wales Bonner, Dazed art director Jamie Andrew Reid and LA-based photographic duo Durimel to create a brand new zine inspired by the album. Titled Shy Light, the zine is a visual exploration of Samphas album Process, formed as a collage of experiences. The publication encompasses abstracted lyrics, photographs from the artists personal archive and studio, and commissioned reflections of Freetown, Sierra Leone by Durimel. I want to thank Grace and Jamie for all the work and love theyve put into creating Shy Light. Its been a pleasure collaborating and inspiring to work with such driven and visionary individuals. We also had the the great fortune of shooting in Sierra Leone with the Durimel brothers Sampha says. Running 32 pages deep, look for Shy Light to be available sometime in June. Peep a couple photos of the upcoming zine in the gallery (above). Sampha Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Hugues Mingarelli has drawn the attention of Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andriy Parubiy to the need to change the electoral system in Ukraine and replace members of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) as soon as possible. Opening the conference on the openness of public authorities in Kyiv on Friday, Mingarelli said the democracy is based on an open electoral process, which is probably the most important pillar of public access to the system of public administration and Ukraine needs to continue reforming the electoral legislation and replacing the Central Election Commission. In his words, it is important to the EU that Ukraine should continue the progress in these two areas. As reported, in June 2016, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko proposed to dismiss 12 members of the Central Election Commission, including its chairman Mykhailo Okhendovsky and submitted to the Verkhovna Rada the nomination of 11 new members of the Central Election Commission. However, Leader of the Petro Poroshenko Bloc faction Ihor Hryniv then said the parliament hadn't reached a consensus yet concerning the election of the new CEC. The term in office of 12 out of the 15 members of the Central Election Commission expired on June 1, 2014. However, they continue to perform their duties based on the amendments to the law on the CEC, which were made in March 2014 in order to ensure the uninterrupted electoral process during the presidential election campaign. According to Ukraine's Constitution, the Verkhovna Rada appoints and dismisses members of the CEC based on proposals of the president. Irelands biggest boutique festival Body & Soul is bringing back a little of its original ethos with a new stage this year. Curated by Naoise Nunn, founder of Kilkenomics Festival, the Library of Progress stage promises to celebrate all that is good about our inquisitive nature, the scientific method and open critical thinking. Highlights of whats planned include: Blindboy Boatclub of Rubberbandits will host Faction, a political debate that promises to separate fact from fiction, and science from the snakeoil. Guests include Professor Luke ONeill, Chair of Biochemistry, and Professor Aoife McLysaght, Professor of Genetics, both of Trinity College Dublin. Advertisement Actor, writer and performer Emmet Kirwan hosts Beats and Rhymes, a blitz of spoken word and hip hop performances from Ireland's hottest performers including Mango and Mathman, John Cummins, Abbey Oliveira, Stephen James Smith, Sian Ni Mhuiri, Lethal Dialect, and Denise Chailia. This article can only be read with a Premium Account The Kildare duo will be the main support act for the 1975 in Ormeau Park on 16 June. Picture This have enjoyed a meteoric rise to date. The childhood friends from Athy burst on to the scene in 2015 with the viral hit Take My Hand and since then have sold out shows all across Ireland, even becoming the first act ever to sell out the Academy in Dublin for a debut gig. Such is there level of success that they have been chosen to be the main support act to the 1975 for Belfasts Belsonic Festival. The 1975 won best band at last years Brit awards, so for Picture This to be sharing a stage with them is a huge statement of the esteem with which the Kildare band are held. Advertisement Its a tantalising prospect on paper a bunch of Dublins longest-serving, hardest working and most talented musicians getting together for an album of mainly blues, soul and funk classics. The results are genuinely excellent. No surprises there, you might think the players are well known to music fans and highly regarded within the industry. They include former Lir man Colm Querney, the ubiquitous Conor Brady on guitar (recently seen in action with The Blades), Frames drummer Graham Hopkins, Justin Carroll on organ and bassist Keith Duffy. Most of these gems have been heard before in countless guises over the years (theres a reason theyre called classics) and Square Pegs bring them to life once more with feeling. Cocaine Blues probably best known through Jackson Brownes late night stoned-out version on Running On Empty is given a Ricky Nelson-style treatment. They also offer a laidback version of Leiber and Stollers Ruby Baby, another under-heard tune. Meanwhile, Big Legged Woman hits a groove that the Neville Brothers (Phil and Gary? Ed.) would be proud of, with nods to the (criminally forgotten) Average White Band. The playing is as good as it gets without being showy, while the production is organic, and devoid of studio processing and gimmickry. Springsteen once said that the thing about great songs is that they stay written. These chestnuts are the perfect example: you can never hear them often enough. Excellent stuff. Galway legends The Stunning are celebrating their 30th birthday this year with a headline show at the Olympia. The quintet hit the Olympia this October 6, with the news coming just after the band released their first new material in 24 years with new single Brighten Up My Life, which you can hear below: Steve Wall, Joe Wall, Jim Higgins, Derek Murray and Cormac Dunne formed The Stunning in Galway in 1987. They disbanded for nearly ten years when Steve and Joe formed The Walls in 1994. Advertisement Theyre putting the finishing touches to a re-recorded version of their second album Once Around the World. It hit the number one spot in 1992 and included the hit singles Everything that Rises; Heads are Gonna Roll; Mr. Ginger and Shes on my Mind. We always felt that the original album hadnt done the songs justice, the band said in a statement. Its been renamed Twice Around the World and will include the new single Brighten up my Life as a bonus track. Tickets for the Olympia show are priced from 29 inlcuding fees and go on sale tomorrow Saturday 20 May via Ticketmaster.ie and other outlets. Alliantgroup, a Houston-based tax consulting firm, is entangled in a legal controversy with former employees involving competing lawsuits and accusations ranging from the theft of trade secrets to stealing clients to sexting by the CEO. The dispute is winding its way through state and federal courts in Texas and California where the consulting firm has offices. It is also complicated by an arbitration agreement, the type of employment contracts used by many companies to provide a more friendly and less costly judicial forum and keep potentially embarrassing details out of the public eye. Angela Torres, a sales employee who worked out of alliantgroup's office in Irvine, Calif., resigned in May 2016 and, three months later, sent a "demand letter," to the company alleging sexual harassment, said Dee Nguyen, an employment lawyer in Los Angeles who represents Torres. Demand letters typically describe allegations that are expected to be brought in a lawsuit and often spur settlement negotiations. Other times, they result in a race to the courthouse. Alliantgroup responded with its own claim that Torres had taken trade secrets when she left the company. In court documents in California, alliantgroup alleged Torres accessed a confidential sales file just before she left the firm to launch her own venture with another former alliantgroup employee. John Simpson, general counsel of alliantgroup, said the demand letter was the first time anyone at the company had heard of Torres' sexual harassment complaints. He believes the allegations were an effort by Torres to get back at the company for suing her business associate and former alliantgroup executive, Brad Mols, for allegedly soliciting his old clients to bring their business to Torres' new firm. Alliantgroup sued Mols in June 2016, about two months before Torres sent the demand letter, according to court documents. Brian Humphrey II, the Houston lawyer representing Mols, said his client, who is working as a contractor for Torres' new venture, did not solicit his former clients. Humphrey said the case was moved to federal court in Houston where it is pending. Alliantgroup was founded in 2002 and has about 700 employees. The company specializes in finding tax credits for research, development and energy-efficiency. Alliantgroup petitioned the court in California to let an arbitrator, and not the trial court, decide whether Torres is using the company's trade secrets. Alliantgroup presented an agreement to arbitrate that it said was signed by Torres and the California court ordered arbitration. Torres said in court documents that she doesn't remember signing an arbitration agreement when she joined the company. The arbitration has not yet been scheduled. While the trade secret theft allegations were pending, Torres filed a sexual harassment lawsuit, accusing alliantgroup CEO and co-founder Dhaval Jadav of harassment during work and social events, and retaliating against her when she rejected his advances. Torres alleged that Jadav touched her inappropriately, suggested she should have sexual relations with certified public accountants to attract more business and sent text messages about his sexual prowess, according to a lawsuit she filed in April. Torres "entertained" the sexually suggestive text messages because she believed it would result in "better territories, lists, the ability to attend events and travel for work," according to her lawsuit. At times when she didn't respond to his text messages, Torres said she was removed from sales accounts and sales territories were taken from her, according to her lawsuit. At the moment, Torres' sexual harassment lawsuit is on hold, said Nguyen, and won't get taken up until the arbitration is settled. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate HOCKLEY - What's built in the Houston area cools the nation and could ultimately cool the hemisphere. Inside the nation's second-largest industrial building, home to one of America's most advanced factories, more than 4,000 Texans will soon manufacture air conditioners and furnaces in this small town on the northwestern outskirts of Houston. Daikin, a Japanese heating, ventilation and air conditioning company, officially opens its new 94-acre facility this week. How many more good-paying, high-skilled jobs will come to this corner of Harris County depends on politicians in Washington getting realistic about foreign trade and keeping America competitive in the global marketplace. After all, the Daikin Texas Technology Park is a creature of globalization and a demonstration of how a rising tide of global prosperity can float all economies. Daikin bought Goodman air conditioning for $3.7 bil-lion in 2012 to enter the North American market after establishing itself in Europe, China and Latin America. The company's strategy is to engineer, develop, market and manufacture products as close as possible to a region's consumers, making sure the HVAC systems meet local needs. Daikin has spent $500 million to upgrade Goodman by building a 4 million square foot facility, increasing production capacity by 30 percent and adding new product lines. The company is proud of the factories and jobs it creates around the world, said Takeshi Ebisu, Goodman's CEO. "Two years ago, we felt it was the right decision, but now I feel like this was definitely a great choice that we made," he told me in an interview. "We are so happy to have such talented people in Houston." The company took no government incentives to build in Texas, and the decision to create American jobs came long before President Donald Trump's election. But while Ebisu agrees with Trump's "Buy American" rhetoric, he points out that the "Made in America" is more than assembling foreign parts. "Made in America is not as simple as built in America," he said. "My hope is that President Trump thinks the same as we do. It's not just whether it was made in the U.S., but we should seriously ask whether it was engineered, developed, marketed and manufactured wholly in the U.S." When the factory reaches capacity, the products made here will be able to compete on price and quality with any competitor, he added. But Daikin never intended for this factory to only compete for U.S. customers. Executives made the investment counting on the North American Free Trade Agreement to guarantee access to Canada and tariff-free access to raw materials, such as steel, aluminum and copper. This is where the Trump administration's policy proposals worry Ebisu. "We are already competing in the Canadian market with exports from China, so if a tariff is imposed, its going to be harder," he said. "Thinking about raw materials such as steel, aluminum and copper, it is definitely raising the price of everybody's products, including ours. He is simply pushing the sale prices higher and higher, which reduces competitiveness, so 'Made in America' does not work under that plan." Trump's immigration policy could also be problematic. Daikin eventually plans to replace all Japanese executives in Houston with Americans, but for now it needs H1 visas for Japanese expatriates and engineering talent. "I personally believe that the U.S. is strong because it has such a diverse community. Because we can give visas for skilled people, we have diversified with people from all over the world, and that blend has sparked creativity at this facility and created new things," he said. And those are only the short-term policies that could impact Daikin's profitability. Even though the company has only developed 320 acres in Hockley, there was a reason it bought 500 and is making ductless systems, even though most U.S. and Canadian homes use ducted HVAC. Several factory walls are removable to make it expandable to compete in new markets, Ebisu said. "Canada is one of our targets, but I am also thinking of moving into Central and South America in the future," he said. "That's the area where we can ship our products easily for residential and light commercial. We will be able to compete with exports from China because they have to pay a lot of transportation costs." Daikin is demonstrating how foreign capital, local workers and accessible export markets can make U.S. factories competitive. Manufacturers don't need the crutch of tax incentives or protective tariffs that only raise costs for consumers. Nationwide, millions of American workers rely on trade agreements for their livelihood. Let's make sure our politicians improve them, not ruin them. WASHINGTON - House Speaker Paul Ryan insisted on Thursday that Congress will overhaul the U.S. tax system this year despite the chaos consuming Washington and the political divisions in Congress. "I feel very confident we can meet this goal," Ryan, R-Wis., told reporters. Ryan was bolstered by skittish business leaders who began an aggressive lobbying effort to ensure that their vision for a tax overhaul isn't lost in the daily distractions of President Donald Trump's administration. The conservative Charles and David Koch brothers' political network announced it is preparing to spend millions of dollars toward that end. The announcement came on the same day a handful of business executives told a congressional committee that the current tax system makes U.S. companies uncompetitive. "We no longer live in a world where the U.S. can set a corporate tax rate without considering what our international competition looks like," John Stephen, AT&T's chief financial officer, told the House Ways and Means Committee. "Countries are vigorously competing against each other to attract investment and jobs, but the U.S. has done little to retain its competitive advantage." The Trump administration released a one-page tax proposal last month that included massive tax cuts for businesses, a bigger standard tax deduction for middle-income families, lower investment taxes for the wealthy, and an end to the federal estate tax for the very rich. Thirty-one years after the last overhaul, there is widespread agreement that the current tax system is too complicated and picks too many winners and losers, compelling companies to make business decisions based on tax implications instead of sound business reasons. But there are deep political and practical disagreements over how to fix it. Is it OK for a tax overhaul to add to the nation's debt? Should corporations pay less? Should rich people pay more? Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., pressed Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to commit that the Trump administration's tax overhaul wouldn't raise taxes on those Americans making less than $250,000. Mnuchin said that the administration's goal is tax relief for the middle class. "I can assure that the president's objective and my objective is that we create a middle-income tax This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The ups and downs of the oil industry are ever present in the Houston economy, trickling down to affect things like home sales and restaurant closings. But there's nothing more tangible to the average person than pumping regular unleaded at a local gas station. When our southern neighbor Mexico undid its energy monopoly in 2013 and opened its energy markets to the outside world, it seemed like a big deal but didn't necessarily touch the typical consumer. That changed in 2015 when Mexico's state-owned oil company, Petroleos Mexicanos, known as Pemex, opened its first Pemex-branded gas station in the United States in southeast Houston. With the pomp and circumstance of a full mariachi band and an accompanying "taco shack," Pemex's retail move into Houston didn't mean much financially, but it represented a big symbolic gesture. As international energy companies head into Mexico, Pemex wanted to make its presence known beyond Mexico. Where better to start than tapping into Houston's large Mexican population? Pemex has since opened a few more gas stations in Houston, Pasadena and Webster. And now Big Oil is returning the favor and launching its first gas stations within Mexico's borders. That may not sound like a big deal, but most Mexicans have never pumped gas from any station other than one owned by Pemex. While most of Mexico's energy reforms have focused on promises of deep-water drilling and potentially large oil reserves, there's also a large market in retail fuel sales. Apart from China and India, Mexico is the only large economy still growing in fuel demand, Pemex CEO Jose Antonio Gonzalez Anaya said in May in an interview with the Chronicle. London-based BP opened the first non-Pemex fueling station in the Mexico City area in March with plans to open 200 more just by the end of this year. Texas' Exxon Mobil quickly followed suit, announcing this past week it will open a string of retail gas stations in Mexico later this year under the Mobil brand name. Exxon Mobil said it plans to invest $300 million in gas stations, inventories and marketing over the next 10 years in Mexico. "Recent energy reforms present a unique opportunity to help meet the growing demand for reliable fuel supplies and quality service in Mexico," said Martin Proske, Exxon Mobil's Mexico fuels director. "Exxon Mobil's presence will help give consumers new choices." Not that the transition to a free market has been easy. Gasoline costs were fixed in Mexico under the Pemex monopoly, and the lifting of price controls led to higher prices. Big jumps in January ignited protests and looting through much of the country. Gonzalez Anaya said Mexico's consumers are getting used to daily adjustments in gasoline prices common in the U.S. and other countries. Going forward, he expects more growth for Pemex and international energy companies on both sides of the border, regardless of anti-trade rhetoric coming from Washington. "We already have an important oil and gas trade," he said. "I think the ties will strengthen moving forward." Jeff Miller, the next chief executive of the energy services company Halliburton, learned to take the reins by literally taking the reins. Growing up in Dallas, he fell in love with rodeos, working on horse farms, honing his riding and roping skills and earning a rodeo scholarship to McNeese State University in Louisiana. He even competed in roping events on the professional rodeo circuit 30 years ago, including the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. "It's a demonstration that if you want to do anything badly enough, you can do it," Miller said. Miller, named last week as the successor to outgoing CEO Dave Lesar, has brought that same determination to his 20-year career at Halliburton, where he started in finance, moved into oil field operations and led major projects around the world before returning to Houston prior to 2010 to assume executive posts. Miller, 53, Halliburton's president since 2014, is known for quietly building relationships with oil company customers and delivering on promises by focusing on execution. He becomes CEO June 1 at a time when Halliburton, the world's second-largest oil field services provider, is still recovering from the brutal oil bust and failed merger with Baker Hughes that led to billions of dollars in losses and forced the Houston company to slash 35,000 jobs, about 40 percent of its workforce, over less than two years. He also must lead the company through a consolidating oil field services industry of fewer but potentially stronger competitors. Baker Hughes, for example, is expected to soon close its merger with General Electric's oil and gas division to create a combined company expected to surpass Halliburton as the world's No. 2 energy services company. Meanwhile, industry leader Schlumberger recently bought the North American hydraulic fracturing business of Weatherford International, the No. 4 services provider, to form a venture that could create formidable competition for Halliburton in a region and business that it dominates. Halliburton is widely recognized as the leader in North American fracturing. As oil prices have recovered and increasingly productive onshore shale fields have sprung back to life, demand for Halliburton's fracking services has grown rapidly. North American revenues climbed 24 percent in the first quarter of the year from the end of 2016, Halliburton recently reported, and the company has hired more than 2,000 U.S. workers. Miller, who declined to discuss specific competitors, said in an interview that his strategy is to dominate the "last mile" of oil and gas production - fracking, cementing and other processes that bring a well into operation. In a period when analysts widely expect oil prices to remain lower for longer, the key, Miller said, is to help producers churn out oil for fewer dollars per barrel as quickly and efficiently as possible. "I love the way the market it is shaping up, particularly in North America," Miller said. "We love the businesses we're in." Industry analysts expect that Miller will differ stylistically from Lesar, a gregarious 6-foot-5-inch man often described in energy and Wall Street circles as "larger than life." Miller is considered low-key and earnest, a doer more than a talker. "The general view is Jeff is very capable," said Byron Pope, an energy analyst with Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. in Houston. Miller said his first mentor was his grandfather. When he realized that his rodeo dreams would not work out, his grandfather, who worked for the drilling contractor Sedco, encouraged a career in business and finance, which led Miller to Texas A&M University and an MBA. "He kept me pretty grounded," Miller said of his grandfather. "He used to have all kinds of sayings and whatnot. 'Always have a pencil and paper in your pocket. Keep your shoes shined. Be on time.' " After completing graduate school, Miller went to work at the now-defunct accounting firm Arthur Andersen, where Lesar also worked. Lesar joined Halliburton in 1993; Miller followed four years later in 1997. Lesar, who became CEO when Dick Cheney left to run for vice president in 2000, will remain as executive chairman until 2018 when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 65. Despite different styles and personalities, Miller and Lesar share similar strategies for Halliburton's growth. Miller said he wants to expand in chemicals used in fracking fluids and artificial lift, the process of pumping oil fields after they are drilled and fracked. He said the company is looking to acquire artificial lift businesses while organically growing Halliburton's chemical business. Miller had been considered the heir apparent to Lesar since he was elevated to president, but many analysts expected the transition to last longer than a few weeks. Miller, however, said he was ready to dive right in. "You can't be a CEO until you're a CEO," Miller said. "It's like we do everything here at Halliburton - let's get after it and go execute." The founder and majority shareholder of Myronivsky Hliboproduct (MHP) Yuriy Kosiuk has said that the judicial reform in Ukraine must be the key task of power. "I think that one thing should be approved that would change a lot and the country in general: to create the right judicial system, honest system that the public would trust. This is the largest reform that should be carried out," he said at Free Market Road Show in Kyiv on Thursday. He said that Ukraine is a comfortable country for doing business, but there is bad management at the level of public agencies that should be changed, as well as corruption that hinders the development of the economy. Kosiuk believes that Ukrainian society is inert and it is ready to critical changes and reforms. "Reforms are being conducted in the way that depends on the readiness of society. People in central Ukraine again sell their votes and select heads of communities taking money," he said. He said that the land reform today is not among key legislative changes. "The land reform is number 25 in the list of top priorities and number 24 in my personal list. I am liberal, but if today society is not ready for the launch of the market, any model to launch the market that society is ready to could be used. The land reform has been conducted. People have ownership certificates," Kosiuk said. Myronivsky Hliboproduct is the largest poultry producer in Ukraine. It is also engaged in production of grains, sunflower oil, and meat. Houston's office market is stabilizing and investors' appetite for commercial real estate is growing, but cracks are starting to show in the city's long-robust retail sector, analysts said. National retailers are closing stores and more fallout could be seen among banks and medical facilities, said Jason Gaines, a senior vice president with NAI Partners, a real estate services firm that hosted a Wednesday morning panel on commercial real estate. "One thing that I could see happening ... is some of the banks starting to give back some of their real estate," Gaines said. "They're intentionally saying, 'Don't come here. Do your banking on the phone, on the internet.' " At another real estate panel near the Galleria, brokers with CBRE voiced a mostly optimistic tone of recovery from the fading energy slump in an event themed "slower is not sluggish." "The worst is behind us," CBRE managing director Cody Ambrister said. The health of Houston's commercial real estate market in recent years has been a mixed bag. The office and multifamily markets continue to struggle, while retail and industrial space have held up much better. Vacancies left by downsizing energy companies during the recent downturn have been partially offset by growth in industrial real estate, especially warehouses, fueled by steady demand for consumer goods and a retail sector that until now has remained relatively healthy. "Consumer goods picked up the slack where energy let off," said Faron Wiley, first vice president at CBRE. Ambrister said that trend amounted to "transforming the industrial landscape" in Houston. The grimmest outlook surfaced regarding the market for office buildings, which CBRE senior vice president Kristen Rabel called "not robust by any means" but also headed for slow growth. As Houston recovers from the energy slump, which took out struggling oil and gas companies as well as thousands of high-paying jobs, businesses in the market for office space are taking advantage of lower rental rates in the city's skyscrapers, many of which have room to spare. "Tenants are definitely focusing on sublease space. It's foolish for them not to," NAI vice president Alex Taghi said. Areawide, available sublease space has fallen from its peak of 12 million square feet in the third quarter of last year to 11.1 million square feet earlier this year, NAI data show. Before 2014, sublease space had been averaging 3.3 million square feet. Rabel said contracts on more than 4 million square feet of sublease space are set to expire in 2018, raising questions of how landlords will compete to fill the new vacancies. While the worst of the slump appears to be over, last month Canadian pipeline company Enbridge said it would leave downtown and relocate more than 700 employees to the Galleria area. Other top energy players, including Shell Oil Co. and Exxon Mobil Corp., have left downtown as well. Brokers say a shift is taking place in the central business district, where towers once rated as top-class are becoming outdated as new skyscrapers go up. Bank of America is planning to leave its longtime downtown home to move into a new building under development nearby. Law firms, Taghi said, are also driving demand for new space. The new skyscraper at 609 Main has attracted three law firms: Kirkland & Ellis, Hogan Lovells, Orrick and Herrington & Sutcliffe. "Law firms are going to leave a lot of the buildings we'd always considered Class A towers," Taghi said. "They want the bells and whistles to attract talent." Some landlords are spending big to compete with the nicest and newest properties. Brookfield Property Partners is in the midst of a sweeping renovation and makeover of its Allen Center office complex downtown. "It's all about recruitment and retention," Taghi said. "You'll start seeing a lot of money dumped into these older buildings just to remain competitive." In the hotel market, new properties are forcing competition. Revenue per available hotel room continues to fall in Houston, as it has since 2015, CBRE senior vice president Rahul Bijlani said. He attributed the decrease to supply, not demand, after a large number of hotels opened in the years following the shale oil boom. With about 85,000 hotel rooms, Houston still has about 19,500 in the pipeline, Bijlani said, though he doubted that all of them will be built. "Hotels should make a comeback in the second half of this year," he said. "It's safe to say the worst is behind us." In the industrial market, a relatively strong performer of late, some areas are soft. "The north and southwest submarkets are still pretty shaky," NAI's Chris Caudill said. "We're still seeing landlords giving pretty decent concessions to tenants. I think that trend is going to continue over the foreseeable future." In retail, all eyes are on national news of teetering franchises poised to fold under the pressure of e-commerce, though Houston's market has soundly resisted the gloom and doom that has spread elsewhere. "The fundamentals are still very strong," CBRE vice president Russell Janicek said, also noting that there are "more pending closures upon us." There's already been some fallout among medical users, such as walk-in clinics and emergency centers, Gaines said. There could be more as many of the newer medical facilities were expensive to build out and may not have the customer base to sustain them all. Gaines said he's less concerned about restaurants, despite a recent space of closings. "Restaurants are kind of a shell game," he said. "When one fails, another will go in and replace it." Land Tejas has named builders in Etteridge, a new community with an expected 216 homes in the West Lake Houston area. Anglia Homes, CastleRock Communities, Westin Homes and Lake Ridge Builders will build homes in the 45-acre development. It is a half-mile north of Beltway 8 and 5 miles east of U.S. 59, within two miles of the northeast Houston's Generation Park mixed-use development. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The first planes at Ellington Field were little more than kites with motors. Yet in those Wild West days of aviation, just 14 years after the Wright brothers took their first flight, soldiers enthusiastically boarded the accident-prone Curtiss Jenny to train as pilots and bombardiers for World War I. One hundred years later, Ellington finds itself again at the edge of a new frontier, gearing up for the era of commercial space. And just like the early days of aviation, the future is far from certain. The Federal Aviation Administration has licensed Ellington and nine other commercial spaceports nationwide, but experts question whether that number will be viable in the foreseeable future. Getting research and satellites into space remains difficult and isn't yet affordable for the masses. Significantly more sophisticated technology is needed before space tourism can flourish. The Houston Spaceport's location in a bustling city also presents complications. It will not be able to host vertical rocket launches, an area where some of its peers are pulling ahead and finding success. Local spaceport officials counter that Houston has an edge in the brainpower of NASA's Johnson Space Center, the talent of its universities and its reputation as Space City. Once again, they say, Ellington is pushing the limitations of flight. "It's the same sense of 'Go for it' that they had in the early days," said Kathryn Morrow, an Ellington Field historian and author in Rockport. Yet there also is recognition that the future likely will include turbulence. Spaceport America in New Mexico has been decried as ill-spent taxpayer money. Its tenant Virgin Galactic has yet to launch wealthy tourists into space, and both have experienced delays and setbacks. "This was like building an airport, a massive airport like we would have today, before those Wright brothers flew their first plane," said Paul Gessing, president of Rio Grande Foundation, a free-market think tank based in Albuquerque, N.M. Houston Spaceport officials say their approach in repurposing Ellington, now officially Ellington Airport, presents fewer financial risks. As for the technology, they're optimistic that advances in space travel will mimic the giant leaps seen in aviation over the last century. "It's a question of whether we want to take the lead or we want to follow," said Mario Diaz, director of the Houston Airport System. "We want to be in the lead on this." A rich history Ellington officially became a training facility for World War I on May 21, 1917. Over the years, it also has served as home to Ellington Air Force Base, a practice ground for NASA's lunar landings and as Houston's front door for U.S. presidents and foreign dignitaries ferried here on government flights. Jon Shapley/Staff It became home to the country's 10th FAA-licensed commercial spaceport in June 2015. Houston Spaceport's first focus is creating a cluster of aerospace companies that can invent, develop and manufacture space technologies. Clear Lake-based Intuitive Machines is its first and only tenant, but Diaz said he's working to attract others. That would prepare the spaceport to seize opportunities as they become more plausible. "We need a large company. Maybe one or two large companies," he said. "And that's what we're working on right now." In the meantime, officials didn't want to dump money into a terminal that would not yet be used consistently nor bring in revenues, said Arturo Machuca, general manager of Ellington and the Houston Spaceport. "We have, as a spaceport operator, no control in when commercial spaceflight is going to really happen on a regular basis," Machuca said. The timeline is particularly vague in Houston, where the spaceport's success hinges on the development of spacecraft that can take off like a plane - or, in the nearer term, attach under a plane like Virgin Galactic's spacecraft - and then ignite rockets over the Gulf of Mexico to travel into space. Because so many people live so close by, Houston cannot launch the more powerful vertical rockets. "Right now, that's the only way of reaching space," said Bill Ostrove, space market analyst for Forecast International. "So right now, those types of launches are going to continue going up from Cape Canaveral or Vandenberg or Virginia." Still, Ostrove sees Houston Spaceport's urban location as an advantage should horizontal launches and space tourism flourish. Houston has hotels and restaurants for visitors to enjoy before and after their space flight. The city's large population can provide a steady workforce and Johnson Space Center has the needed brainpower. The Houston Airport System invested about $7 million of its revenues to prepare for its FAA spaceport license and to buy the first building in its cluster of aerospace companies. On top of that amount, it is building an air traffic control tower at Ellington that will have a mission-control area. The spaceport has received state and federal grants, but Machuca doesn't expect to directly tax Houston residents. He envisions a public-private partnership with companies helping foot the bill. Compare that to Spaceport America, billed as "the world's first FAA licensed purpose-built, commercial spaceport," which cost more than $200 million to build in New Mexico. The taxpayer-funded project hasn't produced space tourism as quickly as many hoped or expected. Some 'notoriety' "Virgin Galactic has given us some press and notoriety," said Richard Anklam, president of the New Mexico Tax Research Institute. "But that real activity is what we're waiting for, and that's what we desperately need." He said the spaceport will be used. But whether it brings the intended return on investment is an open question. Gessing, with the Rio Grande Foundation, said the project was too speculative for taxpayer money. It was approved when the state was in a better financial position, but the Great Recession and oil price slump have since stressed New Mexico's economy. "It would sure be nice to have $200-plus million to do something else with," he said. The chief executive of Spaceport America, however, says New Mexico has already benefited from that initial investment: The state is now competitive in the commercial space race. "You've got people now paying taxes and working in New Mexico in the commercial space industry that you didn't have 10 years ago," CEO Dan Hicks said. Spaceport America has five tenants, as well as other companies that periodically use its facilities, and more than 75 full-time employees. It hosted 24 vertical launches between 2006 and 2015, seven vertical launches last year and eight so far this year. Of those 39 flights, eight went at least 62 miles into space and two others made it at least 50 miles. Its horizontal launches began as early as 2010, but none have made it into space. These eight "missions" include spacecraft launches and other tests such as using a helium-filled balloon to lift and drop the Boeing CST-100 Starliner to assess its parachutes. In the near term, Hicks said, the spaceport will focus on suborbital research using vessels that spend four to six minutes in space. He expects to attract companies flying to the International Space Station once rocket boosters can reliably return to a designated point on the ground instead of crashing into a large body of water. As for space tourism, Virgin Group founder Richard Branson recently told The Telegraph that he'd be "very disappointed" if he doesn't get into space next year and if the program isn't well underway by the end of 2018. His company experienced a tragic setback in 2014 when a pilot died during a test flight over the Mojave Desert in California. "We are on schedule to see a lot of exciting things," Hicks said. Gathering momentum All of Spaceport America's launches into space have been suborbital, meaning they went into space and came back down relatively quickly. They did not circle the Earth. It's the spaceports at Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg Air Force Base, building upon extensive launch histories and vertical-rocket capabilities, that have the most momentum in terms of getting satellites and unmanned spacecraft deeper into space, Ostrove said. These types of launches are more prestigious and generate more revenue. Cape Canaveral Spaceport had 23 launches last year and has completed eight launches in 2017. It expects 22 more this year from companies including SpaceX, United Launch Alliance and Orbital ATK. The spaceport is expected to have 50 launches a year within two years and 100 a year within seven years. Harris Spaceport Systems has launched nine rockets, seven of those into space, since receiving its license in 1996 to operate a spaceport at California's Vandenberg AFB. It has more recently focused on processing and testing 15 satellites, so it didn't have any launches last year and doesn't expect any this year. But it's hoping to process and test satellites and also provide launch services in the future. Ostrove said there isn't enough current demand to sustain all 10 U.S.-licensed spaceports. But the hope is that demand will continue to grow. Michael Blades, a senior industry analyst for aerospace, defense and security with Frost & Sullivan, expects it will be at least 10 years, if everything goes perfectly, before spacecraft can take people into the lower reaches of space. It will be even longer before regularly scheduled flights are available from spaceports, though he said firms testing balloons may get people into near space sooner. He added that early spaceports and their tenants could be well positioned if such opportunities prove to be sustainable. In the meantime, they'll have to find other sources of revenue. "It's a little bit pie in the sky, but it's also a little bit of forward thinking," he said. The Houston Airport System hopes its spaceport will help diversify and expand Ellington's business. The airfield has long been essential for providing security and emergency response, but it never fully developed in terms of commercial and general aviation. It costs roughly $4 million a year to operate and maintain Ellington, but the airport brings in only about $2 million in revenues, Machuca said. Ellington will continue offering such general aviation services; a spaceport further complements the commercial flights from Bush Intercontinental and Hobby airports. Machuca said it also provides infrastructure that will be necessary in the near future. Machuca and Diaz said the possibilities of horizontal-launching spacecraft in Houston include taking tourists into space, transporting people around the world in a fraction of the time, launching small satellites into orbit and conducting zero-gravity experiments. In the near future, the Houston Spaceport's agreement with Sierra Nevada Corp. means its Dream Chaser spacecraft could land at Ellington. Last year, Sierra Nevada received a contract with NASA to deliver cargo to the International Space Station. Officials are confident this spaceport will keep Houston integral to the space industry. "One hundred years later," Machuca said, "we are proving that Houston, again, is acting very smart by repurposing this airport." In the hours immediately after the sudden passing of Fox News co-founder Roger Ailes on Thursday, journalists scrambled to cover his unexpected death and many who knew him offered testimony to his tenacity and vision. Yet among some of the many figures whose careers Ailes made and molded, there was only stony silence. Former Fox anchor Megyn Kelly, who became a star under Ailes' tutelage, had nothing to say. Nor did Gretchen Carlson, once the co-host of Fox's morning program, "Fox and Friends." Bill O'Reilly withheld comment until later in the day, writing in USA Today that "It was a privilege to know him." Nor did Donald Trump, whose candidacy was championed by Ailes and whose political ambitions were kept warm by Fox long before he ever declared he was running. Hours after Ailes's death was announced by his wife, Beth, the White House still had not weighed in about one of the president's most powerful allies. The non-responses suggest how mixed Ailes' legacy is. Despite building Fox into a profit-making machine and a tribune of conservative ideology, Ailes left a noxious trail of personal accusations stretching over more than 50 years. After Carlson filed a lawsuit last summer alleging that her career at Fox was stunted by her refusal to have sex with Ailes, the allegations - only hinted at previously - came tumbling forth. More than 25 women, including Kelly, told variations of Carlson's story, dating back to Ailes' time as a young producer on "The Mike Douglas Show" in the 1960s. The stories fit a pattern: Ailes allegedly acted as a workplace mentor to young female employees, then pressured them for sex in exchange for advancement. Ailes denied everything, but within three weeks of Carlson's suit, Fox Chairman Rupert Murdoch had tossed Ailes aside. Ailes' reputation was transformed - from merely "controversial" to allegedly predatory. (O'Reilly faced the same firing squad, for the same reason, last month.) In addition, Ailes left behind a federal investigation into whether Fox, under his watch, covered up payments to former employees who alleged harassment, a potential violation of securities laws (his death won't derail the investigation into the corporation's behavior, said one person close to it). African American employees and former employees at Fox have also filed a lawsuit alleging a pattern of discriminatory hiring and advancement. Hence, the silence from those long associated with him. And hence the internal reaction within Fox. One Fox journalist on Thursday described the newsroom discussions about Ailes as "awkward." Ailes hired almost everyone of consequence at Fox News, he explained, but whatever gratitude that engendered was long ago balanced by revulsion and consternation about him. Ailes, who died at 77, apparently had been infirm for some time. One person who remained close to him described him only two days ago as unable to walk "but a few feet at a time" and only with the assistance of a cane. He reportedly fell and injured himself in his Palm Beach home a week ago; the county medical examiner said Thursday that Ailes died of internal bleeding caused by the fall and that hemophilia contributed to his death. There was no evidence of foul play, the examiner said in a statement. Much of Ailes' brief life after Fox was hard to know. The man who spawned a news empire was disciplined in his efforts not to make news himself in the past 10 months. He gave no interviews; sightings of him in public were rare. His only statements were issued through his attorney, and those were rote denials of whatever accusations were being leveled against him. There were scattered reports - never directly substantiated - that Ailes was advising Trump's presidential campaign, and that he was preparing to launch a network that would rival Fox, with Trump as its star in the event he lost to Hillary Clinton. The latter was almost certainly never true; as part of Ailes' $40 million severance package, he was bound by a noncompete clause. Murdoch also named Ailes as an informal consultant, though its unclear if he was ever actually consulted. Fox News itself reported Ailes' death sporadically and in muted tones throughout the day. Its hosts and reporters offered brief on-air tributes. Media reporter Howard Kurtz called him "a colorful and controversial character" who "changed the face of television." Former Rep. Dennis Kucinich, an old friend and liberal Fox foil, said, "Roger and I had different perspective. The one thing we agreed on was our love of country." Murdoch, in a statement, said called Ailes "a brilliant broadcaster [who] played a huge role in shaping America's media over the last thirty years. He will be remembered by the many people on both sides of the camera that he discovered, nurtured and promoted." The most stirring tele-eulogy came from Fox anchor Shepard Smith, who began his midafternoon newscast with a 10-minute monologue about his late boss. Smith recounted the "underdog spirit" that Ailes engendered when he started Fox in competition with the established CNN and the fledgling MSNBC, which Ailes dubbed "the enemies." When Smith's news reporting strayed from Fox News's conservative orthodoxy - "went rogue," as Smith put it - Ailes reassured him: "'You can't have Fox News without the news,' " he said repeatedly while encouraging the network's reporters during such major stories as the Columbine shootings and Hurricane Katrina. "'Keep up the good work,'" Ailes would say after each of these conversations, Smith said, adding, "'I love you.' " When Ailes hosted a reception one year at his home in Upstate New York, the chairman and his wife warmly welcomed Smith and his partner, Gio Graziano. "It was a signal" of acceptance, Smith said, his eyes rimming with red. "He was my champion and my mentor. He was a father figure," he concluded. "He changed my life and everyone in my family for generations to come." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SUNDAY George Arnold: Author will sign "Tragedy of the Commons: Dark Prophesies" and his "CIA Cats" series, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Barnes & Noble, 20131 U.S. 59 N., Humble; 281-540-3060. MONDAY Leroy Chiao: Former astronaut and International Space Station commander will sign "One Orbit," 6-7 p.m., River Oaks Bookstore, 3270 Westheimer; 713 520-0061 or riveroaksbookstore.com. Dennis Lehane: Author will discuss and sign "Since We Fell," 6:30 p.m., Murder By The Book, 2342 Bissonnet; 713-524-8597 or murderbooks.com. Jeff VanderMeer: Author will discuss and sign "Borne," 7 p.m., Brazos Bookstore, 2421 Bissonnet; 713-523-0701 or brazosbookstore.com. TUESDAY Teen poetry slam: Competition for poets ages 14 to 19 performing original work, 4-6 p.m., Sugar Land Branch Library, 550 Eldridge, Sugar Land; 281-238-2140. Enter contest by 5 p.m. Monday. Steve Hamilton: Author will discuss and sign "Exit Strategy," 6:30 p.m., Murder By The Book. Deb Olin Unferth: Author will discuss and sign "Wait Till You See Me Dance," 7 p.m., Brazos Bookstore. WEDNESDAY Stephen Hunter: Author will discuss and sign "G-Man," 6:30 p.m., Murder By The Book. Anis Shivani: Poet will discuss and sign "Karachi Raj," 7 p.m., Brazos Bookstore. THURSDAY Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich: Author will discuss and sign "The Fact of a Body: A Murder and a Memoir," 6:30 p.m., Murder By The Book. Zane Carson Carruth: Author will sign "The World's First Tooth Fairy Ever," 5-7 p.m., River Oaks Bookstore. James Dashner: Author will sign "The Fever Code," 6:30-7:30 p.m., Books-A-Million, 5000 Katy Mills Circle, Katy; 281-644-2665. Nathan Hill: Author will discuss and sign "The Nix," 7 p.m., Brazos Bookstore. FRIDAY Connie Rankin: Author will sign "God Gave Us Wings: A Journey to Success," 4 p.m., Barnes & Noble, 1029 W. Bay Area Blvd., Webster; 281-554-8224. Analicia Sotelo: Poet will discuss and sign "Nonstop Godhead," 7 p.m., Brazos Bookstore. SATURDAY Titus B. Stewart: Author will sign "Prepare to Accelerate," 1-3 p.m., Barnes & Noble, 7626 Westheimer; 713-783-6016. Connie Rankin: Author will sign "God Gave Us Wings: A Journey to Success," 2-4 p.m., Barnes & Noble, 1201 Lake Woodlands Drive, The Woodlands; 281-465-8744. Jane Alvey Harris: Author will sign "Riven," 3-5 p.m., River Oaks Bookstore. Book Talk: Beach Reads Edition: Staffers will recommend recent and upcoming titles that make good summer beach reads, 4 p.m., Katy Budget Books, 2450 Fry Road, Houston; 281-578-7770 or katybooks.com. Plus Fest: The Everything plus Poetry Festival: Festival features spoken-word poets in collaboration with visual artists, musicians, DJs, videographers and others; 4 p.m.-2 a.m., Esperson Gallery, 1201 Fannin. Daytime admission starts at $30; plusfest.com. Peyton Woodson Cooper: Author will discuss and sign "Chicken Soup for the Soul: Best Mom Ever!," to which she contributed an essay, 7 p.m., Brazos Bookstore. Alyson Ward This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate For almost two decades, Steve Hamilton turned out successful novels for St. Martin's Press. He wrote a dozen novels, 11 featuring protagonist Alex McKnight, and he built a loyal following while winning two Edgar Awards - awards that honor the best in mystery fiction. In 2015, however, Hamilton became disenchanted with St. Martin's publicity campaign ("there wasn't one") for his latest book, which featured a new protagonist, Nick Mason. Eight weeks before the book's release, Hamilton's agent bought out the contract and shopped the book to other publishers, quickly reaching a deal with Putnam. Armed with extensive marketing and strong reviews, the book sold well, prompting Lionsgate to purchase the film rights and paving the way for "Exit Strategy," the second installment in the Nick Mason series. We talked to Hamilton, who will be in Houston on Tuesday, about the new book and the Nick Mason series. Q: "Exit Strategy" is your second Nick Mason novel, and it was a series that was born amidst much conflict with your publisher. A: I just wasn't getting the support from St. Martin's Press. When I had the chance to get out of my contract, I did, and we had offers from a dozen other publishers within 24 hours. We went with Putnam that day. They are a really solid house, they do things the right way, they were interested in Nick Mason, and they wanted to bring over my Alex McKnight books, too. It's been a night-and-day difference. Q: The dustup with your publisher brought a lot of publicity, and the Nick Mason book got a lot of good reviews - and a lot of support from authors. How did the Nick Mason book do relative to the Alex McKnight novels? More Information Author appearance Steve Hamilton will discuss and sign "Exit Strategy," 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Murder By The Book. 'Exit Strategy' By Steve Hamilton G.P. Putnam's Sons, 304 pp., $26 See More Collapse A: "The Second Life of Nick Mason" sold about eight times as many copies as the last Alex McKnight novel. Q: Tell us about the plot of the second Nick Mason book, "Exit Strategy." A: In the first book, Nick Mason is given the opportunity to get out of a lengthy prison sentence, but there is a price. He owes his freedom to Darius Cole, a notorious convict, and Cole uses Mason to carry out operations in the free world. In "Exit Strategy," Mason is looking for a way out. His assignments are more brutal and dangerous, and it is becoming harder for him to keep his humanity. So he's looking for a way out, as are many of the characters in the novel. Every major character is looking for a way out of their own prison, and there are some big surprises. Q: What's the difference between writing about the Upper Peninsula, where you had success writing about Alex McKnight, and writing about Chicago, the setting for the Mason novels? A: Chicago is a different world, and I wanted it to be a real character, just as the Upper Peninsula is in the McKnight novels. Chicago is a place of its own, unlike any other city. It's beautiful, and there are all these neighborhoods which are distinct from one another. They are different worlds, and they are balanced across the city. It felt like the right place for Nick to come back to after getting out of prison. But instead of returning to Canaryville (a tough Irish community in Chicago), he is placed in a Lincoln Park townhouse. Same city, different world. Q: Your McKnight novels are more contemplative. Mason is more of an action-packed type of character. Do the settings of the books reflect the differences in the novels' action and characters? A: That's a great analogy because if you're from Paradise, Mich., the summer lasts for a couple of weeks, and you have to drive a long way just to find a traffic light. That's a lot different than Chicago, which is much more of a dynamic city. Q: Is there a Nick Mason film in the works? A: Yes. Lionsgate is doing it, and Nina Jacobson from "The Hunger Games" is one of the producers. Shane Salerno, my agent, is also a producer. Q: How many Nick Mason books should we expect? A: I have at least seven books planned for the series. They are laid out in my head right now, which is unusual for me. There are so many things this guy can do. The fact that he has to answer the phone, do what he's told and go where he's told opens a lot of possibilities. He could go all over the world, and that's what he's going to do. Q: What are you going to do with Alex McKnight? A: He's definitely coming back. I have the next book written with him. And at some point, I want to have these two guys in the same book. Q: Michael Connelly has done that with Mickey Haller and Harry Bosch. A: That's right, and with the right book - such as Connelly's "The Crossing" - you can make something special happen. Q: Who are some of your favorite authors? A: Don Winslow is great. Lee Child, Michael Connelly and Harlan Coben. All these guys write in this genre, and they do great books that I love reading because I'm a reader first, just like we all are. It's just a blast to be a part of it, to write crime novels, like I have wanted since I was a little kid. AUSTIN - It's just past noon on a sunny Friday in March and Ridley Scott is giving a sermon on the intersection of science and art. The man who introduced us to true fear in space has been cagey about what's exactly inside his latest installment of the "Alien" franchise, "Alien: Covenant," which releases Friday. All he'll allow is that it's clever and violent and he's been so surprised at its quality that he'd like to continue making these movies about human space exploration and monsters that bleed acid for as long as he can - possibly forever. That thought sparks a discussion on artificial intelligence and the irrelevance of humanity, which casts Scott as the star in a solar system revolving around his wisdom. "I'm just hoping that you can't quite replace the human being, or capability," he says, stepping into a tangent about AI. "Can you have a computer write a book, or write a screenplay or write a poem? It is always going to be very derivative, and only based on what has been done a trillion ways before. ... It can only be that." Though Scott sits with the ease of a master, and speaks with the occasional tongue of a sailor, it's a strange venue for the secrets of the spheres, as he delivers the lesson inside a private room at Rio, a restaurant in the Four Seasons hotel. Gathered for the SXSW festival, Scott heads a table that seats 18 people - all journalists, save for Katherine Waterston and Danny McBride, who star in "Convenant." Despite having spent weeks and weeks with the man while they made the film, these actors still stare at Scott with such deep interest they look like they're hanging onto every word as if it's a piece of the coded sequence for enlightenment. He delivers some more about the idea of superiority as the genesis of religion and the room is mostly silent in a way that crackles with uncomfortable tension. These bits of philosophy are more than a director waxing on about what he's read, they're the DNA of "Covenant," a film that plays more like a reflection on humanity's relevance and constructed godhood than a horror space tragedy. But in the moment, in this room full of people holding recording devices, there isn't much hunger for philosophy that serves as cryptic clues about "Covenant." They want sound bites. And so a journalist asks how many of these "Alien" prequels there can be before they bump into the storyline of the 1979 film that birthed this franchise. That satisfies the crowd, a bit, even though Scott doesn't really provide an answer. Then a journalist asks McBride about the crusty cowboy hat he's wearing in "Covenant." A sudden surge of energy and interest sparks the room and the dialogue that follows is the bane of every thinking person: the mundane overtaking a genuine moment of rare perspective and creative wisdom. Sound bites and quick reads win again. True horror Appearing on the stage of Austin's Paramount Theater later that night Scott is walking and talking like a guy who's had a few drinks, and he admits as much while introducing an extended cut from "Covenant." What follows is as authentic as his earlier exchange, but this time he plays the room a bit more, admitting he doesn't want to be wasting their time, he'd rather just scare people. The clip contains about 20 minutes from the new movie and the audience is enraptured. They cheer at the sight of an alien literally tearing into a woman's face. They gasp when a large alien smashes its head into the splintering glass of a ship's cockpit. And they celebrate the sight of an alien wrapping around Billy Crudup's face. In clips, "Covenant" looks like everything this audience of "Alien" fans want, and more. And, yet, it's not. Fast forward two months and a collection of film critics, writers and fans are walking out of a Houston screening of "Covenant." The mood is subdued. The faces wear the wrinkles of confusion. And one frustrated man yells out, "Why does Ridley Scott keep messing up his own movies?!" Only, he doesn't use the word "messing." After watching two hours of Scott's latest "Alien" excursion, there are obvious conclusions to be made: This is part of a philosophical suite about humanity's future in a universe that includes other more evolved forms and enhanced artificial intelligence. This is a film that mined the best moments of its franchise to counter the disappointment of its predecessor, "Prometheus." There's more action, more creatures coming out of the darkness, or people's chests. This is a movie that is going to disappoint a lot of "Alien" fans because it's not what they wanted, which is to say it's not a carbon copy of the franchise's first two films, the more recent one having been released three decades ago. Sure, there are bits of classic horror in "Covenant," but they are wrapped inside a story that begins and ends with Wagner's classical piece "Entry of the Gods into Valhalla" as a metaphor for humanity's hubris as the curse to its end. And the plot is so grounded in the philosophical questions of creation that the aftertaste of "Convenant" is more savory than sweet. Back in that roundtable with journalists, Scott says that scaring people is the hardest thing to do. "It's a lot easier to make people smile ... in a funny kind of way we've been challenged by so much super violence ... that we're numb to brutality," he says, before joking that a 5-year-old has probably seen the orgy of torture that is "Saw 4." Still, it's worth wondering if this old master is wrong. Judging from the reaction to his last two "Alien" films, it's much more difficult to please people, to compel a smile, than lead them into the horror of disappointment and dashed expectations. "What's so scary about AI is that a human being can't replace an ant, but it can easily kill it," Waterston says. "(AI) might not be able to write a poem as well as Robert Lowell, but they can kill you." Or the "Alien." Well, duh Ridley Scott is British, nearly 80 years old and versed in some of the finer aspects of our world's art. And yet, one of his favorite words is "duh." He says it's a word picked up from watching "Beavis and Butthead," the animated '90s show about two oblivious, cretinous music fans, which he adores. This is an odd, but interesting anecdote, one that comes out after a journalist asks him about the reasoning behind casting female action leads in his "Alien" movies. The question is heavy with subtext - the power of feminism, forecasting a future of gender equality, etc. Scott's response is not. "Well, the first one did so well why would I change it? Duh," he says. The moment is interesting for a few reasons, mostly that if Scott made movies with that mindset - the efficiency of the obvious and the populism of vernacular - he probably would be waking up today to pages and pages of fan reviews praising "Covenant" for being the latest great film in a storied Hollywood franchise. He's still going to read some of that, though reviews are rather mixed with some calling it a heady approach to a prequel, others condemning it for not being what they expected and some, essentially, saying it's too "smart." This is where "Covenant" feels especially relevant, almost prophetic, in a sense. The fans' reactions to the movie are mirroring a major plot point in the film: They believe they know better than the master. And maybe they do. But, going back to that dialogue about artificial intelligence, something Scott says after the medical breakthroughs of AI rings rather true: "So, medically, it's going to be fantastic. But I don't think it's going to make better movies or books." The same might be said about group think, and the burdens of expectation. No matter what the popular consensus of "Convenant" is, Scott seems certain it's where he needs to be in a world that's starting to forecast a challenge to humanity's dominance. "We are getting better all the time," he says. "This is the best one so far." GALVESTON - The number of endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtle nests discovered on the Texas Gulf 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 nests were found Wednesday and two Thursday, bringing the total to 244. Shaver, however, cautioned it would take two or three more nesting seasons to know whether the uptick in 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. Then came the 2010 oil spill. The main nesting grounds are in Rancho Nuevo, Tamaulipas State, Mexico, but Shaver has headed an effort 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. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Golden-cheeked warblers arrived to breed in Old San Antonio during the 13-day Battle of the Alamo. The birds still arrive at the same time every year in San Antonio. The sprawling, 21st-century metropolis would appear unwelcoming to the iconic Texas birds that nest solely in the oak-juniper timbers of the Hill Country. But Friedrich Wilderness Park on the city's north side provides the birds a nesting home of dense oak trees, Ashe junipers, mountain laurel and Mexican buckeye along gently sloping limestone hills. The 600-acre park abutting an extensive housing development sits atop the TrinityGlen Rose Aquifer, a critical Hill Country water source. Plants such as little bluestem and mesquite accent a beautiful woodland where people can stroll on paved or rocky trails and scan the trees and skies for a sight of Texas' only endemic nesting bird. Golden-cheeked warblers need specific woodlands like Friedrich park with its large stands of old Ashe junipers among hardwoods like oak and walnut trees with an open understory and streams and narrow clearings. Using Ashe juniper bark exclusively, female golden-cheeked warblers shred it and weave it with cobwebs into cup-shaped nests. The nests can be seen in the crooks of trees, usually oak or Ashe juniper. Since the Battle of the Alamo, Texas settlers have cleared great swathes of juniper-oak woodlands to build farms, cattle ranches, water impoundments and, more recently, suburban communities. The result has been a dramatic decline in golden-cheeked warblers. More Information Friedrich Wilderness Park Where: 21395 Milsa, San Antonio Hours: sunrise to sunset daily Fees: free; for pedestrians only - no pets, camping or smoking Facilities: water fountains and restrooms near main trail entrance. Landscape: woodlands on hilly limestone terrain with 10 miles of hiking trails including ADA accessible trail Activities: bird and nature observation, hiking, walking, jogging, picnicking Birds: look for golden-cheeked warblers at the windmill; other birds include ladder-backed woodpecker, greater roadrunner, western scrub jay, lesser goldfinch, and endangered black-capped vireo Info: fosana.org See More Collapse Decimation of the bird's breeding habitat was noted by legendary Texas naturalist Henry P. Attwater in 1892. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service listed the bird as endangered in December 1990, as did the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department in February 1991. The bird's lustrous yellow face gave it the name "golden-cheeked." A thin ribbon of black stretches across the yellow face from the beak through the eye and onto the side of a black-crowned head. Most of the bird's topside is black, including the wings that are marked by two diagonal white bars. Underneath, the bird is white save for a black swath shading the throat like a kerchief. The bird migrates to Texas breeding grounds in February from wintering grounds in southern Mexico's highlands and in Central America to Nicaragua. Heavy logging in Latin American winter grounds also has contributed to the bird's decline. Male birds begin singing the minute they land in Texas in late February and mid-March and they continue singing throughout June. Their song is a series of high-pitched buzzy notes sounding like "zeee-bazee-dasee" that quicken the morning woodlands of Friedrich park. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin during the meeting of Council of Europe (CoE) Committee of Ministers drew attention to the inadmissibility of the existence of "gray zones" in the European continent, where inhabitants are de facto outside the protection of the European Convention on Human Rights. "The Ukrainian foreign minister said that Donbas and Crimea are now the "hottest" "gray areas" and added that the Ukrainian Crimea which is occupied by Russia and the situation in Donbas clearly demonstrate how one specific state can deliberately and purposefully destroy the system of human rights protection in the Continent," the press service of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said on Friday. Klimkin noted the importance of the adoption on May 3 of this year by the UN General Assembly a resolution "Situation of human rights in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol (Ukraine)" and said that this decision should serve as a sign for the Council of Europe for the restoration of all violated human rights in Crimea, and is another step towards de-occupation of the peninsula. In the course of his speech, Klimkin thanked the Council of Europe for the large-scale program to promote reforms in Ukraine, which is implemented with the direct and substantial support of the European Union. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump told Russian officials in the Oval Office this month that firing the FBI director, James Comey, had relieved "great pressure" on him, according to a document summarizing the meeting. "I just fired the head of the FBI. He was crazy, a real nut job," Trump said, according to the document, which was read to The New York Times by a U.S. official. "I faced great pressure because of Russia. That's taken off." Trump added, "I'm not under investigation." The conversation, during a May 10 meeting the day after he fired Comey reinforces the notion that Trump dismissed him primarily because of the bureau's investigation into possible collusion between his campaign and Russian operatives. Trump said as much in one televised interview, but the White House has offered changing justifications for the firing. More for you Russia probe reaches a top ofcial in White House The White House document that contained Trump's comments was based on notes taken from inside the Oval Office and has been circulated as the official account of the meeting. One official read quotations to The Times, and a second official confirmed the broad outlines of the discussion. Sean Spicer, White House press secretary, did not dispute the account. In a statement, he said that Comey had put unnecessary pressure on the president's ability to conduct diplomacy with Russia on matters such as Syria, Ukraine and the Islamic State group. "By grandstanding and politicizing the investigation into Russia's actions, James Comey created unnecessary pressure on our ability to engage and negotiate with Russia," Spicer said. "The investigation would have always continued, and obviously, the termination of Comey would not have ended it. Once again, the real story is that our national security has been undermined by the leaking of private and highly classified conversations." The day after firing Comey, Trump hosted Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, in the Oval Office, along with the Russian ambassador to the United States, Sergey I. Kislyak. The meeting ignited controversy this week when it was revealed that Trump had disclosed intelligence from an Israeli counterterrorism operation. A third government official briefed on the meeting defended the president, saying Trump was using a negotiating tactic when he told Lavrov about the "pressure" he was under. The idea, the official suggested, was to create a sense of obligation with Russian officials and to coax concessions out of Lavrov on Syria, Ukraine and other issues by saying that Russian meddling in last year's election had created enormous political problems for Trump. The president has been adamant that the meddling did not alter the outcome of the race, but it has become a political cudgel for his opponents. Many Democrats and some Republicans have raised alarms that the president may have tried to obstruct justice by firing Comey. The Justice Department's newly appointed special counsel, Robert Mueller, was given the authority to investigate not only potential collusion but also related allegations, which would include obstruction of justice. The FBI's investigation has bedeviled the Trump administration, and the president personally. Comey publicly confirmed the existence of the investigation in March, telling Congress that his agents were investigating Russian efforts to influence the outcome of the presidential election and whether anyone in the Trump campaign had been involved. Trump has denied any collusion and called the case a waste of money and time. At first, the White House said Trump fired Comey based on the recommendation of the Justice Department, and because of Comey's handling of the FBI investigation into Hillary Clinton last year. Officials said it had nothing to do with the Russia investigation. But the president undercut that argument a day later, telling NBC News, "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." Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg on Friday joined 30 other sitting and former district attorneys in a letter protesting U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions' recent push for harsher sentences in America's federal courts. "This is a return to a failed policy of a generation ago," Ogg, a Democrat, said of the directive. "It did not make the public safer then and it will not make the public safer now." A week ago, Sessions ordered that federal prosecutors should bring the toughest charges possible against most suspects, a move seen as a reversal of Obama-era policies that will send more people to prison and for much longer terms. Prosecutors across the country, including Ogg, criticized a return to failed drug-war policies that would likely unfairly affect minorities and fill prisons with nonviolent offenders. The open letter was orchestrated by Fair and Just Prosecution, a group that works with prosecutors around the nation. Miriam Krinsky, executive director for the group, said in a news release that the letter reflects a trend among a "new wave of prosecutors nationwide who are rejecting excessively punitive policies in favor of data-driven and sensible approaches to improve public safety." She said the letter was signed by a bipartisan group who represent more than 30 million Americans in 17 states and Washington D.C. Because the prosecutors are state and local authorities, not prosecutors in the country's U.S. Attorneys Offices, Sessions' mandate does not directly affect them. However, Krinsky, who spent 15 years as a federal prosecutor, said the group is concerned that any return to past policies will be unfair and will not promote public safety. "The past few decades have amply demonstrated that harsh sentences especially for low level drug offenders do not deter crime and instead disproportionately impact people of color and fill our jails with individuals struggling with mental illness, drug addiction or poverty," Krinsky said. "We need prosecutors such as these who are willing to stand strong in the face of political winds intent on reviving the failed one-size-fits-all 'tough on crime' mindset of the 1980s." Other signers on the open letter include District Attorneys Cy Vance of Manhattan, Mark Dupree of Kansas City, George Gascon of San Francisco, Sherry Boston of Atlanta and former DA Gil Garcetti of Los Angeles. brian.rogers@chron.com twitter.com/brianjrogers AUSTIN - A deadline for legislative action on a key property tax reform bill came and went Thursday, as the Texas House delayed a vote one day and some lawmakers speculated the bill could be in trouble. While House leaders insisted the delay means little and that the bill can be debated Friday without derailing other must-pass bills at the end of the legislative session, members in both chambers expressed concern over the dramatic and unexpected change on Senate Bill 2 - a measure that Gov. Greg Abbott has said could trigger a special session if it does not pass. On Thursday, when the bill was scheduled for debate, state Rep. Alfonso "Poncho" Nevarez, D-Eagle Pass, used a procedural maneuver called a point of order to delay or derail its consideration. The challenge was based on a record-keeping mistake while the bill was voted out of the Ways and Means Committee several days ago, House officials confirmed. While the point of order was quickly withdrawn, the bill's House sponsor, Dennis Bonnen, an Angleton Republican who chairs the committee, moved quickly to fix the record-keeping mistake and, although it was to have been debated starting about 5 p.m., it was rescheduled to Friday morning. House members appeared surprised, with several conservative Republicans who support the bill questioning the reason for the delay - with no specific answer from the podium. "Dems found error House leadership put in #SB2 property tax reform. Bill in jeopardy. Special session likelihood off the charts," tweeted Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, a conservative Republican and member of the House Freedom Caucus that in recent weeks has repeatedly challenged the leadership of House Speaker Joe Straus, a fellow Republican who is more moderate. The House delay sent shock waves through the Capitol, with senators questioning whether they would move ahead Friday as planned to pass out of committee the so-called "sunset safety net" legislation, the procedural bill governing state agencies that undergo periodic reviews. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick had said Wednesday that he "must see action in the House" to pass SB 2 and other pending bills before moving ahead on House-passed priorities. Taking up abortion Also scheduled for debate in the House on Friday are other key bills including abortion-related measures that could spur lengthy debate and perhaps complicate passage of the tax-reform measure. Patrick aides and other Senate leaders did not respond or declined comment Thursday night on what their plan for Friday might be. Abbott aides, who were reported to be working with House leaders to ensure the bill would pass Friday, also declined comment. They noted that the last day the House can pass Senate bills, including the "sunset" measure, is Tuesday and that if it is not approved by the Senate and sent back to the House in time, that deadline could be missed. Adding to the tension late Thursday were reports that additional points of order against the property-tax reform bill might be raised Friday to derail or further delay its passage. House leaders privately dismissed those suggestions. "We have until Tuesday," said a Straus confidant in the House who, like others, said he was not authorized to speak publicly for fear of upsetting ongoing negotiations. Patrick ultimatum Patrick had also made House passage of SB 2 and some version of the so-called "bathroom bill" a key to ensuring an agreement with the House on the state budget. Straus responded to Patrick's ultimatum by calling it "regrettable" and saying the House would not be forced into approving legislation opposed by a majority of House members. House and Senate earlier said the plan had been for the House to pass SB 2 on Thursday, so other key bills and a state budget could be approved in coming days to allow the Legislature to go home on schedule May 29, when the 140-day legislative session has to end. After the unexpected delay, lawmakers in both chambers complained about the growing confusion, and most blamed it on House leadership. "I've been to goat rodeos in South Texas that are more organized than this," said one frustrated Capitol insider, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of negotiations. Bobby Cervantes contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The price of Sofia Alfaro's future was a 1994 Chevrolet Camaro. Her stepfather sold the car when Sofia was 5, paying for safe passage from her native El Salvador to the United States. But that journey led to another - her years-long struggle to learn English and adapt to a new country. She fell a grade level behind her peers due to her limited English skills and was sent to an alternative school - not for bad behavior but to catch up. And did she. Now 18, Alfaro is valedictorian of Houston ISD's Young Women's College Preparatory Academy and has accepted a full scholarship to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. She's among a large number of students once classified as English-language learners who are valedictorians and salutatorians in Houston ISD this year. It's hard for DeLesa O'Dell Thomas, Alfaro's principal, to talk about her story and accomplishments without crying. "To know she's overcome challenges in spite of everything else that's going on in the world - I'm just so proud of her," Thomas said. "She overcame the odds, she's going to overcome the odds, and she's going to overcome every challenge that she's going to face." Alfaro's story also illustrates the complexity of the debate over those brought into the country illegally as children. While Alfaro has been able to continue living in the United States under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, an Obama administration measure that bars deportation for those meeting certain conditions, political tensions over immigration have intensified under President Donald Trump. Even Trump has acknowledged that the question of what to do with DACA recipients is a "very, very difficult subject for me" because "you have these incredible kids." "We're gonna deal with DACA with heart," Trump vowed in February. 'Cannot give up' For her part, Alfaro has opted to keep her head down, focusing on her studies and her future. "My family is part of what helped me keep on going," Alfaro said. "I cannot give up, because I want to make them proud." In the Houston ISD, nearly half of this year's highest-ranking students once struggled to speak English, making them among the largest groups of non-native English speakers to be named valedictorians and salutatorians by the district since 2007. About 44 percent of Class of 2017 graduates were once English-language learners, the district reports. Generally, such students graduate at lower rates than their peers and typically require more resources and help to succeed in the classroom. Craig Albers, an associate professor of educational psychology with expertise in English-language learners at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said that while the high number of non-native, English-speaking valedictorians should be celebrated, the district still has work to do. "How many English-language learners are dropping out or underachieving? How many have the potential to be scientists, physicians, lawyers or engineers?" Albers asked. "We should celebrate once we know the English-language learners have equitable access to education and everything else." While Spanish speakers make up the bulk of English-language learners, there are about 100 different languages spoken by students and families in HISD. Nationwide, about 62 percent of English-language learners graduate from high school, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, but those numbers vary by state. In Arizona, for example, only 18 percent of such students graduated in 2014, compared with 84 percent of English-language learners in Arkansas. About 71.5 percent of Texas' English-language learners graduated in 2015, according to the TEA, while the Houston ISD saw 73 percent of its ELL students graduate that year. However, HISD graduates a smaller share of its English-language learners than neighboring districts, according to Texas Education Agency data, including Cypress-Fairbanks, Fort Bend, Galena Park, Spring Branch, Alief and Pasadena ISDs. Marie D. De Jesus/Houston Chronicle Dual language learners Meanwhile, the number of non-English-speaking immigrant students in HISD keeps growing. This school year alone, the district welcomed more than 6,000 students who'd moved here from other countries, according to Gracie Guerrero, HISD's assistant superintendent of multilingual programs. Some fled chaotic situations while others were brought by families seeking better futures. But the new students that Guerrero sees have one thing in common: the desire to realize their own American dreams. "They certainly have that grit and persistence," Guerrero said. "They have overcome these obstacles and have this inherent confidence, because they have a different view of the world, which may not be that of your typical student. They understand and know all of the talents they have and are able to persevere." She said that if a student succeeds through an effective English Language Learning program, they often perform better than typical native-English-speaking HISD students. Among the most effective ways to help non-English-speaking students is through dual language schools, which allow them to learn core academics in their native tongues while sharpening their English skills, Albers said. Guerrero said that about 93 percent of students who go through such programs graduate in the district. Such schools do more than just ease a student into speaking English, Guerrero said. They show students that their native languages and cultures are valued and that there's no shame in learning a new language as well.Houston ISD has 62 such dual language programs, including one at DeChaumes Elementary, which Alfaro attended years ago. Alfaro's mother came to the U.S. following the death of her husband, shortly after Alfaro was born. She worked two jobs in the Houston area for several years, sending money back to help relatives care for her daughter and waiting to save enough to bring her to Texas. It was only after Alfaro's stepfather sold his car that mother and daughter could be reunited. It still took years for Alfaro to fully grasp the language of her new country. "It was probably elementary and middle school that I got up to speed with my language, because the dual language classes really helped, as well as having ancillary classes taught in English," Alfaro said. "At that moment I didn't think I was learning or growing, but now that I look back I think, 'Wow, I've learned so much.'" Sets sights on med school Alfaro's math skills, and the pace at which she completed her studies, caught the attention of her principal at High School Ahead Academy Middle School. She made it her mission to get Alfaro into the Young Women's College Preparatory Academy, which has more than 500 students and a majority of minority students. The academy typically only accepts high-performing middle schoolers and offers a rigorous, accelerated curriculum. Alfaro now holds a 4.5 grade point average and has completed multiple Advanced Placement courses for college credit. She hopes to go to medical school and study how the environment affects people's health but is humble about her accomplishments. She's soft-spoken and offers a warm smile to strangers and classmates alike. When she speaks of her mother's and stepfather's sacrifices to help her succeed, Alfaro often can't help but shed tears of gratitude. She urged other non-native English speakers to pay attention to each assignment, as each one is a step toward becoming fluent - and graduating. "It's not just an assignment, it's an assignment that can help you grow," Alfaro said. "You can learn one single word from one assignment, and those little words just accumulate and at the end you have a vocabulary that is phenomenal. It helps so much." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON - Two days after President Donald Trump signed an annual spending bill stripped of funds to build a border wall, the Republican National Committee sent out a petition from "Trump Headquarters." It carried a blunt warning: "Either Congress funds President Trump's much-needed border wall - or we LOSE the midterm elections." Though likely an effective fundraising tool with conservatives who propelled Trump to the White House, the appeal faces a stark political reality in Congress, where Democrats have drawn a line in the sand. Even in the current polarized political environment, major spending agreements have needed bipartisan majorities to pass, and the same dynamic will likely hold in September, when the 2018 funding battle gets underway in earnest. "There is no change in the politics of the wall in September," said Norman Ornstein, a veteran Congress watcher at the American Enterprise Institute, a nonpartisan public policy research institute in Washington. Although Trump insists that his plans for a wall remain intact, analysts say he will face at least three obstacles in the fall: uniform Democratic opposition; a divided Republican caucus; and costs estimates that surpass $20 billion. "If anything changes," Ornstein said, "it is the willingness of Freedom Caucus members to go along with a budget that fails to slash domestic spending." Trump has requested $2.6 billion in 2018 to build some 70 miles of barriers in the Rio Grande Valley, El Paso and south of Tucson, Ariz. That's on top of the $1 billion he didn't get this year. More Information Obstaclesto the wall President Donald Trump will face at least three obstacles in September when the funding battle gets underway: Uniform Democratic opposition. Divided Republican caucus in Congress. Cost estimates that surpass $20 billion. See More Collapse The $1 trillion deal he signed to keep the government open through September does include $1.5 billion for border security, but the money can't be spent on building a wall. Some analysts say the deal could be a precursor of the wall's fate in September, even if the Department of Homeland Security continues moving forward with proposals for a 30-foot wall prototype. "He's facing a minority party that does not want this at all, and he has a majority party that's not united in favor of it," said political scientist David Crockett, a presidential scholar at Trinity University in San Antonio. "He may be able to cobble together some money for parts of the wall or fences, call it a victory and go home, even if it's not the 'big, beautiful wall' we were promised." Not all Republicans in favor Scoring money for a wall would still only partially fulfill Trump's campaign pledge. The bigger applause line in his campaign was that Mexico would pay for it. With Mexico continuing to refuse, Trump's Plan B has been to win support for the project among Republicans. But with a narrow majority in the Senate, and a cluster of hard-line conservatives in the House wary of budgets that don't balance, Trump's options continue to narrow. Compounding the political dilemma are Republicans in Texas and other border regions who see Trump's wall as an impractical solution to the problem of border security. Chief among them is San Antonio Republican Will Hurd, whose district runs along 800 miles of the Mexican border. "A one-size-fits-all border solution won't address the border's complexities," Hurd tweeted earlier this month after taking a boat tour of Lake Amistad and the Rio Grande Valley. In a constituent newsletter early this month, with pressure building and negotiations on border wall spending in full swing, Hurd said his position had not changed. "There is no question that we must secure our border, but building a wall from sea to shining sea is the most expensive and least effective way to go about doing so," he said. Others, including Texas U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, have expressed skepticism about Trump's literal vision of a continuous physical barrier, depicting the call for a wall as a metaphor for enhanced patrols, surveillance, technology upgrades, and other security improvements. That points to a bipartisan consensus for border security, but not necessarily a wall, which House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi has called "immoral, expensive (and) unwise." Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer warned that Trump's insistence on wall funding last month would risk a government shutdown. That threat also will loom in the background of any budget battle in the fall. Texas U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, a centrist Democrat from Laredo, is seeking to defuse tensions in a search for middle ground. "My constituents live on the border, so they definitely want strong, smart border security," he said. "They also want to see bipartisan cooperation. Members of Congress who represent districts on our southern border - Democrats and Republicans - oppose a border wall, and we're finding ways to work together on the real challenges our communities face." Many Texans oppose wall With Republicans in control of the White House and both chambers of Congress, the GOP would seem to have much more to lose from a government shutdown. Analysts say that calculus weakens Trump's hand, despite his suggestion in a recent tweet that a "good shutdown" could force a partisan confrontation over federal spending, including money for a wall on the southern border. While the RNC appears to be fundraising off grassroots conservative support for a wall, it is far from clear that it is a winning hand for Republicans' when it comes to holding their majorities in the House and Senate. "It doesn't help them at the ballot box," said Texas Democrat Matt Angle, executive director of the Lone Star Project. "But it does help at the bank account." A nonpartisan Lyceum poll last month found that nearly two-thirds of Texans oppose construction of a border wall - that in a state that Trump won in November with 52 percent of the vote. A national poll in February by the Pew Research Center found similar results. Texas GOP operatives acknowledge that a pro-wall stance would likely hurt candidates like Hurd, whose district went to Democrat Hillary Clinton. Two other Texas Republicans represent districts Clinton won: Pete Sessions, in Dallas, and John Culberson in Houston. Sessions' office has described the wall as an "analogy" for a strong border; Culberson is on record supporting Trump's plan to secure the border with an actual wall. Nationally, Clinton won 23 House districts represented by Republicans in November, while Trump won 12 districts represented by Democrats. That could only embolden Democrats in the coming spending battle for 2018. "If Congress refuses to fund your stupid wall during your honeymoon period, what makes you think we will ever fund it?" tweeted Rep. Ted Lieu, a California Democrat. But conservatives seeking to stem the flow of illegal immigration see some value in pressing for the wall, even if it is not seen as the best way to fortify the border. "You could make a defensible case that Republicans could be really weakened in 2018 if Trump is seen has having sold out to the swamp," said Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, a Washington think tank that advocates for lower levels of immigration. Whatever the wall's resonance with voters at large, it proved to be the marquee issue for the activist base that helped get Trump elected. "He didn't get thousands of people chanting along with him about ending the carried interest deduction," Krikorian said. Calling it a security issue Come September, it will be hard for Trump to back down like he did this month. If that leads to a government shutdown in October, Krikorian said it will be up to Republicans to frame it as a national security issue. "Any government shutdown fight really is a kind of political campaign," he said. "That's the whole point of it. The question is, how do you manage that campaign? How do you frame the issue?" As a fallback, Republicans could push a broader definition of a "wall" - one that combines fencing, sensors, levees, or natural barriers, like the cliffs in Big Bend National Park. Krikorian notes that Trump's core backers have proven resilient. "He's got a lot of flexibility from his voters about what 'the wall' means," he said. "But he's got to have something you can take a picture of." For Trump, and the RNC - where his political operation is housed - that could mean that the looming battle over wall funding is less about the 2018 midterm elections than it is about the 2020 presidential election. At a recent rally in Pennsylvania to mark his 100th day in office, Trump renewed his signature campaign pledge. "We will build a wall, folks, don't even worry about it," he said. "Go to sleep. Go home. Go to sleep, rest assured." To some analysts, Trump has walled himself in. "Trump would have some explaining to do in 2020," said University of Texas political scientist Sean Theriault, envisioning a re-election campaign with no wall. "It wasn't ever clear that the Republican Party even got behind the wall as much as Trump," he said. "Especially in the Texas delegation. They're not jumping up and down for the wall." A new plan is in the works to control floodwaters threatening to inundate the fast-growing neighborhoods upstream of the Addicks and Barker reservoirs, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Thursday. Army Corps officials said they would seek to study the Addicks and Barker dams, built six decades ago, and see what improvements could boost the aging structures' ability to handle large volumes of water. In the aftermath of devastating storms last spring, floodwaters pooled behind the reservoirs and inundated one of the most rapidly developing parts of the Houston region. The areas upstream of the dam along the Grand Parkway near Katy and Cypress have seen tremendous growth in recent years, and hundreds of thousands more people are expected to arrive in the coming decades. The improvements could include ways to balance water between the dams or find new ways to channel water out of the dams to prevent flooding, Army Corps officials said Thursday. "We can't wait for the next disaster; we better get ahead of it," Lt. General Todd Semonite, the commanding general and chief of engineers for the U.S. Army Corps said in an interview. Army Corps officials made the announcement Thursday during a visit by Semonite to its Galveston facility. The study would cost about $3 million, take three years and start after the federal budget is finalized. The plan comes as the Corps, like many federal agencies, faces budget uncertainty. Some fear cuts may curtail the Corps' ability to pursue big infrastructure projects like those planned to retrofit Houston's waterways. Currently, the Army Corps has six major flood reduction projects on Houston's bayous, which are conducted in tandem with the Harris County Flood Control District, including the massive retrofit of Brays Bayou in southwest Houston. President Donald Trump's preliminary budget plan released early this year showed a $1 billion, or more than 16 percent, cut to the corps, prompting some concern across the country that their projects could be curtailed. "That cut is a non-starter," said U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, a Houston Democrat who is a member of the House Budget Committee. "There are so many projects that we are engaged in and need to commit to and continue." Semonite said while he does not know how the final budget for the next year will shape up, he expects funding levels to be stable. He said Congress could also step in with additional funds beyond the adopted budget. "I think the short answer is I'm not laying awake worrying about it," Semonite said. "Congress is going to do the right thing. We're going to figure out how to put the money in the right place." The Addicks and Barker dams were built at the upper end of Buffalo Bayou in response to devastating floods in 1929 and 1935. They had a long history of seepage and erosion. When the Corps evaluated their condition in 2007, many aspects of the dams, including the embankments, the conduits and the water control structures, were found "probably inadequate" for an extreme storm, according to inspection reports. Two years later, Addicks and Barker were given the Corps' worst safety classification. In response, the Corps has begun a $73 million retrofitting project. That is about 15 percent done, said Lars be Zetterstrom, the commander of the corps' Galveston District, and is slated to be completed in February 2020. That project is designed to keep neighborhoods downstream of the dams safe from floodwaters, including downtown Houston and the Texas Medical Center. "If you talk about consequences, you're talking about 1.2 million citizens of Houston downstream of Addicks and Barker Dam and estimates of about $60 billion worth of damages that could be caused with a failure," Zetterstorm said. If the dams failed, half of Houston would be underwater. Under the worst scenario at Addicks, property damage could reach $22.7 billion and 6,928 people could die. But last spring's storms revealed the extent of another problem: protecting homes and people upstream of the dams. Days after the Tax Day Flood, on April 23, 2016, the water reached 102.65 feet above sea level at Addicks, a record. Two days later, at Barker, the water level hit 95.24 feet, another record. Together, at their peak pools, the reservoirs stored 6.8 billion gallons, enough to fill NRG Stadium 101 times over. Political prognosticators in Washington have put U.S. Rep. John Culberson's west Houston district on the national political radar, while a slew of Texas Democrats have officially declared their interest in challenging the Republican next year. On Friday, the Cook Political Report singled it out as a race to watch. If you suffer a heart attack in your home in Houston, there's a good chance the first responder rushing to your rescue will arrive not in an ambulance, but a fire truck. That's because our city's emergency medical system falls under the purview of the Houston Fire Department. So the firefighter cross-trained as an EMT who's nearest your home might be driving a ladder truck instead of an ambulance. Sending a fire truck to your house might scare your neighbors, but it may also be the fastest way to get you the help that saves your life. Still, this oddity about our emergency medical system points out a broader issue the city needs to address. Our lawmakers in Austin are wrestling with Houston's multi-billion-dollar pension debt mess, and our mayor's negotiations with firefighter representatives over a proposed pay raise have hit an impasse. But another very big question looms over HFD: What sort of fire department - and what sort of emergency medical service - does Houston need in the 21st century? Houston's emergency medical system once relied upon private ambulances run by funeral homes, a business model cursed with a harrowing conflict of interest. Selling funeral services was more profitable than carrying patients to hospitals, so ambulance drivers notoriously took their time getting to accident scenes. An accident victim was literally worth more dead than alive. In 1971, Houston followed the lead of other cities by establishing a taxpayer-supported, municipal ambulance service run by the fire department, an arrangement that seemed logical because fire stations were conveniently positioned in neighborhoods throughout the city. In the decades since then, emergency medicine has mushroomed into the dominant mission of the Houston Fire Department. Firefighters are battling far fewer blazes today than they did a half-century ago, thanks to vastly improved building codes and other fire-prevention measures such as improved sprinkler systems. Instead, they're spending most of their time treating patients. Today, a whopping 88 percent of HFD's calls for help are for emergency medical services. A generation ago, we had a fire department that also ran ambulances. Now we have an ambulance department that also puts out fires. Having all that equipment handy might make us feel safer, but in an era of tightening city budgets - a reality for municipal governments across the U.S. - it's time the city of Houston rethinks the way it provides fire protection and emergency medical care. But the matter is too important to leave to whimsy or fit of pique. The city needs a blue-ribbon commission to take a long-range look at the most efficient and economical way the city can use its limited resources to deliver these essential services. We urge Mayor Sylvester Turner to appoint a group of firefighters, medical professionals, elected officials and other community leaders to study the way firefighting and emergency medical services are provided to the citizens of Houston. If, after roundly reviewing local delivery and best practices around the country, it's determined that there's a better, more efficient way to deliver these services, City Hall should figure out how to make it happen. Driving EMTs around in fire trucks doesn't make sense. We need a better plan for the 21st century, and the mayor should choose a group of smart and respected people to point the way. Destruction Paddling down Buffalo Bayou, one would be hard-pressed to find "sycamore and oak trees dipping low from banks covered in bags of concrete, heaps of rubble and bioengineered vegetation," as described by a Houston Chronicle editorial, "Bayou repair" (Page A13, Tuesday). That's because the trees and other vegetation were gone - long ago removed by private interests, often replaced by bags of concrete and rubble to stop erosion. The result: bank erosion. That's the primary flaw in the estimated $12 million bayou "repair" project endorsed by the Chronicle. Called the Memorial Park Demonstration Project, it would strip most of the trees and vegetation, dig up, fill in, and rearrange the bayou for over a mile past public forest. That's demonstrating exactly the wrong thing to do. "Fixing" the bayou in place along an artificial route will not work. The bayou, like all rivers, will return to its natural, remarkably stable path, dictated by geology. As for the bayou "destroying forest and riverbank," the project itself will do far more damage. This is not a "short-term, environmentally judicious disruption." This is a massive obliteration of very old high bluffs, historic sandstone crossings, springs, tributaries, majestic woodlands, long-established meanders, beaver dens, turtle nests and other wildlife habitat. Let us be proud of this rare historic nature area in the middle of the city. Save our millions for better purposes-like educating property owners about better land management. Susan Chadwick, executive director, Save Buffalo Bayou Hershey legacy The "Bayou repair" editorial refers to my late stepmother, Terry Hershey, and wrongly implies she was in favor of the highly destructive engineering plan promoted by the Bayou Preservation Association for one of the last remaining public stretches of forested Buffalo Bayou in Houston. In May 2014, the Hershey Foundation, established by Terry and my father, Jake, passed a resolution opposing this misguided bayou project. Terry was an environmentalist who devoted much of her adult life to public parks and the conservation of nature and natural places. She, along with many others, including Save Buffalo Bayou Founding Board President Frank C. Smith Jr., were responsible for rescuing Buffalo Bayou some 50 years ago from the Harris County Flood Control District and the U.S. Corps of Engineers. The district and the Corps wanted to straighten the bayou and cover it in concrete all the way from the federal dams near Katy to the Shepherd Bridge. Now comes the flood control district, with the approval of the Corps, with another destructive bayou project. Sadly, this one is being promoted by the very organization Terry helped found and supported for so many years. The Bayou Preservation Association for some time has been trading on the reputation established by Terry, Frank Smith, George Mitchell, and others, using that reputation to influence otherwise thoughtful people to support projects that violate the spirit and purpose of the organization. The Bayou Preservation Association no longer serves the mission of bayou preservation. Olive Hershey, board member, Save Buffalo Bayou and the Hershey Foundation Steven Ray Carter, 56, son of Vearn and Freda (McKee) Carter, was born Sept. 21, 1960, in Houston, Mo. He passed away on May 17, 2017, in Columbia, Mo. attended school in Success and Houston, graduating in 1978. He was preceded in death by his parents, Vearn and Freda. He is survived by his wife, Teresa; one daughter, Brandie Lynn Johnson and husband, Daniel, of Gilliam, Mo.; one wonderful grandchild, Thomas Johnson; five brothers, Oscar and Faith of Eldon, Mo., David and Tonya Carter of Bucyrus, Mo., Randy and Katy Carter of Bucyrus, MO, Harvey Carter of Salem, Mo., and Gary Carter of New Haven, Mo.; and many more family members and friends. One very special friendship that began in high school was Chuck Boone; they were an inseparable pair so much so that many thought they were brothers. In November 1978, he joined the Air Force. This was the beginning of 14 years of traveling. He married Teresa Boone on Nov. 17, 1979, beginning her life as a military wife, often going to the many places Steve was deployed to. He was stationed in Florida, Missouri and then overseas, back to Arkansas for four years and then to Turkey, where their daughter, Brandie, was born 1991. Steve served during Desert Storm, seeing some combat. He was a willing soldier fighting for his country and serving it well, honorable discharged as a staff sergeant in 1992. Coming back to the United States, he and Teresa settled in Mountain Grove, Mo., and he worked in a factory and as manager of a convenience store. They moved to Slater, Mo., and he worked as a correctional officer there. Steve had a few favorite activities, playing computer games and fishing. However there was one thing he always loved and had time for, and that was his daughter and grandson, Thomas. He was a great husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. He will be missed by the many that knew and loved him. A celebration of life was 2 p.m. Monday, May 22, 2017, at Evans Funeral Home Chapel. Inurnment with full military honors was in Pine Lawn Cemetery. Cremation was under the direction of Evans Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Shriners Children Hospital, Att: Donation Department, 4400 Clayton Ave. St. Louis, Mo., 63110. To send an online condolence, go to www.evansfh.com. PAID Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. Photo: South Carolina Ports/gCaptain.com The Chinese supersized container ship COSCO Development arrived at the port of Savannah, Georgia on May 11. It is the largest vessel ever to dock on the East Coast of the U.S. The arrival of the behemoth was long anticipated, set to occur once it completed its passage through the expanded Panama Canal. The vessel's arrival heralds a new era for big ships in U.S. ports. The 13,092-TEU COSCO Development measures 366 meters in length and 48.2 meters in width. The Associated Press described the massive vessel in this way: The largest cargo ship ever to visit ports on the U.S. East Coast is so long that the Statue of Liberty and Washington Monument could fit end-to-end along its deck and still leave room for Big Ben. Officials with Georgia Port Authority attach great importance to upgrading local infrastructure through, among other things, the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project. According to an article published on the website of Georgia Port Authority, their organization's executive director said, Savannah is already the load center for trade in the U.S. Southeast, but deepening our harbor to better accommodate vessels such as the Development will make Savannah even more attractive to cargo owners. When it comes to building ports, China already has a significant head start compared to other countries. Seven of the ports on the list of the worlds top 10 ports are Chinese. Along its coastline, China boasts over 1,800 berths for ships weighing 10,000 tons and above. There are even 300-odd ports for those weighing 100,000 tons and above. Yangshan Deep Water Port is often described as Shanghai's gateway to the world. It accommodates up to 40 percent the city's maritime traffic. The fourth phase of its construction is still in progress. Once completed, the port will have 23 berths, enabling it to easily accommodate even the largest ships. Qingdao Port in Shandong province is also a major infrastructure success. Although the history of the port dates back to 1892, it has more recently become a leader in automation. Today, containers at Qingdao Port are loaded and unloaded by vehicles; human drivers and workers are nowhere to be found. A simulated terror attack organised by the Bedok Safety Group (BSG) played out on Tuesday at the Panasonic Appliances Refrigeration Devices Singapore, as part of efforts to stem complacency against attacks in the workplace. The simulated attack involved an intruder who rode past the factory entrance and threw a Molotov cocktail into its Liquid Petroleum gas (LPG) storage area. This caused an explosion that led to a fire. The exercise tested the response capabilities of Panasonics Company Emergency Response Team (CERT), according to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). The CERT demonstrated ability to render first aid to the injured and mitigated the fire before the arrival of the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and the Singapore Civil Defence Force who secured and managed the scene, said the ministry. The threat of terrorism is very real. Workplaces and their employees need to be prepared to handle such crises and recover quickly from it. During peacetime, we should take the opportunity to enhance our response plans, address all possible gaps and share best practices among the community of like-minded organisations, said Steven Tan, BSG chairman Steven Tan. The BSG is a voluntary workgroup made up of 14 member companies with interest in safety. During a speech at the event, Minister of State for Manpower Sam Tan said there are three key things employers can do to keep their workplace secure. Tan said firms can prepare their workforce for a crisis. Selected personnel can be trained in first aid, CPR, and in the use of an automated external defibrillator. Such skills are critical to ensure ready assistance are available to affected employees until the authorities arrive in a critical situation. Employees should also familiarise themselves with their surroundings, such as the location of the escape routes, suitable hiding places and locations of first aid provisions. Tan also urged firms to have robust business continuity plans in place to mitigate disruptions and help them recover more quickly when an incident strikes. Building owners can take steps to protect their premises by installing CCTVs, having adequate perimeter fencing and proper access controls, he added. Lastly, the minister emphasized how community networks can boost vigilance and enhance firms abilities to deal with threats and crises together with neighbouring businesses and residents. Given the grave consequences of any terror attacks, we must not be complacent and depend only on security agencies to prepare and respond against terror attacks, said Tan. B.C. RCMP are investigating after a puppy was shot by a pellet gun. Police said in a release Thursday that they were called after the dog's owners found him injured near their home in Highlands. The 10-month-old Labrador puppy, Ozzy, was taken to a vet, who confirmed the pup had been shot at least 12 times. "... how could anybody do that to an innocent animal? the dog's owner, Debra King, told CTV News. "This attack not only left the puppy injured, but shook a whole community for this senseless act," said Const. John Varley of West Shore RCMP in a statement. "Luckily, Ozzy is doing well now." Advertisement The fact it was 12 pellets is a clear indication that this was a deliberate act, so were hoping the community can come together and help us solve this case," Const. Alex Berube said to Saanich News. Police are asking anyone with information to come forward. When Peterborough, Ont.-native Faith Dickinson was only nine years old she made a blanket for her aunt who was in treatment for stage IV breast cancer. Five years later, she's sent more than 3,500 fleece blankets around the world on behalf of her charity, Cuddles for Cancer. On Wednesday, the 14-year-old arrived at St. James's Palace in London where she was honoured by the late Princess Diana's sons, Princes William and Harry, with a Diana Award. Advertisement Dickinson was among 20 youths who were honoured for their "kindness, compassion and service." "One of my mottoes is 'You're never too young to make a difference,'" Dickinson said after receiving her award. "And I think that this really proves it." Though Dickinson's organization started out specifically for cancer patients, she has since expanded to provide blankets to soldiers experiencing PTSD. Advertisement "Prince William told me that I was just doing such an amazing thing," Dickinson recalled with pride. "And Prince Harry told me that I was the most impressive redhead there tonight." The Diana Award was established in 1999 in honour of the late Princess of Wales. It is awarded to individuals or groups between the ages nine and 18. Also on HuffPost Chelsea Manning, who this week walked freely out of a male military prison in Kansas, is reportedly set to appear in the pages of the world's fashion bible, Vogue. WWD has learned that the 29-year-old, who spent nearly seven years in prison for disclosing archives of secret files to WikiLeaks, will be in an upcoming issue of Vogue. Advertisement Chelsea Manning, imprisoned for leaking classified information, has been released, according to Army spokeswoman https://t.co/JNZVuE9YwEpic.twitter.com/e3Wje9MyJA CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) May 17, 2017 Although a spokeswoman for the top fashion glossy would not confirm or deny the news, telling WWD, "we do not comment on rumours of future editorial," reportedly editor-in-chief Anna Wintour is asking designers to submit looks for the fashion spread. On Thursday, Vogue writer Kathryn Branch wrote a piece for the website entitled, "Chelsea Manning Reveals Her Bold New Look on Instagram." The post examines a recent Instagram post from Manning, who had been sentenced to a 35-year prison term and was freed 28 years early after President Obama commuted the bulk of her sentence before leaving office. In it, she debuts a new short pixie cut and light red lip. Okay, so here I am everyone!! . CC BY-SA! . #HelloWorld A post shared by Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea87) on May 18, 2017 at 9:55am PDT Advertisement "Okay, so here I am everyone!! #HelloWorld," Manning, who was known as Pvt. Bradley Manning, captioned the image. After being convicted in 2010 on suspicion of having sent 700,000 secret military and diplomatic files from a classified computer network to WikiLeaks, Manning announced she was a transgender woman and changed her name to Chelsea. The rumoured Vogue spread won't be Chelsea's first magazine feature, however. As WWD notes, in September of 2015, she gave an interview to Paper Magazine on the constraints of government, technology and gender. And in April, she appeared in Interview's New Progressives issue, which featured activists leading the charge on issues ranging from gender and racial equality, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues, among other things. As her Instagram shows, there is a sense of confidence in Chelsea now that we're sure Vogue finds infectious. Her story on the pages of the magazine alone will be a bold move for Wintour and her team, and we can't wait to see how Manning's story is told and photographed. First steps of freedom!! . . #chelseaisfree A post shared by Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea87) on May 17, 2017 at 6:39am PDT Advertisement As Branch wrote in her article which hints at Chelsea's feature, "There is no better way to turn a new page on life than with an inspiring new look." Also on HuffPost U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly and consistently beaten the odds. Yet despite his seeming imperviousness, I predict Trump's eventual downfall. The reason is that he is, at heart, a bad person, a mean person and, most importantly, a horrible boss. It's one thing to play games with the truth, flagrantly lie and continually demean and belittle his political opponents. Trump's supporters don't mind any of that and are willing to overlook all manner of deceit, trickery and petty vindictiveness in the cause of defeating the Democratic enemy. Advertisement The problem for Trump is that his nastiness is not restricted to his public pronouncements and actions. The mean-spirited, unethical narcissist you see in public is the same person his employees deal with on a daily basis in the White House. In short, he is a horrible boss. He demeans, debases and belittles his subordinates like Sean Spicer, the press secretary who valiantly tries to defend the president's contradictory positions only to have Trump undermine him at every turn. The poor man persists in spinning and lying but to no avail since his boss will not hesitate to throw him under the bus whenever it's convenient. The pivoting queen, Kellyanne Conway, has also suffered greatly at the hands of Trump. With her lies, evasions and spin, she has done everything, ethical and otherwise, to defend her boss. Advertisement Notwithstanding that she long ago sold her soul to the tangerine devil, Trump continues to demote her to the minors if he's not satisfied with the result. So Trump is a mean, nasty boss. So what? Why should his supporters and fans care? They will see that he is the boss man who they've always wanted to punch in the face. They will care because they will eventually recognize him for what he is. We've all had a horrible boss at one time or another: that person who does nothing to support you, constantly criticizes your work, takes credit for your accomplishments and lies over and over. Trump is the ultimate embodiment of that archetype -- i.e., the boss from hell. The vast majority of citizens, particularly those enamored of Trump, have had to deal with difficult bosses, bosses who treat their employees like dirt. And because of those workplace experiences, they have little patience for those who treat their employees with disdain. Once Trump's despicable private behaviour becomes widely known, his supporters will not tolerate it and will no longer defend him. They will see that he is the boss man who they've always wanted to punch in the face, the supervisor they'd love to have an unfortunate accident. Once they recognize him as the workplace bully he is, his days are numbered. Advertisement Initially, Republican members of Congress who never much cared for Trump in the first place will cut him loose. Then those who voted for him will be disgusted with how he treats his employees. It's one thing to defend a nasty, lying, "pussy-grabbing," egocentic narcissist. It's quite another to defend a horrible boss who treats those under him with contempt. Over the coming weeks and months, as the details of Trump's Russian connections, his unethical business dealings and his blatant conflicts of interest become public, he will lose support among Republican legislators. But more importantly, as Trump unravels and his Apprentice-like personality increasingly comes to the fore, even his grassroots supporters will turn against him. At some point, Trump will do himself in and will have to face his final days in the White House. It's clear that his giant ego will not allow him to resign. So it will be up to the people, including the Trump faithful, to push for impeachment, conviction and the ultimate public Trumpian pronouncement: "You're fired!" Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Also on HuffPost: "A woman should walk three steps behind a man." For generations, this saying has shaped the mindset and image that women should be protected and men should take the lead. Sadly, this attitude is still common in Japanese society and it holds girls and women back. As early as the classroom, boys are encouraged to stand out, but girls are not. If this happens in the classroom, what do we expect to happen in the workplace? Despite Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's current policy to improve gender equality and build our economy by engaging women, the 2016 Global Gender Gap report ranked Japan 111th out of 144 countries for overall performance in gender equality. Advertisement The numbers are even worse for economic participation and opportunity -- where Japan fell to 118th from 106th in 2015. The picture is worse when it comes to representation of women in parliament; in 2016, the World Bank reported that the proportion of seats held by women in national parliament in Japan is a mere 10 per cent. We need to destroy stereotypes by creating opportunities for young women like me. Why is the country sliding backward instead of marching forward? A survey conducted by Japan's Cabinet Office in 2014, showed that 45 per cent of both men and women think that husbands should work and wives should stay at home. This number speaks for itself and shows why women have little influence in Japan's political and corporate spheres. So how do we fix this? It is simple but not easy: we need to change our education system which focuses on getting good grades and revamp it to encourage leadership. We need to destroy stereotypes by creating opportunities for young women like me. Four years ago I volunteered for an organization outside of school and afterwards, I launched a Fair Trade program which is currently part of the English and home economics curriculum. Advertisement With this success, I have started delivering workshops to empower students. At the beginning students in my all girls high school were relatively passive, but over time these workshops have proven to inspire my classmates to increase their ambition towards their careers. If our education doesn't encourage leadership and if stereotypes continue to shape a distinct gender role in society, how can Japanese women be empowered to achieve gender equality? By fostering leadership and promoting gender equality, Japan can be a society where men and women walk together. ByAkane Nakamura, G(irls)20 Delegate, Japan Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Senior officials from China and ASEAN countries attend the 14th senior officials' meeting on the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, May 18, 2017. (Xinhua/Liu Xu) GUIYANG, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Senior officials from China and ASEAN countries Thursday agreed on a framework for the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea. The consensus came during the 14th senior officials' meeting on the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). The meeting, co-chaired by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin and Singapore's Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Chee Wee Kiong, was held ahead of the upcoming China-ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting in July. The approval of the framework was reached earlier than scheduled, Liu told the press after the meeting, adding that according to the work plan, China and ASEAN countries were expected to finish consultation on the draft framework for the COC by the first half of this year. The framework, which represents a crucial phased result in the entire COC negotiation process, has laid a solid foundation for further negotiations, Liu stressed. Liu said all parties have vowed to continue to constructively advance the negotiations toward the early conclusion of the COC. During the meeting, all parties also agreed to continue to implement the DOC and reaffirmed plans to solve disputes via negotiation, manage differences with a regional framework of regulations, deepen maritime cooperation, and move forward COC negotiation to safeguard peace and stability of the region. The meeting approved a paper on the establishment of three technological committees, agreed on outcomes of the trial application of the China-ASEAN senior diplomats' hotline platform, and updated the 2016-2018 work plan. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the signing of the DOC. All parties pledged to implement the DOC to build a South China Sea environment of peace, friendship and cooperation Prior to the meeting, the 21st Joint Working Group meeting on the Implementation of the DOC was held. GIPhotoStock via Getty Images Health Quality Ontario just released a report on opioid use that will do nothing but frighten many doctors into refusing to properly medicate their pain patients. The report, which received extensive media coverage, pointed out that doctors and dentists wrote over 9 million prescriptions in fiscal 2015/16 and that was an increase of about 450,000 prescriptions from 2013/14. This represents 14 per cent of the population so 86 per cent did not get prescribed an opioid. What percentage of the 2013/14 population received prescriptions, they do not say. My reaction is so what? The so what for them is to show just how dangerous all these prescriptions are and how that may be leading to all the overdose deaths we are reading so much about. That is nonsense, fear mongering, and avoidance of the real problem. Advertisement Doctors and dentists prescribe these drugs for post surgical or dental pain; acute pain as the result of a broken bone or other painful trauma; palliative care for terminal cancer; and for chronic pain. Now the report does state that 25 per cent of the prescriptions were for one off reasons like post surgical and broken bones. Only 75 per cent of the prescriptions were for longer periods. Looking at the age distribution of those who received prescriptions is very telling. Two thirds of those receiving prescriptions are over the age of 45 with the percentage for the over 65 at 27 per cent. Those over 65 are more likely to die and so I can only assume that a chunk of those people are being prescribed for palliative care. The same can be said about those 45 - 64 but for the 45+ patients, they are likely developing chronic illnesses that are progressing and need pain relief. This becomes even more evident when you look at the age distribution for those getting a one time prescription. Two thirds of that group were under 18. We are also being bombarded in the media with stories of fentanyl overdoses. Interesting then to see that Health Quality Ontario reports that only one per cent of pain prescriptions is for fentanyl patches and that is down from two per cent. Advertisement The assumption in their report is that people are becoming addicted because they were prescribed opioids and possibly some of what doctors prescribe is being diverted to street use. As I pointed out in my blog last August, very little legitimately prescribed pain medication makes it to the street. Most of the street fentanyl comes from illegal labs in China and Mexico and is used to lace pills. In January I wrote about Ontario's two-tier pain med system. The province stopped paying for higher doses of pain meds for the elderly and those on disability. The current report points out that as a result of that policy change of "some opioids being removed from the list of drugs that are covered by public funding, the use of other types of opioids appears to have increased." The most egregious aspect of this report is the use of anecdotes. Health Quality Ontario cites as an example of the dangers of opioid prescribing the case of one person. It is common knowledge that anecdotes do not make evidence and, as the Logic of Science blog says "Personal anecdotes are often the primary ammunition of those who deny science" and they go on to describe how this approach is common among anti-vaccination types and others. The question we need to ask is what percentage of people who are prescribed opioids become addicted? This is not addressed by Health Quality Ontario. They just imply that this happens all the time. It does not! The Canadian Pain Society is comprised of scientists and health professionals studying pain management and they are affiliated with the International Association for the Study of Pain in Washington DC. Their Pain Working Group, in a 2014 paper, differentiate between abuse (getting high), addiction (continued use despite harm), misuse (other than intended by the prescribing doctor), and dependence (withdrawal symptoms). The national Canadian Alcohol and Drug Use Monitoring Survey, they report, has found that using opioids without a prescription was at 4.8-5 per cent and use to get high was at 0.3 per cent. When they looked at why that approximately five per cent were using opioids without a prescription, it was found that the vast majority used them so they could treat their own pain. And they were obtaining them because they were having problems getting them from doctors who felt uncomfortable prescribing. Even more doctors will feel uncomfortable given the type of paper produced by Health Quality Ontario. Advertisement Other studies the Pain Society cites demonstrate that only 3.27 per cent of people with chronic pain develop abuse or addiction. Among those chronic pain patients with no history of abuse or addiction, only 0.19 per cent develop abuse or addiction. The problems we are seeing are not caused by legitimate prescriptions for legitimate reasons. It is the illegal drugs manufactured in clandestine labs or smuggled in from Mexico and/or China that are the problem. Attacking pain medications and those who prescribe them and use them will not solve that problem. Part of the problem was also generated by stupid government policies. The Pain Working Group points to the attempt by governments to reduce oxycodone use by making the pills tamper resistant. The result was a decrease in oxycodone use but an increase in heroin use which addicts switched to. In my January blog, I quoted Dan Malleck, an associate professor in health sciences at Brock University, who wrote an excellent op-ed in the Globe and Mail. He pointed out that all the talk is about painkillers rather than pain itself. Most people take pain medications because they have pain. What is wrong with that?" I agree and so does the Canadian Pain Society. They say that they "support the treatment of pain as a basic human right." The health Quality Ontario paper does nothing but make that more difficult for people to achieve. On Thursday May 4, 2017, Global News reported that Montreal's Snowdon Theatre would soon be sold to a private company for $1.6 million. It's a shame. The sale of Snowdon Theatre represents a missed opportunity. Rather than considering the needs of the people of Cote-des-Neiges, the City of Montreal has chosen to sell the site to the highest bidder. Rappelons-nous que le Theatre Snowdon, lui aussi laisse a l'abandon, a ete ravage par les flammes il y a quelques mois #PolMtl#Patrimoinepic.twitter.com/MSDEWkn1VT Glenn Castanheira (@CastanheiraG) November 17, 2016 Advertisement In Cote-des-Neiges, more than 40 per cent of residents live below the poverty line. Elected officials could have decided to build social housing on the site. This would have had a major impact for low-income residents of the neighbourhood. We know what the solution is to these problems. We don't need a plan or a commission or a consultation. We need social housing, a welfare rate that allows people to live in dignity, a $15/hour minimum wage. These are the solutions to poverty. Advertisement There was no consultation with the people of Cote-des-Neiges to decide what would be best for this location. This is a publicly owned building, and it should serve the public. Instead, this decision hurts the public. It hurts poor people, senior citizens, single-parent households. There are few publicly owned sites in Cote-des-Neiges where social housing could be built. Sites with the required zoning, close to the city centre and to a metro station are rare. A notable exception is Blue Bonnets, another site over which the city has full control, but its development has been blocked for many years and, in any case, the current administration has no aspiration to go beyond the inclusion strategy, which falls far short of what's needed. The development of Blue Bonnets must not go the same way as Snowdon Theatre. Shame on the politicians who neglect the needs of their constituents. Even if it is not possible to build social housing immediately on the Snowdon Theatre site, the city could reserve the site for a future social housing project. We need to stop building endless condo developments. They don't respond to the needs of the neighbourhood and they contribute to gentrification. Snowdon Theatre must not become a condo development. At the very least, the city should put the $1.6 million it makes from the sale of this public site directly towards a social housing project elsewhere in the neighbourhood. Decisions like this send the message that our elected officials don't care about people who live in poverty, that they don't hear us. But we're going to keep fighting. Advertisement Shame on the politicians who neglect the needs of their constituents. By members of the Project Genesis Housing Rights Committee: Anthony Baasien-Capsa, Claire Abraham, Iocent Crammer, Mohamed Benkiran, Myrtle Anderson and Rosario Tapia Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Also on HuffPost: Getty Images/iStockphoto The Quebec Federation Oof Women is collapsing. I am shocked about it because when I peer into the future, I strongly believe it needs a strong nonpartisan feminist organization. The political chessboard lacks its queen, this most needed piece, the one who speaks on behalf of women, the one capable of criticizing public policies from a women's rights' standpoint. The Quebec of tomorrow desperately requires a strong provincial feminist advocacy group. Having said that, the critics addressed to the Quebec Federation of Women in the media were relevant and substantial. It is true that this group struggles to federate the different feminisms and to reflect the diversity of women. As a matter of fact, QFW even repels and drives back many feminists since it often betrays shared values. Important changes to the QFW's structure and culture must occur to ensure its survival and for it to bear its responsibilities. Advertisement With so much work ahead, why not invest with another group? The women's movement does not have any other strong political vehicles. They do have an informal coalition, the Groupe des 13, but national women's groups are fighting hard to keep this structure working. It isn't funded and doesn't have the means to take over QFW! Women's power to defend their rights has declined since the election of Phillipe Couillard in April 2014 because his fiscal policies and austerity measures have amplified gender-based discrimination in Quebec. Different researches and advocacy groups identify a related decline in women's living conditions. Not only have women getting poorer, they also increasingly struggle to afford food, education, and access social assistance, health services and housing. Furthermore, the barriers limiting the fulfillment of their rights are also isolating them in their homes which forces them to stay attached to their traditional gender roles. Fewer rights means fewer freedoms. Most importantly, I want to emphasize that these are especially brutal for women who live at the intersection of different types of oppression: women on welfare, obese women, native women, women living with disabilities, racialized women, newcomers, undocumented women, immigrant women, poor women, women without a high school diploma, LBTQIA++ women. Obviously, women can't count on the government to defend them from sexist discrimination. No matter if they're red or blue, regardless of their party affiliation, our elected officials favour a balanced budget and the interests of their business supporters at the expense of social and public health services, public schools and environmental protection. They bend with the international neoliberal wind and see it as an opportunity to enrich their political family even if it means less justice for us, the people. Advertisement Shortly, the Quebec Federation of Women has to rise from the ashes. It has to recover from the Harper cuts, from its loss of members and loss of hope. Rather than living in fear of what the future holds, feminists from all backgrounds and nationalities should get involved and take part with the Quebec Federation of Women so that it can become the phoenix reborn that the movement needs. Valerie Gilker-Letourneau, Co-Co-ordinator of the R, the Quebec Network of Women's Centres Publicist and feminist, Valerie worked for a women's centre before she joined the R, aiming to develop its communications with a feminist approach. The five things you need to know on Friday, May 19 This morning's "optimistic" Waugh Zone is by Ned Simons. Paul is away. 1) MAYISM IS A THING "There is no 'Mayism'," the prime minister demurred at her manifesto launch yesterday. But it's hard to see her rejection of "selfish individualism" and the ripping up of several Cameron-era commitments as anything other than Theresa May making a break from Thatcherism and forging her own brand of Conservatism. As Paul, who was in Halifax for the manifesto launch, notes, the decision to launch the manifesto in Halifax also shows the depth of May's electoral ambitions. "By regularly staging daring raids behind enemy lines, May forces Jeremy Corbyn to use his thin resources on defending the defensible rather than more vulnerable marginals, or even offensive targets of its own," he writes. "Yet the much bigger picture is the PMs belief that Labour supporters who backed Leave in the EU referendum (Halifax was 55% Leave to 45% Remain) will vote for her party for the very first time to ensure Brexit is definitely delivered." In case you missed it last night, do read Paul's special Tory manifesto edition of the Waugh Zone. You can read the Conservative manifesto in full here. If that's what you're into. Advertisement 2) 'SICK AND SNEAKY' John McDonnell responded to the Tory manifesto for Labour this morning. He branded Conservative plans to change pensioner benefits "sick and sneaky" and tore into May for having not costed her plans. The shadow chancellor took aim at the proposal to means test Winter Fuel Payments to help fund social care. "As soon as you start means-testing, large numbers dont claim," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. McDonnell also batted away questions about Len McCluskey's awkward prediction that Labour winning 200 seats - 29 fewer than it currently has - would be a "successful" result. "He was much more optimistic the next day," McDonnell said dryly. "He just woke up more optimistic the next morning." As for his own prediction about the election? "We are going to win, we are rising in the polls," he said. 3) FALLON FUMBLES McDonnell also said May's decision to keep the pledge to reduce immigration to below 100,000 was a "joke". Michael Fallon, who was on Newsnight last night, struggled to explain how much the policy will cost. Is it even a policy? The defence secretary referred to the words in the manifesto as an aim and an ambition. Asked by Evan Davis what the price tag was, Fallon told him: Theres been various academic work done on the cost of immigration." You can watch the full exchange here. Advertisement BECAUSE YOUVE READ THIS FAR Melissa McCarthys Sean Spicer bloopers from Saturday Night Live may be even funnier than the actual episode 4) WHO IS NATALIE? Last night ITV held its leaders's debate (without the two main party leaders). Paul Nuttall decided to add another person to the stage, a mysterious woman called Natalie. The Ukip leader got Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood name wrong. Twice. Im not Natalie, Im Leanne, Wood told Nuttall. Will you call me Leanne, she asked the second time. Womens names. Hes done it twice now, Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas said after Nuttall corrected himself and apologised. May and Corbyn's no-show was branded "pathetic" by ITV's Robert Peston. 5) CURTAINS FOR TRUMP? Donald Trump on Thursday lashed out after the US Justice Departments decision to appoint a special counsel to oversee the investigation into Russian influence in the 2016 presidential election, calling the overall scrutiny of his team the single greatest witch hunt in US political history. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller on Wednesday evening to serve as a special prosecutor in the case after Trump fired FBI Director James Comey, who had been leading the investigation into Russias role in the election until his sudden dismissal last week. The New York Times reports. Comey was once so uncomfortable about meeting Trump that he once tried to blend into the White House curtains to avoid being noticed. If youre reading this on the web, sign-up HERE to get the WaughZone delivered to your inbox. RadekProcyk via Getty Images One year ago, the ground-breaking Charter on the 'Inclusion of People with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action' was launched at the World Humanitarian Summit, where the UN Secretary General hailed it as "a ground-breaking charter that places people with disabilities at the heart of humanitarian decision-making". With over 150 endorsements - from States to UN agencies and implementing organisations - this Charter has the real potential to change the lives of disabled people affected by disasters around the world. As a physiotherapist with expertise in the inclusion of disabled and vulnerable people in humanitarian response, I have had the opportunity to work directly supporting disabled people affected by various crises around the world and I know how important it is to ensure disabled people are not left behind when a crisis occurs. Advertisement One in Seven people affected by a crisis are disabled. Sadly I know from experience that, even if they represent a large number of vulnerable people, people with disabilities and injuries struggle to access the support they need and can easily find themselves excluded and forgotten in a crisis. As one of Handicap International's surveys 'Disability in humanitarian context' highlighted, a shocking 75% of people with disabilities believe that they have insufficient access to essential humanitarian services and 50% of them lack access to specific services, such as provision of assistive devices. I have countless stories of disabled people for whom, being included in humanitarian response was a question of life or death. I remember wading through thick grey mud to speak with a blind man affected by hurricanes in Haiti. Before the hurricane he was independent and ran his own shop. But when I met him, he was housebound, unable to find his way around through the mud. I met countless other people whose wheelchairs or walking aids had been damaged, and who could no longer move around independently. Including these people in our emergency response was vital to enable them to access the essential humanitarian services they needed. Advertisement Uguok Joseph Rasi / Handicap International A more recent story coming from our staff in South Sudan, marked me. Our team met Uguok, 80, a single man living with a scoliosis, a congenital deformity of the spinal column. He fled from his home when the war reached Malakal town in 2013. Along with thousands of others, he sought refuge at the nearest United Nations base, which has since become a Protection of Civilians site. Having left everything behind, Uguok found that all of his everyday tasks were challenging and time consuming. In particular, he found it difficult to walk the long distances to collect his food ration. Handicap International has a group of rehabilitation and inclusion experts called "flying teams" who can travel to remote areas to reach people who may have difficulties accessing humanitarian assistance. Our flying teams found Uguok and provided him with a tricycle that allows him to access the vital humanitarian services he needs. This tricycle was life-changing to Uguok. As part of a global week of action in the run up to the 1st Anniversary of the Charter on 'Inclusion of People with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action' Handicap International have teamed up with CBM to host an event on Thursday 18th May chaired by Beverley Warmington, Director of DFID CHASE aimed at increasing UK mainstream NGO support for the Charter to ensure people like Uguok are included in the planning of humanitarian operations. Every revolution is accompanied by huge societal upheaval. That's as true of the current technological revolution as it is of the industrial one that preceded it. Like its predecessor, this revolution affects every aspect of our lives: the way we work, the way we get around, communicate and consume information. This upheaval has been tremendously positive - making our lives easier and in most cases transforming our experiences for the better. But it also causes uncertainty for many people and disrupts the equilibrium of social order. As this disruption increases, who of our political leaders is doing enough to invest in our welfare? Do we need someone new to champion the social cause? Who better to answer this challenge than those who have the resources to step in. As the revenues of Google, Facebook and Apple soar into the hundreds of billions, they find themselves with deeper pockets than many countries. So, perhaps, it's time for these big companies, those new arbiters of society, to take us through this transitional period and contribute more positively to our daily lives. Advertisement This concept of businesses with a social cause is nothing new. In fact, we can see a model for the socially-responsible company in the Industrial Age. Take William and James Lever, the brothers whose soap business developed into the consumer goods giant we now know as Unilever. The Lever brothers did more than look after their workforce, they built a village for them and their families to live in, with all the amenities, attractions and cultural institutions a community needs to thrive. Quaker industrialist George Cadbury, motivated by his religious beliefs, also took a strong interest in the welfare of his employees with the creation of his own model village, Bourneville. As did Joseph Rowntree, of the confectioner Rowntree's, with the establishment of New Earswick in North Yorkshire. Times were tough for workers in the 1800s: the Industrial Revolution meant a dramatic improvement in productivity, but standard of life didn't necessarily blossom to the same degree. And altruistic activities, like those pioneered by the Lever brothers, Cadbury and Rowntree's, worked to counteract this societal imbalance. The Victorians undoubtedly operated under a very different commercial landscape to today - where digital technology has completely transformed how companies make money and grow - but there are some crucial parallels. Modern companies, just like Victorian forbears, have a choice to make between benevolence and unfettered profiteering. New technology will always have some negative effects, as it did in the 19th century, but the companies who profit from it have the same responsibility to offset the damage they create. Uber is a case in point. The company's stated aim - 'to make transportation as reliable as running water' - is an admirable one. Uber has made getting a taxi easier, cheaper and more enjoyable. But at the same time, the world's most valuable startup has left plenty of people by the side of the road. And many more are set to lose out in the near future - as Uber gets closer to making driverless cars widely available, it will leave its entire workforce jobless. Uber has already been on the receiving end of a lot of criticism. The perils of the gig economy, which can leave those who depend on it vastly underpaid, has been well-documented. But Uber's apparent endgame, to fully automate its service, is bound to damage its reputation even more. Clearly Uber isn't the only company pushing to make autonomous vehicles a reality, and when the technology becomes widespread, it could have the upshot of massively reducing congestion in cities. Advertisement Right now though, companies live and die by how consumers perceive them and Uber is just one of many huge tech companies that could be using its power to contribute to society more overtly. However, it would be wrong to say that tech companies don't give back at all. Cloud computing giant Salesforce, currently valued at over $55 billion, launched its sister charitable organisation, Salesforce.org, to leverage "1% of Salesforce's technology, people, and resources to improve communities around the world". It's a simple model which, according to Salesforce's website, has generated $160 million in grants and 2 million hours of community service to date. Companies like American outdoor clothing brand Patagonia, which has social responsibility built into its business model, has paved the way for charitable business activities in the modern age. In the same way that the industrialists of old invested in the welfare of their workforce, as opposed to simply focusing on financial gain, a pragmatic way for modern businesses to give back is through dedicating a portion of their companies to something positive. There can't be anyone left in the UK who thinks the tech the NHS relies on is up-to-date and secure after scores of hospitals and GP practices were forced to close their doors last week by a large-scale ransomware cyber attack. In fact, the problem goes far deeper than an alleged missing 'patch' for a computer operating system. Throughout the country, NHS medical staff are relying on communications technology that is so outdated it is now being killed off by telecoms companies. Pagers, which were so popular in the 1980s and 90s, have long been overshadowed by mobile phones and Vodafone has just announced it is ending its pager service. Advertisement That leaves just one major pager provider - PageOne - and one major customer of paging technology. Of course, that customer is the NHS which, along with smaller but significant organisations including the RNLI and EDF Energy, has stuck with this technology, which dates back to 1949. The reasons for sticking with pagers have included low costs, and a marginally more reliable service. But is this really the best communications solution for medical staff in the 21st century? Doctors clearly don't think so as they have been increasingly voting with their thumbs and ditching pagers for modern messaging apps such as WhatsApp, despite its use being strictly against NHS rules. Health chiefs imposed the ban because, although devices such as mobile phones and tablets allow the rapid exchange of information that can help treat patients, they also pose a serious risk to patient confidentiality. Advertisement The problem is not so much with the software - encryption technology makes it easy to exchange information securely - but with the hardware. Specifically, the problem is with the humans who use the hardware. Humans, the weakest link Mobile phones get lost, tablets get stolen, passwords are written on sticky notes stuck on laptop keyboards, information gets sent to wrong numbers. So"secure" information is suddenly not so safe. The data watchdog, the Information Commissioner's Office, recently published figures showing that many devices with sensitive health information went missing over just four months in 2016. There were 65 recorded occasions when unencrypted devices, such as laptops or USB drives, were lost or stolen. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. Communication is a risky business In 2015, a study was published that showed 65 per cent of doctors had texted patient data from their smartphones, 46 per cent had sent pictures (eg of wounds or x-rays) to a colleague and around a third had used an app such as WhatsApp to share confidential information. Advertisement The risks are huge - we live in litigious times and data breaches could cost the NHS dearly. But it's hardly realistic to expect medical staff to rely on pagers, faxes and other Cold War-era technology to communicate, particularly when they can save time, money and lives in the process. Our health system has, quite simply, failed to adapt to modern communications methods. NHS England's formal communication guidance, for example, states: "Whatever the other merits of WhatsApp, it should never be used for the sending of information in the professional healthcare environment." And so our health professionals are put in an impossible situation: ignore the technology in their pockets, the technology that we all take for granted every time we use our smartphones; or use the technology, in the knowledge that they will be held responsible for any data breaches. This call is urgent Health and care workers deserve - and urgently need - an efficient way to communicate, one which is appropriate to the pace at which the modern world operates. And, ideally, one which isn't being phased out like pagers. Progress has been made in encouraging the adoption of new technologies - NHS Digital's information standards, the Clinical Entrepreneur training programme and the NHS Innovation Accelerator to name but three examples. Advertisement But they need more support, such as that offered by the DigitalHealth.London Accelerator Programme, which has helped many tech outfits, including my own one, medCrowd. Last year's Croydon tram crash illustrated how effective modern communications are - Croydon University Hospital was able to summon extra medical professionals rapidly thanks to WhatsApp messages. But can it be right that health professionals are risking their careers whenever they use their mobile phones to exchange information? Are we really going to sacrifice talented medical staff because the NHS failed to provide a communications framework that is fit for purpose in the 21st century? Dan Kitwood via Getty Images I had the pleasure today of attending a meeting with Richmond Park candidate for MP Zac Goldsmith, at my local pub in Barnes. This meeting, conveniently placed at 9.15 in the morning, (which ensured that the 30 or so people in attendance were mostly pensioners) was quite sympathetic to Mr Goldsmith, who is admittedly a pleasant and well-presented young man. Why do you care how I get to spend my morning? Rather unexpectedly, something quite important came out of this early meeting. I finally understood what 'strong and stable', Theresa May's election slogan, means. I also figured out how 'creative ambiguity', to use Yanis Varoufakis favourite phrase, is being employed to deliver May's projected landslide. Advertisement To date, no-one knows exactly what Theresa May wants out of Brexit. We all know she is obsessed with immigration, her record at the Home Office attests to that. Whether it is out of personal conviction or political calculation is anyone's guess. We also all know that she is an enemy of human rights and the rule of law, if that involves adjudication processes beyond her reach, such as the European Court of Human Rights, or the European Court of Justice. But, what does this mean for Brexit? Is a person who (sort of) campaigned for Remain, but then argued for the hardest of Brexits, a Remainer or a Leaver? Give me a massive majority she says, and you will find out. Zac, this morning helped shed some light into exactly this issue. He told the assembled group of (mostly) fawning supporters that a strong and stable 'leader' appeals to Ukip supporters who want Brexit to ride-in alongside the horsemen of the apocalypse, and to disappointed Remainers who want a softer Brexit. Theresa May with a massive majority will not need to compromise with factions either within her party, or with the opposition (whatever is left of it) we were told. Zac trusts in the 'leader' and her judgment. When confronted with evidence of the Leader's record of extremist views, like for instance including overseas students in immigration quotas (a policy no-one supports), Zac declared that this policy is not in his opinion the PM's personal view. A policy therefore that she stood by since her days in the Home Office, against universal opposition, (a policy she continues to stand by) is not consistent with her personal view. Perhaps Zac is wrong about this, or in his effort to fudge his response said something he did not mean to. This exchange however does tell us something about the PM's mindset and this election campaign. The Conservative message is: Vote for a strong leader, trust in the strong leader to do something you will approve of. You need no evidence to back this up. There is no reason to ask for details, either from Zac, or the PM herself (assuming you can get close to her). Is this what it has come to? Policy eclipsed by 'leadership', planning replaced by 'trust'? If we believe May's war-like rhetoric, are we to place our hope in her, allow her to guide us in this fight against Europe, in these 'negotiations', while she keeps her hand secret? Is this the type of 'leadership' that a major western power like Britain in 2017 needs? Advertisement The world has seen leaders in the past who focused on enemies within and without, who were obsessed with foreigners. A strong and stable Theresa May, with a large majority and a single objective will be a Leader indeed. In the words of Mein Kampf's infamous author: "The art of leadership... consists in consolidating the attention of the people against a single adversary and taking care that nothing will split up that attention." Strong and stable leadership sometimes leads to horrible outcomes. Oh no, he has made a Hitler analogy, you must be thinking. Fine, forget about me. I am a Remainer, I am opposed to Brexit for ideological and personal reasons. I never voted Conservative and will not do so in the future. But, think about it. Regardless of whether you are a Remainer or a Leaver (the new schism in British politics), are you happy to place your faith in the hands of a Leader in the terms described above? If you are happy and if you do vote Conservative and it turns out that the 'Leader's plan violates your expectations, what will you do then? There is no coming back from a hard or (worse) a no-deal Brexit. This is not a normal election. Martin Barraud via Getty Images Why are disabled people becoming political activists? For me, this General Election is very personal. As a disabled woman who can't claim a pension until I'm 66, I live in fear of my next DWP re-assessment. Too many people I know have lost benefits and are forced to rely on food banks. So I've got involved with other disabled people to educate others about how this election result could change our lives for the better. Advertisement Cripthevote started in the US in February 2016 during the run-up to the last presidential campaign. It is a online movement, which is not affiliated to any political party. Cripthevote works by activating and engaging disabled people on issues that affect them. It encourages individual and collective action in the face of inequality, ableism, and discrimination. The US campaign was - and is - high profile and has incentivised many disabled people to get involved in politics and vote for candidates whose views would best serve disabled people. Although the presidential election is over cripthevote is continuing to campaign for disability rights. Activists are now looking to move into other forms of political participation. This month Cripthevote launched in the UK. Started by some campaigners from DPAC (Disabled People Against Cuts), it has its own blog, and is on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. DPAC have organised or been involved in all the Direct Action protests against Austerity Cuts in the UK since 2010. Their visibility for those of us who are unable to be involved so publicly for whatever reason, has highlighted the inequalities faced by disabled people. Advertisement I'm proud to be part of #CripTheVoteUK. As my friend Dennis Queen said; "Disabled people are quite literally voting for our lives. We need ALL voters to know this is an emergency for thousands of disabled people and help us fight back." You can read more about the campaign here. But why am and so many other disabled people I know determined to make our voices heard? What has been happening that is so important for disabled people to become election agitators? During the last year Social Care funding in the UK has fallen in real terms by 14% the equivalent of 65 for each person receiving care. Yet more people are needing care services. When I moved from North London to south London my own care package of 31 hours per week was stopped and 15 months later I'm still trying to get it re-instated. My local authority have now accepted I need care, but have failed to re-assess me or accept information from my GP and consultants. Both the United Nations and the UK's Equality and Human Rights Commission, have condemned the UK government for many abuses against disabled people. These mainly relate to the way sanctions are used by the DWP to penalise people for small infractions of the job hunting contract are forced to sign if declared 'Fit to Work'. One man was sanctioned because he missed an appointment because he was with his wife as she gave birth to their stillborn child . A diabetic person was sanctioned and because they were unable to buy food they were sent to hospital by their GP. Some claimants have committed suicide as a result of being sanctioned. Callum's List [http://calumslist.org] has over 60 names on its memorial list. Thousands more unnamed. Advertisement As I've been writing this post, I've been contacted by someone with multiple health problems, who is terrified about her reassessment. Sue's Psychiatrist and medical consultants have discharged her as she is not "In Crisis' or not in need of urgent treatment. Yet, she remains unwell and struggles to leave her home. With only her GP to rely on to support her claim, understandably she fears loosing the money she needs to survive. According to the UK government's own figures 10,000 disabled people have died in the last 7 years (since 2010) within 6 weeks of being declared 'Fit For Work'. They actually ignored warnings from their own research about the impact of the new regime would have. Only recently Theresa May said she would not rule out further cuts. Disabled people are angry, frustrated and frightened for their futures. This is why we are becoming political. People who have never been involved in politics before are being enabled by this campaign. There are two strands to our activism. The first is to make people aware of the issues that blight the lives of disabled people like me. The second is to get a message out to our families and friends. If everyone we know actually voted against the cruel policies currently in place, there could be a change of government. Over 25% of those eligible to vote in the last General Election didn't bother to do so. Those votes would make a huge difference and could, quite literally, be saving the lives of hundreds if not thousands of disabled people. Advertisement A technician checks the nose cone of a Trent XWB aircraft engine on the production line at the Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc factory in Derby, the United Kingdom. CHRIS RATCLIFFE / BLOOMBERG VIA GETTY IMAGES Rolls-Royce Plc said it is in close and regular talks with Commercial Aircraft Corp of China Ltd, and willing to provide engines for the country's wide-body aircraft that is currently under research. COMAC said that it is researching and developing a wide-body commercial jet with Russia, and the passenger plane is expected to be delivered within 10 years. Currently, Rolls-Royce accounts for 45 percent of the power engine market of wide-body aircraft, followed by General Electric Co, United Technologies Corp's Pratt &Whitney Division and CFM International. In the next two decades, more than 1,300 wide-body aircraft are expected to be delivered to China, accounting for 17 percent of its global deliveries, Rolls-Royce said. Eric Chen, Airbus China president and CEO, said China's booming growth in international flights, especially long-haul routes, requires wide-body aircraft. From 2014 to 2033, the global market for aircraft engines and gas turbines will be worth $2.68 trillion, according to a forecast by Rolls-Royce. Of the total, the demand for civil aircraft engines is seen being worth $1.05 trillion, while the related demand for services is reaching $700 billion. Rolls-Royce said it is bullish on the growth potential of markets that are related to the Belt and Road Initiative, and it aims to expand its services in the regions. It has received orders to supply 488 engines for trains made by Chinese locomotive manufacturer CRRC Corp Ltd, the world's biggest supplier of rail transit equipment. Those orders come from countries and regions related to the Belt and Road Initiative, including Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Madagascar as well as Argentina. "There are more than 60 countries and regions that are included in the Belt and Road Initiative and others are invited to be part of it. As the business opportunities expand, we will invest accordingly," said Patrick Horgan, regional director of Rolls-Royce Northeast Asia. "There is clearly a huge infrastructure requirement and that demand is a significant opportunity for us and others," he said. By the end of 2016, Rolls-Royce had a net order book worth 79.8 billion pounds ($103 billion). The group reported sales of 13.8 billion pounds last year and profits of 813 million pounds. The group is researching and developing unmanned ship control systems and intelligent ship technology solutions. The company said reform of the shipping industry is set to make an impact on the future growth of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. Darren Staples / Reuters For decades, students have been campaigning for a free education system - free from debt and market forces. As a student, I co-founded "Defend Education Birmingham", where we fought the raising of fees and the privatisation of loans. In 2010, I joined hundreds of thousands as we marched to Parliament in opposition of fee rises. Despite the efforts of so many students across the years, our politicians have presented us with a mixed bag of policy, uninspiring platitudes and broken promises. Now, in the Labour manifesto, we have finally been offered a shred of hope. The official opposition has presented a costed alternative to fees, and in doing so has at last answered the student movement's call for free education. This is a call that all parties will now need to address ahead of the general election. Advertisement It isn't always recognised in mainstream politics, but the current funding system simply doesn't work. Tuition fees in higher education have brought with them a myriad of problems. We know that the debt burden - which now stands at 45,000, and gets higher the poorer you are - discourages working class students from applying to university disproportionately. An education system that shuts out those from less privileged backgrounds is not a healthy one. A costlier education has also increased the pressure on students to come away from university with a good degree. Many students are now more focussed on getting a good grade than enjoying the full student experience. It's no wonder that this has coincided with a student mental health crisis, with the number of those seeking support from services up 132%, citing stress and anxiety as the cause. The curriculum is another victim of tuition fees. In the last year alone, we have seen a 7% drop in the number of applicants to art and design courses. This means fewer places are available than they once were, as university departments have been cut back. These fields just aren't considered worth forking out tens of thousands of pounds for when the graduate prospects are so unpredictable. Without a price tag, there will undoubtedly be more demand for a greater, more diverse range of subjects. When we open up education to more people, we broaden our knowledge base as a country. It's not just fees. We cannot define education as "free" if students still incur huge costs to complete their courses - from rents, travel and so on. So it's important, too, that EMA, NHS Bursaries and maintenance grants are re-instated. Since those lifelines were cut, the number of mature and part-time students has dropped dramatically - 50% in total. These are people who are more often carers, parents and those with pre-existing barriers to access further and higher education. Advertisement Free education is often attacked on the grounds that it doesn't make economic sense. This is demonstrably untrue. The UK has one of the lowest corporation taxes and most expensive higher education systems in the world. Under the current fees regime, many students are not expected to pay back their debt - ever. So the government is not even expected to collect the costs incurred, yet graduates are left with an added 9% tax on their payslip for life. Instead, does it not makes sense that corporations, which benefit most from a skilled workforce, should pay accordingly? According to YouGov, tuition fees top the list of the issues students care about most when deciding their vote in a general election. A recent study found that over 90% of students are already registered to vote, so we may see this policy play a big part in the upcoming general election. This isn't the first time a Party has offered us free education of course. All parties must learn the lesson of the Lib Dems, who suffered huge losses at the polls in 2015, after having betrayed students on fees. They learnt that you cannot take the student vote for granted: we will make our views known at the ballot box this time, and in elections to come. This policy has been ridiculed by some who would rather see education run as a business, and it is not new to see a popular policy that would disproportionately benefit young people dismissed as a "pipe dream". But across Scandinavia, Latin America and in Germany, Austria, Belgium and more, students enjoy tuition-free education. If countries with both a higher and a lower GDP than the UK can do it - so can we. oonal via Getty Images Last month in the City of London's traditional and beautiful Guildhall, the 15th Century building was host to a very modern event, the Innovative Finance Global Summit. In the heart of Europe's financial capital, the Pitch360 startup day saw 24 FinTech startups across eight sectors including subjects such as Aritifcial Intelligence, global inclusion and cross-border payments. Advertisement Shortlisted from an impressive number of entries, their mission was to impress four judges in front of a knowledgeable, if non-voting, audience. The winner was GuardSquare, a mobile cybersecurity company that protects consumers' Android mobile applications against reverse engineering and tampering. Thia decision at one of UK's most prestigious FinTech events only underscores the growing ecosystem of mobile cybersecurity. Investors are beginning to realise as well. Earlier this week, Wandera, an 'enterprise mobile security and policy' company raised 22 million in Series C funding, bringing total investment in the company to almost 40 million. "Mobile risk control, including threat defence, is a rapidly growing market and enterprises must prioritise an investment in mobile security solutions to ensure mobile employees have secure access to applications," said Andreas Weiskam, Sapphire Ventures, the VC leading the investment. Advertisement Somewhat ironically, 24 hours before Wandera was raising its millions, it was World Telecommunications Day, a time that sets out to highlight the 'importance of communication and how it travels around the world'. This communication is now being constantly disrupted by hackers who are beginning to turn to mobile devices as an easy way to break into unguarded systems. The threat is real. According to another survey released this week conducted by security company BullGuard that while online security awareness is growing, four million people in the UK are still potentially exposed to cyber fraud. The research of more than 10,000 consumers revealed that one in ten people have been a victim of cyber fraud when not protected by paid-for cybersecurity AntiVirus software. When asked what their biggest online safety concerns were, respondents cited a wide range of attacks from phishing emails to identity theft to card details being cloned, computers crashing, malware-infected ads and becoming victims of ransomware. Advertisement Awareness of the need for security is growing. In the survey, when asked whether they check that websites are secure before entering card details to make a purchase a reassuring 78% of consumers said they did. In another area of security, 58% said public Wi-Fi hotspots were not suitable for online banking and shopping while 88% said they had never used public Wi-Fi hotspots for transactions that would require putting card details online. "These findings illustrate how important good cybersecurity protection is. They also undermine some voices in the security industry that free antivirus is just as paid-for security. Clearly, end users feel different and would rather have deeper levels of protection," said Paul Lipman, CEO BullGuard. While it appears the message is beginning to get through to consumers when it comes to AntiVirus, desktop and Wi-Fi computing, it appears that consumers are more complacent when it comes to using mobile apps. The recent launch of mobile-first banks in the UK such as Atom, Mondo and Starling are the first wave of companies taking the mobile threat very seriously. Advertisement If these apps are in any way vulnerable, these businesses are over before they begin and, judging by the presentations at the Guildhall last month, there are others ready to become the second wave. I have a little election quiz for you. See if you can work out which of the three main political parties made each of the following statements: 'Government can and should be a force for good... and its power should be put squarely at the service of this country's working people.' Advertisement 'We know that our responsibility to one another is greater than the rights we hold as individuals.' 'Paying your fair share of tax is the price of living in a civilised democracy.' 'We will remain signatories to the European Convention on Human Rights for the duration of the next parliament.' 'Immigration to Britain is still too high. It is our objective to reduce immigration to sustainable levels, by which we mean annual net migration in the tens of thousands.' OK, the last one was easy. But the other ones? Here's a clue. Each statement comes from the same party manifesto - and it's the one in which the words 'strong and stable' appear no fewer than thirteen times. That sound you hear is Margaret Thatcher spinning in her grave - because Theresa May is using the cover of Brexit to rip up Thatcherism and recast her party as the Friend of the Workers. She has cast herself as The Queen of State Intervention and The Believer in Society. She is a cross between Boudicca and Elizabeth I. The Mother of the Nation. Advertisement Did you vote Ukip in 2015 and Leave in the referendum? Brexit means Brexit: Theresa's your woman. Do you care about inequality and obscene fat cat salaries? Guess what, so does Theresa. Did you vote Remain, but now just want to get the whole Brexit business over with so that we can get on with our lives? Yup, Theresa does too. Oh, and if you think it's only reasonable that older people in need of expensive social care should be required to pay for some of it out of the absurdly inflated value of their family homes, so does Theresa. (The home I bought 35 years ago is now valued at 25 times as much as I paid for it. Why shouldn't some of that wholly undeserved wealth go towards paying for my care in my dotage?) All things to all voters? Why not? Mrs May is a canny enough politician to seize the golden opportunity that she has been offered: if she wins the kind of majority that is being predicted for her on 8 June, the manifesto will entitle her to claim that 'the people have spoken' (where have we heard that before?) and endorsed her vision of the future. How many Tory MPs and activists share that vision is an interesting question. And whether the impending Brexit storms will leave her with any breathing room in which to make that vision a reality is an equally interesting question. I shouldn't think Ed Miliband and Nigel Farage would find that they have much in common were they to sit down for a ruminative chat, but on one thing they would agree: We wuz robbed. Mrs May has taken the Miliband vision of caring capitalism and the Farage vision of a Brexited, low immigration UK and made them both her own. Just as Tony Blair did two decades ago, she has planted her flag defiantly in the centre ground (which happens to be where most voters see themselves) and dares anyone to challenge her right of occupation. Advertisement What a shame that she and Emmanuel Macron of France will soon be spitting at each other (figuratively) across the Brexit negotiating table. They have a lot in common, both having cast themselves as big tent centrists, Macron by forming a brand new party, and May by reinventing the one she leads. What was the main May message in Halifax on Thursday as she launched her manifesto? 'Come with me as I lead Britain.' Me, me, me ... Sebastian Payne put it well in the Financial Times: 'This is a Conservative party document in name, but it is very much a product of the prime minister and her team. There is a notable focus on principles and ideas, arguing that there is such a thing as society, government can do good and collectivism and individualism need to work side by side.' I admit that it is usually a mistake to read too much into manifestos. I still bear the scars from when I made a series of radio programmes ahead of the 1992 general election, in which we attempted to submit each of the main parties' manifestos to forensic and expert examination. One by one, they fell apart in our hands, their grandiose prose crumbling into meaningless guff. Voters vote for many different reasons, but the detailed proposals set out in election manifestos are rarely a decisive factor in the decision they make. Trust in party leaders, on the other hand, is a major factor, which is why Tory election propaganda features the words 'Theresa May' wherever you look. It is also why the letter I got from my local Labour party candidate this week didn't include the words 'Jeremy Corbyn' once. Advertisement weerachonoat via Getty Images i-THRIVE Grids are an exciting new advancement in the area of shared decision making with young people, families and clincians. Supported by a generous Health Foundation grant, researchers at the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families have now created six distinct grids for initial use within child and adolescent mental health services, or CAMHS. Advertisement Snapshot of the i-THRIVE Grid for "Difficulties sitting still or concentrating: Support outside of the NHS" (Image credit: Author's own) These decision aids have been co-created with service users, experienced clinicians, i-THRIVE Community of Practice members, educators, researchers, and other experts working with children and young people. The grids are grounded in the THRIVE framework for conceptualising need, which is a much-needed alternative to the current tier-based system in mental health care. The i-THRIVE Grids cover three of the four quadrants of the THRIVE framework -- Getting Advice, Getting Help, and Getting More Help. Three of the most common presenting difficulties are covered, including low mood, difficulties sitting still or concentrating, and self harm. Theoretical underpinning of the i-THRIVE Grids The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice in the United States has developed a decision aid called an "Option Grid" which is a concise, one-page tool for comparing different treatment options for various physical and mental health difficulties. These grids have been user-tested and have been shown not to significantly increase the time spent in the clinical encounter, which is a common worry amongst clinicians about introducing decision aids into their practice. Additionally, the grids appear to facilitate shared decision making and to lead to increased patient knowledge physical health care. Advertisement Researchers at the Anna Freud NCCF are collaborating with Dartmouth to design the i-THRIVE Grids in a similar manner to the Option Grids. These decision aids will be designed for use in CAMHS as well as community and voluntary sector services working with children and young people. In fact, the simplicity of the Option Grids format suggests that, in the future, these tools could even be used in more informal settings like schools and youth groups. As Option Grids were originally designed for adults (or parents) rather than young people, researchers at the Anna Freud NCCF have employed a graphic designer, Elizabeth Raby, to make the i-THRIVE Grids more appealing and accessible to children and young people. The overall look of the grids is still being refined with help from the young person and parent Expert Reference Groups at the Anna Freud NCCF and clinicians who are currently trialling the grids in their practice. Current work on the i-THRIVE Grids and future directions In developing the i-THRIVE Grids, researchers followed the process for determining what matters most to patients that was laid out by Paul Barr in a national survey of individuals with depression. After an exhaustive review of the literature, the research team at the Anna Freud defined a list of frequently asked questions around patient and parent treatment preferences for each presenting difficulty. Some of the most common questions included, "What will this involve?," "Are there any risks or side effects to this type of treatment/support?," and "Will I see the same person for the duration of this treatment?" This list of FAQs was then placed on SurveyMonkey, and parents and young people (recruited through the Anna Freud, Facebook, message boards and support groups) then chose their top five most important questions when considering treatment or care. Advertisement Current i-THRIVE Grid for "Low mood: Support in the NHS" (Image Credit: Author's Own) Using What Works for Whom, the NICE guidelines, NHS Choices, and expert consensus, researchers determined the range of treatments available for each presenting difficulty. This has been challenging as service provision differs from one region to another and even across boroughs within London. However, the aim of the grids is to be general enough to be relevant to many different areas, while specific enough to delineate distinct treatment options and generate conversation around patient preference and choice. Overwhelmingly positive feedback about the grids that was received at the i-THRIVE Community of Practice meeting in Manchester was particularly helpful in distinguishing the support that is available in different areas across the UK. Feedback from attendees at the i-THRIVE Community of Practice event in Manchester - November 2016 (Photo Credit: Author's own) Trialling the Grids at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust in London The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, an i-THRIVE accelerator site, is leading the way by being the first location to trial the i-THRIVE Grids in clinical practice as part of a Quality Improvement Project. Clinicians in assessment clinics at the Tavistock are currently assisting researchers in gathering data about parents' and young people's experience of the service and their current perceptions about shared decision making in the service. These data will be compared with data after the introduction of the I-THRIVE grids (which took place in February, 2017) to determine whether the i-THRIVE Grids significantly improve shared decision making in clinical practice. Advertisement The Tavistock is also helping to refine the grids by participating in Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles, a quality improvement technique for gaining knowledge and continually improving the grids. This ensures that the grids are clinically relevant and creates a feedback loop between clinicians at the Tavistock and researchers from the Anna Freud NCCF that will promote learning and swift application of findings. Once refined, the i-THRIVE Grids will be available for i-THRIVE Community of Practice members to download as part of the i-THRIVE Toolkit and to use in their clinical work. Contact Information Stuart Dee via Getty Images Well fam, the horserace has officially begun. With the release of the Conservative Party's manifesto on Thursday, all three of the major parties in England have made their pitch to the nation. Now it's time to see how they stack up. The Gay UK Magazine's editor-in-chief, Jake Hook, has compiled a handy list of pledges each party has made to the LGBT community. When looking at the numbers, Labour has the most inclusive manifesto, mentioning the LGBT community 11 times. The Liberal Democrats mentioned us five times. The Conservatives didn't mention "LGBT" at all. They did, however, promise to fight global persecution of people based on their sexuality and has committed to "push forward with our plan for tackling hate crime[s]" at home, though they don't exactly say what that is. The other two main parties made similar commitments, with Labour going as far as to promise a global LGBT rights envoy. Advertisement While the lack of any explicit mention by the Tories is disappointing, the other two parties had some wonderful pledges - and we should talk about them, and what the Tories are saying by not saying anything. Both the Liberal Democrats and Labour have pledged to make the revolutionary HIV preventative Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (or PrEP) available on the NHS, which can help bring down the rate of new infections, particularly among men who have sex with men. The Conservatives did not mention PrEP in their manifesto, but a Tory health minister last year said that "there is a limit to the money we have available" and that the government simply couldn't afford to pay for PrEP - so it's unlikely the Tories will make it available on the NHS. Similarly, Labour and the Lib Dems are in agreement on mandating LGBT-inclusive sex and relationships education (SRE) in schools. Despite having an openly lesbian Education Secretary in Justine Greening, the Conservatives did not make a similar pledge - and indeed Tory MPs voted down an amendment that would have required LGBT-inclusive SRE earlier this year, with MPs citing opposition from anti-gay faith schools as their reason. The bill eventually passed without any requirement for LGBT issues to be included in the curriculum. In a further move to protect LGBT children, Labour has promised to train teachers on how to deal with homophobic and transphobic bullying. The Lib Dems promise to tackle bullying, including bullying based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The Tories don't mention LGBT kids specifically, but they do have a commitment to tackle cyberbullying through SRE - though how that will help LGBT students who are written out of the Tory-mandated SRE remains to be seen. Still, in fairness to the Conservatives, former Education Secretary Nicky Morgan did secure funds to tackle homophobic bullying, including in faith schools - and this project has continued under Justine Greening. Advertisement If you are bullied and need mental healthcare because of it, Labour and the Lib Dems have your back. Labour promises to "reverse the damage done to mental health services under this Tory government, which is particularly hitting services for LGBT and BAME communities." Meanwhile, the Lib Dems specifically cite LGBT mental health groups as needing more funding. Again, the Conservatives don't mention us outright, but the Prime Minister has made mental health issues a cornerstone of her domestic policy. The Tories are pledging a further 1 billion in funding for mental healthcare by 2020/21, and pledging to bridge the "mental health gap" by destigmatising mental health conditions and reforming laws, including the Mental Health Act, "to ensure that those with mental illness are treated fairly and employers fulfil their responsibilities effectively." Whilst LGBT issues naturally weigh on the minds of LGBT voters, there are other aspects of these manifestos which should concern them - Brexit chief amongst them. Much of the equality the LGBT community has achieved over the past several decades has been through European mechanisms, in particular the European Court of Human Rights. The Human Rights Act 1998 enshrined the European Convention on Human Rights into British law and allowed appeals to the European Court of Human Rights when those laws were violated - resulting in allowing openly gay people to serve in the armed forces, legalising homosexuality in Northern Ireland, and equalising the age of consent. Brexit doesn't take the UK out of the European Convention on Human Rights, but Theresa May had, as Home Secretary, pledged to do so. However, the Conservative Party manifesto explicitly states that the UK will remain in the ECHR for the duration of the next parliament and no attempts will be made to repeal the Human Rights Act until Brexit is settled. Furthermore, the Tories' Great Repeal Bill promises to enshrine EU-level protections in British law, a promise Labour and the Lib Dems have also made. Back home, Labour and the Lib Dems are pledging to tackle youth homelessness by reinstating housing benefit for under-21s. While on first glance this doesn't seem like an LGBT issue, a full quarter of homeless youth are LGBT according to a 2015 study by the Albert Kennedy Trust. Often kicked out of their homes and facing homophobia or transphobia within their families, LGBT youths don't always have access to parental support - so housing benefit for those vulnerable youth who need it is of great importance to the community. Advertisement One last thing that caught my eye in Labour's manifesto was a small item about pubs. "We will set up a national review of local pubs to examine the causes for their large-scale demise, as well as establishing a joint taskforce that will consider future sustainability." Whilst this might seem minor, as The Gay UK previously reported, since 2000 over 100 gay bars have closed in London alone. Soaring property prices and decreased revenues have led to closures, but as Huff Post Highline reported earlier this year, the epidemic of gay loneliness means we need our pubs more than ever. If Labour (or any party) can figure out how to reverse this trend and save our cherished boozers, that's welcome news. (file photo) Don't be surprised when you ask an expat in China for a business card, he offers to add you to his WeChat account. A new survey has found they are more active on the popular social media app than Chinese. According to a report released by WeChat, a service by Tencent Holdings Ltd, on Wednesday, foreigners send 60 percent more messages each month compared with typical Chinese users born in the 1980s or the 1990s. It also showed that expats living in China favor communicating through emoji stickers, voice calls and video chats, using them 45 percent, 42 percent and 13 percent more respectively than Chinese. Six out of 10 foreigners said they use WeChat Pay for transportation, food deliveries, restaurants, hotels, supermarkets and online shopping. Red envelopes, a digitalized Chinese tradition of sending each other a sum of money as a gift, is also frequently used by foreigners, who send 10 red envelopes monthly on average through WeChat. Shintaro Koido, a 27-year-old teacher in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, said he usually sends red envelopes to his colleagues during the Chinese Lunar New Year. "I like to use WeChat because it combines all aspects of other social media, such as video, picture sharing, payments, voice calls, all in one," he said. Raz Gal-Or, a 22-year-old Israeli student at Peking University and co-founder of a program to study the behavior of expats in China, said he found mobile phone apps and online games developed by Chinese companies were becoming more and more popular with them. Jason Bean valued being able to become bowl eligible with Kansas Photo taken on May 17, 2017 shows the cliff corridor in Guoliang Village, Huixian, central China's Henan Province. The Guoliang cliff corridor is a 1,250-meter-long road built along the cliff. The construction of this miraculous road lasted five years from 1972 to 1977, and was built purely by hand by villagers of Guoliang Village. Thanks to this road, villagers here cast off poverty. (Xinhua/Li Bo) The ruling military junta tightened internet controls after Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej died in October. Thailand has some of the worlds strictest lese-majeste rules against defaming, insulting or threatening royalty. Alphabet Inc.'s YouTube, Facebook Inc. and other internet companies will face stricter content limits in Thailand next month when a law that curbs criticism of the monarchy and government takes effect. The amended Computer Crime Act, which takes effect May 24, bars content that is fake or contrary to public order or public morality. It vests a broader mandate in the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society than did the original law. The law gives companies, including social media entities, internet service providers and any others that could potentially host or transmit offending content, options to reduce their liability for prohibited posts. It also bars them from spamming customers and lengthens the time they may be ordered to store data. The government will have greater power under the updated law to act if a computer crime affects national security, public safety, national economic stability, or the infrastructure for public benefit. The digital ministry would not need court approval to conduct probes or seize data. Chulapong Yukate, executive chairman of Zico Law in Bangkok, said that provision was written because the digital ministry needs sufficient authority to act in the national interest, and that the development of technology is fast and that the cybersecurity is crucial to the country. Facebook Blocking The ban on content thats fraudulent or seen as against the public order was inspired, in part, by Thais who livestream scams on Facebook, says P&P Law Firm founder Paiboon Amonpinyokeat, who serves on a government-appointed review committee. Facebook Live in Thailand is quite popular, Paiboon told Bloomberg BNA by phone from Bangkok. Now there are many bootlegging websites or bad guys [who] use Facebook Live to sell infringing products. Websites that provide some intellectual property infringement can be blocked, Paiboon said. However, the updated law clarifies that Thailands government wont necessarily block entire websites for one infraction, just individual pages, he said. Under the updated law, businesses would be required to publish an official take-down policy on their sites, including a form letting people submit requests for removal. If the digital ministry decides a user has uploaded illegal material, it will dispatch instructions for removing the material to the platform provider. That process offers a safe harbor that can spare companies from penalties, Athistha Chitranukroh, of counsel in law firm Tilleke & Gibbins corporate and commercial group, said. The best way to protect themselves is to really comply with this safe harbor rule, she told Bloomberg BNA by phone from Bangkok. Opponents of the revised law have honed in on the content provision. Broader censorship in this time of tense monarchical transition prevents much-needed discussion of the monarchy, the military, and their changing places in Thai politics, and further endangers citizens freedom of expression, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a U.S. non-profit civil liberties group, wrote in a statement on its website. Spam Opt-out The act clarifies that companies have the right to appeal take-down demands. Another section in the revised law guarantees citizens the right to opt out of mass messaging from companies. The spam provision has been amended to add that sending spam emails without permitting the recipients to unsubscribe is an offense, Athistha said. Therefore, a business must always provide a clear method of unsubscribing from messages. That restriction is expected to impact not just email but social media and messaging applications like Japans LINE, the most popular chat tool among Thais. We respect local regulations in our operating markets, Prinda Udomwong, head of communications for LINE Thailand, told Bloomberg BNA by email. YouTube parent Google declined to comment, and Facebook did not respond to a request for comment. The law would also allow the government to compel internet service providers to retain data for two years, instead of one, in special cases. Source: https://www.bna.com/thailand-broadens-powers-n57982087203/ Neighboring residents and members of the Zoning Board of Appeals listen to Guntlow & Associate's Charlie LaBatt, foreground, on a site visit to 562 Main St. on Thursday afternoon. Williamstown ZBA Denies Hotel Bid for Lehovec Property A rendering of the hotel proposed for the Lehovec property. The ZBA on Thursday denied the special permits for the project. WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. A divided Zoning Board of Appeals on Thursday ruled against four applications for special permits that would have allowed the development of a 77-room, three-story hotel at 562 Main St. The application to develop the so-called Lehovec property on Route 2 next to the former Agway met with fierce opposition from residents in the neighboring Colonial Village development. In a packed Board of Selectmen's Meeting Room, a couple dozen of those residents applauded speakers who rose to the podium to ask the ZBA to reject the plan, and applauded again when the final 4-1 vote denying the permits was finalized. They were admonished in the latter instance by ZBA member David Levine, who voted in the majority to reject the special permit applications. "Mr. Patel is a sincere, honest businessman, and the fact that he didn't get his permit is nothing to applaud at all," Levine said. "What you do in your private home is your business. This is a public meeting, and I don't think it's appropriate." Keith Davis, the lone vote in favor of granting the special permits, said it was inappropriate for the ZBA to cave to public pressure and ignore the fact that the applicant had met the development standards set forth in the zoning bylaw for a special permit. "I don't see how we can tell developers that we have a zoning bylaw and we have development standards and they do everything they can to comply with them and then we turn down their application," Davis said. Both Levine and Ryan Neathawk said they felt that the application was well prepared. Levine, however, said he was voting no based on the "intensity of the use the 24-hour use" associated with a hotel, implying that the impact on the neighborhood was chief on his mind. At Thursday's meeting, Robert Kavanaugh of Colonial Avenue read verbatim a letter co-signed by himself and 45 Colonial Village residents, including a member of the ZBA (Leigh Short, who recused himself from the proceeding) and two former members of the Board of Selectmen, Thomas Sheldon and Jack Madden. "That the petitioner requires four special permits is a strong indication that this project does not belong at this location," the letter reads in part. "Please consider how a decision to grant these permits will impact not just this peaceful neighborhood, but also the whole town." Colonial Village resident Stephen Hannock told the ZBA that while he is a fan of and a customer at "chain hotels" like the one Patel hoped to develop on the property, he was against this proposal. "To have all these other hotels proposed and dropped on top of our neighborhood doesn't make any sense," Hannock said, referring to a special permit granted by the ZBA for a proposed hotel at 430 Main St. "I happen to think we could use more businesses but in the right places. I'm a fan of Radisson hotels. I stay at them when I'm traveling. In Williamstown, Massachusetts, it's not a good move. It's not in sync with the aesthetic energy we've generated that is nationally renown." Attorney Donald Dubendorf, who represented Patel in the application, was nonplussed when it became clear from the board's comments that a majority was coalescing around the idea of rejection. "There's an illogic afoot that troubles me," said Dubendorf, a local attorney with a long history of representing developments in town. "A larger facility, closer by half to Colonial Village, was permitted by this board within the last six months. This one is farther away, has had the capacity to do more to mitigate impacts and asks for less extraordinary relief than the other hotel did. "The potential incongruity unnerves me. I don't think the ZBA is here to deny people the use of land in a manner consistent with the development standards." After the meeting, Dubendorf declined to provide immediate comment about the decision. Many of the neighboring residents' objections to the proposal centered on the idea that it would significantly aggravate an existing traffic problem at the Main Street location, where residents complained of having to wait "several minutes" to make a left-hand turn out of the Colonial Village development. ZBA member Lawrence Wright mentioned the traffic issue specifically when explaining his reservations about voting to allow the proposal. Dubendorf directed the board to the traffic study the applicant commissioned from national engineering firm Fuss & O'Neill, which found that even if both hotel proposals eventually were built, the 562 Main St. project would result in a less than 1.5 percent increase in traffic an impact below the bylaw's development standard. Orchard Lane resident Thomas Gais challenged both the competence and, by implication, the ethics of the engineers from Fuss & O'Neill. "The traffic study indicates it takes, on average, 18 seconds to make a left turn from Colonial Village onto Route 2," Gais said. "I go to Albany every day to go to work. Some days, I don't even bother trying to make a left-hand turn to get gas at Cumberland Farms because it can take minutes to wait. I don't know where the '18 seconds' came from, but it seems completely nonsensical in late afternoon or in the morning. "I know Fuss & O'Neill are paid by the proponents of the hotel. I was wondering whether they ever do come up with an analysis that says there's an enormous impact on the town." Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker stands with MCLA junior Kayla LaVoice at the State House in Boston, where she received the 2017 '29 Who Shine' award. Math Major Wins MCLA's '29 Who Shine' Award MCLA junior Kayla LaVoice stands with with Spencer Moser, director of the Center for Service and Citizenship, in Boston, where she received the '29 Who Shine' award for 2017. NORTH ADAMS, Mass. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts' recipient of the "29 Who Shine" award is junior Kayla LaVoice, a math major from Springfield who is involved with numerous community service activities both on campus and throughout the Northern Berkshires. In addition to two years of service to the Adams Youth Center program as a mentor and a tutor, LaVoice is the creator of the "Pathways to College" program, which sends MCLA students to Drury High School in North Adams to help the younger students with professional development and college access-related activities. At MCLA, LaVoice has served as a Lead Academy participant and mentor, a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Academy mentor, a resident advisor, and treasurer of the Student Government Association (SGA). Haiti - Politics : Freedom of Expression in Haiti and the United States Wednesday, the US Embassy organized a debate on freedom of expression with the participation of Haitian personalities among the best known in the sector. A diverse audience of students, journalists, politicians and human rights figures cheered Roody Edme, Emmelie Prophete and Frantz Duval as well as Political Officer Rishi Desai and Public Affairs Counselor Indran Amirthanayagam in a conversation that emphasized the essential role of free expression in a democracy. Charge d'Affaires, Brian Shukan led off the discussion with a reflection on the U.S. First Amendment, and then the panelists reflected on a panoply of issues related to free speech in Haiti and the United States. These included the growth of new media, challenges imposed by reporting rumors, the need to verify them in the search for accurate reporting, and the proposed law against defamation, currently under consideration in the Haitian Parliament. IH/ iciHaiti (File photo/Xinhua) HANGZHOU, May 18 (Xinhua) -- China, the largest tea producer in the world, produced over 2.4 million tonnes of tea in 2016, 40 percent of all the tea grown in the world, Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu said Thursday. Last year, 2.87 million hectares of land in China was used to grow tea, more than anywhere else in the world, Han said at the opening ceremony of the First China International Tea Expo in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang Province. China is also the world's largest tea market with over 2 millon tonnes consumed in 2016, which is equal to the population of China consuming 1.5 kg of tea each. Figures show over 2 billion people drink tea across the world. The over 60 countries and regions that grow tea produced 6 million tonnes of the leaves last year. The expo, from May 18 to 21, is organized by the ministry and Zhejiang Government. President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter Thursday to be read at the opening ceremony, extending his hope that the expo would give exposure to Chinese tea culture, and that the event would grow into an important platform for exchanges and cooperation between China and the rest of the world. The letter also included a call for the expo to promote both the tea industry and tea culture. (Photo/CGTN) TAIPEI, May 19 (Xinhua) -- At least four were killed and 50 were hospitalized after a nursing home caught fire in Taiwan early Friday, local media reported. About 150 people were at the nursing center when the fire broke out, some 50 have been sent to the hospital, with 24 suffering from smoke inhalation, according to local police. Preliminary investigation showed the fire broke out on the second floor of the Nanmen Nursing Home at about 5 a.m. in Hengchun Township, southern Taiwan's Pingtung County. Firefighters had put off the fire soon after arrival. The Nanmen nursing home was established in 2004, offering health care services to the senior and patients that require home care. Further investigation continues. (Photo/CGTN) China will hold a Belt and Road tourism ministerial meeting in Chengdu, in southwest China's Sichuan Province in September, the National Tourism Administration (NTA) announced on Thursday, days after a major Belt and Road Forum concluded in Beijing. The meeting, jointly held by the NTA and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), will take place during the 22nd UNWTO General Assembly from September 11 to 16. Topics on the agenda will include deepening tourism cooperation among Belt and Road countries, building the Silk Road tourism brand, developing tourist products and simplifying visa policies to facilitate travel. The announcement came after the first Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation concluded in Beijing on Monday, with 29 heads of state in attendance. The Belt and Road Initiative, first proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2013, refers to the "Silk Road Economic Belt" and the "21st Century Maritime Silk Road," with the aim of improving trade and infrastructure connecting Asia with Europe and Africa. Israelis You Should Know: Leah Goldberg The Fellowship | May 19, 2017 Israelis You Should Know: Leah Goldberg Lived: May 29, 1911 January 15, 1970 Known for: An extremely prolific poet, author, playwright, translator, and researcher, Leah Goldbergs writings are classics of Israeli literature. Why you should know her: Leah Goldberg was born into a Jewish family in Kaunas, Lithuania. While Lithuanian, Leah was born in the German city of Konigsberg, as her mother hoped to give birth under better medical care. When WWI began, the Goldberg family escaped to Russia, where they lived under harsh conditions. Leahs father was arrested when they tried to go back home to Lithuania, accused of being a Bolshevik spy. The torture and fake executions her father suffered destroyed him mentally and left him unable to care for the family. Leahs parents spoke several languages. At a young age, she learned Hebrew, and began keeping a diary in the Jewish language at the age of 10. Although she was fluent in many European languages, Leah only wrote her published works as well as her personal writings in Hebrew. At age 15, she wrote a journal entry that highlighted the Hebrew languages importance to her: The unfavorable condition of the Hebrew writer is no secret to meWriting in a different language than Hebrew is the same to me as not writing at all. And yet I want to be a writer After receiving a PhD from universities in Berlin and Bonn (studying both Semitic languages and German), Leahs plans to make aliyah (immigrate to Israel) were widely reported. She at last arrived there in 1935, settling in Tel Aviv and joining a renowned group of Zionist writers. Teaching high school and writing advertisements tided Goldberg over until she was hired as an editor by the Hebrew daily papers Davar and Al HaMishmar. She also edited childrens books and wrote theater and literary reviews. At last, Goldberg put her education to work in 1954, when she became a literature lecturer at Hebrew University, becoming a full professor in 1963, when she was also appointed head of the Department of Comparative Literature. Her writings included Hebrew poetry, drama, and childrens literature, which include such books as A Flat for Rent and Miracles and Wonders, both Hebrew childrens classics. Leah Goldberg passed away after battling cancer, but was honored during her lifetime and posthumously, earning the Ruppin Prize in 1949, the Israel Prize for literature in 1970, and in 2011 being named one of four Israeli poets who would appear on Israels currency. In her beloved poem, From Songs of Two Autumns, Goldberg writes of the finite lives we live, as opposed to the infinite nature of God and His Holy Land: In the hills the stone has been chiseled. The grass is soft as a flock of sheep. Dont look upon my vanishing, For the pine is an eternal candle. Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} World famous chef Anthony Bourdain has said he will not sit down to dinner with Donald Trump because the US President "only talks about himself and hes only interested in himself". Mr Bourdain, who ate with Barack Obama in Vietnam this year, told the New York Daily News he was unlikely to do with same with the current US leader. "I cant see the point, he only talks about himself and hes only interested in himself," he said "I can't see that as being scintillating dinner conversation. Plus he eats his steak well done. I think that really settles it." Recommended Saudi Arabia prepares to serve Donald Trump steak and ketchup It was revealed this week that Saudi Arabian officials were planning to serve Mr Trump steak and ketchup alongside their own traditional cuisine, as the President embarked on his first foreign tour. The meal is known to be Mr Trump's favourite dish. The menu will also feature lamb and hefty portions of rice. All the meat will have been butchered in a Sharia-compliant halal manner as per Islamic custom. (File photo) Boarding schools in Beijing will be banned from selling soda drinks in cafeterias and stores inside campuses this year, part of an effort to encourage students to eat healthy food, the city's health authority said. The Beijing Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning said on Wednesday that it will launch a campaign to establish "health cafeterias" in all schools to improve students' nutritional balance. "Problems such as obesity have haunted parents and children, and the solution starts with controlling what they eat," said Du Hong, deputy head of disease control at the commission. Pilot healthy cafeterias have been established in 59 schools. The program will be rolled out to all schools within this year. Under a city regulation, boarding schools must "strictly control food high in fat, salt and sugar, including burgers and instant noodles, and must ban unhealthy beverages such as soda". Schools should offer food safety and nutrition education classes each semester, as well as provide students' health information to parents on a regular basis, the regulation said. Each school cafeteria should have one full-time or part-time nutritionist to make suggestions for the menu. And a weekly menu should be posted in notable places, along with nutritional information. Also under the regulation, alternative menus will be recommended to students with various health conditions. According to a survey of all Beijing schools by the city health commission, students eat too much meat and salt, and lack sufficient healthy food, including vegetables, fruit and milk. About 20 percent of students in primary, middle and high schools in Beijing are overweight. Among the obese children, about 30 percent have high blood sugar and fat. This year, the city's health department will revise health guidance for students, and will conduct another nutrition and health survey of students in Beijing's seven districts. The survey is expected to find out the main reasons for nutritional imbalance among students by assessing their knowledge, attitudes and assumptions about food, as well as noting their nutritional intake and other factors. A strategy is expected to be devised based on the survey's findings. Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} So, according to the powerful in Hollywood, there's only allowed to be one female villain. Just one. Certainly, the production on Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar's Revenge has been overshadowed by the rumours and allegations surrounding Johnny Depp's personal life and professional behaviour, but there was a strange hiccup that occurred long before the film even went into production. Screenwriter Terry Rossio, who's been involved in every Pirates film so far, revealed that an early version of the script was rejected by Depp for a baffling reason. Posted on his personal blog, Rossio writes at length about the various hurdles and potential deaths a script can face during development. "My television series Magical Law lapsed when Gore Verbinski decided to direct The Lone Ranger instead," he writes. "Our theatrical feature Lightspeed was put on the back burner when Disney acquired the Star Wars franchise." Then he adds, "My version of Dead Men Tell No Tales [the US title for Pirates 5] was set aside because it featured a female villain, and Johnny Depp was worried that would be redundant to Dark Shadows, which also featured a female villain." Now, perhaps there are some details excluded here that actually meant the two villains were very similar on paper, but as it stands now, it's a laughable excuse. Pirates of the Caribbean- Dead Men Tell No Tales - Trailer Not only does Tim Burton's Goth romp Dark Shadows share very little in common wth the Pirates films, but it's also bizarre to suggest there can only be one female villain in the cinematic landscape at one time. The Pirates of the Caribbean films, if anything, have suffered from the lack of variance in their villains (always a male captain with a supernatural edge), and could actually have hugely benefited from mixing things up a little. Once again, it's beyond infuriating to see Hollywood decision-makers consistently perceive women on film as some sort of singular gimmick when they're making up half of the audience sitting watching. Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar's Revenge opens in UK cinemas 26 May. Sign up to Roisin OConnors free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Roisin OConnors email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Its an argument that has raged for years and will continue to do so. What was the greatest year in popular music? Leaving aside the sobering fact that the UK music scene in 1967 was as much about middle of the road kingpins like Vince Hill, Des OConnor and Engelbert Humperdinck as The Beatles, The Stones and the myriad other acts who found their muse in the drug fuelled, rainbow coloured musical landscape, and without for one minute buying into the myth of the Summer of Love hippie ethos I would opt for 1967, the year that witnessed a smorgasbord of classic pop, psychedelia, flower power and genre expanding rock. Because as a wise man once said, Its whats in the grooves that counts. The Stones kicked off 1967 in controversy with Lets Spend the Night Together (Getty) (Keystone/Getty Images) January: Lets Spend the Night Together The Rolling Stones. Thumbing their noses at the burgeoning trend of psychedelia and the mores of the British establishment, the Stones burst out of the traps and kick-started the year with yet another great down and dirty rock n roll single whose salacious title guaranteed controversy. A tumultuous year for the Stones would encompass drug busts, quashed jail sentences and censorship when Mick Jagger was forced to change the lyrics to Lets spend some time together when performing the song in the States on the influential Ed Sullivan Show. But in the eyes of some, their most infamous transgression was their refusal to join the revolving stage at the end of their appearance on Sunday Night at the London Palladium, considered a heinous crime in 1967. February saw the release of Strawberry Fields Forever, John Lennons ode to his childhood haven (Bettmann) February: Strawberry Fields Forever The Beatles. Liverpools Strawberry Field childrens home and its grounds held special memories for John Lennon and inspired one of his greatest achievements, an effects-laden paean to his childhood haven drenched in hallucinogenic overdubs and owing much to the genius of George Martin. Originally cited for inclusion on Sgt Pepper but instead released as a double A-side single along with Paul McCartneys equally brilliant and nostalgic Penny Lane, Strawberry Fields Forever was pop music presented as art, a quantum leap in the groups development, and a record that set the standard and style for the year to come. Aretha Franklin demanded Respect in March (Rex) March: Respect Aretha Franklin. Its easy to forget that the 1967 witnessed widespread civil unrest and race riots in the USA and it was against that backdrop that Aretha at last fulfilled her immense potential with her epochal I Never Loved a Man the Way I Loved You album, containing a cover of Otis Reddings Respect, which the Queen of Soul transformed into a feminist and civil rights call to arms, as relevant now as fifty years ago. Arethas exhilarating vocal and give me my propers attitude swept Respect into the UK top ten and to the top of the Billboard hot 100. Quite simply, one of the greatest records ever made. Jimi Hendrixs Purple Haze with its stunning opening riff and innovative sound effects was like nothing that had come before (Rex) April: Purple Haze The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Debut single Hey Joe hinted at his greatness as Jimi Hendrix and his unique talent arrived fully formed in the UK at the tail end of 1966, but with the follow-up single and attendant album Are You Experienced Hendrix kissed the sky and lit up the scene like a psychedelic visionary bound for the stratosphere. The ear-shredding sonic majesty of Purple Haze with its stunning opening riff, Fender Stratocaster pyrotechnics and innovative sound effects was like nothing that had come before and just imagine the impact of Purple Haze as it incongruously took its place in a UK singles chart that listed Engelbert Humperdinck, Harry Secombe and Vince Hill as the top three, ultimately reaching number three itself. Waterloo Sunset is one of the The Kinks most-loved songs (Rex) May: Waterloo Sunset The Kinks. A love letter to an almost mythical time and place from the foremost observer of all things English and one of Ray Daviess most personal songs, Waterloo Sunset is almost unbearably poignant and evocative. Based on Rays childhood and teenage memories and the dreams and aspirations of his older sister and her generation, Waterloo Sunset may just be the most loved and greatest song in The Kinks canon, helped immeasurably by Dave Daviess wonderful cascading guitar intro. Procol Harums debut single, A Whiter Shade of Pale, spent six weeks at number one in the UK charts (Rex) June: A Whiter Shade of Pale Procol Harum. Inscrutable lyrics that invited their own interpretation, Gary Brookers soulful vocal and the famed baroque Hammond organ refrain based on Bachs Air on the G String, but also influenced by recent Dylan recordings, all combined to produce for many, the defining sound of the era. Its the song that sound tracked the summer of 67, a global smash that spent six weeks at number one in the UK, the bands debut single, one that they found impossible to replicate and for good or bad helped give birth to the much-maligned prog rock. The Beatles All You Need Is Love struck a chord with the masses (Getty) (Getty Images) July: All You Need is Love The Beatles. After the LSD-fuelled glories of Sgt Pepper, The Beatles could do no wrong. When they were selected to represent Britain on a live satellite television broadcast that was beamed around the world, John Lennon was savvy enough to hark back to simpler times, quickly composing a song for the performance with Love in the title and containing a message in tune with the times. Theres even a repeated She Loves You Yeah Yeah Yeah improvised refrain. All You Need Is Love would struggle to make a top fifty Beatles songs list but its simplistic message struck a chord with the masses. Three weeks at number one followed and the Summer of Love went into orbit. Scott McKenzies San Francisco became the ultimate hippie anthem and reached number one nearly everywhere (Rex) August: San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair) Scott McKenzie. The ultimate hippie anthem and a record that more than any other contributed to the aura of the Summer of Love. Of course its impossibly dated and the cloying sentimentality of its message doesnt half grate but there was something in The Mamas & the Papas John Phillips dopey (in all senses of the word) clarion call that resonated with 1967s pop-pickers. The irony was that it reached number one nearly everywhere apart from the US, including four weeks in the UK, lapped up by people who probably got no further to San Francisco than watching Ironside on a Saturday night. Flowers in the Rain by The Move was the first pop record played on Radio 1 (Getty) (Harold Clements/Daily Express/Getty Images) September: Flowers in the Rain The Move. Yes, flowers again, but it is 1967 after all. It wasnt the Brummie five pieces best single, that honour belongs to the groups only number one, the wistful Blackberry Way, however Flowers in the Rain will forever be inexorably linked with a time and a place thanks to its status as the first pop record played on Radio 1. It should be noted, nonetheless, that Tony Blackburn began with his shows theme tune, Beefeaters by Johnny Dankworth, but dont let the facts interfere with a good story. Flowers in the Rain, penned by The Moves resident minor genius Roy Wood perfectly captured the essence of Sixties pop/psych in just two and a half minutes, choc-full of woodwinds and horns and thunder and rain sound effects. However, the bands management contrived to score a spectacular own goal with a disastrous publicity campaign with a cartoon portraying Prime Minister Harold Wilson in bed with his secretary. Wilson sued for libel and won, with all royalties from the record donated to charity. Given that Flowers in the Rain reached number two, selling shed loads, the band then fired their manager. Well you would wouldnt you? Bobbie Gentry won three Grammys for Ode to Billie Joe (Rex) October: Ode to Billie Joe Bobbie Gentry. A perfect counterpoint to the kaleidoscope of excess in 1967, Mississippi-born Bobbie Gentrys self-penned, enigmatic lament for Billie Joe McAllister, who jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge after throwing a mysterious package into the water boasted stark production, eerily effective strings, sensuous vocals and an air of mystery that beguiled audiences and critics alike, winning three Grammys for Gentry. Fifty years on were no wiser as to why Billie Joe did what he did and in the context of the song and Gentrys intentions, thats just as it should be. The Monkees proved themselves as songwriters and musicians with hits like Daydream Believer (Getty) (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) November: Daydream Believer The Monkees. If 1967 belonged to The Beatles artistically, then in terms of popularity and commercial success, The Monkees owned it. The top-selling act in the world began the year with a number one single (Im a Believer) and album on both sides of the Atlantic and in the UK alone in 1967 had six top-30 singles and three mega-selling albums. They were also a permanent fixture on our television screens thanks to their Saturday tea-time show. Initially derided by the critics as a manufactured band who werent allowed to play on their own records, The Monkees soon proved themselves as songwriters and musicians. The irresistible Daydream Believer, boasting a great Davy Jones vocal was a perfect example of their timeless sunshine pop and bookended their annus mirabilis. The Beatles A Day in the Life was initially banned from broadcast by the BBC for perceived drug references (Getty) (Mark and Colleen Hayward/Getty Images) December: A Day in the Life The Beatles. Fittingly, the year ended with Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Band at number one in the album charts having spent exactly six months at the top of the tree with only two albums from The Monkees challenging its domination. The closing track and defining song of Pepper, A Day in the Lifes deathless glories were banned by the BBC for perceived but generally accurate drugs allusions. It was the groups most ambitious song yet, an epic stream of consciousness magnum opus with its final note stretching into infinity. With this one song alone, the spirit of adventure and innovation inherent in the music of 1967 was encapsulated. For those of a certain mindset, popular music doesnt get any better than this. And one that didnt... Im Waiting for the Man The Velvet Underground & Nico. Not everyone bought into the whole peace and love vibe of 1967. Over on the East coast of America, taking inspiration from New Yorks uncompromising street life, Lou Reeds collective issued their debut album that was the antithesis of everything that the hippie ideal stood for. Im Waiting For the Man was the absolute distillation of the decadent Velvets sound, a cacophony of drums, guitars and barrelhouse piano and sung with detached nonchalance by Reed about the dark underbelly of scoring heroin on the street. It was totally at odds with the Turn on, Tune in, Drop out mantra of the West coast. Neglected at the time, ironically Im Waiting for the Man may now be the most influential song on this list. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Independent Climate email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} It has been described as a public health emergency responsible for tens of thousands of deaths every year, but dozens of local councils have been failing to report on air pollution as required by law for years. The revelation, based on documents obtained under Freedom of Information rules, casts doubt on local authorities' ability to play their part in the Governments new draft Air Quality Plan its third attempt to meet minimum safety standards after repeatedly being taken to court by campaigners. Ministers had sought to delay publication of the plan until after the general election, with a Government lawyer arguing it would drop a controversial bomb on the campaign. But a judge ordered ministers to comply with a court-ordered deadline and the resultant plan was duly derided as feeble and much weaker than expected. Public concern about air pollution has been growing. A new survey for The Independent found the majority of the public is now in favour of banning the most-polluting vehicles from city centres. Some 51 per cent of respondents agreed with this suggestion, with only 15 per cent against and the remainder not expressing a view, pollsters ORB said. A majority of Conservative voters (53 per cent) were in favour, suggesting Theresa May could be vulnerable to criticism about air quality. Support was highest among Liberal Democrats (64 per cent) with 54 per cent of Labour supporters also backing the idea. It comes amid warnings from the World Health Organisation, MPs and doctors groups that it is causing an estimated 40,000 premature deaths in the UK and millions worldwide, and is exacerbating a host of conditions including heart disease, asthma and possibly even dementia. The Governments latest Air Quality Plan sought to pass the buck to a large degree to councils, saying they were best placed to take the lead. However, the council documents, obtained by the DeSmog UK environmental news website, show that local authorities have already been failing to carry out the current requirements, suggesting they would struggle to cope with further responsibilities without extra funding. Of the 77 councils contacted, 59 had not made air pollution reports, which must be produced under the 1995 Environment Act, available to the public. After the website got in touch with the councils, 34 authorities were found to have gaps in their reporting between 2011 and 2016, although some said they were still in the process of producing reports covering last year. If this is a representative sample, it would mean 44 per cent of councils in the country are failing to properly monitor and assess the extent of air pollution. Mat Hope, deputy editor of DeSmog UK, said: I think it shows local councils need resources to be able to deal with this problem properly. I think the councils themselves are doing what they can, but with the current budget constraints its clear they are likely to struggle with the extra obligations under the new Air Quality Plan. The Government needs to think very hard about the resources they are putting behind this. The draft plan proposes creating 27 clean air zones in places with the highest levels of pollution with Birmingham expected to have one of the largest. However, the citys council did not produce an air quality report in 2013, 2014 or 2015. A spokesperson for Birmingham City Council said an annual status report had been published in 2016, covering the previous year, but we didnt send any for the previous three years and this was due to resources. The relevant staffing levels fell from 3.1 full-time equivalent posts in 2011 to just 1.6 in 2016. The spokesperson added: We are currently working on a feasibility study to determine the size and scope of this clean air zone with a view to consulting on our proposals in the autumn, subject to any further announcements from the Government. The ORB poll found support for a ban on the most-polluting vehicles was highest in the West Midlands (60 per cent), followed by London (58) and the South-east (55). The worst countries in the world for air pollution deaths Show all 10 1 /10 The worst countries in the world for air pollution deaths The worst countries in the world for air pollution deaths Ukraine The worst countries in the world for air pollution deaths Bulgaria Rex Features The worst countries in the world for air pollution deaths Belarus The worst countries in the world for air pollution deaths Russia The worst countries in the world for air pollution deaths Armenia The worst countries in the world for air pollution deaths Bosnia and Herzegovina REUTERS The worst countries in the world for air pollution deaths Georgia The worst countries in the world for air pollution deaths Hungary DigitalGlobe The worst countries in the world for air pollution deaths China The worst countries in the world for air pollution deaths Moldova Kettering Borough Council did not produce reports in 2011, 2012 and 2015. It told DeSmog UK that this was due to a lack of specialist staff both internally and also in the wider recruitment field. To counter this, we are now in the process of growing our own specialist capacity in house, the council added. High Peak, which covers the west side of the Peak District national park, failed to produce reports in 2015 and 2016 due to resourcing issues, the documents obtained under freedom of information law showed. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs referred a request for comment to its online guidance about annual status reports on air quality, which says every local authority shall review the air quality within its area. The draft Air Quality Plan says: Road transport is still by far the largest contributor to NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) pollution in the local areas where the UK is exceeding limit values. Addressing road transport emissions therefore presents the most significant opportunity to tackle this specific exceedance problem. However, road transport is a key part of almost everything that we do as individuals or businesses with social and economic impacts which are much wider than air quality. This means setting new policies and incentives to promote new technology and innovation, speeding up the move to cleaner vehicles and supporting the industrial strategy to deliver cleaner air for UK towns and cities. And it adds: Local authorities know their areas best and are best placed to take the lead in rectifying the problem. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Increasingly, research is being published which suggests exercising wont help us lose as much weight as most people think. And to reinforce this point, a nutritionist has now spoken out to say that exercising too much can actually stop your body burning fat. Its understandable that if you want to lose weight, youre going to hit the gym, go to dance classes or pound the pavement, but according to Jessica Sepel, working out too often could be hindering your weight loss efforts. The Australian nutritionist and best-selling author has explained all in a new post on her blog. Recommended How one overweight young woman lost 100 pounds in 18 months From clinical and personal experience, I can tell you that over-exercising can do more harm to your weight than good, she says. I see clients all the time who exercise everyday (sometimes twice) and still cant lose the weight. When you work out too much, your cortisol levels spike (remember, your body doesnt know the difference between exercise stress and normal stress). Then, when you stress out about working out, your cortisol levels go CRAZY. And high cortisol means your body cant burn off fat its too busy trying to balance out your parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems. Sepel found that by cutting down the high intensity exercise (such as spinning, running and boot-camp) she was doing, she regained energy and felt refreshed in the mornings rather than tired. Instead of such intense workouts, she recommends people do restorative exercise like walking, pilates or yoga. And this has led to great results for Sepels clients: They would come back into my office and their clothes were looser, their energy levels were higher, and they were sleeping much better, she says. If youre exercising a lot in a bid to lose weight and not seeing the number go down on the scale - of course, you could be gaining muscle and youll need to be eating healthily too - but Sepel recommends cutting down your workouts a bit: Overdoing the exercise may be making it harder for you to lose weight, she says. If you havent shifted your weight by now with high intensity exercise, try cutting it back like I did and see if that makes a difference. A rested body is a healthy body and it is incredibly important to commit to resting daily. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} How will Britains shiny suited crooks feel about Theresa May folding the Serious Fraud Office into the National Crime Agency? Quite good, in the view of a lot of lawyers. Britains top fraud busting agency has a chequered history. It sometimes faced accusations of being too soft. On other occasions it went in all guns blazing and got egg all over its face, notably with its handling of a case it tried to bring against property tycoon Vincent Tchenguiz. It was thrown out and he won millions of pounds in damages and a public apology. Lets not forget the sensitive documents lost in a case against defence giant BAE Systems that were found at a cannabis farm. Its true that King Libor Tom Hayes resides in prison after a successful prosecution, but the trials of those accused of helping him didnt go so well. And yet the agency has recently shown signs of gaining some traction. It won a thumping settlement from Tesco, over the latters accounting scandal, and led an international probe into corruption at Rolls Royce that led to the company coughing up 671m in penalties (about the level of its 2016 profits). Getting any sort of conviction out of the Libor case could be cited as some sort of victory given how complex and arcane some of the material juries had to consider was. It is notable that the SFO passed on one of the biggest recent cases - the HBOS bank fraud that left a trail of devastation among small businesses in the Reading area - leaving it to Thames Valley Police to successfully run the investigation. It was important that it did so, because it is only now that the victims may be compensated by HBOSs owner Lloyds. Will we see more cases at risk of getting passed over if the SFO is disbanded? It has to be a risk. Thames Valley's police and crime commissioner Anthony Stansfeld wondered whether he could justify launching another such investigation, given the cost, and the manpower it diverted from the many other issues his force has to deal with. Serious white collar crime is difficult and expensive to investigate, let alone prosecute. Defendants typically have the means to call upon the best lawyers money can buy to befuddle juries during cases that can last months. That is why it is a job for specialists, which is one of the reasons why the SFO was set up, bringing together specialist investigators and prosecutors. The risk with folding it into another agency is that the difficult job of investigating white collar crime will take a back seat as bosses concentrate on lower hanging fruit. Why run the risk of the sort of embarrassments that the SFO sometimes suffered? Jonathan Pickworth, white collar crime partner at global law firm White & Case, had this to say on the subject: What is the sense in rolling a 30 year old organisation, with all of its revenue generation, prosecutorial success and extensive experience, into an unproven sprawling agency that is in its infancy, and which has many different priorities? Quite. Business news: In pictures Show all 13 1 /13 Business news: In pictures Business news: In pictures Flybe collapses Airline Flybe has collapsed. All future flights on the Exeter-based airline have been cancelled leaving more than 2,300 staff facing an uncertain future, and wrecking the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of passengers. The chief executive, Mark Anderson, said: Europes largest independent regional airline has been unable to overcome significant funding challenges to its business. AFP via Getty Business news: In pictures Future product placement will be 'tailored to individual viewers' Marketing executives say that product placement in films and televison shows on streaming services such as Netflix may be tailored to individuals in future. For instance, if data shows that a viewer is a fan of pepsi, a billboard in the background of a shot would host an advert for pepsi, while for a viewer known to have different tastes it could be for Coca-Cola Paramount Business news: In pictures Corbyn wishes Amazon a happy birthday In a card sent to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos on the company's 25th birthday, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn writes: "You owe the British people millions in taxes that pay for the public services that we all rely on. Please pay your fair share" Business news: In pictures No deal, no tariffs The government has announced that it would slash almost all tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Notable exceptions include cars and meat, which will see tariffs in place to protect British farmers Getty Business news: In pictures Fingerprint payment NatWest is trialling a new bank card that will allow people to touch their hand to the card when paying rather than typing in a PIN number. The card will work by recognising the user's fingerprint NatWest/PA Wire Business news: In pictures Mahabis bust High-end slipper retailer Mahabis has gone into administration. 2 Jan 2019 Mahabis Business news: In pictures Costa Cola Coca-Cola has paid 3.9bn for Costa Coffee. A cafe chain is a new venture for the global soft drinks giant PA Business news: In pictures RIP Payday Loans A funeral procession for payday loans was held in London on September 2. The future of pay day lenders is in doubt after Wonga, Britain's biggest, went into administration on August 30 PA Business news: In pictures Musk irks investors and directors Elon Musk has concluded that Tesla will remain public. Investors and company directors were angry at Musk for tweeting unexpectedly that he was considering taking Tesla private and share prices had taken a tumble in the following weeks Getty Business news: In pictures Jaguar warning Iconic British car maker Jaguar Land Rover warned on July 5, 2018 that a "bad" Brexit deal could jeopardise planned investment of more than $100 billion, upping corporate pressure as the government heads into crucial talks AFP/Getty Business news: In pictures Spotif-IPO Spotify traded publically for the first time on the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday. However, the company isn't issuing shares, but rather, shares held by Spotify's private investors will be sold AFP/Getty Business news: In pictures French blue passports The deadline to award a contract to make blue British passports after Brexit has been extended by two weeks following a request by bidder De La Rue. The move comes after anger at the announcement British passports would be produced by Franco-Dutch firm Gemalto when De La Rues contract ends in July. The British firm said Gemalto was chosen only because it undercut the competition, but the UK company also admitted that it was not the cheapest choice in the tendering process. Business news: In pictures Beast from the east economic impact The Beast from the East wiped 4m off of Flybes revenues due to flight cancellations, airport closures and delays, according to the budget airlines estimates. Flybe said it cancelled 994 flights in the three months to 31 March, compared to 372 in the same period last year. This is Theresa Mays play. She wanted to axe the SFO while at the Home Office, but cabinet colleagues baulked. As PM, assuming she retains that position, she can get her way. A country that works for everyone, not just the rich and the powerful. Thats what Ms May said she wanted. This looks like yet another case where the PMs words will end up being contradicted by her actions. Rich and powerful crooks might very well have cause to celebrate a Conservative victory. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Fast food chain Leon is planning to open its first US outlets after securing a new 25m investment. Leon, which currently operates 45 outlets in the UK and two in the Netherlands, received a cash injection from Swiss private equity firm Spice, which alongside co-founder and chief executive John Vincent and long-term investor Active - will now hold a majority stake in the company. It plans to open its first US restaurants in the second half of 2017. Recommended New project brings healthy fast food to deprived LA neighbourhood Mr Vincent said Leon aims to become the worlds leading natural fast food company. "We are fortunate to have been approached by many potential partners, he said He said that the decision to say yes to Spice was down to his high regard for the GP Investments, which manages Spice. I am also delighted that Active, our existing investor who has been so helpful to our growth, is participating in this fundraising too, he added. Food and drink news Show all 35 1 /35 Food and drink news Food and drink news Healthy living makes us more inclined to binge, research suggests Gluten-free breads, dairy-free milks and other plant-based products have been some of the most favoured foods in British supermarkets this year. However, while were busy filling our shopping trolleys with gluten-free goodness, were also jamming it with junk food and alcohol, new research suggests Getty/iStock Food and drink news Growing list of Vegan celebs Making the switch to veganism is a major lifestyle choice, one that many claim can improve energy levels, lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and clear up any skin issues. Beyonce, Natalie Portman and Jessica Chastain are among the growing list of Hollywood stars who have eschewed animal products from their diets in recent years. Theres also been an increasing number of professional athletes who have gone vegan, such as boxing champions Mike Tyson and David Haye, thus debunking the myth that following a plant-based diet will leave you feeling weak and malnourished. AFP/Getty/NARAS/iHeartMedia Food and drink news McDonald's has announced the launch of a new vegan burger on its menu in Germany This will mark the first time the German franchise of the fast food chain has offered a vegan burger to its customers. The Big Vegan TS burger consists of a patty made from soy and wheat. It is served in a classic sesame seed bun, and contains salad, tomato, pickles and red onion. McDonald's Germany Food and drink news Drinking too many protein shakes could lead to an increased risk of obesity and a reduced lifespan, a new study has claimed Researchers from the University of Sydney's Charles Perkins Centre carried out an investigation to determine the impact excessive consumption of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) has on the body. BCAA supplements are often consumed in the form of powder, which is then added to water to make a shake. Published in journal Nature Metabolism, the study found that while BCAAs help to build muscle, they can also negatively impact an individual's temperament, cause weight gain and lead to a shortened lifespan Getty Images/iStockphoto Food and drink news Britain consumes more chocolate than any other country Most people love chocolate but it turns out no one does more than the Brits with the average Brit found to have consumed 8.4 kg of chocolate in 2017, according to new data. Chocolate consumption around the world is on the rise, according to Mintel Global New Products Database (GNPD), which found that in the past year alone, Easter chocolate production has risen by 23 per cent Food and drink news 'Easter eggs should be banned for children under four' Dr Becky Spelman, chief psychologist at Harley Streets Private Therapy Clinic, is calling for Easter eggs to be banned for consumption for children under the age of four, claiming that giving them the opportunity to binge on chocolate so young will give them an unhealthy relationship with food later on. "This is a nightmare situation for parents of this generation as they have no idea how to teach their children to delay their response to cravings, she said, explaining that too many young kids binge on these chocolates because their parents dont know how to stop them. "Once a child starts overeating behaviour at a young age its very hard to turn things around for them in terms of food and their eating habits moving forward, leading to obesity from at very young age," she added PA Food and drink news Pineapple overtakes avocado as the UK's fastest-selling fruit According to Tesco, pineapple has overtaken avocado as the UKs fastest-selling fruit, with sales increasing by 15 per cent in 2017. In comparison, avocado sales rose by just under 10 per cent last year. The popular supermarket says the surge in popularity comes as shoppers buying the versatile fruit are beginning to use it as a main ingredient in everything from curries and barbecues, to juices and cocktails Getty Food and drink news Marks & Spencers launches stoneless avocados Rather than the result of genetic modification, the avocados are formed by an unpollinated avocado blossom. The fruit develops without a seed which in turns stops the growth, creating a small, seedless fruit. Whats more, the skin is actually edible, unlike a regular avocado. The flesh is much like that of a normal avocado - smooth and creamy, pale in colour and rich in flavour M&S Food and drink news Office teabags contain 17 times more germs than a toilet seat, reveals study The average bacterial reading of an office teabag was 3,785, in comparison to only 220 for a toilet seat. Other pieces of kitchen equipment also stacked up highly in their findings, with the bacterial readings averaging at 2,483 on kettle handles, 1,746 on the rim of a used mug and 1,592 on a fridge door handle Getty Images/iStockphoto Food and drink news New study shows drinking more coffee leads to a longer life There is good news and a final hope for coffee addicts and lovers. You will now be able to drink coffee for longer as new study shows its can lead to a prolonged life. Scientists showed that those who drank between two and four cups of coffee a day had 18% lower risk of death compared to non-coffee drinkers. PA Food and drink news Coke Zero is replaced with Coke Zero Sugar Coca-Cola is pulling the plug on its Coke Zero. The much loved drink will be replaced with a new improved taste. The move, backed with a 10 million campaign, is said to come from Coca-Cola supporting people to reduce their sugar intake. Coca-Cola want people make this move while not sacrificing sugary taste of Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola Food and drink news Starbucks introduce new avocado spread The avocado craze has grown from hipster brunch restaurants to Starbucks. Starbucks have introduced their new avocado spread earlier this year and it has the internet in debate. Some argue that it not a spread but guacamole while others question if there is any avocado in there at all. When buying the new spread you can also buy an optional toasted bagel. It is a must try for all avocado connoisseurs. Starbucks Food and drink news New Mars chocolate bar The iconic British chocolate bar is about to get its partner in crime. The new bar, named Goodness Knows, will replace the gooey caramel goodness of the mars bar with oats. It is said to be more like a Florentine biscuit with a thin dark chocolate bottom. While being moderately healthy Mars says that is has good intentions. One pack has 154 calories and will sell for about 90p. Mars Food and drink news Wine prices could increase because of Brexit Wine lovers across the UK might soon have to shell out close to a quarter more for their favourite tipple after Brexit, as a weaker pound and sluggish economy takes its toll, a new study shows Rex Food and drink news Chocolate may be good for the heart A new study, published in the British Medical Journal: Heart, found that moderate chocolate intake can be positively associated with lessening the risk of the heart arrhythmia condition Atrial Fibrillation Getty Images/iStockphoto Food and drink news Brits throw away 1.4 million bananas each year British families are throwing away 1.4 million bananas that are perfectly good to eat every day at cost of 80m a year, new figures have shown PA/Armin Weigel Food and drink news Rosemary sales spike over exam time There has been a surge a surge in sales of the herb rosemary after a recent study found it helps improve memory. According to high street health food chain Holland & Barrett, sales of the herb have increased by 187 per cent compared to the same time last year Getty Images/iStockphoto Food and drink news Gluten-free diets 'not recommended' for people without coeliac disease Avoiding wheat, barley and rye in the belief that a gluten-free diet brings health benefits may do more harm than good, according to a team of US nutrition and medicine experts Getty Images/iStockphoto Food and drink news Starbucks launches two new coffee-based drinks Starbucks is launching two new coffee-based drinks in the UK, as it strives to tap into consumers growing appetite for healthy beverages. The Cold Brew Vanilla sweet cream and the Cappuccino Freddo, will both be available in stores throughout the UK from the start of May Twitter/@SbuxCountyHall Food and drink news Cadburys Dairy Milk Tiffin is making a permanent comeback after 80 years The Cadbury Dairy Milk Tiffin, first produced in 1937, is making a permanent comeback to the UK. The raisin and biscuit-filled chocolate bar is being launched after a successful trial last summer saw 3 million chocolate treats at the cost of 1.49 for each 95g bar- purchased by nostalgic customers Cadburys Food and drink news Pizza restaurant makes worlds cheesiest 'Scottie's Pizza Parlor' in Portland Oregon has created the worlds cheesiest pizza using a total of 101 different cheese varieties. Facebook/Scottie's Pizza Parlor Food and drink news A pizza joint in Portland Oregon has created the worlds cheesiest pizza using a total of 101 different cheese varieties. Why not eating before a workout could be better for your health A study published in the American Journal of Physiology by researchers at the University of Bath found you might be likely to burn more fat if you have not eaten first Getty Images/iStockphoto Food and drink news New York restaurant named best in the world A New York restaurant where an average meal for two will cost $700 has been named the best in the world. Eleven Madison Park won the accolade for the first time after debuting on the list at number 50 in 2010. The restaurant was praised for a fun sense of fine-dining, blurring the line between the kitchen and the dining room Getty Images Food and drink news Why you crave bad food when youre tired Researchers at Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University in Chicago recently presented their results of a study looking into the effects of sleep deprivation upon high-calorific food consumption. Researchers found that those who were sleep-deprived had specifically enhanced brain activity to the food smells compared to when they had a good nights sleep Shutterstock Food and drink news Drinking wine engages more of your brain than solving maths problems Drinking wine is the ideal workout for your brain, engaging more parts of our grey matter than any other human behaviour, according to a leading neuroscientist. Dr Gordon Shepherd, from the Yale School of Medicine, said sniffing and analysing a wine before drinking it requires exquisite control of one of the biggest muscles in the body Getty Images/iStockphoto Food and drink news British dessert eating surges after people ditch healthy eating in February : In heartening news for anyone feeling guilty about quitting their New Year diet, it seems lots of us have given in to our sweet tooths once again. New data from nationwide food-delivery service Deliveroo reveals there was a surge in Brits ordering desserts in February compared to the first month of 2017 Getty Images/iStockphoto Food and drink news US congress debates definition of milk alternatives A new bill has been created that seeks to ban dairy alternatives from using the term milk. Titled the DAIRY PRIDE Act, the name is a tenuous acronym for defending against imitations and replacements of yogurt, milk, and cheese to promote regular intake of dairy every day. It argues that the dairy industry is struggling as a result of all the dairy-free alternatives on the market and the public are being duped too Getty Images Food and drink news Cadburys launches two new chocolate bars UK confectionary giant Cadbury has launched two new chocolate bars, hoping to lure those with a sweet tooth and perhaps help combat some of the challenges it faces from rising commodity prices and a post-Brexit slump in the value of the pound.The companys new products will be peanut butter and mint flavoured. They will be available in most major super markets as 120g bars, priced at 1.49, according to the company Cadburys Food and drink news You can now get a job as a professional chocolate eater The company responsible for some of your favourite chocolate brands think Cadbury, Milks, Prince and Oreo have officially announced an opening to join their team as a professional chocolate taster. The successful candidate will help them to test, perfect and launch new products all over the world. Getty Images/iStockphoto Food and drink news MSG additive used in Chinese food is actually good for you, scientist claims For years, weve been told MSG (the sodium salt of glutamic acid) - often associated with cheap Chinese takeaways - is awful for our health and to be avoided at all costs. But one scientist argues it should be used as a supersalt and encourages adding it to food. Getty Images/iStockphoto Food and drink news Lettuce prices are rising Not only are lettuces becoming an increasingly rare commodity in supermarkets, but prices for the leafy vegetables seem to be rising too. According to the weekly report from the Governments Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, a pair of Little Gem lettuces had an average market price of 0.86 in the week that ended on Friday, up from an average of 0.56 in the previous week thats an almost 54 per cent increase. Getty Images Food and drink news Do-It-Yourself restaurant To encourage more people to cook and eat together, IKEA has launched The Dining Club in Shoreditch a fully immersive Do-It-Yourself restaurant . Members of the public can book to host a brunch, lunch or dinner party for up to 20 friends and family. Supported by their very own sous chef and maitre de, the host and their guests will orchestrate an intimate dining experience where cooking together is celebrated and eating together is inspirational Mikael Buck / IKEA Food and drink news Ping Pong menu with a twist Gatwick Airport has teamed up with London dim sum restaurant Ping Pong to create a limited edition menu with a distinctly British twist; including a Full English Bao and Beef Wellington Puff, to celebrate the launch of the airports new route to Hong Kong Food and drink news Zizzi unveil the Maamgharita Unique pizza art has been created by Zizzi in celebration of the Queens 90th birthday. The pizza features the queen in an iconic pose illustrated with fresh and tasty Italian ingredients on a backdrop of the Union Jack Food and drink news Blue potatoes make a comeback Blue potatoes, once a staple part of British potato crops, are back on the menu thanks to a Cambridge scientist turned-organic farmer and Farmdrop, an online marketplace that lets people buy direct from local farms. Cambridge PhD graduate-turned farmer, Adrian Izzard has used traditional growing techniques at Wild Country Organics to produce the colourful spuds, packed with healthy cell-protecting anthocyanin, which had previously disappeared from UK plates when post-war farmers were pushed towards higher-yielding varieties Fersen Lambranho, member of the board of directors of Spice and Chairman of GP Investments described Leon as disruptive fast-food model that was born in the UK but has immense potential to become global. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Uber has threatened to fire an engineer accused by Google's self-driving Waymo unit of stealing confidential documents in a high profile trade secrets case between the two companies, according to a court filing. Waymo sued ride services company Uber alleging that former Waymo executive Anthony Levandowski downloaded over 14,000 confidential documents before leaving Waymo to subsequently join Uber. The case, which pits two companies battling to dominate the fast-growing field of self-driving cars, hinges on Waymo allegations that the information Mr Levandowski took made its way into Uber's Lidar system, a key sensor technology in self-driving cars. US District Judge William Alsup in San Francisco last week issued an injunction ordering Uber to keep Mr Levandowski away from work involving the self-driving car technology at issue in the case, to prevent him and all other employees from using the materials and to return them to Waymo by May 31. Uber has told Mr Levandowski that he must comply with the order to return Waymo documents or face possible termination, Mr Levandowski's lawyers said in a court filing on Thursday. The lawyers asked the judge to modify his order so that Uber is not required to fire Mr Levandowski if the engineer asserts his constitutional rights against self-incrimination and refuses to produce documents. Uber representatives could not immediately be reached for comment on Mr Levandowski's filing, and a Waymo spokesman declined to comment. Earlier on Thursday Uber said it would appeal a judge's order rejecting its attempt to arbitrate Waymo's trade secret claims, according to a court filing. Alsup last week ruled that Waymo's lawsuit should not be heard in a private forum, and instead should continue to be litigated in San Francisco federal court. Biggest business scandals in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Biggest business scandals in pictures Biggest business scandals in pictures Volkswagen emissions scandal VW admitted to rigging its US emission tests so that diesel-powered cars would looks like they were emitting less nitrous oxide, which can damage the ozone layer and contribute to respiratory diseases. Around 11 million cars worldwide were affected. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Martin Shkreli and Turing Pharmaceuticals Martin Shkreli became known as the most hated man in the world after his drug company, Turing, increased the price of a 62-year-old drug that treated HIV patients by 5,000% to $750 a pill. He was charged with illegally taking stock from Retrophin, a biotechnology firm he started in 2011, and using it pay off debts from unrelated business dealings. Shkreli, who maintains he is innocent, and says there is little evidence of fraud because his investors didn't lose money. Biggest business scandals in pictures Panama Papers: Millions of leaked documents expose how worlds rich and powerful hid money - April 2016 Millions of confidential documents have been leaked from one of the worlds most secretive law firms, exposing how the rich and powerful have hidden their money. Dictators and other heads of state have been accused of laundering money, avoiding sanctions and evading tax, according to the unprecedented cache of papers that show the inner workings of the law firm Mossack Fonseca, which is based in Panama. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Google's tax avoidance Google reached a deal with the HM Revenue and Customs to pay back 130 million in so-called back-taxes that have been due since 2005. George Osborne championed the deal as a major success. But European MEPs have since called for the Chancellor to appear in front of the committee on tax rulings to explain the tax deal. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Rogue trader A French court cut the damages owed by rogue trader Jerome Kerviel from 4.9bn (4.2bn) to just 1m (860,000). The court ruled on that Kerviel was partly responsible for massive losses suffered in 2008 by his former employer Societe Generale through his reckless trades. Kerviel has consistently maintained that bosses at the French bank knew what he was doing all along. AP Biggest business scandals in pictures Barclays CEO under investigation for trying to identify whistleblower - Monday Paril 10 Authorities have launched an investigation into Barclays chief executive officer Jes Staley for trying to identify a whistleblower, the bank said on Monday. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) are both investigating Mr Staley after the bank notified them that Mr Staley had tried to identify the author of two anonymous letters, which were sent to the board and a senior executive in June 2016. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures UK to crack down on bank money laundering after reports of 65bn Russian scam, City minister says - March 2017 The Economic Secretary to the Treasury has vowed that the Government will crack down on money laundering practices, after several of the UK's biggest banks were accused of processing money from a Russian scam, believed to involve up to $80bn (65bn). Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Former HBOS bankers convicted of bribery and fraud over 245m loan scam - February 2017 Two former HBOS bankers were among six people found guilty of bribery and fraud that cost customers and shareholders hundreds of millions of pounds, the BBC reports. Lynden Scourfield, 54, a manager at HBOS, forced struggling clients to use the services of his friends David Mills, 60, and Michael Bancroft, 73. In return, the two businessmen arranged sex parties, cash and lavish gifts. On Monday, the three were convicted at Southwark Crown Court on accounts including bribery, fraud and money laundering. Mark Dobson, another manager at HBOS, Alison Mills, and John Cartwright were also convicted. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Lloyds chief apologises for damage caused by affair allegations - August 2016 Antonio Horta-Osorio, the chief executive of Lloyds Bank, has broken his silence over allegations about his private life admitting he regrets any "damage done to the group's reputation". In a message sent to the bank's 75,000 employees, the banker said that anyone can make mistakes while insisting that staff had to maintain the highest professional standards. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Christine Lagarde faces court over 340m Bernard Tapie payment - July 2016 The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde, must stand trial in France over a payment of 403 million (now 340m, then 290m) to tycoon Bernard Tapie, a France's highest appeals court has ruled. The court rejected Ms Lagarde's appeal against a judge's order in December for her to stand trial over allegations of negligence in her handling of the affair. Ms Lagarde could risk a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a fine of 15,000 euros if convicted. Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures HSBC senior manager arrested in FX rigging investigation at JFK airport in New York - July 2016 A senior executive at HSBC has been arrested at New York's JFK airport for his alleged involvement in a conspiracy to rig currency benchmarks, according to reports. Mark Johnson, global head of foreign exchange cash trading in London, was reportedly arrested on Tuesday. He will appear before a federal court in Brooklyn on Wednesday charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, Bloomberg said. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Former PwC employees found guilty in 'Luxleaks' tax scandal - June 2016 Two ex- PricewaterhouseCoopers staffers were found guilty in Luxembourg of stealing confidential tax files that helped unleash a global scandal over generous fiscal deals for hundreds of international companies. Antoine Deltour and Raphael Halet face suspended sentences of 12 months and 9 months and were ordered to pay fines of 1,500 (1,230) and 1,000 (822) for their role in the so-called LuxLeaks scandal. Despite the minimal sentences, the ruling was described by Deltours lawyer as shocking and a terrible anomaly. The ruling puts on guard future whistle-blowers, Deltour told reporters.The LuxLeaks revelations sped beyond Luxembourg, causing European Union regulators to expand a tax-subsidy probe and propose new laws to fight corporate tax dodging, while EU lawmakers created a special committee to probe fiscal deals across the 28-nation bloc. Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Goldman Sachs dealmakers lavished Libyan officials with prostitutes to win contract - June 2016 A former Goldman Sachs dealmaker trying to persuade Gadaffi-era Libya to invest $1 billion with the investment bank procured prostitutes and invited Libyan officials to lavish parties in the hope of winning the business, the High Court heard on Monday June 13.The Libyan Investment Authority sovereign wealth fund is suing Goldman Sachs for inappropriately coercing its naive staff into giving its sovereign wealth fund cash to the bank to invest in products they did not understand. The products were designed to generate big profits for Goldman, the LIA claims.Goldman denies wrongdoing and says the LIA was treated as an arms-length customer Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Former boss of BHS said his life was threatened - June 2016 Darren Topp, the former boss of BHS, has said former owner Dominic Chappell threatened to kill him when he challenged him over a 1.5 million transfer out of the business. MPs on the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee asked Mr Topp about a 1.5 million transfer Mr Chappell made from BHS to a company called BHS Sweden. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley admits paying workers below the minimum wage - June 2016 Mike Ashley admitted paying Sports Direct employees below the minimum wage at a hearing in front of MPs. The company founder said that workers were paid less than the statutory minimum because of bottlenecks at security in an admission that could result in sanctions from HMRC. Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Mitsubishi admits improper fuel tests - April 2016 Mitsubishi has admitted to using false fuel methods dating back to 1991. The scale of the scandal is only just coming to light after it was revealed in April that data was falsified in the testing of four types of cars, including two Nissan cars. AP Biggest business scandals in pictures Quindell, the scandal-ridden insurance firm Quindell was once a darling of AIM but its share price fell in April 2014 when its accounting practices were attacked in a stinging research note by US short seller Gotham City. In August the group was forced to disclose that the 107 million pre-tax profit it had reported for 2013 was incorrect, and it had in fact suffered a 64million loss. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Toshiba Accounting Scandal The boss of Toshiba, the Japanese technology giant, resigned in disgrace in the wake of one of the countrys biggest ever accounting scandals. His exit came two months after the company revealed that it was investigating accounting irregularities. An independent investigatory panel said that Toshibas management had inflated its reported profits by up to 152 billion yen (780m) between 2008 and 2014. Biggest business scandals in pictures FIFA Corruption Scandal Fifa, football's world governing body, has been engulfed by claims of widespread corruption since the summer of 2015, when the US Department of Justice indicted several top executives. It has now claimed the careers of two of the most powerful men in football, Fifa President Sepp Blatter and Uefa President Michel Platini, after they were banned for eight years from all football-related activities by Fifa's ethics committee. A Swiss criminal investigation into the pair is ongoing. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Libor fraudster City trader Tom Hayes, 35, has become the first person to be convicted of rigging Libor rates following a trial at London's Southwark Crown Court. Hayes worked as a trader in yen derivatives at UBS before joining the American bank Citigroup in Tokyo. He was fired from Citigroup following an investigation into his trading methods. He returned to the UK in December 2012 and was arrested following a two-and-a-half year criminal investigation by the SFO. Getty Mr Levandowski left Waymo in January 2016 and started Otto, a self-driving truck startup that Uber bought for $680m (524.9m) in August. He had until last month run Uber's self-driving car division, before stepping aside from those responsibilities pending the court case. Uber has not denied that Levandowski took Waymo documents, but says it has not used any Waymo technology in its cars. In his injunction order, Alsup said few of Waymo's alleged trade secrets have been traced to Uber's self-driving car technology, and that Waymo's patent claims against Uber have proved meritless. Reuters Sign up for a full digest of all the best opinions of the week in our Voices Dispatches email Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Voices Dispatches email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A primary school in Leeds has banned its pupils from taking Sats exams, after seeing too many children crying over them last year. Headteacher Jill Wood, from Little London Primary, said she was willing to put her job on the line by taking the decision not to run the controversial national tests this month. Pupils at the school will instead be measured using alternative methods, such as on-going learning checks throughout the year, as well as less official assessments at the end of term. During Sats week this month, pupils were taken out on educational trips to visit nearby points of interest, she told The Yorkshire Evening Post. The country is spending billions on childrens mental health, so why are we putting them under pressure? the school leader said. We just felt last year we had children sobbing in exams and it upset me so much, I just said I cant do this again. They are a ridiculous, unnecessary strain. Im in breach of my contract of employment, but I feel very passionately about it. A few weeks ago, Education Secretary Justine Greening announced plans to scrap the national curriculum tests taken by six and seven-year-olds from the next school year. 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 move follows years of pressure from parents and school leaders who say the tests put children under too much stress at too young an age. Instead, the Department for Education proposed a new system in which children would be assessed in a more casual atmosphere when they first start school. This would reduce the burden on teachers and pupils, the Department said. The Conservatives General Election manifesto published this week noted that pupils schools would face stricter accountability in Keystage 3 assessment, however. While Ms Wood said she was not against assessment itself, she said she had made the decision not to run Sats because they made little sense when schools had free reign over how to measure performance during the rest of the year. The tests hold no weight at secondary school, she added, as pupils tend to sit new assessments in Year 7. She said: If one school is measuring in bananas and the other is measuring in pineapples, how can we all sit standardised assessments? Why do we test our children in May anyway? There is another two-and-a-half months of learning time, she added. Schools should be accountable, but there is a better way. Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Health Check email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Britain's healthcare system has been ranked just 30th in a new global study lagging behind other European countries including Germany, Ireland, Spain, Slovenia and Italy. A report published in The Lancet medical journal rates 192 countries in terms of their quality and access to healthcare. The UK scored a total of 84.6 out of 100, placing it on an equal footing with Cyprus, Qatar, Malta, Portugal and the Czech Republic with an especially low score for cancer care. Tiny tax haven Andorra was the top-ranking country with a score of 94.6, while at the bottom of the table, with just 29, was the Central African Republic. Experts analysed data on death rates over the last 25 years from each country to draw up the list which they called the Healthcare Access and Quality (HAQ) Index. They found that globally, the quality of healthcare has improved from an average score of 40.7 in 1990 to 53.7 in 2015. The UKs score also improved from 74.3 in 1990 to its current level, but Britain is still underperforming in relation to its level of development, according to Professor Martin McKee, who co-led the study. The UK has made consistent progress since 1990, but with a score of 85, it now lags behind many of its European neighbours, including Finland, Sweden, Spain and Italy, all of which have health systems very similar to the British NHS and so are most directly comparable, said Professor McKee, from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. The gap between what the UK achieves and what it would be expected to, given its level of development, is also wider than in other western European countries. The news comes the day after health experts called Conservative plans to give the NHS a 8bn funding boost deeply disappointing, saying it will not go far enough to deliver the improvements the health service needs. Government urged to clarify whether NHS bodies could have stopped cyber attack A recent poll for The Independent found three in four people believe the NHS is in a bad condition, with 51 per cent of people saying the Tories bear the most responsibility for the current problems facing the NHS. The UK's health care performance score was better than that of the US, which was awarded 81.3 points, putting it in 35th place. The HAQ index was based on numbers of deaths from 32 causes that could be avoided by timely and effective medical care, with a breakdown of each countrys performance on specific causes of death. The UK achieved a top score of 100 for treating common vaccine-preventable diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus and measles. It also earned a high score of 88 for treating cerebrovascular disease, conditions such as strokes caused by problems affecting the brains blood supply. Professor McKee said this was probably due to the quality of general practice, leading to the early detection and treatment of blood pressure and better management of stroke. However Britain performed poorly in other categories which included some cancers, an outcome blamed on lack of investment in specialist care. It scored just 58 for the blood cell cancer Hodgkin's lymphoma and 64 for lower respiratory infections. Ranking Country HAQI 1 Andorra 95 2 Iceland 94 3 Switzerland 92 4 Sweden 90 5 Norway 90 6 Australia 90 7 Finland 90 8 Spain 90 9 Netherlands 90 10 Luxembourg 89 11 Japan 89 12 Italy 89 13 Ireland 88 14 Austria 88 15 France 88 16 Belgium 88 17 Canada 88 18 Slovenia 87 19 Greece 87 20 Germany 86 21 Singapore 86 22 New Zealand 86 23 South Korea 86 24 Denmark 86 25 Israel 86 26 Cyprus 85 27 Qatar 85 28 Malta 85 29 Czech Republic 85 30 UK 85 31 Portugal 85 32 Kuwait 82 33 Croatia 82 34 Estonia 81 35 USA 81 36 Montenegro 81 37 Lebanon 80 38 Hungary 80 39 Poland 80 40 Saudi Arabia 79 US lead author Dr Christopher Murray, director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, said: What we have found about health care access and quality is disturbing. Having a strong economy does not guarantee good health care. Having great medical technology doesn't either. We know this because people are not getting the care that should be expected for diseases with established treatments. As examples, he pointed to Norway and Australia, which each scored a high-ranking 90 overall. Yet Norway scored 65 for its treatment of testicular cancer, while Australia was awarded just 52 points for non-melanoma skin cancer. In the majority of cases, both of these cancers can be treated effectively, said Dr Murray. Shouldn't it cause serious concern that people are dying of these causes in countries that have the resources to address them? From 1990 to 2015, the gap between the best and worst-performing countries grew by almost five points, the study showed. Everyone the Government blames for the NHS crisis except themselves Show all 6 1 /6 Everyone the Government blames for the NHS crisis except themselves Everyone the Government blames for the NHS crisis except themselves The elderly We acknowledge that there are pressures on the health service, there are always extra pressures on the NHS in the winter, but we have the added pressures of the ageing population and the growing complex needs of the population, Theresa May has said. Waits of over 12 hours in A&E among elderly people have more than doubled in two years, according to figures from NHS Digital. Getty Everyone the Government blames for the NHS crisis except themselves Patients going to A&E instead of seeing their GPs Jeremy Hunt has called for a honest discussion with the public about the purpose of A&E departments, saying that around a third of A&E patients were in hospital unnecessarily. Mr Hunt told Radio 4s Today programme the NHS now had more doctors, nurses and funding than ever, but explained what he called very serious problems at some hospitals by suggesting pressures were increasing in part because people are going to A&Es when they should not. He urged patients to visit their GP for non-emergency illnesses, outlined plans to release time for family doctors to support urgent care work, and said the NHS will soon be able to deliver seven-day access to a GP from 8am to 8pm. But doctors struggling amid a GP recruitment crisis said Mr Hunts plans were unrealistic and demanded the Government commit to investing in all areas of the overstretched health service. Getty Everyone the Government blames for the NHS crisis except themselves Simon Stevens, head of NHS England Reports that key members of Ms Mays team used internal meetings to accuse Simon Stevens, head of NHS England, of being unenthusiastic and unresponsive have been rejected by Downing Street. Mr Stevens had allegedly rejected claims made by Ms May that the NHS had been given more funding than required. Getty Everyone the Government blames for the NHS crisis except themselves Previous health policy, not funding In an interview with Sky Newss Sophy Ridge, Ms May acknowledged the NHS faced pressures but said it was a problem that had been ducked by government over the years. She refuted the claim that hospitals were tackling a humanitarian crisis and said health funding was at record levels. We asked the NHS a while back to set out what it needed over the next five years in terms of its plan for the future and the funding that it would need, said the Prime Minister. They did that, we gave them that funding, in fact we gave them more funding than they required Funding is now at record levels for the NHS, more money has been going in. But doctors accused Ms May of being in denial about how the lack of additional funding provided for health and social care were behind a spiralling crisis in NHS hospitals. Getty Images Everyone the Government blames for the NHS crisis except themselves Target to treat all A&E patients within four hours Mr Hunt was accused of watering down the flagship target to treat all A&E patients within four hours. The Health Secretary told MPs the promise introduced by Tony Blairs government in 2000 should only be for those who actually need it. Amid jeers in the Commons, Mr Hunt said only four other countries pledged to treat all patients within a similar timeframe and all had less stringent rules. But Ms May has now said the Government will stand by the four-hour target for A&E, which says 95 per cent of patients must be dealt with within that time frame. Getty Images Everyone the Government blames for the NHS crisis except themselves No one Mr Hunt was accused of hiding from the public eye following news of the Red Crosss comments and didnt make an official statement for two days. He was also filmed refusing to answer questions from journalists who pursued him down the street yesterday to ask whether he planned to scrap the four-hour A&E waiting time target. Sky News reporter Beth Rigby pressed the Health Secretary on his position on the matter, saying the public will want to know, Mr Hunt. Sorry Beth, Ive answered questions about this already, replied Mr Hunt. But you didnt answer questions on this. You said it was over-interpreted in the House of Commons and you didnt want to water it down. Is that what youre saying? said Ms Rigby. Its very difficult, because how are we going to explain to the public what your intention is, when you change your position and then wont answer the question, Mr Hunt. But the Health Secretary maintained his silence until he reached his car and got in. Getty Overall in 2015, western European countries scored the highest and those in sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania the lowest. Cape Verde bucked the African trend by finding a place in the middle of the table. South Korea, Turkey, Peru, China and the Maldives saw some of the greatest improvements in health care access and quality since the 1990s, said the researchers. The top five performers were Andorra (94.6), Iceland (93.6), Switzerland (91.8), Sweden (90.5), and Norway (90.5). A new variety of rose has been named "Aung San Suu Kyi" in honor of Myanmar's State Counsellor, reports Yunnan Radio. Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi poses for a photo with the new rose hybrid named in her honor in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan province, May 17, 2017. [Photo: ynradio.com] The State Counsellor was in China to attend the two-day Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, and went on to attend the rose naming ceremony in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan province, as part of her talks with Yunnan Province Communist Party Secretary, Chen Hao. Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi (L) accepts a commemorative document for the new rose species named in her honor in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan province, May 17, 2017. [Photo: ynradio.com] Aung San Suu Kyi watered the rose symbolically and accepted a commemorative document at the ceremony. According to Yunnan Provincial Academy of Agricultural Sciences, it took local researchers four years to breed the new hybrid. The "Aung San Suu Kyi Rose" in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan province, May 17, 2017. [Photo: ynradio.com] Compact and upright, the rose can be cultivated as cut flowers, producing small red blooms, or planted in pots or grown in courtyards. Aung San Suu Kyi, who's known as a stylish dresser and is often to be seen attired in traditional Burmese costume sporting a fresh flower in hair, praised the flower for its delicate shape and beautiful color, and said the rose was most suitable to adorn a headdress. Aung San Suu Kyi also expressed her gratitude for the warm reception she had received in Yunnan, saying that she would plant the rose in her courtyard to serve as a witness to Sino-Burma friendship, which she said runs a long course from a remote source. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Hillary Clinton was not a great presidential candidate, but she would have been a really good president", according to former Vice President Joe Biden. I thought I was a great candidate, Mr Biden told a hedge fund conference in Las Vegas, according to CNN. The 74-year-old veteran politician also appeared to rule out a run for the presidency in 2020. Could I? Yes. Would I? Probably not, he said. At this point, no one in my family or I have made the judgment to run. Recommended Joe Biden says he regrets not running to be president The former Vice President to Barack Obama ruled out running for office in 2016 in a race that would have seen him pitted against Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. This was partly prompted by his son Beaus brain cancer diagnosis and subsequent death, aged 46, in January 2015. I had planned on running for president and although it would have been a very difficult primary, I think I could have won, Mr Biden told a crowd at Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, earlier this year. He added: I thought I could have won. I had a lot of data and I was fairly confident that if I were the Democratic Partys nominee, I had a better than even chance of being president. Hillary Clinton's life in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Hillary Clinton's life in pictures Hillary Clinton's life in pictures Hillary Rodham Clinton as a Wellesley College senior Getty Hillary Clinton's life in pictures Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham in at Wellesley College Getty Hillary Clinton's life in pictures Hillary Rodham Working with the House Committee on Nixon's Impeachment Case Getty Hillary Clinton's life in pictures US Presidential candidate Bill Clinton with wife Hillary and daughter Chelsea at the Democratic National Convention Getty Hillary Clinton's life in pictures Bill and Hillary Clinton at the Inaugural Ball Getty Hillary Clinton's life in pictures Bill and Hillary Clinton with Barbara Bush Getty Hillary Clinton's life in pictures First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, President William Jefferson Clinton their daughter Chelsea, at the first state dinner of the Clintons administration Getty Hillary Clinton's life in pictures Hillary Clinton meets with 12 chidren in response to their letter to the President concerning their health problems Getty Hillary Clinton's life in pictures Nelson Mandela jokes with First Lady Hillary Clinton Getty Hillary Clinton's life in pictures Senator Hillary Rodham comforts Maren Sarkarat the conclusion of the Family Memorial Service held at Ground Zero of the WTC Getty But do I regret not being president? Yes, he said. I was the best qualified. But Mr Biden said he did not regret the time he was able to spend with his son before he died. The politician has previously said his sons illness made him feel unable to run. Talking emotionally about his sons death, he said he had lost part of my soul when he passed away. No one should ever seek the presidency unless they are able to devote their whole heart and soul and passion into just doing that, Biden told ABC News last year. Beau was my soul. I just wasnt ready to be able to do that. My one regret is my Beaus not here. I dont have any other regrets. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Julian Assange will be arrested if he leaves the Ecuadorian embassy despite Sweden dropping its sexual assault investigation, British police have confirmed. A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said that despite Sweden's European arrest warrant for the WikiLeaks founder being lifted, he was under a separate warrant for skipping bail. "Westminster Magistrates' Court issued a warrant for the arrest of Julian Assange following him failing to surrender to the court on the 29 June 2012," a statement said. Recommended Sweden drops Julian Assange investigation "The Metropolitan Police Service is obliged to execute that warrant should he leave the Embassy." As the Swedish investigation continued in December 2010, Mr Assange was jailed in Wandsworth Prison in isolation for 10 days and then put under house arrest for 550 days under powers granted by an international arrest warrant. Scotland Yard stood down the 24/7 police presence outside the Ecuadorian Embassy building in 2015 but pledged to make every effort to arrest Mr Assange if he left. There had been controversy over the escalating cost of the exercise, which was believed to be over 12 million. Hammond on Assange The Met said its response "reflected the serious nature" of the original accusations, suggesting it would now scale down its efforts. "Now that the situation has changed and the Swedish authorities have discontinued their investigation into that matter, Mr Assange remains wanted for a much less serious offence," a spokesperson said. "The MPS will provide a level of resourcing which is proportionate to that offence. The MPS will not comment further on the operational plan." The Australian activist sought asylum in the Ecuadorian Embassy while on bail in 2012, over fears the Swedish investigation would result in him being extradited to the US over leaked military documents and diplomatic cables. Prosecutors dropped the probe after chief prosecutor Marianne Ny said there were no further avenues to pursue to take the investigation forward, in a court document seen by Reuters. Mr Assange reacted to the news by tweeting a photo of himself smiling inside the Ecuadorian Embassy, where he has been living for almost five years. The Ecuadorian government had sent Sweden a letter saying there had been a serious failure by the prosecutor, including a lack of initiative to complete inquiries. Wikileaks founder Julian Assange speaks from the Ecuadorian Embassy on December 20, 2012 in London, England (Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images) It raised developments in the US since the election of Donald Trump as President, including a speech by CIA director Mike Pompeo describing WikiLeaks as a hostile intelligence service. The letter argued that recent public declarations constituted an obvious risk for Mr Assange, who originally faced three sexual assault charges that he denied. He was questioned by an Ecuadorian prosecutor with Swedish officials present inside the embassy in November, following a bilateral agreement that ended years of legal wrangling. Prosecutors said the interview sparked further investigations but "no further measures remaining that are possible to take in order to further the investigation". Ms Ny said the investigation could have progressed if Mr Assange was formally served notice of the crimes of which he is suspected, adding: This was a measure which was to have been conducted during the interview in London but Mr Assange refused to make it possible. She said the probe could be reopened if Mr Assange returns to Sweden before statute of limitations ends in August 2020, but the move appears highly unlikely. A police officer walks past people gathering outside the Ecuadorian embassy in London on 19 May (AP) The decision to discontinue the investigation is not because we've been able to make a full assessment of the evidence, but because we didn't see possibilities to advance the investigation, Ms Ny added. So we won't make any statements on the issue of guilt. The UN had called on Swedish and British authorities to free Mr Assange from arbitrary detention in a report released last year, with the UK failing to overturn the findings on appeal. Now that all appeals are exhausted I expect that the UK and Sweden will comply with their international obligations and set me free, Mr Assange said following the ruling. It is an obvious and grotesque injustice to detain someone for six years who hasnt even been charged with an offence. Chelsea Manning, who provided WikiLeaks with classified intelligence on Iraq and Afghanistan that shocked the world, was freed from prison on Wednesday. The transgender former US intelligence analyst left Fort Leavenworth, months after Barack Obama commuted her 35-year sentence as one of his final acts as President. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Almost five years after seeking political asylum at the Ecuadorian embassy in London, the investigation against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been dropped by Swedens Director of Public Prosecution. Here are some of the more unusual things that have happened to the 45-year-old Australian during his time inside the building in upmarket Knightsbridge. His meetings with Pamela Anderson The former Baywatch star and Playboy model was spotted delivering lunch to him at the embassy in October last year and then again in February this year, saying she was concerned about his health and his family. I just hope that by some miracle hes set free, she told the Press Association. Ms Anderson later wrote about Mr Assange on her blog in a long message which was accompanied by a photo of him, saying: My relationship with Julian its no secret. He is one of my favourite people and he might be the most famous, most politicised refugee of our time. His row with book publisher Canongate Mr Assange tried but failed in his attempt to block the release of his autobiography in 2011, following disagreement with publisher Canongate Books. After reportedly giving 50 hours of interviews about his life and the work of WikiLeaks to his Scottish ghost-writer Andrew OHagan, Mr Assange had a change of heart and wanted to cancel his contract for the memoir after reading a first draft of the book. But the Edinburgh-based publisher decided to put the book on sale against his wishes under the title Julian Assange: The Unauthorised Autobiography, saying in a statement: We have decided to honour that contract and to publish. Once the advance has been earned out, we will continue to honour the contract and pay Julian royalties. His tie-wearing cat A cat named 'James' wearing a collar and tie looks out of the window of the Ecuadorian Embassy in London (Getty) (Getty Images) Last year, when Mr Assange began a three-day interview in the confines of the embassy over a sexual assault allegation, a cat made a rather dapper appearance at the window dressed in a collar and tie. The feline, who has been living in the building since his children gave him the pet in May last year, is the subject of an unverified Twitter account which says she is interested in counter-purrveillance. She also made a recent window appearance as it was announced that Marianne Nye, Swedens Director of Public Prosecution, had decided to drop her investigation against Mr Assange. His refusal to meet Benedict Cumberbatch Benedict Cumberbatch as Julian Assange in the film, 'The Fifth Estate' Mr Assange refused to meet actor Benedict Cumberbatch, who played him the film The Fifth Estate, because he believed it would only help destroy his organisation. Mr Assange claimed the Dreamworks production was based on a toxic book and believed the film would distort events and subtract from public understanding of his work after Cumberbatch wrote to him requesting a meeting because he wanted a chance to study Mr Assanges mannerisms. In a letter to Cumberbatch, which was later made public, he wrote: There are dozens of positive books about WikiLeaks, but Dreamworks decided to base its script only on the most toxic. Famous faces visiting his home Ever since Mr Assange secured asylum, he has had a stream of high-profile celebrities and famous faces visiting his residence. As well as Anderson, Lady Gaga, Vivienne Westwood, John Cusack, Eric Cantona, Michael Moore and reportedly Nigel Farage have visited the building in SW1. Mr Farage was spotted leaving the embassy in March, but refused to say whether he had met Mr Assange. Lady Gaga first met Mr Assange back in 2012, after launching a perfume at the Harrods department store, which is next to the embassy. She has since been a supporter of Mr Assange, saying you may be an enemy of the state but you are not an enemy of humanity in a video that was released by WikiLeaks to mark Chelsea Mannings release from prison. A random stranger scaling the walls of the embassy In August last year, a man scaled a wall at the Ecuadorian embassy a few months after Scotland Yard called off its multimillion-pound 24-hour surveillance of the facility. Cameras were later installed in the building. The Times reported his hosts believed the intruder to be an external lunatic or a lunatic from within one of his organisations. PA Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Julian Assange said he did not "forgive or forget after Swedish authorities dropped a rape charge against him. Taking to Twitter, the founder of whistleblowing website Wikileaks, said: Detained for seven years without charge by while my children grew up and my name was slandered. I do not forgive or forget. Swedish Director of Public Prosecutions Marianne Ny had earlier announced that his arrest warrant was being revoked because it was impossible to implement. The rape allegation followed a Wikileaks conference in Stockholm in 2010. Mr Assange always denied the allegations against him, saying sex was consensual, maintaining that the case was politically motivated, as it followed massive Wikileaks dumps of secret US military reports that year. Later that year the 45-year-old was arrested in London after Sweden issued an international arrest warrant against him. He spent the following months under house arrest in a small rural town in England. Then, in June 2012, after exhausting legal avenues to prevent his extradition, Mr Assange sought political asylum in the Ecuadorean embassy, where he remains to this day. Mr Assange is unlikely to be able to leave the embassy immediately. Were he to try, Scotland Yard said it was obliged to execute a warrant issued by Westminster Magistrates' Court for the arrest of Mr Assange following his failure to surrender to the court in June 2012. Sexual assault case against Julian Assange dropped Earlier this year, the Metropolitan Police ended the practice of stationing officers outside the embassy outside at all times, a practice estimated to have cost the taxpayer 12 million. The Ecuadorian government has asked the United Kingdom to give Mr Assange safe passage in order to allow him asylum in the South American nation. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. 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Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. 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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. 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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 Prime Minister Theresa May said "any decision that is taken about UK action in relation to him (Mr Assange) would be an operational matter for the police". However, US President Donald Trump said last month he would support any decision by the Justice Department to charge Mr Assange, in connection with the dumping of secret US government documents on Wikileaks. Additional reporting by agencies. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The woman who accused Julian Assange of rape has said she is shocked by Swedens decision to drop the seven-year investigation. A lawyer representing the woman, who met the WikiLeaks founder at a 2010 conference in Stockholm, said that claimant's view was that no decision to end the case can make her change that Assange exposed her to rape. Elisabeth Fritz said: It is a scandal that a suspected rapist can disregard the judiciary and thus avoid trial. Recommended Sweden drops Julian Assange investigation Proof of evidence in the case is available and that evidence should have been tried in courtthe wait has been long. The lawyer said prosecutors should not have given up the case before it reached court and accused Mr Assange of deliberately obstructing the judicial process because he was afraid. The Australian activist repeatedly said he was entirely innocent of the allegations, which stemmed from a meeting with the claimant in August 2010. She accused him of having sex with her as she slept without using a condom, despite repeatedly having denied him unprotected sex an act that constitutes rape under Swedish law. Sexual assault case against Julian Assange dropped Mr Assange argued that the sex was consensual and has denounced the accusations as politically motivated, seeking asylum in the Ecuadorian Embassy claiming a European arrest warrant could be used to extradite him to the US. This is a total victory for us, his lawyer Per Samuelson said. That's because we finally were able to get the interview done and he could describe what really happened and also because we could show that the United States is hunting him, which we could not do before. Juan Branco, another lawyer representing Mr Assange, suggested he could seek asylum in France after appealing for political intervention by new President Emmanuel Macron. Swedish prosecutors stressed that the closure of the preliminary rape and sexual assault investigation did not constitute a judgement on Mr Assanges guilt or innocence. The country's director of public prosecutions, Marianne Ny, said: The decision to discontinue the investigation is not because we've been able to make a full assessment of the evidence, but because we didn't see possibilities to advance the investigation. So we won't make any statements on the issue of guilt." Wikileaks founder Julian Assange (PA Wire/PA Images) Mr Assange was questioned by an Ecuadorian prosecutor with Swedish officials present inside the embassy in November, following a bilateral agreement that ended years of legal wrangling. Prosecutors said the interview sparked further investigations but "no further measures remaining that are possible to take in order to further the investigation". Ms Ny said the investigation could have progressed if Mr Assange was formally served notice of the crimes of which he is suspected, adding: This was a measure which was to have been conducted during the interview in London but Mr Assange refused to make it possible. She said the probe could be reopened if Mr Assange returns to Sweden before statute of limitations ends in August 2020, but the move appears highly unlikely. Despite the European arrest warrant issued by Sweden being lifted, the Metropolitan Police confirmed it would still arrest the Australian over skipping bail when he sought asylum at the embassy. Westminster Magistrates' Court issued a warrant for the arrest of Julian Assange following him failing to surrender to the court on the 29 June 2012, a statement said. The Metropolitan Police Service is obliged to execute that warrant should he leave the embassy. A police officer walks past people gathering outside the Ecuadorian embassy in London on 19 May (AP) As the Swedish investigation continued in December 2010, Mr Assange was jailed in Wandsworth Prison in isolation for 10 days and then put under house arrest for 550 days under powers granted by an international arrest warrant. Scotland Yard stood down the 24/7 police presence outside the Ecuadorian Embassy building in 2015 but pledged to make every effort to arrest Mr Assange if he left. There had been controversy over the escalating cost of the exercise, which was believed to be over 12 million, as shock from WikiLeaks revelations over the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan reverberated around the world. A spokesperson for WikiLeaks claimed the British government refuses to confirm or deny whether it has received a US extradition request over the leaked diplomatic cables and military documents. The Ecuadorian government had sent Sweden a letter saying there was a serious failure by the prosecutor, including a lack of initiative to complete inquiries. The UN had also called on Swedish and British authorities to free Mr Assange from arbitrary detention in a report released last year, with the UK failing to overturn the findings on appeal. The investigation was dropped days after Chelsea Manning, who provided WikiLeaks with classified intelligence on Iraq and Afghanistan that shocked the world, was freed from prison. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} An investigation into a sex allegation against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been dropped by Swedens director of public prosecution. The development is the latest in a long-standing saga involving Mr Assange, who has been living inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London for almost five years. Here are the key dates in the case: 2010 August An arrest warrant is issued for Mr Assange for two separate allegations one of rape and one of molestation after he visits Sweden. He is questioned by police in Stockholm and denies the allegations. November Stockholm District Court approves a request to detain the WikiLeaks founder for questioning on suspicion of rape, sexual molestation and unlawful coercion. An international arrest warrant is issued by Swedish police through Interpol. December Mr Assange presents himself to London police and appears at an extradition hearing where he is remanded in custody. At a later hearing he is granted conditional bail but is kept behind bars after Swedish authorities challenge the decision. He is later granted conditional bail at the High Court in London after his supporters pay 240,000 in cash and sureties. 2011 February District Judge Howard Riddle rules Mr Assange should be extradited to Sweden and denies this would breach his human rights. Mr Assange vows to fight the decision. Scotland Yard spent millions keeping watch outside the Ecuadorian embassy in London between 2012 and 2015 (Reuters) November Mr Assange loses a High Court appeal against the decision to extradite him. 2012 May The UK Supreme Court upholds the High Court decision in the case, ruling that extradition is lawful and can go ahead. The Supreme Court later rejects a move by Mr Assange to reopen his appeal against his extradition, saying it is without merit. 19 June Mr Assange enters the Ecuadorian embassy in London, requesting political asylum. A day later, Scotland Yard confirms he will be subject to arrest for breaching his bail conditions. 16 August Mr Assange is granted political asylum by Ecuador. 19 August Mr Assange makes his first public appearance in two months on a balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy and calls for the US government to renounce its witch hunt against WikiLeaks. Assange using a balcony of Ecuadors London embassy in 2012 to berate the US for threatening freedom of expression (Reuters) November Ecuadors ambassador to the UK, Ana Alban, says Mr Assange is suffering a chronic lung condition after spending months inside a one-room office at the embassy. The Ecuadorian government later plays down the health fears and says Mr Assange does not have an urgent medical condition. December Mr Assange marks the six-month anniversary inside the embassy by making another appearance on the balcony to say the door is open for talks to break the deadlock over his campaign to avoid extradition to Sweden. 2013 June Mr Assange tells a group of journalists he will not leave the embassy even if sex allegations against him are dropped, because he fears moves are already under way to extradite him to the United States. 2014 July Mr Assange loses a legal bid to have an arrest warrant issued in Sweden against him cancelled. A judge in Stockholm decided to uphold the warrant against him for alleged sexual offences against two women. The WikiLeaks founder holds a press conference inside the embassy in 2014 (Reuters) August Mr Assange tells a press conference he will be leaving the embassy soon following speculation that he is seeking hospital treatment for heart and lung problems. He later brushes off reports that he is about to give up his fight against extradition to Sweden. September On behalf of Mr Assange, his legal team submitted a complaint against Sweden and the United Kingdom to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, claiming his confinement in the embassy amounts to illegal detention. November Mr Assange loses a legal move in a Swedish appeal court aimed at revoking his arrest warrant. December Mr Assange appears on one of the embassys balconies to greet Noam Chomsky, the US philosopher and activist. Hollywood actor John Cusack also visits the WikiLeaks founder later in the month. Assange and Chomsky on a balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy (AP) 2015 March Swedish prosecutors ask to question Mr Assange at the Ecuadorian embassy. June Mr Assange claims the Swedish prosecutor has cancelled an appointment to interview him at the embassy. 13 August Swedish prosecutors drop investigations into some of the sex allegations against Mr Assange due to time restrictions. The investigation into suspected rape remains active. 16 August Foreign Office minister Hugo Swire says Ecuadors decision to harbour Mr Assange in its embassy has prevented the proper course of justice. He says the UK continues to have a legal obligation to extradite him to Sweden, where he remains suspected of a sexual offence. The WikiLeaks founder is visited by Jesse Jackson in 2015 (PA) 21 August Civil rights campaigner Jesse Jackson visits Mr Assange inside the embassy. Afterwards, he says: 800 years after the Magna Carta, freedom of the press is right and detention without charges is wrong. 12 October Metropolitan Police end their 24-hour guard outside the Ecuadorian Embassy. It breaks a three-year police operation which is estimated to have cost more than 12m. 2016 5 February The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention says Mr Assange is being arbitrarily detained in the Ecuadorian embassy and calls on authorities to end his deprivation of liberty. The report is branded frankly ridiculous by Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond a response which Mr Assange described as insulting. 9 February Swedish prosecutors say they are working on a renewed request to interview Mr Assange at the embassy. Prosecutor Ingrid Isgren from Sweden arrives at the embassy to interview Assange last year (Reuters) 22 February Lawyers for Mr Assange submit papers to a Swedish court, asking for his arrest warrant to be overturned. 24 March The Government formally asks the UN to review its finding that Mr Assange was subject to arbitrary detention, saying the opinion was deeply flawed. 25 March A Swedish court refuses to drop an arrest warrant against Mr Assange. 20 June Ecuador reveals it has received a formal request from the Swedish authorities to interview Mr Assange. 9 August Mr Assange files an appeal at Swedens Svea Court of Appeal, arguing the country must comply with the UN working groups findings that his deprivation of liberty was unlawful. 11 August Ecuador announces that Mr Assange will be questioned by Swedish prosecutors in the embassy in London. 16 September Swedens Svea Court of Appeal rejects a bid by Mr Assange to have his sex assault warrant dropped, saying no new information has emerged. 14 November Mr Assange is questioned over the sex allegation at the Ecuadorian embassy in the presence of Swedens assistant prosecutor Ingrid Isgren and police inspector Cecilia Redell. The interview spans two days. 30 November The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention rejects a request by the UK Government to review the case of Mr Assange. 2017 17 January Barack Obamas decision to free whistleblower Chelsea Manning prompts speculation that Mr Assange will end his self-imposed exile. WikiLeaks tweeted prior to the decision: If Obama grants Manning clemency Assange will agree to US extradition despite clear unconstitutionality of DoJ [Department of Justice] case. 19 January Mr Assange tells a press conference that he stands by his offer to go to the US, provided his rights are respected. 9 March Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage is spotted leaving the embassy where Mr Assange is being held. 21 April Americas Attorney General Jeff Sessions says Mr Assanges arrest is a priority for the United States. PA Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Ministry of Justice has been called at best incompetent and at worst inhumane after the deeply tragic death of a young transgender woman who was sent to a mens jail. Vikki Thompson was found dead in her cell at Leeds Prison where she was sent on remand, despite claiming she had previously been sexually assaulted there. An inquest into the 21-year-olds November 2015 death determined that she did not intend to take her own life. But campaigners said her death was waiting to happen and her treatment was at best incompetent and at worst inhumane. HMP Leeds has the second highest number of self inflicted inmate deaths in the UK and lawyers called for a complete overhaul of the establishment. The inquest found a catalogue of failures within the justice and health system contributed to Ms Thompsons death. Throughout her chaotic life, Vikki has been let down by various departments including the NHS, Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust, the Prison Service and also by her family, the inquest foreman said. Although these departments were individually aware of Vikkis history, the overall coordination of her mental and health state were lacking in any form of organisational structure. The jury found the management of Ms Thompsons treatment and mental health were lacking in professionalism and inadequate for an individual of such complex issues. More attention should have been given to Ms Thompson after her previous stay at HMP Leeds after she said she was sexually abused, they added. They came to the decision after hearing that Ms Thompson, from Keighley, West Yorkshire, had repeatedly told prison and court escort staff that she would be carried out in a box, the inquest heard. Although she had identified as female since she was 10 years old, she had never had any surgical or hormone treatment, so she did not have a Gender Recognition Certificate establishing her female identity. Caitlyn Jenner takes on Trump over transgender issue As a result she was sent to Leeds Prison, a facility for male prisoners. There, she was subjected to hourly checks but not put on the vulnerable prisoner wing to begin with as staff feared she would be in danger from sex offenders. She was eventually moved to the vulnerable prisoners wing at her own request. Her mother, Lisa Harrison, said: Words cannot describe the upset of losing my daughter Vikki I do not feel that the prison fully appreciated Vikkis vulnerabilities and I believe their lack of insight has resulted in her death. Deborah Coles, director of Inquest, a charity providing advice to people affected by a death in custody and detention, said it was a death waiting to happen. A vulnerable, young transgender woman was sent to a mens prison despite the risks of abuse and mistreatment, she said. There was no consideration of the gender she had openly identified with for half her life. Leeds prison has the second highest rate of self-inflicted deaths in the country. It was also a prison in which Vikki said she had previously been sexually assaulted, and where she was a victim of transphobic abuse and harassment. Ms Coles said the Government implemented new Prison Service instructions (PSI) after the deaths of Ms Thompson and Joanne Latham, another transgender prisoner. But she added it remains to be seen how much of a difference this will make in practice. We are not convinced that the new PSI could have prevented Vikkis death, given the range of failures uncovered at this inquest, she said. Vikkis treatment by the prison and healthcare trust was at best incompetent and at worst inhumane. Recent inquests at HMP Leeds and other prisons have shown staff are unable to implement even the most basic training and policies intended to protect vulnerable prisoners. The incoming Government needs to address the unacceptable death toll in prisons and the high numbers of people in prison who should not be there at all. 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 Philip Goldberg, the lawyer for Ms Thompsons family, also strongly criticised HMP Leeds. Vikkis case is a deeply tragic one, Mr Goldberg said. She is one of three transgender women to die within the male prison estate since November 2015. Yes, Vikki was a transgender woman housed in a male prison but like many others in prison her vulnerability did not make her unique. It was the responsibility of HMP Leeds to ensure she was properly looked after and safe. The jury heard that Vikki experienced bullying and sexual harassment on E-Wing that caused her to self-harm before she was moved to the Vulnerable Prisoners wing. HMP Leeds has the second-highest number of self-inflicted deaths in the UK and an inability to learn from their mistakes. Vikkis mother remains deeply distressed by the loss of her daughter. Yet hopes that if any good is to come of her death, its that the Ministry of Justice also undertakes a complete overhaul of HMP Leeds. He added that a radical shift in prison staff culture and training was needed to protect transgender prisoners. A Ministry of Justice (MoJ) spokesperson said: This is a tragic case and our thoughts are with Vikki Thompsons family and friends. We recognise that there were failings in her care, and HMP Leeds has already put in place a number of measures to better support offenders following the PPO investigation. We will now carefully consider the findings of the inquest. HMP Leeds has now implemented new procedures and is installing CCTV across the prison, the MoJ said. The prison has also introduced new security measures into high-risk areas of the prison and improved segregation practices, the MoJ added. Additional reporting by Press Association. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is seeking political asylum abroad after a rape investigation by Swedish authorities was dropped, according to the foreign minister who has supported him during his time at the Ecuadorian embassy. The European arrest warrant no longer holds. The UK must now grant safe passage to Mr Julian Assange," Ecuadors foreign minister Guillaume Long wrote on Twitter. Mr Assange made a rare appearance on the balcony of the embassy in London where he has been holed up for almost five years to condemn what he called the "terrible injustice" of the years he has spent in prison and self-imposed exile under threat of extradition first to Sweden and then to the US, where he is wanted for questioning over thousands of leaked intelligence documents. He said: "Today is an important victory, but it by no means erases seven years of detention without charge in prison, under house arrest and almost five years in this embassy without sunlight. Seven years without charge while my children grew up without me. This is not something that I can forgive. It is not something that I can forget." Mr Assange, who will remain at the embassy after Scotland Yard confirmed there is still a warrant for his arrest, continued: The inevitable enquiry into what has occurred in this moment of terrible injustice is something that I hope will be more than just about me and this situation because the reality is detention and extradition without charge has become a feature of the European Union, a feature that has been exploited in my case for political reasons ... but in other cases has subjected many people to terrible injustice." Recommended Julian Assange will still be arrested if he leaves Ecuadorian embassy Watched by a crowd of supporters and journalists, the Australian journalist and activist added: "In Sweden, indefinite detention is a policy. "There is no time limit that someone can be detained without charge. That is not how we expect a civilised state to behave. "Similarly, extradition without charge is not something that we expect from the rule of law in the United Kingdom. Mr Assange thanked the Ecuadorian Government for granting him political asylum despite intense pressure, as well as his team of lawyers and others who have stood by him. We have today won an important victory, but the road is far from over. The proper war is just commencing. He vowed that WikiLeaks will continue distributing material concerning the activities of the CIA in the United States, and will accelerate its publications. The claim that the UK has the right to arrest me for seeking asylum in a case where there have been no charges is simply untenable. My legal staff have contacted the UK authorities and we hope to engage in a dialogue about what is the best way forward. Mr Assange said the UK had refused to confirm or deny whether there is a warrant from the US for his extradition, insisting he is happy to talk to the US Justice Department. He went back into the building without answering questions. The UN had called on Swedish and British authorities to free Mr Assange from "arbitrary detention" in a report leaked last year, with the UK failing to overturn its findings on appeal. Recommended Chelsea Manning released from prison Sweden's chief prosecutor Marianne Ny announced earlier today the allegation against Mr Assange would not be pursued. She said: In order to proceed with the case, Julian Assange would have to be formally notified of the criminal suspicions against him. We cannot expect to receive assistance from Ecuador regarding this. Therefore the investigation is discontinued." Ms Ng said the probe could be reopened if Mr Assange returns to Sweden before statute of limitations ends in August 2020, although the move appears highly unlikley. The WikiLeaks founder sought asylum at the embassy in 2012 after losing court battles to avoid extradition to Sweden over the claims, which he denies. He said he feared the Swedish investigation would result in him being extradited to the US over leaked military documents. Separate allegations of sexual assault, made by a second Swedish woman, were dropped by authorities in Sweden in 2015 after the statute of limitations expired. In November, Mr Assange was questioned by an Ecuadorian prosecutor in the presence of Swedish officials following a bilateral agreement. The Ecuadorian Government had sent a letter to Sweden accusing its prosecutor of "serious failure" over the investigation and a lack of initiative to complete inquiries. The Metropolitan Police released a statement confirming there is still a warrant out for his arrest for failing to appear in court in June 2012. It said: "The Metropolitan Police Service is obliged to execute that warrant should he leave the Embassy." When asked about the possibility of legal action against Mr Assange, Prime Minister Theresa May said that it was a matter for the police. As the Swedish investigation continued in December 2010, Mr Assange was put in isolation in Wandsworth Prison for ten days before being placed under house arrest for 550 days under powers granted through an international arrest warrant. Scotland Yard stood down its 24/7 police presence outside the Ecuadorian embassy in 2015 following public criticism over the costs, but maintained officers would make "every effort" to arrest Mr Assange if he left. The Met said its response "reflected the serious nature" of the original accusations. Chelsea Manning, who passed sensational classified US military intelligence on Iraq and Afghanistan to WikiLeaks, was freed from prison on Wednesday following after her 35 year sentence was commuted by Barack Obama in one of his final acts as President. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Conservatives short sighted plans to increase charges for bringing skilled workers into the country could force hundreds of smaller curry houses out of business, a leading restaurateur has warned. Cyrus Todiwala, celebrity chef and owner of the award-winning Cafe Spice Namaste restaurant in London, told The Independent that new levies designed to restrict immigration will mean smaller businesses cannot compete with larger chain restaurants who can afford to pay higher wages. This will force prices up, he said. The Immigration Skills Charge, a levy imposed on organisations who employed skilled non-EU workers, was a particular burden as it priced smaller restaurants out of competition as many are operating on a very, very tight budget, he said. The Conservatives have put a commitment to increase the cost of the levy from 1,000 per year per employee to 2,000 per year per employee by the end of the parliament in their election manifesto. The party said the move is designed to encourage employers to invest in skills education. But Mr Todiwala said they cannot do that without government help. The entrepreneur, who is a vocal champion of skills-based education, said: The shortsightedness of it is that the Government is taking out money from education. So while someone like us is trying very hard to promote Indian cooking education across the UK, the colleges come and say to me Cyrus we cannot do it because our money has been taken away. During the EU referendum campaign, Priti Patel claimed curry house owners would benefit from Brexit because they would be able to recruit more people from abroad (Getty) (Getty Images) His comments come as The Independent and Open Britains Drop the Target campaign calls on the Government to drop its tens of thousands immigration cap. Mr Todiwala said he was one of several entrepreneurs who set up the Asian and Oriental School of Catering with government help in 2000. But they had been forced to shut it down and assume all liabilities for its debts when state support was withdrawn five years later. In the past 18 months over 1,000 curry restaurants have shut their doors for the last time, with the number in the industry expected to halve within the next decade. Many Indian caterers have said they feel betrayed by claims made by the Vote Leave campaign that they would find it easier to recruit after Brexit, as the Tories promise to crack down even further. Development Secretary and arch Brexiteer Priti Patel urged restaurant owners to vote to leave the EU to end the Governments biased immigration policy. 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 But Mr Todiwala said the Governments lack of understanding of the industry and its dependency on immigration went much further than this. He explained that the traditional type of cooking practised in UK curry restaurants was not easily replicated by home grown staff. He said many chefs in India and Bangladesh learn from their parents, who in turn had the knowledge passed down over the generations, and are not keen to teach it to newcomers. The businessman explained that most chefs learn by shadowing other people over several years, saying it was similar to the way specialist technical skills such as carpentry or masonry were historically treated in Britain. UK staff also need extra time to develop the right palate to be able to get professional level Indian cooking right, he added. Mr Todiwala said that instead of imposing blanket measures such as the levy, the Government should be introducing more skills-focused schemes. He proposed new measures that would ensure staff coming are required to work towards an English language qualification, or that they must also hire a second UK-born member of staff to shadow them for a few years when they bring someone in from abroad. Therefore he can learn the ropes so in two years you can have two workers who have been upskilled, he said. The Governments tens of thousands target is divisive and will harm our economy. Tell the Government to drop its damaging immigration target: sign and share our petition Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Jeremy Corbyn has had another unlikely celebrity endorsement in the form of US actor Danny DeVito. The Matilda and Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia star urged people to vote for the Labour leader on Twitter using the hashtag #grime4Corbyn. He tweeted: "UK. You've got the guy. Register by May 22nd. Vote for Jeremy Corbyn... show us how it's done!" The hashtag has been used on social media in the past week to reflect Mr Corbyns popularity with grime artists such as Stormzy and JME. The 72-year-old actor is a socialist and an outspoken supporter of left-wing former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. Last year, DeVito said in an interview that Mr Corbyn and Mr Sanders were the only bright lights we have right now. He had earlier praised the politician for his honesty, telling a press conference in LA that I like the idea of people telling the truth. I like them to get to the bottom of things, really. He endorsed Mr Corbyn for Prime Minister saying he was way better than [David] Cameron and Tony Blair who he called that sketchy guy that hung out with [George W] Bush. 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 But the entreaties of actors and musicians may still fall on deaf ears as even though new polls suggest Labour is narrowing in on the Conservatives, the incumbent party is still 15 points ahead. The new polling by Ipsos Mori, which is usually unfavourable towards Labour, also suggested Mr Corbyns personal unpopularity was falling but at least 60 per cent of those surveyed still said Labour was not ready to govern. (File photo) BEIJING, May 18 (Xinhua) -- China's central government pledged building a national data-sharing platform to boost the efficiency of inter-agency information exchanges. Ministries and other central authorities should link their information systems to the national platform before the end of June 2018, according to an action plan published by the General Office of the State Council Thursday. June 2018 is also the deadline for the preliminary establishment of information connectivity between central agencies and local governments. The plan called for early results in key systems by the end of 2017 to increase convenience for individuals and companies. Besides addressing the use of data within the government, it also sought progress in open data services for the public. The government should encourage and guide the use of government data made available through the services, said the plan. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} As the days of the 2017 general election campaign trickle away, we have seen various stories emerge about how any Labour defeat will be measured by Jeremy Corbyn and the Praetorian Guard that surrounds him. Len McCluskey, general secretary of the Unite union, opined on the Politico website that Labour holding at least 200 seats will be a successful campaign. Others have argued that Mr Corbyns future is secure if Labour manages to secure a better vote share than it did at the last general election (31 per cent). The table below sets out Labours electoral performance in every general election since 1931. The share of the vote is for Great Britain rather than the United Kingdom because for most of the period in question, the Labour Party did not contest seats in Northern Ireland. Source: British Electoral Facts, Rallings & Thrasher Under our first-past-the-post voting in Westminster elections, some interesting outcomes have been delivered over time. In 1931, Labours share of the vote (31.1 per cent) was close to the share it received in 1987 (31.5 per cent) and 2015 (31.2 per cent). Yet, in 1932 Labour won only 52 parliamentary seats, compared with 229 in 1987 and 232 in 2015. In numbers of seats, 1983 marked the nadir of Labour fortunes in the postwar period, with 209 seats. If Labour emerges in 2017 with fewer than 200 seats then we plunge back to the 1930s before we can find a worse result. Perhaps this is why we are being offered a choice of two measurements of success not only seats but also share of the vote. If we take the average support for Labour in the five most recent polls (sampled 11-17 May, 2017) it amounts to 31.2 per cent the same as the actual share of the vote in the 2015 election. If Labour support falls below 30 per cent then we will be looking at the 2010 election where it secured 29.7 per cent of the vote, or 1983 where the partys 28.3 per cent share was its lowest-ever for the entire period 1931-2015. If the Labour vote share increases in 2017, how much must that increase be before it can be judged a success; and it is a really interesting question how do you measure success in defeat? The more one delves into this the more unrealistic, it seems to me, it becomes. The idea that the Labour leaders office will determine Historys verdict on the partys performance on 8 June 2017 is the Theatre of the Absurd. The British public will make that judgement; there is no mystical alternative universe available to Mr Corbyn, or any other party leader for that matter, where common sense is suspended, where black is white and where reality is shaped on a potters wheel. Tens of millions of people will know whether Labour has succeeded or failed on 8 June, including millions of Labour voters, because they are the people who will have delivered the verdict. In the circumstances, it might be wiser for Labour to listen to them rather than attempt to interpret what they did for them. David Cowling is a political analyst and Senior Visiting Fellow at King's College London. He is commenting on the election for The Independent throughout the campaign Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Sir Michael Fallon has admitted the Conservatives have not costed out one of their key manifesto promises aimed at reducing immigration by two-thirds. The Defence Secretary was forced to admit that they did not know how much a proposal to double the Immigration Skills Charge - a levy imposed on organisations for every skilled non-EU worker they hire - would cost the economy. The proposal is one of a range of measures proposals by the party aimed at of reducing annual migration to the "tens of thousands" - a promise originally made in their 2010 manifesto. The aim of the Immigration Skills Charge is to force business owners to train up UK workers instead of recruiting the skills they need from abroad. But critics, including members of the party itself, have criticised the plans. Former small business minister Anna Soubry called it a tax on successful business. Sir Michael claimed the idea reflected the partys ambition to cut down on immigration rather than a specific, mapped out plan, when asked about the proposal on the BBC's Newsnight. We havent set out a formulation of how much it will reduce by each year, what weve set out is our ambition to continue to bear down on immigration," he said. There has been various academic work done on the cost of immigration." 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 He added: Weve made it clear that we accept there is a cost and we want to make sure that British companies do contribute to the training of British workers when they want to fill that post. It follows a similar mishap by former Education Secretary Michael Gove who mixed up several figures on immigration during an interview with Nick Ferrari on LBC. Mr Gove misstated how large the skills charge was, suggesting it was going up from 2,000 per worker per year to 4,000 per worker per year instead of an increase from 1,000 to 2,000. He then significantly overstated the number of non-EU workers arriving in the UK annually. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Government officials have been accused of a cover up over a reported delay in the publication of NHS trust deficit figures until after the general election. The data, which will show the full scale of the deficit posted by trusts in England in the last financial year, had been scheduled to be published next Thursday two weeks ahead of the election on 8 June. But, according to the BBC, the figures will not be released as scheduled due to purdah rules, which ban the Government from making any kind of announcement about new or controversial initiatives or laws that could sway the outcome of the vote during an election campaign. Recommended PM accused of failing to tackle growing crisis in NHS and social care NHS Improvement, which expected to publish the figures next week, had estimated an end of a year deficit of 750-850m earlier this year, but it is predicted to exceed this. The Independent understands that NHS Improvement made the decision not to publish the data ahead of the election after taking into account Cabinet Office guidance and a discussion with the Department of Health. Labours shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth told The Independent: The state of the NHS is the big issue of this election. We know waiting lists are getting higher and higher under this Government and many hospital trusts are struggling with their deficits. Its a cover up to deny the public the true picture of the NHS. We demand full transparency so everyone knows the real state of the NHS when casting their vote. Norman Lamb, the Liberal Democrats health spokesperson, added it would be wrong to try to hide this vital information until after the public go to the polls on 8 June. The public deserves to know the scale of the financial crisis facing the NHS before they vote, he added. The Conservatives are providing far less funding than independent experts have warned the NHS will need. The consequences will be dire for patients, with longer waits and lower standards of care. UK General Election 2017 Show all 47 1 /47 UK General Election 2017 UK General Election 2017 12 June 2017 British Prime Minister Theresa May leaves 10 Downing Street for the 1922 committee on June 12, 2017 in London, England. British Prime Minister Theresa May held her first cabinet meeting with her re-shuffled team today Getty Images UK General Election 2017 12 June 2017 DUP leader Arlene Foster stands alongside deputy leader Nigel Dodds as they hold a press conference at Stormont Castle as the Stormont assembly power sharing negotiations reconvene following the general election on June 12, 2017 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Discussions between the DUP and the Conservative party are also continuing in the wake of the UK general election as Prime Minister Theresa May looks to form a government with the help of the Democratic Unionist parties ten Westminster seats. Stormont and the political situation in Northern Ireland has been in limbo following the collapse of the power sharing executive due to the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme scandal which implicated the DUP Getty Images UK General Election 2017 12 June 2017 Priti Patel, International Development Secretary leaves 10 Downing Street Getty Images UK General Election 2017 12 June 2017 Larry the Downing Street cat runs ahead of Michael Fallon Britain's Secretary of State for Defence as he arrives for a cabinet meeting at Downing Street in London, Britain, June 12, 2017. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth REUTERS UK General Election 2017 12 June 2017 Michael Gove, Environment Secretary leaves 10 Downing Street on June 12, 2017 in London, England. British Prime Minister Theresa May held her first cabinet meeting with her re-shuffled team today Getty Images UK General Election 2017 12 June 2017 Scottish National Party Leader Nicola Sturgeon (C) leaves after speaking to the media in Parliament Square. Getty Images UK General Election 2017 12 June 2017 British Prime Minister Theresa May (C, L) holds the first Cabinet meeting of her new team. Getty UK General Election 2017 11 June 2017 British Prime Minister Theresa May attends church in her constituency with her husband Philip May, a few days after disappointing results in a general election. Rex Features UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Leader of the Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn leaves Labour Party HQ this morning, following a general election yesterday. Parliament is hung, with no individual party gaining an overall majority. Post general election reaction. Rex UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - JUNE 09: DUP leader and Northern Ireland former First Minister Arlene Foster (C) holds a brief press conference with the DUP's newly elected Westminster candidates who stood in the general election Getty Images UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 A " Get May Out" demo took place opposite the gates of Downing Street, calling for May to resign, after the shock election results and Mays coalition with the DUP. Rex Features UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 A demonstrator wears a mask depicting Britain's Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party Theresa May, poses with a mock gravestone bearing the words "Hard Brexit, RIP", during a protest photocall near the entrance 10 Downing Street in central London AFP/Getty Images UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May arrives at the Conservative Party's headquarters in London Reuters UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Britain's Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party Theresa May flanked by her husband Philip delivers a statement outside 10 Downing Street in central Londo Getty UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Britain's Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party Theresa May leaves Buckingham Palace in London the day after a general election in which the Conservatives lost their majority Getty Images UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 A TV cameraman watches the door of 10 Downing Street in London Getty Images UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is greeted by his Office Director Karie Murphy as he arrives at Labour Party HQ in Westminster, London, after he called on the Prime Minister to resign, saying she should 'go and make way for a government that is truly representative of this country' Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May arrives at the Conservative Party's headquarters with her husband Philip in London REUTERS/Peter Nicholls UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Ukip leader Paul Nuttall speaks during a press conference at Boston West Golf Club where he announced that he is standing down as party leader Joe Giddens/PA UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, leaves the counting centre for Britain's general election with her partner Jen Wilson in Edinburgh, Scotland REUTERS/Russell Cheyne UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale celebrates with candidate for Edinburgh South Ian Murray as he retains his seat at the Meadowbank Sports Centre counting centre in Edinburgh, Scotland Getty Images UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 First Minister Nicola Sturgeon speaks to the media at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, as counting is under way for the General Election Andrew Milligan/PA Wire UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson at Meadowbank Sports Centre in Edinburgh, as counting is under way for the General Election PA UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Scottish National Party (SNP) leader Nicola Sturgeon reacts at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, Scotland EPA UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 Jeremy Corbyn, leader of Britain's opposition Labour Party, arrives at the Labour Party's Headquarters in London REUTERS/Marko Djurica UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 UKIP Leader Paul Nuttall leaves in a car following the vote count for the constituency of Boston and Skegness in Boston, England Anthony Devlin/Getty Images UK General Election 2017 9 June 2017 British Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader Theresa May speaks at the declaration at the election count at the Magnet Leisure Centre in Maidenhead, England. Getty Images UK General Election 2017 8 June 2017 A policer officer enters a polling station in London AP UK General Election 2017 8 June 2017 A woman leaves after casting her vote at the Hove Museum and Art Gallery near Brighton, in southern England Getty UK General Election 2017 8 June 2017 A polling station sign is seen on a telephone box outside the polling station at Rotherwick Hall, west of London Getty UK General Election 2017 7 June 2017 A woman walks past a general election display in the window of a betting shop in Camden on June 7, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. Britain goes to the polls tomorrow, Getty Images UK General Election 2017 7 June 2017 Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May visits Atherley Bowling Club during an election campaign visit on June 7, 2017 in Southampton, England. Britain goes to the polls tomorrow June 8 to vote in a general election. Getty Images UK General Election 2017 6 June 2017 A supporter wears a pair of Jeremy Corbyn decorated tights at a general election campaign event in Birmingham, central England, on June 6, 2017. Britain goes to the polls on June 8 to vote in a general election only days after another deadly terror attack in the nation's captial. AFP/Getty Images UK General Election 2017 6 June 2017 A picture taken in London, shows election leaflets from various parties displayed ahead of the United Kingdom's general elections. Britain goes to the polls on June 8 to vote in a general election only days after another terrorist attack on the nation's capital AFP/Getty Images UK General Election 2017 6 June 2017 Election workers, George Gaunt and Luca Tragid deliver the first ballot boxes, on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh AFP UK General Election 2017 6 June 2017 British Prime Minister Theresa May meets with Conservative party supporters during an election campaign visit to a bakery during an election campaign visit on June 6, 2017 in Fleetwood, north-west England. Britain goes to the polls on June 8 to vote in a general election only days after another terrorist attack on the nation's capital Getty Images UK General Election 2017 5 June 2017 British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks during a general election campaign visit to a removals depot in Edinburgh AFP/Getty Images UK General Election 2017 3 June 2017 Pro-Independence supporters hold a march through Glasgow AFP/Getty Images UK General Election 2017 3 June 2017 Opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn campaigns for the upcoming general election in Beeston, Nottinghamshire AFP/Getty Images UK General Election 2017 3 June 2017 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn reacts to supporters after a rally at Beeston Youth and Community Centre as he visits the East Midlands during the final weekend of the General Election campaign on June 3, 2017 in Nottingham, England. If elected in next week's general election Mr Corbyn is pledging to create a million new jobs and to scrap zero-hours contracts Getty Images UK General Election 2017 1 June 2017 Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party leader Ruth Davidson joins a selection of Scottish Conservative election candidates and activists during campaigning on May 1, 2017 in South Queensferry, Scotland. With only seven days to go until the general election on June 8th, polls are showing the SNP out in front and the Conservatives set to close in on Labour. Getty Images UK General Election 2017 29 May 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May canvasses in Richmond with Conservative candidate Zac Goldsmith on May 29, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. After suffering defeat in the London Mayoral election Zac Goldsmith resigned over the Government's position on Heathrow expansion. He stood as an Independent but lost in a by-election to the Liberal Democrats. Britain goes to the polls on June 8 to elect a new parliament in a general election Getty Images UK General Election 2017 22 May 2017 Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron poses for a selfie taken by carer April Preston during a General Election campaign visit to the Barlow Medical Centre, in Didsbury, Manchester Yui Mok/PA UK General Election 2017 22 May 2017 Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May speaks at an election campaign event in Wrexham, Wales Reuters UK General Election 2017 22 May 2017 Britain's main opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, and Labour's former deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, exit the party's general election campaign 'battle' bus as they arrive at an event in Kingston upon Hull, northern England Getty Images UK General Election 2017 22 May 2017 Britain's main opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn walks with supporters between venues, before speaking again at another general election campaign event in Kingston upon Hull, northern England Getty Images UK General Election 2017 22 May 2017 An anti-fox hunting protester is taken away and arrested by police outside the venue where Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May was due to launch the Welsh Conservative general election manifesto at Gresford Memorial Hall in the village of Gresford, near Wrexham, North Wales, on May 22, 2017. Britain goes to the polls on June 8 to elect a new parliament in a general election AFP/Getty Images It comes after Theresa May was accused of failing to tackle the growing crisis in the health service, with a smoke and mirrors manifesto published on Thursday that has left future funding in doubt. The British Medical Association (BMA) also criticised the Conservatives pledge to provide an extra 3bn for the NHS as it included money previously earmarked by the party. The extra 8bn touted in this manifesto for the NHS is smoke and mirrors, said Dr Mark Porter, the chairman of the BMA council. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Nigel Farage abruptly ended an interview with a German newspaper because the reporter asked him about his relationships with Russia and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Mr Farage described interviewer Steffen Dobbert from Zeit Online as a nutcase, mad and away with the fairies, when Mr Dobbert suggested Ukip and Russia shared an agenda, asked why Mr Farage met with Mr Assange, and said after Brexit it might be harder for British people to travel to the European Union. Eventually, on the advice of his press spokesman who reportedly interrupted the interview several times the eurosceptic MEP ended the conversation and asked Mr Dobbert to leave the room. Reminding Mr Farage that he has said in the past he admires Russian President Vladimir Putin, Zeit Online asked the politician if given that one of Russia's foreign policy goals is dividing and weakening the EU he could have been used for this Russian goal? Mr Farage responded: I want the EU to be destroyed and it doesnt matter if God or the Dalai Lama wants it as well. He added a personal attack on Mr Dobbert, saying: You know, you are the first person who has asked me if Russia supported me. Maybe you have a special German mindset. No other journalist in the world has asked these questions. Mr Farage stated that Ukip has no links to Russia, and denied meeting with the Russian Embassys deputy chief-of-mission in London. Not in 2013, before the Brexit campaign was conceived? Zeit Online asked. Mr Farage replied: Ah, hang on. He came to the EP office. Or I met with him in London. So what? I think you are a nutcase! You are really a nutcase! "Brexit is the best thing to happen," he added, "for Russia, for America, for Germany and for democracy. And that's the key point. How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Show all 8 1 /8 How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Weetabix Chief executive of Weetabix Giles Turrell has warned that the price of one of the nations favourite breakfast are likely to go up this year by low-single digits in percentage terms. Reuters How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Nescafe The cost of a 100g jar of Nescafe Original at Sainsburys has gone up 40p from 2.75 to 3.15 a 14 per cent risesince the Brexit vote. PA How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Freddo When contacted by The Independent this month, a Mondelez spokesperson declined to discuss specific brands but confirmed that there would be "selective" price increases across its range despite the American multi-national confectionery giant reporting profits of $548m (450m) in its last three-month financial period. Mondelez, which bought Cadbury in 2010, said rising commodity costs combined with the slump in the value of the pound had made its products more expensive to make. Cadbury How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Mr Kipling cakes Premier Foods, the maker of Mr Kipling and Bisto gravy, said that it was considering price rises on a case-by-case basis Reuters How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Walkers Crisps Walkers, owned by US giant PepsiCo, said "the weakened value of the pound" is affecting the import cost of some of its materials. A Walkers spokesman told the Press Association that a 32g standard bag was set to increase from 50p to 55p, and the larger grab bag from 75p to 80p. Getty How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Marmite Tesco removed Marmite and other Unilever household brand from its website last October, after the manufacturer tried to raise its prices by about 10 per cent owing to sterlings slump. Tesco and Unilever resolved their argument, but the price of Marmite has increased in UK supermarkets with the grocer reporting a 250g jar of Marmite will now cost Morrisons customers 2.64 - an increase of 12.5 per cent. Rex How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Toblerone Toblerone came under fire in November after it increased the space between the distinctive triangles of its bars. Mondelez International, the company which makes the product, said the change was made due to price rises in recent months. Pixabay How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Maltesers Maltesers, billed as the lighter way to enjoy chocolate, have also shrunk in size. Mars, which owns the brand, has reduced its pouch weight by 15 per cent. Mars said rising costs mean it had to make the unenviable decision between increasing its prices or reducing the weight of its Malteser packs. iStockphoto But it was speculation that Brexit would result in travel difficulties for British citizens that made Mr Farage finally shut down the interview. "You are away with the fairies," he told Mr Dobbert, who had said Brexit could result in a new border in Europe. "You must be mad. I have never heard anything so immature in all my life. Because of Brexit I will lose my option to travel to Hamburg?" He added: "You should be on a comedy show, not be a journalist." Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Reducing immigration to the tens of thousands could have catastrophic consequences for the British economy, according to a new report that derides Theresa Mays policy as backward looking. It comes after the Prime Minister reiterated her commitment to the policy, which has never been met since being introduced by her predecessor David Cameron in 2009, as she published the partys manifesto for the general election on Thursday. The report by the new think tank, Global Future, adds that a net migration figure in excess of 200,000 double the Governments target is required to avoid collapse of whole sectors and alleviate pressures on the NHS and social care. It adds: Our analysis shows that the previous and current Governments target of cutting net migration to the tens of thousands immediately or in the long-term is based on an outdated and backward looking view of policy in this area. It shows that making substantial cuts in immigration to these levels is not only very difficult but also overwhelming undesirable. The UK is close to full employment, has an ageing population and low productivity growth. These factors make immigration an essential ingredient of a successful economy looking ahead. Global Futures top-down economic view is that a net migration figure well in excess of 200,000 will be needed long into the future to avoid catastrophic consequences for the economy. Gurnek Bains, the think-tanks founder, said political leaders have failed to challenge the assumption that less immigration would be good for Britain during the election campaign so far. His report warns that the net number of workers coming from overseas will have to reach an absolute minimum of 200,000 a year in order to sustain economic growth and prevent staff shortages in the NHS. Mr Bains continued: It might help particular politicians win elections but voters and our national interests will be the losers. Fewer immigrations will bad for Britains economy, businesses, finances and public services. There are now political leaders from across the spectrum who either pretend lower immigration will solve every problem or connive in this deceit. These politicians are not only selling voters short they are selling our country short too. 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 But it emerged on Thursday that no timetable has been set to achieve the tens of thousands pledge and rather it was an ambition to bring the number of migrants down. Sir Michael Fallon, the Defence Secretary, told BBC Twos Newsnight that the economic cost of the policy had not been calculated because there was no fixed deadline. The Independent and the Open Britain group are running the Drop the Target campaign urging the Government to abandon the tens of thousands goal. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A black man who was found not guilty of armed robbery will still serve up to seven years behind bars after a judge ruled he had breached the rules of his probation sentence for another crime. Ramad Chatman handed himself in to police when he found out he was a suspect for an armed robbery at a convenience store in his hometown of Georgia in July 2014. "He turned himself in because he knew he was not guilty," his grandmother Janice Chatman told US news channel 11Alive. The 24-year-old was already was serving a five year probation term (a court order served outside prison through fines and community service) for his first ever offence, breaking and entering an apartment to steal a television worth $120 (92) in 2012. He was identified as a suspect for the armed robbery in the winter of 2014 after the shop assistant spotted his picture on Facebook. She identified him again when police showed her his driving licence picture. Quite why it took police so long to catch up with Chatman is unclear, but after hearing officers were looking for him, he turned himself in in November 2015. The following February, a judge decided it was likely he did commit the robbery and as a result Chatman was re-sentenced for the original crime of stealing a TV and ordered to serve 10-years behind bars, back dated to the day of the crime. Court documents nonetheless showed he did everything asked of him during his probation, including checking in, paying restitution and finishing his community service. He was also holding down a job. But when the armed robbery trial came to court in August, he was found not guilty. It later emerged that ahead of the trial Chapman tried to enter an Alford plea on the charge of aggravated assault in exchange for the armed robbery charges being dropped. An Alford plea means the defendant enters a guilty plea, but maintains his innocence. It is often used when a defendant feels like despite his innocence, he will lose at trial. The judge refused to accept the deal, so the case was heard before a jury - who ruled he was innocent of the crime. Presiding Judge John Niedrach, disagreed with their verdict however. So despite the fact police never recovered the weapon, stolen money, or any other evidence connecting him to the robbery, he declined to release Mr Chatman, who remains in prison for violating the terms of his first probation order. Mr Chatmans grandmother told 11 Alive he had worked hard to meet the terms of his court order, including paying his mandated fines on time. He made sure he did right on his probation. He never violated it. What Judge Niedrach has done to my grandson is an injustice, she told the Rome News Tribune. When my grandson was proven not guilty, he shouldve been let out. In 2016, 38 percent of US prison inmates were black, despite only comprising 13 per cent of the general population, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. One in six black men had been incarcerated in a US prison, as of 2001. If current trends continue, one in three black males born today can expect to spend time in prison during his lifetime, according to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A 58-year-old Indian citizen died while in custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Atlanta airport, becoming the eighth person to die in their custody in 2017. Atul Kumar Babubhai Patel died of congestive heart failure at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta on 16 May, according to an ICE statement. Mr Patel had arrived in the US on a flight from Quito, Ecuador and was detained on 10 May for allegedly missing proper immigration documents. The reason for Mr Patel's travel has not yet been confirmed. ICE is the domestic enforcement agency, but US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a separate federal agency and the authorities at ports of entry into the US. CBP was the agency at the Atlanta airport that actually detained Mr Patel. Both agencies operate under the Department of Homeland Security. There are over 60 reasons a foreign national trying to enter the US could be deemed "inadmissible" by US authorities, including, but not limited to, "health-related, prior criminal convictions, security reasons, public charge, labour certification, illegal entrants and immigration violations, documentation requirements, and miscellaneous grounds," per immigration law. There are times a traveller could spend time in a temporary holding facility with CBP until they are able to catch a flight back to their home country. However, a foreign national may not be able or willing to travel back to their home country due to a wide variety of reasons. In some cases, that is when they are transferred to ICE. Due to privacy constraints, the reason for Mr Patel's detention and transfer cannot be divulged by CBP or ICE. ICE spokesperson Bryan Cox did confirm that Mr Patel was only transferred into ICE Custody 11 May, the day after his arrival at the Atlanta airport. Once transferred to ICE, Mr Patel was then held in the Atlanta City Detention Center and received an initial medical screening and was identified to have high blood pressure and diabetes. ICE requires all detainees to go through a medical screening within 12 hours of transfer into their custody, Mr Cox said. New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban Show all 27 1 /27 New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban Ethnic Yemenis and supporters protest against President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen on February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. At least 1,000 Yemeni-owned bodegas and grocery-stores across the city shut down from noon to 8 p.m. today to protest the order. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban Men pray during a protest by ethnic Yemenis and supporters over President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen on February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. At least 1,000 Yemeni-owned bodegas and grocery-stores across the city shut down from noon to 8 p.m. today to protest the order. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban Ethnic Yemenis and supporters protest against President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen on February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. At least 1,000 Yemeni-owned bodegas and grocery-stores across the city shut down from noon to 8 p.m. today to protest the order. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban Men pray during a protest by ethnic Yemenis and supporters over President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen on February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. At least 1,000 Yemeni-owned bodegas and grocery-stores across the city shut down from noon to 8 p.m. today to protest the order. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People gather for evening prayer at a rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally with flags at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally with flags at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally with flags at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally with flags at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally with flags at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban A Yemeni business owner places a sign on the gate of his store February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Across the city, Yemeni owned bodega and grocery-stores will shut down from noon to 8 p.m. to protest President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen. It is expected that over 1000 stores will be closed in protest with workers and owners participating in an afternoon rally in Brooklyn. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban A Yemeni business owner places a sign on the gate of his store February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Across the city, Yemeni owned bodega and grocery-stores will shut down from noon to 8 p.m. to protest President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen. It is expected that over 1000 stores will be closed in protest with workers and owners participating in an afternoon rally in Brooklyn. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 02: Yemeni business owner Musa closes the gate to his store February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Across the city, Yemeni owned bodega and grocery-stores will shut down from noon to 8 p.m. to protest President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen. It is expected that over 1000 stores will be closed in protest with workers and owners participating in an afternoon rally in Brooklyn. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban A Yemeni business owner closes the gate to his store February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Across the city, Yemeni owned bodega and grocery-stores will shut down from noon to 8 p.m. to protest President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen. It is expected that over 1000 stores will be closed in protest with workers and owners participating in an afternoon rally in Brooklyn. Spencer Platt/Getty After routine monitoring for his health issues, Mr Patel was transferred to hospital two days later on 13 May with shortness of breath. He remained in care there until his death on 16 May. The Indian consulate has informed Mr Patels next of kin. Though deaths in ICE custody are rare, the agency and CBP have been under extra scrutiny of late due to Donald Trumps ban on travellers from certain Muslim-majority countries entering the US. What immigration paperwork CBP needs upon entry, what travellers rights are, and what ICE and CBP will enforce based on court orders created confusion in international airports all over the US as a result. Department of Homeland Securitys Office of Inspector General and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility have been alerted to the circumstances surrounding Mr Patels death as well. There is no word as yet whether some sort of review of the tragic incident will take place or what, if any, action Indian authorities may take in the matter. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Fox News founder Roger Ailes died of bleeding on the brain following a fall, medical officials have said. He reportedly hit his head and suffered severe bleeding just over a week ago. His death was announced today. Emergency services were called to Mr Ailess Palm Beach, Florida residence on 10 May. His death was ruled accidental by the Palm Beach County medical examiner. Haemophilia contributed to his death and his manner of death was accidental, a statement by the examiner said. There was no evidence of foul play. Mr Ailes suffered from the blood condition his entire life and had reportedly been in poor health recently. But his death sent shockwaves through the media and political world, as commentators on all sides of the political spectrum acknowledged his impact on broadcasting. Fox News and 21st Century Fox executive chairman Rupert Murdoch called Mr Ailes "a brilliant broadcaster who played a huge role in shaping America's media over the last thirty years". 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 "He will be remembered by the many people on both sides of the camera that he discovered, nurtured and promoted," Mr Murdoch added. "Roger and I shared a big idea which he executed in a way no one else could have. In addition, Roger was a great patriot who never ceased fighting for his beliefs." Gabriel Sherman, author of a biography on Ailes, said: "It's a very complicated story. He is in some ways a genius and in some ways tragic. His quest for power consumed him." Mr Ailes resigned from Fox in disgrace last year amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A Texas man has filed a lawsuit against a woman he went on a date with because she was texting in the cinema. Brandon Vezmar, 37, said he complained about the unnamed womans phone use during their viewing of Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2. She refused and walked out after Mr Vezmar repeated his requests. Recommended Why letting a toddler play on your phone can damage their development Mr Vezmar said her behaviour was a threat to civilised society. He now wants to recoup the $17.31 (13.37) he paid for her cinema ticket. He described the event as a first date from hell and said people texting inappropriately is one of his pet hates. Oh my God, the woman said to the Austin American Statesman on hearing the news. This is crazy. She added: "I had my phone low and I wasn't bothering anybody." Mr Vezmar said in his petition the woman activated her phone at least 10-20 times in 15 minutes to read and send text messages. 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 woman has refused to pay the money because he took her on the date. Following media attention on the case, the cinemas chief has offered to settle the case by giving Mr Vezmar a $17.31 gift certificate. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The man suspected of killing one person and injuring 22 more by driving his car through Times Square in New York has been charged with murder. Richard Rojas, a 26-year-old New York native, allegedly ploughed his red Honda sedan through the popular tourist destination on a sunny Thursday morning. The US Navy veteran, who police say was driving under the influence, is accused of making a sharp U-turn on busy 7th Avenue and proceeded three blocks against the flow of traffic. Witnesses described people running in terror from the speeding vehicle, while others lay injured in the street. Bodies were flying, he was running over people, it was like nothing Id ever seen, witness Julie Fallo told Gothamist. Everyone thought it was a terrorist attack and ran into buildings screaming. The car eventually came to a halt after Mr Rojas crashed into a pole on 45th street, near Broadway. Witnesses say the car was billowing smoke, and appeared heavily damaged. In pictures: Times Square car crash Show all 11 1 /11 In pictures: Times Square car crash In pictures: Times Square car crash Emergency workers treat multiple people injured when a vehicle struck numerous pedestrians in Times Square in New York City EPA In pictures: Times Square car crash First responders are assisting injured pedestrians after a vehicle struck pedestrians on a sidewalk in Times Square in New York REUTERS/Jeremy Schultz In pictures: Times Square car crash First responders are at the scene as people help injured pedestrians after a vehicle struck pedestrians on a sidewalk in Times Square in New York REUTERS/Jeremy Schultz In pictures: Times Square car crash Emergency workers work at the scene after multiple people were injured when a vehicle struck numerous pedestrians in Times Square in New York City, EPA In pictures: Times Square car crash Emergency workers work at the scene after multiple people were injured when a vehicle struck numerous pedestrians in Times Square in New York City EPA In pictures: Times Square car crash A vehicle sits atop a bollard after multiple people were injured when a vehicle struck numerous pedestrians in Times Square in New York City EPA In pictures: Times Square car crash First responders tend to an injured pedestrian after a vehicle struck pedestrians on a sidewalk in Times Square in New York Reuters In pictures: Times Square car crash First responders tend to an injured pedestrian after a vehicle struck pedestrians on a sidewalk in Times Square in New York Reuters In pictures: Times Square car crash First responders tend to injured pedestrians after a vehicle struck pedestrians on a sidewalk in Times Square in New York Reuters In pictures: Times Square car crash A vehicle that struck pedestrians in Times Square and later crashed is seen on the sidewalk in New York City Reuters In pictures: Times Square car crash Police arrest a suspect in Times Square, New York Youtube Approximately halfway through his rampage, police say Mr Rojas struck and injured Alyssa and Ava Elsman. The teenage sisters were visiting from Portage, Michigan. Eighteen-year-old Alyssa died on Thursday from her injuries. Postings on the teenagers Facebook page show she had recently started a new relationship. Portage Central High School principal Eric Alburtus described his student as smart, funny and engaging. She will be deeply missed by the staff and students here, Mr Alburtus said. Twenty-one others were injured in the incident, according to the latest NYPD count. NYC Health + Hospitals Bellevue treated four patients in critical condition, and two in serious condition, on Thursday night. All six are expected to survive. Mr Rojas has been charged with one count of murder, 20 counts of attempted murder and five counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, according to the NYPD. Officers have interviewed Mr Rojas mother, with whom he lived in the Bronx, and are obtaining a search warrant for their apartment. Mr Rojas passed a breathalyser test shortly after the crash, but tested positive for PCP and marijuana, police sources have told multiple outlets. Mr Rojas has been arrested twice in the last decade for drunk driving. In 2013, while in the Navy, Mr Rojas also pleaded guilty to drunk driving, failure to pay a just debt, drunk and disorderly conduct, and communicating a threat. He was sentenced to three months confinement. Eyewitnesses told reporters Mr Rojas appeared agitated after the crash, leaving his vehicle shirtless and making rambling statements. Police said he claimed to be hearing voices, wanted to die, and said he "did it for God. Others said he appeared emotionally disturbed. Mr Rojas friend, Harrison Ramos, told the Associated Press that he had not been the same since returning from the Navy. Mr Ramos said his friend had taken to posting crazy stuff online, which has since been taken down. Mr Rojas had been arrested just one week before the incident for allegedly pulling a knife on an acquaintance. During another arrest, he had threatened to kill police officers. Thats my friend, Mr Ramos said. Im concerned for him. It hurts. NYPD officials said they do not believe the Times Square incident was terror-related. Officers searched the car for bombs and increased security at other popular landmarks on Thursday as a precautionary measure. The city had installed steel safety barriers on sidewalks around the tourist hub months before, to protect from just this kind of event. Even when incidents occur, it should not shake peoples fundamental knowledge that they are safe in Times Square, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said. Hundreds of museums have opened their doors for free in China to mark the 41st National Museums Day, May 18 2017. 97 museums in Beijing are open to the public for free on May 18, 2017. [Photo: Chinanews.com] Now in its 41st year, the event is designed to promote Chinese culture and time-honored history, and encourage people to visit museums more frequently. China's capital city, Beijing, is the main venue of this year's celebrations, which have as a theme this year "Museums and contested histories: Saying the unspeakable in museums". "The role of the museums in the services society is to continue a discussion among museum professionals, not only to ensure that museums strive to lead the way in exchanging information about history, culture and nature, but also to promote sustainable practices and ongoing education for the user of the resources," said Peter Keller, Director-general of the International Museum Association. He further explained that visitors should benefit from museum resources and presentations to be stimulated and gain a greater understanding of the world. A student joins a celebration activity for International Museum Day in the Forbidden City in Beijing, China on May 18, 2017. [Photo: Chinanews.com] Official figures show that, as of the end of 2016, the number of registered museums in China reached 4873, up 181 on the year before, demonstrating a steady growing trend. "We now have a well-established museum system. Industrial and non-state-owned museums present a vigorous developing tendency. So far, non-state-owned museums have accounted for 26.6% of the total number of museums in China," said Li Yuzhu, director of State Administration of Cultural Heritage He added that, over 87% of China's museums are open to the public free of charge. As part of Museum Day activities, the Capital Museum is presenting an exhibition of archaeological finds made over the past 20 years. Many other museums in Beijing, including the Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, and the National Museum of China, are also participating in the event. Around 400 collections from 19 provinces are being displayed, most of which are new archaeological finds since 1996. People taking part in celebrations to mark International Museum Day, in the Forbidden City in Beijing, China on May 18, 2017. [Photo: people.com.cn] The occasion has also seen the establishment of the Museums with Friendly Alliance Along the Silk Road, involving over 50 museums around the world. The move comes hard on the heels of the prestigious Belt and Road forum in Beijing, held to discuss the China promoted initiative that brings together more than 60 countries in trade, economic and cultural partnerships. Wang Bin is the director of the alliance, and the curator of Xi'an Tang West Market Museum in central China's Shaanxi Province, one of China's first-class museums. "Serving a museum alliance, our jobs are mainly focused on the exchanges of exhibitions, information and personnel, along with cooperation in the field of cultural relics' protection. We aim to enhance mutual learning among civilizations of countries along the Silk Road, and thus to boost people-to-people and cultural exchanges along the Belt and Road," he said. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Two Chinese jets fighters conducted an unprofessional intercept of US aircraft over the East China Sea, according to military sources. The nuclear sniffer plane was sent to monitor radiation levels in the area, in accordance with international law, and regularly completes missions in North East Asia, according to Air Force spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Lori Hodge. In the past, the planes have been used to gather evidence of possible nuclear tests by North Korea. On Wednesday, the two Chinese jets came within 150 feet of the sniffer plane, according to US Air Force, and one flew upside down directly above the American plane. "While we are still investigating the incident, initial reports from the US air crew characterised the intercept as unprofessional, Lieutenant Colonel Hodge told CNN. The issue is being addressed with China through appropriate diplomatic and military channels," Rex Tillerson calls China's actions in the South China Sea 'illegal' The incident was the second stand-off between US and Chinese military in seas surrounding China this year. In February, a US Navy spy plane and a Chinese military aircraft came within 1,000 feet of each other over the South China Sea. At the time, US officials US officials called an unsafe close encounter over the South China Sea in February. In 2001 a Chinese jet collided with a US Navy surveillance aircraft off Hainan Island, killing the Chinese pilot and leading Washington to cut military relations with China after that episode. There are long-running territorial disputes in the East and South China Seas. Both China and Japan claim 200 miles from their coast as an Exclusive Economic Zone (a sea zone prescribed by the United Nations), but the East China Sea is just 360 miles long. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump called James Comey within weeks of his inauguration and asked when federal authorities would announce the President was not personally under investigation over links to Russia, it has been claimed. Then FBI director, Mr Comey was leading the probe into alleged links between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin, and claims of Russian meddling in the election. According to the New York Times, he told Mr Trump he had to use the proper channels to request information about the bureau's investigations. And Mr Trump's chief of staff, Reince Priebus, pressured Mr Comey to counter media reports of contact between Trump associates and Russia during the campaign, the paper reported. That request came after a dinner at which Mr Trump is alleged to have asked asked Mr Comey to drop his probe into ex-national security adviser Mike Flynn the Times added. Mr Trump is also said to have the director, who he later fired, to pledge his loyalty. Mr Comey's records of his interactions with the President, in the form of memos, have been requested by the Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee. Jason Chaffetz said he wanted to determine whether Mr Trump had tried to impede the FBI's investigation. 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 earlier revelations had fuelled talk of impeachment in Washington, with David Gergen, a former adviser to Presidents Clinton, Reagan and Nixon, saying Mr Trump was now in "impeachment territory". Mr Trump has denied he tried to have the Flynn probe dropped, and the White House previously said in a statement: "The President has the utmost respect for our law enforcement agencies, and all investigations." Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump has reportedly been advised to hire an experienced outside lawyer as the controversy over his alleged links to Moscow continues to grow and reverberate. Following the news that the Department of Justice had appointed a special counsel, former FBI Director Robert Mueller, to lead a probe into the alleged connections, the president has been told he may benefit from retained additional lawyers to those whose services he has already made use of. Advisers and personal associates of Mr Trump have been increasingly concerned since details have emerged of conversations he had with James Comey, the FBI Director, in which he purportedly asked for Mr Comeys loyalty and suggested he drop an ongoing investigation into his former national security advisor, Michael Flynn. Mr Trump has signalled he is likely to hire a new lawyer, but has not yet made a decision, according to three people who have spoken with him, the New York Times reported. Mr Trump has dismissed claims that his campaign colluded with Russia to allegedly interfere with the 2016 election to benefit him. Trump denies that he urged Comey to close Flynn investigation In addition to the FBI that was being led by Mr Comey, several congressional committees are investigating Russias alleged effort to cyber-meddle in the election and whether members of Mr Trumps campaign. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Mr Trump has said he fired Mr James Comey as FBI Director because he was unpopular. Director Comey was very unpopular with most people, Mr Trump claimed, during a press conference with the Colombian president. Look at all the people on the Democratic side, not only the Republican side, who were saying such terrible things about Director Comey. He also claimed that he was the victim of a political witch hunt. Speaking of the decision by the Department of Justice to appoint Robert Mueller as a special prosecutor, he said: I respect the move. But the entire thing has been a witch hunt. He added: And there is no collusion between, certainly, myself and my campaign, but I can always speak for myself, and the Russians. Zero." Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump is heading to Saudi Arabia on the first stop of his inaugural foreign tour amid swirling controversy over his firing of former FBI director James Comey and alleged links with Russia. The President will be hoping to leave allegations he pressed Mr Comey to drop a probe into his former national security adviser at home, along with claims he passed intelligence to Russian officials as a special counsel takes over investigations into possible meddling by Moscow. We look forward to getting this whole situation behind us, Mr Trump told a White House news conference before setting off. But he will have to tread carefully on a nine-day tour taking in countries including Israel, Belgium and Italy, encompassing visits to holy sites from the worlds three major religions. Despite numerous controversies over Mr Trumps comments about Muslims and attempted immigration bans, he is expected to receive a warm welcoming from leaders in Riyadh. Having repeatedly condemned Saudi Arabia during his election campaign, the President has made no move to row back the US friendly relationship with the Sunni Muslim autocracy. Trump denies that he urged Comey to close Flynn investigation Last year, Mr Trump slammed the country as a money machine that did not reimburse the US for its support, then used a presidential debate to attack Hillary Clintons acceptance of funding from Saudis, who he described as people that push gays off buildings [and] kill women. Despite the fact 15 of al-Qaedas 9/11 attackers came from Saudi Arabia, the country was conspicuously absent from a list of Muslim-majority countries whose citizens were briefly barred from the US under a failed ban supposedly sparked by terror risks. Mr Trump has himself insinuated the Saudi government was behind the worlds deadliest terror attack, telling Fox News in February 2016: Who blew up the World Trade Center? It wasnt the Iraqis, it was Saudi - take a look at Saudi Arabia, open the documents. Saudi Arabia has been accused of fuelling Islamist extremism with its adherence to fundamentalist Wahhabism and funding foreign mosques and schools that spread the ideology, sparking criticism from German intelligence services in a recent report. All past grievances appear to be forgotten since the President took office, welcoming Saudi leaders for a cordial visit to the White House in March. It saw deputy crown prince Mohammad bin Salman hail Mr Trump as a true friend of Muslims and launch a defence of the attempted travel ban, claiming it targeted terrorists rather than the religion of Islam itself. US President Donald Trump and Saudi Deputy Crown Prince and defence minister Mohammed bin Salman at the White House on 14 March (AFP/Getty Images) President Trump expressed his deep respect for the religion of Islam, considering it one of the divine religions that came with great human principles kidnapped by radical groups, a spokesperson said. President Trump has an unprecedented and serious intention to work with the Muslim world and to achieve its interests and Prince Mohammed considers his Excellency as a true friend of Muslims. Mr Trump will outline his views of Islam in a speech to Saudi leaders, which intends to unite the broader Muslim world against common enemies of all civilisation. The Presidents national security adviser, HR McMaster, said he 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. Growing ties with Saudi Arabia, which follows Sunni Islam as a state religion, are likely to anger the Shia Muslim world particularly Riyadhs enemy Iran. Mr Trump has frequently targeted the country while opposing the landmark nuclear deal struck in 2015, claiming to put Tehran on notice following a ballistic missile test in February, with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei responding by calling nationwide protests, where anti-US demonstrators burned flags and shouted death to America. Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Show all 33 1 /33 Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump's first 100 days in office were marred by a string of scandals, many of which caught the eye of the Independent's cartoonists Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Trump's first 100 days have seen him aggressively ramp up tensions with his nuclear rivals in North Korea Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Mr Trump has warned of a "major, major conflict" with the pariah nation lead by Kim Jong Un Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Mr Trump dropped the "mother of all bombs" on alleged ISIS-linked militants in Afghanistan, amid an escalation of US military intervention around the globe Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Mr Trump has been accused of falling short of the standards set by his predecessors in the Oval Office, including Franklin D Roosevelt Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons The tycoon's ascension to the White House came at a time when the balance of power is shifting away from Western nations like those in the G7 group Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Western politicians, including the British Conservative party, have been accused of falling in line behind Mr Trump's proposals Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Brexit is seen to have weakened Britain, reducing still further any political will to resist American leadership Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Mr Trump's leadership has been marked by sudden and unexpected shifts in global policy Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Trump's controversial missile strike on Syria, which killed several citizens, was seen by some analysts as an attempt to distract from his policy elsewhere Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons The President has also spent a large majority of his weekends golfing, rather than attending to matters of state Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Though free of gaffes, a visit from Chinese president Xi Jinping spotlighted trade tensions between the two states Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons One major and unexpected setback came when Mr Trump's Healthcare Bill was struck down by members of his own party Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Mr Trump has been a figure of fun in the media, with his approval at record lows Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons A string of revelations about Mr Trump's financial indiscretions did not mar his surge to the White House Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Outgoing President Barack Obama was accused of wiretapping Trump Tower by his successor in America's highest office Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons The alleged involvement of Russian intelligence operatives in securing Mr Trump the presidency prompted harsh criticism Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons The explosive resignation of Security Adviser Michael Flynn, who lied about his links to the Russian ambassador, was just one scandal to hit the President Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Many scandals, such as the accusation Barack Obama was implicated in phone-hacking, first broke on Mr Trump's Twitter feed Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump's election provoked mass protests in the UK, with millions signing a petition to ban him from the country Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump cited a non-existent terror attack in Sweden during a campaign rally Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump stands accused of stoking regional tensions in Eastern Asia Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons North Korea has launched a number of failed nuclear tests since Mr Trump took power Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Theresa May formally rejected the petition calling for Mr Trump to be banned from the UK Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons When Mr Trump's initial so-called Muslim ban was struck down by a federal justice, the President mocked the 69-year-old as a "ridiculous", "so-called judge" Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons A week after his inauguration, Theresa May met with Mr Trump at the White House Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump's first days in office were marked by a hasty attempt to follow through on many of his campaign promises, including the so-called Muslim ban Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump's decision to ban citizens of many majority-Muslim countries from the US sparked mass protests Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Revelations about Donald Trump's sexual improprieties were not enough to keep him from being elected President Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons British PM Theresa May was criticised by many in the press for cosying up to the new President Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons One of Mr Trump's top aides, Kelly Anne Conway, was mocked for describing mistruths as "alternative facts" Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons British PM Theresa May was quick to demonstrate that her political aims did not hugely differ from Mr Trump's Donald Trump's first 100 days: in cartoons Donald Trump's inauguration, on 20 January 2017, sparked protests both at home and abroad Despite friendly meetings with Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to Washington, there could also be trouble awaiting the President in Israel, which is reported to be the source of intelligence on Isis shared with Russia. Mr McMaster added to the outrage by refusing to declare the Western Wall a part of Israel, in line with long-standing US policy on East Jerusalem and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, although his position was reversed by US ambassador Nikki Haley. Mr Trumps views on the Iran nuclear deal which is now under a US government review could cause tensions during the European portion of the visit. Questions also linger over Mr Trumps commitment to Nato, security and scepticism of the Paris climate agreement. In Rome, the Mr Trump will call upon Pope Francis in the Vatican, despite calling the holiest man in the Catholic faith disgraceful for questioning his faith in critical comments made during his campaign. In Brussels, Mr Trump will attend a meeting of Nato, after repeatedly musing about abandoning the obsolete military alliance over financial commitments, and in Sicily, the president will meet with the other leaders of the G7. Among the critics awaiting him is Emmanuel Macron, the new French President who vowed to take the President to task on climate change after Mr Trump endorsed far-right candidate Marine Le Pen. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner, has reportedly been identified as a person of interest in the ongoing investigation into possible ties between Russia and Donald Trumps campaign. The Washington Post said a senior adviser to Mr Trump was among people investigators wanted to speak to. A New York magazine reporter then said the person in question was Mr Kushner, 36, who is married to Mr Trumps eldest daughter and who flew out of Washington on Friday night to accompany the President on his first official foreign trip. The Post said the person under investigation was close to the President, but did not identify them. However, the number of people who fit such a profile would be very small. Yashar Ali, a contributor to New York magazine said on Twitter: Its Jared Kushner. Have confirmed this with four people. Im not speculating. The White House did not immediately respond to calls and emails from The Independent seeking comment. The Trump Organisation, which controls the President's financial interests, also did not respond to queries. White House officials have previously acknowledged contacts between Russian officials and Mr Kushner, as well as with Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. The revelation came just two days after the Justice Department announced that former FBI Director, Robert Mueller, had been appointed special counsel to lead the investigation into alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. The Post said the investigation appeared to be entering a more active phase, with investigators moving from work that has been largely hidden from the public to conducting interviews and using a grand jury to issue subpoenas. The newspaper said the intensity of the investigation was now anticipated to speed up even more. Trump denies that he urged Comey to close Flynn investigation It said investigators remained keenly interested in people who previously wielded influence in the Trump campaign and administration but are no longer part of it, including former national security adviser Michael Flynn and former campaign chairman Paul Manafort. The report was published as Mr Trump travelled to Saudi Arabia on the first leg of a trip abroad that the White House hopes will shift attention away from the political firestorm triggered by his firing last week of former FBI Director James Comey. Mr Comey was previously leading the probe. His firing and news reports that Mr Trump had previously asked Mr Comey to stop investigating Mr Flynn led critics to charge that Mr Trump may have improperly sought to hamper the FBI probe. As the President has stated before - a thorough investigation will confirm that there was no collusion between the campaign and any foreign entity, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said in a statement in response to the Posts report. Separately, the New York Times reported on Friday that Mr Trump told Russian officials at a White House meeting last week that firing Mr Comey relieved great pressure that the president was facing from the ongoing probe into Russia and the election. I just fired the head of the FBI. He was crazy, a real nut job, Mr Trump said, according to the Times, which cited a document summarising the meeting and which was read to the newspaper by a US official. I faced great pressure because of Russia. Thats taken off. Mr Trump met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russias Ambassador to Washington in the Oval Office the day after he fired Mr Comey. Earlier this year, the White House issued a statement saying Mr Kushner had volunteered to testify before the Senate intelligence committee in relation to its Russia investigation. Mr. Kushner will certainly not be the last person the committee calls to give testimony, but we expect him to be able to provide answers to key questions that have arisen in our inquiry, said a statement from the Senate intelligence committee. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Mike Pence has tiptoed gingerly through the chaos engulfing the White House surfacing occasionally to offer loyalty to Donald Trump, while trying to avoid the spreading whiff of scandal. One commentator, CNN's editor-at-large Chris Cillizza, characterised the Vice President as having been "nearly invisible for the last 48 hours or so". While some conservatives view Mr Pence as a calming force in an administration mired in turmoil, Democrats are eager to tie him to Mr Trump's vulnerabilities. The appointment of a special counsel to probe ties between Russia and Mr Trump's campaign and associates has turned up the heat for everyone in Mr Trump's orbit. And there are fresh questions about how much Mr Pence knew as head of Mr Trump's transition team. The vice president was under new scrutiny Thursday after reports that former National Security Adviser Mike Flynn in January alerted the transition team about a Justice Department inquiry into whether he was secretly working as a foreign lobbyist for Turkish interests. The White House has said Mr Flynn was fired in February for lying to Mr Pence about his contacts with Russia's ambassador. An administration official said Thursday that Mr Pence knew nothing about Mr Flynn's activities at the time and referred to the vice president's comments in a Fox News interview in March in which Mr Pence said, Hearing that story today was the first I heard of it. Democrats said that strained credibility. Mike Pence says there was no Russia collusion and that Donald Trump acted decisively in firing Comey Pence was the head of the transition team that tapped Mr Flynn for national security adviser. That is not good, said Stephanie Schriock, the president of EMILY's List, a Democratic group that backs female candidates who support abortion rights. Its time to talk about Mike Pence, Emily Aden, the rapid response director of American Bridge, a liberal political group, said in a memo circulated on Thursday, according to the New York Times. Pence is just as complicit in this scandal as every other Republican in Washington, and despite his best efforts to fly under the radar, he should expect the country to hold him accountable. The Times reported Mr Pence was working quietly on policy issues including on the upcoming budget, as well as making a number of speeches over the coming days, rather than manning the barricades. Unlike his boss, who has raged in tweets and speeches, Mr Pence has been careful in his comments about the multiple probes into the campaign's contacts with Russia. In the wake of Mr Trump's abrupt dismissal of FBI director James Comey, Mr Pence has been circumspect. He has not publicly commented on the naming of former FBI director Robert Mueller to serve as the special counsel investigating the allegations, and he only obliquely referred to the tumult surrounding the administration in a speech to the US Chamber of Commerce on Thursday. Whatever Washington, DC, may be focused on at any given time, rest assured, President Donald Trump will never stop fighting for the issues that matter most to the American people, he said. But the Comey episode has revived questions about whether Mr Pence is out of the loop at the White House, or less than truthful in his public statements. When Mr Trump ousted Mr Comey, administration officials said the president only did so after receiving a memo from Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Mr Pence reiterated those claims to reporters, saying again and again that the decision came only after Trump decided to accept and support Rosenstein's recommendations. 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 Two days later, Mr Trump said in an interview with NBC News that he was planning to fire Mr Comey anyway and had considered it since the start of his administration. Matt Schlapp, a veteran Republican consultant who leads the American Conservative Union, said Mr Trump's candour and authenticity, attributes that helped get him elected, make it more difficult for Pence and other members of his team to stay in step. There are going to be these moments that, for the vice president and for everybody in the White House staff and the Trump orbit, when they explain something one way but that's not where the president's head is on that. It will always be awkward, Mr Schlapp said. My guess is this was an honest mistake and there is still deep respect between the president and the vice president. Asked how Mr Pence advised the president on Mr Comey, an administration official would not detail the conversations between the pair but stressed that the vice president supported the decision to fire the FBI head. The official who was not authorised to speak about Mr Pence's activities publicly, and agreed to be interviewed only on condition of anonymity also said Mr Pence was not part of the president's meeting last week with Russian diplomats, noting that he was on Capitol Hill for Senate business. The Comey firing represents a second rough patch for Mr Pence. At the start of the administration, the vice president publicly defended Mr Flynn against allegations that he had discussed sanctions with Russia's ambassador to the US before Mr Trump's inauguration. Mr Flynn had denied those conversations to Mr Pence and other top officials; he was forced out after it was discovered that he had misled the vice president. Throughout the upheavals, Mr Pence has maintained political life as usual. He has carved out a role as the administration's top lobbyist on Capitol Hill and was instrumental in helping Republicans pass a health care plan in the House. While Mr Trump is away on his first foreign trip, Mr Pence will be addressing graduates at a Pennsylvania Christian college and at Notre Dame while working on budget and policy issues in Washington. And political life never strays far from money. Mr Pence this week registered a fundraising committee that enables him to cultivate donors outside of the president's mostly low-dollar money network. The vice president is a far more traditional politician when it comes to raising money, and this group called the Great America Committee can collect up to $5,000 per donor and parcel out funds to candidates supportive of White House policies. Additional reporting by agencies Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump told Russian officials during an Oval Office meeting that firing former FBI Director James Comey eased pressure caused by an investigation into Russia's influence in the 2016 campaign, the New York Times reports. "I just fired the head of the FBI He was crazy, a real nut job," Mr Trump said, according to a document detailing the Russian visit. "I faced great pressure because of Russia. That's taken off." The President also reiterated that he was not personally under investigation. Recommended DOJ discussed FBI leadership shakeup months ago The document, which was read to the New York Times by sources in the White House, is the latest evidence that Mr Trump fired Mr Comey at least in part because of an ongoing investigation into possible collusion between his campaign and Russian officials. He had previously admitted that the investigation was part of the reasoning for the decision. The White House did not dispute the account portrayed, and instead said that the FBI investigation had put unnecessary pressure on the President's ability to conduct diplomacy with Russia. "By grandstanding and politicising the investigation into Russias actions, James Comey created unnecessary pressure on our ability to engage and negotiate with Russia," White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said. "The investigation would have always continued, and obviously, the termination of Comey would not have ended it. Once again, the real story is that our national security has been undermined by the leaking of private and highly classified conversations." Meanwhile, on Friday evening the Senate Intelligence Committee confirmed that Mr Comey would testify in 'open session' about the investigation into possible links between the Trump team and Russian officials. 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 Comey's ouster followed requests from the President that he stop an investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, who was forced to resign for misrepresenting a conversation he had with Russian officials to Vice President Mike Pence. It was later discovered that the Trump administration knew about Mr Flynn's connections to Russia - which also include payments for a speech to the Russian state supported news organisation RT - even before bringing him into the White House. Former acting Attorney General Sally Yates had also warned the White House that Mr Flynn was potentially vulnerable to Russian extortion nearly three weeks before he stepped down. Close aides and advisors to Mr Trump have been under scrutiny for having contact with Russians during the campaign and during the presidential transition period. The United States government officially announced last year that Russia had meddled in the 2016 election. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump has departed Washington for his first foreign trip as President, leaving behind a scandal surrounding his surprise sacking of the FBI director which threatens to overshadow the eight-day tour. Mr Trump flew out of the capital for a trip that White House aides said they hoped would trigger a "reset" after weeks of controversy and chaos. The President will stop in Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the Vatican the homelands and holy sites of the worlds three major religions before heading to summits in Belgium and Italy. Mr Trump was reportedly reluctant to leave for the trip, even telling one aide he felt it should be cut in half. But this was before he fired former FBI chief James Comey, allegedly released covert intelligence to Russia, and saw a special prosecutor appointed to investigate his campaigns ties to Russia. The trip is expected to give the President some reprieve from a gruelling news cycle but no one expects it to be easy. In preparation for the trip, Mr Trump held briefings with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, national security adviser HR McMaster, deputy national security adviser Dina Powell and senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner several of whom will accompany him on the trip. Sources told Reuters that Mr Trumps briefing documents included his name in "as many paragraphs as we can, because he keeps reading if he's mentioned. Others told The New York Times they worried the President would be swayed by foreign leaders flattery, or erupt in off-script outbursts. 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 will stop first in Saudi Arabia, marking his first night outside of the White House or a Trump-branded property since taking office. Saudi diplomats reportedly wooed the President into visiting their country via a persuasive, picture-laden PowerPoint presentation. Caterers for state events have been instructed to prepare Mr Trumps favourite meal steak and ketchup to serve alongside local delicacies. Mr Trump is expected to give a speech on Islam, and announce a $350bn arms deal. The President will then fly to Israel, where he will meet with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and then with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. On Monday, several outlets reported that the President had revealed classified information about an Isis terrorist plot to two Russian officials during a White House meeting. That information is said to have come from a crucial Israeli intelligence source. There are questions over whether Mr Trump's disclosure of Israel's sensitive information could damage diplomatic relations between the US and the Middle Eastern country. Mr Trump has enjoyed warmer relations with Mr Netanyahu than former President Barack Obama, but has also hosted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the White House. On Tuesday, Mr Trump will meet with Mr Abbas again, this time in Bethlehem. Mr Trump is said to have requested that the traditional visit to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial museum in Jerusalem, be cut short. After departing Israel, Mr Trump will head to the Vatican to meet with Pope Francis. The President sparred with Pope Francis during the presidential campaign, after the head pontiff criticised the then-candidates controversial plan to build a wall on the US-Mexico border. A person who only thinks about building walls, wherever they may be, and not about building bridges, is not a Christian, Pope Francis said at the time. Nevertheless, the Vatican has said it would welcome a visit from the President. Mr Trump will meet with Italys President Sergio Mattarella in Rome before leaving for a Nato meeting in Brussels. Delegates to the Nato summit have been cautioned by their Washington consultants to keep it short and use plenty of visual aids in talks with the President. Also important is stroking the Presidents ego; complimenting him on his electoral college win and contrasting him favourably with former President Obama. The summit will involve several meetings with leaders of European Union countries. Mr Trump recently reversed course on the 28-member bloc, describing it as wonderful, despite having once called it a vehicle for Germany. On the Presidents list of meetings is a working lunch with the recently elected French President Emmanuel Macron. Mr Trump expressed support for Mr Macrons far-right opponent, Marine Le Pen, during the French election. On Friday, the President will attend the G7 Summit in Sicily. He heads back to Washington on Saturday. Asked how Mr Trumps mounting scandals at home will affect his relations with allies abroad, Democratic Senator Ben Cardin, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told reporters: Well see how the trip goes." But these trips are pretty well orchestrated from the point of view of what events youre going to be at, he added. I think its an exciting itinerary one that could be extremely important for US national security and relations. We hope it will be successful. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Robert Mueller isnt starting his work investigating Russias influence on the 2016 election alone, hes also bringing along a veteran Watergate prosecutor and another man who hes worked closely with him before. James Quarles, who started his career working on the Watergate Special Prosecution Force, and Aaron Zebley, Mr Muellers chief of staff at the FBI, are joining the investigation. Another Watergate veteran says that Mr Quarles prior experience in such a high-stakes investigation will only help stabilise the process. There is nothing comparable to the kind of pressure and obligation that this kind of job puts on your shoulders, Richard Ben-Veniste, a lawyer who served as a special prosecutor during the Watergate scandal, told CNN describing Mr Quarles unique qualifications. Having been there before, gives him the confidence to know how to do it and how to do it right. The choice of Mr Mueller as special prosecutor has elicited praise from many in Washington who are familiar with him. A former FBI director, Mr Mueller has established a reputation for himself as a steadfast and resolute lawyer. He is known for diligent and deep probes into issues, leaving no stone unturned. His career has seen him prosecute a wide range of cases including drug-related murders in Washington, international terrorism, and he has even been hired as a private counsel to investigate the NFLs culpability in Ray Rices domestic violence case (to give a good idea of his thoroughness: His write-up afterward included five pages just describing the NFLs process for the delivery of mail and packages). 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 Mueller and his team may not present the results of their investigation for some time, and it is believed that there will be very few leaks in the months ahead to give a good idea of where things are headed. The special prosecutor will be able to independently determine the timeline of investigation so that they can diligently peel away at every facet of the case. The 14th Senior Officials' Meeting on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea was held in Guiyang in southwest China's Guizhou Province on Thursday. China and the Philippines could consider jointly exploring the untapped oil and gas in the South China Sea, before the outstanding disputes surrounding those waters are ultimately settled, said China's Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin. Liu shared this option with reporters on May 18, after the 14th Senior Officials' Meeting on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. The meeting was held in Guiyang in southwest China's Guizhou Province. Liu also confirmed that energy cooperation was among the deals inked during the "Belt and Road" forum in Beijing on May 14-15. Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping witnessed the signing of the deals. A Chinese foreign ministry press release said on Thursday that all parties have agreed to peacefully resolve the disputes through negotiations and dialogue. The Chinese government greatly appreciates Dutertes positive and productive stance on the South China Sea issue, said Liu. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump said the appointment of a special prosecutor to take over the Justice Departments probe into alleged ties between Russia and the Trump campaign hurts our country terribly. It shows were a divided, mixed-up, not-unified country, Mr Trump said in a statement to reporters. And we have very important things to be doing right now, whether its trade deals, whether its military, whether its stopping nuclear. Mr Trump posited that the naming of a special counsel also happens to be a pure excuse for the Democrats having lost an election that they should have easily won. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller to oversee the Russia probe a concession by the Trump administration to Democrats, who had intensified their calls for a special counsel after the president fired FBI Director James Comey. Mr Comey was heading the bureaus Russia and Trump campaign investigation. Recommended Everything we know about US probes into Russian election hacking Based on 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, Mr Rosenstein said. A respected figure in American law enforcement circles, Mr Mueller headed the FBI from 2001 to 2013, serving under Presidents George W Bush and Barack Obama. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives still have committees conducting their own probes into whether Trump campaign advisers conspired with Russian operatives to influence the 2016 US presidential election. The question over the need for a special prosecutor consumed Washington this week along with other Trump-related scandals even as congressional leaders tried to shift reporters focus to other matters such as healthcare. Democrats asserted that if Americans were to have faith in the impartiality of the Russia investigation, then it must not be left in the hands of the FBI, which is meant to be an independent and non-political agency under the Justice Department. 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 Most Republicans did not join their Democratic colleagues in calling for a special prosecutor, preferring to keep their faith in the congressional and career FBI investigators. But several changed their mind after The New York Times reported that the President asked Mr Comey to drop an investigation into former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, according to a memo reportedly written by Mr Comey. Mr Flynn resigned in February after it was revealed that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other top White House officials about his conversations with Sergey Kislyak, the Russian ambassador to the US. The White House said the memo is not an accurate portrayal of the conversation between Mr Comey and the President. In a press conference at the White House on Thursday, Mr Trump said that while he respects the decision to appoint a special counsel, he added that the entire thing has been a witch hunt". Theres no collusion between, certainly, myself and my campaign but I can only speak for myself and the Russians zero, he said. Despite Mr Trumps declarations that there was no conspiracy, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said the Russia investigation now appears to be considered criminal. It was a counterintelligence investigation before now. It appears to me now to be considered a criminal investigation, Mr Graham told reporters after Mr Rosenstein briefed all 100 senators on the investigation. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Authorities in Bangladesh have arrested 27 men on suspicion of being gay, a criminal offence in the Muslim-majority country, and plan to charge them with drug possession, an official has said. A commander of the Rapid Action Battalion, an elite police unit that made the arrests, said the suspects, mostly students aged 20-30 years, had traveled from across the country and were picked up in a raid on a community centre at Keraniganj, outside the nation's capital, early Friday. Zahangir Hossain Matobbar said they recovered illegal drugs and condoms in their possession and plan to charge them with drug offenses and not homosexuality because they were detained before they engaged in sex. The agency also arrested the owner of the community centre where the suspects used to gather every two months and stay overnight for partying. Recommended Indonesian Sharia court sentences gay couple to 85 lashes Last year, suspected militants killed a leading LGBT activist and his friend in Dhaka. The 35-year-old Xulhaz Mannan, a USAID official, was hacked to death in April last year at his home. He had founded the country's only LGBT magazine Roopbaan and was a leading organiser of gays, who are ostracised in Bangladesh. Since then, many of the gays and lesbians have left the country after they received death threats. Many still live double lives to avoid reprisals. LGBT+ rights around the globe Show all 9 1 /9 LGBT+ rights around the globe LGBT+ rights around the globe Russia Russias antipathy towards homosexuality has been well established following the efforts of human rights campaigners. However, while it is legal to be homosexual, LGBT couples are offered no protections from discrimination. They are also actively discriminated against by a 2013 law criminalising LGBT propaganda allowing the arrest of numerous Russian LGBT activists. AFP/Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Brunei Brunei recently introduced a law to make sodomy punishable by stoning to death. It was already illegal and punishable by up to 10 years in prison AFP/Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Mauritania Men who are found having sex with other men face stoning, while lesbians can be imprisoned, under Sharia law. However, the state has reportedly not executed anyone for this crime since 1987 Alamy LGBT+ rights around the globe Sudan Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is illegal under Sudanese law. Men can be executed on their third offence, women on their fourth Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Saudi Arabia Homosexuality and gender realignment is illegal and punishable by death, imprisonment, whipping and chemical castration Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Yemen The official position within the country is that there are no gays. LGBT inviduals, if discovered by the government, are likely to face intense pressure. Punishments range from flogging to the death penalty Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Nigeria Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is illegal and in some northern states punishable with death by stoning. This is not a policy enacted across the entire country, although there is a prevalent anti-LGBT agenda pushed by the government. In 2007 a Pew survey established that 97% of the population felt that homosexuality should not be accepted. It is punishable by 14 years in prison Reuters LGBT+ rights around the globe Somalia Homosexuality was established as a crime in 1888 and under new Somali Penal Code established in 1973 homosexual sex can be punishable by three years in prison. A person can be put to death for being a homosexual Reuters LGBT+ rights around the globe Iraq Although same-sex relationships have been decriminalised, much of the population still suffer from intense discrimination. Additionally, in some of the country over-run by the extremist organisation Isis, LGBT individuals can face death by stoning Getty Homosexuality is a crime in Bangladesh under a law dating back to the British colonial rule, and it has never been amended. The law is rarely enforced. Copyright Associated Press Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A French lawyer is seeking to prove that the Brexit negotiations are illegal and should be cancelled because thousands of British citizens living overseas were denied the vote in last years referendum. Julien Fouchet has received hundreds of testimonies from Britons living in the EU, who were denied the right to vote because they have lived outside of the UK for more than 15 years. He has also spoken to residents in some of the UKs overseas territories including Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands and the Falkland Islands. Now the European law specialist from Bordeaux wants to challenge the validity of the EU negotiations on the basis the procedure was flawed by their exclusion. Speaking to The Independent Mr Fouchet, an associate at legal firm Cornille-Pouyanne, said the decision to exclude some UK citizens from the vote was an aberration and that the case was a matter of human rights. The vote is the essence of democracy and all European citizens should have the same rights when it comes to expressing their democratic rights. We should fight for the British, this is a question of European solidarity and human rights, he said. Mr Fouchet added that the legal case will be filed against the European Commission. Brexit is already starting to make families poorer, Bank of England warns It will call for the cancellation of the Brexit negotiating directives drafted by the EU, which are due to be adopted on 22 May, on the basis the referendum breached the rights of the UK citizens who were denied the vote. He will argue the referendum was unfair and breached EU rules that all citizens, including British citizens in the UK and abroad, should receive equal treatment when it comes to voting. Although Mr Fouchet accepted chances of success were uncertain, he said there were serious arguments in favour of the case. If successful, Mr Fouchet said he will call for a second referendum to be held, with all adult British voters being asked whether Brexit negotiations should go ahead or whether the process should be reversed, meaning the UK could stay in the EU. In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions Show all 12 1 /12 In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions European commission member in charge of Brexit negotiations with Britain, French Michel Barnier listens at the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker speaking at the European Parliament in Strasbourg Getty Images In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President of the Federal Republic of Germany, delivers his speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg EPA In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions European Union's chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt, President of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), addresses the European Parliament during a debate on Brexit priorities and the upcomming talks on the UK's withdrawal from the EU Reuters In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions Michel Barnier, European Chief Negotiator for Brexit reacts during a meeting at the European Parliament in Strasbourg EPA In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions Member of the European Parliament and former leader of the anti-EU UK Independence Party (UKIP) Nigel Farage wears socks with Union Jack flag at the European Parliament in Strasbourg Getty Images In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions Nigel Farage, United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) member and MEP, addresses the European Parliament during a debate on Brexit priorities and the upcoming talks on the UK's withdrawal from the EU Reuters In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions European commission member in charge of Brexit negotiations with Britain, French Michel Barnier gestures during speeches at the European Parliament in Strasbourg Getty In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions The President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker (L) speaks with European commission member in charge of Brexit negotiations with Britain, French Michel Barnier at the European Parliament in Strasbourg Getty In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions European Union's chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt, President of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), addresses the European Parliament during a debate on Brexit priorities and the upcomming talks on the UK's withdrawal from the EU Reuters In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions Getty In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier delivers a speech during a plenary session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg Getty In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions The European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France Getty Images Mr Fouchet said he did not intend the case to be political or interfere with UK affairs, but he argued the issue had a European dimension and could set a precedent for other EU voters in the future. I want to stop the negotiation process and ensure that the number of people who could not vote are recognised, he said. This is about European rights. Those UK citizens who have lived in the EU for more than 15 years were profoundly disappointed. This will be the trial of the expats. He added: Brexit played out with 1.27 million votes difference so if those people had the right to vote, it could have tipped the scales." In the 2015 Conservative manifesto defended by David Cameron, there was a clear commitment to scrap the 15 year rule for overseas voters and instead introduce votes for life for British citizens who live abroad. And this year again, the Tories have pledged to legislate for votes for life for British overseas electors. But last year, the Supreme Court upheld a decision of both the High Court and the Court of Appeal that UK citizens who have lived outside the UK for more than 15 years would not be eligible for the Brexit vote on 23 June 2016. 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 challenge was brought by the Italian based World War Two veteran Harry Shindler, 95, and lawyer and Belgian resident Jacquelyn MacLennan, 55. Mr Shindler, who fought the war in Italy and has lived there for more than 35 years, told The Independent the case brought forward by Mr Fouchet was a very interesting development. Frustrated he was not allowed to cast his ballot in last years referendum, the war veteran made an application to the United Nations Human Rights Council to consider the result of the EU referendum void since thousands like him were not allowed to vote. The referendum is more important to us than people living in Britain because if things go bad, we could be asked to move out. I have to say, I feel quite sad that in the year 2016, when the right to universal suffrage has been fought for more than 200 years, that we should still be asking for the right to vote, he said. Mr Shindler said he has written to Prime Minister Theresa May asking to change the legislation about expats if she wins the next election. A group of British Europhile academics, professionals and lawyers based in the UK and France, who call themselves Action Europe, have launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise 15,000 to help the case go ahead. The legal action will have to be requested before the General Court of the European Union by 22 July, two months after the European Council is due to adopt the negotiating directives for Brexit. After that, Mr Fouchet fears it will be too late. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Sweden has dropped its investigation against Julian Assange but the WikiLeaks founder could still be arrested by British police. The country's director of public prosecutions, Marianne Ny, said the preliminary rape and sexual assault probe has been discontinued because of logistical. Mr Assange reacted to the news by tweeting a photo of himself smiling inside the Ecuadorian Embassy where he has been living for almost five years. Detained for 7 years without charge by while my children grew up and my name was slandered, he wrote. I do not forgive or forget. Sexual assault case against Julian Assange dropped Ecuador's government launched an appeal with the British Government to give Mr Assange safe passage to be granted asylum in the South American country. His lawyer, Per Samuelson, claimed the end of the case was a "total victory", adding: "We finally were able to get the interview done and he could describe what really happened and also because we could show that the United States is hunting him, which we could not do before. But the woman who accused Mr Assange of rape has said she was shocked by Swedens decision to drop the seven-year investigation. A lawyer representing the woman, who met the WikiLeaks founder at a 2010 conference in Stockholm, said prosecutors should not have given up the case before it reached court and accused Mr Assange of deliberately obstructing the judicial process because he was afraid. It is a scandal that a suspected rapist can disregard the judiciary and thus avoid trial, Elisabeth Fritz added. Proof of evidence in the case is available and that evidence should have been tried in courtthe wait has been long. The Australian activist repeatedly said he was entirely innocent of the allegations, which stemmed from a meeting with the claimant in August 2010. The European arrest warrant issued for Mr Assange is being revoked, sparking speculation he would be leaving the London embassy. But the Metropolitan Police swiftly confirmed it would still arrest the Australian over skipping bail when he sought asylum. Westminster Magistrates' Court issued a warrant for the arrest of Julian Assange following him failing to surrender to the court on the 29 June 2012, a statement said. The Metropolitan Police Service is obliged to execute that warrant should he leave the Embassy. A spokesperson for WikiLeaks claimed the British government "refuses to confirm or deny" whether it has received a US extradition request, adding: "Focus now moves to UK." The Australian activist sought asylum in the Ecuadorian Embassy while on bail in 2012, over fears the Swedish investigation would result in him being extradited to the US over leaked military documents and diplomatic cables. The Ecuadorian government had sent Sweden a letter saying there had been a serious failure by the prosecutor, including a lack of initiative to complete inquiries. It raised developments in the US since the election of Donald Trump as President, including a speech by CIA director Mike Pompeo describing WikiLeaks as a hostile intelligence service. Julian Assange announces WikiLeaks will publish CIA cyber weapons The letter argued that recent public declarations constituted an obvious risk for Mr Assange, who originally faced three sexual assault charges that he denied. He was questioned by an Ecuadorian prosecutor with Swedish officials present inside the embassy in November, following a bilateral agreement that ended years of legal wrangling. Prosecutors said the interview sparked further investigations but "no further measures remaining that are possible to take in order to further the investigation". Ms Ny said the investigation could have progressed if Mr Assange was formally served notice of the crimes of which he is suspected, adding: This was a measure which was to have been conducted during the interview in London but Mr Assange refused to make it possible. She said the probe could be reopened if Mr Assange returns to Sweden before statute of limitations ends in August 2020, but the move appears highly unlikely. The decision to discontinue the investigation is not because we've been able to make a full assessment of the evidence, but because we didn't see possibilities to advance the investigation, Ms Ny added. So we won't make any statements on the issue of guilt." A police officer walks past people gathering outside the Ecuadorian embassy in London on 19 May (AP) The UN had called on Swedish and British authorities to free Mr Assange from "arbitrary detention" in a report released last year, with the UK failing to overturn the findings on appeal. Now that all appeals are exhausted I expect that the UK and Sweden will comply with their international obligations and set me free, Mr Assange said following the ruling. It is an obvious and grotesque injustice to detain someone for six years who hasn't even been charged with an offence. As the Swedish investigation continued in December 2010, Mr Assange was jailed in Wandsworth Prison in isolation for 10 days and then put under house arrest for 550 days under powers granted by an international arrest warrant. Scotland Yard stood down the 24/7 police presence outside the Ecuadorian Embassy building in 2015 but pledged to make every effort to arrest Mr Assange if he left. There had been controversy over the escalating cost of the exercise, which was believed to be over 12 million. The investigation was dropped days after Chelsea Manning, who provided WikiLeaks with classified intelligence on Iraq and Afghanistan that shocked the world, was freed from prison. The transgender former US intelligence analyst left Fort Leavenworth on Wednesday, months after Barack Obama commuted her 35-year sentence as one of his final acts as President. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} German police say a man has died after setting fire to himself in a central square in Munich. His motives are unclear. Police said the 54-year-old Munich resident, whom they didn't identify, drove at about 3am Friday to the Marienplatz square, where the Bavarian capital's city hall is located. He poured several litres of gasoline over himself and set himself ablaze. Passers-by extinguished the flames. He was taken to a hospital but died about an hour later. Police said the man had scrawled slogans on his car along the lines of Never again war on German soil and Amri is only the tip of the iceberg a reference to Anis Amri, the Tunisian who attacked a Christmas market in Berlin and whom authorities had previously been unable to deport. Police are investigating the incident but declined to speculate on the man's political motivations. Copyright Associated Press For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Israeli culture minister Miri Regev has managed to make the opening of the 2017 Cannes Film Festival more political than usual thanks to a controversial dress choice. The outspoken right-wing member of Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling coalition stepped out on the red carpet on Wednesday night wearing a full length white and gold dress with Jerusalems Old City, the Dome of the Rock and Tower of David printed along the hemline. This year we are celebrating 50 years since the liberation and reunification of Jerusalem, Ms Regev said, referencing the 1967 Six Day War, in which Israel annexed East Jerusalem. I am proud to celebrate this historic date through art and fashion, and I am happy that this work by Israeli designer Aviad Herman is so moving and honours the beautiful status of our eternal capital Jerusalem. Israels 50-year-old occupation of East Jerusalem and much of the West Bank has never been recognised by most of the international community - leading Palestinians and many other observers to react with outrage to Ms Regevs words and fashion statement. One columnist for liberal Israeli newspaper Haaretz called the dress an aggressive, cynical and opportunistic act. It was yet another scene from the colonialist horror movie in which Regev stars and for which we are all cast, against our will, as the audience, Shira Pur wrote. Social media users were quick to either praise or ridicule Regevs clothing. While some users called it dress of the year, others took to photoshopping the dress to give what in their eyes was a fuller representation of the Arab-Israeli conflict. The Israeli occupation wall, soldiers from the Six Day War celebrating taking the Western Wall, and scenes of death and destruction from the Gaza Strip were all superimposed onto Regevs dress, replacing the Jerusalem skyline. More jokey posts used the dress to promote their own causes - such as an upcoming tour by Tel Aviv heavy metal band Cain and Abel. Regardless of your politics, I hope we can all agree: whatever Miri Regev paid for this dress, it was too much, journalist Gregg Carlstrom wrote on Twitter. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} On the afternoon of 1 May, President Donald Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner, welcomed a high-level delegation of Saudis to a gilded reception room next door to the White House and delivered a brisk pep talk: Lets get this done today. Kushner was referring to a $100 billion-plus arms deal that the administration hoped to seal with Saudi Arabia in time to announce it during Trumps visit to the kingdom this weekend. The two sides discussed a shopping list that included planes, ships and precision-guided bombs. Then a US official raised the idea of the Saudis buying a sophisticated radar system designed to shoot down ballistic missiles. Sensing that the cost might be a problem, several administration officials said, Kushner picked up the phone and called Marillyn A. Hewson the chief executive of Lockheed Martin, which makes the radar system and asked her whether she could cut the price. As his guests watched slack-jawed, Hewson told him she would look into it, officials said. Kushners personal intervention in the arms sale is further evidence of the Trump White Houses readiness to dispense with custom in favour of informal, hands-on deal making. It also offers a window into how the administration hopes to change Americas position in the Middle East, emphasising hard power and haggling over traditional diplomacy. The Trump administration is expected to frame the deal, worth about $110 billion over 10 years, as a symbol of Americas renewed commitment to security in the Persian Gulf. But former officials pointed out that President Barack Obama, whose arms sales to Saudi Arabia totaled $115 billion, had already approved several of the weapons in the package. Both sides have an incentive to herald this as a new era in Gulf cooperation, said Derek H. Chollet, who served as assistant secretary of defence for international security affairs under Obama. I see this as largely continuity. What has changed, Chollet said, is that the House of Saud is now dealing directly with a member of the Trump family. Its quite normal for them to sit down with the son-in-law of a president and do a deal, he said. Its more normal for them than any previous administration. The White House and Lockheed declined to comment on the call between Kushner and Hewson, or on the broader arms sale. While Kushners middle-of-the-meeting call to a military contractor was unorthodox, current and former officials said, it did not appear to raise legal issues. Lockheed is the sole manufacturer of the antimissile system, known as Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD. Instead, the episode was reminiscent of Lockheeds decision in February to cut the price of F-35 fighter jets it was selling to the Pentagon after Trump complained to Hewson that the planes were too expensive. Kushner, White House officials said, began building ties to members of the Saudi royal family during the transition. He was at the table when his father-in-law hosted the deputy crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, at a lunch in the State Dining Room in March. And he offered a strategic overview of the Saudi-American relationship at the meeting this month, according to an agenda obtained by The New York Times. But officials emphasised that Kushners work on the deal was part of a government-wide effort that includes the State Department, the Defense Department and the National Security Council. They also said the arms sale would be only one element of Trumps busy two-day stop in Saudi Arabia, which will also include a meeting with King Salman at the royal court, a conference with Persian Gulf allies, a broader summit meeting with the leaders of Muslim countries, and a visit to a new center dedicated to combating terrorism and extremism. The showcase event will be a speech in which the officials said Trump would seek to unify the Muslim world against the scourge of extremism. Stephen Miller, Trumps senior policy adviser, is writing the speech, which officials said would serve as an answer to the landmark address to the Islamic world that Obama gave in Cairo in 2009. White House officials have consulted Obamas speech and predicted a starkly different tone from Trump. His goal, they said, will be to unify US allies around a common set of objectives, including a harder line against Iran and a pledge to share the security burden in the region. The speech will not include any apology for Americas role. After a strained relationship with Obama, Saudi officials have expressed delight at Trumps tough rhetoric on Iran. This White House is viewed as more sympathetic to the military campaign that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are carrying out against the Houthis, Iranian-backed rebels who are waging an insurgency in neighbouring Yemen. The Obama administration put a hold on precision-guided munitions it had agreed to sell the Saudis out of fear that they would be used to bomb civilians in Yemen. The Trump administration has freed up those weapons, which are part of the $110 billion package. The package also includes maritime assets, meaning ships, so the Saudis can assume more of the burden of policing the Persian Gulf and Red Sea against Iranian aggression. It does not include high-end items like the advanced F-35 fighter, whose sale to Saudi Arabia would alarm Israel. Trump is not expected to raise human rights concerns with the Saudis, in keeping with his approach to strongmen in Turkey, Egypt, China and the Philippines. The president, his aides said, does not believe the United States gets results by lecturing other countries. Given that, and the big-ticket arms sale, most analysts and former officials predicted that Trumps visit to Saudi Arabia would be a success. It could end up being the highlight of his nine-day, four-country tour, particularly since he will be going later to a NATO summit meeting in Brussels, where the other attendees will watch for evidence that he still wants to mothball the alliance. Even in Israel, where Trump is likely to be welcomed with open arms, tensions have surfaced over his sharing classified Israeli intelligence during a meeting with Russias foreign minister and ambassador to the United States, and a smaller flap over the political status of the Western Wall. Still, the Saudi visit is not without risk. Obama made Riyadh, the Saudi capital, his first stop in the Middle East in June 2009, hoping to enlist the Saudis in a new Israeli-Palestinian peace effort. King Salmans predecessor, King Abdullah, rebuffed the young president. 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 For now, the White House is not abandoning the Iran nuclear agreement, which is reviled in Saudi Arabia. Though experts say the Saudis understand the administrations reluctance to act precipitously, some critics worry that it will make Trump more eager to accommodate the Saudis in other areas, like their campaign in Yemen. Wed been saying for two years that this is not a conflict youre going to win militarily, said Jeffrey Prescott, a senior director for Iran, Iraq, Syria and Gulf nations on Obamas National Security Council. We had been trying to use the leverage we had to get the Saudis and Emiratis to the table to negotiate. One of the things to look at, Prescott added, is whether were getting into someone elses conflict. Copyright The New York Times For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Pentagons account of its Thursday-night air strike on pro-Assad militia forces in Syria concealed the real story of a race to the Syrian-Iraqi border by armed groups working for both the Americans and the Syrian regime. Even the targets listed by the US appear to have been wrong. Indeed, what was described by the Americans as a minor action was part of a far more important struggle between the US and the Syrian regime for control of the south-eastern frontier of Syria a vital supply line for Iran to maintain its forces in Syria. According to the Syrians, the US destroyed not one but four T-62 tanks and a Shilka ZSU-23-4 Soviet-made radar-guided anti-aircraft vehicle manned by both Shia Iraqi militiamen loyal to Damascus and a unit of armed Iranians who were travelling in pick-up trucks to establish positions on the instructions of the Syrian army in the desert west of al-Tanf. Their intention to set up strongpoints in the vast and largely empty land in advance of the American-trained forces was an attempt by the Syrian government to keep open the route between Iraq and Syria now that the ISIS-held Syrian city of Raqqa far to the north has been almost surrounded by largely Kurdish fighters loyal to Washington. Six of the pro-Syrian militiamen were killed in the American air strike and 25 wounded it is unclear whether the casualties were Iraqi or Iranian but forces under the command of the Syrian army intend to continue their reconnaissance missions towards al-Tanf. Anti-aircraft gunners aboard one of the pick-up trucks accompanying the pro-Syrian units that were attacked, opened fire on the US jets and, according to the Syrians, forced the American aircraft to fly higher. US State Department releases new information alleging new atrocities perpetuated by Assad regime At this point, Syrian air defence units north-east of Damascus prepared to fire Soviet-made S-200 Angara ground-to-air missiles (an older version of the S-300 which the Russians have since delivered to the Syrian military) at the Americans but the US jets had by then left Syrian airspace. One of the five T-62 tanks attacked by the Americans was undamaged. Nonetheless, the brief action in the Syrian desert was of great importance. The Syrians were obviously trying to test Americas resolve to move its anti-Assad militia forces deeper into the south-east of the country and the US was prepared, albeit on a small scale, to show that it was prepared to press on. But the Syrian-Iraqi frontier town of al-Tanf may turn out to be a key strategic point in the struggle of the Assad government to regain its national territory and keep open its border to Iraq and, by extension, to Iran. It lies only 30 miles from Iraq but because the Jordanian-Syrian-Iraqi borders join immediately to the south al-Tanf also lies the same distance from Jordan where the American-trained militia are based. In pictures: US missile strike against Syria Show all 7 1 /7 In pictures: US missile strike against Syria In pictures: US missile strike against Syria The guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) launches a tomahawk land attack missile in the Mediterranean Sea AP In pictures: US missile strike against Syria The United States military launched at least 50 tomahawk cruise missiles at al-Shayrat military airfield near Homs, Syria, in response to the Syrian military's alleged use of chemical weapons in an airstrike in a rebel held area in Idlib province EPA In pictures: US missile strike against Syria Shayrat airfield in Syria Getty Images In pictures: US missile strike against Syria US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) fires a tomahawk land attack missile in Mediterranean Sea Reuters In pictures: US missile strike against Syria US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) fires a tomahawk land attack missile in Mediterranean Sea Reuters In pictures: US missile strike against Syria President Donald Trump speaks at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., after the US fired a barrage of cruise missiles into Syria in retaliation for this week's gruesome chemical weapons attack against civilians AP In pictures: US missile strike against Syria Syria's President Bashar al-Assad Reuters Although US jets were involved in Thursdays air strikes, the forces on the ground comprised largely proxy fighters belonging to both the American-trained rebel opposition and to the Syrian military. If US personnel were accompanying the rebel forces, then they were lucky that neither the Russians nor Syrian Army personnel were present on the other side. For the Pentagon to suggest that this was a sideshow to Washingtons battle against Isis was to stretch the truth beyond credibility in the Middle East. Cutting Syria off from Iraq and thus from Iran appears to be a far more immediate operational aim of US forces in Syria than the elimination of the Sunni Caliphate cult that Washington claims to be its principal enemy in the Middle East. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} One of the UKs top ranking universities has come under fire for removing Muslim prayer spaces. Muslim students at the University of East Anglia were told on the eve of Ramadan that their Friday prayer space was to be taken away due to a lack of space during exam season. The only daily prayer space available on campus is to be permanently removed and replaced with a corridor to the university Library, it was reported. Students on Friday took part in a public prayer session in the main university square in peaceful protest against the move. A spokesperson from the UEA Islamic Society said: We are shocked and appalled that the University, who re-located us on the condition that they would investigate a permanent solution which they have failed to produce, would take away our only prayer spaces during exam period and before Ramadan. They have done this without consulting or telling any Muslim Students or the Student Union. All we want is to pray in peace and in cohesion at UEA but after years of being bumped around campus, being the only faith forced to use our campus cards to access our prayer space and now finding out by accident that our prayer space is being permanently taken away, UEA does not feel like a space for Muslims. Over the past few years, Muslim students at the university have used a lecture theatre for prayer and worship. The larger Friday worship sessions take place at a separate location by the Blackdale student residences. Both arrangements were set up as a temporary solution while the university discussed plans for a permanent prayer space. From Sunday, however, the Muslim student community are to be left with no designated prayer space, a move students say they had not been invited to discuss. UEAs Student Union has accused the university of discrimination, failing its duties under the Equality Act. Union spokesperson for welfare, community and diversity, Jo Swo, said the situation had caused a tremendous amount of anxiety and inconvenience for Muslim students as it has made them feel observed and treated like an inconvenience to the University. UEA has begun dramatic plans for expansion over the next few years, pledging to recruit up to 3,000 new students by 2030 a rise of 20 per cent. 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 Students have complained that the space assigned for prayer is too small to accommodate the estimated 600-plus Muslim students already on campus. The University, which has been expanding its numbers, is trying to convince us that the already crowded Multi-Faith Centre will somehow fit all current students of faith, a university Islamic Society spokesperson said. They don't seem to realise that not only is the space not big enough to accommodate or balance all students of faith with Muslim students praying 5 times a day, but the facilities are completely inadequate. A UEA spokesperson said the Vice Chancellor would be meeting with students imminently to discuss the matter. Prayer facilities for Muslim students would continue to be provided, they added. In a statement, the university said: "As part of a 2m investment in new library study spaces and the complete refurbishment of the Universitys main lecture theatres the use of a prayer facility near Lecture Theatre 2 will be temporarily unavailable for safety reasons during the building works. "That facility will become available to Muslim students again from the beginning of the new academic year. "The Blackdale main hall will also continue to be available to Muslim students during the evenings but will not be available for Friday prayers for one month while exams take place. "As a result, during this period, the main worship space in the Universitys Multi-Faith Centre* will be available to Muslim students for Friday prayers." The main hall would be available again for Friday prayers once the exam season finished, they university said, adding that a working group had been established to consider longer-term solutions for the faith group. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for weekly expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A week from now, the G7 Summit begins in Sicily and travellers heading for Italy are already being warned to expect increased security and tougher checks of documentation. The free-movement Schengen Agreement is being suspended, meaning all airline passengers will go through immigration checks. Donald Trump is among the world leaders attending the gathering in the hill town of Taormina. Recommended easyJet reveals the secret hand signals crew use to talk about you British Airways is telling passengers: There could be longer waiting times for all customers arriving into Italy during May but especially at Milan Linate, Catania and Pisa airports. We have also been told to expect longer waiting times for all customers as they go through security search areas and passport control areas for flights departing from Italian airports. Please arrive at the airport in good time for your flight. We expect departure areas at Milan Linate, Bologna and Venice airports to be particularly busy. And easyJet is warning of potential queues when going through immigration when departing and arriving for your flight. The Foreign Office warns that tougher border controls will apply until 31 May, and tells travellers: Expect delays and allow extra time to transit passport control at airports, seaports and border crossings. White House officials have caused headaches for the authorities in Sicily with their security demands for the US President. It is expected that Mr Trump will stay at a US air base south of Catania, and be helicoptered in every day. Other leaders are expected to stay at Taorminas Grand Hotel Timeo. The hotel is telling prospective guests There are no available rooms during the summit. BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said here on Friday that China stands ready to work with the Republic of Korea (ROK) to bring bilateral ties back to the normal track. Xi made the remarks during a meeting with Lee Hae-chan, who is visiting China from Thursday to Saturday as ROK President Moon Jae-in's special envoy. Xi said China attaches great importance to relations with the ROK, and would like to work with the ROK side to safeguard the hard-won achievements made in the development of bilateral ties. He called on both sides to consolidate the mutual political trust and properly handle divergence on the basis of mutual understanding and mutual respect so as to bring the China-ROK relations back to the normal track at an early date. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for weekly expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Whoever forms the next government faces two formidably difficult and important aviation issues. Of these, finding a cure to the foot-dragging over expanding Heathrow is the lesser concern. Even more important: what do we do with a problem like Brexit, when the powerful and highly efficient UK aviation industry is built upon the European principle of open skies? Over the past 21 years, easyJet has grown to become the largest UK airline by passenger numbers, and a key European player. The freedom to succeed was conferred by the freedom of the skies: the right of any EU airline to fly between any two points in Europe. While Ryanair is Irish, its largest base of operations is the UK. Whatever you think of Michael OLearys style, his airline has done wonders for our connectivity. And the presence of these two giants has driven existing players such as British Airways and Monarch to improve service and reduce fares. Across the Atlantic, UK passengers will have more choice than ever this summer, with the upstart Norwegian launching new US services from Belfast, Edinburgh and Gatwick, and BA biting back. And this battleground exists only because Europe and the US reached agreement a decade ago to liberalise transatlantic links. Recommended UK travel industry sets out its demands for Brexit negotiations Airlines are already planning their operations for the summer season of 2019, which starts on 31 March coinciding with Brexit. And absolutely no one knows who will be able to fly to where in the remaining EU and the US. While its a fair bet that Spain, Greece and Portugal will be happy for any old airline to fly from the UK bearing millions of holidaymakers, the governments of France, the Netherlands, Germany and Italy already see the opportunity to reverse the dominance of the British-Irish aviation axis. The choice of destinations, frequencies and fares we enjoy could remain exactly the same but equally we could wake up at the end of March 2019 to find that prices have soared and options have slumped. While a 10 per cent rise in the cost of Camembert or a BMW would be annoying, just suppose Europe insisted that routes had to be balanced every flight by a UK airline must be matched by one operated by an EU carrier. The key leisure and business route between London and Nice has around 16 flights a day, each way. All of them are flown by UK airlines. While no doubt innovative ways to stretch the concept would be imposed, with (say) easyJet France insisting, Bien sur, nous sommes francais, life would get very messy, very quickly. And across the Atlantic, the UK is now facing a protectionist regime in the White House, which listens to the US giants: American, Delta and United. They could probably do with a little less competition, thank you. Fortunately, we have far-sighted political parties competing for office, who will have already addressed this crucial issue. Or do we? Ryanair's Neil Sorahan says domestic routes will be reviewed after Brexit negotiations Labour promises negotiation "to retain membership of the Common Aviation Area and Open Skies arrangements". But I could find nothing in the manifestos of the Conservatives or the Liberal Democrats about aviation. Except on that second thorny issue: Heathrow. You cant accuse the Lib Dems of concealing their contempt for aviation: We remain opposed to any expansion of Heathrow, Stansted or Gatwick and any new airport in the Thames Estuary and will focus instead on improving existing regional airports such as Birmingham and Manchester. We will ensure no net increase in runways across the UK. The Tories say: We will continue our programme of strategic national investments, including High Speed 2, Northern Powerhouse Rail and the expansion of Heathrow Airport. Even Zac Goldsmith, who resigned his seat in protest against the decision to back a third runway, now says: Heathrow is not the defining issue for this election. This election is about leadership. For the sake of everyone flying to, from or within the UK, it would be good to see some. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for weekly expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Small businesses which cater to holiday makers on a portion of Frances longest beach have accused a firm of privatising the area, in a move they fear will force them to close. La Baule in Brittany makes up 9km of the western coast of France, from Pornichet to Pouliguen, and has an upmarket image thanks to its luxury hotels and villas which are used by travellers including Parisians. Last December 5.4km of La Baule was put into the control of French utilities firm Veolia, which specialises in waste treatment, for 12 years. The company plans to refurbish the facilities, and take over from the 35 business on the stretch, including bars, restaurants and sailing clubs, The Local.Fr reported citing AFP. Veolia also plans to knock down permanent buildings in this portion of La Baule, and erect temporary buildings that can be removed in the off-season. This process is predicted to cost between 200,000 and 700,000. Loic Durand-Raucher who is the manager of the beach association at La Baule, says that businesses fear the cost of this will passed on to them, forcing them to close. He added that the new structures will homogenise the beachs buildings. National Geographic 2016 Traveler Photographer of the Year contest - winners and runners up Show all 12 1 /12 National Geographic 2016 Traveler Photographer of the Year contest - winners and runners up National Geographic 2016 Traveler Photographer of the Year contest - winners and runners up Winter Horseman Photo by Anthony Lau National Geographic 2016 Traveler Photographer of the Year contest - winners and runners up Wherever you go, I will follow you!! Photo by Hiroki Inoue National Geographic 2016 Traveler Photographer of the Year contest - winners and runners up Ben Youssef Photo by Takashi Nakagawa National Geographic 2016 Traveler Photographer of the Year contest - winners and runners up Double trapping Photo by Massimiliano Bencivenni National Geographic 2016 Traveler Photographer of the Year contest - winners and runners up Rooftop Dreams, Varanasi Photo by Yasmin Mund National Geographic 2016 Traveler Photographer of the Year contest - winners and runners up Silenced Photo by Wing Ka H. National Geographic 2016 Traveler Photographer of the Year contest - winners and runners up Lagunas Baltinache (Atacama Desert) Photo by Victor Lima National Geographic 2016 Traveler Photographer of the Year contest - winners and runners up Remote life at -21 degree Photo by mattia passarini National Geographic 2016 Traveler Photographer of the Year contest - winners and runners up Celestial Reverie Photo by Jeremy Tan National Geographic 2016 Traveler Photographer of the Year contest - winners and runners up Muscle Beach Gym Photo by Dotan Saguy National Geographic 2016 Traveler Photographer of the Year contest - winners and runners up Divide Photo by Kathleen Dolmatch National Geographic 2016 Traveler Photographer of the Year contest - winners and runners up Bears on a Berg Photo by John Rollins The beach was ravaged by a storm in 2014, and businesses suffered as a result, leading the local authority to seek a firm to take control. Veolia, however, denied that the beach has been privatised, and said that businesses wont incur any costs. Recommended The adventures of a hot air balloon pilot This case is the latest to spark debate about private ownership of beaches. In 2014, locals complained when Martins Beach in California was blocked to public access. In December 2016, the California State Lands Commission voted to try to seize the land from billionaire Vinod Khosla, SF Gate reported. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for weekly expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The tiny, remote Japanese island of Okinoshima is a treasure trove of 80,000 offerings to Shinto sea gods, from beads to swords. But only men can see these artefacts, as women are banned from visiting. The UNs Unesco agency is currently considering whether the 0.3square mile island should become a World Heritage site. The decision will be announced in July in Krakow, Poland. Recommended Why getting drunk is a huge part of doing business in Japan Okinoshima, which sits off the coast of Japans southern-most island of Kyushu, is the location of three small sacred Shinto shrines which constitute the Munakata Grand Shrine. Shinto traditions state that women arent permitted to visit the island. Its male visitors must follow strict rules to strip naked and perform a cleansing ritual before they set foot on the land. When they leave, they cant take anything with them, and must never speak of the trip. Currently, men can only travel to the island once a year on 27 May, to remember the Japanese and Russian service personnel who died in battle in the Sea of Japan in 1905, according to News.com.au. Recommended Show off to your date at Japanese theme park by beating up bad guys The waters surrounding the island were an important trade route for Japan to China and the Korean Peninsula between the fourth and ninth centuries. During this time, it was used for exchanges between the people of the Korean Peninsula and China, according to Japan Times. And the shrines were used to pray to the Shinto gods to guard the ships, meaning the island is now a treasure trove of tens of thousands of offerings from overseas - from swords, to beads and mirrors. Its these artefacts that might earn the island World Heritage status. While the reason that women are banned is unclear, some believe that it is because menstruation would defile the site. Others say that women were banned from travelling because the journey by sea was considered dangerous, and men wanted to protect child-bearers. If the island is named a World Heritage site, it will become the 17th set of Japanese cultural assets with this status, according to Japan Times. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} President Trump arrives in Saudi Arabia tomorrow, mere hours after US bombers attacked pro-Assad militiamen whom the US military say were threatening a base in southern Syria where US and British Special Forces are training rebel fighters. It would be naive to imagine that the timing of the US attack, the first intentionally made against Syrian government ground forces in six years of war, was not geared to Trumps Saudi visit. It has the additional great advantage, from the point of view of the White House, of distracting attention from Trumps disasters in Washington since he sacked James Comey as head of the FBI and saw a Special Counsel appointed to investigate links between his associates and Russia. A cynical Pentagon saying holds that defence policy ends at the waters edge or, in other words, military decisions are determined by US domestic politics and not developments abroad. Trump is aware that the only time he received plaudits from the US media and his establishment enemies was when he ordered the firing of missiles at a Syrian airbase on 7 April. I am getting very good marks on foreign policy, he said, in tones of surprise, in a Time magazine interview earlier in the month. I am getting As and A+s on foreign policy. As his troubles deepen, military action against foreign foes is one of the few aces he still holds in his hand. Trump denies that he urged Comey to close Flynn investigation Even if Trump was not grappling with a crisis in the US that could destroy him, there was always a probability that he would shift to a more interventionist policy abroad than he had advocated during his presidential campaign. His stated aims were contradictory: making America great and respected once again in the world, but at the same opposing foreign wars in Iraq and Libya. The generals he appointed to top security positions, such as James Mattis as defence secretary and HR McMaster as national security adviser, are certainly not isolationists. Furthermore, a change in Americas international status over the last decade is fuelling enhanced interventionism: the US is no longer politically and economically the superpower it was between the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the financial crisis of 2007-08, but it retains its military primacy and there is a greater temptation to use it. Trump badly needs a success. His three-day visit to Saudi Arabia, before going on to Israel, gives him just such an opportunity. He will probably be able to announce a $110bn weapons sale to the Saudis and emphasise that this means more jobs back in the US. He will be given a welcome of imperial splendour in Riyadh, where there is to be an Arab Islamic American Summit and two other summits attended by dozens of Muslim leaders. The message is that the US and Saudi Arabia are at one in confronting the evil Iranians. Events planned for the multiple summits in Riyadh are pretentious and reek of hypocrisy. One of the most distasteful, called Tweeps 2017 and to be held in the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Riyadh, is designed to appeal to Trumps addiction to Twitter. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and King Abdullah of Jordan will be there, and there is to be a series of panels on the social media. This is happening in a country notorious for jailing anybody tweeting the mildest criticism of the government. Amnesty International reports that the Specialised Criminal Court (SCC) in the capital, Riyadh, sentenced journalist Alaa Brinji to five years in prison and a fine, followed by an eight-year travel ban, for comments he posted on Twitter. In Saudi Arabia and the Gulf monarchies, critical tweets lead to draconian sentences, ensuring that Twitter is no longer the public forum it was in 2011. Trump will have a series of bilateral meetings with King Salman, though discussions may be insubstantial since the 81-year-old monarch is incapacitated by old age and the Kingdom is run by his son, deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman. Like Trump, he will want to present the occasion as a big success, after the failure of his own interventionist foreign policy in Syria and Yemen to win victories and the U-turn on his economic reform programme under which he had reduced the perks and bonuses of the two-thirds of Saudis who work for the government. Many became sceptical about the personal commitment of bin Salman to austerity after reports that he purchased a yacht for half a billion dollars in 2015. The phoneyness and extravagance of the events in Riyadh are strongly reminiscent of the infamous celebration of 2,500 years of the Iranian monarchy held by the Shah in Persepolis in 1971. The aim was to put on display the achievements and power of Iran under the Shah, whose officials assembled even more royals, presidents and prime ministers in Persepolis than the 55 leaders and representatives gathered in Riyadh this weekend. It did not do him a lot of good when seven years later, after his overthrow, almost all his ungrateful guests rejected his pleas for a place of refuge. The cost of this extravagance is not known precisely, though an initial bill for $68m has been leaked, making it possible that the real expenses will be higher and comparable to the estimated $200m spent by the Shah on the Persepolis junket. Then, trees and bushes were planted in the Iranian desert and 50,000 songbirds imported from Europe. Catering was provided by Maxims de Paris and the menu included 50 peacocks stuffed with foie gras with their tail feathers reinserted, along with quails eggs stuffed with caviar (though the Shah was allergic to caviar so he had to eat artichokes). Ivanka Trump leads meeting at White House in father's absence There are other common features between Iran under the Shah and Saudi Arabia under bin Salman than the holding of such self-aggrandising jamborees. In both countries, rulers let their oil wealth go to their heads and convinced themselves that they could easily turn it into political influence. In both cases, the US and other western powers credulously failed to take on board the limitations of their oil state allies. Saudi Arabia may purchase $110bn in sophisticated US armaments, but in two years its air force has failed to subdue irregular Houthi forces in Yemen, though its merciless bombardment has brought 17 million Yemenis to the brink of famine and an incipient cholera epidemic. President Obama came to suspect that the US alliance with Saudi Arabia and other Sunni states might be more trouble than it was worth. Trump believes the opposite. He should keep in mind, however, that in supporting Saudi Arabia and its allies against Iran he is plugging into a ferocious religious war between Sunni and Shia. He should also understand that Saudi Arabia and Israel may be keen to lure the US into war with Iran but they have no intention of doing much fighting themselves. A quarter of the 99% state-owned Allied Irish Bank is to be sold to investors in the coming weeks Trade union leaders have branded the Government's plans for the sale of part of Allied Irish Banks as scandalous and unacceptable. About a quarter of the 99% state-owned bank is to be sold to investors in the coming weeks with the money raised to be used to pay off some of the national debt. Patricia King, general secretary of Congress, said the decision defies belief. "There is something seriously wrong when the Government can divert massive financial resources from the sale of 25% of its AIB holding to make a marginal impact on the national debt burden while almost 100,000 people languish on public housing lists across the country," she said. Despite the Labour Party successfully passing a motion in the Dail to delay the sale, the Department of Finance said it would press ahead. It is thought share sales could raise 2.5 billion to 3 billion euro. Ms King said the Government was in direct conflict with the Oireachtas, which wants to wait for new rules to allow cash from deals such as this to be used for social emergencies such as the housing crisis. "As we face the uncertainty of Brexit, the continuing scandal of low pay and precarious work, a dysfunctional health system and other urgent social and economic challenges, it defies belief that Fine Gael and its Independent allies would dispose of valuable public funds in such an unnecessary and wasteful manner," she said. Siptu president Jack O'Connor said the decision to press ahead with the sale was "indefensible and undemocratic". "If they are to be sold off, it should only be in order to realise the resources to address the scandalous housing crisis to which our banking system directly contributed," he said. AIB was bailed out with almost 21 billion euro to save it from collapse at height of the financial crisis. It has paid more than 3 billion euro to the state since then. President Michael D Higgins is to meet Pope Francis in Rome on Monday. The President's office confirmed the audience would take place in the Papal Library at the Vatican and that the two heads of state will discuss issues of "regional and global importance". While in Rome Mr Higgins will also hold talks with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of the Vatican and m eet Irish clergy and lay staff working at the Holy See. The President will also travel to Venice for the Biennale, the world's largest and oldest international art exhibition. Free movement of goods and people with the North post-Brexit is achievable in principle, Revenue's top Brexit official has said. Customs operations could be automated for commercial vehicles, while private cars and vehicles could flow freely and there'll be no need for permanent checkpoints, said Tony Buckley, assistant secretary at Revenue. But the stakes for Ireland were very high, and it could face losing access to EU and international markets and potential fines if it failed to operate what would be an external EU frontier post-Brexit adequately, he said. Mr Buckley said the bulk of checks on commercial vehicles would be automated electronically, saying currently just 2pc involve physical checks. "The main image that comes to people's minds when it comes to a border is cars being stopped and searched," Mr Buckley told a British Irish Chamber of Commerce conference. "That's not going to happen. There's no reason for it. We have some 300 Border crossings. We haven't the faintest intention of closing any of those or interfering with them. "So normal private traffic, people going back and forth, will continue." Mr Buckley said around one million HGVs crossed the Border every year each way, as well as 1.3 million white vans and more than 12 million cars. He said post-Brexit, if the UK left the customs union, controls would have to be on heavy goods vehicles and smaller commercial vans, but that most would be automated. This could be achieved through advanced declaration and electronic monitoring, combined with a certain amount of traffic monitoring. Trade facilitation posts would be required close to the Border, but what would happen at these posts was not clear until the negotiations played out, he said. There was little desire to have physical vehicle checks at these posts. Mr Buckley said physical checks were carried out on no more than 2pc of goods coming across Ireland's borders and a further 6pc are document checks. He said the Government's ambition could be realised. "What the Taoiseach has articulated is deliverable. How exactly we don't know, because we don't know exactly what the details of the negotiating outcome will be. Certainly in principle it is deliverable to have continued free movement of people and goods on the island," he said. Paul Roddy, head of Irish Debt, Timbercreek and David Mossington, head of U.K. & European Investments, Timbercreek Canadian property investment firm, Timbercreek Asset Management, has launched its Irish commercial property lending business, with 200m available to support property investment projects. The Toronto-based group is targeting loans sized from 1m to 50m to sectors including office, retail, rental apartments and hotels. The group currently has C$6.0bn (4bn) in assets under its management on behalf of investors seeking alternative asset class investments, and has hired Paul Ruddy to lead its Irish platform. Roddy has previously held senior positions with Hudson Advisors and Irish Bank Resolution Corporation. Read more: Call for inquiry into sale of 'unique' Project Tolka Commenting on the announcement, Roddy said that the company wanted to become established as a long-term lender to the Irish market, with the ability to recycle capital back into new loans. Our plan is to replicate in Ireland Timbercreeks North American success in supporting property investors with mid-sized commercial property loans, who are currently underserved by the traditional banking sector, Roddy said. Timbercreek will look at opportunities both in Dublin and regionally, offering flexible structuring, higher leverage, and speed of decision-making. (Photo/CGTN) China values its relations with the Republic of Korea (ROK) and is willing to work with Seoul to bring bilateral ties back to the normal track, Chinese President Xi Jinping told ROK President Moon Jae-in's special envoy Lee Hae-chan in Beijing on Friday. As neighbors, China and the ROK have made immerse progress on bilateral relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties 25 years ago, Xi said, adding that the two countries have made significant contributions to safeguarding peace and stability in the region. "The China-ROK relations are at a crucial stage at the moment," the Chinese president stressed. "China attaches great importance to its relations with the ROK, and would like to work with the ROK side to safeguard the hard-won achievements made in the development of bilateral ties." The two sides should consolidate the mutual political trust and properly handle divergence on the basis of mutual understanding and mutual respect so as to bring the China-ROK relations back to the normal track at an early date, Xi added. Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi told Lee that he hoped the ROK could respect China's major interests and concerns over the deployment of the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in the country, saying it was a threat to China's security and would do nothing to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The IFA plans to push ahead with a nationwide campaign to secure a recovery in income from levies at point of sale as "the fairest way" to fund the organisation forward, writes Martin Ryan. Confirming the decision of the IFA National Council, which was endorsed at a meeting of the Presidents Committee, IFA deputy president Richard Kennedy accepted "it is going to be very difficult" but warned that without increased funding, the future of current services would be threatened. The gap between dairy farmer incomes and those of the "processing and marketing" sectors was highlighted by the massive hike in profits announced by Ornua for 2016, the ICMSA claimed this week. Operating profits at the co-op-owned business jumped 46pc to 26.6m last year, with turnover up 9pc to 1.75bn. While welcoming Ornua's strong results, ICMSAs Gerald Quain noted that the surge in profits was delivered against a backdrop of collapsed milk prices in 2016 which had wiped out farmers' margins and incomes. The ICMSA dairy committee chairman said it was clear "that the other links in the dairy supply chain" guarded their own margins and simply pushed any losses backwards on to the farmers. Mr Quain said increasing profits in a year when farmers' margins were slashed highlighted the disparity between what he called the "hard pressed foundation level" of the Irish dairy sector and the "processor/marketeer level". He called for the "co-op ethos" to be maintained and that "the pain" should be shared during periods of market downturn. "Increasing profits in a year when farmers' incomes were at rock bottom only confirms what we already knew: every link in the supply-chain might benefit when prices are rising but only farmers' margins are wiped out in a price downturn," he said. "This runs counter to the co-op ethos." In their 2016 results, Ornua stated that it had suspended collection of its farmer milk levy in May of that year due to the sharp fall in farmer returns. It is generally worth around 7m to the business. Meanwhile, co-op shareholders in Ornua insisted that the 14.5m members' bonus announced last week will be used to support milk prices. However, a direct payment to farmers will not be made. Dairygold pointed out that it had supported milk prices in 2016 to the tune of 25m. The co-op said it had "ongoing visibility of the expected Ornua bonus" and that this was "factored into price making decisions". A spokesperson for Arrabawn said: "The annual Ornua bonus is part of our normal revenue streams and Arrabawn will be using this year's in the same way it has previously, to support milk price." A Glanbia spokesman pointed out that: "The special bonus was paid out by Glanbia last year in two instalments. The trading bonus announced by Ornua this week is part of normal milk price returns." A statement from Lakeland said: "Whatever Lakeland gets from the marketplace goes back out to our milk suppliers as part of our monthly milk price. Lakeland Dairies will continue to pay the highest possible milk price in line with market conditions." Lakeland also confirmed that it was holding its April milk price at 31.28c/l (VAT inclusive). Glanbia and Kerry's milk price remains unchanged at 31c/l (VAT inclusive). Padraig Keane took over the family farm four years ago and has transformed the home place from a beef operation to dairy enterprise. The youngest of a family of seven, he was given the farming option by his parents when he graduated from UCD with a degree in Animal and Crop Production and to say he grasped the opportunity with both hands would be an understatement. The first big decision the 25-year-old faced was whether to continue working the 64-acre home farm and a 45-acre block at Kilcormac, near Birr, as a beef and tillage enterprise or make the switch to dairying. He chose the dairy option and the results are impressive: from 45 cows in 2014, the herd grew to 65 cows in 2015, 100 in 2016 and 126 cows today. His Holstein-Friesian herd produces high quality constituent milk for Glanbia and the farm itself has been transformed with a new milking parlour, new gravel pathways and a new water system across the holding. He has also been busy stitching clover into the farm swards to increase the milk yields and to reduce fertiliser costs. His next plan is to introduce Jersey crosses into the herd. "I got a great start in that I qualified for quota as a young entrant when milk was at a great price a few years ago. And then I was lucky in that I qualified under TAMS I and II for grants for the milking parlour and other farm improvements. "The milk price is not as good now as when I started but it's improving. We take a fixed price on half our milk to pay down the loans and keep the accounts balanced," he says. 'Hands-on' Padraig's parents, John and Gertrude, were both school teachers and they ran the inherited 45-acre block on a part-time basis as they pursued their individual careers and purchased what is now the home farm in the 1970s. Although now retired, they maintain a "hands-on interest in the farm and are invaluable with their advice", says Padraig. So how did the youngest of seven take over the family farm, I wonder aloud and Padraig replies by listing the career path of his brother and five sisters. Eoin is an orchard manager in Co Clare while his five sisters pursued more academic careers: Treasa is a civil engineer in New Zealand; Maire-Triona and Roisin are teachers; Grainne is a librarian and Siobhan is a technical writer for specialist publications. After he graduated from UCD, Padraig spent a year working on a 550 cow dairy farm in New Zealand before returning home to set up his own dairy enterprise. "Why waste a good education in New Zealand and not put it to use in Kilcormac?" was his thinking. With the dairy farm now in expansion mode Padraig is helped on site by local farmer Enda Grogan whom he describes as a "massive help" and by two local lads, John and Ciaran Moore. Off-farm, Padraig's interests centre mainly around hurling - local and county - and more recently on country and western music, mainly at the instigation of his girlfriend Maria Blackwell. "My favourite artist is Chris Stapleton if you ever heard of him? He is an acquired taste," adds Padraig. In the end, the offer of a 10,000 payout after two years of rollercoaster prices for dairy and grain was just too hard to resist. Any concerns Glanbia Co-op's farmer shareholders may have had over selling off the 'family silverware' were cast aside as most considered the latest Glanbia deal worth the gamble. There were few fears that it wouldn't pass, and the predictions were on the money as almost 2,400 farmers pushed the deal past the finishing post at Punchestown Event Centre. Farmers had raised their fair share of concerns over issues on the run in such as the lower margins in the Dairy Ireland division of Glanbia and whether taking a slice of the Brexit-exposed cheddar cheese division was the best decision. Martina Neville, a dairy farmer with a trading vote with Glanbia, from Tullamore, Co Offaly, said she had mixed opinions before travelling to the venue but was swayed in favour on the day. "You would be afraid that the co-op is losing its shareholding all the time. You are selling off one field and you're still going to be downing your assets. The pool of money you're creating, they say you are really only paying the farmers back with their own money. Glanbia is a progressive co-op and the plc is progressive as well." Kevin Moloney, a dairy farmer from Knockanore, Co Waterford, was one of the thousands in favour. "The vast majority seemed to be in favour. It was probably a good thing that farmers will retain the majority shareholding and our future is in our own hands." On the negatives, he said: "The danger is you wouldn't like to see the shareholding in the plc dropping down any further. Farmers can retain the shares or sell the shares, it is not like they are selling off the family silver and are getting nothing in return." Voting done, and with the pay day on the way, farmers beat a retreat out of Punchestown back to the dairy parlours as fast as their horsepower could carry them. Wildfires in the west have left hill farmers without sufficient foraging lands for livestock, the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) has warned. After days of raging gorse fires across thousands of acres in Sligo, Galway, Mayo and Donegal many farmers have been left with no option but to relocate animals. Fire fighters also battled blazes across Midland and Roscommon bogs over the weekend. Last week, the Irish Wildlife Trust claimed some fires were "deliberately set" by hill farmers to clear heather from the land. However, Vincent Roddy INHFA chairman insists hill farmers are not to blame and claims "copy-cat" arsonists may be the root cause. "These fires are putting livestock, property, fencing, homes and people including those fighting them at risk as well as damage to wildlife. "For farmers it's causing major problems. Livestock remain under risk. For many putting sheep back on hills after lambing the forage needed is now destroyed," he said. Mr Roddy said the wildfires highlight the need for changes regarding controlled burning. Currently it is illegal to cut, or destroy hedgerows and burn vegetation in uplands between March 1 and August 31 in order to protect breeding birds. However, Heather Humphreys, Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs is working to push the 2016 Heritage Bill through the Oireachtas, which would allow cutting, destroying and removal of hedgerows in August and burning in March on a two year pilot basis. "It will help stimulate re-growth but more importantly it will act as a buffer in the event of wildfires," said Mr Roddy. Seanie Boyle, a sheep farmer from Falcarragh, Co Donegal fought fires near his farm last week. "The wind was changing in all directions. The fear I had was for my forestry plantation. Between 15 fire fighters and ourselves we got it out but a big area is left burnt. I can't get my head around who would be crazy enough to start these fires. There's not a hope in hell a farmer would do it. Some now have to move flocks because they've nothing to eat," he said. Bank of Ireland's decision to select a new chief executive from the upper ranks of one of the UK's largest retail banks, HSBC, has been warmly received by the market, spurring hopes of a revitalisation at the lender after seven painful years of restructuring. However, Francesca McDonagh, who takes up the reins on October 2, is unlikely to lay out a fresh strategy until February, when the bank reports its annual results, according to analysts. Ms McDonagh, currently head of retail banking and wealth management at HSBC's UK & European division, fended off stiff, internal competition to win the top job. Liam McLaughlin, head of retail at Bank of Ireland, and Andrew Keating, chief financial officer, were seen as favourites for the role. Both are widely viewed as the architects, alongside Mr Boucher, of a salvage job that delivered a relatively swift return to profits in 2014 - well before the fully nationalised AIB or part-nationalised Permanent TSB. But Ms McDonagh's appointment has also fuelled a debate in some corners of the industry about the inevitability of an external successor to Mr Boucher, following Finance Minister, Michael Noonan's comments earlier this year. He said the Government would sweep aside the pay restrictions on executives of bailed-out banks if the board appointed a person from outside the organisation. Ms McDonagh, who has spent two decades climbing the corporate ladder at HSBC, emerged as a surprise appointment. Yet the change of guard at Bank of Ireland has been hailed as a success by analysts and investors alike. Owen Callen, an analyst with Investec, described her as "impressive" and in possession "of all the right skill sets". Goodbody's Eamonn Hughes characterised her as a "very credible candidate" and noted she has been running a business "currently larger than Bank of Ireland's balance sheet". Davy's Diarmaid Sheridan pointed out that Ms McDonagh's extensive retail banking experience is likely to provide a boon to Bank of Ireland's UK operations. He highlighted that 40pc of the lender's balance sheet is located in that market but it generated just 14pc of underlying profit in 2016 . Ms McDonagh's experience in driving the partnership model between HSBC and high street retailers Marks and Spencer and John Lewis is also viewed by the analysts as similar to Bank of Ireland's ventures with the UK Post Office and AA. But it is the implementation of the bank's multi-year 900m-odd overhaul to the digital platform that is viewed by the market as one of the central challenges facing the new CEO. However, the enthusiasm provoked by Ms McDonagh's appointment left no imprint though on the bank's flagging share price. Dublin-headquartered One Fifty One, a rigid plastics manufacturer for the packaging, environmental containers, and industrial products sectors, has agreed to buy Macro Plastics for $150m. US-based Macro Plastics is the largest manufacturer of rigid plastic bulk bins in the world and has a strong position in rigid plastic bulk packaging solutions to the agricultural and automotive sectors. The transaction will be carried out through IPL, a subsidiary of One Fifty One. Describing the acquisition as transformational, the ceo of One Fifty One, Alan Walsh, said the deal gives One Fifty One its first significant presence on the west coast of America, providing us with a leading position in a number of growing market segments. The acquisition also expands our geographic reach, product portfolio and customer base across the growing North and South-American markets. Last year Macro generated revenue of $76m, which is expected to rise to around $95m this year, while earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation, and amortisation at Macro are expected to rise to $19m this year from $16m in 2016. The acquisition will significantly increase the size of One Fifty One, whos revenue and earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation, and amortisation in 2016 were 348m and 55m respectively. In April this year One Fifty One announced the sale of its ClearCircle Ireland environmental business for a total consideration of 29.75m. The European Investment Bank is set to sign off on a 200m funding line to provide finance to SMEs in Ireland and the Netherlands through a subsidiary of Dutch lender Rabobank. The funds will be provided to Rabobank's vendor financing operation DLL next month to deploy towards projects that can demonstrate a positive climate impact in Ireland. The funds will be available for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects such as solar, wind and lighting. DLL Ireland will match the 25m to create a 50m pool. It is the first time that the European Investment Bank has provided funds to Rabobank for SMEs in Ireland. DLL has already acted as an intermediary for EIB funds in Germany, Poland, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, the Netherlands and Italy. DLL told the Irish Independent that the funds are exclusively for small and medium-sized companies, as well as mid caps for projects that can demonstrate "a positive climate impact". Fergal O'Mongain, group treasurer and country manager for DLL Ireland, said that sustainability is essential for both DLL and those it works with. "Through our Life Cycle Asset Management (LCAM) programme, we provide end-to-end financial solutions for the complete asset life cycle thereby contributing to the circular economy," Mr O'Mongain said. "EIB's funding, focusing on positive climate projects only, is truly supporting us in this mission." A spokesman for EIB said it is the first time that it has worked with Rabobank to support business investment in Ireland. "Because of that we're doing it in conjunction with lending in the Netherlands but we'd very much like to ramp it up with a second round." 200 officers and soldiers arrive at Kunming Changshui Airport on May 18, 2017, preparing to set off for a one-year peacekeeping mission to Lebanon. As the 16th batch of peacekeeping forces China has sent to the Middle Eastern country, they will take part in mine sweeping, engineering construction and help provide humanitarian aid. This latest batch consists of 180 multi-function military engineers, 200 construction engineers and 30 medical workers. A further 210 officers and soldiers are scheduled to set off on May 25. (Photo: China News Service/ Ye Yangping) The US Department of Transportation "systematically violated virtually every basic rule of treaty interpretation" in making its decision to grant Ireland-based Norwegian Air International a permit to operate flights between Europe and the United States, US aviation unions have claimed. Norwegian Air International (NAI), a subsidiary of Scandinavian carrier Norwegian Air Shuttle, plans to launch flights from Ireland to the US in July. The unions launched an appeal earlier this year seeking to have NAI's permit revoked or reconsidered by the US Department of Transportation (DOT). The unions, including the Airline Pilots' Association, the Association of Flight Attendants and the Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association, have challenged the DOT's controversial decision in new court filings in Washington. They have lodged a statement of issues for review with the US Court of Appeals in the District of Colombia claiming the DOT has erred in three ways in arriving at its final decision to issue the permit to NAI under the so-called Open Skies agreement. Unions appealing the granting of the permit have insisted that the DOT misinterpreted Article 17 of the Open Skies agreement by not reading the article with other provisions in the agreement "in a way that would give effect to the intent of the article". Article 17 of the air agreement, the unions have told the court, was designed to ensure that labour standards would not be undermined via the implementation of the agreement. Unions in the United States have consistently claimed that Norwegian is attempting to circumvent stricter labour rules in its home country by setting up the Irish subsidiary - an allegation Norwegian has continuously denied. The unions have also said that the DOT granted the permit to NAI last December without putting it to a public interest evaluation. Their third grounds for appeal states that the DOT failed to impose conditions on the NAI permit that would ensure the airline's operations "would be consistent with the intent expressed" in Article 17. "If DOT decided to grant NAI a permit, the Department should have placed conditions on the permit requiring that NAI's pilots and flight attendants be employed on contracts governed by US or EU law," the unions' court filing said. Norwegian says the claims are untrue. "These are tired and false allegations already dismissed by the DOT's order last year," said a Norwegian spokesman. Finding a replacement for airports chief Kevin Toland creates a headache for Transport Minister Shane Ross, as pay at semi-states such as DAA has been capped at 250,000 a year since the economic crash DAA boss Kevin Toland has been catapulted to the top flight of Ireland's corporate elite with his appointment as CEO-designate at struggling bakery giant Aryzta. The former Glanbia executive was last night named to the top job vacated earlier this year by Owen Killian at the 2.7bn Swiss/Irish food group. Aryzta chairman Gary McGann has been in the hunt for a new CEO to steady the business after a string of profit warnings rocked confidence in the global business. The appointment of Kevin Toland (51), a highly regarded long-term manager rather than a corporate financier, will likely end speculation that a full Aryzta break-up is on the cards. Mr Toland is seen as a straight-talker. In 2014 he oversaw a brutally frank independent review of the crisis-mired Department of Justice. The Toland Report identified a "deferential relationship" between the department and Gardai, and a "closed, secretive and silo-driven culture" at Justice. The then Secretary General of the Department, Brian Purcell, stood down ahead of its publication. In a statement yesterday, Aryzta said the incoming CEO will join the business following a six month notice period, or earlier, if mutually agreed by both parties. With Aryzta keen to fill the job, it means the timing of Mr Toland's move could ultimately come down to Transport Minister Shane Ross, who can release the executive early. The news creates a headache for the minister. In 2012, the then Transport Minister, Leo Varadkar, struggled to replace Declan Collier at the DAA until Kevin Toland took a massive pay cut to move back from Glanbia's Chicago office to take the job. Pay at semi-states has been capped at 250,000 a year since the crash. In the US Mr Toland earned a multiple of that. He ran Glanbia's performance nutrition business - and is widely credited with developing what is now the Kilkenny-based plc's big growth driver. His decision to come back to Ireland was reportedly for family reasons, but was taken around the same time as Siobhan Talbot's elevation to the CEO job at Glanbia, for which he would have been in contention. His new role is likely to mean a move to Switzerland, but also a massive pay hike. Up to two years ago, Owen Killian was the country's best-paid CEO - he made a cool 5.5m in 2014. Tifco, the hotel group backed by Goldman Sachs, is planning to nearly double the size of one of its Dublin properties in a multi-million-euro expansion. It wants to add 100 rooms to a Holiday Inn Express hotel near Dublin Airport. Well over 1,000 new hotel rooms are planned in and around the airport through new hotels and extensions to existing ones, in investments that will cost hundreds of millions of euro in total. Tifco has sought planning permission to add the rooms to the Holiday Inn Express, which already has 114 rooms. The extension will extend over 3,369 sq m and include a seven-storey element to the rear of the property. Tifco owns and operates a number of hotels in Ireland. Last year, it also took over the company that operates the Travelodge franchise here. Tifco is partly owned by Aidan Crowe and Gerry Houlihan, the founder of the DID Electrical business. Goldman Sachs owns a controlling stake in the business, securing the holding after a renegotiation of Tifco's bank facilities in 2014. There are 26 hotels in the Tifco portfolio, including seven that are managed by it. It owns three Crowne Plaza properties. Clontarf Castle in Dublin is owned by Mr Houlihan's family and is operated by Tifco. The DAA has been seeking a development partner for a new 402-bedroom hotel beside Dublin Airport's Terminal 2, while permission was recently granted for a 427-bedroom hotel near the airport. A number of other hotel developments are planned in and around the airport. VHI made 11 million more in profits last year than in 2015 GETTY STATE-owned health insurer Vhi made bumper profits last year. The company said its net surplus was 56.4m for 2016. This was almost 11m more in profits that the previous year. The company was also able to boost its financial reserves. It comes after a two price rises for its more than one million members in the past six months. The company has also benefited from a rise in the health insurance levy, which funds insurers with older customers. Vhi has the lions share of older customers. The levy ensures older people do not have to pay more for the same level cover as younger people. Read More However, Vhis premium hikes are lower than its competitors. Total claims paid out in 2016 amounted to 1.34bn, down slightly from the previous year. Chief executive John ODwyer hailed the financial performance and said Vhi was committed to delivering affordable healthcare. But he warned of troubles in future. By 2046, the population of those over 80 years old will increase dramatically to 470,000. This has major implications not only for the healthcare system as a whole, but also for Vhi, which is Irelands largest provider of private health insurance services. With more people living longer and with complex chronic diseases it is clear that the market and those providing services within that market need to change and adapt, he said. Health insurance expert Dermot Goode said there was a need for the Vhi to explain why it was hiking its premiums when its claims costs fell slightly last year. We need more details from the Vhi on why it increased rates twice in the last six months when claims costs have gone down, Mr Goode, of TotalHealthCover.ie, said. The cumulative rises for families have been between 6pc and 10pc in the last year, he said. Asked for a statement about St Anthonys & Claddagh, the Central Bank said it is aware of a number of irregular transactions in this credit union that date back to last year. Stock picture A fourth credit union has been rocked by a staff member suspected of raiding accounts. One of the biggest credit unions in the State, St Anthony's & Claddagh in Co Galway, has dismissed a staff member and reported a suspected theft to gardai. The credit union has 43,000 members and assets of 200m. Some 87,000 was missing from 31 accounts, the chief executive of the Galway lender, Gerry Joyce, said in a statement. "In August 2016, internal processes at St Anthony's & Claddagh Credit Union identified and successfully dealt with an incident involving unauthorised transactions on members' accounts," he said. As soon as the issue came to light, the credit union took immediate action. Affected members have been contacted and the money was refunded to their accounts immediately, ensuring that there was no loss to the member, Mr Joyce said. Read More "The relevant information has been supplied to An Garda Siochana, which is continuing with its investigation," he said. The Central Bank of Ireland was also informed and the credit union's insurance company covered the payout. This meant the credit union's costs were fully covered with no additional cost to it or any of the members, it said. Investigation "Following a full review and investigation into the incident, some amendments were made to our internal processes which we continue to keep under review," Mr Joyce said. The credit union employs 45 people and has 22 volunteers. Earlier this week, Gurranabraher Credit Union in Co Cork lost 200,000 and will now have to make an insurance claim to refund members. It comes after a similar suspected crime at Synergy Credit Union in Fermoy, Cork, which suffered a 400,000 loss. The incidents were reported to gardai at both Cork credit unions. Recently, Rush Credit Union, 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 lender. The High Court was told that car draws at the credit union were rigged. Asked for a statement about St Anthony's & Claddagh, the Central Bank said it is aware of a number of irregular transactions in this credit union that date back to last year. Credit unions have only recently started to carry out intensive internal audits, a move which is flushing out insider theft. One senior credit union expert said this meant there will be more uncovering of insider theft, something that is likely to have been going on for years. Once again, EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager has flexed her legal muscles against an American multinational tech firm. This time it's Facebook, which has been fined 110m by the European Commission for providing false information when it was applying for regulatory approval to buy Whatsapp in 2014. The issue at stake is its undisclosed mixing and matching Facebook and Whatsapp accounts. Both services are used by millions of Irish people. Facebook told the Commission that it wouldn't be able to automatically match up user accounts from Facebook and Whatsapp for the purposes of sharing information and potential advertising. But in 2016, it announced that it was to introduce the automated process after all. Furthermore, it admitted to the Commission that it had been able to do it all along and was wrong to have said it couldn't. So it has taken its 110m fine without complaint. It may have done this out of relief that the Commission hasn't used the infringement as a basis for reconsidering Facebook's legal clearance to take over Whatsapp. Or it may have felt that a 110m fine, which is roughly equivalent to 0.5pc of its turnover, is better than the maximum allowable fine of 220m, equal to 1pc of its turnover. Calculation But Facebook's quick acceptance may also have been down to a calculation that it's not worth taking Ms Vestager on. Over the last two years, Ms Vestager has demonstrated a strong appetite to confront big US technology companies, many of which have their primary European offices bases in Ireland. Last year, she caused global headlines with a 13bn fine against Ireland and Apple, holding that Ireland had not collected enough tax from the iPhone maker. Although that ruling is currently being challenged both by Apple and by Ireland, Ms Vestager has shown no signs of backing down. The EU Competition Commissioner also has three separate investigations underway against Google, Facebook's biggest international advertising rival. "The decision sends a clear signal to companies that they must comply with all aspects of EU merger rules, including the obligation to provide correct information," Ms Vestager said of the 110m Facebook fine. "It imposes a proportionate and deterrent fine on Facebook. The Commission must be able to take decisions about mergers' effects on competition in full knowledge of accurate facts." Facebook's European battles are far from over. It is currently awaiting a key ruling from Irish authorities over data protection that could significantly affect its business in Europe. It has also been fined by various national European data regulators in recent months, including a 3m fine in Italy for information-sharing with Whatsapp and a 150,000 fine in France for sharing information unlawfully. Facebook disputes the findings, partly on the basis that its main regulatory base in Europe is the Irish data protection commissioner, Helen Dixon. However, it can't push the issue too aggressively for a number of reasons. A tough new Europe-wide law next year called the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) allows regulatory authorities to fine companies like Facebook up to 4pc of annual turnover for data-related infractions. In Facebook's case, that would be close to 1bn. It is also naive not to take into account the political climate at present. On this score, Facebook is under assault on multiple fronts. Across the world, it is currently fighting perceptions that it is a main channel for 'fake news'. It is also increasingly at the sharp end of 'old' media bitterness over the transformation of news consumption habits and consequent advertising businesses. In Europe, it must also take into account a general dislike of US technology multinational companies among continental politicians, both for economic and cultural reasons. Google and Microsoft both have experience of this sentiment within EU states. Facebook may soon see its share. It's that time of the year again, as seagulls are back in the headlines. During last night's news, RTE's George Lee gave us some advice on how to keep Ireland's beaches clean. The former Fine Gael TD was reporting from Merrion Strand on the state of beaches across the country after a report stated that six beaches have failed to meet minimum mandatory health standards for swimming. "The EPA says there's a lot that people can do," Lee said while speaking to camera. "Don't leave rubbish on a beach. Make sure you clean up after dogs and don't bury it in the sand and don't leave out food waste anywhere near beaches, because it encourages seagulls. "We all know what they tend to do. They can plop like mad." Skip to 2:05 in the below video to see for yourself. The report went on to say that Brook Beach in Portrane, Co Dublin, and Clifden and Tra na bhForbacha beaches in Co Galway were detected in 2016 as having water quality which has deteriorated to below acceptable levels for swimming. They join three other beaches than have remained on a "poor" quality list since the previous year - Merrion Strand in Dublin Bay, Loughshinny in north Co Dublin, and Ballyloughane in Co Galway. Current information about bathing water quality is available from June to September on the national bathing water website, splash.epa.ie. A Twitter notification service, @EPABathingWater, is also available to provide incident alerts and information of interest to bathers. (File photo) The number of Chinese people applying for visas to travel to the Philippine recently shot up by 200 percent, as the Chinese government canceled all travel alerts for citizens going to the country, according to Philippine news site Inquirer.net on May 18. With a booming tourism industry and an increasing number of business travelers, China currently has enormous demand for Philippines visas. The latter is projected to receive 1 million Chinese tourists in 2017, according to the Philippines ambassador to China, Jose Santiago Sta. Romana. The number of Chinese tourists in the Philippines was about 675,663 in 2016, up 37.65 percent from the year before. That number rose by 25.42 percent year on year during the first two months of 2017. The ambassador said that Chinese people preferred travel in other Southeast Asian countries to travel in the Philippines when the relationship between the two countries was tense. However, the situation has turned more positive these days, the ambassador added, as Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has adopted a new foreign policy toward China, and tried to establish friendly bilateral ties. An estimated 60 tonnes of waste is illegally dumped in Ireland every day. The revelation came as senior local authority and environmental protection officials admitted that illegal dumping now poses a serious threat to the environment, farming sector and tourism industries. Community groups hit by illegal dumping fear that the increase is linked to many waste disposal companies switching to a pay-by-weight system - with some unscrupulous business operators and householders unwilling to pay the additional fees. To combat the threat, more than 10m is now being committed to a 'get tough' crackdown on offenders by councils and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - with new resources including infra-red cameras, drones, satellite imagery and even DNA genetic testing being deployed. Environment Minister Denis Naughten admitted that fly-tipping and illegal dumping was now a matter of "very serious concern" in rural areas. "We need to use whatever resources are available to tackle this problem," he said. "The use of smart technology, I believe, will help to put us one step ahead of people who insist on illegally dumping and threatening our environment." Mr Naughten vowed that anyone caught fly-tipping or illegally dumping would "be prosecuted for blighting our countryside and roads with filth". The Government intervention came amid concerns that, despite repeated crackdowns, the majority of illegal dumpers are escaping prosecution. Nine-out-of-ten complaints to local authorities in 2015 related to waste issues. In 2015, local councils got a total of 58,707 environmental complaints - with 52,052 of these involving waste issues ranging from fly-tipping to illegal dumping. The EPA acknowledged it is acutely aware of concerns surrounding illegal dumping. It confirmed that, between 2014 and 2015, major efforts were made to increase enforcement and detection rates. In 2014, a total of 6,466 inspections were carried out - that soared to 14,823 in 2015. Similarly, the number of anti-litter patrols grew from 38,829 in 2014 to 58,337 in 2015. "Based on enforcement activity data reported to the EPA by local authorities, it is clear local authorities devote significant resources to the area of waste and illegal dumping inspections and enforcement activities," an EPA official insisted. However, illegal dumping - sometimes on an industrial scale - continues to plague both urban and rural areas. Some dumpers have been so brazen as to dispose of waste in our most famous beauty spots. In January, it emerged dumpers had been exploiting a ravine near Mangerton in Co Kerry for the disposal of domestic waste. Last year, the Irish Wildlife Trust (IWT) lodged a formal complaint to the EPA and Donegal County Council over the dumping of construction waste including asbestos material in the Glenveagh National Park. IWT officials were appalled when they were alerted to the illegal dumping at two sites at the famous national park. "A large quantity of builder's rubble was found in a small woodland. In another location, what we believe to be asbestos was found along a bog track," an IWT spokesperson said. The problem is particularly problematic for local councils along the Border with the North. Illegal dumping has been conducted in an organised way in some areas with fears gangs based in the Republic dump in Northern Ireland while gangs in the North dispose of waste in remote spots along the Border in the Republic. The problem is drastically exacerbated by the dumped residues from fuel-laundering. A FORMER Sinn Fein councillor who tortured a man in his garage and threatened to chop him up and feed him to the dogs has now denied he ever told the victim that he was in the IRA or a friend of Gerry Adams and Mary Lou McDonald. Jonathan Dowdall (40) is insisting some of the evidence against him is wrong, that his false imprisonment of the victim did not last for three hours, that he never threatened his family and did not mention the two Sinn Fein politicians to him. He made the claims through his lawyer just before he was due to be sentenced at the Special Criminal Court today. Evidence and mitigation had already been heard earlier this month. Micahel OHiggins SC, defending, asked for a new hearing to be held if the disputed evidence is going to add to Dowdalls sentence. Prosecutor Vincent Heneghan SC said it was "far too late" and asked the court to proceed. Expand Close Mary Lou McDonald with Jonathan Dowdall / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Mary Lou McDonald with Jonathan Dowdall Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy halted sentencing and adjourned the case for further submissions on May 30. Dowdall was remanded in custody along with his father Patrick (40), who is also facing sentence for his part in the crime, and who is making the same claims about the evidence. Previously, the court heard Jonathan Dowdall suspected convicted fraudster Alexander Hurley of conning him over a motorbike sale when he invited him to his Dublin home for dinner invitation before tying him up and waterboarding him. The father and son, both of Navan Road, Dublin 7 pleaded guilty to falsely imprisoning and threatening to kill Mr Hurley at their home on January 15, 2015. The court heard Mr Hurley pleaded for his life as Jonathan Dowdall covered his face with a cloth and doused his head with water, while Patrick Dowdall threatened to cut his fingers off with pliers. The pair let him go and gardai only discovered what they had done when they searched the Dowdalls Dublin home for a separate reason and found a video of the incident. Expand Close Gardai seize vehicles from Jonathan Dowdall during a raid on his home / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Gardai seize vehicles from Jonathan Dowdall during a raid on his home Read More Today, Mr OHiggins said he had strict instructions to bring certain matters to the courts attention. He said the thrust of his plea had been that the accused was wrong in what he did, but he did not accept some aspects of the evidence given at the earlier hearing. The first was the evidence that he had invited the victim to dinner - Dowdall would say the call was the other way around, that he received the call and there was no invitation to dinner. Rather, Mr Hurley was going to come to the house with a receipt proving monies had been transferred over. There was an e-mail received from him indicating that the funding had been transferred, Mr OHiggins continued. It was not accepted that the extremely difficult ordeal that the victim suffered went on for hours. There were references to him having a position in the IRA and that he was friends with Gerry Adams and Mary Lou McDonald, and these were not accepted. When Mr Hurley arrived on the first occasion, he tried on the clothes and when he left the house, an insurance policy for the bike was take, Mr OHiggins said. It was also suggested that his client threatened the injured partys family, and Mr OHiggins was under strict instruction that that did not happen. He would never contemplate making such a threat as Mr Hurleys family had never done anything to him. Read More Mr OHiggins said he also wished to bring to the courts attention that there was a new LinkedIn profile for Mr Hurley in which he appears to describe himself as a medical doctor and an A&E general medical consultant. This ID was loaded in the recent past, he said. Mr OHiggins said the victim had given media interviews in which he described himself as an accountant. He also referred to allegations surrounding the purchase of two cars. He told the court the LinkedIn profile may ultimately not be relevant. The concern arises that if the matters I have highlighted were matters that were feeding into how a sentence was constructed he would wish to place on record his views, Mr OHiggins said. If the court is of the view that a conflict exists, regrettably I would have to ask that there be a hearing of it. A new hearing was sought only if the matters he raised were at the core of sentencing, he said. He said it was a matter he wanted to avoid at all costs. He was not getting away from the fact that what was done was wrong but there were certain aspects that were not accepted. Mr OHiggins was concerned if aspects of what the injured party said were to be used against Dowdall as an aggravating factor in circumstances where he disputed them, and where to add to his sentence. He said the submission was unpalatable but the injured party does have previous convictions for dishonesty. A barrister for Patrick Dowdall said he did not have anything to add to Mr OHiggins submissions. Vincent Heneghan SC, prosecuting, said the State had relied on the book of evidence, which was long served on the accused and the evidence had not been contested during the sentencing hearing. The mention of the IRA was part of the book of evidence, he said. Mr Heneghan said it was far too late for a new hearing. The court had heard the relevant evidence and the issues surrounding it were irrelevant to the courts decision. A fulsome and proper plea of mitigation had been presented, he said. The three hour duration of the imprisonment was not a slight issue, its a significant issue that will be front and centre, he said. Judge Kennedy said that in light of the submissions, the court would not proceed to sentence and adjourned the case for further submissions on the appropriateness of a new hearing. A FORMER local election candidate claims Google is discriminating against him because of his religious beliefs by permitting untrue allegations he is a homophobe to be at the top of the first page of the search engine. Mark Savage, who ran as an independent in Swords, Co Dublin, in the last elections told the High Court Google's treatment of him was part of the internet giant's own "worldwide campaign in support of LGBT issues and I take that as discrimination against me". Google was not responsive to his "take down" request in relation to the homophobe claims because of his religious beliefs and "my disapproval for gay marriage, gay lifestyle and inappropriate behaviour". Mr Savage is opposing an appeal by the Data Protection Commissioner and Google over a Circuit Court decision in favour of Mr Savage's application that internet threads relating to the homophobe allegation should be taken down under "right to be forgotten" guidelines. He objects to a thread on Reddit describing him as Mark Savage - North County Dublins (sic) homophobic candidate. The thread arose from election leaflets handed out during his campaign referring to gay perverts cavorting en flagrante on the beach on broad daylight. If the Circuit Court ruling on the right to be forgotten in favour of Mr Savage is upheld, it will impose an intolerable and unworkable burden search engines, Google says. On the second day of the appeal before Mr Justice Michael White, Mr Savage, representing himself, argued the Circuit Court decision should stand. He said the refusal of the Data Protection Commissioner Helen Dixon to order Google to take down the thread showed a failure to comprehend a previous case where a take down order was made for a politician in the Labour Party which supported a yes vote in the gay marriage referendum. The politician, who he did not want to name, had made inappropriate replies to a constituent who had contacted him. Ms Dixon treated Mr Savage less favourably than the politician, who succeeded in his take down request, because of his religious beliefs and opposition to gay marriage, he said. She basically took "almost verbatim" what Google had told her in her decision refusing a take down order for him, he said. He claimed she made her decision "as a favour to the political party because it supported a yes vote but was not going to to give it to this guy who was an election candidate in Swords because he was complaining about inappropriate behaviour by middle aged men on public beaches in front of young children in broad daylight". Responding to arguments from Cian Ferriter SC, for Google, in relation to the threads being opinions of people, Mr Savage said the effect of the Reddit thread was to present as a fact a matter which was based on an opinion. A fact could not be based on an opinion under defamation law, he said. In relation to the discussion which occurred on this Reddit thread, Mr Savage said he had did not object to "ad hominem" abuse as he understood there was no right in law not to be offended. But it was misleading, as Google had claimed, that the reason for permitting this thread was that it was a matter of public interest, he said. He "did not mind the abuse" but to call him a homophobe, which was not based on fact, was a different matter. He disputed Google's claim that the fact that the homophobe thread appeared on the first page of a search was the result of automatic word searching. Even though there was more recent information about him, including newspaper articles, they did not come up before the Reddit thread, he said. The case resumes on Tuesday. A Dublin man has been charged with IRA membership at an out-of-hours sitting of the three-judge Special Criminal Court Darren Gleeson (34), with an address at Corduff Green, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, is charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, to wit an organisation styling itself as the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, within the State on May 18, 2017. Mr Gleeson was arrested and brought before the non-jury Special Criminal Court this/yesterday evening (FRIDAY) and charged with the offence. Detective Garda Sean Finnegan of the Special Detective Unit told the three-judge court that he identified himself to Mr Gleeson at 15.50pm on Mellows Road, Finglas today and arrested him under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. Det Gda Finnegan said he conveyed Mr Gleeson to Finglas Garda station. He said the Director of Public Prosecutions had directed that Mr Gleeson be brought before the next sitting of the Special Criminal Court. Det Gda Finnegan said he met with Mr Gleeson in the confines of the Criminal Courts of Justice building today/yesterday(FRIDAY), handed him a copy of the charge sheet and explained the charge to him. Mr Gleeson made no reply. Wearing a blue and black Adidas tracksuit top and grey tracksuit bottoms, the accused stood up and said yes when asked if he was Darren Gleeson. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding alongside Judge John O'Hagan and Judge Flann Brennan, remanded Mr Gleeson in custody to May 25 next when an application for bail is expected to be made. A WOMAN has been awarded 40,000 by the High Court after she slipped on a chip in the food court area of the Liffey Valley Shopping Centre in Dublin. Mother-of-four, Lina Misiunaite, said her ankle went over and she fell forward injuring her knee as she walked through the food court over two years ago. Mr Justice Kevin Cross said Ms Misiunaite was an honest witness and he accepted her account of the fall which occurred when she went to get food for her children. She made no attempt to hide the fact that she had settled an action for 10,000 against Lidl supermarkets after issuing proceedings over a slip and fall in 2013, he said. The judge rejected any suggestion there was contributory negligence on her part over a failure to see the chip. He also rejected the argument that the short boots with heels she was wearing were responsible for her fall. Expand Close Lina Misiunaite, of Coldcut Park, Liffey Valley, Palmerstown, Dublin pictured leaving the Four Courts after the opening day of her High Court action for damages. Pic: Collins Court / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Lina Misiunaite, of Coldcut Park, Liffey Valley, Palmerstown, Dublin pictured leaving the Four Courts after the opening day of her High Court action for damages. Pic: Collins Court The judge accepted the evidence that the floor of the food court could be dangerous if wet or if there was a chip on the floor. Ms Misiunaite (36) Coldcut Park, Liffey Valley, Palmerstown, Dublin, sued the owners of the food court, HSBC Alternative Investments Ltd and Grosvenor Limited, both UK registered, and Hines Real Estate Ireland Limited, Hogan Place, Dublin. Read More She also sued food court cleaning company, Noonan Services Group Ltd , Swords Business Park, Swords, Co Dublin, as a result of the fall on November 4, 2014. She claimed a chip was allowed to remain on the floor of the food court and there was an alleged failure to warn her of the danger posed by the chip. She said afterwards she found it difficult to look after her young children and do household tasks such as vacuuming. Lifting shopping bags was also difficult, he said. The claims were denied. Noonan Services Group also contended it had a proper cleaning system in place at the food court. The court heard Ms Ms Misiunaite was shocked afterwards and was taken to an ambulance in a wheelchair. She said her ankle injury cleared up within eight weeks but she was on anti-inflammatories for three months for her knee. Under cross examination by counsel for the cleaning company, Ms Misiunaite agreed she had settled a claim against Lidl for 10,000 after she sued in relation to a slip and fall in February 2013. She agreed that she had hurt the same knee in that accident. It was put to her that she also was also in the past involved in a road traffic accident. "I am unlucky, " she replied. In his decision, Mr Justice Cross said there was evidence there were three cleaners and a security guard in the food court area on the day of the accident and the evidence was this was reasonable. He said the absence of any CCTV footage meant there was no film of the food court area. He found there was a gap of over an hour where there was no cleaner in attendance in that section where the fall occurred. He rejected the case that the chip was likely to be on the floor for a short period. As a matter of probability, he said, it was on the ground for an inordinate time. He held all the defendants were jointly liable and he awarded 35,000 for pain and suffering to date and a further 5,000 for pain and suffering in to the future. He granted a stay on the award for 28 days in the event of an appeal. KNIVES and machetes were found at a Dublin property which the High Court had ordered be handed over to a bank-appointed receiver. Mr Justice Paul Gilligan heard the items were discovered at the Annesley Bridge Road, Fairview, property. Thirteen families, including a dozen children, had been living in several units at the premises which the court had previously ordered be vacated and handed over to the receiver, Simon Coyle. The judge had also referred the case to the gardai after two of the residents said the families have each been paying up to 200 per week rent to a man only known as "Brian". This man has no connection with either the receiver or the owner of the property, John Farrelly, the court heard. When the matter returned before the court on Thursday, Declan Wade Bl for the receiver, said Mr Coyle had taken possession of the property. There was a fear that some of the residents may try to regain access to the property as they had only taken light possessions with them and other items remained. Counsel said the receiver's agent had discovered "weapons" on the property including "knives and machetes." This had put the matter on a "more sinister footing" and the find had been reported to the gardai, counsel added. The court also heard from Detective Sargent David McGinty, of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau who said an investigation had been opened into claims the residents had been paying rent the person called Brian. Dermot Sheehan Bl, for Mr Farrelly, said his client has been willing at all times to cooperate with the receivers and was not responsible for those who had been residing at the property. The court previously heard that Mr Coyle was appointed receiver over the property by Bank of Ireland in January 2015. He brought proceedings against the residents and Mr Farrelly because he was unable to take possession of the premises. In November, Mr Coyle secured an injunction preventing Mr Farrelly and all those occupying the premises from interfering with, trespassing on, dealing with or taking possession of the property. The receiver claimed those orders were not complied with and has sought orders for the attachment and committal of Mr Farrelly and any others residing there for alleged contempt of court. Noting that the the receiver has vacant possession, and that the gardai are investigating the matter, the judge adjourned the matter for a week. A 72-year-old widow, who injured her back when the sun roof in her daughters car blew away as it sped along the M1, has been awarded 25,000 damages against car supplier Denis Mahony Limited. Circuit Court President, Mr Justice Raymond Groarke, heard in the Circuit Civil Court today it was like a bomb going off in the car when the air rushed in. Barrister John Nolan told the court that Pamela Boylan was driving her family to Newry, Co Down, for a pre-Christmas shopping when the accident happened and she had to slam on the brakes injuring five adults as they were knocked forwards and then backwards in the car. Pamela (43) of Hampton Wood Road, Finglas, Dublin, who was awarded 12,500 damages for neck and shoulder injuries suffered in the incident, said she was driving between 80 and 90 kilometres an hour when there was a bang and a sudden rush of air into the car. She told Mr Nolan, who appeared with Kent Carty Solicitors, she immediately slammed on the brakes and pulled onto the hard shoulder. She had pulled in to an AppleGreen filling station where a black plastic bag was stuck over the hole in the roof and the November 2013 shopping trip abandoned. Ms Boylan said her mother, widow and pensioner Kathleen Boylan, of Balbutcher Lane, Poppintree, Dublin, and three other family members in the car had been injured. A six months baby and a three-year-old child in a baby chair had escaped injury. Mr Nolan said there were three other injury claims arising from the incident and would be heard later by the court. Judge Groarke heard that the 2005 Toyota car had been bought from Denis Mahonys four months before the incident and had been expected to be fit for purpose and of merchantable quality and free from defects. David Geary, an independent motor assessor, told Mr Nolan he had examined the car and had found corrosion around the remaining frame of the sun roof. If Mahonys had inspected the sunroof the rust would have been visible. Mr Geary said the extent of the corrosion indicated that it had been present on the vehicle prior to it having been sold by Denis Mahony, Kilbarrack Road, Dublin 5 to. It would have been noticeable if the roof had been inspected adequately. John Beirne, customer services manager at Denis Mahony, said the condition of the sun roof would have come under the heading of an electricals check on the car. When asked by Judge Groarke why the garage would not accept responsibility for the sun roof flying off the car he said: I accept what you are saying. Judge Groarke awarding damages to both of the Boylans said there had been a serious defect in the car which had resulted in a catastrophic failure of the sun roof which could have been found had there been a full and adequate pre-sale inspection. He accepted that the sun roof flying off at 90 kilometres an hour would have been a shocking and frightening experience and it was understandable that Ms Boylans immediate reaction would have been to slam on the brakes, jolting everyone in the car forwards and then backwards. The judge said he accepted medical evidence that Ms Boylan senior had suffered a compression fracture of one of the vertebrae in her lower back and awarded her 25,000. Ms Pamela Boylan had made a fairly quick recovery and he awarded her 12,500 damages. Seven credit cards were in use by staff at Glen, the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network charity, it has emerged. They were used to buy groceries and pay for travel to conferences and meals in some cases, said external consultant Jillian van Turnhout who drew up a report on how the charity was run. She said the manner in which the credit cards were used amounted to "extremely poor practice" but that nobody benefited materially and there was "no misappropriation of funds". Ms van Turnhout has spent a number of weeks in the offices of the troubled organisation which is currently under review by the Charities Regulator John Farrelly for its financial management and is now to be wound down. She said one of the credit cards was in the name of the charity's co-founder Kieran Rose who was not on the staff but on the board. He resigned last month after it emerged that the charity backed his unsuccessful Seanad political campaign to the tune of 11,500. He later paid this back. Read More Mr Rose told the Irish Independent yesterday there was a credit card in his name, but insisted he had never used it. "When the organisation was set up, I got a credit card. I didn't ask for it. I was just given it, but I never used it. "So the account is there that Kieran Rose had a credit card, but I actually haven't seen the account and never used it." He said that when the first card expired he never picked up the card that was issued in its place. "I think the card was sent to the Glen office and one of the people there cut it up and threw it away because I hadn't collected it." Ms van Turnhout said organisations should treat credit cards similar to a bank account. The charity was the recipient of hundreds of thousands of euros in State and philanthropic funding in 2015. That was the year of the marriage equality referendum and the most recent year for which accounts for Glen are publicly available. Income that year included more than 112,000 from the HSE, including 25,000 for LGBT mental health. Meanwhile, US billionaire Chuck Feeney's Atlantic Philanthropies gave it 150,000. In 2015 its total income from all sources came to 685,390. However, it also had a deficit of almost 92,000. Ms van Turnhout said Glen now has minimal financial reserves and it has seen its staff fall from eight a year ago to three. The HSE said it paid out 17,416 to Glen this year towards the cost of the LGBT Helpline and the post of Director of Mental Health. The helpline is now to become a separate entity with its own board and other work in the area helping employers improve diversity will be farmed out. She defended her independence in doing the Glen review. Asked if she knew Simon Nugent, the chairman of Glen's finance committee, she said 20 years ago he was president of the Irish Youth Council and she succeeded him. She also served on a board with him. "I was not friends with anyone sitting around that board," she added. "I am not denying that I knew him. I have no problem declaring it." Mr Nugent did not respond for comment. At least 60 cancer patients have had their chemotherapy treatment postponed or reduced for up to a week as several hospitals struggle to cope with a shortage of chemotherapy drugs. The Irish Independent understands that scores of patients around the country, who need to have chemotherapy intravenously as part of the care prescribed by their oncologist, are suffering delays. In Sligo, 17 cancer patients are without the vital chemotherapy until some time next week. It follows revelations that Baxter Healthcare - the only commercial supplier of this form of compounded chemotherapy in the country - has had to stop production because of manufacturing problems for the past two weeks. It will be at least the middle of next week before it can resume service to public and private hospitals. Asked about the impact of the shortage on a patient's prognosis, a number of doctors stressed that the best care involves giving the proper dose of chemotherapy at the right time as prescribed in a treatment plan. Although many of the bigger hospitals have in-house compounding facilities, they are under major pressure as they rely on the additional supplies from Baxter Healthcare to cater for all patients. Doctors have had to give several patients lower doses, administer alternative therapies or put treatment on hold. Crucial Dr Ray McDermott, oncologist in Tallaght Hospital and St Vincent's Hospital, criticised the reliance on one commercial supplier. Oncologist John Crown, of St Vincent's, warned that an international company, providing a crucial public service, "should have sufficient back-up systems to guarantee supply". A spokeswoman for the HSE told the Irish Independent yesterday evening that Dr Jerome Coffey, head of cancer services, was not available for comment. It is the latest crisis to face Health Minister Simon Harris, who yesterday expressed hope that supplies would be restored early next week. "The HSE and most importantly the National Cancer Control Programme are monitoring this extraordinarily carefully," he said. "We have hospitals working together on an inter-hospital basis to provide each other with drugs." The National Cancer Control Programme has assured the Department of Health that all hospitals are examining their patient chemotherapy schedules based on individual clinical needs and priority. The minister said it was important to acknowledge "there is only one external provider to this country and that is Baxter". He said he would ask the HSE to continue to keep that under review. "If there are more people and more companies that can provide this drug, we need to provide it here," he said. Patients in Sligo were among the worst affected. A spokeswoman for the hospital said it had an internal drug compounding facility but this was closed until next Tuesday for essential maintenance. "Due to the drug supply issue, the hospital has had to defer treatment for 17 patients," a spokesperson said. "Sligo University Hospital regrets the inconvenience and distress caused to patients." The Irish Cancer Society said it was worried some cancer patients may not be getting the treatment they need because of a shortage of chemotherapy drugs. A spokeswoman for Baxter Healthcare said: "We have sent a team of operators to the UK to help produce products that can be sent to Ireland." (Xinhua) 14:42, May 19, 2017 Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Lee Hae-chan, special envoy of South Korean President Moon Jae-in, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 19, 2017. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping said Friday that China was ready to work with the Republic of Korea (ROK) to return bilateral ties to the normal track. Xi made the remarks during a meeting with Lee Hae-chan, who is visiting China from Thursday to Saturday as ROK President Moon Jae-in's special envoy. Xi said China attached great importance to relations with the ROK, and would like to work with the country to ensure the continuation of all the hard-won bilateral achievements. He called on both sides to consolidate the mutual political trust and properly handle divergence on the basis of mutual understanding and mutual respect. Xi said that as close neighbors, China and the ROK had seen huge development progress since they established diplomatic relations 25 years ago. The development of bilateral ties has resulted in enormous benefits for the peoples of both countries, and made important contributions to peace and stability in the region, he said. Xi stressed that China adheres to realizing denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, ensuring regional peace and stability, and is committed to resolving any issues through dialogue and coordination, which is in the fundamental interests of both countries and the region. He said China is willing to enhance communication with the new government of the ROK on these issues, firmly promote denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and restart related dialogue at an early date. Lee said the ROK understood China's major concerns and was ready to strengthen coordination with China to remove any obstacles to the development of bilateral ties. The ROK and China share similar opinions and positions on the nuclear issues of the Korean Peninsula, Lee said, adding that the ROK is willing to work with China to realize the denuclearization of the peninsula, safeguard peace, stability and security in Northeast Asia. Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi also met with Lee Friday morning. Yang called on the two sides to implement the consensus reached by the leaders of two countries and push bilateral ties back to a path of healthy and steady development. Yang urged the ROK to respect China's major concerns and properly handle the issue of the deployment of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system. Yang said both sides should communicate and cooperate more, and work together with all involved to solve the the Korean Peninsula's nuclear issue. Lee said the ROK understands China's concerns and is willing to make efforts to properly solve relevant issues. A Dublin woman who had 14 surgeries has told about the difficulties faced by people living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Natalie Doyle (36) was too embarrassed to discuss bowel problems with her trusted GP. Her reluctance to discuss her symptoms, coupled with a doctor who misdiagnosed her condition for more than a year, have had long-lasting implications for her health. Ms Doyle wants to share her own brave story of living with ulcerative colitis to give hope to the estimated 40,000 people in Ireland suffering from IBD, including colitis and Crohn's disease. She began experiencing problems with her digestive system when she was in her late adolescence. Throughout her teens and 20s, she visited GPs as she suffered from unexplained weight gain, a bloated stomach and "grumbling sounds" from her stomach. She was diagnosed with the disease in May 2003. Despite the diagnosis, her condition worsened. By 2007, her condition had deteriorated considerably and she would undergo a total of 14 surgeries. Ms Doyle was eventually fitted with a type of colostomy bag. Added to that trauma was the loss of her hair following a blood transfusion. Yet despite the ordeal, she maintained a positive attitude. "I just felt so lucky to be alive. I was so just so happy I got through it," she said. She regrets being too "embarrassed" to discuss her symptoms with a second doctor before the disease progressed. "If it was caught at the beginning, it could have been managed with just medication," she said. "The reason I didn't go to another doctor was out of embarrassment. "But these things need to be talked about." She shared her story as part of World Inflammatory Bowel DiseaseDay today. The Irish Society for Colitis & Crohn's disease (a patient support group) has launched an awareness campaign called #DoubleUp which is calling on the government, through an online petition, to double the number of specialist IBD numbers in Ireland - bringing the number from 14 to 28 nurses in line with IBD treatment recommendations and best practice across other European countries like the UK. A disused industrial premises in Dublin is among 15 properties to be used by Housing Minister Simon Coveney in order to move 600 homeless families from hotels, it has emerged. The property on Clonard Road, Kimmage - most recently used as a probation office - is set to be renovated by Dublin City Council (DCC) in order to house 24 families. It comes as part of Mr Coveney's plans to ensure that hotels will not be used as a form of emergency accommodation by a July 1 deadline. In documents seen by the Irish Independent, Dublin City Council is "currently converting suitable buildings into family accommodation hubs across the Dublin region" with 15 in the process to house in total 600 families, according to a Homeless Executive spokeswoman. However, the spokeswoman said that the families would still be considered homeless and these buildings would be used only temporarily. The spokeswoman denied this was a way of the minister reducing the number of homeless people recorded. "The use of commercial hotels for families is unsuitable and the new family hubs will have the capacity to provide play space, cooking and laundry facilities and communal recreation space," the document read. "Other supports will also be available for families as they move on to other housing options when they become available," it added. Planning permission was not deemed necessary for the renovation and change of purpose of the building as the city manager deemed it "an emergency situation calling for immediate action". The decision was made without consulting any residents or businesses in the area, according to DCC, which says its policy is only to make people aware once the go-ahead is given. It is understood that council officials and surveyors have visited the site in recent weeks. All 24 families due to stay in the property will have children, with the target group having a local connection to the area where possible. Some children may have to attend school outside of the locality. Jennifer and James Cromwell, who live opposite the property, say the plans were a "mystery" to them. They said they didn't object to an influx of people, but were worried the building wpi;d be too cramped for so many families. It is understood councillors were made aware of the plans only at an area meeting on Wednesday. Other properties being developed for similar purposes already will be located on Clonliffe Road, Dublin 3, and at Hyde Park, Drumcondra. The hubs will be run by separate social support agencies. A spokesperson for the Housing Department said that a number of the family hubs would become available by the middle of this year. He added that the minister is committed to using hotels only in "exceptional circumstances" and that against this background, the department along with local authorities, NGOs, housing bodies and a range of stakeholders are working on delivering the target. A suspect for the murder of hero Garda Adrian Donohoe is facing deportation back to Ireland after being arrested yesterday for immigration offences in New York. The 25-year-old, who is originally from South Armagh, was detained by Immigration and Control Enforcement officials after he overstayed his visa. The suspect was arrested as part of US President Donald Trumps high profile crackdown on illegal immigration. Officials in the US had placed the murder suspect under surveillance over the last number of months at the request of the Gardai. It is believed that a former associate of the man, who is currently living in Ireland, has been assisting gardai with their inquiries. "This person has essentially turned against this individual and other members of the gang and is providing valuable information to investigating. They were a close cohort but now cracks are beginning to emerge and people who were in the gangs inner-circle are beginning to see sense," a source said. It is understood that gardai hope to question the suspect as soon as he returns to Ireland. Two other suspected members of the five-man murder gang are also believed to be in the United States while the other suspect lives near Dundalk, co Louth. The tragic 41-year-old father-of-two was shot dead in the line of duty during an armed robbery at the Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, near Dundalk, Co Louth, on the morning of January 25, 2013. No one has ever been brought to justice in relation to the incident and the gang of involved in the attack escaped the scene with just 4,000. On the fourth anniversary of Det Gda Donohoe's murder in January, senior gardai made a fresh appeal for anyone with information in relation to the murder to contact them. "Over the last four years, investigating officers have carried over 5,600 individual enquiries, taken over 2,500 witness statements and examined in excess of 20,000 hours of CCTV footage," Assistant Garda Commissioner Michael Finn said. Chief Supt Sean Ward, of Dundalk garda station, said that An Garda Siochana was working with police forces in the US and UK as part of the murder investigation. "We are engaged and working closely with police forces in the United States, in Europe and with colleagues in the Police Service of Northern Ireland, and as I said at the outset, our objective is that no stone will be left unturned in terms of bringing those responsible to justice," he said at the time. The Fine Gael politician at the centre of the infamous Seanad cronyism debacle has been appointed to a strategy position within the party. John McNulty has been hired to the post of development officer in Co Donegal and will be tasked with trying to win a second seat in the constituency for Fine Gael. It is one of a number of posts recently created by Fine Gael as the party steps up preparations ahead of the next general election. Mr McNulty is closely associated with the family of outgoing Taoiseach Enda Kenny, who in 2014 found himself facing accusations of political cronyism. The now former Fine Gael leader was involved in the appointment of Mr McNulty to the board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA), housed at the Royal Hospital, in a bid to boost his credentials ahead of a Seanad by-election. The controversy, which also proved damaging to Arts Minister Heather Humphreys, resulted in Fine Gael losing a Seanad seat that it should have comfortably held. Expand Close John McNulty was a member of the IMMA board for 13 days / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp John McNulty was a member of the IMMA board for 13 days Independent senator Gerard Craughwell won the contest. Mr McNulty was a member of the board for just 13 days. In September 2014, Mr Kenny said the appointment should not have occurred and he pledged that it would not happen again. "I wouldn't say it was my finest hour, and I take responsibility for this having evolved to what people might imagine it is," Mr Kenny said. It has now emerged that Mr McNulty will take up the new strategy post in Donegal in the coming days. The part-time position is paid and based on a contract of two years. A similar position has been filled for Co Tipperary. According to the notice for the position, which was advertised by the party, the successful candidate will support the work of councillors and help fundraising efforts. It says that "a good understanding of politics and a background in the voluntary sector" are necessary requirements. And it says that a knowledge of the Irish language is desirable. "Excellent interpersonal and adaptability skills are fundamental to this role along with willingness to work unsociable hours," says the notice for the post which was advertised in March. Mr McNulty will report to the party's general secretary Tom Curran. SOCIAL Protection Minister Leo Varadkar is expected to be supported by at least five Cabinet ministers, including Paschal Donohoe, in his bid to become the next leader of Fine Gael. Last night Arts and Rural Affairs Minister Heather Humphreys declared that she was backing her Mr Varadkar to take over as leader of the party. Speaking on the RTE Six One news Ms Humphreys said: "He's decisive, he's courageous, he's hard working he has all the skills that I believe are necessary not alone to lead the Fine Gael party but also to lead the country." Jobs Minister Mary Mitchell O'Connor also pledged her support for Varadkar. She said his leadership would be "energetic and inspiring". She described the Dublin West TD as someone with "the capacity to make bold decisions and the political courage to tell people what they need, not necessarily just they want to hear". "He is man of integrity, of ability, of passion and of steel. He is a man who is guided by strong principles. That work should be rewarded, that opportunity should be equal and that big ideas are required to deal with big problems. Expand Close TDs declaring their support for Leo Varadkar at Leinster House. Picture: Niall O'Connor / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp TDs declaring their support for Leo Varadkar at Leinster House. Picture: Niall O'Connor "He is right person to lead this party, and more importantly, this country," she said. Ms Mitchell OConnors constituency colleague Maria Bailey is backing Simon Coveney. Read More Government Chief Whip Paul Kehoe and Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe have declare their support for Leo while Education Minister Richard Bruton has also thrown his political weight behind his fellow Dublin minister. Speaking outside the Department of Education in Dublin, Mr Bruton admitted that he carefully considered throwing his own hat in the ring for the leadership. But he said believes Mr Varadkar and Housing Minister Simon Coveney are best placed to succeed Enda Kenny as Taoiseach and leader of Fine Gael. Mr Flanagan, the foreign affairs minister, has also pledged his support to Mr Varadkar, saying he "undoubtedly reflects a changing Ireland, a diverse Ireland". Speaking to RTE's Morning Ireland, Mr Flanagan said that Mr Varadkar is "courageous, dynamic and hard-working". "I believe he has all the qualities to make a very good leader. We're fortunate to have two candidates of superior quality. "Simon Coveney has been a great minister and he will continue to be, but I'm opting for Leo Varadkar." Mr Flanagan said that Mr Varadkar is a "straight talker" who has the "capacity to reach out". Read More On Thursday afternoon a spokesman for Leo Vardkar's campaign confirmed names of 12 sitting TDs who are backing his campaign including junior Ministers Sean Kyne, Helen McEntee, Eoghan Murphy and Joe McHugh. Other TDs listed are Colm Brophy, Peter Burke, Ciaran Cannon, Michael DArcy, Pat Deering, Brendan Griffin, Josepha Madigan, Noel Rock, Alan Farrell, Jim Daly and John Paul Phelan. Helen McEntee said: "Leo Varadkar is the person to lead Fine Gael. He has the experience, determination and courage to lead our party. Look at the fresh new approach he has taken to politics, look at how he interacts with people, look at his vision for a more forward-thinking and open Ireland. This country needs a leader for the 21st century and Leo is that person." Jobs Minister Mary Mitchell OConnor has now also publicly backed Leo Varadkar in the Fine Gael leadership race. The Dun Laoghaire TD said this afternoon that she believes Mr Varadkar is the person to deal with the challenges facing the country. She said his leadership would be "energetic and inspiring". The other ministers are expected to announce their intentions either later today or tomorrow. Housing Minister Simon Coveney has so far received the backing of Health Minister Simon Harris. Tanaiste and Justice Frances Fitzgerald announced she would not be running but has so far not revealed who she will be supporting. I have been touched by the encouragement and support I have received, she said. Ms Fitzgerald issued a statement saying she looks forward to the campaign and the bright future ahead for Fine Gael. She did not indicate who she would be supporting. Varadkar campaign sources said it was unclear how Agriculture Minister Michael Creed will vote. Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Finance Minister Michael Noonan are not expected to reveal who they will vote for. Around 15 backbench TDs and junior ministers are shortly expected to announce they are backing Mr Varadkar. Mr Coveney launched his bid for the Fine Gael leadership today with declarations from ministers Simon Harris, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, Damien English and David Stanton. His message will be built around strong, positive government with big ideas. As far as Im concerned Im fighting for the soul of this party, he said. Mr Coveney said he believes the new leader should not just manage an economy but also focus on making peoples lives better. He said his manifesto will be an attempt to re-balance this country away from the dominance of Dublin so that rural people and rural parishes can believe in their futures again. Asked whether he has the X Factor, Mr Coveney said: That depends on what you describe as the X Factor. For me its about honest, strong, deliver. I dont think that a family living in a hotel room this evening is looking for a Taoiseach with X Factor. They are looking for a Taoiseach wholl solve their problems. Earlier, various TDs and Senators told Sean O'Rourke on RTE Radio 1 who they were backing in the race for the next leader of Fine Gael. Fine Gael's Deputy Leader, James Reilly is supporting Simon Coveney and has submitted his resignation to the parliamentary party. "I believe he has the temperament, a hardworking ethos, a sense of collegiality, not afraid to take on the hard issues of housing and Irish water," he said. "He's an experienced negotiator, he manages to be polite but firm, he doesn't antagonise people. The new leader needs to be able to negotiate with the Independence Alliance and Fianna Fail." Damien English, junior minister at the Dept of Housing, unsurprisingly confirmed that he will support Mr Coveney. Fine Gael MEP Brian Hayes told the show that he would be supporting Mr Varadkar for leader, saying he feels he will appeal to a younger generation. "He has grown into a politician of some standing in recent years since his election and, I think, more than anything else he really appeals to a diverse Ireland; and Ireland that is rapidly changing and I think at him at the helm he will do very well," he said. It's early days in the contest but other prominent TDs to have made their allegiance known include Galway East TD from FG, Ciaran Cannon, Alan Farrell from Dublin Fingal and Pat Deering from Carlow-Kilkenny who said they will be backing Mr Varadkar. Among those supporting Mr Coveney are Maria Bailey, TD for Dun Laoghaire and Kate OConnell from Dublin Bay South. A number of Senators have come out this lunchtime to say they will support Mr Varadkar. They are: Sen. Paddy Burke, Sen. Ray Butler, Sen. Maria Byrne, Sen. Martin Conway, Sen. Frank Feighan, Sen. Maura Hopkins, Sen. Michelle Mulherin, Sen. Catherine Noone and Sen. Neale Richmond. Fine Gael to open polling station in Brussels as voting preparation underway FINE Gael will install polling booths in every constituency in the country, as well as in Brussels, to allow members to vote in the upcoming leadership contest. Its understood the hustings - which allow candidates to make their pitches to Fine Gael members - will run over the course of days. Voting for members will be held from Monday May 29 - Thursday June 1 with the ballot stations open from 6pm-10pm. Fine Gael members of the parliamentary party will attend a special meeting on Friday June 2, during which they will cast their votes. The parliamentary makes up 65pc of the vote, followed by the wider membership (25pc) and councillors (10pc). The count itself will take place in Dublin. Fine Gael is to put in place an ethics committee to oversee the election process. There will be at least one polling booth in every constituency outside of Dublin, with two being opened in the capital - one northside and one southside. Two in Dublin: one northside and one southside There will also be a polling station in brussels, with many Fine Gael members living and working in the EU Parliament. Photo/www.ship.sh In a White House press briefing on May 12, Lieutenant General H.R. McMaster, U.S. President Donald Trumps national security advisor, talked a little bit about Trumps America First Policy. He said that putting America first means that the security and interests of the American people should be prioritized, and he pointed to the economic relationship with China as an example of how the U.S. is looking for ways to advance American prosperity. But with a White House in turmoil and various views about China among individuals and between groups within the government, it is doubtful that the U.S. government has the vision and influence needed to advance American prosperity for the long run. Though the U.S. government recognizes the importance of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, it has yet to fully embrace the plan. One reason for this reluctance is that the West tends to view the China-proposed economic initiative in outdated geopolitical terms, and the U.S. is concerned that the global building project is aimed at reducing American power and influence in East Asia. But nothing could be farther from the truth. The Belt and Road Initiative is beneficial by design, not imperial by design. It is Chinas plan to bring the world community together under a new model of win-win cooperation, and is aimed only at promoting prosperity. Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed this point in his keynote speech at the opening of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing on May 14: We have no intention to interfere in other countries internal affairs, export our own social system and model of development, or impose our own will on others. In pursuing the Belt and Road Initiative, we will not resort to outdated geopolitical maneuvering. What we hope to achieve is a new model of win-win cooperation. We have no intention to form a small group detrimental to stability, what we hope to create is a big family of harmonious co-existence. Despite Chinas peaceful efforts to enhance connectivity and lift Asia, there is still some concern in the West about Chinas true intentions. For example, China was cast in a negative light at a recent U.S. Senate hearing on worldwide threats simply for its ambitions and its progress in regional integration, and the Belt and Road Initiative was singled out for some criticism. Such criticism misses the point; that is, Chinas peaceful rise is an opportunity for all countries of the world, and all countries of the world are more than welcome to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative. China believes that connectivity is the key to curing the worlds problems, and connectivity is exactly what the Belt and Road Initiative offers. As a major Western country, a cooperative China-U.S. relationship is essential for the overall success of the initiative, and the U.S. has a lot to gain if the worlds two largest economies can leverage their comparative strengths for peace and prosperity. This is why both the Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank president welcome Americas constructive participation in the region with open arms. But if the U.S. government is unwilling or unable to run with the initiative, then the best strategy for China is to deepen engagement with the U.S. business community. Unlike the U.S. government, the U.S. business community is ready and eager to work hand-in-hand with China to advance initiative. As The New York Times reported on May 18, Western companies are angling aggressively for a piece of the action. But it is not just Western companies that want in on the action. American cities, such as Los Angeles, are also working hard for their own piece of the Belt and Road pie. In an interview with Xinhua, Jim MacLellan, Director of Trade Development of the Port of Los Angeles, said he was pleased that the U.S. government sent representatives to the Belt and Road Forum. Seroka sees the initiative as a good thing. The Port of Los Angeles accounts for 43 percent of the nations sea freight. Nearly two-thirds of the ports traffic is from Asia, and more than two-thirds of that figure comes from China. As a major gateway for trade with Asia, MacLellan wants the port to play a major role in Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. Like many in the U.S. business community, MacLellan believes that this will help the nations small businesses and advance American prosperity. Given the turmoil engulfing the U.S. government and the differing views on Chinas role in a changing world order, perhaps the best strategy for China is to double-down on its engagement with the U.S. business community. Michael Noonan with his wife Florence at the Galway Races in 2011 Taoiseach Enda Kenny paid tribute to the "extraordinary" contribution finance minister - and his "close personal friend" - Michael Noonan made to restoring the Irish economy after the crash. He said he completely respected Mr Noonan's decision to retire at the next election and praised his "transformative influence" in recent years. Expand Close Michael Noonan leaving a European Union finance ministers meeting in Brussels in 2012 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Michael Noonan leaving a European Union finance ministers meeting in Brussels in 2012 Mr Kenny added: "Above all else, Michael remains a close personal friend of mine." Mr Noonan's announcement of his impending retirement after more than three decades in the Dail followed Mr Kenny's departure as Fine Gael leader. The Limerick man said he did not wish to be considered for a Cabinet post under the Taoiseach's successor. He said it was a good time for a new finance minister, adding: "Ireland is the fastest growing economy in Europe, the budget is almost balanced and we are on the cusp of full employment." Political adversaries took time to pay tribute to Mr Noonan in the Dail. Fianna Fail finance spokesman Michael McGrath praised Mr Noonan for his public service and said: "You're certainly leaving the economy in a much better state than you found it." He said that Ireland's exit from the Troika bailout would be one of Mr Noonan's "notable achievements". He credited Mr Noonan in being "straight" and "upfront" even if they didn't agree on every issue. Mr McGrath wished Mr Noonan well and hoped he gets to spend more quality time with his children and grandchildren. Sinn Fein's Peadar Toibin said Mr Noonan had a "very different world view in nearly every respect politically" but noted he had been "the mainstay of the Fine Gael party since I was a kid". Expand Close Brendan Howlin worked with Mr Noonan for five years / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Brendan Howlin worked with Mr Noonan for five years He wished him "many happy years with his family". Mr Noonan (73) was first elected to the Dail for his Limerick constituency in 1981. A previous leader of Fine Gael, he said he was honoured to serve as Finance Minister, having introduced six Budgets since 2011. He said it had been a privilege to represent the people of Limerick and that he would continue to do so until an election was called. Labour leader Brendan Howlin, who served alongside Mr Noonan as public expenditure minister for five years, said: "I have learned to admire his political skills and respect his manifest competence." Of the leadership contenders, Leo Varadkar said Mr Noonan was the "best finance minister in the history of the State", while Simon Coveney said he was "central to saving and rebuilding" the economy. The Fine Gael leadership contest is Leo Varadkar's to lose after a flood of endorsements gave him a clear lead over Simon Coveney. Mr Varadkar went to ground on the opening day of the race, opting instead to send out a string of ministers, TDs and senators in a series of carefully choreographed media appearances. Expand Close All smiles: Leo Varadkar is in pole position in the race to succeed Enda Kenny Picture: Frank McGrath / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp All smiles: Leo Varadkar is in pole position in the race to succeed Enda Kenny Picture: Frank McGrath Three Cabinet ministers have publicly backed his bid to succeed Enda Kenny. And the Irish Independent understands Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe and Government chief whip Regina Doherty will follow suit today. A tally of declared votes puts the Social Protection Minister 10 ahead within the parliamentary party, despite Mr Coveney's camp believing it would win this section of the electorate. Mr Coveney said yesterday that 20 people signed his nomination papers but last night refused to publish the list, claiming some were not willing to go public yet. The show of strength from Mr Varadkar was a clear attempt to gain the early momentum and lure undecided TDs and senators to his camp. Read More "We're very happy with the numbers but we're taking nothing for granted," a source close to the minister said. The big surprise was Richard Bruton's declaration as many within the party believed he would offer himself up as a third candidate. He said he contacted Mr Coveney yesterday morning to inform him of his decision but was not able to reach Mr Varadkar. Expand Close Simon Coveney, pictured, and Leo Varadkar are the contenders to be the next Taoiseach with Mr Coveney firing the opening salvo on the steps of his party HQ / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Simon Coveney, pictured, and Leo Varadkar are the contenders to be the next Taoiseach with Mr Coveney firing the opening salvo on the steps of his party HQ "This will be the first Leo would have heard (of my decision)," he said, adding that Mr Varadkar had the "strengths" required to address the challenges facing the country and the Fine Gael party. Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald cleared the way for the contest to be a two-horse race, saying that after serious consideration running would not be "the right decision" for her. She has yet to declare support for either candidate, with one colleague last night describing her as "an enigma". Jobs Minister Mary Mitchell O'Connor and Rural Development Minister Heather Humphreys also came out in favour of Mr Varadkar. Ms Humphreys' vote is seen as particularly significant as her Cavan/Monaghan constituency has a large Fine Gael membership and will also help the Dublin West TD bridge the urban/rural divide. The most high-profile declaration for Mr Coveney was Health Minister Simon Harris who appeared alongside him at a press conference. Sources in the Coveney camp last night insisted there was no sense of panic. "One-third of the parliamentary party is still in play. Leo's strategy was Blitzkrieg but a lot of it is smoke and mirrors," said one source. Mr Coveney is still hoping to secure the backing of Agriculture Minister Michael Creed, and while they won't publicly declare it, it is believed Enda Kenny and Michael Noonan will support him. The Housing Minister's director of election Damien English last night noted he has the support of 28 of the 31 councillors in Cork and Kerry. Mr Coveney will travel to Ennis today for a series of engagements, including the Clare Fine Gael AGM. His campaign is built around a message of "strong, positive government with big ideas". "As far as I'm concerned I'm fighting for the soul of this party," he said yesterday. He said his manifesto would be an attempt to "rebalance this country away from the dominance of Dublin so that rural people and rural parishes can believe in their futures again" Asked whether he has the X Factor, Mr Coveney said: "That depends on what you describe as the X Factor. For me it's about honest, strong, delivery. "I don't think that a family living in a hotel room this evening is looking for a Taoiseach with X Factor. They are looking for a Taoiseach who'll solve their problems. "The US voted for someone with the X-factor, look how that's turning out," he said on RTE's Prime Time. Mr Coveney refused to give a guarantee that his rival would be in the next Cabinet if he wins the contest. "Leo's a talented guy. He'll be involved in the future of the party one way or the other. I'm not going to start naming Cabinet positions," he said. The Fine Gael National Executive confirmed last night that four regional debates would take place in Dublin, Carlow, Ballinasloe and Cork. Independent Alliance members have warned they will not be "frightened" to challenge a new Fine Gael but won't be seeking a review of the Programme for Government. All four ministers said they will be happy to keep their current ministries, while OPW Minister Sean Canney revealed he will hand over his office to Kevin 'Boxer' Moran on June 2. The five members of the Alliance held a press conference yesterday to mark the first anniversary of their time in government. They defended their record and took several swipes at opposition parties for being "hurlers on the ditch" when it came to forming a government. Transport Minister Shane Ross said it was "a good thing" that the Government was consistently losing Dail votes. "The insiders of Irish politics can now be successfully challenged," he said. And Mr Ross insisted the Government could last three years, as agreed by Fine Gael and Fianna Fail in their 'confidence and supply arrangement'. "Those who say the Government will only last another few months were saying the same thing last year," he said. Mr Ross was asked if he was disappointed that one of his big demands at the time - the reopening of Stepaside Garda Station in his constituency - had not yet occurred, but said he was confident it would happen later this month. Read More He said Stepaside was "the worst case in the county that I knew of for burglaries", adding that it "must" be included in a list of six garda stations to be reopened. Mr Ross said it was not up to the Alliance to decide on the next leader of Fine Gael but they would work with Enda Kenny's successor. All five members refused to express a preference between Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney, although Finian McGrath said he had a closer working relationship with Mr Varadkar. Mr Ross offered an assurance the group would not go to the new leader with "an aggressive new manifesto" but said the changeover would be an "opportunity to refresh things". He added: "We're not going to be frightened to raise new issues." Mr McGrath said he now realised it was "not very popular to be in government" However, he said he intended to stand for re-election in Dublin Bay North because a lot of other independents "ran away" from government after last year's election. "They became hurlers on the ditch and that needs to be challenged," he said. Mr Canney, Mr Moran and Mr Ross all said they would run in the next election but Waterford TD John Halligan said he has yet to decide. "I'm not too sure. I'll think about it," he said. Mr Moran said he was looking forward to taking up a ministerial post for the first time, having been the only Alliance member left without one after the government formation. "We did have a shaky start. We had to settle down," he admitted. We may not have the hottest summers in the world here in Ireland, but as a nation we're pretty good at making the best out of what we do get. The long evenings, and perhaps that odd stretch of a few warm(ish) and sunny(ish) days, are a perfect reason to get outdoors and enjoy it while you can. Personally, I'll use any excuse to get out for an impromptu picnic in the local park, to light the barbecue on the back patio, or to take a spin in the car up into the hills. Pick up a baguette and some cheese, maybe a rotisserie chicken or a couple of steaks, or just a few cold cuts for an improvised charcuterie plate, and I'm off. That quick summer's day getaway will also involve a nice wine. It might be a crisp white to accompany fish or a goat's cheese salad, a refreshing rose on a warm day, a fruity Beaujolais to accompany a lighter meal or perhaps, at the opposite end of the spectrum, a brawny Aussie Shiraz to stand up to flame-grilled red meat. It's all good, and here are 20 of my suggestions for making the most of your summer wine-drinking experience. Reds Selected by Tesco Beaujolais Villages 2015, 13pc, 12 Beaujolais is made exclusively from the Gamay grape, which is one of my top choices for a lunchtime red wine on a summer's day. Light-bodied, with bright flavours of red berries, this wine has the slightest hint of spice on the finish. Slightly chilled, it's perfect for a picnic, or try it with Hazel Wallace's tandoori chickpea and courgette burgers (see page 12) Stockist: Tesco Finca El Paso Garnacha, 2015, 13.5pc, 12.95 Sometimes you want a wine that immediately hits the spot, and the generous stream of ripe strawberry flavours in this Garnacha has a drooling quality that makes it delicious to drink on its own, and it also goes great with food. Perfect for a barbecue wine that's not going to knock you flat. Stockists: Jus de Vine, Portmarnock; 64 Wines, Glasthule; Green Man Wines, Terenure; Searsons Wine Merchants, Monkstown, all Dublin, and searsons.com Antolini Valpolicella, 2015, 11.5pc, 14.50 (reduced from 15.50) Another utterly drinkable wine, this time from the Veneto in the north of Italy. Delivering as a Valpolicella should, this wine fills your mouth with a wash of plum and fruity flavours. Smooth and refreshing, this is as good on its own as it is with pizza or charcuterie.Stockists: Wines Direct at Arnotts, Dublin, and winesdirect.ie Pascal Bellier Cheverny 2014, 12.5pc, 14.99 Elegant and beautifully crafted, this delicious blend of 80pc Pinot Noir and 20pc Gamay is a silk-smooth, easy-drinking wine with fresh flavours of red cherry fruits. Again, like Beaujolais, if you serve it slightly chilled, it makes for a perfect lunch wine on a warm day. Stockists: Bradleys, Cork; Cashel Wine Cellar, Tipperary; Morton's of Galway; Market 57, Westport; Dicey Reilly's, Donegal; jnwine.com Domaine Le Novi Terre de Safres 2015, 13.5pc, 16.50 A deep-coloured red wine, this blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault from the southern Rhone Valley is a velvety wash of red cherry flavours, spices and liquorice tones. Stockists: Mitchell & Son, CHQ Building, IFSC, Dublin 1, and 54 Glasthule Road, Sandycove, Co Dublin; Avoca, Kilmacanogue, Co Wicklow, and Dunboyne, Co Meath; Myles Doyle, Gorey, Co Wexford; mitchellandson.com DeBortoli Woodfired Heathcote Shiraz, 2015, 14.5pc, 18.50 Shiraz says 'Australia', and in its dark, brooding style, there's nothing low-key or shy about this full-bodied red. Rich, concentrated and flush with plum and dark berry flavours, the food-friendly tannins mean this wine will not sit still till it is accompanied by the char of a thick T-bone steak cooked rare on the barbecue. Stockists: The Corkscrew, Chatham Street, Dublin; McHugh's, Malahide and Kilbarrack; Gibney's of Malahide, Redmonds of Ranelagh; The Winehouse, Trim; Kilkenny Wine Centre; wineonline.ie Sparkling Exquisite Collection Cremant de Jura, Brut, 12pc, 11.99 If you're looking for bargain bubbly that also tastes great, this French fizz, made from 100pc Chardonnay, is deliciously refreshing, with a crisp wash of green apples. A real crowd pleaser at a price that allows you to keep pouring. Perfect for a summer evening with friends. Stockist: Aldi McGuigan Frizzante, Extra Dry, 11PC, 12.99 Made by the same method as Prosecco, this well-priced fizz from South Eastern Australia is perfect for kicking off an evening, with its lively bubbles and gentle lemon and apple character. Try it with The Food Medic's turmeric roasted cauliflower with curried chickpeas (see page 14). Stockists: SuperValu, Tesco, independents nationwide and winesoftheworld.ie Villa Conchi Cava, Brut SelecciOn, 11.5pc, 22.95 Cava, which is made by the same traditional method as Champagne, is produced in the Catalonia region of Spain using three local grape varieties. The Villa Conchi also has some Chardonnay in the blend, which brings a good balance between fruits, and a rounded note of toast. A delicious aperitif, or serve with salads and light fish dishes. Stockists: Swans on the Green, Naas; Cinnamon Cottage, Cork; Searsons Wine Merchants, Monkstown Co Dublin, and searsons.com Alain Marcadet Cremant de Loire, 12PC, 24.50 A long weekend is the perfect time to treat yourself to some top-notch bubbles and this Cremant de Loire is a real alternative to quality Champagne. Made by the same method, this blend of hand- harvested Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc is light and elegant with golden fruity accents and a lingering finish. Stockists: Wines Direct at Arnotts in Dublin, and online at winesdirect.ie Whites Tesco Finest Picpoul de Pinet, 2016, 12.5pc, 9 Lesser-known grapes deliver brilliant value, and Picpoul from the Languedoc in the South of France, with its crisp apple flavours and refreshing acidity, is fast becoming a favourite among people looking for an alternative to Sauvignon Blanc. Perfect with seafood and grilled fish or just on its own on a warm summer's day. Stockist: Tesco Chereau Carre Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sur Lie 2015, 12pc, 9.99 Muscadet got a reputation for screeching acidity when it first did the rounds back in the 1980s, but it's one of those below-the-radar wines which are tailor-made for summer. This well-priced bottle is dry, light and lively, and its crisp acidity makes it a classic partner for shellfish. Stockist: Lidl Chatelain Desjacques Sauvignon Blanc 2015, 11.5pc, 9.95 (reduced from 14.95 until may 28) While the fruit-forward flavours and zippy acidity of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc have put this highly rated grape firmly on the varietal map, the Loire in France is its more sedate birthplace. This example, with its crisp gooseberry flavours, has a touch of a Sancerre about it and is a great buy at this offer price. Stockist: O'Briens Joseph Drouhin Macon-Lugny 2014, 13pc, 14.99 We all have friends who roll their eyes when they hear the word Chardonnay, probably because they got lost in the woods for all the oak that was in it. Far fresher and more vibrant, but softened with a touch of apricot, this Macon-Lugny from one of the larger producers in the area, is perfect with a rotisserie chicken. Stockists: Widely available from Tesco and independents nationwide Domane Wachau Gruner Veltliner Terrassen Federspiel 2015, 12.5pc, 17.99 The Gruner Veltliner grape, which is grown primarily in Austria, is often described as having a characteristic nose of white pepper, and you get a touch of that in this example. The Federspiel classification means that this bottle is medium-bodied, so you get a nicely balanced, easy-drinking glass with fresh flavours of apple and a faint touch of passion fruit. Stockists: Deveney's, Rathmines; The Vintry, Rathgar; and Grapevine, Dalkey, in Dublin; Number 21, Blarney and Cork; The 1601, Kinsale; Red Nose Wine, Clonmel Tinpot Hut Sauvignon Blanc 2016, 13.5Pc, 19.99 Fans of Kiwi Sauvignon Blanc are in for a treat when they get a waft of the intense, lifted aromas of passion fruit, lemongrass and fresh thyme in this textbook example of the wine. There's plenty going on here with a balance of deliciously ripe fruit, mineral notes and a long, lingering finish. Stockists: Bradleys, Cork; Blackrock Cellar, Green Man Wines, Le Caveau, Kelly's Off-Licence, Red Island Wine Co, Jus de Vine, and Mitchell & Son, Dublin; Egan's Wines, Portlaoise; Cheers Take Home; drinkstore.ie Rose Delheim Pinotage Rose, 12.5pc, 2016, 12.95 (buy one, get one half price) The roses are starting to come in at O'Briens and it's well worth watching out for their offers, like this one, which runs for the full summer. Made in Stellenbosch from South Africa's Pinotage grape, this will appeal to the signed-up rose lover who likes their wine just off-dry and bursting with ripe raspberry and cherry flavours. Stockist: O'Briens Domaine de la Navarre Rose, 13.5pc, 2016, 14.50 Even the slightest ray of sunshine is enough reason to open this elegant rose from the Cotes de Provence region in France, generally considered to be the homeland of rose. There's plenty of fresh acidity with ripe, pink grapefruit flavours and delicate notes of strawberry and cranberry. Try it with a vine-ripened tomato salad. Stockist: Marks & Spencer ChAteau Sainte-Croix Rose, 13pc, 2015, 17.95 Another example of a quintessential rose from Provence. A glass of this 100pc Grenache, salmon-hued wine will transport you to the South of France with its lively fruit and refreshing character. Stockists: 1601 Off Licence, Kinsale; Searsons Wine Merchants, Monkstown, Dublin, and searsons.com Willunga 100 Grenache Rose, 14PC, 2015, 18.99 With a bit more power than your typical rose, this full-on taste of summer in a bottle from the McLaren Vale in Australia is packed with aromas of wild strawberries and fresh rose petals and is balanced by a nice lively touch of citrus acidity. Stockists: Bradleys, Cork; Florries Fine Wines, Tramore; Fresh (Grand Canal Square, Smithfield, Camden Street, Stepaside, IFSC), Baggot Street Wines and Jus de Vine, Dublin A choice of four very different properties in Laois. 17 Killenard Lodge, Killenard 395k DNG Kelly (057) 862 3880 Expand Close 17 Killenard Lodge / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp 17 Killenard Lodge Killenard Lodge is a small housing estate just south of the railway tracks and north of Mount St Anne's retreat centre at Killenard, Co Laois. So the residents there have a choice between staying put and meditating or jumping on a train to somewhere else. Number 17 is a detached dormer bungalow of 2,010 sq ft, with five bedrooms (three en-suite), or possibly six, depending on whether you need a study or not. There's also an eat-in kitchen, a dining room with French doors to the patio, and a living room. Newtown House & Mills, Durrow 865k Sotheby's International Realty (01) 905 9790 Expand Close Newtown House / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Newtown House If you want to acquire Newtown House on 1.6 acres of grounds, it will cost 550,000, but another 315,000 will buy you the nearby four-storey mill, mill pond, and 9.4 acres with river frontage. At least you'll stop anyone else from getting their hands on it. The house was reportedly built in 1801, although the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage says 1840. It's on two storeys with a raised basement, and stands at 3,358 sq ft with five bedrooms, a drawing room, dining room, study, along with a big kitchen. Bushfield House, Knockaroo 395k Clement Herron (057) 866 6344; Padraig Hyde (024) 91355 Expand Close Bushfield House / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Bushfield House Bushfield House reportedly dates from 1850, but it has been extensively renovated and extended, so that it's now a substantial 3,000 sq ft. It still has some authentic features such as high ceilings and the original staircase, and it's on five acres of land. The six bedrooms are all upstairs, and there are four en-suites. On the ground floor there's a country-style kitchen, a living room, family room, study and lounge. It's about six kilometres from Borris-in-Ossory and less than 10 minutes' drive from Junction 21 of the M7. Karmann Lodge, Bellegrove 349,999 DNG Kelly (057) 862 3880 Expand Close Karmann Lodge / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Karmann Lodge It will take under an hour to drive from Karmann Lodge to Dublin, as the M7 motorway is about three kilometres away. To avoid the stress of driving, you might travel by train instead from Portarlington. Karmann Lodge is a detached stone-fronted dormer on one-and-a-half acres. The house is 1,968 sq ft with three upstairs bedrooms (one ensuite) and a fourth on the ground floor. There's also a kitchen/dining room with a solid-fuel stove, a sitting room with a fireplace fitted with another stove, and a sunroom. Over the years, you've probably read articles that make choosing wall colour seem easy. I might even have written one or two myself. But choosing paint colour isn't easy at all. It's really, really difficult. I'm talking from recent experience. Earlier this year, we repainted our bedroom. This isn't something that happens very often. The last time it was painted was when I was 25 (bright orange, if you want to know). Over time, it faded to a lovely golden yellow. We kept it for so long that it was difficult to imagine that room in any other colour. But no paint job lasts forever. It was time for something a little more grown-up. After much discussion, we narrowed it down to a vague desire for green. So we got the catalogues and the colour cards, we bought swatches and tester pots, and we installed the apps that let you upload and colour a photo of your room. We still couldn't decide. The colours that had looked so beautiful in the catalogues looked horrible when we tried them out at home. By this stage, we'd started to squabble. I just wanted to choose a colour - any colour! - and get the damn thing over with, even if it wasn't perfect. He said (quite rightly) that he didn't want to spend the next 10 years waking up to the wrong wall colour. The pressure was mounting. Because the room has Victorian plasterwork and a high ceiling, painting it is more than we felt fit to tackle ourselves. Foolishly, we'd booked the painter before we'd chosen the paint. In the end, we couldn't do it by ourselves. I showed the paint catalogues to my interior designer friend Laura Farrell. "I like that one," she said, pointing at a silvery green. As always, her judgement was spot on. Now, our bedroom looks amazing: fresh, cool and bright. But it wasn't an easy process. The moral of the story is: if in doubt, ask an expert. And there's no better place to do this than the forthcoming interiors event, House. Throw a stone across the main hall of the RDS next weekend and you'll probably hit a colour consultant. For a start, there are a number of paint companies among the exhibitors: Autentico Chalk Paints, Annie Sloan, Colortrend, Dulux Moda, Little Greene and MRCB Paints. All of these will all have someone on hand to offer free advice. "Using colour is simple when you know how!" says chalk paint expert Annie Sloan. "I suggest that people start by just using two colours. One should be a neutral colour and the other should be a colour that works with your neutral. It doesn't have to be a bright colour, and you don't need to use lots of it - but it's important to add colour to make a room look lively. "The most interesting neutrals are made by mixing two complementary colours together," she explains. "On a colour wheel, the colours opposite each other are considered complementary. Then pick one of the tones that is in your neutral. For example, my colour Paris Grey is made from a mix of orange and blue, so I know either one will look great with it!" Hmm. Possibly not as easy as she makes it sound. The undertones in neutral colours aren't always that obvious. Many pale greys, for example, have undertones of green. But they don't look green. It's just one of the colour ingredients in the mix. This is like flavouring a tomato sauce with a pinch of cinnamon. The cinnamon will change how the sauce tastes but may be hard to identify. Other neutrals (magnolia is the prime example here) have pink undertones. Again, the paint doesn't present itself as pink. There may only be a few drops of red in the mix, which leaves you with a slightly peachy neutral. I'm not crazy about peachy neutrals but that may be because I grew up in a house where every single room was painted in magnolia. If in doubt, ask an expert. Paint colours have names but they also have numbers, like a code that gives you the breakdown of the colours in the paint. Anyone who is trained as a colour consultant will be able to look at that code and see that a neutral has pink, or blue or green as one of its ingredients. They'll use this information to tell you what other colours would look good with that neutral (and what to avoid). All Annie Sloan's suppliers have training in using her paint, which costs 27.95 for a litre tin of wall paint and 9 for a 100ml "small project" tin. Dulux's Moda (64 for a 5-litre tin) is what's known as a capsule collection. It's designed to take the pain away from paint choice, by offering less choice and grouping colours that go together. The range has five palettes, each with five colours. Interior designer Suzie McAdamwill be one of the experts on their stand at House. "Rather than being overwhelmed by what paint to use, create a palette of colours that work together," she advises. "Then choose one of these colours for the walls, and use the others in furniture and accessories." The Coastal Calm colour family from Dulux Moda includes Salinger (sandy), Apple Box (muted mid-green), Renaissance (light fresh green), Robin Egg (blue/green) and Venetian White (off-white). All of these are designed to be compatible with each other. Following McAdam's advice might involve painting the walls in Salinger and the woodwork Venetian White (since you know those colours are going to work together). Then complete the room by using the colour palette in non-paint items. This could be as simple as upholstering a couple of armchairs in Robin Egg and finishing it all off with a lamp in Renaissance green. While a limited palette can make a room look sophisticated, McAdam suggests that you pick one or two extra colours to add contrast and dynamism. "I always help my clients to choose a dark, exciting colour they love for either a big piece or all the walls - it is hard to create the same stunning effect with pale colours that you do with the darker, bolder ones!" As well as exhibitors, the Inspiration Stage at House will offer a series of talks by leading design practitioners, Denise O'Connor of Optimise Design among them. Strong colour, she admits, isn't for everyone. And she's compassionate towards the colour-shy who feel intimidated by all the dramatically painted rooms on Instagram. "Some of those rooms look fabulous in the photos but they wouldn't be easy to live in. For most people it's best to keep the main elements quite neutral and limit strong colour to the accessories." Phew. Over the past few years, she's noticed that the legendary Irish fear of using strong colour in the home is lessening. "Grey was super-popular for so long that it became the new magnolia. What's lovely now is that people are beginning to try different colours. Once you get a bit of confidence, it can be fun. Colour is a powerful, accessible tool and can really transform an environment." But be prepared for a bit of trial and error. Sometimes you'll get it right; sometimes you won't. Just keep calm and don't throw trial-sized paint pots at your partner. It only makes a mess. See anniesloan.com, misslaurafarrell@gmail.com, dulux.ie, suziemcadam.com, colourtrend.ie, optimise-design.com. A biennial exhibition featuring police equipment and anti-terrorism technology has opened in Beijing, with dozens of exhibitors presenting cutting-edge technology and equipment for police and the military. The China (Beijing) International Exhibition on Police Equipment and Anti-Terrorism Technology and Equipment (CIPATE) is jointly organized by the China Association for Science and Technology and Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau. It has been held every two years since May 2005. Many military and police vehicles manufacturers parked their vehicles outside the exhibition hall. Beijing Anlong Groups explosion-proof armored vehicle, stationed right at the entrance, was the subject of much attention. The Ford Motor-adapted armored vehicle can hold up to 10 officers, and its tank-like armor makes it virtually unstoppable in urban areas. An employee of the company told the Peoples Daily Online that its vehicles have been successfully exported to several countries in the Middle East and Central Asia. The Zhaoqing public security bureau in Guangdong province also recently signed a contract to purchase Anlong's armored vehicles. Smaller exhibits at the expo included police motorcycles, extendable batons and drones. Some companies focused on smaller gadgets such as optical aiming devices for firearms and drug test papers. Specifically, Sichuan-based Haoying Kean Technology became to focus of attention when employees demonstrated how the company's multi-joint self-locking pliers could effectively bring down a baton-waving suspect. Su Yuran, a manager of Beijing-based Efly Technology, told the Peoples Daily Online that Efly is hoping to cooperate with more police authorities from the expo. The company previously secured a 68-million-RMB deal with Chinese civil aviation authorities to deploy its drones in several provinces for search and rescue missions. Following up my letter (Irish Independent, May 16) on Dublin City Hall and the Palestinian flag, Galway City Council has now voted overwhelmingly, 11 to two, for flying the Palestinian flag over its City Hall for the remainder of the month. Sligo County Council also voted, on May 8, unanimously to fly the flag from its office, for a fortnight starting on May 15, known as 'Nakba Day' for Palestinians. Again, the protocol of flying flags from local authority buildings seems normally limited to the Irish and European Union flags. Patrick Foley, of Galway City Council, told me that "Galway City Council normally flies the Irish Flag and the EU flag". Galway and European Capital of Culture flags have also been flown "from time to time", as well as European and American flags when dignitaries from those countries visited the council. However, the Palestinian flag has never been flown before by the council. As President Mahmoud Abbas of Palestine is currently not visiting Ireland (he is on a state visit to India), the decision of Irish councils to fly any national flag in the absence of a visiting dignitary appears to be unprecedented. It is also noteworthy that Fine Gael councillor Anne Feeney's proposal to fly also the Israeli flag from Dublin City Hall to recognise both nations' citizens' suffering was defeated 43 to 11. Stephen Oliver Murray Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 Added stress for cancer patients The revelation that hundreds of cancer patients, who are relying on chemotherapy drugs for their vital cancer treatment and recovery, are now facing a shortage of life-saving medicines is deeply worrying (Irish Independent, May 18). Dr Ray McDermott, an oncologist in Tallaght Hospital and St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin, said he is very concerned at this development, which is causing unnecessary stress and disruption to cancer patients at a most difficult time in their lives. The drugs are commercially compounded and are administered intravenously. Baxter Healthcare is the only company supplying these drugs to public and private hospitals. A spokesperson for Baxter Healthcare said in recent days it is doing all it can to deal with the "temporary supply constraint" caused by technical difficulties with their main supplier which has halted IV drug delivery. One would hope Health Minister Simon Harris and the HSE would have this problem sorted out by now. The last thing cancer patients want is more worry and stress as they fight this ever-increasing disease, and we hope this episode will not have consequences for patients' prognosis and psychological well-being further down the road. Tom Towey Cloonacool, Co Sligo Let's settle it with a vote So we will have an unelected taoiseach, a minority Government, uncertainty and instability - what a way to face into probably our greatest challenge ever, the Brexit crisis. It's time for a general election to give us strength of direction and purpose. William Shortland Blessington, Co Wicklow At last, some balance on Noirin Sinead Ryan's article ('How does Noirin the wife, the mother, the friend deal with the public condemnation?', Irish Independent, May 17) made for refreshing reading. At last, some balance in the media coverage and a modicum of compassion for the embattled Commissioner. As Ms Ryan puts it, "one thing for sure" is that Noirin O'Sullivan "has shown a streak of teak that is unprecedented". The relentless campaign waged against her by sections of the media and politicians must also be unprecedented for a serving top public servant to have to endure. And if all this wasn't bad enough, we now have Michael McGrath, Fianna Fail's finance spokesman, telling us that one of his party's first acts if elected to government would be to sack the Commissioner. It is, to say the least, regrettable that the main Opposition party has been unable to resist the temptation to jump on the political and media bandwagon calling for Ms O'Sullivan's head. The absence of any evidence of wrongdoing on her part is, it seems, irrelevant. Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald ('Tanaiste compares Fianna Fail policy on Garda chief to Trump sacking Comey', Irish Independent, May 17) is correct in saying "it really would put a shiver down every office holder in this country if a government was to take an approach as outlined by Fianna Fail". John Glennon Hollywood, Co Wicklow Britain has lost its way UK Prime Minister Theresa May has stated that Brexit will define Britain's place in the world. She may well be correct for the wrong reasons. With Brexit, the likelihood is that Britain's place in the world will become that of a former empire that has lost its place in Europe, and lost its way in the wider world. The people of Britain will likely suffer the most from Brexit, but the cost in Ireland, and internationally, will also be significant. Brexit represents a retreat to damaging nationalism, and national self-interest at the expense of the increasing need for international and global co-operation, especially in matters of global governance, the rule of law, matters of international peace and our very-threatened living environment. Also, since Britain no longer controls a vast empire, which in 1945 included India and Pakistan, its continuing status as a permanent veto-wielding member of the UN Security Council is no longer justified, especially when the second most populous country in the world, India, with about 17 times the population of Britain, has only the same UN status as a tiny country such as Ireland. Brexit is an own goal that may collapse the international goalposts. Edward Horgan Castletroy, Limerick Enda, in his own words For me, Enda Kenny's legacy is summed up in the following words from his speech in the Dail to the wonderful Magdalene women on February 19, 2013: "Therefore, I, as Taoiseach, on behalf of the State, the government and our citizens, deeply regret and apologise unreservedly to all those women for the hurt that was done to them, and for any stigma they suffered, as a result of the time they spent in a Magdalene Laundry." End of story. Brian Mc Devitt Glenties, Co Donegal Food for thought on driving So Danny Healy Rae has put his dinner in the mix when discussing dangers other than alcohol when driving. Next he'll be telling us that driving is a danger to driving on our roads. Let's have a real grown up conversation, please. Damien Carroll Kingswood, Dublin 24 With an Irish man now topping the table, excitement is set to reach fever pitch ahead of the Emerald Enduro rolling into Wicklow in around ten days times. Dubliner Greg Callaghan took the lead in the global series with victory in Madeira last weekend and, having won the Emerald Enduro for the past two years, fans are hoping he will maintain his grip on top spot on the slopes of Carrick Mountain, near Glenealy. The third Emerald Enduro - round four of the Enduro World Series - will take place on Sunday, May 28, and will see the world's top mountain bikers race over 50km of technical terrain in a rally style format with testing special stages. 2016 was a turning point for Irish Enduro racing with four of the five categories won by Irish riders - an unheralded achievement crowned by Greg Callaghan's victory. Event organiser Niall Davis from Biking.ie in Ballinastoe said that last year's event and the spectators who attended it were truly fantastic. 'It will be hard to top the amazing weekend we had last year, seeing Greg Callaghan cement his status as one of the world's best and seeing three other Irish competitors take the top step,' said Mr Davis. 'The crowds helped the riders to fly and the positive feedback from international riders was quite humbling. Irish riding is booming currently and it is great to see so many young riders coming up in all disciplines of the sport!' In addition to Sunday's Emerald Enduro, a Challenger event will take place on Saturday, May 27, where riders can dip their toe into the elite level of Enduro by taking on four of the six stages from the full race. Riders from both events will practise on the Friday on stages one to four, with the Emerald Enduro riders practising stages five and six on Saturday while the Challenger event is on. Four hundred riders will take part in the Emerald Enduro. The event is unique in professional sport as it allows ordinary riders to ride the same race as the pros. The first rider will head off at 8 a.m. with the professionals the last to leave. A large contingent of Irish riders, both amateur and professional, will take part. Greg Callaghan was already Ireland's top professional before his table topping turn in Madeira last weekend while Dan Wolfe had some amazing stage results last year and is on the hunt for a good place. In the Under 21 category, Greg's cousin Killian Callaghan has moved into second place overall following a fourth place finish in Madeira, while Leah Maunsell has two victories in 2015 and 2016 to her name. The enduro weekend will be accompanied by a full race village on Carrick Mountain, featuring a huge expo area, food vendors, exhibitors and the team pit area. Signing sessions will also take place throughout the weekend. The start/finish and podium are also in this area. However, a short walk along the trails will bring spectators to the bottom of all six stages, making it possible for supporters to get to several different stages during the race and see the riders multiple times. Admission is free for under 18s with adult admission 5. For more information, like 'emeraldenduro' on Facebook, follow @emeraldenduro on Twitter or visit emeraldenduro.com. John Lynn makes his Hardy Har Comedy Club debut this May at the Harbour Bar. John, who splits his time between London and LA, is a celebrated actor and comedian who has performed at the prestigious, invite-only, Montreal Festival and was signed by NBC Universal for the development of his own one-hour stand up special. Supporting John will be US comic Jim Elliott, a top act who can be regularly seen gigging on the very best stages in Ireland and the UK after moving on from a very successful career state-side. Jim had a very successful first appearance at Hardy Har and is back by popular demand from the laughing public of Bray. Wicklow native Danny O'Brien will give a very special guest performance on the night. Danny recently sold out his solo show at Bray Comedy Festival. He returns to The Mermaid Arts Centre this summer with his brand spanking new solo performance, so this is your chance to get a sneak peek at what this new show has to offer. Danny smashes every single time he performs at Hardy Har. There will be even more guests appearing on-stage on the night, as well as resident MC Adam Burke. The event takes place on Thursday, May 18 at 9 p.m. Space is often a little tight at the club, so you are advised to get there early to get a seat. Admission to the comedy night is free. Gill Gray from Knockeevin Montessori and Nature School Greystones, Susan Carey from Hollyoaks Montessori in St Peter's School in Bray and Shonagh Byrne from SIPTU Montessori teachers and others who educate young children gathered in Bray recently for the launch of the 'Big Start campaign, calling for increased investment in the early years sector. The meeting took place at the St Peters Parish Centre in Bray, and was the first of a series to be hosted by SIPTU around the county. Gill Gray was among the early years service providers who attended the meeting. 'From birth to six years of age are the most critical years of a child's development,' said Ms Gray. 'Many studies have highlighted the positive affect of early years services to children's development. However, the state fails to value and respect early years educators by underfunding the sector as a whole and expecting them to work long hours for the minimum wage. 'These educators have the key responsibility of moulding our children to become educated, responsible and socially adept citizens but they themselves are among the lowest paid workers of any sector. It is a nonsensical situation.' People present heard that the average wage for early years educators is just over 10 an hour. They have to sign on during the summer months, during which they are asked if they are looking for work. Some of the educators present said that they face a number of challenges, including difficulty getting a mortgage, and that people are not encouraged to go in to the profession due to the salary available. Primary school teacher Gemma Corcoran said that it is apparent when children come in to the primary cycle when they have received early years education beforehand. She said that speech is one of the areas in which it is most apparent. 'I can't understand why I am more valued than you are,' she told the people present at the event. SIPTU organiser, Shonagh Byrne, said: 'The early years sector is in crisis. Parents are paying high fees, yet providers are struggling to make ends meet and educators are under-paid and undervalued. The key message of the Big Start Campaign is that to build a quality early years sector for our children, the government needs to increase investment.' A number of public representatives attended, including Minister Andrew Doyle, Cathaoirleach of Bray Municipal District Cllr Steven Matthews, Cllr Joe Behan, Cllr Tom Fortune, and Cllr John Ryan. Mr Doyle said that he was 'happy to support the campaign and ensure that the issues raised stay on the political agenda'. Cllr Behan, a retired school principal, said that he was highly impressed with the professionalism and dedication of all the people who attended the meeting. 'I was thoroughly shocked to realise the abysmally low rates of payment in the early years sector at present,' he said. 'As we all know, the quality of a child's future development is inextricably linked to the provision of excellent early years education. I believe strongly that excellent early years education is being provided but it is not valued at all by this Government. 'I do not believe that provision of child care places is sufficient of itself. The Minister and the Government should be also committed to ensuring that the education provided at this level is excellent and is rewarded properly. This is vital both for the welfare of our children and our nation but also for the rights of the 23,000 providers and educators , the vast majority of whom are women.' He has called on the Minister for Children Katherine Zappone and the Government to fund a salary structure for early years educators and providers and to supt providers 'in their vital work of administration and leadership in this sector'. Greystones native Ray Gammell has been appointed the interim CEO of Etihad Airways. Etihad made the announcement last week that Mr Gammell would take over from Australian James Hogan, current CEO and president. They had already made the announcement in January that Hogan would leave the company on July 1. The Etihad Aviation Group board of directors named Gammell as interim chief executive, promoting him from his current post as chief people and performance officer. Etihad Aviation board chairman Mohamed Mubarak Fadhel Al Mazroui said at the announcement that Gammell will take over management responsibility immediately, even though Hogan will not leave until July. Born in Greystones, Gammell joined Abu Dhabi-based Etihad in 2009. One of his main responsibilities as chief people and performance officer was recruiting more Emiratis to the join the aviation group. He previously held executive positions at Intel in both the US and Ireland and worked for Royal Bank of Scotland. He was an officer in the Irish Armed Forces. Etihad's group chief financial officer James Rigney is also stepping down on 1 July and will be replaced by Ricky Thirion, who has overseen treasury at the group since 2007. As interim CEO, Mr Gammell is to continue with a strategic review begun last year though a permanent group CEO is expected to be announced in the 'next few weeks', chairman Mohamed Mubarak Fadhel al-Mazrouei said in a statement. A huge congregation came to St Mary's parish church in Enniskerry last Saturday to celebrate the golden jubilee and retirement of Fr John Wall. Fr Larry Behan was the main celebrant, with Fr Wall concelebrating. They were joined by Fr Eddie Griffin, Fr Joseph Whelan, Mgr Enda Lloyd, Canon John Killeen and Fr Alex Stenson. Archdeacon Ricky Rowantree and Reverend Terry Lilburn were also there to mark the special occasion. Around 50 members of Fr John's family joined him at the special Mass, to mark a wonderful career. Fr Wall has been in the parish for the past five years. He has been extremely popular and well liked and has made quite a mark on the community. Over 300 people crowded into the church to pay tribute to their priest and friend. The joint choirs of Curtlestown and Enniskerry sang beautifully in honour of the occasion. Fr Wall delivered a lovely homily, in which he told the congregation about his life and career, and thanked everyone for joining him at St Mary's. The members of the congregation gave a huge round of applause as a mark of their respect and affection for the priest. Fr Larry Behan also spoke about his colleague, praising the loyal service The Drimnagh native has given to the priesthood and all of his parishioners over the course of 50 years. After evening Mass, there was a celebration in the Summerhill House Hotel. There were refreshments, canapes, wine or a cup of tea and again, a huge crowd of attendees. One of Fr Wall's great-nieces wrote a poem about all of her uncle John's wonderful virtues. The parish presented the priest with a painting by Peter Growney, of the town clock in Enniskerry. It was particularly significant as Fr John's parents met at the Clock in Enniskerry, themselves natives of Cork and Belfast respectively. Fr Wall is looking forward to a wel-earned break and some time to relax. County Librarian Brendan Martin, Bryan Doyle, Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council, Cllr Nicola Lawless, Cllr Pat Fitzgerald, Director of Services Michael Nicholson and Ann Nolan from Music Generation at the launch of the music instrument in libraries scheme at County Buildings in Wicklow town. Budding young musicians will now be able to borrow instruments from the local library thanks to a new initiative launched last week. The scheme, which is a collaboration between Wicklow County Council and Music Generation Wicklow, is designed to encourage young people to start playing an instrument and they will now be able to rent the likes of guitars, saxophones, accordians and flutes from branches of Wicklow County Library. The music instrument banks will be placed in Arklow and Blessington libraries and will be available to rent by families or community music groups providing an opportunity for young people to try out playing an instrument before making a financial commitment. Music Generation Wicklow is a local partnership between Music Generation Ireland, the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB) and Wicklow County Council. At the end of Music Generation's first (hugely succesful) phase in 2015, the elected members of Wicklow County Council decided to give funding for a scheme that would support children progressing onto instrumental learning from choral singing and to encourage new participants to consider picking up an instrument. The scheme, which was launched on Monday, May 8, is also funded by the KWETB and the Department of Education and Skills and is managed and administered by KWETB and it steering committee, Wicklow Music Education Partnership. Cllr Pat Fitzgerald, Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, and Cllr Nicola Lawless, Chairperson of Wicklow Music Education Partnership, officially launched the scheme at County Buildings. Several young Music Generation Wicklow students performed at the launch to demonstrate the importance and joy of music education in the lives of young people. More information will be available on the availability of the instruments on the library websites in the next few weeks. Minister Mitchell OConnor (centre) pictured with (from left to right) Brendan Flood of Enterprise Ireland, Sheelagh Daly of the LEOs, Mark Clendennen of Applied Concepts in Offaly, and Oisin Geoghegan of the LEOs (Sasko Lazarov, Photocall Ireland). On 25 May, 32 nominees will compete at the National Enterprise Awards. The National Enterprise Awards is an event to recognise the contribution of small businesses to the Irish economy, organised by the Local Enterprise Offices. Were the first-stop-shop for anyone thinking of starting a business, or expanding, says Sheelagh Daly, Chair of the Network of Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities. Our main target is micro-enterprises, employing 10 or fewer people, and we provide start-up supports as well as support for people running small businesses to become more profitable and more competitive. Micro-enterprises are incredibly important to the Irish economy, providing employment for one out of every three people employed. Recognition Speaking about the rationale for running this competition, Oisin Geoghegan, Chair of the National Enterprise Awards Organising Committee, commented: The aim of the awards is to recognise and celebrate the valuable contribution that small businesses continue to make at both local and national level. By shining a light on excellence and innovation within our start-ups and growing small business sector, we are providing inspiration to many others that have potential to become successful in enterprise. He added: The overall winner receives a cash investment of 10,000, while eight regional winners receive 2,000 each. Three category award winners receive 5,000 each. But most importantly, each of the winners benefits from the recognition that they achieve through this prestigious national competition. Impact Mark Clendennen, whose business, Applied Concepts in Offaly specialising in the design and manufacture of abrasive blasting machines won the overall prize last year, feels it has really opened doors: We have gained a lot of credibility with potential overseas distributors and new customers. Overseas companies look very favourably on such a prestigious award. The Local Enterprise Office has been instrumental from the very start, says Clendennen, both from a financial perspective and as a sounding board. This years National Enterprise Awards will be held at the Mansion House, Dublin, where An Taoiseach, Mr Enda Kenny TD will present the awards alongside the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Ms Mary Mitchell OConnor TD, and the Minister of State for Employment and Small Business, Mr Pat Breen TD. Minister Mitchell OConnor said: These innovative businesses are led by people who are serious about their ambition, who are taking real risks and making real sacrifices to achieve success, and they are making a huge contribution to their local communities and to the economy at large. Business supports from your Local Enterprise Office There are 31 Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) in local authorities around the country, where youll find a hub of expert advice, information and practical supports ready when you are. From training and mentoring programmes to advice on funding options and business planning, dedicated teams are there to help drive and support your business every step of the way. Expand Close National Enterprise Awards 2017 finalists / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp National Enterprise Awards 2017 finalists Finalists in the 2017 National Enterprise Awards: Dublin Region Dublin (City): Pink Kong Studios, original story-driven animated content. Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown: Moontour, Irish-language adventure camp. Dublin (Fingal): Hope Beer, award-winning craft beers. South Dublin: Acutrace, energy-management software and hardware. South West Region Clare: Core Optimisation Ltd, digital growth specialists. Kerry: Irish Host Family, links language students with families. Limerick: Student Programmes Ireland Ltd, tailormade education for European students. Tipperary: MediSkin, laser, skincare and wellbeing solutions. Mid East Region Kildare: Broghies Ireland, healthy, tasty and versatile snacks. Laois: Infrastruct AMS Limited, structural testing and investigation services. Offaly: Dezynamite, graphic design, websites and printing. Westmeath: Lift Hire Ireland, van, truck and trailer-mounted lifts. South Region Cork (City): Rebel Chilli, award-winning fresh chilli sauces. Cork (North & West): Enibas Jewellery, designs and manufactures jewellery collections. South Cork: Polar IceTech, dry ice blasting specialists. Waterford: Pip and Pear Chilled Baby Food, Irish-made chilled baby food. South East Region Carlow: McNally Denture Clinic, full denture services and clinic. Kilkenny: Greensbridge Engineering Ltd, high-quality precision engineering. Wexford: Scup Gelato, handcrafted luxury gelatos and sorbets. Wicklow: Goldfish.ie, cloud-based telecoms provider. North West Region Donegal: Silver Birch Gallery, original paintings, mixed-media and prints. Leitrim: Jinnys Bakery, handmade bread, cakes and puddings. Longford: Purpledecks Ltd., enterprise app developer and consultancy. Sligo: Studyclix, E-learning tool for second-level students. North East Region Cavan: Morans Megajam Ltd, artisan jams, chutneys and pestos. Louth: Aphix Software Ltd, software solutions for wholesalers. Meath: Hexafly, develops sustainable natural commodities. Monaghan: RAMfit Ltd, training products for fitness. West Region Galway (City): 9th Impact, action games for mobile phones. Galway (County): IMS Marketing, dedicated technical marketing company. Mayo: Monaghan Bros Bar Furniture Manufacturers Ltd, furniture for the hospitality industry. Roscommon: PJ Fallon & Son, tools, garage and lifting equipment. For more information about Local Enterprise Offices and to find your local office, click here. Make sure to use the hashtag #NEAwards to celebrate all the great finalists from your region. Sponsored by: The 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 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 soldiers sentence in his final days in the White House, outraging Republicans including Donald Trump, who has described her as an ungrateful traitor. Chelsea 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. Video of the Day 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 Chelsea 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. 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 Chelseas 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 Desplechins Ismaels Ghosts. China has established its first peacekeeping helicopter unit for operations in Sudan. The unit was established by an army aviation corp of the 81st Group Army of the PLA. On May 19, the unit took oaths during a special ceremony. The unit consists of 140 soldiers, and is equipped with four medium multi-functional helicopters, Mi-171. The unit will be deployed in batches to conduct operations in Darfur, Sudan. Its main tasks include air patrol and the transportation of personnel and materials. John Burke and Aoibhin Garrihy at the 2015 People of the Year Awards organised by Rehab and held in RTE. Picture: Robbie Reynolds Aoibhin Garrihy's husband John Burke is heading home after being the first County Clare man to reach the summit of Mount Everest. The 38-year-old hotelier will receive a hero's welcome when he returns to Shannon Airport on Monday. His wife Aoibhin will lead the welcome party at the Armada Hotel at Spanish Point, which he runs, for a night of celebrations. John, who Aoibhin travelled with to Everest Base Camp at the beginning of April, reached the summit of the earth's highest mountain at 9:45am local time on Tuesday. Expand Close John Bourke on Mount Everest / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp John Bourke on Mount Everest He completed his descent on Thursday but said that the experience had not been without some challenges and tragedies. The final night was hell on earth, as I witnessed casualties of the mountain first hand, passing the first body soon after setting off. I could see the fear of death in the faces of some people close to me. At one stage I had to intervene with a Romanian who seemed to have summit fever, an inability to make a rational decision about turning back," he said in a statement. John said he took on the challenge to fulfill a personal goal but also raise awareness and funds for the charity Elevate, which he supports with his wife. After preparing over that time on mountains around the world, I figured it was time to attempt the big one! The final plan was 12 months in the making. I treated Everest like a work project; finding the best people to work with, breaking down the action plan into segments to enable me get to the summit of the world. Expand Close John doing Clare proud / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp John doing Clare proud I was fully aware of the risks but focused only on controlling those things I could control. All in, the trip took nearly two months in total and culminated in the final summit push, which started on May 13 and saw me reach the summit Tuesday last at 9.35am local time." Speaking from Everest Base Camp John said that his body went through a beating but the months he spent preparing for his expedition served him well. Video of the Day Personally, I never felt beyond my physical limits but I was certainly reaching my max. Preparation was essential, not least spending some time driving out any possibility of self-doubt and it worked well for me. That meant not doing things like how long left or even looking at my watch as these would only fester doubts. Its estimated that on the summit night alone we burn in the region of 20,000 calories. I consumed no more than 300 and had nausea issues for three days and it effectively shut down my food consumption and liquids too. You end up feeling like your body is consuming itself, which it does anyway in the death zone above 8000 metres." Expand Close Aoibhin Garrihy accompanied her husband John Burke on his trip to Nepal where he climbed Mount Everest / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Aoibhin Garrihy accompanied her husband John Burke on his trip to Nepal where he climbed Mount Everest Speaking today, Aoibhin said she's looking forward to welcoming her husband home on Monday. Its been a roller coaster few weeks. We focused on the positive all the time but we were aware at the same time of the serious risks involved in climbing Everest. I was of course anxious but also extremely excited for him, the the time had finally arrived for his dream to be realised. Expand Close Aoibhin Garrihy and John Burke on their wedding day. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Aoibhin Garrihy and John Burke on their wedding day. "We even got family and friends together for a prayer service in the Armada on Monday ahead of his final push for the summit. Im so proud of him; its an incredible achievement. Only 50 percent who try succeed but, more than anything, thank God hes making it back safely." The couple have been inundated with messages of congratulations and, according to Shannon Group CEO Matthew Thomas, Monday will be another proud homecoming at the airport. Shannon has hosted many big homecomings over the years and this is a particularly proud one for us. Its an incredible achievement and takes enormous commitment and will to do something like that. Theres also the risk involved so were just delighted to be welcoming John back on Monday. It should be a special gathering. They call in the middle of the night, when everyone else is asleep. Often its the first time theyve told anyone about what happened what happened when he got angry. Some say theyre locked in right now, that he has the key and he wont release them. Another woman says her partner has taken all her savings. Another says her former partner rapes her in front of their child. Another drives really fast, threatening to crash and kill them both and the children. Yet another threatens to kill the children. Another woman has discovered he is molesting the children. Another was slapped in the face when breastfeeding their baby. Another has a broken nose and broken ribs. One woman is never called by her name. Shes only ever shouted at. She feels this is her fault. Another says her ex is refusing to pay maintenance. She struggles to get the basics for her children. This is despite the court order compelling him to do so. Another has left but has to go back to get her belongings. Shes petrified hell be there. Another will go to the hospital and think about calling the guards. Video of the Day Another knows everyone else thinks her husband is the best in the world and would probably never believe that hes really abusive to her and the children. One man told the children their mother deserved to be punished. A woman says her partner threw her down the stairs in front of the children. A pregnant woman gets hit in the face by her partner in front of their other child. Another says her partner beats the children to hurt her, while another says her ex started slapping her daughter on an access visit. Those are some of the testimonies from women who contacted Womens Aid last year. They represent an increase of more than 70pc in calls 44 every day. The annual report out this week makes for depressing reading. Women said they were hit, beaten with weapons, stabbed, cut with knives and throttled. Revenge porn was prevalent. Some had explicit videos and images made and shared online without their consent. This type of violence is nearer than you think. An EU report previously confirmed that one in four Irish women suffer violence. How many friends do you have? How many women do you know? What if one in four of them were being abused? Most of us are willing to intervene only in certain circumstances. Those were the key findings of another survey by Cosc the National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence. What were the reasons given for not reporting the abuse? Apparently our greatest concern was the feeling that we shouldnt get involved in other peoples business (88pc). In other words, far too many of us think domestic abuse is a private matter. When you think that you dont know someone who was raped in front of their child, that you dont hang around with someone whose partner is molesting their children or who throws them down the stairs, maybe you do. Maybe we all do. As the big day nears, Pippa Middleton and James Matthews' wedding plans are coming to light and some are more confusing than others. It has been revealed that Pippa Middleton and James Matthews will have a Scottish theme at their wedding this Saturday, as reports come from the UK that bagpipes, whisky and haggis canapes will all feature in the wedding celebrations. Other aspects of the wedding which have been revealed this week include the bride and groom hiring a Spitfire to perform a flypast, a huge glass marquee being erected on the Middleton family's grounds, and some seriously swanky toilets alongside it. The Scottish theme might come as a bit of a surprise, but the couple do have some personal and business ties to the country. Expand Close Pippa Middleton attends day eleven of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships at Wimbledon on July 08, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Pippa Middleton attends day eleven of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships at Wimbledon on July 08, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) Pippa attended university in Edinburgh where she graduated with a degree in English Literature, while husband-to-be James' ties to the land are a little firmer. The hedge fund manager's father David holds the title of Laird of Glen Affric and owns 10,000-acre estate 15 miles from Loch Ness in the Highlands, and as heir to the title James will one day become Laird - and Pippa Lady - of Glen Affric. Both the bride and groom are reported to spend a lot of time at the Matthews' "castle-like" family home in Glen Affric and are said to have developed a "deep love" of Scotland. Guests at the wedding will be treated to haggis canapes, a lamb dinner, Scottish whisky and bagpipers. Expand Close Prince George and Princess Charlotte will take lead roles in Pippa Middleton's wedding. Images: Getty / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Prince George and Princess Charlotte will take lead roles in Pippa Middleton's wedding. Images: Getty It has not been confirmed if the groom with wear his family's red and green tartan in kilt form on the day but reports are that it will be incorporated into the groom's outfit. Expand Close Proposal: Meghan may need to have a chat with Harry / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Proposal: Meghan may need to have a chat with Harry Video of the Day Read More Plans are ramping up ahead of the big day on Saturday as Britain's Prince Harry's girlfriend Meghan Markle was seen arriving in London's Heathrow Airport before being immediately whisked off to Kensington Palace. But not everyone is looking forward to the big day. Expand Close (L-R) Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Charles, Prince of Wales, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh watch a fly past during the Trooping the Colour / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (L-R) Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Charles, Prince of Wales, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh watch a fly past during the Trooping the Colour Big Sister Kate Middleton is said to be nervous about her little ones behaviour, having said she's "a bit worried" about how Prince George and Princess Charlotte will act in their roles as page boy and flower girl on the day. Expand Close Pippa Middleton attends the BGC Annual Global Charity Day at Canary Wharf on September 12, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Pippa Middleton attends the BGC Annual Global Charity Day at Canary Wharf on September 12, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images) Read More It is thought that Kate will not act as a bridesmaid on the day, but James' brother Spencer - who, as a reality TV star on the popular Made in Chelsea has hit the headlines himself for his love life in recent months - will be the groom's best man. The Swedish authorities have suddenly dropped a seven-year investigation into Julian Assange, but the WikiLeaks founder has signalled he will remain inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London. Assange made a rare appearance on the balcony of the central London building to hail the decision by Swedens director of public prosecutions as an important victory. The Australian, who has lived inside the embassy for almost five years, said that a legal conflict with the United States and the UK continues. He said the road is far from over, adding it was extremely regretful that he was still being threatened with arrest if he leaves the embassy. Assange said he had spent seven years either under house arrest or living inside the embassy, without charge, as he faced sex-related allegations in Sweden, which he has always denied. We need your consent to load this Social Media content We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content. Manage Preference The Ecuadorian government is to step up efforts to allow Assange to continue his asylum in its country after Swedens director of public prosecutions Marianne Ny said she had decided to discontinue her investigation. Scotland Yard said it was obliged to execute a warrant issued by Westminster Magistrates Court for Assanges arrest following his failure to surrender to the court in June 2012, should he leave the embassy. Asked if Britain would now support a request to extradite Assange to the United States, Prime Minister Theresa May said: We look at extradition requests on a case-by-case basis. In relation to Julian Assange, any decision that is taken about UK action in relation to him were he to leave the Ecuadorian embassy would be an operational matter for the police. Donald Trump is embarking on his first foreign trip as US president Donald Trump has departed on his first presidential foreign trip (Susan Walsh/AP) US President Donald Trump told Russian officials at a meeting last week that James Comey was a "nut job" whose removal as FBI director relieved "great pressure" on him, according to The New York Times. The Times cited notes from a May 10 Oval Office meeting, the day after Mr Trump fired Mr Comey. Separately, The Washington Post reported that the FBI investigation into possible co-ordination between Russia and the Trump presidential campaign was moving closer to the White House. Law enforcement officials now consider a senior Trump adviser a "person of interest" in the probe, the Post reported. The developments were a blow to White House efforts to dampen down interest in the Russia investigation as Mr Trump and his staff boarded Air Force One for Saudi Arabia, the first stop on his first foreign trip as president. The details of his comments to the Russians would seem to bolster theories that Mr Trump fired Mr Comey in an effort to choke off the Russia investigation. Earlier this week, the justice department appointed former FBI director Robert Mueller to take over the federal investigation in an effort to re-establish independence from the White House. Deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein told Congress on Friday he stands by a memo he wrote bluntly criticising Mr Comey. But he made clear it was not his intention for Mr Trump or other White House officials to use the document to justify firing Mr Comey, which is what they have done. In closed-door meetings with politicians on Thursday and Friday, Mr Rosenstein said he wrote the memo after Mr Trump told him one day before the May 9 firing that he wanted to dismiss Mr Comey. Mr Rosenstein said that though he was personally fond of Mr Comey, "I thought it was appropriate to seek a new leader". The justice department on Friday issued the text of Mr Rosenstein's opening remarks for the briefings on Capitol Hill. That was two days after Mr Rosenstein named Mr Mueller as a special counsel to investigate possible co-ordination between Russia and the Trump campaign to influence the 2016 presidential election. The White House has struggled since Mr Comey's firing to explain the chain of events that led to it and who exactly made the decision. Mr Trump has insisted at times that the decision was his alone, but he has also pointed - as recently as Thursday - to the "very strong" recommendation from Mr Rosenstein. Mr Rosenstein made it abundantly clear to the politicians that he drafted his memo only after Mr Trump told him of his plans to dismiss the FBI director. "My memorandum is not a statement of reasons to justify a for-cause termination," he said. But he added: "I wrote it. I believe it. I stand by it." The memo focuses on Mr Comey's handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation, particularly the FBI director's decision to divulge details to the public at various junctures. Mr Rosenstein denounced that as "profoundly wrong and unfair". House members and senators said Mr Rosenstein in his briefings steered clear of specifics in answering questions about his appointment of Mr Mueller but made clear the former FBI director will have wide latitude to pursue the investigation, potentially including criminal charges. Mr Trump has reacted furiously to the appointment. However, at a combative news conference on Thursday, he fell short in trying to resolve questions about investigations into his campaign and his first four months in office. Asked point-blank if he had done anything that might merit prosecution or even impeachment, Mr Trump said no - and then added of the lingering allegations and questions: "I think it's totally ridiculous. Everybody thinks so." The appointment of the special counsel indicates others believe that is still open to question. AP The crucial premise of this manifesto launch - and of the Mayism which the lady herself insists does not exist - was clearly that statement: "My mainstream government will work for mainstream Britain." This message, she was saying, is aimed at real people who want to get on with their lives, not at political purists, ideologues or proselytisers of an arcane doctrine of the state. Most of those real people (she almost said this explicitly) do not care much for the totems of traditional debate about the size of the size and role of government. They have social values and decent instincts but not a grand theory of Society. They get irritated with what she called the "tribal" view of politics and would really prefer a government that worked for the country "as a whole." So she was offering a deliberate pick-n-mix of policies which sometimes looked vaguely Left-wing and sometimes looked vaguely Right-wing but whose intentions seemed designed to appeal to all those working people who wanted to get on in life on their own merits. The appeal for a meritocracy was certainly out of the Thatcher hymn book, but it was carefully presented not as ruthless individualism but as a guarantee of opportunity: a country where "it matters not where you came from but where you are going". What gave this a fresher sound as a Conservative declaration was the call for "a new contract between government and people". This seemed to consist of an admission that while it was never the case that government could be the answer to everything, it could be the answer to some things. It was, in effect, time for the Tories to accept what most real people now believed: that "government can be a force for good". This seemed to be the intent of her interesting comment that "public services are institutions that unite the country". It wasn't clear just what she meant by this: was she referring to the obvious candidate, the NHS? But it did imply that she was not in the business of simply selling off such services without considering what social and cultural impact this might have. What she would clearly want us to conclude is that she prefers common sense decency to dogma. Her more contentious policies can certainly be read this way: most people (her "mainstream" constituency) do accept that giving the winter fuel allowances to wealthy pensioners is absurd. They would probably also agree that people sitting on very valuable properties should not expect to have poorer taxpayers paying for their social care. Targeting benefits on those who really need them is just the sort of proposal which Mrs May would expect ordinary people with their decent instincts to endorse if a government were brave enough to make the case for it - even though such changes might disadvantage them personally. This appeal to social virtue was well-taken. Referring to the supposed war between the generations, she made a clever, flattering and absolutely correct observation that most older people are not selfish: they are as concerned about the futures of their children and grandchildren as they are about their financial assets. It was described as a brave - even risky - departure from Conservative orthodoxy. In fact, most of what she said was designed to engage the sensibilities of socially responsible people who want to do the right thing for the "country as a whole". What better definition is there of the traditional Tory voter? Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022] Wikileaks founder Julian Assange speaks on the balcony of the Embassy of Ecuador in London, Britain, May 19, 2017. REUTERS/Neil Hall WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is seen on the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, Britain, May 19, 2017. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls Julian Assange has signalled he will remain inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London despite the Swedish authorities suddenly dropping a seven year investigation against him. The WikiLeaks founder made a rare appearance on the balcony of the central London building to hail the decision by Sweden's Director of Public Prosecutions as an "important victory." He gave a clenched fist salute to his supporters, and scores of journalists and TV crews, before maintaining that a "legal conflict" with the United States and the UK continues. The Australian, who has lived inside the embassy for almost five years, said the "road is far from over", adding it was "extremely regretful" that he was still being threatened with arrest if he leaves the embassy. Mr Assange said he had spent seven years either under house arrest or living inside the embassy, without charge, as he faced sex-related allegations in Sweden, which he has always denied. He had missed seeing his children growing up. "That is not something I can forgive, or forget," he said, maintaining that he had been the victim of a "terrible injustice". Detention and extradition without charge had become a feature of the EU, but it was not something expected from the rule of law in the UK, he said. Mr Assange thanked the government of Ecuador for granting him political asylum despite "intense pressure", as well as his legal team and others who had stood by him. "We have today won an important victory, but the road is far from over. The proper war is just commencing." He pledged that WikiLeaks will continue distributing material about the activities of the CIA in the United States, and will "accelerate" its publications. "The claim that the UK has the right to arrest me for seeking asylum in a case where there have been no charges is simply untenable. "My legal staff have contacted the UK authorities and we hope to engage in a dialogue about what is the best way forward." Mr Assange said the UK had refused to confirm or deny whether there is a warrant from the US for his extradition, insisting he was happy to talk to the US Justice Department. He returned into the building which has been his home for almost five years, without answering questions. The Ecuadorian government is to step up efforts to allow Mr Assange to continue his asylum in its country after Sweden's Director of Public Prosecutions Marianne Ny said she had decided to "discontinue" her investigation. Scotland Yard said it was obliged to execute a warrant issued by Westminster Magistrates' Court for the arrest of Mr Assange following his failure to surrender to the court in June 2012, should he leave the embassy. Asked if Britain would now support a request to extradite Mr Assange to the United States, Prime Minister Theresa May said: "We look at extradition requests on a case-by-case basis. "In relation to Julian Assange, any decision that is taken about UK action in relation to him were he to leave the Ecuadorian Embassy would be an operational matter for the police." The Crown Prosecution Service said that following the Swedish authorities' decision to drop the investigation, a European Arrest Warrant against him was discharged at Westminster Magistrates' Court. Mr Assange was questioned six months ago in the presence of Swedish officials, who faced criticism for the length of time it has taken to make a decision. Read More Ecuador's foreign minister Guillaume Long said: "Ecuador regrets that the Swedish Prosecutor delayed more than four years in carrying out this interview. "Given that the European Arrest Warrant no longer holds, Ecuador will now be intensifying its diplomatic efforts with the UK so that Julian Assange can gain safe passage in order to enjoy his asylum in Ecuador." Mr Assange believes he faces extradition to the United States for questioning over the activities of WikiLeaks if he leaves the embassy. Scotland Yard said: "Westminster Magistrates' Court issued a warrant for the arrest of Julian Assange following him failing to surrender to the court on June 29 2012. The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) is obliged to execute that warrant should he leave the Embassy. "Whilst Mr Assange was wanted on a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) for an extremely serious offence, the MPS response reflected the serious nature of that crime. Read More "Now that the situation has changed and the Swedish authorities have discontinued their investigation into that matter, Mr Assange remains wanted for a much less serious offence. The MPS will provide a level of resourcing which is proportionate to that offence. "The priority for the MPS must continue to be arresting those who are currently wanted in the capital in connection with serious violent or sexual offences for the protection of Londoners." The Metropolitan Police stopped its round the clock presence outside the Embassy in October 2015 amid controversy over the escalating cost of the exercise - believed to be more than 12 million. He was on bail when he arrived at the Ecuador Embassy in central London almost five years ago. Ms Ny said the motive for her decision was that there is no reason to believe the decision to surrender Mr Assange to Sweden can be executed in the foreseeable future. She told a press conference in Stockholm that the investigation could be reopened if Mr Assange returns to Sweden before the allegation against him elapses under Swedish law in August 2020. Workers watch electronic boards to monitor possible ransomware cyber attacks at the Korea Internet and Security Agency in Seoul, South Korea (AP) Experts are questioning whether North Korea was behind the WannaCry cyber attack amid suggestions it does not fit the pattern of previous hacks blamed on Pyongyang. Some suspect a group known as Lazarus, believed to be a mixture of North Korean hackers operating in tandem with Chinese "cyber mercenaries". Identifying hackers behind sophisticated attacks is a notoriously difficult task, and proving they are acting under the explicit orders of a nation state is even trickier. S ome experts see the latest attack as an anomaly. Michael Madden, a visiting scholar at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and founder of North Korea Leadership Watch, said if North Korea was responsible, it would be an entirely new type of cyber attack by Pyongyang. (Photo/Dzwww.com) Public displays of affection are far from universally accepted, but a college in Shandong province has gone far beyond passive disapproval. Instead, the school is aggressively exposing uncivilized behavior. Dozens of photos displaying uncivilized acts performed around campus have been displayed at Shandong Foreign Languages Vocational College since May 15. The objectionable activities included smoking and keeping forbidden pets, as well as seven photos of students hugging, kissing or simply holding hands, local news site Dzwww.com reported. While everyone in the photos had their faces obscured, the exposure still made many people uncomfortable. The ensuing backlash argued that college students have a right to be in relationships, and nothing about their behavior was abnormal. However, some people also mentioned that public displays of affection must not cross the line, potentially making others uncomfortable. (Photo/Dzwww.com) Faced with doubts and concerns, the college said a formal school regulation warns students that they may be punished if they choose to kiss and hug in public. One school official surnamed Ma further explained that the regulation is in line with a 2015 guideline from the Ministry of Education, which aims to create a civilized campus atmosphere," Dzwww.com reported. Ma added that the college warned students one month before the photo "exhibition" that so-called uncivilized activities would be captured and brought to light. The official also promised that this practice would continue. All these photos were taken in public. This is not a violation of their privacy, Ma said, adding that the college does not oppose relationships between students. Clashes erupted in Bria again on Friday and the situation was worsening, according to the UN Gunmen have looted humanitarian compounds as fighting grips the Central African Republic town of Bria, while more than 20,000 people have fled to a nearby UN peacekeeping base, authorities said. Concerns are mounting that sectarian violence is again spiralling out of control, even in places that were previously spared during the conflict that began in late 2013. Clashes erupted in Bria again on Friday and the situation was worsening, according to the UN humanitarian agency. At least five people have been killed and several dozen wounded since the unrest began on Tuesday. "Armed groups came to humanitarian compounds and pillaged a warehouse," said the agency's chief of office for the country, Joseph Inganji. "There's fighting taking place but we don't know who's fighting who." In November, the central town was the site of fierce clashes between two splinter groups of the mostly Muslim rebel movement called Seleka that has battled with Christian militia fighters. Human Rights Watch said at least 14 people were killed over 11 days of fighting in Bria. Other previously calm parts of the country have seen deadly fighting in recent days. Since May 8, more than 150 people, including six UN peacekeepers, have been killed in attacks in the south-eastern town of Bangassou, the southern town of Alinadao and in Bria, according to the UN, which has warned the death toll could rise. In the capital, Bangui, tensions were running high. People spoke of the fighting in Bangassou and Bria in hushed tones, turning up the radio whenever the names of the towns came on. Businesses in the Muslim neighborhood of PK5 were closed in protest at the violence in Bangassou, where Muslims were reportedly targeted. The humanitarian community's appeal for aid for Central African Republic, one of the world's poorest countries, is only 16% funded. AP Ivanka Trump will travel with the president on his upcoming overseas trip to Saudi Arabia, Israel and Italy. A White House adviser said Ms Trump, a senior adviser to President Donald Trump, will be along for six days of the nine-day trip. She will join her father for some events and hold some of her own. The official said Ms Trump will take part in a round-table discussion in Saudi Arabia on women's economic issues. She converted to Judaism when she married husband Jared Kushner. In Israel, she will visit the Western Wall with the president, and in Rome, she will discuss human trafficking. Meanwhile, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, indicted on war crime and genocide charges, will not attend an Islamic summit in Saudi Arabia this weekend in which Mr Trump is a guest of honour, citing private reasons, according to Sudanese state media. Al-Bashir has instead assigned his minister of state Taha al-Hussein to represent him at the summit in Riyadh, the SUNA news agency said. The summit will bring together more than 50 leaders from Muslim and Arab countries. Saudi Arabia is holding the event under the slogan Together We Prevail, in hopes of fighting extremist ideologies and co-operating with US and Islamic allies to strengthen economic relations. A six-year-old boy was found dead in the back of his mum's car after it was stolen with him inside from outside a grocery shop. Kingston Frazier (6) was found dead with a single gunshot wound at the back of his mum's abandoned stolen car. Two men were caught on CCTV circling the shop parking lot in Mississippi before stealing the car, according to the New York Post. They allegedly jumped into the car and took off with the six-year-old boy. The car was later abandoned 15 miles away from where Kingston had disappeared. According to the New York Post, at least three suspects have been arrested in connection to the coldblooded killing. The third person of interest is believed to be an accomplice. The six-year-old was described by friends and family as "outgoing" and was due to finish kindergarten this week. Just a great, great, 6-year-old who we just cant imagine that something like this would happen, that people would have in their heart to do that to a 6-year-old, Fraziers uncle, David Archie, told the Clarion-Ledger. Even if I was mad at the world, I couldnt do this to a 6-year-old, he said. To me, its hatred. There is nothing out there worth taking a 6-year-olds lifeI can tell you this, we wont rest until theyre brought to justiceYou can believe that. Despite the appointment of a special counsel, House Speaker Paul Ryan still refuses to authorise a select committee or special commission. Asked whether he has confidence in the president, he declared: "I do." That's an apt phrase at a time his political marriage of convenience with President Trump is threatening to come apart at the seams. On one level, Mr Ryan still shovels Trumpkins' lines, insisting that there are people out there who want to "harm the president". It is hard to see how that helps the president, the country or Mr Ryan's own credibility. "If this happened as [former FBI director James Comey] described, why didn't he take action at the time?" (Like what - report the behaviour to the attorney general?) Mr Ryan still says he won't comment on the president's tweets, even if they appear to threaten the former FBI director. More important, Mr Ryan still operates in the fantasyland that his Republican agenda remains vibrant. On a day he struggled to talk about tax reform, he insisted, at a news conference: "The point I want to make here is, you've heard me say this before, we're going to walk and chew gum at the same time. We're going to keep doing our jobs, we're going to keep passing our bills, we're going to keep advancing our reforms that we're elected to advance while we do the other things that are within our responsibility." He persisted with the argument that Republicans will be judged on what they accomplished when they face the voters in 2018. "Did we make people's lives better? Did we solve problems? Did we fix the problems that people are confronting in their daily lives? That to me is what matters most." Mr Ryan's self-delusion persists in multiple ways. First, he seems not to comprehend that his members will be judged on whether they stood up to an unfit president or instead played party politics. Mr Ryan seems to ignore the possibility that voters will decide Congress cannot do its job - performing oversight and acting as a check on the executive branch - with the Grand Old Party (GOP - the Republicans) in the majority. Continuing to minimise or ignore the inferno at the White House adds to the impression that the GOP is unconcerned or unable to deal with the danger Mr Trump presents. Second, what agenda? Mr Ryan's health-care bill has been panned by voters and experts alike. It's so bad that Senate Republicans won't touch it. And if by some miracle the bill does come back to the House, how in the world does Mr Ryan expect to pass it? The notion that he has some super-popular agenda ready to sail through, be embraced by voters and be used to re-elect members ignores political reality. (Some Congress-watchers say that if Mr Ryan doesn't have a firm plan for tax reform and a way to get it through on reconciliation, it is doomed to fail, just as health-care reform did.) Third, there is no end to the Trump screw-ups. One day he is passing secrets to the Russians; the next we learn he hired as national security adviser Michael Flynn knowing that he was already under investigation. With a president this incompetent, no agenda is going to make progress. The alternative - move Mr Trump aside and get a mild-mannered, unexciting President Pence - seems so obviously attractive that one wonders why Republicans are prolonging their own agony. At this point why not, for example, open an emoluments clause investigation and force Mr Trump to choose between his businesses and the presidency? House Republicans need some tough love. They look craven. Their agenda is unpopular. They'd do much better with a President Mike Pence. Mr Ryan would do well to rethink his approach before he faces the voters in 2018 - and loses his speakership. ( Washington Post Syndication) Chelsea Manning was released after serving seven years of her 35-year sentence Chelsea Manning, the transgender US army soldier responsible for a massive leak of classified material, shared a photo of herself for the first time since she was released from prison. The portrait, which Manning (29) shared on her Twitter and Instagram accounts, included the caption: "Okay, so here I am everyone!! #HelloWorld". Manning was released from 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 was convicted by court-martial in 2013 of espionage and other offences for furnishing more than 700,000 documents, videos, diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts to WikiLeaks while an intelligence analyst in Iraq. Many on social media congratulated Manning's new-found freedom, with her post receiving 33,000 likes and 7,600 retweets. Former United States National Security Adviser, age 58 Military career 2004-2007 - Director of Intelligence for Joint Special Operations Command, with service in Afghanistan and Iraq 2007-2008 - Director of Intelligence, United States Central Command 2008-2009 - Director of Intelligence, Joint Staff 2009-2010 - Director of Intelligence, International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan 2012-2014 - Director of Defence Intelligence Agency, appointed by President Barack Obama. General Flynn retired in 2014, a year earlier than was expected. Reportedly he clashed with superiors over his belief that toppling the regime of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad posed too great a threat of strengthening Isil in the region 2017 - Appointed National Security Advisor by President Donald Trump. However, he resigned after less than one month in office following reports that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence about the nature of his contacts with Russia The carnage at Times Square in New York after a car drove three blocks along the pavement The carnage at Times Square in New York after a car drove three blocks along the pavement A man, who police said was the suspected driver of a car which crashed into a crowd on Times Square, is led out of the NYPD Midtown South precinct in New York A former US Navy sailor slammed his car into pedestrians in New York City's packed Times Square yesterday, killing an 18-year-old woman and wounding 22 people. Authorities said there was no indication that the incident was an act of terrorism. City officials last night said that the driver involved in the incident had been arrested in 2008 and 2015 for drink driving and earlier this month for menacing. Witnesses said the motorist mounted the sidewalk in a burgundy Honda saloon car and sped along more than three city blocks, knocking people over before the car hit a pole and came to rest at 45th Street and Broadway in Midtown Manhattan. Police who took the driver into custody identified him as Richard Rojas (26) from the Bronx area of the city. There was "no indication" it was an act of terrorism, Mayor Bill de Blasio told a news conference at the scene. Initial reports of the incident brought to mind vehicle attacks on pedestrians like those seen in recent months in Britain, France, Germany, Israel and Sweden. "People were being hit and rolling off the car," said Josh Duboff, who works at the nearby Thomson Reuters headquarters. He said he leaped out of the way to avoid being struck. A woman's body lay covered with a bloodstained blanket. A police officer kept vigil nearby, sadly shaking his head. Shoes were scattered on the sidewalk. Hundreds of thousands of people, many of them tourists from around the world, pass daily through Times Square, the heart of the Broadway theatre district. The bustling streets are heavily patrolled by police, some on horseback. Many, but not all, sidewalks are lined with barricades and planters for fear of vehicle attacks. Strollers The incident took place close to noon on a bright, sunny day. Security camera footage showed the car slam into pedestrians who moments earlier were ambling along, some carrying shopping bags and others pushing baby strollers. A bouncer from the Planet Hollywood restaurant and a ticket agent were among onlookers who helped police subdue the suspect when he tried to flee the scene, media reports said. Court records showed Rojas was also arrested at a naval base in Jacksonville, Florida, in September 2012 after he yelled, "my life is over," and threatened to kill police. After yesterday's incident, authorities cordoned off an area from 41st to 47th streets and from 6th to 8th avenues for several hours, effectively shutting down one of the busiest parts of one of the busiest cities in the world. Reuters news agency building foreman Rodney Muir said he heard what sounded like a big bang and crunching metal. He said he looked out and saw what appeared to be a body in the street. One of the injured, Cheryl Howard, had blood dripping down her right arm and a bruise above her left eye. She and her daughter were shopping when the car sped toward them. "I'm so freaked out!" Howard's daughter said. "They mowed everyone down." One injured woman nearby had a large open wound on her leg. Times Square was evacuated in May 2010 when a car bomb that failed to explode was found in an SUV. Faisal Shahzad, a naturalised American and Taliban-trained militant, later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life imprisonment. Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022] The carnage at Times Square in New York after a car drove three blocks along the pavement The carnage at Times Square in New York after a car drove three blocks along the pavement A man, who police said was the suspected driver of a car which crashed into a crowd on Times Square, is led out of the NYPD Midtown South precinct in New York Police say an 18-year-old woman killed by a car that plowed through pedestrians in Times Square was a tourist from Portage, Michigan. Alyssa Elsman died on Thursday when a man drove his car down the sidewalk for three blocks into the heart of New York City's theater district. A former US Navy sailor slammed his car into pedestrians in New York City's packed Times Square yesterday, wounding at least 22 people. Ms Elsman's boyfriend told the New York Post that the 18-year old visiting the Big Apple with a friend and her mother. "She motivated me, loved me, gave me everything I needed that I couldnt give myself. And now that shes gone, I dont know how Im going to fill that void," Mr West said. "I dont know how Im going to function without her ever again." Police identify the driver of the car as Richard Rojas, a Navy veteran from the Bronx. They say he was captured at the scene and arrested. He's in custody. City officials last night said that the driver involved in the incident had been arrested in 2008 and 2015 for drink driving and earlier this month for menacing. Witnesses said the motorist mounted the sidewalk in a burgundy Honda saloon car and sped along more than three city blocks, knocking people over before the car hit a pole and came to rest at 45th Street and Broadway in Midtown Manhattan. There was "no indication" it was an act of terrorism, Mayor Bill de Blasio told a news conference at the scene. Initial reports of the incident brought to mind vehicle attacks on pedestrians like those seen in recent months in Britain, France, Germany, Israel and Sweden. "People were being hit and rolling off the car," said Josh Duboff, who works at the nearby Thomson Reuters headquarters. He said he leaped out of the way to avoid being struck. A woman's body lay covered with a bloodstained blanket. A police officer kept vigil nearby, sadly shaking his head. Shoes were scattered on the sidewalk. Hundreds of thousands of people, many of them tourists from around the world, pass daily through Times Square, the heart of the Broadway theatre district. The bustling streets are heavily patrolled by police, some on horseback. Many, but not all, sidewalks are lined with barricades and planters for fear of vehicle attacks. Strollers The incident took place close to noon on a bright, sunny day. Security camera footage showed the car slam into pedestrians who moments earlier were ambling along, some carrying shopping bags and others pushing baby strollers. A bouncer from the Planet Hollywood restaurant and a ticket agent were among onlookers who helped police subdue the suspect when he tried to flee the scene, media reports said. Court records showed Rojas was also arrested at a naval base in Jacksonville, Florida, in September 2012 after he yelled, "my life is over," and threatened to kill police. After yesterday's incident, authorities cordoned off an area from 41st to 47th streets and from 6th to 8th avenues for several hours, effectively shutting down one of the busiest parts of one of the busiest cities in the world. Reuters news agency building foreman Rodney Muir said he heard what sounded like a big bang and crunching metal. He said he looked out and saw what appeared to be a body in the street. One of the injured, Cheryl Howard, had blood dripping down her right arm and a bruise above her left eye. She and her daughter were shopping when the car sped toward them. "I'm so freaked out!" Howard's daughter said. "They mowed everyone down." One injured woman nearby had a large open wound on her leg. Times Square was evacuated in May 2010 when a car bomb that failed to explode was found in an SUV. Faisal Shahzad, a naturalised American and Taliban-trained militant, later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life imprisonment. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 19 By Seba Aghayeva Trend: The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs must in the first place follow the updated Madrid principles they prepared, and demand that Armenia withdraws troops from the Azerbaijani territories it occupied, Hikmat Hajiyev, spokesman of Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry, said May 19 commenting on the recent OSCE Minsk Group statement. The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs must also urge Armenia to continue substantive negotiations to find a political solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict based on the UN Security Councils resolutions, Hajiyev told Trend. On the day of the 25th anniversary of Armenias occupation of the Azerbaijani Lachin district, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan made a speech in the Armenian parliament, where he refuted the updated Madrid principles, Hajiyev said. Against this background, the standard statement of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, only touching upon the issues of violation of the ceasefire regime, is very symptomatic, he added. About 80,000 people of the Lachin district, as well as residents of other occupied Azerbaijani territories, have been living for over 25 years as refugees and IDPs. The fact that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs didn't mention this in their statement is an unfair and biased approach, said Hajiyev. The authors of the statement, which contains concern regarding the ceasefire violation, once again turn a blind eye to the illegal presence of the Armenian armed forces military equipment and personnel on the sovereign territory of Azerbaijan, he added. Hajiyev said that the presence of the Armenian armed forces in the occupied Azerbaijani lands is the main reason why escalation and ceasefire violations remain, and everyone knows this. 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. Fired US National security adviser Michael Flynn discussed establishing a back channel for communication between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin that could be used to bypass national security bureaucracy, it has been reported. Mr Flynn and other advisers to the president's election campaign were in contact with Russian officials and others with Kremlin ties in at least 18 calls and emails during the last seven months of the 2016 presidential race, current and former US officials familiar with the exchanges said. Mr Trump reacted angrily to the latest allegations yesterday, tweeting: "With all the illegal acts that took place in the Clinton campaign & Obama Administration, there was never a special councel [SIC] appointed!" Mr Trump added: "This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history!" The previously undisclosed interactions form part of the record now being reviewed by FBI and congressional investigators probing Russian interference in the US presidential election and contacts between Mr Trump's campaign and Russia. Calls Six of the previously undisclosed contacts described to Reuters were phone calls between Sergei Kislyak, Russia's ambassador to the United States, and Trump advisers, including Mr Flynn, Mr Trump's first national security adviser, three current and former officials said. Conversations between Mr Flynn and Mr Kislyak accelerated after the November 8 vote as the two discussed establishing a back channel for communication between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin that could bypass the US national security bureaucracy, which both sides considered hostile to improved relations, four current US officials said. Read More In January, the Trump White House initially denied any contacts with Russian officials during the 2016 campaign. The White House and advisers to the campaign have since confirmed four meetings between Kislyak and Trump advisers during that time. The people who described the contacts said they had seen no evidence of wrongdoing or collusion between the campaign and Russia in the communications reviewed so far. But the disclosure could increase the pressure on Mr Trump and his aides to provide the FBI and Congress with a full account of interactions with Russian officials and others with links to the Kremlin during and immediately after the 2016 election. The White House did not respond to requests for comment. Mr Flynn's lawyer declined to comment. In Moscow, a Russian foreign ministry official declined to comment on the contacts. Separately, a spokesman for the Russian embassy in Washington said: "We do not comment on our daily contacts with the local interlocutors." The 18 calls and electronic messages took place between April and November 2016 as hackers engaged in what US intelligence concluded in January was part of a Kremlin campaign to discredit the vote and influence the outcome of the election in favor of Mr Trump over his Democratic challenger, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton. Those discussions focused on mending US-Russian economic relations strained by sanctions imposed on Moscow, cooperating in fighting Islamic State in Syria and containing a more assertive China, the sources said. Members of the Senate and House intelligence committees have gone to the CIA and the National Security Agency to review transcripts and other documents related to contacts between Trump campaign advisers and associates and Russian officials and others with links to Putin, people with knowledge of those investigations said. The US Justice Department said on Wednesday it had appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel to investigate alleged Russian meddling in the US presidential campaign and possible collusion between Mr Trump's campaign and Russia. Mr Mueller will now take charge of the FBI investigation that began last July. Mr Trump and his aides have repeatedly denied any collusion with Russia. Contact After Vice President Mike Pence and others had denied in January that Trump campaign representatives had any contact with Russian officials, the White House later confirmed that Mr Kislyak had met twice with then-Senator Jeff Sessions, who later became attorney general. Mr Kislyak also attended an event in April where Trump said he would seek better relations with Russia. Senior White House adviser Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, also attended that event in Washington. In addition, Kislyak met with two other Trump campaign advisers in July on the sidelines of the Republican convention. Mr Trump fired Mr Flynn in February after it became clear he had falsely characterised the nature of phone conversations with Mr Kislyak in late December - after the November 8 election and just after the Obama administration announced new sanctions on Russia. Mr Flynn offered to testify to Congress in return for immunity from prosecution but his offer was turned down by the House intelligence committee. US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump board Air Force One for his first international trip as president, including stops in Saudi Arabia, Israel, the Vatican, Brussels REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst President Donald Trump has departed for his first overseas trip as president amid the controversy surrounding investigations into whether his campaign associates collaborated with Russia to sway the election. Air Force One departed from Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, outside Washington, with the president, first lady Melania Trump, his daughter Ivanka and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, as well as a group of senior advisers and journalists covering the trip. The president's first stop is Saudi Arabia where he will address a summit of Arab and Muslim leaders. He also plans to travel to Israel, the Vatican, Brussels and Sicily. Mr Trump has tried to put investigations into his campaign and his first four months in office behind him. Amid claims about his campaign's relations with Russia and whether he tried to stop an FBI probe into the issue, Mr Trump has claimed to be the most hounded president in history. Mr Trump said he was about to name a replacement for former FBI boss James Comey, another effort to settle the waters with former senator Joe Lieberman seen as the front-runner. Mr Trump clearly knew what he wanted to say as he took a few questions at a news briefing with visiting Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. Asked if he urged Mr Comey at a February meeting to drop his probe of the Russia connections of Mr Trump's national security adviser, Michael Flynn, the president said: "No. No. Next question." Did he collude with Russia in his campaign to defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton? "Everybody, even my enemies, have said there is no collusion," he replied. He added: "The entire thing has been a witch hunt. "This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history!" Richard Rojas, of the Bronx, N.Y., appears during his arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court, in New York, Friday (R. Umar Abbasi /New York Post via AP, Pool) A man accused of mowing down a crowd of pedestrians with his car in Times Square has made his first appearance in court charged with murder and attempted murder. Manhattan prosecutors said in court that Richard Rojas told police after his arrest that he wanted to "kill them all", and that officers should have shot him. Rojas's lawyer and weeping supporters had no comment. Police say Rojas, 26, from the Bronx, drove his car for three blocks into the Manhattan square at midday Thursday, hitting nearly two dozen people before steel security barriers finally stopped him. An 18-year-old tourist from Michigan was killed, and her 13-year-old sister was among the 22 injured. Rojas appeared subdued during a brief court appearance where prosecutors detailed a felony murder charge. He told police he had smoked marijuana laced with PCP, according to a criminal complaint. He did not enter a plea, and is due back in court next week. Expand Close 18-year-old Alyssa Elsman died in the crash / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp 18-year-old Alyssa Elsman died in the crash Eighteen-year-old tourist Alyssa Elsman, of Portage, Michigan, was killed in the crash. Rojas enlisted in the Navy in 2011 and was an electrician's mate fireman apprentice. In 2012, he served aboard the USS Carney, a destroyer. Navy records show that in 2013 he spent two months at a naval prison in Charleston, South Carolina, but do not indicate why. He spent his final months in the Navy at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida, before being discharged in 2014 as the result of a special court martial, a Navy official said. Staff morale in Donald Trump's White House is said to be at an all-time low, with some aides polishing up their CVs as resentment grows against their commander-in-chief. Exhausted by trying to put out fires created by their impulsive boss, some are quietly looking to leave, while others fear the latest week of scandal may inflict irreparable damage both to this presidency and their own careers. "Nobody knows where they stand, or how long they will be in a job," one source close to White House aides tsaid. Mr Trump is "frustrated" and "angry" at the performance of his White House staff, it has been reported, and is threatening to purge large numbers in a "huge reboot". But the dislike is increasingly mutual. As the White House struggles with an avalanche of allegations stemming from the presidential campaign's connections with Russia, aides are more willing than ever to leak their frustration to the press. Mr Trump does not believe the recent backlash is due to any misdemeanours on his part, it is said, but sees it as a public relations failure. He has laid the blame largely with Sean Spicer, his press secretary, and the communications team. Aides said they were angry with a president who demands loyalty but is willing to publicly undermine his staff. Mike Pence, the vice-president, and Mr Spicer both insisted that Mr Trump fired James Comey, the former FBI chief, on the advice of his justice department, for example. Mr Trump announced the next day that he would have fired Mr Comey regardless. Aides complain that the president has made them look like "liars" and worry that the White House's credibility is in shreds. "The real question is, how long do you put up with it?" one said. Experts say Mr Trump's reputation as a boss who is willing to burn his staff may make it more difficult to recruit high quality candidates for the glaring number of positions the administration still needs to fill. ( Daily Telegraph, London) Anthony Weiner is facing criminal charges in an investigation of his communications with a teenage girl (AP/Richard Drew) Anthony Weiner leaves court in New York after pleading guilty to transmitting sexual material to a minor (AP) Former congressman Anthony Weiner has wept in court as he apologised to a 15-year-old girl with whom he exchanged sexually explicit texts. The judge accepted Weiner's guilty plea to a charge of transmitting sexual material to a minor, and he agreed to not appeal against any sentence between 21 and 27 months in prison. The Democratic former US Representative apologised to the teenager, saying: "I have a sickness, but I do not have an excuse." The judge told him he would have to register as a sex offender. The FBI began investigating Weiner in September after the 15-year-old from North Carolina told the Daily Mail she and Weiner had exchanged lewd messages for several months. She also accused him of asking her to undress on camera. Weiner's penchant for sexting strangers online ended his political career and led to an investigation that upended the presidential race. The investigation prompted FBI agents to seize his laptop computer, which led to the discovery of a new cache of emails that Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton had sent to Huma Abedin, Weiner's wife. In late October, days before the election, then FBI director James Comey stunned the country by announcing that his agency was reopening its closed investigation into Mrs Clinton's handling of State Department business on a private email server so it could analyse the newly discovered correspondence. The inquiry was brief and Mr Comey announced shortly before the election that the new emails contained nothing to change his view that Mrs Clinton could not be charged with a crime, but she partly blamed her loss to Republican Donald Trump on Mr Comey's announcement. Weiner, who represented New York in Congress from 1999 to 2011, resigned after revelations that he was sending sexually explicit messages to multiple women. He ran for New York City mayor in 2013 and was leading several polls until it was revealed he had continued his questionable behaviour. His failed mayoral bid was the subject of a documentary called Weiner. AP Syrian has said an aerial "aggression" by the US-led coalition on a government military position near the border with Jordan killed several soldiers and caused material damage. The air strike was the first such close confrontation between US forces and fighters backing President Bashar Assad and the development is likely to increase tensions in the war-torn country. A Syrian military official confirmed the strike on state TV a day after the strike. The US-led coalition said on Thursday that an air strike hit pro-Syrian government forces it said posed a threat to American troops and allied rebels operating near the border with Jordan. The attack comes at a time when the US presence in Syria is becoming more visible, mostly in northern parts of the country where American troops are backing Kurdish-led forces fighting Islamic State. This "flagrant aggression launched by the international coalition exposes the falsity of its allegation about fighting terrorism and undoubtedly demonstrates the reality of the Zionist-American project in the region", the Syrian official said. In Geneva, Bashar al-Ja'afari, the head of the Syrian delegation to peace talks under way in the Swiss city, told reporters he discussed the air strike during a meeting with UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura, describing the attack as "state terrorism". "In every meeting we remind the attendees that there is terrorism by terrorists and also terrorism by states committed against our country," Mr al-Ja'afari said. He was referring not only to Thursday's strike but also to others carried out by the US-led coalition in recent months that have killed civilians in areas held by IS. The Syrian government, which has launched an offensive in the country's south backed by allied militias such as Iranian paramilitaries and the Lebanese Hezbollah group, has vowed to reach the border area with Iraq. That is likely to be opposed by the US and its allies who back rebels fighting IS in the same area. A road between Iraq and Syria would facilitate the flow of assistance from Iran, which is a strong backer of Assad. The coalition said "apparent" Russian attempts to stop pro-Assad forces from moving toward Tanf, as well as warning shots and a show of force, had failed. US officials and Syrian activists said the strike took place in the desert near the border with Jordan, although it was unclear if it struck the Syrian army or just militias allied with the government. The Syrian military official said the area attacked was a military position along the Tanf highway in the desert. The area around Tanf, where the borders of Jordan, Syria and Iraq meet, has been considered a de-conflicted zone, under an agreement between the US and Russia that came into effect earlier this month. AP Despite predictions of a "red wave" rolling throughout the country one in which Republican political candidates would cruise to victory up and down the ballot on the strength of nationwide frustration with crime, inflation and dissatisfaction with the Biden administration Tuesday's midterm election delivered more of the same for many Rhode Islanders. In addition to Democratic victories in all the major statewide races, voters in North Kingstown, Narragansett and South Kingstown skewed overwhelmingly blue in General Assembly races and all local school boards and town council races. With the results of Tuesday's midterm election all but finalized pending a few outstanding mail-in ballots and certification, it appears local boards of government in Southern Rhode Island towns will see a large number of familiar faces. With that in mind, do you believe your local town and school committee seats are held by the best representatives available in your town? Why or why not? Let us know in this week's poll question below. You voted: Details added (first version posted at 11:34) Baku, Azerbaijan, May 19 By Seba Aghayeva Trend: The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs must in the first place follow the updated Madrid principles they prepared, and demand that Armenia withdraws troops from the Azerbaijani territories it occupied, Hikmat Hajiyev, spokesman of Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry, said May 19 commenting on the recent OSCE Minsk Group statement. The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs must also urge Armenia to continue substantive negotiations to find a political solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict based on the UN Security Councils resolutions, Hajiyev told Trend. On the day of the 25th anniversary of Armenias occupation of the Azerbaijani Lachin district, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan made a speech in the Armenian parliament, where he refuted the updated Madrid principles, Hajiyev said. Against this background, the standard statement of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, only touching upon the issues of violation of the ceasefire regime, is very symptomatic, he added. About 80,000 people of the Lachin district, as well as residents of other occupied Azerbaijani territories, have been living for over 25 years as refugees and IDPs. The fact that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs didn't mention this in their statement is an unfair and biased approach, said Hajiyev. The authors of the statement, which contains concern regarding the ceasefire violation, once again turn a blind eye to the illegal presence of the Armenian armed forces military equipment and personnel on the sovereign territory of Azerbaijan, he added. Hajiyev said that the presence of the Armenian armed forces in the occupied Azerbaijani lands is the main reason why escalation and ceasefire violations remain, and everyone knows this. 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. KANNAPOLIS Three City of Kannapolis employees have been elected to serve in leadership positions for their respective professional organizations. Gary Mills, Director of Parks and Recreation, has been elected to serve as president of the North Carolina Recreation and Parks Association (NCRPA). NCRPA represents over 3,400 P&R professionals and over 230 municipal and county agencies across the state of North Carolina. Founded in 1944, the North Carolina Recreation & Park Association is the premier nonprofit education and advocacy organization, dedicated to the advancement of the park, recreation and leisure professions. NCRPA empowers park and recreation professionals and citizen board members through educational opportunities that enhance their ability to change lives and impact communities on a daily basis for the citizens of North Carolina. I am incredibly honored to be elected by my peers to serve in such a prestigious position in what I believe is the best organization in the state. Parks and Recreation is such an important part of the community not only providing leisure opportunities and wonderful parks, but also by creating incredible economic impact to the region through the development of parks, special events, and recreational programs, said Mills. Mills has served as Director of Parks and Recreation for 17 years in Kannapolis and has over 27 years in the Parks and Recreation profession across the state. He has his bachelors and masters degrees from N.C. State University and holds numerous professional certifications. He will serve the association for the next two years. Tina Cline, Director of Human Resources, has been elected to serve as an officer on the board of the North Carolina chapter of the International Public Management Association for Human Resources (IPMA-HR). She has previously served as a board member and the membership chair of the organization. The professional association for public sector human resources professionals, the North Carolina chapter is comprised of human resources professionals from government agencies (county, city, state and federal), as well as government-funded agencies, organizations, and medical and educational institutions from across the state. NC-IPMA provides opportunities for public human resources professionals to meet, exchange information and ideas and participate in professional development activities for over twenty years. Cline has served as the Human Resources Director in Kannapolis for 22 years and has worked in human resources for a total of 28 years. She received her bachelors degree in business administration from Pfeiffer University and has completed numerous professional certificate programs related to her field. Annette Privette Keller, director of communications for the city, has been elected to serve as a board member for The National City-County Communications & Marketing Association (3CMA). 3CMA is the nations premiere network of local city and county government communicators. The organization was founded in 1988 on the philosophy that communications and marketing are essential to helping governments engage and build stronger relationships with their residents. The organization provides professional development for hundreds of communicators across the U.S. to focusing on how to effectively communicate and engage citizens, focus on regional issues and trends, and inspire creative and innovate ways to tell the stories of local government. She has been with the City of Kannapolis for three years and has worked in government communications for 20 years. Keller received her bachelors degree in English from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and her masters degree in public administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She also holds numerous certificates in career related subjects. The job status of Officer Betty Shelby after her manslaughter acquittal is under evaluation, with a decision expected soon, Tulsa Police Chief Chuck Jordan told reporters Thursday. Jordan said the Legal Department and Human Resources Department at the Tulsa Police Department and the city of Tulsa are analyzing Shelbys employment as we speak and that there should be some result come out of that in the very near future. Jordan and Mayor G.T. Bynum hosted a news conference Thursday morning at City Hall to address the not-guilty verdict rendered Wednesday night in Shelbys first-degree manslaughter trial in the death of Terence Crutcher. Reporters were informed by a city spokeswoman that the two wouldnt take questions. We know weve had failings, Jordan said, re-emphasizing his departments resolve to implement community policing. We understand that, and were committed absolutely to making a better relationship where we ensure trust and ensure cooperation in our community. The police chief reiterated his stance on protecting the rights of demonstrators and said officers did so Wednesday night. He complimented both protesters and police officers. I think if you watched any of the streaming videos, you saw a prime example of de-escalation when protesters were blocking Denver (Avenue), Jordan said. As I said before also, we are prepared for anything, but were expecting exactly what we got last night peaceful protests. Bynum offered a birds-eye approach, speaking of Tulsas racial disparity as the great moral issue of our time in this community. He said that divide must be acknowledged or else it cant be addressed. Tulsa has a long way to go when the life expectancy in its most predominantly African-American section is 10 years less than the rest of the city and when one geographical area is synonymous with an entire race, he said. The mayor spoke of the unfair assumption some have that black people will respond with violence to news such as the Crutcher shooting or Shelby acquittal. I would remind Tulsans that our history shows us African Americans in Tulsa have not been the instigators of lawlessness and riots. They have been the victims of them, Bynum said. So I would ask that we not keep assuming the worst from a part of our community that has been exposed to the worst in this citys history. But Bynum also laid out specifics on what the city is doing to bridge Tulsas racial disparity since his inauguration in December: Body-worn cameras will be fully deployed on police officers by the end of this year. Citizen advisory boards will be established in each police patrol division this summer. The latest city budget will fund the largest single influx of officers in Tulsas history to implement community policing initiatives. The Commission on Community Policing offered 77 recommendations to improve the Police Department. The city has partnered with Rockefeller Foundation to install the Resilient Cities program to bring resources here to address racial disparity through access to economic opportunities, transportation and health care. A Tulsa African-American Affairs Commission has been created. In my experience, progress in a community only occurs when were willing to acknowledge our disagreements and acknowledge the humanity in the people with whom we disagree so that we can work together on the changes that we need to bring about, Bynum said. According to a statement from Tulsas chapter of Black Lives Matter, the activist group is calling for Shelbys termination. The group also seeks the creation of a citizens advisory commission to evaluate police policies and procedures, identify elements of racial and economic bias and make recommendations to the Tulsa Police Department. Mayor G.T. Bynum during the news conference re-iterated his call to have all field patrol officers outfitted with body-worn cameras by the close of the year. Sgt. Shane Tuell, a Tulsa Police spokesman, said the department is nearing the stage at which it will begin to be able rolling out body cams in batches. He said the IT Department is waiting on server updates to ensure the vendor's system fully integrates with the city. There are 40 officers wearing body cams to test the equipment and identify issues for the vendor to fix. Tuell said the plan is to begin deploying them in the summer and have the approximately 350 field officers equipped by Sept. 30. "We feel pretty confident we can do it," he said. The Tulsa Police Department was awarded a Justice Department grant of $599,200 in September 2015 through the Bureau of Justice Assistance for a body-worn camera pilot program. Officers in classes of 20 to 30 will receive training on the equipment before being outfitted with it and hardware installed in their cars, Tuell said. "There's a multitude of reasons why it takes awhile to do something of this magnitude," he said. "I know the citizens are probably like, 'Where the heck are these?' "But if we didn't do our due diligence on this then we would've just blown $1.2 million out the window. We want something with longevity." Tulsa World Kabul, May 18 (IBNS) : At least 23 militants were killed in airstrikes conducted by the US forces in southern Helmand province of Afghanistan. The state-run Khaama Press quoted a statement issued by the provincial government as saying that at least four hideouts of the militants were also destroyed in the airstrikes. The statement further added that the airstrikes were carried out in the vicinity of Garamser district of Helmand. The first airstrike targeted two vehicles of the militants carrying nine militants and were travelling in the vicinity of Kamarbandi (Kharko) area, leaving all nine militants dead and the two vehicles totally destroyed, the statement said. The statement also added that the second airstrike was carried out in the vicinity of Omarzo area as the personnel of the 215th Maiwand Corps of the Afghan army were busy conducting counter-terrorism operations. The provincial government said at least 14 insurgents including five Pakistanis were killed in the airstrike and 8 others were wounded and four of their hideouts were destroyed. The anti-government armed militant groups including the Taliban insurgents have not commented regarding the report so far. Kabul, May 18 (IBNS): The Afghan National Directorate of Security (NDS), the country's central intelligence agency reported the killing of a Taliban insurgent on Wednesday, following a raid on one the terrorist organisation's hideout, thereby preventing an attack from taking place, local Khaama Press reported. The raid was conducted in Mussahi district of Kabul, the national capital. The NDS further reported that the insurgent killed in the raid was involved in several terrorist activities. At least three Improvised Explosive Device (IED), ammunition and documents supporting the Taliban propaganda were confiscated during the operation. The Taliban is yet to comment on the report. Why Partner with IIFL? IIFL is one of the leading player in the broking industry with more than a million accounts being opened since inception. The company provides execution, advisory, and research service across products like equity, F&O, Commodity & Currency, Mutual Funds. IIFL is also one of the top distributors of AIF, PMS and Mutual Funds. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 19 By Elchin Mehdiyev Trend: There are no threats inside Azerbaijan and people support President Ilham Aliyev, Head of Azerbaijans State Security Service Lieutenant-General Madat Guliyev told reporters in Baku May 19. He was commenting on the detention of a group of individuals engaged in espionage in Azerbaijan. Guliyev said the investigation in connection with that issue is underway. The Azerbaijani Prosecutor General's Office, the Interior Ministry and the State Security Service spread a statement on revealing a spy network, he said, adding an investigation group is already working. The president has given the necessary instructions to Prosecutor General Zakir Garalov, he said. The investigation group is clarifying a number of issues," Guliyev said, adding that the detainees have been engaged in illegal activity for several years. The espionage was revealed as a result of proper execution of the president's instructions by the Defense Ministry, he added. Rajinikanth is not just an actor, he has an unprecedented demi-god status among millions of his fans. People literally worship him and his film releases are celebrated with much fervour like the biggest festivals in the world. After a gap of eight long years, Rajinikanth finally interacted with his fans at Raghavendra Mandapam. From past a few days, the Thalaivar has been meeting his fans in Chennai and also giving all of us bits of information about his future plans. B A Raju On the last day of his meet yesterday, he told his fans that he after living in Tamil Nadu for 43 years, has turned into a true Tamilian. With this statement, the superstar gave a befitting reply to actor-turned-politician Sarath Kumar who had earlier called him an outsider Kannadiga who came to TN to find work. B A Raju I am 67 years old. I lived in Karnataka for 23 years and in Tamil Nadu for 43 years. I have lived and grown with you. You have been truly loving and welcoming and made me a true Tamilian. If I have to live anywhere in this world that will be in Tamil Nadu. B A Raju It all started after the Kabali star said at an event that he misses actor-comedian-politician Cho Ramaswamy after the demise of chief minister Jayalalithaa because of unusual political developments in the state. The remark was touted to be in reference to Sasikala who took the charge of the party thereafter. The comment apparently didnt go down well with Sarath who contested on the AIADMK symbol. Furthermore, when the reports of Rajinikanth joining politics went rife, BJPs Subramanian Swamy has also taken a potshot at the superstar. Saying that he is "not well-educated," Swami had also said that "Rajinis sense of politics is very bad." Previously as well, he ha taken a dig at the Thalaivar calling him a Marathi from Bengaluru who "fail." Just days after a group of girl students from Rewari, Haryana ended their eight-day-long hunger strike following an assurance from the government that their school will be upgraded to higher secondary, students in Kadarpur village of Gurugram have also raised similar demand. Some 170 students from the school held a protest outside the school to urge authorities to upgrade the school to Senior Secondary level. Read more 1. Pakistan Govt May Fire The Lawyers Who Lost The First Battle At ICJ In Kulbhushan Jadhav Case And Get New Ones Under fire from almost everyone at home after yesterday's Hague ruling in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case, the Pakistan government plans to set up a new team of lawyers to argue the case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Pakistani media reported. The new team will "present Pakistan's stance vigorously" at the ICJ, said Sartaj Aziz, adviser to Pakistan's Prime Minister, several Pakistani media outlets reported. Read more 2. ISRO To Launch Three Satellites In Next 18 Months To Boost India's Internet Speed High-speed internet is the need of the hour in India where the smartphone has become a souvenir of the telecommunication revolution. Now Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) will launch three communication satellites GSAT-19, GSAT-11 and GSAT-20 in the next 18 months to boost internet speed across the nation. The next big launch will be GSAT-19 in June With this launch, we will begin a new age of communication satellites. It is also the beginning of high-throughput satellites (in India). Read more 3. In A First, Kerala Makes Sanitary Napkin Vending Machines Mandatory In All Schools Kerala has become the first state in India to make sanitary napkin vending machines mandatory in all higher secondary schools. With just weeks left for the schools in the state to reopen after summer vacations, the government has mandated all schools to have vending machines from the beginning of the new academic year. Read more 4. China's Yulin Festival Might Not Have Dog Meat On The Menu This Year, Thanks To Activists Every year, in the 10-day Yulin festival held in China, dogs are caged, beaten to death on the streets, and served as 'dog soup'. But, hopefully, this year's festival won't witness any of this brutality. According to Humane Society International, animal activist have pushed the Yulin government to prohibit the festival vendors and traders from selling dog meat. Read more 5. 58-Year-Old Indian Atul Kumar Babubhai Patel Detained By Immigration Authorities At US Airport Dies In Custody An Indian national who was detained by the Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) last week at the Atlanta airport has died in custody at an Atlanta hospital. Atul Kumar Babubhai Patel was detained at the airport by ICE officials for not possessing necessary immigration documents while entering US. Read more An Indian national who was detained by the Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) last week at the Atlanta airport has died in custody at an Atlanta hospital. AFP/ Representational Image Atul Kumar Babubhai Patel was detained at the airport by ICE officials for not possessing necessary immigration documents while entering US. According to an ICE statement, Patel had entered US through Ecuador and was initially detained by US Customs and Border Protection and was shifted to the Atlanta City Detention Center where he received an initial medical screening and was identified to have high blood pressure and diabetes. Reuters/ Representational Image On Saturday, two days after being in the ICE custody, a nurse checking Patel's blood sugar noticed he had a breathing problem following which he was shifted to a hospital where he passed away. Patel is the eighth such individual who died in the custody of ICE the fiscal year 2017. After the appalling episode in Rohtak where stepfather raped his 10-year-old daughters, another similar case has surfaced in Delhi where step-father arrested for allegedly raping his 6-year-old daughter. The incident came to light in Delhi Sakets area where on Wednesday, the girl complained about pain in her private parts to her mother. Later, it was found that the step-father allegedly assaulting her for the past one year. PTI The accused Ravinder, 27, works as a care-taker at a farm house in Saket and has been arrested by the police. According to the police, the man had allegedly attempted to rape the girl earlier too. On Tuesday he again assaulted her when he took her with him on the pretext of playing and allegedly assaulted her. "Ravinder took his elder daughter (victim) daily to his workplace and took sexual advantages. On Tuesday, he did the same and returned to his residence at 9:30 pm. The girl on Wednesday complained of pain in the abdominal area. Her mother and a lady immediately suspected that she was being sexually assaulted by someone," said Chinmoy Biswas, additional DCP of South district was quoted by India Today. Kerala has become the first state in India to make sanitary napkin vending machines mandatory in all higher secondary schools. BCCL/ Representational Image With just weeks left for the schools in the state to reopen after summer vacations, the government has mandated all schools to have vending machines from the beginning of the new academic year. The number of machines should be proportionate to the number of girl students in the school. BCCL/ Representational Image This will be implemented under the state government's She Pad' scheme which aims to provide sanitary pads to all girl students. The education department has also directed all government, private, aided and unaided schools in the state to ensure clean drinking water and and separate toilets for boys and girls. BCCL/ Representational Image In a Facebook post, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said, Every woman has a right to menstrual hygiene. The government's She Pad scheme is aimed to distribute healthy and clean sanitary pads to all school students across the state. A eco-friendly disposal system and distilleries for used pads will be distributed as part of the scheme. An estimated Rs 30 crore will be spent on this scheme in the next years. The project is being implemented with the support of local self-government institutions under the leadership of the State Women Development Corporation. According to the government figures, there are a total of 1845 higher secondary schools in Kerala, including both private and government sector. When it comes to fighting off computer viruses and malware attacks, holy water is probably one of the last resorts -- when all tech solutions have failed and divine intervention is urgently needed. Maybe thats what happened in Russia! Do not miss the Holy Water caught in mid-air! The world has barely recovered from the panic caused by last weekends WannaCry ransomware attack which affected more than 2 lac computers across 150 countries in the world, when unconfirmed news broke across Russian social media channels that the countrys top religious priest was allegedly blessing Russian ministry computers with holy water to help them cope with the WannaCry ransomware. The priest in the trending photo is Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church. And while the photo everyones sharing on social media is an old picture of the High Priest when he was invited to Russias Ministry of Internal Affairs to bless the computer terminals there with holy water to protect them from any sort of problems, it cannot be completely ruled out that the Patriarch may have been summoned to ward off the effects of WannaCry ransomware from critical government computer systems. Patriarch of Russian Orthodox church making sure that the Ministry of Internal Affairs computers won't get affected by WannaCry virus attack pic.twitter.com/m2S7rP2iHU English Russia (@EnglishRussia1) May 15, 2017 Why do we say that? Because getting computer terminals, server rooms and data centers blessed by priests spraying holy water seems to be a common practice in Russia -- at least given all the pictures available on the Internet. Russian Orthodox Priest Blessing A Server Room It is widely believed that Patriarch Kirill of Moscow is an important religious figure, holding as much power as the Pope, if not more, and hes known to collaborate with Russian President Vladimir Putin, too. Who knows where this custom of blessing computers and server rooms and other instruments of modern technology through Orthodox priests began in Russia. But hey, as long as the malwares held at bay, thats all it matters, right? Another Russian Orthodox Priest Blessing What Looks Like A Server Room We just hope these priests dont short any circuits and destroy the computers theyre meant to bless and protect by accidentally spilling holy water into sensitive parts of the electronic systems! President Pranab Mukherjee today cautioned against the negative impact of technological advancement and the Internet, and said "the world is yet to face squarely the disruptive impact of these forces". bccl/representational image The president was speaking after receiving the first copy of a book, titled 'Metaphysics, Morals and Politics', from Amal Kumar Mukhopadhyay, former principal of the erstwhile Presidency College here, at a function at the Raj Bhavan this evening. The book was released by retired Supreme Court judge Ashok Kumar Ganguly. On a lighter note, Mukherjee said he was "an average student, rather less than average" as he praised the author with whom he had studied together in college. AP The President said the world has made tremendous technological advancements, particular mobile and communication technology and the Internet. The use of Internet is one of the important criteria to judge development in the world today, he said and cautioned against its disruptive impact. bccl/representational image Recently, a high alert was sounded in the wake of reports of possible cyber attack by ransomware 'WannaCry' on the country's vital networks. 'WannaCry' has disrupted networks in over 150 countries, including Russia and the UK, and is being termed as one of the most widespread cyber attacks in the history. But the government allayed fears saying there was no serious impact in the country except for a few isolated incidents in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 19 By Seba Aghayeva Trend: Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan will pay an official visit to Azerbaijan on May 21-22, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told Trend. As part of the visit, Abdullah bin Zayed will hold talks with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov. The further actions will be outlined for Azerbaijan-UAE cooperation in the political and economic spheres. Bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and the UAE are at a high level. The relations between the two countries are based on multi-vector cooperation taking into account mutual interests. The UAE is one of the most important partners of Azerbaijan in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East region. At the same time, Azerbaijan is the most important partner of the UAE in the Caucasus. Azerbaijan and UAE have close positions on many international issues. Azerbaijan and UAE also actively cooperate within the OIC, the UN and other international organizations. The UAE also supports the fair position of Azerbaijan in the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. 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. According to the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee, the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and the UAE amounted to $69.37 million in 2016, which is by 14.35 percent more than in 2015. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 19 Trend: President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain has sent a congratulatory letter to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. On behalf of the Government and people of Pakistan, I would like to convey sincere and warm wishes on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries, Mamnoon Hussain said. Our two countries are bound together with warm historical, religious, and cultural ties. Pakistan is committed to further enhancing its cooperation within the political, cultural, energy and defense fields. Pakistan remains committed to regional peace, connectivity and integration. Our collective efforts under the auspices of the Economic Cooperation Organization and other regional and international fora will help us to achieve these desired goals, the Pakistani president noted. I would once again like to avail this opportunity to wish Your Excellency good health, and the people of Azerbaijan continued peace and prosperity. Were excited to announce that indmin.com is now part of fastmarkets.com. A new look and an improved experience means you can still stay ahead of this fast-moving market with price data, news and market intelligence right here on Fastmarkets. Discover more than 2000 prices, news and analysis in primary and secondary metals markets. We cover base metals, industrial minerals, ores and alloys, steel, scrap and steel raw materials. If you already have a Fastmarkets account, youll still have uninterrupted access to your markets by logging in with your current details. No Tears for the FBI Pity the poor FBI agents. Reportedly, the morale of the secret police has suffered since their former director, James Comey, was cashiered by President Trump. If the FBI has, indeed, been rendered ineffectual, thats a blessing. We can only hope that their condition is so serious that they no longer want to target individuals and groups for surveillance, arrest and imprisonment. By Margaret Kimberley May 19, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - President Trumps dismissal of FBI director James Comey is certainly a topic worthy of discussion and debate. In typical Trump fashion, his amateurish administration has given a variety of contradictory rationales for the action. While there may be confusion about what precipitated the decision, there should be no confusion about the FBIs long history of persecuting black people in this country. No one should forget the FBI played a major role in prosecuting Marcus Garvey. A young agent named J. Edgar Hoover led the investigation during the Wilson and Harding administrations. Hoover destroyed the Garveyite movement by arranging a trumped up charge of mail fraud. Garvey was convicted, imprisoned and deported from the United States. The FBI never relented in this strategy of actively opposing the black struggle for human rights. In fact every FBI agent was responsible for managing at least one informer to report on activities in black communities. Political action was not the only target of attack. Writers such as Langston Hughes, Claude McKay, W.E.B. DuBois, and James Baldwin were all under FBI surveillance. The works of Lorraine Hansberry, Ralph Ellison and others were submitted to the FBI by a network of informers . Every FBI agent was responsible for managing at least one informer to report on activities in black communities. All of these activities fell under the umbrella of the Counter Intelligence Program, COINTELPRO . COINTELPRO used murder, disinformation, character assassination, and double agents to crush the liberation movement. Of course Martin Luther King was a focal target of surveillance. The FBI even wrote an anonymous letter which urged him to commit suicide. Fred Hampton and Mark Clark were murdered by FBI agents acting in concert with the Chicago police department in 1969. In the aftermath of September 11, 2001 the FBI used informants to entrap innocent people into planning nonexistent terror attacks and then sentencing them to long prison terms. The Liberty City Seven and Newburgh Four are amongst those victims. James Comey has his own history of eroding civil liberties and maintaining the police state apparatus against every black person in the country. When mass protest arose against police killings Comey was among those who peddled the lie of a F erguson effect . He made the spurious case that the police were suddenly afraid to kill black people. If only that were true. The Obama administration was in the business of pretending to undo mass incarceration and Comey exposed their fraud by claiming that it didnt even exist. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Daily Newsletter The FBI will always be in the business of crushing dissent. The agency coordinates its work with police departments across the country with Joint Terrorism Task Force operations that target black people, Muslims of all races and anyone else who may fit a profile rife with racism and xenophobia. COINTELPRO used murder, disinformation, character assassination, and double agents to crush the liberation movement. This is the FBI that many people now lionize in the wake of the Comey firing. Trumps dispute with Comey has created a dangerous cognitive dissonance on the part of people suffering from selective amnesia. If black people cant be depended upon to remember the FBIs history of evil doing we are in very serious trouble. Former National Intelligence director James Clapper laments that FBI agents are now suffering from low morale after their boss was told to clean out his desk. We can only hope that their condition is so serious that they no longer want to target individuals and groups for surveillance, arrest and imprisonment. We would be fortunate indeed to have an ineffectual FBI. The term deep state has become popular of late but it is something of a misnomer. The deep state is nothing new or extraordinary. It was and is ever present in the lives of black people. That dynamic is unchanged, regardless of who sits in the corner office of the J. Edgar Hoover building in Washington DC. The fact that Hoovers infamous name has not been removed is significant. It is further proof that the fate of a particular FBI director should be of no concern to black people. There are many legitimate reasons to oppose Donald Trump. However the emphasis on him rather than on the system has created a sad spectacle of foolishness and further proof of the sorry state of black political understanding. Why The U.S. Really Attacked Syrian Militia Convoy Exclusive: For the Pentagon to suggest that this was a sideshow to Washingtons battle against Isis was to stretch the truth beyond credibility By Robert Fisk May 19, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - According to the Syrians, the US destroyed not one but four T-62 tanks and a Shilka ZSU-23-4 Soviet-made radar-guided anti-aircraft vehicle manned by both Shia Iraqi militiamen loyal to Damascus and a unit of armed Iranians who were travelling in pick-up trucks to establish positions on the instructions of the Syrian army in the desert west of al-Tanf. Their intention to set up strongpoints in the vast and largely empty land in advance of the American-trained forces was an attempt by the Syrian government to keep open the route between Iraq and Syria now that the ISIS-held Syrian city of Raqqa far to the north has been almost surrounded by largely Kurdish fighters loyal to Washington. Six of the pro-Syrian militiamen were killed in the American air strike and 25 wounded it is unclear whether the casualties were Iraqi or Iranian but forces under the command of the Syrian army intend to continue their reconnaissance missions towards al-Tanf. Anti-aircraft gunners aboard one of the pick-up trucks accompanying the pro-Syrian units that were attacked, opened fire on the US jets and, according to the Syrians, forced the American aircraft to fly higher. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Daily Newsletter At this point, Syrian air defence units north-east of Damascus prepared to fire Soviet-made S-200 Angara ground-to-air missiles (an older version of the S-300 which the Russians have since delivered to the Syrian military) at the Americans but the US jets had by then left Syrian airspace. One of the five T-62 tanks attacked by the Americans was undamaged. Nonetheless, the brief action in the Syrian desert was of great importance. The Syrians were obviously trying to test Americas resolve to move its anti-Assad militia forces deeper into the south-east of the country and the US was prepared, albeit on a small scale, to show that it was prepared to press on. But the Syrian-Iraqi frontier town of al-Tanf may turn out to be a key strategic point in the struggle of the Assad government to regain its national territory and keep open its border to Iraq and, by extension, to Iran. It lies only 30 miles from Iraq but because the Jordanian-Syrian-Iraqi borders join immediately to the south al-Tanf also lies the same distance from Jordan where the American-trained militia are based. Although US jets were involved in Thursdays air strikes, the forces on the ground comprised largely proxy fighters belonging to both the American-trained rebel opposition and to the Syrian military. If US personnel were accompanying the rebel forces, then they were lucky that neither the Russians nor Syrian Army personnel were present on the other side. For the Pentagon to suggest that this was a sideshow to Washingtons battle against Isis was to stretch the truth beyond credibility in the Middle East. Cutting Syria off from Iraq and thus from Iran appears to be a far more immediate operational aim of US forces in Syria than the elimination of the Sunni Caliphate cult that Washington claims to be its principal enemy in the Middle East. This article was first published by The Independent - See also WikiLeaks' Julian Assange Declares Victory After Sweden Drops Rape Probe By F. Brinley Bruton , Mo Abbas and Corky Siemaszko May 19, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange declared victory Friday after Swedish prosecutors dropped their seven-year rape investigation without charging him with a crime. But because he is still wanted by British police for failing to appear in court, Assange's muted celebration took place on the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy, which has been his refuge for the past five years. "While today was an important victory, an important vindication, the road is far from over," he said after waving to a small crowd of supporters. "The UK said it would arrest me regardless," he added, saying it was under intense pressure from the CIA to do so. "My legal staff has contacted the United Kingdom authorities and we hope to engage in a dialogue about what is the best way forward," he said. "The legal conflict with the United States and the United Kingdom at a formal level continues." Assange also vowed to continue publishing secret U.S. documents on WikiLeaks. "Today we published material from the CIA," he said. Assange also noted the release of Army whistleblower Chelsea Manning , who landed in prison after she leaked nearly 750,000 military files and cables to WikiLeaks. At the time she was a man named Bradley Manning. "We managed to have him released 28 years early from his sentence," Assange said, still using the male pronoun. It was President Barack Obama who commuted Manning's 35-year sentence after seven years behind bars. Assange spoke after Marianne Ny, the chief prosecutor in Sweden, announced that she "has decided to discontinue the investigation regarding suspected rape" by Assange. Ny stressed that she was not declaring Assange innocent, only that he no longer faces any charges in Sweden. Assange, a 45-year-old Australian, became the target of Swedish authorities in 2010 after two women came forward accusing him of rape and sexual assault. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Daily Newsletter Assange denied the accusations and took refuge in the embassy in London two years later to escape extradition to Sweden. He has been there ever since, fearing that once he lands in Stockholm he'll be shipped to the U.S. to face justice for publishing secret documents on WikiLeaks. Melinda Taylor, a member of Assange's legal team, welcomed the "wonderful news." "Now all eyes are on the U.S. that's the reason for his asylum," she told NBC News. "As long as the national security prosecution continues there continues to be a risk to him." London's Metropolitan Police said Assange remains a wanted man. "Westminster Magistrates' Court issued a warrant for the arrest of Julian Assange following him failing to surrender to the court on June 29, 2012," the force said in a statement. "The Metropolitan Police Service is obliged to execute that warrant should he leave the embassy." Within minutes of Ny's announcement, Assange tweeted a picture of himself. Swedish officials withdrew a Europe-wide arrest warrant for Assange after coming to the conclusion that it would be impossible to bring him to Sweden, Ny said. "He has tried to dodge all attempts to avoid Swedish and British legal authorities," she said at a press conference in Stockholm. "My assessment is the transfer cannot be carried out in a foreseeable future." Ny warned that the investigation of the alleged sexual offenses could be reopened if Assange sets foot in Sweden before the statute of limitations expires in August 2020. Donald Trump Said Saudi Arabia Was Behind 9/11 By Mehdi Hasan May 19, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - Does Donald Trump have even an ounce of shame? As a presidential candidate, he spent much of the election campaign needling, critiquing, denouncing, and even threatening the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Yet as president, he is making his first foreign visit this weekend to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Even by Trumpian standards, the volte-face is brazen. In his first few months in power, we have witnessed the trademark Trump Turnabout on issues ranging from NATO to China to the Export-Import Bank . We have listened to him go from praising Bashar al-Assad and rebuking Janet Yellen on the campaign trail, to praising Yellen and rebuking Assad in office. Last October, he said that then-FBI Director James Comey had guts for doing the right thing; last week, he sacked Comey and called him a showboat and a grandstander. Trump, to put it mildly, is no stranger to the shameless U-turn. Still, the Trump Turnabout on Saudi Arabia one of Americas closest allies since President Franklin D. Roosevelt met with King Abdul Aziz ibn Saud aboard the USS Murphy in 1945 is a true sight to behold. This weekend, Trump will arrive in Saudi Arabia for a bilateral summit with King Salman as well as a series of meetings with members of the Gulf Cooperation Council. There will be handshakes, hugs, and smiles galore. We will be expected to forget how Trump blasted the Saudi royals for being freeloaders and threatened them with an economic boycott. Speaking to the New York Times last year , Trump claimed that, without U.S. support and protection, Saudi Arabia wouldnt exist for very long. The real problem, he continued, was that the Saudis are a money machine and yet they dont reimburse us the way we should be reimbursed. Asked if he would be willing to stop buying oil from the Saudis if they refused to pull their weight, Trump responded: Oh yeah, sure. I would do that. We will be also expected to ignore the fact that Trump slammed the Saudi government for executing homosexuals and treating women horribly. In the third presidential debate last October, Trump attacked Hillary Clinton for taking $25 million from the Saudis, from people that push gays off buildings. These are people that kill women and treat women horribly and yet you take their money. Perhaps above all else, we will be expected to brush under the carpet the fact that, twice in a single day , Trump accused Saudi Arabia of being behind the 9/11 attacks. Who blew up the World Trade Center? Trump asked his pals at Fox and Friends on the morning of February 17, 2016. It wasnt the Iraqis, it was Saudi take a look at Saudi Arabia, open the documents. At a campaign event in South Carolina later that day, he again cited secret papers that could prove it was the Saudis who were in fact responsible for the attacks on 9/11. It wasnt the Iraqis that knocked down the World Trade Center because they have papers in there that are very secret, you may find its the Saudis, OK? No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Daily Newsletter (To be fair to Trump, far more credible and better-informed figures have come to a similar conclusion: I am convinced that there was a direct line between at least some of the terrorists who carried out the September 11 attacks and the government of Saudi Arabia, wrote former Florida Sen. Bob Graham, who co-chaired the Senate intelligence committees inquiry into 9/11, in an affidavit in 2012.) Whether or not the Saudi government played a role in the 9/11 attacks and we may never know for a leading U.S. presidential candidate to claim that they did, not once but twice, had to be seen to be believed. And yet, astonishingly, a little over a year later, it is to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that Trump has chosen to make his maiden foreign voyage rather than to Canada or Mexico, as every president since Ronald Reagan has. Will Trump return from his Saudi jaunt with a big fat check? His much-hyped reimbursement? Will he dare raise the issue of gay rights while in Riyadh? Or womens rights? Will he manage to bring back a Saudi royal or two in handcuffs for their (alleged) role in the 9/11 attacks? Please. There are greater odds of the American president coming back as a proud convert to Islam. Hypocrisy is not the exclusive preserve of Trump or the United States, of course. Saudi Arabia sees itself as the the birthplace of Islam, ruled by a king who styles himself custodian of the two holy mosques. Yet this coming weekend, the Saudi government will offer a warm and lavish welcome to a president who has said Islam hates us and wanted to ban all of the worlds 1.6 billion Muslims from entering the United States. The Saudi position on the latest iteration of the Trump travel ban, targeted at 170 million-odd Muslims? A sovereign decision aimed , apparently, at preventing terrorists from entering the United States of America and made by a true friend of Muslims. On Sunday, the fawning Saudis will offer a platform to the worlds most famous Islamophobe, to give a speech on Islam in the birthplace of Islam. And Trump will likely take the opportunity to decry radical Islamic terrorism while visiting a country that has perhaps done more than any other to incite , fund , and fuel it. Hypocrisy unites them both. So too does their fear and loathing of the Iranians the Saudis are busying dropping bombs and backing militants to push back Iranian influence in Yemen and Syria. The Trump administration, filled with Iran hawks , is on the verge of inking a series of arms deals with Riyadh worth more than $100 billion . To be clear: Trumps U-turn on Saudi Arabia has little to do with being moderated by the realities of high office or swayed by the Beltways foreign policy elites. Despite his bombastic campaign rhetoric, he never planned to go after the Saudis in office even after publicly accusing them of murdering 3,000 Americans. Early on in the campaign, in 2015, a senior Arab diplomat told me, on condition of anonymity, that Trump had informed most of the Gulf governments, in private, that his anti-Muslim and anti-Arab rhetoric was all for the campaign and that it would be business as usual once he was elected (or, for that matter, defeated). As ever, for Trump, it is always, above all else, about the bottom line his bottom line. The Saudi-bashing Trump sold an entire floor of the Trump World Tower to the Saudis for $4.5 million in 2001. And would it surprise you to discover that Trump also registered eight companies tied to hotel interests in Saudi Arabia in the midst of his Saudi-bashing presidential campaign? Of course not. Business is business. Trump is Trump. You might be repulsed by his deceitfulness but you have to admire his chutzpah. Trumped-up Claims Against Trump By Ray McGovern and William Binney May 19, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - The Washington establishment rejoiced last week over what seemed to be a windfall "gotcha" moment, as President Donald Trump said he had fired FBI Director James Comey over "this Russia thing, with Trump and Russia." The president labeled it a "made-up story" and, by all appearances, he is mostly correct. A few days before his firing, Mr. Comey reportedly had asked for still more resources to hunt the Russian bear. Pundit piranhas swarmed to charge Mr. Trump with trying to thwart the investigation into how the Russians supposedly "interfered" to help him win the election. But can that commentary bear close scrutiny, or is it the " phony narrative " Senate Republican Whip John Cornyn of Texas claims it to be? Mr. Cornyn has quipped that, if impeding the investigation was Mr. Trump's aim, "This strikes me as a lousy way to do it. All it does is heighten the attention given to the issue." Truth is, President Trump had ample reason to be fed up with Mr. Comey, in part for his lack of enthusiasm to investigate actual, provable crimes related to "Russia-gate" like leaking information from highly sensitive intercepted communications to precipitate the demise of Trump aide Michael Flynn . Mr. Flynn was caught "red-handed," so to speak, talking with Russia's ambassador last December. (In our experience, finding the culprit for that leak should not be very difficult; we suspect Mr. Comey already knows who was responsible.) No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Daily Newsletter In contrast, Mr. Comey evinced strong determination to chase after ties between Russia and the Trump campaign until the cows came home. In the meantime, the investigation (already underway for 10 months) would itself cast doubt on the legitimacy of Mr. Trump's presidency and put the kibosh on plans to forge a more workable relationship with Russia a win-win for the establishment and the FBI/CIA/NSA "Deep State"; a lose-lose for the president. So far, it has been all smoke and mirrors with no chargeable offenses and not a scintilla of convincing evidence of Russian "meddling" in the election. The oft-cited, but evidence-free, CIA/FBI/NSA report of Jan. 6, crafted by "hand-picked" analysts, according to then-Director of National Intelligence James Clapper , is of a piece with the "high-confidence," but fraudulent, National Intelligence Estimate 15 years ago about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. But what about "Russia hacking," the centerpiece of accusations of Kremlin "interference" to help Mr.Trump? On March 31, 2017, WikiLeaks released original CIA documents ignored by mainstream media showing that the agency had created a program allowing it to break into computers and servers and make it look like others did it by leaving telltale signs like Cyrillic markings, for example. The capabilities shown in what WikiLeaks calls the "Vault 7" trove of CIA documents required the creation of hundreds of millions of lines of source code. At $25 per line of code, that amounts to about $2.5 billion for each 100 million code lines. But the Deep State has that kind of money and would probably consider the expenditure a good return on investment for "proving" the Russians hacked. It is altogether possible that the hacking attributed to Russia was actually one of several "active measures" undertaken by a cabal consisting of the CIA, FBI, NSA and Mr. Clapper the same agencies responsible for the lame, evidence-free memorandum of Jan. 6. Mr. Comey displayed considerable discomfort on March 20, explaining to the House Intelligence Committee why the FBI did not insist on getting physical access to the Democratic National Committee computers in order to do its own proper forensics, but chose to rely on the those done by DNC contractor Crowdstrike. Could this be explained by Mr. Comey's fear that FBI technicians not fully briefed on CIA/NSA/FBI Deep State programs might uncover a lot more than he wanted? Did this play a role in Mr. Trump's firing of Mr. Comey? President Trump has entered into a high-stakes gamble in confronting the Deep State and its media allies over the evidence-free accusations of his colluding with Russia. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat, publicly warned him of the risk earlier this year. "You take on the intelligence community, they have six ways from Sunday at getting back at you," Mr. Schumer told MSNBC's Rachel Maddow on Jan. 3. If Mr. Trump continues to "take on" the Deep State, he will be fighting uphill, whether he's in the right or not. It is far from certain he will prevail. Ray McGovern (rrmcgovern@gmail.com) was a CIA analyst for 27 years; he briefed the president's daily brief one-on-one to President Reagan's most senior national security officials from 1981-85. William Binney (williambinney0802@comcast.net) worked for NSA for 36 years, retiring in 2001 as the technical director of world military and geopolitical analysis and reporting; he created many of the collection systems still used by NSA. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 19 Trend: If Azerbaijan had not attracted foreign partners to investing in the country in 1994, the overall economic situation in Azerbaijan would have been quite different today, said President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. He made the remarks May 18 at the opening of a new semi-submersible drilling rig named after Heydar Aliyev in an offshore supply and logistics base of SOCARs Caspian Drilling Company. It is a significant day in the life of our country today. We are celebrating the commissioning of a new semi-submersible drilling rig. I heartily congratulate you and all the people of Azerbaijan on this occasion, President Aliyev said. This is a historic event for the oil industry of Azerbaijan because such a large drilling rig has not been built in Azerbaijan before. I congratulate all the people who took part in the construction of this drilling rig and express my gratitude to them. I am glad that such a huge facility has been built in Azerbaijan. The president said that the vast majority of people involved in the construction of this facility are Azerbaijani citizens. We are witnessing the successful implementation of yet another cooperation project with foreign partners. Of course, this is a reality because Azerbaijan has been successfully cooperating with foreign partners for many years. Foreign companies invest in Azerbaijan. And investment in this facility has been made by the state of Azerbaijan. We channel our oil revenues also into such gigantic projects. The funds invested both by the State Oil Fund and the State Oil Company in this project amount to approximately $1 billion. In other words, it shows our strength and capabilities. It also demonstrates that the oil industry in Azerbaijan develops successfully, said Ilham Aliyev. When foreign companies started to invest in Azerbaijan, one of our main conditions was that this investment should also serve the development of the oil industry, creation of jobs in Azerbaijan, high salaries for our employees, enhanced professionalism and training courses for them. We are seeing all this today, he added. President Aliyev noted that Azerbaijani citizens successfully participate in all major oil projects and bring huge benefit to themselves and the country. The creation of this rig is a historic event. It is no coincidence that the drilling rig has been given the name of great leader Heydar Aliyev. Heydar Aliyev is the founder of Azerbaijans modern oil industry. Today, the oil strategy of Heydar Aliyev is being successfully implemented, he said. In 1994, the signing of the Contract of the Century marked the start of a new era in the oil industry of Azerbaijan. Along with this, important steps were taken to develop Azerbaijans oil industry under the leadership of Heydar Aliyev in the 1970s. Among them, the construction of the deep-water jackets factory began at the initiative of the great leader in the 1970s. If that plant had not been built in Azerbaijan at that time you must have heard that there were other options as well then such a factory would have been built elsewhere on the shores of the Caspian Sea. It was thanks to the intervention and efforts of Heydar Aliyev that Baku was chosen for the construction of the deep-water jackets factory, the head of state noted. Today, this plant plays an indispensable role in the development of our oil industry and the country as a whole. In other words, the modernization of oil refineries and the implementation of other projects in the 1970s served the development of the oil industry in Azerbaijan. As for the period of independence, if we had not attracted foreign partners to investing in Azerbaijan in 1994, the overall economic situation in Azerbaijan would have been quite different today. The signing of the Contract of the Century in 1994 was a historic event. I remember those days quite well. We participated in negotiations together with esteemed Khoshbakht Yusifzade who is also present at this ceremony, said Ilham Aliyev. We held talks in Istanbul in May and in the American city of Houston in July-August 1994 in order to secure the most acceptable conditions for Azerbaijan. At the same time, we wanted to make sure that foreign investors do not run away and also have good conditions. I think that we achieved acceptable conditions for both sides. As a result of tense negotiations, the Contract of the Century was signed in September 1994 and is being successfully implemented today. If the Contract of the Century had not been signed, Azerbaijan could not have achieved such level of development. Everyone should know this, President Ilham Aliyev noted. Special Counsel Investigating Trump Campaign Has Deep Ties to the Deep State By Coleen Rowley and Real News May 19, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - Former FBI agent and 9/11 whistleblower Coleen Rowley says former FBI head Robert Mueller, now appointed to investigate the Trump campaign's ties to Russia, participated in covering up the pre 9/11 role of the U.S. intelligence agencies and the Bush Administration, helped create the post 9/11 national security/surveillance state, and helped facilitate the pre-Iraq war propaganda machine PAUL JAY: Welcome to The Real News Network. I'm Paul Jay. On Wednesday afternoon, Assistant Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Robert S. Mueller to be a special counsel to investigate the Russia affair, those, not his words, those are mine, to look into the whole issue of alleged Russia interference in the American elections, and that would also, one think, include a look into what happened with James Comey, and James Comey's firing, and his memo and such. So just who is Robert Mueller? And now joining us to discuss this is Coleen Rowley. Coleen is a retired FBI agent, former legal counsel for the FBI. She testified about the 9/11 lapses to the Senate Judiciary Committee. 9/11 lapses is generous. This is what was written for me. I would say 9/11 subterfuge, but at any rate, she's known as a whistleblower due to her testimony to two congressional committees that led to an investigation of two FBI 9/11 failures, and one would also have to be generous to call them failures. At any rate, that's another story. Thanks for joining us, Coleen. COLEEN ROWLEY: Yes, thanks for having me. PAUL JAY: So who is Robert Mueller, and what do you make of this appointment? COLEEN ROWLEY: Robert Mueller had only been director for a few days when 9/11 occurred, so he really didn't have any responsibility for that, but he also was in charge when this kind of cover-up occurred, where they really weren't telling the truth. The FBI and all the other officials claimed that there was no clues, that they had had no warning, etc., and that was not the case. There had been all kinds of memos and intelligence coming in. I actually had a chance to meet Director Mueller personally the night before I testified to the Senate Judiciary Committee, and he was more or less ... There was another agent in Phoenix who had, he had done the same with, trying to get us on his side, on the FBI side, so that we wouldn't say anything terribly embarrassing. And he told me that if I ever witnessed anything like that again, the pre-9/11 failures, that I should call him directly. I should get in touch with him. He told me this in our office, and yeah, when you had the lead-up to the Iraq War where the FBI, actually Robert Mueller and, of course, the CIA and all the other directors, saluted smartly and went along with what Bush wanted, which was to gin up the intelligence to make a pretext for the Iraq War. For instance, in the case of the FBI, they actually had a receipt, another documentary proof, that one of the hijackers, Mohamed Atta, had not been in Prague, as Dick Cheney was alleging. And yet those directors more or less kept quiet. That included, like I said, CIA, FBI, Mueller, and it included also the Deputy Attorney General at the time, James Comey. And so when James Comey was appointed to be FBI director by Obama, I wrote this opinion piece for The New York Times, and it appeared the same day of the confirmation hearing, and I suggested that James Comey be asked hard questions about why he had signed off on illegal warrantless monitoring, why he had signed off on the torture tactics. In fact, The New York Times even, they didn't want me to use the word "torture." That was still, at the time, that was a verboten term. They wanted me to say "some harsh interrogation tactics" or something, and we settled on saying, "which experts believe is torture," that's how it's phrased in the op-ed. And then he also signed off, this is even worse in a way, James Comey defended a warrantless detention without charges and without right to counsel for three years of an American citizen. This, none of our mainstream news has been going back to what they think is ancient history, which is what the Bush administration did initially on. Both of these figures, Mueller and James Comey, first of all, they became very close with each other, because this was in the first three or four years after 9/11 when there was essentially a state of emergency that Ashcroft was signing off every 90 days, and this was the creation of John Yoo and those Office of Legal Counsel. They thought that if you declared it was an emergency ... By the way, all secretly. The public knew none of this, that there was this emergency, but if you declared it was a national emergency, then you could institute a form of martial law. And if you see the John Yoo memos, they say everything that, in times of war, we don't have a First Amendment. Those are memos that are written within weeks of 9/11, but it's based on this emergency. So you get to three years, about three years, out, and people like James Comey, Mueller, and some of the new Office of Legal Counsel lawyers that took over after Comey had left ... I mean, excuse me, after John Yoo had left, they started saying, "How long can we keep saying it's an emergency?" And they said, "No, we're going to have to stop this," and that's when that famous hospital room standoff occurs, where first James Comey races to Ashcroft's room and stands up to the Bush administration, Gonzalez and Card. They arrive, and they try to get a very sick Ashcroft to sign off on this every 90 days emergency, again, authorizing a form of martial law, and Ashcroft, to his credit, does not sign it. Of course, the other part of this that people don't know is that not only did Comey and the other officials go along with it before that hospital room standoff, but then they also went along with it afterwards. They simply found new loopholes and new legal mechanisms, I call it pettifoggery, legalization ways of making the same things happen afterwards. PAUL JAY: So- COLEEN ROWLEY: Now, Mueller and Comey both got undeserved reputations as being men of integrity. In fact, Mueller, it was extended. There's a 10-year term for FBI director, and because he was considered so beyond reproach, and he had skated so well between this morass, and of course, some of this didn't always come out, he was held on for 12 years. And so, again, these two were close, and when Comey spoke out about that hospital room, a lot of people objected to him and argued with him, and it was Mueller, I believe, that kept notes of the hospital room meeting. And so Mueller backed up Comey for that whole hospital room situation. PAUL JAY: Coleen, so you look at this appointment now. Rosenstein appoints Mueller. Mueller, as you've told me off camera, is a very good friend of Comey, and they've worked together for years. Where do you see this appointment falling down? In terms of whose side, there's clearly, it seems to me, Comey has decided to get Trump, and Trump fired Comey. Trump writes this, Comey writes this memo, and we know, at least according to the press reports in The Washington Post, Comey decides to ... This memo is not classified. There's several reports that say that some of the memos that he would keep after meeting with Trump, he would make classified. Others were unclassified. The memo that's in question that everyone's talking about, which is the memo that says that Trump asked him to drop the investigation into Flynn, that memo he consciously decides to click unclassified. Now, how do we know there's even a memo? We know it because Comey has given the memo to associates. I'm doing question marks here, or quotation marks, because we don't know who the associates are. Are they in the FBI? Are they outside the FBI? Some of his associates then leak this information to the Post, apparently also to The New York Times, apparently also to AP, which, if the memo's not classified, then I suppose it's not illegal, I guess. But Comey made it so, so Comey wanted this memo to get out, clearly, after he was fired, and now his buddy is being appointed the investigator. Is Rosenstein appointing someone who knows how to be subservient and do whatever his president wants, or is he appointing someone who will work with Comey and others to get Trump? COLEEN ROWLEY: If you go back to the Obama administration, both Mueller and Comey were close with the Obama administration, and so Obama himself, or people around him, made sure that the memos that they were writing from the summer on of the suspicions about Russia and things like that, they made sure that these memos were shared widely in the intelligence community. That's actually been reported by mainstream news, that there was a deliberate effort to make sure that this information got out and would not somehow be kept secret. And so if you consider that both Comey and, going further back, Mueller, were very much aware of that, they worked with the Obama administration, and Comey, especially, would just be carrying out what was already begun before Trump took office. That's what I think. I think the [S 00:09:53] on associates, and again, officials, you'll see sometimes the sources described as officials. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Daily Newsletter Home Trump Visits Bethlehem Bearing Gifts to Child Killers By Finian Cunningham May 19, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - US President Donald Trump makes his first overseas visit this weekend, beginning in the Middle East and continuing to Europe. His tour to the "holy land" is being presented with feel-good, messianic spin. Trump touches down first in Saudi Arabia, then will go Israel and from there make a pilgrimage to Bethlehem in the Palestinian territories. After his stop at the reputed birthplace of Jesus, the American president will then fly to the Vatican, where he will be greeted by Roman Catholic Pope Francis. He will later meet NATO military leaders in Brussels. Getting ready for my big foreign trip. Will be strongly protecting American interests - that's what I like to do! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 19, 2017 Presenting the president's Middle East itinerary like a momentous religious event, Trump's senior national security adviser General HR McMaster said: "This trip is truly historic. No president has ever visited the homelands and holy sites of the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths all on the same trip. And what President Trump is seeking is to unite peoples of all faiths around a common vision of peace, progress and prosperity." The White House, reported the Washington Post, described it as "an effort to unite three of the world's leading religious faiths in the common cause of fighting terrorism, reining in Iran and unifying the world against intolerance." Hold it. Screech the brakes on this Hollywood-type script of Saint Donald saving the world. What utter claptrap. The main purpose of his sojourn is to cut a record arms deal with Saudi Arabia and the other closely aligned Gulf Arab monarchies. While in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, addressing regional leaders about "world peace," Trump is set to sign off weapons deals worth $350 billion. That's more than double what his predecessor Barack Obama flogged to the Saudi rulers during his presidency. According to Bloomberg , topping the list of US arms transfers are warships, helicopter gunships, anti-missile systems and tanks. The THAAD anti-missile system, recently debuted in South Korea, is said to be among the inventory for the Saudis and other Gulf states to the tune of $10 billion. The crisis in Korea provides a convenient sales pitch to the Saudis. Maybe that's partly why the Trump administration has dangerously provoked the tensions in Asia, precisely to push through their THAAD sales in the Middle East. In addition to the weapons purchases, the Saudi rulers are also promising to invest $40 billion from their oil-rich sovereign wealth funds in American companies. Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and personal adviser, has been instrumental in lining up the mega sales, in conjunction with the Saudi deputy Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. The 30-year-old son of King Salman, who is also the defense minister, has been courting the Trump presidency ever since the election last November. The Saudi prince, known as MBS by the Trump inner circle, is the chief strategist behind the Saudi war on Yemen since March 2015. That war is a blatant aggression on Yemen carried out by Saudi forces supplied by the US and Britain. Thousands of children have been killed in Saudi air strikes, using internationally banned cluster bombs in indiscriminate attacks on civilian centers. Just days before Trump's departure to the Middle East, Saudi air strikes reportedly killed 23 civilians, including six children, near the southern Yemeni city of Taiz. Millions of other Yemeni children are dying from starvation and preventable diseases like cholera because of a naval blockade imposed on the country by Saudi and American forces. No doubt the new warships that Trump is lining up for Saudi Arabia will add to the "efficacy" of the genocide that is underway in Yemen. With staggering cynicism, the Trump administration is "justifying" this ramped-up military support for Saudi Arabia as an effort to "fight terrorism" and to "counter Iranian meddling" in the region. It is alleged that Iran is sponsoring militia in Yemen, Syria and Iraq and this is posing a threat to regional stability. Such claims are an insult to common intelligence, when we know that it is the American CIA and their Saudi client regime who have bankrolled and directed terrorism across the entire Middle East over many years in order to serve hegemonic interests of regime change. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Daily Newsletter But what is disturbing is just how braindead the Trump administration is. Trump is recklessly promoting the ridiculous fantasy that Saudi Arabia and its despotic terror-sponsoring clients are somehow the custodians of law and order. He is also pumping up the surreal Saudi narrative that Iran is largely responsible for the Middle East's conflicts. When the American president addresses Saudi and other Muslim leaders in Riyadh this weekend supposedly on the challenges of finding regional peace, two nations are banned from the gathering Iran and Syria. Saudi rulers have recently threatened Iran with fomenting a Syria-style proxy war inside Iran. The record arsenal of weapons that Trump is bringing to Saudi Arabia will only embolden its House of Saud tinpot dictators to pursue even more confrontation with Iran. Much of the small-arms weaponry that the Americans supply to Saudi Arabia already ends up in the hands of terror groups like Jabhat al Nusra and Daesh (so-called Islamic State). There are perplexing signs that the US under Trump is ratcheting up military aggression toward Iran and its ally Syria. This week, US warplanes reportedly attacked Syrian armed forces and Iranian allies Hezbollah in southern Syria. It was the second such direct assault on Syria after Trump ordered Tomahawk missile strikes on the Shayrat airbase in April. Syrian sources claim that the latest US air strike was carried out to protect militants being trained by American special forces inside Syrian territory. Those militants, known as Maghaweer al Thawra, are part of the Al Qaeda terror network, according to independent journalist Vanessa Beeley in email correspondence with this author. Seems more than coincidence that the latest US operation was timed with Trump's departure for Saudi Arabia. This is the kind of military action that the Saudis were constantly pushing the Obama administration to carry out. The strike on Iranian interests too will no doubt endear the new US commander-in-chief even more to his Saudi clients. Trump's messianic zeal to visit the Middle East his first foreign destination being the dubious human rights "haven" Saudi Arabia is all about flogging ever more deadly weapons to the already explosively-charged region. So desperate is Trump to pimp billions of dollars that he is willing to fuel war with Iran and perhaps Syria's other ally, Russia, in the pursuit of lucre. And to add further insult to injury, the whole tour of the "holy land" is being sold by the American government and media as some kind of benevolent religious duty to mankind and world peace. The only "gifts" that Trump is bringing to Bethlehem and the region are ever more monstrous ways to murder children. If Pope Francis had any integrity, or even news savvy, he should cancel Trump's call at the Vatican, and explain exactly that child-killing regimes are not welcome. The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. This article was first published by Sputnik News - Click for Spanish , German , Dutch , Danish , French , translation- Note- Translation may take a moment to load. What's your response? - Scroll down to add / read comments Please read our Comment Policy before posting - It is unacceptable to slander, smear or engage in personal attacks on authors of articles posted on ICH. Those engaging in that behavior will be banned from the comment section. Click here to comment on our Facebook page Embattled movie marketer and alleged fraudster, Seun Egbegbe has spent 100 days in prison according to reports. The lanky showbiz promoter continues to wane in the general cell of Ikoyi prisons where he has taken residence. Family and friends of Egbegbe have not been able to secure his bail. According to a source close to Egbegbe, friends and benefactors have abandoned him, leaving him to bear his cross alone Now, the frequency of people visiting him in the prison has reduced drastically. All his friends and followers have deserted him. They are afraid of being implicated. It is only his heavily pregnant girlfriend, Nikky Berry and his parents that visit him now. They still prepare his food from home. Most of his girlfriends and those he supports financially have deserted him. Nikky is the only girl left with him now the source said. In addition, no one wants to stand as surety for Egbegbe due to the strict nature of the bail conditions. According to the source:Things are not as expected at all. He earlier thought it was a childs play. Its now he understands better the kind of situation he is in. I learnt that his family has since been running from pillar to post to get him out of detention, but their efforts are yet to yield the desired results as nobody is ready to stand as surety for him because of the stringent conditions attached. Recall that Seun Egbege was arrested for allegedly defrauding some Bureau De Change operatives of over N40 million, between 2016 and February 2017. He has been granted bail since February of N5 million with two sureties each in a sum of N2.5 million. Justice Oguntoyinbo of the Federal High Court in Lagos ruled that Mr. Egbegbe be granted bail once he meets his bail requirements. A total of 10,500 of the 79,000 Nigerian refugees forced to flee their homes in Borno State to Cameroon by Boko Haram insurgents about two years ago, have returned back home. The Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, who announced their return in Maiduguri, the state capital, on Thursday, said the refugees were forced to return home by the Cameroonian government. The refugees fled Nigeria in 2015 when the insurgents attacked their communities in a bid to enforce Islamic Sharia system of government in their communities. Over 100,000 residents of the communities located in the border areas were displaced forcing them to seek refuge in the neighboring Cameroon. The United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) had in March expressed concerns that the forced return of refugees from Cameroon have continued unabated despite the existence of an accord that allows the facilitation of voluntary return of Nigerian refugees when conditions were conducive. Mr. Shettima, who spoke when the new Director General of the National emergency Management Agency (NEMA), paid him a courtesy call, expressed regret over the action of the Cameroonian authorities, saying they had dishonored an earlier agreement reached with Nigerian and the UNHCR on the management of refugees. The Cameroonian authorities have not been honorable in keeping the agreement signed with Nigeria and UNHCR on our people in their country, said Mr. Shettima. The governor said a total of 10, 500 returnee refugees had reached various locations around the border areas between the two countries in different batches. The governor said his deputy, Usman Durkwa, had been deployed to lead a team of officials to Bama town where they would make available all the logistics needed for hosting the refugees. The refugees, he said, would be camped in the town, which his administration is currently rebuilding after Boko Haram sacked its entire residents and burnt down over 2,000 houses. Mr. Shettima said the humanitarian challenges in the state was very huge and overwhelming but we are was determined to overcome them. Source: ( Premium Times ) Nigeria Customs Service will host the African Union Directors-General of Customs according to the Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Customs Service, Mr Joseph Attah, who confirmed that the news to pressmen. Attah told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja that hosting the meeting in Nigeria further demonstrated to the global community confidence on the present leadership of the country. Nigeria is increasingly seen as a safer place for businesses, international conferences and safer place for meaningful national engagement. The meeting will be taking place from May 23 to 25. The meeting will be first of its kind; during this period, the DGs will be discussing issues of mutual cooperation among customs administrations in the AU to forge a common position in the governance of World Customs Organisation (WCO). Issue of trade facilitation and regional security are tops on the list; whenever DGs of Customs meet they discuss ways of improving on the standard of customs operations in the region. They disscus the function of customs and how it can better impact on the lives of the citizens of member states, Attah said. He said that 50 DGs of various customs administrations in the AU would be in attendance. According to him, there would also be a sideline meeting of neighbouring countries like Nigeria, Benin Republic and Niger to discuss the issues of mutual importance. It is expected that at the end of the meeting, citizens of member states will experience improved customs relationship to enhance regional security. The meeting re-presents Nigeria as a safer place for investment and it will encourage foreign investors to begin to look at Nigeria as an investment disination, he added. Source: ( PM News ) News of the death of 42 year old actress, Moji Olaiya sent shock waves through the Nigerian movie industry this morning. During visit to her Magodo-Isheri family house in Lagos revealed a very tense and sorrowful atmosphere with her colleagues and aged mum whom everyone around simply referred to as Alhaja were all in disbelief and tears. Some of the actresses spotted include; Ronke Oshodi Oke, Doris Simeon, Bisi Ibidapo-Obe and others. Late Moji had just welcomed her baby girl in March 2017 before she died of cardiac arrest at a hospital in Canada last night. The Secretary to the Medical Director of the Enugu Psychiatric Hospital has landed in serious police trouble after allegedly committing a grievous crime. Mrs. Stella Achalla, a principal staff of the Federal Neuropshychiatric Hospital, Enugu is presently cooling off in police custody over alleged job scam. According to Daily Post, Mrs. Stella Achalla, the secretary to the Medical Director of the Hospital, is currently being detained at the Enugu Area Command, alongside her alleged accomplice, one Mrs. Stella Egotanwa. She was whisked away from the hospital premises by 4 pm. on Wednesday by plain cloth policemen. Daily Post reports that the arrest followed a petition from one of the victims, Mrs. Agbanyim Roseline. In the petition dated 20th April, 2017 and addressed to the Area Commander, Area Command Headquarters, Enugu, which was obtained by DAILY POST, the victims claimed that one Mrs. Stella Achalla, a staff of Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, fraudulently duped me and collected the total sum of three hundred and seventy thousand naira (370,000.00) from me on three different occasions for the purpose of securing job for my cousin, Mr. Agbanyim Uchenna in their hospital. Sometime in November 2015, Mrs. Achalla Stella contacted me though a friend, Mrs. Loveth Mbah and demanded initially the sum of two hundred and fifty thousand naira, (N250,000) for the job, but dramatically twisted and demanded extra one hundred thousand naira (100,000) claiming that Uchenna is a graduate and that those paying N250,000 for employment are NCE holders and below. I complied and she promised that appointment will come out in the early month of 2016, but we waited patiently for over a year and nothing happened. She further stated in the petition that by December 2016, she came up with another trick and demanded another fifty thousand naira, (N50,000) meant for preparing the appointment letter which she claimed will come out by January or February 2017 and for reasons beyond my control, I was only able to give her twenty thousand naira (N20,000.) By February this year, she managed to pick my calls only once and ever since refused to pick my telephone calls. A reliable police source hinted that based on the petition, one Mrs. Stella Egotonwa, who allegedly works as an agent for Achalla, was arrested, adding that she implicated the MDs secretary. She told operatives that she is doing the job racketeering on behalf of the CMDs secretary, Mrs. Achalla. She confessed that all the money she had collected from people, including that of the petitioner, was remitted to Achalla. She actually confessed that she had collected such money from several persons numbering about 50 on behalf of Mrs. Achalla. She told operatives that Mrs. Achalla first collected N300,000 from her with a promise of giving her job, but never did. Instead, she sent her out to go and scout for other persons. Consequently, we invited Achalla to our office but she refused to come. We had no option but to effect her arrest. As we speak, she is in our custody, alongside her partner in the alleged crime, Mrs. Egotanwa, the police source said. Meanwhile, Achalla who was reached by our correspondent before her arrest, refused to respond to the text message sent to her mobile phone, just as she did not pick her calls. But another investigation made by our correspondent on her activities at the Hospital showed that many workers were jubilant over her arrest. The workers, who described the Isuochi, Abia State born staff as the Maradona of psychia, said she blocks them from having access to the MD. If she sees that you are close to the MD, she will fabricate stories against you so that the MD will see you as an enemy and keep you at arms length. She just finished building a glass house in the village and gives scholarships at random in the village and in the church to make people see her as a wonderful person. She supplies all the hospital equipment- electronics fridges, computers, laptops, photocopying machines and stationaries. She totally took over everybody elses job to the point that she buys tona and stationery for library, instead of the HOD library buying them. As I speak, she employed over 30 of her family members in the hospital; thats the kind of thing we have suffered in her hand, he claimed. He added that So, the police should do their job and make sure that if found guilty, she should be brought to book. When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, SP, confirmed the arrest. Yes, she is being quizzed right now to establish her level of involvement in the alleged scam, Amaraizu stated. The Director-General of National Agency for the prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Mrs Julie Okah-Donli, has called for the arrest and prosecution of foreign-based human trafficking rings and mafia across the globe. The director made the call when she received a delegation from the Spanish embassy led by Mr Raphael Mouib in Abuja. She explained that the activities of such foreign based traffickers had constituted major threat to the global anti-human trafficking efforts. The NAPTIP Boss specifically tasked members of the European Union and other international organisations to provide useful intelligence on the operations base and location of the human trafficking lords for the purpose of bursting their rings for prosecution. The director-general told the visiting envoys that blowing the lead off the European-based human trafficking barons who have continuously mounted pressure on their home-based pimps for massive recruitment of victims would be a major boost to the current onslaught on human traffickers. According to her, the arrest and prosecution of those human traffickers that are based in any of the European countries is very crucial to our latest efforts to end human trafficking in Nigeria. We are imploring you to join hands with the Government of Nigeria and precisely NAPTIP in the area of intelligence sharing aimed at exposing those foreign based human trafficking madams who are believed to be behind the exploitation of our youths. We want them to be exposed and made to face the wrath of the law, this is one of the ways of ensuring success of the latest fight against human trafficking. Mouib had earlier said they visited NAPTIP to brief the management on the scope and the implementation strategy of the 11th European Development Fund project. The leader of the delegation also said that they were at the agency to intimate it of the plans to commence the implementation of the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) project, which was designed to address some of the human trafficking issues in the country. According to him, the main objective of the project was to reduce Trafficking In Persons (TIP) and smuggling of migrants (SOM) at national and regional level, and between Nigeria and the European Union (EU) continues with specific emphasis on women and children. He disclosed that there would be various components of the project which would be managed by the International and Iberoamericana Foundation for Administration of Public Policies (FIIAPP) include capacity building for Officers of the Agency in the areas of investigation and prosecution as well as awareness creation. Source: ( PM News ) The Father of the former Chief Security Officer to Dr Peter Odili, former Governor of Rivers State, was killed by unknown Gunmen on Wednesday night, The son, Larry Pepple who confirmed the killing of his father to journalists in Port Harcourt said the remains had been deposited in an undisclosed hospital. The Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of Bonny Local Government, Simeon Hart, also confirmed the killing and appealed to residents of the affected communities to be calm. He said security agents have been deployed to the area to fish out the perpetrators of the dastardly act. The Rivers State Police Command confirmed the incident and cautioned against inflaming an already tensed situation. Bonny Island is the site of the multi-billion naira Nigerian Liquified and Natural Gas (NLNG) plant. Gunmen on Wednesday invaded two communities of Otobie and Ererekri in Bonny Island, killing four persons. The motive of the invasion is unknown. Some evil men have killed three sons of a Kenyan politician leaving his family and community members in serious shock. A Kenyan politician, James Ratemo whose two children went missing have been found dead. A journalist with The Star, Mosoku Geoffrey revealed the news on Facebook writing: Three missing children belonging to James Ratemo, Kanu MCA candidate for Kapsoya Ward in Uasin Gishu, found dead and bodies dumbed in River Nzoia. Where is the world heading to? The three boys, Clifford Nyambane, Dan Nyamweya, and Glen Ongagi had gone to Eldovil SDA Church on May 13, accompanied by their cousin, but they did not return home. Police have launched investigations to establish the cause of the deaths. They were aged between six, five and three years. Six-year-old Nyambane was a class one pupil while his five-year-old brother Nyamweya was in pre-unit. Ongagi was not in school yet. Their father is vying on a KANU ticket as the chairman of Kapsoya Ward. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 19 Trend: Baku Higher Oil School (BHOS) hosted an official opening of School of Project Management (SPM), which is jointly set up by BHOS, BP in Azerbaijan and TwentyEighty Strategy Execution company. The ceremony gathered management of the Higher School, SOCAR and BP, representatives of national universities and large international companies operating in Azerbaijan, and 26 SPM trainees. They include staff members of SOCAR, BP, Atlantic Waste Solutions, PASA Hyat Sgorta ASC, Pasha Holding, Gilan Tekstil Park, Baku City Circuit, and Delegation of the European Union to Azerbaijan. Opening the ceremony, BHOS Rector Elmar Gasimov said that establishment of such an educational center, which aims at fulfilling national specialists potential and developing their managerial skills, is an important event for Azerbaijan. The Rector also emphasized a key role to be played by the SPM in training local managers, whose qualification would meet international requirements. As SOCAR Vice president for HR, IT and regulations Khalik Mammadov stated, the School of Project Management was set up with the purpose of developing national scientific and educational potential of the country. Establishment of this school made it possible to initiate training of top and middle level managers capable to carry out projects for various sectors and industries, he said. Speaking at the ceremony, Vice President for Geology and Geophysics Bahram Huseynov and Vice President for Field Development Yashar Latifov expressed their congratulations to the SPM trainees and all project participants on the start of the program and wished the students every success during their education at the School of Project Management. They emphasized that study at the SPM would be conducive to the graduates further successful career development. In the words of BP communications, external affairs, strategy and Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey region Vice president Bakhtiyar Aslanbayli, the School of Project Management is the most successful initiative on training local specialists and developing their skills and knowledge in project management among similar initiatives sponsored by BP in cooperation with partner companies. In his words, the SPM has already become one of national educational institutions, which carries out activities in compliance with international standards. Representative of the TwentyEighty Strategy Execution company, Master of Business Administration in Economics and Information Technology, trainer Didier Estibals highly praised the efforts taken by BHOS at the School of Project Management to create all necessary conditions to hold various training courses including aspects of project management, planning and budget control, risk management, quality and leadership in management. He also reported that at the initial stage, educational subjects at the SPM would be taught in English language, but in two-three years, all courses would be held by local trainers in Azerbaijani language. The SPM program was founded in 2011 by BP and its partners in order to meet local requirements in terms of managing of projects in line with international standards. The program, technically supported by TwentyEighty Strategy Execution company in cooperation with George Washington University (USA). The academic program comprises seven modules for training of managers. Upon successful completion of the study, the trainees will be awarded master certificate from the George Washington University. Up to now, three stages of the project have been implemented and more than 300 specialists from local and international companies of public and private sectors have been trained. The fourth stage has commenced with support from the Higher Oil School. After its completion, BHOS will carry out the educational program within the project single-handedly. 28-year-old Olaolu Akorede of Hg2filmworks was allegedly arrested by the operatives of the Area J Command, Ajah, Lagos for allegedly procuring an harmful herbal liquid for his lover, Halimat, In This Story which later allegedly terminated her pregnancy and damaged her fallopian tube. Olaolu insisted that his account was hacked, that he has not been arrested. The HG2 CEO shared a video to allegations made against him by this unknown Halimat woman who claimed to be his girlfriend and pregnant for him. He also added that his false arrest should be disregarded, that he is safe and fine in his house. According to the report, his arrest followed a petition by Halimat who claimed that she is the girlfriend of the video director. She also claimed that she met him in New York where they had a brief affair that led to her pregnancy. According to her, after she told him the news, he was happy and insisted that they get married. She said, He requested for a return ticket to come back to Nigeria and I spent N400k to purchase a return ticket for him. When he came back to Nigeria, he also collected the sum of N2.5m from me to prepare for our wedding. But instead, he went to Abeokuta, Ogun State, to meet a native doctor who prepared a herbal liquid for him which he claimed was for treatment of diabetics. He convinced me to drink it and because I did not suspect anything, I drank from it. Unknown to me, it was to abort my pregnancy or to kill me. After drinking it, I began stooling blood and ended up in the hospital. Doctors later performed surgery on me and discovered that the herbal liquid had affected my unborn baby and damaged my Fallopian tube. it was gathered that he was arraigned before an Igbosere magistrate court on a 4 count charge of obtaining N2.5m under false pretense, procuring unknown herbal liquid to terminate pregnancy, maliciously administering poison which caused the death of an unborn baby and admitted him on bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum. The Federal Government has been urged by the House of Representatives on Thursday to provide quality healthcare services for prison inmates across the country. This followed a unanimous adoption of a motion on Need to Address the Deplorable State of Healthcare Service in Nigerian Prisons sponsored by Rep. Chike Okafor (Imo-APC). Moving the motion, Okafor said that non-availability of drugs and inadequate medical personnel in health facilities in the prisons had resulted in avoidable death of inmates. He said that due to the comatose nature of the facilities, inmates depended on donations and outreach programmes from churches, mosques and voluntary organisations to access healthcare. According to him, inmates at times, have to buy drugs from vendors, some of whom sold fake, sub-standard or adulterated drugs with their deleterious consequences. This has resulted in the frequent outbreak of epidemics in the prisons and the high death rate recorded among inmates. It is evident in the over 32 deaths of inmate recorded in 2016 at a Lagos prison owing to unavailability of quality medical care. The condition of our prisoners could be said to be near death sentence as many have died because of lack of proper healthcare services. No wonder, in the last one year over 900 inmates died across the country, with one state accounting for 32 deaths. The deplorable health situation in the prisons is a major public health hazard which without intervention, could result in more deaths and would amount to unsolicited death sentence to prison inmates. Inmates are still entitled to their fundamental human right to quality healthcare services even while in prison as envisaged by section 12 (1) of the Prisons Act, 2004, Okafor said. After contributions by members, the House, therefore, urged the Ministry of Interior, and the Health counterpart as well as Comptroller-General of Prisons to intervene by providing quality healthcare services for prison inmates. The House mandate its Committee on Interior and one on Healthcare Services to embark on oversight to prisons with a view to finding permanent solution to poor healthcare services in the facilities. The Committees are to report back within three weeks. Source: ( PM News ) The Union Bank Centenary Innovation Challenge, an initiative to impact Nigeria by unearthing and supporting innovative ideas, is open for entries until Friday, 19 May, 2017. Interested participants (university students, software developers, entrepreneurs, software developers) across the country are encouraged to submit their proposals. The three (3) best ideas from the challenge will be supported to bring their ideas to life through the CcHub Incubation Programme from June December, 2017, while the winners get cash prizes of N2 million, N1.5 million and N1 million respectively towards executing the ideas. Aligned with three strategic pillars identified by Union Bank, the challenge focuses on addressing the SDGs specifically agriculture, education and financial inclusion. Entry materials (document and video) must be submitted online via www.unionbank100/challenge. All submissions must include a full description of the project/product/concept in a document written in plain English and up to a maximum of 1,000 words. About Union Bank Plc Established in 1917 and listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 1971, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc. is a household name and one of Nigerias long-standing and most respected financial institutions. The Bank is a trusted and recognizable brand, with an extensive network of over 300 branches across Nigeria. In late 2012, a new Board of Directors and Executive Management team was appointed to Union Bank and in 2014 the Bank began executing a transformation programme to re-establish it as a highly respected provider of quality financial services. The Bank currently offers a variety of banking services to both individual and corporate clients including current, savings and deposit account services, funds transfer, foreign currency domiciliation, loans, overdrafts, equipment leasing and trade finance. The Bank also offers its customers convenient electronic banking channels and products including Online Banking, Mobile Banking, Debit Cards, ATMs and POS Systems. More information can be found at: www.unionbankng.com About Red Media Africa Red Media Africa (www.redmediaafrica.com) is the PR & Empowerment Marketing division under the parent brand, RED. It focuses on using inspiration, empowerment and action to help brands and organisations connect with their audiences, enhance their bottom-lines, and lead in their industries. It has 6 major practice areas: Corporate Practice, Technology Practice, SME Practice, Governance Practice, Faith Practice and the International Practice with work for brands across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa. It has been recognised with multiple local and international awards including the Gold SABRE Awards for PR Campaigns and the Young Lions PR competition for the next generation of creatives. An unidentified man set himself on fire in front of the Iranian embassy in Bangkok to protest the presidential elections in Iran, police said on Friday. A man of unknown nationality shouted in protest of the Iranian elections in Arabic in front of the embassy while holding up a sign Dont Vote, in both English and Arabic. Noppadon Samart, a police investigator at Bangkoks Thonglor station, told newsmen that the unidentified man then poured gasoline on himself and set himself on fire. The man did not carry any identification with him. Rescue officials sent the man to a nearby hospital. About 20-30 per cent of his skin had been burnt in the incident, Noppadon said. However, the mans motive and political stance are unclear as bystanders did not understand Arabic. The man is not in the condition to testify as he is still undergoing treatment at the hospital, Noppadon said. The incident happened in Bangkoks upscale business area as millions of Iranians go to the presidential polls to determine whether the country would continue on the path of opening up to the West. A Nigerian doctor and her husband identified as Ayodeji Adewakun, 44 and her husband Abimbola Adewakun, 48, a nurse, both from St Katherines Road in Erith, appeared for trial at Southwark Crown Court. have been convicted of trafficking a Nigerian woman into the UK for the purpose of exploitation. A Nigerian doctor and her husband identified as Ayodeji Adewakun, 44 and her husband Abimbola Adewakun, 48, a nurse, both from St Katherines Road in Erith, appeared for trial at Southwark Crown Court. have been convicted of trafficking a Nigerian woman into the UK for the purpose of exploitation. The couple were found guilty on Thursday, 18 May, of one count of trafficking a woman to the United Kingdom for the purposes of exploitation. The 29-year-old victim was brought by the couple to the UK from Nigeria, she worked as a domestic worker for the Adewakuns between February 2007 and June 2009. She was also brought to the UK from Nigeria and was contracted to work from 0700hrs to 1700hrs, Monday to Saturday , looking after the Adewakuns children for 500 per month. They didnt pay her anything at all until May 2009, when she confronted Dr Adewakun about her lack of wages. A bank account was subsequently set up for her but even then, only four payments totalling 350 were deposited into this account for over two years worth of work. She was never given a day off, she worked night and day and eventually her health began to suffer. When she eventually confronted Dr Adewakun about the way she was being treated, her situation worsened. She was no longer permitted to use the family bathroom and was made to wash her clothes by hand. She eventually escaped in June 2009 with the help of a family friend. The case was referred to the Mets Modern Slavery and Kidnap Unit by Migrant Legal Action (formerly Afro-Asian Advisory Service). On 13 January 2015 Abimbola Adewakun was arrested and interviewed and later released on bail. On 19 January 2015 Ayodeji Adewakun attended a police station by appointment and was interviewed under caution. She was not arrested. Both defendants were charged on 10 November 2015 with trafficking for the purpose of exploitation. Investigating Officer Detective Sergeant Nick Goldwater said: This couple deceived the victim by promising her a regular wage, which was far higher than her earnings in Nigeria. She hoped that she would be able to send money home and improve her familys standard of living. In reality, she was made to work day and night and barely paid anything. She was subject to intimidating behaviour by Dr Adewakun, who exerted control over her by keeping her socially isolated and withholding her passport. I hope that these convictions serve as a warning to anyone else committing this crime and encourages anyone being exploited to come forward. I also hope it brings a measure of comfort to the brave victim in this case.Sentencing has been provisionally set for 16 June . + Adimbola Adewakun was found not guilty in relation to trafficking charges against a second victim + The jury did not reach a verdict in the case of Ayodeji Adewakun in relation to trafficking charges against a second victim, Source: Metropolitan Police The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has donated 300 bags of 50kg rice to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Praxis Catholic e-School in Gwarimpa, FCT, to enhance their standard of living. The donation was made by the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), retired Col. Hameed Ali, who was represented by Mr Joseph Attah, customs spokesman. Ali said the donation was in furtherance of the Presidential directives that all perishable items such as rice, vegetables oil, soap and others seized by NCS should be distributed to IDPs. Before now we have gone to Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Benin, a Christian home for the needy, whose inmates were drawn from Gwoza in Borno. We visited these places in three phases and now we are preparing to start the fourth phase. Praxis school had visited the CGC to solicit support for the 300 IDPs in the school drawn from Gwoza in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, he said. The proprietor, Mr Ben Onwudinjo, said though his school was not a camp, but needed support because the IDPs in the school were drawn from North-East. The CGC said that Onwudinjos request was approved to alleviate the plights of the students in the school. In giving this rice, we are not saying it can completely turn the fortune of these children but it is just a way of demonstrating that wherever victims of insurgency are Federal Government will support them. The giving of these perishable items to these IDPs speaks volumes of the mind of Mr President, a president who believe that relief items should not be wasted. He urged the school to keep doing what you know how to do best and that is touching the lives of fellow Nigerians in need. Responding, Onwudinjo commended the CGC and the federal government for its support. He said that the IDPs were from Gwoza in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, adding that the school is catering for 300 IDPs and had even offered them scholarships. Onwudinjo said the IDPs were selected from 39 camps in Abuja, adding that the school interviewed these IDPs and did matriculation for them on Dec. 9, 2016. According to him, many of these children are still calling on the school to come for them but we dont have enough space and resources to take care of them. On Friday, May 12, when we visited the CGC; we told him how the school has ran out of food for the student and because of that we asked them to return to the camps. The CGC has come to our rescue before evening they will return because we have food now. It is not easy to feed these IDPs because they are many and our resources have run out. We are grateful to the CGC and the federal government for this singular gesture of touching the lives of those who have been unfairly treated by circumstances beyond their control, Onwudinjo said. The IDPs, he said, came into the school in August 2016, adding that they are given scholarship into JSS1 and SS1. Praxis Catholic e-School Gwarimpa is a special school for IDPs and vulnerable children. Source: ( PM News ) As the drama around the death of Isiaka Adeleke unfolds, a forensic expert has made a new allegation against the nurse who treated the senator. A report by The Nation has shown that the coroner inquest into the death of the Late Senator Isiaka Adeleke sitting in Osogbo was on Friday told that the Nurse who treated the former Governor of Osun was economical with the truth about the quantity of drug and how it was administered on the deceased before his death. This was even as the Police stated that it is the normal and standard practice that when Form B and C are served on pathologists, the report of the autopsy is to be submitted to the police and not family members as it is in the present case of Late Senator Adeleke. At the resumed Coroner hearing, The Nigeria Police Osun Command held that the essence of submitting the report to the police, upon a request for autopsy, is that it will enable the police when necessary, to pursue criminal prosecution, hence the duplication and submission of such to the State Ministry of Justice for legal advice. The Coroner also heard that the Adeleke family did not order for the autopsy carried out on the deceased. Dr. Taiwo Olufemi Solaja who examined the deceased for autopsy said he only acted on the orders of Coroner Dorcas Ajiboye. Aderibigbe, who claimed to be a Chief Nursing Officer at Comprehensive Health Centre, Edunabon, Osun State, had during his evidence before the Coroner Inquest set up by the Osun State Government to probe Adelekes death yesterday (Thursday) denied administering Gentamicin on the senator while treating him for gout. The Nurse said he diluted Hydrocortisone in fluid and gave Metamyzole, Diazepam, Pentazocine and Analgin intramuscular to the deceased. Police toxicology report on the pathological examination carried out on the deceased by Mr Benedict Agbu, a police forensic expert, revealed that Adeleke was administered with Gentamicin before his death. The report which was admitted in an exhibit at the coroner disclosed that Metamyzole, Diazepam, Pentazocine and Analgin were administered on Adeleke intravenously against Aderibigbes claim. Analyses of the findings in the blood and urine samples taken from Adelekes corpse, as contained in the toxicology report proved the negative result for the presence of chlorinated hydrocarbon herbicides, organo-paosforous pesticide, rodenticides, metallic poison, cynide and tri-cylic anti depressants. The report which was read at the Coroner by a Superintendent of Police, Mr. Moses read in part, The digested food particles were found in the gastric content but no drug particle was found in the exhibit. Diazepam, Pentazocine, Analgin, Hydrocortisone and Gentamicin were confirmed in the blood and urine samples submitted. Metamyzole and its Metabolites 27.2ug/ml, Hydrocortisone 9.25ug/ml, Gentamicin 17.4ug/ml, Pentazocine 4.5ug/ml, Diazepam 12.2 ug/ml, also urine Diazepam concetration 7.1ug/ml. Fatalities have been reported at the following blood concentration: Metamyzole (Analgin) 22.0ug/ml, Pentazocin, 1.2ug/ml, Gentamicin 12ug/ml, Diazepam, 5.0ug/ml, hydrocortisone, 3.7ug/ml. The presence of alcohol was also confirmed in the blood, urine and gastric content with concentration of 450ug/ml, 215ug/ml and 562ug/ml respectively. The blood concentrations of the drugs are above the levels known to cause fatalities. The confirmation of Diazepam, Pentazocine, Hydrocortisone and alcohol with the established concentration in the body of the deceased is capable of producing a fatal Synergetic Hypertensive and respiratory depressive effect. With the route of the delivery (intravenous) of the drugs, the effect will be sudden and capable of occurring in minutes. Such fatalities have been reported in the literature. The low concentrations of the substances in the gastric content are as a result of the route of administration of the drugs. However, the toxicology reports, Aderibigbes statement with the Police, reply of the Principal of the School of Nursing, Osogbo for the confirmation of Aderibigbes Nursing certificate were produced at the Coroner inquest and were all admitted as exhibits CE6A, CE6B, CE6C and CE6D. Meanwhile, a lawyer who was observing the proceeding, Dr. Basiru Ajibola, urged the Coroner to call back Aderibigbe for clarifications on his evidence which contradicts the toxicology report. But the Coroner, Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara said there was no need to call Aderibigbe back because the coroner would work on the reports and evidence admitted so far, just as he called on members of the public to submit memorandum on the matter. Also, a Consultant Anatomic Pathologist from Ladoke Akintola Teaching Hospital (LAUTECH), Solaja has denied the claim that the late Senator Isiaka Adelekes family ordered for the autopsy carried out on the deceased. Solaja, while testifying on Friday before Coroner stated that none of the family of the deceased ever asked him to conduct the post mortem. I was served the autopsy forms by the police and it was signed by Coroner Dorcas Ajiboye. Since it was the Coroner who ordered the autopsy, I am entitled to submit the autopsy report back to her via the police, not to any family member or anybody else, he added. Asked if the deceaseds family were aware Coroner ordered for the autopsy, Solaja said they should be as he was served the forms by the police in their presence. In a season of misplaced priorities and shambolic empowerment packages by state governments, Benue and Anambra States have been caught on the wrong side. According to Apga Alaigbo who shared the photos on Facebook, Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State recently empowered Anambra students with 25 litre water jerry-can. Willie is working, S.J.S.S Awka was proudly crested on the containers to promote the good deeds of the first man of the South-eastern state. This comes after his Benue State counterpart, Governor Samuel Ortom donated brand new wheelbarrows to youths in the state. Anambra indigenes and their Benue counterparts are currently enduring painful trolls on social media from netizens taking close jabs at them for the odious acts by their leaders. The action attributed to the All Progressives Grand Alliance-administration in Anambra State hasnt been independently verified while a social media mob action has reportedly forced Governor Ortom to deny knowledge of the wheelbarrows and hoes crested with his name. Benue state residents are taunting their state governor, Samuel Ortom, after photos of some wheelbarrows he allegedly donated to empower youths in the state, surfaced online. Although he has come out to deny having anything to do with the wheelbarrows. Facebook user, Apiah Ephraim, who shared the taunting photos wrote ; Our dear Governor. Thanks for your empowerment, I have received my wheelbarrow and now using it judiciously. Right now I am at work. Call me incase you need an executive wheelbarrow 07034664566. Men at work.Ortom for you. In trust we gods2. See more photos below Abubakari Aliu, 32, who allegedly chased a married woman working in her farm with a machete, overpowered and forcibly had sex with her has ben arrested by the police at Agogo. He reportedly fled after committing the alleged crime and left the 19-year-old victim to her fate in the bush. The incident happened in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. According to MyJoyOnline, many who had been raped by herdsmen didnt report their ordeal for fear of being stigmatised. A member of the Assembly, Mr. Peter Abaje, believes the people of Agogo have been vindicated of rape claims. He said, Previously when we report a case of rape we were not taken seriously. People keep saying we should bring evidence, which has now has been confirmed. It means it is true; they [herdsmen] have been raping them [women]. But most of the time some of them are always afraid to come out boldly to say they were raped by herdsmen especially those who are married. Abaje said the latest victim was, however, one of the few to have the courage to report to the police after first informing him. She had arrived in the area from the Northern region less than a month ago when she suffered the abuse. She reportedly was on her farm with her sister-in-law doing some planting when the herdsman who was wearing a mask attacked them. The sister-in-law who managed to escape raised the alarm in the Nsonyameye Community, but it was too late when the villagers arrived the scene, as the herdsman had already escaped. She was crying the whole of the day. It is very difficult for her because she got married about a year ago so she was thinking about how the husband will feel when he hears what has happened,Abaje said. The victim has since been treated and discharged at the Agogo Presbyterian Hospital. The investigation is ongoing. The Russian Government has condemned the strikes by the US-led coalition against Syrian forces as unacceptable, according to reports from the state media, after the bombing of pro-government troops. Such actions that were carried out against the Syrian armed forces this is completely unacceptable, this is a breach of Syrian sovereignty, deputy foreign minister Gennady Gatilov was quoted as saying by state-run RIA Novosti in Geneva. Details soon The Salvation Ministries, Port Harcourt, Rivers State has responded to a report making the rounds that the senior pastor, David Ibiyiomie, is having a sexual affair with Nollywood actress, Iyabo Ojo. Reports making the rounds have it that the actress allegedly uses juju to lure the pastor, who has allegedly been showering her with expensive gifts. The report by popular US trained journalist, Kemi Olunloyo, on her Instagram page @hnnAfrica revealed that a letter was allegedly sent to her from an unnamed Salvation Ministries church member. The member accused the actress of using juju to make her pastor sleep with her and spend lavishly on her. According to Daily Post, they reached out to the church on Friday via its Help Desk mobile contact. A man, who declined disclosing his identity told Daily Post, You can go on and do the report but I assure you, you will see the end result. Go and ask Naij in Port Harcourt the last time they tried to publish this kind of rubbish. You know the truth, so I dont know why you want curses on you. What kind of confirmation do you want? That I should tell you my Pastor is sleeping with someone? Are you married? May you never have problems in your marriage with this kind of report you are doing. Go and ask Christians. When asked if the response should be taken as his official response to the allegation, he said, that is my official response. You dont touch the anointed of God and go free. Touch not my anointed and do my prophet no harm. You are asking these questions now, you better ask yourself a questionin short, I dont know. If you have not tested it before. God bless you, he added. Source: Dailypost The University of Maiduguri has been under several suicide bombers attack, as three male suicide-bombers were killed while attempting to attack a female hostel in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Thursday night. According to reports from PRNigeria, it was reported that one of the three suicide-bombers carried an AK 47 gun. At least two bombs exploded during the attack. A student leader in the university, Abu Hanifa Babati confirmed that one of the explosion occurred around the female BOT Hostel. He said another explosion occurred around the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. On the casualty, an emergency worker involved in the evacuation said that: Four security men in the university, including volunteers were treated for injury they sustained as no life was lost except the killed suicide bombers. The corpses have been evacuated by workers from the federal and Borno emergency agencies, NEMA and BOSEMA. Suicide bombers have in 2017 tried to carry out repeated attacks on the University of Maiduguri. One of the attacks led to the death of a university professor. Two former directors of the defunct Integrated Microfinance Bank Plc. were granted bail on Thursday by a Federal High Court in Lagos over alleged $166m fraud. The accused persons: Ademola Akinteye (Managing Director) and Gabriel Adepoju, (Director), are facing a 10-count bordering on fraud. They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. The trial judge, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, granted them bail in the sum of N10m each with two sureties each in like sum. The judge also ordered that the two sureties must not be lower than executive directors in a known financial institution. He also ordered that the sureties must depose to an affidavit of means with evidence of three years tax payment. The court, however, ordered their remand in custody pending the perfection of their bail terms and fixed June 16 for the substantive trial of the accused. In the charge marked, FHC/L/234c/16, the accused were alleged to have recklessly and without collateral, approved credit facilities to themselves to the tune of over $166m and N33.3m. The first accused, Akinteye, was alleged to have at different times withdrawn N11m from the banks account and diverted it into a companys account named, Deblad Nigeria Ltd. He was also alleged to have unlawfully withdrawn about $166m and remitted same to the account of one Temitope Muhammed. The second accused, Adepoju, was alleged to have withdrawn N22.3 million and diverted same to a company named, Gad Press Ltd. According to the prosecutor, A. I. Charles-Okoli, the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 18 (1)(a) and 18(3) of the Banks and other Financial Institution Act Laws of the Federation 2004. The defence counsel, Mr A. O. Sheriff, had earlier urged the court to dismiss the charges against the two accused. Sheriff argued that the accused had previously been acquitted by Justice Okon Abang of the same court. Olatoregun, however, dismissed Sheriffs objection, stating that the facts of the charges were not the same. Source: ( NAN) Nestle inaugurates new Dubai factory Nestle has inaugurated its new Al-Maha factory in Dubai, producing Nescafe coffee and Maggi cooking aids for the local and regional market. Nestle has inaugurated its new Al-Maha factory in Dubai, producing Nescafe coffee and Maggi cooking aids for the local and regional market. Now operating at full capacity, the site employs 340 people from 20 countries. 60% of the team are under 30 years of age. Nestle said the environmental performance of the factory will contribute to its 2030 ambition to strive for zero impact in its operations. The plant recycles 100% of waste from products and raw materials, reaching zero waste to landfill in that area and helping fulfil the companys commitment to send zero waste for disposal by 2020. The site also saves energy, with 100% LED lighting and insulation technology that reduces the need for air-conditioning. There are water saving mechanisms in place and plans to install solar power generation. Marco Settembri, Nestle Executive Vice President and Head of the Zone Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, attended the launch event. He said that the factory underlined Nestles commitment to the people of the Middle East and the companys confidence in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates as a business hub. The Al-Maha factory is Nestles 18th production site in the Middle East, with an investment of CHF145 million. WEAT, 9.05 target ONE44 Analytics - Wed Nov 9, 6:36PM CST Educational and Actionable! WEAT : 8.35 (-2.22%) ***Market Wrap-up Nov 9 RJO Futures - Wed Nov 9, 6:01PM CST 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 : 86.50 (unch) CTH23 : 84.65 (-0.09%) CTK23 : 83.83 (+0.05%) 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 : 1459-0 (unch) ZSPAUS.CM : 14.2141 (+0.53%) ZSF23 : 1452-0 (unch) ZSH23 : 1455-0 (-0.15%) 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 : 808-4 (+0.25%) ZWH23 : 830-0 (+0.27%) ZWPAES.CM : 7.3919 (-2.76%) KEZ22 : 930-6 (unch) KEPAWS.CM : 8.8808 (-1.74%) MWZ22 : 938-2 (unch) 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 : 664-4 (unch) ZCPAUS.CM : 6.6266 (-0.41%) ZCH23 : 670-4 (unch) ZCK23 : 670-2 (unch) Baku, Azerbaijan, May 19 Trend: Azerbaijan and Qatar discussed the establishment of a joint investment fund, the Azerbaijani Economy Ministry said in a message. The discussion was held as a delegation led by chairman of Barwa Bank of the State of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed met with Azerbaijani officials, including deputy head of the presidential administration, chief of the Administration's Foreign Relations Department Novruz Mammadov, Minister of Economy Shahin Mustafayev, Executive Director of Azerbaijan's State Oil Fund Shahmar Movsumov, as well as top management of SOCAR, Baku International Sea Trade Port, Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO), Azerbaijan Investment Company, Khazar International Investment Company, Pasha Holding, Gilan Holding and Synergy Group. Sheikh Mohammed highlighted his country's economy, and shared his views on mutual investment making. They discussed prospects for making investment in Azerbaijan's real estate sector, construction of hotels and shopping centers, and cooperation in the field of logistics and agriculture. Update 10/2/17 Downing was cited by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials in July for seven misdemeanors related to hunting and fishing licenses he obtained even though he didnt meet the states residency requirements, according to the source. The self-storage operator pleaded not guilty in August. Downing allegedly made illegal purchases of resident hunting and/or fishing licenses five times between 2011 and 2016. Hes also accused of loaning an elk license to another hunter and helping his son obtain a resident license in 2015. Non-resident licenses are more expensive than those issued to Montana residents, the source reported. A person must live in the state for 180 days to meet the residency requirement. A previous report indicated Downing had been a full-time Montana resident for several years. "He is confident that these issues are nothing more than administrative oversights that will be resolved in his favor once he's had an opportunity to make his case," Downing's attorney, Christopher Williams, told the source. 5/18/17 Troy Downing, CEO of real estate investment firm AC Self Storage Solutions LLC, has filed paperwork in Montana to run for the U.S. Senate in 2018 against two-term incumbent Democrat Jon Tester. Downing, 50, filed with the Federal Election Commission on May 8 and joins state senator Al Olszewski as Republicans vying for the midterm seat, according to the source. "I want to be part of the solution preserving the Last Best Place," Downing told The Associated Press, referring to Montana's unofficial motto. "I'm tired of the dysfunction and the anger that we're seeing, and I think I have some interesting perspectives." Though AC Self Storage is based in California and Downing has homes in both states, the entrepreneur has been a full-time Montana resident for several years, the source reported. He met with Republicans in Washington, D.C., when considering his candidacy and intends to reach out to Montana central-committee members now that his campaign is official. Im going to start going through the GOP list and introducing myself, Downing said. Downing posted Tweets in the last year that were critical of President Donald Trump, but he told the source he supports the Trump Administration and believes the president is on track to improve the nations economy and security. Downings career includes a stint as a researcher and teacher of Internet technologies at New York University. An airplane and helicopter pilot, hes an Air Force veteran who joined the military after 9-11. Since 2014, hes been a board member for Charity Storage, a nonprofit foundation that raises money for charitable causes. Downing has been a long-time supporter, funder, adviser and volunteer for many philanthropic organizations that support U.S. veterans, education and medical research, according to a previous AC Self Storage press release. Hes also a volunteer and supporter of the Warriors & Quiet Waters Foundation, a Montana-based charity that offers therapeutic recreational programs for injured U.S. veterans. AC Self Storage Solutions has offices in Carlsbad and Newport Beach, Calif., and operates 12 facilities in California, Colorado, Nevada, Tennessee and Texas. Global Self Storage Inc., a self-storage real estate investment trust (REIT), has released its financial statement for the quarter that ended on March 31, 2017. During the first quarter, the company increased combined-store revenue 53 percent to $1.75 million, with net operating income (NOI) growing 64.4 percent to $1.06 million, compared to the same period in 2016. Net leasable space for its entire portfolio grew 55.5 percent year over year to 755,000 square feet. Same-store revenue increased 9.9 percent to $1.26 million, while NOI grew 17.8 percent to $762,000, compared to the same period in 2016. Same-store average overall occupancy was 89.3 percent as of March 31, up from 88.1 percent the previous year. Excluding the vacancy from the 44,260-square-foot expansion to the companys Bolingbrook, Ill., facility, occupancy would have been 93.1 percent, according to a press release. Funds from operations (FFO) was approximately $435,000, or $0.06 per common share. Adjusted FFO totaled about $441,000, or $0.06 per common share, during the first quarter. The company incurred a net loss of $14,266 during the quarter. On March 1, the REIT declared a quarterly dividend of $0.065 per common share, which is equal to last quarter. We believe these results reaffirm our strategy of focusing on secondary and tertiary cities in target markets that arent as impacted by new development activity as compared to primary markets and urban centers, said Mark C. Winmill, president and CEO. This geographic focus has not only shaped our strategy from the beginning, but has also set us apart from our competitors, enabling us to capitalize on undermanaged, but well-located and attractive self storage facilities often with expansion potential. Founded in 1983, Global Self Storage focuses on the acquisition, development, operation, ownership and redevelopment of storage facilities in the United States. Through its wholly owned subsidiaries, it currently owns and operates 11 properties in Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and South Carolina. The company changed its name from Self Storage Group Inc. in January 2016. John has over 20 years experience as a litigator specialising in all areas of insurance and has managed a significant number of large litigation matters, Kelly said. He is also a very engaging and personable speaker, and I am sure attendees will walk away with a good understanding of their obligations following his presentation. A dedicated agricultural insurance company has organised an event in regional Victoria next week that will educate farmers on on-farm liability risks and strategies to mitigate those risks.The event will be held on May 24 in Shepparton Rabobank Branch and will feature John Van de Poll, a Sydney litigation expert and partner at Holman Webb Lawyers.Kieran Kelly, a risk specialist at Achmea Australia and organiser of the Shepparton-based event, said the free presentation offers attendees a rare opportunity to hear first-hand from an insurance law specialist.Kelly added: John was awardedin The Lawyers Weekly Awards in 2016 and was included in(Insurance), so it is a real coup to have someone with his expertise visiting the area.He is a very well respected and experienced litigator and I believe all attendees will leave with some practical ideas for developing their own strategy for mitigating risks on-farm. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 19 Trend: The Center for Simplified Support to Family Business (ABAD) helps producers of souvenirs in Azerbaijan to create branded products that will compete with Chinese goods, Rufat Elchiyev, director of the legal entity of public law ABAD, said in an interview with Trend. We help the family business to stand on its feet and support entrepreneurs at all stages, from brand formation and business plan development to the sale of goods. Now for us the main areas are decorative and applied arts and agriculture. In this issue, the most important is that we are creating an alternative to imported products. On each product that our customers will manufacture, there will be an ABAD label - a guarantor of high quality, noted Elchiyev. ABAD was created by the Decree of Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev, dated September 23, 2016, and currently, this is a pilot project that works with nine families in Masalli district and 12 families in Balakan district of Azerbaijan. However, it is expected to expand and support the family business in other districts of the country in the future. Insurance giant Allstate suffered catastrophic catastrophe losses in April, following a particularly harrowing first quarter this year.Company data revealed that pre-tax catastrophe losses for the month reached $235 million, bringing the year to date total losses to $1.01 billion. Pre-tax catastrophe losses reached $777 million by the end of March 2017.April witnessed 11 catastrophes pounding Allstates balance sheets, bringing the year to date total to almost 40 catastrophes so far.March proved to be a burdensome month as pre-adjusted claims amounted to $526 million.An extreme Texas hailstorm that descended in March accounted for more than $260 million or 35% of the companys pre-tax losses for the first quarter.And with insurers the size of Allstate reporting estimated catastrophe losses of more than $1 billion in 2017, so far, its more than likely that others are experiencing similar rates of attrition, or even higher, which means more insurers calling on their reinsurance providers, as losses aggregate above retention levels, finance web resource Artemis said in a post.The severe weather systems witnessed across parts of the US in the first four-five months of 2017, and the financial impact its having on companies as large as Allstate, suggests insurance-linked securities (ILS) capital could be exposed as well, it concluded. , Drones may have a revolutionary impact on the insurance industry but one Sydney driver has found they can cause a few headaches along the way.Scott Hillsley was driving over the Sydney Harbour Bridge at 70km/h when a drone crashed from the sky and struck his car,reports.Footage of the incident, recorded on a dashcam, shows the drone falling from the sky and almost crashing through the windscreen of his car as he drove home from a shift as a trauma nurse at Royal North Shore Hospital.The drone owner has not stepped forward, which could leave Hillsley with a bill for a $1000 excess on his car insurance.I got half way across and this object came flying towards my window. It ricocheted off my car and smashed into several pieces, Hillsley told the publication. I thought, is it someone throwing a rock or something off the bridge?They could cause a fatality [from] a head-on collision. Anyone who goes over the Harbour Bridge potentially could lose their lives in these sort of incidents.This incident marks the second time in nine months that a car has been struck by a drone on the bridge.The skies above the majority of Sydney Harbour, including the bridge, are restricted airspace as helicopters and seaplanes operate in the area. Drone users need to seek permission before flying in the area with one owner fined $540 for flying his drone without permission. Brexit is coming and insurers are hastily running to set up new homes in locations such as Luxembourg, Dublin and Brussels. However, now one specialist insurer has bucked that trend by choosing a different European hub.That insurer is Markel Corporation , which revealed earlier today it plans to apply for regulatory approval to set up an insurance company in Germany. The move is meant to ensure that no matter what happens during the Brexit negotiations, it will still be able to meet the needs of its clients across the EU.According to a company release making the announcement, the firm will, once approved, aim to capitalise the new company during the first half of 2018.Markel, via its wholly-owned subsidiary Markel International, is, of course, based in London however, it has had a Munich branch since 2012 and Richie Witt, the firms co-chief executive officer, believes its a natural transition.We are focused on building upon and extending the global reach of our businesses, he said. That means that we are committed to a strategy of profitable growth of our continental European business. Establishing a new insurance company in Germany will enhance Markels ability to do just that.In the Asia Pacific region Markel also has a Singapore office to serve both that country and Labuan. A recent survey of Australian insurance executives found that 57% believe that artificial intelligence (AI) will either significantly alter or completely transform the overall insurance industry in the next three years.The report, released by Accenture , found 37% of executives believe that their own company will be completely transformed by the technology over the next three years, with a further 10% expecting significant change.So what does this mean for brokers?According to Ravi Malhotra , managing director of Accentures insurance practice in Asia Pacific, AI could be an assistant to brokers, rather than a replacement.If brokers take these on board themselves, it is an opportunity for them to be even more sophisticated and digitally savvy, Malhotra toldMalhotra noted that while AI could be used in commercial insurance in a direct offering in areas utilised by small businesses, it can still work to a brokers advantage.There will be models that use AI to circumvent or disintermediate, Malhorta continued. But if you are the intermediary or broker your value proposition is something other than a fully direct offering so you would want to use AI to be able to deliver an experience that is competitive but also a proposition that is different.AI may seem like a thing of the future but it is already being utilised in the insurance industry both at home, and abroad. Suncorp -backed Trov use an AI chatbot in its claims functionality while major international firms such as Geico and Allstate are also using the technology overseas.Even though much of this technology has been focused on the personal lines business, Malhotra said that AI not only has a place in the commercial lines space but it could potentially have a bigger impact there.I see in the commercial space the move into monitoring and risk prevention and multiple data sources and that is why I say its impact could potentially be larger, Malhotra concluded. Britains withdrawal from the EU is still two years away, and terms of the separation have not yet been negotiated. But Prime Minister Theresa May indicated last January the government will not remain in the single market, as doing otherwise means not leaving the EU at all.The move has lead insurers to set up EU subsidiaries to continue operations across the continent. Insurance Business takes a look at where some of them plan to set up shop:Car insurance giant Admiral is reportedly interested in establishing an EU base in Ireland. Last April, Irelands The Business Post reported that the firm was considering Dublin as the location for its potential EU outpost.There is probably more logic in being based in a place where we already have an infrastructure and an operation, the insurers CFO Geraint Jones told Reuters last year.American International Group (AIG) announced last March it will locate an insurance company in Luxembourg. Its plans will see AIG have two subsidiary insurance companies in Europe from 2019 one in the UK to write UK business and the other in Luxembourg to write business for the EEA and Switzerland.Our Luxembourg company will be complementary to our existing structure and will be part of our single European module, said Anthony Baldwin, chief executive of AIG Europe.London-based insurer Beazley announced good progress in obtaining approval for its Irish reinsurance arm, Beazley Re, to become a European insurance company.We continue to make good progress with our application to obtain approval from the Central Bank of Ireland [CBI] for Beazley Re dac to become a European insurance company, said the underwriter in a trading statement last week.Preston-based life insurance firm Chesnara may move its headquarters to Amsterdam, Reuters reported last year.If things get bad, what we say is if it is more efficient and more appropriate for us to be based in Amsterdam, then we would, Chesnara chief executive John Deane told the news agency. Our preferred structure is to stay exactly as we are, with our head office in Preston, he added.Commercial property insurer FM Mutual will establish a new base in Luxembourg, a senior company official has revealed, according to Chris Johnson, an executive vice president who oversees FM Global s European business.He added that new staff would need to be added to the Luxembourg subsidiary, including members of the board, a managing director and other key roles. He clarified, however, that there will be no large-scale movement of employees from the UK.Specialist insurer Hiscox said earlier this month it will establish a new European subsidiary in Luxembourg in response to Brexit. All Hiscox retail business in Europe will be written through this new EU subsidiary.Our existing European business, which comprises over 350 people across seven of the EU 27 countries, will continue to operate without interruption. In Luxembourg a team covering core functions such as compliance, risk and internal audit will be recruited to complement our existing structure.The 329-year-old specialist insurer revealed last March that it is setting up a new European insurance firm in Brussels. I am excited about the opportunities this venture will offer the market by providing that important European access efficiently, said Lloyds CEO Inga Beale.Markel revealed on Thursday plans to apply for regulatory approval to set up an insurance company in Munich, Germany.According to a company release making the announcement, the firm will, once approved, aim to capitalise the new company during the first half of 2018.Japanese-owned insurer MS Amlin operates under the Societas Europaea structure, Reuters reported. This allows it to transfer to, or merge with, firms in other member countries.Royal London, the largest mutual life and pension company in the UK, will turn its business in Ireland into an EU subsidiary to maintain access to the single market and continue offering products across the trading bloc.We have a business in the Republic of Ireland. We will be domiciling a subsidiary in Ireland so we can continue to operate, Royal London CEO Phil Loney said in an interview with Reuters last March.Insurer Standard Life is likely to choose Dublin as its post-Brexit EU hub, the Irish Times reported on Wednesday.The most likely scenario and the one we are now working towards is using our Dublin-based operation to continue to support our European customers and clients, said chairman Gerry Grimstone in a speech to shareholders on Tuesday.The insurers UK business has branches across Europe and also operates under the Societas Europaea structure, Reuters reported. The MEMIC Group, a Portland, Maine-based workers compensation specialist, has named company veteran Michael P. Bourque as its president and CEO to replace John T. Leonard, who is retiring later this year. Bourque, who has worked for the company for nearly 22 years, has been serving under Leonard in the role of senior vice president of external affairs. His selection was announced at a gathering of the companys nearly 400 employees. Leonard, who was hired in February of 1993 to lead the then-fledgling company, announced in December that he would retire in September 2017. The companys board undertook a search that included candidates from both inside and outside of the company before selecting Bourque. Under Leonard, the company grew from a line-of-credit loan operating in a single state to an organization with more than $1.2 billion in assets with licenses across the country and eight offices from Maine to Florida. It is credited with leading the turnaround in workers compensation in its home state of Maine, where it underwrites 66 percent of the commercial market insurance premiums and where costs have fallen by more than 50 percent. Lost-time work injuries in the state have decreased by nearly 40 percent since the company was established in 1993. We have come so far since the early days of MEMIC and there is still so much potential, Bourque said in a company press release. Bourque came to MEMIC in 1995 as a communications specialist, earning promotions to corporate communications manager, director and vice president before his appointment in 2011 to his current position as senior vice president. There are a few things that are so important in thinking about a successor, Leonard said. They include integrity and the ability to instill confidence in others. These are traits Michael truly possesses and demonstrates daily. Beyond that, here at MEMIC, I think it was important to select a leader who is a real champion of the independent agency system and that is something Michael knows well. He understands the value these partners bring to our business. Bourque began his professional career as a newspaper reporter at daily papers in Alaska and Maine. Prior to joining MEMIC, he served as senior editor at the American Association of Community Colleges in Washington, D.C. Source: The MEMIC Group Topics Maine The World Health Organizations 194 member-states will vote for a new director-general next week, choosing a doctor to lead the planets top technical agency on all matters health. With a $4 billion annual budget, WHOs influence extends to virtually all of humanity, from food quality and environmental hazards to immunizations and the response to pandemics. One of three candidates will be elected at the Palais des Nations in Geneva on May 23 for a five-year term to provide the leadership, muster the resources, and implement the strategies that are central to global health, security, and development. Nominees to succeed current Director-General Margaret Chan on July 1 are David Nabarro (U.K.); Sania Nishtar (Pakistan); and Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (Ethiopia). Whoever wins the top spot will also need to drum up financial support for the beleaguered, 69-year-old agency after the Trump Administration flagged reducing funding to the United Nations, of which the WHO is part. Here are 10 reasons why the election is of interest to the global business community: Pandemic Warnings. WHO decides when to raise the alarm on pandemics and international health emergencies, which influence governments decisions on everything from pharmaceutical purchases to travel policies. The response to disease threats resonates across industries, especially aviation, tourism, insurance and re-insurance, whose businesses are among the hardest hit during major disease outbreaks. West Africas Ebola epidemic in 2014-15 cost Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone a combined $2.8 billion, the World Bank estimated. Controlling Tobacco. WHO sets enforceable rules on tobacco control, restricting the way cigarette makers can advertise, promote, and market their products, making the agencys policies especially important to companies such as Philip Morris International Inc., British American Tobacco Plc, Japan Tobacco Inc. and Imperial Brands Plc. Healthy Diets. WHO makes dietary and nutrition recommendations aimed at tackling conditions from obesity and hypertension to stroke and heart attack. Salt and sugar targets influence the ingredients of foods and beverages, including those made by Nestle SA, Unilever, General Mills Inc., Kellogg Co., PepsiCo Inc. and the Coca-Cola Co. Procuring Medicines. WHO formulates a model list of essential medicines that recommend the most important drugs governments should stock for the health of their people. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies can get a sales boost from having a product added to the list. The list is especially important for makers of generic medications, such as Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Mylan NV, Novartis AGs Sandoz unit and Sun Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. WHO is pushing for wider access to ground-breaking new treatments for hepatitis C, cancer, and multi-drug resistant tuberculosis, and is lobbying to make the medicines more affordable an effort that has ramifications for drugmakers such as Gilead Sciences Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Roche Holding AG and AstraZeneca Plc. It also helps other UN agencies procure billions of dollars of pharmaceutical products by vetting manufacturers to ensure they meet WHO standards and specifications. Health Insurance for All. WHO is helping governments achieve universal health coverage by 2030 with the goal of ensuring even the poorest people have access to safe and effective essential services and treatment. Already, governments are being encouraged to have sufficient high-priority equipment on hand, including endoscopes, imaging and scanning machines, linear accelerators for radiotherapy, and other devices made by companies from Becton, Dickinson & Co. and Medtronic Plc, to Olympus Corp. and Siemens AG. Breast Is Best. WHO sets standards for the marketing of breast-milk substitutes that restrict some promotional practices of infant-formula makers, which include Nestle SA, Danone and Mead Johnson Nutrition Co., which is being acquired by Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc. Calling the Shots. WHO scrutinizes the safety and efficacy of vaccines, and makes recommendations on which ones should be routinely administered to children, which ones should be stockpiled, and which ones should be developed for future use. Immunization recommendations are important for vaccine makers, including Merck & Co., Sanofi, GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Pfizer Inc. and the Serum Institute of India Pvt. Saving Antibiotics. WHO is trying to stave off resistance to antimicrobial medicines, including broad-spectrum antibiotics that are losing their potency because of overuse. The agency is also encouraging the development of new infection-fighting medicines. Working with veterinary, food and agriculture organizations, WHO is pushing for restrictions on the use of critically important antibiotics in food and livestock production that have relevance for food retailers, such as McDonalds Corp. and Yum! Brands Inc., as well as Merck & Co., Bayer AG, Zoetis Inc. and other companies with animal-health interests. Battling the Bottle. WHO is tackling the harmful use of alcohol, helping governments implement policies that curb excessive boozing and communicate its public health risks a program with implications for beverage companies such as Diageo Plc, Pernod Ricard SA, Anheuser-Busch InBev NV and Carlsberg A/S in Europe to Suntory Holdings Ltd. and Asahi Group Holdings Ltd. Labeling Carcinogens. WHO reviews scientific evidence to appraise the cancer-risk of everything from agricultural chemicals, such as Monsanto Co.s Roundup, and 2,4-D made by companies including Dow Chemical Co. and Nufarm Ltd., to drinking scalding-hot beverages, and eating red meat. There is enormous interest in the business community about global health security, said Lawrence Gostin, the Founding ONeill Chair in Global Health Law at Washingtons Georgetown University. Because of disruption in markets and consumer behavior, the potential for restrictions on travel, trade and tourism can make a huge difference. Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics Carriers Reinsurance Agribusiness Leadership The Minnesota Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers (MIIAB) recently honored SFM Risk Solutions Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Mike Happe with the groups Company Representative of the Year award. This award is presented annually by the association upon the recommendation of its membership to an insurance company representative that has proven his or her knowledge, experience and professionalism in working with independent agents throughout Minnesota. Happe is a governor for the national Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters (CPCU) Society, according to information posted on SFMs website. He serves as a director and secretary of the National Workers Compensation Reinsurance Association. He is also a Commissioner on the Economic Development Commission for the City of Minnetonka, Minnesota, and serves on the Minnesota Homeownership Center Board of Directors. Prior to joining SFM, Happe served as vice president of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC). MIIAB Executive Vice President Daniel D. Riley said in a statement that Mr. Happe has played a major part in our industry over the years. Most importantly hes been involved in spearheading our industry and enticing young men and women into our industry. He has worked together with St. Thomas University in helping actuarial, international risk management, and insurance students, developing their on campus fraternity, Gamma Iota Sigma. Under Mikes guidance these St. Thomas students seek a career in the insurance business in Minnesota and throughout the country. His dedication and work ethic surpasses all of our expectations. We congratulate Mike on receiving this prestigious award. The Minnesota Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers (MIIAB) was established in the early 1900s and is the largest independent agent trade association in Minnesota with approximately 7,000 insurance community members. Source: MIIAB Topics Agencies Minnesota There will be no sunlight on the records of an auto insurance fund that touches every Michigan driver. The Michigan Supreme Court has turned down an appeal from a coalition of health care, labor and consumer groups. The groups want to open the books to understand how the state Catastrophic Claims Association calculates rates. The insurance fund was created to reimburse insurers for claims that exceed $545,000. Owners pay a fee on every vehicle each year, on top of regular insurance. Starting July 1, the rate will rise to $170 from $160. The state appeals court last year said the Catastrophic Claims Association is a public body, but lawmakers carved out a public records exemption. Richard Bernstein was the only Supreme Court justice who wanted to hear an appeal. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Auto Michigan Wisconsins 106-year-old labor commission would vanish and Gov. Scott Walkers administration would decide workplace disputes, including workers compensation disputes, in its place under a budget proposal up being considered by the the Legislatures finance committee. Walkers plan to eliminate the Labor and Industry Review Commission could create uncertainty in applying Wisconsin labor law, raising questions about whether the commissions precedent-setting decisions would evaporate and whether his pro-industry administration could fairly weigh cases. The commission was formed in 1911 as the State Industrial Commission. The panel of three governors appointees considers appeals of administrative law judges rulings in fights over unemployment benefits, workers compensation and equal rights in the workplace. The finance committee is a key testing ground for the budget. Its changes to Walkers two-year, $76 billion proposed budget will solidify the spending plan for full Senate and Assembly votes. The full Legislature rarely makes changes to what the committee submits. Walkers budget would eliminate the commission and its 26.5 positions in January to save an estimated $5.1 million. Its work would be handled by the Department of Workforce Development and the Department of Administrations Division of Hearings and Appeals both Walker cabinet agencies. The governors administration justified the move by noting the number of appeals has dropped nearly 60 percent between 2011 and 2016. DWD Secretary Ray Allen said eliminating the commission would speed up appeals. Parties can appeal the commissions decisions to circuit and state appellate courts. Those courts have given great deference to the commission, lending certainty to labor disputes. Parties in disputes could end up sending more labor cases to court to test whether the LIRCs legal interpretations would stand after its gone, leading to more expensive disputes. The Legislative Fiscal Bureau estimates that about 1,000 additional cases could end up in court annually if the commission disappears. Only 88 commission cases went to court in 2016. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Wisconsin Baku, Azerbaijan, May 19 By Anvar Mammadov Trend: French companies taking part in the 23rd Azerbaijan International Food Industry Exhibition highly appreciate the level of winemaking in Azerbaijan, Olga Geydarova, a development expert at Agriculture and Food Department at Business France in Russia, told Trend May 19. The companies present in the Azerbaijani market for several years have noted the development observed in this area, said Heydarova, who is a coordinator of French companies at the exhibition. However, we think that our cooperation will further improve the quality of Azerbaijani products and maximally bring it to the level of European standards. Heydarova noted that seven foreign companies took part in the exhibition this year, and some of them came to Azerbaijan for the first time. The companies aim to cooperate in the fields of winemaking and gardening, she added. Heydarova noted that in the future France intends to increase the number of companies participating in the exhibition, as well as expand the scope of cooperation. Moreover, this cooperation may involve not only export-import operations, but also long-term technical support, she said. More than a dozen Democratic attorneys general on Thursday sought to intervene to defend a key part of the Obamacare healthcare law subsidy payments to insurance companies which is under threat in a court case. The 16 attorneys general, led by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, filed a motion to intervene in the case pending in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The case, which dates back to the Obama administration, was filed by the Republican-led House of Representatives against the federal government in an effort to cut off subsidy payments to insurers for the individual plans created by the Affordable Care Act, often called Obamacare. The subsidies help cover out-of-pocket medical expenses for low-income Americans. Democratic attorneys general have emerged as a key group resisting President Donald Trumps agenda, particularly around immigration. Their intervention in the Obamacare subsidies lawsuit represents a major expansion of that effort. Trump has repeatedly threatened to withhold the payments to insurers, which amount to about $7 billion this year, and referred to them as a bailout. The attorneys general cited in the court filing Trumps own words vowing to let Obamacare explode as part of the reasoning for their intervention. Trump has made it clear he views decisions on health insurance for millions of Americans as little more than political bargaining chips, the court filing said. The situation is extremely urgent, the Democratic officials argued, because state insurance regulators are making critical choices that will shape their insurance markets for the next year. Several insurers, including Aetna and Humana, have largely left the Obamacare exchanges, citing a pool of patients who are sicker than expected and therefore more expensive. Insurers have also repeatedly called on the Trump administration to fund the cost-sharing subsidies. Attorneys general and proponents of Obamacare have said the threats to withhold the payments have already wreaked havoc in the marketplaces and are part of the reason some healthcare consumers have seen double-digit rate increases. IMMIGRATION, ENVIRONMENT Democratic attorneys general took a lead role to successfully block Trumps executive orders restricting travel from some Muslim-majority countries, and they are also resisting efforts to roll back environmental regulations. The attorney general from Kentucky, a deeply conservative state, is among those Democrats joining the court filing. Kentuckys Republican governor has pledged to rollback a Medicaid expansion made possible by Obamacare. In May 2016, a U.S. judge ruled in favor of the Republicans in the subsidies case, finding that the Obama administration could not spend the money without the approval of Congress. The Obama administration appealed before Trump took office, leaving the new administration to ponder how to proceed. The appeals court put the litigation on hold after the November presidential election at the request of the Republican House lawmakers. The motion to intervene may not be granted by the court. In February, the same court rejected a similar motion filed by Democratic attorneys general seeking to help defend the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in a legal battle that could defang the agency. The litigation could become moot if Congress repeals Obamacare. The House passed its own healthcare bill, called the American Health Care Act, earlier this month, which would repeal much of Obamacare. The Senate recently began writing its own version of the bill but has warned it could take months to pass. The Trump administration has taken action over the past several months to undercut Obamacare through regulatory authority. It backed off enforcing the individual mandate, which requires everyone to purchase health insurance or else pay a penalty, tightened enrollment in Obamacare markets and has enabled people to sign up for insurance plans outside of healthcare.gov, the flagship site of Obamacare that the Obama administration heavily advertised. (Editing by Alistair Bell) Related Topics Carriers USA Legislation Politics Insurance coverage for autonomous vehicles will bring $81 billion in new premiums to the insurance industry over the next eight years, according to a report from Accenture and Stevens Institute of Technology. These revenues will be derived from three new coverages for risks related to the new technologies of vehicles, according to the report, Insuring Autonomous Vehicles: An $81 Billion Opportunity by 2025. The three new lines cybersecurity, product (software and hardware) liability and public infrastructure insurance for autonomous vehicles could generate a total of $81 billion by 2025, the authors contend. This boost in premiums related to the auto sector and its technology will be followed long-term by a decline in auto insurance business. The authors say insurers need to move quickly to add new capabilities in big data and analytics, as well as new actuarial models, in order to take advantage of the window of opportunity. After 2026, auto insurers will begin to see premiums drop due to the rollout of autonomous vehicles. As roads become safer and policies shift from consumers to autonomous vehicle manufacturers, insurers will see reduced demand for personal insurance, according to the report. Insurers are bracing for long-term declines in auto premiums as new and safer autonomous vehicles gain adoption, said John Cusano, a senior managing director at Accenture and global head of the companys Insurance practice. However, our research suggests that auto premiums will increase before they decline on this trend, so insurers that can navigate the changing technology environment could win market share. Three New Lines The research found that cybersecurity insurance will be the greatest potential driver of new premiums, totaling $64 billion by 2025, followed by product liability insurance ($14 billion) and public infrastructure insurance ($3 billion). These three new business lines include as described in the report are: Cybersecurity: Protection against remote vehicle theft, unauthorized entry, ransomware and hijacking of vehicle controls, as well as coverage for identity theft, privacy breaches and the theft or misuse of personal data. Product liability for sensors and software algorithms: Manufacturer coverage for failures related to communications (e.g., internet connection), software (including bugs, memory overflow and program defects) and hardware (sensory circuit failure, camera vision loss, and radar and lidar failures). Public infrastructure: Insurance for cloud server systems that manage traffic and road networks, in addition to failure of external sensors and signals; and communication problems originating at the system level. Autonomous-vehicle technology will drive a significant shift in risk from human error to malicious third party, software, hardware and infrastructure risk, said Chen Liu, co-author of the report and a research assistant at Stevens Institute of Technology. Understanding and proactively responding to this anticipated enterprise transformation is imperative. Forward-thinking insurers are already putting these new products at the top of their agenda as they look to capitalize on the first-mover advantage, said Larry Karp, a co-author of the report and global insurance telematics lead in Accenture Mobility. For the report, Stevens Institute of Technology, a private research university in Hoboken, New Jersey, developed several models to evaluate the impact of autonomous vehicle technology on the insurance industry. These models were then applied to different scenarios and insurance products based on parameters set by Accentures Insurance and Connected Transport teams. The research was conducted from October 2016 to March 2017. Topics Cyber Auto Tech 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 Wednesday, and residents were allowed to sift through the wreckage. In Elk City, a community of about 13,000 people roughly 110 miles (180 kilometers) west of Oklahoma City, Matt Bynum considers himself lucky. Most of his roof is intact, and he lost mainly windows. The neighborhood buzzed Wednesday with chain saws, generators and a visit from Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin, who called the damage devastating. Bynum, 48, said he was doing what many people do when the weather picks up: watching it in his yard. Then he saw a funnel cloud and ran inside. Ive lived in Oklahoma almost 50 years, he said. I was one of those people who thought, Ah, it wont happen to me. But never again. He said hell add one new feature to his redone home: a storm shelter, or safe room. One man, 53-year-old Bo Mikles, was killed while apparently fleeing his home in his truck, which was thrown several hundred feet, said Danny Ringer, the Elk City Fire Department chaplain. Its heartbreaking and its a very trying time for these families when you see the magnitude of the destruction, Fallin said after touring the damage. 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 didnt want him to go to sleep, Daily said. 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 werent 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 didnt 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 services 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. Tuesdays 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. 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 services Storm Prediction Center in Oklahoma said storms with the potential to spawn tornadoes and dump large hail stones could hit the region Thursday. Moreno reported from Milwaukee. Associated Press writer Gretchen Ehlke in Milwaukee and Ken Miller in Oklahoma City contributed to this report. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters USA Texas Windstorm Oklahoma Wisconsin Nebraska Carolina Creek Christian Camp Inc., a Huntsville, Texas-area business offering summer camping and retreats, will pay $70,000 and furnish other relief to settle a pregnancy and disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced. In its lawsuit, the EEOC charged that Carolina Creek violated federal anti-discrimination laws when it demoted Korrie L. Reed after learning she had a pregnancy-related complication. According to the EEOC, soon after starting her position as camp registrar, Reed learned she was pregnant, and, shortly thereafter, developed gestational diabetes. Reed never requested a job reassignment, nor did she indicate she was unable to perform her job duties. Nevertheless, Carolina Creeks executive director demoted Reed, claiming that the registrar job was too demanding for Reed because of her pregnancy and related medical condition. After Reed told the executive director that she believed her demotion was illegal, Carolina Creek fired her and then sued her in two different lawsuits. Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended by the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA), which prohibits discrimination based on pregnancy and retaliation for complaining about it, the EEOC said. The EEOC also asserts that Carolina Creeks conduct violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination because of a disability, including a pregnancy-related medical condition or complication, as well as retaliation for opposing such discrimination. Under these statutes, an employer cannot make employment decisions based on an employees pregnancy or pregnancy related conditions. Further, the statutes prohibit an employer from taking adverse action against an employee in retaliation for a discrimination complaint. The EEOC filed its lawsuit (Civil Action No. 4:16-cv-03714) in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process. In addition to the monetary settlement, the consent decree settling the suit, approved on May 17, 2017, by the district court, provides for significant non-monetary relief, including an injunction prohibiting future discrimination or retaliation by Carolina Creek. The decree requires Carolina Creek to devise and implement non-discrimination policies, complaint procedures and guidelines; post an anti-discrimination notice in the workplace; provide annual anti-discrimination training for its owners, managers and employees; and provide other compliance reports to the EEOC over a two-year period. Carolina Creek has also agreed not to seek any further enforcement of or recovery from the two lawsuits it filed against Reed. Source: EEOC Topics Lawsuits Texas A former student has filed a $10 million lawsuit against Vanderbilt University, claiming he was wrongfully accused of sexual assault. The Tennessean reports the lawsuit was filed May 5. It claims the student, identified only as Z.J., was expelled three days before his expected graduation. As a result, Z.J. lost his ROTC scholarship and had to repay $136,000 in tuition. He also lost his commission as an Army officer. The lawsuit says Vanderbilt didnt follow its own campus discipline policies and denied Z.J. the right to confront his accuser or offer his own witness in a hearing that concluded he assaulted a female student. A Metro Nashville sex crimes detective ruled out any non-consensual sexual contact, the lawsuit said. No police report was filed. The lawsuit claims that the woman who accused Z.J accounts were inconsistent, but Vanderbilt officials determined she was more credible because she was consistent. The lawsuit claims Z.J. was guilty until proven innocent in the case, effectively denying him due process by having to prove his innocence when the females statement is accepted at face value, the lawsuit said. Vanderbilt officials said in a statement that the school is reviewing the lawsuit. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Education Universities West Virginia will receive an additional $3.2 million from the federal government for disaster recovery efforts for last years major floods. U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito and Joe Manchin announced the community development block grant funding Monday. A statement released by the West Virginia senators says it brings the total the state will receive to help in disaster recovery efforts to more than $107 million. Flooding last June killed 23 people statewide and destroyed or damaged thousands of homes, businesses, schools and infrastructure. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Flood Virginia The parents of an unarmed man fatally shot by a Florida sheriffs sergeant at the familys nursery announced Monday that they have agreed to a $2.5 million settlement and called for the reopening of a criminal investigation into their sons death. Dick and Lydia Adams said the payment by the Palm Beach Sheriffs Office is only partial justice for the May 16, 2012, shooting of Seth Adams, 24, by Sgt. Michael Custer. Local and federal prosecutors should now re-examine the case and charge Custer with a crime, they said. A previous investigation by the sheriffs office cleared Custer, although the federal judge who presided over the familys lawsuit has since called the probe slipshod. Our attorneys with the help of forensic experts proved with the evidence that Sgt. Custer lied and [the sheriffs office] covered up his misconduct, Dick Adams said. This case has brought to light the inability of the [sheriffs office] to conduct an appropriate and thorough investigation. The sheriffs office did not respond to a phone call and emails seeking comment. Mike Edmondson, a spokesman for Palm Beach State Attorney Dave Aronberg, said Custer was cleared by the previous state attorney and the office would be willing to examine any new evidence the familys attorneys could provide. Wallace McCall, the familys attorney, said he would make all the evidence he collected available. Federal prosecutors declined comment. The sheriffs office recently settled at least three other lawsuits involving questionable shootings, agreeing to pay a combined $2.7 million. In February 2016, a jury awarded $22 million to a young black man left paralyzed after a deputy mistook his cellphone for a gun and shot him. That verdict is being appealed. No criminal charges were filed in any of those cases. The announcement of the Adams settlement came one day before the five-year anniversary of his death and two months after a federal civil jury deadlocked 8-1 in the familys favor. The family had been seeking between $10 million and $20 million and a retrial had been scheduled for the summer. I miss my boy. We have been given a life sentence, a life sentence to grieve his loss, said Lydia Adams, weeping. Dressed in plainclothes, Custer had parked his unmarked SUV in the lot about 11 p.m. so he could watch a nearby road. He was supervising surveillance on a gang of ATM thieves, all white men in their 20s, as Adams was. When Adams arrived home from a bar shortly before midnight, he pulled his pickup up about 15 feet (4.5 meters) from Custers SUV. Adams had no criminal history and witnesses at the bar said he had been in a good mood when he left 10 minutes before the shooting. Custer, who is white, testified that the 6-foot-4 (190-centimeter) Adams immediately began cursing him, making him think he might be a gang member sent to distract him. He said that after they both got out of their vehicles, Adams rushed toward him and grabbed him by the throat. Custer, who is 5-foot-8 (170 centimeters), said he fought off Adams, pulled his gun and ordered Adams to the ground. Instead, he said, Adams ran back to his trucks cab. Custer said he kicked the door closed on Adams, pinning him, but that Adams was still able to begin rummaging as if he were retrieving a weapon. He said he grabbed Adams neck and warned him he was about to be shot. He said when Adams spun toward him, he fired four shots, hitting Adams in the right forearm and twice in the chest. Adams stumbled into the nursery before collapsing. The Adamses attorneys, however, say the evidence shows Adams was shot behind the truck and that there was no immediate confrontation between the two. The bullet that tore through his forearm was found behind the truck, not inside the cab where it should have been if Custers story were true, they say, adding that the blood trail also appeared to begin behind the truck. Also, a member of Custers surveillance team said he drove past the parking lot about a minute before the shooting and saw both men outside their vehicles. Detective Kevin Drummond testified he heard no yelling and saw nothing that made him think Custer was endangered, so he didnt stop. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Florida Federal officials warned a commission overseeing Arizonas workplace safety agency that its practice of lowering fines on companies for worker injuries and deaths violates the states laws and could jeopardize its ability to run its own safety program. The letter from the Phoenix office director of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration to the Industrial Commission of Arizona recommends the commission cease those actions immediately. The commission oversees the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health, which regulates workplace safety under an approved federal plan. The federal agency investigated after a December complaint from a workplace safety group known as the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health. The agency had been monitoring state commission meetings for months previously. The May 4 letter from Arizona OSHA director Zachary Barnett said the investigation found the commission was arbitrarily lowering fines without following guidelines and operating outside of its legal authority by reclassifying violations. The action also falls outside the OSHA-approved plan that allows Arizona to operate its own workplace safety agency in place of the federal agency. The letter recommends that the commission must cease altering the classification of ADOSHs violations. The commission has disputed that it is operating outside OSHA rules by reviewing fines recommended by its workplace safety agency. Spokesman Bob Charles says it will respond accordingly to the May 4 letter. Charles noted that injury rates have decreased significantly in the past decade in Arizona. In a seven-page response to the agencys initial inquiry sent in February, Industrial Commission Chairman Dale Schultz lamented OSHAs recent adversarial approach and said it is meeting federal requirements that its safety oversight is as least as effective as a federal program. He also defended the commission review of citations before they are issued. Arizonas longstanding commission review practice is beneficial and fully in line with the OSH Act, OSHAs underlying regulations and Arizona law, Schultz wrote. The Arizona Daily Star in Tucson examined the commissions records for a December story and found that it routinely reduces penalties large enough to merit its review, $2,500 or above. The newspaper found more than half the 139 penalty proposals the commission reviewed between January and the end of November 2016 were reduced. The commission has significantly lowered two major fines in recent years. Last year, it erased a fine involving the state Department of Corrections stemming from the 2014 rape of a prison teacher. The $14,000 fine for failing to protect the teacher was erased in a settlement after prison officials told the state they had spent $600,000 improving security for workers, including installing cameras, having guards check more often on classroom teachers and issuing radios and pepper spray to civilian staff. The Corrections Department did not acknowledge wrongdoing. In 2015, the commission erased $560,000 in fines assessed against the state Forestry Division for a 2012 wildfire near Yarnell that killed 19 firefighters. As part of a settlement with the commission, the state agreed to enhance safety training for wildland fire crews and a host of other changes in how it oversees fires and crews. It also paid seven families who were not among a dozen who sued the state $10,000 each. The workplace safety group complained to OSHA about the commission pre-reviewing fines for workplace safety violations proposed by ADOSH. The group called the commission meeting a one-sided forum where employers can argue they should pay lower fines and be subject to a less severe class of violations for exposing workers to hazardous working conditions. When you reduce fines and downgrade violations again and again, youre sending a message that workers lives are not valued, Peter Dooley, Tucson-based project safety consultant for the group, said in a statement. More than half the states run their own workplace safety plans. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Workers' Compensation Commercial Lines Business Insurance Arizona Baku, Azerbaijan, May 19 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Canadas Zenith Energy company has appointed Michael Palmer as chief operating officer of the companys operations in Azerbaijan, read the message posted on Zenith's website. Azerbaijans Muradkhanli, Jafarli and Zardab oil fields are controlled and operated by Zenith Aran, Zenith Energys wholly owned subsidiary in the country. Palmer has 37 years of experience in the oil industry as head of production operations, exploration and field development in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine, Syria, Indonesia, Gabon, Guinea, and the US. One of Palmer's most important achievements has been the successful management of operations at an onshore oilfield in Azerbaijan operated by an international oil production company. Under Palmer's management of this field, operations were economically successful and production increased from approximately 1,500 barrels of oil per day to 7,500 barrels of oil per day. Zenith holds an 80 percent participating interest in the three fields within the contract area Muradkhanli, Jafarli and Zardab while a SOCAR Oil affiliate company (fully owned by SOCAR) retains the remaining 20 percent. The duration of the agreement is 25 years, with a potential extension of 5 additional years. Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR and Zenith Aran Oil Company signed a Rehabilitation, Exploration, Development and Production Sharing Agreement (REDPSA) in March 2016 for a block that includes the Muradkhanli, Jafarli and Zardab oilfields. These fields cover an area of 642.2 square kilometers. Production under the Zenith banner began August 11, 2016. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn AT&T announced in a recent release that it has completed deployment of its nationwide LTE-M network ahead of schedule. The network is designed to enable a new generation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and applications. The LTE-M network is now live across the U.S. on the companys nationwide 4G LTE network, following software upgrades. The LTE-M deployment marks another step forward on the path to 5G and IoT and has been deployed with global, 3GPP standardized technology using licensed spectrum for carrier-grade security. Further, AT&T said it plans to deploy LTE-M across Mexico by the end of 2017 to create a North American LTE-M footprint covering 400 million people. The full suite of rate plans for LTE-M, will include monthly plans starting at $1.50 per month per device. Further discounts will be available for yearly and multi-year plans, as well as volume commitments. LTE-M modules will be available from suppliers for as low as $7.50 each, including a SIM card. That's half the cost of the LTE Cat-1 module AT&T launched in 2016. Current IoT starter kits with M14A2A modules will be software-upgradeable to LTE-M with an upcoming firmware update. "Our nationwide LTE-M deployment is another example of AT&T's continued investment and leadership in IoT," said Chris Penrose, President, IoT Solutions, AT&T. "We can now reach new places and connect new things at a price that's more affordable than ever before. Our LTE-M starter kit will also spur developers to open the doors to IoT innovation." LTE-M supports large-scale IoT deployments such as smart city services, smart metering, asset tracking, supply chain management, security and alarm monitoring and personal wearables. It has been embraced by leading global carriers. That helps build a broad base of ecosystem partners, devices and applications for global markets. Edited by Maurice Nagle The barrister for a Dublin man, who strangled his ex-girlfriend in a city hotel, has said that the totality of the evidence supported his client having a mental disorder, writes Natasha Reid. However, the prosecutor said the accused well knew that what he was doing was wrong, was well able to control himself and that there couldnt be any question of diminished responsibility due to such a disorder. The barristers were giving their closing speeches today in the Central Criminal Court trial of Eric Locke, who used a fake Facebook profile to meet Sonia Blount after she had cut contact with him. Mr Locke is charged with murdering the mother-of-one in a room at the Plaza Hotel in Tallaght on the 16th of February 2014. The 35-year-old, with an address at St Johns Park East in Clondalkin, has pleaded not guilty, but admits causing the 31-year-olds death. He strangled her with hands and the cable of her phone charger and pushed her t-shirt into the back of her mouth. Remy Farrell SC, prosecuting, described consultant psychiatrist Dr Sean O Domhnaill as the cornerstone of the defence for diminished responsibility. He noted that the other defence psychiatrist said he was relying on Dr O Domhnaills diagnosis of Pervasive Developmental Disorder in Mr Locke. Dr O Domhnaill is wholly unreliable, he said. His lack of familiarly with the evidence is simply stunning. Mr Farrell suggested that there must be a basic concern for his competence as a witness in such a case. He has come to a series of outlandish conclusions that not even the defence are prepared to rely on, he continued. He says this is actually a case of insanity. Mr Farrell said nobody else was buying that. The barrister said the defence had asked its psychiatrists to proceed on the presumption that Eric Lockes account of what happened in the room was true. Mr Locke said he had brought items to restrain her so she would listen to him. He said she screamed when she saw them and that he panicked and strangled her. This is the foundation of this defence, he said. If something totally different, substantially more sinister, more deliberate happened in that room, then your deliberations may be very, very swift indeed. He said Mr Locke was capable of telling elaborate lies. I suggest the starting point for you is that Eric Locke would appear to be an absolutely inveterate liar, he said. He told the jury that the accused had thought through every step of his plan to meet her in the hotel room. He pointed to messages in which, posing as Shane Cully, he was needling her to leave a keycard for him at reception. He has anticipated there very well may be a peephole in the door. He doesnt want to run the risk of knocking on the door, and Sonia Blount looking out to see who it was, he said. You can be damn sure that if Sonia Blount had looked out that door and seen Eric Lock, she would not have opened that door. He described as distasteful any suggestion that Ms Blount may have subconsciously wanted to see the accused. He said that the accused was not a compulsive liar, who just lied for the hell of it. Eric Locke is somebody who, in the words of Dr Bunn, is a purposeful liar, he said, referring to a second defence psychiatrist. He lies for a reason, he added. Most fellas, if theyre looking for a reconciliation, might turn up with a bunch of flowers, not with a pellet gun and masking tape, he said. Mr Locke, lucky guy, turns up and is very quickly engaged in kissing. He said it was contemptible for him to have said that he dressed the body to give Ms Blount dignity in death. This was a lie, he said. Theres only one reason to clothe the body, he suggested. If theres a naked lady found dead in a hotel room, thats quite different from a clothed lady found dead in a hotel room. He asked if there was one member of the jury, who thought that their sex had been consensual, something that was integral to his story. He said the evidence clearly showed that Eric Locke knew well that what he was doing was wrong, was well able to control himself and that there couldnt be any question of diminished responsibility. This is a man, who until the eve of a murder trial, did not have any psychiatric diagnosis. That should set off alarm bells to you, he said. I suggest this construct of diminished responsibility is little more than that. Patrick Gageby SC, defending, said that the three psychiatrists, who had given evidence, were markedly different. It is not their function to decide the question of whether Eric Locke is truthful, he told the jury. Youre entitled to cherry pick. He said that Dr O Domhnaill had appeared poorly prepared and not very good at court presentation, but said he did appear to have expertise in developmental issues. He said he hadnt heard any evidence to the contrary, and was not so sure that he was challenged on his diagnosis of PDD. Mr Gageby said that the question of PDD stood up. Eric Locke has always been different since his teens, he said. When they broke up, he went to pieces, he continued. He gave up his job. He outlined his suicide attempt and consequent treatment in hospital, as well as his dealings with Pieta House. What do these things say about his mental condition? he asked. He said that nearly all of this case went back 35 years, noting that his client had not been known to gardai until arrested to prevent his suicide after the breakup with Ms Blount. Thats unusual. Its also a bit unusual if you take the view that he has a personality disorder, he said, referring to the diagnosis given by the States psychiatrist, which would not qualify for diminished responsibility. The totality of the evidence supports a mental disorder, he said. Were not asking that you absolve him of responsibility; its a question of diminishing it substantially. He quoted another psychiatrist who used to suggest that juries in insanity cases would ask: Was the illness in the driving seat? Mr Gageby suggested that the jury make some small adjustment to that analogy for diminished responsibility. If the accused is in the driving seat, he began. Was there a steer, which was deflecting to the extent that it diminishes substantially the responsibility? He told the jurors that this was for their consideration, not for one of the doctors. Its not the function of psychiatrists to put a benign spin on one side or the other. They should stay out of the facts, he said. My respectful position to you is that there is, on the balance of probabilities, cause to find diminished responsibility. Mr Justice Michael Moriarty will charge the jury on Monday. An Irish man arrested in New York is reportedly a person of interest in the murder investigation of Garda Adrian Donohoe. Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead on January 23, 2013. The father of two was shot in Louth at the scene of a credit union robbery. According to reports, a man in his mid 20s, from south Armagh, was arrested by Homeland Security Thursday in New York and is a prime suspect in the murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe. Homeland Security have said Aaron Brady, a dual citizen of Ireland and the UK, was arrested for immigration violations. He is currently in custody "pending removal from the United States". It is understood Mr Brady may be returning to Ireland as early as next week. Irish Authorities have been in contact with Homeland Security Investigation (ICE) with relation to the issue. The effective owner of a building company has been found liable for 735,000 costs of his firms dismissed action over works to a bar of publican Charlie Chawke, writes Ann O'Loughlin. The action by William Loughnanes company W. L. Construction Ltd was previously dismissed by the High Court, at the close of W.L.s 28-day evidence, as an abuse of process and due to being tainted by fraud and dishonesty of Mr Loughnane. W.L. at one stage claimed up to 370,000 was owed to it for works to the pub but later conceded the value of its claim was no more than 28,691. Mr Justice Seamus Noonans decision today to hold Mr Loughnane, as principal of W.L., liable for the costs, is believed to be the first of its kind in a case not involving a personal injuries claim and may have significant implications. According to legal sources, the decision could have a chilling effect on litigation by companies as directors are normally considered protected against costs liability as a result of the corporate veil. A stay of 21 days applies on the judges decision to join Mr Loughnane as a co-defendant to the case and to make him liable for the costs. The ruling follows Mr Justice Noonans judgment last October dismissing W.L.s proceedings against Mr Chawke and Edward Joseph Bohan, as co-owners of the Lord Lucan pub in Lucan. The judge granted the defendant's application to dismiss the case at the close of the WL evidence after finding no prima facie case was made out and on the basis of deliberate dishonesty by Mr Loughnane. He awarded costs to the defendants against WL. Mark Sanfey SC, for the defendants, later applied to join Mr Loughnane as co-defendant for the purpose of making him liable for the defendants costs. Mr Loughnane opposed the application. Solicitor Neal Boland, for the defendants, said the costs they had incurred arose as a direct result of litigation misconduct of WL which, he said, was solely and entirely orchestrated by Mr Loughnane. Mr Boland also said there was no prospect of recovering costs against WL. The judge said, while accounts showed WLs historic debt has been significantly reduced and it may now be solvent or become so in the near future, that was of marginal materiality to what he had to decide. The court has clear jurisdiction to make orders holding a party liable for costs of proceedings in circumstances of such bad faith as in this case, he said. The entire case was permeated by Mr Loughnanes dishonesty and he was ultimately responsible for directing and overseeing a claim that ultimately transpired to be fraudulent and a manifest abuse of process. He rejected various arguments on behalf of Mr Loughnane, including the W.L. case was legitimate and it was reasonable to bring it and Mr Loughane relied on a quantity surveyor and should not be laden with all the blame. Whatever about shortcomings in the surveyors evidence which the court had identified, there was no basis for suggesting the surveyor was blameworthy to an extent that could relieve Mr Loughnane of any responsibility, he said. There was also no basis for suggesting the defendants should have put Mr Loughnane on notice of a possible costs application against him. Nobody other than Mr Loughnane was responsible for bringing this claim and nobody other than Mr Loughnane is responsible for the result, he ruled. The W.L. case was brought over sums alleged to be outstanding for renovation and extension works to the pub, which were completed at the end of 2006. It was conceded on behalf of W.L during the 28-day hearing the value of its claim was 28,691. The court heard payments of some 700,000 had been made to WL for the works and the owners disputed any further monies were due. Both sides also disputed the nature of the contract documents involved. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 19 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: It is almost inevitable that the OPEC oil output cut deal will be extended, Gal Luft, co-director of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security (IAGS), a Washington based think tank focused on energy security, and a senior adviser to the US Energy Security Council, told Trend May 19. The deal has not achieved the desired outcome and requires a second shot in the arm, he added. Regarding the possibility of objection of some countries to the extension, the expert noted that this is unlikely for several reasons. OPEC members realize that US oil production and rig count are rising again while demand is sluggish. Libyan production has surpassed 700,000 barrels per day and is rising. With this picture, I cannot see any producer that will object the extension, said Luft. In December 2016, OPEC and non-OPEC producers reached their first deal since 2001 to curtail oil output jointly and ease a global glut after more than two years of low prices. Non-OPEC oil producers such as Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brunei, Equatorial Guinea, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Russia, Sudan, and South Sudan agreed to reduce output by 558,000 barrels per day starting from Jan. 1, 2017 for six months, extendable for another six months. OPEC agreed to slash the output by 1.2 million barrels per day from Jan. 1. Russia and Saudi Arabia earlier said that they will propose during the OPEC meeting to be held May 24-25 the extension of the oil output deal by nine months. The two countries agreed to do whatever it takes to achieve the desired goal of stabilizing the market and reducing commercial oil inventories to their 5 year average level, as well as to underscore the determination of oil producers to ensure market stability, predictability and sustainable development the joint actions of the participating producers should be extended by 9 months, through March 31, 2018. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @ Lyaman_Zeyn The Trump administration is imposing sanctions on members of Venezuela's Supreme Court following a series of rulings that the US says has usurped power from the nation's opposition-controlled congress and sparked a deadly wave of unrest. The US Department of the Treasury announced Thursday it is freezing the assets of eight Venezuelan government officials on the Supreme Court in an effort to support the Venezuelan people "in their efforts to protect and advance democratic governance". The owner of the Clayton and Maldron hotel chains is also close to agreeing a sale of one of its UK-based properties. Dalata has been eager to alter the ownership structure of some of its existing portfolio of owned, managed, and leased hotels by acquiring the freehold interests of certain properties it currently leases which have unpredictable rent reviews attached. To that end, it is spending a combined 69.3m taking over the freehold interests to the Maldron Hotel in Portlaoise, the Clarion Hotel in Liffey Valley in west Dublin, and the Clayton Hotel on Cardiff Lane in Dublins docklands. Regarding the latter hotel, Dalata will acquire the freehold to certain elements of the property. These will cover the ground floor and lower ground floor areas, which house the hotels reception area, bar, restaurant, leisure centre, and back-of-house facilities, as well as 170 bedrooms and an unused ground floor area which the group plans to convert into conference facilities. Currently the group holds a lease on these elements of the hotel until 2040, at an annual rent of over 2.5m per year. Both the Cardiff Lane and Liffey Valley transactions are due to be completed by the end of this month. Dalata has been attempting to secure as much of the freehold to the Clayton Hotel Cardiff Lane as possible since the group floated in 2014. Nearly 7m of the combined overall spend will go on Dalata buying the freehold on the Maldron Hotel in Portlaoise, having reached agreement with the propertys receivers, Declan McDonald and Ken Tyrrell of PwC. Dalata paid 570,000 in rent on the three-star, 90-bedroom property last year. The freehold also includes an adjoining foodcourt, which Dalata is set to sell after agreeing with a third party. The four-star, 353-bedroom Clarion Liffey Valley has also been in partial receivership. Dalata is buying its core elements 159 bedrooms, meeting rooms, car park, bar/restaurant, reception area, leisure centre, and two vacant retail units before rebranding it as the Clayton Hotel Liffey Valley. The remainder of the hotel 194 bedrooms is owned by individual investors. Dalata has also entered exclusive negotiations on a sale and lease-back agreement for one of its Clayton hotels in the UK. The company didnt name the specific hotel, but according to the groups website it currently owns three hotels in the UK two in London and one in Cardiff. Dalata plans to open between 15 and 20 new hotels in the UK, largely on a leasehold basis, in the next three years as it ramps up its aims of becoming one of the biggest regional hotel operators in Britain. We have managed the Clarion Hotel Liffey Valley since March 2016 and are very excited about the potential of this hotel under the Clayton brand. We believe the proposed sale and lease-back of one of our UK properties represents a very good opportunity to utilise the strength of our balance sheet, said Dermot Crowley, deputy chief executive and head of business development and finance. Dalatas share price up nearly 12% since the start of the year and 9% ahead on a 52-week basis was largely unmoved yesterday. Mr Desmond had been One51s largest shareholder, with his investment represented by his International Investment and Underwriting business and certain other related parties. As a result of the move, IIUs non-executive representative on the One51 board, Pat Gilroy, has resigned. One51 has previously worked with CDPQ, having partnered on the Dublin companys purchase in 2015 of North American plastic products manufacturer IPL. One51 whose other notable shareholders include beef baron Larry Goodman and other various co-ops said earlier this year that it was eyeing further acquisitions in North America and mainland Europe as it continued to sharpen its focus on its core plastics operations. IPL, which has six manufacturing plants in Canada and the US, makes products for the food packaging and logistics industries. One51 owns a 67% stake in IPL and CDPQ holds a further 22%. One51 recently sold the Irish and UK arms of its ClearCircle environmental services business in separate transactions. It had long been thought that the purchase of Mr Desmonds stake could pave the way in time for an initial public offering in One51 shares. Mr Desmond increased his stake in One51 in August 2015 by buying out fellow shareholder Pageant Holdings. Private equity group CapVest had been linked with a 282m bid for One51 at the time. Shares in One51, which trade privately, were worth 1.80 each. They are up from 1.35 at the start of the year, according to the companys website. However, once the election is out of the way and the Conservatives come back with a larger majority in parliament, then it will return with a vengeance as the real negotiations get going. Meanwhile, some effects are being felt here in both a positive and negative sense. The UK insurer and asset manager Standard Life announced that it is likely to choose Dublin as its EU base once the UK leaves the system. Making the announcement, the company stated that it cannot take a chance on the type of arrangement that might exist for UK-based financial services companies selling into the EU. Currently, to sell financial services across the EU, an EU banking passport is required and there is no guarantee that such a passport will be available to UK companies selling financial services into the EU once the divorce is completed. From a prudential risk management perspective, companies will be obliged to make their intentions known at an early stage. Any business in any sector that does not make contingency plans for a hard Brexit will be doing its shareholders a major disservice and could certainly be accused of corporate negligence at the very least. Standard Life already has a presence in Ireland and employs staff here, so the decision to set up the EU base in Ireland is not that difficult. Barclays may well turn out to do the same thing in Ireland. It will be a different matter entirely trying to convince companies without an existing presence here to make that decision as the competition from locations such as Brussels, Luxembourg and Frankfurt will be intense. The US investment bank JP Morgan also stated that it is buying an office block here and plans to double its workforce in Ireland to 1,000 people. That represents a major vote of confidence in Ireland. While it is not Brexit-related, it does show just how positive the Irish environment is for financial services activities. If we prioritise the delivery of suitable office accommodation, affordable high quality residential accommodation for renters and purchasers, a health service that we can trust in, and access to high-quality primary and secondary accommodation, then the sky would appear to be the limit. Ireland is in a bit of a sweet spot at the moment in many respects, with the increasingly better looking external economic environment starting to pay heavy dividends. Trade data this week showed that merchandise exports in the first three months of the year were 10.6% ahead of the same period in 2016. Exports to the eurozone increased by 3.8%; exports to the US increased by a scarcely believable 31.2%; and encouragingly, and sales to the UK increased by 4.5%. Exports of chemicals and related products to the US increased by 36.7%, which is quite extraordinary. Time might tell what is going on there. Interestingly, sales of food and live animals to Britain increased by 7.2%. Sterling has strengthened a bit and more importantly has stabilised, and the UK economy is still holding up well. Overall exports of food and live animals increased by a strong 9.8% in the first quarter. The overall trade performance so far in 2017 is holding up very well and there is little reason to believe that this will change very much over the remainder of the year given the increasingly positive momentum building in the global economy. Enterprise Ireland alluded to the more difficult task that the exporting companies that it supports faced in the UK market last year due to sterling weakness. Its strategy is now going to be increasingly focused on building markets in eurozone countries. This is a noble aspiration, but the reality is that the UK is by far the easiest market for Irish agri-food exporters to sell into. A massive 37% of agri-food exports went to the UK last year, and it is estimated that of the prepared consumer foods that Ireland exports, 70% go to the UK. It will not be easy to wean exporters off the UK market. The demand comes as it was confirmed Junior Defence Minister Paul Kehoe has written to Sinn Fein to confirm that military authorities cannot find inspection reports from the 1990s that raised concerns about the working environment at the Air Corps headquarters at Casement Aerodrome. The confirmation came following attempts by this newspaper to have the documents released under the Freedom of Information Act. The State is defending itself in a number of legal actions brought against it by Air Corps staff who say they are suffering illnesses as a result of their exposure to chemicals while working at Casement Aerodrome. Fianna Fail defence spokeswoman Lisa Chambers was critical of the Governments approach to the matter. It is quite astonishing that the Department of Defence cannot locate these reports given I and others have seen copies of same, Ms Chambers said. Simply saying they cannot be located is not good enough, there needs to be some explanation provided as to how these reports could have conveniently disappeared, given they point to serious health and safety issues at Casement Aerodrome dating back to the early 90s. I and my party have called for the minister to implement a health review of all potential former soldiers whose health may have been negatively affected due to slack health and safety in the workplace and to put in place a proper health package for affected individuals; to date the minister has refused to do so. Meanwhile, Mr Kehoe has written to Sinn Fein defence spokesman Aengus O Snodaigh, who raised the reports findings in the Dail and has suggested their disappearance is part of a cover-up to hide the fact that the inspections recommendations were not acted upon. I have now been advised by the military authorities that there was a report on measuring CO fumes from aircraft compiled by Forbairt [which was succeeded by Enterprise Ireland] in 1995 and a further report on monitoring air contaminants in workshops in 1997 which was also compiled by Forbairt, the letter stated. Unfortunately,... I am advised by the military authorities it has not been possible to locate the earlier Forbairt records, Mr Kehoe wrote. Judge Sean O Donnabhain imposed a three-year jail term with the last 18 months suspended in the case against the motorist, John Coffey, of no fixed address. Inspector Vincent OSullivan said a media appeal through the Irish Examiner and Evening Echo gave them the breakthrough in the case. Judge O Donnabhain praised the diligence of the Garda investigation and the use of the media appeal in bringing about a prosecution. A taxi driver in the area at the time came forward with information in response to the media appeal and this ultimately led to the car being traced. Sinead Behan, defending, said the child ran out on to the road between two parked cars. The judge said that was not relevant as the accused was not charged with careless driving. He said Coffey, originally from Castleisland, Co Kerry, was convicted by a jury for his actions after his car collided with the child. Pardelian Harna, aged 11, was struck on Thomas Davis St, Cork, at 9.30pm on August 6, 2014. He was left slumped in the middle of the road as Coffey slowed down and then drove off. Coffey, aged 30, was convicted by a jury of hit and run at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. Inspector Vincent OSullivan said that if Coffey had stopped and looked after the child, he would not have been before any court for any offence. Judge O Donnabhain said he did not accept that the accused had just panicked and fled. The circumstances left the jury in no doubt but that the accused was the driver and knew full well that an incident occurred where a child was collided with, cast into the air and left on the side of the road, he said. It was a disgraceful thing to do and I did not see any remorse. This man did everything he could to avoid apprehension. A spokesman said the airport in Providence, Boston, into which Norwegian will fly from Cork, will have minimum queues allowing passengers to clear customs and immigration quickly. Norwegian will launch the flights in July from Dublin, Shannon and Cork to secondary airports on the east coast of America. It will operate 12 flights a week from Dublin daily to Stewart International near New York and five times a week to Providence near Boston; four flights a week from Shannon two to Stewart and two to Providence; and three flights a week from Cork to Providence, Boston on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Dublin and Shannon are among a handful of airports worldwide to offer US preclearance, which allows passengers to undertake all US inspections prior to departure. It means that passengers landing in the US are treated as domestic arrivals, allowing them to avoid immigration queues. Shannon was the first airport in the world, outside of the Americas, to offer full US preclearance. Dublin is the only European capital to offer the facility. But Cork Airports spokesman said: It is not currently economically viable (to provide preclearance facilities) for Cork at this juncture unless directly government funded as we would have to raise airport charges significantly to recoup the costs. We operate on a fully commercial basis without any state or grant aid. Following some criticism about using secondary US airports so far outside New York and Boston, Norwegian has also announced the launch of a direct shuttle service from Stewart airport into downtown New York, provided by Coach USA. The service has been timed to meet Norwegians flight arrivals at Stewart. It will get passengers into Manhattan for $20. Meanwhile, Cork Airport will mark the launch today of WOW Airs new service to Reykjavik which opens up connections to 10 destinations in North America, including Chicago, New York, Boston, Washington DC, Toronto, Montreal, Miami, LA, San Francisco and Pittsburgh. And separately, a new tourism industry group has been established in Cork to boost Chinese visitor numbers to the region. The announcement came yesterday on the second day of the Asia Matters Cork Summit. China has an outbound travel market of around 120m people with combined spending of close to $165bn. It is one of the fastest growing markets in the world, with up to 50,000 Chinese people expected to visit Ireland this year. There is no reason why these numbers cant grow significantly in the future, said Martin Murray, the executive director of the new tourism industry group. The new group plans to engage with Chinese inbound tour operations based in London. Darren Murphy of Dan Desmond Villas, Passage West, Co Cork has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Olivia Dunlea, 36, at Pembroke Crescent, Passage West, Co Cork on February 17, 2013. He has pleaded guilty to her manslaughter but his plea was not accepted by the DPP. Sergeant Anthony Harrington told prosecuting counsel Thomas Creed SC that he took a statement from Mr Murphy the day after Ms Dunleas body was found inside her burning home. Mr Murphy told gardai he had been out for between seven to 10 pints with Olivia in the Rochestown Inn. When they went to Olivias house they had a heated row so he went home and only found out about the fire when Olivias sister called him. After the interview Mr Murphy handed over clothes to Sgt Harrington which he said he had been wearing the previous night. When gardai checked CCTV footage from the Rochestown Inn they noticed that the clothes did not match. Sgt Harrington, Det Sgt Tim Murphy and now- retired former Sgt David Treacy went to Mr Murphys house to ask him about the inconsistency. Det Sgt Murphy told the court that Mr Murphy at first said that he had made a mistake, and the clothes he had been wearing were upstairs. When Sgt Harrington asked why he had handed over the wrong clothes he began to cry and said: We had a massive row. He told gardai he snapped after she told him to go home because another man was coming to see her. Mr Murphy was arrested on suspicion of murder and taken to Togher Garda Station. Sgt Harrington told Mr Creed that during an interview on February 18, 2013, Mr Murphy told gardai that he had developed trust issues after his first girlfriend cheated on him when he was in his early 20s. He said Olivia was the first person he had ever opened up to. He told her about that relationship; about an attempt he had made on his own life; and also revealed to her he had been abused from the age of nine to 16 at a slow learners school he attended. He told gardai that due to his trust issues he would check Olivias text messages when she wasnt around. He said he would also sometimes drive up to her house without her knowledge to make sure she was not seeing anyone. If she said she was tired or wanted to go to bed early, I would drive by to check, he said, adding that he could be there all hours of day or night. On the night he stabbed Olivia, he said he thought they had been getting on brilliant. When they had finished their drinks and got into a taxi outside the Rochestown Inn, Olivia complained that she had called for a taxi driver named Thomas Farrell and this was not him. Mr Murphy said this made him cry. He said Mr Farrell was a man Olivia said she used to sleep with. A previous witness, Rebecca Coughlan Collins, described Mr Farrell as the best-looking man in Passage. She knew it upset me when she went on like that, he told gardai. She told me I cant take a joke and to grow up. He cried all the way home and the argument continued inside Olivias house until Olivia threw Mr Murphys car keys at him and told him to leave. He said she started taking off her clothes and when he asked her why, she said: Why do you think. Foz [Mr Farrell] is calling. I just lost it, he said. I stabbed her in the back of the neck, I think. In a second interview he told gardai she had been laughing at him when she told him that Mr Farrell was calling and added: The next thing I know was she was dead on the bed. Afterwards, he decided to set the house on fire because he knew Olivias children would be arriving early the next day and he didnt want them to find her. He denied lighting the fire to cover up what he had done. The trial continues in front of Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of seven men and five women. Donald Trump doesnt like aliens much. That was apparent in recent weeks when his administration launched Voice, a hotline to encourage Victims of Immigrant Crime Engagement to out illegal aliens and report criminal immigrants. Given the xenophobia-promoting nature of that endeavour, it was poetic justice indeed when the lines were flooded with calls detailing fake sightings of aliens of the extra-terrestrial rather than the criminal kind. As an exercise in popular resistance activism, such a response mirrored a seemingly insatiable public appetite for evidence of otherworldly life. WikiLeaks fed that hunger in disclosing emails sent in 2015 by former astronaut Edgar Mitchell to John Podesta, the former White House chief of staff underBill Clinton, US president from 1993 to 2001, who was at that time a special adviser to serving US president Barack Obama. Mr Mitchell, who died in February, last year, was seeking a meeting at which to discuss government disclosure of extra-terrestrial intelligence (ETI) and the Vaticans awareness of same. WikiLeaks disclosed another email sent by Mr Mitchell to Mr Podesta a few months later in which the former astronaut wrote: Remember, our non-violent ETI from the contiguous universe are helping us bring zero point energy to Earth They will not tolerate any forms of military violence on Earth or in space. While sceptics, cynics and almost everybody else might view those words as outlandish, Mr Podesta, given the content of the following tweet sent from his account, doesnt appear to be among them: My biggest failure of 2014: Once again not securing the #disclosure of the UFO files. Of course, theres no shortage of world-leaders, scientists and politicians going on record to confirm a belief in ETI. A statement attributed to one of the founding fathers of astronautics and rocketry, Hermann Oberth, is thought-provoking: We cannot take the credit for our record advancement in certain scientific fields alone. We have been helped. When asked by an interviewer: By whom? Dr Oberths reply was a frank: The people of other worlds. Former deputy Nasa director Albert M. Chop was another believer. Ive been convinced for a long time that the flying-saucers are real and interplanetary, he said. Hugh Dowding, commander-in-chief of RAF Fighter Command from 1936 to 1940, seemed equally persuaded. I am convinced that these objects do exist and that they are not manufactured by any nations on earth, he said. US president Richard Nixon highlighted his governments interest in the topic when he said: Im not at liberty to discuss the governments knowledge of extra-terrestrial UFOs at this time. I am still personally being briefed on the subject. While his successors, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, said they saw UFOs and Mikhail Gorbachev, president of the Soviet Union, said the UFO phenomenon must be treated seriously, one expert who does not believe that were being buzzed by UFOs is Columbia University director of astrobiology Caleb Scharf. It would be lovely, he told the Irish Examiner, but its too easy, too wrapped up with our imaginations and the big scary changes that took place in our world during the middle of the 20th century. While there is much speculation as to the existence of ETI, hoaxes cloud the matter. We could look to Nasa for guidance, but it doesnt track or research UFOs. It even says so on its website. But that doesnt stop conspiracy theorists from asserting that Nasa cut live-feed videos from the International Space Station (ISS) that seem to show UFOs travelling past or leaving Earth. In one alleged excerpt from the live stream uploaded to YouTube by UFO blogger Scott C. Waring, a voice that appears to be that of an ISS astronaut can be heard supposedly talking to ground control, as what looks like a UFO comes into view on screen. As the apparent UFO approaches, the astronaut comments somewhat cryptically: On a personal level, I look forward to this partnership with the gospel, to which the apparent ground control response was: We will pray for you up there. While conspiracy theorists conclude that the word gospel was the Nasa code-word for alien, the theory was deflated on ufoofinterest.org, when UFO investigator Scott Brando labelled the alleged UFO a lens flare or a light reflection. Around that time, the site contained much purported evidence that UFO hunters alleged onscreen evidence is anything but. No, Nasa did not censor images of the ISS and that object is not a UFO, was the banner on one ufoofinterest.org entry dated July 20, 2016. Its curious that such an obscure website would take it upon itself to defend the massively powerful and PR conscious space agency from censorship accusations. Remarkably, nine days later on July 29, Nasa issued a statement on its website announcing: Nasa Televisions Space Station Live programme will be phased out in August and discontinued Sept. 1. With the live stream gone, attention turned to an article published in the science journal Nautilus Cosmos by Prof Scharf in which he considers the idea that alien life may be so ensconced within physics itself that we may be unable to distinguish the two, and that dark matter could perhaps be where all technologically advanced life ends up and where most life has always been. His article resulted in widespread media coverage. The Sun newspaper ran a piece under the enticing headline Aliens are everywhere, says Ivy League professor. Prof Scharf says that if complex life has happened elsewhere in the cosmos, chances are that it, like us, explores through machines or alternate forms of life that can cope with the demands of space, from radiation to time. Those artificial explorers might be wholly unrecognisable even if they passed through our solar system, he concedes. When it comes to ETI we might be looking but not seeing. Is there any way we can change that? Well, on a very practical, mundane, level, I think its always good for science to occasionally step back a little from the current dogma and at least question whether its on the right track, he replies. Asserting that the incredible specialisation that science often demands can also be a hindrance if something genuinely new pops up, he adds: Or if theres an observation about the world that we just accept and dont poke at, but its really a mystery. In other words, we would do well to stop every now and then and examine whether were digging ourselves into intellectual holes. The whereabouts of all of the intelligent, technological life in the universe is something that intrigues Prof Scharf. Maybe weve not seen it because its too thin on the ground, or perhaps we dont see it because we dont recognise it. Thats the basis of my speculation on the nature of hyper-advanced life; that it just evolves in ways we can barely conceive of. While his theory is captivating, so too is that expressed by Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, Inc. who says: If there are super intelligent aliens, theyre probably already observing us. That would seem quite likely, and were just not smart enough to realise it. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, May 19 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Diversification of export routes and transit of Turkmen natural gas will be discussed at an international gas congress in Avaza on May 23-24, Turkmenistans Oil and Complex said in a message. Investment conditions in Turkmenistan will be presented, and prospects of development of the global gas market and construction of interstate gas pipelines will be discussed during the congress. Earlier, Ashgabat put forward international initiatives at the UN in the spheres of ensuring energy security and environmental protection. The gas congress is expected to be attended by heads and representatives of leading oil and gas companies, international organizations and financial institutions. Turkmenistan is one of main players on the energy market of the Caspian region and ranks fourth in the world for its gas reserves. Currently, the country delivers gas to Iran and China. Meanwhile, construction of Turkmen section of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline is being carried out. Moreover, the project of the Trans Caspian gas pipeline through Azerbaijan to Turkey and Europe is being discussed. YOU always want to quit while you are ahead. You dont want to be like a fighter who stays too long in the ring until youre not performing at your best. These wise words, from no less than actor and award-winning director Clint Eastwood, are fitting for politicians who think twice about not stepping down after passing their best-before-date. It is arguable whether Taoiseach Enda Kenny has or has not reached his. Still, should he have stayed in the ring for so long? Many might argue no. Undoubtedly though, he passed his zenith sometime back during his six-year tenure as Taoiseach. There were highs and lows in his time at the helm in Government Buildings on Merrion St. Ones to be proud of are when the Mayo man lifted the nation. Equally, there were dark days when the fighter lost, badly, publicly and, at times, from his own punches. Infamously, Enda Kenny began his command when the new Fine Gael government in 2011 promised a democratic revolution. It was brave, but also naive and potentially unrealistic. Kennys newfangled coalition with Labour had promised political change. In a way, Kenny had what Shakespeare once coined vaulting ambition. He was eager to rescue Ireland, to undo the damage from the recession. He was energetic and eager, a quality that let him down when it emerged the revolution was, in fact, a lethal dose of bad medicine and cuts to the economy. So what were his moments of brilliance as well as blunder? One memorable moment was when the Taoiseach challenged the Vatican after the damning Cloyne report into clerical sex abuse. An emotional Enda Kenny took to his feet in 2011 and in an unprecedented fashion for a head of state tore strips out of the Church over its handling of the abuse cases. It was a speech which saw Mr Kenny receive plaudits for weeks afterwards. Equally, his State apology to the Magdalene women will be remembered, where he became emotional over the Church-run workhouses in a historic 2013 Dail moment and the house give him a standing ovation. That year, it could be said, was a climax for Enda Kenny. Earlier that year, the Fine Gael government managed to rip up the Anglo Irish Bank promissory note and instead delay debt owed for the odious bank, thereby allowing Ireland not pay 3bn back a year. The postponed financial pain reduceds borrowing costs by 20bn, the department of finance said. However, the exit of Ireland from the Troikas financial bailout was one of the defining moments for the Government that year. From being a financial basket case to standing on our own again, Enda Kenny was able to make a TV address to the nation that December. And it had all happened under his watch. It is now clear that your sacrifices are making a difference, Ireland is moving in the right direction, he told the cameras days before Christmas, the first in many years where Irelands independence was intact. He sent out his vision for the next seven years: A plan to ensure that never again will Irelands stability be threatened by speculation and greed. We are never going back to that culture. That same month, a resurgent Fine Gael climbed back up the polls to 30%, its first substantial rise since the government party had started losing support rapidly after taking power in 2011. These were to be Enda Kennys better moments. Then came the annus horribilis for Kenny and his party 2014. Revelations by garda whistleblower Sgt Maurice McCabe, which were clearly ignored and even repulsed senior members of the force, eventually resulted in the squeezing from office or resignations of a garda commissioner, a minister for justice and a department of justice secretary general. Looking back, it is shocking to think that the highest-placed justice authorities in the State were effectively run out of office by actions by or lack of support from the Taoiseach. Such chaos would inevitably bring down a government in any normal democracy. The Garda whistleblower scandals which ensnared the Fine Gael government were its low point. The troubles were added to by the outrage over the cut in discretionary medical cards, which resulted in a severe bruising for Fine Gael in the local elections. The unpopularity was added to by the introduction of water charges. This was all under Enda Kennys watch. But there were more glorious moments for the Kenny reign. Undoubtedly, it is impossible to forget the visit of Queen Elizabeth II here in 2011, just after the first Kenny government. Equally, the celebrated visit of US president Barack Obama will always be remembered as a success. These international occasions were high points for the Mayo man as were some of his foreign visits. Most recently, Enda Kenny received international acclaim for his St Patricks Day speech in Washington in March in which he effectively gave newly-elected US president Donald Trump a coded lecture on immigration. The speech was watched all over the world. In a similar vein, the Kenny administrations Brexit win at the recent April 22 summit in Brussels was one of its top moments. EU leaders have now agreed to allow the North reenter the bloc after Brexit in the event of reunification. Clearly, Irelands priorities have been set out for the negotiations ahead, a key victory for Merrion St and departments. Kenny will be remembered for helping reduce unemployment from a high of 15% during the crash to almost 6% recently, for being returned a second time consecutively as a Fine Gael Taoiseach and for taking the country out of recession. But many blunders and cock-ups will darken his final days. Most notably was the alleged conversation he said he had with Minister for Children Katherine Zappone over Tusla and Garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe. The conversation never took place we found out that it was a fiction. Equally, there have always been questions about claims that the army were ready to protect the ATMs, as Kenny claimed. Some of Kennys final days were also overshadowed by setting up a neverending queue of inquiries and commissions, effectively kicking the can down the road on crucial issues in relation to the gardai, banking and health. His successor wont thank him for that. Whoever takes the reins in Fine Gael will unlikely be able to replace his zest, energy, enthusiasm and, it could be said, likeable charisma. In the darkest of days when in Government, a determined Enda Kenny kept the chin up, pedalled on and dragged a damaged country and fickle Dail with him. Legacies take time to bed down. Equally, maybe Kenny should have taken off his gloves before now. The next Fine Gael lead fighter though will have to last the rounds like their predecessor. FOREIGN Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan remembers vividly his shock upon walking into the dining room of the rural Co Mayo hotel. He and his wife had taken a weekend trip to Sligo with some friends visiting from Scotland. It was a well timed break, just days after the disastrous 2010 heave against Enda Kenny. It was disastrous for Flanagan because he had gone against the party leader, despite being personally canvassed not to do so. On the way home from Sligo they decided to stop in Healys Hotel in Pontoon near Foxford in Co Mayo. The Laois TD was the first of his small group to walk into the diningroom. By the time he spotted the party leader he had just betrayed, dining with his wife Fionnuala, as well as Marie Louise ODonnell and her mother at the same table, it was too late to walk back out. With a sense of dread he kept walking. I nearly died. Awkward doesnt begin to describe it. I just kept going with my wife and our friends behind me. In fairness though to Enda he stood up and and could not have been more convivial or welcoming to us and our friends throughout the meal. Indeed the story sums up Enda Kenny in so many ways, decent, pleasant and sociable. But the second half of it also does: Charlie Flanagan may not have faced his leaders wrath on that day, but did subsequently when he was excluded from the front bench and not promoted to Cabinet when Fine Gael finally made it into Government in 2011. The unelected people who surrounded him over the years would tell you that for a politician many of them can be a nightmare to work for Enda Kenny was very even in his mood and a good team builder. However once he considered that you had crossed him he took that exceptionally personally indeed. One aide who worked closely with him for eight years only remembers one occasion when he lost his temper. That was in 2004 when John Deasy, who would subsequently be a constant thorn in his side, failed to turn up for a meeting called after the Waterford TD had lit a cigarette in the Dail bar. This was following the introduction of the smoking ban. Enda Kenny then fired him from the front bench in a telephone call. On the flip side relations between himself and his right hand man of many years Mark Kennelly are said to have been extremely strained following the controversy earlier this year, which reflected so poorly on the Taoiseach, involving conversations/non conversations between himself and Childrens Minister Katherine Zappone. After finally being appointed to Cabinet in 2014 as Foreign Affairs Minister, Charlie Flanagan says he found Enda Kenny a great boss who let you do your own thing, he let you off, he didnt interfere. Those who were Kenny fans saw this as a plus, and those looking less favourably on him saw it as way of him not having to be across the detail of Cabinet briefs because he is not equipped with the intellect to do so. As ever with these things such bald analysis on either side does not do Enda Kenny justice. The Mayoman may never be the Mensa material yearned for by some, but the history books will treat him far more fairly than current commentary. It will look less critically on the fact that he came from the west of Ireland and had a Mayo accent, facts that even many of his own party members wouldnt have been than keen on when he became leader in 2002. Enda Kenny was always going to come up short when viewed through a Dublin 2 centered prism. His inability to really rise to big media occasions such as interviews and election debates fed right into this. But the facts are that during his 15 years as leader of Fine Gael he first rescued the party which was in rag order, and then, after he became Taoiseach, the country. It is all the more remarkable that he won the party leadership given his disastrous first tilt at it in 2001 and after which his stock was so low within Fine Gael the Progressive Democrats considered approaching him to join them. If someone had said back then he would go on to be the longest serving Fine Gael Taoiseach and bring the country back from the brink after a disastrous recession they would have been laughed at. Its far more recent but he is also the man responsible for giving us new politics. Our first go at it may not have been so successful, but it has been a seismic shift away from the manner in which we have done politics for generations and right now its difficult to see us going back. By the time he took office as Taoiseach in 2011 his legendary energy, enthusiasm, and good humour were much needed. Ministers attest to how, if you were in the middle of a crisis at 3am in your Department and sent Enda a text seeking guidance on something, a response would wing its way back almost immediately. Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe says that he found Enda Kenny to be a brilliant boss. Ive worked for people who run FTSE 100 companies. This is not plamas but my experience over three years as a minister. One TD recounted how if you texted him on a Saturday night or called on a Sunday hed get back to you promptly. If you asked him to ring a woman in your constituency who was 95 next Wednesday and a lifelong Fine Gaeler hed do it without question. There is a belief built up that Enda Kenny did not have the traditional political ego but my belief is that he did, but it manifested itself in different ways such as his lateness for absolutely everything, a not so subtle way of reminding everyone whos top dog. A former aide had a different theory stating the reason for his chronic lateness was his inability to pass a conversation by. Youd be standing there waiting and then you would be told something like: Paddy over there has a problem with his herd number. It is fascinating though to think of the political leader of our country engaging in such political minutiae, and it has a certain quaint charm. Equally though spreading yourself so thinly as leader showed a lack of strategic thinking and prioritising. It could also explain how Government controversies, such as the almost-too-numerous-to-mention garda ones, or Irish Water, could get out of control so quickly and take so long to subsequently reign in. Leaving aside the disastrous general election result of last year it was always going to be difficult for Enda Kenny to continue as Taoiseach after all he was the one to dole out the austerity medicine to take us on to the next chapter. His colleagues realised that some time ago, even if he did not agree with their assessment. Without doubt he damaged the party further by staying on too long in an act of self indulgence which also made his potential successors looks weak. Whoever takes over from him has a very tall order in working out what it is the country and the citizens needs right now and how to make that happen. Friday, May 19th, 2017 (3:17 pm) - Score 4,108 Customers of Lincolnshire-based fixed wireless broadband ISP AB Internet have today been advised by the company that it has gone into administration, with the aim being to sell the business as a going concern. The news follows recent network outages. Last month saw rival wireless ISP Quickline announce that they had acquired part of AB Internets network and customer base in Newark, Boston and Peterborough for an undisclosed sum (here), although this still left the provider with a fair amount of coverage in other parts of the United Kingdom. At the time AB Internet denied that it was selling up. No, AB has not sold up! Yes we've sold our Lincs network to @QuicklineUK but this has no effect on current & future networks across the UK. AB Internet (@abinternetltd) April 12, 2017 Some readers may also recall that AB Internet was involved with one of Broadband Delivery UKs state aid supported Market Test Pilots, which saw them deploy a 50Mbps network to cover 1,600 rural premises in Monmouthshire. Likewise theyve helped to setup various community broadband networks in Scotland, among other places. Suffice to say that over the years AB Internet has managed to build up a fair reputation for themselves, but all that now seems to be in doubt. AB Internet Statement Following recent network outages and in order to best preserve the connectivity to all our clients, on the 18th of April AB Internet served formal notification of its intent to place the company into administration with an aim to sell the company as a going concern, either as a whole, or, as a number of separate and logical geographic elements and so transfer our customers seamlessly to a new network operator. Any potential purchasers should contact AB Internets appointed Administrators, James Patchett and Martin Armstrong of Turpin Barker Armstrong by email to administrators@abinternet.co.uk . Details are somewhat thin on the ground, although theres a risk that AB Internets troubles could also reflect badly on other Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) providers with similar models. The Government has recently started to give more support to FWA providers. Hopefully a buyer will soon be found. UPDATE 7:08pm Spectrum Internet, which is a separate ISP with some infrastructure in the same regions, has issued the following comment: [We] are sorry to hear the news regarding AB Internet and the distress this may be causing customers. We have been made aware of the situation only recently. Spectrum does have considerable networking assets within the South Wales area and we are actively looking to see if there is anything we can do to help and potentially maintain the network in Monmouthshire and South Wales. We are happy to hear from customers and stakeholders to identify the most urgent needs. At this stage if anyone would like to discuss the matter further please email us enquiries@spectruminternet.com as we will be sending out further updates via email as well. UPDATE 20th May 2017 The Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) in Scotland has issued the following statement on AB Internets decision, which affects two of their state aid supported projects: Loch Tay Internet and Gigaplus Argyll. HIE Statement We are disappointed by the news that AB Internet, the infrastructure supplier for two community-led broadband projects in Scotland, has entered into administration. The Scottish Government and Community Broadband Scotland recognise the urgent nature of this situation, and stand ready to assist in ensuring continuity of service for the communities we are supporting. CBS is working to put contingency plans in place that will minimise disruption for the affected groups at Loch Tay and GigaPlus Argyll. UPDATE 23rd May 2017 The following update has been posted on AB Internets website, which claims that full service could be restored within a few days and thats despite on-going attempts to find an ISP to take on their network. Mind you some people have now been without a working service for around two weeks and theyve heard similar time-scales before. Status Update AB Internet is now engaging with several internet service providers to take over the service across the UK and to ensure service continuity for the customers during the administration process. Priority has been given to the small number of customers unlucky enough to be in an area with service interruption and we are anticipating full service restoration to all customers within a few days. UPDATE 25th May 2017 Theres a new update from AB Internet. AB Internet Statement A quick update to reassure customers who are waiting to be transferred over to their new service providers, we are in negotiations with several regional operators to ensure a seamless transition without compromising the availability of your service. The last few remaining customers who are in areas where there is still a disruption in service are now our highest priority and we are anticipating reconnection within the new few days. More information will follow. Please bear with us whilst we transfer your service to your new service provider, we are not anticipating any disruption to your internet connection or service during this process. Separately a report on the Abergavenny Chronicle includes a quote from Monmouthshire County Council. Bob Greenland, MCC Cabinet Member for Enterprise, said: We recognise that some residents have been adversely affected by AB Internets intention to place the company into administration and so the council has intervened. We are working directly with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport body Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK), Welsh Government and others to ensure the continuation of the existing service until a new buyer is found. AB Internet has not kept the council updated about its actions. The pilot scheme was funded by BDUK. No money was provided by the council. We will continue to work closely with all partners regarding the long term viability of the infrastructure. Meanwhile, we hope that the company can be sold as a going concern and its customers suffer minimum inconvenience. UPDATE 30th May 2017 Another update cropped up just before the bank holiday. After leaving security intelligence platform provider Exabeam at the end of the workday, Ryan Bensons mind doesnt shut off when it comes to thinking about designing new defenses against black Hats. He heads to the gym to work out, still with his mind on security. He sits down to dinner with his wife Kelly ... to keep the family life happy. Well say he takes a break from security at this time. Once family time is done, he is back at it. Many nights, he does a lot of research/blogging on browser forensics and maintains an open source tool (Hindsight). Ryan Benson Ryan Benson But much of the 31-year-old senior threat researcher's day is targeting how to combat bad guys from taking down Exabeams network or taking over the internet. With such dedication, we thought wed trace a day in Bensons life to illustrate what strains he entails daily. He has been at Exabeam for a year now after starting his career as an intern at the FBIs Silicon Valley Regional Computer Forensics Lab (SVRCFL) from June 2008 to August 2008 while he was still in school getting his Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering. He has also held positions at Kaiser (as a senior information security engineer), Mandiant (as an incident analyst and operations lead) and Stroz Friedberg as a manager of digital forensics. (He held an incident response role there as well.) Well skip the minute-by-minute mundane activities of waking up, eating breakfast, brushing his teeth etc. as he leaves his San Mateo, Calif., home for Exabeam. He has no typical day. It changes depending on the project, but for the past six months he has been mostly working on Exabeams incident responder product, developing playbooks (ways of responding to types of incidents) and actions (Python scripts that do discreet tasks). A typical work day Benson's day could include meeting with members of Exabeams data science team, either to ask their opinion on a topic or to lend his digital forensics and incident response (DFIR) experience to a problem they are trying to solve, or to assist the customer success team when they see an interesting attack at a client or are trying to understand some behavior they havent seen before. He may even participate in meetings with the engineering or product management teams to plan out new features in Exabeams products. Benson tries to carve out a bigger block of time to dig into a research problem. Typical steps include: define what the specific question is I am trying to answer, outline an approach to the problem, perform experiments and gather data, analyze the results, validate findings, and write up a report or presentation. Very often the research is iterative, so I repeat many of the steps of the cycle with tweaks based on the results of the last, he said. This is how Benson describes his work day: Arrive at work 8 a.m. Get coffee, catch up on news from blogs/Twitter/email. Review calendar and tasks for the day. Get coffee, catch up on news from blogs/Twitter/email. Review calendar and tasks for the day. 8:30 9:30: Do some quality work (mostly coding) in on whatever project Im currently working on while the office is still mostly empty and quiet. Do some quality work (mostly coding) in on whatever project Im currently working on while the office is still mostly empty and quiet. 9:30-10:30: Call with a design partner to go over our malware playbook for IR; see how theyre using it and how we can make it better. Call with a design partner to go over our malware playbook for IR; see how theyre using it and how we can make it better. 10:30-11:30: Consult with our IR project manager on feedback from partner, write up notes, and work on any improvements to actions/playbooks. Consult with our IR project manager on feedback from partner, write up notes, and work on any improvements to actions/playbooks. 11:30-12: Have lunch in the kitchen area. Have lunch in the kitchen area. 12-3:30: Get really zoned in and work on my research project. I try to get big blocks of time set aside for this so I can work without interruptions. It usually involves headphones. Get really zoned in and work on my research project. I try to get big blocks of time set aside for this so I can work without interruptions. It usually involves headphones. 3:30-4:30: Meet with data science team to help them with a project. This is mostly leveraging my digital forensics and incidence response (DFIR) background to answer questions on security or forensics, and give my feedback on their approaches or preliminary findings. Meet with data science team to help them with a project. This is mostly leveraging my digital forensics and incidence response (DFIR) background to answer questions on security or forensics, and give my feedback on their approaches or preliminary findings. 4:30-5: Finish up tasks and head home. I have a unique background at Exabeam in that Ive been in the positions of the analysts that would be using this product, so I get to drive a lot of how it is designed and functions to make it a tool I would want to use, Benson said. Previously, Benson has worked on other research projects, including finding early warning signs that an employee is planning to leave a company, researching changes in the new Apple File System (APFS), and dissecting a wide range of ransomware families for commonalities that can aid Exabeams products in detecting them. All the while he is also involved in any internal security issues that may arise. Right now he is working on a presentation for the SANS DFIR Summit called Deciphering Browser Hieroglyphics. Why did he get into this field? Benson was at the University of the Pacific studying computer engineering when he got the bug for the computer security field. A requirement of the engineering school was that all students complete internships, and to facilitate that, the school invited a variety of companies to campus to interview potential interns. One of the companies was a small, local computer forensic consulting firm. I went into the interview not knowing a whole bunch about computer forensics, but came out of it very interested and ended up doing an internship with them in 2007. Up to that point, I didnt really know what I wanted to do with my computer engineering degree, but the more I was exposed to digital forensics, the more I was certain Id found my niche, he said. I liked the combination of needing technical knowledge, solving puzzles and trying to understand (and prove) what another person did. Many other engineering problems are about solving some abstract problem or making something more efficient. I like that at the core, Im trying to figure out what a person did. Some of his the most notable incidents that he responded to included when he was working at Mandiant on their MCIRT team right after they released the APT1 report. He and his team provided services for a number of high-profile companies that were battling APT intrusions. It was very exciting to be combating a threat that was in the national spotlight and be privy to all sorts of details months before the public, he said. Another project he was proud to be a part of was when he was at Stroz Friedberg, There were several intellectual property theft disputes. One case was Cisco v. Arista, which was a dispute between the two companies regarding patent infringement. Benson performed forensics and data recovery on networking gear to investigate some of the allegations, and testified about it before the International Trade Commission in Washington, D.C. When asked what advice he would you give to those aspiring to come into the field, he suggested reading the many good books, blogs and conference videos online that cover pretty much every facet of DFIR. Dive into that topic. Replicate what the author did, see if you can verify his or her findings, and maybe pursue a slightly different approach to it. Even if you come back with the same conclusion as the author, you will pick up valuable skills in the process by getting your hands dirty, he said. He also recommended starting a blog or writing a white paper. A huge part of DFIR is communicating to your client (whether thats a lawyer, a corporate client or your manager) what you did and what you found. When you are just starting out it is important to show that you can articulate your process and findings, even if the level of your analysis is fairly basic, Benson said. Demonstrating that you have good communication skills can get you a foot in the door, even if your technical skills are still under development, he said. .And then his head hits the pillow and we can only guess he dreams of ways to outmaneuver black hats. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 19 By Maksim Tsurkov Trend: The methanol plant of Azerbaijans state-owned company SOCAR produced 56,610 tons of methanol since early 2017, SOCAR Methanol LLC said in a message May 19. The transfer of the methanol plant, which earlier belonged to AzMeCo methanol production company, to SOCAR in November 2016 helped to restore the production process since January 2017 on the basis of new principles of the plants structure and management, reads the message. Some 99 percent of the plants production volume was exported mainly to Turkey, Western Europe and the Mediterranean countries, the message said. The company also said that it continues to analyze the local Azerbaijani market. The methanol plant was built by AzMeCo company and is one of the largest investments in the non-oil sector of Azerbaijan. The plant, which is the only one in the South Caucasus and Central Asia region, started selling products in January 2014. The annual capacity of the methanol plant is 720,000 tons. AzMeCo for the debts was handed over to Aqrarkredit CJSC non-bank credit institution in accordance with a decision of Azerbaijans Cabinet of Ministers. (Aqrarkredit CJSC manages the distressed assets of the International Bank of Azerbaijan). SOCAR acquired the plant from Aqrarkredit CJSC. The need to transfer AzMeCo to SOCAR arose due to AzMeCos debts to the International Bank of Azerbaijan. The cost of the plant was estimated at $520 million. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 19 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: The United States has an enduring interest in supporting the energy security and energy diversification of Europe, said the US ambassador to Greece Geoffrey R. Pyatt during the Hellenic Association for Energy Economics (HAEE) Conference. The energy projects currently underway in Greece like the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), the Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB), and the expansion of Revithoussa will bring significant quantities of non-Russian gas to Greece, Italy, Bulgaria, and other regional partners, said Pyatt, according to the message of the US embassy in Greece. The ambassador pointed out that TAP is the final link in the Southern Gas corridor and a key part of Southeast Europes energy security. Its been very impressive for me to see the strong political support for TAP, across the [Greek] government, and especially when I travel in Northern Greece, said Pyatt. Everybody there is focused on the positive on the job creation that TAP represents and on the potential to do even more. TAP is a part of the Southern Gas Corridor, which is one of the priority energy projects for the European Union. The project envisages transportation of gas from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz Stage 2 to the EU countries. The pipeline will connect to the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) on the Turkish-Greek border, run through Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Italys south. TAP will be 878 kilometers in length (Greece 550 kilometers, Albania 215 kilometers, Adriatic Sea 105 kilometers, and Italy 8 kilometers). TAPs shareholding is comprised of BP (20 percent), SOCAR (20 percent), Snam S.p.A. (20 percent), Fluxys (19 percent), Enagas (16 percent) and Axpo (5 percent). --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn February 12, 2001 11:08: SPEAKERS' CLUB: Anybody who wants to improve their public speaking skills can join the Association of Speakers' Club at the Ripley Arts Centre, Sundridge Avenue, on February 22, from 7.30pm to 10.30pm. For more details, call Malcom Goodwin on 020 8325 8863. PAINTING CLASS: Painter Alison Burns will be demonstrating the skills needed to create beautiful portraits at All Saints Church Hall, Bark Hart Road, Orpington. The event will take place on February 23, from 8pm to 10pm and pupils must bring their own materials. For more information, call 01959 573612. COME DANCING: Bromley's very own "Mr Wonderful" will be hosting an evening of ballroom, Latin American and modern sequence dancing at the Crofton Halls, Crofton Road, Orpington, on February 23, from 7.30pm to 11pm. For more details, call 01689 832158. Admission costs 2.80. FOLK SINGING: Wannabe folk singers are invited to visit the White Hart pub, High Street, Orpington, for a singers' night organised by Orpington folk Club on February 22. For more information, call Steve Jennings on 01959 532 754. VALENTINE'S NIGHT: Lovers and friends will enjoy a belated Valentine's night celebration at the Great Hall, Civic Centre, Stockwell Close, Bromley, on February 23. For more details, call Paul King on 020 8313 4495. Following the beery bliss I experienced on my trip to Osaka in January, I was eager to see (and taste) what crafty delights were on offer elsewhere in Japan. The popularity of craft beer, or ji-biru, literally "local beer" as it is referred to in Japanese, has experienced a significant increase nationwide in recent years, with more and more breweries and establishments dedicated to serving and selling the tipple popping up all the time. This second installment of the Craft Beer Japan series delves into the craft beer scene in Kanda, Tokyo. Not an obvious travel choice with few tourist attractions to speak of (ignoring of course the widely celebrated Kanda Matsuri festival that takes place on the district's streets every other year), Kanda has emerged in recent times as something of a craft beer oasis, home to a concentrated selection of renowned establishments that are making waves and putting this area on the map. With so much going on here, I could hardly wait to get stuck into my craft beer adventure Kanda style. Arriving on Kanda's streets in the late morning and with beer and food on the brain, my first stop had to be somewhere that served some satiating bites along with great beer. I found just that in Craft Beer and Food Wiz, around 10 minutes' walk from Kanda Station. This smallish yet spacious establishment that looks out onto a courtyard below a sleek mall/office tower provided the perfect setting in which to begin my day's journey. Wiz is just as much a cafe as a bar and is decked out in clean, light wood giving it a particularly laid-back feel. As for the beer at Wiz, it's spread over 31 taps with brews from Japan and abroad, offering quite the varied selection. Wanting to start off light, I opted for Wiz's own white beer, accompanied by an equally light taco-rice dish. The beer and the food really hit the spot without leaving me feeling over-full, and provided the perfect lunch ahead of a day of beery exploration. Next up was Hitachino Brewing Lab, just a short stroll away from Wiz. Located in a refurbished network of shops and cafes within the arches under a train track, drinking here really gives the feeling of being underground, with the exposed brick walls providing a cool, basement feel to the place. The bar brews its own beer, and there are a selection of Hitachino's celebrated brews on tap. I had the Hitachino Best Lager which was crisp, zesty and refreshing. Craft Beer Market is another bar in these parts renowned for serving 30 kinds of craft beer from across Japan and the world. What's more, as with Wiz and Hitachino Brewing Lab, they open during the day, making for a great place to do some afternoon supping. After ordering one of the day's offerings, I got chatting to Okura Yuji, the manager of this, the Awajicho branch (there are 9 branches in total), and he told me a little about Craft Beer Market and Kanda's craft beer scene in general: "We serve lots of different types of beer here and I think this variety is something that our customers enjoy. Kanda is home to lots of businesses, and so naturally there are many bars around here to cater to the after work crowd. More and more people are becoming attracted to craft beer, and I think that some of this attraction lies in the journey that people can experience; in drinking high-quality beer that comes from many different places." High-quality beer it indeed was, complimented by the modern interior to make this place a solid option if in the area. Fast forward a few hours and darkness is beginning to fall around Kanda. It's 5pm, and that means that DevilCraft is about to open. The Kanda location is the first of three DevilCraft bars across Tokyo (The other two being in Hamamatsucho and Gotanda) and remains something of an institution around here, serving (in addition to other beers) a varying selection of devilish brews that are conjured at the company brewery a few miles away down in Osaki. I perch at the bar of the three story establishment and order a pint of their Munich Steamworks brew along with one of their signature Chicago-style pizzas, both of which turn out to be delectable. The beer is deliciously refreshing and well-balanced with the pizza a perfectly mouthwatering, meaty accompaniment. Satiated and in a state of beery bliss, I'm lucky enough to catch John Chambers, a founder of the company and one of the men behind the beer, for a chat about DevilCraft. "DevilCraft was started out of a passion for beer. Our mission has always been to make the best possible beer, and we strive for our bars to be places people have a great time drinking in. Traditionally craft beer bars concentrated much less on food than the beer, but we wanted to make a place with great food to match the beer, so people don't have to go elsewhere to eat. Our answer was to introduce our Chicago-style pizzas, which have become very popular. As for the the near future, our focus lies in continuing to develop our beers, trying out different things and new flavors." From DevilCraft it's a hop, skip and a jump to Kura Kura, another well-renowned place and a pillar of the Kanda craft beer scene. The bar is dimly lit and has a sophisticated atmosphere, with the staff impeccably dressed in formal attire. Kura Kura is known for its selection of craft beers from around Japan, including a personal favorite of mine, Hida Takayama Beer's weizen brew. I sit down and savor the flavor and ambience. The final spot on today's trip was Tap Tap, a bar and cafe close to Kanda Station with a penchant for purveying beers from western Japan. The interior is modern and bright and the beer selection extensive. I opted for a lager from Hiroshima Prefecture to conclude the day's proceedings. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 19 By Maksim Tsurkov Trend: Azerbaijani Energy Minister Natig Aliyev will visit Vienna, Austria, to participate in the 172nd meeting of the Council of Ministers of OPEC and non-OPEC countries on May 23-25, the countrys Energy Ministry said May 19. According to the ministry, the visit will be realized with the consent of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Taking into account the importance of Azerbaijan's direct participation in the events for stabilization of oil prices and its leading role in those events, OPEC Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo, as well as Kuwaiti Oil Minister, Head of the Joint OPEC-Non-OPEC Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) Essam al-Marzouq appealed to Natig Aliyev with a proposal to have a meeting, the ministry said. A report on impact of the oil output reduction on international market, market trends and economic development is expected to be presented at the meeting. On the basis of the report, the Vienna agreement will be extended or another decision will be made. OPEC agreed to slash the output by 1.2 million barrels per day from Jan. 1. In December 2016, 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. A decision on the agreement is expected to be made at the 172nd meeting of the Council of Ministers of OPEC in Vienna on May 25. The agreement to reduce oil production, concluded on December 10, 2016 between OPEC and non-OPEC states, is historic, Natig Aliyev was quoted as saying. The stabilizing oil market and oil prices, and fulfillment of obligations by the agreement participants testified to the correctness of the decision to reduce the oil production, the minister said. The outcome of the Vienna agreement should be sustainable, he added. For this purpose, the active participation of all oil producing countries in this process and their activity for common interest is important. Azerbaijan, as a signatory to the agreement, is ready to further take actions to achieve stable oil prices. Azerbaijan fully complies with its obligations to reduce oil production by 35,000 barrels per day. Azerbaijan produced 793,900 barrels of oil per day (bpd) in January, 776,400 bpd in February, 733,300 bpd in March and 781,100 bpd in April 2017. Email Links to our top local news stories of the day, Monday through Saturday. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 19 By Maksim Tsurkov Trend: The oil price has been stable since January 2017 and the current prices suit all oil producers, Azerbaijani Energy Minister Natig Aliyev told a meeting with US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Robert Cekuta. During the meeting, the sides mulled the situation in the world energy markets prior to the 172nd OPEC Ministerial Council meeting in Vienna, reads a message from the Azerbaijani Energy Ministry. Aliyev and Cekuta also exchanged views on the impact of economic and political factors on oil prices, and on possible steps for energy extraction in Iran, Iraq, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Kazakhstan. The sides discussed the agreement between Russia and Saudi Arabia to extend the deal on oil output cut by late March 2018, and noted that the extension of the deal by the end of 2017 is more reasonable. In general, despite the small price changes, the oil price has been stable since January and the current prices suit all producers, Aliyev said. He added that now Azerbaijans main goal is to ensure the timely completion of the Southern Gas Corridor project. WASHINGTON -- The pleasant surprise of the First 100 Days is over. The action was hectic, heated, often confused, but well within the bounds of normalcy. Policy (e.g., health care) was being hashed out, a Supreme Court nominee confirmed, foreign policy challenges (e.g. North Korea) addressed. Donald Trump's character -- volatile, impulsive, often self-destructive -- had not changed since the campaign. But it seemed as if the guardrails of our democracy -- Congress, the courts, the states, the media, the Cabinet -- were keeping things within bounds. Then came the last 10 days. The country is now caught in the internal maelstrom that is the mind of Donald Trump. We are in the realm of the id. Chaos reigns. No guardrails can hold. Normal activity disappears. North Korea's launch of an alarming new missile and a problematic visit from the president of Turkey (locus of our most complicated and tortured allied relationship) barely evoke notice. Nothing can escape the black hole of a three-part presidential meltdown. First, the firing of James Comey. Trump, consumed by the perceived threat of the Russia probe to his legitimacy, executes a mindlessly impulsive dismissal of the FBI director. He then surrounds it with a bodyguard of lies -- attributing the dismissal to a Justice Department recommendation -- which his staff goes out and parrots. Only to be undermined and humiliated when the boss contradicts them within 48 hours. Result? Layers of falsehoods giving the impression of an elaborate cover-up -- in the absence of a crime. At least Nixon was trying to quash a third-rate burglary and associated felonies. Here we don't even have a body, let alone a smoking gun. Trump insists there's no there there, but acts as if the there is everywhere. Second, Trump's divulging classified information to the Russians. A stupid, needless mistake. But despite the media hysteria, hardly an irreparable national security calamity. The Israelis, whose asset might have been jeopardized, are no doubt upset, but the notion that this will cause a great rupture to their (and others') intelligence relationship with the U.S. is nonsense. These kinds of things happen all the time. When the Obama administration spilled secrets of the anti-Iranian Stuxnet virus or blew the cover of a double agent in Yemen, there was none of the garment-rending that followed Trump's disclosure. Once again, however, the cover-up far exceeded the crime. Trump had three top officials come out and declare the disclosure story false. The next morning, Trump tweeted he was entirely within his rights to reveal what he revealed, thereby verifying the truth of the story. His national security adviser H.R. McMaster floundered his way through a news conference, trying to reconcile his initial denial with Trump's subsequent contradiction. It was a sorry sight. Is it any wonder, therefore, that when the third crisis hit on Tuesday night -- the Comey memo claiming that Trump tried to get him to call off the FBI investigation of Michael Flynn -- Republicans hid under their beds rather than come out to defend the president? The White House hurriedly issued a statement denying the story. The statement was unsigned. You want your name on a statement that your boss could peremptorily contradict in a twitter-second? Republicans are beginning to panic. One sign is the notion now circulating that, perhaps to fend off ultimate impeachment, Trump be dumped by way of 25th Amendment. That's the post-Kennedy assassination measure that provides for removing an incapacitated president on the decision of the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet. This is the worst idea since Leno at 10 p.m. It perverts the very intent of the amendment. It was meant for a stroke, not stupidity; for Alzheimer's, not narcissism. Otherwise, what it authorizes is a coup -- willful overthrow by the leader's own closest associates. I thought we had progressed beyond the Tudors and the Stuarts. Moreover, this would be seen by millions as an establishment usurpation to get rid of a disruptive outsider. It would be the most destabilizing event in American political history -- the gratuitous overthrow of an essential constant in American politics, namely the fixedness of the presidential term (save for high crimes and misdemeanors). Trump's behavior is deeply disturbing but hardly surprising. His mercurial nature is not the product of a post-inaugural adder sting at Mar-a-Lago. It's been there all along. And the American electorate chose him nonetheless. What to do? Strengthen the guardrails. Redouble oversight of this errant president. Follow the facts, especially the Comey memos. And let the chips fall where they may. But no tricks, constitutional or otherwise. The Washington Post Baku, Azerbaijan, May 19 By Maksim Tsurkov - Trend: Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR increased the number of its filling stations in Romania to 36, said the company in a message May 19. SOCAR commissioned a filling station under its brand name downtown in Romanias Bucharest. This station has already become the second one in the city, the message said. Two counters have been installed here, and the conditions for the simultaneous filling of four automobiles and two trucks have been created. NANO 95 and NANO 98 gasoline brands, NANO Diesel and NANO Super Diesel fuel are being sold at the filling station, which also has electric vehicle charging service. Currently, the company operates filling stations in 17 regions of Romania. SOCAR is the sole producer of oil products in Azerbaijan. It has filling stations in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine, Romania and Switzerland. Within the frame of the companys CSR strategy, Nar successfully continues its cooperation with Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU). After the last years opening of the Nar laboratory, supplied with the special equipment, at Azerbaijan Technical University, the mobile operator now continues to develop its relations with AzTU in various directions. This time, the training on The fundamentals of mobile communication was organized for AzTU students, with participation of professional technical team, consisting of some of Nars best local specialists. Students and young engineers, who took part in the training, were able to gain conceptual and practical knowledge on mobile network operation, fundamentals of mobile internet and such communication technologies as 2G, 3G and 4G. This initiative of Nar, being a company which attaches special importance to education, training and development, will help the students become even more successful in their studies. It should be noted that in the frame of partnership agreement signed with Azerbaijan Technical University, Nar established a GSM laboratory at AzTU, where the students are able to gain theoretical and practical knowledge in the area of GSM. This special laboratory, supplied with the latest telecommunications equipment by Nar, hosts trainings and seminars for students, conducted by professional technical personnel. A whole group of young people, who have developed their practical knowledge by means of this program, have already taken their first steps by working for a mobile operator, to grow as young qualified specialists in this particular field. Equipment of the universitys lab and conducting special internship program for students is being implemented within Nars CSR strategy, specifically aimed at youth and education. Visit nar.az for more information about the CSR strategy of Nar. The Brazilian Supreme Court [official website] on Thursday authorized a corruption probe into President Michel Temer [BBC profile] and his alleged involvement with the bribery of a potential witness in a major corruption case. Local news sources have cited the courts decision, but the Supreme Court has yet to release a copy [Valor Economico report, in Portuguese] of the decision itself. Temer has responded that he will not resign and that he welcomes the investigation [Reuters report] so his innocence can be proven. Brazil has endured tumultuous times as former president Dilma Rousseff was impeached for corruption [JURIST report] last year amidst a time of economic turmoil. Last month Brazils Supreme Court ordered investigations into eight cabinet ministers [JURIST report] and dozens of lawmakers who are allegedly linked to the countrys so-called car wash bribery scheme. The investigation was ordered on the tails of an anti-corruption measure that was passed last December by the Brazilian Lower Chamber of Deputies. Operation Carwash [JURIST report] allows individuals who are subject to prosecution to seek criminal consequences against their prosecutors and judges if the officials abuse their powers. Operation Carwash was passed as charges have been filed against some of Brazils most powerful politicians, including former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva [JURIST report]. In late September former finance minister Antonio Palocci was arrested [JURIST report]. In November Rousseffs lawyers filed documents [JURIST report] with the Superior Electoral Court in Brazil alleging that Temer was involved with bribery. More than a dozen Democratic attorneys general filed a motion to intervene [text, PDF] in a lawsuit that threatens key parts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) [text] on Thursday. House v. Price (formerly House v. Burwell) [complaint, PDF], a suit currently pending in the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit [official website], was filed in an attempt to cut subsidy payments to insurance plans that were created under the ACA that help cover out-of-pocket expenses for low-income Americans. Attorneys general from Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington state and the District of Columbia have joined New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra [official websites] on the motion. They argue that the States have unique sovereign interestsin administering their insurance markets and safeguarding their residentsthat the current parties cannot represent. They assert that cutting subsidy payments would increase the number of uninsured Americans, hurting vulnerable individuals and directly burdening the States. If the replacement for the ACA, the American Health Care Act, passes in the Senate, the pending litigation will become moot. Repealing the ACA has been a significant priority for President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers. In March an earlier version of the proposed American Health Care Act (AHCA) was withdrawn from consideration [JURIST report] after failing to get enough support to pass. Earlier that month, Republican lawmakers released two amendments [JURIST report] to the AHCA in an effort to appeal to both conservative and liberal critics. Senators proposed [JURIST report] the initial ACA replacement bill at the end of January. This came after Trump signed an executive order [JURIST report] aimed at repealing the ACA, shortly after being sworn in. The Senate had prepared for the repealing of the ACA earlier that month when it voted 51-48 [JURIST report] to prevent the process from being subject to a filibuster. The California Rifle and Pistol Association [advocacy website], the state affiliate of the National Rifle Association (NRA), filed a lawsuit [complaint, PDF] on Thursday seeking to prevent California from enforcing stricter gun laws. The complaint seeks declaratory and injunctive relief against the measure [section 32310] that limits magazine capacity to 10 rounds. The complaint argues the restrictions are in violation of the constitutional right to carry arms and due process: Finally, Section 32310 violates the Due Process Clause. Banning magazines over ten rounds is no more likely to reduce criminal abuse of guns than banning high horsepower engines is likely to reduce criminal abuse of automobiles. To the contrary, the only thing the ban ensures is that a criminal unlawfully carrying a firearm with a magazine over ten rounds will have a (potentially devastating) advantage over his law abiding victim. And Section 32310 raises particularly acute due process concerns because it criminalizes the continued possession of magazines that were lawful when acquired. The lawsuit is the second in a series [press release] that gun advocates plan to file against recent California gun restrictions. Gun control remains a controversial domestic issue. The NRA in April filed the first complaint [JURIST report] challenging the California gun laws last month. Iowa Governor Terry Branstad signed legislation [JURIST report] in April expanding gun rights in the state. House File 517 gives gun owners the ability to defend themselves in public and prevents local governments from implementing their own rules. South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard in March vetoed a pair of bills [JURIST report] that would have loosened the states regulations on concealed carry laws. The US House of Representatives approved [JURIST report} a bill in March making it easier for certain veterans to obtain firearms Oregon became the second US state to enact legislation [HB 2673A materials] that makes it easier for transgender individuals to change the name and gender on their birth certificates on Thursday. The law [Reuters report] allows transgender Oregon residents to amend their name and gender identification by filling out a form rather than having to post a public notice in the county clerks office and petition a court. The new system will allow for more privacy and is more cost effective as well. The process will cost an estimated $65 instead of the hundreds of dollars typically incurred by court fees. A 2015 survey conducted by the National Center for Transgender Equality [advocacy website] showed that just one in 10 transgender people have legal identification that matches their gender identity. Reduced costs and fewer processing hurdles will make it easier for transgender individuals to obtain the identification required to find jobs and receive access to medical care. The law was signed [Advocate report] by Governor Kate Brown [official website], the nations first openly bisexual governor, and will go into effect January 2018. Transgender rights have been a controversial issue in recent months, mostly concerning access to bathrooms. In April the US 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 in March with the passage of House Bill 142. Last May former North Carolina 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. Romanias parliament [official website] approved legislation on Friday that facilitates financial support for Holocaust survivors. The law, which will be enforced starting July 1, will offer 400 lei (USD $97.98) per month for each year of deportation or detention to those who had their property taken or were forcefully removed from their homes to endure ghettos, concentration camps, death trains and forced labor. The restitution will be provided to those who are no longer Romanian citizens as well as living partners of Holocaust survivors provided they have not remarried. It is unclear how many are eligible for the payments or how much it will cost the Romanian government. Romania, an ally of Nazi Germany until August 1944, has a current population [Reuters report] of fewer than 11,000 Jews. Most of the beneficiaries [NYT report] of the new law, who are in their 80s and 90s, have been fighting to regain their lost property in cases that can last years. More than 40,000 claims are still pending. International courts have recently seen an increase of war crime charges against former members of the Nazi party. Last year, Reinhold Hanning, a 94-year-old former Schutzstaffel (SS) guard in the Auschwitz death camp between 1942 and 1944, apologized to Nazi victims at his trial in Detmold [JURIST report], a small town in West Germany. Prior to 2011, German prosecutors often chose not to charge individuals they regarded as cogs in, rather than active members of, the Nazi war machine. The 2011 conviction [JURIST report] of former Nazi guard John Demjanjuk may have emboldened German prosecutors to pursue cases against all those who materially helped Nazi Germany function. In December 2015, a German court allowed [JURIST report] the trial of a 95-year-old Auschwitz paramedic accused of being an accessory to the murder of 3,681 people at Auschwitz. The most recent person imprisoned for their role in the Holocaust was Oskar Groening. Known as the accountant of Auschwitz, Groening was charged [JURIST report] in September 2014 as an accessory to the murder of 300,000 people. In July 2015 Groening was given a four-year jail sentence for his role at Auschwitz, a sentence he said he would appeal [JURIST reports]. Swedens Director of Public Prosecution, Marianne Ny, dropped [decision, PDF] the preliminary investigation of rape charges against WikiLeaks [official website] founder Julian Assange on Friday. The decision was made on the grounds that in order to continue with court proceedings, Assange would need to be physically present. Assange has been protected by asylum, living in the Ecuadorean embassy in London since 2012 when he lost a court battle over extradition [Guardian report] to Sweden for the rape charges. He feared that extradition to Sweden would lead to extradition to the US where he is wanted for leaking thousands of classified documents. Although the UK has not commented [CNN report] as to whether it has received an extradition request from the US, a treaty [BBC report] between to the two countries would allow British authorities to arrest Assange and send him to the US. Ny did not discount [press release] the possibility of attempting to prosecute Assange in the future, saying, If he, at a later date, makes himself available, I will be able to decide to resume the investigation immediately. The arrest warrant against Assange was challenged [JURIST report] eight times. All of the rulings have been against Assange until now. The WikiLeaks controversy [JURIST op-ed] has also garnered much debate in the US. Last year US Army Major General Jeffery Buchanan upheld [JURIST report] Private Chelsea Mannings conviction and prison sentence for turning over classified information to WikiLeaks. In September 2013 Manning filed for a presidential pardon of the 35-year sentence [JURIST reports] she received in August. The sentence came a month after she was found guilty [JURIST report] of violating the Espionage Act but was acquitted of the more serious charge of aiding the enemy. Manning was released [JURIST report] from military prison earlier this week after serving seven of her 35 years. President Barack Obama commuted [JURIST report] the remainder of her sentence as one of his final acts in office. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, May 19 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Preparation of a new version of the law On Combating Corruption is underway in Turkmenistan, the countrys defense minister, secretary of the State Security Council Yaylym Berdiyev said, Turkmenistan State News Agency reported. He made the remarks at a joint meeting of the Turkmen government and the State Security Council. It was mentioned that the anti-corruption law, which will be amended, will define the legal and organizational bases for combating corruption. Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that this work is aimed at protecting the rights and freedoms of citizens, increasing the efficiency of state bodies, ensuring the national security and stable economic development of Turkmenistan. In mid-May 2017, it was reported that criminal cases related to bribery and embezzlement of state property were launched in Turkmenistan. US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer [official website] sent a letter [text] to Congress Thursday communicating the Trump administrations intention to begin the process of re-negotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) [text, PDF]. NAFTA is an international trade agreement between the US, Mexico and Canada, and has been in place since 1994. Lighthizer cited a lack of modernity in light of more recent digital trade developments as the reason for renegotiation. Lighthizer wrote: In particular, we note that NAFTA was negotiated over 25 years ago, and while our economy and businesses have changed considerably over that period, NAFTA has not. Many chapters are outdated and do not reflect modern standards. For example, digital trade was in its infancy when NAFTA was enacted. In addition, and consistent with the negotiation objectives in the Trade Priorities and Accountability Act, our aim is that NAFTA be modernized. US President Donald Trump had previously threatened to withdraw completely from the agreement. The US place in international trade has been uncertain since Donald Trump took office. The letter from Lighthizer comes on the heels of an executive order directing the Commerce Department and Lighthizer to review all US trade agreements and the countrys membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO) to determine the cause of the US trade deficit [JURIST report]. The order called for a comprehensive review of whether previous free trade agreements and membership in the WTO have brought the benefits that were predicted. The order came just days after Trump announced he would not order a withdrawal from the NAFTA, but would rather renegotiate its terms with Canada and Mexico. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross responded [press briefing] to the order, stating that an analysis of NAFTA will be a significant part of the required study. Tulsa police officer Betty Shelby was found not guilty of first-degree manslaughter in the shooting of an unarmed black man on Wednesday. Terence Crutcher was fatally shot after his SUV stalled on the side of the road. Shelby testified [NPR report] that she feared Crutcher was under the influence of PCP, a hallucinogen that causes erratic, combative behavior. According to her testimony, Crutcher ignored the officers on scene and placed his hands on the SUV and began to reach inside when Shelby fired shots. Videos [CNN archive] from Shelbys dashboard camera and a police helicopter show Crutcher walking away from Shelby with his hands in the air. Shelby was arrested shortly after the videos were released. Use of police force has been questioned on a national scale recently. Earlier in May the Dallas County Sheriffs Department [official website] issued an arrest warrant [JURIST report] for former Police Officer Roy Oliver over the murder of Jordan Edwards, a young black man. In 2015 Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke was charged [JURIST report] with first-degree murder for the death of black teenager Laquan McDonald in October 2014. That same year an Ohio grand jury decided not to indict [JURIST report] two officers involved in a 2014 shooting resulting in the death of 12-year-old Tamir Rice. Also in 2014 a grand jury in Ferguson, Missouri, decided not to indict [JURIST report] police officer Darren Wilson for the shooting death of teenager Michael Brown in August of that year. In 2013 the UN Working Group of Experts of People of African Descent and the UN Special Rapporteur on racism called upon [JURIST report] the US government to finalize its investigation into the case surrounding the 2012 death of Trayvon Martin. The US Department of the Treasury [official website] on Thursday announced sanctions [press release] against eight Venezuelan Supreme Court justices for usurping democracy. The sanctions come after the court has issued controversial rulings, including dissolving the legislature [JURIST report]. The rulings were met with backlash and protests [JURIST reports]. As a result the treasury announced sanctions against the justices pursuant to Executive Order 13692 [summary]: The eight officials are the President of Venezuelas TSJ, Maikel Jose Moreno Perez, and the seven principal members of the TSJs Constitutional Chamber (La Sala Constitucional del TSJ or TSJ-C): Juan Jose Mendoza Jover (Second Vice President of the TSJ and President of the TSJ-C); Arcadio de Jesus Delgado Rosales (Vice President of the TSJ-C); Gladys Maria Gutierrez Alvarado (Magistrate of the TSJ-C and former President of the TSJ); Carmen Auxiliadora Zuleta de Merchan (Magistrate of the TSJ-C); Luis Fernando Damiani Bustillos (Magistrate of the TSJ-C); Lourdes Benicia Suarez Anderson (Magistrate of the TSJ-C); and Calixto Antonio Ortega Rios (Magistrate of the TSJ-C). As a result of todays actions, all of the designated individuals assets within U.S. jurisdiction are frozen, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them The US House of Representatives passed a bill [JURIST report] Wednesday to impose sanctions on supporters of Syrias Assad regime. Bill 1677, also known as Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, is intended to encourage negotiations to end violence and promote the prosecution of war criminals. The Ukrainian Security and Defense Council imposed [JURIST report] sanctions on a series of Russian tech companies Tuesday, citing security concerns over possible cyber attack. The North Korean legislature on last Friday sent a letter [JURIST report] to the US House of Representatives protesting new sanctions raised against the country Track product launches by FMCG companies to get an understanding of the product-level strategies including geographic concentrations, innovation types, product claim, category focus and more Monitoring the advertising strategies of various brands and gain insights into channel focus, regional focus, and more Perform company-level analysis to understand business model, size, and geographic focus Unilever product advertising is mainly through mainstream TV channels. Out of the products advertised so far at least 50% (over 850) of ads have been run on TV, while print media comes second with 496 ads. Unilever also utilizes social media platforms for advertisement. Unilever products are categorized by innovation ratings and tags in our product launch database. The North American region consists of almost 74 products with innovations related to the formulation of the product. Europe and other regions also have more products categorized under formulation-related innovation, followed by the packaging and positioning of the products. Most Unilever products are tagged with High Vitamins, Recyclable, and Natural tags to understand what the product differentiator is from other products available in the market. The majority of products belong to the personal care industry with a total of 5,788 products to date. This report, through the Unilever Example, illustrates how GlobalData Explorer enables you to:Dont miss out on key market insights that can help optimize your next investment read the report now. NEWSLETTER Sign up Tick the boxes of the newsletters you would like to receive. Just Drinks Daily News The top stories of the day delivered to you every weekday. Just Drinks Weekly News A weekly roundup of the latest news and analysis, sent every Monday. Just Drinks Magazine The industry's most comprehensive news and information delivered every quarter Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, May 19 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Uzbekistans President Shavkat Mirziyoyev will pay a working visit to Turkmenistan on May 20, the Turkmen government said in a message. Turkmenistans President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov will have negotiations with his Uzbek counterpart in Avaza (Balkan Province). Projects are being implemented in this region in order to develop rich natural pantries, their recreational opportunities. Meanwhile, a big sea port is being built in Avaza. Bilateral documents are planned to be signed after the meetings. Information on preparations for the Turkmen-Uzbek high level talks was given at a governmental meeting. President Berdimuhamedov noted that regular high-level meetings testify the mutual aspiration and interest of both countries in building up effective cooperation developed on traditions of friendship and good-neighborliness, on an equal, constructive and long-term basis. Energy sphere is one of the strategic areas of the two countries partnership. Turkmenistan has been delivering natural gas to China through Uzbekistan since 2009. The two countries are discussing at this stage the project on creation of the Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran-Oman transport route. This will allow increasing significantly the international freight transit and providing with a new communication corridor to world markets. Presidents of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan signed an agreement on strategic cooperation in Ashgabat in March 2017. Switzerland-based bakery group Aryzta has appointed a former executive of Irish food group Glanbia, Kevin Toland, as CEO. Toland, who was formerly chief executive and president of Chicago-based Glanbia USA & Global Nutritionals, joins Aryzta from DAA the operator of Irelands Dublin and Cork airports where he has been chief executive since 2013. Toland has also held a number of other senior management positions at Coca-Cola Bottlers in Russia and with Grand Metropolitan in Ireland and central Europe. Aryzta chairman Gerry McGann said: Kevin has an outstanding track record of delivering strategically, operationally and financially. He is a proven CEO of businesses undergoing significant transformation and brings extensive experience of the food sector. Tolands appointment follows the resignations earlier this year of a number of top executives at Aryzta, including former CEO Owen Killian and finance chief Patrick McEniff. The resignations came amid a strategic review as the group considered the future of its stake in French frozen food retailer Picard. Aryzta has yet to appoint a replacement for McEniff, although in March, KPMG partner David Wilkinson was named as interim finance chief. Aryzta said earlier this month it was evaluating its stake in Picard, amid speculation the company was close to selling its shareholding. It was in February when Aryzta first announced it was evaluating investment alternatives for Picard alongside private-equity firm Lion Capital, which is the retailers majority shareholder. French dairy group Danone said yesterday (18 May) it is relying on synergies from its acquisition of US food and beverage group WhiteWave Foods to help lift its recurring operating margin above 16% of sales in 2020. Danone said it is targeting overall like-for-like sales growth between 4% and 5% in 2020, compared to 2.9% last year. The group made the forecast at the end of a two-day investor seminar in Evian, France. Danone said its overall forecast included sales growth above 5% for Danones Essential Dairy & Plant-based (EDP) division Noram, which includes its North American dairy business and Whitewaves former North American business. According to its forecast, the Activia maker is also aiming for sales growth of 3-4% for its Essential Dairy & Plant-based (EDP) international, which includes its dairy products in the rest of the world as well as WhiteWaves former business in Europe, Latin America and China. Danone said it aims for a recurring operating margin of more than 16% in 2020, driven primarily by factors including a structural improvement of margin in all categories, via more discipline and a stricter resource allocation process to guarantee profitable growth. Another factor will be the groups Protein programme, which Danone said will generate over EUR1bn (US$1.1bn) savings by 2020, with at least EUR300m net of reinvestment falling through into margin expansion by 2020 (EUR100m per year from 2018). The group also forecast a $300m synergies programme generated in 2020 at recurring operating income level through the acquisition of WhiteWave. For 2017, Danone said it continues to expect a moderate sales growth and confirms a sustained improvement in recurring operating margin, including the integration of WhiteWave and a first delivery of the cost synergies, leading to double-digit recurring EPS growth at constant exchange rate. Earlier this week, it was announced that 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. Tashkent, Uzbekistan, May 19 By Demir Azizov Trend: Uzbekistan highly estimates the prospects for a constitutional and equal dialogue with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Akmal Saidov, director of the National Human Rights Center, told reporters on May 19. He expressed hope that the results of talks held in Tashkent will become a strong stimulus for the fruitful development of relations with the UN in the field of human rights. As it was reported earlier, on May 10-11, an OHCHR delegation, led by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Al Hussein, was on an official visit in Uzbekistan. Al Hussein had meetings with Uzbekistans President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, at the Uzbek parliament, government and with representatives of civil society and media. One of the important outcomes of the visit can be called a preliminary agreement with Uzbekistan on resuming cooperation with special rapporteurs and establishing work with the regional office of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Bishkek, said Saidov. In general, praising the results of the visit, Zeid Raad Al Hussein confirmed the readiness of the OHCHR to develop long-term and systematic cooperation, added Saidov. New York City, NY, 05/19/2017 /SubmitPressRelease123/ In a city as crowded as New York City, pickpockets and muggers are an unfortunate reality. Check any tourism website for any of the worlds major cities, and youre likely to find ample advice about avoiding a mugger and staying safe on the citys streets. Recently, a veteran thief who estimates that he mugged over 100 people and is currently serving 25 years to life in a New York maximum security prison told Today how to avoid being a victim of a mugging or similar crime. But what if youre the victim of a mugging regardless of how diligently you follow these safety tips? What happens if youre mugged due to a property owners negligence? If an assault could have been prevented, and would not have occurred if the property owner had taken reasonable steps to make the property safe, you could have a claim against the property owner for negligence. New York Premises Liability and Negligent Security Its a general rule of law that property owners have a legal responsibility to make their property free from foreseeable safety hazards. In New York City, building codes impose certain regulations on the owners of stores, bars, office buildings, shops, parking garages, apartment buildings, and many other types of properties. For example, an apartment building with a malfunctioning elevator that hasnt been inspected or maintained properly is an unreasonable safety risk that could result in someone getting injured or killed. In that situation, the buildings owner is liable for any injuries or deaths that occur due to the lack of maintenance. Similarly, property owners also have a duty to ensure their properties are safe from unreasonable security risks. Examples include a lack of adequate lighting in a parking garage, failure to hire and retain security personnel at a bar, or malfunctioning locks on windows or doors. Property owners who neglect to keep their stores, shops, restaurants, bars, and other properties secure can be held responsible for injuries or deaths that occur as a result. NYC Premises Liability Lawyer Discusses Negligent Security New York City premises liability lawyer Jonathan C. Reiter states, No matter how careful you are, you cant control what property owners do on their own property. Unfortunately, some property owners attempt to save money by cutting corners on essential safety needs, such as surveillance cameras, security guards, and proper lighting. If you have been injured in a mugging or other incident involving a violent crime, and you believe negligent security contributed to the attack, contact a New York City premises liability lawyer as soon as possible to discuss the options in your case. Media Contact: New York City premises liability lawyer Jonathan C. Reiter. T: 866-324-9211. source: http://injuryaccidentnews.jcreiterlaw.com/2017/05/14/new-york-city-premises-liability-lawyer-jonathan-c-reiter-discusses-store-liability-mugging/ Social Media Tags:Liability Lawyer Jonathan C. Reiter, Negligent Security, New York City Premises Liability Lawyer, New York Premises Liability, NYC Premises Liability Lawyer, Store Liability for Mugging Newsroom powered by Online Press Release Distribution SubmitMyPressRelease.com Like Us on Facebook It's only fair to share... Pinterest Linkedin email Print Baku, Azerbaijan, May 17 By Dalga Khatinoglu Trend: Iran has invested in Sines port to operate the LPG shipments with Portugal, Ruben Eiras, the advisor in Portugal's ministry of sea, told Trend. According to him, Iran and Portugal are more than hopeful about the future cooperation. "At the moment, there is an Iranian investment in the port of Sines to commercialize LPG shipments. It is part of market dynamics. And specifically, they are focusing on infrastructures to distribute LPG in African market," he said. Coming to natural gas deal between Iran and EU, Eiras said that he is optimistic about Iran Europe gas relations. "For what I know, if there is will and investment capacity, this will lead to other cooperation as well," he said. Iran is expanding its LPG and gas condensate markets due to output growth in South Pars. Iran increased hydrocarbons production capacity from South Pars by 9 percent during the last fiscal year. The daily gas output stands at 500 million cubic meters (mcm/d), gas condensate at 560,000 barrels per day and LPG (butane and propane) at about 25,000 tons. Irans LPG production level was 5.6 million tons per year in 2014 and reached about 9 million tons in early 2017. During the last fiscal year (ended March 20), Iran exported $1.222 billion worth of propane at $350/tons as well as $772 million worth of butane at $377/tons. Iran also has announced repeatedly about its willingness to export natural gas (methane) to European markets via pipeline or LNG. Iran has a semi-finished LNG plant, suspended mid-2000s due to sanctions, but hasnt re-launched the plant yet. The capacity of project is 10.4 million tons per year of liquefaction of natural gas. It has costed $2.5 billion and needs further $5.5-9.5 billion to be completed. Iran also have to construct a $6 billion 1800-km pipeline, stretched from South Pars to Turkey borders. Then it may be able to supply gas to the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline, connected to Trans Adriatic Pipeline in Europe in case the shareholders of projects show green light. Both pipelines are Turkish-European part of Southern Gas Corridor, aimed to transit 16 bcm/yr of Azerbaijani Shah Denizs gas to Turkey and Europe in 2018 and 2021 respectively. The final capacity of the project is 31 bcm/yr. Irans gross gas output stands at 285bn m3/yr. However, it plans to increase this volume to about 440 bcm/y by 2021 after full operational of South Pars and starting gas production from other projects like Kish gas field. Baku, Azerbaijan, May. 19 By Dalga Khatinoglu Trend: Iran recently paid $300 million of its debts to Iran over power imports and currently has $800 million more remaining, projected to be paid in future, Deputy Energy Minister Houshang Falahatian said May 19. According to him, Iran has tripled power export during the first two months of the current fiscal year, started March 21, compared to the same period in last year. He didnt mentioned the exact volume of exports, but according to Energy Ministrys official statistics, Iran decreased electricity export by 78 percent to 300 million kWh in two months of the last fiscal year, while the imports increased by 6 percent to 789 million kWh. Iran cut power export to Iraq for two months over its $1.2 billion delayed debts, but resumed in March again. Falahatian said that Iran plans to increase the total electricity exports to 10 billion kWh during the current fiscal year. Iran increased electricity import by 4 percent to 4.336 billion KWh, while its electricity export decreased by 33 percent to 6.503 billion kWh during the last fiscal year. The countrys actual power generation capacity and actual electricity generation stood at 59 GW and 286 billion kWh during last fiscal year. Tehran, Iran, May 19 By Mehdi Sepahvand Trend: Alongside the major presidential nominees, Hassan Rouhani and Ebrahim Raisi, other top Iranian clerics cast their votes for presidential election in the country that is taking place today. Iranians started to go to polling stations to elect their next president at 8:00 local time, Trends correspondent reported May 19. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Rouhani cast their votes right after the opening of the polling stations. Ayatollahs Makarem Shirazi, Mohammad Yazdi, Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi, Jafar Sobhani, Lotfollah Safi Golpayeghani and other top clerics have cast their votes as well. The head of Judiciary System Sadegh Larijani also casted his vote. Meanwhile, Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called on the Iranian people to go on and vote as soon as possible. He said democracy is a blessing and called on Iranians to rush to the polling booths and cast their votes. This round of election includes incumbent president Hassan Rouhani fighting for a second term, rivaled by conservative Ebrahim Raisi, with a career in the judiciary and currently the superintendent of Irans biggest religious tourism foundation in Mashhad. Elections of city councils and a mid-term parliamentary election are also being held simultaneously. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 19 By Elmira Tariverdiyeva Trend: The presidential election which is being held in Iran on May 19 causes great interest not only in the West, but also in the region, as a lot depends on the election results. Now, it is possible to predict that Iranian incumbent President Hassan Rouhani will probably win the election. However, it is unknown whether it will happen in the first or in the second round. Along with that, some presidential candidates at the last moment left the presidential race and supported other presidential candidates. Before the election Iranian First Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiriwithdrew his candidacy in favor of President Rouhani, while Mayor of Tehran Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who also left the presidential race, supported conservative Ebrahim Raisi. According to the latest polls, a considerable number of Iranians (around 20 percent) supported Ghalibaf. While assuming that almost all of them will support conservative Raisi, it will not be so easy for Rouhani to win in the first round of the election as it has been expected. However, Rouhani will likely to retain his post and it is quite fair. It was Rouhanis team that led the country out of the deep economic and political crisis, in which Iran was during eight-year-rule of Iranian ex-President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. It was Rouhani who led the country out of most Western sanctions and restored relations with Western countries. In fact, it would be wrong to call a nuclear deal with Iran as success of the Obama administration. It was rather the success of moderate President Rouhani, who did everything for the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to approve a nuclear deal that gave Iran huge advantages. Indeed, during Rouhanis presidency, Iran turned from an outcast into a country of great interest to many Western and world powers and with which it is possible to do business. As a result, European governments rushed to conclude deals on the practically untouched Iranian market. Undoubtedly, this brought great benefits to Iran itself, beginning from the creation of new jobs to the renovation of its air fleet. At the regional level President Rouhani also played the role of a far-sighted politician, who is open to new formats of cooperation which are beneficial for the country. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met with his Russian and Iranian counterparts Vladimir Putin and Hassan Rouhani in Baku in August 2016. Following the meeting, it became clear that the new trilateral regional format not only is a logistics, transport and economic project but also a geostrategic one, having every chance to become the most important factor in the regional policy. Azerbaijan, Russia and Iran mainly focus on a pragmatic approach based on their own economic interests. As practice shows, the factor of the countries' interest in the profitable projects strengthens such political formats best of all. By the way, after the recent improvement of the Ankara-Moscow relations, another influential regional player Turkey may also join this format. Rouhani also preferred to establish serious partnership relations with Turkey during his presidential term. Taking into account the long-term prospects for such cooperation, it is possible to say that Rouhani's victory in the election is favorable for Baku as he is familiar to the Azerbaijani leadership. It was he who became the Iranian leader who initiated new joint projects with Azerbaijan. In the long term, keeping Rouhani in office can help solve a long-standing problem, namely, the determination of the legal status of the Caspian Sea, contribute to a joint fight against terrorism, radical Islam and the prevention of regional and global threats. --- Elmira Tariverdiyeva is the head of Trend Agency's Russian News Service Tehran, Iran, May 19 By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend: The 12th round of presidential election started in Iran on May 19 at 8:00 local time, along with city and village councils and parliament elections. There are about 56 million eligible Iranians and they have until evening to vote at one of 63,500 polling stations across the country. Trend has conducted interviews with people from different ages, occupations, genders, and political views to find about their concerns over the election. The higher the turnout, the prouder the country will be. Anyone who becomes president, others should accept him, a clergyman told Trend May 19 while he was filling out his ballots. The good president is one who obeys the Supreme Leader, says no to enemies, cares for the less able strata of society, and makes Iran the number one regional power as envisioned in the 2025 document, he said. An elderly lady sitting on a chair waiting for her son to fill out her ballot said voting is a duty and a tribute to the young ones who were killed in the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s. One has to care for these kids, rather than boast about his own person. I hope someone comes and stops these guys, she said, trying not to refer to any person in name. Asked about his reasons for coming to the polling station, a man in his late 20s said, There is no need for many reasons, just one suffices. I had decided not to vote until early this week. But then I found a reason to vote. A president should take care of domestic security and push for decent foreign relations. He should help Iran regain its value in international circles. Naturally economy is the most important issue. Our generation, for their high population, bore the brunt of economic problems, he added. Another young man, wearing a shirt with a printed face of an Iran-Iraq war martyr, said there are factors to a good president which one should learn about from the guidelines of trusted people, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. These are the factors for which the people carried out the revolution, lived through the war, and have been standing up against internal and external enemies. If we do not make our decision, we will not be able as a minority to decide for the majority, he said. A young lady, meanwhile, said she expects the future president to remain faithful to what he has promised during his campaign. Employment, education, and economy are the most important things that he should consider, she stressed. Asked what she thought about the necessity of voting, she said, It feels good to know one vote counts and that you are taking part in deciding your own future. If the one I like becomes president, then I will be so happy. If the other way round happens, then the choice of people will be respected all the same. LINCOLN The State Auditors Office says that a dentist, contracting with the state prison system, billed the department $145,500 for dentures for inmates not eligible to receive them. The dentist, whose contract was terminated last month, said he had no intention of providing dentures to ineligible inmates but was not given guidance or instruction on how to determine who was qualified and who wasnt. Its the Department of Corrections, and Ill leave it at that, said Dr. David Schrad, who now practices in Omaha. A formal response by the Corrections Department, which has been under fire in recent years for issues ranging from overcrowding to miscalculating sentences, said the dentist was aware of prison rules. They require inmates to serve at least 24 months behind bars before being eligible for state-paid dentures or partials, and to have more than six months remaining on their sentences. When asked to respond to Schrads comments, Corrections spokeswoman Dawn-Renee Smith said Thursday that it would be inappropriate to comment on what Schrad did or didnt know. But she said the department asked for the auditors probe after it discovered that protocols werent being followed and after growing suspicious about the volume of denture-related services being billed. There were issues, and some of those were related to the protocols, Smith said. She added that a greater concern was 65 cases where documentation was inadequate to determine whether dental services were performed. A second audit, also released on Thursday, faulted Corrections for lax oversight of a $10 million vocational and life skills program launched by the Legislature in 2014 to better prepare inmates for re-entry into society. The dose of bad publicity comes as the Legislature launched a new oversight committee to explore the problems facing the state corrections system, which has been chronically overcrowded for years and struggles with filling vacancies in security and medical positions. In May 2015 the department began a pilot project to contract with a dentist to provide services rather than employing a dentist outright. In December, the agency asked the State Auditors Office to look into the dental contract, citing concerns about the volume of billings. On two occasions the department had been billed for dental services for 23 inmates each day. During 2015 and 2016, the department was billed $787,334 by Schrad for 5,666 procedures on 1,523 inmates. Of that total, about $221,000 was for denture-related work. On Thursday, state auditors issued their response. It said that Schrad had violated agency protocol by providing denture-related services for 111 inmates who were ineligible for them. The services cost $145,500. The letter also indicated the inadequate documentation for 65 cases, and said that two waiver forms which allow inmates to get dental services outside of the eligible period were not signed by the medical director for Corrections. In both cases, the directors name was typed in. Schrad, in a phone interview, said he had multiple discussions with then-medical director Dr. Randy Kohl about proper procedures, but was never given clear instruction on how to compute sentences so he could determine whether an inmate was eligible. He said that prison acronyms were hard to understand as well, but that after meeting with a Corrections attorney, felt that all issues had been worked out. In two years I never received a single negative response from the department or the inmates, the dentist said. But when a new medical director came on board earlier this year, Schrads contract was put on hold because of questions about billings, and then was terminated on April 10. The auditors letter stated that Schrad had reimbursed the state $2,166 for services provided to an inmate who did not receive his dentures because he was released early. I was trying to work with them, he said. Corrections, in its formal response, said that the agencys new medical director, Dr. Deol Harbans, has instituted new, stricter oversight procedures. Mary Avery, the special audits manager for the State Auditors Office, said that both the dental contract and the life skills program were new initiatives, but both cases illustrated a lack of proper administration by the prison agency. When they initiate a new program, I would think they would put in controls so its run correctly, Avery said. She said the case of the improper dental services was presented to the Nebraska Attorney Generals Office for review of possible criminal charges. In the case of the vocational and life skills program, the Auditors Office faulted Corrections for inadequate monitoring of $10 million worth of grants provided to entities like Metropolitan Community College and the Lincoln-based Center for People in Need to train inmates for new lives. About 4,000 inmates have been served the past two years via the grants, which teach inmates how to build houses, cope with mental illness and find jobs, among other things. The auditor said that grant recipients were reimbursed for $31,754 in unallowable expenses, and that grants exceeded budgeted amounts by $59,438. Smith, the Corrections Department spokeswoman, acknowledged that department procedures were not tight, but appreciated the auditors guidance. She said that an action plan is in place to improve oversight procedures. The person who created a fake Facebook profile for Cari Farver was careful to make sure the digital footprint was hidden, using services that masked the users physical location. I believe this shows an increasing sophistication in trying to hide (the identity of the user), testified Anthony Kava, a special deputy in the Pottawattamie County Sheriffs Office, in his analysis of the electronic data. But slip-ups occurred. In September 2015, for example, someone logged into Farvers fake profile using a device at a Council Bluffs address the same address as Shanna Golyars boyfriends home, where she was living at the time. In his hours-long testimony, Kava methodically untangled the complicated digital web that Golyar allegedly weaved in her quest to hide that she killed Farver. Golyar is charged with first-degree murder and second-degree arson in the case before Douglas County Judge Timothy Burns. Kava is essentially the prosecutions star witness because of the massive amount of digital evidence and analysis needed to connect Golyar to the alleged slaying. Farver has not been heard from or seen since Nov. 13, 2012. Her remains have not been recovered. Golyars attorney, James Martin Davis, has repeatedly said there is a lack of physical evidence that a murder even occurred there are no eyewitnesses to the slaying, no weapon and no body. Kava testified for most of the day Thursday, the seventh day of trial, and is expected to continue well into today. Kava used a PowerPoint presentation for the first part of his testimony and covered about 200 of at least 500 slides detailing the data from cellphones, cameras, email accounts, social media profiles and other applications. He linked many of the bogus Apple, Facebook and email accounts to Golyar, mostly because of the location where the accounts were accessed Golyars boyfriends Council Bluffs home, where Golyar lived for a couple of years. Prosecutors say the thousands of mysterious emails sent from those accounts also were sent by Golyar. Of 31 Google accounts that were analyzed by Kava, 16 were impostor accounts, many with variations of Farvers name. One of the emails using Farvers first and last names was created Jan. 8, 2013 two hours before Golyar voluntarily allowed the Pottawattamie County Sheriffs Office to download the contents of her phone. The digital trail was dizzying many of the recovery emails for the bogus email accounts were also fake ones that Golyar created, Kava said. Kava also examined the contents of a Sony video camera, Nikon camera and memory cards found in Golyars Persia, Iowa, apartment. He recovered deleted or formatted-over photos and videos that nearly matched photos posted by the fake Farver Facebook profile. Its visually very similar, if not identical, Kava said. One video that Kava recovered was a snippet of Farver recording herself and graffiti on her vehicle just days before she disappeared. She and her then-teenage son, Max Farver, were using WD-40 to remove silver spray paint scribbles from her black Ford Explorer. Prosecutors allege that Golyar was behind the vandalism. In the video, Cari Farver appeared frustrated but optimistic, with a good dose of sarcasm. This sides my favorite, somebody thought they were quite the artist, Farver joked as the camera shows a long line of silver paint on the side of the SUV. Were gonna see if we can get it off. The video was never uploaded to Facebook, and relatives were unaware that Farver made it. It may be the last recording of Farver, wearing her signature bandanna. The Kansas Legislature, which began the 2017 session amid hope and promise, is back to floundering. It began slipping away in February, when lawmakers fell three votes shy of overriding Gov. Sam Brownbacks veto of a tax plan that would have gone a long way toward fixing Kansas increasingly calamitous budget woes. Up until that moment, the session had largely been a bipartisan affair, a coalition of Democrats and moderate Republicans pushing the Legislature to the brink of repairing the tax cuts, implemented by Brownback and the far right in 2012 and 2013, that have proven disastrous for the state. At the time, lawmakers said not to worry. There are other plans. Theres plenty of time. Sure. So, one week into what is supposed to be the wrap-up session, the Legislature is nowhere near wrapping anything up. And then lawmakers knocked off early instead of working through the weekend. Why? Because legislators are back to their old ways. Not only do they not have a consensus on a new tax plan, they dont have agreement on what to tackle first taxes or spending. Republican leaders in both chambers want to pass a tax package first in order to put limits around discussions of spending. Democrats and moderate Republicans want to address school finance first because of the Kansas Supreme Courts threat to close public schools July 1 if lawmakers dont pass a plan that meets constitutional muster. Twice lawmakers called off votes on a tax package after Democrats and moderate Republicans said they would not vote to pass a plan before they know the size of the school finance package. The Legislature has moved away from compromise and forgotten the 2016 election, in which the states residents expressed thorough dissatisfaction with the governor and his policies. Journal-World, Lawrence, Kan. Authorities worldwide are mopping up after an international ransomware attack disrupted hospitals, factories, government agencies, banks and businesses in 150 countries over the past few days. The latest clues point to hackers possibly linked to North Korea. In what looks to be an unrelated cyber attack, hackers reportedly shanghaied the Disney film Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. The crooks threatened to splash it onto the Internet before the films scheduled May 26 release if Disney didnt fork over a ransom in bitcoin, according to deadline.com. Experts warn that worldwide ransomware attacks could bloom again in the coming weeks. They warn that many computers running outdated (or stolen) software could be vulnerable to hackers who pilfer data, or hold it hostage for ransom. Hmm. When have we read about similar breaches and often heard similar warnings about computer vulnerabilities? Oh, right. In 2016 when the Russians were roaming through the Democratic National Committees email system. Before the latest series of attacks, officials at Britains public health system ignored several warnings that many of its computer systems were unprotected and ripe for exploitation, The New York Times reports. Apparently, the official attitude there is the same as it is around the world as people are bombarded by cyber warnings (and invitations to reap riches from people they dont know): What, us worry? The big questions: Will this latest spate of attacks be a wake-up call to upgrade protections around the world? Or will many people hit the snooze button again? The criminals who unleashed this latest ransomware virus didnt have to be computer geniuses. New tools make this kind of cyber extortion much easier. Mad skills arent needed. What is needed, however, is for computer users all of us to neglect to upgrade security or change passwords. To click on attachments willy nilly. To assume that because our devices havent yet been captured, they wont be. The crooks and spies are counting on us. And so far, they havent been disappointed. Chicago Tribune Baku, Azerbaijan, May 19 By Farhad Daneshvar Trend: Molavi AbdolHamid Ismaeelzahi, a senior Sunni religious leader in Iran, has called on his followers and all countrymen to demonstrate a high turnout in todays presidential election. Molavi AbdolHamid Ismaeelzahi said that Iranians must ignore the enemys propaganda and go to polling stations, IRNA news agency reported. Speaking after casting his vote in a polling station in the Sunni-populated city of Zahedan in southeastern Iran, he mentioned that all Iranians should play their role in shaping the future of the country through participating in the election. Polling for the 12th presidential election, in which incumbent President Hassan Rouhani is seeking reelection, kicked off at about 63,500 polling stations this morning. According to Iranian sources, more than 56 million are eligible to vote in this round of elections which is the first since the country reached a landmark nuclear deal with the world in 2015. Former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner leaves Federal court, Friday, May 19, 2017, in New York. Weiner pleaded guilty to a charge of transmitting sexual material to a minor and could get years in prison. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Tehran, Iran, May 19 By Mehdi Sepahvand Trend: If President Hassan Rouhani wins the election for a second term, the region will be benefited security-wise, said Davod Hermidas Bavand, university professor and a prominent figure of the National Front. This will be of some effect especially considering his drive for reducing tension and conducting constructive talks, Bavand told Trend May 19. Considering regional issues and recent meetings, it would be for the best if the Rouhani administration continues, said Bavand, who, along with three other leaders of the National Front, recently announced his support for Rouhani. The university professor underlined that Rouhanis foreign policy was a key factor in who Iranians decided to vote for. During his first-term presidential campaign, Rouhani promised to bring Iran out of isolation and establish new ties with the world. This he fulfilled partially by avoiding provocative regional policies and partially by bringing talks on Irans nuclear program with world powers into a conclusion with a landmark deal in 2015. On Rouhanis domestic policy, Bavand said he will have more freedom as president during his second term to act boldly and pursue his plans, because he wont be looking forward to another election. Considering special circumstances of the country, there is the possibility of certain incidents society may experience in the future. If other than Rouhani is elected, then there will be some worry, he said. Even those who had supported Rouhani ended up partially critical of him. This should come as an experience and make it more urgent that Rouhani act more boldly. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 19 By Elena Kosolapova - Trend: Some political and business groups in Europe remain interested in the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline, which will allow to supply Turkmen gas to EU, Marco Siddi, Senior Research Fellow of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, who focuses on EU energy policy believes. But actual commitment [to this project] on the ground remains limited, Siddi told Trend by email. The analyst noted that prospects for the Trans-Caspian pipeline have not changed substantially in the last couple of two years as all the main hurdles remain in place: costs, competition from other projects, stagnating demand for gas in Europe, uncertainty about Turkmen supplies, undefined legal status of the Caspian Sea and Russian/Iranian opposition. Moreover, according to the expert, additional obstacles emerged such as Russia's support of competing projects, which include Turkish Stream, envisaging Russian gas supplies to Turkey and further to Europe. Russian Gazprom started construction of the offshore section of the Turkish Stream pipeline in early May. The project is being implemented within an intergovernmental agreement between Russia and Turkey signed in October 2016, which envisages construction of two offshore strings of the gas pipeline, with a capacity of 15.75 billion cubic meters each. Furthermore, Siddi noted that recent developments in Turkey, which would be a transit country for Turkmen gas coming from Trans-Caspian pipeline, and Turkey's increasing confrontation with the EU create serious strategic headaches for European leaders. The Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline Project involving laying of a 300-km gas pipeline along the bottom of the Caspian Sea to the coast of Azerbaijan, is optimal for the delivery of Turkmen energy resources to the European market. Further, Turkmen gas can be pumped to Turkey through existing pipelines, which has mutual borders with European countries. The project may be implemented as a part of huge Southern Gas Corridor project designed to transport gas from the Caspian region to European countries. The negotiations on the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline among the EU, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan began in September 2011. Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova The US Navy is moving the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier to the Korean Peninsula where it will conduct dual-carrier training exercises with the USS Carl Vinson amid heightened tensions in the region, CNN reported. The move comes just days after North Korea demonstrated a significant leap forward in their missile program after launching a projectile that achieved "successful" controlled reentry into the earth's lower atmosphere rather than falling back to the surface, according to a preliminary US intelligence analysis, two US officials tell CNN. After completing a maintenance period and sea trials in Yokosuka, Japan, the USS Ronald Reagan departed for the Korean Peninsula on Tuesday, according to the Navy. "Coming out of a long in-port maintenance period we have to ensure that Ronald Reagan and the remainder of the strike group are integrated properly as we move forward," Rear Adm. Charles Williams said in a press release. Once it arrives in the region, the carrier will conduct a variety of training exercises but primarily focus on certifying its ability to safely launch and recover aircraft, the service said. 506 Shares Share A physician friend commented recently that practicing doctors and nurses, the highly trained professionals who understand health care better than anyone else, are always too busy working to be involved in health care administration and reform. It is one of the most basic and profound problems affecting our health care system one of the reasons that health care in America does not get better. And it got me thinking. Once upon a time, the basic units of health care in America were a patient, a doctor, and a nurse. And everyone was pretty happy.We had the best health care in the world. Then, regulators created complicated rules that dictated how doctors were to be paid. As a result, getting paid involved much more documentation, use of complicated codes and calculations, and many other extra steps, like fighting frequent denials. The regulators said the rules were necessary so that they could have better information about the work that physicians performed, to better gauge what the government was paying for when it came to health care. But these rules were so complicated that doctors needed new staff, coders, and billers, to help them navigate the complexities of being paid. But with the additional expense of the new employees, doctors made less money. To compensate, they worked faster, trying to see more patients in order to keep up financially. Then, the regulators created complicated HIPAA rules to help protect the privacy of patients medical information. But it was a lot of work to try and comply with these new rules. Again, to compensate for the added time and expenses, doctors had to see more patients to make the same amount of money. Next, government regulators began to require that doctors purchase expensive electronic health record (EHR) software. The regulators also dictated that these EHRs be used in very specific ways, in a program called Meaningful Use, and required large amounts of data as proof of proper compliance. Unfortunately, these EHR systems often didnt work well (still true), slowing doctors down considerably. Doctors also needed IT staff to help them implement and use the EHRs. Again, they were pushed to work harder and faster, despite the impediments that the EHRs created. At about the same time, the regulators also began to require that doctors report clinical data for the governments PQRS program. The data for all of these programs began to overlap. All along, health care was becoming more and more expensive. As a way to control costs, both government regulators and private insurances began to use time-consuming prior authorization and approval processes to block medical testing, treatments, and referrals. Obtaining basic medical care for patients became more and more difficult. Some offices had to hire referral specialists to perform the extra work that was required. Regulators were also becoming concerned about the poor quality of American medical care, as evidenced by the data they were collecting. American health care was high-volume, low-quality, they said. So, they began to push doctors to participate in new models of medical care like accountable care organizations (ACOs) and patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs). As a result, there were lots and lots of new rules with which to comply, more data collection, and even more documentation requirements. Finally, the regulators and administrators (the fastest growing employment sector in health care) realized that, with all of these new demands, that there was little chance that doctors and nurses could take care of it all, much less many of the most basic aspects of patient care. So they created a new position, the care manager, to handle some of the work that wasnt getting done. As a result of all of this, doctors offices and health systems now employ a sea of administrative staff, helping and pushing doctors to run as fast as they can from room to room attempting to keep up with all of the new demands and associated expenses. And yet, in spite all of these rules, regulations, and requirements, and the new staff, American health care remains high-cost and low-quality. Or maybe, it is a direct result because all of the rules and regulations have robbed us of the most important determinant of the type of medical care patients receive: time. We need fewer rules and less regulation and more time more time with patients, and time to re-think and re-organize medical practices to deliver better care. But doctors and nurses have no time. They are too busy complying with the dictums of the regulators and administrators, and cranking out the cash to pay for all the additional expenses. And they are too busy practicing to be involved in making more effective (and less cumbersome) changes to the system. That is left to non-practicing regulators and administrators whose only response is to add more rules and regulations. Practicing doctors and nurses, those who truly understand health care, need to get out from under the pile of bureaucracy, and be given more time to take care of patients and even specific time (and pay) to study and implement new strategies for health care delivery and practice re-design. Before we can really work on issues of cost and quality in American health care, we need to wipe the administrative slate clean to start over. There needs to be a moratorium placed on new health care regulation, and older regulations need to be re-examined, streamlined, updated, or simply eliminated. Only then can we have truly effective health care reform. What we need, rather than so many rules and regulations, and layer upon layer of staff to administer those rules and regulations, is a little more time. With more time we could revolutionize American health care. Matthew Hahn is a family physician who blogs at his self-titled site, Matthew Hahn, MD. He is the author of Distracted: How Regulations Are Destroying the Practice of Medicine and Preventing True Health-Care Reform. Image credit: Shutterstock.com It was a beautiful day to pull an fire truck for many Laredoans who put their biceps to the test as part of an annual fundraiser. The City of Laredo, Laredo PD and Fire Departments all came together to raise money to fund Special Olympics Texas programs and trainings for Laredo-area children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The Fire Truck Pull required teams of ten friends, family members and colleagues to come together and pull an actual 47,000-pound Laredo fire truck for 75 feet. "We're just here to enjoy this trip, enjoy this wonderful event and we're here for the people. For the good cause. We're here for all the kids. That's what we're doing it here - for the kids and for our community, just to let them know that we're all one, alright?" says participant Christopher Willis. This event operates under Law Enforcement Torch Run. Through efforts like the Fire Truck Pull, the Laredo Police and Fire Departments helped Texas LETR raise over $1.4 million in 2016 to support more than 58,000 athletes across the state. A nationwide group representing families affected by loved ones with a mental illness is building a local chapter in town. Representatives from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the nation's largest grassroots mental illness organization, held their first meeting to inform the community of their services. Organizers say NAMI will help Laredo by educating people on how to support family members suffering from a mental illness. The organizers go on to say they plan on filling a void in the community through a variety of programs. "There are a lot of people out there that are dealing with mental illness or diagnosis, and they are doing the best they can. NAMI is here to teach one another about the stigma and support one another," says NAMI representative Andrew Horner. According to the organization, one in five adults in the U.S. experience mental illness. They monitor the halls at schools, win students trust in the lunchroom, but they are not teachers, they are police officers. Policing in schools plays an important role, as officers dont just handle criminal activity, but they also serve as mentors to the students. Officer Brad Holden has been a UISD Police Officer for the past four years. While patrolling elementary and middle schools, Holden sees something that has been installed in the kids. Officer Holden sees that some children are scared of police officers, which is something he and other officers are trying to break at an early age by connecting with the students. Officer Holden says its good to talk the students in the hallways and see how they are doing in school, which helps build rapport. The UISD officers are not only trained to handle criminal activity, but they are also trained to understand what is going on with the students as well. Whenever there is an instance where a student might be in trouble or hanging with the wrong crowd the officer can help by providing guidance. Students who know they can trust the school officers know that this will help them if a situation were to ever occur. Even though the job can have its moments, Officer Holden says that the end result is the most rewarding. UISD almost has a police officer in every elementary, middle and high school. The UISD Police Department will be holding a training for its new and current officers starting this summer. The Trump administration imposed sanctions on the chief judge and seven other members of Venezuelas Supreme Court on, Reuters reported. Thursday as punishment for annulling the opposition-led Congress earlier this year, U.S. officials said. The new sanctions package was aimed at stepping up pressure on the leftist government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his loyalists amid growing concern over a crackdown on street protests and his efforts to consolidate his rule over the South American oil-producing country. The move provoked condemnation from Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez. "It's outrageous and unacceptable for the United States to impose sanctions on a sovereign and independent nation in violation of Venezuelan and international laws," she said on Twitter. Venezuela's latest wave of anti-government unrest, which has left at least 45 people dead in the last six weeks, began with the Supreme Court, packed with Maduro supporters, assuming the authorities of the opposition-led Congress in late March. There was an international outcry against the court's de facto annulment of the National Assembly, which the opposition won in late 2015 during an unprecedented economic and social crisis. The decision was later partially reversed, though it did not stop the unrest. The Venezuelan people are suffering from a collapsing economy brought about by their governments mismanagement and corruption. Members of the countrys Supreme Court of Justice have exacerbated the situation by consistently interfering with the legislative branchs authority, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. By imposing these targeted sanctions, the United States is supporting the Venezuelan people in their efforts to protect and advance democratic governance in their country," he said. Among those hit with sanctions was Maikel Moreno, a Maduro ally who became president of the 32-judge court in February. All of those targeted will have U.S. assets frozen and be denied travel to the United States, while American citizens will be barred from doing business with them, officials said. Maduro spoke on state television for some two hours on Thursday soon after the sanctions were confirmed but made no mention of them. Word of the new sanctions came as President Donald Trump expressed dismay at how once-prosperous Venezuela was now mired in poverty, saying it's been unbelievably poorly run." Glanbia Co-op shareholders vote overwhelmingly in favour of proposals to establish a joint venture to be known as Glanbia Ireland (93% in favour) Glanbia Ireland will be a new strategic joint venture 60% owned by Glanbia Co-op and 40% owned by Glanbia plc The creation of Glanbia Ireland is subject to an approval vote by Glanbia plcs independent shareholders at an Extraordinary General Meeting on Monday. Almost 2,400 shareholders voted on a series of proposals at a Special General Meeting of Glanbia Co-op in Punchestown Event Centre, Co Kildare today (Thursday 18 May) Glanbia Co-op shareholders also voted in favour of proposals to spin-out 100m worth of Glanbia plc shares and the allocation of 40m to Member Support Shareholders in Glanbia co-op have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a proposal to establish a joint venture to be known as Glanbia Ireland. The result at a Special General Meeting (SGM) in Kildare yesterday was 93.1% in favour of this proposal, with 6.9% against. Originally announced on 22 February, Glanbia Co-op has agreed to pay 112 million to acquire a 60% shareholding in Glanbia plcs Dairy Ireland division, which consists of Glanbia Consumer Products and Glanbia Agribusiness. The new joint venture will combine Glanbia Ingredients Ireland, Glanbia Consumer Products and Glanbia Agribusiness as a joint venture 60% owned by Glanbia Co-op and 40% owned by Glanbia plc. This builds on the successful Glanbia Ingredients Ireland (GII) joint venture established in 2012. In addition, Glanbia Co-op shareholders voted to distribute by way of spin-out c.5.9 million shares in Glanbia plc to all members of the Co-op. The value of the spin-out is an estimated 100 million based on the Glanbia plc closing share price of 17.13 on Friday 17 February 2017. The shareholders of the Co-op also voted to allocate up to 40 million of its resources to Member Support. A beaming little Kilkenny baby has emerged as one of the very last finalists from thousands of babies in a well-known Irish dairy company's search for a baby to appear on their yoghurt packs. Ten-month-old Ella Hennessy, from Castlecomer, has been chosen as one of 14 finalists in Glenisks search for a baby to appear on their yogurt packs. More than 4,500 babies were entered, and there was no shortage of fun and laughter at the finalist photoshoot on Saturday. While all the adults involved busied themselves at the shoot, little Ella took it in her stride, enjoying the experience and creating stunning shot after shot for the photographer. Glenisk, best known for their award-winning natural yogurt range, is searching for a baby to be featured on the family dairys new range of Organic No-Added-Sugar Baby Yogurts. The company put the call out to parents across Ireland and was overwhelmed with the response. "All babies are beautiful and we want to celebrate these babies on our packs," said Glenisks Emma Walls. "With over 4,500 entries to the #SweetBaby Search, weve had a very difficult job trying to narrow our search down to just 14. Our new range of Absolutely No Added Sugar Baby Yogurts is a first for yogurts. Theres no added sugar and nothing artificial, delivering a nutritious food for babies and peace of mind for Mums and Dads. We think our babies are sweet enough!" The new range of Glenisk yogurts suitable for six months and up and the new-look packs will be in-store from mid-June. The family business celebrates 30 years this year and is known for its award winning organic yogurt range and high protein Greek offering. LOCAL councillors have called for further clarity on the the ongoing Commercial Rates revaluation process, which they say has left a lot of ratepayers worried and confused. At this weeks meeting of Kilkenny County Council, elected members said they had been getting calls on the matter from people who believed their Rates were in line for a substantial increase. One councillor, Fine Gaels Johnny Brennan, said he had been savaged in the local post office over the matter, and there was a lot of confusion out there. The Valuation Office is conducting a revaluation of all commercial properties throughout County Kilkenny, to come into effect for the year 2018. This process has now has now reached the Proposed Valuation Certificate issue stage, and on May 11, proposed valuation certificates were issued to most ratepayers in Kilkenny. The balance is scheduled to issue on May 25. This Certificate states the Proposed Valuation (Net Annual Value) for each property. However, the letters have met with a mixture of concern over apparent large increases for some businesses. There is also some confusion over how the figures are being worked out. The issue was initially raised by Cllr David Kennedy, who said he had received a number of calls from concerned ratepayers who believed they were in line for serious increases. Cllr Andrew McGuinness said he had also received a number of phone calls on the matter. In some cases, there appears to be a lack of clarity or misunderstanding over the letters which have been issued. In other cases, however, several businesses say they are looking at increases that are simply unaffordable. The councils head of finance Martin Prendiville said he had a full team on board to deal with the issue. Ratepayers who are dissatisfied with any material aspect of the Proposed Valuation Certificate may make representations to the valuation manager within a period of 40 days from the date of issue of the Certificate. In the case of those issued on May 11, this is up to and including June 19. Final Valuation Certificates will be issued in September 2017 and will take effect from January 2018. A series of walk-in clinics on the matter have now been organised over the coming days to assist people. Valuation office staff will be present to answer queries relating to the recent issue of Proposed Valuation Certificates for Reval 2017. They will explain the revaluation process and offer guidance on making representations. No appointment is necessary. Clinics Monday, May 22 and Tuesday, May 23: Springhill Court Hotel, Waterford Road, Kilkenny between 9.30am-4.30pm. Wednesday, May 24: Kilkenny County Council Area Office, Ferrybank Shopping Centre, Ferrybank between 9.30am-4.30pm. Tuesday, May 30: Butler House, Patrick Street, Kilkenny, between 9.30am-4.30pm. Thursday, June 1: Kilkenny County Council Area Office, Kilkenny Street, Castlecomer between 9.30am-4.30pm. SHANGHAI, May 19 (Reuters) - China's Ministry of Finance auctioned 80 billion yuan ($11.61 billion) of three-month deposits at an average yield of 4.50 percent on Friday, traders said. That was higher than the yield on the ministry's previous three-month deposit auction, which came in at 4.20 percent. The sale, like previous auctions, is part of the ministry's cash-management programme. Banks bid for the right to take the deposits. ($1 = 6.8920 Chinese yuan) (Reporting by the Shanghai Newsroom; Editing by Joseph Radford) Brazil's President Michel Temer on Thursday defiantly said he would not resign from office despite a Supreme Court decision authorizing an investigation into allegations he condoned bribery of a potential witness in a major corruption probe, Reuters reported. In a terse five-minute speech broadcast nationwide, Temer said he had done nothing wrong, that his presidency was helping turn around Brazil's stalled economy and that he welcomed an investigation so that he could prove his innocence. "I did not buy the silence of anyone," Temer said, referring to the allegations made against him. "I will not resign." The investigation into a sitting president sent Brazilian financial markets tumbling and raised doubts that Congress would pass Temer's ambitious austerity agenda. Temer's situation grew more perilous after the Supreme Court approved an investigation into allegations against him, according to a source with direct knowledge of the decision. A Supreme Court justice also approved plea-bargain testimony and an audio recording that allegedly captured him conspiring to obstruct justice with Joesley Batista, chairman of the world's largest meatpacker, JBS SA (JBSS3.SA). That approval allows the court to quickly make both the testimony and audio public. Leaders of Temer's biggest allied party in Congress, the PSDB, said that if the allegations proved true, they would demand the resignation of three of their members who are in the president's cabinet. By Valeria Fedorenko | VLADIVOSTOK, RUSSIA A new ferry between isolated North Korea and Russia docked for the first time at the Pacific port of Vladivostok on Thursday, in spite of U.S. calls for countries to curtail relations with Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile programs. The launch of the weekly service linking Vladivostok and the North Korean port of Rajin also came despite North Korea's test-firing of a new type of ballistic missile on Sunday that landed in the sea near Russia. [nL4N1IF09K] The ferry's Russian operators say it is purely a commercial venture, but the service's launch coincides with what some experts say is a drive by North Korea to build ties with Moscow in case its closest ally China turns its back. The service is pitched at Chinese tourists wanting to travel by sea to the Pacific port of Vladivostok, according to the operators. China has no ports on the Sea of Japan, so traveling to North Korea and on to Vladivostok is the quickest way of reaching Vladivostok by sea. "It's our business, of our company, without any state subsidies, involvement and help," Mikhail Khmel, the deputy director of Investstroytrest, the Russia firm operating the ferry, told reporters. The new ferry link comes in spite of recent calls by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson for countries to fully implement U.N. sanctions and review their ties with North Korea to pressure it to give up its weapons programs. "We call on all nations to fully implement U.N. Security Council Resolutions, and sever or downgrade diplomatic and commercial relations with North Korea," a spokeswoman for the U.S. State Department, Katina Adams, said when asked about the new ferry service. Adams noted Russia's "obligation" under U.N. Security Council resolutions, "to inspect all cargo, including personal luggage, of any individual traveling to or from" North Korea. Journalists were unable to see passengers disembarking from the North Korean-flagged vessel Mangyongbong at Vladivostok because Russian officials kept them away from the quayside, citing unspecified security reasons. But Reuters television was able to speak to three passengers, who said they were representatives of Chinese tourism agencies. One of the passengers showed a photograph on her smartphone she said had been taken on board. It showed a plaque with an inscription in Korean which, she said, bore the name of North Korea's long-dead founder Kim Il Sung. The United States has been discussing possible new U.N. sanctions on North Korea with China, which disapproves of North Korea's development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles to deliver them, but remains its main trading partner. Washington is looking to toughen U.N. sanctions to cut off Pyongyang's sources of funding and to block smuggling of materials needed for its weapons programs. Russia, especially the port of Vladivostok, is home to one of the largest overseas communities of North Koreans, who send home much-needed hard currency. To date, there are no signs of a sustainable increase in trade between Russia and North Korea, but Russia has taken a more benign stance toward Pyongyang that other major powers. Speaking in Beijing this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow was against North Korea's nuclear program, but that the world should talk to Pyongyang instead of threatening it. [nL8N1IH3D8] Asked about the ferry, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday she "didn't see a connection" between the new service and political issues. (Reporting by Valeria Fedorenko; additional reporting by David Brunnstrom; Writing by Maria Tsvetkova; Editing by Phil Berlowitz) By Roberta Rampton and Patricia Zengerle | WASHINGTON President Donald Trump, striking a defiant tone on Thursday after days of political tumult, denied colluding with Russia during his 2016 campaign or asking former FBI Director James Comey to drop a probe into his former national security adviser. "No. No. Next question," Trump told a news conference when asked if he "in any way, shape or form" ever urged Comey, whom he fired on May 9, to close down the investigation into Michael Flynn. Comey's firing was one in a series of jarring developments that culminated on Wednesday in the Justice Department's appointment of a special counsel to probe possible ties between Russia and Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. They included media reports that Trump discussed sensitive intelligence on Islamic State with Russia's foreign minister. In a pair of morning tweets and at a later news conference, Trump described calls for his impeachment as "ridiculous" and said he had done nothing to warrant criminal charges. "The entire thing has been a witch hunt and there is no collusion between certainly myself and my campaign - but I can always speak for myself - and the Russians. Zero," he said at a news conference with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. Asked if he thought he had done anything to warrant criminal charges or impeachment as some on the left have demanded, the Republican president replied: "I think it's totally ridiculous." Trump categorically denied he asked Comey to drop his probe of Flynn, whom he fired on Feb. 14 for misleading Vice President Mike Pence, about the extent of his conversations last year with Russia's ambassador. According to multiple media reports, Comey wrote a memo detailing Trump's comments to him in February saying: "I hope you can let this go," referring to the Flynn probe. In his earlier twitter posts, Trump decried the naming of Robert Mueller, a respected former FBI director, as a special counsel by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, an official he himself appointed. "With all of the illegal acts that took place in the Clinton campaign & Obama Administration, there was never a special counsel appointed!" Trump wrote on Thursday morning. He did not offer any evidence of such acts in his reference to Democratic former President Barack Obama and former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. "This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history!" added Trump. Russia has denied U.S. intelligence agencies' conclusion that it interfered in the election campaign to try to tilt the vote in Trump's favor. Trump has long bristled at the notion that Russia played any role in his November election victory over Clinton. Reuters reported on Thursday that Flynn and other Trump campaign advisers were in contact with Russian officials and others with Kremlin ties in at least 18 calls and emails during the last seven months of the presidential race. 'TRUTH HUNT' Trump also said he was close to selecting a new FBI director to replace Comey, and that former senator and one-time Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Lieberman was among the top candidates. Trump's latest comments stood in contrast to his measured statement on Wednesday night after the announcement of Mueller's appointment, when he said "a thorough investigation will confirm what we already know - there was no collusion between my campaign and any foreign entity." Democrats rejected Trump's characterization. "This is a truth hunt," said Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar. Trump later told news anchors at the White House that Mueller's appointment was a "very, very negative thing," adding: "I believe it hurts our country terribly, because it shows we're a divided, mixed-up, not-unified country." Rosenstein, the No. 2 Justice Department official, named Mueller amid mounting pressure in Congress for an independent investigation beyond existing FBI and congressional probes into the Russia issue. Rosenstein briefed senators on Thursday, but made no public comments. Afterward, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told reporters that "everything he said was that you need to treat this investigation as if it may be a criminal investigation." Rosenstein told senators that he knew Comey would be fired before he wrote his letter, Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill said. The White House initially said last week that a letter Rosenstein wrote accusing Comey of missteps as FBI director, including his handling of an election-year probe into Clinton's use of a private email server while she was secretary of state, was what prompted Trump to fire Comey. Trump later said he had already decided to dismiss him and was thinking of "this Russia thing." A key issue Mueller may have to tackle is whether Trump has committed obstruction of justice, an offense that could be used in any effort in the Republican-led Congress to impeach him and remove him from office. Asked about possible obstruction of justice, Republican House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan told reporters the special counsel would "follow the facts where ever they may lead" and that "it is premature to prejudge anything at this point." (Reporting by Doina Chiacu and Patricia Zengerle; Additional reporting by Mark Hosenball, Susan Heavey, David Alexander and Amanda Becker; Writing by Will Dunham; Editing by Frances Kerry and Peter Cooney) By Cecile Lefort and Charlotte Greenfield SYDNEY/WELLINGTON, May 19 (Reuters) - The Australian and New Zealand dollars found a tentative footing against the euro on Friday, but were set for a one percent weekly loss with charts pointing to further downside. The euro steadied at A$1.4959 , not far from an eight-month peak of A$1.5074 touched on Thursday. Against the New Zealand dollar , it edged up to NZ$1.6127, having touched a one-year peak of NZ$1.6151 on Wednesday. The common currency is benefiting from a safe-haven flow due to political tumult in Washington and a sell-off in emerging markets. The market often uses the Aussie as a liquid proxy to hedge against weakness in emerging markets. Charts suggest a push north with major resistance at the September peak of A$1.5093. "We are very bullish the euro, we see it at A$1.6000 by the end of the year," said Ray Attrill, a strategist at National Australia Bank. "We expect the ECB (European Central Bank) to change its language in June and signal a winding down of its quantitative easing in September or early next year." After struggling against the Antipodean currencies since late last year, the euro smartly rebounded in February, to stand 13 cents and 16 cents stronger against the Aussie and the Kiwi, respectively. Against its U.S. counterpart, the Australian dollar steadied at $0.7421, having been unable to sustain a peak of $0.7468 when local data on Thursday showed a surprise drop in the jobless rate. Still, the Aussie was on track for a rise of 0.5 percent this week, its first increase in one month. Underpinning the Aussie were firmer prices of iron ore, Australia's top export earner. Iron ore for delivery to China's Qingdao port was up 0.4 percent so far this week. The New Zealand dollar struggled to maintain its recovery to around $0.6950 on Thursday, sinking to $0.6883 on Friday as the U.S. dollar strengthened. The currency, which had finally made it back to the levels before a central bank decision last week sent it to an 11-month low, was now encountering resistance at its previous one-week high. "The NZD/USD looks locked in a 0.6850-0.6950 range, with prospects for yield convergence (though market pricing in the U.S. has backed off of late) going head-to-head with policy and political uncertainty towards the USD," said Cameron Bagrie, chief economist at ANZ Bank, in a research note. The Kiwi was poised to gain 0.5 percent on the week. New Zealand government bonds gained, sending yields 3 basis points lower at the long end of the curve. Australian government bond futures edged up, with the three-year bond contract 2 ticks higher at 98.230, close to a 6-month summit touched on Thursday. The 10-year contract gained 2 ticks to 97.4950, having touched a one-month high of 97.5250, while the 20-year contract added 3 ticks to 96.9150. (Editing by Jacqueline Wong) SAO PAULO, May 19 (Reuters) - Brazilian hedge fund Alaska Black, managed by Alaska Investimentos Ltda, lost 28.02 percent on Thursday, a manager told Reuters, as a political scandal threatening President Michel Temer hammered the country's financial markets. The fund, formally known as Alaska Black FIC FIA - BDR Nivel I, posted the best yearly performance in 2016 among those tracked by Thomson Reuters, yielding 129.2 percent. According to manager Henrique Bredda, around half of Thursday's losses came from transactions involving different maturities in the yield curve. (Reporting by Bruno Federowski; Editing by Daniel Flynn) 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. LONDON, May 19 (IFR) - Tractor maker CNH Industrial priced one of the tightest Double B high-yield bonds in the euro market through its 500m senior unsecured 2022 bond, further establishing 2017 as a year of historically tight deals. Pricing with a coupon of 1.375%, or 130bp over mid-swaps, the bond has the second lowest coupon for a Double B note sold in the market alongside Thyssenkrupp's 750m senior unsecured note. Issued in February with a 1.375% coupon, the German industrial company's bond had priced at 99.588 to yield 1.461%. The lowest-coupon Double B bond sold in the market is Nokia's 500m 2021 senior unsecured bond, which priced at 1% in early March, according to IFR data. But the notes aren't just noteworthy in the Double B sphere; they are part of a bigger trend of historical pricing levels in high yield. They follow Spanish pharmaceuticals manufacturer Grifols, which broke a record in the Single B high-yield space in April, pricing a 2024 non-call three senior unsecured bond at 99.649 to yield 3.25%. The notes carried a coupon of 3.2%. Initial price thoughts for CNH's deal were released at 155bp area and pricing tightened from guidance on the back of a 2.4bn order book. CNH's tight pricing came despite a net loss of US$373m for 2016, from a net profit of US$236m in 2015. Losses were mainly due to settlement charges associated with a European Commission cartel investigation concerning truck subsidiary Iveco. Iveco was found guilty in July by the European Commission of participating in an illegal cartel and was fined 495m. The pricing shows how favourable the market has become to issuers, particularly for names like Ba2/BB+ rated CNH and its crossover-style peers positioned at a sweet spot between investment grade and high yield. The trade was run off investment-grade desks. "It initially looked cheap but syndicates have taken all the juice out of it," an investor said, complaining of the tight pricing crossover names have been able to secure lately. "I don't think CNH goes to IG any time soon but it prices like an IG credit, so happy to stay away from it." Crossovers offer muted yields by attracting investment-grade buyers alongside their traditional audience, offering higher returns than investment-grade names and relatively low risk compared to lower-rated credits in high yield. The most recent crossover name to take advantage of the market was over 50s holiday and insurance company Saga (Ba1/BB+), which earlier this month priced a 250m senior unsecured seven-year at 3.375%. Analysts had already expected the deal to turn the screw on pricing while it was being marketed. "We view the new issue as attractively priced, although final terms could eat away at the yield pick-up to the existing bonds," CreditSights analysts wrote in a note. CNH will use proceeds for general corporate purposes. Joint bookrunners are Banca IMI, Citigroup, Mediobanca, NatWest Markets, Rabobank and Societe Generale. (This story will appear in the May 20 issue of IFR Magazine) SAN FRANCISCO, May 19 (Reuters) - San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank President John Williams on Friday told a group of high school students that the future of the U.S. economy is in services, not in manufacturing. "Right now the U.S. economy is doing OK," Williams said at El Camino High School in South San Francisco, citing the U.S. unemployment rate at 4.4 percent. For future growth, he said, the economy will rely increasingly on services, not manufacturing. "There's this idea that somehow we got to get the jobs back to manufacturing," he said, adding that work in services like healthcare and education is where U.S. workers excel. (Reporting by Ann Saphir) FRANKFURT, May 19 (Reuters) - German financial watchdog Bafin will launch a routine investigation of market manipulation allegations against auto supplier Grammer , a spokeswoman for Bafin said in an e-mailed statement on Friday. Grammer's biggest shareholder, Bosnia's Hastor family, had on Thursday accused the company of artificially depressing its own share price to allow a rival investor, China's Ningbo Jifeng , to build a stake. "As is routine, we will look at that in terms of possible market manipulation," the Bafin spokeswoman said when asked about the Hastor allegations. A Nuremberg court separately said on Friday it had lifted a temporary injunction on the exercise of a convertible bond, allowing Grammer to issue shares to Ningbo Jifeng. Grammer management brought Ningbo Jifeng on board as a "white knight" against the Hastor family, which owns a stake of at least 20 percent in Grammer and has criticised Grammer's management. (Reporting by Edward Taylor; Additional reporting by Jens Hack; Writing by Maria Sheahan; Editing by Victoria Bryan) Kinross Gold Corp. (TSX: K; NYSE: KGC) announces an agreement to acquire an approximately 19.9% interest in White Gold Corp. (TSXV: WGO) by selling its 100% interest in the White Gold exploration project in the Yukon Territory to the company. Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. (TSX, NYSE: AEM) also holds an approximately 19.9% equity investment in White Gold Corp., Kinross reports. "We look forward to working with Agnico Eagle and White Gold Corp. to support the pursuit of quality development opportunities in this highly prospective and largely underdeveloped district," says J. Paul Rollinson, president and chief executive officer of Kinross Gold. "This investment will allow the three companies to pool their expertise together to strengthen their position in this excellent mining jurisdiction." Kinross' sale of the White Gold exploration property to White Gold Corp. includes approximately $7 million (C$10 million) in cash, payable upon closing; 17.5 million shares of White Gold Corp., at deemed purchase price of C$2.01, with a current market value of approximately $26 million (C$35.2 million); and deferred payments of approximately $11 million (C$15 million). White Gold Corp. is the largest landholder in the White Gold District and its exploration team has been involved in multiple major discoveries in the Yukon, Kinross says. The transaction is expected to be completed during the second quarter. By Allen Sykora of Kitco News; asykora@kitco.com Coeur To Offer Senior Notes, Pay Outstanding Notes Coeur Mining Inc. (NYSE: CDE) announces plans to offer $250 million of senior notes that will be due in 2024. The company says it plans to use the proceeds to pay the purchase price and tender premium on up to all $178 million of its 7.875% senior notes due in 2021. To the extent that the company has excess proceeds from the offering, the company intends to use such excess amounts for general corporate purposes, Coeur says. HONG KONG, May 19 (Reuters) - Hong Kong's central bank on Friday announced a fresh set of measures to cool a property market on fire. Norman Chan, the head of Hong Kong's de facto central bank, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority said the fresh measures include raising the risk-weighted floor to 25 percent for new mortgage loans, lowering the loan to value ratio by 10 percentage points and trimming the debt servicing ratio. The new measures, effective immediately, are aimed at cooling a property market that has surpassed a record set last year with growing transaction volumes. (Reporting by James Pomfret, Saikat Chatterjee and Donny Kwok; Editing by Richard Borsuk) TOKYO, May 19 (Reuters) - Japan tightened regulations on high-frequency trading (HFT) this week, passing into law measures that will require HFT firms to register with regulators. Other nations in Europe and elsewhere in Asia are looking to tighten the leash on high-frequency traders who program ultra-fast computers to trade in milliseconds without human intervention. Some major U.S. exchanges want to introduce speed limits on trading. The growing presence of HFT on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) has raised concerns high-speed trading could destabilise markets and leave retail investors at a disadvantage. The law was passed by parliament on Wednesday and the new regulations could come into force as early as 2018. Japan's market regulator, the Financial Services Agency (FSA), has said previously it wanted HFT participants to register and to ensure proper risk management measures were in place. "The definition has not yet been created. We can guess at who might be affected, but we don't know for sure the full scope of who will be affected," said Seth Friedman, chief executive of advisory firm Shiroyama Consulting Co.. The new rules stipulate that a company engaging in HFT will have to establish an office in Japan or be represented in the country by an agent. HFT accounted for about 70 percent of orders on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2016, FSA estimates show. High-speed trading accounted for slightly less than half of actual traded value, according to market participants, taking into account order cancellations. That would amount to slightly less than 321 trillion yen ($2.9 trillion) based on figures on the TSE website for total trade in cash equity of 643 trillion yen. (Reporting by Lisa Twaronite; Editing by) A spokesman for east Libyan armed forces said on Friday that as many as 141 people had been killed a day earlier in an attack on a southern air base, Reuters reported. Ahmed al-Mismari, a spokesman for the eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA), said 103 of those killed in the attack at Brak Al-Shati air base were LNA troops stationed in the area. Earlier, the mayor of Brak Al-Shati and a medical source in the town put the death toll at 89, though the medical official said some bodies had not been brought to the hospital. It was not possible to independently verify the number of casualties. Local and LNA officials have said that some of those killed were civilians who appeared to have been summarily executed. TOKYO, May 19 (Reuters) - Longer-dated Japanese government bond prices gained on Friday, supported by a regular Bank of Japan debt-buying operation that helped flatten the yield curve. The benchmark 10-year JGB yield was flat at 0.040 percent after rising to as high as 0.045 percent earlier in response to a rise in U.S. Treasury yields. The 30-year bond yield , on the other hand, fell half a basis point to 0.800 percent after the BOJ offered to buy 300 billion yen ($2.69 billion) of longer-dated JGBs in its regular bond-buying operation. The yield curve flattened as a result, with the yield spread between 10-year and 30-year JGBs at its tightest since April 25. Treasury yields rose from one-month lows on Thursday as Wall Street stocks recovered from Wednesday's dramatic drop, reducing demand for safe-haven bonds. ($1 = 111.3700 yen) (Reporting by the Tokyo markets team; Editing by Eric Meijer) May 19 (Reuters) - Mining group Pallinghurst Resources Ltd , the largest shareholder of precious stones miner Gemfields Plc , on Friday offered to buy out the remaining 52.91 percent it does not already own for about 111.9 million pounds ($145.2 million). Pallinghurst's offer values each Gemfields share at 38.5 pence, just above Gemfields' Thursday close of 38.125 pence. The offer values the entire issued capital of Gemfields at 211.45 million pounds, Pallinghurst said in a statement. Gemfields shareholders would receive 1.91 Pallinghurst shares for each share held, resulting in a 42.2 percent ownership of the enlarged group. Gemfields said it was reviewing the unsolicited offer from Pallinghurst, an investment company with interests in platinum group metals and coloured gemstones. Gemfields advised its shareholders to take no action for the time being. Gemfields shares rose as much as 4.3 percent, before paring some of the gains to trade up about 3 percent at 0821 GMT on the London Stock Exchange. ($1 = 0.7704 pounds) (Reporting by Sanjeeban Sarkar in Bengaluru; Editing by Gopakumar Warrier) MANILA, May 19 (Reuters) - The Philippine central bank released on Friday the balance of payments (BOP) data for April. Apr Mar Feb Jan Dec Nov Oct Sept (in $ mln 917 -550 -436 -9 -214 -1671 -183 117 KEY POINTS: - The BOP reverted to a surplus in April after six consecutive months of deficits. As a result, this year's BOP deficit has narrowed to $78 million as of April. - The central bank said the "support" likely came from the recovery in exports, sustained remittances by Filipinos overseas and revenues of business process outsourcing firms, and additional inflows from tourism and foreign investments. - The central bank sees the BOP at a surplus of $1 billion this year, compared with last year's deficit of $420 million. (Reporting by Enrico dela Cruz) LONDON, May 19 (Reuters) - South African miner Northam Platinum is searching for mines to buy but is struggling to find high-quality, mechanised operations for sale in South Africa, its chief executive said. The mid-tier producer, which has been bolstered by a strong balance sheet that is rare in the embattled industry, is seeking rich, shallow ore bodies that would be cheap to mine. "We would be very interested to acquire mechanisable large, shallow, contiguous ore bodies but there are very few that are out there that would meet those requirements," CEO Paul Dunne told Reuters on the sidelines of Platinum Week in London. Northam purchased Glencore's Eland mine in February and mining land from Anglo American Platinum to extend the life of its Zondereinde operation last year. He said following its recent acquisitions, Northam would focus on raising production at its mines. "We have moved now from the historical single footprint ... that in itself gives us quite a lot of breakfast to eat," Dunne said. Northam is producing above its nameplate capacity at its Zondereinde mine and plans to lift output at Booysendaal mine. South African platinum producers are struggling with low prices and soaring costs of electricity and labour, forcing several of them to sell mines and lay off workers. But none of the assets now on sale meet Northam's requirements partly because many are labour-intensive and would require a higher platinum price to be profitable, Dunne said. Northam has a 2.2 billion rand ($163.3 million) war chest after a 4.6 billion rand cash injection from a black ownership deal inked in 2014 where the company issued shares and raised its black ownership levels to more than a third. South African miners are required to be 26 percent black owned to help redress income inequalities created by apartheid. Dunne said persistent tough market conditions persist for South African miners would trigger more sales and acquisitions. "We see clear opportunity for consolidation in this industry," he said. Despite cost cuts, around 30 percent of global platinum output - some three-quarters of which comes from South Africa - is still losing money, GFMS analysts at Thomson Reuters say. ($1 = 13.4750 rand) (Reporting by Zandi Shabalala; Editing by Edmund Blair) Following are news stories, press reports and events to watch that may affect Poland's financial markets on Friday. ALL TIMES GMT (Poland: GMT + 2 hours): DATA Poland's statistics office will release April industrial output, PPI and retail sales data at 1200 GMT. INNOVA CAPITAL Private equity fund Innova Capital may list two of its companies - Neomedic and Netsprint - next year, Puls Biznesu daily said. EBRD European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will invest 25 million euros ($27.78 million) in convenience stores chain Zabka, which belongs to private equity fund CVC Capital Partners, Puls Biznesu said. ENERGY The share of Poland's biggest power producer PGE in the country's electricity generation will increase to 42 percent after the utility takes over France's EDF Polish assets, Parkiet daily said. JSW Poland's coking coal producer JSW considers acquisitions that would help it increase output, Parkiet daily quoted JSW acting CEO as saying. The paper also said, quoting unnamed sources, that JSW could be interested in private coal firm Prairie Mining Ltd or its Debiensko project. PLAY Mobile operator Play has picked up DM PKO and BZ WBK to help it conduct planned IPO, which could be one of the biggest private share offers ever on the Warsaw bourse, Parkiet daily said quoting unnamed sources. ALIOR BANK Polish lender Alior Bank to resume its shareholders meeting at 1030 GMT which may vote on changes in the supervisory board. ****Reuters has not verified stories reported by Polish media and does not vouch for their accuracy.**** For other related news, double click on: Polish equities E.Europe equities Polish money Polish debt Eastern Europe All emerging markets Hot stocks Stock markets Market debt news Forex news For real-time index quotes, double click on: Warsaw WIG20 Budapest BUX Prague PX ($1 = 0.8999 euros) (Reporting by Warsaw Bureau) BRATISLAVA, May 19 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Slovak financial markets on Friday. ALL TIMES GMT (Slovak Republic: GMT + 2 hours) =========================ECONOMIC DATA======================== Real-time economic data releases.................. Summary of economic data and forecasts......... Recently released economic data................ Previous stories on Slovak data.......... **For a schedule of corporate and economic events: ==========================EVENTS================================ Bratislava - The Centre for Labour, Social Affairs and Family will release monthly unemployment data for April. Related stories: For real-time stock market index quotes click in brackets: Warsaw WIG20 Budapest BUX Prague PX Main currency report TOP NEWS -- Emerging markets News editor of the day: Jan Lopatka on +420 224 190 474 E-mail: prague.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com (Reporting by Prague Newsroom) Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication. HANOI, May 19 (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 0655 GMT. May 19 USD/VND mid-point 22,377 USD/VND interbank 22,671/22,734 USD/VND unofficial 22,720/22,730 SJC gold (mln dong/tael) 36.42/36.64 Interbank offered rates Overnight 3.7-4.3 1 week 3.8-4.4 1 month 4.2-4.6 3 months 4.5-5.0 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) FRANKFURT, May 19 (Reuters) - Some euro zone banks are "in denial" about their problems with unpaid loans, the European Central Bank's chief supervisor has told a Finnish weekly. "In all euro area countries, there are ... banks that are not doing so well but are committed -- and bravely so -- to tackling their problems; and then others that are somewhat in denial and will have to change to improve," Daniele Nouy told Talouselama in an interview published on Friday. She was responding to questions about a request for public help by Italy's Monte dei Paschi di Siena and apparent failures to clean up the banking sector in that country and in Germany. Struggling with a large and growing pile of bad loans, Monte Paschi has applied for a recapitalisation by the Italian state but the rescue has yet to be approved by European authorities. The ECB, as the euro zone's top banking watchdog, set Monte Paschi's capital shortfall at 8.8 billion euros in December but Nouy said earlier this week "additional discussions" about the bank's losses were necessary. Monte Paschi's Chairman Alessandro Falciai said on Wednesday he remained "greatly optimistic" over the outcome of the bank's request. Spain's Banco Popular is also struggling under the weight of 37 billion euros non-performing real estate loans but the country's economy minister said on Thursday it should not expect to receive public funds. The Spanish bank is considering a merger instead. (Reporting by Francesco Canepa; Editing by Catherine Evans) ZURICH, May 19 (Reuters) - The Swiss blue-chip SMI was seen opening 0.2 percent higher at 8,954 points on Friday, according to premarket indications by bank Julius Baer . The following are some of the main factors expected to affect Swiss stocks: JULIUS BAER Julius Baer is in advanced talks to buy a minority stake in Argentinian financial services firm TPCG Group , a source familiar with the matter said, as the Swiss bank lays the groundwork for further expansion in Latin America. COMPANY STATEMENTS * Luxury group Richemont has purchased a 5 percent stake in duty-free retailer Dufry , a filing with the SIX Swiss Exchange showed. * Zurich Insurance said its subsidiary Farmers New World Life signed an agreement with Reinsurance Group of America to reinsure a portion of its closed U.S. annuity book, representing reserves of roughly $2.3 billion. * Vifor Pharma's Veltassa has been recommended for treatment of hyperkaleamia in the EU by the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP). A final EU commission decision is expected in the third quarter, Vifor said. * Stadler Rail Chief Executive Peter Spuhler told Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger an initial public offering by the company is one of many possible options for the future. Spuhler also said he plans to remain with Stadler for another 5-10 years, though part of this time might be as chairman. * Aryzta has appointed Kevin Toland as its new chief executive. Toland, currently CEO of airport operator daa plc , will join following a six-month notice period at daa or earlier if agreed. * Santhera Pharmaceuticals announced an updated timeline for its ongoing assessment by CHMP of its extension application for Raxone (idebenone) in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), and now anticipates an opinion in Q3. * Baloise said it plans to have Baloise Holding Ltd rated by Standard & Poor's. ECONOMY (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/ JOHANNESBURG, May 19 (Reuters) - South Africa sold 2.555 billion rand ($192 million) worth of three-month Treasury bills on Friday, at an average yield of 7.59 percent compared with 7.6 percent last week, central bank data showed. The bid-to-cover ratio rose to 3.3 from 2.0. Auction date: 19/05/2017 Settlement date: 24/05/2017 Days 91 182 273 364 Amount received (R'bln) 8.333 5.761 4.6 6.6 Amount on offer (R'bln) 2.555 2.26 2.1 2.0 Amount allotted (R'bln) 2.555 2.26 2.1 2.0 Bid-to-cover ratio 3.3 2.5 2.2 3.3 Avg discount rate (pct) 7.44 7.42 7.33 7.19 Average yield (pct) 7.59 7.71 7.76 7.74 ($1 = 13.2800 rand) (Reporting by Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo; Editing by Ed Stoddard) Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication. (Adds details, background) KINSHASA, May 19 (Reuters) - Democratic Republic of Congo's government plans to re-introduce legislation in parliament next week to revise the mining code a year after withdrawing it amid fierce opposition from mining companies, the mines minister told Reuters on Friday. The government of Africa's largest copper producer suspended consideration of the revised code in March 2016 due to low commodity prices. Companies said its increased royalties and shortened stability clauses would make their projects unprofitable. Mines Minister Martin Kabwelulu did not say whether the legislation, aimed at boosting government revenues, would be identical to the earlier proposal. Representatives from the industry-led Chamber of Mines could not be reached immediately for comment. Low commodity prices since 2015 have left the government in desperate need of cash and caused the franc currency to lose half its value since last year. The mining and oil sectors account for about 95 percent of export revenues. Congo's copper production jumped more than 20 percent in the first quarter of this year as prices recovered. The Chamber of Mines expects annual production to hit about 1.5 million tonnes in 2018, up from around 1 million in 2016. (Reporting by Aaron Ross; Editing by Joe Bavier and Ed Osmond) * Programme to run on voluntary basis * Proposed reduction in spreads milder than earlier signals * Bank shares trade higher, OTP Bank outperforms local index (Adds detail, analyst comment, market reaction) BUDAPEST, May 19 (Reuters) - Hungary's central bank launched a set of measures on Friday to curb mortgage borrowing spreads and boost competition among local lenders, it said, announcing a milder proposed reduction than initially signalled. After years in the doldrums, Hungary's new mortgage market is on course to expand at the fastest pace since the global financial crisis, fuelled by strong economic growth, rising wages and a recovery in the housing market. The central bank, led by Governor Gyorgy Matolcsy, a strong ally of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, has been in talks with banks for months about the scheme, which could make it cheaper for Hungarians to borrow ahead of an upcoming election year. Central bankers have complained that banks in Hungary, about half of which are foreign-owned, charge much higher premiums on Hungarian borrowers than elsewhere in central Europe. The voluntary scheme, to be launched from June 1, will limit the spreads applied to mortgages certified by the central bank to 350 basis points. That appeared to be a retreat from initial proposals flagged by central bank Deputy Governor Marton Nagy in March, who then said a 250 to 300 basis point spread would be desired instead of the current 450 to 500 basis points. "In its current form the news is mildly positive, given that there had been talk of a 2.5 percentage point cap earlier," said analyst Monika Kiss at brokerage Equilor. Fees applied to the issuance and pre-payment of mortgages will also be capped, the central bank said. At 0905 GMT, shares in OTP Bank , central Europe's largest independent lender, traded 1.4 percent higher at 8,872 forints, outperforming the blue chip index, which gained 0.6 percent. Smaller rival FHB gained 1.7 percent. Banks can opt into the central bank's scheme of so-called certified mortgages, which meet a list of standardised criteria, it said. Only mortgages with fixed rates for 3, 5 and 10 years or the entire lifetime of the loan will qualify for the scheme, the central bank said. It will launch a website in September where borrowers can compare mortgages that qualify for the programme. The central bank also hopes more borrowers will consider refinancing their mortgages with cheaper alternatives under the scheme. (Reporting by Gergely Szakacs and Sandor Peto; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle) (Adds detail, context) MOSCOW, May 19 (Reuters) - The Wannacry cyber attack compromised Russian banks' systems in some isolated cases, the Russian central bank said on Friday, in the first official acknowledgement by Moscow that the attack had an impact on the banking system. In a statement, the central bank said the consequences of the attack -- which it did not detail -- had been dealt with quickly. The central bank had previously said Russian banks were targeted in the cyber attack late last week, but that the attack had been unsuccessful. On Friday, the central bank said it had sent recommendations to Russian banks on updating their Windows software in April, before the Wannacry attack it said it had recorded on May 12. After the Wannacry attack, the central bank reissued its recommendations to Russian banks, it said, adding it would start to publish on its website statements about cyber attacks it had caught as well as steps taken to reinforce IT security. Russia's largest bank Sberbank said late last week it had been attacked by a virus attack but that viruses had not got into its systems. Sberbank and rival bank VTB did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment on Friday. Russia's relationship to cyber crime is under intense scrutiny after U.S. intelligence officials alleged that Russian hackers had tried to help Republican Donald Trump win the U.S. presidency by hacking Democratic Party servers. The Kremlin has repeatedly denied the allegation. (Reporting by Alexander Winning; Editing by Andrew Osborn and Christian Lowe) (Adds chamber of mines comment) By Aaron Ross KINSHASA, May 19 (Reuters) - Democratic Republic of Congo's government plans to re-introduce legislation in parliament next week to revise the mining code a year after withdrawing it amid fierce opposition from mining companies, the mines minister told Reuters on Friday. The government of Africa's largest copper producer suspended consideration of the revised code in March 2016 due to low commodity prices. Companies said its increased royalties and shortened stability clauses would make their projects unprofitable. Mines Minister Martin Kabwelulu did not say whether the legislation, aimed at boosting government revenues, would be identical to the earlier proposal to replace the current code, which was passed in 2002. "We look forward to presenting our point of view on the outstanding points ... notably on stability clauses, the royalty rates and the exchange rate used for VAT reimbursements," John Nkono, secretary-general of the industry-led Chamber of Mines, told Reuters. Major investors in Congo's mining sector include Glencore , Randgold Resources and China Molybdenum . In addition to copper, the country mines significant quantities of cobalt, gold, diamonds and tin. Congolese activist groups dispute the companies' claim that the reforms would make them unprofitable and say the higher revenues that would be generated by a new code are vital to supporting public services. Low commodity prices since 2015 have left the government in desperate need of cash and caused the franc currency to lose half its value since last year. The mining and oil sectors account for about 95 percent of export revenues. Congo's copper production jumped more than 20 percent in the first quarter of this year as prices recovered. The Chamber of Mines expects annual production to hit about 1.5 million tonnes in 2018, up from around 1 million in 2016. (Reporting by Aaron Ross; Editing by Joe Bavier and Elaine Hardcastle) LONDON, May 19 (Reuters) - Nigerian loading plans continued to emerge on Friday while the market awaited the first Forcados export in seven months. Angola was ironing out its July term allocations, slowing the start of spot trading. NIGERIA * A Nigerian labour union on Friday called for the shutdown of all Exxon Mobil Corp facilities in the Niger Delta, a union representative said, in a dispute over the sacking of 150 workers. * There was no impact on production, traders said. * Nigeria's NNPC increased its June official selling prices for most grades, including an 18 cent rise for Bonny Light and a 26 cent increase for Qua Iboe. * Trading was sparse due to pending tenders, but Unipec had sold one cargo of Erha. * Export plans emerged for Agbami, with seven cargoes, Escravos and Akpo, with four cargoes each, and Usan and Amenam with three cargoes each. * Roughly 20 cargoes remained from the June export plan. ANGOLA * Angolan state oil company Sonangol had not yet issued its allocations for the July programme as it incorporated the late-issued Saturno exports into the plan. * Sonangol lifted force majeure on Saturno exports and issued the July schedule for the grade on Thursday, bringing total Angolan crude exports for July to 1.55 million barrels per day (bpd). * Sonangol received a dozen bids for its tender to sell a cargo of CLOV, loading July 7-8, but the winner was not immediately clear. TENDERS * Trader said that Total won a tender from India's IOC, for cargoes loading July 20-30, with Akpo and CLOV. The grades were not confirmed at source. * Taiwan's CPC took just one cargo of Angolan oil from Chevron in its recent tender, which a trader said was likely Cabinda. * Its other awards were for non-West African crudes, including Azeri and Latin American grades. * Indian refiners HPCL and MPRL had each issued tenders to buy crude oil cargoes loading in July. The tenders close next week. RELATED NEWS * An OPEC panel reviewing scenarios for the oil producer group's meeting next week is looking at the option of deepening and extending a deal to reduce crude output, OPEC sources said on Friday, in an attempt to drain inventories and support prices. * Oil prices were heading on Friday for a second week of gains on growing expectations that big crude exporters will extend output cuts to curb a persistent glut in inventories. (Reporting by Libby George; editing by Alexander Smith) Stuff reports: The Ministry of Health has laid charges against tobacco company Philip Morris New Zealand relating to a new type of non-burning tobacco product. The product, Iqos, was launched at the end of last year. It was promoted through an invitation-only website and used a battery-powered holder to heats tobacco sticks known as heets to give off vapour rather than smoke. Heets are heated rather than burned like a traditional cigarette, to give smokers a nicotine hit. The ministry said it considered heets were tobacco products designed for oral use other than for smoking and were prohibited under the Smoke-Free Environments Act. Which shows how silly the Act is, if a correct interpretation. Tobacco, which is lethal, is legally sold in New Zealand. Reduced harm products which provide a nicotine hit but do not produce the toxins from burning tar etc are much much much safer than tobacco. Yet the Ministry of Health is saying they are illegal. Philip Morris said the Ministrys move demonstrated the need for comprehensive reform so that smokers could switch from cigarettes to smoke-free alternatives. General manager of Philip Morris New Zealand Jason Erickson said the company believed it was helping to advance the Governments goal of making the country smokefree when it introduced Iqos to New Zealand. Erickson said the company was confident that the sale of Iqos and heets fully complied with the Smokefree Environments Act (1990) and other relevant legislation in New Zealand. The section of the law referenced by the Ministry in its action against Philip Morris was originally put in place in the 1990s to address American-style chewing tobacco, Erickson said. We stand behind Iqos and heets, Mr Erickson said. But its clear that old 20th century laws are not sufficient to address new 21st century technologies that New Zealand smokers are embracing as they move away from combustible cigarettes. The New Zealand Government announced in March that it would legalise the sale and supply of nicotine e-cigarettes and e-liquid, and establish a pathway to enable emerging tobacco and nicotine-delivery products to be sold lawfully as consumer products. Iqos is available in in more than 20 countries around the world, including the UK, Japan, Italy and Switzerland. Globally more than two million smokers have switched to IQOS and the company had plans to expand to key cities in 30 countries by the end of 2017, Erickson said. Ideally people should not smoke anything at all. But if they are already a tobacco smoker, then getting them on reduced harm product has immense health benefits. Share this: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp More Pinterest Print Tumblr The Herald reports: Jim told Linda he was worried about his safety in Lebanon, where there was a risk foreign workers can be kidnapped, and asked her to be his next of kin. Linda later said these were all tactics Jim used to lure me into his web of deception. I was led to believe that this person, who I had met through an acquaintance, was genuine and had good moral standards. She was given Jims account details at what was described as a Scottish investment bank. After contacting the bank and proceeding through security checks, Linda was named as a co-signer of Jims account. Up until there, all fine. The bank asked her to make an initial deposit of US$15,000 ($21,780), before a second payment of US$45,000 ($65,350) was required for a Bank of America account in San Diego. This is the point at which huge alarm bells should have gone off. You do not need to deposit money to be a co-signer, let alone $15,000. Growing increasingly brazen, the scammer(s), via the investment bank, further asked Linda to pay an fee of US$85,000 ($123,430) to receive an anti-terrorist clearance certificate and cover wire transfers of more than US$5 million ($7.25m). Linda didnt pay the fee, but a few days later Jim raised the issue of helping him with a personal loan of $US10,000 ($14,500) for a Kuala Lumpur-based building supplier. She loaned the money, after which Jim said hed made a mistake and required a further US$40,000 ($58,000), which Linda paid. I really dont understand how someone can be so gullible they would transfer tens of thousands of dollars to someone they have never met. Jim claimed his Beirut construction project had developed problems, and he had to pay income tax to the Lebanese Government. He asked and received for a further US$50,000. Of course I was very reluctant to make further loan payments. Then he told me about the kidnapping of a foreign worker from a construction site next to his, she said. In total, Linda forked out more than $300,000. Sad. Share this: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp More Pinterest Print Tumblr Egypts general prosecutor referred to criminal court on Friday 14 people charged with forming a terrorist cell that aimed to carry out assassinations on political and security figures, state news agency MENA reported. General Prosecutor Nabil Sadek referred the men for planning to execute bombings against state apparatuses and security checkpoints. Investigations were conducted by the Supreme National Security prosecution. The case includes 12 defendants already detained pending investigation and two still at large. According to investigations, three of the unnamed defendants joined the Islamic State terrorist group in Syria, where they received training and planned to carry out attacks upon arrival to Egypt. The prosecution added that the defendants divided the cell into three units, each responsible for a specific duty. It stressed that leaders of the now banned Muslim Brotherhood provided financial support to the defendants to carry out their plan. According to the prosecution, the men used an apartment in Cairos Al-Salam City as a hideout, and made use of the Line freeware app for instant communication free of security monitoring. The defendants confessed to observing police and several military headquarters, including a New Maadi police checkpoint and a military outlet in Salam city, as well as power stations in Obour, several gold shops owned by Coptic Christians and banks in the area, as well as the Hilton and Movenpick hotels in 6th of October's Media City. The men are also charged with joining an outlawed group aiming to overthrow the government, prevent state institutions from performing their duties and harm national peace and unity, as well as targeting state institutions and attempting to disrupt the peace through terrorism. Search Keywords: Short link: By Yoon Ja-young The government will prioritize job creation and household income growth and other pledges of President Moon Jae-in in developing next year's budget. And it will help execute President Moon Jae-in's economic development plans, dubbed Jnomics. The finance ministry on Friday released revised guidelines for next year's budget. It had issued guidelines in March, but altered them to reflect the new administration's pledges. Ministries will set up their budgets based on the guidelines and submit them to the finance ministry this month. After further consultation, the finance ministry will submit the 2018 budget plan to the National Assembly by Sept. 1. According to the guidelines, ministries are to give priority to projects related to job creation, President Moon Jae-in's biggest concern. His first order as a president was to set up a jobs committee. The guidelines stress inclusive growth, seeking a virtuous circle where jobs increase household income, leading to more consumption and corporate investment, thereby creating more jobs and boosting the economy. The guidelines also focus on converting irregular jobs to regular jobs in the public sector, cutting working hours and supporting small businesses and merchants so they can create better jobs. Tackling the low birthrate is also at the top of the list. The government will inject more money to increase state-run daycare centers and expand state support for pregnancy, childbirth and childcare leave. It will also increase investment to reduce fine dust, including installing more fine-dust detectors and expanding renewable energy. Tackling fine dust is among President Moon's priorities and he has ordered a temporary shutdown of old coal-fired power plants to reduce the problem. The finance ministry made it clear that it will curtail tax cuts or tax exemptions for conglomerates and high-income earners. Analysts say this is a de facto a tax hike, which is inevitable to fulfill the new president's pledges. According to the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, 178 trillion won will be needed to meet the pledges over the next five years. President Moon said during the election campaign that his administration could raise the corporate tax rate if necessary. Each ministry is expected to cut discretionary spending by 10 percent, according to the guidelines. And they will have to scrap projects that have had little success. The government will also collect more in penalties from those engaged in unfair trade and lawbreakers. "Each ministry will examine the needs of beneficiaries such as young people and senior citizens as well as small merchants and businesses, reflecting them in the budget," the finance ministry said. By Yoon Ja-young President Moon Jae-in's pledge to write off insolvent debt is drawing concern over a moral hazard, despite consensus that the troubled debtors should get a chance for normal economic activities. The new president has promised to forgive small debts less than 10 million won that have been overdue for over 10 years. The debtors will go through a screening process to determine whether they are really incapable of paying back their debts, taking into account diverse factors such as age, income, assets, and spending. The new administration already decided to write off 1.9 trillion won credit held by the National Happiness Fund, which will benefit around 437,000 debtors. The measure will relieve each of them on average of 4.35 million won debt. The administration also plans to purchase additional bad debts through state-run financial institutions so it can have them written off. By writing off the small-sum, long-overdue debts totaling 11 trillion won, over 1 million people who had problems in financial transaction due to the debt will be saved, returning to normal economic activities. The government also expects the measure to help decrease the snowballing household debt, which amounts to 1344 trillion won and is threatening the economy. However, market watchers point out that the new administration should take into account the side effect. "For extremely vulnerable households, write-off is inevitable. If they weren't capable of paying back small debts for over 10 years, it means there is no other way. The long-term economic slump aggravated the problem. However, the government still has the problem of funding," said Oh Jung-geun, a professor of economics at Konkuk University. He also pointed out the moral hazard. "There are also people who paid back loans despite economic difficulties. The issue of the moral hazard will be inevitable," he added. Critics point out that each administration has been repeating cancelling debt. Former president Park Geun-hye's administration also pledged to relieve 3.22 million long-term debtors through the government's National Happiness Fund. It ended up benefiting 2.87 million people. It purchased the insolvent credit at low prices, around two or three percent of the principal, and wrote off around 90 percent of the debt. The debtors had the obligation to pay back the rest. According to Korea Asset Management Corp., the government fund purchased the credit of 2.87 million people at 591.2 billion won, which is only 2.1 percent of the principle. It collected 1.65 trillion won from the debtors. When compared with the purchasing price, it recorded 280 percent investment return. The President Moon administration, however, is different from previous administrations as it plans to cancel all of the principal and interest, leaving the debtors with no obligation to pay any of it back. Analysts also point out that writing off debt is not a fundamental solution. The government should examine why they have to get loans in the first place. They say bolstering the social safety net and creating more jobs could help prevent the bad debt. By Park Hyong-ki The Bank of Korea (BOK) has moved all its banknotes worth some 10 trillion won from the safe in its main office building in Jung-gu to the central bank's branch in Gangnam, Seoul, the central bank said Friday. This comes as the BOK begins renovating its main building in Namdaemun-ro, Jung-gu, over the next three years. BOK Governor Lee Ju-yeol, members of its monetary policy board and staff will move into Samsung's building in Taepyeongno, near the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Its financial stability, payment and settlements and foreign exchange units will also move into the Samsung building and begin operations there next month. As the BOK cannot keep the banknotes in the Samsung building due to limited space, the central bank's unit at the head office authorized to manage its banknote issues will be joining the Gangnam branch to perform its task. "The unit has moved into the Gangnam branch and will officially begin managing banknotes for the market next Monday, with the branch's own banknote issuance authority," a BOK official said. The BOK has 16 branches here, and eight of them manage the monetary supply and demand in their regions. The central bank keeps the banknotes made by the Korea Minting, Security Printing and ID Card Operating Corp. (KOMSCO), the state-run currency manufacturer, in its vault. The vault also houses banknotes from financial companies. The BOK official said its gold is kept at and managed by the Bank of England. It moved its gold reserves to the BOE in the early 2000s. The Korean central bank was established in Jung-gu in 1912. It is the second time the bank has moved and relocated its banknotes since the Korean War. By Park Hyong-ki Financial companies of Korea's family-run conglomerates are expected to face tougher regulatory scrutiny in line with President Moon Jae-in's policy for chaebol reform, industry sources said Friday. The Moon administration will likely nominate a figure, who will take a hard line against chaebol as much as Fair Trade Commission (FTC) chairman nominee Kim Sang-jo, to head the Financial Services Commission (FSC). A few potential names for the top FSC position have been surfacing, including Kim Ki-sik, a former lawmaker of the Democratic Party of Korea, and professor Lee Dong-geol from Dongguk University. Kim and Lee are known to be strong advocates of economic reform, with the former recognized for his hard-line policy calling for tougher regulations against chaebol financial companies. Lee, a former FSC vice chairman during the Roh Moo-hyun administration, is also a hardliner on several chaebol issues, including adhering to stricter rules separating industrial and financial capital, and enforcing transparent corporate governance. Observers say it may be a while before the Moon administration nominates an FSC chair. It is most likely to happen after Prime Minister-nominee Lee Nak-yon completes his confirmation hearing next week. Then, the new prime minister will discuss with President Moon nominations for finance minister and FSC chairman. In addition to working with the finance ministry, the new FSC chief is expected to collaborate with the FTC to drive corporate reform, targeting top chaebol such as Samsung and Hyundai Motor that have numerous subsidiaries, including securities and insurance companies. Although the two agencies have a non-binding pact to collaborate on ensuring market fairness and protecting consumer, the financial and antitrust regulators have overseen the industries separately. President Moon proposed the integration of a regulatory oversight system to protect consumers from corporate and financial malpractice. Given that financial companies are closely affiliated and linked with manufacturing companies via conglomerates' complex cross-shareholdings, the Moon camp has proposed the integration. This would enable regulators to oversee the whole market and dealings between financial and non-financial companies. "We will not be able to move forward into a better future without changing our economic structure that focused on growth led by chaebol," Moon said during his election campaign. FTC nominee Kim, a economics professor at Hansung University, said, "I accepted the nomination because my goal for chaebol reform perfectly matches with President Moon's," adding that he will immediately tackle issues concerning small businesses including mom-and-pop stores suffering from conglomerates' unfair practices. He said he will send a strong signal to Samsung, Hyundai Motor, SK and LG to play by the rules. Jang Ha-sung, a business professor at Korea University, said on social media that Kim as the FTC chief is the "best choice" made by the new administration, and he hopes President Moon will soon have his "economic dream team." Egypt condemns the "brutal terrorist attack" that occurred in south Libya on Thursday which killed dozens of Libyans, a statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry said on Friday which was reported by state news agency MENA. A suspected militia attack on Libya's Buraq Al-Shati air base reportedly killed at least 60 soldiers and civilians and wounded dozens on Thursday, according to the AP. However, other medical sources told Sky News Arabia that the number of people killed in the attack reached 134 soldiers and civilians. The deadly attack took place when the the Libyan army retook the army base from the militia that had apparently taken control of it, and forced the militia to withdraw to their bases in Sirte and Misrata cities. The foreign ministry said Egypt demanded that those involved in the attack be dealt with, while also expressing condolences for the families of the victims and support to the Libyan people and to the Libyan national army. The statement stressed "the necessity not to give the keys of the Libyan political status to illegal groups, who are attempting to have a political role through terrorist actions, in coordination with terrorist organisations and elements, and by foreign support and fund." The attack happened only one day after a visit by the Egyptian army's chief of staff, Mahmoud Hegazi, to the Libyan military commander Khalifa Haftar in Benghazi on the third anniversary of Operation Dignity, where Hegazi expressed Egypts support for ongoing efforts to preserve the unity of Libya and its territorial integrity. Earlier last week, Haftar visited Cairo and met with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi. El-Sisi reiterated that Egypt encourages political dialogue to end the Libyan crisis, as well as amendments to the Skhirat agreement, which was signed in Morocco in 2015 and mandates a peaceful transition and the establishment of a national unity government. Egypt has been hosting a series of negotiations in Cairo since late 2016 between the rival Libyan factions, with Hegazi facilitating. Search Keywords: Short link: The United States wants North Korea to trust its promise of no hostility and conduct no more nuclear or missile tests before Washington can consider opening talks with the communist nation, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was quoted as saying Thursday. The remarks, made in a meeting with South Korea's special presidential envoy Hong Seok-hyun, is the latest in a series of signs that the U.S. may be moving toward dialogue and engagement with Pyongyang after months of exchanging saber-rattling and harsh rhetoric. "The most impressive thing that I heard (from Tillerson) was that sanctions and pressure are not by themselves aimed at harassing North Korea, but are designed to create an opportunity for North Korea's development through opening its doors and scrapping its nuclear program," Hong said. Tillerson was also quoted as saying he hopes the North will take chances and "trust the U.S." He also said there are many companies willing to invest in North Korea and if the North makes the right choice, it will be good for its development, according to Hong. A member of Hong's delegation, who requested anonymity, also quoted Tillerson as saying that the U.S. meant it when it said it seeks no regime change, no invasion of the North and it will guarantee the North's system. Tillerson also said that the U.S. sends its messages only through public channels and the North shouldn't inquire about U.S. intentions "through back channels," according to the official. Should the North want talks with the U.S., Tillerson said that Pyongyang should refrain from conducting nuclear or missile tests for a certain period of time so as to create the right atmosphere for talks, the official said. Hong arrived in Washington on Wednesday and paid a visit to President Donald Trump at the White House. During the meeting, Trump expressed hope for working closely together with Moon to strengthen the alliance and resolve the North Korean nuclear issue, Hong said. Trump also told the delegation that he is willing to make peace through engagement with Pyongyang if conditions are right, though he wouldn't hold talks for the sake of talks. Hong also held a separate one-on-one meeting with National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster to discuss pending issues between the two countries, including nuclear and missile tensions with North Korea and the deployment of the U.S. THAAD missile defense system (Yonhap) By Kim Se-jeong Korea's suicide rate is high but it has reached a meaningful achievement since 2011 thanks to a pesticide ban, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). According to the WHO's World Health Statistics, Korea canceled the re-registration of paraquat in 2011 and banned its sale in 2012. These actions resulted in an immediate and clear decline in pesticide-poisoning suicides, and contributed to a decline in the overall suicide rate. Paraquat, a weed killer commercialized in 1961, was sold in Korea until 2011. "The intervention appeared to reduce the suicide rate among all population groups including both sexes, all age groups, and those living in urban and rural areas. More than half of the overall reduction in the suicide rate between 2011 and 2013 could be attributed to the paraquat ban. Notably, this was achieved without any impact on crop yield," the report said. Korea's suicide rate is highest among the OECD countries. By the WHO statistics, Korea's annual suicide rate in 2015 was 28.4 per 100,000 people, fourth-highest among 183 states surveyed. Sri Lanka had the highest suicide rate, with 35.3 per 100,000, followed by Lithuania with 32.7 and Guinea with 29. The Korean government banned paraquat production and sales in November 2011. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, in 2012, the rate of suicide by taking poison dropped by 18.5 percent compared to the previous year. By Yi Whan-woo The Donald Trump administration does not seek a regime change in North Korea or invasion, Trump's Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was quoted as saying, Friday. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a member of the South Korean delegation to Washington told reporters after a meeting with Tillerson at the Department of State that he shared changing U.S. policy on North Korea. The delegation is led by Hong Seok-hyun, President Moon Jae-in's special envoy to Washington. Tillerson's comments add to speculation in Seoul that the U.S. may be moving toward engagement with North Korea after making hawkish rhetoric, such as launching a preemptive strike on the Kim regime. Some analysts speculate Washington may be fine-tuning its strategy of "maximum pressure and engagement" on Pyongyang in consultation with the new Seoul government's inter-Korean policy of pursuing sanctions and dialogue simultaneously. The experts claimed Trump put priority on sanctions, while President Moon Jae-in, who was elected on May 9, will ultimately pursue inter-Korean reconciliation. Moon sent the delegation led by Hong, Tuesday, to coordinate his summit with Trump in June and also to discuss a range of issues involving the two allies. Tillerson was among a series of high-profile U.S. figures Hong was scheduled to meet. Tillerson was quoted as saying he hopes Pyongyang trusts the U.S. and that the reclusive state should not inquire about U.S. intentions "through back channels" as Washington sends its messages only through public channels. He stressed that North Korea should refrain from conducting nuclear or missile tests for a certain period of time for the talks to begin in the "right atmosphere," according to a Seoul delegate. The Ministry of Unification said Trump's remark appears to be aimed at dispelling Pyongyang's worries that it needs to develop nuclear arms inevitably against "the hostile U.S. policy of nuclear threats." The ministry also said Tillerson's words are interpreted as part of U.S. efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis peacefully in line with the Moon administration's pursuance of resuming dialogue with the Kim regime. "The peaceful method of settling Pyongyang's nuclear program is what the two allies have fully sympathized with recently," a ministry official said. The official cited a telephone conversation between Moon and Trump on May 10 and the meetings this week in Seoul between Seoul officials and the White House delegation led by Matt Pottinger, the senior director for East Asia at the National Security Council (NSC). Yang Moon-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, said Tillerson's remarks may help improve inter-Korean ties to some extent. "He basically reiterated what he said in his lecture to the State Department officials on May 3. But it can be still have significance on the inter-Korean ties as his comments appeared to be supportive of the Moon government's policy on Pyongyang," Yang said. Bribery amount increased to 59.2 billion won By Jung Min-ho Former President Park Geun-hye Prosecutors have indicted former President Park Geun-hye on 18 charges, including bribery, as they continue to wrap up a six-month investigation into the major political scandal that removed her from office. According to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, Monday, Park has been indicted on charges of colluding with her friend Choi Soon-sil to receive or demand 59.2 billion won ($52 million) in bribes from Samsung, Lotte and SK. Government officials who demand bribes are subject to prosecution even if they do not actually receive the money, Roh Seung-kwon, the prosecution's spokesman, told reporters during a briefing. Park has also been charged among others with abuse of power and giving state secrets to an unauthorized person Choi. She has become the nation's third former president to stand trial on corruption charges, after Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo. The prosecution also indicted Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin on charges of giving 7 billion won in bribes to Choi through the K-Sports foundation last year to take advantage of her friendship with Park. Prosecutors concluded that he did so to recover Lotte's license to operate a duty-free shop in Seoul. The company eventually recovered it, following a decision by the Korea Customs Service. Shin is the second business tycoon to be indicted in the scandal after Lee Jae-yong, the heir to the Samsung empire. Lee is already standing trial for offering 43.3 billion won in bribes to Park and Choi. In return, according to the prosecution, the former president ordered the National Pension Service to support a merger of two Samsung units in 2015 _ a crucial decision for Lee to tighten his grip on the group's management. But SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, who was also suspected of bribing Choi, avoided the same fate after prosecutors concluded that he was asked to give money, but refused. "We found that Lotte offered kickbacks, though it took the money back later. As for SK, we confirmed that Choi asked the company for the same thing, but it refused the request," Roh said. Woo Byung-woo, the former presidential secretary and one of the key figures in the scandal, has been indicted without detention on charges of abusing power and neglecting his duty. One of the most sensational stories about the scandal was a blacklist of artists, which was used to selectively support those who were friendly to the Park administration. Prosecutors concluded that Park conspired with former presidential chief of staff Kim Ki-choon in creating it. Prosecutors are preparing for a fierce court battle as Park continues to deny all the charges. At the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, prosecutors questioned her over the past two weeks, only to confirm her claims of innocence. The trial of Park is expected to begin after the May 9 presidential election to minimize the political impact it could have on election campaigns. A 150-member team with 31 prosecutors questioned Park six times, searched seven places, traced 30 bank accounts and investigated 110 people to clarify suspicions surrounding the scandal. Meanwhile, more than 30 people have been indicted. But the prosecution failed to receive credit for its accomplishments, while Park Young-soo, the independent counsel who led a special investigation team for three months, took most of it. Woo, who avoided arrest twice, played a major role in fomenting public distrust. The former prosecutor has become a symbolic figure of corruption within the prosecution, which many people accused of "being too political" and "not trying hard enough in an attempt to hide its own secrets," while questioning him. Five South Korean men cover their faces as they are presented to reporters in Manila, Philippines, Friday. They are among twenty five South Koreans who have been arrested in Manila on suspicion of internet fraud or illegal online gambling. / AP-Yonhap By Park Si-soo Twenty-five South Koreans have been arrested in metropolitan Manila on suspicion of internet fraud or illegal online gambling, the Associated Press reported on Friday, citing Philippine authorities. Twelve of the suspects are wanted at home for allegedly duping their compatriots into investing money in bogus real estate projects in the Philippines, Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente was quoted as saying in the report. Their arrests Wednesday in a posh condominium followed the bureau's apprehension on Monday of four other South Koreans for alleged fraud and voice phishing. They are accused of duping hundreds of their compatriots who lost money after revealing private information to callers impersonating legitimate companies. Bribery allegations involving senior prosecutors have renewed controversy over "special activity budgets," also known as "black budgets." / Yonhap Gov't urged to minimize secret expenses By Jung Min-ho It is the money that cannot be traced. Once given, no one asks about it, and no one needs to explain why and how it was spent. "Special activity budgets," also known as "black budgets," are given to ministries and other government agencies for classified operations. But there are plenty of examples where the money often turns into the root of corruption or simply a waste of taxpayers' money. The latest case came into the spotlight this week when it was revealed that Ahn Tae-geun, a former deputy minister for criminal affairs, and Lee Young-ryeol, former head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, exchanged suspicious money envelopes over dinner last month. Four days after the end of the Choi Soon-sil scandal investigation, Lee, who led the probe for the prosecution, met Ahn, a friend of one of the key suspects in the scandal, at a restaurant in southern Seoul. There, the two gave envelopes containing cash to each other's staffs. They said the money came from the justice ministry's special activity budget of 28.7 billion won ($25.5 million), which has now come under scrutiny by the ministry and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. But the legality aside, many people are questioning the need for secret expenses and urging the government to minimize them. According to the Korea Taxpayers' Association, 886.9 billion won was given to 18 ministries and other government agencies in 2016 as special activity budgets. The National Intelligence Service took the biggest share with 486 billion won, followed by the defense ministry (178.3 billion won), the National Police Agency (129.8 billion won) and the justice ministry. A prosecutor general is known to use much of the justice ministry's portion, which sparked controversy over the past few years. In 2009, former prosecutor general Kim Joon-kyu was criticized after it was disclosed he handed out money envelopes containing 500,000 won each to eight journalists. He caused trouble again after giving out 98 million won to high-ranking prosecutors two years after that. Citing security reasons, the prosecution has never disclosed how it spends its black budget. But it is no secret that top-ranking prosecutors often use the money as a means of boosting and strengthening their authority. Black budgets are the root of many problems, which is the last thing taxpayers want to pay for, said the Citizens Coalition for Economic Justice, a civic group. "Special activity budgets have to be minimized. The government needs to make the system more transparent so that taxpayers' money is not wasted," the CCEJ said. Over many years, many civic groups have asked Cheong Wa Dae and the National Assembly to resolve the issue. But former presidents and lawmakers, who also enjoyed the perks for themselves, have not been active in responding to the requests. Hong Joon-pyo, a former lawmaker who ran in the presidential election this year, admitted to giving some of the National Assembly's black budget to his wife in 2008 when he was serving as chair of the House Steering Committee. Another former lawmaker, Shin Gye-ryoon, said he also spent part of the money to pay for his son's education abroad. Yet things may be about to change. As he ordered an inspection of Ahn and Lee, Wednesday, President Moon Jae-in told his secretaries that Cheong Wa Dae should set an example by reducing its black budget. The fake image, right, was of TIME's March 2003 Asian edition, which originally ran the cover line "Hello, Mr Roh," with the words altered to "Go to Hell, Mr Roh." The image on the left is the original cover. By Park Si-soo SBS, South Korea's third-largest broadcaster, has come under fire again for using an image derogatory of late former President Roh Moo-hyun. The controversial image shown in a May 17 news show was of TIME's March 2003 Asian edition, which originally ran the cover line "Hello, Mr Roh," with the words altered to "Go to Hell, Mr Roh." It also described the former leader, who died in 2009, as "South Korea's new corpse." The fake cover was displayed alongside genuine TIME covers featuring Asian leaders, including newly elected President Moon Jae-in. This was not the first time SBS has used a distorted image to defame Roh - it has reportedly done it 10 times since 2013. The program's director officially apologized and explained the image was "erroneously" inserted. But few seemed to believe it. "I don't think we can say it's a mistake when it happened 10 times already," a netizen wrote. "It's more like intentional, isn't it? SBS seriously needs to find the person and give punishment." Many suspect the fake cover was created by a subscriber to Ilbe, an internet community for ultra-right people. The online community is notorious for its misogynistic users who have openly expressed their hatred of feminism and liberal politicians, including Roh. By Choi Ha-young The floor leaders of the nation's two largest opposition parties expressed hope, Friday, that the inter-party talks on revising the Constitution will begin as early as possible. They welcomed President Moon Jae-in's proposal for such talks, made in a speech in Gwangju, Thursday, but cautiously said the talks, even if launched early, could be prolonged due to differing partisan interests. The floor leaders made it clear that the National Assembly, not Cheong Wa Dae, should take the initiative in revising the Constitution. On Thursday, Moon renewed his presidential campaign pledge to amend the Constitution within his term while visiting Gwangju to mark the May 18 Democratic Uprising in 1980. He particularly emphasized his wish to stipulate the spirit of the anti-dictatorship movement in the Constitution. Rep. Chung Woo-taik, floor leader of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP), proposed to kick-start inter-party talks as soon as possible. "I officially suggest the Assembly speaker and each party complete the talks before the local election next year," Chung said. People's Party floor leader Rep. Kim Dong-cheol said Moon should clarify first whether he would respect any decision made by the Assembly. The Assembly launched a panel on revising the Constitution last year, but made little progress. Constitutional revision has been a long-debated issue here, but it has fallen apart several times. Before the May 9 election, a joint move of the People's Party, LKP and the Bareun Party failed to gain momentum being considered as a political tactic to drive an anti-Moon alliance. President Moon Jae-in hosts a meeting with the floor leaders of five parties and presidential officials at Cheong Wa Dae, Friday. From left are senior presidential secretary for political affairs Jun Byung-hun, Roh Hoe-chan of the Justice Party, Kim Dong-cheol of the People's Party, Woo Won-shik of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, Moon, Chung Woo-taik of the Liberty Korea Party, Joo Ho-young of the Bareun Party and presidential chief of staff Im Jong-seok. / Korea Times photo by Koh Young-kwan President offers to form inter-party consultative body By Yi Whan-woo President Moon Jae-in reaffirmed his campaign pledge to push for a constitutional revision centered on changing the current five-year, single-term presidency during a meeting with the floor leaders of the five parties at Cheong Wa Dae, Friday. Moon also offered to form a consultative body among the ruling and opposition parties as well as the government to facilitate dialogue on political, economic and social reform, the presidential office said. This was Moon's first meeting as president with the floor leaders of all five parties -- Woo Won-shik of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), Chung Woo-taik of the Liberty Korea Party (LKP), Kim Dong-cheol of the People's Party, Joo Ho-young of the Bareun Party and Roh Hoe-chan of the Justice Party. Moon has promised to carry out his pledges on revising the Constitution and run a three-way consultation meeting among rival party and government officials regularly. "The president reaffirmed his will to pursue his pledges made during his campaign for election," Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Park Soo-hyun said. Regarding the constitutional reform, Moon pushes to complete it by June 2018 when the nation holds local elections. Yoon Seok-youl named chief of Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office By Kim Bo-eun Yoon Seok-youl President Moon Jae-in appointed Yoon Seok-youl, a prosecutor at the Daejeon High Prosecutors' Office, to head the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, Friday. Yoon was a key investigator of the special prosecution team that investigated the influence-peddling scandal involving former President Park Geun-hye and her longtime friend Choi Soon-sil. President Moon said the appointment reflects his administration's commitment to carrying out the investigation of the presidential scandal. "I think what's most important now for the prosecution is to maintain the investigation of the influence-peddling scandal. I believe Yoon is the best person to fulfill the job," Moon said at a press briefing. The appointment of Yoon, known as a maverick prosecutor, shocked the hierarchical prosecution circle, as the relatively junior prosecutor's promotion to the post signals a radical reform of the prosecution. Yoon is regarded as well-qualified for the post. He also led investigations into the nation's intelligence agency's intervention in the 2012 presidential election. During the probe, Yoon revealed he faced government pressure to exercise leniency, which resulted in a demotion. "I will just try my best as I undertake this overwhelming job," Yoon told reporters, without elaborating further. At the same time, Park Kyun-taek, prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office (SPO) was named the justice ministry's criminal affairs deputy minister. The appointments came as their predecessors Lee Young-ryeol and Ahn Tae-geun were demoted to positions at regional district offices the same day as they face allegations of bribery and breach of the anti-graft law. Lee and Ahn offered to resign a day earlier, but Cheong Wa Dae refused to accept their resignations, as they currently face investigation. A 22-member team of the justice ministry and the SPO launched Thursday to look into allegations that Lee and Ahn exchanged cash envelopes at a dinner last month. The inspection team said Friday it has called for all 10 officials who attended the dinner to submit written explanations of the event. Seven senior-level prosecutors of the SPO's special team investigating the scandal involving former President Park and her confidant Choi, and three senior-level justice ministry officials had been present at the dinner, which took place four days after investigations into the presidential scandal were concluded. Ahn presented the investigation team's officials with envelopes containing 700,000 won to 1 million won, and Lee also provided two ministry officials with envelopes carrying 1 million won each. The ministry officials handed back the cash the following day, but the prosecutors did not. Suspicions have been raised that the money was provided for allowing former prosecutor and presidential aide Woo Byung-woo, who is also one of the key suspects in the scandal, to escape detention. Most of the key figures in the scandal, including former President Park, are on trial amid detention. The inspection team will review the submissions and likely summon each of the officials for questioning. It will seek to confirm whether the cash envelopes are a violation of the anti-graft law, in which case official investigations will begin. Acting justice minister offers to resign Meanwhile, acting Justice Minister Lee Chang-jae offered to resign, Friday, citing responsibility for the cash exchange. Lee assumed the role when former Justice Minister Kim Hyung-woong stepped down last year when former President Park faced investigation over her involvement in the scandal, as Park had appointed him. With Lee's resignation, the justice ministry and SPO will be without leaders. The former SPO chief, appointed by former President Park, stepped down after President Moon took office. The former head of Egypts Journalists Syndicate, Yehia Kalash, has appealed to the Court of Cassation against a one-year suspended prison sentence issued against him and Khaled El-Balshy, a former syndicate board member, and current syndicate board member Gamal Abdel-Rehim. Tarek Negeda, a lawyer who is part of Kalashs defence team, told Ahram Online that he submitted a report to the court on Thursday, along with three legal memos outlining the reasons for the appeal prepared by him and three other lawyers. On 25 March, Cairo's Qasr Al-Nil Appeals Court issued a one-year suspended sentence against Kalash and the board members for harbouring fugitives inside the syndicate's headquarters. This was a reduced prison sentence compared to the original verdict issued in November by a Cairo misdemeanour court of two years in prison for Kalash, Abdel-Rehim and El-Balshy. This suspended sentence meant Kalash, Abdel-Rehim and El-Balshy did not serve jail time. However, if any of the trio commits a similar offence within the next three years, as mandated by the appeals court, they would have to serve the one-year prison sentence. "A fourth memo with new reason for appeal will be submitted next Monday, however we cannot tell when the court will decide this case," Negeda added. "Our lawyers were drafting the appeals, and we will submit ours before the end of this week," El-Balshy told Ahram Online, referring to his appeal and that of Abdel-Rehim. Two scenarios are expected by court, either to reject the appeal, and then the previous sentence will stay valid, or to accept the appeal, then a retrial should be held, both Negeda and El-Balshy confirmed. The trio were accused in April 2016 of harbouring journalists Mahmoud El-Sakka and Amr Badr. El-Sakka and Badr were among many wanted on arrest warrants for illegally protests against the Egyptian-Saudi Red Sea island maritime border agreement. They were arrested inside the syndicate premises. They were later released on bail pending trial. The security forces' raid on the syndicate has sparked public outrage and prompting dozens of journalists to stage a sit-in at the syndicate headquarters that lasted for more than a month. Kalash lost the elections for the head of syndicate in March, receiving 1,890 votes compared to 2,457 votes for Abdel-Mohsen Salama, who won the position. Similarly, El-Balshy lost his seat on the syndicates high board, but Abdel-Rehim was re-elected to his seat, and Badr was elected as a new board member. Search Keywords: Short link: By Kim Se-jeong Korean men accused of going on a sex tour keep their faces covered after their arrest in the National Bureau of Investigation in Cebu City, March 4. /Courtesy of Cebu Daily News Local NGOs condemned police in South Chungcheong Province on Friday after the police dropped allegations against seven men arrested in the Philippines for buying sex. "We are deeply concerned with the police's decision not to indict them," according to a statement released by a group of NGOs, including Tacteen, a group promoting children's rights. The men were caught on the tourist island of Cebu in March for violating the anti-trafficking law prohibiting involvement in the sex trade. The men were bailed out, returned home and continued being investigated by the local police. Dropping the allegations earlier this week, the local police cited a lack of evidence as the main reason for letting them go. The agency also said reports provided by the police in the Philippines were insufficient to prove the allegations against the men. "Given that the local victims and fixers were all detained in the Philippines, it's absurd that the police claim a lack of evidence. We question how the police are conducting other cases occurring overseas. "This decision would give future suspects a reason to deny allegations and then come away clean. It demonstrates a lack of awareness about paying for sex abroad and the prevalence of tolerance by the police for such activity. We demand thorough investigations of these men to bring them to justice." The group also demanded explanations from the police about the extent of collaboration between the Philippine and the Korean police. The story was filed by the Cebu Daily News. According to the media outlet, nine men were initially caught sleeping with young women aged between 19 and 21 at a beachfront hotel on March 3. All were in their 40s and 50s, and two were released in the Philippines. "The suspects are part of what we call sex tourism which preys on Cebuanas. We received information about their activities so we hatched a plan to arrest them," the local investigator Arnet Pura told the news outlet. The paper also quoted Cebu's Vice Governor Agnes Magpale who helped arrest them. "I am happy that this kind of activity got busted. Like illegal drugs, we might not be able to eradicate it (sex tourism) but at least we are doing something to slow it down." Paying for sex is punishable by up to 15 years in prison in Korea. The news outlet posted video footage in the local police station featuring the men's faces on social media that went viral in Korea. Neither the police nor the vice governor in the Philippines could be reached for comment. Korean men are notorious for being avid sex tourists in the Philippines. By Maija Rhee Devine Grandma Cau's lips balance a cigarette in her mouth, a caved-in bowl of wrinkles. A former Chinese comfort woman of WWII, Cau, 92, is one of the three women featured in the 2016 film "The Apology." Directed by Tiffany Hsiung, the documentary screened at Colorado State University's ACT Human Rights Film Festival in April2017. Grandma Adela, a Philippina, applies lipstick before meeting with fellow former comfort women. Grandma Gil of South Korea sings Korean songs "A Pier" and "Wild Roses" on a bus to the airport. In Tokyo, Gil shouts, "Apologize! Apologize!" "I gave birth twice," Grandma Cau says. "A boy, in a field. Later, a girl. I strangled one, threw away the other. They were the babies of my enemy." The episode evokes the results of a survey of 192 Korean counterparts published in The Survey of Korean Comfort Women (The War/Women's Rights Center, Seoul, 2002). It lists 12% as having experienced pregnancies, with reports of abortions, miscarriages, and live births. Many of the babies born "died right after birth." How? Met blunt ends as Grandma Cau's babies did? A question burns. Will the closure for the comfort women ever come in the form of a satisfactory apology (the German Chancellor Willy-Brandt-style on-the-knees-in-the-rain mea culpa) and "legal" compensation (funded by Japanese government and topped with an unequivocal admission of crimes against humanity)? Japanese officials apologized eight times since 1992, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2015. But all fell short. Now, only 36 out of 238 former Korean comfort women, who registered with the South Korean government, survive. However, thousands of former Korean comfort women who never registered may believing throughout Asia, and beyond, a fact world media seem committed to ignore. The women in hiding probably are also craning their necks looking for a satisfactory apology. Given the Japanese nationalists' "apology fatigue" and cries to rescind already-delivered apologies, the closure comfort women seek is not likely to come soon if ever. Apologies can take centuries. Consider the apology of April 18, 2017, delivered by the Jesuits of Georgetown University for selling 272 slaves in 1838, 179 years after the deed (USA Today, 4/19/2017, 2A). Without an on-the-knees apology, will comfort women die without "properly closing their eyes," the result of unhealed "heart wounds" (the han in Korean)? Activism to wrangle a sufficiently-acceptable apology and compensation from Japan will grind away, as supporters vow, even after the death of all surviving comfort women. However, in the face of the potentially imminent death of surviving comfort women in urgent need of closures, exploring parallel closures for them that can come independently of external occurrences like political apologies and government compensation, should proceed. The Dalai Lama teaches such internally-generated closures spring from "self-compassion." The trick is it requires victims to be "non-judgmental about what causes them pain." Clearly, attaining that state of mind won't be easy. But it offers the surest path to a closure. And it can be theirs now. The author of an autobiographical novel about Korea, "The Voices of Heaven," and a poetry book, "Long Walks on Short Days," Maija Rhee Devine is working on her next books a nonfiction book and a novel about comfort women of WWII. Contact: www.MaijaRheeDevine.com or maijadevine@gmail.com. By Vladislav Inozemtsev MOSCOW A few weeks ago, Mikhail Gorbachev the last leader of the Soviet Union and the man who did more than anyone to end the Cold War told the German newspaper Bild that it is possible "to recognize all the features of a new cold war in today's world." The United States "has already dragged" Russia into it, Gorbachev has said, in an effort "to realize its general triumphalist idea." But is the current antagonism between the US and Russia really "new"? And is it credible to place the blame overwhelmingly on the US, as Gorbachev and certainly the Kremlin are inclined to do? To answer these questions, we must look to history beginning long before Winston Churchill's "Iron Curtain Speech" in 1946. In fact, the adversarial relationship between Russia and the West began over a century before the Cold War. Back in the 1820s, Russia emerged not only as the principal victor in the Napoleonic wars, but also as the most conservative or, more accurately, reactionary force in Europe. Under Czars Alexander I and Nicholas I, it stood ready to counter any sign of a renewal of the "revolutionary plague" infecting the continent's monarchies. By 1830, the rift between the "Holy Alliance" countries (Russia, Prussia, and Austria) and the rest of Europe was deep. And, when Russia suppressed two "color" revolutions the Polish revolt of 1830-1831 and the Hungarian revolution of 1848-1849 it became even deeper. Both interventions incited a massive surge in anti-Russian sentiment across the continent. To strengthen Russia's position, Nicholas I looked to the Orthodox populations in the Balkans and the Ottoman Empire, with his naval minister, Alexander Menshikov, demanding in 1853 that Russia be named an official protector of the Ottoman Empire's 12 million Orthodox citizens. When the demand was rejected, Russian troops occupied Ottoman-controlled Moldavia and Wallachia a move that eventually led to the Crimean War, which Russia lost spectacularly in 1856. To my mind, that loss marks the end of a first, roughly 30-year Cold War between Russia and Europe. What most people think of as the Cold War began nearly a century later, after World War II, when the Soviet Union, seeking to expand its sphere of influence, installed communist governments from Poland to Bulgaria. In 1946, it began to destabilize Greece, and at the Council of Foreign Ministers, established under the 1945 Potsdam Agreement, the Kremlin demanded control over Tripolitania in North Africa a demand that Western leaders rejected. The next year, the Soviet Union prevented its satellite states from participating in the Marshall Plan, aimed at restoring Europe's economy after the war. Joseph Stalin subsequently imposed a blockade on West Berlin, in a failed effort to enforce compliance with that decision. The Cold War brought the Soviet Union and the US to the brink of war over Korea in the 1950s and Cuba in 1962. But, as in the nineteenth century, the confrontation was mostly about control of Europe, exemplified in the Soviet interventions in Hungary in 1956 and Czechoslovakia in 1968. The Cold War edged to an end in the late 1980s, after the Soviet Union lost a "limited" peripheral war, much like the Crimean war of the 1850s. The war in Afghanistan in the 1980s finally exhausted the Soviet Union's military and economic potential, impelling it to abandon its satellites in Europe and finally to collapse. Today's cold war has much in common with the two previous confrontations. For one thing, as was the case in the 1820s and late 1940s, Russia is aggressively rejecting Western values and opposing the US. Though no one is threatening to attack Russia, anti-Western hysteria is being used once again to divert attention from domestic economic challenges and consolidate support for the country's leader. Thus, President Vladimir Putin's Russia, like that of Nicholas I, proclaims itself the defender of the Orthodox faith and the Russian (similar to the nineteenth-century Slavonic) "world." This claim has provided the Kremlin with a ready-made justification for destabilizing neighboring countries like Ukraine and supporting secessionist movements from Moldova to Georgia, while openly calling for the suppression of "color revolutions" in its near-abroad. This points to a critical observation about the current cold war: the West is not "dragging" anyone into it. In fact, in all three confrontations since the nineteenth century, it was Russian action, motivated by domestic concerns, that spurred European or Western efforts at strategic containment. Today, the West is reacting to Russia's annexation of Crimea and occupation of eastern Ukraine's Donbas region, just as it responded to the annexation of Wallachia in 1853 and the blockade of West Berlin in 1948. Moreover, in all three confrontations, the Western side has comprised several "natural allies," while Russia has acted either alone or with minor satellites. All three times, the country's leaders displayed a willingness to blame others for its homegrown follies, alienate all of its potential allies and sympathizers, and waste its human and economic resources. Based on this history, it seems likely that Russia's effort to contain perceived enemies will lead only to economic collapse and political disarray, forcing the country's elites to step away from their geopolitical aspirations and turn to urgent domestic issues. In this sense, US President Donald Trump may be partly right in saying that, "at the right time, everyone will come to their senses." But the second part of his claim that "there will be lasting peace" neglects the entire history of Russia's relationship with the West. Sooner or later, the cycle will begin again. Vladislav Inozemtsev is an Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation fellow at the School of Advanced International Studies of Johns Hopkins University. Copyright belongs to Project Syndicate. Koreans moved by president's speech on 1980 uprising The ceremony to mark the 37th anniversary of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement was unlike previous ones held during the rule of two conservative leaders. For the first time in four years, the president joined the commemorative event where a record number of people took part. The symbolic song "March for the Beloved" was sung by all participants for the first time in nine years, following the president's order. It is noteworthy that President Moon Jae-in did much more than just show up and give a perfunctory speech like former President Park Geun-hye did in 2013, which was the only year she participated in the event. During his speech, Moon called the Gwangju uprising "one of the saddest and most painful moments in Korea's contemporary history." As a former pro-democracy activist and human rights lawyer, Moon moved many people by highlighting the special meaning of the movement and the importance of bringing those responsible to justice. Many were also moved when he hugged a woman who gave a speech to pay tribute to her father who died in the uprising. The most poignant moment of Moon's speech was when he said "a new Korea is a country where people take care of and console each other." This remark reassured many Koreans about the kind of country he will try to build for the next five years. The Gwangju Uprising is acknowledged globally for laying the foundation for Korea's democracy by protesting the military rule of Chun Doo-hwan. But in Korea, many remain divided about how to interpret the uprising. The citizens of the southwestern city are still scarred by widespread false accusations against it. "There are some people who still attempt to disparage the May 18 uprising. This is unacceptable," Moon said. "Such attempts distort history and deny democracy." Some conservatives have labeled it a riot by communist sympathizers. Others claim Gwangju citizens fired first or that North Korea instigated it. Chun triggered public rage with his recent memoir where he distanced himself from the massacre, saying he had nothing to do with it and calling himself and his wife "victims" of the uprising. He denied all allegations he had ordered attacks on citizens, but it is fact that many protesters and citizens were killed by government-commanded troops. During the speech, Moon vowed to uncover the truth behind the May 18 movement. Such fact-finding efforts are necessary to put an end to the wrongful accusations once and for all. There have been new allegations about attacks, such as soldiers shooting from helicopters. Like the president said, clarifying the truth is not a matter of ideological dispute. It is about upholding justice. Samsung Electronics' mobile chief Koh Dong-jin introduces the company's much-hyped flagship smartphones _ the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus in Beijing. / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics By Lee Min-hyung Samsung Electronics has introduced its flagship Galaxy S8 smartphone to China, seeking to bounce back in the world's largest handset market. The Seoul-based company yielded its title as the top smartphone vendor in China to Xiaomi in the third quarter of 2014. With the rise of cheaper Chinese handsets, Samsung's Chinese market share continued to decline to fifth place in the first quarter this year, according to market researcher Strategy Analytics. Samsung has underlined the importance of the Asian powerhouse as its major cash cow by tailoring its phones for Chinese users. Last year, the company planned to release the Galaxy Note 7 smartphone with a 128 GB storage capacity for the market, despite its global debut with 64 GB of memory. But with sales of the device scrapped over its battery fiasco, the much-hyped device failed to steal market shares from the local manufacturers. Samsung still remains confident over its potential to rebound there, with the company holding a launch event in Beijing Thursday for the S8 and the larger S8 Plus. "China has been a crucial market for Samsung since we penetrated into the market in 1992," mobile boss Koh Dong-jin said during the event. "The S8 and S8 Plus will offer the best mobile experiences for Chinese customers and become a beloved brand." Samsung is running nine manufacturing plants in China, focusing on launching localized products and services. The company is also enhancing its R&D in its bid to tighten partnerships with Chinese brands. The company said it has joined with Chinese companies such as game and content giant Tencent and the country's leading social media platform Weibo. For example, Weibo users will be able to enjoy a 360-degree live video streaming service operated by Samsung's Gear 360 virtual reality device. The S8 and S8 Plus are available in four colors in China midnight black, orchid gray, maple gold and coral blue. Samsung will also launch a 128 GB internal storage model for the midnight black color. The high-end phones come in two sizes: the S8 with a 5.8-inch display and S8 Plus with 6.2-inch screen. They cost 930,000 won ($825.70) and 1.01 million won in China. The devices will go on sale there next Thursday. President Emmanuel Macron undertakes his first trip as commander-in-chief on Friday when he meets troops fighting Islamist militants in Mali where the security situation has worsened despite French intervention more than four years ago. The Sahel, a politically fragile area whose remote desert spaces spanning from Mauritania in the west to Sudan in the east host a medley of jihadist groups, is seen as vulnerable after a series of attacks in recent months. That has been brought further to light after a spike in violence across Mali, where the former colonial power intervened more than four years ago to drive out al Qaeda-linked militants who hijacked a rebellion in 2012 by ethnic Tuaregs and attempted to take control of the central government in Bamako. Macron, a newcomer to international diplomacy, put counter-terrorism at the top of his security priorities during the election campaign, vowing to strengthen support for West African allies. "Emmanuel Macron made the commitment during the campaign to immediately go and see troops engaged in the fight against terrorism," said a senior French diplomat. The trip to Gao, where some 1,600 troops are based and where he will also hold talks with Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, will reaffirm Paris' engagement, in stark contrast to his predecessor Francois Hollande, who began his term pulling troops out of Afghanistan. After sending troops to Mali, France has since spread some 4,000 soldiers across the region to hunt down Islamists, while United Nations' peacekeepers have been deployed to ensure Mali's stability. However, the U.N.'s forces have lacked equipment and resources, making a political settlement between Tuaregs and the government in Mali increasingly fragile and paving the way for Islamists and traffickers to exploit a void in the north of the country. "Our objective in the short-term is to help the regional armies control their territory, especially the fragile border zones," said the diplomat. "The peace process is not going fast enough even if there is a glimmer of hope." French officials acknowledge that Paris is likely to have to keep its forces in the region for an indefinite period. Diplomats said Macron wanted to fine-tune policy to ensure countries were also given more help to develop rather than just focusing on security aspects. With France shouldering the bulk of European military operations overseas, and in particular in Africa, officials said the trip would also be an opportunity to outline his desire for a greater European role, something that France has been pushing for years, but with few tangible results. "The Franco-German engine must give Europe impetus to play a bigger role in crucial dossiers such as the African Sahel," the diplomat said. Search Keywords: Short link: Millions of Iranians joined long queues to vote on Friday, an early sign of strong turnout in an unexpectedly tight presidential election that could determine the future of the country's nascent emergence from international isolation. The presidential vote pits incumbent Hassan Rouhani, who wants to normalize ties with the West, against a hardline judge who says Rouhani has gone too far and sold out the values of Iran's Islamic revolution to its enemies. Rouhani, who struck a deal with world powers two years ago to curb Iran's nuclear program in return for the lifting of most economic sanctions, said the election was important "for Iran's future role in the region and the world". "Whoever wins the election, we should help him to fulfill this important and serious duty," state news agency IRNA quoted him as saying after voting. Rouhani, 68, who swept into office four years ago promising to open Iran to the world and give its citizens more freedom at home, faces an unexpectedly strong challenge from Ebrahim Raisi, a protege of supreme leader Ali Khamenei. Raisi has blamed Rouhani for mismanaging the economy and has traveled to poor areas holding rallies, pledging more welfare benefits and jobs. He is believed to have the backing of the powerful Revolutionary Guards security force, as well as the tacit support of Khamenei, whose powers outrank those of the elected president but who normally steers clear of day-to-day politics. "I respect the outcome of the vote of the people and the result will be respected by me and all the people," Raisi said after voting, according to the semi-official Fars news agency. In the last election, Rouhani won more than three times as many votes as his closest challenger. But this time the outcome promises to be much closer, as other conservative rivals have backed out and thrown their support behind Raisi. The Guards and other hardliners hope that a win for Raisi, 56, will give them an opportunity to safeguard economic and political power they see as jeopardized by the lifting of sanctions and opening to foreign investment. During weeks of campaigning the two main candidates exchanged accusations of graft and brutality in unprecedentedly hostile television debates. Both deny the other's accusations. Some 350,000 members of the security forces were deployed around the country to protect the election, state television reported. The interior ministry said at mid-day that it had no reports of electoral offences so far, state television reported. Rouhani has urged the Guards not to meddle in the vote, a warning that reflects the political tension. Suspicions that the Guards and the Basij militia under their control falsified voting results in favor of hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad led to eight months of nationwide protests in 2009, which were violently suppressed. STARK CHOICE For ordinary Iranians, the election presents a stark choice between competing visions of the country. Rouhani, known for decades as a mild-mannered establishment insider rather than a gung-ho reformer, has taken on the mantle of the reform camp in recent weeks, with fiery campaign speeches that attacked the human rights records of his opponents. Many pro-reform voters are still lukewarm Rouhani supporters, disappointed with the slow pace of change during his first term. But they are anxious to keep out Raisi, who they see as representing the security state at its most fearsome: in the 1980s he was one of four judges who sentenced thousands of political prisoners to death. "I am on my way to vote for Rouhani. I like his detente policy with the world. I know he is not a reformist, but who cares? What matters is that he is not Raisi," government employee Yousef Ghaemi, 43, said by phone in the western city of Kermanshah. For conservatives, the election represents a chance to restore the values of the 1979 revolution, which requires elected officials to be subordinate to the Shi'ite Muslim clergy and supreme leader. "I cast my vote already - I voted for Raisi because he is a follower of Imam Khamenei. He will not confront the leader if elected. He will protect our Islamic identity," said Mehran Fardoust, 36, a shop keeper near the Imam Reza Shrine in the holy city of Mashhad, Raisi's home town. In public, Khamenei has remained neutral, repeatedly calling for a high turnout. But Iranians in both political camps suspect he is in fact backing his protege Raisi -- not only for the presidency but potentially also as a possible successor to his own post of supreme leader, which the 77-year-old hardline cleric has held since 1989. Despite the removal of nuclear-related sanctions in 2016, lingering unilateral U.S. sanctions that target Iran's record on human rights and terrorism have kept foreign companies wary of investing in Iran, limiting the economic benefits so far. Raisi has focused his campaign on the economy, visiting rural areas and villages and promising housing, jobs and more welfare benefits, a message which could resonate with millions of poor voters angry at the Tehran elite. Two other conservative candidates are still officially in the race. If no candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two, presumably Rouhani and Raisi, would face each other a second time in a run-off in a week. Polls close at 6 p.m. (1330 GMT), although authorities often extend voting into the evening. Ballot counting will start at midnight and final results are expected within 24 hours of polls closing, TV reported. The elections are also for city and village councils. Search Keywords: Short link: Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court, will not join an Islamic summit in Saudi Arabia with US President Donald Trump, his office said Friday. "President Omar al-Bashir has apologised to King Salman of Saudi Arabia for being unable to attend the Riyadh summit," a statement from his office carried by the official SUNA news agency said. Bashir has evaded arrest since his indictment by the ICC for alleged genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the 14-year-old conflict in Darfur that has killed tens of thousands. His planned attendance at Sunday's summit of Arab and Muslim leaders in Riyadh had drawn strong criticism from Washington. Search Keywords: Short link: British police said they will have to arrest WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange for breaching his bail if he leaves Ecuador's embassy after a rape investigation against him in Sweden was dropped by prosecutors on Friday. The police said in a statement that a warrant was issued against him for failing to hand himself in in 2012, adding: "The Metropolitan Police Service is obliged to execute that warrant should he leave the embassy". Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt's Prime Minister Sherif Ismail is set to fly to Jordan on Friday to participate in the activities of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on the Middle East and North Africa from 19 to 21 May. The forum, which is held at the Dead Sea this year under the theme of "Enabling a Generational Transformation" is expected to be attended by leaders and officials, as well as business sector and civil society representatives from more than fifty countries. This is the 9th time that Jordan will host the WEF such conferences. The forum is expected to cover three main topics: youth empowerment through the promotion of entrepreneurship and innovation, building comprehensive economies, as well as development and diplomatic efforts to tackle regional conflicts and challenges. Search Keywords: Short link: Souraya Baghdadi visited Egypt for the Cairo Cinema Days Festival (9-16 May) hosted by Zawya Arthouse Cinema, to celebrate the festivals tribute to her husband Maroun Baghdadi (1950-1993), the prominent Lebanese director who ushered in the new wave of Lebanese Cinema. His films were the voice of a whole generation torn by civil war and left to struggle with its identity. His film Out Of Life won the jury prize at Cannes in 1991. Souraya Baghdadi is a Lebanese actress and choreographer who launched her dance career in 1975 with Caracalla Dance Theatre, an Internationally renowned company based in Beirut. She joined the world of cinema in 1981 when she played the lead role in Baghdadis film little Wars, also selected at Cannes. After the film, she married Maroun Baghdadi. The two were together until his tragic death in December 1993, a few days before she gave birth to his third son. Ahram Online talks to Baghdadi about her husband, the restoration project of his films and her own artistic career. Ahram Online (AO): It has been almost 25 years since your appearance in the cinema world. Why did you halt your career as an actress after Little Wars, given that you were a big success and the film went to Cannes? Souraya Baghdadi (SB): Little Wars was my first experience as an actress. Maroun wanted to introduce an unprofessional actress in his film and I was selected for the principal role in casting. It was a turning point for me on a personal and artistic level and I wished to continue as an actress, but Maruon had his own plans for me. When we got married he told me that he wanted to have a family, a wife and a mother for his children. He could not imagine it would be possible for a couple working in cinema to have a suitable family with all the tensions of the career. His idea was satisfying for me since I was not that confident about acting as my career of choice, and I wanted also to take a break from dancing after ten years of being a professional dancer. AO: What was attractive in Maroun Baghdadi as a husband? SB: In my opinion love comes when a person meets someone who makes a big difference in his life, and opens a new world for him. Maroun was that someone for me. He introduced me to a totally different life. I knew him and cinema at the same moment. It did not take much time to fall for him. AO: What do you think your influence on Maroun was? SB: It is like the influence of all women on all men. Men are made of anxiety. Maroun was very anxious and I helped him to be more calm and more confident in the future. I was his source of comfort. It is very important to find a person that helps you to be comfortable, confident and calm. I believe I was that person for Maroun. AO: Now, two decades after Marouns death, you returned to cinema as an actress in several short films, in addition to your work as a choreographer since the late 90s. How did that come about? SB: I had forgotten all about acting and was totally involved in my new life with Maroun, but a few years after his death I came back to my first love, dancing and theatre. In 2006, when we started the project of Marouns films restoration and archiving in cooperation with Nadi Lekol Nass (an independent film club and association) in Beirut, people started to watch Little Wars again, and some of them from the young generation were watching his films for the first time. Some filmmakers, after seeing me in Little Wars and some other documentaries about Maroun and his works, approached me to take roles in their films, and I welcomed the idea. All of the sudden I found myself again as an actress in up to five movies. One of them was Kelthoum Voyage (2017) by the Algerian director Anis Djaad, for which I won Best Actress in the Maghreb Film Festival of Oujda (2017). AO: Is it different when Maroun Baghdadi is not the one behind the camera? SB: I like to think that although Maroun is not with me now he still introduces me to new opportunities. The re-appearance of his films gave me new chances to return to Cinema exactly as he did three decades ago when he introduced me to the cinema for the first time. He is very generous even in his absence. AO: The restoration and archiving project of Marouns films took place in 2006, nearly 10 years after his death. Why did it take such a long time? SB: In 2005, a film festival in France, where I live now and where Maroun used to live for years, asked me for a DVD copy of Marouns film Beirut Oh Beirut (1975) to watch because they wanted it to be screened in a special program about the Lebanese Cinema. Unfortunately, I did not have it on DVD so they did not screen the film. I felt very disappointed, because Maroun was one of the new-Lebanese-cinema pioneers and his film could not make it to the festival. At that moment I thought it was important to collect all his films, because I could not locate many of them, and restore them and re-produce them on DVD. I received some proposals but when Nadi Lekol Nass offered to take on the mission, I accepted the cooperation especially because the same association had already taken on a similar project to reproduce the films of the late, prominent Lebanese director Burhan Alawia. With limited resources it took a long time and a lot of effort to find Marouns films and restore them. Sometimes we even lost hope, but at last we have almost all his works, especially those about Lebanon, restored and on DVD. AO: Now, when you see the younger generations having the chance to watch Maroun`s films, what do you think the is a message that Maroun wanted to deliver to them? SB: Maroun was asking questions to stimulate a dialogue. He did not have a one-sided message or point of view. He was introducing different characters who were representing Maroun himself and the debate in his mind. But he definitely was against the futility of war. He believed that war and violence take us to nowhere but loss. Maroun had his own political and social views and it was very clear in his films. He was a free man with a critical mind. and I believe that this is his message to everyone: You should have a free mind to be free. AO: Once you said that you re-discovered Maroun after his death. What did you mean by that? SB: Each time I watch his films I discover new dimensions. I keep asking myself am I really rediscovering Maroun, or am I actually rediscovering myself? I do not have an answer. I was very young when I lost Maroun but now I am more mature and have more experience so I understand what he was saying in his films in a different way. Maybe now I understand him more. AO: Maroun loved Egypt a lot and he wanted to make one of his films in Cairo. How do you feel as you are here now introducing his films to an Egyptian audience in Cairo? SB: I am among the legends of the Egyptian cinema: Yousef Shahin, Yousry Nasrallah, Samir Nasri and all. Some of those prominent filmmakers and movie stars in Egypt were friends of Maroun, who used to visit Egypt many times without me. Now I am here without him to introduce his films. This is my first visit in 26 years and I feel as if I am here to continue what Maroun started. It is like a part of my journey of re-discovering myself as well. AO: Do you plan to continue with your career as an actress? SB: In 1981, I was part of Marouns cinema, but now I am exploring my own voice and my own cinema and I am open to all the options and potentials. Some of the potentials could be directing films, not only being an actress. AO: You have passed through many hard times after Maroun`s distressing death in 1993 (when he fell from the stairs of his mothers house in Beirut). What was your motivation while tackling all of these difficulties? SB: Maroun passed away a few days before I gave birth to my third child Kamal. Certainly, the incident was a disaster but I wanted to protect my baby. It was as if someones death gives a life to another, or as if the birth of Kamal was our salvation from misery and sadness. To face the hard times you need to pull yourself out of them. You have to have your own vision and your own dreams and your plans, and there should also be lots of love. You should love your life and the people around you and not fall into isolation. It does not mean that everything went smoothly, but those were my tools to overcome all the difficulties. Maroun was there all the time, for when you lose a beloved you create his existence in your life and you invent a space for him inside you. Only when I was able to reintroduce the legend of Maroun Baghdadi to the people, I felt like at last I had survived it all. 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 Search Keywords: Short link: Two health care providers from Springfield, Mo., agreed to pay the United States $34 million to settle allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by engaging in improper financial relationships with referring physicians. You can read the 13-page settlement document in the right margin of this report. The two defendants are Mercy Hospital Springfield, formerly known as St. Johns Regional Health Center, and its affiliate, Mercy Clinic Springfield Communities, formerly known as St. Johns Clinic. They operate a hospital, doctors' offices, and infusion center in Springfield. The settlement announced on Thursday resolved allegations that the Defendants submitted false claims to the Medicare Program for chemotherapy services rendered to patients referred by oncologists whose compensation was based in part on a formula that improperly took into account the value of their referrals of patients to the infusion center operated by the Defendants. Federal law restricts the financial relationships that hospitals and clinics may have with doctors who refer patients to them. When physicians are rewarded financially for referring patients to hospitals or other health care providers, it can affect their medical judgment, resulting in over-utilization of services that drives up health care costs for everyone, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Chad Readler of the Justice Departments Civil Division. In addition to yielding a recovery for taxpayers, this settlement should deter similar conduct in the future and help make health care more affordable. The allegations settled on Thursday arose from a lawsuit filed by a whistleblower, Dr. Viran Roger Holden, a physician who was employed by one of the Defendants, under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act. Under the act, private citizens can bring suit on behalf of the government for false claims and share in any recovery. Dr. Holden will receive $5,440,000 from the recovery. This settlement protects patients and the public by enforcing the federal protections against profit incentives for physicians, said Acting U.S. Attorney Thomas M. Larson for the Western District of Missouri. Patients deserve assurances that they are receiving appropriate medical care, unbiased by hidden incentives. And taxpayers deserve assurances that the cost of public health care programs is not inflated by unnecessary procedures and services. When physician compensation improperly accounts for referrals, patients are left to wonder whether their doctors judgment has been tainted and motivated by financial interests, said Special Agent in Charge Steven Hanson for the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General. Illegal financial reward has no place in health care. Todays settlement should send a message that, together with our law enforcement partners, we will pursue these cases. The governments intervention/complaint in this matter illustrates the governments emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services, at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). The case, United States ex rel. Holden v. Mercy Hospital Springfield, et al., Case No. 15-cv-3283 (W.D. Mo.), was handled by the Civil Divisions Commercial Litigation Branch, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Missouri, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. The claims settled by this agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. Mercy provided this response to the settlement: Mercy Hospital Springfield and Mercy Clinic Springfield Communities recently agreed to a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (OIG) to resolve a lawsuit related to physician compensation. Specifically, the lawsuit involves how physicians were paid for their work in the Mercy Hospital Infusion Center between 2009 and 2014. The physicians who worked in the infusion center did nothing wrong, and all patients received services that were medically necessary and were billed appropriately for the care they received. The same high standards of care were in place both before and after the infusion center changed from being clinic-based to hospital-based. The settlement amount, which was based on a portion of the infusion centers revenue during that five-year period, is $34 million. Mercy has been in discussions with the DOJ on this matter for many months and was able to plan for this expense and set aside the necessary funds for this settlement during the last fiscal year, so that it will not have an impact on current fiscal year finances and operations. As part of the settlement, Mercy Hospital Springfield and Mercy Clinic Springfield Communities also signed a Corporate Integrity Agreement with the OIG. This five-year agreement requires Mercy to conduct enhanced training and education, perform regular internal reviews and policy and procedure updates, and implement more rigorous governance oversight structure related to physician contracting and compensation practices. The background of the issue is as follows: * Prior to 2009, Mercys infusion center was part of Mercy Clinic. That year, the decision was made to transfer the center to Mercy Hospital Springfield in order to be eligible to participate in a federal drug pricing program, providing significant cost reductions for expensive chemotherapy drugs that benefit our cancer patients. * Mercy Clinic continued to operate the infusion center under a management agreement with the hospital, and the hospital paid the clinic for these management services. The clinic then paid the oncologists for their services based on their work in the infusion center. The mistake occurred when the clinic paid the physicians in a manner determined by the DOJ to be a technical violation of federal law. * The regulations regarding physician billing practices are very complex, and in settling the lawsuit the DOJ acknowledged that Mercy did not intentionally violate the law. These were regulatory issues, not patient care issues. Even though they are commonly labeled as fraud and abuse laws, the government investigation did not find any intentional wrongdoing or fraud at Mercy and the settlement we reached with the government dismisses all allegations of fraud. In addition, Mercy changed the way physicians are paid three years ago as part of an internal assessment of physician compensation practices. We take this situation very seriously. We made a regulatory mistake and we are working hard to make it right, said Jon Swope, regional president of Mercy Central Communities. Our efforts today are focused on continuing to maintain a more rigorous audit and compliance program, including developing the plan to implement the new Corporate Integrity Agreement. Just as we are committed to the highest levels of health care quality and safety, we also are committed to ensuring that we comply with all the technical aspects of the laws involving physician compensation. Historic ties of north Meck span throughout region Though the north Mecklenburg area didnt see significant population growth until a few decades ago, its rich history dates back to the Revolutionary War. That was the basis of... An easier-than-expected first mammogram experience HUNTERSVILLE Scheduling a cancer screening probably ranks somewhere on your to-do list between "clean out the garage" and "donate those clothes that don't fit." Sure, you'll get to it at... Its an increasingly common occurrence in Los Angeles County. A homeless encampment appears under a freeway or in a park near your house. The inhabitants, probably substance-addicted, mentally ill or just hostile, look as though they need help. Youre a public spirited Angeleno. Who do you call to deal with the situation? I put the question to Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor Chairman Mark Ridley-Thomas, a leader in the effort to find housing and treatment for the more than 47,000 homeless in the county. I told him that I, as a Los Angeles resident dont want these people put in jail. I want them to get help. But if I call the city or county, my inquiry will be lost in their huge bureaucracies. Ridley-Thomas said a special service line would be set up this summer to handle such calls. A campaign to end homelessness will head the effort. Well have signs to call this number, he said. The campaign will plaster the city with signs with the phone number. They'll be on trains and buses and the county homeless website, homeless.lacounty.gov. he said. A residents call on the hot line will go to a trained homeless worker who will dispatch a team to consisting of a social worker, a substance abuse specialist, a public health nurse and a formerly homeless person. The team would try to persuade the homeless people to move into housing created by county tax increase funds and a related city of Los Angeles homeless bond measure. The team would stick with homeless foks until they are persuaded to abandon their shelters. This process is part of the plans being made on how to spend the $356 million from proceeds of the quarter-cent sales tax increase approved by the voters in March. Unless homelessness is reduced, residents may wonder if their votes have been wasted. The Los Angeles Times Doug Smith reported that a citizens advisory group has recommended spending $216 million for short-term rental subsidies and services to homeless people who have the capacity to become self-sufficient. A total of $356 million a year would be raised by the tax increase. Added to this are proceeds of a $1.2 billion city bond issue, which would finance 10,000 more units of homeless housing. It all sounds good. But anyone familiar with the county and city bureaucracies knows the difficulty of bringing these two levels of government together. By mid summer, the plans should be in place, Ridley-Thomas said. If they succeed, Ridley-Thomas, other local officials and the news media will have to keep a close watch on the process. Homeless camp on Wilshire Boulevard sidewalk within MacArthur Park. LA Observed photo. This presentation appears in the May 19, 2017 issue of Executive Intelligence Review. HELGA ZEPP-LAROUCHE IN BEIJING The Belt and Road Becomes the World Land-Bridge [Print version of this presentation] May 15Helga Zepp-LaRouche, president of the Schiller Institute, Germany, delivered this speech today at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing. She was addressing Roundtable I of the Fifth Global Think Tank Summit. View full size Schiller Institute There has been a breathtaking dynamic of the New Silk Road in the three and a half years since it was announced by President Xi Jinping in 2013. The Belt and Road Initiative has the obvious potential of quickly becoming a World Land-Bridge, connecting all continents through infrastructure, such as tunnels and bridges, and reinforced by the Maritime Silk Road. As such, it represents a new form of globalization, one not determined by the criteria of profit maximization for the financial sector, but rather the harmonious development of all participating countries on the basis of Win-Win cooperation. It is therefore important, not to look at the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) from the standpoint of an accountant, who projects his statistical viewpoint of cost-benefit into the future, but that we instead think about it as a Vision for the Community of a Shared Future. Where do we want humanity as a whole to be in 10, 100, or even in 1,000 years? Is it not the natural destiny of mankind, as the only creative species known in the universe so far, that we will be building villages on the moon, develop a deeper understanding of the trillions of galaxies in our Universe, solve the problem of what until now have been incurable diseases, or solve the problem of energy and raw materials security through the development of thermonuclear fusion power? By focusing on the common aims of humanity, we will be able to overcome geopolitics and establish a higher level of reason for the benefit of all. It is obvious, that the World Land-Bridge is ideal for completing the development of the landlocked areas of our planet. The colonization of nearby space will be the obvious next phase of infrastructural development to expand the natural habitat of man. View full size Schiller Institute Looking at the world land map, the United States is not merely a country surrounded by two oceans and two neighbors, but can be a central part of an infrastructure corridor which connects the southern tip of Ibero America through Central and South America, with the Eurasian transport system via a tunnel under the Bering Strait. Since President Xi Jinping has made the offer to President Trump for the United States to join the Belt and Road Initiative, there is now a practical proposal on the table, by means of which the United States can become an integral part of the World Land-Bridge. The infrastructure requirements of the United States, which are enormous, could be a perfect opportunity to convert all or part of the $1.4 trillion that China holds in U.S. Treasury bills, into such investments via an infrastructure bank. For example, the United States really needs approximately 40,000 miles of high-speed rail lines, if it wants to match the Chinese plan to connect every large domestic Chinese city by high-speed rail by the year 2020. The U.S. economy would experience a tremendous boost through such a grand scale of infrastructure investment, and could in turn export into the fast growing Chinese market. Once competition is replaced by cooperation, the opportunities for joint ventures between the United States and China in third countries are enormous. Now that President Trump has declared his intension to reintroduce the American System of Economy of Alexander Hamilton, Henry C. Clay, and Abraham Lincoln, and to reintroduce the Glass Steagall legislation of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the possibility of an early establishment of a National Bank and a Credit System in order to channel Chinese holdings into infrastructure investments could be implemented soon. While more and more European nations, both outside and within the EU, are recognizing the tremendous potentials of the BRI and have expressed the intension of becoming a hub for Eurasian cooperation, the EU itself has been relatively reserved, to put it diplomatically. There is however one huge challenge, which could convince the member states of the EU to cooperate with the BRI: The refugee crisis. The only human way to heal this moral wound of Europe is for the European nations to actively integrate themselves with the BRI, into a Grand Design development plan for all of Africa. The positive new prospect of United States-Russia de-escalation and military-to-military cooperation in Syria, along with the Astana process, now puts stabilization of the entire Southwest Asia region in sight. Offers by China to extend the New Silk Road to Southwest Asia already exist. The New Silk Road mustas the ancient one didlead to an exchange of the most beautiful expressions of culture of all participating countries, in order to succeed. The true meaning of Win-Win cooperation is not just the material benefit of infrastructure and industrial development, but of making the joyful discoveries of other cultures, of the beauty of their classical music, poetry, and painting, and, by knowing them, we strengthen our love for mankind as a whole. In the building of the World Land-Bridge, all nations will cooperate on studying how to apply the laws of the Noosphere to the establishment of durable forms of self-government. The development of the creative mental powers of all people in all nations will give all of mankind the sense of unity and purpose which will make our species truly human. When we organize our societies around scientific and artistic discovery, we will perfect our knowledge on how we can continuously advance the process of the self-development of mankind, intellectually, morally, and aesthetically, and we will find our freedom in necessitydoing our duty with passion! This transcript appears in the May 19, 2017 issue of Executive Intelligence Review. DR. SU AND ZEPP-LAROUCHE ON CHINA TV Belt and Road Initiative Sparking Profound Changes in the World [Print version of this transcript] May 15Today Helga Zepp-LaRouche, chairwoman and founder of the Schiller Institutes, was one of the two guests on the China Global Television Networks prime-time, live interview show, Dialogue with Yang Rui, following her participation in the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, May 14-15 in Beijing. Yangs other guest was Dr. Su Ge, President of the China Institute of International Studies, the think tank of the Foreign Ministry of China. This is EIRs transcription of the program, in which Dr. Su and Mrs. Zepp-LaRouche strongly agreed that, in his words, profound changes . . . tremendous changes are already taking place in the world and that it is possible for people to give up their dark glasses of the Cold War and think differently. A video of the program is available here and here. Yang Rui: Twenty-nine foreign leaders and more than 1,500 delegates from over 130 nations attended the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, from May 14 to 15. Chinas President, Xi Jinping, called the Belt and Road Initiative the project of the century in his keynote presentation at the opening ceremony. He also promised that China will create a new model of cooperation and mutual benefit in advancing the initiative. However, some critics are skeptical about Chinas goals for the initiative. To discuss the issues related to Chinas Belt and Road, I am pleased to be joined in the studio by Dr. Su Ge of the China Institute of International Studies and Helga Zepp-LaRouche, founder of the Schiller Institute. Thats our topic. This is Dialogue. I am Yang Rui. View full size CGTN/screen shot Project of the Century Yang Rui: What do you make of Chinas global initiative? Helga Zepp-LaRouche: I think its a very important strategic initiative because its the only way in which you can solve all problemsregional, cooperation, underdevelopment, poverty. Its really a historic mission. I cannot see anything else, not from the United Statesfor sure, not from Europeso Im really optimistic. I think yesterday was a fantastic, historic moment. Yang Rui: Yes. We see extensive media coverage about the Belt and Road Summit in Beijing. Dr. Su, among the following phrases to characterize the Belt and Road Initiative, which one do you prefer to choose: Global Ambition, World Leadership, or World Order, regarding the Belt and Road Initiative? Su Ge: Well, probably some people say it is none of the above; some people would say it is all of the above. However, if you ask my opinion, I would say that the Belt and Road Initiative put forward by President Xi Jinping is a set of ideas and programs for peace, for prosperity, and for the future goodness of all countries and mankind, because now we are thinking of the whole human race, mankind, to have one destiny. We call it shared destiny. And President Xi Jinping, in his speech, he said something, well he is the head of a state. But sometimes he speaks like a historian, and also speaks like a philosopher. Yang Rui: If not like the head of a big company. [Laughter.] Su Ge: But he said, we have to find the general key to all existing problems in our world, in other words, development. Yang Rui: [Cross-talk] . . . he wants to provide our own solution to some of the problems. But do you think China is ready? Zepp-LaRouche: Oh, I think so. First of all, the Chinese economic miracle of the last 30 years has surprised the world. And now through the Belt and Road Initiative, China is offering to export that model of development to other countries. And if you look at the success of the Belt and Road Initiative in the last four years, it is absolutely breathtaking! And I am shockedevery day the Chinese government comes up with a new initiative which offers a solution to a problem. And its just a very attractive idea. This is why so many countries want to be part of it. Its much more attractive to have win-win cooperation in the context of the New Silk Road, than to be part of a military alliance that just gets countries into trouble. So this is why the whole center of power has completely shifted to Asia. I am convinced that yesterday we experienced the formation of a new world economic order. It was a truly historic moment, and I think most of the participants in the Belt and Road Forum had that profound sense of being in the middle of making history for a new era for civilization. I am very excited because this is a phase-change of humankind. I think we are on the verge of. . . Is the Belt and Road a Threat? Yang Rui: No wonder President Xi Jinping calls the Belt and Road Initiative the project of the century. Dr. Su, do you foresee peaceful coexistence between the Bretton Woods [system] and the Belt and Road Initiative? I notice that President Xi Jinping emphasized in his keynote presentation that the Belt and Road Initiative does not aim to replace some of the existing mechanisms and initiatives such as that of the Russian Federation; the Turkish government also comes up with its own ambitious plan. All politicians throughout the world have their own vision of what the future might hold for the global economy. Now what do you make of President Xis pledge that the Belt and Road Initiative does not threaten to replace other, existing mechanisms? View full size Hong Kong Trade Development Council Su Ge: Well thats a very good, an excellent question. You mentioned the Bretton Woods, and some people, indeed, compare the Belt and Road to the so-called Marshall Plan [launched] in 1947, after the Second World War. But actually, the Belt and Road Initiative is not like any of these, because as President Xi Jinping said, from a historical viewpoint, when you look at the pioneers who took part in the ancient Silk Road, people used camel caravans. They did not carry with them spears, cannons, or guns. It was not one civilization conquering the other, but one civilization brought with it good will, and goods of silk, tea, and other commodities. And [it was] for connectivity, for inter-connectivity, between and among peoples, among cultures and civilizations, in addition to business and trade. Yang Rui: I am afraid the Indian government disagrees. They say, Hey, the Sino-Pakistani economic corridor will somehow go through the contentious, territorial area of India, the Kashmir, and therefore they refuse to get involved in the Belt and Road Initiative. The spokesperson of the Indian foreign ministry even protested against the idea of the economic corridor between China and its [Indias] geopolitical rival, Pakistan. What do you think of the rivalry, the geopolitical rivalry that China wants to really keep a distance from? Zepp-LaRouche: Well, first of all, India has always been the subcontinent, and therefore it has a long tradition of geopolitical thinking. But, I think this has been reinforced by British colonialism, and the British, and formerly the U.S. Administration before Trump, played on that. They played Pakistan as a source of state terrorism, trying to hype up sentiments in India to further this conflict. But I think the opposite is true. Because of the British division of India into Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India, the only way this conflict can be overcome is by increasing the connectivity among all the countries: Nepal, Bangladesh, all these countries want to be integrated. And they call it connectivity; they dont call it the Silk Road and they dont call it Belt and Road Initiative, because thats associated with China. But in substance, all of these countries urgently want more development like that of the Belt and Road Initiative. The Eurasian Dumbbell Yang Rui: Perhaps the Indian [word indistinct] is exactly based on a very sophisticated calculation about the BRICS Summit, which is to take place in China as well, this year, and therefore, they reject one, but agree to participate in the other. What do you make of the importance of the emerging markets, the shaping, the vibrant markets of the developing countries? Some of the scholars from industrial nations say, Hey, why dont you invite the industrial nations to develop the countries, to get involved in this ambitious blueprint? Su Ge: Thats also a very nice question. When you look at the geography, the map of the Belt and Road initiatives, it is like something in sports, the dumbbell, with Europe as one end of the dumbbell and the Asia-Pacific region as the other. And the great landmass in between just serves as the handle. It just so happens that most of the countries of the area are developing countries. It is not that China chooses a group of countries to come as Chinas allies. China now has a foreign policy that China does not seek allies; we seek partners. It just so happened that all the countries in the handle between Europe and Asia, this Eurasia map, are developing countries. Of course, the developing countries need the development, they need prosperity, and the Belt and Road Initiative serves best their national interests. And we find a convergence of national interests. Thats why these countries would like, would love, to jump on the boat. Trump and the United States And also, the Belt and Road initiatives are inclusive in nature. As President Xi Jinping said, it is open to all countries, to all. Thats why you can see that the United Stateswell, maybe it is not along the traditional Silk Routehowever, it decided to send a representative to the forum. So, as I . . . Yang Rui: Whats interesting is that both sides announced their joint projectsthe list of projects agreed uponsimultaneously. Do you think something must have been discussed at the Mar-a-Lago summit in Florida, between Trump and President Xi Jinping? And that actually the announcement of this list of mega-projects between the two sides is an indispensable part of what has been agreed upon by the two heads of state? Zepp-LaRouche: I think so, because President Trump has announced that he wants to have investment in $1 trillion worth of infrastructure in the next ten years. The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates that $4.5 trillion actually is required, and Chinese experts have said that the United States needs $8 trillion worth of infrastructure. Now China in the past years has shown a tremendous expertise in building fast trains and other infrastructure projects. China also has $1.4 trillion in U.S. Treasuries, which we have proposed be invested in an infrastructure bank or national bank in the United States, to make investments in the building of infrastructure. Now that would be a total game-changer. And if China, in return, would invest in the Chinese market, which is growing because of its growing buying power, you could replace the competition between the United States and China through cooperation. And then they could join hands and have joint investments in third countries, like rebuilding the Middle East and developing Africa. I think its important that youre not just talking about infrastructure and economics. We are really talking about the new era of civilization, where you replace geopolitics with a completely new set of relations among countries. And if the United States and China could solve this, you know, I have said many times that if President Trump would go for this, he could become one of the greatest Presidents in the history of the United States. Many of his critics dont think that is possible, but I am absolutely convinced that we are very close to it. Yang Rui: Challenges lie ahead. One of them, I am afraid, is the alleged poor efficiency of the capital allocation. Many are very sceptical about the return on investment in developing countries in particular. What do you think are the risks? Su Ge: It depends on how you look at it. In Chinese, we have a saying that when you look at a mountain when you are in front of it, it looks like a mountain range. But if you go to the side of it, it looks like all peaks. Perspectives matter! Yang Rui: [Recites the saying in Chinese.] Su Ge: For instance, if you just think like an ordinary businessman, in the Belt and Road Initiative, how much you put in and how much you want to gain back: well thats another thing. But then, if you regard this as a public product, a public good, then it will be a benefit, it will be shared by all of the countries, and then you will reap the gains, not only in terms of dollars and cents, but in connectivity, but peoples understanding, marriage of civilizations, and then better lives for the future generations. And this will be a tremendous way to look at the Belt and Road. China, Japan and Russia Yang Rui: And in fact, overseas observers pointed out that President Xi Jinping was talking to two audiences at the opening ceremony. For the international audience, he promised to export our technology, our ideas about the Belt and Road Initiative; to re-establish the world order; and to reconsider the idea of globalization internally. He also promised to rejuvenate the nation, to tell a China story through the Belt and Road Initiative. View full size Xinhua/Pang Xinglei To the surprise of many who are very sceptical about the economic relationship between Japan and Chinatwo arch-competitors, economically and geopolitically as wellthe Japanese government decided to send a senior delegation, which was headed by the head of the ruling party, the LDP, Liberal Democratic Party. And this head of the delegation also handed over a letter from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to the host of the Belt and Road Initiative summit. What do you think of the possibility that Japan will seize this opportunity to drastically improve not only the [words indistinct] ties, but also to enjoy the dividends of the Belt and Road Initiative, so that it will not be excluded from rebuilding the world economic order? Zepp-LaRouche: I think it is very clear that Prime Minister Abe has the intention to do that. He sent the de facto number two of the LDP to the summit. I think it has to do with the change in perception, that the world is indeed changing. Look at the rapprochement between Russia and Japan over the last period: Abe has the intention to have a peace treaty during his time in office. There were many visits by Abe to Russia, and vice versa, Putin visited Tokyo. Meanwhile, China has a very close relationship with Russia, and Trump has said he doesnt want to continue the offensive policies of the United States of interventions in foreign wars. Then, the situation in the South China Sea has completely shifted; its no longer such an important hot spot. I think we are on the verge of fixing the world according to completely new rules. Its really a time for people to rethink, and not to stick to old geopolitical schemes that were dominant in the Cold War, because we are on the verge of a completely new era of civilization, and I think what Abe did, reflects that. Scrap the Cold War Dark Glasses Yang Rui: Ironically, the young leader of the D.P.R.K. test-fired a missile to coincide with the policy speech by President Xi Jinping at the opening ceremony. Yet the elected leader of the R.O.K., Mr. Moon, promised to reconsider the deployment of the THAAD, a missile shield program that may have paved the way for an apparent improvement in the bilateral relationship [between South and North Korea], which has been frayed seriously by the THAAD program. What do you think of, say, the R.O.K. delegation, and in fact, a rumor went viral on the Internet that President Trump called for a boycott of the Belt and Road summit saying, Hey, why did you invite the D.P.R.K. to attend the summit while the international society, through the UN Security Council, imposed yet another economic sanction? I believe the new sanction is well underway. What do you think of the concerns, allegedly, a major concern, according to the international media? Su Ge: There are two ways to look at the situation. One is to put your eyes as close as possible to the canvas. The other is to step back and look at the whole picture. I would say that the international situation is undergoing one of the most important, profound changes since the end of the Cold War. I agree with Zepp-LaRouche that there are tremendous changes already taking place. Maybe we are stepping into a new era, because the Cold War is over. If you still use the Cold War mentality, if you still look at world affairs in terms of zero-sum games, then things will appear different. I would say that you cast aside, people cast aside the dark glasses left over from the Cold War years. Yang Rui: But I am afraid that those who are very skeptical about Chinas intent, may point out, citing President Bush, Jr., that bad behavior should not be rewarded. So this invitation for the D.P.R.K. delegation has been very controversial. Id like to have your take on it. Zepp-LaRouche: Well, I think there are some people who are thinking in terms of the old paradigm of geopolitics, and they can just not imagine that a country, especially a large country like China, would be motivated by Confucian ideas. And I have studied China for the better part of my life, and I have come to the conclusion that the present government, in particular, is not based on anything other than the Confucian idea of harmony among nations. And some people realize that. For example the Italian Prime Minister Gentiloni, at the Belt and Road Forum, gave a fantastic speech, in which he said . . . Yang Rui: Excuse me, but harmony would become a [words indistinct], if we do not respect some of the principles which have a lot to do with our national security. The nuclear program of the D.P.R.K. has indeed endangered the northern three provinces, Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning, if any nuclear fallout were to occur! That would be a major threat [crosstalk] to national security. Zepp-LaRouche: But the new President of South Korea has basically said that he wants to go back to the Sunshine Policy of economic cooperation with the North. North Korea only has nuclear missiles because they were afraid they would have the same fate as Saddam Hussein or Qaddafi. And once that threat is taken away and we return to the Six Party Talks and the Sunshine Policy, and especially if this is in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative, I am absolutely confident that this problem will go away very shortly. Lets Help North Korea Develop Yang Rui: What do you think of Chinas efforts to leverage our limited influence on the D.P.R.K., by maintaining the links? Without the links, you will not be able to leverage the resources. By including the D.P.R.K., it showcases the readiness of the Chinese authorities to adopt an inclusive scheme. That is the essence of the Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to ensure an era of co-prosperity. And therefore, the D.P.R.K. should not be an island! What do you think of the intent of the Chinese government, which has drawn a lot of fire? Su Ge: Allow me to quote from President Xi Jinping. He says that development is the key to all of these problems. What he is saying [relates to why] things are so complicated in Afghanistan. And some people wanted to solve the problems with a big stick, with military means. However, I doubt whether military means can eradicate the roots of radicalism. But eventually the key is development, and bringing up the peoples consciousness through education and a better life. For the D.P.R.K., the international community is carrying out sanctions by order of the UN Security Council. You have sanctions, you have tough measures, and you have to let them know that when you shut all of the doors, you have to leave one window open. That is the only way out. Through your reforms, through opening to the outside world, by construction, by letting the people go through the general road of market reforms. Then you can build up the economy. Then your people know that that is the only correct way out. The United States may say that, some people are saying, Lets get tougher! Yes, people are carrying out the sanctions, Resolution 2270 and other measures, by the order through the UN Security Council. However, economic construction, if finally, they embrace ideas of market reforms, I think that would be the correct way out. Europe Will Join in the Belt and Road Yang Rui: The last question is whether theres going to be a collision or a clash between Russias brainchild of the Eurasian Economic Union, and the Belt and Road Initiative. Because there have been speculations by the media, saying, Hey, Russia may show its great concern about Chinas interference with the internal affairs of its traditional backyard, Central Asia, through perhaps the role of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. And therefore, they focus on whether theres going to be inconsistency and discrepancy between Russias Economic Union and the Belt and Road Initiative. Whats your take? Zepp-LaRouche: You will be happy to hear that President Putin, who was the guest of honor at the Belt and Road Forum, already gave a press conference where he said that not only does Russia support the Belt and Road Initiative, but it will take an active role in promoting it. And if you look at the number of leaders and countries that are now joining, you have a total change in the dynamicTsipras from Greece, the Serbian government, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Belarus, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Switzerlandall of these countries have said they want to become hubs of the Belt and Road Initiative. So even if the German Economics Minister at the forum was not so friendly, lets say, I think Germany will be soon surrounded by countries that want to be part of it, and I think this will tilt the situation. The former Prime Minister of France, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, gave a passionate speech about why France should be in it, and he was sent to the forum by the new President, Macron. So Im absolutely convinced that in half a year, the majority of the nations that are still reluctant, will recognize that it is in their best interest. Because, for example, Germany should have a fundamental interest in cooperating. German industry, the Mittelstandmedium-sized industryis exactly the complementary kind of economic force that would perfectly work with China. And I think it will come around. I promise! Yang Rui: Despite the success of Emmanuel Macron, the European Union is indeed in trouble. And President Trumps idea of prioritizing American interests, putting America first, may also isolate this country from the rest of the world. During this absence, China is said to be ready to assume the leadership. Is China ready? Well keep this discussion open. Until next time, goodbye. PRESS RELEASE China Investment Corporation Planning Expanded Investments in the U.S.; NY Offices Opening May 18, 2017 (EIRNS)In an interview with the Wall Street Journal published yesterday, Tu Guangshao, president of the China Investment Corp. (CIC) sovereign wealth fund, reported that "there is a potential for Chinese companies to make more investments in the U.S. and vice versa." One sign of that is that, tomorrow, CIC will open offices in New York City, replacing the one in Toronto, which until now, had been CICs only overseas representative office. Tu explained that CIC is particularly looking at U.S. projects in highways, rail, and high-tech manufacturing plants, emphasizing that the CIC can become a stable source of long-term capital for U.S. infrastructure and manufacturing projects, as well as helping U.S. companies to expand their operations in Chinas market. In January of this year, CIC chairman Ding Xuedong indicated that the CIC wanted to change $50 billion of its holdings of U.S. Treasury debt into an investment in building of new infrastructure in the United States. Dings estimate of the investment needed to build a new and modern economic infrastructure in America was a very large $8 trillionfar beyond President Trumps $1 trillion programwhich, he said, would not be invested by the U.S. government and private investors alone. Schiller Institute chairwoman Helga Zepp-LaRouche has enthusiastically supported such a proposal, noting that it would represent an exciting new level of Sino-U.S. collaboration to rebuild the U.S.s decaying infrastructure. In the Journal interview, Tu notes that, in the past, the U.S. investment environment has frustrated CIC direct investment, and pointed to the "overly strict scrutiny and opaque investment-review process" of U.S. authorities. Chinese officials have complained about the unfair review process by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS), and Tu is urging U.S. authorities to improve the transparency of the process. PRESS RELEASE U.S.-Mexico High-Level Meeting Advances Anti-Drug Fight in the Americas May 18, 2017 (EIRNS)The very day Colombian President "Sir" Juan Manuel Santos came to Washington in hopes of selling his "peace" with the FARC cocaine cartel as something other than outright legalization of drug production, trafficking, and consumption, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly received their Mexican counterparts, Luis Videgaray Caso and Miguel Angel Osorio Chong, for talks on how to strengthen collaboration in destroying the drug cartels which Santos and his British sponsors are trying to legalize. In a joint press conference at the end of "frank and candid" discussions, all four U.S. and Mexican officials made clear that the working relationship of the two countries against drug production, trafficking, consumption and violence had been strengthened. Tillerson thanked the Mexican delegation for "very, very useful and fruitful conversations." Osorio said the meeting "gives us a good path to follow in the fight against drug trafficking," which, he noted, "is very important for both countries and the continent," as organized crime related to drug trafficking is "one of the largest risks to the health, security, and, of course, the development of the peoples in Mexico and the U.S." Emphasis was put on intelligence sharing, and joint strategies against production, cross-border distribution, weapons trafficking, and cash flows. The crucial question of the controlling role of the Wall Street-London financial system itself over the entire Dope, Inc. apparatus, continues, however, to be the glaring missing element in the anti-drug strategies. Tillerson and Kellys statements, in no uncertain terms, state that the Trump administration is committed to reducing drug use inside the United States. The scourge of rampant drug legalization carried out under Obamas regime is over. "America must also confront the reality that we are the market. But for the seemingly endless demand by addicted users and the successful recruitment of young and vulnerable new users, there would be no market," Tillerson stated. "We as Americans, parents, and friends of those who become addicted or would-be targets, must take new approaches as well. We Americans must own this problem. It is ours." Tillerson said that "stopping the cross-border flow of drugs is an essential step in putting an end to widespread addiction and drug-related violence. Too many families in America have been devastated by illegal drugs and we must stop this epidemic in its track. No parent should endure the nightmare of a child succumbing to drug addiction. By aggressively confronting the cartels operating in the United States and Mexico, were striving to stop merchants of death who have already helped cause unspeakable pain to so many on both sides of the border." Kelly announced that the administration is going to develop "a comprehensive drug demand reduction program in the United States that involves everybody": professional sports, Hollywood, governors, mayors, parents, priests. Americans must understand "that playing around with drugs on a weekend for fun ultimately ends or results in the lives lost in Mexico.... Colombia or Central America," of military, police, reporters and media people, prosecutors, judges. The Mexican proposal for a conference on Central American development has been taken up. Kelly announced that they are co-sponsoring a Central American Security and Prosperity conference in Miami in the summer. PRESS RELEASE U.S. South Korea Discuss Bold, Pragmatic Approach to North Korea; Trump Meets with South Korean Envoy May 18, 2017 (EIRNS)According to South Koreas Presidential envoy Hong Seok-hyun, who met yesterday with President Donald Trump for 15 minutes, the U.S. President is willing to try engagement with North Korea under the right conditions, Reuters reported. Hong said that the U.S. is looking forward to working with Seoul to resolve the North Korean issue, the Korea Times reported. This coheres with reports from last Tuesdays meeting between Trumps Senior National Security Director for East Asian Affairs, Matthew Pottinger, and South Koreas former ambassador to Geneva, Chung Eui-yong, in which the two agreed to mobilize "all available means," including dialogue "under the right conditions" and explore "bold and pragmatic steps" with the aim of encouraging North Korea to abolish its nuclear program, the Korea Times reported. In a briefing today, South Koreas Foreign Ministry spokesman emphasized that Trump has said he will not have talks for the sake of talks, which, the spokesman said, "reiterated our joint stance that we are open to dialogue, but the right conditions must be formed." In addition to Hong Seok-hyun, South Korean President Moon Jae-in has deployed lawmaker Moon Hee-sang, of the Democratic Party of Korea, as special envoy to Japan. Later this week, special presidential envoys will travel to China, Russia, the European Union, and Germany. Archbishop Hyginus Kim Hee-joong will travel to the Vatican, according to the Korea Times. Today, special envoy Lee Hae-chan, a former Prime Minister and current member of the National Assembly, is in China to discuss the U.S. deployment into South Korea of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system. Beyond membership in the Pantheon of Famous Brits, Winston Churchill and George Orwell would seem to have little in the way of common ground. Churchill was a politician. Orwell was a journalist and novelist. Churchill had money and pedigree; the young Orwell lived on the street and raised his own vegetables during World War II. Churchills political leanings were conservative; Orwell flirted with communism until he witnessed the betrayal of his Republican comrades by Soviet agents in the Spanish Civil War. In Churchill & Orwell: The Fight for Freedom, Thomas E. Ricks gets beyond these differences and finds the iron core of both men. These two were pillars of the 20th century struggle against the twin totalitarian threats of fascism and communism, Ricks argues. Churchills flamboyant extroversion, his skills with speech, and the urgency of a desperate wartime defense led him to a communal triumph that did much to shape our world today. Orwells increasingly phlegmatic and introverted personality, combined with a fierce idealism and a devotion to accuracy in writing, brought him as a writer to fight to protect a private place in that modern world. Both men shared this unshakable belief: that their audience deserved the truth. Why Churchill AND Orwell? Many books have been devoted to Churchill, including his six-volume memoir of World War II. Orwell is considered a secular saint among journalists for his unblinking reporting on war and social issues. His novels Animal Farm and 1984 have become go-to texts for readers struggling to understand the roots of authoritarianism. Ricks, a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and author of Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq, compares the two, highlighting not just their skills and strengths, but the tumultuous times that demanded the highest exercise of their talents. Both men were mesmerizing writers, though with different styles Churchill was a master of rhetoric; Orwell a superb essayist. Both blurred the line between soldier and journalist; Churchill in the Boer War, Orwell in the Spanish Civil War. Though they were born on opposite sides of the English class divide, they both lived with the impossible burden of disappointed fathers when Churchill was finally accepted to the military academy Sandhurst after three tries, Lord Randolph Churchill wrote to his son: You will become a mere social wastrel one of the hundreds of the public school failures, and you will degenerate into a shabby, unhappy & futile existence. Orwell saw little of his father, whom he described as a gruff-voiced elderly man forever saying Dont. Both endured long stretches when they seemed destined for failure. Yet they were both visionaries, though the vision could be very dark indeed. Churchill showed his devotion to the English people by telling them just what they were up against. Ricks describes Churchills August 1940 address to the House of Commons as Orwell-like in its sobriety and its sparse accuracy. Churchill tallied the accumulated catastrophes of his first months of leadership: Rather more than a quarter of a year has passed since the new Government came into power in this country. What a cataract of disaster has poured out upon us since then. The trustful Dutch overwhelmed; their beloved and respected Sovereign driven into exile; the peaceful city of Rotterdam the scene of a massacre as hideous and brutal as anything in the Thirty Years War. Belgium invaded and beaten down. our ally, France, out; Italy in against us; all France in the power of the enemy, all its arsenals and vast masses of military material converted or convertible to its use the whole Western seaboard of Europe from the North Cape to the Spanish frontier in German hands; all the ports, all the airfields on this immense front, employed against us as potential springboards of invasion. This grim talk did not dismay the British people. Instead, it braced them, Ricks writes. George Orwell (Orwell Archive, UCL Library Services, Special Collections) Orwell, poverty and power Orwell, though he struggled at times to pay for food and rent, never wrote with an eye toward a paycheck. In his 1933 memoir Down and Out in Paris and London, he recounted living in near-destitution in both cities. His 1937 book The Road to Wigan Pier was a devastating look at poverty among the miners of northern England. Homage to Catalonia, Orwells 1938 account of fighting in the Republican army that defended Spain against Francos rebels, is pure heartbreak. It tells how Orwells comrades in a leftist militia were sold out by Soviet intelligence, who decided that the group was too Trotskyist and ordered its liquidation. Orwells friends died, then disappeared the NKVD, Stalins secret police, built a special crematorium in Barcelona to dispose of the bodies. A marked man, Orwell fled. It was a grim theater of events, and it shaped Orwells later novels. Animal Farm, a tale of power-hungry pigs who take over a farm after the human farmer flees, was such a devastating sendup of Soviet politics, Orwell had a hard time finding a publisher in left-leaning London. His dystopian classic 1984 predicated the rise of the all-seeing state. His literary method was to discover the facts and lay them out, Ricks writes. His perspective was that the powerful would almost always try to obscure the truth. Orwell's perspective was that the powerful would almost always try to obscure the truth. Two lasting legacies Both men experienced the inevitable decline of illness and loss, but Churchill won the Nobel Prize in literature, and Orwells 1984 has sold 50 million copies. Early this year it sold out, grabbed by readers grappling with the rise of fake news. Ricks doesnt try to make connections where none exist the men lived parallel but separate lives. However, the last article Orwell published before his death in 1950 was a review of the second volume of Churchills war memoirs. His main character in 1984, a man whose abiding desire was to live free, was named Winston. Both Churchill and Orwell alerted the world to the clear and present danger of authoritarianism in all its forms. Totalitarianism demands, in fact, the continuous alteration of the past, and in the long run probably demands a disbelief in the very existence of objective truth, wrote Orwell in 1946. Readers of this book will realize, if they needed reminding, that the struggle to preserve and tell the truth is a very long game. Gwinn, the former book editor of the Seattle Times, writes about books and authors for several publications and is on the board of the National Book Critics Circle. Churchill & Orwell: The Fight for Freedom Thomas E. Ricks Penguin Press: 352 pp., $28 What were you doing in Los Angeles on the night of Aug. 10, 1939? Actuarially speaking, hundreds if not thousands of native Angelenos can still answer that question. Even a 5-year-old on that night would only be 82 today. But how many 5-year-olds in 1939 went to art openings? Its just possible, then, that no one now alive visited a modest but elegant L.A. art gallery under a candy factory for the unveiling of the most important painting of the 20th century, Picassos Guernica. What on earth was Picassos antiwar masterpiece doing midway between Bullocks Wilshire and Lafayette Park, its paint only two years dry? Brought to town by European exiles like Fritz Lang and art dealer Galka Scheyer (and New York exiles like Dorothy Parker) as a fundraiser for Spanish Civil War orphans, did Guernica really belong here? For a new project, Ive been thinking hard lately about the question of where art and the humanities do and dont belong. In federal budgets? In course requirements? And while were at it, in what universe does the newly opened American Writers Museum belong in Chicago? The birth of the American Writers Museum If youre anywhere between Canada and Mexico and you care about reading, maybe youve already heard about the American Writers Museum. It aspires to become a showplace for the discovery and exploration of American literature, and it pretty much started in late 2009 when my office phone rang. At the time, I was winding down my tenure as director of National Reading Initiatives for the National Endowment for the Arts. Loafers on the desk and the Post in my lap, I felt like Spade in Dashiell Hammetts Maltese Falcon a book Id been evangelizing around American cities and towns encouraging my countrymen to read. There was a new NEA chair in town, and literature seemed to rank pretty low among his priorities. On my watch, the writing had always mattered most. Now the writing wasnt just off the agenda, it was on the wall. I picked up on the first ring. Seven floors down, I heard the security guard hand off the phone. In a papery brogue that sounded two weeks, tops, out of Dublin Harbor, a mans voice said actually said I tink Id like to talk to someone about gettin a grant. As a federal arts administrator, you get calls like these from time to time: Hi, Im working on a Civil War novel set on Alpha Centauri, and the first paragraph is almost done. Can you spot me a couple grand til Oprah calls? Ideally, the calls go to voicemail. This one hadnt. For whatever reason maybe because Id been on the needy end of one or two professional calls myself of late I bit. What for? I drawled, in no hurry. Charm wafted up the line, fragrant as peat smoke, as I heard him utter the magic spell: Id like to start a museum of American literature. He said something else too, but I didnt catch it, because I was already racing downstairs three marble steps at a time. Before he could hang up the phone, I was standing next to him. He looked somewhere in his mid-60s, beaming, bemused, his hair as silver as his tongue. Malcolm OHagan, he said, offering his hand. He identified himself as a docent at the Library of Congress, retired from a successful career in engineering. I couldnt help liking him. Nobody can. And so, right there by the guard station, just by lending Malcolm a sympathetic ear, I literally got in on the ground floor. Within a month, I was squiring him around to share whatever literary friendships of mine looked to survive the looming loss of my job. I introduced him to the writer Marie Arana, who edited Book World at the Washington Post. I introduced him to the man who was my NEA boss, Dana Gioia. Trained up to New York to meet Max Rudin, who publishes the Library of America. All came on board to help bring this twinkling Irishmans dream to life. This year, on the night of May 16 in Chicago, after eight years of solicitous jawboning around the country from Malcolm, the American Writers Museum finally opened its doors to the public. Now and then Ive consulted for it over the years, pushing hard for the inclusion of genre writing, screenwriting, funny writing, and other old hobbyhorses of mine. Before the museum smartly de-emphasized artifacts in favor of inspiration, I even pushed for a shelf of great writers dictionaries. Since Malcolm and I met, my ideas about reading promotion have run more to nonprofit storefront lending libraries than to major museums, but I still cant wait to make my first pilgrimage to the place. So whats the American Writers Museum doing in Chicago? Civically, Chicago was the only city with big enough shoulders to support it. If the museum couldnt be in New York (which all of us lobbied against), and it couldnt be in Los Angeles (which I alone lobbied for), where better than Raymond Chandlers hometown? What more American place, really, than the city where once you could have caught Saul Bellow, Ralph Ellison, Richard Wright, Nelson Algren, Margaret Walker and Studs Terkel around the same water cooler, all griping about the Federal Writers Project that was only keeping them alive and working? If the American Writers Museum can find a way to tell complicated, timeless, local and national literary stories like that while also inspiring a new generation of American scribblers then good luck to it and godspeed. Jack Kerouacs manuscript of On the Road -- a 120-foot scroll -- is on display at the American Writers Museum in Chicago. (Charles Rex Arbogast / Associated Press) (Charles Rex Arbogast / AP) Oh, the humanities It may bear mentioning that, more than any early introductions from me, the Writers Museum wouldnt have happened without a couple of key grants from the now-precarious National Endowment for the Humanities. This, even though nobody has ever agreed on whether literature really belongs to the humanities or the arts. Theres that pesky question again: Where do the humanities in general, and writers in particular, belong? And whats a humanity, anyway? After three years of teaching in UCLAs Division of Humanities on the Writing Programs faculty, the humanities look to me like a Chinese student who writes so engagingly about food trucks that she may have to tell her family she isnt cut out for medicine after all. The humanities look like a freshman from Boyle Heights trying to make a point about George Orwells essay Such, Such Were the Joys the one about life as a scholarship boy, trying to belong among the toffs without losing it completely. And in my case, the humanities are a Westwood-bred writer-turned-lending librarian, getting to meet each of these astonishing apprentice adults, watching their thoughts and vocabularies take turns outracing each other, figuring out where they belong. Ive lately begun to suspect that the humanities are really just a high-minded alias for storytelling. Fiction, nonfiction, history, essays, criticism, dirty jokes, Picassos Guernica its all storytelling, and anything with ideas and momentum is a story. So, where were you on Aug. 10, 1939, when an L.A. gallery full of refugees, writers and artists, each confident they belonged anywhere but here, showed a painting that belonged in a museum, by an artist in Paris who belonged in Spain? Where were you this month when American writers finally rated a museum of their own? Where are you now? Do you belong there? Whats the story? Kipen, founder of the Libros Schmibros Lending Library and the former NEA director of literature, now teaches on the UCLA Writing Programs faculty and is one of The Times Critics at Large. He is at work on Guernica in Hollywood: The Night L.A. Grew Up. Amazon is planning to open a bookstore in a Century City mall, its first brick-and-mortar bookstore in Los Angeles. The online retailer, credited with causing a crisis in the physical bookselling industry, has opened five brick-and-mortar bookstores in the last 18 months and has announced plans for seven more. For the record: The article has been corrected to include the opening of an additional Amazon Books, in Lynnfield, Mass., which had been noted as pending in an earlier version of the article. According to permits filed last week, Amazon Books will be moving into a 5,227-square-foot space in Westfield Century City. The upscale mall, at Santa Monica Boulevard and Century Park West, is in the midst of a $1-billion modernization begun in 2015 that is expanding it to more than 1.3 million square feet and adding more shops and restaurants. Advertisement Amazons online business disrupted the brick-and-mortar bookselling industry. With Amazons rise, many small independent bookstores across the country saw steep declines in sales. Many stores closed, and Borders, one of two national chains, went bankrupt, shuttering hundreds of bookstores and leaving many communities without a bookstore but if they had the Internet, they had Amazon.com. So it came as a surprise when Amazon opened a brick-and-mortar bookstore of its own the first was in 2015 in Seattle. The company has since expanded; Amazon Books operates six physical bookstores, in San Diego, Chicago, Seattle, Tigard, Ore. and two towns in Massachusetts, Dedham and Lynnfield. The company has announced plans to open additional Amazon Books stores in Walnut Creek, Calif., Bellevue, Wash., and Paramus, N.J., as well as two locations in Manhattan. The Los Angeles Business Journal reports that Amazon had been poking around Los Angeles in recent months, eyeing locations including Old Pasadena and Melrose Avenue. Amazon Books stores are different from traditional bookstores in a number of ways. The Record newspaper of Northern New Jersey where a future Amazon Books will be located visited the Dedham store. It does not take cash or have price tags instead, customers were encouraged to download the Amazon shopping app and scan merchandise with it. Amazon Prime members will be given their discount in the stores, just like online, while those who do not pay for Amazons membership service will pay 20%-30% more. In addition to books, the store sells Amazons electronic devices, including the Kindle, Fire TV and the Echo. The opening date for Amazon Books in Century City is slated for later this year, although it does not yet appear on Amazons official list of its bookstores. We are excited to be bringing Amazon Books to Westfield Century City in 2017, and we are currently hiring store managers and associates, Amazon confirmed via email. carolyn.kellogg@latimes.com @paperhaus ALSO Amazon hopes to dominate yet another market furniture After Bill Gates recommended a book on Twitter, it shot to the top of Amazons bestseller list Amazons I Love Dick makes an uneasy transition from page to screen UPDATES: 2:15 p.m. May 22: This article was updated with a statement from Amazon. This article was originally published at 11:50 a.m. May 19. Whats Canada got that America hasnt got? National healthcare, a prime minister who can explain quantum computing and books in its McDonalds Happy Meals. The Huffington Post reports that books are now available with Canadian Happy Meals; families buying Happy Meals can choose books or toys for their kids. The book giveaway will be a joint project with Kids Can Press, a childrens book publisher that produces picture books by Canadian authors and illustrators. Books included with the Happy Meals include Melanie Watts Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend and the very Canadian-sounding Making the Moose out of Life and The Busy Beaver by Nicholas Oldland. Advertisement (Kids who prefer not to read can still opt for Beanie Boos, small stuffed animals, including a penguin, polar bear and, of course, moose.) The fast food chain also announced a social media campaign called #OwnaBookGiveaBook, which urges people to take pictures of their bookshelves and post to Twitter or Facebook. Each time the hashtag is used, McDonalds will donate a book to First Book Canada, a charity that provides books to children in need. McDonalds gave away books in U.S. Happy Meals in 2013, 2015 and 2016, distributing a total of 50 million books. In 2016, the giveaway included childrens books in Spanish. But in 2015, McDonalds in Australia drew the ire of a group that promotes healthy eating for children after the chain announced it would give kids the option of choosing a book as their prize. As a parent its a lot harder to say no to your child if they are asking for a book than it is when they want a Minions toy, said Parents Jury manager Alice Pryor. Young readers in America will have to wait for another promotion to get their literary fix, however. Currently, U.S. McDonalds stores are offering Super Mario toys with the kids meals. One reason the debate over the minimum wage is so contentious is that data about how it affects employers and workers are murky. So a new study showing that increases in the wage can force restaurants out of business is welcome but it doesnt show what minimum wage critics claim it does. The working paper by the husband-and-wife team of Michael Luca of Harvard Business School and Dara Lee Luca of Mathematica Policy Research examines the closure rates of restaurants in the San Francisco Bay area from 2008 through 2016, a period in which various communities in the region raised their minimum wages at different points. This enabled the Lucas to isolate the effect of wage increases from other factors affecting the industry, such as rents and general economic conditions. Whats most innovative about their approach was that they mapped restaurant closures against restaurant quality by using customer ratings on Yelp, the consumer-review website that covers Bay Area businesses like a duvet. Advertisement A $1 increase in the minimum leads to a 14% increase in the likelihood of exit for a 3.5-star restaurant...but has no discernible impact for a 5-star. Luca and Luca, Harvard Business School What they found is that minimum wage hikes have an especially pronounced effect on restaurants rated mediocre or worse that is at the median rating of 3.5 stars or below. Restaurants with ratings of 4 or 5 stars were almost entirely insulated from the impact of higher wages. The data, they say, suggest that a one dollar increase in the minimum wage leads to a 14% increase in the likelihood of exit for a 3.5-star restaurant...but has no discernible impact for a 5-star restaurant. Lower-quality restaurants, which are closer to the margin of exit, are disproportionately impacted by the higher minimum wage. To put it another way, the higher minimum wage does drive restaurants out of business but chiefly restaurants that werent very good to begin with. What they did not conclude was that a higher minimum wage hurts employment. In fact, they didnt study that factor. That seems to have gone over the heads of the anti-minimum wage lobby, which has seized on the Lucas paper to declare that it shows that a higher minimum wage kills jobs. Thats not what the paper found, Luca told me. I wouldnt feel comfortable making sweeping conclusions about unemployment based on our findings, he says. He conjectures, in fact, that employment losses resulting from the closing of bad restaurants might be at least partially absorbed by the survival of better restaurants, which might have to hire more workers to meet demand. But nailing down that effect would require further study. Minimum wage critics have strained to find good evidence that increases have a major employment effect; most studies find either no effect, or a very slight impact on the least-educated and -experienced workers. The restaurant lobby tends to rely on the stands to reason argument, which is where you go when the empirical evidence isnt on your side. The Lucas examined restaurant failures in 13 Bay Area communities, including San Francisco, where the minimum wage, currently $13 an hour, will rise to $14 on July 1 and $15 a year later. They followed the life arcs of more than 35,000 restaurants over the study period with average ratings of 3.5, including about 6,000 in San Francisco itself. They noted at the outset that restaurants are the leading employers of minimum-wage labor, and about one in five of all restaurants close within a year of opening. The authors are careful not to take the statistics further than they warrant. We can say that at any wage level, 3- and 2-star restaurants are more likely to go out of business than 4s and 5s, Luca says. Their profit margins and the loyalty of customers are probably lower. They have less wiggle room to start with. Lower-quality restaurants, are already closer to the margin of exit, the paper states. The data couldnt tell the authors if the higher-rated restaurants are insulated from higher minimums because they pay higher wages, or whether theyre willing to earn lower profits and pass the difference on to employees. The Lucas believe theyve made an important contribution to economic research by identifying a new kind of data set to complement the Bureau of Labor Statistics and census data commonly mined for minimum-wage studies. Its hard to get something granular enough to look at the kinds of businesses affected by the minimum wage from those traditional data, Luca says. The care the Lucas took with their data hasnt been reflected in much of the public commentary about their findings. Over at Barry Ritholtzs Big Picture website, blogger Invictus compiled a short roster of tendentious spin from minimum-wage critics. At Forbes, for instance, Tim Worstall erroneously concludes that the paper tells us that the old story is correct the higher minimum wage kills jobs. It tells us nothing of the kind. Worstall also asserts that it isnt a huge surprise that mediocre restaurants are disproportionately affected, since they are generally going to be the cheaper ones after all. Actually, no. Its not the case that all burrito places are 2-star and steak places are 5-star, Luca says. The authors controlled for price, so they could compare 5-star burrito places with 2-star burrito places, and so on. And Yelps ratings dont correlate with price anyway its not uncommon for a good burrito truck to rate higher than a lousy steak place. Over at the Wall Street Journals op-ed page, Michael Saltsman of the Employment Policies Institute, which has been accused of acting as a front for the restaurant lobby and other big industries opposed to minimum wage increases, made the same error. He asserts that the Luca paper indicates that San Franciscos minimum wage experiment may be dangerous for your favorite white-tablecloth restaurant the kind of place where the food is exquisite and can command a premium but its downright deadly for your local white-apron diner. National Review went even further by declaring that as the San Francisco minimum wage rises over the next two years, its restaurant industry will likely shrink, as nearly 6,000 restaurant employers contemplate whether paying $15 per hour salaries is feasible. The paper makes no such finding. Although the paper finds that a higher minimum wage generally raises the bar to entry, data from the city indicates that the restaurant industry has experienced net growth in establishments during the first few years of increases. In fact, one factor that restaurateurs identify as a cause of failure is the explosion in restaurant competition over the last four years. In 2012, there were 3,600 restaurants in San Francisco; last year there were 7,600. Its only natural that competition on this scale would make mediocre or poor restaurants much shakier. A one-star increase in rating, the Lucas found, is associated with, if not the cause of, a decline in the likelihood of exit of about 70%, as well as a 5% to 9% increase in revenue. That explains the title the Lucas gave their paper: Survival of the Fittest. Keep up to date with Michael Hiltzik. Follow @hiltzikm on Twitter, see his Facebook page, or email michael.hiltzik@latimes.com. Return to Michael Hiltziks blog. Before Roger Ailes made TV history with the launch of Fox News, he was considered the best political media strategist in the business. I first got to know Ailes in 1988 when I was a writer for the advertising trade magazine Adweek. An all-star lineup of creative ad people earned kudos for the gauzy Morning in America commercials made for Ronald Reagans 1984 reelection campaign. Four years later, Madison Avenues involvement in the election became my beat. Ailes was tapped to lead the GOP team handling the presidential campaign of then-Vice President George H.W. Bush. Advertisement Ailes, who died Thursday at the age of 77, already had a reputation for being an outsized character. It was Ailes who also convinced Richard Nixon that mastering TV was the only way to win the White House in 1968, as well documented in Joe McGinniss classic book The Selling of the President. (Ailes told McGinniss the public looked at Nixon as the kind of kid who always carried a book bag. Who was 42 years old the day he was born.) After reading it, the weeks it took to get a meeting with Ailes felt like months. When we got together at his Manhattan office, Ailes still wore a demonic-looking goatee that made him look slightly intimidating. He was candid and profanely funny saying things that even in 1988 were inappropriate to laugh at, but I did. Just as he did with Nixon in 1968, Ailes oversaw a repositioning of Bush, which was required after the patrician vice president had been on the cover of Newsweek with the headline Fighting The Wimp Factor. Ailes was in the room as Bush pushed back against Dan Rather when the anchor of The CBS Evening News raised the arms-for-hostages scandal that engulfed the final years of the Reagan administration. A biographical ad for Bush used footage of him being fished out of the Pacific Ocean when his plane was shot down during World War II. He was being de-wimped by the week, and got the nomination. But Ailes wasnt finished. There was the question of a running mate. The choice made at the Republican National Convention in New Orleans that summer was a surprise Dan Quayle, the junior senator from Indiana. Pundits praised the move. Likability was still an issue with Bush. who was way behind Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis in the polls. The campaign needed a jolt and Quayle seemed youthful, telegenic and fresh next to a vice president who had been around for eight years. Roger Ailes at the Television Critics Assn.'s summer press tour in Pasadena in 2006. (Reed Saxon / Associated Press) The day after Quayle was chosen, I ran into Ailes on the floor of the Superdome, where the 1988 convention was being held. He was getting ready to rehearse Bushs acceptance speech when I asked him whether he had something to do with the Quayle choice. Ailes had done the advertising for Quayles landslide senate reelection win in 1986, the year a number of other Republican Senate incumbents were voted out. I suggested it, Ailes told me with a look on his face that suggested he regretted taking the question. By the last day of the convention, the reaction to Quayle had shifted. There were reports that questioned his use of family influence to get assigned to National Guard duty during the Vietnam War. It was a negative story that stepped on Bushs night in which he had given the political speech of his life. The brilliant choice suddenly was not looking so great. The fact that it was driven by the guy in charge of the commercials made it look worse. The headline of my Adweek story about Ailes involvement used a quote from a Democratic ad maker who said the Quayle selection was Media Consulting Run Amok. The phone rang soon after I got to my desk in New York the following Monday morning. It was Roger Ailes. People told me he could get volcanic when mad. They were right. He tried to deny his role in the Quayle choice. I reminded him that not only had he told me, but that Sen. Bob Dole had also brought it up on Meet the Press. Bob Doles crazy because he lost his arm in the war! Ailes said. Or yelled. He finished the conversation by saying I was dead to the campaign and anyone in it who talked to me in the future would be fired. I called Sig Rogich, a Las Vegas ad executive and Ailes associate who was my connection to the advertising team. Dont worry about it, he said. He wanted to beat you up a little bit, but hell get over it. The Dukakis campaign tried to make Ailes an issue, even creating a series of commercials called The Packaging of the President. It showed actors portraying a group of conniving Bush handlers in a smoky back room coming up with ways to gloss over their candidates record and distort his opponent. The spots didnt work. The Quayle controversy died down and Bush went on to win, largely with the help of the ad team led by Ailes that stuck with a strategy of making Bush look more presidential while presenting Dukakis as a liberal risk. (Bush tweeted on Thursday that he might not have become president without the help of Ailes.) He wasn't perfect, but Roger Ailes was my friend & I loved him. Not sure I would have been President w/o his great talent, loyal help. RIP. George Bush (@GeorgeHWBush) May 18, 2017 Later on election night, after Bush had been declared the winner, I received a phone call at home from Ailes. Why would Ailes call an ad business reporter on a historic night? But I wasnt surprised to hear from him. I had learned a lot about political consultants that year. They all coveted corporate work. The money was better than politics and the travel schedule far less onerous. When consultants got fired in the 1980s, they did not have three cable news channels where they could become on-air contributors. One consultant told me how as a breed they feared dying alone in a hotel room. Ailes talked to me because he wanted Adweeks readership of marketing executives to know that as a fast-acting media tactician, he was ready to do for their brand what he did for Bush. Ive proved that I could do it, he said. He was aware that his edges were a little rough. I asked him about calling Dukakis the meanest little son of a bitch in American politics. His answer offered some insight on the bare-knuckle style he later used in getting Fox News on the map. I may have been exaggerating, he told me. But it was necessary to direct my team, to tell them not to take the other side lightly. Theyre not some small-state politicians. I wanted to fire a shot across the bow to show the Democrats we were aware of that. Nearly 12 years later, Ailes office called and asked me to join him for lunch at a restaurant near Fox News headquarters on the Avenue of the Americas. He was finishing out his first contract as the head of Fox News, which had not yet become the cable powerhouse it is today. It was the height of the dot-com bubble in 2000. I was working for Inside.com, a media news website. Ailes confided that he was not sure he would re-sign with Fox News. He was getting approached by Internet companies. He wanted me to tell him everything I knew about the Web, which wasnt very much. But he hung on every word. The rest is history. Ailes decided to stay with Fox News, and within two years it surpassed CNN to become No. 1 in the ratings, where it has been ever since. Read the rest of The Times coverage of Ailes here. stephen.battaglio@latimes.com Twitter: @SteveBattaglio ALSO Roger Ailes turned television news into an Us vs. Them free-for-all Conservative media remember Roger Ailes as brilliant but flawed TV executive Roger Ailes built a cable TV juggernaut, but leaves behind lawsuits, investigations and a tangled legacy Fox News has fired Bob Beckel, a co-host of its prime-time program The Five, saying he made an insensitive remark to a black employee. Fox News announced the firing in a statement issued Friday that did not disclose what Beckel said to the employee who filed the complaint. The firing was related to an off-air exchange Beckel had with the employee on Tuesday night, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to discuss it publicly, and was brought to the attention of Fox News human resources department. Advertisement An investigation was conducted and Beckel was informed of his termination Friday, the company said. Fox News faces a number of racial discrimination complaints. In March, two black employees filed a racial discrimination suit against the company, alleging that Judy Slater, the controller for the accounting department for 18 years, regularly made racist and inappropriate comments to her black employees. Slater was fired Feb. 28. The company has also confronted a barrage of complaints over its treatment of women. The 21st Century Fox unit has either settled or litigated a number of sexual harassment cases lodged against its executives, including its ousted chief Roger Ailes, who died Thursday. Star host Bill OReilly resigned last month after disclosures of sexual harassment complaints and settlements paid to multiple women. Before his firing, OReilly also came under fire and issued an on-air apology for making racially insensitive comments about Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) hair. Beckel, a former Democratic media consultant who was a left-wing voice on The Five, had to apologize to viewers in 2014 for using a slur on-air to describe Chinese people during a commentary concerning what he said was the threat posed by China to the national security of the U.S. Douglas Wigdor, an attorney who is representing the employee who complained about Beckel and others who have alleged racial discrimination at Fox News, said Beckel stormed out of his office when an African American information-technology employee came to service his computer, telling our client that he was leaving his office because he was black. Wigdor alleged Fox News executives tried to get the employee to withdraw the complaint. We intend on holding 21st Century Fox accountable for these actions and will be filing multiple other complaints in other matters next week, Wigdor said. Fox News made the decision to terminate Mr. Beckel after a prompt and thorough investigation, Fox said in a statement. The networks head of human resources facilitated an apology from Mr. Beckel to the employee minutes after he was terminated. No one tried to persuade Mr. Wigdors client to withdraw his complaint. stephen.battaglio@latimes.com Twitter: @SteveBattaglio UPDATES: 3:15 p.m.:This article was updated with an additional response from Fox News. This article was originally published at 3:15 p.m. U.S. Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta on Friday made public-private apprenticeships his debut issue as President Trumps point man on matching American workers with specific jobs. CEO after CEO has told me that they are eager to fill their vacancies, but they cannot find workers with the right skills, Acosta told the labor ministers of the Group of 20 industrial and emerging-market nations gathered this week in Germany. Apprenticeships that pay salaries and often lead to careers, he added, are a major priority for President Trump and the Department of Labor. The declaration, and a new campaign of tweets on the subject, represent the first indication since Acostas swearing-in three weeks ago that apprenticeships are at the core of the Trump administrations plans to train a new generation of workers. Advertisement The discussion of apprenticeships is a relatively new one for Trump, who campaigned for the White House on promises to restore manufacturing jobs that he said had been lost to flawed trade deals and unfair competition from China, Mexico and more. (Trumps reality-TV franchise The Apprentice is not about this kind of apprentice program.) But the idea is not new to policymakers of either party or to the private sector, whose leaders have for years run apprenticeship programs. Some are modeled on those in such places as Germany and Britain. In a discussion in February, some of the two dozen chief executives gathered to discuss manufacturing jobs suggested there were still plenty of openings but too few qualified people to fill them. One executive said his company has 50 participants in a factory apprenticeship program but could take 500 if enough were qualified. Unemployment is historically low, but there are gaps in some sectors. Government figures show there are 324,000 open factory jobs nationwide triple the number there were in 2009, during the depths of the recession. At a White House round table discussion, some executives challenged Trump to generate a moonshot of 5 million new apprenticeships over five years. Our companies are some of the greatest universities in the world. We shape these employees, we train them, we educate them, we bring them in, said Salesforce.com CEO Marc Benioff, who issued the challenge to Trump. Lets do that, lets go for that 5 million, Trump replied at the event in March. Theres also evidence of rare bipartisan agreement, at least on the value of apprenticeships, which generally combine state and federal government money with support from universities and companies looking to train people for specific jobs. In some cases, students split their time between school and work, and the companies pay some portion of wages and tuition. The budget compromise funding the federal government through September passed this month with $95 million for apprenticeship grants, an increase of $5 million in part to increase the number of female apprentices. POTUS & I are focused on boosting the number of women who participate in apprenticeship programs, Acosta tweeted Thursday from Germany. While there, Acosta toured the BMW assembly plant in Munich. The company has an apprenticeship program in Spartanburg, S.C., with three community colleges in the area. Trumps skinny or abbreviated budget blueprint released in March proposes a 21% cut in the Labor Department budget but also pledges to help states expand apprenticeships, an evidence-based approach to preparing workers for jobs. His more detailed, or fat, budget, is due out next week and is expected to contain more details. United Airlines has assured travelers that its planes flight decks are secure even though the codes that open cockpit doors were accidentally made public. The Chicago-based carrier wouldnt say how the codes, which are changed from time to time, were released. But the Wall Street Journal reported this week that the carrier told pilots the codes were mistakenly posted on a public website by a flight attendant. The airline declined to elaborate on what measures have been taken to keep the cockpits secure. Advertisement We learned that some cockpit door access information may have been made public, the airline said in a statement. The safety of our customers and crew is our top priority and United utilizes a number of measures to keep our flight decks secure beyond door access information. This protocol ensures our cockpits remain secure. The airlines assurance hasnt satisfied Uniteds pilots, who have repeated their call for the installation of a second set of barriers on all passenger planes. The pilots first made the request after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. They are very inexpensive, said Todd Insler, chairman of Uniteds Master Executive Council, which represents the leadership of the airlines pilots. Its not a hassle and could be installed in a couple of hours. You can do it during an overnight layover. The secondary barrier would cost about $5,000 per plane, the pilots said. The barrier is retractable and relies on several rows of high-strength cables that stretch across the entrance to the cockpit to keep passengers out of the flight deck when pilots open the cockpit door to use the lavatory or get a cup of coffee. Many United planes already have such secondary barriers, but when the airline merged in 2010 with Continental Airlines it didnt install the barriers on the Continental planes. Most airlines say the second barriers arent necessary and the industry trade group, Airlines for America, said each individual carrier could decide whether to install them without a government mandate. hugo.martin@latimes.com To read more about the travel and tourism industries, follow @hugomartin on Twitter. A U.S. District judge on Thursday suggested he will sign off on a $142-million deal that would settle class-action lawsuits against Wells Fargo & Co. over unauthorized accounts, as long as the agreement is amended. Those changes could include sending settlement notices to more customers, allowing customers suing the bank over other matters to continue their cases and giving the judge more oversight of how settlement payments will be made. Still, Judge Vince Chhabria, in a hearing in San Francisco, said that new information may emerge that could lead him to later scrap the deal. Advertisement Its possible that the record will develop in a way that uncovers problems with the settlement, said Chhabria, adding the case is such an unusual situation, and such a complicated settlement. If Chhabria approves the deal announced last month, he would do so over the objections of some attorneys who have filed a handful of class-action cases against the bank over the unauthorized accounts scandal. The settlement was negotiated by the bank and the attorneys behind one 2015 case filed against the bank in Chhabrias court. Attorneys behind 10 other federal and state cases have said the deal is too small. In some of those cases, attorneys have brought identity theft claims against the bank claims that are not addressed in the settlement and that the attorneys say could result in bigger payouts. Chhabria indicated he would approve the deal over those objections but also said he plans to allow the other cases to proceed. The proposed settlement agreement had asked Chhabria to put the other cases on hold pending its final approval. One complication facing the $142-million settlement, which both Chhabria and attorneys noted during the hearing, is that it has been difficult to determine the number of eligible customers and what they are due. A symptom of that lack of certainty emerged last week, when plaintiffs attorneys estimated that the bank created as many as 3.5 million unauthorized checking, savings and credit card accounts since 2002. Thats far higher than the 2.1 million accounts the bank acknowledged last year may have been created from May 2011 to July 2015 when the scandal first erupted. And the banks attorneys have said that neither number may be accurate. Determining customer payouts is complicated also because the proposed settlement offers different kinds of compensation to customers affected in different ways. Customers who paid fees for accounts they never wanted will get refunds, but only if they havent received them from the bank already. Customers whose credit was damaged by unauthorized credit card accounts also would qualify for a payout, based on a complex formula that takes into account any loans they took out while their credit score was impaired. At one point, Chhabria suggested that he may want to name a special master a court-appointed overseer to make sure customers with damaged credit are properly compensated. He noted that neither the number of affected customers nor the extent of their harm are definitively known, making it difficult to judge whether the settlement is big enough. From the information we have now, it looks like this settlement provides quite a bit more money than the amount people were injured, Chhabria said. But were working with incomplete information. I think, because of that, stricter-than-normal scrutiny is required by the court. Chhabria seemed especially concerned by an issue raised by attorney Zane Christensen, who has filed a class-action suit in federal court in Utah and opposes the settlement. Christensen brought up the case of one of his clients, who was given an unwanted credit card account that, without the clients knowledge, provided overdraft protection for his checking account. When the client overdrafted his checking account, his credit card was charged. Because he didnt know about the credit card account, and, according to Christensen, did not receive bills or statements, the client didnt pay his credit card bill, leading to significant damage to his credit. Chhabria noted that the proposed settlement does not seem set up to deal with the level of damage experienced by the client. Derek Loeser, one of the plaintiffs attorneys who negotiated the deal, argued that the client was an outlier, but Chhabria was not convinced. How do we know that persons situation is unique? the judge asked. Given what we know about what Wells Fargo did, it doesnt sound terribly fanciful to assume that what happened to Mr. Christensens client happened to other people. David Fry, an attorney for Wells Fargo, said it would be unwieldy for the settlement to account for all the unusual ways consumers were harmed. He said Wells Fargo is committed to making things right for such customers, who can work things out directly with the bank. Chhabria, though, said that Wells Fargo has not guaranteed to fully compensate customers if the deal comes up short. If Wells Fargo wants to make things right, what about a full compensation guarantee? Chhabria asked. Chhabria also pushed the parties to notify as many potential victims as possible. The judge noted that the settlement, as proposed, includes several means of notification, including ads in various publications, but does not include sending emails or statement notices to current or former Wells Fargo customers. Fry said the bank isnt interested in hiding the settlement from customers and that sending notices too widely could lead to fraud. Customers who want compensation for harm to their credit will have to show their credit was actually damaged. But customers who simply say that unauthorized accounts were opened in their names wont have to prove anything, Fry said, and a broader notification could mean settlement payouts go to customers who were never harmed. We want to make things right, but that doesnt mean we want to pay a lot of people who dont have a valid claim, he said. Were trying to balance what we agree to in terms of making things easier for people to participate against the risk to the company if we open ourselves up to some kind of large-scale fraud. Chhabria said he would probably give attorneys for both sides two weeks to return with an updated settlement plan he could approve. That would allow the claims process to start, with a settlement administrator setting up a website, placing ads in publications and sending notices to potentially affected customers. The settlement would need to get Chhabrias final approval before payments could be made. james.koren@latimes.com Follow me: @jrkoren A beauty queen may not be the most authoritative source when it comes to healthcare. Then again, the president of the United States, who is seeking a far-reaching overhaul of the U.S. healthcare system, is a former beauty-pageant owner. So we probably shouldnt be surprised that the person who has most clearly articulated Americas core philosophical belief when it comes to healthcare is our newly crowned Miss USA, Kara McCullough. She was asked at this weeks celebration of swimsuits, evening gowns and womanhood whether she thought affordable healthcare for all U.S. citizens is a right or a privilege. Advertisement Im definitely going to say its a privilege, the 25-year-old answered without hesitation. After getting pounded on social media, she reversed course the next day, telling an interviewer that I am privileged to have healthcare and I do believe that it should be a right. Dont laugh. Miss USA initially was voicing a position common to many Americans, mostly conservatives a stance that has prevented the United States from joining all other developed countries in providing its citizens with universal coverage. People who do not want healthcare to be a right often think we would be moving toward socialized medicine, and theyre very afraid of that, said Tony Sinay, chair of the Healthcare Administration Department at Cal State Long Beach. The reality, he said, is that if healthcare is a right, then it is simply a public good that the government has a responsibility to provide, like streetlights or national defense. The right-or-privilege question is fundamental to virtually all healthcare policy decisions made by a country. If healthcare is a right, then the focus is on ensuring that the entire population has access to affordable coverage, which in practice has led other developed countries to adopt variations of a nationwide single-payer insurance system. If a privilege, then theres substantially more room to accommodate the needs of for-profit companies and to deny healthcare to a significant number of people because theyre too costly to cover, such as those with cancer, diabetes or other chronic diseases. If you take that position to the extreme, said Joanne Spetz, a professor at UC San Franciscos Institute for Health Policy Studies, one would have to be comfortable with letting people die on the street. The Affordable Care Act, signed into law in 2010 by former President Obama, addressed that to some extent by preventing insurers from denying coverage to people with pre-existing medical conditions or charging them higher rates. Those protections are imperiled by legislation passed this month by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. It would make it possible for insurers once again to charge prohibitively costly rates for people with pre-existing conditions. This would be a return to the bad old days for Robert Burns, a Huntington beach resident who was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 1994. His tumor was removed but cancer cells remain in his body in a state of remission. Burns, 64, told me about how he lost his job with a health insurer, ironically a few years after his cancer surgery and found himself in the same boat as millions of other Americans who have experienced severe illnesses. I met with a number of insurers, one after another, he said. They each asked the same questions have you ever had this, have you ever had that? Inevitably, Burns would be asked if hed ever had cancer. When I said yes, every single one said they couldnt cover me, he recalled. Every single one. Burns story doesnt stop there. In 2008, self-employed and still uninsured, he was diagnosed with life-threatening blood clots. He received emergency care at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, running up a bill of close to $250,000. Unable to get anywhere close to paying such a sum, Burns was grateful to learn that the hospital had reached out to an unknown benefactor, who agreed to cover at least a portion of the amount, presumably as a tax write-off. While even such self-interested generosity is admirable, what does it say about the U.S. healthcare system that an uninsured patient must depend on the Medici-like kindness of a wealthy patron? The blood clots returned in 2010, Burns said. This time there was no rich benefactor to cover his $18,000 hospital tab. Burns was forced to file for bankruptcy. He told me that Obamacare was a lifesaver. It allowed him to purchase insurance from Health Net for a subsidized amount of $82 a month. Next year, hell be eligible for Medicare. Of course healthcare is a right, for Gods sake, Burns said, his voice cracking with emotion. Otherwise were a society where we dont give a damn about each other. Or were a society that equates shared responsibility with socialism, and that rationalizes selfishness as rugged individualism. The belief in solidarity, taken for granted in European countries, has never really held sway here, said Tom Rice, a professor at UCLAs Fielding School of Public Health. He and UC San Franciscos Spetz said the key to universal coverage is making sure everyone participates in the insurance system. In most other developed countries, this is done through payroll taxes, rather than premiums, co-pays and deductibles. Moreover, universal coverage requires acceptance that healthy people will help pay for sick people, with an understanding that at some point the healthy also will require such assistance. However, Spetz said, Americans have very mixed feelings about wealth transfers. Yet thats precisely how Medicare works, and polls consistently show that most Americans are pleased with the government-run insurance program. Maybe the question shouldnt be whether healthcare is a right or a privilege. Maybe the question should be why so many of us dont really seem to understand what were talking about. David Lazarus column runs Tuesdays and Fridays. He also can be seen daily on KTLA-TV Channel 5 and followed on Twitter @Davidlaz. Send your tips or feedback to david.lazarus@latimes.com. ALSO Obamacare vs. Trumpcare: A side-by-side comparison of the Affordable Care Act and the GOPs replacement plan Michael Hiltzik: The costs of Trumps sabotage of Obamacare already are showing up in rate hikes Jimmy Kimmel returns after newborn sons surgery and emotional plea for affordable healthcare Actress Lorraine Toussaint and her 12-year-old daughter, Samara, have a longstanding tradition: On Sunday mornings, they lay a blanket over Toussaints bed, whip up an elaborate breakfast and have a picnic in their pajamas. The ritual continued even after the two along with Toussaints fiance and his two children moved last summer into a 4,000-square-foot Malibu house. The thespian who graduated from Juilliard and won a Critics Choice Television Award for her work in Netflixs Orange Is the New Black is a self-professed bed fanatic. Advertisement Toussaint currently appears on the Fox series Rosewood and is writing her lifestyle blog, Everyday Lovely. Whats so appealing about your bedroom? As a working mom, I rarely have time that is devoted to pampering myself. So I carve out two moments in the day. First thing in the morning, I set out my teapot and favorite teacup and give myself a full tea service on the porch of my bedroom. What kind of tea? Black tea or a loose Earl Grey or English breakfast tea, though I also have some African blends. And only with evaporated milk, which I know is so old-school and English. I have cans of it stacked in my cupboard right now I travel with a can of it in my suitcase. And the other moment? At the end of the day when I get into bed. I have a really thick down mattress over the bed, a poufy down comforter and, like, a 1,000-plus-thread-count sheet, which I sometimes get starched and ironed. When Im exhausted, I love to be able to slip into a cool, smooth bed that feels like its in a fine hotel. Where did you get the bed? I got at in the Helms Bakery district years ago. [Its] actually very simple: a tall bedhead, polished leather, dark Caribbean wood. I do a lot of reading in bed I used to study scripts and learn lines there. Any no-nos in the bedroom? Weve banned TV. We have our best talks there; theres a fireplace, aromatherapy. Its all very clean and minimal, very spa-like. So no mementos from work? Good Lord, no. I have very few of those anywhere in the house. How would you describe your interior decor style? Eclectic, somewhat bohemian the pieces come from all kinds of places and arent always expensive. If you have a good eye, you can find a good piece in a Goodwill. Some things in my home are 30 years old and have been covered and re-covered. Some are pieces from the street that I found on La Brea when I first moved here. There are some beautiful bedside table lamps with very ornate silk shades. Theyre getting so old and slightly frayed, theyre literally almost museum pieces. It sounds like youre not always chasing the latest fad when it comes to home decor. I come from very stylish but very classic women. One of my first words as a child was vogue. There was nothing particularly trendy in the clothes we wore or the furniture we chose, but it was all a quality that would last. I learned early on to buy one piece thats good rather than three that arent. You always have flowers in your bedroom. Any particular kind? Red roses, since you must have a touch of red for passion in the bedroom. Or lilies, which are fragrant. hotproperty@latimes.com MORE FROM HOT PROPERTY L.A. Chargers Antonio Gates hauls in a buyer for his Poway estate Paul Pierce gets his price and more for Cheviot Hills home he bought for his mom Derek Hough of DWTS seeks a tidy return on Sherman Oaks investment property Gustavo Dudamel didnt dedicate his silken performance of Schuberts elegant Fifth Symphony on Thursday night to Deborah Borda. But the touchingly tender slow movement spoke for itself. After opening his program with the symphony, having reached the two-thirds point in his current Schubert symphony cycle, Dudamel returned to the Walt Disney Concert Hall stage with a microphone in hand, accompanied by Borda, his departing Los Angeles Philharmonic boss, and by the orchestras board chairman, Jay Rasulo. It has been an amazing journey, Dudamel said in his farewell speech to Borda, who leaves her post as president and chief executive here to head (and, the orchestra world hopes, save) the troubled New York Philharmonic after her historic 17-year tenure with the L.A. Phil. In explaining that journey from being my stalker to becoming my lover, Dudamel said: Even if I have been hard sometimes, I love you. Advertisement It was the orchestras brief, formal tribute to Borda, who oversaw the completion of Disney Hall and its celebrated opening, who empowered then-Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen to realize such grand visions for the hall as the Peter Sellars and Bill Viola multimedia Tristan Project, who followed Dudamel around the world in her effort to hire him to succeed Salonen, who created Youth Orchestra L.A. (YOLA) and who turned a financially struggling orchestra into a the most prosperous and adventurous major ensemble in the world. I hope no one is recording this, Dudamel said (fat chance), but thanks to Borda, we have become the envy of the world. For her part, Borda, a former orchestra musician herself, gave all the credit to the players, a supportive board, a uniquely warm and adventurous audience and, especially, to Dudamel. WIth her arms around the man I stalked around Europe, she told Dudamel, Ive learned so much from you. You changed my life in two ways when you said, Music is a fundamental human right and Our tradition is the future. Orchestras are constitutionally unfit in a hundred ways to be one big, happy family. But in the rare orchestra that has had warm relationships with management for decades, the players gave Borda a tusch, the brief flourish meant only for the most special of occasions and almost always meant for another musician. Here it seemed in recognition of what may be the least appreciated secret by the outside world of Bordas management style, however demanding, and how she developed lasting relations with artists, creating what she called an L.A. Phil family. Dudamel never refers to the L.A. Phil as his orchestra but his family. And even Rasulo, whose life Borda has just made infinitely harder by creating the need for a replacement, said to her on stage Thursday what I doubt any other board chair has ever said to a departing orchestra director: Remember you always have a loving family here. Dudamel then conducted the orchestra and mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke in Mahlers Ruckert-Lieder. The last of the five songs is possibly the saddest and most beautiful song ever written: I Am Lost to the World. My reflection on the surprising relevance of Dudamels Schubert cycle, which concludes over the weekend, will publish on Monday. mark.swed@latimes.com ALSO: In a startling coup, New York lures L.A. Phil chief Deborah Borda Reaction: Bordas departure sends arts world spinning The profile: The woman behind the L.A. Phil In a scene from the documentary film Last Men in Aleppo, a Syrian civilian rescue squad known as the White Helmets rushes to a bombed-out apartment building on a residential street in Aleppo. Often the squads job is retrieving bodies or body parts from destroyed flats, hospitals, bakeries or other civilian structures targeted by President Bashar Assads forces or his recent allies, the Russians. But this day, as rescuer Mahmoud furiously digs through rubble, he uncovers a sign of life. A tiny hand reaching from beneath layers of broken concrete and rubble. Soon three young boys, bloodied, limp, covered in white dust like ghosts, are pulled out alive. Their mom and other siblings including a baby still in diapers -- werent as fortunate. Advertisement Its war, brutal and graphic. You may question: Do I really need to see this? The answer comes in a following scene. Mahmoud visits the surviving boys and their father a week later. While the adults talk, the boy whos no older than 6 sneaks across the room. He sits on the floor next to Mahmoud, burrowing his small frame under his heros arm. The child waits until the others arent listening and whispers: Sir, how did you get me out? Mahmoud hugs him. The boy persists: I was really tired when you got me. Sir, how did you know I was there? Because you were a flower, replies Mahmoud. You needed to see the light. Syria. Its complicated. Thats the easy answer in the waning American conversation about a 6-year-old civil war thats taken close to half a million lives. Its like a bar fight, where all a sudden everyones jumped in and is throwing chairs at each other. Hell on Earths Sebastian Junger on Syrias civil war Like the war in Iraq that led to the one in Syria that led to a global refugee crisis that fed the Islamic States rise, its a conflict and humanitarian disaster the West pays attention to only sporadically. But two new feature documentary films this month are reminders that the Syrian crisis is kids with kid-like questions, volunteers who risk it all for them, power-hungry despots, colluders and terror factions who thrive when the rest of the world turns its back. Both films, which open in theaters this week, will also air on TV Hell on Earth: The Fall of Syria and the Rise of ISIS on the National Geographic Channel June 11 and Last Men in Aleppo on PBS July 10. Syrian filmmaker Feras Fayyads Last Men in Aleppo is a tightly focused, on-the-ground account of three men who serve in the White Helmets. Its pure reportage, no narration, no expert voices. It chronicles two years in the lives of embattled rescuers Mahmoud, Khaled and Subhi, all of whom constantly weigh the safety of their own families with their allegiance to serve the people of Aleppo. As you watch the 104-minute film, it becomes eerily clear that some of the men and women on screen are likely ghosts by now, consumed by the conflict they sought to protect others from. Its raw, powerful, moving and candid. This is what it is like to be on the ground in Aleppo. Sebastian Jungers Hell on Earth: The Fall of Syria and the Rise of ISIS is a bigger budget, comprehensive look at the demise of Syria from the Arab Spring to the Islamic State to the recent involvement of Russia. The 100-minute film does a phenomenal job detangling the numerous scenarios that led to Syrias civil war and current bloodbath, dispelling the notion that this conflict is too complicated for those not versed on the Middle East to understand. The National Geographic Documentary Films feature from Junger and Nick Quested (both of whom worked on Restrepo, The Last Patrol and Korengal) utilizes new and old footage, narration by Junger and interviews with Syrian refugees, Aleppo citizens, former Assad soldiers, IS members and U.S. leaders like Arizona Sen. John McCain to demystify the chaos. Every Arab Spring was explicitly an anti-corruption demonstration, explains one expert in the films early moments. Syria was no different when its uprising started in 2011. Middle-school kids wrote on a wall protesting the rule of Assad. They were imprisoned and tortured. Protests ensued. The film asserts that Assad knew what happened to leaders in other countries where the Arab Spring had blossomed (Egypts Hosni Mubarak was ousted and thrown in prison), and responded with maximum force. The footage of his troops spraying unarmed protesters with massive amounts of gunfire is horrifying. And the violence escalates from there. Sir, how did you know I was there? Because you were a flower, replies Mahmoud. You needed to see the light. Scene from Last Men in Aleppo Former high-ranking Syrian officers explain how defectors from Assads military formed the Free Syrian Army to protect civilians from the government. Then more anti-Assad militias joined in, funded by private individuals in the Sunni-majority Gulf who supported taking down the Shiite leader. When the rebels took a military base in Aleppo and freed most of the city from Assads army, the air bombardments began: Barrel bombs day and night, nonstop, on civilians and militia alike. On the world stage, Assad portrayed the battle as one against him and extremist Muslim forces. But in the documentary, journalists who covered the war recount when Assad released dangerous jihadis from prison in hopes of them joining the war and causing more diversionary chaos. Says narrator Junger: One of the problems of letting civil war go on for so long is that more and more people get involved. Its like a bar fight, where all a sudden everyones jumped in and is throwing chairs at each other. Syria became a civil war in response the violence of the government, but eventually Iran got involved through Hezbollah to support the Assad regime; the Kurds, Turkey, the Arab Gulf states got involved. Eventually all the world powers and all the regional powers had some investments in Syria. Once you get a proxy fight, with so many powers, so huge interests in the outcome, its almost impossible to stop. Enter the Islamic State, who sought to create its own continuous Sunni Muslim caliphate. Its leadership preyed on sectarian tension, say former villagers, taking over entire towns, instituting a barbaric strain of sharia law (public beheadings arent shown in their entirety here, thankfully, but ghoulish displays of bodies hung from street lamps are). Families who were targeted by Assad recount how they were now required to serve the Islamic State or die. The film follows one such family in its attempt to flee, video shot under the tarp where they all hid, disguised as cargo in the back of a truck as it crossed the border into the safety of Turkey. The film connects them with a refugee crisis so big its poured over into Europe, inciting right-wing nationalist movements. And, of course, the lone wolf, IS-inspired terror attacks that have followed in places like Toulouse, France, and San Bernardino. McCain explains the entry of the Russians into the conflict is to control areas of Syria of importance to Assad. People cant defend themselves from bombardments. Assad wants people in the middle eliminated so the choice is either him or ISIS. In Last Men in Aleppo, the rescuers of the White Helmets claim allegiance to neither faction. They race to the scenes of destruction perpetuated by both sides in sputtering old ambulances and trucks with rusty radiators that overheat. Are you leaving Aleppo? one man asks another after a run, as they sit in a freezing-cold flat, warming themselves over a kerosene burner. Yes, says the other. Where to? The cemetery, he jokes. Later, in a more serious moment, rescuer Khaled explains why hes staying in a place that will eventually kill him. Some people prefer to die than live in refugee camps, he says. Where can we go? This siege is our destiny. Hell on Earth: The Fall of Syria and the Rise of ISIS Rating: R for some disturbing violent images Running time: 1 hour, 40 minutes Playing: Laemmle Monica Film Center; premieres on National Geographic Channel June 11 Last Men in Aleppo In Arabic with English subtitles Not rated Running time: 1 hour, 44 minutes Playing: Laemmle Music Hall, Beverly Hills premieres on PBS July 10 See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour Movie Trailers lorraine.ali@latimes.com @LorraineAli ALSO Roger Ailes turned television news into an Us vs. Them free-for-all Netflixs new true-crime series, The Keepers, is no Making a Murderer, its better From Anderson Coopers eye roll to Chuck Todds Wow: The media react to Comey firing The second season of Master of None features a complicated relationship with pork For Kyle MacLachlan, it was all about the suit. More than a quarter of a century since Twin Peaks ended its brief but influential run on ABC, the actor is reprising his signature role as FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper, a man whose appreciation of cherry pie and a damn fine cup of coffee knows no bounds, in a long-anticipated revival premiering Sunday on Showtime. MacLachlan has been through quite a lot since the early 90s, when the mystery of who killed beauty queen Laura Palmer captivated viewers. The 58-year-old, his hair graying ever so slightly at the temples, has endured wild career swings, gotten married, become a father, and even started a wine business. Advertisement Dressed in head-to-toe black, hes seated in an office at Showtimes headquarters in midtown. A dozen stories below, city buses bearing sepia-tone images of him as an older, but still dashing, Cooper chug down Broadway Luckily the suit still fit. The suit pretty much sets it for me my whole being starts to transform, says MacLachlan, moving his hands as if grasping an invisible pole to suggest Coopers ramrod posture. And also just Davids presence. When Davids there, Im Cooper. That would be David Lynch, who co-created the original series with Mark Frost and co-wrote and directed all 18 episodes or parts, as he prefers to call them of the revival. Announced with much fanfare in October 2014, the limited series premieres Sunday and is shrouded in a layer of secrecy that makes the NSA look like amateurs. (Even seemingly benign details about Coopers suit were deemed too spoiler-y for print.) The series marks the return of not only one of the most admired cult series in television history but also the creative partnership between Lynch and MacLachlan, whose most recent collaborations were the 1992 prequel film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me and a series of Twin Peaks-themed Japanese coffee commercials from the same era. Their relationship dates back to the mid-1980s when MacLachlan, then an unknown actor fresh out of the University of Washington, was plucked from regional-theater obscurity to play the lead in Dune (1984), Lynchs first foray into big-budget Hollywood filmmaking. The adaptation was a notorious commercial and critical failure, but it marked the beginning of a dynamic period of collaboration between the actor and director. Blue Velvet (1986), was the antithesis of Dune but a precursor to Twin Peaks in its warped view of small-town life and flashes of deadpan humor. MacLachlan starred as Jeffrey Beaumont, a college student whose discovery of a severed ear in the grass leads him on an adventure that plays like The Hardy Boys on bad acid. Cooper was conceived as a grown-up Jeffrey Beaumont, says Lynch in a phone interview. Hes a magical kind of detective, explains the director, whose plainspoken quality somehow makes him more inscrutable. Hes got way more energy than most people. Hes always wide awake and alert and hes always happy. Though Cooper is first introduced a full half-hour into the pilot episode of Twin Peaks, he makes an immediate impression, enthusing about the local evergreen trees in the first of many tape-recorded messages to the never-seen Diane. That scene very much encapsulated the range of things Kyle can play, says Showtime President David Nevins. Hes stalwart and subversive at the same time, which is hard to do. MacLachlan still considers the pilot, which he rewatches from time to time, an extraordinary piece of filmmaking. It debuted in April 1990 to enormous ratings and ecstatic reviews, with critics praising the singular blend of horror, soapy melodrama and quirky humor. But once the central mystery was resolved, viewers fled. Despite organized protests from fans, ABC canceled the series after 29 episodes, immediately cementing its status as a cult classic. The part earned MacLachlan two Emmy nominations, a Golden Globe Award and countless free cups of coffee from admirers over the years. Twin Peaks is still the [project] people respond to more than others, he says, pausing for a beat, certainly more than The Doors. (In case youd forgotten, he played keyboardist Ray Manzarek in the Oliver Stone film.) Twin Peaks is a surreal puzzle of a show whose influence is evident in shows from Stranger Things to True Detective. Twin Peaks is a surreal puzzle of a show whose influence is evident in shows from Stranger Things to True Detective. Wisely, though, few have attempted to imitate its eccentric yet pure-hearted protagonist. Cooper is, on one level, an old-fashioned Hollywood hero marked by boyish enthusiasm and unflagging moral rectitude, a point driven home in the series pilot when hes mistakenly called Gary Cooper. This is a character who once proclaimed I would very much like to make love to a beautiful woman who I had genuine affection for while lying near death on the ground with a gunshot wound in his stomach. And yet beneath the clean-cut G-Man exterior beats the heart of an oddball. Cooper relies on dreams and visions as much as physical evidence, communicates with dancing dwarfs from alternate dimensions and is drawn to Eastern spirituality. In the series second episode, he famously eliminated suspects by throwing stones at bottles from a distance of 60 feet a technique inspired by his love of Tibet. He seems to be secretly listening to radio waves from the zodiac, through the fillings in his teeth, wrote critic John Leonard in his New York Magazine review of Twin Peaks. Hes a wonder, a puzzlement, a Boy Scout from Sirius the Dog Star. Between bites of a ham sandwich, MacLachlan puts it more simply. You feel like hes come through darkness, but hes been able to keep it in place. It doesnt drive him. The series concluded with one of the most heartbreaking series finales in TV history. After a harrowing journey through the mysterious Black Lodge a.k.a. that room with the red curtains Cooper was possessed by the malevolent spirit known as Bob. Whats happened to the agent since then did he take to murdering young girls, like Bob-possessed Leland Palmer before him? is easily the biggest question hanging over the revival. MacLachlan hit a rough patch in the years that followed Twin Peaks, epitomized by a Razzie-nominated role in Showgirls that involved an unintentionally hilarious pool sex scene. But he eventually found a niche of sorts in parts that, like Agent Cooper, played in tension with his classic good looks. In Sex and the City, he portrayed Charlottes seemingly perfect first husband, Trey MacDougal, a WASPY cardiologist with deep-seated mommy issues and a pesky case of erectile dysfunction. And there was Orson Hodge, Brees lying, philandering, would-be plumber-murdering husband on Desperate Housewives. Directoer and producer David Lynch (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) What he didnt do was return to work with Lynch, who made films with other dark and handsome types, like Justin Theroux (Mulholland Drive). MacLachlan has theories about why. Im Cooper for David, he says. Thats it. Im Cooper and I live in Twin Peaks. (Lynch gently disputes this: If another role came along that he was right for, I would know it and I would be very happy for him. It just didnt ever happen.) However, the pair did see each other regularly. MacLachlan has a home in the Hollywood Hills, just up the road from Lynch. When in town hed often just take the parking brake off the car and roll down the hill for a cup of coffee yes, coffee. Their conversations would inevitably turn to Twin Peaks. Lynch would usually dismiss the idea of a revival, even though it wasnt ever dead, he says. The stories continue in ones mind. Eventually, MacLachlan got an urgent phone call from Lynch: He had something to discuss but couldnt talk about it on the phone. I said, I hope its nothing health-related, MacLachlan recalls. It was not. In New York, Lynch pitched him the new Twin Peaks and asked if hed be interested in reprising the role of Cooper. I said, Ive never not been interested, says MacLachlan, who was seduced by the challenge of reviving Twin Peaks. The series arrives amid a wave of 90s revivals taking over the small screen, including Fuller House, The X Files and Will & Grace. But this continuation is not driven by nostalgia, insist those involved. If anything, Lynch, who was less involved in the shows second, uneven season, seems motivated by a desire to course-correct and return to the vision laid out in the pilot. In my mind the series drifted away from what I thought of as Twin Peaks, he says. It was tough to watch for me. Co-writing and directing 18 hours of television after more than a decade away from full-time filmmaking was a feat of stamina for Lynch, who also returns in a supporting role as Coopers boss, Gordon Cole. I was a major stud before I started, and now I can barely walk, he jokes. For Showtimes Nevins, Lynch and Frosts hands-on involvement was essential. I was only interested if I knew it was going to be the real thing, he says. The executive describes the revival as Coopers odyssey back to himself and an exploration of relevant themes of national identity. I find Kyle such a quintessentially all-American actor, and I think thats what David likes about him. Its really interesting revisiting this character and this world in a moment in American history where were trying to figure out who we are, and what it means to Make America great again. MacLachlan is less inclined to elaborate, but does let it slip that spoiler alert his professional chemistry with Lynch returned instantly. Thats something that came back like that, MacLachlan says with a snap of his fingers. We do a great dance together. See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour meredith.blake@latimes.com Follow me @MeredithBlake Twin Peaks returns to television Sunday, again written by co-creators Mark Frost and David Lynch, with Lynch directing and many cast members back in place. Two episodes of the Showtime revival will also screen at the Cannes Film Festival, because TV isnt just television anymore. The original Twin Peaks had the hallmarks of what journalists have taken to calling prestige television. It looked good, and, more important, it had a look, the rich, saturated American-roadside glamour Lynch earlier brought to his film Blue Velvet. Not a frame of film or a note on the soundtrack seemed less than intentional. It was the work of a successful film director, and at a time when television it aired on ABC was considered a secondary medium, somewhere to escape from the movies. The notion that TV is in some sort of Diamond-Studded Platinum age has been commonplace for some time, and it is true that good television has never seemed so varied or overwhelmingly abundant. But many of the best-regarded modern series are just elevated versions of what television has always done produce well-written, beautifully acted, intelligent, moving but generally familiar stories of crime or love or work, occasionally turned a shade darker for gravitas. Advertisement Twin Peaks, on the other hand, was something else: It was weird. Part lacerating comedy, part farcical drama, it played with conventions of television, without looking or acting quite like anything that had ever been seen there. It intensified but didnt parody the emotions and intimacies of what was then the only sort of serial TV soap operas, daytime and prime-time. It was provocative not for the sake of being provocative but as the upshot of an unusual aesthetic sensibility and worldview expressing itself in a context in which it would not normally be found. All across the history of television, such oddities have occurred comedies, dramas, cartoons that seem both surprising and inevitable, that share an air of having to have been made, whatever the likelihood of success, which seems to qualify them as art. (That isnt to say arty, as when a show merely urges its style upon you.) These are the programs that make television exciting to me the unexpected, the inexplicable, the uncompromising series that make me wonder: How did that get here? Its the thrill I felt, for instance, when I encountered Thu Trans Food Party, a surrealist, cardboard-and-glitter puppet-and-people show. Perhaps my favorite series while it aired on IFC in 2009 and 2010, it was made by former art students whose work had been discovered on the Web, where many unaccountable things happen. In one episode, Tran gives birth to a pie containing a live kitten that will later kill her other puppet children, who are discovered to be full of cherry compote and candy-severed thumbs, and then blast off into space. And its how I felt years before, as an impressionable young person confronted with The Prisoner, Patrick McGoohans 1967 quasi-sequel to the series Secret Agent, in which a nameless spy, having angrily resigned his post, wakes up trapped in a baroque seaside prison cum holiday camp. McGoohan had something he wanted to say about authority and resistance, conformity and individuality, and the fact that The Prisoner managed only a single 17-episode season, which ended with a deep dive into absurdity, was not a shock and nothing to mourn. The Prisoner was not made to run forever; or perhaps better put, it was made not to run forever. Or take Freaks and Geeks, another commercial failure turned cult classic, thanks to most everyone in it becoming famous later. From its unfashionably cool color palette to its dismissal of the sort of easy-to-read victories the network would have been all too happy to have, Freaks and Geeks went its own way, finding humor in existential crises but never pushing into the usual streams of high school farce. Watching it now, it still seems utterly singular in its look and pacing; not even producer Judd Apatows next TV series Undeclared followed its lead. What makes such oddities possible? Luck sometimes the rogue programming executive who just wants to see something made. Success in another medium might do it Pee-Wees Playhouse, a cheeky multimedia art project in the form of a childrens show, followed on the theatrical success of Pee-Wees Big Adventure. Or an earlier success in television if Deadwood hadnt been so well-regarded, David Milch could never have made John From Cincinnati, a semi-mystical spiritual surf epic created with novelist Kem Nunn. It was officially a flop but Im happy it was made. Louis CKs Louie lavished the sort of careful attention on its look and sound that has become standard in more recent cable comedies. Influenced by European art-house and American underground cinema, CK found a way to shape art films of shorter and longer length into one of TVs most ambitious comedies. His Horace & Pete, a cycle of performed-live plays in the form of a television series, was a project so unlikely he didnt even bother to pitch to a network but put up for sale, episode by episode, on his website. Much of this action takes place at the fringes of the medium, on smaller cable stations or in off-hours, where riskiness can be more than its own reward, failure is less expensive and relatively few people are watching. Space Ghost Coast to Coast, in which footage from a 1960s superhero cartoon was repurposed into a 1990s talk show, with live-action guests, was Cartoon Networks first real series. It crept into view at 11 on Friday nights and its mix of the fantastic and the banal set the style for the networks Adult Swim block. Childrens shows, and things that look like childrens shows, are often allowed an extra measure of strangeness you cant really explain the Teletubbies in part because theyre not perceived as being important. Thats wrong: The Adventures of Pete & Pete, a 1990s Nickelodeon series ostensibly for young people, made use of some of independent filmmaker Hal Hartleys crew and cast members to create a mythic and mysterious vision of suburban childhood and was as good as anything TV has produced. Id say as much of Cartoon Networks Adventure Time, another mythic, mysterious and unusually tender show, whose characters have (rare for a cartoon) aged over its run and grown more complex. Like Twin Peaks, it is full of death and transfiguration. Watching old episodes of Twin Peaks now, I find that, even after nearly three decades, they have not lost their power to disturb, disorient and enchant. Was it art? (And will it be art when it returns?) Art is a loaded, imprecise word; we often use it to dignify what we like, to mean This is better than great. But one is tempted to reach for it when nothing else seems to fit, when shows go where they need to go, out of bounds, into the new, and carry us along. robert.lloyd@latimes.com Follow Robert Lloyd on Twitter @LATimesTVLloyd ALSO Gleaning the clues from David Lynchs hilariously cryptic Twin Peaks panel Adventure Time sets the series finale, but you still have time Enjoying the strange tastes at Thu Trans Food Party on IFC Patrick McGoohan was No. 1 as Prisoners Number 6 UNDERRATED Carrie Coon in Fargo: Already earning accolades for her nuanced portrayal of a grieving widow in HBOs The Leftovers, Coon is walking away with the third installment of Noah Hawleys Coen Brothers-adjacent anthology series. Shining with an understated authority amid costars such as Ewan McGregor and David Thewlis, Coon portrays Gloria Burgle, a Minnesota police chief who wont let being displaced from her job, an ambivalence toward technology or an inability to coax automatic faucets and doors into action get in the way of her investigation. Marge Gunderson would be proud. Resonance Records: The L.A.-based label continues to be on a tear with its run of sumptuously packaged, previously unheard releases from the jazz archives, and two of its recent finds are well worth tracking down. Truth, Liberty & Soul, a live recording led by Jaco Pastorius, places the late bassists acrobatic thump in a high-octane large ensemble that includes steel drums and trumpeter Randy Brecker, and Smokin in Seattle: Live at the Penthouse, which finds pianist Wynton Kelly joined by guitarist Wes Montgomery in a hard-swinging 1966 summit meeting between pair of legends in peak form. Advertisement OVERRATED Chefs Table on Netflix: A patiently drawn, lavishly shot tribute to the many outside-the-box thinkers in the world of high-priced, higher-end cuisine, this series needs to become the final word on pop cultures obsession with museum-level dining and its obsessive cooks. Yes, it is surely wonderful to venture to, say, the Arctic Circle or even the other side of town to eat a labored-over dinner at a cost just above that of a monthly car payment. But theres an element of decadence in every episode that amounts to turning what is ultimately just a basic human need eating into a luxury theme park. I Dont Feel at Home in this World Anymore on Netflix: An indie film that wears each layer of its quirkiness like a badge of honor, I Dont Feel at Home, written and directed by Blue Ruin star Macon Blair, ultimately undercuts its impact with an inability to decide on a tone. Though Melanie Lynskey is typically solid as a woman in a small town struggling against depression and an increasing coarseness in the world, whatever low-key charms that could be found in her or a developing relationship with Elijah Woods oddball throwing star enthusiast gets lost in an unnecessarily bloody revenge story. See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour chris.barton@latimes.com Follow me over here @chrisbarton. ALSO: The ever-changing Archer finds inspiration in classic L.A. noir With help from Melissa McCarthy, life imitates art as three Nobodies from the Groundlings get their shot on TV Land Judd Apatow and Pete Holmes get real about comedy in HBO series Crashing Joyce Azria is finally bringing her fashion vision for Millennial women her newly launched contemporary line Avec les Filles home. The brand, which launched in 155 Macys Inc. doors nationwide in March, will open its first retail pop-up at its new Los Angeles headquarters on La Brea Avenue on May 19. Its a summer pop-up, where all of our L.A. followers and influencers and celebrities can come, said Azria, the former creative director of her father Maxs company BCBGeneration. With the Macys at Beverly Center still under renovation, we wanted a place close to home. We just moved into our new offices last month, in a former tile factory and auto body shop, so its the ultimate revival game. Advertisement Since then, Azria has set about transforming the space into a pink paradise while keeping all the vintage architectural details that define many of the structures on the trendy retail boulevard. Its an interactive hub to showcase our clothes, where we can give our girl everything shed actually buy and love, married with a cool neighborhood, said Azria, who will host a party tonight before the shop officially opens. Soon ALF will be able to offer more than clothes; the company recently inked licensing deals with Steven Madden for bags that will roll out at years end and for costume jewelry with K&M Accessories, which will launch for spring 2018. Azrias playfully sophisticated, French aesthetic will infuse all categories of the brand, which is inspired by Seventies Paris and California ease and offers classic pieces with a twist, such as pleated skirts, pussy-bow blouses, tweed blazers, leather moto jackets and mules. Azria has also collaborated with L.A. premium denim brand Earnest Sewn. Offering bi-monthly deliveries, the majority of pieces are priced at less than $100 retail, while shoes start at $150 and leather jackets at $495. Azrias business model melds old-school traditional retail learnings with disruptive practices, which she hopes will shake up and revive the retail landscape. Last month, ALF opened a 1,200-square-foot shop in Macys Herald Square flagship, where Azria brought her pink vision to life with tiled walls, smoky glass mirrors and a pink Steinway baby grand piano. ALSO Joyce Azria starts a new L.A. fashion label with millennial shoppers in mind Diors Maria Grazia Chiuri on L.A. inspiration, the importance of getting back to nature and why we should all be feminists Its a musical salute to Stephen Schwartz during the ASCAP Screen Music Awards Ramped up security failed to spoil the party mood at the opening night ceremony for the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday night. Mounting the famous Palais des Festivals steps alongside the likes of Robin Wright, Uma Thurman and Bella Hadid, fellow LOreal Paris ambassadors Susan Sarandon and Julianne Moore patiently endured airport-level security in their striking red carpet garb the former in a va-va-voom, high-split, off-the-shoulder green velvet Alberta Ferretti gown and shades, and the latter in a feathered, custom-made red gown by Givenchy Haute Couture. Other head turners on the night included Naomie Harris, who wore a sherbet-hued custom gown by Gucci, and Elle Fanning, who made her red carpet debut as a LOreal Paris ambassador in a bird of paradise gown by Vivienne Westwood Couture daubed with galaxy-inspired motifs. The ethereal indie actress stars in two movies being screened at the festival: Sofia Coppolas in-competition The Beguiled and John Cameron Mitchells How to Talk to Girls at Parties. Advertisement Bucking the floor-sweeper trend, the nights co-leading lady, Charlotte Gainsbourg, cut through the sea of sweeping gowns in a sexy crystal-embroidered, thigh-skimming mini with square shoulders by Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello. Sharing the spotlight, Marion Cotillard, who stars alongside Gainsbourg in the opening night film, Arnaud Desplechins Ismaels Ghosts, opted for a black pinstriped corset gown by Jean Paul Gaultier. The energy was vibrating. If anyone had any doubt what glamour is about, this is it: its the red carpet, its the Hollywood movie stars, its the palm trees and the sunshine, its just beautiful not forgetting the great movies, said Eva Herzigova, who opted for a gold-embroidered Roberto Cavalli gown. Rossy de Palma, the muse of this years president of the jury, Spanish director Pedro Almodovar, trilled: Its gorgeous, its beautiful. Looking dapper in a black Dolce & Gabbana suit, Adrien Brody said he was feeling a little nostalgic. Cannes has a dear place in my heart. The Pianist premiered here at the Palais [in 2002] and was the recipient of the Palme dOr; that experience was so profound, being in here in Cannes with that film was indelible, said the actor, who is filming the British crime drama Peaky Blinders. I spend a lot of time in the South of France, I was close by this year, but Im very happy to be here. Pausing at the top of the steps to pose with Almodovar and their fellow jury members, Will Smith and Jessica Chastain respectively clad in a Brioni suit and an Alexander McQueen embroidered dress and Piaget baubles entertained the crowds by bopping to Kool & the Gangs, Get Down On It. Channeling old-school glamor, meanwhile, the nights mistress of ceremonies, Monica Bellucci swept on stage in a custom navy and black pleated tulle gown by Christian Dior Haute Couture to deliver a poetic speech geared around Cannes being a festival without borders, and saluting this years female-strong lineup. Here, each voice deserves to be listened to, from every country, for cinema does not belong to any territory. Film is nourished by a mix of influences that are both complementary and contradictory in nature. The identity of cinema has neither sex, nor flag, nor border, said Bellucci, adding: I cannot hide my joy at the fact that this years jury president is a man who loves women. Joining her on stage, Almodovar told the audience that when he sees a film, he feels like the film belongs to me, and is a part of me, and I use it in my own films. Now that this edition of the Cannes Film Festival is about to begin, all I can say is that I hope that the 19 films in competition will not only leave a mark in my life, but will also fill me and inspire me somehow in the movies that I go on to make, he added. Dressed in a Grecian-style, gold-embroidered jersey dress by Chanel, a nervous-looking Lily-Rose Depp joined Iranian director and two-time Academy Award winner Asghar Farhadi on stage to officially declare the festival open. ALSO Tight security, an airbrushing scandal and high movie anticipation at the 70th Cannes Film Festival Has Cannes Palme dOr lost some of its sheen? A search for relevance Cannes diary: An opening night of red carpet poses and two very different directors views on marriage Synonymous as his name is with the red-soled sky-high shoes he designs, Christian Louboutin needed no sense of grandeur in describing his own famed life. In a lengthy question-and-answer session at 92Y with Fern Mallis, he illustrated how an imaginative, mature and impatient boy in Paris wound up being one of the worlds most recognized shoe designers. Put off by the perennial what-would-you-like-to-be-when-you-grow-up question, he simply lied, telling adults, I want to design shoes, never thinking it was a real job. Although a drawing of a high-heeled shoe in a Paris museum was an image that stayed with him for a long time, it wasnt until years later that the gift of a retrospective book about Roger Vivier (whom hed never heard of) crystallized his career plans. From that day on, I really decided it could be and it should be my job, Louboutin said. I was all about shoes; I was not about fashion. I had cinema and music but not fashion. When I first started I wanted to design shoes for showgirls. Advertisement After showing his shoe sketches to Folies Bergere, (which he started sneaking into with friends at the age of 12), he was hired as an intern. But it was a very good way to learn about shoes because for showgirls, they are very important. They have very little costumes in general, so shoes are a strength, a weapon, a posture, he said. My first job was to deliver the love letters written by the technicians to the showgirls. My second job was sewing sequins, gluing sequins, brushing the hair, doing the makeup and also some shopping. Curious why all the dancers ate veal carpaccio, he asked and was told, Youre so stupid. Were not eating it. Were putting it in the shoes, rolling it up for cushioning, Louboutin explained. At 18, he got serious about shoe design, using the Yellow Pages to find couture houses, phoned Christian Dior (after no one answered at Balmain) and asked to speak to the director of couture. Imagine trying to do that now? An interview there led to a Charles Jourdan internship, followed by design gigs at Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel and Maud Frizon. He later became an assistant for Roger Vivier but not for design. While pestering a favorite antique dealer about a lamp he had repeatedly tried to find, the owner asked about his career, suggested he go out on his own and rent the vacant gallery at the end of the street. He could have said anything to get rid of me anyways, Louboutin said with a laugh. I thought, Well, that is an idea. In October 1991, he and two friends opened a Paris store with $150,000, including the price of the lease. There are now 135 boutiques and 400 points of sale in 60 countries. While 4-inch heels were routine in the early days, now seven-inch platforms are the highest, but the designer thinks flat can be sexy, as proven by Brigitte Bardot. His prized Love flats were created after seeing a photo of Prince Charles with Princess Diana staring glumly at her size 42 shoes. Louboutins career soared in 1992 after Princess Caroline dropped by his first Paris store en route to antiques dealer Pierre Passebons gallery. American buyers soon followed. I had no collection. I had not yet understood that you had to do one six months ahead and you needed credit, Louboutin said. As for how the red sole came to be, Louboutin said he was dissatisfied with the look of a shoe, snagged some red nail polish from a coworker and painted one sole red. It transformed the shoe and it really became my drawing. I thought, This is it. You just have to outline it with color, he said, adding that even though his shoppers were partial to all-black ensembles, their red lipstick and fingernails convinced him they would go for red soles. As a non-TV watcher and France resident, Louboutin was oblivious to HBOs Sex and the City. During a trip to Paris, after Jeffrey Kalinsky urged him to design shoes for the show for the great publicity, he said he told Kalinsky, Yes, I know. They called me but they dont want to pay.Nothing is great publicity when it doesnt pay. Thats my job. I design shoes and people buy them. After Sarah Jessica Parker (whom he described as a bit of a shoe freak, which is kind of nice) introduced herself to Louboutin, he said he watched the show. Asked if hed seen the new shoe collection that Parker is doing, he said, No, but I dont watch TV. Louboutin was less interested in discussing customers like Asma al-Assad, whose husband Bashar is the President of Syria. You have a lot of people who are clients. You dont know them necessarily. Im not going to speak of people I dont know, he said. Im not going to speak of Melania Trump. Im not going to speak of our First Lady [of France Brigitte Macron] or about people who have something to do with politics. That is a thing I will never do. Now selling 200,000-plus pairs of mens shoes each year, Louboutin also has a substantial beauty business which includes red nail polish. You have to give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. The red sole, which is my trademark and a sign of my ambition, started with the nail polish. Its nice to remember in your flesh exactly where you started, he said. ALSO Pop-up-shop fever and more hits the Los Angeles retail scene Amber Heards Mera costume from Aquaman looks like she swam right out of the comic book What tale do Margaret Atwoods moccasins tell? Toronto shoe museum displays them and connects the dots Its been 30 years since Oliver Peoples burst onto the California eyewear scene, and the Los Angeles-based luxury brand, now owned by Luxottica, celebrated the milestone with a party at Chateau Marmonts Bungalow One last weekend that drew Jessica Alba, Rebecca Gayheart and Brandon Thomas Lee, plus the faces of its latest campaign lensed by Peter Lindbergh, Levi Dylan and Monika Jagaciak. When conceptualizing the campaign and story surrounding this milestone year for Oliver Peoples, my mind went back to the beginning. When Oliver Peoples was founded in 1987, the brand challenged the ostentatious eyewear trends of the era with its decidedly classic aesthetic. This was around the same time Peter Lindbergh was rising on the scene and changing fashions view of beauty through his raw and minimalist photography. Ive been a fan of Peters work since those early years and jumped at the chance to work with him for Oliver Peoples 30th anniversary campaign, said OP creative director Giampiero Tagliaferri. Advertisement Guests got a preview of the black-and-white campaign images, which are set to break this week. Peter has the magic touch that you experience through the whole process, from his image selection to watching him work on set, he is truly one of the greats, added Tagliaferri. His photos are art, and I wanted Oliver Peoples to be relevant in that world. This project is more than just a campaign, it is a 360-degree reflection of the Oliver Peoples brand and lifestyle. From the talent we chose, to the location, this campaign is as monumental as our 30th year. Other celebrity guests included Angela Lindvall, Claire Holt, Dylan Brosnan, Black Atlass, Ethan Peck, Garance Dore, George Kotsiopoulos, Jack Kilmer, Kilo Kish, Lisa Eisner, Mia Moretti, Natalie Joos, Oliver Stark, Scott Sternberg, Will Peltz and Zoe Levin, who enjoyed music sets by Balthazar Getty and Charlie Eisner (son of Lisa and Eric Eisner). Under Luxottica, the brand has expanded its retail presence to more than 30 stores, the latest of which are in Bostons Prudential Center (opened in March), Madrid opening in July and Miamis Design District, opening in late fall. ALSO Dior gets dusty and delicate, wild and woolly in the canyons of Calabasas Diors Maria Grazia Chiuri on L.A. inspiration, the importance of getting back to nature and why we should all be feminists Goodbye side boob, hello butt cheek: Reflections on the new female erogenous zone What Goes Around Comes Around, the luxury and vintage retailer that has six outposts in the U.S., has gotten in on the Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales action. The movie opens May 26. The retailer is offering a limited-edition vintage T-shirt with the Pirates of the Caribbean skull and crossbones graphic, retailing for $150. The T-shirts were designed using a set of 100 authentic blank Ts from the Sixties. They were unveiled Wednesday night at the Beverly Hills location of What Goes Around Comes Around. The T-shirts are being sold online and at the Beverly Hills location. Advertisement The collaboration also includes customized vintage leather jackets (hand-embellished Sixties leather moto jackets) that influencers and celebrity stylists designed in honor of Pirates of the Caribbean.Among those who designed the jackets were Patrick Ta, celebrity makeup artist; Rocky Barnes, digital influencer and model; stylist Karla Welch, and celebrity stylist, Samantha McMillen, along with Johnny Depp, who signed the jacket. They are being auctioned off for charity via Charitybuzz, with all proceeds going to Heal the Bay. The bidding starts at $500. Gerard Maione, chief creative officer of What Goes Around Comes Around, said they were honored to collaborate with Disney on the Pirates of the Caribbean Ts, jackets and Beverly Hills event. We felt it was a nod of respect to our brand and beauty of our space. As WGACA looks to expand on partnerships with companies outside the typical fashion realm, we felt Disney and the aesthetic of Pirates of the Caribbean was a natural and perfect fit for us. There is something special about having a piece of art and history to wear or collect from a memorable event, he said. Founded in SoHo in 1993, What Goes Around Comes Around has the worlds largest selection of vintage Chanel and selections from top luxury labels such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Hermes. The retailer has also been a leader in collectible concert T-shirts. In addition to Beverly Hills, the retailers units are in SoHo; Roslyn, N.Y.; Miami, and East Hampton, N.Y. There is also a shops-in-shop inside Bloomingdales in SoHo. As reported, HSN is also offering Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales merchandise. The line of Pirates of the Caribbean accessories, fashion and beauty products was created by brands such as Heidi Daus, King Baby, Jewels by Jen and Lorac Cosmetics. The emphasis is on jewelry. ALSO Goodbye side boob, hello butt cheek: Reflections on the new female erogenous zone Diors Maria Grazia Chiuri on L.A. inspiration, the importance of getting back to nature and why we should all be feminists Its a musical salute to Stephen Schwartz during the ASCAP Screen Music Awards President Trumps nominee for the No. 2 position in the U.S. Department of the Interior found himself caught in a partisan, California-focused crossfire at his Senate confirmation committee hearing Thursday. Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, praised David Bernhardt as an excellent choice for the deputy secretary position, while the committees top Democrat, Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington, grilled the lawyer and lobbyist on the potential for conflicts of interest in light of his firms extensive client list. In particular, Cantwell pressed Bernhardt about his involvement with the Central Valleys Westlands Water District, the nations largest irrigation district, and Cadiz Inc., which has for years been embroiled in a controversial effort to pump water from a Mojave Desert aquifer. Advertisement Both are aggressive players in California water politics and clients of the high-profile lobbying-law firm of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, where Bernhardt is a partner. The firm has represented Westlands in four lawsuits against Interior Department agencies. Bernhardt personally lobbied Congress and Interior on behalf of Westlands from 2011 through late last year, during which time the district paid his firm nearly $1.4 million. If I get a whiff of something coming my way that involves a client or a former client ... Im going to make that item run straight to the ethics office. David Bernhardt, nominee for No. 2 Interior Department position Cadiz has paid Brownstein Hyatt $2.75 million in lobbying fees and granted the firm 200,000 shares of company stock with a promise of more if its project to sell desert groundwater to urban Southern California reaches fruition. Cantwell zeroed in on those relationships, saying, Westlands and Cadiz represent such large public policy issues with financial interests that it would be better if you recused yourself from [their matters] the entire time that you were at the department. Under President Obama, lobbyists were barred from going to work for agencies they had recently lobbied. Trump dropped that rule but said former lobbyists could not participate in client-related matters for two years after their appointment to a federal position. In a letter to the Interior Departments ethics officer, Bernhardt wrote that if confirmed, he would 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. I will follow all of the recusals I have, Bernhardt testified Thursday. On top of that, he added, if I get a whiff of something coming my way that involves a client or a former client for my firm, Im going to make that item run straight to the ethics office. And when it gets there, theyll make whatever decision theyre going to make. And that will be it for me. Environmentalists argue that given Brownstein Hyatts extensive list of clients with oil, mining and water interests regulated by Interior agencies, it is likely Bernhardt will receive administration waivers to participate in those matters. In late March, an acting assistant director at 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 presented a huge obstacle to Cadizs potentially lucrative groundwater project. According to federal records, Brownstein Hyatt lobbied Congress and Interior on the matter. But Bernhardt testified that he didnt discuss the Cadiz project after Trump was elected. I had no involvement on the Cadiz matter with the [Trump] transition, none with the [Interior] Department, none with the Hill during that period of time. Committee Republicans praised Bernhardts Interior experience during President George W. Bushs administration, when Bernhardt rose to the position of solicitor, the departments top lawyer. Democrats pointed out that some of those years were plagued by scandal. In 2007, Steven Griles, who had served as deputy secretary, was sentenced to 10 months in prison for obstructing a Senate investigation into lobbyist Jack Abramoffs dealings. The same year, Julie MacDonald, a deputy assistant secretary, resigned after she was found to have revised scientific reports to minimize protections for endangered species. Committee members peppered Bernhardt with questions about scientific integrity.. I will look at the science with all its significance and its warts, Bernhardt said. You look at that, you evaluate it and then you look at the legal decision you can make. In some instances the legal decision may allow you to consider other factors, such as jobs. He also promised Murkowski, who fought the Obama administration on oil drilling restrictions, that he would work with her state to refill the Alaska oil pipeline. The committee is expected to vote on Bernhardts nomination after the Memorial Day recess. It would then go to the full Senate. bettina.boxall@latimes.com Twitter: @boxall Los Angeles teachers union, for decades a dominant political force in school district politics, suffered a crushing defeat this week that speaks to a larger power shift away from labor and toward the growth of the well-heeled charter school movement. Two candidates opposed by United Teachers Los Angeles Nick Melvoin and Kelly Gonez won seats on the Los Angeles Board of Education, creating the boards first-ever, pro-charter school majority. For the record: An earlier version of this article said that incumbent Steve Zimmer finished first among those who cast ballots on Election Day but lost the mail-in tally. He trailed in both counts, but was closer among voters on Election Day. Particularly stinging to the union was the loss of school board President Steve Zimmer to Melvoin, who supports weakening teacher job protections. Advertisement In a third race, the union did not even attempt to unseat incumbent Monica Garcia, who also is counted as part of a charter-friendly bloc. The election losses amount to more than just the back and forth of politics, with one party on top now and another later, where ground lost today can be made up tomorrow, according to observers from various perspectives. It is unclear whether the union can recover the territory. One widely expected outcome is that charter schools will continue to grow in number and influence. That could benefit students and families looking for alternatives to their local public schools. But because most charter schools are not unionized, their growth threatens the teachers union and possibly other local public-employee unions. Kelly Gonez was also elected to the school board, helping form its first-ever pro-charter majority. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) Unions, after all, just lost big in pro-union Los Angeles. The steady increase in the number of charter schools and charter students about 16% of district enrollment has translated into a growing voting bloc that sees the teachers union as an enemy. In L.A., as in other cities with many charter schools, it has become increasingly difficult for politicians to ignore or oppose their pro-charter constituency, said Mike Petrilli, president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, an education think tank in Washington, D.C. In D.C., where youve got half the kids in charters, they are untouchable, Petrilli said. You cannot run for mayor of D.C. and be anti-charter. Theres a reason the unions fight so hard to keep the charter school movement small. They know things are going to get tougher for them the larger it gets. In L.A., he added, the politics from here on out are going to be different and difficult for the unions. Joshua Pechthalt, president of the California Federation of Teachers, a statewide union, called L.A.s election day upset a monumental shift. This was clearly the California Charter School Assn. flexing its muscles, he said of the millions of dollars spent by pro-charter advocates to get Melvoin and Gonez elected. They want compliant school board members and legislators who are not going to push back in any way on charter school expansion. Charter backers, however, see irony when teachers unions talk about the clout of charters, especially in California, where unions remain among the most powerful lobbies shaping legislation and state policy. Teachers unions also spent millions in the L.A. board races. Charters are privately managed public schools that typically operate as nonprofits. Parent Sylvia Wilson said she looked at local traditional schools but preferred a charter operated by Citizens of the World Mar Vista, partly because the parents there are so active. School board President Steve Zimmer finishes voting Tuesday at the Hollywood Recreation Center. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times) That involvement included organizing against Zimmer. While Zimmer voted to approve the vast majority of charters to come before him, he also supports limiting charter growth to preserve resources for district-run campuses. Although the campaign led by charter backers was marked by spurious and exaggerated claims against Zimmer, the claims resonated with those who felt that the school district has performed poorly or let them down. And charter partisans recruited supporters directly from schools where parents felt slighted by particular Zimmer decisions. Many of those who supported the charter-backed candidates said that they believe the union squandered its lengthy period of power by putting the best interests of members ahead of students. I understand why there is a union I get it but there are lots of teachers who should not be teaching anymore, said Gwen Vuchsas, a resident of Playa del Rey. I dont personally care for a lot of unions because I think they go to an extreme. Vuchsas sent her children to parochial schools and her grandchild attends a Catholic school, but she works with schools of all kinds in her role as chairwoman of the education committee for LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce. She campaigned for Melvoin. It reminded me of when Trump got elected, Vuchsas said of the school board races. I felt a lot of people were not Trump supporters but were tired of the same old, same old. They voted for the other guy because they wanted change. They were tired of way the district handles things. They were tired of Mr. Zimmers leadership. Of course, the anti-Zimmer money, from a small group of wealthy individuals and foundations, also was instrumental. Charter forces can and will outspend unions, said Randi Weingarten, president of the national American Federation of Teachers, who said they were part of a system rigged toward people who have money. Inside UTLA, there also is criticism of how the union conducted the campaigns. Some insiders, for example, felt the union should have taken on Garcia. One of her opponents was a teacher, well regarded in her community, but she raised little money and her campaign never gained momentum. If the union had fought Garcia, they reason, charter backers might have diverted some resources to that race, perhaps allowing Zimmer to win in the primary, avoiding a runoff. UTLA also spent much less money than the charter side in the early weeks of the campaign, and 60% of voters mailed in ballots, making their decisions early. Zimmer did somewhat better among voters who cast ballots at polling places, but still trailed Melvoin. The election was essentially lost four weeks ago, said former UTLA Vice President Gregg Solkovits. UTLA has always been outspent in elections, but we always won by getting ourselves organized in the schools, having a plan with an election timeline that made sense. UTLA stretched financially for this election, borrowing from its strike fund even though it is still paying back a past campaign debt to this same fund. The money equation is just one numbers worry for the union. We expect to see promotion of unchecked charter-school growth, which will threaten the very existence of the school district. Caputo-Pearl UTLA had 45,000 members in 2008, when there were more school-age children in L.A. and fewer charters. It now has 32,000 teachers, counselors and nurses. To win back some of those members, the union is attempting to organize the largest local charter group, but it hasnt happened yet. Three years ago, Caputo-Pearl defeated incumbent Warren Fletcher on the promise of a more active, effective union. He counted the departure of Supt. John Deasy as one victory, and the cancellation of Deasys plan to evaluate teachers based on student test scores as another. Union leadership was pleased last year with the selection of district insider Michelle King as superintendent. Shes worked well with the union in the past. Caputo-Pearl also persuaded members to raise their dues to $1,000 a year, a move that members had previously rejected. In the community, the union under his leadership launched a campaign to work with families on increasing services at schools. In February, members reelected Caputo-Pearl. But now events have turned south, and no one is clearer about that than Caputo-Pearl. We expect to see promotion of unchecked charter-school growth, which will threaten the very existence of the school district, he said. And we expect to see a direct attack on employees on their health benefits and other things. The union, he said, is prepared to take on that battlefront by working with Supt. King and the school board when possible, but organizing demonstrations and resistance when needed. We have just begun to fight, Caputo-Pearl said. howard.blume@latimes.com Twitter: @howardblume anna.phillips@latimes.com Twitter: @annamphillips ALSO Californias State Board of Education votes to close 2 Celerity charter schools L.A. school board candidates tackle questions on tenure, charter growth, graduation rates A letter sent to some L.A. voters sought to shame them for their voting records and no one knows who sent it A man was arrested Friday after a disturbance on an American Airlines jet headed to Hawaii from Los Angeles International Airport. Video posted on social media shows authorities escorting a man in handcuffs off the plane. Details were not immediately clear. The Department of Homeland Security said a man caused a disruption and was detained. His name was not released. Advertisement There were no reports of injuries. The plane landed safely in Hawaii. A law enforcement source said the man is a Turkish national who had been drinking and acting up. At one point, the source said, he moved toward the cockpit. The source, who was not authorized to speak publicly, said they believe it was a case of an unruly passenger. UPDATE: Unruly passenger identified >> richard.winton@latimes.com UPDATES: 4 p.m.: Updated with more details. A driver who passed out at a gas station early Friday morning was holding a methamphetamine pipe in his hand when a San Bernardino County Sheriffs deputy found him slumped over the steering wheel, according to authorities. But that wasnt the motorists only problem. The deputy also discovered an explosive device, marijuana, meth, replica guns and controlled veterinary medicine in the car. A deputy in the departments Barstow office had pulled up to the gas station next to Food 4 Less at 580 E. Virginia Way about 2:40 a.m. and noticed 42-year-old Geoffrey Williams slumped over his steering wheel, a department news release said. Advertisement When the deputy got closer, he saw a meth pipe in Williams hand and woke him up and detained him. A search of Williams vehicle turned up a half-pound of marijuana, 9 grams of methamphetamine, scales and packaging, veterinary medicine that is federally regulated, several realistic-looking airsoft handguns, an explosive device and cash, the release said. Based on evidence found in the car, the deputy arrested Williams. Records show he was being held on $50,000 bail and is due in court Tuesday. joseph.serna@latimes.com For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna on Twitter. The Los Angeles City Council voted Thursday to approve a $9.2-billion spending plan for the coming fiscal year, striking a last-minute deal that ensures funding for street safety initiatives as well as the repair of badly damaged roads. The budget contains about $24 million for Vision Zero, a program designed to eliminate traffic deaths in L.A. by 2025, according to chief legislative analyst Sharon Tso. The council allotted more than $33 million to fix city streets that have received a D or F ranking, she said. The compromise, lawmakers said, will allow the city to begin addressing two competing needs. Advertisement Its been unfortunate that the debate has somewhat devolved into this binary choice that its either street reconstruction or its Vision Zero, said Councilman Paul Krekorian, who heads the Budget and Finance Committee. Its my contention that there is a significant overlap of mission between those two. In fact, some corridors slated for major repairs also will receive Vision Zero safety improvements, such as upgraded intersections. The plan for street spending was by far the most contentious topic in this years deliberations over Mayor Eric Garcettis budget proposal, which covers the 2017-2018 fiscal year. As part of Thursdays budget vote, the council also agreed to: Hire an additional 75 firefighters. Place $10 million into a fund that could be tapped later in the year to pay for police overtime. Spend $176 million on homelessness programs billed as the largest amount in city history, thanks to dedicated revenue from Measure HHH, the property tax increase passed by voters in November. Los Angeles is expected to face a structural deficit a gap between spending and revenue in each of the next few years. And, officials warned, balancing the budget could become even more difficult. Two city employee pension boards will meet this summer to consider reducing their investment earnings assumptions. If they scale back by a quarter percent, the general fund budget which pays for basic services will be saddled with an additional $100 million in yearly retirement costs. Much of the spending increase in the upcoming budget will be covered by funds generated through Measure M, the transportation tax voters approved last fall. That money, and the arrival of new state gas tax revenue, set off a debate among council members over how transportation funds should be divvied up. Garcetti released a budget last month calling for a major expansion in spending on Vision Zero. But the councils Budget and Finance Committee last week recommended that funding for the program be moved into the citys unappropriated balance a pot of money where specific spending decisions are made at a later date. Council members Mike Bonin and Nury Martinez protested that move, as did advocates for safer pedestrian crossings, bicycle lanes and other street safety improvements. They argued that Garcetti and council members were going back on a promise to seriously address the citys traffic fatalities, which increased 43% last year. We said we wanted to put real resources into ensuring that people did not die on their way to school, said Martinez, who represents part of the San Fernando Valley. This budget as presented to us ... didnt have that commitment, and I was very alarmed by it. The council reversed course this week, allocating funds to specific Vision Zero programs such as bus stop security lighting and traffic signals. Bonin welcomed the move, saying the council had allocated $27.2 million for various street safety initiatives. Matt Szabo, Garcettis deputy chief of staff, said the budget approved by the council delivers on the promises made to voters when they raised taxes to fix the roads and solve the homeless crisis. This was never about picking winners and losers, he said. The mayor proposed a budget that fixes our streets and makes them safer, and thats what the council ultimately adopted. david.zahniser@latimes.com Twitter: @DavidZahniser Three people were taken to a hospital on Thursday when a fire broke out at an amphitheater in Mountain View, where Google was holding a conference. The fire was reported just before 4 p.m. at the Shoreline Amphitheatre, a 22,500-capacity venue in the Silicon Valley city, Mountain View Fire Department spokesman Lynn Brown said. The blaze erupted in the kitchen area. Six people were injured in all, but three of them declined medical treatment, Brown said. Advertisement Three others were taken to a hospital, one with life-threatening injuries, while the other two had less serious injuries, Brown said. However, a Google spokesman later said that the three people at the hospital were event staff who had minor burn injuries. The fire occurred during Googles I/O conference, an annual gathering of developers that has taken place since 2008. None of the attendees were injured. Were thankful to the fire department for putting it out and ensuring everyones safety, Google said in a statement. The cause of the fire is under investigation, Brown said. matt.hamilton@latimes.com Twitter: @MattHjourno ALSO A California mom drizzled gas station cheese on her Doritos. Now, shes fighting for her life State auditor urges UC regents to boost oversight of budget but says audit found nothing nefarious Man convicted in 1988 killing of Inglewood cop to be set free over objections of family and law enforcement UPDATES: 11:25 p.m.: This article was updated with a statement from Google. This article was originally published at 7:25 p.m. Two men are in custody and one man is dead in what Los Angeles police said was a targeted killing in Hollywood on Thursday night. They basically kicked in the door, shot the guy and left, said Officer Aareon Jefferson. About 11 p.m. two men burst into Brian Delatorres apartment in the 1500 block of Wilcox Avenue and one of the two men opened fire, striking Delatorre, Jefferson said. Advertisement Delatorre, 21, jumped out of his first-story apartment window into an alley, where officers found him. He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. The two gunmen, meanwhile, ran off, Jefferson said. Later that night officers found two men who matched the descriptions of Delatorres killers about two blocks away, at Selma and Ivar avenues, and took them into custody, Jefferson said. The men have not been arrested and are being interviewed by detectives. A motive for the killing has not been determined, but officers speculated it could be gang-related, Jefferson said. joseph.serna@latimes.com For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna on Twitter. MORE LOCAL NEWS 3 suffer burn injuries from fire at Google conference venue in Mountain View Border Patrol detains a 22-year-old Cal State student activist, and her lawyer sees payback Man tries to set diners on fire at Dennys in Bay Area A 22-year-old immigration activist and college student has been detained by Border Patrol agents, sparking claims that she was targeted in retaliation for protesting the arrest of her mother, who was swept up by federal agents during a massive cocaine bust last month. Claudia Rueda was moving her familys car outside their Boyle Heights home when she was detained and taken to a federal facility near San Diego on Thursday morning, her attorney, Monika Langarica, said. She was moving the car because of street sweeping, Langarica said. Before she got out of the car, three vehicles pulled up. Advertisement Activists and friends of Ruedas say Rueda was targeted because of protests she has led in recent weeks over the detention of her mother, Teresa Vidal-Jaime, 54, who was detained by federal agents during a drug raid that targeted other members of Ruedas family. But authorities determined that Vidal-Jaime was not involved in the alleged drug trafficking and she was released on bail earlier this month. In a statement issued Friday afternoon, Border Patrol officials said Rueda was one of seven people arrested as part of an investigation into a cross-border narcotics smuggling operation. All seven, however, were arrested on suspicion of immigration violations, not drug offenses, according to the Border Patrol statement. Rueda violated the terms of her visa, the statement said. The others arrested were not named and identified only as five Mexican nationals and one Guatemalan national. The statement also described Vidal-Jaime as connected to the drug trafficking organization, though a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, which was involved in the April arrests, previously told The Times that the woman was not a subject of the narcotics investigation. These targeted arrests should send a stern message to anyone linked to transnational smuggling, Roy D. Villareal, deputy chief patrol agent of Border Patrols San Diego sector, said in the statement. Our agents will be relentless in their effort to put these organizations out of business. Mark Endicott, a supervisory agent with the Border Patrol in San Diego, said he could not disclose the degree of the connection between each targeted subject and the narcotics organization. Asked why agents conducting a drug investigation arrested people suspected of immigration violations rather than narcotics offenses, Endicott said the intent of the enforcement effort was to disrupt the entire organization. Ruedas arrest was part of the larger criminal investigation, according to Endicott, who said each person targeted Thursday, including Rueda, had been identified as part of a support network for the drug organization. He declined to elaborate. Langarica, however, said there is no link between Rueda and the alleged drug ring. There is a lot that suggests retaliatory behavior on Border Patrols part, Langarica said. Los Angeles police and sheriffs officials said they were notified of Border Patrols actions this week but were not involved. Late Friday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Virginia Kice released a statement saying that Rueda had been transferred to ICE custody. Department of Homeland Security databases indicate Ms. Rueda currently has no legal authorization to be in the United States, Kice said. Accordingly, she has been placed in removal proceedings. It will now be up to an immigration judge ... to determine whether Ms. Rueda has a legal basis to remain in the U.S. or will be ordered removed. Ruedas mother was picked up by federal authorities in April during a raid at a Boyle Heights apartment complex where more than 30 pounds of cocaine and $600,000 in cash were found, officials said. Vidal-Jaimes husband, Hugo Rueda, and three other men were arrested on suspicion of drug possession. Hugo Rueda and the other men were charged with possession of narcotics with the intent to sell. Last month, Border Patrol officials said Rueda and one of the other men were suspected of entering the U.S. illegally and could face deportation. Though investigators said Vidal-Jaime was not involved with the alleged drug trafficking, she was held for several weeks in federal custody. On May 12, over the objections of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, she was released after posting $2,000 bail. Immigration activist Claudia Bautista, a friend of Claudia Ruedas, said Rueda was detained Thursday on Hicks Avenue near her aunts home. Border Patrol agents then tried to gain access to the home of Ruedas aunt but were denied entry, Bautista said. They then moved to a guest house on the property, according to Bautista. This is exactly what everyone feared, she said. It is very concerning theyd just come into a Los Angeles neighborhood and take her and other people. Bautista said she believes Rueda was taken into custody as retribution for her activism on behalf of her mother. They wanted payback, she said. Claudia Rueda was previously arrested by the LAPD in January 2015 on suspicion of trespassing outside the downtown office of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Endicott declined to say whether Rueda had any other prior arrests. Her detention this week drew a swift and angry reaction from local activists. Groups circulated a photograph of Rueda with one fist raised, accompanied by a demand for her release. A protest was staged outside the Border Patrols offices in Chula Vista on Thursday night, and video footage showed dozens of protesters chanting, Free Claudia now, and holding handmade signs. Rueda is focusing on Latin American studies at Cal State L.A. and has lived in the U.S. most of her life, friends said. Langarica said Rueda is eligible for protection under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, but had not been able to cobble together the money for her application. Her moms meager wages have been funding her education, Langarica said. If Rueda is released, she could secure DACA protections and remain here, the attorney said. Theres a solution on the horizon, Langarica said. Its absurd we are going through this. matt.hamilton@latimes.com Twitter: @MattHjourno richard.winton@latimes.com Twitter: @LAcrimes james.queally@latimes.com Twitter: @JamesQueallyLAT ALSO Arrests on civil immigration charges go up 38% in the first 100 days since Trumps executive order Controversial Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke says he will take Homeland Security job Previously deported hit-and-run suspect criminally charged with federal immigration violation UPDATES: 8:35 p.m.: This article was updated with a statement from ICE about Ruedas status. 5:50 p.m.: This article was updated with additional comments from a Border Patrol spokesman. 3:20 p.m.: This article was updated with additional information from Border Patrol. 1:45 p.m.: This article was updated with additional information from the sheriffs spokeswoman and a description of protests on Friday. May 19, 11:10 a.m.: This article was updated with additional information from the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department and comments from a friend of Claudia Ruedas. This article was originally published at 11:15 p.m., May 18. A 15-year-old boy was killed in Lancaster late Thursday when a car operated by a suspected drunken driver rolled over and struck the teen, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. The boys mother told KTLA that her sons name was Adrian Smith and said he was crossing the street when the driver lost control. It was just out of control. It flipped and it flipped, and it flipped on my baby, Terri Smith said. Advertisement The driver, who authorities declined to identify, had swerved around two cars that were stopped for pedestrians at Avenue L West and 32nd Street West about 10 p.m., Lt. Dan Nagelmann told KTLA. The car then struck an embankment and rolled over and hit the boy, authorities said. He was crossing the street with two relatives, authorities said. The teen was pronounced dead at the hospital, and the driver suffered significant injuries, sheriffs officials said. Police think the driver was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. Authorities did not say whether the driver was in custody Friday morning. joseph.serna@latimes.com For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna on Twitter. President Trump takes off Friday for Saudi Arabia, the initial stop on his first overseas trip as president, where he can expect a 21-gun salute and an elaborate welcome by the Saudi royal family that speaks to their hopes he will crack down on a joint enemy Iran. The Obama administration invested years on a high-stakes gamble to negotiate a deal to limit Irans nuclear program in return for easing international economic sanctions. But to the Sunni Muslim leaders in Riyadh, that suggested an unacceptable concession to their regional Shiite Muslim rivals in Tehran, and relations with Washington soured. Although the Trump administration waived those sanctions again this week, as required by Congress to keep the nuclear accord intact, it added a new raft of penalties aimed at Tehrans ballistic missile program, which is not covered under the deal. Advertisement Moreover, the presidents oft-stated opposition to the 2015 Iran deal and his sweeping aside Obama administration concerns about Saudi airstrikes on civilian targets in Yemen has the Saudis willing to overlook Trumps strident language about Muslims during the presidential campaign. This visit will be considered by history as a crucial turning point in opening relations between the Arab world and the West, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Jubeir told reporters Thursday at the palatial Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Riyadh. For his part, Trump hopes to leave the swirl of political scandals behind in Washington with the pomp of a two-day visit to a longtime ally that fulfills his vision of reasserting American power around the globe after what he considers a retreat by the Obama administration. While recent presidents have made their debut foreign trip to Canada or Mexico, Trump wants to return the U.S. strategic focus to the Middle East, and to restore the previous American tilt toward Sunni power in the region after President Obamas so-called pivot to Asia and his outreach to Iran. During his time in Riyadh, Trump is expected to emphasize a shared commitment to fighting Islamic State, Al Qaeda and other terrorist networks including those backed by Iran and to back it up with a major new package of weapons sales for the Saudis. The U.S. is considering selling thousands of precision guided bombs, howitzer artillery pieces, and the sophisticated antimissile system known as Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, according to U.S. officials. The cost could reach a staggering $100 billion. This is a huge deal for the Saudis because I think they largely felt that what the previous administration had done is unleashed Iran on the region, said James Carafano, a Heritage Foundation analyst who advised Trumps campaign and transition team. The Saudis really look at this as a major political, diplomatic shift that puts them back on the top, and they want to do everything they can to make that U.S.-Saudi relationship seem as strong and as resilient as possible, he added. The Pentagon has already resumed sharing certain intelligence, including satellite imagery, with the Saudi military fighting Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemens civil war, Saudi officials said. The Obama administration had cut back cooperation with the Saudi-led military coalition after human rights groups said Saudi warplanes had bombed medical facilities and had used cluster munitions, which are banned by most countries, against civilian targets in Yemen. The shift came in part as new domestic energy sources and technologies allowed the United States to ease its decades-old reliance on Saudi oil and gas. That reduced Saudi influence in Washington just as Obama was seeking to wind down Americas military involvement in the regions wars. But several of Trumps top advisors want to tilt U.S. policy in the Arab world back toward Sunni power, led by the Saudis, as a counterweight to Shiite Iran. Defense Secretary James N. Mattis acknowledged what he called the past frustrations during a visit to Riyadh last month. He stood beside Deputy Crown Prince and Minister of Defense Mohammed bin Salman, who had visited Washington in March to meet Trump. I think that what is important today is that we identify practical steps as we take this relationship forward, Mattis added. Trump, who heads to Israel after he leaves Riyadh on Monday, could claim a significant diplomatic victory if he can nudge the two countries to make mutual gestures toward ultimately normalizing relations. Michael Oren, a former Israeli ambassador to Washington who how is a deputy minister for diplomacy, said mutual antipathy toward Iran could be the key. Today, Israel and the Sunni Arab states have a greater confluence of interests than at any time since Israels creation, he said. Saudi officials laid the groundwork for what they call a reset in relations with Washington soon after Trumps election, ultimately forging a close relationship with Jared Kushner, the presidents son-in-law and a senior White House advisor. Meeting reporters on Thursday, Jubeir said Trumps trip to the birthplace of Islam shows his commitment to mending ties with Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf nations, which will gather for a summit with Trump on Sunday. Jubeir said Arab leaders want to work with Trump on fighting extremism, blocking financing for terrorist groups, and countering Iranian-backed proxies or allies in conflicts in Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. We see them supply weapons to the Houthis including ballistic missiles that are fired at our cities, Jubeir said. We see them doubling down in Syria. We see their heavy involvement in Iraq. We see them supporting terrorism. We see them now having contact with the Taliban. We see them trying to undermine countries throughout the region. The Trump administration is very cognizant of the dangers Iran represent to the region, he said, and will work to contain Iran. Jubeir said the kingdom has arrested several thousand people as members of Islamic State, and said he hopes for greater U.S. cooperation on counter-terrorism issues. Trump will visit a new Global Center for Combating Extremest Ideology in Riyadh during his visit. Iran holds its presidential elections on Friday. Polls suggest President Hassan Rouhani, who supported the negotiations that led to the Iran deal, is facing a strong challenge from a hard-line cleric, Ebrahim Raisi, who has criticized the accord and is far more suspicious of the West In Washington, Sen. Christopher S. Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, said there is growing bipartisan concern in the Senate about the Trump administrations unconditional level of support for the Saudis and their military operations in Yemen. The Saudis are our friends, he said. But they are also funding a version of Islam that ends up becoming the building blocks for the extremist groups that were fighting. Khaled Maeena, the Jeddah-based former editor of the Arab News and Saudi Gazette, said Arab leaders should hold Trump accountable for his harsh anti-Muslim rhetoric and his attempts to impose a travel ban on select Muslim-majority countries. Trumps election rhetoric really frightened a lot of people, even moderate Muslims like me, Maeena said. He noted that Saudi Arabia severely restricts freedom of expression and religion, and do not allow the construction of Christian churches. In the Middle East there are so many minorities like Christians and as a Muslim I am appalled at what is happening to them, he said. Trump talks about that, but only when he talks to evangelists at Liberty University, and even that he didnt do well. Times staff writer W.J. Hennigan contributed from Washington and correspondent Josh Mitnick contributed from Tel Aviv michael.memoli@latimes.com @mikememoli Saying it needed the right leadership, the nations most prominent African American advocacy group announced on Friday that it was ousting its president and embarking on a period of soul-searching to reposition itself in an uncertain era in the fight for civil rights. The move from the National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People comes as the group has been seen in some circles as taking a back seat to both longstanding and newer civil rights groups and movements that have risen to prominence in battles over police shootings, immigration and LGBT rights. These groups and movements include the American Civil Liberties Union, which recently gained wins against President Trump in federal courts, and Black Lives Matters activists, who won private meetings with President Obama as they grew a youth-centered grassroots movement against racism and police violence. Advertisement For the the venerable NAACP, its new mission involves modern branding techniques and greater outreach. We believe as an organization, we need to retool to become better advocates, better at educating the pubic, better at involving them, Derrick Johnson, vice chairman of the NAACP board of directors, said in a conference call announcing the change. Johnson said the group would embark on a national listening tour as part of its re-branding. That kind of tour, which is a common strategy among politicians as they seek to gain public support, has never been done in the NAACPs 108-year history, Johnson said. These changing times require us to be vigilant and agile, but we have never been more committed or ready for the challenges ahead, NAACP board chairman Leon W. Russell said in a statement. We know that our hundreds of thousands of members and supporters expect a strong and resilient NAACP moving forward, as our organization has been in the past, and it remains our mission to ensure the advancement of communities of color in this country, Johnson said current president and CEO, Cornell W. Brooks, will end his position after nearly three years. Brooks will serve out his term in the Baltimore-based organization until his contract expires on June 30. Russell and Johnson will run the organization during the search for a successor. They said there was no firm deadline to install new leadership. On the call with reporters, they declined to explain why they needed to remove Brooks. We are not looking to correct something that is wrong, we are looking to improve, Russell said. Brooks told American Urban Radio Networks on Friday that he was surprised by the decision and said he disagreed with it. The stated reason is that they are reimagining the NAACP. Beyond that, I cant point to any substantive reason, he said. What I can point to this: The NAACP over the course of the less than three years [he has been president] is more visible, more vocal, growing in members, donors, presence in the courts and in communities across the country. Brooks is known as a soft-spoken attorney with a history of working in civil rights organizations. Before the NAACP, he was president of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice and executive director of the Fair Housing Council of Greater Washington. His tenure at the NAACP included several court wins against state voting restrictions that group said discriminated against minorities. The group also filed a lawsuit against Michigan state officials over the water crisis in Flint. More recently, Brooks was arrested during a sit-in this year at Mobile, Ala., office of then-Sen. Jeff Sessions as he protested Sessions civil rights record ahead of his confirmation as attorney general. Among some NAACP members, the move was hailed as a new turn for an organization better known for less aggressive tactics. But it was also criticized by others. Some civil rights leaders on Friday praised Brooks civil rights record and the groups attempt to revamp itself. Cornell Brooks has been a strong partner in the racial justice movement and a great colleague. Ive been proud to stand with him to resist and combat injustice, said Kristen Clarke, president of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Nekima Levy-Pounds, the former president of the Minneapolis chapter of the NAACP, said she was surprised by Brooks ouster but was pleased to see the group pushing itself to adapt. I would like to see the NAACP be more nimble when it comes to civil rights challenges, said Levy-Pounds, an attorney and leader in the Black Lives Matter movement, who is now campaigning for mayor of Minneapolis. It was a challenge to be both an NAACP president and somebody who was engaged in the streets. Randolph M. McLaughlin, a law professor at Pace University who has studied civil rights movements, said he hoped the organization founded in 1909 when Jim Crow was still rampant throughout the South would thrive. It is critical that the NAACP has the most dynamic and creative activist leadership during the Trump era, said McLaughlin. The threats to civil rights and civil liberties demand no less from the oldest civil rights organization in the United States. jaweed.kaleem@latimes.com Jaweed Kaleem is The Times national race and justice correspondent. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. More national headlines UPDATES: 3:15 p.m.: This article was updated with additional background and comments from Nekima Levy-Pounds, Kristen Clarke and Randolph M. McLaughlin. This article was originally published at 10:05 a.m. Who is the most unfairly investigated U.S. politician of all time? According to President Trump, he is. In response to the news that a former FBI director, Robert S. Mueller III, has been appointed to investigate Russias role in the 2016 presidential election, Trump made the declaration Thursday on Twitter: This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history! Advertisement For another opinion, we decided to ask 10 historians and political scientists. They disagreed with the president, starting with his characterization of the investigation as a witch hunt. Several thought there are enough signs that Russia interfered with the election to justify a thorough look. Moreover, the academics said there are plenty of truly frivolous political investigations and ginned-up controversies. First, though, a word about an actual witch hunt: the 1692 Salem witch trials, which focused on allegations of witchcraft including the use of magic to torture villagers and ended with the executions of 20 men and women. An often-invoked modern parallel is the campaign by U.S. Sen. Joseph McCarthy and the House Un-American Activities Committee to expose communists in the 1940s and 1950s. Yet that effort for the most part did not target elected politicians. Political witch hunts in the U.S. date back to the early days of the republic, the experts said. Jacksonians attacked [President] John Quincy Adams for buying a billiard table, saying that he was using the peoples money to purchase a gambling device, Mark Cheathem, a professor of history at Cumberland University, wrote in an email. As one of Adams critics charged in 1826: When we find the fathers and matrons of our country engaged in persuading young men from practices which lead to destruction, we greatly fear that the too frequent answer will be, Why, the President plays billiards! Less than two decades later, Whigs attacked [President] Martin Van Buren for acting like a dandy, spending an exorbitant amount of money to refurbish the White House, and landscaping the White House grounds in the shape of an Amazons bosom, Cheathem said. Thats not a joke. Rep. Charles Ogle of Pennsylvania alleged in a pamphlet that Van Burens clever sized hills appeared designed to resemble and assume the form of AN AMAZON BOSOM, with a miniature knoll or hillock at its apex, to denote the nipple. Then there was President Andrew Johnson, who opposed Reconstruction programs aimed at supporting African Americans after the Civil War ended in 1865. Johnson was impeached and almost convicted by Congress for very good policy and moral reasons, but on nakedly political charges, Jeffrey Pasley, a history professor at the University of Missouri, wrote in an email. But in conversations with academics, one politician emerged above all others as the most unfairly targeted. As to unfair investigations, [historians] would point to the Republican attacks on Bill Clinton in the 1990s, said Robert A. Goldberg, a professor of history at the University of Utah. I think most investigations of presidents have not been witch hunts, though some would say Bill Clinton is the victim of that, Julian E. Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, wrote in an email. Meaning endless investigations into whatever people could find with the purpose of just getting him. [It] began with business dealings in Whitewater and after years and millions of dollars wound up with Monica Lewinsky, said Cornell W. Clayton, a professor of government and public policy at Washington State University. Lewinsky was the White House intern with whom Clinton had an affair. Whitewater was the name of a real estate company with questionable practices that had included Bill and Hillary Clinton as investors. While more than a dozen people were convicted in the real estate inquiry, the president was absolved. Congress impeached President Clinton on charges of obstruction and lying about having the affair, but then acquitted him. Many conservatives supported the investigation into the Clintons and still view the couple with deep suspicion. The broader public came to view independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr critically. One Gallup poll showed 53% of respondents said Starr was acting like a persecutor compared to 39% who said he was acting more like a prosecutor. As for Trump, one political scientist, Alison Dagnes of Shippensburg University, said he was part of a witch hunt one that Trump himself led. The biggest real witch hunt of this century was perpetuated by none other than Donald Trump himself the witch hunt of President Obama being born in Kenya, Dagnes said. Trump perpetuated the myth that Obamas birth certificate from Hawaii was fake, fueling a conspiracy that lives on despite Trumps acknowledgment last year that he was wrong. If theres ever been a witch hunt, theres that, Dagnes said. matt.pearce@latimes.com @mattdpearce ALSO Russia probe reportedly has current White House advisor under scrutiny Trump told Russian diplomats that firing nut job Comey from FBI relieved great pressure, report says Trump lashes out, calls Russia investigation a witch hunt It appeared to have all the ingredients for protests, hashtags and calls for justice on 24-hour cable news channels. An unarmed black man lying on the ground was repeatedly tasered by a police officer. Then he turned over and was put in what looked like a chokehold. He lost consciousness. After being rushed to the hospital, he was pronounced dead. There was video. There were witnesses. There has been plenty of local media coverage. Advertisement But unlike other cases, the death of Tashii Brown on the Las Vegas Strip early Sunday morning at the hands of Officer Kenneth Lopera has barely made a blip nationally or on the local streets. Tod Story, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union in Nevada, said he believed the calm could be directly linked to reforms adopted by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police starting five years ago. The city was the first in the country to voluntary undergo collaborative reform in 2012 under the Department of Justices community policing office. Federal officials have since pointed to it as proof that tools and practices like body cameras, deescalation tactics and training on subconscious racial bias are key to solving some of the problems that have pitted law officers and communities against one another across the country. Story praised Undersheriff Kevin McMahill for quickly releasing body camera footage, meeting with community leaders shortly after the incident and taking on difficult questions this week. Still, civil rights groups are awaiting a full investigation into the death of 40-year-old Brown who police said committed no crime that night but had a history of DUI convictions. We are on alert, Story said. The situation is awful and tragic and we believe never shouldve happened, and we will see how the process plays out. Just before 1 a.m., Brown approached Lopera and another officer at a coffee shop in the Venetian hotel casino. According to police, he appeared to be agitated and acting erratically. He told Lopera that people were chasing him. Then Brown also referred to as Tashii Farmer in police accounts took off into an employees-only area of the hotel, and Lopera chased him. Once outside, Brown attempted to open a tailgate on an occupied truck before moving to the drivers side. Lopera shot him with a taser seven times. On the video, Lopera yells for Brown to listen to his commands. Brown can be heard saying, I will, I will, while on the ground. Lopera, aided by hotel security staff, continues to try to subdue Brown. McMahill said Lopera struck Brown in the head with his fist several times before applying a rear naked choke a banned technique in the police force for about a minute. He was pronounced dead at 1:39 a.m. Tynisa Braun, a cousin of Brown who lives in Hawaii, said the family was distraught over his death. Having a 21-year-old son, she said, she is on heightened alert with police. When you look at the news, there it is an African-American getting shot, she said. Im always going to be afraid of what the police could do because of the color of our skin. She said she wasnt sure why there hadnt been widespread protests over her cousins death. She couldnt bring herself to watch the body camera video but blamed the death on a police officer who didnt appear to be trained in how to deal with someone who was mentally ill. The ACLU and the Las Vegas Chapter of the National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People have been pushing for years for the Police Department to eliminate an approved technique called the lateral vascular neck restraint, and were also troubled by the admission that Lopera used an incorrect version of it. An investigator said the number of times Brown was tasered is also at issue. You heard on the body camera hes saying, Yes Ill comply, and when he does try to roll over, he gets tasered, Sgt. Jerry MacDonald said. Not a good choice by the officer, and Ive got no problem saying that. Roxann McCoy, president of the Las Vegas NAACP, said that kind of frankness was unheard of before the 2012 reforms. It was the wild, wild West here, she said. It was open season on minorities. Things came to a head for the department after two high-profile shootings and an investigation by the Las Vegas Review-Journal that highlighted the incidents. The key event happened on June 11, 2010, when Officer Bryan Yant shot and killed 21-year-old Trevon Cole during a drug raid. The attorney who represented Coles family, Andre Lagomarsino, now represents the Brown family. He said he was reluctant to call the Brown case a test of the 2012 reforms and was waiting to see whether charges are filed against the officer. But William Sousa, a criminal justice professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said the reforms had created growing community trust in the force. The department did a lot since the DOJ reviewed them, he said. They now have an ongoing review of use-of-force policy. Police have become much more transparent; theres more emphasis on accountability to the community. Except in rare cases, Las Vegas publicly releases police footage of controversial or deadly altercations involving officers, distinguishing the city from others that cite ongoing investigations or family privacy as reasons to keep videos shielded. There have been other protests in Las Vegas over deaths of black men at the hands of police in high-profile incidents in Baton Rouge, La., and the St. Paul, Minn., area. But in interviews, locals who took part in those demonstrations said they had not yet planned any over Browns death. Police definitely mishandled this, said Samantha Robinson, a 25-year-old travel coordinator who moved to the city in 2015 and organized a rally of 50 demonstrators on the Strip last year in response to police shootings in other states. Now they better show us they will do us right. Montero reported from Las Vegas and Kaleem reported from Los Angeles. david.montero@latimes.com jaweed.kaleem@latimes.com ALSO Tulsa officer acquitted in mans shooting death is returning to the police force Ohio grand jury doesnt indict officer for fatally shooting boy, 13 New Orleans removes a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from its perch of 133 years Anthony Weiner, the former Democratic congressman who some believe unwittingly helped Donald Trump win the presidential election, pleaded guilty Friday in New York to charges of sending obscene material to a minor. The charges arose from a months-long sexually charged flirtation Weiner carried out with a 15-year-old high school sophomore in North Carolina. But he might go down as a footnote in history for the role he played in the 2016 presidential election. It was in the course of the sexual misconduct investigation that the FBI stumbled on a trove of emails on his laptop from his estranged wife, Huma Abedin, an aide to Hillary Clinton. That discovery in turn led then-FBI Director James Comey to announce 11 days before the election he was reopening a probe into Clintons private emails a statement that Clinton blamed in part for her loss to Trump. Advertisement Also on Friday, Abedin filed official papers in New York Supreme Court for a divorce, according to the New York Post. The couple have been separated since last year. The 52-year-old ex-congressman was once a rising star on the New York political scene, but his career was destroyed by repeated, embarrassing disclosures of sexually explicit texting over social media. I am guilty, your honor, Weiner said tearfully, struggling to maintain composure as he read out a prepared statement. I engaged in obscene communications with this teenager, including sharing explicit images and encouraging her to engage in sexually explicit conduct, just as I had done and continued to do with adult women. I knew this was as morally wrong as it was unlawful. In the deal struck with prosecutors, Weiner entered a plea in U.S. district court in Manhattan to one count of sending obscene material to a minor. Although the charge carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, under the deal, prosecutors will ask for 21 to 27 months. Weiner will also have to register as a sex offender. As part of the deal, Weiner has to give up his iPhone, one of the instruments of his downfall. Weiner became a fixture on the New York political scene in 1999 when he won the congressional seat held by his mentor, now-Sen. Charles Schumer. His wedding in 2010 to Abedin was officiated by ex-President Clinton. In an era when adultery doesnt have the same stigma for politicians as in the past, Weiners compulsion to exchange explicit sexual texts and photos with women he never met struck the public as more perverse than an actual affair. He was forced to resign from Congress in 2011 after he was caught sending photos of his (usually underwear-clad) privates to women he met on Twitter. Two years later, after entering the New York City mayoral race, asking voters to give him a second chance, it emerged that he was sexting another woman, using the alias Carlos Danger. He won less than 5% of the vote in the Democratic primary. Weiner became the butt of comedians jokes and fodder for tabloid headlines. But Weiners foibles soon became an issue of national importance in the midst of the heated 2016 presidential campaign, when the New York Post published a photo he had sent of himself lying in bed with the couples toddler sleeping next to him. Abedin left him and Trump pounced on the scandal as another chance to slam Clinton. Its just another example of Hillary Clintons bad judgment. Its possible that our country and security have been greatly compromised by this, Trump said at the time. He also called Weiner a sleazeball and pervert. What happened proved stranger than anything Trump might have envisioned. When the FBI opened an investigation into pornographic messages Weiner sent to the high school girl, it seized one of Weiners computers on which agents found email messages between Abedin and Clinton. That led to Comeys decision to reopen the investigation into Clintons handling of classified information and the now infamous letter he sent to Congress on Oct. 28 about that decision. Outside the courthouse, Weiner rushed past journalists. In his statement, he apologized, saying destructive impulses brought great devastation to family and friends, and destroyed my lifes dream of public service. He added: I have a sickness, but I do not have an excuse. Here is the full text of Weiners statement on the scandal, as provided by the U.S. attorneys office: Beginning with my service in Congress and continuing into the first half of last year, I have compulsively sought attention from women who contacted me on social media, and I engaged with many of them in both sexual and non-sexual conversation. These destructive impulses brought great devastation to family and friends, and destroyed my lifes dream of public service. In late January 2016, I was contacted by and began exchanging online messages with a stranger who said that she was a high school student and who I understood to be 15 years old. Through approximately March 2016, I engaged in obscene communications with this teenager, including sharing explicit images and encouraging her to engage in sexually explicit conduct, just as I had done and continued to do with adult women. I knew this was as morally wrong as it was unlawful. This fall, I came to grips for the first time with the depths of my sickness. I had hit bottom. I entered intensive treatment, found the courage to take a moral inventory of my defects, and began a program of recovery and mental health treatment that I continue to follow every day. I accept full responsibility for my conduct. I have a sickness, but I do not have an excuse. I apologize to everyone I have hurt. I apologize to the teenage girl, whom I mistreated so badly. I am committed to making amends to all those I have harmed. Thank you. ALSO Trump lashes out, calls Russia investigation a witch hunt One killed and 22 injured when a car plows into pedestrians in New Yorks Times Square Chelsea Manning leaves prison after serving 7 years for handing U.S. secrets to WikiLeaks UPDATES: 2:10 p.m.: This article was updated with a statement from Anthony Wiener. 9 a.m.: This article was updated with Anthony Wiener pleading guilty. This article was originally published at 8:39 a.m. Its not news that President Trump is capable of choosing unlikely appointees for important positions though, as he might put it, some, I assume, are good people. The latest personnel puzzle is the presence of former Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut on the shortlist of possible successors to fired FBI Director James B. Comey. When the Los Angeles Times editorialized the other day about replacing Comey, we suggested the next FBI director must be a professional law enforcement official with an impeccable reputation, familiarity with federal law enforcement, no taint of partisanship and no political, personal or business connection to Trump. Advertisement Lieberman doesnt do very well judged against that checklist. Hes not a professional law enforcement official he did serve as Connecticuts elected attorney general, but that was in the 1980s and, while he dealt with federal law enforcement agencies as a U.S. senator, he left the Senate in 2013. As for partisanship, Lieberman was originally elected to the Senate as a Democrat and was the Democratic nominee for vice president in 2000. He also sought that partys presidential nomination in 2004. But after losing the Democratic Senate primary in 2006, he ran and won reelection as an independent and he endorsed Republican John McCain for president in the 2008 election. So hes bipartisan, but in a polarizing way. I dont think theres going to be much excitement about that from our side of the aisle, Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) told Politico. Not because we dont respect Joe Lieberman. But we need a law enforcement professional, not someone whos run for office before. Lieberman isnt a Trump intimate and the two men also seem to have policy differences; for example, Lieberman supported the Iraq war and Trump claims to have opposed it. But the New York Times reports that Lieberman is friendly with Atty. Gen. (and former Alabama Sen.) Jeff Sessions, creating one degree of social separation from Trump. Also, Lieberman is 75. The FBI director has a statutory 10-year-term (though, as Comeys firing demonstrates, a president can cut it short). Is it ageist to suggest that Trump ought to look for a younger candidate? I dont think so. Finally, its impossible to separate the search for an FBI director from the circumstances surrounding the departure of the last one. According to Comeys associates, the former FBI director noted in a memo that Trump had asked him to shut down an investigation of former national security advisor Michael Flynn. On Thursday the New York Times reported that Comey believed that Trump and his aides had made other inappropriate contacts that he felt compelled to resist. Against this background, public confidence requires that the next FBI director not be a friend of Trumps or a friend of a friend or a career politician. Lieberman has had a long and interesting career in government. He doesnt need this job, and hes not a good fit for it. If Trump offers it to him, he should decline. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook Its a mark of these tumultuous political times that an act of outrageous viciousness this week by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans bodyguards on peaceful protesters in Washington, D.C., has barely caused a public ripple. The State Department communicated our concern to the Turkish government in the strongest possible terms and summoned the ambassador for a discussion, some members of Congress expressed outrage, but the White House has remained silent and three days later news coverage has faded. It shouldnt. Turkey needs to be pressed on this egregious behavior, in which Erdogan seems to be exporting the kind of ruthlessness he pursues at home. Advertisement The videos of the attack are disgusting. Two black-suited security men, one after the other, kick the face of a protester holding a bullhorn as he lay defenseless on the ground. They punch other protesters indiscriminately, chasing some around the park as police try vainly to separate them. Two women huddle on the ground, an overturned baby stroller nearby. In all, 11 people were injured, including a police officer and two Secret Service agents, as police monitoring the protest were overwhelmed by the speed, ferociousness and scope of the attack. Turkey needs to be pressed on this egregious behavior. Washington police said they arrested two people who live in the D.C. area presumably protesters or pro-Erdogan demonstrators but Erdogans traveling security team enjoys diplomatic immunity, which means none will be held accountable for clearly criminal acts. The Turkish news agency acknowledged that Erdogans security detail was involved, and the Turkish embassy blamed the protesters for provoking pro-Erdogan demonstrators. But the videos show an unprovoked attack led by what appears to be Erdogans security team and supported by the pro-Erdogan demonstrators. The attack occurred outside the Turkish ambassadors residence a little more than a mile from the White House, where Erdogan had hours before met with President Trump. The protesters were standing in Sheridan Circle Park across the street from the driveway to the residence when Erdogans motorcade pulled in. In one of the most damning videos (see below), a man bends into the open back door of Erdogans car parked in the driveway outside the residence. Then the man stands and seems to say something to another man who nods then jogs off as others begin moving across the street and the attacks begin. After a few minutes, the black-suited security detail can be seen returning to the car, where Erdogan emerges and then enters the residence. Its hard not to conclude that Erdogan personally gave the order for his men to attack the protesters. In a public park in Washington. Hours after meeting with President Trump. This isnt the first time Erdogans thugs have roughed up people during a visit to the U.S. In April 2016, a talk by Erdogan at the Brookings Institution in Washington was marked by clashes between protesters and with Erdogans bodyguards, who also roughed up reporters and tried to evict some from the event until Brookings threatened to cancel the talk. So heres an idea for the Trump administration. Deny Erdogan permission to enter the country again until it can exact an explicit promise that the Turkish thugs in black suits will do nothing more than protect their president. And that they will leave alone those who choose to exercise on American soil their 1st Amendment rights to speech and free assembly in telling Erdogan exactly what they think of him, and his increasingly dangerous and authoritarian regime. But given how quick Trump was to congratulate Erdogan on his consolidation of power during a recent referendum, such a move is unlikely. In fact, given Trumps exhortations last year to campaign supporters to rough up protesters, and Trumps urging then-FBI Director James B. Comey to jail journalists who publish leaked classified information, Trump probably viewed the goonish actions with a bit of jealousy. Scott.Martelle@LATimes.com Follow my posts and re-tweets at @smartelle on Twitter To the editor: To say that the refugees who have been resettled in Twin Falls, Idaho, are misrepresented by the far right is an understatement. It is more than spreadingfake news to lie (as Alex Jones does on InfoWars) about a communitys relationship with and dependence on its refugee population. (Alex Jones said refugees ravaged Idaho town with disease and crime. Twin Falls says folks get along fine, May 15) What if President Trump directed his rage at this type of false information? Given that he has never offered a nuanced understanding of refugees in this country (or much of anything, really), it is hard to imagine that Trump would care about any story that conflicted with the message of fear that has served him so well. Throughout the campaign and as president, Trump has demonstrated little interest in real refugees who live and work in actual towns. Such a failure endangers our communities and our nation. Advertisement Erika Wright, Mar Vista .. To the editor: Thank you so much for this story on the generations of migrants who have taken refuge in Twin Falls, an inspiring example of what can happen when people open their minds and hearts. It, along with last weeks moving article on the acceptance of immigrants in a Houston high school, has provided a much needed ray of hope in our current bleak landscape of hatred and scapegoating. As a proud snowflake, I want to believe that kindness and acceptance can eradicate the poison spewed by the likes of InfoWars and Breitbart and Islamic State too, for that matter. Sadly, as long as Trump is president, we dont stand a chance. Lynn Eames, Los Angeles Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook Cable news is consumed with wall-to-wall coverage of every new development in Donald Trumps political implosion, and liberals, still stunned by Trumps rise to the White House, cannot get enough of it. For them, this national nightmare cant be over soon enough. Nevertheless, one disturbing reality should not be overlooked. While Trump does his best to paint himself into a corner from which he cant escape, the work of his appointees goes on unhindered. The president may not be able to get any legislation through a Congress that sees him as increasingly radioactive, but the Cabinet secretaries who already got a congressional OK are turning some very regressive ideas into reality. Nowhere is this more obvious than in environmental and land-use issues. Advertisement 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) Following Trumps directive, Environmental Protection Agency Director Scott Pruitt is making it his mission to dismantle the Obama administrations Clean Power Plan. Although critics on the squirrelly Breitbart right insist he is not going far enough to erase each and every policy that accepts climate change as real, Pruitt is hardly slacking. He appears intent on neutering regulations designed to meet the greenhouse gas reduction goals the United States agreed to in the Paris climate agreement. If he gets his way, the U.S. will pull out of the Paris deal altogether. Pruitt would love to shutter the very agency he runs. Before killing off the EPA, though, he is overseeing a long list of decisions that favor industry over the environment and public health. A prime example of this is the recent decision by the EPA to give a green light to use of a pesticide called chlorpyrifos. Apparently, it did not matter to Pruitt that the National Institutes of Health has found that chlorpyrifos can cause adverse developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune effects. He came down on the side of Dow Chemical and rest of the pesticide industry. While Pruitt is attacking the environment from one side, Trumps interior secretary, Ryan Zinke, is riding in from the other side quite literally. In recent days, he has been on horseback taking a look at recently designated national monuments in Utah. A proud son of Montana, Zinke insists he cares about protecting public lands and wants to listen to all sides, but according to the Salt Lake Tribune he gave conservationists and tribal groups just a couple of hours to talk with him while, over four days, pro-development folks traveled with him and guided his trail ride through the Bears Ears National Monument. Trump has directed Zinke to review the status of more than two dozen national monuments created by his three most recent predecessors in the White House. It is entirely obvious that Trump has been listening attentively to lobbyists for the mining and fossil fuels industries. Those folks claim locking up beautiful scenery and sacred ground hurts job creation job creation being their standard euphemism for corporate profits. Zinke seems to be listening to the same people, so do not be surprised if the monuments start losing protections very soon. Can the National Parks be far behind? Pruitt and Zinke are not the only Cabinet officials who are busy undermining protections for average citizens. At the Department of Health and Human Service, Secretary Tom Price is touting the House Republican healthcare bill that would take away healthcare from millions of Americans, while over at the Department of Education, Secretary Betsy DeVoss is pushing huge cuts in funding for public education and making it even harder for certain students to pay off college loan debt. The investigations into Trumps campaign links with Russia and his murky financial dealings are putting the president in great political peril, but, no matter what eventually happens to him, the people carrying out the goals of his administration are forging ahead. They may not be in the news, but they should not escape our scrutiny. 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Senate fails to back bill to delay the Aliso Canyon reopening, but lawmaker will try again Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print State Senate Democrats pass bills designed to protect against Trumps possible changes Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 President Trumps erratic style and thirst for what he has called the ultimate deal has some Israeli officials anxious about how much he might give away if he can restart long-stalled peace talks with Palestinians. As they await his arrival Monday in Jerusalem, Israeli officials are trying to attune themselves to Trumps free-wheeling approach to diplomacy and a new cast of unlikely, untested advisors, including Trumps son-in-law and two of Trumps long-time personal attorneys. They worry in part because since taking office, Trump has hesitated on his campaign pledge to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. White House officials fear such a relocation would infuriate Palestinians, who also claim the city as their capital. Advertisement Trumps visit comes a week before he must sign the same national security waiver that his predecessors have signed every six months since 1995 to keep the embassy in Tel Aviv. Newly-arrived U.S. Ambassador David M. Friedman, Trumps former bankruptcy lawyer, scrambled this week to reassure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government that Trump remains as firmly committed to Israel as ever. But Friedman told the Israelis that Trump isnt expected to announce a decision about the move during the trip. The delay has frustrated right-wing politicians in Israel who fear Trump may back down on other promises. In February, Trump issued mild criticism of Israels continued building of settlements in the West Bank, saying that new construction doesnt help the peace process. The rebuke surprised Netanyahus government, which had just announced plans to build thousands of new homes in the disputed territory. Earlier this month, Israeli officials needed reassurance as well when Trump welcomed Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas for a lunch at the White House and posed with him in front of a Palestinian flag, a symbolic concession to Abbas that White House officials hoped would help foster a good working relationship. Trump is expected to visit Abbas in Bethlehem on Tuesday, even though some in the Israeli government had hoped Trump would snub the Palestinian leader during the trip. The uncertainty is very high, said a former Israeli diplomat who was stationed in the United States. It also didnt help when Trump last week shared classified material about Islamic State militants with Russian diplomats. The information reportedly originated with Israeli intelligence and was shared with the U.S. on the condition that it not be passed along to others, according to media reports. Israeli officials know little of the intentions of Trumps advisors. Even Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who has been managing the White Houses relationship with Israel over the past few months, has generated some skepticism among hard-liners, despite the fact the he is Jewish, he has known Netanyahu for many years and his family has helped fund Jewish settlements in the West Bank. Kushner also manages the White House relationship with Saudi Arabia and the Arab world. In addition to sending Friedman to Tel Aviv, Trump tapped his former real estate attorney Jason Greenblatt to help manage the peace process with the Palestinians. He regularly hears advice on Israel from friends including New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and American casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, who is close to Netanyahu. Israeli officials are having to adjust to Trump and these new advisors after years spent dealing with a familiar set of Washington diplomats and Middle East experts, Michael Oren, the Israeli deputy minister for diplomacy and a former ambassador to the U.S., said. Oren brushed aside the notion there have been hiccups and said the Israelis are confident in Trumps ardent support. This is an administration which is unequivocally committed to Israels security, sees it as an indispensable ally and is deeply opposed to doing anything that would impair our security, Oren said. But they will closely watch the signals Trump sends during his two-day visit, which will include a tour of the Holocaust memorial at Yad Vashem, a speech at the Israel Museum, and the first visit by a sitting U.S. president to the Western Wall, one of Judaisms holiest sites. During official preparations for Trumps visit to the wall in the Old City, a U.S. diplomat inflamed Israeli officials by reportedly saying the revered structure is in disputed territory and doesnt belong to Israel. Although Israel annexed the Old City along with all of East Jerusalem after the 1967 Six-Day War, Palestinians and most of the international community consider it part of the occupied West Bank. Officials within Netanyahus right-wing government are deeply suspicious of the U.S. foreign service and other parts of American bureaucracy, and are concerned that Trump will be eventually swayed by entrenched American policy towards Israel. In private meetings during Trumps visit, Israeli officials are looking for assurances that Trump will work with them to counter Irans moves in the region. The U.S. Treasury Departments decision Thursday to put new sanctions on seven targets involved in Irans ballistic missile program was aimed at soothing concerns in Israel as well as signaling to Saudi Arabia that the U.S. would take a hard stance against Iranian intervention in Yemen. Both Israel and Saudi Arabia felt sidelined by the Obama administration and complained that former Secretary of State John F. Kerry, in pursuit of the Iran nuclear deal, gave Iran a long leash to project power in conflicts in Syria and Yemen. White House officials believe those complaints have created a unique moment to bring Arab and Israeli interests together in countering Islamic extremists as well as building regional support for a peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians, though such efforts have failed in the past. Trumps initial steps could include convincing Gulf states to make some partial moves toward regional support for a peace deal or bringing Netanyahu and Abbas together for the first time in seven years, said David Makovsky, a former member of the U.S. negotiating team under Kerry. Trump shouldnt try for a home run, or a full-fledged agreement between the Israelis and Palestinians, Makovsky said. When you try to hit the ball out of the park, the odds of striking out are greater, Makovsky said, pointing to past failed attempts. But this president might feel he only does home runs; he doesnt want a single. Trump is singularly fixated on delivering a Middle East peace deal, White House officials said, even if that means jettisoning the long-standing U.S. stance that any resolution should be based on a two-state solution. Others in his administration, including Nikki Haley, the ambassador to the United Nations, have said the U.S. remains committed to a two-state solution. Trumps willingness to consider other endgames to the Israeli-Palestinian stalemate has sent State Department diplomats to the history books, dusting off decades-old alternatives to a two-state solution, such as Jordanian rule, confederacy and economic autonomy. As Trump prepares to land in Israel, his unconventional approach has added to a mood of confusion and caution, said retired Israeli Admiral Ami Ayalon. Those who didnt believe in a two-state solution see Trump as the messiah who would save Israel from the traditional, old concept of two states, Ayalon, the former director of Israeli domestic security agency Shin Bet and cofounder of the Blue White Future, a political advocacy group, said in an interview. He is a different president. He doesnt owe anything to the [American] Jewish community most didnt vote for him and he doesnt depend on Jewish money. That makes him much more flexible, Ayalon said. Bottom line: No one quite knows what to expect. brian.bennett@latimes.com Twitter: @ByBrianBennett Staff writers Noah Bierman and Tracy Wilkinson in Washington and special correspondent Joshua Mitnick in Jerusalem contributed to this report. ALSO Venezuela Supreme Court decries new U.S. sanctions Trumps Russia troubles worsen even as he heads overseas Why Gulf Arab leaders are welcoming Trumps transactional foreign policy President Trump likes to boast about accomplishing more, faster than any previous president. Mostly, that boast is false, but this week, he achieved a legitimate, albeit undesirable, record the fastest appointment of a special counsel to investigate an administration. Trumps 17 weeks in office have had more downs than ups, but this one marked a qualitative change. Advertisement The investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election has now passed almost fully outside of Trumps control. Denunciations of a witch hunt may serve to rally his backers, but only to a point. Meantime, the subpoenas have already started. Good afternoon, Im David Lauter, Washington bureau chief. Welcome to the Friday edition of our Essential Politics newsletter, in which we look at the events of the week in Washington and elsewhere in national politics and highlight some particularly insightful stories. MUELLER STEPS IN, TRUMP LASHES OUT The decision by Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod J. Rosenstein to appoint former FBI Director Robert Mueller III as special counsel to run the Russia investigation caught the White House by surprise, as Joe Tanfani, Noah Bierman and Brian Bennett reported. Initially, the White House issued a carefully worded, tepid statement. But it didnt take long only overnight for Trumps fury to emerge in its usual form, messages on Twitter. Trump sounded two notes that he has repeatedly hit that the investigation is illegitimate at a basic level and that hes being unfairly persecuted: The single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history! he declared. Even more than most of Trumps political wounds, however, this one was self-inflicted. Last week, when Trump fired FBI Director James B. Comey, he made it all but inevitable that Rosenstein, sooner or later, would appoint a special counsel, as I wrote at the time. UPDATE: Trump told Russian diplomats that firing nut job Comey from FBI relieved great pressure, report says Rosenstein opted for sooner, probably spurred on by one of the most damaging revelations of Trumps presidency the news that the president had asked Comey, in an Oval Office meeting, to drop the investigation of his former national security advisor, Michael Flynn. I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go, Trump told Comey, according to a memo that Comey wrote just after the meeting. He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go. Rosenstein went to Capitol Hill on Thursday to brief all 100 senators about the investigation. He didnt tell them much, but confirmed that Trump made clear his intention to fire Comey even before Rosenstein wrote a memo critical of the FBI directors conduct. UPDATE: Russia probe reportedly has current White House advisor under scrutiny Where the investigation goes, we cant know yet. When Robert Fiske was named early in 1994 as an independent counsel to probe Bill and Hillary Clintons investment in the failed Whitewater real estate development, no one would have predicted that more than four years later, his successor, Kenneth W. Starr, would end up accusing the president of lying under oath about an affair with a White House intern that took place years after the investigation started. Theres still a strong possibility that when all the testimony is taken and all the leads are followed up, Mueller may say that no conclusive evidence of collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign has turned up although its quite possible that he could indict people for other crimes his investigators discover along the way. We do have some sense of where the probes are starting. Flynns legal jeopardy appears to be mounting rapidly. Investigators also reportedly have taken an interest in Trumps former campaign manager, Paul Manafort. Both men have asserted their innocence. The political impact, at least in the short term, is clearer. For Republican members of Congress, Muellers appointment is mostly a plus. As Lisa Mascaro wrote, Republicans in Congress have, with few exceptions, stood by Trump. He remains popular with Republican voters, especially the conservatives who dominate the partys primaries. Moreover, Republicans face the dilemma that if they publicly criticize Trump, they open themselves to the logical question of what theyre prepared to do about it. Mueller gets them off the hook, at least for now. From here on, expect to hear a lot of GOP officials answer almost any question about Trump and Russia with a regretful shrug and a reference to not wanting to say anything that might interfere with the special counsels investigation. The same holds true for Democrats. Rep. Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco and Sen. Charles E. Schumer of New York, the House and Senate Democratic leaders, have been trying to curb the enthusiasm of rank-and-file Democrats who have already begun openly talking about impeachment. Both know that outside of liberal enclaves, the country isnt looking for that kind of escalation of partisan warfare not yet, anyway. Notably, in the two special elections coming up in the next few weeks in Montana and Georgia the Democratic candidates have not called for impeaching Trump, although they have criticized him. Many Democrats believe Trumps conduct already constitutes obstruction of justice. But as David Savage wrote, the case isnt a simple one to make, and if the matter ever came to a head, Trump would have significant defenses. The scene looks different from the White House. Any quasi-independent prosecutor is a threat to any administration. White House aides to Clinton and Presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush can all testify to the disruption that special counsel investigations cause. Even low-level staff members begin hiring lawyers and watching what they say to colleagues while outsiders hesitate to come on board a beleaguered ship. Those problems were already evident in Trumps understaffed and factionalized White House. The investigation will surely worsen them. Even before the spectacular events of the last week, Trumps poll standing had been on the downswing a trend that seems driven mostly by public distaste for the healthcare bill that passed the House late last month. The share of Americans who approve of Trumps job performance is back to the lowest point of his presidency, according to the various polling averages. That may not matter much to Trump, who has focused on holding onto his core supporters and who doesnt have to face voters until November 2020. But its a deep concern to GOP members of Congress from potential swing districts. So far, the floor on his support has been around 40% of the public. Thats bad enough to handicap his party in House races. The next few weeks will test whether his support will drop further. This particular special counsel also poses unique threats to Trump. Mueller is a longtime colleague of Comeys. Hes also a widely respected figure among Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill a former Marine with a Bronze Star won in Vietnam, former federal prosecutor and a top Justice Department official in administrations of both parties. If anyone is immune to Trumps type of political attacks, it would be him. Want to know more about Mueller, heres an excellent profile by Maura Dolan. And heres a timeline of the investigation. The main benefit to Trump would come if he, like members of Congress, could use the special counsel as an excuse to stop talking about the subject. So far, thats a discipline he seems incapable of. WANTED: FBI DIRECTOR Who will replace Comey as head of the FBI? As of Thursday, Trump was leaning toward the 75-year-old former Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman. The two hit it off in a hastily scheduled meeting this week, aides said. Trump indicated at a brief news conference on Thursday that he would like to make an announcement on the FBI before he leaves Friday on his overseas trip. Some of his aides are trying to slow down the rush toward an appointment, however, concerned that Lieberman, who has no federal law enforcement background and little management experience, would not be up to the job. CARELESS WITH CLASSIFIED? Trump took another hit earlier in the week when the Washington Post reported that he had disclosed highly classified information to two visiting Russian diplomats this month during a meeting in the Oval Office. Intelligence experts disagreed about whether the breach did real damage to U.S. national security or whether it was a violation of the rules with few, if any, real-world consequences. It was the exact same debate that swirled around Hillary Clintons disputed email practices while she was secretary of State. But as David Cloud reported, the way the incident came to light marked another escalation in the war between Trump and the nations intelligence agencies. LETTING HEALTHCARE CRUMBLE Some two dozen senior healthcare industry executives and state regulators from around the country spoke with Noam N. Levey about the administrations approach toward healthcare. They offered a picture of feckless management that has destabilized the healthcare marketplace, endangering coverage for millions of people and leading to higher insurance premiums. There is a sense that there are no hands on the wheel, and they are just letting the bus careen down the road, said one official. In one meeting, several executives told Levey, Seema Verma, a senior Health and Human Services official who oversees Medicare and Medicaid, appeared to try to lean on them to support the healthcare bill in the House. The administration would ensure payment of insurance subsidies the industry needs if they would get behind the bill, the executives heard her say. Administration officials strongly deny that. Interestingly, however, the part they deny is not the idea that Verma might have tried to strong-arm the industry, but that she ever would have promised to pay the subsidies, which are deeply unpopular with conservative activists. Meantime, a Senate version of the health bill is nowhere in sight. The next event will be the Congressional Budget Offices official report on the budgetary impact of the House-passed bill. That report, known as a score, is due out early next week and could have huge effect. GETTING OUT OF THE COUNTRY The first stop on Trumps nine-day tour is scheduled to be Saudi Arabia. Despite Trumps talk about banning Muslim immigration, hes expected to get a warm welcome, Mike Memoli and Molly Hennessey-Fiske write. The Saudis and the other Sunni monarchies of the region see Trump as an ally against the foe they worry about most Iran. Before he left D.C., Trump met with the visiting president of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos. As Tracy Wilkinson wrote, Santos is hoping to keep the administrations support for continued financial aid to his countrys peace process. Some conservatives, both in Colombia and the U.S., oppose Santos peace plans, and Trump was noncommittal, but Colombia so far has strong support in Congress. IMMIGRATION ARRESTS UP The number of people arrested on civil immigration charges has jumped by more than a third since Trump took office, compared with last years figures. Some 40,000 immigrants have been detained, according to the latest data from the Department of Homeland Security. As Nigel Duara reported, the increase is uneven across the country. In the Los Angeles area, the arrest figures have been about the same as last year. Arrests are sharply up in the southeastern U.S., by contrast. NET NEUTRALITY The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday took its first formal step toward undoing the Obama administrations so-called net neutrality rules. As Jim Puzzanghera reported, commission Chairman Ajit Pai said the goal was to return to the light-touch regulatory framework that he said had allowed the Internet to flourish. Consumer groups have loudly protested the move. RENEGOTIATING NAFTA With iTrade Representative Robert Lighthizer in place, the administration issued a formal notice of its desire to negotiate changes in the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico. But as Don Lee reported, the goals of the NAFTA negotiations appear far more narrow than Trumps campaign rhetoric. The talks could begin as early as mid-August. All three countries have changes they would like to make. THERES ALWAYS ANOTHER ELECTION Next week brings a special election in Montana to fill the congressional seat vacated by Ryan Zinke when he became secretary of Interior. If the Democrat wins, Republicans in Congress will become even more nervous about their prospects in 2018. In those midterms elections, the Democrats road back to a majority runs through Southern Californias suburbs, where Republicans including Reps. Dana Rohrabacher and Darrell Issa may be vulnerable. Sarah Wire took this look at Democratic efforts to turn Orange County blue. ALL THE PRESIDENTS TWEETS As he showed again this week, Twitter has long been Trumps favored means of pushing his message. Were compiling all of Trumps tweets. Its a great resource. Take a look. LOGISTICS That wraps up this week. My colleague Christina Bellantoni will be back Monday with the weekday edition of Essential Politics. Until then, keep track of all the developments in national politics and the Trump administration with our Essential Washington blog, at our Politics page and on Twitter @latimespolitics. Send your comments, suggestions and news tips to politics@latimes.com. If you like this newsletter, tell your friends to sign up. david.lauter@latimes.com @davidlauter Trump promotes sons Justice with Judge Jeanine interview President Trump promoted via Twitter an interview with his son Eric Trump just before it aired Saturday night on Fox News Justice with Judge Jeanine. Eric Trump on @JudgeJeanine on @FoxNews now! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 21, 2018 Eric Trump called into the show to defend his father from criticism prompted by the first government shutdown in more than four years, as well as a series of Womens March events that saw protesters in dozens of cities take to the streets to oppose the presidents policies. .@EricTrump joined me over the phone from Mar-a-Lago ! pic.twitter.com/Hro3TzUW52 Jeanine Pirro (@JudgeJeanine) January 21, 2018 Speaking to host Jeannine Piro who is reportedly an old friend of the presidents Eric Trump offered effusive praise for his father, ticking off glowing statistics to illustrate the strength of the U.S. economy and gains against Islamic State fighters overseas. My fathers working like no ones ever worked before to bring back this country and to fulfill his promise to make America great again, said the executive vice president of the Trump Organization. He also repeated a sentiment recently expressed on Twitter by his father: That Democratic lawmakers forced a government shutdown on the anniversary of the presidents inauguration in a bid to distract from his achievements. You look at this whole government shutdown, and the only reason they want to shut down government is to distract and to stop his momentum, Eric Trump said. I mean, my father has had incredible momentum. Hes gotten more done in one year than arguably any president in history. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump tweets: a perfect day for all Women to March President Trump hailed the nationwide Womens March gatherings Saturday. On Twitter, the president called it a perfect day for all Women to March, seeming to imply that those taking part were celebrating his administrations accomplishments: Beautiful weather all over our great country, a perfect day for all Women to March. Get out there now to celebrate the historic milestones and unprecedented economic success and wealth creation that has taken place over the last 12 months. Lowest female unemployment in 18 years! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 Participants in the marches across the United States were actually seeking to deliver a powerful rebuke to Trumps policies and mount a crucial mobilization for this years midterm elections. But Trump continued to tout his administrations unprecedented success in tweets sent later in the day: Unprecedented success for our Country, in so many ways, since the Election. Record Stock Market, Strong on Military, Crime, Borders, & ISIS, Judicial Strength & Numbers, Lowest Unemployment for Women & ALL, Massive Tax Cuts, end of Individual Mandate - and so much more. Big 2018! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 The Trump Administration has terminated more UNNECESSARY Regulation, in just twelve months, than any other Administration has terminated during their full term in office, no matter what the length. The good news is, THERE IS MUCH MORE TO COME! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 21, 2018 In addition to the roll call of major American cities where womens marches took place including New York, Washington, Los Angeles, Dallas, Philadelphia, Chicago, San Francisco, Atlanta protesters also raised their voices in suburbs and small towns, reflecting the aim of coalescing a broad-based movement on the anniversary of Trumps inauguration to oppose the presidents stance on immigration, healthcare, racial divides and an array of other issues. Read More This post contains reporting from Times staff writer Laura King. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump calls shutdown a present from Democrats By Associated Press President Trump is blaming Democrats for the government shutdown tweeting that they wanted to give him a nice present to mark the one-year anniversary of his inauguration: This is the One Year Anniversary of my Presidency and the Democrats wanted to give me a nice present. #DemocratShutdown Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 That comes after Senate Democrats late Friday killed a GOP-written House-passed measure that would have kept agencies functioning for four weeks. Democrats were seeking a stopgap bill of just a few days in hopes that would build pressure on Republicans, and they were opposing a three-week alternative offered by GOP leaders. Democrats have insisted they would back legislation reopening the government once theres a bipartisan agreement to preserve protections against deporting about 700,000 immigrants known as Dreamers who arrived in the United States illegally as children. Trump on Saturday accused Democrats of holding our Military hostage over their desire to have unchecked illegal immigration: Democrats are holding our Military hostage over their desire to have unchecked illegal immigration. Cant let that happen! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 Democrats are laying fault for the shutdown on Republicans, who control both chambers of Congress and the White House and have struggled with building internal consensus. In a series of tweets hours after the shutdown began, the president tried to make the case for Americans to elect more Republicans to Congress in November in order to power through this mess: Democrats are far more concerned with Illegal Immigrants than they are with our great Military or Safety at our dangerous Southern Border. They could have easily made a deal but decided to play Shutdown politics instead. #WeNeedMoreRepublicansIn18 in order to power through mess! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 He noted that there are 51 Republicans in the 100-member Senate, and it often takes 60 votes to advance legislation: For those asking, the Republicans only have 51 votes in the Senate, and they need 60. That is why we need to win more Republicans in 2018 Election! We can then be even tougher on Crime (and Border), and even better to our Military & Veterans! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 #AMERICA FIRST! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 The stopgap spending measure won 50 votes in the Senate, including five from Democrats. Although the House and Senate were in session Saturday, it was unclear whether lawmakers would take any votes of consequence. Trump had been set to leave Friday afternoon for a fundraiser at his estate in Palm Beach, Fla., where he intended to mark the inauguration anniversary. But he remained in Washington and ended up scrapping his plans to attend the Saturday fundraiser. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump tweet casts doubt on likelihood of averting shutdown President Trump appeared to cast doubt on the likelihood of reaching a deal to avert a government shutdown Friday night in a tweet. Trump also sought to blame Democrats for what would be the first shutdown since 2013. His message came just hours before the midnight deadline by which lawmakers must pass a measure to fund government agencies, or some operations will cease. Not looking good for our great Military or Safety & Security on the very dangerous Southern Border. Dems want a Shutdown in order to help diminish the great success of the Tax Cuts, and what they are doing for our booming economy. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018 Despite last-minute negotiations Friday between Trump and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, Congress remained deadlocked over a spending bill and the federal government was headed toward a shutdown at midnight. Senate Democrats joined by some GOP deficit hawks and immigration allies were set to filibuster a stopgap funding bill approved by the House on Thursday. A Senate vote was planned for 10 p.m. Eastern, and even White House officials predicted it would fail. Read More This post contains reporting from Times staff writer Lisa Mascaro. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump signs surveillance law after confusing tweets By Associated Press President Trump on Friday signed a bill into law to renew a foreign intelligence surveillance program, announcing his action in the latest in a series of confusing tweets about the spy program: Just signed 702 Bill to reauthorize foreign intelligence collection. This is NOT the same FISA law that was so wrongly abused during the election. I will always do the right thing for our country and put the safety of the American people first! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 19, 2018 Trumps tweet on Jan. 11 created chaos in the House just before it voted to reauthorize what is known as Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. He linked the intelligence program to a dossier that alleges his presidential campaign had ties to Russia. That caused people to wonder if he didnt support the program that allows U.S. spy agencies to collect intelligence on foreign targets abroad. Trump and other Republicans have alleged that Obama administration officials improperly shared the identities of Trump presidential transition team members mentioned in intelligence reports. Democrats say there is no evidence that happened. Shortly before the House vote, and after conferring with House Speaker Paul Ryan, Trump did an apparent about-face. This vote is about foreign surveillance of foreign bad guys on foreign land, he tweeted. We need it! Get smart! In his tweet announcing that he had just signed the bill, Trump wrote: This is NOT the same FISA law that was so wrongly abused during the election. I will always do the right thing for our country and put the safety of the American people first! There are no obvious links between the dossier Trump spoke of, which includes salacious but unsubstantiated allegations against him, and the reauthorization of the spying program, or between the program and Trumps oft-repeated claims that the Obama administration conducted surveillance on Trump Tower during the presidential campaign. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print In tweet, Trump suggests that Pennsylvania trip is a political one The White House press office was once again forced to walk back a tweet from President Trump on Thursday morning after he described a trip to Pennsylvania later in the day as a political one a statement that would force the Republican Party, not taxpayers, to pay for the journey. The White House had said Trump was going to an industrial equipment company outside of Pittsburgh to highlight the good economy and new tax cuts, making it an official, policy-oriented event. It was widely assumed that the trip had a political cast the area is holding a special election to fill a congressional seat vacated by a Republican who resigned. Trump, by his tweet, seemed to confirm that politics was the whole purpose: Will be going to Pennsylvania today in order to give my total support to RICK SACCONE, running for Congress in a Special Election (March 13). Rick is a great guy. We need more Republicans to continue our already successful agenda! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2018 Trump later shared via Twitter a pair of video clips of his speech at H&K Equipment, in which he touted the tax cuts he signed into law just before Christmas and tried to turn the conversation back to his accomplishments after weeks dominated by distractions, including questions about his mental health and comments about immigration that some considered racist: Departing Pittsburgh now, where it was my great honor to stand with our incredible workers, and to show the world that AMERICA is back - and we are coming back bigger and better and stronger than ever before! pic.twitter.com/kWPgylqFzj Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2018 AMERICA will once again be a NATION that thinks big, dreams bigger, and always reaches for the stars. YOU are the ones who will shape Americas destiny. YOU are the ones who will restore our prosperity. And YOU are the ones who are MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! #MAGA pic.twitter.com/f2abNK47II Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2018 The Republican National Committee, rather than the White House, is supposed to pay for political travel so that taxpayers are not financing party activities; for trips that combine policy and politics, parties have split the cost under past presidents. Neither the RNC nor the White House responded to emails sent Thursday asking who would pay. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders released a statement later Thursday suggesting that taxpayers would foot the bill. She insisted that Trump would be conducting government business while in Pennsylvania. Read More This post contains reporting from the Associated Press and Times staff writer Noah Bierman. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump tweets praise of Bob Dole after awarding him Congressional Gold Medal By Associated Press Former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole knew the art of the deal before President Trump published the 1987 book of the same name. The two shared a stage under the Capitol dome Wednesday as Dole, 94, accepted Congress highest civilian honor, the Congressional Gold Medal, for his World War II service and decades of work in the House and Senate. Trump later praised Dole in a tweet, attaching to his message a video composed of clips from the ceremony: Today, we witnessed an incredible moment in history the presentation of Congress highest civilian honor to our friend, and true AMERICAN HERO, Bob Dole. #CongressionalGoldMedal pic.twitter.com/qNQqDLRmCk Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 17, 2018 At the ceremony, the president saluted Dole as a patriot and gave tribute to Doles struggle as a veteran who worked his way back from a grievous shoulder wound he suffered in Italy. He knows about grit, said Trump. But it was Doles penchant for working across the aisle that earned him his latest award, according to the legislation. Bob Dole was known for his ability to work across the aisle and embrace practical bipartisanship, reads the legislation Trump signed in September. Some of the awards 300 recipients include George Washington and Mother Teresa, according to the Congressional Research Service. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump touts report that seeks to link terrorism cases with immigration By Joseph Tanfani The Trump administration on Tuesday released a report attempting to link terrorism with migration, arguing that it was evidence of the need to dramatically reshape the nations immigration system. New report from DOJ & DHS shows that nearly 3 in 4 individuals convicted of terrorism-related charges are foreign-born. We have submitted to Congress a list of resources and reforms.... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 ....we need to keep America safe, including moving away from a random chain migration and lottery system, to one that is merit-based. https://t.co/7PtoSFK1n2 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 The report, ordered by President Trump in an executive order last year, said that 75% of the 549 people convicted of terrorism charges since 9/11 were born outside the U.S. Administration officials called that a sign that the U.S. needs to scrap its policy of family preferences for visas, which they call chain migration, and a diversity visa lottery program. But the report did not specify how many if any of the convicted terrorists entered the country through those means. It also did not detail how many of the convictions were related to attacks or plans in the U.S. versus overseas and how many involved people who went to fight overseas for the Islamic State or another terrorist group. Those details were not available, officials said. The report, due last year, is being released in a highly charged moment in the immigration debate, as Trump and some Republicans in Congress seek tough new border and immigration measures in return for a deal protecting the 690,000 people in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Trump also fired off a pair of tweets on the topic earlier Tuesday: We must have Security at our VERY DANGEROUS SOUTHERN BORDER, and we must have a great WALL to help protect us, and to help stop the massive inflow of drugs pouring into our country! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 The Democrats want to shut down the Government over Amnesty for all and Border Security. The biggest loser will be our rapidly rebuilding Military, at a time we need it more than ever. We need a merit based system of immigration, and we need it now! No more dangerous Lottery. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 The focus of our immigration system should be assimilation, a senior administration official said on Tuesday, speaking on condition that his name not be used. He said the nation should give priority to potential immigrants who speak English, who have an education and those who are committed to supporting our values not family members of people already here. The official said the timing of the report was coincidental. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump tweets welcome to president of Kazakhstan By Associated Press President Trump said Tuesday that he and the president of Kazakhstan are united in a shared determination to prevent North Korea from threatening the world with nuclear devastation. Trump and President Nursultan Nazarbayev discussed North Korea along with other issues during meetings at the White House. Today, it was my honor to welcome President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan to the @WhiteHouse! pic.twitter.com/TerYFZViax Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 Trump said Kazakhstan, once part of the Soviet Union, is a valued partner in our efforts to rid the Korean peninsula of nuclear weapons. Together we are determined to prevent the North Korean regime from threatening the world with nuclear devastation, he said, as both presidents addressed journalists between meetings. Nazarbayev noted that his country once had one of the worlds largest nuclear arsenals but voluntarily gave it up after the Soviet Union collapsed. He said his country is in talks with Iran, which was the focus of a global deal that lifted some economic sanctions in exchange for Irans curbing its nuclear program. Trump has sharply criticized the Iran nuclear deal and threatened last week to pull out soon unless other countries fix what he says are terrible flaws. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump falsely claims his approval rating among black Americans has doubled By Alex Wigglesworth President Trump lashed out at the news media Tuesday morning in a tweet denouncing the special counsel investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election and possible collusion among members of his campaign team. Do you notice the Fake News Mainstream Media never likes covering the great and record setting economic news, but rather talks about anything negative or that can be turned into the negative. The Russian Collusion Hoax is dead, except as it pertains to the Dems. Public gets it! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 It wasnt immediately clear exactly what prompted the presidents tweet, but it appeared as though he was watching Fox & Friends. A short time later, Trump tweeted a headline from a report that aired during that mornings episode: 90% of Trump 2017 news coverage was negative -and much of it contrived!@foxandfriends Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 The segment focused on the latest survey results from conservative watchdog Media Research Center, which purportedly analyzed the evening news broadcasts on ABC, CBS and NBC from Jan. 20 to Dec. 31 and found that 90% of the statements made about Trump were negative. Study: 90% of Trump media coverage in 2017 was negative pic.twitter.com/vbrwup4Drg FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) January 16, 2018 But believe it or not, through all this negative coverage, they did a survey of 600,000 people about how black America views this president, co-host Brian Kilmeade said. His numbers have actually doubled in approval. Trump highlighted the statement in another tweet: Unemployment for Black Americans is the lowest ever recorded. Trump approval ratings with Black Americans has doubled. Thank you, and it will get even (much) better! @FoxNews Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018 But its not true. The claim appears to have originated from a misreading of data from the online polling firm SurveyMonkey, according to factcheck.org. The firm polled 600,000 Americans in 2017 and found that Trumps approval rating among blacks actually dropped from 23% early in his presidency to about 17%, as of the week ending Jan. 3. Some conservative outlets, including Breitbart, produced an average from those and other SurveyMonkey figures and compared them to the scores Trump received from black voters in the 2016 exit polls. That methodology is not sound. And since the statistics measure different things, the comparison is misleading. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump goes after senator who surfaced his immigration remark By Associated Press President Trump turned his Twitter torment Monday on the Democrat in the room where immigration talks with lawmakers took a famously coarse turn, saying Sen. Richard J. Durbin misrepresented what he had said about African nations and Haiti and, in the process, undermined the trust needed to make a deal. Senator Dicky Durbin totally misrepresented what was said at the DACA meeting, Trump tweeted, using a nickname to needle the Illinois senator. Deals cant get made when there is no trust! Durbin blew DACA and is hurting our Military. Senator Dicky Durbin totally misrepresented what was said at the DACA meeting. Deals cant get made when there is no trust! Durbin blew DACA and is hurting our Military. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 15, 2018 Trump was referring to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which protects young people who came to the United States illegally as children. Members of Congress from both parties are trying to strike a deal that Trump would support to extend that protection. Trump also cast doubt on the likelihood of reaching an agreement in tweets sent earlier Monday: Statement by me last night in Florida: Honestly, I dont think the Democrats want to make a deal. They talk about DACA, but they dont want to help..We are ready, willing and able to make a deal but they dont want to. They dont want security at the border, they dont want..... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 15, 2018 ...to stop drugs, they want to take money away from our military which we cannot do. My standard is very simple, AMERICA FIRST & MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 15, 2018 On a day of remembrance for the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Trump spent time at his golf course with no public events, bypassing the acts of service that his predecessors staged in honor of the civil rights leader. Instead, Trump dedicated his weekly address to Kings memory, saying Kings dream and Americas are the same: A world where people are judged by who they are, not how they look or where they come from. That message was a distinct counterpoint to words attributed to Trump by Durbin and others at a meeting last week, when the question of where immigrants come from seemed at the forefront of Trumps concerns. Some participants and others familiar with the conversation said Trump challenged immigration from shithole countries of Africa and disparaged Haiti as well. Without explicitly denying using that word, Trump lashed out at the Democratic senator, who said Trump uttered it on several occasions. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump thanks pundit for laudatory Fox & Friends spot By Alex Wigglesworth President Trump thanked Fox News personality Stuart Varney after Varney praised Trump during an appearance on Fox & Friends. In a pair of tweets early Sunday, Trump quoted from Varneys commentary, in which he argued that Trump deserves more credit for the booming economy. The pundit, who also hosts a show on Fox Business Network, cited moves by some corporations to raise workers minimum wage or pay out one-time bonuses in response to the GOP tax cuts. President Trump is not getting the credit he deserves for the economy. Tax Cut bonuses to more than 2,000,000 workers. Most explosive Stock Market rally that weve seen in modern times. 18,000 to 26,000 from Election, and grounded in profitability and growth. All Trump, not 0... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 14, 2018 ...big unnecessary regulation cuts made it all possible (among many other things). President Trump reversed the policies of President Obama, and reversed our economic decline. Thank you Stuart Varney. @foxandfriends Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 14, 2018 Varney was reacting to a quote from House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), who on Thursday called the bonuses handed down to workers pathetic in comparison to the gains corporations are expected to see from the tax cuts. In terms of the bonus that corporate America received versus the crumbs that they are giving to workers to kind of put the schmooze on is so pathetic, Pelosi told reporters. Its pathetic. Varney shot back Sunday that the bonuses, along with explosive stock market growth, are enriching all Americans. This is a huge shot in the arm, its the result of this tax cut deal and I think President Trump should get the credit for it, he said. .@Varneyco Sets the economic record straight after Nancy Pelosi calls U.S. mass bonuses crumbs pic.twitter.com/BvjIHGm3HE FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) January 14, 2018 The sweeping tax plan passed last month lowers the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% and cuts personal income taxes. Analysts say the benefits will largely flow to corporations and the wealthy, as theyre more likely to be in positions to share in corporate profits. For instance, Wells Fargo & Co., which responded to news of the tax overhaul by announcing it will raise workers pay to at least $15 an hour, also reported that it expects to pay an effective tax rate of 19% this year, down from about 31% in previous years. That should amount to tax savings of more than $3 billion annually. On average, middle-class Americans are expected to see a very small tax cut in the near term and a tax increase after 2025, when all of the tax cuts for individuals expire. The tax cuts for corporations, however, are permanent. This post contains reporting from Times staff writer James Rufus Koren. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump touts MLK proclamation in tweet, but ceremony is overshadowed by reports of racist remarks By Associated Press President Trump signed a proclamation Friday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, noting the contributions of a great American hero. Today, it was my great honor to proclaim January 15, 2018, as Martin Luther King Jr., Federal Holiday. I encourage all Americans to observe this day with appropriate civic, community, and service activities in honor of Dr. King's life and legacy. pic.twitter.com/samlJsz1Nt Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2018 Overshadowing the event was mounting backlash from Trumps comments during a private meeting with lawmakers the day before. A short time after the meeting, which was called to discuss a possible immigration deal, reports emerged that Trump had asked participants why the United States should accept immigrants from shithole countries in Africa, Central America and the Caribbean. Illinois Sen. Richard Durbin, the Senates second-ranking Democrat, appeared to confirm those reports on Friday. Trump did not respond Friday to several questions about the incident, including whether he actually used vulgar language to describe African nations, or if he is racist. The president said at the White House that love was central to the slain civil rights leader. Trump said the nation celebrates King for standing up for the self-evident truth Americans hold so dear, that no matter what the color of our skin or place of our birth, we are all created equal by God. This post contains reporting from Times staff writer Noah Bierman. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump criticizes Democrats in tweet calling for stricter immigration rules President Trump hit out at Democrats on Thursday night in a tweet calling for stricter immigration rules. Trump wrote that members of the party seem intent on having people and drugs pour into our country from the border with Mexico: The Democrats seem intent on having people and drugs pour into our country from the Southern Border, risking thousands of lives in the process. It is my duty to protect the lives and safety of all Americans. We must build a Great Wall, think Merit and end Lottery & Chain. USA! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2018 It wasnt immediately clear exactly what prompted the tweet. Earlier Thursday, Trump rejected a bipartisan compromise to resolve the standoff over so-called Dreamers, young immigrants who were brought to the United States illegally as children but have temporary permits to work, attend school or serve in the military. The president drew widespread condemnation after reports emerged that he had asked participants in an Oval Office meeting about the proposal why the United States should accept immigrants from shithole countries in Africa, Central America and the Caribbean. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump touts bill aimed at improving border screening for fentanyl By Associated Press President Trump signed legislation Wednesday aimed at giving Customs and Border Protection agents additional screening devices and other tools to stop the flow of illicit drugs. Speaking at a surprise bill-signing ceremony while flanked by members of Congress from both parties in the Oval Office, Trump described the bill as a significant step forward in the fight against powerful opioids such as fentanyl, which he called our new big scourge. He echoed that language Thursday in a tweet: Yesterday, I signed the #INTERDICTAct (H.R. 2142) with bipartisan members of Congress to help end the flow of drugs into our country. Together, we are committed to doing everything we can to combat the deadly scourge of drug addiction and overdose in the United States! pic.twitter.com/ELZvFol5Lo Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2018 The legislation will pay for new portable and fixed chemical screening devices to detect and intercept fentanyl at ports of entry and in the mail, along with other laboratory equipment and personnel, including scientists. Trump has made fighting the opioid epidemic a centerpiece of his administration, though critics say he hasnt dedicated nearly enough money or resources to make a difference. Trump suggested during his remarks on Wednesday that hed like to take a more aggressive approach to the drug crisis but the countrys not ready for what he has in mind. So were going to sign this. And its a step. And it feels like a very giant step, but unfortunately, its not going to be a giant step, because no matter what you do, this is something that keeps pouring in, he said. And were going to find the answer. There is an answer. I think I actually know the answer, but Im not sure the countrys ready for it yet, he added. Does anybody know what I mean? I think so. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump applauds news that Toyota-Mazda plant is slated for Alabama By Associated Press Japanese automakers Toyota and Mazda on Wednesday announced plans to build a mammoth, $1.6-billion joint-venture plant in Alabama that will eventually employ about 4,000 people. President Trump lauded the news in a tweet: Cutting taxes and simplifying regulations makes America the place to invest! Great news as Toyota and Mazda announce they are bringing 4,000 JOBS and investing $1.6 BILLION in Alabama, helping to further grow our economy! pic.twitter.com/Kcg8IVH6iA Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 Good news: Toyota and Mazda announce giant new Huntsville, Alabama, plant which will produce over 300,000 cars and SUVs a year and employ 4000 people. Companies are coming back to the U.S. in a very big way. Congratulations Alabama! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2018 Several states had competed for the project, which will be able to turn out 300,000 vehicles per year and produce the Toyota Corolla compact car for North America and a new small SUV from Mazda. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey and company executives held a news conference to announce that the facility is coming to the Huntsville area not far from the Tennessee line. Production is expected to begin by 2021. The decision to pick Alabama is another example of foreign-based automakers building U.S. factories in the South. To entice manufacturers, Southern states have used a combination of lucrative incentive packages, low-cost labor and a pro-business labor environment, because the United Auto Workers union is stronger in Northern states. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump highlights call for border wall in tweets on visit with Norways prime minister By Associated Press President Trump praised Norways prime minister in a tweet on Wednesday after Erna Solberg became the first foreign leader to visit with the president in 2018. Today, it was my great honor to welcome Prime Minister Erna Solberg of Norway to the @WhiteHouse - a great friend and ally of the United States! Joint press conference: https://t.co/qWR1BhfQZI pic.twitter.com/PJvwznjRCO Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 Trump also shared via Twitter a video clip of a joint news conference he held with Solberg on Wednesday afternoon. In the clip, Trump responds to a question from a reporter by saying there can be no bipartisan immigration deal absent funding for his long-promised wall along the U.S. border with Mexico. Republican and Democratic lawmakers have been seeking a solution for hundreds of thousands of so-called Dreamers, young people who were brought to the United States as children and are living here illegally. The United States needs the security of the Wall on the Southern Border, which must be part of any DACA approval. The safety and security of our country is #1! pic.twitter.com/4CFzQXb5aS Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 We need the wall for security, we need the wall for safety, we need the wall for stopping the drugs from pouring in, Trump said Wednesday. Any solution has to include the wall because without the wall, it all doesnt work. On Tuesday, Trump drew widespread attention when he said during a meeting with a bipartisan group of lawmakers that he would be agreeable to signing a stand-alone bill to protect the Dreamers, before moving on to a more comprehensive immigration bill. That contradicted the Republican consensus that Dreamers fate needed to be part of a broader immigration bill that would include some version of Trumps promised border wall and other immigration reforms. Trump backed away from a stand-alone Dreamer bill in subsequent tweets and public comments. Read More This post contains reporting from Los Angeles Times staff writer Noah Bierman. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump praises Cabinet in tweet touting meeting By Associated Press President Trump promoted a meeting of his Cabinet on Wednesday, sharing via Twitter a link to a video of the session posted on the White House YouTube account. In his tweet, Trump thanked his Cabinet for working tirelessly on behalf of our country and wrote that the last year has been one of monumental achievement. I want to thank my @Cabinet for working tirelessly on behalf of our country. 2017 was a year of monumental achievement and we look forward to the year ahead. Together, we are delivering results and MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! https://t.co/ptXa1hAPwW pic.twitter.com/yv6RALkQf3 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 The former reality television star continued to dispense accolades at the meeting Wednesday, greeting reporters in the Cabinet Room by saying: Welcome back to the studio. Then he proceeded to relive a Cabinet Room session from the prior day, when he had allowed reporters and TV cameras to stick around for much of his meeting with a bipartisan group of legislators on the thorny issue of immigration. It was a tremendous meeting. Actually, it was reported as incredibly good. And my performance you know, some of them called it a performance I consider it work, Trump said. Trump went on to say he had received letters from news anchors calling it one of the greatest meetings theyve ever witnessed. He added that the media will ultimately support Trump in the end, because theyre going to say, if Trump doesnt win in three years, theyre all out of business. Asked for examples of letters received from news anchors, the White House said it had received private communications. It also offered a series of positive on-air comments and tweets from journalists about the unusual access to the meeting. During his remarks, Trump swung from praising his own meeting coverage to telling journalists that they were dependent on his presidency for ratings to threatening a strong look at libel laws. Still, Trump thanked the journalists in front of him, joking: Youve gotten very familiar with this room. I appreciate your nice comments yesterday. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump blasts DACA ruling in tweet calling courts broken and unfair By Lisa Mascaro President Trump denounced the federal courts Wednesday as broken and unfair after a district judge in San Francisco issued a nationwide injunction keeping protections in place for so-called Dreamers. Trump tweeted: It just shows everyone how broken and unfair our Court System is when the opposing side in a case (such as DACA) always runs to the 9th Circuit and almost always wins before being reversed by higher courts. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 On Tuesday night, U.S. District Judge William Alsup in San Francisco temporarily blocked the Trump administrations decision to phase out the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA, which has protected from deportation some 700,000 people who came to the country illegally as children. Alsup granted a request by the state of California, the University of California and other plaintiffs to stop Trump from ending DACA on March 5. The administrations decision to end DACA, which was announced in September, was based on a flawed legal analysis, Alsup wrote in his decision. Dreamers would be irreparably harmed if their DACA protections, which allow them to live and work legally in the U.S., were stripped away before the courts had a chance to fully consider their claims, he ruled. The action is the mirror image of a ruling in 2015 by a federal judge in Texas who ruled in favor of that state when it sought to block President Obama from expanding DACA to include the parents of Dreamers. Trump administration officials praised that judicial ruling. By contrast, they sharply criticized Alsups decision. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump thanks lawmakers for productive immigration meeting, says deal must include border wall President Trump thanked a bipartisan group of lawmakers for participating in a meeting on immigration legislation on Tuesday. Much of the discussion involved so-called Dreamers, an estimated 700,000 young people who were brought to the country illegally as children and are now facing deportation. In a tweet, Trump wrote that there was strong agreement to negotiate a bill to protect Dreamers, as well as put into place some of the reforms favored by Republicans. Thanks to all of the Republican and Democratic lawmakers for todays very productive meeting on immigration reform. There was strong agreement to negotiate a bill that deals with border security, chain migration, lottery and DACA. https://t.co/SdqAQ3aL3z pic.twitter.com/8DYHZHspAy Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 9, 2018 The most notable exchange of the meeting came when Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the San Francisco Democrat, asked Trump whether he would be agreeable to signing a stand-alone bill to protect the Dreamers, before moving on to a more comprehensive immigration bill. Yeah, I would like to do it, Trump responded. The statement drew widespread attention because it contradicted the Republican consensus that Dreamers fate needed to be part of a broader immigration bill that would include some version of Trumps promised border wall and other immigration reforms. Trump later backed away from a stand-alone Dreamer bill, tweeting that a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico must be part of any deal: As I made very clear today, our country needs the security of the Wall on the Southern Border, which must be part of any DACA approval. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 Pressure has been mounting for Congress to broker an immigration deal by Jan. 19 as part of a must-pass budget package to fund the government. This post contains reporting from Times staff writer Noah Bierman. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump thanks officers and veterans in tweets President Trump doled out a slew of accolades Tuesday via Twitter. He thanked the nations law enforcement officers, including in his message a hashtag denoting a day of appreciation organized by a national support group for law enforcement families. On behalf of the American people, THANK YOU to our incredible law enforcement officers. As President of the United States - I will fight for you, and I will never, ever let you down. Now, more than ever, we must support the men and women in blue! #LawEnforcementAppreciationDay pic.twitter.com/Qb4uxB4JRm Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 9, 2018 Trump later expressed gratitude for federal immigration agents, in particular: .@ICEgov HSI agents and ERO officers, on behalf of an entire Nation, THANK YOU for what you are doing 24/7/365 to keep fellow Americans SAFE. Everyone is so grateful!#LawEnforcementAppreciationDay President @realDonaldTrump https://t.co/HXCpTlruVo Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 The president thanked veterans as he cited his administrations efforts to curb the number of veteran suicides by improving mental health treatment for the high-risk group: Today, it was my great honor to sign a new Executive Order to ensure Veterans have the resources they need as they transition back to civilian life. We must ensure that our HEROES are given the care and support they so richly deserve! https://t.co/0MdP9DDIAS pic.twitter.com/LP2a8KCBAp Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 9, 2018 Trumps tweet included photos of the president signing an executive order Tuesday directing the secretaries of Defense, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs to develop a plan to provide seamless access to mental health and suicide prevention resources for 12 months for members leaving the armed forces. Also on Tuesday, Trump touted a law he signed the day before designating the birthplace of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. a national historic park: It was my great honor to sign H.R. 267, the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park Act, which redesignates the Martin Luther King, Junior, National Historic Site in the State of Georgia as the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park. https://t.co/Qe0b6HBFTY pic.twitter.com/QTgaqTawPT Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 9, 2018 And he thanked House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) for sharing a video compilation comprised of clips of politicians and commentators praising the GOPs tax cut bill: Thank you @GOPLeader Kevin McCarthy! Couldnt agree w/you more. TOGETHER, we are #MAGA https://t.co/QaxtqpyXTR Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2018 This post contains reporting from the Associated Press and Times staff writer Alex Wigglesworth. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump hails tax bill in tweets recapping speech to farmers By Associated Press Connecting with rural Americans, President Trump on Monday hailed his tax overhaul as a victory for family farmers. Farm country is Gods country, Trump told the annual convention of the American Farm Bureau Federation. Trump became the first president in a quarter-century to address the federations convention. His Southern swing also included a stop in Atlanta for the national college football championship game. Cant wait to be back in the amazing state of Tennessee to address the 99th American @FarmBureau Federations Annual Convention in Nashville! #AFBF18 On my way now - join me LIVE at 4:00pmE: https://t.co/QaljAqekdD. pic.twitter.com/Wm7Io0hYT8 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2018 Joined by Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and a group of Tennessee lawmakers, Trump said most of the benefits of the tax legislation are going to working families, small businesses, and who the family farmer. The package Trump signed into law last month provides generous tax cuts for corporations and the wealthiest Americans, and more modest reductions for middle- and low-income individuals and families. In every decision we make, we are honoring Americas PROUD FARMING LEGACY. Years of crushing taxes, crippling regs, & corrupt politics left our communities hurting, our economy stagnant, & millions of hardworking Americans COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN. But they are not forgotten ANYMORE! pic.twitter.com/MdYS7xnukQ Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2018 The president vastly inflated the value of the package in his speech, citing a total of $5.5 trillion in tax cuts, with most of those benefits going to working families, small businesses and who? The family farmer. The estimated value of the tax cuts is actually $1.5 trillion for families and businesses because of cuts in deductions and the use of other steps to generate offsetting tax revenue. We have been working every day to DELIVER for Americas Farmers just as they work every day to deliver FOR US. #AFBF18 pic.twitter.com/QDH7fvFkZ7 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2018 From Nashville, Trump traveled to Atlanta to watch Alabamas Crimson Tide and Georgias Bulldogs face off Monday night in the College Football Playoff National Championship. We are fighting for our farmers, for our country, and for our GREAT AMERICAN FLAG. We want our flag respected - and we want our NATIONAL ANTHEM respected also! pic.twitter.com/16eOLXg6Fi Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2018 Before departing for the game, Trump referenced his ongoing defense of the American flag and the national anthem, saying there was enough space for people to express their views. We love our flag and we love our anthem, and we want to keep it that way, he said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump tweet hails drop in unemployment rate for African Americans By Associated Press President Trump touted a drop in the unemployment rate for African Americans on Monday in a tweet. African American unemployment is the lowest ever recorded in our country. The Hispanic unemployment rate dropped a full point in the last year and is close to the lowest in recorded history. Dems did nothing for you but get your vote! #NeverForget @foxandfriends Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2018 The rate fell to 6.8% in December, the lowest level since the government began tracking such data in 1972. The reasons range from a greater number of black Americans with college degrees to a growing need for employers in a tight job market to widen the pool of people they hire from. Trump also hailed the development via Twitter on Saturday. His latest tweet on the topic came about an hour after it was discussed during an episode of Fox & Friends, according to Mediaite. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump talks up the economy and dresses down the media in Sunday tweets With President Trump cheering from the sidelines, the White House on Sunday pressed its defense of the presidents fitness to govern, as fired former aide Stephen K. Bannon reversed course and apologized for his role in a new books explosive portrait of Trump. The presidents critics, meanwhile, said Trumps stream of taunts and insults in response to the book Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, released last week served only to underscore the authors unsettling portrayal of Trumps year-old presidency, depicting a leader whose own aides consider him childish, ignorant and dangerously erratic. Trump provided more ammunition Sunday morning, as he continued to attack the book via Twitter while preparing to depart Camp David for the White House: Leaving Camp David for the White House. Great meetings with the Cabinet and Military on many very important subjects including Border Security & the desperately needed Wall, the ever increasing Drug and Opioid Problem, Infrastructure, Military, Budget, Trade and DACA. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2018 Ive had to put up with the Fake News from the first day I announced that I would be running for President. Now I have to put up with a Fake Book, written by a totally discredited author. Ronald Reagan had the same problem and handled it well. So will I! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2018 The most vehement defense of Trump on Sunday came from senior advisor Stephen Miller, a onetime Bannon acolyte who distanced himself from his former mentor. In a combative appearance Sunday on CNNs State of the Union, Miller called the book grotesque and writer Michael Wolff the garbage author of a garbage book. Trump is known to closely monitor aides televised performances in putting forth his case, and he gleefully weighed in within moments of Millers televised clash with host Jake Tapper. CNN has long been a particular target of Trumps ire. Jake Tapper of Fake News CNN just got destroyed in his interview with Stephen Miller of the Trump Administration. Watch the hatred and unfairness of this CNN flunky! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2018 Trumps reaction, however, seemed to bolster Tappers on-air depiction of Miller as using his appearance on the show to play to the president rather than addressing questions put to him. I get it theres one viewer that you care about, the host said exasperatedly after Miller turned the discussion repeatedly to negative news coverage of the president while deflecting specific queries. Later on Twitter, Trump took up two themes that have been prevalent on his social media feeds recently. The president again went after the news media, tweeting that the recipients of his self-proclaimed most dishonest & corrupt media awards of the year, which he promised earlier in the week to announce on Monday, would actually be revealed the following Wednesday: The Fake News Awards, those going to the most corrupt & biased of the Mainstream Media, will be presented to the losers on Wednesday, January 17th, rather than this coming Monday. The interest in, and importance of, these awards is far greater than anyone could have anticipated! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2018 Trump later lauded a New York Post opinion piece that compared him favorably with his predecessor, President Obama, as well as Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. In quoting the op-ed, Trump initally misspelled consequential as consensual, but he deleted those tweets and re-sent the messages. His is turning out to be an enormously consequential presidency. So much so that, despite my own frustration over his missteps, there has never been a day when I wished Hillary Clinton were president. Not one. Indeed, as Trumps accomplishments accumulate, the mere thought of... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2018 ...Clinton in the WH, doubling down on Barack Obamas failed policies, washes away any doubts that America made the right choice. This was truly a change election and the changes Trump is bringing are far-reaching & necessary. Thank you Michael Goodwin! https://t.co/4fHNcx2Ydg Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2018 Trump also continued talking up the economy, which has been enjoying a period of strong gains. The Stock Market has been creating tremendous benefits for our country in the form of not only Record Setting Stock Prices, but present and future Jobs, Jobs, Jobs. Seven TRILLION dollars of value created since our big election win! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2018 In addition to Miller, other senior administration officials made the rounds of Sunday news talk shows to decry the claims made in Wolffs book. CIA Director Mike Pompeo said Wolffs characterization of Trump as averse to digesting classified briefing material was ludicrous, and the ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, insisted that that those around Trump love their country and respect their president. Read More This post contains reporting from Times staff writer Laura King. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Responding to book that mocks his intelligence, Trump tweets hes like, really smart By Tracy Wilkinson President Trump declared himself a very stable genius on Twitter on Saturday and later in a televised news conference called the author of a book that questioned his mental fitness a fraud. His comments came on a bone-cold day at Camp David during a weekend retreat with top administration officials and Republican congressional leaders strategizing on the years legislative agenda, including matters such as infrastructure, immigration, welfare reform and national security. Now that Russian collusion, after one year of intense study, has proven to be a total hoax on the American public, the Democrats and their lapdogs, the Fake News Mainstream Media, are taking out the old Ronald Reagan playbook and screaming mental stability and intelligence..... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2018 ....Actually, throughout my life, my two greatest assets have been mental stability and being, like, really smart. Crooked Hillary Clinton also played these cards very hard and, as everyone knows, went down in flames. I went from VERY successful businessman, to top T.V. Star..... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2018 ....to President of the United States (on my first try). I think that would qualify as not smart, but genius....and a very stable genius at that! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2018 Still, Trumps explosive rebuttal to author Michael Wolffs claims not only opened the day, but it also ensured the presidents capability to fill the highest office in the land was a topic that would not go away. In his early-morning tweets, Trump said two of his greatest assets have been mental stability, and being, like, really smart. He noted that his former Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, played these cards [about competence] very hard and, as everyone knows, went down in flames. I went from VERY successful businessman, to top T.V. Star to President of the United States (on my first try). Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement In morning tweets, Trump touts job numbers and takes digs at news media By Associated Press President Trump used Twitter on Saturday morning to tout a drop in the unemployment rate for African Americans. He also used the tweets as an opportunity to take digs at media outlets whose past coverage he has found to be critical. The African American unemployment rate fell to 6.8%, the lowest rate in 45 years. I am so happy about this News! And, in the Washington Post (of all places), headline states, Trumps first year jobs numbers were very, very good. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2018 The unemployment rate for African Americans fell to 6.8% in December, the lowest level since the government began tracking such data in 1972. The reasons range from a greater number of black Americans with college degrees to a growing need for employers in a tight job market to widen the pool of people they hire from. Still, the rate for black workers remains well above those for whites and some other groups, something experts attribute in large part to decades of discrimination and disadvantages. Robust job creation has lowered unemployment for all Americans. U.S. employers added nearly 2.1 million jobs in 2017 the seventh straight year that hiring has topped 2 million. In his tweet, Trump praised a report that noted the numbers, touting the fact that it appeared in the Washington Post (of all places). Minutes later, Trump renewed his attack on an ABC News reporter who was suspended last month after filing an erroneous report on Michael Flynn, Trumps former national security advisor. Brian Ross, the reporter who made a fraudulent live newscast about me that drove the Stock Market down 350 points (billions of dollars), was suspended for a month but is now back at ABC NEWS in a lower capacity. He is no longer allowed to report on Trump. Should have been fired! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2018 The reporter, Brian Ross, was reportedly reassigned within ABC News upon returning from his unpaid suspension. But on Saturday, Trump wrote that he should have been fired. Trumps tweets came hours before he was set to host congressional Republicans and administration officials at Camp David. The meeting scheduled to begin at midmorning Saturday was expected to touch on the budget, infrastructure, immigration, welfare reform and the shape of the midterm election this fall. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump commends Sen. Rand Paul after he proposes eliminating all U.S. aid to Pakistan President Trump commended Sen. Rand Paul after the Kentucky Republican announced plans to introduce legislation that would eliminate all U.S. aid to Pakistan. Trump tweeted Friday night: Good idea Rand! https://t.co/55sqUDiC0s Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2018 On Thursday, the Trump administration announced it was suspending security assistance to Islamabad until the country moves aggressively against local militants who have attacked U.S. troops in neighboring Afghanistan. Trump has repeatedly expressed frustration at the apparent inability of Pakistani authorities to rein in militants who cross out of the countrys rugged tribal areas to attack U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Read More This post contains reporting from Times staff writer Tracy Wilkinson. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump continues to lash out at Sloppy Steve Bannon in tweets on tell-all book By Associated Press President Trump is praising a major Republican donor family for distancing themselves from his former advisor Steve Bannon. Trump tweeted Friday: The Mercer Family recently dumped the leaker known as Sloppy Steve Bannon. Smart! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2018 Trump has continued to lash out at Bannon over an explosive new book that quoted his former aide as questioning Trumps competence and describing a June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower among Donald Trump Jr., Trump campaign aides and a Russian lawyer as treasonous and unpatriotic. On Thursday, billionaire GOP donor Rebekah Mercer issued a statement distancing her family from Bannon. Mercer is a co-owner of Breitbart, the populist website Bannon helps run. I support President Trump and the platform upon which he was elected, Mercer said. My family and I have not communicated with Steve Bannon in many months and have provided no financial support to his political agenda, nor do we support his recent actions and statements. The book, Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, quickly shot atop Amazons best-seller list, and the publisher moved up its release date by four days, to Friday. Trump took up the topic again on Twitter on Friday night, denouncing both Bannon and the books author, Michael Wolff, in starkly personal terms: Michael Wolff is a total loser who made up stories in order to sell this really boring and untruthful book. He used Sloppy Steve Bannon, who cried when he got fired and begged for his job. Now Sloppy Steve has been dumped like a dog by almost everyone. Too bad! https://t.co/mEeUhk5ZV9 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2018 Trumps message linked to a meme depicting a parody book cover titled, Liar and Phony, that featured a photo of Wolff and disparaging quotes about the author. In a tweet sent earlier Friday morning, Trump suggested the book was intended to serve as a distraction from the FBIs investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, which Trump wrote is proving to be a total hoax. Well, now that collusion with Russia is proving to be a total hoax and the only collusion is with Hillary Clinton and the FBI/Russia, the Fake News Media (Mainstream) and this phony new book are hitting out at every new front imaginable. They should try winning an election. Sad! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2018 That came amid reports that Trump directed his White House counsel to tell Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions to not recuse himself from the Justice Departments Russia investigation. Trumps effort to keep Sessions, a vocal and loyal supporter of his election bid, in charge of an investigation into his campaign offers special counsel Robert Mueller yet another avenue to explore as his prosecutors work to untangle potential evidence of obstruction. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump praises the economy ahead of meetings at Camp David By Associated Press President Trump is praising the strength of the U.S. economy ahead of meetings at Camp David with congressional Republicans. Trump tweeted early Friday: Dow goes from 18,589 on November 9, 2016, to 25,075 today, for a new all-time Record. Jumped 1000 points in last 5 weeks, Record fastest 1000 point move in history. This is all about the Make America Great Again agenda! Jobs, Jobs, Jobs. Six trillion dollars in value created! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2018 The president also told reporters on the South Lawn that the tax cuts are really kicking in after Congress passed a package of tax cuts at the end of 2017. And the president praised the December jobs report, which found U.S. employers added 148,000 jobs in December and the unemployment rate stayed at 4.1%, the lowest level since 2000. The modest but steady pace of hiring is a reassuring sign for investors who have been buoyed by the just-passed Republican tax plan and have been sending stock market indexes roaring to uncharted heights. The president is meeting with Republican congressional leaders and members of his Cabinet on Friday and Saturday to discuss the 2018 agenda. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump tweets as Dow crashes through 25,000 By Associated Press President Trump dispatched a congratulatory tweet as the Dow Jones industrial average rose above the 25,000-point mark Thursday, just five weeks after its first close above 24,000. Dow just crashes through 25,000. Congrats! Big cuts in unnecessary regulations continuing. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 After the Dow closed above 25,000, Trump shared a graphic depicting the stock indexs record-setting rise. MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! pic.twitter.com/iONbr1DkVk Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2018 Later in the day, the president was back on Twitter, complaining that news outlets had barely covered the stock market milestone. He suggested that the strength of the economy would be the biggest story on earth, had it unfolded during the presidency of his predecessor. The Fake News Media barely mentions the fact that the Stock Market just hit another New Record and that business in the U.S. is booming...but the people know! Can you imagine if O was president and had these numbers - would be biggest story on earth! Dow now over 25,000. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2018 The Dow broke past 1,000-point barriers in 2017 on its way to a 25% gain for the year, as an eight-year rally since the Great Recession continued to confound skeptics. Strong global economic growth and good prospects for higher company earnings have analysts predicting more gains, although the market may not stay as calm as it has been recently. The Dow has made a rapid trip since it reached 24,000 points Nov. 30, partly on enthusiasm over passage of the Republican-backed tax package, which could boost company profits this year with across-the-board cuts to corporate taxes. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump reacts to Fire and Fury book in tweet lashing out at author and Sloppy Steve President Trump lashed out at the author of a soon-to-be-released book about the chaotic first year of his presidency Thursday night. In a tweet, Trump called Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, a phony book and claimed that hed never spoken to its author, Michael Wolff. Look at this guys past and watch what happens to him and Sloppy Steve! Trump wrote. He appeared to be referring to former White House chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon, whose stunning criticisms of Trump and his circle figure prominently in the title. I authorized Zero access to White House (actually turned him down many times) for author of phony book! I never spoke to him for book. Full of lies, misrepresentations and sources that dont exist. Look at this guys past and watch what happens to him and Sloppy Steve! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2018 Trumps tweet came hours after he had his lawyer demand that Henry Holt & Co. and Wolff stop publication the book. Instead, the publisher expedited the books release to Friday, four days before it was slated to hit bookstore shelves, in response to unprecedented demand. Published excerpts on Wednesday and Thursday whetted that appetite and roiled Washington. Bannons comments, including that it was treasonous and unpatriotic for Trumps son Donald Trump Jr., son-in-law Jared Kushner and campaign manager Paul Manafort to have met in 2016 with Russians said to have dirt on Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, prompted Trump on Wednesday to rebuke his former advisor, saying Bannon had lost his mind. Read More This post contains reporting from Times staff writers Brian Bennett and Alex Wigglesworth. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump thanks senators who attended meeting on immigration President Trump tweeted thanks to Republican senators who attended a meeting about possible immigration legislation on Thursday. In his message, Trump also listed his top priorities when it comes to any type of overhaul of the nations immigration system. Thank you to the great Republican Senators who showed up to our mtg on immigration reform. We must BUILD THE WALL, stop illegal immigration, end chain migration & cancel the visa lottery. The current system is unsafe & unfair to the great people of our country - time for change! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 Trumps tweet echoed his remarks at the beginning of Thursdays meeting, when he insisted again that constructing a border wall and overhauling two legal immigration programs must be part of any deal with Democrats to protect the so-called Dreamers from deportation. Two-year deportation protections and work permits given under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program begin to expire March 6 under an executive order. Trump announced in September that he was ending the Obama-era program, but told Congress to draft a law to continue protections for people brought to the country illegally as children a group that has widespread public support. Read More This post contains reporting from Times staff writer Brian Bennett. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump resumes Twitter war against kneeling NFL players President Trump has resumed his Twitter war against NFL players who kneel during the national anthem to protest social injustice and racial inequality. In a tweet early Thursday, Trump replied to a supporter who shared a meme that appears to depict family members lying on the grave of a fallen soldier with the caption: This is why we stand. Show this picture to the NFL players who still kneel! Trump wrote. So beautiful....Show this picture to the NFL players who still kneel! https://t.co/tJLM1tvbvb Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 The president has denounced players who kneel during the anthem in previous tweets. Hes also called for the firing of players who do so. His latest message came amid news that the NFL finished the regular season with TV ratings that fell nearly 10% below the previous season. Analysts attribute the drop to controversies facing the league, as well as changing viewing habits and a possible saturation point in the number of games available. Read More This post contains reporting from Times staff writers Stephen Battaglio and Alex Wigglesworth. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump credits himself with facilitating talks between North and South Korea By Associated Press President Trump says his tough stance on nuclear weapons on the Korean peninsula is helping push North Korea and South Korea to talk. Trump tweeted early Thursday: With all of the failed experts weighing in, does anybody really believe that talks and dialogue would be going on between North and South Korea right now if I wasnt firm, strong and willing to commit our total might against the North. Fools, but talks are a good thing! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 That assertion is in conflict with some of the presidents own statements. Last year, he ridiculed Secretary of State Rex Tillerson for talking about negotiations with the North. This week, Trump seemed open to the possibility of an inter-Korean dialogue after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made a rare overture toward South Korea in a New Years Day address. But Trumps ambassador to the United Nations insisted that talks wont be meaningful unless the North is getting rid of its nuclear weapons. The overture about talks came after Trump and Kim traded more bellicose claims about their nuclear weapons. In his New Years Day address, Kim repeated fiery nuclear threats against the United States. Kim said he has a nuclear button on his office desk and warned that the whole territory of the U.S. is within the range of our nuclear strike. Trump mocked that assertion Tuesday evening in a tweet. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print After disbanding his vote fraud panel, Trump still says voting system is rigged By Brian Bennett One day after disbanding his troubled voter fraud commission without any findings of fraud, President Trump continued to call the U.S. voting system rigged and said states should require that Americans have voter-identification cards. In two tweets on Thursday morning, Trump blamed the commissions failure on the lack of cooperation from mostly Democrat States that refused to hand over voter rolls because they know that many people are voting illegally. However, voting supervisors in Republican-led states refused as well, objecting on privacy and other grounds. Many mostly Democrat States refused to hand over data from the 2016 Election to the Commission On Voter Fraud. They fought hard that the Commission not see their records or methods because they know that many people are voting illegally. System is rigged, must go to Voter I.D. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 As Americans, you need identification, sometimes in a very strong and accurate form, for almost everything you do.....except when it comes to the most important thing, VOTING for the people that run your country. Push hard for Voter Identification! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 Despite Trumps assertions, analysts have not found evidence of widespread voter fraud. Trump created the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity in May after alleging, without proof, that millions of illegal votes were cast for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election. Trump was elected after winning a majority in the electoral college, but the nationwide count showed Clinton received nearly 3 million more votes. The commission sought personal data on voters across the country and faced mounting lawsuits in recent months over privacy concerns. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump touts another good day for stocks, credits tax cut By Associated Press President Trump touted another good day for the stock market Wednesday in a tweet. Stock Market had another good day but, now that the Tax Cut Bill has passed, we have tremendous upward potential. Dow just short of 25,000, a number that few thought would be possible this soon into my administration. Also, unemployment went down to 4.1%. Only getting better! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 Big gains for technology and healthcare stocks helped U.S. indexes set records again Wednesday. Some analysts attributed the surge to investor enthusiasm for Trumps $1.5-trillion tax cut. All told, Wall Street analysts estimate the tax package should boost earnings for companies in the Standard & Poors 500 index by roughly 8% this year. Thats much more generous than the average tax cut of 1.6% that middle-class families will receive, according to the Tax Policy Center. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 The public has been less enthusiastic about the tax law. A Monmouth University poll last month found that nearly half of Americans disapproved of it, with only 26% in support. Still, as Trump also noted on Twitter, some workers have seen a benefit: So far, dozens of companies have announced bonuses and higher minimum wages as a result of the tax cut. AT&T, Comcast, Bank of America, and American Airlines have all pledged to pay $1,000 bonuses to their employees. Some 40 U.S. companies have responded to President Trumps tax cut and reform victory in Congress last year by handing out bonuses up to $2,000, increases in 401k matches and spending on charity, a much higher number than previously known. https://t.co/bmWrwWzxMR Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 Investors also appear less concerned than many politicians about how the additional profits will be used. The Trump administration says it expects companies will plow much of the extra profit back into their businesses, purchasing more software, machinery, and other equipment. Those investments will make workers more productive and provide a key boost to the economys long-run growth. They should also boost wages and salaries for employees. Opponents of the tax law respond that companies are more likely to pass the windfall on to shareholders in the form of higher dividend payments and share buybacks, which raise the price of those shares still in investors hands. Previous cuts in corporate tax rates, in the United States and overseas, havent always led to higher wages. For Wall Street, its all good, at least in the short run. Most analysts take the view that either way, companies and the economy will benefit. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump reacts to death of Mormon Church president By Associated Press President Trump mourned the death of Mormon Church leader Thomas S. Monson on Wednesday evening. Trump tweeted a link to a statement in which he said that Monson demonstrated wisdom, inspired leadership, and great compassion and delivered a message of optimism, forgiveness, and faith. Melania and I are deeply saddened by the death of Thomas S. Monson, a beloved President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...https://t.co/ETD3fWtfU3 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2018 A church bishop at the age of 22, Monson became the youngest church apostle ever in 1963 at the age of 36. He served as a counselor for three church presidents before assuming the role of the top leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in February 2008. After a life of church service, Monson died Tuesday at his home in Salt Lake City, according to church spokesman Eric Hawkins. He was 90. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump tweets that Iranian protesters will see great U.S. support at the appropriate time By Associated Press President Trump continued to express support for Irans anti-government protesters on Wednesday. In a tweet, Trump commended the protesters and pledged that the United States will support them at the appropriate time. Such respect for the people of Iran as they try to take back their corrupt government. You will see great support from the United States at the appropriate time! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2018 Trumps tweet Wednesday morning came as Iranian Ambassador Gholamali Khoshroo sent a letter to United Nations officials complaining that Washington was intervening in a grotesque way in Irans internal affairs. The President and Vice-President of the United States, in their numerous absurd tweets, incited Iranians to engage in disruptive acts, the ambassador wrote to the U.N. Security Council president and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The U.S. didnt immediately respond to the letter, which maintains that Washington has crossed every limit in flouting rules and principles of international law governing the civilized conduct of international relations. At least 21 people have been killed and hundreds arrested in Iran during a week of anti-government protests and unrest over economic woes and official corruption. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people took part in counter-demonstrations Wednesday backing the clerically overseen government, which has said enemies of Iran are fomenting the protests. Trump has unleashed a series of tweets in recent days backing the protesters, saying Iran is failing at every level and declaring that it is time for change in the Islamic Republic. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump congratulates Sen. Orrin Hatch upon news of his retirement By Associated Press President Trump congratulated Sen. Orrin Hatch for an absolutely incredible career upon news of Hatchs impending retirement. In a tweet Tuesday afternoon, Trump called Hatch a tremendous supporter and wrote that he will be greatly missed in the Senate. Congratulations to Senator Orrin Hatch on an absolutely incredible career. He has been a tremendous supporter, and I will never forget the (beyond kind) statements he has made about me as President. He is my friend and he will be greatly missed in the U.S. Senate! pic.twitter.com/0VjzLEeHTl Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 Hatchs decision to retire from the Senate after four decades lets the Utah Republican walk away at the height of his power after helping to push through an overhaul of the tax code and persuading Trump to downsize two national monuments. Retirement also preserves the 83-year-olds legacy by allowing him to avoid a bruising reelection battle that would have broken his promise not to seek an eighth term. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump tweet exaggerates progress in improving veterans care By Associated Press President Trump played up tremendous progress in improving care for veterans in his first year on Tuesday in a tweet. His message linked to an Instagram video describing eight accomplishments that show Trump is fighting for our veterans. But it overstates the impact of these steps. We will not rest until all of Americas GREAT VETERANS can receive the care they so richly deserve. Tremendous progress has been made in a short period of time. Keep up the great work @SecShulkin @DeptVetAffairs! https://t.co/ir25vW15hx pic.twitter.com/OtuzIgxMn6 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 Of the eight achievements cited, two are ceremonial proclamations recognizing National Veterans and Military Families Month and National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Two are pieces of legislation that extended the troubled Veterans Choice program on a temporary basis. This became necessary because the Trump administration repeatedly miscalculated the amount of taxpayer dollars available to pay for care from private doctors outside the Veterans Affairs system when veterans had to endure long waits for treatment at VA medical centers. The departments poor budget planning caught lawmakers off guard. A fifth claim involves telehealth, a step letting doctors practice medicine across state lines using digital technology. Announced in August, it has yet to take full effect because a proposed VA regulation hasnt been completed. The VA wants authority to practice across state lines to come from legislation, not a regulation. On Wednesday, the Senate approved a telehealth measure that now goes to the House. A sixth claim refers to legislation that streamlines the appeals process for disability compensation claims within the VA. This step has had limited effect so far because it applies to new disability claims, not the 470,000 pending claims. The last two initiatives make it easier for the VA to discipline employees. The department has pointed to more than 1,300 employees who have been fired under Trumps watch. Because their infractions are not detailed in public documents, the effect on veterans care is not fully known. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump unleashes his first tweetstorm of 2018 By Noah Bierman President Trump clearly didnt resolve to change his Twitter habits this year. With nine disparate tweets over three hours on Tuesday morning, the first working day of 2018, Trump continued to exploit social media to be the most aggressive commentator in chief in American history. For any other president, his posts would have made for a monumental day of (mis-)statements. Yet for Trump, the series attacks on political foes and media, provocations of foreign leaders and self-praise for events he had nothing to do with was all but unremarkable. His Twitter barrage sent between 7:09 a.m. and 10:16 a.m. reflected a familiar gamut after nearly a year in office: Attacks on political foes: Nearly 14 months after his election, Trump called for the jailing of Huma Abedin, Crooked Hillary Clintons top aid (his misspelling, another occasional feature of Trump tweets). Crooked Hillary Clintons top aid, Huma Abedin, has been accused of disregarding basic security protocols. She put Classified Passwords into the hands of foreign agents. Remember sailors pictures on submarine? Jail! Deep State Justice Dept must finally act? Also on Comey & others Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 In the same tweet, he disparaged the Deep State Justice Dept, headed of course by his appointees, calling on it to act against James B. Comey, the FBI director he fired for investigating the Russia thing. Diplomatic provocations: Trump again called North Korean leader Kim Jong Un Rocket man, ridiculed the volatile nuclear-armed foe for recent military defections and openly speculated about potential talks between North and South Korea. Sanctions and other pressures are beginning to have a big impact on North Korea. Soldiers are dangerously fleeing to South Korea. Rocket man now wants to talk to South Korea for first time. Perhaps that is good news, perhaps not - we will see! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 Perhaps that is good news, perhaps not we will see! Trump wrote. Later Tuesday, Trump tweeted: North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times. Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2018 Also later Tuesday, Trump tweeted an attack on Pakistan, his second in as many days, and added a new one against Palestinians: It's not only Pakistan that we pay billions of dollars to for nothing, but also many other countries, and others. As an example, we pay the Palestinians HUNDRED OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS a year and get no appreciation or respect. They dont even want to negotiate a long overdue... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 ...peace treaty with Israel. We have taken Jerusalem, the toughest part of the negotiation, off the table, but Israel, for that, would have had to pay more. But with the Palestinians no longer willing to talk peace, why should we make any of these massive future payments to them? Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 Undermining media: Trump offered Congratulations! to A.G. Sulzberger, who took over as publisher of the New York Times this week. The Failing New York Times has a new publisher, A.G. Sulzberger. Congratulations! Here is a last chance for the Times to fulfill the vision of its Founder, Adolph Ochs, to give the news impartially, without fear or FAVOR, regardless of party, sect, or interests involved. Get... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 ....impartial journalists of a much higher standard, lose all of your phony and non-existent sources, and treat the President of the United States FAIRLY, so that the next time I (and the people) win, you wont have to write an apology to your readers for a job poorly done! GL Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 But the two-part post was really yet another slam against a perceived media foe: Trump said the paper had a last chance to fulfill its journalistic mission, and accused it of relying on phony sources and substandard reporters just days after he granted another exclusive interview to the paper. As a bonus, the tweet contained a recycled falsehood, that the paper apologized after the election for reporting on him unfairly. It didnt. Trump later said on Twitter that he would soon announce the most dishonest & corrupt media awards of the year. Stay tuned! I will be announcing THE MOST DISHONEST & CORRUPT MEDIA AWARDS OF THE YEAR on Monday at 5:00 oclock. Subjects will cover Dishonesty & Bad Reporting in various categories from the Fake News Media. Stay tuned! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2018 The president also tweeted a quote from Fox Business Networks Lou Dobbs Tonight, which aired a segment praising Trumps first-year accomplishments. Dobbs reportedly joined Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Sunday for a gala to celebrate New Years Eve. President Trump has something now he didnt have a year ago, that is a set of accomplishments that nobody can deny. The accomplishments are there, look at his record, he has had a very significant first year. @LouDobbs Show,David Asman & Ed Rollins Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2018 Taking credit: Trump congratulated himself for policing the border with Mexico, an area where his policies and anti-immigration rhetoric are believed to have had some effect on reducing illegal crossings. Thank you to Brandon Judd of the National Border Patrol Council for your kind words on how well we are doing at the Border. We will be bringing in more & more of your great folks and will build the desperately needed WALL! @foxandfriends Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 He took credit for employee bonuses by companies after he signed Republican tax cuts into law last month. Companies are giving big bonuses to their workers because of the Tax Cut Bill. Really great! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 But the jaw-dropper was Trump congratulating himself for planes not crashing. Since taking office I have been very strict on Commercial Aviation. Good news - it was just reported that there were Zero deaths in 2017, the best and safest year on record! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 It was the safest year on record worldwide, but the American streak without commercial jet passenger deaths goes back to 2009. Trump, who has promoted deregulation as one of his top accomplishments, has not signed off on any new airline safety regulations. The White House pointed to new security screening of passengers, to electronic devices to prevent terrorist attacks and to Trumps support for privatizing air traffic control a proposal that has gotten nowhere in Congress. Falsehoods: Trump said President Obama, in brokering the 2015 nuclear arms limitation deal with Iran, foolishly gave money to the brutal and corrupt Iranian regime. He didnt. The people of Iran are finally acting against the brutal and corrupt Iranian regime. All of the money that President Obama so foolishly gave them went into terrorism and into their pockets. The people have little food, big inflation and no human rights. The U.S. is watching! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 The nuclear deal, which included major U.S. allies as signators, released Irans own funds that had long been frozen. Trumps art of the deal: When Trump sees a big deal looming, he often blasts the other side to gain leverage, as hes written. This week he resumes a showdown with Democratic lawmakers over funding the government and immigration protections for so-called Dreamers, who were brought to the country illegally as children. Democrats are doing nothing for DACA - just interested in politics. DACA activists and Hispanics will go hard against Dems, will start falling in love with Republicans and their President! We are about RESULTS. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018 Trump, who in September ordered a gradual end of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, sought to shift blame for the resulting controversy, saying Democrats are doing nothing for DACA and are just interested in politics. Trump has insisted that any help for Dreamers be paired with funding for a border wall and a crackdown on legal immigration. Democrats, and some Republicans, are opposed. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement In tweet, Trump suggests U.S. will withdraw financial assistance to Pakistan By Shashank Bengali Pakistan lashed out Monday after President Trump accused its leaders of lies & deceit and suggested the United States would withdraw financial assistance to the nuclear-armed nation it once saw as a key ally against terrorism. It was the presidents latest broadside against Pakistan after a speech in August in which he demanded its leaders crack down on the safe havens enjoyed by Taliban militants fighting U.S.-backed forces in neighboring Afghanistan. The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 1, 2018 U.S. Ambassador David Hale was summoned to the Foreign Ministry to discuss the presidents statement, U.S. Embassy spokesman Richard Snelsire said. Pakistan lodged a strongly worded protest and asked for clarification about Trumps comments, according to two foreign office officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. Pakistans prime minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, called a Cabinet meeting for Tuesday and a meeting of the National Security Committee on Wednesday to discuss Trumps New Years Day tweet. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump continues to tweet in support of Iranian protesters By Laura King President Trump expressed renewed support Sunday for protesters in Iran, declaring that people are finally getting wise as to how their money and wealth is being stolen and squandered on terrorism. In a tweet from his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, the president said the nationwide economic protests that began on Thursday and have taken on wider political overtones as they have grown in size were a signal that Iranians will not take it any longer. Big protests in Iran. The people are finally getting wise as to how their money and wealth is being stolen and squandered on terrorism. Looks like they will not take it any longer. The USA is watching very closely for human rights violations! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2017 Trump has tweeted about the protests for three days straight as Iranians took to the streets despite a heavy police presence, tear gas and scores of arrests. The defiance gained urgency after two people were reported shot to death in the city of Dorud, about 200 miles southwest of Tehran. As the conflict escalated, Iranian authorities on Sunday slapped a temporary ban on Instagram and the messaging app Telegram, which were widely used to fan protest fervor. Iran, the Number One State of Sponsored Terror with numerous violations of Human Rights occurring on an hourly basis, has now closed down the Internet so that peaceful demonstrators cannot communicate. Not good! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2017 Irans leaders already are casting Trumps increasingly effusive expressions of support for the demonstrators as opportunistic meddling and are painting the demonstrators as foreign pawns, adopting a strategy that some analysts say could jeopardize the legitimacy of the nascent antigovernment protests. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump tweets condolences after Colorado deputies are shot in ambush, one fatally By Associated Press A man fired more than 100 rounds at sheriffs deputies in Colorado early Sunday, killing one and injuring four others, before being fatally shot himself in what authorities called an ambush. Two civilians were also injured. President Trump expressed sorrow, writing on Twitter: My deepest condolences to the victims of the terrible shooting in Douglas County @DCSheriff, and their families. We love our police and law enforcement - God Bless them all! #LESM Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2017 Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock said deputies came under fire almost 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Watch live: Education Secretary Betsy DeVos testifies on Trumps budget Follow live coverage from Times education reporter Joy Resmovits: Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 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 Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 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 Ask Zov Karamardian what the culinary scene was like in Orange County when she decided to turn her popular home catering businesses into a tiny Tustin brick-and-mortar in 1987 and shell tell you one word: nothing. There really was nothing here 30 years ago, she says. Restaurants serving the kind of home-made artisanal food she was passionate about just didnt exist. Even if they did, they definitely wouldnt have been serving croissants and charcuterie alongside then-exotic items such as couscous, hummus and her mothers famous lentil soup. By the time Karamardian decided to open the first Zovs Bistro in the quaint Enderle Center just off the 55 Freeway, the Armenian immigrant (who was 14 when her family fled revolutionary Baghdad and landed in San Franciscos Haight-Ashbury neighborhood) had already spent over a decade building a word-of-mouth reputation as a gracious and versatile event chef. She got the idea to move the business out of her own kitchen one day when wandering around Enderle Center while waiting for a gift purchase to be wrapped. Her vision: Turn A to Z Gourmet Catering into a casual coffee shop and marketplace like the ones she remembered seeing everywhere from France to the Middle East. My whole intent was to have a Starbucks, a small place with good coffee where you could get artisanal food to go, she says of the 1,500 square-foot former ice cream shop where she eventually opened the first Zovs Bistro. But I was way ahead of myself. Back then, nobody took food home, everybody cooked. But people liked everything I made so much that they didnt want to leave. So slowly but surely, we evolved. Karamardian is now one of Orange Countys most beloved local chefs and her restaurants are one of the few around that can claim to have fostered multiple generations of hardcore regulars. Part of the success lies in a menu full of Zov-y versions of familiar favorites pasta, burgers, salads, flatbreads all made with French techniques buried beneath layers of Mediterranean flavors. But much of the restaurants appeal lies in Karamardian herself, who is as humble about her role as the heart of Zovs as she is about her achievements as one of O.C.s first recognizable food personalities. Over the years, the accomplished self-taught chef has cooked at the James Beard House, organized charity dinners with Emeril Lagasse and even counted Julia Child a woman who Karamardian watched on TV every day as a teenager and considers a mentor as a close personal friend. She self-published two cookbooks and was named both Restaurateur of the Year by the California Restaurant Assn.and California Chef of the Year by the governors office. All this before celebrity chef was even a term. It was never about making money or being a businesswoman, she says. As strange as it may sound, its not about me. Its about customers. Its about the community. Its about helping other people. Today, as the company celebrates 30 years in business, there are four Zovs Bistros across Orange County, which doesnt include the two counters inside the John Wayne Airport or the Zovs Bakery & Cafe and Zovs Marketplace, which both nest within the sprawling Zovs headquarters, built around the original bistro in Tustin. The Marketplace, which opened in 2012, is a return to her original coffee shop concept, where you can get a gelato or a cup of joe and buy daily doses of muffins, rugelach or nut-packed jumble cookies, all made by Karamardians longtime pastry chef, Michelle Bracken. Karamardians two children have joined the family business; son Armen is leading the expansion of the Zovs brand as CEO and daughter Taleene manages the creative side of the restaurants, including recent updates to the brands look and feel. Karamardians husband, Gary, now retired from a career in aerospace, is a fixture at the Tustin Zovs, greeting customers at lunchtime and sitting down with regulars for a drink. At 72, Karamardian herself is as energetic as ever. Shes cut back on her on-site cooking classes and doesnt hobnob with the big-name chefs as often anymore, but shes still as strong a force as ever at her namesake restaurants, working up to six days a week, many of them in the kitchen, making jams and pickling things and experimenting with her signature spice blends just like shes been doing since day one. My goal was to retire at 50, she says with a laugh. But retirement is hard when youre doing what you love, and even harder when you come from a long line of survivors, who know that life is too short to not take risks or fear failure. All I can say is that if you have the will to do what you love and the passion to do it, you cant fail, Karamardian says. Its true. If you love what you do and youre not afraid to work and you have the perseverance, how could you fail? SARAH BENNETT is a freelance journalist covering food, drink, music, culture and more. She is the former food editor at L.A. Weekly and a founding editor of Beer Paper L.A. Follow her on Twitter @thesarahbennett. A Newport Beach man pleaded not guilty Wednesday to felony charges stemming from allegations that he posed as an attorney and defrauded clients through debt consolidation and mortgage modification schemes. James Frank Barker, 57, is facing eight counts of money laundering and three counts of grand theft, with possible sentencing enhancements on allegations of aggravated white-collar crime over $100,000, property damage/loss over $65,000 and property loss over $200,000, according to Orange County Superior Court records. If convicted, Barker could face a maximum of 11 years and eight months in state prison. The Orange County district attorneys office alleges that between December 2013 and July 2015, Barker posed as a lawyer under several aliases and law firm names to solicit clients by promising to consolidate debt or reduce mortgage payments through loan modifications. During that time, prosecutors say, Barker collected a total of $45,600 from three pairs of clients and didnt notify his clients debtors that he was representing them. Authorities allege he refused to give his clients refunds after failing to perform any work in exchange for the money. The district attorneys office launched an investigation in December 2015 after receiving a tip from an attorney who represented two of Barkers clients. Newport Beach police arrested Barker on Monday and he was booked into Orange County Jail without bail, according to jail records. He is expected to appear in court May 25 for a pretrial hearing. hannah.fry@latimes.com Twitter: @HannahFryTCN The organizers of a Make America Great Again march in Huntington Beach that turned violent two months ago are planning a similar event in Fountain Valley. This time, the group, which bills itself as the Southern California Silent Majority MAGA, is focusing on opposing sanctuary states that seek to fight the federal governments clampdown on undocumented immigrants. Like the last march, the gathering also will lend support to the Trump administration and the military, with organizers asking that participants bring clothing, blankets, linens and toiletries to donate to Disabled American Veterans. The event is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 3 at Mile Square Regional Park, 16801 Euclid St. Darlene Savord, an organizer with the group, said the gathering will have the same general platform of promoting patriotism. In particular, the march will oppose California Senate Bill 54, which would keep state and local law enforcement agencies from using resources to investigate, detain, report or arrest people for purposes of immigration enforcement. It has been dubbed the sanctuary state bill. We are not opposed to immigration, just illegal immigration, Savord said. The bill, proposed by state Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles), is in the state Assembly after passing the Senate in April. On March 25 at Bolsa Chica State Beach in Huntington Beach, a brawl broke out between Make America Great Again marchers and protesters opposed to President Trump. About a dozen demonstrators showed up to protest the march, and several people were pepper-sprayed and some beaten during the altercation. (Warning: Graphic language in video below) Man in black mask chased onto PCH, marchers said he pepper sprayed them #MAGAMARCH in #HuntingtonBeach pic.twitter.com/ZPNWJaVYol Ben Brazil (@benbrazilpilot) March 25, 2017 Three men were arrested on suspicion of illegal use of a Taser and one woman was arrested on suspicion of assault and battery. All were part of the protest, Capt. Kevin Pearsall of California State Parks said at the time. When asked about the potential for a repeat of the clash with counterdemonstrators, Savord said she didnt want to discuss it. This will be a family-friendly event, she said. The march at Mile Square Regional Park will need a permit from Orange County Parks. Savord said her group is working to obtain it. OC Parks spokeswoman Marisa ONeil said staff is reviewing the application and coordinating with the Sheriffs Department to address any concerns. About 2,000 marchers attended the Huntington Beach event, Pearsall said. As of Thursday morning, 142 people on the Silent Majority MAGA Facebook page said they planned to go to the Fountain Valley march and 332 were interested. benjamin.brazil@latimes.com Twitter:@benbrazilpilot An Orange County Superior Court jury began deliberating Thursday in the third trial for a man whose conviction in the 1981 killing of a Newport Beach retiree was overturned by a federal judge. James Andrew Melton, 65, of Los Angeles was convicted and sentenced to death in 1982 after being accused of seducing 77-year-old Anthony DeSousa and then strangling him in his Newport Beach condominium in a plot to steal from him. However, a federal judge overturned the conviction in 2007 after determining that jail staff overmedicated Melton to the point that he was unable to participate in his defense or understand his trial. According to court filings, Melton had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from violence and sexual abuse as a child and had a history of alcohol and drug abuse that began when he was a boy. After a new trial was ordered, the Orange County district attorneys office decided not to seek the death penalty. In the 2014 retrial, a jury deadlocked 10-2 in favor of convicting Melton of murder. Jurors in that trial did not hear testimony from Meltons former lover Johnny Boyd, to whom prosecutors claimed Melton confessed shortly after DeSousas death. In his third trial, which began May 1 in Orange County Superior Court, the prosecution alleges that Melton and Boyd, while serving prison sentences in San Luis Obispo in 1980, concocted a plan to make money by robbing older gay men whom they would find through newspaper ads. Senior Deputy District Attorney Stephen McGreevy said Boyd, who was released from prison before Melton, met DeSousa through a personal ad. DeSousa, who had come out as gay after his wife died, told Boyd that he liked black men, and Boyd offered to set him up with a man he said was his cousin. Authorities say that man was Melton. Boyd was arrested in an unrelated case a few days before the three men were scheduled to rendezvous. According to the prosecution, Melton decided to meet DeSousa alone on Oct. 10, 1981, at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim. That day, McGreevy alleges, Melton strangled DeSousa and made off with his car and other valuables. Three days later, DeSousas body was found in his bedroom. He had been badly beaten and strangled with the wire of an electric mirror, authorities said. Meltons defense attorney, Denise Gragg, contended the prosecution presented an overly simplistic view of the case. Gragg said there were no fingerprints or DNA evidence at DeSousas home linking Melton to the crime. She said Boyd, a key witness for the prosecution who was given immunity to testify in Meltons first trial, had credibility issues. Boyd died of complications of AIDS in 1992, so in the current trial, the jury was read transcripts of his original testimony. Graggs statements to the jury have portrayed Boyd as deeply in love with Melton and that he became infuriated when Melton didnt want to be with him when they were released from prison. The defense alleges that Boyds anger gave him a motive to set up Melton to take the fall for a crime he didnt commit. McGreevy rejected that idea, noting that Melton and Boyd went out together in Los Angeles a week before DeSousa was killed. Theres no evidence the two were on bad terms, he said. McGreevy encouraged jurors Thursday to think about the fear DeSousa likely felt during his final moments. Mr. DeSousa has waited a long time for justice in this case, McGreevy said. hannah.fry@latimes.com Twitter: @HannahFryTCN Go out to Newport Pier this week at low tide and youll see copious amounts of tiny clams. Thousands upon thousands of them glinting like upended jellybeans in pearlescent shades of apricot, violet, cobalt and gray have turned the beach into a field of living pebbles among the kelp clumps and scallop shells that the tide typically leaves behind. Bruno Pernet, a professor of invertebrate biology at Cal State Long Beach, identified the fingernail-size organisms as donax gouldii, or bean clams. He speculated that a particularly large clam baby boom could have led to crowding under the sand that pushed some closer to the surface. Bean clams live just under the sand in the swash zone where broken waves wash up on the beach and are known to reproduce in boom-and-bust cycles and concentrate in dense patches. They are common to the area, Pernet said. However, he hadnt seen anything quite like the mass near the Newport Pier. Thats pretty stunning, actually, he said when looking at a photo taken Thursday morning. The clams appeared to be alive, based on their halves being connected and many jutting out of the sand vertically with their posteriors up. Thats their life position, Pernet said. Aaron Berger of Newport Beach was walking along the sand Thursday with his 2-year-old daughter Blair, who loves to look at shells. She had plenty to study. I didnt notice they were alive until I picked one up and saw the little tongue, Berger said. Surfer Rene Jordan of Tustin noticed the clams as he made his way toward the waves. Theyre pretty amazing, arent they? he said. He pushed his feet into the gelatinous wet sand to demonstrate how the clams scoot back into place. He said hes seen them before but there seems to be a lot more than last year. Newport Beach lifeguard Capt. Jon Mitchell likened the clams to coquina clams commonly found along the shore in Florida. He said the clams seen this week show up several times a year in Newport Beach, mainly by Newport Pier. When you see clams like that, its a sign of a healthy beach, he said. If the water wasnt healthy, you wouldnt have little organisms like that around. Pernet said the bean clams are lively little mollusks. They jump to reposition themselves and take advantage of the wave action. Theyll poke their foot appendages out if shaken in a bowl of water. Theyre pretty cool clams, he said. Staff writer Hannah Fry contributed to this report. hillary.davis@latimes.com Twitter: @Daily_PilotHD Odds are there wont be many opportunities to see a live video game tournament, full-contact jousting, a minivan demolition derby, demonstrations from a master chocolatier, extreme pogo sticks, an olive oil tasting bar, liqueur- and salsa-making competitions and a supersize Ferris wheel with air-conditioned cabins all in one place. The 127th annual Orange County Fair is one of them. All those things and more are among the new features planned for this years fair, which runs July 14 through Aug. 13 at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa. The fair also will include returning favorites such as the All-Alaskan Racing Pigs, comedy hypnotist Mark Yuzuik and the Brew Hee Haw craft beer event, according to a Fair & Event Center news release. The theme is Farm Fresh Fun, a nod to Orange Countys agricultural roots. Of course, no O.C. Fair would be complete without new gaudy goodies to try, and the culinary concoctions cooked up this year include Flamin Hot Cheetos pizza, deep-fried ravioli on a stick and gelato doughnut sandwiches. A diverse assortment of musicians will provide food for the ears as well. Headlining acts such as Lynyrd Skynyrd, the B-52s, Pepe Aguilar and Huey Lewis & the News will play in the Pacific Amphitheatre, according to the Fair & Event Center. That venue also will host a few big-time double bills, such as Michael McDonald and Boz Scaggs, the Steve Miller Band and Peter Frampton, and the Isley Brothers and the Commodores. Another Fair & Event Center venue, The Hangar, will host its own series of summertime performances, including tribute bands for acts such as Queen, Metallica, Pink Floyd, the Bee Gees, Guns N Roses and Willie Nelson. The full concert schedule: Pacific Amphitheatre July 8: Steel Pulse/Wailers/Fortunate Youth July 9: Steel Pulse/Common Kings/The Simpkin Project July 12: Kenny Loggins/Pacific Symphony July 13: Dashboard Confessional/All-American Rejects July 14: Gabriel Fluffy Iglesias July 15: Lynyrd Skynyrd/Jeramiah Red July 16: Happy Together Tour July 19: Retro Futura July 20: B-52s/Pacific Symphony July 21: Slightly Stoopid/Iration/J Boog/The Movement July 22: Strangelove/Dead Mans Party July 23: Pepe Aguilar July 26: Gavin DeGraw/Calum Scott July 27: Justin Moore/Tyler Rich July 28: Roberto Tapia/Larry Hernandez July 29: Echo & the Bunnymen/Violent Femmes July 30: Kenny Rogers Aug. 2: The Band Perry/Alice Wallace Aug 3: Huey Lewis & the News Aug. 4: Colbie Caillat/Justin Young Aug. 5: The Fab Four Aug. 6: Michael McDonald/Boz Scaggs Aug. 9: Steve Miller Band/Peter Frampton Aug. 10: Isley Brothers/Commodores Aug. 11-12: Rebelution/Nahko & Medicine for the People/Hirie Aug. 13: Jake Owen/Honey County Aug. 20: Yurida/Ha*Ash The Hangar July 14: Space Oddity July 15: Which Ones Pink? July 16: Blue Oyster Cult July 19: Elton: The Early Years July 20: Hotel California July 21: BOSTYX July 22: Hot August Night July 23: Metalachi July 23: Trevor Hall July 26: I Am King July 27: Wild Child July 28: Turn the Page July 29: Sweet & Tender Hooligans July 30: Marshall Tucker Band Aug. 2: Queen Nation Aug. 3: Bee Gees Gold Aug. 4: Damage Inc. Aug. 5: Zeppelin Live Aug. 6: Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez Aug. 9: True Willie Aug. 10: Paradise City Aug. 11: Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular Aug. 12-13: iBUYPOWER/OC Fair GameFest For information about tickets or the schedule for this years fair, visit ocfair.com/2017. luke.money@latimes.com Twitter @LukeMMoney The Orange Coast College Republicans Club is demanding the administration take disciplinary action against an instructor who denied club members entrance to an on-campus event in March. The Republicans Club asserted on its Facebook page Wednesday that Jessica Alabi, a sociology and gender studies instructor at OCC, denied three group members, including club President Vincent Wetzel, admission to an African American/Womens round table discussion in the Multicultural Center. For the record: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that the African American/womens round table discussion was part of a series of Womens History Month events. It was an invitation-only event. When they tried entering the venue, Wetzel said Alabi stopped them and said, You cant be here. They walked away dumbfounded, he said, and Alabi followed them outside and asked, What are you even doing here? Wetzel said the group is calling attention to the incident after receiving a response from the college to a California Public Records Act request they filed. Members requested emails from administrators discussing the club. Within the information received, there are emails from Alabi addressing her frustration to administrators in March. We didnt understand that this was a big deal, and our club has a responsibility to do something like this, Wetzel said. If there is a professor with a vendetta against Republicans, and this is a teacher within our campus, shes supposed to include a non-discriminatory and welcoming environment for all her classes. OCC spokesman Juan Gutierrez said the college has not received a formal complaint but is investigating. Club meetings and events are generally open to all, he added, unless they become disruptive or intimidating. Alabi couldnt be reached for comment. Rob Schneiderman, president of the Coast Federation of Educators, said Thursday night via email that the event was a private, invitation-only event for African American women and not part of the Womens History Month. The Republican club was trying to disrupt the event for publicity, and they were redirected to the actual Womens History Month event, which was in another building, Schneiderman said. In an email dated March 1, Alabi writes to student Michael Morvice and college administrators explaining how she spent 20 minutes convincing the Republican Club president that he should not come to the Feminist Club meeting nor send his female students to visit next week. Alabi tried explaining the irrational discomfort club members would feel if Wetzel attended meetings and recommended Wetzel further discuss the matter with the club leader. She ends her email with: I am sick and tired of the run-ins on campus and pretending that they dont know whats going on. Im not wasting my time with mediation . In an email dated March 22, Alabi informed OCC President Dennis Harkins and administrators that she told Republican Club members to not attend Curl Talk, an event hosted for Womens History Month on campus. I just want everyone to be advised that the African- American female students had, and still have, an expectation that this is a safe space event, the email reads. If the college will not stand up to the Republican club, I have decided to stand up for myself and other students. Just wanted to keep you informed. Harkins emailed Derek Vergara, dean of student services, and Kevin Henson, dean of social and behavior sciences, the same day, saying Alabi may be overstepping her authority unless the students behavior was disruptive to the event. Harkins encouraged they review (the) situation as soon as possible. Even with a third-party mediation group hired by the college to help facilitate conversation, Wetzel said its the colleges job to ensure employees are fair and respectful to all students. This is the second time in recent months the club has publicly disagreed with a faculty member. Attempts to establish healthier relationships among college groups, including the Feminist Club, were prompted after the incident between Caleb ONeil and human sexuality professor Olga Perez Stable Cox. It seems extraordinary to me that when its a conservative student targeted, administration doesnt seem to care, Wetzel said. If a student from a minority group is targeted, then we feel like administration is more responsive. Gutierrez said the college takes seriously all faculty, staff and community member complaints and strives to hold constructive and civil dialogue to reach a solution. Tension among the Republicans Club and campus escalated last year when ONeil secretly recorded Cox calling President Trumps election victory an act of terrorism during class. ONeil shared his video with the club, whose president at the time, Joshua Recalde-Martinez, posted it online. Though ONeils video is about two minutes long, he said in an appeal notice that Cox spoke for 20 minutes. News of the video spread quickly, sparking a nationwide debate between those who said Cox had the academic freedom to express her views in a private setting and those who argued that her statements went too far. Priscella.Vega@latimes.com Twitter: @vegapriscella UPDATES: May 19, 11:35 a.m.: This article was updated to include a statement from Rob Schneiderman, president of Coast Federation of Educators, that the event was invitation-only. This article was originally published May 18 at 4 p.m. Memorial Day has become a company holiday, an excuse for a three-day weekend, an opportunity for retail sales promotions and the beginning of the summer season. We have forgotten what it is all about. Unfortunately, with less than 1% of the population in the military and the total number of veterans shrinking every day as we lose our greatest generation of World War II veterans, the general population doesnt have a personal connection to Memorial Day. Memorial Day was started after the Civil War when, because of the horrific number of casualties, most of the country had experienced a loss of a family member or a friend during the fighting. In 1971, Memorial Day was officially declared a national holiday during the Vietnam War. We honor on this day the men and women who have died while serving in the U.S. military. For those of us who have served in combat, Memorial Day has special meaning. Combat changes a person, and you never forget the men around you who did not make it home. Sometimes, when memory gets foggy, you may forget what someone looked like or maybe a complete name, but the ones closest to you are always there. Memorial Day forces us to remember them and their sacrifice. I remember one person, Ronald Natalie. He was a 21-year-old supply clerk who was stationed with me at battery headquarters in Pleiku, Vietnam. I was the executive officer in the battery, and he was a SP4 and one of the enlisted in the HQ platoon. I dont remember if he was drafted or volunteered. He was a pleasant man from the Midwest Monroe, Mich., I believe, and he had many friends. I never had a close relationship with Natalie but saw him often during daily operations. What I remember vividly is his last day before the ambush. Natalie came to me and asked for permission to go to a distant fire base by Jeep to say goodbye to some of his friends. I thought it was a bad idea with less than two weeks to go before he shipped home, but I could not dissuade him from going so I insisted that he take our most experienced combat soldier, our motor pool sergeant, who was on his third tour in Vietnam and was maybe 22 years old. I remember telling them to stay alert, stay sober and dont get on the highway late. If you leave late, you might miss the road-clearing detail that sweeps the highway for stragglers or broken equipment before dark. After that sweep, Charlie or the Viet Cong, owns the road. Unfortunately, they left late, and traveling fast hoped to catch up with the sweeper gunships. At about 5 p.m., I received a call that my Jeep was involved in an ambush about 20 miles south of Pleiku, and an infantry unit from the 4th Division was heading out in choppers to find a missing GI who was blown out of a Jeep during the ambush. I asked if we should organize a rescue effort by road and was told to wait at the Pleiku hospital for details. I organized two vehicles to transport us out of Artillery Hill, where the battery was located across the town to the hospital on the other side. We arrived and waited in the back of the emergency room near the pad, where the choppers land. While we waited, a medevac arrived with a Special Forces team wounded in action across the border. It was chaos as the medical team tried to save those that they could and triage the rest. After watching for some time as the doctors performed surgery there in the emergency room to save several severely wounded, I wandered off into the building and directly behind the receiving room was an alcove with bodies stacked on gurneys for processing. It must have been a busy day. Only the feet were visible and each had a dog tag wired to a toe. A few hours later after dark a chopper came in with my sergeant and the body of Natalie. They had found him on the side of the highway where he fell. I was asked to identify the body and was taken to a shed near the chopper pad where bodies were stored until they could be processed. My medic and I pulled Natalies body out for identification but it was impossible to recognize him since he took a direct hit from a rocket-propelled grenadeor RPG. My medic told me to find his dog tags and search his uniform and pockets for identification, and together we completed the task and agreed that this was Natalie. We collected our exhausted sergeant and headed back to the battery across town. We were on edge because it was dark, and the trip was outside the wire and we were a small detachment with little firepower to defend ourselves except for our M16s. We arrived safely and everyone in our unit wanted information. My sergeant was emotionally drained and devastated by what had happened. He held himself responsible and broke down in tears pleading with me to send him home. This was his third tour, and he had seen enough. He was damaged, and all I could do was assure him that he made the right decisions and he could not have saved Natalie. In fact, a colonel called me that night and praised the actions of our sergeant. I was told that he was some soldier, and we should be proud of him. He had performed superbly but all I could do was tell him that I would try to get him home early. Unfortunately, there was nothing I could do and he was still in the country serving out his tour when I left a few months later. Memorial Day, to me, is all about Natalie and the sacrifice he made in 1970. I had many men wounded during my tour, and I am sure that several did not survive. It is Natalie whom I remember. I have always felt responsible for his death because I let him go despite my gut feeling that it was a mistake. I did learn from that mistake and demanded for the rest of my tour that anyone short sit tight, stay bored and go home in one piece. I was lucky and survived Vietnam, but he did not. My life has been full with a wife who loves me, children I am proud of and grandchildren I can enjoy at the end of my life. Natalie lost his life and missed that opportunity. I will always remember him every year on Memorial Day. CHASE WICKERSHAM is a U.S. Army veteran who served in Vietnam and Director of Goodwill of Orange Countys Tierney Center for Veteran Services. Support our coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Swedens top prosecutor said Friday that she is dropping an investigation into a rape claim against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange after almost seven years because theres no possibility of arresting him in the foreseeable future. The announcement means the outspoken WikiLeaks leader no longer faces sex crime allegations in Sweden, although British police say he still is wanted in Britain for jumping bail in 2012. Friday was the deadline for the Swedish prosecution to send a request to Stockholm District Court in the Assange case. Advertisement Assange, 45, took refuge in Ecuadors embassy in London in 2012 to escape extradition to Sweden to answer questions about sex crime allegations from two women. He has been there since, fearing that if he is in custody, he ultimately might be extradited to the United States. This is a total victory for Julian Assange, Per E Samuelsson, his lawyer in Sweden, told Swedish Radio. He is now free to leave the embassy when he wants. We have won the Assange case. He is of course happy and relieved. He has been critical that it has lasted that long. Speaking from the balcony of Ecuadors London embassy Friday, Assange said Swedens decision to drop the rape investigation against him is an important victory for me and for the U.N. human rights system. The WikiLeaks founder said his seven-year legal ordeal which he calls unjust detention is not something that I can forgive. Assange said his battle is not over, and the proper war is just commencing. Assange believes the United States wants him extradited and arrested in connection with WikiLeaks publication of classified U.S. documents. Its not known whether U.S. officials are seeking Assanges arrest because of a possible sealed indictment. Last month, President Trump said he would support any decision by the Justice Department to charge Assange. WikiLeaks tweeted after the Swedish announcement: UK refuses to confirm or deny whether it has already received a US extradition warrant for Julian Assange. Focus now moves to UK. The Swedish Prosecution Authority said chief Marianne Ny has decided to discontinue the investigation. Ny said she will call back the European arrest warrant on Assange. Ny told reporters that the WikiLeaks founder had tried to dodge all attempts at arrest by British and Swedish authorities. She said prosecutors had been unable to make a full assessment of the case and were not making a finding on whether Assange was guilty of the allegations. She said the case could be reopened if Assange returns to Sweden before the statute of limitations expires in 2020. Prosecutors frustrated by Assanges refusal to return to Sweden for questioning eventually came to London to meet with him at the Ecuadorean Embassy last year. Samuelsson, the lawyer in Sweden, told Swedish Radio he had been in touch with Assange via text message and the Australian had written, Serious, Oh My God. British police said that despite Swedens decision to drop a rape investigation, Assange still faces arrest if he leaves Ecuadors embassy in London. The Metropolitan Police said there is a British warrant for Assanges arrest after he jumped bail in 2012, and the force is obliged to execute that warrant should he leave the embassy. But it added that Assange is now wanted for a much less serious offense than the original sex crimes claims, and police will provide a level of resourcing which is proportionate to that offense. British police kept up an around-the-clock guard outside the embassy until December 2015, when the operation was scaled back, in part because of the cost, which had exceeded 11 million pounds (over $17.5 million at the time). Assange and WikiLeaks have repeatedly infuriated U.S. officials with the widespread release of sensitive secret documents related to military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq and diplomatic relations around the world. WikiLeaks also had a provocative role in the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign when it published emails written by Hillary Clinton campaign officials. Chelsea Manning, a soldier in the U.S. Army, served seven years in prison for giving classified material to WikiLeaks. She was freed Wednesday, having had her sentence commuted by outgoing President Obama before he left office. ALSO WikiLeaks says it will work with tech firms to defeat CIA hacking U.S. prosecutors weighing charges against WikiLeaks, reports say With Laura Poitras re-cut Risk, a director controversially changes her mind about Julian Assange UPDATES: 9:15 a.m.: This article was updated with Assanges comments from Ecuadors London embassy. 5:40 a.m.: This article was updated with additional background on the persecution of Julian Assange, as well as WikiLeaks document releases and Chelsea Manning. This article was originally published at 3:40 a.m. President Trump , embarking this week on his first overseas trip as U.S. leader, can count on a warm reception in his first stop: historic American ally Saudi Arabia, the Sunni Muslim powerhouse of the Persian Gulf region. Relations between the conservative, oil-rich kingdom and Trumps predecessor, President Obama , were notably chilly by the end of his tenure, so both sides see this presidential visit as a chance for a fresh start. But even on such friendly territory, there are points on which longstanding U.S. interests diverge from those of the House of Saud, the ruling royal family. With Trump making his world-stage debut just after an outcry over his reported disclosure of highly classified information to the Russians, his aides will try hard to keep him on script. But Trumps access to Twitter and a major address during the Saudi stop could leave some latitude for off-the-cuff presidential asides. Here is a look at some of the issues underlying the U.S.-Saudi relationship: Graphic: Explaining the terms of the Iran Nuclear deal 1. Iran nuclear deal The landmark nuclear accord by the U.S. and five other world powers with the kingdoms Shiite Muslim rival Iran has rankled Saudi Arabia since the deal was struck in 2015. After splashy campaign promises to tear up the agreement, which he has called the worst deal ever, Trumps administration recently certified to Congress that Iran was abiding by the accords terms though the administration also said it was conducting a comprehensive review of the pact. Theres little question that Saudi Arabia sees Trump as like-minded on the subject of the nuclear deal and will be eager to try to make him even more so. 2. Sectarian tensions Trumps national security advisor, H.R. McMaster, said the Saudi stop is meant to unite the broader Muslim world. But if not handled carefully, the visit could heighten antagonism across the Sunni-Shiite divide including with the Shiite-led government of Iraq, a key U.S. ally. The great majority of the worlds Muslims are Sunni estimates range from 85% to 95% but the 1,400-year-old sectarian split continues to drive proxy conflicts across the region to this day. (Shizuo Kambayashi / Associated Press) (Shizuo Kambayashi / AP) 3. Power, and power behind the throne Trumps main ceremonial interlocutor will be 81-year-old King Salman, who ascended the throne in January 2015 and is the absolute monarch that is, the head of government. Other influential figures include the kings 31-year-old son Mohammed bin Salman known in Washington circles as MbS who is defense minister and deputy crown prince. Like Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner, the young deputy crown prince has a broad portfolio, encompassing economic affairs, the national investment fund and the oil monopoly. Palace intrigue is a backdrop of daily life, with the royal family encompassing thousands of princes and princesses. And while the kingdoms revenues have been dented by low oil prices, royal displays of ostentatious wealth might discomfit some visitors but probably not Trump. (Noor Punasiya / Associate Press) (Noor Punasiya / AP) 4. Islamic State Critics see Saudi Arabias austere brand of Wahabbi Islam as a wellspring of violent jihadist ideology despite the kingdoms own well-publicized domestic battle against groups like Islamic State and the toll of terror attacks staged by the group, and Saudi participation in the U.S.-led military campaign against the extremist group in Syria and Iran. Saudi Arabia claims some success in the government programs to deradicalize disaffected young men, but critics question whether such efforts yield large-scale or sustained success. (Ahmad Gharabli / AFP / Getty Images) (AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP/Getty Images) 5. Outside-in and Israel The White House hopes to enlist the aid of Sunni Arab states like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in helping craft a peace accord between Palestinians and Israelis. That idea, known as the outside-in approach to Mideast peacemaking, has been around since at least the early 1990s. But the consensus among regional experts is that while Gulf states are more than willing to engage in behind-the-scenes cooperation with Israel on security and economic concerns, overt diplomatic recognition is unlikely without the creation of a Palestinian state. Egypt and Jordan remain the only Arab states with peace treaties with Israel, which is on Trumps travel itinerary. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 6. Womens rights Women in Saudi Arabia arent allowed to drive, despite a long fight for rights that at times has seemed to gather momentum. King Salman last month announced reforms to the guardianship system, under which women need permission of a father, husband, or even a son for many life decisions but rights groups say the relaxed rules still mean women need a male relatives consent to travel abroad or marry. German Chancellor Angela Merkel raised the guardianship issue during a visit to the kingdom this month, but Trump is seen as unlikely to make any public reference that would embarrass the monarchy. The kingdom was already stung by another recent outcry: widespread complaints last month when Saudi Arabia was elected to a seat on the U.N. womens rights commission. (Facundo Arrizabalaga / European PressPhoto Agency) (FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA / EPA) 7. Other abuses Saudi Arabia is consistently the target of criticism by international rights groups and other Western governments over practices like execution by public beheading, and the leveling of religious-based charges such as apostasy or insulting Islam against activists like blogger Raif Badawi, who is serving a 10-year prison sentence and has been publicly flogged, or the poet Ashraf Fayadh, whose death sentence was commuted. The Trump administration has been criticized for failing to make human rights a fundamental part of U.S. policy. But presidential aides say quiet asks work better than public demands, citing the case of Aya Hijazi, a young Egyptian-American who was freed after Trumps red-carpet welcome at the White House for Egypts strongman president, Abdel Fattah Sisi. Critics respond that such instances of clemency are mainly symbolic, leaving thousands across the region imprisoned under harsh conditions. (Mohammed Huwais / AFP / Getty Images) (MOHAMMED HUWAIS / AFP/Getty Images) 8. Arms The United States and Saudi Arabia are reportedly close to agreement on a series of arms deals amounting to more than $100 billion, elements of which could be unveiled during Trumps visit. But the role of American weaponry in a Saudi-led military coalitions bombardment aimed at Houthi rebels in Yemen has drawn denunciations at home and abroad. Critics such as Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) say the U.S. shares culpability for a humanitarian catastrophe in what was already the Arab worlds poorest country, and a death toll that has surpassed 10,000 during the past two years, according to the United Nations. (Gene Boyars / Associated Press) (Gene Boyars / AP) 9. Shadows of 9/11 The kingdom was home to 15 of the 19 hijackers in the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. In the waning months of the Obama administration, Congress overrode a presidential veto and enacted the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, known as JASTA. Saudi Arabia, which vehemently denied any official culpability in the attacks, waged a concerted and expensive lobbying effort against the measure, which triggered fresh court battles by hundreds of victims families to win restitution and an apology from the kingdom. Trump publicly supports the measure, but Saudi Arabia would like to see the act amended or scrapped. CVM opens probe after press reports that the company at the center of the latest corruption scandal bought "large quantities" of dollars in the currency markets Sorry... ..An error has occured: If you have any queries about this error, try emailing feedback@mirror.co.uk and we'll do what we can to help you. ZID:308457493 May 19, 2017, 9:28am ET Uber puts pressure on top engineer over theft claims Uber wants its former lead engineer to clear the air in the case involving Waymo. The engineer at the crux of the Uber versus Waymo lawsuit has been given an ultimatum by his current employer either deny stealing files from Alphabet's self-driving division or get out. That's what Uber General Counsel Salle You wrote to Anthony Levandowski in a May 15 letter. Waymo, Levandowski's former employer, claims the engineer stole technical files before leaving the company and ultimately landing a job Uber. "If you do not agree to comply with all of the requirements set forth herein, or if you fail to comply in a material manner, then Uber will take adverse employment action against you, which may include termination of your employment, Yoo wrote in the letter, according to Bloomberg. Levandowski worked on Waymo's self-driving car before leaving to form his own autonomous startup, Otto. Uber eventually acquired Otto for $680 million and promoted Levandowski to head of its self-driving car operations. Although Waymo has alleged that Levandowski stole thousands of files before departing the company, he isn't a defendant in Waymo's lawsuit. Levandowski's lawyer argues that Yoo's demand is unconstitutional. "Anything short of firing Mr. Levandowski to get him to waive his Fifth Amendment rights and attorney-client privileges would put Uber at risk of contempt, since it would fail to measure up to the Court's command that Uber exercise every lawful power it has over Mr. Levandowski, Miles Ehrlich, Levandowski's lawyer, said. U.S. District Judge William Alsup, who's overseeing the case in the Northern District of California, has asked prosecutors to investigate the claim. Michael P. Ohm (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com) A Bethlehem man was charged Friday in a break-in attempt last September at the 1920s Archibald Johnston Mansion owned by Bethlehem Township, according to court records. The incident caused nearly $1,200 in damage, according to police. Michael P. Ohm, 21, of the 3100 block of East Boulevard, allegedly tried several ways to break into the vacant home about 3:30 p.m. Sept. 19. He used a metal bar to break the locks and a door, setting off the interior alarm, police said. Built for Johnston, who was a Bethlehem Steel Corp. executive and the city's first mayor, the mansion is part of acreage left to the township by his daughter and her husband. The public land is known as the Janet Johnston Housenick & William D. Housenick Memorial Park at 3811 Christian Spring Road in the township. Ohm was arraigned Friday morning before on-call District Judge Jacqueline Taschner on a charge of defiant trespass and two counts of criminal mischief. He was sent to Northampton County Prison in lieu of 10 percent of $5,000 bail. If released on bail, Ohm would have to remain under the supervision of Northampton County Pretrial Services and stay off the Housenick property. A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled June 2 before District Judge Anthony Rapp Jr. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. UPDATE: Feds bust alleged cocaine ring that ran from Puerto Rico to Allentown Federal, state and local law enforcement personnel served "several" search warrants early Friday morning in and near Allentown and people were taken into custody, city police said. The FBI confirmed the "court-authorized activity" in the Allentown area that "pertains to an ongoing matter," a spokeswoman said. An FBI evidence-recovery team was searching a property at 1607 E. Emmaus Ave. in Salisbury Township where one man was taken away in a township police vehicle. A neighbor on that block said there are up to 15 people in that home at any one time and no one spoke English. She said she was tired of it and was moving. She declined to give her name. Agents in blue "FBI Evidence Response Team" shirts were searching a boat in the back yard. Township police weren't available to provide more information, a woman who answered the phone at the headquarters said. The search in Salisbury was directly across the street from the Arts Academy Charter Middle School. School Executive Director Bill Fitzpatrick said police were already on the scene when he arrived and they assured him it was safe for children to come to school. So the school had a normal opening and day, he added. Allentown police and other law-enforcement organizations assisted the FBI in and outside the city, Capt. Jim Keiser said. He couldn't speak to what kind of crimes sparked the raids. He would not confirm the searches involved drugs. No one was injured in the operations, he added. He referred other questions to an FBI spokeswoman who didn't immediately return a phone call. The FBI is the primary investigative force in the probe, he said. A spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Philadelphia referred questions to the FBI, saying the office can't confirm or deny an investigation. The FBI said it couldn't comment beyond its brief statement. Freelance photographer Chris Post provided information for this report. Reporter Steve Novak contributed to this post. Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. UPDATE: Bucks man arrested after shooting near store Authorities were looking Thursday night for a man accused in a shooting incident earlier in the evening in Bucks County. It occurred about 5:30 p.m. to the rear of a Wal-Mart in Richland Township, according to an alert posted to Facebook by Quakertown police, who were assisting in the manhunt. Investigators identified the suspect as 32-year-old Brandon Grosso, who lives in the Telford, Bucks County, area. "Grosso was involved in several confrontations in the surrounding communities, with Grosso shooting a shotgun at one of the victim vehicles," a posting from Richland Township police on crimewatchpa.com states. "No injuries have been reported. "Grosso is considered armed and dangerous." Grosso was driving a newer Mercedes-Benz sedan, believed to be light blue or gray. Authorities asked anyone with information on his whereabouts to call the Richland Township Police Department at 215-536-9500 or 215-795-2931. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Daniel Lawrence will spend at least three decades behind bars, his punishment for fatally stabbing a man nine times outside a Warren County home. The 29-year-old was sentenced Friday to 40 years in prison for the 2014 murder of of 30-year-old Warren Moore, of Jersey City, outside an ex-girlfriend's home on East Washington Avenue in the borough of Washington. Lawrence must serve at least 34 years before he is eligible for parole, and will be subject to five years probation after his release, Warren County Prosecutor Richard Burke said. Sentences imposed for weapons charges will run at the same time as the first-degree murder term. The trial in Belvidere was quick, with testimony only lasting a few days in early April. Warren County Assistant Prosecutor Victor Jusino said the killing was done in a jealous rage. Lawrence's attorney, Edward Hesketh, argued it was a matter of self-defense -- that the victim was actually the aggressor. The stabbing occurred Sept. 2, 2014, outside the home of Melissa Woody, who had prior relationships with both men. Her testimony proved to be a central element of the trial. Warren Moore, 30, of Jersey City, is seen in an undated photo. He was stabbed to death Sept. 2, 2014, in Washington. (NJ Advance Media file photo) Authorities said that Moore, the victim, that day went to Woody's house to pick up a bag and got into a confrontation with Lawrence. Moore was stabbed nine times, and a knife with Lawrence's ID cards attached was next to him when rescue crews arrived. Both Lawrence and Woody remained on scene and gave statements to police that night. Lawrence took the stand in his own defense, saying that he actually stepped in to protect Woody from an angry Moore. Lawrence said Moore grabbed him by the throat and pummeled him, and that his stabs with a utility knife were done out of desperation. The jury of six men and six women sorted through the conflicting statements and on April 10 returned with a verdict in about four hours -- Lawrence was guilty on all counts. Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. New Jersey has suspended the teaching credentials of a Hackettstown educator accused of sexually assaulting a student. Michael J. Martino, a resident of East Stroudsburg, Pa., has denied the charges and argued against the suspension, according to an order published by the New Jersey Department of Education's State Board of Examiners. Martino, who was 41 when he was charged in 2015, is accused of multiple sexual acts on a female student from 2009 when she was 16 through June 2011 at Hackettstown High School. He turned himself in to Warren County authorities in August 2015, where he was charged with one count each of sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child and official misconduct. Each crime carries a potential 10-year state prison sentence. Martino was indicted on April 6, 2016. One year later to the day, the board of examiners used the indictment as justification to suspend Martino's teaching certifications, which date to 1997. According to the board's order, Martino argued in a letter that the suspension was premature and should not be issued until the criminal case is resolved. It noted that Martino has left his teaching position. The board, however, said the state wants to "protect public school pupils from contact with individuals whom it deemed to be dangerous. Individuals convicted of crimes such as sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child and official misconduct fall squarely within this category." Further action is pending the outcome of the case. Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. District Court Judge Catherine Staines has expressed huge concerns over the number of people with mental difficulties who are currently in custody waiting to be assessed by the psychiatric services. Her remarks came last week during the case of a 23-year-old man convicted of threatening his own mother with a knife, who has been remanded in custody for a psychiatric report even though Judge Staines stated that prison is not the proper place for him. Akeem Alabi (23), with an address listed in the Portlaoise area, was previously convicted at the district court back in April of breaching a barring order. In the incident, which happened back in March at a Portlaoise housing estate, the accused threatened his mother with a knife. At the April court, the mans mother gave evidence that her son was not getting the proper help he needed for his mental difficulties. On that date, Judge Catherine Staines adjourned the matter for a psychiatric report. When the case returned to court last week, there was no psychiatric report on the accused as previously directed, and Judge Staines said she wanted to know why. Defence, Ms Sara Brennan said she could not get any coherent answers from her client. She said she had very serious concerns about him, and about his fitness to plead. Inspector Jer Glavin told the judge that the Prison Service had said they were waiting for a psychiatrist to assess the accused. Said Judge Staines: Its a huge concern to me the number of people with psychiatric problems in our prisons, and yes they have committed a criminal offence but theyre just not being seen. Its not acceptable someone being kept in custody for a psychiatric report. The judge continued: This is a serious charge of domestic violence and this man is clearly a danger and clearly needs help, but I dont think prison is the proper place for him at all. The accused was remanded in custody to May 25. Judge Staines said that if there was no psychiatric report on him on that date, she would require the Governor of the prison or the person in charge of the psychiatric services to explain why. Laois TD and Minister Charlie Flanagan did not demand that he keep his place in Government before throwing his weight behind Leo Varadkar in the Fine Gael leadership race. Speaking to the Leinster Express, the Minster for Foreign Affairs and Trade also admitted that the future of Portlaoise hospital is an issue Varadkar will have to face for the second time in his political career. Minister Flanagan announced on Friday that he would back the Minister for Social Protection for the top job over Cork TD and Minister for Housing, Simon Coveney. "I am supporting Leo Varadkar having given the matter great consideration," he said. He said it is important to leave austerity behind and Minster Varadkar can lead the way forward. "This is a chance for a new and ambitious direction for Fine Gael and the country. Leo is the man for the job. It was a difficult decision because they are two quality candidates who I work with and know well but I gave the edge to Leo. He is young, dynamic and enthusiastic and committed to politics and his country," he said. Minister Flanagan said the winner will have a 'very short honeymoon'. "There is a very fragile Dail and Government and agreement with Fianna Fail. The current programme for Government is far from complete so whoever the leader is, he will have a very difficult task," he said. As to his own future, Minister Flanagan hoped to return to Government but he did not discuss it Minister Varadkar. "That is a matter entirely for the leader. I have enjoyed being in cabinet," said the Mountmellick native. Minister Flanagan said it would be "presumptuous" and "foolish" to discuss ministerial jobs in advance of the outcome but he admits that he wants to return. He said Northern Ireland and Brexit are 'very live' challenges in his Department and he had been working on both on a full time basis. "There is an argument for continuity. I will be putting forward my experience," he said of his case for a Ministerial seat. Minster Varadkar took a hands-on approach to the crisis at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise when he was Minister for Health. He met bereaved families who lost babies at Portlaoise's maternity unit. He spent several hours speaking with them at a meeting in Portlaoise. He also spent a substantial amount of time at the hospital with staff and management. He was in the hot seat when the highly critical Health Information and Quality Authority report on all services at Portlaoise was published. This report recommended that a plan be drawn up for the hospital. A plan from the HSE and Dublin Midlands Hospital Group eventually emerged. It is understood to recommend downgrade and is on the desk of Varadkar's successor in Health Simon Harris. He must decide whether to adopt it or scrap it in favour of investment in Portlaoise. It is the biggest hot potato facing Charlie Flanagan in Laois and is an issue which Minister Varadkar is likely have to deal with again if elected Fine Gael leader. Minister Flanagan felt the leadership candidate has a good understanding of the issue and has made positive statements but he did not wish to predict what would happen. "Minister Varadkar was in the hospital. He knows the hospital and should he be successful he knows that it will be an issue that will be on his desk," he said.. Minster Varadkar has not had a great relationship with Fiannna Fail but without their backing, Fine Gael would not be in power. Minister Flanagan felt times have changed and Minister Varadkar would focus his attention elsewhere if elected. "We're in a new era of politics...I expect Leo Varadkar to take a strong line against the populist left, independents and Sinn Fein who continue to propose simple solutions to complex problems. They play on fears and offer cheque book solutions with no regard for financial responsiblity," he said. He expected that Leo Varadkar would be a "prudent manager" who would build on the success of the last number of years. Minister Flanagan said the new Taoiseach would have to reinforce the values and principles of Fine Gael. He praised the "great service" Enda Kenny gave to the party and country in his six years as Taoiseach. "He brought the country back from the brink. He took over when the country was in receivership. He restored our sovereignty and managed the Government in the most challenging of times," he said. Minister Flanagan said that when Mr Kenny became leader the unemployment rate was over 15% but it is now just over 6%. He said the Taoiseach was part of a Government that made some very harsh decisions for the good of the country. "He was a good Taoiseach," said Minister Flanagan. The Laois TD went against Mr Kenny in an unsuccessful heave in 2010. He was Fine Gael's spokesperson on Justice at the time but did not make it to cabinet. Mr Flanagan took over as Fine Gael Parliamentary Party Chairman and in 2014, Mr Kenny brought him in from the political cold by appointing him to cabinet as Minister for Children. Within the same year the Laois TD was promoted to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade a post he kept in the new Government. "I was very privildged to serve in Enda Kenny's Government and enjoyed every day of it. I got on with Enda Kenny in all jobs I had. I found him personally very helpful, encouraging and with great compassion ," he said. AN appeal has gone out to the general public to support a documentary film on a late county Kildare writer. Writer, Neil Donnelly, has been working on a documentary of writer Aidan Higgins, who was brought up in Celbridge, for some time, and died in 2015 aged 88, for a number of years. The documentary, Where Would You Like the Bullet, is about a writer who has been admired by writers like Samuel Beckett and Annie Proulx. There have been filmed interviews done in Celbridge, Kinsale, Berlin, London and Dublin. The majority of filming has been done but there is some still to do, said Neil, adding that around 70% of editing has been done. Many such project have funding support but, said Neil, no funding body was interested. Anyone interested can contribute through GoFundMe.com/p/2jqx or www.NeilDonnelly.ie Neil Donnelly uses the term beautiful prose for the work of Higgins. But making the documentary has not been an easy task. When discussing the project initially with the writer, he told Higgins: If you don't like it you can shoot me. Higgins responded: Where would you like the bullet. Born in Celbridge in 1927, Higgins lived with his family at Springfield House on the Clane road. He attended Clongowes Wood College before working at an advertising agency in Dublin. He moved to London in the mid 1950s and then travelled in Spain, South Africa, Germany and Rhodesia. His best known novel, Langrishe Go Down, published in 1966, was about four sisters living in a big house - which was Springfield House. It won a number of awards and was was made into a BBC series, with Judi Dench and Jeremy Irons in lead roles. Other books are Balcony of Europe (1972), which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, Scenes from a Receding Past (1977), Bornholm Night Ferry (1983), and Lions of the Grunewald (1993). He published a three part autobiography, A Bestiary, and produced for BBC radio as well. His criticism work, much of it published in the former Hibernia newspaper, is contained in a collection, "Windy Arbours." Higgins sales are always very steady, always on the slow side, a trickle, said Neil. A member of Aosdana, Aidan lived in Kinsale, Co. Cork from 1986 until his death. Kildare based Neil Donnelly, has been working on the documentary film for a number of years. Neil organised the Aidan Higgins festival in 2007 to celebrate Aidans celebrated his 80th birthday in north Kildare in 2007. Well known US writer, Annie Proulx, a fan of his honoured him with her presence in Celbridge Abbey. It was Nobel Prize winner, Samuel Beckett, who recommended Higgins first book to Becketts own publisher, John Calder. In a 2008 interview with the Leinster Leader, Higgins told how, after reading a Higgins short story, Asylum, from the 1963 collection, Felo de Se, Beckett gave him the following advice: Write on, only for yourself and for nobody else. Neil Donnelly used the term beautiful prose for Aidans work. Three Kildare schools have been announced as winners at the Bord Gais Energy Student Theatre Awards. Primary school Scoil Mochua, St. Brigids Primary School and St. Laurence's N.S. were revealed at a special awards ceremony at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre on Wednesday, May 17. The top prize in the Best Choreography category went to Scoil Mochua in Celbridge for their performance of Annie Junior. The judges said they were dazzled by Scoil Mochuas performance and loved the way the cast worked together as a team. Scoil Mochua also received a bursary from Bord Gais Energy. Students from St Laurences The top prize in the Best Female Performance in a Leading Role category was awarded to Anna Leavy from St. Brigids Primary School in Kildare Town for her performance as Pearl Periwinkle in the 5th class production of Pirates of the Curry Bean. St. Brigids Primary School also received a bursary from Bord Gais Energy. And the top prize in the Best Original Production category was presented to St. Laurence's National School in Crookstown for their notable production of Michael D and the Tayto Factory. The judges were blown away by St. Laurence's N.S. and commented that all children performing in this production had a brilliant sense of comedy. St. Laurence's N.S. also received a bursary from Bord Gais Energy. Now in its fourth year, the Student Theatre Awards were set up by Bord Gais Energy to recognise and reward participation in the dramatic arts in schools around Ireland. This year, 2,616 entries were received from a record 309 primary and secondary schools. Kildare schools who wish to enter next years awards can register their interest on www.bgesta.ie. Anna Leavy from St. Brigids Primary School, Kildare Town won Best Female Performance in a Leading Role Read more from St Laurences and St. Brigids Primary School The Newbridge branch of the Labour Party is taking up an offer from the National Transport Authority (NTA) to discuss the issue of rail fares. Newbridge Labour has been running a 'Fair Fares' campaign in recent weeks and more than 1,600 signatures were collected online. Local representative Patricia Callinan said: "In a letter to me, Anne Graham, Chief Executive of the NTA, has stated that she fully accepts that Newbridge is a commuter town within the greater Dublin area. However she says that this does not alter the basis for the Authority's decision." In a submission the Labour Party had pointed out that the Irish Rail website states that the Leap Card can be used "on commuter services" suggesting that Newbridge was not considered to be a commuter station. The submission went on to argue that the logic of the NTA's own Integrated Implementation Plan 2013-2018, based on the six distinct categories of Leap Card fares, should leave the cost of travel from Dublin to Newbridge at 4.69. The current single adult fare is 15.05. It also claimed the exclusion of Newbridge from the Short Hop Zone, while it is included in the Rent Pressure Zone, represents an anomalous situation. "This is a chaotic approach to planning where the prevalence of commuters in Newbridge is driving up rents, to the extent that the municipal district is in the Rent Pressure Zone, but those same commuters are being fleeced as a result of being excluded from the Short Hop Zone and being subjected to an inter-city pricing structure," said Ms Callinan. "The flat rejection of our case by the NTA without addressing most of the points that we have made is simply unacceptable and it is insulting to residents of south Kildare. I would like to thank all those who signed our online petition on the Kildare South Labour Party Facebook page and to assure them that we intend to keep pressing the case until a fair outcome is achieved", she went on to say. Newbridge Labour said it is bringing a high level delegation to the meeting, which it hopes will include Labour leader Brendan Howlin, Transport spokesperson Brendan Ryan as well as Cllr Mark Wall. The work of Dromahair photographer Kelvin Gillmor will be familiar to many and following the launch of the Europa stamp series from An Post, his work is set to be seen by an even bigger audience. Every year An Post and post offices throughout Europe, under the umbrella of 'PostEurop' release a series of stamps with the theme this year being castles. The castles chosen to feature on the Irish stamps are Dublin Castle and King Johns Castle in Limerick. Explaining the process involved Kelvin said he was first contacted about a year ago during which time the brief was explained to him. The next step was to spend a day in Dublin and Limerick photographing the selected castles. Having designed a stamp for An Post as part of the 'Love and Marriage' series in 2014, Kelvin is able to offer a unique insight into the process involved. Every month the stamp design committee hold meetings and it is incredible how much detail they go into for something so small. You have to be conscious the images are going to be reduced so much and it has to retain its clarity. Kelvin was also recently shortlisted for the Bank of Ireland Irish professional photographer of the year award - an award he won last year. The stamps Kelvin designed featuring King John's Castle and Dublin Castle as well as the first day cover are available to purchase now. The two new stamps, stamp sheets and First day Cover I designed for An Post @Postvox are available now! pic.twitter.com/OpRE8blzmy Kelvin Gillmor (@kelvingillmor) May 5, 2017 The Lib Dem Manifesto of 2017 gives canvassers plenty to promise on the doorstep, but past achievements can be more convincing. Yet who among canvassers can instantly name three achievements attributable to the Liberal Democrats, against Conservative inclinations, in the Coalition Government of 2010-2015? Here is a short list, which will no doubt benefit from correction or expansion. A full list can be found in an Appendix to David Laws book Coalition. The allocation of 0.7% of GDP to International Development, both in practice and as law The raising of the Income Tax personal allowance from 6475 to 10,600 Steve Webb delivered the triple lock on the State Pension Nick Clegg saw through the pupil premium of (eventually) 1320 per primary school child and 935 for secondary children to reduce the attainment gap in England and Wales A 2.5 billion banking levy Free school meals for infant-school children and in the first three years in primary school in England Vince Cable vetoed a proposed fire-at-will employment law Stopping welfare cuts and ensuring benefits kept up with inflation Same sex marriage legislation 15 hours free child care for disadvantaged children Prohibition of the export of chemicals to where it is known they may be used to carry out the death penalty Strong and stable government (true!) 5p charge on plastic bags. We did not get everything we wanted: House of Lords Reform, or a change to the voting system, for example. But the Lib Dems were the conscience of the Coalition. You may have a different list. It depends on whom one is talking to, and where. In Scotland the principal issue is, as usual, Independence, but note that the SNP government only belatedly adopted measures such as the pupil premium and the school meals policy. (OK, it was ahead on plastic bags, but in this we all copied Ireland). * Robin Bennett first joined the Liberal Party in 1957. He is a member of the North East & Central Fife Liberal Democrats. This bizarre election campaign is based on building a personality cult around a virtual reality leader who can parrot wellrehearsed lines in controlled surroundings, but doesnt have the guts to risk exposing her facade in a proper leadership debate. It demonstrates both the arrogance of the Tory PR machine and a press propaganda juggernaut that Putin must envy. Behind deceptively simple messages there appears to lie a skilful use of psychology, particularly an understanding of cognitive dissonance; the propensity to ignore, distort or misinterpret incoming information which does not align with existing beliefs or is otherwise unsettling. The dissonance ramparts are not however impregnable; they can be breached, and an action tendency can be changed. Information that comes from trusted sources, or is otherwise credible, will sometimes get through. During the referendum project fear and the denigration of experts was a clever device to offer wavering leavers licence further to indulge their dissonance and ignore powerful evidence to the contrary that might otherwise have triggered many voters decision tipping points. Another tool being exploited is dissonances mirror image i.e. consonance. One way to achieve the desired acceptance of a new message is to tag it to an existing belief or to some information likely to be accepted as fact. The widely expected difficulty of Brexit negotiations ought to work in our favour. it does not logically follow that the annihilation of alternative political voices or an awkward woman are the answer, but voters are looking for reassurance, for mitigation of perceived risk, and are taking these messages on board. The potential consequences of Hard Brexit may not be gaining the traction they deserve because voters who fear the worst also want to hope for the best. The existing Tory reputation for economic competence also provides some perceived risk mitigation. The fact that the Tories are planning to take our economy to the bookies and potentially gamble away so much of our future prosperity is a massive vulnerability which dissonance has thus far protected remarkably well. This poses a problem in that contrasting Hard Brexit to perceived Tory economic competence, so that we can tag the message that Hard Brexit is a bad idea to something consonant, may simply reinforce positive perceptions of the Tories. Having only recently gone back to the dissonance drawing board the options below have thus far only been subject to limited doorstep testing. When confronted with actual or prospective Tories I have tried suggesting that a willingness to go for a Hard Brexit or worse still no deal at all seems very Un-Conservative. This catches attention and appears unsettling. It can be followed up by tarring with the Labour brush; we expect Labour to take big gambles with our economic future but are very surprised to see the Conservatives taking such a huge financial risk. Then registering amazement that Maggie fought so hard to set up the single market but Theresa is willing to abandon it so thoughtlessly also seems to strike a chord. The concluding message that a big Lib Dem vote even in seats we might not win should discourage Theresa from going for a UKIP style Brexit then seems to fall on less stony ground. I leave it for you to judge whether thinking about consonance and dissonance could contribute to fine tuning our messages, but it seems to work for the Brexiteers. * Andrew Haldane is a former councillor and parliamentary candidate and current Chair of the Macclesfield local party and Vice Chair (Policy) of the NW Regional Party. In his earlier career, he worked in Marketing as a practitioner and later as an academic with an interest in Consumer Behavior applied to the shaping of Attitudes and Belief. Good morning, and welcome to Liberal Democrat Voices coverage of the 70th Anniversary Congress of Liberal International from sunny Andorra. Liberals from around the world have gathered in the Co-Principality to talk about human rights, debate the big global issues of the day, elect a new Bureau and, most importantly, formally adopt a newly-updated Liberal Manifesto which aims to express how liberal values and ideas are relevant in a rapidly changing world. For, whilst policies are forever evolving in the face of events, values offer insight into the types of solutions on offer. The Liberal Democrat delegation is a small one, due to the General Election, and in the absence of the Party President, Im technically leading the delegation. So, what is there to look forward to today? The session on opposing populist autocrats might prove to have more salience than one might have hoped, with liberals from South Africa, the Philippines, Hungary and Venezuela discussing their experiences, whilst the International Federation of Liberal and Radical Youth (IFLRY) are hosting a workshop on the future of employment. In the afternoon, featured events include a session on spreading the liberal message online, and a debate on individual rights versus group rights. So, stay tuned to Liberal Democrat Voice as the Congress unfolds. * Mark Valladares is an elected member of the Partys Federal International Relations Committee. The new French President is the latest international political darling, man of the hour and flavour ofwell at least a month. He is young, multilingual, charismatic, exceptionally well-educated and bright. When he speaks common sense pours forth as from an intellectually gifted Parisian fountain. His election has savedat least for nowthe European experiment which was reeling from the body blow of Brexit. And when it comes to the politically important field of economics, Emmanuel Macron is one of the worlds top whizz kids. BUT, just as every cloud has a silver lining, every blue sky has a thunder cloud over the horizon. In the case of France there are potential thunderstormsforeign and domestic which could wash away the new French optimism. There is no doubt of President Macrons Europhile credentials. At his first speech as president-elect, he ran onto the stage to the strains not of the French, but the EUs national anthem Ode to Joy. He is, in fact, more of a Europhiliac than his more experienced German counterpart Angela Merkel. And that is the reason for the first cloud. As a group, the Germans are pro-Europe. But they have started to baulk at the cost of propping up the poorly run Southern European Eurozone economies. This is despite the fact that the same cost has contributed mightily to Germanys enviable trade surplus with the rest of the world. Angela Merkeland her main domestic political opponentswant a broad expansionist economic and political union that retains for individual countries a large degree of sovereignty over national economic policies. That is more or less a continuation of the existing set-up. Not so Emmanuel Macron. His plan is for a deeper and wider economic integration between Eurozone countries. On top of that he wants EU reforms to reduce Germanys trade surplus. To press the case, on Monday (22 May) he is dispatching his new Economy and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire to Berlin for talks with German counterpart Wolfgang Schaeuble. The Macronian European vision may also fail to find many adherents elsewhere in Europe. The hard-pressed Southern Europeans and the newly-joined East Europeans resent the German trade surplus. But they also want German subsidies and they jealously guard their sovereignty. On top of that, if Merkel is opposed then the rest of Europe is unlikely to bite the hand that feeds. Macrons Europhile credentials also make him unpopular with the Trump Administration. It was an open secret that the US president was rooting for anti-EU populist Marine Le Pen. Deeper European integration is a threat to Trumps America First policy as a stronger trading bloc means a stronger and more difficult negotiator on the opposite side of the table. The two men also have a problem over the issues of climate change and globalisation. On the latter issue especially, Macron is one of the worlds top proponents while Trump is at the opposite end of the spectrum. However, Trump and Macron, will find common ground when they meet for the first time next week (Thursday) at the NATO summit in Brussels. Macron supports increasing French defence spending from 1.77 percent to 2 percent by 2020. He also plans to fight terrorism by boosting the police force by 10,000 and is committed to continuing French participation in the US-led coalition in Syria. Foreign policies need a strong domestic base to succeed. Macrons personal popularity and the inevitable honeymoon he is currently enjoying arefor the momentproviding him with that base. But the base is run through with hairline cracks that could easilyand disastrouslywiden into fissures. For a start, there is the fact that the election has exposed strong opposition on both the far left and far-right of French politics. The National Fronts Marine Le Pen and the communist-supported Jean-luc Melenchon polled the second and third largest votes respectively in the first round of the elections. And they have no intention of riding quietly into the political sunset. From day one they and their supporters will be busily chipping away at Macrons domestic base. And the new French president is vulnerable. Years of economic mismanagement have left France a financial basket case. Public spending is 56 percent of GDP compared to 44 percent in Germany,39 percent in the UK and 37 percent in the US. Even more staggering is the 10 percent unemployment level which rises to one in four of the population for those under the age of 25. On top of that there is the French mindset that failing industries, companies, unionsjust about everyone in any trouble of any kindshould be propped up with public money. Macron is determined to change that mindset and create a more pro-business and pro-entrepreneurial French economy. He plans to axe 120,000 civil service jobshopefully through natural wastage. Then he wants to relax the rules around Frances controversial 35-hour working week, reduce corporation tax from 33 percent to 25 percent and shift government money away from propping up failing businesses to paying for retraining programmes. Unemployment he wants to reduce to 7.7 percent by 2022. All of this is a tall order given the French penchant for opposing any social change with strikes, riots, demonstrations, marches and walk-outs, all of which explains why successive French governments have started down the road of good intentions only to end up executing more U-turns than a Parisian taxi driver. So, President Macron, enjoy your blue skies for now. You will need the memory. * Tom Arms is foreign editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and the author of The Encyclopedia of the Cold War and the recently published America Made in Britain that has sold out in the US after six weeks but is still available in the UK. AN INVESTIGATION has been launched into new information claiming barrels of chemicals were buried in County Limerick and the possible links to a cancer spike in the locality. The whistleblowers contacted Deputy Niall Collins and the Limerick Leader this week with the alarming information and their belief it is connected to a "circle of cancer". They say upto 20 barrels of toxic waste were secretly buried in a field in Friarstown, Ballysheedy approximately 25 years ago. Everyone is asking why so many people in Friarstown are passing away from cancer. It is like a circle of cancer in a mile and a half radius around where it is buried. Up to 30 people have died from cancer in the Friarstown area in the last 15 years. There are currently six or seven battling cancer and a number of others have beaten the disease. This area has been very badly hit by it, said the informants who wish to remain anonymous. It is not known exactly what type of chemicals but they say when the barrels were being taken from the factory in Limerick city the workers were covered "head to toe" in protective clothing. A digger was used to create the hole, the barrels tipped in and covered over with soil. Deputy Collins says the members of the public, who he met at a clinic on Monday, are very "genuine" and "believable". They have a lot of information. They are very worried that there is a direct link between those chemicals seeping into the ground and the high cancer rates in the area all around it. They are most concerned at any potential risk to public health," said Deputy Collins. It is understood the complainants know exactly where it is buried - two metres down - in a field in Friarstown and have passed that information to Deputy Collins and Limerick City and County Council. They say the current landowner doesn't know that it is there. Deputy Collins says it could be a complete coincidence due to the high incidences rates of cancer in this country - by 2020, 1 in 2 people in Ireland will develop cancer. We don't want to alarm anyone. But whatever this chemical waste is it needs to be dug up, disposed of in the correct manner and comprehensive tests of soil and groundwater need to be carried out. It cant be let rot away in the ground," said Deputy Collins, who contacted the councils environment section this Tuesday to set up an urgent meeting on the issue. A spokesperson for Limerick City and County Council confirmed they have been made aware of the case. The complainant advised us that barrels may have been placed in an archaeological site some 20 years ago. He did not know what the contents was in those barrels. As the barrels are located on an archaeological site, Limerick City and County Council needs verification of pollution and permission of the National Monuments Service before any investigation, disturbance or excavation can proceed. The council is carrying out tests of the ground water in the area for evidence of environmental pollution. A walk over survey has been undertaken, while no evidence of pollution has been found to date the council is constantly monitoring the situation and will await the results of the ground water tests, said the council spokesperson. A JUDGE has ruled the evidence of three handwriting experts who testified that a signature on the will of a County Limerick farmer had been forged was not sufficient for him to declare the will invalid. Over the course of a two day hearing last month, the executors of Conor ODonnells will Josie Ahern, Kilrea, Croagh and John Chawke, Duxtown House, Rathkeale sought an order declaring the will be propounded in solemn form of law and be admitted to Probate. The bachelor farmer of Ballyea, Rathkeale, was 66 when he died suddenly on April 19, 2014. The application by the executors of the will was opposed by three of his sisters Christina Greaney, Ardagh; Catherine Anna Kelly who lives in Roscahill, Galway, and Margaret ODonnell who lives in Drumcondra, Dublin. Following legal submissions, he ordered that two thirds of the legal costs of Mr ODonnells sisters be paid from Conor ODonnells estate. While none of the women were excluded from the will, the main beneficiaries, the court heard, are three of Conor ODonnells nephews Ivan, Neville and well-known solicitor Michael ODonnell. In her evidence, Margaret ODonnell said when she saw the will a number of months after her brother died she immediately knew it was not his signature because of the construction of it. Another sister Christina Greaney told the court she was very familiar with Conors signature which she said did not match the one on the will. I expected his signature would have been proper, it wasnt, she said. I never saw it (the signature) before, it is not his will, she added. Both of Conor ODonnells sisters agreed with Terry OConnell BL, for the executors, that they had not seen their brother for several years prior to his death and that they were shocked and surprised when they were informed of the contents of the will. In her evidence Mary Mullane, who was chairperson of the County Limerick IFA family farm group at the time, said she met Mr ODonnell at Josie Aherns home on the evening of May 18, 2012 where he asked her to fill out the will document. He had an A4 page which he had written down what he was doing with his property, she said confirming that she had filled out the will in accordance with the instructions. She added that she had helped around 20 other farmers with will documents over the years. Mrs Mullane said Mr ODonnell printed his name and signed the will, then Mrs Ahern and she did the same. He witnessed both of us, said Mrs Mullane. Delivering a lengthy judgment on Friday, Judge Brian OCallaghan said there a number of issues had been raised but that the key question was: Did the deceased sign the document himself in both signature and print? The judge said Mr ODonnell was a most interesting man who would have been disappointed with the court proceedings. He noted he was well educated and was a well read and travelled man. Citing the existing law relating to wills, Judge OCallaghan said the presumption of due execution should not be easily rebutted if a will on its face appears validly executed. Therefore, he said the burden of proof was on the defendants (Mr ODonnells sisters) to rebut that presumption on the balance of probabilities. The judge said he did not accept the proposition that either Josie Ahern or Mary Mullane had simulated Mr ODonnells signature or that they had committed perjury during the court hearing. Neither of them had anything to gain or lose directly or indirectly from the making of this type of will. They had no reason why they should not tell the truth, he said adding that the their demeanour in court showed them to be responsible persons who understood the importance of telling the truth. He said their evidence was clear and consistent and that the both clearly had a connection with and a fondness for Conor ODonnell. Referring to what he described as the opinion evidence of the three handwriting experts who said they believed the signature on the will had been forged Judge OCallaghan commented that each had their own peculiar and different emphasis. He said there were too many unknowns and that there was too much missing to make their evidence sufficiently cogent, compelling or convincing to allow him find the allegation of forgery had been proved on the balance of probabilities. After finding in favour of the executors, the judge placed a stay on his order pending the lodging of an appeal. LIMERICK solicitor, blogger and podcaster, Rossa McMahon has been named as Munster Solicitor of the Year at the AIB Private Banking Irish Law Awards 2017 at a gala ceremony in Dublin. The University of Limerick also walked away with an award for Law School of the Year while Gillian Moore of Keating Connolly Sellors was presented with the Legal Executive of the Year Award. I knew I was shortlisted but I really didnt expect to win, said Rossa McMahon, who has followed in the footsteps of his late father Garry McMahon who established the legal firm PG McMahon & Co Ltd. The firm was a finalist for Munster Provincial Law Firm of the Year last year and was a winner in the Acquisition Litigation Law Firm Awards. There were four of us in the category and they were all very good solicitors. I wouldnt have thought I had much of a chance, Rossa said. But it was nice to win, he added. And he is particularly pleased that the AIB Private Banking Irish Law Awards, now in its sixth year, acknowledges solicitors and smaller firms from outside Dublin. Entries were up by 36% this year. A graduate of UCC, Rossa completed his training with corporate law firm Mason, Hayes and Curran before moving on to work in intellectual property law with A&L Goodbody. He returned to Newcastle West in 2009 where his practice is more general but he still continues his involvement with intellectual property law. In 2009, he began his own blog, A Clatter of the Law, which both comments on and raises issues of legal interest. I took the name from a poem of my fathers, he explained, a funny poem but one which is distinctly anti-plagiarist. Last year, Rossa began a series of podcasts on Freedom of Information and Data Protection. Two episodes have already aired and he has plans to do more. Rossa is married to Oonagh and they have four children. MINISTER of State for Tourism and Sport, Patrick ODonovan TD, has come out in support of Leo Varadkar for leader of Fine Gael. The Newcastle West TD issued a statement this Friday on his intentions to support the Dublin deputy, who is currently serving as social protection minister. The Fine Gael leadership contest is underway as a result of the decision of Taoiseach Enda Kenny to retire from the position on Thursday. Following the decision of An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD to step down as Leader of Fine Gael after fifteen years, during which time he has led our party and the country through a very challenging time, we now have to make a decision on who should lead Fine Gael, said Minister ODonovan. We are fortunate as a party that we have talented Oireachtas members who are prepared to put their names forward to contest the leadership of the party. I have decided to support Leo Varadkar TD to become the next leader of Fine Gael and Taoiseach, he declared. I have known Leo for over twenty years and I believe that with the skills, talent, enthusiasm and energy he has that he is the best person to lead Ireland and Fine Gael, continued the deputy. Through his experience in Government he has gained a reputation for being a straight talking, hard working minister who I believe is best placed to take on the role as leader of Fine Gael. Mr Varadkar is currently leading in the contest against his party colleague, Cork minister Simon Coveney, despite the fact that he will not formally launch his campaign until tomorrow. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page. Beautiful and bizarre things to buy: From Louis Flat Spikes by Christian Louboutin to Sennheiser HE 1 headphones Beautiful and bizarre things to buy: From Louis Flat Spikes by Christian Louboutin to Sennheiser HE 1 headphones In this weekly compendium of objects of desire, also a Vanities column by Swapan Seth /fashion/beauty/beautiful-and-bizarre-things-to-buy-from-louis-flat-spikes-by-christian-louboutin-to-sennheiser-he-1-headphones-111646830105227.html 111646830105227 story Dress Circle: California Stripe summer dress by Shift Designer Nimish Shahs fashion label, Shift, is based on a conscious clothing philosophy, with its use of natural fibres, minimum wastage and fair trade practices. But those are not the only reasons we are crushing on this: The California Stripe is a cool, one-shoulder summer dress made in 100% cotton. www.shift-india.com; Rs10,800. Rich Sound: Sennheiser HE 1 headphones Sennheiser HE 1 headphones. The HE 1 is a high-end headphone that comes with a unique amplifier made of Italian Carrara marble. Leather ear cushions from Germany and remote-controlled elements make it a one-of-a-kind music experience. Available through Sennheiser HE 1 Concierge Service; Rs45 lakh. For Your Sole: Louis Flat Spikes by Christian Louboutin Louis Flat Spikes by Christian Louboutin The designers signature red soles are matched with glossy patent leather in these sneakers for men. At flagship stores at Palladium Mall, Mumbai, and DLF Emporio, Delhi; Rs95,500. Tracking Titles: Margiela: The Hermes Years Cover of Margiela: The Hermes Years. The book by Rebecca Arnold, Kaat Debo and Sarah Mower, published by Lannoo, captures the life and influence of Belgian fashion designer Martin Margiela and his early years as creative director of the French luxury house Hermes. www.amazon.in; Rs2,870. Hot Seat: Rocket Occasional Table by Roche Bobois Rocket Occasional Table by Roche Bobois Apart from this glossy red lacquered finish, this table comes in a matte grey, glossy gold and pop yellow finish, among other options. Available at Roche Bobois stores in Mumbai and Bengaluru or www.roche-bobois.com; Rs1.66 lakh. Compiled by Komal Sharma and Nitin Sreedhar. **** By Invitation: Vanities An ode to things you dont need but must have Kishu Binchotan This week: Kishu Binchotan Summer for my family means long trips by car. And not all roads on those trips skirt Poshville. To think that a chilled bottle of mineral water will be available at Kainchi Dham (Uttarakhand) is utopian. Actually, its stupid. Thats where the Kishu Binchotan emerges from behind the clouds. Essentially, these are glorified charcoal sticks. Although many Asian countries produce Binchotan (a type of carbon made from tree branches), Kishu Binchotan (available on Amazon for $28, around Rs1,790) is better due to the superior quality of hard Japanese Holm Oak that it is made from. It turns ordinary tap water into fresh, filtered, and, Id like to add, tremendously tasty water. When you add one of these sticks to a bottle of water, a natural purifying and mineralizing process takes place. The tap water moves through the many cavities in the charcoal and it is naturally softened, ionized and freed up of 75% added chlorine while also enriching the water with potassium and magnesium. It is so sci-fi that it makes Interstellar look like a comedy. How does one use the damn thing? Once a week, you have to rinse your Binchotan under cold water. This gets rid of any possible ash. You then boil the beauty for 5 minutes. That sterilizes it. Then you let it dry. Post that you slip it into the bottle. Easy? You need to boil the Binchotan once a week in water to retain its powers. When not in use, slip it into a zip lock. After about three months of daily usage, the stick loses its mojo. You then need to crush it. And mix it with potting soil, to which it adds nourishment while balancing the PH balance of the soil. Theres a certain Zen calm to it all. Dont you agree? By Swapan Seth , CEO, Equus Film Review: The Sense of An Ending A satisfying adaptation by Ritesh Batra of Julian Barnes' acclaimed novel /how-to-lounge/movies-tv/film-review-the-sense-of-an-ending-111646834437041.html 111646834437041 story Julian Barnes Booker Prize-winning novel is a slim onearound 160 pages. It might be short of length, but by no means is it a quick read. It requires flipping back to connect the dots, to understand the events as they unfold. The writing, the timelines, the thoughtfulness of the central character and the arc of the story contribute to its complexity. When I read the bookafter the film was announcedI had a recurring thought: This is a tough book to adapt to screen. Screenwriter Nick Payne and director Ritesh Batra have risen to the challenge. The adaptation, while not wholly loyal to the novel, has mostly captured its essence: a languid narrative style, British to the core, that dwells on nostalgia, memory and its many filters. The arrival of an unexpected letter unlocks Tony Websters (Jim Broadbent) recollectionsfoggy with timeof an uncomfortable past and a former girlfriend. The letter is part of an endowment (of a diary) that is being withheld by the executor of the will. Stubborn 60-year-old Tony chases down the diary and thereby reconnects with his old childhood love. Veronica Ford (Charlotte Rampling) reluctantly parts with merely a few pages of the diary left to Tony by her deceased mother, Sarah Ford (Emily Mortimer). Two pages are all it takes to stoke old wounds. The screenplay shifts back and forth, filling in the story as Tony recounts incidents from his school and university days to his ex-wife, Margaret (Harriet Walter). The story mostly revolves around Tony (Billy Howle plays the younger version), his best mates at school, and his teen romance with Veronica (Freya Mavor). The arrival of new student Adrian Finn (Joe Alwyn) sets off a chain of events. As Tony reaches into the recesses of his mind, he pieces together the story and unravels his own part in the tragedy. Its summarised by this wonderful line from the original text: History is that certainty produced at the point where the imperfections of memory meet the inadequacies of documentation." Cinematically, not much happens. Most of the conversations between Tony/Margaret and Tony/Veronica and Tony/schoolmates happen over food and drink, either in diners, pubs, kitchens or school canteens. Breaking from the main storyline is a side plot about Tonys relationship with his pregnant daughter, Susie (Michelle Dockery). What the film lacks, and which is there in the original text, is the build up of the schoolboy camaraderie and Tonys befuddlement in his relationship with Veronica. At the same time, some of the embellishments are charming, such as the transforming relationship between the senior Tony and his local mailman. It conveys how closure to an unpleasant childhood experience thaws out a curmudgeonly old man. The performances are top-notch, particularly of Broadbent, Walter and Rampling. The Sense of An Ending is rather restrained, with Batra warmly focussing on the details rather than dwelling on a dramatic reveal. Polluted air enters through a tube on one side, is purified in the middle and exits the other tube as clean air. A small innovation could have a big impact on air pollution. In Belgium, researchers have engineered a device that uses sunlight to purify polluted air and produce hydrogen gas that can be stored and used for power. "We couple both processes together in one device," Sammy Verbruggen, a professor of bioscience engineering at the University of Antwerp, told Live Science. "Hydrogen production on one side and air purification on the other side." Verbruggenis working with two teams of researchers who had been separately investigating both processes for years. At the University of Antwerp, the scientists had been testing different ways of combing light energy with nanomaterials to purify air. At the University of Leuven, another team had been working on a tiny fuel cell with a membrane that could produce hydrogen gas from water. [In Photos: World's Most Polluted Places] Now, the two teams have merged their expertise to create this newest device, which could purify fouled air and produce energy at the same time. Verbruggensaid the researchers are focusing on air polluted with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are small molecules produced by chemicals in adhesives, upholstery, carpeting, copy machines, cleaning fluids and more. In sufficient concentrations, VOCs can cause severe headaches, eye irritation, dizziness, nauseaand asthma attacks. The small molecules can be found in the air of enclosed buildings that are not well-ventilated, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, which may include newly built high-rises to factories that manufacture goods like paint and carpeting. "They can lead to a disease called the sick building syndrome," Verbruggensaid. The prototype cell is a square with an active area that measures about 0.4 inches by 0.4 inches (1 centimeter by 1 cm). At one side of the device, a tube delivers polluted air into the cell. Light enters naturally through a transparent window that covers a membrane treated with a light-activated catalyst. Once polluted air and light meet at the membrane, the catalyst tears apart the small organic molecules. In the process, protons are set free and seep through the membrane, collecting on the other side. There, a platinum catalyst converts them to hydrogen gas, according to the researchers. Meanwhile, the purified air exits through a second tube. Verbruggen and his colleagues were able to purify air and create gas from a variety of organic compounds, including methanol, ethanol and acetic acid. The scientists are also conducting new experiments with acetaldehyde, a liquid used in the make acetic acid and perfumes. Verbruggen said the most obvious applications are in industries that produce a waste stream, such as manufacturers of paint or textiles. "You can purify the waste streams so that they meet their environmental quota and at the same time recover the energy that was stored in those molecules," Verbruggen said. The gas produced could be used to power the lights or other machines in the factory, he added. At the moment, the team has not come up with an engineering solution to collect and store the gas. Thats another step in the engineering process, and one that will need to be solved by further research and development, Verbruggen said. "I'm more motivated to improve the cell's performance, right now," he said. Currently, the membrane responds to ultraviolet rays in sunlight, which is only about 4 to 5 percent of the spectrum. But, if the researchers could modify the materials to make them respond to 40 or 50 percent of the solar spectrum, that would increase the efficiency of the cell as a whole, they said. "Improving the environment is a driving force for us," Verbruggensaid. "If we can catch two flies at the same time clean up the environment on one side and also provide a cleaner energy source that's a net benefit, because there's no extra energy input to drive these reactions, just pure sunlight." Original article on Live Science. This July, archaeologists in Jordan will begin an underwater search for remains of an early Islamic city. Located at the northern tip of the Red Sea, modern-day Aqaba is Jordan's only port. In the Middle Ages, the city was known as Ayla. Archaeologists uncovered the ruins of Ayla only in the last 30 years, and now, they want to know if there's more to be found off the coast. "We are going to perform an archaeological survey underwater to explore any architectural extensions of the city of Ayla," said Sawsan Fakhry, an archaeology expert for Jordan's Royal Marine Conservation Society (JREDS). "There may be a good chance to find the remains of the port mentioned in geographical and historical sources." [See Photos of Another Underwater 'Lost City' Off Zakynthos, Greece] The coastal town was both an oasis and an important stop on trade routes connecting Egypt, the Levant (an area encompassing modern-day Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria) and even China. Ayla was established as an Islamic city around the year 650, next to an older port built by Nabataeans (a civilization probably most famous for building Petra) that had been used in the Roman and Byzantine periods, according to an account by Donald Whitcomb, an archaeologist at the University of Chicago. Arab geographers of the ninth and 10th centuries mention the city as a prosperous place full of merchants. The site also saw an influx of visitors during the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. An aerial view of the coast of Aqaba, which during the Middle Ages was the ancient city of Ayla. (Image credit: Courtesy of JREDS) But after suffering earthquakes and attacks from Crusaders, Ayla was abandoned by 1116, and its ruins were eventually buried beneath the sand. The first archaeological excavations began in the 1980s, led by Whitcomb and Jordan's Department of Antiquities. These efforts revealed the stone walls, gates and towers that were part of the Islamic city's original, rectangular plan. Besides architectural structures like berths for ports, the underwater team might find artifacts such as anchors and broken pieces of pottery that would indicate the origin of international trade shipments to the area, Fakhry said. The search is part of a wider effort to conserve the underwater cultural and environmental resources off Jordan's small coastline. Besides the potential archaeological remains, there is also a coral reef site that JREDS is trying to get protected, Ehab Eid, executive director of JREDS, told Live Science. Eid added that the project was inspired by the success of Aqabas successful Cedar Pride Shipwreck project, in which a Lebanese freighter that was damaged by a fire in the 1980s was deliberately sunk to become an artificial reef. Original article on Live Science. A stone block decorated with a cartouche of the pharaoh Nectanebo II was discovered in a hole in the floor of a home in the Egyptian city of Abydos. Egyptian authorities say they caught looters digging up an ancient stone block carved with an image of a pharaoh. In the city of Abydos, antiquities authorities say they were inspecting an old two-story, mud-brick house when they found that the owner had excavated a hole in the floor. The block was at the bottom of the hole, about 13 feet (4 meters) below the floor, according to an announcement from the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities. [See Photos of Looting in Egypt] Images of the discovery show that the block is decorated with the cartouche of Nectanebo II. (A cartouche is a symbol consisting of ovals that frame a set of hieroglyphs indicating a royal name). Nectanebo II ruled during Egypt's 30th Dynasty, from 360 to 342 B.C., and was the last native Egyptian pharaoh before his defeat during the Persian conquest. Abydos is in Upper Egypt about 6 miles (10 kilometers) from the Nile River. The earliest kings of Egypt were buried at the site, and it remained an important religious place for thousands of years. Today, many of its monuments are still visible, such as Temple of Seti I and Ahmose's pyramid. Abydos was especially important as a cult center for Osiris, the god of the underworld. Several Egyptian rulers built their own temples to Osiris at this site, and Nectanebo II might have done so, too. The block could be a part of the king's royal shrine or an extension of a wall from the temple, said Hani Abul Azm, head of the Central Administration for Antiquities of Upper Egypt, according to the announcement. The house where the block was found is now under police supervision. Abul Azm said that proper excavations may take place to reveal more about the site. Egypt has strict laws governing its antiquities and archaeological resources, but a black market for artifacts still exists. Sometimes objects that were illegally excavated get disguised in the legal market, but they can be difficult to identify. A recent Live Science investigation of U.S. Census Bureau documents showed that $50 million in artifacts were shipped from Egypt to the U.S. in 2016. Still, other objects might get shipped in disguise. Last year, the U.S. returned to Egypt a mummy hand from the eighth century B.C. that had been shipped as a sci-fi movie prop. Original article on Live Science. This microscopic image shows an immature mouse egg, surrounded by supportive cells, after it has been housed in a bioprosthetic ovary scaffold for six days. A female mouse with synthetic ovaries created on a 3D-printer conceived and gave birth to healthy offspring. Researchers said the study could lead to an infertility treatment for women with cancer. The ovary was created using a porous scaffold made from gelatin, according to the all-female research team, which described the study this week in the journal Nature Communications. Gelatin is a form of collagen, the most abundant protein in mammals. Compared to natural collagen, gelatin is more broken down and thus can be made into an ink that can be used in a 3D printer. After making the gelatin scaffold, the researchers in the new study added ovarian cells taken from the ovary of another mouse. The ovarian cells form follicles that secrete hormones and release eggs. "These ovarian cells are spherical. They are three-dimensional, and it's very critical that you maintain the right shape by giving them a three-dimensional structure" to live in, said Alexandra Rutz, one of the lead authors of the study, who participated in the project during her biomedical engineering graduate fellowship at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. [5 Myths About Fertility Treatments] "That's where the scaffold comes in. It has pores in it like a sponge," Rutz said. The pores can have different shapes, and the researchers found that one particular shape best supports the ovarian follicles. "Supporting their shape keeps them alive, and that keeps them functional," she told Live Science. The ovaries are referred to as "biosynthetic" organs because they contain both living material (ovarian cells) and nonliving material (gelatin). They release hormones in the same way a normal ovary would, allowing the animal to go through its natural cycle, including ovulation, the researchers said. Because gelatin is a natural material, the body recognizes the implant as a regular body part and allows blood vessels to grow into it. "The biosynthetic ovary was implanted into the exact same place where we removed the originally ovary from," Rutz said. "As the vessels grew into it, they naturally started picking up the hormones secreted by the ovarian cells and distributing them throughout the body to the target organs." Rutz said that the most challenging aspect of the study was designing the pores of the ovarian scaffold so they could properly support the ovarian cells in the long term. The team is now preparing a similar trial on pigs, which are closer to humans in size and biology. Rutz said that scaling up the 3D-printed structure to the size needed for human use might be a challenge. "In humans, the ovarian follicles can be as large as 15 millimeters [0.6 inches], which is huge, so we have to make sure that the scaffold design can actually accommodate such large cells," Rutz explained. "But we also have to look at the long-term performance of these implants in order to be able to provide an ovary replacement with a lifelong function that would last for years." [5 Things Women Should Know About Ovarian Cancer] One day, such implants could be life-changing for women with impaired ovaries, the scientists said. The researchers added that they hope, in particular, to help survivors of childhood cancer whose cancer treatments damaged their ovaries. "Their ovaries don't function at a high enough level, and they need to use hormone-replacement therapies in order to trigger puberty," said Monica Laronda, another lead author of the paper and a former postdoctoral fellow at Northwestern. "The purpose of this scaffold is to recapitulate how an ovary would function. We're thinking big picture, meaning every stage of the girl's life so puberty, through adulthood, to a natural menopause." Rutz said that in the future, such implants could help women who have impaired ovaries to conceive, and could naturally alleviate women's symptoms of menopause. Instead of having to use synthetic hormones that can cause unpleasant side effects, a woman could have an all-natural source of female hormones implanted directly into her body, Rutz said. Originally published on Live Science. Dereliction of Duty: Lyndon Johnson, Robert McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Lies that Led to Vietnam By H.R. McMaster. Harper Perennial. 446 pp. $17.99 --- It's a brutal verdict on the failings so evident in the American president and his top advisers: "arrogance, weakness, lying in the pursuit of self-interest, and, above all, the abdication of responsibility to the American people." That is the judgment of Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, national security adviser to President Trump. But McMaster is not describing his current boss; he is portraying President Lyndon B. Johnson, Defense Secretary Robert McNamara and the members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the mid-1960s. In his book, "Dereliction of Duty," published in 1997, McMaster explains how a culture of deceit and deference, of divided and misguided loyalties, of policy overrun by politics, resulted in an ever-deeper U.S. involvement in Vietnam - a war, McMaster writes, that "led Americans to question the integrity of their government as never before." Twenty years ago, McMaster authored a cautionary tale. Today, he risks becoming one. McMaster is one of the few credible voices remaining in a White House that is once again making Americans question the integrity of their government. Even before the Justice Department appointed a special counsel to investigate possible ties between Russian officials and the 2016 Trump campaign, McMaster was defending the increasingly indefensible behavior of the president, such as Trump's off-the-cuff disclosure of classified intelligence to senior Russian officials in an Oval Office meeting. The general publicly described the president's actions as "wholly appropriate" (resorting to the phrase nine times in a single appearance), attacked the reporting on Trump by rebutting allegations that had not been made and reminded reporters that he was "in the room" when Trump met with Russia's ambassador and foreign minister. Message: If you don't trust the president, you can still trust me. In "Dereliction of Duty," which grew out of the author's doctoral dissertation in history, McMaster accuses the Joint Chiefs of Staff who served Johnson of failing to provide the president and Congress with honest advice on national security and insufficiently challenging the administration's flawed strategy in Vietnam. Profiles and news stories about McMaster invariably cite the book as proof that he grasps the importance of telling the president things he may not want to hear. But even more than his views on the Joint Chiefs - whom he depicts as torn by interservice rivalries and deliberately marginalized from key policy debates by Johnson and McNamara - it is McMaster's views on Johnson that feel most relevant when reading the book today. McMaster displays nothing but disdain for LBJ, for reasons that echo. He was a president with a "real propensity for lying," McMaster writes, obsessed with loyalty, focused on his political fortunes at the expense of the nation's needs, paranoid about dissent and leaks, and willing to consume the credibility of decorated military officers to cover for his duplicity. Those around him, however well intentioned, became complicit or compromised, manipulators or manipulated. The Johnson White House found itself sinking in "a quicksand of lies" about the war's strategy, troop levels and costs, McMaster writes, posing a dilemma for Johnson's military advisers. "The president was lying, and he expected the Chiefs to lie as well or, at least, to withhold the whole truth," McMaster explains. "Although the president should not have placed the Chiefs in that position, the flag officers should not have tolerated it when he had." But how exactly do you not tolerate a president who lies and expects you to back him up? By challenging him and jeopardizing your job? By going public with your disagreements? Or are you the good soldier, staying and hoping to quietly exert some positive influence over a commander in chief and administration that need your help as much as your reputation? This is a matter of individual conscience, both for Johnson's advisers four decades ago and Trump's today. What is clear, however, is that in his book McMaster displays contempt and disappointment toward those who do not speak clearly and honestly, whether in public or in direct conversations with the president and lawmakers. He derides the Joint Chiefs of Staff as "five silent men" for not revealing to Congress what they truly thought about McNamara's Vietnam strategy and Johnson's tendency to guide national security policies according to electoral and domestic priorities. (The Marine Corps commandant, Gen. Wallace Greene, is one of the few leaders McMaster praises, because he finally told Johnson that he believed it would take 500,000 troops and five years to win in Vietnam - even if he was largely ignored.) And McMaster is particularly damning regarding Army Gen. Earle Wheeler, chairman of the Joint Chiefs from 1964 to 1970, whom the president "used" on several occasions to "lend uniformed credibility to his decisions." McMaster dwells on congressional hearings in August 1964, shortly after the Gulf of Tonkin incident, in which Wheeler appeared alongside McNamara as a sort of administration prop, while the defense secretary was less than forthcoming in his description of Johnson's Vietnam policies. "Although Wheeler did not make any false statements to the senators or congressmen, by not revealing the truth he showed the president that he would go along with his and McNamara's attempts to mislead Congress and the American people," McMaster writes. "Sitting silently next to McNamara, Wheeler, dressed in his uniform, the light from the Capitol's crystal chandeliers reflecting off his brass insignia, lent indispensable credibility to his defense secretary's remarks." Trump, we know, likes to surround himself with generals, perhaps for the macho vibe or because he hopes some additional respect will rub off on him. He has appointed Marine Gen. Jim Mattis to run the Pentagon and Marine Gen. John F. Kelly to lead the Department of Homeland Security, while McMaster replaced yet another general, the oft-investigated Michael Flynn, as national security adviser. In his book, McMaster recounts how often the Johnson administration would stage presidential photo-ops with generals to create a veneer of consultation, and would trot out the brass to defend positions they had neither formulated nor supported. "Above all President Johnson needed reassurance," McMaster writes. "He wanted advisers who would tell him what he wanted to hear, who would find solutions even if there were none to be found. Bearers of bad news or those who expressed views that ran counter to his priorities would hold little sway." When Vice President Hubert Humphrey expressed concern about the escalation of U.S. forces in Vietnam, "Johnson responded by excluding Humphrey from future deliberations" over the war, McMaster explains, and Johnson's other advisers reached "the paradoxical conclusion that to protect their influence with the president, they had to spare him their most deeply held doubts." It became influence without purpose. Gen. Harold Johnson, the Army chief of staff at the time, "did not resign, resist or object" to the president's policies, despite his personal misgivings, McMaster writes with clear disapproval. Gen. Johnson later explained his rationale: "What should my role have been? I'm a dumb soldier under civilian control. ... I could resign, and what am I? I'm a disgruntled general for 48 hours and then I'm out of sight. Right?" Better to stay in office, he concluded, and "try and fight and get the best posture that we can." He came to regret the choice, McMaster writes. "Harold Johnson's inaction haunted him for the rest of his life." When Trump announced McMaster as his new national security adviser at a brief Mar-a-Lago event on Feb. 20, the general, in full uniform, chose his words carefully. "I'd just like to say what a privilege it is to be able to continue serving our nation," he said. "I'm grateful to you for that opportunity, and I look forward to joining the national security team and doing everything I can to advance and protect the interests of the American people." Serving the nation, joining the team, protecting the interests of the people. Nothing about working for Trump or joining his administration - McMaster was keeping his distance even as he entered the most inner of circles. And he has established his independence on some matters, such as nudging White House strategist Stephen K. Bannon out of the National Security Council and encouraging Trump, though not quite successfully, to cut back his references to "radical Islamic terrorism." But with his strident and unconvincing defense of Trump's inadvertent intelligence disclosures to the Russians, McMaster has put his own reputation and credibility at risk, especially if Trump enlists him to stamp out future fires. Some observers are now referring to McMaster as Trump's "shield." It is the same word McMaster used to describe Wheeler's relationship to President Johnson, and he did not mean it as a compliment. "Although his influence as a military adviser was low," McMaster writes, "Wheeler had become a valuable 'shield' to protect the administration from attacks on its decisions regarding Vietnam." This book makes clear that McMaster has the analytical skills, and not just the war-fighting experience, to serve as national security adviser in times of military and foreign policy crises. It is a shame that he is doing so for a White House in which so many of the threats are internal and the wounds self-inflicted, and in which the main weapon McMaster must wield is his credibility. I can imagine a future officer-scholar writing a dissertation about the dilemmas faced by McMaster and the other generals, both active-duty and retired, serving in the Trump administration. Will they be deemed heroes or warnings? They could be both. Working for this president might mean not the dereliction of duty, but the duty of dereliction. Former President Roh Tae-woo is expected to pay the remainder of a massive fine for corruption in office soon. Roh (81) still owes W23 billion (US$1=W1,118) of a W262.9 billion fine for corruption in office. According to sources in the legal community, Roh is negotiating with his younger brother Jae-woo (78) and former in-law Shin Myong-soo (72), former chairman of Shindongbang Group, to pay off the remainder. Roh Jae-woo will cover W15 billion and Shin W8 billion. In exchange, Roh Tae-woo is apparently willing to scrap demands for interest on money they accumulated while managing his massive slush fund. Roh's aides say the disgraced ex-president entrusted Shin with a W23 billion slush fund which swelled to W65.4 billion including accrued interest. The three men have apparently completed a letter of agreement and only need to sign it. Once that is done, Roh is expected to pay the fine within a month. Dragon Teeth By Michael Crichton Harper. 295 pp. $28.99 --- As if extracted from amber, a new story has been reanimated from the fossilized brain of Michael Crichton. Recently "discovered" in the late author's archives (Crichton died in 2008), "Dragon Teeth" is a light historical novel that bears all the narrative traits of its techno-thriller ancestor, "Jurassic Park." It's a fun and diverting romp through the Old West in search of dinosaur bones. The story centers on William Johnson, the handsome, cocksure son of a wealthy Philadelphia shipbuilder. In 1876, William is goaded by a rival into passing up a cushy vacation in Europe for a hardscrabble expedition on the American frontier with paleontologist Othniel Marsh. Crichton is splicing strands of history and fiction here. Marsh was an actual legend in the field; his many discoveries - and rich uncle, George Peabody - gave rise to Yale's Peabody Museum of Natural History. In "Dragon Teeth," Marsh enlists William as his team's photographer. But the mercurial professor suspects that the young man is a spy dispatched by his archenemy, Professor Edward Drinker Cope. Cope, also a towering real-life figure of early paleontology, discovered hundreds of prehistoric species, and he and Marsh fought bitterly in the late 1800s during a period of rich fossil discovery - the Bone Wars - that ultimately ruined both men. Early in "Dragon Teeth," Marsh's suspicions about William get the better of him, and he abandons the young man in Cheyenne. It appears the Ivy Leaguer's adventure has come to an end, but Cope arrives on the scene and invites William to join his own expedition headed for the Montana Territory. Eventually, of course, William will find himself alone and imperiled, venturing through lawless, hostile territory over unforgiving terrain. Is the spoiled tenderfoot hard enough? "Dragon Teeth" is filled with colorful Wild West characters, including Morgan and Wyatt Earp, and Crichton writes vividly, offering several suspenseful, racing passages. One of the most memorable arrives when William and the rest of Cope's team narrowly escape a buffalo stampede: "They eventually could see nothing, and could only listen to the thundering hooves, the snorting and grunting, as the dark shapes hurtled past them, ceaselessly." The novel also touches on the debate between science and religion. By the campfire on the night of a particularly momentous paleontological discovery, Cope finds his faith shaken. "Religion explains what man cannot explain," he says. "But when I see something before my eyes, and my religion hastens to assure me that I am mistaken, that I do not see it at all ... No, I may no longer be Quaker, after all." But the best thing about "Dragon Teeth" might be the escape it affords us from such philosophical complexity. One night, William tries to explain the importance of his discovery to a hotel clerk. "These bones are valuable to science," he insists. "We're a long way from science," the clerk replies. "Just get 'em out of here." --- Wilwol is a writer in Washington, D.C. The Soul of the First Amendment By Floyd Abrams Yale. 145 pp. $26 --- When protesters recently shouted conservative firebrands Ann Coulter and Milo Yiannopoulos off the University of California at Berkeley campus, the irony surrounding these two separate but related incidents was as bright as the fires that the protesters ignited, nearly burning down an academic building. How could the birthplace of the 1960s free speech movement be so hostile to opposing viewpoints? A university should be a place where discussion and debate flourish. In this case, speakers on one side of the debate had no trouble articulating their viewpoint, while they silenced speakers on the other side of the table. This not only stifles the marketplace of ideas, it also runs counter to the values of the First Amendment. While conservative opinions were targeted at Berkeley, challenges to free speech come from across the political spectrum. President Trump's declaration that the press is the "enemy of the American people" was one of his sharpest attacks against journalists and the Fourth Estate. It built on his other promises to crack down on leaks to journalists, as well as his campaign rhetoric naming and personally insulting reporters, and pledging to crack down on opponents and "open up" libel law to make it easier to recover damages from the press. Yet in the face of the rhetoric, the vitriol and the tweets, citizens and the press are still able to draw on the power and permanence of the First Amendment. Floyd Abrams, perhaps the country's most prominent First Amendment and media lawyer, makes his latest case defending free speech and press rights in his book "The Soul of the First Amendment." Abrams' thesis is that speech and press rights are woven into the fabric of America and set the United States apart from the rest of the world. These inherently human rights are akin to "freedom of conscience" and lead citizens to achieve self-fulfillment through speech, expression, publication and the free flow of information. A series of six essays, "The Soul of the First Amendment" is a quick read, and at about 140 pages, considerably thinner than Abrams' other books on the topic, particularly his recent books "Friend of the Court" (2013) and "Speaking Freely" (2005). These essays are readable and comprehensible to both a specialized audience of lawyers and laypeople just looking to understand a little more about these rights. The book's brevity does not detract from its substance or clarity as Abrams explains the origins and tensions of the First Amendment. He dives into historic and contemporary controversies that test our adherence to these principles, noting, "Speech is sometimes ugly, outrageous, even dangerous." The journey of the First Amendment begins at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and with the vision of James Madison and the framers who emerged from the Revolution skeptical of government's power over the people, and government's propensity to abuse that power through censorship or aggressive application of laws to punish speech or dissent. "The notion that First Amendment interests are served whenever laws genuinely reflect public opinion also seems to overlook the reality that the public too often seeks to suppress speech it disapproves of," he writes. The road, however, is littered with the carcasses of dissidents and offensive speakers. Threats to speech are discussed throughout the book, including the Sedition Act of 1798; the Espionage Act of 1917; and the jailing of abolitionist journalists during the Civil War or communists and socialists during the Red Scare, McCarthyism and the Cold War. American history is replete with examples of attacking, punishing, ostracizing or censoring a range unpopular or offensive speakers. As the country has evolved, so has our protection of and tolerance for free speech and the marketplace of ideas. Abrams supports much of his thesis in a lawyerly fashion, pointing to Supreme Court precedents and sprinkling in points from caselaw. It reads like a First Amendment's Greatest Hits compilation. He cites such cases as New York Times v. Sullivan (1964), which revolutionized libel law and facilitated robust debate and criticism of public officials and public policy, particularly civil rights. He describes how in New York Times v. United States (1971), the Pentagon Papers case, the Supreme Court stood up to the Nixon administration by refusing to allow the government to block publication or censor the Times and The Washington Post, which were running stories based on leaked top-secret government documents. The historic and the contemporary are explained and juxtaposed. For example, Abrams draws comparisons between the Pentagon Papers and WikiLeaks and the Edward Snowden stories published by the Guardian. Discussions of public officials and public figures litigating against the press are compared with recent threats by President Trump, as well as the Hulk Hogan invasion-of-privacy verdict against Gawker. Other recent First Amendment challenges are also part of the discussion, including offensive religious protesters at military funerals, virtual child pornography, videos depicting animal abuse, flag burning and other outrageous speech. This illustrates another theme: It is easy to protect speech that does not rankle people, but the First Amendment protects ugly and offensive speech, too. Abrams also devotes a sizable portion of a chapter to defending the controversial Citizens United case. Resting nicely on the pedestal Abrams builds, the First Amendment might be akin to America's crown jewels, setting us apart from dictatorships and even other democracies. He writes that "the gulf between the legal protections afforded to free expression in the United States and those afforded in Europe remains oceanic." The explication begins with an anecdote from a family cruise in 1976, when his son, Dan, got into a tiff with the ship's British staff, which barred the youth from a viewing of the PG-rated "All the Presidents Men" because of profanity. The aggrieved Dan, who grew up to be a lawyer and legal affairs reporter, chortled, "That's why we have the First Amendment." Of course, the protections of the First Amendment apply only to government action and do not reach beyond our borders. However, this personal story sets the tone that Madison was really onto something unique. Many other countries have laws protecting and supporting freedom of speech. However, Abrams notes that in many places, these pronouncements are mere lip service to such freedoms, especially in places where journalists and dissidents are censored, harassed, imprisoned or killed for expressing themselves. With these countries, there is no comparison and never will be. Abrams also distinguishes between American values and European countries, particularly Britain and the European Union, where libel laws are more plaintiff-friendly and the "right to be forgotten" has forced websites and search engines such as Google to remove hundreds of thousands of articles. International plaintiffs seek and sometimes find hospitable jurisdictions in which to litigate and punish the press through "libel tourism." As much as the First Amendment grants us rights to speak and express ourselves, the amendment's construction is a bar on government power and potentially abuse. "Congress shall make no law" is a declaration to people around the world that the United States reveres our speakers and our government shall not abuse them. Abrams has spent a lifetime fighting for First Amendment rights - in courtrooms and the court of public opinion. It takes lawyers and judges to protect these rights and to write the story of the First Amendment. Abrams' tribute to the amendment comes at a time when many believe that freedom of the press and freedom of speech are under attack from the highest levels of government. Let's hope Abrams is writing an homage to the First Amendment, not its obituary. --- Gutterman is an associate professor and director of the Tully Center for Free Speech at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. The Stars Are Fire By Anita Shreve Knopf. 256 pp. $25.95 --- Anita Shreve's books are reliably engrossing literary page-turners, never formulaic - unless trouble and desire mixed with the vicissitudes of fortune can be called a formula. In almost 20 novels, including "The Pilot's Wife," "Fortune's Rocks" and "The Weight of Water," Shreve consistently creates complex characters and plots, often drawn from the historical record or obscure headlines. She hands her characters a seemingly insurmountable problem or dire situation and tests them with oppressive social mores, menacing evil, buried secrets or catastrophic events - frequently, all of the above. Then she tells their stories in unobtrusively elegant prose. "The Stars Are Fire," her new novel, is set in Maine during the real-life disaster of 1947 when a severe drought caused a series of massive fires that burned out of control for 10 days. In Acadia National Park, 10,000 acres went up in flames, along with most of the mansions on Bar Harbor's Millionaires' Row. Fishermen and the Coast Guard rescued thousands from the shoreline. Firefighters and evacuees were trapped behind a burning wall that cut through Kennebunkport. Sixteen people were killed, thousands left homeless. In this story, when the fire arrives, Grace Holland and her neighbors head to the water's edge. Twenty-four years old, a mother of two young children and pregnant with a third - Grace holds her children in the frigid sea overnight as the flames send smoke and burning debris onto the beach. In the midst of crisis, she finds a strength she didn't know she had, but her losses are devastating, and she faces a precarious future. The scenes of the disaster, of the townspeople trying to save what they can, are tense and vivid. But Shreve is more interested in tragedy's aftermath, when Grace is sorely challenged. Before the fire, "In many ways, she thinks, her family is perfect. Two beautiful children ... a husband who works hard at his job and doesn't resist chores at home." Grace is thankful for her seaside bungalow and her family's health. She asks for little and does not complain. Still, she fears hers will be a restricted life, that she will likely never have a job or even learn to drive a car. She is bravely resigned to days spent watching the fog roll in as the babies continue to arrive. In this existence, a new washing machine is a luxury, and a dollar has to stretch. Trouble in the bedroom is not to be mentioned. Like many of Shreve's protagonists, Grace is filled with inchoate longing. She has untapped potential and a desire for romance but doesn't have the education or income to pursue her dreams. Her best friend, Rosie, seems to have a happier marriage, a brighter future, one that Grace envies as she hangs out the wash and steals away for five minutes' peace with a cigarette on the beach. She tries to ignore "the niggling sense of something wrong." When the fires break out and destroy so much, they also leave room for new growth. Grace's life suddenly holds out the promise of a fresh start. The question of whether she will prevail - or again be trapped into subservience - keeps the reader rooting for her. Shreve builds suspense with small details: a cloud of dust in the wind, a pervert lurking at the seashore, strange noises upstairs. Like every lone woman, Grace is in a constant state of alert, and Shreve is very good at keeping a low level of dread running through her pages. Just when Grace appears to be gaining true independence, events conspire to spin her life in a dangerous direction, and she stands to lose the happiness and freedom she's worked so hard to gain. Shreve knows a great deal about the human ability to resist despair, and this novel, like many of her others, shows how hard work and compassion are - sometimes - rewarded. It's no spoiler to say that in "The Stars Are Fire," stoicism, kindness and courage win the day over bitterness and cruelty. --- Manning is the author of the novels "My Notorious Life" and "Whitegirl." Hamlet Globe to Globe: Two Years, 193,000 Miles, 197 Countries, One Play By Dominic Dromgoole Grove. 390 pp. $27 --- He won't thank me for saying so, but Dominic Dromgoole is probably better at writing prose than directing tragedies, just as Anthony Bourdain writes better than he cooks. You might think of Dromgoole's new book, "Hamlet Globe to Globe," as the Shakespearean equivalent of Bourdain's TV series, "Parts Unknown." Both offer us irresistible samples of what Dromgoole calls "good eating and gargantuan drinking" with off-kilter characters in out-of-our-way places. Dromgoole also offers us "Hamlet," as served up by 12 actors on a grand tour of almost 200 countries in the 104 weeks between the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth and the 400th anniversary of his death. The end of the tour, in April 2016, coincided with the end of Dromgoole's 11-year run as artistic director of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. Dromgoole began his reign at the Globe with another book, "Will and Me: How Shakespeare Took Over My Life," which won the first Sheridan Morley for best theater biography. "Hamlet Globe to Globe" should win something, too, but book prizes depend on pigeonholes, and this bird is hard to categorize. Shakespeare never wrote a "well-made play," and Dromgoole doesn't write well-made books. He has no tidy scholastic thesis; academics and tidiness irritate him. He is not pushing a new interpretation of the play or the playwright. Instead, like any good memoirist, he bounces unpredictably from revenge and the Islamic State to Istanbul and an ode to scaffolding. "Uniformity on stage breaks my heart," he declares. "It is not a suitable response to plays or a world full of dappled things." Variety is his first commandment. And the second: "No hierarchies in the saucepan." That aesthetic principle, or unprincipled aesthetic, makes him a natural tour guide for global Shakespeare. Polonius describes the itinerant actors in "Hamlet" as hyper-hyphenated specialists in "pastoral-comical, historical-pastoral, tragical-historical, tragical-comical-historical-pastoral." In the same vein, Polonius might describe Dromgoole as foodie, travel writer, gossipy theatrical memoirist, literary critic, political commentator and, compounded with all these, comedian - usually, like the best comedians, laughing at himself. On the first page, Dromgoole is already confessing that his grand plan for the 2012 Shakespeare Olympics had "captured the imagination in the way only stupid ideas can." (The best explanation yet for President Trump and Brexit.) From every stop on the tour, he brings back souvenir absurdities, such as a billboard advertising "The First Indigenous Laughter School in Africa." He turns the entire company's gastrointestinal disaster in Mexico City into a masterpiece of escalating farce. His encounter with the German "theatre-god director Thomas Ostermeier" is, he cheerfully admits, the "most infantile" contest of directorial egos. Dromgoole the marketing impresario sometimes wanders into pompous cliches of Shakes-praise, but he is always saved by his directorial gift for particularity. Every performance of "Hamlet" that he describes as his plucky crew spirals round the planet is an experience as specific as each venue, from the deadening fascist architecture of the state theater of Ethiopia ("a tyrant's dream transformed into a rubbish bin") to a beautiful late 19th-century Swedish theater ("in tidy proportion for the single-room plays of Ibsen and Strindberg") to a sand-stormed shack in a Syrian refugee camp in Jordan. The English company had trouble negotiating with North Korea. (Who knew it would be so complicated?) But there is something deliciously unpredictable, and yet perfect, about Pyongyang's final offer: The actors would be granted passports to perform "Hamlet," but only if they agreed not to speak. The rest is silence. All the touring actors rotated in and out of roles, so that eventually they had all played every part. This unique "carousel system" epitomizes both the strength and the weakness of Dromgoole's approach. Yes, Shakespeare belonged to an ensemble joint-stock company of actors; but no, they did not all play Hamlet. Richard Burbage was the company's star, the leading living actor of Shakespeare's time, and Shakespeare wrote "Hamlet" for Burbage to play. The script contains plenty of good parts, but it is dominated by one sovereign role so demanding that few actors can embody it convincingly enough to hypnotize an audience, or a generation. Dromgoole and his company are better at comedy than tragedy. Why? Because they are better at ensembles than at titanic individual genius. The artist who stands out, at Dromgoole's Globe, is not the star actor, but the artistic director. Not surprisingly, Dromgoole's "Hamlet" production and his "Hamlet" book are better at capturing the humor than the horror. This "Hamlet" is not a tragedy about a doomed genius bounded in a nutshell, but a comic epic about company management. I'm not complaining. You will enjoy this book if, like me, you would rather reread Laurence Sterne's "Tristram Shandy" than Samuel Richardson's "Clarissa." Just don't expect Dromgoole to rise to the challenge of Cambodia's killing fields, or South Sudan's blood-spattered chaos. After all, the muse of mass death is Christopher Marlowe, not Shakespeare. The body count at the end of "Hamlet" is tragic, but Shakespeare never reaches for the genocidal sublime, and neither does Dromgoole. He offers us, instead, "a powerful communal bull - detector." Right now, I can imagine no gift more needed. --- Taylor is general editor of "The New Oxford Shakespeare." Season 13 of "The Bachelorette" premieres on May 22, but thanks to the star Rachel Lindsay's interview with the Hollywood Reporter, the ending has already been revealed. The Dallas lawyer and Bachelorette told the reporter that she is "very much so in love and very much so engaged," and though she didn't reveal the name of the lucky guy, she did say that if she had a list, he would check everything off. Retired Army General Michael Flynn, a staunch political surrogate for Donald Trump's election as president and for 24 days his first national security adviser, now is certain to be at the center of a new special prosecutor's investigation of Trump campaign links to Russian interests. The 59-year-old Flynn has already been at the heart of several controversies in Trump's four-month presidency and now will face new scrutiny with the appointment Wednesday of special counsel Robert Mueller, a former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the county's top criminal investigative agency. In 2015, when Trump began his presidential run, Flynn was paid more than $30,000 to attend Moscow events, including one where he sat next to Russian President Vladimir Putin at a dinner celebrating the Kremlin-controlled RT television network. Trump fired Flynn in February from the key White House posting after routine U.S. eavesdropping on foreign officials showed he had lied to Vice President Mike Pence about his contacts with Russia's ambassador to Washington in the weeks before Trump assumed power in late January. Flynn had been kept on the job for 18 days after the acting attorney general, Sally Yates, had warned the White House that he could be subject to blackmail from the Russians because he had misled Pence. Then, a day after Trump ousted Flynn, associates of former FBI chief James Comey, whom Trump fired last week, say that the president urged Comey at a White House meeting to drop his investigation of Flynn and that Comey soon after made extensive notes about his conversation with Trump. The White House says Comey's contemporaneous recollection of his discussions with Trump are not accurate, while some legal experts say that if true, Trump's efforts to end the Flynn probe could be construed as obstruction of justice, an impeachable offense. Last week, Trump said that as he was thinking of "this Russia thing," he fired Comey, who was leading the FBI's investigation of the Trump campaign's links to Russia. Trump has been dismissive of investigations of his campaign's links to Russia, saying that claims of Moscow's meddling in the election to help him win are an excuse by Democrats to explain his upset win over former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The Comey firing and the reports of Trump's attempt to curb the Flynn investigation led to calls from lawmakers, Democrats and some Republicans, for appointment a special prosecutor in the Russia investigation. Mueller will fill a role independent of the normal channels of authority at the country's Department of Justice. Sudsy events are abound in the Alamo City while San Antonio Beer Week spotlights local breweries at various parties. Thursdays mini beer fest at Frank in Southtown hosted 10 breweries giving away swag and prizes, while San Antonios two-man band Lonely Horse hit the stage inside. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Albany Frank Commisso Jr. wants to be transparent about his finances, saying he has nothing to hide from city voters and is free of conflicts. That's why the Albany Common Council member and Democratic mayoral candidate released his and his wife's 2016 tax returns Thursday. "The current requirements for officials are woefully inadequate. Those really do not provide a picture of the personal finances and the freedom from conflict that you would desire for a better system," he said. "Additionally, the returns show to a voter in Albany that I share many of the same concerns they have." This marks the first time an Albany mayoral contender has ever released his or her tax returns. While the practice is routine for candidates for president and governor (Donald Trump's refusal to release his taxes is the glaring exception) it's rare for candidates for local office in New York. New York City is the only municipality in the state where mayoral candidates are expected to release their taxes. Commisso's returns showed he and his wife, Brittany, collectively earned $132,907 in federal adjusted gross income in 2016. Both are Albany County employees, and their salaries are public information. The returns detailed deductions that Commisso said many Albany voters can relate to, such as $8,521 for home mortgage interest and $2,084 for interest paid on student loans. "Viewed in conjunction of the salary cap I plan to impose on myself at $99,995, this run is not to benefit myself or my family," he said. "This is something that is in the best interest of transparency." The married couple also incurred $7,200 in day care expenses last year for their 2-year-old daughter Gianna, according to the returns. Commisso said if elected mayor he'd want to revisit requirements for public disclosures as well as revise the city charter and institute ethics reform. Part of those changes would include shifting more power to the Common Council, particularly concerning budgets, he said. During the 2017 budget process last year, raises for select nonunion employees were criticized by Commisso, other elected officials and residents, but the council didn't have the authority to make salary changes. "The Common Council was powerless to effect change in that regard," he said. "My hope would be that we could establish a charter review commission and make those changes to the governing document. They do not meet the expectations of voters." City department heads and elected officials must submit financial disclosures regarding their as well as their spouses' employer and financial interests, such as stock holdings and contracts. These forms can be obtained through a Freedom of Information Law request. Council President Carolyn McLaughlin, who also is seeking the Democratic nomination for mayor, said she doesn't see the need for releasing her returns, adding the current policies in place are sufficient. "I don't have to resort to these kinds of things in the name of running for office. It's just another ploy of his to get attention," she said. "I'm not going to do it. I've been a civil servant for at least 30 years. I have a modest home in the South End of Albany." Mayor Kathy Sheehan, who is running for re-election, declined to comment. Local activist Marlon Anderson, who is seeking the Democratic nomination, couldn't immediately be reached. Green Party mayoral candidate Daniel Plaat said he'd be willing to submit his tax submissions, but talk should be centered around issues impact that residents. "Making an issue of tax returns is a reminder of the 2016 presidential election that I would not care to have," Plaat said. "I don't see it as particularly helpful to the systematic conversation that we need to have that goes beyond personalities and individual people." afries@timesunion.com 518-454-5353 @mandy_fries This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Troy Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin has formally filed papers with the state Board of Elections to run for Rensselaer County executive. McLaughlin's filing follows Deputy County Executive Chris Meyer's announcement at a kickoff rally earlier this week that he was running to succeed his boss, retiring County Executive Kathleen Jimino. McLaughlin, R-Schaghticoke, and Meyer are each seeking the Republican endorsement for the four-year post. The municipal GOP committees are interviewing to make their endorsements. McLaughlin has been releasing endorsements for his county executive campaign: Thursday, state Conservative Party Chairman Michael R. Long announced his endorsement, which followed one Wednesday by former U.S. Rep. Chris Gibson, a Kinderhook Republican. Across the aisle, Democrats who did not challenge Jimino in her past three re-election campaigns are trying to find a candidate to run for the open seat. Both Meyer and McLaughlin have said they are prepared to run in the Republican primary if they are not endorsed as the party's candidate. While Jimino departs elected office at the end of the year, the Republican-controlled County Legislature will also lose incumbents. County Legislature Chairman Stan Brownell of Hoosick and Deputy Chairman Alex Shannon of Schodack announced Monday they would not seek reelection. Thursday, County Legislator Judy Breselor of Sand Lake also announced she would not run for another four-year term. All are Republicans. County Legislator Phil Danaher, R-East Greenbush, the vice chairman for finance, is not running for his legislative seat. Instead, he is campaigning to fill the vacant county court judge seat. He will face Democrat candidate Jennifer Sober. Democrats and Republicans are expected to announce their County Legislature slates during the next few weeks. Petitioning begins June 6. The nominating petitions must be filed by July 13 with the county Board of Elections. Schenectady Memorial Day will have an especially dark meaning for Nazeema Ali and her family this year. Ali's older brother, Inshan Ali, was killed in a fatal hit-and-run crash in Rotterdam last year on May 29, over the holiday weekend. The Schenectady resident, a father of two from Guyana, would have turned 48 on May 18, said his sister. Nazeema Ali planned to travel from Queens to Schenectady to visit her brother's grave at Evergreen Memorial Park. The married mother of two said one of her greatest regrets is changing her plans on the fateful day her brother died: She decided to attend her best friend's barbecue instead of driving to Schenectady to hang out with him. "I should have been with my brother, because if I was there he wouldn't have died," she said through tears. " ... That holiday does not exist any more for us." In March, 29-year-old Ravi Sookram was sentenced to two to six years behind bars for striking Inshan Ali with his Lexus SUV at the intersection of Hamburg and Schermerhorn streets in Rotterdam. Police said Sookram stopped his vehicle long enough to get out and inspect the damage done to it, and then drove off. Ali was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities were not able to determine if Sookram, who is also from Queens, was intoxicated at the time of the crash. Ali said she longs for the conversations she used to share with her brother. "I still stare at my phone every day even though I know my brother is gone," she said. "I know I'm in denial, but I'm still hoping that the phone will ring." pnelson@timesunion.com 518-454-5347 @apaulnelson This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Albany Ongoing bickering between state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli and Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday spilled into a legislative controversy over the payment of stipends to certain senators, prompting another round of jabs between the two Democrats. The latest tiff followed the release of DiNapoli's analysis of the recently enacted state budget (a document crafted by Cuomo and negotiated with the Legislature) that warned of tough fiscal decisions ahead, with $10.5 billion in new bonded indebtedness authorized. It was the second time in two days that DiNapoli issued an analysis or audit a major function of his office critical of Cuomo administration fiscal policy. Cuomo, responding to reporters' questions about the controversy over the payment of potentially improper Senate stipends known as "lulus," Cuomo endeavored to pull DiNapoli: into the flap. DiNapoli's office signed off on the Senate Republican majority's list of stipend payments a document that incorrectly identified some recipients as committee chairs. The chamber's GOP insists the mechanism is legal, though that is disputed by mainline Democrats who say the lulus are being used to win cooperation from the eight-member Independent Democratic Conference. "If it was not legal, the comptroller shouldn't have done it," Cuomo said. "If it's not legal, the comptroller should call up and say, 'Whoops, I made a mistake, I need the money back.' So the call is the comptroller's. Now, if the comptroller violated the law and is unwilling to admit it, then you could have other authorities that could come in and that could take it to another level. ... Clearly he must believe it was legal because I haven't heard him say he wants the money back." DiNapoli spokeswoman Jennifer Freeman said that "the comptroller's office is not a court of law." The issue of whether the stipends are proper or not "needs to be decided by the Senate itself, or the legal system," she said. Others have asked for the matter to be addressed either through an investigation or an advisory opinion by the office of state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. The attorney general would need a referral to investigate the matter. DiNapoli, who regularly works with Schneiderman on fiscal malfeasance cases, has not yet done so. As a general policy, the attorney general's office does not comment on potential or ongoing investigations. Advisory opinions from the AG's office are issued in response to requests by state agency officials and/or local government attorneys. DiNapoli's state budget report, meanwhile, pointed to a financially rocky road ahead, perhaps as the result of cuts in federal aid to New York State. The report noted that the new budget brings more than $10.5 billion in newly authorized bond debt, even as state tax revenue projections have been trending downward. Adding to the worries is what the comptroller described as a lack of details about some of the spending proposals. "Billions of dollars in spending lacks key details that would better inform the public about how their tax dollars are being spent," DiNapoli said in the prepared statement. The $153.1 billion spending plan was finalized by lawmakers and Cuomo last month, a week after the April 1 deadline. Counting federal spending on the Obamacare health care reforms and ongoing efforts to rebuild areas devastated by Superstorm Sandy, the budget total rises to $163.2 billion. Among the areas lacking detail are the $385 million in appropriation and bonding authority for the State and Municipal Facilities program. Created in 2013, the fund has been criticized as a catch-all for public authority or municipal building projects that could be used for pork-barrel spending. The new debt authorization also includes $2.15 billion for drinking water improvements, which come on the heels of contamination problems in communities like Hoosick Falls and Newburgh. The report noted that state budget officials lowered tax revenue estimates four times over the past fiscal year. And the comptroller pointed out that the Cuomo administration is moving items off-budget such as $125 million in Tobacco Settlement money, which will go toward Medicaid costs, and $100 million from the State Insurance Fund to help pay workers compensation costs. A spokesman for the state Division of Budget said the complete enacted 2017-18 budget will be released in the coming days. DiNapoli's report came a day after the comptroller criticized the Cuomo administration for lax reporting on economic development spending. His office on Wednesday released an audit that rapped Empire State Development for not properly reporting on various tax credit and job creation programs. In turn, ESD said DiNapoli was motivated by politics. mhamilton@timesunion.com 518-454-5449 @matt_hamilton10 The European Union's competition watchdog has fined Facebook 110 million euros ($122 million) for providing misleading information over its buyout of mobile messaging service WhatsApp. The European Commission said Thursday that when Facebook informed the Commission of the 2014 buyout, it said it would be unable to "establish reliable automated matching" between Facebook and WhatsApp user accounts. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Mexican soldiers seized over 2 tons of marijuana at the World Trade Bridge, authorities said Thursday. Troops with the Secretariat of the National Defense located an 18-wheeler in the exportation zone. Authorities said the tractor-trailer was on its way to Laredo. READ MORE: Zapata priest arrested after allegedly driving drunk, crashing into ditch An inspection of the vehicle yielded 189 bundles of pot weighing 5,324 pounds. The contraband had an estimated street value of $4,259,200. Soldiers turned over the case to Mexicos attorney general for a follow-up investigation. No arrest was reported. Click through the gallery above to see photos of drug busts from the Texas-Mexico border. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A missing shotgun could be the key to solving the gruesome killing of a man that occurred in January 2014, Laredo police said Tuesday during a news conference. Authorities believe that someone broke into the home of James John "Jimmy" Ellis, 71, in the 200 block of Cortez Street and assaulted him. Ellis died days later. "We've not been able to identify whoever did this to Mr. Ellis, who was a victim of brutal assault," said Investigator Joe E. Baeza, Laredo police spokesman. The family pointed out to detectives a missing shotgun. Baeza said investigators are making this information public in hopes of finding answers. READ MORE: In fallout from FBI raids, Laredo city manager announces retirement Police said the "old and heavy" double barrel shotgun has a curvature in the stock and a missing trigger guard. Investigators released a picture of the actual firearm. "That shotgun was missing from the apartment. It was never found," Baeza said. "If somebody ran across it or bought it off of somebody and it's something that you did innocently, we want to know about it. We want to hear all about how you obtained it. Who you may have purchased it from. Where that purchase was made." Investigators also released a picture of a green Aeropostale T-shirt matching the one worn by a man captured on surveillance video. He was identified as a person of interest days after police first released the surveillance footage in 2014. The shirt has the lettering "SURF" in white and "MALIBU" in blue. "We want to make an emotional plea to our community and make sure that anybody who may have any information can contact us anonymously," Baeza said. "Any information, it doesn't matter how small you think it may be, would be valuable to us in trying to follow up any lead possible." To provide information, call police at 956-795-2800 or Crime Stoppers at 727-TIPS (8477). RELATED: Insect infestations highlight Laredo restaurant inspections for April 2017 Relatives of Ellis attended the news conference. "Today is a special day for the Ellis family because it's Mr. Ellis' birthday today. He would've been 75 years old today," Baeza said. A teary-eyed Josie Ellis said life has not been the same without her father. "Losing a parent is never easy but my dad was taken from us," she said. "One of my dad's dreams was to see my son graduate from high school. That dream was taken away from him. My dad will not be able to experience my daughter's first day of school only because of someone else's actions." She said her father was looking forward to be a great grandfather. "I want justice for my dad. He was not only my best friend but an amazing dad, a caring grandfather, a great uncle and an outstanding friend," she said. "Today we celebrated my dad's birthday without him. We keep his memory going ... All we have left are pictures and memories. No one can take away that from us." She added, "Don't hesitate to call police. Someone has to know something." Click through the gallery above to see photos supplied by the Laredo Police Department regarding the case, as well as pictures of Texas homes still haunted by murders. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The City of Cleveland bid farewell to Mayor Niki Coats at the May 16 city council meeting when new Mayor Otis Cohn was sworn into office alongside Councilman Mike Penry, reelected to Position 1, and newly elected Position 2 Councilwoman Marilyn Clay. Coats began his service to Cleveland as mayor in May 2013. He had previously completed a two-year term as a councilman in Position 1. "It's been an honor, folks," he said. The last state of the city address by Coats was delivered on March 30, where Coats discussed the city's balanced budget and making improvements at the Cleveland Municipal Airport, Austin Memorial Library's HVAC system, and installing a new ball field and playground equipment at the Cleveland Municipal Park. "I'm honored to have served my city in any way," said Coats. "I'm satisfied with our progress over the last six years." Coats expects the city to continue to grow in the years to come and says he is happy to be a part of it. Cohn agrees with Coats that the city is in excellent shape and is excited to see the future. "We're poised for an explosion of growth in Cleveland," Cohn said. "The City of Cleveland is going to be a better city." Cohn also thanked Coats for his years of service to the city. "Thank you, Niki, for leaving a huge set of shoes for us to have to fill," he said. "I only hope that I have the ability to carry on in your footsteps." Clay stated she is ready to work for the City of Cleveland having previously worked as the board director of the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce and having experience in the zoning committees. "I can do my part to try and make a difference," she said. As a resident of Cleveland for over 30 years, Clay hopes to improve the quality of life for the citizens. "Our kids need a little bit more to do," she said. "Hopefully we can get more jobs, more educational programs, more vocational training." Clay concluded by stating she hopes citizens both in and out of Cleveland learn that the city has great potential. In other business, city council passed the approval of a contract between Cleveland and the Texas Pride Utilities, LLC for the remainder of the TXCDBG Sanitary Rehabilitation project. Emily Humble and A.W. Jones, a prominent member of the Bordersville community, presented Bordersville: Exploring History on the 'Other Side of the Track' at the second inaugural speaker series event at the Humble City Museum on Thursday, May 18. Emily is a junior at Kingwood Park High and had conducted a research paper on Bordersville, which led to her winning the University of North Texas's Mayborn Young Spurs writing competition. Being a Kalamazoo, Michigan, native and only a recent resident of the Humble area challenged Emily to figure out who are the key players in Bordersville area to speak to you since because no proper historical documentation about the area could be found. "The history of Bordersville is one that is often been ignored in Humble. A lot of Humble has been preserved here in this museum but Bordersville has been ignored," Emily said. "I think it's really important to bring that story back and make sure it's present in this museum and in the minds of the community." Emily said part of her talk also focused on advocating for more young people her age to get involved in history. "I know that's something a lot of young people are kind of against, think that it's boring, but I found it incredibly enriching. The center point of my education in high school has all been focusing around history, especially local history," Emily said. Bordersville was established when the Bender Sawmill closed in 1927. The black workers who were employed at that sawmill moved across the railroad tracks to a sawmill owned by Edgar Borders. Jones served on the Aldine ISD board for 30 years, owned the nationally recognized Betty's Barbeque in Bordersville and serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Bordersville Neighborhood, which also runs the 3H Community Center in Bordersville. The area continues to shrink as more commercial businesses move into Bordersville, which continues to struggle with poverty and with the lack of recognition for its historic relevance. It's at risk of extinction. "Bordersville is still a very poor community and still often overlooked in the Houston government. There are not a lot of people advocating for the betterment of that community," Emily said. Emily said garnering more community involvement is the first step in helping the Bordersville community. "We can start working toward improvements there and helping those people get opportunities to improve their situation," Emily said. Emily has a year left of high school but said she's already thinking of a possible career in journalism. The 35th annual Panhandle Parade of Breeds junior heifer and steer show is set for June 15-17 at the Ollie Liner Center in Plainview. Cattle and junior exhibitors will begin arriving Thursday, according to Michael Dawson, the groups president. All entries will be made online and close on Sunday, June 11. Late entries for cattle and showmanship will be accepted from 1-3 p.m. Thursday. Steer weight cards and steer classification will begin from 5-8 p.m. Thursday and continue Friday morning. Heifer check-in is scheduled from 5-8 p.m. Thursday. The entire show is a blow and show event. Showmanship begins the competitions at 10 a.m. Friday, June 16. AgriLogic Insurance Services, LLC, sponsors the showmanship. Exhibitors are divided into three age divisions in two categories heifer showmanship and steer showmanship. Winners receive a prize and gift certificates. Five hundred dollar scholarships will be awarded the top two seniors. Judging of heifers is set to begin at 2:30 p.m. Friday, June 16, in Ring A. According to Mary Bass, coordinator, judging in Ring B will start 30 minutes after Ring A begins. Mark Core, Pleasantville, Iowa, and Kody Lucherk, Lubbock, are scheduled to judge. The Supreme Champion Heifer in Ring A will receive $1,000. Ring B is a prize show. Gebo Distributing Company, Inc., has sponsored the show for several years. Judging of the progress steers (those weighting 876 pounds and above) is set to begin at 6 p.m. Friday, June 16. The exhibitor of the Champion Progress Steer receives $500. Judging of the prospect steers (those weighing 875 pounds and less) begins at 8 a.m. Saturday, June 17. One thousand dollars is awarded the exhibitor of the Grand Champion Prospect Steer in Ring A. Cargill Meat Solutions (Friona plant) is the corporate sponsor for the steer shows. According to Angie Carver, treasurer, additional sponsors for the 2017 junior livestock show include the Holiday Inn Express (Plainview), Caterpillar and the Slate Group. Plaques and trophies for Ring A are purchased from D&S Manufacturing, Plainview. Viewing of all cattle shows and contests is free and open to the public. There is no admission fee to the Ollie Liner Center. A complete schedule, show rules and entry information can be found on the website www.panhandleparadeofbreeds.com. Former New York congressman Anthony Weiner, the disgraced politician whose "sexting" scandals shattered his career, admitted Friday in federal court to sending sexual material to a 15-year-old girl. Weiner, 52, pleaded guilty to transferring obscene material to a minor - a crime that will require him to register as a sex offender and could mean years in prison. "I have a sickness, but I do not have an excuse," he told the court. "I apologize to everyone I have hurt. I apologize to the teenage girl, whom I mistreated so badly." Federal authorities said that Weiner started communicating with the teen in January 2016 through online text and video chat applications, sending her sexually explicit images and asking her to engage in sexual conduct, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. He surrendered to FBI agents in New York early Friday and appeared in court late-morning, telling U.S. District Judge Loretta Preska how he had communicated with the teenager, "as I had done and continued to do with adult women," according to his plea statement, which was released by his attorney. "I knew this was as morally wrong as it was unlawful." Weiner, a Democrat who represented a New York City congressional district for more than a decade, resigned in 2011 amid a firestorm over an explicit photo he accidentally sent from his Twitter account. Weiner later admitted that he had exchanged explicit messages and photos with at least six other women. Weiner said in court Friday that he has "compulsively sought attention" from women who have reached out to him on social media and that he has engaged some of them in sexual conversations. "These destructive impulses brought great devastation to family and friends, and destroyed my life's dream of public service," he said in his plea statement. "And yet I remained in denial even as the world around me fell apart." Following the incident with the 15-year-old girl, Weiner said, "I came to grips for the first time with the depths of my sickness" and started mental health treatment. Weiner teared up as he made his statement, The Associated Press reported. After Weiner pleaded guilty in the case, his attorney, Arlo Devlin-Brown, said his client has accepted "full responsibility for the inappropriate, sexually explicit communications he engaged in early last year." "He apologized, offered no excuses, and made a commitment to make amends," Devlin-Brown said in a statement. The criminal charge - transferring obscenity to a minor - carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, according to federal authorities. Under the plea deal, Weiner agreed to register as a sex offender and not to appeal a sentence between 21 and 27 months in prison. His sentencing hearing is set for Sept. 8. "Weiner's conduct was not only reprehensible, but a federal crime, one for which he is now convicted and will be sentenced," Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said in a statement. The case came to the attention of the FBI last year when the 15-year-old girl in North Carolina told the Daily Mail about her online communications with Weiner. The story claimed, "Anthony Weiner carried on a months-long online sexual relationship with a troubled 15-year-old girl telling her she made him 'hard,' asking her to dress up in 'school-girl' outfits and pressing her to engage in 'rape fantasies.'" During a federal investigation, agents seized a laptop that Weiner had shared with his estranged wife, Huma Abedin, who was a top Hillary Clinton aide. On the laptop, agents discovered numerous emails that Clinton had sent to Abedin, prompting an announcement from then-FBI Director James Comey in the days leading up to the presidential election that the agency was reopening its investigation into Clinton's emails. Comey then announced that no charges would be brought in the case. But Clinton, and others, have said the scandal was partly the reason she lost the presidential election to Donald Trump. Two Chinese SU-30 fighter jets intercepted an American military aircraft over the East China Sea on Tuesday, according to the U.S. Air Force. "The interaction was considered unprofessional due to the maneuvers of the Chinese pilots and the speed," Lt. Col. Lori Hodge, spokesperson for Pacific Air Forces Command in Honolulu, said by phone Friday. She didn't give further information on the exact maneuvers carried out by the Chinese jets. U.S. military planes conduct frequent flights near Chinese territory and they can cause "miscalculations," Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a news briefing. China needs to do more research on the incident, Hua said. The U.S. Air Force is discussing the event via the military maritime consultative agreement meeting and diplomatic channels, Hodge said. CNN reported earlier that the jets came within 150 feet of a U.S. Air Force plane flying over the Yellow Sea, with one of the fighters flying upside down directly over the American plane. The U.S. and Chinese militaries have taken steps to reduce tense encounters between warships and fighter jets in recent years even as they disagree over where they can operate. The U.S. opposes China's territorial claims in the region, and routinely asserts its right to fly or sail in areas it considers international seas or airspace. The intercepted aircraft was a WC-135, which is designed to collect information on radiation in the atmosphere to detect nuclear explosions. Both China and the U.S. have been in talks about ways to curb the nuclear weapons development program in North Korea, which is in the vicinity. In February, the U.S.'s Pacific Command reported an "unsafe" encounter between surveillance planes from the two sides near the disputed Scarborough Shoal. Chinese state media said the Chinese pilots took legitimate and professional measures. In a separate incident, Japan scrambled jets on Thursday in response to a drone accompanying a Chinese ship near disputed islands in the East China Sea. The Japanese coast guard observed what appeared to be a drone flying close to a Chinese vessel that was sailing in Japanese territorial waters, Defense Minister Tomomi Inada said on Friday. After receiving an alert from the coast guard, two F-15 fighter jets, one E-2C plane and one AWACS aircraft were dispatched to the area above the Senkaku Islands, she said, according to the ministry's website. "If a ship entering our waters also flies a drone into our airspace, this further escalates the situation and it is absolutely unacceptable," Inada said. "This incident is an extremely serious breach of our country's sovereignty." Hua said the drone was owned by a media organization, not Chinese authorities. Korea's suicide rate is on the decline but remains one of the highest in the world, according to the WHO's annual statistics published Thursday. And the country keeps the ignominious title as the country with the highest suicide rate in the OECD, ahead even of notoriously gloomy Japan. The figures, which reflect data from 2015, show that Korea has 28.4 suicides per 100,000 population, the fourth-highest among the 183 countries surveyed. That is almost double the rate of 14.8 suicides per 100,000 in 2000. Numbers soared in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis to 34.1 in 2010. The driver who rammed into a crowded Times Square on Thursday, killing a woman and injuring 22 others, has been charged with 2o counts of attempted murder and five counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, according to the New York Police Department. Richard Rojas, the 26-year-old suspect, was taken into custody after he allegedly mounted the sidewalk on 7th Avenue in Manhattan, plowing through pedestrians at high speeds, creating a chaotic and terrifying scene amid the afternoon lunch rush at one of the busiest intersections in the world. Alyssa Elsman, an 18-year-old tourist from Portage, Michigan, was the sole person killed in the crash, according to the police. She had been visiting Times Square with her sister, who was injured during the episode. Preliminary tests show Rojas, a U.S. citizen and resident of the Bronx, was under the influence of the mood-altering drug PHP, law enforcement sources told the New York Times and CNN. Rojas was previously arrested for drunken driving in 2015 and 2008, police said. Rojas remained in custody Thursday night. Rojas is a U.S. Navy veteran who was discharged in 2014 as a result of a special court-martial, the Associated Press reported. He enlisted in 2011, served as an electrician's mate fireman apprentice, and was most recently based at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida. The circumstances surrounding the court-martial were not immediately available. Witnesses at the crash said the wounded were "laying on the sidewalks" and others were "screaming and running," as The Washington Post reported. Those in the area were told to shelter in place while emergency crews swarmed the scene. Immediately after the crash, Rojas reportedly tried to flee on foot. A bouncer at Planet Hollywood managed to tackle him to the ground, the Associated Press reported. The bouncer, Ken Bradix, has worked at Planet Hollywood for 17 years and was walking toward the restaurant when the he saw the car careening down the sidewalk and the driver subsequently running away from the scene. Mayor Bill de Blasio and other officials said there is no indication the crash was related to terrorism. "It's a tough day for New York City, but as usual the people of New York City will stand firm, will be resilient," de Blasio said in a news conference. Relatives, friends and community members in Portage, Michigan, mourned the loss of Elsman, the 18-year-old killed in the crash. "We're all kind of a mess," Eric Alburtus, principal of Portage Central High School, from which Elsman graduated last year, told the Detroit Free Press. Elsman was a kind, compassionate student known around the school for selling muffins she baked in a cooking class, Alburtus said. "Alyssa was wonderful young lady," he said. "When you first got to know her, you would perceive that she was shy or quiet. The more you got to know her, the more you would realize she was funny, and thoughtful, and compassionate to other people." According to her Facebook page, Elsman was working at a Sonic Drive-In. She also had a boyfriend. "She was sweet and really laid back," said Stacey Vogl, the mother of Elsman's boyfriend, Trevor West, told the New York Daily News. "She was the one person that brought my son joy." Relatives told the New York Daily News she was studying at a community college near her home outside of Kalamazoo. She was visiting New York City with her mother and city and they were scheduled to return to Michigan later Thursday. Before the crash, her 13-year-old sister posted a video on Instagram showing a view of bustling Times Square. "The Elsmans are a very close-knit family and that will be huge in a situation like this," Elsman's aunt Shelly Dusek told CBS New York. After she heard the news, Dusek posted a message on Facebook. "My niece," Dusek said. "I'm heartbroken." BRUSSELS - Washington's closest allies in Europe are increasingly worried that rising political chaos in the United States is undermining the strength of the most powerful nation in the world. In conversations with more than two dozen current and former European ministers, lawmakers, diplomats, intelligence officials and military officers in recent days, there was a common theme: After nearly four months of President Donald Trump's administration, many fear that mounting domestic scandals could sap Washington's ability to respond to challenges ranging from Russia to terrorism to North Korea. And one senior European intelligence officer said if his agency ever came into possession of information that was incriminating to Trump or his circle, it would hold back from sharing with the United States for fear the U.S. president would seek revenge. The officer spoke on condition of anonymity because he was concerned about provoking Trump's reaction. The officials paint a continent on edge ahead of Trump's first foreign trip, a nine-day voyage that in Europe includes a visit to NATO in Brussels, an audience with the pope and meetings with European leaders. With the White House under siege, some officials said that they were still searching for ways to work with Trump even as they were deeply concerned about the future. "It's disturbing," said Marietje Schaake, a Dutch member of the European Parliament who works on U.S. affairs. "The vacuum may encourage people all over the world to seize the moment of an absent United States," she said, pointing to political turmoil in the Western Balkans and Syrian President Bashar Assad's use of chemical weapons in Syria as first examples. Many officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they worried about jeopardizing their standing with an unpredictable U.S. president who, they say, may be quick to lash out at their nations if he is criticized. Mixed with the worry is a thread of relief: Many of Trump's most radical foreign policy promises during the campaign have been toned down now that he is in the White House. He has reversed himself on NATO, which he called "obsolete" shortly before his inauguration. His defense secretary, Jim Mattis, and national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, are both respected here. He appears resigned to following the terms of the Iran nuclear deal, which was negotiated alongside European powers. Even his criticism of the 28-nation European Union has been toned down "for a few weeks," one senior EU official said. And few said that they were worried about a decline of U.S. democratic institutions, at least not yet, saying that for all the chaos, American checks and balances still appear to be working. "I have faith in the U.S.," said Michael Aastrup Jensen, a Danish lawmaker who is the foreign policy spokesman for Denmark's ruling center-right Liberal Party. "I know a lot of moderate senators and congressmen. They will do whatever they can to keep the U.S. system we believe strongly in, in line." While many officials say that Trump's first months in office have been calmer for international security than they expected, they have also watched Washington's swirling dramas with growing concern. "I'm getting increasingly worried that this internal chaos in the United States is growing to an unimaginable scale," one European minister said. "And that may grow into security and defense policy. If you are only fighting about tweets, if you don't have time to follow what's happening in the world, that's really disturbing." The minister described waking up in the morning and tuning to CNN to see nothing but wall-to-wall coverage of Washington chaos. "To regain a kind of moral leadership will be extremely difficult. Because now every guy around the world will point their fingers and say, look at your own history. This will take a long time," the minister said. Officials also said that even if they welcomed the White House's about-faces on issues like NATO, there was little trust that the newest position was the one that would stick. "To say that NATO is obsolete and then to say that it is not, or to support the populist movements in Europe and then to say, once they have lost, that you don't support them," does not create major relief, said Pierre Vimont, a former senior French diplomat who is now at Carnegie Europe, a think tank. "The statements that were saying exactly the contrary have created some sort of uncertainty, unpredictability, that takes time to disappear." This week's revelation in The Washington Post that Trump shared highly sensitive intelligence about terrorist threats with the Kremlin was seen not only with surprise in Europe because Russia is a NATO adversary, officials said. It was especially galling because U.S. allies had not received any briefings about the threat - even as the Homeland Security Department considers a ban on the key security concern, laptops from U.S.-bound flights from Europe. European officials finally received a classified briefing in Brussels on Wednesday - a week after Trump ushered Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov into the Oval Office. "The spilling of secrets by the president is getting worse every day," a Western European diplomat said. Many European officials have been reassured to see that much of Trump's foreign policy seems to be administered by his more conventional subordinates. But they said even if daily policy decisions were in the hands of seasoned professionals, they were fearful of Trump's reflexes during inevitable international eruptions. "We're facing it day by day. But I'm scared of what happens when there's a crisis," said a senior NATO diplomat, who for months after the November election cheerfully shrugged off worries that Trump could threaten Europe. His assessment changed after watching Trump's temperament in office, the diplomat said. The sense of concern has helped spur European discussions about a future with a diminished or antagonistic U.S. partner. One major focus has been increased defense cooperation separate from NATO, in which Washington is the dominant partner. "We will . . . improve our capacity to act autonomously, whenever and wherever necessary," EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said Thursday after a meeting of EU defense ministers devoted to forming deployable European military units. Searching for a positive side of the turmoil, officials say they have been shaken out of a post-Cold War complacency that the United States would unquestioningly be there for Europe. Trump "has managed to provoke a healthy European debate on the transatlantic relationship," said Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the former NATO secretary general. "In the past we took it for granted." For now, many European lawmakers say they have little choice but to adapt to the new circumstances, given Washington's decisive international power. "Our thinking is that the personality of the president is not very much likely to get changed," said Norbert Rottgen, the head of the foreign affairs committee in the lower house of Germany's parliament and a close ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel. Uncertainty over U.S. foreign policy "creates a void," he said. "But the U.S. remains the United States, the most powerful, decisive nation on earth and in our alliance system, and we are determined to work together." - - - Annabell Van den Berghe contributed to this report. Federal agents shut down a Beaumont clinic on Thursday as part of an investigation of at least two Harbor Healthcare Systems centers. Agents spent most of the morning moving dozens of boxes from three sheds at Harbor Healthcare's Lung Center on College Street into a mid-sized white truck. At least one box was marked "Medicare audit." You know how people associate sleeping in with laziness? I used to have a terrible habit of not going to bed until the early hours of morning. Whether I was up all night doing work, surfing the net or reading articles, it always felt like there weren't enough hours in the day. Besides, I seemed to feel more awake at 2:00 am than at 9:00 am. While most people had their lights out, there I was, wide awake at my computer. Related: Not an Early Bird? Here's How Night Owls Can Still Find Success. Unfortunately, I would wake up the next day and realize that most of the morning had gone. Not to mention, people often associated my late rising habit with laziness. If you've ever been in the same boat as me, there's good news. People who sleep and wake up late tend to be smarter. Psychologist Satoshi Kanazawa set out to determine whether children's sleeping habits correlated with intelligence. He recruited 20,745 adolescents from 80 high schools and 52 middle schools for his study. The first meeting took place in their homes, where the students were asked to take an intelligence test. Five years later, he interviewed 15,197 of the original respondents again. This time, they reported when they went to bed and when they woke up on both the weekdays and weekends. He found that people with high intelligence are likelier to be night owls. This applied across a wide span of demographic variables, such as ethnicity, education and religion. As Kanazawa explains it, sleeping late at night was rare back in our ancestors day, making it evolutionarily novel. Evolutionarily novel is a good thing, as his research suggests that intelligent people are more likely to adapt such behaviors. Hows that for waking up late? But theres more. Night owls are mentally alert for a longer part of the day than early birds. People tend to think night owls are unproductive creatures, since they sleep in while the early birds are already sitting at their desks. A 2009 study, however, shows that the opposite is true. Researchers at the University of Liege in Belgium monitored 15 extreme night owls and 16 extreme early birds in a lab. The volunteers had their brain activity measured an hour and a half after waking up, and again 10.5 hours after waking up. In the morning test, the early birds and the night owls performed nearly the same in their responsiveness. But there was a gap 10.5 hours later: the night owls showed faster reaction times and were more awake than the early birds. Related: 7 Things People Think Are Terrible for Their Productivity That Actually Aren't Appearances can be deceiving. While the early risers look like theyre hard at work throughout the day, the night owls seem to be more consistent overall in their productivity levels. Working late at night helps people find creative solutions. Researchers at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Miami found that evening-oriented people are also more creative than their morning and intermediate counterparts. As Professor Marina Giampietro explains, being in a nocturnal environment "may encourage the development of a non-conventional spirit and of the ability to find alternative and original solutions. Not only are evening types smarter, but their unusual habits also help them to find creative solutions and alternatives. Non-conventional spirit, indeed. Who wouldnt want to be a night owl? Quick disclaimer about that last part, though. Whether you're morning or evening-oriented is dictated by genetics, not by choice. As it turns out, a small group of brain cells are in charge of our internal clock and preferences for the time of day. So, whats the key takeaway from all this? Work according to your energy levels. As a night owl, its easy to feel pressured into working normal hours. That is, according to the standard workday of 9-to-5. But some of us arent built like that. Some people work better at midnight, while others do their best work early in the morning. And, of course, there are those who lie somewhere in between. So if you tend to get your best ideas at a certain time of the day, take advantage of it, and use that period to perform your most important tasks. Related: This Founder Shares How to Tailor Your Schedule to Fit Your Brain You shouldnt feel like you have to work or sleep according to a preconceived notion of working hours. If you freelance or work independently, this shouldnt be too difficult to achieve. If you work in a full-time job, your boss may be open to the idea of you working remotely from time to time. The bottom line is -- pay attention to your energy levels during the day and work with, rather than against it. The next time someone criticizes you for waking up late, remind that person that youre not lazy, youre evolutionarily progressive. Nighttime is for those who create, innovate and think out of the box. Related: Good News From Science: Night Owls Are Smarter and More Creative The Executive Selection: Christian Louboutin Bagdamon 11 Lifestyle Changes You Need to Adopt If You Want to Be Rich Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said in June 2016 that he thought Vladimir Putin had paid then-GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump. And it seems entirely possible - if not likely - that he was joking. The problem is that even sarcasm is almost always laced with truth. And when it came to Trump colluding with Russia, June 2016 was early even for sarcasm. Perhaps the biggest takeaway from this big new McCarthy scoop from The Washington Post is that Republicans seemed to at least privately be talking about Trump's too-close-for-comfort relationship with Russia even before this issue blew up with WikiLeaks and before the FBI started investigating. At the very least, it was a punchline even as they prepared to nominate Trump for president. For the next five months, they would swallow whatever suspicions they might have had in the name of electing a GOP president. The Post reports that, in a conversation with other House GOP leaders June 15, 2016, McCarthy remarked, "There's two people I think Putin pays: Rohrabacher and Trump." The comment lumped Trump in with by far the most vocally pro-Russian member of Congress, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif. And to my eyes, it does seem to be something of a joke. Before making the comment, McCarthy laughed while offering another apparent joke about Russia having hacked the Democratic National Committee (The Washington Post had reported on that hack the day before): "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. At that point, with some levity still apparent in their conversation, Ryan cut it off: "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. But here's the key paragraph: 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, [FBI Director James] Comey has said in testimony to Congress. More than anything, this just looks bad for Republicans. At this very early juncture in the Russia drama, they were already making apparent jokes about collusion between Russia and Trump. Democrats will gladly point out that Republicans nonetheless showed very little curiosity about uncovering any actual collusion in the months that followed and now into the first four months of Trump's presidency. The most charitable read on McCarthy's comments is that he was joking about Trump's overly friendly comments about Putin, which were at issue even early in the campaign. Entous's report also notes that, the day before this conversation, McCarthy and Ryan had held separate talks with Ukrainian Prime Minister Vladimir Groysman, in which Groysman talked about how the Kremlin financed populist politicians to undermine democracies in Eastern Europe. So perhaps McCarthy was making a lighthearted reference to that. But that would still be lumping Trump in with some pretty unholy characters. And it's pretty clear why Ryan wanted to shut this discussion down and asked participants not to leak it. Even joking about such things could one day come back to bite them. And now it has. President Moon Jae-in on Thursday joined a ceremony marking the anniversary of the 1980 Gwangju Democratic Uprising in the southwestern city. More than 10,000 people attended the event at the May 18th National Cemetery to remember those who rose up against the military junta of President Chun Doo-hwan. It was the largest ceremony ever as citizens were allowed into the cemetery without invitations for the first time. It was also the first time in four years that an incumbent president attended the ceremony. Both conservative presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye were reluctant to take part in the event in the traditional liberal stronghold for fear of upsetting their hardline supporters. All 2,000 seats were filled before the ceremony began, and thousands watched standing. People applauded and cheered when Moon arrived at around 9:50 a.m. "Thanks to the sacrifice of Gwangju people, the democracy of Korea could persist and survive," said Moon, a former human rights lawyer. "I declare the newly launched administration in line with the spirit of Gwangju." Plenty of young Israelis still go hiking through the Golan Heights, even though there's a war next door. From the trail, which winds through vineyards, lush grazing meadows and sleepy Druze villages, you can hear the thump of artillery from Syria, as Bashar Assad's army fights to dislodge rebels from a sliver of land in the country's south. As the path approaches the Sea of Galilee, you can see the even smaller enclave held by Islamic State. The jihadist group, in other words, is effectively a neighbor of the Jewish state -- but it's not the one that most concerns Israeli leaders. That would be Assad's ally Hezbollah, and its backer Iran. Donald Trump has long argued that defeating Isis should be America's overwhelming priority in Syria. When the U.S. president arrives in Israel this weekend, he'll likely be urged to take a different view of the conflict -- and maybe to help protect Israel from its fallout. "Isis is being decimated," said Avi Dichter, chairman of the Israeli parliament's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, and a former head of internal security agency Shin Bet. "They no longer have that many men on the ground. Iran, on the other hand, is a major regional threat." If that threat is present in Syria and directed at Israel, he said, "that's a casus belli." Israel fought a month-long war with Hezbollah, a Shiite Muslim militia, in Lebanon a decade ago. The Golan, captured from Syria after the 1967 Mideast war, is internationally considered to be occupied territory. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked Trump to acknowledge Israeli sovereignty. And he is, of course, wary of Islamic State and other Sunni jihadist groups operating nearby, who fired missiles at Israel late last year. Still, the border has been relatively quiet for decades, and Netanyahu is keen to keep it that way. That goal, in Israeli eyes, has been at risk since 2015 when the Syrian war swung in Assad's favor. Aided by Russian air power, and tens of thousands of fighters from Iran and Hezbollah, he recaptured territory from jihadists and other rebels. Israeli officials say Iran is capitalizing on the gains, seeking to establish military facilities and a land corridor allowing the delivery of weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Netanyahu has spoken of a Syria free of Iranian influence, which looks like a long shot now. There's no one willing to put enough boots on the ground to push Iran out. According to Ephraim Karsh, director of the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, Israel would settle for preventing Assad from regaining control of the area around the Golan -- creating a de facto buffer zone that would keep Iran and Hezbollah at a distance. "Israel doesn't think it can dislodge Iran from Syria, said Karsh. "If they want to be in Aleppo, let them be there. Israel just doesn't want Iran along the border." Enter Trump -- or so Israel hopes. Like many Middle Eastern leaders -- including the Saudis, who host the first leg of Trump's regional trip -- Netanyahu has welcomed the new administration's tougher line on Iran. President Barack Obama signed a nuclear deal with the Islamic Republic and chose not to launch an attack on Assad; Trump ordered a volley of cruise-missile strikes against the Syrian army last month. So far, that's been a one-off. And, with the president embroiled in domestic crisis, it's Russia rather than the U.S. that's seized the initiative in efforts to end the Syrian war. Netanyahu has kept the channels with President Vladimir Putin open, meeting him more frequently than any other world leader in the last two years. The latest Russian proposal envisages four "de-escalation zones" in Syria, policed by international forces. One of them would be in the south, the area of maximum concern to Israel. Israel isn't against the idea but it wants "an honest broker" to oversee its implementation, according to a senior military official who spoke on condition of anonymity. The U.S., Israel's closest ally, would fit the bill. Which is one reason the Jewish state's leaders are lobbying for more U.S. engagement in Syria. "Russia is for now the main power in the region," said Zvi Magen, a former Israeli ambassador in Moscow and now senior research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv. "But everyone's waiting for the sheriff to show up." Trump's administration hasn't openly supported the Russian safe-zone initiative -- or ruled it out. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov hinted at U.S. involvement after meeting Trump this month, saying Americans could take the lead in securing the southern zone. Meanwhile, "Israel is shuttling between the Russians and Americans, making sure everyone knows it won't hesitate to use force to defend its core interests," Magen said. So far, Israel has used force sparingly in Syria. It did strike at Islamic State last year, after militants fired at Israeli soldiers on the Golan. But most of its firepower has been reserved for the Assad-Hezbollah alliance, not Sunni jihadists. Airstrikes have taken out arms shipments bound for Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Israeli troops fire back at the Syrian army when its shells land in Israel by mistake. Israel has also aided some of the Sunni rebels, providing food and medical treatment, according to government officials. As Assad and Hezbollah gained the upper hand, some Israelis, including former military intelligence chief Amos Yadlin, have argued for more open support of the rebels. But others, like former Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon, warn that Israel's unpopularity in the Muslim world means that if it openly backs one side, "we end up helping the other one." A widespread view in Israel is that another war with Hezbollah, which has an arsenal of more than 100,000 rockets in Lebanon, is inevitable -- and will be harder to win if the Shiite militia is entrenched in southern Syria too, a stone's throw from the Golan trail. "You don't want to fight on two fronts," said Karsh. --Bloomberg's Samuel Dodge contributed. The more than 4 million traffic tickets handed out to Californians each year for such infractions as speeding, failing to stop at a red light or failing to signal before changing lanes should no longer be criminal charges, but instead be handled in civil court, says Californias top judge. If other judicial leaders and state lawmakers agree with Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, erring drivers would spend less time in court and would no longer face fines of up to $300, and possible license suspensions, for failing to show up for a hearing. The proposals from a judicial panel called the Commission on the Future of Californias Court System are the latest response to a torrent of drivers license suspensions brought on indirectly by the court systems financial shortages. California courts have filled chronic holes in their budgets by adding surcharges to traffic tickets $490 to the standard $100 fine for a minor violation, like a broken taillight. When drivers miss payment deadlines, they face additional penalties and license suspensions. A statewide report in 2015 found that 4.2 million Californians had their licenses suspended between 2006 and 2013 for failing to pay traffic fines and penalties, and that poor people were hit the hardest. The Legislature responded with an amnesty law that reduced debts on overdue tickets issued before January 2013 and enabled more than 192,000 drivers to regain their licenses, according to the laws sponsor, state Sen. Robert Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys. Hertzberg has a new bill, SB185, that would prevent the state from automatically suspending licenses of drivers unable to pay fines for minor traffic tickets and would require courts to base fines on a drivers ability to pay. Gov. Jerry Brown endorsed the proposal in his January budget message to the Legislature. Often, the primary consequence of a drivers license suspension is the inability to legally drive to work or take ones children to school, Brown said. The traffic ticket proposal released this week would also require approval by the Legislature and the governor. It would apply to traffic violations that are classified as infractions, punishable only by fines and not by jail time speeding, running a red light or a stop sign, changing lanes without signaling, parking illegally in a handicapped zone and similar offenses. It would not affect drunken driving, which can be prosecuted as either a misdemeanor or a felony with a potential jail or prison sentence. In 2014-15, according to the court commission, 4.15 million traffic tickets for infractions were issued in the state, 75 percent of the total criminal charges filed that year. Under the proposal, infractions would be moved to the civil court system. If a driver failed to show up in court, the judge could conduct a trial and decide whether the law had been violated, but could no longer impose a fine of up to $300 for nonappearance or suspend the drivers license. The proposal would not eliminate license suspensions for failing to pay fines and penalties for the original offense, said Commissioner Mark Borrell, a Ventura County Superior Court judge. But he said getting rid of penalties for failure to appear in court would make the fines more affordable and would be an important protection for drivers. Ticketed drivers would not have a criminal record, but the switch to a civil court proceeding would also make it easier for the state to prove a violation. Rather than the beyond-a-reasonable-doubt standard for criminal convictions, only a preponderance, or majority, of the evidence, would be required. The commission said the lesser standard is appropriate for minor violations. The commissions proposal would also give the state more leeway to offer evidence from statements made outside court, including police reports, if the judge found them reliable. But Borrell said the new system still would not allow a violation to be proved solely on the basis of a police report. The recommendations also included reducing drivers mandatory court appearances and giving them more options online, where they could track their cases, submit evidence and pay their fines. That approach pleased Hertzberg, author of the bill to limit license suspensions and traffic fines. Instead of having to spend hours traveling to and from court and waiting for ones case to be called, why cant you have a little kiosk at a shopping center? Hertzberg asked. Overall, he said, the commission is on the right track, because we shouldnt be criminalizing traffic tickets. The commissions recommendations are designed to improve (Californians) interactions and experiences with our justice system, and make the courts more accessible, Cantil-Sakauye said. The commissions recommendations include a pilot technology project that would allow lawyers and witnesses in most types of court cases that do not involve criminal prosecutions to take part in the proceedings from remote locations rather than in a courtroom. Cantil-Sakauye told the state Judicial Council, which she chairs, to study and report on the proposals by the end of September so they could be forwarded to the Legislature. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @egelko Taking the crime out of traffic tickets Among the traffic infractions that would no longer be considered a crime in California, under a proposal by the Commission for the Future of the California Court System: Speeding Failing to stop at a red light or stop sign Changing lanes without signaling Parking illegally in a handicapped zone Driving with an expired license or registration, or failing to have ones license in the car when stopped by police Having a broken taillight Traffic offenses that would remain criminal violations include: Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs Reckless driving Driving without a license Driving the wrong way on a divided highway Drag racing Candidates in California judicial elections, whose names and qualifications are usually little-known to the public, can sometimes tilt the outcome by describing themselves on the ballot as a gang violence prosecutor or domestic violence prosecutor. Legislation now awaiting a vote in the state Senate, and supported by the states judges, would require prosecutors seeking judicial office to restrict their self-descriptions to their titles deputy district attorney or simply attorney at law. The change would allow our voters more information and a less-manipulated experience at the polls, state Sen. Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica, author of SB235, told the Senate Elections Committee at a recent hearing. State law allows candidates for Superior Court judge to identify themselves on the ballot with three-word descriptions of their current office or occupation, or their main occupation during the previous year. In nonpartisan, low-budget campaigns, governed by laws that restrict the types of statements or promises judicial candidates can make, ballot titles are a chief source of information for the voters. And prosecutors with tough-on-crime labels often fare well in judicial elections. In Los Angeles County, according to research that a judge provided to lawmakers, 41 deputy district attorneys ran for judgeships between 2006 and 2016 and only one used the ballot title of deputy district attorney. The rest sported labels such as Hardcore Gang Prosecutor, Government Corruption Prosecutor and Sexual Predator Prosecutor. In 2014, according to the Los Angeles County Bar Association, a deputy district attorney who had been rated not qualified by the association, but who called herself a Violent Crimes Prosecutor on the ballot, defeated an incumbent judge with a well-qualified association rating. Allens bill has cleared two Senate committees and could come up for a floor vote next week. Sponsored by the California Conference of Bar Associations, it is backed by the California Judges Association and an alternative judicial organization, the Alliance of California Judges. The only opposition in committee hearings has come from the Sutton Law Firm, headquartered in San Francisco, which represents candidates in judicial races. Bradley Hertz, a lawyer in the firms Los Angeles office, said SB235 was both one-sided and unnecessary. The bills restrictions apply only to prosecutors, and would not prevent a nonprosecution lawyer from using a ballot label such as Domestic Violence Litigator, Hertz said in an interview. He said current law has safeguards in place to protect voters from false or misleading information, including a 10-day period for opposing candidates or members of the public to challenge inaccurate ballot titles. A potentially more influential opponent emerged Thursday when the California District Attorneys Association, which had not taken a position on SB235 before the committees, expressed objections to the measure. We believe existing law already solves this problem and that public lawyers should have the same rights as private lawyers, said Jennifer Jacobs, a spokeswoman for the association. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @egelko Sending a cold email can make you feel like a scientist searching for alien life -- once it shoots out into the ether, the chances of ever hearing a response are astronomically low. But still, we persist. And, on occasion, they even work. Below is the cold email that helped me connect with 22 C-level executives at some of the worlds largest public companies, including the COO of an international retailer, chief innovation officer of a worldwide apparel company, president of a global lifestyle brand and CEO of a luxury global brand, all with over $4 billion in sales for 2016. Using these relationships, which began with little more than a subject line and a body, I was able to establish rapport, build a client base and generate revenue for my company. Related: 6 Tips to Make You Love (or at Least Tolerate) Cold Calling Yes, its simple -- but, it works. First, heres the email: Sent: 7:00 am Subject: Dropel Fabrics Introduction Hi XXXX - Let me take a moment to introduce myself. I'm Brad, the co-founder of Dropel Fabrics. We develop performance-enhanced natural fabrics unlike any youve ever seen. For example, DropelTech Cotton is a water and stain repellent fabric that maintains softness and breathability -- allowing customers to stay clean, dry, fresh, and comfortable. As President of XXXX, I respect your time and will be brief. Dropel can add value to your brand through our proprietary fabric technology. The world is taking notice as we announce exciting new partnerships with features in Forbes, Business Insider, Time, Yahoo, Mashable, Bloomberg and WWD. Please let me know if you're available to chat tomorrow or Thursday afternoon. Im looking forward to discussing how we can work together. Best, Brad Now, let's break it down piece by piece: Sent: 7:00 am People are most responsive early in the day. There are a lot of theories out there as to the best time of day to send an email. Some people say to wait until the afternoon when people are bored and clicking around for things to do. Others say to catch them at night when theyre cleaning house after a days worth of work. They are wrong. For six months, I sent an average of 300 emails a day and charted the responses based on time of day. I did this by setting up API links between our lead-generation tool (Data.com Connect, if youre curious), email marketing service (the ever-reliable MailChimp), and CRM (SalesForceIQ). These emails were spread out throughout the day, with 100 messages going out at 7 a.m. EST, 100 at 12 p.m. EST, and 100 at 6 p.m. EST. Using the built-in reporting features in SalesForceIQ, I exported the records and analyzed the data in Excel. The results: The email open and reply rates were highest at 7 a.m. EST. With a mid-week bump showing Wednesday to be the single best day of the week. Not an early riser? I use Boomerang to schedule sending my emails at specific times. Related: How I Made $8,600 Per Hour Recording Personalized Voicemails Subject: Dropel Fabrics Introduction Use a simple subject line. Time spent fretting over the perfect clever subject line is wasted time -- at least when it comes to messaging senior executives. After trying a bunch of cute and clever lines (Were Materially Different for my fabric company), my analytics tools showed that short and simple subjects (Dropel Fabrics Introduction) performed the best, and caused the highest likelihoods that this audience would open or reply to my messages. Fact is, people dismiss sales language and react better to familiar words. By using a subject line that sounds like one an executive might get from a friend or colleague (when was the last time your business partner sent you an overly crafted haiku as a subject line?), theres an implicit trust -- or even a perception that we may know each other, even if weve never met. And for those not-so-cold emails going out to people you might have met at an event or get introduced by a mutual friend, dont forget to put your connection in the subject line: Post-SXSW Panel Follow-up or Brad Feinstein Intro: Michael Dropel Fabrics. Related: 4 Cold Email Subject Lines That Generated $4 Million in Sales Hi XXXX - Let me take a moment to introduce myself. Double-check every single name. The biggest mistake you can possibly make when emailing a large number of people at once? Making it obvious that youre emailing a large number of people at once. Everybody -- especially senior-level execs -- wants to feel like they are receiving a personal message. The more you can make your (potentially mass) email feel like a piece of customized content, the more likely they are to respond. Im not saying dont use a mail merge program, which lets you automate the process of sending large batches of emails to people. Im saying dont be lazy about using it. It is a huge red flag if an email addresses somebody using the sort of language that is only found in a spreadsheet. Its amazing how many emails Ive seen that are addressed to Feinstein, Bradley or Dropel, Inc. There is no way a human bothered to type that out. I checked each name and company to ensure the info was accurate and presented in the best possible before hitting send. Another red flag: When the body of an email has a different font color or format from the persons name. This happens all the time, and may not even be visible on your screen when you send. To fix it and keep your message format uniform, use the Remove Formatting feature in Gmail (hint: theres actually a button for this on the bottom of your message as you type, just above the "Send" button and to the right). Bottom line: So many cold emails come off like they came from robots. You want your communication to sound like you're a person because, you are a person. Related: 3 Cold Email Strategies With High Response Rates I'm Brad, the co-founder of Dropel Fabrics. Have an air of familiarity. The best way to start selling is by introducing yourself. The reason for this is simple: People are more likely to open an email from someone familiar than a stranger. You want to show that youre a real person, hustling to get their attention. Listing your title and including a link to your website is a quick way to build unconscious credibility. Be quick about this, and dont overdo it by coming across too friendly (Whats up?) or too aggressive (Your business will fail without us). And the email address you use matters. Maintain the professional nature of the relationship by using a work email as opposed to a Gmail (or, God forbid, AOL) address. Messages that come from a generic company email that doesnt have your name associated with it (company@gmail.com) can come off as a phishing scam. We develop performance-enhanced natural fabrics unlike any youve ever seen. For example, DropelTech Cotton is a water and stain repellent fabric that maintains softness and breathability -- allowing customers to stay clean, dry, fresh, and comfortable. Explain what your company does in one or two sentences. This is the most important paragraph of the email. You must clearly and concisely explain what your company does, and how that can potentially solve their problems or make them money. Of course, this is far more complicated than it seems. The key is to target executives at a time when they can actually benefit from whatever it is youre offering (theres a reason startups that just raised cash get inundated by HR and accounting services). In other words, its all about timing. Make sure you target your introductions so they come at the moment where the stars are aligning, and it makes sense for you to work together. Related: 5 Ways to Automate Your Sales Processes This Year As President of XXXX . . . Target the decision maker. I use tools like Pardot and Data.com Connect to build a pipeline of high-quality leads and target the right decision makers. My initial outreach strategy targeted managers and then directors. The goal was to engage those who can execute on new projects. I achieved a 19 percent response rate. While this is pretty high, these results are a bit misleading because 60 percent of those replies were being passed along to other managers or directors, and many of those fizzled. I then spent countless hours dissecting the corporate hierarchies of 10,000-person companies trying to figure out strategic entry points. This was time-intensive and hard to scale. Instead, I decided to target C-level execs and presidents because, to put it simply, people do not ignore emails that come from their bosses. If a company CXO passes down an email to an employee, that employee is going to follow-up. Period. Once I started targeting executives, the pass-along rate of replies skyrocketed to 100 percent. You read that right: There was not one email that was passed along from an executive down to an employee that went unanswered. Also, see No. 3: Make sure you get the name of the company right. Related: The Art of the Follow-Up I respect your time and will be brief. Be brief. Show you understand their time is valuable by keeping the email short. Three or four paragraphs, max. Oh, and use the plug-in Grammarly to check your grammar before sending. Dropel can add value to your brand through our proprietary fabric technology. The world is taking notice as we announce exciting new partnerships with features in Forbes, Business Insider, Time, Yahoo, Mashable, Bloomberg and WWD. Explain why they should care. Lets just assume your target executive has never heard of you. Be a barnacle, and attach yourself to a name they have heard of. Has a noteworthy media outlet covered you? Mention it. Do you have a partnership with a noteworthy company? Mention it. Do you have jaw-dropping stats or figures that might draw their attention? You got it -- mention it. Related: Simple Tips for Writing Emails That Get Read Please let me know if you're available to chat tomorrow or Thursday afternoon. Be specific and actionable. Dont let a piqued interest fizzle out. You want to make it easy for your audience to continue the conversation by providing immediate follow-up times. Any iota of interest is a tiny window and burst of momentum, and you need to capitalize on it asap. For my messages, I explored both open-ended (Lets connect next week) and specific asks (tomorrow at 2 p.m. or 4 p.m.). The best results came when I offered a frame of reference with an element of flexibility (tomorrow or Thursday afternoon). Name a couple of specific times, but obviously be accommodating for whatever happens to work for your VIP recipient. Best, Brad Lean on technology. Sure, you can send 1,000 individual emails, but thats a total waste when software can handle most of the heavy (and most boring) lifting. Use CRM software to organize your contacts and track interactions. I like Zoho and SalesForceIQ. Both have capabilities to create automated workflows and provide organizational superpowers for an efficient follow-up process. Since moving over to CRM software, I saw an incredible influx of new business development opportunities -- and was able to pinpoint what works (see above) and what doesnt. Related: This Is The Cold Email I Used to Connect With C-Level Execs at 22 of the World's Biggest Companies 10 'Sales Funnel' Tricks That Can Be Fruitful For Your Business How To Increase You Sales By 100 Times Right Now Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved ISTANBUL - Turkey's foreign minister on Thursday called on the Trump administration to replace its envoy to the anti-Islamic State coalition - the latest sign of Turkish frustration with the U.S. war strategy in Syria amid mounting tensions between the two NATO allies. Turkey has forcefully protested the Trump administration's decision to arm a Syrian Kurdish force for an assault on the Islamic State-held city of Raqqa. Turkey regards the force as an arm of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, which Ankara and Washington have both listed as a terrorist group. In an interview with Turkish broadcaster NTV, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu accused U.S. envoy Brett McGurk of "providing support" for the PKK and the Syrian Kurdish force, known as the People's Protection Units, or YPG. "It would be beneficial for this person to change," Cavusoglu said, referring to McGurk, adding that Turkey "would not meddle in the domestic issues of another country." The unusually pointed Turkish attack on an American official came days after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a trip to Washington that was dominated by issues dividing the two countries and that delivered mixed dividends, at best, for the Turkish leader. While President Donald Trump's invitation to Erdogan - and his lavish praise for Turkey during the visit - were widely seen as having enhanced Erdogan's stature at home, the U.S. administration did not appear to budge on any of Erdogan's most pressing requests, including the demand not to arm the YPG. The visit was also marred by a violent coda - an attack on protesters outside the Turkish ambassador's residence in Washington on Tuesday that U.S. officials said was carried out by Erdogan's presidential guards. Footage of the assault showing protesters being kicked, choked and stomped drew widespread outrage as it was circulated on social media. A video released by Voice of America showed Erdogan watching the protesters being attacked. A State Department official said Thursday that two members of Erdogan's security detail were arrested and released. Under international law, foreign officials and their traveling detail cannot be detained. The incident was considered serious enough that Turkey's ambassador to the United States was summoned to the State Department on Wednesday to discuss it with Undersecretary Tom Shannon, the official said. The Turkish Embassy released a statement Wednesday that made no mention of any role played by the presidential guards but said that a group of Turkish American citizens who had gathered to greet Erdogan "responded in self-defense" to a "provocative demonstration." On Thursday, in response to the clash outside the residence, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., called for the expulsion of Turkey's ambassador to the United States. "This kind of thing cannot go unresponded to diplomatically," the senator said in an interview with MSNBC. "We should throw their ambassador the hell out of the United States of America." Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., joined in on Twitter, calling the violence "unacceptable" and echoing McCain's demand that the ambassador be sent back to Turkey. "They were assaulting these people on US soil," McCaskill tweeted. In Turkey's vigorous but so far faltering attempts to shift U.S. policy, the government has increasingly taken to blaming disagreements with the Trump administration over Syria on President Barack Obama and, specifically, holdovers from the Obama administration, including McGurk, who has served as envoy to the anti-Islamic State coalition since November 2015. A State Department spokeswoman, Heather Nauert, said in a statement Thursday that McGurk had the "full support and backing" of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and the White House. "Turkey is a key NATO ally that faces legitimate domestic security concerns emanating from ISIS, PKK, and other designated terrorist organizations," Nauert said. "We respect those concerns, and continue regular consultations with our NATO ally on this and other topics of mutual importance." ISIS is an acronym for the Islamic State. U.S. military officials in the Trump and Obama administrations have concluded that there is no effective alternative to the military plan that relies on the Kurdish fighters - despite Turkey's insistence that it could muster an equally effective force with Syrian Arab fighters. Last week, the Trump administration announced that it would arm the YPG - as a delegation of high-level Turkish military and intelligence officials were visiting Washington in advance of Erdogan's meeting with Trump. In response, Turkish officials told their U.S. counterparts that they reserved the right to step up military action against the YPG in Syria. On Thursday, Erdogan, speaking in Istanbul, reiterated the warning, saying that "we won't discuss it or consult with anyone," according to the Associated Press. Cavusoglu said Thursday that the Trump administration "did not show any reaction" to the Turkish warning. "They welcomed it with understanding," he said. - - - The Washington Post's Carol Morello in Washington contributed to this report. Federal immigration officials detained an undocumented woman from Falls Church, Virginia, who came to their offices for a routine check-in Thursday, drawing angry protests from advocates who say President Donald Trump should focus on deporting those who pose a public-safety threat. The arrest of Liliana Cruz Mendez, 30, a mother of two from El Salvador, comes a day after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement released statistics showing a significant increase in deportation arrests since Trump's inauguration, mostly involving undocumented residents with criminal records. While immigration hard-liners are applauding Trump's efforts, advocates for those here illegally say ICE is defining the term "criminal" so broadly that many minor offenders - including Cruz Mendez, who has a misdemeanor conviction for driving without a license - are being torn from their U.S.-born children. The agency also more than doubled the arrests of noncriminal immigrants, to nearly 11,000, about a quarter of the arrests reported Wednesday. "This is the real face of what ICE is doing," said George Escobar, senior director of health and human services for CASA, a Maryland-based nonprofit that is aiding Cruz Mendez. "They are shattering families and children's lives." CASA originally said that Cruz Mendez had never been convicted of a crime. However, Fairfax County court records show the driving infraction from 2013. Her lawyer said the offense was not serious enough to warrant her ouster, noting that Cruz Mendez qualified for stays of deportation in 2014 and 2015. Immigration officials also confirmed reports on Thursday that ICE is reactivating long-dormant deportation cases that were closed under the Obama administration because they involved individuals who were not serious criminals or otherwise a priority for ouster. Court records show that tens of thousands of such cases were administratively closed without deportation proceedings during Obama's tenure, using a process known as "prosecutorial discretion." ICE spokeswoman Jennifer Elzea did not say how many cases have been placed back on the docket. But she said the reopened cases involve immigrants who have "since been arrested for or convicted of a crime." ICE "generally reviews" closed cases to determine if the closure is "still appropriate," Elzea said. Immigration lawyers said they were aware of scores of reopened cases - and not always involving criminals. In Detroit, a lawyer said he had three cases reopened that involved traffic stops. In Orlando, a longtime immigration lawyer said he knew of dozens of cases that had been reopened. "It's happening, but it's very hush-hush. Details are hard to come by," said the Orlando attorney, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he feared retaliation. Dana Leigh Marks, president of the National Association of Immigration Judges, said the immigration court's docket is bursting at historic highs and cannot easily absorb a flood of reopened cases. Marks, who is based in San Francisco, said she is scheduling cases into 2022. "We're teetering on the point of implosion," she said. The Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, a Syracuse University organization, said there are nearly 600,000 pending deportation cases. But Don Rosenberg, a father who lives outside of Los Angeles, said it is unfair to dismiss any undocumented immigrants - including unlicensed drivers - as minor offenders. His son Drew was killed in 2010 by an unlicensed driver from Honduras who came to the United States illegally and then secured temporary permission to stay. "She may not have had the opportunity to say goodbye to her family, but she can still speak to them and see them," he said of Cruz Mendez. "I never got to say goodbye to my son." Cruz Mendez came to the United States in 2006, when she was 18, to join a brother living in Virginia, CASA said, to escape an older man who once held a pistol to her head to coerce her into having a romantic relationship. During her initial journey, she was caught crossing the border but was later released. Seven years later, Cruz Mendez was stopped by police in Fairfax County for allegedly driving without headlights. She had an outstanding deportation order and did not have a license, CASA said. She ended up in ICE's custody. By then, Cruz Mendez was married and had two children, including an infant who was breast-feeding. She was released after three days and had to check in with ICE at regular intervals. Thursday was the first check-in since Trump took office. Advocates from CASA accompanied her and her family to the ICE offices in Fairfax and launched an immediate social-media and public relations campaign when she was arrested. Late Thursday afternoon, two dozen supporters held a rally outside the ICE offices to demand her release. They shouted "Shame on you!" and "Not one more!" "This is so wrong," said Nancy Bleeker, who lives in McLean and heard about Cruz Mendez's arrest through her synagogue, Temple Rodef Shalom. "It's not what our country stands for." Rene Bermudez, Cruz Mendez's husband, stood nearby with their 4-year-old daughter. Their 10-year-old son was not with them. Bermudez said his wife expressed fear of returning to El Salvador, which has been ravaged by gang violence and has one of the highest homicide rates in the world. Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner and Rep. Gerald Connolly, all Democrats from Virginia, released statements saying they would seek more information about the arrest. "Liliana is a mother of two American children and poses no public safety or national security threat," Connolly said in a statement. "I won't stand by silently while this administration seeks to break up northern Virginia families." --- The Washington Post's Michael E. Miller and Jenna Portnoy contributed to this report. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Thursday with a special envoy from President Moon Jae-in as the two countries seek to mend frayed ties over the deployment of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery from the U.S. here. Former prime minister Lee Hae-chan, now a lawmaker with the new ruling party, also meets Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday. "We're now at a crossroads in our relations," Wang told Lee and urged the new Korean administration to "remove the obstacles" that stand in the way of better ties -- a broad hint at the THAAD battery. The shuttle diplomacy, whereby the leaders of the two countries take turns visiting each other, started in 2004 during the Roh Moo-hyun administration but it was intermittently stopped depending on the political situation. President Moon Jae-in's special envoy to Japan and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday agreed to resume shuttle diplomacy between the two countries and strengthen cooperation against the North Korean nuclear threat. The envoy, lawmaker Moon Hee-sang, also delivered a letter from the Korean president to Abe. It calls for closer cooperation to deal with the North Korean nuclear menace but also warns that an overwhelming majority of South Koreans are emotionally unable to accept a deal to compensate victims of wartime sex slavery clinched by the Park Geun-hye administration. In December 2015, the two countries agreed to "finally and irreversibly" resolve the issue, with Tokyo 1 billion yen in indirect compensation but accepting no clear responsibility for the atrocity. In return Tokyo asked Seoul to remove statues commemorating the victims from the immediate vicinity of Japanese diplomatic missions. Both sides avoided the controversy in the meeting. Yoon Ho-joong, a lawmaker who was part of the delegation, said, "80 percent of the meeting was about the North Korean nuclear crisis, and both sides refrained from comments that could make the other side uncomfortable." A former West Texas official has agreed to plead guilty to taking bribes he allegedly split with Texas Sen. Carlos Uresti, about $850,000, while a Lubbock businessman accused of providing the money denied the charges Thursday. Jimmy Galindo, 53, who was County Judge of Reeves County from January 1995 to December 2006, signed a plea deal in which he plans to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery and failure to file tax returns. The plea deal was filed late Thursday, though his plea hearing has not been scheduled. U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday told President Moon Jae-in's special envoy in Washington that he would be willing to engage with North Korea "under the right conditions," according to the envoy. Hong Seok-hyun told reporters, "President Trump said although we are at the stage of pressure and sanctions, he is willing to make peace through engagement if certain conditions are met." Hong, a media mogul, quoted Trump as saying that he will not hold talks for talk's sake but to produce results. Trump and Hong spoke in the White House for about 15 minutes and were joined by Vice President Mike Pence, National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster and Matthew Pottinger, the senior director for East Asia at the National Security Council. Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, a senior adviser to the president, also stopped by. TRACY HOBSON LEHMANN /SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS San Antonio Water System will hold an enrollment fair Saturday to assist folks who are struggling to pay their bill. The Affordability Program Fair will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Indian Creek Elementary School, 5830 Old Pearsall Road. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Area authorities on Friday arrested nearly 50 alleged members or associates of the Texas Mexican Mafia, mostly on drug and firearm charges. The hits on the prison-born gang, headquartered in San Antonio, comes as part of an investigation that has lasted about two years. A federal grand jury indicted 37 gang members or associates Wednesday as part of the investigation led by the FBI that involved several other agencies. The indictment includes charges stemming from shoot-outs, home invasions, robberies, drug-trafficking and the gangs collection of the dime, a 10-percent street tax on other drug dealers. In a related investigation involving FBI agents from Del Rio, more than 10 people were arrested in the Hondo area on state charges, the FBI said. The 22-page indictment outlines a brief history of the gang, which has a paramilitary structure and whose members report to a general in the free world. The gang is run by imprisoned members, and its president is still considered to be Heriberto Herb Huerta, a founder who is serving life sentences in a super-maximum security prison in Colorado. Among the 37 charged federally and arrested are Raul Alto Ramos, the gangs purported general in the free world; Victor Cafe Garcia, a captain; Mariano Huesos Valdez, a lieutenant of lieutenants; and Angel Mad/Che Cantu Garcia, another lieutenant of lieutenants. The gang employs a blood in, blood out credo. Once youre in, thats it brother, said retired Texas parole officer Angel Vasquez, who supervised numerous members of the Texas Mexican Mafia over several years. The Texas Mexican Mafia, also known as Mexikanemi, had been one of the largest in the state and in the Bexar County Jail. But a series of crackdowns on the gang has imprisoned many old-school members, or some have died off, gang experts say. The gang has since been surpassed in numbers in the local jail by the Tango Blast, whose San Antonio sect is known as the Tango Orejones. That gang has clashed repeatedly with the TMM in jail and on the streets. Among the litany of criminal incidents listed in the indictment are shoot-outs the Texas Mexican Mafia had with the Tango Orejones. On Jan. 13, for instance, three TMM members, Jimmy Turtle/Reaper Perez, Johnny Mad Cow Fonseca and Robert Chino Rodriguez tried to collect the dime from an Orejon gang member at an unspecified residence in San Antonio, and a shoot-out ensued, the indictment said. Other crimes include discharging a firearm on Jan. 30, when Marcelino DeLeon, 42, was killed. Bexar County sheriffs investigators have said DeLeon was known to be involved with the Mexican Mafia but had been saying he was out. He had been looking to sell a large amount of methamphetamine a few days before he was killed, according to court records. Johnny Ray Morales, 29, was charged in state court with DeLeons murder that resulted from an attempt to steal the drugs in the 13800 block of West Loop 1604, investigators have said. No one is charged in the federal indictment with DeLeons murder. Besides the FBI, the raids involved the San Antonio Police Department, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the New Braunfels Police Department, the FBI said in a statement. Officers with the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force, San Antonio High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, Homeland Security Investigations and federal task force officers with the Austin Police Department also assisted in the operation, the FBI said. Most of those indicted appeared in federal court Friday, though three remained fugitives, officials said. Bail hearings were set for May 24 and June 1. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump angrily declared Thursday that he was the victim of a witch hunt and contradicted his deputy attorney general over the firing of the FBI director in comments that were his most extensive to date about ties between his campaign and Russia. Trump said the political storm in the capital was dividing the nation. He also conspicuously distanced himself from aides like former national security adviser Michael Flynn in repeating his claim that there was no collusion between his 2016 campaign and Russia. I respect the move, Trump said of the Justice Departments decision Wednesday to appoint a special counsel to investigate the matter. But the entire thing has been a witch hunt. He added, And there is no collusion between, certainly, myself and my campaign but I can always speak for myself and the Russians. Zero. Trumps comments were delivered in a chaotic East Room news conference where he stood alongside Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. As he dug in his heels, Trump further muddied his explanation of why he dismissed the FBI director, James Comey and in doing so, offered a different version of events than one briefed to senators just hours earlier by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. In that meeting, Rosenstein outlined his decision to appoint Robert Mueller, a former FBI director, as special counsel. Several senators emerged afterward to say Rosenstein told them he was certain that the president was going to dismiss Comey, even before he wrote a memo critical of the directors performance. But at his news conference, Trump reverted to the White Houses original claim that he was primarily responding to Rosensteins recommendation to dismiss Comey. The president had later claimed that he had moved against Comey in part because of his frustration over the FBIs handling of the Russia investigation. Trump began the day in a defiant mood, abandoning the conciliatory tone the White House had shown in a statement Wednesday evening. In an early-morning Twitter post, he cited, without evidence, illegal acts committed by the administration of his predecessor, President Barack Obama, and the campaign of his former opponent, Hillary Clinton and said they never led to a special counsel. Moments later, he added: This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history! It was not the first time Trump likened the questions about his campaign and Russia to a witch hunt. In January, while president-elect, he said in an interview with the New York Times that the persistent focus on Russias hacking of the American presidential campaign was a witch hunt carried out by people bitter at his victory. The president elaborated on that theme in the news conference, casting it as a needless distraction from the achievements of his administration, which he enthusiastically enumerated. Weve had tremendous success, he said. You look at our job numbers. You look at whats going on at the border. Some of Trumps claims raised more questions than answers. Youre going to see some incredible numbers with respect to the success off Gen. Mattis and others with the ISIS situation, he said, referring to Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. The numbers are staggering, how successful theyve been. He promised to name a new FBI director soon, having acknowledged to reporters earlier in the day that former Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut was a prime contender. Trumps sense of grievance over the Russia investigations had been deepening even before the naming of a special counsel. On Thursday, he arrived in the East Room primed for confrontation. Rather than call on a reporter from a conservative-leaning news organization, as he has in the past, Trump pointed to Jonathan Karl, an ABC News correspondent known for his close questioning during White House briefings. When a second reporter, Scott Thuman of the broadcaster Sinclair, asked Trump whether he urged Comey to drop the Russia investigation, Thuman could not finish the question before the president interrupted. No. No, Trump snapped. Next question. Colombias Santos, a Harvard-trained economist who won the Nobel Peace Prize last year for negotiating a peace treaty with the FARC guerrillas, watched the spectacle with an inscrutable expression. After sidestepping a question about whether he agreed with the White House plan to build a wall on the border with Mexico to halt the flow of drugs into the United States, Trump jumped in. That was a very long and very diplomatic answer, Trump said. I will say it a bit shorter: Walls work. Just ask Israel. Earlier, Trump said that coca cultivation and cocaine production had risen to record levels in Colombia, and challenged Santos to remedy the problem. Santos returned the favor minutes later when asked whether he had advice for Trump. I dont think Im in a position to give any advice to President Trump, Santos said with a smile. He can take care of himself. LUBBOCK, Texas Billie Sol Estes' name was synonymous with Texas-sized schemes, greed and corruption. The flamboyant swindler became one of the most notorious men in America in 1962, when he was accused of looting a federal crop subsidy program. But he reigned as the state's king of con men for nearly 50 years, even getting immortalized in songs and on Time magazine's cover as "a welfare-state Ponzi." Estes, who died in his sleep Tuesday at the age of 88, was best known for the scandal that broke out during President John F. Kennedy's administration involving phony financial statements and non-existent fertilizer tanks. Several lower-level agriculture officials resigned, and Estes wound up spending several years in prison. "I thought he would meet a very violent end. We worried about him being killed for years," said his daughter, Pamela Estes Padget. She said her father died peacefully in his recliner, with chocolate chip cookie crumbs on his lips, at his home in DeCordova Bend, a city about 60 miles southwest of Dallas. At the height of his infamy, Estes was the subject of songs by Allan Sherman (in "Schticks of One and Half a Dozen of the Other") and the Chad Mitchell Trio (in "The Ides of Texas"). Time magazine called him "a bundle of contradictions and paradoxes who makes Dr. Jekyll seem almost wholesome." "He considered dancing immoral, often delivered sermons as a Church of Christ lay preacher," the magazine wrote. "But he ruthlessly ruined business competitors, practiced fraud and deceit on a massive scale, and even victimized Church of Christ schools that he was supposed to be helping as a fund raiser or financial adviser." Estes' name was often linked with that of fellow Texan Lyndon Johnson, whose associates said their relationship was never as close or as sinister as the wheeler-dealer implied. Johnson, then the vice president, and Agriculture Secretary Orville Freeman came under fire during the scandal in the 1960s, though the scheme had its roots in earlier years as Estes edged into national politics from his West Texas power base in Pecos. After an earlier conviction was thrown out, Estes was convicted in 1965 of mail fraud and conspiracy to defraud. Sentenced to 15 years in prison, Estes was freed in 1971 after serving six years. But new charges were brought in 1979, and later that year he was convicted of mail fraud and conspiracy to conceal assets from the Internal Revenue Service. He was sentenced to 10 years but freed a second time in 1983. Former Associated Press correspondent Mike Cochran, who covered Estes throughout the 1970s and '80s, recalled writing about how Estes made millions of dollars in phony fertilizer tanks and noting, "how many city slickers from New York or Chicago can make a fortune selling phantom cow manure?" "Billie Sol was a character's character," Cochran said Tuesday. "I spent literally years chasing him in and out of prison and around the state as he pulled off all kinds of memorable shenanigans." Former reporter Marj Carpenter witnessed the damage that Estes' huckster schemes wreaked on people in West Texas as she worked alongside Oscar Griffin Jr., the late editor at the Pecos Independent and Enterprise who won a Pulitzer Prize in 1963 for his investigation of Estes. Griffin nailed down the story about Estes who was showing investors the same fertilizer tanks over and over by talking to investors, digging through bank documents and looking for the tanks, which didn't exist. "Even though it's been a long time and a lot of people have forgiven him and a lot people thought he was mistreated in the first place, he still did a lot of bad things and hurt a lot of people," said Carpenter, who found a snake and threatening note in her car while covering Estes. "Money was way too important to him and he didn't seem to care how he got it," she said Tuesday. Griffin eventually learned that Estes got someone to change the numbers on the tanks while he drove investors around, approaching the same tanks from different directions and leading investors to believe they were seeing different ones. He also discovered that bank documents listed the same few tank numbers for all transactions. A go-getter since he was a boy, Estes became a millionaire before he was 30. Many of his deals involved agriculture products and services, including irrigation and the fertilizer products that later led to his downfall. While he admitted to being a swindler, Estes also portrayed himself as a "kind of Robin Hood" and hoped to be remembered for using his money to feed and educate the poor. He was an advocate of school integration in Texas long before it was fashionable. Before his release from federal prison in 1983, Estes claimed he'd uncovered the root of his problems: compulsiveness. "If I smoke another cigarette, I'll be hooked on nicotine," he said. "I'm just one drink away from being an alcoholic and just one deal away from being back in prison." One of the strangest episodes in his life involved the death of a U.S. Department of Agriculture official who was investigating Estes just before he was accused in the fertilizer tank case. Henry Marshall's 1961 death was initially ruled a suicide even though he had five bullet wounds. In 1984, Estes told a grand jury that Johnson had ordered the official killed to prevent him from exposing Estes' fraudulent business dealings and ties with the vice president. The prosecutor conducting the grand jury investigation said there was no corroboration of Estes' allegations, but a judge ruled it was "clear and convincing" that the death was not self-inflicted. In 2003, he co-wrote a book published in France that linked Johnson to John F. Kennedy's assassination, an allegation rejected by prominent historians, Johnson aides and family members. A 2007 search for correspondence between Johnson and Estes found a 1953 form letter and only sporadic correspondence during Johnson's Senate years, according to the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum in Austin. In a 1962 memo prepared by longtime Johnson aide Walter Jenkins, Johnson recalled meeting Estes once and said he had never talked to him on the phone. Estes' wife Patsy died in 2000. He later moved to Granbury, southwest of Fort Worth, and remarried. He is survived by his wife, Dorris Estes; four daughters and one son. The Texas Senate on Friday passed Rep. Tom Craddicks bill that would ban texting while driving. Craddick told the Reporter-Telegram that the Senate passed the bill 23-8 after amendments were passed. Those amendments included being able to use GPS while operating a vehicle and listening to music through a phone, according to Craddick. With all the amendments out of the way, according to a Texas Tribune report, Judith Zaffirini, the bills Senate sponsor, said, I have waited 10 years to make this motion: I move final passage of HB 62. After the bill passed, according to the Tribune, Craddick walked across the Capitol to hug Zaffirini and thank the senators for their votes. After lingering for about 15 minutes, he mouthed thank you to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and walked out. Craddick said he will concur with the changes to House Bill 62, which received 114 votes in the Texas House. This is the fourth time Craddick has introduced a texting-while-driving ban. We are elated to get it done this time, Craddick told the Reporter-Telegram. In 2011, Craddick had authored a proposal that was passed by both chambers. But then-Gov. Rick Perry vetoed the measure, saying it would micromanage the behavior of adults. In 2013, Sen. Robert Nichols, head of the Senate Transportation Committee, wouldnt allow a committee vote on Craddicks bill. In 2015, Craddicks bill passed the House with a 104-39 vote. However, Zaffirini could not get the 19 votes needed to bring the bill to the floor for debate. Nineteen votes to bring it up ... is a hard hill to climb, Craddick said. Craddick said the bills passage through both legislative bodies is a testament to many people who repeatedly made the trek to Austin to tell their stories about how those who texted while driving impacted their lives. He said those stories arent easy to tell and they made a difference. "This is a landmark moment for public safety in Texas. For myself and many this is a good day because this statewide ban on texting while driving will save the lives of Texans," Craddick said. "For others, the day is bittersweet; it is a reminder that this legislation comes too late and came with a cost. I think of the Texans who lost their lives to these preventable crashes and unnecessary tragedies; I dedicate this bill to their memory." Craddick said he expects Gov. Greg Abbott to sign the bill. Craddick said that during a recent trip to Midland, Abbott told those in attendance that he would sign it into law. Lastly, Craddick, the dean of all Texas legislators, was excited for the bills passage because he believes it will have an impact on safety. He said in a November article that 482 deaths that occurred on Texas roadways in 2015 were due to distracted driving. He also cited a Texas A&M study that he said indicated 95 percent of people will respond and obey a law that has been created. If 95 percent of people obey laws, we will see a lot less texting on Texas roads, Craddick said. It was the first ruling in the massive influence-peddling and corruption scandal that brought Park down. The Seoul Central District Court on Thursday found Park Geun-hye's beauty doctor Kim Young-jae and three others guilty of administering unsupervised treatments to the deposed president while she was in office. The court gave Kim a three-year suspended sentence and fined him W3 million (US$1=W1,126). His wife Park Chae-yoon was sentenced to a year in prison for bribing ex-presidential secretary An Chong-bum to gain Cheong Wa Dae backing to expand her medical supplies business overseas. The court accepted that Kim provided unsupervised medical treatments to the president and lied about it in a National Assembly hearing in December last year. But it added, "The defendant admits the crime and cooperated actively with the investigation, so his sentence will be suspended." But the court sent his wife to jail because she "voluntarily took part in influence peddling and corruption for personal gains." Kim Sang-man, a doctor formerly employed by the luxury Chaum clinic in Gangnam who prescribed rejuvenating injections for Park under a soap-opera alias from 2011 to 2014, was slapped with a W10 million fine. And Chung Kee-yang, a "dermatology consultant" to Park, was sentenced to one year in prison for falsely denying in front of the National Assembly that he performed botox, filler or laser treatments on Park. The court said Chung not only lied to lawmakers but continues to deny his wrongdoings. And Lee Im-soon, a medical professor at Sunchunhyang University, was given a two-year suspended sentence on the same charges as Chung, but she was given the lighter sentence because she admitted her wrongdoings. As law enforcement officers and elected officials, it is our sworn duty to protect and serve our communities, and to uphold and enforce the laws of our country and of our great state. We take that responsibility seriously. It is a high calling. We feel compelled to speak out about Senate Bill 4, which bans sanctuary cities and was signed into law by the governor, to decrease fear and uncertainty about what the law really does. Whether driven by misunderstanding or by purposeful fearmongering, those who are inflaming unrest place all who live in Texas at greater risk. Here is the truth: Regardless of your immigration status, if you have not committed a crime and you are not subject to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer, you have nothing to fear about the change in Texas law. Senate Bill 4 does not change how most law enforcement agencies in Texas already work. Before SB 4, law enforcement officers in Texas were already allowed to ask about a lawfully detained individuals immigration status. This does not change after SB 4 goes into effect on Sept. 1. SB 4 does not require law enforcement to ask; it allows it. This approach has been ruled on and upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. SB 4 specifically prohibits racial profiling and discrimination. You will not be asked about your immigration status while walking down the street. Under SB 4, law enforcement officers who profile or discriminate will be subject to serious consequences. Both Texas and federal law strictly forbid racial profiling. The objective of SB 4 is to identify dangerous criminals, not detain hardworking families or innocent children. SB 4 requires law enforcement agencies to honor ICE detainers issued for violent criminals. The goal is to prevent the release of individuals from custody who have been charged with crimes such as sexual assault against minors, domestic violence and robbery. Dangerous criminals shouldnt be released back onto the streets to be able to commit more crimes. This new law targets criminals, not those on whom criminals prey. SB 4 provides new protections to crime victims and witnesses. For the first time ever, SB 4 gives crime victims and witnesses greater assurance of safety when they report a crime not less. SB 4 makes clear that law enforcement agencies may instruct their officers not to ask about the immigration status of a crime victim or witness. And protection can be offered to those victims and witnesses. Now more than ever we all need to work together. We need to encourage all who are here to report crimes, suspicious activity and fugitives so that we may all enjoy a better quality of life and safer neighborhoods. SB 4, not fearmongering, will result in less crime and fewer criminals in our communities. Finally, SB 4 requires all law enforcement agencies to enforce the law. Because there are consequences deadly consequences to not enforcing the law, SB 4 imposes penalties and can lead to jail time and removal from office of officials who refuse to comply with this law. Texans expect law enforcement officers to enforce the law. As we celebrate law enforcement officers during National Police Week, we remember that we are a nation of laws. This is what elevates America above other nations and is why people from around the world seek to come to America. As governor and as a police chief and border sheriff, we will continue to enforce the law because it makes all of Texas safer. Greg Abbott is governor of Texas. J.E. Eddie Guerra is the Hidalgo County sheriff, and Victor Rodriguez is the McAllen police chief. With the Texas summer heat in full swing, San Antonio residents are actively looking for ways to stay cool and still enjoy the sun! While owning a vacation home on the banks of the crystal-clear Comal River may be the choicest way to beat the heat, a backyard pool is a close second for many San Antonio homeowners. Backyard in-ground pools have become commonplace in many south Texas neighborhoods, and for good reason! With average summer temperatures hovering around 100F, an easily-accessible backyard oasis seems like the perfect way to cope. But what are the real facts about building an in-ground pool? Will the process be more of a hassle than a payoff? There are a lot of pros and cons to weigh when considering building a pool. Weve outlined a few of the positives and negatives below so you can find out if its right for you! Financial Pros: When looking at the possibility of building a pool, usually the first question is, Will this benefit me financially? The answer is a little bit more complex than you might expect. While you might not get a full return on your investment, a pool certainly will add dollars to your home sale! The National Association of Realtors estimated recently that an in-ground pool will increase your homes value by about 5%! This means that adding a pool to a $500k home will add between $20 and $30k to your sale! Depending on the initial cost of your pool, you have the potential to break even (or even make a bit of cash) by building a pool on your property. Even if this isnt the case, youll usually make up a good chunk of the difference of your with the value it adds to your home. The addition of an inground pool usually adds to the price per square foot, and these properties tend to sell a lot faster than homes without such backyard features especially in the sweltering heat of San Antonio, TX. Financial Cons: Though building an inground pool can add value to your home, the financial risk of such an endeavor cant be ignored. Building a backyard pool is certainly a large investment. According to Fixr (a website specializing in home improvement), the average in-ground pool ends up costing just under $22,000. This cost has actually gone down in the past decade eleven years ago, it cost about $2,000 more to install an in-ground pool! Naturally, the cost can go up or down depending on individual size, model, materials, and additional luxury features. And, while a pool may help your home sell faster and for a bit more money, the risk of losing money is still high. Even in the deep south, a pool doesnt guarantee financial payoff. Many homeowners only salvage between 40-70% on their investment. And you cant forget maintenance costs! Owning a pool isnt a one-time purchase...you also have to factor in routine upkeep. Maintaining your pool includes extra utilities cost (water/electricity), balancing chemicals, water accessories, and likely an elevated homeowners insurance. RELATED: Stock tank pools is the coolest trend taking over social media Community Pros: So if the main pros of your pool arent financial, what are they? Across the board, pool owners claim that the most rewarding part of owning a pool comes with the community and family fun their aquatic investment has provided over the years. From family reunions to romantic dates to youth group or neighborhood gatherings, pools tend to bring people together. Many residents enjoy having a home with an amped up host factor. Whether you want your home to be the go-to social gathering place or a space for relaxed get-togethers, building a pool will certainly allow for more quality time. Many parents love backyard pools because they keep kids happy and occupied in the summer...and swimming in far fewer chemicals than the community pool down the road Community Cons: If you arent interested in sharing your pool, unwanted guests might become a bit of a nuisance. In some neighborhoods, friends and neighbors will be more prone to invite themselves over to lounge and swim. Having a backyard pool can also become a liability issue when small children are around. Letting children use your pool can result in scrapes and bruises, not to mention the risk of drowning. And because your pool is private, you will have to act as lifeguard. For some, the fear of a potential accident is enough to shut down the possibility of building a pool. Convenience Pros: As weve already stated, the having a pool in the Texas heat is incredibly convenient! For one thing, a pool provides you with a quick, refreshing getaway. Either your water workout or your staycation are both immediately accessible! Because of the extra hot months in the deep South, swimming season lasts far longer in San Antonio than in other areas of the country meaning you get far more days of swimming than almost anywhere else! And, because so many homes in the San Antonio are have pools, pool maintenance and contracting are offered at relatively low cost. Convenience Cons: When owning a pool, you cant forget about routine maintenance and month-to-month upkeep. This includes monitoring chemical balances, water levels and restrictions, etc. These regular maintenance tasks cost time and money. Thankfully, though, advances in pool technology have greatly shifted the burden of work off of the pool owner. Experts say that, once you get your pool levels right, the minor occasional adjustments really arent too expensive or complicated. So whats the bottom line? Is building a pool a good or a bad idea? In the end, we believe it really depends on the individual homeowner. Essentially, the benefit will either be financial or relational. If you decide not to build a pool, youll likely save money. However, youll miss out on some seriously refreshing fun and/or relaxation. If you do decide to build a pool, youll have to spend extra money, but youll literally be swimming in fun and community bliss. If your enjoyment factor is greater than your financial loss, we say go for it! Take years of use into account as well, invest in a pool if you plan to stay in your home long enough to get good use out of it. But if you only use your pool a few days out of the year, you might be better of saving your money in lieu of a beach vacation. If you do decide to build a pool, here is a helpful list of some of the top San Antonio pool contractors! Keith Zars Pools Lonestar Fiberglass Pools Clear Springs Pools Blue Haven Pools & Spas Platinum Custom Pools Editors Note: This content is made possible by Keller Williams San Antonio. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of The San Antonio Express-News' or mySanAntonio.com's editorial staff. Learn more about our advertising products at www.hearstmediasanantonio.com. A man surnamed Kim is 30 years old and in search of a job. He took two years off during university to work on construction sites and earn his tuition, which meant he entered the job market later than many of his classmates. He has been trying to find a permanent job for the last two years while juggling part-time work, but has not been successful. "I can't sleep at night because I'm scared of growing old without finding a job," Kim said. Unemployment among young Koreans soared to a record 11.2 percent last month, but the real figure is probably much higher at an estimated 23.6 percent including young people who have been unable to find even part-time work. In other words, a quarter of young Koreans are jobless. Some experts make rosy forecasts that the problem will be resolved simply due to the fact that the working-age population will start shrinking this year due to the persistently low birthrate. These optimists are quick to draw analogies from Japan. But Korea is faced with very different conditions from Japan, where employment is high among people in their 50s, leading to ample opportunities to fill the positions once they retire. But that is not the case in Korea. Also, small and mid-sized companies in Japan pay wages that are 75 to 83 percent of big conglomerates', but in Korea their wages are only 62 percent, which narrows down the options for young people here. Around the world, unemployment tends to spike in the early stages of a decline in the working-age population, usually due to low economic growth and a subsequent decline in private consumption as the population shrinks. Korea faces similar woes, and not until 2025 will the decline in the working-age population translate into an easier job market for the young. People between 25 and 34 face the biggest problem, since they could end up being sidelined by employers in a few years because they are getting older but lack work experience. That means they may never find permanent jobs in a country where employers usually recruit new staff during annual hiring seasons and stipulate a maximum age for applicants. This is usually done to avoid awkward office dynamics where older staff have to report to younger superiors in Korea's anxious Confucian society. An estimated 1.41 million people face this prospect. Last year, 344,000 people between 25 and 34 were unemployed, and another 197,000 said they gave up looking for jobs and dropped out of the unemployment statistics. Some 323,000 said they did nothing except prepare for job interviews and 548,000 had temporary jobs. President Moon Jae-in has pledged to impose hiring quotas on businesses and asked the private sector to fill three to five percent of their staff with young workers or pay a fine. But some businesses are already saying they will pay the fine rather than create unnecessary positions. But the time to dodge the issue is past. Unemployment not only strips away valuable opportunities for young Koreans but deprives the whole of society of valuable labor resources. We need a grand creative bargain between the government and businesses to solve this problem. If you do not have a current print subscription to the Lodi News-Sentinel, but want to view unlimited articles for the month, please choose this option. When implementing the Made in China 2025 strategy, the government should not limit support to big companies, Premier Li Keqiang said at the State Council executive meeting on May 17. At the meeting, the Premier decided to promote cooperation among big, medium and small companies, and encourage them to develop smart manufacturing. He said that big, medium and small companies in China are developing in an integrated way small and medium enterprises (SMEs) revitalize big ones, while big companies can boost growth of SMEs. It is an advantage of Chinese manufacturing. For example, in Tianjin city, an IT giant is now providing cloud computing service to nearly 50,000 companies and helping around 200,000 software engineers build platforms. A Fortune 500 State-owned enterprise encourages its 160,000 employees to start internal businesses, generating 25,000 startup CEOs. As for this phenomenon, The Wall Street Journal said new IT manufacturers and old factories in China are working together to start a new and innovation-oriented business model, in an attempt to end competition over cheap labor. The meeting also decided to set up demonstration zones for Made in China 2025 and smart manufacturing, in order to facilitate cooperation among big companies and SMEs. Smart manufacturing is recognized as the main battlefield of the Made in China 2025 strategy, which is expected to be integrated with the Internet Plus and mass entrepreneurship and innovation programs. Cloud platforms of industrial internet and internet-based innovation platforms will be accelerated. The Premier used invention and innovation to elaborate on the strategy. Invention mainly refers to scientific research, while innovation is more market-oriented, he said. We are connecting the two areas. Although we are still behind in terms of scientific invention, we have a huge market and rich human resources for innovation. He asked authorities to further cut red tape and improve public services, in order to unleash peoples wisdom and productivity. Check out our latest E-Edition Accessible anytime and anywhere on your desktop, tablet and smart phone devices. The Lodi News e-Edition is enhanced with the latest digital tools, including RSS feeds, social networking and much more. Check out our latest E-edition! Local News, Politics By Long Island News & PR Published: May 19 2017 Nassau County Executive Candadite George Maragos: "I am honored to support Mr. George Siberon for Legislator in the 5th District." Baldwin, NY - May 19, 2017 - Today, Mr. George Siberon, announced his candidacy for the Today, Mr. George Siberon, announced his candidacy for the Nassau County Legislature - District 5, offering his extensive knowledge and experience, in working with minorities, the disadvantaged and those neglected by government. George is running as an Independent Democrat for the Democratic Party nomination. I am running for Nassau County Legislator because I want to bring integrity to the Nassau County Legislature, said George Siberon. I am tired of hearing of our elected officials being indicted, and our communities losing faith and trust in government. I am tired of the pay to play" politics. I am running because we have a very serious drug epidemic that is not adequately being addressed with over 575 Long Islanders having died of opiate overdoses. As a legislator, I would coordinate an educational campaign to parents on early detection and treatment of drug use. I would also advocate for community based organizations to receive funding to assist persons with drug issues, and I will travel to Albany with educational advocates for an equitable share of state funding for our schools. I am honored to support Mr. George Siberon for Legislator in the 5th District, said George Maragos. Mr. Siberon, is a genuine person who understands the many issues facing our less privileged residents in Freeport, Baldwin and South Hempstead, He has always been a strong activist for social justice, affordable housing, public education and a fully funded public bus transportation system. Mr. Siberon is a person of unquestionable integrity, and independence whose only interest is to honorably serve the community, About GEORGE SIBERON, M.P.A., M.S.W. George Siberon is the Executive Director of the Hempstead Civic Association, a not for profit, community based organization that has been providing services to the residents of Hempstead and surrounding communities for over 30 years. Mr. Siberon is responsible for ensuring that services provided by the HHCA (English as a second language, after school tutoring, summer camp, affordable housing and tenant advocacy) are provided in a professional, culturally sensitive manner. George has over 40 years of administrative experience as Executive Director of the Nassau County Youth Board, District Manager for Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, Deputy Acting Executive Director of ASPIRA of New York, and Psychiatric Social Workers of Puerto Rican Family Institute. Local News, National & World News, Health & Wellness, Politics By Long Island News & PR Published: May 19 2017 Group seeking To Protect Millions Of Americans' Access To Affordable Health Insurance. Albany, NY - May 19, 2017 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra today took legal action to protect health care access for millions of Americans - including hundreds of thousands of low-income New Yorkers. Leading a coalition of 16 Attorneys General, Schneiderman and Becerra moved to intervene in the ongoing appeal of a lawsuit filed by House Republicans that undercuts the affordability of health insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act. The case, House of Representatives v. Price, is a legal challenge brought by the Republican-majority House of Representatives to block billions of dollars in Affordable Care Act subsidies that reduce co-payments, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket costs for low-income Americans. These payments, known as cost-sharing reductions, are specifically required by the Affordable Care Act. Experts predict that simply the threat to end this funding could destabilize the healthcare market and increase premiums by as much as 21 percent. "Every man, woman and child deserves access to affordable health care. As millions of Americans face the prospect of losing their health care coverage, it is critical that we stand together to protect this basic right," New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said. "The actions of the federal government are a direct assault on New York and our values, and we will do everything in our power to stand up to the ultra-conservative agenda and ensure that all New Yorkers continue to receive the affordable, high quality care they deserve." "No parent should worry if they can afford to take their child to a doctor or hospital," said California Attorney General Xavier Becerra. "President Trumps unpredictable behavior and lack of defense of the healthcare coverage of millions of Americans under the ACA threatens to resurrect those fears of every parent. Here in California, more than 5 million people now receive quality, affordable health care, many for the first time. No one wants to return to the days when a child was denied care because of a preexisting condition, when a woman was charged more than a man for the same health care plan, when you needed care the most and found you were capped at your lifetime limit. My fellow attorneys general and I seek to intervene in House v. Price to defend each of these Americans." "Millions of families across the country - including hundreds of thousands right here in New York - rely on these subsidies for their basic health care. We're talking about people's lives and for President Trump and the Republicans to use them as pawns in a political game is simply unconscionable," said New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. "No family should have to choose between protecting their child's health and putting a roof over their heads. That's why we're taking legal action now, and I won't stop fighting to protect New Yorkers' right to affordable, quality health care." The motion to intervene is supported by the affidavits of the New York State Department of Health, which administers the State's Affordable Care Act Exchanges, and the Department of Financial Services, which regulates state insurance markets. Taken together, the affidavits establish the many ways the Trump Administration's failure to pay the cost-sharing reductions will damage insurance markets, disrupt insurance coverage across the state, and negatively impact New York State's ability to offer affordable healthcare to its residents. Since the inception of the ACA, the number of New Yorkers without health insurance has fallen from 10 percent of the population in 2013 to 5 percent in 2016, a historic low. In New York alone, the state offered roughly 730,000 residents $900 million in cost-sharing reduction payments in 2017, principally through the Essential Plan, which is administered by the State with the assistance of private insurers. Over the last several months, the Trump Administration has threatened to stop cost-sharing payments and along with the Republican-majority House of Representatives has put the federal governments appeal of the legal challenge on hold. The resulting uncertainty in the insurance markets necessitated action by the States, which issue health plans, administer health insurance markets, and approve insurance rates. The Attorneys General are seeking to intervene in this case to protect low-income residents in their states, as well as the States themselves. The motion to intervene, filed today, was brought on behalf of individual States and was signed by a total of 16 Attorneys General: New York, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington and the District of Columbia. The motion to intervene argues that the States have a concrete interest in the litigation and that circumstances required action to intervene on appeal. Specifically, the States motion argues that the District Courts ruling, if it stays in place, will result in direct financial loss to some of the States, harm consumers, increase the number of uninsured, create additional uncertainty in the health insurance markets, and cause difficulty for State rate approval processes. The States motion further argues that the Administrations various threats about whether this funding will continue and the Presidents own comments show that the States cannot rely on the Administration to defend this funding. Click here to read the motion to intervene. In House of Representatives v. Price, the House of Representatives, controlled by a Republican majority, challenged billions of dollars in legally-required payments under the Affordable Care Act. These payments, which total $9 billion in 2017 and are expected to rise to $16 billion by 2026, are required by the Affordable Care Act to reduce low-income consumers co-payments, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket costs. Local News, Business & Finance, Community, Charity & Cause, Politics By Long Island News & PR Published: May 19 2017 Governor Signs Legislation Delivering $2.5 Billion to Advance the Construction and Preservation of More Than 110,000 Units of Affordable and 6,000 Units of Supportive Housing Over the Next Five Years. Albany, NY - May 19, 2017 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today launched a landmark $20 billion, five-year plan to combat homelessness and advance the construction of affordable housing in New York State. The action plan is made possible by the release of $2.5 billion in capital funding delivered in the FY 2018 Budget which will create and preserve more than 110,000 units of affordable and 6,000 units of supportive housing over the next five years. This marks the largest investment in the creation and preservation of affordable housing and efforts to end homelessness in the history of New York. "This legislation is a major step forward for New York as we strengthen our efforts to combat homelessness and expand access to quality, affordable housing for our most vulnerable men, women and children," Governor Cuomo said. "By making significant investments in rehabilitating, preserving and constructing safe and affordable housing, we will open doors for low-income residents and support hard-working New Yorkers in every region of the state." "Providing New Yorkers with truly affordable housing has long been a cornerstone for the New York State Assembly Majoritys Families First agenda," said Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. "The cost of living in New York has left many of our most vulnerable residents homeless or in jeopardy of homelessness and this legislation will help us stem the tide and make meaningful change in our communities. Safe, secure and affordable housing is essential to our communities, and I would like to give special thanks to Assemblymember Cymbrowitz, chair of the Housing Committee, and to all the Assembly Majority for their continued commitment to this issue." The new legislation provides $2.5 billion in funding to advance the Governors $20 billion, multi-year homelessness and affordable housing plan. To add critical supply to the states stock of affordable housing, the plan commits $10 billion to create and preserve more than 110,000 units across the state, including approximately 12,000 units created through the newly enacted "Affordable New York" program formerly known as 421-a. The plan also includes a $10 billion landmark commitment to create 6,000 new supportive housing beds, including $7.5 billion to end the homelessness crisis and support housing programs, rental subsidies and other shelter costs in New York City and across the state. This historic investment offers a transformational blueprint to address the diversity of housing needs in New York, strengthen protections for tenants, and create new opportunities for low-to-moderate income households. The capital funding delivered in the FY 2018 Budget includes: Supportive Housing: $950 million for the construction or operation of at least 6,000 supportive housing units throughout the state. New Construction: $472 million for new construction or adaptive reuse of rental housing affordable to households that earn up to 60 percent of area median income. New York City Housing Authority: $200 million for projects and improvements related at housing developments owned or operated by NYCHA. NYC 100% Affordable: $100 million for the construction and preservation of 100 percent affordable units in New York City. Senior Housing: $125 million for developing or rehabilitating affordable housing targeted to low-income seniors, aged 60 and above. Rural and Urban Community Investment Fund: $45 million for mixed-use affordable housing developments that may include retail, commercial or community development components. Middle Income Housing: $150 million for new construction, adaptive reuse, or reconstruction of rental housing affordable to households that earn between 60 percent and 130 percent of AMI. Affordable Housing Preservation: $146 million for substantial or moderate rehabilitation of existing affordable multi-family rental housing currently under a regulatory agreement. Mitchell-Lama Rehabilitation: $75 million to preserve and improve Mitchell-Lama properties throughout the State. Public Housing: $125 million for substantial or moderate rehabilitation and/or the demolition and replacement through new construction of public housing authority developments outside of New York City. Small Building Construction: $62.5 million for rehabilitation and/or the demolition and replacement through new construction of buildings of 5 to 40 units. Home Ownership: $41.5 million for promoting home ownership among families of low and moderate income and stimulating the development, stabilization, and preservation of New York communities. Mobile and Manufactured Homes: $13 million for mobile and manufactured home programs. Main Street Programs: $10 million for stimulating reinvestment in properties located within mixed-use commercial districts located in urban, small town, and rural areas of the state. Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative In addition, the FY 2018 Budget continues the Governor's commitment to provide supportive housing resources and services to address vulnerable populations experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Launched in 2017, ESSHI is a five-year program designed to fund the service and operating costs of at least 6,000 units of permanent supportive housing and to better coordinate resources from multiple-state agencies allowing more dynamic programming and quicker implementation. Services offered through this initiative include employment and training opportunities, parenting education, counseling, independent living skills training, primary healthcare, substance use disorder treatment and mental health care, child care, and benefits advocacy are examples of what is provided to supportive housing tenants. In 2016, New York set a record for financing the creation or preservation of more than 17,000 affordable homes and apartments and was the number one bond issuer in the nation with $2.8 billion issued. New York State Homes and Community Renewal's Unified Funding housing round awarded more than $122 million for affordable housing in urban, suburban, and rural areas of New York. The awards are set to build or preserve nearly 2,000 affordable apartments and leverage more than $450 million in public and private resources. Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz, Chair of the Assembly's Housing Committee, said, "A secure, affordable place to live is vital to every family's health and stability. This bold plan demonstrates our commitment to funding services and programs that help ensure that all New Yorkers, including our most vulnerable residents, have a place to call home." Senator Betty Little, Chair of the Senate's Housing Committee, said, "I am very pleased with all we've accomplished in this years budget for individuals and families in need of affordable housing throughout our state. I spent many months last year and this year meeting with stakeholders and in discussion with our partners in government. This is a lot of funding and we wanted to get it right. By doing so, we have achieved a comprehensive housing plan that will not only touch but, in many cases, transform lives for the better. I am eager to see the progress made in the years ahead as this five-year plan is implemented." Gary LaBarbera, President of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York, said, "We're thrilled to join Governor Andrew Cuomo today to sign Affordable New York into law. The Governor fought and won the battle to make sure that affordable housing is built in the state of New York, and most importantly, he made sure it will be done with highly-skilled union labor. Affordable housing has been a major focus of this administration since day one, and we commend Governor Cuomo for having the vision to make Affordable New York a reality. The legislation will support good middle class jobs and creates standards and safeguards for hard working New Yorkers. As we employ our brothers and sisters to help build a stronger New York with these housing units we are also one step closer to eliminating homelessness." Mario Cilento, President of the New York State AFL-CIO, said, "This legislation will not only create badly needed affordable housing, but the men and women who do the work will be paid a fair wage that will allow them to live in the very city they helped build. We thank Governor Cuomo for getting all of the sides together and ensuring a fair outcome for all parties involved." RuthAnne Visnauskas, Commissioner of New York State Homes and Community Renewal said, Today we take a huge step forward in the fight against homelessness and housing insecurity. This groundbreaking legislation builds on Governor Cuomo's unwavering commitment to provide New York families with the opportunity for a brighter future that begins with a safe, affordable place to live. This $2.5 billion, multi-year plan will allow us to create and preserve more than 100,000 homes for people who need them, and breathe new life into communities throughout New York." Brenda Rosen, President and CEO of Breaking Ground, said, "Everyone deserves a home. Breaking Ground applauds Governor Cuomo for this significant commitment that will help so many New Yorkers in need get a second chance at life. We see the transformative effects of safe, stable, affordable housing with on-site support every day. Breaking Ground has helped more than 13,000 New Yorkers escape and avoid homelessness since 1990, but our work is not done and this new $2.5 billion commitment will help all of us do even more for our city's most vulnerable." Laura Mascuch, Executive Director of the Supportive Housing Network of New York, said, "With this funding, New York State has demonstrated a historic commitment to those in our state who are most vulnerable. This funding is a powerful investment in the lives of homeless New Yorkers who long for a safe and affordable place to live where they can take care of themselves and their families and fully contribute to their communities. The supportive housing community congratulates Governor Cuomo for his vision and leadership in enacting a bold supportive and affordable housing program." Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Politics By Long Island News & PR Published: May 19 2017 Brooks: "I am humble and proud to induct him into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame." Albany, NY - May 19, 2017 - Senator John Brooks inducted Senator John Brooks inducted Massapequa resident Sgt. Morris Miller into the New York State Veterans Hall of Fame to recognize him for his remarkable service and sacrifice to the nation. Senator Brooks honored Sgt. Miller in a ceremony held at the New York State Capitol in Albany on May 16th. "Sgt. Millers service didnt stop when he returned home, said Brooks. He has lent his voice to be a voice for the veterans community to ensure that their needs and issues are understood and cared for. His selflessness and dedication to assisting fellow veterans is why I am humble and proud to induct him into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame. I'm very honored and humbled to have been inducted into the New York State Veterans Hall of Fame, said Sgt. Miller. I thank Senator Brooks and the people of the 8th Senate District for this honor. I encourage everyone to volunteer with a veterans group to truly understand the debt we owe to our veteran community." About Sergeant Morris Miller: Sgt. Morris Miller (ret.), served as a forward observer in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. In addition to his honorable service abroad, Sgt. Millers efforts after leaving the service are truly deserving of recognition and regard. Since leaving the service, he has tirelessly advocated for our nations active military service members and veterans. A Massapequa resident for over 47 years, Sgt. Miller, has dedicated his life to assisting the men and women that have served in the United States military. For almost 30 years, Sgt. Miller has lectured at colleges, high schools and middle schools, educating younger generations on the honor of service and the needs of the veterans community. He has volunteers over one thousand hours at the Northport V.A. Hospital aiding countless veterans as they seek medical treatment and rehabilitation. Furthermore, Sgt. Miller has advised numerous veterans organizations, including the Korean War Veterans and the Jewish War Veterans, on the benefits owed to veterans. Iranians head to the polls today to choose between bad and worse in yet another unfair-and-unfree presidential election. The primary challenger, Ebrahim Raisi who is considered a frontrunner to succeed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has received the support of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps the protector of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeinis Islamic revolution that has long cast a dark shadow over the country. The Guards political interference has at times been so blatant that incumbent President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday publicly called on it not to meddle. During the final debate last week, Rouhani criticized the Guards for mobilizing support for Raisi. Some in the West point to this as proof that Rouhani is the lesser of two evils, yet the political effect of this difference is minimal. Rouhani cannot overcome the Guards and Khamenei on matters of foreign and security policy to the extent that he even has differences with them. Rouhanis feud with the corps goes back to the Iran-Iraq War (1980 1988) and is less politically convulsive than can sometimes appear to outside observers. Since 1989, the Revolutionary Guards intervention in Iranian politics and commerce has expanded dramatically under the watch of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who has relied on the corps to consolidate his power. While Rouhani has installed more intelligence ministry than Guard veterans in his cabinet, the corps overshadows all other security and military institutions. Khamenei and the Guards exercise formal and informal means to check the elected branches. The corps decision-making hierarchy is dominated by a tightly-knit network of Iran-Iraq War veterans loyal to the supreme leader. During the reform era (1997 2005), Khamenei and the Guards curtailed the agenda of former President Mohammad Khatami and purged reformists from the parliament. As a partly conscript military organization, however, the 150,000-strong Guard Corps somewhat mirrors society, though more so the pro-regime base since Iranians who dont support the regime often prefer to enlist in the regular army. The Revolutionary Guards purged their ranks after the massive demonstrations following the 2009 presidential election: many officers and the rank-and-file had refused to attack protesters. Senior commanders have become more careful about vetting officers. Khamenei-picked clerical commissars enforce ideological conformity and the corps Counterintelligence Organization, souped up after 2009, roots out dissent. Factionalism among the Guards, however, remains. For instance, former senior commander and parliamentarian Mansour Haghighatpour told a pro-reform newspaper the Guards foiled his re-election bid in the northwestern district of Ardebil last year because he voted for the 2015 nuclear accord. The Revolutionary Guard promoted Raisi before he announced his presidential run. Raisi, who owes his power to the supreme leader, has long been close to Irans security services. After Khamenei last year appointed Raisi the trustee of Irans wealthiest endowment, the Reza Holy Precinct, top Guard commanders visited him in Mashhad. Media affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard then began promoting Raisi with the senior title of Ayatollah. That indicated Raisi was being groomed for the higher office of supreme leader, which nominally requires the senior clerical rank (the media has now returned to calling Raisi a mid-ranking cleric). Even before the withdrawal of Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, the mayor of Tehran and a former senior Guard commander, from the presidential campaign, Raisi generated the most buzz in hardline circles. Prominent Guard theoretician Hassan Abbasi even claims theres a strange aura to Raisis campaign rallies. Photos of guardsmen in Syria declaring their support for Raisi are now commonplace in Iranian social media. The corps weekly Sobh-e Sadeghs latest edition all but endorses Raisi without naming him directly. Some in Khameneis close circle successfully pushed Raisi to run for president even though hed initially refused. Cleric Ali Panahian, head of the pro-Khamenei think tank Ammar Base, told a militant seminary in Qom this month that Raisi consented to run with reservations. Panahian viewed Raisi as one of the sources of support for the Islamic Republic regardless of the result of the election. Panahian has dubbed Raisi the seyyed of the dispossessed (seyyed is an honorific given to descendants of the Prophet Muhammad). The Guard Corps has also directly mobilized supporters for Raisis campaign rallies. A reporter who attended Raisis Tehran campaign rally this week said the vast majority of attendees were members of the Basij an all-volunteer, paramilitary organization that falls under the corps command. Eyewitnesses outside the campaign rally videotaped men on motorcycles and more than a dozen buses hallmarks of the Guards mobilization. The Revolutionary Guards might try to tip the results in Raisis favor. Polls by their media seem to predict a Raisi victory. The Guard Corps has attempted to station forces at Tehrans ballot stations on election day, drawing the protest of a senior official from the interior ministry, which counts the votes and is under the control of Rouhani. Iranian parliamentarian Mahmoud Sadeghi this week warned about the spread of undercover security agents in Tehran, some of whom vowed to crush the green sedition, referring to the 2009 Green Movement. The Guard may want to rig the results by a few points to avoid the mistake of declaring Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the winner by a large margin, which instantly led to widespread suspicions of fraud and massive demonstrations. Rouhanis supporters may well accuse the corps and the supreme leader of fraud if Raisi wins. Rouhani has been leading the polls and the public expects a high turnout of the reformist base, which could only benefit Rouhani. The president has loudly and repeatedly warned against the Guards meddling in this election. For his part, Khamenei has not overtly expressed his preference for president but has criticized Rouhani throughout the campaign, and has vowed to slap in the face anyone who wishes to disrupt security. He obviously fears a repetition of 2009 that rocked the regime to its core. Whatever the result of the election, the Guard Corps will remain the most powerful network in the country. A Raisi presidency would be beholden. A Rouhani victory, however, cannot roll back the Guards influence. The Islamic Republics history leaves no doubt that republican institutions are incapable of overcoming the unelected powers of the supreme leader and his praetorians, who perceive reform as an existential threat. The prospect for gradual, peaceful reform within the Islamic Republic is bleak. Amir Toumaj is a independent analyst and contributor to FDD's Long War Journal. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. A candidate standing against the Prime Minister hopes she will raise awareness of her husbands imprisonment abroad instead of winning votes. Yemi Hailemariam, from Islington in London, has campaigned for the Government to do more to secure the release of her partner Andargachew Tsege, who is prominent in Ethiopian politics. Since becoming a political refugee in the UK in 1979, Ethiopia-born Andargachew, 62, has been critical of the regimes in the African country and visited on occasion. Programming worker Yemi said that in June 2014, Andargachew was travelling through Sanaa airport in Yemen when he was detained and rendered to Ethiopia. Yemi said the circumstances around the detention were still unclear. Reprieve, the human rights group, says on its website that Andargachew a father of three was sentenced to death after he was tried in absentia while he was in London, was held secretly and kept in solitary confinement for a year. The Government has not done much, 48-year-old Yemi said. The current PM has not done anything. The Government claims it is one of the top priorities. She believed that while politicians expressed their sadness and intent to do something, no action was being taken. Mrs May has met Hailemariam Desalegn, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia. I find it very sad and upsetting that the PM has not taken the time, especially as she has been in contact with her counterpart, Yemi said. She hoped her candidacy would allow her to be able to bring the issue to Mrs Mays attention, and encourage her constituents to raise Andargachews imprisonment with her. While focusing more on raising awareness than votes, Yemi said her aims included meeting Maidenhead constituents in order to get some kind of relationship with them. She would also like to get some kind of meeting with Mrs May and let the Foreign Office know we are not going to go away. Visit www.freeandargachew.com for more information. The American people have made clear they expect Republicans to work with me as well, US President Joe Biden said. Heres Why Trump Wont Pursue His Pledged Foreign Policy BY GEORGE FRIEDMAN : For all the tumult that has defined President Donald Trumps domestic policy, his foreign policy is relatively stable. There are some notable differences, but what went on before is pretty much what is going on nowa surprise given the expectations. Trump promised to disengage from burdensome commitments to other countries, shifting the risks and costs of the security of allies away from the United States. He promised to enact policies that promote US national interests, which he defined as US economic security not global security. But the reality seems to be different. Trump Is Pursuing the Long-Standing Policies of Washington Tests to Trumps campaign pledges came early. In most cases, Trump's response has been to keep prior policies. In Syria, the Bashar Assad regime released sarin gas on a village. Trump regarded the attack as morally unacceptable, so he ordered the US military to attack a Syrian air base. President Barack Obama shied away from doing even this when his famous red line was crossed. But Trumpin a situation where US interests (narrowly understood) were not involvedresponded. And then there is North Korea, a country that is not a nuclear threat to the US. Rather, it is a threat to Japan and South Korea. During the campaign, Trump said Japan ought to develop its own nuclear weapons. In other words, he said that North Korea was a Japanese and South Korean problem, not a US problem. But when it seemed that North Korea was close to deliverable nuclear weapons, Trump acted. This has been the definition of US policy on North Korea for several administrations. And it is a vital policy in Washingtons relationship with Beijing. Trump has said that the US would make trade concessions to China if China helped the US on the North Korea issue. This is a long-standing strategy that Washington has pursued. In fact, there has generally been more continuity than disruption in US-China relations. The US has not shifted its stance on Russia either. The expected warming in US-Russia relations has not happened. Washington has neither abandoned its sanctions policies nor backed off its commitment to the Ukrainians. US deployments in Eastern Europe have continued. Larger air bases are being built in Romania, and troop rotations in the Baltics and Poland are underway. Meanwhile, the US relationship with NATO remains intact. Trump campaigned on the notion that NATO should be redefined, but he has since reaffirmed US commitment to NATO. Trump Is a Hostage to History The countries that hope or fear that the US may soon change its course will have to wait a little longer. This is the reality of foreign policy. In spite of the wishes of presidents, the United States is part of the global system economically, militarily, and politically. Sudden movesoutside of rhetoricare impossible. The structure of the system forces nations to move slowly. Economic relations are extremely complex and are thus resistant to change. Each move has painful outcomes. The international posture of the US is even harder to change than its healthcare system. It is a posture that has been sinking its roots into the global system since World War II. Altering this can be difficult if not impossible without harming US interests. In the end, presidents are confined by reality. And the reality is that the United States, which accounts for a quarter of the worlds economy and is the largest military power, is deeply integrated with the rest of the world. Disengagement may be desirable, but it may not be viable, at least not in the short run. A hundred or so days is an absurdly short period of time to assess long-term policy. But the fact is that Trumps foreign policy has been careful and conventional. Aside from major wars like World War II, history moves slowly, and presidents are hostages to history. Grab George Friedman's Exclusive eBook, The World Explained in Maps The World Explained in Maps reveals the panorama of geopolitical landscapes influencing today's governments and global financial systems. Don't miss this chance to prepare for the year ahead with the straight facts about every major countrys and region's current geopolitical climate. You won't find political rhetoric or media hype here. The World Explained in Maps is an essential guide for every investor as 2017 takes shape. Get your copy nowfree! John Mauldin Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. Published in Pravda No. 50, May 19 (6), 1917. That is how history puts the issueand not history in general, but the economic and political history of the Russia of today. The Narodniks and Mensheviks, Chernov and Tsereteli, have transferred the Contact Commission from the room adjacent to the one the ministers used to meet in to the ministerial chamber itself. This, and this alone, is the purely political significance of the new cabinet. Its economic and class significance is that, at the best (from the point of view of the stability of the cabinet and the preservation of capitalist domination), the leadership of the peasant bourgeoisie, headed since 1906 by Peshekhonov, and the petty-bourgeois leaders of the Menshevist workers have promised the capitalists their class collaboration. (At the worstfor the capitaliststhe whole change has a purely personal or clique significance, but no class significance at all.) Let us assume that the more favourable eventuality is the case. Even so, there is not a shadow of doubt that the promisers will be unable to fulfil their promises. We shallin co-operation with the capitalistshelp the country out of Its crisis, save it from ruin and get it out of the warthat is what the action of the petty-bourgeois leaders, the Chernovs and Tseretelis, in joining the cabinet really amounts to. Our answer is: Your help is not enough. The crisis has advanced infinitely farther than you imagine only the revolutionary class, by taking revolutionary measures against capital, can save the countryand not our country alone. The crisis is so profound, so widespread, of such vast world-wide scope, and so closely bound up with Capital itself, that the class struggle against Capital must inevitably assume the form of political supremacy by the proletariat and semi-proletariat. There is no other way out. You want to have revolutionary enthusiasm in the army, Citizens Chernov and Tsereteli? But you cannot create it, because the revolutionary enthusiasm of the masses is not begotten by a change of leaders in cabinets, by florid declarations, or by promises to take steps to revise the treaty with the British capitalists; it can be aroused only by acts of revolutionary policy patent to all and undertaken daily and everywhere against almighty Capital and against its making profits out of the war, a policy that will make for a radical improvement in the standard of living of the mass of the poor. Even if you were to hand over all the land to the people immediately, this would not end the crisis unless revolutionary measures were taken against Capital. You want an offensive, Citizens Chernov and Tsereteli? But you cannot rouse the army to an offensive, because you cannot use force against the people today. And unless force is used against them the people would undertake an offensive only in the great interests of the great revolution against Capital in all countries; and not merely a revolution promised and proclaimed, but a revolution actually in process of realisation, a revolution which is being carried out in actual fact, and is tangible to all. You want to organise supply, Citizens Peshekhonovs and Skobelevs, the supply of goods for the peasants, of bread and meat for the army, of raw material for industry, and so forth? You want control over, and partly even the, organisation of, production? You cannot do this without the revolutionary enthusiasm of the proletarian and semi-proletarian mass. This enthusiasm can be aroused only by taking revolutionary measures against the privileges and profits of Capital. Failing this, your promised control will remain a dead, capitalist, bureaucratic palliative. The experiment at class collaboration with Capital is now being made by the Chernovs and Tseretelis, and by certain sections of the petty bourgeoisie, on a new, gigantic, all-Russia scale. All the more valuable will be its lessons for the people, when the latter become convincedand that apparently will be soonof the futility and hopelessness of such collaboration. Source: Marxist Internet Archive. The election of Donald Trump in the US and the rise of Marine Le Pen in the French presidential elections has naturally been received with alarm by millions of people around the world. Some have even warned of a new rise of fascism. As Marxists, we feel it is important not to replace serious analysis with scaremongering and exaggeration. In this article, Rob Sewell - editor of Socialist Appeal - asks: what is fascism? And does it pose an imminent threat today? With the victory of Trump in America and the rise of Le Pen and the Front National (FN) in France, together with the rise of other right-wing parties in Europe, it has become common in liberal and radical circles to describe these individuals and movements as fascist. Even some on the Left have adopted this description. For instance, the British Socialist Workers Partys paper declares Le Pen as fascist and described her entry into the second round of the French presidential elections as meaning the fascists were on the rise. The SWP has set up a front organisation, United Against Fascism, which has called protests with the main slogans, No to Le Pen! No to the return of Fascism in Europe! This hysteria about the immediate rise of fascism is wildly alarmist and completely misunderstands the real situation facing us. This induced panic is a hallmark of the liberal and sectarian groups, which see the spectre of fascism around every corner. They toss around words like fascist as a term of abuse or swear word against all manner of reactionary politicians, rather than offering a sober appraisal of the situation. The anti-immigrant and racist Front National in France is certainly a reactionary organisation. But in its outlook and approach it is now more in line with other traditional right wing parties. In fact, the closer it gets to power, the more respectable it becomes. Marine Le Pen even expelled her own father and founder of the NF for anti-semitic remarks in order to make the party more electable. She tries to sound as mainstream as possible, even to the extent of stealing lines from a speech by defeated centre-right candidate Francois Fillon in an attempt to lure his voters. The NF is certainly not modelled on the genuine fascist parties of Hitler and Mussolini of the 1930s. Some may argue that parties like the FN are nevertheless reactionary and that we should not be too pedantic. However, Marxists are scientific socialists who understand that any successful cure of a disease depends upon a precise diagnosis. We do not bandy about words like fascist as mere terms of abuse. In order to combat fascism, it is first necessary to understand it. It is therefore important to cut through the fog of confusion and stupidity which characterises the thinking of the sects, left reformists and middle class radicals on this question. We recognise the reactionary filth poured out by the Front National and other such racist organisations. We know this poison represents a sinister threat to the working class, one which seeks to sow divisions in the workers movement. The rise in the number of attacks on immigrants is also a serious issue. Nevertheless, we need to differentiate between fascism, which represents a qualitatively different scale of attack - the total destruction of workers rights, its organisations and the enslavement of the working class - and other forms of reaction. We must learn to distinguish one from another in order to be able better to fight it. Learn from history We are all aware of the tale of the little boy who cried wolf once too often, so that when the real thing came along nobody believed him and he was gobbled up. Those who cry fascism at every turn are making the same mistake. This was precisely the blunder of the German Communist Party in the late 1920s, which described every capitalist party as fascist, making no distinction between them. More devastatingly, they applied this label to the reformist workers organisations, calling them social fascists. This fatal policy caused the maximum confusion in the German workers movement, tragically splitting the German working class, who were delivered prostrated before the Hitler juggernaut. Our task as Marxists is to learn from history, especially from its mistakes, and not to lose our head at every twist and turn of events. We also have to recognise, as well as analyse, the qualitative differences between now and the 1930s, especially the changed balance of class forces. The first real Marxist analysis of fascism was made by Leon Trotsky, not in hindsight, but during the rise in Europe of fascism itself. He regarded fascism not simply as capitalist reaction but a special form, the distilled essence of imperialism, that threatened the very existence of the workers organisations. Crisis of the traditional parties Of course, this does not mean that we ignore the rise of right-wing racist parties, which are a product of the crumbling of the old liberal order. This in turn is the product of the effects of the capitalist crisis, which has turned everything on its head. This crisis of the capitalist system also means a crisis of the traditional parties, including the social democratic parties, which completely accept the market economy. The old consensus has therefore been shattered. The ruling class can no longer rule in the old way. The deeper the crisis, the more they are forced to ruthlessly attack the working class and take back the gains of the past. The capitalist system cannot any longer afford such luxuries as decent healthcare, education, pensions and welfare for working class people and their families. This, in turn, is provoking resentment and anger against the capitalist order. This explains the rise of so-called populism. The capitalist state The capitalist state machine, when stripped of its inessential features, can be reduced, in the words of Engels, to armed bodies of men. Even in its most democratic form of parliamentary democracy, the state continues to possess its police force, army, judges, prison wardens and bureaucracy to safeguard the power of the ruling class. In other words, capitalist democracy is really just the disguised dictatorship of the banks and monopolies. For them, this method of class rule is the most stable form of bourgeois state. So long as they are able to continue to rule by these means, the ruling class has no need to resort to fascism or open dictatorship. In times of acute crisis, however, this is not always a viable option. Under such circumstances, where the capitalist politicians are too weak and discredited to rule by the old methods, and where the working class is not ready to take power, the state can assume great powers and the armed bodies of men can rise above the classes. Splits and divisions open up in the ruling class as they squabble about how to proceed. Only a revolutionary party can end this deadlock and offer a way forward. However, if the workers organisations are not up to the task, the initiative can fall to a party of law and order, balancing between the classes, and rising itself up as an independent arbiter. Marx described this as the rule of the sword. The prime task of such a regime is to defend the existing capitalist property relations, while taking a slice of the loot for themselves. This regime is what Marxists call Bonapartism, or military-police dictatorship, after the dictator Napoleon Bonaparte. The Bonaparte balances between the different classes and groups, playing one off against the other but always coming down on the side of private property. There have been many of these military juntas at different times and different countries throughout the twentieth century, from Greece in the 1960s and Chile and Argentina in the 1970s, as well as in the latter years of Francos Spain and Salazar's Portugal until their overthrow. Bonapartism is a product of complete instability and reflects an insoluble crisis within society. However, even Bonapartism can prove insufficient to resolve the problem. It can keep the lid on things for a time, but sooner or later it becomes exhausted. A human battering ram In the 20th Century epoch of world wars and revolutions, capitalism gave birth to new forms of reaction, more ruthless and terrifying than before. The decay of the capitalist system gave rise to armed hoodlum gangs with which to counter the working class, intimidate and murder its representatives, destroy its organisations and undermine its resolve. The Black Hundreds in Russia and the Freikorps in Germany were examples of such auxiliaries to the organs of state repression. However, even these counter-revolutionary gangs, which employed ruthless terrorism, were not strong enough to completely smash the workers organisations. This required something special; it required a mass fascist movement. No ruling class in history has been squeamish in acting ruthlessly to defend its power and privileges. For example, a point was reached in the crisis in Europe between the two world wars when the very existence of the workers organisations was deemed incompatible with the existence of capitalism. The trade unions and workers parties were considered an obstacle to the enslavement of the working class. Resolving this problem for the bosses could not be accomplished by laws or decrees from on high. This task required the services of fascism, a mass movement of reaction, based upon a frenzied middle class and what Marx called the lumpen proletariat, the most ground-down, disorganised and backward elements of the working class, ready in the words of Trotsky to believe in miracles. Its system of informers and spies penetrate into every housing block, institution and school. Its mass base allows it to penetrate far deeper into the fabric of society than any military-police regime. This is its most distinguishing feature in being a mass movement of counter-revolution. Unlike a military police state, which lacks a mass social base, fascism destroys all vestiges of democratic rights and organisation and atomises the working class. The fascist bands are recruited from the dregs of society, those ruined by capitalism, peasants bled white by the banks and monopolies, the most demoralised elements of the long term unemployed, de-classed and criminal elements, desperately seeking a way out of their misery. This human trash is fed with demagogy and poison against the greedy bankers and workers organisations. They provide the shock troops of the counter-revolution. Fascism in power First of all, fascism triumphed in Italy, where the bands of cutthroats organised by Mussolini, armed and financed by the capitalists, took revenge for the revolutionary factory occupations in 1920. Step by step they bombed and murdered their way to power. In Germany, following the betrayal of the revolutionary wave from 1918 to 1923, the fascists were used to terrorise the workers. Eventually, as the crisis reached fever pitch, finance capital poured huge resources into the Hitler movement. They had come to the conclusion that only the destruction of the powerful German workers movement would resolve the situation in their favour. With the full compliance of the bourgeois state, they unleashed the fascist counter-revolution, which led to the victory of Hitler in 1933. The bourgeoisie had relinquished state power into the hands of the Fascist brigands and gangsters. The fascist regimes of Hitler, Mussolini as well as Franco in Spain destroyed all visible opposition to the rule of capital. All resistance was broken. However, as soon as fascism is victorious, the state betrays its social base and degenerates into a Bonapartist regime, propped up by the inertia following the catastrophe. The ruling class is politically expropriated, having lost control over its state. This is a heavy price to pay for saving capitalism. That is why when employing reaction the bourgeoisie prefers the rule through the generals rather than the fascists. The generals are more reliable, linked by marriage, education, social connections, to the banks and monopolies. Today, in comparison to the pre-war period, the working class is a thousand times stronger. The class balance of forces is weighted overwhelmingly in its favour. The peasantry has been reduced to a tiny proportion in most countries, if it has not been eliminated entirely. The middle class professionals, such as the civil servants, bank clerks and teachers have become increasingly proletarianised. The students, who had overwhelmingly fascist sympathies in the pre-war period, are today firmly on the side of the working class and look towards the left. This means that the classic social reserves of fascism have been completely undermined by the very march of capitalism. Any attempt by the bourgeois even to turn to a military police state would be met today with general strikes and civil war, in which they would not be confident of winning. The ruling class also burned its fingers over Hitler and the fascists and would not be keen on repeating the experience. Then they lost half of Germany to the USSR as a consequence. Le Pen and the National Front Right-wing anti-immigrant parties have certainly increased in Europe but this cannot be compared to the rise of fascism in the 1930s. Far from it. Even if these right-wing parties succeeded in coming to power, they would act like any traditional bourgeois party. The working class is certainly not defeated and would resist any move in this direction. In fact, a Le Pen government, if it ever came to power, would not be able to solve the problems and would lose support very quickly. It would not stabilise the situation for French capitalism but, on the contrary, would destabilise it, bringing workers and youth out on the streets. There would be the likelihood of a social explosion as in May 1968. That is why big business does not support the FN, despite their traditional parties being in crisis. In any case there are not only shifts to the right but also shifts to the left, as has been seen with the support for Melenchon. Support for the Front National has also come from some disenchanted workers, repeatedly betrayed by the leaders of the Socialist Party. But this support for Le Pen is only skin deep. These disillusioned workers could be easily won to a revolutionary position in the future. Enough scaremongering The real fascist organisations that do exist have been reduced to small sects, apart from in Greece, where the fascist Golden Dawn has a certain base of support. Even here, the Greek capitalist class are not interested in their services and have placed its leaders in jail. Of course, these democrats would not hesitate to unleash these gangs against the workers organisations, or use murder and thuggery, to defend their rule if the time came. But that would mean civil war. While we recognise the threat from the right and mobilise to oppose it, we refuse to engage in scaremongering about the imminent danger of fascism, which is complete nonsense. There is no danger of fascism - or even Bonapartist reaction - at the present time in any advanced capitalist country. That could change, however, if the working class was repeatedly defeated and betrayed by its leadership. Today, with the deep crisis of capitalism, the situation is very favourable for the growth of revolutionary ideas. Of course, the movement to overthrow capitalism will not take place in a straight line. There will be inevitable ups and downs. Periods of stormy advance will be followed by periods of despondency, defeats and even reaction. But every attempt to move in the direction of reaction will prepare an even bigger swing to the left. The bourgeoisie will not resort to open reaction until all other possibilities have been exhausted. Long before this, the workers will have had many opportunities to take power in one country after another. Only after a series of big defeats of the working class would the danger of a military solution be posed. But we are a very long way from that. In fact, revolutionary explosions are on the order of the day. It is these events that we need to prepare for. In one of Trotskys last articles written in 1940, he gives the following advice: No occupation is more completely unworthy than that of speculating whether or not we shall succeed in creating a powerful revolutionary leader-party. Ahead lies a favourable perspective, providing all the justification for revolutionary activism. It is necessary to utilise the opportunities which are opening up and to build the revolutionary party. That remains the key task today. The perspectives for revolution have never been more favourable than they are now. We must build a powerful Marxist tendency, which can offer a real way out of this impasse, based upon Marxist theory and not upon shrill phrases. Only when the working class assumes power can capitalist reaction and fascism be finally placed in the dustbin of history. westfieldeduuse.jpg WESTFIELD -- Kate Phelon, executive director of the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce, and Stefan Czaporowski, superintendent of Westfield Public Schools, speak Friday, May 19, 2017, at a meeting of the Westfield Education to business Alliance at Westfield State University. (JIM KINNEY/ THE REPUBLICAN) WESTFIELD -- There are five elements to the handshake: eye contact, smile, extend arm, grip, timing. That bit of information might not sound like high school-level work compared to algebra II, English lit and the advanced manufacturing shop. But students need to learn it somewhere, and Westfield's public schools are doing it. "People call them 'soft skills,'" said Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski. "I call them survival skills." Skills, which ones to get and and how to get them is the topic when the Westfield Education to Business Alliance gets together once a month. The group, a partnership between the schools and the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce, is meant to align the needs of students, employers and the school district. The first meeting was in November. About 50 people attended Friday morning's session at Westfield State University. "I'm excited by how much progress we have made just since November," Czaporowski said. Soft skills training began at Westfield Technical Academy and will be rolled out in Westfield High School over the next school year. The group is also starting a mentoring program that gets business leaders into the primary schools. There will be a series of career fairs, first with high schoolers next month at Westfield State. The younger students will get fairs as well. There will also be one for middle school teachers so they can learn what employers are looking for. "I'm especially excited about that opportunity," Czaporowski said. Teachers at that level are educated and skilled, he said. But they live and work in a bit of a bubble and might not know what job opportunities and skills needs are out there. With that knowledge, teachers will be able to tailor lessons and offer better guidance to students. Paula Ceglowski, the human resources director for the schools, described a recent visit by MGM Springfield personnel to the Technical Academy. The students, she said, were amazed to learn that the No. 1 reason MGM dismisses employees is due to them being late or not showing up at all. Some students asked what happens when it snows. "Which seems silly to us," she said, "but if you have spent years in a school system where you get a two-hour delay..." Czaporowski said the school district enforces attendance policies, but there is a limit to the consequences. "We can't fire them," he said. "But we know that will happen in the working world." John Hoime is owner of Alternative Health in Southwick, Easthampton and West Hartford, Connecticut, a health food store that also offers wellness classes and spa services. He talked about the need to train students to present themselves well. He said customer service and appearance are important. Visible tattoos and facial piercings are big no-nos, he said. Kimberly Guilfoyle,Bob Beckel,Eric Bolling,Dana Perino,Greg Gutfeld and Andrea Tantaros Bob Beckel, co-host of Fox News Channel's "The Five." (AP file photo) Fox News Channel has fired Bob Beckel, one of the co-hosts of its primetime series "The Five," because of a comment made to another employee. "Bob Beckel was terminated today for making an insensitive remark to an African-American employee," the network said in a statement to The Washington Post. The off-air exchange happened Tuesday night and was brought to the attention of Fox News' human resources department, according to The Los Angeles Times and An investigation was conducted and Beckel was informed of his termination on Friday. Beckel, a former campaign manager for Democratic presidential candidate Walter Mondale, joined Fox News in 2000. He departed in 2015 amid reports he had a substance abuse problem. He worked briefly at CNN before returning to Fox News earlier this year. Fox News is facing a racial-discrimination lawsuit from more than 10 current and former employees -- chiefly on the business side of the network -- who cited racist remarks by a company comptroller, Judith Slater, who was fired this year, according to The New York Times. HARTFORD - Hartford Archbishop Leonard P. Blair will ordain three men to the priesthood Saturday, one celebratory event in a month during which Blair announced "there will be 127 parishes in the Archdiocese of Hartford, instead of the current 212" by the end of June. The downsizing is the result of two years of pastoral planning and means that 144 parishes will merge, resulting in some 59 new parishes being formed from the combining of anywhere from two to six parishes, while 68 parishes will remain the same. Some 26 church buildings will no longer be used for regularly scheduled Masses. The National Catholic Reporter has said this reorganization "may be the most massive effort of its kind in a series of consolidations" during the last decade in Northeast and Midwest dioceses. In announcing the pastoral plan to parishes and the media on the weekend of May 7, Blair and other dioceses officials, including the Rev. James A. Shanley, vicar for pastoral planning, noted the current consolidation "was not decided overnight." According to an overview of statistics from the plan, the number of Catholics in the diocese, which covers Hartford, New Haven and Litchfield and counties, has declined by 27 percent between 1965 and 2015, the number of active archdiocesan priests by 65 percent, and the number of religious sisters by 78 percent. Average attendance at Mass has gone from 395,102 in 1965 to 123,501, a drop of 69 percent. The number of parochial elementary schools has dropped by 56 percent from 101 to 44, and parochial students by 81 percent. According to diocesan statistics there were 43,0367 parochial students in 1965, and some 8,303 today. According to diocesan statistics there are 186 archdiocesan priests serving some 545,980 Catholics in the archdiocese that was established as a diocese in 1843. As part of the pastoral planning, some 40 pastors will reportedly retire or be reassigned. Between 1965 and 2015, the number of archdiocesan seminarians decrease from 193 to 23, a drop of 88 percent. There are some 108 active priests ministering in about 81 parishes in the neighboring Massachusetts diocese of Springfield, where Bishop Mitchell Rozanski will ordain nine new permanent deacons on Saturday to serve in parishes on a part-time, unpaid basis. There are currently 17 men in priestly formation in the Springfield diocese. Bike Fort Point (Kristin LaFratta/MassLive) Bicyclists will flood Boston Friday morning in honor of National Bike to Work Day. The designated day aims to celebrate bikers, welcome new bikers and highlight space for bikes on the city's busy roadways. The Boston Bike to Work Day Festival, complete with music and a biking expo, will be held at City Hall Plaza from 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Bikers can join one of 13 "convoys" from 26 different neighborhoods from as far away as Concord and Bedford. City volunteers will offer a free breakfast for bicyclists. On Thursday, ahead of the biking festival, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh announced a new $1 million investment in the city's Neighborhood Slow Streets program, raising total the investment to $4.1 million. According to Mayor Walsh's office, the program plans to combine input of city planners and the local community to target neighborhood zones, identify dangerous areas prone to crashes and traffic problems, and create solutions. "We are working hard everyday to ensure Boston streets are accessible and safe for all residents and visitors, whether they're on two wheels, four wheels or walking," Mayor Walsh said in a statement. Boston's Go Boston 2030 transportation plan includes a new vision of bike and ride sharing in and around the city, as well as making streets less prone to pedestrian and bicycle crashes. This past week, a woman died from her injuries after being struck by a car on Memorial Drive in Cambridge. Drivers are encouraged to be cautious while driving Friday morning, and to expect traffic delays. Massachusetts Avenue, Washington Street, Columbus Avenue and Main Street in Malden are expected to see traffic due to biker envoys. SPRINGFIELD -- Two people were rushed to Baystate Medical Center after being hit by gunfire in Springfield's Bay neighborhood Thursday evening, police said. Springfield Police Sgt. John Carolan said officers responded to the area of Burr Street and Oak Grove Avenue at approximately 6 p.m. after someone called into the station to report that gunfire had been heard in the area. At the scene, police discovered two victims, both male. The sergeant did not immediately know the extent of the men's injuries, nor their condition. He also could not comment on their age. Police don't currently have any suspects in connection to the shooting, Carolan said. Police closed sections of Burr Street around its intersections with Oak Grove Avenue and Mapledell Street. A dented grey Impala could be seen parked in the middle of the taped off area on Burr Street, though it wasn't made clear by officials how the vehicle had been involved in the incident. A number of police cruisers were parked throughout the neighborhood and detectives could be seen scouring the crime scene for evidence. This is a developing story that will be updated when we have updates Governor Bullock will be joined by fellow Governors Dennis Daugaard (South Dakota), Matt Mead (Wyoming), Brian Sandoval (Nevada), Gary Herbert (Utah), Bill Walker (Alaska), David Ige (Hawaii), and Doug Burgum (North Dakota). The Governors will engage in public discussions on the most significant issues facing the West. The agenda includes conversations on energy security, the Canadian-U.S. relationship and the Western Governors National Forest and Rangeland Management Initiative. The meeting will include compelling keynotes (pollster Frank Luntz and alpinist Conrad Anker) and a panel featuring Canadian Premiers. The WGA Annual Meeting in Whitefish, Montana is scheduled to begin around 1:00pm on Monday, June 26th and conclude by Noon on Wednesday, June 28th. All meeting sessions will be held at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center. Full Details: http://www.cvent.com/events/wga-2017-annual-meeting/event-summary-206e11e547e2462b9a45515963ed1c54.aspx The Symposium of Episcopal of Conferences of Africa and Madagascar, the association of Catholic Bishops of Africa, Madagascar and the Islands, is hosting its 19th Plenary Assembly from 25th July 2022 to 1st August 2022 in Accra, Ghana. The Plenary Assembly of the Symposium is held every three years. Video B-roll, photos, soundbites and interviews in English, French and Portuguese are available for media free of charge and can be used without restriction and without asking for authorization: https://bit.ly/3zyYnS0 On Saturday, July 30th, the SECAM will elect its new President. The President of the SECAM is the highest-ranking official of the Roman Catholic Church in Africa. The outgoing President of the SECAM is His Eminence Cardinal Philippe Ouedraogo, from Burkina Faso. The SECAM, established in 1969 in Kampala, Uganda during the visit of St. Pope Paul VI, was born out of the desire of African Catholic Bishops present at the Second Vatican Council to speak with one voice on matters pertaining to the Church in Africa. The Symposium, headquartered in Accra, consists of eight regional associations: Association of Episcopal Conferences of Central Africa (ACEAC); Association of Episcopal Conferences of Central African Region (ACERAC); Assembly of the Catholic Hierarchy of Egypt (AHCE); Association of Member Episcopal Conferences of Eastern Africa (AMECEA); Episcopal Conferences of the Indian Ocean (CEDOI); Regional Episcopal Conference of North Africa (CERNA); Inter-Regional Meeting of the Bishops of Southern Africa (IMBISA); Reunion of Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA/CERAO). Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires Les membres du Cabinet ont pris note de lintroduction prochaine au parlement au Disciplinary Bodies (Health Sector) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, des travaux a laeroport de Plaine Corail entre autres. 1. Cabinet has agreed to the introduction of the Disciplinary Bodies (Health Sector) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill into the National Assembly. The main object of the Bill is to amend various legislations with a view to reviewing and harmonising the disciplinary procedures and powers of statutory disciplinary bodies in the health sector, such as the Allied Health Professionals Council of Mauritius, the Dental Council of Mauritius, the Medical Council of Mauritius, the Nursing Council of Mauritius and the Pharmacy Council of Mauritius. These amendments have been rendered necessary since the disciplinary procedures and powers of those disciplinary bodies differed from each other. In addition, a time limit would be imposed on the Medical Disciplinary Tribunal, such that whenever a disciplinary case of professional misconduct or negligence is referred to it by any such disciplinary body, the Tribunal would have to hear and determine the disciplinary case not later than 90 days after the start of the hearing of the case, except where there is a valid reason, and with the consent of the parties to the case. The Dangerous Drugs Act and the Veterinary Council Act would also be amended accordingly. 2. Cabinet has taken note of the status regarding the construction of the new runaway of 2,100 metres long and 45 metres wide including provision of the various airport facilities, to support operations of A321 Neo type of aircraft at the Plaine Corail Airport in Rodrigues. The project would be financed by way of a loan from the Agence Francaise de Developpement as well as a grant from the European Union. 3. Cabinet has taken note that the National Audit Office of Mauritius has been awarded the prize for the best Performance Audit Report 2018, by the African Organisation for English Speaking Supreme Audit Institutions (AFROSAI-E), for its Performance Audit Report entitled Moving Towards Sustainable Artisanal Fishery. The prize was presented on 08 May 2019 to Mrs K.C. Tse Yuet Cheong, Director of Audit by the Auditor General of the National Audit Office of Sweden and the Senior Performance Audit Manager from AFROSAI-E, at the Strategic Review and Governing Board Meeting, held in Mozambique. 4. Cabinet has taken note that a Technical Committee has been set up under the chair of Mrs D. Chinien, Registrar of Companies to consider the priority ranking of employees under the Insolvency Act and the Code Civil Mauricien in cases of liquidation of companies. The Committee would comprise representatives of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, the Attorney Generals Office, the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations, Employment and Training and the Ministry of Financial Services and Good Governance. The Committee may consult other relevant stakeholders. 5. Cabinet has taken note of the first Report of the Working Group on the Blueprint for the Financial Services Sector regarding the status of implementation of the recommendations of the Blueprint. 47% of the action points falling under the six broad strategies recommended in the Blueprint have already been implemented while work on another 40% is ongoing. 5% of the action points have been set aside owing to the international obligations of the Mauritius International Financial Centre towards the EU and OECD and the remaining 8% of the action points would require a prolonged period for either implementation or completion. 6. Cabinet has agreed to Mauritius submitting its initial Schedule Tariff Concessions in the context of ongoing negotiations on the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area. 7. Cabinet has agreed to the Ministry of Education and Human Resources, Tertiary Education and Scientific Research initiating consultations with various stakeholders for the setting up of an Educators Council and the preparation of an Educators Council Bill. The Educators Council would represent teachers from across the different levels in the education system and ensure commitment to their professional development. The objectives of the Educators Council would be, inter alia, to: (a) provide for the registration of educators; (b) promote the professional development of educators; and (c) set, maintain and protect ethical and professional standards for educators. 8. Cabinet has agreed to the Mauritius Standards Bureau hosting the 2nd Meeting of the Southern African Development Community Cooperation in Standardisation Technical Committee on Automotive and Transportation, from 3 to 7 June 2019. The Meeting would, inter alia, cover areas such as vehicle roadworthiness, requirements for vehicle examiner, ISO compliance driving licences, vehicle fitness testing and transportation of dangerous goods by road. It would also be a platform to raise awareness of stakeholders on road safety and the use of standards and regulations to ensure safe roads. Some 55 delegates from SADC Member States are expected to attend the Meeting. 9. Cabinet has agreed to the setting up of a Committee to work out the concept of the Intercontinental Slavery Museum. The Concept Committee would examine the Report of the Preliminary Study and Survey for the setting up of the International Slavery Museum submitted by consulting firm STEGET S.r.l and make recommendations regarding the restoration option for the Ex-Military Hospital Building. The Concept Committee would also be responsible to work out the historical content and concept of the Museum, the displays to be contained therein and the use of the indoor and outdoor spaces thereat. The Concept Committee would be chaired by Mr Jean Maxy Simonet, Secretary for Public Service. 10. Cabinet has agreed to the Office of the Electoral Commissioner organising a Symposium, in collaboration with the Electoral Supervisory Commission and in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme and the Indian Ocean Commission, on 17 and 18 June 2019 in Mauritius. The Symposium is being organised to commemorate the 60 years of committed service of the Office of the Electoral Commissioner to the promotion of democratic values and delivery of credible and transparent elections in the country. The aim of the Symposium is to bring together distinguished experts and members of Electoral Management Bodies in the region to share their knowledge and good practice through their unique experiences and perspectives as election administrators. Some 30 delegates from Electoral Management Bodies in the region and from regional and international organisations such as the Southern African Development Community, the African Union, the United Nations Development Programme, the Commonwealth Secretariat and lOrganisation Internationale de la Francophonie would attend the Symposium. 11. Cabinet has taken note that the Mental Health Care (Amendment) Act 2019 which was passed by the National Assembly on 02 April 2019 would be proclaimed so as to come into operation on 15 June 2019. 12. Cabinet has taken note that the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre has provided a grant of USD 10 million to the Republic of Mauritius. The purpose of the grant is to assist Mauritius in dealing with the effects of floods, cyclones and other natural calamities which affect the lives of many people, especially the most vulnerable ones of the society and to meet expenses aimed at minimising the impact of climate change. 13. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the recent mission of the Minister of Youth and Sports to Seychelles where he attended the annual Ministerial Meeting of the Commission de la Jeunesse et des Sports de lOcean Indien (CJSOI). The Meeting approved the recommendations submitted by the Experts Meeting regarding the budget of the CJSOI for 2019/2020 and the programme of activities for the same period. Two proposals submitted by Mauritius were approved, namely: (a) Formation des Animateurs Jeunesse et Encadreurs a laccompagnement et la prise en charge des jeunes en situation vulnerable en vue de promouvoir leur insertion sociale et leur resilience; and (b) Seminaire sur la Formation des preparateurs physiques et mentaux des athletes jeunes. The next Jeux de la CJSOI would be held in Mauritius in 2021. Elections for the chairmanship of the CJSOI for the year 2019/2020 were held and the Republic of Seychelles was elected as Chair and the Union of Comoros as Vice-Chair. 14. Cabinet has taken note that in the context of the forthcoming 10th Indian Ocean Islands Games, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, in collaboration with Comite dOrganisation des 10emes Jeux des Iles, is organising the 5th Edition of Mobilizasion Moris19 in the yard of the Municipal Council of Curepipe on Sunday 19 May 2019 as from 16 00 hours. Activities would include a fun run, skating, a drift show and cultural and musical shows by popular local artists. Fireworks would also be displayed at the end of the event. 15. Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of the Professional Architects Council for the period 2019 to 2021. 16. Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of the Pharmacy Council of Mauritius for the period 2019 to 2021. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires In alignment with the companys core pillar of empowerment and equality, Canon unveils its Women in Sales initiative to offer yearlong internship and mentorship opportunities to women; the Women in Sales opportunity is an exclusive offering for women residing in Central and North Africa, Middle-East and Turkey regions. Canon Central and North Africa announced, today, the launch of its Women in Sales program that further fortifies the companys commitment, dedication and support towards gender equality and empowerment of women, in celebration of Womens Month 2022. Centered on the companys core philosophy of Kyosei, the initiative will invite women from Central and North Africa, Middle-East and Turkey to advance their careers in sales by participating in a yearlong internship program with the company. Furthermore, fifty percent of the participants will also be given an opportunity to become full-time employees with the company, thus paving the path for their professional careers. Women Empowerment Key Ingredient for Economic and Social Growth Our constant endeavor at Canon has always been to educate and empower the communities we operate in, we achieve this through different initiatives and programs that are rolled out on a consistent basis, thus contributing towards our end goal of advancing the world we live in. Gender equality and empowerment of women are key ingredients to create an inclusive society as well as to attain economic growth. The contribution of women towards Canons growth has been immense and this is evident in the 25% female representation in Sales in our CCNA region. The Women in Sales initiative is a brilliant platform for women who want to kick-start their careers in sales, receive invaluable mentorship from industry experts along with the possibility of becoming a full-time employee with Canon. Similar to our other empowerment initiatives, the Women in Sales program aims to create an enabling working environment for women by providing them the right set of tools required for professional success and satisfaction, commented Veronica Juul-Nyholm, the human resource director at the company. Holistic Development and Growth The women-only initiative is being rolled out in different locations simultaneously across Central and North Africa, Middle-East, Turkey and has specifically created, developed and implemented for this region. The program will offer several modules including blended learnings to participants to enhance their skill set and knowledge in sales. Additionally, the yearlong internship will be dissected into two parts namely the training program along with on-the-job experience. Each participant will also be assigned a mentor thus ensuring support and guidance for every woman participating in the program. The company envisions raising female representation in Sales Management roles to a minimum of 35% and is optimistic that the Women in Sales endeavor will sustain this vision. The program kick-stared in February 2022 with ten women participants being selected from the different parts of the region namely Rahaf Alharbi, Ruba Moafa and Fatima Alamer from Riyadh Saudi Arabia, Sila Ucar, Billur Konukcu and Senab Bayram from Istanbul Turkey, Ajuma Gabriel from Lagos Nigeria, Hind Abdoudaime from Casablanca Morocco, Scholarstica Ochieng from Nairobi Kenya and Shahnaz Bhandari from Dubai UAE. The first phase of the program will focus on education, the second phase will involve execution and the third phase will include certification and on-boarding of successful participants into full-time Canon employees. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...Southeastern McDowell County in western North Carolina and Northern Rutherford County in western North Carolina until 3:00 PM EDT. At 2:18 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 8 miles southwest of Marion, or 5 miles southeast of Old Fort, moving southeast at 15 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Minor hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to trees and power lines. * Locations impacted include Rutherfordton, Spindale, Shingle Hollow, Green Hill, Sugar Hill,Thermal City, Glenwood, Fero, Dysartsville and Union Mills. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Scattered trees and power lines will be blown down in the warned area. Seek shelter inside an interior room. This storm is also producing extremely heavy rainfall. Flooding of drainage ditches and low lying areas may occur. Small streams will rise rapidly. Do not drive through areas where water is flowing over the road. Egypt: criminal court sentenced death to 8 alleged Muslim Brotherhood members. According to Egypts national newspaper Al-Ahram, "death sentence was passed by a court in Damanhur and requires the approval of the nations grand mufti" The guilty were charged with storming a police station and harming an officer in the city of Damanhur northwest of Cairo in 2015. Also Read: Assembly operations to start in India in 2018: Volvo Volvo announced its partnership with Google World Health Organization: Global killer of teenagers is Road accidents Researchers have discovered that protection from the most severe form of malaria is linked with natural variation in human red blood cell genes. A study from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics and their collaborators has identified a genetic rearrangement of red blood cell glycophorin receptors that confers a 40 percent reduced risk from severe malaria. Published in Science, this is the first study to show that large structural variants in human glycophorin genes, which are unusually common in Africa, are protective against malarial disease. It opens a new avenue for research on vaccines to prevent malaria parasites invading red blood cells. More than 200 million people a year are infected with malaria and the disease caused the deaths of nearly half a million people worldwide in 2015. Transmitted by mosquitos, the most widespread malarial parasite in Africa is Plasmodium falciparum; it is also the most dangerous. Plasmodium parasites infect human red blood cells and gain entry via receptors on the cell surface. Previous studies on natural resistance to malaria had implicated a section of human genome near to a cluster of receptor genes. These receptors - glycophorins - are located on the surface of red blood cells and are amongst many receptors that bind Plasmodium falciparum. However, it is only now that they have been shown to be involved in protection against malaria. Researchers investigated the glycophorin area of the genome in more detail than before using new whole-genome sequence data from 765 volunteers in the Gambia, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, and Tanzania. Using this new information they then undertook a study across the Gambia, Kenya, and Malawi that included 5310 individuals from the normal population and 4579 people who were hospitalised from severe malaria. They discovered that people who have a particular rearrangement of the glycophorin genes had a 40 percent reduced risk of severe malaria. Dr Ellen Leffler from the University of Oxford, first author on the paper, said: "In this new study we found strong evidence that variation in the glycophorin gene cluster influences malaria susceptibility. We found some people have a complex rearrangement of GYPA and GYPB genes, forming a hybrid glycophorin, and these people are less likely to develop severe complications of the disease." The hybrid GYPB-A gene is found in a particular rare blood group - part of the MNS blood group system - where it is known as Dantu. The study found that the GYPB-A Dantu hybrid was present in some people from East Africa, in Kenya, Tanzania, and Malawi, but that it was not present in volunteers from West African populations. Dr Kirk Rockett from the University of Oxford, said: "Analysing the DNA sequences allowed us to identify the location of the join between glycophorins A and B in the hybrid gene. It showed us that the sequence is characteristic of the Dantu antigen in the MNS blood group system." Studying the glycophorin gene cluster to determine differences between the sequences of the three genes with confidence is extremely challenging. This study gives insights into unpicking the region and how it connects to the MNS blood group system and impacts malaria susceptibility. Professor Dominic Kwiatkowski, a lead author from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and University of Oxford, said: "We are starting to find that the glycophorin region of the genome has an important role in protecting people against malaria. Our discovery that a specific variant of glycophorin invasion receptors can give substantial protection against severe malaria will hopefully inspire further research on exactly how Plasmodium falciparum invade red blood cells. This could also help us discover novel parasite weaknesses that could be exploited in future interventions against this deadly disease." The MNS system is a human blood group system based on two genes - glycophorin A and glycophorin B - on chromosome 4. There are 46 antigens in the system; the most common are called M, N, S, s and U. Advertisement "At times I hear complaints from people and also read in newspapers that the concept of service -- to serve the sick to serve the needy is fast receding from medical treatment," he said."Just as there is need for modern treatment and medicines, similarly a humane touch is a must. It can only come from the behavior of the doctors. A smiling face can cure half of the disease."Appreciating the efforts of the doctors associated with the IILDS, he hoped it would benefit citizens living in Eastern and North-east India and also a big part of Eastern UP where there is no specialised hospital for liver and gastro-intestinal diseases.The President hoped the people would cooperate with the institution and said patients and their relatives needed to behave responsibly."When a patient dies, at times there are allegations that the doctor did not give him proper treatment. So the hospital now has to be ransacked, and the doctors beaten up. This is improper," Mukherjee said."Nobody can guarantee that a life can be saved. Despite the advances in medical science, so far it is not in a position to give such a guarantee. They can only try by using all their knowledge, competence and experience," he said.In the same vein, the President said patients' relatives needed to know that the expenses for medical treatment has to be borne."It would have been the best case scenario had the government been able to bear the entire cost of medical treatment. But that's not possible. So we also have to bear the cost," he added.Source: IANS Uzbekistan, China plan to sign deals worth $20B Uzbekistan and China plan to sign about 100 contracts worth a total of $20 billion during the visit of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Beijing, Asad Khojayev, head of press service of the Uzbek president, told reporters May 10.The Uzbek leader will visit China on May 11-13 at the initiative of Chinese President Xi Jinping.During the visit, meetings are planned with Xi Jinping, Premier of Chinas State Council Li Keqiang, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress Zhang Dejiang and other officials.The main issues of discussion will be the current state of bilateral relations in trade and investment. The sides will also touch upon a number of security issues and issues related to cooperation in the cultural and humanitarian spheres.Khojayev noted that in general, relations with China are developing actively.The visit is timed to coincide with the One Belt One Way forum. This is a big forum held by China. It unites more than 100 states and international organizations. Heads of more than 40 countries come to this forum to discuss trade, economic, social and humanitarian issues. Uzbekistan plans to actively participate in the forum, added Khojayev.The One Belt One Way forum will be held in Beijing on May 14-15. The website was developed using the open source software Elxis CMS by the Web Development Team of Foreign Ministry's ST2 Directorate for Telecommunications and Information Technologies We're sorry, but we're unable to locate the page you requested. The page may have been removed, renamed, or deleted. You can try searching for the topic using the search button in the right hand corner above. BAD AXE The Bad Axe Free Methodist Church is hosting a musical performance Sunday. The performance will run from 8:30 to 11 a.m. on May 21. The church is located at 165 Pigeon Road in Bad Axe. This performance will be honoring service men and women past and present. We will celebrate the patriots who have gone before us and those who are with us now, and remain mindful of the God who was the cause for the birth of our nation, states information submitted to the Tribune. Blessed is the nation whose God is the lord. For more information, call the church office at 989-269-8864. HURON COUNTY With summer fast approaching, families and friends are anxious to enjoy time in the sun and on the water boating, fishing, paddling and more. During all recreational water activities, its important to remember proper safety precautions. Boating safety advocates across the United States and Canada have teamed up to promote safe and responsible boating during National Safe Boating Week, which kicks off this Saturday and run through May 26. For both national and local officials, it is imperative to spread the message of the importance of boating safety. What looks like a perfect day for boating can quickly become hazardous if someone ends up in the water, so proper life jacket use is really being stressed. Life jackets are the big thing, said Huron County Sheriff Kelly J. Hanson. Hanson said many times, a life jacket can be the difference between life and death. U.S. Coast Guard statistics show that drowning was the reported cause of death in three-fourths of recreational boating fatalities in 2015, and that 85 percent of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets. New life jackets are much more comfortable, cool and lightweight than the bulky orange style most boaters know. Innovative options, such as inflatables, allow for mobility and flexibility during boating activities such as fishing, paddling or hunting. Its important to encourage everyone on board the boat to wear a life jacket, said John Johnson, CAE, executive director and CEO of the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators. Accidents can happen too fast to put on a stowed life jacket. Additionally, the campaign will remind boaters to always maintain awareness of their surroundings and never boat under the influence. Hanson said a growing issue of late has been the number of kayaking incidents. He urges enthusiasts to clearly understand what a kayak can and cant do, as well as to know ones kayaking abilities. A kayak does not fare very well in the conditions that the open water of Lake Huron can create, Hanson said. The Huron County Sheriffs Office also recommends boaters have their vessels checked at the beginning of each boating season. Hanson said his office will perform a free vessel safety check, where examiners will check the boat for mechanical safety as well as verifying the proper safety equipment is on board. For more information on boater safety, visit www.safeboatingcampaign.com. BAD AXE This months MARSP meeting will take place next week. The May MARSP meeting will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the First Presbyterian Church, located at 112 E. Woodworth St. in Bad Axe. Guest speaker will be HISD Superintendent Joe Murphy. He will give his 2017 State of Huron County Schools report. The group will be taking a donation for SafePlace. MARSP is open to all retired school personnel in Michigan. Membership and attendance at meetings provides up to date information and changes regarding retirement. All retired school personnel in Huron County are encouraged to attend. If you are not a current member, or you would like more information on attending this meeting, contact Lynette at huronmarsp@comcast.net or call Dave or Marie at 989-658-2133. Disabled military retirees may end up paying their former spouses much less after this week's Supreme Court decision. Typically in a divorce, retirement pay is divided between a veteran and an ex-spouse. Some qualifying vets give up a portion of retirement pay in return for disability pay. Because the latter isn't considered a marital asset, some states forced vets to make up the difference in additional payments to former spouses. The ruling, issued May 15, says lower courts can't order a veteran to make the extra payments. The case the court considered, Howell v. Howell, centers on an Arizona Air Force couple who divorced in 1991. At the time of the divorce, John Howell's upcoming pension was considered a "marital asset" under a federal law known as the Uniformed Services Former Spouses' Protection Act (USFSPA), and split 50-50 with his former spouse, Sandra. But when John received a 20 percent disability rating in 2005 from the Department of Veterans Affairs, he elected to waive a portion of his monthly retirement pay under pension offset rules, about $250, in order to receive his full monthly VA award. The result, however, was that Sandra's portion of the pension went down by about $125 a month. Federal law blocks many vets with a VA rating under 50 percent from receiving both a federal pension and disability pay, known as an "offset," with one reduced by the other, according to court documents. Most military retirees elect to receive their full disability pay instead of their full military pension because pensions are subject to federal income tax, while disability pay is not. But disability pay is not considered a "marital asset." The result is that selecting disability pay instead of retirement pension reduces any money a former spouse can claim in a divorce. An Arizona court had ruled that John must make up through another payment the $125 Sandra lost after he elected to receive disability pay. It was John's appeal of the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court that resulted in the new ruling. The ruling could have sweeping implications for both veterans who want to protect their income against divorce settlements, and former spouses who have been awarded retirement pay in a divorce without consideration for how a future disability rating may affect the decision. Officials with the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) celebrated the ruling as a win for nationwide consistency in how USFSPA is applied to divorce settlements. Previously, some states had ruled that retirees are required to make up for the ex-spouse's lost income, while others had not. "We're pleased with the Supreme Court's ruling in this case," Brian Duffy, VFW national commander, said in a statement. "This will, hopefully, provide some much needed consistency across the country and ensure some certainty for veterans." The court noted in its decision that judges should consider the impact of the offset when dividing assets during divorce settlements. "A family court, when it first determines the value of a family's assets, remains free to take account of the contingency that some military retirement pay might be waived," the decision states. But some veteran spouse advocates worry the ruling could have negative implications for former spouses who rely on spousal support to get them on their feet after a divorce. In many instances, medically retired troops can waive their pension and instead elect to receive as much as $8,000 a month through various disability payments, but have few other divisible assets that a court can consider for filling the gaps for the lost annuity. And while married, they said, the spouse is required to report the disability payments as "household income" when applying for school loans or any other kind of assistance, reducing the number of income-based benefits for which they would otherwise qualify. Yet during a divorce, that "household income" cannot be included in the settlement. "How are you saying that it's not a divisible asset if I have to use it, claim it to get benefits for myself?" said Lisa Colella, whose non-profit Healing Household Six advocates for and assists military veteran caregivers. "How can they keep saying that you have to claim that income before the divorce, but after the divorce you're not entitled to that same income you had to claim? It doesn't make any sense." Colella said her organization's clients, many of whom are victims of domestic violence, have nothing to fall back on after a divorce because they've given up their lives and any chance at a career to take care of their veterans, only to be forced out of their marriages for safety reasons. "We have Vietnam-era caregivers that have been caregiving for 20 years or more. So what happens if they get divorced?" Colella said. "Do they say, 'That's it, sorry?' They've given up everything to take care of this person." Colella has advised her organization's followers to contact lawmakers in hopes that a bill will be passed allowing all veterans to keep both their retirement and disability pay -- a system known as "concurrent receipt." Passing such a measure would increase the amount divorcing spouses could receive in their settlements. -- Amy Bushatz can be reached at amy.bushatz@military.com. The U.S. Army on Friday announced its plans to deploy about 3,700 soldiers to Korea as well as to Iraq and Kuwait. Some 3,500 soldiers from the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, will deploy this summer to the Republic of Korea, according to an Army press release. As part of the regular rotation of forces, the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team will replace the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division and support the United States Forces-Korea's commitment to its Republic of Korea partners, the release states. "The Black Jack Brigade looks forward to returning to the Republic of Korea," said Col. Steve Adams, commander of 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. "Our troopers are trained and ready for this vital mission, and we are honored to sustain and strengthen this long-standing strategic alliance." The Army will also deploy about 250 soldiers from the III Corps Headquarters stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, to Iraq and Kuwait, this summer in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. Also a regular rotation of forces, III Corps will replace XVIII Airborne Corps as the headquarters of the Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, the global coalition to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. "III Corps is ready for this important mission. We will build upon the success of the XVIII Airborne Corps. The Phantom Corps looks forward to maintaining the momentum of the campaign as CJTF-OIR with more than 60 coalition nations and partner organizations," said III Corps and Fort Hood Commanding General Lt. Gen. Paul E. Funk II. -- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com. KABUL, Afghanistan -- 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 Russia's largest foreign military installation, Russia's 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. 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. Hollie McKay has been a FoxNews.com staff reporter since 2007. She has reported extensively from the Middle East on the rise and fall of terrorist groups such as ISIS in Iraq. Follow her on twitter at @holliesmckay Related Video: Camp Lejeune Town Halls Aim to Help Those Exposed to Toxic Water. Heres How You Can Go. Retired Marine Master Sgt. Jerry Ensminger made it his mission to tell the world that if they lived or served on Camp Lejeune... Defense Secretary James Mattis said President Donald Trump has empowered commanders to more aggressively target the Islamic State as part of a new approach to "annihilate" the militant group. The president has "delegated authority to the right level to aggressively and in a timely manner move against enemy vulnerabilities," Mattis said during a press conference Friday at the Pentagon. The commander in chief, who ordered a review of the conflict after taking office, has also "directed a tactical shift from shoving ISIS out of safe locations in an attrition fight to surrounding the enemy in their strongholds so we can annihilate ISIS," Mattis added. "The intent is to prevent the return home of escaped foreign fighters." The defense secretary, a retired Marine general, appeared alongside Joint Chiefs Chairman Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford -- who also Friday was reappointed to another two-year term -- and Brett McGurk, the State Department's special presidential envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIS to present an updated plan for Operation Inherent Resolve, the military's name for the fight against ISIS. There are more than 5,000 American troops serving in Iraq and several hundred U.S. special operations forces in Syria. ISIS, which at its peak controlled vast parts of Iraq and Syria, has lost 55,000 square kilometers of territory since the U.S. military campaign started in 2014, McGurk said. The current goal of the campaign is to squeeze and destroy the militant group rather than getting them on the run, Mattis said. The idea is for the coalition to not allow militants to find escape routes or opportunities to resupply. "We don't simply transplant this problem from one place to another," he said. Even so, Mattis said there has been no change the current rules of engagement within the campaign to "avoid innocent civilian casualties, despite needing to go into populated areas to break ISIS hold on their self-described caliphate, despite ISIS purposely endangering innocent lives by refusing to allow civilians to evacuate." He said, "We continue all possible efforts to protect the innocent." McGurk said the State and Treasury departments are also working with allies to more rigorously track foreign fighters and investigate ISIS' currency-sharing methods. "The newest member of our coalition, for example, is INTERPOL," McGurk said, referring to the intergovernmental international police cooperation agency based in France. "More than 60 countries are now providing data to INTERPOL to build a global database of known foreign fighters who've worked with ISIS. That database had only 40 -- 40 people a few years ago, now it has 14,000 and continues to grow," he said. McGurk, who was appointed during the Obama administration, acknowledged the situation is more difficult in Syria. "We don't have a government to work with and we will never work with the Assad regime," he said. The looming Raqqa offensive has yet to begin. Dunford said the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces -- which includes both Arab fighters and Kurdish fighters (known as the YPG) -- encircled Raqqa, the Islamic State's proclaimed capital in Syria, in November, but the group has yet to launch the final assault. Trump this month signed off on arming the YPG, or People's Protection Units. Dunford said the U.S. has been supplying weapons to Arab members of the SDF and has "stockpiled equipment and were prepared to quickly field it" to the group's Kurdish branch. Both Mattis and Dunford said that the delay in providing arms to the YPG has in no way been a setback for the Raqqa siege. When asked whether the American public should expect a long-term presence of American troops in Syria, Mattis demurred. "I'm not willing to say that right now," he said. "I'm not willing to sign up for that." Mattis added, "That's not our intent. We're there to drive ISIS to its knees. And, as Mr. McGurk pointed out, there's got to be a political solution to the larger issues there. It's not going to be U.S. troops at the point of a gun making that happen." The defense secretary said, "This threat is a long-term threat. That's why so many nations have signed up. You don't -- you don't see a coalition this size if it's some short-term threat or a small regional threat. This is a transnational, long-term threat." -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214. Related Video: The top civilian at the Defense Department on Friday warned any military action in North Korea would result in devastation. "As you know, if this goes to a military solution, it is going to be tragic on an unbelievable scale," Defense Secretary James Mattis said during a press conference Friday. "So our effort is to work with the U.N., work with China, work with Japan, work with South Korea to try to find a way out of this situation." Mattis and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford briefed reporters at the Pentagon on the Trump administration's plan to hasten the defeat of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS. Mattis was asked about how the U.S. is working to deal with provocations from North Korea, which under the leadership of Kim Jong Un has conducted an increasingly number of ballistic missile and nuclear tests. "There's many different efforts underway," he said. "We have a whole of government approach to this as well, this issue as well. I spend as much time with the secretary of treasury as I do with the secretary of state as we try to craft a sustainable policy forward." Earlier this week, Gen. Robin Rand, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, said there are no plans at this time to add more strategic Air Force bombers to the Pacific region. The aircraft are often flown to act as a deterrent against the hostile nation. The Air Force on April 26 conducted a test launch of an unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile that traveled 4,000 miles from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, and landed in the South Pacific. The same test was conducted a week later. When asked whether the recent tests were meant to send a message to Pyongyang, Dunford said what the U.S. has done so far has been routine. "We did test ICBMs; It had nothing to do with North Korea," he told reporters. "It wasn't pointed in that direction. In order for us to make sure we have a safe, reliable and effective deterrent, we routinely test our ICBM in accordance with international protocols and in accordance with inspection regimes that are part of those international protocols." The general added that for North Korea "to compare what they have been doing to threaten and intimidate their neighbors as well as the United States to our routine military exercises advertised well in advance with full transparency would be an unfair comparison." Mattis said the U.S. and its allies will continue to apply pressure to North Korea, Mattis said. "We're going to continue to breed the same kind of pressure internationally that we've been trying to. We're going to continue to work the issue," he said. Airstrike in Syria The U.S. defense officials also discussed Thursday's airstrike on the Syrian-Jordanian border that killed forces affiliated with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Dunford called the airstrike a "self-defense" of U.S. forces also operating in the region. Mattis said the pro-Syrian forces were backed by Iran. "It was necessitated ... by offensive movement with offensive capability of what we believe were Iranian-directed -- I don't know there were Iranians on the ground, but by Iranian-directed forces inside an established and agreed-upon deconfliction zone," Mattis said. The deconfliction zone is an area in which U.S. and Russian forces agreed not to operate. The zone previously applied to airspace but now includes ground territory, a defense official told Military.com. When exactly this definition was reclassified was not immediately clear. "We believe they moved into that zone against the advice of the Russians," Mattis said. "Or -- or -- you know, apparently against the advice of the Russians. I can't confirm that either, but it looks like the Russians tried to dissuade them." Russia reportedly made attempts to reach the pro-Assad forces on the ground, but were unsuccessful, the defense official said. -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214. Navy officials confirmed this week that the service will need "on the order" of 350 ships to accomplish its global mission in the coming decade. And with that ramp-up in shipbuilding must come a significant surge in force strength, the chief of naval personnel told members of Congress on Wednesday. Speaking to members of the House Armed Services subcommittee on military personnel, Vice Adm. Robert Burke said the service will require between 20,000 and 40,000 additional sailors to man a fleet of that size, depending on how fast the ships are built. Currently, the Navy has 275 active ships and 335,000 active-component sailors. The proposed ramp-up represents roughly a 28 percent increase in the size of the fleet and an increase of up to 12 percent in force end strength. "The infrastructure that we have in place in terms of our recruit training command is sufficient, given shipbuilding timelines, to put enough sailors through there," Burke said. "We would have to ramp up additional drill, recruit division commanders, and perhaps additional training capacity, but probably not additional infrastructure is where we are with that right now." In addition to shipbuilding speed, one factor that will affect the size of the required Navy ramp-up is how many of the new ships are manned, Burke said. "We think that that force also needs to be a mix of manned and unmanned vessels," he said. "So that could also reduce the manpower increase. But we're very much looking at that." In an assessment of the future Navy released on Wednesday, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson said the future fleet will include unmanned surface ships and underwater platforms. While the Navy would work to prolong the service lives of ships already in the fleet and get more value out of existing platforms by adding new technology, Richardson said, the plan would ultimately require the service to build more, and fast. "There is kind of a demand for presence at different parts around the world," he said. "And this has been an important part of that body of studies. You really need to be there to provide credible options. You can't be virtually present and provide that credible option." While some analyses have suggested that the Navy needs three decades to reach its target size, Richardson said he wants to build to this bigger, more powerful fleet by the mid-2020s in recognition of global threats and rising adversaries. Still to be determined is how the Navy plans to pay for ship construction, as well as the additional sailors. Richardson said the service believes the buildup will cost "far less" than the $102 billion per year assessed by the Congressional Budget Office last month, but did not provide any cost estimates Wednesday. And while Navy officials have not cited a need to create additional infrastructure to support fleet growth, the service's civilian workforce will also be growing. Acting Navy Secretary Sean Stackley, then the Navy's acquisition chief, said in January that the service is already prepared to ramp up to meet increased ship production demands. -- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at@HopeSeck. ANN ARBOR, MI - A love of beer brought Andrew Collins and Jay Howe together after Ann Arbor Brewer Guild meetings to discuss their dream of one day starting their own brewery. The dream is becoming a reality, as Collins and Howe look to open Pileated Brewing at 2290 Industrial Highway in early June with flagship beers such as the Rainbow Warrior IPA and the Wrangling Dharma American pale ale. "There's such a huge gap from commercial to homebrewer," Collins said. "We're so small we can adapt pretty quickly. The good thing about being small is the flexibility." The two met through the brewer's guild and found they shared quite a few things in common: they are both teachers, with Collins teaching chemistry at Huron High School and Howe an art instructor at Pioneer High School; both love beer and sport red hair. The red hair sparked the idea for the brewery's name and logo bearing a pileated woodpecker with a bright-red crest atop its head. Birds are a common theme found in the beer labels and names for the brewery. While both men have a hand in making beer at home, Collins had previously brewed for about 10 years on a larger-scale for McMenamins Pubs and Breweries in Oregon before returning to Michigan. A few months ago, a shiny five-barrel system was delivered to their production facility on Ann Arbor's south side, about two miles from Michigan Stadium. Collins described it as the right size and layout, with room for a small taproom area and some flexibility in adapting the space in the future. "There were a lot of things about this location that worked," Howe said. There were multiple factors that went into the decision to start small: the overall cost of equipment, the size of their building and the importance of being in control of a product they both could be proud of. Another key factor is that some of the best beers they had tasted were from small breweries, Collins said, where brewers heavily involved from watching the product and ensuring the proper steps were taken throughout the process. Their system does not allow for lagers, but Collins and Howe hope to expand and try their hand at that process in the future. Until then, their focus is on making the best beers with what is available to them. "We're doing it all," said Howe. The two are learning how to handle a brewery versus a home-brew operation, including how to bottle their beers, and often post photos on the Pileated Brewing Facebook page of their journey to opening. What a great day for our first brew! It shouldn't be very long before we all can enjoy our Wrangling Dharma Pale Ale. Posted by Pileated Brewing Company on Saturday, April 8, 2017 Pileated Brewing falls under the self-distribution law, which limits production to under 1,000 barrels. That equals about 2,000 kegs, which Howe and Collins will dispense in the small taproom at the front of the brewery space or pour into 22-ounce bottles for distribution. There are no specific agreements on where Pileated Brewing beers may end up, but Collins said there are spots in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti that are interested. They are aiming to have about 10 flagship styles, including some Belgian ales, porters and stouts. At least five will be on draft in the taproom, which includes tables and chairs for patrons to try the brews along with beers that can be purchased to-go. "Once we get some beers sold, we want to buy some barrels," Collins said. The barrels would first be used for bourbon-aged styles and then sour styles. Both men are currently juggling school schedules with their beer production, which Collins said will ramp up once summer break starts. Work at the brewing facility over the last year has prompted some curiosity among its neighbors. Collins recalled one man who walked in and started asking them about Pileated Brewing, and discovered his background in chemistry. "He said, 'So you're 'Breaking Good,'" Collins said with a laugh, referencing the hit AMC television show Breaking Bad that focuses on a chemistry teacher's descent into the drug world. The facility needs to go through one more state inspection, Howe said, and some more production before the taproom is open. Both are hopeful they will have about four beer styles for the public to taste in early June. As for Collins and Howe, their end goal is for Pileated Brewing to gain recognition amidst the booming craft industry in Michigan and perhaps pay for college tuition for their children. Ultimately, they want their place to be a reminder of what craft beer is and should be. "We are concerned about the beer being made here," Howe said. "Craft is really starting to push the limit of what craft is," Collins added, comparing it to home-cooked meals versus going to a restaurant. "We don't want to be a big, multimillion dollar beer company. Quality is our primary concern." John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com By JOHN D. GONZALEZ | gonzo@mlive.com GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- When you make great spirits, you probably make great cocktails! At least that's what Amy Sherman and I are discovering on our journey to learn more about the Michigan Craft Distillery scene. We have visited nine Michigan Craft Distilleries so far: Round Barn Winery, Brewery and Distillery in Baroda, Journeyman Distillery in Three Oaks, Coppercraft Distillery in Holland, New Holland Brewing in Holland, The New Holland Knickerbocker in Grand Rapids, Iron Fish Distillery in Thompsonville, Grand Traverse Distillery, Black Star Farms, and Civilized Spirits, all in Traverse City, as well as Mammoth Distilling in Central Lake. Each has been informative, telling us the role they play in making Michigan one of the country's top states for distilling vodka, gin, whiskey and other spirits. Our goal is to put together a list of great spirits and cocktails. If you have questions about the industry, we would love to hear them. E-mail us: Amy Sherman is at asherma2@mlive.com I'm at gonzo@mlive.com You can follow our live coverage on these social media channels for photos, videos, updates and more: Amy Sherman on Twitter @amyonthetrail, as well as Facebook and Instagram John Gonzalez on Twitter @michigangonzo, as well as Facebook and Instagram On Friday, May 19, we're visiting Grand Rapids. Here is our schedule: Don't Edit Vander Mill Grand Rapids Address: 505 Ball Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 Phone: (616) 259-8828 Don't Edit vandermill.com/used with permission MLive will visit at 11 a.m. Friday, May 19, 2017. Later in the day, Vander Mill hosts AM Yoga. Class is donation based and accessible for all levels. Bring your mats and friends. 5:45-6:45 p.m May 19. Don't Edit Address: 5295 West River Dr NE #100, Comstock Park, MI 49321 Phone: (616) 888-9746 Don't Edit MLive visit at 1 p.m. Friday, May 19, 2017. Don't Edit Don't Edit Address: 537 Leonard St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504 Facebook Don't Edit Beer City Whisky Series Batch 1: Mitten Country Strong Malt Wh... Beer City Whisky Series, Batch 1: Mitten Country Strong Malt Whisky will be released in-house on Tuesday, May 23! Don't miss your chance to get your hands on this limited-release, collaborative spirit! Batch 1 is made in partnership with The Mitten Brewing Co., using the base for their Mitten Country Strong IPA! Sign up for a tour and side-by-side tasting of Mitten Country Strong IPA and Mitten Country Strong Malt Whisky and reserve your bottle today! https://goo.gl/NGTYi2 Soundtrack: "Two Face Talkin'" by Jesse Ray and the Carolina Catfish Bottle Design: Josh Kulchar Video by: SideCar Studios Future releases in partnership with Perrin Brewing Company, Harmony Brewing Company/ Harmony Hall, and Greyline Brewing Co.! Posted by Long Road Distillers on Thursday, May 18, 2017 MLive visit at 2:30 p.m. Friday, May 19, 2017. Don't Edit Gray Skies Distillery Address: 700 Ottawa Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 Phone: (616) 893-3305 Don't Edit Every Tuesday is Industry Night at Gray Skies! Because we love our industry friends, all cocktails will be $5 all night for all folks in the bar/restaurant industry. Come see us! Posted by Gray Skies Distillery on Tuesday, May 16, 2017 MLive visit is at 4 p.m. Friday, May 19, 2017. Don't Edit Emily Rose Bennett/MLive More Stories 5 Michigan Craft Distilleries we're visiting in the Traverse City area Don't Edit Don't Edit John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com Here's your guide to the craft distilleries of Michigan ANN ARBOR, MI - The city of Ann Arbor is taking another step forward on plans for tunneling under the east-west railroad tracks north of downtown. The project, officially called the Allen Creek Railroad Berm Opening Project, is intended to allow stormwater to more easily reach the Huron River and reduce flooding problems in the Allen Creek watershed, while also creating a new way for pedestrians and cyclists to reach riverfront recreation areas. The City Council voted unanimously this week to approve an agreement with Amtrak for a review of the design plans. The resolution was co-sponsored by 1st Ward Council Members Jason Frenzel and Sumi Kailasapathy. While the Michigan Department of Transportation owns the railroad tracks that pass through Ann Arbor between Detroit and Chicago, Amtrak will be the primary approval agency. Prior to beginning design review, Amtrak is requiring the city to enter into a design-phase agreement and to pay Amtrak for its costs. Amtrak estimates its participation in the design phase of the project will cost $71,940, and the City Council has authorized up to $97,020. "The amount being paid to Amtrak at this time is $71,940," said City Engineer Nick Hutchinson. "As a contingency, we obtained authorization from council for a total amount of $97,000 should more be needed." Upon completion of the design phase, Hutchinson said, Amtrak will return to the city any portion of the money that is not spent. Funding for the Amtrak advance payment is available in the existing project budget, he said. "This action by the city of Ann Arbor is another example of our close working relationship with the city, Michigan DOT and Amtrak for improvements to facilities and service at the busiest Amtrak station in the state," said Marc Magliari, a Chicago-based spokesman for Amtrak. A tentative plan for a tunnel under the MDOT-owned railroad tracks in Ann Arbor, showing separate side-by-side openings for stormwater and pedestrians/cyclists to reach the Huron River. "It is desired to create openings in the railroad berm to accommodate passage of floodwaters and to allow pedestrians to cross safely under the railroad to access the park facilities to the north," the council resolution states. The council already approved a contract in January with Bergmann Associates to finalize the engineering design, prepare construction plans and prepare an application for federal grant funds for flood hazard mitigation. The design contract includes a base amount of $612,657, plus authorization for up to $62,000 worth of change orders, for a total of $674,657. The total project cost is estimated at $4.3 million, which includes $1.2 million for non-motorized transportation components. Federal Emergency Management Agency grants are expected to cover 75 percent of the stormwater portion of the project. Construction is expected to occur in the summer of 2018. The project has been in the works for several years. In 2007, the City Council approved a flood mitigation plan, and one of the recommendations was to study the Allen Creek railroad berm. The Allen Creek - much of it buried in underground drain pipes many years ago - discharges to the Huron River just below Argo Dam. In 2013, the city and its consultant, OHM Advisors, completed a feasibility study to determine if it was possible to create openings in the railroad berm to accommodate passage of floodwaters and to allow pedestrians to cross safely under the railroad to get to the park facilities to the north. The study determined the project was feasible and a preferred concept was selected and deemed acceptable to MDOT. The study found it's possible to lower the floodplain elevation in the area by as much as 6.5 feet. By doing so, 31 structures would have reduced flood risk and some would no longer be within the floodplain, and substantial reductions in flood insurance rates could be realized by affected properties. A map showing the Allen Creek berm study area. The creek was buried many years ago in underground pipes that collect stormwater and discharge to the Huron River south of Argo Dam. The red zone on this map shows the floodway, while other flood-prone zones are shown in yellow. "The railroad berm near the mouth of Allen Creek in the vicinity of Depot Street and Main Street, just west of the Ann Arbor Amtrak Station, is oriented perpendicular to the overland drainage flow pattern and causes the floodplain depth in this area of the city to be as deep as 10 feet," the city states in a project background document submitted to Amtrak. "Upstream of the influence of this berm, flood depths are more typically in the 3 to 5 foot range." The document indicates separate culverts -- each 60 feet long -- would be constructed. A lower culvert would be used to convey floodwaters to the north side of the railroad tracks, and a higher culvert would be used to accommodate pedestrians. As tentatively planned, the culverts would be side by side. Jerry Hancock, the city's stormwater and floodplain programs coordinator, said there still are three or four options for the tunnels and routes, and the city will need buy-in from affected property owners before selecting a final location. He said a map showing the final route might be available in about a month. The project completes a non-motorized transportation network in a larger region by connecting downtown Ann Arbor and its immediate neighborhoods to the countywide Border to Border Trail, city officials note. "According to a study from Michigan State University in 2009, the B2B had 114,405 estimated uses for a spring and fall period with 57% of users originated from Ann Arbor," the project background document states. "The proposed trail link fits into the larger network of regional and state pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and responds to the strong public appeal for pedestrian access in this area. The project introduces an additional transportation choice that improves non-motorized access for people without a driver's license or a car, those unable to drive and that enhances personal health, economic viability and air quality." The city also notes there is "a known trespassing hazard" near the project. People regularly illegally cross the MDOT-owned tracks to reach the riverfront from the North Main Street area just north of Depot Street. "The lack of a convenient and reasonable pedestrian access linking the downtown area to the B2B Trail leads to the dangerous trespassing behavior," the project background document states. "The project will provide safe access to the B2B trail from the population center and eliminate this hazard." Additionally, the city maintains, the project will reduce the flooding of transportation facilities and private properties in the adjacent area, and the Amtrak rail line, Depot Street, Fourth Avenue and Main Street will benefit from reducing the floodplain elevation south of the railroad. "Minimizing flooding also serves to improve water quality by reducing the Allen Creek Drain contamination of the Huron River," the project background document states. "During flooding event, in the upper reaches of Allen Creek floodplain, rainwater collects on Depot and adjoining street and picks up contaminants during the flood stages. Automobile related, heavy metals, oils and other chemicals as well as debris are washed into the Huron River as torrents of rainwater rush from the flooded streets and parking areas, and into the Huron River. Construction of the storm water opening will drop the flood level approximately 6 feet during the 1% storm event, thereby improving water quality." A proposed design for the project is expected to be finalized by June, after which the city plans to work to finalize easements and other agreements in July, followed by seeking additional FEMA grant funding in August. A grant agreement is expected to come back to council for approval this fall. The city plans to open the project up for bids in January 2018 and have a construction contract approved by council in March 2018. Construction would then take place during the spring and summer of 2018. US 23.jpg One person was taken to the hospital in critical condition following a single-vehicle crash on northbound U.S. 23 north of Washtenaw Avenue in Ann Arbor Township. (Courtesy | Chris Baldridge) UPDATE 11:53 a.m.: The crash is cleared. ANN ARBOR TOWNSHIP, MI - The right lane of northbound U.S. 23 near Ann Arbor is blocked after a crash Friday, May 20. At 9:54 a.m., the Michigan Department of Transportation reported the crash near Clark Road, just north of Washtenaw Avenue in Ann Arbor Township. Huron Valley Ambulance took one person to the hospital in critical condition, said spokesman Chad French. Chris Baldridge, an Ann Arbor man, witnessed the crash. A white truck went onto the left shoulder and then it appears the driver lost control. The truck veered back across the freeway and struck the right guardrail, Baldridge said. The driver was thrown to the passengers side of the truck, and several motorists stopped to assist the driver before Ann Arbor Police, Michigan State Police and HVA arrived. county_building_June2016.jpg Washtenaw County officials are planning to host an in-depth conversation about key issues impacting the community. (Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News) YPSILANTI, MI - Washtenaw County officials are planning to host an in-depth conversation about key issues impacting the community next week. That includes issues related to affordable housing, economic development, transit, education, human services and racial equity. The county's Office of Community and Economic Development is hosting its fourth-annual legislative forum from 6-8 p.m. Monday, May 22, at the Eastern Michigan University Student Center Auditorium, 900 Oakwood St., Ypsilanti. The forum is free and open to the public. Michigan lawmakers representing Washtenaw County will be on hand for the event, including Sen. Rebekah Warren and Reps. Donna Lasinski, Ronnie Peterson, Yousef Rabhi and Adam Zemke. Moderating the forum will be Michael Miller, chief mission officer for St. Joseph Mercy Health System. OCED Director Andrea Plevek said providing a space where residents can interact with elected officials is critical to creating informed policies and programs that help build the economy, create jobs and improve quality of life. The forum is co-sponsored by EMU. Community members interested in attending can RSVP online. Those registering online can submit questions in advance of the forum. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Pursuant to Regulation 30 of SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations 2015, the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors at their meetings held on 18th May 2017, have recommended the appointment of M/s Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP, Chartered Accountants, Chennai (ICAI Reg. No. 117366W/W-100018), as the statutory auditors of the company for a period of five years from the conclusion of the ensuing annual general meeting, in place of the existing statutory auditors, M/s Brahmayya & Co., Chartered Accountants, Chennai, in compliance with the mandatory rotation of auditors as per the provisions of Section 139 of the Companies Act 2013. The details as required under Regulation 30 the SEBI LODR regulations read with SEBI circular no.CIR/ CFD/ CMD/ 4 / 2015 dt. 9th Sep 2015 are given below: Brief Profile of Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP (DHS LLP): 'Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP (DHS LLP) is a member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (DTTL), a UK private company limited by guarantee. DHS LLP and its affiliate member firms leverage global tools, technology, and best practices of Deloitte. DHS LLP's audit practice provides professional services to some of the largest and most reputed companies across various industries and sectors'.Source : BSE live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Bajaj Auto, the countrys third largest bike maker, said today it is unable to pass on the raw material cost hikes to consumers as it fears that such a move will lead to contraction in margins this year. The company has refused to hike prices of motorcycles and three-wheelers even as the two-wheeler market leader Hero Motocorp effected a price rise in the range of Rs 500-2200 from May 1. "On the whole-year basis we will be at the 20 percent EBITDA level. Margins will come off by a percent from the current levels due to rise in raw material costs with impact of GST and the cost of acquisition getting higher, said Kevin Dsa, President, Finance, Bajaj Auto on a conference call. At the standalone level Bajaj saw its net profit go down by 15 percent following poor sales due to heightened discounts by rivals to liquidate BS-III stock especially towards the final days of March. A charge of Rs 16 crore was absorbed by the company during the quarter towards discounts offered by the company to liquidate BS-III stock. In comparison, TVS Motors suffered an impact of Rs 57 crore. Bajaj will be investing Rs 200 crore this year towards capital expenditure. Our ability to pass on price hikes was restricted due to discounts offered by rivals. Steel, aluminium and other costs had gone up. It is very difficult to absorb costs. It is a question of time before we take the price hike, added Dsa. Further, Bajaj expects a muted performance in the current quarter compared to its rivals. Q1 will show relative underperformance because we dont have to refill the pipeline compared to Honda and Hero because they exhausted their inventory during the last three days of March whereas we had already transitioned to BS4, added DSa. Bajaj had shifted its entire model line-up to BS-IV much before the April 1 deadline. It had launched new models such as Avenger, Dominar, and refurbished Pulsar line up with BS-IV engines. However, its dealers were still left with some BS-III stock which had to be liquidated before the deadline. The company had taken a price hike of Rs 500 on motorcycles and Rs 1000 on three-wheelers during the previous quarter on account of the switch to BS-IV. Bajajs high margin three-wheeler segment has also come under pressure due to demonetization. The domestic three-wheeler segment was very badly affected due to demonetization. While that phase is over there is a lot of pain in that segment. The CV segment will be slightly under pressure this year, added DSa. The company is hopeful of benefiting from the expected 40,000 new three-wheeler permits to be issued in Maharashtra, Delhi and Karnataka. There would not be any significant change in prices of two-wheelers post the roll-out of the GST as motorcycles will be falling under the 28 percent tax bracket. Only bikes having engines bigger than 350cc will be slapped with an additional 1 percent cess. On the product front the company wants the monthly run rate of the V Series and Dominar to rise from the current levels. For the V series we expect both models (V12-V15) to stabilize at about 35,000-40,000 a month in 7-8 months while for Dominar we would like to see 4,500 and from July 7,000 a month (domestic and exports), added DSa. For KTM a sales rise to 50,000 units is expected this year from 35,000 sold last year, said Bajaj Auto. Sandeep Wagle of powermywealth.com told CNBC-TV18, "I would go with a buy in Marico, stop loss of Rs 313 and target of Rs 330. Buy ITC, stop loss at Rs 287 and target of Rs 303." "Sell UPL with a stop loss at Rs 792 and target of Rs 756," he added. "I would be extremely bullish on Tata Steel. The only problem is that the stock has run up from Rs 430-440 levels to Rs 490. However, I dont see any weakness. I would still take a bet on this stock on the long side at this level or maybe Rs 5-10 down. I dont think the stock will break Rs 470 on the downside and sooner than later I see the stock at Rs 530-540." "Tech Mahindra is weak. I see some further downside. The tech stocks are looking good. In fact I was bullish on Wipro and TCS yesterday and today and this stock is going against the trend. I see lower levels, probably even Rs 410-405 coming in over the next few days." "I would be bullish on Bank of Baroda (BoB). I see a very strong support at Rs 185-187 levels which has happened over the last three to four days. It has not broken that on the downside. On the upside, if you talk of the day, maybe Rs 196-198. Talk of the next few days I wont be surprised if this stock goes towards Rs 205-207. So, broadly mildly bullish is what I would term this but I dont see the stock breaking Rs 210 in a hurry." Myth 3: Everyone who has a mental illness needs medication to manage symptoms | Bulthuis says no two patients are the same. While medicines can help manage symptoms, there are some people with mental illness who do not require medication. For others, medicine is essential for recovery. (Representative image) live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Laurus Labs on Friday said its Vizag unit has cleared the US FDA inspection without any Form 483 observations. "The API facility of the Unit-2 has completed successful inspection without any 483 and the formulation unit in the same facility received EIR (establishment inspection report) on May 18," the company said in a statement. The Unit-2 that manufactures active pharmaceutical ingredients and finished dosage formulations is located in APSEZ at Achutapuram, Vizag. The plant approved by European regulator has a manufacturing capacity of 1 billion tablets per year. The active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) block has 12 reactors with total capacity of 84 KL. The successful US FDA inspection helps the company as it plans to make a foray into highly regulated US generics market. Laurus said it has filed 3 Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDA) and in addition completed six product validations. The company is working on a pipeline of 20 products for its US entry. Laurus expects US generic business to contribute to its revenue from FY18 onwards. The company, a major supplier of active pharmaceutical ingredients for anti-retroviral (used to suppress HIV infection) and hepatitis-C (used to fight liver infections) drugs for nine out of 10 worlds largest generic companies. The company became publicly listed in December 2016. Shares of Laurus declined 2.34 percent to close at Rs.549.65 on BSE, while the benchmark Sensex gained 0.10 percent to end at 30,464.92 points. The Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) announced inauguration of two projects that will help it to meet 12 per cent of its energy needs through solar power. The BIAL also aims to produce half of its energy needs through solar power by 2020. According to BIAL, the first project of 440kW has been installed in the car park area and the second project of 2.5MW solar panels at the airside. Airside includes all areas accessible to aircraft, including runways, taxiways and apron. "Both projects - jointly - will reduce carbon emission by 3125 tonnes per annum (3075 tonnes of CO2 emission per annum at the airside and 550 tonnes of CO2 emission per annum at the car park area). The project is being implemented by Bosch Limited," BIAL said a statement. "We aim to achieve 50 per cent of our energy needs through renewable power in the next 3 years. We will continue our effort to look at newer methods to operate our business in an ecologically sustainable environment," said Hari Marar, President, Airport Operations, BIAL. With the Goods and Services Tax (GST) council on Thursday fixing tax rates on 1211 items, most of which will likely become cheaper as the new rates will be lower than the current effective levies and the Indian equity market continuing its bull run, it is a crucial time for the economy and markets. CNBC-TV spoke to Bharat Iyer, MD & Head-India Equity Research, JPMorgan India and Sajjid Chinoy, Chief India Economist, JPMorgan to know the macro outlook going forward. GST is one of the seminal reforms, and a big medium-term positive said Iyer. The beneficiary sectors could be the consumption space, particularly urban consumption, logistics space on the back of ease of doing business should benefit. According to him, valuations are a bit of a headwind at this point in time because the good news, on an immediate term basis, is already in the price. Chinoy said the first benefit of GST would be growth in production. It is like India signing a free trade agreement (FTA) with itself. Second, would be tax buoyancy although in the near-term there could be disruption especially when an informally economy is pushed to a formal economy. So, one could see a retrospective change in the GDP. Iyer clear believes the retail investor has done a lot better than the sophisticated institutional investors. Local investor money coming into the market is a structural trend, he said. Below is the verbatim transcript of the interview. Q: The goods and services tax (GST) rate, it now looks like it is July 1 and it now looks like practically no sector is going to pay more taxes, if any less. How does that change your India call and your sector call? Iyer: First and foremost I think we should appreciate that this is one of the several reforms we have seen in our history. What this means over an 18-24 month period for the macro is going to be very substantive be it the fiscal account, be it the inflation trajectory, be it the kind of liquidity we could have in the system potentially and the kind of government spending that could come in on the back of this. I think all these are very meaningful. I think even near-term I think the government has gone out of its way to ensure that there is no major disruption and which is the reason most product categories, the GST is now closer to what it was and there has been no major disruption. We still see beneficiaries. I think the consumption space should do very well, particularly urban consumption. I think ease of business is going to go up phenomenally and I think the logistics space will be a key beneficiary. So, on balance I think a very big medium-term positive. Q: The markets are celebrating it for ITC with 6 percentage point salute and generally FMCGs, the Colgates of the world have all been doing well. Are you upping your view on the FMCG space itself? Iyer: Not completely. We have been running neutral stance on consumer staples, the sector we are discussing and I guess while we understand the medium-term implications in terms of how this could boost demand because there will be lower prices which could be passed on, valuations are a bit of a headwind at this point in time because let us face it, the market has been preparing for this event for nearly a year and so valuations have been pegged at a level where a substantive part of the good news at least on an immediate term basis is priced in. Q: How does this change your macro GDP forecast. Clearly, the tax to GDP ratio is rising this year or next you think? Chinoy: I think it might take a little time. I think the key for the GST is not to jump to what the revenue implications are, it is to appreciate the fact that India finally has a common market. I think the first round effect will be a big increase in productivity growth in the GDP numbers. For me that is the exciting part that this is tantamount to India signing a free trade agreement with itself. So, think about the first round being productivity growth. The second round will be tax buoyancy. Now in the near term, there might be some disruptions, we should not panic, we should brace for that. Whenever you aggressively push the informal economy to the formal economy, you could have some disruption to supply chains, you could have uncertainty about inventory holdings for example but that is a one, two quarter phenomena. I think what is very impressive is this grand fiscal federal experiment has worked and more importantly, there is a concerted effort to make sure that there wont be inflationary pressures on the back of this. With what we have heard so far, 80 percent of goods so far are going to be 18 percent or below. So, I think in the near-term, let us hope that there is no price effect, you get big productivity increases and let us give the economy a couple of years for the dynamism to flow through and then the tax buoyancy to pickup. Let us not be in a rush to try and document how much the tax GDP has gone up. Q: That is perhaps the FY19 story, but even in FY18 are you giving the GDP some more points than you previously had not just because GST is successful and here, but also because the WPI is lower than we thought historically and so must be even prospectively and IIP is not as bad as we thought. So, what was your GDP number and are you likely to, are you on the front foot to change it higher? Chinoy: I think in May we will see retrospective higher revisions both on account of the IIP and the WPI but for me that is water under the bridge, those are statistical changes. The key for growth this year is more than statistical. It is the fact that exports have picked up sharply. So upward revisions to GDP growth in my view over the next 12 months will come from two sources. One is if you get this global growth recovery sustaining for a few quarters, Indias new exports, engineering goods, pharmaceuticals are very cyclical. You have seen in the last three to four months, when there is any pickup in global growth, they respond very sharply. If that process continues for a couple of quarters, that is the trigger for an upwards revision along with the fact that at the margin, the worries about the monsoon have become a little bit less. So those two for me are the more fundamental drivers of any growth uptick this year. Q: 7.4 percent, what are your working with? Chinoy: We are still more muted. We actually think we might get a number around 7-7.2 percent. I think last year will end closer to 7 percent for FY17, for FY18 I think we will still be in that range. There are some drags as well related to investment. Remember last year you had a great monsoon on the back of two droughts which meant agriculture grew at 5 percent. This year you will get a good monsoon on the back of a good monsoon which means agriculture is at 2 percent. So, there will be some offsetting drags. Q: Your big India call, I mean what seems to be standing out now and this is almost an old story is that we dont care for foreign institutional investors (FII) money. The tidal wave of domestic investments and physical investment is getting into financial is almost inexorable now, never ending. How does that change the India call, what would be how does it change your Sensex perception for 12 months down the line or Nifty perception? Iyer: I think we have to give credit to the local investor. I think the local investor has been extremely sharp. When inflation was a big concern, we saw all the money going into real assets. The minute inflation stopped being such a concern, the money came back into financial assets. Again within financial assets we have seen a very good shift from debt towards equity as there were indications that the monetary easing cycle was done with. So, first I think full marks to the retail investor; I think he has done a lot better than most of the sophisticated institutional investors. In terms of the point you raised, the local investor money coming in, I think this is a structural trend. What this really implies is that sell-offs are going to be more shallow. They will not be as deep as they used to be when we were completely dependent on foreign money. However, that said, can we write off the foreign money completely, does it mean that we dont need the foreign money? No way. The insurance sector will now attract a taxation of 18 percent for the services offered by the industry after the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council on Friday announced the rates for financial services. This would mean a direct impact on the premium being paid by the policyholders since this constitutes commissions as well as taxation. Insurance company officials said that the rate hike will be immediately passed on to customers. Amitabh Chaudhry, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of HDFC Life, said that if the rate is 18 percent, then customers would have to bear the burden of the additional taxation being imposed on the insurance services. Currently, a tax of about 15 percent is imposed on an average on insurance premiums and also includes cess and service tax. In the past, insurance sector representatives along with the Life Insurance Council had approached the finance ministry asking them to consider the lowest tax slab of 5 percent for the sector. However, the ministry did not agree to this demand. Even at the GST Council meetings, sources said that there were differences in opinion on whether insurance should be taxed at 12 percent or 18 percent. However, it was decided to have a uniform rate of 18 percent across the financial services sector. Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), which has the largest number of policyholders in the country, is expected to face the maximum impact since the rise will have to be passed on to their customers. Read Moneycontrol's full coverage on GST here It was also expected that payment through digital channels will attract a lower rate of tax under GST. However, no such announcements have been made. Divyesh Lapsiwala, Indirect Tax Partner at EY, said that life insurance could have been considered as one of the sectors with a benign GST rate given the demographic situation in India and below average penetration of life insurance services. There has been a differential rate of taxation in insurance based on the type of product, premium paying term and whether it is a life insurance or general insurance product. It has still not been disclosed whether small ticket policies or government-sponsored/promoted insurance will be exempted from tax under GST. Joydeep K Roy, Partner and Leader- Insurance, PwC India explained that GST implementation has to be done sensitively keeping in mind the inherent nature of insurance business. While products like motor, health, term have all the premium categorised as risk premium, savings products like endowment and unit-linked insurance products have a large component of consumer savings other than risk premium. Considering the low penetration of insurance in India, Micro Insurance (by regulator definition) or certain instances below a threshold need to be exempt from GST, said Roy. GST will be implemented from July 1. Hence, all products bought or renewed after that date will bear a higher premium rate. Health insurance is no more a business proposition - it is a social necessity. An attractive GST would have further influenced insurance penetration but the industry is still geared up to take the growth further with rise in life expectancy, per capita income, financial literacy and medical advancement in India, S Prakash, Senior Executive Director, Star Health Insurance. Days after the Union Cabinet cleared a proposal for setting up ten nuclear reactors, President Pranab Mukherjee today stressed on the need for using clean and renewable energy to meet the country's growing power demand. The president was inaugurating the country's first-of- its-kind microgrid power project at the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST) at Shibpur here that uses solar, wind and biogas energy to produce electricity. He said he was "happy" that the Cabinet has decided to ramp up power generation by clearing a proposal to build ten indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors, each with a capacity to produce 700 MW. Mukherjee said more than 300 million people in the country still do not have access to power. "We have to provide electricity to ordinary people," he said, adding that there is a need to emphasise on renewable energy to meet the demand. While lauding the progress in space science made by India, he also stressed that electricity and clean, arsenic- free drinking water be provided to the people, particularly those in rural areas. Mukherjee also inaugurated the Centre for Water and Environmental Research, which will focus on ways to supply safe drinking water, besides irrigation. Former ISRO chairman and chairperson of the IIEST Board of Governors, K Radhakrishnan, its director Ajoy Kumar Ray, and registrar Biman Bandyopadhyay were present at the programme, besides West Bengal Power Minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay. The Integrated Renewable Energy Smart Microgrid Centre at the institute utilises 600-1,000 Kg of kitchen and food waste from the entire campus to prOduce biogas energy. It can offer a complete solution for 24x7 electricity access in regions having either no grid or weak and unreliable grid, project coordinator professor Hiranmay Saha said. The smart grid is a project of the West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency. The president will leave for the national capital this evening. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More The insurance sector, which otherwise has been a quiet participant in the initial public offering (IPO) of companies, will have about three new listed entities by the end of this financial year. ICICI Prudential Life Insurance was the first listed insurance company in the country, being listed in 2016. While the initial plan was to have insurance companies list on the stock exchanges once they complete ten years in business, not all insurance companies were in favour of this. Hence, this was not made mandatory for insurers unlike in the banking sector where listing is compulsory across different categories of banks. As per regulatory norms, an insurer will have to post profits for three consecutive years and be in operation for atleast 10 years for it to get permission to list. State-owned general insurer New India Assurance and reinsurance firm General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re) will be the first set of non-life insurers to bring out their IPO in this financial year. The initial process of the IPO has already begun among the insurers who expect the process to be completed in the next 6-8 months. Among the life insurance companies, SBI Life Insurance is expected to complete its process by the end of this financial year. While he did not give a timeline, Arijit Basu, MD and CEO, SBI Life Insurance told Moneycontrol that State Bank of India (SBI) will divest upto 6-8 percent depending on the market conditions and they wanted to have that flexibility. Our foreign partner has decided to divest 4 percent. Currently, we are in the initial process of listing, he added. The criteria for listing in the banking sector is Rs 500 crore net-worth and the entity is required to list within six years of beginning operations. Even smaller entities like small finance banks are required to meet this objective. The other insurance companies in line for an IPO include National Insurance and Oriental Insurance. However, their listing is expected only in the next financial year. The insurers are currently involved in shoring up their solvency margin as well as reducing their underwriting losses. Among other insurance companies, SBI General also has plans to list. Pushan Mahapatra, MD and CEO, SBI General in a recent interaction with Moneycontrol said that while they plan to be a listed entity in the medium term, they will first focus on wiping out their underwriting losses and pay dividends to promoters for a couple of years. Depending on when the final approvals come in, HDFC Life will also be a listed entity on the stock exchanges once Max Life Insurance is merged with it. Since Max Financial Services , the holding company of Max Life is listed, HDFC Life Insurance will automatically be listed post the merger. Most of the positives of GST are already priced in according to Krishna Kumar Karwa, MD and CFO of Emkay Global Financial Services. The market rally has also raised questions on the fairness in valuations against the earnings momentum. However, he believes the valuations are fair to reasonable. He said investors must understand that one cannot time the market and with fresh money now. There has to be a tweak in return expectations. Look at Maruti, HDFC Bank and HULs earnings performance and the management commentary. If they are gung-ho about their prospects, it shows that the domestic economy has a strong momentum going as these (firms) are epitomes of domestic India consumption, he told CNBC-TV18 in an interview. Karwa does not consider PSU banks as an investment opportunity. The sector is a work-in-progress and there are lot of expectations for improvement in asset quality, he said. These stocks will always trade when valuations dip, he told the channel. He said one could play the real estate sector on a geographical basis. There are well performing pockets in South India as well as in Mumbai, he said. While there is opportunity in the segment from implementation of legislations and affordable housing push, but it remains to be seen if many companies will make the most of it, he added. One could also look at housing ancillaries such as buildings, paint, cement and consumer durables, among others. Karwa is positive on rural India stocks. The way government is spending on infrastructure and good monsoon is going to have a positive impact on rural India, he said. One can buy into FMCG, consumer companies as they are a big opportunity as well. Representative image The market ended the day, that was largely dominated by the bears and highly volatile, on a flat note. The Sensex managed to clock a record intraday high, while the Nifty reclaimed 9500 before tripping below the key milestone of 9450. The market had a gap-up opening and the indices surged over a percent, before witnessing a correction midway. The sharp correction was seen on the back of a drag on large cap names. However, FMCG stocks such as ITC and HUL weighed positively on the indices. The 30-share Sensex closed higher by 30.13 points at 30464.92, while the Nifty ended 1.55 points lower at 9427.90. The market breadth, too, was negative through the day, albeit the opening surge which was on the healthier side. Majority of the indices were largely lower between 0.5-1 percent, except for Nifty FMCG, which surged over 2 percent. "Positivity over GST rates agreement got lost in the global tremors over political uncertainty. With currencies remaining volatile and with derivatives expiry approaching, investors chose to lock in gains on the last working day of the week, Anand James, Chief Market Strategist, Geojit Financial Services said in a statement. Among commodities, gold's allure went up by many notches today as the US political turmoil saw the bullion soar Rs 215 to Rs 29,200 per 10 grams today, mirroring a firm overseas trend amid frenzied buying by local jewellers. This is the third straight day of gains by the yellow metal, which reclaimed the Rs 29,000 level. Risk aversion was in full display as investors looked for safer assets in view of the deepening crisis in the US, a fallout of President Donald Trump's firing of the former FBI director. Silver staged a comeback to recapture the Rs 39,000-mark by surging Rs 350 to Rs 39,150 per kg, backed industrial demand and coin manufacturers. Among stock-specific movements due to GST, FMCGs were the clear winners for the day, led by ITC. The stock surged with uncertainty over GST being gone and the rates coming in lower than estimated. Colgate Palmolive too spiked on the back of an effective lower rate. The rally in FMCGs was seen in other majors such as Hindustan Unilever, which ended 2 percent higher. Others in the basket such as Dabur India and Emami too increased by 1 percent and 2 percent, respectively. On the downside, United Spirits fell as the GST Council decided to tax the raw materials that are used in the manufacture of alcohol. A few scrips also reacted to their quarterly figures such as Bank of Baroda, State Bank of India, and Cummins, among others. SBI ended 2 percent higher after it posted steady set of numbers for the March quarter, while Bank of Baroda ended half a percent higher after posting good results too. Analysts were upbeat about its improvement in asset quality as well. Cummins India, meanwhile, tanked 10 percent after the company posted dismal set of earnings as well as gave out weak guidance of 5-10 percent growth. The new entrant on the bourses, Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) ended over a percent lower after opening at a premium of 21.5 percent. The stock closed at Rs 72.50, lesser than its listing price of Rs 73.55. The IPO of India Grid Trust to raise Rs 2,250 crore was oversubscribed 1. 28 times till evening trade on the last day of the offer. The issue received bids for 16,20,15,147 shares against the total issue size of 12,62,78,838, data available with the NSE till 4:00 pm showed. Meanwhile, PSP Projects, too, has seen good demand, with the issue being oversubscribed 8.39 times. It received bids for 4,65,18,290 shares against an issue size of 55,44,000. With the upcoming derivatives expiry, the Street could see some volatility next week. Jayant Manglik, President, Retail Distribution, Religare Securities said in a statement, Traders should stay focused and keep their leveraged positions hedged. Mostly losses due to the volatility and the upcoming derivatives expiry will add to that. In short, focus on position management and wait for further clarity. ICICI Direct's currency report on USDINR Government bonds ended little changed in lacklustre trade, as investors deferred purchases ahead of a weekly debt auction. Also, political turmoil in the US could support bonds as yields remain on the backfoot The benchmark 6.97% 2026 bond yield was almost unchanged at 6.68% in the previous session Yield on the US 10-year rose mildly to 2.23% from 2.22% in the previous session. The rupee marked its biggest single-day fall in nearly 21 months against US$, as political unrest in the US involving President Donald Trump dented investors appetite for risk assets The US$ recovered slightly against major currencies due to profit booking and recovery in yields. Even though US$ weakened against majors, it strengthened against most emerging currencies as recent political turmoil in the US has weighed on risk-on sentiment. We expect the US$ index to find supports above 96.50 level in the near term. In the currency futures market, the most traded dollar-rupee May contract on the NSE ended at 64.93. The May contract open interest declined 14.42% from the previous day June contract open interest increased by 5.19% in the last session We expect the US$ to find supports at lower levels. Utilise downsides in the pair to go long on the US$INR pair. Intra-day strategy US$INR May futures contract (NSE) View: Bullish on US$INR Buy US$INR in the range of 64.60 - 64.70 Market Lot: US$1000 Target: 65.05 / 65.10 Stop Loss: 64.50 Support Resistance S1/ S2: 64.60 / 64.40 R1/R2:64.90 /65.10 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. Read More Representative Image. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Though the Goods and Services Tax (GST) will not drive down prices of new cars it will, however, provide assistance to existing truck owners to upgrade to a cleaner emission commercial vehicle. Tax exemptions for the proposed scrappage scheme for old trucks and buses are being worked upon by the GST Council, according to a senior minister. The exemptions would help reduce the acquisition cost of new trucks, boost production and sales of new trucks, reduce emissions, boost fuel-efficiency, minimise fuel consumption and also cut down instances of vehicle break-downs. The Nitin Gadkari-led Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) had proposed a total monetary benefit of nearly Rs 5 lakh per truck of which half would come from state and central governments. The vehicle scraping policy will go the Cabinet Secretary and then tax exemptions on it will be worked upon by the GST Council, said Gadkari speaking to Moneycontrol at a recent CII-sponsored event. The ministry had proposed surrender of commercial vehicles which are more than 15 years old. As per estimates there are several more than 15-year-old buses running on Indian roads which need urgent scrapping. Fleet operators and state transport undertakings need to replace these ageing fleets on an urgent basis. While some of these vehicles are of Bharat Stage I emission standard many are from the period when India did not have an emission standard. India has reached BS-IV emission level and hopes to upgrade to BS-VI from April 1, 2020. Following demonetization and slowdown in infrastructure spending, commercial vehicle makers struggled to push volumes for the entire period of last year. According to data shared by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) sales of medium and heavy commercial vehicles (goods carrying) dipped by 1.25 percent last year. Sales fell to 2.55 lakh as against 2.58 lakh sold in 2015-16. However, the fall was even severe last month. In April, MHCV (both goods and passenger carriers) sales dipped by 55 percent to 10,602 units as compared to 23,515 units sold in the same month last year. Tata Motors, the country's largest commercial vehicle maker, posted a decline of 60 percent in April while Chennai-based CV maker Ashok Leyland said its sales crashed 47 percent during the same month. The reason behind the fall is the Supreme Court ruling that barred sales of BS-III vehicles after March 31. This led to liquidation of BS-III stocks through heavy discounting as dealers desperately looked to reduce inventories. Sales of MHCV are expected to remain subdued due to fear of GST implementation among dealers as well as slowing replacement demand, weak industrial activity, rising diesel prices and overcapacity, says India Ratings and Research (India Ratings). Electronic voting machine The Election Commission will hold a demonstration on Saturday to counter the charge of EVM tampering levelled by a host of opposition parties, chiefly the AAP. The date of the hackathon the poll panels open challenge to technocrats and political parties is also likely to be decided on Saturday. The poll panels demonstration comes weeks after the Aam Aadmi Party claimed to have successfully hacked into an EVM when its MLA, Saurabh Bhardwaj, gave a point-by-point demonstration on ways to rig the voting machine at a special session of the Delhi Assembly. The Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP and the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) had alleged that EVMs were tampered with in the February-March assembly elections in five states and the just concluded Delhi civic polls. The Election Commission had on May 12 met the representatives of seven national parties and 48 state parties to reassure them that EVMs cannot be tampered with. After the meeting, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had alleged that the poll panel had backtracked the promise to conduct a hackathon. The EC, however, has said that the challenge was on and the date would be announced soon. Read More: http://www.news18.com/news/india/ec-to-hold-evm-demo-of-its-own-decide-on-hackathon-tomorrow-1405943.html Representative Image Farmers in Maharashtra are likely to go on an indefinite agitation from June 1 by cutting off milk and vegetable supplies to major cities like Mumbai and Pune, according to a media report. The decision was taken after the farmers met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and state opposition leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil on Tuesday. The farmers are demanding farm loan waivers, free electricity, grant for irrigation, better price for milk and minimum support price for crop from June 1, reports the Financial Express. 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, Dhananjay Dhorde Patil, member of the farmers coordinating committee told the newspaper. The meeting on Tuesday was attended by farmers from 20 districts. The committee also said that farmers will wait till May 30 for some positive action by the government. If nothing is done, then agitation will began from the start of Kharif season in June. Swabhimani Shetakari Sanghatana leader and MP Raju Shetty will be holding an Atma Klesh Pada Yatra from May 22 to May 30 from Pune to Mumbai to highlight plight of farmers in the state. In last four months between January and April 852 farmer suicides have been reported in Maharashtra, according to the government data. Kulbhushan Jadhav The 40-day period for former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav to appeal against the death sentence handed to him by a Pakistani military court ends on Friday. Pakistan is yet to confirm whether Jadhav, whose execution has been stayed by the (ICJ) pending its final verdict, has approached the appellate court in the country yet. If the appellate court rejects the appeal, Jadhav can lodge a mercy petition (with the army chief) within 60 days of the decision, this is by July 18. If the mercy petition is denied on July 19, he may lodge a mercy petition with the President of Pakistan within 90 days by October 16. Jadhavs case received a boost on Thursday when the ICJ sided with India and ordered Pakistan to stay the execution till proceedings were pending with the world court. It also upheld Indias right to consular access, a request Pakistan has denied as many as 16 times. Pakistan, which announced the sentence on Jadhav on April 10, claims its security forces arrested him from its restive Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran. However, India maintains that he was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Navy. Jadhav's case is the latest flash-point in the tensions between Pakistan and India. The two countries last faced off at the ICJ 18 years ago when Islamabad sought its intervention over the shooting down of its naval aircraft. Suitors including private equity firms KKR & Co LP, Bain Capital and U.S. chip maker Broadcom Ltd are lining up for Toshiba Corp's semiconductor business, sources familiar with matter said ahead of a deadline for second-round offers on Friday. Broadcom, which has teamed up with private equity firm Silver Lake, and Bain which has partnered with South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix will participate in the second-round, the people said. It was not clear if KKR and its partners would submit their offer by the end of the day. Toshiba, which values its chip unit at at least 2 trillion yen ($18 billion), was forced to put its prized asset on the block this year, after dramatic cost overruns at its now-bankrupt U.S. nuclear unit left it scrambling for cash. Selling the unit is critical for the company's recovery. However much of the sale and its outcome are still uncertain, as Toshiba's business partner, Western Digital Corp, which jointly runs Toshiba's main semiconductor plant and is one of the suitors for the unit, is seeking to block any sale that does not have its consent. KKR is expected one of the most favoured bidders. It is set to join hands with a state-backed fund, the Innovation Network Corp of Japan (INCJ), in an offer of at least 1.8 trillion yen, one person said, adding that the bid could be raised to make it more competitive. The government has made clear that it is prepared to block any sale that could see highly valued chip technology leave the country and the participation of government-backed investors is seen as a key stamp of approval. Sources familiar with the matter said that INCJ and the Development Bank of Japan had separately told Toshiba of their intention to take part in the bidding process although there were no details on what form that participation may take. KKR and INCJ declined to comment. Toshiba also declined to comment. Bain plans to bid around 1.5 trillion yen for a majority stake, two of the sources said, declining to be identified as talks were confidential. Bain's offer will allow Toshiba and the management of the memory chip business to own a sizeable holding in the chips unit, the people said, adding that keeping management in place will help the business grow faster. SK Hynix is not expected to take a leading role in the offer due to anti-trust concerns. A Hong Kong-based representative for Bain declined to comment. SK Hynix says it has decided to bid for Toshiba's memory chip business as part of a consortium, though it did not name the partner or disclose further details. U.S. chipmaker Broadcom and Silver Lake did not immediately rely to requests for comment outside of regular U.S. business hours. Their consortium was the highest bidder in the first round of the auction with an offer of 2.5 trillion yen, a person briefed on the matter said at the time. Taiwan's Foxconn, formally known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd, has also formed a consortium with Japanese partner Sharp Corp to bid in the second round, other people with knowledge of the matter said. Foxconn and Sharp declined to comment. Toshiba is also open to entertaining new bids after the second round closes, a person with knowledge of the matter has said. OPEC Moneycontrol Research Oil markets are interestingly poised ahead of a May 25 meeting of the oil cartel, OPEC. The consensus among OPEC-watchers is that the organisation is likely to extend its production cuts. In November, OPEC members agreed on a production cut of 1.2 million barrels per day. This cut was supported by other non-OPEC producers led by Russia who cut production by another 600,000 barrels a day. However, the 1.8-million barrel per day cut has not solved its dual purpose of higher oil prices and lower inventories. Though there is no authentic source of getting oil inventory data, analysts say that crude oil floating inventory is between 800 million to 1 billion barrel. The price reaction to the November cut is likely to nudge OPEC to continue with its strategy. A Bloomberg poll of oil analysts suggests that 24 of the 25 analysts expect the cuts to continue. The largest OPEC member Saudi Arabia and non-OPEC member Russia have agreed to keep production at present levels, which has found support from some other countries who are participating in the cut. However, over the last few years, the impact of OPEC on the oil market has come down. Its actions do not fetch the kind of responses they used to earlier. The US, a non-OPEC member, is now dictating the direction of the market. The US, from being one of the biggest importers of oil is now an exporter. In fact its oil export is touching new records. At the going rate, exports from the US are likely to average 1 million barrels a day in May which is expected to surpass the average of 1.2 million barrels last seen in February 2017. A Reuters report says that nearly 10 million barrels of US oil is headed towards Asia. US oil production has increased by 10 percent to 9.3 million barrels per day since mid-2016. The rebound in oil prices from their lows in February 2016 of around $26 a barrel led to a pickup in activity in the US. The bear market was a learning experience for the shale oil sector in the US where companies brought their cost of operation substantially lower. Reports say that the cost to drill for shale has fallen by one-third in the last two years. Breakeven level in the sector is now in the range of $43-45 a barrel. With new technology, productivity of existing wells has also doubled since 2014. As a result of these factors, the US oil rig count has doubled in one year, registering the strongest recovery in the US in the last 30 years. This is reflected in a near-record level of production. Analysts estimate that every dollar increase in the oil price between $45 and $55 a barrel results in an additional 1.2 billion barrels that become economical to produce. The fear now is that US production may neutralise the effect of every barrel of oil that is cut by OPEC and other countries. Further, other OPEC nations, which did not participate in the previous cut, like Nigeria and Libya, will be adding more oil in the market and would continue to do so. Data released on Thursday shows that even Saudi Arabia has increased sales in the market by 275,000 barrels a day. The current oil price movement suggests that a production cut would most likely continue, the only contentious part is the time frame. Reports suggests that a time line of 6-9 months is likely to be agreed upon. This however, would not be enough to keep oil prices buoyant given that the US supply taps are open. If the cuts are not adhered to or the quantum reduced, prices can see a sharp drop. The best case scenario for the oil market seems to be a flat outlook for the sector. The chronicle of a life split between urban Manhattan and rural Montana. Education Montgomery County Community College will present the spring installment of the interview/talk show program Issues and Insights April 20 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in Science Center room 214, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The programs will be simulcast to the Colleges West Campus in South Hall room 216, 101 College Drive, Pottstown. Dr. Kolsky will offer a humorous presentation, Carrots, Sticks and Politics: A State of the Nation and the World Message. In this speech, he will provide his interpretation of domestic and international politics and then welcome questions from the audience for discussion. Issues and Insights, is free and open to the public. For information, contact Dr. Thomas Kolsky, professor of political science, at 215-641-6380 or tkolsky@mc3.edu. Montgomery County Community Colleges STEM Scholars Program will host a STEM Jam! open house April 25 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Advanced Technology Center at the Colleges Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The drop-in event is designed for students interested in learning more about careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Activities will include STEM program information and career advising, STEM speakers throughout the day from industry and academia, micro-helicopter and robotics competitive obstacle courses and demonstrations and static models of STEM student and faculty work. For more information about STEM Jam! or STEM programs at MCCC, contact William Brownlowe at wbrownlowe@mc3.edu or 215-641-6644, or Robin Zuhlke at 215-619-7440 or rzuhlke@mc3.edu. Temple Ambler, located at 580 Meetinghouse Road, presents the following events: International Club Global Bazaar April 15 from 5 to 8 p.m. The Ambler Campus International Club invites all students, faculty, staff and the community to celebrate a multitude of diverse cultures, which will be showcased at the organizations Global Bazaar. This family friendly event will highlight cultural traditions and celebrations in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South American, North America and Africa through music, entertainment, food and informative displays developed and presented by students at the Ambler Campus. Young visitors will be provided with passports, which they may get stamped at each country they visit. Prizes will be awarded to world travelers who talk to cultural representatives, answer questions about the countries theyve visited and take part in fun-filled activities designed to help them learn about the rich diversity of cultures found throughout the world. Refreshments will be served. The event is free. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail tuc36466@temple.edu. EarthFest 2011 April 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. More than 75 exhibitors, including the Philadelphia Zoo, The Franklin Institute, the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Elmwood Park Zoo and the Insectarium, will take part in EarthFest 2011. School students of all ages are invited to attend and develop displays of their own. EarthFest partner the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society also offers its Kids Grow Expo, featuring the Junior Flower Show, as part of the event. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail duffyj@temple.edu. Annual Spring Plant Sale May 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The plant sale an Ambler Campus tradition dating back to the early 1900s will feature woody plants and perennials in portable sizes, hardy trees, shrubs, and vines, native plants that are attractive to wildlife, herbs, and hanging baskets. There will also be numerous special plants for sale to highlight Amblers special anniversary year. Garden books and garden tools will also be available for sale. Students, staff, and volunteers from the Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture and the Ambler Arboretum Advisory Committee will be available to answer questions. All proceeds from the Spring Plant Sale will support the Ambler Arboretum Fund and the Pi Alpha Xi National Honor Society. Information: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary. June Homecoming/Louise Bush-Brown Garden Dedication June 5 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. (June Homecoming), Bright Hall Lounge; 2 p.m. (Garden Dedication), Ambler Campus Formal Perennial Gardens. Tickets June Homecoming: Participant $18 per person; Sustainer $25 per person; Benefactor $40 per person. The 2011 June Homecoming, sponsored by the School of Environmental Design Alumni Association, will include the Alumni Association annual meeting and luncheon. June Homecoming will be followed by the formal dedication of Temple University Amblers Formal Perennial Gardens as the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Gardens. During this 100th anniversary of the campus, Temple University Ambler and the Ambler Arboretum of the Temple University is honoring Louise Bush-Browns many contributions to the history of the campus by formally dedicating the gardens in her honor. During the program, campus Executive William Parshall will welcome guests, Ambler Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey will speak about the Bush-Browns and the history of the garden, and an official ribbon cutting will be held for the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Garden. Following the ribbon cutting, guests are invited to take a tour of the gardens, which will wend their way to the Campus Greenhouse for the School of Environmental Designs annual Plant Auction. Information (Garden Dedication): 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Information (June Homecoming): 215-482-0722. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary. Northview Garden Tour and Fundraiser for the Ambler Arboretum June 12 from noon to 5 p.m. Call for reservations. Tickets: $15 per person or $20 at the door. In addition to the gardens of the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University, Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey has a garden oasis all her own right in Ambler Northview. Visitors will have the opportunity to take self-guided tours throughout the many gardens, where garden experts will be available to answer questions about the various designs. The Ambler Keystone Chapter of the Womans National Farm and Garden Association will also provide tea and refreshments. All proceeds from the tours will support the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University. Information or to register: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary. The Senior Adult Activities Center of Montgomery County, 536 George Street, Norristown, will hold the following events: SAAC Adult Day Care, an alternative to Nursing Home Care is available for information call 610-275-1960 Volunteers are needed for Meals on Wheels Program (call the number above) SAACs Fifth Avenue Boutique opens Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Exercise with Theresa will be held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1 p.m. Dance class is held every Monday at 10 a.m. Tai Chi is held every Monday at 10 a.m. Yoga is held every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. Line Dancing is held every Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Dancing with Joan is held every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Sculpture Class is held Wednesdays from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Why Should I Learn Spanish? will be held Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. Generations On-Line computer classes for seniors will be held Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. 4 p.m. computers are available during those hours. Health Living will be held every Tuesday at 1 p.m. Boomer U will hold the following events. Boomer U is located at 45 Forest Avenue, Ambler. Registration & payment is required for all events: 215-619-8863. Pilates Class is held Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. First class is free; please bring a mat. For information call 610-291-5376. Blue Bell School of Dance, 921 Penllyn Blue Bell Pike, Blue Bell, hosts Argentine Tango Classes and a Milonga dance party every Friday evening. Lessons start at 8:30 p.m. followed by dancing at 9:30 p.m. Andrew Conway, master Argentine Tango dancer, instructor and performer and his partner Linda Chase will instruct. All levels welcome and no partner is needed. Refreshments will be served. Fee is $12 per person and includes lesson and dancing. Information: 215-634-1101 or www.amoretango.com. The Montgomery Hospital Medical Center will offer the following classes: Childbirth Education Class- all parents are invited to participate, including those who are delivering at other hospitals. For more information on maternity services or classes, call 610-270-2020. CPR and First Aid Courses are offered for beginners to experiences health care providers. Call 610-270-2313. The Ambler SAAC (Senior Adult Activities Center), located at 45 Forest Ave in Ambler will hold the following events: Tai Chi every Monday and Thursday at 11 a.m. Yoga is every Tuesday at 1 p.m. and Friday at 10:30 a.m. Strength and balance training every Wednesday at 10 a.m. Armchair Aerobics is held every Monday at 10 a.m. Gourmet Weight Wise every Thursday at 12:30. Fitness Center and Pool Room open daily 8 a.m.-4 p.m. The Diabetes Education Center will offer day and evening classes each month. Health insurance pays for diabetes education classes. Preregistration is required. Call 610-270-2301. For Kids & Families The Ambler Kiwanis Club will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt April 26 at 10 a.m. in Ambler Borough Park, located just off of the intersection of Hendricks Street and Valley Brook Road. Members of the Wissahickon Key Club will assist Kiwanians in hiding thousands of wrapped chocolate eggs in a designated area of the park. Also hidden will be plastic colored eggs, which are redeemed for prizes. Elementary school children are separated by age. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation will hold its 21st annual Storybook Egg-Stravaganza April 15 fom 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Upper Dublin Township Building. Toddlers and preschoolers love this annual event where photo opportunities with favorite friends abound! Treasures are collected from UDP&Rs assortment of lifesize cutouts of favorite cartoon characters from Disney, Sesame Street, Nickelodeon and other well-known animation. Children can have their picture taken with Bugsy OHare; bring your own camera. And dont forget a basket for goodies! $7 for UD residents; $12 for non-residents. Pre-register at 215-643-1600 ext. 3443. Splash Week is a free week-long program that teaches children and families basic swimming skills and water safety practices. All YMCA branches will host multiple classes each day from April 11 to 15. For more information, contact the Ambler Area YMCA at 215-628-9950. Healthy Kids Day is April 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The day is filled with fun, engaging and artistic activities that cultivate healthy living as part of the YMCAs larger efforts to help more kids and families become physically active. All activities are free and open to the community. For more information, contact the Ambler YMCA at 215-628-9950. No reservation is required. The Ambler Area YMCA has added several new programs for area youngsters. Classes are held late afternoons or evenings on various weekdays. For more information, visit philaymca.org or call 215-628-9950. Basic Beading: Ages: 10+. Wednesdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. This class will teach you the fundamentals of wiring and stringing along with how color can be used to create unique and vibrant beadwork design. You will create various jewelry including earrings, bracelets, charm pendants and much more! Supplies will be provided. Bringing your own jewelry pliers or tools would be a plus. Messin with the Masters: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. Learn about some of the worlds greatest artists. You will be inspired to create your own Starry Night with oil pastels and tempera paints, a tissue paper painted Monet garden, a Picasso head using scraps of paper, a Georgia OKeeffe clay flower bowl and a Rousseau jungle collage. Super Scientist: Ages: 5-7. Mondays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Well be concocting chemistry experiments such as making slime, mixing potions and having fun with magnet magic. Your budding little scientist will enhance his/her creative thinking and motor skills and to top it off will learn that science can be serious fun. Wacky Junk Art: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 6 to 6:45 p.m. Why throw it away! Instead join us to make household junk into aliens from outer space, wacky specs, crazy hats, body masks or a recycled train. Globe Trotters: Ages: 4-6. Tuesdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Youre never too young to start thinking globally. Each week, we explore a new country through crafts, games, music, stories and even some taste-testing. A perfect introduction to our great big world! Crazy about Crafts: Ages: 5-7, Thursdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Let your childs creative juices flow with our fun arts and crafts projects each week. Fine motor skills and creative thinking skills will be enhanced with this crafty class. Come out and join the Ambler Area YMCAs Teen and Junior Leaders Club. Participants are given the freedom to plan community service projects year round and truly make a difference in the lives of people in need. Those in Teen and Junior Leaders also attend leadership retreats all along the East Coast three times a year and meet other leaders who are doing the same great work in their respective areas. Dont miss out on this inspiring opportunity. Teen Leaders, ages 13-17, meet every Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Junior Leaders, ages 10-12, will begin in the spring and will meet every Monday. For more information, contact Mike Miles, Teen Director, 215- 628-9950 x 1540 or mmiles@philaymca.org. Did you know that the new Ambler Area YMCA holds childrens birthday parties at its site for members and non members as well. The Ambler Y does all the work from start to finish and birthday parties include a personalized cake, ice cream, beverage and paper products. Parties are held on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and include two party hosts to lead activities, set-up, clean-up and assist with serving. You can have a Splash Party for children ages six to 12 in the new zero depth entry pool with water slide and spray fountains. Up to 25 children have exclusive use of the pool area with 30 minutes in the party room. Sports Parties are offered for kids ages four to 12 with age appropriate activities and games, and sports such as floor hockey, soccer, basketball or dodge ball. Children ages three to five years of age will enjoy parties in the Family Active Center with use of the Moon Bounce and organized activities, such as parachute play and songs. For information, 215-628-9950 ext. 1583. Community Events at the Ambler Y: -YAchievers YMCA Achievers is a developmentally based, extracurricular, educational and team mentoring program designed to help students in grades five through 12 prepare for fulfilled livelihoods in college and beyond. Participation is free and all students in this program receive a free YMCA membership. Registration for the 2009 program begins now. You do not need to be a YMCA member to utilize these special services. Call 215-628-9950 to register. Greater Norristown Art Leagues Childrens Weeklong Summer Art Camps will be held at 800 West Germantown Pike in East Norriton, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday throughout the summer. The cost per session is $125 per student for ages 6 and up. Jo Ann Cooksey Bono teaches an introduction to basic drawing skills and techniques from 10 a.m. until the lunch break each day. In the afternoon sessions, Mary Vogel Lozinak involves the students in hands on projects such as collage, papermaking, T-shirt printing, 3D design and sculpy clay. Fridays Graduation Day includes an art show, awards ceremony and reception for parents, siblings, grandparents and friends. All supplies are included. Students provide their own lunch. A refrigerator is available and the building is air-conditioned. This is the 15th year to run this successful program. Both instructors are professional artists with State Police and Child Abuse Clearances. To register, call Jo Ann at 610-279-1008, or register on-line at www.gnal.org. Health Dresher Physical Therapy is hosting an interactive seminar discussing its Golf Assessment Progam April 30 from 10 a.m. to noon at Dresher Physical Therapy, 1075 Virginia Drive, Suite 200, Fort Washington. Physical therapist Chris Miller, certified through the Titleist Performance Institute, will discuss why your body may be the most important piece of golf equipment you invest in and how this can drastically improve your game. $10 in advance; $15 at the door. Call 215-619-4545 to reserve your spot. The Chestnut Hill Center for Enrichment, Center on the Hill and Chestnut Hill Hospital will host a Senior Health and Resource Fair April 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Chestnut Hill Presbyterian Church, 8855 Germantown Ave. The event is free. For more information, call 215-248-0180 or e-mail chseniors@cavtel.net. The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is hosting Help Yourself to Health, a new six-week workshop for older adults with ongoing health conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, heart disease and others. The free workshop will take place at the Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center, 45 Forest Ave. on six Thursdays, May 12 through June 16 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Although there is no charge to participate, registration is required. To register, call 215-619-8863. The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is sponsoring an eight-week program called A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls. Presented by the Montgomery County Health Department, this workshop will be held on Tuesdays, May 3 to June 21 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Ambler Center, 45 Forest Ave. If you pre-register by April 27, the fee is only $5! Registration at the first class is $10. (Checks should be payable to SAAC and will benefit our Meals on Wheels program that serves homebound seniors.) A workbook will be provided and refreshments will be served. Call 215-619-8863 to register or for more information. Fort Washington Wellness Center classes are ongoing. There are several offered during lunch or right after work, for your convenience: Boot Camp from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday; Zumba is MWF from 11 a.m. to noon and Friday at 4 p.m.; there are 25 cycling classes; Ashtanga and Vinyasana Yoga and Pilates; and a group Womens Strength Training class M-F from 10 to 11 a.m. Questions, call Cathy DeMarco at 215-641-1245. Following the success of other local area programs, Impact Sports and Upper Dublin Parks and Recreation are delighted to team up again to offer a spring program for the 2011 season! Upper Dublin area children ages 3-5 years old can attend a Sports Program featuring their favorite sports games; soccer, rugby, hockey, track and field, basketball, and more. The program will start on April 27 and run through June 1. Cost for the program is $85 for the six weeks. The classes will be running 12- 1 p.m.; 1- 2 p.m.; 2- 3 p.m. For more info or to register, call Upper Dublin Township on 215 643 1600 or visit their website a http://www.upperdublin.net. Spring Aquatic Programs UDHS Pool: -Summer is just around the corner Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool can help get you into shape! Programs begin in March; preregistration is required. Shallow Water Aerobics Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 8-8:45 p.m., $40R/$50NR. Adult Swim Instructions Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 7-8 p.m., $50R/$60NR -Open Rec Swims are fun for the whole family! Come out on Fridays from 7-9 p.m. or Saturdays from 1-4 p.m. and enjoy use of the pool and diving area. Fridays are offered through June 17; Saturdays are offered March 12-May 21. -Join a growing group of adult lap swimmers and water walkers. Lanes are set aside evenings and weekends for use; lanes are shared. Monday Thursday from 7:30-9:30 p.m.; Fridays from 7-9 p.m. and Saturdays (March 12-May 21) from 1-4 p.m. -Private Swimming & Diving Lessons for ages 3-adult are offered at the UDHS Pool through a partnership with the Upper Dublin Aquatic Club (UDAC). Visit the UDAC website for more information, www.udac.us, and click the link to UDHS Private Lessons. -Looking for local programs for US Masters Swimming (adults) or Water Polo (all ages)? UDAC and UDSD are working together to develop programs that will be offered at the UDHS Pool. Add your name to Interest Lists by emailing slohoefer@upperdublin.net. emails will be sent about clinics and program start dates. Questions about Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool, group use of the pool or pool rental? Contact Susan Lohoefer, Facility & Community Affairs Manager at slohoefer@upperdublin.net or call 215-643-8800 x8994. SilverSneakers Fitness Program. The Healthyways SilverSneakers Fitness Program is a result-oriented program that enables older adults to take charge of their health. The program is an innovative blend of physical activity, healthy lifestyle and socially oriented programing. Members of the program are eligible for a free YMCA membership, with use of the pool and exercise equipment, along with customized classes designed for older adults who want to improve their strength, flexibility, balance and endurance. If you are a subscriber to Independence Blue Cross (Personal Choice 65 PPO) or Keystone 65 HMO, Bravo Health, or Health Options Programs (HOP), call the Ambler Area YMCA, 215-628-9950 or Hatboro Area YMCA, 215-674-4545. You can also visit www.silversneakers.com. Zumba Fitness offers Zumba dance/fitness classes at Academy of Dance and Music/BBAD Studio located at 1524 DeKalb Pike in Blue Bell (behind Sherwin Williams). Classes are offered three times a week: Tuesdays at 6 p.m., Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. For a free trial pass for your first class, email us at info@danceandmusic.biz or call 610-277-2557. For more info, visit our site at www.academyofdanceandmusic.org. Chestnut Hill Health Systems presents the following Health Education Programs: FITNESS CLASSES Golden Yoga: A Breathing, Stretching and Relaxation Class. Fridays, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Lea Auditorium, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. Registration for four classes at a time required. Golden Yoga is Classical Yoga, adapted by the SKY Foundation, to accommodate those who have difficulty getting up and down from the floor. The program includes postures, breathing, relaxation and meditation techniques, all performed while sitting in a chair and standing. Registration required. Call 215-247-3029. Cost: $20 for 4 classes per month. Tai Chi: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:30 9:30 a.m. Springfield Residence, 8601 Stenton Ave. Classes, for the novice or beginner/intermediate student, are designed to improve balance, power, posture, coordination, flexibility and mental focus. Slow, gentle movements are modified to most everyones abilities. For more information or to sign up for a free introductory class, call 215-882-2804. Cost: $8 per class/paid monthly. SUPPORT GROUPS Weight Loss Surgery Support Group: Fourth Wednesday of the month, 7-8 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. Join us for a monthly get-together where well share information for those interested in weight loss surgery, learn from guest speakers discussing current news on issues including lifestyle modification, nutrition and exercise and provide ongoing support for those who have completed surgery. Registration required. Call 215-753-2000. Breast Cancer Networking Group: Fourth Tuesday of the month 5:30 7 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. A free, confidential support group for women living with a diagnosis of breast cancer designed to provide a forum for sharing information, feelings and concerns associated with breast cancer. Facilitated by Tish Wakefield, LCSW, Oncology Social Worker. Registration required. To register or for more information, call 215-248-8047. New Moms Support Groups Tuesdays 10:30 a.m. 12 p.m.; contact Jeanine ORourke, MSW or 2:30 4 p.m.; contact Susan Schack, Ph.D Volunteer Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. The Center for Postpartum Depression at Chestnut Hill Hospital is pleased to offer two new support groups to support new moms. Both groups will be run by experienced mental health professionals who really get it when it comes to new motherhood and juggling relationships, extended family, work/family balance and self-care. If you are experiencing new mom challenges that often heighten anxiety and involve hormonally driven depression, join us for an informative and supportive forum to connect with other moms. Infants are welcome. $30 per session (flexible based on need). Registration is required. Call Dr. Schack, 646-265-2484, or Ms. ORourke, 215-206-2931. Man to Man Prostate Cancer Support Group Third Thursday of the month 8-9 a.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. A networking group for men diagnosed with prostate cancer designed to provide education, support and encouragement. Spouses and partners welcome. Harry M. Baer, MD, Chief, Urology Division, will host Ask the Doctor. Registration required. Call 215-248-8325. Contact the Senior Center by phone 215-248-0180 or email (chseniors@cavtel.net) with your questions about these programs or any of our on-going activities and classes. Holy Redeemer HomeCare and Hospice seeks compassionate and emotionally mature volunteers to provide support to local hospice patients and their families in Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. Volunteers may also assist with pet therapy and administrative work within the hospice department and are requested to have daytime availability. Hospice patient care volunteers visit with patients in their homes or nursing facilities once a week for two to three hours. They provide emotional support and companionship to patients and family members, assist with errands or provide respite for caregivers. Bereavement volunteers support the families of hospice patients following the loss of a loved one, while administrative volunteers assist with typing, mailings and/or filing. Hospice care workers provide a great service to families and loved ones of hospice patients. Many volunteers also report a great deal of personal satisfaction as a result of their services. Patient care and bereavement volunteers complete an application and attend an 18-hour volunteer training program that covers the medical, psychological and spiritual aspects of hospice volunteering. Day and evening training programs are offered. To sign up for volunteer opportunities in Pennsylvania, contact Holy Redeemer Volunteer Coordinator Jean Francis at 215-698-3737 or email jfrancis@holyredeemer.com. Librarytalk Upper Dublin Public Library, 805 Loch Alsh Avenue, Ft. Washington, 215-628-8744 www.upperdublinlibrary.org APRIL CHILDRENS PROGRAMS: Storytimes: Please register in the library. o Wee Ones: 0 to 23 months Thursdays and Fridays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. o Tiny Tots: age 2. Wednesdays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. and Fridays 11 to 11:20 a.m. o Jr. Book Lovers: ages 3 to 6. Tuesdays 10:30 to 11 a.m. o Bedtime Storytimes: 7 to 7:30 p.m. April 20 and 27. Wear your jammies, bring your teddy & hear Miss Barbara read bedtime stories! For ages 3 to 6. APRIL TEEN PROGRAMS: North Hills Library Teens April 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. Movie Matinee APRIL UDPL ADULT PROGRAMS: NEW! ESL Conversation Group. Tuesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. Interested in practicing your English in a safe and caring environment? Come to our conversation group and improve your skills! Please register with Kay Klocko at 215-628-8744 or kklocko@mclinc.org. One-on-One Computer Mentoring. Get personalized assistance from experienced computer volunteers! Sign-up for a one-hour session. Limit one session per month. Please register contact info above. Book Groups Please register with Kay Klocko 215-628-8744. o Daytimers: April 21 at 1:30 p.m. Tired of book groups where you all read the same book? Read any fiction or non-fiction book on this months theme: Explorers. Please register. Meetings: Annual Meeting of the Friends of UDPL: April 14 at 1 p.m. Board of Directors: April 20 at 7 p.m. Blue Bell Library www.wvpl.org Upcoming Events: The Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 650 Skippack Pike (Route 73) in Blue Bell, is diagonally across from the Blue Bell Inn. Call 215-643-1320 or visit their website at www.wvpl.org. For children and teens at Blue Bell: * Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian. * Mondays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages. * Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages. * Fridays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages. * Family Movies, new releases, second Saturdays of the month at 1:30 p.m. * May 14 Despicable Me * June 11 Alpha and Omega * Special Events * April watch for date of spring/Easter events * April 14 at 4:30 p.m. Junior Lego Club for children ages 3 through 5. Parents and caregivers need to stay with children. * April 14 at 7 p.m. Jeopardy for ages 11 to 18. Test your book and library knowledge for prizes. Sign up to be a contestant. No sign up to be in the audience. Snacks provided. * April 16 at 1 p.m. Adult Mystery Book Group discussing The Beekeepers Apprentice by Laurie King. * April 16 at 1:30 p.m. Childrens event for One Book, Every Young Child celebration. Story and craft for book Whose Shoes? * April 19 at 7 p.m. and April 26 at 1:30 p.m.- Adult book group discusses The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester. Group led by Adam Button. * April 30 through May 3 Friends book sale with about 10,000 items for sale for children, teens and adults. * May sign up for Science in the Summer * June sign up for Enrichment Programs for Elementary-Age children * June sign up for Summer Reading, all ages For adults at Blue Bell: * Daytime Book Discussion Group fourth Tuesday, Jan April at 1:30 p.m. * April 26 The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester * Night-time Book Discussion Group third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. o April 19 The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester * Art Series with Dr. Sheldon Weintraub, docent at The Barnes and speaker at local colleges o April 27 at 2 p.m. The Art of Looking at Art-Is She Nude or Is She Naked? *Mystery Book Discussion Group, third Saturday of the month at 1 p.m.; new mystery theme each month; www.wvpl.org/programs * Yoga on Mondays at 1:30 p.m. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop-in class. * Tai Chi on Mondays at 3 p.m. with Dr. Kurt Findeisen. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop in class. * Philadelphia Museum of Art presents class on their Marc Chagall exhibit, April 13 at 2 p.m. * Giant Book Sale, April 29 May 3 o Starts with almost 10,000 items for children and adults! o Held during library hours. o Preview for members of the Friends of the Library, April 28 at 7 p.m. o Join the Friends and attend the preview sale. Modest fee to join. * Blooms at Blue Bell Gardening Series o May 11 at 1 p.m. Summer Bulbs by PA Horticultural Society * Knitting group Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Work on your project or observe and learn. The groups continue year-round in the community room. * Socrates Cafe discussion group every Monday at 7 p.m. You pick the topic to discuss each week. No sign-up, nothing to read. * Bridge every Friday at 12:30 p.m. New players welcome. * Mah Jong every Wednesday at 1 p.m. New players welcome. *Chess every Wednesday at 7p.m. for adults and teens 14 and older. * Movie Matinee showing recent releases every Thursday at 2 p.m. April 14: Maos Last Dancer; April 21: Welcome to the Rileys; April 28: Conviction; May 5: Inception; May 12: Inside Job; May 19 The Kings Speech; May 26 The Fighter; June 2 Rabbit Hole; June 9 Black Swan; June 16 127 Hours * Ongoing like-new, year-round book sale for adults & children during library hours * Library opening at 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday! Ambler Library, a branch of the Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 209 Race St., 215-646-1072. www.wvpl.org. All the following events occur at the Ambler Library. * Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian. * Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages. * Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages. * For adults: * Beading Group meets the first and third Monday of every month at 1 p.m. Work on your own projects or come to watch and learn. * Free Family History Lookup with Connie Briggs. Email Connie for an appointment at the Ambler Library. conniebriggs@comcast.net * Special Events: * April 14 at 1:30 p.m. Book Group discusses Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian. * April 19 at 7 p.m. Travel to Paris with world traveler Harry Balin. Tea and scones at 6:30 p.m. * April 21 at 7 p.m. Art with Sara for children in fourth through seventh grades. *May 2 at 6:30 p.m. Discuss the movie Lone Star with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time. *May 10 Robert Capucci discusses Art into Fashion. Tea and scones served at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m. *May 12 at 1:30p.m. Book Group discusses The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman. *May 17 Tour the gardens of Devon and Southwest England with Lois McMullen. Tea and Scones at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m. *June 13 at 6:30 p.m. Discuss the movie Blade Runner with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time. Meetings and Lectures The Unisys Blue Bell Retiree Group will meet in the Church on the Mall in the Plymouth Meeting Mall April 14 at 1:30 p.m. Kathy Sacket Young, director/trainer with the North Penn YMCA, will speak on Keeping Fit in Retirement. For more information, contact Membership Committee Chairperson Jerry Feldscher at 610-275-3538 or President Al Rollin at 215-368-4833. The next FWBA meeting will be April 28 at the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m.; meeting from noon to 1 p.m. Leon Singletary, Principal, First Contact HR and FWBA Executive Board, will present: Social Media: How to Use It To Get More Business. Lunch is provided courtesy of the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Members are welcome to bring a guest. An RSVP is requested by return email or 215-628-0313. Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern PA is hosting a information sessions over the next few weeks on how to become a Big Brother. The information sessions will take place: April 16 at noon, April 19 at 8 a.m. and April 28 at 6 p.m. All sessions will be held at the groups Norristown Office,t 530 DeKalb St., Norristown. For more information, call 610-277-2200. The North Penn Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) normally meets on the third Tuesday of each month from now until May. Meetings are held at the William Penn Inn on Route 202 and Sumneytown Pike, Upper Gwynedd, PA. Social hour starts at 5:30 p.m., dinner is served at 6:30 p.m., and the technical program begins at 7 p.m. Cost with reservation is $28 for members. Members without reservations and guests pay $30. Students with reservations pay $15. Reservations may be made by noon on the Monday preceding the meeting by phoning 215-371-1854 or emailing the reservation to northpennima@yahoo.com northpennima@yahoo.com. Information about the North Penn Chapter is available at http://northpenn.imanet.org/. LeTip, a professional organization of men and women who are dedicated to the highest standards of competence and service meets every Tuesday at Cedar Brook Country Club, 180 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell at 7 a.m. -meeting officially starts at 7:16 a.m. and ends at 8:31 a.m. Our purpose is the exchange of business tips, leads, and referrals. Each business category is represented by one member and conflicts of interest are disallowed. Guests are welcome to visit any of our breakfast meetings. Every third Thursday of month, Sunrise Assisted Living of Blue Bell (795 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422, 215-619-2777) serves as a satellite site to 148th Legislative district PA congressman Mike Gerber from 10 a.m. to noon. Stop by for help needed with things such as disability placards and license plates, vehicle registration, utilities issues, birth/death certificates,property tax/rent rebates, etc. Notary services arranged by appointment. The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce is an action-oriented organization dedicated to promoting its members and the economic health of eastern Montgomery county. The Chamber is committed to serving as a catalyst by uniting business, community agencies, government and education to make our county a great place to live and work. For information, call 215-887-5122 or visit www.emccc.org. Do you have a fear of public speaking? Blue Bell Toastmasters Club can help. We meet from 7 to 9 p.m., on the second and fourth Tuesday at the Marriott Courtyard, located on Route 202, directly across from the Montgomeryville Mall. Learn how to improve communication and leadership skills in a friendly and supportive environment. Guests are welcome. Admission fee: $5. For more info, visit www.bbtoast.org. The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will hold the following meetings (for reservations to any of the following, email info@PennSuburban.org) -Breakfast News Network, 7:30-8:45 a.m. at Normandy Farm Hotel (1401 Morris Road, Blue Bell, PA 19422) $15 members, includes full buffet breakfast. Join us for a networking program at Normandy Farm Hotel every Thursday morning for breakfast, business news, informative speakers, and plenty of networking. The cost includes a full breakfast buffet. Copies of the business cards will be made available to those who would like them. The BNI, Fort Washington Chapter meets every Monday at The Hilton Garden Inn, 520 Pennsylvania Ave., Fort Washington for a networking meeting. Meetings are from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Visitors are welcome. The only cost to attend is the cost of your meal. For information or a reservation to attend, please call Luanne Cram at 215-947-7784, or visit our Internet site at: http://www.BNIDVR.Com and click on the menu item Find a Chapter. For the past seven years, people have enjoyed participating in WVWAs Adopt-a-Tree program. Individuals can support the Association in its reforestation efforts by purchasing native trees to be planted. Supporters can plant their adopted tree or have WVWA volunteers will plant it. Trees cost $30 each. If you would like to volunteer or purchase a tree(s), please contact: Bob Adams at Bob@wvwa.org or call: 215-646-8866 for more information. Check www.WVWA.org for directions and maps. Sustainable Upper Dublin, http://sustainableupperdublin.org, meets the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m., at the Upper Dublin Township Building, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington, PA 19034. Please send any questions to suec@sustainableupperdublin.org or call 610-996-6316. To learn more about Sustainable Upper Dublin, view or join the discussion at http://googlegroups.com/group/sustainableupperdublin. Special Events The Mattie N. Dixon Community Cupboard will hold its first nutrition class April 19 at 10 a.m. at the Community Cupboard, 150 N. Main St., Ambler. Lynne Sinclair, a nutritionist from Abington Memorial Hospital specializing in diabetic nutrition, will conduct the class. Topics will include healthy eating, beneficial foods, recipes, making meals with every day foods, and how to use unfamiliar produce. A healthy snack will be provided.The class is is open to all residents in Montgomery County. The Historical Society of Fort Washington presents The History of Conshohocken April 19 at 8 p.m. at the Clifton House, 473 Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington. Jack Coll will present an illustrated program on the history of the Borough of Conshohocken. Coll is a longtime resident of Conshohocken and a member of the Conshohocken Historical Society. He is co-author with his son, Brian, of the Arcadia Then and Now Series book Conshohocken. He has also done books Conshohocken and West Conshohocken Sports and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Italian Feast. He has taken many photos for the Conshohocken Record and the Norristown Times Herald. This program is free. Refreshments will be served. For additional information, call 215-646-6065. Taste of the White House Soiree featuring former White House Chef Walter Scheib will take place April 29 at 6 p.m. at Manufacturers Golf & Country Club in Fort Washington to celebrate HealthLinks 10th anniversary and honor its founders, the Eugene Jackson Family. The evening will heat up with a Chef Meet & Greet, followed by a specially selected presidential menu. Gala tickets are $150 per person. Proceeds benefit HealthLink, a free clinic providing compassionate, quality medical and dental care to uninsured, working adults in Bucks and Montgomery counties who fall in between the health care cracks. Go to http://tasteofthewhitehouse.charityhappenings.org to make reservations online or lend support through sponsorship. For event information, call 267-699-0124 or email jmarushak@healthlinkmedical.org. The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association will hold an open house at the Evans-Mumbower Mill April 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. The Mill is at the corner of Swedesford and Township Line Roads in Upper Gwynedd. The open house is free but donations are welcome. For more information, call 215-646-8866 o email info@wvwa.org. The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce will host Breakfast With Your County Commissioners and State Representatives April 21 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Fort Washington, 432 W. Pennasylvania Ave. Commissioners: James R. Matthews (Chairman), Joseph M. Hoeffel (Vice Chair), State Representatives: Todd Stephens (District 151) and Josh Shapiro (District 153). Register onlineat www.emccc.org. $10 for EMCCC member; $20 for non-members. Upper Dublins Districtwide Allied Art Show will be held April 27 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. in the Upper Dublin High School Athletic Complex. The Rev. Alfred Muli, chaplain at Fort Washington Estates, will be the featured speaker at the Kiwanis sponsored breakfast observing the National Day of Prayer May 5 at 7 a.m. at the William Penn Inn. The breakfast is open to the public ($15). Reservations can be made by calling 215-646-4356 or by emailing georgesaurman@Juno.com. The Upper Dublin Shade Tree Commission invites people to participate in its spring bare root planting events, sponsored in part by Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Friends of Robbins Park. On April 9, zix trees will be planted at the Evelyn B. Wright Park & Community Pool, 401 Logan Ave., North Hills, at 9 a.m., followed by the planting of 10 trees at Sheeleigh Park, Loch Alsh Avenue and Douglas Street, Ambler, at 10:15 a.m. On April 29, students from Upper Dublin High School will join the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to plant 16 trees in Robbins Park, Butler Pike and Meetinghouse Road, Ambler, to help launch the societys Million Trees campaign. This event will occur in conjunction with Temple Amblers EarthFest. Experienced tree-tenders are sought to assist the students. For more information,contact Ron Ayres at 215-653-0421 or 215-483-4348. The Friends of the Wissahickon and the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association are teaming up once again to clean the Wissahickon Creek from top to bottom April 30 from 9 a.m. to noon. This spring marks the 41st anniversary of Wissahickon Valley Watershed Associations annual Creek Clean Up, and the second year that FOW has teamed up with WVWA. Volunteers of all ages will clean the creek, the surrounding trails and the many tributaries of the Wissahickon Creek. Armed with bags, volunteers will be assigned to sections of the creek. Following the clean up, all volunteers are invited to WVWAs Talkin Trash picnic in Fort Washington State Park, with food provided by Whole Foods Market of North Wales. The pavilion is located on Mill Road in Flourtown. To help out in Montgomery County, all volunteers must be pre-assigned a section of the Wissahickon Creek to clean. Please contact Bob Adams, WVWA director of stewardship, at 215-646-8866 ext. 14 or bob@wvwa.org. To work with the Friends of the Wissahickon in Philadelphia, meet at the pavilion along Forbidden Drive, a short distance south of the intersection of Forbidden Drive and Northwestern Avenue. Limited parking is available along Northwestern Avenue and other nearby streets. Volunteers are encouraged to bike or carpool to the event. To participate, register at www.fow.org. Contact Kevin Groves with questions at 215-247-0417 ext. 105 or groves@fow.org. Montgomery County Community Colleges International Club invites the community to the second annual International Festival April 20 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The rain date is April 26. The International Club will transform the outside quad area into multicultural celebration with various performances by dancers, singers and musicians. Artists will share their artwork at various display tables. Activities include games, raffles, Easter egg decorating and henna tattoos. Students will have samples of international cuisine at tables representing different countries and will serve food from various local ethnic restaurants. Throughout the evening, volunteers will accept donations and will raffle gift baskets and prizes to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity. Donations of food, international clothes and prizes are needed. Volunteers, including artists and performers, are welcome. For more information or to sponsor an activity, contact Gillian Nel, International Club president, at gnel9277@students.mc3.edu or 267-974-0163. The Arts and Humanities Division at Montgomery County Community College is partnering with the Philadelphia Writers Conference to host Memoirs Matter: How Life Stories (Including Yours) Can Transform Your Relationship to Literature April 23 from 1 to 3 p.m. in Advanced Technology Center room 101, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The event is free and open to the public. In the first part of this two-hour seminar, professor and author Robert Waxler will explain how writing his two memoirs affected his life as well as his relationship to literature. In the second part, blogger and workshop leader Jerry Waxler will present a sequence of steps to help writers find their own story. For information, contact Dana Resente at dresente@mc3.edu. The Maple Glen Garden Club will hold its fourth annual Plant Sale on May 7 from 8 to 11 a.m. Perennials, shrubs, vegetables and native plants grown by the club members will be sold. The club uses the plant sale proceeds to fund community projects, a college scholarship and community plantings. The sale will be held in the 500 block of Coach Road, Horsham, as part of a neighborhood garage sale. Plants will be sold at bargain prices. For more information, email MapleGlenGardenClub@gmail.com. The Relay for Life Craft Show is looking for local crafters to participate in show, which will be May 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Wissahickon High School track, 521 Houston Road, Ambler. There is a $10 entry fee, and 20 percent of sales are donated to the American Cancer Society. Participants will receive a 6-foot table under a tent. For information, contact Joanne at joannescoles@comcast.net or Mindy at mcamsilver@comcast.net. Spring House Estates is hosting its annual book fair on April 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. and April 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Included will be hardback and paperback used books. Spring House Estates is located at 728 Norristown Road, Lower Gwynedd. The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will present the Penn Suburban/Hatfield Joint Business Card Exchange April 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Univest Bank Lansdale Area Financial Service Center, 120 Forty Foot Road, Hatfield. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. Join Univest National Bank and Trust Co. for a spring-inspired Business Card Exchange at its newest office in the Hatfield Pointe Shopping Center. Come out and meet members of Univests executive management team while enjoying fine food and beverages. 13th Annual Community Reading Day Kick-off Breakfast Get Together April 26 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the North Wales Area Library, 233 Swartley St., North Wales. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. For more information, contact the chamber office at 215-362-9200 or info@pennsuburban.org. Join presenting sponsor Verizon, chamber staff and fellow members for the Community Reading Day volunteer get together. The Community Reading Day program allows volunteers to read a designated book to second-grade students throughout 38 area public and private schools and present the book as a gift to each class. Even if you are not a volunteer, you are cordially invited to stop by to network, enjoy coffee and pastries. Ambler Mennonite Church is hosting a Spring Craft Show and Flea Market May 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Rain date will be May 28. The community is invited to shop the great craft booths, find some gifts and deals, as well as enjoy home baked goods and tasty lunch specials. Childrens activities are planned. All vendors are encouraged to contact the church at 215-643-4876 or AmblerMennonite@verizon.net. Advertising, signage, customer parking and a shuttle to auxiliary parking at nearby lots for vendors will be provided. 10 foot by 10 foot spaces can be rented for $5 each and tables for an additional $5 each. All proceeds from space and table rentals go toward school kits for children around the world. The church is located at the corner of East Mt. Pleasant Avenue and North Spring Garden Street, Ambler. The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association presents The Life & Times of Aquatic Insects in the Wissahickon Creek April 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. Join WVWA for a hands-on program. RSVP required: www.wvwa.org or 215-646-8866. WVWA member fee: $5 per person / $15 per family. Non-WVWA member fee: $10 per person / $20 per family. The photography exhibition Natures Palette by photo-artist Judy Miller will run March 18 to May 19 at the Art in the Storefront gallery, 41 E. Butler Pike, Ambler. JPRN Networking For People in Transition & People Who Can Help Them Unemployment remains high. JPRN, the Jarrettown Professional Relationship Network can help. Are you trying to network your way to a new job? Do you have expertise or contacts that can help people in transition? Is your company or organization looking for people in the area? This is a free outreach program to support those seeking work, involve people with contacts and networking know how, and involve local companies. Meetings held monthly at Jarrettown United Methodist Church, Limekiln Pike. Pennsylvanias Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) grant program is now open for the 2010-11 heating season. Grants are based on income, family size, type of heating fuel and region. Additional information, such as specific income limits, and applications for LIHEAP grants are available online via the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Services (COMPASS) website at www.compass.state.pa.us. Applications are available at most public officals district offices, county assistance offices, local utility companies and community service agencies, such as Area Agencies on Aging or community action agencies. Begin your holiday shopping at Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation! Entertainment books for 2011, Philadelphia North, are now on sale at $30 each. Regal/United Artists movie tickets are on sale for just $7.50 each, and tickets to the Adventure Aquarium, Baltimore Aquarium, and the Philadelphia Zoo are also available. Discounted ski vouchers to area mountains will be arriving in December; call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. RSVP of Montgomery County and the Wissahickon Valley Public Library have partnered again to offer the public their popular free mock interview sessions. The mock interviews are conducted by RSVP volunteers who are retired professionals, some of whom were in hiring positions themselves. Packets of information which include a sample employment application and interviewing tips with mock interview questions are available at the library to pick up prior to a scheduled mock interview or will be sent via email once the interview is scheduled. To schedule your interview, please contact Janis Glusman at RSVP 610-834-1040, ext. 16. The library is also offering a free resume review service. Bring in your current resume and the professional reference staff will assist you with hints and tips on capturing your work history accurately. Registration for Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation summer playgrounds, Camp B.I.G. and Small Folks, X-Zone, and sports camps has began. Register online at www.upperdublin.net/store, or at the UDP&R office, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington. Call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Danielles Espresso Cafe presents Mornings at Mondaug Bark Park April 16 and May 21 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Meet fellow dog lovers. These events include complimentary coffee, treats for people and pups and raffles/giveaways. Upper Dublins Annual Spring Flea Market will be held June 4 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Reserve a table, or come and shop. Tables are $15 for UD residents, $20 for non-residents. This successful event occurs rain or shine. Refreshments available. Call 215-643-1600 ext. 3443 to register for a table. Regal movie tickets available for purchase at Upper Dublin Township Parks & Recreation. Reduced rate: $7.50 per ticket. Some restrictions apply. Call 215-643-1600 x3443. Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation movie tickets $7.50 Regal Cinemas, United Artist & Edwards Cinemas on sale throughout the year Monday Friday from 9 a.m. 4 p.m. Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation Camp Sign-ups for Stony Creek Day Camp Stony Creek Tracers and Park n Tots. Register on-line at www.whitpaintownship.org OrCome to Township Building with check or Visa MasterCard Monday Friday from 9 a.m. 4 p.m. For additional information call 610.277-2400 ext. 374 Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation offers exciting new programs for the fall: -Returning favorites include UK Elite Petite Soccer, Tiny Dancers, Kiddie Tennis, Fun-nastics, Messy Playtime, Little Chefs, and more. Babysitters Training will be offered in November and December. Continuing Adult Fitness Classes include Cardio Circuit, Core & More, Yoga, Boxing, and Adult G.Y.M. For more information call 215-643-1600 x3443. Register for programs online at www.upperdublin.net/store. Music and Theater The community is invited to a Cantors Concert April 16 at 8 p.m. Congregation Beth Or, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen. Listen and hum-along to the Yiddish, pop tunes and classical music performed by Congregation Beth Ors own Cantor David Green and his special guest, Cantor Irvin Bell, from Temple Beth Israel in Deerfield Beach, Fla. The cantors will be accompanied by Mark Sobol and his Klezmer musicians. Tickets are $18 in advance and $25 at the door. RSVP with payment to Barb Murtha, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen, PA 19002, or call 215-646-5806 ext. 220. Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse will host the Jameson Sisters May 14. Doors open at 7:30 pm, performance at 8:00 pm. Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse is located at the corner of Rte. 202 & Sumneytown Pike, Gwynedd. $5 suggested donation. Light refreshment available at a modest cost. For further information, call 215-393-9576 or visit gwyneddmeeting.org/coffeehouse.html. Celebrate patriotism through song with Gwynedd-Mercy Colleges choir, the Voices of Gwynedd, as it presents Hear America Singing April 15 at 8 p.m. The choir will perform song selections from all over the country, including Georgia on My Mind, New York State of Mind, and a medley including Philadelphia Freedom and Allentown. The performance will end with When the Saints Go Marching In to acknowledge the choirs upcoming tour in New Orleans. Hear America Singing will take place in the Julia Ball Auditorium, located in St. Bernard Hall. Parking is available in lots A, C and D. Admission is free. The Choristers will present Anton Dvoraks Stabat Mater April 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Upper Dublin Lutheran Church in Ambler. The choir will be accompanied by a 41-piece orchestra. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens, $10 for students and children are free. Tickets will be sold in advance or at the door. For more information, call 215-542-7871 or visit TheChoristers.org Religious News The Staircase Gallery at Or Hadash: A Reconstructionist Congregation in Fort Washington will feature the work of Emily Ennuat-Lustine. The artist will be showing paintings and graphics inspired by her own personal spiritual journey and quest for meaning. Some of the works to be shown have been inspired by Biblical Psalms and writings. Her work has been shown at Abington Art Center, Cheltenham Arts Center and Old City Gallery of Jewish Art among others. The exhibition is open Friday evenings starting Feb. 18 after Shabbat services. Gallery hours are: Mondays through Thursdays 10-4:30, Fridays 10-3 and following Shabbat Services and Sundays 10-1. The synagogue is located at 190 Camp Hill Road in Fort Washington. For additional information contact the synagogue office at 215-283-0276. Reunions St. Matthews High School Conshohocken Class of 1961 is looking for classmates. For details, contact Greg Marincola at 215-646-2239, 215-740-1296 or gregcola@comcast.net. Olney High School Class of 1971 is Lloking for classmates for a 40th reunion Oct. 28. For details, contact Judy at ohsclassof71@yahoo.com or 215-870-7572. Abington High School Class of 1961 is seeking classmates for a 50-year reunion to be held Oct. 14-15, 2011.Visit the website, www.abington61.com, for details or call 215-947-1779. Overbrook High School class of January 1956 is having a 55 year reunion on May 22, 2011 at the Bala Golf Club in Philadelphia. For information please contact overbrookreunion56@comcast.net Germantown High School Class Of January 1961 is looking for classmates for 50th year reunion to take place in May of 2011. Please contact: 215-362-9148, 856-577-0659 or samdelcomo@comcast.net The June 1961 class of Germantown High School is holding their 50th reunion on May 15, which will be a brunch. For further details please contact Linda Dorfman Alten at lindaalten@yahoo.com or call 215-441-8411. Support New Life Presbyterian Church in Dresher, will host GriefShare, a special seminar and support group which will run on Monday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m., from March 7 through June 6. At each meeting there will be a DVD about the grief process, discussion and reference to a grief workbook. Preregistration is required to secure a place in the group and to purchase a GriefShare notebook (for a one-time fee of $15). The notebook goes along with the 13-week schedule covering such topics as: living with grief, the effects of grief, and stuck in grief. For more information or to register, call: Sandy Elder at 215-884-5149. PUPS (People Understanding Parkinsons) A self-help group for those adjusting to a new diagnosis or dealing with the early stages of Parkinsons Disease. Meets fourth Tuesday of the month from 1 to 2:30 p.m., at Abington Health Center, Schilling Campus, Willowood Building, 2510 Maryland Road, Suite 251, Willow Grove. For more information or to RSVP, contact Lorna at 215-542-2931. The North Penn Visiting Nurse Associations Meals on Wheels program is looking for volunteers to pack or deliver meals to the elderly and infirmed. Meals are packed and delivered mornings, Monday through Friday. You can volunteer for as many days per week or month as you would like. Packaging meals requires approximately 2-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves making sandwiches, packaging food into individual serving containers and packing coolers with the meals. Delivering meals requires approximately 1-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves loading coolers into your car and delivering a route of approximately 10 to 15 stops. The Meals on Wheels program is also in need of emergency, winter-weather volunteers to pack and deliver meals in bad weather. North Penn VNA is located at 51 Medical Campus Drive in Lansdale and delivers meals in the Lansdale, North Wales and Blue Bell areas. For more information or to volunteer, please call Bridget, North Penn VNA Meals on Wheels coordinator at 215-855-8296. Elkins Park Area CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) meets the first Tuesday of every month, 7- 8:30 p.m., at Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital in Elkins Park. For information on CHADD or ADHD, please see our website www.chadd.net/249 or call Claire Noyes at: 215-779-6656. Center for Loss and Bereavement, 3847 Skippack Pike, Skippack (610-222-4110) www.bereavementcenter.org Offers professional counseling for individuals, couples, children and families dealing with issues of loss and bereavement. Six-week adult support groups: Newly forming young adult grief support group every other Wednesday, 7 8:15 p.m. (free of charge); Monthly loss of child support second Mondays, 7-8:15 p.m.; Six-week young loss of spouse/partner Thursdays, 10-11:15 a.m.; Other groups scheduled as interest is shown for suicide loss support, adult loss of parent, motherless daughters, adult loss of sibling, coping with chronic illness and disability and mens loss of spouse. Nellos Corner Family Bereavement program offers peer grief support groups for ages 4 through teen and their caregivers Every other Tuesday or Wednesday (free of charge) Local chapter of Parents of Murdered Children also meets at the Center. Registration required. Call for further information. CHADD is a national organization for children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder, providing education, advocacy and support for individuals and their families with AD/HD. Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital, 60 Township Line Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027, will host children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder on the First Tuesday of each month 7 8:30 p.m. Free, no childcare provided. The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphias Kehillah of Old York Road is sponsoring a free Caregiver Support Group for individuals who care for an elderly person with cognitive and/or physical impairments. The group meets at SarahCare Adult Day Care Center, 101 Washington Lane, Suite G-6, Jenkintown, Pa., on the first Wednesday of each month. Patty Rich, Ex-choir director in Bucks County pleads no contest to molesting two students, secretly filming another Rabbis installation at Keneseth Israel will get a boost of student creativity May 26, 2017 Poor Poet In A Squeeze (Pinned to top May 19 - May 26 2017. Scroll down for new content.) --- Dear friends, this Poor Poet is in a squeeze and needs your support. bigger The second ever MoA donation round last October allowed me to buy a new (used) laptop and some communication gear. It also paid a few accumulated bills. Thank you again to everyone who took part! The Moon of Alabama blog is free, offers information hard to find elsewhere, original thought and unadorned writing. The readership continues to grow. Writing here, and your feed-back, keeps me up and going. But I also need to eat and pay rent; there are unexpected expenditures and little income. Every donation -big or small- is welcome. An institutional sponsorship or recurring contribution would be great. Transaction costs are smallest if you directly mail cash or a check, Or use a bank-wire transfer. Send email to MoonofA @ aol.com (discard the blanks) for the necessary contact data. You can use a credit card when you donate through the PayPal button below. Thank you for your generosity. Bernhard Posted by b on May 26, 2017 at 21:30 UTC | Permalink Comments #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... #football Son Heung-min says ready to play at World Cup with protective mask As he recovers from a recent facial surgery, South Korean football icon Son Heung-min said Wednesday he will play at the upcoming FIFA World Cup with a protective mask. The Tott... A fresh wave of fee cuts from iShares and db X-trackers, Europes largest ETF providers, has prompted Morningstar analysts to upgrade two ETFs. Amongst the cuts was the iShares S&P 500 Dist ETF (IUSA), which slashed its ongoing charge from 0.40% to 0.07%, bringing it into line with its accumulating stablemate the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (CSP1). In response, it has been upgraded from a Bronze to a Gold rating to match our most highly regarded S&P 500 trackers. The previous rating differential reflected the gaping disparity in price between the ETF and its direct peers, most of which charge a fee of less than 0.15%. The long overdue move lifts the fund from being an over-priced outlier to one of the very cheapest and best S&P 500 passive funds available. Elsewhere, db X-trackers has trimmed fees on a string of ETFs, including the MSCI Japan ETF (XMJD), which has dropped its ongoing charge from 0.5% to 0.3%. Previously rated Bronze, this ETF had been penalised as one of the most expensive funds tracking the MSCI Japan index. Following the move, which we expect to boost future returns, we have upgraded the fund from a Bronze to a Silver rating. The news of these upgrades will not come as a surprise to those familiar with Morningstar as a vocal critic of high fees. In numerous studies, we have identified management fees as the best predictor of future fund performance, therefore it is logical that fees play a pivotal role in our analyst ratings methodology. In the highly commoditised and fiercely competitive passive fund market, this role is only further emphasised. Even fee cuts which would be considered as small in the active world, can cause an index tracker to stand-out from its passive peers. Not All Improvements Merit Upgrade This said, not all price changes will result in ratings change. For instance, as part of their recent cuts, iShares also halved the fees on the EURO STOXX 50 EUR Dist ETF (EUE) to 0.16%. Although this fee cut has improved the competitiveness of this fund relative to peers, we still think that the Euro Stoxx 50 strategy does not represent a strong investment proposition and the fund will retain its Neutral rating. Similarly, db x-trackers reduced fees on the db x-trackers MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (XMMD) from 0.65% to 0.49%. While any such move should be applauded, in this case, the cut still leaves the fund charging more than double that of directly comparable rivals such as the Amundi MSCI Emerging Markets ETF [AMEM]. For this reason, the fund retains its Neutral rating. One strength of our holistic approach to rating is that it allows us to absorb new information, determine materiality versus the investment universe and reassign or reaffirm ratings on a case-by-case basis. Emma Wall: Prior to the implementation of the Retail Distribution Review in January 2013, the majority of investors dealt with an adviser, whether it was on a regular basis or to offer periodical advice at key life events. Around 50% of the UK advisers used trail commission to help meet their annual review costs. Trail commission was a percentage fee, typically around 0.5%, paid to advisers and to fund platforms by fund providers. It was taken out of the annual management charge, and so to many investors it was as if they were receiving a free service, or at least it made it very difficult to determine how much you were actually paying for the service. Then the Financial Services Authority, as it was known, launched a review in 2006 to improve professional standards in advice and increase transparency and compel the industry to offer advice for all. It wanted to stop advisers making investment decisions based on potential commission. By the 2013 implementation of the review, this had boiled down to a ban on advisers taking commission and ensuring that anyone advising on pensions and investments took additional qualifications. How was RDR received? Very badly. There was a lot of negativity around the review. I remember talking to both investors and advisers at that time, and many were confused and worried about the changes. Advisers in particular were concerned about how the new business model would affect their profitability, and we did see a demise in the number of smaller firms. There was consolidation at the top as well, in order to reduce costs, through merging back offices and support staff. Some older advisers opted to sell on their book rather than take further qualifications and exams in their 50s and 60s. There were around 40,000 advisors in 2011, and today there are less than 30,000. Some investors were confused by the concept of having to pay for something they had previously thought of as free investment advice. There were also stories of investors with smaller portfolios being dumped by their advisers. They were no longer cost effective or couldn't afford to stump up with the new upfront costs. Now, at that time, a study in 2012 by Allianz Global Investors claimed that anyone with a portfolio of less than 50,000 would not be attractive to adviser firms, and this rule has generally held up, with a recent release from Schroders echoing the view. It is now harder for investors with small portfolios to get advice post-RDR. Many advisers have segmented their advice depending on the size of investor portfolios, meaning that for investors with small portfolios, it's very hard to get bespoke advice. Instead, you are likely to be risk-rated and sold a model portfolio based on that risk rating. Several studies have also shown that the 50,000 rule applies and if you have less than 50,000, you are just not attractive to an adviser business. There's also some difficulty with self-selecting as well, because the smaller your portfolio, the less likely you are going to want to pay an upfront fee, because of course that fee will make up a larger proportion of your assets. It's quite difficult to tell whether there has been an effect on investor returns, partly because we've only had a rising market since RDR. Those investors who have opted for DIY have only seen a rising market and we don't know whether they've DIYed badly. The popularity of ETFs has risen as well as there has been more focus on fees, both in terms of individual investors, DIY investing and professional investors investing on their behalf. There's also been a rise in the number of multi-manager, fund-of-funds and risk-rated outcome fund launches within the industry to meet investor demand post-RDR. Maintaining independence and editorial freedom is essential to our mission of empowering investor success. We provide a platform for our authors to report on investments fairly, accurately, and from the investors point of view. We also respect individual opinionsthey represent the unvarnished thinking of our people and exacting analysis of our research processes. Our authors can publish views that we may or may not agree with, but they show their work, distinguish facts from opinions, and make sure their analysis is clear and in no way misleading or deceptive. To further protect the integrity of our editorial content, we keep a strict separation between our sales teams and authors to remove any pressure or influence on our analyses and research. Read our editorial policy to learn more about our process. Wells and Freddie Team Up; Bank and CU News; What is Chase doing? For me this week included time in Salt Lake City, Columbus, Milwaukee, San Francisco, and Raleigh. (The mood is good as individuals continue to share best practices in an effort to lend to consumers in a compliant and cost-effective way and that isnt easy.) In some parts of the nation all cash buyers rule, whereas in others finding enough of a down payment can be a hurdle. San Francisco has committed to build teacher housing build teacher housing after a press release said that an SF teacher making $65k is unable to afford shelter. M&A, Credit Union, and Bank News Here's something that a non-depository lender can't do. Chase is offering 100,000 credit card reward points for new mortgage customers. And customers under age 35 made up 36% of Chase's mortgage originations in 2016, up from 20% in 2015, a spokeswoman for the bank said. In the builder business, home building, first-quarter deal dollar volume is already approaching the cumulative total of all transactions in 2016! A Bank Director Magazine survey of executives and directors finds the top reasons banks say they would sell their bank are: regulatory costs (54%), shareholder actively seeking liquidity (48%), limited growth opportunities (39%), can't find new talent to replace exiting CEO and/or executives (15%), can't keep pace with new customer expectations (13%) and trouble acquiring new talent on the board (4%). Certainly, depository bank mergers and acquisitions continue. Just in the last week or two several announcements were made. Sandy Spring Bank ($5.1B, MD) will acquire WashingtonFirst Bank ($2.0B, VA) for about $488.9mm in stock (100%). Seacoast National Bank ($4.8B, FL) will acquire Palm Beach Community Bank ($346mm, FL) for about $71.2mm in cash (22%) and stock (78%) or about 1.71x tangible book. The Farmers National Bank of Emlenton ($704mm, PA) will acquire Northern Hancock Bank & Trust Co. ($27mm, WV) for $1.9mm in cash. First Bank ($4.4B, NC) will acquire Asheville Savings Bank ($795mm, NC) for about $175mm in cash (10%) and stock (90%). In Indiana MainSource Bank ($4.1B) will acquire investment management firm Capstone Investment Management. Bank First National ($1.3B, WI) will acquire First National Bank ($479mm, WI) for about $76.3mm in cash (70%) and stock (30%) or about 1.06x tangible book. At the other end of the scale, in only the fifth incidence this year of a bank being closed, regulators closed Guaranty Bank ($1.0B, WI) and sold it under a P&A agreement to First-Citizens Bank & Trust Co ($33.8B, NC). The Financial Times reports Wells Fargo plans to cut costs by $3 billion in addition to the $2 billion it has already announced. Branch closures and cuts in travel, consulting, marketing, and finance are all in the mix. And certainly credit union market share in residential lending continues to grow. Capital Markets Plenty of analysts and traders are talking about the flattening of the yield curve. On the "short end" of the yield curve, where short-term maturities are plotted, the Fed has increased rates and is expected to do so again in June. But even if short term rates head higher, we could still see long term rates not move as much, and have dropped this week, leading to a flatter yield curve. The "flat yield curve" is a yield curve in which there is little difference between short-term and long-term rates for bonds of the same credit quality. This type of yield curve is often seen during transitions between normal and inverted curves. For us novices, an easy way to think of it is if the Fed raises rates and 30-year mortgage rates don't budge. This week the difference between a 2-year note and a 10-year note dropped to .96%, the lowest since October. This drop in the difference, or flattening of the yield curve, indicates waning confidence in the U.S. economic outlook, and is the result of this week's problems at the presidential level. How can President Trump lead Congress in economic changes and an infrastructure build-out when he is mired down in Russian intrigue? And will the Federal Open Market Committee pay attention? That aside, U.S. Treasuries lost some ground Thursday, which means rates slid higher, as the risk appetite changed - but not much. (The 10-year price agency MBS, and the 5-year note all worsened about .125.) If investors want more risk they can turn to buying stocks; if they are risk averse they'll tend toward bonds. It didn't help rates that the Philly Fed number (third-highest reading since 2011) and initial jobless claims (232k) beat expectations. There is no news today, aside from a couple rogue Fed presidents speaking, so it could be a quiet day. We start it with the 10-year yielding 2.24% and agency MBS prices worse a smidge versus last night. Classes, Events, and Webinars National MI has 2 upcoming June 2017 webinar sessions, brought to you by its MI University. June 1st: K1, Ordinary Income, Distributions, which is It? June 15th: Facebook to the max. Explore credit reports and their relationship to credit scoring with Plaza's webinar on May 23rd. On the 24th of May, join a complimentary webinar with Patrick Stone, Chairman and CEO of Williston Financial Group, to discuss: Challenges and Changes Facing Title Agents. "Regulations, compliance, cyber security, Millennial home buyers... it's not hard to find a new hurdle that our industry must clear. String Real Estate Info Services is hosting a complimentary webinar on 5/24 at 2 pm EST. During this hour-long webinar, Mr. Stone, a 45-yr veteran of the title industry, will cover three key areas. Strategic - What changes should a title agent make at the strategic level to address pending changes in market dynamics? Regulatory - Over the past decade, Regulation of our industry has taken center stage. What's in store for the industry going forward and how can a title agent prepare? Economic - How can a title agent prepare for the changes our industry faces in a manner that will maximize opportunities and profitability? On May 23rd, learn about new HUD 2530 rules with MBA's webinar. The NAWRB Nexus Conference Early Bird Special Ends May 31. Register now for its 3-day conference in Costa Mesa. Wells Fargo Funding, in cooperation with Freddie Mac, is hosting in-market, first-time homebuyer/affordable product events in Costa Mesa, California (June 6) and Houston, Texas (June 8). The events run from 8:00-11:30 a.m. in their time zones and are focused on helping lenders gain market share in the affordable/first-time homebuyer space, including details about homebuyer demographics, Freddie Mac's Home Possible and in-depth insight into those specific markets. LOs, sales/production/affordable lending managers, underwriters, and marketing teams should consider attending. Approved and prospective Wells Fargo Funding and Freddie Mac clients are welcome. If interested, contact a member of your regional sales team or send an email to CorrespondentDiverseSegments@wellsfargo.com. Ellie Mae has announced its Encompass Summer Training Series to help Ellie Mae customers' advance proficiencies, improve compliance management, optimize Encompass workflow, improve key business processes and learn best practices. This training will be available in the following cities and dates: Dallas - June 19th and 20th, Irvine, California - June 22nd and 23rd, Washington, D.C. - July 17th and 18th, and Chicago - July 20th and 21st. On July 21st, in Washington DC, join MBA for its Collateral Underwriting Workshop that will help improve your decision-making ability, loan file quality, and increase productivity throughout the processing and underwriting process for conventional and government loans. Save $50 by registering before June 9th. Jobs and Personnel Finance of America Mortgage, LLC, a national, full service mortgage banker offering a diverse portfolio of home loan products seeks to add experienced, producing and non-producing Sales Managers in Southern California. FAM provides both in-branch or corporate-sourced processing, underwriting and closing services as well as outstanding sales management support including CRM tools, sales training and dedicated marketing resources. Finance of America Mortgage is part of the Finance of America family of companies and offers a variety of mortgage products and special programs, a competitive commission plan and employee benefits including medical, dental, vision and 401(K). For more information, contact Robert Goulette, Business Development Leader, SoCal at 800-414-5626. Wisconsin-based Associated Bank has two new opportunities for this Wisconsin based bank. The Director of Mortgage Fulfillment will be responsible for managing the overall mortgage banking operations process including processing, regulatory disclosure team, underwriting and closing, including our ACS (Accenture Credit Services) relationship. In addition, this individual will work closely with our sales leaders to establish and uphold service level agreements to help ensure a positive customer experience. The Director of Consumer Lending will help build out our direct lending model (excludes mortgage), and will manage the centralized sales center, product management, underwriting and processing of consumer loans. In addition, this individual will develop and implement strategies to grow the consumer lending book of business including Home Equity Lines of Credit. To apply, follow the links below. For more information, contact Tracy Hildner. Assurance Financial is rapidly growing! We're looking for talented Branch Managers and Mortgage Loan Officers to help expand our footprint across the U.S. If you're ready to earn more or the same but with less stress, contact our Sales Recruiting Manager, Paul Peters, CMB, at 225-239-7948 or visit LendTheWay.com/Careers. A San Francisco-based multi-product consumer lending financial technology company seeks an experienced senior mortgage processor to join an all-star team of home loan professionals. We run a highly effective on-line Direct to Consumer super-prime client business. If you already know what works - and want an opportunity to change what doesn't - join us in moving home loan finance from painful to delightful. The ideal candidate is accustomed to working with a variety of loan origination systems, can operate independently and can efficiently and compliantly manage our growing loan app pipeline from disclosure through UW. Contact me with confidential resumes for forwarding. LendingQB's LOS platform has received high marks for its vendor satisfaction and customer support in STRATMOR Group's most recent Technology Insights survey report. LendingQB earned an end user effectiveness rating of 93% and exceeded functionality expectations for 22% of its respondents - top marks that surpassed even proprietary systems. Overall, LendingQB achieved a vendor satisfaction score of 96% and the highest marks for user experience among the major LOS providers included in the report. The STRATMOR Group Technology Insights survey findings are based on 266 participants ranging from under $250 million to $10 billion in annual volume. Learn more here. And Pacific Sunbelt Mortgage recently announced outstanding customer satisfaction survey results as it celebrates its first anniversary as a division of Finance of America Mortgage. Since inception in 1985, Pacific Sunbelt Mortgage has been a premier lender within the homebuilder and realtor industry. It services clients in Northern, Central, and Southern California, and the Greater Las Vegas area in Nevada. In non-QM news, sources have said that Ravi Sharma has left Western Asset Management Company to pursue other opportunities. Last year at the Goldman Sachs 2016 Housing conference, Matt Scully at Bloomberg News reported that Western had purchased over $1B in non-QM mortgages. Mr. Sharma was a Portfolio Manager and Research Analyst brought over from PNMAC Capital Management for this role. And private money lender CIVIC Financial Services has hired Merced Cohen, to direct the company's operations as VP of Operations after being at Skyline Financial for ten years at EVP of Ops. Posse saddles up to help children Russell Libby describes his golden palomino horse, Sonny, as the calmest, sweetest guy and his best friend for nearly two decades. Sonny is the reason Libby and his wife, Laura,... Kris Kringle to support library programs The Moorpark Friends of the Library is offering the second annual Letter from Santa fundraiser. For a $25 donation to the Moorpark Friends of the Library, children will receive a... Oakmont welcomes new executive director Ronda Wilkin, certified dementia practitioner and a senior living executive, joins Oakmont of Moorpark with more than three decades of experience in health and human services. During her 15 years... This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Many of Americans planning their summer travel are counting on taking more long-weekend trips than they did last year. The Travelzoo Summer 2017 Travel Trends Survey reveals that Americans are opting for more frequent shorter trips and less week-long vacations. >>Taking a long weekend away? Find some unique Texas road trip inspiration in the gallery above. The study also showed that travelers from the U.S. are even willing to plan a long-weekend trip to go as far away as Europe. Although we're guessing the majority of those respondents might be from the northeast, where a flight to Italy is closer than it is from Texas. "More than 65 percent of respondents would travel to Europe for a weekend if the airfare was $500 or less," the study showed. WHERE TO STOP ALONG THE WAY: Best places to eat on a Texas road trip (updated) "Long weekend trips are in, and the good news is that there are more options now with lower fares to Europe and the increasing availability of last-minute deals," Mike Stitt, Travelzoo's President of North America said. "Even with the ongoing headlines about safety and security, Americans are still eager to get out of town this summer." SWEET GETAWAYS: Romantic travel destinations in Texas Other interesting notes from the survey: - Roughly 40 percent of people traveling more than five hours away swap the car for a plane ride. - Nearly 60 percent of Americans "will travel domestically for their primary vacation this year." - About 85 percent of long-weekend travelers say they hit the road to visit friends and family. - Most travelers don't take advantage of national holidays when planning their shorter trips. - Most Americans who travel for work are adding time before or after their trips for "bleisure" time. "It's a known fact that Americans don't use all of their vacation time. But it's encouraging to see Americans' increasing interest in long weekend trips, whether that means combining business and leisure or a quick jaunt to Europe, Stitt said. "This trend could ultimately mean more trips and more travel experiences overall for American travelers." We are collating signatures to petition ... GET OUR APP Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. Download it here. Two NASA legends will be honored Friday at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Astronauts Ellen Ochoa, Michael Foale will be the latest inductees to hall of fame Ochoa is the first Hispanic woman in space Foale is the first Briton in space Astronauts Ellen Ochoa and Michael Foale will be the latest inductees into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. Ochoa was the first Hispanic woman in space. The Apollo astronauts who went to the moon inspired Ochoa, but back then women were not allowed to become astronauts. That changed of course, and in 1990, she was chosen to become an astronaut, flying on four missions on the space shuttle. Ochoa still works for NASA as the current director of the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Foale was the first Briton to conduct a spacewalk. Foale, who was born in England, but who has dual American citizenship, was selected as an astronaut candidate in 1987. He was a crewmember on five space shuttle missions and one Soyuz mission, specializing in long duration stays on both the Mir and International space stations. He retired from NASA in 2013 and now works to develop green-aviation technology. The ceremony is set to take place at 1 p.m., Friday. Times Square was completely reopened Friday morning after being closed for hours following Thursday deadly car crash. Richard Rojas, 26, faces 26 total charges 18-year-old tourist from Michigan was killed 22 others were injured, including 4 critically RELATED: 1 dead, 22 hurt after car plows into crowd in Times Square The New York Police Department has ruled out terrorism, but there are still plenty of unanswered questions. The driver, 26-year-old Richard Rojas, of the Bronx, is charged with murder, 20 counts of attempted murder and five counts of aggravated vehicular homicide. The crash happened just before noon. Investigators said Rojas was driving south on 7th Avenue and made a U-turn onto the sidewalk as he approached 42nd Street. He allegedly drove on the sidewalk for three-and-a-half blocks to 45th Street and plowed into 23 pedestrians along the way. Rojas then crashed into the metal barriers at 45th Street and exited the vehicle. Witnesses said he was screaming and flailing his arms. Rojas went running through the street before he was subdued by police and bystanders and taken into custody. Rojas initially tested negative for alcohol, but more detailed drug tests were pending, according to two law enforcement officials who were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. The officials said Rojas told officers he had been hearing voices. Officials say he had served in the U.S. Navy but was discharged following disciplinary problems. After his arrest, he told police he was "hearing voices" and expected to die, two law enforcement officials said. Rojas' motivation was unclear, but Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio said there was "no indication that this was an act of terrorism." The AP also reported that Rojas was arrested last week after he pointed a knife at a notary and accused the notary of stealing his identity. Information from the Associated Press was used in this report. AUSTIN -- The Senate Finance Committee on Thursday approved $1.7 billion in spending to reconcile the current fiscal year with appropriations made in 2015. This happens every session; since budgets are passed prospectively, relying on estimates of revenue and costs, they never match actual expenses and earnings in a given biennium. So lawmakers have to look at the gap between the budget approved two years in the past and how much the state actually had to spend, and make up the difference with a supplemental appropriations bill. "This bill protects the most vulnerable among us, our children, it balances our ledger for our current budget and it puts Texas in a strong position to meet the challenges ahead," said Finance Committee Chair and bill sponsor Sen. Jane Nelson of Flower Mound. The biggest cost by far to the supplemental budget this session, as in most, is healthcare. Under the supplemental budget bill, HB 2, the Senate would spend $794 million in state revenue to cover Medicaid costs for the current fiscal year. That's about $150 million less than the House version, but that's due to different methodologies and times at which cost estimates were made, according to Legislative Budget Board Director Ursula Parks. You may receive an appraisal notice from the Hale County Appraisal District. The appraisal district mailed about 7,790 appraisal notices on May 8, 2017. Your city, county, school district and other local taxing units will use the appraisal district's value to set your 2017 property taxes. Under Texas law, county appraisal districts are required to notify property owners about changes in their property's value. The notice contains important information about the property's location, ownership and property tax exemptions that apply to the property. It must also include an estimate of the taxes by local taxing units if your property value increased in the last year. Property owners who disagree with the appraised value of their property, the exemptions or any other action by the appraisal district have the right to appeal to the Hale County Appraisal Review Board (ARB). The ARB is an independent panel of citizens responsible for hearing and settling property owner protests. The notice of appraised value includes instructions on how and when to file a protest, a protest form and the Comptroller's Property Taxpayer Remedies. The deadline for filing a protest with the ARB is 30 days after the appraisal district mailed your notice of appraised value. The Comptroller's publication, Property Taxpayer Remedies, explains in detail how to protest your property appraisal, what issues the ARB can consider and what to expect during a protest hearing. The publication also discusses the options of taking your case to district court, the State Office of Administrative Hearings or binding arbitration if you are dissatisfied with the outcome of your ARB hearing. Property Taxpayer Remedies is available from the Hale County Appraisal District at 302 W. Eighth St., Plainview, Texas. The publication is also available on the Comptroller's Property Tax Assistance Division's website at comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/property-tax/. HARTFORD Senate Democrats Thursday blocked efforts to legalize bear hunting by amending the bill to instead prohibit the import or transport of lions, rhinoceroses, elephants, and lions. Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, told reporters the change, which followed more than two-and-a-half hours of debate spread across two days, was warranted in part because the underlying bill to create a bear hunting season didnt appear to have the votes needed for passage. The amended bill was then referred to the Judiciary Committee, but Senate Republican Leader Len Fasano said the move also effectively killed the legislation all together. Around the same time, the House Thursday engaged in a 90-minute debate about joining a compact that would effectively utilize the popular vote to determine the presidential election winner, only to pull the bill without a vote. House Democratic leaders said that bill also didnt have the votes needed for adoption, but felt it had enough support outside the legislature to warrant debate. Both sets of action come as observers continue to watch how the current power dynamic will affect legislative business, but lawmakers said Thursday shouldnt be seen as a sign of struggle. Politics are played in every chamber every day of the week, Fasano, R-North Haven, said. He noted the Senate approved 42 bills on Wednesday. The vast majority were unanimous, with only eight receiving any opposition and none getting support from less than 26 Senators. The bear bill was the only piece of legislation the Senate took up Thursday, though, and the chamber only approved one bill a ban on conversion therapy for minors the week prior. Duff also said Wednesdays activity shows the Senate is willing to function in a bipartisan manner to move as much legislation as it can. I think that still speaks well for the process, and everybody is settling into and getting used to the 18-18 numbers we have in the Senate, he said. The Senate is tied at 18 members from each party after Republicans picked up three seats in November, forcing the two sides to reach a power sharing agreement just before the session started. House Democrats, meanwhile, hold a slim 79-72 majority, and House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz said the chamber follows a similar agreement whenever attendance results in a tie. Still, he said legislators have long understood the dynamic in the building, and the perception that split power will make the process difficult comes from the outside. The realization is happening more out in the halls and within peoples district than necessarily within this chamber, he said. I think we understood the dynamic when it happened, but Im getting many questions from the outside advocates, constituents, liaisons, the like saying I never thought youd entertain such a subject. Dynamics change, we cant unring the bell from the November election. Prior to the start of Thursdays session, he and House Majority Leader Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, did acknowledge that it can be difficult to run bills expected to run along party-lines without full attendance from their caucus members. They said a string of illnesses, family obligations, and other scheduling conflicts have kept attendance down, something that wasnt a problem when the Democrats held a larger majority. Aresimowicz said he expects to run a few bills that will be some time consumers. Leaders from chambers said they were also negotiating the budget after adjourning mid afternoon. The Senate had been considering a bill that would allow the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to create a bear hunting season, something the agency says will help address a surge in the black bear population in Connecticut. In an effort to garner more support for the bill, Sen. Craig Miner, R-Litchfield, offered an amendment to restrict it to Litchfield County, something Fasano said would have led to passage. Democrats instead offered several amendments that gutted the bill and changed it to ban transport of certain exotic animals. The bill failed at the committee level, and the House has declined to take the issue up in past years. The national popular vote, meanwhile, would have Connecticut join a compact to move away from the electoral college. The compact currently has 11 states that hold a combined 165 electoral votes. Should the compact ever reach 270 electoral votes, the amount needed to win the presidential election, the states have agreed to give their votes to the winner of the popular vote. States currently gives all electoral votes to the highest vote-getter in their state. msavino@record-journal.com 203-317-2266 Twitter: @reporter_savino HARTFORD State lawmakers are considering two bills related to the use of cellphones in schools. One of the bills, passed by the House Wednesday, would set guidelines for when school administrators or teachers are able to confiscate cell phones from students. The bill, which passed 138-7, would allow teachers to confiscate a phone or other electronic device only if they have reasonable suspicion that it contains evidence that a student had violated educational policy or posed a threat to someone else. Teachers would then give the phone to an administrator, who could review only contents related to the suspected behavior. School officials would also be required to report to parents or guardians within 24 hours why the phone was confiscated and who was in possession of it. Rep. Andy Fleischman, D-West Hartford, co-chairman of the Education Committee, said the bill not only sets guidelines that protect students privacy, but clarifies for teachers when they are able to take such action. The Connecticut Education Association supported the bill in testimony submitted earlier this session. Fleischman said the bill is also needed because some children share cellphones with parents or other relatives, and it would prevent school employees from turning suspicions into fishing expeditions. Rep. Sam Belsito, R-Tolland, repeatedly called the legislation a bad bill, saying students should instead be instructed to leave their phones in their lockers or at home. This is a BS bill, and that means a bad solution to a problem, he said. The House unanimously approved a bill earlier this month that would reduce penalties for sexting in some situations for children 12 and under, mirroring changes already made for anyone between the ages of 13 and 17. The bill would make it a class A misdemeanor for minors who send a naked photo of themselves, or to be the knowing recipient of an explicit photo. Advocates say a previous law made the change only for teenagers because there was no concern at the time about anyone 12 or under possessing a cellphone. They say the change is needed, though, to make children eligible for diversionary programs if they are caught engaging in sexting. Without the change, they could be charged with possession of child pornography. The bill only applies when all parents consent to the activity, and wouldnt protect minors who take nude photos of unsuspecting victims. It also doesnt apply to adults engaged in sexting with minors, or to recipient minors who then disseminate images to others. State Rep. Liz Linehan, a Democrat representing Cheshire, Southington and Wallingford, said both bills address the fact that kids are using cell phones to take sexually explicit pictures at younger and younger ages. I think that the best thing that can come out of both of these bills is that parents are going to be made aware of it, and it will start a conversation with their child, she said. Southington police are investigating allegations of inappropriate text messages sent by students at both the towns middle schools, a police spokesman said this week. It wasnt clear if the allegations involved sexually explicit messages. Christina Simms, Southington Youth Services director, said the department held an information session for parents at the library two months ago and discussed the use of cell phones by teenagers and the need for oversight. She urged parents to be vigilant with their childrens cell phone use and to talk to them about the dangers of misusing cell phones and social media. It was a really good conversation, Simms said. It was just a shame more parents didnt attend. Staff writer Jesse Buchanan contributed to this story Matt Rourke /Associated Press The Federal Aviation Administration cant require hobbyists to register their recreational drones and model aircraft, a federal appeals court said Friday, as Congress already barred the agency from implementing such rules. While the decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington left intact FAA guidance on where recreational drones may not fly, the ruling undercuts one of the agencys primary means of ensuring that unmanned aircraft are operated safely. About 745,000 people have signed up since the FAA regulation was enacted in 2015. Bill Montgomery/HC staff Southwest Airlines will add a fourth daily nonstop flight from Hobby Airport to Mexico City starting Oct. 29. And as the airline continues growing its international service from Houston, it has taken to Facebook with some of that Southwest sass. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Maan Singh Khalsa said he used to assume the best in others. But after two Texas men savagely attacked him in Richmond in September leaving him with one less finger, and severe emotional and physical trauma the 42-year-old information-technology specialist now evaluates any stranger as a possible threat to his safety. Khalsa made it though one phase of his trauma Thursday, though, when his attackers admitted to their crimes and were sentenced to three years in state prison each for the hate-crime assault. I have suffered from severe depression, anxiety and PTSD since the attack, Khalsa said in court, reading from a statement before the sentencing of the men who assaulted him. It is difficult for me to go outside now without having pepper spray with me. Now, when I interact with strangers, I am not as open as I used to be I am more likely to view others not as my brothers, but as possible threats to my safety. The attackers, Colton Leblanc, 24, of Winnie, Texas, and Chase Little, 31, of Beaumont, Texas, each pleaded no contest to one count of assault with force causing great bodily injury in Contra Costa County Superior Court in Martinez. The assault carried with it hate-crime enhancements because prosecutors said the men attacked Khalsa because of his religion. Khalsa, who immigrated to California from India in 2003 and has an 8-year-old daughter, is a Sikh and wears a turban over his hair that he keeps unshorn as part of his religion. Neither defendant spoke during the hearing as the two stood attentively behind a glass partition in their yellow jail clothes. Im satisfied with how this was resolved, defense attorney Joseph Tully said after the court hearing. It was in the best interest of everyone involved in this case. The assault began on the night of Sept. 25, when five men in a white pickup truck pulled up next to Khalsa at a stoplight at Blume and Hilltop drives in Richmond, and one of the men inside hurled a half-full beer can at him. Khalsa got out of his car and told the men, You forgot something before throwing the can back at the truck. That apparently set off some of the men inside, who began screaming and cursing at him. Khalsa drove east on Hilltop and called 911, but as he reached another stoplight at the intersection at the Interstate 80 overpass, two men jumped out of the truck and began their assault. The assailants, later identified as Leblanc and Little, punched Khalsa in the face through his open window, yelled profanities and knocked off his turban. Little then pulled out a knife and cut Khalsas hair and stabbed him in the hand. The attackers, who were in town on contract assignments at the Chevron refinery in Richmond, were arrested shortly after the incident. Doctors later had to amputate Khalsas right pinkie, which was badly cut. This is as disturbing a crime as you can be involved in, Contra Costa County deputy district attorney Simon OConnell said after Thursdays hearing. Thankfully, these individuals are being punished and our community can now move on. Khalsa said the attack has greatly affected every facet of my life. He suffered damaged teeth and a black eye, and had cuts and bruises on his face. On top of the physical and emotional toll, he has paid thousands of dollars in medical bills, has had to take time off from his job as an IT specialist for the Social Security Administration, and has cut back on his charity work. It will take me many years, maybe the rest of my life, to heal from this attack, he said. And while Khalsa recovers from the ordeal, he said he takes solace in his Sikh faith and his belief that all of us are one human family. Mr. Little and Mr. Leblanc, I hope that one day you will come to share this view, he said, addressing his attackers in court. I still consider you my brothers, and I hope that you will learn about me and my community, and one day consider me your brother, too. Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A sci-fi thriller by a San Antonio native that was largely shot in the Texas Hill Country and Austin debuts tonight at one of the top film festivals in the country. "Time Trap," which combines time travel, the claustrophobic and creepy feeling of caves and terrifying figures from the past and future, is premiering at the Seattle International Film Festival. "Getting the email from SIFF was a little intimidating," said Mark Dennis, a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin's film program whose last film, "Strings," debuted to critical acclaim. "I knew exactly who they were; Seattle's Film Festival is huge and very well respected in the film scene." Dennis, who attended Thousand Oaks Elementary School in San Antonio before his family moved to Boerne for his high school years, so far has been getting rave reviews for the fresh way he and his directing partner, Ben Foster of Austin, have meshed time-tripping and science fiction in his latest film. In "Time Trap," some curious students and kids venture into the deep caves in a remote part of the state. Their goal, initially anyway, is to locate a favorite archaeology professor who inexplicably has gone missing while searching for the legendary Fountain of Youth. In the course of their pursuit, the group unwittingly rappels into a break in the space-time continuum, where time passes much slower than on the surface. With no hope for rescue, they descend further into the cave and encounter both cave men from prehistoric times and a strange figure from the future. When they uncover mankind's most coveted urban legend, the stunned visitors find themselves in the crossfire for its control. The Hill Country's precious Caverns of Sonora, where much of the movie was shot, are as breathtaking as they are mysterious. "The scope of this movie was what set it apart from anything else we'd done," Dennis wrote in an email. "Strings" was "a big movie when it came to number of locations and the size of the cast," he added. "But 'Time Trap' was a completely different experience. We had four to five actors in every scene and two of them were kids, which meant we couldn't shoot as many hours in the day. "We also spent three-fourths of the shoot in caves; I think there were five total, including our biggest get: the Caverns of Sonora. This movie wouldn't be what it is if they hadn't come through for us to let us shoot there. They're incredibly accommodating people." Dennis expects a wide release of the movie in the fall. Naturally, he looks forward to "Time Trap" opening in the San Antonio area, where his family still lives. jjakle@express-news.net Matthew Busch, For The San Antonio Express-News / For The San Antonio Express-News This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The Alamo Heights area has its roster of venerable restaurants, and therein lies the rub. Venerable. Also known as established, respected and dare I say it? old. Don't get me wrong. These places reach venerable status because they're consistently turning out good food, good drinks and good service. But when was the last time a new kid came in and shook things up? Enter Hanzo, a Japanese, izakaya-style bar with a small menu of tasty snacks that opened today on Broadway. With bites that borrow from other cultures and cocktails that find success in bucking tradition, Hanzo is like the bad-boy teenage flame that you know the Alamo Heights area won't be able to help but fall in love with. Just don't try to change him; it's already pretty darned good. Fast facts: The bar is the latest from serial entrepreneur Steve Mahoney, whose other projects include Blue Box Bar at The Pearl, George's Keep on La Cantera Parkway and Brigid/Francis Bogside, which has been closed since a fire in October. Justin Richardson, who led the kitchen at Francis Bogside, now serves up five different small bites to help soak up some of the wonderfully delicious booze being created by Nick Kenna using ingredients such as jasmine tea, matcha and yuzu wine. On the menu: Cocktails are really the standouts and the focus here. The Tea Kwon Do cocktail ($11) is fabulous and peachy and beachy, with peach sake and jasmine tea. It makes you want to recline by some water and sip the afternoon away. The Thrilla in Vanilla ($12) is boozy, bitter, with just a slight hint of vanilla in the infused sweet vermouth. Shiso Thursty ($11) is a funny name for a tropical cocktail with pineapple-infused rum, sake and falernum. It's not too sweet, balanced by herbal notes. Matcha Matcha Man ($12) is Tea Kwon Do's more sophisticated cousin, with the tropical fun corralled by the green matcha tea. The Bride ($10) sounds crazy on the menu, with turmeric-infused vodka, nigori sake, orgeat, habanero tincture and bitters. It looks crazy, too, a kind of neon yellow from the turmeric. But the flavor is strangely delicate, almond balanced by a mild heat from the habanero. And the Sesame Street ($9) is for the old-fashioned lovers: bourbon blended with plum wine, lemon and toasted sesame honey syrup. It's not sweet, not bitter, just smooth and a bit boozy. The menu labels the food tiny meals, but these are really snacks. Substantial ones, and generously portioned, but snacks. The fried lotus root chips served with a puree of edamame, wasabi, avocado, lime and salt ($9) are like a Japanese version of chips and guacamole, and just as addictive. Squid karaage ($11) is fried strips and rings of squid dusted in potato starch and served with a Kewpie mayonnaise like delicious fishy french fries with an aioli. The pork gyoza ($10.50) are delicious, with the fried dough surrounding savory ground pork on a bed of dipping sauce and shredded cabbage. Hamachi sashimi ($12.50) is gorgeously presented with bright red roe and a honey ginger soy sauce clean, thinly sliced served at the right cool-not-cold temperature. The one miss was the Brussels sprouts kimchi garnished with kaki nuts ($9.50). The sprouts were only halved before being fermented rather than shredded, so they were still raw-dense and hard to bite into. But the flavor and heat of the garlic chile puree was delicious. The menu also has classic cocktails ($9-$12), sake ($5 for shots, $11-$20 by the glass, $10-$58 by the bottle), and a surprisingly wide selection of beer and wine. Side note: Chef Justin Richardson, who led the kitchen at Francis Bogside, said Thursday he hoped the restaurant would reopen in October. When it does, both sections of the space will be folded into one name, Francis Bogside. The space will be opened up a bit, and the two sections will marry together more than before. Location: 7701 Broadway, in the same center as Florio's Pizza and Frederick's. www.hanzobar.com, Facebook: Hanzo. Hours: 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. every day. espicer@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Those who love the spectacle and flavor of teppanyaki should know that one Northwest Side eatery specializing in this style had a bit of a rough time during its latest city inspection. Food not protected from cross contamination, no soap available at sushi bar hand washing sink and dust buildup were a few of the citations that Teppanyaki Grill & Buffet, 6719 N.W. Loop 410, received this week. Even so, Teppanyaki made it through its inspection with an 85. To make the Express-News' list of dirtiest restaurants, an establishment must earn a score of 89 or below or anything less than an "A" during a random city health inspection. A total of 18 restaurants, from La Cantera to the South Side, landed on this weeks dirty list. Violations mentioned in reports include ants throughout the kitchen at Instant Doughnuts at 15171 Judson Road, evidence of insect contamination at Mr. Js Bar-B-Q at 1624 South New Braunfels and baby powder stored near food at Taqueria Aguas Calientes at 15409 White Fawn Drive. Get all the highlights from this week's dirtiest restaurant list in the slideshow above. SEE LAST WEEK'S INSPECTION SCORES: San Antonio restaurant inspections: May 12, 2017 The San Antonio Express-News examines hundreds of restaurant inspections each week conducted by the San Antonio Food and Environmental Health Services division to bring you the eateries with scores of 89 or below. Restaurants are graded on a 100-point system, where "100" is a perfect score, and demerits are based upon the number of violations found during a regular food establishment inspection. There are three categories of demerits and each are assigned a demerit score of 3, 2 or 1 points, according to the health division. Scores and demerits listed are only representative of the state of the restaurant at the time of inspection and are surveyed at random. rsalinas@mysa.com Twitter: @rebeccalsalinas BRIDGEPORT New York Yankee-great turned jazz musician Bernie Williams is among those headlining a benefit for the city schools Turnaround Arts program. The event is set for 7 p.m., June 9 at St. Catherine of Siena Church Hall, 220 Shelton Road in Trumbull. 1 Times Square driver: A man charged with slamming his speeding car into pedestrians on the sidewalks of Times Square, killing a teenage tourist and injuring almost two dozen people, said he wanted to kill them all and police should have shot him to stop him, a prosecutor revealed Friday. Richard Rojas, 26, also told responding officers Thursday after he crashed his Honda Accord into protective barriers that he had smoked marijuana laced with PCP, according to a criminal complaint. Officials are awaiting toxicology results. Rojas appeared subdued during a brief court appearance where prosecutors detailed a felony murder charge. Rojas drove his car from the Bronx to Times Square, where he sped into the bustling Crossroads of the World, hitting almost two dozen people on the sidewalk before steel security barriers finally stopped him, authorities said. 2 Conservative beats centrist: Conservative Ralph Norman beat the more centrist, establishment candidate for the Republican nomination for an open U.S. House seat in South Carolina and now faces the task of keeping the seat in GOP hands. Norman, who finished with a 221-vote win out of more than 35,000 ballots cast, defeated Tommy Pope, the second-ranking Republican in the state House. Norman moves on to face Democrat Archie Parnell on June 20. Normans win leaves Democrats a little more hopeful they can flip the district. Norman, who resigned from his state House seat to run for Congress this year, has voted against a significant, bipartisan majority on several bills and heavily embraced President Trump. "The future is so bright I need sunglasses," said County Judge Jay Knight. He wasn't joking. The judge laid out a stunning blueprint that is at the threshold of a county that has enjoyed a lazy, country life for most of its existence. But life is about to change, and not necessarily for the worse. While the county has undergone a painful transition from an agricultural life to more manufacturing and soon to be urban, commissioners have vowed to get control of the growth and provide residents a blended experience and maintain much of the county's charm and historical precedence. "It's still somewhat agricultural, but consider in 1973, we farmed 37,000 acres of rice in Liberty County. Now the county farms about 7,400 and that's quite a change," he said. "With the change of the land usage comes a change of the user group. We had to get onboard quickly to fall in line with the change coming." He discovered through his years of service on the Dayton Community Development Board and a stint on the Dayton city council, the possibilities for economic development in the county if you reach out to get it, he told chamber members at the monthly meeting of the Liberty-Dayton Chamber of Commerce luncheon on May 17. Knight said he and his fellow commissioners began to look at economic development regionalism. "We're in competition with Chambers, Harris, Montgomery, San Jacinto, and Hardin County. We're Liberty County - we're not just Dayton, Cleveland or Liberty. Not just Devers, Raywood or Ames. We're a team and we're going to treat it this way," Knight said. And with that revelation and much more, Knight and commissioners developed a Strategic Plan for the county. The 181-page document is on the county website and Knight said it was easy reading. "We came into office in 2015 and it was obvious that there wasn't one here and so I got with Alexis Cordoba with the Agrilife Office and she in turn reached out to the Texas Target Communities group," the judge said. "They set up teams within the cities and mapped out a plan on where they wanted to go with this future growth," he said. The entire program cost the county absolutely nothing coming from the Texas A&M system, but what they received was a gold mine of help and direction for the county's coming growth. "Keep in mind that the strategic plan is a living document and in three to five years, will need to be updated," he said. One of the successes of the current administration was the creation of a county-wide economic development group that included the three major cities in the county - Cleveland, Dayton and Liberty. "We have meetings quarterly and discuss current and future projects, including the one south of Dayton," he said. One of the major topics discussed in those meetings would be a county-wide drainage district. Another of the accomplishments was the establishment of the Development Review Committee, an idea that has been adopted by other surrounding counties. The group is comprised of the judge, commissioners, sheriff, emergency management, tax assessor-collector, the central appraisal district, Texas Department of Transportation, and superintendents from area school districts. "Don't bring me a plat," the judge would say to developers. "Come and talk to us and tell us what you're wanting to do." The judge said it's all about negotiations. "They want something, we want something," he said. The negotiations and neighborly bending the fork are what has inspired changes with the developer in the Plum Grove subdivisions from unrestricted to restricted communities that will soon have homes with a price point much higher than the shanties that littered the countryside. The growth is well documented that is coming to the county and with it, a whole new set of developer tools that the county has never seen before. It has meant a learning curve for elected officials throughout the county who have had to pick up the differences between a MUD and a PID, or a TIRZ and a MMD - all of them ways for the developers to recoup some of their expenses on the front end with infrastructure. "These negotiations have brought to us a deeper tax base from which to draw, too," Knight said. With the additional revenue coming, the county will be better able to meet the needs of the growth and existing maintenance and law enforcement requirements. With the growth goes out the door the days of abatements to attract new business, he said. "Those days are gone. They're coming anyway," the judge said. "We're the last explored area between Houston and Beaumont," he reminded chamber members. The growth, he said, would be coming across the river for the next 10-20 years. According to land developers and their engineers, the growth could reach upward of more than 120,000-plus new people in the county in the next decade. "What we want to do is to make sure we provide a good quality of life that I think you all deserve," he said. The conundrum is that rooftops don't provide the finances necessary to run the county and cities, but industry does. "That goes against my upbringing as a farm boy," Knight said, "but it's based on fact." Knight said he's on the cusp of making a major announcement on negotiations with the railroad, but will save that for a date in the near future. Knight has been called the 'workshop' judge because of his affinity for hosting the off-site meetings with commissioners and doing the business of the county before court. In his first year, he hosted 33, the second year 43 and is on pace this year to reach 60, but, he says, it works. "We are no longer just road commissioners, but administrators," he said. That role will continue to change as the growth of the county reaches its pinnacle. "I see a lot of good things happening for our county. I have a lot of interest and people calling every day asking about land out here," he said. He gave some advice to those in the county who might be owners of large tracts of land. "If someone wants to buy it, find out why," he said. "If they're wanting to build bad commercial or residential projects, you can help us help everyone and we can head it off before it becomes a problem." A current, senior White House adviser - not merely another former campaign aide or distant associate of President Donald Trump - has been identified by federal investigators as a significant person of interest in a probe aimed at determining whether Trump's political team colluded with Russia to meddle in the 2016 election. Let that sink in. Among many things, the focus on someone close to the president means that the firewall protecting him from the full heat of media scrutiny is crumbling. Though he complained this week that "no politician in history . . . has been treated worse or more unfairly," the reality is that Trump has been somewhat insulated by journalists' inability to show that the FBI investigation touches him or anyone on his White House staff directly. Trump has insisted that he is not in the FBI's crosshairs, claiming last week that the agency's former director, James B. Comey, told him on three separate occasions that he is not a target. And the White House has attempted to distance itself from known targets such as Paul Manafort, Roger Stone and Carter Page. At one point, White House press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters that Manafort, who chaired Trump's campaign before being replaced by Kellyanne Conway, "played a very limited role for a very limited amount of time." Laughable as that assertion was, the press has felt obligated to exercise dual restraint: It is possible that any contacts between campaign officials and Russians were not part of a coordinated effort to collect and disseminate damaging information about Hillary Clinton. And it is possible that even if there was collusion, it happened without Trump's knowledge. Both possibilities are still, well, possible. But in the context of the FBI investigation, the separation between Trump and those working on his behalf is shrinking, as the probe pushes nearer to his inner circle. Though it is too early to know what the FBI will conclude, the attention on someone Trump continues to lean on as president would appear to increase the likelihood that if collusion occurred, he might have been aware of it. In the simplest terms, there is a big difference between headlines that say "one of the president's senior advisers is under investigation" and headlines that say "some people who used to work for candidate Trump are under investigation." Trump now enters a new phase in which the focus of press coverage will sharpen. Many stories have been written about his failure to vet staffers more thoroughly. The New York Times reported Wednesday that Trump's team knew Michael Flynn was the subject of a separate FBI investigation yet still named him national security adviser, making the president's judgment all the more questionable. It is getting harder and harder to give Trump the benefit of the doubt - to continue attributing his hiring of people who draw FBI scrutiny to innocent carelessness. Expect the White House to confront more aggressive inquiries about whether Trump knew what his staffers might have been up to. WASHINGTON - Congressional probes related to alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election are likely to be complicated or stalled by the appointment of former FBI director Robert Mueller III as a special counsel investigating the same topic, despite pledges by some lawmakers Thursday to forge ahead. Mueller has resources and a mandate lawmakers know they cannot match, and is the only one who can bring criminal charges - except against the president himself. Not responding to his subpoenas also comes with the real threat of criminal prosecution. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said his group would probably "have a hard time finding a lane now," and that when it comes to his panel's probe, Mueller's appointment "probably well shuts it down." But other lawmakers leading committee probes contended that Mueller's appointment would do nothing to affect the scope of their investigations. "We've got a job to do, we've got an investigation to run and a report to write," said Rep. K. Michael Conaway, R-Texas, who is running the House Intelligence Committee's probe. "I don't believe it'll have an impact on us at all." But behind closed doors, lawmakers are growing increasingly nervous that with Mueller's rise, their committee probes may be pushed aside - especially if he chooses to pursue a broad inquiry encompassing everything from the earliest allegations of Russian hacks to the circumstances that led to the firing of former FBI director James Comey. Justice Department officials said Mueller would likely conduct his investigation almost entirely independent of Congress. But congressional investigators must take pains not to bump heads with the FBI's inquiry. Committee leaders have already been having talks with senior Justice Department officials to "deconflict" their efforts - but lawmakers worry that if Mueller widens the scope of his investigation, they may have few witnesses at their disposal. "Certainly, I think Congress's ability to investigate this process fully is going to be hampered," said Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis. "How can you subpoena somebody to come to Congress when they're under criminal investigation? You can't," said Graham, lamenting that "one of the biggest losers of this decision is public access." The potential problems aren't confined to witnesses. Lawmakers are also worried about being able to get access to information they need to continue their investigations. During a briefing Thursday with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, several senators on the Judiciary and Intelligence committees "raised concerns about access to information and processes that would be put in place for them to expeditiously get that information," said Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore. "I didn't hear anything that would give them assurance he would provide the access they need." Rosenstein will give House members a similar briefing Friday morning. While Rosenstein didn't ask senators to stand down - one member said he was "unequivocal" that the Senate Intelligence Committee should continue its probe - some members are bracing for at least a temporary slowdown while Mueller determines the breadth of his probe. "It may mean that for a while, the congressional investigations will focus more on preparation for the 2018 and 2020 elections, consequences of Russian intrusion," suggested Sen. Christopher Coons, D-Del., a Judiciary Committee member. "That may be where we are for the short term, as Mueller makes his decision." As it stands, there are at least four congressional committees looking into roughly the same topic as Mueller: the House and Senate Intelligence Committees, the Senate Judiciary Committee and the House Oversight Committee. Each has sent letters requesting documents or called witnesses to testify. But political considerations and leadership changes have complicated their efforts. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., recused himself from that panel's Russia probe after he was accused of coordinating the investigation with the White House. Then it took more than a month for the panel to announce its first public hearing after Conaway took over the investigation: an open hearing with former CIA director John Brennan on May 23 to discuss matters "related to Russian active measures during the 2016 election campaign." At the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, has also been quick to promise a reckoning, demanding records from the White House and declaring that "I have my subpoena pen ready" to compel Comey to turn over memos he kept about his discussions with Trump. But Chaffetz revealed Thursday that he is leaving Congress at the end of June. Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., who is assisting Conaway's leadership of the Intelligence Committee's Russia probe, is the most likely to take his chairmanship. Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, is "on board" with those efforts to push ahead - but he acknowledged that congressional committees that rely on "part-time staff" cannot compete with the FBI probe. "These are the kind of investigations where you need full-time people doing a full-time job," he said. But if Mueller's appointment means Congress loses investigative ground, Republicans are blaming Democrats for clamoring for independent commissions and counsels in the first place. "Democrats probably should be asking themselves, sometimes you've got to be careful what you ask for," Johnson said. "It's now an active investigation, there's a special prosecutor in place, and I think we'll have a more difficult time getting information for the intelligence committee." For now, the missions of Congress and Mueller are different: Mueller is examining the case with an eye on criminal charges, while Congress is looking into the matter to educate the public and consider legislation that might address the broader threat of Russian influence. Mueller's work, unlike Congress's, should be completely secret, because he is using a grand jury and cannot legally release information from that proceeding unless there is a trial, said Jacob Frenkel, a former federal prosecutor now in private practice at Dickinson Wright. Frenkel worked previously in the Office of Independent Counsel - a type of special prosecutor no longer in use. "The special counsel has no legal or other obligation to interface or interact at all with Congress about the substance of the investigation," Frenkel said. "The fact is, he is running a grand jury, a federal grand jury investigation, all of the contents of which are protected. " If Mueller's investigation were to lead to Trump himself, the legislative branch's role could become more significant if it came to consideration of impeachment proceedings. But that possibility is a long way off, lawmakers said. "There are a lot of people that are talking about impeachment. I'm not talking about impeachment," Cummings said. "I'm talking about let's deal with that [Russian meddling] issue, because that's a major threat to our democracy. Now where that leads, or things that may happen as we go, as these investigations go forward - I'm sure people like Mueller and others will take them into account." - - - The Washington Post's Ed O'Keefe contributed to this report. WASHINGTON - Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein's meeting with senators on Thursday grew especially heated when he faced questions from two frustrated liberal Democrats, according to multiple people familiar with the meeting. Rosenstein came to Capitol Hill to discuss the firing of former FBI director James Comey and his decision to hire Robert Mueller as a special counsel to probe Russian meddling in last year's elections. He briefed U.S. senators in what they call "the SCIF," or a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility, a below-ground facility in the Capitol Visitors Center that has an area large enough to hold all 100 senators. In that space, Rosenstein faced especially aggressive questions from Democrats about the scope of the investigation set to be led by Mueller; why Attorney General Jeff Sessions was involved in the firing of Comey; and why Sessions is helping select the new director, according to multiple people. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Al Franken, D-Minn., especially grilled Rosenstein on Sessions's role and the scope of Mueller's new investigation, according to three senators in the room who asked for anonymity to speak frankly about the meeting. Another aide familiar with the exchange described Franken as "heated." But one of the senators asked to recount the meeting said that Franken and Gillibrand were "passionate" - not rude. "They weren't inappropriate, they were asking strong questions that were strongly felt. I didn't think anybody was inappropriate," the senator said. Franken's spokesman confirmed he "was passionate about getting to the bottom of what happened." A Gillibrand spokesman couldn't be reached for comment. Rosenstein confirmed that Mueller's investigation will have a broad scope -- encouraging news to Democrats especially eager for an investigation to cover all potential angles. Because of the wide berth, Rosenstein referred several of the senators' questions to Mueller, which caused much of the frustration in the room. Rosenstein "was very careful about not going into any details surrounding the removal because he wants to give Robert Mueller the opportunity to make an independent decision" about how to proceed, said Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., who told reporters she thought that was an appropriate move. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., said that Rosenstein refused to answer "completely appropriate" questions asked by his colleagues, a sign that it may become more difficult for the Senate Intelligence Committee's investigation to continue. "Sometimes you've got to be careful for what you ask for, because when you get it, then you can't get answers to things because it's now an active investigation, there's a special prosecutor in place and I think we'll have a more difficult time getting information." Johnson said. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., emerged to tell reporters that some colleagues asked "provocative" questions -- but he refused to detail the exchanges. He said that Rosenstein had "hesitated to characterize" Mueller's investigation "because it could be perceived that somebody committed a crime. He stressed that's not the case - that it's an investigation." Other senators said that Mueller's investigation is considered a criminal probe given that the laws dictating the appointment of a special counsel say that they are supposed to investigate criminal matters. Several Republican senators asked Rosenstein if the Intelligence Committee could continue its work now that Mueller is conducting his investigation. Rosenstein was "unequivocal" that the panel can and should continue its investigation, according to the senators and staffers familiar with the meeting. Rosenstein will hold a similar briefing for House lawmakers on Friday. An overcast sky provided a somber backdrop to this year's National Police Week ceremony in downtown Conroe Thursday. Dozens of residents, first responders and elementary school students attended the annual ceremony at Heritage Place Park just before noon to honor officers across Texas and nationwide who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. So far in 2017, 50 law enforcement officers nationwide have died while fighting crime, including 18 at the hands of gunfire, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page. But in Montgomery County, Conroe Police Chief Philip Dupuis said he is thankful that two of his officers avoided being shots when suspects fired guns at them in 2016. A Conroe police officer assisting in a manhunt in January 2016 was shot at point-blank by Christopher Ryan Hatton, 28. The bullet missed the officer, however, and Hatton was found guilty in the shooting and is serving a 99-year prison sentence. About a month later, another Conroe officer responding to a trespasser call was shot at by Terrance Xavier Smith, who was 24 at the time, while fleeing on foot from the officer. Smith eventually was arrested after an hours-long SWAT standoff, and he eventually pleaded guilty to a 30-year sentence for the shooting. "I personally feel so blessed to live in a city and a county that is so supportive of law enforcement," Dupuis said. "This year, we're extremely lucky we don't have another family here memorializing the loss of a loved one." The officers almost became two of 63 law enforcement officers throughout the country who died by gunfire in the line of duty in 2016, according to the National Officer Down Memorial Page. Already in 2017, 15 officers have died by gunfire nationwide, including two in Texas: Assistant Chief Deputy Clinton Greenwood with the Harris County Precinct 3 Constable's Office and Detective Jerry Ronald Walker with the Little Elm Police Department. Montgomery County did lose an officer in the line of duty in 2016. Patton Village Police Sgt. Stacey Baumgartner was involved in a police chase on Texas 242 when his squad car collided with an SUV at the highway's intersection with FM 1485. Baumgartner and an 11-year-old child in the SUV died as a result of the crash. Garrett William Nee, who allegedly was fleeing from Baumgartner at the time of the crash, has 13 felony charges pending as a result of the crash, including first-degree felony murder and second-degree felony intoxication manslaughter. This year also marks the 35th anniversary of the loss of Conroe Police Sgt. Ed Holcomb Jr., who was shot while responding to a domestic disturbance in 1982. He died in the hospital three weeks later. Holcomb's son, Chris Holcomb, is a detective with the Panorama Village Police Department. He and his family attend the memorial every year to remember their loved one and honor the other law enforcement officers who have died. "It's pretty remarkable and hard to describe after all these years," Chris Holcomb said. "Of course, it's progressed over the years. The continued support the community comes out and gives its officers, not just the city but for the whole county, is tremendous for us. That's why we're out here. It's not for the money or for the glory. It's to serve the citizens of the county." Dupuis echoed Chris Holcomb, saying he's thankful for the support officers get from Conroe and Montgomery County residents. "We feel that support and love every day," Dupuis said. "We put on our vest and gun, hugging our families goodbye knowing we're putting our lives on the line for the safety and welfare of others. We do it because we are called." WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump on Thursday said there was no collusion between his campaign and Russia, while adding the caveat that he can only speak for himself, and denied ever asking FBI Director James Comey to back off his agency's investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn. Trump spoke in the wake of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein's decision to appoint a special counsel to investigate any coordination between Trump associates and Russian officials. "I respect the move, but the entire thing has been a witch hunt, and there is no collusion between - certainly myself and my campaign, but I can only speak for myself and the Russians. Zero," Trump said, at a joint news conference Thursday afternoon with President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia. "Believe me, there's no collusion." Asked whether he urged Comey - as the fired FBI chief said he did in notes written after a meeting with the president - to drop the Flynn investigation, Trump said, "No, no," before ordering the media to move on to the "next question." Also Thursday afternoon, Rosenstein went to Capitol Hill and indicated to the full Senate that the White House's initial account of Comey's firing was not accurate because he said he knew that Comey would be fired before he wrote a controversial memo that the White House initially used as its justification for the dismissal. Rosenstein did not reveal any more significant details about the Comey firing, his decision to appoint a special counsel or the ongoing Russia investigation during the unusual 90-minute closed briefing with most of the 100 senators, according to interviews with several senators afterward. Rosenstein did, however, emphasize to the senators the independent authority that the new special counsel - former FBI director and federal prosecutor Robert Mueller III - has in the Russian investigation. "If one thing is clear from the meeting we just had, it is that Mr. Mueller has broad and wide-ranging authority to follow the facts wherever they go," said Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. "That gives me confidence and should give the American people some confidence." Although the meeting was held in a secure room in the Capitol Visitors Center where classified information can be discussed, nothing Rosenstein shared with the senators was "remotely classified," according to one senator who asked for anonymity to speak frankly about the meeting. "He could have shared what he told us in a public hearing," the senator said. Because of Mueller's wide scope in the Russian probe, Rosenstein referred several of the senators' questions to the new special counsel, frustrating many of the senators who wanted to learn more. Rosenstein "was very careful about not going into any details surrounding the removal because he wants to give Robert Mueller the opportunity to make an independent decision" about how to proceed, said Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., as she emerged from the briefing. Rosenstein received strong support from the Senate a month ago when he was confirmed by a vote of 94 to 6 to be the Justice Department's second-highest-ranking official. But his reputation has come under fierce attack in the past week over the memo he wrote about Comey. Since Comey's firing May 9, the calls for Rosenstein to appoint a special counsel intensified, especially from Democratic lawmakers who said he could no longer be impartial in the Russia investigation. Rosenstein had been put in charge of the probe as soon as he was confirmed because Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself after The Washington Post reported on contacts he had with the Russian ambassador that he had not disclosed when asked about it during his Senate confirmation hearing. Rosenstein did not notify White House counsel Donald McGahn of his special counsel decision until 5:30 p.m., the same time Justice Department officials were briefing reporters and 30 minutes before the news became public. Senior congressional aides said that some lawmakers were also given a heads-up in advance of the White House. In the Senate meeting, each senator was given the opportunity to ask one question. Several Democrats asked multiple questions, and some Republicans took a pass. Rosenstein told the senators that, in fact, Trump had decided to fire Comey the day before he wrote his memo. "To me, it was significant that he stated that he knew that the decision to fire Comey had been made the day before he drafted the memo," added Sen. Angus King, I-Maine. Why Rosenstein felt compelled to write the memo remains unknown. Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., said that Rosenstein told the senators that he was not pressured into writing it. "He learned the president's decision to fire him and then he wrote his memo with his rationale," Durbin said. According to a person close to the White House, Rosenstein was upset about the narrative that emerged from the White House the evening of May 9. White House officials cast Rosenstein as the prime person behind the decision to fire Comey, even though Trump had already decided to terminate the director. Rosenstein threatened to resign from the Justice Department because of the explanation that White House officials were giving reporters about the firing, said a person close to the White House, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. By May 10, White House officials had backed off blaming Rosenstein for the firing, and the next day, Trump contradicted his own officials and told NBC News that the decision to fire Comey was his alone and that he was thinking of "this Russia thing with Trump" when he made it. During Thursday's news conference, Trump contradicted both his own account and that of Rosenstein. "Director Comey was very unpopular with most people," Trump said. "I also got a very, very strong recommendation, as you know, from the deputy attorney general, Rod J. Rosenstein." The president also expressed surprise that he had not received bipartisan support for his decision to fire Comey. He called the suggestion he had done anything potentially worthy of criminal charges "totally ridiculous." Trump had earlier in the morning lashed out on Twitter at the news of the special prosecutor, calling the move a politically motivated "witch hunt" by his Democratic rivals. The president's anger contrasted with a more measured written statement released by the White House on Wednesday evening, when Trump declared that a thorough investigation would find "no collusion between my campaign and any foreign entity." Several Republican senators asked Rosenstein if the Senate Intelligence Committee could continue its own investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election now that Mueller has been appointed special counsel on the same matter. Rosenstein was "unequivocal" that the panel can and should continue its investigation, according to people familiar with his remarks. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who just removed himself from consideration to be the next FBI director, said that senators are taking the federal investigation "enormously seriously." "Clearly Russia was very much involved in trying to undermine public confidence in our elections," Cornyn said. "I don't think it's in anybody's interested to delay or impede or impair this investigation in any way. We need to be focused on what our role is. We are not the FBI or the Department of Justice. We are conducting oversight." Rosenstein did find time for some levity. "Somebody asked, how do you pronounce your last name? He said it's Rosen-STINE," Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said, adding that Rosenstein referred senators to a recent NPR segment that taught listeners how to properly pronounce his name. - - - The Washington Post's Kelsey Snell, David Nakamura and Karoun Demirjian contributed to this report. --- Video: Durbin: Democrats will grill Rosenstein on Comey memo Video embed code: lowfullscr Short URL: http://wapo.st/2q08kRy - - - Video: Senators emerge from Rosenstein briefing with few details Members of the Senate spoke to reporters after being briefed by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein about his decision to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian officials. (Peter Stevenson / The Washington Post) Short URL: http://wapo.st/2pYjZAW Embed code: WASHINGTON - The president of the Czech Republic is eager to have Ivanka Trump visit his country, and he believes he has a compelling case to make. By a "happy coincidence," her mother is Czech, and President Milos Zeman hopes that's the opening he needs to secure a high-profile visit from the first daughter as he tries to realize the kind of relationship with the U.S. government that his country has long craved. "We would like her to know that we are the country where she might find a surprising number of people who will treat her very, very nice," said Hynek Kmonicek, the Czech ambassador to the United States, who has been entrusted by Zeman to deliver a letter to Ivanka Trump at the earliest opportunity. "Because she's, like, preapproved." The letter remains undelivered, but Kmonicek is optimistic. "I hope I will be able to put a selfie on the Twitter," he said with a smile as he mused about the meeting while lounging in his Northwest Washington office. The Czech Republic is just one of several countries that see the first daughter as an avenue of entry into her father's White House, citing the image she has cultivated as culturally curious and active on policy as reason to think she will be receptive to their outreach. A relationship with the first daughter is coveted because she and her husband, Jared Kushner, are top White House advisers with broad, largely undefined portfolios, stretching from domestic to foreign policy, and an all-important familial connection that gives them rare influence. Ivanka Trump, in turn, has used foreign nations' interest to help soften her father's rough edges amid uncertainty over his foreign policy and promises to upend long-standing alliances if he deems them unfair to the United States. "She's being seen as a goodwill ambassador slash adviser, slash soft-power effort for an administration that has had a lot of challenges in those areas," said a senior diplomat for a Latin American country, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to comment candidly about the embassies' outreach to Trump. "By all accounts, she seems to be everything that her father is not: likable, soft-spoken, and she's not impulsive. She seems to be thinking through everything that she does." As President Donald Trump embarked Friday on his first foreign trip since taking office, Ivanka Trump accompanied him and will make public appearances on her own. She is likely to take on a similar role abroad as she has in the past four months in Washington, where she has been an enthusiastic participant in social and cultural events. She and her children have made appearances at the Chinese and Japanese embassies. She visited the French ambassador's residence and, in March, dined with the British ambassador along with Kushner. German Chancellor Angela Merkel extended the invitation for Ivanka Trump to attend a women's economic summit in Berlin, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau treated her to a Broadway show with a not-so-subtle message about the virtues of taking in strangers in need. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who frequently visits the White House, communicates with Kushner and Ivanka Trump regularly about diplomatic issues, including their family's visits with embassy officials. "One of the things that's been useful about both Ivanka and Jared and the members of the White House staff is that they have existing relationships that they've built, but then they're turning around and making them everyone else's relationships," said R.C. Hammond, a senior State Department adviser. As word has gotten around the diplomatic world about the potential return on investment in courting the first daughter, embassies have begun actively looking for ways to bring her into the fold, mulling invitations to gala events and cultural celebrations where they can establish low-stakes, personal relationships with her. Early in her father's tenure, Trump inserted herself into U.S.-China relationship with a high-profile trip to the Chinese Embassy for its Lunar New Year celebration. It came at a time when President Trump was struggling to establish a diplomatic relationship with Beijing after raising the ire of the Chinese by taking a phone call from the Taiwanese president, in defiance of a long-standing "one-China" policy. For weeks after the call from Taiwan, there was radio silence between Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, a sign of Beijing's coldness toward the new U.S. president. More than two weeks after Trump was inaugurated, he had still not spoken with his Chinese counterpart, despite having talked to more than a dozen other world leaders in the same time frame. But while official diplomatic doors appeared to be closed, Ivanka Trump, with her Mandarin-speaking children in tow, appeared at the Chinese Embassy in upper Northwest Washington on Feb. 1. Doors opened, cameras flashed, and Trump smiled as she was greeted warmly by embassy personnel. The next day on Ivanka Trump's Instagram page, 5-year-old Arabella made an appearance, singing sweetly as she played with a puppet dragon. "Arabella singing a song she learned for #ChineseNewYear," her mother wrote in the caption. "Wishing everyone an amazing year to come during these days of celebration." Days later, the freeze had thawed. In a phone conversation with the Chinese president nearly 20 days after his inauguration, Trump promised to honor the "one-China" policy. Hammond cited President Trump's improved relationship with China as evidence of the success of Ivanka Trump's engagement. "Overall, you look at the relationship that we're building, we're engaging with China," he said. At the Japanese Embassy in April, a scene similar to the one that occurred at the Chinese Embassy played out. The embassy painstakingly extended an invitation to Ivanka Trump to attend its Cherry Blossom Festival. Then, the planning began. Embassy staffers hatched an elaborate plan to invite Japanese YouTube star Pikotaro to perform for Arabella, who was a fan of the singer's earworm song. They called the company that makes the video game and anime character Pikachu and ordered up stuffed dolls, and acquired other traditional Japanese toys, to entertain Trump's young children. The visit was a slam dunk, in the embassy's view, garnering media coverage in the United States and Japan, where Ivanka Trump is an increasingly popular figure. "Ivanka plays a very important role and helps us deepen our ties and also advance strong relationships between our governments," said Yoshinori Takazawa, a spokesman for the Japanese Embassy. "A lot of Japanese media outlets reported this event." As a result, "a lot of Japanese citizens believe that the U.S. and Japan are close friends," he said. Among world leaders, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe enjoys arguably one of the best relationships with Trump, which has been repeatedly bolstered by Abe's efforts to connect with Trump through Ivanka and her children. During a visit to Trump Tower in New York during Trump's transition to the presidency, Ivanka Trump greeted Abe at the elevator and escorted him to her father's office, where she participated in the meeting with Kushner. Abe chatted with Ivanka Trump over Arabella's fascination with Pikotaro. And again, after she and her children visited the embassy in April, Abe raised the event as an icebreaker in his phone conversation with President Trump a day later. Ivanka Trump has returned the gesture with subtle signals to the Japanese of her attention to their culture. This month on Instagram, she posted a short video of a private moment of dancing with her two young sons in their kitchen, delighting Japanese Embassy officials by choosing Pikotaro's latest tune, "I like O.J." Ivanka Trump's emerging role as an official and unofficial emissary to her father's government has sparked some controversy at home and abroad. But it is not entirely unusual. Carl Anthony, a historian with the National First Ladies' Library, said her role is similar to those of other first daughters who were deputized by their fathers to step into areas where, at times, the first lady could not or would not go. "The first lady role, when you really break it down, consists of about seven or eight different kind of roles," Anthony said. "What you've had on occasion, but not really in our lifetime, is more than one woman in the family assuming some of the roles, but not others." Theodore Roosevelt deputized his daughter Alice on a months-long diplomatic mission to three Asian countries, where she was dubbed a "princess." Julie Nixon Eisenhower became a liaison on environmental issues for her father, Richard Nixon. And Franklin D. Roosevelt chose his daughter Anna to accompany him to the Yalta conference toward the end of World War II, where she met with foreign dignitaries but primarily served as a source of encouragement and support for her father. "Ivanka's role is ineffable," Anthony said. "It's knowing her father's chemistry. It's knowing how to approach him and when to approach him. It's choosing her battles carefully and knowing how to frame her, perhaps, disagreement on something." To the Editor: The Town of Fairfield can proudly point to its beaches and parks, its safety and services along with its libraries and outstanding public schools. These features have made the town a magnet for young families moving into Fairfield County as well as a vibrant community for its senior population. Its a real credit to those who serve on the various town bodies, and the advocacy of Fairfields residents from all perspectives, that the town finds itself in such high regard. Today, financial problems at the state level threaten the carefully crafted value proposition Fairfield has built. Depending on how the state deals with its financial crises, Fairfield may have to deal with millions of dollars of lost revenue and extra expenses. At that point, Fairfield will have to decide what its priorities are going forward. Some will say taxes must stay low no matter what the impact is on our schools and community services. Others reject this zero-sum outlook that suggests cuts from the state must mean cuts in education and services. They say we have to find a way to maintain the value proposition for all residents that is so intrinsic to Fairfields identity. The Fairfield Education Association (FEA) agrees with that latter group, but we know it is going to take experience, problem-solving abilities, a willingness to listen to all constituents and excellent communication skills to tackle the challenge. It is for that reason that we are endorsing Kevin Kiley for the Board of Selectmen during the upcoming June 6 special election. For over 20 years Mr. Kiley has served on the Fairfield RTM, Board of Finance (5 years as its chair) and the Board of Selectmen. His long service to the town gives him a unique perspective on why the town is structured the way it is and what changes might be possible. At the recent FEA candidates forum, Mr. Kiley evidenced a remarkable grasp of the issues relating to both Town and Board of Education affairs. He was thoughtful in his answers to very difficult questions and evidenced the desire to work with everybody, Republicans, Democrats and Independents alike, to find a way to deal with whatever comes down from the State. Most importantly, he spoke passionately about his commitment to maintaining all that is good about Fairfield. He is both committed to seniors and families and rejects any suggestion that there must be winners and losers among Fairfield residents if the states financial problems spill down to the town. Instead, Mr. Kiley has pledged to help re-engineer the way Fairfield operates so we can continue to deliver the high-quality services Fairfield residents expect, but at a much lower cost. Typically, the FEA would focus solely on education issues when making an endorsement and there is no question that Mr. Kiley has a very consistent record of supporting education. At the forum he called supporting education an investment in the future, the future of Fairfields children and the future of our democracy. Beyond educational issues, the teachers overarching commitment is to the students, their families and all other members of the Fairfield community. For Fairfield Public Schools to thrive, the Town of Fairfield must thrive and that means continuing to maintain the balance between affordability and quality of services and programs. We believe that electing Kevin Kiley is critical to achieving that goal, especially in difficult financial times. We therefore urge all town residents to vote for Mr. Kiley in the upcoming June 6 special election for Board of Selectman. Bob Smoler President, FEA Fairfield Special election mushrooms To the Editor: Like mushrooms after a gentle Spring rain, campaign signs are popping up all over town. The message is clear: The Special Election for an open seat on the Board of Selectmen scheduled for Tuesday, June 6th is on. Im supporting Kevin Kiley, a popular, personable, community-minded candidate with 22 years of public service who has bi-partisan appeal. I first met Kevin when he became our district Representative to the Town Meeting (RTM). He held that position for four years, and then served on the Board of Finance from 1997 - 2012, where he was Chair for five years. With a background in finance, he has contributed his expertise to such issues as Senior Tax Relief, Metro Station, and School Space, and is currently on the PTA Council. Recently, he served on the Board of Selectmen where he always voted in the best interests of our community. His top priorities include maintaining our excellent education system, keeping Fairfield affordable, supporting new sources of revenue through appropriate commercial development, and maintaining Fairfields quality of life. He believes in people over politics, social activism, and public service. He enjoys family life with his wife and two sons. Every registered voter can vote on June 6th at their usual polling place, and absentee ballot applications are available. I urge you to support this outstanding and experienced candidate, Kevin Kiley, for Selectman. Youll be glad you did. Judy Ewing Fairfield Global peace wont happen without talk To the Editor: Human beings are unique and sophisticated creatures that have a tremendous capacity for good. Our humanities class this year has been studying what it means to be a human and what it means to be a peacemaker. We have studied different ways to obtain peace. We looked at individuals who have made a difference and even large organizations like the United Nations who operate on a global scale. We have concluded that global peace wont happen unless it starts at a community level and spread by individuals to individuals to make them aware of todays devastating and unprecedented situations we have going on today. We invite you to find us downtown on May 31 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (Rain date June 1st) to help spread the message of peace and learn from us. Jason Purzycki The 2016-17 Humanities Class at Walter Fitzgerald Campus Dont even think of a tax increase To the Editor: For anyone in Connecticut breathing oxygen and still capable of observing reality, the era of governor Malloy and the Democrat legislative majorities has seen the state brought to its fiscal knees. Promising to right the fiscal ship, the governor led the passage of the two largest tax increases in CT history. Instead the state now faces immediate and projected budget deficits larger than when Malloy took office. In the mean-time Connecticut has become known as the state businesses are leaving or are bribed with taxpayer money to stay. For the deniers, all this was punctuated by GEs exit to Massachusetts of all places. A commonly used benchmark illustrating the burden of taxes on the American people is denoting the day on which the taxpayers finish paying federal, state and local taxes and start keeping the money they earn. That day is known as Tax Freedom Day and CT is perennially the last or next to last state to reach it. In 2010 CT reached it on April 27th it is now May 21st and we are again dead last. Connecticut ranks 50th in economic growth. We have the fourth highest debt percapita. And with our debt and pension liabilities as a percent of state GDP the highest in the nation (17%), Barrons business magazine has declared CT the worst run state in the nation. Connecticut patriot grassroots groups are organizing a rally at the Capitol in Hartford at 1pm on Sunday, May 21st Tax Freedom Day. Our purpose is to rally citizen support to tell gov. Malloy and the CT legislature to pass the current budget without ANY tax increases or new taxes. When you massively increase taxes twice and the deficits only grow, you have defined a death-spiral and you must stop. Please join our rally on May 21st to come to their senses, balance the budget and dont increase taxes, before its too late. Bob MacGuffie Fairfield Bridgeport judge got it right To the Editor: Section 3.1.A of the Fairfield Town Charter defines by exception the Elector requirement for appointed Town officials as the following: No person not at the time an elector of the Town shall be eligible for appointment to any appointed board or commission or to the office of Town Treasurer, Town Attorney, or Assistant Town Attorney. In other words: the First Selectman, by law, must buy local when it comes to these professional services. There is little doubt in my mind that the Bridgeport judge got it right in granting the petitioners their requested mandamus to hold the special election for selectman. The right to petition for the election is very clearly spelled out in the state statutes. The Supreme Court will uphold that decision if it even bothers to hear the appeal. The two Republicans on the three member Board of Selectman keep getting it wrong on this one. Where the local judge did get it wrong was in upholding the First Selectmans appointment of New Britain Attorney, Robert Morin, to represent the First Selectman in the case. Morrin is not an elector of our town and has no business getting one dime for legal services from the local taxpayers. This is not the first time the First Selectman has illegally dolled out legal work to certain loyal Democrats around the state. However it should be the last time. Our hard earned tax money needs to stay in town whenever and wherever possible. That only makes sense and that may even be why its in the charter, too. Buy local, Mr. Tetreau; you cant pick and chose when it comes to the town charter. Jim Brown Fairfield The definition of fiscal irresponsibility To the Editor: Republican Representative Town Meeting (RTM) members recently congratulated themselves with their success in delivering a 1.45 percent budget increase to Fairfielders. Several noted that they achieved this rate without having to further reduce the library or the education budgets. However, their comments and actions are disingenuous at best. Because Republicans cut over $800,000 from a contingency account of $1.2 million set aside to cover the potential State budget shortfalls, it is almost guaranteed that no portion of the library material budget will be restored this year. The vote also eliminates the towns ability to restore dollars to the underfunded paving budget. The smart decision for the long-term fiscal health of our town was to approve the budget as passed by our Board of Finance (BOF). Rather than pass a fiscally responsible budget with a low tax increase of 1.81 percent, the RTM Republicans ignored the warnings of both RTM Democrats and BOF Republicans and implemented cuts. The net result ensures that our residents will begin to receive diminished services in the coming years. In addition, Republican RTM members short-sightedness now sets us up for larger tax increases in the future to cover costs and services that the town will be unable to fund this year. The RTM Republicans also demonstrated their disdain for transparency and collaboration when they decided to cut thinly-staffed departments without consulting the relevant department heads. One of the positions cut was in the Tax Collectors office and, according to the Tax Collector, this action will severely limit the departments ability to collect taxes. The Chief of Staff position in the First Selectmans office also was cut from full to part time. Given that the Chief of Staff provides critical constituent services and helps our departments run as efficiently as possible, we are likely to see a decline in overall responsiveness to residents needs. The RTM Republicans decisions are the definition of fiscal irresponsibility and kicking the can down the road. Remember this when the town has to further cut library, paving, or other town services, or send you a supplemental tax bill. Phil Pires (D) RTM Minority Leader Support H.B. 7000 and S.B. 17 To the Editor: I am writing to urge our local legislators to support two proposals in the state legislature that will help all motivated Connecticut students pursue their dreams of a college education. The bills will help undocumented immigrant students afford college by making them eligible for institutional aid, a specific form of financial aid that already comes out of their tuition. These proposals are a smart investment and the right thing to do, and they come at no cost to taxpayers. Currently, when students enroll at Connecticut state colleges and universities, part of their tuition is set aside to fund need-based institutional aid grants. But while other students with financial need can receive grants from this fund, undocumented immigrant students cannot access a single penny of the pool of aid they help to fund. Two proposals in the state legislature this session would fix this inequality. H.B. 7000 and S.B. 17 would simply open up institutional aid to all Connecticut residents who are already eligible for in-state tuition, regardless of immigration status. Because undocumented students already pay into the system, this would cost taxpayers nothing, according to the non-partisan Fiscal Analysis Office. Both bills have been voted out of the Higher Education Committee with bipartisan support and they are backed by officials at the University of Connecticut, at the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) System, and at the Board of Regents of Higher Education. These bills are an investment in our future. The non-partisan Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy estimates that undocumented individuals in Connecticut already pay over $124 million in taxes. According to an estimate from a 2009 RAND Corporation report, the completion of a college degree raises lifetime tax contribution by at least $68,000. These proposals will benefit Connecticut taxpayers in the long run by investing in our economy and tax base. Every day, lack of financial assistance makes it more difficult for undocumented students in our communityour friends, family members, classmates, and neighborsto fulfill their dreams of graduating from college. As an open access institution that is designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic Serving Institution, Norwalk Community College is committed to the success of all our students. We should help these students reach their full potential and enact H.B. 7000 and S.B. 17 today. These bills are a matter of basic fairness, as well as a smart investment in our states future that will cost taxpayers nothing. David L. Levinson, Ph.D. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NORWALK Loretta Horton talked of hope Thursday afternoon before a crowd of thousands who gathered under a large white tent for Norwalk Community Colleges 55th commencement. She had good reason. A native of Bridgeport, Horton was graduating with a degree in criminal justice after persevering through a period of life where she found herself homeless. It is during that time when, Horton said, hope introduced itself to her and set her on the path she is on as a Navy veteran, a single mother and, now, a college graduate. Im sure many of us have a story or two of survival. The truth be told, we dont grow when things are easy for us, but rather when we have the most difficult times, Horton said. I have learned to be best friends with the word hope. Hope will bring you out of the mud and dirt of bad circumstances and prepare you for better. You see, hope will preserve you when all seems lost and unfair, Horton said. It refreshed my vision, motivated me and gave me back my purpose. I encourage you all to grab a hold of hope and dont let go because it will assist you in fulfilling your dreams and destiny. Horton addressed her message to the other 751 graduates who later walked across the stage during the ceremony that started at 4:30 p.m. at Norwalk Community Colleges West Campus. This years graduating class represented 48 countries, spoke 24 languages, ranged from 21 to 83 years of age, was 65 percent female and had a majority of students of color. A whopping 65 percent of the graduates were first-generation college students. Roughly 85 to 90 percent worked at least part time. More Information Norwalk Community College May '17 Graduates: 752 Slideshow at http://bit.ly/2rxjXkF See More Collapse Many of those students will go on to continue their education. Norwalk Community College President David Levinson urged graduates to do just that. Commencement really means just the beginning. ... The foundation that you have acquired at Norwalk Community College will serve you for a lifetime, but please dont stop here, Levinson said. You always need to learn. Whether you are learning at one of the many colleges and universities in our area, whether you are learning on ground, online, you cant stop learning. And I know you have the foundation and the zeal and the spirit to do just that. Horton had already applied to John Jay College and the University of New Haven to prepare for a career helping women and single mothers, like herself. Fellow graduation speaker Sarah Rebello had hopes of attending Smith College, Mount Holyoke College, Columbia University or Fordham University. Rebello, who received a degree in business administration, recounted to the crowd her story of coming to the U.S. from Brazil and enrolling at NCC to learn English. When I came from Brazil to the United States almost four years ago, I wanted to learn a new language, and I was curious to experience a new place, Rebello said, but the U.S. gave me much more. I ended up finding myself, and a new family. The U.S. had its borders open for me, and I will forever be grateful. While most colleges and universities invite renowned speakers to graduation, Norwalk Community College has a long tradition of featuring student speakers and the audience did not seem to be let down. Throughout the entire ceremony, a lively crowd blew air horns and erupted in applause to cheer on the graduates, sticking it out through near record-breaking heat and a shortage of available chairs. To the proud and smiling family members and friends, simply getting to enjoy the moment with their graduate was worth it. After all, Levinson said of the graduates, You are imaginative, you are creative, you are second to none. KSchultz@thehour.com; 203-354-1049; @kevinedschultz This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW CANAAN Much has happened in the United States since Maha Karamahad left her native Syria and was resettled eight months ago in Greenwich. Donald Trump was elected president and, among his many controversial decisions, attempted to stem the flow of refugees, like Karamahad, entering the U.S. It was a move that sparked considerable outrage, and one whose legality is still in question. It did, however, highlight the contentious nature of the debate among Americans surrounding the worldwide refugee crisis. Despite this, and thanks to support from people in her community, Karamahad has begun to make the difficult adjustment into American life. Finding a job that was meaningful for me and that made me self-sufficient was important, Karamahad said. After meeting Claudia Connor, president and CEO of the International Institute of Connecticut, who gave her some career guidance, Karahamad recently landed a job with the nonprofit, Save the Children. On Friday at 7:30 p.m., Karamahad will join Connor and others working to address the refugee crisis at Grace Farms in a free panel discussion, The Refugee Crisis and U.S. Response. Theyll be joined by Larry Yungk, senior resettlement officer at the United Nations Refugee Agency and Aleksandr Y. Troyb, chairman of the Executive Committee of the state chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Krishna Patel, Grace Farms justice initiative director, will moderate the discussion. In her work at Bridgeport-based IICONN, Connor helped resettle 129 refugees in 2016, and the organization is on pace to resettle 160 more this year. The refugee resettlement and admissions program is a way to provide refugees living in humanitarian crisis, who do not have an option to go home, a safe place to live and an opportunity to educate themselves and have a fresh start, Connor said. Connor and IICONN rely predominantly on funding from the U.S. State Department, which is based partly on the number of refugees served. Should the federal proposal to halve the number of refugees admitted into the U.S. from a little over 100,000 to 50,000 pass as law, IICONNs reach would be limited and funding for the organization could significantly decrease. According to Refugee Agency statistics, there are more than 21.3 million refugees in the world, less than 1 percent of whom are ever resettled. Before coming to the U.S., each candidate must endure a process that could take up to two years and involve as many as eight federal agencies and many background checks. We want to raise public awareness. I think there are a lot of misconceptions about refugees. But its important to understand that refugees are the most vetted group entering the U.S., Patel said. Troyb has organized response teams and filed cases on behalf of refugees and asylum seekers, at times providing pro bono legal assistance. He has led training programs throughout the state for refugee lawyers and has worked with organizations like IICONN and Grace Farms to raise awareness on the issue. Most of all, Troyb said, he wants people to learn about the refugee crisis and become surrogate educators, beginning a discourse with family and friends Get informed and get involved, Troyb said. Patel and Connor also stressed the importance of getting involved and getting to know recently resettled neighbors. One of the most important things that came across for me in talking to Maha, Patel said, is that they never wanted to leave their home. They leave everything behind, and they want so much for Americans to understand who they are and to ask questions. Through IICONN, Connor said people can help by mentoring recently resettled refugee families. Business owners can help by providing jobs. Its that instinct of, I own a business, I can make a difference, Connor said. For Karahamand, the opportunity she has been given to work and the exposure it provides her to American culture has greatly helped in her transition, though each day brings new challenges. It was overwhelming, Karahamad said of her first days in America. Im fortunate to these people who believed in me and helped me to do what I want to do in my life. It gets easier each day. justin.papp@scni.com; @justinjpapp1 SEOUL - South Koreans know how to impeach a president. Seventeen weeks of peaceful protest, combined with a parliamentary vote and a landmark court decision, led to the dismissal of Park Geun-hye in March amid a massive corruption scandal. Park is now behind bars and on trial for 18 charges, including bribery and extortion. Moon Jae-in, a down-to-earth liberal who could not be more different from the aloof, conservative Park, took office earlier this month and has quickly won widespread approval. His support ratings have hit astronomical levels this week, with 87 percent of those polled by Gallup Korea saying they think he's going to do well as president (compared to the 4 or 5 percent support rate that Park was recording at the beginning of this year. Now, South Koreans are becoming obsessed with the political drama emanating from Washington. When you search "Trump" on Naver, South Korea's biggest internet search site, the auto-fill suggests: "Trump impeachment," then "Trump Russia." Other suggested searches include "Trump FBI," "Trump impeachment reason," and "Trump Comey." Blogs are full of commentary on the similarities between Park and Trump - both took over the mantles of their fathers, both have "communication difficulties" - and the differences in the two countries' political systems. But online - where young South Koreans spend an inordinate amount of time - plenty of people are offering to help Americans follow in their footsteps. This is quite a remarkable development since it was only 30 years ago that South Korea became a democracy while the United States, well, the United States considers itself an exemplar of democracy. The last Republican president, George W. Bush, devoted a considerable amount of energy to trying to export American democracy to countries run by dictators. Posting a story about Trump and the FBI director he fired, James Comey, on her blog, a "netizen" called Fatima20 wrote: "Maybe we can export our impeachment know-how to the U.S.?" On a popular Internet debate board on Daum, a rival to Naver, Kang Shin-ae wrote that South Koreans could even make money from this new export. "We need to export South Korean knowledge about impeaching a president and how to remove the president peacefully without shedding single drop of blood," Kang wrote, pasting a story headlined "Trump impeachment possibility soars to 60 percent after firing of FBI chief." "Considering the high demand, maybe we can charge at least $1 billion??" Kang wrote. Funnily enough, this is the exact amount of money that Trump said he wanted South Korea to pay for the advanced missile defense system that the United States had been urging South Korea to host, to fend off North Korea. Park's government eventually agreed, but the deal was that South Korea would supply the land and the United States would supply the equipment. One Twitter user, @TC_thunder, was more generous than Kang. "Soon, we might be able to export candlelight vigils and the South Korean impeachment process to the U.S. for free of charge. . .. I hope the first country to import our candlelight vigils will be the United States." The uprising against Park began with huge candlelit demonstrations in a central plaza in Seoul, within earshot of the presidential Blue House where Park was holed up. The demonstrations were festive, with families holding picnics and babies in strollers. Another Twitter user, Kwon Hye-kyung, agreed. "Candlelight vigils, impeachment, the gate for exporting them has been open," Kwon wrote, posting a story headlined: "More serious than Watergate. . .Trump impeachment sentiment increasing." Others pointed out the political hurdles in the United States that South Korea didn't face. "The Republicans control Congress and there is still a year and a half until the midterm election, so there is no chance Trump will actually be impeached," wrote Lee Sang-shin. But a U.S.-based Korean using the handle @FeignInnocent cautioned that Trump might do something extreme if he faced impeachment. "Trump is unpredictable and God knows what he might do if the impeachment movement begins. Like bombing North Korea," he wrote. Elsewhere in the United States, a Korean American who writes the "Ask a Korean" blog and has been writing indefatigably in English about the Park scandal and the Moon victory. In a 17-part Twitter thread Thursday, he translated the lessons from the South Korean impeachment for American opponents of Trump, giving them a to-do list. "WIN. ELECTIONS. Impeachment in late 2016 was possible only because liberals won the legislature election in the early 2016. At the end of the day, impeachment cannot be done without winning Congress," he wrote. "What finally turned the tide irrevocably was the massive civic protests, the famous candlelight protests that went on for 17 weeks in a row." --- Fifield reported from Tokyo and Seo from Seoul. Japan News-Yomiuri Stand-alone photo: Tokyo Skytree in Sumida Ward, Tokyo, is illuminated in a new orange shade for the first time on May 18, 2017, ahead of the fifth anniversary of the tower's opening on May 22. The illumination is called "nobori," inspired by the noboribata banner-flags used for festive and celebratory occasions. The Skytree will be lit up orange for five nights through Monday; after that, the color will join light blue "iki" (stylish), inspired by the Sumidagawa river, and bluish purple "miyabi" (elegance) in daily rotation. MUST CREDIT: Japan News-Yomiuri WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump's silence lasted just over 12 hours. Then, he let it all out. The appointment of a special counsel to investigate possible collusion between his campaign and Russia was the "single greatest witch hunt in American history," he tweeted. Hours later, during a news conference with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, Trump revisited the topic. "I think it's totally ridiculous. Everybody thinks so," Trump said when asked about the appointment. "Everybody, even my enemies, have said there is no collusion." The comments underscore Trump's seemingly unstoppable drive to combat an investigation that has dogged him since his first day in office - even if it prolongs the controversy and potentially puts him at greater legal risk. Trump has treated the Russia investigation as a public relations battle pitting him against his many enemies. But he has been slow to acclimate to new perils - particularly the legal ones - that seem to be mounting. At nearly every opportunity, in interviews, tweets and public statements, Trump has insisted that the investigation is a politically motivated farce. "James Clapper and others stated that there is no evidence Potus colluded with Russia. This story is FAKE NEWS and everyone knows it!" he tweeted in March. In an interview in April with the Washington Examiner, he declared: "The Russia is a faux story. It's made up." Meanwhile, the investigation has continued and is now criminal in nature, according to senators who were briefed by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein on Thursday. Trump has never been one to shy away from prejudging the outcome of investigations. During the campaign, he and aides encouraged his crowds in chants of "Lock her up!," demanding the conviction and jailing of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton in the investigation into her use of a private email server while she was secretary of state. Trump has been dismissive of the seriousness of accusations he has made against others, including when he alleged without evidence that President Barack Obama had wiretapped the phones in Trump Tower, an act that would have been illegal. But perhaps the greatest source of risk for Trump is in the allegation that in February he asked then-FBI Director James Comey to drop the investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn. According to Comey's associates, Comey documented the comments in a memo written directly after he left the Oval Office meeting with Trump in February. And he prepared for meetings with Trump meticulously, concerned that the businessman president who has no previous political experience in Washington or with the law would push against legal and ethical limits. Asked whether he had had such a conversation with Comey, Trump denied it flatly: "No. No, next question," he told reporters during the East Room news conference Thursday. A senior White House official said the president has been presented with options for retaining outside counsel in the case. "The whole Comey situation, that's a different ballgame," said Alan Baron, who has served as special counsel to the House in impeachment proceedings against four federal judges. "It could well be treated as criminal interference into an investigation. Obstruction of justice." Trump's propensity to discuss the case and Comey's firing have only introduced more complications. In an interview days after firing Comey, Trump said that he was thinking of the Russia probe as he decided to do it. In all, Baron said, while Trump maintains his First Amendment rights to free speech, most attorneys would strongly advise their clients against speaking about an ongoing case involving the clients or their associates. "He would be a difficult client to serve," Baron said. "If I'm representing somebody, you don't say anything to anybody without talking to me first. That's my first rule. "If you can't control yourself, just tell me where to send the flowers," he added. Many in the steady stream of headlines about the Russia investigation have been generated by Trump himself, making it more challenging for his administration to refocus on policy issues. After firing Comey as FBI director, Trump suggested on Twitter that there might be "tapes" of his conversations in the White House that he would use to validate his account of his dealings with Comey. The White House will not say whether Trump recorded conversations in the Oval Office. But the comments touched off immediate comparisons to President Richard Nixon - except that rather than keeping the possible existence of tapes a secret, Trump might have spoken publicly about them and opened himself up to future legal challenges. "Nixon was much more circumspect than Donald Trump and, frankly, much more aware of what his own legal exposure was," said Ken Hughes, a scholar at the University of Virginia's Miller Center. "I was stunned when President Trump suggested that he might have tapes of his meetings with director Comey, because those would become the subject of subpoenas. They would be seen as evidence." "Nixon never publicly threatened people with his tapes, because he knew it would backfire on him," said Hughes, whose areas of expertise include secret U.S. presidential recordings. Publicly, according to Hughes, Nixon pledged cooperation with investigators even while he resisted handing over the tapes and privately fumed about efforts to sabotage his administration. Trump has aired such grievances publicly nearly weekly, arguing that he is being treated unfairly by the news media and by his Democratic opponents. Meanwhile, White House aides hope the president's upcoming foreign trip will help them shift the agenda back to firmer ground. But with nearly 30 million Twitter followers, Trump has resisted giving up his ability to battle the news media and investigators through a tool that he believes allows him to cut through the filter of the mainstream media. "Donald Trump should start every morning with a tweet about what he is doing that day to help working-class Americans," said Republican strategist Alex Conant. "Instead, his morning tweets make it clear how much the Russia story is distracting him and his White House." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate In a bluntly worded letter, Uber ordered a star engineer to return any purloined Waymo documents, or deny under oath having stolen them, and threatened to fire him if he doesnt comply. Ubers letter to Anthony Levandowski, written Monday by Uber general counsel Salle Yoo and made public late Thursday, is the latest salvo in the case of Waymo vs. Uber. Waymo, the self-driving car unit of Google parent company Alphabet, says its former employee Levandowski illegally downloaded 14,000 documents and brought that stolen technology to Uber to help fast-track its race to develop robot vehicles. In February, Waymo sued Uber and its subsidiary Otto, a startup founded by Levandowski, alleging unfair competition, patent infringement and the theft of trade secrets. Uber wrote the four-page letter under a court order. U.S. District Judge William Alsup, in a ruling released Monday, said Waymo had compelling evidence of Levandowskis alleged downloading, and ordered Uber to return the documents to Waymo by May 31. Alsup also barred Levandowski from working on a form of laser sensor called lidar, the technology that Waymo claims Uber copied. Uber, which denies wrongdoing, has testified that it scoured its computers but has been unable to locate any of the materials. While we have respected your personal liberties, it is our view that the courts order requires us to make these demands of you, Yoo wrote to Levandowski. We insist that you do everything in your power to assist us in complying with the order. She gave him until Wednesday to comply. Citing his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination, Levandowski has refused to testify in the case. He has extended those rights to his personal laptop, leading to Alsups speculation in court that the stolen documents might be on that device. Uber addressed that issue. This letter requires you to turn over information wherever located, including but not limited to, your personal devices, and to waive any Fifth Amendment protection you may have, Yoo wrote. The letter sets up a showdown between Uber and the man whose company it paid $680 million to acquire a man who is a close confidant of Uber CEO Travis Kalanick. I feel like were brothers from another mother, Kalanick said of Levandowski, according to Bloomberg, which reported the CEO courting the engineer during long evening walks in San Francisco from SoMa to the Golden Gate Bridge. When Uber bought Otto, Kalanick put Levandowski in charge of Ubers self-driving research, an effort the CEO considers crucial to his companys future. As the lawsuit heated up this month, Uber said it demoted Levandowski to be the No. 2 person on that team and recused him from work on lidar, as the judge later ordered. Levandowskis attorneys filed a motion Thursday asking Alsup to modify his order to protect their clients Fifth Amendment rights. The judge overstepped his bounds by setting up a coercive choice for the engineer between preserving his livelihood and preserving his constitutional rights, they argued. The stakes for Levandowski and Uber are high. Alsup has referred the case to federal prosecutors for possible investigation of trade-secret theft. Mr. Levandowski is faced with a clear possibility of prosecution, his lawyers wrote. If found guilty, Levandowski could face up to 10 years of jail time, said Christopher Broderick, an intellectual property lawyer in Los Angeles who is not involved in the case. If Uber is found complicit in the theft of trade secrets, it could face fines of up to three times the value of the stolen technology a potentially staggering sum as autonomous vehicles are expected to become a multitrillion-dollar industry. It is difficult to gauge how much this could be because the value of self-driving car technology is so valuable it is difficult to quantify, Broderick said in an email. Waymo has alleged that Uber did not have Levandowski sign an agreement to cordon off technology acquired elsewhere before joining Uber, although other engineers typically did so. Yoos letter spelled out that prohibition, although it comes many months after Levandowski joined Uber. On Wednesday, Yoo assumed a new role as Uber chief legal officer, meaning she will no longer directly oversee Ubers legal battles such as the Waymo lawsuit. Carolyn Said is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @csaid A black man turns from a police officer and puts a cigarette in his pocket. The officers stops him, handcuffs him, questions him about illegal drugs and outstanding warrants. It's the kind of interaction that happens every day. But in Alexandria, Virginia, two years ago, the black man Officer Brandon Smith stopped was so insulted that he called his brother, Earl L. Cook., who happened to be the chief of police. Earl Cook told his brother that he could file a complaint, and Smith was fired for a stop deemed illegal and racially biased. But a new chief has rehired him, and supporters say it was Smith who was mistreated. The dispute may not be over. The man who was stopped, Harold Cook, is consulting with an attorney about taking further action. The case sheds light on the way cities nationwide are grappling with disputes over how often - and why - black men are detained by police. Last year, the president of the largest police management organization apologized for historical mistreatment of minorities by officers, and President Barack Obama had pushed for better training to confront racial bias in police forces. President Donald Trump, expressing concern that police were not getting needed support, has pushed back against what he describes as "unfair defamation and vilification." Earl Cook says there needs to be accountability for even small instances of discrimination to build trust and avoid bigger confrontations. "Investigative stops is a hot-button item, has been for a long, long time. And unfortunately, we haven't been immune in the police department from some stops that are ill advised," said Cook, who retired last year. "If you turn a blind eye, then you're not only emboldening that person who transgressed but you're also, I think, lessening the justice for the victim." Smith did not respond to requests for comment. But the police union and others in city government say that he was unjustly fired over what was, at most, a minor mistake. Smith himself argued in court that nepotism was a factor. Smith "is a proactive officer who knows the law and applies it fairly and accurately," said Will Oakley, Smith's union representative in the department. "You see in other cities the racial issues, the heavy-handed policing - you don't see that here. The rank-and-file officers aren't going to tolerate racial bias, the union wouldn't support anybody with racial bias." Although such personnel disputes are usually secret, the details of the complaint against Smith were made public when he filed a lawsuit fighting his termination. The encounter began as Cook, 59, was going to do laundry near his home on July 16, 2015 and saw Smith pull up in an unmarked police cruiser. He says he paid the officer no mind. He was coming off a long day with his fiancee, who was undergoing cancer treatment. Cook had two bottles of detergent in one hand and an unlit cigarette in the other; he turned around and put the cigarette in his pocket to fish out the keys to his truck. When Smith repeatedly yelled "Stop!" Cook recalled assuming that the officer was calling to someone else. But Smith told investigators he thought Cook was ignoring a demand from an officer and hiding something in his pocket. It "looked like a cigarette," Smith said in interviews with investigators, but could have been a "joint" or a "dipper," slang for a cigarette soaked in PCP. According to both men's accounts, Smith approached Cook, pulled the hand holding the cigarette out of his pocket and handcuffed him. Cook said Smith then pulled out his wallet and ran his license plate for outstanding warrants. Cook recalled that Smith continued to suggest that the cigarette contained illegal drugs. He says he protested, saying he had a sick fiancee at home. By the way, he added, his brother was the city's police chief. Smith thought Cook was probably lying. He asked whether he and the chief shared a mother, a question Cook found offensive. According to court documents, Smith later said that he thought it would be less likely that two black people would share a father. But Smith soon decided not to continue the arrest; he uncuffed Cook and left. Cook said he called the station but was unable to get any information about filing a complaint. That night, he called his brother. "It was on my mind so much," Cook recalled. "Why would you do this? I wanted an apology, or something." Chief Cook told his brother to contact Smith's supervisor, which he did. The chief recused himself from the investigation. Smith was fired. Despite a hearing at which 14 members of the police department and seven city prosecutors testified on his behalf, Smith's termination was upheld twice. "My review leads me to think that the articulation for the stop was contrived and therefore I am left to reason that the subject's race was the basis for the stop," Deputy Chief David Huchler wrote, according to court filings. Huchler said Cook's turning around was not "furtive." To the charge of nepotism, an arbiter from city government noted that both men had connections to officials. Smith's wife is a prosecutor for the Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney. Huchler denied that Earl Cook had any influence on the investigation. Smith's final chance to keep his job - a hearing before a three-person panel - was held up over a dispute with city officials over the panel's leader. Smith filed the civil lawsuit, saying that his rights were violated. That case was still unresolved in March when new police chief Michael L. Brown decided that Smith should be rehired. He exonerated Smith of all charges. "Our department does not pursue action against the subject of any criminal, civil, or administrative complaint, including Police personnel, unless the evidence and the law support the complaint," Brown said in a statement. Several supporters were happy to see Smith vindicated. "He made a mistake," said Sheriff Dana Lawhorne, who considered hiring Smith after he was fired by the police department, referring to Smith's question about Cook's mother. "It doesn't make him a racist, and it certainly doesn't mean you should fire him for it. That's a training issue; it's not a fireable offense and it doesn't add up to biased policing." Just a month before his dismissal, according to police records, Smith was commended for his proactiveness - and his knowledge of the Constitution. Blaine Corle, who retired from the department in 2014 as a lieutenant, said that under Earl Cook the department was too quick to dole out discipline. "When you talk about taking away someone's livelihood, you have to be sure that the facts support the action and . . . that the punishment fits the crime - and that's what I found to be lacking in a number of cases," Corle said. But several defense attorneys in Alexandria said that Smith's transgressions go deeper than one unnecessary stop or awkward query, and that he has crossed legal lines when making searches or arrests in the past. "Smith . . . generally showed a blatant disregard for the values and rights he says he has sworn to uphold," said Sandra Freeman, a former public defender now working in North Dakota. Mentioned in the court papers defending Smith's dismissal were arrests he had made charging women with prostitution at a local Day's Inn while not assigned to do so. Smith was suspended for insubordination. To keep him on as an officer after the Cook stop and his previous disciplinary record, Huchler concluded in his report, would be "negligent." Harold Cook is considering his own lawsuit against Smith and possibly the city. He has his brother's support. "I'll never not have 100 percent loyalty to the Alexandria Police Department," Earl Cook said. "The only thing that gives me any comfort in this uncomfortable situation is that you have to do the right thing. And I don't think there's any betrayal in doing the right thing." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Sitting in a folded chair on a dirt lot in Montgomery, US Army veteran Sergeant Demitra Jarrett held her phone up in the air with swollen eyes and a smile. "It's not an interview," she said overwhelmed with emotion to her son Marvin Jarrett, 19, in California during a Facetime call. "It's a home." Jarrett and her mom, Gloria of California were under the impression they were going through a preliminary interview process Thursday morning with Operation FINALLY HOME for a mortgage-free home. The national nonprofit organization is dedicated to building homes for wounded, ill or injured veterans, and their families. Little did she know, the organization and its partner Coventry Homes had already decided to build the Woodforest home for her as a "deserving American hero" She rolled into the Woodforest master-planned community by Johnson Development escorted by Patriot Guard Riders and to her surprise was greeted by about 100 residents, builders, developers-including Woodforest vice president and general manager Virgil Yoakum-first responders, law enforcement, and others waving American flags and cheering as they welcomed her to the site of her future custom-built, mortgage-free Texas home. Jarrett broke down. "This is more than just a home," said Jarrett who tearfully shared during the ceremony that she struggles every day to find a reason to get out of bed after her military experience. "It's hope for me. You guys will never know. This is hope for me to keep going and keep volunteering to find my purpose." Jarrett is a single mother who served in the Army from 2002 to 2013, according to her Operation Finally Home caseworker Deb Kane. She suffered a serious traumatic brain injury and back injury from a blast during her first of three combat deployments while in Iraq in 2003. Despite her injuries and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, she returned to Iraq in 2006 and Kuwait in 2007. In 2012, she was accepted into officer's candidate school, but due to her deteriorating health condition was unable to attend. She received numerous awards, including the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal and more. "This is not a gift" Operation FINALLY HOME Vice President of Construction Lee Kirgan said. "This is something you earned with your blood on the battlefield." Today, Jarrett battles lupus, a chronic inflammatory disease that occurs when the body's immune system attacks the tissues and organs, which prompted her need to move to a warm climate. She chose to move to Texas where she was once stationed at Ft. Hood, has family, and can be close to the Houston area medical care she needs. While she lives with her mother's assistance, she is pursuing a Master's degree in psychology and plans to earn a PhD in endocrinology and rheumatology with the goal to cure lupus and to help provide coping skills for fellow veterans coping with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, which she also combats. Gloria Jarrett, a veteran's widow, shared Marvin was excited upon hearing the news during the phone call. The home means a "great deal" to the family. "It gives me inner strength to see what she has earned in her life," Gloria Jarrett said. " This home is going to help her a great deal. It's going to give her strength. I told her, 'you did this'" U.S. Air Force Veteran and Montgomery resident Christine Russell applauded from the crowd. "It's certainly very inspiring to see a community come together around somebody so deserving," Russell said. Kenneth Wood with MHI McGuyer Homebuilders anticipates the home will be built within 90 days. MHI McGuyer Homebuilders President Gary Tesch estimates 60-plus trades and vendor companies from the Greater Houston area, who donated or discounted services and materials, were involved in the project, including several employees from Montgomery County. This is the second house for the homebuilder to help provide with the partners. "Doing something for the veterans and seeing the emotion of what we did-it breaks your heart," said Tesch. "It's so fulfilling at the same time to give back. Everybody rallies around it. Everybody wants to be a part of it and do their best." Our Lady of the Lake University has received the largest gift in school history, money that will benefit the schools communication sciences and disorders program. Elizabeth Carrow Woolfolk, a former faculty member at OLLU and pioneer in language theory and assessment, founded the universitys Harry Jersig Speech-Language-Hearing Center in 1955. The clinic provides speech language pathology and audiology services for children and adults. Woolfolk and her husband, who live in Houston, are making two donations that together will surpass the schools previous largest donation, $2 million from oil executive and philanthropist Bill Greehey in 2010. The first gift, of $1 million, will expand the universitys Communication Sciences and Disorders program into the Elizabeth Carrow Woolfolk and Robert M. Woolfolk School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, bolstering the curriculum and creating a speech pathology doctoral program. The couples second donation, in an undisclosed amount, will establish the Woolfolk Center for Research in Language Disorders. In an interview, Woolfolk said shed like the center to develop a data bank of tests and profiles of children with disorders to strengthen diagnoses for conditions such as autism. Weve got a lot of wonderful things that weve done for people. Its exciting, said Woolfolk, 89. Its one of the types of disorders that you can really do something about. Woolfolk received her bachelors from what was then Our Lady of the Lake College in 1949, and earned a masters at the University of Texas at Austin in deaf education and a doctorate from Northwestern University in speech and language. For a time, she was a nun with the Congregation of Divine Providence. She headed up the program in speech pathology and audiology at UT Austin and also joined the faculty at the Baylor College of Medicine, where she headed its Speech Pathology Program and helped establish clinics at three Houston hospitals, including Texas Childrens Hospital, she said. Over her career, she became well-known for developing assessments to help determine the extent and nature of patients language disorders. She is the author of multiple books, textbooks and journal articles. Eva Nwokah, a professor and department chair of OLLUs Communication Sciences and Disorders program, said the donations are an outgrowth of recent attempts to enhance the program. Woolfolks gift, she said, will help preserve her legacy at the university. We have a long history of training speech language pathology, Nwokah said. This gift is a wonderful gift that will help us really expand and develop, and build on the programs that have existed for a long time. lcaruba@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Steven Sanchez would have been a senior at another high school if it hadnt been for the efforts and attention of the late Taft High School Principal Tommy Garcia. I was devastated (by the possibility of) having to leave so close to my senior year, Sanchez recalled. He spent a lot of time in meetings with administrators for me. Garcia, who led the school for almost 13 years, died Tuesday after suffering a heart attack. He was 56. On Thursday, Sanchez, with the help of other students and alumni, organized a vigil in Garcias memory, drawing a crowd of more than 100 people on the campus band practice pad, from students to staff, parents, and alumni. Garcias sister Marti Garcia said she and other relatives were surprised at the outpouring of support, as well as the effect he had on students and teachers. Ive gotten to see Taft as his other family, Garcia said, standing in front of white sheets with handwritten messages to his family. It was great to witness that. Vice Principal Martha Marti Fernandez, who has been a Taft administrator with Garcia for 10 years, said everything he did was for his students, even in his time off. He would text me or send a photo whenever he got an idea about a new initiative, Fernandez said. He would call just to bounce around ideas. Attendees took turns addressing the crowd, recalling his outreach and friendliness. Justin Crosby, a 2013 alumnus, remembered the concern Garcia showed him while he was growing up as the child of a single mother. If I did something wrong, he pulled me into his office and asked Whats going on at home? Hows your mom? Your brother? Crosby said, holding back tears. Fernandez said Garcia had an iron fist, when it came to holding students, teachers and administrators accountable. He followed the Northside ISD handbook down to a T, she said, smiling. Thursdays memorial service at the school were open to the public. jbeltran@express-news.net Staff Writer Silvia Foster-Frau contributed to this report. CORRECTION: This report was updated to correct that the schools memorial service was held Thursday evening. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate On Tuesday evening, Lewisville resident Lavinia Masters went for a walk on her neighborhood trail and a chilling message scribbled on the ground stopped her in her tracks. "Help me" was written on the sidewalk in front of a bench where Masters had just seen a woman pause during her walk with a man. HARSH REALITY: Human trafficking on the rise across the nation "I'm coming back and I see this man and this lady and the guy was ahead of the lady with a dog and the lady was behind him. She stopped over at the bench - scribbling something and messing with trash on the ground. He turns and she quickly picks up the trash around her and walks back to him," Masters says during a Facebook Live video. Periodically, Masters said the woman would look back at her and make eye contact. Once Masters got to the bench and saw the "help me" message, she realized why. "I felt completely helpless and that is one of the worst feelings in the world," Masters said, recalling the moment she realized that this woman could be a victim of human trafficking, domestic violence or assault. Masters wanted to run to the woman to save her, but she didn't want both of them to be injured. The couple crossed the street and "vanished." Masters called the police in hopes that they could help her find the couple. MAJOR TIME: Boy, 14, could face life as sex offender for sex with girlfriend, 12 Fifteen minutes later, officers with the Lewisville Police Department arrived to do a wellness check on the area, but didn't find the couple. Though the couple was not found and the message wasn't confirmed as legitimate or as a prank, Masters is still determined to use her experience to raise awareness. "We have got to learn how to pay attention to the things that are happening around us," Masters said. "We have got to recognize when someone may be in distress or if something just doesn't feel right - or something doesn't look right. "You just never know what people are going through and we have to pay attention to our surroundings. We have to pay attention when it seems like someone is in distress. It doesn't hurt to dial 911. It's okay to let the police know." Captain Scott Haynes of the Lewisville Police Department told Chron.com that he fears there may have been a delay in her call to the police. "We did respond to her and listen to her concerns," Captain Haynes told Chron.com. "For us, we always recommend to be aware of their surroundings. She did the right thing in calling the police, but unfortunately it was too late." After a search of the park by the officers, the couple was never found by the police. According to a recent University of Texas report, there are nearly an estimated 160,000 minors who are sex trafficking victims. Click through the gallery above to learn the numbers behind human trafficking, both labor and sex victims. ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: 313,000 Texans are now human-trafficking victims AUSTIN San Antonio-area chambers of commerce doubled down on their opposition to a so-called bathroom bill in light of Lt. Gov. Dan Patricks threat to force to special session unless it passes. The proposal would affect which public bathrooms transgender people can use, either by outright requiring them to use the facilities that align with the sex on their birth certificate or forbidding local ordinances that protect them from discrimination in that area. Specifically, we are concerned about the ramifications a bathroom bill or any related amendment language would have on our tourism industry and local economy, said a letter addressed to Gov. Greg Abbott and the Bexar County legislative delegation. The letter was signed by Councilwoman Rebecca J. Viagran, who is on the Visit San Antonio board of directors; Richard Perez, CEO and president of the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce; Ramiro A. Cavazos, CEO and president of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Duane Wilson, CEO and president of the North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce; Al Arreola Jr., CEO and president of the South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce; and Casandra Matej, CEO and president of Visit San Antonio. San Antonio is made stronger by people from diverse backgrounds, and we thank you for your support in opposing any legislation that would create the harmful perception that we are not a welcoming community, said the letter dated Wednesday. A letter the same day from the Metro 8 chambers Arlington, Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio - made the same point. The chambers said they have heard first hand from potential investors that any attempt to regulate bathroom usage will have a negative impact on the states reputation. Workforce talent recruitment will also be limited by any bathroom restrictions. Texas cannot afford such legislation. Patrick says polls show support for the measure, including a survey that couched the question in terms of whether it should be illegal for a man to enter a public womens restroom, locker room or shower. He also has cited backing from pastors of megachurches. Senate Bill 6, as approved by the Senate, would specify that people use restrooms, dressing rooms and locker rooms in government buildings, schools and universities that align with the sex on their birth certificates. It would affect transgender people, although backers say its aimed not at them but at thwarting sexual predators and protecting Texans privacy and safety. House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, has strongly opposed that measure. The House hasnt taken action on SB 6 or on a measure presented by some House Republicans as an alternative. House Bill 2899 would prohibit city and school district policies that protect groups from discrimination if those groups arent already protected by state or federal law such as transgender people. It would affect only policies on restrooms, locker rooms and changing facilities. Patrick has said this bill is acceptable. A bathroom amendment perhaps narrowly tailored to schools could be added to another piece of legislation before the regular session ends May 29. Forensics experts testified Thursday that the gunman who shot a Stone Oak homeowner to death in 2015 was at least 2 to 3 feet away when the weapon discharged, and that it is unclear whether the suspect fired from inside or outside of his car. The trial of Richard Luis Amezquita, 37, began Tuesday. He was selling home security systems door-to-door when he was arrested and charged with murder in the fatal shooting Nov. 7, 2015, of Kerry OToole, 53, who lived in the 1000 block of Visor Drive in the Stone Oak area on the Far North Side. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Early Friday morning, San Antonio Fire Department Chief Charles Hood asked for prayers following news that one firefighter had died and two others were injured while battling a 4-alarm blaze on the Northwest Side. San Antonians fulfilled his request, as thousands of tributes and prayers for the department, the injured firefighters and the family of the firefighter who was killed, 6-year veteran Scott Deem, poured in on social media. RELATED: Firefighter killed in major fire in the Northwest Side "Those who put their lives on the line to serve others deserve our deepest respect, and we can never say thank you enough," said Governor Greg Abbott in a written statement. "In the days to come, we ask that all Texans join us in sending their well wishes to those injured in this incident for a full and speedy recovery, and in keeping everyone affected by this fire in their thoughts and prayers." Deem's loss was the first on-duty death for the San Antonio Fire Department in over 20 years, with the last instance being May 4, 1997, when Fire Apparatus Operator Jesse F. Bricker, Jr., 47, had a heart attack while battling a fire. According to Chief Hood, Deem died after he became trapped inside a flaming strip mall in the 6700 block of Ingram Road. Firefighters had responded to the blaze around 9 p.m., and by 11 p.m., Deem was unaccounted for. Hood said conditions inside the building changed at some point during the battle, forcing an evacuation, but Deem never made it out. "It was a very rough decision to leave a firefighter behind. That is not what we do, but we had the risk of losing probably an additional 15 to 20 firefighters if we did not go defensive on this fire," Hood said in a brief statement to the media. RELATED: Bexar deputies crash during pursuit on West Side; suspect at large Two other firefighters were injured in the blaze and were recovering in area hospitals Friday morning. "There is certainly no greater sacrifice than that of those who lay down their lives in service to the community," said Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar in a Facebook post. "While there is no way to truly express the sorrow that we feel, as a community we mourn alongside the brave men and women of the San Antonio Fire Department and their families." Mayor Ivy Taylor and Ron Nirenberg, the two mayoral candidates engaged in a runoff, took to social media to express their condolences for Deem's family and the San Antonio Fire Department. "This is definitely a sad night in our City," Taylor said. "I'm reminded of the critical yet dangerous role our fire crews play. Their service goes beyond their own safety, and we are forever grateful." Nirenberg asked San Antonians to keep the Deem family and the fire department in their prayers. "Scott's life will be forever honored by the memory of his selfless service to our city," he said. Text "NEWS" to 77453 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com cdowns@mysa.com Twitter: @calebjdowns Texas Top 10 Percent Rule for college admissions appears poised to survive another legislative session, according to the author of the leading bill to repeal or peel it back. Senate Higher Education Chairman Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, said he doesnt have enough Republican support to get Senate Bill 2119 to the Senate floor. That means the issue is likely dead for 2017, he said. There werent the votes, Seliger said. Currently, any student who graduates in the top 10 percent of his or her high schools graduating class receives automatic admission to any public university in the state except the University of Texas at Austin, where the threshold is 7 percent. Seliger initially proposed repealing the rule entirely. He later updated his bill to keep the rule in place, but in a more limited way. Under the latest version of his bill, each school could cap automatic admissions at 30 percent of its incoming freshman class. That would significantly impact admissions at UT-Austin, where about three-quarters of each freshman class is automatically admitted. Many suburban parents and students from competitive school districts loathe the bill because they say it makes it harder to gain admission into UT-Austin. Seliger wanted to change the rule because it represented big government. The universities, not the state, should be in charge of setting admissions standards, he said. But Seliger couldnt get the 19 votes needed to get the item up for consideration on the floor of the 31-member Senate. He said the reason the bill wasnt getting the necessary votes is because of self-professed small government Republicans. The Top 10 Percent Rule was created in 1997 to increase diversity at state schools. The thinking behind it is that not all high schools are created equal. Schools in poor urban or rural areas tend to have fewer resources than the wealthy suburban schools. The poorer students come from less-educated families and tend to do worse on the SAT. Sometimes they cant afford extracurricular activities. But none of those disadvantages matter under the Top 10 Percent Rule. UT-Austin, meanwhile, has raised complaints that the rule eliminates its freedom to compile its student body to its choosing and restricts admission to largely one metric class rank. Most Democrats still support the bill. But Seliger said he was dismayed to learn that there were not enough Republicans on board. This is one of the worst examples of big government because we have got the Legislature determining admissions to one university to no real end, he said. Seliger said he didnt know of any other avenue to get a change to the rule approved in the Capitol this session. But he said he expects the issue will come up again in the 2019 legislative session. The situation could soon become magnified at Texas A&M University, too, he said. The share of top 10 percent students enrolled at A&M is nearing 60 percent. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate AUSTIN Reminded of the horrific stories of people killed in crashes caused by texting drivers, the Texas Senate voted 23-8 Friday to ban the practice statewide. By passing this bill, we will save lives. Thats the most important thing we can do as legislators, said Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, who championed the measure with Rep. Tom Craddick, R-Midland. The legislation gained renewed attention after a head-on collision on March 29 killed 13 people heading back to New Braunfels after a church retreat in Leakey. National Transportation Safety Board officials said the driver who crossed the center line into oncoming traffic, Jack Young, told them he was checking his phone for a text at the time of the accident. That crash was among the tragedies cited during Senate floor debate, but a senator who opposed the measure pointed out that there were other issues raised besides texting. Investigators said they found prescription drugs and marijuana in Youngs vehicle. Im sorry, that was not a texting accident, said Sen. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, who argued that there are reasonable uses of the device while you are driving. House Bill 62 as amended in the Senate would establish a misdemeanor offense punishable by a fine of up to $99 on a first offense of using a hand-held device to read, write or send texts while operating a moving vehicle. A second offense would be punishable by a fine of $100 to $200. If the action killed or seriously injured another person, it would be a Class A misdemeanor. There would be exceptions for such things as using a GPS device for directions. Hands-free use for talking would not be affected by the bill. The bill already has passed the House and will return to that chamber for consideration of Senate amendments. Craddick said Friday he will ask the House to concur in the changes and send the measure to Gov. Greg Abbott for his consideration. A spokesman for Abbott didnt comment Friday when asked whether the governor supported the bill. Craddick told the San Antonio Express-News in April that Abbott had said he would back such legislation when he was asked about it at a 2015 fundraiser in Midland. We expect him to do what he said he would do, Craddick said Friday. Passage of the bill came after the Senate rejected a proposed amendment by Taylor that would have required that an officer both see the use of the hand-held device and that its use be established by other evidence in order for the offense to be prosecuted. Taylor said he agreed with increasing penalties when serious bodily injury and death occur. But he said that in general, using a cellphone is no more dangerous than other things people do while driving. It is unsafe to text and drive, Taylor said. It is also unsafe to eat a hamburger and drive. A texting ban was approved by lawmakers in 2011, but then-Gov. Rick Perry vetoed it, calling it a government effort to micromanage the behavior of adults. Zaffirini, who has been working to pass the measure for a decade, said the ban would be a deterrent. There are people who text and drive, including some senators, who said that they will not text and drive when it is illegal, she said. Now, it will be illegal. pfikac@express-news.net Twitter: @pfikac A priest was recently arrested on the suspicion of driving drunk after he crashed into a ditch in Zapata County, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. Angel Valenciano-Cancino, 38, was arrested May 10 and charged with driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor. He is out on bond from the Zapata County Regional Jail. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 LM Otero, STF / Associated Press Show More Show Less 2 of 3 LM Otero, STF / Associated Press Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to stop the clock on more than a dozen lawsuits it has pending against the agency over new regulations. In a letter sent this week, Paxton urged the EPA, now run by former Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, to reconsider 12 rules related to climate change, clean air and wetlands protection. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 New Braunfels Police Department Show More Show Less 2 of 3 New Braunfels Police Department Show More Show Less 3 of 3 New Braunfels police need help in tracking down a man who allegedly robbed a Well Fargo bank earlier Friday morning, according to a news release. The incident occurred about 9:07 a.m. at the branch in the 800 block of Loop 337 where a man entered the bank, handed a note to a teller demanding cash, then fled the scene with an undisclosed amount, according to the news release. A Russian news site recently claimed that three UFOs "several times the size of the Earth" were photographed zipping past the Sun by a NASA spacecraft. Fortunately, the "three cylindrical objects" aren't cylindrical at all: They're the planet Mercury orbiting around the Sun. Editor's Note: This is a work of satire Marking a potentially big turnaround in rocky U.S.-Mexico relations, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto on Wednesday offered to pay for President Trump's impeachment instead of a $21.6 billion border wall separating the two nations. "We would pay for the 'whole enchilada,'" Pena Nieto told reporters on the steps of the National Palace in Mexico City. "Impeachment is far cheaper than a border wall, and frankly, no one will want an expensive border wall after Trump's gone, anyway." Budget deficit hawks and even some GOP leaders welcomed Pena Nieto's offer, which comes amid growing calls for Trump's impeachment for his part in a series of scandals that has rocked Washington and plunged the White House into chaos. "While the cost of impeachment is just a drop in the bucket of the multi-trillion dollar federal budget, every little bit helps," said Sen. John McCain, effusively praising the Mexican financial offer at a news conference. "And it's time to get this idiot out of office anyway." The Trump administration, for its part, expressed doubt that Mexico would actually come up with the money. "Given that our free-loading southern neighbor already stiffed us on paying for the wall, Mexico has zero credibility in the eyes of this administration and, I think you'd all agree, with the American people as well," White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters at a press briefing today. "Next question?" Allegations of wrongdoing intensified this week with reports that Trump asked former FBI director James Comey to end a criminal probe into former national security advisor, Michael Flynn, triggering accusations Trump may have obstructed justice, a potentially impeachable offense. The Justice Department then appointed a special prosecutor to investigate the Trump campaign's alleged meddling and missteps, amid reports the president leaked highly classified information to Russian spies in the Oval Office last week. The GOP has indicated it would not include money for Trump's border wall in its fiscal 2017 budget, and the Department of Homeland Security has estimated that the 1,250 mile series of walls and fences pushed by Trump would cost as much as $21.6 billion. In contrast, the most recent U.S. impeachment, of former President Clinton, added up to about $80 million, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Mexico's timely offer could bring a much-needed thaw in U.S.-Mexico relations, which iced up after Trump's insistence during the 2016 presidential campaign that America's southern neighbor bear the full cost of a wall to block out Mexican rapists, murderers and drug pushers. Mexico's refusal to pay prompted Trump to threaten to retaliate with a border tax on Mexican imports to cover the wall's cost. While Trump's impeachment would cost far less than a 1,250 mile wall, Pena Nieto said paying for the former would achieve a similar result: removing a huge thorn in Mexico's side. "If Trump goes away, then he can't bother us anymore about paying for a wall. So we achieve the intended result at far lower cost," Pena Nieto pointed out. If you enjoyed this satire, David Kalish is the author of an award-winning comedic novel, The Opposite of Everything, a tongue-in-cheek twist on what happened when his marriage and health went bad at the same time. His essay, "A Path to Fatherhood, With Morning Sickness," appeared in The New York Times, as a Modern Love column. It is the homestretch for the 85th legislative session in Austin. There is much work still to be done. I am continuing to push for conservative legislation that truly benefits all of House District 16, Montgomery County and the entire state of Texas. Around the Capitol May 11 at midnight was the deadline to pass all House bills on second reading. That deadline passed with hundreds of bills still waiting to be debated on the floor. Some bills were good bills that should have passed, while others were not. We are a naturally conservative state, so we have a process that is designed to kill bills and make it difficult to pass legislation into law. One of the final bills passed before the midnight deadline was House Bill 810. As our world continues research for cures to disease and sickness, potential treatments for numerous illnesses are being blocked by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration bureaucratic process. Unfortunately, thousands of patients must travel out of the United States every year to receive adult stem cell treatments that are currently prohibited in the United States. House Bill 810 creates a pathway for Texas to become the first state to allow terminally ill and chronically diseased patients to utilize their own biological, lifesaving stem cells to treat serious conditions in a more expedient manner. During the 84th legislative session, House Bill 21, the "Right to Try Act," granted terminally ill patients access to investigational drugs, biological products and devices that have not yet been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. House Bill 661, also known as the "Medical Freedom Act," expands upon the Right to Try Act, by allowing patients with severe chronic diseases access to investigational treatments that the terminally ill now have. House Bill 2962 requires hospitals, emergency care facilities and abortion clinics to report quarterly any complication or injury resulting from an abortion as a specific complication of abortion, rather than a general complication of maternal health, which has been the typical practice. Separating abortion complications from maternal health statistics provides a more accurate picture of both maternal health and the after effects of abortion in Texas. Now the House will turn its attention to Senate bills for the next week until we reach next Tuesday at midnight when all of the Senate bills must be passed on second reading. I have a number of Senate bills that I am shepherding through the process in the House, and I look forward to helping my Senate colleagues with their legislation. The Metcalf Minute I was proud to act as the House sponsor for Senate Concurrent Resolution 52, the companion legislation to my own House Concurrent Resolution 44. This resolution calls on Congress to pass the Care Veterans Deserve Act, S. 2896. This piece of federal legislation makes important changes to the federal system of veteran health care and gives our veterans greater choice and flexibility in receiving their treatments. With all that they have sacrificed for us, we cannot fail our veterans. I am thankful that this legislation passed the House and Senate with great support. I authored House Bills 455 and 1982. House Bill 455, which is on its way to the governor for signature, is a pro-taxpayer bill that makes it easier for property taxpayers to easily protest their appraisal through a phone call rather than having to take time from work to appear at an appraisal hearing. House Bill 1982, signed this week by the governor, is the legislation that transforms the Board of Directors of the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District to elected positions to give Montgomery County voters the chance to choose the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation district's leadership rather than the current system of appointments. I am deeply honored to serve as your state representative. I look forward to continuing my work on behalf of House District 16. May God bless you, your family, and the great State of Texas. Will Metcalf, R-Conroe, represents District 16 in the Texas House of Representatives. Call his office at 936-539-0068. The pleasant surprise of the First 100 Days is over. The action was hectic, heated, often confused, but well within the bounds of normalcy. Policy (e.g., health care) was being hashed out, a Supreme Court nominee confirmed, foreign policy challenges (e.g. North Korea) addressed. Donald Trumps character volatile, impulsive, often self-destructive had not changed since the campaign. But it seemed as if the guardrails of our democracy Congress, the courts, the states, the media, the Cabinet were keeping things within bounds. Then came the last 10 days. The country is now caught in the internal maelstrom that is the mind of Donald Trump. We are in the realm of the id. Chaos reigns. No guardrails can hold. Normal activity disappears. North Koreas launch of an alarming new missile and a problematic visit from the president of Turkey (locus of our most complicated and tortured allied relationship) barely evoke notice. Nothing can escape the black hole of a three-part presidential meltdown. First, the firing of James Comey. Trump, consumed by the perceived threat of the Russia probe to his legitimacy, executes a mindlessly impulsive dismissal of the FBI director. He then surrounds it with a bodyguard of lies attributing the dismissal to a Justice Department recommendation which his staff goes out and parrots. Only to be undermined and humiliated when the boss contradicts them within 48 hours. Result? Layers of falsehoods giving the impression of an elaborate cover-up in the absence of a crime. Here we dont even have a body, let alone a smoking gun. Trump insists theres no there there, but acts as if the there is everywhere. Second, Trumps divulging classified information to the Russians. A stupid, needless mistake. But despite the media hysteria, hardly an irreparable national security calamity. The Israelis, whose asset might have been jeopardized, are no doubt upset, but the notion that this will cause a great rupture to their (and others) intelligence relationship with the U.S. is nonsense. When the Obama administration spilled secrets of the anti-Iranian Stuxnet virus or blew the cover of a double agent in Yemen, there was none of the garment-rending that followed Trumps disclosure. Once again, however, the cover-up far exceeded the crime. Trump had three top officials come out and declare the disclosure story false. The next morning, Trump tweeted he was entirely within his rights to reveal what he revealed, thereby verifying the truth of the story. Is it any wonder, therefore, that when the third crisis hit on Tuesday night the Comey memo claiming that Trump tried to get him to call off the FBI investigation of Michael Flynn Republicans hid under their beds rather than come out to defend the president? Republicans are beginning to panic. One sign is the notion now circulating that, perhaps to fend off ultimate impeachment, Trump be dumped by way of the 25th Amendment. Thats the post-Kennedy assassination measure that provides for removing an incapacitated president on the decision of the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet. This perverts the very intent of the amendment. It was meant for a stroke, not stupidity; for Alzheimers, not narcissism. Moreover, this would be seen by millions as an establishment usurpation to get rid of a disruptive outsider. It would be the most destabilizing event in American political history the gratuitous overthrow of an essential constant in American politics, namely the fixedness of the presidential term (save for high crimes and misdemeanors). Trumps mercurial nature is not the product of a post-inaugural adder sting at Mar-a-Lago. Its been there all along. And the American electorate chose him nonetheless. What to do? Strengthen the guardrails. Redouble oversight of this errant president. Follow the facts, especially the Comey memos. And let the chips fall where they may. But no tricks, constitutional or otherwise. letters@charleskrauthammer.com Indicted state Sen. Carlos Uresti should resign from office. He has no plans to do this. The Democratic lawmaker has called the various fraud, bribery and conspiracy charges against him groundless, and pledged to continue representing District 19 as he makes his case for innocence in court. But if he truly wants to put the interests of his constituents first, he would resign his elected seat. Given the gravity of the charges he faces, it stretches credulity to think Uresti could effectively serve. Case in point: He lost a plum appointment to the Legislative Budget Board in December amid concerns over his involvement with FourWinds Logistics, a bankrupt San Antonio frac-sand company accused of defrauding investors. Express-News reporter Patrick Danner has exhaustively reported the saga around this company and Urestis role in steering investors to it. Allegations have been swirling for months. Three FourWinds officials have pleaded guilty to charges. A fraud lawsuit has been filed. Federal investigators raided Urestis law office in February. And now Uresti faces 13 federal charges potentially carrying more than 200 years in prison. The charges are tied to two different cases. In the FourWinds case, Uresti and others are charged with steering investors to a Ponzi scheme. One of these investors was Denise Cantu, a former legal client of Urestis. He was part of a legal team that represented her in a wrongful death lawsuit. The rear tire on Cantus Ford Explorer blew out, causing a rollover and killing her son and daughter, and two others. She received a $900,000 settlement, and Uresti allegedly encouraged her to invest with FourWinds. She lost most of that money. He received a $27,000 commission. According to the indictment, Uresti, who had a 1 percent ownership stake in FourWinds and incentives to bring in investors, told Cantu she would do better with FourWinds than other investment options. Uresti is not a registered securities broker. He has said legal counsel told him he does not need to be. But this point is open to debate. An investment is also a security if it is sold for the purpose of raising money for a company. One of the key questions Uresti faces is whether he used his elected position to woo investors to FourWinds. Uresti never invested his own money in FourWinds, which went bankrupt in 2015 with more than $14 million in debt. Federal officials say new investments into FourWinds were used to pay off another investor, making it a Ponzi scheme. In the other case, Uresti and Lubbock businessman Vernon C. Farthing III are accused of bribing a Reeves County official to secure a contract. That indictment alleges that between 2006 and 2016, Farthing paid Uresti $10,000 a month as a consultant. Uresti then funneled about half the money to the official. All defendants are innocent until proven guilty, and Uresti has asserted his innocence. Like anyone else, he deserves fair treatment under the law. But Uresti isnt just anyone else. He is a longtime elected official facing criminal charges. He should resign this post. Yes, if he is found innocent or charges are dismissed, Uresti will have given up his elected position for nothing. But this is about Urestis constituents, not Uresti. Residents of District 19 deserve representation that is focused on their needs and priorities, not one focused on defending federal fraud and bribery charges. Senator, its time to resign. Re: Trump gave out classified details to Russians, front page, Tuesday: Im very disappointed that the Express-News would print that fake news story from the Washington Post on the front page. They quote anonymous sources, no doubt from the Obama administration, that President Donald Trump gave classified info to the Russians. Attributing info gathering to anonymous sources is the cowards way out. Both the White House and the Russians said this did not happen. And even if it did, the president has the highest security clearance and the authority to share classified info with any country he wishes. The Washington Post and New York Times, in their hatred for Trump and their zeal to get him out of office, have devolved into yellow journalism. Shame on the Express-News for following suit. Whats next, a headline declaring that President Trump still beats his wife? Liam Harvie Passive Congress FBI Director James Comey had been investigating the Russians involvement with Donald Trumps staff for months. Recently, according to reports, Comey asked for assistance to continue this vital investigation since Republicans had five times more staffers investigating Hillary Clintons emails. After firing Comey, Trump met with Russian Minister Lavrov and controversial Ambassador Kislyak, whom U.S. intel considers a top spy. Astonishingly, no American reporters were allowed at that meeting with these Russians. Can we really trust this president? The image of collusion is disturbing to many of us, yet we have a Republican Congress sitting on its hands even though they took an oath to represent us and not just to obstruct progress another four years. Adam Castillo Stop the fake news Trump gave out classified details to Russians, front page, Tuesday: You really need to stop republishing fake news from the Washington Post. Alan Walters, Boerne There is a many-layered theme making the rounds amid the Trumpian missteps that threaten to engulf the presidency and plunge the country into crisis. It goes something like this: The people purposely elected an outsider nonpolitician who, if he is making mistakes, is not doing so for corrupt motives. Therefore, the press and Democrats one in the same in many minds are trying to invalidate the election and the popular will (at least as expressed by the Electoral College). There are several problems with this theme. Lets start with one of the core arguments both Trump and his backers offered for why he would make such a great president his utter and incontrovertible brilliance. This newspapers Editorial Board, of which Im an integral part, has opined that in the case of disclosing classified information to the Russians which likely would have been a criminal act for anyone but the president Trump probably acted out of ignorance, bad judgment, naivete and gross inexperience. So, we buy it. Trump is unfamiliar with the workings of government. More on this later. Some Trump supporters, of course, insist there have been no missteps whatsoever in all of the recent Russia-related developments, including the firing of FBI Director James Comey. But denial that missteps occurred is simply a defensive reflex. Most Trump supporters Ive talked to acknowledge the mistakes but attribute them to simple, though legal, error. They say that none of it, even in combination, amounts to the obstruction of justice that those dreaming of impeachment claim. To which, the simple retort is: OK, lets find out. Youd think everyone would want the kind of clearing of the air that a proper investigation would provide. And by proper I refer to an investigation without the taint of partisanship. That means an independent special prosecutor or an independent, congressionally appointed commission. The appointment of former FBI Director Robert Mueller III as special counsel to oversee the FBI investigation that Trump attempted to quash is a positive move in this direction. But its worth noting that, though he will have a degree of autonomy from the Trump/Jeff Sessions Justice Department, it is not as complete as a special prosecutor would have had. He is still subject to some oversight and firing by the deputy attorney general who succumbed to Trump pressure to write the memo making the case for firing Comey. What happens if Trump orders him to fire Mueller at some point? So this appointment does not obviate the need for an independent commission. And this is being mightily resisted in favor of investigations that cant avoid the taint of partisanship. In the case of congressional committee investigations, because the presidents party controls them and, potentially, the outcomes. Trump is unfamiliar with the workings of government? Sure, but the bigger problems are that he is not showing any desire or aptitude for learning on the job and that he appears disdainful of the norms that come with the office. You know, such things as releasing tax returns, avoiding obvious conflicts of interest including those spelled out in the constitutional emoluments clause and fawning over tyrants and inviting them to the White House. Trump is brilliant? Um, no. But stupid? Also a resounding no. He is smart enough to have made a very generous living in the cutthroat world of New York real estate. That means smart enough to know that firing the guy investigating you is going to have the appearance of cover-up. Smart enough to know asking this guy to give up said investigation will have the appearance of obstruction. And because of plentiful experience as plaintiff and defendant, savvy enough to know that asking for the loyalty of the guy doing the investigation can be reasonably viewed as tampering. Now, about the presss role. It is revisionist to insist there wasnt negative coverage of both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton partly why she wasnt elected. But many Trump supporters seem to be saying that any negative coverage of their guy is ipso facto unfair coverage all part of a vast deep-state conspiracy. Ask yourself: If reliable sources or very visible actions point to corrupt behavior, do you not report? Of course, you do. But deflecting attention from the coverage by shooting the messenger? Now, thats brilliant. o.ricardo.pimentel@express-news.net Some Democrats are making a curious argument in opposing plans to end straight-ticket voting in Texas. They're implying that voters who are poor or marginalized are not able go through a ballot to make their decisions contest-by-contest. That's insulting, and it shouldn't derail this long-overdue change. Straight-ticket voting might be easier for true believers in both parties, but it's unfair to the larger electorate. It doesn't promote thoughtful choices or encourage voters to learn more about all candidates. It selects winners based on party affiliation instead of other qualities like a candidate's plans or experience. It politicizes jobs that are essentially non-partisan, like tax assessor-collector or appellate judge. The change would keep voters in the booth a few minutes longer. But turnout levels have been so dismal lately that it's rare to see lines at polling stations, particularly during early voting. And voters can still choose candidates from just one party. They just have to do it individually instead of all at once. Some Democrats have raised similar objections to photo ID for voters, and that's misguided too. Basic requirements like that ensure the integrity of the system for all citizens, regardless of beliefs or backgrounds. If people in America today can show a photo ID to write a check or board an airplane, they can do it for democracy's most important duty. The recent move to end straight-ticket voting is somewhat surprising since the party in power has traditionally opposed it. When Democrats dominated the Legislature and state offices, they thought it was great. When Republicans took over in the 1990s, they suddenly dropped their opposition to it. Whatever the motives now, it's the right call. Only 11 states still allow straight-ticket voting. Twelve have ended it since 1994. That's a positive trend for American democracy. Texas should join it. ----------------------------------- 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. Twelve preschool students were injured in a flash fire caused by a science experiment conducted at a church in Houstons Bunker Hill area. Flash Fire Results in Turmoil and Injuries According to USA Today, the accident occurred at the Yellow School at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church late Tuesday morning. Six of the children were transported to the hospital with burns. One remained hospitalized Tuesday evening. Five other children were treated for less serious burns by private physicians, and one other child was injured after being trampled. All of the injured children were 3 and 4 years old. Employees with the church said the science experiment was being conducted outdoors under supervision. A fire chief later revealed a teacher mixed boric acid with methanol to show flames changing color. The incident is under investigation. Child Burn Injury Statistics The following information is provided by Safe Kids Worldwide and John Hopkins Medicine: 334 children ages 19 and under died from fire or burn injuries in 2013. 87% of those deaths were attributed to home fires. 44% of children who died of fire or burn injuries in 2013 were under the age of 4. The number of child deaths attributed to fires and burns increased 30% from 2012 to 2013, from 257 deaths to 334 deaths. An additional 126,000 children under the age of 19 were seen in emergency rooms for fire and burn injuries in 2013. The majority of children ages 4 and under who are hospitalized for burn related injuries are victims of scald burns. An estimated 75% of all scalding burns in children are preventable. Scalding burns often occur In the bathroom and tend to cover a larger portion of the body than other scald burns still, only 8% percent of adults feel the bathroom is a high risk area for burn and scald accidents. Cooking equipment is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries. Having a working smoke alarm reduces the chances of dying in a home fire by half. Only 23% or homes in the U.S. have and practice a fire escape plan. Contact an Experienced Child Injury Attorney At Thomas J. Henry Injury Attorneys, we have the experience and resources to handle your childs case. If your child has been the victim of a serious injury, contact our offices. We represent clients/victims all over the country. We are available 24/7, nights and weekends. Editors Note: This content is made possible by Thomas J. Henry Personal Injury Law. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of The San Antonio Express-News' or mySanAntonio.com's editorial staff. Learn more about our advertising products at www.hearstmediasanantonio.com. LONDON: Northwest European gasoline refining margins rose on Thursday after stocks in northwest Europe and the United States posted large declines. Gasoline stocks in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) refining and storage hub fell in the week to Thursday by over 9 percent, their third straight weekly decline, data from Dutch consultancy PJK International showed. Gasoline exports rose over the past week, with tankers heading to North America, West Africa and Asia. Shipping reports show nearly 300,000 tonnes of gasoline have been booked in recent days to load in Europe for transatlantic journeys. US gasoline stocks fell last week by 1.5 million barrels, compared with analysts expectations in a Reuters poll for a 350,000-barrel drop, EIA data showed. Saudi Aramco plans to shut the Yanbu oil refinery in Saudi Arabia for planned maintenance for one month from early March, several trading sources said on Wednesday. Venezuela is paying heavy premiums for fuel imports from Russia and Europe, with fewer than a dozen sellers seeing the risk as worth the reward after flows from the United States dried up because of sanctions, trading sources said and data showed.Reuters Speakers from the PHA Summit share their insights on our podcast. ALEXANDRIA, Va. Experts from across the country shared their insights into trends and opportunities related to nutrition during last weeks Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) Summit in Washington, D.C. During the Summit, NACS announced that it was the first retailer-focused association to sign an agreement with PHA, joining more than a dozen other retailer, distributor and supplier member companies. The convenience and fuel retailing industry was a topic of discussion beyond the announcement; our industry was also highlighted in other general session presentations and in workshops. And several speakers also had been featured on these NACS Convenience Matters podcasts: NACS will have more coverage of the PHA Summit and what it means to convenience retailers and their suppliers in NACS Daily, as well as in the July issue of NACS Magazine. By Lambert Strether of Corrente Trade As a candidate, Donald Trump promised to make NAFTA much better for working people. Todays notice is markedly vague. But Trumps NAFTA renegotiation plan that leaked in late March described just what the corporate lobby is demanding: using NAFTA talks to revive parts of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), like expanded investor incentives to offshore jobs that could make NAFTA even worse for working people [Lori Wallach, Public CItizen]. The obvious measure of whether NAFTA renegotiation is intended to benefit working people is if Trump makes clear he will eliminate NAFTAs special investor rights that make it easier to offshore American jobs and attack our laws before tribunals of three corporate lawyers who can award the firms unlimited sums of taxpayer money. If corporate elites are allowed to dictate how NAFTA is renegotiated, the agreement could become more damaging for working families and the environment in the three countries. And modest tweaks will not stop NAFTAs ongoing damage, much less deliver on Trumps promises for a deal that will create American jobs and raise wages. Already the 500 corporate trade advisers who got us into the TPP have been consulted on NAFTA renegotiations, while the few labor advisers were shut out of that March meeting. And the public and Congress are being left in the dark about negotiating plans and goals. Organizations representing grain, produce, dairy and livestock farmers said NAFTA is largely working for their industries, especially the integrated supply chains that allow goods to move freely across borders. Since NAFTAs implementation in 1994, U.S. agricultural exports to Canada and Mexico have more than quadrupled, growing from $8.9 billion in 1993 to $38.6 billion in 2015, USDA data shows [Politico]. Im not sure what the Mexican farmers think about that, though. Fixing Trade Agreements In Five Simple Steps [Electronic Frontier Foundation]. Trade experts agree that without five simple fixes, Americans will continue to reject new trade deals. No. This is all about process, specifically transparency, a favorite neoliberal panacea. Do the experts really think that people wont reject a transparently bad deal? Politics Policy While President Trump and Administration officials have not made their intentions clear in regards to the United States remaining in the Paris Agreement, a large faction of well-known companies have made it very clear they want to remain part of it [Logistics Management], 2020 Is John Kasich finishing the tour, or just getting started? [Matt Bai, Yahoo News]. An enthusiastic, born-again Christian, Kasich criticized an executive order, issued by President Trump the day before, that lifted some restrictions on politicking in places of worship. I dont believe these religious people ought to be endorsing candidates, he said. They ought to be figuring out how to clothe the homeless or feed the poor, not all of this political nonsense.' Especially since government shouldnt be doing that? 2018 Paula Swearengin, 42, is an accounting clerk and single mother of four from Coal City, West Virginia. On March 9, she announced that she would challenge Manchin in the Democratic primary. She is a newcomer to politics and an early beneficiary of Brand New Congress, a political action committee founded by former members of Senator Bernie Sanderss presidential campaign [The New Republic]. Interesting interview: I dont care if the DNC backs me or not. This is a people-funded campaign. The DNC has failed us in many ways here in West Virginia. They failed us when they nominated one of the biggest-polluting coal barons in West Virginia: Governor Jim Justice, who mines three miles from my house and puts silica dust in my childrens lungs. Thats a failure of the Democratic Party. I hope we rise up and realize that, Democratic or Republican, we all have the same set of values. We all want clean water for our children, clean air for them to breathe, and to not worry about our families getting buried miles deep in a coal mine and suffocating to death. 2017 MT-AL: In the race for Montanas at-large House seat, Republican Greg Gianforte led Democratic Rob Quist by six points in a poll conducted by a Democratic super PAC late last month [Roll Call]. FWIW MT-AL: U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders rally Saturday for Rob Quist has been moved to the Adams Center in Missoula, which holds up to 7,500 people [The Missoulian]. Quist, the Democratic candidate for Montanas lone U.S. House seat, was originally set to appear with Sanders, the former Democratic presidential candidate, at the Wilma, which holds 1,400 people with standing-room only. Health Care Harkin: O-Care Should Have Been Single-Payer But We Blew It' [Talking Points Memo (2014)]. We had the votes in 09. We had a huge majority in the House, we had 60 votes in the Senate, Harkin told The Hill, saying that the first Congress of President Barack Obamas administration should have passed single-payer right from the get go or at least put a public option (which) would have simplified a lot.' So when you hear a Democrat loyalist say We didnt have the votes on single payer, you can throw this in their face share this with them. Realignment and Legitimacy Change Dot Ugh: The Popular Petition Site Profits Off Progressivism [Paste]. But the truth is that when you fill out a Change petition, youre giving your information to a company that sells it to the highest bidder. The popular petition site uses your well-intentioned activism to profile you and sell you sponsored content and most of its 150 million reported users dont realize it. Change isnt interested in change. Its interested in profit.Billy Penn (DB)]. Stats Watch No Econoday stats today. State Employment and Unemployment Summary: Unemployment rates were lower in April in 10 states, higher in 1 state, and stable in 39 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Nineteen states had jobless rate decreases from a year earlier, and 31 states and the District had little or no change. The national unemployment rate, 4.4 percent, was little changed from March but was 0.6 percentage point lower than in April 2016 [Bureau of Labor Statistics]. Rail: If coal and grain are removed from the analysis, rail over the last 6 months been declining around 5% but this week it IMPROVED 0.6 % (meaning that the predicitive economic elements improved year-over-year). Also consider rail movements are below 2015 levels even though they are above 2016 levels [Econintersect], Retail: While rivals like Target Corp. are reporting sagging sales and declining foot traffic, Wal-Marts same-store revenue rose 1.4% in the first quarter. The gains complement a 63% surge in U.S. e-commerce sales, and indicate that the companys strategy of investing both in store improvements and online operations is starting to pay off. Those efforts include a campaign to reduce inventory in stores that has placed additional pressures on suppliers. Wal-Mart is also blurring the lines between its e-commerce and brick-and-mortar businesses by encouraging customers to pick up online orders in stores. One problem Wal-Mart hasnt cracked: how to boost sales without sacrificing margins [Wall Street Journal]. Retail: Why predictions of a retail apocalypse are overblown [CNBC]. Brick-and-mortar is not in fact defunct. Instead, it is evolving, and successful retailers are embracing a shopping experience that blends a variety of platforms and that ultimately creates the engagement necessary for a brands success. As shown by the renewed appeal for showrooming in the apparel retail industry, digital retailing and brick-and-mortar are complementary. Retail: How a Lack of Liquidity is Tanking RetailAnd Whos to Blame [Sourcing Journal]. The common culprits blamed for the retail flame out are a shift in consumer shopping habits and the rise of e-commerce sales. And while both have done plenty of damage on their own, one additional factor is responsible for making store chains less able to weather the tempest: a glut of leveraged buyouts that too often have become a business distraction and a financial drain. Real Estate: Blackstone Group LP, the worlds biggest private equity fund, told investors to dial back their expectations for property returns as the great run of the past five years becomes harder to replicate [Bloomberg]. Shipping: Uber Freight finally hits the road by launching brokerage services in Texas [DC Velocity]. It chose to formally start in Texas because of the states large volume of traffic, according to Eric Berdinis, Uber Freights senior product manager. Really? Not regulatory arbitrage? Shipping: With Uber Freight, Travis Takes on Trucking [Wired]. Travis? WTF, Wired? Still, Uber holds an advantage when it comes to software and managing data. But, as in its campaign to topple the taxi industry, it all hinges on pricing. Existing brokerages typically take a 12 percent cut on deals they arrange, Petersen says; Uber isnt revealing its rate, but it has the cash and expertise to do the same job for far less. Cash is a delicate way of saying squillionaires playing the ponies, isnt it? Shipping: [Uber] it appears happy to burn through its cash, a model which could allow it to take less than the typical 12% cut that truck brokerages take [The LoadStar]. [Uber] says it will determine pricing based on market conditions and experience. And the cash. As you just said. The Bezzle: U.S. Startups Fail to Attract Expected Crowd of Small Investors [Bloomberg]. Its been a year since U.S. rules went into effect enabling anyone not just the ultra-wealthy to buy a slice of a startup. Turns out, few are interested. Maybe the marks small investors weret as stupid as Obama and the investment community thought? The Bezzle: Riding Shotgun With Uber CEO Travis Kalanick [Fortune]. Wretched excess in Ubers new headquarters building. Too much stupid money sloshing about. The Bezzle: Snap Inc. is being sued by a former employee who claims the company, parent to social media app, Snapchat, inflated growth metrics ahead of its March 2017 initial public offering. According to his complaint, which was initially filed in January in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Anthony Pompliano alleges that he was lured from Facebook in 2015 to Snapchat to focus on user growth and engagement and was fired after he refused to go along with inflated figures to make the company look better [The Fashion Law]. The Bezzle: We got one of Apples patented round pizza boxes [The Outline]. The box is thin and round Like all Apple products, the proprietary standard of the box makes it incompatible with third-party products. As Apple watcher John Gruber wrote when Steve Jobs resigned in 2011, The same thought, care, and painstaking attention to detail that Steve Jobs brought to questions like How should a computer work?, How should a phone work?, How should we buy music and apps in the digital age? he also brought to the most important question: How should a company that creates such things function?' Heres what I know: Apple makes the Mac gets incrementally worse with every release. That goes for hardware (no more MagSafe connector, shitty MacBook Pros, stagnant desktops) and software. iOS is a mashed together botch of inconsistent affordances, and OS X gets more like iOS every release (in addition to not fixing long standing horrors, like Apple Store). Then again, to long on the bright side, go long dongles, at least for now. The Bezzle: Hedge fund-backed pharma company that fed opioid crisis now seeks to profit from treating it [LittleSis]. Thas a neat trick! Political Risk: Watch These Corners of the Market to Gauge the Chances for Trumps Agenda [Bloomberg]. Five Horsemen: Apple bounces best from yesterdays smash [Hat Tip Jim Haygood]. Todays Fear & Greed Index: 50 Neutral (previous close: 43, Greed) [CNN]. One week ago: 62 (Greed). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed. Last updated May 19 at 11:57am. Mr. Markets angst reduced by special prosecutor? Our Famously Free Press Facebook blocks Pulitzer-winning reporter over Malta government expose [Guardian]. Good thing Facebooks blocking progress is formal and open, with an appeals process. Oh, wait Gaia Arctic stronghold of worlds seeds flooded after permafrost melts [Guardian]. [T]he Global Seed Vault, buried in a mountain deep inside the Arctic circle, has been breached after global warming produced extraordinary temperatures over the winter, sending meltwater gushing into the entrance tunnel. It was not in our plans to think that the permafrost would not be there and that it would experience extreme weather like that, said Hege Njaa Aschim, from the Norwegian government, which owns the vault. Eesh. Songlin Fei, a forest ecologist at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, and his colleagues tracked the shifting distributions of 86 types of trees using data collected by the US Forest Services Forest Inventory and Analysis Program during two periods: from 1980 to 1995 and between 2013 and 2015 for all states. They found more species heading west than north, probably partly because of changing precipitation patterns, the team reported on May 17 in Science Advances1. That was a huge surprise for us, says Fei [Scientific American]. This study suggests that, in the near-term, trees are responding to changes in water availability more than to temperature changes, he says. Class Warfare Unemployment in the U.S. Is Falling, So Why Isnt Pay Rising? [Bloomberg], News of the Wired Cooking in the Archives: Bringing Early Modern Manuscript Recipes into a Twenty-First-Century Kitche [Archive Journal]. Taste is the elusive element that we try to recreate when we cook these historical recipes. The recipes in this archive are dominated by strong tastes: fresh and dried herbs, fragrant spices, citrus, offal, cream, custard, distilled orange flower and rose waters, wine and sack. Many recipe books include recipes for preserving these very flavors, including flower waters, syrups of violets, rosemary tincture, homebrewed liquors, and preserved fruits and vegetables of all kinds. Its an archive of intense flavors that capture each ingredient and each season in its prime. DARPAs Synthetic Biology Initiatives Could Militarize the Environment [Slate]. Among other initiatives, researchers at DARPA are attempting to engineer insects to deliver protective genes to plants; to transform bacteria and yeast into factories to produce on-demand chemicals and fuels; and to develop methods to reverse any threats posed by gene drives. (Gene drives are a mechanism, both natural and human-induced, that drives genetic traits through a population, in some instances to suppress a population.) What could go wrong? * * * 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 (pq): pq writes: The 4/26/2017 daily plant photo was taken on April 23, this one on May 17. I cant swear theyre the same plants, because the entire shoulder along the guardrail has exploded into a jumble of horsetails, blackberry, tansy, and tall grasses. But its close enough. That is the great thing about Spring! * * * 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. Yves here. This is a wide-ranging, lively, sobering talk about the implications of tech feudalism and what we can do about it. By Maciej Cegowski, a painter and computer guy who lives in San Francisco and runs a bookmarking site called Pinboard. Originally published at Idle Words This is the text version of a talk I gave on May 10, 2017, at the re:publica conference in Berlin. The good part about naming a talk in 2017 Notes from an Emergency is that there are so many directions to take it. The emergency I want to talk about is the rise of a vigorous ethnic nationalism in Europe and America. This nationalism makes skillful use of online tools, tools that we believed inherently promoted freedom, to advance an authoritarian agenda. Depending on where you live, the rise of this new right wing might be nothing new. In the United States, our moment of shock came last November, with the election of Donald Trump. The final outcome of that election was: 65.8 million for Clinton 63.0 million for Trump This was the second time in sixteen years that the candidate with fewer votes won the American Presidency. There is a bug in the operating system of our democracy, one of the many ways that slavery still casts its shadow over American politics. But however tenuously elected, Trump is in the White House, and our crisis has become your crisis. Not just because America is a superpower, or because the forces that brought Trump to power are gaining ground in Europe, but because the Internet is an American Internet. Facebook is the dominant social network in Europe, with 349 million monthly active users. Google has something like 94% of market share for search in Germany. The servers of Europe are littered with the bodies of dead and dying social media sites. The few holdouts that still exist, like Xing, are being crushed by their American rivals. In their online life, Europeans have become completely dependent on companies headquartered in the United States. And so Trump is in charge in America, and America has all your data. This leaves you in a very exposed position. US residents enjoy some measure of legal protection against the American government. Even if you think our intelligence agencies are evil, theyre a lawful evil. They have to follow laws and procedures, and the people in those agencies take them seriously. But there are no such protections for non-Americans outside the United States. The NSA would have to go to court to spy on me; they can spy on you anytime they feel like it. This is an astonishing state of affairs. I cant imagine a world where Europe would let itself become reliant on American cheese, or where Germans could only drink Coors Light. In the past, Europe has shown that its capable of identifying a vital interest and moving to protect it. When American aerospace companies were on the point of driving foreign rivals out of business, European governments formed the Airbus consortium, which now successfully competes with Boeing. A giant part of the EU budget goes to subsidize farming, not because farming is the best use of resources in a first-world economy, but because farms are important to national security, to the landscape, to national identity, social stability, and a shared sense of who we are. But when it comes to the Internet, Europe doesnt put up a fight. It has ceded the ground entirely to American corporations. And now those corporations have to deal with Trump. How hard do you think theyll work to defend European interests? The Feudal Internet The status quo in May 2017 looks like this: There are five Internet companiesApple, Google, Microsoft, Amazon and Facebook. Together they have a market capitalization just under 3 trillion dollars. Bruce Schneier has called this arrangement the feudal Internet. Part of this concentration is due to network effects, but a lot of it is driven by the problem of security. If you want to work online with any measure of convenience and safety, you must choose a feudal lord who is big enough to protect you. These five companies compete and coexist in complex ways. Apple and Google have a duopoly in smartphone operating systems. Android has 82% of the handset market, iOS has 18%. Google and Facebook are on their way to a duopoly in online advertising. Over half of the revenue in that lucrative ($70B+) industry goes to them, and the two companies between them are capturing all of the growth (16% a year). Apple and Microsoft have a duopoly in desktop operating systems. The balance is something like nine to one in favor of Windows, not counting the three or four people who use Linux on the desktop, all of whom are probably at this conference. Three companies, Amazon, Microsoft and Google, dominate cloud computing. AWS has 57% adoption, Azure has 34%. Google has 15%. Outside of China and Russia, Facebook and LinkedIn are the only social networks at scale. LinkedIn has been able to survive by selling itself to Microsoft. And outside of Russia and China, Google is the worlds search engine. That is the state of the feudal Internet, leaving aside the court jester, Twitter, who plays an important but ancillary role as a kind of worldwide chat room. Google in particular has come close to realizing our nightmare scenario from 1998, a vertically integrated Internet controlled by a single monopoly player. Google runs its own physical network, builds phone handsets, develops a laptop and phone operating system, makes the worlds most widely-used browser, runs a private DNS system, PKI certificate authority, has photographed nearly all the public spaces in the world, and stores much of the worlds email. But because it is run by more sympathetic founders than Bill Gates, because it builds better software than early Microsoft did, and because it built up a lot of social capital during its early dont be evil period, weve given it a pass. Security Its not clear that anyone can secure large data collections over time. The asymmetry between offense and defense may be too great. If defense at scale is possible, the only way to do it is by pouring millions of dollars into hiring the best people to defend it. Data breaches at the highest levels have shown us that the threats are real and ongoing. And for every breach we know about, there are many silent ones that we wont learn about for years. A successful defense, however, just increases the risk. Pile up enough treasure behind the castle walls and youll eventually attract someone who can climb them. The feudal system makes the Internet more brittle, ensuring that when a breach finally comes, it will be disastrous. Each of the big five companies, with the important exception of Apple, has made aggressive user surveillance central to its business model. This is a dilemma of the feudal internet. We seek protection from these companies because they can offer us security. But their business model is to make us more vulnerable, by getting us to surrender more of the details of our lives to their servers, and to put more faith in the algorithms they train on our observed behavior. These algorithms work well, and despite attempts to convince us otherwise, its clear they work just as well in politics as in commerce. So in our eagerness to find safety online, weve given this feudal Internet the power to change our offline world in unanticipated and scary ways. Globalism These big five companies operate on a global scale, and partly because they created the industries they now dominate, they enjoy a very lax regulatory regime. Everywhere outside the United States and EU, they are immune to government oversight, and within the United Statesl the last two administrations have played them with a light touch. The only meaningful attempt to regulate surveillance capitalism has come out of the European Union. Thanks to their size and reach, the companies have become adept at stonewalling governments and evading attempts at regulation or oversight. In many cases, this evasion is noble. You dont want Bahrain or Poland to be able to subpoena Facebook and get the names of people organizing a protest rally. In other cases, its purely self-serving. Uber has made a sport of evading all authority, foreign and domestic, in order to grow. Good or bad, the lesson these companies have drawn is the same: they need only be accountable to themselves. But their software and algorithms affect the lives of billions of people. Decisions about how this software works are not under any kind of democratic control. In the best case, they are being made by idealistic young people in California with imperfect knowledge of life in a faraway place like Germany. In the worst case, they are simply being read out of a black-box algorithm trained on God knows what data. This is a very colonial mentality! In fact, its what we fought our American War of Independence over, a sense of grievance that decisions that affected us were being made by strangers across the ocean. Today were returning the favor to all of Europe. Facebook, for example, has only one manager in Germany to deal with every publisher in the country. One! The company that is dismantling the news industry in Germany doesnt even care enough to send a proper team to manage the demolition. Denmark has gone so far as to appoint an ambassador to the giant tech companies, an unsettling but pragmatic acknowledgement of the power relationship that exists between the countries of Europe and Silicon Valley. So one question (speaking now as an EU citizen): how did we let this happen? We used to matter! We used to be the ones doing the colonizing! We used to be a contender! How is it that some dopey kid in Palo Alto gets to decide the political future of the European Union based on what they learned at big data boot camp? Did we lose a war? The lack of accountability isnt just troubling from a philosophical perspective. Its dangerous in a political climate where people are pushing back at the very idea of globalization. Theres no industry more globalized than tech, and no industry more vulnerable to a potential backlash. China and Russia show us that the Internet need not be a world-wide web, that it can be subverted and appropriated by the state. By creating a political toolkit for authoritarian movements, the American tech giants may be putting their own future at risk. Irreality Given this scary state of the world, with ecological collapse just over the horizon, and a population sharpening its pitchforks, an important question is how this globalized, unaccountable tech industry sees its goals. What does it want? What will all the profits be invested in? What is the plan? The honest answer is: rocket ships and immortality. I wish I was kidding. The best minds in Silicon Valley are preoccupied with a science fiction future they consider it their manifest destiny to build. Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk are racing each other to Mars. Musk gets most of the press, but Bezos now sells $1B in Amazon stock a year to fund Blue Origin. Investors have put over $8 billion into space companies over the past five years, as part of a push to export our problems here on Earth into the rest of the Solar System. As happy as I am to see Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos fired into space, this does not seem to be worth the collapse of representative government. Our cohort of tech founders is feeling the chill breath of mortality as they drift into middle age. And so part of what is driving this push into space is a more general preoccupation with existential risk. Musk is persuaded that were living in a simulation, and he or a fellow true believer has hired programmers to try to hack it. Peter Thiel, our most unfortunate German import, has built a survival retreat for himself in New Zealand. Sam Altman hoards gold in Big Sur. OpenAI, a religious cult thinly disguised as a research institution, has received $1B in funding to forestall the robot rebellion. The biggest existential risk, of course, is death, so a lot of money is going to make sure that our big idea men dont expire before the world has been received the full measure of their genius. Google Ventures founded the very secretive life extension startup Calico, with $1.5B dollars in funding. Google loses $4B a year on its various moon shots, which include life extension. They employ Ray Kurzweil, who believes were still on track for immortality by 2045. Larry Ellison has put $370M to anti-aging research, as anybody would want to live in a world with an immortal Larry Ellison. Our plutocrats are eager to make death an opt-out experience. Now, Im no fan of death. I dont like the time commitment, or the permanence. A number of people I love are dead and it has strained our relationship. But at the same time, Im not convinced that a civilization that is struggling to cure male-pattern baldness is ready to take on the Grim Reaper. If were going to worry about existential risk, I would rather we start by addressing the two existential risks that are indisputably realnuclear war and global climate changeand working our way up from there. But real problems are messy. Tech culture prefers to solve harder, more abstract problems that havent been sullied by contact with reality. So they worry about how to give Mars an earth-like climate, rather than how to give Earth an earth-like climate. They debate how to make a morally benevolent God-like AI, rather than figuring out how to put ethical guard rails around the more pedestrian AI they are introducing into every area of peoples lives. The tech industry enjoys tearing down flawed institutions, but refuses to put work into mending them. Their runaway apparatus of surveillance and manipulation earns them a fortune while damaging everything it touches. And all they can think about is the cool toys theyll get to spend the profits on. The message thats not getting through to Silicon Valley is one that your mother taught you when you were two: you dont get to play with the new toys until you clean up the mess you made. The circumstances that have given the tech industry all this power will not last long. There is a limited time in which our small caste of tech nerds will have the power to make decisions that shape the world. By wasting the talents and the energies of our brightest people on fantasy role play, we are ceding the future to a more practical group of successors, some truly scary people who will take our tools and use them to advance a very different agenda. To recap: the Internet has centralized into a very few hands. We have an extremely lucrative apparatus of social control, and its being run by chuckleheads. The American government is also being run by chuckleheads. The question everybody worries about is, what happens when these two groups of chuckleheads join forces? The Winter For many Americans, the election was a moment of profound shock. It wasnt just Trumps policies that scared us. It was the fact that this unserious, cruel, vacant human being had been handed the power of the American presidency. Scariest to me was how little changed. No one in the press or in social media had the courage to say we fucked up. Pundits who were stunned by the election result still made confident predictions about what would happen next, as if they had any claim to predictive power. After the election both Facebook and Google looked at the mountains of data they had collected on everyone, looked at the threats the Trump Administration was makingto deport 11 million people, to ban Muslims from entering the countryand said to themselves, we got this. The people who did worry were tech workers. For a moment, we saw some political daylight appear between the hundreds of thousands of people who work in the tech sector, and the small clique of billionaires who run it. While the latter filed in to a famously awkward meeting with Trump and his children at the top of his golden tower, the former began organizing in opposition, including signing a simple but powerful pledge to resign rather than help Trump fulfill one of his key campaign promises: barring Muslims from the United States. This pledge was a small gesture, but it represented the first collective action by tech workers around a political agenda that went beyond technology policy, and the first time I had ever seen tech workers come out in open defiance of management. A forest of new organizations sprung up. I started one, too, called Tech Solidarity, and started traveling around the country and holding meetings with tech workers in big cities. I had no idea what I was doing, other than trying to use a small window of time to organize and mobilize our sleepy industry. That feeling of momentum continued through when Trump took office. The Womens Marchin January brought five million people out onto the streets. America is not used to mass protests. To see the streets of our major cities fill with families, immigrants, in many cases moms and daughters and grandmothers marching together, that was a sight to take your breath away. Hard on the heels of it came the travel ban, an executive order astonishing not just in its crueltyfamilies were split at airports; in one case a mom was not allowed to breastfeed her babybut in its ineptitude. For a week or two lawyers were camped out at airports, working frantically, sleeping little, with spontaneous efforts to bring them supplies, get them funding, to do anything to help. We held a rally in San Francisco that raised thirty thousand dollars from a room of a hundred people. Some of the organizations we were helping couldnt even attend, they were too busy at the airport. It didnt matter. The tech companies did all they could to not get involved. Facebook has a special safety check feature for exactly this kind of situation, but never thought of turning it on at airports. Public statements out of Silicon Valley were so insipid as to be comical. Employees, however, were electrified. It looked like not only visitors but permanent residents would be barred from the United States. Google employees staged a walkoutwith the support of their management; Facebook (not wishing to be left behind) had its own internal protest a couple of days later, but kept it a secret. Every time the employees pushed, management relented. Suddenly top executives were going on the record against the travel ban. People briefly even got mad at Elon Musk, normally a darling of the tech industry, for his failure to resign from the Presidents advisory council. The silent majority of tech employees had begun to mobilize. And then nothing happened. This tech workforce, which had gotten a taste of its own power, whose smallest efforts at collective action had produced immediate results, who had seen just how much sway they held, went back to work. The worst of Trumps travel ban was blocked by the court, and we moved on. With the initial shock of Trump in office gone, we now move from crisis to crisis, but without a plan or a shared positive goal. The American discomfort with prolonged, open disagreement has set in. When I started trying to organize people in November, my theory was that tech workers were the only group that had leverage over the tech giants. My reasoning went like this: being monopolies or near-monopolies, these companies are impervious to public pressure. Boycotts wont work, since opting out of a site like Google means opting out of much of modern life. Several of these companies are structured (unusually for American corporations) in such a way that the board cant control the majority of votes. At Google and Facebook, for example, the ultimate say goes to the founders. And since Google and Facebook are the major online publishing outlets, its unlikely that the press would ever criticize them, even if journalists were capable of that kind of sustained attention. So that leaves just one point of leverage: employees. Tech workers are hard to find, expensive to hire, take a long time to train, and can have their pick of jobs. Tech companies are small compared to other industries, relying heavily on automation. If even a few dozen workers on an ops team acted in concert, they would have the power to shut down a tech giant like Google. All they had to do was organize around a shared agenda. Workers seemed receptive to the argument, but confused about how they could make collective action a reality. Trade unions in the United States have been under attack for decades. There is almost no union culture in technology. Our tech workers are passive and fatalistic. So here I am in Europe, wondering, what on Earth can we do? And I keep coming back to this idea of connecting the tech industry to reality. Bringing its benefits to more people, and bringing the power to make decisions to more people. Closing the Loop After Communism collapsed in Poland, I started visiting the country every eight months or so. Even in the darkest period of the 1990s, it was striking to see peoples material standard of living improve. Suddenly people had cars, phones, appliances. These gains were uneven but broad. Even farmers and retirees, though they were the hardest hit, had access to consumer goods that werent available before. You could see the change in homes and in public spaces. It was no longer necessary for office workers in Krakow to change their shirts at lunchtime because of soot in the air. The tap water in Warsaw went from light brown to a pleasant pale yellow. For all the looting, corruption, and inefficiency of privatization, enough of the new wealth got through that the overall standard of living went up. Living standards in Poland in 2010 had more than doubled from 1990. In the same time period, in the United States, Ive seen a whole lot of nothing. Despite fabulous technical progress, practically all of it pioneered in our country, theres been a singular failure to connect our fabulous prosperity with the average person. A study just out shows that for the median male worker in the United States, the highest lifetime wages came if you entered the workforce in 1967. That is astonishing. People born in 1942 had better lifetime earnings prospects than people entering the workforce today. You can see this failure to connect with your own eyes even in a rich place like Silicon Valley. There are homeless encampments across the street from Facebook headquarters. California has a larger GDP than France, and at the same time has the highest poverty rate in America, adjusted for cost of living. Not only did the tech sector fail to build up the communities around it, but its left people worse off than before, by pricing them out of the places they grew up. Walk the length of Market Street (watch your step!) in San Francisco and count the shuttered store fronts. Take Caltrain down to San Jose, and see if you can believe that it is the richest city in the United States, per capita. The massive increase in wealth has not connected with a meaningful way with average peoples lives even in the heart of tech country, let alone in the forgotten corners of the country. The people who run Silicon Valley identify with progressive values. Theyre not bad people. They worry about these problems just like we do; they want to help. So why the failure to do anything? Like T.S. Eliot wrote: Between the idea And the reality Between the motion And the act Falls the Shadow As I said earlier, the tech industry hates messy problems. Wed rather dream up new problems we can solve from scratch. One reason nothing happens is a culture of tax evasion. Theres a folk belief in American business that if you pay full taxes, youre not doing your fiduciary duty, and your board will fire you. Apple now has a quarter trillion dollars offshore that it refuses to put into direct productive use in the United States. Apple boasts that its products are designed in Californiathey will sell you a $300 book called Designed By Apple In California. But they do their damndest to make sure that California never sees a penny of their overseas profits. You in the EU are all too familiar with this brand of tax evasion. Google, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft have all been under investigation or in court on charges of evading European taxes. Another reason good intentions dont translate is that capitalism, especially venture capital, doesnt work very well when there is vast wealth inequality. The richest 20 people in tech control a fortune of half a trillion dollars in personal wealth, more than the GDP of Sweden. This small subculture of wealthy technophiles promotes investment into luxury goods for rich people, or into mom as a service types of companies that cater to spoiled workaholics in the tech industry. And so we end up with things like a $120M juice squeezer, or three startups competing to deliver organic baby food. Silicon Valley brings us the worst of two economic systems: the inefficiency of a command economy coupled with the remorselessness of laissez-faire liberalism. One reason its been difficult to organize workers in the tech industry is that people have a hard time separating good intentions from results. But we have to be cold-blooded about this. Tech companies are run by a feckless leadership accountable to no one, creating a toolkit for authoritarianism while hypnotized by science-fiction fantasy. There are two things we have to do immediately. The first is to stop the accelerating process of tracking and surveillance before it can do any more harm to our institutions. The danger facing us is not Orwell, but Huxley. The combo of data collection and machine learning is too good at catering to human nature, seducing us and appealing to our worst instincts. We have to put controls on it. The algorithms are amoral; to make them behave morally will require active intervention. The second thing we need is accountability. I dont mean that I want Mark Zuckerbergs head on a pike, though I certainly wouldnt throw it out of my hotel room if I found it there. I mean some mechanism for people whose lives are being brought online to have a say in that process, and an honest debate about its tradeoffs. Im here today because I believe the best chance to do this is in Europe. The American government is not functional right now, and the process of regulatory capture is too far gone to expect any regulations limiting the tech giants from either party. American tech workers have the power to change things, but not the desire. Only Europe has the clout and the independence to regulate these companies. You can already point to regulatory successes, like forcing Facebook to implement hard delete on user accounts. That feature was added with a lot of grumbling, but because of the way Facebook organizes its data, they had to make it work the same for all users. So a European regulation led to a victory for privacy worldwide. We can do this again. Here are some specific regulations I would like to see the EU impose: A strict 30 day time limit on storing behavioral data. The right to opt out of data collection while continuing to use services. A ban on the sale or transfer of behavioral data, including to third-party ad networks. A requirement that advertising be targeted strictly to content, not users. With these rules in place, we would still have Google and Facebook, and they would still make a little bit of money. But we would gain some breathing room. These reforms would knock the legs out from underground political ad campaigns like we saw in Brexit, and in voter suppression efforts in the US election. They would give publishers relief in an advertising market that is currently siphoning all their earnings to Facebook and Google. And they would remove some of the incentive for consumer surveillance. The other thing I hope to see in Europe is a unionized workforce at every major tech company. Unionized workers could demand features like ephemeral group messaging at Facebook, a travel mode for social media, a truly secure Android phone, or the re-imposition of the wall between Gmail and DoubleClick data. They could demand human oversight over machine learning algorithms. They could demand non-cooperation with Trump. And I will say selfishly, if you can unionize here, it will help us unionize over there. If nothing else, we need your help and we need you to keep the pressure on the tech companies, the Trump Administration, and your own politicians and journalists, so that the disaster that happened in the United States doesnt repeat itself in Germany. You have elections coming soon. Please learn from what happened to us. Please stay safe. And please regulate, regulate, regulate this industry, while you can. Thank you. One of the many myths aggressively promoted about private equity is that it allegedly has a better governance structure than public markets. There fat cat executives are insulted from the wrath of shareholders, who find it easier to sell their shares than wage the difficult battle of trying to hold executives accountable for overpaying themselves and/or poor performance. The key claims made about private equity fund managers is that they have better incentives than public company officers, and that those incentives are also aligned with those of investors. Anyone who has been reading our coverage of private equity would know this is bunk. So it is gratifying to see an academic challenge the private equity party line in a well-researched article, which we have embedded at the end of this post. If anything, law professor William Magnusons The Public Cost of Private Equity winds up being charitable by virtue of needing to speak to non-experts and thus cover only the main features, as in deficiencies, of the private equity governance model. As youll see from the summary Magnuson wrote for the Columbia Law Schools Blue Sky Blog, he is also concerned about why investors have allowed such a lop-sided relationship to persist. His paper also does a good high level job of covering the recent literature on private equity returns, concluding that generally, they arent what they are cracked up to be even before allowing for the greater risk of private equity. And some of those studies also suggest that the idea that private equity improves the performance of the companies they buy isnt well founded. First his recap, then some additional comments: First, the compensation structure for private equity sponsors (the private equity firm itself) creates a classic situation of moral hazard: Sponsors capture much of the gain from any profits on their investments, but are largely insulated from any losses. The result is that private equity sponsors have financial incentives to take excessive risk in their investment strategies. Second, limited partners invest in private equity funds on significantly less advantageous terms than those offered typical investors in public companies. They have limited governance rights, little access to information, and few avenues for transferring or selling their equity interests in the fund. Finally, private equity funds treat investors differently, often giving better terms to favored investors. So, for example, an individual investor may enter into a side letter with a private equity fund to ensure that the preferred investor pays lower fees than other investors. Or a private equity fund may grant one investor a greater right to access information about company performance, or even a right to veto certain investments. In sum, the private equity governance model creates a number of corporate governance costs that are endemic to the industry and are largely unrecognized as a potential source of conflict between private equity firms and their investors. This state of affairs presents a puzzle for traditional contract theories, under which agreements willingly entered into by arms-length parties should be expected to maximize joint wealth. In other words, if private equitys governance terms substantially harm investors, why would investors agree to them, rather than negotiate for better terms or simply walk away? The article argues that the persistence of private equitys governance costs can be explained as a result of three related phenomena. First, private equitys structure benefits from strong inertia (what scholars sometimes refer to as path dependency) that locks in the current structure even in the face of changes in external markets. Second, private equity investors face collective action problems on multiple levels that inhibit cooperation between investors and encourage opportunistic behavior by private equity firms. Third, the reputational constraints on private equity firm behavior have been systematically overestimated as a tool for aligning the interests of firms and investors. Magnuson reaches his negative conclusions without even having to look at some of the bad practices weve discussed over the past few years. As Eileen Appelbaum and Rosemary Batt have mentioned, contrary to mistaken popular perceptions, close to 2/3 of the fund managers compensation at larger funds comes from fees that have nothing to do with performance. Even though he flags that private equity firms only have limited exposure to loss, typically by contributing 1% of the funds assets, its often even worse than this. That supposed 1% contribution often isnt in the form of the money out of the pockets of the general partner staffers. Instead, a big chuck of that is often in the form of management fee waivers, in which management fees to be paid are instead treated as a contribution to the fun. This also happens to result in capital gains treatment of what otherwise would be ordinary income, and the IRS has targeted this an an abuse. Magnuson does not flag practices like monitoring fees, which Oxford professor Ludovic Phalippou has called money for nothing, as an indicator of private equity managers engaging in purely extractive behavior. Magunuson describes at some length how little say limited partners have. Readers new to this terrain will find this to be an eye-opener: For example, investors typically have no right to vote on the sale of portfolio companies, even if those companies form a substantial part of the funds assets. That decision resides solely within the discretion of the private equity firm. They typically have no right to vote on the board of directors with managerial authority for the fund. Managerial authority is vested in the private equity firm. They typically have no right to vote on the compensation of executives. That decision also rests with the private equity firm in its sole discretion. These are all rights that, in some form or other, shareholders in public corporations are guaranteed, but that very few private equity investors have. What rights investors do have in the governance of private equity funds are typically rigorously circumscribed. One common voting right that investors do have is the right to remove the private equity firm from its position as general partner of the fund. But that right is far from absolute. First, it typically must be for cause, meaning that investors can only remove the private equity firm if it misbehaves. This provision, on its face, would seem an unobjectionable way of aligning the interests of private equity firms and investors: the investors promise to keep the firm in place as long as it acts in the interests of the investors, but have the power to remove it if it doesnt. But limited partnership agreements commonly define cause so narrowly that it can only be invoked in the most extreme cases, such as fraud, willful misconduct, violations of law, felony convictions or bad faith. Some agreements go even further, requiring there to be a final court determination confirming the general partners misbehavior before investors can remove the firm. And, adding yet another obstacle, the voting threshold for invoking a for cause removal is often set at prohibitively high levelsas high as 85% to 95% of the vote. Put together, these restrictions and limitations effectively eliminate the ability of private equity investors to voice their opinions and participate in essential business decisions of the funds that they own. Near total control is vested in the private equity firm itself. Recall that the investors also cannot do an effective job of overseeing portfolio company investments, since they have no right to see portfolio company financials and receive only limited data. But in light of their inability to do anything if they saw information they didnt like, the lack of disclosure is part of a consistent, if ugly, pattern. The overview of why limited partners cant do much to change this situation is solid. The model for private equity investing was set in the 1970s and early 1980s. Fund returns were regularly 30% to 40% due to the number of overdiversified firms trading at a conglomerate discount. Making money in leveraged buyouts then was like shooting fish in a barrel, provided you could hire an investment bank to run a hostile takeover. Simply buying the company with a ton of debt (and achievable leverage levels were also higher back then, amping up returns), breaking it up and selling off the parts was an easy winner. And the initial investors in private equity were wealthy individuals, who were take it or leave it investors. The early institutions who invested in leveraged buyouts were so keen to get in that they didnt push back on such one-sided terms. And as CalPERS described at some length in its November 2015 private equity workshop, the barriers to limited partners getting better terms are considerable. First, anti-trust rules severely constrain the ability of limited partners to team up and negotiate as a group. But second, and even more important, the limited partners often arent on the same page on many issues. For instance, endowments like Harvard and Yale fancy themselves as being from the same class as the private equity kingpins and weirdly make it a point of pride not to make a fuss. Moreover, since all these endowments are chasing wealthy alumni or other prospects, being difficult about private equity could turn off potential big donors. Magnuson argues, the private equity managers already discriminate in favor of endowments due to their prestige value: Given the differential treatment of investors, it is not surprising that limited partner investors in private equity receive widely varying returns from their investments. One study found that endowments, a group that is generally viewed as a preferred investor by private equity firms, receive 14% greater returns than the average return for all investors in private equity funds. And even within the same fund, investors can receive significantly different returns, based on management fee discounts and rebates. Despite this dreary picture, Magunson offers some sound ideas for reform and calls for more regulation and more investor cooperation on governance issues, since outside the transaction context, the anti-trust issues would not be an impediment. As weve seen in California, state level legislation, particularly if parallel legislation is introduced in key states, is another avenue. But none of this will happen until the many misrepresentations about private equitys operations are results are exposes. So this article in and of itself is a step in the right direction. Sensors detect disease markers in breath (Nanowerk News) A small, thin square of an organic plastic that can detect disease markers in breath or toxins in a building's air could soon be the basis of portable, disposable sensor devices. By riddling the thin plastic films with pores, University of Illinois researchers made the devices sensitive enough to detect at levels that are far too low to smell, yet are important to human health. In a new study in the journal Advanced Functional Materials ("Solution-Processed Nanoporous Organic Semiconductor Thin Films: Toward Health and Environmental Monitoring of Volatile Markers"), professor Ying Diao's research group demonstrated a device that monitors ammonia in breath, a sign of kidney failure. "In the clinical setting, physicians use bulky instruments, basically the size of a big table, to detect and analyze these compounds. We want to hand out a cheap sensor chip to patients so they can use it and throw it away," said Diao, a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at Illinois. The researchers made sensors from porous thin films of organic conductive plastics with the goal of portable, disposable devices for medical and environmental monitoring. Other researchers have tried using organic semiconductors for gas sensing, but the materials were not sensitive enough to detect trace levels of disease markers in breath. Diao's group realized that the reactive sites were not on the surface of the plastic film, but buried inside it. "We developed this method to directly print tiny pores into the device itself so we can expose these highly reactive sites," Diao said. "By doing so, we increased the reactivity by ten times and can sense down to one part per billion." For their first device demonstration, the researchers focused on ammonia as a marker for kidney failure. Monitoring the change in ammonia concentration could give a patient an early warning sign to call their doctor for a kidney function test, Diao said. The material they chose is highly reactive to ammonia but not to other compounds in breath, Diao said. But by changing the composition of the sensor, they could create devices that are tuned to other compounds. For example, the researchers have created an ultrasensitive environmental monitor for formaldehyde, a common indoor pollutant in new or refurbished buildings. The group is working to make sensors with multiple functions to get a more complete picture of a patient's health. Synthesis of molecular hydrogen: Novel method sets benchmark for platinum-free electrocatalysts (Nanowerk News) A recently published paper describes a new approach to revolutionize the production of molecular hydrogen. This gas is considered to be one of the most promising energy carriers of the future. The paper from cfaeds Chair for Molecular Functional Materials co-authored by researchers at universities and institutes in Germany, France and Japan has been published in Nature Communications ("Efficient hydrogen production on MoNi 4 electrocatalysts with fast water dissociation kinetics"). a) Synthetic scheme of MoNi 4 electrocatalyst supported by the MoO 2 cuboids on nickel foam; b) polarization curves of the MoNi 4 electrocatalyst supported by the MoO 2 cuboids, pure Ni nanosheets and MoO 2 cuboids on the nickel foam; c) calculated adsorption free energy diagram for the Tafel step. (click on image to enlarge) Growing concern about the energy crisis and the seriousness of environmental contamination urgently demand the development of renewable energy sources as feasible alternatives to diminishing fossil fuels. Owing to its high energy density and environmentally friendly characteristics, molecular hydrogen is an attractive and promising energy carrier to meet future global energy demands. In many of the approaches for hydrogen production, the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) from water splitting is the most economical and effective route for the future hydrogen economy. To accelerate the sluggish HER kinetics, particularly in alkaline electrolytes, highly active and durable electrocatalysts are essential to lower the kinetic HER overpotential. As a benchmark HER electrocatalyst with a zero HER overpotential, the precious metal platinum (Pt) plays a dominant role in present H2-production technologies, such as water-alkali electrolysers. Unfortunately, the scarcity and high cost of Pt seriously impede its large-scale applications in electrocatalytic HERs. Prof. Xinliang Fengs team from the Technische Universitat Dresden (Germany)/ Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden (cfaed), in collaboration with the University Lyon, ENS de Lyon, Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS, France), the Tohoku University (Japan) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS) (Germany), have reported a low-cost MoNi 4 electrocatalyst anchored on MoO 2 cuboids, which are vertically aligned on nickel foam (MoNi 4 /MoO 2 @Ni). MoNi 4 nanoparticles are constructed in situ on the MoO 2 cuboids by controlling the outward diffusion of Ni atoms. The resultant MoNi 4 /MoO 2 @Ni exhibits a high HER activity that is highly comparable to that of the Pt catalyst and presents state-of-the-art HER activity amongst all reported Pt-free electrocatalysts. Experimental investigations reveal that the MoNi 4 electrocatalyst behaves as the highly active centre and manifests fast Tafel step-determined HER kinetics. Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT) calculations determine that the kinetic energy barrier of the Volmer step for the MoNi 4 electrocatalyst is greatly decreased. The large-scale preparation and excellent catalytic stability provide MoNi 4 /MoO 2 @Ni with a promising utilization in water-alkali electrolysers for hydrogen production. Find the newest releases to watch from National Geographic on Disney+, including favourite documentary series and films Free Solo, The Rescue, Shark Beach with Chris Hemsworth and The World According to Jeff Goldblum. A painting by the late Li Binghong, which marks the founding of the People's Liberation Army, is now available for public viewing at the National Art Museum. Lin Qi reports. Li Binghong (1913-86) is not a household name, but his oil painting Nanchang Uprising marks a significant moment in China's history. His 1959 work depicts armed resistance under the leadership of the Communist Party of China that took place on Aug 1, 1927, in Nanchang, in the eastern Jiangxi province. The painting shows Zhou Enlai, one of the Party members who organized the engagement, inciting insurgent soldiers to counter the Kuomintang's anti-Communist purge. Zhou later became the first premier of New China. The military action marks the birth of an independent army led by the Party, and the day is celebrated annually as establishment day by the People's Liberation Army. Li painted the work after being commissioned by the National Museum of China in Beijing. He was then the head of the oil painting department of the Hangzhou-based China Academy of Art. He reproduced the painting in 1960, with a few changes, for the capital Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution. He made a third copy in 1977, which entered the collection of the Nanchang August 1st Memorial Hall. Now, for the first time, the three paintings are on show at Beijing's National Art Museum of China. They are the centerpieces of an exhibition, Innermost of Painting, which marks the 90th anniversary of the PLA. Besides, it reviews Li's endeavors in creation and education, showcasing some 300 oil paintings, watercolor works and sketches, as well as his drafts, letters and photos. Li's output includes not only iconic works reflecting the country's revolutionary course in the 20th century, but also portraits showing his concern for people at the grassroots and landscapes displaying poetic refinement. Li was born in Vietnam to a Chinese father, who migrated from South China's Guangdong province to work in the coal mines in Hongay, a port city in Vietnam, and later married a Vietnamese woman. Li's father had Chinese sailor friends who worked on cargo ships, and they often gave Li empty cigarette packets to play with. The pictures on the packets ignited his interest in painting, and he spent most of his free time copying the pictures. Li did not attend art college, but at age 15 he received basic painting training from a Vietnamese artist who had studied painting in France. After dropping out of school at 16, Li brushed up his painting skills on his own. He then moved to Hong Kong and took up odd jobs to support his family. After the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1937-45) started, Li joined youth groups that rallied people to stand up against the invaders and raised funds for Chinese troops. There he got to know some CPC members and joined the Party in 1947. After he began teaching at China Academy of Art in 1953, Li spent time exploring a Chinese approach to oil painting. He said then: "One should not simply repeat techniques and compositions of classic Chinese paintings on canvas, but should foster an Eastern temperament." He also traveled extensively, after being inspired by the natural scenery of his country and ordinary people in the factories and on the farms. Although he was an acclaimed painter, Li was always gentle and jolly, say his students including Xu Jiang, now the academy's director. "We would play music when we sketched in the classroom, though it was against the rules," says Xu. "He never stopped us. But he sketched with us and danced a little to the music. "Three decades have passed. But I can still feel his easy-going attitude and enthusiasm for art." Contact the writer at linqi@chinadaily.com.cn If you go 9 am-5 pm, Monday closed, through May 24. 1 Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng district, Beijing. 010-6400-1476. (China Daily 05/19/2017 page18) Having an outright ban on sulky racing in County Tipperary has been called for on a number of occasions by councillors who have described the activity as 'barbaric.' However, it has emerged that a similar ban imposed in County Kilkenny has been challenged legally and is currently going through the courts with the result that it may be illegal to actually ban the activity. Councillor David Doran (SF) who has been one of the most vocal members of the council on this matter, again raised it at the May meeting of the local authority and referred to a much publicised story of a pony being raced almost to the point of death in Cashel. He described the episode as 'sickening and an affront on human decency' before going on to pay tribute to those members of the public who intervened, came to the aid of the animal and refused to allow the driver of the sulky to take the pony back. Cllr Doran again called for the banning of sulky racing, but Cllr Martin Browne felt that it would be better to try and work with those engaged in the activity rather than banning it outright. More progress could be made through dialogue, he said. Cllr John Hogan pointed out that the Gardai have requested that the council not ban sulky racing as it would be ineffective and he added that the legal challenge in Kilkenny would have implications for every other county as well. Cllr John Carroll said that he believed a formula could be found and he called for further engagement with all parties to try and come with an appropriate solution. More news... Tipp TD calls for electronic tagging of people on bail Search is on for a new Miss Tipperary! Cashels Fine Gael Secretary has announced his support for Minister Leo Varadkar to become the next leader of Fine Gael. Declan Burgess has declared his support for Deputy Varadkar bucking the trend of his county Tipperary party colleagues who spoke to The Nationalist yesterday (Thursday) and came out overwhelmingly for Deputy Simon Coveney. Leo Varadkar was previously a member of Fingal County Council, then went on to be elected to Dail Eireann in 2007. He has served as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Minister for Health and currently Minister for Social Protection. Burgess said "Enda Kenny has served this party and country with high distinction and I am personally proud to have been a member of Fine Gael while the country had a Taoiseach of this calibre". Declan also expressed that both Simon Coveney and Leo Varadkar are two fantastic and capable candidates. Although, Burgess has come out to fully support Leo as the next leader. The local activist said "Leo Varadkar is person with strong leadership and vision for Fine Gael and the country". Declan Burgess is also a Local Peace Commissioner. For the first time, the new leader of Fine Gael will be elected by an Electoral College voting system. This will result in the largest single party political election since the foundation of the State. Before any votes are cast there will be four regional debates, or hustings, taking place in Dublin, Carlow, Ballinasloe, Cork. The result will be announced on Friday, June 2. Declan concluded by reinforcing the view that the leader of FG and Taoiseach has to be Leo Varadkar for a progressive, energetic and pragmatic Government. More news... First Tipperary county councillor declares for Varadkar Tipperary Councillors leaning towards Coveney NATO Allies and operational partners contributing to the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission met today (19 May 2017), at NATO Headquarters, to review ongoing efforts in support to the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF) and long-term stability in Afghanistan. The President of Afghanistan, His Excellency Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, the Commander of the Resolute Support Mission (General John W. Nicholson), and the NATO Senior Civilian Representative to Afghanistan (Ambassador Cornelius Zimmermann) attended via video conference. Attendants noted the continued progress made by the Afghan security forces and institutions, just over two years since assumption of full security responsibility by Afghanistan. They also underscored the importance to continue supporting the ANDSF through training, advising and assistance efforts by the Resolute Support Mission. The meeting marked the completion of a process of periodic review of Resolute Support. It reaffirmed the commitment undertaken at the NATO Summit in Warsaw last year to sustain the NATO-led mission as a conditions-based mission, and to keep its configuration under review. NATO Allies and partners today reaffirmed the mission as conditions-based and through a flexible regional model. They also affirmed their support to the ongoing force generation process to ensure that the mission is properly resourced. Todays meeting provided also the opportunity to take stock of the continued efforts by Afghanistans National Unity Government to boost internal reforms and maintain momentum on key areas for Afghanistans stability, including good governance, the rule of law, regional cooperation, and the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process. Thursday, May 18, 2017 by: Tracey Watson Tags: FDA , GMOs , propaganda , taxpayer funds This article may contain statements that reflect the opinion of the author (Natural News) While many Americans remain undecided about the long-term health and environmental impacts of genetically modified foods (GMOs), they almost unanimously agree that they want foods clearly labeled to reflect the inclusion of GM ingredients. While some may feel that the question of GMO safety still hangs in the balance, an increasing number of savvy consumers are choosing to cut them out altogether. A 2013 HuffPost/YouGov poll found that 82 percent of Americans were in favor of GMO labeling. This firm stance is clearly not sitting well with the government or its Big Agri cronies. While a recent Pew study found that 39 percent of Americans believe that GMOs are worse for your health than conventionally grown produce, the government wants us all to believe that the environmental, nutritional, food safety, economic, and humanitarian impacts of biotech crops are superior to those of organically grown crops. And theyve decided to throw money at the problem. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be allocating $3 million of its taxpayer-supplied funds to a consumer outreach and education [campaign] regarding agricultural biotechnology. They believe this is necessary to counter the tremendous amount of misinformation about GMOs that people have been exposed to. Of course, this idea hasnt gone down too well with some parties in government. Rep. Nita M. Lowey (D-N.Y.) accurately pointed out that it is not the responsibility of a government agency to launch a propaganda campaign to try to disabuse the American public of the notion that GMOs arent good for you. [RELATED: What other lies are you being told? Find out at Propaganda.news] The FDA has to regulate the safety of our food supply and medical devices. They are not, nor should they be, in the pro-industry advertising business, Lowey said. Ah, but then, when has any government agency not been in the back pocket of some big industry? The Center for Responsive Politics found that Big Agri has recently donated over $26 million to various political campaigns, including to politicians who ended up on the House agriculture appropriations committee. While it is unclear what this campaign will consist of or when it will launch, it has been established that it will be handled collaboratively with the Departure of Agriculture, and will include the publication and distribution of science-based educational information. See how they did that? Science-based educational information, i.e. if you dare to claim that GMOs are not as healthy or might have as yet unknown environmental impacts, your viewpoint isnt scientifically sound. Nonetheless, scientific studies have actually found that with increased use of GM seeds comes greater use of herbicides like Roundup, the main ingredient of which is glyphosate. And the World Health Organizations International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) recently announced that glyphosate is a probable human carcinogen, i.e. it likely causes cancer. Still think those GMOs are harmless? And what about Big Agris claims of greater yields from GM crops? An extensive analysis by The New York Times found that biotechnology does not actually increase crop yields, in spite of the big promises made to American and Canadian farmers two decades ago. It is also unclear why it is necessary for the government to step in and start disseminating pro-GMO propaganda in the first place. After all, agricultural giants like Monsanto and DuPont have more than enough ill-gotten gains to do the job themselves. And theyre already at it; pretrial motions in the U.S. District Court in San Francisco, where plaintiffs are accusing Monsanto of causing their cancer, have revealed that the company has been quietly hiring internet trolls to make vicious attacks on anyone who dares to post a negative article or comment against the use of GMOs or herbicides like Roundup. One wonders whats really behind this latest misuse of hard-earned taxpayer funds. Sources: NaturalBlaze.com WashingtonPost.com NYTimes.com HuffingtonPost.co.za (Natural News) Azure Farm is a beautiful organic farm in Oregon which provides most of Azure Standards competitively priced organic beef, field peas, Einkorn and wheat to consumers around the country. Now, a change in Oregons laws has put the very existence of the farm and others like it at risk. While Oregon state laws used to mandate that farmers control certain noxious weeds including Canadian Thistle, Morning Glory and Whitetop, newly introduced regulations call for the total eradication of these invasive plants. Though Azures owners have used organic farming methods to keep these weeds under control for close to two decades, it is virtually impossible to totally eradicate them without using toxic chemicals. Sherman County has decided to take the matter into their own hands, and has warned that a court order may be issued on the 22nd of May, forcing the quarantine of Azure Farm and the spraying of toxic herbicides including Roundup (which contains cancer-causing glyphosate), Milestone and Escort on about 2,000 acres of the farm. [Related: Find out why glyphosate is so toxic to humans.] This action by the county would destroy two decades of hard work in one fell swoop. Its not as if Azure could just spray their fields and then carry on where they left off; the farm would immediately lose its USDA organic certification. Requalifying for that certification would be a costly, lengthy and complicated process. The FAQ section of Azures website explains that the USDA requires three years of organic farming practices, including zero use of herbicides and chemical fertilizers, before applying for organic certification. This is done to ensure that there are absolutely no chemical residues in the soil. The site goes on to explain: As far as actually getting organic soil, it takes much longer in this dry county then it would in intensive agriculture where you have plenty of decent water. Its a very different thing, and it takes many more years because you only have biological activity for a short period of the year. Either its too cold or you dont have enough moisture; its a very short window. So it takes a lot longer to really get bio-active soil when youre talking dry county vs. irrigated ground. Though it costs roughly twice as much to farm organically, during the USDA-mandated three-year period that would have to pass after the spraying of the fields, Azure would only be allowed to charge conventional prices for their produce. [Related: Are those organic apples really organic? Find out how contaminated food from China is entering the U.S. under the organic label.] Thats not the only cost they will incur, either. To add insult to injury, the county will put a lien on the farm to cover the labor and chemical costs of this forced spraying; they will essentially bill Azure for the privilege of destroying them. We are calling on all Natural News readers to get involved and try to prevent this forced spraying from taking place. We have to move quickly though, because the deadline for contacting Sherman County is the 22nd of May just a few days away. To do that, please contact: [email protected] ; or Call Lauren at 541-565-3416; or Send a polite, non-threatening letter to county commissioners Tom McCoy or Joe Dabulskis at: [email protected] [email protected] Lets all make our voices heard on this issue. Remember, the states laws have changed, meaning it is not only Azure that will be affected by this decision. If access to organic, non-GMO produce is important to you, you need to speak up and let the powers that be know. Sources for this article include: FarmWars.info HL.AzureStandard.com HL.AzureStandard.com (Natural News) From crunchy tacos to newly grilled steaks to fresh chicken sandwiches, the Coca-Cola company believes that their signature beverages pairs wonderfully with all these foods. And they want you, their consumer, to think the same way too. Thats the angle of their newest campaign, Serve with Coca-Cola, a documentary-style series of shorts that highlight the diversity of food culture and play up the supposed greatness of Coca-Cola. Whether youre chowing down on food truck fare or enjoying a bit of homemade goodness, Coca-Cola is supposed to be the perfect drink to go with your meal. The company has partnered up with famous figures in the food scene to truly hammer this point home, including the likes of celebrity chefs Roble Ali and Aaron Sanchez in their campaign. Considering musicians like Maroon 5 and will.i.am have made millions endorsing the brand, its no wonder that Ali and Sanchez have agreed to the collaboration. Nor is it any surprise that the Coca-Cola company turned to celebrity chefs, food bloggers, and foodies for their newest attempt at boosting slumping sales, especially in Latin America. Not only did the company witness a poor first quarter performance in Latin America (earning just $1.18 billion; a paltry figure compared to last years $1.48 billion), but carbonated soft drinks as a whole have continued to decline in sales for the twelfth year in a row. With musical entertainers failing to capture the attention of a disinterested consumer base, it makes sense that the Coca-Cola company would ally itself with celebrity chefs and food bloggers next. Over the years, a number of studies have been made on the influence and power celebrity chefs have over the general public. In fact, the researchers of a 2010 study in the United Kingdom (UK) found that the celebrity chefs had the greatest impact on the peoples eating habits. While a mere 10 percent of adults stated that the government influenced what they ate, 31 percent said that they were inspired by celebrity chefs and their cooking shows. Even the sales of tableware and kitchenware has been influenced by celebrity chefs, with a recent study estimating that the North American demand will lead to the industry reaching $12.7 billion in sales by 2021. Food bloggers have been shown to be just as powerful as celebrity chefs, however, and have even edged out professional food critics as the average diners go-to source of food information. Maybe celebrity chefs and food bloggers can do the same for the Coca-Cola company. Thats what James Quincey, new CEO of Coca-Cola, seems to be aiming for. According to FoodDive.com, their beverages are responsible for the lions share of Coca-Colas revenue and profits so anything it can do to boost sales is going to be a positive. Whether or not this is going to work remains to be seen. After all, the public has wised-up to the fact that carbonated soft drinks arent the most nutritional beverages on the market, and more people are giving up soda in favor of healthier drinks like water. (Related: Coca-Cola pushing soft drinks for breakfast in bid to boost sales) Read up on news focusing on even more famous faces by visiting CelebrityReputation.com. You can also drop by FastFood.news to remain up to date on whats going on in the industry of fast food and soft drinks. Sources include: FoodDive.com NPR.org NursingTimes.net FreedoniaFocusReports.com LightspeedHQ.com (Natural News) After a 15-month hard-fought legal battle, a family in San Diego will finally see the District Attorneys office return the $100,000 seized from them in a marijuana raid in January 2016. No criminal charges were ever filed after drug enforcement agents swooped down on Med-West Distribution, a Kearny Mesa company that supplied cannabis oil and other marijuana products to medical marijuana outlets. The agents initially seized $324,000 in cash, along with all the companys financial records and the inventory on hand. Though two employees were arrested, no charges were filed against them. The District Attorneys office took it a few steps further, when several days later they froze James Slatics bank account, along with those of his wife and two step-daughters. It was alleged that the money in those accounts was derived from illegal drugs, and a total of $100,000 was officially seized a few months later in June 2016. During initial court proceedings in November of last year, lawyers representing the Slatic family argued that the money should be returned to them because it was theirs in a personal capacity and was not an asset of the business. Judge Jay Bloom dismissed this argument, saying that the state had the right to seize the funds because there was sufficient probable cause for prosecutors to pursue a criminal case and prove that the money was obtained through illegal drug distribution. No such case was ever pursued, and earlier this year the Static familys lawyers again approached the courts for the return of the seized funds. The District Attorneys office opposed the motion, insisting that it had a full year from the date the funds were officially seized, not the date of the raid, in which to press criminal charges. The matter was heard by Superior Court Judge Tamila E. Ipema, who, after weighing the evidence, determined that there was insufficient evidence to back up the states claim that it intended to press charges. [T]here is no indication that criminal charges are going to be filed in this case in the near future, he wrote in his decision. The District Attorneys office has refused to comment on the case, insisting the matter is still under review for potential criminal charges, and that it is considering appealing the judges decision. The Slatic family is understandably relieved. Its about time, said Slatic. We did nothing wrong. My business operated openly and legally for more than two years; we paid taxes and had a retirement program for our 35 employees. No one broke any laws, but the District Attorney swooped in and took everything from me and my family, even though they had no connection to my business. Our lives were turned upside down. It felt like we were robbed by the police. [Related: Discover what the people sworn to protect you are up to at Corruption.news.] This is by no means the first time that District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis has manipulated state and federal civil asset-forfeiture laws to seize money from drug suspects to boost state coffers. These laws allow law enforcement and the District Attorneys Office to retain a portion of assets they seize, incentivizing these types of groundless raids. [Related: Did you know that the police arrest more people for marijuana possession than for violent crimes?] Interestingly, Dumanis announced in April that she would not be seeking re-election in 2018, just two days after news broke that she was the subject of investigation in the Azano corruption saga, the biggest political corruption saga in San Diegos history. KPBS reports that Jose Susumo Azano Matsura was convicted last year of dozens of counts of corruption, including conspiracy to contribute illegally to U.S. elections as a foreign national. Looks like Bonnie Dumanis finally got caught with her hand in the cookie jar. Sources for this article include: SanDiegoUnionTribune.com USNews.com KPBS.org KPBS.org (Natural News) Liberal academia is all about catering to special interest groups, at least until such groups find themselves at odds with one another in pushing their respective agendas. Such a scenario recently occurred at DePaul University in Chicago, where school faculty had to decide between defending the free speech rights of a gay speaker or pandering to the potential hurt feelings of Muslims, to which they chose the latter. Problems began after James Kirchick, a gay reporter who had planned to give a talk at the school on radical Islam and its hardline position against homosexuality, was to be introduced with posters that read Gay Lives Matter. An obvious reference to the Black Lives Matter group, these posters were intended to be plastered around campus prior to the event that is until school officials got wind of it. According to reports, the campus group Turning Point USA was planning to help out with the event until it was notified that the lecture could not be advertised with these posters, which it claimed were part of an effort to co-opt the message of Black Lives Matter. Turning Point denied these allegations, but the school dug its heels in and refused to allow the posters to be used, effectively shutting down one groups free speech in favor of another. This is a disappointing decision by the university to prohibit our poster, stated Matt Lamb, one of the leaders of the Turning Point, which helped facilitate bringing Kirchick to campus. The event by our DePaul chapter is calling attention to the harms that big government, authoritarian regimes pose to LGBT citizens (sic) most basic human rights. (Related: More on issues pertaining to censorship is available at Censorship.news.) Palestinian group calls for protest of Kirchick talk while deliberately misleading its members The lecture, which was entitled, Dictatorships and Radical Islam: The Enemies of Gay Rights, was not only offensive to Black Lives Matter, according to reports, but also to Muslims on campus who may not have preferred that the truth about their religion be exposed. Members of the group DePaul Students for Justice in Palestine, who vocally oppose what they say are Kirchicks Zionist leanings, published a post to Facebook announcing their intent to protest the event. In this announcement, the group removed the word radical from the talks title to insinuate that Kirchicks view is that all of Islam is the enemy of gay rights. This subtle change didnt go unnoticed by Kirchick himself, who tweeted a message asking his followers, Notice missing word? The Palestinian group also wrote that Kirchick is a white, Zionist, neoliberal journalists, to speak on [expletive] he knows nothing about. As far as Black Lives Matter and the alleged co-opting of its name, Turning Point says the posters themselves were only for the event. The intent was to catch the attention of students and faculty using familiar language and only on this one occasion, not to be used in perpetuity as some kind of slogan or brand. We do not see how the branding of Black Lives Matter is exclusive from all other lives and we cannot make a similar statement in a different movement, says Turning Point USA President Jason Plotzke, as quoted by The College Fix. Sure, it is related and based off the BLM slogan, but with no intent to undermine the movement. We are not even using the poster to push an entire movement, but rather a specific event. We, as students in an academic setting, should be allowed to market our events as we see fit. Sources for this article include: Breitbart.com TheCollegeFix.com Friday, May 19, 2017 by: Vicki Batts Tags: California , salmon , salmon deaths This article may contain statements that reflect the opinion of the author (Natural News) Thousands of baby Chinook salmon have lost their lives to a faulty wiring mishap that cut off their water supply. Officials from the Department of Fish and Wildlife announced that the electrical issue caused a necessary pump to switch off and caused the flow of water to stop at the Thermalito hatchery. Initial estimates from the state on May 11 suggested that some 300,000 baby salmon had died, but on May 12, authorities revised that figure and announced that they believed only 72,000 fish had died during the incident. Electricians worked quickly to solve the issue and save the remaining 2 million fish, which had been rescued during the Oroville Dam spill in February. The baby salmon were taken from the Feather River Hatchery, which was below the dam, because silt and debris from the spill threatened to overtake the river and kill the fish. The baby Chinook were moved to the Thermalito hatchery in February, and will be released back into the Feather River once they are large enough. Some fish have been released already, and returns to Feather River will continue over the next month. Reports indicate that the fish that survived the faulty wire incident have been released into the San Pablo Bay While initial estimates suggested a devastating 300,000 Chinook had been killed in the accident, officials say that after biologists had moved 1 million salmon from the holding pond, they were better able to assess the damage. Harry Morse, a spokesperson for the Department of Fish and Wildlife, explained that the total number of dead fish equated to a weight of 1,000 pounds, while there were about 10,000 pounds of live fish in the same pond. As the Sacremento Bee reports, Since February, more than 3.6 million fall-run salmon were reared at the DWFs small Thermalito Facility. Its a few miles from the main Feather River Hatchery in Oroville, where fish had to be evacuated in early February following the crisis at Oroville Dams spillway. The Feather River Hatchery is essential to Californias commercial and recreational fishing endeavors, and provides the states Central Valley waterways with approximately 7 million salmon every year. But things are not all and well for the states salmon populations. A recent report from the University of California at Davis and the California Trout conservation group has suggested that wild Chinook salmon could disappear from the states waters within the next few decades. According to the research team, dams and current agricultural practices are some of the biggest threats to Chinook salmon populations. There are a total of 31 distinct species of salmon and trout that could be at risk, and at least 23 are expected to become extinct within the next 100 years. In 2008, similar estimates about the fate of Californias salmon and trout were made but back then, the prediction for their future wasnt quite so dismal. The 2009 report suggested that just five types of salmon would disappear from Californian waters within the next 50 years. But now, the five-decade outlook for salmon suggests that a heartbreaking 14 salmon species and subspecies will go extinct. Earlier this year, it was reported that millions of Pacific coast salmon were dying, and Californian authorities reported that salmon populations had dropped to record lows. The future for Californian salmon species does not look very bright, and this latest accident is just another twist of the knife for these poor fish. Follow more news about Californias inept government at Collapsifornia.com. Sources: SacBee.com SacBee.com NPR.org NaturalNews.com The Death Gap: How Inequality Kills David Ansell Univ. Chicago Press: 2017 9780226428154. | ISBN: 978-0-2264-2815-4 David Ansell's passionately written The Death Gap presents a powerful case for social inequality as a cause of disease and disparities in health. The social epidemiologist, physician and public-hospital veteran invokes the concept of 'death gaps' to describe differences in life expectancy by race, ethnicity, class and geography. Protestors hold a rally against the lack of an adult trauma centre at the University of Chicago Hospital. Credit: Sarah-Ji, Love and Struggle Photos Ansell uses an approach that is gaining traction in health and medicine, casting health disparities in the United States as arising from the commodification and politicization of health care. He sees the country's health system as another form of structural violence harm resulting from unjust social systems, such as poor-quality housing and emergency infrastructures. This architecture, anchored by racism, classism and placeism (discrimination on the basis of neighbourhood), fosters ill health in the most marginalized and vulnerable groups, such as poor black people in urban areas and rural working-class white people. For the most unfortunate, such assaults on health status shave away decades of life. As Ansell shows, there is as much as a 35-year difference in life expectancy between the healthiest and richest US neighbourhoods and the most ill and deprived. The Death Gap lays out general concepts that inform the complex web of structural violence through case studies and synthetic analyses. Ansell invites us into the heart-wrenching story of one of his long-term patients, whose deprived circumstances led to a disability-inducing stroke a condition rigged, he argues, by the power and dynamics of public policies that cultivate social inequality. Citing the case of a survivor of Haiti's catastrophic 2010 earthquake, he questions the medical practice of recording cause of death according to the illnesses that precipitate decline, rather than the long-term social conditions that place people at risk of risk. And he looks at 'property politics' in relation to race, seeing it as a key mechanism that perpetuates social, political and economic inequality. The same exploitative processes, he argues, affect disadvantaged black people in inner cities, rural white people and reservation-bound indigenous Americans. There is a 35-year difference in life expectancy between the richest US neighbourhoods and the most deprived. Ansell lays the blame for inequality-related damage to health on ideologies that absolve the wealthy of responsibility and motivation for advocating for an equitable society. He also points the finger at how the US health system and some areas of medical research ignore the interplay between life circumstances and health. Income inequality and neighbourhood stressors such as ambient noise, proximity to highways, exposure to violence and low social cohesion have an impact, he shows, on biological processes that accelerate ageing and break down the body's ability to fight disease. As the basis for these inferences, Ansell cites the growing body of research that links stress to the length of telomeres caps on chromosomes whose degeneration is associated with shortened lifespan and age-related illnesses. He also examines how stringent policing policies such as 'stop and frisk', which arose in the post-civil-rights era to control newly empowered black people, adversely affect mental health and family ties that protect well-being. And he reminds us how inequality deepens the impact of natural disasters such as the 1995 heat wave in Chicago, Illinois, which killed more than 700 people, and the devastation of much of New Orleans, Louisiana, by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. As these cases show, disproportionate numbers of deaths and displacements occur in black communities when public and health-care safety nets fail. Ansell's road map for achieving health equity is partly based on the successes he perceives as emanating from health-care activism among poor, ethno-racially vulnerable populations in Chicago. For example, after a year of community-instigated demonstrations, hunger strikes and meetings with hospital administrators, the Illinois legislature agreed to more inclusive laws concerning organ transplants for undocumented kidney patients. After the introduction of quality-control measures for breast-cancer screening (pushed by the Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force), the city witnessed a 35% reduction in mortality disparities between black and white women. And local activists were instrumental in highlighting the geographical maldistribution of adult trauma care in Chicago after the shooting of community leader Damian Turner in 2010 on the impoverished South Side. Turner's case is structural violence in action. He was killed by a stray bullet from a drive-by shooting less than half a kilometre from the University of Chicago Hospital, which had closed its trauma centre owing to budgetary concerns years before. He died after arrival at the nearest trauma centre, 16 kilometres away. Community organizers led sit-ins at the University of Chicago Hospital, prompting academic studies that characterized Chicago as a trauma care desert. Finally, the university conceded, establishing such a centre at its hospital for the first time in more than two decades. At the federal level, the 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA, known as Obamacare) receives a searing critique. Ansell lambasts its reliance on a tiered insurance system, recommending instead universal 'single-payer' health-insurance systems like those in Canada and Taiwan. But despite ongoing issues with the ACA and its putative replacements, Ansell is optimistic. Citing community responses to the 2008 financial crisis, he shows how neighbourhood unity can act as a buffer against the negative effects of structural violence. In the final chapter, he extols the transformative capacity of his medical peers and the community, and reveals how it is possible to change US health care from a privilege to a right. Though originating in China, the Belt and Road Initiative belongs to the whole world, President Xi says A new form of globalization based on investment in infrastructure and greater connectivity between countries has received the backing of more than 100 countries. China's Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, which was attended by 29 foreign heads of state and government including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, concluded in Beijing on May 15. The final communique called for a "shared commitment to building an open economy, ensuring free and inclusive trade (and) opposing all forms of protectionism." China pledged an additional 100 billion yuan ($14.49 billion; 12.57 billion euros; 11.20 billion) to the Silk Road Fund, which was originally launched in November 2014 with an initial contribution of $40 billion. It also directed extra funds to China's two big policy banks, with the China Development Bank receiving 250 billion yuan and the Export-Import Bank of China 130 billion yuan to set up special lending facilities. The initiative is likely to attract major private sector funding as well as that from multilateral development institutions. President Xi Jinping made it clear that although Belt and Road was originally China-inspired, it is now firmly a global initiative and open to all. "The Belt and Road development does not shut out, nor is it directed against, any party," he said. "Though originating in China, the Belt and Road Initiative belongs to the whole world. Its development goes beyond regions, stages of development and civilizations." China is set to host a second summit in 2019 to measure and monitor progress of the initiative, which was proposed by Xi in 2013. Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs and the Center for EU Studies at Renmin University of China, says the forum marked the point where Belt and Road became a truly international initiative. "It can no longer be regarded as bilateral but is very much multilateral, and it came up with a consensus for real action. This summit has sent out a signal that it welcomes all the countries in the world to participate." Wang Huiyao, a counselor to the State Council, China's Cabinet, and founder and president of the Center for China and Globalization, China's largest independent think tank, agrees the initiative had come of age. "It has been upgraded from being about 65 countries on a series of routes to a global initiative. It is no longer just a Chinese project, but one taken up by others across the world who have now come on board." Martin Jacques, the journalist, academic and author of the best-selling When China Rules The World, who also spoke at the forum, says China's initiative was presenting a very different form of globalization. "Western neoliberal globalization as made very clear by (former US president) Bill Clinton in the 1990s was about opening up markets around the world for Western products and investments and making the world more Westernized," he says. "The Chinese approach is about improving the lives of those in the developing world, where 85 percent of the world's population live, involving mainly State-led investment in infrastructure to drive economic growth. It is how China developed itself." A number of high-profile politicians spoke at the forum. UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond was one of the most enthusiastic European supporters. He said Britain after Brexit would now be a natural partner for the initiative. "As we embark on a new chapter in our history, as we leave the European Union, we want to maintain a close and open trading partnership with our European neighbors and at the same time pursue our ambition to secure freer trade agreements with new partners and old allies alike," he said. "Our ambition is for more trade, not less trade, and China clearly shares this ambition." Zheng Bijian, the president of the Institute of National Innovation and Development Strategies, told a thematic session on think tank exchanges at the forum that the initiative reflected the new realities of the world. He pointed out that developing countries made up just 36 percent of the world economy by purchasing power parity in 1980, but by next year they will make up 59 percent of it, with developed countries contributing only 41 percent. "It will be the developing countries (in their need for infrastructure and other investment) that will be continuing to drive global economic growth in the second and then the third and fourth decades of this century. This will lead to a new phase of globalization. "It is not a zero-sum game. People fail to understand the core meaning of the Belt and Road Initiative is cooperation. It is a grand vision." Former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd, speaking in the same session, said the initiative would strengthen regional and global cohesion. "If it is operated properly, it will become a new bridge between the East and West for both cooperation and exchanges and an end to division." One thing clear was that the initiative has the potential to provide a boost to all parts of the world, including Europe. One example is China investing through its Silk Road Fund in a network of five ports in the northern Adriatic, including the Italian ports of Venice, Ravenna and Trieste and Koper in Slovenia and Rijeka in Croatia. This will give it an alternative route into north and central Europe, rather than just the port of Piraeus in Athens. "China's 21st Century Maritime Silk Road is very important to Italy because it ends up in the Mediterranean and Italy is in the center of the Mediterranean," says Nicola Casarini, head of the Asia program at IAI, the leading Italian foreign policy think tank based in Rome. "Our ports provide an alternative route for goods bound for central and northern Europe." Africa also remains key to the initiative, with a number of the continent's leaders attending the forum. One new tie-up with the continent was an example of how Belt and Road is not just about physical connectivity but also new technology. Huawei, China's telecommunications giant, signed a collaboration agreement with the Kenyan government at the forum to help it build the infrastructure for using cloud technology for government services. This is part of Kenya's Vision 2030 to develop an ICT (internet cloud technology) industry. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said he welcomed the new partnership with Huawei, which has had a presence in his country for 19 years. "The development of ICT and a country's future are closely intertwined. I appreciate the role played by Huawei in Kenya's development and progress," he said. Abdallah Abdillahi Miguil, Djibouti's ambassador to China, hopes the initiative would assist his country in being an international maritime hub for the trans-shipment of goods coming from Asia to Europe. "We want to be a logistics base for Chinese made products for Africa and the Arab world," he said. "Our medium-term aim is to be the Dubai of Africa in order to enable Africans and Arabs to do their shopping in Djibouti." One important message from the forum was that the initiative now extended beyond the original 65 countries on the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. Miguel Jaramillo Baanante, executive director of GRADE, a public policy research organization based in Barranco, Peru, welcomed the fact that Latin America was now firmly part of the initiative. "What we heard at the forum was very promising and engaging, " he says. "My country, in particular, is a very open economy. We believe in the advantages of trade. We think it is a very promising initiative and we hope to benefit from it." He believes one area where South America can benefit is from China's expertise in building infrastructure. "When I first came to Beijing 15 years ago, there was one metro line, now there are 19. We need that expertise in Latin America in order to develop our infrastructure." Henry Paulson, former US treasury secretary and chairman of the Washington-based Paulson Institute, told the forum that building infrastructure on such a scale was bound to present major challenges. "One thing I learned from my days as an investment banker is that infrastructure development is not easy anywhere. Infrastructure investments tend to yield sub-optimal returns," he says. The 71-year-old chairman of the Washington-based Paulson Institute said it was important that projects were not assessed by narrow criteria but by what they contribute to the development of a country. "A power generation project in Pakistan can't easily be compared to a road project in Africa." The former chief executive of Goldman Sachs said, however, that Asia itself was a possible inspiration as to how the initiative will work globally. "The Asian economies of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s grew in large part because they were exporters to the United States and Europe, but today half of Asia's trade is conducted with itself. "Amid such a dramatic shift it should not be a surprise that many around the world are watching closely how precisely Belt and Road will evolve." One of the criticisms of the Belt and Road Initiative has been that it would be mainly Chinese construction companies that would benefit from the projects that it generated and that it was the perfect answer for their slowing domestic growth. But Denis Depoux, Asia deputy president and senior partner of Roland Berger, a global consultancy, says the initiative is also likely to be a boon to Western companies. "Many of the European infrastructure, industry equipment and services giants have a chance to leverage their experience in these regions, partner with their Chinese counterparts, and develop a new, more inclusive, joint development approach," he says. He says Belt and Road could remove many of the major barriers to development in many parts of the world. "Financing challenges, first and foremost insufficient infrastructure, have hindered development," he says. "China's initiative brings structure, financing and political impetus, while the strong focus on infrastructure will swiftly enable easier trade and investment." Mats Harborn, president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, also hoped more European companies would become involved. He says this would partly depend, however, on China further opening its own markets up for trade. "The European Chamber believes that the success of the Belt and Road Initiative will largely be predicated on open markets, balanced trade and reciprocity," he says. Marco Lambertini, director general of the World Wide Fund International, who attended the forum, says the initiative could play a significant role in fighting climate change by ensuring that the new infrastructure is built sustainably. "The Belt and Road Initiative can help developing economies leapfrog a carbonized economy and embrace clean renewable energy. This could be a very remarkable contribution of the initiative not only to Asia, but also to the world." Umberto de Pretto, secretary-general of the Geneva-based IRJ, the global industry association for road transport, says the initiative had the potential also to re-create the old silk routes of the past across Central Asia. "With maritime transport to Europe, Central Asia was somehow left out of the globalization process," he says. "There is now a lot of noise around rail, but it does not have the capacity to deliver goods like roads. The more you build roads, the more likely you are to have companies building factories and investing in these areas." Helga Zepp-LaRouche, founder of the Schiller Institute, the Washington-based international political and economic think tank, says the initiative had assumed a new significance. "The statistics now show it has become the new engine of growth for the world economy - in fact, the only one - and it will continue to be like that." She says her own institute, which was founded in 1984, was an early advocate of the underlying ideas of Belt and Road after the collapse of the Soviet Union. "This was our answer then. When the Iron Curtain was no longer there, we put forward proposals of how to connect Eurasia with a land bridge aimed at connecting the industrial centers of Europe with a then already fast developing Asia." The 68-year-old German-born campaigner says greater connectivity would aid development in some of the most troubled areas of the world, particularly in the Middle East. "The initiative has changed the dynamic around many of the crisis spots already. President Xi has offered to extend the initiative to Syria and other troubled countries. This is in Europe's big interest. The only way to resolve the refugee crisis is for everyone to hold hands and eliminate hunger and starvation. Hopefully, we can enter a new era of mankind so we can stop having senseless wars with people suffering." President Xi made clear in his opening address to the forum that this was one of the central aims of the initiative. "We should build the Belt and Road into a road of prosperity. Development holds the master key to solving all problems. In pursuing the Belt and Road Initiative, we should focus on the fundamental issue of development, release the growth potential of countries and achieve economic integration and interconnected development and deliver benefits to all." Edith Mutethya and Li Jing contributed to this story. andrewmoody@chinadaily.com.cn President Xi Jinping addresses the roundtable of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation at the Beijing Huairou International Conference Center at Yanqi Lake on May 15. Xu Jingxing / China Daily President Xi Jinping announces the start of the round table of the Belt and Road Forum on May 15 in Beijing. Ma Zhancheng / Xinhua (China Daily European Weekly 05/19/2017 page1) Researchers at Leigh University, in collaboration with scientists from Vanderbilt University and Ohio State University, have discovered a distant planet that's about as dense as Styrofoam. The planet, described in a paper published in The Astronomical Journal, is considered to be an extreme version of a gas planet. Dubbed as KELT-11b, the new planet orbits very close to its host star and takes less than five Earth days to complete an orbit. "It is highly inflated, so that while it's only a fifth as massive as Jupiter, it is nearly 40 percent larger, making it about as dense as Styrofoam, with an extraordinarily large atmosphere," said Joshua Pepper, astronomer and assistant professor of physics at Lehigh University, in a press release. "We were very surprised by the amazingly low density of this planet. It's extremely big for its mass. It's got a fifth of the mass of Jupiter but is puffed up into this really underdense planet." For the study, the researchers used the two small robotic telescope of the KELT (Kilodegree Extremely Little Telescope) survey. These robotic telescopes scan the sky every night, measuring the brightness of about five million stars. As a good indicator of a planet, researchers look for stars that appear to dim temporarily at regular intervals. To verify that the dimming of the star is indeed caused by a planet, the researchers also use other telescopes to measure the gravitational wobble, or the slight tug a planet exerts on the star. Luckily, KELT-11b orbits the brightest star in the southern hemisphere. The star, KELT-11 is extremely bright and already evolving into a red giant. This means that the KELT-11 has started using up its nuclear fuel and will soon devour the KELT-11b. The KELT survey was made possible through the contributions of more than 30 institutions, including NASA, Harvard University, Princeton University, University of California-Berkeley and University of Pennsylvania. The project was also joined by some 40 citizen scientists living in 10 countries across four continents. A 21-month-old boy who was abducted in San Francisco has been found safe in Los Angeles, police said late Friday. The California Highway Patrol earlier in the day issued an Amber Alert for the toddler and suspect, 30-year-old Jason Lam, who is now in police custody. Lam has joint custody of the boy with the child's mother, but officials said Lam on Thursday did not return the boy to his mother, who then proceeded to receive new custodial status from the court, according to the San Francisco District Attorney's Office. An Amber Alert has been for a 1-year-old boy who was abducted in San Francisco. Christie Smith reports. Security footage captured inside a Menlo Park store Thursday recorded Lam and the boy walking around. Several hours later, a ping from Lam's cell phone alerted police to his new location in Southern California, according to the CHP. After the Amber Alert reached the southern portion of the state, a shopper recognized Lam's car and called police. He was later detained roughly six-hours after the Amber Alert was activated. The Amber Alert was activated Friday after investigators uncovered troublesome information about Lam, according to Jerry Rodriguez from the San Francisco District Attorney's office. The boy's mother and an investigator from the San Francisco District Attorney's Office will fly to Southern California to reunite with the boy. CHP A teacher who led police on a nationwide manhunt after taking a 15-year-old student has been indicted on federal charges, federal prosecutors said Thursday. A federal grand jury has charged Tad Cummins with taking a minor across state lines for sex and for obstruction of justice, according to a statement from Jack Smith, the acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee. An FBI agent testified recently that the 50-year-old health science teacher told authorities that he had sex with the girl most nights during the 38 days he was on the run with her. The teacher had tried to take the girl out of the country by trying to kayak his way with her from San Diego to Mexico, according to that testimony. The teacher gave up that idea and turned back because the waters were treacherous, the FBI agent said at detention hearing. At the hearing, prosecutors had tried to show that Cummins abused his position of authority and preyed upon a vulnerable girl who had been abused at home and bullied at school. The teacher's lawyer, however, had argued that he never took the girl against her will and did not harm her. Afterward, a federal judge ordered the married teacher held, saying Cummins was a fight risk and a danger to the community. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison. The teacher was arrested last month and the girl was found safe in a remote area of northern California following a tip from a man who recognized that they were wanted by police. Cummins' attorney didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment. He also faces state charges of aggravated kidnapping and sexual contact with a minor. A Chicago artist known for filling city potholes with his colorful and sometimes comical mosaics has now left a political message at the president's doorstep. A mosaic of a Russian flag, with LIAR spelled out in white, sits ahead of a weathered sewer grate on Wabash Avenue not far from Trump Tower. The artist behind the statement, Jim Bachor, is known for less overtly partisan Chicago pothole art like ice cream sandwiches and flowers, which he has been producing for years in the city. This is Bachor's first overtly political work on display, aaccording to the Chicago Tribune. Bachor posted two photos Tuesday on Instagram of the anti-Trump mosaic. The posts garnered thousands of likes and commentssome encouraging, some dissenting. [[423089194, C]] Public art reaches hundreds of thousands, starts conversations [and] provokes thought, one user commented. Hateful comments only reach a few. That's why they hate. They lack an audience. I hope you trip [and] fall into the next pothole, another wrote. Bachor told the Tribune he hopes to explain the art as a form of protest to his 11-year-old twin sons. "I wanted to have an answer for them when they get older (when they asked) if I did anything to protest those dark Trump months when he was in office," Bachor told the newspaper. "I didn't want to look back and say, 'Geez, I just sat on my hands and didn't do anything.'" Bachor's previous works of art have include floral, food or city-themed designs that have attracted the attention of residents as the pothole issue in Chicago continues to be a point of contention. [[262925391, C]] "I just think it's fun to add that little bit of spark into (an) issue that people moan about," he told NBC Chicago in 2014. According to city data, there have been more than 540 potholes filled in Chicago in the last week alone. Bachor said he was first drawn to the ancient art form because of its ability to last. The artist added that he has a few other pieces related to President Donald Trump but has not decided if they will be filling any potholes anytime soon, the Tribune reported. Chicago's Department of Streets and Sanitation could not immediately comment on whether the city plans to pave over the latest work of art. [[423039434, C]] Trump has vigorously denied any connections to Russia, calling investigations into possible collusion "a witch hunt" that "hurts our country terribly." "There is no collusion between, certainly myself, and my campaign, but I can always speak for myself and the Russians--zero," Trump said during a news conference on Thursday. "We have a very divided country because of that and many other things." Trump Tower in Chicago has been the scene of numerous protests and demonstrations since the president took office. In November, nearly 2,000 protesters rallied around the tower chanting slogans and carrying signs. A young boy was seriously injured after being struck by a vehicle on Thursday afternoon in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Police confirm that the child, an 8-year-old boy, was hit on Cedar Street in the driveway of Schofield Elementary School. He was crossing with a caretaker when police say a driver circling in search of a parking spot struck him. The child attends Fiske Elementary, which is just up the road from Schofield. Authorities said the child's injuries remain "significant" as of Friday afternoon. A medical helicopter responded to the scene and the child is being transported to an area hospital. The driver of the vehicle remained on the scene before also being taken to a hospital. David Lussier, the superintendent of Wellesley Public Schools, issued a statement Thursday evening. "I share the sad news that late this afternoon, one of our students was seriously hurt in an accident on the Schofield driveway," he wrote. "The child was transported immediately to the hospital. At this time, we have no additional details to share and we ask that you respect the privacy of all involved. Please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time." Its Export-Import Bank will work with China to deepen cooperation in the financial sector Hungary will deepen cooperation with China in the financial sector by jointly establishing more investment funds, says its minister of foreign affairs and trade. Peter Szijjarto says Hungary's Export-Import Bank will invest 70 million euros ($76.5 million; 68.79 million euros; 59.21 million) in the second phase of the China-Central and Eastern Europe Investment Cooperation Fund, which was initiated by the Export-Import Bank of China and established in 2013. The fund's first phase drew investments of $435 million and went into operation in 2014. The Hungarian Export-Import Bank was one of the investors, with an input of $30 million, according to the Budapest Business Journal. The fund's second phase, to be launched this year, will be worth $1 billion, according to Xinhua. The China-CEE Investment Cooperation Fund targets telecommunications, energy, infrastructure and manufacturing projects in the 16 Central and Eastern European countries. For example, the fund's first investment was for a stake in a wind power generator in Poland in 2014. Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the country's biggest lender, also invested 1 billion euros to establish Sino-CEE Finance Holding Co Ltd in November last year. The company has initiated an investment fund with an expected size of 10 billion euros, aiming to provide financial support for industrial cooperation between China and CEE countries. Financial institutions and businesses in CEE countries are invited to contribute voluntarily to the investment fund. Hungary is ready to contribute around 200 million euros, according to Szijjarto. "Chinese investments in Hungary have exceeded $4 billion, which means that we are the No 1 investment target in Central Europe for China," Szijjarto says, adding that Hungary is also the largest Central European exporter to China. "And since the Bank of China has its regional headquarters in Budapest, where there is a renminbi clearing center, we have the tightest financial cooperation as well," he said on May 14 while attending the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing. To further boost Chinese investments in Hungary, Szijjarto met five Chinese companies that have made investments in the Central European country. Executives from technology major Huawei Technologies Co Ltd and electric vehicle maker BYD Co Ltd are among those he met during the forum. "Europe and the European Union have been struggling with some difficulties, mainly economic and security-related. To overcome the economic difficulties, we need to build more strategic and comprehensive relationships with the most rapidly emerging part of the world, which is definitely China and the surrounding region," Szijjarto says. The region of Central and Eastern Europe is an underestimated investment destination, according to Jiang Jianqing, head of Sino-CEE Finance Holding Co Ltd and ICBC's former chairman. xujingxi@chinadaily.com.cn (China Daily European Weekly 05/19/2017 page28) Police were back out grid searching the marsh around Mine Brook in Franklin, Massachusetts, and Bellingham Friday, trying to find something that may have been missed in some of the murkiest areas of the terrain where they believe 20-year-old Duke University student Michael Doherty went missing. Adding to the roughly 40 members of law enforcement combing these woods and waterways on day six of their coordinated search effort, were dozens of concerned residents and friends of the Doherty family. Family friend Ed Blasie said, I know the Dohertys from hockey, my sons play hockey with Kevin, the younger brother. Josh Nelson knows Dohertys brother and said, My moms friends with their mom and theyre a great family its just sad. They got together and walked the same trail investigators believe Doherty tried to take home in the dark, pouring rain early Sunday morning. Connor McLaughlin, who was searching the woods said, You cant even get 10 feet into the 10 feet in without sinking into mud and stuff like that, its definitely tough. Also searching the woods, Molly Doherty added, The conditions were horrendous, like I didnt think they were that bad, like the swamps so much bigger than I thought. These efforts, not sanctioned by law enforcement, but all part of this caring community trying to add more eyes and ears to this desperate search. Tim Nelson, who knows the Doherty family said, It just seems like more could be done, I mean theres a limited number of law enforcement people and they have a lot of area to search, so we thought we could help. Officials have said they plan to continue the search through the weekend. They have also been attempting to ping Doherty's cell phone every day since his disappearance, but there's been no response. An eighth grade student was seriously injured after being hit by a school van while crossing the street in a crosswalk in Acton, Massachusetts, on Friday morning. The crash, which occurred around 7:20 a.m. on Main Street at Hayward Road, shut down part of the road in the area. Police said the 14-year-old Acton girl was crossing Main Street in a crosswalk when she was struck by a van traveling south. The van involved is a Westford school transportation vehicle. The girl was airlifted to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston with serious injuries and is in stable condition. Her name has not been released. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the child and her family," Acton police Lt. Doug Sturniolo said. The driver, identified only as a 50-year-old woman who was taking another student to a nearby school, stayed at the scene. The driver was described as being "hysterical" when talking to investigators after the crash. She has been released and it's unclear if she will be charged. Aerial video from Sky Ranger showed police at the scene and a white van stopped nearby. A backpack, sneaker and some schoolwork lay scattered on the ground. The investigation is ongoing. If you think all sunscreens are created equal, think again. Consumer Reports has released its annual list of top sunscreens as well as a warning about the SPF number on some bottles: If you put too much faith in them, you could be putting your skin at risk. SPF, which stands for sun protection factor, measures how well a sunscreen guards against ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, the chief cause of sunburn and a contributor to skin cancer. For the fifth year in a row, Consumer Reports found some sunscreens during testing failed to provide the level of protection promised on the package. In fact, of the more than 60 products tested, 23 were found to have less than half of the labeled SPF number. The Food and Drug Administration requires manufacturers to have their products tested to determine the SPF because sunscreens are classified as over-the-counter drugs. However, the agency doesnt routinely test sunscreens itself and manufacturers dont have to report their results to the FDA unless the agency requests them. According to Consumer Reports, an FDA official at a public meeting in June 2016 said the agency only had the resources for 30 employees to cover more than 100,000 over-the-counter drugs, which limits what they can do to oversee sunscreens. "Manufacturers test sunscreens for SPF before their products hit the market, but unless they are reformulated, that may be the only testing they do. Thats one reason CR tests sunscreens," Trisha Calvo, Consumer Reports Health Editor, said. The agency found a number of sunscreens that provide solid protection against sunburn, skin cancer and wrinkles and are also a good value. Below are 14 recommended sunscreens that received excellent overall ratings: The Amtrak conductor shot by a passenger Tuesday has undergone surgery and is now on a breathing tube as a community rallies around his wife and four children. Michael Case, 45, a Navy veteran from Homewood, was shot in the torso, according to Amtrak and police. The suspect, a man in his 70s from Wisconsin, fired from the window of a train, according to police. The alleged shooter was found by police being restrained by passengers on the train, authorities said. A handgun was recovered from the scene, according to Naperville police Cmdr. Lou Cammiso. The conductor had stepped off the train and when the suspect reached through the window and shot him, Cammiso told reporters. His wife's co-workers at the 5th Quarter Restaurant in Homewood have set up a GoFundMe page to help with his medical expenses. "Your prayers go out to them, it's gotta be tough on all of them," Steven Nemitz, the restauratn's owner, told NBC 5. Cases wife voice her thanks for the support in a Facebook post shared with NBC 5. "I just want to extend my most deeply felt gratitude," the post reads. I have been truly touched by the outpouring of love, support, prayers and thoughts." Police do not yet know of a motive for the shooting and the suspect is being held in the Naperville police station. Meanwhile, questions have been raised by a witness who says she assisted passengers get to safety while employees at the train station seemed unprepared. Amtrak says it will look at the incident to see if there are lessons to be learned. There are recommended federal guidelines to keep rail passengers safe. Rail systems are urged to train for evacuation, panic prevention and communication. Metra says its part of the office was unstaffed that afternoon. The Amtrak train, called the Southwest Chief, runs from Los Angeles to Chicago and was carrying 235 passengers at the time. Per Amtrak policy, unloaded weapons are allowed in checked bags with advanced notice only. Having a loaded gun in a passenger car is considered a violation, according to an Amtrak spokesperson. The president of the system that oversees 17 state colleges and universities told staff and students that if current budget proposals were to be adopted, then he would have no choice but to consider the closure of multiple institutions. You have to look at all of the options should that become reality and the reality of a cut that size is that we would have to close colleges, Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) System President Mark Ojakian said. We would have to close campuses. Not just one, but more than one and I want to be clear not only with the folks that I serve in the community but also those in the legislature. The overall cut proposed totals $80 million. Ojakian said filling that hole by raising tuition alone would cost those paying for attendance more than 25 percent more each year. Ojakian said hes ruled out using a tuition increase to fill the gap. I will not bring forward to my board, another tuition increase. We have to figure it out ourselves and we have to work with the legislature to figure it out, Ojakian said. Some faculty in the system are not happy with Ojakian and that angst existed even before the prospect of a campus closure. Ojakians proposal to consolidate some back office and IT functions, and the concept of combining programs was met with anger, especially by the faculty of Central Connecticut State University, whos Faculty Senate went so far as to approve a vote of, no confidence, in Ojakian. Elena Tapia is a professor of linguistics at Eastern Connecticut State University, and serves as the president of the Connecticut State University-American Association of University Professors unit that represents more than 3,000 faculty. Tapia said any proposed cuts to higher education need to be shelved. Given the budget deficit, I think there are going to have to be some cuts, but I dont think they should be to higher education, said Tapia, a 23-year faculty member at Eastern. If you want a workforce then they need to not cannibalize higher education but to nourish it, to put money back into higher education. Ojakian said closing a campus wasnt a real consideration when he was looking at chances for savings, and said he now needs to explain those reasons to lawmakers. Many of our students have childcare and employment issues, so where they go to school now, its challenging enough for them to get there, so to make them travel another thirty or forty-five miles is not going to be in their best interest which is why I did not initially propose closing a campus, Ojakian said. Voters in the Blue Hills Fire District in Bloomfield elected a new fire commissioner, just months after a series of reports on thousands of dollars in stipends, bonuses and perks given to people running a fire district serving about 20,000 people. "Were gonna bring changes to this community, were gonna bring changes to this firehouse, I thank you all," the new incoming commissioner Jacqueline Massey-Green told voters after the tally. Massey-Greene wants change after NBC Connecticut Troubleshooter reports on what commissioners-- essentially volunteers-- have received from the district. It includes a $5,000 annual stipend, thousands more in performance and holiday bonuses, plus other perks. Through their attorney, commissioners previously said the precedent of stipends and holiday bonuses were set many years ago but performance bonuses began more recently. Bloomfield Mayor Joan Gamble was present at the vote and she criticized commissioners for not being more transparent about their pay and benefits. She told the NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters she is only guardedly optimistic because Massey-Green is one of just three commissioners. Two of the ones who have received sizable benefits remain on the board, which elects its commissioners in staggered terms. The board has its own taxing authority and operates independently from the Town of Bloomfield. On the same day as 15-year-old Jayson Negrons funeral, the passenger in the car who survived after being shot twice during a Bridgeport office-involved shooting is sharing his account of what happened. "Im still here, the whole time Im thinking, 'what if I wasnt here? how would things be then?'," Julian Fyffe, 21, said in an interview with NBC Connecticut. Eight days after being shot by Bridgeport Police Officer James Boulay, Fyffe is home recovering with bandages on his back and around his arm. "That wasnt supposed to happen," Fyffe said. "I felt like they could have came about this a different way." Fyffe said he had been friends with Negron for about a year. "I look at him like hes my little brother," Fyffe said. Fyffe said he had no clue he got into a stolen car when Negron picked him up at his home on May 9 to go to a recording studio in the late afternoon. He said they pulled into the Walgreens parking lot after noticing a police car following them. "And I could see him kind of looking nervous stuff and Im like you got park it up and we got to get out," Fyffe said. The car moved slowly toward the ramp onto Fairfield avenue before turning the wrong way on the one-way street, Fyffe said. "Im like, 'wrong way you got to back up'," Fyffe said recalling what he told Negron. "Hes like, 'alright,' throws the car in reverse but before he gets to move or anything two cops, they run down to the car and they both have guns out one is at his window and one is at mine." Next, Fyffe said an officer opened Negrons door and tried to grab him. "The operator put it on drive, moved forward tried to knock off the officer, then put it on reverse at a high rate of speed pinning the officer almost underneath the vehicle and hitting another car that was behind at that point the officer feared for his life," Bridgeport Police Chief AJ Perez said May 10 at a news conference. Fyffe claimed the officers life was not in jeopardy leading up to the shooting. "But no cops were like in front of the car behind the car getting pinned in or anything like that, I read something the cop was like almost under the car, how are you under the car and still shooting? Like what are you doing?" Fyffe said. Boulay fired three shots, Fyffe said. The first hit Negron and the second struck Fyffes left arm. "That third shot," he said. "Seen it come through my chest then the blood started coming out of my mouth." After being handcuffed and slammed to the ground, Fyffe said he waited 15 to 20 minutes for medical attention. "There was nobody to come by, put pressure on the wounds or even identify where we were shot at," Fyffe said. Fyffe told NBC Connecticut he is speaking out to set the record straight. "Why was shooting us the first thing, you know?" he said. "I just ask myself that, but for the most you know, I feel well get justice." Fyffes attorneys have filed a federal lawsuit naming the City of Bridgeport, Perez and Boulay that is seeking more than $6 million in damages. Rowena White, the spokesperson for the City of Bridgeport and the Police Department had no comment on the lawsuit. She said Mayor Joe Ganim did attend Negrons funeral. Officer Boulay remains on paid administrative leave while State Police and a Waterbury States Attorney continue their use of force investigation. State Police want anyone with photos or videos of the shooting to contact them at (203) 696-2569 or text TIP711 with any information to 274637. 12:50 AM UPDATE All Severe Thunderstorm Warnings have expired across Connecticut. The National Weather Service reports several trees down in Kent but no other damage reports have been received. There are a handful of power outages across the state but it's unclear if they're weather related. 12:10 AM UPDATE A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect for Litchfield county. Wind gusts in excess of 60 mph and small hail are possible with this storm. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING is in effect for Litchfield county. Strong winds and small hail are possible. #nbcct pic.twitter.com/aZgg8ScRQv Josh Cingranelli (@WeatherJosh) May 19, 2017 There is also a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for a storm in Windham county. Most of these cells do not meet severe criteria. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11:46 PM UPDATE Storms are weakening as they move across the state. Here's a look at a couple of thunderstorms. This storm in Torrington is tracking to the east at 45 mph and is headed directly towards the Hartford area. The storm is not severe however it is providing a prolific lightning storm. We're monitoring the last storm of the evening which is just east of Poughkeepsie. Storms are weakening. #nbcct pic.twitter.com/ewSvNMeyXb Josh Cingranelli (@WeatherJosh) May 19, 2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11:14 PM UPDATE We're also monitoring a storm moving through Salisbury. This storm is headed due east at 45 mph. Here's a time-line of when you can expect it near your hometown. It will be in the Hartford area by 11:52. These storms have a history of frequent lightning and heavy downpours. A decent amount of lightning with this storm moving into Litchfield county. Near #Hartford by 11:52. #nbcct pic.twitter.com/6Imy1bRzYl Josh Cingranelli (@WeatherJosh) May 19, 2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11:06 PM UPDATE We continue to track scattered thunderstorms moving through the state. The storms have a history of frequent lightning, heavy downpours, and gusty winds. Here's a time-line of when the storms will be near your town. Storms in the hills racing toward Enfield. A 40 mph gust, heavy rain, and some lightning. Sub-severe. #nbcct pic.twitter.com/7YJdTz6YHy Ryan Hanrahan (@ryanhanrahan) May 19, 2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10:05 PM UPDATE We continue to monitor a line of storms that are moving towards Connecticut. We're expecting the thunderstorms to move into Litchfield county first. Here's a timeline of when we're expecting the storms to be in your hometown. Storms developing a bit to the south. Should clip NW CT by 10:30 p.m. #nbcct pic.twitter.com/hxm9XcBNPt Ryan Hanrahan (@ryanhanrahan) May 19, 2017 The storms are expected to bring frequent lightning and gusty winds. It looks like the majority of the storms that move through the state will stay below the severe criteria. The strongest storms are just to our north, impacting parts of western and central Massachusetts. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8:48 PM UPDATE We continue to track a line of thunderstorms that are moving towards Connecticut. Take a look at First Alert Doppler Radar. This radar image is from 8:46. You can see that there are Severe Thunderstorm Warnings just miles to our north in parts of New York, Massachusetts, and Vermont. The strongest storm in the northeast is about 30 miles away. The good news is that this specific cell will likely stay north of Connecticut. One of the products we use to look for damaging winds is called velocity. The bright red is representing winds of 65 knots (75 mph) just 500 ft above the ground. This is likely causing wind damage in throughout parts of eastern New York. This cell is headed towards western Massachusetts. Nasty damaging wind signature just south of Albany. #nbcct pic.twitter.com/d7BOrCvWA3 Ryan Hanrahan (@ryanhanrahan) May 19, 2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Here's a look at Interactive Radar: Thunderstorms will likely bring gusty winds, downpours, and frequent lightning. Most of the severe thunderstorms will stay to the north of Connecticut. Make sure to download the NBC Connecticut App for the latest forecast and to track the storm with Interactive Radar. A final deal to solve the Dallas Police and Fire Pension crisis was announced in Austin Thursday with key players on both sides of the long and bitter fight in the room. Dallas Fire-Rescue Capt. Sam Friar, chairman of the pension board, recalled how lawmakers warned that neither side would like the final solution. "And you are absolutely right about that," Friar said. "Neither side likes it, but it is something I think we can both agree to. It does save our pension fund long term." The plan still needs votes from the full Texas Senate and Texas House, but a Senate committee passed it Thursday and leaders from both chambers spoke in favor of the latest plan. "I think we can all walk out of this room thinking we all did something good for Texas," said State Rep. Dan Flynn, R-Canton, chairman of the House Pension Committee. When the House passed another version of the deal earlier this month, Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings said it was too hard on taxpayers. The Dallas City Council endorsed the new deal Wednesday. But Rawlings joined Flynn and employee group leaders Thursday in supporting the plan that was renegotiated with the help of State Sens. Royce West (D-Dallas) and Don Huffines (R-Dallas). "I'm not thrilled about everything, but it's not important that I'm thrilled. It's not about me," Rawlings said. "It's about the city coming together. And that's what's happened today." Employees will pay more and receive less in benefits. Taxpayers will also pay more but exact amounts were still being calculated. A concession in the Senate version grants the city six of 11 members on a new Police and Fire Pension Board. The mayor insisted on city control instead of the current arrangement where eight of 12 appointees are employees or retirees. Employees won a Senate restriction that major benefit changes in the future will require a two-thirds vote of pension trustees. The pension fund crisis was blamed on overly generous benefits, investments that failed to produce the needed return and deception about the true value of fund assets. Dallas lost hundreds of police offices as conflict and fear over the pension crisis played out. The police force is now below 3,000 officers for the first time in many years, and hiring new officers is a slow process. Rawlings said a major challenge now is to restore confidence. "We've got to attract and retain our police and fire in order for us to continue the growth. Dallas is going to grow in the next 20 years. We are going to be a great city, but it won't be that way if we don't solve this issue," Rawlings said. A North Texas justice of the peace has been reprimanded by a special court of review for his sexual conduct with an employee. In a deposition, Tarrant County Justice of the Peace Russell Casey had acknowledged having sexual contact with the woman 10 times. However, he called the court decision "balderdash" in an interview with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The Republican first elected in 2007 is serving a term that expires in January 2019. Casey began the process to terminate the woman in August 2014. The woman then reported Casey to the county's human resources department and filed a federal sexual harassment lawsuit against him. That suit was settled. What to Know The suspect who slammed his car into a crowd of pedestrians in the heart of Times Square is facing a slew of charges, authorities say Officials don't believe there's a nexus to terror; sources say the suspect has a history of possible psychiatric, drug and alcohol problems One woman died and 22 other people were injured after being hit by the vehicle; the driver was taken into custody The driver who slammed his car into a crowd of pedestrians, killing a young woman and injuring nearly two dozen other people in Times Square Thursday has been charged with a litany of crimes, including murder, police say. Richard Rojas of the Bronx is charged with second-degree murder, 20 counts of second-degree attempted murder and five counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, authorities said. Manhattan prosecutors said in court that Richard Rojas told police after his arrest that he wanted to "kill them all," and that they should have shot him. Rojas's lawyer and weeping supporters had no comment. Rojas, 26, was taken into custody after barreling into the lunch-hour crowd on Seventh Avenue shortly before noon, according to police. Officials and sources say Rojas, who has a history of DWI arrests, made a U-turn on Seventh Avenue at 42nd Street and started speeding down the sidewalk for about 3-and-a-half blocks, mowing down pedestrians before crashing into a traffic pole. The woman who died has been identified as Alyssa Elsman from Portage, Michigan. She was visiting with her sister and mother. Her sister, with whom she was walking at the time, was also injured when Rojas plowed through. Rojas is a former member of the armed services with a history of arrests for DWI, according to officials and law enforcement sources. He was dishonorably discharged from the Navy, where he once served aboard the USS Carney, for resisting arrest in Florida in 2014. Charges were dropped in the case. Harrison Ramos, a friend, told reporters that Rojas hadn't been the same since he returned from active duty in the Navy. He says Rojas was posting "crazy stuff" online that has since been taken down, according to The Associated Press. Other friends say he was having money troubles. Rojas was most recently arrested on a menacing charge last week for allegedly pulling a knife on an acquaintance in the Bronx. On Thursday evening, police were at an apartment where Rojas stayed with his mother in the Mount Eden section of the Bronx. Law enforcement sources said police are obtaining a search warrant. Rojas' mother was brought in for questioning Thursday; she said nothing to reporters as detectives led her to a waiting car. Fati Smith, a neighbor who has known the Rojas family for years, said she couldn't stop crying. She said she's in disbelief. Another neighbor said Rojas is a "good person" and he doesn't know what happened to him. A cause of the crash is under investigation, but authorities say it's believed to be an "isolated incident" with no nexus to terror. Law enforcement sources say Rojas told police he heard voices and expected to die. They said he has a history of possible psychiatric, drug and alcohol problems, and investigators are looking into whether or not Thursday's crash may have been a deliberate act. Law enforcement sources say Rojas appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol when he was taken into custody. Sources say he blew a 0.0 when tested for alcohol at the precinct where he was brought for questioning. A law enforcement official said certain statements and tests suggest he was under the influence of something he ingested through smoking. In one of his two previous DWI arrests, Rojas was driving faster than 99 mph in a 50 mph zone, sources familiar with his record say. He resisted officers while being arrested for DUI in Florida, resulting in the dishonorable Navy discharge, law enforcement sources said. He was most recently arrested last week in the Bronx on a charge of menacing. After the crash Thursday, he allegedly tried to flee cops, then tried to physically fight them, as they brought him into custody. Mayor de Blasio said in a briefing at the scene that a total of 23 people, including the woman who died and her 13-year-old sister, were hit by the vehicle. Four of the survivors were taken to hospitals in critical condition. Many had traumatic injuries, including open fractures, officials said at a news briefing, adding those four victims were expected to live. Social media erupted with fear and concern as witnesses described screaming and abject chaos in the Crossroads of the World. Someone tweeted a photo of a maroon-looking sedan halfway on its side after appearing to crash into a traffic pole. Smoke emanated from the hood as pedestrians stood by in horror. Police radio captured the urgency of the response. "Times Square, we got a car running people over on 42-7, going northbound on 7th ave, running people over," one NYPD dispatcher said, according to audio clips from Broadcastify. "Multiple people injured. Notify everyone." Vice President Mike Pence and his team were not made aware of an investigation into former national security adviser Mike Flynn's lobbying for Turkey, a source close to the administration told NBC News, a potential "pattern" of not informing Pence that would be "malpractice or intentional, and either are unacceptable." Flynn was fired for lying to Pence about his conversations with a Russian diplomat, and a new report, which the White House has denied, claims Flynn told Trump transition lawyer Don McGahn, now White House Counsel, that he was under federal investigation for lobbying. The source called the report "stunning." It would be the second time Pence claims he was kept in the dark about Flynn's alleged wrongdoings while the White House knew of them. Pence was running the presidential transition. The source close to the administration did not blame President Donald Trump for allegedly not making the vice president aware, suggesting it was likely the president had assumed Pence and his team were "in the loop." Instead, the source said blame would lie with McGahn and whoever he told. A 25-year-old man was arrested Friday after he allegedly tried to break into the cockpit of an American Airlines plane from Los Angeles to Hawaii, officials said. Officials identified the passenger as Anil Uskanil of Turkish ethnicity. He was escorted off American Airlines Flight 31, after it landed safely at 11:35 a.m. Hawaii Standard Time, according to a statement from the airline. The series of events leading up to the arrest began at 2:45 a.m. at LAX, airport police said. Los Angeles International Airport Police Division responded to a radio call of a passenger going through a door from the Terminal 5 concourse that led out onto the airfield ramp, according to a statement from LAX. Uskanil, who was a ticketed passenger on an American Airlines flight, had gone through TSA screening and was immediately spotted by a contractor and detained, LAX Public Information Officer Frederick Badlissi said. Airport police investigated and determined Uskanil had been drinking but did not meet the criteria for public intoxication. He was arrested for misdemeanor trespassing, cited, given a pending court date and released to board his flight to Honolulu. [[423232654, C]] On the flight Uskanil had been loitering near the restroom, carrying a laptop, a government source told NBC News. Flight attendants asked him to return to his seat and he refused, the source said. Uskanil then seemed to lunge toward the cockpit door, according to the source, and that's when several passengers subdued him. "No one really paid much attention to it until we landed and the flight attendants would not let anyone get out of their seats," Jaren Yang, one of the passengers of the flight, told NBC News. The flight, which originated from Los Angeles, was to arrive in Honolulu about noon. The flight departed from Los Angeles International Airport at 8:34 a.m. local time. It was not immediately clear if Uskanil has an attorney. North Korea will rapidly strengthen its nuclear strike capability as long as the United States maintains its "hostile policy" toward the country, the country's deputy U.N. ambassador said Friday. Kim In Ryong told a news conference that if the Trump administration wants peace on the Korean Peninsula, it should replace the Armistice Agreement that ended the 1950-53 Korean War with a peace accord and halt its anti-North Korea policy, "the root cause of all problems." Kim also dismissed allegations that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea the country's official name was behind the recent wave of global cyberattacks as "ridiculous." "Whenever something strange happens it is the stereotype way of the United States and the hostile forces that kick off noisy anti-DPRK campaign deliberately linking with DPRK," he said. Kim started the press conference praising the North's successful ballistic missile launch last weekend, which experts said demonstrated a significant technological jump with the rocket flying higher and for a longer period of time. Kim said the launch showed the "highly developed stage of science and technology in the field of national defense attained by the DPRK" which he said is "of great and special significance" in ensuring peace on the Korean Peninsula and in the region. All 15 members of the Security Council including North Korea's closest ally China called the launch a violation of U.N. sanctions and vowed to take new measures, including additional sanctions. Kim singled out as "more serious" the push by the U.S. for a new sanctions resolution and the Trump administration's demand for all countries "to decide whether they support for DPRK or U.S." He reiterated that "the current situation on the Korean Peninsula is often engulfed in a touch and go state to the brink of war." North Korea will never abandon its "nuclear deterrence for self-defense and pre-emptive strike capability" even if the U.S. ratchets up sanctions and pressure "to the utmost," Kim said. "The U.S. should mind that the DPRK nuclear striking capability will be strengthened and developed at a rapidly high speed as long as the U.S. insists its anti-DPRK policy, nasty nuclear threats and blackmails, sanction and pressure," he said. President Donald Trump on Wednesday interviewed four potential candidates to lead the FBI, including former Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating and Andrew McCabe, currently the bureau's acting director. Trump also met with Richard McFeely, a former top FBI official. Attorney General Jeff Sessions participated in the interviews. The meetings came more than a week after Trump fired James Comey from his post as FBI director. Trump said Monday that the search for a successor to Comey was "moving rapidly." He also has said he could name a candidate by the end of the week, before he departs Friday afternoon on his first overseas trip as president. The Senate must confirm whoever Trump nominates. Press Secretary Sean Spicer informed reporters about the meetings as Trump flew to Washington after addressing U.S. Coast Guard Academy graduates in Connecticut. Asked as he left the White House whether he would say 'yes' if Trump offered him the job, Keating said, "I'm a public servant." He added, "Let's just say we had a good conversation." Lieberman gave a thumbs-up to reporters camped out on the White House driveway and said "It was a good meeting." McFeely departed without comment. Reporters did not see McCabe when he left the complex. Lieberman served in the Senate for more than two decades and was the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2000 with then-Vice President Al Gore. Lieberman lost his 2006 Democratic primary bid but won Senate re-election as a third party candidate. Lieberman spoke at the 2008 Republican National Convention on behalf of his friend, Arizona Sen. John McCain, and did not seek re-election in 2012. He has served as co-chairman of No Labels, a centrist group that promotes bipartisanship. Keating, a Republican, was a two-term governor of Oklahoma and led the state during the deadly 1995 bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma City. A former FBI agent, Keating served in the administrations of Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. McCabe became acting director following Comey's dismissal on May 9. The veteran FBI official made headlines for congressional testimony last week that rejected the White House's claim that Comey had lost the support of rank-and-file agents. He also disputed the administration's characterization of an investigation into potential coordination between Russia and the Trump White House. Several other candidates have withdrawn from consideration, including Rep. Trey Gowdy of South Carolina and Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, both Republicans; Alice Fisher, the former head of the Justice Department's criminal division; and Michael Garcia, a former U.S. attorney from Manhattan. A Florida Highway Patrol trooper was finally released from the hospital Friday just over two months after he was struck by a Miami-Dade driver who was allegedly texting at the time of the crash. Carlos Rosario, a 12-year veteran and father of two, thanked God, his fellow troopers, family, friends and the community as he was released. "Because of God's grace I'm alive," he said. Rosario was standing on the side of the Dolphin Expressway near Northwest 107th Avenue on March 17th when a driver lost control and struck him. According to an arrest report, the driver behind the wheel, Hugo Olivares, was allegedly speeding at the time and had just sent a text message when he lost control and hit trooper Rosario, causing a multi-car crash. Olivares faces two reckless driving charges, one of which is a felony. Though Rosario was released from the hospital his recovery is far from over. "God willing, soon I can return to what I love and enjoy doing, which is being a Florida Highway Patrol state trooper," he said. A GoFundMe account to help pay for Rosario's medical costs has reached over $76,000 including a $12,000 donation from local attorney Laurence Leavy, better also known as "Marlins Man," who says he will fly in Rosario's relatives and take the whole family to a Marlins game. "The continued support, love, prayers and donations we have received from our community, from all over the United States, was overwhelming," Rosario said. For two centuries the royal blue and bright red flag has been the symbol of Haiti. Every year, Haitians across the world pay homage to the Haitian flag on May 18. May 18, 1803 that is the day we stitched our Haitian flag together, said Linda Julien, Chair of the 2017 Haitian Heritage Month for City of North Miami. The City held a celebration Thursday evening to commemorate the beloved flag. "The flag represents unity. It represents resilience; it represents pride," explained Julien. A mass was held in Miami in honor of Haitian Flag Day. Thursdays festivities at North Miamis City Hall was a chance for many Haitians in South Florida to come together to enjoy live music and comedy. "Things that we've experienced, throughout our culture, throughout our history so on this day it means so much to us to come together as a community and united community to celebrate this day, said Julien. For a list of Haitian Heritage Month events being held in South Florida, click here. The loved ones of children who have fallen victim to gun violence are hoping a new Florida law will help catch the killers. The witness protection bill shields the identities of murder witnesses for two years after the crime. Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed the bill early May and the law goes into effect on July 1st. Tangela Sears, whose sons murder remains unsolved, formed the group Parents of Murdered Kids. Their frequent trips to Tallahassee have finally paid off with the passing of the new bill. Families hope taking the witnesses names out of police reports and other court documents will result in more tips. I think getting the word out there, educating the community that there is something in place now to protect them. I think this will help solve a lot of these cases, said Sears. Those arrested and their attorneys will be able to see the information as part of their due process rights. But, Sears said by that time, state prosecutors should already have a strong case against the suspects. NBC 6s Willard Shepard reports on a new law that takes on the no snitch culture. NBC 6 got a glimpse inside the no snitch culture thats plaguing parts of Miami-Dade County. A man who wants to keep his identity concealed said in an exclusive interview that the no snitch culture provides protection for those who commit crimes. Crimes like the ones he says he turned to because he needed money years ago, before changing his life. Its easy for an outsider to say if they tell, it will change. But, its not. Come live with me, if not for a week then a day, said the unidentified man. He said snitching has deadly consequences. The no snitch culture affects police investigations and frustrates detectives. So, how real is the danger? Whats fueling the no snitch culture? Is it fear or is it reality? NBC 6 found out the answer is different depending on who you ask. I can tell you a lot of the fear isnt realitya lot is perception. We dont have a high level of incidents where people come forward and get harmed, said Miami-Dade Police Director Juan Perez. However, the unidentified man who lives in the violence-prone community disagrees. Its fear, but the reality of it is fear for that fear to happen. The reality is, they see the dead body and they dont want to be the next victim. Miami-Dade Police has tips for anyone who witnesses a murder and wants to speak up to put an end to the violence: 1.) Call 911 allows you to remain anonymous 2.) Youth can talk to counselors at school 3.) You can turn to someone you trust instead of calling police yourself 4.) Call or text Crime Stoppers 5.) Send in tips via the Miami-Dade police app 6.) Report suspicious activity online For more helpful information, go to www.miamidade.gov/police. Resources for the Community Gang Alternative 6620 N, Miami Ave., Miami, FL 33150 www.myga.org Phone: 786-391-2375 Overtown Youth Center 450 NW 14th St, Miami, FL 33136 www.overtownyouth.org (305) 349-1204 Suggested point person - Lead family support specialist Valerie Lomax valerie.lomax@overtownyouth.org Quincy O'Bryan The M Network quincy.obryan@themnetwork.com o. 305-571-1455 ext. 114 c. 954-937-7445 www.themnetwork.com Concerned African Women, Inc. 1505 NW 167th St, Miami, FL 33169 http://www.concernedafricanwomen.org 305-621-3700 Miami-Dade School District Programs and Initiatives G.R.E.A.T. program - an evidence-based and effective gang and violence prevention program offers kids guidelines and tips on how to deals with specific instances. See Something, Say Something report suspicious activity to 855-FLA-SAFE. TRUST Counselor program to support students and families which need additional help because of at risk behavior offers students avenues to seek assistance whenever they need it. Youth Crime Watch to help students in our schools play an integral role in preventing school violence incidents as they learn how to report suspicious activity and how to act in certain situations. Kindergarten Cop to teach younger kids about correct behaviors if they encounter a situation where they might be at risk. School Counselors - support students in an array of challenges including tough classes, peer pressure, friendship problems, depression but they also are available to offer services for any type of incidents. Anonymous Reporting all schools have an area where anyone an report unusual activity without fear of repercussion. EDINBURGH - The leader of Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservatives in Scotland on Friday made a plea to supporters of Britain's opposition Labour Party to lend her their vote at next month's election to halt the march of the Scottish nationalists. Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May speaks after Scottish Conservative Party leader Ruth Davidson delivered her Scottish manifesto in Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain May 19, 2017. [Photo/Agencies] Scots rejected independence in 2014, but the Scottish National Party (SNP) says they should have a fresh choice as they voted to stay in the European Union last year, at odds with the United Kingdom's overall decision to leave. The SNP has dominated politics north of the border for the last decade and won 56 of parliament's 59 Scottish seats at the last national election in 2015, following a collapse in support for Labour in one of its former heartlands. While the SNP is expected to take the majority again at a June 8 election, polls show Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservatives, who oppose another referendum, are on the rise. "Today, I want to speak directly to Labour party voters across Scotland ... The truth is, your party has left you, not the other way around," said Ruth Davidson, speaking alongside May at the launch of the Conservatives' Scottish manifesto election document. "It may well find its way back. But you know, and I know, it won't be at this election. So let me do a job for you. In great swathes of the country, it is only the Scottish Conservatives who are strong enough to take on the SNP. And in many places we can only win, if you join with us." A YouGov poll published on Friday put the SNP on 42 percent of the vote. The Conservatives, who have just one seat in Scotland, were second on 29 percent, with Labour on 19 percent. YouGov put support for independence on 45 percent, with 55 percent saying Scotland should remain in the United Kingdom, suggesting no change since the vote in 2014. May has said a second Scottish independence referendum cannot take place until the Brexit process has played out and only then if there is public consent for it. "This carbon copy manifesto confirms beyond doubt that (Conservative lawmakers) from Scotland will simply rubber stamp Theresa May's plans and endorse the damage she is determined to do to households and our economy," said SNP deputy leader Angus Robertson. Even modest gains for the Conservatives could allow May to argue that the SNP's secession ambitions are misplaced. Asked whether the SNP winning a majority of seats in Scotland would be enough of a sign there is public consent, May said now was not the time to be talking about another independence vote. The search for a South Florida realtor lost at sea was suspended Thursday, the U.S. Coast Guard said. Isabella Hellmann, 41, vanished 30 miles west of Cay Sal, Bahamas after the boat she and her husband were on capsized Sunday overnight. "Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of Ms. Hellman in this difficult time," said Capt. Aldante Vinciguerra, chief of response for the Coast Guard Seventh District. "Suspending a search is never an easy call to make and was made with deep consideration in this tragic case." Helmann's husband, Lewis Bennett, was rescued from a lift raft. He was not injured. The Coast Guard searched by air and sea to no avail. Hellmann is listed as a realtor for Signature International Real Estate, which is based in Delray Beach. It was a wild police chase, but it didnt involve a speeding car on a highway. It involved a large white swan chasing after a Florida police officer. A video of the Orlando cop running away from the bird is circulating on social media, prompting the Orlando Police Department to respond. "Hey Swan! Leave our officer alone!" the department wrote on Twitter. "Thanks to @DHarb12 for posting....we can't overstate the hazards our officers face on the job!" In the 37-second video clip, which was posted on Twitter by Darrell Harbin, the police officer circles a black pickup truck while being followed by the swan. The creature trails the officer for a while before flapping its wings aggressively, causing the cop to run to the other side of the vehicle. Harbin witnessed the scene at Lake Eola Park with his girlfriend, who reportedly shot the video. [[423200854, C]] Hes kind of protective of that area, Harbin, 49, told the Orlando Sentinel. Hes gone after me before. Darbin said hes noticed the swan chase people at Lake Eola Park before. The video has been picked up by multiple media outlets. Darbin has even received interview requests from the United Kingdom. What to Know Former Rep. Anthony Weiner surrendered to the FBI Friday morning Prosecutors are recommending 21 to 27 months in prison He had been under investigation for "sexting" with a minor Former Rep. Anthony Weiner pleaded guilty on Friday to one federal count related to "sexting" with minors, an offense that means he will have to register as a sex offender. His estranged wife Huma Abedin -- once one of Hillary Clinton's closest aides -- filed for divorce hours later. Weiner surrendered to the FBI Friday morning, and tearfully confessed his transgressions in a brief hearing. "I have a sickness, but I do not have an excuse," Weiner said in court. (Read his full statement) Weiner quickly left the Manhattan courthouse after the proceedings, being hustled into a waiting car and taking no questions from the throngs of reporters. Anthony Weiner leaves the courtroom in Manhattan Friday after pleading guilty to one federal count related to sexting with minors. The government is seeking a term of 21 months to 27 months in jail on the single count of transferring obscene material to a minor, though with no mandatory minimum the judge could still give him probation. He will be sentenced Sept. 8, and had to surrender his passport and iPhone in the meantime. Federal prosecutors had been weighing whether to file child pornography charges against the disgraced ex-Democratic congressman since last year, sources previously told NBC 4 New York. The charge stems from the sexually charged text messages and Skype conversations Weiner, now 52, exchanged with a 15-year-old girl from January to March 2016. The messages were revealed when online news outlet DailyMail.com interviewed the girl last September. "I knew this was as morally wrong as it was unlawful," Weiner said in his statement. The investigation into Weiner ended up intruding on last year's presidential campaign. It was during the probe into Weiner that the FBI found emails on a laptop that related to a past investigation into Clinton's email practices. The New York Times first reported Weiner's surrender and expected plea. Weiner resigned from Congress in 2011 after admitting to a series of online sexual relationships. But his rehabilitation was swift, and in 2013 he mounted a campaign for mayor. He held a commanding lead in the Democratic primary race as late as June 2013, until more, newer relationships came to light. In late 2014 he admitted his political career was likely over -- aside from an idle boast last summer that he would beat beat Donald Trump Jr. "like a rented mule" if the president's son ran for mayor. A bitter backlash is brewing over bail reform in New Jersey the four-month-old overhaul of the state system is sparking a firestorm of criticism from front-line cops and victims. On January 1 of this year, New Jersey overhauled its criminal justice system and virtually eliminated the old cash bail structure, replacing it with one that relies heavily on a mathematical risk assessment formula. The idea was to take money out of the equation for bail. Judges now consider a calculated score designed to determine whether defendants should be released prior to trial. Only those considered at high risk of flight or committing a new crime are detained. Everyone else gets out some with monitoring conditions. From January 1 through March 31, 10,193 eligible defendants were processed. Preventive detention was ordered for only 12.4%. Nearly 85% were given pretrial release, some with conditions. Lawyers who represent indigent clients argue the new system is much more fair. It eliminates the inherent discrimination of a monetary bail system. Judges are not locking people up because theyre poor and cant come up with modest amounts of money, public defender Joseph Krakora said But front-line cops in police departments throughout New Jersey say the system is a revolving door disaster. Many have taken to social media to highlight cases of offenders with no bail committing new crimes. South Plainfield, New Jersey, represents a snapshot of the frustration. Nobodys afraid to commit crimes anymore. Theyre not afraid of being arrested, because they know at the end of the day, theyre going to be released. Its catch and release, Detective Joe Indano said. Youre chasing around the same people over and over again. Theyre being released and going back and offending and now you have more people as victims, Indano said. One case that generated heavy media attention is that of accused serial burglar Dawud Ward, who was released over and over with no bail. He was caught in January by South Plainfield police at the home of Catherine Keller. I was totally disgusted that he just kept on being released and two days leter he is doing to someone elses house and he is doing the same thing, Keller said. The system is broken. Outraged mother June Rodgers of Millville blames bail reform for the murder of her son. He was shot to death on a street in Vineland in April after a verbal dispute with a man driving a car. Cops arrested career criminal Jules Black, whod been picked up on a separate gun charge four days before, and released with no bail. I say someone needs to come to me and say the system is working when I had to bury my son, Rodgers said. What was he doing out on the street? Its unbelievable. Judicial officials reject the idea that dangerous criminals are flooding communities, arguing that people re-offended while out on the old monetary system. This is not a new problem, Krakora said. Bail bondsmen argue the old system provided accountability and a team approach in securing someones release. There was a financial incentive to make sure the person showed up for court. It was a guarantee, bondsman Ron Padron said. If they ran, we went and got them. You have no one doing that under bail reform. The new system has essentially put the private bail bond industry, which employed thousands, out of business. The state has created a Division of Pretrial Services to monitor defendants. The funds come from court fees. There have been 173 employees hired so far. The projected spending for next fiscal year is expected to be in the range of $36 million to $38 million dollars. The Office of Administrative Courts was unable to provide any statistics on the number of released defendants who have re-offended since January 1, or the number of those who have failed to appear for scheduled court dates. NJ Judiciary spokesman Pete McAleer said that under the old system of cash bail, all defendants were given the opportunity to post bail and be released, regardless of the crime alleged or the risk posed to community safety. He said the state is continually looking for ways to improve criminal justice reform. There have been productive meetings between the Administrative Office of the Courts, The Attorney Generals Office and the Public Defenders Office with regard to potential changes in detention recommendations for certain gun charges and charges that may occur while a defendant is on pretrial release, McAleer said. We expect to propose changes shortly that will address those issues. A New Jersey man had lost hope of ever seeing his beloved dog Chip after the dog ran off along a busy highway. A couple weeks ago, Mike Ritchie pulled off the highway to let both of his dogs out and to stretch their legs. Chip, one of the two dogs, made it through one of the windows in the car after leaning on the automatic button and took off. As the days passed, Ritchie thought Chip was gone forever. His family buried Chip's leash and bones, grieving over the loss of their beloved four-legged friend. Ritchie says after that day, he drove back to the area on the highway several times to look for Chip. "I finally realized I'd never see him again," Ritchie said. But on Thursday, Chip's family got an unexpected call. Jill Speckman says she and her friend Kim started Delco Dawgs a couple years ago after being frustrated with the lack of quality animal services in Delaware County. For about ten days in a row, Speckman said she and her team received numerous calls about a dog running around Eddystone, a small borough neighboring Chester. We just assumed it was a runaway or a dump, Speckman said, meaning a dog who was dumped nearby by its owner. That assumption ended when Speckman and her team saw the dog wearing a collar with tags, meaning its owner had registered it. From there, her team set a trap to catch the dog, who kept getting away. They finally caught the dog on Thursday and took it to the vet, where they traced the dogs tag to an address in Pennsville, New Jersey. And the magic happened. When Speckman called the phone number attached to the address, the man who answered the phone said it couldnt be his dog. But, after talking more, the family made the trip from Pennsville to Chester to see if their dream was really coming true. We knew right away, Speckman said when first witnessing the dog with his long-lost owner. Chip jumped all over his old owner, kissing and licking him and wagging his tail. Speckman said her team is happy and relieved for this happy ending and heart-warming reunion. And Ritchie couldn't be happier with the ending, either. "It opened my heart up to humanity again," he said. Ritchie said since their reunion, Chip hasn't left his side. This owner and this dog were just so perfect, so happy together, Speckman said. By Thursday night, Chip was back with his family in New Jersey. 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 exhaustive oceanic search for a well-known New York City designer, her young sons and a pilot friend was suspended Thursday night, about three and a half days after their plane vanished in the Bahamas, Coast Guard officials said. Search-and-rescue crews had scoured more than 11,140 square miles over their 75-hour mission to find 40-year-old Jennifer Blumin, her 3- and 4-year-old sons and 52-year-old Nathan Ulrich of New Hampshire. The search was halted at 8:45 p.m. Thursday, the Coast Guard said. "This was a swift and significant loss and its impact has reverberated through everyone that participated in the search," said Christopher Eddy, search and rescue mission coordinator. "Our hearts and prayers go out to all of the families involved." Aircraft debris matching a twin-engine MU-2B, the same kind of plane Blumin, her boys and Ulrich were on when it disappeared, was discovered Tuesday afternoon in the search area 15 miles east of Eleuthera. Though officials did not positively determine the plane was Blumin's, family and friends of the entrepreneur feared the worst -- and the Coast Guard's decision to suspend the search made the nightmare a reality. Architect James Ramsey, longtime friend of Blumin and father of her two children, spoke for the first time Wednesday, telling the Daily News he had lost what he loved most. "I keep hoping its not real and Ill wake up," Ramsey told the paper. "Wouldnt wish this pain on the worst person in the world." Officials say Blumin's plane was east of Eleuthera 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. The National Transportation Safety Board is assisting in the investigation. Blumin was founder and CEO of Skylight Group, which provides event space around the city, specializing in the fashion industry. The company released a statement Tuesday confirming she was on plane and asked for privacy. The 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. 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, daughter of comedian and actor Tommy Chong. Ulrich's brother, Karl, released a statement earlier this week saying the family was "devastated and shocked" to learn of the missing plane. "Nathan is our beloved son, brother and uncle and we wish for resolution as the Coast Guard search continues," the statement said. "Our prayers and thoughts are with the Blumin family and James Ramsey in this difficult time." What to Know The suspect who slammed his car into a crowd of pedestrians in the heart of Times Square is facing a slew of charges, authorities say Officials don't believe there's a nexus to terror; sources say the suspect has a history of possible psychiatric, drug and alcohol problems One woman died and 22 other people were injured after being hit by the vehicle; the driver was taken into custody The driver who mowed down nearly two dozen people in Times Square Thursday, killing one of them and critically injuring others, allegedly said he wanted to "kill them all" and that officers should have shot him to stop him, prosecutors said Friday. Richard Rojas, 26 Bronx, appeared subdued during a brief court appearance as prosecutors outlined the litany of charges against him, including murder and multiple counts of attempted murder and aggravated vehicular homicide. The Bronx man did not enter a plea. His attorney, Enrico Demarco, did not comment. Rojas was remanded and is due back in court next week. The court hearing came as police officials briefed reporters on their investigation, saying Rojas patiently let people and cars pass before starting his rampage. Sources familiar with the probe have told NBC 4 New York Rojas told investigators he heard demons telling him to hurt people before he turned the wrong way on Seventh Avenue at 42nd Street Thursday and barreled into the lunch-hour crowd. Alyssa Elsman, an 18-year-old tourist from Michigan, was killed in the mayhem. Her 13-year-old sister, who had been walking alongside her at the time, was among the 22 people injured. Authorities said Friday the younger sister suffered a collapsed lung and broken pelvis. "He waited for those cars to pass and he accelerated, waiting for those pedestrians to pass ... that goes to his state of mind," Chief William Aubry said. Law enforcement sources say Elsman's father was so angry he went into the midtown precinct where Rojas was being held and told officers he wanted to kill him. NYPD officials did not publicly walk the suspect as a precaution. A cause of the crash is under investigation, but law enforcement sources have said Rojas appeared under the influence when he was taken into custody. He blew a 0.0 at the precinct Thursday afternoon, but law enforcement sources say certain statements and tests suggests he may have smoked something. He told police that he had smoked marijuana laced with PCP, according to a criminal complaint. Aubry said police were expediting search warrants and were hoping to get blood tests back in the next few days. Rojas has a history of DWI arrests, including one where he was driving faster than 99 mph in a 50 mph zone. A former member of the Navy, where he served aboard the USS Carney, Rojas was dishonorably discharged for resisting arrest in Florida in 2014. Charges were dropped in the case. Harrison Ramos, a friend, told reporters that Rojas hadn't been the same since he returned from active duty in the Navy. He says Rojas was posting "crazy stuff" online that has since been taken down, according to The Associated Press. Other friends say he was having money troubles. Rojas was most recently arrested on a menacing charge last week for allegedly pulling a knife on an acquaintance in the Bronx. A person inside an orange dinosaur costume who spooked carriage horses, causing them to back up and strike a parked vehicle, in Charleston, South Carolina, on Thursday has surrendered to the police Friday. The person inside the "T-Rex", 26-year-old Nicole Wells, allegedly made growling noises at the horses which scared them and they began backing up, according to Charleston police. Wells was charged with disorderly conduct and masked or disguised person. She was cited and released, Charleston Police spokesman Charles Francis said in a statement. Carriage driver Van Sturgeon said he saw the dinosaur costume out of the corner of his eye about the same time the horses did. The horses caused a minor damage to an unoccupied vehicle and the carriage driver lost his balance, falling off the carriage. A wheel on the carriage rolled over one of Sturgeon's legs and he was transported to Roper Hospital with minor injuries, police said. "I screamed at her three times to get out of there," Sturgeon told reporters at a news conference. "The person in the suit did not move." Other carriage passengers and the horses were not injured, according to police. The investigation is still on going. Wikileaks founder Julian Assange speaks on the balcony of the Embassy of Ecuador in London, Britain, May 19, 2017. [Photo by Wang Bo/chinadaily.com.cn] Wikileaks founder Julian Assange hailed the Swedish prosecutors'decision to close their investigation of rape allegations against him, and not seek his extradition, as a victory, although he indicated he would not yet be leaving the Ecuadorean embassy, who he has been claiming asylum. Hours after the Swedish announcement, Assange indicated he would not leave the embassy yet as what he called "dialogue" between his lawyers and the US and UK authorities would continue. "The war is just commencing," he said. "The legal dialogue with the US and UK continues," he told a packed crowd of reporters and onlookers in an address from the balcony. "The road is far from over," he added. "The claim by the UK that it has a right to arrest me for seeking asylum in a case where there have been no charges is simply untenable." Assange told reporters that for seven years of his life, first two under house arrest in the UK and then latterly seeking asylum in the Ecuadorean embassy, meant he had been deprived of seeing his children grown up, saying he had been the victim of a "terrible injustice." "I cannot forgive or forget. I would like to thank the UN human rights system and the Ecuadorean people and government who have stood by me in my asylum request. Assange, an Australian citizen, is accused of jumping jumped bail before he was due to appear before an English court to answer the European arrest warrant, and sought asylum in the Ecuadorean embassy, where he has been holed up for nearly five years, "without sunlight" as he put it. He has consistently claimed that if he was sent to Sweden, the US authorities would step in and have him extradited over what they claim is his role in the release of over 20,000 classified documents by former intelligent analyst Chelsea Manning, a US solder sentenced to 45 years in jail but who was pardoned by President Barack Obama after serving seven years and released earlier this week. Assange today hailed Mannings release as a victory for Wikileaks. Manning is a transgender person formerly known as Bradley Manning who now prefers to be addressed and seen as a woman. Jill Wichner was walking by a mirror on a cruise ship in 2007, when she noticed a red, bull's-eye rash on the back of her upper arm. It was about the size of a large thumbprint, and grew in diameter over the vacation. The Northampton resident later learned the rash was the signature sign of Lyme disease, which, along with two other tick-borne infections, grew to affect her health and life over the last decade. Wichner didn't remember being bitten by a tick like fewer than half of those who've been bitten. Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, bacteria that are carried and transmitted to humans by black-legged ticks, commonly known as deer ticks. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates about 300,000 people are diagnosed with Lyme each year, and the numbers have been on the rise locally and across the country. The federal agency and most doctors agree that people who are treated early and appropriately usually are fine. But dealing with the disease is more difficult for Wichner and a growing number of people who identify themselves as members of the Lyme community. As the temperature rises so does the threat of ticks and experts are warning you to beware. NBC10s Cydney Long tells us how this summers uptick in ticks can lead to Lyme Disease. Diagnosing Lyme Wichner said she felt fine after she noticed the rash, but some people with Lyme experience early symptoms such as fevers, headaches, and joint and muscle pain. It can also affect the nervous system and heart. Infectious disease specialist Dr. Ronald Goren said it's important that doctors recognize the various stages of Lyme, and consider it when making a diagnosis. "For the average case (of Lyme), especially this time of year, we're going to be seeing more of it, and early. It's just a matter of being aware, that it's warm and people get bit by ticks," said Goren. His Northeast Philadelphia practice, Infectious Diseases Associates, works with several area health systems, including St. Mary Medical Center in Middletown. Members of the Lyme community call the disease the "great imitator" because of the broad range of later symptoms, such as digestive problems, joint conditions and cognitive issues, that can sometimes lead to misdiagnoses. The CDC says between 60 percent and 80 percent of people get the rash within a month after being infected with Lyme, but some studies suggest it could be fewer. Most doctors, the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society the two medical associations that have issued competing and controversial care guidelines for Lyme agree that antibiotics such as doxycycline are appropriate after the rash appears. However, the two associations disagree on how long treatment should last, and what can happen afterward. "It didn't hurt, didn't itch," Wichner, 43, said of the rash. She showed photos to a primary care doctor when she returned from vacation, but was told she'd be sick if she had Lyme. "I really didn't think any more of it," Wichner recalled. "Looking back now, I could strangle myself because I usually analyze things a little too much sometimes and had I done more research back then, I might have avoided becoming chronic." Pennsylvania Makes List of Top States for Lyme Disease Chronic Lyme, also known as post-Lyme disease syndrome, is controversial. The CDC and the infectious diseases society say more research is needed on chronic Lyme, but the society doesn't recommend long-term antibiotics to treat the disease. The international Lyme society argues on its website that the risks from Lyme outweigh the risks of long-term antibiotics. About a year after the rash appeared on her arm, Wichner said she became light headed, broke out in sweats, and her vision was fuzzy. "It was like someone flipped a switch," she said. "It hit me at work, and by the next afternoon or the next evening, my husband was taking me to the emergency room." Doctors there told Wichner she had a urinary tract infection, but she said she didn't have any common symptoms associated with one. As Wichner got sicker, other doctors told her she was stressed or had PMS. "I was gray my skin was a grayish green. I was visibly shaking. I could barely stand up," she recalled of one visit. "No one could figure out what was wrong." Testing for Lyme Eventually, Wichner saw a rheumatologist who said the bull's-eye rash and the possibility of Lyme couldn't be ignored and gave her doxycycline. She tested negative for Lyme eight times before one test ordered by a doctor specializing in Lyme came back positive. It also found evidence of other tick-borne coinfections, bartonella bacteria and a parasite called babesia, she said. "I think of all the people who have this who don't have a rash, because not everyone gets the rash," Wichner said. "It took me four and a half months to get diagnosed, having proof of an expanding bull's-eye rash, so I can't even imagine having not had that how much more difficult it would have been." Lyme is diagnosed primarily based on such clinical findings. The CDC doesn't recommend tests for patients who are bitten by ticks but don't have symptoms of Lyme. The tests don't detect the bacteria, called spirochetes, but rather the antibodies that are produced in response to the bacteria. That means false negatives are possible if tests are done too early. It also means the tests can't tell doctors when the bacteria have been eradicated because the antibodies remain. A beetle, known as the emerald ash borer and native to Asia, targets ash trees, one of the region's most populous, and can kill the trees within a year or two. Goren also said the tests are hard to interpret, which can result in false positives. Several factors make it difficult to develop a reliable test for Lyme, said Dr. Garth Ehrlich, an expert on molecular diagnostics and a professor of microbiology and immunology at the Drexel University College of Medicine. "One is the fact that oftentimes when people get bitten by a tick and they get sick, we don't know if it's Lyme disease in the narrow sense in that it's just Borrelia burgdorferi (bacterium) or whether the tick was carrying other organisms, or both," Ehrlich explained, noting that there are many strains of Borrelia burgdorferi as well. Treating Lyme Wichner initially was relieved to get a positive test and diagnosis, she said, "but that's when the real fun started." The controversy over the disease has led to the creation of what she described as a "secret community" of "Lyme-literate doctors." They specialize in Lyme and its coinfections, but they could face disciplinary actions from licensing boards that don't accept the treatment the doctors provide. Wichner admitted she was worried about being diagnosed and treated for Lyme if she didn't have it. "As a patient, what are you supposed to do?" Wichner said. "You might have very reputable doctors talking to you and telling you they are adamant about what they think is going on, but no one is in agreement, so you're just lost." But Lyme-literate doctors don't always have answers, either. Treatment options are "extensive," according to guidelines from the international Lyme society, so decisions must be made on a case-by-case basis. "The patient has to become informed, whether they like it or they don't like it," said Pat Smith, president of the Lyme Disease Association. "They must know their disease or their diseases. If they don't, it's less likely that they're going to get the right treatment. And this is very sad to me; it shouldn't be this way." Four decades have passed since Lyme became widely recognized and more should be known about Lyme, its diagnosis and treatments, said Smith, who has led the national nonprofit for half that time. "These (Lyme-literate doctors) are real pioneers in their field. And instead of getting the trashing that unfortunately they'll get from (the infectious diseases society) or some government agencies, in my opinion they should be getting medals," Smith said. But Goren and others don't agree with the treatments some of those doctors use. "There have been studies where (doctors have) given (patients) a month of antibiotics and nothing changes. They use drugs that are not approved for the treatment of Lyme, they put IVs in . and it's a bad, bad deal," he said. Goren doesn't doubt that patients are dealing with something, but in most cases, he said, it's not chronic Lyme. "Before, it was chronic mono, then it was chronic fatigue. . There's a group of people who we really don't know what they have and there's never been a good answer to what they have," he said. "They get ascribed to things and we just don't know what's wrong." Wichner said she was put on several oral antibiotics and the treatment lasted a little more than a year. "I truly thought I was going to die. I was debilitated. I lost my independence. I couldn't chew food. I couldn't walk," she said, noting she still takes supplements to help her immune system stay strong. " ... I have these astronomical medical bills which are paid for mostly out of pocket because the insurance companies refuse to cover what they think is unnecessary treatment for a nonexistent illness." "You're fighting on all fronts," Karen Meyers, co-leader of the PA Lyme Resource Network Bucks County Region said of dealing with the disease after she and both her children were diagnosed. "You have to find the doctor, you have to figure out what to look for, who to go to, you have to deal with the school, and meanwhile you're hemorrhaging money." Network co-leader Evelyn Throne formed the Lower Bucks Lyme Disease Support Group after dealing with many of the same things when her son-in-law developed Lyme and coinfections nine years ago. "I realized how alone I felt and how alone we all felt in this. ... And I didn't want anybody else to feel that alone," said Throne, a Middletown resident. The goal of the statewide network, which is to unite support groups in Pennsylvania and increase awareness and education, is starting to be realized, said Montgomery County Region leader Lee-Ann Gordon. Gordon, a nurse, knew what most medical professionals know about Lyme when her daughter was diagnosed in 2013 after being sick for nearly a decade. "It was a whole range of emotions," the Franconia resident said. "I felt terrible because I felt like I should know more." Then Gordon said she got angry and decided to get involved with PA Lyme to help promote more awareness and education among medical professionals and the public. May has been designated as Lyme Disease Awareness Month in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Smith said Lyme awareness is increasing because cases are increasing and advocates and the Lyme community have demanded more information and attention from government agencies. Some have responded, but that wasn't always the case, said Smith, a Bucks County native who lives in Monmouth County, New Jersey. "(Government agencies) could have prevented, I believe, many, many of the cases if they had spoken out over the first 20, 25 years," she said. Wichner said she hopes the increase in awareness continues, and she's begun helping others through online support groups and social media. "Do not give up," Wichner said she tells people. "If you're seeing a doctor and that doctor is blowing you off or telling you it's all in your head, or telling you, you look fine, run." Wichner is no longer on antibiotics, but said she still deals with fatigue and "brain fog" that affects her memory. She also fears ticks and getting sick again, saying it took her a long time to work up the nerve to walk in nearby Tyler State Park. "I can't let this just completely take over my life. I can't live in a bubble," she said. "But when I do go, on the inside, I'm scared to death." Taking care of ticks One of the best ways to avoid Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections is to avoid ticks. The insects love to hide in grassy, wooded and leaf-covered areas. They crawl rather than fly or fall from trees, said Evelyn Throne, co-leader of the PA Lyme Resource Network Bucks County Region. Not all ticks carry Lyme, but if they feed on infected animals, including mice, they can transmit the disease to humans and animals. Chris Hellwig, health education director at the Burlington County Health Department, said mice populations can provide an indication of what the tick season will be like -- and this one is expected to be bad. Hellwig said property owners can reduce ticks on their property by keeping mice and other animals away. Researchers also have looked at methods of reducing ticks and Lyme by treating deer-feeding stations with pesticides and putting vaccines in rodent bait boxes. Other methods, like widespread pesticide spraying, aren't practical or effective, said Phil Smith of the Bucks County Health Department's Bureau of Environmental Health. He coordinates the county's West Nile virus program. "Lyme disease is widespread and is much more of a problem than West Nile or Zika virus is at this point. But there is no effective means of getting rid of the tick without getting rid of everything else," Smith said. Counties like Bucks and Burlington can target where to spray for mosquitoes, but spraying for ticks is more complicated. "You have got to be very careful when you're putting a chemical out in the field," Smith said. Owners can spray their properties with chemicals, but landscaping methods also can help, Hellwig said. They include keeping grass mowed and removing brush and leaves so ticks don't have dark, wet places to hide, and creating a barrier with wood chips or mulch along tree lines, where ticks are more prevalent. Burlington County's Health Department focuses on raising awareness of Lyme and other tick-borne infections, and has made prevention a goal of its most recent Community Health Improvement Plan. "We chose that because Lyme disease is one of the biggest disease burdens here in the county as far as infectious diseases," Hellwig said. Prevention is Throne's passion. "You don't have to cure what you don't catch," she said. But it's not always possible to keep ticks away or to stay out of areas where they may be, so staying in the middle of trails, wearing light-colored clothing so ticks can be seen, throwing clothes in the dryer on high heat after coming inside, and treating clothing or skin with chemicals that kill or repel ticks, such as permethrin or DEET, are just some of the methods Throne said can help keep them from biting. People should use caution year-round, Throne said, but ticks are most active in the spring when they're in the young nymph stage of their life cycle. That's also when they can be the most difficult to spot during tick checks, because they're about the size of a poppy seed. Ticks love to find dark, moist areas to feed, so look in the hair, groin, armpits and under waistbands. If one bites, use pointy tweezers to grab the mouth parts that are embedded in the skin and pull up slowly to keep it from breaking apart or leaving behind fluids or tissue. The longer ticks are attached, the greater the risk they can transmit infections they carry, Throne said. Confirmed Lyme cases rising Pennsylvania has led the country in the number of reported Lyme disease cases for the last several years, and health officials warning this will be another bad season. According to provisional data released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention late last year, Pennsylvania had more than 12,000 cases in 2016. In 2015, the state had more than 9,400 confirmed cases of Lyme, according to data from the Pennsylvania Department of Health -- up from about 3,800 cases in 2010, nearly 4,300 cases in 2005, and more than 2,300 cases in 2000. And for the first time in 2015, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection found the ticks that carry Lyme disease and the bacteria that cause it in all 67 counties in the state. Phil Smith of the Bucks County Health Department's Bureau of Environmental Health said the number of reported cases have been on the rise at the county level. Bucks had 457 cases in 2016, Smith said, and another 15 cases were reported as of the end of March. State health departments report about 30,000 people are diagnosed with Lyme disease each year, mostly in the Northeast and in the Midwest around the Great Lakes, according to the CDC. But in 2013, the federal agency admitted that number is low due to under-reporting and other factors. Based on data from labs that test for Lyme and analysis of insurance claims, plus a survey of the public, the CDC estimated the actual number is about 300,000 each year. "We know that routine surveillance only gives us part of the picture, and that the true number of illnesses is much greater," Dr. Paul Mead, chief of epidemiology and surveillance for the CDC's Lyme disease program said in a news release at the time. "This new preliminary estimate confirms that Lyme disease is a tremendous public health problem in the United States, and clearly highlights the urgent need for prevention." In 2015, there were more than 38,000 reported cases in the United States, according to the CDC, bringing the actual number to about 380,000. New tests on the horizon Dr. Garth Ehrlich, a professor in the Drexel University College of Medicine, believes a new test for Lyme disease will be a "game changer." Researchers at the Translational Genomics Research Institute in Arizona recently announced a crowdfunding campaign to begin human trials for the LymeSeq test, which has been shown to detect the DNA of multiple strains of Borrelia burgdorferi, the major coinfections and even other infections such as influenza. The research has been funded, in part, by Focus On Lyme, an organization started by the mother of a young woman diagnosed with the disease. Nikhat Parveen, associate professor of microbiology, biochemistry and molecular genetics at the Rutgers University School of Medicine, also developed a test that has been shown to detect Lyme and other co-infections using molecular beacons that emit colored lights that distinguish between different types of DNA. For example, suppose researchers assigned purple beacons to the bacteria that cause anaplasmosis, Parveen said. "If you don't have that pathogen . there will be no purple light," she explained. Parveen published the results of the initial experiments in mice in 2009, and earlier this year, she published additional research on the use of the test to detect Babesia in blood samples from patients at hospitals in three New Jersey counties. Not only did the research suggest a rise in cases of Babesiosis, but it also concluded that using the test "will provide rapid, efficient and sensitive diagnostic of babesiosis and will facilitate design of proper treatment regimens." The method even could be used to screen blood donors to reduce the risk of transmitting Babesia through donated blood, according to the published paper. Parveen is continuing her research, but she said the test is now waiting for a company that can license it and seek federal Food and Drug Administration approval to take it into the field. Coinfections also cause for alarm Lyme disease isn't the only thing ticks can transmit. "One bite, depending on where you are, can produce any number of diseases, this is what makes it so problematic and so difficult for our docs to diagnose," said Pat Smith, president of the Lyme Disease Association, a national nonprofit. In the U.S. alone, different types of ticks in different places can cause more than a dozen diseases and conditions, and more are being discovered. Some of the common co-infections found in ticks in the area include anaplasmosis, which is caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum bacteria, bartonellosis, which is caused by the same bacteria as Cat Scratch Disease, and babesiosis, which is a malaria-like illness caused by a parasite called Babesia. The black-legged tick, or deer tick, which is the most common in the area, also has been found to carry the rare, but serious, Powassan virus. There have been only about 75 cases of Powassan reported in the United States over the last 10 years, but the numbers are increasing, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So far, one case has been reported in Pennsylvania during that time, and three cases have been reported in New Jersey. A recent case involving a 5-month-old baby in Connecticut has brought more attention to the disease. The bite of the Lone Star Tick, which is also found in this area, can cause an allergy to red meat, which Cheryl Paganelli found out in 2012. The 64-year-old Medford resident took her grandson for a cheeseburger at dinnertime, and went into anaphylactic shock later the same night after she had gone to bed. "I woke up and I said, 'Something's not right.' I couldn't breathe. I knew something was wrong," she said, adding that she had red hives all over her body. "It was like I was boiled in water." Paganelli's daughter, Lisa King of Mount Laurel, who is a nurse, gave her an injection with an EpiPen and got her to the hospital. An allergist later confirmed the allergy, which is caused when the body reacts to a substance in the tick's saliva known as Alpha-gal. "This is scary stuff," Smith said of the allergy, "and it's increasing in numbers." Traditional liberal strongholds teamed up with the growing progressive class of greater Center City in Philadelphias primary election Tuesday to give Larry Krasner and Rebecca Rhynhart impressive victories in the races for district attorney and controller. Twenty-nine of the top 30 divisions with the highest voter turnout are in Northwest Philadelphia, Center City, and West Philadelphia, according to data analyzed by NBC10. When compared to a map of results (courtesy of local mapmaker Wes Weaver) in the district attorneys race, the high-turnout neighborhoods line up with those that voted for Krasner for district attorney. He is a defense attorney with no prosecutorial experience who is expected to upend the culture in the DAs office. The high-turnout locations also help explain how Rhynhart, a former city budget official, easily -- and surprisingly -- beat Alan Butkovitz, a three-term controller and longtime Democratic Party machine leader in the city. Rhynhart, 42, was a favorite of the citys rising progressive political class, with many calling Center City home. The neighborhoods that favored her greatly out-voted those that have traditionally favored Butkovitz in the Northeast and South Philadelphia. When it comes to turnout, the power wards of Northwest Philadelphia once again showed their strength. Numerous divisions in the Ninth, 21st and 22nd wards turned out at more than 35 percent, according to the data provided by the City Commissioners Office. Philadelphia Commissioners' Office; Google Maps That compares to an overall city turnout of 17 percent. All the figures are preliminary until the commissioners certify the results, which will take place in the next three weeks. In addition to the Northwest and the growing influence of downtown progressives (who live in the Second, Fifth, Eighth, 15th and 30th wards), one ward in West Philadelphia also proved consequential on Election Day. The 46th ward covers much of the neighborhoods north of Baltimore Avenue from 45th to 58th streets as well as south of Baltimore and west of Clark Park. The highest total votes cast for a single division in the city was 446 in the 46th wards 17th division, which encompasses the Cedar Park neighborhood. Turnout was 44 percent. Ryan Godfrey, a polling place inspector for the division, marveled at the high number of voters on Election Day. The makeup of the neighborhood mirrors the results in the citys two biggest races. This is a super activist community, he said. Were in Cedar Park and theres lots of people interested in politics and the local politics especially. He said his neighborhood doesnt need a political machine apparatus to get out the vote. With the end near for Butkovitz, who is symbolic of Philadelphias old guard, the entire city this week took a step in that direction. Below is the list of the 30 divisions in Philadelphia by most votes cast in the 2017 primary election: .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px;padding:10px 5px;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;overflow:hidden;word-break:normal;} .tg th{font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;padding:10px 5px;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;overflow:hidden;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-yw4l{vertical-align:top} th.tg-sort-header::-moz-selection { background:transparent; }th.tg-sort-header::selection { background:transparent; }th.tg-sort-header { cursor:pointer; }table th.tg-sort-header:after { content:''; float:right; margin-top:7px; border-width:0 4px 4px; border-style:solid; border-color:#404040 transparent; visibility:hidden; }table th.tg-sort-header:hover:after { visibility:visible; }table th.tg-sort-desc:after,table th.tg-sort-asc:after,table th.tg-sort-asc:hover:after { visibility:visible; opacity:0.4; }table th.tg-sort-desc:after { border-bottom:none; border-width:4px 4px 0; }@media screen and (max-width: 767px) {.tg {width: auto !important;}.tg col {width: auto !important;}.tg-wrap {overflow-x: auto;-webkit-overflow-scrolling: touch;}} Ward Votes Registered Voters Turnout % 46-17 446 1008 44.25% 15-06 428 830 51.57% 22-01 420 800 52.50% 08-29 409 992 41.23% 22-02 387 750 51.60% 46-19 360 995 36.18% 21-24 358 990 36.16% 09-03 357 878 40.66% 05-18 356 1250 28.48% 30-07 356 1253 28.41% 09-11 355 1034 34.33% 09-09 353 887 39.80% 02-16 344 913 37.68% 05-01 342 1482 23.08% 05-17 340 1628 20.88% 46-16 339 831 40.79% 05-19 339 1092 31.04% 05-21 334 2265 14.75% 46-01 333 800 41.63% 09-12 333 841 39.60% 09-13 330 680 48.53% 65-20 326 1114 29.26% 09-15 325 640 50.78% 08-24 324 1471 22.03% 05-04 307 1065 28.83% 46-08 305 934 32.66% 08-16 302 590 51.19% 09-10 302 841 35.91% 02-26 295 1184 24.92% 22-06 292 893 32.70% var TgTableSort=window.TgTableSort||function(n,t){"use strict";function r(n,t){for(var e=[],o=n.childNodes,i=0;i=0&&tc;++c){var s=e(n,c),d=a(n,c);s.forEach(function(n,t){n.innerHTML=d[u[t]]})}l(n,o,i)}function x(n,t){var r=t.length;t.forEach(function(t,e){t.addEventListener("click",function(){p(n,r,e,t)}),s(t,"tg-sort-header")})}var T=1,N=-1,E="tg-sort-asc",L="tg-sort-desc";return function(t){var e=n.getElementById(t),o=r(e,"tr"),i=o.length>0?r(o[0],"td"):[];0==i.length&&(i=r(o[0],"th"));for(var u=1;u Swedish prosecutors on Friday dropped a rape investigation into WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange after seven years, NBC News reported. Director of Public Prosecution Marianne Ny announced in a statement that she "has decided to discontinue the investigation." That means Assange, who has been seeking refuge in Ecuador's embassy in London since 2012, is no longer facing charges in Sweden. However, British police said he is still a wanted man for failing to surrender in the country in 2012. After the announcement, Assange spoke with the press from the embassy's balcony: "WikiLeaks will continue to its publications. Even today, we published important documents on the Central Intelligence Agency and its measures that are conducted without warrant." Melinda Taylor, a member of Assange's legal team, called attention to the U.S., telling NBC News that "as long as the national security prosecution continues there continues to be a risk to him." Harmony International, a company local families paid more than $140,000 for a cancelled high school band trip, filed for bankruptcy this week, decreasing the likelihood of parents and students getting their money back, according to an attorney for the company. This week, in a Rancho Bernardo library conference room, parents and band directors from four local high schools met with the attorney representing the tour company behind the trip. On behalf of the Mathesons, I first want to offer my deepest and most sincere apologies, Erika Orcutt, Harmony Internationals attorney, told a crowd of about 40 people. Ultimately there is simply not enough money available to provide the refunds that were promised. The Georgia-based company is owned by Brad and Margie Matheson but on the advice of their counsel, they did not attend the informational meeting. The band trip was supposed to take students and parents to Japan this summer but was cancelled last month. A total of 70 people (students and parents) from San Marcos, Del Norte, Mission Hills and Eastlake high schools signed up for the trip. Were angry and we want our money back, Rebecca Nee said. Rebecca is a parent of a Del Norte High School sophomore cello player. NBC 7 Responds first reported on the trip cancellation last week. To read the initial report click here. At the meeting Tuesday evening, Orcutt began by addressing why the trip the families had been planning on and paying towards for over a year was abruptly cancelled. This spring became an extremely challenging time financially for Harmony International, Orcutt said. Due to ongoing concerns about global terrorism, other planned trips for the summer were either abandoned or cancelled for lack of participation. In an email to NBC 7 Responds sent after the meeting, Orcutt expanded on the explanation and said, news of global terrorism...had a significant negative impact on the business revenues for the company overall and its ability to continue operations. At Tuesdays meeting, Orcutt told parents the company knew back in January that not enough participants had signed up for the trip, putting it in jeopardy. According to band directors and parents, Harmony International didnt inform them the trip was facing some challenges until April and the company continued to accept their payments through March. Doug Kosty, a parent of a San Marcos High School sophomore student, told NBC 7 Responds his daughter made their monthly payments on time. That was a big thing for a sixteen-year-old, so yeah this was not good for her, Doug said. During the meeting, Orcutt listed other reasons Harmony International struggled with making the trip a reality including a lawsuit and a direct debit for $100,000 taken by a commercial creditor from Harmony Internationals bank accounts for an unpaid loan. The company was hit with a large lawsuit by a commercial creditor and its bank accounts were drained, Orcutt said. The lawsuit, according to documents reviewed by NBC 7 Responds, was filed by Gibraltar Capital Advance in February in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois for more than $180,000. According to federal court records, MFPI Group Inc., the company doing business as Harmony International, took the first steps toward filing for bankruptcy protection this week. To see the companys bankruptcy filing, click here. In the bankruptcy records, Harmony International lists over 200 individuals and companies owed money. The company also lists a $1 million liability insurance policy the company holds, but its unclear what that money would go toward. Since the company filed for bankruptcy protection, Orcutt said parents should expect a notice from the courts in the mail soon, explaining the process for filing claims. According to the California Attorney Generals office, speaking in general terms not pertaining to Harmony International, sellers of travel tours are required to register with their office and deposit all payments received by customers into a trust account or bond. At Tuesday nights meeting, Orcutt told parents Harmony International had done neither of those things. To read the California Attorney Generals requirements for sellers of travel tours, click here. We're so disappointed and we're angry, Nee said, We are justifiably angry. Parents told NBC 7 Responds they left the meeting with more questions than answers. One parent shared a cell phone video with NBC 7 Responds they had recorded during the first meeting with Harmony International on February 18, 2016. In the video, you can see Brad Matheson addressing parents via Skype. If you register before March 1 for this group, youll receive free trip cancellation insurance, Brad Matheson told parents. We wanted to include that as an incentive to get you to register as early as possible. At the meeting Tuesday night, Orcutt told parents Harmony International had not purchased the trip cancellation insurance policies they were promised. So that really put us in a situation where from the first interaction with the company, the first check we wrote in good faith, they didn't meet their commitments, parent Kosty said. In the video from the first meeting, Matheson is seen explaining the entire week-long itinerary for the advertised trip. We'll have the opportunity for them to visit Tokyo Disney, Matheson said. NBC 7 Responds spoke with Tokyo Disneyland representatives. They said their music program is not offered in the month of July, nor does the company have any business relationship with Harmony International. Top congressional Republicans are demanding the Trump administration take swift and severe action against the Turkish government in response to violence involving members of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's security detail, with one saying the U.S. "should throw their ambassador the hell out of the United States of America." Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, expressed outrage Thursday at a video that appears to show Erdogan's bodyguards violently breaking up a protest earlier this week outside the Turkish ambassador's residence in Washington. "We should throw their ambassador the hell out of the United States of America," McCain said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe." McCain said, "this kind of thing cannot go unresponded to diplomatically." He suggested that lawsuits should be filed if the responsible bodyguards can be identified. McCain and Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, the senior Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, told Erdogan in a letter they sent Thursday that the "actions of your staff violate the constitutional protections of freedom of the press and freedom of assembly enjoyed by all Americans.'' They said they expected "conduct more appropriate' from Turkey, a member of NATO and a key U.S. ally. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said he wants "people prosecuted." "If there were any Turkish Embassy officials involved in beating up these protesters, I will call for them to be removed from the country,'' said Graham, the GOP chairman of the Senate subcommittee that controls the foreign affairs budget. The State Department confirmed Thursday it briefly detained two members of Erdogan's security detail and the guards have since been released. The department also said it summoned Turkish Ambassador Serdar Kilic to discuss the altercation and the ambassador met Wednesday with Tom Shannon, the acting deputy secretary of state and highest-ranking career U.S. diplomat. The State Department said Wednesday that "violence is never an appropriate response to free speech, and we support the rights of people everywhere to free expression and peaceful protest." The U.S. is declining to say whether the security agents were granted diplomatic immunity or under what conditions they were released. The U.S. says there's an ongoing investigation that will allow the U.S. "to hold the responsible individuals accountable." The remarks from Graham and McCain come after Rep. Ed Royce of California, the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, called on the Trump administration to investigate whether criminal charges are warranted against any of the bodyguards. Royce detailed his request for an inquiry in a letter sent Wednesday to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Attorney General Jeff Sessions. He wrote that bodyguards with Erdogan on his official state visit to Washington 'viciously beat multiple individuals, throwing them to the ground and kicking them in the head." The incident occurred after Erdogan arrived after a White House meeting with President Donald Trump. Video shows people pushing past police to confront a small group of protesters across the street in Sheridan Circle. Attacking the small group of protesters with their fists and feet, men in dark suits and others were recorded repeatedly kicking one woman as she lay curled on a sidewalk. Another person wrenches a woman's neck and throws her to the ground. A man with a bullhorn is repeatedly kicked in the face. In all, nine people were hurt. Several other Senate Republicans, including Marco Rubio of Florida and Ted Cruz of Texas, called on the Turkish government to immediately apologize for the violence. In a statement, the Turkish Embassy blamed the violence on the demonstrators, saying they were "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." Tensions between Washington and Istanbul are running high after the Trump administration announced plans to arm Kurdish Syrian militants fighting the Islamic State group despite intense opposition from Turkey, which considers the Kurds as terrorists. The decision is meant to accelerate the operation to recapture the key Islamic State group stronghold of Raqqa. But Erdogan's government views the Syrian Kurdish group known as the YPG as an extension of a Kurdish terrorist organization that operates in Turkey. Trump and his national security team say the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, is the most effective battlefield partner against the Islamic State in northern and eastern Syria. A D.C. Councilmember is calling for a review of all four years that D.C. has used a lottery system to assign students to schools outside their neighborhoods -- including some of the District's most sought-after and selective institutions. Councilmember David Grosso, who chairs Council's education committee, called for the review following an Inspector General report that contends former school Chancellor Kaya Henderson gave improper favoritism to a handful of city officials in 2015. That favoritism isn't illegal. But it does shake families' confidence in the fairness of the school lottery, which many try to use to get into better schools outside their neighborhood boundaries. "We've had 2014 and 2016 school years that have also been perhaps implicated here," said Grosso, who also voted on his committee's version of the 2018 school budget Thursday. "So we're going to take a look at it. We'll look at it on the committee on education. We'll see then if we need to refer it then to the IG to look deeper, and we'll go from there." Mayor Muriel Bowser said she's willing to "work with the council" on a review. She's also called for the current schools chancellor, Antwan Wilson, to halt any future student referrals outside of the lottery until new ethics guidelines are in place. "From our point of view, moving forward is what's important. I want the public to have full confidence in our system," Bowser said. She said she understands the concerns of public school parents. "I hear their frustration, and I want them to know that we are putting a system in place moving forward where there will be no question." Officials at the Office of the Inspector General have told the News4 I-Team their investigation found seven instances in which Henderson "improperly used her discretion" as schools chancellor. Henderson announced her resignation in June 2016. Henderson issued a statement on the controversy in April. "As the IG report notes, in my capacity as Chancellor, I made a very limited number of discretionary placements for students when extraordinary circumstances applied. I stand by those actions. The IG does not provide evidence that placements were made improperly, only that they were discretionary," Henderson's statement reads. It continues, "I am deeply disappointed by these continual attacks on my integrity in an attempt to besmirch my personal and professional reputation." Its the story that keeps on running thats how Dwayne The Rock Johnson described the tenacious rumor that he'll run for president of the United States. But the thing is, he didnt exactly deny the rumor. Johnson sat down with Jimmy Fallon on the Tonight Show Thursday to talk about the possibility of America one day having the wrestler-turned-pop culture icon as president, an idea that drew enthusiastic cheers and applause from the studio audience. Im so incredibly flattered, Johnson said. Ive been blown away. The actor wasnt shy about suggesting a reason why so many people may want him running the country. A lot of people want to see a different leadership today, he said. Or, Im sorry, a better leadership today. More poise, less noise, Johnson added, sounding like a seasoned campaigner already. The talk about Johnson running for president began last year when he joked about it with his 11.3 million Twitter followers. The conversation grew from there, with publications such as The Washington Post weighing Johnson's background, experience and political chops. The issue may be getting more serious than just internet buzz. He told GQ for its June cover story that he was considering running. "I think that it's a real possibility," the "Baywatch" actor confessed. On "Tonight," Johnson referred to a May 16 poll by Public Policy Polling that matched him up against President Donald Trump in a hypothetical 2020 election. The Sexiest Man Alive beat Americas current leader 4237. While Johnson remained humble at the thought of having so much support, he seemed confident and proud that he has the qualities voters crave. Over the years Ive become a guy that a lot of people relate to, he told Fallon. Get up early in the morning at a ridiculous hour, go to work and spend time with the troops, take care of my family. I love taking care of people. That kind of thing really resonates with people, especially today. Three and a half years is a long way away, Johnson concluded. So well see. All political talk aside, Johnsons appearance on the Tonight stage wasnt without its fun. He and Fallon talked about the GQ story, which includes photos of Johnson frolicking on Los Angeles' Venice Beach, dressing as a butterfly, serving up some juice (with his shirt open, of course), and showing off matching tribal tattoos with some young fans. And, in true Rock fashion, Johnson even walked onto the show with his cellphone in hand and recording, not completely unexpected for a guy who has more than 143 million Instagram and Facebook followers. Because the social media superstar is remaining coy, only time will tell if hell someday update those followers from the Oval Office. Most families that add solar power to their home do it to save on their electric bill or to help the environment, but the News4 I-Team found that technology could cost valuable time in an emergency. "It changes everything about our strategies and tactics," said Prince George's County Fire Battalion Chief Donny Fletcher. Firefighters across the D.C. region say they're facing increased danger as more and more homeowners install solar panels. Risks include electrocution if the home can't be de-energized or a roof collapsing quicker under the weight of the heavy solar panels. Electricity is unforgiving when hit with water or other firefighting tools. Its a constant risk, Fletcher said. "The power that we cannot secure is the panels themselves -- as long as the sun is shining they will stay energized," he said. Plus, panels take up space on the roof, which firefighters need to access to ventilate and knock down a fire. Commanders also might be reluctant to send crews inside a structure if they know there are heavy panels up above. "The additional weight of the panels will make it collapse faster than if they weren't there," said Larry McKenna, a fire protection engineer with the U.S. Fire Administration. McKenna served on a national research panel for firefighter safety and emergency response for solar power systems. In some cases, the best thing to do is let the building burn if no lives are in danger and the panels create too great a risk to go inside, McKenna said. Solar houses are different from regular homes where the power company can just flip a switch to kill all of the power, he said. Even after the emergency solar shutoff is pulled, parts of a solar home can still be energized, "There's no way to turn it off, so it's always on," McKenna said. "At the home we can turn off the AC coming into the home, but we can't turn between here and the panel off." And until now, there has been no way to test whether a direct current is live. "This is the first of its kind in the world, the only one that exists right now," McKenna said, showing off a new device developed by the U.S. Fire Administration to make firefighters safer. Firefighters in Frederick County, Maryland, will be the first anywhere to try it out. "We're actually pretty excited to be able to partner and give this thing a spin on the street," said Frederick County Fire Chief Tom Owens. If needed, the firefighters could use it in downtown Frederick, where at least one whole neighborhood is outfitted with solar panels, or on the county's new buses, which also are electric. "We treat everything as if it's electrified until it's proven that it's not," said Owens. Now, the new stick-like device can help them know for sure; it lights up when touched to a live direct current. The U.S. Fire Administration said after Frederick County is done testing it, they'll license the technology to a manufacturer to produce. "That allows us to cut the amount of time that we might be standing in the front yard waiting for some determination before we go to work," said Owens. Good news for homeowners like Rob Robinson and his wife Sherrill Berger. They were among the earliest homeowners in Washington, D.C., to go solar, and they've cut their energy bills by 40 percent. "I think it's a wonderful thing, Robinson said. I think it will make people more aware, it'll provide an additional measure of safety." Fire departments everywhere should be training to properly handle solar homes, he said. Installations nationwide grew by 97 percent in 2016, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). Approximately 100,000 homes in the D.C. metro area have solar power installed. "As things change, people and the way they operate have to change," SEIA President Abby Hopper said. The industry has been working with national firefighter organizations to improve safety. But the News4 I-Team found most local fire departments don't have a standard operating procedure for handling homes with solar panels or even regular training protocols. The fire marshals offices in Virginia and Maryland confirm there's no statewide standard in either state. "We can develop the best standards in the world, but if no one knows what they are, it doesn't really matter," Hopper said. "So I would say standards and education are really the two key elements." The Frederick County chief said that's something he'll push for going forward. "I don't know that we've had a very specific training on specific systems at this point, and that's something that, as it continues to grow, we're going to have to look at in the future," Owens said. Reported by Jodie Fleischer, produced by Rick Yarborough, shot by Jeff Piper and Steve Jones, and edited by Jeff Piper. University of Maryland students narrowly escaped an early morning fire Friday, just before graduation. The house, located in the 6700 block of Baltimore Avenue, caught fire about 2 a.m. By the time firefighters arrived, the roof had partially collapsed. Two firefighters were injured by falling debris. Three students who were sleeping inside were able to get out safely. Resident Ciara Egan was at work after a last-minute shift change. Her graduation cap and gown were inside, just a day before graduation. "That was kind of a big chunk of money, too," Egan said. "I'm the oldest in my family. I graduated first. I bought the gown and everything for all the kids following, because they're all going to go to Maryland." News4's Erika Gonzalez sent a tweet to University of Maryland President Wallace Loh Friday morning, asking if he could help Egan. https://twitter.com/erika_news/status/865506438642188288 Loh quickly agreed, adding that he was relieved Egan and her housemates were safe. Yes, absolutely! Cap & gown are on me. Contact my office to arrange. Relieved that you & housemates are safe. And thank you to firefighters! https://t.co/GWJFS96xX8 Wallace D. Loh (@presidentloh) May 19, 2017 "Cap & gown are on me. Contact my office to arrange," Loh wrote. Egan said she was so grateful. "At that point, I was so tired, I just started crying," she said. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The students told News4 they believe the fire started in the basement before spreading to other floors. An Amber Alert for a missing 8-month-old baby and her mother has been "terminated in accordance with AMBER Alert policy," Virginia State Police say, but the two remain missing. Keir Johnson, 34, and her baby, Chloe, may have been abducted April 30 as they headed to a nearby beach for a walk, police in Hampton, Virginia, have said. Authorities did not immediately issue an Amber Alert. However, developments in the case later led investigators to believe Keir and Chloe Johnson may have been abducted. Police issued an Amber Alert for the two May 11. However, Amber Alerts last for just seven days, so the alert for the Johnsons has now expired, police said Thursday night. According to WAVY-TV, she was taking Keir Johnson was taking Chloe to Buckroe Beach for a walk when the two disappeared. No one has seen or heard from them since. Keir Johnson was last seen in the 1900 block of Hastings Drive, driving a black 2013 Kia Optima with Virginia tags VAW-2197. On May 14, police in Newport News found the car they believed Johnson was driving, nearly 10 miles away from where she was last seen. Johnson and her daughter are considered endangered. "Keir and Chloe's family are concerned due to the length of time that has passed since they last had contact with them. It is out of the norm for Keir to be gone for an extended amount of time and to not make contact with family or friends," the Hampton Police Department said in a release. Keir Johnson is 4 feet, 11 inches tall and weighs 140 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing blue jeans, a T-shirt and glasses. Chloe Johnson is 2 feet, 5 inches tall and weighs 20 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes. A clothing description was not available. "I need to know where they are, and I need someone to help me find them," Keir Johnson's mother said in a video posted on the police department's Facebook page last week. "I want her to come home now. Right now." Anyone with information about their whereabouts is asked to call 911, 757-727-6505 or 888-LOCK-U-UP. Crews are still working to clean up thousands of gallons of jet fuel in Virginia Beach, and the U.S. Navy now says they know why the spill occurred. Officials said Friday that a switch was left in the wrong position when the spill occurred May 10. The 94,000 gallons of jet fuel was mistakenly routed into a 2,000-gallon tank at Naval Air Station Oceana, local news outlets report. It should have been routed into a 880,000-gallon tank instead. The much smaller tank overflowed, and the spill was not discovered until the next morning. The Navy said at a news conference Friday that they're still investigating how the switch ended up in the wrong position. Officials say 25,000 gallons of the spilled fuel ran off the base and polluted waterways. The Navy moved 177 people who live nearby into a hotel, The Virginian-Pilot reported. Several people reported having headaches and sore throats. An expected two-day cleanup has taken nine days and counting, with crews still working to contain the flow and absorb fuel. A recently released hospital patient stole an ambulance from a hospital in Prince George's County during rush hour Friday morning and led police on a chase through two counties. William Person, 43, led police through Charles County and Prince George's County for more than an hour, activating the ambulance's lights and riding on its rims after stop strips deflated the tires. He was taken for a mental evaluation and charged by Prince George's County with auto theft and malicious destruction of property. He may face additional charges in Charles County. The incident began when officers found Person, of Temple Hills, overnight, suffering from injuries and acting erratically, Prince George's County Police Chief Hank Stawinski said at a news conference. The officers took Person to Prince George's Hospital Center, where he was treated and released just after 6 a.m. As he was being released, Person climbed into an ambulance outside the hospital and drove off. Stawinski said authorities alerted the Charles County Sheriff's Office as soon as they realized Person was heading into that county. A GPS system inside the ambulance let police track the stolen vehicle. The sheriff's office put down stop strips, deflating all four of the ambulance's tires, but the suspect continued driving. Authorities say Person drove to Naval Support Facility Indian Head, where he made a U-turn and drove on rims back into Prince George's County. At one point, Stawinski said Person activated the ambulance's lights. Officers made several attempts to communicate with Person as he drove, but they were not able to get through to him. "He had a thousand-yard stare. He was not responsive. He just kept on driving," Stawinski said. Officers blocked intersections along the pursuit route, preventing other drivers from getting in the way. Local police agencies pursued the ambulance to Allentown Road, where Person struck a Maryland State Police cruiser that was working to block him from going onto Branch Avenue. The trooper, who was not hurt, turned his cruiser into the ambulance while other officers created a barrier with their vehicles. The ambulance finally was brought to a stop, and Person was taken into custody at Allentown Road and Camp Springs Way in Camp Springs, Maryland, about 7:20 a.m. Person was taken back to the hospital for a mental evaluation and treatment of minor injuries. Any time Prince George's County ambulances are unattended, they should be locked, with the engines off, Assistant Chief Alan Doubleday said department policy says. An investigation into how Person was allowed to take the ambulance is underway. It's too early to say if any member of the fire and EMS department could be disciplined, Doubleday said. Prince George's County police are searching for the driver who fatally struck a woman along Indian Head Highway in Accokeek, Maryland, Friday morning. Nefertiti Kemoris Horton, 39, was likely walking down the side of the road when she was struck near Farmington Road East at 12:45 a.m., Prince George's County police said. Horton was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say the driver did not stop after hitting the woman. Investigators don't have a description of the vehicle, but they believe it may have front-end damage. A stretch of Indian Head Highway was closed for several hours for the police investigation. The road reopened at about 5:30 a.m. Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to call police at 301-731-4422. President Donald Trump said Thursday that he intends to work closely with his Colombian counterpart to find a solution to spiraling violence in Venezuela. Sitting side by side with President Juan Manuel Santos in the Oval Office, Trump said he will seek Colombia's help in pressuring neighboring Venezuela to address the near-daily protests and violence that have shaken President Nicolas Maduro's grip on power. At least 40 people have been killed and hundreds injured in protests that erupted after Venezuela's supreme court issued a ruling in late March stripping the opposition-controlled National Assembly of its last remaining powers. The ruling was later partially reversed amid a storm of international criticism. The meeting came as the Trump administration rolled out new sanctions Thursday on members of Venezuela's supreme court for alleged human rights violations. "A stable and peaceful Venezuela is in the best interest of the entire hemisphere," Trump said at a joint news conference. "We will be working with Colombia and other countries on the Venezuela problem. It is a very, very horrible problem." Driving the latest outrage is a decree by Maduro to begin the process of rewriting Venezuela's constitution. The opposition rejects that plan as another attempt by the president to tighten his grip on power, and opposition leaders are calling on Venezuelans to continue to take to the streets in protest. Santos is the third Latin American leader to meet with Trump since he took office, after the leaders of Peru and Argentina. The president's bullish policies toward illegal immigration and his proposed border wall with Mexico have incensed many across Latin America who say they are being unfairly targeted. The dispute led Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto to cancel his trip to Washington weeks after Trump took office. Santos has been among the critics of Trump's proposed wall, though he avoided outwardly criticizing the plan during their joint remarks. Trump defended his proposed border wall Thursday, saying, "Walls work, just ask Israel." Santos is looking for Trump's support on a number of domestic issues. His government signed a peace accord last year with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, ending one of the world's bloodiest and longest-running armed conflicts. The rebel group agreed to turn over 30 percent of its arsenal of assault rifles, machine guns and explosives. The agreement earned Santos the Nobel Peace Prize last year. The Trump administration is also looking to work with Colombia to stem the flow of drugs into the U.S. from Latin America. "We have a problem with drugs, and you have a very big problem with drugs," Trump said to Santos at the start of their meeting. Santos said he is committed to working with the United States and other countries in Latin America "to fight the other links in the chain," saying they will join forces to "seize cocaine in transit." Santos is a graduate of the University of Kansas and holds a master's degree from Harvard University. President Donald Trump said Thursday that he is "very close" to naming a new FBI director to replace the one he fired more than a week ago and that former Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman was among his top choices for the job. Lieberman was among four candidates Trump interviewed at the White House on Wednesday. "We're very close to an FBI director," Trump said when asked about the search during an Oval Office appearance with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. Trump said "soon" when asked how close he is to making an announcement. Trump leaves Friday afternoon on his first overseas trip as president, a four-country, five-stop tour that will keep him out of Washington for more than a week. He has said he could name a director before he departs. The president also replied "he is" when asked whether Lieberman is a top candidate for the position. Lieberman gave reporters a thumbs-up as he left the White House on Wednesday and said he and Trump had a "good meeting." Trump interviewed three other potential FBI director candidates the same day: former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating, former top FBI official Richard McFeely and Andrew McCabe. McCabe was tapped to become acting director after Trump dismissed Comey on May 9. The firing was sharply criticized because it came amid the bureau's investigation into Russia's meddling in last year's presidential election. "I cherish the FBI. It's special," Trump said later Thursday at a joint news conference with Santos. "All over the world, no matter where you go, the FBI is special." He said the bureau hasn't enjoyed "that special reputation" since during the presidential campaign. Trump also criticized Comey for his performance during a recent appearance before Congress, and said Comey's replacement is "going to be outstanding." The Senate must confirm Trump's candidate for the job. Senate Republicans praised Lieberman, a Democrat turned independent, while Democrats were less effusive about their former colleague. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., called Lieberman a "pillar of credibility." Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, said Lieberman "may be the only potential nominee that could get 100 votes that I know of. Everybody likes and respects Joe Lieberman." But several Democratic senators said during a caucus lunch Thursday that they would not support Lieberman, according to a person familiar with the meeting who declined to be identified because the lunch was private. Among their concerns was Lieberman's past praise of Michael Flynn, Trump's first national security adviser, who was fired in February after misleading officials about his conversations with Russian officials. Flynn has figured prominently in the FBI investigation into Russian interference into the election. A Nov. 25 news release from Trump's transition team quoted Lieberman praising Trump's selection of K.T. McFarland as deputy national security adviser. Lieberman added that McFarland "and General Mike Flynn will form a very strong leadership team at the National Security Council." Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress, a Democratic think tank, also opposes Lieberman, saying he lacks law enforcement experience and is close to Attorney General Jeff Sessions, a former U.S. senator. Lieberman testified in support of Sessions at his January confirmation hearing. Lieberman served in the Senate for more than two decades and was the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2000 with Al Gore, then the sitting vice president. Lieberman lost his 2006 Democratic primary bid but won Senate re-election as a third-party candidate. Lieberman spoke at the 2008 Republican National Convention on behalf of his friend, Arizona Sen. John McCain, and did not seek re-election in 2012. He has served as co-chairman of No Labels, a centrist group that promotes bipartisanship. Keating, a Republican, was a two-term governor of Oklahoma and led the state during the deadly 1995 bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma City. A former FBI agent, Keating served in the administrations of Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. Keating, a former FBI agent, told The Oklahoman he does not expect to be chosen. "If they wanted me, I certainly would be honored, but I really don't think that's going to happen," Keating, 73, told the newspaper after his interview. McCabe, a veteran FBI official, made headlines for congressional testimony last week that rejected White House claims that Comey had lost the support of rank-and-file agents. He also disputed the administration's characterization of the investigation into potential coordination between Russia and Trump associates. Several candidates have withdrawn from consideration: Rep. Trey Gowdy of South Carolina and Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, both Republicans; Alice Fisher, the former head of the Justice Department's criminal division; and Michael Garcia, a former U.S. attorney from Manhattan. The U.S. Coast Guard suspended the search for a family aboard a Florida-bound plane that disappeared near the Bahamas. U.S. Coast Guard officials searched by sea and air until 9 p.m. Thursday, after debris that was found in the ocean east of the island of Eleuthera was determined to have come from a twin-engine Mitsubishi MU-2B aircraft, the type that air traffic control lost contact with as it traveled from Puerto Rico to Florida on Monday. "This was a swift and significant loss and its impact has reverberated through everyone that participated in the search," said Christopher Eddy, search and rescue mission coordinator. "Our hearts and prayers go out to all of the families involved." The father of the two young children who were on board spoke out for the first time Thursday. "The debris does match up with that style of aircraft and we have notified the family," said Lt. Cmdr. Ryan Kelly, a Coast Guard spokesman. #BreakingNews @USCG suspended the search at 8:45 p.m. for 4 people 15 mi E of Eleuthera, Bahamas. Read more at https://t.co/e7rrfskIgX USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) May 19, 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- and 4-year-old sons. Architect James Ramsey, longtime friend of Blumin and father of her two children, told the New York Daily News Wednesday he had lost what he loved most. "I keep hoping its not real and Ill wake up," Ramsey told the paper. "Wouldnt wish this pain on the worst person in the world." Blumin is the 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," it said. Ulrich served as a Coast Guard Auxiliary pilot out of Air Station Cape Cod from 2005 to 2014 and is co-owner of a company that manufactures kick scooters and folding bicycles. The family issued a statement that read, in part, "Nathan is our beloved son, brother and uncle and we wish for resolution as the Coast Guard search continues." The Coast Guard said it had covered more than 8,200 square miles over 30 hours in a search that was centered about 15 miles east of Eleuthera. Officials say Blumin's plane was east of Eleuthera 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. The National Transportation Safety Board said it would be investigating the incident. Police have arrested two brothers in connection with a fatal assault in Lynn, Massachusetts on Mother's Day. Werner Garcia Figueroa, 19, and Selvin F. Garcia, 23, both of 15 Bassett St., in Lynn, were taken into police custody overnight, according to police. They are charged with murder, armed robbery and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Authorities said Garcia Figueroa and Garcia assaulted two men with a brick on Blake Street around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday. One of the victims, a 39-year-old Reading man, was sent to the hospital and died of his injuries the next morning. The other was taken to a local hospital and is expected to live. Prosecutors said the assault stemmed from an earlier dispute inside the Las Vegas bar on Munroe Street. The suspects allegedly waited for the victims to leave and then attacked them. Police were able to use video from the bar to identify the suspects. Garcia Figueroa and Garcia were ordered held without bail at their arraignment Friday in Lynn District Court. They are scheduled to return to court on June 27. Attorneys for both suspects said their clients are innocent. The Massachusetts Attorney General's Office has ordered the Mystic Valley Regional Charter School to immediately cease enforcing its ban on braided hair extensions. Parents of black and biracial students at the Malden school said last week that the administration's crackdown on hair extensions, resulting in detentions and suspensions, was racist. The American Civil Liberties Union also filed a complaint against the school. In a letter dated Friday, Genevieve Nadeau, chief of the attorney general's Civil Rights Division, said that not only is the ban "unlawful," but it also does not appear that white students who have violated it have been similarly punished. "Specifically, MVRCS's Hair/Make-Up policy includes a number of prohibitions that are either unreasonably subjective or appear to effectively single out students of color," she said. School administrators have said the ban on hair extensions is designed to "foster a culture that emphasizes education rather than style, fashion or materialism." Alexander J. Dan, Interim School Director, said that we are in receipt of the letter from the attorney generals office and it will be reviewed by the board of trustees at a meeting that has been called for Sunday night. One of the unlawful prohibitions cited by Nadeau is a ban on "shaved lines or shaved sides" or "hair more than 2 inch in thickness in height," which she said appears to specifically reference hair styles commonly worn by black students. She also cited the ban on hair extensions, saying it appears to specifically reference hair styles more likely to be worn by female black students. "Braids and extensions are likewise not simply fashion choices or trends, but also can be important expressions of racial culture, heritage, and identity, in addition to serving very practical needs unique to black women and girls," Nadeau said. She said there "appears to be substantial evidence" that the hair and make-up policy is inconsistently applied. "For example, we have found photographs on social media sites... that show students in clear violation of the Hair/Make-Up policy, including a number of white students with 'shaved sides' and 'coloring, dying [sic], lightening... or streaking.'" She said it is "critical" that the school immediately cease enforcing or imposing discipline for violations of those provisions of the policy. Police arrested a man for allegedly defecating near a business plaza where a group of children were exiting an escape room in Manchester, New Hampshire on Thursday. Police noticed a man unzipping his pants in front of Gil Stadium, which is located across the street from police headquarters, around 2 p.m. Before the could stop him, the man defecated on the sidewalk, which is just 300 feet from a business plaza. A school bus picking up a group of children was outside of one nearby businesses, Granite State Escape, but luckily police were able to stop the man before the children exited the business. Police arrested Steven Clement, 57 of Manchester, New Hampshire, and charged him with criminal mischief, public urination or defecation and indecent exposure/lewdness. Manchester Department of Public Works responded to the scene to clean up the feces. Clement is scheduled to appear in the 9th Circuit Court-Manchester on May 19, 2017. A suspect in a 2010 Boston murder was successfully extradited from the Dominican Republic Friday morning. Charlie Brea, 31, was wanted for the shooting death of 25-year-old Boston resident Luis Montanez in Roxbury that took place outside of the Breezeway Bar on Oct. 23, 2010. Brea was arrested at Logan Airport by the Boston Police Department Fugitive Apprehension Unit, assisted by the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and U.S. Marshals. "This arrest is the culmination of seven years of incredible diligence and dedication on the part of the Boston Police Department," said Boston Commissioner William Evans. "We intend to bring the suspect to justice for the victim's family." As young people across the nation graduate from high school and college this spring, Vermont's U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders is asking them to do one important thing: get involved. "The challenges that this generation faces are enormous," Sanders said after addressing the 2017 graduating classes at Lyndon State College and Johnson State College before the colleges become Northern Vermont University. While technological advances are helping to realize cures for diseases, deal with the effects of climate change and generally improve life, he warned he was still "concerned about the attacks we are seeing on democracy itself." He also argued TRIO, one of the federal education programs that Trump has proposed cutting from the budget, could harm high school students from working class families who dream of going to college, but don't have a clear path to get there. Cutting TRIO, Sanders said, at "a time when working class kids are finding it harder and harder to get to college because of the cost, to make it more difficult for them to get the support they need makes zero sense to me." The independent senator, who caucuses with the Democrats in the Senate, sat down for an interview with "The Take" host Sue O'Connell over Mother's Day weekend, after the firestorm of former FBI Director James Comey's firing but before more shocking news concerning the ongoing Russia investigation and President Donald Trump revealing classified information to Russia's foreign minister and ambassador to the U.S. Sanders said at that point he did not feel it was needed to move forward with impeachment proceedings. "I think you've got to go where the facts lead you," he said, adding, "I think what Trump did was outrageous. You don't stop an investigation on yourself or on your campaign, but let's go where the facts are and take it one step at a time." Trump's penchant for lying is making people nervous, Sanders said. "I don't get any pleasure saying this, but [Trump] lies a lot, and you don't - that's just not right for a President of the United States," he said. "You can disagree with somebody, that's fine, a lot of Republicans out there I disagree with all of the time, but they don't lie. They tell you what they believe. Trump lies a lot, and that concerns me." Sanders also pointed out that President Trump's attacks on the media and judiciary are worrying both Republicans and Democrats in Congress. "Judges are supposed to be independent to render the best verdicts they can, based on precedent and based on the Constitution," the senator said. "To say that somebody is a 'so-called judge' because they render a verdict against you, you can't do that." Sanders' independence in the Senate has also given him perspective on why the Democrats lost the 2016 presidential election, of which he was a Democratic primary candidate. He said the Democrats must become a "50 state party" and work with others with whom they may disagree at times. "I do believe Trump's victory and other Republican victories is the failure of the Democratic party to develop an agenda which speaks to the needs of working families, that's that's what I'm kinda trying to do," he said. Messy Church - Sprowston Methodist Church Messy Church - Sprowston Methodist Church The meal served at Messy Church gives the children and their parents the opportunity to sit down and socialise with other families - it is an activity that is an important part of family life. Janet Mayes co-ordinates a team of about 20 leaders for Messy Church. Messy Church has been running for five years at Sprowston Methodist Church and the bi-monthly meetings are on a Saturday from 5 - 7pm. The aim is to make the sessions very different so each is fresh and exciting for both adults and children. There are three sections: Celebration, Craft and Activities, ending with a meal which begins around 6.15pm. Undoubtedly, both the Messy Church team and the families that attend will say that the meal is the most important part of the session. Feedback from the children is that they enjoy talking with other adults at the table and take a full part in this shared time, an activity that is an important part of family life. The adults can relax and spend time with other families over food and coffee or tea. Nobody is ever in a hurry to leave! Janet said, One of the exciting aspects of Messy Church is that we never know how many will attend, so we cater for 60 and if there are extra portions of main meal or dessert remaining, the children are not shy in zooming to be served; adults have to be nifty if they want to partake. The meals are simple fare - shepherds pie, lasagne, fruit crumbles, sponge puddings of all different kinds and fruit pies to name a few. The church congregation who cook for Messy Church have a tremendous witness. Janet said, As a team we are committed to reaching out to families who are looking for an informal setting for their experience of church and of helping them to come close to God and to each other. Messy Church is held at Sprowston Methodist Church on Wroxham Road, Saturday teatimes 5.00pm to 7:00pm every other month. Messy Church is free of charge. Donations are optional Factfile Gorleston Methodists celebrate 150 years 2017: Lowestoft Road Methodist Church - once known as Gorleston Methodist - celebrates its 150th anniversary this year and will mark the occasion with a special service on Sunday May 21. The celebration will see the Rev John Fenn, a former minister of the church, returning to lead the service, as well as a performance from the Dusmagrik theatre group http://www.dusmagrik.com/ The service will follow a weekend of celebration for the church, with an anniversary coffee morning and gift day taking place between 10.30am and 12pm on Saturday, May 20, as well as opportunities for visitors to look around the church. Originally one building, the church expanded to two in 1899 with a new building next door to the old. This new building became the main church, with the original building taking on the role of schoolroom. Both still stand, with the schoolroom now used by various community groups. The church building has wheelchair access, with an accessible toilet, and hearing loop. The address is: Lowestoft Road, Gorleston, Gt Yarmouth, NR31 6SG. Visit : https://eangliamethodist.org.uk/gorleston-lowestoft-road This story has appeared at http://www.networkyarmouth.co.uk and in the Yarmouth Mercury. The image above is courtesy of Simon Knott at http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk Do you have a news story or forthcoming event relating to Christians or a church in East Norfolk? Bishop Graham is publishing daily prayers on social media for the current COP27 climate conference, and is asking all to join. Bishop Graham is publishing daily prayers on social media for the current COP27 climate conference, and is asking all to join. Discovering the Orange in your life The vibrant colours of autumn have been inspiring regular contributor Jane Walters to focus on the positive. Read more YMCA annual celebration set to inspire YMCA Norfolk is set to hold its much anticipated 2022 annual celebration and awards ceremony on November 17, after almost 3 years since the last event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more Hub manager vacancy at community shop Earlham Community Shop Community Interest Company is looking to appoint a manager for this new venture being developed in the heart of NR5 Norwich. Read more Abbey Days brings Christmas Magic to Wymondham Visitors to Wymondham Abbeys Christmas fair will be able to treat their children to a magic show and fun baking workshop while they browse more than 60 stalls. Read more Salvation Armys new Christmas Appeal in Norfolk The Salvation Army has launched their new Christmas appeal across Norfolk which, this year, has evolved from the much-loved Toys and Tins appeal. Read more Are we storing up treasures on earth? Rising prices affect us all, and Anna Heydon urges us to spare a thought for those who will be struggling with the cost of living this winter. Read more Latest Norfolk Christian community events Events of interest to the Norwich and Norfolk Christian community happening over the next few weeks are listed. Read more Covid leaf memorial at Norwich church St Peter Mancroft Church Norwich Presents The Leaves of the Trees an installation by sculptor Peter Walker which provides a memorial for those who died of Covid-19 Read more Community Chaplaincy Norfolk begins a new chapter Community Chaplaincy Norfolk (CCN) celebrated the beginning of a new chapter this week, as the new chair of trustees Chris Tomlinson led his first annual meeting. Read more Lowestoft Christians launch on-line bible helps app The Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth branch of Good News for Everyone (GNFE), formerly the Gideons, have introduced a new mobile phone app called On-line Bible Helps. Read more Addicts' rehabilitation centre plan for Drayton Hall Christian addiction charity Teen Challenge London is planning to turn Drayton Hall near Norwich into its headquarters and a rehabilitation centre for men, after it was gifted the freehold of the hall by its owner, the Lind Trust. Read more The power of positive protest Philip Young encourages us to take a stand for what we believe, and has just written to Therese Coffey regarding climate change and the forthcoming COP 27. He explains why we should be prepared to protest. Read more Norwich church celebrates with cribs and trees Rosebery Road Methodist Church in Norwich will be holding its annual Cribs and Trees Festival in December. Read more Transforming Norwich lunch offers ministry tips Ex-Brighton vicar, Rev Phil Moon, will offer tips on how to keep going in ministry to the Transforming Norwich leaders lunch on Wednesday November 16. Read more Quiet Waters in Bungay offers healing retreat Quiet Waters Christian Retreat in Bungay is holding a gentle day retreat exploring healing in the Kingdom of God. Read more Norfolk ministry coaching duo are guest speakers Former church leaders and now freelance ministry coaches, Jonathan and Paige Squirrell, are the guest speakers at the next dinner of Norwich FGB on Monday, November 21. Read more Bringing light to Halloween Anna Price encourages Christians to engage positively with Halloween rather than hide away, on what many see as the darkest night of the year. Read more When it comes to WAN architecture, there has been a debate that has raged on for decades. Hub-and-spoke or fully distributed mesh, which is better? Hub-and-spoke networks are certainly simpler to design and manage, but the downside is that all branch traffic needs to be backhauled through a central location. Consider a U.S.-based company with a branch office in Japan where a user is trying to access a local website. The traffic would need to go from the branch, back to the United States, back to Japan, and then back to the United States, only to be sent off to Japan yet again. This clearly represents an enormous waste of bandwidth and resource, not to mention impaired user productivity. However, a hub-and-spoke design does have advantages, most notably that all security services can be located in the centralized hub. This means all traffic can be inspected and secured at a single point in the network. The hub-and-spoke design also streamlines other tasks like web filtering, load balancing and caching because all Internet traffic passes through a single location. A fully distributed mesh architecture enables users to access the Internet directly from any branch office, which significantly improves the performance of SaaS applications and enhances productivity. Because of this, the WAN only carries traffic between the branch and the data center. Also, branch-to-branch connections can be created for more efficient peer-to-peer applications, like video conferencing. The downside, is the complexity of provisioning network services. Each branch office requires its own firewall, IPS system, load balancer, etc. Resident branch services can be deployed as a standalone appliance, virtual service or part of a multi-function appliance, but network managers require the functionality at the point of egress. So on one hand, theres the combination of simplified management, but inefficient use of bandwidth. On the other hand theres more efficient use of the network, but the operational complexity goes through the roof. What if there was a better way? A best of both worlds solution perhaps. Well, there is and its called regional hubs. REGIONAL HUBS: THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS The concept of a regional hub is that branches are organized into logical regions and they connect back to a hub location that is within a certain proximity that makes sense for that group of locations. For example, a U.S.-based business might have a Mid-Atlantic hub in North Virginia, as the primary connection point to trans-Atlantic connections. Or a globally distributed organization may use Germany as its regional hub for its European locations. In a sense, this architecture is a set of distributed hub-and-spoke sites. All network and security services can be placed in the regional hub so that branch traffic can be efficiently backhauled a short distance away. The only branch office requirement is a broadband connection (or two for resiliency) and a low cost termination device. Historically, the regional hub wasnt feasible as the configuration and ongoing management wasnt any easier than a fully distributed architecture. However, SD-WAN solutions now make this easy to set up and manage. For example, Silver Peak recently announced enhancements to the Unity EdgeConnect SD-WAN solution, which now integrates a stateful firewall, SD-WAN, WAN optimization, BGP routing and other network services. SD-WAN SIMPLIFIES REGIONAL HUB IMPLEMENTATION An SD-WAN makes regional hubs possible because it operates as an overlay. This enables distributed businesses to connect all the sites to the Internet and then applies automated policies, wherever required and in alignment with business intent. One of the most significant benefits of using an SD-WAN overlay is that the architecture can be changed without a significant amount of manual overhead. For example, using the Silver Peak SD-WAN solution, if theres a region that has grown and theres a need to split it into two regional hubs, simply deploy another EdgeConnect appliance and point the desired branches to it and, as they say, Bobs your Uncle. Im not suggesting regional hubs are for everyone but whats important to understand is that when an SD-WAN is deployed, its important to look at the underlying architecture and use the agility of the overlay WAN to design a network that is right for the business. Visit Silver-Peak.com to learn more. By Express News Service BENGALURU: Apple Inc will soon begin initial production of iPhone SE in the city. The much awaited operations of the company from the city follows a series of state and national-level meetings spanning across several months. In February, Minister for IT and BT Priyank Kharge had announced that the operations were likely to begin by April-end. Minister for Large and Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development R V Deshpande said, Our government has assured full support for Apples manufacturing facility in Bengaluru. There was stiff competition among states to get this project. The fact that Apple chose Karnataka has affirmed the states investment attractiveness and business-friendly environment. We expect that this investment will boost job creation and enrich innovation and technology ecosystem in the state. According to the company, a small number of iPhone SE will be produced in the city to begin with. The phones, which are at present priced around Rs 26,000, will be manufactured at Peenya in the city by Wistron, a Taiwanese OEM for Apple. BENGALURU: Apple Inc will soon begin initial production of iPhone SE in the city. The much awaited operations of the company from the city follows a series of state and national-level meetings spanning across several months. In February, Minister for IT and BT Priyank Kharge had announced that the operations were likely to begin by April-end. Minister for Large and Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development R V Deshpande said, Our government has assured full support for Apples manufacturing facility in Bengaluru. There was stiff competition among states to get this project. The fact that Apple chose Karnataka has affirmed the states investment attractiveness and business-friendly environment. We expect that this investment will boost job creation and enrich innovation and technology ecosystem in the state. According to the company, a small number of iPhone SE will be produced in the city to begin with. The phones, which are at present priced around Rs 26,000, will be manufactured at Peenya in the city by Wistron, a Taiwanese OEM for Apple. M Sathish By Express News Service CHENNAI: In one of the biggest seizures of demonetised currency, a gunny bag packed with Rs 45 crore in the old 500- and 1,000-rupee denominations was seized from a uniform shop owners residence in Kodambakkam on Thursday. Though the seized currency notes do not have any value and are as good as waste paper, their sheer volume has got the investigating agencies, including the Income Tax department, interested in finding how such a large amount of cash was acquired by shop owner D Dhandapani. Police told Express that they suspected Dhandapani could have procured the cash a week ago from a T Nagar jewellery shop broker Padam Salani from Rajasthan. We are now searching for him, said an investigating officer. The Rs 45 crore demonetised notes seized from uniform shop owner Thandapanis residence in Kodambakkam | Express Police got the tip-off about the demonetised cash when Dhandapani, who feared both income tax department and police, tried to dispose of it after he had failed to convert it into legal tender. In his attempt to convert the notes into legal tender, he approached a couple of persons who visited his home, said police. However, it was when one of them approached Dhandapani later that police were tipped off. A police team from T Nagar, headed by Assistant Commissioner Tamizhselvan, conducted searches at his residence-cum-shop in Kodambakkams Zachariah Colony, 2nd street, which is famous for selling police uniform, at around 1 am. Since 30 minutes search could not yield anything substantial, the policemen were preparing to leave when one of them spotted a suspicious looking gunny bag. They opened it to find demonetised notes stashed in it. The cash was counted with the help of a machine. The whole exercise lasted five hours, said the police. We are trying to ascertain whether the cash belongs to the jewellery shop owner or to Padam Salani, who is suspected to have provided the cash. We are also looking at different angles including the involvement of politicians, said an investigation officer. A senior police officer privy to the case said Padam Salani and Dhandapani met six months ago. Two weeks back, Padam allegedly gave some money to the latter which was kept in the storeroom of Dhandapanis shop and was taken back in a few days. After that, Padam had again given Rs 45 crore to Dhandapani, which was seized now, he added. He also said that the money is believed to be transported by a Tata Ace car and through a school bag. The police officer pointed out that under Specified Bank Notes (Cessation of Liabilities) Act, 2017, a case cannot be filed by the police department and should be investigated by the Reserve Bank of India. However, the Kodambakkam police suo motto filed a case under section 102 of the CrPc (Power of police officer to seize certain property) and the money would be handed over to the magistrate court on Friday. Meanwhile, Income Tax investigation wing on Thursday said that it would also be investigating the case, once the probe by the Tamil Nadu police was completed. Though the seized demonetised cash has no value, we will use it as evidence. We will be investigating how he acquired such a volume of demonetised cash and why he kept it, said a top income tax official. The official refused to draw a parallel between this case of old cash seizure and the ongoing investigation against sand mining baron Shekar Reddy. The currency seized from Shekar Reddy was also demonetised and yet at that time, it had value. Now it is just a paper, the official added. CHENNAI: In one of the biggest seizures of demonetised currency, a gunny bag packed with Rs 45 crore in the old 500- and 1,000-rupee denominations was seized from a uniform shop owners residence in Kodambakkam on Thursday. Though the seized currency notes do not have any value and are as good as waste paper, their sheer volume has got the investigating agencies, including the Income Tax department, interested in finding how such a large amount of cash was acquired by shop owner D Dhandapani. Police told Express that they suspected Dhandapani could have procured the cash a week ago from a T Nagar jewellery shop broker Padam Salani from Rajasthan. We are now searching for him, said an investigating officer. The Rs 45 crore demonetised notes seized from uniform shop owner Thandapanis residence in Kodambakkam | ExpressPolice got the tip-off about the demonetised cash when Dhandapani, who feared both income tax department and police, tried to dispose of it after he had failed to convert it into legal tender. In his attempt to convert the notes into legal tender, he approached a couple of persons who visited his home, said police. However, it was when one of them approached Dhandapani later that police were tipped off. A police team from T Nagar, headed by Assistant Commissioner Tamizhselvan, conducted searches at his residence-cum-shop in Kodambakkams Zachariah Colony, 2nd street, which is famous for selling police uniform, at around 1 am. Since 30 minutes search could not yield anything substantial, the policemen were preparing to leave when one of them spotted a suspicious looking gunny bag. They opened it to find demonetised notes stashed in it. The cash was counted with the help of a machine. The whole exercise lasted five hours, said the police. We are trying to ascertain whether the cash belongs to the jewellery shop owner or to Padam Salani, who is suspected to have provided the cash. We are also looking at different angles including the involvement of politicians, said an investigation officer. A senior police officer privy to the case said Padam Salani and Dhandapani met six months ago. Two weeks back, Padam allegedly gave some money to the latter which was kept in the storeroom of Dhandapanis shop and was taken back in a few days. After that, Padam had again given Rs 45 crore to Dhandapani, which was seized now, he added. He also said that the money is believed to be transported by a Tata Ace car and through a school bag. The police officer pointed out that under Specified Bank Notes (Cessation of Liabilities) Act, 2017, a case cannot be filed by the police department and should be investigated by the Reserve Bank of India. However, the Kodambakkam police suo motto filed a case under section 102 of the CrPc (Power of police officer to seize certain property) and the money would be handed over to the magistrate court on Friday. Meanwhile, Income Tax investigation wing on Thursday said that it would also be investigating the case, once the probe by the Tamil Nadu police was completed. Though the seized demonetised cash has no value, we will use it as evidence. We will be investigating how he acquired such a volume of demonetised cash and why he kept it, said a top income tax official. The official refused to draw a parallel between this case of old cash seizure and the ongoing investigation against sand mining baron Shekar Reddy. The currency seized from Shekar Reddy was also demonetised and yet at that time, it had value. Now it is just a paper, the official added. By Express News Service CHENNAI: In a big breakthrough, the US government has reportedly agreed to honour the US-Australia refugee deal under which hundreds of refuges, including Sri Lankan refugees from Tamil Nadu, held in off-shore detention centres on the Pacific Island nation, the Republic of Nauru and Papua New Guineas Manus Inland, will be resettled in the US. This was confirmed by the Australian High Commissioner to India Harinder Sidhu on Friday while speaking to the media. She said the US vice-president Mike Pence visited Australia two weeks ago and confirmed that Donald Trump administration agreed to honour the refugee deal, which was initially caught in rough weather. Currently, the vetting process is going on. Once it is completed, the eligible people will be resettled in the US. It is a one-off agreement, she said and added that there were about 1,500 people in these camps. In 2014, the Australian government made an announcement that the country would no longer be allowing people coming by boat illegally. Most of these refugees took the dangerous sea route to reach Australia and were held and kept in off-shore detention islands. Meanwhile, Harinder Sidhu has tried to downplay the fear of the Indian workforce losing out on opportunities because of stricter work visas being introduced by Australia. There is always demand for Indian skilled workers in IT and hospitality industry. Australia doesnt have such skilled workforce. We are falling short. What we are doing is doing away with single temporary work visa, which we called 457 and replace it with two different class of visas short term and medium-term visas. This is part of an ongoing review and streamlining of the Australian visa system. It is just to bring more clarity, she said. To a query, Sidhu said these change of rules did not have any bearing on students opting to study in Australian universities. There was no proposal to change the student visa rules. In fact, the number of Indian students going to Australia is growing year after year. In 2014, the number was 46,000; in 2015 it was 53,000 and in 2016 the number grew to 60,000. This year we are seeing a record number of applications, she said. CHENNAI: In a big breakthrough, the US government has reportedly agreed to honour the US-Australia refugee deal under which hundreds of refuges, including Sri Lankan refugees from Tamil Nadu, held in off-shore detention centres on the Pacific Island nation, the Republic of Nauru and Papua New Guineas Manus Inland, will be resettled in the US. This was confirmed by the Australian High Commissioner to India Harinder Sidhu on Friday while speaking to the media. She said the US vice-president Mike Pence visited Australia two weeks ago and confirmed that Donald Trump administration agreed to honour the refugee deal, which was initially caught in rough weather. Currently, the vetting process is going on. Once it is completed, the eligible people will be resettled in the US. It is a one-off agreement, she said and added that there were about 1,500 people in these camps. In 2014, the Australian government made an announcement that the country would no longer be allowing people coming by boat illegally. Most of these refugees took the dangerous sea route to reach Australia and were held and kept in off-shore detention islands. Meanwhile, Harinder Sidhu has tried to downplay the fear of the Indian workforce losing out on opportunities because of stricter work visas being introduced by Australia. There is always demand for Indian skilled workers in IT and hospitality industry. Australia doesnt have such skilled workforce. We are falling short. What we are doing is doing away with single temporary work visa, which we called 457 and replace it with two different class of visas short term and medium-term visas. This is part of an ongoing review and streamlining of the Australian visa system. It is just to bring more clarity, she said. To a query, Sidhu said these change of rules did not have any bearing on students opting to study in Australian universities. There was no proposal to change the student visa rules. In fact, the number of Indian students going to Australia is growing year after year. In 2014, the number was 46,000; in 2015 it was 53,000 and in 2016 the number grew to 60,000. This year we are seeing a record number of applications, she said. Thushara Ann Mathew By Express News Service Kshama Adka is the founder and Ice creamer at Shmoozies Hand Crafted Ice creams. After travelling around post graduation from MOP Vaishanav college, she is back to Chennai, her home to set up a quaint ice cream palour. She calls her self as a Mangalorean by birth, but by life a Madrasi. One thing about namma ooru that you fancy? Gah, its the food. No number small eat joints will suffice. One is always different from the other and as tasty. A Chennai-based celebrity or personality, you would like to date or go out with? It would be something to be charmed by Kamal Hassan (winks). Three things here that cant be found in any part of the world? Sambar, women slaying in Mali poo and Nighty and humility. Your favourite hangout spot? It has to be the beach (smiles). Three stereotypes about the city and the people that make you roll your eyeballs? Firstly, the traffic. Something has changed in the driving sense. Spitting I have jus-missed so many spit -fires while riding and politics, whats happening bro? Where would you take a person who is new to the city? Why? The small eateries cropping up around the city, because they are really defining the city and the culture. Like idli and sambar on a bench, Biryani on a banana leaf under the tree. What would you do to prove someone that you are a true Chennai vasi? Take them on a drive. The abuses that follow kind a seal it for us (laughs). Two madras bashai words that you would teach a new bee? Vanakkam (namaste) and nandri (thank you). Tamil movie dialogue which describes Chennai? Not able to recollect dialouges, but this song, Enga ooru madrasu ithukku naanga thaane addressu (Our city is Madras and we are the address to this place). Two things from Chennai that you would take to any place you travel. The reformed English, the knack of asking/giving directions. We would stop everything to help someone find their destination. If you had to draw a comparison between Chennai and any other city/country...what would it be? and why? Chennai is Chennai. I think youd not find this kind of a oxymoronical set up anywhere! What is the craziest thing you have ever wanted to do in the city? And where? Ride a cycle from Chennai to Pondicherry. Its been done. But that is something crazy on the To Do list! If you would like to install another statue in Marina beach, what or who would it be about? None! I want to be able to see the beach when Im a km away! Describe the city in your own words and style! Chennai is beautifully defined by its subtle contradictions. The city is burgeoning with modern ideas and thoughts but also wants to hold on to all that is dear and old. We welcome western ideas but comfortable in our simplicity. Kshama Adka is the founder and Ice creamer at Shmoozies Hand Crafted Ice creams. After travelling around post graduation from MOP Vaishanav college, she is back to Chennai, her home to set up a quaint ice cream palour. She calls her self as a Mangalorean by birth, but by life a Madrasi. One thing about namma ooru that you fancy? Gah, its the food. No number small eat joints will suffice. One is always different from the other and as tasty. A Chennai-based celebrity or personality, you would like to date or go out with? It would be something to be charmed by Kamal Hassan (winks). Three things here that cant be found in any part of the world? Sambar, women slaying in Mali poo and Nighty and humility. Your favourite hangout spot? It has to be the beach (smiles). Three stereotypes about the city and the people that make you roll your eyeballs? Firstly, the traffic. Something has changed in the driving sense. Spitting I have jus-missed so many spit -fires while riding and politics, whats happening bro? Where would you take a person who is new to the city? Why? The small eateries cropping up around the city, because they are really defining the city and the culture. Like idli and sambar on a bench, Biryani on a banana leaf under the tree. What would you do to prove someone that you are a true Chennai vasi? Take them on a drive. The abuses that follow kind a seal it for us (laughs). Two madras bashai words that you would teach a new bee? Vanakkam (namaste) and nandri (thank you). Tamil movie dialogue which describes Chennai? Not able to recollect dialouges, but this song, Enga ooru madrasu ithukku naanga thaane addressu (Our city is Madras and we are the address to this place). Two things from Chennai that you would take to any place you travel. The reformed English, the knack of asking/giving directions. We would stop everything to help someone find their destination. If you had to draw a comparison between Chennai and any other city/country...what would it be? and why? Chennai is Chennai. I think youd not find this kind of a oxymoronical set up anywhere! What is the craziest thing you have ever wanted to do in the city? And where? Ride a cycle from Chennai to Pondicherry. Its been done. But that is something crazy on the To Do list! If you would like to install another statue in Marina beach, what or who would it be about? None! I want to be able to see the beach when Im a km away! Describe the city in your own words and style! Chennai is beautifully defined by its subtle contradictions. The city is burgeoning with modern ideas and thoughts but also wants to hold on to all that is dear and old. We welcome western ideas but comfortable in our simplicity. By Express News Service BHOPAL: In line with his last wish, the mortal remains of union minister for environment, Anil Madhav Dave, were consigned to flames on the banks of river Narmada in Bandrabhan area of Hoshangabad district in Madhya Pradesh on Friday morning. Daves funeral pyre was consigned to flames (mukhagni) by his brother Abhay amid a gathering, including five union ministers, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, senior RSS functionaries and several BJP MPs and MLAs. The 60-year-old Union minister and Rajya Sabha member, who was inducted into the Narendra Modi government as a Minister of State for Environment (independent charge) in July 2016, passed away in New Delhi on Thursday early morning. While the State government declared a two-day State mourning and was preparing for Anil Madhav Daves last rites in Indore, his brother Abhay told government functionaries on Thursday that Dave wished to be cremated with vedic traditions in Bandrabhan, where he biennially organised the river festival. Anil Madhav Daves last wish was mentioned in a document titled My Wish and Will, penned by Dave way back in July 23, 2012 on his official letterhead as a Rajya Sabha member. In the single page note, Dave wished to be cremated at Bandrabhan, where he organised the river festival on the union of Narmada and Tawa rivers. In the same note, Dave mentioned that he wished that no memorial, awards or event be instituted in his memory. Those aspiring to do something in my memory should plant trees and conserve them, besides also working for conservation of water bodies. But all that should be done sans my name, read Daves My Wish and Will. Daves cremation was attended by included chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, union ministers Uma Bharti, Narendra Singh Tomar, Thawar Chand Gehlot, Dr Harshvardhan and Anant Kumar. Dr Harshvardhan, the union science and technology minister, who was given additional charge of ministry of environment after Daves death on Thursday, read out Prime Minister Narendra Modis condolence message. In the message, Narendra Modi described Dave (a close friend) as an ideal environmentalist and swayamsewak, besides an able administrator. Addressing the condolence meet near the makeshift cremation venue, MP chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said Anil Madhav Daves unfulfilled dreams and work pertaining to river Narmada and overall environment conservation will be completed in letter and spirit. Weve already decided to embark on a massive tree plantation exercise on both banks of river Narmada from Amarkantak to Barwani on July 2. The river festival organised by Dave and his NGO at Bandrabhan will continue to be held, even in the future, said Chouhan. Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and presently union minister for Ganga rejuvenation, Uma Bharti, recounted how Dave played the role of an architect in all wins of the party in Assembly and Parliamentary polls in MP since 2003, when she was elected to power as MP CM. As RSS vibhag pramukh, it was Dave ji only who was behind my win from Bhopal Lok Sabha seat in 1999 by a massive margin, said Bharti. Lauding Daves endless efforts towards conservation of river Narmada, the union minister said he had started working on Narmada conservation with a blueprint since 2009. He was also a key participant at all meetings pertaining to Namami Ganga project, said Bharti. BHOPAL: In line with his last wish, the mortal remains of union minister for environment, Anil Madhav Dave, were consigned to flames on the banks of river Narmada in Bandrabhan area of Hoshangabad district in Madhya Pradesh on Friday morning. Daves funeral pyre was consigned to flames (mukhagni) by his brother Abhay amid a gathering, including five union ministers, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, senior RSS functionaries and several BJP MPs and MLAs. The 60-year-old Union minister and Rajya Sabha member, who was inducted into the Narendra Modi government as a Minister of State for Environment (independent charge) in July 2016, passed away in New Delhi on Thursday early morning. While the State government declared a two-day State mourning and was preparing for Anil Madhav Daves last rites in Indore, his brother Abhay told government functionaries on Thursday that Dave wished to be cremated with vedic traditions in Bandrabhan, where he biennially organised the river festival. Anil Madhav Daves last wish was mentioned in a document titled My Wish and Will, penned by Dave way back in July 23, 2012 on his official letterhead as a Rajya Sabha member. In the single page note, Dave wished to be cremated at Bandrabhan, where he organised the river festival on the union of Narmada and Tawa rivers. In the same note, Dave mentioned that he wished that no memorial, awards or event be instituted in his memory. Those aspiring to do something in my memory should plant trees and conserve them, besides also working for conservation of water bodies. But all that should be done sans my name, read Daves My Wish and Will. Daves cremation was attended by included chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, union ministers Uma Bharti, Narendra Singh Tomar, Thawar Chand Gehlot, Dr Harshvardhan and Anant Kumar. Dr Harshvardhan, the union science and technology minister, who was given additional charge of ministry of environment after Daves death on Thursday, read out Prime Minister Narendra Modis condolence message. In the message, Narendra Modi described Dave (a close friend) as an ideal environmentalist and swayamsewak, besides an able administrator. Addressing the condolence meet near the makeshift cremation venue, MP chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said Anil Madhav Daves unfulfilled dreams and work pertaining to river Narmada and overall environment conservation will be completed in letter and spirit. Weve already decided to embark on a massive tree plantation exercise on both banks of river Narmada from Amarkantak to Barwani on July 2. The river festival organised by Dave and his NGO at Bandrabhan will continue to be held, even in the future, said Chouhan. Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and presently union minister for Ganga rejuvenation, Uma Bharti, recounted how Dave played the role of an architect in all wins of the party in Assembly and Parliamentary polls in MP since 2003, when she was elected to power as MP CM. As RSS vibhag pramukh, it was Dave ji only who was behind my win from Bhopal Lok Sabha seat in 1999 by a massive margin, said Bharti. Lauding Daves endless efforts towards conservation of river Narmada, the union minister said he had started working on Narmada conservation with a blueprint since 2009. He was also a key participant at all meetings pertaining to Namami Ganga project, said Bharti. Fayaz Wani By Express News Service SRINAGAR: Satisfied over readiness of troops along Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday said army will give adequate response to ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops and asserted that terrorism and militancy are both aimed against Indian state and its sovereignty and against the people of Jammu and Kashmir. I visited the LoC in North Kashmir today and interacted with the jawans and officials there. I would complement the Army for the level of their preparedness and enthusiasm. Our soldiers are fully confident that they would not allow any form of infiltration to take places in their areas from across the LoC, Jaitley told reporters. Accompanied by GoC of Baramulla-based Division, Maj Gen RP Kalita, the defence minister had visited forward areas along LoC in Rampur sector of North Kashmirs Baramulla district and was briefed by senior commanders about security situation. Jaitley asserted that if there is any effort at any form of ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops, army will give an adequate response. The aggressive domination and readiness of troops for befitting response to any misadventure by enemy is very satisfying, he said. Jaitley, who was here to chair two-day GST council meeting, said it is clear that terrorism and militancy are both aimed against the Indian state and its sovereignty and also against people of J&K. The effect of their actions is that besides the security personnel, it is the local citizens who are losing their lives. So who have taken to violence of this magnitude will certainly be held accountable for their actions, he said. Asked whether central government distinguishes between good separatist and bad separatists the coin termed by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, Jaitley said, For an average citizen, irrespective of his political views, we will like him to be on the Indian side on this debate. However, as far as those who are killing people, we cant extend the same facilities to them. They have to be treated as a serious insurgency problem and have to be dealt accordingly. On TV expose about separatists receiving funding from Pakistan, Defence Minister said, It was known that they were being funded from across the border, funded to create unrest, funded to burn schools, funded to kill people and destroy public property. Their actions were conspiracy not only against the Indian state but also the average resident of valley. It was all being talked about. The report has almost brought out a confessional statement of the concerned players accepting it and I am sure that the concerned agencies of the government will take whatever action is needed in this matter, he said. On a question about dialogue with separatists, Jaitley said, Our priority right now is to restore normalcy in Valley, especially in south Kashmir. The roadmap is visible to everyone at the moment. There is a section that will have to be dealt with security measures and there is a section that will have to dealt by citizen-friendly measures and that is what we are trying to do, he said. On aspirations and sentiments of people of Kashmir, Jaitley said, There are sentiments of people in every state in the country and the sentiment will have to be addressed. But at the end of the day, the current situation emerges because when you take to violence, when you take to arms, and you start killing security forces or your own people, then you unleash a cycle which doesnt stop. The aspirations will have to be addressed. They can be addressed only when the State has peace. You cant have the energy of the state involved in just combating violence at various places. The resources, which are meant for the economic development of the people, are today being used essentially for security and who is to be blamed for that era of violence, he said. On taking of man as a human shield by an army in central Kashmirs Budgam district on April 8, Defence Minister said, We are already carrying out an investigation into the incident. Let us not forget that Army is a responsible institution and the Army was also interested in saving the lives of various people, who were both involved in election process as also the large crowd of protestors who had gathered there, he added. SRINAGAR: Satisfied over readiness of troops along Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday said army will give adequate response to ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops and asserted that terrorism and militancy are both aimed against Indian state and its sovereignty and against the people of Jammu and Kashmir. I visited the LoC in North Kashmir today and interacted with the jawans and officials there. I would complement the Army for the level of their preparedness and enthusiasm. Our soldiers are fully confident that they would not allow any form of infiltration to take places in their areas from across the LoC, Jaitley told reporters. Accompanied by GoC of Baramulla-based Division, Maj Gen RP Kalita, the defence minister had visited forward areas along LoC in Rampur sector of North Kashmirs Baramulla district and was briefed by senior commanders about security situation. Jaitley asserted that if there is any effort at any form of ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops, army will give an adequate response. The aggressive domination and readiness of troops for befitting response to any misadventure by enemy is very satisfying, he said. Jaitley, who was here to chair two-day GST council meeting, said it is clear that terrorism and militancy are both aimed against the Indian state and its sovereignty and also against people of J&K. The effect of their actions is that besides the security personnel, it is the local citizens who are losing their lives. So who have taken to violence of this magnitude will certainly be held accountable for their actions, he said. Asked whether central government distinguishes between good separatist and bad separatists the coin termed by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, Jaitley said, For an average citizen, irrespective of his political views, we will like him to be on the Indian side on this debate. However, as far as those who are killing people, we cant extend the same facilities to them. They have to be treated as a serious insurgency problem and have to be dealt accordingly. On TV expose about separatists receiving funding from Pakistan, Defence Minister said, It was known that they were being funded from across the border, funded to create unrest, funded to burn schools, funded to kill people and destroy public property. Their actions were conspiracy not only against the Indian state but also the average resident of valley. It was all being talked about. The report has almost brought out a confessional statement of the concerned players accepting it and I am sure that the concerned agencies of the government will take whatever action is needed in this matter, he said. On a question about dialogue with separatists, Jaitley said, Our priority right now is to restore normalcy in Valley, especially in south Kashmir. The roadmap is visible to everyone at the moment. There is a section that will have to be dealt with security measures and there is a section that will have to dealt by citizen-friendly measures and that is what we are trying to do, he said. On aspirations and sentiments of people of Kashmir, Jaitley said, There are sentiments of people in every state in the country and the sentiment will have to be addressed. But at the end of the day, the current situation emerges because when you take to violence, when you take to arms, and you start killing security forces or your own people, then you unleash a cycle which doesnt stop. The aspirations will have to be addressed. They can be addressed only when the State has peace. You cant have the energy of the state involved in just combating violence at various places. The resources, which are meant for the economic development of the people, are today being used essentially for security and who is to be blamed for that era of violence, he said. On taking of man as a human shield by an army in central Kashmirs Budgam district on April 8, Defence Minister said, We are already carrying out an investigation into the incident. Let us not forget that Army is a responsible institution and the Army was also interested in saving the lives of various people, who were both involved in election process as also the large crowd of protestors who had gathered there, he added. By PTI NEW DELHI: The growing attacks on doctors by friends or relatives of patients is due to lack of experts in government hospitals, the Delhi High Court said today while expressing concern over the brain-drain of medical specialists from the country. "Why are our doctors going outside India and looking for jobs? It means you (government) are not making available more jobs for them, which is sad to know. We have the best doctors and best medical colleges in the world where people from other countries come to study," a bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Pratibha M Singh said. The government should work on having more doctors in their hospitals as the rising attacks on government doctors by patients or their relatives was "due to availability of fewer experts in these institutions," the bench told the central government counsel. The problem, according to the bench, was that the doctors here have more work load which is not tolerated by the patients' relatives. The observations came during the hearing of a plea initiated by the court on its own after perusing a news report on increasing violent attacks on the doctors. Expressing concern over doctors being beaten up, the court asked the authorities why do they not publicise the consequences of indulging in such violent activities. It asked the Centre and the Delhi government to publicly display the punishment for assaulting doctors and asked them to apprise it about the steps taken on the next date of hearing on May 29. The court on May 3 had initiated the PIL based on the report that doctors in public hospitals were being subjected to extreme violence. Stressing the need to provide security and better facilities to the doctors and patients, the bench had asked the authorities about the number of cases they have lodged in this regard and also the prosecution carried out. On reading the report which said that resident doctors of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) have decided to take self-defence classes, the bench had observed "this needs to taken care by the authorities and steps have to be taken in this regard". "This incident is of great concern for all the doctors of the public hospitals as it relates to their safety," the bench said, adding that "violence is not only physical, the doctors are being verbally abused". Besides the secretaries of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of the Centre and the state government, the bench also directed Indian Medical Association (IMA) to place before it positively within one week a status report with regard to the adequate security at government hospitals to tackle violence. As per the article, the AIIMS doctors' counterparts at Lok Nayak Hospital and Lady Hardinge Medical College in the national capital have already undergone similar self-defence training. In March, the AIIMS resident doctors' association had launched a unique protest to display solidarity with the striking doctors of Maharashtra, who were agitating on the same issue, by wearing helmets at work. NEW DELHI: The growing attacks on doctors by friends or relatives of patients is due to lack of experts in government hospitals, the Delhi High Court said today while expressing concern over the brain-drain of medical specialists from the country. "Why are our doctors going outside India and looking for jobs? It means you (government) are not making available more jobs for them, which is sad to know. We have the best doctors and best medical colleges in the world where people from other countries come to study," a bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Pratibha M Singh said. The government should work on having more doctors in their hospitals as the rising attacks on government doctors by patients or their relatives was "due to availability of fewer experts in these institutions," the bench told the central government counsel. The problem, according to the bench, was that the doctors here have more work load which is not tolerated by the patients' relatives. The observations came during the hearing of a plea initiated by the court on its own after perusing a news report on increasing violent attacks on the doctors. Expressing concern over doctors being beaten up, the court asked the authorities why do they not publicise the consequences of indulging in such violent activities. It asked the Centre and the Delhi government to publicly display the punishment for assaulting doctors and asked them to apprise it about the steps taken on the next date of hearing on May 29. The court on May 3 had initiated the PIL based on the report that doctors in public hospitals were being subjected to extreme violence. Stressing the need to provide security and better facilities to the doctors and patients, the bench had asked the authorities about the number of cases they have lodged in this regard and also the prosecution carried out. On reading the report which said that resident doctors of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) have decided to take self-defence classes, the bench had observed "this needs to taken care by the authorities and steps have to be taken in this regard". "This incident is of great concern for all the doctors of the public hospitals as it relates to their safety," the bench said, adding that "violence is not only physical, the doctors are being verbally abused". Besides the secretaries of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of the Centre and the state government, the bench also directed Indian Medical Association (IMA) to place before it positively within one week a status report with regard to the adequate security at government hospitals to tackle violence. As per the article, the AIIMS doctors' counterparts at Lok Nayak Hospital and Lady Hardinge Medical College in the national capital have already undergone similar self-defence training. In March, the AIIMS resident doctors' association had launched a unique protest to display solidarity with the striking doctors of Maharashtra, who were agitating on the same issue, by wearing helmets at work. Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: In a kidnap drama spanning four and half hours, one of the biggest glass traders of India was abducted at gunpoint from Firozabad and then rescued, on Friday. Sanjay Mittal (44) was abducted from Nagla Bhau crossing, which is near National Highway 2, at south district area of Firozabad in broad day light at around 12:30 pm. He was on his way to his glass factory near Meera Chauraha in his SUV. However, within hours of the incident, the state police rescued the trader from Basia village of Tundla, 30 km from Agra. They also arrested one of the abductors and seized a revolver. Police said that there were three abductors, dressed in police uniform, waiting for the businessman on a bike near the roadside. As Mittals car approached them, they blocked the traffic on both sides of the road and rammed their bike into the car, thereby stopping it. Before Mittal and his driver could understand anything, the miscreants forced themselves into the vehicle, pushing the driver to the adjacent seat. The other two sat on the back seat with Mittal and directed the driver to proceed towards Agra. The whole incident took place in full view of bystanders. The bystanders immediately informed the police. Senior police officials including SSP Ajay Kumar, SP (City) SK Bajpai, and CO Omkar Singh Yadav reached the spot with police force. Subsequently, police sealed the entry and exit points of the city. The chief ministers office was monitoring the situation. Special Task Force sleuths from Agra and additional force from other districts were also rushed to Firozabad. Around four and half hours after the abduction, Mittal was rescued while two of the kidnappers managed to escape. The trader was later brought to Firozabad for questioning. The incident comes just days after two jewellers were killed during a robbery in Mathura, triggering wide-spread protest by the business community. More than 7,000 jewellery shops downed shutters on Friday following the Mathura incident in which four police officials were suspended. LUCKNOW: In a kidnap drama spanning four and half hours, one of the biggest glass traders of India was abducted at gunpoint from Firozabad and then rescued, on Friday. Sanjay Mittal (44) was abducted from Nagla Bhau crossing, which is near National Highway 2, at south district area of Firozabad in broad day light at around 12:30 pm. He was on his way to his glass factory near Meera Chauraha in his SUV. However, within hours of the incident, the state police rescued the trader from Basia village of Tundla, 30 km from Agra. They also arrested one of the abductors and seized a revolver. Police said that there were three abductors, dressed in police uniform, waiting for the businessman on a bike near the roadside. As Mittals car approached them, they blocked the traffic on both sides of the road and rammed their bike into the car, thereby stopping it. Before Mittal and his driver could understand anything, the miscreants forced themselves into the vehicle, pushing the driver to the adjacent seat. The other two sat on the back seat with Mittal and directed the driver to proceed towards Agra. The whole incident took place in full view of bystanders. The bystanders immediately informed the police. Senior police officials including SSP Ajay Kumar, SP (City) SK Bajpai, and CO Omkar Singh Yadav reached the spot with police force. Subsequently, police sealed the entry and exit points of the city. The chief ministers office was monitoring the situation. Special Task Force sleuths from Agra and additional force from other districts were also rushed to Firozabad. Around four and half hours after the abduction, Mittal was rescued while two of the kidnappers managed to escape. The trader was later brought to Firozabad for questioning. The incident comes just days after two jewellers were killed during a robbery in Mathura, triggering wide-spread protest by the business community. More than 7,000 jewellery shops downed shutters on Friday following the Mathura incident in which four police officials were suspended. By PTI PANAJI: As rescue efforts were on for two people feared drowned due to the collapse of an ageing bridge on a river in Goa, the state government today said all the "dilapidated and unsafe" bridges would be dismantled soon. The bridge across Sanvordem river, a tributary of the Zuari in South Goa, collapsed last evening under the weight of scores of onlookers watching a man trying to commit suicide. The search resumed this morning as several persons are feared missing, which was taken over by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) this afternoon from the Navy and local agency. "The work of preparing a list of dilapidated bridges across the state and then dismantling them will be taken up seriously," State Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai told reporters after visiting the site. "The government will also carry out a safety audit of bridges and those which are found unsafe and not used by commuters, would be dismantled," Sardesai said. The minister met the people who were rescued yesterday and are being treated at the district hospital in Margao. Two persons had drowned while around 20 swam to safety after the bridge, connecting Sanvordem and Curchorem villages in South Goa district, collapsed. Fourteen people were rescued and taken to nearby hospitals. The rescue operations resumed at 7.30 am today to trace if more lives had been lost. However, the divers of the Indian Navy and a private agency engaged in search stopped the operation in the afternoon as they did not find any more bodies, Superintendent of Police (South) Shekhar Prabhudesai said. "Since morning not a single body was found even though the divers of Indian Navy and Drishti Lifesaving Services, the private agency, have been conducting searches," Prabhudesai said. Meanwhile, an NDRF team from Pune took charge of the search operations. "A NDRF team from Pune has arrived at the site and it is now assessing the situation. We have not yet called off the search and rescue operations," South Goa district collector Swapnil Naik said. "The NDRF team will assess the situation and advise us about whether we should stop the operation or not. Divers from Indian Navy have already stopped the search operation as they could not find any body in the water," Naik said. A spokesman of the Indian Navy said the collapsed part of the bridge had been removed last night. He said since crocodiles are present in the river, precautions are being taken for the safety of the divers. The Portuguese-era bridge collapsed when the fire and emergency services personnel were busy rescuing a man, who tried to commit suicide. Around 50 people had gathered on the bridge to watch the rescue efforts when it gave way and they plunged into the water. The bridge has been closed for traffic for the last four years. PANAJI: As rescue efforts were on for two people feared drowned due to the collapse of an ageing bridge on a river in Goa, the state government today said all the "dilapidated and unsafe" bridges would be dismantled soon. The bridge across Sanvordem river, a tributary of the Zuari in South Goa, collapsed last evening under the weight of scores of onlookers watching a man trying to commit suicide. The search resumed this morning as several persons are feared missing, which was taken over by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) this afternoon from the Navy and local agency. "The work of preparing a list of dilapidated bridges across the state and then dismantling them will be taken up seriously," State Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai told reporters after visiting the site. "The government will also carry out a safety audit of bridges and those which are found unsafe and not used by commuters, would be dismantled," Sardesai said. The minister met the people who were rescued yesterday and are being treated at the district hospital in Margao. Two persons had drowned while around 20 swam to safety after the bridge, connecting Sanvordem and Curchorem villages in South Goa district, collapsed. Fourteen people were rescued and taken to nearby hospitals. The rescue operations resumed at 7.30 am today to trace if more lives had been lost. However, the divers of the Indian Navy and a private agency engaged in search stopped the operation in the afternoon as they did not find any more bodies, Superintendent of Police (South) Shekhar Prabhudesai said. "Since morning not a single body was found even though the divers of Indian Navy and Drishti Lifesaving Services, the private agency, have been conducting searches," Prabhudesai said. Meanwhile, an NDRF team from Pune took charge of the search operations. "A NDRF team from Pune has arrived at the site and it is now assessing the situation. We have not yet called off the search and rescue operations," South Goa district collector Swapnil Naik said. "The NDRF team will assess the situation and advise us about whether we should stop the operation or not. Divers from Indian Navy have already stopped the search operation as they could not find any body in the water," Naik said. A spokesman of the Indian Navy said the collapsed part of the bridge had been removed last night. He said since crocodiles are present in the river, precautions are being taken for the safety of the divers. The Portuguese-era bridge collapsed when the fire and emergency services personnel were busy rescuing a man, who tried to commit suicide. Around 50 people had gathered on the bridge to watch the rescue efforts when it gave way and they plunged into the water. The bridge has been closed for traffic for the last four years. By PTI AHMEDABAD: Fed up with the "torture" by her husband and in-laws for being unable to bear a male child, a woman, along with her two daughters, including a 13-day-old girl, today allegedly set herself ablaze at her residence in Morbi town, police said. According to an FIR lodged by the Morbi town police, the 26-year-old woman, Sheetal Parmar, allegedly committed suicide along with her two daughters as she was fed up with the torture from her husband and in-laws for "failing to give birth to a baby boy". "When we reached her house, we found charred bodies of Sheetal and daughters Payal (13 days old) and Jinkal (3). Prima facie, she poured kerosene over herself and the daughters and set her and them ablaze this morning," SubInspector H B Bhadaniya said. Based on a complaint lodged by Sheetal's brother Amarsinh Ganjaria, the Morbi police filed a case of abetment of suicide under section 306 of Indian Penal Code against Sheetal's husband Dayaram and in-laws Narsinh and Sharda, he said. The accused trio was not present at the house when the police reached there, he said. "As per Ganjaria, Dayaram and his parents started tormenting Sheetal soon after she gave birth to her second daughter. They used to taunt her for failing to give birth to a boy," Bhadaniya added. "The complainant alleged that Sheetal took the extreme step as the torture from her husband and in-laws" was unbearable," he said, adding the hunt is on to nab the accused. AHMEDABAD: Fed up with the "torture" by her husband and in-laws for being unable to bear a male child, a woman, along with her two daughters, including a 13-day-old girl, today allegedly set herself ablaze at her residence in Morbi town, police said. According to an FIR lodged by the Morbi town police, the 26-year-old woman, Sheetal Parmar, allegedly committed suicide along with her two daughters as she was fed up with the torture from her husband and in-laws for "failing to give birth to a baby boy". "When we reached her house, we found charred bodies of Sheetal and daughters Payal (13 days old) and Jinkal (3). Prima facie, she poured kerosene over herself and the daughters and set her and them ablaze this morning," SubInspector H B Bhadaniya said. Based on a complaint lodged by Sheetal's brother Amarsinh Ganjaria, the Morbi police filed a case of abetment of suicide under section 306 of Indian Penal Code against Sheetal's husband Dayaram and in-laws Narsinh and Sharda, he said. The accused trio was not present at the house when the police reached there, he said. "As per Ganjaria, Dayaram and his parents started tormenting Sheetal soon after she gave birth to her second daughter. They used to taunt her for failing to give birth to a boy," Bhadaniya added. "The complainant alleged that Sheetal took the extreme step as the torture from her husband and in-laws" was unbearable," he said, adding the hunt is on to nab the accused. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: In a big moral victory for India, the International Court of Justice stayed the execution of Kulbhushan Jadhav by Pakistan, on Thursday. Jadhav, a former Indian Navy officer, was sentenced to death by a Pakistan military court on April 10 on charges of espionage and subversive activities. Asserting its jurisdiction over the case, the court backed Indias contention that there has been a violation of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. Though India and Pakistan are signatories to the Vienna Convention since 1977, New Delhis request for access to Jadhav was denied 16 times. The court further observed that the existence of a 2008 bilateral agreement between Indian and Pakistan on consular relations did not change its conclusion. Pakistan shall take all measures at its disposal to ensure Jadhav is not executed pending the final decision in these proceedings, ICJ President Ronny Abraham said while reading out the unanimous verdict of the 11-judge bench. The highest judicial body of the United Nations also instructed Pakistan to inform it of all measures taken in implementation of present order. Pakistans Foreign Office said it did not accept the ICJs jurisdiction in matters related to national security. The real face of India will be exposed before the world, Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said. Pakistan will present solid evidence against Jadhav. Also Read: Kulbhushan Jadhav's sentencing done according to law, claims Pakistan Defence Minister India, meanwhile, asserted the ruling is binding on Pakistan, calling it unanimous and unambiguous. The Ministry of External Affairs released a statement, saying the government will do everything possible to save Jadhav. The provisional relief provided by ICJ is the first step in ensuring justice to Jadhav, said MEA spokesperson Gopal Bagley. Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and also appreciated the efforts of Indias counsel Harish Salve. Also Read: ICJ verdict on Kalbushan Jadhav is vindication of Indias stand: Arun Jaitley Though the ICJs decisions are binding, the court itself has no powers to ensure implementation of its judgments. Countries that believe the other party has violated ICJs ruling can approach the UN Security Council. But, there is also a precedent of the UNSC failing to act in such situations. NEW DELHI: In a big moral victory for India, the International Court of Justice stayed the execution of Kulbhushan Jadhav by Pakistan, on Thursday. Jadhav, a former Indian Navy officer, was sentenced to death by a Pakistan military court on April 10 on charges of espionage and subversive activities. Asserting its jurisdiction over the case, the court backed Indias contention that there has been a violation of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. Though India and Pakistan are signatories to the Vienna Convention since 1977, New Delhis request for access to Jadhav was denied 16 times. The court further observed that the existence of a 2008 bilateral agreement between Indian and Pakistan on consular relations did not change its conclusion. Pakistan shall take all measures at its disposal to ensure Jadhav is not executed pending the final decision in these proceedings, ICJ President Ronny Abraham said while reading out the unanimous verdict of the 11-judge bench. The highest judicial body of the United Nations also instructed Pakistan to inform it of all measures taken in implementation of present order. Pakistans Foreign Office said it did not accept the ICJs jurisdiction in matters related to national security. The real face of India will be exposed before the world, Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said. Pakistan will present solid evidence against Jadhav. Also Read: Kulbhushan Jadhav's sentencing done according to law, claims Pakistan Defence Minister India, meanwhile, asserted the ruling is binding on Pakistan, calling it unanimous and unambiguous. The Ministry of External Affairs released a statement, saying the government will do everything possible to save Jadhav. The provisional relief provided by ICJ is the first step in ensuring justice to Jadhav, said MEA spokesperson Gopal Bagley. Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and also appreciated the efforts of Indias counsel Harish Salve. Also Read: ICJ verdict on Kalbushan Jadhav is vindication of Indias stand: Arun Jaitley Though the ICJs decisions are binding, the court itself has no powers to ensure implementation of its judgments. Countries that believe the other party has violated ICJs ruling can approach the UN Security Council. But, there is also a precedent of the UNSC failing to act in such situations. By PTI NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) today banned open defecation and dumping of waste on the floodplains of the Yamuna and announced an environment compensation of Rs 5,000 for those who violated the diktat. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar also constituted a committee headed by Delhi Jal Board CEO to oversee the execution of work pertaining to cleaning of the river and asked it to submit reports at regular intervals. The Delhi government and the municipal corporations were directed to immediately take action against industries which operate in residential areas and are a major source of pollution to the river. The green panel noted that almost 67 per cent of the pollution reaching the Yamuna would be treated by the two sewage treatment plants (STP) located at Delhi Gate and Najafgarh under Phase 1 of the 'Maili se Nirmal Yamuna Revitalisation Project 2017'. The apex green panel had on May 1 ordered inspection of the STPs at Delhi Gate and Okhla with a view to ensure that wastewater was cleaned before it reached the Yamuna. It had sought a report with regard to functioning of these plants. The tribunal was informed that a total of 14 STP projects are to be constructed to clean wastewater. Of these, seven are to be built by the Delhi Jal Board with its own funds. The directions came as the NGT was hearing a plea on the monitoring of implementation of the 'Maili se Nirmal Yamuna Revitalisation Project 2017'. NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) today banned open defecation and dumping of waste on the floodplains of the Yamuna and announced an environment compensation of Rs 5,000 for those who violated the diktat. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar also constituted a committee headed by Delhi Jal Board CEO to oversee the execution of work pertaining to cleaning of the river and asked it to submit reports at regular intervals. The Delhi government and the municipal corporations were directed to immediately take action against industries which operate in residential areas and are a major source of pollution to the river. The green panel noted that almost 67 per cent of the pollution reaching the Yamuna would be treated by the two sewage treatment plants (STP) located at Delhi Gate and Najafgarh under Phase 1 of the 'Maili se Nirmal Yamuna Revitalisation Project 2017'. The apex green panel had on May 1 ordered inspection of the STPs at Delhi Gate and Okhla with a view to ensure that wastewater was cleaned before it reached the Yamuna. It had sought a report with regard to functioning of these plants. The tribunal was informed that a total of 14 STP projects are to be constructed to clean wastewater. Of these, seven are to be built by the Delhi Jal Board with its own funds. The directions came as the NGT was hearing a plea on the monitoring of implementation of the 'Maili se Nirmal Yamuna Revitalisation Project 2017'. By PTI JAMMU: The guns fell silent today in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district after eight days of shelling and firing by Pakistani troops along the LoC from where 2,200 people had to be evacuated. Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire by resorting to firing and shelling for for eight consecutive days from May 10 till yesterday on forward posts and civilian areas along the international border in Jammu and Rajouri districts and along the Line of Control in Rajouri from May 13-17. "There was no firing or shelling reported anywhere from LoC areas in Rajouri district. Today peace prevailed along the border with Pakistan after several days of firing and shelling," Deputy Commissioner of Rajouri Shahid Iqbal Choudhary told PTI. However, the number of the people evacuated from LoC areas in Rajouri district has gone up to over 2,200, he said. Yesterday, Pakistan Army resorted to firing on forward posts along LoC in Balakote sector from 12.50 AM and continued till 1.30 AM, a defence spokesman said adding the Indian Army posts retaliated strongly and effectively. On May 14, Pakistan resorted to indiscriminate firing of small arms, 82 mm and 120 mm mortars from 6 AM and continued till late in the night along the LoC in Nowshera and Manjakote sectors of Rajouri. Ceasefire violations also took place in Chitibakri area of Chingus and Manjakote area, Doongi, Niaka, Panjgrain and Tarkundi areas. On May 13, authorities ordered closure of 51 schools in Nowshera sector and also Manjakote and Doongi zones even as two people were killed and three injured in the shelling. On May 11 and 10, Pakistan Army resorted to heavy shelling and firing in Nowshera belt killing a woman and injuring two people including her husband. "More than 12,000 persons have been affected in shelling which led to three deaths, six injured, 65 livestock dead and damage to standing crops apart from nearly 45 partially and severely damaged houses in Pakistani shelling on May 11, 13 and 14," the DC said. Overall, of 64 villages along LoC in Rajouri, 23 are located in Nowshera sub-division where eight villages are badly affected and remaining 15 villages sustained minor damage while five villages in Doongi and nine villages in Manjakote have been affected, he added. The governemnt has said Pakistan breached the truce along the Line of Control 449 times in 2016 as compared to 405 violations in 2015. 23 security personnel were killed in the two-year period. JAMMU: The guns fell silent today in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district after eight days of shelling and firing by Pakistani troops along the LoC from where 2,200 people had to be evacuated. Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire by resorting to firing and shelling for for eight consecutive days from May 10 till yesterday on forward posts and civilian areas along the international border in Jammu and Rajouri districts and along the Line of Control in Rajouri from May 13-17. "There was no firing or shelling reported anywhere from LoC areas in Rajouri district. Today peace prevailed along the border with Pakistan after several days of firing and shelling," Deputy Commissioner of Rajouri Shahid Iqbal Choudhary told PTI. However, the number of the people evacuated from LoC areas in Rajouri district has gone up to over 2,200, he said. Yesterday, Pakistan Army resorted to firing on forward posts along LoC in Balakote sector from 12.50 AM and continued till 1.30 AM, a defence spokesman said adding the Indian Army posts retaliated strongly and effectively. On May 14, Pakistan resorted to indiscriminate firing of small arms, 82 mm and 120 mm mortars from 6 AM and continued till late in the night along the LoC in Nowshera and Manjakote sectors of Rajouri. Ceasefire violations also took place in Chitibakri area of Chingus and Manjakote area, Doongi, Niaka, Panjgrain and Tarkundi areas. On May 13, authorities ordered closure of 51 schools in Nowshera sector and also Manjakote and Doongi zones even as two people were killed and three injured in the shelling. On May 11 and 10, Pakistan Army resorted to heavy shelling and firing in Nowshera belt killing a woman and injuring two people including her husband. "More than 12,000 persons have been affected in shelling which led to three deaths, six injured, 65 livestock dead and damage to standing crops apart from nearly 45 partially and severely damaged houses in Pakistani shelling on May 11, 13 and 14," the DC said. Overall, of 64 villages along LoC in Rajouri, 23 are located in Nowshera sub-division where eight villages are badly affected and remaining 15 villages sustained minor damage while five villages in Doongi and nine villages in Manjakote have been affected, he added. The governemnt has said Pakistan breached the truce along the Line of Control 449 times in 2016 as compared to 405 violations in 2015. 23 security personnel were killed in the two-year period. By Express News Service MUMBAI: Indias Top nuclear scientists on Friday hailed the governments decision to launch mega projects for 10 indigenous nuclear reactors. In a joint statement issued here, former chairmen of the atomic energy commission Dr. M R Srinivasan, Dr. Anil Kakodkar, Dr. Srikumar Banerjee and Dr. R K Sinha said that the decision is a timely and a bold step. The decision to construct reactors in a fleet mode is unprecedented in the history of Indias atomic energy program and demonstrates the determined vision of the present government to pursue accelerated expansion of nuclear power to ensure the nations energy security and meet Indias clean energy commitments, the scientists said in the statement. The fully indigenous project to construct the Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) has sent out a strong message of the robustness of our domestic nuclear programme, and will help India come to the frontline of global nuclear supply and manufacturing chain, the statement added. The statement is also signed by former chairman and managing director of Nuclear Power Corporation of India ltd (NPCIL) Dr. S K Jain and Homi Bhabha Chair at the Department of Atomic Energy Dr R B Grover. MUMBAI: Indias Top nuclear scientists on Friday hailed the governments decision to launch mega projects for 10 indigenous nuclear reactors. In a joint statement issued here, former chairmen of the atomic energy commission Dr. M R Srinivasan, Dr. Anil Kakodkar, Dr. Srikumar Banerjee and Dr. R K Sinha said that the decision is a timely and a bold step. The decision to construct reactors in a fleet mode is unprecedented in the history of Indias atomic energy program and demonstrates the determined vision of the present government to pursue accelerated expansion of nuclear power to ensure the nations energy security and meet Indias clean energy commitments, the scientists said in the statement. The fully indigenous project to construct the Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) has sent out a strong message of the robustness of our domestic nuclear programme, and will help India come to the frontline of global nuclear supply and manufacturing chain, the statement added. The statement is also signed by former chairman and managing director of Nuclear Power Corporation of India ltd (NPCIL) Dr. S K Jain and Homi Bhabha Chair at the Department of Atomic Energy Dr R B Grover. By PTI SRINAGAR: The police today registered a case against a television journalist after Kashmir separatist leader Yasin Malik said she entered his bedroom without permission. The reporter claimed that Malik assaulted her cameraman, who had accompanied her, and damaged their mobile phones. Malik claimed the journalist entered his house in Maisuma today, saying that she had an appointment with him. In his complaint to the police, he alleged the journalist barged into his bedroom and started asking him questions about the NIA probe into the funding of separatist leaders. "She had lied to my sister that she had an appointment with me. The fact is she never called for an appointment," he told reporters at a press conference here after filing a complaint with the police for "breach of privacy". The police have registered a case against the journalist and the cameraman under section 448 of the Ranbir Penal Code (illegal trespassing), which carries a punishment of up to one year in prison and a fine of Rs 1,000. "Is this journalism? The Indian media has raped journalistic ethics," Malik said. The journalist alleged Malik pushed the channel's cameraman down a flight of stairs. She said he also smashed their mobile phones. The chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), who denied that he had assaulted her, said he had taken away her mobile phone because he feared she was using it as a recorder. The journalist claimed she and the cameraman had made a "legal and ethical entry" into his house. "Malik could have asked us to leave the location. Instead, he smashed our mobile phones. He assaulted the cameraperson and pushed him from the stairs," the reporter said on her television channel. She said he accused them of trying to carry out a "sting operation" on him. "We asked questions. If you don't want to answer at least say you don't want to speak," the journalist said. Malik was also asked at the conference about the NIA registering a case on the funding of separatist leaders. "I am not concerned with what NIA has to do," he said. SRINAGAR: The police today registered a case against a television journalist after Kashmir separatist leader Yasin Malik said she entered his bedroom without permission. The reporter claimed that Malik assaulted her cameraman, who had accompanied her, and damaged their mobile phones. Malik claimed the journalist entered his house in Maisuma today, saying that she had an appointment with him. In his complaint to the police, he alleged the journalist barged into his bedroom and started asking him questions about the NIA probe into the funding of separatist leaders. "She had lied to my sister that she had an appointment with me. The fact is she never called for an appointment," he told reporters at a press conference here after filing a complaint with the police for "breach of privacy". The police have registered a case against the journalist and the cameraman under section 448 of the Ranbir Penal Code (illegal trespassing), which carries a punishment of up to one year in prison and a fine of Rs 1,000. "Is this journalism? The Indian media has raped journalistic ethics," Malik said. The journalist alleged Malik pushed the channel's cameraman down a flight of stairs. She said he also smashed their mobile phones. The chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), who denied that he had assaulted her, said he had taken away her mobile phone because he feared she was using it as a recorder. The journalist claimed she and the cameraman had made a "legal and ethical entry" into his house. "Malik could have asked us to leave the location. Instead, he smashed our mobile phones. He assaulted the cameraperson and pushed him from the stairs," the reporter said on her television channel. She said he accused them of trying to carry out a "sting operation" on him. "We asked questions. If you don't want to answer at least say you don't want to speak," the journalist said. Malik was also asked at the conference about the NIA registering a case on the funding of separatist leaders. "I am not concerned with what NIA has to do," he said. Anand ST Das By PTI PATNA: Six people, three of them Muslim cattle traders, were lynched by tribal villagers in Jharkhands Seraikela-Kharsawan district near the steel city of Jamshedpur in three separate incidents within 24 hours following rumours about child-lifting gangs on the prowl. Police denied there was any communal angle behind the killings even as Jamshedpur, in neighbouring East Singhbhum district, witnessed massive public protests on Friday. Protesters, demanding immediate arrest of the killers, torched several vehicles, including two belonging to the police. Investigations have found no communal angle. The incidents were caused due to rumours about child-abduction gangs circulating in these areas for the past few days. We have started a massive awareness drive, said East Singhbhum SSP Anup T Mathew. The three Muslim cattle traders were beaten to death by a mob of nearly 100 tribal villagers at Sosomoli village under Rajnagar police station area late on Thursday night. The victims Sheikh Naim, 35, Sheikh Sajju, 25, and Sheikh Siraj, 26 were going to buy cattle when their car was intercepted by the mob, said police. Suspecting them to be child-lifters, the mob beat them mercilessly. As Naim lay bleeding, the two other victims tried to flee, but failed as the mob chased them and beat them to death at Shobhapur village. Naim was taken to a hospital by a police team, but he was declared brought dead. A fourth man who was in the car was hurt and managed to flee, said a police official. Two of the three other victims, who were attacked by the mob at Nagadih under Bagbera police station area were identified as Uttam Kumar Verma and Ganesh Kumar Gupta. The identity of the third victim is yet to be ascertained. Two other men were similarly lynched at Jadugora in East Singhbhum district on May 10 and 11 after being mistaken as child-lifters. The two mens identities still remain known, said police. The Opposition JMM, JVM and Congress attacked Jharkhands BJP-led government headed by Chief Minister Raghubar Das for the killings, saying there was complete failure of law and order in the state. Congress leader Alok Dubey said the cops must probe the reasons behind the murder of the three Muslim cattle traders. So far no communal angle has come to surface. I have asked the DGP (special branch) to probe if there was anything like that, said Jharkhand home secretary SKG Rahate. PATNA: Six people, three of them Muslim cattle traders, were lynched by tribal villagers in Jharkhands Seraikela-Kharsawan district near the steel city of Jamshedpur in three separate incidents within 24 hours following rumours about child-lifting gangs on the prowl. Police denied there was any communal angle behind the killings even as Jamshedpur, in neighbouring East Singhbhum district, witnessed massive public protests on Friday. Protesters, demanding immediate arrest of the killers, torched several vehicles, including two belonging to the police. Investigations have found no communal angle. The incidents were caused due to rumours about child-abduction gangs circulating in these areas for the past few days. We have started a massive awareness drive, said East Singhbhum SSP Anup T Mathew. The three Muslim cattle traders were beaten to death by a mob of nearly 100 tribal villagers at Sosomoli village under Rajnagar police station area late on Thursday night. The victims Sheikh Naim, 35, Sheikh Sajju, 25, and Sheikh Siraj, 26 were going to buy cattle when their car was intercepted by the mob, said police. Suspecting them to be child-lifters, the mob beat them mercilessly. As Naim lay bleeding, the two other victims tried to flee, but failed as the mob chased them and beat them to death at Shobhapur village. Naim was taken to a hospital by a police team, but he was declared brought dead. A fourth man who was in the car was hurt and managed to flee, said a police official. Two of the three other victims, who were attacked by the mob at Nagadih under Bagbera police station area were identified as Uttam Kumar Verma and Ganesh Kumar Gupta. The identity of the third victim is yet to be ascertained. Two other men were similarly lynched at Jadugora in East Singhbhum district on May 10 and 11 after being mistaken as child-lifters. The two mens identities still remain known, said police. The Opposition JMM, JVM and Congress attacked Jharkhands BJP-led government headed by Chief Minister Raghubar Das for the killings, saying there was complete failure of law and order in the state. Congress leader Alok Dubey said the cops must probe the reasons behind the murder of the three Muslim cattle traders. So far no communal angle has come to surface. I have asked the DGP (special branch) to probe if there was anything like that, said Jharkhand home secretary SKG Rahate. Ramananda Sengupta By There has been a distinct and spiraling escalation of violence in Kashmir following the death of Burhan Wani, a young commander of the Hizb-ul Mujahideen, in an encounter with the Indian security forces on 8 July 2016 in Anantnag district. Sensing an opportunity, the top brass at GHQ, Rawalpindi, and the infamous ISI were quick to fan the discord. Pakistani perfidy is writ large in the massive demonstrations that followed across the Valley and continue to this day. But there has been a disconcerting change in the dynamics of the proxy war that Pakistan has been waging in the region since Partition, particularly after the late 1980s. A few examples: The increasing number of infiltration bids and attacks on security forces, despite the surgical strikes of September 29. The rapidly growing number of security forces killed in increasingly brazen attacks. The rising number of arms being looted from Indian forces and police stations, aimed at stopping India from producing weapons seized from terrorists as proof of Pakistani involvement. The spate of bank robberies over the past few months. Violent, stone-pelting villagers, many primed over social media, rushing to an encounter site to harass the forces, often helping militants escape in the ensuing melee. The increasing number of women and children joining the stone pelters, making crowd management a human rights nightmare. The threats to the families of local policemen, bureaucrats and even politicians, something that has never been witnessed earlier in the Valley. Add to that the increasing number of international voices hinting at, urging or offering third-party mediation. Like Nikki Haley, the Indian-origin US envoy to the UN, Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and even China. While India has strongly rejected the overtures citing the 1972 Shimla Agreement and the Lahore Agreement of 1999, it cannot ignore the fact that Islamabad seems to be rapidly wresting the initiative in Kashmir. India also has to accept that while the international community might pay lip service to its repetitive complaints about Pakistan and its export of terror, geo-strategic compulsions and self-interest ensure it is unlikely to go beyond that. Meanwhile, smug in its knowledge that big brother China is watching its back, Pakistan has sneered at our threats to isolate it diplomatically, review the Indus Water Treaty, and conduct surgical strikes at a time and place of our own choosing across the LoC. In fact, it has dialled up its involvement in the Valley. And every now and then, it reminds India that it has distributed tactical nuclear weapons to its army commanders along the border, who are cleared to use them in case of any attack by Indian forces. So what can India do? Throwing more paramilitary forces into the Valley or deploying the Army could prove counterproductive, since it buttresses the Pakistani argument that Kashmir is a police/military state. And it does not address the root cause of the problem: Pakistan. While we thankfully seem to have stopped doing the traditional three-step with Islamabad (talks, terror strikes, more talks) we now need to go beyond that, and take the fight back to Pakistan. Its time to give Pakistan a taste of its own bitter medicine. And it can be done through Balochistan, Pakistans largest and most backward province, whose poor residents have long been protesting against exploitation of their land and resources by Islamabad. Pakistan responded by using brute military force, including fighter jets and tanks, to quell any signs of dissent in the restive province. The EU, US, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and others have voiced strong concerns over the rampant human rights abuse in the province. The idea is not new. In October 2015, Balaach Pardil of the Balochistan Liberation Organisation, which wants freedom from Pakistan, addressed a gathering in New Delhi. In August last year, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval cautioned Pakistan that if you do another Mumbai, you will lose Balochistan, sparking protests by Islamabad about Indian interference. Two months later, Baloch womens rights activist Naela Quadri Baloch and her son visited India. PM Narendra Modi brought it up again during his Independence Day speech this year, assuring suffering Balochis of Indias moral and diplomatic support for their struggle against Islamabads misrule. This sparked much jubilation among Balochis, and alarm in Islamabad. Then theres Brahamdagh Bugti, leader of the separatist Baloch Republican Party. He escaped to Geneva via Afghanistan in 2010. Last year he sought asylum in India, and though the security agencies and home ministry okayed his application, it is still awaiting Cabinet approval. Sadly, not much seems to have happened since. The strategic benefits of fuelling and supporting an insurgency on Pakistans western flank are obvious. Counter-insurgency is a troop intensive measure, and will tie down the Pakistani army in a region far from Kashmir. More importantly, it will raise the cost of protecting the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor which passes through the province. Getting involved in the region will also give Indian intelligence insights on Pakistani terror training camps in the province, shifted there after fears that Indian forces were planning a strike on such camps in PoK. Of course, all this is easier said than done, given the lack of a clear leadership among the tribal leaders of Balochistan. Perhaps an outfit along the lines of the United Jihad Council, which runs the Kashmiri militants out of PoK, or even something similar to the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, might resolve that problem. All the while, Balochi interests should be kept in mind. But whatever the decision, India needs to shed its moralistic position, and pay Pakistan back in its own coin. And it has to be done now. Ramananda Sengupta Senior Associate Editor, The New Indian Express Email: ramananda@newindianexpress.com There has been a distinct and spiraling escalation of violence in Kashmir following the death of Burhan Wani, a young commander of the Hizb-ul Mujahideen, in an encounter with the Indian security forces on 8 July 2016 in Anantnag district. Sensing an opportunity, the top brass at GHQ, Rawalpindi, and the infamous ISI were quick to fan the discord. Pakistani perfidy is writ large in the massive demonstrations that followed across the Valley and continue to this day. But there has been a disconcerting change in the dynamics of the proxy war that Pakistan has been waging in the region since Partition, particularly after the late 1980s. A few examples: The increasing number of infiltration bids and attacks on security forces, despite the surgical strikes of September 29. The rapidly growing number of security forces killed in increasingly brazen attacks. The rising number of arms being looted from Indian forces and police stations, aimed at stopping India from producing weapons seized from terrorists as proof of Pakistani involvement. The spate of bank robberies over the past few months. Violent, stone-pelting villagers, many primed over social media, rushing to an encounter site to harass the forces, often helping militants escape in the ensuing melee. The increasing number of women and children joining the stone pelters, making crowd management a human rights nightmare. The threats to the families of local policemen, bureaucrats and even politicians, something that has never been witnessed earlier in the Valley. Add to that the increasing number of international voices hinting at, urging or offering third-party mediation. Like Nikki Haley, the Indian-origin US envoy to the UN, Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and even China. While India has strongly rejected the overtures citing the 1972 Shimla Agreement and the Lahore Agreement of 1999, it cannot ignore the fact that Islamabad seems to be rapidly wresting the initiative in Kashmir. India also has to accept that while the international community might pay lip service to its repetitive complaints about Pakistan and its export of terror, geo-strategic compulsions and self-interest ensure it is unlikely to go beyond that. Meanwhile, smug in its knowledge that big brother China is watching its back, Pakistan has sneered at our threats to isolate it diplomatically, review the Indus Water Treaty, and conduct surgical strikes at a time and place of our own choosing across the LoC. In fact, it has dialled up its involvement in the Valley. And every now and then, it reminds India that it has distributed tactical nuclear weapons to its army commanders along the border, who are cleared to use them in case of any attack by Indian forces. So what can India do? Throwing more paramilitary forces into the Valley or deploying the Army could prove counterproductive, since it buttresses the Pakistani argument that Kashmir is a police/military state. And it does not address the root cause of the problem: Pakistan. While we thankfully seem to have stopped doing the traditional three-step with Islamabad (talks, terror strikes, more talks) we now need to go beyond that, and take the fight back to Pakistan. Its time to give Pakistan a taste of its own bitter medicine. And it can be done through Balochistan, Pakistans largest and most backward province, whose poor residents have long been protesting against exploitation of their land and resources by Islamabad. Pakistan responded by using brute military force, including fighter jets and tanks, to quell any signs of dissent in the restive province. The EU, US, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and others have voiced strong concerns over the rampant human rights abuse in the province. The idea is not new. In October 2015, Balaach Pardil of the Balochistan Liberation Organisation, which wants freedom from Pakistan, addressed a gathering in New Delhi. In August last year, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval cautioned Pakistan that if you do another Mumbai, you will lose Balochistan, sparking protests by Islamabad about Indian interference. Two months later, Baloch womens rights activist Naela Quadri Baloch and her son visited India. PM Narendra Modi brought it up again during his Independence Day speech this year, assuring suffering Balochis of Indias moral and diplomatic support for their struggle against Islamabads misrule. This sparked much jubilation among Balochis, and alarm in Islamabad. Then theres Brahamdagh Bugti, leader of the separatist Baloch Republican Party. He escaped to Geneva via Afghanistan in 2010. Last year he sought asylum in India, and though the security agencies and home ministry okayed his application, it is still awaiting Cabinet approval. Sadly, not much seems to have happened since. The strategic benefits of fuelling and supporting an insurgency on Pakistans western flank are obvious. Counter-insurgency is a troop intensive measure, and will tie down the Pakistani army in a region far from Kashmir. More importantly, it will raise the cost of protecting the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor which passes through the province. Getting involved in the region will also give Indian intelligence insights on Pakistani terror training camps in the province, shifted there after fears that Indian forces were planning a strike on such camps in PoK. Of course, all this is easier said than done, given the lack of a clear leadership among the tribal leaders of Balochistan. Perhaps an outfit along the lines of the United Jihad Council, which runs the Kashmiri militants out of PoK, or even something similar to the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, might resolve that problem. All the while, Balochi interests should be kept in mind. But whatever the decision, India needs to shed its moralistic position, and pay Pakistan back in its own coin. And it has to be done now. Ramananda Sengupta Senior Associate Editor, The New Indian Express Email: ramananda@newindianexpress.com Harish Gilai By Express News Service KADAPA: The residents of Nebollagondicheruvu of T Velamavarapalle mandal in this parched district gather at the agricultural fields of P Ramchandra on the village outskirts. The ritual of digging a borewell has now become a matter of life and death. Ramachandra, a lemon grower, has decided to try his luck. The borewell machine digs down to 500 feet, then 600 feet. It is a staggering 1,000 feet and the villagers heave a collective gasp. Where to now? But Ramchandra is adamant. Jittery, he asks his family whether he should dig deeper, not knowing if he can really afford it. According to the men with the noisy machine, digging up to 500 feet costs Rs 80 per feet. After that, for each feet, they charge Rs 10 more and after 600 feet, Rs 100 more. A discussion ensues. How financially viable digging deeper is. Ramchandra receives a doubtful nod from his relatives. Theres no looking back now. The men drill another 200 feet, and turn to Ramchandra. No water Anna. It is unlikely that youll find it any deeper. Venkataiah, another farmer from the village says around five years back, water was found at around 500 feet. Poor Ramchandra!, he takes a sigh as the crowd fades. Sympathy writ large on their downcast faces, while Ramchandra figures how to clear the bill. Carrying the debt-burden is not new for us (farmers). This was my last attempt to save my crop, but it appears God doesnt have mercy on me, laments Ramchandra. Though grazing cattle and daily labour are his main sources of living, Ramchandra has been trying to cultivate lemon in his two-acre farm for the last seven years. There is not a single god to whom my family has not prayed for a modest yield so that I can clear the debts, he says. A bag of 800 lemons now sells at around Rs 1700. I had a hope of yielding at least 400 bags from my plot. Now, I have to look for other options to settle the debts, he says. The water level in Vempalli region of Kadapa mandal has dropped to 114 metres. Forget about growing crops, fetching enough water for drinking has become a challenge. Another farmer, P Venkataiah, says his pulse crops have withered. A few farmers are buying water water tankers. But, I cant afford such luxuries. We thought a borewell at Ramchandras would solve our problems, but everything has gone wrong, he said. The situation of farmers in Pulivendula, the constituency of opposition leader YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, is no different. Take a drive along the Pulivendula-Jinnala Road, you will find acres of dying crops. A group of farmers at Lopatnuthala sits under a tree and discusses their losses. P Jagan Mohan recalls how he had invested in banana, only to incur heavy loses. Around Rs 4.5 lakh has been spent since last June. We already have three borewells, but no water, he laments. The village is populated by 300 families, most of which cultivate bananas and oranges. Ramapuram, Lakkireddipallem, Rayichoti and a few other areas have been badly hit by drought and farmers are at their wits end as to how to make their ends meet. Among the villages Express visited, Dinapadukaspa of Lakkireddipalem mandal, has its youngsters working as labourers in the Gulf as the last resort. Sheikh Miravali has spent over Rs 30,000 on his crop which failed owing to lack of water. Of the 51 mandals in Kadapa district, 16 mandals are dependent on growing horticulture crops. According to irrigation officials, around 2.18 lakh acres have been cultivated during last Kharif of which over 53,000 acres belonging to 64,000 farmers are on the verge of withering. The district administration has already announced 32 mandals as drought-hit and officials say another 18 mandals deserve to get the status. Groundnut is the major crop grown during kharif, while bengal gram is preferred in rabi. But what the farmers will do, if there is no water? This is a bad year. The district has recorded 75 per cent deficit in rainfall. Groundnut in as many as 25 mandals have completely failed. Red gram, black gram and standby horticulture crops have also been affected." Kharif crop loss 2.18 lakh acres cultivation land Over 53,000 acres crop loss confirmed area 64,000 farmers have incurred losses Groundnut crop has been lost in around 25 mandals. Most of the farmers cultivating horticulture crop are also expected to face severe loss 32 of 51 mandals have been declared drought-hit and the irrigation officials are likely to add more 18 more to the list F77 crore sum suggested to allevitate conditions of affected farmers KADAPA: The residents of Nebollagondicheruvu of T Velamavarapalle mandal in this parched district gather at the agricultural fields of P Ramchandra on the village outskirts. The ritual of digging a borewell has now become a matter of life and death. Ramachandra, a lemon grower, has decided to try his luck. The borewell machine digs down to 500 feet, then 600 feet. It is a staggering 1,000 feet and the villagers heave a collective gasp. Where to now? But Ramchandra is adamant. Jittery, he asks his family whether he should dig deeper, not knowing if he can really afford it. According to the men with the noisy machine, digging up to 500 feet costs Rs 80 per feet. After that, for each feet, they charge Rs 10 more and after 600 feet, Rs 100 more. A discussion ensues. How financially viable digging deeper is. Ramchandra receives a doubtful nod from his relatives. Theres no looking back now. The men drill another 200 feet, and turn to Ramchandra. No water Anna. It is unlikely that youll find it any deeper. Venkataiah, another farmer from the village says around five years back, water was found at around 500 feet. Poor Ramchandra!, he takes a sigh as the crowd fades. Sympathy writ large on their downcast faces, while Ramchandra figures how to clear the bill. Carrying the debt-burden is not new for us (farmers). This was my last attempt to save my crop, but it appears God doesnt have mercy on me, laments Ramchandra. Though grazing cattle and daily labour are his main sources of living, Ramchandra has been trying to cultivate lemon in his two-acre farm for the last seven years. There is not a single god to whom my family has not prayed for a modest yield so that I can clear the debts, he says. A bag of 800 lemons now sells at around Rs 1700. I had a hope of yielding at least 400 bags from my plot. Now, I have to look for other options to settle the debts, he says. The water level in Vempalli region of Kadapa mandal has dropped to 114 metres. Forget about growing crops, fetching enough water for drinking has become a challenge. Another farmer, P Venkataiah, says his pulse crops have withered. A few farmers are buying water water tankers. But, I cant afford such luxuries. We thought a borewell at Ramchandras would solve our problems, but everything has gone wrong, he said. The situation of farmers in Pulivendula, the constituency of opposition leader YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, is no different. Take a drive along the Pulivendula-Jinnala Road, you will find acres of dying crops. A group of farmers at Lopatnuthala sits under a tree and discusses their losses. P Jagan Mohan recalls how he had invested in banana, only to incur heavy loses. Around Rs 4.5 lakh has been spent since last June. We already have three borewells, but no water, he laments. The village is populated by 300 families, most of which cultivate bananas and oranges. Ramapuram, Lakkireddipallem, Rayichoti and a few other areas have been badly hit by drought and farmers are at their wits end as to how to make their ends meet. Among the villages Express visited, Dinapadukaspa of Lakkireddipalem mandal, has its youngsters working as labourers in the Gulf as the last resort. Sheikh Miravali has spent over Rs 30,000 on his crop which failed owing to lack of water. Of the 51 mandals in Kadapa district, 16 mandals are dependent on growing horticulture crops. According to irrigation officials, around 2.18 lakh acres have been cultivated during last Kharif of which over 53,000 acres belonging to 64,000 farmers are on the verge of withering. The district administration has already announced 32 mandals as drought-hit and officials say another 18 mandals deserve to get the status. Groundnut is the major crop grown during kharif, while bengal gram is preferred in rabi. But what the farmers will do, if there is no water? This is a bad year. The district has recorded 75 per cent deficit in rainfall. Groundnut in as many as 25 mandals have completely failed. Red gram, black gram and standby horticulture crops have also been affected." Kharif crop loss 2.18 lakh acres cultivation land Over 53,000 acres crop loss confirmed area 64,000 farmers have incurred losses Groundnut crop has been lost in around 25 mandals. Most of the farmers cultivating horticulture crop are also expected to face severe loss 32 of 51 mandals have been declared drought-hit and the irrigation officials are likely to add more 18 more to the list F77 crore sum suggested to allevitate conditions of affected farmers By Express News Service BENGALURU: People planning to build their dream home but deterred by skyrocketing sand prices could soon get some respite from Malaysia, Kenya, Bangladesh or Cambodia. With artificial M-sand not finding favour with the common man and sand prices continuing to soar, the state government is preparing to import sand to meet the demand. The happy news is that the imported sand will come at a much lower price. The government has decided to import sand from different countries through Mysore Sales International Limited (MSIL), which was formed to meet the marketing needs of Karnataka. The MSIL will launch a global tender next week. The sand will be sold under the MSIL Brand. According to the mines and geology department, Karnatakas annual sand requirement is 5 crore tonnes. The department gives permit to mine 50 lakh tonnes a year. The state is therefore facing shortage of 4-4.5 crore tonnes every year. The imported sand will play a vital role in maintaining water percolation. Chief Minister Siddaramaiahs intention to maintain ecological balance is the reason behind the step. It will help in conservation by preventing extraction of sand from natural water bodies. Simultaneously, MSIL also took the initiative to help people, said Dr G C Prakash, managing director, MSIL. Currently, sand is brought in illegally from Tamil Nadu and people pay Rs 1 lakh-1.25 lakh per truck. An official said filter sand is usually mixed to make money in the open market. While sand costs Rs 250 for a 50 kg bag in the open market, the imported sand is likely to be cheaper at Rs 160 - 175 per bag. It may slightly differ after tenders are finalised. We have estimated that we need to import 3 lakh tonnes sand a month initially, sources in Mysore Sales International Ltd said. The quantity may be increased as per demand, they added. The pure sand will be shipped to Mangaluru or Chennai ports from where it will be transported to required places. Currently, Maharashtras sand import is in initial stages. If Karnataka starts, other states will follow suit, he said. Shifting sands Current price of sand in open market is Rs 250 for 50 kg bag Likely price of imported sand will be Rs 160-175 per bag Sand will be sold under the MSIL brand 3 lakh tonnes will be imported initially Global tender to be floated next week BENGALURU: People planning to build their dream home but deterred by skyrocketing sand prices could soon get some respite from Malaysia, Kenya, Bangladesh or Cambodia. With artificial M-sand not finding favour with the common man and sand prices continuing to soar, the state government is preparing to import sand to meet the demand. The happy news is that the imported sand will come at a much lower price. The government has decided to import sand from different countries through Mysore Sales International Limited (MSIL), which was formed to meet the marketing needs of Karnataka. The MSIL will launch a global tender next week. The sand will be sold under the MSIL Brand. According to the mines and geology department, Karnatakas annual sand requirement is 5 crore tonnes. The department gives permit to mine 50 lakh tonnes a year. The state is therefore facing shortage of 4-4.5 crore tonnes every year. The imported sand will play a vital role in maintaining water percolation. Chief Minister Siddaramaiahs intention to maintain ecological balance is the reason behind the step. It will help in conservation by preventing extraction of sand from natural water bodies. Simultaneously, MSIL also took the initiative to help people, said Dr G C Prakash, managing director, MSIL. Currently, sand is brought in illegally from Tamil Nadu and people pay Rs 1 lakh-1.25 lakh per truck. An official said filter sand is usually mixed to make money in the open market. While sand costs Rs 250 for a 50 kg bag in the open market, the imported sand is likely to be cheaper at Rs 160 - 175 per bag. It may slightly differ after tenders are finalised. We have estimated that we need to import 3 lakh tonnes sand a month initially, sources in Mysore Sales International Ltd said. The quantity may be increased as per demand, they added. The pure sand will be shipped to Mangaluru or Chennai ports from where it will be transported to required places. Currently, Maharashtras sand import is in initial stages. If Karnataka starts, other states will follow suit, he said. Shifting sands Current price of sand in open market is Rs 250 for 50 kg bag Likely price of imported sand will be Rs 160-175 per bag Sand will be sold under the MSIL brand 3 lakh tonnes will be imported initially Global tender to be floated next week By Express News Service BHUBANESWAR: Union minister of state for petroleum and natural gas Dharmendra Pradhan today said that the Odisha government should try to ensure quality education at Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College, Baripada instead of blaming the Centre for delay in approval to start MBBS admission from this academic session. "The state Government should create infrastructure and other required facilities for medical education at Baripada college for churning out qualified doctors and not Munna Bhai MBBS," the minister told mediapersons. Pradhan said the state government should also take steps to ensure posting of faculty to ensure proper education and create condition for smooth functioning of the medical college. The BJP leader said if Odisha Government extracts pleasure and happiness by playing politics on the issue and criticising him, it is welcome, but it must meet all criteria and keep documents ready as medical colleges cannot open through 'short cuts'. Pradhan's remarks came a day after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik made an on-the-spot visit to Baripada medical college hospital yesterday and expressed satisfaction over the construction work there. Hitting back at Pradhan, minister for health and family welfare Pratap Jena alleged that the Union Minister is "jealous" after the state government through sincere effort obtained the approval to start admission for MBBS course from this academic session from the Supreme Court mandated oversight committee. The process of admission of students for 100 MBBS undergraduate seats for the 2017-18 academic session can now be taken up as the Supreme Court mandated committed has given its nod, Jena said. The oversight committee's green signal came a week after the state government sought its intervention following failure to get Letter of Permission (LoP) from the Medical Council of India (MCI) to start the Medical College and Hospital in 2017-18 academic session. BHUBANESWAR: Union minister of state for petroleum and natural gas Dharmendra Pradhan today said that the Odisha government should try to ensure quality education at Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College, Baripada instead of blaming the Centre for delay in approval to start MBBS admission from this academic session. "The state Government should create infrastructure and other required facilities for medical education at Baripada college for churning out qualified doctors and not Munna Bhai MBBS," the minister told mediapersons. Pradhan said the state government should also take steps to ensure posting of faculty to ensure proper education and create condition for smooth functioning of the medical college. The BJP leader said if Odisha Government extracts pleasure and happiness by playing politics on the issue and criticising him, it is welcome, but it must meet all criteria and keep documents ready as medical colleges cannot open through 'short cuts'. Pradhan's remarks came a day after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik made an on-the-spot visit to Baripada medical college hospital yesterday and expressed satisfaction over the construction work there. Hitting back at Pradhan, minister for health and family welfare Pratap Jena alleged that the Union Minister is "jealous" after the state government through sincere effort obtained the approval to start admission for MBBS course from this academic session from the Supreme Court mandated oversight committee. The process of admission of students for 100 MBBS undergraduate seats for the 2017-18 academic session can now be taken up as the Supreme Court mandated committed has given its nod, Jena said. The oversight committee's green signal came a week after the state government sought its intervention following failure to get Letter of Permission (LoP) from the Medical Council of India (MCI) to start the Medical College and Hospital in 2017-18 academic session. By Associated Press TEHRAN: Iranians head to the polls Friday to vote in the Islamic Republic's presidential election, casting ballots in a contest largely seen as a referendum on the country's nuclear deal with world powers. President Hassan Rouhani is widely seen as the front-runner after his moderate administration struck the atomic accord. He could face tough competition from hard-line cleric Ebrahim Raisi, who is perceived to be close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Two other candidates also are running. Under Iran's constitution, the supreme leader has final say on all state matters. Iran's president is subordinate but still powerful, with considerable influence over both domestic policy and foreign affairs. Here's a look at the candidates competing. HASSAN ROUHANI Rouhani, 68, is a moderate cleric elected in 2013 on pledges of greater personal freedoms and improved relations with the West. His government negotiated the 2015 nuclear deal, which saw Iran accept curbs on its nuclear program in exchange for relief from crippling international sanctions. Rouhani has faced pushback from conservatives and hard-liners, who criticize the accord as giving too much away. Since the deal went into effect, Iran has doubled its oil exports and inked multi-billion-dollar aircraft deals with Boeing and Airbus. But critics of the deal say the economic benefits have yet to reach ordinary Iranians. The poor, both young and old, can be seen in Iranian cities searching trash for food or cleaning car windows for loose change. Early in his tenure, Rouhani shared a 2013 phone call with then-U.S. President Barack Obama, the highest-level exchange between the two countries since Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution and the U.S. Embassy hostage crisis. During the campaign, Rouhani also increasingly has criticized Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard, a hard-line paramilitary force answering only to Khamenei, something he so far has been hesitant to do while in office. EBRAHIM RAISI Iranian cleric Ebrahim Raisi. (AP) Raisi, 56, is a hard-line cleric close to Khamenei who has vowed to combat poverty and corruption. He could pose the biggest challenge to Rouhani, especially if he can unify hard-liners. Raisi also has promised monthly cash payments to the poor, a populist move that's been popular with Iranian voters in the past. Last year, Khamenei appointed Raisi as head of the Imam Reza charity foundation, which manages a vast conglomerate of businesses and endowments in Iran. Khamenei called Raisi a "trustworthy and highly experienced" person, causing many to wonder if he might also be a possible successor to the supreme leader himself. Raisi, who works as a law professor, previously served as an attorney general and Iran's deputy judiciary chief. Two major clerical bodies, which declined to endorse anyone in the 2013 election, have backed Raisi in a snub to Rouhani, who himself is a cleric himself. However, his candidacy also has revived the controversy surrounding the 1988 mass execution of thousands in Iran, one of the darkest moments of Iran's post-revolution history still not recognized by its government. Raisi allegedly served on a panel involved in sentencing the prisoners to death. While he hasn't commented publicly on the accusation, his supporters appear to have released a video offering a hard-line justification for the executions. MOSTAFA HASHEMITABA Hashemitaba, 70, served as minister of industry in the 1980s. He is a pro-reform figure who previously ran for president in 2001. MOSTAFA MIRSALIM Mirsalim, 69, was shot and wounded during the unrest leading up to the 1979 revolution. He went on to serve as deputy interior minister and police chief. He served as culture minister for four years under Rafsanjani. TEHRAN: Iranians head to the polls Friday to vote in the Islamic Republic's presidential election, casting ballots in a contest largely seen as a referendum on the country's nuclear deal with world powers. President Hassan Rouhani is widely seen as the front-runner after his moderate administration struck the atomic accord. He could face tough competition from hard-line cleric Ebrahim Raisi, who is perceived to be close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Two other candidates also are running. Under Iran's constitution, the supreme leader has final say on all state matters. Iran's president is subordinate but still powerful, with considerable influence over both domestic policy and foreign affairs. Here's a look at the candidates competing. HASSAN ROUHANI Rouhani, 68, is a moderate cleric elected in 2013 on pledges of greater personal freedoms and improved relations with the West. His government negotiated the 2015 nuclear deal, which saw Iran accept curbs on its nuclear program in exchange for relief from crippling international sanctions. Rouhani has faced pushback from conservatives and hard-liners, who criticize the accord as giving too much away. Since the deal went into effect, Iran has doubled its oil exports and inked multi-billion-dollar aircraft deals with Boeing and Airbus. But critics of the deal say the economic benefits have yet to reach ordinary Iranians. The poor, both young and old, can be seen in Iranian cities searching trash for food or cleaning car windows for loose change. Early in his tenure, Rouhani shared a 2013 phone call with then-U.S. President Barack Obama, the highest-level exchange between the two countries since Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution and the U.S. Embassy hostage crisis. During the campaign, Rouhani also increasingly has criticized Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard, a hard-line paramilitary force answering only to Khamenei, something he so far has been hesitant to do while in office. EBRAHIM RAISI Iranian cleric Ebrahim Raisi. (AP)Raisi, 56, is a hard-line cleric close to Khamenei who has vowed to combat poverty and corruption. He could pose the biggest challenge to Rouhani, especially if he can unify hard-liners. Raisi also has promised monthly cash payments to the poor, a populist move that's been popular with Iranian voters in the past. Last year, Khamenei appointed Raisi as head of the Imam Reza charity foundation, which manages a vast conglomerate of businesses and endowments in Iran. Khamenei called Raisi a "trustworthy and highly experienced" person, causing many to wonder if he might also be a possible successor to the supreme leader himself. Raisi, who works as a law professor, previously served as an attorney general and Iran's deputy judiciary chief. Two major clerical bodies, which declined to endorse anyone in the 2013 election, have backed Raisi in a snub to Rouhani, who himself is a cleric himself. However, his candidacy also has revived the controversy surrounding the 1988 mass execution of thousands in Iran, one of the darkest moments of Iran's post-revolution history still not recognized by its government. Raisi allegedly served on a panel involved in sentencing the prisoners to death. While he hasn't commented publicly on the accusation, his supporters appear to have released a video offering a hard-line justification for the executions. MOSTAFA HASHEMITABA Hashemitaba, 70, served as minister of industry in the 1980s. He is a pro-reform figure who previously ran for president in 2001. MOSTAFA MIRSALIM Mirsalim, 69, was shot and wounded during the unrest leading up to the 1979 revolution. He went on to serve as deputy interior minister and police chief. He served as culture minister for four years under Rafsanjani. By Associated Press RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazilian President Michel Temer on Thursday rejected calls for his resignation, saying he will fight allegations that he endorsed the paying of hush money to a former lawmaker jailed for corruption. Even in this country weary from the constant drip of revelations of a wide-ranging corruption investigation, the incendiary accusation set off a firestorm and Brazil's highest court opened an investigation. Stocks and the currency plunged and rumors circulated that Temer would step down. Instead, the embattled leader remained defiant in a national address to respond to a report by the newspaper late Wednesday that he was recorded endorsing payments to former lower House Speaker Eduardo Cunha. "At no time did I authorize the paying of anyone," Temer said emphatically, raising his voice and pounding his index finger against the podium. "I did not buy anybody's silence." "I will not resign," he said. The Supreme Federal Tribunal has opened an investigation into the accusations and sent Temer the recordings at his request. Senior politicians can be investigated and tried only by Brazil's highest court. Following Globo's report, Thursday began in a panic. Within 90 minutes of the opening, Brazil's main Ibovespa stock index dropped 10 percent and trading was stopped for 30 minutes. Brazil's currency, the real, lost 8 percent of its value against the U.S. dollar, according to the Central Bank's closing figure. Congress cancelled its sessions, including suspending work on legislation that Temer's administration hopes will pull Latin America's largest economy out of its worst recession in decades. The pressure built against Temer throughout the day, with reports that Cabinet ministers were considering quitting their posts and opposition politicians calling for his impeachment. "There are parties leaving his base, ministers leaving the Cabinet. Even if the recordings don't show something that terrible, you can't put the toothpaste back in the tube," said Claudio Couto, a political science professor at Fundacao Getulio Vargas, a Sao Paulo-based university and think tank. "If Temer doesn't fall, he will lead a walking dead administration." Protests were planned for later Thursday. Five of the top 10 trending topics in Brazil on Twitter were related to the scandal, including the subject "Temer will resign." Many Brazilians expressed shock on social media when Temer finally spoke Thursday night and said he would stay in power. "Michel Temer is like that boyfriend who doesn't know it's over," one Twitter user said. Since its start three years ago, the "Car Wash" investigation into a kickback scheme at oil giant Petrobras has revealed a scale of corruption that has shocked even the most cynical Brazilians and put several top businessmen and politicians in jail. In recent months, the probe has moved closer to the president and his circle. Late Wednesday, Globo reported that JBS meat-packing company executive Joesley Batista had recorded Temer endorsing a bribe to silence Cunha, who was previously an ally of Temer, though the two appear to have had a falling out. The report said that when Temer was told Cunha was being paid to keep silent, the president responded: "You have to keep that up, all right?" Many believe that Cunha, who was widely viewed as Brazil's most powerful politician before being ensnared in several corruption cases, could provide damaging testimony about dozens of others if he reached a plea bargain with investigators. Cunha has been imprisoned on a 15-year sentence for corruption. A statement from Temer's office confirmed that the president did meet with Batista in March but denied soliciting a bribe. Globo also reported that Sen. Aecio Neves had been recorded asking Batista for $700,000 to pay for his defense in the "Car Wash" corruption probe. On Thursday, police searched Neves' Rio de Janeiro home and Brasilia office, and Brazil's highest court suspended him from office. Neves, who nearly won the presidency in 2014 and planned to run again next year, has denied wrongdoing. According to the Globo report, Batista secretly recorded the conversations with Temer and Neves and gave them to justice officials as part of plea bargain negotiations. Globo did not release the recordings or say how they were obtained. If confirmed, the allegations could prove devastating for Temer, whose administration has lurched from one crisis to another since he took office just over a year ago after Dilma Rousseff was impeached and removed as president. Temer's approval ratings are hovering around 10 percent. In April, it came to light that eight of his Cabinet ministers were being investigated in cases related to bribery or accepting campaign donations from Brazilian construction company Odebrecht, one of the central businesses implicated in the kickback scheme at Petrobras. "I can't see how Temer survives this," said David Fleischer, a political science professor at the University of Brasilia. "There are just too many people against him now." RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazilian President Michel Temer on Thursday rejected calls for his resignation, saying he will fight allegations that he endorsed the paying of hush money to a former lawmaker jailed for corruption. Even in this country weary from the constant drip of revelations of a wide-ranging corruption investigation, the incendiary accusation set off a firestorm and Brazil's highest court opened an investigation. Stocks and the currency plunged and rumors circulated that Temer would step down. Instead, the embattled leader remained defiant in a national address to respond to a report by the newspaper late Wednesday that he was recorded endorsing payments to former lower House Speaker Eduardo Cunha. "At no time did I authorize the paying of anyone," Temer said emphatically, raising his voice and pounding his index finger against the podium. "I did not buy anybody's silence." "I will not resign," he said. The Supreme Federal Tribunal has opened an investigation into the accusations and sent Temer the recordings at his request. Senior politicians can be investigated and tried only by Brazil's highest court. Following Globo's report, Thursday began in a panic. Within 90 minutes of the opening, Brazil's main Ibovespa stock index dropped 10 percent and trading was stopped for 30 minutes. Brazil's currency, the real, lost 8 percent of its value against the U.S. dollar, according to the Central Bank's closing figure. Congress cancelled its sessions, including suspending work on legislation that Temer's administration hopes will pull Latin America's largest economy out of its worst recession in decades. The pressure built against Temer throughout the day, with reports that Cabinet ministers were considering quitting their posts and opposition politicians calling for his impeachment. "There are parties leaving his base, ministers leaving the Cabinet. Even if the recordings don't show something that terrible, you can't put the toothpaste back in the tube," said Claudio Couto, a political science professor at Fundacao Getulio Vargas, a Sao Paulo-based university and think tank. "If Temer doesn't fall, he will lead a walking dead administration." Protests were planned for later Thursday. Five of the top 10 trending topics in Brazil on Twitter were related to the scandal, including the subject "Temer will resign." Many Brazilians expressed shock on social media when Temer finally spoke Thursday night and said he would stay in power. "Michel Temer is like that boyfriend who doesn't know it's over," one Twitter user said. Since its start three years ago, the "Car Wash" investigation into a kickback scheme at oil giant Petrobras has revealed a scale of corruption that has shocked even the most cynical Brazilians and put several top businessmen and politicians in jail. In recent months, the probe has moved closer to the president and his circle. Late Wednesday, Globo reported that JBS meat-packing company executive Joesley Batista had recorded Temer endorsing a bribe to silence Cunha, who was previously an ally of Temer, though the two appear to have had a falling out. The report said that when Temer was told Cunha was being paid to keep silent, the president responded: "You have to keep that up, all right?" Many believe that Cunha, who was widely viewed as Brazil's most powerful politician before being ensnared in several corruption cases, could provide damaging testimony about dozens of others if he reached a plea bargain with investigators. Cunha has been imprisoned on a 15-year sentence for corruption. A statement from Temer's office confirmed that the president did meet with Batista in March but denied soliciting a bribe. Globo also reported that Sen. Aecio Neves had been recorded asking Batista for $700,000 to pay for his defense in the "Car Wash" corruption probe. On Thursday, police searched Neves' Rio de Janeiro home and Brasilia office, and Brazil's highest court suspended him from office. Neves, who nearly won the presidency in 2014 and planned to run again next year, has denied wrongdoing. According to the Globo report, Batista secretly recorded the conversations with Temer and Neves and gave them to justice officials as part of plea bargain negotiations. Globo did not release the recordings or say how they were obtained. If confirmed, the allegations could prove devastating for Temer, whose administration has lurched from one crisis to another since he took office just over a year ago after Dilma Rousseff was impeached and removed as president. Temer's approval ratings are hovering around 10 percent. In April, it came to light that eight of his Cabinet ministers were being investigated in cases related to bribery or accepting campaign donations from Brazilian construction company Odebrecht, one of the central businesses implicated in the kickback scheme at Petrobras. "I can't see how Temer survives this," said David Fleischer, a political science professor at the University of Brasilia. "There are just too many people against him now." By Associated Press KANSAS CITY: Army Private Chelsea Manning is revealing her new look as a woman, after being freed from a Kansas military prison and a 35-year sentence for leaking classified materials. The transgender soldier formerly known as Bradley Manning took to Twitter and Instagram Thursday, posting a portrait photograph of her with short-cropped hair, bright red lipstick and a dark outfit with a plunging neckline. The 29-year-old Oklahoma native included the caption, "Okay, so here I am everyone!!" Manning was released early Wednesday from confinement at Kansas' Fort Leavenworth, after having served seven years behind bars for giving classified materials to anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks. Manning and her attorneys have refused to divulge her post-prison whereabouts or immediate plans. KANSAS CITY: Army Private Chelsea Manning is revealing her new look as a woman, after being freed from a Kansas military prison and a 35-year sentence for leaking classified materials. The transgender soldier formerly known as Bradley Manning took to Twitter and Instagram Thursday, posting a portrait photograph of her with short-cropped hair, bright red lipstick and a dark outfit with a plunging neckline. The 29-year-old Oklahoma native included the caption, "Okay, so here I am everyone!!" Manning was released early Wednesday from confinement at Kansas' Fort Leavenworth, after having served seven years behind bars for giving classified materials to anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks. Manning and her attorneys have refused to divulge her post-prison whereabouts or immediate plans. By Associated Press GAO: On his first official trip outside Europe, new French President Emmanuel Macron is highlighting his determination to crush extremism with a visit to French-led military forces combating jihadist groups in West Africa. During Friday's trip to Mali, Macron will be briefed on Operation Barkhane. It is France's largest overseas military mission, with about 4,000 soldiers in Mali, Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso and Mauritania. He was expected to visit the eastern city of Gao, home of the permanent French military base in the country with 1,600 troops. He will meet there with Malian President Ibrahim Boubakar Keita. Macron repeatedly pledged ahead of the May 7 election that fighting terror would be his priority, after multiple attacks in France since 2015 that killed more than 230 people. Most of the West African extremist groups France is combating trace their origins to al-Qaida's North Africa branch. Gao is where a suicide attack on a Malian army camp killed more than 75 people in January. That attack, claimed by the al-Qaida-linked al-Mourabitoun extremist group, happened just days after former French president Francois Hollande visited the city. The victims were soldiers and former fighters trying to stabilize the region after a 2015 agreement with the government. The attack was a major blow to peace efforts in northern Mali, where rival groups have been vying for control or outright independence. "I don't think Macron's arrival will change anything to our daily life," Ousmane Maiga, a resident of Gao, told The Associated Press. "Macron comes to see the French soldiers but not us." Another resident, Mohamed Gaiga, said he wants Macron "to put an end to the massacre of Malians. France has the military and political power to bring back peace in Mali, but we observe that even groups that signed the peace agreement are still fighting each other." GAO: On his first official trip outside Europe, new French President Emmanuel Macron is highlighting his determination to crush extremism with a visit to French-led military forces combating jihadist groups in West Africa. During Friday's trip to Mali, Macron will be briefed on Operation Barkhane. It is France's largest overseas military mission, with about 4,000 soldiers in Mali, Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso and Mauritania. He was expected to visit the eastern city of Gao, home of the permanent French military base in the country with 1,600 troops. He will meet there with Malian President Ibrahim Boubakar Keita. Macron repeatedly pledged ahead of the May 7 election that fighting terror would be his priority, after multiple attacks in France since 2015 that killed more than 230 people. Most of the West African extremist groups France is combating trace their origins to al-Qaida's North Africa branch. Gao is where a suicide attack on a Malian army camp killed more than 75 people in January. That attack, claimed by the al-Qaida-linked al-Mourabitoun extremist group, happened just days after former French president Francois Hollande visited the city. The victims were soldiers and former fighters trying to stabilize the region after a 2015 agreement with the government. The attack was a major blow to peace efforts in northern Mali, where rival groups have been vying for control or outright independence. "I don't think Macron's arrival will change anything to our daily life," Ousmane Maiga, a resident of Gao, told The Associated Press. "Macron comes to see the French soldiers but not us." Another resident, Mohamed Gaiga, said he wants Macron "to put an end to the massacre of Malians. France has the military and political power to bring back peace in Mali, but we observe that even groups that signed the peace agreement are still fighting each other." By Associated Press BOSTON: While other Harvard University students were writing papers for their senior theses, Obasi Shaw was busy rapping his. Shaw is the first student in Harvard's history to submit a rap album as a senior thesis in the English Department, the university said. The album, called "Liminal Minds," has earned the equivalent of an A-minus grade, good enough to guarantee that Shaw will graduate with honors next week. Count Shaw among those most surprised by the success. "I never thought it would be accepted by Harvard," said Shaw, a 20-year-old from Stone Mountain, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. "I didn't think they would respect rap as an art form enough for me to do it." Shaw describes the 10-track album as a dark and moody take on what it means to be black in America. Each song is told from a different character's perspective, an idea inspired by Geoffrey Chaucer's 14th-century classic "The Canterbury Tales." Shaw, who's black, also draws on the works of writer James Baldwin while tackling topics ranging from police violence to slavery. Shaw's thesis adviser, Harvard English lecturer Josh Bell, said Shaw is a "serious artist and he's an amazing guy." "He was able to turn around an album that people in the English Department would like very much but also that people who like rap music might like," Bell said. Harvard undergraduates aren't obligated to submit senior theses, but most departments require it to graduate with honors. Often it takes the form of a research paper, but students can apply to turn in an artistic work as a creative thesis. Some submit screenplays, novels or poetry collections. Shaw was at home for winter break in 2015, struggling to find a topic for a written thesis, when he told his mother, Michelle Shaw, about the creative thesis option. He had recently started writing his own raps and performing them at open-microphone nights on campus. His mother connected the dots and suggested he record an album for his thesis. It took Shaw more than a year to write the songs and record them at a studio on Harvard's campus. His friends supplied many of the beats, while he taught himself how to mix the tracks into a polished product. "I'm still not satisfied with the quality of the production just yet, but I'm constantly learning and growing," Shaw said. Rap and hip-hop have drawn growing interest from academia in recent years. Harvard established a fellowship for scholars of hip-hop in 2013, and other schools including the University of Arizona have started to offer minors in hip-hop studies. Clemson University announced in February that a doctoral student submitted a 34-track rap album as his dissertation, a first for the South Carolina university. Shaw plans to circulate the album online for free and hopes it opens doors to the music industry. In the meantime, he's headed to Seattle to work as a software engineer at Google. BOSTON: While other Harvard University students were writing papers for their senior theses, Obasi Shaw was busy rapping his. Shaw is the first student in Harvard's history to submit a rap album as a senior thesis in the English Department, the university said. The album, called "Liminal Minds," has earned the equivalent of an A-minus grade, good enough to guarantee that Shaw will graduate with honors next week. Count Shaw among those most surprised by the success. "I never thought it would be accepted by Harvard," said Shaw, a 20-year-old from Stone Mountain, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. "I didn't think they would respect rap as an art form enough for me to do it." Shaw describes the 10-track album as a dark and moody take on what it means to be black in America. Each song is told from a different character's perspective, an idea inspired by Geoffrey Chaucer's 14th-century classic "The Canterbury Tales." Shaw, who's black, also draws on the works of writer James Baldwin while tackling topics ranging from police violence to slavery. Shaw's thesis adviser, Harvard English lecturer Josh Bell, said Shaw is a "serious artist and he's an amazing guy." "He was able to turn around an album that people in the English Department would like very much but also that people who like rap music might like," Bell said. Harvard undergraduates aren't obligated to submit senior theses, but most departments require it to graduate with honors. Often it takes the form of a research paper, but students can apply to turn in an artistic work as a creative thesis. Some submit screenplays, novels or poetry collections. Shaw was at home for winter break in 2015, struggling to find a topic for a written thesis, when he told his mother, Michelle Shaw, about the creative thesis option. He had recently started writing his own raps and performing them at open-microphone nights on campus. His mother connected the dots and suggested he record an album for his thesis. It took Shaw more than a year to write the songs and record them at a studio on Harvard's campus. His friends supplied many of the beats, while he taught himself how to mix the tracks into a polished product. "I'm still not satisfied with the quality of the production just yet, but I'm constantly learning and growing," Shaw said. Rap and hip-hop have drawn growing interest from academia in recent years. Harvard established a fellowship for scholars of hip-hop in 2013, and other schools including the University of Arizona have started to offer minors in hip-hop studies. Clemson University announced in February that a doctoral student submitted a 34-track rap album as his dissertation, a first for the South Carolina university. Shaw plans to circulate the album online for free and hopes it opens doors to the music industry. In the meantime, he's headed to Seattle to work as a software engineer at Google. By PTI ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan government today faced flak over its handling of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav's case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), with several legal experts questioning the strategy adopted and asking why it accepted the global court's jurisdiction. The Hague-based court, the UN's highest judicial body, had yesterday stayed the execution of Jadhav, 46, considered to be a spy by Pakistan. The ruling triggered criticism of the the Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) for its "poor handling" and also for its choice of Khawar Qureshi, who represented Pakistan's case before the ICJ. The Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) had recommended some other counsel, The Express Tribune reported. According to former Pakistan Bar Council Vice Chairman Farogh Naseem, Pakistan should have immediately withdrawn its March 29, 2017 declaration accepting the compulsory jurisdiction of the ICJ. Instead of contesting the matter, Pakistan should have withdrawn the declaration immediately after India took Jadhav's case to the ICJ, he said. "Why did Pakistan not take the glaring and brutal human rights violations in Kashmir before the court, despite the fact that Islamabad had a strong case in this regard?" Former Additional Attorney General Tariq Khokhar, an expert in international law, regretted that Pakistan had accepted ICJ jurisdiction through a declaration, which should have been withdrawn once Pakistan knew that India would invoke the ICJ's jurisdiction against it. "Being an arbitration forum, each contesting state was allowed to nominate one person of its choice to act as an ad hoc judge at the ICJ...India did nominate one but Pakistan did not," Khokhar said, adding that Pakistan's counsel did not argue for the full allotted time either. Eminent lawyer and human rights activist Asma Jahangir suggested that rather than making the ICJ ruling a matter of ego, "we should sit down, join our heads and find a way out by going through the ruling thoroughly". "Who gave the opinion to deny consular access to Jadhav in the first place?" she asked. International law expert Ahmer Bilal Soofi was of the view that Pakistan should prepare for the second phase of the case, which was "more important because it would be contested on merit and would provide Pakistan the chance to document Indias intervention inside Pakistan through Jadhav". Islamabad could insist on cooperation from India on the investigation into Jadhavs activities, he said. Former law minister S M Zafar said prime facie, it was a wrong decision. "I could not understand why the ICJ issued a stay order in the Jadhav case without even understanding the case." According to him, Pakistan should change its legal strategy and concentrate more on the terrorism angle. A senior official told The Express Tribune that India had been successful in managing the ICJ's registrar office, which has vast powers to fix cases before the court. "We were very surprised how swiftly Jadhavs case was fixed before the ICJ," he said. A senior official in the law ministry told the Express Tribune that Pakistan's lead lawyer Qureshi made two mistakes. "He did not nominate ad hoc judge before the hearing and he did not respond to the argument of Indian lawyer regarding the 2008 bilateral agreement between India and Pakistan on consular access," he said. The agreement says both the states will not give consular access to terrorists. However, Haresh Salve, counsel for India, contended that the agreement was not registered with the United Nations. The official said the foreign office had also failed to register the bilateral agreement with the UN. Legal experts recommended that as the government now has a couple of months to evolve future strategy, it should not take a decision on appointment of an ad hoc judge in haste. They also wondered why Pakistan wanted to appoint foreigner as an ad hoc judge when every state prefers to nominate its own lawyers. Pakistan Bar Council executive member Raheel Kamran Sheikh said it was matter of concern that success rate of Pakistan in international arbitration cases was 2 per cent while India's success rate was 60 per cent. "We lost important cases at the international forum in the last couple of years. Likewise, we spent more than one billion rupees on lawyers fees in those cases," he said. Sheikh said mishandling of Jadhavs case was a classic example of how in the power struggle between military and political institutions, gaps in the foreign policy and national security perspectives had grown. "And they [gaps] have grown to such an extent that if the situation is not arrested and improved immediately in the national interest by both the centres of power, irreparable damage shall be caused to the state," he said. ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan government today faced flak over its handling of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav's case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), with several legal experts questioning the strategy adopted and asking why it accepted the global court's jurisdiction. The Hague-based court, the UN's highest judicial body, had yesterday stayed the execution of Jadhav, 46, considered to be a spy by Pakistan. The ruling triggered criticism of the the Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) for its "poor handling" and also for its choice of Khawar Qureshi, who represented Pakistan's case before the ICJ. The Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) had recommended some other counsel, The Express Tribune reported. According to former Pakistan Bar Council Vice Chairman Farogh Naseem, Pakistan should have immediately withdrawn its March 29, 2017 declaration accepting the compulsory jurisdiction of the ICJ. Instead of contesting the matter, Pakistan should have withdrawn the declaration immediately after India took Jadhav's case to the ICJ, he said. "Why did Pakistan not take the glaring and brutal human rights violations in Kashmir before the court, despite the fact that Islamabad had a strong case in this regard?" Former Additional Attorney General Tariq Khokhar, an expert in international law, regretted that Pakistan had accepted ICJ jurisdiction through a declaration, which should have been withdrawn once Pakistan knew that India would invoke the ICJ's jurisdiction against it. "Being an arbitration forum, each contesting state was allowed to nominate one person of its choice to act as an ad hoc judge at the ICJ...India did nominate one but Pakistan did not," Khokhar said, adding that Pakistan's counsel did not argue for the full allotted time either. Eminent lawyer and human rights activist Asma Jahangir suggested that rather than making the ICJ ruling a matter of ego, "we should sit down, join our heads and find a way out by going through the ruling thoroughly". "Who gave the opinion to deny consular access to Jadhav in the first place?" she asked. International law expert Ahmer Bilal Soofi was of the view that Pakistan should prepare for the second phase of the case, which was "more important because it would be contested on merit and would provide Pakistan the chance to document Indias intervention inside Pakistan through Jadhav". Islamabad could insist on cooperation from India on the investigation into Jadhavs activities, he said. Former law minister S M Zafar said prime facie, it was a wrong decision. "I could not understand why the ICJ issued a stay order in the Jadhav case without even understanding the case." According to him, Pakistan should change its legal strategy and concentrate more on the terrorism angle. A senior official told The Express Tribune that India had been successful in managing the ICJ's registrar office, which has vast powers to fix cases before the court. "We were very surprised how swiftly Jadhavs case was fixed before the ICJ," he said. A senior official in the law ministry told the Express Tribune that Pakistan's lead lawyer Qureshi made two mistakes. "He did not nominate ad hoc judge before the hearing and he did not respond to the argument of Indian lawyer regarding the 2008 bilateral agreement between India and Pakistan on consular access," he said. The agreement says both the states will not give consular access to terrorists. However, Haresh Salve, counsel for India, contended that the agreement was not registered with the United Nations. The official said the foreign office had also failed to register the bilateral agreement with the UN. Legal experts recommended that as the government now has a couple of months to evolve future strategy, it should not take a decision on appointment of an ad hoc judge in haste. They also wondered why Pakistan wanted to appoint foreigner as an ad hoc judge when every state prefers to nominate its own lawyers. Pakistan Bar Council executive member Raheel Kamran Sheikh said it was matter of concern that success rate of Pakistan in international arbitration cases was 2 per cent while India's success rate was 60 per cent. "We lost important cases at the international forum in the last couple of years. Likewise, we spent more than one billion rupees on lawyers fees in those cases," he said. Sheikh said mishandling of Jadhavs case was a classic example of how in the power struggle between military and political institutions, gaps in the foreign policy and national security perspectives had grown. "And they [gaps] have grown to such an extent that if the situation is not arrested and improved immediately in the national interest by both the centres of power, irreparable damage shall be caused to the state," he said. By Associated Press WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump said Thursday that he is "very close" to naming a new FBI director to replace the one he fired more than a week ago. Asked how close he is to making an announcement, Trump said, "soon." During an Oval Office appearance with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, Trump was also asked whether former Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman was a top candidate for the job. Trump responded, "He is." Trump and Lieberman discussed the position at the White House on Wednesday. Lieberman gave reporters a thumbs-up as he left and said he and the president had a "good meeting." Trump has said he could name a director before he leaves the country Friday on his first overseas trip as president. Trump interviewed three other potential FBI director candidates Wednesday: former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating, former top FBI official Richard McFeely and Andrew McCabe. McCabe became acting director after Trump fired James Comey as director last week. The Senate must confirm whomever Trump nominates for the job. "I cherish the FBI. It's special," Trump said later at a joint news conference with Santos. "All over the world, no matter where you go, the FBI is special." He said the bureau hasn't enjoyed "that special reputation" since during the presidential campaign. Trump criticized Comey for a recent performance testifying to Congress and said Comey's replacement is "going to be outstanding." Lieberman served in the Senate for more than two decades and was the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2000 with Al Gore, then the sitting vice president. Lieberman lost his 2006 Democratic primary bid but won Senate re-election as a third-party candidate. Lieberman spoke at the 2008 Republican National Convention on behalf of his friend, Arizona Sen. John McCain, and did not seek re-election in 2012. He has served as co-chairman of No Labels, a centrist group that promotes bipartisanship. Keating, a Republican, was a two-term governor of Oklahoma and led the state during the deadly 1995 bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma City. A former FBI agent, Keating served in the administrations of Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. McCabe became acting director following Comey's dismissal May 9. The veteran FBI official made headlines for congressional testimony last week that rejected the White House's claim that Comey had lost the support of rank-and-file agents. He also disputed the administration's characterization of an investigation into potential coordination between Russia and the Trump White House. Several other candidates have withdrawn from consideration: Rep. Trey Gowdy of South Carolina and Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, both Republicans; Alice Fisher, the former head of the Justice Department's criminal division; and Michael Garcia, a former U.S. attorney from Manhattan. WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump said Thursday that he is "very close" to naming a new FBI director to replace the one he fired more than a week ago. Asked how close he is to making an announcement, Trump said, "soon." During an Oval Office appearance with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, Trump was also asked whether former Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman was a top candidate for the job. Trump responded, "He is." Trump and Lieberman discussed the position at the White House on Wednesday. Lieberman gave reporters a thumbs-up as he left and said he and the president had a "good meeting." Trump has said he could name a director before he leaves the country Friday on his first overseas trip as president. Trump interviewed three other potential FBI director candidates Wednesday: former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating, former top FBI official Richard McFeely and Andrew McCabe. McCabe became acting director after Trump fired James Comey as director last week. The Senate must confirm whomever Trump nominates for the job. "I cherish the FBI. It's special," Trump said later at a joint news conference with Santos. "All over the world, no matter where you go, the FBI is special." He said the bureau hasn't enjoyed "that special reputation" since during the presidential campaign. Trump criticized Comey for a recent performance testifying to Congress and said Comey's replacement is "going to be outstanding." Lieberman served in the Senate for more than two decades and was the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2000 with Al Gore, then the sitting vice president. Lieberman lost his 2006 Democratic primary bid but won Senate re-election as a third-party candidate. Lieberman spoke at the 2008 Republican National Convention on behalf of his friend, Arizona Sen. John McCain, and did not seek re-election in 2012. He has served as co-chairman of No Labels, a centrist group that promotes bipartisanship. Keating, a Republican, was a two-term governor of Oklahoma and led the state during the deadly 1995 bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma City. A former FBI agent, Keating served in the administrations of Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. McCabe became acting director following Comey's dismissal May 9. The veteran FBI official made headlines for congressional testimony last week that rejected the White House's claim that Comey had lost the support of rank-and-file agents. He also disputed the administration's characterization of an investigation into potential coordination between Russia and the Trump White House. Several other candidates have withdrawn from consideration: Rep. Trey Gowdy of South Carolina and Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, both Republicans; Alice Fisher, the former head of the Justice Department's criminal division; and Michael Garcia, a former U.S. attorney from Manhattan. By AFP WASHINGTON: As US President Donald Trump prepared to head to Saudi Arabia on Friday, Washington and Riyadh issued their first "joint terrorist designation" -- blacklisting a Hezbollah leader. Hashem Safieddine is head of the executive council of Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Lebanese armed movement which Washington has branded a "foreign terrorist organization." "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia joined the United States in designating Hashem Safieddine," the State Department said in a statement. "As a result, any of his assets held in Saudi Arabia are frozen, and transfers through the Kingdom's financial sector, are prohibited." Separately, the department's Bureau of Counterterrorism tweeted that this marked the "first-ever" State Department and foreign nation "joint terrorist designation", underlining the close cooperation between US and Saudi officials. "The action against Safieddine is the latest example of the strong partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia in combatting the financing of terrorism," the State Department said. Extremist threat The official Saudi news agency SPA confirmed Safieddine's listing, and alleged he had given his organization advice on carrying out terrorist acts and on supplying support to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime. Trump has chosen the kingdom as the venue of his first foreign presidential visit, and this weekend he will meet King Salman and address an audience of up to 50 leaders from across the Muslim world on the threat of extremism. Safieddine, a Lebanese citizen who is in his 50s, is the head of Hezbollah's executive council, which runs the group's political affairs and social and economic programs in Lebanon's Shiite community. He is a cousin of Hezbollah's overall leader Hassan Nasrallah, and is spoken of a potential candidate to succeed him and take charge of perhaps the most powerful non-state movement in an unstable region. The US designation order did not link him to any recent Hezbollah attacks, but noted the group's historical involvement in the 1983 bombing of a US Marines barracks in Beirut, a US embassy bombing in 1984 and a passenger jet hijacking in 1985. In the same statement, the State Department also added Muhammad al-Isawi -- whom it said had taken over the leadership of the Islamic State group franchise in Egypt's Sinai peninsula in August 2016 -- to the sanctions list. As "specially designated global terrorists," Safieddine and al-Isawi will see any assets they hold in areas under US jurisdiction frozen, and US citizens will be forbidden from any dealings with them. Separately but simultaneously, the US Treasury added two Yemeni tribal leaders, Hashim Muhsin Aydarus al-Hamid and Khalid Ali Mabkhut al-Aradah, to its own sanctions list, branding them leaders of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. WASHINGTON: As US President Donald Trump prepared to head to Saudi Arabia on Friday, Washington and Riyadh issued their first "joint terrorist designation" -- blacklisting a Hezbollah leader. Hashem Safieddine is head of the executive council of Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Lebanese armed movement which Washington has branded a "foreign terrorist organization." "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia joined the United States in designating Hashem Safieddine," the State Department said in a statement. "As a result, any of his assets held in Saudi Arabia are frozen, and transfers through the Kingdom's financial sector, are prohibited." Separately, the department's Bureau of Counterterrorism tweeted that this marked the "first-ever" State Department and foreign nation "joint terrorist designation", underlining the close cooperation between US and Saudi officials. "The action against Safieddine is the latest example of the strong partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia in combatting the financing of terrorism," the State Department said. Extremist threat The official Saudi news agency SPA confirmed Safieddine's listing, and alleged he had given his organization advice on carrying out terrorist acts and on supplying support to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime. Trump has chosen the kingdom as the venue of his first foreign presidential visit, and this weekend he will meet King Salman and address an audience of up to 50 leaders from across the Muslim world on the threat of extremism. Safieddine, a Lebanese citizen who is in his 50s, is the head of Hezbollah's executive council, which runs the group's political affairs and social and economic programs in Lebanon's Shiite community. He is a cousin of Hezbollah's overall leader Hassan Nasrallah, and is spoken of a potential candidate to succeed him and take charge of perhaps the most powerful non-state movement in an unstable region. The US designation order did not link him to any recent Hezbollah attacks, but noted the group's historical involvement in the 1983 bombing of a US Marines barracks in Beirut, a US embassy bombing in 1984 and a passenger jet hijacking in 1985. In the same statement, the State Department also added Muhammad al-Isawi -- whom it said had taken over the leadership of the Islamic State group franchise in Egypt's Sinai peninsula in August 2016 -- to the sanctions list. As "specially designated global terrorists," Safieddine and al-Isawi will see any assets they hold in areas under US jurisdiction frozen, and US citizens will be forbidden from any dealings with them. Separately but simultaneously, the US Treasury added two Yemeni tribal leaders, Hashim Muhsin Aydarus al-Hamid and Khalid Ali Mabkhut al-Aradah, to its own sanctions list, branding them leaders of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. By AFP OTTAWA: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has vowed a "firm" and unwavering defence of Canadian interests in the face of US trade attacks. "We're going to continue to work very, very hard to defend Canada's interests," he said yesterday. In late April, the United States imposed a duty on timber imported from Canada and threatened similar sanctions on Canadian dairy products. Then on Thursday, the US Department of Commerce launched an investigation at the request of aerospace manufacturer Boeing into alleged dumping of aircraft built by its Canadian rival Bombardier, with Canadian government financial support, into the US market. On all of these issues, "we will always be resolute and firm in how we stand up for Canadian interests," Trudeau said. "On the issue of aeronautics, we will always defend Canada's companies... and Canada's workers." On Thursday, Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland threatened to cancel Ottawa's purchase of Boeing fighter jets if the US did not back off its attacks on Bombardier. The same day, the US government formally launched the process to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement. US President Donald Trump has assailed the continental trade pact as "the worst trade deal maybe ever signed anywhere." NAFTA negotiations between Canada, Mexico and the United States are to formally start in August after a 90-day consultation process. OTTAWA: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has vowed a "firm" and unwavering defence of Canadian interests in the face of US trade attacks. "We're going to continue to work very, very hard to defend Canada's interests," he said yesterday. In late April, the United States imposed a duty on timber imported from Canada and threatened similar sanctions on Canadian dairy products. Then on Thursday, the US Department of Commerce launched an investigation at the request of aerospace manufacturer Boeing into alleged dumping of aircraft built by its Canadian rival Bombardier, with Canadian government financial support, into the US market. On all of these issues, "we will always be resolute and firm in how we stand up for Canadian interests," Trudeau said. "On the issue of aeronautics, we will always defend Canada's companies... and Canada's workers." On Thursday, Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland threatened to cancel Ottawa's purchase of Boeing fighter jets if the US did not back off its attacks on Bombardier. The same day, the US government formally launched the process to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement. US President Donald Trump has assailed the continental trade pact as "the worst trade deal maybe ever signed anywhere." NAFTA negotiations between Canada, Mexico and the United States are to formally start in August after a 90-day consultation process. By AFP LONDON: Julian Assange claimed victory Friday after Swedish prosecutors dropped a seven-year rape allegation against the WikiLeaks founder, but insisted the "proper war" over his future was only just beginning. Assange gave a clenched fist salute as he stepped into the daylight on the balcony of Ecuador's London embassy, where he has been holed up since 2012. But the 45-year-old Australian said the road was "far from over" and declined to reveal whether he would leave the embassy after five years cooped up inside. British police would arrest him immediately for breaching earlier bail conditions if he left the embassy, while US authorities have warned they regard WikiLeaks as a "hostile intelligence service". "Today is an important victory," Assange told reporters and a small band of supporters crowded around the tiny balcony, after emerging wearing a black shirt and jacket. "But it by no means erases seven years of detention without charge. In prison, under house arrest and almost five years here in this embassy without sunlight. "That is not something that I can forgive. It is not something that I can forget." - Uncertain future - Earlier in Stockholm, Marianne Ny, Sweden's director of public prosecutions, said the rape investigation had been dropped because there was "no reason to believe that the decision to surrender him to Sweden can be executed in the foreseeable future". "It is no longer proportionate to maintain the arrest of Julian Assange in his absence," she said. Despite the probe in Sweden being dropped, Assange would still face arrest if he set foot outside the embassy, a flat located just behind the plush Harrods emporium. Assange jumped British bail by entering the embassy and claiming asylum, saying he feared he would eventually be extradited to the United States. US justice authorities have never confirmed that they have Assange under investigation or are seeking his extradition. But US Attorney General Jeff Sessions said last month that "we will seek to put some people in jail", when asked if arresting Assange was a "priority" for Washington. US prosecutors have been drafting a memo that looks at charges against Assange and WikiLeaks members that possibly include conspiracy, theft of government property and violations of the Espionage Act, according to The Washington Post. US President Donald Trump's administration has put heat on WikiLeaks after it embarrassed the Central Intelligence Agency in March by releasing files and computer code from the spy agency's top-secret hacking operations. "While today was an important victory and an important vindication, the road is far from over. The war, the proper war is just commencing," Assange said. He said his lawyers were in touch with the British authorities and hoped to begin a dialogue about the "best way forward". And the former computer hacker said that despite the "extremely threatening remarks" emanating from Washington, he was "always ready to engage with the Department of Justice". The department said Friday it had no comment "at this point" on Assange. Asked if London would now support a request to extradite Assange to the United States, British Prime Minister Theresa May said: "We look at extradition requests on a case-by-case basis." Assange's Swedish lawyer, Per Samuelsson, said his client plans to move to Ecuador because "it's the only nation where he is safe". - Decision a 'scandal' - In Sweden, Assange's accuser was left stunned by the prosecutors' decision. "It is a scandal that a suspected rapist can escape justice and thereby avoid the courts," her lawyer, Elisabeth Fritz, told AFP in an email. "My client is shocked and no decision to (end the case) can make her change (her mind) that Assange exposed her to rape," she said. The accusation against Assange dates from August 2010 when the alleged victim, who says she met him at a WikiLeaks conference in Stockholm a few days earlier, filed a complaint. She accused him of having sex with her -- as she slept -- without using a condom despite repeatedly having denied him unprotected sex. Assange always denied the allegations, which he feared would lead to him being extradited to the United States and facing trial over the leak of hundreds of thousands of secret US military and diplomatic documents in 2010, which brought WikiLeaks to prominence. LONDON: Julian Assange claimed victory Friday after Swedish prosecutors dropped a seven-year rape allegation against the WikiLeaks founder, but insisted the "proper war" over his future was only just beginning. Assange gave a clenched fist salute as he stepped into the daylight on the balcony of Ecuador's London embassy, where he has been holed up since 2012. But the 45-year-old Australian said the road was "far from over" and declined to reveal whether he would leave the embassy after five years cooped up inside. British police would arrest him immediately for breaching earlier bail conditions if he left the embassy, while US authorities have warned they regard WikiLeaks as a "hostile intelligence service". "Today is an important victory," Assange told reporters and a small band of supporters crowded around the tiny balcony, after emerging wearing a black shirt and jacket. "But it by no means erases seven years of detention without charge. In prison, under house arrest and almost five years here in this embassy without sunlight. "That is not something that I can forgive. It is not something that I can forget." - Uncertain future - Earlier in Stockholm, Marianne Ny, Sweden's director of public prosecutions, said the rape investigation had been dropped because there was "no reason to believe that the decision to surrender him to Sweden can be executed in the foreseeable future". "It is no longer proportionate to maintain the arrest of Julian Assange in his absence," she said. Despite the probe in Sweden being dropped, Assange would still face arrest if he set foot outside the embassy, a flat located just behind the plush Harrods emporium. Assange jumped British bail by entering the embassy and claiming asylum, saying he feared he would eventually be extradited to the United States. US justice authorities have never confirmed that they have Assange under investigation or are seeking his extradition. But US Attorney General Jeff Sessions said last month that "we will seek to put some people in jail", when asked if arresting Assange was a "priority" for Washington. US prosecutors have been drafting a memo that looks at charges against Assange and WikiLeaks members that possibly include conspiracy, theft of government property and violations of the Espionage Act, according to The Washington Post. US President Donald Trump's administration has put heat on WikiLeaks after it embarrassed the Central Intelligence Agency in March by releasing files and computer code from the spy agency's top-secret hacking operations. "While today was an important victory and an important vindication, the road is far from over. The war, the proper war is just commencing," Assange said. He said his lawyers were in touch with the British authorities and hoped to begin a dialogue about the "best way forward". And the former computer hacker said that despite the "extremely threatening remarks" emanating from Washington, he was "always ready to engage with the Department of Justice". The department said Friday it had no comment "at this point" on Assange. Asked if London would now support a request to extradite Assange to the United States, British Prime Minister Theresa May said: "We look at extradition requests on a case-by-case basis." Assange's Swedish lawyer, Per Samuelsson, said his client plans to move to Ecuador because "it's the only nation where he is safe". - Decision a 'scandal' - In Sweden, Assange's accuser was left stunned by the prosecutors' decision. "It is a scandal that a suspected rapist can escape justice and thereby avoid the courts," her lawyer, Elisabeth Fritz, told AFP in an email. "My client is shocked and no decision to (end the case) can make her change (her mind) that Assange exposed her to rape," she said. The accusation against Assange dates from August 2010 when the alleged victim, who says she met him at a WikiLeaks conference in Stockholm a few days earlier, filed a complaint. She accused him of having sex with her -- as she slept -- without using a condom despite repeatedly having denied him unprotected sex. Assange always denied the allegations, which he feared would lead to him being extradited to the United States and facing trial over the leak of hundreds of thousands of secret US military and diplomatic documents in 2010, which brought WikiLeaks to prominence. Food Scene: Newport County options that have Thanksgiving covered Staying home or hitting the road, theres one foolproof way to make sure your Thanksgiving feast is both easy and memorable. Adding the injectable drug mepolizumab to standard treatment for eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), a rare immunologic disease, significantly improved clinical outcomes among participants in an advanced clinical trial, scientists report. The study was funded jointly by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the pharmaceutical company GSK, which makes mepolizumab. The trial took place at 31 research sites in nine countries, including the NIH Clinical Research Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Mepolizumab is already approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat people with severe eosinophilic asthma. Lab Diagnostics & Automation eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today In EGPA, previously known as Churg-Strauss Syndrome, the number of a type of white blood cell called an eosinophil increases dramatically. People affected usually experience severe asthma first and later develop multi-organ damage as eosinophils accumulate in the walls of blood vessels. The eosinophils release toxic proteins that cause inflammation of and damage to blood vessel walls, leading to restricted blood flow and tissue damage. People with EGPA are currently treated with oral steroids, which usually must be taken continuously, but their long-term use has serious side effects. Additionally, the steroids do not help everyone, and relapses are common. To try to prevent recurrent relapses, doctors can add medications that suppress the immune system, but these drugs also can have serious side effects. In the Phase 3 clinical trial, scientists tested the efficacy of adding mepolizumab to steroid treatment for EGPA, with or without immunosuppressants, in 136 patients who either had not responded to treatment or had relapsed. For one year, half the participants received injections of mepolizumab and half received injections of a placebo every 4 weeks. Neither the investigators nor the participants knew who had received which until the end of the trial. EGPA was in remission cumulatively for at least 24 weeks in 28 percent of participants who received mepolizumab but in only 3 percent who received placebo. In addition, the disease was in remission at weeks 36 and 48 in 32 percent of participants who received mepolizumab but in only 3 percent who received placebo. Roughly half of participants who received mepolizumab did not achieve remission, compared to 81 percent of those who received placebo. An NIAID-funded study is under way to learn what biological markers distinguish those who benefitted from mepolizumab from those who did not. A team led by KOH Gou Young, director of the Center for Vascular Research, within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS), in collaboration with Chungnam National University, clarified the molecular mechanism to explain how the thyroid and surrounding vascular system change in the most common form of hyperthyroidism. Published in the EMBO Molecular Medicine journal, these findings provide a potential therapeutic target for thyroid diseases. The thyroid is a highly vascularized organ, found behind the Adam's apple. Some of the functions of the thyroid are regulated by a hormone, called thyrotropin, produced in the brain. Graves' disease, the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in the United States, affects both the thyroid and the surrounding vascular network. In this disease, the thyroid produces an excessive amount of hormones and the capillaries become denser. "Previous studies show that abnormalities in thyroid glands and surrounding vasculature are interconnected, we wanted to understand how this happens, at the molecular level," explains Koh. Using animal models that simulate Graves' disease, IBS scientists uncovered the biological pathway contributing to this disorder. They found that the culprit is the vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A). This protein is involved in forming new vessels around the thyroid, and regulating the hormonal exchange happening between these vessels and the thyroid, through very small pores called fenestrae (from Latin 'window'). Upon stimulation with the thyrotropin hormone, VEGF-A is produced by the thyroid gland and as a result, the thyroid enlarges and the walls of the capillaries (constituted mainly by endothelial cells) increase the expression of VEGFR2, the receptor for VEGF-A. By blocking VEGFR2, IBS scientists could inhibit enlargement of the thyroid and stop vascular remodeling. "Our findings identify VEGFR2 blockade as a novel therapeutic avenue for targeting thyroid disease associated with thyrotropin," explains Koh. Concurrently, the research team could also exclude other molecular pathways. For example, they found that the angiopoietin-Tie2 pathway, fundamental in other tissues like the eyes and brain, does not play a major role in remodeling the vasculature of the thyroid gland. Finally, VEGFR3 was ruled out from the indispensable pool of proteins that maintain thyroid vascular integrity. A small, thin square of an organic plastic that can detect disease markers in breath or toxins in a building's air could soon be the basis of portable, disposable sensor devices. By riddling the thin plastic films with pores, University of Illinois researchers made the devices sensitive enough to detect at levels that are far too low to smell, yet are important to human health. In a new study in the journal Advanced Functional Materials, professor Ying Diao's research group demonstrated a device that monitors ammonia in breath, a sign of kidney failure. "In the clinical setting, physicians use bulky instruments, basically the size of a big table, to detect and analyze these compounds. We want to hand out a cheap sensor chip to patients so they can use it and throw it away," said Diao, a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at Illinois. Other researchers have tried using organic semiconductors for gas sensing, but the materials were not sensitive enough to detect trace levels of disease markers in breath. Diao's group realized that the reactive sites were not on the surface of the plastic film, but buried inside it. "We developed this method to directly print tiny pores into the device itself so we can expose these highly reactive sites," Diao said. "By doing so, we increased the reactivity by ten times and can sense down to one part per billion." For their first device demonstration, the researchers focused on ammonia as a marker for kidney failure. Monitoring the change in ammonia concentration could give a patient an early warning sign to call their doctor for a kidney function test, Diao said. The material they chose is highly reactive to ammonia but not to other compounds in breath, Diao said. But by changing the composition of the sensor, they could create devices that are tuned to other compounds. For example, the researchers have created an ultrasensitive environmental monitor for formaldehyde, a common indoor pollutant in new or refurbished buildings. The group is working to make sensors with multiple functions to get a more complete picture of a patient's health. "We would like to be able to detect multiple compounds at once, like a chemical fingerprint," Diao said. "It's useful because in disease conditions, multiple markers will usually change concentration at once. By mapping out the chemical fingerprints and how they change, we can more accurately point to signs of potential health issues." A medical student "operates" on a virtual patient. A surgeon sees an "augmented" vision of a patient with holograms and consults from other surgeons. A computer draws specific section of bone for surgical planning. Healthcare market research firm Kalorama Information estimates that the virtual reality in healthcare market in the United States grew from $525 million in 2012 to an estimated $976 million in 2017. The US virtual reality and augmented reality in healthcare market is expected to grow at roughly that level, according to Kalorama Information's report, Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality (VR/AR) Market in Healthcare. "The term 'virtual reality' is used in different contexts," says Kalorama's analyst Emil Salazar, the author of the firm's report. "Broadly, virtual reality is the means or capability to visualize and manipulate, or otherwise interact with, digital data representative of a real-world entity or environment. These digital data representatives are called virtual environments or VEs. VEs in healthcare would be an operating room, surgical site, patient anatomy, or therapeutic simulation." The predominant markets for VR in healthcare and AR in healthcare are in surgery, medical education, professional training in healthcare, physical rehabilitation, pain management, and behavioral therapy. The report identifies scores of applications for virtual reality in healthcare, which include the following: Surgery: Virtual reality technology has been particularly useful in robot-assisted orthopedic surgery. For instance, the Stryker Mako system highlights bone sections during surgical planning that are to be removed or shaved away for implant placement. The pre-operative 3D model is registered to the patient structure and becomes an interactive template during the procedure. The Mako burring instrument is directly held in the surgeon's hand, but provides resistance against surgeon movements to keep the burr within the predefined removal area highlighted in the 3D model. Burring instrument operation on the surgical site also updates the virtual model with replicated bone material removal. The interactive virtual model improves the precision of orthopedic implant placement and mitigates excessive bone removal Pain Management: Numerous studies have demonstrated that patient distraction can be effective for pain relief and pain management. The immersive qualities of VR can significantly diminish patients' active attention to painful procedures such as wound cleaning and needle insertion. The analgesic effect of VR may vary in relation to its sensory complexity and interactive capabilities. Additional sensory dimensions in the virtual environment may include olfactory inputs and haptic feedback. Interaction with the virtual environment also diverts patient attention from pain; many trials of pain management using VR involved a game requiring eye or motor movement to complete virtual task. Medical Education, particularly surgical education: Numerous companies offer VR, often headset-based, and AR products that address the preoperative spectrum from surgical planning through rehearsal, independent of a particular platform such as surgical navigation system or RAS. Image fusion of multiple medical imaging modalities provides surgeons and consulting physicians with 3D patient-specific anatomy that can be accessed and navigated in AR (typically computer screens) or VR (major market headsets such as the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive or smartphone-based sets). Kalorama Information's report, Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality (VR/AR) Market in Healthcare (U.S. Markets for Surgery; Medical Education and Training; Pain Management, Rehabilitation and Therapy) has specific market sizes and forecasts for these segments, and talks about companies in the market, as well as other trends. In a revolutionary first, Cancer Research UK-funded scientists will test whether the Zika virus can destroy brain tumor cells, potentially leading to new treatments for one of the hardest to treat cancers. Dr. Harry Bulstrode at the University of Cambridge has received a Cancer Research UK Pioneer Award to test the effect of the Zika virus on glioblastoma, the most common and aggressive form of brain tumor. The research, using tumor cells in the laboratory and in mice, will see if the virus can destroy cancer cells. Each year around 2,300 people are diagnosed with glioblastoma in England. And fewer than five per cent of patients survive their disease for five years or more. Existing treatments are limited by their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, and doses must be kept low to avoid damage to healthy tissue. The Zika virus can cross the blood-brain barrier and could target cancer cells, sparing normal adult brain tissue and opening a potential new way to attack the disease. Zika virus infection in pregnancy causes severe disability in babies by attacking stem cells in the developing brain. But in adults, since the brain is fully developed, Zika usually causes no more than mild flu-like symptoms. In glioblastoma, the cancer cells resemble those in the developing brain, suggesting that the Zika infection could attack them too. This early stage research will explore how the virus targets stem cells and provide the starting point to develop new treatments that seek out the tumor and spare the surrounding healthy brain tissue. Dr Harry Bulstrode, a Cancer Research UK scientist at the University of Cambridge, said: "Zika virus infection in babies and children is a major global health concern, and the focus has been to discover more about the virus to find new possible treatments. We're taking a different approach, and want to use these new insights to see if the virus can be unleashed against one of the hardest to treat cancers. "We hope to show that the Zika virus can slow down brain tumor growth in tests in the lab. If we can learn lessons from Zika's ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and target brain stem cells selectively, we could be holding the key to future treatments." The 200,000 Cancer Research UK Pioneer Award encourages innovative ideas, from individuals or teams, from any background that could be game changing in tackling cancer. Dr. Iain Foulkes, director of research and innovation at Cancer Research UK, said: "We urgently need new insights and treatments to tackle glioblastomas, one of the most common and difficult to treat forms of brain tumors. "Finding new ways to treat brain tumors to help more people survive the disease is a priority for Cancer Research UK. Dr. Bulstrode's research is an incredibly innovative way to expand our understanding of how we can beat this disease, which remains a notorious challenge. "This research is exactly the sort of project we want to spark through Cancer Research UK's Pioneer Awards. These bold research projects push the edge of our thinking and define entirely new approaches that could be tomorrow's breakthrough." Source: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-us/cancer-news/press-release/2017-05-19-scientists-to-test-zika-virus-on-brain-tumours Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M), Telefonica and FASOCIDE (the Spanish acronym for the Federation of Deaf-Blind Persons Associations) presented the PervasiveSUB technology, ground-breaking software which allows deaf-blind persons to receive and enjoy television content without intermediaries at the same time as the people around them. PervasiveSUB compiles all the subtitles of television channels and sends them to a central server which forwards them to smartphones or tablets. From there, they are sent to the Braille line of the deaf-blind person thanks to the GoAll app, which integrates the software, is compatible with different Braille lines and makes it possible to control the speed of the subtitles that are captured directly from the TV broadcast in perfect synchronization. The presentation, which took place at the UC3M Madrid-Puerta de Toledo campus, was attended by angel Garcia Crespo, a UC3M professor and director of the project; Arancha Diaz-Llado, the director of Telefonica's Sustainable Innovation; and Francisco Jose Trigueros Molina, the president of FASOCIDE. Also in attendance was a group of deaf-blind persons who gave a demonstration of how this technology works. PervasiveSUB, financed by Telefonica, was developed by the research group at the UC3M Pedro Juan de LastanosaInstitute of Technological Development and Promotion of Innovation. Garcia Crespo, who headed the group, stated that "one of the big problems deaf-blind persons face is the scant attention they receive, which is demonstrated by the fact that they weren't recognized by the European Parliament until 2004." Diaz-Llado said, "At Telefonica we endeavor to become a more accessible company and that way contribute to equal opportunities for all. And although we still have a long way to go, the new inclusive technologies and the digital revolution are the best means to help us get there." A group of deaf-blind users from FASOCIDE was asked to try this innovative software in Spain and the United States, with very satisfactory results. All the people who have tried it highlight the advantage of being able to access information they previously could not, in real time and without intermediaries, and they have also praised its ability to transmit to Braille lines and the ability to adjust the reading and viewing speed. Given the success of these tests, the technology has already been implemented on all the national DTT channels and regional DTT channels in Madrid, and it will soon be available in the other autonomous regions of Spain. The research team is now providing this service free of charge to anyone who needs it. Interested parties need only to download the GoAll app, available on OS and Android. Deaf-blind persons suffer a combined deterioration of sight and hearing, which impedes their access to information, communication and mobility in a way that seriously affects everyday abilities necessary for a minimally independent life. This is why they require specialized services, personnel trained specifically to care for them and special methods of communication. In Spain, there are around 20,000 deaf-blind persons. To interact with their surroundings, they need the constant presence of an interpreter through whom any visual or auditory stimuli must pass. However, from now on, and thanks to research of the sort done at UC3M, they will be able to receive television broadcasts first-hand and directly in real time and in the same conditions as everyone else. Tau proteins are involved in more than twenty neurodegenerative diseases, including various forms of dementia. These proteins clump together in patients' brains to form neuronal tangles: protein aggregation that eventually coincides with the death of brain cells. Prof. Patrik Verstreken's research team (VIB-KU Leuven) has now discovered how tau disrupts the functioning of nerve cells, even before it starts forming tangles. They immediately suggest a way to intervene in this process. Tau proteins are best known as the proteins that are stacked to form neuronal "tangles" in Alzheimer's patients' brains, but they also play a role in many other brain disorders such as Parkinson's and Huntington's disease. In healthy circumstances, tau proteins are connected to the cytoskeleton of nerve cells, where they support the cells' structural stability. In the nerve cells of patients, however, tau is dislodged from the cytoskeleton and ultimately tangles together to form protein accumulations that disrupt the nerve cell's functioning. Neuroscience eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today Early spoilsport But even before these protein accumulations are formed, the dislodged tau impedes the communication between nerve cells. VIB's research team has described a new mechanism for this in the journal Nature Communications. Professor Patrik Verstreken (VIB-KU Leuven) explains: "We have demonstrated that when mutant tau dislodges from the cytoskeleton, it mainly settles at the synapses of the nerve cells. This was not only the case in fruit flies and rats but also in the brain cells of human patients. Vesicles containing chemicals are released at these synapses, which serve as the means of communication between two different nerve cells. When tau settles at the synapse, it locks onto the vesicles, inhibiting synaptic transmission." Fundamental research with prospects for therapeutic applications These new insights are the result of a close collaboration between different laboratories at VIB, the universities of Leuven, Louvain-la-Neuve (both in Belgium), and Edinburgh (UK), and with researchers from Janssen Pharmaceutica. They pave the way for a possible treatment. "Now that we know how tau inhibits synaptic transmission, we can look for ways to prevent it." Patrik Verstreken already provided proof of principle: "If we stop tau from locking onto the vesicles in the nerve cells of rats and fruit flies, we can prevent the inhibition of synaptic transmission and also the death of nerve cells." Further research should reveal whether this strategy will also be useful for patients. Lung cancer patients are particularly susceptible to malignant pleural effusion, when fluid collects in the space between the lungs and the chest wall. Researchers at the Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen, in partnership with the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), have discovered a novel mechanism that causes this to happen. Their study, published in 'Nature Communications', also shows that various active substances could potentially be used to treat this condition. Malignant pulmonary effusion (MPE) frequently occurs in patients with metastatic breast or lung cancer. It involves a build-up of excess fluid in the pleural cavity, the area between the lungs and the chest wall, with accompanying malignant cells. The lung is surrounded by fluid, which can cause shortness of breath and chest pain, for example, and may even prove fatal. "There is still no effective treatment for this," explains Professor Georgios Stathopoulos, research group leader at the Institute for Lung Biology (ILBD) and Comprehensive Pneumology Center (CPC) at the Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen. "In the case of larger pulmonary effusions with volumes exceeding one liter, treatment usually involves aspiration in order to relieve pressure on the lung." Cancer cells trigger mechanism Stathopoulos and his team are working to understand the causes of pleural effusion, which remain unclear, in an effort to advance the treatment of this condition in the future. In the current study, the scientists examined cancer cells they had obtained from pleural effusions with a malignant mutation in the KRAS gene. KRAS is known to play a key role in the growth of various malignant tumors. "We were able to show that these cells release a messenger substance into the bloodstream, which in turn attracts immune cells. These cells then wander via the spleen to the pleural cavity, where they cause the effusion," Stathopoulos says, explaining the mechanism. In addition, the scientists found the KRAS-mutant cancer cells in the MPE material of lung cancer patients as well as in the cell lines derived from them. Tests on active substances to treat pleural effusion In order to verify whether their newly acquired knowledge could be applied in clinical practice, the researchers tested two active substances that interrupt the mechanism at two different points. In an experimental model they were able to demonstrate that both the KRAS inhibitor Deltarasin and an antibody against the messenger substance released by the cancer cells prevented pleural effusion. "Nearly two thirds of all MPEs are the result of lung cancer. In view of the still large numbers of smokers, appropriate treatments are urgently needed," Stathopoulos stresses. "Our results lead us to assume that drugs that target the mechanism we have discovered could be a potential treatment option. Further studies are now needed to confirm that." Lung cancer expert Georgios Stathopoulos joined the Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen in 2015. He also heads a working group at the Laboratory for Molecular Respiratory Carcinogenesis at the University of Patras in Greece. The study that has now been published was the outcome of collaboration between the two working groups. Four automakers agreed to a $553 million settlement to address class-action economic loss claims covering owners of nearly 16 million recalled vehicles with potentially defective Takata airbag inflators, according to court documents filed on ThursdayToyota Motor Corp's share of the settlement costs is $278.5 million, followed by BMW AG at $131 million, Mazda at $76 million and Subaru Corp at $68 million. Lawsuits against Honda Motor Co, Ford Motor Co, and Nissan Motor Co have not been settled, lawyers said.Takata Corp inflators, which can explode with excessive force and unleash metal shrapnel inside cars and trucks, are blamed for at least 16 deaths and more than 180 injuries worldwide. About 100 million inflators have been recalled worldwide by 19 major automakers, the largest automotive recall ever for a single safety issue.The four automakers said in a joint statement they agreed to settle "given the size, scope, and severity of the Takata recall," but did not admit fault or liability. The automakers said the settlements if approved by a Florida judge, will be overseen by a court-appointed administrator.The settlement includes an outreach program to contact owners; compensation for economic losses including out-of-pocket expenses; a possible residual distribution payment of up to $500; rental cars for some owners; and a customer support program for repairs and adjustments, including an extended warranty.Of the $553 million, automakers will use about $50 million to provide rental cars. Owners getting a recall can be reimbursed for lost wages, transportation, and child care costs.In January, Takata agreed to plead guilty to criminal wrongdoing and to pay $1 billion to resolve a federal investigation into its inflators.As part of the settlement, Takata agreed to establish two independently administered restitution funds: one for $850 million to compensate automakers for recalls, and a $125 million fund for individuals injured by its airbags who have not already reached a settlement.The criminal settlement and penalties were set in the United States, where most of the air bag-related fatalities and injuries have occurred. Takata has been seeking a buyer or financial backer for a year.In late April, trading in Takata shares was suspended after a report that the company was considering a bankruptcy plan.Automakers have recalled 46 million Takata airbag inflators in 29 million U.S. vehicles. By 2019, automakers will recall 64 million to 69 million U.S. inflators in 42 million vehicles, regulators said in December. Most inflators have not been fixed.A spokesman said the court was reviewing a judge's decision to select former FBI director Robert Mueller to oversee the Takata settlement funds. Mueller resigned from his law firm to head the Justice Department's probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said in a press conference after the two-day meeting in Srinagar that the tax rates for most items had been fixed and the rate on the few items left will be decided soon. The GST should be rolled out on July 1, Jaitley said. Hotel rooms with a tariff of below Rs 1,000 will be exempt from tax, while those between Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,500 will attract a tax rate of 12%, and those between Rs 2,500 and Rs 5,000 will be taxed at 18%. Dining out at restaurants and hotel room tariffs will get cheaper, along with essential items like vegetables, milk and food grains, under the soon-to-be-rolled-out Goods and Services Tax regime. Cars, two-wheelers, air conditioners and make up products, on the other hand, will become more expensive.The decks have been cleared for the most ambitious tax reform since 1947. The finance ministers meeting in Srinagar has fixed tax rates for 1,200 categories of goods and services and everything looks set for the rollout of the GST on July 1.Four tax rates have been set under the GST: 5% (essentials), 12% and 18% (standard rate), and 28% (luxury rate). Apart from this, there is a nil rate, which means that items like newspapers, food grain, vegetables and milk will attract no tax.Non-AC restaurants will have to pay a 12% tax rate while their AC counterparts will have to pay 18%. Considering that currently dining out attracts a VAT as well as service tax, which adds up to more than 20%, the burden on consumers is likely to reduce under GST.Two-wheelers/cars/SUVs/commercial vehicles, cement, ACs and refrigerators, fast moving consumer goods, chocolates, paints, sanitaryware and tilesVegetables, Food grain, Fresh milk, Hair oil, cold drinksButter, cheese, ghee, pastries and cakes, tractors, milk powder, baby food, ice creams New Delhi: A special court in Delhi on Friday convicted former coal secretary HC Gupta, former joint secretary KS Kropha and then director KC Samaria in a coal scam case. Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar also convicted the firm KSSPL and its managing director Pawan Kumar Ahluwalia in the case pertaining to alleged irregularities in allocation of Thesgora-B Rudrapuri coal block in Madhya Pradesh to KSSPL. The court will pronounce the order on quantum of sentence on May 22. The court, however, acquitted chartered accountant Amit Goyal in the case. Kropha was the then joint secretary in the Ministry of Coal, while Samria was the then director (coal allocation-I) in the ministry. During the hearing, the CBI had alleged that the application filed by KSSPL for the coal block was incomplete and was supposed to be rejected by the ministry as it was not in accordance with the guidelines issued. The CBI had charged that the firm had misrepresented its net worth and existing capacity, adding that state government had also not recommended the firm for the allocation of any coal block. The accused, however, denied the allegations during the arguments. The court had in October last year framed charges against the accused observing that former prime minister Manmohan Singh was kept in the "dark" by Gupta, who had prima facie violated the law and the trust reposed in him on the issue of coal block allocation. Around eight different charge sheets have been filed against Gupta and proceedings are going on individually. The Supreme Court had recently dismissed his plea seeking joint trial in all these cases. (With PTI Inputs) New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday registered a Preliminary Enquiry (PE) against hardline Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and others for alleged involvement in subversive activities and receiving funds from LeT chief Hafiz Saeed. The others named in the PE are Naeem Khan, who was seen on television during a sting operation purportedly confessing to receiving money from Pakistan-based terror groups, Farooq Ahmed Dar alias 'Bitta Karate' and Gazi Javed Baba of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, an NIA spokesman told PTI. The separatists were receiving funds from chief of Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT) Hafiz Saeed to carry out subversive activities in the Kashmir Valley, including pelting stones at security forces, damaging public property and burning schools and other government establishments, the spokesman alleged. The NIA has also taken cognizance of the news report related to the recording of conversations between a TV reporter and leaders of separatist groups operating in the Kashmir Valley in this regard, he said. (With PTI inputs) Bhopal: The cyber cell of the Madhya Pradesh police have busted a sex racket and arrested nine people including a Bharatiya Janata Party office bearer here on Friday. The police detected the racket in a flat in the posh Arera Colony of the city and freed four girls from Maharashtra and Meghalaya. It came to light after the cyber unit of the state police received a complaint regarding a sex racket being run in Bhopal through a portal. As the cyber cell probed into the complaint it was revealed that the portal supplied women through online booking. To avoid the police, the racket was being run from a flat in E-7 area in super posh Arera Colony. Neeraj Shakya, who was recently appointed as SC Cell in BJP was also arrested by police in the case. Hours after the arrest, party state head Nandkumar Singh Chauhan expelled Shakya from the party. Explaining the modus operandi of the gang, an officer from cyber cell said that the accused scanned various websites for finding CVs of women who were in need of job. Later, they would invite them to Bhopal on pretext of offering jobs such as beautician, receptionist and so on but then would force them to join flesh trade. The group was operating for the last three months. The website is registered in New Delhi and has connection to other states as well. The police are now looking for the kingpin Subhash alias Veer Dwivedi who is absconding after the raid at his flat. New Delhi: A resolution was passed in the Kerala Assembly on Friday demanding that the Centre withdraw permission for production and cultivation of Genetically Modified Mustard. A griculture Minister V S Sunil Kumar told the assembly that it was unfortunate that the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) approved production and cultivation of GM mustard. GM crops would be cultivated in the country if it was also approved by the Environment Ministry and 'it is a very serious issue', he was quoted as saying by PTI. He demanded that the Centre not implement GEAC's decision as GM seeds would adversely affect farmers and the agriculture sector. It would destroy traditional seeds and farmers would have to depend on multinationals for their cultivation. He said most states are also against GM crops. Kumar said it has not yet been proved if GM crops would result in more yields, and claimed that it has been found that GM seeds attracts new insects. Powerful pesticides would have to be used to safeguard crops from attacks of these insects, which in turn would harm human health, he pointed out. The minister alleged that some vested interest groups, taking cover under efforts to achieve self sufficiency in edible oil, were trying to get sanction for GM mustard. GM trials were progressing in 75 varieties of crops and their target was to get approval for all crops one by one after getting sanction for GM mustard, he alleged. "This move is dangerous to the country, farmers and also the agriculture sector", he said adding GM crops are against the interest of the people. Congress led UDF Opposition leader supported the resolution and wanted a detailed discussion on the matter, to which the Minister said government would hold a debate in due course. (With PTI inputs) India has scored a major diplomatic victory over Pakistan with the International Court of Justice staying the execution of former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav. The UN's highest judicial body also asked Pakistan to take "all measures" to ensure that Jadhav, sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court for alleged espionage, is not executed till the court delivers its final verdict on the issue.ICJ President Ronny Abraham, a 63-year-old French academic and practitioner in public international law, asked Pakistan to keep the court informed "of all measures taken" in the implementation of the order. The 11-member bench backed India's contention that there had been a violation of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations as New Delhi's requests for consular access to its national had been denied 16 times.A relief by way of immediate suspension of the sentence of death awarded to the accused.The UN court stayed Jadhav's death sentence.A relief by way of restitution in interregnum by declaring that the sentence of the military court arrived at, in brazen defiance of the Vienna Convention rights under Article 36...in defiance of elementary human rights of an accused which are also to be given effect as mandated under Article 14 of the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, is violative of international law and the provisions of the Vienna Convention.The Court notes that the acts alleged by India are capable of falling within the scope of Article 36, paragraph 1, of the Vienna Convention, which, inter alia, guarantees the right of the sending State to communicate with and have access to its nationals in the custody of the receiving State. The Court considers that the alleged failure by Pakistan to provide the requisite consular notifications with regard to the arrest and detention of Jadhav, as well as the alleged failure to allow communication and provide access to him, appear to be capable of falling within the scope of the Vienna Convention ratione materiae.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 as may be available to it under the law in Pakistan.The UN court indicated to Pakistan that it must "take all measures at its disposal" to ensure that Jadhav is not executed pending a final judgment of the Court.If Pakistan is unable to annul the decision, then this Court declare the decision illegal, being violative of international law and treaty rights and restrain Pakistan from acting in violation of the Vienna Convention.Pakistan shall inform the Court of all measures taken in implementation of the Order. It further decided to remain seized of the matters which form the subject of the Order until it has rendered its final judgment. Parallels have been drawn between the cases of Sarabjit Singh and Kulbhushan Jadhav, two Indians who were captured and charged with espionage in Pakistan. The latters execution has been stayed by International Court of Justice, but there concerns over his safety as Sarabjit was tortured and killed in a jail in Pakistan.Sarabjits lawyer Awais Sheikh paid a heavy price for defending him in a Pakistani court. He was threatened and tortured. Ultimately, he had to leave Pakistan and seek asylum in Sweden. He now visits Pakistan only while helping the Stockholm Rotary Club in its drive against polio. Sheikh has been closely watching the Kulbhushan Jadhav case and tellsthat it will be premature to celebrate the ICJ order as there is a long road ahead for justice. Edited excerpts:Although both were accused of spying and sentenced to death, Sarabjits case was different. He was tried and convicted by a civil court, whereas Kulbhushan Jadhav has been convicted by a military court. Sarabjit was tortured mercilessly. My book Sarabjit Singh: A Case of Mistaken Identity has the story. In the case of Kulbhushan Jadhav, it has not been ascertained yet whether he was subjected to torture.Kubhushans case has a direct bearing on India-Pakistan relations. The excellent and very timely move by India to go to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has attracted the attention of the whole world. The world has come to know the sensitivity and importance of this case. Now, the order of the ICJ to put the execution on hold till the final decision in August has highlighted the importance of the matter and added to the strain in relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.In my opinion, India has won half the battle. There is no doubt that it is a legal, moral, psychological and diplomatic gain, but it will be immature to celebrate the order at this stage. It will be premature for India to celebrate. The task before India is to get Kulbhushan back home safe and secure. To achieve this, India needs to tread carefully and exhaust all possible means intelligently.There is a long road ahead in winning justice for Kulbhushan. Through diplomatic and all other means, India should apply moral pressure on Pakistan from all quarters of the world and use all means to convince Pakistan that it would be in the best interest of peace and justice to set Kulbhushan free. It will, however, not be an easy task for the civilian government of Pakistan, which works under pressure and influence of the military, which passed this order. I think outside pressure on Pakistan can work.It is yet to be seen how Pakistan reacts. I saw a discussion on the issue on a Pakistani channel. Senior journalist Rauf Klasra, to my surprise, spoke against the trial and death sentence. He was critical of the way this trial was conducted by the military court. He talked about consular access not being provided to Kulbhushan. I think India should try to gain favour from Pakistans legal fraternity, journalists and the general public. Due to the long confrontation between the two countries, it is not an easy task. I think one step India can take is freeing Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails.Yes, of course. The order of the ICJ was based on the strong reasoning that it violates fundamental rights. It will put Pakistan under moral and legal obligation to set Kulbhushan free. Pakistan cannot overlook or straight away refuse to comply with the order of ICJ. Otherwise, Pakistan will be totally isolated. It will adversely affect Pakistans reputation and international relations.This is because of the long confrontation between the two countries. Both countries have each others prisoners in captivity. And, unfortunately, they deal with such issues like business as usual. It has been so in the case of fishermen caught at sea. For both countries, the best way to settle their issues is through negotiation.It is important that Kulbhushan is not tortured in jail. In the case of Sarabjit, I was fortunate enough to have access to him in jail. He was tortured. When I met him the first time, I saw his left leg badly infected. He was not well. With the passage of time, I used to help him, bring him medicines, fresh fruits and other edible items. He recovered and looked healthy later. I met him 25 times in jail with the permission of the court. In Kulbhushan's case, India, through diplomatic means, should try to convince Pakistan on consular access. Also, the relatives of Kulbhushan should be allowed to meet him.Unfortunately, both countries deal with each others prisoners as enemies. They are not treated as human beings. I cannot say India would be fair with Pakistani prisoners. Abraham is a member of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) since February 15, 2005 and the president of the court since February 6, 2015. "Pakistan shall take all measures at its disposal to ensure that Mr Jadhav is not executed pending the final decision in these proceedings," Abraham said while reading out the verdict. The ICJ president was a member of the French delegation to the General Assembly of the United Nations (1998-2004) and the head of the French delegation to the Sixth Committee of the General Assembly (1998-2004). ICJ's Vice-President Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf has been a member of the court since February 6, 2009 and its vice- president since February 6, 2015. Other judges of the ICJ include Dalveer Bhandari (India), Hisashi Owada (Japan), Christopher Greenwood (the UK of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), Joan E Donoghue (the US), Xue Hanqin (China), James Richard Crawford (Australia) and Kirill Gevorgian (Russian Federation). Justice Bhandari had a distinguished and successful career as an attorney at law for 23 years before he became a judge in the Indian higher judiciary in 1991. The ICJ verdict on Thursday staying former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav's execution was pronounced by its head Ronny Abraham, an international human rights law expert who has served in the Court of Justice of the European Communities.After months of bilateral tension, the ICJ ruling has come as a great relief to Jadhav's family and the people of India, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing satisfaction on the judgment.The UN's highest judicial body, which had earlier provisionally stayed Jadhav's sentence on May 9, also instructed Pakistan to inform it "of all the measures taken in implementation of the present order".Abraham also served as the "Director of Legal Affairs at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1998-2005)", according to the ICJ website.Before his appointment to the ICJ, he served, from 1998 to 2005, as the head of the Legal Affairs Directorate at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in charge of advising the government on legal matters in the fields of general international public law, European Union law, international human rights law, the law of the sea and the Antarctic.He also spent time in academia, being a professor of international law, at the Paris Institute of Political Studies (until 1998).Abraham also was an Associate Professor at the University of Paris X-Nanterre (1997-2003).The Somalia-born judge has also served as a Legal Adviser and Director of the Office of International Standards and Legal Affairs (March 2001-January 2009).Bhandari is a member of the ICJ since April 27, 2012 and his term is to expire on February 5, next year.The ICJ on Thursday also said, "The court also decides that, until it has given its final decision, it shall remain seized of the matters which form the subject matter of this order." New Delhi: In a reprieve for the Central government, the Supreme Court on Friday refrained from staying various notifications issued under the Aadhaar Act to make unique identity number mandatory for several social welfare schemes. A two-judge bench led by Justice A M Khanwilkar said that the court would not want to deal with the issue in piecemeal and would examine all applications against Aadhaar on June 27. It is appropriate if we hear all interlocutory applications togetherthey may involve same or similar issues, said the bench while deferring the hearing of a plea made in a PIL filed by Shantha Sinha. Sinha is former chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights. The court also recorded preliminary objections raised by Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi that a previous order in a batch of cases on Aadhaar was issued by a five-judge Constitution Bench and therefore, only a Constitution Bench could now examine the plea for interim relief. Rohatgi, on his part, also made it clear that the government was not going to extend the deadline of June 30 by which various schemes such as grant of scholarships, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and various other social welfare schemes were to seek mandatory Aadhaar number. Today, we have 120 crore people who have Aadhaar cards but they are not here. The people who are supposed to be benefited by these schemes are not before the court but those who are not going to be affected by all, keep filing petitions after petitions, rued the AG. He complained that there was a similar PIL filed last year with same prayers but the apex court did not grant any interim relief. Can they go on filing petitions after petitions which have even the same text? I can show that paragraphs in this petition are true copies of what was there in the last petition on the subject. This is abuse of the process of the court, added Rohatgi, citing a petition moved by Lt Col (retd) S G Vombatkere in October 2016. Senior lawyer Shyam Divan, appearing for Sinha, replied that the previous petition might have similar prayers but the subject matter of the present PIL was entirely different. These notifications were not issued when the previous petition was filed. We have come with fresh cause of actions. Besides, technicality should the last thing to be argued by the AG when we are claiming violation of fundamental rights. The court had in 2015 asked the government not to make Aadhaar mandatory and they are now in breach. The AG should not shy away from replying on merit, said Divan. I am not shying awayI have fought these cases 20 times, retorted Rohatgi, adding that Aadhaar was merely an executive scheme when the restraint orders were passed but now the Parliament has passed a law. There cannot be any injunction against the Parliament from passing a law, said the AG, adding that only a Constitution Bench should hear the matter. Divan said that it was not proper to make a PIL petitioner run from one court to another on technical grounds and deny a hearing altogether. But Rohatgi responded that he was called at 2 am by the court which had decided to open its doors to allow a predawn hearing for 1993 Mumbai serial blasts convict Yakub Memon. The bench also reacted: Mr Divan! Please dont say that this court is not available for common citizens. This court is always available for them. It then adjourned the matter to June 27, saying the court registry, after suitable instructions from the Chief Justice of India, will place this case before an appropriate bench. Another bench in the top court had recently reserved its verdict on yet another challenge to linking Aadhaar with PAN cards and for filing Income-Tax returns. Newly inserted provisions in the Finance Act make it mandatory for people to have Aadhaar for validating their PAN cards and for I-T returns. The deadline to link Aadhaar for this purpose is June 30. The CBI had, on Tuesday, carried out searches at Karti's homes and offices in four cities to probe charges that he had received money from a media firm owned by Indrani and Peter Mukerjea to help them evade a tax probe. According to the CBI, 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. Former finance minister P Chidambarams son Karti Chidambaram who is under CBI scanner for alleged bribery and corruption has left for London on what both he and his father said was a "scheduled trip.It was a scheduled trip, not a sudden one. Tickets were bought long time ago. I will be back soon, Karti told CNN-News18 on Friday morning."Karti is travelling as per earlier travel plans. He will return after a few days. There is no ban on his travel," his father and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram told PTI.Karti Chidambaram has denied all the charges made against him.The CBI had filed an FIR against Karti and the Mukerjeas on charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating, receiving illegal gratification, influencing public servants and criminal misconduct.It 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 conditions for an investment from Mauritius.The CBI has also recovered vouchers of Rs 10 lakh which were allegedly paid for the services. These vouchers were issued in favour of Advantage Strategic Consulting (P) Limited, a firm "indirectly" owned by Karti, the agencys Joint Director (Anti-Corruption) Vineet Vinayak alleged. He added that invoices of Rs 3.05 crore have also been recovered by the agency.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".Chidambaram has accused the government of using the CBI and other 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 organisations," he said.(With inputs from PTI) Pakistan is yet to confirm whether Jadhav, whose execution has been stayed by the (ICJ) pending its final verdict, has approached the appellate court in the country yet. The 40-day period for former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav to appeal against the death sentence handed to him by a Pakistani military court ends on Friday.If the appellate court rejects the appeal, Jadhav can lodge a mercy petition (with the army chief) within 60 days of the decision, that is by July 18. If the mercy petition is denied on July 19, he may lodge a mercy petition with the President of Pakistan within 90 days by October 16.Jadhavs case received a boost on Thursday when the ICJ sided with India and ordered Pakistan to stay the execution till proceedings were pending with the world court. It also upheld Indias right to consular access, a request Pakistan has denied as many as 16 times.Pakistan, which announced the sentence on Jadhav on April 10, claims its security forces arrested him from its restive Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran. However, India maintains that he was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Navy.Jadhav's case is the latest flash-point in the tensions between Pakistan and India. The two countries last faced off at the ICJ 18 years ago when Islamabad sought its intervention over the shooting down of its naval aircraft. A post shared by @cannes_filmfestival on May 18, 2017 at 3:52pm PDT A post shared by Marcus Francis (@marcusrfrancis) on May 18, 2017 at 6:39pm PDT A post shared by Pasarela Style (@pasarelastyle) on May 18, 2017 at 6:56pm PDT A post shared by caraschile (@caraschile) on May 18, 2017 at 4:23pm PDT A post shared by BESTIN.UA (@bestinua) on May 18, 2017 at 11:44pm PDT While day 1 of the Cannes red carpet saw a lot of celebrities flaunting their best outfits - the much talked about appearances were those of model Bella Hadid who donned a classy Alexandre Vauthier silk gown with a bold plunging sweetheart neckline and a risque thigh-high split, Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone who sported a jewel toned maroon Marchesa Fall 2017 gown, made her debut as the global brand ambassador of cosmetic giant L'Oreal Paris and model Ratajkowski who slayed in a slinky satin slip gown, courtesy Twin Set by Simona Barbieri - day 2 of Cannes 2017 saw the A-listers taking the style and glamour quotient a notch higher.Here are some celebrities who were among the best dressed at the event.Adriana Lima, 35, stole the show as she showed up in a stunning white number on the Cannes red carpet. The Victoria's Secret Angel looked nothing short of a diva as she stepped out in the figure-hugging ensemble that allowed her to flaunt her curves. The dazzling embellished dress looked amazing on her and the supermodel aptly paired it with statement necklace. Her bold red lips and wet hair look finished off her look.(Photo: Reuters)The model-turned-actress Emily stunned in a daring semi-sheer, lacy black ballgown with a twist as she showed off her cleavage and posed for shutterbugs on the red carpet.(Photo: Getty Images)Czech model Petra Nemcova opted for a simple yet chic dress for her Cannes red carpet appearance. The model donned a flesh-flashing white dress which featured a deep, plunging neckline and a risque thigh-high slit. Her statement necklace and earrings, hair pulled back in a ponytail with a touch of braids and her lovely smile looked perfect on the model.(Photo: Getty Images)The 30-year-old model Lily's take on summer style is one anyone would want to emulate. The model looked sensational in a white semi-sheer, strapless dress which featured a pleated floating lower-half. The model optd to leave her tresses open and went for minimum makeup and accessories.(Photo: Getty Images)Julianne Moore looked lovely in a Chanel dress which she wore for the premiere of her film Wonderstruck on day 2 of Cannes Film Festival.Here are a few others who attended the event:The House of Cards star Robin Wright was all smiles in a sexy plunging turquoise dress at the premier of Loveless.(Photo: Reuters)Michelle Williams looked classy in Louis Vuitton.Both the stars sported a monochrome number for their appearance on day 2 of Cannes. Deepika Padukone for L'Oreal Paris Cannes Collection. #deepikapadukone#lorealmakeup#lorealparis#global#brandambassador#stunning#awesome#beautyqueen#beautiful#bae#hot#chic#trendy#flawless#perfect#eyes#makeup#hair#instafashion#instalook#picoftheday#potd A post shared by Deepika Padukone fan club (@deepikafans.page) on May 4, 2017 at 4:15am PDT A post shared by Deepika Padukone fan club (@deepikafans.page) on May 10, 2017 at 9:10pm PDT #DeepikaPadukone @deepikapadukone in a #Sabyasachi #Sari for her new Bangladesh #Lux television commercial. Styled by @shaleenanathani #HandCraftedInIndia #TheWorldOfSabyasachi A post shared by Sabyasachi Mukherjee (@sabyasachiofficial) on May 9, 2017 at 11:49am PDT #metgala2017 A post shared by Deepika Padukone (@deepikapadukone) on May 3, 2017 at 3:47am PDT A post shared by RANBIR DEEPIKA (@_ranbirdeepika_) on May 18, 2017 at 9:15pm PDT 'What's done can't be undone'. Such is also the case with tattoos that one gets inked after much thought and bearing a significant amount of pain.We are talking about actress Deepika Padukone's much talked about 'RK' tattoo on the nape of her neck which mysteriously disappeared in a recent photograph shared on social media where L'Oreal, the brand Deepika is representing at Cannes 2017 as global brand ambassador, was marketing her debut appearance at the festival.In fact, Deepika's tattoo is also invisible in a recent Bangladeshi ad that the B-town beauty featured in.But to everyone's surprise, when the ravishing Xander's Cage star made an appearance on the Met Gala 2017 and the Cannes 2017 red carpet, the tattoo was very much visible.We are not sure if it was intentionally removed by using Photoshop or if it was camouflaged by makeup, the famous tattoo wasn't visible when the actress, who donned a beautiful Sabyasachi saree in the ad, featured on it.But Deepika's recent photographs from the Cannes 2017 prove that the tattoo is here to stay and she has no qualms in flaunting it.The 31-year-old actress got the 'RK' initials tattooed when she was dating actor Ranbir Kapoor. And it was one of the most talked about topics when the two were in a relationship. The two actors later parted ways.Despite their breakup, both Ranbir and Deepika share a great bond and have been seen together in movies including Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani and Tamasha.Here are some photos of Deepika flaunting her 'RK' tattoo at Cannes 2017.Deepika looking glamourous in a bottle green Brandon Maxwell gown on Dy two of the prestigious Cannes International Film Festival.On the work front, Deepika Padukone will be next seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmavati whereas actor Ranbir Kapoor's Jagga Jasoos opposite Katrina Kaif is slated for release this year. Image: A YouTube Grab Image: A YouTube Grab Irrfan Khan, Saba Qamar, Deepak DobriyalSaket ChoudharyHumne bhi socha humari bachchi Angrezi school mei padh likh legi toh hi-fi ho jayegi. Humne uske school ke admission ke liye sab kuch kiya.This dialogue from Hindi Medium remains crucial for multiple reasons. For, it not only explains the films plot, but also supports character development and helps the viewers to forge a bond with the films protagonist Raj Batra (Irrfan Khan). Not just that, it also encapsulates genuine fears that range from concerns about kids education to their future as far as their career goes issues that keep majority of the parents up at night.Director Saket Choudharys Hindi Medium not just talks about the desperate attempts of parents to help their kids seek quality education, but it also explains the viewers the dual system one meant for the well-heeled and other for the poor - that exists in India. It also describes how at one end of the spectrum, people have well-equipped schools while on the other only buildings lacking basic facilities an inequality that clearly divides India (the former) from Bharat (the latter).Hindi Medium opens on a romantic note - Raj (a tailor by profession) who falls for Mita (Saba Qamar). Years later, in his bid to become ek accha husband, Raj fulfill Mita's only wish - to get their only daughter Pia admitted to a prestigious English medium school. This involves shifting from the chaotic lanes of Old Delhis Chandni Chowk to Vasant Vihar - the posh neighbourhood of New Delhi. It also involves the couples efforts to be a part of the elite society the exclusive group that doesnt look beyond five-star hospitality. Normal clothes are replaced by outlandish outfits. And old habits give way to forced elite mannerisms.Soon, the director focuses on the fierce competition amongst families to gain admission to prestigious private English medium schools.Sequences of parents queuing up in the lines for school admission in the wee hours to the Batras spending enormous amounts of time and money training themselves and their preschool-aged daughter for English language interviews explain Indias obsession with English.Choudhary, who has Pyaar Ke Side Effects and Shaadi Ke Side Effects to his credit, is quite convincing in tracing Batras journey of getting Pia admitted to an elite school the symbol of upward mobility for the Indian middle class in the first half. He makes an equally indelible impact by showing how the family decides to opt for poor quota to fulfil their only dream.Choudharys English language divide works more like a caste divide. For, it plays an instrumental role in determining which friends the kids would have, what schools they will study at, where they will holiday, and of course which MNC they would work at.Much of the films flavor comes from the right casting of Irrfan, Saba. The two have a chemistry that comes from the comfort level they enjoy. Watching them fight, interact, argue and express love adds so much more to their characters. Fortunately, the films script by Zeenat Lakhani and Saket - gives the two incredible actors plenty to prove their mettle. Laxman Utekar's cinematography also works for the film.Irrfan uses humor to make some serious points. His meetings with a politician, and a middlemen - who takes cash to ensure school admission - leave the viewers in splits about the absurdity of reality. Judging by the films that he has done so far, Irrfan is unbeatable at being versatile.Saba, who makes her debut with Hindi Medium, gives a performance which will make the viewers feel that she has been starring in Bollywood films for many years.Deepak Dobriyals character Shyam Prakash is as real as it gets. Be it his interpretation of poverty as almost a slum dweller, or his aspirations for his only son or the unconditional concern for Raj he is too good. And Choudhary crafts some really humorous and emotional moments for him.The little nuances that each character played by Irrfan, Saba and Deepak - brings to the table and character detailing make the film a must watch.While the film is compelling in showing that Indias enormous push for English is often interpreted as an instant solution to all problems including academic achievement, better employment opportunities and economic success, it isnt just an accusation on Indian education system. It raises several concerns, but misses it just when it is required the most. Despite its flaws, the film is still relevant and successfully touches upon a relevant issue.3/5 New Delhi: Acclaimed filmmaker Ketan Mehta on Thursday said he has sent a legal notice to actress Kangana Ranaut for conniving with producer Kamal Jain and others to hijack Rani of Jhansi - The Warrior Queen, his most ambitious film project. According to Mehta, he had approached Kangana to play the role of Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi in his film in June 2015. The actress had publicly committed to doing the project with him in 2015 but later she announced another film titled "Manikarnika - the Queen of Jhansi" with another producer and director. When IANS contacted Mehta, he said: "Yes it is true. We have sent a notice to Kangana as I think there is an attempt of hijacking a film." "I had approached her in June 2015 regarding this project and she had readily agreed to do it and enough statements have been made by her showing the commitment about the project," Mehta said. "We also shared the script, certain research material and a lot of discussion had happened. After this, suddenly we hear that she is doing a project with some other producer. I find this completely unethical," he added. The maker of films like Mirch Masala, Maya Memsaab, Mangal Pandey - The Rising and Manjhi - The Mountain Man says now his lawyer will take up the matter with the actress. "This is for the legal lawyer to work it out. We have put 10 years of our life in this project as it's a great project for the world, not just India," he said. Asked if Kangana has responded to the notice yet he said: "She is yet to respond to it." Manikarnika - The Queen Of Jhansi, slated to release in April 2018, is being directed by Krish. The news of Mehta's notice comes soon after writer Apurva Asrani expressed dissatisfaction over how Kangana took additional credit for the story in the upcoming film "Simran". Hyderabad: Intensifying BJP's expansion drive in southern India, party president Amit Shah will be touring Telangana and Andhra Pradesh next week. With an eye on the 2019 Assembly elections, Shah will camp in Telangana for three days from May 22 to 24. He will visit Andhra Pradesh on May 25, where the party is in alliance with the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP). Telangana state unit of the BJP, which is hoping for political revival and emerge as an alternative to TRS in the state, is leaving no stone unturned to make this visit a success. During his three-day stay in Telangana, Shah will be interacting with booth-level workers in Nalgonda district. He will also meet voters and take part in a door-to-door campaign. He is scheduled to have lunch at home of oppressed classes. As part of "Mission South", Shah will also hold a brainstorming session with party leaders and prepare a road map for the upcoming state elections. He will kick-off a 15-day "Vistarak" programme scheduled from May 29, where BJP workers will reach out to 35,000 booth committees. Hundreds of bikes with UP registration have already arrived for campaigning, many more will reach in the coming days. The bikes were used during Uttar Pradesh election campaign. Party workers said the two-wheelers were "lucky" for the BJP and hoped they would drive the party to victory in Telangana as well. But its not just the bikes, big faces from Uttar Pradesh will come to Telangana for campaigning. Speaking to CNN-News18, BJP spokesperson Krishna Sagar Rao said, "The national party considers Telangana as a stepping stone for entry into the south. After bifurcation, there is a political void created with the Congress completely depleted. The BJP is the only alternative. We want to win Telangana." "Development is the agenda which we pitch in every election. However, TRS government has made things easy with its misgovernance. We are not overconfident but people are unhappy and they want good and inclusive development which BJP promises," Rao added. BJP is also determined to win the Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat. Since 1984, AIMIM has been winning the seat. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, who is the current Member of Parliament from Hyderabad, has strong support among locals. Pitching the agenda of inclusive development and equal rights to every individual, the BJP hopes to breach the AIMIM stronghold. "Amit Shah is master strategist. He likes to challenge the unchallenged. Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat has not been within reach of any party for 40 years. We want to break the pattern. MP Asaduddin Owaisi has failed in delivering good governance in his constituency. It has become more backward. It will be a symbolic victory, Rao said. Meanwhile, in an attempt to regain its lost ground, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is also scheduled to visit Telangana on June 1st, just ahead of it third formation day on June 2nd. The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee has planned a massive public meeting "Telangana Praja Garjana" at Sangareddy district where Rahul will release a "chargesheet" against failures of TRS government in the last three years. The Congress will highlight issues of farmer suicides, unemployment, among other issues. Targeting both state and central governments, TPCC chief Uttam Kumar Reddy said, "It is a known fact TRS is acting as a secret ally of BJP. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has completely failed to get any assistance from Centre for Telangana and has failed miserably in resolving the problems being faced by the people." As the Opposition is gearing up for a battle with aggressive campaigning, ruling TRS seems to have a different view. KCRs son and Telangana IT minister KT Rama Rao tweeted, "Elections are routine part of public life. Excessive focus on them and making them a life and death battle is what's wrong with our system." Kolkata: In a bid to counter BJP celebrations marking three years of the Modi government, the Trinamool Congress on Friday announced a similar Utsav (festival) to mark six years of Mamata Banerjees tenure as Chief Minister. The festival to celebrate six years of TMCs government will be a grand one and will begin on May 20, a TMC source said. At 1:01 pm, processions with two tableaus titled Ekatai Sampriti (unity leads to harmony) will be carried out from the State Secretariat to Nabanna and from all district headquarters. We have chosen 1.01 pm to open the event because it was at that precise time on May 20, 2011 that Mamata Banerjee was sworn in as Chief Minister for the first time. The slogan Ekatai Sampriti has been coined by our CM herself, the source added. The first tableau will have the slogan along with the state governments developmental schemes. Besides Ekatai Sampriti, it will also bear a bunch of other slogans, all coined by the CM. Some of these slogans, the source said, will be Bangla Hobe Biswasera (Bengal would be the worlds best), Unnoyoner Pothe Manusher Sathe (With the people on the path of development), Ashun Sobai Mile Sapath Kori (let us all pledge together) and Gorber Bangla Gori (let us create a Bengal are proud of). The second tableau will host some of the states artists who have received benefits under the states Lok Prasar Prakalpa scheme. Through cultural programmes, these artists will spread the message of development, harmony but with a warning that some political parties are trying to vitiate the atmosphere of Bengal. These tableaus will travel all over the state, from the hills to the plains, the TMC leader said. The TMC will also hold several events in the states districts from May 26, incidentally the same day Narendra Modi took oath as Prime Minister in 2014, to June 20. Bengal governments schemes such as Kanyashree, Yuvashree, Khadya Sathi will be promoted at these events. This comes at a time when the BJP, too, has planned massive country-wide celebrations of the Modi governments three years in power. The week long celebrations will begin on May 26 and will see CMs of BJP-ruled states, Union Ministers, BJP MPs and MLAs reaching out to people. The parallel celebrations by the two parties is likely to increase tensions amidst the recent TMC-BJP standoff. Both parties are also expected to escalate their war on social media. Sources said Mamata Banerjee has asked her social media team to be aggressive in taking on the BJP. Exuding confidence of ensuring opposition unity before his mega rally in Patna on August 27, Lalu Prasad said, Whenever I have taken the baton, communal forces had to bow down. Same is going to happen again. Narendra Modi government has failed on all fronts and it is only playing divisive politics. They are targeting me and my sons. Tell me, which are those 22 places raided by the I-T department? All allegations are in the thin air. Congress President Sonia Gandhi called him on Wednesday evening and Lalu Prasad requested her to participate in the August 27 rally. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has already lent her support to Lalu Prasad and said that she would be attending the rally. Lalu has invited BSP chief Mayawati and a few other senior opposition leaders. Ending his silence over income tax raids and other corruption related charges against him and his family, Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav on Friday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of conspiring against him and vowed to throw out Narendra Modi government from the Centre.Somber atmosphere in the RJD camp after the Supreme Court order to revive fodder scam trial against Lalu Prasad seems to have withered away after Yadav found support from various opposition parties.But August is far off and legal experts say its difficult to predict whether Lalu Prasad would continue to be on bail till then. The Supreme Court upheld the CBI plea to continue criminal conspiracy charges against Lalu in four cases related to fodder scam.The RJD leader will face fresh trial in all four cases and, as per the apex court verdict, trial has to be completed within nine months.Cross examination of witnesses in one case (RC-64A/96) is completed, which is related to fraudulent withdrawal of money from Deogarh treasury and the special CBI court may pronounce judgment anytime.Chittranjan Prasad Sinha, lawyer representing Lalu Prasad in the fodder scam cases, believes it will have no repercussion on the bail granted to his client by the Supreme Court.He said that the court already granted him bail in the other three cases and that reopening of trial under criminal conspiracy charges will have no impact on his bail.But senior lawyer in the Patna High Court, YV Giri, who once represented Lalu Prasad in the same cases, has a different view. See, trial in almost all cases are at the final stage. Forget about bail As far as I know, special CBI court in Ranchi can pronounce judgment in the case number RC64A/96 anytime. If he is convicted, then his game is over. He will be behind the bars, he said. Chennai: DMK working president M K Stalin on Friday expressed happiness on the comment of Tamil superstar Rajinikanth lauding him as an "efficient" politician. Using the popular one word dialogue 'Magizhchi (happy)' from Rajinikanth's blockbuster movie 'Kabali', Stalin said, "I am replying in his language." Rajinikanth had said despite the presence of "efficient" politicians like Stalin and Anbumani Ramadoss, the "system was affected". He had also praised Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) chief Thol Thirumavalavan and Naam Tamizhar Katchi leader Seeman. Stalin said on June 3, the birthday of party chief M Karunanidhi will be celebrated along with the Diamond Jubilee of the nonagenarian leader's 60-year long career in Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. Karunanidhi was first elected to the Assembly in 1957 and since then he has been a member of the House continuously which includes his membership for sometime in the now defunct Legislative Council. He said if permitted by the doctors, Karunanidhi may participate in the celebrations. Expressing "delight" over US tech giant Apple Inc's decision to begin initial production of 'iPhone SE' in the city, the Karnataka government today assured full support to the company."I am delighted to know that one of the most valuable technology companies in the world Apple has decided to manufacture its iPhone SE models in Bengaluru.I congratulate the Apple team for their decision and making the project a reality," State Industries Minister R V Deshpande said."The iPhone SE model is very popular and in high demand globally. It is a matter of great pride that in future these phones will be available globally with a Made in India seal," he said in a statement.Apple Inc had yesterday said it is beginning initial production of a "small number" of 'iPhone SE' in the city and start shipping to domestic customers this month.Stating that the government has assured full support for Apple's manufacturing facility in Bengaluru, Deshpande said it is important to note that there was stiff competition among states to get this project.Iphone 7 plus"The fact that Apple chose Karnataka has yet again affirmed Karnataka's investment attractiveness and business friendly environment," he said.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.The Minister has also expressed hope that the move will boost job creation and enrich innovation and technology ecosystem in the state.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. Qualcomm Incorporated through its subsidiary, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., today demonstrated dynamic electric vehicle charging (DEVC), which allows vehicles to charge while driving.Based on the Qualcomm Halo wireless electric vehicle charging technology (WEVC), Qualcomm Technologies designed and built a wireless DEVC system capable of charging an electric vehicle (EV) dynamically at up to 20 kilowatts at highway speeds.Qualcomm Technologies also demonstrated simultaneous charging, in which two vehicles on the same track can charge dynamically at the same time. The vehicles can pick up charge in both directions along the track, and in reverse, further showcasing how the Qualcomm Halo DEVC system has been designed to support the real-world implementation of dynamic charging.The dynamic charging demonstrations took place at the 100-meter FABRIC test track, which has been built by VEDECOM at Satory Versailles. Qualcomm Technologies and VEDECOM integrated the source part of the Qualcomm Halo DEVC system in the test track, while VEDECOM and Renault integrated the receiving part onto two Renault Kangoo vehicles.Following today's demonstration, the Qualcomm Halo DEVC system will be handed over to VEDECOM to perform tests for FABRIC. These tests will evaluate the operation, safety and efficiency of energy transfer to the vehicles for a wide range of practical scenarios including vehicle identification and authorization on entering track, power level agreement between track and vehicle, speed and alignment of the vehicle along the track.FABRIC is a 9 million project, mostly funded by the European Commission, addressing the technological feasibility, economic viability, and socio-environmental sustainability of wireless DEVC. The project began in January 2014 and will continue through December 2017, and is being undertaken by a consortium of 25 organisations from nine European countries, including automotive manufacturers, suppliers, service providers and research organisations from automotive, road and energy infrastructure domains.VEDECOM is one of the FABRIC collaborators and responsible for providing the demonstration of the charging solution at Satory using the Qualcomm Halo DEVC system. FABRIC's main goal is to conduct a feasibility analysis of wireless DEVC as a means of EV range extension. The Punjab government on Thursday signed an MoU with Reliance Jio to provide free Wi-Fi facility in all state-run engineering colleges, industrial training institutes and polytechnics, a minister said.The step will help provide free Internet to students of these institutions for their academics and also encourage cashless transactions and digitalisation, Technical Education Minister Charanjit Singh Channi said.He said Reliance Jio will set up the infrastructure for the purpose, bearing the cost of equipment and electricity required for Wi-Fi functioning.Watch video review of LG K10The company will block all objectionable websites as per the Centre's directions.The principals of the institutions concerned have been directed to provide suitable space and security for the proposed Wi-Fi service and relevant network equipment required.(Disclaimer: News18.com is part of Network18 Media & Investment Limited which is owned by Reliance Industries Limited that also owns Reliance Jio) Your data, your responsibility. And everything online is hackable. While any online service provider can vouch for data security, you can never be sure of their disgruntled employees. With countless e-commerce startups popping up across India that are merely counting losses, do you really think they even consider customer data privacy and security?All the talks happen only after a breach. Of course, the regular press releases like "We regret the inconvenience caused to you" and others can learn from our cybersecurity mistake follow. Thankfully, this Zomato data breach should ideally not cost users anything.Considering the recent Zomato database reveal, the company used MD5 algorithm to "hash" passwords. In other words to simply hide it. "We hash passwords with a one-way hashing algorithm, with multiple hashing iterations and individual salt per password. This means your password cannot be easily converted back to plain text," said Zomato in an official blog post.Other details that were revealed by the database leak are Name, UserIDs, Usernames and Email IDs Of course, in plain text.This might seem fine to most users. However, the post recommends you to reset the account password immediately. Why so? Because a simple Wiki search will reveal that MD5 is neither encryption nor encoding. It can be cracked by brute-force attack and suffers from extensive vulnerabilities. And then Zomato takes pride in saying, "We take cyber security very seriously - if youve been a regular at Zomato for years, youd agree."Jokes apart, data breaches has happened always. LinkedIn, Yahoo, Gaana, Ola, McDonalds, the list continues. Considering that the next popular online service that you use could meet a similar fate, here are five important lessons to learn proactively.It is difficult but it is totally worth it if you can do it properly and provide false information while filling in unimportant online forms. Also, having a couple of random social media profiles and email IDs do not hurt either. Ola or Uber, Facebook or others will continue to serve you the same whether your name is Puja instead of Preeti or your age is 27 in place of 23 or your DOB is in January and not June.You can create a sample 'fake' form for all your online services and make a profile with a less important mobile number, email ID or social media account. Of course, the contact information should not be the same that you have shared with your bank or other important services.You have no choice with the location or home address. The idea over here is to provide just the minimum true data to get the service.The debate still continues whether it is safe to use Netbanking or credit/debit cards for online payments, especially after one-time passwords (OTPs) were also proven to be vulnerable. For end users, the debate trickles down to availability and comfort. Mobile wallets can come handy for making online payments and can be seen a safer option offering more control to the user.If the bank account database is compromised then the users stand to be highly vulnerable. But with mobile wallets, users can only lose the mobile wallet details and balance.End users should also assess the risks and measure beforehand as to how much they stand to lose if any service gets breached in future.Using social media accounts like Facebook and Twitter or Google to login to services is way simpler and safe instead of creating individual accounts with email ID. At least, the startups dont get access to these passwords. So, unless Facebook, Google or Twitter is compromised, your account and password details are safe.Remember a time Mark Zuckerberg faced a major embarrassment when his Facebook and Twitter accounts got hacked? It turned out that the infamous LinkedIn database leak had Zuckerbergs details. While LinkedIn protected the account, Zuckerbergs Facebook and Twitter IDs got compromised because he used the same login credentials. It is the worst practice to have a single email ID and password for all online services. It is high time you use different passwords.The usual disclaimers apply. Change passwords of important accounts including email IDs, Facebook, Twitter and ATM pins at least once every three months. And create strong password as well.If you are not serious with your passwords how can you expect firms to take responsibility for the same when everything online is hackable? Beijing: Reacting cautiously over the joint naval exercise being held by India and Singapore in the disputed South China Sea, China on Friday said such activities should not hurt the "interests of other countries" "If such exchanges and cooperation are for the benefit of regional peace and security, then we have no opposition," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a media briefing here "We have a very open attitude to normal exchanges between various countries," she said when asked for China's reaction to the joint naval exercise of India and Singapore China claims almost all of the resource-rich South China Sea (SCS), including islands more than 800 miles from the Chinese mainland, despite objections from neighbours such as the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam "We just hope that when the relevant countries conduct such exchanges and cooperation, they should bear in mind such activities should not hurt the interests of other countries or have any negative impact to regional peace and stability," Hua said outlining Beijing's sensitivities Navies of India and Singapore on Thursday began a seven- day-long mega maritime exercise in the SCS which has been witnessing a growing Chinese assertiveness Four warships of the Indian Navy and long range anti- submarine warfare aircraft P-8l are participating in the SIMBEX (Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise), which is aimed at increasing interoperability between the two navies Held since 1994, it is the 24th edition of the annual exercise between the two countries Beijing expresses strong opposition whenever US naval ships pass through the area, even though it maintains there is no threat to freedom of navigation India along with the US and many other countries have been vocal about freedom of navigation in the area as foreign trade worth over a trillion dollar move through the SCS China in the past has opposed India taking part in the oil exploration in the SCS at the invitation of Vietnam India has earlier taken part in the Malabar naval exercises with Japan and the US in the East China Sea In the recent months, tension over the SCS abated after new Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte scaled down Manila's emphasis on its SCS claims even after it won an international tribunal award last year The tribunal struck down China's expansive claims over the area based on historical hold. China had rejected the verdict. After his election, Duterte opted for peace with China in favour of Chinese investments China and ASEAN members on Thursday approved the framework of the SCS Code of Conduct (COC), a crucial step towards peacefully resolving territorial disputes in the area The 14th Senior Officials' Meeting on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, held on Thursday in Guizhou province's Guiyang city, reviewed and approved the COC framework draft A Chinese foreign ministry press release said on Thursday that all the parties have agreed to peacefully resolve the SCS disputes through negotiations and dialogue They also agreed to work through their differences under the framework of regional regulations. The Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) had recommended some other counsel, The Express Tribune reported. Being an arbitration forum, each contesting state was allowed to nominate one person of its choice to act as an ad hoc judge at the ICJ...India did nominate one but Pakistan did not," Khokhar said, adding that Pakistan's counsel did not argue for the full allotted time either. A senior official told The Express Tribune that India had been successful in managing the ICJ's registrar office, which has vast powers to fix cases before the court. Pakistan Bar Council executive member Raheel Kamran Sheikh said it was matter of concern that success rate of Pakistan in international arbitration cases was 2 per cent while India's success rate was 60 per cent. Islamabad: The Pakistan government on Friday faced flak over its handling of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav's case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), with several legal experts questioning the strategy adopted and asking why it accepted the global court's jurisdiction.The Hague-based court, the UN's highest judicial body, had on Thursday stayed the execution of Jadhav, 46, considered to be a spy by Pakistan. The ruling triggered criticism of the Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) for its "poor handling" and also for its choice of Khawar Qureshi, who represented Pakistan's case before the ICJ.According to former Pakistan Bar Council Vice Chairman Farogh Naseem, Pakistan should have immediately withdrawn its March 29, 2017 declaration accepting the compulsory jurisdiction of the ICJ.Instead of contesting the matter, Pakistan should have withdrawn the declaration immediately after India took Jadhav's case to the ICJ, he said. "Why did Pakistan not take the glaring and brutal human rights violations in Kashmir before the court, despite the fact that Islamabad had a strong case in this regard?"Former Additional Attorney General Tariq Khokhar, an expert in international law, regretted that Pakistan had accepted ICJ jurisdiction through a declaration, which should have been withdrawn once Pakistan knew that India would invoke the ICJ's jurisdiction against it.Eminent lawyer and human rights activist Asma Jahangir suggested that rather than making the ICJ ruling a matter of ego, "we should sit down, join our heads and find a way out by going through the ruling thoroughly"."Who gave the opinion to deny consular access to Jadhav in the first place?" she asked.International law expert Ahmer Bilal Soofi was of the view that Pakistan should prepare for the second phase of the case, which was "more important because it would be contested on merit and would provide Pakistan the chance to document Indias intervention inside Pakistan through Jadhav".Islamabad could insist on cooperation from India on the investigation into Jadhavs activities, he said.Former law minister S M Zafar said prime facie, it was a wrong decision. "I could not understand why the ICJ issued a stay order in the Jadhav case without even understanding the case."According to him, Pakistan should change its legal strategy and concentrate more on the terrorism angle."We were very surprised how swiftly Jadhavs case was fixed before the ICJ," he said.A senior official in the law ministry told the Express Tribune that Pakistan's lead lawyer Qureshi made two mistakes. "He did not nominate ad hoc judge before the hearing and he did not respond to the argument of Indian lawyer regarding the 2008 bilateral agreement between India and Pakistan on consular access," he said.The agreement says both the states will not give consular access to terrorists. However, Haresh Salve, counsel for India, contended that the agreement was not registered with the United Nations.The official said the foreign office had also failed to register the bilateral agreement with the UN.Legal experts recommended that as the government now has a couple of months to evolve future strategy, it should not take a decision on appointment of an ad hoc judge in haste.They also wondered why Pakistan wanted to appoint foreigner as an ad hoc judge when every state prefers to nominate its own lawyers."We lost important cases at the international forum in the last couple of years. Likewise, we spent more than one billion rupees on lawyers fees in those cases," he said.Sheikh said mishandling of Jadhav's case was a classic example of how in the power struggle between military and political institutions, gaps in the foreign policy and national security perspectives had grown."And they [gaps] have grown to such an extent that if the situation is not arrested and improved immediately in the national interest by both the centres of power, irreparable damage shall be caused to the state," he said. Manila: Southeast Asian nations and China should start with a "gentleman's agreement" on the busy South China Sea waterway because no mechanism exists to legally enforce any deal, the Philippine foreign minister said on Friday. The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China on Thursday finished a draft framework for negotiating a code of conduct, despite regional scepticism whether Beijing will commit to rules likely to restrain its maritime ambitions. Southeast Asian nations with claims in the South China Sea have long wanted to sign China up to a legally binding and enforceable code. It was unclear if that was mentioned in the framework draft, which has not been made public. Philippine Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano played down the importance of a legally binding contract. "If it's legally binding, which court can the parties go to? And the countries that do not comply, will they respect that court?" he asked reporters. "Let's start with it being binding, gentlemen's agreement. We have a community of nations that signed it." China claims most of the energy-rich South China Sea, through which about $5 trillion in sea-borne trade passes every year. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims. Last year, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague invalidated China's claim to sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, in a case filed on maritime boundaries filed by the previous Philippine government in 2013. A code of conduct is the key objective of a 2002 Declaration on Conduct, large parts of which China has ignored, particularly a commitment not to occupy or reclaim uninhabited features. China has piled sand upon reefs to build seven islands in disputed parts of the Spratly archipelago. China has unfinished business there and has been transforming three of the reefs into what experts believe could be forward operating bases. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday described them as "some kind of armed garrison." The code framework would envisage a round-the-clock hotline and urge defence officials to find ways to follow the code, Chee Wee Kiong of Singapore's foreign ministry said on Thursday. Some ASEAN diplomats fear China's sudden interest in completing it could be a strategy to buy time for Beijing to wrap up construction activities. Experts say China wants to appear to engage ASEAN or bind its claimant states to a weak code at a time when U.S. policy on the South China Sea is in a state of flux. One ASEAN diplomat said the latest draft did not mention any dispute settlement mechanism or sanctions for violations, but focused mostly on managing tension and building trust. "We are very realistic and practical," said the source, who declined to be identified. "We wanted first to pick the low hanging fruit. If we went straight to the contentious issues, we would not get to where we are now." The framework represented progress, but expectations should be realistic, said Jay Batongbacal, a Philippine academic and expert on the South China Sea. "Given it's been 15 years to get to a draft, I'm not really holding my breath," he added. Google CEO Sundar Pichai talks about Google Lens which lets you point your phone's camera at places and objects to get information about them, during the keynote address of the Google I/O conference, Wednesday, May 17, 2017, in Mountain View, California, USA. Google provided the latest peek at the digital services and gadgets that it has assembled in the high-tech tussle to become an even more influential force in people's lives. (Image: AP) For the second consecutive quarter, town officials will send a notice informing residents the towns water has levels of disinfection byproducts above drinking-water standards. Town Manager Jack Hobbs told town council members last week an April quarterly test came back in excess of what is supposed to be in the water for disinfection products (DBP), specifically an ongoing issue of haloacetic acids. Gary Williams, the towns director of utilities, said in a later email the water is safe for residents to drink. The town takes the safety of each citizen, resident or transient [seriously], Williams said. We are taking this seriously and carefully as the best methods of correction are explored. As of last Thursday the town had not yet received the notice from the Virginia Department of Health to send to residents. A previous notice town officials sent to residents in March stated the levels are not an immediate health risk, though some people who drink water containing haloacetic acids in excess of the Primary Maximum Containment Level (PMCL) over many years may have an increased risk of cancer. Additionally, they may experience problems with their liver, kidneys, or central nervous system, the previous notice said. Haloacetic acids and other DBPs are formed when trace amounts of naturally occurring organic compounds in the raw water source combine with the chlorine used to disinfect the water, according to previous information sent to residents in March. Levels depend on factors such as demand, residence, time of water in the system, levels of chlorine present and water temperature. Williams said haloacetic acids are formed by the contact of chlorine and organics. Chlorine has traditionally been the chemical of choice for disinfection of drinking water because of its record of reliability in inactivating or killing microorganisms, he said. Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization feel that reliable disinfection should never be compromised, Williams said. Williams said current measures to combat the high levels of DBP include increased flushing and cleaning of mixing and settling basins, among others. Town personnel are paying closer attention to the number of heavy rain day events, which bring more organic content, he said. Additionally, Williams said the town recently completed a full cleanout of its holding lagoons. Gary and his guys are doing the best they can, theres nothing to say that we wont have high readings for the next several quarters on this, Hobbs told council last week. Its just not a problem thats going to go away soon. In other news: Council held a public hearing on the towns proposed fiscal year 2018 budget, which includes a 2 percent pay increase for town employees and keeps in place the suspension of real estate and personal property taxes. No new taxes are part of the budget set to take effect July 1, Hobbs told council members last month. The proposed pay raise, if approved, would follow an across the board 2 percent cost of living increase for all town employees granted last summer. In years leading up to the tax suspension, enacted in 2014, the real estate tax rate was 3.6 cents per $100 assessed value and the personal property tax was 35 cents per $100 assessed value. Through those rates the town had financial surpluses, prompting council to pass the temporary suspension of both taxes. The proposed $3.6 million budget is a 9.8 percent increase from the current budget of $3.2 million, according to Hobbs. Two people spoke at last Wednesdays hearing, both in support of amending the budget to include support in funding the Cruise-In. Tracie Wright, office manager for the town of Amherst, said the town has contributed funds for five Cruise-in events over the past two years and $500 was contributed each time. In the proposed budget however, the event is not included in the donations section. Tim Ware, owner of Warehouse Antiques on S. Main Street in Amherst, spoke in favor of continuing support of the Cruise-In. Ware presented council with several letters from town businesses expressing support for the Cruise-In and speaking to the business the event brings to the town. Ware said when he first started the Cruise-In in 2012 he wasnt yet doing business on S. Main Street so it was something he did for the community. The event as far as money goes theres not a lot of money in it; its just good for everybody, Ware said. I think it gives the town a positive [event] and Id like to continue with [your] support. Pat Dreher, president of the Amherst County Chamber of Commerce echoed Wares sentiment, saying the Cruise-In offers a great event for car buffs, music aficionados and families alike. Its not a big money maker but the thing that I really love about it is it brings everybody together to town, Dreher said. Hobbs said council has the option to discuss the request before approving the budget at its next meeting. The budget is slated for a final discussion and adoption during the councils June 14 meeting. While about 50 teenagers demonstrated outside, the top executive for tobacco giant Altria Group Inc. told its shareholders Thursday that the company had another outstanding year in 2016. Our business fundamentals remain strong, said Martin J. Barrington, the chairman, president and chief executive officer of Henrico County-based Altria, the parent company of top U.S. cigarette maker Philip Morris USA. Altria, a major employer in the Richmond area, posted adjusted net earnings of $5.9 billion, or $3.03 per share, for 2016, an increase of 8.2 percent in adjusted EPS from 2015. Were proud of our business success and how we achieved it: responsibly and in line with our company values, Barrington told about 85 shareholders at the annual meeting at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. The meeting also was webcast. Outside the shareholder gathering, a group of teenagers from New York and Nebraska marched along Leigh Street, carrying green and black balloons and placards, and chanting anti-tobacco slogans. The teenagers, accompanied by adult chaperones, were representing tobacco-control groups Reality Check New York and No Limits Nebraska. Three of the teenagers attended the shareholder meeting and questioned Barrington about the companys marketing practices, its stance on indoor smoking laws, and whether the minimum age for buying tobacco products should be raised to 21, as California and Hawaii and at least 200 localities nationwide have done. Barrington said the company supports minimum age laws but believes the debate should be a national one, rather than having a patchwork of local rules. Barrington said Altria is balancing its strategy between supporting its core business of conventional tobacco products while investing in innovative new products such as electronic cigarettes, which advocates argue should be considered less risky to health than conventional cigarettes. Asked by a shareholder whether novel products should be taxed differently than conventional ones, Barrington said the company is in favor of differential taxation. A lower tax rate makes sense if the goal is to migrate smokers toward potentially reduced-risk products, he said. Overtaxing them at the outset would be bad policy, he said. As in past shareholder meetings, Barrington also was questioned about the risk of ongoing smokers lawsuits against Philip Morris USA and other cigarette makers. Ed Sweda, a tobacco control advocate and senior attorney for the Public Health Advocacy Institute at Northeastern University in Boston, pointed out several cases that have gone against the company recently in the so-called Engle lawsuits in Florida, such as a Florida appeals court ruling in April affirming a jurys award of $35 million to a smoker in a case against Philip Morris. I do continue to believe that the litigation is manageable, Barrington said, noting that more cases have been dismissed or won by tobacco companies than have gone against the industry. Shareholders overwhelmingly voted to reject a proposal put forward by one group of stockholders the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia to have the company stop advertising its brands through point-of-sale advertising. 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 High Mass - in dance Conceptualised as a full mass in motion, High Mass was conceived by the legendary dance pioneer and Les Enfants founder Joyce Kirton to celebrate the dance companys 55th anniversary. The production brings together the stalwart dance prodigies that form Kirtons legacy, employing the renowned skills of companies such as Metamorphosis Dance Co, Alpha Theatrical Dance Co and Elements Dance Co; and will feature choreography by Kirton herself. Prominent, integral figures on the dance scene such as Abeo Jackson and Breige Wilson who have trained under Kirton and Les Enfants, and Terry David who has been performing with the company since its early years, will also be featured. With an eclectic selection of original and familiar musical compositions from TT, Jamaica, Argentina, Africa and American jazz, High Mass will present an exciting array of set pieces that will showcase the individual talent and interpretation of each choreographer, dancer and composer. In pursuit of the perfection of technique and the Americanisation of the craft, dance in Trinidad seems to have lost its soul according to Joyce Kirton. As such, her vision is to reaffirm the spiritual nature of dance and reconnect it to the African foundation through music and movement, said a media release. Kirton seeks to provide a spiritually transformative experience through dance and hopes that patrons will not just think of High Mass as going to see a show in a church, but rather going to church; it is a mass in all senses of the word. Kirton said that High Mass is the show that she has always wanted to do. Now that it has finally come to fruition, she promises a creative spiritual experience unlike any other. Tickets cost $100 and will be available at the respective venues. Showtime is 5 pm on both days. For more info: 333-1297 Gopee-Scoon: TT stands with Venezuela Speaking after launching a development initiative in Moruga on Wednesday evening, Gopee- Scoon said TT continues to send food and other goods to Venezuela as part of a trade agreement. We have widened the product range from just basic food and were doing a lot more in terms of toiletries, she said. Every country has its good times and bad times. We stand by our neighbour and look forward to a better relationship. We have a lot of work to do in terms of trade, we also trade in energy services as well and also energy products. We look forward to all of the gas arrangements bearing fruit and I continue to be very positive about the relationship and on the horizon I see a great future in terms of trade in energy and goods, Gopee-Scoon said. Asked about recent oil finds in Guyana and whether local companies may become involved in the budding Guyanese oil sector, she recalled that Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley had spoken to Guyanese President David Granger about that countrys energy sector at the last CARICOM heads of government meeting. PM leaves for New York A statement from the Office of the Prime Minister said Rowley wentd on vacation from yesterday and will attend Sonels graduation from Fordham University in New York on Saturday . Sonel Rowley will be graduating with a PhD in child pyschology . She is a national scholarship winner from Bishop Anstey High School and also graduated with firstclass honours from the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus in Barbados . The Prime Minister is expected to return on May 23 . Finance Minister Colm Imbert will act as prime minister while Rowley is overseas . After his return, the Prime Minister is scheduled to make a state visit to Chile towards the end of this month There Was No Red Wave, 'That's for Darn Sure' The 18-year-old woman killed when a car slammed into Times Square crowds Thursday in New York has been identified as Alyssa Elsman, the New York Post reports. Elsman, a Michigan native, was visiting New York with her family. According to the Detroit Free Press, Elsman graduated from Portage Central High School in 2016. Principal Eric Alburtus remembers her as a "wonderful young lady" who used to sell the muffins she made in cooking class to other students. "We're all kind of a mess," he says. Elsman's 13-year-old sister was one of the 22 people injured when a car sped along the sidewalk for three and a half blocks. While police don't believe the deadly incident was terrorism, they are looking at the possibility it was on purpose, NBC New York reports. The suspect, 26-year-old Richard Rojas, has a history of psychiatric issues and problems with drugs and alcohol. He was dishonorably discharged from the Navy in 2015 after resisting a DUI arrest in Florida. Police say after his arrest Thursday, Rojas told them he heard voices. Sources say Rojas didn't have alcohol in his system when he was arrested but was under the influence of an unidentified substance. (Read more Times Square stories.) President Trump called the appointment of a special counsel to investigate his campaign's ties to Russia a "witch hunt" that "hurts our country" Thursday in his first public, non-Twitter comments on the situation. "I believe it hurts our country terribly, because it shows we're a divided, mixed-up, not-unified country," CNN quotes Trump as saying during a luncheon with TV news anchors. He placed blame on Democrats wanting to discredit his election victory. During a press conference later, Trump denied urging former FBI director James Comey to drop the investigation into Michael Flynn. He added that "everybody" says it's "ridiculous" to think he's done anything criminal, denying any collusion between himself and Russia. Elsewhere, senators held a closed-door briefing with Deputy AG Rod Rosenstein, after which Sen. Lindsey Graham said he believes the investigation into Russian collusion is "now considered a criminal investigation." The Hill reports two Democratic senators say Rosenstein said he knew Comey was going to be fired before writing a memo recommending the firing. And in an exclusive report, Reuters states FBI and congressional investigators are looking at 18 phone calls and emails between Russian officials and Flynn and others in the Trump campaign. These communications were previously undisclosed. (Read more Donald Trump stories.) The emerging front-runner to replace James Comey as FBI director was the Democratic candidate for vice president in 2000but Joe Lieberman may now get more support from Republicans than his former Democratic colleagues in the Senate. President Trump confirmed Thursday that Lieberman was one of his top picks, despite the fact that he has no federal law enforcement experience, reports the Wall Street Journal. Liebermanwho, if named and confirmed, would be starting a 10-year term at the age of 75retired from the Senate in 2013 and now works at a law firm that has represented Trump and his company. Several Republican senators have signaled that they will support the choice of Lieberman, who endorsed John McCain for president in 2008 and Hillary Clinton in 2016, Politico reports. But while Trump may try to portray Lieberman as a bipartisan pick, he is not popular among Democratic senators, some of whom say this is not the time for a politician of any affiliation to be leading the FBI, CNN reports. "This is a moment where we need a law enforcement professional that's ... never campaigned for office, never worn a party label to head the FBI," Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill said Thursday. (Mitch McConnell has made a surprising suggestion for FBI chief.) "No president has ever visited the homelands and holy sites of the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faiths all on one trip," says National Security Adviser HR McMasterand President Trump's critics say there are probably good reasons why. Trump departs Friday for an ambitious first foreign trip as president that will include Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the Vatican, a NATO meeting in Belgium, and the G7 summit in Sicily. A roundup of coverage: Trump's first stop on the nine-day trip will be Saudi Arabia, where he is expected to address the leaders of 50 Muslim countries, CNN reports. McMaster says Trump's goal is "to unite peoples of all faiths around a common vision of peace, progress, and prosperity," and his speech in Riyadh will focus on the need to "confront radical ideology" and allow a "peaceful vision of Islam" to dominate. Trump's second stop will be Israel, where his plans include visits to the Western Wall and the West Bank town of Bethlehem. Newsweek reports that the president had to call off a planned speech at the ancient hilltop site of Masada after Israel declined to allow a helicopter landing. A source tell the Jerusalem Post that Trump will not propose a peace plan at this point, though he may state his opposition to Israeli settlement expansion. The president's European stops will include meetings with Pope Francis and dozens of other leaders and heads of state, Time reports in a detailed look at his itinerary. Among them will be new French President Emmanuel Macron, who will meet Trump for a working lunch May 25. Sources tell the New York Times that Trump has complained to friends that he doesn't really want to go on the trip. His critics, fearing the possibility of monumental gaffes, would also like him to stay home. Stephen J. Hadley, George W. Bush's national security adviser, however, says such trips are tightly controlled and Trump will probably be at ease on the world stage. "Remember, Trump is a nothing if not a showman," Hadley says. Hes been very public for decades and very conscious about how he comes across in the media." Heritage Foundation foreign policy expert James Carofano tells the Washington Post that the trip abroad will be an opportunity for Trump to have a fresh start after his troubles in DC. "The great thing about a trip, they control the environment, you control the interaction, you control the agenda and you control the press access," he says. "If you fumble on one of these trips, its nobodys fault but your own." Larry Sabato, head of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, disagrees. He tells the AP no other president has made a first foreign trip amid so much controversy. "He's already a president viewed skeptically by much of the world. And while the pictures from the trip may be great, the White House can't change the headlines that will follow him wherever he goes," he says. Melania Trump will be accompanying her husband on the trip, and her itinerary includes G7 and NATO spousal programs as well as speaking to American military families in Italy, Politico reports. "This will not just be an opportunity to support my husband as he works on important matters of national security and foreign relations, it will also be my honor to visit and speak with women and children from different countries," she said in a statement Thursday. (Trump is rumored to be planning to appoint Callista Gingrich as the US ambassador to the Vatican .) An artwork created by a 21-year-old American in 1982 broke several records at an auction in New York City Thursday nightincluding most expensive work by a US artist. Jean-Michel Basquiat's untitled painting of a skull sold for $110.5 million to Japanese fashion tycoon Yusaku Maezawa, who set the earlier record for a Basquiat painting last year when he bought a painting of a devil for $57.3 million, the BBC reports. Only 10 other paintings have ever sold for more than $100 million, and the sale also set records for most expensive work by a black artist and by any artist after 1980. Maezawa says the powerful painting had been unseen for more than 30 years and he now wants to lend it to institutions around the world. Basquiat, a Brooklyn native who died from a heroin overdose at the age of 27, was a former graffiti artist mentored by Andy Warhol, whose Silver Car Crash (Double Disaster) (in 2 Parts) had held the previous record for most expensive American painting. Basquiat is "now in the same league as Francis Bacon and Pablo Picasso," art dealer Jeffrey Deitch tells the New York Times. (Read more Jean-Michel Basquiat stories.) A Ghanaian refugee who lost all his fingers to frostbite after his Christmas Eve journey to Canada wept with joy after learning he would not be sent back to his homeland, where he fears persecution for being bisexual. Canada's refugee board has accepted the asylum claim of Seidu Mohammed, 24, who spent more than seven hours walking through snow in freezing temperatures to get to Manitoba from North Dakota last year, the CBC reports. His refugee claim was denied in the US after he arrived in 2015 and he feared being deported or returned to immigration detention under the Trump administration. He would have been sent back at a border crossing, so he made the dangerous trek to claim asylum on Canadian soil. "I'm so happy. I don't know what to say. Now I'm home, I'm finally home now," Mohammed said after his claim was accepted this week. Another man who made the trek with him and has only thumbs left on both hands is still waiting for a decision in his case. Mohammed's immigration lawyer, Bashir Khan, says his client is a "true Canadian at heart" who hopes to contribute to society. "He was inspired by Canadian values from the first day he entered Canada," Khan tells the Winnipeg Free Press. "He's going to contribute a lot." (These Syrian refugees named their baby Justin Trudeau.) A pair of Chinese fighter jets conducted an "unprofessional" intercept of an American radiation-sniffing surveillance plane over the East China Sea, the US Air Force said Friday, the latest in a series of such incidents that have raised US concerns in an already tense region. On Wednesday, the two Chinese Su-30 jets approached a WC-135 Constant Phoenix aircrafta modified Boeing C-135conducting a routine mission in international airspace in accordance with international law, Pacific Air Forces spokeswoman Lt. Col. Lori Hodge says. The WC-135 crew characterized the intercept as unprofessional "due to the maneuvers by the Chinese pilot, as well as the speeds and proximity of both aircraft," Hodge tells the AP. Hodge, who declined to provide further details, says the issue would be addressed with China through "appropriate diplomatic and military channels." "We would rather discuss it privately with China," Hodge says. "This will allow us to continue building confidence with our Chinese counterparts on expected maneuvering to avoid mishaps." China declared an air defense identification zone over a large section of the East China Sea in 2013, a move the US called illegitimate and has refused to recognize. Hodge declined to say whether Wednesday's incident was within the self-declared Chinese zone. (Read more East China Sea stories.) Swedish prosecutors say they've dropped a rape investigation into Julian Assange, but the WikiLeaks founder will still face arrest if he leaves the Ecuadorian embassy in London that has been his home for the last five years. Swedish Director of Public Prosecution Marianne Ny asked the Stockholm District Court to revoke Assange's European arrest warrant Friday after concluding that bringing Assange to Sweden will not happen "in a foreseeable future," per the BBC and AP. "This is a total victory for Julian Assange. He is now free to leave the embassy when he wants," Assange's lawyer in Sweden tells the AP. But thats not exactly the case. Earlier Friday, the UK's Metropolitan Police Service said an arrest warrant was issued for Assange when he violated his bail conditions by entering the embassy in 2012, reports the Guardian. Police are "obliged to execute that warrant should he leave the embassy," the service said. Assange could also be extradited to the US, where he is likely to face trial over the leaking of documents through WikiLeaks. WikiLeaks on Friday tweeted the "UK refuses to confirm or deny whether it has already received a US extradition warrant for Julian Assange. Focus now moves to UK." On Friday morning, Assange tweeted a photo of himself relaxing with a big smile. He previously claimed his innocence. (Read more Julian Assange stories.) The Venti Pike Place coffee cost her about $2.50. It ended up costing Starbucks about 40,000 times that. In the latest hot-coffee lawsuit, a Florida woman was awarded $100,492 Thursday after a 2014 incident at a Starbucks drive-thru in Jacksonville left her physically scarred, reports the New York Post. According to defense lawyers, Joanne Mogavero, a 43-year-old mother of three, had received a cup of coffee from a barista and was attempting to hand it to a passenger when the lid popped off and the 190-degree drink spilled in her lap, leaving her with permanent scarring from first and second-degree burns. Mogavero accused Starbucks of "failing to adequately" fasten the lid, while her lawyers argued Starbucks should warn customers that lids may pop off, reports the Wall Street Journal. After a Starbucks rep testified that the company receives 80 complaints about lids per month, a Duval County jury found Starbucks 80% at fault for the spill and awarded Mogavero $15,492 for medical bills, plus $85,000 for pain and suffering. "My client didn't want sympathy from the juryshe wanted justiceand the jury gave it to her," her lawyer says. Starbucks' stance: "As we said in trial, we stand behind our store partners (employees) in this case and maintain that they did nothing wrong." The coffee giant is considering an appeal. (This woman was paid $522,000 after tripping and spilling her coffee.) Anthony Weiner is headed to federal court Friday morning, and it's possible the trip could result in him becoming a registered sex offender. The New York Times reports that Weiner is expected to plead guilty to one charge of transferring obscene material to a minor. The plea stems from an investigation of his 2016 text exchanges with a 15-year-old girl in North Carolina. The Washington Post also expects a guilty plea. A judge will ultimately determine Weiner's punishment: He could get no jail time at all or up to 10 years, and while the Times says it's likely he'll have to register as a sex offender, that hasn't been decided yet. (Read more Anthony Weiner stories.) Smokers in the Philippines, look out. President Rodrigo Duterte, notorious for his brutal crackdown on drug users, now wants to wipe out smoking, too. Duterte issued a nationwide executive order Thursday banning smoking in all public places, including sidewalks. CNN reports that smoking was previously banned in schools, clinics, and government buildings, but not workplaces or restaurants. Now anyone with a cigarette, be it electronic or tobacco, must light up exclusively in designated smoking areas. The move is meant to reduce the high smoking rate in the Philippines, where, according to a WHO report, a quarter of the population smokes, including 11% of minors. Among other things, the order prohibits tobacco advertising within 330 feet of schools and playgrounds. The New York Times reports that offenders face $100 fines, a steep price in a nation where the average monthly salary is $400, and four months in jail. Duterte, who quit smoking after being diagnosed with two rare medical conditions years ago, called on civilians to partake in a Smoke Free Task Force" and help catch offenders. While Reuters reports that the ban has garnered support among health officials, others fear that a public task force may inspire vigilantes to take the law into their own hands, as was seen in in Duterte's call to murder addicts and users in his war on drugs. (Read more Rodrigo Duterte stories.) The mayor of Cincinnati has tearfully apologized to city police after his office unwittingly approved a proclamation honoring a man who killed an officer in an ambush. Mayor John Cranley delivered his apology Thursday at the police union hall, saying the proclamation was stamped by a new staffer. He said he also called the officer's widow to apologize, per the AP. "This was a huge mistake," said Cranley. "It's not done intentionally. It's human error, but the buck stops with me." The proclamation designated June 1, 2017, as "Tre Day" in honor of Trepierre Hummons. Investigators say Hummons was hoping for "suicide by cop" when he killed Officer Sonny Kim in June 2015 before being gunned down by another officer. The mayor's office received the request for the proclamation from Ronald Hummons for his son Tre's birthday. It did not provide the son's full name, Cranley said. It said a proclamation would recognize work done by a foundation, set up following his son's death, to address mental illness. "I love our police department," Cranley said. "I would never do anything to hurt them." The proclamation has since been retracted. Cranley's office receives proclamation requests from Cincinnati residents every week. Many are vetted by his press office and the mayor doesn't see them all. (Read more Cincinnati stories.) As the cult 90s drama Twin Peaks is set to return to television, fans of the murder mystery can obsess over a new angle: the real-life crimes and mysteries happening in the sleepy fictional towns filming location. The Guardian has the scoop on the haunting true crimes of Washington state's Snoqualmie Valley, outside Seattle. That includes an awful triple murder on a stretch of road that would be familiar to the show's viewers, nine years after the premiere. I would not want to be quoted as saying its a dumping ground, says a spokeswoman for the King County sheriffs office. But weve had our fair share of bodies found in the area." Other victims in the valley were those of the Green River serial killer. More on the Twin Peaks revival, airing on Showtime Sunday: Laura who? For those who never watched the original series, it centered around the unsolved murder of a homecoming queen, sparking the popular question of the time: Who killed Laura Palmer? According to the Moscow Times, legend has it soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev once asked George Bush if he knew the answer. USA Today has a primer on the first two seasons, but spoilers abound. For those who never watched the original series, it centered around the unsolved murder of a homecoming queen, sparking the popular question of the time: Who killed Laura Palmer? According to the Moscow Times, legend has it soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev once asked George Bush if he knew the answer. USA Today has a primer on the first two seasons, but spoilers abound. The trailer: Now the series is back with some of its original cast, much to the delight of super fans around the globe. Showtimes trailer reveals the first new footage of Twin Peaks in 25 long years. Now the series is back with some of its original cast, much to the delight of super fans around the globe. Showtimes trailer reveals the first new footage of Twin Peaks in 25 long years. Unsolved mysteries: The series ended abruptly in 1991 after being canceled because of low ratings, leaving lots of cliffhangers waiting to be resolved. NME has a list of 18, starting with, "What happened to Cooper?" The series ended abruptly in 1991 after being canceled because of low ratings, leaving lots of cliffhangers waiting to be resolved. NME has a list of 18, starting with, "What happened to Cooper?" Series influence: Mark Frost and David Lynch created a mood in Twin Peaks that influenced a bevy of subgenres, writes Noel Murray in the New York Times. He explains how the series paved the way for a diverse range of shows including The Sopranos, Stranger Things, and Girls. Mark Frost and David Lynch created a mood in Twin Peaks that influenced a bevy of subgenres, writes Noel Murray in the New York Times. He explains how the series paved the way for a diverse range of shows including The Sopranos, Stranger Things, and Girls. Prestige television: With its play on genres and stunning cinematography, Robert Lloyd of the Los Angeles Times takes a look at how Frost and Lynchs innovative take on television sparked an artistic movement on the small screen. With its play on genres and stunning cinematography, Robert Lloyd of the Los Angeles Times takes a look at how Frost and Lynchs innovative take on television sparked an artistic movement on the small screen. And then there's the music: "Every time that intro comes on, I think, 'Should I fast-forward? I've just heard it five times earlier that same day.' But I always let it play, because it does a magical and perfect job of establishing the set dressing of this place." So says Trent Reznor, via NPRs interview with the shows composer, Angelo Badalamenti. "Every time that intro comes on, I think, 'Should I fast-forward? I've just heard it five times earlier that same day.' But I always let it play, because it does a magical and perfect job of establishing the set dressing of this place." So says Trent Reznor, via NPRs interview with the shows composer, Angelo Badalamenti. Coopers cup: an investigation: What exactly makes up a "damn fine cup of coffee? The Eater does a fun deep dive into fictional character Dale Cooper, Twin Peaks quirky FBI agent, and reaches a bold conclusion: He "doesn't care about the coffee." What exactly makes up a "damn fine cup of coffee? The Eater does a fun deep dive into fictional character Dale Cooper, Twin Peaks quirky FBI agent, and reaches a bold conclusion: He "doesn't care about the coffee." Catching up: If you want to catch up on seasons one and two, CBS, Showtime, Hulu for Showtime, and Netfix have them, for a price. If you want to catch up on seasons one and two, CBS, Showtime, Hulu for Showtime, and Netfix have them, for a price. 10 best episodes: No time to binge-watch all 30 episodes? Check out Twin Peaks 10 best, ranked by Collider. (Read more Twin Peaks stories.) Deadliest Catch star Sig Hansen is apologizing after what he calls a "boneheaded move" got him arrested in Seattle early Thursday. According to police, the 51-year-old spit on an Uber driver who refused to accept cash for a ride that had been canceled midway through; the driver asked Hansen to re-request the ride so payment could be made and explained he couldn't take cash. The driver pulled over, allowing Hansen, his wife, daughter, and son-in-law to exit. Upon leaving the car, Hansen allegedly kicked his vehicle, leaving a dent. This all happened shortly after 2am. The police report states "several droplets of apparently fresh-looking saliva" were observed on the rear of the driver's headrest, and "the driver wiped what appeared to be fluid off the right side of his head as we spoke." Hansen, whom police found "obviously intoxicated" at his Shoreline home, per the Seattle Times, was booked into jail on suspicion of misdemeanor assault and property destruction around 4am. After posting a $2,000 bail, he issued a statement reading in part, "I am terribly sorry for my behavior and am very embarrassed by it." (Hansen once had a heart attack at sea.) Anthony Weiner has an unfortunate new title to go with "disgraced congressman." From now on, he'll also be a registered sex offender. Weiner appeared in federal court on Friday and pleaded guilty to a charge of transmitting sexual material to a minor, reports the New York Daily News. "I have a sickness, but I do not have an excuse," Weiner said in confessing to sending sexual images to a 15-year-old girl in North Carolina. While reading his statement, he "quickly dissolved into tears," reports the New York Times. And he might yet end up in jail. Related coverage: Divorce: The New York Post reports that Huma Abedin also filed for divorce from Weiner on Friday. It's uncontested, suggesting no fight is expected over assets or custody of their son. The New York Post reports that Huma Abedin also filed for divorce from Weiner on Friday. It's uncontested, suggesting no fight is expected over assets or custody of their son. What he said: CBS News has the full text of his court statement here. CBS News has the full text of his court statement here. Prison: Weiner faces up to 10 years when he is sentenced in September, but don't bet on it. Prosecutors said 21 to 27 months would be "fair and appropriate," and the AP notes that Weiner agreed not to appeal any sentence of that length. He also could be spared jail altogether. Weiner faces up to 10 years when he is sentenced in September, but don't bet on it. Prosecutors said 21 to 27 months would be "fair and appropriate," and the AP notes that Weiner agreed not to appeal any sentence of that length. He also could be spared jail altogether. Keeping track: Having trouble remembering all the Weiner scandals? This timeline of his career from the AP might help. Having trouble remembering all the Weiner scandals? This timeline of his career from the AP might help. Affecting an election: If Hillary Clinton blames James Comey for her loss, then she should be blaming Weiner, too. CNN lays out how his sexting got tangled up in her email trouble. If Hillary Clinton blames James Comey for her loss, then she should be blaming Weiner, too. CNN lays out how his sexting got tangled up in her email trouble. How sad: Amber Phillips assesses it all at the Washington Post, including the question of why on earth Weiner and Abedin allowed a documentary to be made about them. The "sad" Weiner story is not just "one of the weirdest political stories of the social media age," she writes. It's "guffaw-worthy. Cynical. Just plain puzzling. Gross. Criminal. And somehow totally impactful." Amber Phillips assesses it all at the Washington Post, including the question of why on earth Weiner and Abedin allowed a documentary to be made about them. The "sad" Weiner story is not just "one of the weirdest political stories of the social media age," she writes. It's "guffaw-worthy. Cynical. Just plain puzzling. Gross. Criminal. And somehow totally impactful." Moving on: At CNN, Chris Cillizza makes a plea likely to have plenty of support: "Now, can we please agree to just stop talking about Weiner?" (Read more Anthony Weiner stories.) During meetings with lawmakers Thursday and Friday, Rod Rosenstein stood by the memo that may or may not have been the reason for James Comey's firing, the Hill reports. "I wrote it. I believe it. I stand by it," the deputy attorney general said. However, Rosenstein said the memo wasn't "a finding of official misconduct," nor was it "a statement of reasons to justify a for-cause termination." The White House had used the memo as justification for firing the FBI director, though President Trump later contradicted that, saying he was already going to fire Comey. According to the Washington Post, Rosenstein told lawmakers he already knew Comey was going to be fired before he wrote the memothough he said the firing "was appropriate." A number of lawmakers were left unsatisfied by their meetings with Rosenstein, who they believe was withholding important information. Democratic Rep. Charlie Crist says it was a Q and A with "not a whole lot of A." And the Wall Street Journal reports another lawmaker described it as a "waste of my time." One of the major questions Rosenstein refused to answer was who, if anyone, asked him to write the memo. He did say Comey never requested more resources for the Russian investigation prior to being fired by Trump, as had been reported. (Read more Rod Rosenstein stories.) A man charged with slamming his speeding car into pedestrians in Times Square, killing a teenager and injuring nearly two dozen people, said he wanted to "kill them all" and police should have shot him to stop him, a prosecutor revealed Friday. Richard Rojas, 26, also said he had smoked marijuana laced with PCP sometime before making a U-turn onto the sidewalks of the bustling Crossroads of the World and plowing straight ahead into frightened tourists, according to a criminal complaint. The AP reports officials are awaiting toxicology results, though Rojas "had glassy eyes, slurred speech, and was unsteady" during his arrest. Rojas appeared subdued Friday during a brief court appearance where prosecutors detailed murder and attempted murder charges. He didn't enter a plea and was held without bail. His next court appearance is May 24. "He murdered in cold blood," Assistant District Attorney Harrison Schweiloch said. Eighteen-year-old Alyssa Elsman, of Michigan, was killed in the crash. Her 13-year-old sister was among the 22 injured. Three people are in critical condition with serious head injuries, and a fourth is being treated for a collapsed lung and broken pelvis, according to the complaint. (Read more murder stories.) Brazil President Michel Temer refuses to resign Brasilia : Brazilian President Michel Temer refused to resign on Thursday despite being implicated in corruption allegations. "I will not resign, I repeat, I will not resign." He also demanded "a full and very rapid investigation for the...Brazilian people," Xinhua quoted Temer as saying in an address to the nation. The situation of Brazilian President Michel Temer became delicate on Thursday following a newspaper report that he is accused of taking bribes and endorsing bribes to silence a witness in a corruption case. When the news broke on Wednesday evening, opponents started to call for Temer's resignation or impeachment, Xinhua reported. Local newspaper reported on Wednesday that a leading meatpacking company chairman had recorded his conversation with Temer and turned the recordings over to the Supreme Court. In the recordings, Temer reportedly endorsed the bribing of former Chamber of Deputies speaker Eduardo Cunha in exchange for Cunha's silence. "In the Supreme Court, I will show that I had no involvement with these events. I will not resign. I know what I have done and I know the correctness of my actions," the president stressed. On Thursday, the Supreme Court launched an investigation into Temer and he faced four separate impeachment requests in Congress. Sorry! This content is not available in your region Fairbanks, AK (99707) Today Cloudy skies with a few snow showers after midnight. Low 11F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 30%.. Tonight Cloudy skies with a few snow showers after midnight. Low 11F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 30%. New Delhi: The Indian economy would witness a robust 8 per cent growth in FY 2018 as the landmark Goods and Service Tax's full-year effect shall be seen during the entire year, Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das has said. The 8 per cent growth rate in 2018-19 fiscal year will compare to a projected 7.5 per cent GDP expansion in the current financial year and 7.1 per cent of 2016-17. Speaking to select media on the sidelines of the Asian Development Bank's 50th annual meeting, Das said while the government continues to step up on reform measures, the country's largest ever demonetisation of currency notes led to widening of tax base and curbing of a parallel shadow economy. "In 2017-18, we are expecting a 7.5 per cent growth. The GST will be introduced from July 1. The impact this year will be felt for nine months. By next year, the GST would have stabilised much more. So, a full-year impact of the GST will be seen in 2018-19. It would be reasonable to expect that in 2018-19, India will be close to 8 per cent growth," he said. The GST, dubbed as the biggest tax reform since independence, will club nearly a dozen central and state levies into a single national sales tax, helping the country integrate into one market. Das said not just the GST but the government continues to take other reform measures, including procedural reforms as also stepping up public investment in infrastructure. "All these factors put together will add to the maintenance of GDP growth," he said. Also aiding growth is demonetisation that has curbed the parallel shadow economy and widened the tax base. "So, all these factors put together, we expect good growth," the Secretary said adding the Centre is committed to achieving 3 per cent fiscal deficit target next year. The FRBM committee has recommended a 3 per cent target in next three years. "So far as the first three years are concerned, already there is a government commitment spelt out by the finance minister in the budget. Even with the 3.2 per cent (fiscal deficit target) spelt out in Budget of current year and 3 per cent in next two years, it should be possible for the government to achieve a debt to GDP of 60 per cent by 2023,"he said. Das said the principal anchor of the Committee's recommendations on fiscal road map is debt to GDP ratio of 60 per cent. "So, our calculation shows it should be possible to reach 60 per cent in 2023. Now, within that, what should be the annual fiscal target, that has to be worked out," he said adding once fiscal deficit targets are achieved, there is a very good probability that revenue deficit will be as per the road map. On bilateral investment treaties (BIT), he said India previously had individual pacts but now wherever a treaty is 10-year old, it is issuing notices to terminate them and start fresh negotiations on a new text of such agreements. "This message was conveyed to several European countries with whom our BIT was coming to a close and we said that let us start the negotiations immediately," he said. The European Union, he said, has taken a stand that the European Commission would negotiate the treaty with India on behalf of all member countries. "We have been repeatedly pressing that let us start the negotiations but from their side, we have not got any response. But we are pursuing with them," he said. Das said negotiations are going on with many countries and the same has been finalised with three or four nations. "We have informed the European Commission and certain European countries with whom our BIT terminated that we are prepared to start the negotiations right away and we are awaiting their response," he added. For all the Latest Business News, Economy News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Tamil Nadu Board of Secondary Education (TNBSE) has announced TNBSE, SSLC Class 10th Results 2017 at www.tnresults.nic.in. According to the reports the Tamil Nadu Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) results was to be declared at 10:00 am on the official website. The results will be available at the official website of Tamil Nadu school education department and the results website of Directorate of Government Examinations, Government of Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu Class 12 examinations were declared by the Directorate of Government Examinations on May 12. To be noted is the fact that the board has abolished the practice of disclosing toppers name. Also Read: SBI PO Mains Exam 2017: Check out Admit card release date and exam pattern here Steps to check Tamil Nadu SSLC Class 10 results: 1. Log on to the official website: tnresults.nic.in 2. Click on the relevant link 3. Enter your roll number and date of birth in the space provided 4. Click to submit 5. Results will be displayed on the screen 6. Download and take print out of the same for future reference About Tamil Nadu Board: Tamil Nadu board is one of the biggest boards of the country, established in the year 1910. It is affiliated to the government of Tamil Nadu, India and conducts both secondary and senior secondary examination. TNBSE was formed by merging the two existing separate boards, Board of Secondary Education and Board of Higher Secondary Examination. New Delhi: After decades of their last joint project 'Ajooba', Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor has reunited for Umesh Shukla's forthcoming film '102 Not Out' yet another time. While the news of their reunion for this upcoming venture doing rounds among their fans and followers, the first look of this entertaining family drama has been released on the social networking site. Famous trade analyst taran Adarsh on Friday took to mocro blogging site twitter to release the first look of the movie and wrote, "Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor reunite after almost 3 decades for director Umesh Shukla's #102NotOut... Filming commences in Mumbai..." In the picture while Amitabh looks like a fun loving and happy-go-lucky type of personality Rishi Kapoor's look is giving us a feel of seriousness. While Amitabh will be seen portraying the character of a 102-year-old Dattaraya Vakharia, Rishi Kapoor will essay the character of his 72 year-old son Babu. Earlier, Rishi Kapoor took to twitter to share his delight of working with Bachchan after years. Also Read: 'Half Girlfriend' movie review: This is how people reacted over this Arjun-Shraddha-starrer Being excited Rishi wrote, "Wonderful to work again with the Legendary Amitabh Bachchan. Thank you Amitji, it never felt the 26 years old hiatus.We connected instantly!" According to latest report the shooting of the film has already got a kick start in Mumbai and is expected to hit the screens next year only. Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor reunite after almost 3 decades for director Umesh Shukla's #102NotOut... Filming commences in Mumbai... pic.twitter.com/hnaTnpZm1f taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) May 19, 2017 #102NotOut features Amitabh as a 102-year-old and Rishi as his 75-year-old son... Based on Saumya Joshis Gujarati play by the same name. taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) May 19, 2017 Besides 'Ajooba' both the legends had previously worked together in the movies like 'Amar Akbar Anthony', ' Kabhi Kabhie', ' Naseeb' and 'Coolie'. Also Read: 'Tubelight' Radio song out now, Salman Khan releases this peppy number in Dubai, click here to enjoy Wonderful to work again with the Legendary Amitabh Bachchan. Thank you Amitji, it never felt the 26 years old hiatus.We connected instantly! pic.twitter.com/t259iyW2zr Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) May 18, 2017 For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Irrfan Khan starrer 'Hindi Medium' has been declared tax-free by the government of Maharastra, the film's producer said on Thursday. Actor Irrfan Khan-starrer 'Hindi Medium' was released on May 12. The announcement was made by the 'Madaari' actor on micro-blogging site Twitter. "I would like to thank Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for announcing our film 'Hindi Medium' as tax-free in the state. The film has already got a tax exemption in Gujarat. We are very glad to share the news," producer Bhushan Bhushan told media here during a special screening of the film. Actor Irrfan Khan, who was also present at the screening, said: "This is a great step, more people will watch the movie as it is tax-free now. The film addresses a social issue and it is a family entertainer. So it needs to reach a wider audience. I hope the film gets tax exemption in other states as well." 'Hindi Medium' depicts the story about an average middle class couple who desire their daughter to get admitted in an English school, as nowadays English is not just a language but a 'class'. It seems to be funny how people of a country like India, whose national language is supposed to be Hindi, demands their children to get admitted in an English school. Well, in the trailer, the couple are driven by the factors for their child to get an admission in an English school. In the trailer we see, Irrfan with her wife, played by Pakistani actress Saba Qamar is managing somehow to get the school they desire for their daughter. Although getting an private English school for their kids seems a difficult job for the couple also they themselves were never schooled in one. They feel that their daughter will have difficulty in her life ahead if she is not fluent in English. When no options works out, they even decide to get rid of their possessions to get their daughter admitted through gareeb quota. Pakistani actress Saba Qamar is all set to make her bollywood debut with this film and is looking stunning while playing her role alongside Irrfan Khan who is already known for his powerful screen presence. Also we can see Deepak Dobriyal from Tanu weds Manu, who is supposed to have a cameo and is seen playing a humourous character. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' lead cast Ranbir Kapoor who is gearing up for his forthcoming release 'Jagga Jasoos' recently got involved in a number of spats with photographers ahead of his movie release. If media reports turn out to be true, a few days back the B-town fame has been seen behaving damn rude with paparazzis while being spotted visiting and coming out of a doctor's chamber. Instead of telling the paparazzi not to click pictures, he apparently asked his bodyguards to intervene who started behaving rudely with the shutterbugs. One of the photograthers was even pushed by his car and got injured though no police complaint has been registered regarding the same. The story does not end here only. Within a gap of few days the 'Tamasha' actor again got involved in a similar case while was snapped at Mumbai airport leaving the city. Media reports suggest that instead of warning photographers not to click him, the hero asked his driver to intervene who ended up hurting again some of those photo journalist waiting to capture the fame. And we wonder how Ranbir whp is specially known for his calm and organised behaviour can react in such a way by saying "Don't you remember what you guys did two days ago?" Also Read: Is Ranbir Kapoor getting married soon? Uncle Randhir Kapoor spills the beans While this reports of the B-town fame abusing a number of photographers doing the rounds, latest media reports suggest that the case was not exactly the same as described. According to a source who is a close aide of Ranbir Kapoor was quoted while was interacting with media professionals. Talking to them he said, "Nothing of that sort has happened. The bodyguards will not behave in such a way. While they are doing their job to keep paparazzi away from Ranbir, they also realize that the media is also on a job to get pictures of a popular star. Reports of manhandling media are completely baseless and untrue." "Just because Ranbir doesnt stand and pose for the media without an occasion, that doesnt mean that he is rude or doesnt respect them. He is just a very private person. That is also a reason why he is not active on social media. Its unfair to cite this and make an assumption that the bodyguards had his approval for behaving in any way they like. In fact, Ranbir wouldnt allow his bodyguards or driver to behave in such a way with media professionals", the source added further. So all we can say is that chances are also high of those stories being false or presented in a highly dramatised way. On the work front the 34 year-old actor who is gearing up for his forthcoming release 'Jagga Jasoos' is also busy shooting his another upcominh ventures like Sanjay Dutt biopic and Ayan Mukherji's next. Also Read: Throwback Thursday: When Ranbir Kapoor REVEALED the reason behind his break-up with Deepika Padukone Also starring his ex girl friend Katrina Kaif, 'Jagga Jasoos' is scheduled to be released on 14th July, 2017. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Srinagar: Following the repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan recently, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday sent out a stern message by saying that Indian forces will give adequate response to any form of ceasefire violation on the border. After a visit to the Line of Control (LoC), he said Indian Army is fully prepared to foil any form of infiltration bid. For those perpetuating violence from within, he said such people will be dealt with. He also said that investigation is on into the incident of the army allegedly tying a man to the front of a jeep as a human shield, but went on to add that the Army was interested in saving the lives of both the people who had come to vote and a large crowd of protesters. Priority right now, he said, is to restore normalcy. I did visit the LoC. I would compliment the Indian army for the level of preparedness and enthusiasm. Our soldiers are fully confident that they would not allow any form of infiltration to take place, he told reporters in Srinagar. To a question on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, while he was briefing the media on tax rates fixed under Goods and Services Tax (GST), Jaitley said: If there is any effort and any form of ceasefire violation our soldiers will give an adequate response to that. Also read: Pakistan army violates ceasefire in Balakot sector in Kashmir, 1700 shifted from hamlets along LoC He said terrorism and militancy are aimed both against the Indian state, its sovereignty and also against the people of Jammu and Kashmir and it is local people, alongside security personnel, who are losing their lives. And, therefore, those who have taken on to violence of this magnitude will certainly be accountable for their actions, he said. Jaitley, who is also finance minister, said it was known that Hyurriat and other militant organisations were being funded from across the border. They were funded to create unrest, they were funded to burn schools, they were funded to kill people and destroy public property. So their actions were a conspiracy against not only Indian state but also the average resident of Kashmir valley, he said. Those killing people have to be treated as a serious insurgency problem and dealt with accordingly, he said. He said the aspirations of the people have to be addressed but that can be done only when there is peace in the state. You cant have the energy of the state involved in combating violence in various places. The resources which are meant for the economic development of people are today being used essentially for security. And who is to be blamed for unleashing that era of violence?, he asked. On the issue of Army allegedly seizing a 24-year old shawl weaver on April 9 and strapping him to the front of their vehicle, Jaitley said the matter is being investigated. Let us not forget that the army is a responsible institution and the army was also interested in saving the life of various people who were both involved in election process as also the large crowd of protesters who had gathered there, he said. Priority at the moment, he said, is to restore normalcy. There is a section which will have to be dealt with by security measures and that there is a section which will have to be dealt with by citizen sentiment. And that is what we are trying to do. Also read: Pakistan forces violate ceasefire on fourth consecutive day in Jammu and Kashmir, 1000 border dwellers evacuated For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The CPI on Friday hoped Pakistan respects the verdict of the International Court of Justice and releases Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was sentenced to death by its military court on charges of espionage. The Communist Party of India (CPI) also hit out at Pakistan for showing "adamant attitude" after it refused to accept the world body's decision. "The CPI welcomes the ICJ's verdict staying the execution of Jadhav by Pakistan, though the final verdict is yet to be pronounced", it said in a statement. The CPI termed as "highly objectionable" the stance Pakistan took after the ICJ passed the order on Thursday and condemned the neighbouring country's stand of denying consular access to Jadhav. Read more: Kulbhushan Jadhav verdict: Pakistan to get new team of lawyers to defend case at ICJ "The party hopes that good sense will prevail upon Pakistan to respect the verdict and free Jadhav", the Left party added. Pakistan's foreign office had on Thursday said it does not accept the ICJ's jurisdiction in matters related to national security after the UN court stayed Jadhav's execution. It also hit out at India, saying the country has been "trying to hide its real face" by taking the case of Jadhav to the ICJ. Jadhav, 46 a former Indian Navy officer, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and subversive activities after which India approached the highest UN judicial body with the plea to stay his execution. Read more: Kulbhushan Jadhav case: All you need to know about the 'wise men' behind the ICJ verdict The ICJ at the Hague on Thursday instructed Pakistan to take all "necessary measures at its disposal" to ensure that Jadhav is not executed pending a final decision by it. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Indias first womb transplant has been successfully performed by a team of doctors on Thursday. The womb transplant was claimed as India's firstuterus transplant surgery, in which uterus of a woman was transplanted in her 21-year-old daughter. In this case a mothers uterus was transplanted to her 21-year-old daughter who is unable to become pregnant. The Solapur resident does not have a uterus. A team of 12 doctors at the Punes Galaxy Care Laparoscopy Institute (GCLI) will perform the procedure on her. A team of 12 doctors, headed by Dr Shailesh Puntambekar, performed the surgery which started at 12 noon on Thursday and ended at 9.15 pm at Galaxy Care Laparoscopy Institute. The younger woman was born without uterus, Dr Puntambekar said. "The patient wanted to have her own baby and was not ready for adoption or surrogacy. Since they knew about the uterus transplant, they approached us and accepted the surgery option," he said. Fortunately, her mother was found to be a medicallysuitable uterus donor for her. The younger woman -- the patient -- is now under observation and will be kept in Intensive Care Unit for somedays. Dr Puntambekar said this was the first uterus or womb transplant in India. The first successful uterine transplant was carried out in Sweden in 2013. Twenty-five such surgeries have been performed around the world so far. (With PTI Input) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: National Investigative Agency on Friday registered a preliminary enquiry into the funding of Hurriyat leaders SAS Geelani, Naeem Khan and others in Jammu and Kashmir by Hafiz Saeed and Pakistan-based terrorists. The NIA team led by senior members have reached Srinagar for further inquiry regarding funding of Hurriyat, sources told news agency ANI. The enquiry has been reportedly launched after several top Kashmiri separatists were caught on camera confessing to receiving funds from across the border. On Tuesday, news channel India Today aired the special investigative report where Hurriyat's Provincial President (Geelani Faction) Naeem Khan was caught on camera admitting Pakistan is funding the violence in Kashmir Valley. Read | JKLF chief Yasin Malik assaults journalist, files FIR against news channel Some of them also reportedly admitted they raised money domestically, pledging to repeat the deadly events of 2016 if financed again. The stunning probe that rips apart the devious designs of anti-India forces in Kashmir includes Hurriyat's Provincial President (Geelani Faction) Naeem Khan, Tehreek-E-Hurriyat's leader Gazi Javed Baba, and JKLF chairman Farooq Ahmed Dar (Bitta Karate). After the video went on air, Naeem Khan repotedly went to channel's office in Srinagar and threatened the reporters. He also asked them to take down the story and drop the expose. In another incident, JKLF chief Yasin Malik, also named in video, allkegedly assulated a journalist of the same channel when she went to Malik's house to get a reaction on the story. Reacting on the matter, Malik said that journalist had barged into his bedroom and started shooting the video without permission. On the NIA investigation, the JKLF chief said that if anything is found on him he will quit the politics. "Journalism has hit a new low in the country. No ethics followed and also calls them without uniform armed forces. The sting that was done on separatists leaders was also tried on me," Malik told reporters at a press conference in Srinagar on Friday. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Despite verdict from International Court of Justice to stay the execution of Kulbhushan Jadhav, Pakistan has provided no information about his location or health condition. Jadhavs well-being still remains a matter of concern for India. The ICJ had on Thursday stayed the execution of 46-year-old Jadhav, who was sentenced to death last month by a Pakistan military court that convicted him of alleged spying and subversive activities. The retired Indian Navy officer has been in Pakistan custody for more than a year. According to government sources, since the case has reached the international court, it is incumbent on Pakistan to produce material evidence about his whereabout and well-being. They also stressed on the requirement for Pakistan to produce evidence of proper trial which it claimed to have conducted in the case. Asked if the government has information on Jadhavs location in Pakistan, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Gopal Baglay said, As of today, the Pakistan government has not provided any information about Jadhavs condition or where he has been kept there. This has been a matter of concern. Last month, India had also asked the Pakistan government to provide a report on his medical condition. On Jadhavs appeal process, he said, Unfortunately, India has no information on the issue. There is also no information on what has happened to the appeal by Jadhavs mother which was handed over to the Pakistan foreign secretary by the Indian high commissioner in Islamabad, he added. According to the Pakistani side, Jadhav had 40 days to appeal from the date of verdict which was April 10. Baglay also noted that as per the information available, Pakistan has also not taken any action on the visa request by Jadhavs family to travel to Pakistan to meet him and appeal in person, if required. Pakistan claims its security forces arrested the Indian national from its restive Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran. However, India maintains that he was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Navy. Also read: Kulbhushan Jadhav verdict: Pakistan to get new team of lawyers to defend case at ICJ Also read: ICJ stays Kulbhushan Jadhavs execution; Pakistan refuses to accept the verdict, questions over world court's jurisdiction For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front chief Yasin Malik has reportedly assaulted news channel journalist who went to Malik's residence to seek a reaction on her ongoing investigation on Kashmir unrest. The journalist alleged that 'Malik snatched her phone and smashed it to smithereens.' On the other hand, JKLF chief has reportedly contented the claim and filed a complaint against India Today news channel and journalist for entering his premises and shooting without permission. He had alleged that the reporter went directly into his bedroom with camera on. Malik said he will soon address a press conference on the issue. Read | JKLF chief Yasin Malik to skip Pak High Commission's reception In contradiction, Journalist Kanwaljit Sandhu of reportedly told the channel that she had followed all the procedure while approaching the leader. "She said that she rang the door bell. She was called inside. She said a woman took her inside the house. When Yasin Malik asked about her coming without an appointment, she told him that they can wait outside. He agreed to talk her," a report said. However, when she asked a question to her, Yasin Malik lost his cool and broke her phone. He also assaulted camera person, Vinod, before chucking them out, the report said. The channel report claims that it had come up with a clinching evidence against the funding sources of separatist movement, which enraged the political leader. Read | FEMA case: Separatists Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Yasin Malik get ED summons For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The mortal remains of Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave were consigned to flames on the banks of the river Narmada at Bandrabhan in Madhya Pradeshs Hoshangabad district on Friday, with full state honours. Dave, who died in New Delhi on Thursday at the age of 60, had expressed the desire to be cremated on the banks of the Narmada, a river that was close to his heart and ran through his home state of Madhya Pradesh. The funeral pyre was lit by his brother and nephew amid a tearful adieu by those present on the occasion at Bandrabhan, where Dave used to organise international river festivals to create awareness among people on the issue of conserving rivers, BJP spokesman Rajnish Agrawal told PTI. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union ministers Harsh Vardhan, Uma Bharti, Anant Kumar, Narendra Singh Tomar and Thawar Chand Gehlot, senior RSS leaders Bhaiyyaji Joshi, Dattatraya Hosbole and Suresh Soni, BJP general secretary Kailash Vijaywargiya among others were present on the occasion. Madhya Pradesh: Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan, Union Minister Uma Bharti pay tribute to Anil Madhav Dave at Bandrabhan Ghat in Hoshangabad pic.twitter.com/WTKyEuuoTo ANI (@ANI_news) May 19, 2017 Daves body was brought to Bhopal in an Indian Air Force plane and taken to the BJP state headquarters for the people and party workers to pay their last respects to the departed leader on Thursday night. Chouhan and several other party leaders and ministers received the body draped in a tricolour at the city airport. From there, it was taken in an open flower-bedecked truck to the state BJP headquarters. At night, the body was kept at his residence - Nadi Ka Ghar in Shivaji Nagar area, a family member said. Read | Anil Madhav Dave, union environment minister, dies of cardiac arrest; 'personal loss', tweets PM Narendra Modi The MP government has declared a half-day holiday in Hoshangabad district to enable people to pay their last respects to the departed leader. Born on July 6, 1956 at Barnagar in Madhya Pradeshs Ujjain district, Dave, a bachelor, used to live in Nadi Ka Ghar whenever he was in Bhopal. The house used to be his nerve centre for running the river conservation campaign as well as to formulate strategies for contesting elections. A master strategist, Dave was credited with bringing the BJP to power in MP in 2003 by running a successful campaign against the then Congress Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh. Daves love for environment and water bodies is also reflected in his will that he left for those who wanted to cherish his memories, BJPs spokesman Rajnish Agrawal said. If you want to cherish my memories, plant trees and save them. This would give me pleasure, Dave stated in his will written on July 23, 2012. Maximum efforts should be made for the conservation of rivers and water bodies and by doing so, use of my name should be avoided, he said in the will. He had also said that there should be no memorial or statue established in his name. It mentioned that no competition or award should be instituted in his name. The will also specified the place where he desired his last rites to be performed. If possible, my cremation should be performed on the banks of river Narmada at Bandrabhan, where Nadi Mahotsav was organised, he had stated. The leader used to organise the international river festival at Bandrabhan to create awareness among people about conserving rivers.Dave had also expressed a wish that his last rites should be performed only through vaidik rituals without any pomp. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Sambhal (UP): The family members of martyred Sepoy Sudhesh Kumar on Friday sat on an indefinite fast to demand the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths visit to Pansukha Milak village. Sepoy Sudhesh Kumar was killed in firing by Pakistani troops along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir last year. Villagers and family members of Kumar, who laid down his life on October 16, 2016, sat on a fast in the village, claiming that despite promises by the BJP leaders, none of them visited the family again. We were promised sanction for a petrol pump, construction of a road and memorial in the village and renaming a village primary school in Sudeshs name by the BJP leaders, but none of the promises was met, Sudeshs brother Manoj Kumar said. Another brother of the martyr, Anil Kumar, said they had lost trust in local BJP leaders and that was why they were demanding that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath should visit them. Sudeshs wife Kavita, mother Santosh Kumari, father Brahmpal Singh, Anil and a number of villagers began their indefinite fast. The family had earlier too refused to perform the last rites till the then Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav visited them. Brahmpal claimed, The then chief minister had gone to a martyrs house in Etah as he was a Yadav. He should have come here too as there should not be any discrimination between martyrs. Sudesh, hailing from Sambhal district, was killed when Pakistani Army fired on Indian Army posts along the Line of Control in Rajouri district. As Akhilesh did not visit martyrs family, BJP leaders during assembly polls made it a political issue. BJP vice president Shiv Pratap Shukla, state general secretary Ashok Kataria and local MP Satpal Saini had also visited them and assured all help. Also read: AC, sofa removed from martyred BSF jawans residence after UP CM Adityanaths visit For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: In a major bureaucratic reshuffle, Uttar Pradesh government on Friday transferred 74 senior IAS officers, appointing Shashi Prakash Goyal as the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and removing Devashish Panda from the post of Principal Secretary, Home. Principal Secretary Revenue and Relief Commissioner, Arvind Kumar will be the new principal secretary home in place of Panda, who has been made resident commissioner of Uttar Pradesh in New Delhi, a government spokesperson in Lucknow said. Panda was appointed on the key post by the previous Akhilesh Yadav government and had continued on it despite the new government taking over the reins in March. The new appointments assume significance following continued attack on the government at the hands of the opposition in both the houses of the state legislature. Besides Panda, Shashi Prakash Goel, who was awaiting posting has been made principal secretary to the Chief Minister, along with the charge of civil aviation, estate department and protocol, the spokesman said. Also Read: Congress demands UP CM Yogi Adityanaths resignation over law and order crisis Additional Chief Secretary Power, Sanjay Agarwal has been shifted to secondary and technical education and Alok Kumar comes to power department in his place. Sanjay Agarwal was considered close to the previous Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. The government also shifted the District Magistrates of Auraiya, Gonda, Faizabad, Lalitpur, Azamgarh, Ballia, Chitrakoot, Sultanpur, Ambedkarnagar, Jaunpur and Kaushambi. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Washington: US President Donald Trump has refuted the claims made by a media report that he had asked sacked FBI Director James Comey to quash the agency's investigation into ties between his former national security adviser Mike Flynn and Russia. "No," he said when he was asked about the report during a White House news conference on Thursday. According to a report published in the New York Times on Tuesday, Trump asked Comey to end the investigation against Flynn. "I hope you can let this go," the US president was quoted as telling Comey in the report. Comey was abruptly fired by Trump at a time when he was leading an investigation into whether the latter's election campaign had links with Russia during the US presidential polls last year. 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. When further asked whether he urged Comey in any way to back down the investigation, Trump interrupted the reporter and proceeded to the next question. Defending his decision to sack Comey, he said the former FBI chief was "very unpopular" among many people. "I actually thought when I made that decision, that it would be a bipartisan decision. Because you look at all of the people on the Democratic side, not only the Republican side, that were saying such terrible things about director Comey, he said. "Then he had the very poor performance on Wednesday. That was a poor, poor performance. That's why the Deputy Attorney General went out and wrote his very, very strong letter," Trump said while referring to Comey's testimony before lawmakers on Capitol Hill. "And then on top of that, after the Wednesday performance by director Comey, you had a person come and have to readjust the record, which many people have never seen before, because there were misstatements made," he noted. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. London: Wikileaks founder Julian Assange on Friday attacked the Swedish authorities for detaining him for seven years without charge and said he will not forgive those who slandered him. Assange, who is expected to make an official statement from his Ecuadorean embassy hideout in London, used social media to vent his anger, hours after the Swedish prosecution decided to drop its rape investigation against him. Detained for 7 years without charge by while my children grew up and my name was slandered. I do not forgive or forget, Assange, 45, said in a tweet. He had earlier tweeted a smiling picture of himself from inside the embassy. At a press briefing earlier today, Swedens top prosecutor Marianne Ny said that by remaining in the embassy in London Assange had evaded the exercise of the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) that would have seen him extradited to Sweden. If he were to return to Sweden before the statute of limitation on this case expires in August 2020, the preliminary investigation could be resumed... it is regrettable we have not been able to carry out the investigation. We are not making any pronouncement about guilt, Ny said. The rape allegation against the Australian computer programmer had followed a Wikileaks conference in Stockholm in 2010. Assange has always denied the allegations against him, claiming the sex was consensual and that the case was politically motivated to get him extradited to the US as it followed massive Wikileaks dumps of secret US military reports that year. Ecuador Foreign Minister Guillaume Long said the UK should now grant Assange safe passage, as the European arrest warrant against him no longer holds. Ecuador welcomes the decision to drop the charges, Long said. However, Scotland Yard has said that it has an obligation to enforce the arrest warrant on Assange a lesser charge of skipping bail. According to his lawyer, Assange wants political asylum in France after he leaves the Ecuador embassy. Assange could face a trial in the US over the leaking of hundreds of thousands of secret US military and diplomatic documents. The Swedish investigation into alleged rape allegations against Assange were dropped days after Chelsea Manning, who provided Wikileaks with classified intelligence on Iraq and Afghanistan that shocked the world, was freed from prison in the US. Also read: Equador Presidential elections could decide Julian Assange's fate For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 5 1 of 5 Contributed photo Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Contributed Photo / The News-Times Show More Show Less 3 of 5 4 of 5 Contributed Photo / The News-Times Show More Show Less 5 of 5 Redding Police Officer Michael Livingston was recognized by Connecticut Mothers Against Drunk Driving at an award ceremony in Southington Thursday. Livingston made the most arrests in the department this past year for people driving while intoxicated, Police Chief Doug Fuchs said. Best-in-class companies know what it takes to attract and retain quality employees. While they make many attempts, most companies havent reached this status. But, when it comes to hiring, what exactly makes a best-in-class company? In facrt, these companies have a decrease (in terms of overall category statistics) in time to hire, an increase in revenue per full-time equivalent and low turnover rates in their new hires first 12 months, according to the 500 C-Suite executives surveyed in Adeccos The Definitive Guide to Building a Better Workforce. Companies that are considering making the extra effort to become a best-in-class company -- and those who arent should be -- heres whats needed to reach best-in-class status: Understand why everyone is job-hopping. Job-hopping has become a trending topic over the last couple of years. Opportunities have opened up in the job market, and employees arent afraid of leaving their current roles anymore. In 2015, LinkedIn surveyed more than 10,000 people in its Global Job Seeker Trends: Why and How People Change Jobs study and found that the number of active job-seekers had grown by 36 percent over the previous four years. The LinkedIn survey showed employees are leaving their jobs due to concerns about career advancement and dissatisfaction with management/leadership. So, companies need to evaluate opportunities for employees. If their structure has no room for growth, they should consider what changes should be made to show current and future employees theres a future for them within the organization. Look to one-on-one meetings and feedback surveys to see if leadership and management is living up to the expectations of employees. Companies may find both management and employees are doing their jobs well, but a disconnect is creating misunderstandings that are impacting engagement and retention. Careful analysis of this gap can help both parties rise to meet their respective expectations and improve job satisfaction. Close the skills gap. Best-in-class companies are aware of major issues, like skills gaps. Not only are these companies aware, theyre finding ways to close the gaps. The previously mentioned Adecco survey shows best-in-class companies are 17 percent more likely to identify skills gaps in the current workforce and future business requirements. Hiring both permanent and temporary talent to fill in skills gaps will relieve pressure from current employees. Look ahead to the companys future, and determine what those hiring needs will be. Relieving the pressure of skills gaps and preparing for the future will allow each employee to perform at their peak of productivity. Provide continuing education Employees desire to be successful in their careers, but when companies neglect to provide tools to heighten productivity and success, employees look elsewhere for better opportunities. Adecco found that 22 percent of best-in-class companies were more likely to increase their training offerings to ensure their employees had the critical skills necessary to perform in their roles. Keeping education up to date gives employees the opportunity to excel in their positions and feel that theyre making a difference. Companies shouldn't waste money by guessing what the employees need and missing the mark in development investment. Companies, therefore, might consider speaking directly to employees for insight into what education is desired and what will be most beneficial to the teams growth. Some employees might want training that directly applies to their role, while others might need help with constantly changing technology. Make your mission known. For leaders, a mission statement may seem like old news or something thats pasted into an employee handbook, but employees are looking for something meaningful to hold on to. Forty-seven percent of those surveyed in the previously mentioned LinkedIn Global Job Seeker Trends report said they joined a small organization because they thought a bigger impact could be made. If your company is looking to up its retention stats, sit down and speak with employees about your companys mission statement. Discuss what that message means to the company, what it means to clients/customers and how employees are adding value to the statement. Once employees understand their role in realizing the greater good of the mission statement, theyre more likely to increase productivity and remain in their roles longer. Related: This Is Why You're Not a Best-in-Class Company for Retaining Great Employees Want Tech Workers to Stick Around Longer? Think 30 Years -- Not Three. Why Companies Built to be Acquired Usually Aren't Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved OTTAWA, May 19, 2017 /CNW/ - Ken McDonald, Member of Parliament for Avalon (Newfoundland and Labrador), on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, today announced the recreational groundfish (cod) fishing season for Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec's Lower North Shore, along with the management measures for this fishery. In 2016, the fishing season was extended by 14 days to allow a total of 46 fishing days. These measures will remain in place for the 2017 season. On behalf of the Minister, Mr. McDonald also announced the Department of Fisheries and Oceans' (DFO) decision not to implement a licence and tags regime for this fishery in 2017. DFO, Newfoundland and Labrador Region consulted widely on this matter, holding community meetings in November 2016, and heard strong opposition to the potential introduction of a tags system for the annual recreational groundfish fishery. The Department listened to the public's views, and has taken all feedback into account in making this year's management decision. Recreational fisheries constitute a strong economic development sector for Canada. DFO will therefore continue to assess options to strengthen the management of all marine recreational fisheries across Eastern Canada, with the goal of improving economic return and the reliability of catch estimates, and making science assessments of the stocks more robust. As part of this process, DFO will engage with Canadians in the Atlantic Provinces and Quebec in the coming months on the possibility of introducing a marine recreational fishing licence regime, without the use of tags, for 2018. Quotes "I have heard you loud and clear there is very little public appetite for the use of tags, and we will therefore not be implementing that regime. We will, however, keep working toward establishing a management approach that meets our conservation objectives while also ensuring fair access to recreational fishing opportunities for Canadians. I look forward to the same quality of engagement and feedback in upcoming consultations." The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, P.C., Q.C., M.P., Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard "This management decision recognizes the feedback heard from Newfoundland and Labrador last fall. Our goal is to strengthen the management of the recreational groundfish fishery and to improve our science and reporting abilities. Hearing the views of Canadians across Atlantic Canada and Quebec will help us achieve this." Ken McDonald, Member of Parliament for Avalon (Newfoundland and Labrador) Quick Facts The fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec's Lower North Shore will open from July 15 to August 6 , September 23 to October 1 , as well as all weekends throughout July and August, including the Canada Day and Labour Day long weekends. This provides a total of 46 days of fishing. and and Lower North Shore will open from , , as well as all weekends throughout July and August, including the and Labour Day long weekends. This provides a total of 46 days of fishing. All previous management measures remain in place. Harvesters must keep what they catch and are not authorized to discard groundfish, with the exception of Atlantic halibut and species at risk (i.e. northern and spotted wolfish). These species must be released in a manner that maximizes the survivability of the fish. For 2017, tour boat operators will be eligible to apply for a licence to seek an increased trip limit. This licence will have harvest reporting requirements to inform DFO Science of the amount of removals. In November 2016 , DFO held a series of regional consultations, eight public meetings ( St. John's , Clarenville , Gander , Corner Brook , Mary's Harbour, Plum Point , Carbonear and Marystown ), a consultation with Indigenous communities, as well as an online consultation process from November 1-30 , seeking public input on the proposed tags regime for the recreational groundfish fishery. Related Products What We Heard: A Summary of Comments from Public Consultations 2017 Newfoundland and Labrador Recreational Groundfish Fishery Internet: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca Follow us on Twitter! www.Twitter.com/DFO_MPO SOURCE Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Canada For further information: Media Relations, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 613-990-7537, [email protected]; Laura Gareau, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 613-992-3474, [email protected] Related Links http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca OTTAWA, May 19, 2017 /CNW/ - The Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, and Brigadier General (ret'd) David Kettle, Secretary General of the Canadian Agency of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, today issued the following statement on the occasion of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's centennial anniversary: "On May 21, 1917, a Royal Charter established the Imperial War Graves Commission, later to become known as the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Its values and aims, laid out in 1917, remain as relevant today as they were 100 years ago and guide this special organization in marking and maintaining Commonwealth graves from both the First and Second World Wars. "They ensure that 1.7 million war dead in more than 150 countries have a final place of rest. There are more than 935,000 known graves in the Commission's 2,500 war cemeteries and plots, or within some 20,000 other burial grounds worldwide. The remaining 760,000 who have no known grave, are listed on one of the many memorials to the missing, which are placed in locations appropriate to the relevant theatres of war in which the deaths occurred. "Sunday, we will proudly recognize their remarkable efforts. The work they have done over the last century has helped ensure that the 1.7 million Commonwealth service members who died during the First and Second World Wars will never be forgotten." SOURCE Veterans Affairs Canada For further information: Media Relations, Veterans Affairs Canada, 613-992-7468, [email protected]; Media Relations, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, 613-421-3364, [email protected] Related Links www.veterans.gc.ca Pricing carbon pollution will help Canada reduce emissions and grow a clean economy OTTAWA, May 18, 2017 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is committed to addressing climate change while building a clean, innovative economy and creating good middle-class jobs. That's why the Prime Minister and Premiers from across the country came together in December 2016 to advance climate action. Right now, 97 per cent of Canadians live in provinces that already have a price on carbon pollution, or are working towards it. Today, the Government of Canada released a technical paper that outlines a proposed federal carbon pricing option for provinces that choose not to have their own system in place in 2018. Ensuring polluters pay in every province is central to a credible plan to tackle climate change. It reduces pollution and gives the incentive to companies to innovate and create cleaner solutions. And it provides certainty to businesses that we are moving to a clean-growth economy. That is why companies across Canada, from banks, to transportation firms, to oil and gas industry, have called for a price on carbon. They know pricing pollution makes good business sense. Whichever system is implemented federal or provincial revenues will remain in the provinces. Revenues from carbon pricing can be used to lower taxes, like in British Columbia, or support low-and middle-income families, like in Alberta. Ontario and Quebec invest their revenues in innovative green programs that create good jobs. For the federal option, we are evaluating how best to return the revenues, for example, by giving it back to individuals and businesses in the province. Comments on the proposed federal option are welcome until June 30, 2017, at [email protected]. These comments will help to inform the legislation and the design of the final carbon pricing system. "Canadians know that polluting isn't free. We know that it causes droughts, floods and extreme weather events, and affects our health. So it's only fair that polluters pay, and that there is a price on pollution across Canada. This will reduce pollution, create incentives for companies to innovate and develop clean solutions, and provide certainty to businesses that we are moving to a clean-growth economy. That's why we are working together with provinces, territories, Indigenous Peoples, businesses, communities and all Canadians to build a more sustainable, cleaner, more prosperous economy, and create good middle-class jobs now and for the future. Because it's good for business. And because we owe it to our kids and grandkids." Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Quick facts All provinces and territories but two signed on to the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change in December 2016 . . Canada's climate plan includes measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and generate growth across all sectors of the economy. climate plan includes measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and generate growth across all sectors of the economy. Pricing carbon pollution along with investments in green infrastructure, innovation, and better regulations will allow Canada to meet its target of reducing emissions to below 2005 levels by 2030. to meet its target of reducing emissions to below 2005 levels by 2030. Pricing carbon pollution gives companies and people the flexibility to choose solutions that enable them to pollute less. When provinces put a price on pollution, they can choose to use that money in the way that works best for their economy and communities. Related products Associated links Environment and Climate Change Canada's Twitter page Environment and Natural Resources in Canada's Facebook page SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada For further information: Marie-Pascale Des Rosiers, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, 613-462-5473; Media Relations, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll free) Related Links http://www.ec.gc.ca BALDWINSVILLE, NY -- It's the only Anheuser-Busch brewery in the United States to make hard cider. Its brewhouse launched the Bud Light Lime-A-Rita series. It brews "craft" beer for brands like Goose Island and Blue Point. It makes every Shock Top flavor imaginable. And, of course, its brews a whole lot of Budweiser, Bud Light, Busch, Michelob Ultra and other traditional Anheuser-Busch beers. Four flavors of the new Teavana Craft Iced Teas produced at the Anheuser-Busch brewery near Baldwinsville, NY. Now, the plant in the Radisson Business Park near Baldwinsville -- one of 12 A-B breweries in the country -- is adding even more beverages, and drinks categories, to its lineup. This year, it began making SpikedSeltzer, a line of flavored sparkling seltzer waters created by Boathouse Beverage. a company Anheuser-Busch InBev acquired last year. (Before that deal, some of the SpikedSeltzer production was at the North American Breweries-owned Genesee Brewery in Rochester.) But the newest product coming off the packaging lines at the Baldwinsville brewery may be the most out-of-the-sixpack idea yet: ready-to-drink, bottled iced teas for the Teavana brand, which is owned by coffee giant Starbucks. These may be the first no-alcohol products to be produced by Anheuser-Busch since the alcohol-free Bevo beer made during Prohibition. The Baldwinsville brewery is the only one of the dozen A-B plants currently making a no-alcohol beverages. Bryan Sullivan, general manager of the Anheuser-Busch brewery near Baldwinsville, NY, in front of the brewery's new "multi-packing" machine. It can package multiple-size packages at one time. Anheuser-Busch announced May 15 that it is investing $10 million in its Baldwinsville brewery this year to bring the Teavana production there, and to install new packaging machinery. It makes sense that this Upstate New York brewery would be picked to venture into the hard seltzer and non-alcohol tea categories: It has long been known within the company for its flexibility in producing different products and multiple packaging options. It's often the brewery where new products are launched, like the Lime-A-Rita in 2012. "It is a very versatile brewery," said Bryan Sullivan, who took over as general manager at Baldwinsville six months ago after working as a brewmaster at the A-B brewery in Los Angeles for 10 years. "We do a lot of things here." The Baldwinsville brewery produces about 6 million barrels of its various beverages per year (a barrel is 31 gallons). It is the largest brewery in New York state. The number of different products made at Baldwinsville today is "north of 65," Sullivan said. The plant's packaging is also versatile: Beers come in 12-ounce cans or bottles, and in 15-ounce and 24-ounce sizes, and in lots of variations like slimline cans and aluminum "bottles." There are sixpacks, 12-packs, 30-packs and more. Bottles of Teavana Craft Iced Tea on a packing line at the Anheuser-Busch brewery near Baldwinsville, NY. The new Teavana bottles are 14-ounce -- the only ones the brewery fills at that size, Sullivan said. They also have an unusually wide mouth and caps that are topped with a decorative strap. "There's a lot of things that are different about this product," Sullivan said. The process of making Teavana is also different, of course. The flavored iced teas are infused, but are not brewed like beer. And, of course, they're not fermented like beer or the other alcohol products. Teavana originated as a high-end, loose-leaf tea founded in Atlanta in 1997. The company was acquired by Starbuck in 2012. Anheuser-Busch InBev (the Belgium-based parent of A-B in America) and Starbucks announced a partnership to produce bottled Teavana last year, but did not identify Baldwinsville as the location until this week. Testing on the Teavana bottling began in Baldwinsville in December, Sullivan said. The brewery will produce four flavors: Mango Black, Peach Green, Passion Tango Herbal and Pineapple Berry Blue Herbal. The first two are caffeinated, the second two are not. Labels for one of the new SpikedSeltzer products on a filling machine at the Anheuser-Busch brewery near Baldwinsville, NY. The SpikedSeltzers are 6 percent alcohol, with a base of fermented corn sugar. Flavors include cranberry, lime, grapefruit and orange. While the relationship with Teavana is a partnership between Anheuser-Busch InBev and Starbucks, the SpikedSeltzers represent one in a series of acquisitions of smaller, or "craft" companies by the brewing giant in recent years. A-B has also purchased such breweries as Goose Island, Blue Point Brewing, 10 Barrel Brewing, Elysian Brewing, Golden Road Brewing, Four Peaks Brewing, Breckenridge Brewery, and, most recently Wicked Weed Brewing of Asheville, N.C. The Anheuser-Busch plant near Baldwinsville dates to 1976, when it started as a Schlitz plant. Anheuser-Busch, based in St. Louis, took over in 1979, making it one of 12 U.S. breweries the company operates. It now has about 500 employees. In 2008, Anheuser-Busch was taken over by InBev, a Belgium-based global beer conglomerate. Last year, Anheuser-Busch InBev merged with SABMiller, another brewing giant whose brands include Miller. Don Cazentre writes about craft beer, wine, spirits and beverages for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook. ALBANY, N.Y. -- State and federal law enforcement have requested records regarding the practice of paying state senators cash bonuses for positions they did not hold, according to the New York Times and New York Daily News. An unnamed source told the Daily News that the state comptroller's office got requests from the New York Attorney General's Office and a federal prosecutor "shortly after" news of the bonuses emerged last week. The New York Times reported that the comptroller was working with unspecified law enforcement in a criminal probe. The news of a potential criminal investigation ramps up the stakes for a controversy that has drawn in senators from across New York, including those in Upstate. Sens. Patty Ritchie (R- Oswegatchie) and Dave Valesky, a member of the Independent Democratic Conference from Syracuse, received $45,000 in the controversial bonuses between them despite never serving as chair on the Senate Health Committee. The Senate GOP falsely identified both senators as "chairman" to justify the stipends in records they provided to the comptroller's office between 2015 and 2017. Valesky, who got the $15,000 stipend in 2015 and 2016, was a vice-chair at the time, and Ritchie got the stipend this year despite being deputy vice-chair. Ritchie and the Senate GOP declined to specify what her duties were as deputy vice-chair. She has defended her stipend as legally justifiable and well-earned. Valesky has also defended the stipend and said he has no intention of returning it. Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday criticized the comptroller's office for approving the payments, saying that it should have reviewed the records more closely. "It's the comptroller's opinion whether or not that was legal," Cuomo said. "If it was not legal, the comptroller shouldn't have done it. If it's not legal, the comptroller should call up and say, 'Whoops, I made a mistake, I need the money back.'" The comptroller's office said when the controversy emerged that the Senate is really in charge of determining who gets what stipend. In response to the governor's criticism, a comptroller's office spokeswoman said it is up to the legal system or the Senate itself to determine what the next steps will be. AP map.JPG A map created by the Associated Press shows how reporting and response to sexual assaults varies by state. (Associated Press) New York schools reported 147 student sexual assaults to the state's education department over four years, according to a report by the Associated Press. The AP reported New York's numbers as part of an investigation into how schoolhouse sexual assaults are tracked nationwide. The AP collected data from individual states. There is no federal requirements for reporting such assaults. The investigation found little consistency among how sex assault is reported in elementary and secondary schools in the U.S., concluding that in many states, the numbers don't accurately represent the full extent of the problem. For example, Georgia, a state with just over half of New York's population, reported 607 sexual assaults in the same four-year period. New York is one of 32 states that maintain records on student sexual assaults. The AP found, however, that the State Education Department does not verify what individual schools and districts report. Nor does New York require training aimed at preventing or responding to student-on-student sexual assault. New York is in the process of changing its sexual assault reporting procedures. It currently tracks incidents in the following categories: sexual penetration, with or without a weapon, and other types of inappropriate sexual contact with a weapon. The new rules will group all sex incidents into one category. Overall, the AP discovered about 17,000 reports of student sexual assault nationwide despite what it called significant under-reporting. Other highlights from the report include: For every adult-on-student sexual assault reported to police, there are seven student-on-student assaults. Nearly 80 percent of sexual assaults were reports of fondling. Around 20 percent were reports of rape, sodomy and forced penetration. The average age of a victim was 13. Girls were most likely be victims in their teens and pre-teens. Girls accounted for around 85 percent of all victims Boys were more likely to be victims at a young age. About 40 percent of 5- and 6-year-old victims were boys. Nearly 12 percent of assaults involved more than one offender. Males accounted for 95 percent of sexual assaults of female students. They accounted for 80 percent of assaults of male students. Reporter Julie McMahon covers education. She can be reached anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1992 The US Navy railgun program is making great technical progress according to the Office of Naval Research program manager Tom Boucher. The Navy is now working towards installing railguns at permanent land-based test sites which would provide more and better data for fewer dollars than an ad hoc installation aboard a repurposed fast transport. New 32-megajoule railguns have been installed and fired in Virginia and New Mexico. White Sands (New Mexico) tests the long-range performance of the projectile, Dahlgren (Virginia) will work on the weapon itself. Previous test weapons were only firing a few times per day. The Dahlgren team is now making multiple shots per hour as they work out the bugs, and by the end of the year they expect to reach the goal of 10 shots per minute.>b For comparison, a standard 5-inch deck gun can fire 20 rounds a minute, albeit only for a single minute before its quick-reload drum runs empty; the 16-inch guns on battleships fired about twice a minute. Once theyve reached the 10-round a minute rate then they will work to make the railgun barrel last for 1000 shots or more. The current railguns fire a 16 kg slug at 2,000 meters per second (Mach 5.8), which takes 32 megajoules of energy per shot. 10 shots minute would need 20 megawatts of power. Only 11 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and three Zumwalt-class destroyers currently have the power for a railgun. Navy strategist Bryan Clark has proposed adding cargo containers full of batteries to convert EFP transports into expedient railgun platforms to shoot down incoming missiles. The batteries in one container could power about ten shots. is a writer and researcher based in Italy, focusing on trafficking and migration thanks to a Fulbright research grant. She reported this story with the assistance of The Fuller Project for International Reporting. Disheveled, barefoot and bleary-eyed, the Nigerian girls are some of the first to walk off the boats. A dream realised; they arrive in Europe though the scene is anything but romantic.Caskets are carried off, carrying those who didnt survive the two-day journey across the Mediterranean, from Libya to the Sicilian port of Palermo. Babies wail and those sick and burned from the effects of the gasoline mixed with saltwater stumble towards the medical tent.The Nigerian girls are given a plastic bag containing a litre of water, a piece of fruit and a sandwich. Theyre ushered to a vinyl tent for vulnerabili the vulnerable ones.For at least 30 years, Nigerian women have been trafficked into Europe for sex work, but numbers have spiked recently. In 2014, the trickle of a few hundred women a year grew to nearly 1,500. The following year, it increased again to 5,600. In 2016, at least 11,009 Nigerian women and girls arrived on Italian shores.These women used to arrive on planes with visas. Now, they come the back way the smuggling route that has developed across Africa to bring hundreds of thousands of Africans to Europe.Women make up a smaller percentage of total African arrivals to Europe, and aid response for them has been slow and misguided. Although the International Organization of Migration estimates that 80 percent of Nigerian females coming to Europe are trafficked, aid workers have no way of telling those seeking opportunity from those forced against their will. They hand out flyers warning against trafficking.Time is of the essence: If officials can establish trust, girls who have not been trafficked may be less likely to become ensnared in sex work once they are in Europe. And those who were trafficked are more likely to supply details that reveal that they have been trafficked, allowing the IOM to refer them to Italys national anti-trafficking network, or local prosecutors, who can help them get international protection.In the best-case scenario, they are placed in a safe house run by nuns or an NGO, which is supposed to house them for up to three years and try to integrate them into European life with school and job training, with the goal of becoming independent.Thats the ideal scenario but it rarely happens. Safe houses are built for a dozen women there arent nearly enough to take in the thousands of women arriving.Traffickers know this.Before leaving for Italy, Nigerian traffickers give the girls and women a phone number for a madam, and tell them to call as soon as they arrive. Madams are older Nigerian women, sometimes former prostitutes themselves, who have climbed the organisational ranks. A younger male is also involved, working for the madam by following, watching and accompanying the young women.After arriving, the Nigerian women are taken with other asylum-seekers to facilities around Italy, built to house them as they await their documents. Teeming with people from Nigeria, The Gambia, Eritrea and elsewhere, many of whom have been there more than a year, theyre allowed to come and go, and use cell phones.Madams actually recruit inside the big immigration centres, explains Tiziana Bianchini, who works for Lotta Contro lEmarginazione, a Milan-based organisation with an anti-trafficking mission. This means that girls who may not have been trafficked run the risk of falling into criminal networks once they are in Italy.Peace is one teen girl who, in 2013 at the age of 17, migrated by boat to Sicily and was brought to CARA of Mineo, the largest refugee camp in Europe. Located in Sicilys eastern province of Catania, the centre, once an American military base, houses more than 3,000 men and women. It has become notorious for its dubious finances and for giving residents cigarettes instead of the payments they are entitled to under Italian law.While she still lived in the camp, Peace stopped a Nigerian man on a street nearby, and asked to borrow his phone. She dialled the number she had been told to, and spoke to the Nigerian woman on the other line. Within days she was a sex worker. Once you make the call, youre off. You never go back to the camp, she says.I met her earlier this year in a small room in Sicily where church services are held, several months after she left the street.Shes an energetic, fast-talking, smiley young woman, whose youthful stature is nonetheless marked by a distinct confidence. She wears her hair up high, with a long braid hanging down her back, bouncing as she walks and talks in the glaring Sicilian sunlight.Peace isnt her real name its an alias we agreed to use because she still lives in fear of her traffickers, or that shell be deported. Or of repercussions for her family because she didnt finish repaying her debt.Trafficking officials would call her a typical victim: She grew up in Benin City, in the heart of Nigerias poor, rural southwestern Edo State, a major source of trafficked sex workers in Europe. Shes the eldest girl from a large family and older girls are the most likely to be trafficked. Her mother died when Peace was 16, and her father was not caring.She decided to leave, feeling the pressure of needing to help her family financially, and escaping from a situation that was hurting her.When a woman approached her, telling her she was beautiful and asking if she wanted to go to Europe, Peace agreed. She knew shed have to work on the street, and she knew she would need to pay the woman 30,000 euros once she arrived in Europe. She completed what Nigerians call the juju oath, an animist, spiritual contract in which the girl agrees to be brought to Europe, and binds herself to her debt with bits of her pubic hair and blood.The ritual is taken extremely seriously and violation is considered justification for murder of a girl or her family.Back then, I just thought, f*** it, said Peace.Languishing in the campsThe lax oversight at these migrant centres has led to calls for a different response to migrant arrivals in Italy. The centres, which Italians call welcome homes and the people inside call camps, were Italys stop-gap solution to provide recent arrivals with housing as they awaited their documents or the result of their applications for international protection.A process that was supposed to take a couple of months now lasts years, while applicants languish in overcrowded centres, often in the middle of nowhere.Italy was completely unable to create a national program to deal with the arrivals from Africa, said Bianchini, explaining that the responsibility lies with understaffed and underfunded local governments, who end up outsourcing the oversight of these camps to private organisations, making contracts with whoever.This means there is little oversight or transparency. Much of the staff operating these centres speak little to no English (nor French nor Arabic for that matter), the centres are overcrowded, and the people inside of them tend to be given little access to information on Italys legal system.When I visited one centre, many people asked me if they should try to get to France. Rumour has it that its increasingly tough to cross the borders out of Italy.The Italian system of housing asylum-seekers is completely inadequate for victims of trafficking, Bianchini added, noting that women in general, but especially victims of trafficking, require specific psychological and educational support that these centres are unable to provide.Every so often, law enforcement officials in Italy decide its time for a sweep and deport Nigerian women back to Nigeria, where they run the risk of being re-trafficked.Forcibly returning the girls to Nigeria would be another heavy violence against them, explains Sister Valeria Gandini, a missionary nun who eight years ago founded Palermos Street Unity, a group of lay and religious volunteers who visit the women on the street each week. Sooner or later, they will meet the same people who betrayed them and brought them to Europe the first time around.Deportation rumours often spur more women to run away.Impossible to payAnother young Nigerian woman who ran away from her camp, only to wind up on the street, is Favour again, not her real name. When I met her, she had a big, warm smile beneath a fashionable knit cap.Like Peace, Favour is from Edo State, though from the more rural area, outside of the city. Before she agreed to seal the oath, Favour asked the woman who approached her if she was going to Europe to do prostitution. It was only once the woman assured her that she would be working in a shop that Favour agreed.She was told the money would be easy to come by once she was in Europe.When she first arrived at the madams house, Favour was exhausted. She slept for two days. On the third day, the woman said it was time to go to work.In addition to the 30,000 euros she had to pay off, she would have to pay 80 euros a week for food, 250 euros a month for the rent, as well as the gas and electric bills. Favour was ready: OK, no problem. Just show me the shop, she said.First, the woman took her shopping. They bought clothes that Favour says she didnt understand. A few days later, the woman said she was ready for work. They took bus after bus, and then they walked. She found herself in the bush, standing on the side of the road. She was told to put on different clothes, clothes she had bought earlier with the woman, and that were now tucked inside the bag she had brought.When it finally dawned on her what she would have to do, Favour cried. She cried all day, and for many days she refused to work. When she went home with nothing, the woman would beat her. After some time, she felt she had no choice, and she gave in.In Palermo, women and underage girls like Peace and Favour work the streets among the trees lining the busy road of La Favorita, or along the trash- and urine-ridden streets around the port.They are there six nights, or days, a week, depending on their shifts. As the months get warmer, the clothes get skimpier: see-through tights that reveal a lacy thong, shirts open to reveal naked breasts. They wear wigs directly from Nigeria that cost 20 euros each. Blessing (not her real name), a woman of tiny stature and boundless energy who works on a Palermo street, shows off her fake eyelashes, which can stay on for several weeksPeace now shares an apartment with an Italian woman whom she helps around the house. In her room, she brushes her hair, smiles often and laughs a lot. She is candid but guarded about her experience working on the street.It all depends on the client, she says. Sometimes, those clients dont even want sex so much as they want company, and with them, you try to be jovial, you make them laugh. But then there are the clients who dont want to pay you, the clients who are aggressive. Those are the bad clients. Peace can talk about it without showing too much emotion, but she is reluctant to go too deep. She would like to go back to Nigeria eventually, but for now, she feels pressure to make money, either for herself or her family she wasnt clear.Favours experiences were worse. Once, a client knifed her. Another time, two men who approached her gave her a bad feeling. Via, she told them. Im not working tonight. You must, they replied, before slapping her and dragging her into a room in a local train station. She cried a lot as she told her story. When she came to, she said she asked the first person she found to bring her to the hospital.After that, she decided to get out.Getting outThe Street Unity group in the town where she was working had been asking her for months if she wanted out. Street Unity groups, like that established by Sister Valeria in Palermo, approach the girls offering medical support, and in the case of the religious groups, prayer.The Nigerian women are extremely religious (there is no one in Nigeria, Peace once said, who can honestly say that they dont believe in God), and prayer is often a source of bonding. Once the connections have been established, the groups can be a way off of the street a difficult and uneasy step.Sicily has a 22-percent unemployment rate, high even by Italian standards. The only jobs available to Nigerian women are in cleaning or taking care of the elderly or children. But these jobs require Italian language skills, and they dont come with guarantees of good payment or treatment.As Sister Valeria sees it, the women who are victims of trafficking, who have been forced into sex work for years, who are in the end destroyed, physically and psychologically what future can they have here?Against all odds, Peace one day decided she would leave. It was a scary decision, because of the juju oath she had made back in Nigeria. Article 18 of Italys Consolidated Immigration Act provides protection and temporary residence permits to victims of trafficking who denounce their traffickers or madams, or who show visible signs of being in immediate psychological or physical danger.But Peace, like many of these women, refused to take this route. Denouncing her madam or her trafficker would be the biggest violation of her oath. Im protected, in Europe, she explains, but I have to think about my family.Back in Nigeria, it would be easy for them to be killed or badly hurt. And, there is the fear of going crazy. She talks about her friend, Mary, who convinced a whole group of girls to denounce their madam. Mary has since gone totally wacko a problem, Peace explains, that is not psychological but spiritual, linked directly to the effects of the juju oath.Peace and Favour are moving on with their lives. Peace attends classes in Italian, sewing and cooking. She sings in her town gospel choir, and helps organise meetings in her churchs community, where she leads discussions about work opportunities and community empowerment.Favour lives in a safe house in northern Italy. She is also taking Italian classes, and the operators taking care of her are working hard to find her job opportunities so she can be independent one day. Peace says shes thankful for her experiences. She feels she has grown, and says its for this reason that she does not think of herself as a victim (though she admits that she can say this only because she is no longer on the street).Favour, for her part, calls herself a very big victim, but she is looking forward, too.* Maggie Neil US President Donald Trump on Thursday called the situation in Venezuela a disgrace to humanity and said the deadly political crisis was possibly the worst of its kind in decades.We havent really seen a problem like that in decades, in terms of the kind of violence that were witnessing, Trump told a press conference with visiting Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos.People dont have enough to eat. People have no food. Theres great violence. And we will do whatever is necessary and we will work together to do whatever is necessary to help with fixing that.What is happening is really a disgrace to humanity. Shortly thereafter the US Treasury slapped sanctions on eight members of Venezuelas Supreme Court, charging them with undermining the deeply divided countrys democratic legislature in support of a corrupt government.Trumps comments came one day after the Venezuelan government announced it was sending more than 2,500 troops to a trouble-hit region on the border with Colombia to try to quell weeks of violence that have claimed 44 lives nationwide.Despite its vast oil reserves, Venezuela is suffering chronic shortages of food, medicine and other basic supplies. The center-right opposition blames it all on mismanagement and corruption in the Socialist government.President Nicolas Maduro in turn blames sabotage by the bourgeois opposition, which he says is backed by Washington.When you look at the oil reserves that they have, when you look at the potential wealth that Venezuela has, you sort of have to wonder why is that happening, how is that possible? said Trump.It has been unbelievably poorly run for a long period of time, and hopefully that will change and they could use those assets for the good and to take care of their people, he said.The Treasury Department sanctions were Washingtons toughest action yet signaling support for hundreds of thousands of protestors seeking Maduros tight grip on power.The announcement followed a series of rulings since mid-2016 in which the court usurped the National Assemblys powers in support of Maduro.The sanctions freeze any assets the countrys most powerful judicial figures may have in US jurisdictions and lock them out of much of global banking.The Venezuelan people are suffering from a collapsing economy brought about by their governments mismanagement and corruption, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.Members of the countrys Supreme Court of Justice have exacerbated the situation by consistently interfering with the legislative branchs authority, he said.By imposing these targeted sanctions, the United States is supporting the Venezuelan people in their efforts to protect and advance democratic governance in their country.Venezuelas Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez took to Twitter to reject the US-imposed measures, calling them outrageous and unacceptable.She said the sanctions are proof of the US authority and leadership in the destabilization of Venezuela.The Treasury cited recent Supreme Court rulings that have allowed Maduro to rule by executive decree, exempted the government from submitting its budget to the legislature, and taken away from the legislature the power to appoint the National Electoral Council. In March, the court stripped parliamentary immunity from members of the National Assembly and moved to assume legislative powers for itself. Those decisions have since been partially reversed.The eight named for sanctions include the president of the Supreme Court, Maikel Moreno, and the seven principal members of the courts Constitutional Chamber.In February, the US designated Maduros vice president and presumed heir Tareck El Aissami a major international drug trafficker. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria and a subsidiary of United States-based ExxonMobil Corporation, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, have reached an agreement to end a dispute over the sacking of some employees.This is coming a week after Mobil Producing Nigeria Branch of PENGASSAN rejected a directive from the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, that its industrial action should be suspended.The oil workers said they were protesting the alleged refusal of the oil major to honour an agreement that it would review the sacking of 83 employees in December and that none of the workers that participated in a protest that month would be sanctioned for their actions.The dispute took a turn for the worse on Monday as the union extended its industrial action to other international oil companies operating in the country by embarking on a three-day warning strike, in sympathy with striking employees of the local subsidiary of ExxonMobil.Reports have it that PENGASSAN and Mobil reached an agreement on Thursday and were to sign a communique to that effect last night.They couldnt sign because they had some misunderstanding regarding the wording of the communique. But basically they have agreed; so, it is just for them to firm up that agreement in terms of how it will be in the communique, the Chairman, PENGASSAN and NUPENG PIB Committee, Mr. Chika Onuegbu, said in a telephone interview.Stressing that both parties had agreed to resolve the dispute amicably, he added, The moment they agree on the actual wording of the communique, they will sign it. Technically, the matter has been resolved. They have technically suspended all actions. The Federal Government will on Friday (today) convey 164 parents and relatives of the 82 Chibok schoolgirls that were rescued two weeks ago... The Federal Government will on Friday (today) convey 164 parents and relatives of the 82 Chibok schoolgirls that were rescued two weeks ago. A top security source said, 82 girls were rescued two weeks ago. Each of the girls is entitled to two parents or two relatives as the case may be which implies that 164 parents or relatives will be conveyed to Abuja by the Federal Government. They will be given accommodation and will be reunited with their children/wards on Saturday. When asked to explain how the parents would be transported, the source said that the government had organised vehicles that would be used in conveying the parents. The source did not say if the parents would be driven for 13 hours from Chibok to Abuja or if they would be conveyed from Chibok to an airport and then flown afterwards. He said, A combined team of soldiers, policemen and men of the Department of State Services are expected to escort and coordinate the parents during the journey. For security reasons, I cannot state the course of their journey. You can imagine the scandal that it would cause if the parents of Chibok girls were kidnapped. Be assured that the Federal Government will incur all the costs. Mr. Yahi Dwata, an uncle to one of the rescued girls, confirmed on the telephone that he also would be arriving in Abuja on Friday (today). Dwata, whose niece, Comfort Bulus, was among the rescued girls, said he was already anxious to meet the girl whom he had not seen in over three years. He said, It is true. We are all expected to meet in Abuja on Friday. I am in Lagos so I will not be leaving from Chibok with the others but I have been speaking with Comforts mother and the others. We are all happy that after three years, we will be reunited. President Donald Trump has cancelled a planned visit and speech at the ancient mountain fortress of Masada in Israel after authorities to... President Donald Trump has cancelled a planned visit and speech at the ancient mountain fortress of Masada in Israel after authorities told him that he could not land his helicopter on top of the UNESCO-listed site.Instead, Trump will now deliver a speech at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. It comes after an Israeli Air Force (IAF) regulation that prevents helicopters landing at the summit of the Masada site, according to Israels Channel 2 broadcaster.Unlike former presidents who have made the trip, such as George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, Trump declined to land the helicopter at a base of the historic site and then take the cable car up, preferring to cancel the visit altogether.The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to comment, referring any matters involving Trumps schedule to the U.S. government. The Israeli Foreign Ministry also declined to comment on Trumps schedule.The reason for the regulation is that helicopters on approach create dust, making landing at the desert site 1,300 feet above sea level precarious.On a previous 1997 landing by the IAF in the middle of Masada, the wind created by the helicopter caused damage to the ruins, according to the Jerusalem Post.Masada, a UNESCO World Heritage site that the cultural agency calls a creation of majestic beauty, is built upon a mountain overlooking the shores of the Dead Sea in southern Israels Judean desert, some 60 miles southeast of Jerusalem. It is one of the countrys archaeological wonders.Masada helicopter A U.S. presidential helicopter flies over the Judean desert on the way to the hilltop fortress of Masada on May 15, 2008. Trump has canceled his visit to the site after Israel said he could not land his helicopter on top of the site.King Herod is believed to have built the fortress, but its defining story is that its Jewish rebel defenders whounder threat from a Roman siegekilled themselves rather than be captured alive by the invading forces sometime between 73 and 74 AD.News of the presidents cancellation stirred reactions among observers of the American-Israeli relationship and officials inside the country.Well Masada was too hot, so we found a great spot instead for POTUS, Eitan Weiss, deputy spokesperson for the Israeli Foreign Ministry tweeted, appearing to mock the reason for the cancellation.@IsraelMuseum. The Dead Sea Scrolls make an important setting.Another Twitter user joked: Trump is going to move the U.S. embassy to Masada, referencing the consideration the president is giving to moving Washingtons diplomatic representation from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.Martin Indyk, a former U.S. ambassador to Israel, tweeted that a raft of decisions on the Trump administration in regard to the visit has soured Israels mood.As well as the Masada cancellation, Trump will only spend 15 minutes at the national Holocaust memorial Yad Vashem, a move likely to offend the Israelis.Masada An aerial photo taken on May 13, 2008, shows the ancient hilltop fortress of Masada in the Judean desert. Menahem Kahana/AFP/GettyAhead of the visit, a member of Trumps diplomatic staff told the Israelis that the Western Wall was in the West Bank and they did not want Netanyahu to accompany Trump on his visit to the site.The declaration sparked Israels anger and a call from the government for an explanation from the White House, which subsequently said that this was not Trumps position.It will be the first visit by a sitting U.S. president to the Western Wall (Barack Obama only visited the site as a presidential candidate).Israel considers the site to be the nearest to the holiest landmark in Judaismthe Temple Mountwhere Israelis can pray, to be part of Jerusalem and, therefore, Israel.cannot pray at the Temple Mount, which is controlled by a Jordanian-Palestinian Islamic Waqf, or trust. Gunmen suspected to be militants have kidnapped four Itsekiri leaders and some officials of an indigenous firm, Elcrest in Delta State. Gunmen suspected to be militants have kidnapped four Itsekiri leaders and some officials of an indigenous firm, Elcrest in Delta State. Addressing newsmen, on Friday in Warri, the state capital, the Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, Andrew Aniamaka, said men of the Command are on the trail of the kidnappers. The police backed by the military are on the trail of the hoodlums, Aniamaka said. It was gathered that the suspected militants kidnapped the victims in a community in Benin River in Warri North Local Government Area at 5:00p.m on Tuesday, while returning from Ureju community. The All Progressives Congress on Thursday warned against any possible attempt to topple the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, say... The All Progressives Congress on Thursday warned against any possible attempt to topple the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, saying Nigerians will defend democracy in the event of any coup.The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Burutai, had on Tuesday alleged that some people were approaching soldiers for political reasons and warned the soldiers who might heed the overtures of serious consequences.The National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, in an interview with journalists in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, said the APC, being the ruling party at the federal level, initially hesitated to react so as to allow Nigerians respond to it.He said, We have hesitated to react so far because we think that the house belongs to us so we wanted to wait for Nigerians to react and Nigerians have reacted.If there was any such thing in the offing, I think it is clear to everyone that Nigerians will defend their own democracy.The United Kingdom, the Igbo apex socio-cultural organisation, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, its Hausa counterpart, the Arewa Consultative Forum, groups and eminent Nigerians had condemned and plan to oust a democratic government in the country. A London -based Nigerian couple were on Friday convicted by a Southwark Crown Court in London for trafficking a slave nanny into the Un... A London -based Nigerian couple were on Friday convicted by a Southwark Crown Court in London for trafficking a slave nanny into the United Kingdom from Nigeria.Judge Martin Beddoe warned that Ayodeji Adewakun, a 44- year old medical doctor and wife, Abimbola Adewakun, a 48 -year old nurse, face a significant sentence of immediate imprisonment.They were granted bail until June 16 when they will be sentenced.The couple had lured the woman to the UK from Nigeria with promise of 500 per monthly salary.They confiscated the womans passport as soon as she arrived in February 2007 and subjected her to constant demands and verbal abuse.She managed to escape two years later after finally receiving just 350 the equivalent of a wage of 15 a month.Jurors were unable to reach a verdict in relation to Dr. Adewakun on a charge of trafficking a second alleged victim.The man was cleared of that charge.The couple allegedly persuaded the woman to come and care for their two children in Erith, south-east London, years earlier in 2005.The 37-year-old victim told Southwark Crown Court she was later forced to work all day cleaning the house, cook for the family and was even woken if the doctor got home late and wanted a snack. A gang of thieves who specialize in stealing from passenger on-board local flights have been apprehended this morning by authorities. ... A gang of thieves who specialize in stealing from passenger on-board local flights have been apprehended this morning by authorities. Arik in recent time has been plagued with the problem of in-flight passenger theft. This has been a major problem for the leading Nigerian airline for a while until this morning. According to social commentator, Japhet Omojuwa, the incident occurred on a flight from Lagos to Abuja on Friday morning. The 2-man gang were this morning apprehended after they were caught in the act by a planted spy on-board a flight from Lagos to Abuja. Apparently, there have been prior incidents on flights which prompted Arik management to engage the services of a spy to check for nefarious activities in-flight. According to an eyewitness who was also on-board the flight, the thieves were not aware theyre being watched so they thought it was business as usual. The men were accosted by flight attendants and other passengers after it was established that they took personal effects from luggages that were not theirs. According to a passenger on-board the flight, The authorities were alerted as soon as the incident happened when we were airborne so authorities came in to arrest them on arrival in Abuja. The thieves were led away by the authorities. I dont know how many years for stealing in the air, he chuckled. The captain explaining how the incident happened said: thumbs up to Arik. They had a spy to watch out because the thieves had been on a run. When one of the suspects was questioned on how long he has been doing it, he refused to respond and hid his face, amid curses from angry passengers. He was eventually whisked away by security operatives as soon as the plane arrived at the airport. Watch video below: One of the thieves caught on the Arik flight Lagos to Abuja this morning. Impressive security set up by Arik pic.twitter.com/Wc3wPafOEJ May 19, 2017 The authorities were alerted as soon as the incident happened when we were airborne. They came in on arrival. pic.twitter.com/287OM0Roti May 19, 2017 They are now being led away by the authorities. I don't know how many years for stealing in the air. LOL. pic.twitter.com/HU0rqfZZIo May 19, 2017 Unidentified gunmen invaded Otobie and Ererekri communities in Bonny Island of Rivers State, on Wednesday morning, and shot dead four perso... Unidentified gunmen invaded Otobie and Ererekri communities in Bonny Island of Rivers State, on Wednesday morning, and shot dead four persons, leaving another in a critical condition. The invasion which started at about 2 am and lasted till 5 am, led to big pandemonium as residents of the community scampered to safety. Among those shot dead was Elder Macaulay Pepple, the 76-year-old father of Larry Pepple, the Director-General Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency, RSSDA. Pepple, who was former Chief Security Officer to Dr Peter Odili, ex-governor of Rivers State, confirmed the killing of his father to journalists in Port Harcourt, adding that his remains has been deposited at the mortuary. Names of the three other victims are: Kobiri Godspower, 25 Emilia God'spower, 15 Adolphus Hitler Pepple, 73 The Chairman of Caretaker Committee of Bonny Local Government, Simeon Hart, who also confirmed the incident appealed to residents of the affected communities to be calm as security operatives have been deployed to the area to fish out the perpetrators of the dastardly act. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Once elected, members of the Public Service Commission typically have an easy time hanging onto their jobs. Voters dont know much about them or their work, and the only real money in the campaigns has traditionally come from utilities and others SIOUX CITY -- Though attendees of Thursday's rally for former President Donald Trump at the Sioux Gateway Airport came from a variety of cities and states, his supporters all had very similar answers when asked whether or not they would back a 2024 run by him. After a rainy week, well have an opportunity to mow our lawns and dry out Sunday. Then a chance of more wet weather in the Council Bluffs-Omaha area returns next week. Ryan McPike, a meteorologist at KMTV, said severe weather should remain south and east of the metro area because conditions are too cool in the region to produce threatening weather. I dont think we have much of a chance for severe weather in our area, he said. McPike said a major weather system that produced twisters in Oklahoma on Thursday moved northeast, leaving western Iowa and eastern Nebraska with wet and cool conditions Friday, which brought flash flood watches to the region. Todays forecast calls for a 70 percent chance of showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 1 p.m., then a slight chance of showers after 1 p.m. and a high around 55. These showers could linger through the afternoon Saturday, McPike said. Conditions will be mostly cloudy tonight with a low in the lower 40s. Sunday is your break in the weather for outdoor chores. The day will be mostly sunny with a high in the mid- to upper 60s, according to the National Weather Service office in Valley, Nebraska. McPike said Sundays the better day for sure this weekend. Monday should be partly sunny with a 60 percent chance of showers and a high in the lower 70s. Tuesday brings partly sunny skies and a chance of showers, mainly after 1 p.m., with a high around 65. Finally, Wednesday and Thursday are forecast to be mostly sunny with highs in the upper 60s to lower 70s. The weather service said Omaha has officially recorded 2.81 inches of rainfall this month through Thursday at Eppley Airfield, which is 0.12 inches above normal. Rainfall totals in inches for the 24 hours ending at 7:30 a.m. Friday, according to the weather service, were 0.55 in Council Bluffs, 0.5 in Clarinda, 0.54 in Harlan, 1.08 in Red Oak and 0.75 in Shenandoah. Earlier this week, a tornado damaged a farmstead about two miles east of Pilger, Nebraska, which was hit hard by tornadoes in 2014. The tornado on Wednesday was rated a high-end EF1, according to the National Weather Service. The tornado left a damage trail 0.38 miles long and about 50 yards wide at its widest. It touched down at 3:48 p.m. and lifted a few minutes later. In that brief time, it damaged some crops, crossed a road and struck the farmstead before dissipating in some trees. Tornadoes with wind speeds estimated at 86 mph to 110 mph are rated EF1, and damage from this twister indicated 110 mph winds, according to the weather service. The weather service also confirmed two tornadoes in eastern Iowa earlier this week caused some damage around Washington. The service said the first tornado touched down around 4:15 p.m. Wednesday in northeastern Jefferson County and lifted about four minutes later near Lake Darling in Washington County. It was rated EF-1 with winds reaching 110 mph that damaged farm outbuildings and trees. The second struck around 6:35 p.m. in northeast Washington County and lifted six minutes later. It also was rated an EF-1 twister, damaging outbuildings, power lines and trees. No injuries have been reported from the Iowa twisters. Nancy Gaarder of the BH News Service and the Associated Press contributed to this report. Council Bluffs Plymouth Brethren Christian Churchs Rapid Relief Team will set up for lunch in Bayliss Park Saturday to help raise donations for the family of slain Pottawattamie County Sheriffs Deputy Mark Burbridge. Burbridge was shot and killed May 1 during a prisoner escape from the Pottawattamie County jail. A second deputy, Pat Morgan, was wounded during the escape. Brent Glenn, a member of the RRT, said the team was started here in 2014 a community outreach effort. Glenn said he contacted Iowa State Patrol Trooper John Hitchcock after learning of the May 1 shootings to see how officers were doing and asked if there was anything that the RRT could do to assist in the aftermath. The RRT set up at the Pottawattamie County Jail in the hours following the shooting, providing lunches for officers from area law enforcement agencies, including Omaha, who had responded to the incident, Glenn said. He said the trailer was moved to the Firefighters Hall on South 15th to provide lunches for firefighters, officers and family members who had gathered there in the wake of the shootings. The RRT will be serving hamburgers or hot dogs, chips, a watermelon slice and a drink in Bayliss Park beginning at about 11 a.m. The RRT is asking for a donation of $5 or more, all of which will benefit the Burbridge family. The community has been very supportive of our efforts since the shootings, Glenn said. This, along with a contribution from our church, will allow us to give 100 percent of the money we collect during Saturdays fundraiser to the Burbridge family. The Plymouth Brethren Christian Churchs rapid relief teams originally started in Australia, said Glenn, whose wife is Australian. They had bad brush fires, so the teams were started to help provide meals and otherwise assist firefighters. The churchs RRTs are now found in the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, Europe and the Caribbean as well as in the United States and Australia. While the teams provide a variety of services, the focus is on quality catering. The trailer that will be in Bayliss Park Saturday was designed and built at ProTech in Council Bluffs, where Glenn is employed. The trailer is being tested as a prototype for other RRTs. A Missouri Valley women could spend more than 15 years in prison after her sentencing on sex trafficking charges. U.S. District Court Judge John Jarvey sentenced Trudy E. Thomsen, 32, to 190 months in prison Wednesday for transporting a minor with intent to engage in sexual activity, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Iowa. Thomsen will be required to serve 10 years of supervised release following her imprisonment. Thomsen pleaded guilty to the charge on Sept. 1, 2016, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. An investigation revealed that Thomsen met a 14-year-old girl while working at a group home in Arkansas. After leaving her group home job, Thomsen and her co-defendant, John Thomsen, used social media to keep in contact with the girl and convinced her and another minor female to come live with them in Missouri Valley, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. The Thomsens traveled to Arkansas and drove the girls to Missouri Valley, where the Thomsens engaged in various sexual acts with one of the girls. Trudy Thomsen pleaded guilty as part of an agreement with prosecutors. John Thomsen was sentenced to more than 19 years in prison on Jan. 25. The Federal Bureau of Investigations Child Exploitation Task Force, Arkansas State Police, Missouri Valley Police Department, Council Bluffs Police Department, Omaha Police Department, La Vista Police Department and the Harrison County Attorneys Office conducted the investigation. Members of the local law enforcement community took another step on the journey toward healing Thursday at the annual Law Enforcement Memorial Day Service. The observance was hosted by the Council Bluffs Police Department, in partnership with the Pottawattamie County Sheriffs Office and District 3 of the Iowa State Patrol. The event began with the memorial flag ceremony in front of the Pottawattamie County Courthouse and continued with the Law Enforcement Memorial Service at St. John Lutheran Church. The flags rippled as the colors were presented by the Council Bluffs Police Honor Guard, Pottawattamie County Sheriffs Honor Guard and the Iowa State Patrol Honor Guard. Its never easy to think about colleagues in public safety falling in the line of duty, Police Chief Tim Carmody said in his opening remarks, but this year, this time, its even more difficult more personal. The law enforcement community grieved when four officers from Des Moines were fatally injured in a collision on Interstate 80. The shooting of Deputy Pat Morgan and fatal shooting of Deputy Mark Burbridge brought us to our knees, he said. Our law enforcement family is very close. Deputies, officers and troopers mourned together and watched the public gather, rally and line the streets to show their support, Carmody said. From the depth of my heart and on behalf of public safety, I thank you for your support, he said. After Mayor Matt Walsh read a proclamation declaring May 18 Police Memorial Day in Council Bluffs, he and Carmody placed a memorial wreath at the marker in front of the courthouse that pays tribute to fallen law enforcement officers. Taps was performed by Chris Franks, and a 21 Gun Salute was fired by the Council Bluffs Honor Guard, then the assembly walked through the alley to St. John for the remainder of the service. Sheriff Jeff Danker said recent events just demonstrate how dangerous a law enforcement officers job is. Its been a tough 2 1/2 weeks, he said. But the support of the law enforcement family and the community has been (amazing). Were working through it one day at a time, and we never want to see your family, your law enforcement officer go through this. Danker just completed his 40th year in law enforcement Tuesday, he said. Its an honorable profession Ive been proud to be part of for the last 40 years, he said. The officers the event paid tribute to sacrificed all, Danker said. Next, the Lewis Central Chamber Choir performed the Star-Spangled Banner, Steal Away and a rousing rendition of Battle Hymn of the Republic. Chaplain Ken Sewing said it pulls at our hearts to remember the fallen officers each year but this year, feelings are a little more raw a lot more raw because weve been reminded in our city and our county of the cost of being protected and served. The Bible says that the greatest act we can do for a friend is to lay down our life, Sewing said during his message. Officers lay down their life every day every time they go to work. Let us remember to pray every morning, every night, every time we see a law enforcement officer for that person. It takes a special person to be in law enforcement, he said. Its a calling, and its a gift. A law enforcement officer has the duty to protect even those who would harm them, Sewing said. Remember our first responders, he said. They need our prayers. With every siren we hear, remember thats a clarion call for prayer. The names of Pottawattamie County Sheriffs deputies, Iowa State Patrol troopers and Council Bluffs Police officers who have fallen in the line of duty were read, as well as the names of three active or retired Council Bluffs Police officers who passed away from other causes during the past year. Police Chaplain Dan Stuck gave the benediction, and the honor guards retired the colors. We value your privacy. Focus Taiwan (CNA) uses tracking technologies to provide better reading experiences, but it also respects readers' privacy. Click here to find out more about Focus Taiwan's privacy policy. When you close this window, it means you agree with this policy. The National Wildlife Federation brings nature to life in the pages of our publications, inspiring people of all ages and reading levels to develop a deeper relationship with our natural world. To learn more about receiving magazines from the National Wildlife Federation, please visit our subscription page. For information about rights and permissions, visit our Permissions page or contact permissions@nwf.org. SCHERERVILLE When you grow, your downtown grows. Your town grows. With that advice, Jimmy Kendrick concluded the Thriving Downtowns networking breakfast meeting Thursday at Briar Ridge Country Club. Kendrick, owner of Growlers, a restaurant-bar in Highland, was among six Griffith and Highland merchants offering insights into why they opened their business in downtown districts. Business owners cited their employees and products or services as keys to success. Many of them chose a downtown area because they grew up in the community or now have roots in the area. I chose to bloom where I was planted, said Pat Popa, owner of Highland-based Popa Heating & Cooling. Popa, who worked on bringing giant duck statues to her community, said, I have a passion for downtowns. Griffith and Highland both sport downtown districts that are adjacent to major arteries, including Indianapolis Boulevard, that feature brand-name businesses. How can a ma-and-pa business survive in this competition? People now are looking for something like a downtown business, said Gabe Mauch, co-owner of Grindhouse Cafe in Griffith. People are moving away from the big businesses. Mauch said his coffee-shop business, soon to celebrate its fifth anniversary, operates on three principles: be nice to people, make things that taste good and hope people come back. Do something youre better at than other people, Mauch said, adding, Put your employees before customers. Theyll put the customers first. Robyn Pokropinski, who with her husband owns Pokro Brewing in Griffith, reported positive changes in the community since the microbrewery opened two and a half years ago. The town has started to revitalize, she said. It feels like home to us. The businesses all help each other and support each other. Pokropinski added, Why do people come to us? Were smaller. Its a more personal experience. More than 100 merchants attended the morning program with representation from the Chambers of Commerce from Griffith-Highland, Schererville, St. John and Dyer. Jim Hubbard, chairman of the Northwest Indiana chapter of SCORE, introduced the small-business mentoring organization and its free services. Kendrick said he searched for a year for a place to locate Growlers. We saw an opportunity to bring a thriving business to downtown Highland, he said, noting that 10 years after expanding the business, Highland was a place to invest ourselves in. Vytos Pharmacy, in business for 28 years, will soon open another Highland store to go with the those already in Highland and Hammond. General Manager Gilbert Perez said the business works with patients, offering specialty medications and delivery service. While Vytos has more than a generation of business experience, Charcuterie in Griffith is in its first year of operation. Were very customer-based, co-owner Valerie Gonzales said of the specialty grocery. Were willing to adapt to what customers want. We let the customers guide us. The photographs of your adorable children or grandchildren and the mementos from the trip to Paris? Put them in a box. The piles of books and magazines you really are going to get around to reading some day? Get real and get them out of there. That old rocker from great-great-grandma which saw better days a century ago? Well, you dont have to give it to Goodwill, but put it in storage for the time being. And pack up all that clutter in the garage and put itanywhere but there. Its all necessary when getting ready to sell your home. No tchotchkes, nothing on the counter, no stacks of mailif theres a yellow lampshade, get rid of it, because it casts an unflattering hue, and no toys laying around, says Margi Swets, an interior designer at DeYoung Interiors, a multi-generational family business in St. John. Its important to de-clutter every room, especially closets. Swets may sound like a drill sergeant when it comes to staging a home for showing, but with more than three decades of experience, she knows what can make the sale. Jana Caudill, owner/broker for the Jana Caudill Team of Redkey Realty Leaders, who is putting her own house on the market soon, is following the advice she gives her own clients. Im getting my home in tip-top shape by cleaning it top to bottom, cleaning the windows inside and out, painting areas that need to be painted, and fixing things that are broken, says Caudill. Im packing up to get things out of the way and besides, its less Ill have to do when I move. Outside, Im re-mulching, trimming bushes, planting flowers, and doing other yard work. I want the buyer to be impressed from the moment they pull into my drive and walk up to my front door. Indeed, curb appeal is an extremely important factor in selling a home. The front door and walkway are equally important, says Caudill. Its the first impression. We also recommend staging to adhere to all four personality types. We know that different things are important to different personality styles, so we consult our sellers on how to present their home to appeal to all types. Swets suggests painting the front door and placing a pot or two of flowers by the entrance. Making your home look larger helps as well. If your bedrooms are small, take out some pieces, make sure you have good lighting, get neutral comforters for the bed and add a few nice pillows, and make sure the bathrooms and kitchen are spotless, says Swets. Its important to find the right balance, and remember that getting your home ready to sell doesnt mean totally denuding it of personality. Caudill says a home that is too staged or cold can look fake and uninviting. I like to call it styling a home versus staging, as it should still feel and look like a home, because people buy on emotion, she says, noting they offer styling advice and have an interior decorator as part of their team when needed. Beyond the visual, Swets goes for the olfactory as well. I always bake an apple pie or brownies before I show a home, she says. The aroma is so nice. HIGHLAND Two people have been charged with attempted murder in connection with Tuesdays shooting and subsequent three-hour standoff that prompted a lockout at six nearby schools. Ryan Christian Turner, 24, of Hammond, and Samantha Carolyn Yates, of Highland, were charged Thursday in Lake County Superior Court with one count each of attempted murder, attempted battery by means of a deadly weapon, criminal recklessness and pointing a firearm. The shooting occurred about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday on Kennedy Avenue between 40th and 41st streets, and the standoff began about 8:40 a.m. near Forrest Drive and Lois Place, according to police. With Yates sitting in the car, Turner is accused of shooting at a second woman his ex-girlfriend in another vehicle, according to court records. The second vehicle was damaged, but the woman in it was not injured. Police determined a domestic disturbance led to the shooting. The moments leading up to the shooting, and the shooting itself, were allegedly captured on video from Yates' cellphone, court records show. The video was discovered in her deleted files folder, according to the affidavit. The video clearly shows Turners ex-girlfriend is inside her vehicle when Turner shot his handgun, according to the affidavit. Yates is laughing throughout, according to court records. Police located Turner's vehicle about 8:40 a.m. parked inside a garage in the 9500 block of Forrest Drive. Police knew to look in the garage because they have had prior contacts with the man, police have said. Highland police set up a three-block perimeter around the home, in the area of Forrest Avenue and Lois Place, and the Lake County Sheriff's Department SWAT team arrived on scene. Attempts were made by the officers to have Turner and Yates inside the home surrender, but the standoff lasted about three hours. At one point, Yates exited the home, police said, and the man subsequently called 911 and came out of the home about noon. The shooting happened about the time middle school students were headed to class. The shooting occurred about one block from Highland High School and Highland Middle School. The standoff occurred about three blocks from the school campus. All six of Highland's public schools were placed on a "lockout" as a precaution, Superintendent Brian Smith said. A lockout means students must remain inside, and no visitors are allowed in, he said. School activities proceed as usual inside the buildings. CROWN POINT A 30-year-old Chicago man is charged with rape on allegations he forced a 15-year-old female relative to engage in sexual intercourse during a family barbecue last year in East Chicago. Jesus Martinez III was charged Friday in Lake Criminal Court with rape, two counts of sexual misconduct with a minor, two counts of criminal confinement and other lesser offenses. The girl told police she was at a family barbecue July 23 in East Chicago when Martinez forced her into the backseat of his vehicle, according to a probable cause affidavit. She said Martinez choked her and smacked her face when she tried to call for help, the affidavit states. She said Martinez raped her until he got tired and then went back into the house, according to the affidavit. The girl's mother told police she did not learn about the rape until her daughter told her in April. Martinez is wanted by police on an $85,000 bond, according to court records. EAST CHICAGO A raid at El Sombrero bar and an upstairs apartment Thursday night resulted in the arrest of two people on felony drug charges. Cocaine sales were allegedly taking place inside the bar and an upstairs apartment, 2001 Broadway, according to a news release from the Indiana State Excise Police, the agency that executed the search warrants. The yearlong investigation began with a residents complaint, the release stated. Glorivette Bonilla, 40, of Hammond, was arrested in the bar during the search warrants being executed. Bonilla faces charges of dealing cocaine, a level 2 felony, and cocaine possession, a level 3 felony, according to police. Gustavo Ayala Zamora, 56, of East Chicago, was arrested in the upstairs apartment. He faces charges of dealing cocaine, a level 2 felony, cocaine possession, a level 5 felony, and maintaining a common nuisance, a level 6 felony, according to police. Additional criminal and administrative charges will be submitted at a later date as the investigation continues, police said. Excise officers seized 35 bags of suspected cocaine and other items commonly used to process, dilute, package and distribute controlled substances, according to the release. The Indiana State Excise Police were assisted by Homeland Security Investigations during the investigation and execution of the search warrants. "Often, the regulatory responsibilities incumbent on excise officers results in the discovery of serious criminal activity. This is an example of the contribution the Indiana State Excise Police can make to combat the abuse of illegal drugs by working diligently to regulate a drug that is legal and readily accessible to the public," Superintendent Matt Strittmatter said in the news release. VALPARAISO Porter County Commissioner Jim Biggs, R-North, said he envisions a time when county government will be able to use proceeds from the sale of its hospital to help local nonprofit groups. But if the county jumps the gun on that move, as some are proposing now with the $1.6 million request from The Caring Place domestic abuse shelter, the county's No. 1 problem will no longer be drug abuse, he said. "It will be a failing county government," Biggs said. Biggs said he was stunned to see this week that anyone on the Porter County Council can believe county government has $1 million or more to fund anything but its own needs. Biggs said the county faces immediate outstanding obligations of more than $3 million and as much as $25 million in much-needed capital projects. The latter list, which will be presented next month to the council as the county's fiscal body, includes upgrading the emergency radio network and addressing the many long-overdue needs at the administration center, Valparaiso courthouse and north county building in Portage, he said. The county also needs to move forward with a plan to extend Willowcreek Road from Portage south to U.S. 30 as an economic development tool to help undercut many of the social ills now surfacing, Biggs said. "We can't fix other people's problems until we fix our own," he said. Among the council members who spoke out this week in favor of The Caring Place request was Dan Whitten, D-at-large, who said the money is in place from the hospital proceeds and there is $6.3 million in earnings from the initial investment. "We're in really good shape," Whitten said. Whitten urged officials to get the process of evaluating grant requests done now. Biggs and other county officials have heard funding requests from various nonprofit groups since the 2007 sale of the county hospital produced $148 million, which has since been invested in a county-created foundation with the intention of using just the interest generated. The recent push by The Caring Place is among the more public, with the group voicing its case for more than an hour before the County Council earlier this week, despite being told it would not be taken up at the meeting. The Caring Place Executive Director Mary Beth Schultz said the organization has outgrown its home and is in the middle of a $2.8 million fundraising campaign to construct a new building. The group has raised $1 million in donations and pledges, and has until August to raise 80 percent of the cost to begin construction. The council took no action this week. Council President Mike Jessen said the request should be presented to the 10-member joint County Council/county commissioner foundation, which next meets at 4:30 p.m. June 27. That foundation's rules require unanimous consent to spend any of the money. Biggs said the county will not have a good enough idea of its own needs to take up The Caring Place's request by that date. The county also does not have a mechanism in place yet to weigh and otherwise address outside requests for the hospital proceeds. "We're not being honest to ourselves and not being honest with those coming for help," he said. MUNSTER Gov. Eric Holcomb sees unlimited potential for business and residential growth in Northwest Indiana so long as leaders and communities continue working together. The Republican declared Thursday that no place in the state is as well positioned to attract the people and companies that are shaping the future, thanks to the Region's proximity to Chicago and its location in a state with low taxes and a low cost of living. "You're undoubtedly a powerhouse," Holcomb said. "I would love to bring 5 million Hoosiers up to the Region and show them the beaches, show them the scenery and show them how close to the world that their marketplace is." But he said therein also lies Northwest Indiana's challenge: Putting in place the amenities desired by the next generation and getting workers the skills that employers want. "What is it you want to be known for? What is your niche?" Holcomb asked. "Because what really gets investment is those quality-of-life, those quality-of-place items." The governor said the state is doing its part by expanding pre-kindergarten availability, increasing education funding, investing in Purdue University Northwest and other college campuses, developing new workforce training programs and tackling the drug crisis. He then challenged some 200 supporters of the One Region organization to not let partisan or municipal differences distract them from taking the steps they believe are needed to take Northwest Indiana "to the next level." "We've got strong leadership here ... that wants to do more, that is looking to the future and not to the past," Holcomb said. "That's why I'm so stoked to be a part of the team." Holcomb's speech at the Center for Visual and Performing Arts in Munster was just one stop on a whirlwind trip across Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties his fourth visit to the Region in the four months he's led the state. "I jokingly told my wife before I departed that I may be looking for a second place up here; it would be a lot easier just to stay," Holcomb said. His day began on a South Shore train traveling between Michigan City's 11th Street and Carroll Avenue stations where he ceremonially signed House Enrolled Act 1144, incentivizing transit-oriented development along the soon-to-be double-tracked commuter rail line. "This has been a long time coming and there's going to be so many great things in store," Holcomb said. "We're going to connect with the nation's third biggest economy (Chicago) in ways that we never have before." Holcomb was quick to credit Northwest Indiana's legislative and local leaders for working across party lines to realize a long-sought project that he described as "game-changing." House Democratic Leader Scott Pelath, D-Michigan City, gave the love right back. "We have a chief executive who I've come to look upon as a very important partner in the growth of our great state," Pelath said. "Not only is he a good listener, but he's a pragmatic human being." Holcomb then traveled to East Chicago to ceremonially sign House Enrolled Act 1344. It effectively continues his prior executive order directing state agencies to closely work with local and federal authorities to assist in the cleanup of lead-contaminated properties. "We have all come together, we've all gotten around the table and we said there's an issue that needs to be addressed here," Holcomb said. "We're not just going to admire the problem or talk about the problem we're going to address it." The governor also visited Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City, toured the BP Refinery in Whiting and spoke at a Valparaiso fundraiser for Porter County Republicans. HOBART City officials will meet with the developer of a highly-anticipated senior apartment complex to discuss how local labor will be used for the project. The session comes as some Hobart officials and union representatives expressed concerns about RealAmerica using a contractor from out of the area for construction work associated with the Lake Park Senior Apartment complex. The affordable rental facility for those 55 and older is being developed near 10th Street and Lake Park Avenue. City councilmen said RealAmerica received tax abatement from Hobart for the project, and city officials were told on multiple occasions the company would use local labor for the majority of work that would be done at the site. During a recent council session, Randy Palmateer, business manager for the Northwestern Indiana Building and Construction Trades Council, said no contracts have been signed with local companies for construction work for the Lake Park apartments. Councilman Dave Vinzant said Hobart expected area residents would benefit from the project, creating construction jobs that would help the local economy. Jeff Ryan, vice president of development at RealAmerica, said eight contracts have been awarded so far for construction work associated with the complex, and seven of them are with Lake County companies. Ryan said an Indianapolis company hired by RealAmerica is partnering with a Gary business to complete HVAC work at the site. Council President Jerry Herzog said he will be meeting with RealAmerica representatives about the local labor matter and will update the council on the matter during a future council session. Ryan confirmed he will meet with Hobart officials Monday. Ryan said about one-third of the contracts needed for the project have been let so far. The Lake Park apartments will include 95 rental units and could be open by the spring of next year. A three-story building will be constructed, along with one-story villas. The development has attracted strong support from the community. There are more than 300 people on a waiting list to live there. NEW YORK A man steered his car onto a sidewalk running through the heart of Times Square and mowed down pedestrians for three blocks Thursday, killing a teenager, then emerged from his wrecked vehicle wild-eyed and waving his arms before he was subdued by police and bystanders. The driver, a 26-year-old U.S. Navy veteran, told officers he was hearing voices and expected to die, according to two law enforcement officials. Helpless pedestrians had little time to react as the vehicle barreled down the sidewalk and through intersections before smashing into a row of steel security barriers installed in recent years to prevent vehicle attacks on the square where massive crowds gather every New Year's Eve. The car came to rest with its two right wheels in the air. "He didn't stop," said Asa Lowe, of Brooklyn, who was standing outside a store when he heard screaming as people scattered. "He just kept going." Police said 23 people were hit by the car, including an 18-year-old woman who died. The woman's 13-year-old sister was among the injured. The carnage raised immediate fears of a terrorist attack, but investigators quickly turned their focus to the sobriety and mental health of the driver, identified as Bronx resident Richard Rojas. "There is no indication that this was an act of terrorism," Mayor Bill de Blasio said. Photographers snapped pictures of Rojas after he climbed from the wrecked car and ran through the street before he was tackled by a group that included a ticket seller and a muscular door supervisor at a nearby Planet Hollywood restaurant. Rojas initially tested negative for alcohol, but more detailed testing was being done to determine if he was high, according to two law enforcement officials who were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The officials said Rojas told officers he had been hearing voices. A week ago, Rojas had also been arrested and charged with pointing a knife at a notary, whom he accused of stealing his identity. He was arrested on charges of driving while intoxicated in 2008 and 2015, Police Commissioner James O'Neill said. He pleaded guilty to an infraction in 2015 and was ordered to complete a drunken driving program and lost his license for 90 days. In previous arrests, he told authorities he believed he was being harassed and followed, one of the law enforcement officials said. Neighborhood acquaintances in the Bronx said Rojas was a friendly man who had been having problems. Harrison Ramos, 30, said Rojas wasn't the same when he came back from active duty in 2014. "He's been going through a real tough time," he said. Rojas enlisted in the Navy in 2011 and was an electrician's mate fireman apprentice. In 2012 he served aboart the U.S.S. Carney, a destroyer. He was most recently based at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida, and was discharged in 2014. Thursday's incident began at noon on a hot, clear day that brought large crowds of people into the streets to enjoy the good weather, Police said Rojas had been driving south on 7th Avenue when he made a quick U-turn at 42nd Street and drove up the sidewalk for three blocks, passing tourist draws like the Hard Rock Cafe and the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. restaurant. Bruno Carvalho, a student at SUNY Albany, said the car approached quickly and passed him on the sidewalk. "People just got stunned," he said. "I don't think there was actually time for screaming." Victims had no time to react and scramble for safety in crowded Times Square, said Alpha Balde, a sightseeing-ticket seller. "This place?" Balde said. "Anything happens here, there's no time for people to get out." As Rojas ran from his wrecked vehicle, Ken Bradix, a door host supervisor at Planet Hollywood, struck him to get him to stop, Balde said. He and Bradix jumped on top of Rojas, lifted his shirt to make sure he had no weapons and held him until police arrived moments later, Balde said. Planet Hollywood said Bradix "selflessly and heroically took action, helping to stop the fleeing suspect." The White House said President Donald Trump was informed of the situation in Times Square and would continue to be briefed as it unfolded. The apartment building where Rojas lives was cordoned off by police Thursday. It wasn't clear when he would get a lawyer or face formal charges in court. The sidewalks in many parts of Times Square and surrounding blocks are lined with metal posts designed to prevent cars from getting onto the sidewalks and other public areas. That network of barricades, though, is far from a complete defense. There are many areas where vehicles could be driven onto packed sidewalks or public plazas. Times Square also has a heavy police presence at all hours of the day and night. ___ Associated Press writers Libby Quaid in Washington and Jennifer Peltz and Jake Pearson in New York contributed to this report. STOCKHOLM Sweden's top prosecutor on Friday dropped an investigation into a rape claim against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange after almost seven years, saying that's because there's no possibility of arresting him "in the foreseeable future." The announcement by prosecutor Marianne Ny means the outspoken WikiLeaks leader no longer faces sex crime allegations in Sweden, although British police said was still wanted for jumping bail in Britain in 2012. It does not clear Assange's name, however, and some experts say it puts him into an even more precarious legal situation if the U.S. has as some suspect a sealed indictment for his arrest. Speaking from the balcony of Ecuador's London embassy, where he took refuge in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden, Assange said his seven-year legal ordeal which he called unjust detention "is not something that I can forgive." He says his battle is not over, and "the proper war is just commencing." Assange, 45, believes the United States wants him extradited and arrested in connection with WikiLeaks' publication of classified U.S. documents. He nonetheless called Sweden's decision to drop the rape investigation "an important victory for me and for the U.N. human rights system." Assange has been holed up at Ecuador's embassy in London to avoid extradition to answer questions about sex-crime allegations from two women. The arrangement was necessary, he had said, to keep Swedish authorities from turning him over to the United States for his role at the helm of WikiLeaks, which has enraged governments around the world by publishing tens of thousands of leaked classified U.S. documents. Assange said Friday his legal team would contact U.K. officials to seek a way forward in resolving his status. British police say they still intend to arrest him, if he leaves the Ecuadorean Embassy. But London's Metropolitan Police added that Assange is now wanted for a "much less serious offense" than the original sex crimes claims, so police "will provide a level of resourcing which is proportionate to that offense." British police kept up a round-the-clock guard outside the embassy until December 2015, when the operation was scaled back partly because of the costs, which had exceeded 11 million pounds (over $17.5 million at the time). Assange also said he would be "happy" to discuss the case with the U.S. Department of Justice despite U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions saying that Assange's arrest was a priority. "We've already begun to step up our efforts and whenever a case can be made, we will seek to put some people in jail," Sessions said last month. U.S. President Donald Trump said last month he would support any decision by the Justice Department to charge Assange, who contends the United States should recognize his First Amendment rights as a journalist. It's not known if U.S. officials have asked British police to arrest Assange because of a possible sealed U.S. indictment against him. A U.S. Department of Justice spokesman on Friday declined to comment on the case. WikiLeaks tweeted after the Swedish announcement: "UK refuses to confirm or deny whether it has already received a US extradition warrant for Julian Assange. Focus now moves to UK." British officials said they do not comment on individual extradition cases. British Prime Minister Theresa May said Friday that "any decision that is taken about U.K. action in relation to him (Assange) would be an operational matter for the police." Ecuador's foreign minister, Guillaume Long, tweeted Friday that Britain "must now grant safe passage" to Assange. The South American country has granted him asylum. At a press conference Friday in Stockholm, Ny, chief of the Swedish Prosecution Authority, said she "has decided to discontinue the investigation" and call back the European arrest warrant for Assange. The allegations surfaced after two women accused Assange of sexual misconduct during a visit to Stockholm in 2010. There were initially two separate allegations being investigated, but one was dropped in 2015 because the statute of limitations ran out. The rape allegation, the more serious claim, remained under investigation. Prosecutors were trying to determine, among other things, if Assange had sex with the woman while she was asleep and without using a condom. Assange has said that all the sex was consensual. Ny told reporters that prosecutors had been unable to make a full assessment of the case and were not making a finding on whether Assange was guilty or innocent of the allegations. She said the WikiLeaks founder had "tried to dodge all attempts at arrest" by British and Swedish authorities. She said the case could be reopened if Assange returns to Sweden before the statute of limitations expires in 2020. A lawyer for the woman who alleged she was raped by Assange said "it's a scandal that a suspected rapist can avoid the judicial system and thus avoid a trial in court." Elisabeth Massi Fritz says her client is shocked by the Swedish decision but added that "she can't change her view that Assange has exposed her to a rape." Per E. Samuelson, Assange's lawyer in Sweden, told The Associated Press that it was a "day of victory" for the WikiLeaks founder. He said Assange had convinced Swedish prosecutors during a November meeting last year that he was not guilty of any sex offenses. "The truth is, he gave a very good explanation: this was consensual sex between two adults and nothing else. And he's a free man," Samuelson said. Assange and WikiLeaks have repeatedly infuriated U.S. officials with the widespread release of sensitive secret documents related to military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq and diplomatic relations around the world. WikiLeaks also had a provocative role in the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign when it published emails written by Hillary Clinton's campaign officials. Army Pvt. Chelsea Manning served seven years in prison for giving classified material to WikiLeaks. She was freed Wednesday, having had her sentence commuted by former President Barack Obama before he left office. ___ Katz reported from London. Jill Lawless in London, Eric Tucker in Washington and Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, contributed to this story. On Sunday, the fifth annual walk for 13-year-old Kailey Florkiewicz will get underway at the Griffith-Merrillville Airport. We have raised and donated over $155,000 in the events first four years and hope to continue to make a positive impact on the fight against this disease, said Krissy Florkiewicz, Kaileys mother. In 2013, Schererville resident Kailey was diagnosed with Niemann-Pick Disease Type C, a rare, degenerative disease that affects mostly children. Niemann-Pick Disease is commonly referred to as pediatric Alzheimers because the symptoms and progression of the two are very similar, including loss of muscle control, deterioration of speech and dementia, leading to neurological and intellectual decline. According to the National Niemann-Pick Diseases Foundation website, there are three types of Niemann-Pick Diseases: Type A, Type B and Type C. All types are autosomal recessive, which means children with the disease have two copies of the abnormal gene. Each parent carries one copy of the abnormal gene without having any signs of the disease themselves. Kailey is enrolled in a seventh-grade special needs class at Clark Middle School in St. John. Her classroom focuses on life skills and maintaining her cognitive abilities. Because her motor skills are still declining they have recently started using a walker for her when moving from class to class. She much prefers this over the wheelchair as it has given her a new found sense of freedom at school, said Roger Florkiewicz, Kaileys father. No more hand holding or getting pushed around in a chair. Kailey has been participating in an experimental drug trial and receives treatments every two weeks at Rush Hospital in Chicago. Her treatment schedule now consists of a few hours every two weeks instead of a few days each month and that means no overnight hospital stays. There is no way to describe the relief we all have without having to stay overnight in the hospital, Krissy Florkiewicz said. She only misses two days of school a month with the new treatment schedule, which is half of what she used to do. All proceeds from the event on Sunday will go to the National Neimann-Pick Disease Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization. The NNPDF is a great organization that not only funds research but also tends to the needs of families affected by this disease by providing both financial and emotional support, Roger Florkiewicz said. Although there is no cure for this disease and life expectancy is in the teens, Kaileys parents said Kailey shows no sign of giving up this fight. As she has always done, she continues to charge through every day with strength and determination and still shows no sign of giving up the fight or letting it stop her from being herself. Her sweetness and personality are still intact, she just cant express it as loudly or frequently as she used to, Krissy Florkiewicz said. The walk will be held from noon until 5 p.m. The cost is $25 per person and the fundraiser will have food, silent auction items and airplane rides. Tickets for airplane rides are an additional $20 and can be purchased onsite. For more information, visit www.nnpdf.org or www.walkforkailey.com Mayor Bill de Blasio wants to help you watch what you eat. Starting Monday, thousands of the city's restaurants will have to post calorie counts and full nutrition information on their standard menu items. They will also need to post a statement reminding customers about the FDA's recommended 2,000 calories a day. The rule applies to places that have 15 or more locations nationwide, and will affect about 4,500 restaurants and retailers across the five boroughs. Any rule-breaking restaurants would be subject to a fine of up to $600. NEW YORK - The man accused of killing one person and injuring over 20 others in Times Square was arraigned Friday as more details emerge in the case. Prosecutors say Richard Rojas told police that he wanted "to kill them all." They also say he told police "I smoked marijuana. I laced the marijuana with PCP." The complaint goes on to say Rojas eyes were glassy, he had slurred speech, and was unsteady. In court, prosecutors also alleged Rojas said cops should have shot him in order to stop him. Rojas has been charged with murder, 20 counts of attempted murder, and five counts of aggravated vehicular homicide. The crash happened just before noon. Investigators say Rojas was driving south on Seventh Avenue and made a U-turn onto the sidewalk as he approached 42nd Street. He allegedly drove on the sidewalk for three and a half blocks to 45th Street, and plowed into 23 pedestrians along the way. Investigators say he paused for traffic before heading for his victims, actions that show he wanted to do harm. At 45th Street, Rojas crashed into the metal barriers and got out of the car. While police have ruled out terrorism, they say theyre still investigating the 26-year-old Bronx resident's exact motivation. "As he approaches 42nd street, he slows down, he allows traffic to pass and then he makes that right turn onto that sidewalk. He accelerates it while he's doing so and while he accelerates he starts to striked down the first pedestrians," said NYPD Assistant Chief William Aubrey. "That goes to his state of mind. He waited for those cars to past and he accelerated." Witnesses say Rojas was screaming and swinging his arms wildly after crashing the vehicle. Rojas went running through the street before he was subdued by police and bystanders, and taken into custody. Law enforcement officials say he told police he was hearing voices. Rojas initially tested negative for alcohol, but more detailed drug tests are pending. Rojas' defense attorney declined comment Friday. 22 people were injured and taken to local hospitals. Seven remain in the hospital, with three in critical condition. Police say 18-year-old Alyssa Elsman was killed. The Michigan native was visiting the city with her family. Her 13-year-old sister remains in critical condition with a collapsed lung and broken pelvis. The Honda remained in Times Square for most of the day as police conducted their investigation. It was eventually removed by the NYPD late Thursday night. Even though investigators quickly determined that the crash was not related to terrorism, Mayor Bill de Blasio says the NYPD is stepping up security just to be safe. "We are reinforcing key locations around the city with our anti-terror units of the NYPD. So out of an abundance of caution, major sites in this city will get additional police coverage from our anti-terror units," De Blasio said. Rojas is a U.S. citizen and Navy veteran who was discharged in 2014 after a special court martial. He has a long rap sheet, including at least two prior arrests for driving while intoxicated. Police say Rojas left his Bronx home on Walton Ave. around 10:30 a.m. Police were able to retrace the route he took in his Honda Accord with various surveillance cameras and license plate readers. At 11:50 a.m., he was in Times Square. Detectives say Rojas mother, family members, and neighbors have been cooperative with the investigation in the 26-year-old's back ground. Former Rep. Anthony Weiner pleaded guilty Friday to one count of transferring obscene material to a minor after he sexted a 15-year-old girl in North Carolina. He is set to be sentenced September 8 He faces up to two years in prison. He also has to register as a sex offender. Weiner's estranged wife Huma Abedin officially filed for divorce Friday. The couple had been married for almost seven years, and have a five-year-old son. During a federal investigation into Weiner, the FBI found emails on his laptop between Abedin and then-presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Abedin was a top aide to Clinton. As a result, the FBI briefly reopened it's probe into Clinton's private email server, a decision many people say swayed the election in Donald Trump's favor. PARIS Renault will sign a deal with Algeria on Wednesday to build an assembly plant near the city of Oran, giving the French automaker wider access to one of the worlds hottest car markets and a chance to further diversify beyond Europe. The company will sign the pact, three years in the making, on the first day of a state visit by the French president, Francois Hollande, a Renault spokeswoman, Rochelle Chimenes, said Tuesday. That will pave the way for the construction of a factory to build Renault and Dacia cars to serve a market that grew 50 percent in the year through October. Mr. Hollande is embarking on a two-day visit to smooth Frances tricky relations with Algeria, a petroleum-rich country with about 37 million people. Algeria, administered as a French department in North Africa during the colonial era, won its independence in 1962 after a bloody war. France is nonetheless Algerias largest trading partner. Backpack International, a non-profit organization based in Auburn, is asking the community to come out at Parkway Baptist Church in Auburn Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon to help fill backpacks with school supplies that it will send to children in Guyana. The Christian-based group, which started in 2015, collects backpacks and school supplies for children in need around the world. Its mission is to share the love of Jesus with children by ministering to their spiritual, academic, social, and physical needs, according to its website. In the South American country of Guyana, 31 percent of its citizens are living in poverty, according to Oslyn Rodriguez, founder of Backpack International. Of that number, half are children under the age of 16. Rodriguez, who is a native of Guyana, wanted to help her homeland after traveling to the country in 2015. I am a product of that country, Rodriguez said. I was moved to do something. The organization will send a team to Guyana July 7-15 to give 250 children backpacks filled with needed supplies. The team will also conduct a three-day vacation Bible school and distribute daily meals. This will be the second time a team from the organizaion has traveled to Guyana. The group's goal for this summer is to break ground on a community center in Guyana, according to Rodriguez. Toward that goal, it needs to collect $25,000 to pay for supplies and related expenses. Since January, Rodriguez said the non-profit has raised $17,000 for the fees associated with the planned community center. I am amazed at the outpouring of love, Rodriguez said. On Sunday, the organization will host a Steel City Popsicle Fundraiser from noon to 2 p.m. at The City Church on Airport Road in Auburn. All proceeds will enable the team to give away 250 popsicles to the children in Guyana. Also May 26-June 3, the non-profit is partnering with SnoBiz Auburn. The purchase of a snow cone will result in a donation for a child in Guyana, too. For more information, visit the non-profits social media pages and website at www.backpackinternational.org. Janina Taylor sat in her father-in-laws living room in Opelika opening a brown envelope with her two children watching. Inside was an object she had not seen in more than 12 years her husbands Opelika High School 2001 class ring. Sgt. Christopher Taylor was 22 when he was killed in Balad, Iraq with two other soldiers during a mortar attack in 2005. The ring is a gold band with his name engraved on the inside and features a ruby gem for his birth month July which is also the month he was killed. Janina held back tears last month as she looked at the ring which was lost when she moved out of the trailer that she had shared with Christopher near Fort Benning, Ga. This is it, all right, Janina said. Janinas father-in-law, James Taylor, sat on another couch watching her open the package. I havent seen that ring in , James said as his voice trailed off, recalling memories of his son in high school. James said he remembers Christopher in high school asking him for the ring and him ordering it, which wasnt cheap. Just flashbacks, James said. I dont even remember him wearing it, but like a few times. Somehow the ring was left behind in the trailer and found later by another renter. It got passed off to Lauren Richard, who was in jewelry school in Paris, Texas, at the time but now lives in Tyler, Texas. I put it in a cigar box, and I forgot about it all of these years, Richard said. The other night, when I was looking for photos and stuff I came across it again. She search for the name engraved on the ring and found a story written by the Opelika-Auburn News in 2015 on the 10-year anniversary of Christophers death. "I knew that I had to give back to the owner, Richard said. It just gave me goosebumps, and I started crying. Really. Richard found Janina through Facebook and sent her a note on her Messenger app about finding the ring. "Earlier that night, when I had received the message," Janina said, "I was not sure how to get into it, because I had never used Messenger before. So I prayed about it before I went to bed and had a dream that night about my late husband. The next day, I tried again, and that's when I found the message. Shortly after that, the ring was on its way back to Opelika. Janina and Christopher graduated from Opelika High School together in 2001 and were friends throughout high school. Their friends used to call them husband and wife even before they dated, because they were so close. Xavier Taylor, a toddler when his father was killed, is now in high school. Xavier held the ring recently and had a memory of the ring and his father feeding him fudge at the kitchen counter. He showed me the ring he got in school, and I was looking at it and I put it in my mouth, Xavier said, looking at the ring. I cant believe you remember that, Janina said. Thats a blessing. The ring will go in a curio cabinet in Janinas home where items that once belonged to Christopher are on display, along with other items that remind her of him. May 8, 1964 - April 19, 2017 Kent Bradley Eckman packed a lot of living into his almost 53 years. As a teenager, Kent ran into a train and lived to tell about it. As an Auburn college student, he lived on Thomas Street and published The Thomas Street News, which sponsored a Thomas Street Homecoming Queen contest. And a lot of keg parties. He worked at a Unitarian retreat in Big Bear California which sponsored nudist weeks. He drove a Spanish-speaking church lady in a pickup, to be donated, from Los Angeles to Nicaragua, seeing pyramids, learning Spanish, and getting robbed along the way. Kent served in the Peace Corps in Bolivia, with an expertise in bee-keeping, where he was minimally gored in a small-town bullfight in the town square and later had his billfold stolen by a sweet little grandmother on a bus ride. He traveled to Peru and hiked to Machu Pichu. He marched against the KKK in Forsyth, Georgia and sailed, illegally, into Havana Harbor. He became a whitewater rafting guide in the North Georgia mountains during summers and a resort worker in the Keys during winters. Had he not been rescued by some good old boys camping along the Ocoee River, he would have likely died of hypothermia when he was separated from his kayak on a winter run. Along with his father, he built a cabin in those mountains, sketching it out on a napkin. He learned carpentry at the hand of several mountain tradesmen and excelled at it, as he did at most creative endeavors, adding some unique finishing touches to the cabin. It was one time where the father was led by the son. But the measure of Kent's life can be taken, too, in the fact that he thrived on nurturing friendships, connecting disparate people with one another. He knew no stranger, and he saw value in all. His college friends came to know his rafting friends. His high school friends came to know his college friends. His mountain friends came to know them all. Through Facebook, they bonded. Until his death, he kept up with friends the world over. Kent attended Holy Trinity Kindergarten, Auburn city schools, and graduated from Auburn University, with a degree in Anthropology. When it came time to look for a job, he smiled and said, "Anthropology will always be my avocation." And it was. So many conversations turned to the cultural background of the subject at hand. Kent's family is grateful to the high school and college friends who embraced him on his return to Auburn, though mental illness, then addiction, had altered the full force of his personality. He had several good years at his home on East Samford Avenue, hosting parties and visiting with friends, along with Kristen Uertz and her son Dakota Bowden. In time, his illnesses took their toll and he just couldn't fight them one more day, so chose to end his life in Auburn. Kent was preceded in death by his father, Michael Kent Eckman. He is survived by his mother, Sheila Eckman, of Auburn; his sister, Amy Eckman Talorico of Beaver, Pennsylvania. Survivors also include nephews Aidan and Sam, niece Ava, and their father Anthony Talorico, all of Beaver, in addition to family members in Colorado, Missouri, South Dakota and Oregon. A casual Celebration of Life will be held at 5 p.m., Saturday, May 20, at Standard Deluxe in Waverly, Alabama. Yes, there will be a keg. And food. Bring a chair. A private family service will be held at St. Dunstan's in Auburn and Kent's remains will join his father's in the columbarium in the church close, the largest greenspace in the very heart of Auburn, one-half block from Toomer's Corner, making it easy for friends to pay their respects when in town. Kent came to love manatees during his time in the Keys. He was fond of adopting one in someone's name, so that might be a fitting memorial. Alternatively, there are the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/donate/, or National Alliance on Mental Illness; https://www.nami.org/. Alabama Funeral Homes and Cremation Center in Dadeville, Alabama are in charge of the arrangements. www.alabamafuneralhomes.com One morning, in 2011, Monique Jeffrey, of Rose Bay, Australia, was at home, in her bed, checking her emails. She sneezed and her head suddenly jolted forward, collapsing the C1 and C2 vertebrae in her neck. She had broken her neck in what experts called a freak accident, but the chances of something like this happening twice to the same person were apparently slim to none. And yet, last month, Monique suffered the same ordeal, this time while laughing with some colleagues at work. I texted Sam (her husband) just saying help! and he called me and I answered on speaker phone, because I couldnt put the phone to my ear, Monique recalls about the bizarre accident she suffered over five years ago. He came home and called an ambulance. It was pretty scary and it was such a strange sensation. I was in so much pain after just one little sneeze. Photo: GoFundMe She had to be placed in a neck traction, an uncomfortable device that immobilizes the neck muscles and allows them to heal, for 14 weeks, and made a full recovery. She was back to her old self again, and everything was great up until three week again, when the unthinkable happened again. I was at work and I had a bit of a stiff neck. Nothing awful, it was just a little bit sore, Jeffrey told News.com.au. I was actually joking around with some colleagues because they were making some inappropriate jokes about how I may have hurt my neck, and I threw my head back and did it again. Photo: GoFundMe The Australian mother-of-two says that this second accident didnt feel as bad as the first, but it did leave her unable to move her head again, and the injury was apparently bad enough that doctors had to use a neck halo on her. This is a metal device that screws into the patients skull and stops them from moving their head. Ive had two kids and getting the halo is worse than childbirth, Monique said. I can lie down but I sleep sitting up in a special bed. The halo completely supports my head and my neck. All the muscles in my neck are wasting away but I dont have to hold my head up because its being held up by the bars and screws. Photo: GoFundMe She will have to wear the neck halo for six weeks, after which she will undergo months of physiotherapy and rehab to strengthen her neck muscle, but because she has already suffered this type of extremely unlikely accident twice in five years, the chances of it happening again is really high. So if the therapy proves unsuccessful, doctors may have to perform surgery to fuse her C1 and C2 vertebrae, so they can no longer collapse. Its not terminal, Im going to be fine, but it does suck a bit. You just have to laugh about it, an optimistic Monique said. Photo: GoFundMe Monique and her husband Sam both work full time to support their two children, and her having to be hospitalized for months is going to be tough on the family, financially. Her sister set up a crowdfunding campaign on GoFundMe, where people willing to help them get through this ordeal can donate. The $8,000 goal has already been met, but if youd like to make a contribution, it would definitely be appreciated. BGR Speaks for US Biz in China Tue., Oct. 5, 2021 BGR Government Affairs represents the American Chamber of Commerce in South China as economic and political tensions between the two countries escalate. Fake News Thrives on 'Alternative' Social Media Sites Fri., Oct. 7, 2022 Alternative social media sites provide a community for a growing number of Americans who use these platforms to connect with others and stay informed on current events, but the fringe content that flows on these sites could be contributing to our polarized political environment. Agricultural News California Governor Jerry Brown Wants to Zero Out State Support for FFA in His State The Agricultural Community in California is not happy with their Governor after he has proposed cutting out state support for the FFA program in that state. In his 2017-18 State Budget released earlier in the year, Governor Brown proposed the complete elimination of funding for the Future Farmers of America program and other programs in Career Technical Education serving students throughout California. Also included in these cuts were the elimination of Partnership Academy Programs, the University of California Curriculum Institute for recognizing CTE courses for admission purposes, and Professional Development Activities for CTE instructors. These programs have been funded by $15 million in CTE Pathway monies that were provided to the California Department of Education for supporting statewide Career Technical Education activities and programs. The Governor's proposal for this year would eliminate this source of funds, directly them instead to the Community College Chancellor's Office to supplement other workforce development funds already in existence. "We are extremely disappointed that Governor Brown has proposed eliminating Career Technical Student Organizations like the Future Farmers of America and other CTE funding in California" said Jim Aschwanden, Executive Director of the California Agricultural Teachers' Association. "The loss of these components of Career Technical Education will have a devastating effect on programs and teachers statewide. CTE programs remain vitally important to the economic well-being of our state, and this proposal eliminates highly effective programs that have proven their worth over time. We think this is a terrible mistake." Lawmakers in California will start their consideration of the state budget next month. According to an article in the Turlock Journal, the state money would gut a lot of the leadership development opportunities that FFA is famous for. "We're worried about what will happen to our programs if it does happen, which is why we're telling the public about it," Turlock High's Lead FFA Advisor Randee Vitorino said. "For FFA specifically, the proposed halt in funding would limit and potentially put a stop to travel for leadership conferences and events such as the State FFA Convention. But perhaps the biggest danger in the minds of Vitorino and her FFA colleagues is the halt to curriculum growth that would result from the passage of Governor Brown's proposed budget. "FFA has grown tremendously from when I was in high school," Vitorino said. "Now a days students are given more hands on opportunities that are right in line with what's going on in the industry and this benefits them greatly for whatever career field they're going into. "We'd still have those classes, but growing them to the next level and getting more classes approved would be eliminated." WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady NSI Top Agricultural News Agricultural News Soil Health Seminar to be Held in Watonga on June 15 Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, NRCS, OTCAC, Blaine County Conservation District, Redlands Community College and USDA Southern Plains Climate Hub to host Soil Health Seminar in Watonga on June 15. As part of their commitment to help production agriculture in Oklahoma and the Southern Plains of the United States, The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Oklahoma Tribal Conservation Advisory Council (OTCAC), the Blaine County Conservation District, Redlands Community College and the USDA Southern Plains Climate Hub will be hosting Soil Health Seminar on Thursday June 15, 2017 from 9am to 2pm at the Blaine County Fair Grounds in Watonga, Oklahoma. According to Eddie Hamilton, Governor of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, this event, which is part of the ongoing soil health partnership between the Tribes and NRCS, will provide farmers and ranchers an opportunity to learn about some of the options they have for the application of soil health practices on their land to increase productivity and help make their land more resilient to extreme weather events. "We are very excited to partner with NRCS, Redlands Community College, the Blaine County Conservation District and the USDA Southern Plains Climate Hub to make this event happen," Hamilton said. "Agriculture producers in our area have several options to improve the health of their soil by following winter wheat with some form or mix of cover crops and by improving the health of their pastures. By having something green and growing on their land as long as possible, ag producers can increase the microbial activity in their soil, improve fertilizer efficiency and help their soil increase its water holding capacity." Issues to be discussed at the event include grain and forage sorghum production following winter wheat as part of a soil health regime; ongoing research on new crop species and varieties being conducted by the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS); producer perspectives on planting and grazing summer cover crops; presentations from NRCS on soil health, the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and the new Client Gateway initiative; a presentation by the USDA National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS); and an overview of the agriculture demonstration, education and outreach efforts being undertaken by the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribe in partnership with NRCS. Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP by calling by calling Clay Pope at 405-699-2087, Phillip Martin at 580-623-8501 ext.3, Carol Crouch at 405-612-9331 or register by e-mail at claygpope@gmail.com or Phillip.martin@ok.usd.gov or carolcrouch@ok.usda.gov. There is no charge for the meeting and lunch will be provided. Registration will begin at 9:00 at the Blaine County Fairgrounds exhibit building located at 899 N. Spiece Avenue in Watonga. WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady NSI Top Agricultural News Agricultural News Beef Industry Concerned There's Little to Gain in the Beef Business Through NAFTA Renegotiations Yesterday, our new US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, gave Congress formal notice of the Trump administration's intentions to fulfill one of President Trump's campaign promises and renegotiate the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). However, Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays reports that the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, in tandem with its Canadian and Mexican counterparts, sent a joint letter to the presidents of the three nations involved, addressing their concern that the beef business would have little to gain from NAFTA renegotiations. "Recent statements about the possible dissolution of NAFTA or potential renegotiation of NAFTA are deeply concerning to us because of the unnecessary risk it places on our producers," the letter states. "While there may be general agreement among the countries to improve some parts of the NAFTA trade framework, we urge you to recognize that the terms of the agreement affecting cattle producers are strongly supported as they currently exist and should not be altered." The groups also urged Presidents Trump, Trudeau, and Nieto to reject efforts to use NAFTA as a platform to resurrect failed policies, especially the misguided mandatory country-of-origin labeling policy that was the law of the United States for over seven years. "MCOOL failed to deliver its proponents' promise to increase consumer demand or consumer confidence," the groups said. "Instead, it created massive disruptions in live cattle trade that hurt beef producers across North America and jeopardized the jobs of American workers that depend on processing those cattle." Listen to Ron Hays report on the beef industry's attempts to appeal to the leaders of the NAFTA partners not to alter the trade treaty as it currently exists, on today's Beef Buzz. The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR below for today's show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today. Listen to Hays report on the beef industry's attempts to appeal to the leaders of the NAFTA partners WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady NSI Top Agricultural News A century ago three shepherd children reported seeing a vision of the Virgin Mary in Fatima, Portugal. Now Catholics in Nebraska will get a chance to see a statue depicting how the Virgin Mary appeared to them. A special statue of Our Lady of Fatima will be on display at Catholic churches in the Omaha and Lincoln dioceses this month. The display of the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima coincides with the 100th anniversary of the vision of the Virgin Mary reported by the children. The statue will visit six churches in the Archdiocese of Omaha and five in the Diocese of Lincoln. Its one of two twin statues sculpted in 1947 by Jose Thedim, said Barb Ernster of the World Apostolate of Fatima USA, the group that keeps and tours the statue around the world. Ernster said the statue carries a powerful message of hope. She is asking us to take refuge in her immaculate heart and follow her, Ernster said. She is going to lead us to Christ. Becky Tometich, a member of St. Gerald Church in Ralston, is coordinating the statues May 30 visit to her parish. She said many people have a devotion to Our Lady of Fatima, and a special Mass and procession are planned. This is really a blessing for our community, she said. On May 13, 1917, three cousins, ages 7 to 10 Francisco and Jacinta Marto and Lucia dos Santos reported that they had seen the Virgin Mary as they grazed their sheep. They returned to the same spot in the coming months and reported similar visions. Portuguese church officials initially doubted them. Many doubters, though, became believers after the miracle of the sun on Oct. 13, 1917. The children had predicted that the Virgin would perform a miracle that day, and tens of thousands of people flocked to Fatima and saw what witnesses reported was a vision of the sun spinning in the sky and zigzagging toward Earth. Francisco and Jacinta Marto, who died of influenza several years after the vision, were declared saints by Pope Francis this month. This report includes material from the Associated Press. ********** International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima: A special statue of Our Lady of Fatima will be on display at Catholic churches in the Lincoln and Omaha dioceses this month. For information on times and other details about activities planned at each church, visit fatimatourforpeace.com. LINCOLN DIOCESE Saturday: St. Patrick, McCook Sunday: St. Cecilia, Hastings Monday: St. Vincent de Paul, Seward Tuesday : St. Teresa, Lincoln Wednesday: St. Benedict, Nebraska City OMAHA ARCHDIOCESE Thursday: Our Lady of Lourdes, Omaha May 26: St. Bridget/St. Rose, Omaha May 27: St. Joan of Arc, Omaha May 28: St. Stephen the Martyr, Omaha May 29: St. Isidore, Columbus May 30: St. Gerald, Ralston People knew Moostash Joe even if they never knew his last name. They knew him as a radio host and a businessman and a band leader. They knew him as a dynamo a guy who once did clapping push-ups in his studio to the polka he was playing. The kind of guy, perhaps, thats hard to talk about in the past tense. Moostash Joe Spellerberg, who hosted a polka show on KHUB in Fremont for almost 60 years, died Wednesday in Lincoln from kidney failure worsened by an April car crash. He was 83. He has a high-energy personality and just keeps everybody hopping and keeps everybody happy, said Chris Walz, general manager of KHUB. Spellerberg attracted friendly conversation wherever he went, said his son, Joey Spellerberg. He had an uplifting air about him, not unlike the music he played. Hed always say Polka music is happy music, Joey Spellerberg said. My dad just had a quality of his personality that just brought joy to other people. Born Oct. 18, 1933, in Omaha, Spellerberg grew up in Dodge, Nebraska. As a sophomore in high school, he took up the trum pet, and in 1953, he formed the King Czeckers Band, which he later renamed the Moostash Joe Polka Band. The story behind the nickname is now something of a legend among friends and family: In 1959, shortly after Spellerberg began hosting a two-hour polka show on KHUB, he was pulled over for speeding by a Nebraska state trooper named Clarence Mayhew. The officer recognized Spellerbergs voice, and asked if he was the host of the polka show. When Spellerberg replied yes, Mayhew suggested that the mustachioed broadcaster brand his show with a catchy name Moostash Joe. The next day, Spellerberg opened his show as the Moostash Joe Polka Show. The nickname stuck. People didnt really know his last name, his son said. Over the years, Spellerberg was often approached by people who listened to his show, or had seen him play live, his son said. They always had some type of story or memory, he said, that made them feel close to Moostash Joe. In 1975, after working for Wimmers Meats, Spellerberg opened Moostash Joe Tours, which operates bus tours all over the world. In 2015, Joey Spellerberg took over the business. Spellerberg played host to Fremonts Big Band and Polka Party dance for 37 years. This year, he was inducted into the Fremont Chamber of Commerce Business Hall of Fame. My dad was a great man a great family man, a great businessman, Joey Spellerberg said. He had a lot of love in his heart for everyone, and anybody that ever met him remembered that meeting. Spellerberg is survived by his wife, Janet; sons Mike, Mark, Joe and John; daughters Cindy Steffensmeier, Beverley Lueschen, Susie Kroenke, Patti Stevens, Jackie Ady and Jenna Spellerberg; stepchildren John Engen and Jodi Gilson; 22 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; and brother Walt and sister Betty Ann Beaumont. He was preceded in death by brother Duane Spellerberg and a daughter, Teri Rockwell. A visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at St. Patricks Catholic Church, 3400 E. 16th St. in Fremont. A funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, also at St. Patricks. OK, weve got about one day to mow our lawns and dry out. So be prepared to knock out the outdoor chores Sunday before a chance of additional wet weather in the Omaha area returns to the forecast. The National Weather Service office in Valley said todays forecast calls for a 70 percent chance of showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 1 p.m., then a slight chance of showers after 1 p.m. and a high around 55. These showers could linger through the afternoon Saturday, said Ryan McPike, a KMTV meteorologist. He said severe weather should remain south and east of the Omaha area because conditions are too cool in the region to produce threatening weather. I dont think we have much of a chance for severe weather in our area, McPike said. He said a major weather system that produced twisters in Oklahoma on Thursday has moved northeast, leaving eastern Nebraska and western Iowa with wet and cool conditions. Tonight, conditions will be mostly cloudy with a low in the lower 40s, according to the weather service. The weather service said Sunday will be mostly sunny with a high in the mid- to upper 60s. Sunday looks to be the better (weekend) day, for sure, McPike said. Monday should be partly sunny with a 60 percent chance of showers and a high in the lower 70s, the weather service said. Tuesday in the Omaha area is expected to bring partly sunny skies and a chance of showers, mainly after 1 p.m., with a high around 65. Wednesday and Thursday are forecast to be mostly sunny with highs in the upper 60s to lower 70s. The weather service said Omaha has officially recorded 2.81 inches of rainfall this month through Thursday at Eppley Airfield, .12 of an inch above normal. Rainfall totals in inches for the 24 hours ending at 7:30 p.m. Friday, according to the weather service: Albion, .46; Beatrice, 1.11; Blair, 1.20; Columbus, 1.06; Falls City, .90; Fremont, 1.06; Lincoln, .97; Norfolk, .58; Offutt Air Force Base, .60; Eppley Airfield, .65; Millard, .82; Plattsmouth, .74; Tekamah, .97; Valley, 1.35; Wahoo, 1.39; Council Bluffs, .66. WASHINGTON (AP) During his meeting with Russian officials last week, President Donald Trump said recently fired FBI Director James Comey was a "nut job" whose ouster relieved "great pressure" on him, according to a report Friday in The New York Times. The Times cited notes from a May 10 Oval Office meeting, the day after Trump fired Comey. Separately, The Washington Post reported Friday that the FBI investigation into possible coordination between Russia and the Trump presidential campaign was moving closer to the White House. Law enforcement officials now consider a senior Trump adviser a "person of interest" in the probe, the Post reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The report did not name the adviser. The developments were a blow to White House efforts to tamp down interest in the Russia investigation as Trump and his staff boarded Air Force One for Saudi Arabia, first stop on his first foreign trip as president. The details of his comments to the Russians would seem to bolster theories that Trump fired Comey in an effort to choke off the Russia investigation. Earlier this week, the Justice Department appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller to take over the federal investigation in an effort to re-establish independence from the White House. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein told Congress Friday he stands by a memo he wrote bluntly criticizing Comey. But he made clear it was not his intention for Trump or other White House officials to use the document to justify firing Comey, which is what they have done. In closed-door meetings with lawmakers on Thursday and Friday, Rosenstein said he wrote the memo after Trump told him one day before the May 9 firing that he wanted to dismiss Comey. Rosenstein said that though he was personally fond of Comey, "I thought it was appropriate to seek a new leader." The Justice Department on Friday issued the text of Rosenstein's opening remarks for the briefings on Capitol Hill. That was two days after Rosenstein named Mueller as a special counsel to investigate possible coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign to influence the 2016 presidential election. Trump has said he plans to nominate a new FBI director soon, and that had been expected before his departure. However the White House said there would be no announcement Friday. The appointment of Mueller as special counsel has drawn generally favorable comments from Democrats and from some Republicans as well. But lawmakers at both congressional sessions expressed frustration that Rosenstein would say little in answer to their questions about his actions or others' before Comey's firing. "There was considerable frustration in the room," said Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., a member of the Armed Services Committee. "This renewed my confidence that we should not have confidence in this administration. I don't think (Rosenstein) did a lot to bolster our confidence in him today." The White House has struggled since Comey's firing to explain the chain of events that led to it and who exactly made the decision. Trump has insisted at times that the decision was his alone, but he also has pointed as recently as Thursday to the "very strong" recommendation from Rosenstein. Rosenstein made it abundantly clear to the lawmakers that he drafted his memo only after Trump told him of his plans to dismiss the FBI director. "My memorandum is not a statement of reasons to justify a for-cause termination," he said. But he added, "I wrote it. I believe it. I stand by it." The memo focuses on Comey's handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation, particularly the FBI director's decision to divulge details to the public at various junctures. Rosenstein denounced that as "profoundly wrong and unfair." House members and senators said Rosenstein in his briefings steered clear of specifics in answering questions about his appointment of Mueller but made clear the former FBI director, will have wide latitude to pursue the investigation, potentially including criminal charges. Trump has reacted furiously to the appointment. However, at a combative news conference Thursday, he fell short in trying to resolve questions about investigations into his campaign and his first four months in office. Asked point-blank if he'd done anything that might merit prosecution or even impeachment, Trump said no and then added of the lingering allegations and questions: "I think it's totally ridiculous. Everybody thinks so." The appointment of the special counsel indicates other believe that's still open to question. On Capitol Hill, Rosenstein said that he and Attorney General Jeff Sessions had "discussed the need for new leadership at the FBI" in one of their first meetings, and that he believed Comey had damaged the credibility of the bureau and the Justice Department through the Clinton case. Sessions has recused himself from the Trump-Russia probe, citing his close involvement in the Trump campaign last year. Rosenstein denied media reports from last week that Comey had asked him for additional resources for his investigation before Trump fired him. Definitive answer in a week The employees' union has been pressing for an update. A member of the union informed OneIndia that they are hopeful that the proposal regarding the allowances would be cleared by next week. Government sources informed that the E-CoS is looking into the recommendations on allowances made by the 7th Pay Commission. It would submit its report to the Union Cabinet following which the same would be cleared the source also confirmed. Next step The recommendations made by the Ashok Lavasa-led review committee regarding allowance structure were to be tabled before the E-CoS after consideration by Department of Expenditure. The committee of secretaries will table the proposal for implementing the recommendations made by the 7th Pay Commission, complete with the suggestions from Committee of Allowances, will be presented before the Cabinet for approval. The E-CoS meet will be presided over by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha. Officials from Home Affairs, Finance, Health and Family Welfare, Railways, Personnel and Training and Post will also take part in the meeting. Frustration will end in a week Central government employees say that they are frustrated with the wait. However government sources say that their wait will not go futile and there would surely be an update by next week. The Seventh Pay Commission was constituted in February 2014 to review the principles and structure of emoluments of all central government civilian employees, including defence forces and submitted its report on November 19, 2015. Rs 29,300 crore in the offing Once the recommendations as per the pay panel are recommended it would cost the government's exchequer Rs 29,300 crore. Government employees have been saying that the meagre salary hike following the 7th CPC's recommendations undermined their self-worth. For them the hope is that the updates on allowances would be announced next week. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself is keen that the the central government employees get a good deal. Representations taken into account After submitting the report to Jaitley, Lavasa had said the committee has taken into account representations made by various stakeholders. The report will now be examined by the empowered committee of secretaries and following that it will be placed before the Cabinet, he said. Out of total 196 allowances, it had recommended abolition of 52 and subsuming of another 36 into larger existing ones. The Pay Commission had recommended increasing the HRA in the range of 8 per cent-24 per cent. Politics over Anurag Tewari's death Suresh Kumar Khanna, a minister in Yogi Adityanath cabinet made controversial statements over Anurag Tewari's death in the Uttar Pradesh assembly. On Thursday, the minister claimed that the IAS officer was on the verge of exposing scams by the Congress government in Karnataka. Anurag Tewari was posted recently to the food and civil supplies department which whose minister is U T Khader. Khanna claimed on the floor of the UP assembly that Tewari was to expose scams worth crores. The claims were, however, not substantiated with any kind of proof. They were mere allegations that came about when the opposition cornered the government over failing law and order situation in the state. The statement was probably an example of 'attack being the best defence'. This statement has now snowballed into a controversy. BJP demands CBI probe Just like it had in the case of D K Ravi, the BJP in Karnataka has demanded that the CBI probe the death of Anurag Tewari. BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje in a letter to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath hs asked for a swift and fair investigation. Yogi has assured her that a special team has been formed for the same and the case will be transferred to the CBI if required. "Anurag's brother has claimed that the officer was about to express Rs 2,000 crore scam in the Food and Civil Supplies department. Chief Minister Siddaramiah must take responsibility and order a CBI probe else the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister will do it," said B S Yeddyurappa, the Karnataka state BJP President. Siddaramaiah, Shobha Karandlaje write to Yogi Adityanath "Welcome any probe", says Congress The Karnataka government that has already sent two officers to collect details of what exactly led to the death of Anurag Tewari is unfazed by the allegations. Food and Civil Supplies Minister U T Khader in whose department the officer was last posted to said that the government welcomed any investigation. He voiced concerns over the death of the young IAS officer but added that any investigation that gave clarity was welcome. He brushed aside allegations of scams in his ministry. "Let there be an inquiry from any agency, we will extend full support and cooperation," Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said. The Congress government had come under severe criticism and pressure by people and opposition alike in the D K Ravi case. Family cries foul The family of the officer is crying foul over his death alleging that he was eliminated for being upright and honest. Tewari's brother expressed suspicion over the injury marks on his body. An inconclusive autopsy report provided little relief to the grieving family. His parents alleged that Anurag was being targetted and pressurised by his seniors. Anurag Tewari who was a household name in Bidar when he worked as its DC, the family claimed, was being hounded by seniors. The grieving family had to bid a tearful adieu to the young officer on his birthday. While the grieving family is making allegations after the loss of a loved one, politics is being played over Anurag's death. Officer was in depression Colleagues of Anurag Tewari and those close to the officer claim that he was going through a rough patch on the personal front. The officer and his wife were divorced soon after their wedding. The family claimed that he had a tough time dealing with his in-laws during and after the course of the divorce. While discharging duties in Bengaluru, the officer, colleagues claim, would experience frequent bouts of depression. The last time the office was seen alive, he was with a batchmate in the guest house. Uttar Pradesh police are now questioning Tewari's batchmate on what transpired hours before the officer was found dead near a guest house in Uttar Pradesh. OneIndia News Great tolerance, the CBI is sitting idle in Goa says its SP For govt jobs in Goa, one-year work experience will be a must, says CM Ban LEDs, bull trawling to save marine ecology: Goa urges Centre India oi-PTI Panaji, May 19: Goa government has urged the Centre to enforce a ban on use of LED lights and bull trawling techniques for fishing in coastal states, saying they are harmful to the marine ecology. The state government had last month said that it will ban both the fishing methods to protect the marine ecology. Some trawler owners use LED lights for fishing in deep waters, which the fishermen in Goa have been opposing since some time. In bull trawling, two marginally big-sized boats tie the net and drag it for a long distance to bag the entire shoal of fish. During a meeting with Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh in New Delhi on Thursday, Goa Fisheries Minister Vinod Palyekar urged that all the states involved in fishing activities should strictly stop the use of LEDs and bull trawling method. "I had a fruitful meeting with the Union minister. We had a discussion on discouraging the use of LED lights and bull trawling for fishing," Palyekar told PTI. The minister said he also plans to write to the prime minister to bring in a legislation to stop such fishing practices. During the meeting with the Union minister, Palyekar also sought the Centre's assistance to develop infrastructure for the fisheries sector in Goa. PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 19, 2017, 13:30 [IST] UP ATS picks up two more accused in Al-Qaeda radicalisation case Candidates with criminal records got more votes in UP: ADR report India ians-IANS By Ians English New Delhi, May 19: The winning candidates with criminal and serious criminal cases pending against them polled a higher vote share (44 per cent) compared with candidates with a clean record (43 per cent) in the recent assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. The surprising revelation has been made by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) on Friday in a report analysing the vote share and representativeness of elected candidates in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand assembly polls held in February-March this year. In Uttarakhand, however, candidates with clean record won with a marginally higher vote share (48 per cent) compared with those with criminal record (47 per cent). In both the states, the maximum number of all candidates won with a vote share between 41 per cent to 50 per cent. In a positive trend for the Indian democracy, the ADR report said in both the states, the vote share of the winning candidates also significantly increased compared with 2012 assembly elections. "The winners of the 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections won by an average of 43 per cent of total votes polled. In 2012 elections, winners won by an average of 35 per cent of total votes polled," the report noted. It added that similarly, the vote share of winning candidates in Uttarakhand also increased from 39 per cent in 2012 to 47 per cent in 2017. In terms of representativeness of the elected candidates -- which the ADR defines as the portion of the total electorate that the candidate represents -- the report says that in both the states, it increased by five per cent over 2012. In Uttar Pradesh, the winners on an average represented 26 per cent of the total electorate this year compared with 21 per cent in 2012, ADR said. Similarly in Uttarakhand, the representativeness rose from 26 per cent in 2012 to 31 per cent in 2017. The percentage of representation is calculated by dividing the votes polled for the winner by the electorate, that is the total number of registered voters. IANS Coal scam: Court convicts former coal secretary H C Gupta India oi-Madhuri New Delhi: A special court in Delhi on Friday convicted former coal secretary H C Gupta in a coal scam case. The special court in Delhi also convicted then joint secretary K S Kropha, then director K C Samaria in the coal ministry and others in the coal scam case. The court found them guilty of cheating and corruption in the allocation of the Rudrapur coal block to KSSPL in Madhya Pradesh.The court acquitted chartered accountant Amit Goyal, who was also facing trial, of all charges in the case. The CBI had lodged an FIR accusing the company and others of allegedly misrepresenting facts, including inflated net worth, to acquire the coal block. Earlier, Gupta had requested the court for a joint trial of the cases against him, citing his advancing age and precarious finances. However, his petition was rejected as the court said the cases were at different stages. OneIndia News Crackdown on Kashmir separatists: NIA registers PE into funding from Pak India oi-Vicky By Vicky The National Investigation Agency has registered a preliminary enquiry into the funding of Hurriyat Conference leaders, S A S Geelani, Naeem Khan and other. The NIA noted that funds were coming in from Pakistan to fuel the unrest in Kashmir and hence an enquiry has been registered. The others against whom the enquiry has been registered are Farooq Ahmed Dar and Gazi Javed Baba apart from terrorists like Hafiz Saeed of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba. The money was sent to the separatists to carry out subversive activities in Kashmir, damage public property, stone pelting on the security forces, burning of schools and other government establishments. The hawala menace is not new to the valley. In fact, investigations by various agencies including the National Investigation Agency show that hawala money has been the backbone for both terrorists to spread terror and the separatists who create the unrest. In most investigations it has been found that hawala money has reached both terrorists and separatists from abroad. The highest remittances have been from Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom and, of course, Pakistan. Investigators say transfer of money through hawala is still the biggest draw. In November 2011, four businessmen were booked by the Enforcement Directorate for facilitating hawala transactions through the Line of Control. It had become evident that this money was being sent by the Lashkar-e-Tayiba to facilitate its terrorists and separatists. However, investigations had found that the businessmen were only facilitating the transfer for a fee and were not ideologically connected to the LeT. The terror groups still find hawala to be their best bet since it is safer compared to legal banking. "It is very difficult to crack this trail as the persons involved in the transfer change after every two or three transactions," the officer says. Trade: There is a lot of trade along the border that takes place on the barter system. Terrorists, separatists and their agents pose as traders and exchange money along the border. Very often, these persons also pass on money which is in turn brought into India and handed out to separatists and terrorists. Investigations have shown that there were at least 48 agents until 2014 who were using the barter system to fund terrorism in the valley. The NIA and the ED had found that these persons had moved Rs 7.5 million in 20 different cases. The seizures also led to the NIA finding cheques worth Rs 1 lakh which was meant to reach a terrorist or a separatist. The investigations also revealed that at least 90 persons from different parts of the world were involved in funding terrorists in the valley. Investigations reveal that between the years 2009 and 2011 an amount of Rs 12 million had been recovered. Fake and foreign currency was recovered from agents who were funding terrorists. In 2011, some agents had also brought in 74,000 Saudi Arabian Riyals into the valley. The beneficiaries: NIA sources say that the funding has gone both to terrorist groups and separatists. Money has been pumped into the Hurriyat Conference, Jammu-Kashmir Liberation Front, Islamic Students Front, Hizbul Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Jamiat ul-Mujahideen. An 1997 FIR against separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani an FIR alleges that he had got funding to the tune of Rs 190 million from Saudi Arabia and also another donation of Rs 100 million from the Kashmir American Council. Investigations had revealed that all these funds were routed through a Delhi-based Hawala operative. It was also found that Yasin Malik, another separatist, had received funding of USD 1 lakh and the money was being carried by a woman called Shazia. "We are looking at each case since 1995, and this will help us get a better picture of the entire racket," an NIA officer adds. OneIndia News Delhi: 6-year-old battles for life at AIIMS after stepfather rapes her India oi-PTI New Delhi, May 19: A six-year-old girl is battling for her life at AIIMS after allegedly being raped by her stepfather in South Delhis Saket area. The girl has suffered internal injuries and is undergoing treatment at the hospital. The police have registered a case and arrested the accused. A woman in the neighbourhood saw the girl bleeding and informed the Delhi Commission for Women on its 181 women helpline. The commission sent its team, including a counsellor, and also informed the police. "When the DCW team reached the minors house, they saw that the girl was in pain and bleeding. Meanwhile, the police also reached her house and took the girl and her parents to a police station along with the woman who had informed the DCW about the incident," a DCW statement said. The girl in her statement said that her stepfather took her to his workplace and allegedly sexually assaulted her. He beat her up and threatened to kill her if she told anyone about the incident. "The father said that he committed the gruesome act under the influence of alcohol. He is a caretaker of a house in Saket. He had sexually assaulted her couple of days ago too," the statement said. The accused had married the girls mother a year ago. "The girls condition is very serious. Her private parts are infected with pus and according to the doctors, she will have to undergo a surgery. Taking note of the seriousness of the crime, the judge appointed for this case reached AIIMS to record the minors statement," the DCW said. DCW members also visited the girl at AIIMS and counselled the girl. "The accused should be immediately hanged. It is extremely unfortunate that our girls are not secure even in their own houses," DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal said. She urged the government to formulate a policy to protect children who are abused in their own houses and provide them with a safe environment. PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 19, 2017, 9:00 [IST] Sonia tells Lalu, Nitish to meet her again after Cong gets new president Don't threaten me, will drag you off your seat in Delhi: Lalu Yadav warns BJP, RSS India oi-Madhuri Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav on Friday took to Twitter and warned Bharatiya Janata Party, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh not to threaten him. "Listen, BJP/RSS people, Lalu will drag you off your seat in Delhi, whatever be my situation. Get it straight..Don't u dare to threaten me..," he said. Earlier, while speaking to ANI, Yadav said BJP, RSS people should listen, and know that Lalu Yadav will drag you off your seat in Delhi, whatever be my situation. He further said that rally will take place in Gandhi Maidan on August 27, invited leaders of similar ideologies to decide future course of action. This comes just a day after NDA delegation met Bihar Governor Ramnath Kovind over the attack on the BJP office by RJD workers on Wednesday in the wake of Income Tax raids in connection with alleged benami property deals involving Prasad. On Tuesday, 100 tax officials and investigators had searched different properties in and around Delhi as part of an investigation that alleges Mr Yadav, has a stash of secretly-owned real estate assets that total 1,000 crores. OneIndia News This man is on a country wide padayatra: He wants a ban on EVMs EC to host EVM demo tomorrow to end tampering controversy India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer New Delhi, May 19: The Election Commission is all set to hold a demonstration of electronic voting machines in New Delhi on Saturday. The demonstration will take place at 1 pm, informed officials of the EC. The demonstration will be hosted to prove that EVMs are tamper-proof. In recent times, several opposition political parties have alleged that EVMs had been tampered to give favourable results to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, especially in the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand Assembly elections. The officials of the EC denied all these allegations and said that each and every EVM goes through several checks and thus each of them is tamper-proof. However, all these allegations have seriously hurt the image of the independent body. Recently, the EC hosted a meeting with 55 political parties to discuss over the EVM row in the national capital. The EC officials also gave a detailed demonstration on various security features of the EVMs. However, now the Aam Aadmi Party alleged that the EC has backtracked from its earlier stand of conducting a hackathon where anyone can have an access of the EVMs of the EC and can prove whether they could be tampered or not. The EC on its part maintains that challenge to tamper EVMs is still on. Since it is a technical issue, clarity is very less about the matter. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 19, 2017, 10:55 [IST] ED files case under PMLA against Karti Chidambaram, summons likely soon India oi-Vicky By Vicky The Enforcement Directorate has filed a case under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering act against Karti Chidambaram son of former union minister union minister P Chidambaram. The ED is likely to issue summons to him soon. Karti is however away at London. OneIndia had reported that the Enforcement Directorate is set to file a case under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Days after CBI raid, Karti Chidambaram leaves for London The case under the PMLA is being filed against Karti and INX Media after alleged irregularities were found in the grant of FIPB approval to the company to get foreign direct investments. This ED case would be followed by a case by the Central Bureau of Investigation which will be filed for corruption. The decision by the ED to file the case under the PMLA was taken after it received the FIR lodged by the CBI following raids at the residence of Katri and Chidambaram in Chennai and 14 other locations. Once the case is filed, the ED would go ahead and attach properties. The charges against Karti Chidambaram explained in 6 points] The ED is already investigating a case relating to a company associated with Karti in connection with the Aircel Maxis deal and FDI inflow into Vasan Healthcare. The ED had found documents relating to INX Media and the FDI inflow. Further documents showed that Advantage Strategic Consulting, a company alleged to be indirectly controlled by Karti was paid Rs 10 lakh as consultancy fee to help it get FIPB approval. It was noted that this took place when Chidambaram was the union finance minister. INX Media: Indrani-Peter Mukerjea and the money trail The CBI after the raids on Tuesday filed an FIR in which was alleged that the FDI inflow concerning INX had initially been flagged by FIPB for irregularities. However after it roped in a company owned by Karti for consultancy the fresh proposal was approved by the FIPB. Officials not only ignored the serious illegality on the part of M/S INX Media, but also embarked on showing undue favour to INX Group by abusing their official position, the CBI had stated. Further the CBI noted that Karti received a payment of Rs 10 lakh through Advantage Strategic Consulting, which was controlled by him indirectly. It has also alleged that it found invoices for Rs 3.5 crore in favour of INX Media raised by companies in which Karti has sustainable interest. OneIndia News Everything is going very well in Modi government, says CTA President India oi-Gulam Rabbani New Delhi, May 19: As Prime Minister, Narendra Modi-led government completed its three years of governance, the President of Central Tibetan Administration Lobsang Sangay on Thursday lauded the National Democratic Alliance government for its bold steps to improve the economy and burnish India's global image. He said that with the completion of three years in the government it seems that from every angle from the economic point of view or from foreign policy view which is special interest everything is going well. Sangay also expressed his gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi for being kind and helpful towards the Tibetans who are officially are in exile and popularly known as CTA. "We would like to wish Honorable Prime Minister Modi ji a very successful tenure because the government of India and the people of India have been the most generous and most supportive of the Tibetan cause and Tibetan people for all these years," said Sangay told ANI. "I had the privilege of attending the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Modi ji in 2014 and the three years of PM Modi are very successful," he added. He said India and China are two largest populated countries and biggest countries in Asia so the complexity there will be ups and downs but that's the way the countries and the governments have the relationships. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 19, 2017, 9:35 [IST] Fatwa imam of Bengal assaulted, blames RSS India oi-Vicky By Vicky Syed Md Nurur Rahman Barkati, the controversial imam also known as the fatwa imam of West Bengal was injured after being attacked. The incident took place a day after he was terminated from the post of imam of Tipu Sultan Masjid on Esplanade in central Kolkata. Reports said that the attacker wanted him to vacate the premises. The imam said that he was leading the namaz of asar at around 4.30 pm on Thursday. After the namaz someone attacked me from behind, he said. Barakati was however quick to blame the RSS for the attack. The imam it may be recalled had challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to give up his security cover. He had said if Modi gave him his security, he would remove the red beacon from his car. The imam had also issued a fatwa against Modi post the decision on demonetisation. This Bengal Imam will take off 'lal batti," but on British govt's order only Barakati who is said not to have accepted his termination is under pressure from the members of the Tahaffuz- E- Masjid Committee. The members told the media that they had rightly removed Barkati and he should accept the decision. If he doesn't budge, then legal action would be taken against the imam. He had faltered in his duties as a religious leader and had been more inclined towards politics. If he accepts his mistake and mends his ways he might be appointed as the imam of one of the 494 masjids under our association," said Maulana Sharafat Abrar, convenor of the committee. With fatwa Imams such as these, how can Modi give up his security cover He added that Barkati had brought a bad name to the entire community and presented a tainted picture of a Muslim to other communities. He also condemned Barkati's fatwa against Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying, "He has been giving out anti national comments and the fatwa against Prime Minister Modi was outrageous, he also said. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 19, 2017, 7:20 [IST] Former Minister Anil Dave's last rites performed in Indore India oi-Gulam Rabbani By Gulam Rabbani Indore, May 19: Former Union Minister Anil Madhav Dave's last rites were performed at his ancestral place in Indore on Friday. Union Ministers such as Uma Bharti, Dr Harshvardhan, Thawar Chand Gehlot and Bharatiya Janata Party national secretary Kailash Vijayvarigya and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan attended the ceremony. The minister Anil Madhav Dave passed away on Thursday due to cardiac arrest and his sudden demise had shocked the entire nation including the political top brass. According to official sources, Dave (60) had not been keeping well for the last few months. He complained of uneasiness at his home on Thursday morning and was rushed to AIIMS where he passed away. Also, the national flag will fly at half-mast across the country following the death of Dave. Dave was born on 6 July 1956 in Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh. He did his M. Com at Gujarati College in Indore. He joined Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and was working for the conservation of the Narmada River. He was a Member of Parliament, representing Madhya Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha since 2009. The environment ministry has been in the news after the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee gave a recommendation last week for the commercial cultivation of GM Mustard. The GEAC, a body of the ministry that evaluates genetically modified crops, had on 11 May recommended the commercial use of GM mustard. The environment ministry had received over 700 comments from various stakeholders, including farmers and researchers, on the Assessment of Food and Environmental Safety report on GM mustard. The application was submitted in 2015 after which several rounds of the meeting were held by the GEAC. GM mustard is the second genetically modified food crop after Bt Brinjal that has obtained all required regulatory approvals and reached the environment minister's table for clearance. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter and offered his condolences after the demise Union Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave. Modi said,''I was with Anil Madhav Dave ji till late last evening, discussing key policy issues. This demise is a personal loss.'' He further said that Anil Madhav Dave ji will be remembered as a devoted public servant. He was tremendously passionate towards conserving the environment. Also, Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu expressed shock over the demise Union Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave. Plant trees instead of building me a memorial,' Anil Dave's last wishes Minister Anil Madhav Dave proved to be an environmentalist until his last breath. The deceased minister had sought for a simple cremation and asked people to plant trees and clean lakes in his memory. The four-line letter with the minister's handwriting expressing his last wish and will is going viral. In a letter dated July 23, 2012, Anil Madhav Dave has asked for his last rites to be conducted on the banks of Narmada. The minister who is known for his efforts for conservation of the river wanted his last rites to be conducted in Bhadrabhan. The letter also shows the minister seeking a simple cremation in the Vedic style. He has requested that no hype be created over his cremation. As part of his last wishes, Anil Dave asked those close to him not to build memorials or statues for him or organise programs in his memory. Instead, he said that those who really want to remember him should plant trees, clean lakes and rivers. Dave has asked for people not to invoke his name for any environment-friendly initiatives that are undertaken in his memory. The junior minister in the Narendra Modi cabinet is remembered for his efforts to revive the Narmada river. He was the founder of Narmada Samagra, a non-profit organisation which works on conservation of the Narmada and its catchment areas through various activities and events. He had pushed for chemical-free farming along the river to avoid damage to the river. He was appreciated for many environmental and restoration activities. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 19, 2017, 11:28 [IST] Sajad Lone threatens to go on hunger strike if non-locals enrolled as voters in J&K EPS, his supporters detained for trying to hold hunger strike in TN assembly Gurugram: 170 students stage dharna demanding upgradation of school India oi-Madhuri Around 170 students in Gurugram's Kadarpur stage a dharna on Friday outside their school premises demanding its upgradation to the level of Senior Secondary. 170 students in Gurugram's Kadarpur stage a dharna outside their school premises demanding its upgradation to the level of Senior Secondary. pic.twitter.com/tgTvnHvQQ4 ANI (@ANI_news) May 19, 2017 Earlier, around 80 girls of a government high school in Rewari, Haryana had gone on an indefinite strike demanding upgradation of their institution, fearing they will be harassed if they travel to a senior secondary school located in a different village for higher studies. However, the students ended their eight-day strike on May 17 after the Haryana government gave in to their demand upgrading the government high school at Gothra Tappa Dahina village in Rewari district. Haryana Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma said that a notification has been issued for upgrading the high school. According to rules, a school needs to have a minimum of 150 students in classes IX and X for it to be upgraded to the senior secondary level, while the high school in Gothra Tappa Dahina village has just 86 students. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 19, 2017, 10:14 [IST] 90 Percent of Indias Online Skill Gaming Industry Says 28 Percent GST over GGV Will Be Catastrophic GST collections up by 16.6% to Rs 1.52 lakh crore in October, says Centre GST: Health care and education exempted; rate for services fixed India oi-Chennabasaveshwar By Chennabasaveshwar The Goods and Services Tax would be consumer friendly as health care and education to be exempted from the ambit of the bill, said Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Srinagar. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said four different rate slabs would be fixed for services: 5%, 12%, standard rate of 18% and luxury rate of 28%. Five per cent rate slab mostly comprises of transport services, he added. Restaurants with turnover of Rs 50 lakh or below to face 5% tax under GST and non-AC restaurant at 12%. Four different rate slab for services are 5%, 12%, standard rate of 18% & luxury rate of 28%. 5% mostly comprises of transport services: FM pic.twitter.com/VXrKQzeuj6 ANI (@ANI_news) May 19, 2017 The goods and services tax is slated for launch from July 1 which is India's biggest tax overhaul since independence. With the GST, India will join select league of nations with a goods and service tax. France was the first country to implement the GST in 1954. (With agency inputs) Rajini shuts detractors in style Rajinikanth in his own inimitable style silenced his detractors including BJP MP Subramanian Swamy. Making it clear that he was no less a Tamilian than all those who were mocking him, the superstar claimed that the people of Tamil Nadu had made him a Tamilian. Despite not naming anyone, Rajinikanth's comments made it clear that he intended to send a clear message to anyone who thought of him as a non-Tamil. Marathi from Bengaluru, he will fail Subramanian Swamy had mocked Rajinikanth after he spoke about his entry into politics. Swamy snubbed the superstar and claimed that he was not even a Tamilian to enter Tamil Nadu politics. "Leave alone becoming a politician he isn't even a Tamilian. He is a Marathi from Bengaluru. He will fail," Swamy had said. Swamy had said that Rajinikanth was a mere distraction and had no ideology. All these comments even before the actor even committed to entering the political fray. Swamy takes a U-turn As soon as Rajinikanth's jibe was made public, BJP's Subramaniam Swamy made a U-turn and claimed that he never said that Rajinikanth was not a Tamilian. On Friday, Swamy claimed that Rajinikanth's comments were perhaps directed at the DMK that has always highlighted the 'outsider' tag. "I do not think the comments are directed at me. He perhaps is referring to the DMK that always highlighted the Marathi issue,' Swamy told news channels when asked for a reaction on Rajinikanth's jibe. One among you Rajinikanth, who in the past, has been pulled up for staying away from protests in Tamil Nadu against Karnataka has now voluntarily called himself a Tamilian. Protests had broken out against Rajinikanth who had stayed away when the entire Tamil cinema fraternity protested over the Cauvery issue. He later sat on a day-long dharna in support of the people of Tamil Nadu. The star has often found himself torn between the two states when it came to Cauvery. On Friday, however, Rajinikanth called himself a Tamilian amid cheers and roars from fans. Counting his strengths? While Rajinikanth's comments made on Friday were aimed at shutting his detractors, it was filled with emotion to appeal to the Tamil masses. Language and Tamil roots have been the foundation of Tamil Nadu politics and Rajinikanth's statements have appealed to the same. With this, the star may very well be attempting to establish himself as a Tamil leader who wants to represent his people. On Friday as well, the star made more comments, albeit in subtle references, that further fueled speculation of him joining politics. OneIndia News In pictures, grandeur of Terminal 2 of Kempegowda International Airport which PM Modi will inaugurate Idea of one nation leads to 'Hindu Rashtra': Former PM HD Deve Gowda India oi-Chennabasaveshwar By Chennabasaveshwar National parties could not protect the interest of the state due to whip issued by their parties, said Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda on Thursday while speaking at a seminar at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Bengaluru. He was speaking at a seminar on 'Relevance regional parties in Federal system' organised by 'IT Kannadiga Okkoota' and 'Munnota' on his 85th birthday. Deve Gowda said 'Good works done during my tenure have been systematically erased from public memory. I do not bear personal grudge against any political leader or party and always want to work in the interest of the state.' 'People say I am power hungry. But I am not. I didn't the proposal by Atal Bihari Vajapayee who sent a slip extending support to United Front government.' He was pained at the propagation of nationalistic concept 'One Nation. He iterated the idea of 'One nation leads to 'Hindu Rashtra'. He thanked the organizers for making his birthday meaningful while saying 'Why should I cut the cake when farmers are committing suicide?' Former PM HD Deve Gowda with JD (U) MP Nadagowda Former PM HD Deve Gowda was welcomed with garland at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. Photo: Chennabasaveshwar Deve Gowda in conversation with KCP President BL Shankar HD Deve Gowda is on the dias with BL Shankar, M. Ismail and YSV Datta. Photo: Chennabasaveshwar An artist painted HD Deve Gowda's portrait An artist painted HD Deve Gowda's portrait and gifted his art work to the leader on his birthday. HD Deve Gowda speaking about his contribution to Karnataka HD Deve Gowda addressed the audience at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Photo: Chennabasaveshwar HD Deve Gowda in chit-chat with JD (U) leader MP Nadagowda HD Deve Gowda in chit-chat with JD (U) leader MP Nadagowda and YSV Datta. Photo: Chennabasaveshwar Karnataka Chitrakala Parishat President, BL Shankar, said autonomy of states in the current federal system are threatened by economic and political centralisation of power by Delhi political coterie. 'One nation, one language and one tax regime strengthen the Centre.' Janata Dal (S) leader YSV Datta admired political acumen of the former PM saying 'You may or may not like him, but cannot ignore Deve Gowda'. He went on exhilarating Deve Gowda's contribution to the development of Karnataka during his tenure as Chief Minister of the state and PM of India. Financial support to Upper Krishna project, Railway zone to Karnataka. Datta vehemently said 'No problem, even if we have two rival regional political parties like Tamil Nadu. OneIndia News Imran Khan discharged from hospital, to resume long march from same point where he was shot If Pak has all the evidence in the world on Jadhav, then try him in a civil court India oi-Vicky By Vicky Kulbhushan Jadhav could not have been tried a civil court because he is not a civilian is an explanation that was offered by Abdul Basit, Pakistan's high commissioner. This statement reeks of double standard as the same rule of law must be made applicable to all. In the case of Sarabhjit Singh, the trial was held at the Lahore High Court followed by the Supreme Court. Singh had spent 22 years on the death row before he was killed at the Kot Lakhpat jail in 2013. Take the case of Kashmir Singh who was first sentenced to death by a military court following which he was tried by a civil court. He was pardoned in 2008, 35 years after his arrest. It is necessary to draw these comparisons because the agenda of Pakistan appears to be different in the case of Jadhav. Pakistan while reacting to the ICJ's verdict had said that it is upset that India is trying to make this out to be a case of human rights violations. India's case on hand is that no consular access was granted. India further had sought that Jadhav must be given legal representation and at least put to a fair trial. Pakistan has been claiming time and again that it has enough evidence to suggest that Jadhav was carrying out subversive activities in Pakistan. If that is the case then why not produce the evidence and put him to trial in a court that is acceptable to civil society. The Dawn reported that a case of transparency can be made out here and this is an opportunity for Pakistan to categorically prove India's subversive activities on its soil. A fair trial under the media's watch - as was the case with the Panama Leaks - would not only validate any punitive action against Jadhav, but also validate Pakistan's accusations against India in the public eye, the Dawn also wrote. Sartaj Aziz, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's adviser on foreign affairs had said that they have enough evidence to suggest that Jadhav is the one who sponsored attacks on Hazaras and Shia pilgrims in Balochistan. If this is the case then why is the Pakistan military reluctant to put the evidence forward and try him in a civil court in full media glare- assuming there are still fair media channels in Pakistan. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 19, 2017, 10:18 [IST] India's hero Harish Salve: Facts about him you probably never knew India oi-Vicky By Vicky He is India's most expensive lawyer and charges anything between Rs 6 lakh to Rs 15,000 lakh per appearance. The high and mighty of this country are his clients. There are times when his fee would go up to Rs 30 lakh a day. However to defend Kulbhushan Jadhav at the International Court of Justice, he charged Re 1 as confirmed by External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj. Harish Salve, the former solicitor-general of India who is known to charge a high fee for the cases he argues only charged Re 1 for the case before the ICJ. "Not fair. Harish Salve has charged us Rs.1- as his fee for this case (sic)," External Affairs minister, Sushma Swaraj had said in a tweet. The external affairs minister was responding to a twitter user who claimed that any good Indian lawyer would have done the same and with much less expenses than Harish Salve. The Jadhav incident is a very emotive one for India. Jadhav was falsely convicted by Pakistan. India has maintained that Jadhav a former naval officer had turned businessman and was in Iran before Pakistan wrongly arrested him. Sources say that it was Salve who voluntarily offered to charge just Rs 1 to argue India's case on behalf of Jadhav. It was in true national spirit and keeping in mind the sentiments of the entire nation that Salve decided to charge that fee to the government of India. He is a true patriot, the source also added. Harish Salve charged just Re 1 to defend India in Jadhav case at ICJ Who is Harish Salve: Salve is the son of Narendra Kumar Salve, who was a senior Congress leader. His grand-father was a well known lawyer himself. Salve is the son of Narendra Kumar Salve, who was a senior Congress leader. His grand-father was a well known lawyer himself. His top cases are: In 2012, Salve helped Vodafone win Rs 11,000 crore tax against government He argued for Salman Khan in the hit and run case He represented the Delhi police in a case regarding the supporters of Baba Ramdev He also appeared for Gujarat riots victim Bilkis Bano at the request of the NHRC More interesting facts: These facts are courtesy Kiran K S who is a very popular figure on the social media. He wrote on his Facebook wall Harish Salve's father was a senior Congress leader. He is a Christian. His son in law is a Muslim. But "Sanghi" BJP guys cheered him most, while so called "secular" folks did not cheer his great work today on Kulbhushan Jadhav case. OneIndia News In pictures, grandeur of Terminal 2 of Kempegowda International Airport which PM Modi will inaugurate Is Rajinikanth under immense pressure to join politics? India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer Bengaluru, May 19: Close friend of Rajinikanth, Raj Bahadur, who worked with him in the 1970s in the then Bangalore Transport Service, Bengaluru, Karnataka, said that the veteran actor is "under tremendous pressure" to join politics after the demise of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa last year. [Also Read: Is Subramanian Swamy scared of Rajinikanth joining politics?] "He (Rajinikanth) won't disappoint 7-crore Tamilians," Bahadur told The Hindu. Bahadur added that the people of Tamil Nadu want Rajinikanth to join politics. "I have never seen him so tense. He expressed serious concern for the people of Tamil Nadu after the death of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader Jayalalithaa. There is immense pressure on him from people and his fans to enter politics. Many, including me, want him to start his own party." Bahadur said Rajinikanth recently came to Bengaluru to attend a wedding. In fact, during one of his meetings with his fans in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, the superstar hinted at joining politics. However, it was an "ambigious" statement and the 66-year-old did not confirm whether he was soon going to take a plunge into politics. "If God willing, I may 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 said. Since then, speculations are rife if the actor is planning to join the Bharatiya Janata Party. On Wednesday, when reporters asked him if he was considering joining the saffron party, Rajinikanth simply refused to comment. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 19, 2017, 9:49 [IST] Jharkhand: Angry mob lynches four on suspicion of child lifting India oi-Madhuri In a shocking incident, four persons were lynched to death in Jharkhand's Seraikela-Kharsawa district on Thursday on the suspicion of being child lifters.The killings came only a few days after similar incidents reported in Jadugora and Sundarnagar block of East Singhbhum. #Jharkhand One person lynched in Jamshedpur over rumours of 'kid theft', by people from villages in the vicinity; vehicles also vandalized. pic.twitter.com/TgyPpiaIrp ANI (@ANI_news) May 19, 2017 According to sources, eight people entered Shobhapur village in the wee hours on Thursday. The people in the vicinity got suspicious about their activity and raised the alarm. Armed with traditional weapons, many people came out in search of alleged child lifters. However, some managed to flee from the spot while four of them were caught by villagers and beaten to death by villagers and also their vehicles were vandalized. When the local police station, SHO reached the village with his team, about 100 agitated villagers attacked the police and set the police van on fire. OneIndia News Kerala to host transgender beauty contest to fight against discrimination, harassment India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer Kochi, May 19: Kerala is definitely setting some great examples when it comes to fight against discrimination, injustice and harassment faced by the transgender community on a daily basis. [Also read: Tharika Banu, TN's Ist transgender to clear Class 12 exams, wants to become a doctor] The government agencies and individuals of the state are doing their bit to empower the community by giving transgenders jobs and various platforms to showcase their talents. After the Kochi Metro hired 23 transgender employees recently, the city is all set to host its first transgender beauty pageant on June 15. In fact, the Kochi Metro became the first government-owned company to hire transgenders as its workers. The beauty pageant is the brainchild of Dhwayah Arts and Cultural Society, an association of transgenders in Kerala. "The pageant aims to empower transgender people and make society more inclusive for them," said the organisers of the event. After the 2010 Indian Super Queen pageant organised in Mumbai by transgender activist, Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, Kochi beauty contest is going to be India's second such event, say activists working in the field. The selected contestants for the Kochi event are currently undergoing various grooming sessions to put their best foot forward on the D-day. OneIndia News BJP wants Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, says Shah; asks other parties must make stand clear on the issue 'There is partnership between TRS and BJP', says Rahul Gandhi in Telangana Lalu alleges BJP, RSS holding grudge on him India oi-Gulam Rabbani By Gulam Rabbani Patna, May 19: Rashtriya Janata Dal party chief Lalau Prasad Yadav on Friday came down heavily on Bharatiya Janata Party and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and asserted that the both are holding grudges against him and his party for which they will soon repay. This statements came after RJD supremo faced allegations on anonymity property and later being raided by the Income Tax Department. "BJP, RSS people should listen, and know that Lalu Yadav will drag you off your seat in Delhi, whatever be my situation. BJP and RSS are holding grudges against me for which they would pay. They are doing this to project a bad image of me and my party," Yadav told ANI. He also said that a rally will be held to fight against the BJP and also to decide future course of action. "Modi's government will not be able to complete five years, if they continue with this behaviour. A rally will take place in Gandhi Maidan on August 27, invited leaders of similar ideologies to decide future course of action," Yadav said to ANI. On May 16, Raids were conducted at 21 different locations in Delhi and Gurugram in connection with benami land deals worth Rs 1,000 crore allegedly involving Lalu Prasad's associates. The raids were conducted by the Income Tax Department after documents relating to benami land deals concerning Lalu's associates came to light. Raids were conducted in various places including Delhi and Gurugram. Companies and people associated with Lalu Prasad have come under the scanner of the Income Tax Department. The raids came just a few days after Lalu, the former chief minister of Bihar had rubbished allegations regarding his family members being involved in land deals. He had in fact accused the BJP of a witch hunt. On May 12, addressing a press conference at the party headquartes, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad demanded the Central Government to probe the alleged land deals. The minister had accused Lalu's daughter, Misa Bharti of failing to disclose assets in her election affidavit. He said the land deals dated back to the time when Lalu Prasad was the Union Railway Minister in the UPA government. He also wondered whether Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar would invoke the special law enacted by his goverment in which assets acquired through illicit means are confiscated. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 19, 2017, 14:35 [IST] Mathura murders: two arrested, MP Hema Malini to visit jewellers family India oi-Chennabasaveshwar By Chennabasaveshwar Two people were arrested by Uttar Pradesh police in connection with the killing of two jewelers in Mathura and another two culprits identified said Mathura BJP MP Hema Malini on Friday. Hema Malini was told by police officials about the progress made in the case. She said 'concerned with incidents in Mathura, keeping a tab on developments.' She will go to Mathura on May 24th. According to reports, jewellers across Uttar Pradesh will go on a strike on Friday to protest against the murders of two traders in Mathura. Concerned with incidents in Mathura, keeping a tab on developments: Mathura BJP MP Hema Malini to ANI on situation after 2 jewelers killing pic.twitter.com/VkDH9xTdZp ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) May 19, 2017 In a shocking incident, two jewellers were shot dead and two others critically injured in an attack by unknown assailants on Monday in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. According to reports, the assailants attacked the jewellers around 8 pm and sped away with Rs one crore jewellry. The attack on jewellers occurred on the night after the Uttar Pradesh assembly's first session was disrupted by opposition parties over deteriorating law and order situation in the state. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 19, 2017, 10:59 [IST] Next President of India: It is official, Gopal Krishna Gandhi is opposition's pick India oi-Vicky By Vicky It is almost official. Gopal Krishna Gandhi will be the opposition's candidate as the next president of India. CPI(M) general Secretary Sitaram Yechury suggested that Gopal Krishna Gandhi may be among the possible choices but said that the ruling party should declare their candidate first in order to build consensus. Yes, we have looked into the name of Gopal Krishna Gandhi. Few suggested a second term for President Pranab Mukherjee, but a consensus must be arrived at first, he also said. It may be recalled that OneIndia had reported on May 7 that Gandhi would be the candidate for the next president of India fielded by the opposition against Draupadi Murmu who is being considered by the BJP led NDA. Next President of India: It is Draupadi Murmu vs Gopal Krishna Who is Gopal Krishna Gandhi? Gandhi is the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi. He was the governor of West Bengal between 2004 and 2009. It may be recalled that after Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of India, he had written an open letter. Born April 22 1946, he is an Indian civil servant and a diplomat. As a former member of the Indian Administrative Service he has also served as the secretary to the President of India. He was also high commissioner to South Africa and Sri Lanka. Other candidates opposition may pick While the name of Gandhi is right up in the opposition's list, there are other names too which are doing the rounds. The opposition has also been discussing the names of NCP chief Sharad Pawar and senior JD-U leader Sharad Yadav. Pawar has however ruled himself out of the race with a clause. He says he would agree to be the candidate only if both the NDA and the UPA picks him. Next President of India: Here is why Sharad Pawar turned down the offer The opposition leaders have had held several rounds of meetings. Congress president, Sonia Gandhi has been leading these meetings. Sources say that a final decision on which candidate to float for the next presidential elections would be taken in the last week of May. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 19, 2017, 8:15 [IST] Parvathamma Rajkumar no more: Body will be laid to rest next to her husband Puneeth Rajkumar dead at 46: Can you get a sudden heart attack? Why are hearts of young Indians so vulnerable Parvathamma Rajkumar's health improves, 'alert and conscious', say doctors India oi-Anusha Doctors treating Parvathamma Rajkumar, the wife of Kannada superstar Dr Rajkumar, said that her health condition had improved since yesterday. "She is more alert and conscious. She is clinically much better," said a statement from the hospital. Doctors at M S Ramaiah hospital where 77-year-old Parvathamma is being treated said that she was able to open her eyes and respond to oral commands. A statement from the hospital claimed that her creatinine levels had come down which was a relief. "She is still on assisted ventilation and her other vital parameters are within normal limits," the statement said. A team of doctors including chief physician Dr Sanjay Kulkarni, Senior intensivist Dr Ratna, Medical oncologist Dr Nalini Kilara, Nephrologist Dr Mahesh and Dr Karthik are monitoring Parvathamma Rajkumar closely, the statement said. Anticipating trouble over rumours of her ill health, the family appealed for peace on Thursday. The Bengaluru police took to Twitter to appraise citizens that Parvathamma Rajkumar was doing well and requested the heed not be paid to rumours. Parvathamma Rajkumar who is a prominent producer in the film industry is also the mother of actors Shivarajkumar, Raghavendra Rajkumar and Puneeth Rajkumar. She was admitted to M S Ramaiah hospital in Bengaluru on May 14 for weakness after which her health deteriorated. As on Friday, doctors have claimed that her health has improved. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 19, 2017, 14:51 [IST] Pay Rs 5,000 fine if caught defecating on Yamuna floodplains India oi-PTI New Delhi, May 19: The National Green Tribunal on Friday banned open defecation and dumping of waste on the floodplains of the Yamuna and announced an environment compensation of Rs 5,000 for those who violated the diktat. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar also constituted a committee headed by Delhi Jal Board CEO to oversee the execution of work pertaining to cleaning of the river and asked it to submit reports at regular intervals. The Delhi government and the municipal corporations were directed to immediately take action against industries which operate in residential areas and are a major source of pollution to the river. The green panel noted that almost 67 per cent of the pollution reaching the Yamuna would be treated by the two sewage treatment plants located at Delhi Gate and Najafgarh under Phase 1 of the 'Maili se Nirmal Yamuna Revitalisation Project 2017'. The apex green panel had on May 1 ordered inspection of the STPs at Delhi Gate and Okhla with a view to ensure that wastewater was cleaned before it reached the Yamuna. It had sought a report with regard to functioning of these plants. The tribunal was informed that a total of 14 STP projects are to be constructed to clean wastewater. Of these, seven are to be built by the Delhi Jal Board with its own funds. The directions came as the NGT was hearing a plea on the monitoring of implementation of the 'Maili se Nirmal Yamuna Revitalisation Project 2017'. PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 19, 2017, 13:34 [IST] Railway fare may be costlier as Govt proposes safety cess India oi-Vicky By Vicky The government is likely to implement a 'safety cess' to increase revenues in the Railways. If the cess is imposed then passenger train tickets are likely to witness a marginal hike. The cess is likely to be fixed at less than 2% of the total fare amount. Reeling under a Rs 32,000 crore debt burden, this move could ease the woes of the Railways to a certain extent. A safety cess on passenger tickets is under consideration," Union Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu had told reporters. He however did not specify when the cess would be introduced. A safety cess was last levied in 2002 during Nitish Kumar's term as the railway minister to service a special fund of Rs 17,500 crore. The fund was set up to take up several tasks, including restoration of old bridges, besides signaling and track modernisation works. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 19, 2017, 6:24 [IST] Cyclone Fani: No flights to and from Kolkata airport between 3 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. Saturday Rose Valley scam: TMC MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay granted bail India oi-PTI Cuttack, May 19: The Orissa High Court on Friday granted conditional bail to Trinamool Congress Member of Parliament Sudip Bandyopadhyay, arrested for his alleged involvement in the Rose Valley Group chit fund scam. A bench of Justice JP Das had reserved the order on his bail plea after hearing arguments of both the prosecution and defence on May 8. Sudip Bandyopadhyay had approached the Orissa High Court in February seeking regular bail on health grounds after his bail applications were rejected by the designated Central Bureau of Investigation court in Bhubaneswar and the Khurda district sessions court. The CBI had arrested the Lok Sabha Trinamool Congress leader in Kolkata on January 3 while probing the Rose Valley Group chit fund scam on the Supreme Court's directions. The CBI has arrested another TMC MP, Tapas Pal, for his alleged involvement in the scam. The CBI had accused Rose Valley chairman Gautam Kundu and three others of duping investors of over Rs. 17,000 crore. PTI Round 1 won: How India plans to win round 2 of the Kulbhushan Jadhav case India oi-Vicky By Vicky India has won round one of the battle in the International Court of Justice after the execution of Kulbhushan Jadhav was stalled. Now it is over to round two where both India and Pakistan would put out arguments before the ICJ which would pronounce its final verdict probably by August. The ICJ had on Thursday said that the execution of Jadhav be placed in abeyance until the final verdict is out. Round two would be extremely crucial for India. In order to get Jadhav justice, India would first request for an outright release of the former naval officer. The case before the International Court of Justice would not be about proving the innocence of Jadhav. Before the ICJ India can only argue that the route taken by Pakistan to arrive at a death sentence is violative of the principles of Vienna Convention which is a multilateral treaty, Harish Salve explains. Before the ICJ, India would also argue that there has been violation of human rights and hence Jadhav must be set free immediately. The next option would be to seek an annulment of the death sentence. India would seek that Jadhav be given proper representation. The trial before a military or Kangaroo court is not acceptable. Instead he should be tried before a court with proper representation that is acceptable to civil society, India would also argue. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 19, 2017, 8:27 [IST] Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi takes over Zakir Naik's Islamic International School India oi-Chennabasaveshwar By Chennabasaveshwar Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi has admitted students of Zakir Naik's Islamic International School, which was on the verge of shut down, in a school run by his trust. Around 185 students have been admitted in Avicenna International School run by Abu Azmi. The staff and even the syllabus would remain the same but with little changes, Azmi told media. 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." Zakir Naik is accused of spreading hatred by his provocative speeches and money laundering several crores of money over the years. In November last year, the Centre banned the IRF under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act for five years. The National Investigation Agency had approached Interpol for issuing a red corner notice against the controversial Islamic preacher. (With agency inputs) For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 19, 2017, 15:53 [IST] Tamil Nadu: Heavy rains in several parts of Tamil Nadu in next 2 days Tamil Nadu 10th Result 2017 declared: Pass percentage at 94.4, drop in centum India oi-Anusha The Tamil Nadu 10th Result 2017 was declared on Friday. The Directorate of School Education held that the overall pass percentage stood at 94.4 percent, which is 0.8 percent higher than the previous year. Apart from being the highest pass percentage recorded in the last five years, girls once again have performed better than boys in this year's examinations. Close to 9.82 lakh students appeared for the examination from schools across the State of Tamil Nadu. According to figures by the board, 4.91 lakh students were girls and 4.9 lakh were boys. Many students appeared for the examination as private candidates as well. Tamil Nadu SSLC class 10 exam 2017 results declared, available no While the government has not declared state ranks, they have announced the names of students who scored centum in each subject. 61,115 students scored full marks in Social Sciences which is a record but centum in other subjects have seen a dip. 13,759 students have scored centum in mathematics which is 4,995 lesser than last year. In Science, 17,481 students scored full marks. 69 students scored centum in Tamil while no student received full marks in English. The results are now available at tnresults.nic.in How to check Tamil Nadu 10th Result 2017 Visit the official website- tnresults.nic.in Click on the link 'TN SSLC results 2017' flashing on the homepage Enter your registration number and date of birth The results will be displayed Check and save the result OneIndia News In a first, Transgenders can now apply for jobs in Karnataka police for PSI Transgenders create ruckus at a Meerut hospital in Uttar Pradesh India oi-Chennabasaveshwar By Chennabasaveshwar Transgenders created ruckus at a Meerut hospital in Uttar Pradesh as councillor from their community who suffered bullet injuries passed away on Thursday. The miscreants opened gunfire on the former councilor Haji Fakro near the DK factory in Shyamnagar in Meerut. Transgender community members thronged the hospital demanding justice to the deceased member. Police were seen struggling to manage the situation. Meerut police said some people had spread rumours that the bullet was still inside the body due to negligence of hospital authorities. #WATCH: Transgenders created ruckus at a Meerut hospital as councillor from their community suffering bullet injuries passed away yesterday pic.twitter.com/iKt7ozkuo1 ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) May 19, 2017 Crimes are on the rise in Uttar Pradesh. This incident shows even councillor is not safe in the state. It may be reaclled that, in a shocking incident, two jewellers were shot dead and two others critically injured in an attack by unknown assailants on Monday in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. According to reports, the assailants attacked the jewellers around 8 pm and sped away with Rs one crore jewellry. The attack on jewellers occurred on the night after the Uttar Pradesh assembly's first session was disrupted by opposition parties over deteriorating law and order situation in the state. OneIndia News UP polls: Law against triple talaq saved families of thousands of Muslim women from breaking-up: PM Explained: What the SC said and how is Talaq-e-Hasan different from triple talaq For triple talaq victims, judicial verdict in favor but social verdict still against them! Triple Talaq: Muslim woman threatens to commit suicide if justice denied India oi-Madhuri By Madhuri A victim of Triple Talaq from Uttarakhand has threatened that she will either commit suicide or convert into Hinduism if justice is not prevailed. Udham Singh Nagar: #TripleTalaq victim threatens to commit suicide if not given justice, requests PM Modi & & the Supreme Court #Uttarakhand pic.twitter.com/tyIAWudSEp ANI (@ANI_news) May 19, 2017 The victim Shamim Jahan who has been divorced by her husband Asif inside Gadarpur police station has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Supreme Court to get her justice or else she will take some extreme step. Several Muslim women, who have claimed to be a victim of the 'patriarchal' practice, have appealed to PM Modi to get rid of the divorce system prevailing in the community. Jahan has been married to Asif for 12 years. However, Asif divorced her right after four years of marriage. After some counselling and Halala period for 40 days, the duo were reunited. But he started physically abusing her. OneIndia News Why ISIS terrorists are swarming like bees in Hyderabad India oi-Vicky By Vicky Central intelligence agencies say that the growth of ISIS modules in India are emerging mainly from Hyderabad and Kerala. These are two problematic destinations, an Intelligence Bureau official confirmed. The police with the help of the intelligence agencies are studying the pattern regarding the growth of the ISIS in India. Investigations have emerged that the primary module continues to function out of Hyderabad and then spills into Kerala. Following the busting of an ISIS module in Uttar Pradesh,it came to light that the control point was in Hyderabad. They are swarming like bees in Hyderabad especially in the older parts of the grand old city, an officer said. The radicalisation threat perception is high. They have not carried out any major attacks but are in the process of setting up many more modules the officer also confirmed. The Hyderabad module has been responsible for the setting up of units in Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Hyderabad has been the chosen destination because there are certain parts of the city that provide a safe hideout to the operatives. In parts of the old city police officials are still apprehensive about conducting raids and this has been beneficial to the operatives. The other worry is that this module does not restrict itself to India alone. It has its links to the Afghanistan module as well. It was the Hyderabad module that coordinated with its counterpart in Kerala to send out dozens of people to Afghanistan to be part of the ISIS module there, officials also say. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 19, 2017, 8:23 [IST] Wife ends life, man goes missing weeks after marriage in Telangana India oi-Gulam Rabbani Hyderabad, May 19: The Hyderabad high court has asked the Telangana Police Commissioner to direct a senior police officer to probe into the disappearance of a 23-year-old man who married a 20-year-old girl tow months ago in Mumbai against her parent's wishes. According to reports, the young couple from Telangana identified as Amboji Naresh and Tummala Swati belonging to different castes got married in Mumbai less than two months ago. Swati is believed to be dead where Naresh is reported to missing. However, the court had ordered to submit the inquiry report by June 1. Naresh's parents said that they worry about the disappearance of their son and fear he may come true. Naresh's father Venkaiah said that the girl's family head should tell whether Naresh was killed because he married a girl who belongs to an upper caste and they (Swati's family) are Reddy. He asked the bride's family to at least tell where Naresh is. Naresh went missing from two weeks ago from the bus-stand in Bhongir which is 40 kilometres away from Hyderabad where the couple were returning from Mumbai after getting married Reports said that Naresh and Swati were childhood friends and classmates in college. The duo got married in Mumbai but were forced to return after two days later as they were receiving phone calls from Naresh's father alleging his brother i.e Naresh's uncle is in police custody and had asked the couple to return soon to let his brother free. Venakaiah said that the couple arrived in Bhongir after which he handed over Swati at the police station to her father but within three days she came to him and told she wanted to live with Naresh. "What could I do," Venkaiah asked. Naresh's mother Indira who burst into tears and has lost all sleep has been out of conscious frequently with anxiety and worry. She raised doubts about her son asking whether he is kept captive somewhere or is he alive. She said that the family should know what has happened to their only son. Swati had informed the Mumbai Police on the day of her marriage itself that she expected trouble from her family. She allegedly committed suicide on Monday just hours before she was to be presented in court. Naresh's parents allege the local police in Bhongir had not supported the couple but tried to separate them. Reports said that Swati on the day of her marriage had informed the Mumbai police regarding the trouble expected from her family side. She then allegedly committed suicide on Monday just a few hours before she was asked to appear before the court. The parents of Naresh had alleged that the Bhongir police tried to separate the couple instead of supporting. He said that his clients cannot trust the local investigating officers because right from the beginning they had acted illegally, tried to put pressure on the couple even when they know that the duo are adults and married on their will. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 19, 2017, 12:46 [IST] Congress leader urges US President Joe Biden to take steps against 'increase' in hate crimes against Sikhs In the killing of those protecting Hindus in Punjab, a massive ISI plot revealed Hate crime: Two sentenced to 3 years in jail for assaulting Sikh-American International oi-PTI A US court has sentenced two persons to three years in prison after charging them with hate crime for brutally assaulting a Sikh-American man last year in California. BREAKING: Defendants Found Guilty of Hate Crime in Brutal CA Attack Against Sikh. Press Release: https://t.co/pzUgHlyM4y pic.twitter.com/zF1GnU2wu6 Sikh Coalition (@sikh_coalition) May 18, 2017 Chase Little and Colton Leblanc were found guilty of felony assault and hate crime charges. They were sentenced to a three-year term in the California state prison for attacking Maan Singh Khalsa. Khalsa, a Sikh American father and IT specialist, was brutally assaulted in Richmond Bay area, California in September last year. The Sikh-American was stopped at an intersection and the attackers got out of their truck and assaulted by hitting his face repeatedly, knocking off his turban and cutting his religiously-mandated unshorn hair with a knife. "The recognition of the attack as a hate crime ? as harm to my dignity and my entire community ? is the first step in the process," said Khalsa, who had recognised his attackers during his statement in court yesterday. "I still consider you my brothers, and I hope that you will learn about me and my community, and one day consider me your brother, too," he said according to a statement issued yesterday by the rights group named The Sikh Coalition. Prior to the charges, the coalition, community leaders, and a group of civil rights organisations advocated vigorously on behalf of Khalsa, urging for a hate crime investigation and prosecution. "The attack upon Khalsa based upon his perceived religion and identity is an attack upon us all," Contra Costa County Deputy District Attorney Simon O?Connell said. "As a community we must do better and it is my hope that todays sentence moves us further in that direction,? he said. The Sikh Coalition said in the last 15 years after the 9/11 attack, Sikhs remain hundreds of times more likely to be targeted in cases of profiling, bigotry and backlash than the average American. In March this year, a Sikh man was shot in Kent city of Washington state after the attacker told him to "go back to your own country", it said. In May, Sikh-American Prabhjot Singh who has experienced hate violence firsthand testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee about the urgent need to address hate crimes in the United States. "Acknowledging that this bias-based attack is a hate crime under state law both recognises the deep dignitary harm to Khalsa, and ensures that we, as a society, confront the problems of Islamophobia, racism and xenophobia that make the Sikh community a target for violence," the coalitions staff attorney Pawanpreet Kaur said. PTI Imran Khan discharged from hospital, to resume long march from same point where he was shot This cop from Pakistan became a millionaire overnight: Here is how Hurt with the loss in Jadhav case, Pakistan mulls 'brand new' legal team International oi-Vicky By Vicky Pakistan is likely to get a new set of lawyers to fight the Kulbhushan Jadhav case at the International Court of Justice. Many in Pakistan are miffed with the legal team as they were unable to defend Pakistan's case. The ICJ had on Thursday stayed the execution of Jadhav. Why Kulbhushan Jadhav's fate still lies in the hands of the Pakistan Generals Several Pakistan media channels said that the new team will "present Pakistan's stance vigorously. The statements were attributed to Sartaj Aziz, the Pakistan Prime Minister's adviser on foreign affairs. Pakistan's counsel had "courageously" presented the country's stance at the international court, Aziz said, according to The Express Tribune. "Pakistan's security is so important and we have to maintain our fundamental sovereign right," he added. India's hero Harish Salve: Facts about him you probably never knew Many in the opposition not just slammed the Pakistan legal team for failing to beat India at the arguments, but also questioned the logic of even arguing the case before the ICJ. It's Pakistan's mistake to have appeared there. They shouldn't have attended. They have shot themselves in the foot," the retired judge, Shaiq Usmani, told Dawn. Round 1 won: How India plans to win round 2 of the Kulbhushan Jadhav case An opposition politician, Shireen Mazari, had similar views. The Tehreek-e-Insaf politician said Pakistan could have withdrawn from being party to the Vienna Convention's optional protocol. Pakistan now will set up a brand new legal team to argue the case at the ICJ. The final arguments and the verdict in the case is still awaited. It is expected to conclude in the month of August. OneIndia News China continues unprecedented military drills around Taiwan even after end of four-day schedule After two year of COVID-19 delay, China plans to issue visas for stranded Indian students India-Singapore naval exercise shouldn't hurt others: China International oi-PTI Beijing, May 19: Reacting cautiously over the joint naval exercise being held by India and Singapore, China on Friday said that such activities should not hurt the interests of other countries. "If such exchanges and cooperation are for the benefit of regional peace and security, then we have no opposition," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a media briefingin Beijing. "We have a very open attitude to normal exchanges between various countries," she said when asked for China's reaction to the joint naval exercise of India and Singapore. China claims almost all of the resource-rich South China Sea, including islands more than 800 miles from the Chinese mainland, despite objections from neighbours such as the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam. "We just hope that when the relevant countries conduct such exchanges and cooperation, they should bear in mind such activities should not hurt the interests of other countries or have any negative impact to regional peace and stability," Hua said outlining Beijing's sensitivities. Navies of India and Singapore on Thursday began a seven- day-long mega maritime exercise in the SCS which has been witnessing a growing Chinese assertiveness. Four warships of the Indian Navy and long range anti- submarine warfare aircraft P-8l are participating in the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise, which is aimed at increasing interoperability between the two navies. Held since 1994, it is the 24th edition of the annual exercise between the two countries. Beijing expresses strong opposition whenever US naval ships pass through the area, even though it maintains there is no threat to freedom of navigation. India along with the US and many other countries have been vocal about freedom of navigation in the area as foreign trade worth over a trillion dollar move through the SCS. China in the past has opposed India taking part in the oil exploration in the SCS at the invitation of Vietnam. India has earlier taken part in the Malabar naval exercises with Japan and the US in the East China Sea. In the recent months, tension over the SCS abated after new Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte scaled down Manila's emphasis on its SCS claims even after it won an international tribunal award last year. The tribunal struck down China's expansive claims over the area based on historical hold. China had rejected the verdict. After his election, Duterte opted for peace with China in favour of Chinese investments. China and ASEAN members yesterday approved the framework of the SCS Code of Conduct, a crucial step towards peacefully resolving territorial disputes in the area. The 14th Senior Officials Meeting on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, held on Thursday in Guizhou province's Guiyang city, reviewed and approved the COC framework draft. A Chinese foreign ministry press release said on Thursday that all the parties have agreed to peacefully resolve the SCS disputes through negotiations and dialogue. They also agreed to work through their differences under the framework of regional regulations. PTI Is it too early for India to celebrate ICJ verdict on Jadhav? Sarabjits lawyer thinks so International oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer Stockholm, May 19: There is a message from Pakistani lawyer, Awais Sheikh, who risked everything to defend and save Indian national Sarabjit Singh, to India. Sheikh said India should not celebrate after winning the round one of Kulbhushan Jadhav (another Indian citizen) case against neighbouring Pakistan. The International Court of Justice stayed Jadhav's death penalty on Thursday, thus favouring India's stand on the matter. [Also Read: Hurt with the loss in Jadhav case, Pakistan mulls 'brand new' legal team] Sheikh, who is currently staying in Sweden as he was tortured and threatened in Pakistan for defending Singh, told News18 that he was closely watching the Jadhav case. "India has won half the battle. There is no doubt that it is a legal, moral, psychological and diplomatic gain, but it will be immature to celebrate the order at this stage. It will be premature for India to celebrate. The task before India is to get Kulbhushan back home safe and secure. To achieve this, India needs to tread carefully and exhaust all possible means intelligently," added Sheikh. "Although both were accused of spying and sentenced to death, Sarabjit's case was different. He was tried and convicted by a civil court, whereas Kulbhushan Jadhav has been convicted by a military court. Sarabjit was tortured mercilessly. My book--Sarabjit Singh: A Case of Mistaken Identity--has the story. In the case of Kulbhushan Jadhav, it has not been ascertained yet whether he was subjected to torture," Sheikh observed. Like Singh, Jadhav too has been convicted of spying and terrorism by Pakistani courts. While a military court in Pakistan gave death sentence to Jadhav in April this year, the Supreme Court in Pakistan sentenced Singh to death in 1991. Singh's death penalty was repeatedly postponed by the Pakistani authorities. He died in 2013, after jail inmates brutally attacked him. In Jadhav's case, the Centre decided to approach the ICJ to bring back the former naval officer to India safe after Pakistan repeatedly denied consular access to him. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 19, 2017, 13:12 [IST] Will try for full implementation of ICJ order: India after Pak says no 2nd consular access to Jadhav More frequent recourse to ICJ needs to be taken by Security Council Kulbhushan Jadhav case: Appropriate remedies due in the case, says ICJ Russia-Ukraine war: ICJ to deliver verdict regarding accusations of genocide in Ukraine Pak moves ICJ to re-hear Kulbhushan Jadhav case International oi-Vikas By Vikas Pakistan has moved the International Court of Justice to re-hear the Kulbhushan Jadhav case in which it had stayed the death sentence of the former Indian naval officer pronounced by a Pakistan military court. Irked by International Court of Justice's ruling in the case, Pakistan on Thursday lashed out at India for presenting former navy officer's case from a humanitarian angle. Pakistan Foreign Ministry also accused New Delhi of trying to defend a person responsible for deaths of scores of innocent Pakistanis. The International Court of Justice on Thursday directed Pakistan not to hang Kulbhushan Jadhav until it rules on the merits of the case. The ICJ held that it would give a ruling on the merits of the case and until such time the former naval officer accused by Pakistan of being a spy cannot be hanged. The final order of the ICJ is expected in August. The court held that the circumstances of Jadhav's arrest remains disputed. [Round 1 won: How India plans to win round 2 of the Kulbhushan Jadhav case] Pakistan shall take all measures at its disposal to ensure that no execution takes place until the disposal of the petition, the ICJ held. The ICJ held that consular access is a right and Pakistan should have accorded the same to India. Pakistan had contended that this would not be applicable in cases of espionage and terrorism. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 19, 2017, 19:55 [IST] Imran Khan discharged from hospital, to resume long march from same point where he was shot Why Kulbhushan Jadhav's fate still lies in the hands of the Pakistan Generals International oi-Vicky By Vicky India scored a major victory at the International Court of Justice after the execution of Kulbhushan Jadhav was stayed. While India has every reason to be happy about it, the fact is will the Generals of Pakistan abide by the same? After all the Jadhav sentencing was set up by the Generals of Pakistan to derail Prime Minister Nawaz Sharrif's efforts to seek out peace with India. The Generals would have to take a tough call. Going ahead with the execution despite the ICJ's verdict would risk international opprobrium. Not going ahead with the verdict would invite the wrath of the hardline 'Mullah's' in their own land. It would be a choice between the devil and deep sea, but the fact of the matter is that the fate of Jadhav still lies in the hands of the Pakistan military. In 2008 the Supreme Court of the United States held that The Hague's orders could not prevail over domestic law, clearing the way for the execution of some of the prisoners on whose behalf the Avena case had been fought. The Generals could quote this order before the Pakistan Supreme Court. It is likely that the Pakistan Supreme Court may cite the US order and allow the execution. The question is will Pakistan wait for the final order of the ICJ? Both sides will have a lot to argue before the ICJ which is expected to give out its final verdict in the month of August. The verdict however does pose a big test for the Pakistan generals. Will they push forward with the execution and risk the anger of their own community. Only time will tell. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, May 19, 2017, 5:57 [IST] 2008-2022 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. Thailands Centara Hotels & Resorts continues to expand internationally with todays opening of a four-star, 152-room hotel in Muscat, its fifth hotel outside Thailand and first of three planned for the Middle East. The Centara Muscat Hotel is ideally located in the Omani capitals bustling Ghala Heights business district, close to the convention center, Royal Opera House, and the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. It is conveniently midway between the airport and historical district, about 15 minutes from each. The hotel is a modern new building featuring three restaurants, a spa, and a rooftop pool and terrace with views out over the Gulf of Oman. Its premium lounge, banquet and meeting facilities, complimentary Wi-Fi, plus proximity to Muscats shopping and historical sites, are designed to serve both business and leisure travelers. Centara is known for combining appealing Thai qualities, such as graceful service and pampering spa treatments, with expertly-prepared Thai and international cuisine. The hotel features Akdeniz - an authentic Turkish restaurant, features fine coffees, Middle Eastern snacks and mezzes, plus meats and fresh fish seared on a traditional Ocakbasi grill. Tiptara restaurant serves Thai dishes and international choices, while The Roof offers a relaxed venue for barbeques and private events. Centaras signature SPA Cenvaree offers a variety of therapies and treatments, plus Thai herbal spa products. The rooftop pool is complemented by a childrens pool and fitness centre. Generously appointed rooms and suites feature large windows that frame the streets of the city. Premium Club rooms come with extra benefits, including access to the top-floor lounge where three meals are served daily. Club Suites offer comfortable living rooms, ideal for couples, small families or business travelers who want extra space to relax. The hotels 237-square-metre banquet hall is large enough to accommodate cocktail receptions of 280 people. Three smaller venues include a boardroom which can be adjusted to fit a range of uses. Another conference room, along with the pleasant rooftop terrace, can accommodate up to 80 people ideal for an evening event, with the Gulf of Oman as a glittering backdrop. Centara is planning additional openings in Doha, Qatar later this year and Deira Island off of Dubai in the UAE in 2020. NPR 23 Oct 2022 Haiti is a country on its knees, with food and fuel shortages. Cholera is also spreading. We get a glimpse of daily life from the.. Rumble 10 Nov 2022 Join the leading researchers on https://GroupDiscover.com to find the best videos from across the free speech internet platforms.. Eurasia Review 10 Nov 2022 Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine has given Circassians greater opportunities than ever before to overcome the divisions of.. TMZ.com 09 Oct 2022 Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo look like they've put his sexting scandal in their rearview, at least it looks that way on the.. NORFOLK, Va. (AP) A member of the Navys elite SEAL Team 6 has been convicted of indecent conduct in a case where he was.. Seattle Times 10 Feb 2020 Rumble 19 Nov 2019 A Swedish prosecutor said on Tuesday she would not proceed with an investigation into an allegation of rape against WikiLeaks.. Rumble 14 Aug 2022 After the Russian collusion hoax and dozens of other lies told about Donald Trump from our so-called intel agencies what are we to.. Rumble 01 Oct 2022 Trump slams the radical left: "I think they'd like to see me in prison ... You know why? Because they're.. London last year welcomed a record number of overseas visitors. According to new figures released today by the Office for National Statistics International Passenger Survey (IPS) overseas tourists made 19.1 million visits to the city in 2016, an increase of 2.6 per cent compared to 2015. Visitors spent 11.9 billion on hotels, restaurants and attractions, which was a slight decrease of 0.4 per cent compared to 2015. The last three months of the year were especially strong as overseas tourists took of advantage of London offering better value for money than ever before. A record five million visitors came during the last quarter of 2016, up 8 per cent when compared to the same period in 2015. During this period spend increased by 3.7 per cent compared to the same period in 2015. According to the IPS, London is now welcoming 25 per cent more overseas visits, when compared to five years ago. While the United Kingdom welcomed a total of 37.6million visits, up 4.1 per cent compared to 2015. And separate data from Forward Keys, a company that records overseas travel agent bookings to London, suggests that in the first six months of 2017 there has been a 10% increase in overseas travelers coming to London. Londons packed calendar of events attracted millions of people to the city. Events such as Great Fire 350, saw tourists lining the River Thames to see the burning of a replica City of London from 1666 to commemorate the anniversary of the Great Fire of London. Also popular among visitors were blockbuster exhibitions such as David Hockney at the Royal Academy, and the highly anticipated EXHIBTIONISM at the Saatchi Gallery; the first retrospective of the Rolling Stones life and career, giving fans the opportunity to immerse themselves in the lives of their idols. Joanna Mackle, Deputy Director of the British Museum, said: The British Museum is delighted to be the most visited attraction in the UK for the 10th year running. The British Museum is a place that visitors can explore for free, discovering objects from the dawn of human history 2 million years ago up to the present day. We welcome visitors from across the world and last year around three quarters of our visitors from came from outside the UK. Through important collaborations with national and international partners, as well as through our digital channels, the British Museums collection and activities are reaching an ever-growing global audience. Bailey McCann, Opalesque New York: Hedge fund manager Leon Cooperman of Omega Advisors has settled his insider trading case with the SEC for $4.9 million, according to several reports. Cooperman's settlement is notable in several key areas - the sub-$5 million settlement is relatively small compared to recent fees extracted by the regulator for questionable transactions. Cooperman will also be allowed to continue in the financial services industry without restrictions and did not have to admit wrongdoing. According to a New York Times report, Omega Advisors will retain a trading monitor until 2022 to ensure that all transactions are above board. The terms of the settlement were filed in Federal District Court in Philadelphia on Thursday. Regulators initially brought the enforcement action against Cooperman alleging that he had used his position as one of the largest shareholders in Atlas Pipeline Partners to gain confidential information and trade on it before the market was aware. The charges alleged that Omega Advisors netted approximately $4 million in profits from the trades. Cooperman fought back hard against the charges and indicated that he was prepared to go to court if necessary in order to defend his business and his record. Cooperman has yet to comment publicly on the settlement. ...................... To view our full article Click here Opalesque Industry Update - Conquest Capital LLP and ML Capital announced the launch of the Conquest STAR UCITS Fund, a systematic absolute return trading strategy hosted on the MontLake UCITS Platform. MontLake is a leading independent platform for UCITS funds that provides investors with access to a range of liquid, transparent and regulated investment products domiciled in Dublin. Conquest STAR is an all-weather, pure alpha, short-term systematic trading strategy. The program has been designed to capture independent alpha from short-term trading opportunities regardless of the risk environment in both "risk-seeking" and "risk-averse" regimes. The fund uses 4 sub-strategies employing dozens of models to dynamically allocate risk based on the Conquest Risk Aversion Index. This all-weather, absolute return short-term trading strategy has been carefully constructed and perfected by Conquest over the past 7 years, combining their best performing systems among 300+ proprietary models they have developed since 1999. Trading the world's largest and most liquid markets including Equity Indices, Fixed Income & G10 Currencies, as well as, across a diversified set of geographies and timeframes. This has enabled the STAR strategy to generate highly attractive risk-adjusted returns with record low correlation to Hedge Funds, CTAs and Traditional asset classes since inception. Conquest's forward thinking research forms the foundation for a disciplined philosophy based on well-researched relationships, rather than the result of data mining, thus avoiding many of the classic pitfalls of systematic investing. Speaking with Marc Malek, Founder/Portfolio Manager of Conquest Capital said: "Conquest STAR is a strategy that is the culmination of our best ideas.17 years of research on identifying sources of alpha versus beta and understanding the risk environment have enabled us to design a strategy that is a pure alpha, all-weather offering." Cyril Delamare, CEO of ML Capital commented: "We are excited that the team at Conquest have selected the MontLake Platform to launch their first systematic absolute return UCITS regulated fund. We believe that the fund's low correlation to traditional, hedge fund and CTA portfolios will be of particular interest to investors in today's market. This fund is a welcomed addition to the MontLake UCITS Universe and we are excited to see its future growth." Eyal Perez, Founder of Genesis Advisors stated: "I am very honoured about the opportunity to work with Conquest, given the firm's tremendous reputation and thought leadership within the systematic macro space. Marc and his team have been at the forefront of CTA research since 1999 and Conquest STAR's exceptional track record over the past 7 years is a testament to their deep talent and experience. The UCITS vehicle is now offering the Hedge Fund Community access to their unique expertise in an investor friendly format." Satellite Phone 2017 Global Key Players Inmarsat, Iridium, Thuraya, Globalstar, TerreStar Market Analysis and Forecast to 2022 Satellite Phone https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/1290629-global-satellite-phone-market-research-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/1290629-global-satellite-phone-market-research-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=1290629 www.wiseguyreports.com Satellite PhoneReport 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 PlayersInmarsatIridiumThurayaGlobalstarTerreStarClick 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 Satellite Phone 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 intoGeosynchronous Satellite PhonesLow-Earth Orbit Satellite PhonesOn 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 Satellite Phone for each application, includingAerospace & DefenseMaritimeEnergyGovernmentOthersSome Major Points from Table of content:Global Satellite Phone Market Research Report 20171 Satellite Phone Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Satellite Phone1.2 Satellite Phone Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Satellite Phone Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category) (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Satellite Phone Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Geosynchronous Satellite Phones1.2.4 Low-Earth Orbit Satellite Phones1.3 Global Satellite Phone Segment by Application1.3.1 Satellite Phone Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Aerospace & Defense1.3.3 Maritime1.3.4 Energy1.3.5 Government1.3.6 Others1.4 Global Satellite Phone Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global Satellite Phone 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 Satellite Phone (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Satellite Phone Revenue Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Satellite Phone Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2012-2022)For Detailed Reading Please visit @7 Global Satellite Phone Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 Inmarsat7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 Satellite Phone Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 Inmarsat Satellite Phone Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Iridium7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 Satellite Phone Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 Iridium Satellite Phone Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Thuraya7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 Satellite Phone Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 Thuraya Satellite Phone Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.4 Globalstar7.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.4.2 Satellite Phone Product Category, Application and Specification7.4.2.1 Product A7.4.2.2 Product B7.4.3 Globalstar Satellite Phone Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.5 TerreStar7.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.5.2 Satellite Phone Product Category, Application and Specification7.5.2.1 Product A7.5.2.2 Product B7.5.3 TerreStar Satellite Phone Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview...ContinuedBuy now @Contact Us:NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)About UsWise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available.WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone :+91 841 198 5042Mail :info@wiseguyreports.com SD-WAN Router 2017 Global Key Players Cisco Meraki, VeloCloud, Riverbed, CloudGenix, Talari, Viptela Market Analysis and Forecast to 2022 SD-WAN Router https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/1290632-global-sd-wan-router-market-research-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/1290632-global-sd-wan-router-market-research-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=1290632 www.wiseguyreports.com SD-WAN RouterReport 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 PlayersCisco MerakiVeloCloudRiverbedCloudGenixTalariViptelaPeplinkViptelaCloudGenixClick 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 SD-WAN Router 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 intoType IType IIOn 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 SD-WAN Router for each application, includingResidentialCommercialSome Major Points from Table of content:Global SD-WAN Router Market Research Report 20171 SD-WAN Router Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of SD-WAN Router1.2 SD-WAN Router Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global SD-WAN Router Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category) (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global SD-WAN Router Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Type I1.2.4 Type II1.3 Global SD-WAN Router Segment by Application1.3.1 SD-WAN Router Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Residential1.3.3 Commercial1.4 Global SD-WAN Router Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global SD-WAN Router 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 SD-WAN Router (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global SD-WAN Router Revenue Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global SD-WAN Router Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2012-2022)For Detailed Reading Please visit @7 Global SD-WAN Router Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 Cisco Meraki7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 SD-WAN Router Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 Cisco Meraki SD-WAN Router Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 VeloCloud7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 SD-WAN Router Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 VeloCloud SD-WAN Router Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Riverbed7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 SD-WAN Router Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 Riverbed SD-WAN Router Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and 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(2012-2017)7.6.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.7 Peplink7.7.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.7.2 SD-WAN Router Product Category, Application and Specification7.7.2.1 Product A7.7.2.2 Product B7.7.3 Peplink SD-WAN Router Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.7.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.8 Viptela7.8.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.8.2 SD-WAN Router Product Category, Application and Specification7.8.2.1 Product A7.8.2.2 Product B7.8.3 Viptela SD-WAN Router Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.8.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.9 CloudGenix7.9.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.9.2 SD-WAN Router Product Category, Application and Specification7.9.2.1 Product A7.9.2.2 Product B7.9.3 CloudGenix SD-WAN Router Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.9.4 Main Business/Business Overview...ContinuedBuy now @Contact Us:NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)About UsWise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available.WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone :+91 841 198 5042Mail :info@wiseguyreports.com Chainless Bike 2017 Global Key Players TDJDC, Dynamic Bicycles, Brikbikes, Beixo Market Analysis and Forecast to 2022 Chainless Bike https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/1290323-global-chainless-bike-market-professional-survey-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/1290632-global-sd-wan-router-market-research-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=1290632 www.wiseguyreports.com Chainless BikeReport 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 PlayersTDJDCDynamic BicyclesBrikbikesBeixoClick here for sample report @By types, the market can be split intoMountain BikeRoad BikeCommuter BikeTouring BikeOtherBy Application, the market can be split intoPersonalEnterpriseGovernmentBy Regions, this report covers (we can add the regions/countries as you want)North AmericaChinaEuropeSoutheast AsiaJapanIndiaSome Major Points from Table of content:Global Chainless Bike Market Professional Survey Report 20171 Industry Overview of Chainless Bike1.1 Definition and Specifications of Chainless Bike1.1.1 Definition of Chainless Bike1.1.2 Specifications of Chainless Bike1.2 Classification of Chainless Bike1.2.1 Mountain Bike1.2.2 Road Bike1.2.3 Commuter Bike1.2.4 Touring Bike1.2.5 Other1.3 Applications of Chainless Bike1.3.1 Personal1.3.2 Enterprise1.3.3 Government1.4 Market Segment by Regions1.4.1 North America1.4.2 China1.4.3 Europe1.4.4 Southeast Asia1.4.5 Japan1.4.6 IndiaFor Detailed Reading Please visit @8 Major Manufacturers Analysis of Chainless Bike8.1 TDJDC8.1.1 Company Profile8.1.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.1.2.1 Product A8.1.2.2 Product B8.1.3 TDJDC 2016 Chainless Bike Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.1.4 TDJDC 2016 Chainless Bike Business Region Distribution Analysis8.2 Dynamic Bicycles8.2.1 Company Profile8.2.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.2.2.1 Product A8.2.2.2 Product B8.2.3 Dynamic Bicycles 2016 Chainless Bike Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.2.4 Dynamic Bicycles 2016 Chainless Bike Business Region Distribution Analysis8.3 Brikbikes8.3.1 Company Profile8.3.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.3.2.1 Product A8.3.2.2 Product B8.3.3 Brikbikes 2016 Chainless Bike Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.3.4 Brikbikes 2016 Chainless Bike Business Region Distribution Analysis8.4 Beixo8.4.1 Company Profile8.4.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.4.2.1 Product A8.4.2.2 Product B8.4.3 Beixo 2016 Chainless Bike Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.4.4 Beixo 2016 Chainless Bike Business Region Distribution Analysis...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 Concrete Floor Coatings 2017 Global Key Players Royal DSM, BASF, Behr, DAW, Nippon Paint, Valspar Market Analysis and Forecast to 2022 Concrete Floor Coatings Market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/869581-global-concrete-floor-coatings-market-research-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/869581-global-concrete-floor-coatings-market-research-report-2017 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=869581 https://www.linkedin.com/company/wise-guy-research-consultants-pvt-ltd-?trk=biz-companies-cym Concrete Floor Coatings Market 2017Report Details:Wiseguyreports.Com Adds Concrete Floor Coatings Market Market Demand, Growth, Opportunities, Manufacturers, Analysis of Top Key Players and Forecast to 2022 To Its Research Database.This report studies Concrete Floor Coatings in Global market, especially in North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan and India, with production, revenue, consumption, import and export in these regions, from 2012 to 2016, and forecast to 2022.Global Concrete Floor Coatings market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingRoyal DSM N.VBASFBehrDAWNippon PaintValsparPPG IndustriesRPM InternationalSherwin-WilliamRequest for Sample report @Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Concrete Floor Coatings 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 intoEpoxyPolyasparticsAcrylicPolyurethaneOn 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 Concrete Floor Coatings for each application, includingOutdoorIndoorComplete Report @Key Points in Table of Content:Global Concrete Floor Coatings Market Research Report 20171 Concrete Floor Coatings Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Concrete Floor Coatings1.2 Concrete Floor Coatings Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Concrete Floor Coatings Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category) (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Concrete Floor Coatings Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Epoxy1.2.4 Polyaspartics1.2.5 Acrylic1.2.6 Polyurethane1.3 Global Concrete Floor Coatings Segment by Application1.3.1 Concrete Floor Coatings Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Outdoor1.3.3 Indoor1.4 Global Concrete Floor Coatings Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global Concrete Floor Coatings 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 Concrete Floor Coatings (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Concrete Floor Coatings Revenue Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Concrete Floor Coatings Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2012-2022).7 Global Concrete Floor Coatings Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 Royal DSM N.V7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 Concrete Floor Coatings Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 Royal DSM N.V Concrete Floor Coatings Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 BASF7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 Concrete Floor Coatings Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 BASF Concrete Floor Coatings Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Behr7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 Concrete Floor Coatings Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 Behr Concrete Floor Coatings Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.4 DAW7.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.4.2 Concrete Floor Coatings Product Category, Application and Specification7.4.2.1 Product A7.4.2.2 Product B7.4.3 DAW Concrete Floor Coatings Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.5 Nippon Paint7.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.5.2 Concrete Floor Coatings Product Category, Application and Specification7.5.2.1 Product A7.5.2.2 Product B7.5.3 Nippon Paint Concrete Floor Coatings Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.6 Valspar7.6.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.6.2 Concrete Floor Coatings Product Category, Application and Specification7.6.2.1 Product A7.6.2.2 Product B7.6.3 Valspar Concrete Floor Coatings Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.6.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.7 PPG Industries7.7.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.7.2 Concrete Floor Coatings Product Category, Application and Specification7.7.2.1 Product A7.7.2.2 Product B7.7.3 PPG Industries Concrete Floor Coatings Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.7.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.8 RPM International7.8.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.8.2 Concrete Floor Coatings Product Category, Application and Specification7.8.2.1 Product A7.8.2.2 Product B7.8.3 RPM International Concrete Floor Coatings Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.8.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.9 Sherwin-William7.9.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.9.2 Concrete Floor Coatings Product Category, Application and Specification7.9.2.1 Product A7.9.2.2 Product B7.9.3 Sherwin-William Concrete Floor Coatings Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.9.4 Main Business/Business OverviewContinueBuy 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 Thin and Ultra-thin Films Global Market Industry Analysis Research Report and Forecast- 2024 MRRSE http://www.mrrse.com/sample/2459 http://www.mrrse.com/sample/2459 http://www.mrrse.com/thin-ultra-thin-films-market http://www.mrrse.com/ https://plus.google.com/u/0/109558601025749677847/posts https://www.linkedin.com/company/mrrse https://twitter.com/MRRSEmrrse Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) announces the addition of a new report titled Thin and Ultra-thin Films Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024. Thin and ultra-thin films are layers of various materials deposited over a substrate to modify its properties or add extra environmental protection.Request For Sample Report@Global Thin and Ultra-thin Films Market: OverviewThese films ranges in thickness from micrometer to fractions of a nanometer. Various process of generation of thin films are utilized by various end users such as printing, physical vapor deposition of chemical vapor deposition.A comprehensive analysis of the market dynamics that is inclusive of market drivers, restraints and opportunities is included in the purview of the report. Market dynamics are the factors which impact the market growth, thereby helping to understand the ongoing trends of the global thin and ultra-thin films market. Therefore, the report provides the forecast of the global market for the period from 2016 to 2024, along with offering an inclusive study of the thin and ultra-thin films market.Global Thin and Ultra-thin Films Market: Drivers and TrendsThe major drivers driving the global thin and ultra-thin films market includes ongoing miniaturization in semiconductor and electronics industry, developments in nanotechnology and rising demand for affordable renewable energy sources. Printed electronics over thin and ultra-thin films is aiding the growth of miniaturization of semiconductors and electronics industry. Additionally with the expansion of nanotechnology in various areas of materials science the demand of thin and ultra-thin films market is expected to grow with the rising demand from food packaging, medical and semiconductor industry. Thus the above mentioned reason of downsizing a vehicles engine is going to drive the market for thin and ultra-thin films market during the forecast period from 2016 2024.Make an Enquiry@Several environmental organizations and regulatory bodies such as EPA, Greenpeace and Department of Energy Resources have implemented stringent regulations to minimize carbon footprints which in turn have fuelled the demand for photovoltaic cells as a renewable energy source over the past few years.Global Thin and Ultra-thin Films Market: Segmentation AssessmentThin and ultra-thin films find its application in a number of end users such as thin film electronics, tin film batteries, thin film photovoltaic cells (PV) and others. The other segment includes optoelectronics, defense and military segments. Thin film electronics holds the leading market share among the other end users. Based on the technology type the thin and ultra-thin films market is segmented into printing and deposition process. The deposition process is further bifurcated into physical vapor deposition (PVD) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Printing technology held the prime market share in 2015, with the increasing popularity of printed electronics due to its lower manufacturing cost and added flexibility of the electronics is basically going to drive the printing technology of thin and ultra-films market during the forecast period from 2016 2024. Additionally the, Internet of Things (IoT) concept of developing everyday with internet connectivity is going to push the thin film electronics market towards its heights.Key Players Mentioned in the Report are:The competitive profiling of the key players in the global thin and ultra-thin films market across four broad geographic regions is included in the study. These include different business strategies adopted by the leading players and their recent developments as in the field of thin and ultra-thin films.Some of the major players in the global thin and ultra-thin films market China National Building Material Company Ltd. (China), Umicore Group (Belgium), Ascent Solar Technologies (U.S.), American Elements (U.S.), Kaneka Corporation (Japan), Moser Baer India Pvt. Ltd. (India), Corning Corporation (U.S), Hanergy Thin Film Power Group (Hong Kong) and E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (U.S).Browse Full Report With TOC@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.comWebsite:Google+:Linked in:Twitter: Global Tea Tree Oil Market 2017 - G.R. DAVIS, T.G. Cassegrain & Co. Pty Ltd, Naturally Australian Tea Tree Oil Tea Tree Oil http://bit.ly/2qxSXDE http://bit.ly/2rw4vEx Tea Tree Oil Market Research ReportA market study based on the " Tea Tree Oil Market " across the globe, recently added to the repository of Market Research, is titled Global Tea Tree Oil Market 2017. 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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, USATea Tree Oil Global Soluble Fertilizer Market 2017 - Arab Potash Company, Omex, Everris, Bunge, PotashCorp, UralChem(RU) Soluble Fertilizer http://bit.ly/2qxVVYW http://bit.ly/2rvYOaI Soluble Fertilizer Market Research ReportA market study based on the " Soluble Fertilizer Market " across the globe, recently added to the repository of Market Research, is titled Global Soluble Fertilizer Market 2017. 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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 Nut Ingredient Market 2017 - Bredabest, Barry Callebaut Schweiz, Intersnack, Borges Nut Ingredient http://bit.ly/2rwd6qO http://bit.ly/2rwbXj8 Nut Ingredient Market Research ReportA market study based on the " Nut Ingredient Market " across the globe, recently added to the repository of Market Research, is titled Global Nut Ingredient Market 2017. 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Singapore to Convene Luminary Global Energy Leaders to Support Low Carbon Future www.wes-ies.org www.wes-ies.org World Engineers Summit Applied Energy Symposium & Forum 2017 to drive sharing and co-creation of engineering innovations for sustainable urban developmentThe Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES) announced today that the World Engineers Summit Applied Energy Symposium & Forum: Low Carbon Cities & Urban Energy Joint Conference (WES-CUE) 2017 will take place from 18 to 21 July at the Suntec Convention & Exhibition Centre, Singapore. The conference will be a focal point for addressing pressing global issues arising from energy- and carbon- intensive urban development, with a special focus on harnessing engineering innovations to create a sustainable, low carbon future.Rapid urbanisation is elevating energy demand to unprecedented levels. According to the World Bank, cities consume about two-thirds of the worlds energy and account for more than 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions. WES-CUE 2017 will bring together eminent experts, renowned researchers, practitioners and policy makers to share latest research findings and engineering advancements critical for moving cities towards highly energy-efficient and sustainable practices.For the first time, the biennial WES series is partnering with the internationally-reputed Applied Energy Symposium and Forum series, to deliver profound and diverse technical content to multi-disciplinary engineers and scientists; energy, urban planning and environmental & water specialists; business leaders; academia and policy makers from around the world. The conference technical committee received a record 288 technical paper abstracts from more than 35 countries in response to its call for submissions.WES-CUE 2017 is designed to bring delegates to the forefront of scientific research and facilitate exchange of the latest progress in urban energy systems and policy options. This years summit will play a major role in helping engineers, business leaders, policy makers and other professionals accelerate the transformation of cities into low carbon urban systems and move the world towards a cleaner, more energy-efficient and resilient future, said Prof S.K. Chou, Co-Chair, WES-CUE 2017 Joint Conference.Prof J. Yan, Co-Chair of WES-CUE 2017, added, Singapore offers an excellent meeting point for the chosen theme of the joint conference. Applied Energy Symposium & Forum: Low Carbon Cities & Urban Energy (CUE) is a platform under the Applied Energy network that focuses on urban energy systems covering topics such as energy supply, distribution and end use; smart eco-cities; urban transportation with efficient energy use and low emissions; microgrid and smart homes; BIPV and renewable energy applications; urban waste to energy; nexus of energy-water; and policy options.Summit HighlightsWES-CUE 2017 will address a range of critical issues with focus on six key topics: Transport, Building, Industry, Environment, Power Generation & Energy Storage and Urban Planning.Four sustainability thought leaders will kick off the conference as keynote speakers:Ms Jean Venables, Vice President of the World Federation of Engineering Organisations (WFEO) and Chair of Committee on Engineering & Environment (CEE); Professor Lui Pao Chuen, Advisor, Strategic Planning Division, Ministry Of National Development, Singapore; Dr Liu Thai Ker, Senior Director, RSP Architects Planners & Engineers (Pte) Ltd, Singapore; and Dr Richard E. Rocheleau, Director, Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, University of Hawaii.Other conference highlights include: WES-CUE 2017 Plenary & Opening Ceremony on 19 July, 9am to 12pm, to be graced by Mr. Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister & Coordinating Minister for National Security WES-CUE 2017 Conference Dinner on 20 July, 6.30pm to 9.30pm, to be graced by Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Pre-event Floating Structures Workshop by IStructE on 18 July, 9am to 6pm, to keep delegates abreast of the latest developments, research and challenges and potential future applications in using seaspace for industry, housing and recreational development WiSER Forum on 20 July, 9am to 12.30pm a platform focusing on empowering and promoting women leadership in the engineering industry and professional fields ASHRAE Distinguished Lectures Seminar on 21 July, 9am to 6pm, focusing on the integrated design, installation and operation of Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) system and Building Automation System (BAS) to achieve thermal comfort and indoor air quality in high performing buildings Technical Site Visits on 21 July, 2pm to 5pm, for delegates to personally tour several of Singapores world-class facilities boasting sophisticated sustainability features National Engineers Day 2017 on 19, 20 & 21 July, 9am to 6pm, an annual engineering festival organised by IES to promote engineering to the youngRegistration for WES-CUE 2017 is now open, with early bird rates ending on 15 May 2017. Interested sponsors and exhibitors may also contact the WES 2017 Secretariat at enquiry@wes-ies.org. Find out more ator follow IES on Facebook and LinkedIn for the latest updates.- END -About World Engineers SummitLaunched in 2013, the biennial World Engineers Summit (WES) is a premier platform that focuses on addressing global challenges arising from the impact of climate change by gathering influential thought leaders, policy makers, specialists, business leaders, multi-disciplinary engineers and leading academics from across the globe, to exchange expert opinion and present sound engineering solutions for the future. The WES is organised by The Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES), the heart and voice of engineers in Singapore.For more information, visitNg Rui FenAssociateThe Right Spin Public Relations47B Cantonment RoadSingapore 089749DID: 6325 5927Email: ruifen@therightspin.com.sg Pharmaceutical Packaging Equipment Market expecting to reach approximately USD 8.24 billion by 2022 at a CAGR of 6.8% during the forecast period Market Research Report Store https://www.marketresearchreportstore.com/shop/pharmaceutical-packaging-equipment-market-by-package-blister-strip-bottle-tube-aseptic-packaging-wrapping-labeling-serialization-product-tablet-powder-cream-syrup-aseptic-liquid-aeros http://www.marketresearchreportstore.com/ "Pharmaceutical Packaging Equipment Market expecting to reach approximately USD 8.24 billion by 2022 at a CAGR of 6.8% during the forecast period Market Research Report Store" published in May 2017. It is a professional and in-depth study.SummaryMarket Research Report Store announces a new reportPharmaceutical Packaging Equipment Marketadded to its database.The global pharmaceutical packaging equipment market is projected to reach approximately USD 8.24 billion by 2022 at a CAGR of 6.8% approximately during the forecast period. The factors expected to drive the growth of the market are cost containment in pharmaceutical R&D, increasing funding for biopharmaceutical and generics research, and technological advancements in labeling and serialization solutions.Detailed TOC Of Report @Ask a sample, click here Ann@marketresearchreportstore.comThe pharmaceutical packaging equipment market in this report is segmented on the basis of package, product, and region. Based on package, the market is segmented into primary packaging equipment, secondary packaging equipment, and labeling & serialization equipment. In 2016, the primary packaging equipment segment dominated the market. This can be attributed to the ease of handling and shelving of pharmaceuticals after primary packaging, development of novel forms of drug delivery and biopharmaceuticals stimulating the need for innovation in primary packaging, and the increasing regulatory norms and quality control criteria. On the other hand, the labeling and serialization equipment segment is expected to register the highest growth during the forecast period. The growth of this market is attributed to the rising concerns regarding patient safety and anti-counterfeiting of pharmaceutical products.North America is the largest market for pharmaceutical packaging equipment, followed by Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. High R&D expenditure, well-established pharmaceutical market, and increasing government support are some of the factors contributing to the large share of North America in the market. However, the Asia-Pacific market is expected to register the highest growth during the forecast period owing to the expanding generics market, government initiatives to curtail the rising healthcare expenditure, increasing number of North American and European pharmaceutical drug manufacturers outsourcing their manufacturing processes to Asian manufacturers, and low labor costs.The major players in the pharmaceutical packaging equipment market are IMA S.p.A. (Italy), Bausch + Strobel Maschinenfabrik Ilshofen GmbH+Co. KG (Germany), Robert Bosch GmbH (Germany), Korber AG (Germany), Marchesini Group S.p.A. (Italy), Multivac Group (Germany), Uhlmann Group (Germany), OPTIMA Packaging Group GmbH (Germany), and Romaco Pharmatechnik GmbH (Germany).Research Coverage:The market is segmented based on package, product, and region. Based on the type of packaging, the pharmaceutical packaging equipment market is segmented into three types, namely, primary packaging equipment (aseptic filling and sealing equipment, bottles filling and capping equipment, blister packaging equipment, soft-tube filling and sealing machines, sachet packaging equipment, strip packaging equipment, counting equipment and others), secondary packaging equipment (cartoning equipment, case packing equipment, wrapping equipment, tray packing equipment, and palletizing and de-palletizing equipment), and labeling and serialization equipment (bottles and ampoules labeling & serialization, carton labeling & serialization, and datamatrix labeling & serialization).Based on product, the market is segmented into liquid packaging equipment (aseptic liquids packaging equipment, syrup packaging equipment, eye/ear drop packaging equipment, aerosol packaging equipment, and other liquids packaging equipment), solid packaging equipment (tablet packaging equipment, capsule packaging equipment, powder packaging equipment, granule packaging equipment, and other solid packaging equipment), semi-solids packaging equipment (ointment packaging equipment, cream packaging equipment, suppository packaging equipment, and other semi-solids packaging equipment) and other product packaging equipment. This report also provides market information on North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. These regions are further segmented at a country level.Reasons to Buy the Report Market Penetration: Comprehensive information on product portfolios offered by the top players in the pharmaceutical packaging equipment market. This report analyzes the market by package, product, and region Product Development/Innovation: Detailed insights on the upcoming trends and product launches in the pharmaceutical packaging equipment market Market Development: Comprehensive information about the lucrative emerging markets for pharmaceutical packaging equipment Market Diversification: Exhaustive information about new products, growing regions, recent developments, and investments in the pharmaceutical packaging equipment market Competitive Assessment: In-depth assessment of market shares, growth strategies, products, and technological capabilities of the leading players in the pharmaceutical packaging equipment marketTABLE OF CONTENTS1 INTRODUCTION 201.1 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY 201.2 MARKET DEFINITION 201.3 MARKET SCOPE 211.3.1 MARKETS COVERED 211.3.2 YEARS CONSIDERED FOR THE STUDY 221.4 CURRENCY 221.5 LIMITATIONS 221.6 STAKEHOLDERS 232 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 242.1 RESEARCH APPROACH 242.1.1 SECONDARY RESEARCH 252.1.1.1 Key Data from Secondary Sources 252.1.2 PRIMARY RESEARCH 262.1.2.1 Key Data from Primary Sources 262.1.2.2 Key Industry Insights 272.2 MARKET SIZE ESTIMATION 272.3 MARKET BREAKDOWN AND DATA TRIANGULATION 292.4 MARKET SHARE ESTIMATION 302.5 ASSUMPTIONS FOR THE STUDY 303 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 314 PREMIUM INSIGHTS 354.1 PHARMACEUTICAL PACKAGING EQUIPMENTMARKET OVERVIEW 354.2 ASIA-PACIFIC: PHARMACEUTICAL PACKAGING EQUIPMENT MARKET, BY TYPE 364.3 GEOGRAPHIC SNAPSHOT: PHARMACEUTICAL PACKAGING EQUIPMENT MARKET 374.4 PHARMACEUTICAL PACKAGING EQUIPMENT MARKET: DEVELOPING VS. DEVELOPED MARKETS 385 MARKET OVERVIEW 395.2.1 MARKET DRIVERS 415.2.1.1 High growth in the generic and biopharmaceutical markets 415.2.1.2 Growing need for novel and flexible packaging equipment 425.2.1.3 Increase in offshore pharmaceutical manufacturing 435.2.1.4 Growing contract manufacturing of pharmaceutical products 435.2.1.5 Need for achieving regulatory compliance and validation driving the replacement of older equipment 445.2.2 KEY MARKET RESTRAINTS 455.2.2.1 Growing preference for refurbished equipment 455.2.3 KEY MARKET OPPORTUNITIES 455.2.3.1 Growth of pharmaceutical manufacturing in emerging economies 455.2.3.2 Rising demand for automated packaging 46Contact: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 Global Diesel Gensets Market Type, Product, Regions, Application and Forecast to 2022 ReportsWeb http://www.reportsweb.com/buy&RW0001786139/buy/3500 http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001786139/discount http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001786139/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/global-diesel-gensets-market-professional-survey-report-2017 ReportsWeb.com has announced the addition of the Global Diesel Gensets Market Professional Survey Report 2017 The report focuses on global major leading players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specification.This report studies Diesel Gensets in Global market, especially in North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan and India, with production, revenue, consumption, import and export in these regions, from 2012 to 2016, and forecast to 2022. This report focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, covering, Cummins Inc., Caterpillar Inc., Generac Holdings Inc., Aggreko PLC, Atlas Copco AB, Wartsila Corporation, Wacker Neuson SE, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., Briggs & Stratton, APR Energy Plc, Kirloskar Oil Engines Ltd., Dresser Rand Group, Inc., Pramac S.p.A., Himoinsa S.L., Kohler Company Inc., F.G. Wilson Inc., Broadcrown Ltd., Multiquip Inc., Wuxi Kipor Power Co., Ltd. And Sudhir Power Ltd..Purchase This Report -And Get,Discount on Report Purchase -By types, the market can be split into Low Power (750 KVA). By Application, the market can be split into esidential, Commercial and Industrial. By Regions, this report covers (we can add the regions/countries as you want), North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan and India.Get free sample copy of report atTable of Content1 Industry Overview of Diesel Gensets2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Diesel Gensets3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Diesel Gensets4 Global Diesel Gensets Overall Market Overview5 Diesel Gensets Regional Market Analysis6 Global 2012-2017E Diesel Gensets Segment Market Analysis (by Type)6.1 Global 2012-2017E Diesel Gensets Sales by Type6.2 Different Types of Diesel Gensets Product Interview Price Analysis6.3 Different Types of Diesel Gensets Product Driving Factors Analysis6.3.1 Low Power (750 KVA) of Diesel Gensets Growth Driving Factor Analysis7 Global 2012-2017E Diesel Gensets Segment Market Analysis (by Application)7.1 Global 2012-2017E Diesel Gensets Consumption by Application7.2 Different Application of Diesel Gensets Product Interview Price Analysis7.3 Different Application of Diesel Gensets Product Driving Factors Analysis7.3.1 Residential of Diesel Gensets Growth Driving Factor Analysis7.3.2 Commercial of Diesel Gensets Growth Driving Factor Analysis7.3.3 Industrial of Diesel Gensets Growth Driving Factor Analysis8 Major Manufacturers Analysis of Diesel Gensets8.1 Cummins Inc.8.1.1 Company Profile8.1.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.1.2.1 Product A8.1.2.2 Product B8.1.3 Cummins Inc. 2016 Diesel Gensets Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.1.4 Cummins Inc. 2016 Diesel Gensets Business Region Distribution Analysis8.2 Caterpillar Inc.8.2.1 Company Profile8.2.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.2.2.1 Product A8.2.2.2 Product B8.2.3 Caterpillar Inc. 2016 Diesel Gensets Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.2.4 Caterpillar Inc. 2016 Diesel Gensets Business Region Distribution Analysis8.3 Generac Holdings Inc.8.3.1 Company Profile8.3.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.3.2.1 Product A8.3.2.2 Product B8.3.3 Generac Holdings Inc. 2016 Diesel Gensets Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.3.4 Generac Holdings Inc. 2016 Diesel Gensets Business Region Distribution Analysis8.4 Aggreko PLC8.4.1 Company Profile8.4.2 Product Picture and Specifications8.4.2.1 Product A8.4.2.2 Product B8.4.3 Aggreko PLC 2016 Diesel Gensets Sales, Ex-factory Price, Revenue, Gross Margin Analysis8.4.4 Aggreko PLC 2016 Diesel Gensets Business Region Distribution Analysis9 Development Trend of Analysis of Diesel Gensets Market10 Diesel Gensets Marketing Type Analysis11 Consumers Analysis of Diesel GensetsGet more information about Diesel Gensets Market atContact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Vinyl Tile Industry Key Manufacturer, Analysis and 2022 Forecasts for United States, Europe, Japan and China Markets ReportsWeb http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001732615/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/vinyl-tile-industry-global-and-chinese-market-research-report-2017 http://www.reportsweb.com/buy&RW0001732615/buy/3000 http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001732615/discount Reportsweb.com adds "Vinyl Tile Industry Global and Chinese Market Research Report 2017" to its Database. The report provide basic overview of the industry, competitive landscape analysis, market development trends and currant market status.The 'Global and Chinese Vinyl Tile Industry, 2012-2022 Market Research Report' is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the global Vinyl Tile industry with a focus on the Chinese market. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Vinyl Tile 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.Get for free sample copy atIn 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 Vinyl Tile 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 Vinyl Tile 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 Vinyl Tile Industry before evaluating its feasibility. Overall, the report provides an in-depth insight of 2012-2022 global and Chinese Vinyl Tile industry covering all important parameters.Get more information about Vinyl Tile Market atTable of ContentChapter One Introduction of Vinyl Tile Industry1.1 Brief Introduction of Vinyl Tile1.2 Development of Vinyl Tile Industry1.3 Status of Vinyl Tile IndustryChapter Two Manufacturing Technology of Vinyl Tile2.1 Development of Vinyl Tile Manufacturing Technology2.2 Analysis of Vinyl Tile Manufacturing Technology2.3 Trends of Vinyl Tile Manufacturing TechnologyChapter Three Analysis of Global Key ManufacturersChapter Four 2012-2017 Global and Chinese Market of Vinyl Tile4.1 2012-2017 Global Capacity, Production and Production Value of Vinyl Tile Industry4.2 2012-2017 Global Cost and Profit of Vinyl Tile Industry4.3 Market Comparison of Global and Chinese Vinyl Tile Industry4.4 2012-2017 Global and Chinese Supply and Consumption of Vinyl Tile4.5 2012-2017 Chinese Import and Export of Vinyl TileChapter Five Market Status of Vinyl Tile Industry5.1 Market Competition of Vinyl Tile Industry by Company5.2 Market Competition of Vinyl Tile Industry by Country (USA, EU, Japan, Chinese etc.)5.3 Market Analysis of Vinyl Tile Consumption by Application/TypeChapter Six 2017-2022 Market Forecast of Global and Chinese Vinyl Tile Industry6.1 2017-2022 Global and Chinese Capacity, Production, and Production Value of Vinyl Tile6.2 2017-2022 Vinyl Tile Industry Cost and Profit Estimation6.3 2017-2022 Global and Chinese Market Share of Vinyl Tile6.4 2017-2022 Global and Chinese Supply and Consumption of Vinyl Tile6.5 2017-2022 Chinese Import and Export of Vinyl TileChapter Seven Analysis of Vinyl Tile Industry Chain7.1 Industry Chain Structure7.2 Upstream Raw Materials7.3 Downstream IndustryChapter Eight Global and Chinese Economic Impact on Vinyl Tile Industry8.1 Global and Chinese Macroeconomic Environment Analysis8.1.1 Global Macroeconomic Analysis8.1.2 Chinese Macroeconomic Analysis8.2 Global and Chinese Macroeconomic Environment Development Trend8.2.1 Global Macroeconomic Outlook8.2.2 Chinese Macroeconomic Outlook8.3 Effects to Vinyl Tile IndustryChapter Nine Market Dynamics of Vinyl Tile Industry9.1 Vinyl Tile Industry News9.2 Vinyl Tile Industry Development Challenges9.3 Vinyl Tile Industry Development OpportunitiesChapter Ten Proposals for New Project10.1 Market Entry Strategies10.2 Countermeasures of Economic Impact10.3 Marketing Channels10.4 Feasibility Studies of New Project InvestmentChapter Eleven Research Conclusions of Global and Chinese Vinyl Tile IndustryPurchase This Report @And Get,Discount on Report Purchase @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 Advanced (3D/4D) Visualization Systems Market is expanding at a CAGR of 6.4% from 2016 - 2024 Advanced (3D/4D) Visualization Systems Market http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/advanced-3d-4d-visualization-systems.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=2547 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ The report on the global advanced (3D/4D) visualization systems analyses the current and future prospects of the market for the software and application products. The report comprises an elaborate executive summary, including a market snapshot that provides overall information of various segments and sub-segments.The research is a robust combination of primary and secondary research. Primary research forms the bulk of our research efforts with information collected from telephonic interviews and interactions via e-mails. Secondary research involved study of company websites, annual reports, press releases, stock analysis presentations and various international and national databases. The report provides market size in terms of US$ Mn for each segment for the period from 2014 to 2024, considering the macro and micro environmental factors. Growth rates for each segment within the global advanced (3D/4D) visualization systems market have been determined after a thorough analysis of past trends, demographics, future trends, technological developments, and regulatory requirements.A detailed qualitative analysis of factors responsible for driving and restraining the market growth and future opportunities has been provided in the market overview section. This section of the report also provides with market attractiveness analysis, and Porters Five Forces analysis providing a thorough analysis of the overall competitive scenario in the global advanced (3D/4D) visualization systems market.This 109 page report gives readers a comprehensive overview of the Advanced (3D/4D) Visualization Systems Market. Browse through 18 data tables and 18 figures to unlock the hidden opportunities in this market:Market revenue in terms of US$ Mn for the period between 2014 and 2024 along with the compound annual growth rate (CAGR %) from 2016 to 2024 are provided for all the segments, considering 2015 as the base year. Market size estimations involved in-depth study of services and product features of different types of services. Additionally, market related factors such as increasing preference for technologically advanced services, product innovation and growing number of acute and chronic patient in various geographies and historical year-on-year growth have been taken into consideration while estimating the market size.Global advanced (3D/4D) visualization systems market is segmented according to major types of platform, which include: ultrasound AVS, Magnetic Resonance Imaging AVS, Computed Tomography AVS, Positron Emission Tomography AVS and others (radiotherapy AVS, nuclear medicine AVS, etc.). The market has been further studied from the point of view of major applications of advanced (3D/4D) visualization systems. The market on the basis of application has been categorized into cardiology, oncology, neurology and others (orthopedics, gastrointestinal, gynecology, etc.). The market has also been segmented on the basis of end-user into three segments, viz., hospitals, diagnostic laboratories and academics & research.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Advanced (3D/4D) Visualization Systems Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market:Additionally, the report contains market attractiveness analysis by geography and competitive landscape by key players. The market attractiveness analysis explains the intensity of competition in the market in different geographies. The competitive scenario between different market players is evaluated through market share analysis. These factors would help the market players to take strategic decisions in order to strengthen their positions and expand their share in the global market. The report also provides an extensive event impact analysis which gives an insight into major events and their effects on the market in positive and negative sense. The analysis also provides a list of recently launched products.Geographically, the global advanced visualization systems market has been segmented into five regions: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. In addition the regions have been further segmented by major countries from each region, which include the U.S, Canada, U.K., Germany, Japan, China, Brazil, Mexico, and South Africa. The report also profiles major players in the advanced (3D/4D) visualization systems market based on various attributes such as company overview, financial overview, key business strategies, product portfolio, and recent developments. Key companies profiled in the report include Carestream Health, Inc., CONMED Corporation, Fujifilm Holding America Corporation, GE Healthcare, Intelerad Medical Systems Incorporated, Philips Healthcare, QI Imaging, LLC, Siemens Healthcare, Terarecon, Inc., Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation, Visage Imaging and Visualization Sciences Group.About UsTransparency Market Research 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. Our experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Global 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Market Research Report 2017 http://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1070634&type=E http://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-3d-orthopedic-scanning-systems-market-research-report-2017.htm http://www.qyresearchreports.com In this report, the global 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems 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 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaFill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @Global 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingElinvisionArtec EuropeOrthopaedic Innovation CentreFuel 3D Technologies LimitedTechMed 3D Inc.FARO Technologies UK Ltd.3D SystemsSCANNY3D S.R.L.AGE Solutions S.r.l.On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoScanning systemSoftwareAccessoriesOn 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 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems for each application, includingSpineDentalMaxillofacialCosmetic SurgeriesOthersBrowse Complete Report with TOC @Table of ContentsGlobal 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Market Research Report 20171 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems1.2 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category) (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Scanning system1.2.4 Software1.2.5 Accessories1.3 Global 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Segment by Application1.3.1 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Spine1.3.3 Dental1.3.4 Maxillofacial1.3.5 Cosmetic Surgeries1.3.6 Others1.4 Global 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems 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 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Revenue Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2012-2022)2 Global 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.1 Global 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Production and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.3 Global 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Average Price by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.4 Manufacturers 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion3 Global 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)3.1 Global 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Capacity and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.2 Global 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Production and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.3 Global 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.4 Global 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.5 North America 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.6 Europe 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.7 China 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.8 Japan 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.9 Southeast Asia 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)3.10 India 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)4 Global 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)4.1 Global 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Consumption by Region (2012-2017)4.2 North America 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.3 Europe 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.4 China 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.5 Japan 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.6 Southeast Asia 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)4.7 India 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2012-2017)5 Global 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type5.1 Global 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Production and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.2 Global 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)5.3 Global 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Price by Type (2012-2017)5.4 Global 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Production Growth by Type (2012-2017)6 Global 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Market Analysis by Application6.1 Global 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Consumption and Market Share by Application (2012-2017)6.2 Global 3D Orthopedic Scanning Systems Consumption Growth Rate by Application (2012-2017)6.3 Market Drivers and Opportunities6.3.1 Potential Applications6.3.2 Emerging Markets/CountriesQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.QYResearchreportsContact Us1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com Growing Prevalence of Cigarettes Consumption in Tanzania, 2017 www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/1070530 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/analysis/1070530 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ "The Report Cigarettes in Tanzania, 2017 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz""Cigarettes in Tanzania, 2017", is an analytical report by Globaldata that provides extensive and highly detailed current and future market trends in the market. The report offers Market size and structure of the overall and per capita consumption based upon a unique combination of industry research, fieldwork, market sizing analysis, and our in-house expertise.Cigarette consumption in Tanzania has been erratic on a year-to-year basis. The economic difficulties, recurrent droughts and extensive infrastructure problems are the main factors that have influenced the market. Sales were 6.09 billion pieces in 2015 but are forecast to be down 1.9% to 5.97 billion pieces in 2016 as a consequence of rising prices and the impact that this has had on duty paid sales.Get Sample Copy Of This Report @Scope- Per capita consumption stood at 114 pieces per person in 2016, down 8.5% on 1990 levels.- The growing problem of non-duty paid sales is forecast to see sales drop back in 2016.- A 1.9% contraction is expected to 5.97 billion pieces that Tanzania's smoking population is currently in the region of 2.45 million in 2016 which equates to a smoking prevalence rate of 9.5% overall, with this population almost exclusively male.- Following the impact of the recent increases in prices the market is forecast to see sluggish sales initially before recovering towards the end of the review period.- Volumes are expected to end 2026 at 7.88 billion pieces, 31.9% ahead of 1990, with per capita consumption up 0.8% to 115 pieces.View Report @Reasons to buy- Get a detailed understanding of consumption to align your sales and marketing efforts with the latest trends in the market.- Identify the areas of growth and opportunities, which will aid effective marketing planning.- The differing growth rates in regional product sales drive fundamental shifts in the market.- This report provides detailed, authoritative data on these changes - prime intelligence for marketers.- Understand the market dynamics and essential data to benchmark your position and to identify where to compete in the future.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 Stem Cell Assay Market Global Industry Volume By Region 2016 - 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/stem-cell-assay-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=19364 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com https://tmrresearch.blogspot.com/ Regenerative medicine has emerged as new paradigm in human health. It has the potential to resolve unmet medical needs. Rapid growth in the interdisciplinary field of regenerative medicine is altering the health care domain by converting fundamental science into a variety of regenerative technologies. Stem cell is an undifferentiated mass of cell that has the ability to divide indefinite times. It can be further differentiated into specialized cells such as blood cells, skin cells, neurons, heart cells, chondrocytes, and osteocytes under specific conditions. Unspecialized nature, self-renewal capability, and dedifferentiation are the unique features of stem cells. Thus, these cells are useful in different applications in pharmaceutical research and medical fields. Stem cell research has grown significantly since 1978, when stem cells were discovered in human cord blood. Incidence of cancer is increasing across the globe due to the rise in aging population and changing lifestyle habits. This, in turn, is boosting the demand for anticancer drugs and therapies. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 14.1 million new cancer cases were diagnosed around the globe in 2012 and around 19.3 million new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed each year by 2025. Rise in incidences of chronic diseases is boosting the demand for research, making stem cells a highly preferred system for drug discovery due to its self-renewal capability and unspecialized nature.Obtain Report Details @Over the last decade, the application of cell-based assays has increased at a rapid pace among research institutes and pharmaceutical industries. This was primarily ascribed to the ethical issues associated with the use of animals for clinical trials. Furthermore, rise in approvals of clinical trials for stem cells based therapy, increase in funds from government organizations, and technological advancements are some of the factors driving the stem cell assay market. But, human embryonic stem cells, which are derived from inner cell mass of blastocyst are currently high on the political issues ethical concerns in many countries hampering the growth of the market. Additionally, lack of required infrastructure in developing countries and high cost associated with products are some of the factors restraining the stem cell assay market. Evolution of new therapies and low regulatory frameworks in emerging regions are expected to provide opportunities for market growth during the forecast period.The global stem cell assay market has been segmented based on product, assay type, application, end-user, and region. In terms of product, the market for stem cell assay has been divided into human embryonic stem cell kits and adult stem cell kits. The adult stem cell kits segment is further divided into induced pluripotent stem cells kits, hematopoietic stem cell kits, mesenchymal stem cell kits, umbilical cord stem cell kits, and others. The adult stem cell kits segment is expected to account for the prominent share of the global stem cell assay market during the forecast period, led by the rise in product innovation activities and increasing focus on drug screening by biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Based on assay, the global stem cell assay market has been segregated into viability or cytotoxicity assay, cell identification assay, proliferation assay, differentiation assay, apoptosis assay, isolation & purification assay, and functional assay. Among these, the viability or cytotoxicity assay segment is anticipated to constitute key share of the global stem cell assay market during the forecast period, as cytotoxicity is an unavoidable stage during research.In terms of application, the global stem cell assay market has been segmented into drug discovery & development, regenerative medicine & therapy development, and clinical research. The regenerative medicine & therapy development segment is anticipated to expand at a rapid pace during the forecast period due to the rise in incidence of Parkinsons, Alzheimers, diabetes, and cancer diseases. This is anticipated to augment the focus on the development of new therapies and innovative drugs. Evolution of new therapies is estimated to provide new opportunities for the growth of the stem cell assay market during the forecast period.Based in end-user, the global stem cell assay market has been segregated into government research institutes, private research institutes, and industry research. The industry research segment is projected to account for the major share of the global stem cell assay market during the forecast period. Growth in adoption of stem cell assays for drug screening process and testing is likely to drive the segment in the near future.In terms of geography, the global stem cell assay market has been divided into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America is expected to dominate the global stem cell assay market during the forecast period. Governmental initiatives for stem cell based research in North America are anticipated to boost the stem cell assay market in the region. The stem cell assay market in Asia Pacific is estimated to expand at a rapid pace; it is projected to overtake Europe in the near future. Development in the clinical research field and rise in patient pool are projected to augment the adoption of stem cell assay in Asia Pacific.Key players operating in the stem cell assay market are Thermo Fisher Scientific, Merck KGaA, Promega Corporation, STEMCELL Technologies Inc., Bio-Techne Corporation, GE Healthcare, Cellular Dynamics International Inc., Hemogenix, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., and Cell Biolabs 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.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: Steam Autoclave Market Research Report by Geographical Analysis and Forecast to 2024 Steam Autoclave Market http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/steam-autoclave-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=3997 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Autoclaves play a vital role in sterilization of health care waste in hospitals, health care organizations, and academics. Medical devices require autoclaving after usage, as these get contaminated. Health care professionals have set the process of autoclaving on high priority due to increasing awareness about safety of patients. Rising number of surgical procedures and nosocomial infections (hospital-acquired infection) is driving demand for autoclaves. Growing geriatric population and rise in prevalence of cancer are the other factors that drive this market. This report studies the current scenario as well as future market potential for steam autoclaves globally. It comprises an elaborate executive summary, which includes a market snapshot that provides market dynamics of various segments and sub-segments that are included in the report.This report provides in-depth analysis of the steam autoclave market. The stakeholders of this report include companies involved in the manufacture of autoclaves. An executive summary section is included in this report for providing a snapshot of this market to the stakeholders. It summarizes the market size, trends, and competition in different regions. The market overview section of this report analyzes market dynamics such as drivers, restraints, and opportunities that influence the market in the current and future scenario. Market share analysis is included to signify percentage share of the major players operating in the market. All these factors will help the market players to decide the business strategies and plans to be implemented in future to strengthen their positions in the global market.This 99 page report gives readers a comprehensive overview of the Steam Autoclave Market. Browse through 26 data tables and 27 figures to unlock the hidden opportunities in this market:The steam autoclave market has been segmented based on product, indicator, technology, end-user, and geography. Based on product, the global market has been segmented into traditional and tabletop. In terms of technology, the global market has been segmented into gravity displacement, pre-vacuum, and steam flush. Based on indicator, the steam autoclave market has been segmented into chemical, biological, and mechanical. The global market, by end-user, has been categorized into hospitals, health care organizations, and academics.Geographically, the steam autoclave market has been categorized into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. Moreover, analysis for the major countries such as the U.S. Canada, Germany, the U.K., Japan, China, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, and Saudi Arabia have been provided in the report. A detailed qualitative analysis of the factors responsible for driving and restraining the market in various regions has been provided in this section. The report provides market estimation of the steam autoclave market in terms of revenue (US$ Mn) for all the segments and sub-segments, with CAGR % for the period from 2016 to 2024, considering 2015 as the base year. Furthermore, the report incorporates market attractiveness analysis by geography that depicts the most attractive region in the global market during the forecast period.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Steam Autoclave Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market:The report provides a detailed outline/blueprint of the global steam autoclave market that will assist new companies to establish their presence and existing players to expand their market shares. The company profile section concluding the report includes company overview, financial overview, product portfolio, business strategies and recent developments of key market players. Major players profiled in the report include 3M Health Care, STERIS plc, Getinge Group, and Johnson & Johnson.About UsTransparency Market Research 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. Our experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: The Future Of UK Commercial Insurance Distribution Market 2017 www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/1070524 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/analysis/1070524 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ "The Report UK Commercial Insurance Distribution 2017 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz""UK Commercial Insurance Distribution 2017", report provides an in-depth study into the trends of commercial insurance distribution. The report discusses the influence of the differing purchasing behaviors of SMEs compared to larger corporate businesses, and pays particular attention to the role and strategies of brokers within product distribution. It also addresses the challenges in the market and the impact of technology on consumer channel preferences, before concluding with a distribution forecast for the coming years.Commercial insurance remains a highly competitive market, and the distribution of its products continues to evolve and vary. Brokers hold the highest share of the commercial market despite incremental growth in the other channels. The SME market has been driving this change, with more of these types of businesses opting to purchase insurance directly from their provider. These SMEs require less comprehensive insurance coverage, meaning a more simplistic and efficient offering is adequate.Get Sample Copy Of This Report @Scope- Brokers dominate the distribution of commercial insurance with a 77.1% share of the market.- Brokers of all capacities are keen to improve their online propositions to provide an enhanced level of customer service.- Underinsurance is a problem within the SME space, with significant proportions citing price and a general lack of knowledge or product awareness as the reasons for forgoing adequate insurance cover.View Report @Reasons to buy- Adapt your distribution strategy to ensure it still meets the needs of clients and intermediaries.- Ensure you remain competitive as new innovations revolutionize the purchasing journey for clients and brokers.- Benchmark yourself against other players in the market.- Be prepared for how technology is set to impact the commercial insurance market.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.bizAbout 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 Wind Power in China, Market Outlook to 2030, Update 2017 - Capacity, Generation, Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), Investment Trends, Regulations and Company Profiles http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/1070528 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/analysis/1070528 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ "The Report Wind Power in China, Market Outlook to 2030, Update 2017 - Capacity, Generation, Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), Investment Trends, Regulations and Company Profiles provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"Wind Power in China, Market Outlook to 2030, Update 2017 - Capacity, Generation, Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), Investment Trends, Regulations and Company Profiles" is the latest report from GlobalData, the industry analysis specialists that offer comprehensive information and understanding of the wind power market in China.The report provides in depth analysis on global renewable power market and global wind power market with forecasts up to 2030. The report analyzes the power market scenario in China (includes conventional thermal, nuclear, large hydro and renewable energy sources) and provides future outlook with forecasts up to 2030. The research details renewable power market outlook in the country (includes wind, small hydro, biopower and solar PV) and provides forecasts up to 2030. The report highlights installed capacity and power generation trends from 2006 to 2030 in China wind power market. A detailed coverage of renewable energy policy framework governing the market with specific policies pertaining to wind power is provided in the report. The research also provides company snapshots of some of the major market participants.The report is built using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, secondary research and in-house analysis by GlobalDatas team of industry experts.Get Sample Copy Of this Report @ScopeThe report analyses global renewable power market, global wind power (Onshore and Offshore) market, China power market, China renewable power market and China wind power market. The scope of the research includes -- A brief introduction on global carbon emissions and global primary energy consumption.- An overview on global renewable power market, highlighting installed capacity trends, generation trends and installed capacity split by various renewable power sources. The information is covered for the historical period 2006-2016 (unless specified) and forecast period 2016-2030.- Renewable power sources include wind (both onshore and offshore), solar photovoltaic (PV), concentrated solar power (CSP), small hydropower (SHP), biomass, biogas and geothermal.- Detailed overview of the global wind power market with installed capacity and generation trends, installed capacity split by major hydropower countries in 2016 and key owners information of various regions.- Power market scenario in China and provides detailed market overview, installed capacity and power generation trends by various fuel types (includes thermal conventional, nuclear, large hydro and renewable energy sources) with forecasts up to 2030.- An overview on China renewable power market, highlighting installed capacity trends (2006-2030), generation trends(2006-2030) and installed capacity split by various renewable power sources in 2016.- Detailed overview of China wind power market with installed capacity and generation trends and major active and upcoming wind projects.- Deal analysis of China wind power market. Deals are analyzed on the basis of mergers, acquisitions, partnership, asset finance, debt offering, equity offering, private equity (PE) and venture capitalists (VC).- Key policies and regulatory framework supporting the development of renewable power sources in general and wind power in particular.- Company snapshots of some of the major market participants in the country.View Report @Reasons to buy- The report will enhance your decision making capability in a more rapid and time sensitive manner.- Identify key growth and investment opportunities in China wind power market.- Facilitate decision-making based on strong historic and forecast data for wind power market.- Position yourself to gain the maximum advantage of the industrys growth potential.- Develop strategies based on the latest regulatory events.- Identify key partners and business development avenues.- Understand and respond to your competitors business structure, strategy and prospects.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.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 Hearing Protection Devices Market Worth US$1.9 Billion by 2021 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3036 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/3036 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com According to the latest market report published by Persistence Market Research titled "Global Market Study on Hearing Protection Devices: Stringent Safety Regulations and Increasing Demand for Reusable Earplugs to Drive the Market", the hearing protection devices market is estimated to be valued at US$ 951.3 Mn by the end of 2015, and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 12.4% during the forecast period (20152021) to account for US$ 1,943.8 Mn by 2021.Global demand for hearing protection devices is increasing mainly driven by rapid growth of the construction, manufacturing and military weapons industries. An increasing number of regulations to reduce noise-induced hearing loss across various industries along with a rise in employment in manufacturing and construction sectors is expected to further drive overall growth of the hearing protection devices market over the forecast period. Moreover, some other factors that help to drive the growth of the market are increasing demand for next-generation HPD in military sectors, increasing urbanization and development activities, low-cost earplugs to boost demand in developing regions. However, lack of awareness and improper hearing attenuation are some of the major factors that restrict the growth of the market.Rising emphasis on custom-tailored hearing protection devices, mergers, and acquisitions, technology shift towards ear plugs with acoustic filters, increasing demand for uniform attenuation earplugs, growing market share of regional players and increasing investment in North America HPD market are some of the trends observed in the global HPD market.By region, North America is estimated to dominate the hearing protection devices market with over 34.4% share by 2015 end and is expected to remain dominant throughout the forecast period. Earplug is the largest segment in global hearing protection devices market. The global earplug segment is expected to increase at a CAGR of 13.6% in terms of value during the forecast period. Earmuffs is the second-largest segment in the global hearing protection devices market and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 10.2% in terms of value during the forecast period.Asia-Pacific represents the most lucrative market, followed by Europe for hearing protection devices. This is primarily due to rise demand for hearing protection devices in India, China, Bangladesh, Philippines and Indonesia. Asia-Pacific is expected to account for 20.4% market share in the global hearing protection devices market by 2015 end, which is expected to increase to 20.9% market share by 2021.A Sample of this report is available upon request @Key market players covered in this report are 3M, Honeywell International Inc., Amplifon, Hellberg Safety AB, Dynamic Ear Company, Centurion Safety Products Ltd, Sonomax Technologies Inc, Siemens Healthcare GmbH, ADCO Hearing Products Inc., Elvex Corporation and Moldex-Metric Inc. These players have been profiled on the basis of various attributes such as company overview, recent developments, growth strategies, SWOT analysis and sustainability.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 Hemodynamic Monitoring Systems Market on Track to US$ 508.4 Million by 2021 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/4396 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/4396 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Persistence Market Research (PMR), in a recent report, "Global Market Study on Hemodynamic Monitoring System: Growing Demand for Critical Congenital Heart Disease Screening to Drive the Market by 2021 ", projected the hemodynamic monitoring systems market to expand at a healthy CAGR of 6.5% during the forecast period. The report offered trends driving the market and delivered analysis and insights on the potential of the hemodynamic monitoring systems market in specific regions.In terms of revenue, the hemodynamic monitoring systems market was valued at US$ 328.7 Mn in 2014 and is projected to reach US$ 508.4 Mn by 2021. Factors driving market growth include government and private sector initiatives to reduce healthcare costs, rising prevalence of lifestyle diseases, growing the geriatric patient population, increasing the incidence of respiratory disorders and growing demand for the screening of critical congenital heart disease (CCHD).In terms of region, North America dominated the hemodynamic monitoring systems market with over 30% share in terms of value in 2014 but is expected to lose its market share to APAC by 2021. Europe accounted for over 20% of the total hemodynamic monitoring systems market share in 2014 and will maintain its dominance through 2021. Among the regions, APAC is projected to register the highest CAGR over 20152021 due to low-cost product offerings by manufacturers in the region. As of 2014, APAC was the third-highest contributor to the overall hemodynamic monitoring systems market, accounting for over 18% market share. By the end of 2021, it is projected to gain 330 BPS.On the basis of device type, the market has been segmented into pulse contour, oesophageal Doppler, volume clamp, hemodynamic monitoring sensors and pulmonary artery catheters.The pulmonary artery catheters segment had a dominant share in the global hemodynamic monitoring systems market in 2014, while the volume clamp segment accounted for over 20% share.Global hemodynamic monitoring systems market is further segmented on the basis of end use into hospitals, clinics, ambulatory surgery centres, home care settings and independent catheterisation laboratories. Revenue contribution of the hospitals segment was over 40% in 2014 and is projected to increase to over 42% by 2021, registering a significant CAGR of 7.3%. Home care settings segment is anticipated to record highest CAGR during the forecast period as hemodynamic monitoring systems are being adopted increasingly in home care settings.By application type, the hemodynamic monitoring systems market is segmented into invasive hemodynamic monitoring, noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring and minimally invasive hemodynamic monitoring segments. Among the three segments, minimally invasive hemodynamic monitoring segment is expected to register the highest CAGR of 8.0% over 2015-2021. The invasive hemodynamic monitoring segment accounted for over 30% market share in 2014 but is projected to lose its share to the other two segments by the end of the forecast period.A sample of this report is available upon request @Key players in the global hemodynamic monitoring systems market include Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, ICU Medical, Inc., Teleflex Incorporated, LiDCO Group Plc and PULSION Medical Systems SE. Global players focus on research and development initiatives for introducing innovative products to attain sustainable advantages over their competitors. In addition, they also focus on expanding their regional presence through mergers and acquisitions. In developed regions, hemodynamic monitoring systems manufacturers prefer selling their products directly to the consumer. By contrast, most vendors in countries such as China have tie-ups with suppliers to enhance their customer reach. Globally, medical equipment manufacturers in China account for over 50% market share for exporting noninvasive devices.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: Asia, Europe, and South America Anti-aging Market Research Report by Geographical Analysis and Forecast to 2020 Asia, Europe, and South America Anti-aging Market http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/asia-europe-south-america-anti-aging-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=5021 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Restoring the younger looks and thereby finding solutions against signs of aging has been a mission for cosmetologists and health care professionals for centuries. As a result, market for anti-aging products is experiencing continuous growth since decades. Various products and services are perpetually entering into the market to serve the agenda of restoring younger looks.Presently, various anti-aging products such as UV absorbers, dermal fillers, Botox, anti-stretchmark products, hair color, and anti-wrinkle products are widely used.The anti-wrinkle products segment was valued at USD 8,088.3 million in 2013 in Asia. The dominance of this segment was primarily due to increasing adoption of anti-wrinkle products among the population. The anti-aging products market in Japan is growing swiftly owing to reasonable costs and rising awareness about the availability of aesthetic products. According to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ISAPS), a total of 146,150 Botox injection procedures were registered in Japan in 2010. The number further increased to 208,313 in 2011. Considering all the above mentioned factors, Japan was leading the overall anti-aging products market in Asia in terms of revenue in 2013. While on the other hand, China is expected to show significant growth in the anti-aging products market during the forecast period. Factors such as anticipated rise in the aging population coupled with rising awareness about commercially available anti-aging products are primarily driving the growth of the market in China.Read Full Report:The anti-aging services market is growing rapidly in Europe owing to steady recovery from the economic crisis, and consequently, rising disposable income and increasing demand. Italy was a leader in the anti-aging services market in the overall Europe in 2013 due to higher demand for breast augmentation and hair restoration treatments. While on the other hand, Spain anti-aging services market is expected to record highest growth during the forecast period. Adoption of sclerotherapy is anticipated to primarily boost the growth of the Spain anti-aging treatment services market owing to the increasing prevalence of varicose vein due to aging and obesity. The growth of the geriatric population coupled with rise in obesity are some of the other factors driving the growth of sclerotherapy services segment in the country.Download exclusive Sample of this report:Brazil dominates the aesthetic procedures industry among South American countries. Brazil registered 1,447,213 aesthetic procedures in 2011. Affordable rates, availability of advanced techniques and a well-defined regulatory infrastructure are the prime drivers for the growth of the aesthetic industry in Brazil. As a result, people around the world travel to Brazil for aesthetic treatment. Thus, increasing demand for aesthetic procedures in the country is observed that would boost the growth of aesthetic devices in Brazil. Similarly, adoption of laser treatment and radiofrequency treatments is observed to be higher in Brazil owing to the safety and efficacy of these treatments. Therefore, in 2013, the laser aesthetic and radiofrequency devices segments accounted for the largest market of USD 59.0 million and USD 19.2 million, respectively.Some of the key players operating in the anti-aging market include Allergan, Inc., Alma Laser Ltd., Beiersdorf AG, Coty, Inc., Cynosure, Inc., LOreal SA, Solta Medical, Inc. (Valeant Pharmaceutical International, Inc.), and PhotoMedex, Inc.About UsTransparency Market Research 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. Our experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Dermatophytic Onychomycosis Market Expected to Hit US$ 4,706.3 Million by 2021 www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/5840 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/dermatophytic-onychomycosis-therapeutics-market/toc www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/5840 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Persistence Market Research (PMR) delivers key insights on the global dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics Market in its latest report titled Global Market Study on Dermatophytic Onychomycosis Therapeutics (DOT): North America Expected to Account for Maximum Market Share by 2021.The global dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics market is anticipated to expand at a healthy CAGR during the forecast period. By product type, the market is segmented into Nail paint and tablet, which is again sub-divided into prescription (Rx) and over-the-counter (OTC) sub segments. The nail paint segment is expected to contribute a maximum share to the global dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics market and expand at the fastest CAGR of 8.3% during the forecast period. By treatment, the market is segmented into topical and oral therapy. Among these, the topical segment is anticipated to be dominant throughout the forecast period and projected to account for about 70% share of the total global dermatophytic onychomycosis market revenue by 2021. By distribution channels, the market is segmented into hospitals, dermatology and podiatry clinics, independent pharmacies, mail order pharmacies, and drug stores. Among these, drug stores are estimated to be largest segment with 47% share of the total global market revenue by 2015 end. The drug stores segment is expected to register the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. Independent pharmacies are projected to be the second most attractive segment of the global dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics market by 2015 end.Market growth is primarily driven by factors such as increase in the prevalence of fungal toe nail infections in the U.S. and Canada, and rising per capita healthcare expenditure across the globe. Easy application of nail paints is also expected to drive demand for dermatophytic onychomycosis drugs. However, adverse effects associated with anti-fungal drugs and lack of awareness about dermatophytic onychomycosis in Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and Latin America are expected to impede growth of the global dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics market.This report covers global and regional trends along with an analysis of the market potential. North America is expected to account for over 43% revenue share of the total dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics market by 2015 end i.e. holding the maximum market share. Whereas Europe is projected to grow at a healthy CAGR of 7.3% due to increasing awareness about fungal nail infections.A Sample of this report is available upon request @Global dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics market report begins with an overview of the global market in terms of value. This section includes detailed analysis of key trends, drivers and restraints, and opportunities. All of these are factors that impact market growth. Impact analysis of key growth drivers and restraints based on the weighted average of each one of these factors in a model-based approach is included in the market report to better equip clients with crystal clear decision-making insights.Request to view Table of content @Key players of the global dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics market include Galderma S.A., Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc., Novartis AG, Pfizer Inc., Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and others. Leading companies in this market collaborate with healthcare solutions and services providers in order to advance operational efficiencies and provide improved patient care.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: Electronic Flight Bag Market (EFB) Overview, Competitors Strategy, Regional Analysis and Growth Forecast to 2022 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2562 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/electronic-flight-bag-market-2562 Market Research Future Published a Cooked Research Report (CRR) on Global Electronic Flight Bag Market. Electronic Flight Bag Market is Expected to Grow Over the CAGR of around 12.70% During the Period 2016 to 2022Market Overview:An Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) is an electronic information management device that helps flight crews performs flight management tasks more easily and efficiently. An EFB electronically stores and retrieves documents required for flight operations such as operating manuals, aeronautical charts, airport information, route information and weather. The major drivers for the growth of electronic flight bag market are safety and replacement of all paper-based manuals. The electronic flight bag is used for safety of pilots by providing up-to-date weather and assist by providing the route so as to avoid discretionary fuel burn.North America is leading the market for electronic flight bag market during the forecast period due to growing commercial aircraft and reduction in the maintenance of aircraft. Europe is the second largest region for this market valued at USD 551.8 million in 2011 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 12.44%. Asia-Pacific is the fastest growing market during the forecast period.Sample Copy of Report @Key PlayersThe Key players in Global Electronic Flight Bag Market are UTC Aerospace Systems (U.S.), International Flight Support (Denmark), Astronautics Corporation of America (U.S.), The Boeing Company (U.S.), Esterline CMC Electronics (Canada), NavAero AB (Sweden), Airbus Group SE (France), Rockwell Collins Inc (U.S.), L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc, (U.S.), Teledyne Controls LLC (U.S.), Thales Group (France), DAC International Inc (U.S.), Lufthansa Systems (Germany), Flightman (Ireland).Access the market data and market information presented through more than 25 market data tables and 25 figures spread over 83 numbers of pages of the project report Electronic Flight Bag Market Research - Forecast to 2022Market Research AnalysisThe market is highly based on application. Commercial segment is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period because it speeds up and simplify pilot access to information with the Electronic Flight Bag solution. It is expected to grow at the highest CAGR of 13.03% during the forecast periodThe major drivers that led to the growth of this market are safety of pilot and replacement of all paper-based manuals.There are various restraints that hinder the growth of electronic flight bag market is cyber security issue.Access Report Details @Study Objectives of Electronic Flight Bag Market To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast for the next 5 years of the various segments and sub-segments of the global electronic flight bag Market To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth To analyse the global electronic flight bag Market based on various factors such as supply chain analysis, and Porters five force analysis To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to regions and their respective key countries 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 by type, by application, and by region 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 analyses competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in theglobal electronic flight bag Market.List of FiguresFIGURE 1 Research TypeFIGURE 2 Global Electronic Flight Bag Market: By Type (%)FIGURE 3 Global Electronic Flight Bag Market: By Application (%)FIGURE 4 Global Electronic Flight Bag Market: By RegionContinued..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 industrialvisits for its research analyst members.ContactAkash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com Overall Telecom Service Revenue In Cameroon Will Grow At A CAGR Of 10.6% During 2016-2021 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1070630 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=1070630 http://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Cameroon: Mobile Market to Fuel Overall Telecom Growth as Operators Focus on Network Expansion and VAS" to its huge collection of research reports."Cameroon: Mobile Market to Fuel Overall Telecom Growth as Operators Focus on Network Expansion and VAS", is a new Country Intelligence Report by GlobalData, provides an executive-level overview of the telecommunications market in Cameroon 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.In 2016, Cameroon generated telecom service revenue of $1.1bn (equivalent to 3.5% of nominal GDP), an increase of 6.2% since 2015, primarily due to the growth in the mobile segment. The mobile market continues to be the largest contributor to the overall market revenue, accounting for 82.5% of overall telecom revenue in 2016. Mobile voice remained the major revenue-contributing segment in 2016, accounting for 64.3% of total service revenue. Mobile data will be the fastest revenue-contributing segment through 2021, driven by operators investments in 3G and 4G network expansion as well as growing adoption of mobile broadband services. Government and operator focus on improving fixed Internet penetration via submarine cables and fiber-optic expansion will improve broadaband connectivity in the country.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The Country Intelligence Report provides in-depth analysis of the following -- Regional context: telecom market size and trends in Cameroon compared with other countries in the region.- Economic, demographic and political context in Cameroon.- 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 Cameroon's telecommunications markets.Scope- Overall telecom service revenue in Cameroon will grow at a CAGR of 10.6% during 2016-2021, mainly driven by growth in the mobile voice and data segments.- Mobile services revenue will account for 90.1% of the total telecom service revenue in 2021; mobile data will witness a CAGR of 22.7% during 2016-2021.- The top two operators, MTN Cameroon and Orange Cameroon, which both provide mobile voice and data services, accounted for 72.1% of overall service revenue in 2016. Operators will continue to focus on expanding their 3G/4G network coverage and service quality to remain competitive.- Over the next five years, operators should seize opportunities arising from increased demand for data services. Operators are focusing on 3G/4G network expansion and offering VAS to drive additional revenue, which presents opportunities for vendors and investors.Reasons to buy- This Country Intelligence Report offers a thorough, forward-looking analysis of Cameroon's telecommunications markets, service providers and key opportunities in a concise format to help executives build proactive and profitable growth strategies.- Accompanying GlobalDatas Forecast products, the report examines the assumptions and drivers behind ongoing and upcoming trends in Cameroon's 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.- 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 Cameroon's 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 Cameroon.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 @ Poland PESTEL Analysis, SWOT Analysis and Risk Analysis Market Research Report Launched Market Research Reports, Inc. http://www.marketresearchreports.com/market-research-reports-inc/poland-pestel-analysis-market-research-report http://www.marketresearchreports.com/market-research-reports-inc/poland-swot-analysis-market-research-report http://www.marketresearchreports.com/market-research-reports-inc/poland-risk-analysis-market-research-report http://www.marketresearchreports.com As per International Monetary Fund (IMF) Polands real gross domestic product is expected to grow at a CAGR of 2.98% from its 2015 level of PLN 1678.61 billion and reach PLN 2061.63 billion by 2022.Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe, bordered by Poland to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, which is a Russian exclave and Lithuania to the north.Poland had estimated population of 37.96 million in the year 2016 and expected to reach 83.454 million by 2022. Polands unemployment rate was estimated to be 6.111% of total labor force for the year 2016.Polands real gross domestic product (GDP) was around PLN 1726.11 billions in 2016 whereas the nominal GDP was PLN 1844.34 billions. This resulted in GDP deflator 106.849. Per capita GDP was estimated at USD 12315.65 whereas purchasing power parity (PPP) based per capita GDP was estimated to be at USD 1054.13.In 2016, Poland governments revenue was PLN 725.419 billions whereas the expenditure was PLN 770.362 billions. This resulted Poland governments net lending / borrowing negative at PLN 44.943 billion in 2016 indicating that enough financial resources were not made available by the government to boost economic growth.The current account balance for Poland was estimated to be negative at USD 1.395 billions for the year 2016 and is expected to decrease at a CAGR of 28.71% and the current account deficit will reach USD 17.56 by 2022. This negative current account deficit indicates that Poland is net borrowing will increase in future.The newly launched market research reports featuring Polands PESTEL analysis, SWOT analysis and Risk analysis are aimed at providing insights about Polish economy and market.Scope of the Poland PESTEL Analysis, SWOT Analysis and Risk Analysis Market Research Reports These reports provide information about key macroeconomic indicators for Poland. These reports provide PESTELE (political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal) analysis for Poland. These reports provide SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis for Poland. These reports provide risk analysis for Poland.For more information and to purchase Poland PESTEL Analysis Market Research Report please visit:For more information and to purchase Poland SWOT Analysis Market Research Report please visit:For more information and to purchase Poland 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 Biobanks Market Revenue, Opportunity, Segment and Key Trends 2017-2025 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=2321 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=2321 https://www.tmrresearch.com/biobanks-market Global Biobanks Market: OverviewThe global biobanks market owes its conception to the rising need for replacement organs and the steady advancement in the replacement and transfusion technologies regarding a number of bodily substances. Though the technology and need to store organs and other bio-entities had been available for a long time, the global biobanks market took on a more important role in the healthcare sector following the increasing research in genomics. In the new millennium, the development of the personalized medicine field has been the vital driver for the global biobanks market. The likely advancement of the latter, thanks to helpful government regulations, is likely to make the crucial difference for the global biobanks market in the near future.The steady technological advancement in the healthcare sector in the last few decades has now led to a scenario where the full potential of biobanks can be harnessed. As a result, the global biobanks market is projected to exhibit steady growth over the coming years.Request Sample Copy of the Report @Global Biobanks Market: Key TrendsThe rising interest in personalized medicine is the prime driver for the global biobanks market. Personalized medicine has only become a viable branch of modern medicine after steady research in genomics and the way various patients react to various medicines. The biobanks market has thus come into the spotlight thanks to their role as a steady supplier of human biomaterials for research as well as direct application. The increasing research in genomics following the findings of the Human Genome Project is thus likely to remain a key driver for the global biobanks market in the coming years.The utilization of biobanks in stem cell research has been hampered in several regions by ethical concerns regarding the origin of stem cells. Nevertheless, the potential of stem cells in the healthcare sector is immense, and is likely to have a decisive impact on the trajectory of the global biobanks market in the coming years. Many countries have, in recent years, adopted a supportive stance towards stem cell research, aiding the growth of the biobanks market. Continued government support is thus likely to remain vital for the global biobanks market in the coming years.Request TOC of the Report @Global Biobanks Market: Market PotentialThe leading role of the U.S. in the global biobanks market is unlikely to change in the coming years. The easy availability of government-supported healthcare infrastructure and the presence of several industry giants in the region has driven the biobanks market in the U.S.Northwell Health, the largest healthcare provider in New York State, earlier in 2017 initiated a new biobank aimed at creating precision therapies against various types of cancer. Launched in collaboration with Indivumed, the biobank will provide catalogued biomaterials for research into lung, colorectal, breast, and pancreatic cancer. This would enable targeted, gene-specific studies of a variety of cancer samples, leading to a more comprehensive understanding of cancer. Such well-funded collaboration efforts are crucial for the developing biobanks market.Global Biobanks Market: Geographical DynamicsLed by the fertile healthcare research scenario in the U.S., North America is likely to retain a dominant share in the global biobanks market in the coming years. Steady support from institutes such as the NIH is likely to be vital for the North America biobanks market.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report@Emerging Asia Pacific economies such as India and China could emerge with a significant share in the global biobanks market in the coming years. The healthcare sector in both countries has received steady public or private funding in the last few years. India is also a global leader in medical tourism and is likely to receive an increasing number of patients in the coming years, leading to promising prospects for the global biobanks market in the region.Global Biobanks Market: Competitive DynamicsDue to the dynamic nature of the global biobanks market, with advancements in diagnostic fields often determining the direction of the market, the market is heavily fragmented. It is likely to retain a significant degree of fragmentation in the coming years thanks to the diversity in the application segments of the biobanks market. The leading players in the global biobanks market include BioCision, Tecan Group, VWR, Beckman Coulter Inc., and Thermo Fisher Scientific.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in 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 researh 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 Light Emitting Diode (LED) Phosphor Market to grow at a CAGR of 19.73% during 2017-2021 - Current Market Trends, Size, Grwoth and Opportunities http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1068182 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=1068182 http://www.researchmoz.us/global-light-emitting-diode-led-phosphor-market-2017-2021-report.html http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Albany, NY, May 19, 2017: Latest Report " Global Light Emitting Diode (LED) Phosphor Market 2017-2021 " features Top Market Players, Market Applications, Market Challenges, Market Trends & Countrywise Analysis Data.Increased use of LED lights owing to their multiple benefits drives the LED market. LED lights are preferred over incandescent and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) as they provide improved efficiency. LEDs consume less than 75% of energy when compared to other bulbs. They exhibit longer life span, which is more than 50,000 hours in comparison to 1,500 hours of incandescent bulbs and 8,000 hours of CFLs. LEDs are also known as green lighting signals, as they have energy-efficient features. Countries such as China, India, and Japan have started multiple promotional campaigns to make LEDs available at subsidized rates to the domestic markets. The governments of these countries are also providing lands at a lower price to the foreign investors to set up LED factories.The global LED phosphor market to grow at a CAGR of 19.73% during the period 2017-2021. The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global LED phosphor market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report presents a detailed picture of the market by way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources.Get a Sample Research PDF with TOC:Technavio's report, Global LED Phosphor 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- GE Lighting- Lumileds- OSRAM- Cree- Seoul Semiconductor- NichiaOther prominent vendors- Broadcom- Bridgelux- CITIZEN ELECTRONICS- Dialight- Epistar- EVERLIGHT ELECTRONICS- Edison Opto- Intematix- NationStar- Stanley Electric- Toshiba Lighting and TechnologyMarket driver- Upcoming major events and infrastructure projects.- For a full, detailed list, view our reportEnquiry at:Key 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?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: DES MOINES Only 2 in 5 Iowa doctors and other medical professionals who prescribe opioids are registered with a state program that is designed to help address an opioid addiction epidemic that is killing hundreds of Iowans each year. The state is in the process of updating that system, called the Iowa Prescription Management Program, to make it more streamlined and user-friendly. State officials hope the $200,000 upgrade will encourage more physicians to participate in the program. Ultimately we want the system to be utilized to the fullest extent possible, and we realize from the roadblocks, some of the reasons its not being utilized is its just too onerous to be used, said Andrew Funk, executive director of the state pharmacy board that is overseeing the upgrade. We believe the upgraded software will make it easier to use, make the data more user-friendly, easier to read, Funk said. We want it utilized. We want more prescribers signed up for it. Opioids were involved in 848 deaths in Iowa from 2013 to 2015, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some individuals attempt to obtain extra painkillers by going to multiple physicians to get multiple prescriptions, a practice that is called doctor shopping. The individuals then sell the painkiller illegally to make a profit or take them to feed an addiction. In 2016, 232 individuals in Iowa attempted to obtain Schedule II prescriptions including but not limited to oxycodone, opium, morphine, codeine and methamphetamine from five or more prescribers or pharmacies, according to state data. That number peaked at 303 in 2014. Iowas Prescription Management Program was implemented in 2009 to prevent doctor shopping. When a patient is prescribed opioid pain medicine, that information is entered into a system that can be accessed by registered doctors and other prescribers. So prescribers can access the program to see if a patient has already received prescription opioids. But only 42 percent of Iowa prescribers were registered with the program in 2016, according to the pharmacy boards annual report. Some doctors say the program is time-consuming and difficult to navigate. Dennis Tibben, director of government affairs for the Iowa Medical Society, said the program only recently added records from neighboring states, and reporting time is slow because prescribers are required to report only on a weekly basis, unlike other states that require daily reporting. The limitations of the current system, especially the difficulty navigating the program and the lack of integration with (electronic health records), have led many prescribers who initially tried to utilize the PMP to not continue doing so and led many to not start in the first place, Tibben said. Tibben also said the participation rate is low in part because some doctors and other prescribers have focused practices for which they would not prescribe opioids, thus making it unnecessary for them to register with the program. And some practices have designated professionals who check the program for each days patients, negating the need for every physician in the building to be registered with the program and check on each patient during the appointment. Still, Tibben said he hopes the pending upgrade will improve the system and make it more attractive to more prescribers. While well never get to 100 percent prescriber registration, once some of these upgrades are made to make the system more functional and integrated, and make the records more complete, I expect utilization will grow at a more rapid pace, Tibben said. Funk said that is one of the goals of the program upgrade, to make it more easily navigable for prescribers. Funk said there is no official timeline for sending the upgrade project out for bids, but an RFP is being drafted and he hopes to have the new system installed and operating by the end of the calendar year. Thats my hope, Funk said. We hope we can get moving on this as quickly as we can. Similar efforts are underway in other states. In Massachusetts, new technology was implemented this past August, along with a new state law requiring doctors to check the program before prescribing the most addictive opioids, according to Governing. Roughly 70 percent of doctors signed up for the new database in the first six months, Governing reported. John Forbes, a state lawmaker and pharmacist from Urbandale, said the prescription management program is a key tool in the battle against opioid overdoses and related deaths. He said he also hopes the pending upgrades persuade more prescribers to participate. Its important that doctors have this tool in place, and that its a user-friendly tool, Forbes said. Forbes said he supports other legislative measures that have been introduced with the goal of strengthening the program, but have not gained full support of state lawmakers. One would require prescribers to register with the program but not mandate that they use it. Another would require registered prescribers to report prescription information daily, instead of weekly as is currently required. Forbes said he is hesitant to create mandates for health care professionals, but he also thinks it is important that prescribers are using best practices, including using a program designed to protect individuals from opioid overdoses. He said he plans to work on both proposals and attempt to garner bipartisan support during next years legislative session. I dont like to pass legislation that mandates to people how they should practice medicine, Forbes said. But in some cases, if theyre not doing that, then I think we have to step in and make sure the public is protected. Global Smart Backpack Market 2017-2021 - Pvoides Current Size, Trends, Demands, Opportunities and Key Manufacturers Analysis ( AMPL LABS, CO.ALITION, Mancro, Targus, TRAKK ) http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1068183 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1068183 http://www.researchmoz.us/global-smart-backpack-market-2017-2021-report.html http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Albany, NY, May 19, 2017: Latest Report " Global Smart Backpack Market 2017-2021 " features Top Market Players, Market Applications, Market Challenges, Market Trends & Countrywise Analysis Data.Smart backpacks are a new generation of luggage that features some advanced technological enhancements such as embedded sensors, Universal Serial Bus (USB) chargers, Wi-Fi hotspots, and other electronics. Individuals who are engaged in outdoor recreational activities like camping, hiking, and trekking are the major consumers of smart backpacks. Smart backpacks of varying capacities are available in the market to cater to the varying needs of consumers. Based on capacity, smart backpacks can be divided into 15-35-liter backpacks, 36-60-liter backpacks, and above 60-liter backpacks. The marke drivers, trends, and challenges are discussed in the report. PESTLE and Porter's five forces analysis are also included in the report.The global smart backpack market to grow at a CAGR of 4.98% during the period 2017-2021. The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global smart backpack market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report presents a detailed picture of the market by way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources.Get a Sample Research PDF with TOC:Technavio's report, Global Smart Backpack 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- AMPL LABS- CO.ALITION- Mancro- Targus- TRAKKOther prominent vendors- Ghostek- KOPACK- MOS Pack- Poros- Shenzhen Joyelife Technology- +TYLTMarket driver- Increasing government support for the tourism industry.- For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge- Long product replacement cycle.- For a full, detailed list, view our reportEnquiry at:Key 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?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: Consumer Billing Management Software Market : Professional Market Research Report and Forecasts, 2017 - 2025 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=2327 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=2327 https://www.tmrresearch.com/consumer-billing-management-software-market Global Consumer Billing Management Software Market: OverviewConsumer billing management (CBM) software help in the realization of efficient business operations by assisting end users to securely manage customer account data, including statements and bills. Enterprises such as those functioning in the pharmacy sector that work around diverse business processes, high data volumes, and customers are the top users of CBM software. Along with self-service capabilities across a host of channels, CBM solutions help consumers with significantly personalized online account data. However, generally, CBM software are used to perform recurring bill payment processes.Global Consumer Billing Management Software Market: Key TrendsThe international CBM software market is anticipated to be driven by an inflating adoption of cloud-based products. The factoring out of licensing expenses, meagre hardware infrastructure, checked maintenance costs, pay-per-use facility, and cost-effectiveness are some of the advantageous features expected to raise the adoption of CBM software based on the cloud. Canceling the need to install an application software, cloud-based products are predicted to make a statement in the international CBM software market. Cloud-based CBM software allow organizations to simply utilize web browsers for remotely accessing services and data.Request Sample Copy of the Report @The demand in the international CBM software market is envisioned to propel on the back of the need to conduct automated billing procedures and latest technological developments. Although on-premises CBM software are envisaged to currently dominate the market owing to high data security and customization features, cloud-based offerings could take precedence during the forecast years. This could be due to the crucial advantages of using the cloud, including efficiency, agility, and flexibility in business operations and decreased expenses. Revenue cycle management processes performed using billing management software in the pharmacy sector are envisaged to raise the hopes of vendors in the international CBM software market.Request TOC of the Report @Global Consumer Billing Management Software Market: Market PotentialAmdocs is making the cut in the customer and revenue management systems industry with three recent wins in the form of contracts from Biznet, Vodafone India, and Three Ireland. Amdocs would be providing an all-embracing billing and customer care solution to bolster the subscriber and business growth of Biznet. The company would also be offering support to the postpaid billing systems of Vodafone India. As for Three Ireland, Amdocs would be sharing its proficiency for IT digital transformation. Consequently, Amdocs has been announced a leader in the customer and revenue management systems sector.Global Consumer Billing Management Software Market: Regional OutlookThe world CBM software market in the Americas is foreseen to record a handsome growth while riding on important factors such as swelling investments in CBM solutions and elevating application of digital technology. In the near future, the growth of the Americas CBM software market could be augmented by more factors, which include the heightening adoption of cloud-based products in large and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Europe, the Middle East and Africa and Asia Pacific could be other key regions of the world CBM software market.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report@Global Consumer Billing Management Software Market: Competitive LandscapeLarger players in the worldwide CBM software market are prophesied to swell their shares and widen their product portfolio through the acquisition of smaller companies during the forecast period. Due to the presence of local and large multinational companies, the worldwide CBM software market could be characterized by a highly competitive nature. Inclusion of more product features and alteration of current services are prognosticated to be witnessed with a rising incidence of mergers and acquisitions. Huawei, Healthpac, Harris ERP, EnergyCAP, and Amdocs are some of the leading companies in the worldwide CBM software market.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth researh 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 Agriculture and Farm Machinery Market to Expand at 8.7% CAGR between 2015 and 2022 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/agriculture-forestry-machinery.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=1596 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com A market research report, titled Agriculture and Farm Machinery Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2022, has been recently announced by the market intelligence company Transparency Market Research.The report projects that the global agriculture and farm machinery market will have a valuation of US$281.61 bn by 2022. The market, which had a valuation of US$144.10 bn in 2014, is expected to expand at an 8.7% CAGR between 2015 and 2022 to achieve such a rise in its prospects.Obtain Report Details @The chief factors leading to the high demand for agriculture and farm machinery across the globe include the rising level of mechanization in the agriculture sector and government subsidies in many countries for purchasing agriculture and farm machinery as a way to promote improved farm production. Furthermore, the rising demand for food products to satisfy the ever-increasing global population has also prompted an increased demand for a variety of agriculture and farm machinery in the global market.The report segments the global agriculture and farm machinery market based on two criteria: product types and key regional markets.Based on the types of products, the market is segmented into farm tractors, plowing and cultivation machinery, planting and fertilizing machinery, harvesting machinery, haying machinery, and parts and attachments.Of these, the high demand for farm tractors and harvesting machinery across the globe is projected to propel the overall market for agriculture and farm machinery over the reports forecast period. The demand for harvesting machinery is most prominent in Asia Pacific, where these products are observing high demand from countries such as India and China. The high demand can be attributed to the rising food consumption for sufficing the rising population of these countries. The report states that the market segments of planting and fertilizing machinery and plowing and cultivation machinery will expand at moderate pace over the reports forecast period.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @Geography-wise, the market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa. In terms of adoption of new technologies, Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America were the key contributors to the global agriculture and farm machinery market in 2014, with Europe leading the market, accounting for a 36% market share.The report states that the global market for agriculture and farm machinery is highly fragmented and features a large number of businesses vying for a share of profits in this highly competitive market. Many businesses have focused their attention on the area of making agriculture and farm machinery technologically advanced. Many other companies, catering mostly to price-conscious developing markets, are introducing innovative technologies at competitive costs.Some of the key vendors in the market are CLAAS KGaA mbH, Deere & Company, AGCO Corporation, and CNH Global N.V.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: Global Data Governance Industry expected to Reach Market size of USD 2 Billion by 2022 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2362 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/data-governance-market-2362 Market HighlightsData governance market is expected to grow at CAGR of ~ 18% during the forecast period and expected to reach market size of US ~$2 Billion by the end of forecast period. Data governance enterprises can be driven by a desire to advanced data quality; they are more frequently driven by C-Level leaders responding to external regulations. Data governance enterprises may be aimed at attaining a number of purposes with offering better discernibility to internal and external customers compliance with regulatory law, improving processes after speedy company growth or to aid the efficiency of enterprise knowledge workers by reducing error and increasing their scope of knowledge.Request a Sample Report@Data Governance marketThe Global Data Governance market has been segmented on the basis of Components, Function, Deployment, Application Industry, and Geography. On the basis of Components the Data Governance market is segmented as, Solution, Services, Support maintenance. Data Governance segmented on the basis of Deployment such as On Premise and On Cloud. On the basis of Organization Data Governance market is segmented by Applications Sales and Marketing, Product and process management, Risk Management and among others. On the basis of Industry Data Governance market segmented into IT and Telecom Retail, Financial Services, Healthcare, Government and among others.Key Players Alation Inc.(U.S.) Data3Sixty Inc.(U.S.) Reltio Inc. (U.S.) Global Data Excellence (Switzerland) Magnitude Software, Inc.(U.S.) Informatica (U.S.) SAP SE(Germany) Alfresco Software Inc.(U.S.) International Business Machines(IBM)(U.S.) and Symantec Corporation(U.S.)Market Research Analysis:Market Research Future Analysis shows that the growing demand for progressive Data Governance is a crucial feature pouring the progress of this market in the coming years. Data Governance Services demand is booming as there is nearly every technological domain necessitates well distributed managed services. The services being offered must fit seamlessly into the customers location. The requirement to meet the regulations & agreement has driven the market for the data governance. Desire to improve data quality has also largely driven the market for the data governance.Browse Full DG Market @Regional AnalysisNorth America is likely to grip the largest market share and dominate the data governance market in the forecast period, due to large investments in cloud-based solutions, early adoption of emerging technologies, and a large number of players present in this region. The APAC market is likely to see exponential progress and is predictable to be the most emergent region for the global data governance market. This is due to the rising essential to follow compliance and regulations being defined by regulatory bodies and organizations region. The Operations & IT market dominated the Europe Data Governance Market by Function and would remain to be a leading market till the forecast period.Table of Content1 Market Introduction2 Research Methodology2.1 Research Network Solution2.2 Primary Research3 Market Dynamics4 Executive Summary5. Market Factor Analysis5.1 Porters Five Forces Analysis5.2 Supply Chain Analysis6 Global Data Governance Market, By Segments6.1 By Components6.2 By Function6.3 By Deployment6.4 By Application6.4 By Industry6.5 By Geography7 Competitive AnalysisContinuedTaste 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 Global Data Governance Market Research Report- Forecast 2022.List of TableTable 1 Global Data Governance Market, By ComponentsTable 2 Global Data Governance Market, By FunctionTable 3 Global Data Governance Market, By DeploymentTable 4 Global Data Governance Market, By ApplicationTable 5 Global Data Governance Market, By IndustryTable 6 Global Data Governance Market, By GeographyTable 7 North America Data Governance Market, By ComponentsTable 8 North America Data Governance Market, By FunctionTable 9 North America Data Governance Market, By DeploymentTable 10 North America Data Governance Market, By ApplicationContinuedList of FigureFigure 1 Research Network SolutionFigure 2 Global Data Governance Market: By Components (%)Figure 3 Global Data Governance Market: By Function (%)Figure 4 Global Data Governance Market: By Deployment (%)Figure 5 Global Data Governance Market: By Application (%)Figure 6 Global Data Governance Market: By Industry (%)Figure 7 Global Data Governance Market: By Geography (%)Figure 8 North America Data Governance Market, By Components (%)Figure 9 North America Data Governance Market, By Function (%)Figure 10 North America Data Governance Market, By Deployment (%)Figure 11 North America Data Governance Market, By Application (%)Figure 12 North America Data Governance Market, By Industry (%)Figure 13 North America Data Governance Market, By Geography (%)Figure 14 Europe Data Governance Market, By Components (%)Figure 15 Europe Data Governance Market, By Function (%)ContinuedAbout 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 Pharmaceutical Packaging Market in North America 2017-2021 - Presents Key Companies ( Amcor, Bemis, Owens-Illinois, West Pharmaceutical Services, WestRock ) http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1068187 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1068187 http://www.researchmoz.us/pharmaceutical-packaging-market-in-north-america-2017-2021-report.html http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Albany, NY, May 19, 2017: Latest Report " Pharmaceutical Packaging Market in North America 2017-2021 " features Top Market Players, Market Applications, Market Challenges, Market Trends & Countrywise Analysis Data.The purpose of packaging products is to protect perishable goods from external damage and contamination. Pharmaceutical packaging products have high-barrier properties and are available in both unit dosage and multi-dosage formats, thereby ensuring the extension of their shelf life. Regulatory bodies for drug manufacturers strictly enforce international jurisdictions on safe drug delivery. This has fueled the adoption of sustainable packaging. Plastic resins, glass, paper and paperboard, aluminum, and other metals are used in the manufacturing of pharmaceutical packaging products. These are available in various forms and dimensions.The pharmaceutical packaging market in North America to grow at a CAGR of 4.76% during the period 2017-2021. The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the pharmaceutical packaging market in North America for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated by different vendors through the sales of plastic packaging, blister packaging, parenteral packaging, and other packaging to the pharmaceutical industry.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:- Canada- Mexico- USGet a Sample Research PDF with TOC:Technavio's report, Pharmaceutical Packaging Market in North America 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- Amcor- Bemis- Owens-Illinois- West Pharmaceutical Services- WestRockOther prominent vendors- American Health Packaging- Barger Packaging- Becton, Dickinson and Company- CWS Contract Packaging- SCHOTT- WinpakMarket driver- Pharmaceutical drug innovations that require specialized packaging.- For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge- Risk of counterfeit products.- For a full, detailed list, view our reportEnquiry at:Key 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?Browse more details at:About Us: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.Contact Us:Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at: Global Coral Calcium Market 2017 Top Players - CFU Distribution, Now Foods, Coral LLC, Nutrabio, Healthlead http://www.fiormarkets.com/report-detail/56135/request-sample https://goo.gl/ge427G www.fiormarkets.com www.9dimenreports.com The report Global Coral Calcium Industry 2017 delivers a 360-degree view of the Coral Calcium market. The most influential trends and their impact analysis data are available in the report. The key drivers, restraints, and opportunities that will shape the market during the forecast period are mentioned in the report. Furthermore, the threat from substitutes and the challenges the market will face in the coming years have also been noted in the report.Download Free Sample Report @Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Coral Calcium in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaGlobal Coral Calcium market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer,Covering Top PlayersGNCNow FoodsCoral LLCMarine BioNatural Biology, Inc.Brazil Live CoralCFU DistributionNature's WayCoralcayhealthHealthleadNutrabioNature's SunshineBarefootAccess Full Report @On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoCoral Calcium CapsulesCoral Calcium PowderOther FormsOn 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 Coral Calcium for each application, includingSupplementsCosmeticsOtherIf 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.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: Solar Charger Market - Global Application, Classification, Revenue, Growth Rate, Opportunities and Forecast 2017-2022 ReportsWeb http://www.reportsweb.com/Global-Solar-Charger-Market-Research-Report-2017 http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001787881/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/buy&RW0001787881/buy/2900 ReportsWeb.com added Global Solar Charger Market Research Report 2017 to its vast collection of research Database. The report is spread across 121 pages and supported by 21 company leaders.The Global Solar Charger Market Research Report 2017is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Solar Charger industry. In a word, This report studies Solar Charger in Global market, especially in North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia and India, focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with capacity, production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer. Key companies included in this research are Anker, GoalZero, Instapark, Suntrica, EMPO-NI, Suntactics, Voltaic Systems, Solio, Xtorm, Xsories, POWERTRAVELLER, Yingli Solar, Suntech, Shenzhen Portable Electronic Technology, Shenzhen Portable Electronic Technology, Letsolar, Hanergy, Lepower, Ecsson Technology, RIPA and Allpowers Industrial.Browse complete report @Market Segment by Region, this report splits Global into several key Region, with sales, revenue, market share and growth rate of Solar Charger in these regions, from 2011 to 2022 (forecast), like U North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia and India. Firstly, Solar Charger Market On On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into Stationary and Portable. 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 Solar Charger for each application, including Mobile Phones, Digital Cameras, MP3/4, Automotives and Others.Request for Sample @Major points from Table of Contents:1 Solar Charger Market Overview2 Global Solar Charger Market Competition by Manufacturers3 Global Solar Charger Production, Revenue (Value) by Regions (2012-2017)4 Global Solar Charger Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2012-2017)5 Global Solar Charger Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Types6 Global Solar Charger Market Analysis by Applications7 Global Solar Charger Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 Anker7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 Solar Charger Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 Anker Solar Charger Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 GoalZero7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 Solar Charger Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 GoalZero Solar Charger Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Instapark7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 Solar Charger Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 Instapark Solar Charger Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview8 Solar Charger Manufacturing Cost Analysis9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders11 Market Effect Factors Analysis12 Global Solar Charger Market Forecast (2017-2022)List of Tables and FiguresFigure Picture of Solar ChargerFigure Global Solar Charger Production (K Units) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Types (Product Category) (2012-2022)Figure Global Solar Charger Production Market Share by Types (Product Category) in 2016Figure Product Picture of StationaryTable Major Manufacturers of StationaryFigure Product Picture of PortableTable Major Manufacturers of PortableFigure Global Solar Charger Consumption (K Units) by Applications (2012-2022)Figure Global Solar Charger Consumption Market Share by Applications in 2016Figure Mobile Phones ExamplesTable Key Downstream Customer in Mobile PhonesFigure Digital Cameras ExamplesTable Key Downstream Customer in Digital CamerasFigure MP3/4 ExamplesTable Key Downstream Customer in MP3/4Figure Automotives ExamplesTable Key Downstream Customer in AutomotivesFigure Others ExamplesTable Key Downstream Customer in OthersFigure Global Solar Charger Market Size (Million USD) , Comparison (K Units) and CAGR (%) by Regions (2012-2022)Figure North America Solar Charger Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Europe Solar Charger Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure China Solar Charger Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Japan Solar Charger Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Southeast Asia Solar Charger Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure India Solar Charger Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Global Solar Charger Revenue (Million USD) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)Figure Global Solar Charger Capacity, Production (K Units) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)Figure Global Solar Charger Major Players Product Capacity (K Units) (2012-2017)Table Global Solar Charger Capacity (K Units) of Key Manufacturers (2012-2017)Table Global Solar Charger Capacity Market Share of Key Manufacturers (2012-2017)Figure Global Solar Charger Capacity (K Units) of Key Manufacturers in 2016Figure Global Solar Charger Capacity (K Units) of Key Manufacturers in 2017Figure Global Solar Charger Major Players Product Production (K Units) (2012-2017)Table Global Solar Charger Production (K Units) of Key Manufacturers (2012-2017)Table Global Solar Charger Production Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)Place a Direct Purchase Order of Complete Report @ReportsWeb.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 System in Package (SiP) Market worth $18.10 Billion by 2020 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=625 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/System-In-Package-SIP-Market-Chip-Stack-Multi-Chip-Module-MCM-Market-625.html According to a new market research report "System in Package (SIP) Market by Technology (2D, 2.5D & 3D), by Type (BGA, SMT, QFP, SOP), Interconnection Technology (Flip-Chip & Wire-bond), Applications (Communications, Consumer, Automotive, Medical) and Geography (N. America, Europe, APAC & ROW) Global Trends & Forecasts to - 2014 - 2020" the total System in Package (SiP) market is expected to reach $18.10 billion by 2020, growing at a CAGR of 9.57% from 2013 to 2020.Browse 76 market data tables, 59 figures spread through 277 pages and in-depth TOC on System in Package (SIP) Market by Technology (2D, 2.5D & 3D), by Type (BGA, SMT, QFP, SOP), Interconnection Technology (Flip-Chip & Wire-bond), Applications (Communications, Consumer, Automotive, Medical) and Geography (N. America, Europe, APAC & ROW) Global Trends & Forecasts to - 2014 - 2020 Download Informational PDF Brochure :-Early buyers will receive 10% customization on reports.The advance packaging has given a rise to innovative safety systems in automotive and transportation sector which will drive the System in Package (SiP) market; for example, Local Interconnect Network (LIN) solutions within the vehicle for operating the devices was introduced by Atmel Corporation (U.S.). In the overall System in Package (SiP) market, the consumer electronics sector will be the highest revenue generator and lead the market from the demand side. Semiconductor industry has a trend of outsourcing advance packaging and testing services, in which, most of the players are from the Asia-Pacific region.The concept of System in Package (SiP) came into major attention when increasing demands for miniaturization and higher functionality at lower cost process was introduced by advance semiconductor packaging industries. As the ICs and the major electrical component were packaged into a single module, this had increased the overall performance, reliability, and efficiency of the module.The reports detailed segmentations by technology, packaging type, interconnection technology, applications, and geography cover all the existing and emerging technologies in the System in Package (SiP) market. The major packaging technologies that have been extensively covered in the report are 2D, 2.5D, and 3D IC packaging; the packaging types covered are Ball Grid Array (BGA), Surface Mount Technology (SMT), Quad Flat Package (QFP), and Small Outline Package (SOP); and the interconnection technologies for packaging are flip chip and wire bond technologies.The application segmentation of the market covers all the major applications like consumer electronics, communication, medical, industrial, automobile and transportation, and military, defense, and aerospace in detail.One of the objectives of the research study was to analyze the market trends for each of the System in Package (SiP) technologies; and the growth rates of the various packaging type and interconnection technologies.Apart from market segmentation, the report also includes in depth analysis like the Porters five force analysis, value chain with detailed process flow diagram, and market dynamics such as drivers, restraints, and opportunities for the overall System in Package (SiP) market.About MarketsandMarketsMarketsandMarkets is a global market research and consulting company based in the U.S. We publish strategically analyzed market research reports and serve as a business intelligence partner to Fortune 500 companies across the world.MarketsandMarkets also provides multi-client reports, company profiles, databases, and custom research services. M&M covers thirteen industry verticals, including advanced materials, automotives and transportation, banking and financial services, biotechnology, chemicals, consumer goods, energy and power, food and beverages, industrial automation, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, semiconductor and electronics, and telecommunications and IT.We at MarketsandMarkets are inspired to help our clients grow by providing apt business insight with our huge market intelligence repository.Contact:Mr. RohanNorth - Dominion Plaza,17304 Preston Road,Suite 800, Dallas, TX 75252Tel: +1-888-600-6441Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Purchase of further tax CDs possible Voluntary disclosure for tax evasion https://www.grprainer.com/en/legal-advice/tax-law/voluntary-disclosure.html www.grprainer.com/en/ www.grprainer.com/en Since 2010, the German exchequer has reeled in a nationwide total of around six billion euros by way of voluntary declarations for tax evasion. For tax dodgers, voluntary disclosure remains the only way out.While the number of voluntary declarations has gone done noticeably in recent months, this should in no way give tax evaders a false sense of security. The cross-border fight against tax evasion continues. In the period since suspicions were raised concerning the possibility of a Swiss agent having spied on German tax investigators, North Rhine-Westphalias Finance Minister, Norbert Walter-Borjans, has disclosed to the newspaper Rheinische Post that the regional government will not be intimidated and that it was not ruling out purchasing more CDs containing information on tax evaders as part of the fight against tax evasion.In light of the automatic exchange of financial information, tax dodgers should also be worried about their illicit earnings in foreign accounts being detected by the tax authorities. As a consequence, the risk of tax evasion being uncovered followed by the threat of severe penalties continues to go up. The only means of returning to a state of tax compliance is voluntary disclosure leading to immunity. However, this is only possible if the tax evasion has not yet been discovered. In addition to being submitted on time, the voluntary declaration also needs to be both complete and error free for it to be capable of succeeding.For this reason, it is almost impossible for a layperson to submit an effective voluntary declaration without expert assistance. For those who nevertheless attempt to do so on their own or with the help of standard templates, they are running the risk of the voluntary declaration failing. The complex processes involved simply cannot be accounted for in this way. A voluntary declaration must always be tailored to the specific circumstances. Even minor errors can result in the voluntary declaration failing, with the prospect of a conviction for tax evasion then still on the horizon. In this case, voluntary disclosure can only have a mitigating effect on sentencing.To prevent this from happening, lawyers and tax advisors who are experienced in the field of tax law can be consulted. GRP Rainer Rechtsanwalte takes the view that each case of tax evasion is unique and it is therefore necessary for the voluntary declaration to take into account the respective circumstances. There is no such thing as a ready-made voluntary declaration. It needs to be tailored to the specific circumstances of a given case. Only then can it succeed and lead to immunity.GRP Rainer LLPis an international firm of lawyers and tax advisors who are specialists in commercial law. The firm counsels commercial and industrial companies and corporations, as well as associations, small- and mid-sized businesses, self-employed freelancers and private individuals worldwide from offices Cologne, Berlin, Bonn, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart and London UK.Contact Michael RainerLawyer, Managing PartnerGRP Rainer LLPGurzenich-QuartierAugustinerstrae 1050667 CologneGermanyPhone: +49 221-27 22 75-0info@grprainer.com Structured Cabling Market worth $13.13 Billion by 2020 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/structured-cabling-market-199394143.html According to a new market research report "Structured Cabling Market by Solution Type (Products, Services and Software), Vertical (IT & Telecommunication, Residential & Commercial, Government & Education, Transportation, Industrial and Others) and geography - Global forecast to 2020", the global structured cabling market was valued at $7.72 Billion in 2014 and is expected to reach up to $13.13 Billion by 2020, at a CAGR of 9.0% between 2015 and 2020.Browse 69 tables and 92 figures spread through 179 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Structured Cabling Market - Global forecast to 2020"Early buyers will receive 10% customization on reports.Structured cabling system can be defined as a set of cables & connectivity products that are used for the integration of various management systems to enable the transmission of voice, data, and video signals. The structured cabling market has faced its highs and lows, however has managed to register a healthy growth rate. This market is expected to witness moderate growth during the forecast period. The demand for high-speed connectivity devices & systems, trend of data center convergence, and expansion of the communication infrastructure are some of the primary factors that are contributing to the growth of this market. The extensive growth of LED lighting systems market, transition from analog to IP-based video surveillance systems, and increasing usage of FTTH/FTTP are expected to drive the market in the future.This report provides a detailed analysis of the overall structured cabling market and segments the same based on component, application, vertical, and geography.The objective of the research study was to analyze the market trends for each of the industries, the growth rates of the various solution types, and the demand comparison for all industry verticals. The structured cabling market has been segmented based on solution type into products, services, and software which are the crucial components of a structured cabling system which is formed by the integration of various management systems to combine the voice, data, and video signals.Apart from the market segmentation, the report also covers the Porters Five Forces analysis, the markets value chain with a detailed process flow diagram, and the market dynamics such as the drivers, restraints, and opportunities in the overall structured cabling market.The major players in the structured cabling market have also been profiled in this report. The company profile section covers the profiles of the top 10 players in this market. It provides information about their business overview along with products & services offered, key strategies and recent developments, and the MnM view for the profiled companies.This report profiles all the major companies involved in the structured cabling market such as CommScope, Inc. (U.S.), Nexans S.A. (France), Panduit Corp. (U.S.), Legrand (France), Corning, Inc. (U.S.), Belden, Inc. (U.S.), ABB Ltd. (Switzerland), Schneider Electric SE (France), Panduit Corp. (U.S.), and Siemon (U.S.).About MarketsandMarketsMarketsandMarkets is worlds No. 2 firm in terms of annually published premium market research reports. Serving 1700 global fortune enterprises with more than 1200 premium studies in a year, M&M is catering to multitude of clients across 8 different industrial verticals. We specialize in consulting assignments and business research across high growth markets, cutting edge technologies and newer applications. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors.M&Ms flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. The new included chapters on Methodology and Benchmarking presented with high quality analytical infographics in our reports gives complete visibility of how the numbers have been arrived and defend the accuracy of the numbers.We at MarketsandMarkets are inspired to help our clients grow by providing apt business insight with our huge market intelligence repository.Contact:Mr. RohanMarkets and MarketsUNIT no 802, Tower no. 7, SEZMagarpatta city, HadapsarPune, Maharashtra 411013, India1-888-600-6441Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com MASON CITY The 27th annual Stu Nevermann Memorial Run is 8 a.m. Saturday, May 27. The chip-timed 4-mile run, which travels a portion of the Band Festival parade route, begins and ends at the Mason City Aquatic Center, 901 Birch Drive. Registration, which is $20 for adults and $10 for students, can be completed at www.active.com. Registrations are also accepted through race morning. Packets can be picked up at the aquatic center 4 to 7 p.m. Friday or 7 to 7:45 a.m. Saturday. Bike valet will be available from 7 to 9:30 a.m. Trophies will be given for overall male and female winners with medals for first, second and third place in each division. All proceeds benefit Mason City and Newman cross country teams, as well as Roosevelt Elementary's reading and running program. Nearly $10,000 has been distributed the past seven years. Three or four runners from Roosevelt Elementary will participate this year, as well as student support advocate Mark Young and another staff member. Those part of Roosevelt's club follow a 5K training plan before spending a half-hour reading. About 41 are participating this year in the club, which is modeled after Lincoln Intermediate's Read and Run, where sixth-grade literacy instructor Kathleen Nutt developed after discovering kids typically perform better academically after exercising. Students are gearing up for next weekend, Young said, recently completing a 25-minute walk or run without stopping. The funds Roosevelt's club receives covers Stu Nevermann entry fees as well as T-shirts for the kids, Young said. Stu Nevermann, who ran North Iowa road races with his dad, Le, died at age 25 due to a heart ailment. He was a 1982 Mason City High School graduate who lettered in cross country and track. The race is also part of the North Iowa Race Series, where participants can earn points with each race finish. Cash prizes will be given to the top series finishers. Visit www.northiowaraceseries.com for more information. Contact Carrie Berg at 641-210-7005 or thebergs1@juno.com with questions. Edupliance Announces Webinar To Cover How to Correct IRS Forms https://www.edupliance.com/webinar/the-abcs-and-xyzs-of-correcting-irs-forms?utm_source=openpr&utm_medium=pr www.edupliance.com Edupliance announces webinar titled, Complete Guide to Correcting IRS Forms that aims to advise attendees on the correct way to fill Form 941, use Form W-2c to correct the employees year-end information as well as how to file amended return for Form 940. The webinar goes LIVE on Wednesday, May 31, from 01:00 PM to 02:30 PM, Eastern Time.Mistakes can occur in even the most efficient and knowledgeable payroll departments! When this does happen corrections need to be made as soon as the error is discovered. These corrections have to be handled properly. But what about the quarterly and year-end reports payroll is responsible for? If a mistake has been made on the employees wages doesnt the correction to it need to be reflected in the quarterly or year-end forms? In this webinar, we will discuss how to correct the Form 941 when an error has been discovered after it has been filed. We will examine when to use the Form W-2c to correct the employees year-end information after the Form W-2 has been given to the employee as well as before and after the form has been filed with the Social Security Administration. We will also review how to file an amended return for the Form 940.The 90-minute webinar will be conducted by Vicki Lambert, CPP, who has over 35 years of hands-on experience in all facets of payroll functions as well as over 20 years as a trainer and author. Ms. Lambert has become the most sought-after and respected voice in the practice and management of payroll issues. She has conducted open market training seminars on payroll issues across the United States that have been attended by executives and professionals from some of the most prestigious firms in business today.Webinar attendees will learn: Due dates for filing correction forms Correcting the Form 941 using the Form 941-X Correcting the Form 944 using the Form 944-X Filing amended returns for Form 940 When to issue a Form W-2c and how to complete it When to use the Form W-3c and how to complete it How to file Form W-2c electronically instead of on paperTo register for the webinar, visitEdupliance is an online information and compliance training provider which offers webinars (Live and On-Demand), DVDs and downloadable resources that cover concurrent topics pertaining to various industries. With an expert panel of guest speakers, Edupliance brings state-of-the-art virtual technology solutions and industry-leading training sessions that are easy to learn, easily accessible and cater to people with varied interests. Edupliance is privately held and located in Hillsboro, Oregon. For more information, visitEdupliance101, 4660, NE Belknap Court, Hillsboro, Oregon 97124Ph: +1-(844) 810-1151Email: support@edupliance.com Global Water Jet Loom Market 2017 Analysis, Industry, Price, Revenue, Growth, Trends, Forecast 2022 http://www.fiormarkets.com/report-detail/53942/request-sample www.fiormarkets.com www.9dimenreports.com The report studies Water Jet Loom 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 recent report on Water Jet Loom market offers insightful information about the present scenario of the market across the global. The report, titled Water Jet Loom points out the key factors affecting the growth of the market. Latest market trends as well as the future growth opportunities have been mentioned in the report. 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Governments efforts to push the econo my is expected to positively affect the various sectors and increase demand from the market.The report discusses the competitive vendor landscape of the Water Jet Loom market in the globe. Some of the key players in the market have been profiled in the report and crucial information about them such as their business overview, revenue segmentation, and product segmentation have been mentioned in the report. The report takes note of the market share held by the key players and estimates their future growth through SWOT analysis. It serves as a useful guide for the new entrants in the Water Jet Loom market.Download Free Sample Report @Several analytical tools such as market attractiveness analysis, investment feasibility analysis, and investment return analysis are employed to study the global Water Jet Loom market, whereas SWOT analysis and Porters five forces analysis are utilized to evaluate the major players in the Water Jet Loom market in this report.This report not only provides a complete picture of the overall condition of the Water Jet Loom market, but also assists the players in this market to create profitable market strategies in order to gain a competitive edge.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: Professional Mobile Radio Market Global Analysis and 2025 Forecasts By Technology and Application The Insight Partners http://www.theinsightpartners.com/reports/professional-mobile-radio-market-research http://www.theinsightpartners.com/inquiry/TIPTE100000393 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/discount/TIPTE100000393 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/buy/TIPTE100000393 The Insight Partners added Professional Mobile Radio Market to 2025 Global Analysis and Forecasts by Technology and Application to its database.Professional Mobile Radios are broadly used within the professional community to provide communications other than the normal cellular or public switch telephone networks. These types of mobile radios offer essential communication for security or business where there is a need for mobile communications with a variety of users and the requirements are very different to those provided by the telephonic network.Complete research report is available atThe report aims to provide an overview of global professional mobile radios market with detailed market segmentation by technology, applications, and five major geographical regions. The global professional mobile radios market is expected to witness decent growth rate during the forecast period. Professional need such as integrated data communications and reliable communication across the service area will drive professional mobile radios market in the coming years.The objective of this report is as follows:- To provide overview of the global professional mobile radios market- To analyze and forecast the global professional mobile radios market on the basis of technology and application- To provide market size and forecast till 2025 for overall professional mobile radios market with respect to five major regions, namely; North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA), and South America (SAM), which is later sub-segmented by respective countries- To evaluate market dynamics effecting the market during the forecast period i.e., drivers, restraints, opportunities, and future trend- To provide exhaustive PEST analysis for all five regions- To profiles key professional mobile radios players influencing the market along with their SWOT analysis and market strategiesSome of the leading players in professional mobile radios market are Sepura PLC, Motorola Solutions, Inc., Harris Corporation, Jvckenwood Corporation, Thales SA, Raytheon Company, RELM Wireless Corporation, Hytera Communications Corporation Limited, Tait Radio Communications and SimocoInquire before buying atMajor Points from Table of Content6 Professional Mobile Radio Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2025 Technology6.1 Overview6.2 Technology market forecast and analysis6.3 DMR Market6.3.1 Overview6.3.2 DMR market forecast and analysis6.4 P25 Market6.4.1 Overview6.4.2 P25 market forecast and analysis6.5 TETRA Market6.5.1 Overview6.5.2 Tetra market forecast and analysis6.6 Others Market6.6.1 Overview6.6.2 Others market forecast and analysis7 Professional Mobile Radio Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2025 Application7.1 Overview7.2 Application market forecast and analysis7.3 Transportation Market7.3.1 Overview7.3.2 Transportation market forecast and analysis7.4 Military and Defense Market7.4.1 Overview7.4.2 Military and Defense market forecast and analysis7.5 Security Market7.5.1 Overview7.5.2 Security market forecast and analysis7.6 Mining Market7.6.1 Overview7.6.2 Mining market forecast and analysis7.7 Utility Market7.7.1 Overview7.7.2 Utility market forecast and analysis7.8 Commercial Market7.8.1 Overview7.8.2 Commercial market forecast and analysis7.9 Others Market7.9.1 Overview7.9.2 Others market forecast and analysisInquire for discount at8 Professional Mobile Radio Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2025 Geographical Analysis8.1 North America8.1.1 North America Professional Mobile Radio market overview8.1.2 North America Professional Mobile Radio market forecast and analysis8.1.2.1 North America market forecast and analysis By Countries8.1.2.1.1 US market8.1.2.1.2 Canada market8.1.2.1.3 Mexico market8.1.2.2 North America market forecast and analysis By Type8.1.2.3 North America market forecast and analysis By Application8.2 Europe8.2.1 Europe Professional Mobile Radio market overview8.2.2 Europe Professional Mobile Radio market forecast and analysis8.2.2.1 Europe market forecast and analysis By Countries8.2.2.1.1 France market8.2.2.1.2 Germany market8.2.2.1.3 Italy market8.2.2.1.4 Spain market8.2.2.1.5 UK market8.2.2.2 Europe market forecast and analysis By Type8.2.2.3 Europe market forecast and analysis By Application8.3 Asia Pacific (APAC)8.3.1 Asia Pacific Professional Mobile Radio market overview8.3.2 Asia Pacific Professional Mobile Radio market forecast and analysis8.3.2.1 Asia Pacific market forecast and analysis By Countries8.3.2.1.1 Australia market8.3.2.1.2 China market8.3.2.1.3 India market8.3.2.1.4 Japan market8.3.2.2 Asia Pacific market forecast and analysis By Type8.3.2.3 Asia Pacific market forecast and analysis By Application8.4 Middle East and Africa (MEA)8.4.1 Middle East and Africa Professional Mobile Radio market overview8.4.2 Middle East and Africa Professional Mobile Radio market forecast and analysis8.4.2.1 Middle East and Africa market forecast and analysis By Countries8.4.2.1.1 South Africa market8.4.2.1.2 Saudi Arabia market8.4.2.1.3 UAE market8.4.2.2 Middle East and Africa market forecast and analysis By Type8.4.2.3 Middle East and Africa market forecast and analysis By ApplicationPurchase a copy of this research report at8.5 South America (SAM)8.5.1 South America Professional Mobile Radio market overview8.5.2 South America Professional Mobile Radio market forecast and analysis8.5.2.1 South America market forecast and analysis By Countries8.5.2.1.1 Brazil market8.5.2.2 South America market forecast and analysis By Technology8.5.2.3 South America market forecast and analysis By ApplicationAbout Us:The Insight Partners is a one-stop industry research provider of actionable solutions. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are specialist in industries such as Technology, Media, and Telecommunication.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Automated Passenger Counting and Information System Market Future Trends and Scope Analysis By 2025 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=2285 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=2285 https://www.tmrresearch.com/automated-passenger-counting-information-system-market Global Automated Passenger Counting and Information System Market: OverviewElectronic machines that keep a tab on the number of passengers that aboard or alight a vehicle are known as automated passenger counting systems. They are fast supplanting schedule checkers that were earlier leveraged to manually gather ridership information. Automated passenger counting and information systems are efficient and inexpensive as they do not require hiring additional manpower.Passenger information system, again, is an electronic information system that supplies real time passengers information, including predictions about arrival and departure times of transport means.Overall, automated passenger counting and information system aid in making changes in services in keeping with changing ridership patterns, establishing budgets, and securing funding.Request Sample Copy of the Report @Global Automated Passenger Counting and Information System Market: Key TrendsDriving demand in the global automated passenger counting and information system market is the pressing need to accomplish fleet optimization and demand for smart telematic solutions. Other factors stoking the market are technological progress in the domain of passenger information systems and swift pace of urbanization. The unique perceived benefit of automatic passenger counting is the accuracy of the information as they deploy sensors to detect ridership patterns.One drawback of automated passenger counting and information systems is that they are expensive to install. This has been acting as a roadblock to their swift sales particularly in the price sensitive emerging economies. However, the quick return on investment that they provide, will likely help overcome such challenges to the growth in the market.Request TOC of the Report @Global Automated Passenger Counting and Information System Market: Market PotentialThe global market for automated passenger counting and information system is making gigantic strides and going forward too is slated to hold on to the momentum. The dynamic pricing of tickets and bettering existing real-time passenger information systems have been creating substantial opportunity in the Asia Pacific.The market for automated passenger counting and information system can be classified based on different parameters. Based on type, for example, the market for automated passenger counting and information systems can be divided into passenger information display systems, emergency communication systems, passenger information announcement systems, infotainment systems, and passenger information mobile applications. Depending upon components, the market can be segmented into sensors, multimedia displays, and networking and communication devices. Further, depending upon the mode of transport, the market can be segregated into roadways, waterways, railways, and airways.Global Automated Passenger Counting and Information System Market: Regional OutlookGeography-wise, the global market for automatic passenger counting and information system can be divided into Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and the Rest of the World comprising of Latin America, Middle East, and Africa. Government mandates supporting deployment of such systems in North America, has made it a key market. Europe is another key market. The installation of automated counting and information system helps improve transit time efficacy and helps to resolve passengers complaints quickly. This has driven their demand in first world countries of North America and Europe.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report@Global Automated Passenger Counting and Information System Market: Competitive AnalysisTo assess the competition prevailing in the global market for automated passenger counting and information system market, the report profiles players such as Eurotech SpA, DILAX Intelcom GmbH, iris-GmbH, Urban Transportation Associates, Inc., and HELLA Aglaia Mobile Vision GmbH. Prominent names in the passenger information system includes Alstom, Cisco Systems, Inc., Siemens AG., GE Transportation, Hitachi, Ltd., and Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.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 Student Information Management Systems Market 2016 Overview, Analysis, Trends, Growth and Forecasts ReportsWeb http://www.reportsweb.com/global-student-information-management-systems-market-2016-2020 http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001291811/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001291811/buying The primary roles of the SIMS software entail collection, organization, and management of data. It can also generate critical reports and dashboards, which provide insights about queries and setbacks. In addition, the system provides a plethora of data sources, which enable educational institutions to take data-backed decisions. Therefore, apart from effective archiving and management of student data, these tools facilitate flexible availability of requisite data on an on-demand basis.Publisher's analysts forecast the global student information management systems market to grow at a CAGR of 15.26% during the period 2016-2020.For more information about this report:Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global student information management systems market for 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, the report considers revenue generated from software licenses, maintenance, implementation, and subscriptions. The report considers the revenue generated from the following end-user segments.- Higher education- Pre-K to primaryThe market is divided into the following segments based on geography:- APAC- Europe- North America- ROWPublisher's report, Global Student Information Management Systems 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- Jenzabar- Oracle- Skyward- Unit4Request Sample Copy atOther prominent vendors- Campus Management- Eduware- Ellucian- Focus School Software- Foradian Technologies- Illuminate Education- SungardMarket driver- Automation of workflow- For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge- Inadequate exposure of teachers to SIMS- For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend- Software integration with mobile devices- For a full, detailed list, view our reportInquire for Report atContact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Food Amino Acids Market Deep Research Study with Forecast by 2025 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=2279 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=2279 https://www.tmrresearch.com/food-amino-acids-market Global Food Amino Acids Market: OverviewAmino acids are a widely consumed organic compound through its high percentage of use in nutritional supplements, foods, and fertilizers. The healthcare industry also makes a wide array of usage of amino acids through their demand for chiral catalysts, biodegradable plastics, and several drugs.Global Food Amino Acids Market: Key TrendsThe skyrocketing demand by consumers for food products that come with added health benefits is currently propelling the global food amino acids market. A growing number of consumers are leaning towards convenience foods and functional foods that contain supplementary nutrition. The growing demand for processed foods is also boosting the demand for food amino acids within the food and beverages industry. Amino acids such as glutamic acid are in high demand owing to positive research results and a high rate of marketing by key processed food manufacturers. There is currently a much higher use of synthetic amino acids over plant and animal sources, due to the ease of manufacturing and the greater level of purity they can be manufactured at. However, a growing preference by consumers for plant-based foods is likely to boost this segment. The global food amino acids market is being restrained by the negative image generated by certain amino acids, such as monosodium glutamate.Request Sample Copy of the Report @Global Food Amino Acids Market: Market PotentialThe consumption of plant-based amino acids is catching up at a fast pace across the world, thanks to a growing number of vegetarians and vegans that are depending on plant sources for proteins. A large number of common plant-based foods are reasonable sources of amino acids, as research has shown. Although the measurement falls short when compared to animal-based foods, producers are investing heavily in providing strictly plant-based amino acids to the people who are refraining from the consumption of animal products.One of key manufacturers of amino acids in the world, Ajinomoto Co., is taking giant strides towards the provision of functional foods that contain high volumes of amino acids. One of the older ventures of the company is Amino Vital, an energy drink branded by the Japanese company, is finding its way to market shelves in all parts of the world, including Raleigh, where the company recently started production of Amino Vital. In 2016, Ajinomoto Co., had also revealed their Amino Vital Gold product line in Brazil. The product is largely available in most parts of the world online as well.Request TOC of the Report @Global Food Amino Acids Market: Regional OutlookThe global food amino acids market can be segmented on the basis of regions, into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the rest of the world. Among the various regions, Asia Pacific has dominated the overall commutation rate and demand volume in the global food amino acids market over the recent past. Several factors have led to the leading share held by Asia Pacific, including a high population density and a greater proportion of vegetarians. The Asia Pacific regions is expected to continue showing a high level of demand for food amino acids due to an increasing awareness towards functional foods and increasing disposable incomes. The demand for food amino acids is expected to continue increasing at a steady rate in North America and Europe under the growing demand for functional foods.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report@Global Food Amino Acids Market: Competitive AnalysisThe leading players in the global food amino acids market currently include Ajinomoto Co., Inc., Brenntag AG, Kingchem LLC, Kraemer Martin GmbH (Azelis), Kyowa Hakko Kirin Group, Rochem International Inc., Sigma-Aldrich, CJ Corporation, Taiyo International, Prinova Group LLC, Daesang Corporation, Monteloeder S.L., Hugestone Enterprise Co., Ltd., Shaoxing Yamei Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Sunrise Nutrachem Group, Amino GmbH, Qingdao Samin Chemical Co., Ltd., Pangaea Sciences Inc., Pacific Rainbow International, Inc., and Evonik Industries. The competition in the global food amino acids market is expected to remain high over the coming years, owing to an increasing interest shown by consumers for branded functional foods and plant-based protein sources.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 Middle East and Africa Epoxy Powder Coatings Market-Growth, Trends and Forecasts to 2022 http://www.orbisresearch.com/contacts/request-sample/218439 http://www.orbisresearch.com/reports/index/middle-east-and-africa-epoxy-powder-coatings-market-growth-trends-and-forecasts-2017-2022 http://www.orbisresearch.com/contact/purchase/218439 Orbis Research released a new research report of 138 pages on title Middle East and Africa Epoxy Powder Coatings Market-Growth, Trends and Forecasts (2017-2022), Report Focuses on Market Status and Forecast, by Players, Types and Applications with detailed analysis, forecast and strategies.The Middle East and Africa Epoxy Powder Coating Market has been estimated at USD xxx.xx million in 2015 and is projected to reach USD xxx.xx million by 2020, at a CAGR of x.x% during the forecast period from 2015 to 2020. The Middle East and Africa Epoxy Powder Coatings market is growing at an average rate. Epoxy Powder Coatings are applied to the surface of varied materials to protect them from corrosion and heat due to the external or internal environmental conditions.Download PDF Sample of Epoxy Powder Coatings in Middle East & Africa Market Report@Epoxy Powder coatings have a wide variety of applications in many industries. They are manufactured by various major companies in the Middle East and Africa. The major end user industry is building and construction which accounts for majority of the worlds consumption of Epoxy Powder Coatings. However, in Middle East and African region, the use of pipes and fittings for various oil and gas operations results in rise in the demand for epoxy powder coatings. The use of epoxy powder coatings is also found in medium-density fiberboard and other natural wood products, pipeline coatings and others.The market is expected to be driven by growing pipeline usage for various purposes. The increasing usage of corrosion resistant coatings is also a healthy sign for the Epoxy Powder Coatings market. Moreover, the increasing demand for eco-friendly coatings also acts as a significant driver. The inability of these coatings to be mixed with others is a major drawback to epoxy powder coatings and active research is happening to overcome these shortcomings.Browse Full Report with TOC:The market has also been geographically segmented within Middle East and Africa into Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Qatar and rest of Middle East and Africa. This high production is driven by a rapid growth in oil and gas sector that occurred chiefly due to the increasing investment in this sector to become self-reliant in the coming future.Company profiles of the major Epoxy Powder Coating manufacturers been discussed in this study. These include Axalta, 3M, Arkema, BASF SE, Solvay and Valspar among others.Key Deliverables in the StudyMarket analysis for the Middle East and Africa Epoxy Powder Coating Market, with region specific assessments and competition analysis on Middle East and Africa and regional scalesPlace Purchase Order for this Report@Market definition along with the identification of key drivers and restraints Identification of factors instrumental in changing the market scenarios, rising prospective opportunities, and identification of key companies that can influence this market on a Middle East and Africa and regional scale Extensively researched competitive landscape section with profiles of major companies along with their market shares Identification and analysis of the macro and micro factors that affect the Middle East and Africa Epoxy Powder Coating market on both Middle East and Africa and regional scales A comprehensive list of key market players along with the analysis of their current strategic interests and key financial information A wide-ranging knowledge and insights about the major players in this industry and the key strategies adopted by them to sustain and grow in the studied market Insights on the major countries/regions in which this industry is blooming and to also identify the regions that are still untappedTable of Content:1. Introduction1.1 Description1.2 Research Methodology1.3 Market Definition2. Executive Summary3. Market Insights3.1 Overview3.2 Industry Value Chain Analysis3.3 Regulatory Policies Analysis3.4 Industry Attractiveness Porters 5 Force Analysis3.4.1 Bargaining Power of Suppliers3.4.2 Bargaining Power of Consumers3.4.3 Threat of New Entrants3.4.4 Threat of Substitute Products and Services3.4.5 Degree of Competition3.5 Raw Material Analysis4. Market Dynamics4.1 Drivers4.1.1 Soaring Demand for Eco-friendly Coatings4.1.2 Rising uses in the pipeline industry4.1.3 Increasing Usage of Corrosion Resistant Materials4.2 Restraints4.2.1 Technical Limitations on Size4.2.2 Immiscibility With Other coatings4.3 Opportunities4.3.1 Increasing Applications of Epoxy Powder Coatings4.3.2 Emerging Research and development in the industry5. Market Segmentation and Analysis5.1 By Usage5.1.1 Aerospace5.1.2 Automotive5.1.3 Building & Construction5.1.4 Energy5.1.5 Marine5.1.6 Oil & Gas5.1.7 Pipelines5.1.8 Protective coatings5.1.9 Others6. Regional Analysis (Market size, growth and forecast)6.1 MEA6.1.1 Saudi Arabia6.1.2 South Africa6.1.3 Qatar6.1.4 Rest of MEA7. Technological Snapshot7.1 Current Technologies7.2 Upcoming Technologies7.3 Mergers & Acquisitions8. Competitive Landscape8.1 Joint Ventures, Collaborations and Agreements8.2 Vendor Market Share Analysis8.3 Strategies Adopted by Leading Players8.4 New Product Launches9. Company Profiles9.1 3M9.2 Axalta9.3 Akzo Nobel9.4 Arkema9.5 BASF SE9.6 Chugoku Marine Paints9.7 Evonik9.8 Jotun9.9 The DOW Chemical Company9.10 PPG9.11 Sherwin Williams9.12 Solvay9.13 Wacker Chemie9.14 Hempel10. Future Insights11. DisclaimerOrbis Research is a single point aid for all your Market research requirements. We have vast database of reports from the leading publishers and authors across the globe. We specialize in delivering customised reports as per the requirements of our clients. We have complete information about our publishers and hence are sure about the accuracy of the industries and verticals of their specialisation. This helps our clients to map their needs and we produce the perfect required Market research study for our clients.Hector CostelloSenior Manager Client Engagements4144N Central Expressway,Suite 600, Dallas,Texas - 75204, U.S.A.Phone No.: +1 (214) 884-6817; +912064101019Email ID: sales@orbisresearch.com Automated Trading Market 2016 Trends, Growth, Analysis and Forecasts ReportsWeb http://www.reportsweb.com/global-automated-trading-market-2016-2020 http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001427443/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001427443/buying The automated trading systems are also referred to as algorithmic trading or mechanical trading systems where it allows the trader to establish specific rules for both trade entries and trade exits. They are generally programmed in a way so that they can be automatically executed through computer systems. The entry and exit in the trade is based on the moving average crossovers. Sometimes it also requires the understanding of the programming language that is specific to the user's trading platform. The automated trading requires the use of software that is linked to a direct access broker and the specific rules that are written in the proprietary language in the platform. For instance, the TradeStation platform uses the Easy programming language.Publisher's analysts forecast the global automated trading market to grow at a CAGR of 10.31% during the period 2016-2020.For more information about this report:Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global automated trading market for 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, the report considers the net commission earned from automated trading platform providers in the Americas, APAC, and EMEA.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:-Americas-APAC-EMEAPublisher's report, Global Automated Trading 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-Citadel-KCG-Optiver-Two Sigma InvestmentsRequest Sample Copy atOther prominent vendors-DRW Trading-Flow Traders-Hudson River Trading-Jump Trading-RSJ Algorithmic Trading-Spot Trading-Sun Trading-Tower Research Capital-Tradebot Systems-Virtu FinancialMarket driver-Increased integration of financial markets-For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge-Lack of awareness in automated trading-For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend-Advancements in technology-For a full, detailed list, view our reportInquire for Report atContact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Global Water-Resistant Silica Gel Market 2017 Analysis, Industry, Price, Revenue, Growth, Trends, Forecast 2022 http://www.fiormarkets.com/report-detail/53947/request-sample www.fiormarkets.com www.9dimenreports.com The report studies Water-Resistant Silica Gel 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 2022Global Water-Resistant Silica Gel Industry is an in-depth report that offers a unique mix of specialist industry knowledge and the region-wise research expertise. The report delivers the market size and the trends for each sector.The report on Global Water-Resistant Silica Gel market begins with an overview of the market. The report details the historical data of the Global Water-Resistant Silica Gel market along with the current scenario. Then the report covers the trends shaping the Global Water-Resistant Silica Gel market. The drivers and restraints that will shape this industry during the forecast period have been evaluated in detail. Moving on, the report dwells on the market opportunities and their impact on the key players operating in the market. Moreover, the key threats the Global Water-Resistant Silica Gel market will experience during the forecast period are discussed.The next part of the report features an in-depth segmentation of the market. The report includes valuable information about the key segments in the Global Water-Resistant Silica Gel market along with their sub-sectors. Revenue share and size along with insightful forecasts of these key segments and other prominent sub-segments are available in this report. The report explores the trends that will impact the growth of the emerging regional sectors in the Global Water-Resistant Silica Gel market.Download Free Sample Report @The recent findings along with the promise they hold for the future in the Global Water-Resistant Silica Gel market have also been analyzed. The report features contributions from several key industry participants along with scientists that are leading figures in their respective fields.Towards the end, the report scrutinizes the competitive landscape of the Global Water-Resistant Silica Gel market. Most prominent players with their business overview are featured in this research study. The key players market revenue, top strategies, innovations, collaborations, and other developments are mentioned in detail in the report. These insights about the top companies in the Global Water-Resistant Silica Gel market will let the user know about the market opportunities they can tap on to, with the best of tactical decisions.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: Hackers had lunch of Zomatos 17 million users data! Texas (USA), Canada (Toronto) & India (Business Network)- 19th May 2017: Zomato, Indias leading food technology company has confirmed the news that on Thursday 18th May,17 million users sensitive data had been hacked.According to the Zomato blog, over 120 million users visit Zomato every month. 17 million user records from Zomatos database have been stolen. The stolen information has user IDs, Names, Usernames, Email addresses, and Passwords.According to Hackread.com, hackers (nclay) has claimed the data stolen is up for sale in the dark web marketplace. The price for all this data is set at $1,001.43 (0.5587 bitcoins).Zomato released a note to press saying Since we have reset the passwords, affected users' Zomato account as well as credit card information is secure, so there is nothing to worry about there. According to Zomatos founder Deepinder Goyals twitter post, 60% of users use Goog/FB for logging in to Zomato. Hence these users data is at zero risk.Cyber security consultant tweeted that he verified sample data from the dark web market and claimed Zomato has used MD5 to hash passwords which can be cracked in seconds.However Zomato has claimed in his blog passwords with a one-way hashing algorithm, with multiple hashing iterations and individual salt per passwordThe good news is payment information is stored in separate secure PCI Data Security Standard (DSS) compliant vault, not affecting the data.Zomatos security measures has been proved lagging behind indicating a serious need for time to time Cyber security testing.About Suma Soft:For over 17years, SumaSoft has been providing Cyber Security Consultation and building robust IT security roadmaps for companies worldover. We help provide advanced digital forensic analysis of computers, network communications, mobile devices and deliver solutions through investigation of fraudulent activities.For over 17years, SumaSoft has been providing Cyber Security Consultation and building robust IT security roadmaps for companies worldover. We help provide advanced digital forensic analysis of computers, network communications, mobile devices and deliver solutions through investigation of fraudulent activities.Suma Soft Private Limited, SumaCenter,2nd Floor, Opposite Himali Society. Erandawane,Pune, Maharashtra 411004 BUFFALO CENTER | North Iowa Elementary students celebrated a Quasquicentennial Day May 12, engaging an activities from the past like candle dipping, square dancing and weaving. The day was in honor of the 125th anniversaries the three towns in the school district, Buffalo Center, Lakota and Thompson. Rake, the district's fourth town, will celebrate its 125th in a few years. The event included elementary staff and many community volunteers, who put on various learning stations in and around the school in Buffalo Center. Land Mobile Radio Market : Recent Industry Trends and Projected Industry Growth, 2017 - 2025 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=2261 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=2261 https://www.tmrresearch.com/land-mobile-radio-market Global Land Mobile Radio Market: OverviewLand mobile radio systems (LMRS) are wireless communication system used by terrestrial users in vehicles or on foot. These systems can be hand portable or mobile. The technologies that are implemented in LMRS are analog and digital. Some of common applications of these systems are retail, transportation, mining, home security, and military and defense. These systems are used by dispatched services, public works organization, and first responder organizations such as fire, ambulance services, and police.Global Land Mobile Radio Market: Key TrendsOne of the primary drivers for the global land mobile radio (LMR) market is the gradual shift from analog to digital LMR. Merits such as high standards of performance, less power consumption, log display, high bandwidth, and better quality coverage are prompting manufacturers and users to shift towards digital LMR. The pressing need for efficient critical communication operations is also stirring up the demand for LMR. Moreover, these radios find application in various industries, such as transportation and military and defense. Thus, the robust growth of these sectors is positively impacting the growth of the market.Request Sample Copy of the Report @On the other hand, the limitation pertaining to the spectrum bandwidth of LMR is restricting the market from realizing its utmost potential. Moreover, the high capital required for developing LMR is inhibiting the growth of the market. The emergence of Internet of Things (IoT) coupled with the proliferation of IoT devices is emerging as a major challenge for players in the global land mobile radio market.Global Land Mobile Radio Market: Market PotentailWith the birthing of alternative communication systems, the much of the attention is on technological advancements for the global land mobile radio market to thrive. Market players are pouring funds into research and development activities to introduce products that are innovative and advanced and help them in sustaining. For instance, in June 2015, Icom America introduced a new transceiver, IC-F5122DD/IC-F6122DD, that oprates as a data modem and enables remote system management and field monitoring. The radio offers superior solutions to sectors such as transportation and utilities. It can be used for communication to one or multiple units with individual, groups, and all calls.Request TOC of the Report @Global Land Mobile Radio Market: Geographical SegmentationThe regions studied in the research report are Asia Pacific, Latin America, North America, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa. North America will account for a substantial share in the global market. The extensive research and development activities in the field of radio communication and the high demand for technologically advanced land mobile radios are bolstering the growth of the region. The presence of a large number of key players and research institutes in countries such as the U.S. and Canada is providing an edge to North America over other regions.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report@Global Land Mobile Radio Market: Competitive LandscapeThe majority of players in the global land mobile radio market are focusing towards technological advancements and product innovation to enhance their visibility in the market. Key players are looking upon mergers and partnerships as viable growth strategies to stay ahead in the market. Some of the prominent participants in the global LMR market are Motorola Solutions Inc., Harris Corporation, JVCKENWOOD Corporation, Raytheon Company, Thales SA, Hytera Communications Corporation Limited, RELM Wireless Corporation, and Sepura PLC..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 Saudi Arabia Pharmaceutical Market expected to expand at a CAGR of 9.0% over 2016-2026 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gc-1733 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gc-1733 www.futuremarketinsights.com The significant rise in lifestyle-related diseases and the developments in healthcare infrastructure are expected to influence the demand for pharmaceuticals in Saudi Arabia. In 2016, the Saudi Arabia pharmaceutical market is anticipated to procure value worth US$ 5,209.5 Mn at a y-o-y growth of 6.0 % over 2015. The mounting demand for branded drug products will continue to incite the growth of the Saudi Arabian pharmaceutical market in 2016.The demand for pharmaceuticals in Saudi Arabia is expected to register substantial growth owing to the increasing penetration of health insurance companies and the rising incidence rate of non-communicable diseases. Furthermore, the exceptional rise in the per capita income of Saudi Arabia is also expected to foster the demand for branded pharmaceutical drugs. Another key factor driving the growth of the pharmaceutical market in Saudi Arabia is the countrys strategic move to allow 100% FDI in the pharmaceuticals sector. Although, the shortage of profound indigenous research capacity in the pharmaceutical industry and the delayed registration of drug and medicine patents is expected to limit the expansion of the market in 2016 and beyond.Request Report Sample@Based on the product type, the pharmaceutical market in Saudi Arabia is expected to witness an upsurge in the prescription-type branded drug products. In terms of market value, the branded drugs are estimated to reach US$ 2,760.8 Mn by 2016-end. The demand for generic drugs is projected to secure steady growth, attributing to the insisting promotion of generic drug adoption by healthcare insurance providers.On the basis of the diseases, the pharmaceutical drugs used for treatment of cardiovascular diseases will continue exhibiting robust growth in 2016. The demand for cardiovascular medications will continue to surge due to the prominence of circulatory disorders in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, the rising prevalence of disorders related to body sugar levels is expected to make diabetes a rapidly growing disease-based sub-segment in the Saudi Arabia pharmaceutical market.The pharmaceutical market in Saudi Arabia is also segmented on the basis of distribution channel, where retail pharmacies will continue to account for 80% market share compared to hospital pharmacies. The westernised modernisation of retail pharmacies in Saudi Arabia has led to the availability of a wide range drugs and medicinal products, thereby attaining a considerable growth in the retail pharmacy sub-segment in 2016 and further.The rising resource potential in Saudi Arabia is projected to positively reform the production environment for pharmaceutical manufacturers. In order to expand the markets size, structuring alliances with well-established native companies is predicted to be a key strategy for global pharmaceutical leaders. The key players in the Saudi Arabia pharmaceutical market include Novartis AG, SPIMACO, Pfizer Inc., and Glaxosmithkline plc., Jamjoom Pharma, and Tabuk Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Co. among others.Send An Enquiry@Long-term Outlook: The Saudi Arabia pharmaceutical market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 9.0% over the forecast period 2016-2026. In terms of market value, the pharmaceutical market in Saudi Arabia is estimated to be worth US$ 12,281.4 Mn by the end of forecast period.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: eZee Technosys announces strategic partnership with Wise Technology Corp., Taiwan https://goo.gl/kt8Yo2 eZee Technosys, leading hospitality solutions provider based in India recently announced strategic partnership with Wise Technology Corp, Taiwan. Under this alliance, Wise shall be the official exclusive partner in Taiwan to offer eZees Channel Manager eZee Centrix.With an aim to deliver next generation total solution to hospitality industry in Taiwan, eZee Technosys has undertaken the pursuit to provide what regional hoteliers require.Mr. Vipul Kapoor, Co-founder of eZee Technosys signed the partnership agreement with Mr. Mercy Lin, Co-founder, Mr. Peter Lin CEO, and Mr. Jery Lin President for E-Commerce Division of Wise Technology Corp. in presence of Mr. Loke Chee Hoong, CEO eZee Technosys Malaysia last month in Taiwan. Wise Technology Corp. has been operating in Taiwanese hospitality and travel market since last 27 years. Hence, in order to work towards common objectives, this partnership has emerged between technology giants.Since eZee Technosys is already present in Malaysia and catering to Asia Pacific region, the next logical step was to expand in neighborhood territories. As a result of partnership with Wise Technology Corp., eZee is resolute on providing their feature rich Channel Manager eZee Centrix in Chinese language. Besides, eZee shall also provide software support to hoteliers in locally spoken Chinese language.This much awaited partnership is the beginning of a hospitality technology transformation in Taiwanese hotel industry. It is time to go a step beyond and overcome the language barrier. By joining hands with each other we are determined to combine regional and technical expertise across the nations and empower hoteliers. Expressed Vipul Kapoor, co-founder of eZee Technosys.This venture can be considered as a giant leap in terms of IT service delivery for eZee as well as Wise in Taiwan and neighbourhood territories. Having served in more than 140 countries across the world, eZee has highly focused on southeast Asian region since beginning when it comes to serving travel and tourism based industries with technology.The hoteliers in Taiwan shall benefit consequently due to this association since they will get to use Wise PMS integrated with Channel Manager eZee Centrix. Established in 1990, Wise Technology Corp. mainly invests in and delivers hospitality management systems, internet booking solutions as well as leisure travel services and various other solutions in Taiwan. More than 1000 hotels in Taiwan are already using Wise PMS which includes major hotel groups and properties. Delivering electronic services chiefly, the organization aims to expand in territorial market by adding more services and products to their portfolio.Both the organizations shall initiate a pursuit of mutually set objectives and provide world class hospitality technology in Taiwan through seamlessly integrated total solutions. Correspondingly, the end users will benefit from the all-in-one hospitality technology under one roof.About Wise Technology Corp., TaiwanLocated in Taipei, Taiwan; Wise Technology Corp. deals in hotel management and operations automation, payroll, Restaurant POS system, Accounting and various ERP services in country. Serving major hotel groups and properties in Taiwan, Wise Technology Corp. provides real-time booking, web design, e-commerce services and more in leisure travel industry.About eZee Technosys, IndiaeZee Technosys is one of the few complete hospitality IT solutions providers worldwide. Offering solutions that cover hotel management, booking management, online room distribution, restaurant management, hotel mobile apps and more. They offer on-premise along with cloud-based solutions as well as mobile applications for eZee solutions. Founded in 2005, eZee Technosys today serves 6000+ clients in 140+ countries globally. Visit eZees corporate website for more.eZee Technosys Pvt. Ltd.D-113, International Trade Center, Majura Gate, Surat - 395002, Gujarat, India.Aeijaz Sodawala+ 91 -99788-64598aeijaz@ezeetechnosys.com Security Solutions Market: Industry Survey and Industry Outlook 2025 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=2267 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=2267 https://www.tmrresearch.com/security-solutions-market Global Security Solutions Market: OverviewThe increasing focus on developing a secure economy has augmented the demand for topnotch security solutions. The global market for security solutions has been thriving in the wake of rising defense budgets, improving investments in research and development, and growing need for keeping the IT industry safe. The near future is expected to see increasing usage of biometrics-based and sensor-based security systems to make locking mechanism personalized. Use of IoT and cloud services will also play an instrumental role in defining the trajectory of the global security solutions market during the forecast period.Global Security Solutions Market: Key TrendsSecurity solutions are developed for product manufacturers, trade distributors, software solution providers, system integrators, network providers, research organizations, housing developers, investors, and among others. The growing need for security solutions in order to safeguard property, rights, and individuals is expected to fuel the growth of the overall market. The increasing developments in the fields of IoT, defense, construction, and technology among others are also projected to favor market growth. The increasing sophistication in the nature of attacks, whether internal or external, have boosted the uptake innovative security solutions.Request Sample Copy of the Report @Global Security Solutions Market: Market PotentialCompanies are focusing on delivering better systems that are reliable and worth the investment in the long run. In complete tandem with this consumer sentiment, Elbit Systems of America, LLC showcased its border security solutions at a recent expo. The latest solutions offer command and control, comprehensive surveillance systems, unmanned aircraft systems, and broadband systems. The company spokesman stated that the new solutions are expected to offer a better situational awareness at the border. The latest sensors, modular architecture, and the flexibility to integrate technical and physical solutions have allowed to company to provide better solutions over the years.Request TOC of the Report @Global Security Solutions Market: Regional OutlookFrom a geographic point of view, the global security solutions market can be divided into the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. Of these regions, the Asia Pacific security solutions market is expected to soar in the coming years. The improving disposable incomes and changing infrastructure with development of highways, railways, and airports are projected to make a significant contribution to the regional market. The demand for security solutions across Asia Pacific are expected to remain in the coming years as the external and internal threats remain on the rise. The increasing incidence of thefts, robberies, and crime are also estimated to encourage the sales of various types of security solutions in the region during the forecast period.The Americas and Europe are also expected show a positive growth in the global security solutions market. The high adoption of technology in these regions is assessed to be the prime growth driver for both the regional market. Additionally, the higher value of human life in the developed regions is also projected to make a serious contribution to the revenue of the overall market.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report@Key Players Mentioned in this Report are:Some of the leading players operating in the global security solutions market are Zhejiang Dahua Technology Co., Ltd., Control4, ASSA ABLOY AB, Honeywell International, Inc., Bosch Security Systems, Tyco International Ltd (U.S.), UTC Fire & Security, ADT Corp, Alarm.com, Allegion, Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Company Limited, Ingersoll Rand Solutions, Nortek Security & Control LLC, SECOM Co., Ltd, Hikvision Digital Technology Co. Ltd, Stanley Security Solutions, and Axis Communications AB.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 Wireless Power Transmission Market : Volume Analysis, Segments, Value Share and Key Trends 2017 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=2276 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=2276 https://www.tmrresearch.com/wireless-power-transmission-market Global Wireless Power Transmission Market: OverviewThe concept of wireless power transmission or transfer dates back to the mid-18th century when Nikola Tesla, a prominent contributor to the design of alternating current (AC) power supply systems, first worked on wireless power transmission projects. Wireless power transfer allows to lose the limitation of a power cord while keeping electrical devices constantly charged. Solar cells, resonance, and microwaves are the three principal systems employed for wireless power transmission. This concept is expected to resolve the complicated energy crisis concerning the entire world to this day.Global Wireless Power Transmission Market: Key TrendsThe global wireless power transmission market is expected to rise at a sturdy CAGR between 2017 and 2025 on account of certain factors propelling the growth. The requirement of effectual charging systems and surging consumer preference for wireless connectivity and the convenience offered are prognosticated to raise the hopes of vendors operating in the global wireless power transmission market. In the years to come, the global wireless power transmission market could witness the rise of the magnetic resonance technology making way into the introductory phase and inductive technology into the growth phase.Request Sample Copy of the Report @Smartphone giant Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. headquartered in South Korea possesses a powerful line of smartphones that flaunt the capabilities of a wireless charging receiver. Some of the popular smartphone series other than Samsung Galaxy that carry wireless charging capabilities are Google Nexus and Motorola Droid. The adoption in a range of smartphones in the inductive wireless power transmission market is predicted to hoist smartphones as a larger receiver application.Lack of common standards raising compatibility issues and trade-offs between safety, efficiency, and range of wireless power transmission is prophesied to injure the growth of the global wireless power transmission market to some extent. However, opportunities in various segmentation markets such as integrated implementation and induction technology are predicted to compensate for the effect of deterrents in the global wireless power transmission market.Request TOC of the Report @Global Wireless Power Transmission Market: Market PotentialA demonstration test of a motor-assisted bicycle was initiated in Kyoto Prefecture by a team functioning in the Kyoto University. The bicycle is capable of wirelessly receiving charge by merely parking it facing a charger stand. The front wheel of the bicycle is docked in a rack where power is drawn in the form of microwaves with the help of a battery pack and a receiver. The testing began early in March 2017. A differentiating aspect noticed is that the charging is only done late night to avoid potentially harmful contact of humans with microwaves equaling a 100 watts. The charging is designed in such a way that it stops as soon as anybody comes within a particular range.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report@Global Wireless Power Transmission Market: Regional OutlookThe international wireless power transmission market is anticipated to see Asia Pacific receive a telling traction in terms of market size due to the snowballing presence of a significant number of consumer electronics industries. Countries such as South Korea, India, Japan, and China could lead the Asia Pacific wireless power transmission market from the front. Swift urbanization and aggressively increasing population are the other growth aspects of Asia Pacific in the wireless power transmission market. Researchers also point out Asia Pacific being a mammoth manufacturing hub of consumer electronics as another factor augmenting the progress of the regional wireless power transmission market.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact :Rohit BhiseyHead - Internet MarketingTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com Global Erythritol Market 2017 Cargill, Jungbunzlauer, Fultaste, Baolingbao Biology, OLaughlin Erythritol Market http://bit.ly/2rykBxG http://bit.ly/2qZ1z7n The Global Erythritol Market 2016-2022 industry, Starting with a broad overview of the Erythritol Industry globally as well as with a specific focus on Manufactures. By conducting a check of the current status of the Erythritol in Globe 2016-2022 Industry, the report is able to delver deeper into the various forces that directly and indirectly impact the Industry. Global Erythritol Industry Segments are based on the analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data. For this, specific data has been gleaned from journals, trade magazines, revenues of leading Industry participants, as well as news reports.The Research report explores the global Erythritol market size and the segment markets by regions, types, applications and companies are also described in depth. Global Erythritol Market 2016-2022 Forecast industry statistics, valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market 2016-2022. Both macroeconomic and microeconomic outlooks have been taken into consideration for this purpose. The report then goes on to offer counter measures to mitigate any adverse impacts of unfavorable economic conditions.Check Free Sample Research Report @The impact of the economic condition prevailing in Globe is assessed in the context of the Erythritol in Global 2016-2022 Industry. The report ends with definitive and authoritative conclusions about the Erythritol in Global 2016-2022 Industry.The report provide Vendors, Traders and distributors analysis with contact details. For material and equipment suppliers also, contact details are given. New investment feasibility Studied and Industry growth is included in the report.Given the ever-shifting and ever-evolving nature of the technologies that enable the products and services contributing to the growth of the Erythritol in global Industry, the report conducts a detailed analysis of the technological trends, Market Size, Market Share and Market developments. Global Erythritol Market 2017 Research report moves ahead to focus on the various global players in the Erythritol Industries in 2011-2016. In order to obtain specific information about the global Industry participants, the report focuses on the following key aspects: Company Profiles, product/services information, contact information, as well as production/revenues, Market Share.Send your Inquiry @Abou Us: MRS Research Group provides a range of marketing and business research solutions designed for our clients specific needs based on our expert resources. The business scopes of Prof Research cover more than 30 industries including energy, new materials, transportation, daily consumer goods, chemicals, etc. We provide our clients with one-stop solution for all the research requirements.Joel John3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442United StatesToll Free : +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@mrsresearchgroup.com Global Slider Bags Sales Market 2017 - Reynolds Consumer Products LLC, C-P Flexible Packaging, Bison Bag Co Inc, Pacific Bag http://www.fiormarkets.com/report-detail/57079/request-sample https://goo.gl/1teRpp www.fiormarkets.com www.9dimenreports.com Report studies Slider Bags in Global market that focuses on the top Manufacturers, Market Segment by Countries, Split by Product Types (with sales, revenue, price, market share of each type), Split by applications this report focuses on sales, market share and growth rate of Slider Bags in each application.In this report, the global Slider Bags market is valued at USD XX million in 2017 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2017 and 2022.Download Sample Report @Geographically, this report split global into several key Regions, with sales (K Units), revenue (Million USD), market share and growth rate of Slider Bags for these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesChinaEuropeJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaGlobal Slider Bags market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Slider Bags sales volume, Price (USD/Unit), revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingReynolds Consumer Products LLCC-P Flexible PackagingBison Bag Co IncPKG Group LLCPacific Bag, Inc.International Plastics IncSVP Packing Industry PvtMinigripPresto Products CompanyFlexicoAccess Full Report With TOC @On the basis of product, this report displays the sales volume (K Units), revenue (Million USD), product price (USD/Unit), market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoPEPPLLDPELDPENylonOn 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 Slider Bags for each application, includingMedicine pouchSandwich bagSnacks bagSmall Instrument bagOthersIf 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: Soy-Based Chemicals Market Global Industry Analysis Forecast 2016 - 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/soy-based-chemicals-market.html# http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=12710 Fossil fuel production and consumption has grown significantly recently, leading to several problems, both industrial and environmental. The impact on the environment is especially severe, as growing carbon emission levels are disrupting the ecosystem and causing health complications for humans and animals. This has led to a movement to consolidate the research and production rates of renewable energy sources, with bio-based fuels being one of the top sources.Obtain Report Details @:The use of bio-based chemicals is being made increasingly important in the face of growing pollution levels. The global soy-based chemicals market is one of the constituents of this bio-based fuels setup and is expected to show an accelerated growth rate in the coming years. Soybean chemicals are regarded as a stable and positive alternative to the conventional chemicals derived from crude oil or petroleum. Therefore, the growth of the global soy-based chemicals market is expected to help reduce the carbon footprint of regions in which it is stronger.Soy milk and soy oil are the two most common derivatives of soybean. The former is used widely in the food industry while the latter holds massive potential in the derivation of chemicals, including different types of waxes, isoflavones, and polyols. These derivatives find major uses in the production of soaps, biodegradable plastics, biodiesel, and others. Apart from the food and beverage industry and the plastics and polymers industry, products from the global soy-based chemicals market can be used in industries such as cosmetics.Highly descriptive details are provided on the global soy-based chemicals market, based on intensive market research, historical data and its analysis, and market projections through the use of trends analysis and proven industry measurement tools. The global soy-based chemicals market is analyzed primarily through a segmented format for the sake of simplicity as well as a categorical perspective, across segments spanning through applications, end users, product types, and major regions.Global Soy-Based Chemicals Market: Key Trends and OpportunitiesThe biggest driver for the global soy-based chemicals market has to be the increasing awareness rates of consumers and industries about the effects of the overconsumption of fossil fuels and how bio-based fuels can be used as efficient alternatives. The same can be said regarding the consumption of plastics. Consumers are increasingly demanding biodegradable plastics, which can be produced from soy-based derivatives.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @:Other factors promoting the growth of the global soy-based chemicals market are the products advantages in quality over conventionally derived products. However, the global soy-based chemicals market is expected to receive stiff competition from the food and beverages industry, which is simultaneously witnessing an increasing demand for soy-based food and drinks. The health benefits of consuming soy-based food products is creating a higher demand for it in what is the primary industry that uses soybean. This is, therefore, expected to be a major complication for the global soy-based chemicals market.The global soy-based chemicals market can be divided on the basis of type into isoflavones, polyols, fatty acids, soy-oil, waxes, and others. The major end users of soy-based chemicals are the industries of polymers, cosmetics, food and beverages, paper, and bio-diesel. Each end-user industry is expected to steadily ramp up its demand for soy-based products and chemicals in the near future.Global Soy-Based Chemicals Market: Region-wise OutlookGeographically speaking, the global soy-based chemicals market has consistently been led by North America in the recent past. North America holds a major share in this market, owing to higher demand for bio-based products and chemicals and an advanced agriculture industry. This regions progress rate is followed closely by that of Asia Pacific, owing to the presence of deeply agriculture-based economies and a high demand for this market.Asia Pacific nations such as China, Singapore, and South Korea have already made large investments in the renewable chemicals fields, revealing a major scope of growth in similar markets. The same can be said about the Latin America soy-based chemicals market. Both regions are showing major potential for growth in the global soy-based chemicals market for the coming years.The global soy-based chemicals market is also expected to gain a steady boost from developments in the regions of the Middle East and Africa, Eastern Europe, and Western Europe.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, TMRs syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207 Global Airport Smart Lighting Sales Market 2017 - Koninklijke Philips, Osram, Schreder Group, HELLA http://www.fiormarkets.com/report-detail/57086/request-sample https://goo.gl/wy6msQ www.fiormarkets.com www.9dimenreports.com Report studies Airport Smart Lighting in Global market that focuses on the top Manufacturers, Market Segment by Countries, Split by Product Types (with sales, revenue, price, market share of each type), Split by applications this report focuses on sales, market share and growth rate of Airport Smart Lighting in each application.In this report, the global Airport Smart Lighting market is valued at USD XX million in 2017 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2017 and 2022.Download Sample Report @Geographically, this report split global into several key Regions, with sales (K Units), revenue (Million USD), market share and growth rate of Airport Smart Lighting for these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesChinaEuropeJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaGlobal Airport Smart Lighting market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Airport Smart Lighting sales volume, Price (USD/Unit), revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingKoninklijke PhilipsOsramSchreder GroupHELLAHoneywell InternationalEatonCarmanah TechnologiesAirport Lighting SpecialistsC2 SmartLightAccess Full Report With TOC @On the basis of product, this report displays the sales volume (K Units), revenue (Million USD), product price (USD/Unit), market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoRunway LightingsTaxiway LightingsVisual Glide Scope IndicatorOtherOn 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 Airport Smart Lighting for each application, includingAirsideAirport TerminalAirport LandsideOtherIf 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: Global Barcode Scanner Market 2017: Report Touches Most of Industrial Scenarios http://www.orbisresearch.com/contacts/request-sample/242787 http://www.orbisresearch.com/reports/index/2017-market-research-report-on-global-barcode-scanner-industry http://www.orbisresearch.com/contacts/enquiry-before-buying/242787 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 Barcode Scanner Market is confident in meeting their needs and expectations. The 2017 market research report on Global Barcode Scanner 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 Barcode Scanner Market report is a noteworthy.Request a sample of this report @The Global Barcode Scanner 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 Barcode Scanner Industry market 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 Barcode Scanner Industry. Accurate forecasts and expert opinion from credible sources, and the recent R&D development in the industry is also a mainstay of the Barcode Scanner Market report.The report also focuses on the significance of industry chain analysis and all variables, both upstream and downstream. These include equipment and raw materials, client surveys, marketing channels, and industry trends and proposals. Other significant information covering consumption, key regions and distributors, and raw material suppliers are also a covered in this report.Browse the complete report @Finally, the Barcode Scanner 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 Barcode Scanner Industry is the holy grail of information which serious knowledge seekers can benefit from.If you have any enquiry before buying a copy of this report @Major Points from Table of Content:Chapter One: Barcode Scanner Market OverviewChapter Two: Global Barcode Scanner Market Competition by ManufacturersChapter Three: Global Barcode Scanner Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)Chapter Four: Global Barcode Scanner Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)Chapter Five: Global Barcode Scanner Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by TypeChapter Six: Global Barcode Scanner Market Analysis by ApplicationChapter Seven: Global Barcode Scanner Manufacturers Profiles/AnalysisChapter Eight: Barcode Scanner Manufacturing Cost AnalysisChapter Nine: Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream BuyersChapter Ten: Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/TradersChapter Eleven: Market Effect Factors AnalysisChapter Twelve: Global Barcode Scanner Market Forecast (2017-2022)Chapter Thirteen: Research Findings and ConclusionChapter Fourteen: AppendixList of Figure:Figure Picture of Barcode ScannerFigure Global Barcode Scanner Production (K Units) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Types (Product Category) (2012-2022)Figure Global Barcode Scanner Production Market Share by Types (Product Category) in 2016Figure Product Picture of Handheld TypeTable Major Manufacturers of Handheld TypeFigure Product Picture of Small Drum TypeTable Major Manufacturers of Small Drum TypeFigure Product Picture of Platform TypeTable Major Manufacturers of Platform TypeFigure Global Barcode Scanner Consumption (K Units) by Applications (2012-2022)Figure Global Barcode Scanner Consumption Market Share by Applications in 2016Figure Supermarket ExamplesFigure Logistics Express ExamplesFigure Library ExamplesFigure Other ExamplesFigure Global Barcode Scanner Market Size (Million USD), Comparison (K Units) and CAGR (%) by Regions (2012-2022)Figure United States Barcode Scanner Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure EU Barcode Scanner Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure China Barcode Scanner Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Japan Barcode Scanner Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure South Korea Barcode Scanner Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Taiwan Barcode Scanner Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Global Barcode Scanner Revenue (Million USD) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)Figure Global Barcode Scanner Capacity, Production (K Units) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)Figure Global Barcode Scanner Major Players Product Capacity (K Units) (2012-2017)Table Global Barcode Scanner Capacity (K Units) of Key Manufacturers (2012-2017)Table Global Barcode Scanner Capacity Market Share of Key Manufacturers (2012-2017)Figure Global Barcode Scanner Capacity (K Units) of Key Manufacturers in 2016Figure Global Barcode Scanner Capacity (K Units) of Key Manufacturers in 2017Figure Global Barcode Scanner Major Players Product Production (K Units) (2012-2017)Table Global Barcode Scanner Production (K Units) of Key Manufacturers (2012-2017)Table Global Barcode Scanner Production Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)Figure 2016 Barcode Scanner Production Share by ManufacturersFigure 2017 Barcode Scanner Production Share by ManufacturersContinued.About Us:Orbis Research (orbisresearch.com) is a single point aid for all your market research requirements. We have vast database of reports from the leading publishers and authors across the globe. We specialize in delivering customized reports as per the requirements of our clients. We have complete information about our publishers and hence are sure about the accuracy of the industries and verticals of their specialization. This helps our clients to map their needs and we produce the perfect required market research study for our clients.Contact Us:Hector CostelloSenior Manager Client Engagements4144N Central Expressway,Suite 600, Dallas,Texas - 75204, U.S.A.Phone No.: +1 (214) 884-6817; +912064101019Email at: sales@orbisresearch.com ROCKWELL | Twenty-five cars tumbled off the tracks when a freight train derailed near Rockwell Thursday afternoon. The cars went off the tracks in a jumbled pile about 1:10 p.m. a quarter-mile south of 190th Street No one was hurt. The scene was about three quarters of a mile west of Highway 65 near the boundary of rural Rockwell and Mason City. The Union Pacific train stopped blocking crossings at 180th and 190th streets. The Rockwell Fire Department and Cerro Gordo County Sheriffs Office responded to the scene. Union Pacific Spokeswoman Calli Hite said crews did not believe any hazardous materials spilled from the cars. They were still assessing the scene Thursday night. "Two derailed cars carrying liquid petroleum gas butane released vapor from a safety valve, but leaks have not been detected," Hite said via email. "These circumstances can change once we can fully assess the area." The 146-car train was on its way from St. Paul, Minnesota, to North Platte, Nebraska. It was carrying mixed freight, including sand. The cause of the incident remained under investigation Thursday night. SpamExperts Services are Now Available via WHMCS MarketConnect www.whmcs.com www.spamexperts.com Amsterdam, May 19th, 2017 - All SpamExperts products, including Incoming Email Filtering, Outgoing Email Filtering and Email Archiving, are now available via WHMCS MarketConnect. This new partnership allows WHMCS users to benefit from SpamExperts pay-as-you-go licenses and fully automated processing and provisioning.SpamExperts and WHMCS partnered to bring effective email security to the WHMCS client base, who can now directly purchase anti-spam filtering and email archiving from the WHMCS MarketConnect platform.We have been planning SpamExperts availability through the WHMCS MarketConnect platform for some time now, says Sam Renkema, CEO of SpamExperts. Email security is an important matter for both average SMBs and web hosts with a global presence. We are glad to have finally launched our partnership with our industry friends from WHMCS!At WHMCS, we aim to unlock a whole new level of business automation that saves time and increases efficiency for our customers. By partnering with SpamExperts, we are now able to offer a comprehensive email security suite readily available for purchase via MarketConnect. We are excited to bring the email security element to our vast pool of customers, explains Johnny Kim, Partner Manager at WHMCS.About WHMCSWHMCS is a leading web host billing solution with over 10 years of experience and development and a large and active developer community. WHMCS is a rich and powerful platform that sets the standard in web host billing automation.For more information, please visit the official website atAbout SpamExpertsSpamExperts solutions are tailored to (shared) web hosts, ISPS/Telcos and large organizations, as well as distributors and resellers. They offer inbound & outbound email filtering services and email archiving. The services can run either within the redundant SpamExperts Hosted Cloud or on a Local Cloud directly deployed on the customers (virtual) hardware.For more information, please visit the official website ator blog.spamexperts.com.Contact person: Marilena Dobre, Marketing Coordinatorpress@spamexperts.comPhone: +31 20 820 0004, ext 211Address: Rokin 113-115, 1012 KP AmsterdamNetherlands Global Card Reader/Writers Market 2017: Sophisticated Industrial Research Report http://www.orbisresearch.com/contacts/request-sample/242802 http://www.orbisresearch.com/reports/index/2017-market-research-report-on-global-card-readerwriters-industry http://www.orbisresearch.com/contacts/enquiry-before-buying/242802 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 Card Reader/Writers Market is confident in meeting their needs and expectations. The 2017 market research report on Global Card Reader/Writers 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 Card Reader/Writers Market report is a noteworthy.Request a sample of this report @The Global Card Reader/Writers 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 Card Reader/Writers Industry market 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 Card Reader/Writers Industry. Accurate forecasts and expert opinion from credible sources, and the recent R&D development in the industry is also a mainstay of the Card Reader/Writers Market report.The report also focuses on the significance of industry chain analysis and all variables, both upstream and downstream. These include equipment and raw materials, client surveys, marketing channels, and industry trends and proposals. Other significant information covering consumption, key regions and distributors, and raw material suppliers are also a covered in this report.Browse the complete report @Finally, the Card Reader/Writers 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 Card Reader/Writers Industry is the holy grail of information which serious knowledge seekers can benefit from.If you have any enquiry before buying a copy of this report @Major Points from Table of Content:Chapter One: Card Reader/Writers Market OverviewChapter Two: Global Card Reader/Writers Market Competition by ManufacturersChapter Three: Global Card Reader/Writers Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)Chapter Four: Global Card Reader/Writers Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017)Chapter Five: Global Card Reader/Writers Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by TypeChapter Six: Global Card Reader/Writers Market Analysis by ApplicationChapter Seven: Global Card Reader/Writers Manufacturers Profiles/AnalysisChapter Eight: Card Reader/Writers Manufacturing Cost AnalysisChapter Nine: Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream BuyersChapter Ten: Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/TradersChapter Eleven: Market Effect Factors AnalysisChapter Twelve: Global Card Reader/Writers Market Forecast (2017-2022)Chapter Thirteen: Research Findings and ConclusionChapter Fourteen: AppendixList of Figure:Figure Picture of Card Reader/WritersFigure Global Card Reader/Writers Production (K Units) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Types (Product Category) (2012-2022)Figure Global Card Reader/Writers Production Market Share by Types (Product Category) in 2016Figure Product Picture of Chip ReaderTable Major Manufacturers of Chip ReaderFigure Product Picture of Magnetic Stripe Card ReaderTable Major Manufacturers of Magnetic Stripe Card ReaderFigure Global Card Reader/Writers Consumption (K Units) by Applications (2012-2022)Figure Global Card Reader/Writers Consumption Market Share by Applications in 2016Figure Bank ExamplesFigure Shopping Store ExamplesFigure Restaurant ExamplesFigure Other ExamplesFigure Global Card Reader/Writers Market Size (Million USD), Comparison (K Units) and CAGR (%) by Regions (2012-2022)Figure United States Card Reader/Writers Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure EU Card Reader/Writers Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure China Card Reader/Writers Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Japan Card Reader/Writers Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure South Korea Card Reader/Writers Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Taiwan Card Reader/Writers Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (2012-2022)Figure Global Card Reader/Writers Revenue (Million USD) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)Figure Global Card Reader/Writers Capacity, Production (K Units) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)Continued..About Us:Orbis Research (orbisresearch.com) is a single point aid for all your market research requirements. We have vast database of reports from the leading publishers and authors across the globe. We specialize in delivering customized reports as per the requirements of our clients. We have complete information about our publishers and hence are sure about the accuracy of the industries and verticals of their specialization. This helps our clients to map their needs and we produce the perfect required market research study for our clients.Contact Us:Hector CostelloSenior Manager Client Engagements4144N Central Expressway,Suite 600, Dallas,Texas - 75204, U.S.A.Phone No.: +1 (214) 884-6817; +912064101019Email at: sales@orbisresearch.com Pneumatic Conveying System Market Industry Trends and Developments 2017 - 2025 www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/14944 www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/14944 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Global Pneumatic Conveying System Market: IntroductionWith increasing automation in the manufacturing sector, the material handling industry has significantly transformed over the past few years. Demand for robust and novel technologies in material handling has witnessed significant upsurge, to cope up with the rapidly developing manufacturing techniques such as robotics. Owing to these customized and advanced handling demands, the material handling industry is expected to witness robust growth over the forecast period. Conveying systems form an important part of material handling industry. Of the varied types of conveying systems available, pneumatic conveying system a system that utilizes air flow and pressure differential to fulfill conveying operations in a closed environment, finds its application for conveying powder, granules, abrasive and other dry bulk materials in various end use industries such as food & beverages, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, chemicals, metal & mining and pulp & paper.A sample of this report is available upon request @The pneumatic conveying system uses pressure difference and flow of air or other gases as the driving force for the conveying system. This is usually supplied by an air mover and kept under control for desired applications. The market for pneumatic conveying system is expected to witness healthy growth over the forecast period, owing to various advantages it offers over the existing conventional mechanical systems. Pneumatic conveying systems are more flexible than existing mechanical systems, occupy less space and provide enclosed space for transportation. Another major advantage of a pneumatic conveying system over a mechanical one is the relatively low maintenance cost, which is due to the fact that pneumatic conveying systems have less number of moving parts.Global Pneumatic Conveying System Market: Market DynamicsOwing to the stabilized growth of global economy and of end-use industries such as food & beverages, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, pulp & paper, steady growth in sales of pneumatic conveying systems is expected over the forecast period. Developing nations such as China, ASEAN, India and South Africa are expected to be the major contributors for the market growth.Benefits offered by pneumatic conveying systems, such as low maintenance costs, less space requirement for installation, durability and flexibility will be the key factors driving the focus of customers towards pneumatic conveying systems over other systems available in the market. Thereby, driving the growth of the global pneumatic conveying system market. Installation and MRO services are expected to hold significant shares of the total revenue generated in the global pneumatic conveying system market and drive the market growth.Factors that can hamper the growth of pneumatic conveying system market include large power requirements to drive the conveyor, continuous monitoring and change in air pressure and requirement of larger dust collection systems than other available systems in the market. Furthermore, sluggish growth in some of the end-use industries such as metal & mining industries pose challenge to the growth of global pneumatic conveying systems market.Global Pneumatic Conveying System Market: Market SegmentationThe global pneumatic conveying systems market can be segmented into following:By product type, pneumatic conveying systems market can be segmented into: Dense-phase Pneumatic Conveying System, Dilute-phase Pneumatic Conveying System. By technology, pneumatic conveying systems market can be segmented into: Vacuum Conveying Systems, Positive Pressure Systems, Combination Conveying Systems. By end-use industry, pneumatic conveying systems market can be segmented into: Pulp & Paper, Pharmaceuticals, Food & Beverages, Chemicals, Metal Mining, Plastics & Polymers, Petrochemical, Others.Global Pneumatic Conveying System Market: Region-wise OutlookNorth America and Europe are expected to collectively account for over half of the revenue generated in the global pneumatic conveying system market. The U.S., U.K., Germany, France and Spain are expected to be the major contributors to the growth of the market.Asia Pacific is expected to hold significant market share in the global pneumatic conveying systems market over the forecast period. The market in the region is expected to witness high value CAGR over the forecast period. China, Japan, India and ASEAN are expected to witness significant growth opportunities owing to favorable macro-economic factors and rapid industrialization taking place in these countries.Middle East and Africa and Latin America are expected to hold nominal market share in the global pneumatic conveying system market. Turkey and South Africa are expected to emerge as key countries holding significant opportunities for the growth of pneumatic conveying systems market in the region. The markets in Middle East & Africa and Latin America are expected to witness moderate growth over forecast period.Global Pneumatic Conveying System Market: Market ParticipantsExamples of some of the market participants in the global pneumatic conveying system market include: Nol-Tec Systems, Inc., VAC-U-MAX, Flexicon Corporation, Schenck Process Holding GmbH, Indpro Engineering Systems Pvt. Ltd., Whirl-Air-Flow Corporation, FLSmidth Inc., Jenike & Johanson, HAF Equipment, Inc., Industrial Accessories Company, Pace Company, Nilfisk Group, Zeppelin Systems Singapore Pte Ltd.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @The research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industry-validated market data. It also contains projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. The research report provides analysis and information according to market segments such as geographies, application, and industry.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Suntrace receives contract awards from World Bank Group www.suntrace.de Hamburg, 19.05.2017. The Hamburg based consultancy firm Suntrace has received six contract awards from World Bank Group during the last six Months for the realisation of international feasibility studies, site assessments and resource measurement campaigns. The awards solar and wind projects in Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Libya and Vietnam. The projects will run for a period of between one to two and a half years. Suntrace specialises in large-scale solar projects, and its services ensure secure investment, successful project development and optimised yields as a result of optimised plant design.In Bangladesh, Suntrace is carrying out a feasibility study for a solar and wind project with an overall capacity of 100 megawatts on behalf of Power Cell (part of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Natural Resources). Suntrace will also support the project until award.Commissioned by the International Finance CorporationIn Ethiopia, the International Finance Corporation, a part of the World Bank Group that specialises in funding private enterprises, has commissioned Suntrace to provide technical advice for the Scaling Solar Ethiopia project. This includes site analyses for several photovoltaic power plants with an aggregate capacity of up to 500 megawatts and technical advisory during the procurement process until awarding of the projects. In Libya, Suntrace has been mandated to assist the World Bank to develop a roadmap for future energy supply.Suntrace will also be carrying out solar and wind measurement campaigns as part of three other commissions at a total of nine locations in Ethiopia, Bangladesh and Vietnam.On all six assignments, Suntrace will be working with both local and international partners.Irradiation analysis, investment advice and technical concepts from a single providerSuntrace is not only specialised in providing advice for the technical implementation and financing of solar projects, but also irradiation measurements, site analyses and engineering. For these applications Suntrace has developed the HelioScale solar resource measurement equipment series, which will be supplied for the resource measurement campaigns in Ethiopia, Bangladesh and Vietnam.We are delighted that we were able to win the trust of World Bank Group on the basis of our proven experience in developing and advising solar power plants coupled with our competitive proposals, says Suntrace managing director Boris Westphal, adding: With our analyses, studies and measurements, we support our clients to develop a sustainable energy supply.Suntrace at the Intersolar Europe 2017At the joint stand for young, innovative enterprises at Intersolar Europe, the leading international solar industry trade fair, Suntrace will be showing not only its HelioScale measuring station, but also a visualisation solution for complex technical projects. The application makes it possible to clearly represent even the most complex projects and technologies in detail, in a 3D-environment that can be explored interactively using virtual reality glasses. Visitors will find Suntrace at Stand 440A in Hall B2 of the exhibition in Munich from 31 May to 2 June.Suntrace GmbH was founded in Hamburg in 2009. The independent consultancy has specialised in assisting large-scale solar projects in the development and realisation phase in emerging and developing countries. Thanks to its expertise in its business segments Solar Resource, Technology & Engineering and Solar Investment, Suntrace is able to provide energy suppliers, research organisations, development banks, investors, project developers and governments with competent support for the development and construction of their power plants. With branches and cooperation partners in Spain, India, Africa and Latin America, the team covers the whole project life cycle, from the early project development phase through to commissioning of the plant. Since its foundation, Suntrace has supported power stations in 30 countries, with a total aggregate capacity of more than four gigawatts.Suntrace GmbHGrosse Elbstrasse 145c22767 HamburgPhone: +49-40-767 96 38 0Fax: +49-40-767 96 38 20E-Mail: info@suntrace.deWeb: Global Microarray Market Analysis, Trends and Forecast by 2016 - 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/microarray-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=19043 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com https://tmrresearch.blogspot.com/ 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.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.Obtain Report Details @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.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.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Browse market research blog: The Interconnects and Passive Components Market is expected to grow at a robust pace between 2017 and 2025 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=2207 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=2207 https://www.tmrresearch.com/interconnects-passive-components-market Global Interconnects and Passive Components Market: OverviewAn interconnect component refers to an optical or electric connection or cable connecting two or more devices. A broad range of interconnect parts such as board to board connectors, electronic cable connectors, and DIN connectors used in a broad range of applications are offered by a number of manufacturers. Cellular phones, hubs, HVAC equipment, routers, mp3 players, GPS devices, Ethernet and other high speed connectivity applications, digital cameras, and video connections are some of the key applications that deploy interconnects components. Passive components, on the other hand, are used in applications such as computers, wireless communication, security systems, 3D printers, medical instruments, power supply circuits, handheld devices, digital thermostats, and several household appliances.Global Interconnects and Passive Components Market: Key TrendsThe rising demand for interconnects and passive components in the thriving consumer electronics industry is a primary catalyst of the global market. Used in the production of devices and machines deployed in automobiles, healthcare, data processing, and telecommunication, these components are likely to witness greater adoption over the next few years. The market is also receiving a significant boost from the continual technological advancements in the consumer electronics industry. Moreover, the growth of the interconnect segment creates further scope of expansion for the market. The growth of this segment can be attributed to the preference for high speed bandwidth in data processing, emergence of robotics and automation across numerous sectors, and development of compact electronic components and devices.Request Sample Copy of the Report @Global Interconnects and Passive Components Market: Market PotentialThe competitive scenario of the global interconnects and passive components market is marked by unceasing product launches. For instance, in March 2017, AVX Corporation announced the release of its new low pass integrated thin film SMD filter, which can be an ideal solution for various wireless applications such as global positioning systems (GPS), mobile communications systems, and wireless large area networks (LANs). The new FHC1 and FHC2 series feature low parasitics, low insertion loss, conducive heat dissipation properties, and a wide frequency range.Partnerships, acquisitions, and collaborations are focused on by several companies. For example, in Ixia announced its partnership with Foxconn Interconnect technology (FIT) and Cisco for demonstrating 400 Gigabit Ethernet traffic at The Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibition (OFC) 2017 in Los Angeles, USA.Request TOC of the Report @Global Interconnects and Passive Components Market: Regional OutlookRegionally, the global interconnects and passive components market is segmented into Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, the Middle East and Africa, and Latin America. Asia Pacific exhibits colossal growth opportunities, springing from factors such as easy availability of cheap labor, raw material, along with low costs of production. The booming consumer electronics industry in the region, and particularly in China, is aiding steady growth of the market for interconnects and passive components. Moreover, with increasing per capita incomes of the middle class, the standard of living of the people has improved. This has resulted in more demand for smartphones, LED and LCD displays, and other electronic devices. North America and Europe are also slated for extensive growth, encouraged by beneficial policies of the government.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report@Global Interconnects and Passive Components Market: Competitive AnalysisPanasonic Corporation, Guangzhou Copper Factory Co., Ltd., TT Electronics Plc., AVX Corporation, Celtic Chemicals Ltd, JST Mfg. Co. Ltd., E Connectivity Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Ltd., and Cisco Systems, Inc. are some of the prominent players operating in the global market for interconnects and passive components.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 Heat Exchanger Manufacturer's "Pain Points" https://industryessence.com/index.php/reports/details/610 Industry Essence published a new syndicate market research report on Heat Exchangers Market: Segment Analysis, Trends, Opportunities, Competitive Intensity, and Forecasts 2016-2022.Industry Essence, a market research and consulting company based in Houston, Texas, U.S., states that the Global Heat Exchangers Market was valued at USD 12.04 Billion in 2016 and it is projected to reach USD 18.60 Billion by 2022, at a CAGR of 7.5% between the forecast periods.Get PDF Sample Brochure for Professional & Technical insights at:Industry Essence has analyzed and addressed following Pain Points for the Heat Exchangers Market: Intense competitive price wars have affected companies profit margins drastically from past five years Gradually increasing metal and labour costs are affecting companies bottom lines, forcing companies to shift their operations to Low Cost Countries (LCCs) Due to increasing demand for custom-made heat exchangers, companies production efficiencies have affected substantially Falling Oil & Gas prices from last two years has resulted in investment slowdown in energy sector, adversely affecting the Heat Exchanger Market Gaps in supply chains are affecting the end to end smooth flow of materials & finished productsThe report assists companies in taking key decisions such as exploration of investments avenues, expansion plans, production enhancement, market strategy building, pricing and product positioning, revenue enhancement, and deciding backward/forward integration steps.Report Scope-Heat Exchangers Market, By Product TypeShell & Tube, Plate & Frame, Air Cooled, and other types of Heat Exchangers (Market Size, Trends, Forecasts, and Analysis)-Heat Exchangers Market, By Industry ApplicationChemical, HVACR, Petrochemical and Oil & Gas, Food & Beverage, Power Generation, Paper & Pulp, Pharmaceuticals, and Water & Waste Water among others (Market Size, Trends, Forecasts, and Analysis)-Heat Exchangers Market, Regional AnalysisNorth America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America (China, Japan, Malaysia, India, Korea, US, Canada, Mexico, UK, France, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Russia, Turkey, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and Argentina among others)- Market Size, Trends, Forecasts, and Analysis-Companies Profiled in the ReportAggreko PLC, Alfa Laval AB, API Heat Transfer Inc., Barriquand Technologies, Danfoss A/S, Guntner AG & Co. Kg, Hamon & CIE, Hisaka Works, HRS Heat Exchangers Ltd., Kelvion Holdings GmbH, Modine Manufacturing Company, SAACKE GmbH, SPX Corporation, Swep Intl. AB, and Xylem Inc. among others-Analyses Value Chain & Supply Chain Analysis Organic and Inorganic Strategies, By Market Players, 2012-2016 Market Attractiveness: Porters Five Forces Market Analysis Market Share Analysis 2016-Target Audience/Stakeholders Heat Exchanger Manufacturers Raw Material Suppliers Heat Exchanger Traders, Distributors, and Suppliers Regional Heat Exchanger Manufacturer Associations Government and Regional Agencies and Research Organizations Investment Research FirmsIndustry Essence provides market research and consulting solutions to its clients. We provide extensive market research solutions for 14 different business domains. Our solutions are focused on niche and emerging technologies, products, and service markets around the globe. The market research services help frontrunners to take intelligent, strategic and well informed business decisions.Our experienced Analyst and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) Team is committed to provide you the best possible solution by their strong industry experience in primary & secondary research, data analysis, finance, economics, and in analytics fields. Insights from these experts help business leaders in tracking:-Trends in Emerging Technology, Product, and Service Markets-Business Expansion, Diversification, and Investment Opportunities-Micro & Macro (PESTEL, Customer, and Supplier) Market Factors-Market Impressions Revenue Drivers, Restraints, and Opportunities-Different Market Segments/Applications-Competitive BenchmarkingIndustry Essence portfolio includes comprehensive ranges of market research reports, research and management consulting solutions, and customized B2B research solutions. Our teams in United States and India are serving clients around the globe. To know more about our offerings, drop an email at: info@industryessence.comMike Lewismike.lewis@industryessence.comIndustry Essence606, Freeport Street, Houston, Texas 77015, USA MENA Corrosion Protective Coatings and Acid Proof Linings Market expected to reach US$ 3,163.8 Mn by 2026 end http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-ma-1928 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-ma-1928 www.futuremarketinsights.com Demand for corrosion protective coatings and acid proof linings in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is estimated to increase at 3.2% Y-o-Y by 2016 end. Saudi Arabia is expected to remain the largest consumer of corrosion protective coatings and acid proof linings in MENA, accounting for revenue share of 32.5% by 2016 end. Strategic government initiatives to diversify the countrys economy as well as growing public and private sector investments in various end-use industries are factors expected to drive market growth in the near future.Robust growth of marine industry as well as increasing maritime activities, such as shipping, offshore repair and shipbuilding are factors anticipated to drive growth of the corrosion protective coatings and acid proof linings market. However, the ongoing oil-crisis in the Middle East can negatively impact market growth.Request Report Sample@By product type, polymer coatings will remain the preferred material in MENA corrosion protective coatings market, accounting for a revenue share of 64.6% by 2016 end. Epoxy and polyurethane will remain the sought-after polymer coatings, owing to their technical superiority and multi-functionality. Thermoplastic lining will remain the highest selling acid proof lining product, ramping up US$ 155.8 Mn in revenues by 2016 end.Major market participants such as Cape RB Hilton Saudi Arabia Ltd., Hertel OTC, StonCor Middle East LLC, Kaefer LLC. REMA TIP TOP AG, KCC Corrosion Control Co., StonCor Middle East LLC, Anticorrosion Protective Systems L.L.C., Al Gurg Paints LLC., Ineco Limited, Global Suhaimi and Ocean Rubber Factory LLC are actively focussing on capacity expansion as well as industry-specific new product development in the region. Furthermore, mid-level market participants are focussing on strengthening distribution and geographical expansion in order to capitalise on growth potential of the MENA corrosion protective caoatings and acid proof linings market.Send An Enquiry@Long-term Outlook: Revenue from the corrosion protective coatings and acid proof linings in the Middle East and North Africa is expected to reach US$ 3,163.8 Mn by 2026 end, expanding at a CAGR of 4.9% over the forecast period 20162024. Saudi Arabia is anticipated to dominate the corrosion protective coatings and acid proof linings market over the forecast period, with market share of 32.5% in overall sales by the end of 2026.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: Crowd Funding Market to Register Steady Growth During 2025 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/8422 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/8422 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com The term Crowd funding refers to a collection of funds for any venture or project through various sources like equity and non-equity, the platform for collecting funds can be the internet and other social media. These crowd funding platforms help investors to meet entrepreneurs in need of funds for their ventures. Mostly, none- equity sector can be considered as the main source of crowd funding rather than equity sector. The crowd funding market had started in the early or mid of 2000s, and since then it has noticed an enormous growth owing to the increase of Start-Ups and many new projects globally. Moreover, such crowd funding platforms have been able to collect billions of dollars for meeting millions of campaigns in the year 2012. Nowadays, Investors are getting attracted to such crowd funding market because of the potential of the untapped market in many regions. North America is having a greater potential in crowd funding market due to the presence of economically sound countries like the US in this region. Likewise, every year crowd funding platforms are launched, thus globalizing the crowd funding market.A sample of this report is available upon request @The increase in a number of Start-Ups and many new small projects are responsible for the growth of crowd funding market for their capital needs. Moreover, Real Estate sector is growing with a significant rate in developing regions like North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. Hence, increasing fund requirement in Real Estate sector is a driving force for crowd funding market. In addition, this sector is having a good market share in crowd funding market.Besides the driving factors of crowd funding market, there are many stringent conditions of crowd funding platforms which can restrain the crowd funding market in further future. Many entrepreneurs are not aware of the existence of crowd funding platforms which can hamper the growth of crowd funding market. Like Kickstarter launched a mission to empower artists and creative projects owners for their ideas through reward crowd funding, but due to lack of awareness many entrepreneurs were not able to avail the benefits of crowd funding.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @The global Crowd Funding market is segmented into seven key regions as North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Japan. North America is having the maximum market share in the global crowd funding market, specially the US in this region is having a big chunk in crowd funding market because of its higher economy than other countries. North America is followed by Europe in crowd funding market and in Europe also, the best performing countries are UK and France. Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness a moderate growth in crowd funding market due to many new business opportunities in various sectors.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: The Xanthan Gum Market is growing, owing to the huge demand for 2017 - 2025 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=2222 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=2222 https://www.tmrresearch.com/xanthan-gum-market Global Xanthan Gum Market: OverviewXanthan gum, refers to a polysaccharide made by fermenting corn sugar with a bacteria, xanthomonas campestris - the same bacteria that leads to the creation of black spots on vegetables such as cauliflower and broccoli. The strain of xanthomonas campestris used for obtaining xanthan gum is non-toxic and non-pathogenic for humans and animals. It is therefore preferred over several other emulsifiers in food products. Xanthan gum is actually one of the worlds 30 most used popular products used in the food industry.Global Xanthan Gum Market: Drivers and RestraintsDemand across the food and beverages industry is expected to continue to remain one of the key forces driving the global market for xanthan gum in the next few years. Of late, the increased global demand for packaged, ready-to-eat, and convenience foods has significantly increased the uptake of xanthan gum in the food and beverages industry. The food and beverages industry presently accounts for over half the global consumption of xanthan gum and the industry is expected to drive the market owing to high demand across food products such as salad dressings and sauces and dairy products such as ice creams.Request Sample Copy of the Report @The inherent superiority of the product over other common hydrocolloids is also a key driver of the global xanthan gum market. However, the market is presently struggling to cope up with the reinforced policies regarding anti-dumping across a number of developed economies and restrictions on the import of xanthan gum from China and Austria. The rising mistrust regarding the quality of xanthan gum by suppliers in China, which is presently the leading producer of the product on the global front, is also expected to hamper the overall growth prospects of the market to a certain extent.Global Xanthan Gum Market: Market PotentialLooking at the significant rise in demand for xanthan gum from across the globe, key producers of the product are focusing on the expansion of their existing production sites, strengthening their distribution channels, and exploring new regional territories to add to their customer bases. In February 2013, CP Kelco, one of the worlds dominant producers of xanthan gum, announced the expansion of its production facility in San Diego by around 40% so as to meet the heightened demand owing to a clampdown by the U.S. government on imports by Chinese and Austrian companies owing to quality issues. The company announced its plans to build a new manufacturing plant in North America for the production of and specialty xanthan gum and gellan gum.Request TOC of the Report @Global Xanthan Gum Market: Regional OverviewThe global market for xanthan gum has been predominantly led by Asia Pacific. The region accounts for a significant share of the global market for xanthan gum and is expected to show growth at a promising pace over the next few years as well. The massive demand for xanthan gum from China is expected to help the Asia Pacific market for xanthan gum remain dominant from a geographical perspective. The thriving market for food and beverages in China and other emerging economies in the region such as India is leading to the high demand for xanthan gum in the region.North America is another promising market for xanthan gum and is expected to become a matured market in the next few years owing to the increased use of the product for a number of industrial applications. The demand for xanthan gum is expected to witness rise at a slower pace in regions such as Middle East and Africa and Latin America.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report@Global Xanthan Gum Market: Competitive DynamicsThe global market for xanthan gum features a largely consolidated competitive landscape, with the leading few companies accounting for a massive share in the global market. Some of the leading vendors operating in the global xanthan gum market are Archer Daniels Midland Company, MeiHua Holdings Group Co., Ltd, Fufeng Group Company Limited, Hebei Xinhe Biochemical Co., The Aurora Chemical, CP Kelco, The Zoranoc Oilfield Chemical, DuPont-Danisco, Deosen, Jungbunzlauer Suisse AG, Ltd., Cargill, Inc., FMC BioPolymer, and Solvay S.A.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 MASON CITY | A Mason City man pleaded guilty Friday in federal court in Cedar Rapids to possession of child pornography. Jeffery Landheer, 46, admitted that between 2009 and 2016, he knowingly possessed child pornography on a computer hard drive. Mason City man faces child porn charges MASON CITY | A Mason City man has been indicted on federal child pornography charges. Landheer was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals after the guilty plea and will remain in custody pending sentencing, which will be set at a later date. Landheer faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and supervised release for five years to life following any imprisonment. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Tremmel and was investigated by the Mason City Police Department. Mary Pieper WebRTC Market to Witness Comprehensive Growth by 2025 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/7987 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/7987 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Web Real-Time Communication (WebRTC) is an internet browser interface which enables real-time communication between two internet browsers. WebRTC enables peer to peer audio, video and data communication between the browsers without plugins. This key functionality of WebRTC not only reduces the time required but also makes the process easy for a non-technical user since WebRTC requires no plugins, frameworks or applications. The browsers use Session Description Protocol (SDP) to establish a connection for data transfer. WebRTC is using JavaScript Application Programming Interface (APIs) and HTML5 for embedded communication within the browsers. However, WebRTC is an emerging platform that is anticipated to have significant impact on the communication between browsers in near future.A sample of this report is available upon request @WebRTC is available for free and is accessible worldwide which is the key growth driver of this market. Moreover, WebRTC is platform and device independent which would help to attract global audience. Further, it provides better video and voice quality with advanced security and other operational features. WebRTC can adapt to various network conditions and is interoperable with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Unified Communications (UC) solutions which is expected to help companies to easily integrate it with their existing infrastructure. WebRTC provides a bright solution for customer facing businesses. As this communication is real time, WebRTC provides audio visual solutions without any cost. Retail and healthcare are two industries with high demand for WebRTC as direct communication with end users or customers is of immense importance in these industries.One key restraint associated with the use of WebRTC is that it uses internet platform which is a public domain and thus, the quality of service cannot be guaranteed all the time. Use of Internet could result in privacy issues as it is still not clear how WebRTC manages the security and privacy. Further, integration is another key challenge associated with WebRTC. Organizations could face problems in integrating and adapting the WebRTC to their current system. WebRTC is currently not supported on Microsoft Internet Explorer. Thus, there are a number of complexities linked with WebRTC however, technological advancements are anticipated to eliminate these challenges in near future.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @With WebRTC nearing its completion, organizations especially the consumer facing entities are expected to use this technology in near future across all platforms. WebRTC is an emerging industry standard for audio and video communication through a web browser. The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) decided that browser makers should implement VP8 and H.264 video codecs. WebRTC is of huge importance for call centers and customer care centers, where direct communication is happening between a company representative and the end user or customer. WebRTC can simplify this communication further and increase the level of customer satisfaction. Companies are integrating WebRTC into their websites to enhance the overall user experience.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: The report comprises in-depth analysis and forecast of the Building Automation System Market on a global as well as regional level https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=2228 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=2228 https://www.tmrresearch.com/building-automation-system-market Global Building Automation System Market: OverviewWith escalating population and rapid urbanization across the world, the need to conserve energy is paramount. It is estimated that buildings consumer nearly 40% of the Worlds energy consumption. In this scenario, new technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) has paved a way for building automation system, with which energy consuming facilities including heating, lighting, air conditioning, and ventilation can be efficiently managed. The concept of building automation system is application not only for the new constructions but for the existing residential buildings too, and promises to prove as a highly useful concept for commercial buildings as well as revolutionize the healthcare sector. Consequently, the demand in the global building automation system is anticipated to increment at a healthy growth rate during the forecast period of 2017 to 2025.Global Building Automation System Market: Key TrendsOne of the primary property of building automation system is that they can be customized according to the need of the end-user, which can be either cost-efficiency with minimal automation or premium automation with a long-term goal. This factor is expected to augment the demand in the global building automation system market. In addition to that, several governments in developed as well as developing economies are offering lucrative subsidies for processes that conserve energy, and thereby encouraging the residential and commercial building owners to choose for these system. For instance, with building automation system, residential buildings can monitor and control security, HVAC, and lighting. Conversely, high implementation cost, long duration of return of investment, and lack of awareness among the consumers are some of the key factors challenging the market for building automation system from achieving its full potential.Request Sample Copy of the Report @Global Building Automation System Market: Market PotentialIncrease in the use of personnel assistant in residential buildings, growing use of the Internet of Things, rising popularity of LED lights, and increased reliance on wireless technologies are some of the key factors favoring the global market for building automation system. In addition to that, growing security concerns is escalating the need to add strength to security, control personnel access, and monitor activity. With IoT, building automation system can also provide real-time medical help, which is opening various new opportunities for the players in this market. On the other hand, commercial applications such as shopping complexes, public transport areas such as airports and railway stations, and corporate office buildings are other targetable avenues for the participants of the global building automation system market.Request TOC of the Report @Global Building Automation System Market: Regional OutlookDeveloped countries such as the U.S., the U.K., Canada, France, and Germany currently offer most of the demand for building automation system and makes North America and Europe as the most lucrative regions. However, Asia Pacific resides several emerging economies such as India, Japan, China, South Korea, and Malaysia. These countries are investing heavily towards improving their infrastructure and consequently, the construction industry is thriving. Increasing disposable income among the urban population in Asia Pacific region is adding to the demand for secure and efficient residential and commercial environment and hence is expected to expand the demand at most robust rate during the forecast period.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report@Global Building Automation System Market: Competitive LandscapeDue to the presence a large number of players who operate at regional or international level, the global market for building automation system is fragmented in nature with high degree of competition. However, as the demand to conserve energy escalates across the world, there is enough fodder for everyone. Some of the leading players in the global building automation system market are Automated Logic, Honeywell, Johnson Controls International, and Schneider Electric, whereas other prominent vendors including Bosch Sicherheitssysteme GmbH, Dwyer, Emerson Electric, Beckhoff Automation, ABB, DELTA CONTROLS, CONTROL4, Distech Controls, Evon Technologies, Itron, and Legrand.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 Cloud Services Market to Significant Growth Foreseen by 2025 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/6667 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/6667 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Cloud services are those services that are offered to users via the Internet from the server of cloud computing service provider. Such services provide scalable and easy access to various resources and applications, and are entirely managed by the cloud service providers. The examples of cloud services include web-based e-mail services, online backup solutions and data storage, document collaboration services, technical support services, and database processing among others. Cloud service providers supply the necessary software and hardware required for cloud service, thereby eliminating the need for organizations to deploy their own resources for managing networked services. The other advantage of cloud services over the traditional methods of providing infrastructure is faster deployment of services and reduction in in-house maintenance costs.A sample of this report is available upon request @On the basis of mode of delivery, the cloud services market is segmented into Platform as a Service (PaaS), Software as a Service (SaaS) and Infrastructure as a service (IaaS). The SaaS mode of delivery is further segmented into SMB and mobile corporate SaaS cloud services, corporate SaaS cloud services, SMB SaaS cloud services and others. North America is the largest contributor to the cloud services market due to the high penetration of internet in this region. This region is followed by Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World (RoW).Major benefits offered by cloud services are driving business organizations in implementing the use of cloud services. Cloud services maximize the effectiveness of shared resources and ensure the business organizations higher returns and faster paybacks. In addition, cloud services offer scalable solutions to growing business organizations at low cost of ownership. This drives business organizations to invest in such services that allow them to generate higher revenues by optimizing the available resources. However, the data security issues are the roadblocks that are adversely affecting the growth of this market. The increasing data hacking incidences using sophisticated tools result in loss of sensitive data, causing serious dents in the business revenues. Also, there are constant evolutions of new security threats that are affecting the quality of cloud services. Further, the small and medium businesses find it difficult to repeatedly invest in the customized solutions available for cloud services security. Due to such factors, the business organizations are reluctant in investing in the cloud services and prefer to carry on with conventional methods of network infrastructure.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Some of the major players in the market are improving their existing services by adding new and innovative features. This helps them in staying competitively ahead in the market. For instance, Akamai Technologies, Inc., one of the leading cloud services providers, recently added Zone Apex Mapping feature to its Ion network acceleration technology. This feature reduces DNS resolution time and avoids HTTP redirects. Other major players in the market include VMware, Inc., (U.S.), Taleo Corporation (Ireland), Oracle Corporation, (U.S.), NetSuite Inc., (U.S.), Microsoft Corporation (U.S.), Joyent Inc., (U.S.), International Business Machines Corporation (U.S.), Hewlett-Packard (U.S.), Flexiant Limited (United Kingdom), ENKI Consulting (U.S.), Etelos Inc.,(U.S.), Citrix Systems Inc., (U.S.), Cisco Systems Inc., (U.S.), CA Technologies, Inc., (U.S.), and SAP AG (Germany).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: Asphalt Additives Market | Outlook Analysis Report 2015-2022 By DecisionDatabases http://www.decisiondatabases.com/ip/1156-asphalt-additives-market-report www.decisiondatabases.com The Asphalt Additives Market Research Report provides forecast and estimates for each application in terms of Market Size, Share, Trend and Growth during the study period 2015-2022. Asphalt additives are those substances which when added to asphalt help to modify characteristic of asphalt. The reason for adding additives to asphalt is to increase the functional temperature range and enhance the binding property of asphalt. The additives also help in improving the thickness of asphalt film. This helps to prevent cracking, raveling and deformation of the asphalt film. Overall, additives help to reduce the maintenance of asphalt constructions.Asphalt additives are classified according to technology by hot/warm mix and cold mix. Hot/Warm mix technology helps to produce superior-quality asphalt concrete, which is utilized in the construction of highways and freeways. So, this technology is widely used. Asphalt additives are segmented according to application as road construction & paving, roofing and others (including airfields, parking lots, drinking water enclosures, waste disposal sites and bridge decks). Road construction and paving is the largest growing segment and is expected to rise during the forecast period.The key drivers for the asphalt additives is growing demand in construction industry and growing consumer inclination towards asphalt additives for roofing applications. The huge investments in construction sector to meet industrial and residential infrastructure demand in developing nations is expected to boost the market. Rise in government projects for road construction in developing economies is expected to fuel the market growth. The key constraint of this market is the availability of cheaper alternatives such as concrete and gypsum.Asia Pacific is the largest market of the asphalt additives and is expected to grow during the forecast period. The growth of infrastructural development in developing economies such as China and India is estimated to boost demand for asphalt additives. Middle East & Africa is expected to be the fastest growing market for asphalt additives due to rising expenditure on construction projects. The key manufacturers of asphalt additives are Arkema Group, Kao Corporation, Honeywell International Inc., The Dow Chemical Company, E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Berkshire Engineering Supplies, Engineered Additives and Huntsman Corporation.View More about Asphalt Additives Market Research Report @DecisionDatabases is involved in providing research reports and company profiles in the global asphalt additives market in terms of revenue and output/volume. Market drivers, opportunities and restraints are thoroughly studied which influences the market. This study is further utilized for the overall analysis of the market. The asphalt additives market is segmented based on the global applications, geographic presence, by products and ingredients. We offer an inclusive category-specific market outlook. We provide access to a comprehensive collection of companies in the industry. The companies can strategize and execute business operations through our competitor analysis. Find the global industry analysis, market size, share, growth, and trends information in our asphalt additives profiles.About Us:DecisionDatabases.com is a global business research reports provider, enriching decision makers and strategists with qualitative statistics. DecisionDatabases.com is proficient in providing syndicated research report, customized research reports, company profiles and industry databases across multiple domains.Our expert research analysts have been trained to map clients research requirements to the correct research resource leading to a distinctive edge over its competitors. We provide intellectual, precise and meaningful data at a lightning speed.3rd Floor,Fountain chambers,Nanabhai Lane,Fort, Mumbai - 1E-Mail: sales@decisiondatabases.comPhone: +91 99 28 237112Web: The Enterprise WLAN Market report provides company market share analysis of key players 2017 - 2025 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=2243 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=2243 https://www.tmrresearch.com/enterprise-wlan-market Global Enterprise WLAN Market: OverviewWith a continuously rising adoption of mobility and the growing demand among people across the world to be connected to the internet regardless of their location, wireless networks are gaining popularity. A wireless LAN (WLAN) controller combines multiple access point protocols to manage them in large through network operations centers or network administrators. The controller has the ability to automatically handle the configuration of wireless access points. Enterprise WLAN helps maintain organizations seamless workflow and security. The different types of verticals where these networks are used, include telecom and IT, healthcare, banking, education, retail, hospitality, and logistics.Global Enterprise WLAN Market: Key TrendsThe emergence of cloud and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies is providing a fillip to the global enterprise WLAN market. IoT and cloud solutions provide an edge to enterprise wireless networks by improving their efficiency and reliability. Moreover, the growing trend of bring your own device (BYOD) is stoking the growth of the market. The proliferation of smartphones and devices is also augmenting the market.Request Sample Copy of the Report @On the flip side, the lack of awareness and dearth of workforce with high technical acumen are keeping the market from realizing its utmost potential. However, technological advancements are estimated to increase WLAN applications across numerous industry sectors, which will work in favor of the market.Global Enterprise WLAN Market: Market PotentialRecent trends in the global enterprise WLAN market indicate that the market participants are focusing on mergers and acquisitions to improve their offerings. The introduction of advanced technologies is rendering the market highly lucrative. In September 2016, Extreme Networks announced the acquisition of Zebra Technologies Wireless LAN (WLAN) business unit. The deal was worth US$55 mn. With this acquisition, the company announced that the combination will work towards delivering superior Enterprise Asset Intelligence solutions, that will provide customers with real-time visibility into their operations. Similarly, Hewlett-Packard acquired Aruba Networks in May 2015 for US$3 bn in an attempt to enhance its role in the WLAN market.Request TOC of the Report @Several players are also involved in expanding their outreach in emerging regions. They are pouring funds into research and development to introduce innovative and disruptive solutions for end to end networking requirements of enterprises. For instance, AXILSPOT, in December 2016, flagged off its operations in Indias enterprise wireless marketplace by launching Rscan range of products.Global Enterprise WLAN Market: Geographical SegmentationOn the basis of geography, the segments reviewed in the report are Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa. North America will be a prominent market for enterprise WLAN. The high consumer awareness regarding the merits of these networks and early introduction of advanced technologies due to the presence of many key players are driving the growth of the region.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report@Asia Pacific, on the other hand, will offer numerous promising prospects to global vendors. The widening pool of working population and emerging technology hubs is largely benefiting the market in the region. The escalating development and adoption of cloud-based services and growing investments in the IT and telecommunication sector are fuelling the growth of the region.Global Enterprise WLAN Market: Competitive LandscapeThe majority of players in the global WLAN enterprise market are focusing towards technological advancements and product innovation to enhance their visibility in the market. Key players are looking upon mergers and partnerships as viable growth strategies to stay ahead in the market. Some of the prominent vendors in the market are Cisco Systems, Alcatel-Lucent Enterprises, Extreme Network, Dell Inc., ZTE Corporation, Ruckus, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, Huawei, and Juniper Networks.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 Nickel Alloy Welding Consumables Market Outlook 2015-2022 Research Report http://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/download-sample-15570 http://www.decisiondatabases.com/ip/15570-nickel-alloy-welding-consumables-market-report http://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/buy-now-15570 www.decisiondatabases.com The new research report on Nickel Alloy Welding Consumables Market offered by DecisionDatabases.com provides Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast Till 2022. The report on global nickel alloy welding consumables market evaluates the growth trends of the industry through historical study and estimates future prospects based on comprehensive research. The report extensively provides the market share, growth, trends and forecasts for the period 2015-2022. The market size in terms of volume (KT) and revenue (USD MN) is calculated for the study period along with the details of the factors affecting the market growth (drivers and restraints).The major market drivers are Increasing demand of nickel, Developing power generation sector and Industrialization. The market growth might be restricted due Fluctuating cost of the raw material and Lack of expertise under the study period.Get FREE Report Sample @Furthermore, the report quantifies the market share held by the major players of the industry and provides an in-depth view of the competitive landscape. This market is classified into different segments with detailed analysis of each with respect to geography for the study period 2015-2022.The comprehensive value chain analysis of the market will assist in attaining better product differentiation, along with detailed understanding of the core competency of each activity involved. The market attractiveness analysis provided in the report aptly measures the potential value of the market providing business strategists with the latest growth opportunities.The report covers following company profiles (can be customized as per requirement):> Ador Welding Ltd.> Colfax Corporation> Illinois Tool Works, Inc.> Kobe Steel, Ltd.> Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.> MEC Holding GmbH> Sandvik Materials Technology AB> Special Metal Corporation> Tianjin Golden Bridge Welding Materials Group Co., Ltd.> voestalpine Bohler Welding GmbH> Berkenhoff GmbH> Cor-Met Inc.> Kunshan Gintune Welding Co., Ltd.> Linan Dayang Welding Material Co., Ltd.> Oxford Alloys, Inc.> Ramtec Welding Products Limited> Senor Metals Pvt. Ltd.> Weld Mold CompanySee the complete TOC and segmentations @The report classifies the market into different segments based on product, technology, alloy type and application. These segments are studied in detail incorporating the market estimates and forecasts at regional and country level. The segment analysis is useful in understanding the growth areas and probable opportunities of the market.Table Of Contents - Overview1. Introduction2. Executive Summary3. Market Analysis4. Nickel Alloy Welding Consumables Market Analysis By Product5. Nickel Alloy Welding Consumables Market Analysis By Technology6. Nickel Alloy Welding Consumables Market Analysis By Alloy Types7. Nickel Alloy Welding Consumables Market Analysis By Application8. Nickel Alloy Welding Consumables Market Analysis By Geography9. Competitive Landscape Of The Nickel Alloy Welding Consumables Companies10. Company Profiles Of The Nickel Alloy Welding Consumables IndustryPurchase Complete Global Nickel Alloy Welding Consumables Market Research Report At:About Us:DecisionDatabases.com is a global business research reports provider, enriching decision makers and strategists with qualitative statistics. DecisionDatabases.com is proficient in providing syndicated research report, customized research reports, company profiles and industry databases across multiple domains.Our expert research analysts have been trained to map clients research requirements to the correct research resource leading to a distinctive edge over its competitors. We provide intellectual, precise and meaningful data at a lightning speed.3rd Floor,Fountain chambers,Nanabhai Lane,Fort, Mumbai - 1E-Mail: sales@decisiondatabases.comPhone: +91 99 28 237112Web: Global Complex Event Processing (CEP) Market 2017 - 2021: Oracle, Fujitsu, TIBCO, EsperTech, IBM Complex Event Processing Market http://bit.ly/2ryfwX1 http://bit.ly/2ryzyjX http://www.mrsresearchgroup.com/market-analysis/global-complex-event-processing-cep-market-2017-production.html The Global Complex Event Processing (CEP) Market 2017 - 2021 is the cornerstone of the global development aspects and prospects, as the development of specific concept requires various technologically supported ideas, theories, methodologies. The Global Complex Event Processing (CEP) Market 2017 - 2021 report explains the in-depth summary of current innovations, parameter, specifications, and creation. The Global Complex Event Processing (CEP) Market 2017 - 2021 also delivers a full abstract of the economic ups and downs in terms of demand rate and fulfillment ratios.Request For Download Sample Report:The Complex Event Processing (CEP) Market comprise of a large number of reputed organizations, firms, vendors, manufacturer and we deliver an in-detail summary of the overall key players who hold major count in terms of revenue, sales, demand, through their reliable services, products, and post-sale processes.Inquiry for Buying Report:Complex Event Processing (CEP) Market each player in these regions, coveringOracleFujitsuTIBCOWSO2EsperTechIBMThe Global Complex Event Processing (CEP) Market 2017 - 2021 research report also provides in-detail forecast predictions based on the current business trends and analytical techniques. Complex Event Processing (CEP) Segments are broadly segmented based on the constant updates in the development parameters, quality parameters, reliability parameters, end user demands, and applications. The slight change in the product profile leads to major modification in the product prototype, production methods and development platforms, these overall factors that are related to production are very well explained in the global Global Complex Event Processing (CEP) Market 2017 - 2021 research report.Browse Full Report With Toc:MRS Research 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.3422 SW 15 Street, Suit #8138, Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442, Global Food Ingredients Market - Driven by growing demand for packaged food and beverages: 2015 Edition http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=296891 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=296891 http://www.researchmoz.us/global-food-ingredients-market-report-2015-edition-report.html http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Albany, NY, May 19, 2017: Latest Report " Global Food Ingredients Market " features Top Market Players, Market Applications, Market Challenges, Market Trends & Countrywise Analysis Data.A number of ingredients contribute in various functions in the preparation of a variety of foods. Overall food ingredient industry is broadly classified into two segments namely; bulk ingredient and specialty food ingredient, which further can be segmented into preservatives, sweeteners, color additives, flavors and spices, flavor enhancers, fat replacers, nutrients, emulsifiers, acidulants and leavening agents.Specialty food ingredients are sold in smaller volumes as additives which are often key determinants of an F&B products desired taste, appearance, nutritional properties and functionality. On the other hand, bulk ingredients are processed commodities which are sold in large volumes.Food ingredients are primarily segmented into following types: Traditionally, salt was the main ingredient to be used for the preservation of meats and fish, followed by different herbs and spices to improve the flavor of foods whilst fruits were preserved with sugar, and cucumbers were pickled with the help of vinegar. Unlike the ancient times, the contemporary consumers can opt from a wide variety of food products that are available in different flavors, colors, with high nutritional values. Food ingredients are primarily sold to the producers of prepared food, beverage, dairy, bakery, meat and fish and confectionery that include large food manufacturing companies as well as medium-sized companies.Get a Sample Research PDF with TOC:The key factors driving growth of the global food ingredient industry include escalating global population, changing demographics and growing demand for packaged food and beverages. Some of the noteworthy trends and developments of this industry include launch of innovative and novel products, increasing acceptance of natural ingredients, growing awareness towards health and wellness, food safety, flavors and convenience, and rising demand from emerging economies. However, the growth of the industry is being hindered by rising intense research requirements and stringent regulations along with various health hazards associated with food additives.The report analyzes the global food ingredient industry along with an extensive coverage of its major product segments. The food ingredient market witnesses intense competition with numerous top notch players; such as Tate & Lyle, Royal DSM N.V., and DuPont; operating in the marketplace along with small budding players. The fierce competition prevailing in the food ingredient industry has been studied on a number of parameters such as emerging market exposure, R&D expenditures, company financials, and presence in various market segments. The company profiles of leading players in the market are also presented in the report.By combining SPSS Inc.s data integration and analysis capabilities with our relevant findings, we have predicted the future growth of the industry. We employed various significant variables that have an impact on this industry and created regression models with SPSS Base to determine the future direction of the industry. Before deploying the regression model, the relationship between several independent or predictor variables and the dependent variable was analyzed using standard SPSS output, including charts, tables and tests.Enquiry at: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 Electro Zinc Coated Sheet (EZC) Market 2017- Parker Steel, Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal, Salzgitter Group, Tata Steel https://goo.gl/nWqcuY https://market.biz/report/global-electro-zinc-coated-sheet-ezc-market-2017/91206/ https://market.biz/about/ http://askthereporter24.com/ The Electro Zinc Coated Sheet (EZC) Market 2017 examines the performance of the Electro Zinc Coated Sheet (EZC) market, enclosing an in-depth judgment of the Electro Zinc Coated Sheet (EZC) market state and the competitive landscape globally. 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We understand the needs of our clients, and keep our reports updated as market requirement changes.read more-S no. 51/14 First Floor, Office Number 4, Vishwa Arcade, Near Navale Lawns, Pune, Maharashtra, India 411041Telephone Numbers:+1(857)2390696+91 9130855334Email ID: inquiry@market.bizBrowse Latest Market News- Global Electronic Packaging Materials Market 2017- EPM, International Paper Company, Mitsubishi Chemical, Alent, Cookson https://goo.gl/c9lxeN https://market.biz/report/global-electronic-packaging-materials-market-2017/91208/ https://market.biz/about/ http://askthereporter24.com/ The Electronic Packaging Materials Market 2017 examines the performance of the Electronic Packaging Materials market, enclosing an in-depth judgment of the Electronic Packaging Materials market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Electronic Packaging Materials market in the present as well as the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Electronic Packaging Materials Market 2017 report includes Electronic Packaging Materials industry volume, market Share, market Trends, Electronic Packaging Materials Growth aspects, a wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis, manufacturing capacity, Electronic Packaging Materials Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Electronic Packaging Materials Market 2017:1 EPM2 International Paper Company3 Mitsubishi Chemical4 Alent5 Cookson6 Hitachi Chemical7 Kyocera Chemical8 LG Chem9 Sumitomo Chemical10 BASF11 Mitsui High-tec12 Henkel13 Toray14 Tanaka15 Indium Corporation16 Atotech Deutschland GmbH17 Eternal Chemical18 Shinko Electric Industries19 AMETEK Electronic20 DuPont21 IEEEElectronic Packaging Materials Market Analysis: By ProductOrganic SubstratesBonding WiresLead FramesCeramic PackagesOthersElectronic Packaging Materials Market Analysis: By ApplicationSemiconductor & ICPCBOthersAt the beginning, the report covers the top Electronic Packaging Materials manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. 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We take pride in our ability to satisfy the market research needs of both domestic and international businesses.read more-S no. 51/14 First Floor, Office Number 4, Vishwa Arcade, Near Navale Lawns, Pune, Maharashtra, India 411041Telephone Numbers:+1(857)2390696+91 9130855334Email ID: inquiry@market.bizBrowse Latest Market News- OSAGE | An Osage man authorities say attacked a teen girl has has been given a partially-suspended jail sentence and probation. Matthew Ray Entriken, 36, was given a 180-day sentence with all but 20 days suspended Wednesday in Mitchell County District Court after pleading guilty to assault causing bodily injury or mental illness. He was put on probation for one year and ordered to pay a $315 fine. Osage man accused of assaulting 16-year-old girl OSAGE | An Osage man authorities say attacked a teen girl has been arrested. Entriken also was ordered to serve 10 days in jail for violating a no-contact order. Entriken allegedly hit a 16-year-old in the head with his fist on March 28 at his residence in Osage, according to court documents. Investigators say they saw a bump and bruise on the side of the girl's face. They went to the home to check the girl's welfare at the urging of local school officials, according to court documents. Police initially arrested Entriken on a felony charge of child endangerment. A judge later changed the charge to misdemeanor assault at the prosecution's request. Mary Pieper Attack Helicopters Sales Market - Industry Analysis- Size, Share, Trends, Demand, Overview, Forecast to 2022 Attack Helicopters Sales Market https://www.qyresearchgroups.com/request-sample/376384 https://www.qyresearchgroups.com/report/global-attack-helicopters-sales-market-report-2017 https://www.qyresearchgroups.com/check-discount/376384 https://www.qyresearchgroups.com/send-an-enquiry/376384 https://www.qyresearchgroups.com The Global Attack Helicopters Sales Market Research Report 2017 renders deep perception of the key regional market status of the Attack Helicopters Sales 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 Attack Helicopters Sales Market is a professional report which provides thorough knowledge along with complete information pertaining to the Attack Helicopters Sales industry a propos classification, definitions, applications, industry chain summary, industry policies in addition to plans, product specifications, manufacturing processes, cost structures, etc.Get Free Sample Copy of this Report @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 Attack Helicopters Sales 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. 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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 Attack Helicopters Sales Industry. The production value and market share in conjunction with the SWOT analysis everything is integrated in this report.Get Exclusive Discount on This Report @Some points from TOC:-Global Attack Helicopters Sales Market Report 20171 Attack Helicopters Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Attack Helicopters1.2 Classification of Attack Helicopters by Product Category1.2.1 Global Attack Helicopters Market Size (Sales) Comparison by Type (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Attack Helicopters Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 General Helicopter1.2.4 Armed Helicopter1.3 Global Attack Helicopters Market by Application/End Users1.3.1 Global Attack Helicopters Sales (Volume) and Market Share Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Air Force Use1.3.3 Navy Use1.3.4 Land Force Use1.4 Global Attack Helicopters Market by Region1.4.1 Global Attack Helicopters Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)1.4.2 United States Attack Helicopters Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 China Attack Helicopters Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 Europe Attack Helicopters Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Japan Attack Helicopters Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 Southeast Asia Attack Helicopters Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.7 India Attack Helicopters Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Global Market Size (Value and Volume) of Attack Helicopters (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Attack Helicopters Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Attack Helicopters Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2022)2 Global Attack Helicopters Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application2.1 Global Attack Helicopters Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1.1 Global Attack Helicopters Sales and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Attack Helicopters Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Attack Helicopters (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global Attack Helicopters Sales and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.2.2 Global Attack Helicopters Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.3 Global Attack Helicopters (Volume and Value) by Region2.3.1 Global Attack Helicopters Sales and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)2.3.2 Global Attack Helicopters Revenue and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)2.4 Global Attack Helicopters (Volume) by ApplicationEnquiry Before Buying @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 worlds most complete and current database of expert insights on global industries, companies, products, and trends.Contact us:John+1-888-236-2744Email- sales@qyresearchgroups.comWeb- Global Embedded Medical Connector Market 2017- Amphenol Corporation, Delphi Automotive LLP, Esterline Corporation, ITT Corporation https://goo.gl/iMcBgV https://market.biz/report/global-embedded-medical-connector-market-2017/91209/ https://market.biz/about/ http://askthereporter24.com/ The Embedded Medical Connector Market 2017 examines the performance of the Embedded Medical Connector market, enclosing an in-depth judgment of the Embedded Medical Connector market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Embedded Medical Connector market in the present as well as the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Embedded Medical Connector Market 2017 report includes Embedded Medical Connector industry volume, market Share, market Trends, Embedded Medical Connector Growth aspects, a wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis, manufacturing capacity, Embedded Medical Connector Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Embedded Medical Connector Market 2017:1 Amphenol Corporation2 Delphi Automotive LLP3 Esterline Corporation4 ITT Corporation5 Smiths Interconnect6 Fisher Connectors7 MolexEmbedded Medical Connector Market Analysis: By ProductMetal TypePolymer TypeEmbedded Medical Connector Market Analysis: By ApplicationPatient MonitoringElectrosurgeryDiagnostic ImagingDental DeviceOthersAt the beginning, the report covers the top Embedded Medical Connector manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on topographical regions.Further, the Embedded Medical Connector report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Embedded Medical Connector industry, Embedded Medical Connector industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Embedded Medical Connector Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.To Buy Complete Report Click Here:The Embedded Medical Connector research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Embedded Medical Connector market revenue worldwide.Finally, Embedded Medical Connector market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.Market.Biz is designed to provide the best and most penetrating research required to all commercial, industrial and profit-making ventures in any sector of online business. We take pride in our ability to satisfy the market research needs of both domestic and international businesses.read more-S no. 51/14 First Floor, Office Number 4, Vishwa Arcade, Near Navale Lawns, Pune, Maharashtra, India 411041Telephone Numbers:+1(857)2390696+91 9130855334Email ID: inquiry@market.bizBrowse Latest Market News- Global Encrypted USB Flash Drives Market 2017- SanDisk, Kanguru Solutions, LaCie, IronKey, Kingston https://goo.gl/w8u8WZ https://market.biz/report/global-encrypted-usb-flash-drives-market-2017/91210/ https://market.biz/about/ http://askthereporter24.com/ The Encrypted USB Flash Drives Market 2017 examines the performance of the Encrypted USB Flash Drives market, enclosing an in-depth judgment of the Encrypted USB Flash Drives market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Encrypted USB Flash Drives market in the present as well as the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Encrypted USB Flash Drives Market 2017 report includes Encrypted USB Flash Drives industry volume, market Share, market Trends, Encrypted USB Flash Drives Growth aspects, a wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis, manufacturing capacity, Encrypted USB Flash Drives Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Encrypted USB Flash Drives Market 2017:1 SanDisk2 Kanguru Solutions3 LaCie4 IronKey5 Kingston6 ADATA7 Apricorn8 Verbatim9 Transcend10 KanguruEncrypted USB Flash Drives Market Analysis: By Product8 GB16 GB32 GB64 GB128 GBOthersEncrypted USB Flash Drives Market Analysis: By ApplicationPersonal UseOffice UseOthersAt the beginning, the report covers the top Encrypted USB Flash Drives manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on topographical regions.Further, the Encrypted USB Flash Drives report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Encrypted USB Flash Drives industry, Encrypted USB Flash Drives industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Encrypted USB Flash Drives Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.To Buy Complete Report Click Here:The Encrypted USB Flash Drives research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Encrypted USB Flash Drives market revenue worldwide.Finally, Encrypted USB Flash Drives market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.Market.Biz has access to the worlds most comprehensive and up-to-date databases in your business sector, including countless market reports that can provide you with valuable data relating to your business. We understand the needs of our clients, and keep our reports updated as market requirement changes.read more-S no. 51/14 First Floor, Office Number 4, Vishwa Arcade, Near Navale Lawns, Pune, Maharashtra, India 411041Telephone Numbers:+1(857)2390696+91 9130855334Email ID: inquiry@market.bizBrowse Latest Market News- Reliable performance meets affordability: Philips S-line and V-line displays www.mmd-p.com Extension of the product line-ups S-line for business and V-line for home offices: essential feature sets and solid viewing performance Full HD, IPS technology for crisp, clear viewing Features for well-being and productivity: SoftBlue and LowBlue, EasyRead, height adjustable stand Great connectivity including HDMI, DisplayPort, optional USB hub + speakersAmsterdam, 19 May 2017 MMD, the leading technology company and brand license partner for Philips monitors, is extending its S7-line and V7-line. These lines bring great visuals to organisations and home-office users who seek displays that drive business efficiency at a good value. V7 is the entry point line with all essential features for productivity, while S7 also incorporates some premium features. S7s complete line-up will consist of 2 variations in the size 21.5 inches and 4 variations in the size 23.8 inches. V7s complete line-up provides an even larger spectrum to choose from, with 2 variations in 21.5; 3 in 23.8 and 4 in 27 inches. Both lines are equipped with technologies oriented toward wellbeing of the eyes during prolonged screen use.Quality, performance and durabilityPowerful and easy-to-use, the S7-line and V7-line displays offer the right mix of performance, essential features and affordability. They make screen time easier, more productive and budget-friendly for home-office users as well as for public and private-sector organisations ranging from call centres to schools and libraries, public and private offices.Both display lines feature innovations that would not be out of place even on higher-end models. Even at first glance, the S7 displays, in particular, are built to impress, with a slimmer bezel and stand column that create a clean, minimalistic look as well as taking up far less room on the desktop. The latest models in both S7 and V7 lines are all frameless on three sides. As well as looking good, the seamless design is valuable for apps that need two displays to be placed side-by-side: the joint between the displays is barely perceptible, creating the impression of having one large display for better comparisons and productivity. With Full HD resolution and the wide viewing angle of IPS technology, the panels in both lines offer clear, crisp viewing, even when the screen is looked at almost from the side. The display positioning is adjustable for maximum comfort: the S7-lines base enables the display to be tilted, swivelled and height-adjusted exactly to the right angle. The V-line displays all have a tilt option.User-centric features to drive efficiency and promote well-beingThe S7-line and V7-line displays are built to handle the rigours of intensive use, with just the right features to help users be as productive as they can for as long as they need, as Artem Khomenko, Product Manager Philips monitors Europe at MMD, points out: These displays are designed with a host of standout features to make hours-long viewing more productive.All S7-line displays now feature the innovative SoftBlue LED technology as standard. Research has shown that blue light waves emitted by LED displays can potentially affect vision over time. SoftBlue is a technology built in the hardware of the monitor, which aims to counter this. Without compromising the colour or image, SoftBlue reduces the harmful blue light waves. V7-line displays feature a technology with similar effect - LowBlue light mode. LowBlue light mode is a software solution which reduces harmful LED blue light.Other features oriented towards users eye comfort are EasyRead (S7 and V7-lines), which creates a paper-like reading experience for long documents, and SmartContrast (S7 and V7-lines), which auto-adjusts colours and backlight intensity to what is being displayed on the screen (the optimum settings for a spreadsheet, for example, are very different to those for video-viewing).In line with the needs of business users, S7-line displays are equipped with additional capabilities. Built-in stereo speakers ensure a multimedia experience with great sound in tasks such as videoconferencing, and Flicker-Free technology regulates brightness and reduces flicker effects for more comfortable viewing.About MMDMMD is a wholly owned company of TPV established in 2009 through a brand license agreement with Philips. MMD exclusively markets and sells Philips branded LCD displays worldwide. By combining the Philips brand promise with TPVs manufacturing expertise in displays, MMD uses a fast and focused approach to bringing innovative products to market. MMD serves the Western European markets from its headquarters in Amsterdam. The Eastern European and CIS markets are served by a local office in Prague. Through its network of local sales teams MMD works with all major IT distributors and resellers. The companys design and development centre is located in Taiwan.Press contact:united communications GmbHElena StrzelczykRotherstr. 1910245 BerlinTel.: +49 30 7890760Philips.Displays@united.deCompany contact Europe:MMDIvilina BonevaPrins Bernhardplein, 6th floor 2001097 JB AmsterdamTel.: +31 20 5046945Ivilina.Boneva@tpv-tech.com Global Energy Harvesting Market 2017- ABB, Honeywell International, Schneider Electric, Siemens AG, STMicroelectronics https://goo.gl/DQi6pT https://market.biz/report/global-energy-harvesting-market-2017/91211/ https://market.biz/about/ http://askthereporter24.com/ The Energy Harvesting Market 2017 examines the performance of the Energy Harvesting market, enclosing an in-depth judgment of the Energy Harvesting market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Energy Harvesting market in the present as well as the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Energy Harvesting Market 2017 report includes Energy Harvesting industry volume, market Share, market Trends, Energy Harvesting Growth aspects, a wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis, manufacturing capacity, Energy Harvesting Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Energy Harvesting Market 2017:1 ABB2 Honeywell International3 Schneider Electric4 Siemens AG5 STMicroelectronics6 Texas Instrument Incorporated7 Arveni8 Cymbet Corporation9 Fujitsu Limited10 Microchip Technology11 Nextreme Thermal Solutions12 Enocean Gmbh13 G24 InnovationsEnergy Harvesting Market Analysis: By ProductLight Energy HarvestingElectromagnetic Energy HarvestingVibration Energy HarvestingThermal Energy HarvestingOtherEnergy Harvesting Market Analysis: By ApplicationConsumer ElectronicsBuilding and Home AutomationIndustrialTransportation and SecurityOtherAt the beginning, the report covers the top Energy Harvesting manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on topographical regions.Further, the Energy Harvesting report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Energy Harvesting industry, Energy Harvesting industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Energy Harvesting Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.To Buy Complete Report Click Here:The Energy Harvesting research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Energy Harvesting market revenue worldwide.Finally, Energy Harvesting market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.Market.Biz has access to the worlds most comprehensive and up-to-date databases in your business sector, including countless market reports that can provide you with valuable data relating to your business. We understand the needs of our clients, and keep our reports updated as market requirement changes.read more-S no. 51/14 First Floor, Office Number 4, Vishwa Arcade, Near Navale Lawns, Pune, Maharashtra, India 411041Telephone Numbers:+1(857)2390696+91 9130855334Email ID: inquiry@market.bizBrowse Latest Market News- Global Cloud Access Security Brokers Market Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=706398 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=706398 http://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Cloud Access Security Brokers Market (Cloud Deployment Type: SaaS, PaaS, IaaS; Software Type: Cloud-based, On-premise; Software Solution: Control & Monitoring, Risk & Compliance Management, Cloud Data Encryption, Data Leakage Prevention, Tokenization; Services: Consulting, System Integration, Operation & Maintenance) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024" to its huge collection of research reports.Cloud access security brokers (CASB) are cloud security solution platforms deployed to protect organizations critical and sensitive data. With technological advancements and lack of storage infrastructure by SMBs, most information is stored in cloud silos. Owing to the rising threat of security breaches and data leakage, CASB services are gaining vital significance in the cloud security domain. The solutions encompassed under CASB include control & monitoring, risk & compliance management, cloud data encryption, data leakage prevention, and tokenization. The aforementioned solutions have led the CASB market to grow substantially well and attain significant market position. The CASB market is expected to advance at a CAGR of 16.7% from 2016 to 2024 evaluating at a market size of US$ 13,218.5 Mn in 2024, from US$ 3,371.4 Mn in 2015.This research study, titled Cloud Access Security Brokers Market Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2015 2023, provides strategic analysis of the global Cloud Access Security Brokers market, along with the market growth (size in US$ Mn) forecast for the period from 2016 to 2024. The report includes an in-depth analysis of the market drivers, restraints, and industry trends. It also highlights the growth opportunities for CASB services in the next few years.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The research report provides a comprehensive assessment of stakeholder strategies, and the imperatives for success in the CASB market. The report also includes competitive analysis of various market segments based on deployment type, components encompassing software and services of CASB, and in-depth cross-sectional scrutiny across different geographical segments of the cloud security systems market. In order to aid in strategic decision-making, the report includes the winning strategies adopted by key players. The report segregates the CASB market geographically into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America.For a detailed understanding of the CASB market, all these segments have also been estimated in terms of revenue (US$ Mn) for the geographies mentioned above. The market research study analyzes the CASB market worldwide, and provides historical revenue estimates in terms of US$ Mn for 2014 and 2015, along with the market forecast for the period 2016 to 2024. Market forecasts have been analyzed considering the impact of various economic, political, social, legal, operational, and technological factors influencing market growth.The CASB market is segmented as follows:Cloud Access Security Brokers Market, by Cloud Deployment TypeSoftware as a Service (SaaS)Platform as a Service (PaaS)Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)Cloud Access Security Brokers Market, by ComponentsSoftwareCloud-basedControl and MonitoringRisk & Compliance ManagementCloud Data EncryptionData Leakage PreventionTokenizationOn-premiseControl and MonitoringRisk & Compliance ManagementCloud Data EncryptionData Leakage PreventionTokenizationServicesConsultingSystem IntegrationOperation and MaintenanceCloud Access Security Brokers Market by GeographyNorth AmericaThe U.S.Rest of North AmericaEuropeEU7CISRest of EuropeAsia-Pacific (APAC)JapanChinaAustralasiaRest of APACMiddle East and Africa (MEA)GCC CountriesNorth AfricaSouth AfricaRest of MEALatin AmericaBrazilRest of Latin AmericaMake 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 Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) Market Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2023 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=224919 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=224919 http://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) Market (By Operational Model - Reseller MVNO, Service Operator MVNO, and Full-MVNO; By Types - Business, Discount, M2M, Media, Migrant, Retail, Roaming, and Telecom; By Subscriber - Business and Consumer) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2023" to its huge collection of research reports.The mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) market report provides analysis for the period 2013 2023, wherein the period from 2015 to 2023 is the forecast period and 2014 is considered as the base year. The report precisely covers all the major trends and technologies playing a key role in MVNO market growth over the forecast period. It also highlights the drivers, restraints, and opportunities expected to influence the market growth during the said period. The study provides a holistic perspective on MVNO market growth, throughout the above forecast period in terms of revenue (in US$ Bn), across different geographies, which include Asia Pacific, Latin America, North America, Europe, and Middle East & Africa (MEA).The market overview section of the report demonstrates the market dynamics and trends such as drivers, restraints, and opportunities that influence the current nature and future status of this market. Impact analysis of key trends has also been provided for every geographic region in the report, in order to give a thorough analysis of the overall competitive scenario of the MVNO market, globally. Moreover, the report provides an overview of various strategies of key players in the MVNO market.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The report segments the global MVNO market on the basis of operational model into reseller MVNO, service operator MVNO, and full MVNO. By type, the market has been classified into discount, telecom, migrant, machine-to-machine (M2M), retail, business, media, and roaming. Thus, the report provides in-depth cross segment analysis of the MVNO market and classifies it into various levels, thereby providing valuable insights at macro as well as micro levels.The report also highlights the competitive landscape of the MVNO market, thereby positioning all the major players according to their geographic presence and recent key developments. The comprehensive MVNO market estimates are the result of our in-depth secondary research, primary interviews, and in-house expert panel reviews. These market estimates have been analyzed by taking into account the impact of different political, social, economic, technological, and legal factors along with the current market dynamics affecting the MVNO market growth.AT&T Inc., Lycamobile Group, Sprint Corporation, T-Mobile AG, Verizon Communications Inc., CITIC Telecom International Holding Limited, Telefonica S.A., Tracfone Wireless, Inc., Truphone Limited, and Virgin Mobile are some of the major players operating within the global MVNO market, which have been profiled in this study. Details such as financials, business strategies, recent developments, and other such strategic information pertaining to these players have been duly provided as part of company profiling.Mobile Virtual Network Operator MarketBy Operational Model- Reseller MVNO- Service Operator MVNO- Full-MVNOBy Industry Vertical- Business- Discount- M2M- Media- Migrant- Retail- Roaming- TelecomBy Subscriber- Consumer- BusinessBy Geography- North America- Europe- Latin America- APAC- Middle East and AfricaMake 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 IT Robotic Automation Market Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014 - 2020 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=269813 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=269813 http://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "IT Robotic Automation Market (RPA Tools and RPA Services) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014 - 2020" to its huge collection of research reports.Robotic automation involves a practice in which a machine or computer software mimics human actions in order to complete rule-based tasks. In context of IT industry, robotic automation is accomplished by using automation software, which utilizes the Robotic Process Automation (RPA). Some basic processes in IT, which can be managed through robotic process automation include access management, request management, availability management, monitoring, incident management, and problem management. Robotic automation helps reduce the operating costs while additionally supporting agility in order to meet the customers varying and evolving needs. The robotic automation software tools help automate existing user actions and thereby, facilitate IT companies in incurring cost savings as robotic software can replace the employees performing similar repetitive tasks.Key factors driving the global IT robotic automation market include cost benefits and improved efficiency over manual process handling, ability to leverage other application software without integration, increasing adoption in finance and accounting (F&A) sector and potential alternative to offshore outsourcing among others. The robotic process automation reduces the need for human intervention in routine repetitive tasks and thus creates a virtual workforce capable of handling large number of repetitive tasks. Further, the automation occurs at the GUI layer thereby eliminating the need of integration with other systems. Moreover, robots can work 24x7x365 eradicating the constraints of human labor to work for limited hours. Thus, significant reductions in cost, time and labor can be achieved by implementing robotic process automation.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The IT robotic automation market has been segmented by type into tools and services. The RPA tools are further segmented into model-based application tools and process-based application tools. The RPA services are further studied based on professional and training services. Professional services are further segmented into consulting, integration and development, and BPO services. The market size and forecasts in terms of revenue (US$ Mn) for each of these segments have been provided for the period 2014 to 2020, considering 2012 and 2013 as the base years. The report also provides compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) for each segment of the market for the forecast period 2014 to 2020. Geographically, the IT robotic automation market has been segmented into five regions, namely, North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa (MEA) and Latin America.The report includes market dynamics, opportunity assessment and the impact analysis of robotic automation on the IT industry. It also includes ecosystem analysis to recognize key participants in the IT robotic automation along with their role in the ecosystem. We have included future trends that will impact the demand. The study provides market estimation in terms of revenue and forecast for the period 2014 to 2020.The IT robotic automation market comprises RPA technology providers and RPA service providers. Some of the key technology providers for RPA include Blue Prism, IPSoft, Inc., Be Informed B.V., Appian Corporation, and Automation Anywhere Inc. whereas RPA service providers include Sutherland Global Services, Tata Consultancy Services, Accenture plc, Cognizant Technology Solutions, Infosys Limited, and Hewlett Packard Company.The report analyzes the global IT robotic automation market in terms of revenue (US$ Mn). The market has been segmented as follows:IT Robotic Automation Market, by Type:- Tools- ServicesIT Robotic Automation Market, by Tools:- Model-based Application Tools- Process-based Application ToolsIT Robotic Automation Market, by Services:- Professional- Consulting- Integration and Development- Application Management- Infrastructure Management- BPO- Application Management- Infrastructure Management- TrainingIT Robotic Automation Market, by Geography:- North America- Europe- Asia-Pacific- Middle East and Africa (MEA)- Latin AmericaMake 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 Fiber-Optic Sensor Market 2017- Sony, Omnivision, Samsung, Canon, ABB https://goo.gl/pLljsP https://market.biz/report/global-fiber-optic-sensor-market-2017/91215/ https://market.biz/about/ http://askthereporter24.com/ The Fiber-Optic Sensor Market 2017 examines the performance of the Fiber-Optic Sensor market, enclosing an in-depth judgment of the Fiber-Optic Sensor market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Fiber-Optic Sensor market in the present as well as the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Fiber-Optic Sensor Market 2017 report includes Fiber-Optic Sensor industry volume, market Share, market Trends, Fiber-Optic Sensor Growth aspects, a wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis, manufacturing capacity, Fiber-Optic Sensor Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Fiber-Optic Sensor Market 2017:1 Sony2 Omnivision3 Samsung4 Canon5 ABB6 Analog Devices7 Baumer Group8 Avago Technologies9 Coherent10 Eaton11 Emcore12 Finisar13 Omron14 Robert Bosch15 STMicroelectronics16 SickFiber-Optic Sensor Market Analysis: By ProductImage SensorsFiber Optic SensorsPosition SensorsAmbient Light SensorsFiber-Optic Sensor Market Analysis: By ApplicationAerospace & DefenseAutomotiveConsumer ElectronicsHealthcareIndustrialOthersAt the beginning, the report covers the top Fiber-Optic Sensor manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on topographical regions.Further, the Fiber-Optic Sensor report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Fiber-Optic Sensor industry, Fiber-Optic Sensor industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Fiber-Optic Sensor Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.To Buy Complete Report Click Here:The Fiber-Optic Sensor research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Fiber-Optic Sensor market revenue worldwide.Finally, Fiber-Optic Sensor market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.Market.Biz has access to the worlds most comprehensive and up-to-date databases in your business sector, including countless market reports that can provide you with valuable data relating to your business. We understand the needs of our clients, and keep our reports updated as market requirement changes.read more-S no. 51/14 First Floor, Office Number 4, Vishwa Arcade, Near Navale Lawns, Pune, Maharashtra, India 411041Telephone Numbers:+1(857)2390696+91 9130855334Email ID: inquiry@market.bizBrowse Latest Market News- U.S. Pregnancy Products Market to Touch US$439.2 Mn by 2023; Stretch Mark Minimizers Represented Largest Product Segment in 2015 ResearchMoz added Latest Research Report titled " Pregnancy Products Market (Product - Stretch Mark Minimizer, Body Restructuring Gel, Toning/Firming Lotion, Itching Prevention Cream, Nipple Protection Cream, Breast Cream, Stressed Leg Product, and Others) - U.S. Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2015 - 2023 " to it's Large Report database. A Pregnant Woman is usually aware of the fact that whatever she consumes during pregnancy influences the development of the fetus. The same applies for skin care products used during pregnancy. Pregnancy-associated skin conditions are generally of three types: benign skin conditions that occur due to hormonal change, preexisting skin conditions, and pregnancy specific dermatoses. Benign skin conditions include stretch marks, hyperpigmentation, and hair, nail, and vascular changes. During pregnancy, high levels of estrogen and progesterone combined with the antigens of the baby lead to unpleasant changes on the skin of expecting mothers. Stretch mark is a common skin problem that occurs in 90% of pregnant women during the third trimester. These stretch marks are more common in women with larger babies, younger women, and women with higher body mass indices. Several creams and lotions are available in the market to prevent and minimize these stretch marks. Pre-existing skin conditions consist of psoriasis, dermatitis candida, and other fungal infections. Psoriasis or atopic dermatitis may worsen or sometimes improve during pregnancy. Moreover, pregnancy specific dermatoses consist of pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy. Skin loses elasticity and results in layers of sluggish skin. This can be treated with body restructuring products or toning/firming lotion. Request for Sample PDF of Premium Research Report with TOC: http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=725248 This report on the pregnancy products market in the U.S. analyzes the current and future prospects of the market. The report comprises an elaborate executive summary, including a market snapshot that provides overall information of various segments and sub-segments. This section also provides the overall information and data analysis of the pregnancy products market in the U.S. with respect to the leading market segments based on type of product and region. The market overview section of the report includes qualitative analysis of the pregnancy products market including the factors determining the market dynamics such as drivers, restraints, and opportunities. In addition, various analyses such as pricing analysis, market share, distribution channel analysis, regulatory framework, and market attractiveness and competitive landscape have been provided. The market attractiveness analysis explains the intensity of competition in the market in different regions of the U.S. The competitive scenario between market players is evaluated through market share analysis. These factors would help market players to take strategic decisions in order to strengthen their positions and expand their share in the pregnancy products market in the U.S. Read All Healthcare Market Research Reports @ http://www.researchmoz.us/healthcare-market-reports-56.html Table of Content Chapter 1 Preface 1.1 Report Description 1.2 Market Segmentation 1.3 Research Methodology Chapter 2 Executive Summary 2.1 U.S. Pregnancy Products: Market Snapshot 2.2 U.S. Pregnancy Products Market Share, by Region, 2014 & 2023 (Value %) 2.3 U.S. Pregnancy Products Market, by Product Type, 2014 (US$ Mn) Chapter 3 U.S. Pregnancy Products Market Industry Analysis 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Market Dynamics 3.2.1 Market Drivers 3.2.1.1 Increasing number of pregnant women in the U.S. 3.2.1.2 Rise in distribution channels such as hypermarkets, supermarkets, retail stores, and online 3.2.2 Market Restraints 3.2.2.1 Side effects associated with pregnancy products could hamper demand 3.2.3 Market Opportunities 3.2.3.1 Growing awareness about pregnancy products among female population in the U.S 3.3 Pricing Analysis, by Product 3.4 U.S. Pregnancy Products Market Share, by Distribution Channel Analysis, 2014 (%) 3.5 Regulatory Framework 3.6 Market Attractiveness Analysis - U.S. Pregnancy Products Market, by Region, 2014 3.7 Competitive Landscape - U.S. Pregnancy Products Market Share, by Key Players, 2014 (%) About ResearchMoz ResearchMoz is the world's fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMoz's service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators. Contact Us: Mr. Nachiket Ghumare 90 State Street, Albany NY, United States - 12207 Tel: +1-518-621-2074 / Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free) Email: sales@researchmoz.us Follow us on LinkedIn at: http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Follow me on Blogger at: http://healthcare-research-report.blogspot.in/ This release was published on openPR. Permanent link to this press release: Copy Please set a link in the press area of your homepage to this press release on openPR. openPR disclaims liability for any content contained in this release. MASON CITY | The Empty Bowl soup lunch scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, May 19, has moved to the downtown CENT Credit Union location due to rain forecasts. Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank, CENT Credit Union and all three Mason City Hy-Vee stores are hosting the event. Artists sought to create bowls for food bank fundraiser in Mason City MASON CITY Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank and CENT Credit Union are seeking artists to make bow A soup lunch provided by Hy-Vee will be available for a donation of $5 or more to Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank. Individuals who previously purchased an Empty Bowl that was created by a local artist, student or professional can bring their ticket or tickets to the event for their free soup lunch. Global ERP SOFTWARE Market 2017 - 2021: SAP, Oracle, Sage, Infor, Microsoft, Epicor, Kronos Global ERP SOFTWARE Market 2017 - 2021 http://bit.ly/2q3ijWb http://bit.ly/2qEshiy http://www.mrsresearchgroup.com/market-analysis/global-erp-software-market-2016-production-sales-supply.html The Global ERP SOFTWARE Market 2017 - 2021 is the cornerstone of the global development aspects and prospects, as the development of specific concept requires various technologically supported ideas, theories, methodologies. The Global ERP SOFTWARE Market 2017 - 2021 report explains the in-depth summary of current innovations, parameter, specifications, and creation. The Global ERP SOFTWARE Market 2017 - 2021 also delivers a full abstract of the economic ups and downs in terms of demand rate and fulfillment ratios.Request For Download Sample Report:The ERP SOFTWARE Market comprise of a large number of reputed organizations, firms, vendors, manufacturer and we deliver an in-detail summary of the overall key players who hold major count in terms of revenue, sales, demand, through their reliable services, products, and post-sale processes.Inquiry for Buying Report:ERP SOFTWARE Market each player in these regions, coveringSAPOracleSageInforMicrosoftEpicorKronosConcur(SAP)IbmTotvsUnit4YonyouNetsuiteThe Global ERP SOFTWARE Market 2017 - 2021 research report also provides in-detail forecast predictions based on the current business trends and analytical techniques. ERP SOFTWARE Segments are broadly segmented based on the constant updates in the development parameters, quality parameters, reliability parameters, end user demands, and applications. The slight change in the product profile leads to major modification in the product prototype, production methods and development platforms, these overall factors that are related to production are very well explained in the global Global ERP SOFTWARE Market 2017 - 2021 research report.Browse Full Report With Toc:MRS Research 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. MRS Research Group is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air.3422 SW 15 Street, Suit #8138, Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442, Biodegradable Stents Market: Reduced Complications and Complete Absorption Give a New Lease of Life to Products http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/biodegradable-stents-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=12464 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The competitive landscape in the global biodegradable stents market is quite consolidated as major players in the market hold a massive chunk. In 2015, Abbott Laboratories, Boston Scientific, Inc., and Biotronik led the pack with a 61.5% share in the global market. The unwavering focus of these companies on expanding their business in newer territories has enabled them to dominate the global market. In the coming years, the players are expected to invest in advanced and sophisticated products to offer better products to the overall healthcare industry.According to the research report, the global biodegradable stents market is anticipated to be worth US$1.7 bn by 2024 as compared to US$18 mn in 2015. During the forecast years of 2016 and 2024, the global market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 30.1%.Read Report with Complete TOC -Europe Emerges as Leading Regional Market Backed by German DemandThe two types of stents available in the global biodegradable stents market are coronary artery stents and peripheral artery stents. Of these, the coronary artery stents are expected to progress at a CAGR of 30.9% during the forecast period. The high incidence of coronary artery diseases is expected to drive this segment in the coming years.In terms of regions the global market is divided into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, and Latin America. The report indicates that Europe will emerge as the dominant segment in the global market in the coming years. This regional market is expected to surge at a CAGR of 27.2% during the forecast period. Germany will lead the Europe biodegradable stents market in the coming few years.Rise in Cardiovascular Diseases Spikes Demand for Biodegradable StentsThe Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that coronary artery diseases are responsible for 370,000 deaths across the U.S. every years. The global biodegradable stents market has been growing against the backdrop of high incidence of cardiovascular diseases, which are related to coronary artery diseases. The market is also being driven by the high prevalence of chronic conditions and rising geriatric population, which is prone to cardiovascular disorders. The growing preference for stenting procedures for treating coronary artery diseases over bypass surgeries is also anticipated to boost the sales in the global market, estimates the lead author of this research report. This trend is likely to be a key trend in the market as stenting reduces complications, assures better success rate, fastens recovery time, and costs less.Bare metal stents (BMS) and drug eluting stents (DES) continue to remain in the artery long after it has eluted the drug. This can lead to thrombosis, in-stent restenosis, and other complications, which can require surgical removal of the stent. Thus, use of biodegradable stents are remarkable safer as they get completely absorbed in the artery soon after the drug is eluted. This factor has won the biodegradable stents incredible traction over the past few years.Unaffordability of Biodegradable Stents Dissuades PatientsAlthough the global biodegradable stents has a noteworthy CAGR, the market is likely to suffer due to the high cost of the products. Thus, the advantages of biodegradable stents are getting stymied due to their unaffordability. The premium pricing of these stents is expected to restrain the overall markets growth in the coming years. Furthermore, the slow adoption rate of these stents in regions and countries where medical awareness is relatively low is also hampering the progress of the global market.Inquire for a Sample Copy of Research Report -About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Aluminum Market Poised for Steady Growth in the Future http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-301 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-301 www.futuremarketinsights.com Aluminum is one of the most abundant metals found in the earths crust. Aluminums properties such as low metal density and its ability to resist corrosion make it the most favorable metal among the end-users. It is silvery white in color and be molded into very thin sheets having high strength and durability. Aluminum finds its application across many industries such as transportation, construction, packaging, consumer durables, electrical, machinery and equipment among others.One of the key factors that contributes to the growth of aluminum market is the growing automobile industry. Increase in demand for light weight and fuel efficient vehicles is expected to boost the demand of aluminum in the automobile industry. On a global level, in the aluminum market China is the leading producer of aluminum followed by Russia and Canada. The aluminum market has witnessed an overall increase in the production capacity by the major producers across the world. High degree of vertical integration is another major trend witnessed in the aluminum market. Major aluminum manufacturers in the aluminum market are integrating their value chain in order to gain a significant control over the supply chain and offer the product to customers at reduced costs, thereby, increasing their market penetration. Aluminum market exhibits high degree of upstream as well as downstream integration. However, aluminum prices have witnessed an all time low over the recent past owing to oversupply in the aluminum market. Volatility of raw material prices of aluminum coupled with stringent government regulations is expected to restrain the growth of the market. Many efforts are carried out by the vendors in order to comply with the regulations vendors which further leads to higher operating and manufacturing cost of aluminum.Request For Report Sample@Key participants in the aluminum market include Vedanta Resources plc, Dubai Aluminum Co. Ltd., Aluminum Corp. of China Ltd., Norsk Hydro ASA, BHP Billiton Ltd. and United Co. RUSAL among others.The research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the aluminium market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industry-validated market data. It also contains projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. The research report provides analysis and information according to categories such as market segments, geographies, types, technology and applications.Request For TOC@ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: United States Cold Heading Machine Market Report 2017 http://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1068914&type=E http://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/united-states-cold-heading-machine-market-report-2017.htm http://www.qyresearchreports.com In this report, the United States Cold Heading 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 splits the United States market into seven regions:The WestSouthwestThe Middle AtlanticNew EnglandThe SouthThe Midwestwith sales (volume), revenue (value), market share and growth rate of Cold Heading Machine in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast).To Get Sample Copy click here:United States Cold Heading Machine market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Cold Heading Machine sales volume, price, revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingSakamuraNational MachinerySacmaHateburAsahi SunacAidaNakashimadaH&FKomatsuManyoGFMChun Yu GroupTanisakaSamrat Machine ToolsCold Heading CompanyWAFIOSHSH SteinfelsMn-KaltformErdely MachineryChun Zu Machinery IndustryShangbiao Tongtong MachineryHarbin RainbowYeswin GroupNingbo Sijin MachineryErdelyYixing Jufeng MachineryOn the basis of product, this report displays the sales volume, revenue, product price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoSingle-DieTwo-Die Three-StrokeMultistation HeaderOtherOn 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 Cold Heading Machine for each application, includingAutomotiveAerospace & DefenseMachinery & EquipmentOtherObtain Report Details @Table of ContentsUnited States Cold Heading Machine Market Report 20171 Cold Heading Machine Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Cold Heading Machine1.2 Classification of Cold Heading Machine by Product Category1.2.1 United States Cold Heading Machine Market Size (Sales Volume) Comparison by Type (2012-2022)1.2.2 United States Cold Heading Machine Market Size (Sales Volume) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Single-Die1.2.4 Two-Die Three-Stroke1.2.5 Multistation Header1.2.6 Other1.3 United States Cold Heading Machine Market by Application/End Users1.3.1 United States Cold Heading Machine Market Size (Consumption) and Market Share Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Automotive1.3.3 Aerospace & Defense1.3.4 Machinery & Equipment1.3.5 Other1.4 United States Cold Heading Machine Market by Region1.4.1 United States Cold Heading Machine Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)1.4.2 The West Cold Heading Machine Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 Southwest Cold Heading Machine Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 The Middle Atlantic Cold Heading Machine Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 New England Cold Heading Machine Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 The South Cold Heading Machine Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.7 The Midwest Cold Heading Machine Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 United States Market Size (Value and Volume) of Cold Heading Machine (2012-2022)1.5.1 United States Cold Heading Machine Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2022)1.5.2 United States Cold Heading Machine Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2022)2 United States Cold Heading Machine Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1 United States Cold Heading Machine Sales and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.2 United States Cold Heading Machine Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.3 United States Cold Heading Machine Average Price by Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.4 United States Cold Heading Machine Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.4.1 United States Cold Heading Machine Market Concentration Rate2.4.2 United States Cold Heading Machine Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Players/Suppliers2.4.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion in United States Market2.5 United States Players/Suppliers Cold Heading Machine Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area, Product Type3 United States Cold Heading Machine Sales (Volume) and Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017)3.1 United States Cold Heading Machine Sales and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.2 United States Cold Heading Machine Revenue and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)3.3 United States Cold Heading Machine Price by Region (2012-2017)4 United States Cold Heading Machine Sales (Volume) and Revenue (Value) by Type (Product Category) (2012-2017)4.1 United States Cold Heading Machine Sales and Market Share by Type (Product Category) (2012-2017)4.2 United States Cold Heading Machine Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)4.3 United States Cold Heading Machine Price by Type (2012-2017)4.4 United States Cold Heading Machine Sales Growth Rate by Type (2012-2017)5 United States Cold Heading Machine Sales (Volume) by Application (2012-2017)5.1 United States Cold Heading Machine Sales and Market Share by Application (2012-2017)5.2 United States Cold Heading Machine Sales Growth Rate by Application (2012-2017)5.3 Market Drivers and OpportunitiesQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.QYResearchreportsContact Us1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com Iris Recognition Global Market Will Grow From 2016 - 2020 Including Key Vendors Such As 3M Cogent, BioEnable, Crossmatch Technologies, Iris ID & IRITECH Market Research Report http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=560841 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=560841 http://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG ResearchMoz presents this most up-to-date research on "Iris Recognition Global Market Will Grow From 2016 - 2020 Including Key Vendors Such As 3M Cogent, BioEnable, Crossmatch Technologies, Iris ID & IRITECH".Iris recognition is one of the most secure, and accurate biometrics modality that is used for security and surveillance purposes in sectors such as government, military and defense, healthcare, banking and finance, consumer electronics, travel and immigration, and automotive. This biometrics technology came into existence in 1994 and many countries across the globe have deployed this technology for cross-border control and national ID initiatives.Technavios analysts forecast the global iris recognition market to grow at a CAGR of 21.45% during the period 2016-2020.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global iris recognition market for 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated from the sale of iris recognition biometrics which includes hardware, software and integrated solutions and services.The market is divided into the following segments based on end-user:GovernmentTransportationHealthcareTechnavio's report, Global Iris Recognition 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 vendors3M CogentBioEnableCrossmatch TechnologiesIris IDIRITECHTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Other prominent vendors4G Identity SolutionsAditechBI TechnologiesBiomatiques Identification SolutionEasy ClockingEyeLockIrisGuardM2SYS TechnologySmart SensorsSRI InternationalMarket driverIntroduction of iris scanners in smartphonesFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeHigh costsFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendIntroduction of iris recognition in multimodal biometricsFor a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this reportWhat will the market size be in 2020 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market space?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?Make an Enquiry of this report @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @ Global Air Dried Vegetables Market 2017- Olam , Sensient , Jain Irrigation Systems , Eurocebollas , Silva International https://goo.gl/zFr6GE https://market.biz/report/global-air-dried-vegetables-market-2017/91112/ https://market.biz/ Air Dried Vegetables Market 2017 examines the performance of the Air Dried Vegetables market, enclosing an in-depth judgment of the Air Dried Vegetables market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Air Dried Vegetables market in the present as well as the future prospects from various angles in detail.Global Air Dried Vegetables Market 2017 report includes Air Dried Vegetables industry volume, market Share, market Trends, Air Dried Vegetables Growth aspects, a wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis, manufacturing capacity, Air Dried Vegetables Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Air Dried Vegetables Market 2017:1 Olam2 Sensient3 Jain Irrigation Systems4 Eurocebollas5 Silva International6 Jaworski7 Dingneng8 Feida9 Rosun Dehydration10 Dingfang11 Steinicke12 Natural Dehydrated Vegetables13 Mercer Foods14 Kanghua15 Zhongli16 Fuqiang17 Maharaja Dehydration18 Garlico Industries19 BCFoods20 RichfieldAir Dried Vegetables Market Analysis: By ProductFlakeBlockotherAir Dried Vegetables Market Analysis: By ApplicationSnacksIngredientsAt the beginning, the report covers the top Air Dried Vegetables manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on topographical regions.Further, the Air Dried Vegetables report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Air Dried Vegetables industry, Air Dried Vegetables industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Air Dried Vegetables Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.To Buy Complete Report Click Here:Air Dried Vegetables research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Air Dried Vegetables market revenue worldwide.Finally, Air Dried Vegetables market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.Market.Biz is designed to provide the best and most penetrating research required to all commercial, industrial and profit-making ventures in any sector of online business. We take pride in our ability to satisfy the market research needs of both domestic and international businessesJames JohnsonS no. 51/14 First Floor,Office Number 4, Vishwa Arcade,Pune.Maharashtra,India 411041Tel: +1(857)2390696+91 9130855334Web:Email: inquiry@market.biz Overview Of Disposable Hospital Supplies - Medical Devices Pipeline Assessment, 2017 Market Research Report http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=1070545 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1070545 http://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Overview Of Disposable Hospital Supplies - Medical Devices Pipeline Assessment, 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.GlobalData's Medical Devices sector report, Disposable Hospital Supplies - Medical Devices Pipeline Assessment, 2017" provides an overview of Disposable Hospital Supplies currently in pipeline stage.The report provides comprehensive information on the pipeline products with comparative analysis of the products at various stages of development. The report reviews major players involved in the pipeline product development. It also provides information about clinical trials in progress, which includes trial phase, trial status, trial start and end dates, and, the number of trials for the key Disposable Hospital Supplies pipeline products.This report is prepared using data sourced from in-house databases, secondary and primary research by GlobalData's team of industry experts.*Note: Certain sections in the report may be removed or altered based on the availability and relevance of data in relation to the equipment type.Scope- Extensive coverage of the Disposable Hospital Supplies under development- The report reviews details of major pipeline products which includes, product description, licensing and collaboration details and other developmental activities- The report reviews the major players involved in the development of Disposable Hospital Supplies and list all their pipeline projects- The coverage of pipeline products based on various stages of development ranging from Early Development to Approved / Issued stage- The report provides key clinical trial data of ongoing trials specific to pipeline products- Recent developments in the segment / industryMake an Enquiry of this report @Reasons to buyThe report enables you to -- Formulate significant competitor information, analysis, and insights to improve R&D strategies- Identify emerging players with potentially strong product portfolio and create effective counter-strategies to gain competitive advantage- Identify and understand important and diverse types of Disposable Hospital Supplies under development- Develop market-entry and market expansion strategies- Plan mergers and acquisitions effectively by identifying major players with the most promising pipeline- In-depth analysis of the products current stage of development, territory and estimated launch dateTable Of Content1 Table of Contents1 Table of Contents 21.1 List of Tables 81.2 List of Figures 92 Introduction 102.1 Disposable Hospital Supplies Overview 103 Products under Development 113.1 Disposable Hospital Supplies - Pipeline Products by Stage of Development 113.2 Disposable Hospital Supplies - Pipeline Products by Segment 123.3 Disposable Hospital Supplies - Pipeline Products by Territory 133.4 Disposable Hospital Supplies - Pipeline Products by Regulatory Path 143.5 Disposable Hospital Supplies - Pipeline Products by Estimated Approval Date 15To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @ Global Air Humidifiers Market 2017- Boneco , Armstrong International , Carel Industries , Carrier Corporation , DriSteem , Honeywell International https://goo.gl/M5Syz7 https://market.biz/report/global-air-humidifiers-market-2017/91113/ https://market.biz/ Air Humidifiers Market 2017 examines the performance of the Air Humidifiers market, enclosing an in-depth judgment of the Air Humidifiers market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Air Humidifiers market in the present as well as the future prospects from various angles in detail.Global Air Humidifiers Market 2017 report includes Air Humidifiers industry volume, market Share, market Trends, Air Humidifiers Growth aspects, a wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis, manufacturing capacity, Air Humidifiers Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Air Humidifiers Market 2017:1 Boneco2 Armstrong International3 Carel Industries4 Carrier Corporation5 DriSteem6 Honeywell International7 Neptronic8 Nortec Humidity9 Procter & Gamble10 Philips11 Stadler Form12 Vornado Air13 Winix14 LG15 Guardian Technologies16 HeavenFresh17 Crane USA18 AprilaireAir Humidifiers Market Analysis: By ProductWarm-MistUltrasonicCool-MistAir Humidifiers Market Analysis: By ApplicationCommercialResidentialIndustrialAt the beginning, the report covers the top Air Humidifiers manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on topographical regions.Further, the Air Humidifiers report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Air Humidifiers industry, Air Humidifiers industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Air Humidifiers Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.To Buy Complete Report Click Here:Air Humidifiers research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Air Humidifiers market revenue worldwide.Finally, Air Humidifiers market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.Market.Biz is designed to provide the best and most penetrating research required to all commercial, industrial and profit-making ventures in any sector of online business. We take pride in our ability to satisfy the market research needs of both domestic and international businessesJames JohnsonS no. 51/14 First Floor,Office Number 4, Vishwa Arcade,Pune.Maharashtra,India 411041Tel: +1(857)2390696+91 9130855334Web:Email: inquiry@market.biz An Overview of the Global Mining Taxes and Royalties 2016 : Trends, Size, Shares, Statistics, Segment, Analysis, Forecast and Opportunities http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=714378 http://www.researchmoz.us/mining-market-reports-143.html http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG http://deep-research-report.blogspot.com/ ResearchMoz added Latest Research Report titled " Global Mining Taxes and Royalties 2016 " to it's Large Report database.SynopsisTimetrics Global Mining Taxes and Royalties 2016 report compares mining taxes and royalties for 21 countries which constitute both the leading and emerging markets in Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, South and Central America, and North America.SummaryTimetrics Global Mining Taxes and Royalties, 2016 report provides information about upfront payments, royalties and taxes payable to the government with respect to mining operations in the countries covered.ScopeThe report compares mining taxes and royalties in 21 countries which constitute both the leading and emerging markets in Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, South and Central America, and North America.Request for Sample PDF of Premium Research Report with TOC:Reasons To BuyGain an overview of the principal mining taxes and royalties applicable in key mining countries.Key HighlightsIn the US and Australia the mineral tax is applicable at both federal and state levels. In Argentina and Canada, mineral tax is applicable at provincial level. In India the mineral tax varies between states.Australia and Canada have different royalty rates in different provinces or states, depending on the mineral type.Brazil, India, China, and Kazakhstan have different and special types of tax applicable for the mining industryRead All Mining Market Research Reports @Table of Contents1 Executive Summary2 Country Highlights and Latest Developments2.1 Asia-Pacific2.2 Europe2.3 The Middle East and Africa2.4 South and Central America2.5 North America3 Corporate Tax, Depreciation and Types of Mineral Taxes in Developed and Developing Countries4 Royalties in Developed and developing Countries5 Other Payments and Taxes, VAT and Withholding Tax in Developed and Developing Countries6 Appendix6.1 Abbreviations:6.2 Secondary Research6.3 Primary Research6.4 Contact Timetric6.5 About Timetric6.6 Timetrics Services6.7 DisclaimerList of TablesTable 1: Corporate Tax, Depreciation and Types of Mineral Taxes in Developed and Developing Countries, 2015Table 2: Royalties in Developed and Developing Countries, 2015Table 3: Other Payments and Taxes, VAT and Withholding Tax in Developed and Developing Countries, 2015About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the world's fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMoz's service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Contact Us:Mr. Nachiket Ghumare90 State Street, Albany NY, United States - 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074 / Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at:Follow me on Blogger at: Global Alternative Fuel-powered Military Fleet Market 2017- Boeing , Chevron , GE Aviation , General Motors , ARA https://goo.gl/dsN7mS https://market.biz/report/global-alternative-fuel-powered-military-fleet-market-2017/91114/ https://market.biz/ Alternative Fuel-powered Military Fleet Market 2017 examines the performance of the Alternative Fuel-powered Military Fleet market, enclosing an in-depth judgment of the Alternative Fuel-powered Military Fleet market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Alternative Fuel-powered Military Fleet market in the present as well as the future prospects from various angles in detail.Global Alternative Fuel-powered Military Fleet Market 2017 report includes Alternative Fuel-powered Military Fleet industry volume, market Share, market Trends, Alternative Fuel-powered Military Fleet Growth aspects, a wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis, manufacturing capacity, Alternative Fuel-powered Military Fleet Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Alternative Fuel-powered Military Fleet Market 2017:1 Boeing2 Chevron3 GE Aviation4 General Motors5 ARA6 Dynamic Fuels7 TerraVia8 Southern OilAlternative Fuel-powered Military Fleet Market Analysis: By ProductAerial FleetNaval VesselsGround VehiclesAlternative Fuel-powered Military Fleet Market Analysis: By ApplicationFightingDefense and SecurityOtherAt the beginning, the report covers the top Alternative Fuel-powered Military Fleet manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on topographical regions.Further, the Alternative Fuel-powered Military Fleet report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Alternative Fuel-powered Military Fleet industry, Alternative Fuel-powered Military Fleet industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Alternative Fuel-powered Military Fleet Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.To Buy Complete Report Click Here:Alternative Fuel-powered Military Fleet research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Alternative Fuel-powered Military Fleet market revenue worldwide.Finally, Alternative Fuel-powered Military Fleet market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.Market.Biz is designed to provide the best and most penetrating research required to all commercial, industrial and profit-making ventures in any sector of online business. We take pride in our ability to satisfy the market research needs of both domestic and international businessesJames JohnsonS no. 51/14 First Floor,Office Number 4, Vishwa Arcade,Pune.Maharashtra,India 411041Tel: +1(857)2390696+91 9130855334Web:Email: inquiry@market.biz MASON CITY | Tuition at North Iowa Area Community College is increasing by 4.8 percent per credit hour this fall. The NIACC Board of Directors Thursday approved a recommendation from the administration to increase tuition for Iowa students from $140.75 per credit hour to $147.75. Tuition for out-of-state students will increase from $211.10 per credit hour to $221.63. The materials and lab fee of $12 per credit hour, the student activities fee of $4 per credit hour and the technology fee of $10 per credit hour will remain the same. This means the semester cost for tuition and fees for an Iowa student taking 15 credit hours at NIACC will increase from $2,501.25 to $2,606.25. The cost for out-of-state students taking the same number of credit hours will increase from $3,555 to $3,714.45. The administration used the three-year fall enrollment average and the 2017-18 fiscal year state general aid allocation as the basis for its recommendation, according to its memo to the board. The increase is for the fall semester only. The board has the option to adjust the tuition and fee rates for the spring semester depending on if the actual fall enrollment is different than expected. The board also approved a recommended increase of 3 percent for room and board rates for 2017-18 those in student housing. The increase sets the single and suite rate at $4,522 per semester and the double rate at $3,460 per semester. Those contracts all include 19 meals per week. Last year the board approved a 5-percent tuition and fee increase for the fall semester of 2016 and a 3-percent increase in room and board. No changes were made in the tuition and fee rate for the spring semester. NIACC approves 5 percent tuition increase MASON CITY North Iowa Area Community College tuition is going up 5 percent for the fall semester. Also on Thursday, the board approved the agreement reached with the North Iowa Area Community Educators Association, which represents full-time faculty members. The agreement includes an average 2.25 percent wage increase, resulting in a total package increase of 1.75 percent. NIACC will experience a 3 percent increase in health insurance premiums beginning in July. The reason for the reduced total package increase as compared to salary is primarily due to the retirements of two faculty members which have not been replaced, along with planned administrative cost savings, according to a memo from the administration to the board. The entry wage base used for determining new hire faculty salaries and degree factor compensation for new faculty will increase by 2 percent. Global Aluminum Busbar Market 2017- Siemens, ABB , Schneider Electric , Eaton, Legrand , General Electric https://goo.gl/93cFvJ https://market.biz/report/global-aluminum-busbar-market-2017/91115/ https://market.biz/ Aluminum Busbar Market 2017 examines the performance of the Aluminum Busbar market, enclosing an in-depth judgment of the Aluminum Busbar market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Aluminum Busbar market in the present as well as the future prospects from various angles in detail.Global Aluminum Busbar Market 2017 report includes Aluminum Busbar industry volume, market Share, market Trends, Aluminum Busbar Growth aspects, a wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis, manufacturing capacity, Aluminum Busbar Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Aluminum Busbar Market 2017:1 Siemens2 ABB3 Schneider Electric4 Eaton5 Legrand6 General Electric7 Mersen8 Rittal9 Chint Electric10 Power Products LLC11 C&S Electric12 Promet13 ABBG14 Yeli BusbarAluminum Busbar Market Analysis: By ProductLow Power (Below 125 A)Medium Power (125 A?800 A)High Power (Above 800 A)Aluminum Busbar Market Analysis: By ApplicationUtilitiesResidentialCommercialIndustrial End-UsersAt the beginning, the report covers the top Aluminum Busbar manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on topographical regions.Further, the Aluminum Busbar report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Aluminum Busbar industry, Aluminum Busbar industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Aluminum Busbar Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.To Buy Complete Report Click Here:Aluminum Busbar research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Aluminum Busbar market revenue worldwide.Finally, Aluminum Busbar market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.Market.Biz is designed to provide the best and most penetrating research required to all commercial, industrial and profit-making ventures in any sector of online business. We take pride in our ability to satisfy the market research needs of both domestic and international businessesJames JohnsonS no. 51/14 First Floor,Office Number 4, Vishwa Arcade,Pune.Maharashtra,India 411041Tel: +1(857)2390696+91 9130855334Web:Email: inquiry@market.biz New trends and innovations In UK Pet Insurance | Distribution and Marketing | ResearchMoz Market Research Report http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=904528 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=904528 http://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "New trends and innovations In UK Pet Insurance | Distribution and Marketing | ResearchMoz" to its huge collection of research reports.2016 saw the UKs supermarkets and major retailers confirm their role in the distribution of pet insurance, with a significant proportion of consumers now seeking alternative channels to obtain their policies. While many pet owners still prefer to approach their insurer directly, supermarkets and retailers are benefiting from those who value convenience and the opportunity to purchase insurance cover at the same time as other products. Much of the growth in this channel can be attributed to the marketing and advertising strategies employed by these groups. Direct mailing is a favored option, as these groups often have a wide customer base and many subscribers to their internet channels, and have a tendency to offer simpler online purchasing platforms than traditional insurers.Key Findings- Retail/affinity providers are now the second most popular channel of distribution for pet insurance.- The internet, using desktop PCs, continues as the preferred method of arranging pet cover.- Switching levels are low among pet insurance customers, although many are inclined to compare prices on an aggregator platform before ultimately committing to their initial provider.- Price remains a significant influence on the decision-making process for pet customers.Make an Enquiry of this report @SynopsisVerdict Financials UK Pet Insurance: Distribution and Marketing 2016 explores consumer purchasing behavior and how consumer preferences are changing over time. This report discovers what is most influential to customers when purchasing a policy and also reveals the most popular providers in the market. New trends and innovations are highlighted, as well as the key factors that will influence the market over the next few years.ReasonsToBuy- To understand consumer purchasing decisions and how these will influence the market over the next few years.- To improve customer engagement by recognizing what is most important to them and how insurers can adapt their products and services to meet their needs.- To discover which providers lead the way in the travel insurance space and how providers are revolutionizing the market through new innovations.- Adapt your distribution strategy to ensure it still meets customer purchasing behavior.Table of ContentsThe Purchasing JourneyProvider EngagementChannel ViewMarketingFuture MarketAppendixTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @ Body Screening Market is Expected a Significant Growth Due to Rise in Drug Trafficking, Illegal Migration, and Terrorism http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/body-screening-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=18020 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Body screening is a specialized method of detecting any hidden objects within a persons clothes by creating an image of a persons naked body without any physical contact or without physically removing the clothes. Body screening is done through body scanners. Military wave technologies are used by these body scanners in order to see through the clothes of a person. Globally, this method is gaining popularity due to increasing concerns about security fueled by an alarming rise in global terrorism.Browse through Body Screening Marketreport to know what factors will shape the market by 2024:This method is increasingly being adopted in train stations and airports all over the globe, primarily due to rising threat of terrorism and for aviation security. Moreover, the stringent rules and policies undertaken by various governmental bodies worldwide are driving the growth of the market. For instance, the bill passed by the U.S government called S.A.F.E.R A.I.R Act makes body screening mandatory in all airports.In the face of rising instances of in-flight detonation and fight hijacking, body screening helps in improving the security framework of airports. The ability to detect a wide range of threats, including explosives, is propelling the demand for body screening. Commercial airports are also engaging in making significant investments in body screening systems to adequately address the burning issue of drug-peddling.One of the major advantages of body screening is the reduced time taken to screen passengers. This gives body screening an upper hand over the conventional pat down approaches, which are both uncomfortable and time consuming. Growing interest in full body screening worldwide is spurring intensive research and development efforts to bring forth machines that are image free and result in less radiation.Despite all the advantages, full body screening is controversial, as it easily raises individual privacy issues. Critics claim it to be in violation of human rights, unreasonable, and illegal. These factors are expected to restrain the growth of the market for body screening to some extent during the forecasted period.The market is segregated on the basis of application, technology, system, and geography. By application, the global body screening market is segmented into homeland security, defense, and commercial. Homeland security is further sub-segmented into applications in seaports, airports, and security of VIPs. Defense is sub-segmented into applications in high security zones, military premises, and border crossing controls.On the basis of technology, the global body screening market is characterized as digital tape measurements, white light patterns, laser scanners, 3D body scanners, and image modeling & processing.By system, the market is segmented into X-ray systems, millimeter-wave, and backscatter.Lastly, on the basis of geography, the global body screening market is segmented into North America, Asia Pacific (APAC), Europe, Middle East & Africa (MEA), and Latin America. North America holds a significant share of the global body screening market mainly due to the strict steps taken by the U.S government with respect to body screening in airports. The growth of the body screening market in Europe is expected to be limited during the forecast period due to the ban imposed on full-body scanning in the countries of the region. On the other hand, the growth of the body screening market in emerging economies of Latin America and Asia Pacific is estimated to be significantly fast due to increasing security concerns, rise in the number of low cost carriers, expansion of the tourism industry, and booming air travel.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Body Screening Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market:The key players operating in the global body screening market include Westminster International Ltd. (U.K), Tek84 Engineering Group LLC (U.S), Smiths Detection (U.K), Scan-X Security Ltd. (U.K), Rapiscan Systems (U.S), Nuctech Co. Ltd. (China), L-3 Security And Detection Systems (U.S), Digital Barriers PLC (U.K), Braun And Company Limited (U.K), American Science and Engineering (U.S), and ADANI Systems (Belarus).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: T-Cell Lymphomas-Global API Manufacturers, Marketed and Phase III Drugs Landscape, 2017 - Trends and Opportunities http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=918093 http://www.researchmoz.us/lymphoma-market-reports.html http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG http://healthcare-research-report.blogspot.in/ ResearchMoz added Latest Research Report titled " T-Cell Lymphomas-Global API Manufacturers, Marketed and Phase III Drugs Landscape, 2017 " to it's Large Report database.DelveInsights Report, T-Cell Lymphomas-Global API Manufacturers, Marketed and Phase III Drugs Landscape, 2016, provides comprehensive insights about the marketed drugs, drug sales, Phase III pipeline drugs and their API Manufacturersacross the globe. A key objective of the T-Cell Lymphomas Report is to understand the market and pipeline status of the drugs around the T-Cell Lymphomas to explore the generic development opportunities, licensing opportunities and to gain competitive advantage on designing pipeline startegies. The DelveInsights Report provides the historical and forecasted sales of the drugs till 2018. The Report gives insights into patents providing the patent protection data and marketing exclusivity of all the drugs across the T-Cell Lymphomas. While the leading brands, companies and chemicals are considered thoroughly, DelveInsights report also provides details on the Global API Manufacturers across the globe covering Drug Master Filings of US, Europe and API Manufacturers in Asia specifically China and India.Request for Sample PDF of Premium Research Report with TOC:Please note:This report requires certain updates. We have all the information available but require 48-72 Hours to complete the process and ensure it is as up-to-date as possible. Certain sections in the report may be removed or altered based on the availability and relevance of data for the indicated disease.SCOPE:A snapshot of the global Market and Phase III therapeutics scenario for T-Cell Lymphomas.A review of the marketed products under prescription for T-Cell Lymphomas, regulatory information and marketing status.Coverage of global patent coverage and detailed commentaries on the US patent challenges.Graphical representation of investigational products for patent expiry and market exclusivities across the globe.Product profiles for marketed products for T-Cell Lymphomas with complete description of mechanism of action, therapeutic class, target, route(s) of administration and chemical details.Coverage of API Manufacturers for T-Cell Lymphomas drugs in the United States, Europe and Asian Regions with location details.Read All Lymphoma Market Research Reports @Table of Content1. Indication Overview2. Market Drugs Landscape2.1 Marketed Drugs2.2 Marketed Details of Drugs by Application Type2.3 Marketed Details of Drugs (NDA) by Marketing Status2.4 Marketed Details of Drugs by Patent Expiration Timeline3. Global API Manufacturers Assessment3.1 API Manufacturers by United States Drug Master File (US DMF) Status3.2 API Manufacturers by US DMF Status (Drug Specific)3.3 API Manufacturers in Europe by Country3.4 API Manufacturers in India by State3.5 API Manufacturers in China by Province3.6 Marketed Details of Approved Drugs by Geography4. Phase III Drugs Landscape4.1 Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) Manufacturers Assessment for Phase III Pipeline Drugs4.2 API Manufacturers by US DMF Status (Drug Specific)5. Drugs Market Data and Forecasted Sales Figure-20186. Marketed Drugs for T-Cell Lymphomas6.1 Drug Name6.1.1 Drug Description6.1.2 Global Active Pharmaceutical Manufacturers for Drug6.1.3 Approval Status of Drug6.1.4 Patent and Exclusivity Details for Drug6.1.5 Company Profile and FinancialsAbout ResearchMozResearchMoz is the world's fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMoz's service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Contact Us:Mr. Nachiket Ghumare90 State Street, Albany NY, United States - 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074 / Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at:Follow me on Blogger at: Waterproofing Admixture Market - Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 20162024 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/315 https://blog.coherentmarketinsights.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/coherent-market-insights Waterproofing admixture reduces the permeability of concrete hence making it waterproof. Waterproofing admixture consists of water-repellent or hydrophobic chemicals that are derived from soaps, vegetable oils, fatty acids and petroleum. These materials when mixed with concrete form a water-repellent layer alongside pores in the concrete, thus increasing the water resistance. Integral waterproofing offers various advantages increased durability during backfill, resistance to delamination, and decomposition. The demand for waterproofing admixtures is from new construction and also from maintenance and repair activities.As compared to the conventional waterproofing systems, crystalline waterproofing admixture offer various advantages such as easy handling and transportation, easy use in powdered or crystalline form and comparatively cheap. Waterproofing admixtures have various applications such as foundations, water tanks, underground vaults, sewage and water treatment plants, water reservoirs, precast components, secondary containment structures, tunnel and subway systems, parking structures and swimming pools. High versatility and wide application of the product creates a highly conducive environment for growth of the waterproofing admixture market.To know more about the key players in this market, get in Touch With us for a FREE sample of this report:Waterproofing Admixture Market TaxonomyOn the basis of product type, the global market is classified into:Pore blockingCrystallineOn the basis of application, the global market is classified into:ResidentialCommercialInfrastructureCrystalline waterproofing admixtures are hydrophilic in nature and occur in a dry and powdered form. Crystalline systems prevent concrete damage by using available water to grow crystals within concrete, effectually closing off conduits for moisture. Crystalline waterproofing admixtures block water from all directions making the concrete itself a water barrier. On demolition the concrete can be recycled completely as no VOCs are used in manufacturing. Hydrophobic admixtures are available in liquid form and contain oil, stearates, hydrocarbons, and other long-chain derivatives of fatty acids. Waterproofing admixtures provide various advantages such as reduced penetration of water and other liquids, sealing against hairline cracks, resistance for positive and negative side hydrostatic pressure, and protection against industrial and sewage wastes. Crystalline admixtures are self-healing that enables them to automatically seal cracks of concrete structures up to half a millimeter wide. This makes admixtures valuable on large concrete pours, as waterproofing of cold joints is facilitated with no additional treatment.Waterproofing Admixture Market Outlook Increasing Demand for Durable and Waterproof Materials Expected to Boost DemandIncreasing demand for waterproof products in the construction industry is one of the major factors boosting the growth of waterproofing admixture market. Asia Pacific is one of the major contributors in the market. This mainly attributed to the rapidly growing urbanization and modern infrastructural needs in the emerging economies such as India and China in the region. In 2016, the construction industry in China exhibited a growth of 17% which was greater than 5% as compared to 2015. According to India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF)part of the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of Indiathe Indian construction industry is expected to grow to US$ 5 billion by 2022. From April 2000 to March 2016 the infrastructure and construction development in India received foreign direct investment valued at US$ 25.19 billion. This trend is expected to be followed over the forecast period (20162024).High initial price is one of the restraining factors for the waterproofing admixture market globally. Mergers and acquisitions, developing innovative portfolio are some of the key strategies adopted by the top players in the global waterproofing admixture industry. BASF has developed new admixture sureTEC (Super Retention Technology) that enables concrete manufacturers to gain control over workability between the batching manufacturing plant and the engagement site for more than two hours in hot weather. In 2016, BASF signed an agreement with Henkel to acquire Henkels Western European business of waterproofing and tiling. Some of the companies operating in the global waterproofing admixture market are Dow Corning Corporation, Mapei S.p.A, RPM International, Sika A.G., BASF SE, W.R. Grace, Wacker Chemie A.G, Xypex Chemical Corporation, Fosroc International, Evonik A.G., and Pidilite Industries.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comVisit Coherent Market Insights Blog @Connect with us on LinkedIn @ Global Amorphous Dielectric Market 2017- The Chemours Company , AkzoNobel , Solvay , AGC Chemicals Europe , BASF https://goo.gl/qeJOpP https://market.biz/report/global-amorphous-dielectric-market-2017/91118/ https://market.biz/ Amorphous Dielectric Market 2017 examines the performance of the Amorphous Dielectric market, enclosing an in-depth judgment of the Amorphous Dielectric market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Amorphous Dielectric market in the present as well as the future prospects from various angles in detail.Global Amorphous Dielectric Market 2017 report includes Amorphous Dielectric industry volume, market Share, market Trends, Amorphous Dielectric Growth aspects, a wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis, manufacturing capacity, Amorphous Dielectric Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Amorphous Dielectric Market 2017:1 The Chemours Company2 AkzoNobel3 Solvay4 AGC Chemicals Europe5 BASFAmorphous Dielectric Market Analysis: By ProductGlassNatural ResinAsphaltAmorphous Dielectric Market Analysis: By ApplicationElectronicsAerospaceOtherAt the beginning, the report covers the top Amorphous Dielectric manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on topographical regions.Further, the Amorphous Dielectric report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Amorphous Dielectric industry, Amorphous Dielectric industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Amorphous Dielectric Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.To Buy Complete Report Click Here:Amorphous Dielectric research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Amorphous Dielectric market revenue worldwide.Finally, Amorphous Dielectric market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.Market.Biz is designed to provide the best and most penetrating research required to all commercial, industrial and profit-making ventures in any sector of online business. We take pride in our ability to satisfy the market research needs of both domestic and international businessesJames JohnsonS no. 51/14 First Floor,Office Number 4, Vishwa Arcade,Pune.Maharashtra,India 411041Tel: +1(857)2390696+91 9130855334Web:Email: inquiry@market.biz Global Amorphous Fe Market 2017- ASM International , Hitachi Metals America , Sekels GmbH https://goo.gl/HKYPsC https://market.biz/report/global-amorphous-fe-market-2017/91119/ https://market.biz/ Amorphous Fe Market 2017 examines the performance of the Amorphous Fe market, enclosing an in-depth judgment of the Amorphous Fe market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Amorphous Fe market in the present as well as the future prospects from various angles in detail.Global Amorphous Fe Market 2017 report includes Amorphous Fe industry volume, market Share, market Trends, Amorphous Fe Growth aspects, a wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis, manufacturing capacity, Amorphous Fe Price during the Forecast period from 2017 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Amorphous Fe Market 2017:1 ASM International2 Hitachi Metals America3 Sekels GmbHAmorphous Fe Market Analysis: By ProductIntermetallic AlloyMetal and Nonmetal AlloysAmorphous Fe Market Analysis: By ApplicationElectronicsCommunicationAerospaceAutomobileOthersAt the beginning, the report covers the top Amorphous Fe manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on topographical regions.Further, the Amorphous Fe report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Amorphous Fe industry, Amorphous Fe industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Amorphous Fe Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.To Buy Complete Report Click Here:Amorphous Fe research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Amorphous Fe market revenue worldwide.Finally, Amorphous Fe market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.Market.Biz is designed to provide the best and most penetrating research required to all commercial, industrial and profit-making ventures in any sector of online business. We take pride in our ability to satisfy the market research needs of both domestic and international businessesJames JohnsonS no. 51/14 First Floor,Office Number 4, Vishwa Arcade,Pune.Maharashtra,India 411041Tel: +1(857)2390696+91 9130855334Web:Email: inquiry@market.biz Growing Popularity Of Social Media Advertisement Is Opening New Opportunities for Stock images Market Impact of Social Media on Stock Image Market http://www.beigemarketintelligence.com/reports/research-report-consumer-and-retail-market/stock-images-market-research-report/ http://www.beigemarketintelligence.com/contactus/request-sample/ http://www.beigemarketintelligence.com/social-media-advertisement-to-boost-stock-images-market/ According to the report by Beige Market Intelligence, brands that use custom visual content witness visitor-to-lead conversion rates that are about 7 times higher than other sites.The report titled, Global Stock Images Market Strategic Assessment and Forecast 20172022 states that marketers are preferring the online medium of advertisement because it is more economical than other traditional media such as TV, and Newspapers.Easy access to the internet and increased penetration of smartphone devices have led to the growth of several social media sites, online shopping, access to news. With increased time spent on social media, marketers are focusing on gaining the attention of users on advertisements posted on social media sites along with regular feeds.For More Information:Stock images make communications effective, express ideas quickly, provide engaging user experience, and enhance social media efforts, thus making the content impactful and powerful. Messages conveyed through the stock images enable end-users to make strong associations and evaluate the product quickly, which can further drive the product sales.Order a free Sample :With an increase in the smartphones usage, the visual content gained traction, which have given rise to image-based content on the social media. This has also given rise to social media sites based purely on image-based content, such as Instagram and Pinterest. Thus, companies are also focusing on visual content with their marketing strategy and communications in comparison to text, making them more meaningful to the audience. Also, with the upsurge in online marketing, especially on sites such as Facebook and Twitter, it has become easy to integrate images with desired impact. Stock images has led to a significant increase in the visitor-to-lead conversion rate, site traffic, and inbound customer acquisition. For instance, the visual content was led to more than 92% of interactions that the brands received on Facebook.Thus, end-users are expected to resort to the use of stock images, thus driving the market growth.Source Link:About Beige Market IntelligenceBeige Market Intelligence is a new-age provider of competitive business intelligence, working across various industry verticals. Our expertise and knowledge ensures that the market analysis Beige provides is comprehensive, detailed and complete. The analysis helps our client organizations become aware and make educated decisions, as far as investing or devising a marketing strategy is concerned. The actionable insights delivered through our market research provide a comprehensive market analysis for every level of market segmentation in an industry. Beige Market Intelligence is a quality driven high end Market Research organization. Our team of experts ensure the analysis you receive is not just analyzed and smartly presented, but is completely customized based on the clients requirement. Our deliverables guarantee our current global client base does not look beyond Beige when it comes to any kind of industry and market analysis.Beige Market IntelligenceChinnapannhalli Main Raod, Bangalore-560037info@beigemarketintelligence.comUS: +1 347 903 9949UK: +44 20 323 99499APAC: +91 99 012 75473 Butyl Glycol Market to Witness Steady Growth through 2025 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-360 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-360 www.futuremarketinsights.com Butyl glycol also known as 2-Butoxyethanol is acolourless, slightly hygroscopic, neutral, high-boiling, low-volatility liquid with a mild odour that is used as a solvent and starting material for many reactions. In addition to that, it is used as a solvent for aqueous coating systems (water-based paints). Butyl glycol belongs to the family of glycol ethers. Glycol ethers consist of two components, an alcohol andether. According to the nature of alcohol, molecules of this class can be divided into two groups: E series and P series which correspond to ethylene and propylene respectively. Butyl glycol belongs to E series of glycol ethers. Butyl glycol is miscible with water and common organic solvents in all proportions at room temperature. It shows the reactions typically shown by alcohols, such as esterification, etherification, oxidation and formation of acetates and like most ethers, it forms peroxides in the presence of atmospheric oxygen.The growth of water-based coatings that use glycol ethers as coalescing agents has been the major factor behind the growth of the butyl glycol market. In the major regions of the world, growth has been primarily for the butyl products such as butyl glycol; the methyl and ethyl product groups have been in decline. This decline has been primarily due to the increased concern about the toxicological effects of some ethylene oxidebased glycol ethers. Butyl glycol is a mildly hazardous chemical owing to which, care must be taken during its handling.Request For Report Sample@Based on geography, the market of butyl glycol can be segmented as follows: In 2009, the United States was the world's largest producer, consumer and exporter of E-series glycol ethers, including butyl glycol; however, by 2013, China became the largest consumer, followed by the United States, Western Europe and Japan. The United States continues to be the largest producer and exporter of butyl glycol. According to market forecasts, growth in butyl glycol consumption will be greatest in China, during 20132018, followed by the Middle East and other countries in Asia (excluding China and Japan) .Butyl glycol is used as a solvent in ink and coating industry. It is also used as a solvent in lacquer thinners. Butyl glycol is a low volatility solvent, hence it is used to extend the drying time of coatings and it is also used to increase their flow properties. It is very useful for paints based on cellulose nitrate or cellulose ethers. It improves the brushability of certain paints such as alkyd resin paints and reduces their viscosity. Additionally, it improves the flow of urea and melamine Butyl glycol lowers the minimum film forming temperature and improves the evaporation behavior of the volatile constituents during hot air or infra red drying. Further application of butyl glycol are: it is used as a solvent in printing inks, it is a component in surface cleaners and is used to degrease metal surfaces, it is component in hydraulic fluids and drilling oils, it is used as an accelerator in the manufacture of butyl glycol acetate which is also a solvent and it is also used an acceleratorfor the production of plasticizers among others.Request For TOC@The major players in the market of butyl glycol are: Eastman Chemicals Co, LyondellBasell, BASF AG, Asia Pacific Petrochemicals Co Ltd, Dow Chemicals, Parsidan Chemicals Co, Paras Dyes and Chemicals, Beijing East Guangming Chemical Co., Ltd. and QingdaoSanlianxiang Chemical Co., Ltd among others.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Dimer Acid-Based (DAB) Polyamide Resins Market : Information, Figures and Analytical Insights 2015 - 2025 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-337 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-337 www.futuremarketinsights.com Dimer acids which are also known as dimerized fatty acids belong to the group of dicarboxylic acids. Dimer acids are viscous fluids that are transparent and non-toxic in nature. Dimer acids are manufactured by dimerizing unsaturated fatty acids that are obtained from oleic acid, canola oil, tallow, cottonseed, tall oil and rapeseed among others. Dimer acids are widely used to synthesize polyamide resins and hot melt adhesives. Dimer acid-based polyamide resins have varied properties which makes them either reactive or non-reactive in nature. Reactive polyamides are primarily used as curing agents for epoxy resins that are generally used in the manufacturing of adhesives and surface coatings. On the other hand, the non reactive polyamides are predominantly used in the manufacturing of printing inks and hot-melt adhesives. Dimer acid-based polyamide resins exhibit physical properties such as heat resistance, cold resistance, film flexibility, fast curing, oil resistance, excellent adhesion and good compatibility among others. Dimer acid-based polyamide resins are widely used as decorative coatings, fabrics, interlining, shoe stretch, fold plastic and Baotou glue.Growing economies of developing countries coupled with rising disposable income has boosted the overall demand for residential properties which in turn is expected to augment the overall growth of construction industry. Construction industry is the major application of adhesives and surface coatings. Thus, the growing demand for adhesives and surface coatings from various end-use industries such as construction is expected to drive the overall dimer acid-based polyamide resins market. Dimer acid-based polyamide resins are also mainly consumed in the manufacturing of printing inks. Dimer acid-based polyamide resins exhibit improved freeze thaw characteristics to the printing ink compositions. Thus, the use of dimer acid-based polyamide resins plays a crucial role in improving the overall quality of the printing inks. Thus, growing demand for printing ink is expected to augment the overall growth of dimer acid-based polyamide resins market.Request For Report Sample@China is the major consumer of dimer acid-based polyamide resins owing to the presence of huge demand for adhesives and surface coatings from construction and automobile applications. North America is expected to be the next largest consumer of dimer acid-based polyamide resins owing to the presence of huge demand for printing inks in the region. The demand for DAB polyamide resins is expected to grow rapidly in Europe owing to the huge demand for surface coatings from the automobile industry present in the region. Rest of Asia Pacific is anticipated to experience huge demand for dimer acid-based polyamide resins owing to the growing construction industry in countries such as India, Japan and Korea present in the region. Rest of the World is expected to exhibit sluggish growth in the demand for dimer acid-based polyamide resins market in the near future.Arizona Chemical, Anqing Hongyu Chemical Co., Ltd., The Dow Chemical Company, Jinan Tongfa Resin Co., Ltd. and RITEKS are some of the major participants of the dimer acid-based polyamide resins market. The companies are mainly focused towards achieving economies of scale. Hence, most of the leading players are striving towards increasing their production capacities for manufacturing dimer acid-based polyamide resins market. The companies are also hugely investing in research in order to develop innovative products having superior qualities.Request For TOC@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: The Iowa Legislature's decision to cut off funding for Planned Parenthood is limiting women's health care choices, Democratic candidate for governor Todd Prichard said in a stop in Davenport on Friday. Prichard, a state representative from Charles City, made his first campaign appearance in the Quad Cities since announcing his candidacy earlier this week. Planned Parenthood of the Heartland announced Thursday it is closing four of its 12 clinics around the state, including the one in Bettendorf. Planned Parenthood said the reason is the state's decision to change its family planning program, which had been funded by Medicaid. Now, state funds will be used, allowing the state to prohibit funding from going to abortion providers. Prichard said the move is a step in the wrong direction. "Its a shame that were taking away health care opportunities and access for women, and its just not the right direction. If we care about taking care of people, we would fund Planned Parenthood and keep these types of services available," he said after a meeting at the United Food and Commercial Workers union hall on West Central Park Avenue. A few weeks ago, Prichard said that, if elected, he would seek to reverse the legislature's decision to significantly reduce collective bargaining rights for public workers, but, in this case, he said he believes it would take an act of the legislature to reverse the decision on how to fund family planning programs in the state. Republicans control both the House and Senate. Also Friday, Prichard said the state needs to shift its economic development efforts so that growth can help everybody around the state. He also criticized Gov. Terry Branstad's decision to turn management of the state's Medicaid program over to private companies. Prichard said, too, that Iowa needs to address what he called a crisis in mental health care. Five Democrats have already announced they will seek the party's 2018 gubernatorial nomination. A few others also are considering it. Anisic Aldehyde Market : Latest Innovations, Drivers and Industry Key Events 2015 - 2025 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-479 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-479 www.futuremarketinsights.com Scented products are chosen by a large number of inhabitants. Considering daily life, products containing fragrance are preferred, consumed and utilized which in turn has resulted in increase in demand for global anisic aldehyde market. Anisic aldehyde also known as para-methoxybenzaldehyde is a clear colourless pale yellowish liquid with powerful aroma. Being an organic compound, it is used in both natural and synthetic form to provide fragrance and flavour. Anisic Aldehyde, form of speciality chemical is increasingly cited as a trigger to produce more scented and odourless products. It is found in vanilla aroma and in essential oils of fennel and anise. It is produced commercially by methoxytoluene using manganese dioxide. It can also be created by oxidation of anethole (an allied fragrance that is found in alcoholic beverages). Owing to its good persistence, it is widely used in perfumery and pharmaceuticals applications.Anisic Aldehyde Market: Drivers & RestraintsThe demand for anisic aldehyde is constantly rising with growth in fragrance & flavour, pharmaceuticals and personal care industry. An advanced chemical, physical & efficient property of anisic aldehyde drives the demand for global anisic aldehyde market. With progress in the global pharmaceutical market followed by high consumption in cosmetics and personal care, the global anisic aldehyde market is likely to expand at double digit CAGR during the forecast period (2016-2025). However, unexpected fluctuation in raw materials along with government regulations is acting as a restraint in the growth of global anisic aldehyde market.Request For Report Sample@Anisic Aldehyde Market: SegmentationOn the basis of end-user, the global anisic aldehyde market has been broadly segmented into:Perfumes & FragrancesPharmaceuticalsPersonal & Home CareOthersOn the basis of regions the global acetophenone market has been segmented into North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Middle East & Africa, Asia-Pacific and Japan.Anisic Aldehyde Market: Region-wise OutlookThe global anisic aldehyde market is expected to register a double-digit CAGR for the forecast period. India and China is the major manufacturing hub for anisic aldehyde. As of 2015, Asia Pacific, and Western Europe dominates the global anisic aldehyde market in terms of market revenue. U.S., Australia and South Africa are few other countries having a large consumer base for speciality chemicals like anisic aldehyde. India, China & Japan are projected to expand at a substantial growth and will continue to contribute to the global anisic aldehyde market value, exhibiting a robust CAGR during the forecast period, 2016?2025.Request For TOC@Anisic Aldehyde Market: Key PlayersSome of the key market players in global bariatric surgery devices market are BASF SE, Atul Ltd, Neshiel Chemical Pvt Ltd, Parchem, AscentFinechem Pvt ltd and Elan Chemical Company and Nandolia Organic Chemicals Pvt Ltd, Global Essence, among many 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: Global Saccharin Market 2017 - Shanghai Fortune, Salvichem, Vishnuchrome, JMC, Two Lions http://www.fiormarkets.com/report-detail/54124/request-sample https://goo.gl/s6AYtO www.fiormarkets.com 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 Saccharin industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed.In this report, the global Saccharin market is valued at USD XX million in 2017 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2017 and 2022.Download Free Sample Report @Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Saccharin in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaGlobal Saccharin market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer, the top players includingKaifeng XinghuaTianjin ChangjiePMC?SpecialtiesTianjin North FoodShanghai FortuneTwo LionsProductos AditivosSalvichemJMCShree VardayiniVishnuchromeAviditya ChemicalsD KPT. Batang AlumPT. GOLDEN SARIAccess Full Report @On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoInsoluble SaccharinSoluble SaccharinOn 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 Saccharin for each application, includingFood & BeveragePharmaceuticalsDaily ChemicalOtherIf you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.The Research Methods ProvidesAnalysis of all the Industries WorldwideAnalysis of various regions and the Technologies usedEstimation of percentage share in terms of Type, Industry, Application, Technology and regionAnalysis of the market trends in various regions and countries, supported by the ongoing R&D in these regionsOverall market size finalized by triangulation with supply-side data, including product developments, supply chain, and estimated sales.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.Contact UsMark StoneSales Manager2566, Lincoln StreetPrinceton,New Jersey 08540USAPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb: Wine Barrel Market Is Expected To Generate Huge Profits by 2016 - 2026 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2206 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-2206 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ A wine barrel is a hollow cylindrical container, traditionally made of Oak wood staves and bound with wooden or metal hoops. The wine barrel is majorly used for the aging of wine. After the fermentation of wine, it gets stored in the barrel for sedimentation of large solid particles and make it smooth. While the aging process, various flavors are imparted to wine as it goes through various chemical changes and allows a slow introduction of oxygen into the wine. Wine barrels are last for up to 100 years. While the aging of wine in barrels, usually gets the 50% extract that the barrel has on the first use and it gets decrease simultaneously as per the further utilization.Wine Barrel Market: DynamicsThe global wine barrel market has expected to register the significant growth as a demand of wine is increasing globally over the forecast period. Use of oak wine barrels for aging the wine makes it rich in taste and quality which is leading factor drives for the growth of the global wine barrel market. The controlled oxidation takes place during the aging in the barrel and resulted into decreased astringency and increased colour and stability of wine over the use of other barrels made up of plastic and metals which also boost the global wine barrel market in terms of revenue and volume.However, the many wine producers have started using alternative to oak wine barrels such as oak powders, chips and blocks in the normal metal vats of wine to give the essence of oak aromas and flavors which hampers the growth of the global wine barrel market. The prices of the oak wine barrels are increasing due to the difference between demand and supply, which can also restrain the growth of the global wine barrel market.Request For Report Sample:Wine Barrel Market: SegmentationThe global wine barrel market has segmented on the basis of type of oak wood, type of wine processed, toast level of oak wood barrel and geographical region.Based on type of oak wood, the global wine barrel market has segmented into:French oak woodAmerican oak woodEastern oak woodBased on type of wine processed, the global wine barrel market has segmented into:Red wineWhite wineBased on toast level of oak wood, the global wine barrel market has segmented into:UntoastedLight toastMedium toastHeavy toastWine Barrel Market: Regional OutlookIn terms of geography, the global wine barrel market has been divided into five key regions, including North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC) and Middle East & Africa (MEA). The global wine barrel market has expected to register moderate growth over the forecast period. North America has contributed the major share to the global wine barrel market due to the rapidly growing parent market of wine in the North America. North America followed by Europe has also registered a significant growth rate in terms of revenue due to increasing demand of wine. Latin America and APAC are also contributing descent market shares to the global wine barrel market over the forecast period. MEA is at nascent stage in the global wine barrel market and anticipated to register the healthy growth over the forecast period.Request For TOC:Wine Barrel Market: Major PlayersSome of the key players of the global wine barrel market are OENEO, Francois Freres, THE BARREL MILL, Seguin Moreau Napa Cooperage, StaVin Inc., G & P Garbellotto S.p.A., Barry's Barrels, Canton, Bouchared Cooperages Australia PTY. Ltd. and Nadalie Australia.Various global companies are contributed descent growth to the global wine barrel market. The key players from North America and Europe has contributed major share to the wine barrel market in terms of revenue and volume.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: Protect Data on USB Flash Drives http://kashu-sd.co.jp/en/edition.html USB flash drives are compact and convenient, making them one of the most popular solutions for quickly and easily transferring files between different devices, especially where online transfers aren't an option. Unfortunately, with the convenience comes a greatly increased risk factor. Owing to their size and mobility, flash drives have a much greater chance of getting lost or stolen than, say, a laptop or desktop computer. Should the drive end up in the wrong hands, you'll lost control over your data which could lead to disaster. By default, flash drives are not password-protected and encrypted, which could spell disaster if there is any potentially sensitive information stored within.Kashu System Design, a cutting-edge software development company based in Japan, presents the fourth version of its popular USB Flash Security program, a simple tool that does exactly what its name suggests. With the program installed, a prompt will appear whenever you connect a USB flash drive asking you whether you want to protect it. Once you have protected a drive, its contents will be encrypted and password-protected so that no one will be able to access the data stored on it without providing the password. However, you will only be asked to provide your password when you try to enter the volume, rather than when you simply plug the device in. USB Flash Security is exceptionally easy to use, and with the system in place, it will automatically encrypt and safeguard your files so that, when you disconnect the drive, it will be permanently safe from any would-be intruders. Try the trial version today over atEntrusted development of computer software. Dispatch of computer software technology. Planning and development of computer software.Kashu System Design Inc.Japan Kameoka Kawamoto Building 3F, Tanisuji 37-8,Tei Kouketu kashu.pad@submitpad.org SiMET Technologies Inc. Conducts SiMET MATRIX17 A Launch Pad for Innovative Matrix Telecom Solutions in Ankara, Turkey http://www.MatrixComsec.com SiMET Technologies Inc., recent addition in the bouquet of Matrix International partners, is hosting SiMET MATRIX 17 on 8th June17 at Holiday Inn Ankara Kavaklidere in Ankara, Turkey. At the event, various applications will be demonstrated to make visitors aware of the products usability in Banking, Financial Institutions, Hotels, Retail Chains, Manufacturing Plants, Healthcare and other industries.The products showcased will include entire portfolio of Matrix products, ranging from SOHO PBX to Large Enterprise PBX. A wide array of GSM and VOIP Gateways, user-friendly User Terminals and versatile Office-in-a-Box solution will be displayed at the event. The latest innovation of Matrix SARVAM UCS the Unified Communication Server for Modern Enterprises will be the major highlight of the event.Engineered on the four pillars of Collaboration, Communication, Messaging and Mobility, SARVAM UCS brings employees working on different locations on a common platform and bridge communication gaps between them. Matrix Office-in-a-Box solution is tailored for catering to businesses need of accessing voice and data from a single device. The converged PBX acts as a Wi-Fi Access Point, Router, VPN, Firewall Security, VOIP and GSM Gateways in small offices with up to 24 employees.With SiMET MATRIX17, we aim to generate more business opportunities in the Turkey market. We are looking forward to meet prospective partners, resellers, system integrators and end customers at the event, said Sagar Gosalia, Sr. VP Sales and Marketing.We are thrilled to launch the enterprise grade Matrix Telecom solutions at SIMET MATRIX 17. With future-proof products in our kitty, we are excited to offer flexible and scalable products to our resellers and let them know how these solutions can help their clients streamline communications at their premises, said Gunes Tasyurt Foreign Trade Director, SiMET Technologies Inc.Matrix and SiMET cordially invites you to visit us at Hall: Memphis Hall, Holiday Inn Ankara Kavaklidere, SiMET MATRIX17 on 8th June17 and have a hands-on experience of the perfectly engineered Telecom solutions.About MatrixEstablished in 1991, Matrix is a leader in Telecom and Security solutions for modern businesses and enterprises. An innovative, technology driven and customer focused organization, Matrix is committed to keep pace with the revolutions in the telecom and security industries. With more than 40% of its human resources dedicated to the development of new products, Matrix has launched cutting-edge products like IP Video Surveillance, Access Control, Time-Attendance, Unified Communications, IP-PBX, Universal Gateways, Convergence, VoIP Gateways and GSM Gateways. These solutions are feature-rich, reliable and conform to the international standards. Having global footprints in Europe, North America, South America, Africa and Asia through an extensive network of more than 500 channel partners, Matrix ensures that the products serve the needs of its customers faster and longer. Matrix has gained trust and admiration of customers representing the entire spectrum of industries. Matrix has won many national and international awards for its innovative products. Visit:Matrix Comsec394 GIDC, Makarpura, Vadodara-390010Matrix Comsec394 GIDC, Makarpura, Vadodara-390010 Hospital Beds Market 2026 Key Players in Latest Research Reports http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/hospital-beds-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=19910 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Global Hospital Beds Market: OverviewBeds are among the most essential equipment required in a hospital, as patients are generally not in mobile condition to receive the treatment, and rest is often necessary for them. For the critical conditions that patients are admitted into the hospital, beds are required to be designed in such a manner that provides ideal support and comfort. With growing prevalence of several diseases, the healthcare industry is at an all-time peak and consequently, the global hospital beds market is projected for a healthy growth rate during the forecast period of 2016 to 2024.Browse through Hospital Beds Market report to know what factors will shape the market by 2026:This report on global market for hospital beds is an in-depth examination of all the factors that are expected to impact the growth rate in the near future, and presents estimations on the future state of the market until 2024. The report is a summation of interviews and discussions with a wide range of key industry participants and opinion leaders. Some of the key players have also been profiled in the report, exploring their market share, product range, regional presence, and recent strategic developments such as mergers, collaborations, acquisitions, and other announcements.The global hospital beds can be segmented on the basis of type, treatment, power, and geography. By type, the market can be divided into general beds, pediatric beds, pressure relief beds, bariatric beds, and birthing beds. By treatment, the market can be categorized into acute care beds, long term care beds, and critical care beds. By power, the market can be segmented into electric beds, manual beds, and semi-electric beds. Geographically, the report studies the opportunities available in the regions of North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Rest of the World.Global Hospital Beds Market: Trends and OpportunitiesRising geriatric population is one of the prominent factors of this market, as the people aged over 65 generally suffer from several diseases such as arthritis, heart disease, respiratory diseases, Alzheimers diseases, osteoporosis, and diabetes. According to the National Institute on Aging, global geriatric population will rise to 1.5 billion, which makes for a strong demand for hospital beds. Increasing number of hospitalization cases and technological advancements in the field, and improving healthcare infrastructure in emerging economies are other important factors positively influencing the market. According to the report, rising demand for advanced and selective features of hospital beds is a trend that urges investment in research and development of advanced beds. Conversely, high cost of these beds is seen as the primary restraint over the growth rate of the global hospitals beds market.Global Hospital Beds Market: Region-wise OutlookEurope is expected to remain most lucrative regional market during the forecast period, which is a reflection of increasing expenditure in Europes medical industry and healthcare organizations. North America forms the second most profitable region due to robust healthcare infrastructure, whereas Asia Pacific is projected for most robust growth rate, which is a result of vast population base and improving healthcare infrastructure in the emerging economies such as India, China, Japan, Australia, and South Korea.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Hospital Beds Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market;Companies mentioned in the research reportParamount Bed Co. Ltd., Getinge Group, LINET spol. s r.o., ArjoHuntleigh, Stryker, Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc., Invacare Corporation, and Medline Industries, Inc. are some of the key players currently operational in the global hospital beds market. Most of these companies have sub-divisional production units in order to meet the demand coming from medical establishments that are replacing their outdated hospital beds with the advanced ones.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 Metabolomics Market: Continuous Research Driving Market towards High Growth http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/metabolomics-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=903 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ The presence of a sophisticated healthcare infrastructure and extensive research and development are some of the factors leading to a conducive environment for the global metabolic market to grow. The market is driven by increasing volume of clinical research and growth of metabolic data analysis solutions and software, states a new market report published by Transparency Market Research (TMR). Some of the leading players in the global metabolic market are: Agilent Technologies, Inc.(U.S.), Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. (U.S.), Biocrates Life Sciences AG (Austria), Waters Corporation (U.S.), Shimadzu Corporation (Japan), Human Metabolome Technologies, Inc.(Japan), Metabolon, Inc. (U.S.), LECO Corporation (U.S.), Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.(U.S.), and Bruker Corporation (U.S.).This 75 page report gives readers a comprehensive overview of the Metabolomics Market.Browse through 11 data tables and 23 figures to unlock the hidden opportunities in this market.According to TMR, the global metabolomics market is projected to expand at a high CAGR of 17.1% between 2016 and 2024 and be worth US$2,494.8 mn by 2024. Based on application, the market is segmented into biomarker discovery, drug assessment, nutrigenomics, and clinical toxicology. On the basis of technique, the global metabolomics market is segmented into separation techniques and detection techniques. Segmentation technique is further categorized into study of gas chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), capillary electrophoresis, and ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). Of these, the high performance liquid chromatography segment accounted for the highest share in the market. Detection technique includes nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), mass spectrometry (MS) and others.Asia Pacific to Emerge as Lucrative Market for MetabolomicsBy geography, North America has been leading in the global metabolomics market. The developed research infrastructure in the U.S. & Canada is encouraging the growth of this market in the region. The region has shown increasing acceptance of personalized medicine as well as positive response to the adoption of technologically advanced products and this is boosting the growth of the metabolomics market. Apart from North America, it is the Asia-Pacific region which is expected to exhibit high growth. In fact, Asia Pacific is projected to expand at the fastest CAGR in the forecast period, driven by extensive research activities and growing investments not only by governments but also by leading players in the region.Use of Metabolomics in Personalized Medicines to Drive MarketThe growing acceptance of metabolomics in personalized medicines is one of the key factors boosting the growth of the market. The increasing biotech research and development and pharmaceutical expenditure are leading to continuous advancements in technology, spelling growth for the global metabolomics market. To add to this, government funding and private funding are also encouraging the growth of this market. Metabolomics are being increasingly in demand as they help in reducing the gap between genotype and phenotype by offering a complete view of cell functioning. It also helps in the identification of novel alterations in some of the metabolites.Request a sample of this report to know what opportunities will emerge in the rapidly evolving Metabolomics Market during 2016-2024.Expensive Tools and Instruments to Pose a Challenge for Players in Metabolomics MarketOn the other hand, there are issues regarding data processing and data examination, which can pose a challenge for the market. The high cost of instruments and tools can also be a problem. Further, the need for well-qualified researchers and the lack of the same is restraining the growth of the metabolomics market. However, the untapped markets in emerging nations will spur new growth opportunities for market players. Consistent technological advancements and researches will ensure a continued growth of this market and will reduce the impact of these restraints in teh future.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Nurse Call Systems Market Is Expected To Be Worth US$1.57 bn By 2020 & Growth Opportunities http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/nurse-call-system-equipment-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=2173 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Nurse call systems are used in various healthcare institutions including acute care and, assisted living facilities for efficient patient-staff communication. Depending on the end-use, customers chose from various wired and wireless nurse call solutions for higher performance and scalability. Furthermore, healthcare institutions can make use of various equipment types including: nurse call buttons, nurse call intercoms, nurse call mobile systems and nurse call integrated communication systems. Healthcare facilities tend to deploy a combination of such equipment to offer comprehensive and efficient communication solution throughout the facility.Obtain Report Details @This report aims to provide a comprehensive strategic analysis of the global nurse call systems market along with the market size and growth forecast for the period from 2012 2020. The key factors driving the growth of nurse call systems market include: rising demand for effective healthcare communication solution and optimized clinical workflow, increasing proportion of elderly population, and growing budget allocation for healthcare of elderly population across the world. The increasing need to reduce healthcare operational costs, and improve the overall quality of healthcare services has driven the growth of nurse call systems market. In addition, advanced capabilities such as staff/asset monitoring and reporting, wander management, and fall detection have led to the immense popularity of nurse call systems. Nurse call systems have offered a viable solution to achieve effective and efficient healthcare communication in various acute care facilities and assisted living centers.This research study on the global nurse call systems market provides a detailed analysis of various equipment and technologies used in the nurse call systems and aims to explain the driving forces behind the rising demand for this equipment in various healthcare settings. The report also offers an in-depth analysis of various factors such as market drivers, restraints, and growth opportunities affecting the market dynamics. These factors enable the analysis of various trends that would impact the market during the forecast period from 2014 - 2020. The report includes a comprehensive coverage of the underlying economic and technological factors influencing the nurse call systems market. Furthermore, the report aims to provide strategic insights into the ecosystem of the nurse call systems market by applying value chain analysis and Porters Five Forces analysis. The market share analysis of key players in the nurse call systems market throws light on the prevalent competition in this market.Based on the equipment type, the nurse call systems market is segmented into: nurse call buttons, nurse call mobile systems, nurse call intercoms, and nurse call integrated communication systems. Based on factors such as budget, scalability, flexibility, and the ease of installation, customers choose a best-fit solution in order to cater to their requirements. The scope of healthcare communication plays a crucial role in the decision-making process for various nurse call systems solutions. Another factor that plays a key role in the selection of nurse call systems is the type of end-use segment. Nurse call systems are deployed in various healthcare settings including: hospitals, OPD clinics, ambulatory services, and assisted living centers. Depending on the end-use, nurse call solutions vary in terms of their communication technology, government compliance, and infrastructure costs.Various factors that affect the growth of nurse call systems market in various healthcare settings have been identified in this report. The study provides a comprehensive assessment of various equipment types, communication technology, and end-use segments in the global nurse call systems market. The report aims to provide a comprehensive cross-sectional analysis of the nurse call systems market across geographies including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World (RoW).Fill The Form To Gain Deeper Insights On This Market @In addition, the report provides a competitive landscape of the nurse call systems market and identifies various business strategies adopted by the leading players. In addition, the report providers a detailed competitive analysis of two end-use segments namely hospitals/acute care facilities and assisting living facilities. Under the company profiles section, the report provides an overview of the companies operating in the market, strategies deployed by them in the bid to gain competitive advantage, annual revenue generated by them in the past two/three years, and recent developments. The companies profiled in this report include Rauland-Borg Corporation, Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc., Ascom Holding AG, Azure Healthcare Limited, Stanley Healthcare Solutions, Tyco SimplexGrinnell, Cornell Communications, Inc., Jeron Electronic Systems, Inc., TekTone Sound & Signal Mfg., Inc., Vigil Health Solutions, Inc., and Critical Alert Systems LLC.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Global Location-Based Services (LBS) Market to grow at a CAGR of 39.77% during 2017-2021 - Features Key Vendors ( Alibaba Group, Apple, Foursquare, Google ) http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1072189 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=1072189 http://www.researchmoz.us/global-location-based-services-lbs-market-2017-2021-report.html http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Albany, NY, May 19, 2017: Latest Report " Global Location-Based Services (LBS) Market 2017-2021 " features Top Market Players, Market Applications, Market Challenges, Market Trends & Countrywise Analysis Data.Location-based services (LBS) are part of a software application that uses location data for IP-capable mobile devices to trace where the mobile device is located.The global LBS market to grow at a CAGR of 39.77% during the period 2017-2021. The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global LBS market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated from mobile computing devices, the revenue from in-dash location-based devices, and the revenue from the applications of personal navigation device in automobiles, and wearable location-enabled.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:- Americas- APAC- EMEAGet a Sample Research PDF with TOC:Technavio's report, Global LBS 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- Alibaba Group- Apple- Foursquare- Google- HEREOther prominent vendors- Aisle411- Baidu- Dianping- Etisalat- Facebook- Intel- MazeMap- Micello- MTN Group- NavInfo- Near- Nearbuy- Polaris Wireless- Shopkick- Spirent Communications- Sprint- Telenav- Tencent- TomTom- ZainEnquiry at:Key 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?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: Digital Forensics Market - Increasing Implementation Of Digital Forensics In Collecting, Analyzing And Presenting Data As Evidences In A Court Of Law. http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/digital-forensics-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=5588 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Digital Forensics Market: OverviewAt present, digital forensics technology is employed in civil court and criminal cases and is also utilized in the private sector for carrying on internal investigations. Industrial espionage, cyber-attacks, identity fraud, information security breaches, financial fraud, and a number of other types of illegal activities can be detected by using the technology of digital forensics. The utilization of this technology is on the rise in courts owing to the immense increase in the employment of electronic devices. It is also being highly adopted in private and government company networks due to the increasing count of attacks in different regions globally.Obtain Report Details @This report presents the competitive evaluation along with region-specific evaluation on the global digital forensics market. It identifies the key restraints and drivers in the market along with presenting the definition of the market. The prime factors responsible for altering the market scenarios, the identification of prominent companies impacting the market, and the primary opportunities present in the market have also been review in detail under this study.The study also encapsulates an evaluation and identification of the micro and macro factors impacting the market for digital forensics on both regional and global levels. The competitive landscape section of this study presents the leading market players and presents an evaluation of their top financial information and their strategic interests. A detailed insight on the regions in which the digital forensics market is on the boom also forms a fundamental part of this research report.Digital Forensics Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe growing threats from terrorist and crime attacks and the rising security concerns in numerous industries globally are the top factors providing impetus to the development of the global digital forensics market. In addition, the swift economic development in emerging nations will also bode well for the growth of the overall market. Furthermore, owing to the immense development in technology, the count of mobiles, computers, and other types of electronic devices is predicted to rise, which will further augment the development of the global digital forensics market.The wide application areas such as defense and aerospace, transport, education, and healthcare, among others, of digital forensics technology will also bolster the growth of this market. Furthermore, developments in digital forensic tools have emerged as key opportunities in the market. On the other hand, the rising employment of cloud-based applications and the consistent threat of security may impede the development of the global digital forensics market. The increasing complexity of mobile devices may also work against the development of the global digital forensics market.Fill The Form For An Exclusive Sample Of This Report @Digital Forensics Market: Region-wise OutlookOn the basis of geography, the global digital forensics market is segmented into Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and Rest of the World (RoW). Of these, the North America digital forensics market represented the most significant share of around 53% in the market in terms of revenue. The reason for the superiority of this region is owing to the rising expending on forensic tools in different industries of this region. In addition, this technology is being employed by the FBI and the state police departments in order to prevent illegal activities in various parts of Canada and the U.S.Key players Mentioned in the Report are:The leading players in the global digital forensics market are LogRythm, Inc. (U.S.), Guidance Software, Inc. (U.S.), AccessData Group, Inc. (U.S.), Binary Intelligence (U.S), Paraben Corporation (U.S.), Fireeye Inc. (U.S.), ASR Data (U.S.), Lancope, Inc. (U.S.), Digital Detectives (U.S.), and Global Digital Forensics (U.S.), among 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.Transparency Market Research90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Prepacked Chromatography Columns Market Is Expected To Reach US$3.3 bn By 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/prepacked-chromatography-columns-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=6014 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Prepacked Chromatography Columns Market: SnapshotThe global biopharmaceutical industry has witnessed steady growth over the years due to a surge in the sales of vaccines, statins, and therapeutics. This has, in turn, created a need for purification, thus increasing the demand for prepacked chromatography columns.Prepacked chromatography columns have also been integrated in the biopharmaceutical industry and its acceptance is growing at a rapid pace. Government organizations in countries such as Canada, the U.S., and Germany have been upping their investments, grants, and funds in order to develop as well as bring innovative products to the market. This has also supported the prepacked chromatography columns market.Obtain Report Details @The global market is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 8.4% during the forecast period, rising from a value of US$1.6 bn in 2015 to US$3.3 bn by 2024.Increased Usage of Prepacked Chromatography Columns in Pharmaceutical BiotechnologyBased on product type, the >1L segment accounted for a share of just under 50% in the global prepacked chromatography columns market. The segment is expected to expand at a significant growth rate from 2016 to 2024. These columns can be used for clinical, preclinical, and small-scale and commercial large-scale manufacturing. The size of the >1L column market is likely to increase over the course of the forecast period due to a rise in the viability of larger-sized column production and a decrease in the cost of resins.Major end users of prepacked chromatography columns include pharmaceutical biotechnology, the food and beverages, water and environmental, and nutraceutical industries, academics, research institutes, and analytical laboratories. The pharmaceutical biotechnology segment held a major share in the global prepacked chromatography columns market in 2015. The segment is driven by the high demand for purification on a commercial scale for the manufacture of biologics such as vaccines and monoclonal antibodies. Prepacked chromatography columns are widely used in the agriculture and food industries for the determination of pesticides and other additives in foods.Rising Investments and R&D Activities Boost North America Prepacked Chromatography Columns MarketNorth America accounted for a major share of 33.9% in the global prepacked chromatography columns market in 2015. Prepacked chromatography columns are rapidly developing analytical methods in North America due to increasing direct and indirect investments by the U.S. Government and private companies in chromatography. Increasing investments are likely to result in the development of new technologies, which will attract more customers, thereby driving the market. Extensive research and development activities in the U.S. also necessitate the high utilization of chromatography techniques.Asia Pacific also held a prominent share in the global prepacked chromatography columns market and is anticipated to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. The increasing usage of chromatographic techniques in disease diagnosis, the growing need for separation process in small laboratories, quality control in the industry, and the rising demand for the commercial production of biologics have driven the Asia Pacific market over the years.Fill The Form To Gain Deeper Insights On This Market @Brazil is one of the most attractive and favorable pharmaceutical markets in the world and as a result, the prepacked chromatography column market in Latin America holds immense promise.Agilent Technologies, Inc., Biorad Laboratories Inc., Danaher Corporation, EMD Millipore (Merck KGaA), GE Healthcare, KNAUER Wissenschaftliche Gerate GmbH, Repligen Corporation, and Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. are some of the key players contributing to the growth of the global prepacked chromatography columns market.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Packaged IC Component Inspector Market - Leading Players See Opportunities in Innovative Product Development http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/packaged-ic-component-inspector-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=22442 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Integrated circuits are placed into protective packages in order to allow efficient assembly and handling onto PCBs (printed circuit boards) and to protect the electronic devices from damage. Different sort of packaging techniques are present. Packaged IC component inspector systems primarily increase the throughput and boost the package changeover than traditional methods. The market has been segmented into by IC packaged inspection type surface mounting, through-hole mounting, pin grid array, ball grid array, flip chip inspection, plastic encapsulated IC inspection, flat package, molded underfill inspection among others. Moreover, the market has been also segmented by end use industry which includes consumer electronics, industrial equipment, aerospace and military, automotive, telecommunication, healthcare among others. The market for packaged IC component inspector by region has been segmented into, Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, MEA (Middle East and Africa) and South America.Obtain Report Details @Integrated circuit packages are made of different sort of materials for instance plastic of a molded package, silicon circuit contained within the package and ceramic package. Each package material carries different mechanical characteristics, for example elastic modulus and thermal expansion, primarily which cater to development of mechanical stresses when the whole package is subjected to thermal excursions. Circuits are exponentially smaller in size and defects have become smaller and much more difficult to identify or detect. Detecting defects is a crucial process in order to prevent mechanical, electrical and thermal failures. To ensure no defects reach the end users, packaged semiconductor producers are looking for advanced analytic capabilities along with finer-resolution imaging to fine-tune their processes and designs. In addition, increasing customer demand for higher throughput to enable 100% semiconductor inspection at production speeds is also fueling the market for packaged IC component inspector. Some of the defects which are inspected by the packaged IC component inspector include number of the cracks in the IC die, delamination of one package interface from another and cracks in the body of the package. Some of the major inspection system application includes flip chip inspection, stacked die imaging, multi-chip and hybrid module inspection and ball grid arrays among others. Increasing technological advancement in the field of semiconductor component manufacturing is one of the prime reasons behind the growth of packaged IC inspection globally. Major semiconductor component manufacturer are focusing on innovating improved semiconductor inspection technology to meet the complex packaging challenges. Improved performance, fault less semiconductor components, higher throughput are some of the prime characterization of packaged IC component inspector, which in turn is fueling the application in different end use industries. Cyclical nature of semiconductor industry may be considered as one of the restraining factor which may inhibit the growth of the packaged IC component inspector market. However, application of packaged IC component inspector for nanoelectronics industry is one of the prime opportunities for the market.In 2016, North America held the largest market share in terms of revenue for the packaged IC component inspector market, followed by Asia Pacific and Europe. The U.S. is leading the packaged IC component inspector market in North America. 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 packaged IC component inspector. Germany, Italy, U.K., France among others are contributing positive share in the packaged IC component inspector market. In Middle East and Africa, there has been considerable advancement and development in the field of electronics and other industries for example, automotive and telecommunication sector is stimulating the demand for packaged IC component inspector market. In South America, Brazil and Argentina are anticipated to contribute positive growth over the forecast period from 2017 to 2025.Fill The Form For An Exclusive Sample Of This Report @KLA Tencor Corporation (The U.S.), Sonix, Inc. (The U.S.) and Nidec Corporation (Japan) among others are some of the key players operating in the packaged IC component inspector market globally.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: Japan Industrial Hand Protection Gloves Market accounted for the largest share with a market value of USD 68 Million in 2014 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/statistical-reports/enquiry/2718 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/statistical-reports/japan-hand-protection-gloves-market-material-segment-2718 The Japan Hand Protection Gloves Market Material Segment (Revenue) Outlook (2014-2027) statistical report, published by Market Research Future contains succinct information on Japan industrial hand protection gloves market and its size, in terms of either revenue or volume, segmented by materials as natural rubber, leather, polyethylene, nitrile, neoprene, metal mesh, & others and forecast from 2014-2027. Rapid growth in the consumer electronics industry has enabled the hand protection gloves market to generate significant revenue from this region. However, factors such as reduced worker productivity use of robotics in manufacturing processes are the major restraints that could hinder the growth of the market.Natural Rubber in Japan Industrial Hand Protection Gloves Market accounted for the largest share with a market value of USD 68 Million in 2014.Make an enquiry before buying this Report @Table of Contents1. Info graphics Information1.1 Japan Industrial Hand Protection Gloves Market Size, By Application, 2016 (USD Million)1.2 Japan Industrial Hand Protection Gloves Market Share, By Application, 2016 (%)2. Introduction3. Market DataList of TablesTable 1 Japan Industrial Hand Protection Gloves Market, by Material, 2014-2027 (USD Million)List of FiguresFigure 1 Japan Industrial Hand Protection Gloves Market, by Material, 2014 VS 2027 (USD Million)Browse Report Details @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com China Intelligent Road System Market to see CAGR of 15.52% by 2022 and to cross USD 11.86 Billion https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/statistical-reports/enquiry/2719 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/statistical-reports/china-intelligent-road-system-market-2719 The Intelligent Road System Market statistical report, published by Market Research Future contains succinct information on the automated test equipment market. The various factors driving the IRS market are increasing concern about traffic congestion, increasing need of road safety improvements, increasing government initiative, and shifting of freight industry from unorganized to organized sector.Intelligent Road System is the tested route to mitigate the traffic congestion problem. It is an application that is designed to provide customized solutions to improve the transportation system. The major objective of this system is to evaluate, develop, analyze and integrate new technologies and concept to achieve the traffic efficiency.China Intelligent Road System Market is expected to reach USD 11.86 Billion by 2022 with a CAGR of 15.52.Make an enquiry before buying this Report @Table of Contents1. Info graphics Information1.1 China Intelligent Road System Market, By Country, 2013 VS 2017 (USD Billion)2. Introduction3. China Intelligent Road System Market, By Country, Market DataList of TablesTable 1 China Intelligent Road System Market, By Country, 2013-2017 (USD Billion)List of FiguresFigure 1 China Intelligent Road System Market, By Country, 2013-2017, (USD Billion)Browse Report Details @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com Chip Antenna Market Demand for Secure and Reliable Wireless Products across the Telecom and BFSI Sectors https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1582 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/chip-antenna-market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/request-toc/1582 Market Segmentation Segmentation by Type: Ceramic Multilayer Chip Antennas and Dielectric Chip Antenna. Segmentation by Application: WLAN, Zigbee, Bluetooth, ISM among others. Segmentation by End Users: BFSI, Transportation, Manufacturing, Industrial, Government, Telecommunication and IT, Healthcare among others.Market Highlights:Global Chip Antenna Market has been valued at US billion in the year 2015. Technological advancement and growing demand for consumer electronics and wireless products are driving the market of Chip Antenna. Chip antenna is a technology, which is helps in establishing a wireless connection between an electronic devices with an infrastructure. Increase industrial application and high automation in the field of technology are few factors, which is supporting the market. Global Chip Antenna Market is growing with the CAGR and is expected to grow at US billion by the end of forecasted period.Request a Sample Report @Key playersThe prominent players in the market of Chip Antenna are- Partron Co. Ltd. (South Korea) Mitsubishi Materials (Japan) Fractus S.A. (Spain) Johanson Technology, Inc. (U.S.) Yageo Corporation (Taiwan) Taoglas (Ireland) Vishay Intertechnology Inc. (U.S.) Pulse Electronics (U.S.) Fractus Antennas (Spain) Antenova M2M (UK)Industry News In July 2016, Fractus Antennas S.L. announced the launch of new product mXTEND antenna booster for multi band application. In June 2016, Fractus Antenna S.L. announced that chip antenna booster FR01-S4-224 can also work with Bluetooth devices.Target Audience Bluetooth Antenna Manufacturers Chip Antenna Manufacturers Wireless Service Providers WIFI Service Providers GovernmentBrowse Report Details @Study Objective of Chip Antenna Market To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast of the various segments and sub-segments of the Global Chip Antenna Market To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth To analyze the Chip Antenna market based on various factors- value chain analysis, porters five force analysis etc. To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of the World (ROW) To provide country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future prospective To provide country level analysis of the market for segment by type, by application, by end users and sub-segmentsRequest Table of Contents for this Report @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com Global False Eyelashes Market Trends, Outlook, Overview and 2023 Forecast https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2921 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/false-eyelashes-market-2921 Market Scenario:Increasing demands for innovative cosmetic products to enhance the overall appearance has a major impact on the False Eyelashes market. High demands for unique beauty products is influencing the growth of False Eyelashes market on a global level. Advancement in technologies in the beauty and fashion sector has supported in fueling up the market share by bringing innovations in the cosmetic product line. The increasing beauty consciousness amongst the population of women also has a positive impact on the false eyelashes marketSynthetic hair amongst the raw-material of false eyelashes is evaluated to grow at higher rate based on the ease of usage and comparatively low cost price. Based on the product-type, the share held by strip lashes is found to escalate due to convenience usage and high durability. Based on the production of the product, the machine made production is found to be dominating the segment based on the high demands and convenience in manufacturing. E-commerce is found to be the hub for the sale of false eyelashes backed up by the hectic life-style of present women population and ease of ordering the product.Request a Sample Report @Market Segments False Eyelashes has been segmented on the basis of Raw Material which comprises Synthetic Hair, Human Hair, Fur, Feather, Others. The Synthetic Hair segment is found to hold a major share due to high consumers preference. False Eyelashes has been segmented on the basis of Product-Type which Individual Lashes (Natural lashes, Flare lashes, Others) and Strip Lashes (Full Volume lashes, Long and short lashes, Natural lashes, Others). Among the two segments Strip lashes hold a major share with the increasing sale of majorly Full Volume Lashes globally. False Eyelashes has been segmented on the basis of Production which comprises Machine made, Handmade, Semi-handmade. Machine made lashes are found to hold a major share followed by semi-handmade eyelashes. False Eyelashes has been segmented on the basis of distribution channel which comprises Supermarket/hypermarket, Specialty stores, Cosmetic stores, E-commerce, others. Sale through E-commerce is growing at a higher growth rate backed up by the advancements in technology.Market Definition:False Eyelashes are defined as artificial eyelashes which are worn to define the eyes and to thicken the upper eyelashes. The false eyelashes are worn with the help of a special glue and can be self-applied. The product majorly is categorized into two types: Strip lashes and Individual lashes. Strip lashes are worn directly across the eyelashes while the individual eyelashes needs to be applied each separately. False eyelashes are available all across the globe in a huge variety of designs, colors, lengths and material-type. The growing trend of highlighting the lash line to make it look more defined is one of the major factor influencing its market.Browse Report Details @Key PlayersThe key players profiled in the Global False Eyelashes Market are Ardell International, Inc. (U.S.), MAC Cosmetics (U.S.), Revlon, Inc. (U.S.), Ulta Beauty, Inc. (U.S.), Kiss Cosmetics (U.S.), Velour Lashes (U.S.), Shu Uemura Cosmetics Inc. (Japan), Leeyo Cosmetics Co. (China)Intended Audience False Eyelashes Manufacturers Beauty Products Manufacturers Retailers and Wholesalers Traders, Importers and ExportersKey Findings: The share held by full volume lashes among the strip lashes is found to be growing at a higher rate Top exporters of false eyelashes include U.S., China, Indonesia, Thailand and South AfricaRegional AnalysisThe Global False Eyelashes Market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and rest of the world (ROW). North America has the major market share followed by Asia-Pacific. Developing economy has led to increase in disposable income due to which North America is projected to generate a high revenue during the given forecast period. Urbanization leading to changing fashion sense will support the sale of False Eyelashes in Asia-Pacific region during the forecast period. The Major importers of False Eyelashes include U.S., South Africa, U.K, Korea and Indonesia. Based on the rising demands for variety of false eyelashes, the import and export in the developed countries is found to rise at a steady growth rate.At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com Healthcare Human Resources (HR) Software Market: Global Major Key Players Research Forecast to 2021 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/561 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/healthcare-human-resources-software-market Global Healthcare Human Resources (HR) Software Market Forecast to 2021 Healthcare is one of the most conventional industries, across the globe. Across the world, in some of the areas of healthcare industry are yet to adopt information technology and new business process.This due to the lack of proper infrastructure for the healthcare industry. Furthermore in certain countries, the healthcare is underfunded, understaffed, and overloaded.Get a Sample Report @It is expected that in the upcoming years the healthcare industry will seek solution for the human resource management. Currently the human resource market for healthcare is around $1 billion CAGR and expected to grow at low CAGR during the forecast period. The report provides comprehensive view about the healthcare human resources (hr) software market.The reports includes following segments:Software Type Core HR Workforce Management Compensation Management Recruiting Learning Management Others Deployment On-Premise Cloud Organizations Type Medium Businesses Large Enterprises Small Business End Users Hospitals and Laboratories Pharmaceuticals and CROs OthersGet a Browse Report @Table of Contents1 Introduction2 Research Methodology3 Report Excerpt4 Forecast Indicators5 Market Analysis6 Global Healthcare Human Resources (Hr) Software Market, By Software Type7 Global Healthcare Human Resources (Hr) Software Market, By Deployment8 Global Healthcare Human Resources (Hr) Software Market, By Organizations Type9 Global Healthcare Human Resources (Hr) Software Market, By End Users10 Geographical Exploration11 Competitive Analysis12 Company ProfilesAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research Future+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com Malaysia Medical Tourism Market Research Report: Key Growth Factors and Forecast 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/malaysia-medical-tourism-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=20159 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Malaysia Medical Tourism Market: OverviewIn terms of revenue, the Malaysia medical tourism market is expected to register a CAGR of 30.5% during the forecast period, 20162024. The primary objective of the report is to offer insights on the market dynamics that can influence growth of the Malaysia medical tourism market over the forecast period. Insights on key trends, drivers, restraints, value forecasts and opportunities for companies operating in the Malaysia medical tourism market are presented in the report.Malaysia Medical Tourism Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe Malaysia medical tourism market is expected to witness significant growth rate in terms of value owing to high quality treatment at low cost, strong health care infrastructure, low language barrier and increasing government initiatives for medical tourism contributes to growth of the Malaysia medical tourism market. Moreover, excellent recuperation facilities and transportation are creating high potential growth opportunities for players operating in the Malaysia medical tourism market. Revenue from the medical tourism market in Malaysia is expected to expand at the relatively higher CAGR due to rising number of medical travelers to Malaysia and introduction of advanced treatment facilities in Malaysia. To understand and assess opportunities in this market, the report offers market forecast on the basis of medical procedure types carried in Malaysia. The report provides analysis of the Malaysia medical tourism market in terms of market value (US$ Mn) and volume (In number of procedures).The Malaysia medical tourism market is segmented on the basis of procedure type:Cardio (Internal medicine)Cardiothoracic SurgeryOncologyFertility treatments (IVF)Orthopedic treatmentDental treatmentOphthalmologyAesthetics / Cosmetic SurgeryNeurologyRegenerative Therapy (Stem cells)Medical check ups (Health screening)OthersThe report begins with the market definition, followed by definitions of the different procedure types and subsequent sub segments. The market dynamics section includes TMRs analysis on key trends, drivers, restraints, opportunities and macro-economic factors influencing the growth of the Malaysia medical tourism market.This exhaustive report includes 24 data tables and 20 figures to give readers a 360 view of the Medical Tourism Market. Browse through this 105-page report to know what factors will shape the market during the period 2016-2024Malaysia Medical Tourism Market: Scope of the ReportNext, the report analyses the market on the basis of regions and presents forecast in terms of value for the next 10 years. In addition, we have considered Year-on-Year (Y-o-Y) growth to understand the predictability of the market and identify growth opportunities for companies operating in the Malaysia medical tourism market. Another key feature of this report is the analysis of key segments in terms of absolute dollar opportunity. This is usually overlooked, while forecasting the market. However, absolute dollar opportunity is critical for assessing the level of opportunity that a provider can look to achieve, as well as to identify potential resources from a sales and delivery perspective for services offered by medical tourism in Malaysia. To understand key segments in terms of their growth and performance in the Malaysia medical tourism market, Transparency market research has developed a market attractiveness index. The resulting index would help providers identify existing market opportunities.?Malaysia Medical Tourism Market: Competitive ScenarioIn the final section of the report, a competitive landscape has been included to provide a dashboard view of key companies operating in the Malaysia medical tourism market. This section is primarily designed to provide clients with an objective and detailed comparative assessment of key providers specific to a market segment in the Malaysia medical tourism market and the potential players. However, this section also includes market strategies and SWOT analysis of the main players operational in the Malaysia medical tourism market.Detailed profiles of players operating in Malaysia medical tourism market are also included in the scope of the report to evaluate their long- and short-term strategies. Key players included in this report are KPJ Healthcare Berhad, Pantai Holdings Berhad, Prince Court Medical Centre, Dentalpro Group, Sunway Medical Centre, IJN Health Institute, Island Hospital, LohGuanLye Specialists Centre, Mahkota Medical Centre, and Tropicana Medical Centre., among others.Request a sample of this report to know what opportunities will emerge in the rapidly evolving Medical Tourism Market during 2016- 2024About 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: Fireproof Insulation Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size 2024 | Research Report http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/fireproof-insulation-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=18767 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Global Fireproof Insulation Market: OverviewFireproof insulations are useful in battling with the spread of flames in case of fire and are helpful in protecting human lives or the load bearing structure of buildings. They help in reducing the transfer of heat and thus maintaining the temperature levels and energy consumption. Thus, the global market for fireproof insulation is poised to rise at a noteworthy rate, owing to the increasing concerns regarding energy conservation. Some of the commonly used materials in fireproof insulations are cellulose, fiberglass, polystyrene (EPS), mineral wool, and polyurethane foam. These insulations are used in residential, industrial, and commercial buildings.Browse Market Research Report @The research report is a professional study offering reliable insights into various critical aspects of the global fireproof insulation market. It provides a comprehensive overview of the factors influencing the market and the extent to which they impact the growth. For a clear understanding, the report divides the market on the basis of several criteria including material, applications, and geography. It includes tools such as Porters five force analysis and market attractiveness analysis to derive vendor landscape of the global fireproof insulation market. It reviews the market for the period between 2016 and 2024.Global Fireproof Insulation Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe increasing efforts by governments and several private organizations worldwide to reduce greenhouse gasses emissions are paving way for the robust growth of the global fireproof insulation market. Stringent codes for building safety, particularly in developed countries, are boosting the uptake of fireproof insulation materials. Moreover, the low cost of these insulations along with rebates and tax credits offered by several governments across the world is stoking the growth of the market.On the flip side, in developing countries, enterprises, particularly small and medium-sized, are less aware of the benefits offered by fireproof insulations. Thus, the lack of awareness is impeding the growth of the market. Furthermore, the sluggish growth of the construction sector in Europe has a negative impact on the overall market. However, developing countries are expected to emerge in the near future, owing to the growing focus towards fire safety.Global Fireproof Insulation Market: Geographical SegmentationNorth America and Europe will account for a large cumulative share in the global fireproof insulation market. The rising disposable income is translating into the greater sales of furniture, bedding household products, and appliances, which in turn is driving the growth of the regions. Enforcement of stringent building safety codes is also playing an important role in the growth of the regions. While North America will be primarily driven by the U.S., countries such as Italy, Germany, the U.K., and France will be at the forefront of the growth of Europe.Asia Pacific will register a tremendous CAGR during the forecast period, with India, Japan, and China being the major contributors. Rising government initiatives towards building safety along with the increasing environmental concerns pertaining to emissions of greenhouse gasses are stimulating the growth of the region. The expanding workforce in oil & gas, chemicals, and petrochemicals sectors is creating a staggering volume of demand for protective clothing, which in turn is propelling the growth of APAC.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Fireproof Insulation Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market @Global Fireproof Insulation Market: Competitive LandscapeA raft of players in the global fireproof insulation market is putting in efforts to modify and innovate their offering in order to enhance their visibility. The presence of a large number of players boosts the level of competition in the market and also renders it a moderately fragmented arena. Some of the prominent players operating in the market are Knauf Insulation GmbH, Rockwool International A/S, Owens Corning Corporation, Saint-Gobain S.A., BASF SE, Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and Paroc Oy.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: High Temperature Epoxy Resins Market - Global Industry Analysis 2024 | Research Report http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/high-temperature-epoxy-resins-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=18677 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com High temperature epoxy resins are used wherever high temperature resistance is required. Very high performance epoxy casting and laminating resin is intended for use in high temperature environments up to 180C (356F). High temperature epoxy resins have HDT (Heat Distortion Temperature) of 180C which ensures that up to this temperature the epoxy will not shrink, distort, or crack. Along with its high heat distortion temperature, the high temperature epoxy resin also has good clarity, a low viscosity and exceptional wetting characteristics when used with carbon fiber or aramid fiber. When cured, the high temperature epoxy resin has excellent mechanical properties. High temperature epoxy resin also has excellent chemical, electrical and radiation resistance.Browse Market Research Report @Due to its various properties the high temperature epoxy resins have major application in industries such as coatings, adhesives, construction, composites and electronics. The growing demand from coating, electronic and other industrial applications is expected to drive the global high temperature epoxy resins market in the years to come.High temperature epoxy resin is best for ultra thin bond lines, strain gauges, bonding and coating critical electronic components, protecting and sealing porous materials, etc. The high temperature epoxy resin is suitable for use in wet-lay laminating or vacuum bagging of composite parts, R.I.M. tooling, vacuum forming and other applications requiring dimensional stability at high temperatures. High temperature epoxy resin is also suitable for encapsulation applications or for use as a high temperature epoxy adhesive for bonding a variety of surfaces. High temperature epoxy resin plays an important role in manufacturing braided carbon tubed exhaust pipes. The typical advantages of the high temperature epoxy resins are excellent adhesion to metals, plastics, ceramics and glass, low moisture absorption, high temperature stability, high bond strength, and low shrinkage. High temperature epoxy resins are excellent electrical insulators and have ability to protect electrical components from short circuiting, dust and moisture. Owing to all such benefits, high temperature epoxy resins are growingly used in end-user industries such as coating and electronic industries across the globe.Quantity of usage of high temperature epoxy resins has high degree of co-relation with industrialization. As a result high temperature epoxy resin has huge market in developing nations. Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest growing market for high temperature epoxy resins in the next six years, consuming more than half of the global demand. The main reason for this is the growing demand for high temperature epoxy resins market from developing countries such as China, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea. The high growth in this region is mainly driven by growing population, vast economies developed as well as developing, favorable investment policies, and government initiatives to promote industrial growth. The key companies operating in the high temperature epoxy resin market are largely focusing on these growing economies for tapping their enormous market potential. Therefore, the global high temperature epoxy resin market is expected to experience a significant growth in the future. The consumption of high temperature epoxy resin is being closely followed by the U.S.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the High Temperature Epoxy Resins Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market @Some of the major companies operating in the global high temperature epoxy resin market are The DOW Chemical Company, BASF SE, Huntsman Corporation, Aditya Birla Chemicals Ltd., Epoxy Resin Division of Baling Petrochemical Co.,Ltd., Resoltech, Kukdo Chemical Co. Ltd, 3M Company, Chang Chun Plastics Co. Ltd., Nama Chemicals, Momentive Performance Materials Holdings LLC and Nan Ya Plastics 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. 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: Offshore Wind Turbines Market - Global Industry Analysis 2025 | Research Report http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/offshore-wind-turbines-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=8785 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Global Offshore Wind Turbines Market: SnapshotWind energy has been harnessed by the oldest of civilizations. Today, the wind energy sector has evolved to generate electricity, through wind turbines taking off a major load from conventional sources of energy. Wind turbines use the power of natural wind to generate electricity. The technology is still in its nascent stage. It must overcome technical, economic and political challenges for commercial and large-scale deployment. Several developing countries have opened up a plethora of opportunities for the global offshore wind turbines market as the pressure of keeping the carbon emissions low is mounting each day. According to the research report, the global offshore wind turbines market is projected to be worth US$58,729.7 mn by the end of 2025 from US$29,418.9 mn in 2016. During the forecast period of 2017 and 2025, analysts estimate that the global market will surge at a CAGR of 7.7%.This 134 page report gives readers a comprehensive overview of the Offshore Wind Turbines Market. Browse through 45 data tables and 51 figures to unlock the hidden opportunities in this market.Floating Offshore Wind Turbines See Higher Adoption due to Advantages over Traditional TurbinesAs shallow- and deep-water spots being explored harness the potential for power generation from wind, they are likely to augment the growth of the floating wind turbines segment over the forecast period. Offshore floating turbines are advantageous over fixed structures in terms of the total cost incurred in installation and production. These wind turbines come with a floating platform to support the entire turbine structure. On the other hand, traditional offshore plants need fixing of foundations to the seafloor and bolting of massive turbines on them, which can hamper the ecology as well.Several new, offshore, floating wind turbine projects are in the prototype phase for testing of their operational feasibility, particularly in India, China, South Korea, the Pacific Islands, and Japan. A floating platform and its turbine are entirely manufactured onshore. They are then towed out and tethered to the seafloor. Another advantage of the floating platform is that they can be identical in shape, which reduces the cost of customization.Asia Pacific and Europe to Remain Nip and Tuck in Global Offshore Wind Turbines MarketFrom a geographic point of view, Europe and Asia Pacific are expected to provide significant growth potential for the offshore wind turbines market during the forecast period. Europe dominated the global offshore wind turbines market in 2016, with vast expansion in offshore wind power generation. Wind is one of the leading sources of the renewable energy mix in the region. Offshore wind energy is gaining market share at a rapid pace in the renewable energy mix because of the advantages that it possesses over onshore wind energy.Various countries across the globe have established electricity generation targets from renewable energy. Developing economies such as India are now focusing on renewable sources of energy for power generation. India has set targets of electricity generations by wind energy and solar energy. Exploration of offshore sites is being carried out in order to enhance profitability of power generation from wind. Unlike onshore sites, offshore sites generally have uninterrupted winds throughout the year.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Offshore Wind Turbines Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market @Some of the key players operating in the global offshore wind turbines market are Enercon GmbH, Siemens Wind Power, Gamesa Corporacion Technologica S.A., Guodian United Power Technology Company Ltd, Nordex S.E., Vestas Wind Systems A/S, Upwind Solutions Inc., Suzlon Group, Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technologies Co. Ltd, and GE Wind Energy.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: Synthetic Zeolite Market- Global Industry Analysis 2020 | Research Report http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/synthetic-zeolites-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=3128 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Zeolite is a group of natural and synthetic hydrated aluminosilicate minerals that contains alkaline and alkali metals. The zeolite molecular structure has a framework that consists of enclosed interconnected cavities. These cavities are occupied by water molecules and metal cations that are ion exchangeable. Zeolite is available in both natural as well as synthetic forms. Natural zeolites are available in abundance; however, these offer a limited range of atomic structures and properties. On the other hand, synthetic zeolites offer larger cavities, and hence, a wide range of properties than that of their natural counterparts. Thus, more than 100 zeolites are manufactured annually across the globe for a wide range of applications.This 76 page report gives readers a comprehensive overview of the Synthetic Zeolite Market. Browse through 12 data tables and 15 figures to unlock the hidden opportunities in this market.Synthetic zeolites are manufactured using the technique of slow crystallization of silica alumina gel in the presence of organic templates and alkalis. Sol gel processing is an important step involved in the manufacture of synthetic zeolites. Ease of scaling-up the sol gel manufacturing process makes it the most efficient and suitable route for zeolite synthesis. Zeolite is used in a wide range of industrial and domestic applications. It is used in petrochemical, nuclear and biogas manufacturing and processing industries. Most synthetic zeolites are used in the detergents industry. Adsorbents and catalysts are the other primary applications of synthetic zeolites.With over 65% share in total volume consumption, detergents was the largest outlet for synthetic zeolites in 2013. The synthetic zeolite market is driven by the demand from the detergents market, primarily owing to government regulations against the usage of phosphorus as detergent builders. Synthetic zeolites with attractive physic-chemical properties cashed in on the regulations against the widely used phosphorus compounds in detergents. Phosphorous, which is one of the key plant growth promoters, found its way into the lakes and rivers through drained laundry water. This resulted in the growth of aquatic algae and other aquatic plants, especially phytoplanktons.Excessive amount of phosphorous in water causes epidemic growth of aquatic plants, which is ecologically unsustainable and ultimately results in water pollution and contamination. Since drinking water is mostly sourced from these natural water bodies, phosphate pollution acts as a serious threat to water quality. Excessive growth of aquatic plants also reduces oxygen levels in water bodies, thereby impairing aquatic life. Rising demand for petroleum products has also acted in favor of synthetic zeolites, as substantial demand is generated from fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) process in petrochemical refineries. Petrochemical refineries also account for a considerable demand for zeolitic molecular sieves for adsorption.Asia Pacific accounted for over 40% share of the volume demand in 2013 and was the largest market for synthetic zeolites in the world, followed by Europe and North America. However, the growth of the application segments in each of the regions has varied over the past few years. The growth rate of detergents application has dipped in North America and Europe, while it is expected to be the fastest growing segment in Asia Pacific in the coming years. Adsorbents were estimated to be the fastest growing application segment in Europe and North America, followed closely by the catalysts application.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Synthetic Zeolite Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market @The global synthetic zeolite market is highly fragmented with many regional companies competing for a larger market share. Most established chemical manufacturing companies are involved in the production of superior grade synthetic zeolite for adsorbents and catalysts applications. Major companies dominating the market include Honeywell International, Inc., Clariant AG, BASF SE, Albemarle Corporation, Huiying Chemical Industry (Quanzhou) Co., Ltd and W.R. Grace & Company. Apart from these companies, there are various small- and medium-scale manufacturing companies in Asia Pacific, especially in China.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: Smoke Evacuation System Market Growth, Trend, Price and Forecast to 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/smoke-evacuation-system-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=18068 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=D&rep_id=18068 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Since the past decade, a large number of surgical procedures are moving out of the traditional ways, and they are replaced by minimally invasive techniques which is driving the market of smoke evacuation system globally. Use of electrocautery and electrosurgery devices is unavoidable in minimally invasive surgery which produces surgical smoke. Researchers have found more than 80 organic compounds in surgical smoke such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide that can cause upper respiratory infection, nausea, and other short-term symptoms. Smoke evacuation system has been developed to overcome this problem. The system is intended to remove smoke, aerosol, and noxious odors produced during electrosurgical procedure. Smoke evacuation systems are high-flow vacuum sources used to capture, at the surgical site, the smoke aerosols and gases generated during the use of lasers and electrosurgical units.Browse To Report @There are a number of factors that affect the growth of the smoke evacuation system market. Some of the key factors include growth in demand for minimally invasive surgical procedures; development and advancement of energy based electrocautery and ultrasonic devices; and rise in global geriatric population. Other key growth drivers include technological advancements in smoke evacuation system, increase in the number of cosmetic procedures, and high or sudden rise in the number of surgeries related to elderly population. The market is further witnessing restraints, or challenges in its path such as development of other non-invasive surgery technologies, alongside stiff competition among existing smoke evacuation system manufacturers. Moreover, product recalls and government regulations for reduction of overall health care cost are restraining the growth of this market.The global smoke evacuation system market is segmented on the basis of product, application, modality, end-user, and region. Based on product, the smoke evacuation system market is categorized into smoke evacuation filters, pencils & wands, smoke evacuation fusion products, and accessories. The smoke evacuation filters segment is further divided into ULPA filters, HEPA filters, charcoal filters, in-line filters, and pre-filters. The ULPA filters sub-segment is expected to hold a significantly large share of the smoke evacuation filters segment. A significant share of this segment is attributed to technological advancement and extraordinary evacuation capacity as compared to other filters. The smoke evacuation accessories segment comprises adapters, reducers, sensors, and smoke evacuation tubing. Among the accessories, the smoke evacuation tubing sub-segment is expected to account for a significant share in the near future. Rise in number of surgeries performed and recent product launches in this sub-segment is contributing to the large share in this market.On the basis of application, the smoke evacuation system market is divided into electrosurgical devices, electrocautery units, radiofrequency units, ultrasonic devices, laser units, and others. The electrocautery devices segment is anticipated to hold a significant share of the market during the forecast period. Increase in demand for minimally invasive surgeries and rise in geriatric population are expected to fuel the demand for the electrocautery devices segment during the forecast period.Based on modality, smoke evacuation systems are available in portable evacuation systems and centralized evacuation systems. High cost associated with maintenance of centralized evacuation systems and less efficiency as compared to portable evacuation systems are estimated to hamper the growth of the centralized evacuation systems segment. New launches and product innovation in portable evacuation systems are further expected to drive the growth of the market of this segment.On the basis of end-user, the smoke evacuation system market is segmented into hospitals, specialized clinics, and ambulatory surgery centers. The hospitals segment accounted for a major share of the market in 2015 due to increasing demand for electrosurgical devices from corporate hospitals. Globalization of health care and pharmaceutical standards is likely to support the growth of better hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers in developing regions such as Asia Pacific and Latin America. This in turn is expected to propel the growth of the smoke evacuation system market in these regions.Geographically, the global smoke evacuation system market is divided into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America is expected to dominate the global smoke evacuation system market during the forecast period. Large geriatric and obese population facing cardiac and orthopedic problems and rise in incidences of cancer are anticipated to drive the market in this region. Asia Pacific has a high growth rate and is expected to offer growth opportunities in this market. Improved health care infrastructure and rise in health care spending by government are estimated to increase adoption of smoke evacuation system in this region.Key players operating in this market include Bovie Medical Corporation, Medtronic, B. Braun Melsungen AG, Erbe Elektromedizin GmbH, Boston Scientific Corporation, Olympus, Johnson & Johnson, Symmetry Surgical Inc., ConMed Corporation, KLS Martin, and Bowa-electronic GmbH & Co. KG.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 Smoke Evacuation System market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market.The study is a source of reliable data on:Market segments and sub-segmentsMarket trends and dynamicsSupply and demandMarket sizeCurrent trends/opportunities/challengesCompetitive landscapeTechnological breakthroughsValue chain and stakeholder analysisThe regional analysis covers:North America (U.S. and Canada)Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others)Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg)Eastern Europe (Poland and Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand)Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, and North Africa)The report has been compiled through extensive primary research (through interviews, surveys, and observations of seasoned analysts) and secondary research (which entails reputable paid sources, trade journals, and industry body databases). The report also features a complete qualitative and quantitative assessment by analyzing data gathered from industry analysts and market participants across key points in the industrys value chain.A separate analysis of prevailing trends in the parent market, macro- and micro-economic indicators, and regulations and mandates is included under the purview of the study. By doing so, the report projects the attractiveness of each major segment over the forecast period.Highlights of the report:A complete backdrop analysis, which includes an assessment of the parent marketImportant changes in market dynamicsMarket segmentation up to the second or third levelHistorical, current, and projected size of the market from the standpoint of both value and volumeReporting and evaluation of recent industry developmentsMarket shares and strategies of key playersEmerging niche segments and regional marketsAn objective assessment of the trajectory of the marketRecommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the marketRequest for Discount of this report - @About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.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: Small Hydropower Market Growth, Trend, Price and Forecast to 2023 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/small-hydropower-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=7730 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=D&rep_id=7730 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Global Small Hydropower Market: SnapshotThe last few years have been extremely profitable for the global small hydropower market with government bodies around the world rooting for renewable sources of energy. Besides being eco-friendly, small hydro plants make a clean source of renewable energy and also one of the cheapest ones available in the market today. Spurred by these factors, the global small hydropower market is poised to exhibit a robust growth between 2015 and 2023.Small hydro power plants have a life span of nearly 50 years hence make a reliable and economical source of energy. In addition, setting up these plants require low capital investment considering they require minimum reservoirs and civil construction works. Transparency Market Research (TMR) adds that operational and maintenance cost incurred in any small hydropower plant is seldom over 2% to 3% of the overall capital cost.TMR however forecasts a moderate CAGR of 2.85% by installed capacity for the global small hydropower market between 2015 and 2023. At this pace, the installed capacity of the market, which stood at 94.70 GW in 2014, is expected to reach 146.65 GW before 2023 ends.This 92 page report gives readers a comprehensive overview of the Small Hydropower market Browse @Asia Pacific to Emerge Dominant in Global Small Hydropower MarketRegionally, Asia Pacific held a clear dominance in the global small hydropower market with a share of 70.29% in 2014. The Asia Pacific market can be further classified into India, Japan, China, and Rest of Asia Pacific. Both India and China boast strong rural electrification initiatives, which have been accelerating the demand for renewable sources of energy, and thus the small hydropower market in the region.Some of the most prominent hydropower projects in the region include Siemens AG, Alstom AG, and Voith GmbH. Besides these international names, the Asia Pacific market also has a considerable representation by domestic players. Besides the increasing demand for power, favorable initiatives in place across emerging economies have been giving impetus to the market. For instance, the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yogjna (RGGVY) promotes technologies such as small hydropower, which can supply off-grid power to areas witnessing electricity deficit.While China is currently leading the Asia Pacific small hydropower market in terms of installed capacity, positive outlook is also projected across countries such as the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam.Europe is Expected to Retain its Position as Second-leading Market for Small HydropowerBesides Asia Pacific, the market will also witness opportunities across Europe, North America, South and Central America, and the Middle East and Africa. Among these nations, Europe holds considerable potential for growth. The small hydropower market in Europe currently held a share of 12.91% in the global market based on installed capacity in 2014. Over the course of the forecast period, Europe is expected to retain its position as one of the leading markets for small hydropower in the world. Furthermore, the increasing share of renewable energy in Italy and Russia played a major role in augmenting demand from the small hydropower market in Europe.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Small Hydropower market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market.This research study analyzes the small hydropower market in terms of installed capacity (GW). The market has been segmented on the basis of geography. For the research, 2014 has been taken as the base year, while all forecasts have been given for the period from 2015 to 2023. Market data for all the segments has been provided at the regional as well as country-specific level from 2015 to 2023. The report provides a broad competitive analysis of companies engaged in the small hydropower business. The report also includes the key market dynamics such as drivers, restraints, and opportunities affecting the small hydropower market. These market dynamics were analyzed in detail and are illustrated in the report with the help of supporting graphs and tables. The report also provides a comprehensive industry analysis of small hydropower with the help of Porters Five Forces model. This analysis helps in understanding the five major forces that affect the market structure and profitability of the global small hydropower market. The forces analyzed are bargaining power of buyers, bargaining power of suppliers, threat of new entrants, threat of substitutes, and degree of competition.The high-level analysis in the report provides detailed insights into the small hydropower business globally. There are currently numerous drivers of the market. One of the most prominent drivers is the low generation cost compared to other off-grid renewable technologies. Market attractiveness analysis was carried out for the small hydropower market on the basis of installed capacity and untapped potential. Market attractiveness was estimated on the basis of common parameters that directly impact the market in different regions.The small hydropower market was analyzed across five geographies: North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South and Central America. Regional data has been provided for each sub-segment of the small hydropower market. Key players in the small hydropower market include Voith GmbH, ANDRITZ HYDRO GmbH, Alstom S.A., BC Hydro, and StatKraft AS. The report provides an overview of these companies, followed by their financial details, business strategies, and recent developments.Request for Discount of this report - @About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.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: Flame Resistant Fabrics Market Growth, Trend, Price and Forecast to 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/flame-resistant-fabrics.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=1279 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=D&rep_id=1279 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Flame resistant fabrics are used to manufacture apparels, garments, and furnishings for a wide range of industries such as oil & gas, transportation, health care, military, and hospitality. Companies provide a broad array of flame resistant fabrics to maximize flexibility in design, engineering, and cost, while meeting government regulations. They are used to manufacture protective clothing for workers in oil & gas and chemical industries, and law enforcement agencies. High potential for flame resistant fabrics, especially in protective clothing, in emerging economies is expected to act as a major opportunity for aerogels in the next few years.This report analyzes and forecasts the market for aerogels at the global and regional level. The market has been forecast based on volume (million square meter) and revenue (US$ Mn) from 2016 to 2024, considering 2015 as the base year.This 130 page report gives readers a comprehensive overview of the Flame Resistant Fabrics market Browse @The study provides a decisive view of the flame resistant fabrics market by dividing it into application and regional segments. Application segments have been analyzed based on the current and potential trends. Regional segmentation includes current and forecast demand for flame resistant fabrics in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. These regions have been further sub-segmented into countries and sub-regions with relevance to the market. Segmentation also includes demand for flame resistant fabrics in individual application type in all the regions.The study covers drivers and restraints governing the dynamics of the market along with their impact on demand during the forecast period. Additionally, the report comprises opportunities in the flame resistant fabrics market on the global and regional level.The report includes detailed value chain analysis to provide a comprehensive view of the flame resistant fabrics market. Analysis of Porters Five Forces model has also been included to help understand the competitive landscape in the market. The study encompasses market attractiveness analysis, wherein applications have been benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate, and general attractiveness for future growth.The market has been forecast based on constant currency rates. Prices of flame resistant fabrics vary in each region and are a result of the demand-supply scenario. Hence, a similar volume-to-revenue ratio does not follow for each individual region. Individual pricing of flame resistant fabrics for each application has been taken into account while estimating and forecasting market revenue on the global level. Regional average price has been considered while breaking down the market into application segments in each region.The report provides the size of the flame resistant fabrics market in 2015 and the forecast for the next eight years. Numbers provided in the report are derived based on demand generated from different applications. Market dynamics prevalent in North America and Europe have been taken into account for estimating growth of the global flame resistant fabrics market.Market estimates for this study have been based on volume, with revenue being derived through regional pricing trends. Prices of commonly utilized grades of flame resistant fabrics in each application have been considered, and customized application pricing has not been included. Demand for flame resistant fabrics has been derived by analyzing the global and regional demand for flame resistant fabrics in each application.The global flame resistant fabrics market has been analyzed based on the expected demand. Market data for each segment is based on volume and corresponding revenue. Prices considered for calculation of revenue are average regional prices obtained through primary quotes from numerous regional suppliers, distributors, and direct selling regional producers based on manufacturers feedback and application requirement. Forecasts have been based on expected demand for flame resistant fabrics in different applications. The global application segment split of the market has been derived using the bottom-up approach, which is cumulative of each regions demand. Regional demand is the summation of sub-regions and countries in a region. For market share analysis, companies were considered based on their end-user portfolio, revenue, and manufacturing capacity. In the absence of specific data related to sales of flame resistant fabrics by several privately held companies, calculated assumptions have been made in view of companies application portfolio and regional presence along with demand for flame resistant fabrics in different applications in their portfolio.The report covers detailed competitive outlook that includes market share and profiles of key players operating in the global market. Major players include DuPont, Milliken & Company, Lenzing AG, Teijin Aramid, and TenCate. Company profiles comprise attributes such as company overview, brand overview, financial overview (in terms of financial year), business strategies, and recent/key developments.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Flame Resistant Fabrics market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market.The report segments the global flame resistant fabrics market as follows:Flame Resistant Fabrics Market - Application AnalysisIndustrial Protective ClothingLaw Enforcement and Firefighting ServicesTransportOthers (Including hot gas filtration applications, corporate and home furnishings)Flame Resistant Fabrics Market - Regional AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.Rest of North AmericaEuropeGermanyItalyFranceK.SpainRest of EuropeAsia PacificChinaJapanASEANRest of APACLatin AmericaBrazilRest of LATAMMiddle East & AfricaGCCSouth AfricaRest of MEARequest for Discount of this report - @About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.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: Adalimumab Market Size, Status & Forecast 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/adalimumab-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=7292 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Global Adalimumab Market: OverviewAdalimumab, with a trade name of Humira and Exemptia, is an anti-TNF drug used for treating rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohns disease, psoriasis and ulcerative colitis. Adalimumab usually binds with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF). When a TNF binds to a TBF receptors, it results in an inflammatory response to autoimmune disease. Adalimumab, by binding to a TNF, lowers the chances of inflammatory response.View Report @Adalimumab, which was first approved in the U.S., is currently being marketed in over 60 countries. Its global market is consolidated with a handful of players trying to outsmart one another on the basis of price. At present, most of the leading players are focused on the development of adalimumab biosimilars for curing rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. This is palpable from the clinical trials being carried out to test the safety and efficacy of the adalimumab biosimilars in curing the medical conditions.A report by Transparency Market Research studies the global adalimumab market in details. It presents a qualitative analysis of the different market trends and gauges its size and potential. It also throws light on the different production plants, their capacities, global production, and revenues. To do so, extensive primary and secondary researches have been carried out.Global Adalimumab Market: Drivers and RestraintsAt the forefront of driving the global adalimumab market is the rising occurrence of arthritis worldwide. This in turn is mostly on account of the burgeoning elderly population. In fact, most women suffer from arthritis in old age because of loss of calcium in the body. A sedentary lifestyle is also responsible for growth in arthritis and another medical condition called psoriasis. Both of them along with other factors such as rising prevalence of Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis are leading to the uptake of the product.Adalimumab, however, is an expensive drug on account of its biologic nature. It costs somewhere between US$2000 and US$3000 per month. This is one factor that is serving to counter the growth in its market.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Adalimumab Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market.The global adalimumab market can be segmented on the basis of the type of disease into rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, psoriasis, Crohns disease, and ulcerative colitis. At present, the rheumatoid arthritis segment grosses maximum revenue and going forward too will outshine all other segments in terms of growth.Global Adalimumab Market: Geographical SegmentationGeographically, the key segments of the global adalimumab market are North America, Western Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East and Africa. Among them, North America and Europe are key markets. This is because of a well-structured regulatory framework, proper reimbursement coverage, and superior healthcare infrastructure, particularly in the countries of Canada, the U.S., the U.K., and Germany. The sizeable proportion of arthritis cases owing to a sedentary lifestyle has also led to the growth in the market in the two continents. Asia Pacific, on the other hand, holds out a strong promise of growth in the near future on account of a cluster of fast-expanding developing nations in the region.Global Adalimumab Market: Competitive LandscapeTo assess the competition prevailing in the global market for adalimumab, the report profiles major players such as Pfizer, Amgen, Novartis AG, Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, Mylan N.V., and AbbVie. At present, the most prominent player in the market is Abbott Laboratories. However, after the split of Abbott laboratories into two companies in 2013, Humira is now the product of AbbVie.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: Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) Analyzers Market Report 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/erythrocyte-sedimentation-rate-analyzers-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=18632 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) can be defined as the rate at which red blood cells or erythrocytes sediment in a period of one hour. ESR is usually measured in millimeter per hour (mm/hr) and a value above 100 mm/hr indicates a disease condition, such as a disease that causes inflammation, active infection, cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, blood disease, diabetes, and collagen vascular disease. However, ESR is a non-specific test for inflammation and is used in conjunction with other tests such as C-reactive protein. Normal ESR result does not rule out the possibility of inflammation. Similarly, an elevated ESR without any symptoms of the disease does not aid in making any medical decision. ESR analyzers are devices employed to measure the sedimentation rate of erythrocytes for an accurate reading. Automated ESR analyzers need to comply with the 2011-published Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines for measuring ESR. The analyzer works on the basic principle of Westergrens method followed to determine ESR.View Report @The ESR analyzers market can be segmented based on modality, end-user, and region. In terms of modality, the market can be segmented into automatic analyzers, semi-automatic analyzers, and manual analyzers. Based on end-user, the ESR analyzers market can be segmented into hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, and academic institutions. In terms of region, the ESR analyzers market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa.ESR is one of the basic hematology tests performed to identify various disease conditions, which would contribute to the growth of the ESR analyzers market. Technological upgrades leading to the development of automated ESR analyzers from manual ESR analyzers would also contribute to the growth of the market. In addition, the increasing number of infections leading to various health hazards would contribute to the rising number of ESR tests, which in turn would drive the ESR analyzers market in the near future. However, the non-specificity of the tests and the necessity for other tests to be performed to confirm the diseased condition could have a negative impact on the ESR analyzers market, as demand for specific tests increases. Furthermore, false negative results of ESR due to the effect of drugs such as oral contraceptives, dextran, methyldopa, penicillamine procainamide, theophylline, vitamin A, aspirin, cortisone, and quinine also make ESR less desirable, thereby impacting the growth of the ESR analyzers market.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) Analyzers Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market.Automatic analyzers are expected to dominate the ESR analyzers market during the forecast period, owing to their abilities to enhance the workflow and turnaround time. Diagnostic laboratories and hospitals are expected to be the leading segments of the ESR analyzers market. Geographically, North America is expected to be the major market for ESR analyzers. Growth of the market in the region can be attributed to the well-developed health care infrastructure in the region. Asia Pacific is expected to witness the highest growth rate during the forecast period, owing to increasing infections, evolution of new diseases, and poor sanitation conditions which lead to increased infections among the population. In addition, government focus on enhancing the health care infrastructure and providing better health care facilities to the population contribute to the growth of the ESR analyzers market in Asia Pacific.Leading players in the ESR analyzers market include Sysmex, R&R Mechatronics International B.V., TRANSASIA Bio Medicals Ltd., Diesse Diagnostica Senese Spa, Vital Diagnostics, Caretium Medical Instruments Co, Limited, Grifols, S.A., Beckman Coulter, Inc., ALCOR Scientific, Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific, Perlong Medical, BPC Biosed Srl, and SFRI.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: Fertility Testing Devices Industry 2024 Market Research Report http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/fertility-testing-devices-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=18689 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Fertility testing is done by both men and women for the assessment of their fertility and various conditions associated with it. A reasonable period of unprotected intercourse without conceiving is a condition referred to as infertility. Couples carry out fertility testing to detect the root causes responsible for their infertility. Men and women both experience the fertility problems at equal rates, but women are considered to be more concerned about fertility testing. The gynecologist or general physician first review the fertility test results to diagnose the exact issue and recommends the corrective measures or treatment accordingly. The rising awareness about fertility testing devices is driving the patient adoption rate effectively for such devices instead of opting for laboratory based tests. Fertility testing is performed at home and is time saving and economical, helps maintain privacy, and is comfortable for females.View Report @Increase in infertility cases due to changing lifestyles in women, growth in awareness about the fertility testing in women, rise in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) cases, continuous decline in fertility rate in both men and women globally are factors which are expected to drive the growth of the global fertility testing devices market by 2024. The restraints which impact the growth of the global fertility testing devices market are high cost of fertility and ovulating monitors, increase in utilization of mobile applications & websites for ovulation tracking, and easy availability of generic diagnostic tools such as saliva testing and blood testing. Some of the trends in the global fertility testing devices market are monitoring sperm quality by keeping track of heart rate, body temperature, air quality & environmental function, and emergence of technological advances such as trak system. Introduction of various techniques such as hysterosalpingogram, sonohysterogram (ultrasound scan), laparoscopy, and hysteroscopy are projected to boost the growth of the global fertility testing devices market.The global fertility testing devices market can be segmented by product and end-user. The product segment involves ovulation predictor kits and fertility monitoring devices. The ovulation predictor kits are further segmented into urine based kits, saliva based kits, and others. In 2015, the ovulation predictor kits segment captured a significantly large share in the global fertility testing devices market, which is attributed to lesser cost and user-friendly technique. However, the fertility monitoring devices segment is expected to grow at a higher rate during the forecast period, which is driven by continuous rise in the technological advancements in the fertility monitoring techniques and investments. Based on the end-user segmentation, the global fertility testing devices market is classified into hospitals, specialty clinics, and homecare settings.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Fertility Testing Devices Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market.Geographically, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America held a significant share of the fertility testing devices market in 2015, which is attributed to the rise in awareness about technological innovations and their benefits in the fertility testing market and increase in prevalence of PCOS. The awareness about the fertility testing is high in the region. Therefore, the use of ovulation predictor kits and fertility monitoring devices is increasing in the North America fertility testing devices market. The anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) test is likely to be adding more value to the existing Europe fertility testing market leading to its further growth in region. Asia Pacific is expected to grow at a higher rate during the forecast period owing to increasing investments in the fertility testing devices market, declining fertility rate, and rising number of women suffering from lifestyle disorder in the region.Major players operating in the global fertility testing devices market include Hilin Life Products, Church & Dwight Co., Inc., Fairhaven Health LLC, SPD Swiss Precision Diagnostics GmbH, Geratherm Medical AG, AccuQuik, Prestige Brands Holdings, Inc., Quidel Corporation, and Alere Inc.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: Blood Component Extractor Market Size 2016 Industry Trend & Forecast 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/blood-component-extractor-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=19085 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Whole blood is a mixture of cells, colloids, and crystalloids and can be separated into four major components: plasma, red blood cells, platelets, and cryoprecipitate. Each of these components have different applications as per indications in medicinal practice. Blood component extractors are used to isolate these specific blood components. These extracted components require different storage and temperature conditions on the basis of lifespan of each component. Centrifugation and filtration techniques are used for blood component extraction. Technological developments such as dual press technology, bar code readability, and easy connectivity to monitors using LAN/WAN and Wi-Fi, and development of advanced filtration membrane in blood component extraction has led to development of automated blood component extraction using centrifugation technique. The filtration technique is restricted to therapeutic purpose and has limited market. Apheresis process, which involves extraction of desired blood component from donor and returning back remaining blood to donor, is commonly followed practice worldwide for extraction of blood components. Blood component extractor enhances the utility of whole blood unit. Blood component extractor equipment are required by hospitals, blood banks, research institutes, and pharmaceutical companies.View Report @Blood component extractors using centrifugation techniques are characterized by single and dual press system, number of sealing heads, number of optical sensors, number of inbuilt programs, blood volume capacity, barcode reader, connectivity to LAN/WAN and Wi-Fi, and number of blood donations that can be performed at a time. Centrifugation can be done either continuously or intermittently as per need and requirement. Blood component extractors are required in hospitals for different apheresis processes. These processes include plasmapheresis, erythropheresis, erythrocytopheresis, platelatepheresis, and leukapheresis. Blood component extractors have different applications in these apheresis processes. One blood component extractor may have applications for one or more of the above processes. Hemodialysis machines are also used for plasmapheresis using filtration technique. In filtration techniques, different types of membranes such as hollow fiber membrane, polysulfone membranes, and polyethylene membranes are used for separation of plasma from blood.Rise in demand for specific blood component instead of whole unit of blood, increasing pressure of requirement of high quality purified blood components, time saving, ease of access, multiple applications of blood component extractors with one unit of blood, increasing number of blood banks and hospitals, increasing number of blood transfusion therapies worldwide, and significant improvement in health care infrastructure especially in developing countries are the key drivers of the global blood component extractor market. High cost of blood component extractors and maintenance of blood components, lack of interest of donors for blood donations, lack of trained/skilled manpower for handling these equipment, histocompatibility issues, and costlier therapeutics process are the major restraints of the global blood component extractor market.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Blood Component Extractor Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market.In terms of region, the global blood component extractor market has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. Automated blood component extractors hold major share of the blood component extractor market in North America. Isolation of blood components using membrane filtration technique is least practiced. In countries such as Germany and Japan, plasmapheresis process is widely practiced using membrane filtration technique than centrifugation. Europe is the second largest market for blood component extractors. Regions such as Asia Pacific and Middle East & Africa are expected to grow at a higher rate in the near future.Kawasumi Laboratories, Inc., NxStage Medical, Inc., Fenwal, Inc. (Fresinius Kabi), Bioelectronica MILANO, Terumo Corporation, Delcon SRL, Medica S.p.A., Haemonetics Corporation, and Baxter International, Inc. are the key players in the global blood component extractor 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. 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: Animal Genetics Market Size, Status and Forecast 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/animal-genetics-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=18995 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Animal genetics is a branch of genetics that deals with the study of inheritance and genetic variation, primarily in domestic and wild animals. Animal genetics is based on general principles of heredity. It encompasses areas such as gene expression, animal breeding, and physical trait genetics such as coat color. Animal genetics uses hybrid, population, cytological, mathematical-statistical, ontogenetic, and twin methods of general genetics. At the commercial level, animal genetics is used for services such as genetic trait testing, DNA typing, and genetic disease testing.View Report @The global animal genetics market is anticipated to witness healthy growth during the forecast period, owing to steep rise in the demand for and consumption of animal proteins and rapidly increasing urban population all over the world. In order to meet the rising global demand for animal products, producers are getting inclined toward animal genetics so as to breed high-quality livestock and secure large-scale production. Rapid increase in the number of animal diseases, rising trend of possessing companion animals, and high prevalence of zoonotic diseases have fueled the demand for high-end diagnostic methods such as genetic testing. Moreover, increasing investments in research and development of novel drugs and vaccines by private and government bodies are projected to propel the animal genetics market in the near future. In addition, rise in the population of livestock animals, especially in developing countries, and development of innovative tools for animal genetic testing are driving this market. However, low returns on research and development (R&D), high cost of animal testing, stringent regulatory framework, and rising concerns about negative effects of using the animal genetic engineering on animals are some of the restraints for the global animal genetics market.The global animal genetics market can be segmented on the basis of animal type, testing service, and region. Based on the animal type, the market can be segmented into canine, equine, poultry, porcine, bovine, and others. Increasing preference for technologically advanced services, product innovations, and the increasing number of animal and zoonotic diseases are factors anticipated to fuel the animal genetics market in the near future. Based on the testing service, the market can be segmented into DNA typing, genetic disease testing, and genetic trait testing.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Animal Genetics Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market.Geographically, the animal genetics market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. North America is estimated to hold the maximum share of the global animal genetics market during the forecast period, due to presence of a superior animal health care base, increasing trend of pet ownership, strong regional economics, and greater focus on disease prevention and wellness by veterinarians and pet owners. The rapidly rising demand for animal food products is also expected to propel the market in the region. According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, health care expenditure in the U.S. increased from US$ 23 Bn in 1988 to US$ 51 Bn in 2011. This trend has also reflected in other countries. The animal genetics market in Europe is anticipated to witness rapid growth, due to high consciousness about animal wellbeing coupled with increased expenditure on veterinary services in the region. According to a report by the European Pet Food Industry Federation, more than 75 million households in Europe own a pet. Countries in Asia Pacific such as China, Japan, and India are poised to be highly promising markets for animal genetics in the near future. Major factors for the positive outlook are large livestock population, extensive development of health care infrastructure, and growing focus on research and development activities in the animal health care sector.Key players operating in the global animal genetics market include Genus Plc, Hendrix Genetics BV, Alta Genetics, CRV Holding B.V., Neogen Corporation, VetGen, Animal Genetics Inc., and Zoetis.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: Dynamic Mechanical Analyzers Market: Global Markets & Advanced Technologies http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/dynamic-mechanical-analyzers-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=19583 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) is the analysis technique to understand the viscoelastic and other physical properties of polymers. In this technique, different parameters are applied such as oscillating frequency, temperature, time, stress, atmosphere, and others to estimate the viscoelastic characters of the material such as stiffness (storage and loss modulus), energy dissipation (damping), dynamic viscosity, glass transition temperature, etc. DMA has proven to be more useful compared to conventional thermo-mechanical analysis as it can characterize the sample polymer based on different parameters besides temperature. Dynamic mechanical analyzers have their applications spanning in different industries. Study of viscoelastic parameters are polymers user in pharmaceutical and biomedical industry are of great importance as the characteristics of these polymers can affect the clinical performance of drug delivery systems and medical devices.View Report @Several polymeric materials are used in health care such as components in medical devices, tissue engineering scaffolds, fixation, and regeneration of tissues. These health care products are becoming more complex in design and composition to be more efficient and give better performance. These items undergo great stress and varied environments (temperature, strain) during their operations. It becomes important for researchers and product developers to characterize those materials in order to avoid failure. DMA applications in achieving these goals are expected to drive the usage of DMA in the near future. The varied applications of dynamic mechanical analyzer such as understanding product dimensional stabilities, impact properties, temperature performance, and adhesion over the conventional thermo-mechanical analyzers are expected to drive the market. The dynamic mechanical analyzers market is expected to witness strong growth driven by technological advancements and industry players thriving to have an added advantage over competitors in their product features. Additionally, in order to comply with the stringent regulatory laws in product development and clinical trials for new health care products, industry players are focused on developing better quality products. This is expected to propel the global DMA market. However, high cost associated with dynamic mechanical analyzers and their limited access is expected to bolster the growth for dynamic mechanical analyzers market.Based on product type, the dynamic mechanical analyzers market has been segmented into forced resonance analyzers and free resonance analyzers. Owing to limitations of free resonance DMA in compatibility of the sample type and shape, their application are lesser when compared to forced resonance DMA. Most of the industry players are offering forced DMA. DMA applies stress and strain on a sample to analyze its characteristics. In terms of strain and stress application method, the dynamic mechanical analyzers market has been segmented into axial analyzers and torsional analyzers. Axial analyzers are more suitable for solid and high viscous samples, while fluids, polymer melts, and even solids can be analyzed with torsional analyzer.Major end-users of dynamic mechanical analyzers are contract research organizations (CRO), pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, medical device manufacturers, and research institutes. Most of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and medical device manufacturers are posed to outsource the sample analyzing process to contract research organizations due to high cost of the equipment and its limited use. Hence, contract research organizations provide the sample analysis services to OEMs and other industry. The contract research organizations market is expected to hold prominent position in the dynamic mechanical analyzers market.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Dynamic Mechanical Analyzers Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market.Geographically, the global dynamic mechanical analyzers market has been segmented into four major regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. North America is expected to lead the global dynamic mechanical analyzers market owing to high acceptance of technology advancements and higher research projects being carried out. Stringent health care regulations for quality products and demand for advanced health care products are expected to propel the dynamic mechanical analyzers market in the region. Europe is expected to account for a significant share of the global dynamic mechanical analyzers market due to large industry base. Rising expenditure on technically advanced health care products and industrial evolution in emerging markets such as India, China, and Japan are projected to boost the growth of the dynamic mechanical analyzers market in Asia Pacific during the forecast period from 2016 to 2024.Major players operating in the market include Mettler-Toledo International, Inc., PerkinElmer, Inc., NETZSCH-Geratebau GmbH, Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation, Psylotech, Inc., Alpha Technologies, Anton-Paar GmbH, Acoem Group, and Illinois Tool Works Inc.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: Restorative Therapies Market by Technological Development, Applications and Forecast 2025 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/restorative-therapies-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=24479 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Rehabilitation helps patients in restoring better range of motion, which helps them support and perform their day-to-day activities after any surgery, illness, or accident. Restorative therapy may involve occupational, physical, medicinal, or speech therapy and psychological services that help restore body functions primarily with respect to neurological rehabilitation. In simple terms, restorative therapy is restoring body functions from dysfunctional state back to normal via remedies that help regain health, vigor and consciousness. Restorative therapeutic treatments address body functions such as lifting, bending, ability to move freely, normal muscle strength, elasticity of spine and body, difficulty in movements due to neurological disorder or surgery, and simple body function free from any disease or damage.View Report @As surgical and accident cases are on the rise, demand for restorative techniques and products is increasing. This is likely to drive the market in the next few years. Some of the important factors driving this market are the rise in demand amongst geriatric population for long-term pain management, side-effects of pain medications, development of novel pain management techniques and devices, conventional reimbursement scenario and policies for spinal cord stimulation (SCS) devices in developed countries, and accuracy and efficacy of restorative devices and techniques to treat acute and chronic pain. Additionally, with the increasing number of cases of neurological, infectious and cardiovascular diseases, cancer, drug abuse, and disabilities; demand for restorative therapies and products is projected to increase, augmenting the restorative therapies market in the near future. Efforts for upgrade of health care infrastructure across several developing and developed countries have also been propelling the market. On the other hand, high prices have resulted in slow adoption of restorative devices. Lack of awareness about benefits of these devices would also restrain the global restorative therapies market during the forecast period. However, increasing demand for rehabilitation and restorative therapy products for womens health, rise in health consciousness, and awareness campaigns worldwide may create high growth opportunities for the market in the next few years. The important business strategy adopted by some of the market players is technological upgrade of products and therapies.The global restorative therapies market can be segmented on the basis of product, mode of purchase, end-user, and geographical region. On the basis of product, the market can be divided into spine, neuromodulation, surgical technologies, and neurovascular technologies. Both neurological technologies and surgical technologies segments are expected to hold a high share of the market and expand rapidly in the next few years, due to technological advancements. On the basis of mode of purchase, the market can be segmented into prescription-based devices and overthe-counter (OTC) devices. The OTC devices segment is expected to expand rapidly in the near future, due to availability of new FDA-approved devices. On the basis of end-user, the global restorative therapies market can be segmented into hospitals, diagnostic centers, academic & research institutes, and others.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Restorative Therapies Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market.Based on geographical region, the global restorative therapies market has been broadly segmented into North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. North America dominates the global market, followed by Europe and Asia Pacific. Government initiatives and investments, extensive adoption of new technologies, presence of key players in the market are some of the factors responsible for growth of above mentioned markets. Additionally, major opportunities are coming in frame specifically in Middle East & Africa and Latin America, due to expansion by small- and large-sized players in this region, to complete the unmet needs of the patients. The growing popularity of medical tourism and activities in developing countries such as India, China, and Brazil have been promoting the adoption of restorative therapies and products in these countries.Some of the key players operating in the global restorative therapies market are Medtronic, Boston Scientific Corporation, Johnson & Johnson, Zimmer Biomet Holdings, and Stryker 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. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, TMRs syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Internal Neuromodulation Devices Market Research Report: Trends, outlook and Opportunity Analysis 2025 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/internal-neuromodulation-devices-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=22937 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Internal neuromodulation devices directly act upon nerves. It is the technology known for alteration of nerve activity directly to a target area by sending electrical or pharmaceutical agents directly to a target area. The neuromodulation devices can treat nearly every disease considering every area of body. The diseases or symptoms from headache to spinal cord damage to tremor and many others. Neuromodulation technology is significantly improving in biotechnology with its broad therapeutic scope. More specifically, it is employed to treat unmanageable chronic pain or movement conditions. According to the study on neuromodulation devices and therapies has shown that neuromodulation is a safe, effective, and long-term treatment for chronic pain and movement disorders. Patients with the diseases such as Parkinsons disease, essential tremor, primary dystonia, chronic back and leg pain associated with peripheral vascular disease (PVD), complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), and failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) can benefit from neuromodulation therapy. As the hardware becomes smaller and easy to use the implantable devices used for neuromodulation have taken a dive headlong with the introduction of smaller devices, and rechargeable systems. These systems are considered with larger but useable complexity which denotes towards the growth of neuromodulation devices segment.The internal neuromodulation devices market can be segmented into product type, application, end-user, and geography. In terms of product type, the market can be segmented into deep brain stimulators, sacral nerve stimulators, vagus nerve stimulators, spinal cord stimulators, and other internal neuromodulation devices. The spinal cord segment of the internal neuromodulation devices market is anticipated to expand rapidly during the forecast period. The product type segment is estimated to expand significantly in the near future due to its high usage in the treatment of chronic pain. Rising gastric and chronic and nerve disability conditions are driving the expansion of the market globally. The market is anticipated to expand due to growing safety awareness and efficacy of the neuromodulation devices, increasing neurological disorders prevalence and increasing number of clinical trials, globally, for the progress of innovative technologies. Stringent approval policies and low number of trained healthcare professionals are restraining the expansion of the market.In terms of application, the market can be segmented into failed back syndrome, tremors, epilepsy, chronic pain management, Parkinsons disease, depression, urinary and fecal incontinence, gastroparesis, migraine, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and others. The chronic pain management segment accounts for a significant share in the application category of the internal neuromodulation devices market. Increasing prevalence of chronic conditions is a major factor driving the expansion of the segment. In terms of end-user, the internal neuromodulation devices market can be segmented into hospitals, clinics, and home healthcare. The hospitals segment is projected to hold prominent share in the end-user category of the internal neuromodulation devices market.View Report-In terms of geography, the global internal neuromodulation devices market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the world, North America held significant share of the internal neuromodulation devices market due to high healthcare awareness, prevalence of chronic disorders, and technological advancement in the region. Europe accounted for the second largest share of the internal neuromodulation devices market due to rising ageing population. However, Asia Pacific represent are estimated to expand rapidly in during the forecast period due to increasing awareness, gradual adoption of improved technologies, emerging health care infrastructures, increased purchasing power of hospitals, and rise in population. Followed by Latin America and Middle- East & Africa.Key global players in the internal neuromodulation devices market are Medtronic plc, LivaNova PLC, Cyberonics, Inc., St. Jude Medical, Inc., Boston Scientific Corporation, EnteroMedics Inc, BioControl Medical, Bioness Inc., Nevro Corporation, and NeuroPace Inc. Moreover, regional players along with global players are contributing for a significant share in the internal neuromodulation devices market.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.The study is a source of reliable data on:Market segments and sub-segmentsMarket trends and dynamicsSupply and demandMarket sizeCurrent trends/opportunities/challengesCompetitive landscapeTechnological breakthroughsValue chain and stakeholder analysisThe regional analysis covers:North America (U.S. and Canada)Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others)Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg)Eastern Europe (Poland and Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand)Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, and North Africa)Request a brochure of this report to know what opportunities will emerge in the rapidly evolving Internal Neuromodulation Devices Market during 2017- 2025About 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 Human Microbiome Market by Geographical Analysis and Forecast to 2024 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/human-microbiome-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=3999 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Since the global human microbiome market is in a nascent stage, a large number of players are entering into this market on a regular interval, which resultantly, is expected to intensify the competition within this market over the forthcoming years, finds a new research study by Transparency Market Research (TMR).View Report @The leading companies are concentrating on technological advancements and product innovations in order to strengthen their position in the global market in the near future. Mergers and acquisitions will also be a preferred strategy among participants looking for further expansion, reports the market study.According to the research study, the worldwide human microbiome market will be US$2.2 bn in 2020, is anticipated to expand at a healthy CAGR of 9.80% during the period from 2020 to 2024 and attain an amount worth US$3.2 bn in revenues by the end of the forecast period. Diagnostics and therapeutics are the two main component of the worldwide human microbiome market. Rising at a CAGR of 9.20% between 2020 and 2024, the human microbiome therapeutics market is expected to register significant growth over the next few years. Similarly, the human microbiome diagnostics market is anticipated to rise at an impressive CAGR of 8.60% from 2018 to 2024.Increasing Pool of Venture-cap Funded Startups to Ensure North Americas LeadThe research study further presents an exhaustive report on the geographical analysis of the worldwide human microbiome market. North America, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, Europe, and Latin America have been considered as the prime geographical segments of this market in this report. North America has emerged as the leading regional market for human microbiome, thanks to the early adoption of technology and the presence of a state-of-art medical and healthcare industry.This North American market is expected to remain on top over the forecast period on the ground of the increasing pool of venture-capital funded startups and the escalating investments by leading players for research and development of drugs in this region. The North America human microbiome therapeutics market is projected to rise at a CAGR of 9.10% between 2020 and 2024, whereas, the market for human microbiome diagnostics in North America will proliferate at a CAGR of 8.80% from 2018 to 2024, notes the study. The Europe market for human microbiome is projected to retain its second position over the next few years, thanks to the high investments by companies in this domain France.Rise in Clinical Trials for Gut Health-based Diseases to Boost MarketThe global human microbiome market is mainly driven by the rise in clinical trials for gut health-based diseases and the rising investments by angel investors and venture capital firms/individual venture capitalists in the research and development of human microbiome-based therapies, states the author of the study. With human microbiome being a relatively new and highly potent domain, drugmakers across the world have put a keen eye for it, which is materializing into increased capital investments. This, as a result, is likely to boost the worldwide market for human microbiome over the next few years.Although the opportunities in this market look rewarding, the current lack of certainty over the performance of these drugs in the long run over different individuals and the regulatory hurdles for approval are likely to create obstacles in the growth trajectory of this market in the near future, states the research report.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Human Microbiome Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market.The study presented here is based on a report by Transparency Market Research (TMR), titled Human Microbiome Market (Indication Gastrointestinal and Metabolic Disorders, Womens Health, and Cancer; Technology 16s rRNA Sequencing and Metagenomic Sequencing; Therapeutic Area Gastrointestinal Disorders, Metabolic Disorders, Womens Health, and Skin Disorders) Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2018 2024.The global human microbiome market has been segmented as follows:By IndicationGastrointestinal and Metabolic DisordersWomens HealthCancerOthersBy Technology16s rRNA SequencingMetagenomic SequencingBy Therapeutic AreaGastrointestinal DisordersMetabolic DisordersWomens HealthSkin DisordersOthersBy GeographyNorth AmericaU.S.CanadaEuropeGermanyU.K.Rest of EuropeAsia PacificChinaJapanRest of Asia PacificLatin AmericaBrazilMexicoRest of Latin AmericaMiddle East and AfricaUAESouth AfricaRest of Middle East and AfricaAbout 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 Healthcare Automation Market by Key Players Analysis 2025 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/healthcare-automation-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=23888 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Transparency Market Research (TMR) states that Siemens AG, General Electric Company, Swisslog Holding AG, and Koninklijke Philips N.V. are some of the leading companies in the global healthcare automation market. These players have consistently worked toward expansion of product portfolio and reinforcing business through innovation product development. In the coming years, to beat the competition, players are expected to plan for mergers and acquisitions to expand their horizons to newer geographies.View Report @The research report states that the global healthcare automation market was valued at US$28.31 bn in 2016. However, over the forecast period of 2017 and 2025, the global market is likely to pace ahead at a CAGR of 8.8% to reach a valuation of US$58.98 bn by the end of 2025. Research institutes and labs have been identified as the key end users of healthcare automation. The need for fast-paced operations and precision is expected to propel this end-user segment at a CAGR of 8.2% in the global market over the forecast period. From a geographic point of view, North America is expected to dominate the global healthcare automation market despite a slight dip in its overall share. Analysts expect that this regional market will account for a share of 39.5% by 2025, which will be higher than the rest of the regional markets across the globe.Wearable Technology to be an Emerging Trend in Global Healthcare Automation MarketAutomation has brought in a range of benefits across all industrial platforms. The healthcare industry has been steadily adoption automation in several areas such as research institutes and labs, pharmacies, and home care among others. The uptake of healthcare automation processes and systems is expected to remain persistent in the coming years as these solutions designed with smarter technologies tend to make operations significantly efficient. The superior quality of these systems has also garnered unprecedented support from governments across the globe, thereby bolstering market growth. A clear example of remarkable advantages rendered by application of healthcare automation are the lack of errors in maintaining inventory and medicine management in pharmacies. Owing to this very reasons, the pharmacies are also expected to offer the healthcare automation market lucrative growth opportunities in the near future.The high-tech solutions offered by healthcare automation also expands to material handling, transport, and disease management. The growing demand for wearable technology has been noted as an emerging trend in the global market. Smartwatches, an important aspect of wearable technology, has empowered both patients and physicians to closely monitor changes in health, intervene at an appropriate time, and ensure a better lifestyle. In light of these reasons, the global healthcare automation market has a bright future in the world economics.Additional Maintenance Costs Discourage End UsersOn the flip side and despite the advantages, the cost of automation has turned out to be a major disappointment to the global healthcare automation market. The requirement of regular maintenance has also dissuaded several end users as it adds to the operational costs. Thus, the hesitation amongst end users is likely to hold back the market from achieving its potential in the near future.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Healthcare Automation Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market.This review is based on Transparency Market Researchs report, titled Healthcare Automation Market (Application Therapeutic Automation, Lab and Pharmacy Automation, Logistics and Training Automation, and Diagnostics and Monitoring Automation; End Use Pharmacies, Research institutes and labs, and Home Care) Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2017 2025.The market has been segmented as follows:Healthcare Automation Market, by Application:Therapeutic AutomationLab and Pharmacy AutomationLogistics and Training AutomationDiagnostics and Monitoring AutomationHealthcare Automation Market, by End Use:PharmaciesResearch institutes and labsHome CareOthersHealthcare Automation Market, by Geography:North AmericaU.S.CanadaRest of North AmericaEuropeU.K.GermanyFranceItalyRest of EuropeAsia PacificIndiaChinaJapanRest of Asia PacificMiddle East & AfricaSouth AfricaU.A.E.Rest of Middle East and AfricaLatin AmericaBrazilRest of Latin AmericaAbout 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: UAE Clinical Laboratory Services Market by Geographical Analysis and Forecast to 2025 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/uae-clinical-laboratory-services-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=23354 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The UAE clinical laboratory services market exhibits a fragmented vendor landscape. The top three players, constituting National Reference Laboratory, Abbott, and Anglo Arabian Healthcare, however had a stronger presence and held around 44% of the UAE clinical laboratory services market in 2016. Currently the market players are focusing on expansion strategies to make their foothold stronger, finds Transparency Market Research (TMR) in a new study. Companies such as National Reference Laboratory are achieving the same by setting up research laboratories across various Gulf nations.View Report @Also the companies have considerable focus on product innovation. For instance, Abbott is focusing on next generation laboratory automation solutions to help laboratories meet the rising demand in tests. Given the scenario, the demand for clinical laboratory services is expected to scale higher in the coming years. As per TMR, between 2017 and 2025, expansion demonstrated by the market will get stoked at 5.4% CAGR. At this pace, the market will value at US$2.6 bn by the end of 2025, from US$1.6 bn in 2016.Based on service provider, the market was dominated by clinic-based laboratories, which held over 38% share in 2016. In terms of test, the clinical chemistry segment held the leading share of 37.9% in the UAE clinical laboratory services market in 2016.Rising Incidence of Chronic Ailments Fuels Demand for Clinical Laboratory ServicesThe rising incidence of chronic ailments and infectious diseases is the chief driver of the UAE clinical laboratory services market. In the last few years, infectious diseases and chronic ailments have increasingly spread across the Middle East, which has in turn fuelled the demand effective clinical diagnosis in the region. Also the rising aging population have stoked the demand for clinical laboratory services. With age people become more vulnerable to diseases and infection, which is why the demand for clinical laboratory services is considerably high in this demography.In the last two decades, the GCC countries have demonstrated robust economic growth. This coupled with the expanding medical tourism, government initiatives aiming at development of the healthcare infrastructure, and rising awareness of infectious diseases, the clinical laboratory services market will record accelerated pace of gains in the UAE. Also the spurring investment in the healthcare sector will enable the market showcase strong growth in the coming years. Considering these improvements, the UAE presents an environment conducive to novel product launches. Hence, in the last few years the country gained traction from several leading international manufacturers of medical devices. For instance, leading pharmaceutical companies such as Abbott Laboratories, Inc., expanded their operations across the UAE, giving much impetus to the clinical laboratory services market.Lack of Medical Personnel Inhibits Growth TrajectoryOn the downside, the UAE clinical laboratory services market is restrained by the shortage of medical personnel. Despite recent medical developments, the market is reeling under shortage of medical personnel in Gulf countries, compared to other nations in the West, said a lead TMR analyst. This has put increasing pressure on the government for provision of improved healthcare and clinical laboratory services.Nevertheless, the UAE has high unmet medical needs and large patient pool, which will continue creating lucrative opportunities for the clinical laboratory services market. Besides this, the market is also expected to gain impetus, as healthcare reforms gain pace across GCC nations.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Clinical Laboratory Services Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market.This review is based on a TMR report, titled Clinical Laboratory Services Market (Test Type Clinical Chemistry (Biochemistry and Endocrinology), Medical Microbiology & Cytology (HLA Typing, Haematology, Blood Bank Transfusion Medicine, Andrology, and Toxicology), Human Genetics, and Tumor Genetics; Service Providers Hospital-based Laboratories, Clinic-based Laboratories, Standalone Laboratories, and Clinical Research Organizations) UAE Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2017 2025.The clinical laboratory services market is segmented as:UAE clinical laboratory services Market, by Test TypesClinical ChemistryBiochemistryEndocrinologyMedical Microbiology & CytologyHLA TypingHaematologyBlood Bank/Transfusion MedicineAndrologyToxicologyHuman GeneticsTumor GeneticsUAE clinical laboratory services Market, by Service ProviderHospital-based LaboratoriesClinic-based LaboratoriesStandalone LaboratoriesClinical Research OrganizationsUAE clinical laboratory services Market, by CountryUAEAbout 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: Bulk Acoustic Wave (BAW) Devices Market : Trends, Opportunities and Forecasts 2025 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/bulk-acoustic-wave-devices-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=24098 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com 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: The Oregon Court of Appeals has overturned the conviction of a Beaverton man sentenced to 25 years in prison for rape after determining the trial judge incorrectly allowed the man's translated police statements into evidence. Two of three Appeals Court judges agreed with the defense's argument that a police interpreter's English translation of the man's statements in Spanish to investigators amounted to hearsay. A dissenting judge agreed that the out-of-court translation was hearsay, but he found that video recordings of the police interview and transcripts that included English translations became admissible once the interpreter testified during trial that they were accurate representations of the police interview. The Appeals Court has referred the case back to Washington County Circuit Court for a new trial. Mauricio Ambriz-Arguello, now 35, was arrested in December 2012 and accused of sexually abusing a young female relative for years. In Spanish, Ambriz-Arguello claimed to police that the relative had taken his hand and placed it on her genitals several times between the ages of 9 and 12, the Appeals Court ruling said in a summary of the case. He said he previously confessed to his church pastor. He agreed to have a Beaverton police interpreter verbally translate his statements into English for detectives throughout their interview with him. Police recorded video of the interview and made a transcript of Ambriz-Arguello's statements translated to English. The girl recanted her accusations during the trial, according to the summary. A police detective who interviewed the girl testified that she told him that her mother and godparents convinced her that she had dreamt up the abuse. A jury found Ambriz-Arguello guilty of first-degree rape, first-degree sexual abuse and first- and second-degree sodomy in January 2014 and he was sentenced to prison. Kevin Barton, a Washington County senior deputy district attorney who prosecuted the case, said the district attorney's office plans to ask the state Attorney General's Office to challenge the ruling in the Oregon Supreme Court. The police interpreter in the Ambriz-Arguello case was fluent in Spanish and English, Barton said. He felt there was "literally nothing different that could have been done" to more accurately capture Ambriz-Arguello's statements to police. "It's unclear what this ruling means for cases that involve interpreters," Barton said. "If this ruling holds true, that someone who is fluent in another language can't translate a defendant's statements, then it makes crimes committed by people who don't speak English very difficult to prosecute." Judge Suzanne Upton allowed the video and transcripts of the police interview, including the interpreter's translation, into evidence because Ambriz-Arguello was ultimately the person who provided the information, the summary said. On appeal, Ambriz-Arguello argues that his statements in Spanish were admissible, but the English translations "added an additional layer of hearsay" not allowable under Oregon law. In their decision, Appeals Court Judges Douglas Tookey and Roger DeHoog cited a past ruling that found an out-of-court translation of a non-English speaker's statements to a third party was hearsay because the translation consisted of "an assertion of the English meaning" of the original statements. Allowing the translation to be used as evidence in Ambriz-Arguello's case unjustly harmed him, the ruling said, because it was the only evidence that had him admitting to the abuse. The translated statements also were a prominent part of the prosecutor's closing arguments, the court noted. Appeals Court Judge Timothy Sercombe disagreed. The interpreter's testimony -- not the translation - during the trial established the substance of Ambriz-Arguello's statements to police and validated the video and transcript, he said. Sercombe also disagreed that the translation was the only evidence of Ambriz-Arguello admitting abuse, noting that the jury also heard about the statements during the interpreter's testimony about the translation's accuracy. -- Everton Bailey Jr. ebailey@oregonian.com 503-221-8343; @EvertonBailey Daimler engineers spent two years carefully measuring the worst roads they could find around the world, carefully calculating the strains they put on big-rig trucks. In the high desert of Madras, they're taking those horrific roads and turning them up to 11. The company on Thursday opened its $18.7 million High Desert Proving Grounds. Its centerpiece durability test track is designed to put 1.2 million miles worth of wear on a truck after just 6,000 miles of driving. That makes it possible to test a truck's lifetime stamina over the course of about six months. Previously the company conducted testing in South Bend, Indiana, mostly on a third-party test track also rented to Daimler's competitors. But the geographic disconnect between the company's engineers in Portland and its testing facility sometimes meant days or weeks of delays. "You can't do it with a location that is several thousand miles away. You have to do it at your doorstep," said Wilfried Achenbach, Daimler Trucks' senior vice president of engineering. "And for the durability testing, there's nothing better than having the broken part in your hands." Madras also provides a location that experiences the full spectrum of weather conditions, and it's also convenient to the Interstate 84 corridor where Daimler conducts fuel-efficiency testing. The privately owned track, the first of its kind for the company, also lets it use the facility as an interactive showroom, said Roger Nielsen, the company's chief executive. Daimler plans to bring customers to the facility and let them drive the trucks in the most grueling environment they're likely to encounter. And Madras' location in Central Oregon will also appeal to Daimler Trucks' rural customer base. "This is like home for them," said Nielsen, who was born in Oregon and attended Oregon State University. "Their joy in coming here is not in experiencing the city, but in experiencing the environment and getting to enjoy trucks and drive a variety of trucks." The facility also includes a track designed to look like more typical roads. There, the company will experiment with autonomous vehicle technology and "platooning," in which trucks follow one after another at close distances to save fuel. The facility is located in an Enterprise Zone, giving Daimler a five-year property tax break through a state program intended to create jobs. And a grant from the Oregon Department of Transportation helped pay for a new access road. The company last year opened a new waterfront headquarters on Swan Island, where it also builds Western Star trucks. That decision helped quell years of uncertainty over whether the company would continue to move headquarters functions to South Carolina, a move it began in 2007 but suspended soon after. It now employs about 2,800 in Portland and will hire 40 employees to work at the Madras facility. -- Elliot Njus enjus@oregonian.com 503-294-5034 @enjus Officials have identified the man fatally shot at a Vancouver hospital Thursday. John Martin, 66, was a Clark County Jail inmate who was receiving treatment at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center. At least one county sheriff's deputy shot him after he "took action which resulted in an officer-involved shooting," an agency spokesman said. Martin went into surgery after the shooting and later died from his injuries, spokesman Sgt. Fred Neiman said Thursday afternoon. He died of a gunshot wound of the torso, the county medical examiner's office said in a news release Friday. Two deputies were in a fifth-floor room guarding Martin, Neiman said. It is unknown whether he had a weapon, Neiman said. The incident was contained to his room, and it was unclear whether any medical staff were present. Martin was being held on charges of a parole violation from the U.S. Marshal Services, escape from community custody and possession of a firearm. The medical examiner's office, which publicly identified Martin, hasn't confirmed where he lived. -- Jim Ryan and Samantha Matsumoto As an American, I am looking forward to this "investigation," even though James Comey has already confirmed there was no collusion with Trump and the Russians. When I say I'm looking forward to this investigation, let's actually go back (10 years or more?) and get the full Russian interference. Remember when then candidate Obama laughed at Mitt Romney and hold him that "the Cold War is over" and there is nothing to fear with Russia? Remember when Bill and Hillary Clinton gave aid and uranium to Russia, and she pushed a "red reset button" on March 24, 2010, and stated, "Our goal is to help strengthen Russia?" Remember when President Obama was overheard on a hot mic telling a Russian official, on March 26, 2012, "After the election, I have more flexibility." 19 May 2017, Road Town, Tortola, BVI NOTICE is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held on 13 June 2017 at 11:00 AM at Hotel Steigenberger, Heiligengeistbrucke 4, 20459 Hamburg, Germany for the following purposes: AGENDA 1) Results for the year ended 31 December 2016 The annual report of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2016 will be laid before the meeting. Company's management will present and discuss the year's results. A representative of Ernst & Young Ltd. will read the 2016 audit report. The annual business report and the auditor's report are available for examination by shareholders (i) at the Company's head office at: Eastern Property Holdings Ltd., c/o Blenheim Trust (BVI) Ltd. R.G. Hodge Plaza, 3rd Floor, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands; (ii) at the office of the representative of the Manager, Valartis International Ltd:: Valartis Advisory Services SA, St. Annagasse 18, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland and (iii) on the Company website: www.easternpropertyholdings.com. 2) Discussion of the Board of Directors' decision not to pay a dividend from the 2016 results 3) Appointment of Auditors The Board of Directors proposes the election of the auditors of the Company for a period of one year and to authorise the Directors of the Company to fix their remuneration. 4) Re-election of Gustav Stenbolt as director of the board of EPH to hold office until the close of the Annual General Meeting of the Company in 2020 (or any adjournment thereof) 5) Miscellaneous Other business which may properly be brought before the meeting. In order to attend the meeting and exercise their voting rights, shareholders must be entered into the shareholders register as of the close of business on the Record Date of 02 June 2017. The shareholder register is maintained and administered by Computershare Schweiz AG, Baslerstrasse 90, CH-4600 Olten, Switzerland. A shareholder may either represent his shares in person or be represented by a proxy who may speak and vote on behalf of the shareholder. The instrument appointing a proxy shall be produced at the entrance to the meeting by the person named as proxy. Entry to the meeting will be by entry card. Registered shareholders as of the Record Date can request an entry card by contacting: Mr. Marco Schwager General Meetings Computershare Schweiz AG Baslerstrasse 90 / P.O. Box CH-4600 Olten, Switzerland Tel: +41 62 205 7750 Fax: +41 62 205 7791 Email: marco.schwager@computershare.ch The Board of Directors of Eastern Property Holdings Limited 19 May 2017 Eastern Property Holdings Ltd. is an investment company listed on SIX Swiss Exchange which holds interest in office, residential and retail properties. EPH is managed by Valartis International Ltd. a wholly-owned subsidiary of Valartis Group AG. Additional information on Eastern Property Holdings is available by contacting Anna Bernhart Tel: +41 44 503 5400. Klicken Sie hier fur Deutsch Veuillez cliquer ici pour francais Opinion includes treatment of patients who develop hyperkalaemia while on RAAS inhibitors Currently expected to be marketed as Veltassa in EU/EAA countries Final EU commission decision expected in Q3 2017 THE COMMITTEE FOR MEDICINAL PRODUCTS FOR HUMAN USE (CHMP) OF THE EUROPEAN MEDICINES AGENCY (EMA) HAS RECOMMENDED MARKETING AUTHORISATION FOR PATIROMER (BRAND NAME VELTASSA) IN all 31 EU/EAA COUNTRIES FOR THE CONTROL OF ELEVATED SERUM POTASSIUM LEVELS (HYPERKALAEMIA) IN ADULT PATIENTS. The recommendation specifies Veltassa for the treatment of hyperkalaemia in adult patients. This includes patients who develop hyperkalaemia while being treated with renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitor therapy. Nearly 100% of patients treated with Veltassa in the phase II-III clinical program were on RAASi at baseline. The CHMP's recommendation to approve Veltassa for the treatment of hyperkalaemia in adults is based on a comprehensive clinical development program that included the following studies: Pivotal Phase III OPAL-HK study, which evaluated Veltassa treatment in hyperkalaemic patients with CKD who were taking renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors. 1 Phase II AMETHYST-DN trial, which evaluated the use of Veltassa over 52 weeks in hyperkalaemic patients with CKD and type 2 diabetes who were taking RAAS inhibitors. 2 An open-label, uncontrolled, Phase I study that evaluated the onset-of-action of Veltassa in hyperkalaemic CKD patients.3 "We are very pleased with CHMP's decision. This positive opinion means that we are much closer in our efforts to give hyperkalaemia patients in Europe an option for the long-term treatment of their life-threatening condition," said Dr. Behruz Eslami, Head of Global Regulatory Affairs at Vifor Pharma. Developed by Relypsa, Veltassa was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of hyperkalaemia in the US in October 2015, becoming the first new therapy in more than 50 years to be available for chronic use in patients with elevated serum potassium. Marketing applications for Veltassa have been submitted and under review in Switzerland and Australia and are planned in other markets worldwide. FURTHER INFORMATION Media Relations Beatrix Benz Head of Global Communications & Public Affairs Tel.: +41 58 851 80 16 E-mail: media@viforpharma.com Investor Relations Julien Vignot Head of Investor Relations Tel.: +41 58 851 66 90 E-mail: investors@viforpharma.com Vifor Pharma Group, formerly Galenica Group, is a global specialty pharmaceuticals company. It aims to become the global leader in iron deficiency, nephrology and cardio-renal therapies. The company is the partner of choice for specialty pharmaceuticals and innovative patient-focused solutions. Vifor Pharma Group strives to help patients around the world with severe and chronic diseases lead better, healthier lives. The company develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products for precision patient care. Vifor Pharma Group holds a leading position in all its core business activities and consists of the following companies: Vifor Pharma; Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma, a joint company with Fresenius Medical Care; Relypsa; and OM Pharma. Vifor Pharma Group is listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange (SIX Swiss Exchange, VIFN). For more information, visit www.viforpharma.com. Vifor Pharma, a company of the Vifor Pharma Group, is a world leader in the discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceutical products for the treatment of iron deficiency. The company also offers a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines as well as over-the-counter (OTC) products. Vifor Pharma, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, has an increasingly global presence and a broad network of affiliates and partners around the world. For more information about Vifor Pharma, please visit www.viforpharma.com. Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma Ltd., a common company of Vifor Pharma Group and Fresenius Medical Care, develops and commercialises innovative and high quality therapies to improve the life of patients suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD) worldwide. The company was founded at the end of 2010 and is owned 55% by Vifor Pharma Group and 45% by Fresenius Medical Care. For more information about Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma and its parent companies, please visit www.viforpharma.com and www.freseniusmedicalcare.com. References English German Liestal, Switzerland, May 19, 2017 - Santhera Pharmaceuticals, a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development of innovative treatments for rare mitochondrial and neuromuscular diseases, announces an updated timeline for the ongoing assessment by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of its extension application for Raxone (idebenone) in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). "Santhera is in ongoing, constructive discussions with the CHMP, and we are now expecting to receive a request for supplementary information to further support the clinical relevance of our data. We are working closely with the CHMP to conclude the application process and anticipate an opinion in Q3 2017," said Thomas Meier, PhD, CEO of Santhera. The application was filed as a Type II Variation of the existing marketing authorization and is based on data from Santhera's phase II (DELPHI) study and the successful pivotal phase III (DELOS) study, the latter in patients not taking concomitant glucocorticoids. This data demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically relevant benefit of Raxone in preserving respiratory function compared to placebo. This result is further substantiated by a natural history study, which shows that the benefits observed in the group treated with Raxone would not have been expected from the natural course of the disease. The intended indication for Raxone is to slow the loss of respiratory function in patients with DMD who are currently not taking glucocorticoids. The indication would include patients who were previously treated with glucocorticoids or in whom glucocorticoid treatment is not desired, not tolerated, or is contraindicated. About Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy DMD is one of the most common and devastating types of muscle degeneration and leads to progressive muscle weakness starting at an early age. DMD is a genetic, degenerative disease that occurs almost exclusively in males with an incidence of up to 1 in 3,500 live male births worldwide. About Idebenone in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy DMD is characterized by a loss of the protein dystrophin, leading to cell damage, impaired calcium homeostasis, elevated oxidative stress and reduced energy production in muscle cells. This results in progressive muscle weakness, muscle wasting, early morbidity and mortality due to respiratory failure. Idebenone is a synthetic short-chain benzoquinone and a cofactor for the enzyme NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) capable of stimulating mitochondrial electron transport, reducing and scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) and supplementing cellular energy levels. DELOS was a phase III, double-blind, placebo-controlled 52-week study which randomized 64 patients, not taking concomitant steroids, to receive either idebenone (900 mg/day) or matching placebo. The study met its primary endpoint, the change from baseline in Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF), which demonstrated that idebenone can slow the loss of respiratory function. Idebenone was well tolerated in the DELOS study, with overall incidence of adverse events being similar to placebo. The statistically significant and clinically relevant outcomes of the phase III DELOS study were published: Buyse et al., The Lancet 2015, 385:1748-1757; McDonald et al., Neuromuscular Disorders 2016, 26:473-480 and Buyse et al., Pediatric Pulmonology 2017, 52:580-515. The European Medicines Agency's CHMP and the Swiss regulatory authority Swissmedic are currently assessing a Marketing Authorization Application for idebenone under the name Raxone in patients with DMD with respiratory function decline who are not taking glucocorticoids. About Santhera Santhera Pharmaceuticals (SIX: SANN) is a Swiss specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative pharmaceutical products for the treatment of orphan mitochondrial and neuromuscular diseases. Santhera's lead product Raxone (idebenone) is authorized in the European Union, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein for the treatment of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON). For Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), Santhera has filed a Marketing Authorization Application in the European Union and Switzerland for DMD patients with respiratory function decline who are not taking glucocorticoids. In collaboration with the U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Santhera is developing Raxone in a third indication, primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS), and omigapil for congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD), all areas of high unmet medical need. For further information, please visit the Company's website www.santhera.com. Raxone is a trademark of Santhera Pharmaceuticals. For further information, contact: Thomas Meier, PhD, Chief Executive Officer Christoph Rentsch, Chief Financial Officer Phone +41 61 906 89 64 Phone +41 61 906 89 65 thomas.meier@santhera.com christoph.rentsch@santhera.com Sue Schneidhorst, Head Group Communications Phone +41 61 906 89 26 sue.schneidhorst@santhera.com US investor contact Hans Vitzthum, LifeSci Advisors, LLC Phone +1 212 915 2568 hans@lifesciadvisors.com Disclaimer / Forward-looking statements This communication does not constitute an offer or invitation to subscribe for or purchase any securities of Santhera Pharmaceuticals Holding AG. This publication may contain certain forward-looking statements concerning the Company and its business. Such statements involve certain risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Readers should therefore not place undue reliance on these statements, particularly not in connection with any contract or investment decision. The Company disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. # # # The hospital foundations of Ascension Mid-Michigan Genesys Health Foundation, St. Marys of Michigan Foundation and St. Joseph Health System Foundation are regionalizing their functions under the leadership of Karen Stiffler who has been named vice president of the Ascension Mid-Michigan hospital foundations. She also will oversee the volunteer services programs at each hospital. In her expanded role, Stiffler will be responsible for philanthropic planning and planned gift programs, grant research and management, corporate and foundation campaigns, stewardship and special events and volunteer services and auxiliary programs. She will ensure the foundations work will support the health systems strategic priorities and Community Health Needs Assessment programs for the entire Ascension Mid-Michigan region. Funds raised through each hospital foundation will continue to be earmarked for equipment and programs at each hospital ministry. Stiffler has 24 years of experience in fund development, marketing and public relations. For the past 17 years, she has been responsible for the St. Marys of Michigan Foundation. In addition to this leadership role change, Nick Evans, vice president of Business Development at Genesys, will expand his role to the Saginaw market, focusing efforts on new business and growth opportunities. Evans brings 28 years of experience in business and fund development, 14 of which have been at Genesys. In his expanded role, he will be responsible for identifying, analyzing and monitoring the internal and regional environment that affects growth, profitability and sustainability, with a primary focus on business and wellness program development. He will work in partnership with regional and statewide companies, universities and government agencies to increase research and commercialization capabilities and improve support for building new economic pathways in the region. Evans will continue his work with the Veterans Administration in areas including Veterans Choice integration, presumptive illness programs and integration with the federal and state VA agencies. The Bullock Creek Board of Education is taking applications to fill a vacancy following the resignation of longtime Board Secretary Holly Miller. The board is accepting applications from candidates interested in filling Millers vacancy. A state official is confident that there are no lasting impacts from the 87,000-gallon spill of raw sewage into the Tittabawassee River on Sunday, either at the source or downriver. Based on the amount of discharge and flow of that river, Im confident that there are no long-term effects, Matt Siler, an analyst with Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, told the Daily News on Wednesday in response to inquiries sent Tuesday. The source has been removed and the dilution factor of the river essentially removes the potential for long-term effects. On Sunday around 11 a.m., a passerby reported what appeared to be a water main break under the M-20 bridge between two pylons. The resident reported it to the citys water department, but Midland Wastewater Treatment Plant staff didnt get the notice until Monday morning, according to Utilities Director Joe Sova. The city notified DEQ of the incident around 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Siler said, which was within a couple hours of city staff hearing about it. The city also notified the Midland County Health Department within 24 hours as required by law. They acted quickly and were able to get it fixed quickly; unfortunately they werent notified right away, Siler said. A coupling that connected the affected pipes in a sanitary sewer force main under the bridge had broken, Sova said. Which left thousands of gallons of waste and anything flushed down the toilet to flow into the river on Sunday, Mothers Day. Sova said he did not know when that coupling had been installed. The pipes themselves appeared to be in good shape, he said. But the sewer main is an active force main, always under pressure, and the incident wasnt preventable; theres no way to identify it until it happens, Sova said. We dont know what actually caused the pipe to crack, Siler said. Its just aging equipment. Its an unfortunate event, but it would be really hard for them to catch that type of thing. The DEQ did not physically respond at the site. Officials say the 15,000- to 20,000-gallon-per-second flow of the Tittabawassee River would have carried away the sewage deposit in seconds. Theres not going to be anything for us to see, Siler said. Midland County Health Department Director/Health Officer Mike Krecek said the health department does not believe this sewage discharge will have any appreciable impact to the water quality of the river. He said the department will conduct bacteriological sampling both upstream and downstream of the spill. The E. coli samples taken by the health department are only an indication of a potential problem, Siler said. The health department will be the one to issue an advisory if they feel there is a potential health threat. However, based on the flow of the river, this would only be a short term effect, if that. Siler, who works out of the DEQs Saginaw Bay Office and has been with the department for 21 years, said he wasnt aware of any discharges from the Midland Wastewater Treatment Plant in recent memory. The plant does a real good job of maintaining its site and upgrading equipment when necessary, he said. We will be following up with them (Midland city officials) and have been in contact numerous times to make sure that its properly handled, Siler said. And to me, it was properly handled. They definitely took care of it in a timely manor. FORM 8.3 PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the "Code") 1. KEY INFORMATION (a) Full name of discloser: Jupiter Asset Management Ltd (b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a): The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named. (c) Name of offeror /offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates: Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree Berendsen Plc (d) If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree: (e) Date position held /dealing undertaken: : For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure 18th May 2017 (f) In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer? If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state "N/A" Yes Elis SA 2. POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security. (a) Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any) Class of relevant security: Ordinary 5p Interests Short positions Number % Number % (1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 544,245 0.31 (2) Cash-settled derivatives: (3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell: TOTAL: 544,245 0.31 All interests and all short positions should be disclosed. Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions). (b) Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors' and other employee options) Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists: None Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages: None 3. DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in. The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated. (a) Purchases and sales Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit 30p Ordinary Sale 166,977 10.70797 (b) Cash-settled derivative transactions Class of relevant security Product description e.g. CFD Nature of dealing e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position Number of reference securities Price per unit None (c) Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options) (i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type e.g. American, European etc. Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit None (ii) Exercise Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit None (d) Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities) Class of relevant security Nature of dealing e.g. subscription, conversion Details Price per unit (if applicable) None 4. OTHER INFORMATION (a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer: Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state "none" None (b) Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to: (i) the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or (ii) the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced: If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state "none" None (c) Attachments Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO Date of disclosure: 19th May 2017 Contact name: Nabeel Ashraf Telephone number: 0203 817 1407 Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service and must also be emailed to the Takeover Panel at monitoring@disclosure.org.uk. The Panel's Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code's disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129. The Code can be viewed on the Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk. NORMAL A unique Bloomington-Normal apartment building is getting a twin. The Lodge on Willow, Illinois State University student housing at School and Willow streets with a ski lodge theme, will expand next door for fall 2018. "It should look like it was all built at the same time," said Andy Netzer, general manager of Young America Realty, which manages the Lodge and will take on its counterpart, The Lodge on Willow II. "It is kind of crazy that it looks like a Colorado lodge in cornfield Illinois, but it's iconic." Between them, the two lodges will occupy an entire block, the culmination of years of buying nearby properties, Netzer said. Demolition of several buildings on Fell Avenue began this week, with more to start soon after Normal Fire Department training there concludes. The combined project is expected to cost $18 million more than the first lodge's $16 million, though that finished in 2012. While Young America will manage the complex, it's owned and funded by a company formed for the development, including Young America owner Ralph Endress. "Everything's more expensive now. People are increasingly aware of student housing as a commodity, and that affects land prices," Netzer said. "It's a pricey development, but the developers feel strongly curb appeal has value in the marketplace. The brick and stone has a cool feel, and it's very durable." The second lodge also will be slightly smaller than the first, with 263 beds across 67 units, versus 307 in 79 units next door. The complexes will have similar amenities, with three- and four-bedroom units, clubhouses and pools. Young America also is involved in two new apartment buildings coming to the west side of the ISU campus next fall. Sauder LLC plans to demolish its apartment buildings near Kingsley Junior High School and replace them with a single 88-bed, 28-unit building, and Brown Enterprises will begin construction soon on an 87-bed, 24-unit building near Hancock Stadium. Demolition at 602 and 604 Dry Grove St. is next week, said Ed Sauder of Roanoke, the company's manager and primary stockholder. He declined to discuss the cost of the demolition or the new building, which was planned at four stories but reduced to three due to zoning restrictions. Its just not up to the standards of the expectations of student rentals today, he said of the current buildings. Sauder said he wandered campus looking for inspiration for the new structure. "We want a building thats going to be reflective of the values of ISU. Im an ISU alum, Sauder said. We want something that will look good 50 years from now and blend in with the architectural design of the university. The 402 N. Main St. project, across the street from the water tower adjacent to the University High School parking lot, is now called Stadium Suites, said Brown Enterprises owner John Brown. It's expected to include one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom units, some of which will be marketed to athletes. Were on site, and we're going to start digging in a couple weeks, weather permitting, said Brown of the tract, the site of a former Super Pantry convenience store until it was demolished last fall. They'll start leasing it this fall for the next school year. Brown declined to discuss the cost of the project. NORMAL Several student apartment buildings are on track to open this fall in the Twin Cities. Class Act Realty An expansion at Linden Trails, 808 S. Linden St., has been a unique endeavor for Class Act as a management company, said Leasing Manager Ken Witte. "We've never had new construction before," he said. "It's a different challenge to rent a building that doesn't exist." The three-story, 36-bed building is close to existing, however: it's expected to be done at the end of July and open for the 2017-18 school year. The $1.2 million building will have nine, four-bedroom units. Witte said the property is owned by a local owner in partnership with out-of-town investors. The land is owned by MJM Partnership LLC, which is listed at 402 Kingsley St., Class Act's address. SAMI Two SAMI projects remain on track to open this fall, said owner Darren Rogers. Two buildings of the Lofts Northend, at Raab and Parkside roads near Heartland Community College, are nearly finished, with eight planned. Each of those two buildings has 16 studio units. "It's a new kind of a concept for campus or for around campus. Half the units, all the units on one side, have lofts, and the other side are flats," Rogers said. SAMI hopes the building will appeal not only to students at Heartland, but also Illinois State University students. Rogers declined to discuss the cost of the buildings, but permits issued Oct. 3 showed each cost $356,000 to build, and county records show a land sale of $274,00 in 2010. It's owned by KFH Properties Partnership, listed at 608 Kingsley St., SAMI's address. SAMI also will open a new building at 403 E. Vernon Ave. with five four-bedroom town homes aimed at ISU students. A building permit issued Nov. 8 showed the building cost $289,000. The building replaces a home on the site, which is between a road and another SAMI property. No records on the sale of the site were available Thursday. Young America Realty Two long-gestating buildings managed by Young America will open for the 2017-18 school year, said General Manager Andy Netzer. A 501 Broadway Ave. "big house" development now called The Gables on Broadway is still expected to have 56 beds across two-, three- and four-bedroom units, at a cost of $3.5 million. The development resembles two homes connected in the middle due to special zoning on the block, said Netzer. Parking surrounds the rear of the building. The development replaces a house on the site. A 608 Hester Ave. building now called Remington Suites is still set to have 36 beds across two-, three- and four-bedroom units. That building, four stories over a story of parking, will cost $2.5 million. BLOOMINGTON A Bloomington man found not guilty by reason of insanity in the stabbing death of his parents in July 2016 will receive extended mental health treatment in a state facility. A court order approving Brian Petersen's treatment was finalized Friday in McLean County Circuit Court. The 26-year-old defendant was escorted to court by staff from McFarland Mental Health Center in Springfield. Petersen has been in the state facility since February when Judge Robert Freitag concurred with a doctors' opinion that Petersen did not understand the criminality of his actions when he stabbed Nancy and Bruce Petersen in the family's home. Nancy Petersen was stabbed four times three times in the chest and once in the left arm as she sat in a chair in the living room in July 2016. Her husband left the bedroom when he heard her screams and was stabbed 10 times, including wounds to his back and shoulder. Shortly after his arrest, Petersen was found mentally unfit to stand trial but he was restored to fitness several months later. A doctor hired in an agreement between the state and defense concluded that Petersen was insane at the time of the killings. On Friday, Petersen, who has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, nodded to the judge that he understood the court proceedings. An evaluation submitted to the court in March recommended that Petersen be placed in a secure setting for extended treatment. Under Illinois law he may be confined for life in a state facility the sentence he would have received if convicted of murder. He also may be released if doctors determine he has recovered sufficiently to return to the community. Defense lawyer Brian McEldowney said he is "guardedly optimistic Brian's going to recover. But he has a long road ahead based on the nature of things." The state will determine which mental health facility Petersen will be housed in for treatment. The state will submit periodic progress reports to the court. HEYWORTH At the insistence of graduating seniors, two deceased classmates will be honored at Heyworth High Schools graduation ceremony on May 26. According to a Facebook post, students in the graduating class requested an empty chair be reserved with a rose and balloon in honor of Cassidy Broers who passed away in 2010, a day before her 11th birthday, in a car accident. Cassidy would have been a part of the 2017 graduating class. A second deceased student, whose name was unavailable, also would have graduated in 2017. The original Facebook post, which has since been deleted, included signatures from students requesting that Cassidy be honored. The post, shared hundreds of times on Facebook and Twitter, read, As of now, we are receiving resistance and refusal by some members of the education administration. Students who shared the post did not respond to requests for comment on Friday. Heyworth Superintendent Lisa Taylor released a statement that said Principal April Hicklin met with several students Friday morning to discuss ideas to recognize the students who had died. Hicklin also contacted the families of the former students. I was made aware of the petition yesterday and have been gathering information regarding their request, said Taylor in the statement. Our plan is to recognize the two former classmates during the ceremony through a poem and song, which was organized by current seniors at Heyworth High School. Our students have also planned a balloon release at another senior event. As superintendent of schools I am fully supportive of graduating seniors in their effort to recognize two former classmates, she added. LOS ANGELES, May 19, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Air Lease Corporation announced that its annual Investor Meeting will be available via webcast, beginning at 4:30pm Eastern Time on May 24, 2017. The meeting will be broadcast live through a link on the Investors page of the Air Lease Corporation website at www.airleasecorp.com. Alternatively, virtual attendees may access the webcast directly via this link: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/359/21188 Please visit the website at least 15 minutes prior to the webcast to download and install any necessary audio software. A replay of the broadcast will be available on the Investors page of the Air Lease Corporation website. About Air Lease Corporation (NYSE:AL) ALC is a leading aircraft leasing company based in Los Angeles, California that has airline customers throughout the world. ALC and its team of dedicated and experienced professionals are principally engaged in purchasing commercial aircraft and leasing them to its airline customers worldwide through customized aircraft leasing and financing solutions. For more information, visit ALC's website at www.airleasecorp.com. BLOOMINGTON Some former Bloomington High School and Woodland High School students are victims of nude photo sharing on an anonymous website involving at least 67 other Illinois high schools. District 87 Superintendent Barry Reilly said BHS was made aware of the website last week by Chicagos NBC 5, which conducted a two-month investigation. We turned it over to the school resource officer. Given the nature of what was described, we didnt feel it was appropriate for us to investigate. We felt it was more for the local authorities or beyond, said Reilly. Reilly said he couldnt confirm if the photos include any current students, but according to NBC 5 reports, the photos are of former students from as early as 2014. This could be a criminal case depending on the age of individuals. Like any internet site, its inappropriate for anyone to assume just because a name is attached to it, like BHS, that its factual information. Either way, its in very, very poor taste, said Reilly. The report shows that the solicited photos of female students can be searched by name, school and graduating class. We have always been very vigilant in our curriculum with kids about appropriate ways to interact with technology and the internet, said Reilly. He said District 87s internet connection has strong filtering software that is piped through take-home devices and internet access provided to low-income students. Were as protected as we can be, said Reilly. Im confident were doing what we need to do to educate kids and protect them. The reality is, when kids go home on their own devices or adults make poor choices, thats something we have no control over. Woodland Superintendent Ryan McGuckin said in a news release, "We will continue to educate our students on the risks and consequences of sharing digital images as well as other items of concern via the internet or social media. We also encourage parents to talk to their children about appropriate usage of digital technology and personal data information and utilize school personnel to assist when needed." McGuckin said the district is working with the Livingston County Sheriff's department to keep students safe. If anyone believes their image has been shared without permission, superintendents said to contact local police departments. Other area high schools on the website include Eureka High School, Fieldcrest High School in Minonk and East Peoria Community High School. NORMAL When four Towanda Elementary School students delivered an $800 check to Normal police on Friday, Principal Scott Vogel said he saw jaws drop. It was incredible to see their reaction when we announced the amount of money raised for Special Olympics of Illinois, said Vogel. Officers from the Normal Police Department spent part of the day Friday on the roof of Dunkin' Donuts on North Main Street in Normal for their annual Cop on Rooftop fundraiser for Special Olympics. Four Towanda fifth-graders involved in student council presented the check that morning, accompanied by Vogel and student council sponsor Stacie Lange. Susan Stienbach is another student council sponsor who helped with the process. Towanda student council members spent the year raising money for Special Olympics, said Vogel, by selling candy, school supplies and T-shirts to staff and classmates. Its really students leading students. The student council comes up with their own ideas, they have meetings, share thoughts, vote on ideas and execute a plan. They were very successful this year, said Vogel. He said the fundraiser is a good example of how the school promotes good citizenship in students. We try to show support of the community by reaching out and being servants of our smaller Towanda community and our greater community, said Vogel. Bloomington Police Department will host its Cop on Rooftop event June 7 at the Dunkin' Donuts on Oakland Avenue in Bloomington. Statewide, the Cop on Rooftop event raised more than $670,000 last year. I always dread November and December because that's when the Hallmark channel takes off its two-hour block of Golden Girls reruns and replaces it with holiday-related movies. The Golden Girls had holiday showsthey should just run those! Yes, I know the hit '80s sitcom still pops up on several other channelslike Betty White herself, it's unsquelchablebut I want it on all channels at all times, that's how soothing its wicked zingers and familial warmth are to me. Second only to The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Golden Girls is, in my opinion, the greatest sitcom. The one with flawless casting, brilliant repartee, then-groundbreaking subject matter, and such cohesion that when Bea Arthur (the witheringly sarcastic Dorothy) left the show, it came back as Golden Palace, with Rue McClanahan (slutty Blanche), Betty White (naive Rose), and Estelle Getty (crusty Sophia) and it seemed seriously lacking. A link in the golden chain had been broken so, eventually, GG reruns became the way to gofor the show's original fans, plus new generations catching on to its mature topics and wacky wit. But now there's a new link in that Rue La Rue. A Golden Girls cafe has been previewing for several months at 4396 Broadway, way up on 188th Street. It's the pet project of McClanahan's friend La Rue (true story) and her son, Mark Bish, and it includes some of the memorabilia Rue herself kept as a big-time hoarder. As I learned on a visit there with friends last week, Rue's Emmy, costumes (including feather boas), and posters are all on display, along with leafy Golden Girls wallpaper, TV-studio-style track lights, and a bathroom door with various body parts sticking out of it (which our friendly server told us was taken directly from Rue's own home). The place is smallish and comfy, with only five tables, and in case there's not enough ambience to soak in, Golden Girls is on the TV at all times, so you can sit and watch your favorite episodes all over again. (Well, what did you expect, My Mother the Car?) When each episode starts, the theme song blares deafeningly, and then the volume settles down to more manageable levels, until the next episode begins. The food consists of perfectly fine luncheonette counter-style eats. I had the pulled chicken sandwich with potato chips, a side salad, and a heaping slice of lemon meringue pie. Also on the menu are Sophia's 16-hour lasagna al forno ($12.75), Rue's high/low grilled cheese with dip ($7.75), the Rusty Anchor clam chowder ($7), and Clooney Caesar ($8). Yes, George Clooney was on an episode, and if you didn't know that, then why did you schlepp up to Washington Heights in the first place? Desserts also include sour cherry pie, Miami key lime pie, and naturally, several varieties of cheesecake. If you don't know what cheesecake has to do with the Golden Girls, again, then why.Oh, hell, just go up there and have some! The whole thing seems like the cafe at a Golden Girls theme park, and it might work better in that context, but I still enjoyed the homeyness, the decor, and the off-the-beaten-path location. The server was SO friendly, he told us about a nearby gay bar and also a wooded park area where heavy duty gay cruising goes on. My friends and I didn't follow up on that adviceno, reallythough there will surely be other trips uptown to explore the wonders of Washington Heights. Even better, the guy told us that Betty White has agreed to do the ribbon cutting when the place officially opens. I joked, "I guess she wasn't at Bea's memorial, where Rue so generously announced that Bea called Bette the c-word." Ah, whatever. Grudges meltalong with cheesein this place, where you feel like turning to the nearest person and singing, "Thank you for being a friend." All photos by Chuck Attix. Phase III trial, first-line treatment with Zykadia resulted in improved progression-free survival (PFS) over SOC chemotherapy with maintenance, including in patients with brain metastases[1] Zykadia is currently approved in the European Union (EU) for the treatment of adult patients with ALK-positive advanced NSCLC previously treated with crizotinib Basel, May 19, 2017 - Novartis today announced the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended approval of expanding the use of Zykadia (ceritinib) to include the first-line treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors are anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive. If approved, Zykadia will provide a new treatment option for previously untreated and newly diagnosed patients with ALK-positive advanced NSCLC. "Novartis is committed to bringing targeted treatment options to more patients living with lung cancer who may benefit from them," said Bruno Strigini, CEO, Novartis Oncology. "Today, we've taken an important step towards fulfilling that commitment with the potential approval of Zykadia as a first-line treatment option for those in the EU diagnosed with ALK-positive advanced NSCLC." The positive CHMP opinion was based on results from the ASCEND-4 study, a randomized, open-label, global Phase III trial. The study showed that patients treated with first-line Zykadia experienced a 45% reduction in the risk of disease progression compared to patients treated with standard first-line pemetrexed-platinum chemotherapy with pemetrexed maintenance (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.55 [95% CI: 0.42, 0.73])[1]. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 16.6 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 12.6, 27.2) for patients receiving Zykadia compared to 8.1 months (95% CI: 5.8, 11.1) for patients in the chemotherapy arm of the study[1]. Additionally, patients receiving Zykadia without brain metastases at baseline experienced a median PFS of 26.3 months (95% CI: 15.4, 27.7), compared with 8.3 months (95% CI: 6.0, 13.7) among patients treated in the chemotherapy arm (HR = 0.48 [95% CI: 0.33, 0.69])[1]. Among patients with brain metastases at baseline, the median PFS was 10.7 months (95% CI: 8.1, 16.4) in the Zykadia group versus 6.7 months (95% CI: 4.1, 10.6) in the chemotherapy group (HR = 0.70 [95% CI: 0.44, 1.12])[1]. Of these patients, 59% did not receive prior brain radiotherapy[1]. The high intracranial overall response rate (ORR) (72.7% [95% CI: 49.8, 89.3]) was consistent with whole body ORR (72.5% [95% CI: 65.5, 78.7])[1]. The CHMP recommendation will now be reviewed by the European Commission (EC), which holds the authority to approve medicines for the European Union (EU). The EC typically follows the CHMP recommendation and typically issues an approval decision within two months, applicable to all 28 European Union member states plus Iceland, Lichtenstein, and Norway. Earlier this year, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Zykadia Breakthrough Therapy designation for first-line treatment of patients with ALK-positive NSCLC with metastases to the brain. The application for first-line use of Zykadia is under Priority Review by the FDA. Novartis Commitment to Lung Cancer Worldwide, lung cancer causes more deaths than colon, breast and prostate cancer combined, and an estimated 1.8 million new cases of lung cancer are diagnosed each year[3],[4]. Among patients with NSCLC, roughly 25% have an actionable mutation that may be targeted with available therapies[5]-[8]. To determine that treatment, medical organizations recommend biomarker testing for patients with lung cancer[9]. Over the past decade, Novartis Oncology's research has supported the evolution of treatment approaches for patients living with mutation-driven types of lung cancer. The company continues its commitment to the global lung cancer community through ongoing studies, as well as the exploration of investigational compounds that target genomic biomarkers in NSCLC. About ASCEND-4 ASCEND-4 was a Phase III randomized, open-label, multicenter, global clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Zykadia compared to standard chemotherapy, including maintenance, in adult patients with Stage IIIB or IV ALK-positive advanced NSCLC who received no prior therapy for their advanced disease. Patients received Zykadia orally at 750 mg/daily or standard pemetrexed-based platinum doublet chemotherapy (pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 plus cisplatin 75 mg/m2 or carboplatin AUC 5-6) for four cycles followed by pemetrexed maintenance. Of 376 patients, 189 (59 with brain metastases) were randomized to Zykadia and 187 (62 with brain metastases) to chemotherapy. Approximately 60% of patients with baseline brain metastases treated with Zykadia did not have prior radiation therapy, the current standard of treatment for baseline brain metastases. The most common adverse events (AEs) occurring in more than 25% of Zykadia patients were diarrhea (85% vs. 11% with chemotherapy), nausea (69% vs. 55% with chemotherapy), vomiting (66% vs. 36% with chemotherapy), ALT increase (60% vs. 22% with chemotherapy), AST increase (53% vs. 19% with chemotherapy), GGT increase (37% vs. 10% in chemotherapy), decreased appetite (34% vs. 31% with chemotherapy), blood alkaline phosphate increase (29% vs. 5% with chemotherapy) and fatigue (29% vs. 30% with chemotherapy)[1]. About Zykadia Zykadia is an oral, selective inhibitor of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), a gene that can fuse with others to form an abnormal "fusion protein" that promotes the development and growth of certain tumors in cancers including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Zykadia is currently approved in over 69 countries worldwide. Please visit www.NovartisOncology.com/news/product-portfolio/zykadia for additional information. Zykadia Important Safety Information Zykadia may cause serious side effects. Zykadia may cause stomach upset and intestinal problems in most patients, including diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and stomach-area pain. These problems can be severe. Patients should follow their doctor's instructions about taking medicines to help these symptoms, and should call their doctor for advice if symptoms are severe or do not go away. Zykadia may cause severe liver injury. Patients should have blood tests prior to the start of treatment with Zykadia, every two weeks for the first three months of treatment and monthly thereafter, and should talk to their doctor right away if they experience any of the following symptoms: tiredness (fatigue), itchy skin, yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes, nausea or vomiting, decreased appetite, pain on the right side of the abdomen, urine turns dark or brown, or bleeding or bruising more easily than normal. Zykadia may cause severe or life-threatening swelling (inflammation) of the lungs during treatment that can lead to death. Symptoms may be similar to those symptoms from lung cancer. Patients should tell their doctor right away about any new or worsening symptoms, including trouble breathing or shortness of breath, fever, cough, with or without mucous, or chest pain. Zykadia may cause very slow, very fast, or abnormal heartbeats. Doctors should check their patient's heart during treatment with Zykadia. Patients should tell their doctor right away if they feel new chest pain or discomfort, dizziness or lightheadedness, faint, or have abnormal heartbeats, blue discoloration of lips, shortness of breath, swelling of lower limbs or skin, or if they start to take or have any changes in heart or blood pressure medicines. Zykadia may cause high levels of glucose in the blood. People who have diabetes or glucose intolerance, or who take a corticosteroid medicine have an increased risk of high blood sugar with Zykadia. Patients should have glucose blood tests prior to the start of treatment with Zykadia and during treatment. Patients should follow their doctor's instructions about blood sugar monitoring and call their doctor right away with any symptoms of high blood sugar, including increased thirst and/or urinating often. Zykadia may cause high levels of pancreatic enzymes in the blood and may cause pancreatitis. Patients should have blood tests prior to the start of treatment with Zykadia and as needed during their treatment with Zykadia. Patients should talk to their doctor if they experience signs and symptoms of pancreatitis which including upper abdominal pain that may spread to the back and get worse with eating. Before patients take Zykadia, they should tell their doctor about all medical conditions, including liver problems; diabetes or high blood sugar; heart problems, including a condition called long QT syndrome; if they are pregnant, if they think they may be pregnant, or if they plan to become pregnant; are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Zykadia may harm unborn babies. Women who are able to become pregnant must use a highly effective method of birth control (contraception) during treatment with Zykadia and up to 3 months after stopping Zykadia. It is not known if Zykadia passes into breast milk. Patients and their doctor should decide whether to take Zykadia or breastfeed, but should not do both. Patients should tell their doctor about medicines they take, including prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements. If they take Zykadia while using oral contraceptives, the oral contraceptives may become ineffective. The most common adverse reactions with an incidence of >=10% were diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, liver laboratory test abnormalities (requires blood test monitoring), tiredness (fatigue), abdominal pain, decreased appetite, weight decreased, constipation, kidney laboratory test abnormalities (requires blood test monitoring), rash, anemia and heartburn. Grade 3-4 adverse reactions with an incidence of >=5% were liver laboratory test abnormalities, tiredness (fatigue), vomiting, hyperglycemia (requires blood test monitoring), nausea and diarrhea. Patients should stop taking Zykadia and seek medical help immediately if they experience any of the following, which may be signs of an allergic reaction: Difficulty in breathing or swallowing Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat Severe itching of the skin, with a red rash or raised bumps Patients should tell their doctor of any side effect that bothers them or does not go away. These are not all of the possible side effects of Zykadia. For more information, patients should ask their doctor or pharmacist. Patients should take Zykadia exactly as their health care provider tells them. Patients should not change their dose or stop taking Zykadia unless their health care provider advises them to. Zykadia should be taken once a day on an empty stomach. Patients should not eat for at least 2 hours before and 1 hour after taking Zykadia. If a dose of Zykadia is missed, they should take it as soon as they remember. If their next dose is due within the next 12 hours, they should skip the missed dose and take the next dose at their regular time. They should not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. Patients should not drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit during treatment with Zykadia, as it may make the amount of Zykadia in their blood increase to a harmful level. If patients have to vomit after swallowing Zykadia capsules, they should not take more capsules until their next scheduled dose. Disclaimer The foregoing release contains forward-looking statements that can be identified by words such as "positive CHMP opinion," "recommended," "will," "committed," "may," "step towards," "commitment," "potential," "recommendation," "Breakthrough Therapy designation," "Priority Review," "ongoing," "investigational," or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential new indications or labeling for Zykadia, or regarding potential future revenues from Zykadia. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of management regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that Zykadia will be submitted or approved for any additional indications or labeling in any market, or at any particular time. Nor can there be any guarantee that Zykadia will be commercially successful in the future. In particular, management's expectations regarding Zykadia could be affected by, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; the company's ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection; general economic and industry conditions; global trends toward health care cost containment, including ongoing pricing and reimbursement pressures; safety, quality or manufacturing issues, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. About Novartis Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, cost-saving generic and biosimilar pharmaceuticals and eye care. Novartis has leading positions globally in each of these areas. In 2016, the Group achieved net sales of USD 48.5 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 9.0 billion. Novartis Group companies employ approximately 118,000 full-time-equivalent associates. Novartis products are sold in approximately 155 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com. Novartis is on Twitter. Sign up to follow @Novartis at http://twitter.com/novartis and @Novartis Cancer at http://twitter.com/novartiscancer. For Novartis multimedia content, please visit www.novartis.com/news/media-library For questions about the site or required registration, please contact media.relations@novartis.com References [1] Soria JC, et al. First-line ceritinib versus platinum-based chemotherapy in advanced ALK-rearranged non-small-cell lung cancer (ASCEND-4): A randomized, open-label Phase 3 study. The Lancet. 2017. [2] Lovly, C., L. Horn, W. Pao. 2016. Molecular Profiling of Lung Cancer. My Cancer Genome https://www.mycancergenome.org/content/disease/lung-cancer/ (Updated March 28). Accessed March 22, 2017. [3] World Health Organization. International Agency for Research on Cancer. GLOBOCAN 2012: Estimated Cancer Incidence, Mortality and Prevalence Worldwide in 2012. Lung Cancer. Available at http://globocan.iarc.fr/Pages/fact_sheets_cancer.aspx?cancer=lung. Accessed March 22, 2017. [4] World Health Organization. Estimated number of deaths, both sexes, worldwide in 2012. World Health Organization. http://gco.iarc.fr/today/online-analysis-pie?mode=cancer&mode_population=continents& population=900&sex=0&cancer=11&type=1&statistic=0&prevalence=0& color_palette=default. Accessed March 22, 2017. [5] Riess JW, Wakelee, HA. Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Management: Novel Targets and Recent Clinical Advances. Clinical Advances in Hematology & Oncology. 2012; 10: 226-224. [6] Pao W, Girard N. New driver mutations in non-small-cell lung cancer. Lancet Oncol. 2011;12:175-180. [7] Paik PK, Arcila ME, Fara M, et al. Clinical Characteristics of Patients With Lung Adenocarcinomas Harboring BRAF Mutations. J Clin Oncol. 2011;29:2046-2051. [8] Takeuchi, K, Soda M, Togashi Y, et al. RET, ROS1 and ALK fusions in lung cancer. Nature. 2012;378-381. [9] Lindeman, N.I., et al. Molecular Testing Guideline for Selection of Lung Cancer Patients for EGFR and ALK Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2013; 137: 828-1174. # # # Novartis Media Relations Central media line: +41 61 324 2200 E-mail: media.relations@novartis.com Eric Althoff Novartis Global Media Relations +41 61 324 7999 (direct) +41 79 593 4202 (mobile) eric.althoff@novartis.com Kristen Klasey Novartis Oncology +1 862 778 4763 (direct) +1 862 754 1732 (mobile) kristen.klasey@novartis.com Novartis Investor Relations Central investor relations line: +41 61 324 7944 E-mail: investor.relations@novartis.com This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact the Parsons Sun office at (620) 421-2000 if you have any questions The largest European trade show covering all aspects of technology is the IFA in Berlin that closely resembles CES in the USA. This year the show is opening just ahead of Apple's iPhone event in September and the IFA really wants Samsung to unveil their next-gen Note 8 at the event. In recent years Samsung has chosen to hold events in New York. IFA Executive Director Jens Heithecker already knows Samsung will have the biggest presentation of all companies at IFA, but he's hoping that the Note 8 announcement will be the crown jewel of the keynote. While it's still unsure which venue Samsung will chose for the unveiling of their next-gen Note 8 smartphone, the Korean tech press today is pumping up it's likely dual lens camera being one of the highlights so as to match the iPhone 7 Plus. The iPhone 7 Plus is sweeping the market with this feature, even in China where iPhones other than the iPhone 7 were a little weak last quarter. The Korean report further noted that "Samsung had attempted to feature a dual-lens camera in the latest flagship Galaxy S8 but the plan was ditched at the last minute due to high parts prices and design issues." Translation: Apple took Samsung by surprise and they were unable to rush a copycat feature in time for the S8. Market research firm Techno System Research predicts the demand for dual-lens cameras will soar from 76 million units last year to 600 million units by 2020 when three out of 10 smartphones are expected to feature the upgraded camera. Last week the U.S. Patent Office granted Samsung a design patent for a new Note smartphone design. Whether Samsung is ready for a bolder Note 7 design this year is unknown at this time. About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. Those using abusive language or behavior will result in being blacklisted on Disqus. French English PRESS RELEASE Clermont-Ferrand, France - May 19, 2017 COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN 2017 Annual Shareholders Meeting The Annual Meeting of Michelin shareholders was held today in Clermont-Ferrand under the chairmanship of Chief Executive Officer Jean-Dominique Senard. Shareholders adopted all of the resolutions submitted for their approval. These concerned, in particular: The payment of a dividend of 3.25 per share, payable in cash as from May 26, 2017. The advisory vote on the components of Jean-Dominique Senard and Michel Rollier's compensation for 2016. The renewal of the authorization to carry out a share buyback program at a maximum purchase price per share of 160 and the authorization to reduce the share capital by canceling the shares purchased under the program. Shareholders re-elected Michel Rollier and Olivier Bazil to the Supervisory Board for a further four-year term expiring at the close of the Annual Shareholders Meeting to be called to approve the financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2020. Marc Henry, Chief Financial Officer, Member of the Executive Committee and Executive Vice President, Specialty Product Lines, noted that Michelin performed very well in 2016, which represented a successful milestone in its strategic roadmap, with growth that outpaced the markets, a further improvement in margins and over 1 billion in structural free cash flow. Given the Group's on-track performance in the first quarter, he also confirmed its targets to achieve volume growth on a par with global market trends, operating income from recurring activities equal to or exceeding the 2016 figure at constant exchange rates, and structural free cash flow of more than 900 million. After congratulating Michelin's teams around the world for their hard work, Jean-Dominique Senard went over the Group's strategy, which embodies its purpose to be an undisputed leader in sustainable mobility. Its goal is to enhance customer mobility and satisfaction over the long term, first and foremost by providing them with the most suitably designed, innovative tires that deliver performance from the first to the last mile. The strategy also involves bringing to market a variety of tire-related services and solutions to make mobility more efficient, developing a full array of businesses that offer customers an outstanding mobility experience and marketing Michelin-developed high-tech materials to other players in the sustainable mobility industry. Implementing this strategy means bringing about rapid change in the way Michelin operates. This transformation will hinge on the Group's customer service initiative, its digitalization, the empowerment of its teams and the simplification of its procedures. The presentations to shareholders, vote totals on the resolutions and a webcast of the entire Annual Meeting will be posted on May 20 on the corporate website (www.michelin.com/eng). Investor Relations Valerie Magloire +33 (0) 1 78 76 45 37 +33 (0) 6 76 21 88 12 (cell) valerie.magloire@michelin.com Matthieu Dewavrin +33 (0) 4 73 32 18 02 +33 (0) 6 71 14 17 05 (cell) matthieu.dewavrin@michelin.com Humbert de Feydeau +33 (0) 4 73 32 68 39 +33 (0) 6 82 22 39 78 (cell) humbert.de-feydeau@michelin.com Media Relations Corinne Meutey +33 (0) 1 78 76 45 27 +33 (0) 6 08 00 13 85 (cell) corinne.meutey@michelin.com Individual Shareholders Jacques Engasser +33 (0) 4 73 98 59 08 jacques.engasser@michelin.com DISCLAIMER This press release is not an offer to purchase or a solicitation to recommend the purchase of Michelin shares. To obtain more detailed information on Michelin, please consult the documents filed in France with Autorite des Marches Financiers, which are also available from the www.michelin.com/eng website. This press release may contain a number of forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that these statements are based on reasonable assumptions as at the time of publishing this document, they are by nature subject to risks and contingencies liable to translate into a difference between actual data and the forecasts made or inferred by these statements. Master Wuzu asked one of his students, The woman Chien and her spirit had separated. Tell me, which is the true Chien? Wumenguan, The Gateless Gate, Case 35. The Zen teacher Wuzu loved to formulate spiritual questions out of folklore. This koan is based in a much loved tale from old China. Like the best of ghost stories, no one knows from where it originally comes. I gather there are at least three traditional versions floating around. Heres a fourth as Ive heard it. Once upon a time, in a distant province of the great Middle Kingdom, there was a kindly man, a widower, named Changkien. He lived in a lovely village on the shores of a small river that fed into the great Yellow. He had been a hard worker and was lucky and had become a merchant of some repute. Changkien had a single daughter, her mother having died in childbirth. Her name was Chien. Changkien adored his daughter and assured that she was given every best he could, even teaching her to read at a time when that was not done. Also, he had taken into his household an orphaned boy, a distant relative. His name was Wangchou. Changkien raised the boy as his nephew, which in that time and place meant a great deal. The children were both bright and lively and quickly became inseparable. One day, observing their intent play together, Changkien joked that they were a perfect couple and would have to marry some day. Now, in this place and time, childhood betrothals were the norm. So, the two children believed they were committed to marry someday. Well, the years passed, and Changkien decided it was time to find a good marriage for his daughter. He had no memory of what had been meant to be a small joke long before. He went to the village marriage broker and found another successful merchant whose wife had died the year before, and was now looking for a spouse. He knew the man was a bit of a sharp trader and nearly his own age, but if his daughter married this man, a comfortable life would be assured for her. So, he entered into negotiations. As a kindly man, as soon as he came to a satisfactory arrangement with the merchant, he told his daughter. His nephew was there as well. Chien and Wangchou were stunned. Changkien took their silence as we often do, as a canvas on which to paint whatever message we want, and he felt they were both pleased with his good work on behalf of his daughter. He also realized he had not yet thought about his young charge and began to think about another family in the village who had a daughter that might make a good match. He wasnt too worried about Wangchous future because early on the boy had shown an amazing talent with woodworking. In fact, the boy had made nearly half the household furniture. That night Wangchou packed up his meager belongings, threw them into a canoe and was about to launch into the night, but before he could push off he heard his name called. It was Chien. She ran up to him and they kissed, kissed as lovers for the first time. Silently she threw her own small bundle into the canoe and they slipped away downstream. Years passed, they had married, Wangchou had become a successful furniture maker, and they had three children of their own. But Chien never forgot her father and her love for him. The truth be told, Wangchou also missed the old man who was the closest he would ever have to a father. Finally they decided it was time to return up stream to their home village and, if at all possible, to make peace with Changkien. They left the children in the care of a local family, packed the old canoe with some presents, and made their way back to the village. It was evening when they arrived near the family house. Wangchou asked his wife to wait and to allow him to go up to the house and make sure that Changkien would receive them. He walked through the quickly darkening evening, each tree and the path itself sparking memories. Even the smells were familiar and somehow comforting. Finally he came to the door and for the first time in his life instead of just walking in he knocked. It took a while before Changkien came to the door. He was clearly older, a little more bent over, but his eye had the same sparkle Wangchou remembered from his childhood. The old man took a moment to recognize his former ward, let out a great laugh, and against all the protocols of their culture, embraced Wangchou, holding him tightly. Boy, boy, Im so glad youre home. Ive never stopped thinking about you since you disappeared that night all those years ago. So, youve forgiven us? asked Wangchou, hesitantly. All is forgiven! Im just so glad youre back. Then a pause. What do you mean, us? Wangchou felt a shiver run down his back. Why Chien and me. There was a horrible silence. I dont know what you mean, Wangchou. Another pause. The night you left Chien took to her bed, fainted away, and has been in a coma ever since. He took the young man by the hand and they walked up the stairs to Chiens old room. And sure enough lying asleep in the middle of the bed was a deathly pale Chien. More silence. Who knows what stories the two men were telling themselves within that silence, but finally Wangchaou said, Dear uncle, I have to show you something. And with that they walked downstairs and out of the house, down the path toward the river. They were about halfway there when Chien appeared, dressed in the clothing she had worn from that morning, but wild eyed and running. However, as she came to them she didnt pause but instead continued on past them toward the house. As the men turned they saw the other Chien, dressed in a white nightgown also running toward them. They quickly realized she was not in fact running toward them. Instead the two Chiens ran right up to each other, grabbed each other, hugged each other, and gradually each melted into the other. Thats the story. And out of it the Zen teacher Wuzu asks us, Who is the true Chien? Now theres another koan, question, riddle, invitation to encounter who we are at the deepest levels that has no backstory at all. It goes, Save a ghost. So, for all of us, how do we save a ghost? And who is that ghost that needs saving? Within that question we are asked who is the true Chien? And what has Chien got to do with our lives?and I mean that as intimately as possible, your life and my life. It doesnt matter if there are ghosts in some objective sense. At least it doesnt matter for the question were being asked here. What are the ghosts of your life? What has torn you apart? What longing? What angry moment? What idea do you hold onto no matter what contradictory information you get? What fragment of your heart is following its own current into the graveyard, plucking at the shirtsleeves of passersby, whispering not quite fully formed sentences of longing or anger? Its not save a ghost. Its save this ghost. Bring that fragment of your heart, whatever it is, this ghost, to wholeness. So, of course another question is buried within this statement. What is wholeness? Is it some smooth unity that admits no disruption? Or is it a fullness of many fragments brought together within the skin bag that is our sense of self? Lets just say for the moment were woven out of many things, some good, some not so good, but it is all of them taken together that makes us. If that is true, what would the whole look like? Like home? Where are the various parts of the Chien that are you and me? And what brings them together into a wholeness that does not deny our fullness? Home? Is this our true home? Think about that and then how it is possible to not call out to all those hungry spirits wandering the world. Call them home. If Windows 10 S will only allow apps that can be downloaded from the Microsoft Store, it can run the new downloadable Linux apps, right? Wrong! Heres why: Microsoft is actively blocking command-line apps that run outside the safe environment of Windows 10 S, Microsoft senior program manager Rich Turner wrote in a blog post on Thursday. Microsoft said it created Windows 10 S as a way for students and even mainstream users to add a bit more security to their Windows 10 experience. Windows 10 S only runs apps that have been vetted by Microsoft and appear in the Store. Though Microsoft didnt explicitly say so at the time, those apps dont run at a low level on a users PC, like debuggers or those applications that explicitly write to hardware or modify the system registry. Linux does, however. And in Turners words, those apps wont run on an operating system that has been deliberately constrained to prevent just these types of apps and tasks from running! Though they install just like a traditional Windows 10 UWP app, they behave like command-line tools that run outside the UWP sandbox and the secure runtime infrastructure, Turner wrote. And its not just Linux. Examples of other low-level apps that wont run under Windows 10 S include the Windows Console, Cmd/PowerShell, or Linux/Bash/WSL instances. Fortunately, there is a solution: Windows 10 S contains a built-in upgrade path to Windows 10 Pro, and heres how to do it. If youve preordered the new Surface Laptop, the device will ship with Windows 10 S, but youll be able to upgrade for free for a limited time. Why this matters: Many Windows users look askance Windows 10 S and its built-in constraints, and this restriction on certain Windows Stores apps may deepen their skepticism. As anyone whos done tech support for a family member knows, keeping some people away from the registry or other low-level functions is sometimes a good idea. The question becomes a bit thornier, though, if Windows 10 S does in fact take off in the classroom. It could be hard to encourage kids to code, and then hack, without giving them access to low-level functions. Sarasota, FL, May 19, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zion Market Research has published a new report titled Power Banks Market (Portable Power Banks, Phone Charging Cases, Solar Power Banks) for Smartphone, Tablets, Portable Media Devices, and Others Application - Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis, and Forecast, 2014 2020. According to the report, global power bank market was valued at USD 15.09 billion in 2014, is expected to reach USD 17.2 billion in at a CAGR of above 20% between 2015 and 2020. The power bank is commonly known as a battery charger. It is a portable and compact charger used to charge a broad range of digital products. Power banks are generally used for charging laptops, tablets, MP3 players, portable media device, and smartphones. It is used as an external battery, plug-in charger for charging a rechargeable battery or secondary cell. Power banks can be used to charge GPS systems, portable speakers, cameras, or other USB-charged devices. Lithium-ion or Lithium-Polymer is the two battery type of power bank. Generally, Lithium-ion or Lithium-Polymer batteries are used in power bank design for their compact nature and affordability. Browse through 85 Market Tables and 16 Figures spread through 110 Pages and in-depth TOC on Global Power Banks market - Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Trends, Segment, and Forecast 2014-2020. Request Free Sample copy of Global Power Bank Market Report @ http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/power-banks-market-z51389#RequestSample Power bank market is primarily driven by growing demand from smartphone and tablet across the globe. Increasing demand from a decline in the prices of power banks and growing power consumption due to large-scale digitization is expected to boost the growth of the power bank market in the years to come. However, increase in terms of battery capacity and poor quality of power tank is major challenges that may hamper the growth of the market. The power bank market has been segmented based on a product such as portable power banks, phone charging cases (battery cases), and solar power banks. In 2014, the portable power bank was the dominant product segment in terms of total revenue. Phone charging cases (battery cases), and solar power banks are also expected to grow at a moderate rate. The global power bank market on the basis of the battery type is segmented as Lithium-ion, Lithium-polymer. In 2014, Lithium-ion was the largest battery type segment in power bank market. Lithium-ion accounted over 80% of the overall share of the market. Browse the full "Power Banks Market (Portable Power Banks, Phone Charging Cases, Solar Power Banks) for Smartphone, Tablets, Portable Media Devices, and Others Application - Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis, and Forecast, 2014 2020" report at http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/power-banks-market-z51389 Smartphones, tablets, portable media devices and others are the key application of the global power bank market. The Smartphones and tablets were the largest application segment among the other segment and are expected to grow at a moderate rate during the forecast period. Moreover, increased demand and usage of mobile devices and growing wireless services (3G, 4G) saturation is driving the demand for power banks. Geographically, global power bank market has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America regions. Asia Pacific region was the leading market for power bank and accounted for over the 45% share of the total market. Europe is expected to grow at a CAGR 23.0% during the forecast period. Now, North America dominates the global power banks market in terms of revenue. Less awareness of the safety standards connected with the power banks is expected to boost the market growth of power banks in the emerging region such as India, China, and Brazil. Inquire more about this report before purchase @ http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/power-banks-market-z51389#InquiryForBuying some of the key players in the global power bank market include Limefuel LLC, EassyAcc.com, Inc., GP Batteries International Ltd, Anker, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Hitachi Maxell, Ltd., Xtorm BV, Panasonic Corporation, Sony Corporation, Xiaomi Technology Co., Ltd, Apacer Technologies, Inc., and others. Request for Free Price Quotation @ http://www.marketresearchstore.com/requestquote?reportid=51389 The report segments the global power banks market into: Global Power Banks Market: Product Segment Analysis Portable Power Banks Phone Charging Cases (Battery Cases) Solar Power Banks Global Power Banks Market: Application Segment Analysis Smartphones Tablets Portable Media Devices Others Global Power Banks Market: Battery Type Segment Analysis Lithium-ion Lithium-polymer Global Power banks Market: Regional Segment Analysis North America U.S. Europe UK France Germany Asia Pacific China Japan India Latin America Brazil Middle East & Africa Related Reports: Mobile Application Market: http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/mobile-application-market-z52534 http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/mobile-application-market-z52534 A2P SMS Market: http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/a2p-sms-market-for-pushed-content-services-customer-z38850 http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/a2p-sms-market-for-pushed-content-services-customer-z38850 Mobile Hotspot Router Market: http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/mobile-hotspot-router-market-z60689 http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/mobile-hotspot-router-market-z60689 Mobile Wallet Market: http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/mobile-wallet-market-nfc-and-remote-payment-z37621 http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/mobile-wallet-market-nfc-and-remote-payment-z37621 Enterprise Mobility Market: http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/enterprise-mobility-market-by-software-z38392 About Us: Zion Market Research is an obligated company. We create futuristic, cutting edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, company reports to country reports. We provide our clients not only with market statistics unveiled by avowed private publishers and public organizations but also with vogue and newest industry reports along with pre-eminent and niche company profiles. Our database of market research reports comprises a wide variety of reports from cardinal industries. Our database is been updated constantly in order to fulfill our clients with prompt and direct online access to our database. Keeping in mind the clients needs, we have included expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends in this database. Last but not the least, we make it our duty to ensure the success of clients connected to usafter allif you do well, a little of the light shines on us. The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has stated that there can be no future prosperity for the countries of West Africa and its peoples, in the short, medium or long term, if they continue to maintain economic structures that are dependent on the production and export of raw materials. According to him we must add value to these resources, we must industrialise and we must enhance agricultural productivity, if West Africa is to ensure the progress and prosperity of its peoples. President Akufo-Addo made this known on Thursday, May 18, 2017, when he delivered his remarks at a State Dinner held in his honour by the President of Guinea, His Excellency Prof. Alpha Conde, on day 2 of his 3-day tour of Guinea. The reason for his visit to Guinea, President Akufo-Addo told President Conde, is to build on the existing relations between the two countries, as well explore, further, other areas of co-operation for the mutual benefit of the two peoples, and was, thus, excited that the two countries, in May 2013, had reactivated the Permanent Joint Commission on Co-operation (PJCC). Co-operation in the development of our agriculture, education, science and technology, infrastructure, health, energy and culture, and the co-ordination of the exploitation of our mutual natural resources, such as bauxite, iron ore, gold and petroleum, would be of immense benefit to our two countries, he added. It is for this reason that President Akufo-Addo proposed that the two countries hold the next session of the PJCC in Accra before the end of the year, adding that we must intensify the links between Ghanaian and Guinean enterprises, and, thereby, also hasten the process of regional integration. With the population of West Africa set to hit 500 million people in 20 years time, up from its current population of 350 million, President Akufo-Addo added that the integration of the ECOWAS community is now, explaining that the integration of the region will offer immense opportunities to bring prosperity to our region with hard work, enterprise and creativity. This ambitious programme of economic transformation and integration of the ECOWAS countries, the President stressed, must be hinged on the peace and stability of all parts of West Africa. To this end, President Akufo-Addo stated that I am, thus, relieved, and I am sure I speak for all of us here, that the disturbing events of the last few days in our common neighbouring state of Cote dIvoire have been brought to a satisfactory conclusion, and that good sense has prevailed and enabled the crisis to abate peacefully, he said. Stressing the long standing bilateral relations that exist between Ghana and Guinea, President Akufo-Addo was expectant that our two peoples will continue to march side-by-side in solidarity in the search for progress and dignity for the African peoples. President Akufo-Addo applauded President Conde for the ongoing efforts he is making to entrench democracy and the rule of law in the body politic of Guinea, as well to maintain her unity and integrity devoid of narrow partisan, ethnic considerations. It is a historic task, but one in which your life-long struggle and sacrifices for Guinean democracy have prepared you adequately to undertake. We wish you well and Godspeed, he added. President Akufo-Addo was also thankful for the presence of his Guinean counterpart at his inauguration on 7th January, 2017, and also for the presence of the Guinean Prime Minister, M. Mamady Youla, at Ghanas 60th independence anniversary celebrations, on 6th March, 2017. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The salt industry is set to receive a shot in the arm, should Ghana Water Companys (GWCL) newly proposed On Site Electro-Chlorination (OSEC) technology in water treatment be adopted and fully implemented. Research indicates that Ghana has a potential production capacity exceeding two million metric tonnes, but has only managed to produce a maximum of 250,000 to 300,000 metric tonnes, which represents just 10 percent of what nature offers on the coast. The salt industry has been producing far below its actual potential production, due to little or no attention it has received in past years. However, with the piloting and subsequent full adoption of the OSEC technology,there would be a substantially high demand for the local product. For the sustenance of the new technology, the government would have to increase its efforts in local production of salt. It is estimated that about a total of 50,000 to 100, 000 jobs would be created in the salt value chain. This OSEC plant, which is set to start full operation after six months of pilot, once approval is received from the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) would use a refined salt component of a specific grade in producing sodium hydrochloride, to disinfect the water. The project would initially be piloted at GWCL treatment sites, namely Weija, which treats a total of about 13.8 million gallons per day, and Kpone old works which treats about 8 million gallons per day. Ostensibly, if the project is replicated in the entire country, Ghana would see a high in demand for salt For every 1kg of chlorine the plant generates, it needs 3kg of salt. Therefore, a typical plant which uses 20kg of chlorine gas per hour, it will require 60 kg of salt. The plant which is meant to be in operation for 24hours per day will then require about 1,440 kg of salt component every day. The plant has the capacity of 40 kg of chlorine gas per hour. This project is being operated in some Africa countries such as Mali, and Kenya, as well as Burkina Faso which happens to be importing salt from Ghana and later refines it to the specification of the plant. Source: Goldstreet Business 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 President Akufo-Addo has appointed the Dr. Felix Anyah, as the new Chief Executive Officer the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. Dr. Anyah, who is the owner of Holy Trinity Medical Centre/Holy Trinity Spa & Health Farm assumes office with immediate effect. A statement from the Presidency confirmed his appointment. 66-year-old Dr. Anyah is a well-known Ghanian medical practitioner with health spa and farm in West Africa. Dr. Anyah takes over from Dr Samuel Asiamah who is the acting CEO of the hospital following the self-termination of office by Dr Gilbert Buckle who reportedly ended his service in February this year. Dr. Buckle before his departure faced numerous tussles with the Korle Bu Senior Staff Association (KOSSA) who among other things, raised issues about certain decisions he made. The Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in spite of its admirable status as one of the few major health facilities in the country is bedeviled the many challenges that appear to be insurmountable in spite of the many changes in administration. The situation of the hospital was described by the Minister for Environment Science and Technology, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng as a monster that cannot be killed. The former Head of the National Cardiothoracic Centre who worked for several years at the hospital said during his ministerial vetting that it has become a bigger monster that you cannot kill and you cannot eat. The appointment of Dr. Anyah according to Prof. Frimpong Boateng may be a mistake as he stated in 2015 that governments appointment of CEOs for the hospital was unhealthy. According to him, the hospitals board must be allowed to appoint the CEO. He said on the Citi Breakfasts Show that, government should not appoint the Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Korle Bu, it is a mistakethe CEO of Korle Bu is appointed by the board so anytime government meddles in it, it creates problems for the institution. About Dr. Anyah He had his education at the St. Johns School, Sekondi, Opoku Ware School, in Kumasi before entering the University of Ghana Medical School graduating with M.B. Ch B. degree in 1979. After his housemanship at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and Effia Nkwanta Hospital, he worked at several private hospitals in Nigeria and Ghana before establishing the Holy Trinity Medical Centre in July 1988. Source: citifmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Forty-five senior officers of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) have been transferred and posted to new stations. They include two Deputy Commissioners of Immigration (DCOI), two Assistant Commissioners of Immigration (ACI), 18 Chief Superintendents of Immigration (C/SUPT.), eight Superintendents of Immigration (SUPT.), 11 Deputy Superintendents of Immigration (DSI) and four Assistant Superintendents of Immigration (ASI). A letter dated May 17, 2017, and signed by Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kwame Asuah Takyi, said the transfers take immediate effect. According to the letter, DCOI Prosper Price Delali Asima has been transferred from Kotoka International Airport (KIA) to Sekondi in the Western Region as the Officer in Charge (OIC) while DCOI Eric Affari at Sekondi heads to KIA as OIC. In addition, ACI Isaac Luortey, the Commander in Tamale in the Northern Region has been transferred to Headquarters in Accra and will be replaced by an officer from Headquarters - Chief Superintendent Noah Ahomka Yeboah - as Acting Regional Commander. C/SUPT Francis Palmdeti, New Central Regional Commander ACI Maud A. Quainoo Central Regional Commander has been transferred to Headquarters to take charge of administration and will be replaced by Chief Superintendent Francis Palmdeti (Officer in charge of Public Affairs at Headquarters) as new Regional Commander to be stationed at Cape Coast. Amoako Ataa, new head of Public Affairs Chief Superintended Palmdeti will be replaced by Michael Amoako Ataa, second in charge of Public Officers who has been promoted to Officer in Charge of Public Affairs. C/Supt. Julius Gboglah has been transferred from Bolgatanga to Headquarters in Accra while C/Supt. Kwasi Appau moves to Bolgatanga as Acting Regional Commander of Upper East. Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region also has a new Acting Regional Commander in the person of C/Supt. Fred B. Duodu. He was transferred from Accra. New HR at Headquarters C/Supt. Kojo Oppong from Sunyani heads to Accra as Officer in Charge of Human Resource at Headquarters. C/Supt. Nicholina Asare heads work permit The Officer in Charge of Training at Headquarters, C/Supt., Nicholina Asare, has been assigned as Officer in Charge of work permit at the Headquarters. Tema C/Supt. Evelyn Aseidu Gyekye, Officer in Charge of the Receiving Counter at Headquarters has been transferred to Tema and C/Supt. Edith Penelove Arhin at Headquarters Issue Room, has also been transferred to Tema. Akanu, Sogakope have new bosses Akanu in the Volta Region will see a new Sector Commander in the person of C/Supt. Francis Baning and the C/Supt. Joshua Krakue moves from Akanu to Headquarters while C/Supt. Yaw Charles Bediako from Headquarters will take over at Sogakope as Officer in Charge. Passport Office C/Supt. Gordon Saah has been transferred from Headquarters to passport office while Shadrack Azangweo moves from Cape Coast to Obuasi as Officer in Charge. Kumasi DSI Agnes Tinga has been transferred from Suhum in the Eastern Region to Kumasi as the second in Command and Supt. Lydia Achel from Headquarters intelligence also moves to Kumasi intelligence. Source: The Finder 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 President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was on Tuesday 16 May decorated with the highest national award of Senegal, the Grand Croix de lOrdre national du Lion (Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion). Mr Akufo-Addo was decorated by Senegalese President Macky Sall. Mr Akufo-Addos tour of Senegal was to strengthen Ghanas ties with the Francophone country and officially introduce himself to the Senegalese president as the new Ghanaian leader. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo indicated his preparedness to share the experiences Ghana has gained in the management of its oil and gas resources, since its discovery in 2007, as well as the measures taken to ensure the prudent and effective use of the proceeds from their sale, with Senegal. According to Nana Akufo-Addo, With the recent discovery of oil and gas in Senegal in commercial quantities, and with our experiences, I believe Ghana is well-equipped to share with you the dos and donts in the effective management of oil and gas revenues. He has since left Senegal for Guinea. Source: classfmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Minister of Defence, Dominic Nitiwul has ordered an immediate investigation into the cost of a new Military Cemetery at Burma Camp valued at $6 million. According to the Minister, the cost is simply outrageous and must be probed for a possible review. The cemetery is being constructed as an alternative to the Osu Military Cemetery, which currently has very limited graveyard space. Speaking to Citi News after a tour of some military installations in Accra, Dominic Nitiwul also indicated that government will review most of the Public-Private Partnerships, such as the cemetery, put in place by the previous administration. I am also reviewing some of the PPP [Public-Private Partnerships] projects undertaken by the previous government because clearly, there were problems with them. I am not satisfied with some of them. I have asked them to redo it, like the cemetery, the Minister said. I think the cost [of the cemetary] is too much. It is $6 million. It is outrageous and I will look critically into it. I have already asked them to start an immediate investigation into it. At least we can save something to put into the accommodation for our troops. The Akufo-Addo Administration has expressed its commitment to improving the living conditions of soldiers nationwide, hence the release of GHc 23 million for the completion of some Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) residential facilities for personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces. The government has assured troops that all barracks across the country would be refurbished and renovated and that more residential accommodation facilities will be provided to reduce the acute accommodation problem facing troops. According to the Defence Minister, some 5,000 soldiers do not have quality accommodation, which is one of the biggest challenges facing the Armed Forces. Three contracts have also been awarded for the three high-rise buildings, ahead of the broader improvement of the army barracks. Source: citifmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection is leading Ghana's delegation to the 10th Session of the Committee on Sustainable Development of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. The Session of the Committee will delibrate on statutory and legislative matters pertaining to the sub-programme on Innovation, Technology and Management of Africa's Natural Resources of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) under the substantive responsibility of the Special Initiatives Division (SID). The outcomes of the committee meeting will feed into the deliberations of 2017. Part of the Ghanaian delegation are representatives of the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Planning, The Head of Mission New York and many others. Source: Deborah Agyei Amponsah Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The sacked Medical Director of the Ridge Hospital (now Greater Accra Regional Hospital), Dr Thomas Anaba, has said Health Minister Kweku Agyeman-Manu and the Director of the Ghana Health Service orchestrated his dismissal because they just do not like him. Dr Anaba was appointed amidst controversy on 1 February 2016 by President John Mahama. His appointment was to last till 2020 after which he would have had the option of reapplying to stay on. He was served with his dismissal letter on Monday 15 May and asked to vacate post in two hours. He is demanding to know if his dismissal had the blessing of the Public Service Commission and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) Council which is yet to be constituted. I dont exactly know why I have been dismissed, he said on Wednesday, 17 May, in an interview on the sidelines of the official opening of the refurbished hospital, explaining: The letter only said they are restructuring Ridge Hospital so for that matter you are being released to go, which I think is an absurd reason. Dr Anaba said: They said I should hand over immediately, I cant take two hours to hand over immediately because this is not a small project I was handling. I have documents, several things I have to tell the incoming director, however, Ive requested for explanations why they dismissed me while Im planning either to hand over or I continue, so, when they bring the response and Im satisfied, I give them the handing over notes and I leave, he noted. On Wednesday, Mr Agyeman-Manu and Dr Anabas predecessor Dr Emmanuel Srofenyo who was fired about a year ago to pave the way for Dr Anaba, officiated the opening ceremony. In Dr Anabas view, it means he [Dr Srofenyo] has taken over because the Minister is recognising him as the substantive head of the hospital against all the laws in Ghana that medical directors are not appointed by [Directors-General] or by the Ministers. They are appointed by the [Ghana Health Service] Council and we dont have a council and besides that you have to be interviewed, so, if he [the Minister] is using him as the Director of the hospital, then that is an aberrant situation. According to Dr Anaba, he is more qualified than Dr Srofenyo but the Minister is bent on doing away with him for selfish reasons. If you ask the Public Service Commission, they will tell you that I was qualified to be the Director here, I beat him [Dr Srofenyo] hands down. I had more information on this hospital than him. I had a better strategy to manage this hospital when I went for the interview and I know that my concept paper to manage this hospital is impeccable, so, not that he is better than me. I know what I can do in management. Ive succeeded and Ive two international awards for management. He [Dr Srofenyo] should produce one. You see, Im going to put this hospital in the hands of this man [Dr Srofenyo] just for peoples [Minister and Director Generals] self-interest. They are the people with the self-interest: That Dr Anaba should not work here because they dont want Dr Anaba, so, they should give me the reasons. Do they have any reason? You think its fair that you should be appointed by a council and a Minister, a single man says rubbish it, even President Mahama didnt rubbish the decision by the then council even when he was the president but the minister has rubbished it. This is abuse of power, I need explanations. Asked why he thought he was being hounded out, Dr Anaba said: Im not going to brag, perhaps, it is the achievements I and my staff have achieved in one year Ive developed a strategic plan for the hospital, to run the new hospital. Ive developed standing operating protocols, Ive improved upon financial management in the hospital and improved financial income for the hospital, Ive developed what we call protocols for clinical doctors to use in the new place, Ive developed what we call a costing tool together with my staff for the new place, Ive also reduced maternal mortality, he told Accra-based Starr FMs Atiewin Mbillah-Lawson. Source: classfmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video ATHENS, Greece, May 19, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE:DSX), (the Company), a global shipping company specializing in the ownership of dry bulk vessels, today announced that, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, it has taken delivery of the m/v Astarte (formerly Seatrust), a 2013 built Kamsarmax dry bulk vessel of 81,513 dwt that the Company entered into an agreement to purchase in April 2017. Including the newly delivered m/v Astarte, Diana Shipping Inc.s fleet currently consists of 50 dry bulk vessels (4 Newcastlemax, 14 Capesize, 4 Post-Panamax, 5 Kamsarmax and 23 Panamax). The Company also expects to take delivery of one Post-Panamax dry bulk vessel by the end of May 2017. As of today, the combined carrying capacity of our fleet, excluding the one vessel not yet delivered, is approximately 5.8 million dwt with a weighted average age of 7.86 years. A table describing the current Diana Shipping Inc. fleet can be found on the Companys website, www.dianashippinginc.com. Information contained on the Companys website does not constitute a part of this press release. About the Company Diana Shipping Inc. is a leading global provider of shipping transportation services through its ownership of dry bulk vessels. The Companys vessels are employed primarily on medium to long-term time charters and transport a range of dry bulk cargoes, including such commodities as iron ore, coal, grain and other materials along worldwide shipping routes. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts. The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words believe, anticipate, intends, estimate, forecast, project, plan, potential, may, should, expect, pending and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, our managements examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. In addition to these important factors, other important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values, changes in demand for dry bulk shipping capacity, changes in our operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, the market for our vessels, availability of financing and refinancing, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, vessel breakdowns and instances of off-hires and other factors. Please see our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a more complete discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. The United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) is renewing calls for continued research to find a vaccine for the disease whose 20th HIV Vaccine Awareness Day falls on Thursday. New HIV infections have remained quite high for the past 10 years and every year, 1.9 million adults and more than 150 000 children become infected with the virus. A release to the Ghana News Agency said although there have been significant discoveries in the field of vaccine research and development, there is still no effective vaccine available against HIV. It said even if a 90 percent reduction in new HIV infections is achieved by 2030, there will still be around 200 000 new HIV infections annually and this shows how essential a vaccine will be for the long-term control of HIV. Despite our major success in scaling up treatment and ongoing prevention programmes, there are still large numbers of people becoming infected with HIV every year, said Michel Sidibe, Executive Director of UNAIDS. The biggest impact in the eradication or control of infectious diseases in the history of public health has been achieved through vaccination, which is why a vaccine is an objective well worth continuing to invest in. Successful antiretroviral therapy requires lifelong adherence, but adherence relies on behaviour change, which can be difficult to maintain. In contrast, an HIV vaccine is a one-time intervention that is extremely cost-effective compared with the cost of a lifelong treatment. The release said a simple-to-use vaccine would be a key tool in reaching the populations most affected by HIV. It said models estimate that even a modestly effective vaccineone that is 50 percent effectivewould have a big impact on the epidemic and may be enough to significantly reduce new HIV infections among key populations. The release said industry is helping to take on the challenge of vaccine development and vaccine candidates are in company pipelines, with some trials starting soon. It said a large vaccine trial, HVTN 702, is in progress in South Africa, with results due in three years. That trial, part of the HIV Vaccine Trials Network, builds on the RV144 trial, whose report was delivered in 2009 and was conducted in Thailand, showing a 31 per cent efficacy. This year, UNAIDS is hosting an art installation on the power of vaccines, reflecting the importance of linking art, advocacy and science. The exhibition, entitled Immune Nations, opens on 23 May and runs until 30 June 2017. The Joint UNAIDS leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. It unites the efforts of 11 UN organizationsUNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bankand works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Investigations indicate that patients were moved to the multi-million dollar Greater Accra Regional Hospital to apparently keep up appearances during the official opening of the facility on Wednesday, May 17. According to investigations, the patients were moved from the old Ridge Hospital building to the new facility. The hospital, which is funded by a $250 million credit facility from the US Exim bank and HSBC Bank, was found closed to patients, just three days after it was opened by the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyemang Manu. Former President John Mahama had inaugurated the first phase of the project in November 2016 but the hospital remained closed till the Wednesday opening. Following the opening of the 420-bed, about 50 patients had the opportunity to experience health care at the hospital. But Citi News Caleb Kudah reported that the brisk activities witnessed at the hospital during its opening are now non-existent. Some persons spoke to him in hope of using the facilities when it was opened on Wednesday but today [Friday], there was no activity, as persons were not allowed access to the hospital. Security personnel, who confronted a Citi News reporter said the hospital was closed at least until Monday. Health Ministry unaware of closure Meanwhile, the Health Ministry has said it is not aware of the closure of the multi-million medical facility. The Public Relations officer of the Ministry, Robert Cudjoe, however, says all necessary equipment installations have to be carried out before the facility becomes fully operational. This is a big hospital and a lot of work must go on, but as to whether it has been shut down again, I have no idea because we opened it just this Wednesday No information has come to us that someone has reported and has been refused to be taken care off. That has not come to my attention. If it is, then probably we will know what to do later on, Mr. Cudjoe told Citi News. Tussle between Health Ministry, Medical Director These revelations come amidst the impasse between Medical Director of Ridge Hospital and the Health Ministry. A supposed letter addressed to Dr. Anaba directed to him to hand over to the Public Services Commission, three years short of the expiration of his tenure. Dr. Thomas Anabah The letter said the directive was from the Health Minister, who has subsequently appointed Dr. Anabas predecessor, Emmanuel Kwabla Srofenyoh. But Dr. Anaba took the letter as a sign of bad faith and insisted it would be impossible to hand over until the necessary arrangements are put in place for his predecessor to assume his role. He has also threatened to sue the Health Minister for unduly transferring him from his post. Source: citifmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video James Ratemo, a Kenyan politician who is vying for the Kapsoya ward representative seat in Eldoret has been struck with tragedy as three of sons who went missing, were found dead. According to The Star Kenya, the three boys identified as Clifford Nyambane, Dan Nyamweya, and Glen Ongagi were reported missing on May 13 after they went to a Church in the company of their cousin and never returned. James's children aged seven, three and five years old, respectively were on Thursday night found murdered with their bodies dumped in River Nzoia at Sikubale in Navakholo, Kakamega County. Their remains have been taken to a facility in Eldoret to examine their bodies, while their uncle Enock Onsanze who was the last person seen with them has been arrested for interrogation. 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 Kweku Baako says the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will make a mockery of themselves for petitioning a US regulatory body to investigate the recent $2.25 billion bond issued by the Government of Ghana. The NDC minority has filed a complaint with the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the United States of America to commence investigations into the US$2.25 billion bond issuance by the Akufo-Addo government in which Franklin Templeton, a US registered company purchased 95% of 15-year and 7-year bonds. The party believes the US regulatory body would help to bring finality to the issue in hope that the NDC will win the case against the government. Addressing the issue on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo', Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper opined that the petition by the NDC to the US regulatory body will amount to nothing. To him, the party can never win the case and that "at the end of the day, they will know that they will internationalize their incompetence and embarrassment. They're widening the scope of the international ridicule that they will be subjected to. The poverty of their thinking, of their knowledge and things on this matter will manifest, and that for I think is education by negative experience. We'll all learn from it." He added that "in the most unlikely situation that they will win and I doubt it, it cannot happen. It just cannot happen. But if it happens, well, I will come and sit here, render an apology to the good people of this country. It is never going to happen. It is not going to happen, in Ghana and in the US...because the records are so well documented." Mr. Baako however expressed confidence in CHRAJ to investigate the recent $2.25 billion bond issued by the Government of Ghana. CHRAJ confirmed receipt of a petition specifically requesting it to investigate allegations of interest and transparency issues with regards to the bond among other issues of conduct surrounding Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and Attorney General Gloria Akufo. "I have complete confidence in the work that CHRAJ will do and you'll see that it was just noise...In fact, they'll vindicate Bawumia who said that at the end of the day, what they were doing was driven by ignorance and mischief. You can add misinformation and mis-education to it. They're just noise," Mr Baako stated. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video One woman is dead and 22 others are injured after a car ploughed through a crowd of pedestrians in New York Citys Times Square, just after midday local time. The sedan was driven onto the footpath at the intersection of Seventh Avenue and 42nd Street, before travelling north for three blocks. Annie Donahay, a witness at the scene, said she could hear the sounds of bodies being hit, then came the screams. People were jumping out of the way, but he just kept going. Then there was silence for what seemed to be a really long time, then the screaming returned. There were bodies covered in blood. The vehicle only stopped after colliding with a pole, at which point it caught fire. The vehicles driver, identified by police authorities as 26-year-old Navy veteran Richard Rojas, attempted to run from the scene but was tackled by onlookers. Rojas was taken into police custody shortly after, where he has undergone police and drug testing. Its been reported Rojas has previously been arrested twice for drink driving. 18-year-old Alyssa Elsman has been identified as the incidents one fatality. Her 13-year-old sister was also injured, and has received treatment in hospital. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said theres no indication the incident was terror-related. A bomb squad was also called to inspect the vehicle, and the popular tourist destination remains under heavy police guard. A post shared by Molly Crane-Newman (@mollycranenewman) on May 18, 2017 at 12:57pm PDT Source: news.com.au / ABC. Photo: Drew Angerer / Getty. Hooooo boy. An Australian-themed bar and restaurant in Arlington, Virginia has come under fire for using a didgeridoo as the delivery mechanism for a four-in-one gimmick shooter. An image advertising the US $20 drink special was posted onto Oz Restaurant and Bars Instagram account, where it was singled out for being hugely offensive to Indigenous Australian cultures. The image appears to have been removed from Oz Restaurant and Bars account, and the venue did not immediately offer a statement or apology regarding the promotion. However, one user reposted the image and commented this is not good enough. You dont just disrespect Indigenous peoples, expect to profit from us through this and other means and not even apologise. Others have taken to Facebook to voice their opinion, with one saying me and the boys were hoping to eat some avocado toast off something sacred, you dont happen to have plates made from excavated remains or a chunk of Uluru do you? The Aussie Way ???? #MiamiInD.C. A post shared by GABE RAMOS ???????????? (@zavagee_ramo5) on Apr 9, 2017 at 5:49pm PDT PEDESTRIAN.TV reached out to the venue for comment. A spokesperson said the bars Aussie owner Michael Darby and wife Ashley Boalch-Darby who also appears on the Real Housewives of Potomac originally purchased the instrument in Australia, only to saw holes out of it to make room for the shot glasses. Biking through Manly Beach in Straya, we stopped to enjoy the breathtaking views ???? #manlybeach #australia #flashbackfriday #imissitdownunder ?? A post shared by Ashley Boalch Darby (@ashleyboalchdarby) on Jul 31, 2015 at 9:18am PDT The representative said it was kind of a fun thing to do, or at least we thought so, and confirmed the bar has removed the promotion from sale. They said they didnt expect all the negative feedback from Australians on Instagram and on our Facebook page, and that there were no negative intentions behind the promotion. The venues representative also claimed the drink promotion, which has been in place since the venue opened more than a year ago, had never been an issue before now. PEDESTRIAN.TV was told Australian members of the local womens AFL team, which is sponsored by the venue, have drunk from the didgeridoo. Many Indigenous Australians consider the didgeridoo sacred, with the instrument playing an integral role in many ceremonial events. The backlash against the venue comes only days after French fashion juggernaut Chanel faced international condemnation for selling a boomerang for $2,000. Source and photo: Oz Restaurant and Bar / Instagram. WARNING: This article discusses sexual assault. Sydney police are looking for a Good Samaritan who helped rescue a West African 17-year-old from a horrific weeks-long ordeal as a captive sex slave. According to investigators, the girl was brought to Australia from Guinea by a man she met there who told her he could get her work as a cleaner. Instead, she was locked in a room in a Sydney unit and raped repeatedly by a number of men. Incredibly, she was able to escape, and a woman known only as Nicole picked her up on the street and took her to the Asylum Seeker Centre in Newtown on April 27. Sex Crime Commands squad commander Mick Haddow told reporters today: The girl has told us she escaped from a unit and was picked up by a lady known as Nicole, and taken in what she describes as a small red hatchback to the Asylum Seeker Centre. This is a case where there are a lot of questions and not enough answers. We are seeking help from this person Nicole. The girl has escaped from the unit and flagged down a vehicle, waved to get attention. Nicole is a really important witness and valuable source of information for us in terms of identifying the crime scene. Language and cultural barriers have made taking a statement from the girl difficult, and police are hoping the woman who helped to save her can help them find the location of the unit where she was held. Attempts have been made [to locate the unit] but its very difficult for a 17-year-old girl from West Africa to try and describe streets in and around suburbs such as Newtown. The girl is currently being cared for by Family and Community Services. Source: News.com.au. Image: Westend61 / Getty. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, please contact 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732. A 16-year-old Aussie girl who disappeared from Sydneys north shore in April has been found living with a convicted killer in the US, after he allegedly spent months grooming her on social media. Police managed to trace the schoolgirl who was reported missing by her parents on April 11 after she failed to return to the family home in Lindfield to a NYC home owned by the mother of 39-year-old Sean Price on May 12, following a joint investigation between the Australian Federal Police, the New York Police Department and Interpol. Its alleged Price groomed the teenager (who cant be named because of her age) on Snapchat, where they met last October, exchanging nude photos for months before he transferred her $2,150 to buy a plane ticket to America. His extremely lengthy rap sheet includes a 1995 conviction for negligent homicide, robbery, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, criminal trespass, reckless endangerment and criminal possession of a controlled substance. Unsettling details of his relationship with the teen have been heard by Brooklyns Magistrate Court, where Price was yesterday refused a bail application after admitting to having sex with the schoolgirl in several different states during a 12,000km road trip from Los Angeles (where she flew in) to Brooklyn. The NYPD received intel from the AFP and Interpol that she was residing in New York on April 30, and she was found hiding with Price in the basement of his mothers Brooklyn home on May 12. A number of inquiries were made by police who were able to determine the teenager had left the country and travelled to the United States, confirmed the AFP. The man was arrested and charged with a number of offences relating to his conduct and interactions with the girl and will face court action in the US. Price could spend 10 years behind bars after he was charged with third degree rape and transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. The teenager has been flown home to Australia. Photo: Bt. Source: news.com.au. A man is in custody after the body of a former cop was found in a factory in the Melbourne suburbs just before 10am this morning. Police made the discovery in Braeside after they were called to make a check on the factory. Police on scene at Braeside industrial area. They were called to a commercial property just before 10am. Investigation is ongoing. #7News pic.twitter.com/0cpexIMU9J 7 News Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) May 19, 2017 It has been confirmed that the man is a former member of the Victoria Polices Special Operations Group the elite tactical division of the states police force. It is unknown if the death is being treated as suspicious at this time, though homicide squad detectives were present at the scene. It is believed that a man turned himself in to Mordialloc Police Station early this morning, and that him doing so led to the discovery of the ex-officers body at the factory. Well keep you posted. Source: Sydney Morning Herald. Photo: 7 News. Sparkling angel and jewel in the crown of hilarious Aussie exports Rebel Wilson is back on home turf to sort out this ongoing nonsense with Bauer Media once and for all. If you missed the kerfuffle the first time around, Wilson is taking Bauer, who are responsible for glossy womens mags Womens Weekly, Womans Day and OK! Magazine, the hell to court. In 2015 Bauer published a number of stories suggesting that Wilson had lied about her name and age, and implying (the defamation case alleges) that she was a liar and untrustworthy person all-round. Wilson is claiming that these stories had a significant impact on her career, costing her a bunch of Hollywood roles. So she is suing the cheap Target capris off em. And is she bothered by the upcoming legal proceedings? Not a bit. Please enjoy this excellent clip of Our Girl looking refreshed and relaxed as she tells reporters shes been just dying to talk about the whole thing for sooo long, how excited she is to finally be getting on with it, and also how stoked she is to be back in Melbourne to hang out at her grandpas 90th birthday party and visit all her favourite restaurants. This is the demeanour of someone whos so thoroughly certain that the case is in the bag, she has moved on to more important issues like the lack of snacks in most Australian courtrooms. Were with you, Rebel. Youre the peoples champion. Source: 7NEWS. Image: Getty / Jason LaVeris. NOVA Chemicals Corporation, 1000 Seventh Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 5L5 www.novachemicals.com | 403.750.3600 tel | 403.269.7410 fax Calgary, Alberta (May 19, 2017) - NOVA Chemicals Corporation ("NOVA Chemicals") announced today that it intends to offer $2,100 million of senior notes, together with cash on hand, to fund its previously announced acquisition of Williams Partners L.P.'s 88.46% interest in the Geismar Olefins Plant, adjacent land, and interest in the Ethylene Trading Hub in Mt. Belvieu, Texas, and to pay fees and expenses relating to the transaction and this offering. Barclays Capital, Inc. and HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. are acting as joint active bookrunners and TD Securities (USA) LLC, RBC Capital Markets, LLC and Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. are acting as joint bookrunners. The senior notes will be issued in reliance on the exemption from the registration requirements provided by Rule 144A and Regulation S of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). None of the senior notes have been registered under the Securities Act or the laws of any state or other jurisdiction and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security, nor will there be any sale of any security in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state other jurisdiction. About NOVA Chemicals NOVA Chemicals develops and manufactures chemicals and plastic resins that make everyday life safer, healthier and easier. Our employees work to ensure health, safety, security and environmental stewardship through our commitment to sustainability and Responsible Care. NOVA Chemicals, headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, is wholly-owned ultimately by Mubadala Investment Company of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. ### For further information please contact: NOVA Chemicals - Media Inquiries Mark Horner Director, Corporate Communications e-mail: mark.horner@novachem.com NOVA Chemicals - Investor Inquiries Tracey Simpson Leader, External Financial Reporting e-mail: tracey.simpson@novachem.com The NOVA Chemicals logo is a registered trademark of NOVA Brands Ltd.; authorized use. Responsible Care is a registered trademark of the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada And thats a wrap: Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia is done and dusted for another year. The clothes have been packed away, the models have flown home, and the fashion tragics are still milking every last #MBFWA #takemeback post on Instagram as possible. PEDESTRIAN.TV was there throughout the week, and as ever, here are the best, worst, and most truly faarrrrshion darling things we overheard during the aesthetic chaos that is Fashion Week. [At the Dion Lee show] Friend: Is he walking in any more shows this week? Mum: No, hes got school. [Waiting in line for Justin Cassin] Man [watching people in Carriageworks]: They do the walk this week. They walk, they walk. *imitates fashion week walk* Friend: Always gotta be camera ready. [Girl walks into the Karla Spetic show carrying the Balenciaga IKEA bag] Girl 1: That girls bag is the best thing Ive ever seen. Girl 2: Im obsessed. Girl 1: Like Im so mad. I might wear it tomorrow. [Outside Carriageworks] Girl 1: I hate the smell of cigarettes. Girl 2: Yeah I dont vibe it, hey. [At the Justin Cassin afterparty] Girl to friend: Im never going to be an influencer, and Ive accepted that. [In line for Anna Quan] Girl to friend: I cant wear wool, it makes me feel emotional. [At KITX] Blogger, sounding distressed: These friggin strobe lights are messing up my boomerangs. [At the bar in Star Lounge] Bloke ordering two wines: They never fill it up enough. *pours one glass into the other* [Outside Carriageworks] Girl to friend: I really wanted to bring my dog but the outfit I ordered her didnt turn up in the end. [Also outside Carriageworks] Girl rushing over to friends: Oh my god I thought that guy wanted to take my pic but he was talking to Carmen Hamilton. [Waiting to board the Dyspnea boat] Girl to friend: I dont like to look the street style photographers directly in the eye, you know? Like it feels really keen. [Miro Kubicek, seating director of MBFWA, to random person claiming: I met Miro last night in the bar and he said I could sit in the front-row] Miro: Well, weve never met, Im Miro. Nice to meet you youre in the back row. Okay, that last one wasnt *technically* overheard it was actually from our chat with Miro himself. Check out the interview here. Photo: Carolyn Duchene / PEDESTRIAN.TV. Peter Bonsall-Boone, gay activist and half of one of the first openly gay couples to appear on Australian television, has died today after a long battle with cancer. He was 78 years old. He and his partner, Peter de Waal, celebrated their 50th year together in October 2016. To mark the occasion, they exchanged rings but Bonsall-Boone, known as Bon, remained wistful about their unofficial status. Marriage for Peter & me would be a great sort of fulfilment of many years of association & love https://t.co/vXQ0ZyVwxz #MarriageEquality pic.twitter.com/JtdeMf7Hjj AU Marriage Equality (@AMEquality) April 9, 2017 In a video for the Equality Campaign, he said: Id love to be able to move my wedding ring from my right hand to my left hand. And then Id be able to call him my husband and have no problems with that. That would be wonderful. Marriage for Peter and me would be a great sort of fulfilment of many years of association and love. To make it official would be just great. Bonsall-Boone was a lifelong Christian who lost his job as a church secretary after appearing with de Waal in 1972 on the documentary series Chequerboard. During that program, they shared Australias first same-sex onscreen kiss. The Sydney couple met in Melbourne in 1966 and have been with one another ever since. Both have been instrumental in agitating for change to anti-homosexuality laws and discrimination. They participated in the first Mardi Gras in 1978, and helped to set up what became the Gay and Lesbian Help Line. In the same Equality Campaign video, de Waal expressed his own longing for marriage equality, saying: Weve been second class citizens for all of the 50 years weve been together. It would be absolutely wonderful if we could say one day, We are equal.' Our thoughts are with Peter and Bons friends and family. That their 50 year union had to end without being recognised by their country is a terrible tragedy. Source: Buzzfeed News / SMH. Image: Equality Campaign. Being paid to fly around the globe for major fashion houses? Good. But having to live up to impossibly unrealistic beauty standards, with your whole worth and livelihood based on how many inches your waist lacks? Not so good. Ulrikke Hyer, a 20-year-old Danish model, has taken to social media to share an icky experience she allegedly had with global fashion house Louis Vuitton. Hyer, who is represented by five modelling agencies worldwide, claims LV sent her packing from its recent cruise show in Kyoto, Japan because shes too big. For perspective, Hoyers a US size 2 or an Aussie 6 to 8. According to her lengthy account (posted to both Facebook and Instagram), issues arose after she arrived in Kyoto for a fitting before the show, following an earlier fitting in Paris. That day I ate a very small breakfast and had just water and tea before the fitting, because thats how we do it I tried my dress and the coat which I was confirmed fitted in Paris. I changed shoes and trousers a couple of times. Afterwards I tried on a puffy dress with a semi bare back and then I was done. It was later that night Hyer says an agent working for powerhouse casting agency Alexia Cheval who was responsible for booking models for the show called her agent in Denmark to share concerns that she was looking bloated. According to [Cheval] I had a very bloated stomach, bloated face, and urged me to starve myself with this statement Ulrikke needs to drink only water for the next 24 hours, she wrote. I was shocked when I heard it. The following morning, at a refitting, Hyer said that the same casting agent checked to see what she was eating for breakfast. She said good morning to me and the other girls and then looked at me, then down on my nonexistent plate and up at me again. She was checking if I had been eating food. Later that day, Hyer was told shed been dropped from the show an experience she called humiliating, but one she felt she had to make public for the sake of other, less experienced models whose self-esteem is fragile. I am aware that Im a product, I can separate that but I have seen way too many girls who are sooo [sic] skinny that I dont even understand how they even walk or talk. Its so obvious that these girls are in desperate need of help. Its funny how you can be 0,5 or 1 cm too big but never 1-6 cm too small. I am glad I am a 20 and not a 15 years old girl, who is new to this and unsure about herself, because I have no doubt that I would then have ended up very sick and scarred long into my adult life. Check out her Instagram post: Louis Vuitton is yet to respond to the allegations. Photo: @ulrikkehoyer / Instagram. Seeing as your ability to act upon the information in this here article is dwindling on a minute-by-minute basis, were going to keep it pretty concise: theres a fucking good flight deal on, right now, that could see you flown around the world for just over $3,000. In business class. Until midnight, Escape Travel is offering sincerely lucky punters the opportunity to fly in Virgin business class from Melbourne to Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, and then back or vice versa from as low as $3,095. A post shared by Alan Brutenic ???? London (@alanisko) on Jan 24, 2016 at 4:19am PST A casual glance at an equivalent trip, taken between the designated booking period of July 5 and September 26, reveals that youd usually be paying $12,000, at a bare minimum. An Escape Travel agent said theyve never seen it this cheap. Make of that what you will. A post shared by edwardkb (@edwardkb) on May 3, 2017 at 7:05am PDT The catch with this one, outside of its rapidly encroaching expiration date, is that its not available through Escape Travels site. Youll either have to duck into your local brick-and-mortar travel agent, or ask old mate Jose Bishop if the deal is available during your preferred dates. Joses email address is jose.bishop@escapetravel.com.au. We anticipate that inbox will be mighty full, mighty shortly. Godspeed, Jose. Godspeed you, too. A post shared by Los Angeles Aerial Photography (@copterpilot) on May 18, 2017 at 3:22pm PDT Source: Escape. Photo: @alanisko / Instagram. Boston, Mass., May 19, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In 2015, Road Scholar began awarding Caregiver Grants in recognition of the extraordinary time and energy countless Americans dedicate to caring for loved ones. The purpose of the grants is to eliminate cost barriers so that caregivers can experience a Road Scholar learning adventure. To date, more than 100 Caregiver Grants totaling more than $100,000 have been awarded. On the occasion of Older American Month in May, Road Scholar acknowledges the special story of Judy Dandini, 66, of Rome, Ga., one of the many older adults who have provided unpaid care to an adult 50-and-over who is suffering from an illness or disability. Judy and her husband, GianCarlo Bando Dandini, lived for 15 years in Nevada, where Judy worked at the historical society and Bando was always creative and active, always building something, as Judy said. But she noticed gradual changes in Bando; mostly that he stopped doing things he once loved and showed signs of dementia. What followed was a challenging time even more so when Judys work evolved from a part-time position to a full-time one. With the anticipated progression of the illness, Judy decided their only option was for her and Bando to leave Nevada and return to her native Georgia, where she had family nearby. Soon after the move, he was diagnosed with Alzheimers. Judy provided daily care for Bando, managing his needs until his mental health declined significantly and episodes of unreasonableness became more frequent and frightened her. Eventually he needed full-time care in a skilled nursing facility, where Judy was a constant presence spending time with him daily and being involved in his care. Last October, Bando passed away at age 73. Saddened and exhausted, Judy knew she needed to recharge, but like most people who have just lost a loved one she was uncertain and conflicted about how to do it. She said she knew she needed something positive to look forward to, to help me cope after I lost Bando. Judy happened to read about Road Scholars Caregiver Grant program, which offers up to $1,300 for a person to experience one of Road Scholar educational adventures in all 50 states. Judy applied for the Caregiver Grant, found out soon that she was accepted, and in January attended a six-day learning adventure in San Diego, where she learned about the Southern California citys history and experienced its culture and neighborhoods. Having come through over two years of watching my dynamic, healthy husband succumb to a cruel and stressful decline through Alzheimers, I had become exhausted physically and emotionally, Judy said. Just having this program to look forward to after his death gave me hope that helped me through our wedding anniversary, my birthday, Thanksgiving and Christmas. It was a great way to immerse myself completely in the experience and it was wonderful to have someone taking care of the details for me. For more information about Road Scholar Caregiver Grants, visit www.roadscholar.org/caregivergrant. About the Road Scholar Caregiver Grant By offering up to $1,300 for Caregivers who are lifelong learners, ages 50 and older, to enroll in a U.S.-based educational trip, the Caregiver Grant eliminates cost barriers to participating in a Road Scholar learning adventure and is available to any family caregiver who wishes to experience the joys of educational travel with Road Scholar. While the Caregivers travel solo, many form lasting bonds and develop much-needed camaraderie with people they meet along the way. For more information, visit www.roadscholar.org/caregivergrants. About Road Scholar Road Scholar is the nations largest educational travel organization for adults a true university of the world. This not-for-profit educational organization offers 5,500 extraordinary learning adventures in 150 countries and 50 states. Road Scholars are immersed in a variety of educational activities, enlisting renowned faculty and experts who offer insider access not available to most individuals. Dedicated to making educational travel available to everyone, Road Scholar offers financial aid for those who otherwise could not participate in its programs. Road Scholar educational adventures are created by Elderhostel, the not-for-profit world leader in educational travel for adults since 1975. To learn more, please visit www.roadscholar.org/press or check our blog at blog.roadscholar.org. Attachments: A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/43f12cba-5d33-4e77-a985-4950f7d7e0df KINGSTON, Ontario, May 19, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Over the last couple of days, the WannaCry ransomware attack affected 150 countries and reached up to 200,000 victims. While Canada wasnt largely affected, Canadian Cloud Backup wants to remind the community to not let their guard down just yet. Ransomware attacks are on the rise, says Chris Medeiros, owner, Canadian Cloud Backup. Just because it didnt hit close to home this time does not mean we are safe the next time this pops up. Like many ransomware attacks, WannaCry encrypts your data and files on your computer so you can no longer access them, unless you pay the ransom amount demanded. With Canadian Cloud Backups comprehensive, cost-effective local and cloud backup recovery solutions, you can back up data from any source and recover it to any destination on any system. We are finding many clients come to us after disaster has already struck. These disasters cost thousands and the damage is already done. Chris continues, The key to protecting yourself is being proactive: signing up for a backup service before disaster strikes. Protect yourself, and your clients. Canadian Cloud Backup is a privately held Canadian company serving the global community with a strong focus on growth in Canada. Their management and staff have a varied history in the I.T. and data service industries with years of experience. They offer a consultative sales approach, which helps providers integrate their services into their current offerings. Police officers stand outside the Ecuadorian embassy in London, Friday May 19, 2017. Sweden's top prosecutor says she is dropping an investigation into a rape claim against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange after almost seven years. Assange took refuge in Ecuador's embassy in London in 2012 to escape extradition to Sweden to answer questions about sex-crime allegations from two women. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) Prosecutors Marianne Ny, left, and Ingrid Isgren attend a press conference in Stockholm on Friday May 19, 2017. Sweden's top prosecutor Marianne Ny said Friday she is dropping an investigation into a rape claim against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange after almost seven years. (Maja Suslin/TT News Agency via AP) Betty Shelby leaves the courtroom with her husband, Dave Shelby, right, after the jury in her case began deliberations in Tulsa, Okla., Wednesday, May 17, 2017. Shelby is charged with manslaughter in the shooting of Terence Crutcher, an unarmed black man. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) Richmond, VA, May 19, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (May 19, 2017) sweetFrog Frozen Yogurt, the nations leading frozen yogurt franchise named Americas Best Frozen Yogurt by The Daily Meal and a Top New Franchise by Entrepreneur Magazine has announced a nationwide acquisition and re-branding push to add as many US-based locations as possible to the sweetFrog franchise family in 2017 and beyond. This full-scale effort will be directed by sweetFrogs CEO, Patrick Galleher an accomplished private equity executives who also continues to lead Boxwood Capital Partners as its Managing Partner. Galleher has led dozens of successful transactions and acquisitions at Boxwood Partners (working with national brands such as Yoga Direct, and Dragonfly Yoga among others), including the acquisition of sweetFrog itself in 2015. This proven track record makes Galleher a perfect fit as the CEO overseeing this nationwide acquisition and re-branding effort. According to Galleher, sweetFrogs award-winning reputation, supply chain and cost structure makes the chain an attractive fit for any chain seeking to be acquired and any store owner considering a rebrand. There has never been a better time to launch an acquisition and re-branding push on behalf of sweetFrog, says Galleher. In the past two years, we have hired phenomenal corporate employees, added passionate franchise owners, and of course, serving the best-tasting frozen yogurt, ice cream and gelato on the market keeping fan-favorite flavors and introducing new, cutting-edge flavors our customers love. These efforts have earned sweetFrog countless industry awards and helped the company grow to 340 total stores in 28 states, including 10 international locations in Egypt and the Dominican Republic reinforcing the companys status as the nations leading frozen desert brand. This leading brand position means the timing is perfect to launch this acquisition and re-branding effort. Our supply chain, cost structure, brand name and countless other factors can help any other frozen yogurt location become more profitable if they join our system. Were excited to add countless new sweetFrog locations this year as we acquire other self-serve frozen yogurt chains and help other frozen yogurt operators re-brand under the sweetFrog name. For more information about sweetFrog Frozen Yogurt, please visit www.sweetfrog.com. To learn more about sweetFrog Frozen Yogurt franchise opportunities, as well as acquisitions and re-brands, please visit http://sweetfrog.com/franchise. About sweetFrog Frozen Yogurt: sweetFrog (http://www.sweetfrog.com) is the fastest growing self-serve frozen yogurt restaurant company in the country. With a wide selection of premium frozen yogurt flavors and fresh topping choices, sweetFrog was named Best Frozen Yogurt in the USA by The Daily Meal in 2014 and 2016. sweetFrog has 340 stores and mobile units including retail, mobile trucks and non-traditional locations (such as sporting venues) in twenty-seven states in the U.S, Dominican Republic and Egypt. The company was founded in 2009 and is based in Richmond, Virginia. sweetFrog prides itself on providing a family-friendly environment where customers can enjoy soft-serve frozen yogurt, ice cream, gelato and sorbets with the toppings of their choice. The company was founded on Christian principles and seeks to bring happiness and a positive attitude into the lives of the communities it calls home. ### Attachments: http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/519d2a38-79ca-4a20-a72f-107748f1ee20 Attachments: A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2838a1a9-4f27-4f87-9752-45ba5c847025 Attachments: A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/711627d3-b06a-4dd8-bb9c-dcf8538db0ba New East Jordan trail to be named for Don and EIleen Klein Oil falls Thursday as market stays well supplied despite cuts LONDON Petroleumworld 05 19 2017 Oil prices fell on Thursday on signs that the market remained well supplied with crude despite efforts by OPEC and other big exporters to curb production and support prices. Signs of a deepening political crisis in Washington accelerated the decline in prices with investors becoming increasingly cautious following the latest reports of links between Russia and the team in the White House. Brent crude fell $1.10 a barrel to a low of $51.11 but recovered ground to trade around $51.61, down 60 cents, by 1300 GMT. U.S. crude oil lost $1.02 to reach a low of $48.05 was last trading 55 cents a barrel lower at $48.52. Traders said news that the campaign to elect President Donald Trump last year had at least 18 undisclosed contacts with Russians had unsettled investors. "This is a general risk-off move," Ole Hansen, head of commodities strategy at Denmark's Saxo Bank, told Reuters Global Oil Forum. "Sentiment is fragile, so it does not take much to rock the boat even further." Both crude oil benchmarks rose on Wednesday after news of a drawdown in U.S. crude inventories and a dip in U.S. output. The U.S. Energy Information Administration said inventories fell 1.8 million barrels in the week to May 12 to 520.8 million barrels. But the U.S. crude drawdown was smaller than expected and the oil market remained extremely well supplied, analysts said. A surplus of U.S. supply has led to large volumes of crude being exported from the United States to northern Asia, undermining the OPEC-led efforts to tighten the market. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other producers including Russia pledged to cut output by almost 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) in the first half of 2016, a deal likely to be extended until the end of March 2018. Other producers have been quick to fill any supply gaps. Shipping data in Thomson Reuters Eikon shows that U.S. crude exports to Asia have soared from a handful of tankers a quarter throughout 2015 and 2016 to 10 tankers in the first quarter of 2017 and that figure is expected to rise. OPEC ministers meet in Vienna on May 25 to decide production policy for the next six months and are expected to prolong their agreement to limit production, perhaps by up to nine months. UBS oil analyst Giovanni Staunovo said he saw a 60 percent probability of OPEC extending output cuts. That should help tighten the oil market and push up prices as demand rises gradually this year, he said. Story by Christopher Johnson; Additional reporting by Henning Gloystein; editing by David Clarke and David Evans from Reuters . reuters.com May 19, 2017 Venezuela crisis: Mayhem rages in west Venezuela; Capriles blocked from U.N. trip SAN CRISTOBAL, VENEZUELA/CARACAS Petroleumworld 05 19 2017 Mobs looted shops and fought security forces overnight in Venezuela's restive western region, where three soldiers were being charged on Thursday with the fatal shooting of a man who was buying diapers for his baby, witnesses said. Six weeks of anti-government unrest have resulted in at least 44 deaths, as well as hundreds of injuries and arrests in the worst turmoil of President Nicolas Maduro's four-year rule of the South American OPEC-member country. Protesters are demanding elections to kick out the socialist government that they accuse of wrecking the economy and turning Venezuela into a dictatorship. Maduro, 54, the successor to late leader Hugo Chavez, says his foes are seeking a violent coup. One of Maduro's main opponents, local governor Henrique Capriles, said on Thursday that his passport was confiscated when he was at the airport outside Caracas for a flight to New York, where he was to visit the United Nations and denounce human rights violations. "My passport is valid until 2020. What they want to do here is avoid us going to the United Nations," Capriles said, before returning to the capital to join a protest march. The U.N. high commissioner for human rights, Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, was due to meet with Capriles in New York on Friday. "Hope (Capriles') passport removal is not reprisal linked to planned meeting with me tomorrow," Zeid said on Twitter. The move comes a month after Capriles, a two-time presidential candidate who was seen by many as the opposition's best chance in the presidential election scheduled for 2018, was banned from holding political office for 15 years. Capriles, a sports-loving lawyer who has tried to shake the opposition's reputation of elitism by focusing on grassroots efforts with poor Venezuelans, narrowly lost the 2013 vote against Maduro, and the two frequently lock horns. UNREST IN THE WEST Across the country near the border with Colombia, clashes and lootings raged overnight, even though the government sent 2,000 troops to Tachira state. Security forces fired teargas at stone-throwing gangs, and crowds smashed their way into shops and offices in San Cristobal, the state capital, and elsewhere. Manuel Castellanos, 46, was shot in the neck on Wednesday when caught in a melee while walking home with diapers he had bought for his son, witnesses said. Diapers have become prized products in Venezuela due to widespread shortages of basic domestic items. The State Prosecutor's Office said three National Guard sergeants would be charged later on Thursday for their "presumed responsibility" in Castellanos' killing. Earlier in the week, a 15-year-old was shot dead when out buying flour for his family's dinner. Most shops in San Cristobal, a traditional hotbed of anti-government militancy, were closed on Thursday, with long lines at the few establishments open. In Caracas, protesters sought to march to the Interior and Justice Ministry but were blocked on a major highway by security forces firing tear gas and using armored vehicles. That sparked now-familiar scenes of masked youths brandishing shields and throwing stones at the security line. International anxiety about the Venezuelan crisis is growing. U.S. President Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart Juan Manuel Santos discussed Venezuela's "deteriorating situation" at a White House meeting on Thursday. "We will be working with Colombia and other countries on the Venezuela problem," Trump said. "It is a very, very horrible problem. And from a humanitarian standpoint, it is like nothing we've seen in quite a long time." France called for mediation amid the worsening situation, and Britain warned its citizens against "all but essential travel" to Venezuela. Story by Anggy Polanco and Andreina Aponte; Additional reporting by Deisy Buitrago in Caracas, Tom Miles in Geneva and Roberta Rampton in Washington; Writing by Andrew Cawthorne, Alexandra Ulmer and Girish Gupta; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Leslie Adler from Reuters . reuters.com May 18, 2017 Venezuela crisis: Venezuela Supreme Court judges hit with U.S. sanctions WASHINGTON Petroleumworld 05 19 2017 The Trump administration imposed sanctions on the chief judge and seven other members of Venezuela's Supreme Court on Thursday as punishment for annulling the opposition-led Congress earlier this year, U.S. officials said. The new sanctions package was aimed at stepping up pressure on the leftist government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his loyalists amid growing concern over a crackdown on street protests and his efforts to consolidate his rule over the South American oil-producing country. The move provoked condemnation from Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez. "It's outrageous and unacceptable for the United States to impose sanctions on a sovereign and independent nation in violation of Venezuelan and international laws," she said on Twitter. Venezuela's latest wave of anti-government unrest, which has left at least 45 people dead in the last six weeks, began with the Supreme Court, packed with Maduro supporters, assuming the authorities of the opposition-led Congress in late March. There was an international outcry against the court's de facto annulment of the National Assembly, which the opposition won in late 2015 during an unprecedented economic and social crisis. The decision was later partially reversed, though it did not stop the unrest. The Venezuelan people are suffering from a collapsing economy brought about by their government's mismanagement and corruption. Members of the country's Supreme Court of Justice have exacerbated the situation by consistently interfering with the legislative branch's authority, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. By imposing these targeted sanctions, the United States is supporting the Venezuelan people in their efforts to protect and advance democratic governance in their country," he said. Among those hit with sanctions was Maikel Moreno, a Maduro ally who became president of the 32-judge court in February. All of those targeted will have U.S. assets frozen and be denied travel to the United States, while American citizens will be barred from doing business with them, officials said. Maduro spoke on state television for some two hours on Thursday soon after the sanctions were confirmed but made no mention of them. Word of the new sanctions came as President Donald Trump expressed dismay at how once-prosperous Venezuela was now mired in poverty, saying it's been unbelievably poorly run." Speaking in Washington alongside visiting President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia, Venezuela's neighbor, Trump called the humanitarian situation a disgrace to humanity and promised to help fix it, but he offered no new U.S. approach. A senior U.S. official warned of further action against "bad actors" if there are no changes in the country. But sanctions so far have stopped short of hitting the oil sector in Venezuela, which is a major U.S. oil supplier. Republican U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, who had pushed for further sanctions, called the measures a message to Maduro and his thugs that their actions are not going to go unpunished. UNREST Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets across Venezuela in protest against the Maduro's government, demanding elections, freedom for jailed activists, foreign aid and autonomy for the opposition-led legislature. Maduro's aides accuse them of seeking a violent coup. The Treasury Department has in the past sanctioned Venezuelan officials or former officials, charging them with trafficking or corruption. In February, the United States blacklisted Venezuelan Vice President Tareck El Aissami for alleged links to drug trafficking. The officials have denied the charges and called them a pretext to try to topple Maduro's government, something Washington has denied. The U.S. government said the judges were being targeted because they had "usurped" democratic authority. In March, the court stated it was assuming the Congress' role in a ruling authorizing Maduro to create oil joint ventures without the previously mandated congressional approval. The court said the National Assembly was in contempt over vote-buying accusations against three lawmakers. Even though they no longer sit in Congress, the court said opposition leaders had not handled their case legally. The decision was partially reversed though protests have continued nationwide. Maduro's critics say it was an excuse for him to consolidate power and muzzle the opposition. Story by Patricia Zengerle and Matt Spetalnick ; Additional reporting by John Walcott, David Brunnstrom and Yara Bayoumy in Washington, Girish Gupta in Caracas; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Cynthia Osterman from Reuters . reuters.com May 18, 2017 Venezuela crisis: Venezuela sends 2,000 troops to state hit by looting, protests SAN CRISTOBAL, VENEZUELA Petroleumworld 05 19 2017 Venezuela said it was sending 2,000 soldiers on Wednesday to a border state that is a hotspot of anti-government radicalism after looting that killed a 15-year-old in the latest unrest roiling the 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 the OPEC nation 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 pushed the death toll in six weeks of 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 during the Holocaust 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." Venezuela's main Jewish group, the Confederation of Israeli Associations in Venezuela, responded with a statement expressing its "absolute rejection" of "banal" comparisons with the Holocaust that killed six million Jews. Social media has for weeks buzzed with videos of Venezuelan emigres 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. As night fell on Wednesday, thousands of opposition supporters poured onto the streets of different cities for rallies and vigils in honor of the fatalities during protests. Many carried flags and candles. "We've been in the street for more than 40 days because this government has broken every law, every human right, and we cannot bear it anymore," said one demonstrator, Eugenia, who asked that her last name not be used. "This rally is important because we have to retake the streets, we have been scared for too long," she added, referring to the rampant violent crime that normally stops people from going out after dark. For a graphic on Venezuela's economic woes click here Story by Anggy Polanco ; Additional reporting by Eyanir Chinea, Brian Ellsworth, Girish Gupta, Euridice Bandres 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 from Reuters . reuters.com May 18, 2017 NEW YORK, May 19, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Attorney Advertising -- Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC reminds investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against JBS S.A. (JBS or the Company) (OTCMKT:JBSAY) and certain of its officers, on behalf of shareholders who purchased JBS American Depositary Receipts between June 2, 2015 and March 17, 2017, both dates inclusive (the Class Period). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firms site: http://www.bgandg.com/jbs. This class action seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, defendants made materially false and misleading statements and failed to disclose that: (1) JBS 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; and (2) consequently, defendants statements about JBSs business, operations and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. On March 17, 2017, several news sources reported that Brazilian federal police raided JBS offices and other meatpackers after a two-year investigation of regulators alleged bribery regarding the inspections of their facilities. The investigation, known as Operation Weak Flesh, exposed roughly 40 cases of meatpackers who bribed inspectors and politicians to overlook unsanitary procedures such as processing rotten meat and running plants with traces of salmonella. Brazilian police arrested two JBS employees, and 20 public officials. JBS said in a securities filing that three of its facilities and one of its employees were targeted in the probe. Following this news, JBS stock dropped $0.71 per share or over 9.2% to close at $6.96 per share on March 17, 2017. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint you can visit the firms site: http://www.bgandg.com/jbs or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Investor Relations Analyst, Yael Hurwitz of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 212-697-6484. If you suffered a loss in JBS you have until May 22, 2017 to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff. Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a corporate litigation boutique. Our primary expertise is the aggressive pursuit of litigation claims on behalf of our clients. In addition to representing institutions and other investor plaintiffs in class action security litigation, the firms expertise includes general corporate and commercial litigation, as well as securities arbitration. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Brazil president Temer taped discussing pay-off for witness in graft probe-O Globo BRASILIA Petroleumworld 05 19 2017 Brazilian President Michel Temer gave his blessing to an attempt to pay a potential witness to remain silent in the country's biggest-ever graft probe, according to plea bargain testimony by a powerful businessman, newspaper O Globo reported on Wednesday. Temer's office on Wednesday acknowledged he had met in March with the businessman, Chairman Joesley Batista of meat giant JBS SA, but denied any part in alleged efforts to keep jailed former House Speaker Eduardo Cunha from testifying. O Globo's report, which three sources familiar with the matter said was accurate, threatened to pull Temer into a corruption scandal that has already entangled several of his closest allies and advisors. Leading lawmakers and a third of Temer's cabinet have already been caught up in an investigation of systematic bribery in return for political favors and contracts with state-run enterprises. But news that the president himself may have been party to a cover-up shook the scandal-weary nation. Investors dumped Brazilian assets in foreign markets after the news broke late in Brazil, as the prospect of Temer becoming enmeshed in a fresh political crisis clouded the prospects for his unpopular reform agenda, considered key to ending a deep recession. Scattered protests sprang up in front of the presidential palace and along Sao Paulo's main avenue as opposition lawmakers and even a high-profile ally called for Temer to step down. "Given the gravity of the situation and the responsibility to keep Brazil from plunging into the imponderable, the only option is for President Michel Temer to resign," said Senator Ronaldo Caiado, leader of the government-allied Democratas party in the Senate. JBS, the world's biggest meatpacker, declined to comment. A senior JBS executive said there had been no formal communication about the matter within the company. While the O Globo report described an unprecedented sting operation mounted by Brazil's federal police in conjunction with senior JBS executives to snare several politicians, Temer was the one target that towered over the rest. Batista used a hidden device to record an alleged discussion with Temer about hush money the executive was paying to Cunha, according to the newspaper. The report did not say what Cunha was asked to keep quiet about. When Batista told Temer he was paying Cunha to remain silent, the president was recorded saying, "You need to keep that up, okay?" according to the newspaper, which did not say how it had obtained the information. Cunha, once a powerful member of Temer's ruling party, has previously said he had compromising information about several senior politicians linked to a vast political bribery scandal at state oil firm Petroleo Brasileiro SA, or Petrobras. O Globo reported that Batista and his brother, JBS Chief Executive Wesley Batista, presented the recording to prosecutors as part of plea bargain negotiations underway since March. Temer's office said in a prepared statement that he "did not participate in or authorize any activity with the aim of avoiding a plea bargain or collaboration" by Cunha, adding that the president supported a full investigation of the allegations. BRAZIL ASSETS TANK An exchange-traded fund tracking Brazil's benchmark Bovespa stock index fell more than 8 percent in Tokyo, while American depositary receipts for Petrobras fell as much as 11 percent in after-hours New York trading as investors ditched Brazilian assets at the sight of more political turmoil. Despite his extreme unpopularity among Brazilian voters, Temer has maintained a broad majority in Congress, but analysts said public outrage over the scandal could change the political equation. "If the recordings are confirmed, Temer would have to defend his mandate on multiple fronts," said political analyst Thomaz Favaro of the consultancy Control Risks, citing the danger of public pressure for Temer's resignation, lawmakers' calls for impeachment and a possible investigation by the nation's top prosecutor. "The development thus substantially increases the risk of an unscheduled government change in Brazil before the 2018 general elections," Favaro told clients in a note. The crisis underscored the extent to which Brazil's political agenda is being dictated by an increasingly fearless generation of corruption-fighting police and prosecutors. With the collaboration of the Batista brothers, police used hidden cameras and tracking chips in bags of cash to record a series of bribes to politicians, according to O Globo. In one case, the paper said Temer was recorded suggesting Congressman Rodrigo Rocha Loures could resolve an unspecified issue for the holding company of JBS. Loures was then filmed receiving 500,000 reais ($160,000) sent by Joesley Batista. Representatives for the congressman said he would clarify the matter when he returned on Thursday from a trip to New York. Senator Romero Juca, the head of the government's coalition in the Senate, said the accusation was one of many that would be investigated, but it would not slow Temer's ambitious reforms. The JBS executives' plea bargain agreement, including a fine of 225 million reais ($72 million), is being overseen by Supreme Court Justice Edson Fachin, who is responsible for the bribery investigation known as Operation Car Wash, according to O Globo. ($1 = 3.14 reais) Story by Lisandra Paraguassu and Ricardo Brito ; Additional reporting by Alberto Alerigi Jr, Tatiana Bautzer, Brad Brooks and Tatiana Ramil in Sao Paulo, Maria Carolina Mello in Brasilia, Elzio Barreto in Hong Kong; Writing and additional reporting by Brad Haynes; Editing by Christian Plumb, Simon Cameron-Moore and Michael Perry from Reuters . reuters.com May 18, 2017 EU to channel $890 mln package for developing nations on climate BRUSSELS/BONN Petroleumworld 05 19 2017 The European Union will provide 800 million euros ($891 million) to help 79 African, Pacific and Caribbean (ACP) nations implement a global deal to combat climate change. The EU support comes as U.S. President Donald Trump is considering whether to carry out a campaign threat to quit the landmark Paris Agreement, which agreed in 2015 to shift the economy away from fossil fuels. "We, developed and developing countries together, will defend the Paris Agreement," European Climate Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete said on Thursday. As a sign of closer cooperation with the ACP group "the EU has announced support of 800 million euros up to 2020, with around half earmarked for climate action," the European Commission said in a statement. It said the EU will also provide 3 million euros to support Fiji, which will oversee United Nations negotiations in 2018. It did not detail how the rest of the money would be spent. Trump has said he will decide on the Paris Agreement after a Group of Seven summit in Italy on May 26-27. Canete called the Paris Agreement "irreversible and non-negotiable" as almost 200 nations attend U.N. talks in Bonn on a detailed "rule book" for the deal. ($1 = 0.8975 euros) Reporting by Alissa de Carbonnel and Alister Doyle; editing by Alexander Smith from Reuters . reuters.com May 18, 2017 U.S. Supreme Court: Ecuador vs Chevron Rico Act ruling a $9.5 billion issue Bloomberg/Harret A $9.5 billion pollution lawsuit against Chevron could clarify the reach of racketeering law. NEW YORK Petroleumworld 05 17 2017 Can U.S. companies use the federal racketeering law to fend off costly foreign court judgments? For Chevron Corp., the answer was yesand that saved the oil and gas giant $9.5 billion. Now the Supreme Court will decide whether to hear an appeal by Chevron antagonists, who argue that the company pulled a fast one. The federal appeals court in New York ruled last August that Chevron, and indeed, any American corporation facing an expensive judgment abroad, may come home and use the civil provisions of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) as a weapon to go after the lawyers on the other side. The losers in that clashimpoverished Ecuadorian villagers and their New York-based attorney, Steven Donzigerare asking the justices to forbid this use of RICO as unwise and unfair. Chevron, naturally, wants the high court to stay out of it. The justices are expected to announce their intentions in the coming weeks. A few facts from a tortuous history: In 1993, Donziger and other lawyers sued Texaco in New York, alleging that the oil company contaminated a large swath of Ecuadorian rainforest in the 1970s and 1980s. Chevron acquired Texaco and its potential liabilities in 2001. The pollution case was dismissed in the U.S. and restarted in Ecuador in 2003. Chevron contended that whatever contamination remained wasn't its responsibility. In 2011, an Ecuadorian trial court ruled that the American company was liable, with a price tag ultimately set at $9.5 billion. Chevron refused to pay, claiming that Donziger used fabricated evidence, coercion, and bribery to obtain this victory in Ecuador, where the company had no assets. That's when Chevron made its inventive move with RICO, suing Donziger in Manhattan federal court. The company alleged that he'd turned the pollution case into a shakedown. A trial judge agreed and issued an order barring enforcement of the Ecuadorian judgment. Chevron didn't seek money damages, allowing it to avoid the case being heard by a jury (which might have favored a lone lawyer, however compromised, and his penurious clients against a major corporation). Last August, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in New York affirmed the corruption findings and that a private party may use RICO as Chevron had done. In their appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, Donziger and his Ecuadorian clients warn that if Chevron's unusual use of RICO isn't undone, disgruntled litigants from around the world will flock to Manhattan to air their grievances about foreign court judgments. Moreover, the Chevron foes argue, lower courts are split over whether RICO authorizes private parties to seek judicial orders in cases not heard by juries. My prediction: The justices ordinarily like to resolve conflicts among lower federal courts, and the New York ruling, while similar to one by a sister court in Chicago, stands opposed to another by a federal appeals court in San Francisco. But the Supreme Court will refrain from wading into the voluminous particulars of Amazon pollution and attorney misconduct. Resolution of the RICO issue will await a less idiosyncratic set of facts. FORM 8.3 PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the "Code") 1. KEY INFORMATION (a) Full name of discloser: Majedie Asset Management Limited (b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a): The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named. (c) Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates: Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree TESCO PLC (d) If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree: (e) Date position held/dealing undertaken: For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure 18 May 2017 (f) In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer? If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state "N/A" No 2. POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security. (a) Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any) Class of relevant security: 5P ORD Interests Short positions Number % Number % (1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 266,718,839 3.26 (2) Cash-settled derivatives: (3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell: TOTAL: 266,718,839 3.26 All interests and all short positions should be disclosed. Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions). (b) Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors' and other employee options) Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists: Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages: 3. DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in. The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated. (a) Purchases and sales Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit 5P ORD Purchase 320,231 183.4000 5P ORD 5P ORD 5P ORD (b) Cash-settled derivative transactions Class of relevant security Product description e.g. CFD Nature of dealing e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position Number of reference securities Price per unit (c) Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options) (i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type e.g. American, European etc. Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit (ii) Exercise Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit (d) Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities) Class of relevant security Nature of dealing e.g. subscription, conversion Details Price per unit (if applicable) 4. OTHER INFORMATION (a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer: Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state "none" None (b) Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to: (i) the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or (ii) the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced: If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state "none" None (c) Attachments Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO Date of disclosure: 19 May 2017 Contact name: Matthew Hambly Telephone number: 0207 618 3900 Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service. The Panel's Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code's disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129. The Code can be viewed on the Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk. This piece, titled, The New Plague, depicts life in Philadelphia in the age of COVID. Artist and educator Raphael Tiberino began painting at the age of four and has been in the spotlight as a professional creative for over 25 years. LEWISVILLE, Texas, May 19, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Teladoc, Inc. (NYSE:TDOC), the undisputed leader in telehealth, announces today that as a result of the new landmark telemedicine bill in Texas, the company will expand its telehealth offering in the state, re-activating its industry-leading video capabilities. Senate Bill 1107 will soon be signed into law, establishing Texas as a national leader in telemedicine and thus marking the close of Teladocs six-year legal dispute in the state regarding the proper scope and use of telemedicine. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/25a8859d-bf72-4dab-9b73-82649f7ba184 Teladoc undertook the responsibility to preserve access to telemedicine in Texas more than six years ago, and we are gratified to have been the telehealth company invited to collaborate with the Texas legislature and others in the state to accomplish this laudable goal, said Teladoc CEO Jason Gorevic. Our commitment to the state and its citizens has never wavered, and we now look forward to reactivating our industry-leading video capabilities and ending our legal dispute in the state of Texas. Under this new law a patient-physician relationship can be established without an in-person visit, protecting all forms of telemedicine. Teladoc has operated in the state continuously since 2005; more than 3 million Texans have access to Teladoc, and the companys more than 2,500 Texas clients include Michaels, Rent-A-Center, and BNSF Railway. In addition to preserving the right to telemedicine, the bill also puts in place a regulatory environment that paves the way to further transform the healthcare experience with future innovation. Texans stand to benefit considerably from the pending law as Texas faces some of the largest healthcare access barriers in the country, with issues including proximity to doctors offices, long wait times and a shortage of doctors and basic medical care resources. Thirty-five counties in Texas have no family physician and Texas ranks 46th among the 50 states in terms of primary care physicians per capita, with only 71.4 PCPs per 100,000 residents. Telemedicine has been an effective tool to help the state begin to overcome these challenges. The statistics tell the story there is a dire need for improved access to care in this country, along with incredible cost-of-care pressures, said Gorevic. Nowhere has telemedicine been more thoroughly examined and debated by all stakeholders than in Texas. With the proven benefits that telemedicine has already demonstrated, and the rapidly expanding impact of virtual care, this telemedicine legislation should not only serve as the bellwether for all other states, but should be another indication for the federal government of the proven value of remote care models, benefiting patients across the country and the U.S. healthcare system as a whole. We commend the legislature for recognizing the value of telehealth and acting in favor of progress for Texans. For more information on Teladocs leading telemedicine and virtual care offerings, visit www.Teladoc.com. About Teladoc Teladoc, Inc. (NYSE:TDOC) is the nations leading provider of telehealth services and a pioneering force in bringing the virtual care visit into the mainstream of todays health care ecosystem. Serving some 7,500 clients including health plans, health systems, employers and other organizations more than 20 million members can use phone, mobile devices and secure online video to connect within minutes to Teladocs network of more than 3,100 board-certified, state-licensed physicians and behavioral health specialists, 24/7. With national coverage, and its robust, scalable platform, Teladoc offers the industrys most comprehensive and complete telehealth solution including primary care, behavioral health care, dermatology, tobacco cessation and more. For additional information, please visit www.teladoc.com. GLEN ELLYN, Ill., May 19, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The College of DuPage weather forecasting team placed sixth in the prestigious WxChallenge and was the only community college among competing schools throughout the U.S. and Canada. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0e2dc099-6d7c-4584-bd10-8f4e6f2b05fb Its the highest finish yet for College of DuPage and the second time COD has landed in the top 10. Associate Professor of Meteorology Vittorio Gensini said the result underscores the teams dedication toward the forecasting process. Whats most impressive is how focused the team was, he said. Students work much like forensics experts examining a crime scene. To finish at the top, forecasters must be very good at deciphering puzzles on a daily basis. The WxChallenge is a collegiate competition open to students, staff, faculty and alumni. For 10 weeks during the fall semester and another 10 weeks during the spring semester, forecasters predict the high and low temperature, maximum sustained wind speed, and total precipitation for 10 specified locations across the U.S. While Penn State won the challenge, College of DuPage finished ahead of such schools as the University of Oklahoma and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. College of DuPages highest scorer was Mike Zuranski (Woodridge), support analyst for the schools Meteorology program, while the highest-scoring student was Kelly Swaney (Naperville), who was participating for the first time. Originally an English major, Swaney enrolled in a meteorology class during her first college semester because she thought it would be interesting. Her current goal is to pursue a bachelors degree in Meteorology at Northern Illinois University and become a forecaster. Weather always scared me, so I wanted to learn more about it, she said. I now feel more prepared when severe weather occurs. Other participants on College of DuPages team include Professor of Meteorology Paul Sirvatka, Meteorology Lab Assistant Evan Anderson, and students/alumni John Morinec, Gene Poletto, Amanda Goluszka, Scott Bergholzer, Nathanial Mowbray, Patrick Skach, Valerie Villarreal, Sam Augustyn, James Baugh, Margo Andrews, Brent Conklin and Matt Piechota. For more information about the Meteorology program at College of DuPage, visit www.cod.edu/programs/earth_science/meteorology. To follow weather forests from CODs Next Generation Weather Lab, go to weather.cod.edu. Maker Faire Bay Area 2017, San Mateo, CA, May 19, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arduino, leading open-source ecosystem for Education, Maker and Internet of Things (IoT) markets, announced the appointment of Hernando Barragan as its Chief Design Architect. This is a very exciting day for me, Arduino, and the entire Arduino community, said Arduino CEO, Federico Musto. Of course, Hernandos Wiring project was the original foundation, which led to the Arduino we all know and love today. His artistic ability to design remarkable hardware is the piece de resistance, giving developers broad, functional technologies, while offering a well-designed, well-packaged, and easy-to-use platform to create artistic projects of their own. Hernando brings an impressive talent to brilliantly marry art with functionality, and he will be an inspiring member of the Arduino team. Hernando started Wiring in 2003 as his Masters thesis project at the Interaction Design Institute Ivrea (IDII) in Italy, where he received his masters with distinction in 2004. The objective was to make it easy for artists and designers to work with electronics, by removing the complicated details of electronics. He continued the development of Wiring at the Universidad de Los Andes in Colombia, where he began teaching as an instructor in Interaction Design. Today, he designs interactive artifacts and experiences with various collaborators to attract and engage diverse audiences in dynamic contexts, exploring possibilities of expression at the intersection of art, design, architecture, and technology to enrich human experiences. Barragan was awarded a Research-creation grant, by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council in Canada, along with two colleagues from Laval University and UQAC, researching the IoT and how it will re-shape the architecture environment. I am honored to join Arduino at this time in its history, said Barragan. Ive always been a part of the community, and am thrilled to take on a leadership role to help determine the future of the Company and be an even bigger part of the passionate community of Arduino developers. As the democratization of hardware continues to unfold, now is the time where the sophistication of hardware development platforms can really make a difference. If we can design elegant boards that developers and users want to build with, alongside with the appropriate software tools, Arduino will continue to be a part of a real transformation in the industry. We are prepared for a turning point preserving its original philosophy, values, ideas and ease of use to mark the next stage for what has been a very successful innovation platform. About Arduino Arduino is the worlds leading open-source software and hardware ecosystem. The Company offers IoT developers and Makers of all ages the ability to build smart, connected and interactive devices using affordable technologies. Check us out at www.arduino.org and www.arduino.cc. ### TEMECULA, Calif., May 19, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Holy Grail Company is proud to announce its official release of its new 300mg CBD additive. Following the foundation of the company, this new addition joins a long line of CBD vapor products. The new additive has a natural flavor like the 200mg offering on the market, however it contains no THC. Although it was originally designed to be added to any E-Liquid on the market, it can also be vaped as it is highly concentrated or even used under the tongue. The release of the 300mg came at the request of a new distribution partner. We believe it is important to listen to both our existing customers as well as our new customers to stay ahead of current trends in the market. -Edward Quiroz, Co-CEO/Treasurer We feel that this new highly concentrated product will allow us to stay competitive and current within the marketplace. As the company stays focused on establishing roots in mainstream big-box stores with new brands, it will not lose sight of its core competencies. These initiatives are a key component to our continued success. -Jason B Golec, Co-CEO/President Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act) (which Sections were adopted as part of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Statements preceded by, followed by or that otherwise include the words believe, anticipate, estimate, expect, intend, plan, project, prospects, outlook, and similar words or expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as will, should, would, may, and could are generally forward-looking in nature and not historical facts. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause Holy Grail Company/ Haeneps actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any anticipated results, performance or achievements. Holy Grail Company/ Haenep disclaims any intention to, and undertakes no obligation to, revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, a future event, or otherwise. For additional uncertainties that could impact Holy Grail Company/ Haeneps forward-looking statements, please see Holy Grails/ Haeneps filings on OTC Markets (OTC:HGRL). For more information please visit us at: www.HolyGrailCompany.com Phone: 866-699-5396 NEW YORK, May 19, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Celadon Group, Inc. (Celadon or the Company) (NYSE:CGI) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, Southern District of New York, and docketed under 17-cv-03806, is on behalf of a class consisting of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Celadon securities, seeking to recover compensable damages caused by defendants violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. If you are a shareholder who purchased Celadon securities between January 27, 2016 and May 1, 2017, both dates inclusive, you have until June 19, 2017 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll free, ext. 9980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased. [Click here to join this class action] Celadon, through its subsidiaries, provides long-haul, full-truckload freight service across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The Company also provides supply chain management solutions such as warehousing and dedicated fleet services, as well as freight brokerage services. Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Companys business, operational and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Celadons equity contribution to its joint venture with Element Financial Corp. was $68.2 million, rather than the $100 million contribution the Company reported in its public filings; (ii) the Company is being actively investigated by the SEC; (iii) Celadon had errors in previously reported consolidated financial statements related to its accounting of transactions involving dispositions and acquisitions of revenue equipment; (iv) in turn, the Company lacked effective internal controls over financial reporting; and (v) as a result of the foregoing, Celadons public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. On April 5, 2017, the market research website Seeking Alpha published a detailed report authored by a Prescience Point Research Group, entitled Celadon Group: A Story That Ends At Chapter 11, which, among other things, alleged that CGI has used . manipulative accounting practices to hide its insolvent condition from investors and creditors. On this news, Celadons share price fell $0.85, or 13.6%, to close at $5.40 on April 5, 2017. On April 19, 2017, the same prominent market research group published another report entitled FOIA Requests Reveal CGI as the Subject of an Active SEC Investigation, which reported that the research group was denied information about Celadon sought under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) due to an ongoing SEC investigation. On this news, Celadons share price fell $0.20 or 4.55%, to close at $4.20 on April 19, 2017. On May 1, 2017, post-market, Celadon issued a Current Report filed on Form 8-K in the SEC, stating that the Company's financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016 and quarters ended September 30 and December 31, 2016, and related reports of [Celadons auditor], should not be relied upon. On this news, Celadons share price fell $2.20, or 55%, to close at $1.80 on May 2, 2017. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Florida, and Los Angeles, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com The company and its market Rocket Lab was founded in 2006 by Peter Beck, who serves as the company's CEO and CTO. In 2009, Beck's firm became the first private company in the Southern Hemisphere to reach space, with its Atea 1 rocket. Electron was introduced in 2013 as a light-lift launcher aimed at the small satellite market. The rocket can place a 150-kilogram payload into sun-synchronous orbit. Sun-sync satellites fly pole-to-pole, passing over the same spot at the same time each day. A good example of this the A-Train, a group of Earth-observing satellites operated by NASA and its international partners. A flagship Earth observation satellite like NASA's Suomi NPP weighs more than 2 metric tons, but Rocket Lab sees a growing market for smaller payloads, and that's where Electron comes in. Whereas a standard NASA-procured launch can easily cost more than $100 million, Electron flights are advertised at $4.9 million. In 2015, NASA introduced a new program to provide groups of SmallSats with their own, dedicated ride to orbit. As part of that program, Rocket Lab earned a $6.9 million award to conduct a SmallSat group demonstration flight. (At the time, Rocket Lab predicted the first Electron would fly in 2015.) Other confirmed Electron customers thus far are Planet, Spire and Moon Express. Rocket Lab is headquartered in Los Angeles, but at the core, they're New Zealanders, with facilities and a mission control center in Auckland. The rocket Electron is a two-stage, liquid-fueled vehicle powered by an engine called Rutherford. (Ernest Rutherford was a New Zealand-born physicist who developed a model of an atom's nucleus and electrons in 1911.) Nine Rutherford engines power the Electon's first stage; a single Rutherford powers the upper stage. The engines are 3D-printed, and Rocket Lab says an entire engine can be printed in 24 hours. The rocket runs on liquid oxygen and refined kerosenea common propellant mixture used by the Falcon 9, Soyuz and Atlas V. The Electron structure is made of lightweight, carbon composite materials (you can hold half of the rocket's payload fairing in one hand), including the liquid oxygen tank. In an article last November, I described why using carbon-wrapped tanks in a supercooled oxygen environment can be troublesome, but Rocket Lab's website says that through an "extensive research program," they have created tanks that are "compatible with liquid oxygen." The uncontested launch site Orbital ATK said a benefit of Antares over the Atlas V is launching from Wallops Island, Virginia, which has a less-crowded schedule than Kennedy Space Center, where SpaceX and United Launch Alliance also book launch slots. "We like to call it our uncontested launch site," Patterson said. The Wallops Flight Facility, as it is formally known, is the country's only NASA-operated launch range, and is not subject to Air Force oversight and coordination. Other than Orbital ATK Antares and Minotaur flights, the facility is best known for sounding rockets and balloon missions. The facility is managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, and enjoyed strong political support from outgoing Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski. A 2014 economic impact statement found the facility impacts the coastal region by more than $808 million annually, and Orbital ATK officials said a single Antares launch generates tourism revenue similar to the area's other big draw, the annual Chincoteague Pony Swim. The plan all along: RD-181 engines In my previous article exploring the future of Antares, I noted the rocket has yet to find a customer beyond NASA's ISS cargo program. Yet one of the reasons Orbital ATK was selected for the program was to stimulate the U.S. launch market. Antares debuted in 2013 sporting a pair of Aerojet AJ-26 engines, which were refurbished powerplants left over from the Soviet Union's N-1 moon rocket program. After the 2014 launch accident, in which an AJ-26 engine was implicated, Orbital ATK quickly announced a plan to switch to a more modern Russian engine: the RD-181. Company officials told me upgrading to the RD-181 was actually the plan all alongthe accident merely accelerated the process. In 2012, Orbital ATK signed a separate NASA contract, known as NLS-II, to place Antares on the menu of possible NASA science mission launchers. Bowman and Patterson said that at the time of the accidentthe rocket's fifth flightAntares had just gained enough credibility to become a viable option for other customers. That momentum was derailed, and the engine swap set the rockets ambitions back further, because a re-flight was necessary under the NLS-II contract. After last year's successful return-to-flight mission, Antares is available for NASA science missions once again. "We do now have some options we are working toward that are non-cargo," Patterson said. Antares versus Atlas If Antares flights are cheaper, why would NASA choose an Atlas V for Cygnus flights? At the moment, the reason is cargo capacity. The Atlas V, which launches Cygnus using the rocket's lightest-lift variant, the 401, allows Cygnus to carry up to 3,513 kilograms. Antares, at the moment, can only lift 3,200 kilograms. Orbital ATK said that won't be the case much longer. The RD-181 engines offers a 13 percent thrust increase over the AJ-26 engines, and the rocket performed better than expected during its return-to-flight mission. This will allow the company to shed what it calls "contingency margin." When combined with a CASTOR 30 XL upper stage, Antares in its new configuration is capable of matching the Atlas V 401. "For OA-11 (the final CRS-1 flight), we will be increasing the payload capability to 3500 kilograms," Patterson said. Through at least 2024, then, Orbital ATK expects to launch a lot of ISS cargo flights from Wallops Island. "ULA has been a great partner, and if NASA wants us to launch Cygnus on an Atlas again, we will be happy to do so," Bowman said. "However, our baseline plan is to launch on Antares for CRS-2, unless otherwise asked or directed." NEW YORK, May 19, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against United States Steel Corporation (U.S. Steel or the Company) (NYSE:X) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania, is on behalf of a class consisting of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired U.S. Steel securities, seeking to recover compensable damages caused by defendants violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. If you are a shareholder who purchased U.S. Steel securities between November 1, 2016 and April 25, 2017, both dates inclusive, you have until July 3, 2017 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll free, ext. 9980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased. [Click here to join this class action] U.S. Steel is an integrated steel producer of flat-rolled and tubular products with major production operations in North America and Europe. Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Companys business, operational and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) while the Company was implementing its Carnegie Way program, it was focused on cutting costs and was not making investments necessary to position U.S. Steel so that it could respond to improved market conditions; (ii) Defendants failure to invest in improving capital assets during the industry downturn, in order to report apparent financial improvements, meant that U.S. Steel had higher production costs than its competitors, even in the face of improved pricing, which would negatively impact its financial results; and (iii) Defendants were forestalling expensive capital equipment upgrades in order to boost the Company's short-term financial results at the expense of long-term financial performance, leaving U.S. Steel in need of accelerated, costly equipment upgrades that would leave the Company years away from generating improved financial performance; and (iv) as a result of the foregoing, U.S. Steels public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. During the Class Period, steel market conditions improved substantially. Indeed, in the first quarter of 2017, the average price of U.S. hot-rolled steel coil, a benchmark product used in a variety of products ranging from bridges to microwaves, rose 55% from a year earlier, helped by successful U.S. trade cases against foreign imports. By all accounts, U.S. Steel appeared primed to pounce on the domestic steel market turnaround. After the market closed on April 25, 2017, however, the Company reported what analysts labeled hard-to-fathom and abysmal financial results, as U.S. Steel revealed shortcomings that, according to Bloomberg, choked earnings even as prices of the metal surged. Specifically, the Company reported a net loss of $180 million, or negative $1.03 per diluted share, and adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) of $74 million. The Companys earnings release revealed negative operating cash flow of $135 million, a significant decline in the Companys Flat-Rolled segment, and a reduced 2017 outlook that widely missed analyst expectations, including a 35% reduction to 2017 EBITDA guidance. 2017 guidance was worse at the earnings level, where guidance was cut 50% from $3.08 per share to $1.50. The $1.50 earnings per share (EPS), however, included the benefit of an accounting change that cut $175 million from operating costs. Factoring that positive accounting change out of the mix, the Companys adjusted EPS guidance was closer to $0.85, a cut of approximately 72%. The Company also eliminated language about being cash positive for the year. The Companys earnings release quoted Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mario Longhi (Longhi) as stating, in part, that operating challenges at our Flat-Rolled facilities prevented us from benefiting fully from improved market conditions. Longhi also added that U.S. Steel would not let favorable near-term business conditions distract us from taking the outages we need to revitalize our assets in order to achieve more reliable and consistent operations, improve quality and cost performance, and generate more consistent financial results. He also added that U.S. Steel made the strategic decision to accelerate [its] efforts to resolve the issues that challenge our ability to achieve sustainable long-term profitability. During a conference call before the market opened on April 26, 2017, Longhi stated that in 2017 the Company would be taking more downtime at our facilities, which will limit our steel production volumes. On this news, U.S. Steels share price fell $8.33, or 26.78%, to close at $22.78 on April 26, 2017. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Florida, and Los Angeles, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com (Photo: U.S. Customs and Border Protection) A man began firing at Border Patrol officers at an immigration checkpoint north of Tombstone, AZ, on Wednesday, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The man was driving north on State Route 80 and drove into the barriers of an immigration checkpoint at about 3:45 p.m., officials said. The man began firing a gun at officers, officials said, prompting them to return fire, reports the Arizona Republic. The man was shot and given immediate medical attention, and then flown to a hospital for further treatment. His condition was not available. No officers were injured. Police officers in the state of Nevada may soon be required to wear body cameras under a measure that was sent on Thursday to Governor Brian Sandoval for his signature. The proposal, approved by the state legislature, would make Nevada the second state in the in the country to mandate that state and local police use body cameras. North Carolina passed a similar requirement in 2015. The body camera requirement expands existing state rules, which require their use by the Nevada Highway Patrol, and mandates that the devices be turned on any time police investigate a crime or stop a citizen, Reuters reports. The Bible verse decals that have adorned Montgomery County (VA) Sheriff's Office vehicles since March are coming off immediately, Sheriff Hank Partin said in a Thursday statement. Announcement of the decals' removal came after county officials began asking about them and as the Freedom From Religion Foundation and the Virginia branch of the American Civil Liberties Union called the markings an unacceptable breach of the U.S. Constitution's wall between church and state, reports the Roanoke Times. "A Bible verse is a sectarian and exclusively religious statement," said Sam Grover, staff attorney for the Madison, WI-based Freedom From Religion Foundation. "Under the Establishment Clause, the sheriff's office, as a government entity, must remain neutral. It cannot promote one religion over another, or religion over non-religion." The Montgomery County decals on the back of patrol cars read, "Blessed are the peacemakers... Matthew 5:9." The decals were put on vehicles in March and were donated by the company that designs graphics for the county Sheriff's Office, Capt. Brian Wright, a spokesman for the sheriff's office, wrote in an email Tuesday. "We believe it's a great way to honor our brothers and sisters in law enforcement during a time when many seek to tear them down," Wright wrote. However, on Thursday, Partin released a statement that read, in part: "In the midst of National Police Week, we want to focus on those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving their communities. The last thing that I want is for this to become a distraction to the men and women who serve their communities selflessly every day." Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Even though the collective attention of the American people is appropriately focused on the massive Russia cover-up that appears to be underway in the White House, Bernie Sanders is urging the country to multitask. Not only does the Vermont senator want the president to be held accountable for his corruption, but he also wants to get back to fighting for a progressive agenda that will help the middle class. Video: Sanders asks America to multitask: Hold Trump accountable for Russia AND fight his dangerous policies pic.twitter.com/MNspT7A8Nf Sean Colarossi (@SeanColarossi) May 19, 2017 Sanders said: Simultaneously, its important that the American people have faith that the process of this investigation is done fairly, objectively and goes where it goes. But our job right now is we have got to rally the American people around what is clearly an extremely reactionary, right-wing agenda which is being pushed by the billionaire class. And the essence of that agenda are many hundreds of billions of dollars in tax breaks going to the top two percent, massive cuts in education, in health care, in environmental protection, in the needs of our senior citizens. So two issues: objective investigation, stand up and protect American workers and the middle class. The American people and the media are right to demand a thorough investigation into Trumps dealings with Russia and his recent efforts to cover up that investigation but, as Sanders said, its important that lawmakers remember why they were sent to Washington in the first place. There are millions of people who still dont have jobs, or wages that can support a family, or a chance to attend college. Millions more are worried that Republicans in Congress will either take away their health insurance or strip critical benefits that allow them to get life-saving treatment. That goes without mentioning that years of progress on climate change and environmental protections are under assault by this president and his Republican allies in Congress. A thorough and independent investigation into Trump is a top priority, but Democrats should not lose sight of issues that affect working Americans every day. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Fired FBI Director James Comey was reportedly so hellbent on avoiding Donald Trump that he once tried hiding in the White House curtains to avoid being noticed by the unhinged president. According to The New York Times, in a January meeting Trump held for law enforcement officials, Comey initially didnt want to attend, and once he was there he tried his best to steer clear of the president. More from the Times: One of those occurred at the White House on Jan. 22, just two days after Mr. Trump was sworn in. That day, Mr. Trump hosted a ceremony to honor law enforcement officials who had provided security for the inauguration. Mr. Wittes said that Mr. Comey told him that he initially did not want to go to the meeting because the F.B.I. director should not have too close a relationship with the White House. But Mr. Comey went because he wanted to represent the bureau. The ceremony occurred in the Blue Room of the White House, where many senior law enforcement officials including the Secret Service director had gathered. Mr. Comey who is 6 feet 8 inches tall and was wearing a dark blue suit that day told Mr. Wittes that he tried to blend in with the blue curtains in the back of the room, in the hopes that Mr. Trump would not spot him and call him out. Unfortunately for Comey, Trump did call him out in a big way, forcing the then-FBI director to walk all the way across the room just to shake his hands and it was clearly an awkward moment for Comey, who we now know was being pestered at the time by Trump to be loyal and get rid of the Russia investigation. Video of the moment: According to The New York Times, once Comey was called on by Trump, he was determined not to allow the president pull him into a hug. More from the report: Comey said that as he was walking across the room he was determined that there wasnt going to be a hug, Mr. Wittes said. It was bad enough there was going to be a handshake. And Comey has long arms so Comey said he pre-emptively reached out for a handshake and grabbed the presidents hand. But Trump pulled him into an embrace and Comey didnt reciprocate. If you look at the video, its one person shaking hands and another hugging. Trump clearly wanted the Russia investigation to go away, and Comey was not budging to make that happen for the president. By Trumps own admission, this was key to his decision to dismiss Comey earlier this month. Its also obvious that Trump repeatedly courted the FBI director having him over for dinner, calling him on the phone, trying to pull him into an embrace, and asking him for loyalty and was repeatedly turned down. If there is one thing that Trump has taught us, its that he has no patience for those who dont love him as much as he loves himself. So at the end of the day, James Comey was doomed with Donald Trump in the White House, no matter what curtains he tried hiding behind. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Joe Lieberman is the rumored front runner to replace James Comey as the new FBI director, and Trump is dreaming that because hes a former Democratic Senator, Democrats will jump on board. Lieberman is no Robert Mueller. Mueller has support from Democrats because he has the experience needed to do the job and as important, he does not have ties to Donald Trump. Joe Lieberman works for Kasowitz, Benson, Torres and Friedman one of Trumps go to law firms. As of this writing, Liebermans bio is on the firms website. It highlights his investigative skills as United States Senator and Attorney General of the State of Connecticut. He is described as a seasoned leader who is skilled in the art of facilitating mutally beneficial and strategic agreements. Senator Lieberman also assists corporate clients on tax, healthcare, security and intellectual property matters. In addition, he counsels clients on international expansion initiatives and business plans. This is a screengrab of Liebermans bio. The firm has respresented Donald Trump on several matters. As reported by Newsweek, this is the law firm that threatened the New York Times with a legal action last October, when the NYT published some pages of Trumps 1995 tax return. Later that month, Marc Kasowitz, a partner in the firm, wrote a threatening letter to the NYT demanding it retract an article about two women who claimed Trump touched them inappropriately. The firm also sued an author on Trumps behalf over suggestions that Trump is worth less than $1billion. When Trump wanted to keep his divorce records sealed, he Hired Kasowitzs firm. The firm also did some work for Trump on the Trump University fraud case and sued Trumps Hong Kong business partners over a Manhatten property. The Trump Organizations general counsel, Alan Garten reportedly told the WSJ Kasowitz has always been a guy you go to when you have complex, intricate legal problems. The fact that Lieberman works for one of the law firms that represents Donald Trump, alone disqualifies him because there is an obvious conflict of interest on any and all investigations regarding Donald Trump like the Trump/Russia investigation. Generally, Lieberman doesnt pass the sniff test for the independence from Trumps political influence that is crucial to do the job of FBI Director even if Trump and others in his administration were not the subject of counter intelligence and/or criminal investigations. Trumps preference would be to shut down any investigation into his and his campaigns relationship with Russia. His attempts to interfere with or discredit investigations by House and Senate committees are documented. He attempted to intimidate former FBI Director James Comey into dropping investigations against Michael Flynn and the Russia thing. When that failed, Trump fired Comey and tried to intimidate him again via Twitter, when word got out that Comey would testify to Congress. By placing Lieberman as Director of the FBI, Trump is hoping to have eyes and ears on what would otherwise be a secret investigation by the Special Counsel. No doubt, Robert Mueller will have his own investigatory resources, but that doesnt preclude involvement or cooperation with the FBI. If Lieberman is running the FBI, Trump has a pipeline to the Special Counsels investigation. Even if we could ignore that big conflict of interest in the room thats inevitable if one of the Presidents lawyers were to run the FBI, Lieberman is sorely lacking the background and experience needed to do the job. Liebermans bio on Kasowitz Benson Torres & Friedman website lists his qualifications to represent clients. Whats interesting is what the bio doesnt say. Lieberman doesnt have any notable experience as a criminal attorney listed in his bio, nor does the bio mention experience running an organization. One can look to his experience as the Attorney-General of Connecticut, which is far from the sort of background in criminal law one would need to run the FBI. Liebermans ties to Trump via Kasowitz et al, along with his lack of sufficient background in criminal law and running an organization suit Trump, as we see with so many other people he chose to be part of the Trump Administration. However, it is bad for America. We already have an incompetent and corrupt Administration, which is why were in this mess. Image: CNN, screengrab Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print New reporting Friday morning in the New York Times takes aim at the just joking defense taken by Speaker Paul Ryan and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy in regards to the explosive report that in June of 2016 they were discussing Putin paying Donald Trump. In 2012, the FBI warned Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) that Russian spies were trying to recruit him, officials told the New York Times, which notes, He is one of President Trumps staunchest allies on Capitol Hill. the F.B.I. has for years viewed Russian spies, sometimes posing as diplomats, as having a hand in Washington. On Wednesday, the Washington Post published an astonishing story backed up with an audio recording in which Kevin McCarthy told Paul Ryan and other Republicans in the room that he thought Russian President Vladimir Putin paid Republican Donald Trump and Dana Rohrabacher. Theres two people I think Putin pays: Rohrabacher and Trump, McCarthy told his Republican colleagues. This happened on June 15, 2016, just after the DNC had been hacked and after Ryan and McCarthy had talked with the Ukraine PM who warned them that the Kremlin was financing populist politicians to take aim at western democracy. Spokespeople for the two Republican leaders flatly denied the conversation took place, until confronted with the fact that there was a recording. McCarthy told reporters on Wednesday, It was a bad attempt at a joke. However, during the conversation in response to laughter, McCarthy had said, Swear to God. Ryan followed that with, This is off the record. The same day as the audio came out of their conversation surmising that Putin pays Trump and Rohrabacher, House Republicans blocked a vote for an independent Russia probe. The FBI did not think that Rohrabacher had been paid or that he was working with Russia, but that he would be easily used by the Russians. The FBIs concern about Russians targeting politicians was shared with members of the House Intelligence Committee at the time, who were in on the meeting between the FBI and Rohrabacher. Times writers Matt Apuzzo, Adam Goldman and Mark Mazzetti noted, As for Mr. McCarthys remark, even if only a quip, it showed that Republican leaders were aware enough of Mr. Trumps Russian ties six months before Election Day to joke about them. This awareness belies the notion that the payment comment was a joke. It seems likely that McCarthy made the remark based on the combination of the Ukraine Prime Ministers warning that Putin was paying populist politicians and which politicians were taking bizarrely pro-Putin stances. So while there isnt evidence that Putin paid Trump or Rohrabacher, the larger point is that Putin does this and these two politicians behave as if they are being paid by Putin in terms of policy and attitude. That is no laughing matter. McCarthys quip seems more like the kind of nervous observation made among colleagues that is so uncomfortable people titter in response. But McCarthy followed that with, I swear to God for a reason. And the reason is not a secret. Its staring us all in the face, daring us to do something about it. Russias goal is so much bigger than Donald Trump. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Rachel Maddow demonstrated why Vice President Mike Pence is not only implicated in the Russia scandal, but he is a central figure in the scandal which has publicly told many lies that will ruin his career. Video: Maddow said, Vice President Mike Pence has made a number of blunt direct false statements related to the Trump Russia investigation both during the transition and since he was vice president. When controversy started to swirl around Mike Flynn because of his foreign contacts, Mike Pence bluntly asserted that the Trump transition did not apply for a security clearance for Mike Flynns son. They had actually applied for a security clearance for Mike Flynns son. After the president fired the FBI Director, Mike Pence bluntly asserted that the decision to fire James Comey was based on a recommendation from the Deputy Attorney General. The President himself and reportedly the Deputy Attorney General himself now today have both made clear that that was not the reason James Comey was fired. Rachel Maddow listed other Pence lies like saying there were no Trump campaign contacts with the Russian government, and how it cant be true that Pence didnt know that Flynn was under investigation. The central question around Pence is how Flynn stayed around as national security adviser after he lied to Pence. Maddow concluded, Mike Pence apparently formed a political action committee this week. Maybe hes looking at his bosses troubles in the Russia scandal, and starting to imagine himself becoming president? Mike Pence has his own troubles when it comes to this scandal, and as long as reporters like the ones who work at Reuters keep turning up 18 new previously undisclosed Russian contacts during the campaign that the White House hadnt come clean about before even now, it seems like those troubles are going to get bigger, not smaller over time. As I have been writing for months, Mike Pence is going to go down for the Russia scandal. As early as January 2017, it became clear that if the Russia scandal blew up, Pence wouldnt survive it. On Thursday, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) why the Pence will go down with the Russia ship. Anyone who has been paying attention for the last four months knows that Pence is up to his eyeballs in the Russia scandal. Republicans are fantasizing about Pence becoming president, but the reality is that if Trump is impeached, Mike Pences political career is dead as a doornail. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print A new Monmouth University poll revealed that Trumps approval rating had dropped the most in the 300 counties where the 2016 election was decided by single digits. According to the Monmouth University Poll, The presidents job rating currently stands at a net negative 39% approve and 53% disapprove. It was more evenly divided two months ago at 43% approve and 46% disapprove. Trumps rating has dropped slightly among residents of the nearly 2,500 counties that gave him a victory margin of ten points or more, from 55%-33% in March to 51%-41% today. It has also dipped in the 400+ counties he lost by ten points or more from 33%-57% to 28%-64% in the current poll. Trumps biggest decline, though, came among residents of swing counties the 300 counties where 2016s winning margin was in the single digits dropping from 41%-46% in March to 34%-54% in the current poll. Donald Trump won over half of these 300 counties in 2016. If Trumps favorability falls off of a cliff, that 78,000 vote margin in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan that got him into the White House could vanish in the blink of an eye. At a time when counties have become hyper-partisan red or blue, these purple single digit counties are an endangered species. There is a political eon between now and the 2020 election, but Donald Trump has never had a national approval rating over 50%. Trumps negative net approval has been consistent and has only shown a regular ability to get worse, not better. Republicans have a bigger problem than they ever could have imagined on Election Night last November. The country is becoming more polarized, and it is moving away from the President. If American politics continues on its current trajectory, Democrats may find themselves in a plum position to take back the White House in 2020. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Its hard to believe this happened because Donald Trump is under investigation for possibly colluding with Russia. The President fired the FBI Director who was investigating him for colluding with Russia. And now it comes out that Trump told the Russians that it relieved pressure from the investigation when he fired nut job Comey. Which is exactly what someone who was colluding with the Russians would say. This latest scoop comes via The New York Times with reporting by Maggie Haberman, Matt Apuzzo, and Matthew Rosenberg based on a document that summarized the Presidents May 10 meeting meeting with the Russians in the Oval Office. Trump told the Russians, I just fired the head of the F.B.I. He was crazy, a real nut job. I faced great pressure because of Russia. Thats taken off. The Times noted the document was read to them by an American official. Im not under investigation, the President added. Donald Trump told the Russians that the pressure because of Russia was taken off because he fired the head of the FBI. This sounded like another admission of obstruction of justice to me, but then former Special Counsel for Ethics and Government Reform in the Obama White House Norm Eisen weighed in to point out that Trump denied collusion with the Russians but these comments virtually amount to it. Trump denies collusion with the Russians but these comments virtually amount to it. Sickening. https://t.co/fp5WD71BQN Norm Eisen (@NormEisen) May 19, 2017 And they do point to collusion. Trump is telling the Russian spies all is well, I am not under investigation, I fired that guy. The pressure is off. Dont worry about anything, I took care of it. These are things you tell someone who is in on it with you and who also wants the investigation to go away. Trump said these things while he was also revealing highly classified intelligence about an ISIS plot to the Russians a very helpful bit of information for them that was not even shared with the five eyes alliance. The scariest thing about this is how ignorant Donald Trump is. He held this meeting with the Russians and told them this in the Oval Office and he didnt realize that they would have this over his head and that they most likely know more about the investigation into Trump than Trump does. If they fell for Trumps bluster that he is managing this, they might be projecting too much. Trump is at times a stunningly foolish man. He thinks hes lining his own pockets and getting the dream White House for himself by making a deal with the Russians. Trump is wily and clever in his way, but he is a fool when it comes to understanding other peoples motives and his propensity to think hes the smartest person in the room makes him easy pickings for those who know better than to assume they are the smartest person in the room. Trumps easy denigration of the former FBI Director to representatives/spies of a hostile foreign power who interfered in our election is the opposite of patriotism and statesmanship. Just who leaked this to The Times from the White House is yet another segment of the palace drama. SHREVEPORT, La., May 19, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Patients can find their next pair of stylish and brand name eyewear at the TC CHARTON Asian Fit Eyewear Trunk Show hosted by Silverblatt Eye Clinic in Shreveport. This special event on May 23rd is from 12-6pm and offers eyewear from brands at the Styleyes Eyewear Boutique. Vision patients that have had to contend with glasses that slide down noses or rest upon cheeks can get the fit for their face shape with TC CHARTON Asian Fit Eyewear which offers more than 150 different styles of glasses and other eyewear for men and women. The TC CHARTON Asian Fit Eyewear Trunk Show will be held at 1803 East 70th Street in Shreveport, Louisiana. Patients with a recent prescription can come down to try out frames from famous designers. Take time to try out the Styleyes frames, where a range of locally based, independent frame lines are designed with face shape and unique styles in mind. Exclusive and designer eyewear in Shreveport include hand-painted foreign frames, locally designed frames, eco-friendly wooden products and more. The designer eyewear collection includes eyewear by Randolph, SALT., Barton Perreira, MYKITA, Modo, and many more. Styleyes is Shreveports eyewear boutique with a range of frames for every face shape and personal style. Vision patients should note that recent prescriptions are recommended to benefit from the purchase of new frames. All patients should also schedule an eye exam annually to monitor their eye health and receive an updated prescription, when necessary. Those that need custom lenses, multifocal lenses or polarized lenses can get the assistance they need at Silverblatt Eye Clinic. An eye doctor in Shreveport is on hand to address any vision-related issue. We look forward to helping those coming to the upcoming trunk show find the perfect new frames for their personal face shape and style. We want to help patients feel their best with stylish, well-fitted and unique eye frames designed both locally and from around the world, said Sam R. Silverblatt, O.D., Shreveport optometrist. Come on down to our fun, free event and try on the latest from our collection. We are excited to chat with vision patients and show off our favorite new frames on May 23rd. About Silverblatt Eye Clinic Sam R. Silverblatt, O.D. and Rachel Meyer-Borel, O.D. of the proudly and newly named Silverblatt Eye Clinic serve residents of Shreveport, Bossier City, Minden, and the surrounding communities. Vision patients have come to expect high quality, personalized eye care in a comfortable setting from their vision team. Services include eye exams, contact lenses, eyeglasses, and exclusive eyewear. Call (318) 771-7590 to learn more about the TC CHARTON Trunk Show or visit http://samsilverblatt.com/ for details on their eye care services. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print White House lawyers consider the possibility distant, but they are researching impeachment in case there is an effort to remove Trump from office. Video: Evan Perez reported on CNN, White House lawyers have begun researching impeachment procedures. This is simply an effort to prepare for what officials still believe is a distant and unlikely possibility that the President could have to fend off attempts to remove him from office. The research is being described as being done out of an abundance of caution, as Trump still believes that he has the backing of Republican allies in Congress and that impeachment is not in the cards. Barack Obamas White House lawyers never had to research impeachment. George W. Bushs White House lawyers never had to worry about impeachment, so the research about impeachment by Trumps White House lawyers is definitely not normal. This is not what presidential administrations do when everything is going fine. Trump may not have to worry about impeachment today, but if Democrats get control of Congress, the President better get ready because if a real investigation finds impeachable offenses, impeachment wont just be in the cards, it will be voted on in the House. Pizza has been a constant in Brian Kesslers life, from the time he got a job in a pizzeria as a teenager until the day he met his wife in a pizza joint. Read moreIggy's Pizza Shop is now open in Mount Pleasant Parker Hendriks had 13 rides in his first season as a jockey in 2020, and gave up his apprentice status early this spring. His first race as a pro was April 2, at the Carolina Cup in Camden. Read moreYoung American set to be crowned jockey champ at Steeplechase of Charleston A Rochester man has been convicted in the hit-and-run of a child last summer. Hussein Ahmad Haaji, 58, was charged with two felony counts of criminal vehicular operation and one count of misdemeanor DWI after the Aug. 30 incident. He pleaded guilty in March to one of the criminal vehicular operation charges; the other two counts were dismissed at Monday's sentencing. Olmsted County District Court Judge Christina Stevens sentenced Haaji to 45 days in jail, with credit for 10 days already served, and the possible waiver of the remaining 35 days by Aug. 1 if he remains in compliance with the terms of his probation, court documents show. Haaji was placed on probation for three years, ordered to complete treatment and to continue chemical dependency programming at Zumbro Valley Mental Health Center. The case began when Rochester police responded that afternoon to 2001 17th St. NE for a report of a hit-and-run. The suspect vehicle was described as a green car with a flat tire. ADVERTISEMENT The 11-year-old victim told her rescuers she was in the grass near the parking lot when she saw a car driving across the lawn. She tried to run to get out of the way but fell; she got up to grab her sister and fell again. The girl didn't remember anything else; she had a red lump on her forehead, scrapes on the left side of her face, was favoring her left wrist and complained of head pain, the report says. As an officer responded to the crash, he saw a green car with a flat left front tire in the parking lot of a business on Marion Road. Two employees met the officer in the lot and asked if he was looking for the driver of the car; they'd seen him pull in, park, then walk across the lot to another business. The employees described the driver later identified as Haaji as a middle-aged Somali male wearing dark pants and a green shirt. A check of the car's license plates indicated the owner was Haaji. As the officer drove around the business complex, he spotted Haaji, who approached the squad car. After identifying himself, he told the officer somebody had punched him, so he was walking to a business to call his family. He then claimed someone had carjacked him on Marion Road, and he was there to call the police. When confronted with the witnesses' story, Haaji changed his story somewhat, but still said he'd been punched and his car was taken by force. Though he claimed to be bleeding from his mouth, the officer didn't see any swelling, blood or scrapes on Haaji, the complaint says. Surveillance video from the apartment complex, as well as four eyewitness accounts described Haaji's vehicle as the one that struck the child, court documents say, and described the driver as a middle-age or older Somali male with a tan "sailor-type" hat. A yellow hat was found in Haaji's pocket. Pieces of a headlight collected at the scene allegedly matched the broken headlight lens on Haaji's car, which emitted a "strong odor of alcohol," the reports say. Haaji failed field sobriety tests, the criminal complaint says. A preliminary breath test indicated an alcohol concentration of 0.078; a blood draw was taken and sent to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for analysis. He admitted to drinking the night before, claiming his last drink was at 1 a.m. ADVERTISEMENT The victim had a broken thumb and wrist; a head scan was taken to determine the extent of her head injury. Those results weren't made available in the complaint. ALBERT LEA A 30-year-old man was arrested after leading authorities on a chase through Freeborn County early today. The incident happened at 12:54 a.m. when an Albert Lea Police officer initiated a traffic stop at 9th Street and Lincoln Avenue, which turned into a vehicle pursuit, according to the city's police department. For 47 miles all within Freeborn County the police chased after the suspect, reaching speeds up to 115 miles per hour. Officers deployed stop sticks in the area of State Line Road, which ended the chase a short distance later. William Oleson, 30, was taken into custody and transported to the Freeborn County Jail. He's facing charges of fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, driving after cancellation and for giving false information to a police officer. The Freeborn County Sheriff's Office, Minnesota State Patrol, Faribault County Sheriff's Office, Winnebago County Sheriff's Office, Worth County Sheriff's Office, and Iowa State Patrol all assisted with the chase. PRESTON The man who one local official called "a prolific window-peeper" will remain behind bars until he's sentenced in another county for failing to register as a predatory offender. Rickford Rehmann Munger, 61, is scheduled to be sentenced June 5 in Fillmore County District Court. He pleaded guilty there in February to one count of felony predatory offender violation; three identical counts are expected to be dismissed. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 2 to 5 years in prison. After his plea, he was released on his own recognizance, court documents show, and was due back in court May 1. Munger made his way to Olmsted County, and less than two months later, he was behind bars again this time for allegedly peeping in the window of at least one woman in Rochester. He was charged locally on April 28 with two counts of interfering with privacy-previous conviction, and one count of fifth-degree drug possession, all felonies. ADVERTISEMENT Munger appeared before retired judge Dennis J. Murphy, who also released him on his own recognizance just in time for his court date in Fillmore County, which he attended. Judge Matthew Opat ordered him held there without bail after the hearing, court records indicate. Munger's criminal history dates back more than 25 years and includes multiple prison stays for several counts of first-degree burglary, second-degree assault and failing to register as a predatory offender. Offenders are required to list with law enforcement all vehicles they're associated with, as well as any address where they may stay. That's what landed him in hot water in Fillmore County, where he claimed to live in rural Lanesboro. A tracker on his vehicle last summer indicated he spent "very little time" at the address, the complaint says, adding that Munger also purchased an RV that wasn't registered with authorities. Surveillance indicated Munger was living in the RV, which was seen in parking lots of several businesses in and around St. Charles. He admitted to an investigator that he knew the law didn't allow him to live in an RV, which prompted the predatory offender violation charges. Mostly, "he's a window-peeper," said Capt. John Sherwin, of the Rochester Police Department. "That's what he does. When he's active, he does this all night long, looking for where lights are on, looking for people changing clothes." That's allegedly what happened in the series of events that landed him in jail in Rochester. A 48-year-old woman who lives in the 300 block of Sixth Street Northwest told authorities she was asleep in her bedroom early April 23 when she was awakened by something breaking outside her window. ADVERTISEMENT She opened the blinds and came face-to-face with a man who was standing outside, the report says, holding a cellphone with a red case. They startled each other, Sherwin said a few seconds passed as they looked at each other. The woman, angry, ran out of the home to confront him, but the man had fled. The victim reported the incident about 9 p.m. April 24; based on her description, officials believed it was Munger, the report says. "He's well-known to police," Sherwin said. "We've dealt with him frequently." About three hours later, dispatchers received a call from a man who lives in the 600 block of Second Street Northwest, who said he saw someone appearing to try to peek into a neighbor's window. The suspect had stacked some items on the ground, likely to stand on them to see inside, Sherwin said. The neighbor, who said he'd seen the same man about six months earlier, went outside to confront the suspect later identified as Munger then followed him to Seventh Street Northwest and Broadway Avenue as he called police. A preliminary search of Munger by arriving officers turned up knee pads, black gloves and a flashlight. He was released at the scene, Sherwin said, because there wasn't enough evidence of a crime to make an arrest. When he was arrested two days later, Munger was carrying a flashlight, a sex toy and a cellphone with a red case. According to the complaint against him, he told investigators there were videos of window-peeping on the phone, that he had peeped into windows and watched people three to five times that week, and that he wouldn't have a defense to the charge of window peeping. ADVERTISEMENT Munger allegedly said he primarily targets residences and apartment buildings and uses his cell phone to record what he sees. A review of his phone confirmed his admission, the report says. He's due back in court on the privacy charges on July 27. A Chicago man accused of sexually assaulting a Rochester girl over a period of several months was sentenced to 15 years of probation and ordered to register as a predatory offender. Gerrick Jones, 22, was charged in August with one count each of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and disseminating pornography, as well as 13 counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. All are felonies. He pleaded guilty Dec. 23 in Olmsted County District Court to two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct-victim 13-15, and received a stay of imposition during Monday's sentencing. If Jones completes all of his conditions during the probationary period, the offense may be reduced on his record from a felony to a misdemeanor. Jones was also ordered to complete a sex offender treatment program, have no unsupervised contact with minor females unless pre-approved and have no access to internet without approval, in addition to other terms. The investigation began in February 2016, when the girl contacted law enforcement. She met Jones through social media just before Christmas 2014; she was under the age of 15, but told him she was 17. ADVERTISEMENT The two first met in person in April 2015 in Rochester. They went to a hotel, where Jones wanted to engage in sexual intercourse, but the girl refused. Jones became angry, the complaint says, and "forcibly removed" the victim's pants and underwear, then sexually assaulted her. The girl told him to stop, allegedly angering Jones even more. He grabbed her by the neck and slammed her into the wall, court documents say, then forced more sexual contact. About a month later, the two met again in Rochester. Jones had reportedly learned the girl's real age, but said they were "already in too deep," and allegedly sexually assaulted her again. The victim told detectives that Jones remained in contact with her, sexually assaulting her about six more times, the complaint says, the last time on Dec. 31, 2015. The girl said she tried to break off the relationship with Jones, but claimed he threatened to send explicit photographs of her to her friends and family. A forensic exam of the victim's phone contained information confirming a relationship between the two, the reports say. A search warrant led to examinations of Jones' social media accounts, which allegedly contained multiple photos of the girl's body, as well as photos of sexual contact between the two. Roland Orr not only landed at the wrong Rochester on Thursday he was headed for New York he also landed in jail. The Boulder Creek, Calif., man was trying to get to his son's graduation in Rochester, N.Y., said Capt. John Sherwin of the Rochester (Mn.) Police Department. Orr, 55, landed here; when he realized the error, he headed back through the security checkpoint to make his way east. Orr emptied his pockets into the basket provided for personal items, apparently forgetting he was carrying 1 1/2 grams of methamphetamine and 1 1/2 grams of heroin, the report says. He was arrested at the scene, and could be charged as early as today with fifth-degree drug possession, Sherwin said. It's unclear if he'll make it to the graduation. The man accused of running to a closed business after a two-car crash then damaging the business will make his initial appearance next week in Olmsted County District Court. Corey Joe Hummel, 30, of LeRoy, has been charged with third-degree burglary, a felony; three gross misdemeanor counts of criminal vehicular operation; gross misdemeanor counts of hit and run and fourth-degree operating while under the influence of alcohol, as well as misdemeanor counts of fourth-degree criminal damage to property, reckless driving and failure to display registration plates. He remains in custody in lieu of $5,000 conditional bail and is due back in court Tuesday. Rochester police responded about 1:35 a.m. May 9 to the 2300 block of Marion Road for a report of a crash with injuries. They found a 65-year-old woman with leg injuries, who told them this: ADVERTISEMENT She was northbound on Marion Road when she saw a vehicle driving south strike a mailbox on the west shoulder, then correct its direction of travel and cross over into the northbound lane, the report says. The woman moved into the southbound lane to avoid a collision, said Capt. John Sherwin, but the other driver later identified as Hummel returned to his own lane, striking the woman's vehicle on the passenger side. Hummel left the scene before police arrived, the report says. Officers noted a mailbox post and two mailboxes were lodged in the windshield of the van, the front passenger tire was completely broken away from the frame, fluid was flooding the roadway and its engine was smoking. Paperwork inside the van indicated it had been sold the week before to Hummel, the complaint says. At 2:19 a.m., officers responded to an alarm at a business in the 2400 block of Marion Road. The front glass door had been broken with a metal sign, court documents say, and a fire extinguisher had just been sprayed inside the building. Hummel was lying on his back in the foyer surrounded by broken ceiling tiles, the documents continue, indicating he'd torn down a portion of the ceiling. ADVERTISEMENT After being medically cleared, Hummel was taken to jail. A warrant was obtained to collect blood, which was sent to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for chemical testing. KASSON After opening 2-1/2 years ago , the 36,000-square-foot Shopko Hometown store in Kasson is for sale, possibly due to a tax dispute. The store is appealing its 2015 assessment of $1,397,500 and 2016 and 2017 tax bills in state tax court, said Ryan DeCook, Dodge County's director of land records. The case will be heard in April 2018. The property, at 301 Mantorville Ave. S., this week paid the first half of its $101,068 tax bill for 2017, according to Dodge County tax records. A second installment of $50,534 is due Oct. 16. The property owner, Kranthi Realty LLC, of Green Bay, Wis., paid a $105,027.35 tax bill in 2016 and a $46,770 tax bill in 2015. "We're just kind of moving through the motions now on how we defend the valuation we have on the property," DeCook said. "We're just starting that process of scheduling orders, and hopefully making contact with Shopko on what their arguments are going to be." ADVERTISEMENT A Shopko spokeswoman declined to comment. The store, a condensed version of a full-size Shopko store, was built on the site of the former Lions Park. (The new Lions Park, located to the west of the store, although no longer in the center of town, at 17.7 acres is more than twice as large as the old Lions Park.) Hundreds of residents petitioned against the store. Five homes and a small coffee shop were displaced as a result of the construction. Dodge County hasn't spoken with Shopko yet regarding its petition, DeCook said. However, he noted that Kasson's store location wasn't the only one to contest its assessment; the two Rochester stores and other Shopko stores in at least five counties also filed a tax court petition. "They're (Shopko) filing from all over the state of Minnesota," DeCook said. The five counties decided to defend their assessments together. The Kasson store, was listed for sale in February for about $4.44 million. The most recent county assessment, for 2017, is about $1.35 million, according to Dodge County records . The assessment has gone down slightly each year since 2015, the records show. The county assessment encompasses the estimated value of the land ($91,500) and building ($1.26 million). The business' asking price includes those things as well as the operating Shopko business, DeCook said. The store had 35 employees at the time it opened in November 2014. "They're selling the real estate lease, and business," DeCook said. "We haven't discussed their petition with them, and we're just preparing for that conversation at this time." The store is located along the main retail corridor between U.S. Highway 14 and downtown Kasson, with traffic counts of 11,600 vehicles daily on Mantorville Avenue South, and more than 17,000 near Highway 14. It's one of 363 stores that Shopko operates. ADVERTISEMENT City Administrator Theresa Coleman said that Kasson was not playing a part in the current dispute between Shopko and Dodge County. She was aware of the listing, and had conversations with Mayor Chris McKern regarding the property being for sale. "There doesn't seem to be a reason for concern," Coleman said. "It's like when someone puts their home up for sale. There's a million reasons why they would put a property up for sale. Like I said, property goes up for sale all the time." If Shopko decides to move forward in tax court, then Dodge County would be responsible for an appraisal, which could cost an additional $7,500 for each county involved. "We haven't been able to talk to the other side about this in detail," DeCook said. "It's hard to say what's going on until we know more and where they're coming from." Most Mayo Clinic employees are now required to fly out of the Rochester International Airport under a new policy announced this week. "Mayo Clinic has recognized the importance of local air service to our patients since the Mayo brothers established Rochester's first airport with commercial air service in 1928," according to a statement from Mayo Clinic Spokeswoman Kelly Reller. "To the extent the airport flourishes so will our community, and travelers will be rewarded through competitive pricing, schedules, and reliability at RST." While the city of Rochester owns the airport, Mayo Clinic is contracted to manage it via its Rochester Airport Co. firm. This new policy means more than 30,000 Rochester employees must now use the Med City airport when traveling for work instead of flying out of the nearby MinneapolisSt. Paul International Airport. The edict, which went into effect Wednesday, also includes employees flying into Minnesota from Arizona and Florida. However, it does not cover doctors and scientists. Instead of requiring them to use the Rochester airport, they are "strongly encouraged to utilize" it. In 2015, Mayo Clinic listed 2,289 staff physicians and scientists based in Rochester. It tallied 1,899 residents and fellows and 30,374 allied clinic and hospital staff. ADVERTISEMENT Mayo Clinic estimates that previously only one in five of its employees flying have chosen to leave from Rochester, with the other four traveling out of the Twin Cities. This new rule looks like it could reverse that ratio. Mayo declined to say how many employees fly for work each year. Passengers choosing the the MinneapolisSt. Paul airport often cite lower-cost flights than Rochester offers. Does Mayo Clinic anticipate this new policy will cost it more for employee travel? "The viability of RST in delivering commercial air service is critical to making it convenient for national and international patients to come to their appointments at Mayo Clinic. Moreover, it is also critical for the growth projections related to DMC," according to an email response from Mayo Clinic. "We have studied travel patterns and cost variances, including ground transportation costs, and believe the new policy will be largely budget neutral relative to the overall Mayo Clinic travel budget." This policy change, coming on the heels of the addition of United Airlines flights plus more daily Delta flights, has the city-owned airport revving up to really take off this summer. "It's an incredible step forward for Rochester International Airport," said RST Executive Director John Reed on Thursday. "I expect this to be a significant impact to our passenger volumes, which in turn is going to support the existing seats we have and the 100,000 seats that are coming." The timing comes just before the new United and Delta flights add 100,000 more passenger seats to the local offerings, which makes those additions much less of a risk for the airlines. Anticipation of Mayo Clinic's policy change could have made it easier for the airport to convince the airlines to bring in more flights. "The new flights and routes align exceptionally well with the needs of our national and international destination patients and our plans for business development and growth," according to the Mayo statement offered by Reller. RST will soon go from offering 400 seats on eight daily flights to 700 seats on 14 flights a day. ADVERTISEMENT Despite signing up 71 area businesses to pledge to "Fly Local," the Rochester International Airport has seen a decline in passenger numbers in the last two years. Passenger numbers spiked from 223,791 in 2013 to 237,341 in 2014 with 84 percent of those travelers listing Rochester as their home. The overall trend reversed in 2015 with the passenger numbers falling to 231,966 and then to 229,062 in 2016. RST's Reed is now very optimistic about the future with Mayo and Destination Medical Center growing along with regional companies, like Hormel Foods in Austin and Fastenal in Winona. "I think our future in relationship to air service is positive and bright," he said. "The support we're getting from the region's largest private employer, namely Mayo Clinic, is absolutely critical." When Angela Davey moved to Minnesota in 2002, she was lucky to have a friend with available space. She and her infant daughter moved into their temporary Rose Creek home. The move from San Francisco was prompted by medical and personal reasons. "I had a short life expectancy at that time," Davey said of her chronic health conditions, which come with a terminal diagnosis. It took the single mother about two months to secure income-based housing in Austin and another six months to receive approval for a federal Housing and Urban Development program. A year later, she used her HUD voucher to find housing in Rochester, so she could be closer to the Mayo Clinic. Davey, who lives on Social Security and disability, said she's not sure where she would have ended up if it hadn't been for the HUD program, sometimes referred to as Section 8. There are programs available for single people with similar health conditions, but keeping her daughter close was important. So was stability. ADVERTISEMENT Dave Dunn, Olmsted County's housing director, said that's what the federal program offers. "The program provides that stability for a family, so they have a place that they can call home and it's not going to change in three weeks or two months," he said. "It's a steady opportunity for someone to call a place home and start to grow roots." But Olmsted County is tightening its belt in the face of a HUD program shortfall, which could range from $17,000 to $165,000 locally. Dunn said a call with federal officials this week didn't shed much new light on the situation. "They expect a final number in early July," he said. To ensure no families are pushed out of the program, the Olmsted County Housing and Redevelopment Authority plans to use homelessness prevention funds to fill any gaps. However, Dunn said 681 families are still in limbo. They have been on a waiting list since 2012, but no local vouchers are being awarded as long as the shortfall exists. Davey, who serves as the citizen member of the HRA board and is a past member of the Community Services Advisory Board, said she's not sure what she would do if she were one of those families. She knows programs that would have been available to her without her daughter years ago are now full. Other programs only offer temporary help. "The idea of being homeless would be detrimental, not just to my life, but also as a parent," she said. ADVERTISEMENT As the HRA board talked about the possibility of pulling vouchers from families last month, Davey became visibly upset, citing fear that she could lose her stability. Even a week after the board opted to make sure county residents won't lose their HUD vouchers, she said worry can creep in. "I have to squash it down and say 'When you worry about something, it's wasted energy because it hasn't happened yet,'" she said. "For people who don't know the system, it's going to be more difficult," she added. WAIT LIST IS CLOSED Dunn said county staff answer calls every day seeking help with housing. With the HUD voucher program stalled, he said the wait list for local public housing is also closed. It was opened for a few months last month, but closed more than a year ago. Today, 421 families are on the list. While some surrounding counties may let Olmsted residents put their names on lists, Dunn said it's not an option for many. Additionally, other smaller programs have limits, which places other limits on those waiting for space. County Board Chairman Ken Brown said he backed filling the HUD funding gap this year in order not to add to the number of families under stress. "If we say we are not going to supplement a federal program at all this year, we put staff under stress and HUD recipients under stress immediately in order to solve the problem because of the shortfall in funding," he said during this month's HRA board meeting. ADVERTISEMENT Brown said the months ahead provide an opportunity to build a local program to replace any housing options lost due to federal cutbacks. Dunn said it's uncertain what lies ahead, but housing staff members are starting to map out options for 2018 and 2019 in case federal funds are not available to provide housing support. "In a worst-case scenario, it could be quite awhile," he said. ST. PAUL Budget negotiations between the governor and legislative leaders resumed this morning amid growing fears a deal won't happen before Monday's deadline. Austin DFL Rep. Jeanne Poppe said earlier this week it seemed like a budget deal was possible. Now she fears the budget standoff will lead to a special session. "We're so far away still at this point," Poppe said. "If we don't have something come together (Friday), we'll be challenged to have something by the end of Monday." DFL Gov. Mark Dayton and the Republican-led Legislature are trying to piece together a $45 billion-plus budget. Republicans want to use a large portion of the state's projected $1.5 billion budget surplus for tax cuts. The governor is pushing for more spending especially in the area of K-12 education. On Thursday, Minnesota Management and Budget Commissioner Myron Frans told reporters negotiations were at an "impasse." In his latest offer, Dayton had proposed setting aside funding for courts and cyber security and then dividing the remaining $1.3 billion, with half going to transportation and tax cuts and the rest going to spending. ADVERTISEMENT "He really went to the 50-yard line, and we're waiting for the House, the Legislature to come to the 50-yard line," Frans said. But Republicans rejected the governor's assertion he had met them half way. They noted that his offer subtracts $83 million for the courts and $45 million for cyber security before divvying up the surplus. Dayton's plan also uses another $350 million in a health care fund used primarily to pay for MinnesotaCare. "I would say that it was a serious offer, but it was not half way. I think that is misleading," said Deputy Majority Leader Jeremy Miller, R-Winona. A legislative leader, Miller is one of the few lawmakers with a seat at the closed-door negotiations. Despite the setback in budget talks, he said he remains optimistic a deal can get done by Monday's midnight deadline, but "the next 24 hours are critically important." If lawmakers do not finish their work by Monday, Dayton and legislative leaders will have to try to negotiate a budget that can get passed during a special legislative session. If a state budget isn't passed by July 1, that would lead to a partial government shutdown. Adding to the political tensions on Thursday was Dayton's decision to veto a bill overhauling the state's teacher licensure system. The proposal to create a new four-tier system that would make it easier for out-of-state teachers and those with alternative training to become licensed had strong support among Republican lawmakers. However, the bill was opposed by most Democrats and Education Minnesota the state's teachers union. They argued it would lower standards for teachers. Albert Lea Republican Rep. Peggy Bennett, a teacher, backed the teacher licensure bill and said she was dismayed the governor decided to veto the measure. She said it adds another wrinkle to negotiations. "It is like a slap in the face and when somebody is slapped in the face, that certainly doesn't help," Bennett said. ADVERTISEMENT Despite the challenges, Austin DFL Sen. Dan Sparks said he holds out hope the governor and legislative leaders can strike a deal and get their work done on time. "At the end of the day, there has to be some give and take," Sparks said. "Nobody is going to get everything." Charter school backers have won a majority of seats on the board of the Los Angeles Unified School District for the first. The story is here, in a Los Angeles Times article. You have to dig it out, though. The Times leads off by talking about talking about wealthy charter school advocates and by giving voice to the unhappiness of a losing candidate. Deep into the story, the Times finally provides this version of the contending positions in the decisive school board race: Zimmer [the president of the board, who lost] 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 [who defeated him] 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. In a better world, that proposition would not be disputed. I cant help but suspect that Zimmers position, as stated by the Times, might be a bit disingenuous. According to the Times, 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. I wonder whether these unions truly favor charter school expansion for schools that bring real innovation. For them, I suspect, the issue isnt innovation; its clinging to the vestiges of monopoly power. Melvoin reportedly received even more financial backing than Zimmerman did. The biggest backer of pro-charter school candidates was Netflix Chief Executive Reed Hastings. Hastings is a Democrat, as is Melvoin. From all that appears, Hastings has nothing to gain financially from the expansion of charter schools. He just thinks they are good for students. For that matter, the same is true of Betsy DeVos and other center-right and conservative backers of charter schools. One of the main virtues of charter schools is that they spur public schools to innovate and improve. We see evidence of this near the end of the article: One of [school superintendent] 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. However, the Times adds, at present, there are no plans to include charters in that unified system. Hastings insists, correctly, that school boards are monopolies. The way forward in education is to disrupt these monopolies. It looks like thats what has happened in Los Angeles. The Democrats are trying to make a scandal out of the fact that representatives of the Trump campaign communicated with Russians, even though those communications were 100% appropriate. I had forgotten about this post, which I wrote in March 2015, until Rush Limbaugh read from it on his program yesterday. It reminds us what a REAL scandal involving a presidential campaign and foreign policy looks like: In 2008, the Bush administration, along with the six powers, was negotiating with Iran concerning that countrys nuclear arms program. The Bush administrations objective was to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. On July 20, 2008, the New York Times headlined: Nuclear Talks With Iran End in a Deadlock. What caused the talks to founder? The Times explained: Iran responded with a written document that failed to address the main issue: international demands that it stop enriching uranium. And Iranian diplomats reiterated before the talks that they considered the issue nonnegotiable. The Iranians held firm to their position, perhaps because they knew that help was on the way, in the form of a new president. Barack Obama had clinched the Democratic nomination on June 3. At some point either before or after that date, but prior to the election, he secretly let the Iranians know that he would be much easier to bargain with than President Bush. Michael Ledeen reported the story last year: During his first presidential campaign in 2008, Mr. Obama used a secret back channel to Tehran to assure the mullahs that he was a friend of the Islamic Republic, and that they would be very happy with his policies. The secret channel was Ambassador William G. Miller, who served in Iran during the shahs rule, as chief of staff for the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and as ambassador to Ukraine. Ambassador Miller has confirmed to me his conversations with Iranian leaders during the 2008 campaign. So Obama secretly told the mullahs not to make a deal until he assumed the presidency, when they would be able to make a better agreement. Which is exactly what happened: Obama abandoned the requirement that Iran stop enriching uranium, so that Irans nuclear program has sped ahead over the months and years that negotiations have dragged on. When an interim agreement in the form of a Joint Plan of Action was announced in late 2013, Irans leaders exulted in the fact that the West had acknowledged its right to continue its uranium enrichment program: The (nuclear) program will continue and all the sanctions and violations against the Iranian nation under the pretext of the nuclear program will be removed gradually, [Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif] added. Irans enrichment program has been recognized both in the first step and in the goals section and in the final step as well, Zarif said. The fact that all these pressures have failed to cease Irans enrichment program is a very important success for the Iranian nations resistance, he added. So Obama delivered the weak agreement that he had secretly promised the mullahs. That, readers, is what a real scandal looks like. Earlier today, I questioned Eli Lakes view that Rod Rosenstein did President Trump a favor by appointing Robert Mueller as special counsel to investigate Russian involvement in the U.S. election, etc. This Wall Street Journal editorial contends that Rosenstein did no favor to anyone other than the Democrats and their allies. The Journal argues: While the [appointment of Mueller] will provide some short-term political relief, not least for Mr. Rosenstein, it also opens up years of political risk to the Trump Administration with no guarantee that the public will end up with any better understanding of what really happened. The problem with special counsels, as weve learned time and again, is that they are by definition all but politically unaccountable. While technically Mr. Rosenstein could fire Mr. Mueller if he goes too far, the manner of his appointment and the subject hes investigating make him de facto untouchable even if he becomes an abusive Javert like Patrick Fitzgerald during the George W. Bush Administration. What the country really needs is a full accounting of how the Russians tried to influence the election and whether any Americans assisted them. That is fundamentally a counterintelligence investigation, but Mr. Mueller will be under pressure to bring criminal indictments of some kind to justify his existence. Hell also no doubt bring on young attorneys who will savor the opportunity to make their reputation on such a high-profile investigation. A Gambian court on Friday issued international arrest warrants for two ex-soldiers suspected of murdering a journalist during the rule of former President Yahya Jammeh. Mr. Jammeh fled into exile in January after 22 years of power marred by alleged human rights abuses. Principal magistrate Isatou Janneh-Njie issued the warrants for former Kawsu Camara and Sanna Manjang, a former colonel and major respectively. Both suspects are thought to have been members of Mr. Jammehs alleged assassination squad known as the junglers. The warrants are part of attempts by authorities under new President Adama Barrow to redress abuses under Mr. Jammeh, who lost an election in December but refused to step down. West African troops entered the country to pressure him to leave power. Veteran reporter Deyda Hydara was a critic of the government and co-owner of the independent newspaper, The Point. He was shot dead in his car in 2004 and the murder was never explained. Hydara for three decades also worked as a correspondent for Agence France-Presse and Reporters without Borders. Police spokesperson, Foday Conta, said on Friday the two suspects were not currently in Gambia, adding: The warrant is to order their arrest anywhere they may be. Mr. Jammeh now lives in exile in Equatorial Guinea. One of his ex-officials was arrested in Senegal earlier this year. Some Gambians whose family members suffered from alleged crimes during Mr. Jammehs long rule have expressed frustration with what they see as a very slow justice system.(Reuters/NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook British police on Friday threatened to arrest WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange, if he leaves the Ecuadorean embassy in London after Swedish prosecutors said they would drop a preliminary investigation into an allegation of rape against him. Mr. Assange, 45, has been holed up in the embassy since 2012 after skipping bail to avoid extradition to Sweden over the allegation of rape, which he denies. Westminster Magistrates Court issued a warrant for the arrest of Julian Assange following him failing to surrender to the court on June 29, 2012, London police said in a statement. The Metropolitan Police Service is obliged to execute that warrant should he leave the Embassy. (Reuters/NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook The Senate, on Thursday, ordered an appointee of President Muhammadu Buhari, Lanre Gbajabiamila, to stay away from office as the Director-General of the National Lottery Regulation Commission, pending his confirmation in line with the law establishing the agency. Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, APC, had told the Senate on Wednesday that Mr. Gbajabiamila had resumed office, after his appointment was announced by Mr. Buhari in April, without Senate confirmation. Section 8(1) of the Nigerian Lottery Regulation Commission Act says the President shall appoint the Director-General subject to the confirmation of the Senate. Following Mr. Melayes complaint, Senate President Bukola Saraki tasked Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan to investigate the allegation. On Thursday, Mr. Lawan, barely 24 hours after the task was assigned, reported back to the Senate and confirmed Mr. Melayes information that Mr. Gbajabiamila had resumed in breach of of law. The nominee for the office of the Director-General of National Lottery Regulatory Commission actually assumed office, said Mr. Lawan. I think he was misadvised and, therefore, assumed office without being confirmed. But there is a genuine appeal that such thing will not happen again. I have advised that the nominee should not be seen around the office. Responding, Mr. Saraki commended the Senate Leader for prompt action and ruled Mr. Gbajabiamila must not be seen in office again until his appointment is confirmed by the Senate. I think you will agree with me that the Leader has done a very thorough job, Mr. Saraki said. Not only that, he has responded promptly within 24 hours first of all to establish that the point raised by Senator Dino was factual and he got the assurances that this type of thing will not happen again. He continued: We therefore stamp it out and it must not occur again. He has erred and he must probably have been misguided but definitely he must not be seen reporting in that area. Definitely, that must not happen. Going forward, for nominees and the executive, we must respect our laws and our processes. Even if he did it, somebody should have been there to direct and guide him. Those who are eager to resume should tarry a while and follow the due process. We will close this matter here. Mr. 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. Share this: Twitter Facebook The Chairman of Capital Oil and Gas Limited, Ifeanyi Ubah, is in the custody of the State Security Service because he committed economic sabotage by diverting petroleum products stored in his tank farm, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has said. Kabiru Turaki, counsel to the NNPC, told a Lagos Division of the Federal High Court on Thursday that security agencies have inherent power under the constitution to investigate economic crimes, including diversion of petroleum products. The secret police arrested Mr. Ubah on May 6, and he has been in detention ever since. PREMIUM TIMES reported how Capital Oil diverted tens of millions of petrol stored in its tank farm by the NNPC, a development that led to the sack of the former head of NNPC Retail. On May 9, a federal judge in Lagos ordered the SSS to produce Mr. Ubah in court on the next adjourned date, on May 12, and show cause why hebshould not be released unconditionally. However, on the adjourned date, the court was informed that the SSS had filed an order before another federal court, in Abuja, seeking the detention of Mr. Ubah for another 14 days pending the completion of their investigation. On Thursday, Peter Okerinmodu, counsel to the SSS, told the court in Lagos that the alleged infringement committed by Mr. Ubah took place in Abuja and, as a result, the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit. Mr. Okerinmodu, while adopting the SSSs counter affidavit and preliminary objection, said Mr. Ubahs motion is aimed at fraustrating the agencys ongoing investigation on the allegation made against him by the NNPC. He urged the court to dismiss the motion. Furthermore, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through its lawyer, A. M. Ocholi, argued that going through the affidavit filed by the applicant, there was nowhere the commission is alleged of any breach of the applicant rights. He equally urged the court to dismiss the suit. Justice Mohammed Idris fixed May 25 to rule on whether the court has jurisdiction to hear the suit. Earlier, Ifeoma Esom, counsel to Mr. Ubah, informed the court how she received processes filed by the 7th and 8th respondents on their notice of preliminary objection on Wednesday. They were served the processes as far back as 28th April and this is meant to distort proceedings before this court as well as prolong the detention of the first applicant. This suit was brought under the fundamental human rights rule, said Ms. Esom. And rather than respond to the processes, the 4th and 5threspondents illegally, after they have been served with an order to produce the applicant, they went ahead to obtain another order in Abuja. Ms. Esom also urged the court to allow her orally respond to the processes received yesterday and in the circumstance make an order that the 1st applicant be released as its obvious the respondents dont want the matter to be heard as they want to keep the applicant in detention. Responding to the claims of Ms. Esom, counsel to 2nd and 3rdrespondents, Mr. Ocholi informed the court that the processes were not filed on Wednesday as alleged by Mrs. Esom, but on 9th May. The fourth and fifth respondents have pending applications before this court where the jurisdiction of my lordship was challenged. If my lord is disposed to hear this matter, we are prepared for that, said Mr. Ocholi. When allowed to move her originating motion which sought twelve relieves, Ms. Esom urged the court to make an order to protect the fundamental human rights of the first applicant. The first to sixth respondents have been harassing the applicant because the seventh to ninth respondents say the applicant is indebted to them. The through-put agreement recognises that there are some instances where products are diverted and the contracts shows that and is nothing that would warrant a criminal offence. Mr. Ocholi, in his response filed a counter affidavit, dated May 9, 2017, where he observed that there is no infraction alleged in the 103 paragraph of the originating motion. They havent said we did anything to bring us to court. I therefore urge my lord to dismiss this application. While also responding to the originating motion, Mr. Okerinmodu told the court that the applicant through his application intends to distract the agencies ongoing investigation. This is a case of economic sabotage which a court in Abuja have ordered we go on with our investigation. I urge this court to dismiss this application. This suit should be struck out because this court dont have the jurisdiction to hear this matter. The court in Lagos lacks the jurisdiction to hear this matter as there is also a federal court in Abuja, said Mr. Okerinmodu. Mr. Turaki, a senior lawyer, while aligning with Mr. Okerinmodu, challenged the jurisdiction of the court as he also submitted that the matter before the court should not be considered a human rights matter. According to him that one comes to court and cries that my rights have been taken does not make it a fundamental rights issue. Since the beginning of this administration, several allegations have been levelled against the 8th respondent and investigations have been carried out and we need to tell the people where the money has been. Why did they not write, indicating the whereabouts of the products, said Mr. Turaki. In response, Ms. Esom told the court that the second respondent is a statutory body as its a creation of a statute, that is, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC Act and have taken steps to infringe the rights of the 1st applicant as they deployed their operatives to the Lagos office of the 1stapplicant seeking to arrest the chief operating officer and thats why we brought them to court. Even if money were owed, it is not still enough for an arrest. The functions and duties of State Security Service are clearly stated in the NSA and does not include recovery of debts. There is no correlation of national security and the facts presented before this court. Share this: Twitter Facebook Three male suicide-bombers were killed while attempting to attack a female hostel in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Thursday night. PRNigeria reports that one of the three suicide-bombers carried an AK 47 gun. At least two bombs exploded during the attack. A student leader in the university, Abu Hanifa Babati confirmed that one of the explosion occurred around the female BOT Hostel. He said another explosion occurred around the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. On the casualty, an emergency worker involved in the evacuation said that: Four security men in the university, including volunteers were treated for injury they sustained as no life was lost except the killed suicide bombers. The corpses have been evacuated by workers from the federal and Borno emergency agencies, NEMA and BOSEMA. Suicide bombers have in 2017 tried to carry out repeated attacks on the University of Maiduguri. One of the attacks led to the death of a university professor. Share this: Twitter Facebook The acting president, Yemi Osinbajo, has issued an executive order outlining the timeline and procedure for government offices to submit their yearly budgets, less than two days after the Senate demanded offices comply with the relevant fiscal law within two weeks. The Senate had on Wednesday asked Mr. Osinbajo to ensure the submission of the budgets of 31 government establishments, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the Nigerian Ports Authority. Section 21 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act demands that proposed revenue and expenditure of the mostly 31 revenue-generating and state-owned companies be submitted to their supervisory ministers not later than end of August of each financial year. Lawmakers have for years accused powerful agencies like the state oil firm, NNPC, of non-compliance. The Senate said the executive had breached the law year in year out, and issued a two-week ultimatum for compliance. Mr. Osinbajo responded Friday with an executive order warning relevant offices of appropriate sanctions if they fail to comply henceforth. According to the order, all agencies of government, including those not listed in the Fiscal Responsibility Act, are to prepare and submit their budgets for the next three years to the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Budget and National Planning on or before the end of May every year. The agencies are then expected to submit their annual budgets derived from estimates of revenue and expenditure projected in the three-year schedule to the ministers, on or before end of July a month earlier than provided for by the Act. Afterwards, the budgets would be transmitted to the National Assembly for approval. The acting president also directed government agencies to stop spending on any capital or recurrent expenditure, except personnel costs, pending approval of their budgets. Read the full text of the executive order All Agencies, whether or not listed in the Fiscal Responsibility Act, shall, on or before the end May every year, cause to be prepared and submitted to the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Budget and National Planning their schedule of revenue and expenditure estimates for the next three financial years. 2. All Agencies shall, on or before the end of July every year, cause to be prepared and submitted to the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Budget and National Planning their annual budget estimates, which shall be derived from the estimates of revenue and expenditure as projected in their three-year schedule. 3. A joint committee of the Ministries of Finance, and the Budget and National Planning shall review such estimates and ensure their conformity with the national plan and the financial and budgetary regulations before processing them for approval and early transmission to the National Assembly. 4. Supervising Ministers and Heads of Agencies as well as the Chief Executive Officers of Government owned companies shall verify that the process of preparation, harmonisation and collation of budget estimates are as stipulated in relevant laws and guidelines as well as ensure strict compliance with this Executive Order. 5. Except with the express consent of the President, no payment shall be made in respect of any capital or recurrent liability of an Agency, other than payment of due salaries and allowances, unless the Agency has an approved budget and the payment is in conformity with the approval. 6. Heads of Agencies and Chief Executive Officers of Government owned companies shall take personal responsibility and be subject to appropriate sanctions for any failure to comply with this Order. 7. Any revenue or other funds of an Agency in excess of the amounts budgeted and duly expended shall accrue to the consolidated revenue fund of the Federal Government. 8. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately. Dated this 18th day of May 2017. SIGNED BY Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON Acting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Share this: Twitter Facebook A former Federal Commissioner for Works and Housing, Femi Okunnu, has described as absolute rubbish attempts to describe Lagos as a no-mans land. The 84-year-old elder statesman, stated this in an interview with The Nation newspaper in Lagos recently. Mr. Okunnu, who is from Lagos and was at the forefront of the struggle for state status for the city, noted that there is no no-mans land anywhere, adding that there are always some people who are original settlers. There is no no-mans land. There are always some people who are original settlers. In the case of Lagos, its a misnomer to say Lagos is a no-mans land. Its rubbish. Absolute rubbish! Lagos was peopled by the Aworis and Awori land spread from Badagry through to Ota. They settled mostly in Ikeja, a division of Lagos, he said. The Idejo chiefs, the white cap chiefs, who are the land owning chiefs, are basically Aworis and some of them are now Obas. Im talking about the Oniru, The Olumegbon, Aromire, Oluwa, Ojora, Oloto and a couple others. After them, waves of immigrants, from todays Niger State, started trooping in. Im talking of the Tapas, the Nupes. I have Nupe blood. My fathers mother was a daughter of a Nupe man, Umoru from Idunsagbe in Lagos Island. Mind you, Im talking of my great, great, grand-father; so you can imagine how long were talking about and how far our history dates back in Lagos. The Oshodi family of Lagos were originally Tapa. Commenting further, he said, Later we had another batch of immigrants over a period of time those who had been taken into slavery in the North and South America and the West Indies but who had been freed following the abolition of slave trade about 170 years ago. Some of them also came in from Freetown, Sierra Leone. Thats where we have the Saro, Eko connection. They settled in the Olowogbowo area. Then we had the Binis from Benin (present Edo State). They invaded Lagos and settled in the best part of what we now call Isale-Eko. Oba Ado and all successive kings of Lagos are of Benin. You wont say they are not Lagosians because we are talking of hundreds of years ago. So you can see that it is the latter day immigrants, who are full of the nonsense that Lagos is a no-mans land. On the brazillian connection in Lagos, Mr. Okunnu noted that they were the people who arrived Lagos Island and environment over two hundred years ago, adding that there is no controversy over the indigenes of Lagos. The Brazilian Quarters were made up of another set of returnees: the Agustos, the Dasilva, Marinho, Pereira and their descendants, who returned from Brazil and other parts of South America. So when you talk of indigenes of Lagos It is complete ignorance, he said. Tracing the history of the Oba of Lagos, Mr. Okunnu explained that the Binis took over the reign of Lagos by conquest, adding that the Aworis were there before them as the original settlers. Iga Idunganran itself was a gift to Oba Ado by Oloye Aromire, a white cap chief. He owned the land that the palace occupies till today. That is why till today, we have sections of Isale-Eko with Bini connections. When you hear of Idumota, Idunsagbe, Idunmaigbo, Idun-tafa; the word idun had bini origin. And then we had some chiefs who came with King Ado. That is another wide area. But suffice to say that Obanikoro, was a medicine chief who came with King Ado; so is Ashogbon. In Bini, it is Asogbon. There is also Bajulaye, who originally was Bazuaye. So the Bini connection is very deep. As a matter of fact, the corpses of all the obas, from King Ado through to Oba Adele I, who died at about 1834, were all taken to Benin for burial. Mr. Okunnu also lamented that there are some non-Lagosians, who made it possible for Lagos State to become a reality but who are not being given any credit for the creation of the state. He said, They were public servants. This is aside Gowon, whose role has not been acknowledged. Broad Street, which one government renamed to honour him, was reverted. We rejected the hand that fed us One of those non-indigenes of Lagos is Philip Chiedo Asiodu. He is a personal friend of mine and a contemporary at Kings College, whose wife incidentally was Mrs Pereira, a Lagos girl and my aburo. He was one of those fighting for us inside the government. Then there was Allison Ayida, who became Secretary to the government of Murtala and Obasanjo. He used his influence as chief adviser to Gowon to help realise the dream of a Lagos State. Without them, there would be no Lagos state. On the alleged rift between Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and the minster of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, the elder statesman urged them to bury their differences and work for the progress of Lagos state. Im saying this because there is no friendship or harmony between the current governor and the Federal Minister of Works and Housing; and I really hope that they would henceforth join forces to work in the interest of Nigeria and Lagos. That is my message to them, he submitted. Share this: Twitter Facebook Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on Friday ordered the formal forfeiture of N449,597,000 (about N450 million) found by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in LEGICO Shopping mall, Victoria Island, Lagos to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The EFCC had on April 8 said it uncovered a large sum of suspected laundered money to the tune of N448,850,000 in the Shopping Plaza. Mr. Aikawa had on April 19 ordered an interim forfeiture of the said money uncovered by the commission. The order came following a motion ex-parte filed by Rotimi Oyedepo, a prosecutor with the EFCC pursuant to Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14, 2006. Mr. Aikawa in his ruling last month, ordered anyone interested in the money to appear before him at the next adjourned date to show reason why the money should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government. The judge also directed the commission to publish in any national daily for anyone to show cause within 14 days why the order for the final forfeiture should not be granted. However, in his motion on notice at the resumed hearing on Friday, Idris Mohammed, counsel to the EFCC urged the court to issue a final order forfeiting the total sum of N449,597,000 to the federal government. Mr. Mohammed, said the sum is reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity. In his ruling, Mr. Aikawa stated that I have perused the motion on notice and as far as my records show, neither the respondent nor any other interested party has filed any affidavit or any other process to show course why the interim order should not be granted. I have no other option but to grant the motion as prayed, the judge continued. I hereby order that the sum of N449,597,000 found in the possession of the respondent which is believed to be proceeds of unlawful activity be finally forfeited to the Federal government of Nigeria. PREMIUM TIMES checks during a visit to the LEGICO plaza located at the 055 Nigerian Air Force Camp, LEGICO Barracks, however showed that the owner of Shop 64 where the huge sums were found is well known to his colleagues, and is, in fact, a regular face at the plaza. A shop owner and Bureau de Change operator who requested anonymity said the owner of Shop 64 is walking freely in this plaza and the government havent caught him yet. People around here say that the said money belongs to a senator who siphoned his constituencys money and wanted to change it to dollars before the money was discovered. Nobody in this plaza is clean and you will see that they wont want to talk to you about this issue, the shop owner said. Share this: Twitter Facebook Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has received the details of the 2017 appropriation bill recently passed by the National Assembly. The National Assembly passed a N7.441 trillion budget last week. The document was handed over to Mr. Osinbajo by the presidential aide in charge of Senate, Ita Enang. The handover was done behind closed doors. Mr. Osinbajo had said on Wednesday that he would sign the budget when is satisfied with its contents. Speaking after submitting the budget, Mr. Enang said: The budget as passed by the National Assembly has just been transmitted to the Acting President. I just delivered it. Let me use this opportunity to clarify an issue. The Acting President has the power to assent to the budget and he will assent to it when the processes are completed. The Acting President has the power to assent to the budget. In February, he assented to seven or eight bills. Those that he didnt agree with, he wrote the Senate and House of Representatives that he had withheld his assent from them. He has the power of the president to assent to it. But the assent to the Appropriation Bill will be after the completion of the standard operation process. The bill has 30 days within which it will be assented to but the process can be completed within two or three days. So, it is not possible to say it will be assented to in so, so and so day or in two or three days. Its upon the completipn of the process that it will be assented to by the president and the president here now is the acting president. Share this: Twitter Facebook Recent developments have indicated that the global efforts to develop an effective HIV/AIDS vaccine is realisable. This is according to the Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA, Sani Aliyu, who spoke during a press conference on Thursday in Abuja, to mark the 20th anniversary of the annual HIV Vaccine Advocacy Day. Mr. Aliyu pointed out that the process of vaccine development for other diseases has always been slow and laborious, yet feasible. He also noted that Nigeria has so far achieved dramatic success in increasing coverage of HIV treatment, care and existing prevention options. At the first HIV Vaccine Advocacy Day in 1997, our focus was to mobilise stakeholder support for the development of a HIV vaccine, this being an important first step towards ending the HIV epidemic. Twenty years down the line, we still do not have a HIV vaccine but we are optimistic.Mr. Aliyu said. He noted that developing a vaccine would be an important part of such a comprehensive, integrated and sustained preventive strategy. Explaining the global efforts which have made this anniversary an occasion to celebrate, Mr. Aliyu stated that in 2009, the vaccine field achieved proof-of-concept that a preventive HIV vaccine is possible; in 2012, for the first time ever, three different HIV Vaccine development approaches are in, or moving to, efficacy trials simultaneously: two of these are vaccine candidates and the third is a vaccine-related approach. The Director General also emphasised that Nigeria is complementing the global efforts, assuring that government has taken the issue of vaccine development very seriously. He said his agency is ensuring that Nigerians have more access to HIV/AIDS treatment options, especially the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of the disease. Also speaking on the possibility of developing an effective vaccine, the Executive Director, International Research Centre of Excellence, Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Alashle Abimiku, said research so far has given positive indications. Citing the example of HIV vaccine initiative in South Africa, she expressed optimism that with time, Nigeria could achieve her dream of developing a vaccine that is very suitable for her local need. She disclosed that the idea of developing a vaccine for the disease was mooted since the discovery of HIV antiretroviral drugs, adding that it has been the desire of the international community to do this in order to end the epidemic by the target date. With over three million, Nigeria has the second highest number of people living with HIV/AIDS in the world. Share this: Twitter Facebook The Chief of Air Staff, Sadiq Abubakar has affirmed the loyalty of the Air Force to the Nigerian constitution. Mr. Abubakar, an air marshall, made the call on Thursday during the commissioning of two blocks of flats at Bill Clinton Drive, Nigerian Air Force Base, Abuja. The block of flats are expected to be used by both transit and married officers. Mr. Abubakar stressed that the Nigerian Air Force is dedicated to the welfare of its officers and the protection of the countrys territorial boundaries. He called on officials to remain dedicated to their duties. PREMIUM TIMES had reported how the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, warned officials of the Nigerian Army to stay off politics and politically related activities as coup rumours spread. According to The Nation Newspaper, the Air Force chief applauded the Chief of Logistics and Director of Works for doing a good job concerning the project. He added that the two blocks were named after two of its officers, Flag Officer A. J. Layelmenson and Squadron Leader, B.B. Ado who died in active service in Mali. The young officers protected our national interests, hence the need to immortalise them. We are remembering these fallen heroes by naming the blocks of flats after them, he said. Lawal Alawo, the Air Force Chief of Administration, earlier said the commissioning of the flats was good evidence that the leadership accorded a high priority to the welfare of its officials. Share this: Twitter Facebook The Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs says it has commenced investigation into the lopsided recruitment by the State Security Services, SSS. The chairman of the committee, Tijjani Kaura, who announced this during Thursdays plenary, promised that the committee would soon come up with its recommendations. Quoting Order 43 of the Senate Standing Order, Mr. Kaura said the committee was prompted to commence investigation into the matter following petitions from concerned Nigerians. He assured the committee would stop at nothing to ensure that the issue of federal character as contained in 1999 Constitution (Amended) was followed to the letter. I stand before you, on behalf Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter- Governmental Affairs, to say that this committee is looking critically into this matter. This is with the intention of ensuring that justice is done in this recruitment. I also want to add that this committee has similar cases from different agencies, which it is already looking into to ensure the Constitution is strictly followed, he said. The president of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, urged the committee to carry out thorough investigation into the matter and report back to the Senate. In line with our standing rule, we cannot debate on the matter. We take note of your comment and we will look into the matter. The committee should keep us posted on its findings and recommendations. The Senate probe is coming days after the Federal Character Commission asked the SSS to explain the shockingly skewed appointments into the organisation. Shockingly lopsided PREMIUM TIMES had on April 28 exclusively reported the shocking lopsidedness in the composition of the new officers recently absorbed into the agency. The agency, also called DSS, had commissioned 479 cadet officers after their passing-out parade in Lagos on March 5, after a nine-month training programme under the agencys Basic Course 29/2016/17, which encompassed academic activities, insurgency/counter insurgency, intelligence operations and gathering, firearms drills and physical training exercises. Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: SSS in recruitment scandal Katsina 51, Akwa Ibom 5; Kano 25, Lagos 7 SEE FULL LIST But PREMIUM TIMES investigations revealed wide disparity in the numbers of slots allocated to the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, indicating that the federal character principle may have been ignored in the recruitment of the officers. Our findings revealed that the SSS recruited 51 persons from Katsina State alone whereas all the six states in the south-south got a combined 42 candidates. Also, all the five states in the south-east got less than 50 states. The action is believed to have unduly favoured northern states, contrary to section 14 (3) of the 1999 constitution as amended. The report sparked outrage across the land, with many calling for thorough investigations into the alleged lopsidedness. Also Read: Presidency speaks on recruitment scandal in SSS Share this: Twitter Facebook Former President Goodluck Jonathan has praised Gov. Nyesom Wike for delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of Rivers. Mr. Jonathan made the remark on Thursday in Port Harcourt while inaugurating the second Nkpogu bridge, as part of the second anniversary celebration of the Wike administration. The former president said the performance of the governor has endeared him to the electorate. Gov. Wike has performed wonderfully well in governance. I have no regrets that he is the governor of Rivers State. I am happy that the governor has opened up Rivers State through projects, he said. Wike has shown so much commitment to infrastructural development. The whole of Rivers State is now a construction yard, Mr. Jonathan said. Mr. Jonathan said his appreciation for the outstanding performance of Gov. Wike was beyond party lines. He said that acting President Yemi Osinbajo had also acknowledged the developmental strides of the governor when he visited the State. Mr. Jonathan lauded Rivers people for their support throughout his eight years in national politics, while expressing joy to be part of the occasion. Gov. Nyesom Wike said that Nigerians had seen the difference between good governance and false promises in the two years of the APC government. Mr. Wike said the decision to invite the former president to inaugurate the project was a clear message to Nigerians that Mr. Jonathan would not be abandoned. We are not politicians that when anything is wrong, they sing different song. Rivers State is a different place, he added. When we believe in you, we believe in you. We are different from other Niger Delta states. We can say it with all authority, Mr. Wike said. We cannot come out in the public and begin to castigate our own. Those who do that, should have a rethink. For us, it doesnt matter, even with the blackmail against Jonathan, we will continue to back him, the governor said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two bridges constructed by the Wike administration link Nkpogu to the state capital. The Commissioner of Works, Bathuel Harrison, said that the Second Nkpogu Bridge would ease the traffic challenges in the area. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook A co-convener of the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) group, Aisha Yesufu, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to resign on health grounds. She advised the National Assembly to impeach the president if he fails to step down. We need to take our country back, let the president resign, if he cant resign, let the National Assembly do the right thing and lets have another president. It is not about President Buhari, its about Nigeria, and right now Nigeria is suffering and we cannot continue to allow this, Ms. Yesufu said in a two-minute, 20 seconds video posted on her Twitter account on Friday morning. Some Nigerians have begun to ask the president to step down as his health apparently declines. Mr. Buhari travelled to London last Sunday, almost two months after returning from extended medical leave there. The president first left the country for London on January 19 and returned on March 10. He has not disclosed his ailment. After his return, a member of the House of Representatives, and Mr. Buharis ruling All Progressives Congress, Abdulmumini Jibrin, had advised the president to resign, saying his ill health had badly affected governance. Ms. Yesufu said in the video that the idea of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo acting as president is not working and that governance is stagnated in the country. She called on Nigerians to wake up, saying the acting president cannot do much because he wants to be seen as a good man. For crying out loud, the president is sick, the president is not capable of discharging his duties as president, why cant he resign? Sickness can be on anybody, nobody is wishing the president bad. When would we realise this Acting President thing is mere lip service and not working out? May God heal President Buhari. He needs to resign pic.twitter.com/NLWO8Jldpl Aisha Yesufu (@AishaYesufu) May 18, 2017 The fact that he is sick doesnt mean he is going to die today or tomorrow. Somebody that is as healthy as I am now can drop dead. It is life! How long are we going to wait and keep watching everything go in disarray? Who is going to sign the budget, we dont know. The report on Babachir, what is happening to it? Why are we being held to ransom? she said. Addressing the president directly, Ms. Yesufu said: President Muhammadu Buhari, you have gotten the best in this world. A lot of things that you have, most people cannot even dream of. You have been president twice, you said it yourself, you have reached the peak of your career as a military man and as a politician. Can you allow each and every one of us as Nigerians be able to reach the peak of our careers? Can you just take some time off, take care of yourself? May God give you good health. Share this: Twitter Facebook A pastor in Akwa Ibom State, Richard Peters, is advocating for capital punishment against critics of Udom Emmanuel, the Governor of the state. Any destructive criticism to any government is satanic, Mr. Peters, a pastor with the African Church, wrote on Facebook. And such person should be stoned to death. The governors success, Mr. Peters said, automatically translates to the success of every person from the state. Governor Emmanuel must succeed for eight years, the 35-year-old pastor said. The governor is just about two years in office and still has another two years before he will complete his first term. Mr. Peters Facebook comment caused an outrage on the social media site, which prompted him to quickly backtrack. By stone to death, I mean such person should be shunned, the pastor wrote. The pastor later told PREMIUM TIMES that his comment was a wake-up call for Nigerians to give political support to the government at all levels, from federal, state to the local government, and even to the traditional chiefs in Nigerian villages. He gave further explanation on what he meant by stone to death. I was once an English student in secondary school and I was taught figures of speech. I was metaphorically saying that the person should be rejected, he said. Mr. Peters believes that the Akwa Ibom governor has been thoroughly and unfairly criticized, especially by people who felt that he was imposed on the state by his predecessor, Godswill Akpabio. For the mere fact that you dont like somebody doesnt mean that you shouldnt pray for his success, he said. But in Akwa Ibom we have one mentality if we dont like a particular government we see the governor and everything about him in bad light. Akwa Ibom people should change this mentality. The governor is doing is best for the people. And people should understand that its not possible for the governor to fulfill his campaign promises within one year. The APC government at the national level has not been able to deliver on the change they promised the people, yet I am still praying for them to succeed. Anybody that will come and tell me that (Governor) Udom has not performed, I will tell the person to go and sit down. Mr. Peters said there were several ways the church could reach out to the government if theres any part of government policies that has a negative impact on members of the church. Solomon Johnny, the editor-in-chief of Global Concord, a community newspaper in the state, called out the pastor for his controversial comment. You have committed an error. It cant be beautified by any explanation, Mr. Johnny said on Facebook. You have committed an error, a blunder that embarrasses your office as a reverend. Pull that comment down or edit it to expunge the provocative content. The pastor was yet to pull down or edit the comment as at the time of filing this report. Governor Emmanuel early this year threatened to unleash militant youth on opposition elements who would dare to criticize his administration. If you use your appointment to come into the state and cause disunity, I can reassure you I have the full assurances of the youths, any idiot who will come forthwith to make any nonsense proclamation in the state, the youths will not let him go, the governor had said in Uyo, the state capital, during a religious function to usher in the new year. Akwa Ibom, though adjudged to be one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria, witnessed deadly violence during the 2011 and 2015 governorship elections. Many people, mostly those in the opposition, were killed, maimed or kidnapped in the state during the administration of Mr. Akpabio. Share this: Twitter Facebook VINELAND Anyone who doubted Cumberland County Colleges Class of 2017 was the largest ever only had to look at the overflow of cars parked along the shoulder of College Drive as family members poured onto campus to watch the graduates receive their diplomas. You make us proud, President Yves Salomon-Fernandez said as she reminded graduates of the goals they had set and the hurdles they overcame to reach them. Student speaker Jennifer Negron, the first in her family to get a college degree, credited the state Education Opportunity Fund program and staff for supporting her and teaching her to become a leader. Our legacy does not end here, she told the graduates. Let us get our bachelors, masters and maybe even doctoral degrees. Guest speaker Floyd Barnett III, a Bridgeton High School and Cumberland County College graduate who is senior manager of business operations for Sunguard Availability Services, told students he almost didnt make it to college at all. After a cousin was a victim of gun violence, Barnett, then 17, became depressed and started to wonder if college was worth the effort when he, too, could die young. It had a tremendous impact on how I viewed the world, he said. I was slowly eroding inside. His father finally convinced him that should he be blessed with longevity, his life and his future familys lives would be better if he went to college. He went on to get a degree in mechanical engineering from Temple University, then an MBA from Georgian Court University. He encouraged the graduates to heed the advice of his father. PLEASE BE ADVISED: Soon we will no longer integrate with Facebook for story comments. The commenting option is not going away, however, readers will need to register for a FREE site account to continue sharing their thoughts and feedback on stories. If you already have an account (i.e. current subscribers, posting in obituary guestbooks, for submitting community events), you may use that login, otherwise, you will be prompted to create a new account. ATLANTIC CITY A Ventnor man was indicted Wednesday on nine charges, including murder, in the slaying of his ex-girlfriend and stabbing of a man she was with in February, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner announced. Jose B. Lopez, 51, was arrested Feb. 19, one day after Atlantic City police found Bessy Blanco, 54, stabbed to death inside her home on North Harrisburg Avenue. Blancos friend Mark Richart, 52, of Quakertown, Pennsylvania, was found critically stabbed in the street outside the home. Lopez, who has been in county jail since his arrest, was indicted on three counts of murder and one count each of attempted murder, burglary, armed robbery, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, theft and carjacking. He faces life in prison without the possibility of parole. At a detention hearing in February, prosecutors described Lopez as a jealous ex-boyfriend who allegedly called Blancos daughter after the murder to blame her for what happened. According to statements from the affidavit, Lopez was kicked out of Blancos home just days before the murder and was staying with his mother in Ventnor. When he was arrested by Galloway Township Police, Lopez was found in Richarts car. Assistant Prosecutor Rick McKelvey represents the state in this case. Lopez was represented at the detention hearing by Stephen Funk. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at 609-909-7666 or the Atlantic City Police Department at 609-347-5766. GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP A township woman is mourning her daughter, who was fatally shot in a triple homicide at an Ohio nursing home last week. Cindy Krantz, a nurses aide, was killed by Thomas Hartless. The gunman also killed his former girlfriend, Marlina Medrano, and Kirkersville police Chief Steven Eric DiSario before killing himself, the Associated Press reported. Krantzs mother, Regina Ford, learned of her daughters death last Friday while watching the news with her husband, Frank. Ford saw that a shooting took place at a nursing home in Ohio and started to worry. (The news) didnt say any names, and I kept thinking where Cindy works, Ford, 67, said Friday from her home. A few hours later, Ford received a call from her ex-husbands wife. Now we just have to try and make sense of things and try to get some peace and try to move on somehow, Ford said. Krantz was killed with a shotgun May 12 at Pine Kirk Care Center. Medrano, who had previously sought protective orders against Hartless in connection with domestic-violence cases, was shot multiple times with a handgun and a shotgun, according to the AP. DiSario was killed outside the nursing home. Ford and her husband, who live on Social Security, rented a car to travel to Pataskala, Ohio, where Krantz lived. We wouldve walked if we had to, said Frank Ford, 58. Krantz is survived by her husband, Christopher, and her five children. Krantzs memorial service took place Wednesday. Her body was cremated and remains in Ohio, Ford said. Ford described her daughter, who lived in multiple South Jersey towns in Salem, Gloucester and Camden counties, as a good kid and a good mother who loved children. Ford last saw her daughter in November, when Krantz visited while Ford underwent chemotherapy for cervical cancer. She came and stayed for the seven hours of my chemo, Ford said. Thats the kind of person she was. Its a rough time for Regina and Frank, and they hope prayers can be sent their way. We dont know one day from another, Frank Ford said. We ask the Lord to comfort us and help us through this. Maureen Himebaugh will take any opportunity to attend an event that could help bring her son home. It was more than 25 years ago when Himebaughs 11-year-old son, Mark, disappeared. He was last seen Nov. 25, 1991, at Cape May County Park South heading toward a playground with an unidentified girl. The only evidence found was one of the boys sneakers on the beach near his home. Im still hoping that one person will come forward, said Himebaugh, 65, who lives in the Del Haven section of Middle Township. Im not giving up hope for my son. Family members of people reported missing will have the opportunity Saturday to keep their loved ones cases alive and their hope alive in the first missing-persons event of its kind in New Jersey. The State Police Missing Persons Unit created Missing in New Jersey to offer family and friends a place to gather, connect and learn from each other but also an opportunity to bring their loved ones home. The statewide event from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday at Rutgers University in New Brunswick will feature speakers, law enforcement and experts, and will open the floor for families to present new evidence, State Police Sgt. Joel Trella said. People with long-term missing loved ones more than 30 days are asked to bring two biological relatives of the missing person, police reports, dental and body X-rays, photographs and any other identifying documents anything to keep the case alive or that could provide a lead, he said. If they do have any information to offer, they should take advantage of it, Trella said. Go and provide as much information as you can. In New Jersey, 14,000 to 16,000 people are reported missing each year. Many cases end well, but about 1,100 are unsolved long-term missing-persons cases, and unidentified human remains account for more than 300 open investigations, according to State Police data. About 50 active long-term missing-persons cases are in both Ocean and Cumberland counties, more than 35 in Atlantic County and more than 10 in Cape May County, according to State Police records. Some families, after going through the initial investigation into the disappearance of a loved one, could feel ignored after a few weeks with no solution, Trella said. This program is to prevent the family from feeling like they are left alone and to put them in touch with others. Others might also feel a disconnect with law enforcement or feel like their case isnt being fully heard. This event will give them that opportunity to come forward, he said. Its a sensitive thing, and most people are willing to share their information, he said. But its a personal issue. The main lounge will display information related to missing persons for people to review. State and local resources will be available, and families may speak to investigators. Himebaugh, who works at Cape Regional Medical Center, will be a keynote speaker. In a different room, families can provide evidence in cases and speak one on one with a detective about their case. Experts on the scene will be able to make sure their loved one is listed as a missing person and make an entry for them, if not, or collect DNA by giving a cheek swab to add to the file, if it had not been done already. A DNA expert will explain to families how the DNA will be used only in a database to search for missing and unidentified persons, Trella said. Trella said hearing how some families of the missing feel unsupported or lost themselves, he wanted to try to do something. Michigan State Police have held a similar program, he said. Michigan State Police Sgt. Sarah Krebs said it is on its seventh annual missing-persons event, which has helped police solve more than 70 cases. The event helps families take advantage of updated technology that might not have been available when their case began, Krebs said. Its an event for (the families), Trella said. They may have a unique case, but theyre not alone. Himebaugh said she has accepted that her son might not ever come home. But shes still seeking closure and hopes detectives and police are always working on leads. I just dont want them to give up hope, because I never have, she said of other families of the missing. FBI, state, local and county officials will be on site, and police said they are prepared for anything during the event a lead, a tip, a phone call or a person who might come forward. An Atlantic County Superior Court judge has decided the fourth man charged in a March 2015 Absecon motel shooting will remain in jail until trial. Donnell Nicholas, 25, of Atlantic City, waved to his family sitting in the visitors gallery Thursday, then stood before Superior Court Judge John Rauh. Nicholas was a fugitive until he was arrested Tuesday by FBI agents and Atlantic City police, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner said in a statement. On Aug. 23, Nicholas and three others were charged with felony murder, along with robbery, conspiracy, unlawful possession of a handgun and possession of a handgun for unlawful purposes, in connection with the March 2015 shooting deaths of two men. Just before 5 a.m. March 1, 2015, Absecon police responded to the Red Roof Inn on East Absecon Boulevard, where Diante Owens, 22, of Pleasantville, and Gerald Alvarez, 22, of Mays Landing, were found dead. Authorities said the four suspects went to a room at the motel where drugs were being sold to commit a robbery. Both sides fired guns, the Prosecutors Office said. Nicholas and another occupant of the room, Zackery M. Geckeler, 23, of Galloway Township, later arrived at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Campus, for treatment of gunshot wounds. His defense attorney said Thursday that Nicholas is a victim himself, as one of the people shot that night. Rauh handed down the decision to keep Nicholas in jail, saying he was unsure of Nicholas willingness to return to court. Nicholas next court appearance is set for June 6. The three charged along with Nicholas are Brian Bennett, 25, of Pleasantville, Aaquile Reeves, 20, of Absecon, and Tywan Dixon, 22, of Pleasantville. Bennett and Reeves were arrested Aug. 23. Dixon was found and arrested Aug. 30 in Glen Burnie, Maryland, and later taken to the Atlantic County jail. The occupants of the motel room Geckeler, Trevor S. Murray, 22, of Mays Landing, and Ashley A. Villari, 23, of Mays Landing face drug and weapons charges. As Memorial Day weekend approaches, shore towns are preparing for an influx of people seeking out fun in the sun along South Jerseys beaches. But those towns are reminding people of the proper procedures if they encounter stranded or injured marine life, who have sought out the beach for different reasons. Seals, dolphins, and sea turtles are just some of the ocean species that staff at the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine tend to throughout the year. However, people are more likely to come into contact with these stranded creatures as the weather turns nicer. Local police departments as well as Bob Schoelkopf, founding director of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, advise those along the beach to never get too close to a stranded mammal. In the case of a stranded seal, Schoelkopf says some are tempted to try to help the mammal get back into the water, while others get too close while trying to take a picture with the seal. In both cases, Shoelkopf explained that harm can come to both the seal and the person. Captain Steven Ang of the Ocean City Police Department advises that anyone who comes into contact with sick or stranded marine life to call the police, who can create a safe zone that keeps both people and the animal as safe as possible. Schoelkopf also recommends emailing a picture of the mammal to his center so the staff can properly assess what they are dealing with. Seals may wash up along the South Jersey shore through August, while dolphins and sea turtles are more common later in the summer. Read more Sunday in The Press of Atlantic City. Bags should be free My apartment does not have a washer and dryer. I often use a coin-operated laundry. I asked for a plastic bag for my wet clothes. The owner responded that the bag cost money, nothing in life is free. Amazing! This man owns a business and did not want to give me a 10 cent bag. I am a Section 8 resident and continue every day to give back to the community, donating my time, cupcakes and cards to people. I enjoy giving and helping people. The world would be a better place if it did not have greedy, selfish human beings. Sarah Kabo Atlantic City Backs Armato in primary Voters who live west of Hamilton Township have a chance to get someone in the New Jersey Assembly who comes from their side of Atlantic County. John Armato is a local, hard working candidate from Buena Vista Township. The other candidates, as is usually the case, live east of Hamilton Township (the shore area). The western part of Atlantic County is often forgotten and overlooked. Its thought of as in the pinelands with just a few voters, so why bother to listen to them. Now they have a great candidate in Armato, who they should support in the June primary. Kenneth E. Taft Vineland Honor military on holiday Memorial Day marks the traditional unofficial start of the summer season. For many Ocean County residents and visitors, that means fun at the beaches, boardwalks and other summer attractions. However, as freeholders we ask everyone to join us this Memorial Day to remember the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives for freedom while wearing the uniforms of the U.S. armed forces. From the Revolutionary War through the Civil War, World Wars I and II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War and todays ongoing war on terror, U.S. military forces have fought with one goal in mind: freedom. And the cost remains high. This year alone has seen the deaths of four servicemen on the front lines in the Middle East. Their loss is a stark reminder that evil forces with the ultimate goal of our nations destruction still exist in this world. People should take a few minutes between the ballgames and barbecues to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice so that American families shall forever remain free. Joseph H. Vicari Ocean County freeholder director Gerry P. Little Ocean County freeholder deputy director Insurers like Trumpcare In many states, some insurance companies have pulled out of Obamacare. They want to take their chances and force things towards Trumpcare. With Trumpcare, they will be able to still collect expensive premiums, but there will be very limited coverage an ideal situation for any business; large cash flow in, small cash flow out. The insurance companies are the real winners here if the Trumpcare legislation goes through. Philip Briglia Linwood Trump should back probe If I were President Donald Trump and if as he has stated there is nothing to see in Russias involvement in the 2016 election, I would welcome a thorough investigation to expedite the conclusion. Instead of putting up roadblocks. If he is a loyal American, he can restore faith in the system. Michael Santambrogio Egg Harbor Township STAMFORD, Connecticut and LUCCA, Italy, May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Conference to Include Unveiling of CCH Tagetik's Vision for Finance Transformation, Including Announcement of New Offering to Elevate Finance's Ability to Use Financial and Operational Data for Strategic Advice and Insights The 10th annual CCH Tagetik global conference, CCH Tagetik in Touch , will be held from May 22 to 24 in Lucca. The conference will be the company's first since its acquisition by Wolters Kluwer in March 2017. CCH Tagetik is part of Wolters Kluwer, a global provider of leading software solutions and information services for professionals. (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/492891/Tagetik_Logo.jpg ) The conference includes more than 50 sessions, including panel and roundtable discussions, case studies, partner presentations, live demos, and product-focused "tips and tricks." More than 500 are expected to attend and executives from Astaldi, BUPA, and Generali are among the customers scheduled to present. CCH Tagetik in Touch Platinum sponsors include Accenture, Amazon Web Services, Cognizant, Deloitte, KPMG, Microsoft, PwC and Qlik. Paul Hamerman, vice president and principal analyst for Forrester, and Gary Simon, chief executive of FSN, will be among the industry analysts and experts presenting. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet and collaborate with peers from around the globe, as well as CCH Tagetik executives, product experts, consultants, and partners. "We are pleased that the conference is in Lucca this year because we know that Lucca is the center of the values and culture that have made CCH Tagetik successful over the past decade and that continues as part of Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting," said Ian Rhind, CEO, Corporate Performance Solutions, Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting. "Going forward, CCH Tagetik will benefit from an expanded global footprint along with financial strength and technology expertise. Now, CFOs around the world can get gold-standard solutions in CPM as well as tax, accounting, audit and controls management all from one trusted partner, Wolters Kluwer. "This year's conference theme, "Collaborate. Innovate. Elevate.," is especially meaningful because we will be revealing our vision for how CCH Tagetik will support the transformation of finance through an expanded solution that allows for even greater collaboration across the enterprise, fosters and supports accelerated business innovation, and overall, continues to elevate the role of finance," said Manuel Vellutini, EVP Commercial, CCH Tagetik. "We are committed to helping CFOs harness the power of big data and analytics; in ways that are simpler, more usable, and more flexible than what we've seen in the market to date; in order to help their companies explore new markets, products, and channels." Conference attendees will have the opportunity to learn about other recent and upcoming CCH Tagetik enhancements including: CCH Tagetik Visualization (for Solvency II) provides new pre-built dashboards for Solvency II Pillar 3 data, bringing instant insight into key business drivers and quick drill-downs to granular detail. CCH Tagetik Magazine simplifies report navigation and value by giving CFOs and other business users the ability to subscribe to a set of reports automatically linked to executive dashboards CCH Tagetik's IFRS solution portfolio enables finance teams to meet new and evolving reporting standards. CCH Tagetik IFRS 9, CCH Tagetik Revenue Accounting (IFRS 15), CCH Tagetik Lease Accounting (IFRS 16) and CCH Tagetik IFRS 17 solutions all help professionals get compliant quickly, efficiently and confidently "As always, our latest enhancements and planned offerings are based on our work with customers and partners," said Marco Pierallini, EVP Product, CCH Tagetik. "We are leveraging the knowledge and practical insights gained from working alongside customers in ways that all customers can benefit. This collaboration has been a key ingredient in the development of some of our most innovative solutions and continues to contribute to our roadmap for the future." For more information on CCH Tagetik in Touch, as well as the hands-on product workshops following the conference, click here . CCH Tagetik understands the complex challenges that face the Office of the CFO and translates that knowledge into intuitive, enterprise-scale CCH Tagetik performance management software solutions that drive business results. Learn more about CCH Tagetik at www.tagetik.com. About Wolters Kluwer Wolters Kluwer (AEX: WKL) is a global leader in professional information services and solutions for professionals in the health, tax and accounting, risk and compliance, finance and legal sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with specialized technology and services. Wolters Kluwer reported 2016 annual revenues of 4.3 billion. The company, headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands, serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries and employs 19,000 people worldwide. Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting is a leading provider of software solutions and local expertise that helps tax, accounting and audit professionals research and navigate complex regulations, comply with legislation, manage their businesses and advise clients with speed, accuracy and efficiency. CCH Tagetik a part of the Tax and Accounting division, provide solutions to CFOS for Corporate Performance Management. For more information about our solutions and organization, visit www.wolterskluwer.com, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Media Contacts: Greta Bartoli CCH Tagetik +39-058396811 office gretabartoli@tagetik.com Linda Galloway insidHR Communications +1-303-863-8620 office +1-203-733-7446 mobile lgalloway@insidhr.com SOURCE CCH Tagetik TIRANA, Albania, May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Edi Rama, the Prime Minister and leader of the Socialist Party of Albania (SP), today welcomed his agreement with the opposition Democratic Party, ending a three-month stalemate over the opposition's resistance to a program to remove corrupt judicial system officials from office. Under the agreement, the judicial vetting system, a European Union requirement before Albania's accession negotiations can begin, will now proceed prior to the elections. This constitutes a major victory for the prime minister who has been the main backer of the vetting despite strong political resistance. "Today we celebrate something very important: the victory of vetting, and as we fought for vetting we will fight and work to win against unemployment," Mr Rama told supporters Thursday evening. "The fact that we reached an agreement, even at the last moment, shows that in the end Albania is a state with a strengthening democracy, which respects European values and deserves to continue its path to the European Union." As part of the agreement, the elections will be delayed by one week, to June 25, which is in line with the country's constitution. Judicial reform and successful implementation of the vetting law are the key milestones that were designated by the European Commission for Albania in order to commence accession negotiations. "Our democracy is incomplete without the rule of law," Mr. Rama said. "We must have confidence that our legal system is not being subverted by corrupt judges and corrupt prosecutors. We also need to continue and succeed in our fight with the drugs scourge, a problem that our government inherited and that we have pledged to combat vigorously. And for that we need our judges and courts to be beyond reproach." Mr. Rama paid credit to and thanked EU parliamentarians and officials and US officials whose efforts ultimately led to a package of concessions agreed to by opposition leaders in the early hours of Thursday. About the Socialist Party of Albania The Socialist Party of Albania, led by PM Edi Rama, is a social democratic political party which came to power in 2013 pledging extensive institutional reform and a stronger economy. As a result of the government reforms, the nation's budget deficit has been reduced substantially, tax revenues have risen dramatically and restored confidence in the economy led to a 10.5% rise in foreign direct investment and 3.6% GDP growth in 2016. The Socialist Party of Albania is an associate of the Party of European Socialists (PES) and a member of the Socialist International. For further information: Endri Fuga, +355-4-227-7349 or [email protected] in Tirana or Zhenya Harrison, +44-(0)-20-3397-2825 or [email protected] in London. SOURCE Socialist Party of Albania ISELIN, N.J., May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Bar Louie today announced the opening of its newest bar and kitchen at The Plaza at Woodbridge in Iselin, NJ, furthering the company's East Coast expansion as the second Bar Louie in New Jersey and the tenth tri-state location. With a ribbon-cutting ceremony slated for Friday, May 19th at 11:00 a.m., Bar Louie Woodbridge invites friends and neighbors to enjoy a day of official grand-opening celebrations at its newest location, with lunch immediately following the ceremony and happy hour socializing beginning later in the afternoon at 4:00 p.m. "As Bar Louie's second New Jersey location, we're excited to join the Woodbridge community and offer a gathering place where local friends and neighbors can come together and relax," said Bar Louie Woodbridge Director of Operations, Pete Ciaramella. "We look forward to welcoming future patrons and taking the bar experience to new heights for all who enjoy premium cocktails, local brews, great food and hanging with friends." As an award-winning collection of neighborhood bars with a lively, social atmosphere, Bar Louie has more than 125 locations in 29 states throughout the United States. Each location has its own local flavor, where patrons can linger, socialize and enjoy custom drinks, local craft beer and wineas well as specialty burgers, shareable snacks and signature entrees. At Bar Louie Woodbridge, guests can revel in 35 handcrafted cocktailsincluding signature martinis, margaritas and sangrias featuring fresh fruit and hand-squeezed juices. Bar Louie's Stoned Fruit Sangriacombining flavored vodka, sparkling rose, citrus fruits and juices and topped off with proseccoor the Me and Julio Margarita, Bar Louie's take on a top-shelf margarita, are among guest favorites. Bar Louie also has a broad selection of 30 wines by the glass and beers on tapincluding regional favorites such as Jersey Girl Freak Breaker, Rivertown Jah Mon and Asbury 4:4. Bar Louie's food menu also features a broad selection of shareable platesincluding burgers, entrees, flatbreads, sandwiches, salads and desserts. Whether it's the tasty Buffalo Chicken Tatchos, Spiked Bulleit Bourbon Boneless Wings or Voodoo Chicken Sandwich, there is something for everyone on the menu as the innovative recipes carry Bar Louie's vibes from the atmosphere into the food. Bar Louie is also bringing more than 75 jobs to the area. While many roles have been filled, select job opportunities are available and the company is currently hiring service-minded, high-energy servers, bartenders and cooks for the Bar Louie Woodbridge location through its website, www.LouieWantsYou.com. The new restaurant is located in the southwest corner of The Plaza, at 675 U.S. Highway 1S, Suite 8. For more information about Bar Louie in Woodbridge, visit www.barlouie.com. About Bar Louie Founded in downtown Chicago in 1990, and headquartered in Addison, Texas, Bar Louie is an award-winning collection of neighborhood bars with a lively, social atmosphere. With more than 125 locations across the United States, Bar Louie is growing through both franchise and corporate openings. Known for its signature handcrafted martinis and cocktails, Bar Louie also features a scratch menu of shareable plates, burgers, and sandwiches served every day until close. For more information on Bar Louie, visit www.barlouie.com. To learn about franchising opportunities with Bar Louie, go to www.barlouie.com/franchise. Media Contacts Aaron Blank or Traci Paulk The Fearey Group for Bar Louie [email protected] (206) 343-1543 SOURCE Bar Louie Related Links http://www.barlouie.com AUBURN HILLS, Mich., May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The 51st annual Louis Schwitzer Award has been presented to engineers Don Burgoon, James Borner, Darin Cate, Paul Rankin and Mark Wagner from PFC Brakes for the PFC carbon disc brake system. Featuring a patented mounting mechanism, the carbon disc and pad assembly provide a uniform matrix which reduces vibration and tire wear. Considered the founder and visionary for PFC brakes, Don Burgoon (1955 2015) received the award posthumously along with the rest of the team during a ceremony at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Standing with the Louis Schwitzer Award trophy (left to right) were John Norton, Staff Engineer, BorgWarner and Louis Schwitzer Award Selection Committee; Darrick Dong, Director of Motorsports, PFC Brakes; and Jim Bailey, BorgWarner Retiree and Louis Schwitzer Award Selection Committee. "The spirit of innovation drives progress. If you glance in the rearview mirror, you'll see that past award winners have improved performance, efficiency and safety for generations of racecar drivers. The engineers we acknowledge today will take their place in history, inspiring new innovations in the future," said James R. Verrier, President and Chief Executive Officer, BorgWarner. "We are proud to sponsor the Louis Schwitzer Award and congratulate the engineers who worked tirelessly to bring this technology to the racetrack." The PFC carbon disc brake system consists of a carbon disc and pad assembly made from single continuously wound strands along with a patented mounting mechanism. The material and manufacturing process of the disc and pads provide a uniform matrix which reduces unwanted vibration and tire wear by improving the overall balance of the assembly. The disc is mounted to the hat with a novel, yet simple, retaining mechanism consisting of a double rolled ring and locating bobbins. The patented hat assembly greatly reduces stress, bending moments and distortion while the friction behavior exhibits excellent modulation, cold bite and uniform heat distribution. Presented by engineers to engineers, the Louis Schwitzer Award recognizes individuals for innovation and engineering excellence in racing technology associated with the annual Indianapolis 500. The award memorializes Louis Schwitzer, who won the first auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) in 1909 and designed the "Marmon Yellow Jacket" engine that powered the Marmon Wasp to victory at the first Indianapolis 500 in 1911. After working in the automotive industry for many years, Louis founded Schwitzer Corporation, which produced innovative cooling fans, water pumps and turbochargers. Schwitzer Corporation joined BorgWarner in 1999. Throughout his career, Louis achieved numerous technological accomplishments, supported higher education, led the IMS technical committee and maintained a strong association with SAE. BorgWarner continues Louis Schwitzer's legacy of technology leadership as the official turbocharger supplier of the Verizon IndyCar Series. The engine of every car in the Indianapolis 500 will be boosted by BorgWarner's line of EFR (Engineered For Racing) turbochargers. Built for reliable and powerful performance, EFR turbochargers feature Gamma-Ti (titanium aluminide) turbine wheels, ceramic ball bearings and stainless steel turbine housings. A $10,000 award is sponsored by BorgWarner and presented to the winning engineers by the Indiana Section of SAE International. About BorgWarner BorgWarner Inc. (NYSE: BWA) is a global product leader in clean and efficient technology solutions for combustion, hybrid and electric vehicles. With manufacturing and technical facilities in 62 locations in 17 countries, the company employs approximately 27,000 worldwide. For more information, please visit borgwarner.com. SOURCE BorgWarner Related Links http://www.borgwarner.com CAPITOL HEIGHTS, Md., May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Intuitive Group, a local government consulting firm located in Prince George's County has announced the recent launch of it's brainchild Clout Workspace. Clout Workspace is shared coworking environment located in Capitol Heights, Maryland specifically dedicated to supporting local small businesses, freelancers and independent professionals in and around the metro area. Clout Workspace Lounge The first of its kind in the area, the workspace not only features lounge areas for open collaboration, it has private meeting rooms, a small training room, shared offices and dedicated desks. Beyond the workspace, Clout also offers business training events, workshops, networking events and business technical assistance for those who need it. It's being touted as an economic community model where professionals can work together, support each other and be more productive. Tami Mullen, Principal of Intuitive Group, created Clout Workspace out of sheer necessity. "The idea was birthed out of years of frustration of not having a central place, in my immediate community, to access business resources, conduct meetings, facilitate training events and leverage my networks all under one roof," Mullen shares. "There was a barrier to building my business and after several conversations with other business colleagues voicing the same concerns, I decided to take action." The workspace is open to the local business community but Clout will also offer unique programming for businesses that sell to the public sector as well. "Since there is a large government contracting community in and around Capitol Heights and growth opportunities are on the horizon, creating programming to support those businesses just made sense," said Tami. According to DeskMag, a magazine dedicated to the workspace, there are over 10,000 coworking spaces around the world and the industry shows little signs of slowing down. Clout Workspace aims to break the traditional model of working, by catering to specific niches while also providing a cross pollination of technical assistance, shared work environments, and resources. The need for sharing resources in a collaborative way are at an all-time high and Clout is determined to lead the charge of doing things differently. "We are more than workspace it's a mindset." About CLOUT Located in Prince Georges County, MD, Clout Workspace is a coworking space dedicated to supporting local small business owners. An economic community model comprised of shared workspace, hands-on technical assistance, business development support, business infrastructure support, and partnership. For information and to learn how CLOUT can support you, visit www.getclout.co and connect with Clout Workspace on Facebook at www.facebook.com/getclout and Instagram @Getcloutco Contact: Ashley Williams Telephone: (202) 903-6207 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Clout Workspace NEW YORK, May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. ("Cerberus") today announced that an affiliate of the firm has acquired Bushkill Group ("Bushkill"), a vacation property ownership company located in Pennsylvania from Resorts Group, Inc. The transaction includes Bushkill's popular Pocono Mountains resort location, The Villas at Tree Tops & Fairway. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Bushkill, which serves a membership base of thousands of families in the Mid-Atlantic region, includes year-round timeshare ownership resorts conveniently located in the Poconos. As part of the transaction, Rick Budd, Senior Operating Executive, Cerberus Operations and Advisory Company LLC, has become President and CEO of Bushkill. "Cerberus is excited about working with Bushkill to continue to deliver great, family-friendly experiences across its well-known resort portfolio, while investing to grow the existing site with the goal of adding additional locations," said Mr. Budd. "This transaction aligns with Cerberus's real estate strategy, finding undervalued assets with tremendous upside potential. Beyond that, Bushkill, and, in particular, The Villas at Tree Tops & Fairway property, is well known for having exemplary staff with whom we will work to continue to provide diverse, year-round amenities and services to member families and guests." "We have been fortunate to own and operate Bushkill for the past 11 years and are pleased to be turning this great company over to Cerberus, a firm with a proven track record of success," said Andy Worthington, former President and CEO of Bushkill. "Our property, employees, customer base, and proximity to the New York and Philadelphia markets made Bushkill an attractive opportunity for the Cerberus team who will be investing in its infrastructure and future expansion." About Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. Established in 1992, Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. is one of the world's leading private investment firms. Cerberus has more than US $30 billion under management invested in three complementary strategies: global credit opportunities (which includes non-performing loans, corporate credit & distressed debt, mortgage securities & assets, and direct lending); private equity; and real estate. From its headquarters in New York City and network of affiliate and advisory offices in the U.S., Europe and Asia, Cerberus has the on-the-ground presence to invest in multiple asset classes globally. About Bushkill Group Bushkill Group owns and operates The Villas at Tree Tops and Fairway, one of the leading single site timeshare resort properties in the Mid-Atlantic region. The 400-acre, four season property located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania is bordered by the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and includes 650 timeshare units ranging from one to four bedrooms and almost 20,000 member families. It is known for its diverse year-round amenities and family-friendly atmosphere. Contact Andrew Johnson 646-495-2700 [email protected] SOURCE Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. BALTIMORE, May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The William & Lanaea C. Featherstone Foundation and the Consular Section of the Mexican Embassy present a free, financial empowerment conference "Mi Dinero, Mi Destino" Saturday May 20 at the University of Baltimore. Consul Rafael Laveaga and Deputy Consul Mariana Diaz of the Mexican Embassy's Consular Section will headline the event. Consul Laveaga will provide the keynote address. The region's top financial event provides the Latino community with practical skills - in Spanish - that help shape critical personal finance decisions. Attendees will learn about budgeting and financial goal-setting, attaining homeownership, paying for college, entrepreneurship: making start-ups thrive and more! "Education and access to financial resources are critical tools needed to help eradicate poverty, said Consul Rafael Laveaga, Consular Section of the Mexican Embassy. "We've been delighted to partner with the Featherstone Foundation for three consecutive years." Catalina Rodriguez-Lima, director of the Mayor's Office of Immigrant and Multicultural Affairs (MIMA), will discuss the creation of a special immigrant education and defense fund called Safe City Baltimore in collaboration with the Open Society Institute-Baltimore. During a special awards ceremony, six talented Latino students will receive the inaugural Featherstone Latino College Scholarships, $2,000 merit-based awards as an incentive to increase Latino enrollment in higher education. "I created these scholarships to help eliminate financial barriers to higher education," said Lanaea C. Featherstone, president, William & Lanaea C. Featherstone Foundation and OSI-Baltimore Fellow Alumna. "I'm thrilled to recognize Baltimore's young Latino talent." "The University of Baltimore was so pleased by the quality of scholarship applicants for this year's awards and is excited to assist the recipients on their way to a college degree," said Victoria Reid, vice president of enrollment management and marketing at the University of Baltimore. The family-friendly event offers financial workshops organized by State Farm. "State Farm is honored to support such a vital event that helps Baltimore's Hispanic families thrive," said State Farm Agent David Rosario. "Financial education is a critical component to a robust workforce and a vibrant economy; we are pleased to sponsor the event again this year." "BGE is proud to work in partnership with the Featherstone Foundation to help develop and advance the skills and knowledge of adult learners. An educated workforce not only benefits the individual but also contributes to preparing them to compete in and contribute to the local and global economy," said Chimaobi Chijioke, manager of external affairs, BGE. The conference is expected to attract 100 families; Girl Scouts of Central Maryland will also provide activities for children. Sponsors include: State Farm, BGE, the Consular Section of the Mexican Embassy, University of Baltimore and Howard Bank. The conference kicks off 10am on May 20 at the University of Baltimore's H. Mebane Turner Learning Commons:1415 Maryland Ave. Baltimore, MD 21201. SOURCE The William & Lanaea C. Featherstone Foundation Related Links http://www.thefeatherstonefoundation.org BEIJING, May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Concord Medical Services Holdings Limited ("Concord Medical" or the "Company") (NYSE: CCM), a leading specialty hospital management solution provider and operator of the largest network of radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging centers in China, today announced that its subsidiary, Meizhong Jiahe Hospital Management Corp. Ltd ("MHM"), previously known as CMS Hospital Management Co., Ltd, jointly with Guofu Huimei Investment Management Limited Partnership ("Guofu Huimei"), proposed to acquire Shanghai ProMed Cancer Center ("ProMed"), LLC by purchasing existing, and subscribing for newly increased, registered capital of ProMed. The acquisition is pending necessary shareholder approval and governmental filings. MHM will hold 31.64% of the equity interest in ProMed after the completion of the acquisition. ProMed is equipped with advanced medical equipment such as linear accelerators, CTs, MRIs, Mo-target mammography, CDFI and telepathology consultation systems. It is located at the campus of Shanghai Ruijin Hospital, Luwan Branch which conveniently provides a wealth of medical resources for patients. As an outpatient cancer clinic, ProMed medical services including diagnostic imaging, radiation oncology, medical oncology such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunization therapy to its patients. In addition, ProMed is developing strategic cooperation with internationally renowned cancer treatment institutions to advance its service procedure, clinical skills, quality management and talent training system, aiming to improve patient cure rate and life quality. ProMed will provide high-end clinical tumor diagnosis and treatment services to public medical insured patients and business insured patients as well. Dr. Jianyu Yang, Chairman and CEO of Concord Medical, commented, "The acquisition of ProMed is a critical point for the Company's long-term strategy of developing a specialized cancer hospital chain in China. The unique regional advantage, independent medical institution license and high-end equipment ensures that ProMed will be the flagship cancer center under Meizhong Jiahe brand. Besides, we will upgrade the service procedure, clinical skills, quality management and talent training system by cooperating with internationally renowned cancer treatment institutions, for providing better cancer diagnosis and treatment. About Concord Medical Concord Medical Services Holdings Limited is a leading specialty hospital management solution provider and operator of the largest network of radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging centers in China. As of April 30, 2017, the Company operated a network of 95 centers with 57 hospital partners that spanned 49 cities and 19 provinces and administrative regions in China. Under long-term arrangements with top-tier hospitals in China, the Company provides radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging equipment and manages the daily operations of these centers, which are located on the premises of its hospital partners. The Company also provides ongoing training to doctors and other medical professionals in its network of centers to ensure a high level of clinical care for patients. As part of its high-end cancer hospital development strategy and oversea business extension, the Company acquired Concord Cancer Hospital, a private hospital in Singapore in April, 2015. For more information, please see http://ir.concordmedical.com. Safe Harbor Statement This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward- looking statement. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. For more information, please contact: Concord Medical Services Mr. Ting Jia (Chinese and English) +86 10 5903 6688 (ext. 809) [email protected] Mr. Mike H. Cheng (Chinese and English) +86 10 5903 6688 (ext. 609) [email protected] SOURCE Concord Medical EAGAN, Minn., May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- ConvergeOne, a leading global provider of state-of-the-art data and communications solutions, is pleased to announce it is a silver sponsor of the CX17, the industry's premier customer experience event. Taking place May 22-25 in Indianapolis and June 7-9 in Brussels, CX17 is organized by Genesys, the global leader in omnichannel customer experience and contact center solutions. CX17 combines the best of G-Force and Interactions in its debut year since Genesys completed its late 2016 acquisition of Interactive Intelligence. ConvergeOne will be participating in the CX17 in Indianapolis by highlighting its Genesys Customer Experience Platform expertise at Booth S02 in the Partner Pavilion and hosting customers at an exclusive after-hours event. ConvergeOne provides one source for end-to-end technology solutions and a full portfolio of professional and managed services spanning collaboration, contact center, cloud, enterprise networking, security and more. As a long-time Genesys partner, ConvergeOne is highly skilled in integrating and supporting Genesys solutions, which power 25 billion of the world's best customer experiences every year. "ConvergeOne is excited to sponsor CX17 Indianapolis and have the opportunity to interact with Genesys customers from across the country," said Owen Robinson, Sr. Director, Genesys Practice, for ConvergeOne. "The innovative Genesys Customer Experience Platform combined with our nationally recognized capabilities in delivery, support, managed services, cloud and application development offers customers a powerful solution for managing their customer and employee experience." "CX17 is a time to celebrate our valued partners who collaborate with us to turn customer journeys into lasting relationships," said Paul Rolfe, Vice President, Global Partners and Alliances, for Genesys. "CX17 becomes even more exciting through partners such as ConvergeOne that showcase how their solutions integrate with our Customer Experience Platform to help companies engage with their customers and employees to create world-class experiences." Attendees of CX17 will explore topics such as digital transformation, cloud customer experiences, customer journey management, hyper-personalization, predictive analytics, virtual reality and more. For more information, visit the CX17 Indianapolis website or, contact ConvergeOne at 888.321.6227 or email [email protected]. About ConvergeOne Founded in 1993, ConvergeOne is a leading communications service provider offering custom information, communications and data solutions and services. Decades of knowledge and expertise have been invested to create best-in-class solutions in customer experience, collaboration, contact center, cloud, data center computing, networking and security. The company has earned more than 1,400 industry certifications with over 200 technology partnerships including Avaya, Cisco, Microsoft, Interactive Intelligence and IBM. Expertise across the portfolio enables ConvergeOne to partner with customers to achieve business outcomes regardless of the technology. Professional and Managed services provide customers a full complement of solutions to design, build and operate their environments. ConvergeOne Cloud enables customers to benefit from the latest collaboration solutions with industry leading pay per use models offering maximum flexibility and risk mitigation. Media Contact: Scott Clark, Vice President, Corporate Marketing, ConvergeOne 651.393.3957 [email protected] Follow ConvergeOne on Twitter @Converge_One SOURCE ConvergeOne Related Links http://www.convergeone.com This tuition-free early college academy takes the concept of Running Start for high school juniors and seniors and pairs it with an immersive program in which all core subjects from English to math to humanities are taught in a small learning community centered on marine research in the Puget Sound. On completion of the program, students not only graduate from high school but earn an Associate of Arts and Sciences degree from Everett Community College. Inspirus Credit Union donated $2,345 to support materials and supplies the ORCA program uses each year. "It's our mission to give back to education, and ORCA exemplifies the kind of innovation that truly inspires the scientists, educators, and problem-solvers of tomorrow," said Inspirus Vice President of Marketing Sherry Lotze. "We honored to shine a spotlight on this one-of-a-kind program that's a model for the nation." Since its first graduating class in 2006, ORCA has been the springboard for students who've achieved international success in science careers, including 2009 graduate Tajanna Stinn, who recently earned a Master of Science in Immunology from King's College London. Stinn praised ORCA saying, "I not only gained experience in science and writing to prepare me for medical school, but I also learned to appreciate the humanities, which helped me grow as a conceptual thinker and person." The ORCA Program is on display at Inspirus Credit Union in Lynnwood and welcomes visitors who are interested in learning more. Inspirus Credit Union 3405 188th ST. SW, #201, Lynnwood About Inspirus Credit Union Founded in 1936 by a Seattle math and journalism teacher, Inspirus serves 80,000 members across Washington who share a passion for education. With $1.1 billion in assets, Inspirus operates branches in Seattle, Spokane, and Lynnwood. Its philanthropy model includes education-giveback programs that allow members to direct charitable contributions to schools in their communities. Inspirus team members donate upwards of 1,000 volunteer hours each year in support of education. Inspirus Credit Union is a 2017 winner of Puget Sound Business Journal's Corporate Champion Awards, honoring their contributions to education. For more information, visit inspirusCU.org. SOURCE Inspirus Credit Union Related Links https://www.inspiruscu.org DUBLIN, May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Automotive E-retail Market 2017-2021" report to their offering. The global automotive E-retail market to grow at a CAGR of 33.70% during the period 2017-2021. The report, Global Automotive E-retail Market 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market. One trend in market is rising popularity and subsequent sales of electric two-wheelers online. Rising levels of pollution from vehicles using internal combustion engines and fluctuating fuel prices have induced government bodies to push toward green modes of transportation, promoting sales of electric vehicles. Moreover, increasing dependence of nations on petroleum-based fuels cause a huge cost to the governments as they have to import fuel to meet their domestic demand. According to the report, one driver in market is convenience of booking a vehicle with minimum physical effort. About 95% of the global vehicle buyers conduct online research regarding prices, features, and user reviews of the vehicles before making a decision to buy. Most buyers would want to compare the prices offered by different dealers. Most of the automotive dealers have their information registered with online automotive search portals such as Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds.com. The automotive e-retailers also help choose appropriate dealers, who offer vehicles with the desired features of customers is driving the market for automotive e-retail vendors. Companies Mentioned Alibaba Group Paytm Amazon Flipkart eBay Snapdeal Key Topics Covered: PART 01: Executive summary PART 02: Scope of the report PART 03: Market research methodology PART 04: Introduction PART 05: Market landscape PART 06: Market segmentation by product PART 07: Geographical segmentation PART 08: Key leading countries PART 09: Market drivers PART 10: Impact of drivers PART 11: Market challenges PART 12: Impact of drivers and challenges PART 13: Market trends PART 14: Key vendor analysis PART 15: Appendix For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/8hsjlm/global_automotive Media Contact: Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com SHANGHAI, May 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Health Industry Summit (tHIS) 2017 hosted by China and organized by Reed Sinopharm, opened in Shanghai at the National Exhibition and Convention Center on May 15th with hundreds of thousands of healthcare industry professionals from more than 150 countries and regions in attendance. Now in its third edition, tHIS has been firmly established as the world's largest health industry event with over 350,000 square meters of exhibition space and 160 individual events and conferences. It comes at a crucial time as China drives forward its "Healthy China 2030 Plan" initiative to realize among other goals an industry growth target of RMB 16 trillion (USD 2.3 trillion) by 2030 and an increase of average citizen lifespan by 3 years to 79 years. Key events at tHIS 2017 included China's three top medical equipment and pharmaceutical exhibitions (CMEF, PHARMCHINA and API China) and the leading healthcare investment forum - Healthcare China 2017. This year's investment forum was co-organised by Reed Sinopharm, JP Morgan Asset management, CICC and Sinopharm Capital and was attended by more than 1000 CEOs, investors and institutions. The exhibition featured the entire industry value chain and showcased tens of thousands of the latest technologies and products. Emerging technologies such as VR, AR, wearables and AI featured strongly on the show floor as well as in the key forums. During tHIS 2017, World Medical Robots Innovation and Development Summit was held to reflect the growing trend for robotics and AI applications. Over 7000 exhibiting companies from 30 countries were at the show including medical device giants like GE, United Imaging, Siemens, Philips and Mindray as well as major pharmaceutical groups in China including Sinopharm, Shanghai Pharma and CR Pharmaceuticals. The majority of the most innovative companies in the medical field choose CMEF as their Global or Asia Pacific new product launch platform and more than 600 new product launches took place during the 4 days of the show. The Health Industry Summit is organized by Reed Sinopharm, a joint venture between the world's leading event organizer Reed Exhibitions and China's leading state-owned medical & pharmaceutical group Sinopharm, ranked number 205 on the fortune 500 list. Its next edition will be held in April 2018 in Shanghai. SOURCE Reed Sinopharm Exhibitions Infosys Public Services Inc., a US-based subsidiary of global consulting, technology, outsourcing and next-generation services company Infosys (NYSE: INFY), today announced that it has been appraised at Level 5, the highest maturity level of the CMMI Institute's Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI). The appraisal team was led by Edward Weller from Integrated Productivity Solutions, LLC. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130122/589162 ) CMMI is a performance enhancement model consisting of collected best practices that guide organizations to improve key capabilities and elevate performance. CMMI's five maturity levels provide IT organizations with a clear path for improvement. An appraisal at maturity Level 5 indicates that an organization is performing at an 'optimizing' level, continually improving its processes based on a quantitative understanding of its business objectives and performance needs, and continuously evolving to adapt to changing stakeholder and customer needs. The highest rating (level 5) validates Infosys Public Services' ability to execute high-quality, complex IT programs on-time and within budget, and to help clients realize desired returns from their IT investments. Quotes: Edward Weller, President, Integrated Productivity Solutions, LLC "During the appraisal the team saw estimation models developed from statistical analysis of historical data that allow Infosys Public Services teams to do an outstanding job of predicting effort, schedule, and product quality. This capability means commitments to customers are accurate and dependable, which translates to meeting user needs with the right products and services. Infosys Public Services demonstrated the benefits expected of a high maturity organization." Eric Paternoster, President and CEO, Infosys Public Services "The CMMI level 5 rating is a significant milestone in our journey to become a premier IT partner to public sector organizations. We use best practices from the CMMI model to incorporate sound software development principles that enable us to predictably execute IT programs using different methodologies - agile, waterfall, iterative. This rating is a validation of our efforts to establish a foundation of processes that balance stability and agility, and equip us to drive our clients' software-led transformation." Additional resources About Infosys Public Services Infosys Public Services (www.infosyspublicservices.com), a North-American subsidiary of Infosys (NYSE: INFY), is a leader in business consulting and technology solutions. We partner with public sector organizations in the US and Canada to help them stay ahead of the innovation curve. Our solutions, combined with execution excellence and proven best practices allow clients to renew themselves while also creating new avenues to generate value. About Infosys Ltd Infosys is a global leader in technology services and consulting. We enable clients in more than 50 countries to create and execute strategies for their digital transformation. From engineering to application development, knowledge management and business process management, we help our clients find the right problems to solve, and to solve these effectively. Our team of 2,00,364 innovators, across the globe, is differentiated by the imagination, knowledge and experience, across industries and technologies, that we bring to every project we undertake. Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise thrive in the digital age. Safe Harbor Certain statements in this press release concerning our future growth prospects are forward-looking statements regarding our future business expectations intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in earnings, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, our ability to manage growth, intense competition in IT services including those factors which may affect our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, industry segment concentration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks or system failures, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which Infosys has made strategic investments, withdrawal or expiration of governmental fiscal incentives, political instability and regional conflicts, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, and unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our industry. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our United States Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. In addition, please note that any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable as of the date of this press release. The company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the company unless it is required by law. SOURCE Infosys NEW YORK, May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Kwittken, an MDC Partners Inc. agency, today announced that Leesa, a leading online luxury mattress company, retained Kwittken to amplify its brand, corporate and consumer communications in both the U.S. and Canadian markets. Leesa's decision to partner with Kwittken comes at a time of significant growth for the company as it prepares for the next phase of expansion. As communications AOR, Kwittken is responsible for helping drive awareness for Leesa's premium-quality sleep products. Efforts include executive visibility, thought leadership, media relations, content marketing and influencer engagement. The agency will also work closely with Leesa's brand ambassadors, who include Olympians Michael Phelps and Aly Raisman as well as hundreds of others who, like Leesa's customers, sleep on and love their Leesa mattresses. "Leesa's rapid growth has been driven by our customers who love the universal feel of the Leesa mattress as well as the ease of ordering our products online. We are humbled by the reviews they share and happy that they are sleeping better on their Leesa mattresses. They also understand our greater mission to elevate life through better sleep," said David Wolfe, Co-Founder and CEO of Leesa. "Our commitment to help others through our social impact program gives us a sense of purpose that goes beyond financial success. Kwittken understands this and shares our passion." Leesa donates one mattress for every ten it sells and, as the only major mattress company that is a certified BCorp, Leesa joins a group of companies that includes Ben and Jerry's, Patagonia and others that are seeking to be a force for good as they grow. "Leesa provides quality sleep products with unique craftsmanship that are beautifully designed and rigorously tested. This attention to detail and understanding of our customers' needs has allowed us to break through the crowded mattress market," said Jamie Diamonstein, Co-Founder of Leesa and a 30-year veteran of the mattress industry. "We are excited to partner with Kwittken as they share the same passion for building brands based on great products and strong values." Kwittken's appointment coincides with the recent expansion of Leesa's executive team to include industry veterans Nick Stafford as Chief Operating Officer and Erica Cooper as Head of PR & Communications, formerly with LivingSocial and Kaplow, respectively. The company expects to double its revenue this year from both existing and new products. "We are excited to partner with Leesa as the company emerges as a leader in a thriving and increasingly competitive category," said Shanee Goss, Executive Managing Director of Kwittken's Brand Strategy Group. She added, "Like many of our clients, Leesa is an innovator who's transforming their industry and challenging the status quo. We believe we are the right creative, bold and strategic partner to join them in this journey." Leesa joins Kwittken's growing roster of consumer product brands across the health, beauty, hospitality and technology industries, including Zicam, Artistry, Wyndham, Hisense and SHARP. About Kwittken Kwittken is a global communications agency that combines design thinking with the most impactful elements of PR, influencer engagement, social and digital media and content marketing. A multi-specialist agency serving clients across dozens of industry sectors, Kwittken works with clients such as American Express, Amadeus, Oppenheimer, Amway, Bank of Montreal, CGI, IRONMAN, BMW, Deloitte, Dataminr, Hisense, Pantone, S&P Global, Stryker Corporation, Windstream and Wyndham Hotels. Headquartered in New York City with offices in London and Toronto, Kwittken has been a part of the MDC Partners network since 2010. For more information, visit kwittken.com About Leesa Sleep, LLC Based in Virginia Beach, Va., Leesa is a direct-to-consumer online luxury mattress company that offers 100 percent American-made mattresses delivered directly to consumers' doors. From its start, Leesa has measured its own success not just by the bottom line, but by the company's overall social impact. To date, Leesa's One-Ten program has provided more than 12,000 new mattresses to those in need. Leesa offers a 100-night risk-free trial, free shipping, and no-hassle returns. The company currently offers free shipping to the U.S., U.K. Germany, Canada. For more information visit www.leesa.com. Contact: Laura Dahlgren 518-698-2644 [email protected] SOURCE Kwittken Related Links http://www.kwittken.com WASHINGTON, May 18, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a briefing on Capitol Hill, sponsored and organized by Congressman Tom Garrett (R-VA) and the Organization of Iranian American Communities-US (OIAC), entitled "Iran Presidential Election: Status Quo or Change," lawmakers and scholars rejected the May 19 election as a sham, which is neither free nor fair and called on the international community and the U.S. to stand with the demands of the Iranian people. Representatives Garrett, member of the HFAC, and Mike Coffman (R-CO), a member of the HASC, Dr. Ilan Berman, Lee Smith, Alireza Jafarzadeh, and Prof. Ivan Sascha Sheehan joined the panel discussion. In his opening remarks, OIAC Political Director Majid Sadeghpour, thanked Rep. Garrett for his attendance at this event, and welcomed the panelists. In his remarks, Rep. Garrett said that the election will not bring any change and expressed the hope that the U.S. would avoid policies, which would "avoid things like the 1988 dissident massacre," or the opportunity lost in the 2009 uprising "where the United States sat idly by." He said the Iranian people desire "democracy and self determination." Rep. Coffman said that it is a tragedy that candidates in the Iranian regime's election have "to go through a vetting process through the religious leaders of the country." "Election is a tool designed to achieve the appearance of legitimacy while reinforcing the regime's hold on power," said Prof. Sheehan, who moderated the panel. NCRI's Deputy Director Jafarzadeh highlighted the recently-published book by the NCRI-US, entitled, "Presidential Elections in Iran: Changing Faces, Status Quo Policies," underscoring, "We're talking about selections in Iran versus elections, but as we all know the vast majority of the Iranian people stay away from the ballot boxes as they have always done." Dr. Berman emphasized, "The faces may change, the names may change, and you sort of see that a little bit in the current cycle, but every person, regardless of what they say, is part of a broad continuum of Khamenei's thought." In emphasizing the need to impose sanctions on the regime, Lee Smith added, "If people want to know what this regime looks like, look at Syria, look at Yemen, look at what's happening in the Persian Gulf, look at what's happening in the Red Sea. Look at how much money the IRGC makes. Look at what Hezbollah is doing around the world." SOURCE Organization of Iranian American Communities - U.S. (OIAC) Related Links http://www.oiac-us.com MIAMI, May 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- This could quite possibly be one of the biggest debates that pit state governments against the federal government: legal marijuana (medical and recreational included). The current Schedule 1 designation has cannabis as being more detrimental than cocaine and on par with heroin, LSD, and bath salts. There's been a much harder push lately for legalization efforts by states without current sets of laws as well as states that have only been approved for medical marijuana sales. Connecticut, New Jersey, Vermont, and even Michigan have all recently been in the news after throwing their hats into the ring for legalizing marijuana in the respective states. Considering that legal weed in North America is expected to reach $22.6 billion in revenue in 2021 and that the still prevalent black market for weed is raking in somewhere north of $46m, it may be safe to say that as more states come online for legal cannabis, marijuana sales could be set to top the charts of some of the biggest industries we know today. Think about this, Chocolate in the US is expected to bring in $25billion by 2019, Cookie sales were under $6billion last year, and bottled water sales aren't expected to reach the $22-24billion mark until 2024. By comparison, the marijuana industry could "smoke" major markets of scale in a very short period of time and because of this, many onlookers are trying to identify opportunity through early investment. Some look to benefit from grow operations and others are looking to benefit from the health impact via biotech and health sciences companies. Everything else in between has many new and seasoned investors taking into account the dramatic growth expected as the US and North America in general begins to spark conversation about legalization of marijuana. This having been said, now the conversation about banking is coming back into light as this growth is being realized. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) headed a bipartisan group of other senators this week to introduce legislation to allow legal cannabis businesses to access banking services. Additional supporters of this included Senators Cory Gardner (R-CO), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Rand Paul (R-KY), Patty Murray (D-WA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). Right now any cannabis business that operates under state laws have been denied access to the banking system due to the fact that banks can be prosecuted under federal law. Forget about chocolate for a moment because an industry that's seemingly set to see large growth in a short period of time still remains, for the most part, an all cash business; despite the fact that these businesses still are required to pay taxes (in all cash sums). This new bill would block federal banking regulators from prohibiting or penalizing banks from providing financial services to state-sanctioned, legal, and regulated cannabis businesses or associated businesses. It would also end or at least limit a bank's federal deposit insurance strictly based on a bank providing a service to these types of businesses. It would further limit the recommendation and incentivisation of banks to halt or even downgrade banking services to cannabis businesses. A move to put this into law would be another big step to further legitimize the marijuana industry as a true industry of scale in today's modern culture. About MarijuanaStocks.com Marijuana Stocks (www.MarijuanaStocks.com) is your best resource for today's budding cannabis industry. Whether you're looking for the best marijuana stocks to buy, marijuana political news, trends and articles within the cannabis industry and so much more, MarijuanaStocks.com is your destination for it all. Our goal is to become the central hub for all who are seeking current Marijuana Stock News as well as cannabis industry, political and social news, articles, trends & overall insight, delivered in a way that we all can relate to. Contact: [email protected] SOURCE MarijuanaStocks.com Related Links http://marijuanastocks.com NEW YORK, May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- McCann was named North America's "Regional Agency of the Year" at the New York Festivals International Advertising Awards on Thursday night. This latest honor follows having been recently named Agency of the Year at The One Show Awards, as well as both Agency of the Year and Network of the Year at the ADC Annual Awards and International ANDY Awards. "It takes an army of dedicated people, in every department, to achieve this kind of honor. We will continue to try to make our clients wildly successful, here in North America and around the world," said Rob Reilly, Global Creative Chairman of McCann Worldgroup. McCann New York, Commonwealth//McCann in Detroit, and Fitzgerald & Co. in Atlanta contributed prizes toward the region-specific honor for campaigns on behalf of clients including Chevrolet, Microsoft, Lockheed Martin, Cigna, National Geographic, Godiva, and Checkers & Rally's. Two Grand Prizes were awarded to McCann New York's "Field Trip to Mars" campaign for Lockheed Martin, in the "Activation & Engagement" and "Outdoor/Out of Home Marketing" categories. 11 McCann Worldgroup agencies outside of North America contributed toward a strong global showing that amounted to a total of 45 awards in the competition. These include agencies in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, France, India, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, Spain, Tunisia, and the UK. Additionally, more than 25 agencies in the global McCann network were recognized as Finalists. "With the support of our amazing clients, our teams have succeeded in telling the unique stories of brands. Whether applying the simple art of giving to a box of chocolates, or encouraging a generation of girls to follow their dreams in STEM disciplines, these are the stories that stand out in the minds of consumers," said Eric Silver, McCann's North American Chief Creative Officer. The New York Festivals International Advertising Awards "honors advertising excellence through 19 competitions in all media from 80+ countries and represent the full spectrum of today's advertising communications. With 400+ jury members representing 75+ countries, NYF International Advertising Awards has the largest, most creative international jury and judging system in the world." McCann's New York Festivals performance is the latest of many recent top global creative honors won by McCann Worldgroup, which was ranked in 2016 by The Gunn Report as the world's second most creatively awarded network overall in advertising and specifically in digital as well. In 2017, the agency won Network of the Year and Agency of the Year honors both at the International ANDY Awardswhere it also won the Best in Show GRANDY awardand the ADC Annual Awards, where it was also named Digital Agency of the Year and won the coveted ADC Black Cube in Digital for best in discipline for its Lockheed Martin "Field Trip to Mars" VR campaign. The agency was also awarded Agency of the Year at The One Show. About McCann Worldgroup: McCann Worldgroup, part of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG), is a leading global marketing services company with 24,000 employees in more than 100 countries, comprising McCann (advertising), MRM//McCann (digital marketing/relationship management), Momentum Worldwide (total brand experience), McCann Health (professional/dtc communications), CRAFT (global adaptation and production), UM (media management), Weber Shandwick (public relations), FutureBrand (consulting/design), ChaseDesign (shopper marketing) and PMK-BNC. SOURCE McCann Worldgroup HOUSTON, May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA is traveling to the Seattle area May 22-25 to highlight and share the accomplishments, potential and opportunities for research onboard the International Space Station (ISS). Astronaut Anne McClain, a Spokane, Washington, native and veteran astronaut Michael Barratt will share their perspectives on space research opportunities and the special vantage point over Earth that the orbital laboratory provides. Station scientist Pete Hasbrook and commercial cargo engineer Jason Smith also will participate in events alongside Center for the Advancement of Science in Space's (CASIS) Director of Commercial Innovation Cynthia Bouthot. On Tuesday, May 23, representatives from NASA and CASIS will highlight the many commercial opportunities the space station provides for researchers and employees from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Starbucks, where the ISS Driven to Explore mobile exhibit will be at 2401 Utah S., Seattle, and will be available to the general public during that same timeframe. Afterward, Hasbrook and McClain will join Nerd Nite: Seattle at High Dive, 513 N. 36th St., Seattle, to discuss their personal experiences within the station program. The event is for guests 21 and older and runs from 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. On Wednesday, May 24, NASA and CASIS will meet with Microsoft representatives from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at 15255 N.E. 40th St., Redmond, Washington, to discuss the research platform the ISS National Laboratory allows. At 11a.m., astronaut Mike Barratt will share insights from his missions to the space station during a presentation. On Thursday, May 25, Barratt, NASA and CASIS will be back at Microsoft from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. to discuss potential STEM education initiatives, as well as providing an opportunity for educator development. SOURCE NASA Related Links http://www.nasa.gov PITTSBURGH, May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The United Steelworkers (USW) today praised the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) for adopting this week the nation's strongest Process Safety Management (PSM) protections for oil refineries as recommended by the state's Department of Industrial Relations (DIR). USW International President Leo W. Gerard said that oil refineries in particular, filled with explosive, toxic and otherwise dangerous materials, have been the sites of several of the most catastrophic industrial accidents of the last 20 years. "For decades, the USW and predecessor unions have fought to make refineries safer for the men and women who support their families by working in them," Gerard said. "We have learned, too well, the lessons of the past and the deadly consequences when workers' voices are ignored or management cuts corners in pursuit of higher profits." USW Oil Sector Chairman Kim Nibarger said that the union hopes other states and federal regulators will follow California's example in updating and improving PSM standards that are outdated. "The engaged participation of various stakeholders representing labor, the industry, our communities and regulators has brought about new standards that are protective, manageable, comprehensive and enforceable," Nibarger said. "The improved regulations will not only save lives and enhance the environment but improve the reliability of operations as well." A huge fire at Chevron's Richmond, Calif., refinery in 2012 brought together a coalition of labor, environmental, government and industry leaders to seek updated safeguards for workers and the public. The DIR, led by Christine Baker, met with coalition members and assembled a labor-management committee to develop the proposal. The new regulations put forward by Baker's team ensure that California's refineries operate under modern, best-practice engineering and management practices and give refinery workers a much stronger voice on issues that impact their safety. The USW represents 850,000 men and women employed in manufacturing, metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in public sector and service occupations. For more information, contact: Tony Montana (412) 562-2592; [email protected] SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW) Related Links http://www.usw.org WASHINGTON, May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Our organizations, all of which advocate for journalists in the U.S. and across the globe, believe we must sound the alarm about what happened this week to veteran Washington reporter John M. Donnelly. While covering a meeting of the Federal Communications Commission for his employer, CQ Roll Call, Donnelly was pinned against a wall by security forces when he tried to ask a post-press conference question of departing commissioners. He later was forcibly evicted from the public building despite clearly identifying himself as a member of the press and displaying the Capitol Hill press credential that is widely acknowledged by security forces throughout Washington. The security guard who ejected Donnelly challenged him because he did not believe Donnelly should be asking questions after the official press conference has concluded. We cannot dismiss this as a random case of over-zealous security because of the context in which it occurred. Reckless statements by politicians, most notably the president of the United States, have given forces who don't understand or don't like a free press permission to harass, threaten and even physically harm reporters. A credentialed journalist in West Virginia now faces criminal charges for his efforts to question a member of President Trump's cabinet while he walked through the state capitol building. There, too, the cabinet member excused the actions of law enforcement because the reporter was "not in a press conference." The Radio Television Digital News Association is reporting increased acts of hostility against reporters and camera people, both by security personnel and members of the public. We acknowledge that many public figures have legitimate security concerns (in part because of the polarization created or exacerbated by the toxic rhetoric that all too many of them employ). But this should never be used at an excuse to restrain or muzzle credentialed members of the media, or restrict their access to people in power. The First Amendment is not limited to official press conferences, and public officials may not use law enforcement to shield themselves from tough questions in public places. Such restrictions are anathema to a free press and the public it serves. At a National Press Club appearance Thursday, the distinguished Venezuelan journalist Marcel Granier described his troubled country as "without institutions." Ominously, he dated the beginning of Venezuela's downward spiral to the late President Hugo Chavez's steady, insidious stream of attacks on the press. Secrecy by security cannot become the new norm of civil society. We call on public figures to recognize the dangerous path we are on and to reverse course. Democracy depends upon it. Contact: Kathy Kiely, National Press Club Journalism Institute Press Freedom Fellow [email protected] Barbara Cochran, president National Press Club Journalism Institute Jeff Ballou, president National Press Club Sandra Fish, president Journalism and Women's Symposium Mike Cavender, executive director Radio Television Digital News Association Melissa Lyttle, president National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) Craig Aaron, president & CEO Free Press Bryan Pollard, president Native American Journalists Association Lynn Walsh, national president Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Mark Hamrick, president Society of American Business Editors and Writers (SABEW) George Freeman, executive director Media Law Resource Center, Inc. Josh Hatch, president Online News Association Delphine Halgand, North America director Reporters Without Borders > Mizell Stewart III, President > American Society of News Editors > > Jason Zaragoza, Executive Director > Association of Alternative Newsmedia > > > Jo Ellen Kaiser, Executive Director > The Media Consortium Mizell Stewart III, President American Society of News Editors Jason Zaragoza, Executive Director Association of Alternative Newsmedia Jo Ellen Kaiser, Executive Director The Media Consortium Sandy Johnson President National Press Foundation Suzanne Nossel, executive director PEN America SOURCE National Press Club (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302 ) Browse 65 market data Tables and 64 Figures spread through 148 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Offshore Wind Market" http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/offshore-wind-market-253452593.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report. The global market is witnessing a significant growth due to rising energy demand coupled with increasing share of renewables in the power generation mix, energy efficiency mandates demanding carbon emission reduction, and government incentives supporting renewable energy deployment. Shallow water- the largest Offshore Wind Market by location Among the three water depth location for offshore wind turbines, shallow water is expected to hold the largest share during the forecast period. The development of shallow water is generally cost effective due to better weather conditions, whereas, installing wind turbines in deep water becomes expensive due to high maintenance cost. However, offshore wind turbines are getting installed in all three water locations depending on the region, turbine capacity, and wind speed. Shallow water condition mostly prevails in the European countries due to favorable weather conditions. The major players that provide turbines which can be installed in shallow water includes Siemens AG (Germany) and MHI Vestas (Denmark) among others. Download PDF Brochure @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=253452593 The turbine component is expected to be the largest segment for the Offshore Wind Market The turbines accounts for the maximum cost of the total offshore wind project. It is the most important component of an offshore wind farm. The three components such as nacelle, rotor, and tower comprises the largest share of the capital cost, whereas, the substructure represents comparatively lesser share of the capital expenditure, mainly in shallow water locations. Companies are upgrading and increasing the turbine size due to advanced technologies and to increase energy efficiency. Moreover, larger the wind turbine, the more energy they produce each time the turbines rotate. Therefore, turbine manufacturers are continuously upgrading and expanding their product portfolio to contribute to the ever increasing demand for high capacity wind turbines. Asia-Pacific: The second largest market for offshore wind The market in this region is expected to grow at the second position followed by the market in Europe, due to its growing trends such as increasing urbanization and industrialization which is leading to higher demand in the power sector. The countries are focusing on power generation through renewable energy sources and the offshore wind forms an integral part of the renewable based power generation. Technological advancement and clean energy consumption would further propel wind power deployment and open up opportunities in the emerging markets of Asia-Pacific, especially in countries like China, Japan, and South Korea as they are looking for an alternative source of energy to diversify their energy mix to reduce CO2 emissions. The other major drivers include strict government regulations on energy efficiency. Make an Inquiry @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_Buying.asp?id=253452593 To provide an in-depth understanding of the competitive landscape, the report includes profiles of some of the leading players in the Offshore Wind Market, namely, Siemens AG (Germany), ABB, Ltd. (Switzerland), MHI Vestas (Denmark), General Electric (U.S.), EEW Group (Germany), A2Sea (Denmark), and Nexans (France) among others. Leading players are trying to penetrate the markets in developing economies and are adopting various strategies to increase their market share. Browse Related Reports: Concentrating Solar Power Market by Technology (Parabolic Trough, Power Tower, Linear Fresnel & Dish/Engine system), Components (Solar field, Power Block, and Thermal Storage), End-User (Utilities, EOR & Others ), and Region - Global Forecast to 2021 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/concentrating-solar-power-market-199506567.html Renewable Energy Policy FiT Analysis by Technology (Solar, Wind, Geothermal and Bio Energy), by Tariff Period (5, 10, 13, 15, 20, and 25 years), by System Size (1 kW to 15 MW), and by Key Country - Installed Capacity and Targets to 2020 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/renewable-energy-policy-fit-analysis-182712231.html About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 5000 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Rohan MarketsandMarkets 701 Pike Street Suite 2175, Seattle, WA 98101, United States USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Visit our Blog @ http://www.marketsandmarketsblog.com/market-reports/energy-and-power Connect with us on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets SOURCE MarketsandMarkets BELLEVUE, Wash., May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Paul Gauguin Cruises (www.pgcruises.com), operator of the highest-rated and longest continually sailing luxury cruise ship in the South Pacific, the m/s Paul Gauguin, received the award for "Best Small-Ship Cruise Line" for the second consecutive year during Global Traveler's 5th Annual Leisure Lifestyle Awards ceremony on May 18, 2017, at the Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills. Global Traveler is a monthly magazine written exclusively for frequent business and luxury travelers. Awards were given to the best leisure destinations, airlines, cruise lines, hotels, and tour operators voted by Global Traveler and its readers. "We are thrilled to be voted 'Best Small-Ship Cruise Line,'" remarked Diane Moore, President of Paul Gauguin Cruises, who accepted the award at the ceremony. "Thank you to Global Traveler and its readers for this prestigious honor. It's a testament to our dedicated staff, who delivers extraordinary service aboard our voyages in Tahiti, French Polynesia, Fiji, and the South Pacific." The winners are listed in the Leisure Lifestyle edition of Global Traveler, available on newsstands now and online at www.globaltravelerusa.com. Paul Gauguin Cruises was also recently selected #2 in the category of "Top Small Cruise Lines" in the Conde Nast Traveler 2016 Readers' Choice Awards and was recognized on the publication's 2016 "Gold List." Readers also voted Paul Gauguin Cruises "#1 Midsize-Ship Ocean Cruise Line" in the Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards 2016. For more information about Paul Gauguin Cruises, please contact a Travel Professional, call 800-848-6172, or visit www.pgcruises.com. About Paul Gauguin Cruises Owned by Pacific Beachcomber S.C., French Polynesia's leading luxury hotel and cruise operator, Paul Gauguin Cruises operates the 5+-star cruise ship, the 332-guest m/s Paul Gauguin, providing a deluxe cruise experience tailored to the unparalleled wonders of Tahiti, French Polynesia, Fiji, and the South Pacific. Media Contact: Paul Gauguin Cruises Vanessa Bloy, Director of Public Relations (425) 440-6255 [email protected] From Travel + Leisure, August 2016 2016 Time Inc. Affluent Media Group. Used under license. Travel + Leisure and Time Inc. Affluent Media Group are not affiliated with, and do not endorse products or services of Paul Gauguin Cruises. SOURCE Paul Gauguin Cruises Related Links http://www.pgcruises.com DALLAS, May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Permian Basin Royalty Trust (NYSE: PBT) ("Permian") today declared a cash distribution to the holders of its units of beneficial interest of $0.052169 per unit, payable on June 14, 2017, to unit holders of record on May 31, 2017. This month's distribution decreased from the previous month due to a decrease in the pricing of oil and gas production for the combined Waddell Ranch and Texas Royalty Properties. On January 15, 2017, a fire occurred due to a lightning strike on the Tubb McKnight Water Station which disrupted production of both oil and gas. There were no injuries relating to this incident. The resumption of production on those properties did not resume until January 31. Most of those wells are back on production as of February 28, and will continue to be producing. The full restoration of this water station should be completed by the end of May. The Waddell Ranch Properties contributed $1,600,234 to this month's distribution. The Texas Royalty Properties had a decrease in oil and gas production, along with a slight decrease in pricing of oil and gas production. The Texas Royalty Properties contributed $964,698 to this month's distribution. Capital expenditures on the Waddell Ranch continue to be lower than previous months, with it being mostly facility projects for the remainder of the year. However, additional expense will be incurred bringing the Tubb McKnight Water Station back on line of approximately $1,228,000 (gross) to the entire project of working interest owners. It is not clear at this time as to what the cost to Trust will be until it is incurred and charged to the Trust. It is anticipated that these expenses will be forthcoming in the following months. WADDELL RANCH Production for the underlying properties at the Waddell Ranch was 59,951 barrels of oil and 354,337 Mcf of gas. The production for the Trust's allocated portion of the Waddell Ranch was 26,625 barrels of oil and 159,066 Mcf of gas. The average price for oil was $45.86 per bbl and for gas was $2.81 per Mcf. This would primarily reflect production and pricing for the month of March for oil and the month of February for gas. These allocated volumes were significantly impacted by the pricing of both oil and gas. This production and pricing for the Underlying Properties resulted in revenues for the Waddell Ranch Properties of $3,743,386. Deducted from these would be the Lease Operating Expense (LOE) of $1,307,112, taxes of $245,596, and Capital Expenditures (CAPEX) of $57,033 totaling $1,609,741 resulting in a Net Profit of $2,133,645 for the month of April. With the Trust's Net Profit Interest (NPI) of 75% of the underlying properties, this would result in a net contribution by the Waddell Ranch Properties of $1,600,234 to this month's distribution. Underlying Properties Net to Trust Sales Volumes Volumes Average Price Oil (bbls) Gas (Mcf) Oil (bbls) Gas (Mcf) Oil (per bbl) Gas (per Mcf) Current Month Waddell Ranch 59,951 354,337 26,625 159,066* $45.86 $2.81** Texas Royalties 22,955 21,650 21,808 20,568* $47.26 $4.58** Prior Month Waddell Ranch 54,502 299,656 25,250 140,438* $49.02 $3.31** Texas Royalties 24,135 28,523 22,928 27,097* $48.74 $4.63** * These volumes are the net to the trust, after allocation of expenses to Trust's net profit interest, including any prior period adjustments. ** This pricing includes sales of gas liquid products. TEXAS ROYALTY PROPERTIES Production for the underlying properties at the Texas Royalties was 22,955 barrels of oil and 21,650 Mcf of gas. The production for the Trust's allocated portion of the Texas Royalties was 21,808 barrels of oil and 20,568 Mcf of gas. The average price for oil was $47.26 per bbl and for gas was $4.58 per Mcf. This would primarily reflect production and pricing for the month of March for oil and the month of February for gas. These allocated volumes were impacted by the pricing of both oil and gas. This production and pricing for the underlying properties resulted in revenues for the Texas Royalties of $1,184,022. Deducted from these would be taxes of $168,550 resulting in a Net Profit of $1,015,472 for the month of April. With the Trust's Net Profit Interest (NPI) of 95% of the Underlying Properties, this would result in net contribution by the Texas Royalties of $964,698 to this month's distribution. General and Administrative Expenses deducted for the month were $134,325 resulting in a distribution of $2,431,575 to 46,608,796 units outstanding, or $0.052169 per unit. The worldwide market conditions continue to affect the pricing for domestic production. It is difficult to predict what effect these conditions will have on future distributions. Permian Basin Royalty Trust, as it does after the end of each year, had a year-end Reserve Report prepared in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commission's requirements. This report provides an evaluation of the estimated asset value as of December 31 of each year, which can be used to estimate the remaining life of the Trust. The estimated net proved reserves, as of January 1, 2017, attributable to the Trust from the properties appraised are approximately 4.5 million barrels of oil and 8.5 billion cubic feet of gas with a future net value of approximately $188,269,000 with a discounted value of $98,077,000. With the estimated quantities of this year's reserve estimate of 4.5 million barrels of oil and 8.5 billion cubic feet of gas remaining, it could be estimated that the Trust still has a life span of 9 to 10 years. The report is an exhibit to the Trust's Annual Report on Form 10-K that was filed on March 10, 2017 and is available to all unitholders at this time on the SEC website. Permian's cash distribution history, current and prior year financial reports and tax information booklets, a link to filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission and more can be found on its website at http://www.pbt-permian.com/. The new toll free customer service number for the trust is 1-855-588-7839. SOURCE Permian Basin Royalty Trust Related Links http://www.pbt-permian.com "We have a wide variety of positions that we need to fill in every Ralphs store in Southern California," said Kendra Doyel, vice president of Corporate Affairs for Ralphs Grocery Company. "Positions are available in most every department, including front end, deli, meat, bakery and grocery. Some of our stores also have positions available in support of our online ordering service, ClickList." Interested applicants should apply online before this Saturday's hiring event at jobs.ralphs.com and then go to the nearest Ralphs for a job interview. The positions for which Ralphs is hiring offer competitive wages, flexible schedules, benefits and room for advancement. Ralphs Grocery Company was founded in 1873 and currently employs more than 20,000 associates who serve customers in 193 supermarkets in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. Last year, Ralphs contributed more than $6 million to support education, hunger relief, women's health and local nonprofit organizations in the communities served by the company's stores. Ralphs is a subsidiary of The Kroger Co., (NYSE:KR), one of the nation's largest food retailers, based in Cincinnati, Ohio. For more about Ralphs, please visit our web site at www.ralphs.com. SOURCE Ralphs Grocery Company Related Links http://www.ralphs.com Raquel joins Women's Marketing from Butter London, following an extensive career in beauty, which launched at Tarte Cosmetics. Previous experience includes six years at L'Oreal, where she led marketing for La Roche-Posay, worked on the executive team for SkinCeuticals, and led the company's first transversal strategic skincare taskforce for the Corporate Strategic Marketing team. Raquel received an MBA from the Wharton School; she will report directly to Eric Cowles, General Manager, Beauty. "Raquel's proven track record and passion for the beauty category makes her a valuable addition to the team," says Cowles, adding that "Raquel understands first-hand the challenges and opportunities facing beauty brands today. That experience paired with Women's Marketing's proprietary tools, resources, and strategic partnerships will make big impact for our clients." "I'm very excited to join the Women's Marketing team. I've long respected the agency's heritage of helping growing beauty brands become category leaders, and I am thrilled to join the company during this exciting time of growth," says Klugman. "Raquel is a valuable addition to the Women's Marketing team. Her experience in indie, mass and prestige beauty is a great match for our client portfolio and furthers our dedication to providing full-funnel marketing services to our clients" says Women's Marketing CEO Andrea Van Dam. About Women's Marketing: Women's Marketing is the leading marketing services agency for high-growth brands. We are experts in transforming brands into category leaders, particularly in beauty, fashion, food, and health/wellness. We understand how women engage and take action with brands and use our unique IP and resources to deliver results for our clients. With offices in Westport, CT, New York City, and Boston, Women's Marketing has become the authority on what inspires and moves women along the path-to-purchase. Visit womensmarketing.com to learn more. Brooks Dibble Women's Marketing Inc. 203.256.4110 [email protected] SOURCE Women's Marketing, Inc. Related Links http://www.womensmarketing.com In a study led by medical oncologist Arjun Balar, MD , the newly approved drug pembrolizumab, marketed under the brand name Keytruda, was shown to harness the immune system to shrink tumors in bladder cancer patients who could not tolerate the most effective chemotherapy, offering hope to individuals with advanced disease. These findings were first presented by Balar last October at the annual meeting of the European Society for Medical Oncology in Copenhagen and followed by an updated analysis in February at the Genitourinary Cancers Symposium in Orlando. Pembrolizumab joins the other recent FDA-approved bladder cancer drug atezolizumab (marketed as Tecentriq) as yet another treatment option. Atezolizumab's approval by the FDA last month also was principally based on clinical trial findings by Balar, who presented those in June 2016 at the annual meeting of the American Society for Clinical Oncology. In addition to frontline treatment, the FDA also approved pembrolizumab for patients with locally advanced or metastatic bladder cancer who have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy or within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy treatment. "It is extremely encouraging for those of us who study and treat bladder to know that we now have a more robust set of FDA-approved options to aggressively combat this very serious disease," Balar says. "Approval of pembrolizumab underscores the prominent role of clinical research at Perlmutter Cancer Center." Balar's study found that injections of pembrolizumab shrank tumors by at least one third in 24 percent of study participants. Of those, five percent saw their tumor lesions disappear. All patients in the study were unable to take the current standard of care, cisplatin, which is a chemotherapy that prevents tumor cells from repairing damage to their DNA. More than half of bladder cancer patients, most of them elderly and ill, cannot take cisplatin because of its toxic effects on nerves, hearing and kidneys. "While five percent of patients who saw complete remission may seem like a small number, it's important to note that these patients would otherwise have no approved first-line treatment option and on average die within ten months," says Balar, an assistant professor of Medicine and Director of the Genitourinary Medical Oncology Program at Perlmutter. About 76,000 Americans were diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2016, with men three times more likely than women to develop the disease. Easier on Patients While 62 percent of patients in the study experienced side effects linked to pembrolizumab treatment, most were tolerable, including fatigue (17 percent) along with itchy skin and diarrhea. Five percent of patients in the study stopped therapy because of side effect severity. When compared to chemotherapy, the side effect profile of pembrolizumab was "far less severe", Balar says. In addition, among patients who achieved a response, 83 percent were on-going at a median follow up at five months, while responses to most chemotherapies are temporary, he says. Part of a new class of drugs known as checkpoint inhibitors, pembrolizumab has been approved since 2014 for the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, and non-small cell lung cancer. The clinical trial, called KEYNOTE-052 (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02335424), enrolled 370 patients at 50 research centers in the United States and Europe.. Checkpoint inhibitors focus on activating the immune system, which is designed to attack foreign organisms like bacteria, while leaving the body's healthy cells alone. To spare normal cells from immune attack, the system uses "checkpoints" sensors on immune cells that turn them off when they receive the right signal. The body recognizes tumors as abnormal, but cancer cells hijack checkpoints to turn off immune responses. Among the most important checkpoints is a protein called programmed death receptor 1 (PD1), which is shut down by pembrolizumab to make tumors "visible" again to the immune system. Past studies have found that levels of PD-L1, the signaling partner of PD-1, vary dramatically across patients with bladder cancer. Higher levels of PD-L1 are associated with higher likelihood of response, however responses are also seen in patients with low or absent levels, frustrating efforts to arrive at a consensus threshold for when doctors should prescribe or not prescribe -- pembrolizumab or a similar agent in this class. The study was supported by Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. Balar is a paid consultant to Merck, the manufacturer of study drug, and the company that funded the study. The terms of these arrangements are managed in accordance with NYU Langone policies. Media Inquiries: Jim Mandler (212) 404-3525 [email protected] SOURCE NYU Langone Medical Center Related Links http://nyulangone.org Over the last two years alone, U.S. imports of hardwood plywood have increased by 35 to 45 percent. Chinese domestic producers of hardwood plywood products receive an array of unfair government subsidies such as discounted land, tax breaks and raw materials. Since the year 2000, forty-two U.S. mills have been forced to close their doors, and many more have had to reduce capacity, resulting in a loss of approximately 52,000 American jobs and $2 billion in wages. The Coalition for Fair Trade of Hardwood Plywood filed a petition with the Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission in November 2016 to investigate the dumping of Chinese hardwood plywood. The ITC ruled to launch an official investigation into China's unfair trade practices in December 2016. "Chinese imports are at an all-time high, and the U.S. hardwood plywood industry is in jeopardy," said Sen. Wyden said. "This is a bipartisan issue. It's critical that the Trump administration stand up to China's unfair trade practices and take action to protect thousands of American jobs in Oregon and across the country." "If nothing changes, China's dominance of the American hardwood plywood market will only accelerate. China's unfair trade practices are crippling an otherwise viable American industry," said Mr. Thompson. "Thousands of jobs are on the line, and communities across the U.S. are depending on the International Trade Commission to stand up for the U.S. hardwood plywood industry, simply by assuring that the field is balanced and the trading is fair." Preliminary and final determinations in the companion antidumping duty investigation of hardwood plywood from China, expected in June 2017 and November 2017, respectively. ABOUT: The Coalition for Fair Trade of Hardwood Plywood is a group of six producers and manufacturers that are committed to safeguarding the U.S. hardwood plywood industry and its thousands of workers. The law firm of Wiley Rein LLP is representing the Coalition in these investigations. For more information on the petition, visit: www.hardwoodplywoodfairtrade.org SOURCE Coalition for Fair Trade of Hardwood Plywood Related Links http://www.hardwoodplywoodfairtrade.org PHILADELPHIA, May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- SonoSim, Inc., a leading global provider of ultrasound education and training, and Elsevier, the information analytics company specializing in science and health, announced an agreement to expand ultrasound education into nursing programs in North America. This agreement aims to accelerate the adoption of bedside ultrasound and empower nurses to make faster, better decisions and avoid errors at the point of care through access to the most complete and trusted evidence-based ultrasound content. "SonoSim provides the most comprehensive ultrasound educational content to effectively teach nurses to evaluate many commonly encountered conditions in a non-invasive way. We are dedicated to helping save lives, reduce costs, and improve patient outcomes through the use of ultrasound," states Dan Katz, MD, Vice President of SonoSim. "Our agreement with Elsevier allows SonoSim to fulfill this core mission." The SonoSim Ultrasound Full Library - powered by Elsevier will include 58 SonoSim lessons, with topics including Anatomy & Physiology, Core Clinical, Advanced Clinical and Ultrasound-Guided Procedures. "Clinical Solutions at Elsevier is focused on helping our customers improve clinical outcomes. Our agreement with SonoSim allows us to provide nurses with a comprehensive suite of ultrasound education that will lead to providing better patient care," said Cindy Tryniszewski, MSN, RN, FAEN, Vice President for Clinical Content, Clinical Solutions, Elsevier. "SonoSim's peer-reviewed, expansive didactic content allows clinicians to build their ultrasound acumen." About SonoSim, Inc. SonoSim is dedicated to improving and transforming medical care by serving as a global leader in ultrasound education and training. With its staff of leading ultrasound educators, instructional designers, content editors, scientists, and software developers, SonoSim has created the easiest, most effective, and most convenient way to learn ultrasound: The SonoSim Ultrasound Training Solution. Visit the SonoSim website for additional information. http://www.sonosim.com About Elsevier Elsevier is a global information analytics company that helps institutions and professionals progress science, advance healthcare and improve performance for the benefit of humanity. Elsevier provides digital solutions and tools in the areas of strategic research management, R&D performance, clinical decision support, and professional education; including ScienceDirect, Scopus, ClinicalKey and Sherpath. Elsevier publishes over 2,500 digitized journals, including The Lancet and Cell, more than 35,000 e-book titles, and many iconic reference works, including Gray's Anatomy. Elsevier is part of RELX Group, a global provider of information and analytics for professionals and business customers across industries. http://www.elsevier.com Media Contacts Christopher Capot Global Communications, Elsevier [email protected] +31-20-485-2142 Heidi Wienckowski VP Marketing, SonoSim [email protected] SOURCE Elsevier ATLANTA, May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Muhire Kwizera, C'2017, a mathematics major, and K'yal Bannister, C'2017, a chemistry and dual degree engineering major, have been named co-valedictorians for the Spelman College class of 2017. The seniors, each with a 4.0 G.P.A, will lead their class, comprised of 490 graduates, during the College's 130th Commencement on Sunday, May 21, 2017, at 3 p.m. at the Georgia International Convention Center in Atlanta. Following graduation, Bannister, a native of Bushnell, Florida, will go on to earn a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering at the California Institute of Technology as a part of Spelman's dual degree engineering program before pursuing her Ph.D. in chemical engineering. "My time at Spelman provided me the opportunity to build many technical and soft skills," said Bannister. "As an aspiring researcher, I have had the opportunity to conduct research that has prepared me for graduate school and a career in the academic or industrial sector. The coursework at Spelman has ignited my passion for research, offering a unique experience for a Black woman and my desire to impart positive social change." A member of The Phi Beta Kappa Society, Bannister has held internships at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and ExxonMobil. Also, she was a learning apprentice with the Department of Chemistry, participated in the Spelman Mentored and Research Trained Scholars Program, and won first place in the chemistry category in 2015 and 2016 as a participant in Spelman College Research Day. When she completes her Ph.D., Bannister intends to work at the intersection of biofuels research and energy policy. "K'yal is one of the most outstanding students I have personally encountered in my 30 plus years at the College," said Lisa Hibbard, Ph.D., Spelman associate professor of chemistry. "She is a singularly focused and mature young scientist who continually strives to perform at the highest level. Even when she was in her first year at the college, I could tell that she was ready for the challenge that we at Spelman offered. She demonstrated strong interest in not just comprehending the material but going beyond what was presented. "K'yal always asks probing questions, and it is clear her mind works like an engineer's, always looking for all possible solutions to a given problem. And while K'yal is a top student, she doesn't hesitate to share her knowledge and assist her peer group." Originally from Kigali, Rwanda, Muhire Kwizera will attend Columbia University to pursue a Ph.D. in biostatistics. "Before enrolling at Spelman, I knew of only one career path for a mathematician and that was becoming a math teacher," said Kwizera. "I appreciate how Spelman introduced me to other career paths as a mathematics major and am grateful for professors like Dr. Viveka Brown, who introduced me to research during my first year, and along with others, helped me refine my research interests through my classwork." Kwizera, a member of The Phi Beta Kappa Society and Pi Mu Epsilon mathematics honor society, immersed herself in the numerous internship and undergraduate research opportunities available including research projects at Emory University School of Medicine and Massachusetts Institute of Technology in computational neuroscience. Both experiences were instrumental in defining her interest in data analysis and biostatistics. "Upon completion of my doctoral program, I would like to create a research group that will develop statistical techniques and apply them to the analysis of public health data from developing countries," said Kwizera. Her professional goals involve focusing her research experience towards an applied mathematics career that ensures sustainable healthcare for everyone, and particularly for the economically, socially and environmentally disadvantaged. "Muhire is one of the most mathematically talented students I have taught at Spelman," said Yewande Olubummo, Ph.D., associate professor of mathematics. "She has a real love of mathematics and the ability to understand and apply abstract mathematical concepts at a deep and precise level. Muhire has impressed me not only with her academic ability, but also with her strong work ethic, positive attitude and excellent character. I have no doubt that she will do great things in the future, and will continue to make Spelman proud." Valerie Jarrett, the longest-serving senior adviser to President Barack Obama, will deliver the Commencement address. Jarrett has had a consequential impact across the American political, civic and business landscape. Pioneering physicist and mathematician Katherine G. Johnson will receive an honorary degree. Johnson is a trailblazer in American space history and was the subject of the acclaimed movie, "Hidden Figures." Baccalaureate service will be held on Saturday, May 20, at 9 a.m., on the Spelman Oval. Andrea C. White, Ph.D., will serve as the speaker. Dr. White, associate professor of theology and culture at Union Theological Seminary in New York, is executive director of the Society for the Study of Black Religion and a founding member of The Carter Center's Scholars in Action, which addresses gender-based violence against women and girls. To learn more about Spelman's 130th Commencement, click here. Commencement and Baccalaureate will be streamed live at www.spelman.edu. Follow Spelman College Commencement weekend on social media at #SpelmanGrad17. About Spelman College Founded in 1881, Spelman College is a highly selective, liberal arts college widely recognized as the global leader in the education of women of African descent. Located in Atlanta, Ga., the College's picturesque campus is home to 2,100 students. Outstanding alumnae include Children's Defense Fund Founder Marian Wright Edelman, Sam's Club CEO Rosalind Brewer, Former Acting Surgeon General and Spelman's first alumna President Audrey Forbes Manley, Harvard University professor Evelynn Hammonds, author Pearl Cleage and actress LaTanya Richardson Jackson. For more information, visit www.spelman.edu. SOURCE Spelman College Related Links http://www.spelman.edu SEATTLE, May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Spin, the first company to debut the stationless bikeshare concept in America, today announced the launch of the "Spin Cities Project" in Seattle, an initiative devoted to funding improvements to bike safety and infrastructure in the Emerald City. Spin will fund the project with an initial $10,000 investment, which will be augmented with contributions from local ride revenue to continually fund the Project. The first beneficiary of the Spin Cities Project is Bike Works Seattle, a local organization dedicated to promoting the bicycle as a vehicle for change among Seattle youth. "Spin Cities Project is all about working with local officials and organizations to help fund urban infrastructure that will improve quality of life for people in Seattle. We are thrilled to launch our very first chapter here with an inaugural investment in a local organization that works to strengthen the community," said Spin co-founder and CEO Derrick Ko. "This is another step toward bringing Spin's affordable, equitable and environmentally-friendly mode of transportation to Seattle in a meaningful way, that won't cost the city a penny." The Seattle Spin Cities Project will be led by a local advisory board in Seattle, drawn from public and private sector thought and community leaders. "We are thrilled to be working with the Spin Cities Project," said Deb Salls, Executive Director of Bike Works Seattle. "Bike Works aims to empower youth and build resilient communities through biking. We look forward to improving bike safety and access to bikes, while building up a diverse biking community together with Spin." Spin's unique orange-colored smart-bikes can be unlocked and taken for a ride by simply scanning a QR code. Designed in California, the bikes are equipped with GPS, cellular modems, solar panels, and solid tires that are designed for durability. Unlike traditional bikeshare systems, Spin's technology requires no racks or docking stations, and allows bikes to be dropped off anywhere that is legal and responsible, providing riders with a flexible, equitable and convenient mode of transport. Spin co-founders Derrick Ko, Euwyn Poon and Zaizhuang Cheng met while at different Y Combinator companies, and the Spin team is comprised of engineers, designers, operators, lawyers and policy thinkers with experience from Lyft, Uber, Airbnb and other Silicon Valley companies. About Spin Founded in San Francisco in 2016, Spin helps people move around cities by offering a convenient, affordable, and environmentally-friendly mode of last-mile transportation. Its fleet of GPS and solar panel-equipped orange-colored smart-bikes can be unlocked by scanning a QR code, and can be dropped off at any responsible, legal parking spot, at no cost to cities. For more information please visit www.spin.pm. SOURCE Spin Related Links http://www.spin.pm Squirrel Professional 10 POS software builds on Squirrel's proven restaurant management platform BURNABY, BC, May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Squirrel Systems, a leading technology provider to the hospitality industry, today announced the release of Squirrel Professional 10 point of sale software at this year's National Restaurant Association Show, the largest gathering of the restaurant, foodservice, and hospitality industry. With the proven platform and increased efficiencies of Squirrel Professional 10, Squirrel helps restaurants enable amazing customer experiences. Along with a refreshed user interface, Squirrel Professional 10 includes: Enhanced EMV and Mobile Payment Solutions Squirrel continues to maintain its leading position in the payments space by providing the largest array of EMV and mobile payment solutions in the industry while maintaining the highest levels of security. One Touch Automation Squirrel has enhanced its suite of remote management tools to provide additional options for managing unattended end of day and startup processes, 24-hour operations, as well as emergency failover and business continuity controls. More Front of House Controls Improved front of house operations and reporting allows users to solely focus on their areas of responsibility, whether a specific revenue center or group of employees. Enhanced Reporting Several built-in reports for transfers, payroll, voids, and more have been enriched, providing additional data for making smarter business decisions. Expanded Remote System Monitoring Squirrel Professional 10 is proactively supported by Squirrel's award-winning 24/7 Solution Center help desk, which leverages Squirrel SmartWatch remote monitoring to ensure maximum uptime. Squirrel Smartwatch can automatically detect and self-heal certain technical issues and automatically alert Squirrel customer service representatives along with a restaurant's IT team. Kitchen Display System and Table Management Integration Enhancements Squirrel is a Strategic Partner of QSR Automations. Squirrel Professional 10 includes additional functionality to support integration, build, and deployment with QSR's ConnectSmart Kitchen and DineTime solutions. According to Mike Devine, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Squirrel Systems, "For over 30 years, restaurants have been leveraging Squirrel's POS solutions to streamline operations and elevate the customer experience. Squirrel Professional 10 represents the latest advancement of our proven restaurant management platform." Squirrel Professional 10 is currently available across North America. To learn more, visit Squirrel Systems in booth #6645 at the NRA Show at McCormick Place in Chicago from May 20-23. About Squirrel Systems Squirrel Systems is proud to be celebrating 33 years as a technology provider to the global hospitality industry. In 1984, Squirrel revolutionized the industry with the first touchscreen restaurant POS system and continues to introduce market leading innovations to help shape the industry. With a proven platform, extensive domain expertise, and industry leading service and support, Squirrel helps food and beverage operators enable amazing customer experiences. For more information, visit squirrelsystems.com. SOURCE Squirrel Systems Related Links www.squirrelsystems.com DEERFIELD, Ill., May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, will be one of the companies to participate in the first-ever Innovation Zone, during the American Psychiatric Association (APA) 2017 Annual Meeting in San Diego, to be held May 21-23. The Innovation Zone will showcase what is new in the mental health technology space and provide insights about exciting transformations in healthcare. Takeda will provide APA conference attendees with the opportunity to learn more about their current technology partners, patient education initiatives and applications to help patients. The company will also host a panel discussion featuring technology innovators, who will share insights on research, digital advancements in mental health and examples of multi-stakeholder collaboration. For a list of Innovation Zone activities featuring Takeda, see below. Sunday, May 21 Takeda Smart Desk: Featuring Cognition Kit, NeuroCog Trials and the Wellness Trends App Monday, May 22 Takeda Smart Desk: Presentation on Lighter Blue Tuesday, May 23 Takeda Panel Discussion: "Leveraging Technology to Improve Mental Health Treatment and Patient Outcomes" featuring Emilio Merlo Pich M.D ., Ph.D, Vice President and Head of Digital Medicine and Partnering, CNS Therapeutic Area, Takeda; LeRoux Jooste , CCO, Akili; Jenny Barnett Ph.D, CSO, Cognition Kit; Richard Keefe , CEO and Co-founder, NeuroCog Trials. Moderator, Nicole Mowad-Nassar , Vice President and Head of US Business Operations and External Partnerships, Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A. ., Ph.D, Vice President and Head of Digital Medicine and Partnering, CNS Therapeutic Area, Takeda; , CCO, Akili; Jenny Barnett Ph.D, CSO, Cognition Kit; , CEO and Co-founder, NeuroCog Trials. Moderator, , Vice President and Head of US Business Operations and External Partnerships, Takeda Pharmaceuticals Takeda Smart Desk: Featuring Cognition Kit and NeuroCog Trials Please visit the APA conference web site for a complete list of activities. About the American Psychiatric Association Mental Health Innovation Zone To address the ever-changing landscape in technology in relation to mental health services, the American Psychiatric Association is hosting the Mental Health Innovation Zone as part of the 2017 Annual Meeting experience. This new featured experience at the Annual Meeting will allow attendees to become part of the next wave of technology enhancements and implementations in the mental health profession. The Mental Health Innovation Zone will open Sunday, May 21, until Tuesday, May 23, 2017 in the exhibit hall of the San Diego Convention center and will feature presentations spanning from Virtual and Augmented Reality to outcomes, entrepreneurship and enterprise. Social media: #MHIZ About Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE: 4502) is a global, R&D-driven pharmaceutical company committed to bringing better health and a brighter future to patients by translating science into life-changing medicines. Takeda focuses its research efforts on oncology, gastroenterology and central nervous system therapeutic areas. It also has specific development programs in specialty cardiovascular diseases as well as late-stage candidates for vaccines. Takeda conducts R&D both internally and with partners to stay at the leading edge of innovation. New innovative products, especially in oncology, central nervous system and gastroenterology, as well as its presence in emerging markets, fuel the growth of Takeda. More than 30,000 Takeda employees are committed to improving quality of life for patients, working with our partners in health care in more than 70 countries. For more information, visit http://www.takeda.com/news About Takeda in the U.S. Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. is the U.S. commercial organization of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. Takeda has a strong commitment to the U.S. with more than 5,000 employees, a significant R&D presence, Oncology and Vaccine headquarters and manufacturing capabilities. SOURCE Takeda Pharmaceuticals Related Links http://www.takeda.com OCEAN CITY, Md., May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- During the week of June 3-10, 2017, Vantage Resort Realty, a vacation rental management company in Ocean City, Maryland, will host Ocean City's second-ever Little Pink Houses of Hope beach retreat. This charitable initiative was made possible by vacation rental owners who donated a total of twelve properties to the cause. Little Pink Houses of Hope is a non-profit organization that provides free, week-long retreats for breast cancer patients and their families to facilitate healing, relaxation, and reconnection. While in Ocean City, families will get to spend quality time together alongside other families who've had similar experiences. Shared meals, fun activities and outings are also being planned to make it a special, relaxing experience. The event couldn't be possible without the generosity of homeowners who have given up their properties (and a week's rent) to become "Beach House Angels" for the visiting families. "We are so grateful for our property owners they are amazing," says Vantage Client Relations Manager Eliana Miteva, who helped organize Little Pink Houses of Hope's first visit to Ocean City, MD in 2014. "They are the ones making it happen. We are inspired by all of the enthusiasm and support. Everyone is coming together to make this a great week for the families." Mary Davis of Columbia, MD is one of Vantage Resort Realty's property owners who is donating her vacation home in the Sea Cabin oceanfront building on 55th Street. Davis, who works in Human Relations teaching corporate responsibility, strives to give back personally, as well as professionally. "Our particular location is a good place for families to come and relax," says Davis, who recently lost two family members to cancer. "We see this as an opportunity to impact people's lives. We support several causes, but cancer is one that's become personal to us. It's important to us to give back. It is part of who we are and our values." Many local businesses and organizations have also come forward to donate their resources to make the week special for the visiting families. Among them are Red Door Community Center, Wobbly Wheel Boardwalk Bicycles, Dana Marie Photography, T.C. Studios' O.C. Painting Experience, Shore Community Church, The Greene Turtle, General's Kitchen, Hooper's Crab House, Chick-fil-A, The Harrison Group, Harbor Watch Restaurant, Tanger Outlets, The Art League of Ocean City, Holiday Inn Oceanfront, artist Chloe McKenna, M.R. Duck's, Planet Maze, and Walk on Water Stand Up Paddleboard Company. About Vantage Resort Realty Celebrating 10 years of exceptional customer service in the vacation rental industry, Vantage Resort Realty manages over 600 vacation rentals along the Maryland and Delaware coastline, New Jersey Shore, and Myrtle Beach, specializing in luxury homes, high-end amenities, and a worry-free rental experience for guests and owners. The properties can be found in the most sought-after beach resort communities. For more information, visit VantageOceanCity.com, VantageMB.com, Vantage-NJ.com, or call 800.555.4099. Media Contact: Eliana Miteva Vantage Resort Realty Phone: 410.723-1780 x 5463 [email protected] SOURCE Vantage Resort Realty Related Links https://www.vantageoceancity.com/ Using three steps - Learn, Practice and Share - children in fifth grade (ages 8-11) learn how to stay safe in an emergency and are empowered to take action by practicing preparedness. They're encouraged to share what they've learned with family and friends, knowing that their information can help create a better-prepared community. Victaulic is partnering with United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley and American Red Cross Lehigh Valley Bucks to bring the program to students at Cheston Elementary, a United Way Community School in the Easton Area. On May 19, all fifth-grade classes will learn how to stay safe in an emergency and be empowered to take action. Following the instructor-led presentation, every fifth-grade student at Cheston Elementary will receive their personal emergency pillowcase stuffed with supplies. The Pillowcase Project is taught by trained Red Cross volunteers in a 45 to 60-minute classroom session. Children participating in the project each receive a preparedness toolkit, which includes a 'My Preparedness Workbook' and a pillowcase with items to include in case of emergency. "At Victaulic, safety is a business necessity and an essential part of our culture," said Carolyn Stennett, Victaulic Vice President of Human Resources. "We are proud to help students build resiliency and learn about emergency preparedness and life safety skills." Educating approximately 600 students from kindergarten through fifth grade, Cheston Elementary, teachers and administrators value and challenge each student by providing opportunities for achievement. Victaulic, along with Crayola and Follett, are valued Corporate Partners of this United Way Community School, working tirelessly to ensure students have all they need in order to be able to achieve that success. "We are excited to hold the Pillowcase Project because it shows how community partners are willing to respond to the needs of Cheston students and families," said Cheston Principal Kyle Yanders. "Unfortunately, no community is immune to emergencies and we are grateful to have this opportunity to teach our students about the importance of being prepared." David Lewis, President of UWGLV, said this is just one of the many ways Victaulic has stepped up for the community. "Victaulic employees truly embody what it means to be personally engaged within the communities they work," Lewis said. "The students at Cheston are lucky to have a company like Victaulic care so much." "The Pillowcase Project was originally created in New Orleans, inspired by students who carried their belongings in pillowcases during Hurricane Katrina evacuations," said Peter Brown, Executive Director of the American Red Cross Lehigh Valley Bucks chapter. "We're thrilled to partner with Victaulic and the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley to expand the program and reach more children here in our community." About Victaulic Since 1919, Victaulic has been the originator and world's leading producer of mechanical pipe joining solutions. Used in the most demanding markets, Victaulic innovative piping technologies and services put people to work faster while increasing safety, ensuring reliability and maximizing efficiency. The company has 13 manufacturing facilities and 30 branches worldwide with 3,600 employees who speak 43 languages across the globe. With over 1,900 global patents, Victaulic solutions are at work in more than 140 countries across diverse business lines including oil, gas and chemical, mining, power generation, water and wastewater treatment, military and marine, as well as commercial building and fire protection. For more information, visit www.victaulic.com. About American Red Cross The American Red Cross of Lehigh Valley-Bucks chapter serves residents of Bucks, Lehigh and Northampton counties. With a population of approximately 1.3 million people, our chapter provides food and shelter in emergencies, delivers preparedness training to children, youth, adults, and seniors, assists members of our armed forces and their families, teaches lifesaving skills, and so much more. All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. About United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley The mission of United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley is to provide the leadership, convene the partnerships and develop the resources and solutions that improve our community. We remain committed to these goals and sincerely appreciate the continued support of partners, program providers and donors throughout the Lehigh Valley. www.unitedwayglv.org SOURCE Victaulic Related Links http://www.victaulic.com DALLAS, May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, WFF announced a partnership with the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA) and their upcoming 63nd Gold & Silver Plate Awards event on Saturday, May 20 at Revel Fulton Market at 6:30pm. The annual IFMA Gold & Silver Plate Awards enables the industry to honor the nation's top foodservice operator talent. As part of the partnership, WFF has created an award to be given for the first time at the 2018 celebration, honoring individuals and companies who are doing great things with Women in Manufacturing. "The food industry is comprised of so many different sectors, each of which is critical to its functioning," said Hattie Hill, president and CEO of Women's Foodservice Forum. "Manufacturing is a keystone to the overall industry, and we're delighted and proud to develop an award to honor those women who are deeply involved in the leadership of that sector." Established in 1989, WFF has been the go to resource for individuals to build skills, expand knowledge and broaden perspectives through meaningful strategic connections. WFF provides women and men working in the food industry opportunities to learn, network and grow; and part of that mission is celebrating women who are innovators and leaders in food manufacturing. "IFMA is pleased to provide an opportunity for WFF to award their first Women in Manufacturing Award during our annual Gold & Silver Plate Celebration," said Larry Oberkfell, president and CEO of the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association. "We share the common goal of celebrating excellence in this great industry." The Gold & Silver Plate Awards Considered the industry's most prestigious honors since its creation in 1954, the Gold & Silver Plate Awards celebrate operators in the following nine categories: Independent Restaurants/Multi-Concept Chain Full Service Chain Limited Service Health Care Elementary & Secondary Schools Colleges & Universities Business & Industry/Foodservice Management Retail & Specialty Foodservice Hotels & Lodging WFF Women in Manufacturing Award Beginning in 2018, the WFF Women in Manufacturing Award will honor an individual and companies who have accelerated the advancement of women in the manufacturing sector of the industry. The Gold & Silver Plate Awards Event The celebration features a welcome reception and gourmet meal. Attendees include leaders from every operator segment, manufacturers, and industry partners, along with industry legends, including members of the Gold and Silver Plate Society. Silver Plate winners have been announced and can be reviewed here. For more information, please visit IFMA's website at IFMAWorld.com/gsp. For tickets to the event, please visit IFMA's website. About Women's Foodservice Forum Women's Foodservice Forum (WFF) is the industry's premier leadership development organization working since 1989 on advancing women in the food industry. Based in Dallas, WFF serves thousands of individuals and hundreds of employers across the United States in all segments of the industry including operations, manufacturing, distribution, publishing, consulting and more. Through highly effective and educational events such as the Annual Leadership Development Conference, Executive Summit, regional Leadership Development Workshops and rich networking opportunities, WFF provides the competence and strategic connections needed to make a positive difference in the careers of women in the food ecosystem. For more information, visit www.womensfoodserviceforum.com. About International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA) IFMA is the leading trade association comprised of the world's most prestigious food, equipment and supply manufacturers in the $600 billion foodservice industry, as well as related marketing service organizations, trade publications, distributors and brokers. IFMA's Vision is to provide our member community and industry partners the opportunity to enhance the consumer's enjoyment of the foodservice choice. For more information, visit IFMAWorld.com. Follow IFMA on Twitter: @IFMAWORLD or join our group on LinkedIn. Media Contact: Ashley Short Porter Novelli [email protected] (206) 770-7083 SOURCE The Womens Foodservice Forum Related Links http://www.womensfoodserviceforum.com TUCSON, Ariz., May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In all the recent discussions about Putin and the Russians, Americans need to remember the nature of the real threat from Russia, states Physicians for Civil Defense. "This threat has been there since the end of World War II: nuclear warheads delivered by air or space," states Jane M. Orient, M.D. "Both the extent of the threat and the state of our defenses are worse." The Soviet Union had the most formidable nuclear arsenal on earth, she states, and Putin is continuing to modernize it. Now there is a growing threat from China and an imminent one from Iran. North Korea could soon launch a missile capable of delivering a warhead that could shut down the U.S. electric grid with an electromagnetic pulse (EMP). Rogue states could attack population centers with a suitcase bomb. "America has virtually no capacity to protect its people in the event of the 'unthinkable,'" Dr. Orient states, "not even the most basic knowledge. Instead, people are terrified of tiny doses of radiation." President Trump could take immediate actions that would signal determination to defend our homeland and could save millions of lives. Physicians for Civil Defense recommends: Education: Social media and government websites could tell people to "drop and cover" if they see a bright flash, and explain how to shelter from radioactive fallout. Social media and government websites could tell people to "drop and cover" if they see a bright flash, and explain how to shelter from radioactive fallout. Harden the electric grid against EMP: The transformers could not be replaced, perhaps for decades. The transformers could not be replaced, perhaps for decades. Enable the distribution of expedient safe/not safe radiation monitors: Low-cost technology developed by the Dept. of Defense languishes. Protecting the manufacturer from threat of liability would enable rapid private distribution. Low-cost technology developed by the Dept. of Defense languishes. Protecting the manufacturer from threat of liability would enable rapid private distribution. Deploy fallout monitoring stations on important buildings: This is possible for less than $10,000 . The White House and the Trump building in New York would be a good start. This is possible for less than . The White House and the Trump building in would be a good start. Diplomacy: The U.S. should avoid provocative action that could lead to accidental all-out war, as from confrontations with Russian warplanes in Syrian airspace. Open communication with world leaders is essential. The U.S. should avoid provocative action that could lead to accidental all-out war, as from confrontations with Russian warplanes in Syrian airspace. Open communication with world leaders is essential. Shore up American defenses: Are our air defenses around our capital and major cities better than on 9/11? Israel has an Iron Dome. The U.S. has no serious strategic missile defense of our homeland. "While Congress and the press are preoccupied with speculation about how Russians might have tried to interfere in an election, the nation remains completely unprotected against an attack from a number of hostile sources," stated Dr. Orient. "Protecting our countryrepairing decades of neglectshould be the President's first priority." Physicians for Civil Defense distributes information to help to save lives in the event of war or other disaster. Contact: Jane M. Orient, M.D., (520) 323-3110, [email protected] SOURCE Physicians for Civil Defense Related Links http://www.physiciansforcivildefense.org LAS VEGAS, May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr Bill Lumsden, Director of Distilling & Whisky Creation for Glenmorangie and Ardbeg named Master Distiller of the Year for crafting the Whisky of the Year 2017 and will receive the coveted Golden Barrel Trophy. The International Whisky Competition (IWC) just released its results for this year's most respected blind tasting judging event. The top recognition, Whisky of the Year, was awarded to Ardbeg Kelpie Committee Exclusive which scored 97.3 points, the highest scoring whisky of the competition. The 8th edition of the International Whisky Competition took place in Las Vegas over three days, from May 3 to 5 and received over 180 different whiskies. A world-class tasting panel made of whisky, spirit, beer and wine experts blind tasted each whisky on an individual basis (8 minutes per whisky). Each whisky was scored using a comprehensive 100-point scale system developed by Sebastien Gavillet, IWC Head of Tasting Panel and author of Discovering and Mastering Single Malt Scotch Whisky. This process and the fact that only three medals are awarded in any category make the International Whisky Competition the most followed whisky competition and one of the most professional competitions of its kind in the world. We warmly congratulate Dr Bill Lumsden, Head of Spirit Creation at Glenmorangie and Ardbeg, as well as his team, for creating such a complex and sophisticated whisky, ever changing with pronounced phenols yet a smooth & lingering finish. "Definitely a contender," said Sebastien Gavillet's tasting notes. "Elegant! Spectacular," said Adam Carmer's notes and "Warm finish, exceptionally smooth and well-integrated," said Agi Toth's notes. This is the second year Dr Bill Lumsden is crowned Master Distiller of the Year for crafting the best scoring whisky of the competition. Last year's winner was Glenmorangie Signet, which scored 97 points. Ardbeg Distillery will receive the Golden Barrel Trophy for winning the Whisky of the Year during a ceremony to be held this summer in Islay, Scotland. Full results available here: https://www.whiskycompetition.com/2017-results/ The International Whisky Competition is the most followed Whisky Competition on Social Media and brings whiskies from around the world to be blind tasted and rated by a professional tasting panel using the most comprehensive tasting method available. 15 criteria are required to produce the tasting notes as well as aroma and flavor profiles for the International Whisky Guide. Unlike other competitions, the judges are presented with one whisky at a time, to ensure each whisky gets the proper attention. For more information please visit www.whiskycompetition.com This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com. SOURCE International Whisky Competition New Delhi, May 14 : The government on Sunday said it has activated a "preparedness and response mechanism" to prevent any major cyber attack from a new ransomware -- "Wannacry" -- which has infected computer systems around the world. According to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), it has activated a "preparedness and response mechanism" by instructing CERT-IN (Computer Emergency Response Team) to gather "all the information of the reported ransomware". Just a few days ago a global cyber attack was launched using the "WannaCry" ransomware. The malicious software infects a computer and restricts users' access to it until a ransom is paid to unlock it. On May 13, CERT-IN had issued an advisory for both reactive and preventive actions to deal with the ransomware. "MeitY has initiated contact with relevant stakeholders in public and private sector to 'patch' their systems as prescribed in the advisory issued by CERT-IN. MeitY has also requested Microsoft India to inform all their partners and customers to apply relevant patches," the ministry said in a statement. "In India, no reports have been formally received so far regarding this ransomware attack. However, it is understood that a few systems of the police department in Andhra Pradesh were impacted. MeitY has informed AP government, to follow the CERT-In advisory." As per the Cyber Swachhta Kendra (Botnet Cleaning and Malware Analysis Centre), ransomware spreads by using a vulnerability in implementations of "Server Message Block" (SMB) in Windows systems. Washington, May 15 : Senior US lawmakers have called on President Donald Trump to turn over any recordings of conversations with fired FBI Director James Comey, a media report said on Monday. Senate Democratic leader Charles Schumer warned that destroying any tapes would break the law, the BBC reported. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said the White House needed to "clear the air" about whether tapes existed. The comments come after Trump tweeted what appeared to be a thinly veiled threat to the former FBI chief. He warned Comey last week against talking to the media, saying he had "better hope there are no tapes" of their conversations. The White House has neither confirmed nor denied the presence of any tapes, the BBC report said. Schumer also warned that Senate Democrats might refuse to vote on a new Federal Bureau of Investigation director until a special prosecutor is named to investigate alleged Russian meddling in the November 8, 2016, US election. The FBI is investigating the allegations and possible ties between Moscow and the Trump campaign. Trump denies any such links and says Comey had assured him he was not being investigated. He says he fired Comey because he was not doing a good job. Democrats, however, have accused President Trump of firing Comey to try to thwart the FBI inquiry, the BBC report added. The Hague, May 15 : Indian on Monday sought an immediate suspension of the death sentence awarded to alleged spy Kulbushan Jadhav in Pakistan saying there was a fear that he may be executed even before the decision of the international 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" by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Deepak Mittal, Indian official, told the court in his opening remarks Mittal termed the military court trial of Jadhav as "farcical". 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," Mittal told the court. "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. India is seeking relief in the form of immediate suspension of the death sentence. Jadhav has been accused of espionage by Pakistan. 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, would involve 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. Srinagar, May 15 : An Army court exonerated the officer and praised him for tying a youth to a moving jeep in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam on April 9 to "avoid" stone pelting on forces. The Army had ordered a probe by the Army Court of Inquiry (COI) after police registered an FIR for the incident when an Army Major tied a youth to the bonnet of a jeep as a human shield. Army sources said Major Nitin Gogol has been praised by the Court of INquiry for "presence of mind to avoid casualties or injuries". There was widespread condemnation of the act by various politicians, including former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The long arm of the policia The arrest of two fugitive Mexican governors Their flight was embarrassing. Their capture is a good sign . New Delhi, May 15 : The CBI has registered a case against a Lieutenant Colonel and some yet unidentified DRDO officials for their alleged involvement in a Rs 500 crore scam in Bengaluru by transferring over 12 acres of land to a person, an official said on Monday. Separate CBI teams on Monday conducted searches at seven places, including the residential and official premises of the accused persons, in Karnataka and Telangana and recovered some incriminating documents. Lieutenant Colonel M.G. Thimmaya, a "private person" N.H. Rustumji and other unidentified officials of Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) -- an agency under the Defence Ministry -- were on May 12 booked under sections of cheating and criminal conspiracy of Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Corruption Act. It is alleged that Thimmaya, the then Estate Manager DRDO, and other officials of the agency entered into a criminal conspiracy with Rustumji, a resident of Bengaluru, during 2004-2006 and transferred over 12 acres of land in his favour, the CBI FIR said. Thimmaya is currently posted in Bengaluru. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a preliminary investigation into the case on September 8, 2016 on the complaint of Defence Ministry's Director (Vigilance) Atul Kumar Singh. Singh forwarded his complaint to the CBI on April 6, 2016. "Thimmaya and other DRDO officials abused their official position while transferring the land when its matter was sub judice in the Supreme Court," the FIR said. Srinagar/New Delhi, May 15 : The Indian Army on Monday denied that the court of inquiry (COI) had given a clean chit to an officer who had tied a local youth in front of a vehicle last month to avoid attack from stone-pelters. In the wake of media reports saying that the COI had exonerated and even appreciated Major Nitin Gogoi for his action on April 9, Defence Ministry spokesman in Srinagar Col Rajesh Kalia said that proceedings were still on. "The Court of Inquiry concerned with the incident wherein a civilian was tied to an Army jeep is still incomplete. "Reports in some sections of the media of the army Major being given a clean chit are speculative," he said. An army spokesman in New Delhi said: "The court of inquiry has not given its report yet. It is inappropriate to speculate on the findings of the inquiry." Earlier reports had said that Gogoi, who had reportedly tied a youth to the bonnet of a jeep as a 'human shield' on April 9 to avoid attack from stone pelters in Badgam, had been given a clean chit and the COI had even appreciated his attempt to avoid casualties. A video of a man tied on an army vehicle's bonnet, shot on April 9 during Srinagar by-polls, which saw a dismal 7.13 percent turnout among widespread violence and later posted on social media, had led to an uproar. An FIR was registered by the Jammu and Kashmir Police against the security forces. On April 15, Army constituted a court of inquiry in the incident. New Delhi, May 16 : 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. Srinagar, May 17 : 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. Islamabad, May 18 : Crew members of a Pakistan International Airline (PIA) flight, in which heroin was found, returned to Islamabad from London on Thursday. The crew made its way back from Heathrow Airport, where their passports were seized by British authorities who searched the plane and questioned them after landing from Islamabad on Monday. According to Dawn, an inquiry has been launched into the issue. British authorities confirmed on Wednesday that Border Force officers had found a "quantity of heroin" on board the PIA flight. PIA spokesperson Mashhood Tajwar said British authorities had "thoroughly searched" and detained the flight crew after they landed at Heathrow. The Pakistan carrier has come under fire for poor performance, low safety standards and the staff's unprofessional attitude. Members of PIA crew have been sacked for smuggling contraband and assisting money laundering operations. Washington, May 18 : The Justice Department has appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel to oversee the federal probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, the media reported. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Mueller on Wednesday to the position, reports CNN. Attorney General Jeff Sessions previously recused himself from any involvement in the Russia investigation which includes evidence of potential collusion between President Donald Trump's campaign associates and Russian officials, due to his role as a prominent campaign adviser and surrogate. Mueller was appointed Federal Bureau of Investigation Director by former President George W. Bush in 2001 and served until 2013. He will resign from his private law firm WilmerHale to avoid any conflicts of interest, the Justice Department said. As special counsel, Mueller is "authorised to prosecute federal crimes arising from the investigation of these matters", according to the Justice Department order Rosenstein signed. In a brief statement, Mueller said, "I accept this responsibility and will discharge it to the best of my ability", CNN reported. News of the special counsel announcement was closely held. The White House received a heads-up less than an hour before the news broke at 6 p.m. on Wednesday. The rest of the House leadership and rank-and-file members were in the dark, but a Justice Department official did reach out directly to Speaker Paul Ryan shortly before the announcement to let him know of the special counsel appointment, according to a Republican official. Trump was meeting with FBI director candidates when the White House was formally told that a special prosecutor had been named in the Russia investigation. The White House counsel informed the President, reports CNN. "It's still sinking in," one administration official said, adding "We were told about it. Not asked about it." In a statement on Wednesday, Trump said an investigation will confirm that "there was no collusion" between his campaign and Russia. The naming of Mueller as special counsel comes a week after Trump abruptly fired James Comey, the man who succeeded him as FBI Director. The official announcement of Comey's dismissal cited his handling of the investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private e-mail server during her 2009-2013 tenure as Secretary of State. Senators plan to question Rosenstein about Comey's firing when the deputy attorney general testifies on Thursday in a closed hearing. Islamabad, May 18 : A Pakistani newspaper on Thursday sought a wide-ranging probe into the affairs of the Pakistan International Airline after heroin was found on a PIA flight to London. The Dawn said that while the Pakistani customs had launched a probe, the drugs could not have been concealed in the panels and other recesses of the plane without the involvement of other airport personnel. "Clearly, the investigation needs to be on a broader level," an editorial in the daily said. "PIA has suffered enormously at the hands of the powerful rackets that operate within it, and it needs to be rescued from their clutches if it is to survive." The editorial came as crew members of a PIA flight in which heroin was found after it landed in London returned to Islamabad. The crew made its way back from Heathrow Airport, where their passports were seized by British authorities who searched the plane and questioned them after landing on Monday. British authorities confirmed on Wednesday that Border Force officers had found a "quantity of heroin" on board the PIA flight. PIA spokesperson Mashhood Tajwar said British authorities had "thoroughly searched" and detained the flight crew after they landed at Heathrow, the Dawn reported. The Pakistan carrier has come under fire for poor performance, low safety standards and the staff's unprofessional attitude. Members of PIA crew have been sacked for smuggling contraband and assisting money laundering operations. The Dawn said: "The national flag carrier has suffered another blow to its image. "It is almost impossible that the contraband could have been placed in the plane without the involvement of some members of the ground handling staff or maintenance personnel." Ryadh, May 19 : Saudi Arabia confirmed on Thursday that it will sign commercial and political deals with the US during President Donald Trump's visit to Riyadh next week. Arab-Islamic-American Summit, which will be attended by 37 leaders, will focus on combating terrorism, bolstering trade, investment, youth and technology, Xinhua quoted Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Jubeir as saying. At end of the summit, leaders are going to launch global counter-extremism centre in Riyadh, which will fight an "ideological battle," he added. Jubeir also said this summit with US is going to "open a new page" in terms of western countries' dialogue with Muslim countries. He also said that Saudi Arabia wants to send a message to the West that the Muslim countries are "not enemies," adding that the Riyadh comes second after the United States in the fight against IS militant group. "We will work with our allies, particularly US, to see that Iran is made to act like a normal country," Jubeir said. "As long as Iran threatens with terrorism, it is impossible to have normal relations with them." Washington, May 19 : The administration of the US President Donald Trump formally notified Congress on Thursday of its intention to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The move launches a 90-day consultation period involving Congress, industry groups and US President Donald Trump's administration, after which time talks with NAFTA partners Canada and Mexico can begin, possibly as soon as mid-August. "For years, politicians have called for the renegotiation of this agreement, but President Trump is the first to follow through with that promise," Efe quoted US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer as saying. He added that the agreement was outdated and did not reflect modern standards. Trump has harshly criticised NAFTA, which was signed by the US, Mexico and Canada in 1992 and took effect in 1994, saying it has destroyed American manufacturing jobs and led to trade deficits with Mexico that total $60 billion annually. The announcement coincided with a meeting in Washington involving US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, US Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly and their Mexican counterparts, Foreign Secretary Luis Videgaray and Government Secretary Miguel Angel Osorio Chong, respectively. Mexico's Economy Secretariat, meanwhile, issued a statement Thursday reaffirming its willingness to modernise NAFTA so it can meet the challenges of the 21st century. Tehran, May 19 : Iran's presidential election began at 8 a.m. on Friday as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei cast his vote in the ballot box. Khamenei urged the Iranians to go to the polling stations for the vote at the earliest time, Xinhua news agency reported. The election of the President is important in Iran and people should take note of this point, Khamenei said. New York City is still imprisoning tens of thousands of people each year because they can't afford bail, according to data released today by the city's Independent Budget Office. In addition to exposing people who are presumed innocent to the many hazards of Rikers Island, pretrial detention disrupts people's ability to work, pay rent, and take care of their families, and drastically increases the chances that one will be found guilty of a crime. On an average day in 2016, the city's pretrial jail population is 7,6332,157 more are serving short sentences after being convictedand 52 percent of those pretrial detainees are unable to post bail, according to the IBO data. The remainder were being held without the option of bail, or had other outstanding holds or warrants. "There really is no good explanation for detaining a poor person...in New York simply because they cant afford bail," said Joshua Norkin, a staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society focused on bail reform. On paper, bail is supposed to be a tool to ensure that defendants return to court. In practice, it tends to lead to jail stays for poor, mostly African-American and Hispanic people who are then more likely to take plea deals. A 2012 report by the New York City Criminal Justice Agency found that people incarcerated until the end of their cases were 92 percent more likely to be convicted. 88 percent of the people incarcerated in New York City jails last year were black or Hispanic. 19 percent were jailed on low-level misdemeanors or violations, and 18 percent were jailed on drug charges. New York actually has a relatively wide variety of options, nine in all, for judges considering whether to release a defendant at arraignment. They include having the accused promise to pay money if he or she misses a court date, or put down a partial deposit on the full bail amount. Nevertheless, judges in New York courts overwhelmingly favor bond or cash bail, sending a succession of low-income defendants to Rikers to await their next court date. "What weve been saying for years is that judges and prosecutors should be utilizing these options," Norkin said. "The judiciary has failed to embrace the reform discussion. There is still a stunning lack of release on a non-monetary form of bail or alternative forms of bail." The stasis is not for lack of effort by some in the judiciary and city government. In 2013, then-state Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman proposed a package of reform legislation to curtail the use of cash bail, saying at his annual State of the Judiciary address, "Incarcerating indigent defendants for no other reason than that they cannot meet even a minimum bail amount strips our justice system of its credibility and distorts its operation." Legislators took no action on the proposals. The case of Kalief Browder, who killed himself in 2015 after spending three years on Rikers as a teen on robbery charges that were ultimately dropped, further spotlighted the problems posed by bail and the grindingly slow criminal justice system. Browder was held because his family couldn't afford his $3,000 bail. Kalief Browder (screenshot) That year, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito proposed a citywide bail fund, setting aside $1.4 million to bail out low-level offenders. The fund is modeled after smaller bail funds run by public defender groups. Their experience shows that the overwhelming majority of people bailed out by a third party return to court, and fare better in the court process. The city's fund has yet to begin operation for reasons unclear. Mark-Viverito's office did not respond to an inquiry. In 2015, the Mayor's Office also announced a $17.8 million program aimed at steering nonviolent defendants away from bail and jail, sending them instead into a pretrial supervision program. The program assesses defendants' risk of missing court and endangering people, and once they're approved, requires them to periodically call or check in in person with social service providers. Currently, judges are supposed to only consider defendants' likelihood of returning to court. Norkin praised the new programs, but said they don't go far enough. Browder, for instance, was accused of stealing a man's backpack and punching him in the face, a violent felony, and wouldn't qualify for either the help of the bail fund or for pretrial supervision. "It's useful to think about, when we talk about his story, that there are people who are accused of nonviolent felonies or of violent felonies that they may not have done," he said. "Those people also deserve due process. We should not just focus the conversation on small minor charges." At the beginning of this year, New Jersey implemented sweeping changes to its bail system, requiring judges to assess defendants' danger to the public and flight risk and discouraging the use of bail. In the first six weeks of the year, judges considered more than 3,600 cases and authorized detention in just 14 percent. The new system has sparked complaints from bail bondsmen, whose business it basically destroys, and the type of potentially damaging headlines that can steer judges and prosecutors towards a draconian approach to bail. For example, a NJ.com article blamed the new guidelines for a judge's decision to spring a Franklin Township man who had spent two months as a fugitive after being charged with an assault in connection with a shooting. The New York jail population has decreased dramatically since 2011, when the IBO last assessed bail, from 13,049 average inmates on a given day, 9,765 of them pretrial. Pretrial supervision comes with its own set of costs, but according to the Department of Correction, reducing the headcount further would save the agency $29,563 per year per inmate. De Blasio and Mark-Viverito's plan to close Rikers Island within 10 years is contingent on reducing the jail population to 5,000 in that period. De Blasio, Lippman, and others have said that reduction would require steering more people away from pretrial detention through measures including bail reform. "Every single individual on Rikers represents an individual life. That's someone who's got a family, or a job, or someplace that they could be that's not Rikers, perhaps getting help, or into treatment programs," Norkin said. "The idea that more people are off of Rikers and the idea that drug-related offenses in particular have seen a decline is super encouraging. It just seems that obviously we have a long way to go before we would be comfortable saying that all of the people that we want off Rikers are actually off of Rikers." This story has been updated to reflect that on average 52 percent of pretrial detainees couldn't afford bail in 2016, as opposed to 52 percent of the entire jail population, which includes people serving short sentences. New Delhi : As the US constitution was being drafted in utmost secrecy in 1787, an anxious citizen asked Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers, "Well, doctor, what have we got -- a republic or a monarchy?" Without the slightest hesitation, Franklin responded, "A republic, if you can keep it." Franklin's words seem eerily prescient, if one considers that the Latin words from which the word "republic" is derived -- res publica -- means a form of government where the country is considered a public matter, not the private concern or property of the rulers. More than two centuries after Franklin's warning, Americans, blinded by hyper-nationalism, fear, suspicion and xenophobia, handed over the reins of government to an elected despot. The transformation of the nation's highest public office into a personal fiefdom was not long in coming. Since assuming the presidency, Donald Trump has relentlessly expanded his business interests and promoted his family and friends, without even the courtesy of a camouflage. Even as he was tightening immigration laws including the H1 work visa, the controversial visa EB-5, was being offered to wealthy Chinese families who invested $500,000 in a business owned by Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Jared, 36, who is married to President Trump's daughter Ivanka, has no prior government experience, but has already accumulated a dizzying range of portfolios under his father-in-law. The satirical magazine, The Onion, recently ran the headline, "Jared Kushner Quietly Transfers 'Solve Middle East Crisis' To Next Week's To-Do List." In an interview in February, President Trump called China the "grand champion" of currency manipulation. After a meeting with Chinese Prime Minister Xi Jinping at his resort in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump appears to have a more benign view of the Chinese. Even if the volte- face was abrupt, it was entirely expected. In a meeting marked more by bonhomie than wariness between two long-time rivals, Trump affirmed the "one China" policy recognising Beijing as the only official government of China, with the assurance that the US will not establish formal relations with Taiwan. China promptly awarded Trump a trademark with the added assurance that several pending trademark applications would be favourably considered. The Trump administration's links with Russia has led to another scandal. Media reports assert that, according to sacked FBI Director James Comey's private notes, Trump had pressured him to drop the investigation into then National Security Advisor Michael Flynn's links with Russia. The issue is likely to snowball with legal scholars echoing the belief that this may constitute obstruction of justice by the President, an impeachable offense. Obstruction of justice was one of the charges in President Bill Clinton's 1998 impeachment. Challenges to Trump's travel ban on visitors from predominantly Muslim countries are winding their way through American courts. In the Trump administration, the judiciary appears to be the only branch acting as a check on the executive and legislature -- till now. The administration has made a mockery of trias politica, the constitutional separation of powers, ascribed to the French philosopher Baron de Montesquieu, and one of the core principles of the US Constitution. In 2012, three years before Trump announced his candidacy for American President, retired US Supreme Court Justice David Souter was asked what he considered to be the greatest threat to the US. "I don't worry about our losing republican government in the United States because I'm afraid of a foreign invasion," he said, "What I worry about is when the problems get bad enough, as they might do, for example, with another serious terrorist attack, as they might do with another financial meltdown, some one person will come forward and say, 'Give me total power and I will solve this problem. "That is the way democracy dies. And if something is not done to improve the level of civic knowledge, that is what you should worry about at night." The middle class, ravaged by technology-induced changes to the job landscape, reposed blind trust in Trump, overlooking his dubious record as a businessman and expansive campaign promises bereft of policy details. Now barely four months into the new presidency, Trump's virtual reality seems to have collided with ground reality. Faced with the real possibility of losing their health coverage, town hall meetings of Congressmen in Trump strongholds have angry constituents shouting down their representatives. At one such meeting in Iowa, Republican Senator Rod Blum was hissed, booed and rebuked for lying and asked, "Why should we trust you?" Trump's campaign slogan of "Make America Great" may well come to be parodied as "Make America Mocked". Late night talk shows have never had such unending fodder. The staff of The Onion complain that they are creatively bankrupt since Trump is such an effective caricature of himself. The French newspaper Liberation had a photograph of a bewildered Trump next to the headline, "America needs a babysitter". With almost hour-by-hour scandals, a frustrated White House staffer told The Daily Beast that he felt like running down the hallway with a fire extinguisher. After Brexit, it is now Trexit. With a special counsel in place to investigate the Trump campaign's links with Russia, gamblers on both sides of the Atlantic are placing wagers on the President's exit. The political stock market PredictIt has seen a record volume of bets on whether Trump will be impeached. Reacting to Comey's firing and subsequent events, Indian American prosecutor Preet Bharara tweeted the dictionary meaning of "backfired": An attempt to fix something in which the fixing actually makes the situation worse for you. Bharara, who was the US attorney for the southern district of New York, was fired by Trump, along with the Indian American Surgeon General of the US, Vivek Murthy. With Trump's many self-inflicted wounds, Republicans, impaired so far by cowardice and opportunism, may find their instinct for survival awakening. A few have publicly admitted to an attack of conscience. Despite Trump's propensity to shoot from the hip -- at his own foot -- he still has a significant number of supporters among Americans. I cannot resist quoting a couplet which eloquently describes their deafening silence despite Trump's brazen violations of political traditions, ethics and law. Tum Apne Zulm Ki Intehan Kar Do, Na Jaane Fir Koyi Hum Sa Bejubaan Mile Na Mile. (You can test the limits of your tyranny. Who knows when you will find a voiceless group like us again.) (Ashok Easwaran, a Chicago-based senior journalist, has reported from North America for over two decades. Views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at ashok3185@yahoo.com) San Francisco, May 19 : Apple CEO Tim Cook has been spotted testing a glucose monitor prototype which was connected to his Apple Watch to understand how his blood sugar is affected by food and exercise. "The company is said to have a team of biomedical engineers working on developing sensors for non-invasively monitoring blood sugar levels," CNBC reported on Friday. The current glucose trackers on the market rely on tiny sensors and rumours suggests that the company is already conducting feasibility trials in the Bay Area. According to CNBC, the Apple team is working at a non-descript office, miles from corporate headquarters. The initiative was envisioned by the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. Jobs had envisioned that wearable devices, like smartwatches, could be used to monitor oxygen levels, heart rate and blood glucose. If such sensors are successfully developed, that would be a breakthrough as it is highly challenging to track glucose levels accurately without piercing the skin. It can help millions of people turn devices like Apple Watch into a must-have. In February, at the University of Glasgow, Cook reiterated Apple's commitment to the health space and the executive spoke about the struggles faced by people with diabetes. "There is lots of hope out there that if someone has constant knowledge of what they are eating, they can instantly know what causes the response and that they can adjust well before they become diabetic," Cook said. New Delhi, May 19 : The NIA has filed a case against separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and other Hurriyat leaders for allegedly receiving money from the Lashkar-e-Taiba to fund "subversive" activities in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. The National Investigation Agency said on Friday that a team of the counter-terror probe agency has landed in Srinagar and would question Geelani, Hurriyat provincial president Naeem Khan, JKLF leader Farooq Ahmed Dar also known as Bitta Karate and Tehreek-e-Hurriyat leader Gazi Javed Baba. "The NIA has registered a preliminary enquiry into the funding of (the) Hurriyat leaders by LeT chief Hafiz Muhammed Saeed and other Pakistan-based terrorists and agencies to carry out subversive activities in Kashmir," the probe agency said. It alleged the Hurriyat Conference was funding trouble in the Kashmir Valley and sponsoring stone pelting on security forces, burning of schools and other government establishments using the money they get from Pakistan. An NIA official told IANS: "The team will soon call the Hurriyat leaders for questioning." The move comes after an expose by a national news channel, India Today, purportedly showing Pakistan pumping money to stoke trouble in the valley in connivance with Hurriyat leaders. The NIA official said a notice has been sent to India Today for the videos of the sting. India Today news channel aired a sting on May 16 in which the Hurriyat leaders were allegedly seen in conversation with the reporter and confessing that they received money from Pakistan-based organisations routed through Hawala. Kabul, May 19 : At least 113 militants were killed and 50 injured when Afghan security forces pressed ahead with offensives in restive provinces, the Defence Ministry said on Friday. "Afghan National Defence and Security Forces carried out cleanup operations in different provinces within the past 24 hours," Xinhua news agency quoted a ministry statement as saying. The forces also seized weapons and defused several roadside bombs planted by militants during the raids launched in 17 of the country's 34 provinces, the statement said. Violence has been on the rise as Afghan security forces struggle against a surge in attacks by the Taliban since the drawdown of foreign forces over the past two years. On Thursday night, five police personnel were killed in an insider attack in Ghanikhel district in Nangarhar province of the country. Following the assault, the attackers fled from the scene and took away the APL troops' weapons. Bhubaneswar, May 19 : Put this down to connectivity. After Bangladesh, Odisha's mangoes are soon expected to find a market in Southeast Asia -- thanks to a new flight from Biju Patnaik International Airport here. Malaysian low-cost airline AirAsia started its first international flight from the city airport to Kuala Lumpur on April 26 this year -- and that has prompted the state government to explore the possibility of mango exports to Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries. "We are preparing a feasibility study to export mangoes to Southeast Asia. The Horticulture Department has already approached the Odisha Agricultural Marketing Board (OAMB) and other stakeholders, including some e-marketing agencies," Sankarsan Rout, Assistant Director, Horticulture, told IANS. He said they would help farmers' cooperatives to sell their products to other parts of the country as well as overseas. "The mangoes of Odisha meet all quality parameters for exports. What we need to do is to tap the market. The government is in talks with various stakeholders for exporting the fruit," Barada Prasanna Choudhury, marketing consultant to OAMB, told IANS. To facilitate the global and domestic trading of mangoes, the Horticulture Department has set up Dhenkanal Fruits & Vegetables Marketing Co. Ltd. with processing and packaging facilities. The state government is also likely to rope in online trading platform NCDEX E-Marketing Ltd. (NEML) for marketing the mangoes, sources said. On the home front, north India and Mumbai have long been a destination for Odisha's mangoes. Odisha produces nearly 800,000 tonnes of mangoes every year -- making it the sixth-largest mango-growing state in India, which accounts for over 60 per cent of global production. Of the mangoes produced in Odisha, high-end varieties like Amrapalli, Dussehri, Mallika, Keshari and Langada account for some 40 per cent. Dhenkanal, Angul, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Boudh are the districts where a bulk of the mangoes are grown. The varieties that dominate the Indian market are Baiganpalli, Dussehri, Amrapalli, Kesari Totapuri, Latsundari, Mallika, Subarnarekha, Himasagar, Neelum and Chausa. Mangoes from India are popular in the Middle East, the Far East, the United States and European countries. The export volumes are expected to rise as new countires like South Korea and Iran have allowed the import of Indian mangoes. According to the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), India's mango exports are likely to surpass last year's level and touch the 50,000 tonne mark in the ongoing fiscal, buoyed by strong demand and supply of export- quality fruit. (Chinmaya Dehury can be contacted at chinmaya.d@ians.in) Islamabad, May 19 : The Pakistan government sought support from lawmakers across party lines to declare the loss-making flag carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) "bankrupt" and eventually shut it down, the media reported. Speaking before the Senate Special Committee on the PerAformance of PIA, Prime MinisAter's Adviser on Aviation Sardar Mehtab Abbasi on Thursday said: "Such a recommendation from a parliamentary committee will help the government take the difficult decision that it is otherwise hesitating to take." The committee, which met to discuss the status of its recommendations to overhaul PIA, also took up the incidents that had occurred over the past month that had given a bad name to PIA as well as to Pakistan, Dawn online reported. Abbasi laid three options before the committee: Letting the flag carrier run the way it was, operating in loss; declare it bankrupt and shut it down; or restructure it. "We are trying to restructure PIA, but it is an extremely difficult task," he said, arguing that PIA lacked discipline, top-quality management, ethical and professional officers and a "sense of ownership". However, Committee Chairman Mushahidullah Khan from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), said the panel was not in favour of shutting down PIA altogether. "We believe that a few good officers at the top could restore PIA's lost glory," Dawn online quoted Khan as saying. The committee has also asked the airline for details of actions taken against the "sleeping pilot" on flight PK785 and the captain of PK853 who had invited a Chinese woman into the cockpit. On Monday, 14 crew members of a PIA flight from Lahore to London were detained for over two hours at the Heathrow Airport over security threats and were later released. Aviation Secretary Irfan Elahi told the committee that the British government had not officially shared details of items seized from the plane. Dhaka, May 19 : Twenty-nine persons were arrested in Bangladesh for attending a secret meeting of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender) community and consuming illegal drugs, a senior police said on Friday. Homosexuality is an offence in Bangladesh, and those arrested in the raid conducted late Thursday in Keraniganj are now being interrogated by the police. "They have been arrested for homosexuality and consuming illegal drugs," the official told Efe news. According to the official, the police were tipped off about the meeting leading to the raid, during which they recovered drugs and condoms. The participants organised regular meetings through social media, he added. Under Bangladeshi law, homosexuality is a crime and Section 377 of the penal code provides for sentences of up to life imprisonment. April 2016 was a particularly difficult month for the community, when two leading activists from Roopbaan -- an LGBT rights group in the country -- were hacked to death by members of the Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS). Over 70 people, including bloggers, thinkers, members of religious minorities and foreigners, have been killed since 2013 by extremists. While some attacks were claimed by the Islamic State and Al Qaeda's South Asia wing, authorities maintain they were perpetrated by Bangladeshi extremists inspired by these terror groups. Damascus, May 19 : The Syrian Army on Friday confirmed reports about a US-led airstrike on a military convoy near the Iraqi border, saying Washington's attempt will not terrorise the army from continuing to fight the terrorist groups. The army in a statement said the US-led anti-terror coalition attacked one of the military positions near the Tanf area on Thursday, leaving many personnel dead and causing some material losses, Xinhua news agency reported. The army described the attack as a "flagrant aggression", and added that it exposes the "false allegations of the coalition about fighting terrorism". A day earlier, the US-led coalition struck Syrian forces near Tanf as the forces were advancing toward an area controlled by the US-led rebels, where British and US bases are reportedly located. Reports said the coalition fired warning shots to prevent the army forces from advancing before hitting the convoy. The statement said the US claims that they had warned the forces from advancing before firing were completely rejected. It said "those who claim to be fighting terrorist groups, should not fire at the Syrian army because it's the legitimate force fighting the groups, but should direct their fire against the terrorist groups". According to Russian officials on Friday, the new US strike undermines anti-terrorism efforts in the region. "The new US strike on government troops in Syria is a continuation of Washington's non-constructive policy," said Leonid Slutsky, the head of the International Affairs Committee of the State Duma, the lower chamber of the Russian parliament. He said the unilateral action undoubtedly hinders the negotiation process on a Syrian settlement and undermines anti-terrorism cooperation and coordination. Russia supports the ceasefire in Syria while the US weakens the effort fighting against terrorist groups, he added. Tehran, May 19 : Iranians headed to the polls on Friday to vote in a presidential election as incumbent Hassan Rouhani prepares to seek a second term in the face of conservative opposition. Rouhani's main challenger is Ebrahim Raisi, a hardline cleric and former prosecutor who is close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Some 63,500 polling stations opened at 8 a.m. on Friday in the country where more than 56 million were eligible to vote. Early election results are expected on Saturday, Press TV reported. Khamenei was among the first to cast his ballot and urged others to do the same. "I believe that the presidential election is very important. The fate of the country is in the hands of people," he said. Rouhani voted about an hour later. Six presidential candidates were approved by the Guardian Council, an influential clerical body controlled by conservatives, but two of them dropped out earlier this week. The first to withdraw was Tehran's hardline Mayor Mohammed Baqer Qalibaf, who pledged his support for Raisi earlier this week. He was followed by Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri, a reformist, who pulled out to smooth the path for Rouhani. Two other contenders in the race are former Deputy Judiciary Chief and member of Iran's Expediency Council Mostafa Aqa-Mirsalim and former Vice President Mostafa Hashemi-Taba. If no candidate manages to secure over 50 per cent of the votes, a runoff will take place on May 26. Besides picking a President, Iranians were also voting to choose members of the country's city and village councils. Rouhani campaigned on the platform of an active foreign policy meant to enhance international relations, while Raisi vowed a strong economic management towards the elimination of poverty and unemployment. Rouhani was a key architect of the 2015 nuclear deal with the US, the EU and other partners. The election is being seen, at least in part, as a referendum on that agreement, which has so far yielded mixed economic results for Iranians. Across Asia, Europe and the Americas, Iranian expatriates cast their ballots in various countries but Canada did not allow Iran to set up polling stations on its territory. Hyderabad, May 19 : Microsoft India on Friday announced to make its Azure Cloud services available to eligible non-profit organisations as part of its 'Public Cloud for Good' initiative. Qualifying non-profits can avail free Azure credits worth $5,000 for a year to unlock benefits such as insight, agility and operational efficiency. Globally, Microsoft is donating $1 billion in Cloud computing resources between 2016 and 2018 to 70,000 non-profits and NGOs worldwide, including in India. "Microsoft has a long-standing commitment to contribute in new and more impactful ways to a societal ecosystem that connects the benefits of technology to those who need it most and work harder to drive inclusion," said Madhu Khatri, Associate General Counsel, Microsoft India, in a statement. To drive greater inclusion, Microsoft India partnered with NASSCOM Foundation to organise an "Azure for Good" workshop here. Attended by 22 representatives from 12 local non-profits, the workshop highlighted how other organisations in the sector are using the Cloud platform to drive greater impact among communities in the face of constant challenges of limited manpower and resources. "We are glad to partner with Microsoft in offering the Azure services worth $5,000 for a year free of cost to the eligible NGOs and are confident that this grant will more than suffice their cloud platform needs," added Shrikant Sinha, CEO, NASSCOM Foundation. New Delhi, May 19 : Claiming another expose against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, suspended AAP leader Kapil Mishra on Friday alleged a nexus between his former boss and people involved in hawala transactions, a charge the ruling Aam Adami Party (AAP) has denied. Mishra, who was sacked as Minister and later suspended from the party, asked the Chief Minister to step down to ensure a fair probe into the allegations. He cited a "false video" that was retweeted by Kejriwal on Thursday to back his allegation. The video purportedly claimed that Delhi businessman Mukesh Kumar gave Rs 2 crore as donation to the AAP in 2014. Denying his allegations, AAP spokesperson Sanjay Singh told a press conference that the party has followed all norms and legal procedure in accepting political donations. "All transactions were carried out through banking channels and no cash or back-door transactions were involved," he said. He accused the BJP of using the Central Bureau of Investigation, Income Tax department, Enforcement Directorate (ED) and police against AAP leaders. "Delhi Police has crossed all limits in their investigations against us; they have not event left Somnath Bharti's dog," the AAP leader said. Singh claimed that no AAP leader has committed any kind of mistake. "Had any of our leaders been involved in any wrongdoings, he would not have been let off by police," Singh said. He said the former Chief Election Commissioner had praised the party for being the most transparent in accepting political donations. He alleged that the Congress and BJP did not follow transparency while accepting donations. Earlier, while making his "revelation", Kapil Mishra waved the letterheads of four companies -- Skyline Metal and Alloys Pvt Ltd, Goldmine Buildcon Pvt Ltd, Infoline Software Solution Ltd and Sunvision company -- from which AAP received Rs 2 crore donation in 2014, and claimed the letterheads are fake. Mishra "challenged" the AAP national convenor to tell the Income Tax department that his party received donation of Rs 2 crore from Mukesh Kumar. Mishra also raised questions regarding the identity of Mukesh Kumar, and asked, "Why is Mukesh Kumar being made a scapegoat by Kejriwal? Who is Kejriwal trying to save?" Mishra alleged that Mukesh Kumar became CEO of one of the companies days before the Delhi civic polls, though the donations were made in 2014. Mishra said, "Mukesh Kumar was a VAT defaulter with the Delhi government, and his company was sent notices, yet this company was given tenders by the government." He claimed Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia were aware of the "corruption activities". He questioned Kejriwal's silence in the matter. Mishra revealed the name of one more person Hem Prakash Sharma, whose signatures were on two letter heads and said that he was the Additional Director of the companies alongwith Mukesh Kumar -- Skyline Metal and Alloys Pvt Ltd and Goldmine Buildcon Pvt Ltd. The sacked minister said that Hem Prakash Sharma was also Director in a company alongwith lawyer Rohit Tandon, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in December last year for converting black money into white. "This is the biggest proof of hawala nexus against Kejriwal," Mishra said. "The man who donated Rs 2 crore to AAP is wanted by CBI, ED and the IT officials," Mishra said. "But he meets Kejriwal," Mishra added. "This is the reason why Kejriwal was shouting so much after the government's demonetisation move and was coming out on the streets against it. If Kejriwal has any shame left he must step down," Mishra demanded, adding that he has submitted the balancesheet of AAP signed by Kejriwal to the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). He said he has also given the details of Rohit Tandon to the CBDT. He termed Kejriwal a "mafia" and said he fears for his life as he can be attacked. Mumbai, May 19 : The Congress on Friday alleged a major road scam worth thousands of crores of rupees in the proposed 706-km-long Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway, perpetrated at the level of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Mumbai Congress President Sanjay Nirupam said the request for qualification (RFQ) for constructing the expressway -- named 'Maharashtra Samruddhi Corridor' (MSC) -- linking the eastern and western parts of the state, was allegedly altered by Fadnavis at the last minute. He said that when the RFQ was floated in March 2017, around 40 companies/consortiums came in and submitted their bids for the mega-project. "However, three conditions in the RFQ were altered barely 24 hours before the closing time directly by Fadnavis. This intended to remove or disqualify 35 companies from the bidding process. Only five companies that then qualified were finally left in the fray," Nirupam claimed. "These five are the favoured ones, which will be awarded plum contracts worth nearly Rs 27,000 crore of the total project cost of nearly Rs 46,000 crore," he alleged. He added that the associations and representative bodies of construction companies have even shot of complaints to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in this regard. "It's a massive scam and mind you, it has happened at the level of the Chief Minister, none above that and nobody less," Nirupam told media persons, demanding to know why Fadnavis was keeping mum on the important issue. He also said that the expressway was facing huge resistance from the farmers whose 20,000 hectares of lands are being acquired for the project. A few months ago, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), the nodal agency for the project, had invited the RFQs for the project. Of the total estimated cost of the project, the civil works for which the tenders were invited is pegged at around Rs 27,650 crore, the remaining Rs 13,000 crore for land acquisition and land pooling, Rs 2,500 crore for development of nodes and Rs 500 crore for shifting utilities. The MSC is billed as a 'super-communication expressway' connecting Mumbai-Nagpur, zipping through 10 districts, 27 sub-districts and 385 villages to form the East-West Axis for the entire state. Scheduled for completion by 2019, the MSC is expected to slash the current travel time between state capital Mumbai and second capital Nagpur from the existing 16 hours to barely half this time. The districts which will be connected by the MSC include Nagpur, Wardha, Buldhana, Amravati, Akola, Aurangabad, Washim, Nashik, Thane and Mumbai. Patna, May 19 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is set to address a rally later this month in Bihar, considered a stronghold of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his major ally RJD chief Lalu Prasad, to mark three years of the BJP-led NDA government of Narendra Modi. BJP leaders are silent on whether Adityanath's rally will be a show of strength ahead of Lalu's 'maha rally' on August 27, which will be held to showcase a grand unity of non-BJP parties at the national level before the 2019 general elections. After its shock defeat in the October-November 2015 Bihar assembly polls, BJP President Amit Shah has decided to use Adityanath as the new Hinduvta champion to challenge and counter the Lalu-Nitish nexus, party leaders say. Yogi Adityanath's visit to Bihar is bound to boost the Hindu Yuva Vahini, a right-wing group founded by him, which has decided to strengthen its presence in Bihar by enrolling thousands of youths. The group has demanded that the government of Bihar set up anti-Romeo squads and take action against slaughterhouses, as in Uttar Pradesh. Cow protection is one of the main objectives of the group, which has a strong presence in districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh bordering Bihar. Bharatiya Janata Party leaders have already demanded that the Bihar government set up anti-Romeo squads and seal slaughterhouses. Washington, May 19 : A US court sentenced two men to three years in prison for severely beating a Sikh man in California and cutting off his hair. Chase B. Little and Colton T. Leblanc, both of Texas, pleaded no contest to felony assault and committing a hate crime against Maan Singh Khalsa during last year's September 25 attack, the New York Times reported on Thursday. "Both men went out of their way to cut Khalsa's hair, which he maintained unshorn as part of his Sikh faith, 'making this so clearly a hate crime'," said Prosecutor Simon O'Connell of the Contra Costa County District Attorney's office. Khalsa, 42, appeared before Judge Patricia Scanlon during the hearing in Martinez, California, on Thursday and recalled details of the frightening attack. "Cutting a Sikh's hair is one of the most humiliating things anyone can do to a Sikh. The attackers did not just attack my body, they attacked my dignity, my spirit, my faith, my religion and my entire community," Khalsa said. Authorities said Khalsa was driving home on the night of the attack and stopped at a red light in Richmond, near Berkeley, when a car, occupied by five people, pulled up next to him. As beer cans were thrown at Khalsa, a motorist nearby called 911. When the light turned green, Khalsa drove off and called 911 as the truck followed him. While he stopped at another red light, two men got out of the truck, ran up to Khalsa's car and repeatedly punched his face and yelled profanities. "My attackers hit me with their fists, knocked off my turban, and yelled, 'Cut his...hair'," Khalsa said in a statement. "They yanked my hair through the window and used a knife to saw parts of it." He also sustained a black eye, tooth damage and knife wounds. Part of his little finger was later amputated because of an infection from one of the wounds, the daily reported. Khalsa, an IT specialist at the Social Security Administration, said he emigrated from India in 2003 and always considered himself an American "like everyone else." "I had never worried about being a victim of prejudice," Khalsa said. The finding that the attack was a hate crime was crucial in this case, Prosecutor O'Connell said on Thursday. "That really sent a message to the community to say that this sort of crime won't be tolerated and will be taken seriously," he said. O'Connell said Little and Leblanc had no affiliation with hate groups and had no remorse to their prison sentences. Srinagar, May 19 : Defence Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday said that the fact that Hurriyat leaders were taking money from Pakistan was already known in "informed circles", and called it a conspiracy against not just India but also the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The minister's comments came as the National Investigation Agency filed a case against separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and other Hurriyat leaders for allegedly receiving money from the Lashkar-e-Taiba to fund "subversive" activities in Jammu and Kashmir. "What was known already in informed circles has only been proved... It was known that they (Hurriyat) were being funded from across the border... funded to create unrest, and were funded to burn schools, kill people and create unrest in the valley," Jaitley said here. "Their actions were conspiracy not only against Indian state but also against residents of Kashmir Valley. This was all being talked about, what your report has done is almost bring out a confessional statement and the concerned players accepting it. Government agencies will take all steps," he said. The NIA said on Friday that a team of the counter-terror probe agency has landed in Srinagar and would question Geelani, Hurriyat provincial president Naeem Khan, JKLF leader Farooq Ahmed Dar also known as Bitta Karate, and Tehreek-e-Hurriyat leader Gazi Javed Baba. Pune (Maharashtra), May 19 : A 30-year old divorcee, furious at her boyfriend deciding to marry someone else, took revenge by burning the pandal erected for his wedding, police said here on Friday. The incident happened in Shaninagar area of Katraj in Pune early on Thursday, according to a complaint lodged by the aggrieved man, Deepak H. Renuse, 32. He was planning to get married on the afternoon of May 18, but early on that day, the household was woken up when the marriage marquee erected outside their home suddenly went up in flames and was reduced to ashes in a few hours. The man's motorcycle had been mysteriously burnt late early on Sunday, around 4 a.m., the police said. Upon questioning, the police learnt that Renuse had been allegedly threatened by his former girlfriend Sushma G. Temghare, a divorcee with whom he was in a relationship since four years. Enraged by his decision to marry, Sushma threatened that she "will not allow his marriage to take place" and even tore off the wedding invite which Renuse had gone to give her. But Renuse he did not take the threat seriously till his motorcycle was burnt. When the wedding pandal was burnt, he suspected her involvement. Renuse sought to confirm his suspicion, and called her. Sushma admitted to her crime, after which he lodged a police complaint. "I approached the police since my family and I were worried she may resort to something more drastic or damaging," he said in the complaint. Sushma, who had gone missing, was arrested. During sustained interrogation, she confessed, and conveyed how she felt humiliated to be invited to the wedding of the person who had rejected her proposal. She was produced before a court on Thursday evening and remanded to police custody till Saturday. The matter is being probed further, said investigating officer S. Kadam of B.V. Police Station. The Pune incident comes close on the heels of a similar one in Uttar Pradesh when a jilted lover kidnapped the groom from a marriage pandal on Monday and was finally arrested after two days. New Delhi, May 19 : The Supreme Court on Friday was told that the entire architecture of Aadhaar scheme was that of state surveillance of the citizens as the government was in possession of entire electronic record of the citizens. The bench of Justice A.M.Khanwilkar and Justice Navin Sinha was also told that the central government was in breach of its earlier assurance that information (biometric details) furnished by the people at the time of applying for Aadhaar number would not be shared with anyone. "They are in breach of it," senior counsel Shyam Divan told the bench as it inquired from Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi about the assurance given by the Centre that it would not share with anyone the biometric information given by people at the time of applying for Aadhaar card. As Justice Khanwilkar asked: "You have made a statement that the information collected in the course of Aadhaar enrolment will not be shared with anybody," both Rohatgi and Divan made a near simultaneous response. Rohatgi said he was "taken over by law", referring to the Aadhaar Act 2016. "Parliament passed the law and parliament can't be injuncted," he added. The Attorney General noted that the government was insisting on Aadhaar number for availing the benefits under various social welfare schemes to eliminate ghosts beneficiaries as had happened in the case of public distribution scheme and other schemes. His contention came in the course of the hearing of petition by Shanta Sinha and Kalyani Sen Menon challenging series of 17 notifications issued by government since February this year making Aadhaar number mandatory for availing benefits under various social welfare schemes including mid-day meal and disability pensions as well as for victims of Bhopal gas tragedy. Seeking the response on the plea by Sinha and Menon, the bench gave three weeks time to Centre and one week time to the petitioner to file of their rejoinder. Sinha was the first Chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and a Magsaysay award recipient while Menon is a feminist researcher. At the outset of the hearing, Rohatgi raised preliminary objections telling the court that even earlier, a petition with identical prayers and identical paragraphs was filed six months ago and in none of them, any interim relief has been granted and are pending hearing by the constitution bench. He said this was an abuse of the process of court. As Rohatgi said that even the present petition should be heard by the constitution bench, Divan wondered why he was fighting shy of hearing of the matter on merits. As the pitch of the arguments on both the sides became high, Justice Sinha quipped that air-conditioning in the court room was good. The bench however took exception to Divan saying that it should be cleared whether this petition can be heard by two judge bench or the constitution bench lest citizens are left to "grovel" before the court. "Please don't say that common citizen is not heard by the court," said Justice Khanwilkar pointing out that the doors of the court were always open to people. Also taking exception to the use of word "grovel", Rohatgi recalled that once he was summoned at 2 a.m. in connection with an urgent hearing. Admitting that some of the prayers were same, Divan said that they have filed a number of applications and the same were not being taken by the registry. At this, the bench said that it would be better if the petition by Sinha and Menon and earlier applications filed by other petitioners are heard together in one go and fixed June 27 for the further hearing of the matter. New Delhi, May 19 : The Chitale Committee of the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation has recommended creation of sand registry for de-silting of the Ganga, an official said on Friday. The committee has also recommended an institute be established for flood routing studies, said a statement. According to a statement from the Ministry of Water Resources, the committee has recomended "a slew of measures" which includes study to guide de-silting activities, sand registry for de-silting and a technical institute to conduct the sediment budget, flood routing studies and confirm the necessity of the de-silting of section of the river. The committee was asked to establish the difference between desilting and sand mining and also establish the need for desilting for ecology and environmental flow of the Ganga river. The committee, headed by expert member of National Ganga River Basin Authority Madhav Chitale, was constituted in July 2016 by the Ministry of Water Resources to prepare guidelines for desilting the Ganga from Bhimgauda in Uttarakhand to Farakka in West Bengal. The committee includes Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, and Central Water and Power Research Station, Pune, Director Mukesh Sinha. "The committee in its report says erosion, sediment transport and siltation are very complex phenomena. It is impossible to apply a 'one-size-fits-all' approach to sediment management and control, because the issues involved are frequently very regionally-specific," the statement said. "At the same time, indiscriminate de-siltation works may result in more harm to ecology and environment flow. Thus, there is a need to evolve guidelines, better broad principles, which should be kept in mind while planning and implementing de-silting works," it added. The committee suggests good agricultural practices, river bank anti-erosion works and avoiding encroachment of flood plain and reclamation of adjoining lakes along the river. The committee also recommended de-silting of adjoining lakes to increase their storage capacities. Asking for dredging of shoals in the Farakka Barrage, the committee suggested the "sediment removed may be used for re-grading the Farakka Feeder Canal". The Chitale Committee also asked for the modification in the bridges across the Ganga which are causing large afflux (more than one per cent of normal depth) to reduce the sediment deposition and erosion of banks on the upstream. New Delhi, May 19 : Key separatists, including Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, are being probed for allegedly receiving money from Lashkar-e-Taiba and other sources in Pakistan to fund stone-pelting and violent protests in Jammu and Kashmir. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday said it has filed a case against Geelani and his close aide and Hurriyat provincial president Naeem Khan, JKLF leader Farooq Ahmed Dar also known as Bitta Karate and Tehreek-e-Hurriyat leader Gazi Javed Baba. A team of the counter-terror probe agency landed in Srinagar to question the four separatist leaders, an NIA statement said. "The NIA has registered a preliminary enquiry into the funding of (the) Hurriyat leaders by LeT chief Hafiz Muhammed Saeed and other Pakistan-based terrorists and agencies to carry out subversive activities in Kashmir," the statement said. The Enforcement Directorate, which probes economic offences, said it would also join the NIA probe into the matter of funding from Pakistan through hawala channels - an illegal cash transfer system across borders run by money brokers. An ED official told IANS that it would probe all the financial transactions of the Hurriyat leaders. The NIA alleged that the Hurriyat Conference may have been funding trouble, including violent activities like stone pelting and burning of schools and government buildings, in the Kashmir Valley by distributing the money it gets from Pakistan. An NIA official told IANS: "The team will soon call the Hurriyat leaders for questioning." The move comes after an expose by a national news channel, India Today, purportedly showing Pakistan pumping money to stoke trouble in the valley in connivance with Hurriyat leaders. The NIA official said a notice has been sent to the TV channel for the unedited videos of the sting. India Today news channel aired a sting on May 16 in which the Hurriyat leaders were allegedly seen in conversation with the reporter and confessing that they received money from Pakistan-based organisations routed through hawala. On Friday, two India Today journalists were allegedly assaulted by JKLF chief Yasin Malik in Srinagar when they went to seek his reaction over the channel's report. Malik accused one of the reporters of barging into his bedroom, and filed a police complaint of criminal trespass. Gurugram, May 19 : The Haryana government on Friday announced upgradation of a government high school to Class 12 in a village of this district, after girl students staged a sit-in at the school's gate. Of the 170 students in the Kadarpur High School, 160 are girls, who after finishing their secondary level Class 10 studies, had to go to a school in Badshahpur village for their higher secondary Class 12 education. The girls said they were being sexually harassed on the five-km way to school and that they face molestation and eve teasing even in the shared auto-rickshaws. Hundreds of students, including the Class 10 girls, of Kadarpur village on Friday locked the main gate of the school and staged a sit-in, demanding upgradation of their school. Teachers and other staff remained inside school premises for hours until senior officials arrived at the spot and assured protesters, including some elderly women parants, that their demands will be fulfilled soon. But the students refused to end the protest merely on an assurance. Later in the day, Bharatiya Janata Party legislator from Sohna Tejpal Tanwar reached theschool and informed the protesers that the government has approved of their demand. "Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma informed me that school will be upgraded to Class 12 and an official notification will be issued in a day or two," Tanwar told the protesters, after which they called off their sit-in. Kadarpur, home to over 12,000 people, has been demanding school upgradation for the last three years as the school fulfils all the norms to be upgraded. The Kadarpur High School recently received best Greenery Award in the state after a survey conducted by state government. On May 17, a government school in South Haryana's Gothra Tappa Dahina village in Rewari district was upgraded to Class 12 by the Haryana government, after a week-long hunger strike by girls in the village. The girls in Gothra Tappa Dahina village also alleged that they were being sexually harassed by passer-bys and hooligans on their way to the school in another village three km away. Former Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin has reportedly filed for divorce from Anthony Weiner, following his guilty plea on a federal sex charge today. Abedin announced her separation from Weiner last summer, after tabloids reported the former Congressman had been involved in a third sexting scandal that included an image of him in bed with his son. Today, Weiner pleaded guilty to sexting a 15-year-old girl, a charge that could net him a 21 to 27 monthlong prison sentence and will require him to register as a sex offender. In court today, Weiner accepted "full responsibility for his conduct," and said he is still participating in a sex-addiction rehabilitation program he entered in the fall. "I have a sickness, but I do not have an excuse. I apologize to everyone I have hurt. I apologize to the teenage girl, whom I mistreated so badly. I am committed to making amends to all those I have harmed," he said in a statement. Weiner and Abedin, a longtime aide to Hillary Clinton, have been married for nearly 7 years. They have a 5-year-old son together named Jordan. The FBI had been investigating Weiner since last year, and this particular sexting incident ultimately wound up being a consequential factor in Clinton's loss to Donald Trump in last year's election. (In case anyone's managed to forget.) New Delhi, May 19 : Auto manufacturers body Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) on Friday welcomed the new GST (Goods and Services Tax) rates on automobiles. "The rates are as per the expectations of the industry and almost all segments of the industry have benefited by way of a reduced overall tax burden in varying degree," said SIAM President Vinod Dasari. "This will pave the way for stimulating demand and strengthening the automotive market in the country, paving the way for meeting the vision laid down in the Automotive Mission Plan 2016-26." According to Dasari, the differential GST for electric vehicles will help the segment to gain momentum in India. "Government has always encouraged environmentally friendly technologies and with the current focus on reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and reducing carbon footprint one would have expected the lower taxation to continue on such vehicles in a technology agnostic manner," Dasari said. However, SIAM called for a review on the inclusion of 10-13 seat capacity vehicles "used mainly for public transport" in the same tax bracket as luxury cars with a 15 per cent cess duty. The base rates were fixed by the GST Council at its 14th meeting held in Srinagar from May 18-19. The base GST rates for the automobile sector have been set at 28 per cent. Nashik (Maharashtra), May 19 : Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray on Friday again threatened to quit the Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition in Maharashtra if Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis failed to announce a waiver of farm loans. Addressing a farmers' rally here, he said it is "unfortunate" that even after nearly three years of the BJP-led government, farmers' issues were not being addressed and they continued to commit suicide. "The CM's language has changed after coming to power. We would have never done it. For us, the farmers' interests are superior to the party," Thackeray said, reminding of the BJP's pre-poll promises in 2014 of wiping off farm-debts after elections. He strongly criticized state BJP President Raosaheb Danve's recent comments labelling farmers as 'saale' (literally brother-in-law but having a derogatory connotation) and his subsequent apology after a political furore and the Congress calling him 'danav' (demon). "I am very disturbed by Danve's statements. What will happen when the elections are announced? You bring tears to the eyes of the poor farmers, now they will make you cry," Thackeray warned, amid a thunderous round of applause by the gathering. He reiterated that the Sena would not "hesitate even for a moment" before quitting the state government, but added that they would "extend external support" if a farm loans waiver package was announced. Thackeray declared that though it was a ruling ally, the Shiv Sena would launch a long-march to the state legislature if the government failed to write off farmers loans soon. New Delhi, May 19 : With the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council deciding on tax rates on most goods and services, the industry and stakeholders on Friday said the new system may increase burden on some but hoped for benefits through input tax credit system. "The cost of relatively price-sensitive small cars may increase marginally post-GST, while original equipment manufacturers will pass on the lower taxes on bigger vehicles and sport utility vehicles to customers," domestic rating agency ICRA's Senior Group Vice-President Subrata Ray said. The automobile sector will also see some benefits by virtue of input tax credit norms, he said. "A 12 per cent rate for works contracts, with full input credit, is an encouraging development as it will be a simpler tax system and should reduce the cash component of the economy," said Pratik Jain, Partner and Leader Indirect Tax at Price Waterhouse Coopers. However, Jain said, having a multiple rate slabs on services comes as a surprise to the industry, particularly introduction of the 28 per cent slab. "The proposed tax structure on services is much more complex compared with what we have at present," he said. The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) said the classification of goods under different GST tax slabs is expected to make goods cheaper under the new indirect tax regime. CAIT said it will soon submit a memorandum to Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for re-classification of some of the items. "Pickles, sauces, instant mixer, and some other items pertaining to food processing have been placed under the 18 per cent tax slab, though these are consumed by a large number of people. Therefore, these and other similar items deserve to be placed under lower tax slab to maintain prices," CAIT President B.C. Bhartia and Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said. Archit Gupta, founder and CEO of ClearTax.com, said: "The GST Council has promised to lower tax on most consumer items of daily and common use. The government is banking heavily on input tax credit (ITC) mechanism to lower the tax burden on buyers." "We welcome the GST Council's move to exempt healthcare from the Goods and Services Tax," said Suneeta Reddy, Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group. "We believe that by doing so, the government has accorded healthcare and education their due importance and impetus that they need to become game-changing transformation agents for India, its people and the economy. Since healthcare was always on the zero list, the impact of this announcement will be neutral," she said. Rating agency Crisil said, "Under the GST, emphasis on value addition, amalgamation of a large number of central and state taxes into a single tax and set-off allowance of prior-stage taxes will mitigate the ill-effects of a cascade. This will also allow free flow of tax credit in intra- and inter-state transactions, leading to a more efficient and leaner tax structure." The Indian Beverage Association (IBA), however, expressed disappointment over placing of sweetened aerated water and flavoured water in the highest 28 per cent slab combined with an additional cess of 12 per cent. "This increase will have a negative ripple effect and hurt the entire ecosystem of farmers, retailers, distributors, and bottlers in India. This increase in tax will further limit the growth of the beverage industry," it said. The telecom industry too was disappointed with the 18 per cent tax rate. "It will augment the existing burden of the industry further. This is also likely to slow down the planned rollout of infrastructure across the country and will have an impact on flagship government initiatives like Digital India, cashless India and others," said Rajan S. Mathews, Director General, Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI). Anirudh Dhoot, Director, Videocon, said: "With GST implementation inching closer, the economy too is eyeing vast opportunities and targeting sharp growth. Being more efficient, the system will bring much ease to the tax structure and lower evasions massively. However, retailers are still in a dilemma over the GST, which we must address and create awareness of, so that it can be welcomed smoothly without any ambiguities." Rajeev Dimri, Leader, Indirect Tax, BMR and Associates LLP, said: "The GST Council has made its intention to tax luxury services at a higher rate quite evident by announcing different rates for services such as hotels, five-star restaurants, etc., based on their tariffs and other factors which distinguish luxury services from non-luxury services." Islamabad, May 19 : The Islamabad High Court continued hearing the case of Indian woman Uzma, who reiterated on Friday that she was "forced to marry" her Pakistani husband Tahir Ali, and requested the court to allow her to return to India. First Secretary at the Indian High Commission Piyush Singh also was present at the High Court and their lawyer, Shahnawaz Noon, submitted a written reply to court with Uzma's version of events, Dawn newspaper reported. Uzma had earlier said she was forced to marry Tahir Ali at gunpoint. She took refuge at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad earlier this month and asked to be repatriated to India after coming to know that Ali was already married and also had four children. She said Ali had deceived her as he was already married, and that he stole her passport and other travel documents. The claims were denied by Ali. "Threatened to kill, harassed and badly humiliated," Uzma said in her six-page reply to the court on Friday and repeated she was made to sign the nikkah document with a gun to her head. But before she signed the document, Uzma said she was "mercilessly deadened, sedated through sleeping pills and sexually assaulted" at the Wagah Border. "When she regained consciousness, she claims she was in Buner, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa," Uzma's lawyer told the court. Her lawyer aimed to get permission from Islamabad to allow her to return to India. Uzma's visa is said to expire on May 30. Vatican City, May 19 : The Pope's annual charitable collection for the poor known as 'Peter's Pence' will soon have a Facebook page after its launch on Twitter and Instagram, the Vatican announced on Friday. The Peter's Pence Facebook page in Italian will be followed by pages in Spanish and English, which are expected to go live in September and October, a Vatican statement said. Scholarships to help university students uprooted from their homes in Iraqi Kurdistan and a new primary school for Dalit children in India were examples of projects supported by Peter's Pence, the Vatican said. The Vatican wants to "create a community open to all with widespread use of Facebook at grassroots level, starting from Italy", and to highlight charitable works funded by Peter's Pence, said the statement. Catholics are traditionally invited to make 'Peter's Pence' donations to the Pope's charitable works each year on June 29, the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, in a sign of solidarity. Istanbul, May 19 : Police on Friday detained 17 suspected members of the Islamic State jihadist group in anti-terror raids across Istanbul, state-run Anadolu Agency reported. Twelve of the suspects were foreigners and were about to travel to Syria and Iraq to join IS, Anadolu said, citing police. The suspects included two minors. Police also seized digital material and documents during the raids, which followed a probe in which investigators had put the suspects under surveillance, Anadolu said. Friday's raids were carried out in Istanbul's Silivri, Maltepe, Bagcilar and Gungoren districts, said Anadolu. The operation came after police detained 12 IS suspects, including eight foreign nationals, at several addresses in Turkey's southern Adana province on May 5. Two of the suspects held that day were Iraqi nationals, five were Syrians and five were Turkish citizens. Damascus, May 19 : At least 82 people, including women and children, have been killed in horrific attacks by Islamic State jihadists in western Syria, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Friday. At least 25 villagers died including five children and four women "in shelling, shooting and executions" on Thursday in the villages of Aqareb al-Safi and al-Mabouja in Homs province, the UK-based monitor said. At least three of the civilians, a man and his two children, were executed with knives in Mabouja, about 15 km from the city of al-Salamiya, according to the monitor. A total of 27 pro-government militiamen and villagers, four Bedouin and 26 IS militants were killed in the violent clashes in Hama's eastern countryside - the worst seen since a similar bloodbath there two years ago, the monitor added. "The death toll is expected to rise because there are some people in a critical condition and others are still missing," said the monitor. IS's Amaq news agency said the militants captured Aqareb al-Safi and Mabouja and claimed 100 Syrian troops and pro-government gunmen were killed in the fighting. Aqareb al-Safi and Mabouja are home to members of several religious minorities, notably Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's Shia Alawite sect, whom IS consider apostates deserving death. IS killed dozens of people and executed 46 civilians including 10 women and children in Mabouja in April 2015, the monitor said. The Sunni extremist group has slaughtered thousands of Shia and other opponents in Syria and Iraq, often boasting about the killings and circulating photos and videos of them online. Hyderabad, May 19 : Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday said that the state police has proved wrong those people who created apprehensions that if Telangana state is formed, there will be increase in Maoist activities and law and order problems.A The CM praised police for controlling Maoism and extremism and proving those wrong who feared that these problems would rise once Telangana state comes into being. Addressing a meeting of top police officers here, he said that police busted this myth and the credit should go to them. "The Prime Minister and Union Home Minister on several occasions have hailed the Telangana Police which made me happy and proud," the CM said. "The Telangana Police also working for the national security. The youngest state of India has become the greatest police in India," he said in remarks seen as a counter to senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh's recent comments alleging that the state police created a fake website of terror outfit Islamic State (IS) to frame Muslim youth. Rao claimed that since the law and order situation in the state is good, investments are pouring in and the state has become a destination for the investments. He said several measures have been initiated for strengthening police and more measures will be taken in future including appointment of 15,000 personnel. He urged police to come to the rescue of the helpless and help them like God who helps those who cannot help themselves. The CM asked police to stand by the oppressed, the poor and the victimised. Police who have successfully eradicated playing cards and illicit liquor should also focus on controlling fake and spurious items, he said. "There is adulteration in milk, eggs, rice, turmeric powder, red chilli powder etc., there are fake passports and certificates... police should concentrate on this," he said. New Delhi, May 19 : At least 100 farmers from Maharashtra's Vidarbha region held a daylong hunger strike on Friday to remind Prime Minister Narendra Modi of promises he made during the 2014 Lok Sabha election campaign. The farmers from Dhabhadi village of Yavatmal district of Vidarbha -- the epicentre of farmers' suicides in the country -- sat at the Jantar Mantar here. Led by former Congress minister Shivajirao Moghe, the farmers' slogan was 'Teen saal, kisan ka bura haal'. They said Modi had then promised them a 50 per cent profit on agriculture produce, easy loans, cheap electricity and facilities of warehouses, cold storage, setting up of agro-industry -- but all remain unfulfilled. In March 2014, Modi had addressed farmers at 1,500 different places from Dhabhadi through video-conferencing over his famous 'chai pe charcha' concept. Senior Congress leaders such as Jyotiraditya Scindia and Oscar Fernandes met these farmers and promised to raise their issues during the upcoming session of the Parliament. "We have not got fair price for our crops, especially cotton, tur (pigeon pea) in the last three years. Modi-ji has not fulfilled any of his electoral promises," said Gajanan Dhongle, a farmer from Dabhadi, who owns 2.5 acres of land. Another farmer Janusingh Jadhav said there was no decline in the number of farmers' suicides in last three years and distress among them was growing day-by-day due to poor policies of the BJP-led central and Maharashtra governments. Former Congress minister Moghe said he has been holding such protests in Dabhadi, Yavatmal and Nagpur since the last two years but they did not make any impact. "One of Modi's promises was additional 50 per cent as profit over and above input cost. He has failed to keep his word. So we decided to hold one-day hunger strike in Delhi to make him aware of its promises and duties toward farmers," Moghe said. Fernandes said the BJP government should not look at farmers' issues through political lenses. "It is a national issue and affects everyone. We want the government to take the decision of loan waiver as Manmohan Singh government did. We are going to raise these issues in the upcoming Parliamentary session," Fernandes said. Moghe said he will organise conferences in Yavatmal, Amravati and Nagpur in Maharashtra, where experts and activists will be called to identify reasons for government's inaction and failure in solving farmers' problems. "Also, we will try to find out solutions to the problems farmers are facing now," said Moghe, who was Social Justice Minister in the previous Congress-NCP government in Maharashtra. At Jantar Mantar, there was another group of protesting farmers, who were assembled under Bhartiya Kisan Union (Bhanu), demanding complete loan waiver. Guwahati, May 19 : The Assam government is planning to take back land given to industrial units which failed to start production even after three years of allotment. Industry minister Chandra Mohan Patowari said this on Friday. He added that the unused land of the closed public sector undertakings would also be pulled back to the Land Bank for fresh allotment to new industrial units. The decision assumes significance as the erstwhile Congress government in Assam, which was in power for 15 years, allotted land to many industrial units. But there was no activity on most of these lands even after 15 years. The Minister said the government had created a Land Bank and that there was close to 700 acres of developed land available in the Bank for allotment to investors. Regardless of its standing with steak cognoscenti in the city, there's no denying Peter Luger is an institution, in name and reputation. Which is probably why ownership of the Brooklyn legend is pretty pissed off that a Pennsylvania restaurant looks to be co-opting the Luger brand to lure in customers. A restaurant called Carl von Luger Steak and Seafood in Scranton, Pennsylvania is being sued by Peter Luger, reports Reuters, for trademark infringement in employing the Luger name to run a similar business. Brooklyn Luger has accused PA Luger of enacting a "deliberate campaign to confuse consumers." There is a connection, however. PA Luger owner Robert Dickert worked at a Long Island offshoot of Peter Luger and also claims that "Carl" Luger was Peter Luger's nephew. But the Carl von Luger Steakhouse website also misleadingly touts a "since 1887" family traditionPeter Luger opened in Williamsburg in 1887 as "Carl Luger's Cafe, Billiards and Bowling Alley"even though the Pennsylvania restaurant has only been open since 2011. To put it simply, Carl von Luger is acting as an imposter for the Peter Luger steakhouses and is ripping off its intellectual property and reputation. Robert Dickert created a fictitious name and is exaggerating his ties to Peter Luger in a deliberate effort to create a false association between Carl von Luger steakhouses and the famous Peter Luger steakhouses, said Michael S. Elkin of Winston & Strawn, which is representing Peter Luger, Inc. This is an egregious example of the misappropriation of the Peter Luger name and reputation and we intend to defend our claim vigorously. Dickert has plans to open a second Carl von Luger Steak and Seafood in North Palm Beach, Florida, and local press has dubbed the forthcoming restaurant as "an offshoot of Peter Luger of NY." As a result of the local press coverage, "Peter Luger said it has been fielding inquiries since the article's publication about whether it was expanding into Florida, where many customers have primary residences." Bengaluru, May 19 : The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) on Friday shut down 76 industries for polluting the Bellandur lake here. This followed an order from the National Green Tribunal on Thursday. "We have ordered 76 industries around the lake to shut down and directed the Bengaluru Electricity Supply Co (Bescom) to disconnect power to them," KSPCB Chairman Lakshman told reporters here. The tribunal bench, headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar, also directed the pollution control watch to personally inspect the industries around the 910-acre lake to verify if they had shut down. The Board also directed 157 apartments in the vicinity of the lake to install sewage treatment plants (STPs) to prevent discharge of sewage into it. The Tribunal directed the Board to inspect the polluting industries under Section 33 A of the Water Act and Section 5 of the Environment Protection Act. "We have firmly told the industries and apartment owners to obey the NGT order. There will be no power supply to the apartments if they don't set up the STPs," said Lakshman. On May 5, the Karnataka government decided to seek more time to abide by the Tribunal's April 19 interim order to shut the industries, deweed and desilt the lake and prevent sewage flowing into it. Imphal : Imphal May 19 (IANS) Four Manipur Police commandos were wounded in an ambush on Friday by suspected militants who exploded a bomb along the Trans Asian Highway, police said. The injured personnel were evacuated to hospital in Imphal for treatment. Additional police and paramilitary personnel were rushed to Kotha Lamkhai, where the explosion took place, to launch a combing operation. No one has been arrested yet. Meanwhile, during security operations, police have arrested from Imphal East district one NSCN (IM) extremist and one from the KCP (Military Council). Ashem Robin and his wife Ayingbi were also arrested from Wangjing in Thoubal district along with a pistol and several rounds of ammunition. Cases have been registered against them. New Delhi, May 19 : Scores of traders in Delhi's bustling Chandni Chowk area took out a march on Friday opposing the Delhi Rent Control Act, fearing eviction of "more than 10,000 shops". During their 'Aakrosh Rally', the traders alleged that 70 years of their businesses were negated within a matter of a few months by the "unconstitutional Rent Control Act" due to which around 50,000 persons were rendered unemployed. "More than 10,000 'pagdi' shops in Chandni Chowk area are being evicted by land mafia and local politicians through false cases. The livelihood of over 50 lakh is under threat. This is a completely unconstitutional drive to get vacated more than 5 lakh 'pagdi' tenants of Delhi," Convenor of Rajdhani Pagdi Kiraya Sanghthan Ram Bhakt Aggarwal told IANS. "It is an attempt to destroy the livelihood of lakhs to benefit a few people and this is happening in various heritage markets of Delhi like Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazar, Gandhi Nagar and Karol Bagh, among others," Aggarwal said. "Recently 5 lakh shops were asked to vacate using the law where most of the shops are less than 20 square feet and are being run by small traders like pan-walas, mithai-walas, grocery shops, tea stalls etc. in various markets of Delhi," he added. The traders raised their voice against the Rent Control Act and demanded that the government bring an amendment immediately to save the livelihoods of the people affected by it. During their march, which was organised by Chandni Chowk Zila Vyapar Sangh, they also symbolically carried a 'Funeral March' and burned an effigy symbolising the Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958. The act, amended in 2008, stipulates that a landlord can ask the tenant to leave the property after having expressed a need for the premises. A clause in Article 14 of the said act allows the landlord to press for eviction when the "premises let for residential purpose are required bona-fide by the landlord for occupation as a residence for himself or for any member of his family dependent on him". New Delhi, May 19 : Tamil Nadu farmers, who had suspended their 41-day-long protest in the national capital last month, are set to meet some farmers' unions here on Sunday and may resume their protest. After the meet, the farmers would decide the next course of action, informed sources said on Friday. According to people close to the development, at least 15 farmers including their leader P. Ayyakannu would hold discussions with other unions which may culminate in resumption of the protest. These farmers had suspended their protest on April 23 for a month after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami promised to take up their demands, including that of loan waiver, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, they claimed that nothing has been done and with few days left for the deadline to end, the farmers are in a mood to resume their protest again. The farmers had grabbed headlines for their unusual and shocking ways of protests, which involved stripping outside the Prime Minister's Office, drinking their own urine, wearing skeletons and conducting mock funeral. Chandigarh, May 19 : In a joint operation with Punjab Police, the Border Security Force (BSF) seized eight kg of heroin in Punjab's Gurdaspur sector on Friday, a BSF officer said. Based on information from Punjab Police, the joint operation was launched near the border fence in Thakurpur where eight packets of heroin were found, BSF Deputy Inspector General R.S. Kataria said. The heroin is worth Rs 40 crore in the international market. The border with Pakistan in Gurdaspur district is about 275 km from here. Punjab shares a 553-km barbed-wire fenced border with Pakistan. New Delhi, May 19 : About 50 former students of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) have written to their alma mater urging it to cancel a panel invitation to former Bastar Inspector General of Police S.R.P. Kalluri who, they said, is "known for his brazen contempt for journalists". The panel discussion is slated to take place on Saturday at IIMC. "We feel that IIMC must prevent any individual, known for his brazen contempt for journalists, from using the premises of IIMC which has produced hundreds of thousands of media professionals," the letter, addressed to IIMC Director General K.G. Suresh, read. Calling Kalluri a "media-baiter IPS officer", the students also cited an admonishment served to the officer by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) for his "excesses" as a policeman. The seminar -- National Journalism in Contemporary Scenario -- is being organised by 'Media Scan', said to be a right-leaning weekly newspaper. The seminar will be preceded by a 'yagna'. The proposed 'yagna' has also not found any favour among the students who voiced their disapproval, citing the secular credentials of the nation and consequently of the institute. "Our country is secular and no religious function should happen inside the premises of the institute. It's wrong that such a function (yagna) is being organised in IIMC, and that too in the name of journalism. On top of it, it will be followed by a seminar where IG Kalluri will take part as one of the panelists... He's being invited because of his proximity with the Centre," Prashant, an IIMC alumnus, told IANS. A faculty member also criticised the 'religious' activity. "As a public institute we are not supposed to be party to any religious activity. The Constitution doesn't allow us to do anything religious or promote any religion," the faculty member told IANS on condition of anonymity. The member also cited the "restive" atmosphere prevailing in the institute since the appointment of Suresh, as its Director General (DG). There was no consultation by the DG on the theme or list of panelists with any of the teachers, the faculty member said. Bastar Solidarity Network, Delhi Chapter, Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union and IIMC students have announced a demonstration to protest the participation of Kalluri. An official invite was sent to Kalluri on April 12 to take part in the seminar by Media Scan. However, his name is not in the list of panelists in the seminar schedule. New Delhi, May 19 : Lauding the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council's decision to tax coal at the lowest rate of 5 per cent, Coal and Power Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said the move will allow power distribution companies (discoms) provide electricity at affordable rates. Coal is currently taxed at 11.69 per cent. "The entire GST regime is designed to help bring down costs all over the country and aims at one nation, one tax to reduce corruption," Goyal said at a briefing here on the progress made in rural electrification. "I am happy that the GST Council decided to keep coal in the 5 per cent tax slab. Coal sector will benefit significantly which would help discoms provide power at affordable rates. It will help bring down costs," he added. Besides, Goyal, who also holds the New and Renewable Energy and Mines portfolios, said the higher tax of 18 per cent levied on solar modules will not impact solar tariffs. "Tariffs for projects vary from project to project. The rise will be compensated by the decline in corruption and operational difficulties," he said in this regard. The GST Council concluded its two-day meeting in Srinagar on Friday after deciding on a four-slab tax rate for services along with the novel concept of input credit for goods used. Earlier it decided on the fitment of 1,211 goods items and has deferred a decision on the remaining six categories for its next meeting slated here for June 3. Goyal also said the demand for power in India has grown by 6.5 percent in the last three years and the power generation is also on a continuous rise. "Nowadays, its 150 gigawatt (GW) against 130 GW of electricity generated in summer months. Overall, we have grown at 6.5 percent in the last three years. This is after huge energy efficiency gains. If the factor is 3 percent of gains, then demand would have been 9.5 percent," he said. The minister also briefed the media on the progress of the government's rural electrification programme -- Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojna -- to bring power to 18,452 unelectrified villages by 2018. He said: "In all, 13,500 have been electrified till now and around 3,997 are remaining." He further said that implementation of power projects in Jammu and Kashmir is difficult as losses in electricity is high. The scheme has also not been implemented in the left-wing extremism affected areas of Odisha and Assam. New Delhi, May 19 : In a daring daylight robbery, two armed motorcycle-borne assailants escaped with over Rs 19 lakh from a cash van on Friday after shooting at one of the bank staff who had come to refill an ATM in west Delhi, police said. The two assailants approached the cash van of Union Bank of India in Rohini's Sector-24 area around 2 p.m. One of them threw chilli powder in the bank staff's eyes and snatched the cash bag. "They also shot at one of the staff. Security guard Brijesh Singh fired two rounds at them but they fled," Deputy Commissioner of Police Rishi Pal said. The injured, Naveen, was admitted to a nearby hospital, Pal said. Police has constituted six teams to arrest the robbers and is scanning closed-circuit television footage from nearby shops. Kathmandu, May 19 : Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Friday urged the people to celebrate the successful holding of local elections, and said preparations were on for holding the second phase on June 14. Speaking at an inaugural ceremony of the Agriculture and Forestry University's central office building in Rampur in Chitwan, Dahal said he felt like a winner himself notwithstanding his party's performance in the polls. Dahal said he felt relieved at the successful holding of the local level elections, and added, "The nation has entered a the new era." He also acknowledged the challenges of holding the second phase of local polls, the Himalayan Times reported. Dahal stated he would hold a meeting with major political parties and Madhes-based parties in a bid to create a conducive environment for holding elections in Provinces 1,2 5 and 7, after returning to the capital. The CPN Maoist Chairman Dahal said after completion of the second phase of local polls, all the political achievements would be institutionalised and people would witness the pace of development in their regions. In another development, Nepal's Council of Ministers have accepted the Tharuhat Tarai-Madhes movement as a political one on Thursday at a meeting held at the Office of the Nepali Prime Minister and Council of Ministers. It was decided under the recommendation of the Ministry of Home Affairs that the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs will present a proposal to withdraw all the cases filed against the people who participated in the movement, the daily reported. The Cabinet meeting has also decided to introduce the 'Chure Tarai Madhes Protection and Management Master Plan' for the management of the river systems, the promotion of greenery, forest area, for the development and sustainable management of forests and natural resources, and for minimizing the risk of climate change and adaptation in the Chure Tarai region, Nepal's Information and Communications Minister Surendra Kumar Karki said. New Delhi, May 19 : The Delhi High Court on Friday sought to know from the government the ideal doctor-patient ratio and the actual ratio in hosipitals in the national capital. A bench of acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Pratibha M. Singh also wanted to know from the authorities about the number of cases they have lodged in cases of violence against doctors and the prosecution carried out. The court's direction came while hearing a case initiated by its own based on media reports of doctors facing violence by patients or their kin. "We became concerned when the (AIIMS) doctors said they will learn taekwondo," said the bench. "We are troubled about the state of affairs -- safety and security of medical specialist in hospitals as well as the lack of sufficient experts to provide health care in hospitals," it added. It directed the authorities to publicise information to the public about the various provisions in law which prescribe punishment for violence against doctors. The court asked the government why it was not increasing the strength of doctors in Delhi's hospitals to improve patient care and lessen the burden on existing doctors. Noting that "doctors are working beyond their capacity", it said: "Why don't you increase the medical practitioner's strength in existing hospital? There are such wonderful doctors in the country. We have the best medical education where people from other countries come to study." The bench had earlier sought a status report on provision of adequate security to the doctors, nurses and staff in public hospitals in the capital, while taking into the media reports saying "one in two doctors in public hospitals face violence and that there has been an increase in such incidents". The court has posted the case for further hearing on June 29. Lucknow, May 19 : In yet another major rejig of the state's bureaucracy, the Uttar Pradesh government on Friday transferred 74 IAS officials, while Sashi Prakash Goel has been appointed as Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Sanjay Agarwal, a powerful bureaucrat in the previous Samajwadi Party regime, has been removed as the top boss of the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd and has been shifted to the Secondary and Higher Education Department as Additional Chief Secretary. Alok Kumar has been posted as the new Principal Secretary, Power department. Another senior bureaucrat Sadakant, has been divested of charge of Additional Chief Secretary, Housing and Urban Planning and is only left with the Public Works Department. Mukul Singhal has been given this charge. Amit Mohan Prasad has meanwhile been divested of the charge of Investment Commissioner but remains Noida CEO and Noida Metro Rail Corporation's Managing Director. Principal Secretary, Home, Debashish Panda has been relieved of his long-standing charge and has been posted as Investment Commissioner and Resident Commissioner of UP in New Delhi. Arvind Kumar, who was the Principal Secretary, Revenue, replaces him in the Home Department. Some district magistrates have also been changed while Sudhesh Ojha, Director, Information and Public Relations Department has also been removed. Many senior officials like Rama Raman, Anita Singh and Navneet Sehgal, considered close to the former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and put in waiting more than a month ago, have still not been given any posting. Islamabad, May 19 : Even as Pakistan joins some African countries like Kenya and Nigeria to breed and export donkeys to China, said to be one of the worlds biggest consumers of donkeys, there are concerns the move might deplete the donkey population in the countries to such an extent that the whole species might be wiped, a media report said. Last month, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government announced it would sell donkeys to China as a part of its Rs 1 billion Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-China Sustainable Donkey Development Programme, which was aimed to bring in Chinese investment into its agriculture sector. The donkey development programmes is part of the portfolio prepared by the province to attract Chinese investment in its agriculture sector under the ambitious $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Although donkey skins have no value in the African countries who sell them, they are highly sought after in China where they are used in production of traditional medicines. Moreover, donkey meat is also believed to be more nutritious than other meats, Dunya News reported. In the past, only the rich had the luxury of taking advantage of these medicines made from donkey hides, but a burgeoning middle class in China has fuelled the demand. According to TRT World, 120 tonnes of donkey meat are exported from an average Kenyan donkey farm to China. This trade has spelled disaster for the donkey population there. Dunya quoted a report published in TRT World, the international arm of the Turkish national broadcaster, that said the sale of donkeys and the illegal trade associated with it has had an adverse effect on their population in countries like Kenya and South Africa. As a result, some African countries have even banned donkey trading due to declining numbers. It said TRT World also cited numbers and figures given by Britain-based charity The Donkey Sanctuary, which said that the global demand for donkeys is 10 million animals per year, against a supply of just 1.8 million. This makes the trade highly unfeasible and unsustainable, leading to a dwindling donkey population. Considering these facts and the current scenario in African countries which are involved in the sale of donkeys to China, Pakistan should rethink its plans to pursue this programme, Dunya said. In case this programme is not properly implemented, or Pakistan is unable to sustain a supply sufficient for the Chinese demand, the result would be a falling donkey population that is highly unfavourable. The most important reason is the fact that donkeys are greatly valuable to the poor in the country, providing a cheap form of transport for people and goods, and thus, are an integral part of the struggle by poor people to make a living. Moreover, donkeys are also of great value as a mode of transportation to traverse Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's mountainous terrains. Donkey trade might thus prove to be detrimental not only to the species itself, but also to those who regularly use donkeys as a means to transport themselves or their goods, it said. According to media reports, Niger and Burkina Faso have announced a ban on donkey and donkey skin exports, as a result of massive imports by China, which, if left unchecked, will "decimate" their donkey populations. China's interest in donkeys have affected Africa in myriad ways. China needs donkeys for preparing a traditional and very popular remedy called Ejiao, believed to improve blood circulation, and cure conditions such as insomnia, dizziness, irregular menstruation etc. Due to the preference for Ejiao, China's donkey population, over the past two decades, has decreased from 11 million to 6 million. According to government data, China's donkey population currently decreases at the rate of 300,000 a year, NewsBytes reported. In Burkina Faso, China's donkey skin imports led to a growth of slaughterhouses. Donkey skin exports rose from 1,000 in the first quarter of 2015 to over 18,000 in the last quarter. Some 45,000 of Burkina Faso's 1.4 million donkeys were slaughtered in the period from March-August 2016. Blood and waste from slaughterhouses also affected groundwater in certain areas. In Niger, from 27,000 donkeys exported in 2015, the number rose to 80,000 in 2016, while also leading to more than a 400 per cent increase in price - from $34 to $145. Consequently, livestock traders are abandoning trade in other animals, with economic and ecological consequences. According to the news site, China's insatiable demand for donkeys has left several other African countries affected in different ways from a growth of slaughter houses in Kenya to a surge in donkey skin smuggling in countries like Botswana and Zimbabwe. This award affirms DHI's commitment to innovation, our pursuit of excellence, and our unwavering staff, currently based in active war zones, keeping our U.S. Service Men and Women connected to everything that is important to them," said Wallace Davis. DHI Telecom today announced that Wallace Davis, CEO of the DHI Telecom Group, is a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of The Year 2017 Award for the Gulf Coast Area. The awards program, which is celebrating its 31st year, recognizes entrepreneurs who are excelling in the areas of innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Wallace was selected as a finalist by a panel of independent judges. Award winners will be announced at a special gala event on June 15, 2017 at the Marriott Marquis. Its an honor to be chosen as a finalist for this esteemed award alongside such an extraordinary group of Gulf Coast entrepreneurs," said Wallace Davis. "As a global provider of internet services, streaming TV, digital telecommunications products and mobile retail support for the U.S. Department of Defense, the Army and Air Force Exchange Services, and our U.S. troops deployed around the world, we strive to be at the forefront of all things internet and digital, continued Wallace Davis. This recognition is a timely affirmation of DHI Telecom's commitment to innovation, our constant pursuit of excellence, and our unwavering staff, currently based in active war zones and dedicated to keeping our U.S. Service Men and Women connected to everything that is important to them," said Wallace Davis. About DHI Telecom DHI Telecom is a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) telecommunications, live media streaming and video on demand solutions provider, official Army & Air Force Exchange Telecom Concession and Space & Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) MWR internet service carrier. As a global telecommunications provider, DHI helps people in even the most war-torn regions achieve the freedom of communication and information. Serving more than 13 countries; with over 30 retail stores, DHI Telecom is the largest ISP in active war zones. 2017 marks DHI's 10th Year Anniversary. About Entrepreneur of The Year: Now in its 31st year, the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year program has expanded to recognize business leaders in over 145 cities and more than 60 countries throughout the world. Regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National competition. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner, will be announced at the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on November 18, 2017. The awards are the culminating event of the Strategic Growth ForumTM, the nations most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies. About EY EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities. EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com. This news release has been issued by DHI Telecom Group. For more information, please visit dhitelecom.com or ey.com # # # Escape last minute for a Great Barrier Reef cruise and more. Also included is some sightseeing in Sydney and outside Cairns, along with a Live Like a Local cruise on sparkling Sydney Harbour. Winter is the best time of year to visit the Great Barrier Reef. Of course, in the lands Downunder, winter has only just begun. Right now, Goway is inviting its Globetrotters to enjoy a last minute Australia vacation at a bargain price. Goways Great Barrier Reef and Sydney Harbour Cruising is a 13-day, air-inclusive trip combining three nights at the Great Barrier Reef with three nights in Sydney, plus a small group cruise on the Great Barrier Reef with meals, accommodation, shore excursions and more. Also included is some sightseeing in Sydney and outside Cairns, along with a Live Like a Local cruise on sparkling Sydney Harbour. Globetrotters wishing to embark on this Australia vacation will need to act fast. To receive a discount fare starting at just $3349 US or $4839 CA (including international airfare), Globetrotters must complete their travel by June 30, 2017. For those not quite ready to pack their bags, Goway is offering $200 AU onboard credit for passengers booking its 8-day Tasmania Expedition Cruise. Departing from Hobart on dates ranging from November 2017 to March 2018 Australias summer this cruise includes seven nights accommodation, all meals, morning and afternoon teas, landings at many of Tasmanias most interesting and picturesque ports, and informative lectures and presentations from expedition staff. This offer is valid for bookings made by June 30, 2017. Since 1970, Goway has been providing unforgettable travel experiences to Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Central & South America, Idyllic Island destinations and Europe. Today Goway is recognized as one of North America's leading travel companies for individuals, families and groups to select exotic destinations around the globe. Goway has offices in Toronto, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Manila, and Sydney, Australia. For reservations and information, visit http://www.goway.com, or call 1-800-387-8850. David Geisler demonstrates SmartCam3D View to ERAU student, K'Andrew Beckford-France We believe that drones equipped with AR will save lives and crucial time for agencies. David Geisler, Rapid Imaging Software, Inc. Rapid Imaging Software announced that unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) students from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University will use SmartCam3D View in the, UAS/Severe Weather Disaster Relief Operations Study Away Program in Oklahoma this month. During the study, students will learn operational and coordination requirements associated with UAS in support of disaster relief operations in partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management. Embry-Riddle students will be equipped with Rapid Imaging Softwares powerful augmented reality (AR) app, SmartCam3D View. The app shows map data such as street names and points of interest as overlays on video. This information assists the UAS pilot with safe flight operations and enhances disaster relief operations such as: Searching for missing persons or survivors Determining extent of damage to homes or infrastructure Directing emergency response teams to safe routes to affected areas Finding damaged infrastructure, storm drains or fire hydrants Avoiding flight hazards,power lines and towers Embry Riddle is a leader in UAS education and we wanted to expose students to the best AR technology available, stated David Geisler, Vice President of Operations for Rapid Imaging Software. We believe that drones equipped with AR will save lives and crucial time for agencies. Dr. Joseph Cerreta, Embry Riddle Assistant Professor of Aeronautical Science notes, Students will operate under the FAAs Part 107 sUAS rule using thermal imaging cameras, loaned from Rocky Mountain Unmanned Systems (RMUS), to effectively operate at night in search and rescue operations under a Certificate of Waiver. Thermal cameras with Rapid Imaging Softwares augmented reality can make night operations safer and more effective for first responders. The goal of the study is to teach students how UAS can assist local communities when disaster strikes. For more on SmartCam3D View: http://www.rapidimaging.net/smartcam3dview/ ### Rapid Imaging Software, Inc. is a pioneer in augmented reality and has been refining the technology since 1995. Our products are found on every US Army and US Marine tactical unmanned aircraft system. Photo: Sandra Cerreta About Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the worlds largest, fully accredited university specializing in aviation and aerospace, is a nonprofit, independent institution offering more than 80 baccalaureate, masters and Ph.D. degree programs in its colleges of Arts & Sciences, Aviation, Business, Engineering and Security & Intelligence. Embry-Riddle educates students at residential campuses in Daytona Beach, Fla., and Prescott, Ariz., through the Worldwide Campus with more than 125 locations in the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and through online programs. The university is a major research center, seeking solutions to real-world problems in partnership with the aerospace industry, other universities and government agencies. For more information, visit http://www.embryriddle.edu, follow us on Twitter (@EmbryRiddle) and facebook.com/EmbryRiddleUniversity, and find expert videos at YouTube.com/EmbryRiddleUniv. L'VOYAGE has launched a highly-exclusive medical and beauty tour to Tokyo, Japan, that targets mainland Chinas growing outbound medical tourist market. The Hong Kong-based private jet chartering company says that the ultra-rich from mainland China will spend anywhere from US$100,000 upwards on their personal beauty and healthcare needs on average each year and that Japan is an increasingly popular destination. Compared to other global medical hubs, Japan is just three hours away from mainland China by air. Popular for its famous tourist attractions, the countrys civil and technologically advanced infrastructure also boosts its image as a medical tourist destination. About half of the medical tourists that visit Japan today are from Asia, said Diana Chou, founder of LVOYAGE. Internationally, Japan scores well when it comes to its basic mental and physical health, health infrastructure and preventative care. The Prosperity Index by Legatum Institute, a London-based research institute, ranks Japans healthcare system fourth in the world, after Luxembourg, Singapore and Switzerland. For its customers, the private jet concierge company will secure appointments at the highly exclusive Kenkoin clinic in Tokyo, a renowned centre for preventative healthcare that only accepts six patients a day. The centre provides sophisticated examinations and gene identification to assess an individuals current and future disease risks, and has a team of physicians, nutritionists and fitness therapists to advise on preventative treatments. Many life-threatening diseases, such as asthma, chronic fatigue, stroke, myocardial infarction, osteoporosis and carcinogenesis, are bought on by stress and aging and can be prevented if treated early. There is a growing awareness of such diseases in China. In addition to the medical consultation at Keikoin, LVOYAGE has local partners who will tailor bespoke lifestyle services for both men and women. Some examples include "gold foil" beauty treatments, human placenta Injections, Japanese tea ceremonies, tours of the Hakone Palace and dining at Ginzas top kobe beef and sushi restaurants. No two tours are exactly alike. Private jet charters to Japan by LVOYAGE will cost between US$53,500 and US$64,900, depending on where customers fly from; Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai or Shenzhen. Five-star accommodation and tailored local tours, starting at US$28,000 per person, are arranged separately. GDP Technologies receives the Outstanding Partner Award from Dr. Terry W. Loe at the Center for Professional Selling You can have everything you want out of life, if you will just help enough other people get what they want out of life - Zig Ziglar GDP Technologies was honored with the Outstanding Partner Award for their partnership with the Center for Professional Selling (CPS) of the Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University. The Outstanding Partner Award is given to the CPS Partner that exhibits a high commitment to our sales students, the sales program and to the university sales education for the semester, said Dr. Terry W. Loe, Director of Extended Relationships for the Center for Professional Selling. This is the third year for the Outstanding Partner Award to be given and the first time GDP has received the award. The metrics to identify the Outstanding Partner Award includes a vote by sales students majoring in Professional Sales, CPS Staff and CPS Faculty and the level of involvement and engagement with the program and the students in our program, said Dr. Terry W. Loe. Kennesaw State University developed the first Professional Sales Major in 1989. The Center for Professional Selling has been recognized as one of the Top University Sales programs worldwide by the Sales Education Foundation since they began recognizing sales education. The CPS has 20 Corporate Partners who are vetted to determine those organizations that have quality sales culture that would be most appropriate to be good role models and mentor the future generations of sales professionals, said Dr. Terry W. Loe. GDP Technologies has been one of our outstanding partners since they have come on board. All of their representatives have exhibited in behavior, attitude and spirit their commitment to improving the Coles College of Business, Center for Professional Selling. GDP has been a critical partner in our being able to achieve our programs mission and indeed they have been unwavering in reflecting the CPS vision: You can have everything you want out of life, if you will just help enough other people get what they want out of life (Zig Ziglar), said Dr. Terry W. Loe. This is the second year GDP has been partnered with the Center for Professional Selling. The five sales professionals, who have joined the GDP team, following graduation, have proven to be outstanding contributors. GDP prioritizes the CPS students into their company schedule by hosting lunch and learns on professional topics as well as speaking in various classes about the sales industry and best practices. They also host an open house for students to come and explore the corporate environment, as well as, conduct ride days matching interested students with sales professionals so they are able to see what a day in the life of a sales professional is really like. These activities provide an environment where GDP can familiarize themselves with the students while providing them valuable experience for the future, regardless of their post-graduation career choice. KSU represents the pinnacle of Professional Selling curriculum; GDP covets the recognition from this esteemed program. All twenty of the chosen partners do an outstanding job in creating this award winning program, to be recognized among this group is outstanding. The award itself takes a backseat only to the satisfaction that comes from supporting these aspiring professionals in pursuing their craft, said John Schweizer, President and CEO of GDP Technologies. SEEBURGER AG, a global leader in business integration, announced today its expanded presence in Malaysia and Singapore to cater to current local and global customers, as well as increase its offerings to new companies and business partners within the South East Asia region. SEEBURGER, a global provider of business integration, has over 10 years experience in China and rest of Asia, providing Business-to-Business Integration (B2Bi), Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), Managed File Transfer (MFT) and Application Programming Interface (API) integration solutions to enable any companys digital transformation. In every company, there is a requirement to safely and securely transmit data, which is handled via business processes using structured or unstructured formats in a variety of situations. With SEEBURGER Business Integration Suite (BIS), companies receive an agile, scalable and unified central data platform for the secure and reliable transfer of data and the capability to digitally integrate all business processes with customers, external business partners and internal applications. In its recent 2017 CEO Survey: Asia/Pacific CIOs Can Do More to Accelerate Digital Business, Gartner recommends that CIOs in Asia Pacific who wish to influence strategic business change should accelerate their IT modernization efforts to provide a strong foundation for digital transformation. Combine the judicious use of outsourcing for commoditized activities with the aggressive adoption of cloud strategies as part of these modernization efforts. SEEBURGER solutions are used by many global companies with local presence in Asia, for example market leading banks and financial service providers, where local support, technical and business experience around compliance and regulations are needed. We are very eager to expand our footprint in Southeast Asia by offering our first in class SEEBURGER Business Integration Suite to companies and business partners looking to streamline and digitalize business processes, reduce operational costs and maintain governance and compliance. Our customers realize up to 60 percent savings from the elimination of individual manual processing steps, obtain increased data accuracy and more efficient processes as well as enjoy complete transparency and traceability, said Michael Kleeberg, co CEO, SEEBURGER AG. About SEEBURGER SEEBURGER is the German market leader and a global leader in digital business integration, including electronic data interchange, business-to-business integration, enterprise application integration and secure managed file transfer (MFT) solutions. With more than 10,000 active customers worldwide on premise and in the cloud SEEBURGER enables companies to streamline business processes, reduce operational costs, facilitate governance and compliance, and provide visibility to the farthest edge of the supply chain to maximize Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) effectiveness and drive new efficiencies. Gartner 2017 CEO Survey: Asia/Pacific CIOs Can Do More to Accelerate Digital Business, Partha Iyengar, 6 April 2017 Today WBR Digital and Luzern released the findings from their latest study, Are brands too dependent on Amazon for their eCommerce strategy? How branded manufacturers can win big by diversifying their online sales channels. The resulting report explores the complex relationship between branded manufacturers and Amazon, and investigates how it will evolve in the coming years. The research predicts that Amazons significance will dwindle as branded manufacturers look to increase their revenue online. 40% of responding manufacturers believe that their relationship with Amazon is significant but already reaching maximum potential." In fact, the research discovered that direct-to-consumer eCommerce stores are the primary strategic focus for branded manufacturers in the next five years. The research also found that the low cost of getting to market had been a strong initial draw for companies who want to sell their products through Amazon. But as those companies matured, diversifying their online strategy to increase revenue and mitigate risk made sense. In addition, there are further challenges of working with Amazon, respondents named three in particular: the ability to manage product reviews, concerns around fulfilment, and the ability to control their own pricing strategy. WBR conducted research with 130 senior decision makers at major manufacturers in Europe and the USA. Survey respondents included; VPs, Heads of eCommerce, Directors of Marketing and Heads of Digital Marketing, amongst others of equal standing. All interviews were conducted by appointment over the telephone. Additional commentary comes from Ken Doyle, the CEO at Luzern. Quotes from Ken Doyle, CEO, Luzern: Over the next few years we believe there will be a shift of power back to the branded manufacturers as more of them diversify their online strategy. Brands should ask themselves: How loyal is an Amazon customer to my brand? Will Amazon share the details of customers for which my brand is responsible? Who owns this customer? Will Amazon promote my competitors product using the information resulting from my sale? These questions will only increase in importance as margins are eroding and the complete cost of having Amazon as the cornerstone of your online strategy becomes clear. Key statistics: Developing direct-to-consumer stores will be top priority for branded manufacturers in the next five years Fewer than half of responding brands globally currently operate direct-to-consumer online stores. Controlling brand reputation and concerns around fulfilment of orders are some of the biggest challenges named by respondents. 40% see their relationship with Amazon as significant but already meeting maximum potential The research makes it clear that as branded manufacturers develop their online strategies, a single channelled approach to market is not sufficient. About WBR Digital WBR Digital conducts industry research and create executive-level content in eCommerce, Procurement, Supply-Chain, and Finance. Find out what your audience are saying. For more information visit: http://www.digitaleu.wbresearch.com About Luzern Accelerated eCommerce for ambitious brands Luzern builds, launches and manages e-commerce execution for market leaders worldwide. With a single connection direct to the Luzern eCommerce platform brands can sell across multiple channels, including B2C stores, marketplaces, B2B portals and specialised asset recovery markets. Luzern clients include: Philips, Nuance, Toshiba, Alcatel, Turtle Beach, Unilever and Morphy Richards. For more information and to get in touch, please visit luzern.co Resource One Credit Union celebrated financial literacy month by participating in a donation campaign. Resource One Credit Union collected over $646 during the 10 day donation period by hosting a Penny War Challenge. Resource One donated all of the proceeds collected to support the Cornerstone Credit Union Foundation. The goal of a Penny War is to collect only pennies in your own jar and put non pennies in everyone else jar. Pennies collect a positive value while silver collects a negative value. The group with the highest positive value wins. Cornerstone Credit Union Foundation is a public charity whose mission is to empower people to improve their financial well-being. Resource One helps support the Foundation in order to promote the credit union philosophy of people helping people obtain financial independence by supporting financial education initiatives, professional development of credit union staff and volunteers, and disaster relied support for credit union communities. About Resource One Credit Union Resource One Credit Union was originally chartered as Sears Dallas Employees Federal Credit Union in 1936. Over time, the increased demand for more locations and additional products and services prompted the expansion of our product lines and field of membership. Today Resource One proudly serves as a not-for-profit financial institution for the communities of Dallas and Harris counties. Resource One has 11 convenient locations to serve our over 55,000 members. Visit Resource One Credit Unions homepage at http://www.r1cu.org. Retired Air Force Col. Steven Turner, Virginia Council of Chapters president presents Rep. Barbara Comstock with the Virginia Council of Chapters annual Legislator of the Year award. Six members of Virginias congressional delegation joined more than 100 attendees at the 33rd annual Virginia Congressional Appreciation Luncheon, hosted by the Virginia Council of Chapters (VCOC) of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), at the Capitol Hill Club. Congressional delegation members discussed key national defense-related legislative issues with leaders representing 16 MOAA chapters from the commonwealth. MOAA members expressed their gratitude for all Congress has accomplished this past year to support currently serving and retired uniformed service members, veterans, and military families and survivors. The legislators in attendance included Reps. A. Donald McEachin, D-4th District; Bob Goodlatte, R-6th District; David Brat, R-7th District; Don Beyer, D-8th District; Barbara Comstock, R-10th District; and Gerry Connolly, D-11th District. Goodlatte told the audience, I want you to know I will continue fighting to ensure our nations military receives the quality of life they earned and deserve. He continued, Were dedicated to ensuring our priority is to protect our freedoms and [to ensure] the people who do that are properly cared for and compensated for making such a sacrifice for themselves and their families. Connollys nephew, a Black Hawk pilot with the Massachusetts National Guard, recently returned from a fourth tour in Iraq and Afghanistan. The congressman praised MOAAs legislative efforts in support of National Guard and Reserve issues by saying, Your legislation recognizing parity is really so important. Addressing MOAAs priority issue of repealing sequestration, Connolly said, We will figure out sequestration, but it must be done in a bipartisan way. He went on to say, It cannot be seen as at the expense of everything else. Weve got to get rid of sequestration, invest in the military and invest in ourselves. The VCOC recognized Comstock with its annual legislative award for her faithful support and loyal service regarding veterans and military compensation and benefits legislation. In presenting the award, retired Air Force Col. Steven Turner, VCOC president, said of Comstock, Last year she championed legislation that affected us in a positive way, including key provisions within the FY 2017 National Defense Authorization Act, her participation on caucuses related to ship building and her contributions to science, technology, engineering and math issues as the Research and Technology Subcommittee chairwoman. Retired Navy Capt. Jim Carman, vice president of Council-Chapter Affairs and Member Support at MOAA, took the opportunity to thank congressional members for championing military and veterans issues in 2016, saying, MOAA was grateful for the work in passing one of the most important and comprehensive [FY 2017] defense bills in many years. Carman pointed out, As we turn our attention to the 115th Congress and the return of sequestration, we know there will be an increased focus on modernization and readiness that will only amplify the pressure on military personnel accounts. Carman applauded VCOC members for their ability to work with their congressional leaders to find solutions to challenges impacting the military. We know you are our most committed members and the first to engage in support for MOAA advocacy priorities, he said. Carman reminded the audience, Last year, your grassroots work was instrumental in some of the success championed by the association: the full 2.1 percent pay raise for the currently serving, elimination of the reductions in basic allowance for housing and limiting TRICARE fee increases. The VCOC comprises the 18 MOAA chapters in the state and works to further the goals of national MOAA and local MOAA chapters. More than 42,000 MOAA members make their home in Virginia. Patriots Colony at Williamsburg sponsored the luncheon. About MOAA: Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) is the nations largest officers association with more than 355,000 members from every branch of service, including active duty, retired, National Guard, Reserve, and former officers and their families and survivors. MOAA is a nonprofit and politically nonpartisan organization and an influential force in promoting a strong national defense. MOAA represents the interests of servicemembers and their families in every stage of their lives and careers, and for those who are not eligible to join MOAA, Voices for Americas Troops is a nonprofit MOAA affiliate that supports a strong national defense. For more information, visit http://www.moaa.org or http://www.voicesfortroops.org. Members of the news media who wish to be added to our media distribution list for MOAA news releases, please contact requestnews(at)moaa(dot)org. Visit MOAAs Multimedia & Press Room at http://www.moaa.org/media/default.htm. Benseron Hospitality announces it will be exhibiting at the National Restaurant Association tradeshow at the McCormick Center in Chicago, IL held May 20th through May 23rd, 2017. Every May, the National Restaurant Association returns to Chicago as the countrys most anticipated restaurant show bringing more than 60,000 foodservice professionals from around the world to join in celebrating the foodservice and hospitality industry. "We're excited to reconnect with some of our international customers and colleagues as well as meet with new prospective Benseron clients," said Onur Haytac, President and CEO of Benseron Hospitality. NEW PRODUCTS ON DISPLAY We invite you to come discover Linga POS by Benseron Hospitality at Booth #6064. Linga POS is our revolutionary new cloud-based iPad POS solution. With its powerful, scalable architecture and rich feature set, Linga POS is capable of serving small mom-and-pop restaurants to the largest big name franchisers. "We design new products and services based on our customers' needs. We listen to what they need, and then we set out to develop a solution for them. Our goal is to make their job easier with high-quality software at competitive prices," said Onur Haytac. To learn more about Linga POS visit http://www.lingapos.com. ABOUT BENSERON HOSPITALITY: Benseron Hospitably has been designing high performance Point of Sales solutions for over a decade. We have become known as the PROFIT IMPROVEMENT SPECIALISTS to restaurant owners and operators both locally, across the country and around the globe. Our all-in-one mobile cloud-based POS solutions integrate both front and back operations and include inventory and labor management, online ordering, customer loyalty, gift cards, credit card processing and data analytics. For more information Benseron Hospitality and its service offerings visit http://www.benseron.com "We never buy a business so that we leave things as they are. We buy a business so we can see an opportunity to get involved, be an active partner, be a catlyst for change. We call ourselves value bringers." - Shirish Saraf Shirish Saraf, Co-founder and Vice Chairman of Samena Capital, RAK Logistics private equity investor, was recently featured in an article by Arabian Business titled, Back to the Future. Samena Capital was co-founded by Saraf in 2008. It is an investment group, which focuses on investments across multiple asset classes in the Subcontinent, Asia, Middle East and North Africa, collectively known as the SAMENA region. Saraf says the world is shifting back to where it was hundreds of years ago, and that the economic realities of the Subcontinent, Asia, the Middle East and North Africa are as relevant today as during the Ming dynasty. In the 15th century, India, China, the Middle East dominated the world, and now it looks like we are going back to the future, Saraf says. For 1,800 years, 60 percent to 70 percent of the worlds GDP was out of India, China and the Middle East. It was only the last 200 years that was an aberration. Youre seeing that wave come back. These countries cannot be ignored. You cant box them in with Western jargon because the West is going to have its biggest challenges over the next 10 to 15 years. According to Saraf, Samena is experiencing extraordinary times, as the company has returned $600m of capital since it started investing. RAK Logistics is honored to have the backing of Samena Capital. Saraf refers to RAK Logistics saying, today we are amongst the biggest ASEAN logistics providers RAK Logistics intends to continue growing and developing its success with the support of Samena. As the SAMENA region experiences a booming economy, more companies will gravitate to the area and search for support in expanding their logistics needs. Watch the full video interview (http://hubs.ly/H07xprF0) Download the full print article from Arabian Business (http://hubs.ly/H07wsBC0). To learn more about RAK Logistics, contact sales(at)raklogistics(dot)com or visit http://www.raklogistics.com for more information. ### About RAK Logistics RAK Logistics Pte. Ltd. combines 10 different organizations located in 17 countries with over 1,000 trained logisticians and local entrepreneurs in an expanding worldwide network of locations. RAKs vision is to be the leading ASEAN headquartered integrated logistics company. RAKs operations continue to develop in all ASEAN countries and enjoy a strong strategic presence across the globe. RAK Logistics is owned by private equity firm, Samena Capital. This private equity company focuses on investments across multiple asset classes in the Sub-continent, Asia, Middle East and North Africa, collectively known as the SAMENA region. If you are responsible for ensuring customer satisfaction in your supply chain, you want to select a partner who is as invested in your deliverables as you are. To learn more about RAK Logistics, contact sales(at)raklogistics(dot)com or visit http://www.raklogistics.com for more information. We share the same views on providing great customer service. MobilityWorks, the nation's largest retailer of wheelchair accessible vans, has signed an agreement to purchase Alamo Mobility. The projected closing date is June 15th. Headquartered in San Antonio, TX, Alamo Mobility has approximately 20 employees. A second showroom location is in Selma, TX, about 18 miles north of downtown San Antonio. The acquisition will add to MobilityWorks' existing presence in the state of Texas, where they currently have van showrooms and service centers in Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin and Waco. With the acquisition, the company will have 69 consumer locations in 24 states. Alamo Mobility was started in 1993 by Anita and Martin Smith (deceased), a retired U.S. Army Colonel who proudly served his country for 28 years. Colonel Smith was a leader in the mobility industry and was very well respected by his peers. Like MobilityWorks, the company is focused on helping people with disabilities to be more independent and able to travel in a vehicle that meets their individual needs. Matching the client with the right van conversion and other adaptive equipment is the primary goal for both organizations. We are extremely pleased to have Alamo Mobility become a part of our family, said Eric Mansfield, President of MobilityWorks. We are very similar in our core values and in how we operate our business. I anticipate this being a very smooth transition and we look forward to serving the entire San Antonio metro area. Ty Beck, Alamo Mobilitys General Manager for several years, will be overseeing operations for both San Antonio locations. Ive known the MobilityWorks leadership team for many years and we share the same views on providing great customer service. I know we will continue that tradition as MobilityWorks, said Beck. San Antonio is the second largest city in Texas with Houston being the largest. Dallas is third, followed by Austin. In addition to selling new and pre-owned modified vans for wheelchair accessibility, MobilityWorks and Alamo Mobility also provide rental vans and adaptive equipment such as hand controls, turning seats and scooter lifts. MobilityWorks also manufactures and sells a variety of commercial vehicles to business clients throughout the United States. About MobilityWorks MobilityWorks (aka WMK, LLC) is a Cleveland, Ohio-based Inc. 500 company that employs specially trained Certified Mobility Consultants to work closely with its clients to understand their specific transportation needs in finding the right vehicle solution. Founded in 1997 with one location, MobilityWorks has been recognized on the Inc. 500|5000 list of Inc. Magazine's fastest growing privately held companies for the past ten years. MobilityWorks Commercial is the largest provider of commercial wheelchair vans in the country. TransitWorks, located in Akron Ohio, is the manufacturing division of WMK, LLC and is Ford Motor Company's largest mobility upfitter. Learn more about MobilityWorks at http://www.mobilityworks.com. VomFASS Naperville (naperville.vomfassusa.com) a European-style store selling dozens of imported oils, aged vinegars, wines, spirits and liqueurs vom fass, meaning from the cask in German is ramping up its class and private event schedules. Located at 121 S. Washington St., in the heart of the citys downtown shopping district, upcoming classes include: Memorial Day Grilling/Wines for Summer (May 27), Tour of Scotland (June 3), Whiskey Around the World (June 10), Scotch Tasting (June 17), and Shrubs/Bitters (June 24). All are open to the public and registration includes a discount on all purchases. For a complete schedule, stop by the store or visit its online events calendar. VomFASS Naperville, the only Illinois location of the popular European chain, is also booking private and corporate tastings and events for groups up to 20 (age 21+), according to franchise holder/owner Michael Aldrich. Recent events have focused on: Whiskey tasting Cocktail making Wine, cheese and chocolate tasting Cooking with oils and vinegars Pickling Our staff, which includes two trained chefs, can work with customers to create an event around a particular theme or type of food or beverage. We have lots of flexibility, and are adding new products all the time, Aldrich said. Some of the more popular items currently are Amrita (a single malt whiskey made in India), grapefruit liqueur, and wild mango balsamic vinegar, he said. In addition to dozens of wines, spirits and liqueurs, vomFASS Naperville sells a variety of other products from around the world, including spices, spreads, syrups, pastas, olives and gift-boxed samplers. Many products are organic, the spirits and liqueurs use traditional distillation methods, and the balsam and balsamic vinegars are made from the carefully processed juice of ripened aromatic fruit and are free of preservatives and artificial colorants. Unlike when you shop online, virtually everything here is available to taste before you buy, he said. VomFASS Naperville opens daily at 11 a.m. and closes at 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 8 p.m. on Thursday, 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 4 p.m. on Sunday. Theres ample free parking behind the store and in nearby parking decks. For more information visit naperville.vomfassusa.com or call 630-857-9936. About vomFASS Naperville Located in Chicagos western suburbs, vomFASS Naperville is the only Illinois location of the European-style store that sells imported oils, aged vinegars, wines, spirits and liqueurs straight from the cask, along with an assortment of specialty foods. The Naperville location is owned by Michael Aldrich, a former human resources executive, who is the exclusive Chicago-area franchise holder. The vomFASS concept originated in Germany in the early 80s, eventually expanding throughout Europe and the United States. There are 35 independently owned and operated U.S. vomFASS locations. The U.S. headquarters is in Madison, Wisc. Nationally recognized tax controversy and litigation attorney Phil Karter, a shareholder with national law firm Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams & Aughtry, recently co-presented at the 2017 Audits & Appeals Seminar organized by the Tax Executives Institute. Karter joined Chamberlain Hrdlicka colleague David Aughtry in presenting a session entitled Witnesses, Whistleblowers and Protecting the Cause, which focused on how to prepare witnesses for IRS interviews during a tax audit, and was part of the days programming detailing Insights and Skills for Federal Tax Controversy Success. This was the fourth consecutive year in which Karter has acted as a presenter during the TEI seminar, which is designed to meet the tax controversy needs of the in-house professional community. An experienced tax controversy attorney, Karter has litigated federal tax cases in the United States District Courts, the United States Tax Court and the United States Court of Federal Claims and has argued in the United States Court of Appeals in multiple circuits. His range of trial experience, which includes dozens of jury and non-jury cases tried to judgment, encompasses a wide variety of complex and high-profile matters involving federal income, estate and gift, and excise tax issues. That experience has been acknowledged by several leading ranking publications, including Chambers USA, which routinely lists Karter among its leading nationwide tax controversy lawyers and the Legal 500 U.S., also for tax controversy. A shareholder in the Philadelphia office of Chamberlain Hrdlicka, Karter earned a bachelors degree from Emory University, a law degree from the University of Wisconsin School of Law, and an LL.M. degree in taxation from New York University School of Law. 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 addition to its nationally recognized tax planning and tax controversy practice, the firm represents clients in appellate law, bankruptcy, restructuring, reorganization and creditor rights, construction law, corporate, securities & finance, employee benefits and executive compensation, employment law, energy and maritime, government and regulatory matters , immigration, insurance, intellectual property, international, labor and employment litigation, real estate and white collar criminal defense. # # # The Hood Kitchen Space + Market, Orange Countys premiere commercial kitchen space, is pleased to announce that Open Gate Internationals Culinary Skills program will again be held at The Hood, providing participants the skills needed to work in the culinary industry. The Hoods partnership with Open Gate International (OGI) helps OGI empower students with the knowledge, skills and abilities they need to obtain meaningful employment, and furthers The Hoods investment in the local culinary community, a cornerstone of their business. Since opening its doors more than four years ago, The Hood has emerged as a local culinary hub and business incubator where like-minded food entrepreneurs can network, promote and develop their businesses. Creating a strong, integrated community is a priority for Hood co-owners Shelby Coffman and Christie Frazier, who are both honored to help train the next generation of food-industry talent and participate in OGIs mission to improve the lives of their students through the love of food. Weve seen first-hand the incredible work this organization is doing, said Coffman. Success stories are being created here at The Hood because of this program, like the student who was homeless just eight weeks ago, and is now fully employed in the food service industry, or the OGI student that has been hired by one of our clientswe couldnt ask for better outcomes. The OGI Culinary Skills program provides eight weeks of hands-on culinary training by professional chef Brent Southcombe, including food preparation, training in sanitation, kitchen communication, knife skills, weights and measurements and use of equipment. This training prepares students to work in a variety of settings in the food service industry, including hospitals, hotels, schools and restaurants. Says Cheramie Law, OGIs Global Development & Communication Coordinator, Training and mentoring is at the heart of everything we do. Students in this program learn how to prepare meals in a commercial kitchen and receive support in finding a position in the culinary workforce. Most importantly, our students gain sustainable life skills, empowering them to develop a happy, healthy life." About Open Gate International Open Gate International (OGI) is a nonprofit organization that believes everyone deserves the chance to learn and thrive. OGI is dedicated to identifying vocational opportunities that will provide students in need with the opportunity to gain independent economic success. To learn more, please email Cheramie Law or visit Open Gate International. About The Hood Kitchen Space The Hood Kitchen Space is an Orange County Health Department-certified commercial kitchen space in Costa Mesa, California, offering culinary professionals and entrepreneurs over 5,400 square feet of space on a 24/7 basis. For more information, visit The Hood Kitchen Space, email The Hood or call 949.400.6077. 2017 The Hood Kitchen Space. All Rights Reserved. American IRA CEO, Jim Hitt The second option is rolling the balance of the 401(k) over to an IRA or even a Self-Directed IRA. In a Self-Directed IRA, investors can utilize a greater variety of asset classes including real estate, precious metals, and more. Past News Releases RSS American IRA Responds to Increases... American IRA Responds to The Best... Self-Directed IRA Administrator... Leaving ones job may just be one of the best times to roll over a 401(k) into a Self-Directed IRA, according to Jim Hitt in a recent blog post at American IRA. The post, "Getting Started in a Self-Directed IRA Leaving Your Job?" examines what retirement investors leaving their current positions will want to do when it comes to retirement accounts. Jim Hitt argues that there are a lot of different options available to those who are leaving a job or even simply transferring one job to another. Because retirement investors who have contributed to a 401(k) provided by the company over time might have a lot of money built up, Jim Hitt says that understanding how to handle that money in regard to retirement investing is crucial. If someone is leaving a job, then there are a few options available to be aware of, says Jim Hitt. The first option is cashing out a 401(k). In most cases, this isnt recommended. In addition to the immediate income tax hit, the simple fact is most investors are not yet ready to cash out their 401(k). The second option, argues Jim Hitt, is rolling the balance of the 401(k) over to an IRA or even a Self-Directed IRA. In a Self-Directed IRA, investors can utilize a greater variety of asset classes including real estate, precious metals, and more. Typically, anyone under 55 is going to want to roll over so that they can keep holding on to all of that money theyve built up, says Jim Hitt. A roll over is a relatively simple and straightforward process that many investors use to keep any momentum for retirement rolling. This includes putting money previously funding a different type of account into another account of a different style. For investors that want to control where their retirement nest egg goes, leaving ones job is one of the most critical times to have a look at where the retirement money is and whats going to become of it, says Jim Hitt. To read more of Jim Hitts blog post on the issue of leaving ones job and utilizing rollovers, visit http://www.americanira.com/home-links/getting-started-self-directed-ira-leaving-job/ . For additional information, contact American IRA at 1-866-7500-IRA(472). About American IRA, LLC: Click here to claim one of our 7 Self-Directed IRA guide(s). American IRA is committed to providing every client with gold-level service, regardless of account size. Experience their expertise through their certified IRA services professionals. Enjoy the value with one low annual fee of $285 with unlimited assets and unlimited account values. American IRA clients love the benefit of no charge for "All Cash" accounts. The performance of the American IRA staff is unmatched, with quick and efficient processing within 48 hours. American IRA services thousands of clients and has over $300 million in assets under administration. American IRA was built by investors for investors, and brings their successful investment experience to the table, providing excellent educational material showing the public that their Self-Directed IRA account can invest in a variety of assets such as real estate, private lending, limited liability companies, precious metals and much more. American IRA is conveniently located in Asheville, NC and Charlotte, NC, and serves clients nationwide. The Honorable Christopher A. Hart, member of the National Transportation Safety Board Vaughn College will celebrate its 85th Commencement on Saturday, May 20, 2017 beginning at 10 a.m. in the William R. DeCota Hangar. The Honorable Christopher A. Hart, former chairman and member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), will deliver the commencement address to more than 170 graduates. He will also be awarded an honorary degree by President Dr. Sharon B. DeVivo at the ceremony. I am honored to address the graduates, young men and women, who will undoubtedly be significant contributors to our society and economy, said Hart. And kudos to Vaughn College for making this opportunity available to them. Hart became a member of the NTSB in August 2009, and was designated vice chairman by President Barack Obama. He served as acting chairman from April 26, 2014, until he was appointed by President Obama as chairman on March 16, 2015. His term as chairman ended on March 15, 2017, and he is now serving as a member. His 5-year term as member will end December 31, 2017. From 1973 until 1990, member Hart held a series of legal positions, mostly in the private sector. He joined the NTSB for the first time in 1990 and served until 1993. From 1993 until 1995, he was deputy administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, then went on to serve as Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) assistant administrator for system safety and FAA deputy director for air traffic safety oversight before returning to the NTSB in 2009. Hart holds a law degree from Harvard University and masters and bachelors degrees in aerospace engineering from Princeton University. He is a member of the District of Columbia Bar and the Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association, and is a licensed pilot with commercial, multi engine, and instrument ratings. Harts family has a tradition of accomplishment in transportation. In 1926, his great uncle, James Herman Banning, was the first African-American to receive a pilots license issued by the US government. Vaughn College is proud to acknowledge the accomplishments of The Honorable Christopher A. Hart, said DeVivo. His commitment to public service and the safety of our transportation system stands as a shining example to our graduates of someone who has lead a life of conviction and dedication to improving the lives of all Americans. About Vaughn Founded in 1932, Vaughn College is a private, four-year college that enrolls more than 1,600 students in masters, bachelors and associate degree programs in engineering, technology, management and aviation on its main campus in New York City and online. The student-faculty ratio of 14 to 1 ensures a highly personalized learning environment. Ninety-eight percent of Vaughn College graduates are placed in professional positions or choose to continue their education within one year of graduation, eighty-one percent in a related field. They work in 20 countries and all 50 states. The institution serves many first-generation college students and is recognized by the US Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution. For more information, visit http://www.vaughn.edu. For the second consecutive year, Valeo North America was recognized with a General Motors Supplier Diversity Award. Valeo NA received GMs 2017 Supplier IMPACT Gold Award at the automakers annual IMPACT Awards meeting held at Detroits COBO Center on May 4. The Supplier Diversity Awards recognize the top 50 suppliers who have excelled in Tier 2 diversity spend. The Gold distinction is awarded to IMPACT award winners who rank in the top 50 and excelled in one additional area beyond top spend. Valeo NA also was recognized for its Year-Over-Year Performance to Goal. Valeo falls within the top 12 suppliers for year-over-year improvement in performance to the goal, said Art McClellan, Valeo NA Purchasing Segment Leader for Supplier Diversity Recruitment. This shows that when we put forth the effort and focus on a goal, we can achieve it. We want to continue this progress. Supplier diversity is a strategic business process for Valeo NA and demonstrates the companys commitment to Sustainable Development. Valeo is committed to developing and maintaining supplier relationships that provide a source of competitive advantage. Having a diversity program allows Valeo to provide an opportunity for minority, women and veteran owned businesses to participate in the companys procurement process. "GM is proud to work with Valeo who has excelled in their Supplier Diversity program and who has worked hard to impact their companys supply chain with certified, innovative diverse suppliers, said Donna Gilmer, Supplier Diversity Program Manager, GM. General Motors was the first automotive OEM to establish a formal supplier diversity program in 1968. Valeo North America contact: Daniel Saad Region Communications Director dan.saad(at)valeo(dot)com O: 248-619-8377 About Valeo Valeo is an automotive supplier, partner to all automakers worldwide. As a technology company, Valeo proposes innovative products and systems that contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions and to the development of intuitive driving. In 2016, the Group generated sales of 16.5 billion and invested over 11% of its original equipment sales in research and development. Valeo has 155 plants, 20 research centers, 38 development centers and 15 distribution platforms, and employs 91,800 people in 32 countries worldwide. Valeo is listed on the Paris stock exchange and is a member of the CAC 40 index. www.VentureConstructionGroup.com At Venture Construction Group, we always make it a priority to give back to our community, especially to service members who sacrifice so much for our countrys safety," says Stephen Shanton, CEO and founder of Venture Construction Group. Venture Construction Group (VCG) is the proud Salute Sponsor at the 2017 Lukes Wings Heroes Gala on April 8 in Washington, D.C. The 2017 event honors Ret. USMC Sergeant Joshua Lopez. Proceeds raised during the annual signature event go towards funding travel services for wounded warriors and their loved ones. This black tie event featured dinner, live auction, and musical performances from Captain Luis Avila and Peter Harmonica Pete Dupre. Lukes Wings hosts major fundraisers throughout the year to raise money and awareness, and to show appreciation to supporters, sponsors, and wounded warriors. Lukes Wings provides families with the means to visit during the service members hospitalization and rehabilitation. By purchasing travel agency services and travel tickets for loved ones, Lukes Wings provides an immediate and invaluable service to military personnel and their families. We are extremely honored to sponsor this years Heroes Gala. At Venture Construction Group, we always make it a priority to give back to our community, especially to service members who sacrifice so much for our countrys safety. It is the least we can do for our military, says Stephen Shanton, CEO and founder of Venture Construction Group. Founded in 1998, VCG helps homeowners, commercial property owners, and property management companies with storm damage repairs, 24/7 emergency services, residential and commercial construction and restoration throughout the nation. VCG is a proud supporter of community organizations, nonprofits, local charities and events. About Venture Construction Group Venture Construction Group (VCG) is a leader in residential and commercial construction, roofing, renovations, restoration, storm damage repairs, and 24/7 emergency services. We are a full-service general contractor and assist property owners throughout Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington, D.C. Founded in 1998, VCG services commercial and residential properties throughout the East Coast, Greater Mid-Atlantic Region, Gulf Coast, and Midwest. Operational excellence is our mission in every project we undertake, and we pride ourselves on providing exceptional customer service. Venture Construction Group is a proud Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor, an exclusive certified National Storm Damage Center Preferred Contractor, Platinum Preferred Certified Contractor with the National Insurance Restoration Council, WindStorm Insurance Network WIND Certified Umpire, WIND Certified Appraiser, WIND Certified Fellow, member of the United Association of Storm Restoration Contractors. VCG credentials have been vetted and screened through independent third party Global Risk Management Solutions. With offices nationwide and a solid reputation throughout the country, we are able to respond to your needs with quality, ease, and top-notch service. For more information call 866-459-8348 or visit us online at http://www.VentureConstructionGroup.com. About Lukes Wings Lukes Wings, a non-profit dedicated to American heroes who have been wounded in battle, provides transportation services to wounded warriors and their loved ones so they can be together during the service members hospitalization and rehabilitation. These visits not only bring comfort, but play a crucial role in healing, both physically and emotionally. Additionally, Lukes Wings is the go-to for providing flights for the loved ones of special operators under the Special Operations Command Care Coalition who are injured on special missions, and provides flights for family members of Veterans in hospice care in an effort to ensure that no veteran is ever alone during their final days. Learn more about Lukes Wings at http://www.LukesWings.org. Media Inquiries: Mateusz Orlewicz Elev8 Consulting Group Ph: 702-706-8250 Web: http://www.elev8cg.com Researchers will present two abstracts based on information from the Pulmonary Hypertension Association Registry (PHAR) at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) meeting this month. The PHAR is a part of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) Pulmonary Hypertension Care Center (PHCC) accreditation program. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)a progressive, life-threatening, debilitating form of PHis high blood pressure of the lungs due to narrowing of the pulmonary arteries. It forces the right side of the heart to pump so hard to move blood into the lungs that it can lead to heart failure. Symptoms are non-specific and include shortness of breath, fatigue and chest pain. Because patients go months, sometimes years, believing they have something other than PH, most patients are ultimately diagnosed with an advanced form of the disease. But early and accurate diagnosis, quality care and appropriate PAH treatments can extend and improve the quality of life for many patients. With the recent addition of the three adult-treating Regional Clinical Programs (RCP), 50 programs (including six pediatric and forty-one adult Centers of Comprehensive Care (CCCs) in 27 states across the U.S. have earned accreditation since the quality improvement initiative launched less than three years ago. To continue striving for better quality of care in the treatment of PH, the PHCC program encourages all accredited sites to participate in the PHAR. As of May 2017, 18 accredited sites are participating in the PHAR and have already enrolled 253 patients. At the upcoming ATS meeting in Washington D.C. , on behalf of the entire PHAR study group investigators,* Roham T. Zamanian, MD (Stanford University) will present "Determinants of Health Related Quality of Life in PAH: Data from the Pulmonary Hypertension Association Registry." On behalf of his study group investigators,** Vinicio De Jesus Perez, M.D., (Stanford University) will present "Characterization of Hispanics with Pulmonary Hypertension in the US: The Pulmonary Hypertension Association Registry." The PHAR is a multi-center, prospective, observational registry of newly evaluated patients diagnosed at accredited centers in the United States with PAH or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), two forms of PH for which targeted treatments are available that can extend and improve patients lives. PHAR-participating centers collect baseline information when a patient is initially evaluated and follow-up data at approximately six-month intervals. The primary goal of the PHAR is to measure and improve quality of care including assessing differences in centers adherence to evidence-based guidelines and establishing benchmarks for health outcomes and to explore relationships between adherence to expert recommended care strategies and patient outcomes. The PHAR gives accredited centers a platform to perform their own research and quality improvement initiatives and assess patient-reported outcomes, including health-related quality of life. Each PHAR site can access its own data in real-time, enabling the center to understand important information about their own patient populations and care practices. *"Determinants of Health Related Quality of Life in PAH: Data from the Pulmonary Hypertension Association Registry" investigators include: Roham T. Zamanian, M.D., Stanford University; Todd M. Bull, M.D., University of Colorado, Denver; Teresa DeMarco, M.D., University of California San Francisco; Jeremy Feldman, M.D., Arizona Pulmonary Specialists, Phoenix, Ariz.; Jeffrey Fineman M.D., University of California San Francisco; Hubert J. Ford, M.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Michael P. Gray, Pulmonary Hypertension Association; Daniel Grinnan, M.D., Richmond, Virginia; James R. Klinger, M.D., Brown University; John W. McConnell, M.D., Kentuckiana Pulmonary Associates, Louisville, Kentucky; Erika Rosenzweig, M.D., Columbia University Medical Center, New York; Linda Santos, patient representative; and ; Jeffrey Sager, M.D., USC Santa Barbara. ** 'Characterization of Hispanics with Pulmonary Hypertension in the US: The Pulmonary Hypertension Association Registry' investigators include: Vinicio De Jesus Perez, M.D., Stanford University; David Badesch, M.D., University of Colorado, Denver; Roham T. Zamanian, M.D., Stanford University; Jeffrey Fineman M.D., University of California San Francisco; James R. Klinger M.D., Brown University; Jim Ford, M.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; John W. McConnell, M.D., Kentuckiana Pulmonary Associates, Louisville, Kentucky; Jeffrey Sager, M.D., USC Santa Barbara; Jeremy Feldman, M.D., Arizona Pulmonary Specialists, Phoenix, Ariz.; Oksana Shlobin, M.D., INOVA Fairfax, Virginia; Daniel Grinnan, M.D., Medical College of Virginia; Todd M. Bull, M.D., University of Colorado, Denver; Erika Rosenzweig, M.D., Columbia University Medical Center, New York; Linda Santos, patient representative; and Teresa DeMarco, M.D., University of California San Francisco. About the Pulmonary Hypertension Association: Headquartered in Silver Spring, Md., the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) is the countrys leading pulmonary hypertension organization. PHAs mission is to extend and improve the lives of those affected by PH; its vision is a world without PH, empowered by hope. PHA achieves this by connecting and working together with the entire PH community of patients, families, health care professionals and researchers. For more information and to learn how you can support PH patients, visit http://www.PHAssociation.org and connect with PHA on Twitter and Instagram @PHAssociation and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/PulmonaryHypertensionAssociation. ### We cannot disciple people that we are not in relationship with. Discipleship begins with relationship. What if United Methodist congregations stopped looking for quick fixes to revitalize their churches and started seeing the people right outside our doors that Christ called us to reach? What if churches recommitted themselves to focus on being in relationship with those around them and created an intentional system to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world? Discipleship Ministries of The United Methodist Church is asking those questions of the denomination. The agency believes the denomination has looked too long for a quick fix to help guide discipleship efforts, and the church is now called to fully embrace the spirit of the Wesleyan tradition by being in relationship with the communities that surround our churches. Discipleship Ministries is launching a grass roots initiative called #SeeAllThePeople, designed to inspire a disciple-making movement across our denomination. The agency is in the midst of shifting priorities to create resources, events and a discipleship system that emphasizes congregations being in relationship with those outside its walls. We cannot disciple people that we are not in relationship with. Discipleship begins with relationship, said the Rev. Junius B. Dotson, General Secretary (CEO) of Discipleship Ministries. When churches create an intentional discipleship system, they move from tinkering and fixing to relationship and discipleship. We do this not to just fill our pews, but to boldly show Christs love to those around us. To launch the initiative, Discipleship Ministries has produced a discussion starter video and a free study booklet for congregations written by Dotson: Developing an Intentional Discipleship System: A Guide for Congregations. Dotson urged church leaders and lay members to become part of the movement by downloading the free resource at http://www.SeeAllThePeople.org. He also urged church leaders to start a conversation using the hashtag #SeeAllThePeople and to share the resources available on the website. Lets start a new conversation that looks outward and begins with creative and innovative ways to see and reach the people around us, so we can make disciples for the transformation of the world, Dotson said. Bishop Mark J. Webb, president of the Discipleship Ministries Board of Directors and Episcopal leader of the Upper New York Area, said he believes the #SeeAllThePeople initiative will help our church work to reach the goal of making one million new disciples of Jesus Christ by the year 2020. We are called to be fishers of people to do whatever it takes to meet people where they are and offer them the amazing good news of Jesus Christ! I believe this call to focus on and engage in intentional discipleship pathways will help bring clarity to our mission as a church and will ignite a passion for making disciples across our denomination, Bishop Webb said. Information about the #SeeAllThePeople movement and creating intentional discipleship systems will be presented by Discipleship Ministries staff at some 45 Annual Conferences this year, and Dotson will be speaking at about five of them. We're asking churches to think a little deeper about how they are connecting with their community, said Jeff Campbell, executive director of Conference Relationships at Discipleship Ministries. Many churches already have a disciple-making system, which produces exactly what it is designed to produce, Campbell said. #SeeAllThePeople seeks to help church leaders refocus and be intentional in their efforts, rather than discipleship that just happens. If you really push leaders and ask, How do you make disciples? many don't know. They do a lot of activities and programs and hope that in the end they help people grow in their faith and they make new disciples. But there's no intentionality, he said. Taylor Burton-Edwards, director of Worship Resources at Discipleship Ministries, looked at how #SeeAllThePeople reflects the wisdom and work of the Wesleys and the early Methodists themselves. While for centuries churches have served as reliable institutions in the local community where people publicly worship God, learn basic doctrine and care for each other, Burton-Edwards said something is often missing in congregations. And that is our stated mission, making disciples of Jesus Christ who are able, enabled and supported in joining God's mission to transform the world. As we begin to engage this vision of seeing all the people, perhaps the Holy Spirit will open our eyes to the gifts of all the people around us that we may no longer artificially divide worship and mission, but see them as leading into and building on each other so that we worship our way into discipling and disciple our way into worship, he said. In addition to the video #SeeAllThePeople, a variety of resources are available online at http://www.SeeAllThePeople.org, including: Developing an Intentional Discipleship System: A Guide for Congregations. The free resource guide offers clarity to questions like What is a disciple? How are they formed? and, most importantly, Why are we called to make them? It also provides help for congregations wanting to develop a discipleship system or improve their existing discipleship efforts. A Social Hub, with numerous social media opportunities to follow and participate in the movement using the hashtag #SeeAllthePeople and images to share with friends Rev. Dotsons video explaining the importance of creating an intentional discipleship system The Wesleyan Roots of #SeeAllthePeople, a downloadable pdf prepared by Burton-Edwards, along with a video of Burton-Edwards describing the historical significance with the Wesleyan movement. Future #SeeAllThePeople updates by email # # # The mission of Discipleship Ministries is to support annual conference and local church leaders for their task of equipping world-changing disciples. An agency of The United Methodist Church, Discipleship Ministries is located at 1908 Grand Ave. in Nashville, Tenn. For more information, visit http://www.UMCdiscipleship.org, the Press Center at http://www.UMCdiscipleship.org/about/press-center or call the Communications Office at (877) 899-2780, Ext. 1726. Aspen Air Conditioning, an air conditioning and heating company based in Boca Raton, FL, has partnered with Nest Labs, Inc. to include the Nest Learning Thermostat as a standard component of most of its middle and upper tier residential HVAC system installations. Aspen Air Conditioning will also offer professional installation of Nest Thermostats as an optional upgrade when performing service and preventative maintenance in previously installed systems. Aspen Air Conditioning is a network provider for American Residential Services (ARS), a Memphis, Tenn. based, privately-held national provider of air conditioning, heating and plumbing services. We are delighted to be recognized as a Nest Pro Elite partner across our network of more than 70 service centers. As a national leader in the residential HVAC and plumbing industry, ARS service centers can now leverage this exciting technology enabling homes to be smarter and more energy-efficient, says Luis Orbegoso, President and COO of ARS. The benefits that a smart and connected home offers are very compelling. This partnership will allow us to offer even more value to our customers with Nests cutting-edge, yet approachable technology, added Steve Maguire, General Manager of Aspen Air Conditioning. While Nest products are designed so that homeowners can choose to install themselves, Nest wants to make it easy for those whod prefer to take advantage of the benefits of a pro installation, says Gene LaNois, Head of Professional Channel, Nest. ARS shares our passion for enabling the thoughtful home, and were excited that they will be incorporating the Nest Thermostat into their installation offerings. The Nest Thermostat learns the temperatures a homeowner prefers and then programs itself. Independent studies have shown that the Nest Thermostat saves homeowners on average 10-12% on heating and 15% on cooling costs. Nests algorithms allow customers to monitor their energy history daily, in addition to receiving an easy-to-understand monthly report. The Nest Thermostat will also alert homeowners in the event it detects certain problems with the homes HVAC system. The Nest Thermostat and other Nest products are now available at all ARS Network branches that provide HVAC services and installations. ABOUT AMERICAN RESIDENTIAL SERVICES Based in Memphis, Tenn., privately-owned ARS operates a network of more than 70 locally-managed service centers in 23 states, with approximately 6,500 employees. The ARS network features industry-leading brands including, A.J. Perri, Aksarben ARS, Allgood, Andys Statewide, ARS, Aspen Air Conditioning, Atlas Trillo, Beutler, Blue Dot, Brothers, Columbus Worthington Air, Comfort Heating & Air, Conway Services, Efficient Attic Systems (EAS), Florida Home Air Conditioning, Green Star Home Services, McCarthy Services, Rescue Rooter/ Proserv, Rescue Rooter, RighTime Home Services, RS Andrews, The Irish Plumber, Unique Services, "Will" Fix It, and Yes! Air Conditioning and Plumbing. United by Exceptional Service, the ARS / Rescue Rooter Network serves both residential and light commercial customers by providing heating, cooling, indoor air quality, plumbing, drain cleaning, sewer line, radiant barrier, insulation and ventilation services. Each location has a knowledgeable team of trained specialists, who have undergone rigorous drug testing and criminal background checks. Providing exceptional service and ensuring the highest standards of quality, ARS has the experience to do any job right the first time, with all work fully guaranteed. We are very excited to be expanding in the Mahoning Valley community, said MedVet President, Dr. Eric Schertel. May 19, 2017. MedVet Medical & Cancer Centers for Pets is pleased to announce its expansion into Mahoning Valley in northeast Ohio with the addition of the After Hours Animal Emergency Clinic which is now called MedVet Mahoning Valley. This partnership will provide local veterinarians continued support and access to emergency veterinary care in the greater Mahoning Valley community. We are very excited to be expanding in the Mahoning Valley community, said MedVet President, Dr. Eric Schertel. MedVet and the After Hours Animal Emergency Clinic have always been committed to, and will continue to deliver, the highest level of compassionate emergency veterinary medical care. Dr. Linda Lehmkuhl, MedVets Chief Medical Officer said, Our goal in this partnership is to fuse the strength and reputation of the AECs emergency services with MedVets well-known focus on collaborative care to develop an emergency hospital that serves as an extension of local veterinary practices. MedVet Mahoning Valley will continue to provide the current schedule of emergency services. In addition to MedVet Mahoning Valley, MedVet operates a network of fifteen medical centers in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Alabama, and Texas, and is committed to delivering the highest quality, most compassionate specialty and emergency veterinary care available in the nation. About MedVet: MedVet Medical & Cancer Centers for Pets, with headquarters in Columbus, Ohio, is a widely recognized and growing group of emergency and specialty referral veterinary hospitals committed to leading specialty healthcare for pets. MedVet is employee owned, veterinary led, and provides specialty as well as emergency services, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. More than 100,000 dogs and cats are treated annually at MedVets expanding network of medical centers across the country. MedVet Medical & Cancer Centers for Pets was named the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) Accredited Referral Practice of the Year for 2014 and 2016, the only group of practices to receive this award twice. For more information on MedVets network of medical centers, visit http://www.medvetforpets.com. Media Inquiries: For photos and/or interviews, please contact: Stacey Sutphin MedVet Medical & Cancer Centers for Pets (317) 796-5388 cell Stacey.sutphin(at)medvetforpets.com Sean Kennard, asst. professor of piano, Stetson University School of Music. Photo credit to Grace Song. I love teaching and will always consider it a vital aspect of my musical career. Sean Kennard, an internationally acclaimed classical pianist who has won many piano competitions and played as a soloist with orchestras around the world, has been selected as assistant professor of piano for the Stetson University School of Music. Kennard replaces Professor Michael Rickman, D.M.A. and Steinway Artist, who retired this month after 34 years. The School of Music faculty search committee, chaired by Professor David Bjella, reviewed well over 150 qualified applicants for this very important position and brought several candidates to campus, said Thomas Masse, D.M.A., dean of the School of Music. As soon as we had a chance to meet Sean Kennard, watch him teach, hear him play, and see how he interacted with students and colleagues, it was clear to the entire School of Music community that Sean would be a wonderful match for Stetson, and Stetson for Sean. He is a young artist of rare gifts and has the wisdom and maturity of a seasoned faculty member. I know I speak for everyone when I say we are very much looking forward to Mr. Kennard's appointment, Masse said. "I love teaching and will always consider it a vital aspect of my musical career, said Kennard, 32. For me, doing so within the framework of an institution and contributing to a larger program is even better. I believe it will be a wonderful collaboration and anticipate many great years ahead. At Stetson, Kennard also will oversee the Great Pianists at Stetson series and already has lined up artists for the upcoming academic year. The series will begin with Russian pianist Vyacheslav Gryaznov on Sept. 17, at 3 p.m., Kennard said by phone this week from New Haven, Connecticut, where he has been working on a Doctorate of Musical Arts from Yale University for the last three years. Kennard performed in Carnegie Hall and won the International Chopin Competition of the Pacific before he turned 12. A long list of prizes, awards and performances from Tokyo to Paris to Chile followed. His family moved to Philadelphia when he was a teenager so he could attend the Curtis Institute of Music where he received a Bachelor of Music, and he earned a Master of Music from the Juilliard School. Kennard completed a two-year residential requirement of coursework and writing a thesis at Yale, and is in the first of three years of required professional experience. That includes performing and teaching, and he hopes it will lead to a D.M.A. in 2020 once he submits a portfolio, and completes an oral exam and recital. About Stetson University Founded in 1883, Stetson University is the oldest private university in Central Florida, providing a transforming education in the liberal arts tradition. Stetson stresses academic excellence and community-engaged learning, and consistently earns high marks in national rankings. Stetson encourages its students to go beyond success to significance in their lives, the lives of others and their communities. Stay connected with Stetson on social media. Mike Pettit of Gulf Breeze, Florida, an Amazon Best Selling author, has been named First Place winner in the Mystery Writers Whodunit Writing Competition. It is an amazing and talented group of authors that entered the contest, said Pettit. "I am honored and truly humbled to have won the First Place award." Mike Pettit of Gulf Breeze, Florida, has been named First Place winner in an international competition to claim the 2017 Mystery Writers Whodunit Award, to be presented at the 4th Annual Mystery Fest Key West, set for June 16-18 in Key West, Florida. Supported by the Marion Stevens Fund at the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys and sponsored by Absolutely Amazing eBooks, Pettits winning entry Key West Flashpoint wins him a Whodunit Award trophy, book-publishing contract with Absolutely Amazing eBooks, complimentary Mystery Fest Key West 2017 registration, airfare and hotel accommodations for two nights. No stranger to mystery writing, Pettit is author of 29 fiction suspense thriller novels as well as several short stories and how-to books for independent authors. Joining Pettit in the winners circle are Kathryn K.M. Hershberger of Richmond, VA, who took Second Place with Triggerpoint; Lewis C. Haskell of Key West, FL, (who was also 2016 First Place winner and 2015 Second Place winner) who took Third Place with Kilimanjaro Snow; and Susan Chiappone, who placed with The Choirboy Sings. Candidates for the award were required to submit the first three pages of a finished, but unpublished manuscript to a blind judging committee comprised of Dr. Toby Armour, a playwright, author and performer whose credits include the murder mystery book Blood Tells and the play, Is This 24 Lily Pond Lane?"; Carol Lazar, an author, columnist, photojournalist and former senior editor for South Africas Independent Newspapers; Captain Reef Perkins, author of Sex, Salvage and Secrets, Screwed, Blud and Tattoed, and the mystery novel Deep Air; Robin Robinson, an author, syndicated newspaper columnist, educator and horticulturist; and Shirrel Rhoades, an author, film critic, media consultant and publisher of Absolutely Amazing eBooks. Why just the first three pages? That criterion is a nod to late author Jeremiah Healy, a world-class mystery writer and a great judge of mystery writing, says Rhoades. Jerry's opinion was that a book either captures a reader in the first three pagesor it doesnt. The competition judges all agreed with that assessment, and decided to use it as a yardstick for the competition. It is an amazing and talented group of authors that entered the contest, said Pettit. "I am honored and truly humbled to have won the First Place award. I thank the organization for selecting my book and look forward to receiving the Whodunit Award at the Key West Conference in June." Pettit is to receive his award trophy at 11am on Saturday, June 17, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Grand Key Resort, headquarters for the Key West Mystery Fest, and will read his entry for the audience. The Fest itself is to include multiple workshops, presentations, panel discussions and social events where attendees mingle with acclaimed crime fiction and true crime writers including this years headliners John Hemingway, Clifford Irving, Randy Rawls and Charles Todd, featured presenters Lisa Black, James O. Born, Nancy J. Cohen, Heather Graham and many other authors and true-crime experts. For information on attending the 4th Annual Fest as well as complete Mystery Writers Whodunit Writing Competition guidelines and submission details, visit mysteryfestkeywest.com. Construct-A-Lead is an online construction lead service that helps contractors, service providers, manufacturers and suppliers gain information on all large scale construction projects. The service features apartment construction, hotel construction, retail construction, medical construction, school renovations & more, including those hard-to-find private project leads, to help bid on construction, from planning stage- completion. Construct-A-Lead, the industrys most comprehensive construction lead service, announces the following hotel projects will go forward. Construct-A-Leads newly implemented advanced search feature allows the user to find their leads or key contacts by project type, location, bid stage, dollar value, company, or keyword. Users are able to track projects status, save searches, put personalized notes on projects, email a project to a colleague or customer, reach out directly to the decision maker and download construction leads with a one-touch feature. Interested parties are invited to visit Construct-A-Lead.com and sign up for a no obligation test drive, where they will be able to experience these newly integrated features. Users will be able to receive regular alerts on new and updated construction projects, in accordance with the individuals preference. An example of the hotel projects available within the database is listed below. Reference the Project ID to utilize the new site features and to obtain direct contact information for each construction lead: Vienna, VA The View at Tysons - Plans call for the new construction of a 2.8M SF mixed-use development to include a 48-story tower composed of 840K SF of condos, 412K SF of hotel and 44K SF of retail, including an open-air shopping plaza. Construction start: Q1, Q2, 2018, $1,300,000,000. Project ID: 1392353 Los Angeles, CA 1020 South Figueroa Plans call for the demolition of the nine-story Luxe City Center Hotel and the new construction of up to 1,129,284 square feet (sf) of floor area. The Project would include a total of up to 300 hotel rooms, 650 residential condominium units, and 80,000 sf of restaurant, retail, and other commercial uses. Construction start: Q2, Q3, 2018, $600,000,000 Project ID: 1392117 Carol Stream, IL WoodSpring Suites Plans call for the new construction of a 123 room hotel. Construction start: Q4, 2017, Q1, 2018. $15,000,000 Project ID: 1392307 Las Vegas, NV Flamingo Hotel - Plans call for the extensive renovation of 1,270 rooms at Flamingo Las Vegas. Construction start: August, 2017. $90,000,000 Project ID: 1392298 Storrs, CT UConn Hotel Plans call for the demolition of the existing student housing development - Mansfield Apartments, and the new construction of a 100 +/- room hotel. Construction start: Q4, 2018, Q1, 2019. $20,000,000. Project ID: 1392234 Charlotte, NC - Hampton Inn & Suites Plans call for the new construction of a 6 story, 141 room hotel with a fitness area and parking. Construction start: Q4, 2017, Q1, 2018. $18,000,000. Project ID: 1392147 Construct-A-Lead is an online database that connects users to large-scale commercial construction projects, including those hidden, private project leads. The service features hotel construction, office buildings, retail construction, medical facilities, school renovations and much more, to help bid on construction including those hard-to-find private project leads, from planning stage through completion. Construct-A-Leads daily updates of commercial construction project leads are an ideal solution for those who want to put their product or service into commercial, government and religious structures. For more information, visit Construct-A-Lead.com online or call 855-874-1491. Queens Divorce and Family Law Attorney Bruce Feinstein, Esq. The idea that wealth accumulated before a marriage is your own and wealth accumulated during a marriage is shared with your spouse sounds clear-cut. But in reality, the lines get blurred very quickly. Couples that are getting married are often overwhelmed by the process of a wedding, joining families, and other life changes. This leaves the less glamorous issues of finances, property, and wealth assets outside the limelight. But in reality, knowing about the true meaning of ownership in a marriage is essential. Queens, New York divorce and family law attorney, Bruce Feinstein, Esq., has spent two decades working with clients on establishing their ownership rights during a divorce in New York. A recent rise in questions concerning property rights has led him to speak about wealth ownership before, and after, marriage. If a person comes into a marriage with wealth, such as a business or investments, this is known as separate property. During the course of that persons marriage, both spouses will obtain more assets, and those assets are considered marital property. Marital property, which ranges from cash to furniture to retirement accounts, covers anything obtained during the marriage and is known as the marital estate. The idea that wealth accumulated before a marriage is your own and wealth accumulated during a marriage is shared with your spouse sounds clear-cut, says Mr. Feinstein. But in reality, the lines get blurred very quickly. A person who has wealth prior to a marriage, owning a business for example, will try to grow that business during the marriage. But if that persons spouse contributes to the growth of the business, that accumulation of wealth becomes shared property. Or, if a person buys a house and then gets married, that property is separate property unless its put into a joint account, transferred to an account that was opened after the marriage, or the persons spouse put work into managing or maintaining the property. Funds can so easily get blended between spouses that it becomes hard to draw a firm line between one spouses ownership and the others. One reason this is a complicated aspect of divorce is New Yorks equitable distributions system. Any assets accumulated during the marriage are defined as marital property, or a marital estate. As a equitable distribution state, New York Courts will divide the marital estate as equally and fairly as possible. Mr. Feinstein explains, This does not mean an equal division of assets. Its up to the judge to reach a fair outcome, taking into consideration a wide range of issues, such as the length of the marriage, spousal maintenance, tax consequences, and likely future financial circumstances of each spouse after the divorce agreement. Equitable distribution allows a judge to view all aspects of a marriage before making a final decision, but it does make the divorce process in New York, and division of assets, much more complex. One way to navigate these rough waters is with an experienced divorce attorney, one with knowledge of New York's equitable distribution system. Another is to draw up a premarital agreement prior to the marriage. This ensures that property deemed separate remains separate if the marriage ends. Its also a healthy way to look at finances together, says Mr. Feinstein. Premarital agreements allow both parties to learn about each others financial situation, and to make arrangements together that make sure their needs are met. Its a valuable process. The Law Offices of Bruce Feinstein has nearly two decades of experience in divorce and family law, helping clients and families resolve their issues and move forward with their lives. If you are thinking of getting married or divorced and want more information visit feinsteindivorcelaw.com or call (718) 475-6039 to reach the New York office. ### The Libman Company, a leading U.S. manufacturer of household and commercial cleaning products, has donated 2,500 of its heavy-duty push brooms to aid those who were affected by heavy rainfall and strong storms in the Midwest that resulted in river overspills and flash floods. Libman donated the brooms through the American Red Cross. Heavy rain and storms earlier in late April and early May resulted in a sudden rise in rivers in Missouri, Illinois and Arkansas. Floods and flash floods caused significant damage in southern Missouri and the St. Louis area. Now that the floodwaters are receding, its safe for homeowners and businesses to return to begin cleanup efforts. We are happy to provide some assistance to individuals and businesses affected by the floods, said Andrew Libman, president of The Libman Company, which is also located in the Midwest in Central Illinois. Weve coordinated the distribution through the Red Cross to get the push brooms to those who need them as they face the somber and arduous process of clean-up, said Libman. The Red Cross is extremely grateful for all of the generous contributions we have received to support our lifesaving mission to help those in need," said Red Cross CEO, Gail McGovern. To donate to help Midwest flood victims, visit http://www.redcross.org. About The Libman Company The Libman Company is a family-owned company that has been making quality cleaning tools since 1896. The company manufactures products from brooms and mops to more specialized tools for kitchen and bathroom cleaning and industrial uses. Libman proudly manufactures most of their products in the United States, including the companys well-known Wonder Mop. For more information about the Libman Company, please visit http://www.libman.com. The unique value of Gym Source is that, because we sell multiple brands, we can offer fitness solutions customized to meet the needs of a wide variety of clients," said Dean Bowrosen. Gym Source, Americas leading retailer of premium residential and commercial fitness equipment announced that Dean Bowrosen has joined the company as Director of Commercial Sales. Bowrosen will work closely with Bill Kemnitzer, Gym Sources Vice President of Commercial Sales, to increase sales to fitness clubs, hotels, multi-housing, and other commercial facilities. I am excited about the opportunity to once again work with the talented commercial sales team to grow and strengthen our footprint. Bowrosen said. The unique value of Gym Source is that, because we sell multiple brands, we can offer fitness solutions customized to meet the needs of a wide variety of clients. The Gym Source reputation is growing, said Art Hicks, Gym Source CEO. We believe that there is no individual more uniquely qualified to help lead that growth than Dean Bowrosen, an industry pro with a proven track record. To learn more about Gym Source visit https://www.gymsource.com/. About Gym Source: Gym Source is the nations oldest and largest specialty distributor of fitness equipment. The company has 35 retail locations from Florida to New Hampshire and serves customers in all 50 states and 47 countries. Gym Source offers a full range of fitness products including treadmills, strength training equipment and ellipticals both for commercial and home use. The company takes great pride in its reputation as Americas #1 fitness equipment expert and its exceptional post-sale delivery and customer service. Gym Source has made over 2 million fitness equipment deliveries to its nearly 400,000 customers. Cookies What are cookies ? How do we use cookies? How to control cookies? Managing cookies in your browser see what cookies you have got and delete them on an individual basis block third party cookies block cookies from particular sites block all cookies from being set delete all cookies when you close your browser X A cookie is a small text file that a website saves on your computer or mobile device when you visit the site. Cookies are widely used in order to make websites work, or work more efficiently, as well as to provide information to the owners of the site.Website use Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google, Inc. ("Google") to help analyse the use of this website. 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You can delete all cookies that are already on your computer and you can set most browsers to prevent them from being placed.Most browsers allow you to:If you chose to delete cookies, you should be aware that any preferences will be lost. Also, if you block cookies completely many websites (including ours) will not work properly and webcasts will not work at all. For these reasons, we do not recommend turning cookies off when using our webcasting services. MOLINE Gaelane Rosinski has had four family members kill themselves. The 69-year-old Moline woman doesn't want that tragedy to happen to other families, so she and her sister Dottie Ragan have organized the Two Pockets Craft and Vendor Show to benefit suicide prevention and mental-health research. It will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 20, at the Community of Christ, 1525 48th St. Place, near the Two Rivers Y. The event was named in honor of their father, Keith Lane Sr., since he always had a to wear a shirt with two pockets. The former Rock Island County Sheriff's deputy shot himself in 1975. Ms. Rosinski said she wants to help "those who think suicide is their only hope for an answer to see that a happy and healthy life is attainable. And we hope that we will be able to help (family) survivors adjust and heal with hope." Around Christmas in 1974, Ms. Rosinski's mother learned that Mr. Lane Sr. was having an affair and wanted a divorce. He told Gaelane to care for her mother, since her brother and sister Ms. Rosinski's aunt and uncle had committed suicide. On Jan. 24, 1975, their divorce was finalized, and a week later, Mr. Lane Sr., then 52, married his lover. "Dad's new marriage was tumultuous, to say the least," Ms. Rosinski said recently. "He wanted nothing to do with my brother, and his new wife wanted nothing to do with my sister because she looked like my mom. His new wife had three unruly little girls, and instead of living in a beautiful home with nice furniture and nice cars, Dad now lived in a tiny apartment with a used old car. He was not happy, and they fought a lot." "One day, his glasses were broken in the middle, and I found out his wife actually hit him," she said. "That was disturbing to me. He was a sheriff's deputy, had been a drill sergeant. I can't imagine that happening to my father." About three months into his second marriage, Mr. Lane Sr. gave Ms. Rosinski $400 for her mother, "and told me he was very sorry for what had happened over the last few months," she said. "He wished he could erase it all and things would be good again. He said he was going to go to an attorney the next morning. Then he went in and sat on each of my boy's beds, gave them his trademark kiss to the forehead, called each one his normal 'Papa's palsey,' and left. "He told me to call him the next morning and we would have lunch together after his attorney's appointment," she recalled. "We hugged, said 'I love you,' and he was gone." The next morning, May 1, 1975, she found out he had killed himself. "It was a pretty terrible thing to have happen. We didn't expect it at all," Ms. Rosinski said. In retrospect though, "I'd been raised with suicide in my life," she said. Just this past January, a cousin who had battled schizophrenia a great-grandson of her uncle who committed suicide in the '50s took his own life. "He believed everyone had worth. He was loved, and he had tried to help. He helped everyone except himself," Ms. Rosinski said of her 21-year-old relative. "The voices and fear pushed him to the brink. On Jan. 18, 2017, he couldnt avoid the voices anymore. A friend found him hanging in his room." Over the past few years, Ms. Rosinski has volunteered for her friend George Smith's AdamFest, a similar suicide-prevention benefit, named in honor of his son who killed himself four years ago. This year, the festival will take place from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 24, at the Rock Island County Fairgrounds, 4200 Archer Drive, East Moline. "It affects people at different ages, different times in your life," Ms. Rosinski said of suicide. "It doesn't matter if you're male or female." She said she will donate proceeds from Saturday's Moline show to AdamFest, which supports mental-health research at the UnityPoint Health Robert Young Center and University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Among the vendors at Saturday's event will be the National Alliance on Mental Illness; chiropractors offering free massages and health screenings; and people selling birdhouses, jewelry, clothing, pies, breads, yard art, women's and girls' apparel, and wooden toys and boxes. A custom-made quilt of butterflies will be auctioned. Food and beverages will be available. This weekend will also be the date of a free (unrelated) suicide-prevention seminar at Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, 2324 18th Ave., Rock Island. That conference will run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, May 19, and from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, May 20. For more information about the Two Pockets fundraiser, call Ms. Rosinski at 309-791-1920. Today is Friday, May 19, the 139th day of 2017. There are 226 days left in the year. 1867 -- 150 years ago: Dont be swindled. Ask for Dutchers Lightning fly Killer which is sold by all live druggists. 1892 -- 125 years ago: Mayor McConochie appointed Andrew Hermann as patrolman on the police force. 1917 -- 100 years ago: The Rev. Alfons Van DeWyngaert was named as the new pastor of St. Pauls Roman Catholic Church. 1942 -- 75 years ago: Moline police were asked to look for a lost horse team belonging to Albert McIntire, of East Moline. 1967 -- 50 years ago: A full-scale severe weather band marched through the Quad-Cities area last night causing thousands of dollars damage to homes, overhead wires, trees and property, but residents of the area escaped serious injuries for the most part. Winds gusted to a high of 75 miles per hour at 7:46 p.m. and were responsible for most of the damage. 1992 -- 25 years ago: Dale Evans, 79 year old wife and partner to singing cowboy Roy Rodger, was recovering Wednesday from a heart attack, her son said. Miss Evan complained of chest pains early Sunday and her 80 year old husband drove her to St. Mary Desert Valley Hospital, said Roy Dusty Rogers Jr. The National Weather Service has confirmed that two weak tornadoes were part of Wednesday night's storms in the Quad-Cities area. The storms started blowing in during the afternoon, and observers ranging from trained spotters to law-enforcement officials reported tornadoes, large hail, lighting and high winds across the Quad-Cities area and other parts of Iowa and Illinois. The two tornadoes in the Quad-Cities area were both rated EF1 -- one of the weaker tornado classifications, according to the NWS. No one was reported injured in either case, but property damage did occur. Lorena Anderson, of Sherrard, said her family left her 5-year-old daughter Addyson 's dance class in Aledo early because of the weather. They were home eating dinner when the storm hit the house, which is near the intersection of 325th Street and Meadow Gate Road. "My husband (Mike) looked out the window and just saw corn flying and other stuff flying," Mrs. Anderson said. They rushed to the basement, but the wind blew open the French doors and debris flew about-- some of it hitting Mike, she said. He was not hurt. The house, however, took damage, including losing part of the roof. Ms. Anderson fears it may not be salvageable. "It's heartbreaking you know," she said. "We just built this new house." It was likely the first tornado of the night recorded in the Quad-Cities area that caused the damage to the Anderson home. It touched down around 8 p.m. about 3 miles southeast of Sherrard, and ran for about 8 miles, the NWS said. Its winds were estimated at about 105 mph, and they damaged several homes, outbuildings and more than 50 trees in Mercer and Henry counties. It was on the ground for about nine minutes and left a path 150 feet wide. The second had winds of about 95 mph and a path about 50 yards wide, the report states. It touched down around 8:45 p.m. about 4 miles to the northwest of Hooppole, and traveled about 2 miles in roughly three minutes, according to an NWS report. The tornado blew off part of the roof of an outbuilding and also damaged trees. Several thousand Quad-Cities MidAmerican Energy customers went without power because of the storms, according to the utility. Power had been almost completely restored as of Thursday afternoon. Reports of storm damage began coming in from Iowa just before 3 p.m. Wednesday, with the first Quad-Cities report coming form Davenport about 3:40 p.m., when a spotter reported tree damage in Vander Veer Park. Hail ranging in size from that of a dime to that of a quarter was reported near Dixon in Scott County, the NWS report states. Accounts from the I-80 Truck Stop in Walcott had it ranging from pea-sized to dime-sized. Around 9:30 p.m., 50 mph to 60 mph winds were reported in Galva in Henry County. Wabtec will supply its Interoperable Electronic Train Management System (I-ETMS) for 42 locomotives and driving cars, a back-office server, wayside communications and signalling, and a dispatch system. The supplier will also be responsible for training and system integration. Installation will be completed by the end of 2018 and the system will be fully interoperable with the PTC systems being rolled out by the Class 1 freight railways. Wabtec Corp. announced it has signed a contract worth about $40 million to design, install, test and commission Positive Train Control (PTC) for the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, operator of the Tri-Rail commuter service. Under the contract, Wabtec will provide its Interoperable Electronic Train Management System (I-ETMS) equipment for 42 locomotives and cab cars; a back-office server, wayside communications and signals; a dispatch system; training, and system integration. Installation is expected to be completed by the end of 2018. Tri-Rail operates more than 70 miles of track along the east coast of Florida between Mangonia Park and the Miami Intermodal Center. Wabtec said the SFRTAs PTC system will be fully interoperable with the system being implemented by all Class I railroads. Welcome to Railway Gazette. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. By continuing to browse this site you are agreeing to our use of these cookies. You can learn more about the cookies we use here. OK There are two schools of thought about the nature of the threat posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Some experts say the group is nearly vanquished as it struggles to hold on to Mosul, Iraq, and prepares for the inevitable fight for its capital in Raqqa, Syria. Other analysts see ISIS as invincible, destined to wreak havoc in the Middle East for the next decade and beyond. In some ways, both of these perceptions are true, which is why ISIS is such a unique adversary and terrorism such a difficult tactic to combat. The End Is Almost Near Over the course of the past year, ISIS has lost a significant percentage of the land it once controlled in Iraq, Syria and elsewhere, including Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, Libya, Afghanistan, and Nigeria. Its finances are being constricted and its fighters are abandoning the organization in droves. Moreover, many of its leaders, including Abu Abdul Rahman, a top lieutenant of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and some of the group's most prominent external operations planners, are being killed and captured faster than they can be replaced. As a brand, ISIS is also suffering. Its popularity is ebbing throughout parts of the Arab and Islamic world and, as terrorism expert John Horgan of Georgia State University and his colleagues recently pointed out, it is being forced to rely more on older recruits to carry out attacks, a turn of events that is perhaps a sign of desperation. Indeed, ISIS's tenure as an organization that controls vast swaths of territory and claims to be a legitimate caliphate is almost certainly coming to an end. But as the group transitions from an insurgency to an underground terrorist movement, more decentralized and diffuse, it will be able to survive and persist and remain capable of launching sporadic, if not spectacular, attacks. ISIS as Eternal Even as ISIS loses territory and its insurgency is defeated, it will still pose a formidable challenge to international security. Even as ISIS loses territory and its insurgency is eventually defeated in both Iraq and Syria, it will still be able to pose a formidable challenge to international security. Its media operations will continue unabated and may even increase. Reports from EUROPOL indicate that ISIS has built its own social media platform in an attempt to evade law enforcement and intelligence services. Furthermore, it will retain the ability to successfully conduct major terrorist attacks in Europe, perhaps on the scale of the March 2016 Brussels attack, as well as the ability to commit less sophisticated terrorist attacks with regular frequency, as evidenced by the steady occurrence of lower-level plots and attacks in France and elsewhere in Europe. In the latest edition of its online magazine Rumiyah, ISIS implores its followers in Europe to tap into criminal networks to obtain weapons that can be used to conduct attacks. And, as was evident in Nice and Berlin, an ordinary truck can be a potent weapon in the right circumstances. Another reason why the ISIS threat may be enduring is the protean nature of Salafi jihadist ideology, which has proven resilient and attractive in diverse locales. Even as ISIS has lost territory, its message has found fertile ground in parts of Africa, South and Southeast Asia, as well as in poor neighborhoods throughout Europe. The organization seeks out weak states and ungoverned spaces and inserts itself into local conflicts in an almost parasitic manner, claiming to be a protector of the ummah, or worldwide community of Muslims, even as it engages in predatory behaviors such as extorting people in that same population. Finally, ISIS has proven to be a highly adaptive adversary. On the battlefield, its fighters have used drones to drop grenades on Iraqi troops. In cyberspace, there is reason to worry that the group may be able to take advantage of virtual currencies such as Bitcoin to move money surreptitiously and finance ongoing operations while evading the watchful eye of counter-threat finance organizations unable to trace the movement of funds on the web. As ISIS continues to lose territory, it will also lose the ability to tax and extort the population in those territories. It will need to discover opportunistic methods of accessing funds. Current State of the Threat ISIS is in the process of being defeated as an insurgency while preparing to transform its organization into a clandestine terrorist group. As evidenced by its operations in Mosul, ISIS is not giving up without a fight. Militants have dug in and deployed wave after wave of suicide attackers in attempts to fend off advances from the Iraqi security forces. In Raqqa, ISIS is believed to have a core group of approximately 4,000 fighters prepared to defend its position. ISIS is being defeated as an insurgency while preparing to transform into a clandestine terrorist group. The fight for Raqqa will be even bloodier and more drawn out than the ongoing battle for Mosul. ISIS will likely exploit images of suffering civilians for propaganda value. The politics behind the fight against ISIS in Raqqa are also complicated. Turkey is adamantly opposed to the current U.S. plan, which involves arming Syrian Kurds. Will the United States cooperate with Russia? Will defeating ISIS in Raqqa embolden an Assad regime that has already used chemical weapons against its own population? On theseand other frontsthere are more questions than answers. Looking Ahead As ISIS continues to erode, the threat from foreign fighters attempting to return to their countries of origin still looms large. The degradation of ISIS could embolden al Qaeda in Syria, with combatants switching sides to survive and continue fighting. In Syria, a civil war continues to rage with no end in sight, while in neighboring Iraq, the dysfunctional domestic political situation that contributed to the rise of ISIS has become the status quo. Intensifying sectarian conflict between Sunni and Shia will elevate ISIS's appeal among Sunnis. Further, even though ISIS's regional affiliates have lost territory over the past year, there is serious potential for reinvigorated branches to emerge over the next three to five years in Libya, Yemen, Afghanistan and Egypt, just as al Qaeda in Iraq and al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula grew out of the al Qaeda core in Pakistan during the mid-2000s. In other words, the more tenuous command and control of these satellite groups become, the more likely they are to develop into highly capable and lethal entities in their own right. The threat from ISIS is global, but the response by Western and regional nations has been parochial. To be fair, marshalling an effective and comprehensive response is difficult because each nation in the anti-ISIS coalition has its own national interests and varying priorities. In the final analysis, ISIS will continue to pose a serious threat to the countries where it operates and to the Western nations it targets. The organization will evolve, adapt, and survive until it is inevitably eclipsed in popularity by a new Salafi-Jihadist group capable of usurping leadership of the global jihad and supplanting ISIS. Colin P. Clarke is a political scientist at the RAND Corporation and an associate fellow at the International Center for Counter Terrorism. He is the author of Terrorism, Inc.: The Financing of Terrorism, Insurgency, and Irregular Warfare. This commentary originally appeared on The Cipher Brief on May 18, 2017. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis. Council of Europe adopts guidelines on support for victims of terrorist attacks MOSCOW, May 19 (RAPSI) Member states of the Council of Europe have adopted new guidelines regarding improvement of provided support, information and compensation for victims of terrorist attacks, the organizations press-release reads on Friday. According to the guidelines, authorities must provide victims of terrorist attacks with emergent help and organize avenues for prolonged medical, psychological, social and material support. Authorities in each of the member states must also organize information centers for the victims and ensure that they have access to legal aid and justice system, receiving compensations in adequate manner and in proper time. The Council noted that governments need to be able to provide all those measures for the victims without any kind of discrimination and regardless of whether terrorists responsible for the attack were identified, arrested or punished. In addition, the guidelines refer to the victims right to maintain private and family lives and ensuring societal recognition and remembrance of victims. Fossil fuels hold a prominent position on a handful of Democratic senators agendas despite the Obama-era trend in government support for renewable energy and a push by liberal lawmakers to get rid of the controversial fuel source altogether. Though they now have a coal-friendly ally as president, a lack of legislative opportunities in the upper chamber finds these senators using limited options to quietly work in concert with President Trumps deregulation goals. Kevin Book, ClearView Energy Partners managing director of research, notes that energy law is very hard to make because the policy itself is mostly regulatory, its mostly done by agencies fragmented across the federal government, and its extremely regional. President Obama used his regulatory power to push his energy agenda and Trump has used the power of the presidential pen to undo many of those regulations. Its been the most effective option thus far given that the makeup of the Senate Democrats hold 46 seats to the GOPs 52 -- adds to the complications of passing legislation. The question is what, if anything, is going to happen in the future, said former Harry Reid spokesman Jim Manley, noting the difficulty in reaching 60 affirmative votes with the current Democratic minority. There hasnt been a lot of legislating in the Senate, after all. Trump has nominated a series of fossil-fuel proponents to energy-related positions, starting in February with EPA Secretary Scott Pruitt. After that came Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and Energy Secretary Rick Perry, who were both confirmed in early March. Pruitt, the former attorney general of Oklahoma who has repeatedly challenged the EPA in court, was confirmed by a Senate vote of 52-46. Of those 52 yeas, only two came from Democrats: Heidi Heitkamp and Joe Manchin, who are both up for re-election in 2018. Democrat Joe Donnelly, who also will seek another term in 2018, did not vote. Those three senators, plus Claire McCaskill and Jon Tester, who likewise are up for re-election next year, cast the only Democratic confirmation votes for Zinke and Perry. Zinke, a climate change skeptic who has repeatedly voted in favor of fossil fuel extraction, was confirmed by a vote of 68-31 while Perry, who in a 2011 presidential debate was famously unable to recall the Department of Energy as one of three federal agencies he had promised to eliminate, was confirmed, 62-37. Also of note, Daniel Simmons, a former member of the Trump transition team who has been outspoken in questioning the value of renewable energy, was appointed earlier this month to head the Energy Departments Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Hes putting people in place that hed be confident will push what hes been promising, Guy Caruso, a Center for Strategic and International Studies official, said of Trumps Cabinet picks. Book agreed, adding that the choices were also a reaction to the green leanings of the Obama administration. I wouldnt call it so much a fossil-fuel bias so much as a deregulatory bias, he said, noting Obamas broad and deep use of executive authority that angered Republicans during his presidency. As expected, these Cabinet picks quickly began reversing many environmental protections, including Zinke lifting a federal ban on coal leasing on federal land and suspending review of federal coal-leasing rates. In addition, Pruitt last week approved a proposal to grant North Dakota the power to regulate Class VI wells, which store waste carbon dioxide emitted from industrial sources including coal-powered plants. Also, the Senate voted 54-45 in February to overturn a mandate requiring coal firms to clean waste from mountaintop removal operations. In a largely party line vote, the four Democrats who voted in the affirmative were, again, Manchin, Heitkamp, Donnelly, and McCaskill. Those four, plus Tester, also voted in 2015 to force approval of the Keystone XL pipeline. (Obama later vetoed the legislation.) The offices of Tester, McCaskill, Manchin, Donnelly, and Heitkamp did not respond to requests for comment. Additionally, many of these senators have been active in the fight for miners pensions the subprime mortgage crisis and repeated coal-related bankruptcies have nearly killed the 1974 Pension Plan culminating in the Miners Pension Protection Act, sponsored by Manchin. [These senators] main strategy is to be flexible and say the right things, said Caruso, even though they know that theyre not going to make any significant strides in putting coal miners back to work. Caruso also suggested that, especially as coal struggles to compete with cheap natural gas, these lawmakers efforts might be better used retraining miners to work in different economic sectors. It will be difficult to put coal back on any kind of growth path, he said, even if Trump is successful in removing some of the regulatory barriers now in place. Trumps goals probably wont be realized, but it will slow down the growth in renewables and maybe slow down the loss of market share by coal. One of Trumps biggest campaign promises was to bring back coal jobs, which helped him win swing states like Ohio and Pennsylvania. And the president has good reason to be responsive to coal-centric regions. Of the 10 states that used the most coal power in 2015, according to National Geographic, the top nine voted for Trump by an average margin of 27 percentage points. West Virginia was first, Indiana fourth, Missouri fifth, and North Dakota seventh. Moreover, as Book pointed out, Democratic senators like Bob Casey and Sherrod Brown come from states (Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively) that value coal not so much as an export but rather as an import. Coal, as many voters in these states would argue, is a way of life as much as it is a commodity: a basis for much-needed infrastructure, an employer of unskilled labor, a source of regional tradition and pride, and a means for self-sufficiency. As such, coal mining, which has been shown to support far fewer jobs than other methods of energy production, has proven slow to erode in many places across the country. Nonetheless, both Book and Caruso reiterated coals current political disadvantage, even with a friend in the White House. Whether compared to shale liquids, which are found mostly on private lands that Trump would have difficulty influencing, or renewable energy sources, whose main federal funding is anchored in existing tax law, coal production proves difficult to drastically change via legislation. All the tax credits that people want for energy, said Book, are likely to be held hostage by the tax writing committees so they can generate buy-in to the broader reform measures. In fact, Caruso said, coal production is in need of a technological breakthrough, given the current expense involved in gathering carbon waste during fuel processing. That breakthrough, however, would likely rely on government-funded research and development. Whether due to the 10-to-20-year time frame involved or a general lack of caring it takes a crisis to get a big boost in R&D spending, Caruso noted that prospect seems improbable. This week, Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell have rekindled discussion of their stalled 2016 Energy Policy Modernization Act, which aims to both promote renewable energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Having been diluted nearly beyond recognition in the Senate last session, the bill lost momentum in the House, where the primary energy goal of the majority party, some say, is cutting regulations on fossil fuels. Both sponsors, however, remain hopeful that this Congress will be more receptive to the measures outlined. Until then, though, Trump will likely continue to point to coals positive performance under his administration, supported by findings from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, following a gradual decline over the past eight years. Many of these Senate Democrats will be receptive to outreach from the administration, said Manley of fossil fuel-based legislation, if the administration plays their cards right. By Kamran Bokhari Russia has gone to great lengths since the Soviet Union's collapse to keep Chechnya, the majority Muslim, restive, semi-autonomous state in the Northern Caucasus, under control. Around the turn of the century, Moscow was able to link up with a family, the Kadyrovs, capable of restoring a semblance of order. But now Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale Buy real estate. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale in US and Canada. Search Real Estate Property details: An Original Template Design Payment Terms Total purchase price is due within (10) business days from auction end. Acceptable payment methods are Check, Money order, and Wire Transfer. there will be a $149 fee added to winning bid to cover all documentation and transfer fees . Shipping Terms Once payment in full has been received a Notorized Quitclaim Deed will be sent to County for Recording & then to the State BLM . Once returned complete to me i will send the Original to new owner via usps pri... Price: $ 1,500 Seller State of Residence: UTAH Property Address: Beaver County,Utah State/Province: Utah Type: BLM MINING CLAIM Zoning: MINERAL RIGHTS Location: 847**, Cedar City, Utah You will be redirected to eBay Nearby MINERAL RIGHTS Property details: Coconut Palms Beach Resort II New Smyrna Beach, FloridaFree Closing!! Buyers First Year Available: 2018 Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE ***HIGH BIDDER MUST EMAIL [email protected] THEIR NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE & FAX WITHIN 3 DAYS OF AUCTION'S CLOSE TO START THE CLOSING PROCESS*** Buyer will be sent a purchase contract and closing instructions once their information has been received. Auction Policy: By placing a bid on this item you have agreed to the Terms and Conditions li... Price: $ 1 Seller State of Residence: New Jersey State/Province: Florida Type: Beach/Ocean Number of Bedrooms: 1 Number of Bathrooms: 1 Zip/Postal Code: 32169 Location: 321**, New Smyrna Beach, Florida You will be redirected to eBay Nearby 32169 , We're sorry, this article is not currently available "Deadliest Catch" star Sig Hansen was arrested by police on Thursday following an altercation with an Uber driver. ADVERTISEMENT A Seattle Police Department report states that the Uber driver contacted police after he canceled a trip that included Hansen and other guests before they reached their destination," People magazine reported. The driver says that Hansen kicked the outside of his car causing damage and then spit on the back of the driver's head and on the back of the driver's seat. After officers observed saliva located on the back of the driver's headrest, they visited Hansen at his home where police noted that he appeared "obviously intoxicated." "[Hansen] vociferously declared that he did not know what I was talking about, that he got a ride from 'an Uber guy ... he took me home, we're here, we had Norwegian Independence Day, everybody's happy, I've got my family home, we're safe and sound, that's it!" the police said in the report. Hansen was then arrested and taken to King County Jail on charges of assault and property destruction. He will be released on $2,000 bail, TMZ reported. The 51-year-old has since apologized for his actions in a statement noting, "I am terribly sorry for my behavior and am very embarrassed by it. I owe a bunch of people apologies, first and foremost to our Uber driver, who was just trying to get us home safely." "I hope I can make that apology in person. I have no excuse, and accept responsibility for my actions. I made a boneheaded move last night, and I am sorry." ANCHORAGE, Alaska, April 25, 2017 - In a move no one saw coming, Dar and Ed Walden, co-owners of the Anchorage-based Dar Walden Team at Keller Williams Realty-Alaska Group, are pleased to announce their acquisition of Fairbanks-based independent brokerage Madden Real Estate. This merger and acquisition combines two mega real estate producing companies, catapulting the Waldens to the top-producing team in the state of Alaska as well as positioning them into the Top 50 producing teams in Real Trends and in the Wall Street Journal. The combination of the two power houses will create a professional organization that will cover the real estate needs of the Interior and South Central Alaska real estate markets. Wes Madden, who will remain as a part of the leadership team and minority owner, said his business ran like a mega team, so although he spoke to other traditional brokerages about a merger, he thought the best fit was with the Walden Team of Keller Williams. "The fact of the matter is, as the mega team that we basically were, Dar and Ed are best able to understand and provide the leadership and run the company," said Madden. "I was not super confident that selling to a traditional broker would have been successful." Dar and Ed have been in the top 1 percent of real estate professionals in the nation for the 17 years they have been in real estate in Alaska. Not only are they co-owners of the Dar Walden Team at Keller Williams Realty in Anchorage, Alaska, they are also co-owners of Keller Williams brokerages in Reno and Sparks, Nevada, as well as a Business Center in Elko, Nevada. "We have worked with Wes over the years, referring business from the Anchorage, Eagle River and Mat-Su Valley area as well as partnering in many professional marketing and business relationships," said Dar. "We are absolutely thrilled to introduce our franchise to the Fairbanks area and work with the incredible team Wes and Laura have built through the years!" "This is the first true all-Alaskan real estate team; it's never been done before," said Madden. PR Contacts: Michele Kennedy, MKPR 208-206-5661 michelekennedy@cableone.net Katie Halvorson, Dar Walden Team 907-865-6403 katie@darwalden.com STORMTROOPER A New Hope Stormtroopers board the Rebel Blockade Runner Tantive IV and send word to Darth Vader that they have captured Princess Leia. "Inform Lord Vader we have a prisoner." The third wave in The Black Series 6-inch action figure collection (or, as per the shipping box, the first wave of the 2014 collection), which began shipping in March 2014, included the brand-new figures including the #09 Stormtrooper, #10 Obi-Wan Kenobi as he appeared in Revenge Of The Sith, and #11 Luke Skywalker in his Rebel Fatigues from The Empire Strikes Back along with a repack of the #08 Han Solo from the previous assortment. Featuring 24 points of articulation, two Imperial issue weapons, and a functional holster, the #09 Stormtrooper is packed full of fun! If there was ever a figure that you need more than one of, this is it! India to be Swedish car maker's second assembly base after Malaysia Swedish luxury car maker Volvo has decided to locally assemble cars in India, making the country its second offshore base in the world after Malaysia. The cars will be assembled at the Bangalore facility of commercial vehicle maker Volvo Group India, part of the car makers former parent company. The first locally assembled car, attracting significantly lower duties, is expected to roll out by end of this calendar year. Its bestselling SUV XC90 will be the first vehicle to be assembled here before the company looks at assembling other cars in the future. The car makers Indian subsidiary, set up in 2007, has been importing completely built vehicles from its plants in Sweden and Belgium, paying a high total duty of approximately 120 per cent. On locally assembled cars (made from completely knocked down imported parts), this could go down to 70 per cent and improve margins for the company. Prices to end consumers do not change though in some states the cost of registration could go down. Volvo Auto India did not announce the investment needed to begin the local assembly. Local assembly is a step forward for us and it aids profitability. We aim for a ten per cent share in the luxury car market by 2020. This facility will contribute towards that goal, said Tom Von Bonsdorff, managing director of Volvo Auto India said in an interaction. But localisation (sourcing of local components) is still away. Localisation will be a question for later consideration. Given the size of the segment, local assembly is the best solution now, he said. He said it is a strong signal for the companys dealer partners and other stakeholders. A global team from Volvo had been evaluating options in India and met different companies as it looked for a feasible solution. Based on that study we went for cooperation with Volvo Group, he added. Volvo Cars was a part of the Volvo Group until 1999. The decision to assemble locally comes after over a year of evaluation, triggered by the companys double digit growth in the Indian markets. Lower taxes is a driver for us to assemble locally. Volvo, with a five per cent share in domestic luxury market, sold about 1,600 cars in 2016 calendar year, growing more than twelve per cent to its 2015 volumes. Volumes had grown by about eighteen per cent in 2015. The company said the first quarter of calendar year 2017 has also brought a double digit growth. We look to sell over 2,000 cars in India in 2017 calendar year unless there is an external disruption, he said. Volvo is expanding its product range in India. The company, which competes with the German luxury trio- Mercedes, Audi and BMW- sells significantly lower volume than the German brands. Mercedes, for instance, sold over 13,000 vehicles last year. The three German companies have a local manufacturing unit and in many vehicles enjoy a high localisation of sixty per cent. Luxury car forms a tiny share of about one per cent in the three million Indian car market. Bonsdorff said the annual luxury car market could reach 50,000 units by 2020. Cola brands look for life in a parallel universe. Global majors Coke and Pepsi are going all out to stock up with health and nutrition offerings. IMAGE: Coca-Cola North Americas chief technical officer, Nancy Quan, in an interview on the companys website says that the research team has been aggressively focused on reducing sugar and calorie content while maintaining the taste factor. Photograph: Zainal Abd Halim/Reuters. The summer of 2017 may well be one of great reckoning for cola majors in the country. As the government gets more stringent with its rules on fat and sugar content in food and beverages, cracks down on labelling norms for packaged foods, and customers across the country get more conscious about health and nutrition, both Coke and Pepsi are bringing many of their healthier, nutrition -- focused variants into the market. This, point out brand and industry experts, marks the attempted transformation of the cola brands into total foods and beverages brands for the Indian market. The journey began a few years back, especially as the global backlash against sugar and fat content in the products branded by both Coke and Pepsi made its way to India too. Over the past year, increased pressure from the government and a growing concern among millennial consumers (the target for all cola brands across the world) over health and fitness has hastened the process. Millennials are looking for functional products, targeted nutrition which at the same time tastes nice. Our objective is to marry global R&D with Indian needs. The nutrition business has a key role to play here, said Deepika Warrier, vice-president, nutrition category, PepsiCo India. According to Vipul Prakash, vice-president, beverages, PepsiCo India, the companys non-cola drinks are growing 1.5 times faster than colas. Brand experts say that the transformation underway at both these companies is similar to the one that tobacco major ITC has gone through in the country. Back in the early 1990s, ITC was a pure play tobacco company. As health concerns over smoking and the clamour among activists and government officials to levy prohibitive taxes on cigarette sales grew louder, the company expanded its product portfolio and worked on an image overhaul. Over the years, ITC has transformed itself into a diversified conglomerate with footprints in hotels, lifestyle, fast moving consumer goods and other products. It was a concerted effort to create a parallel brand outside its core business. At the Coca-Cola and Pepsico headquarters in the US, this is a transformation that has been underway for a while now.Coca-Cola has said that it wants to be known as total beverages company while Pepsico has built a substantive foods portfolio. Coca-Cola North Americas chief technical officer, Nancy Quan, in an interview on the companys website says that the research team has been aggressively focused on reducing sugar and calorie content while maintaining the taste factor. In India, she says, the work is as much about going forward in the flavoured/ sparkling water categories as it is about innovative and sustainable packaging formats for rural areas. Pepsicos Indra Nooyi has often articulated her desire to create a brand that is known both for fun-for-you and better-for-you products. Health and well-being is one of her three pillars for her companys growth. The challenge when it comes to the Indian market is to provide these offerings at an affordable price and across the country. Pepsicos Pepsi Black, for instance, is being made available at Rs 25 for a can, at the same price that one can buy the regular cola variant. According to brand consultant Harish Bijoor, a parallel branding initiative will play a key role in the two giants journey ahead. It is extremely important for the two companies and it makes sense as well. Young parents are increasingly getting aware of the side effects of consuming carbonated beverages and are discouraging their consumption. Both the firms have read the writings on the wall and are now moving towards offering more staple beverages, he said. Both have been reworking their product strategies since late 2015. Coca-Cola launched its first zero sugar drink in the country Coke Zero around that time. The recent back-to-back launches in the country were initiated as a part of its portfolio transformation, a concerted and planned attempt at diversifying the brand. According to its immediate past president, Venkatesh Kini, the firm will also launch fruit based fizzy drinks under its existing brands of carbonated beverages. The measures would help it address consumer needs better, he said. PepsiCo is looking at a similar goal with the stevia-sweetener-based 7UP that contains 30 per cent less sugar than the regular drink. It plans to re-engineer all its existing fizzy drinks and transform them into less-sugary beverages in coming years. It recently ventured in to the fast growing value-added dairy segment through its nutrition brand Quaker and has said that it aims to grow the business three times faster than its traditional drinks and snacks business in coming years. It is also increasing the number of products that it offers under brands like Tropicana by launching utility drinks, rather than yet another fizzy drink in India. While both Coca-Cola and PepsiCo are not stepping away from their core products, they sure are actively looking for life in the parallel universe. A project led by Hitachi India will help AIIMS streamline operations and reduce power consumption. As a casual visitor, you would argue that the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the national capital is a hotbed of activity and chaos on any given day. At its calmest moments, it resembles the Rajiv Chowk metro station at peak hours. You could be forgiven for thinking there is no method to the madness, except that there is. Over 33 lakh outpatients are treated at the facility every year. On a daily basis, there are over 800 doctors at the hospital. Four thousand nurses are on its roll. Two lakh plus patients are admitted in a year, and close to 2 lakh surgeries are performed in the same period. No one has counted the footfall, but suffice to say that thousands of people enter and leave the premises daily. In this milieu of intense daily commotion, Hitachi India is working on a Green AIIMS concept by which the Government of India -- in collaboration with the Japanese government -- aims to reduce the power consumption at AIIMS by 30 per cent over the next three years. After a feasibility study in 2015-16, the main project commenced in March 2017. The ministry of health and family welfare is facilitating the project, which is to be concluded by March 2020. The funding is coming from the Japanese government. In fact, a decision on its funding was taken following Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Japan in 2014. Shusuke Onodera, head of the healthcare business for Hitachi (it sells medical equipment like MRI and CT scan machines) in India, says the project will have two distinct modules. Close to 25-30 people from Hitachi, Japan, are likely to fly to India to work on the project. In the first phase, Hitachi will install a new photovoltaic power generation facility, update existing facilities such as chiller, replace the LED lighting system, and build a system to carry out control, grasp and monitoring of status of energy consumption of the entire hospital. A solar power panel will also be installed. Hitachis engineers, who did the feasibility study, found that some of the existing equipment at AIIMS are very old and as a result, underperformance is common. This leads to a higher consumption of power than ideal. But, the most important change -- from patients' and doctors' point of view -- is likely to come next year in the form of a common IT platform that will allow doctors to access all test results conducted on the same patient by different departments on one computer. As anyone who has been to AIIMS will testify, there are endless lines of patients waiting, no matter which department one heads towards. This is partly due to the sheer volume of patients, but its also partly due to the inefficient functioning of the system. As things stand today, patients' data are stored individually and there is no system to access all tests done on the same patient within the hospital. So, if a patient has had an MRI, a CT-scan and other tests, they are all stored separately, leading to significant delay. Individual reports have to be collected -- usually physically -- from each department for a patient to get a final diagnosis from the doctor under whose care he is," explains Onodera. Hitachi will help them introduce a common platform that will eliminate this. It will also accelerate electronic management of medical image data by introducing energy-saving IT equipment. This will be done in 2018. After the new system is installed, the project will monitor closely how much time is being saved in the processes. Similarly, it will assess the output of the doctors. So, If a doctor who was seeing 100 patients in, say, one week can now see 120 or 130, we can measure how much the system has helped," says Onodera. Onodera says the project is quite challenging -- given how busy AIIMS is on any day -- and that setting up systems for a new hospital will be far easier than doing it in a running facility. You cannot, for instance, switch off the air conditioning system for a day." Engineers, therefore, will work day and night to make sure the current operations are not disrupted in any way. Once it succeeds with AIIMS, the model can -- and is likely to -- be replicated at other government hospitals. Hitachi has conducted similar projects with hospitals in Japan and has achieved a reasonable degree of success with them. The AIIMS project will be a test case for India. Not only young companies, even some established players are opting to function out of co-working spaces with an aim to quickly scale up their services. Sangeeta Tanwar reports. IMAGE: Apart from infrastructure-led cost savings, the need to be a part of a particular ecosystem also drives businesses to opt for co-working spaces. Photograph: Thomas Peter/Reuters . Operating out of a co-working space is becoming the norm rather than an exception for India Inc, particularly start-ups and small businesses. A majority of the companies and individuals opt for shared workplaces for the benefits they offer in terms of access to cost-effective infrastructure, easy mobility and flexible work timings, ability to scale up and scale down head count, and access to diverse talent pool and mentorship. Interestingly, not only young companies but also some established players are opting to function out of co-working spaces with an aim to quickly scale up their services. What are the key benefits that drive different companies to work out of a co-working space and the levels of cost savings resulting from it? Moving to a co-working space has allowed Paytm to quickly ramp up its team in Bengaluru, saving the company the time to build a new office and avoid the hassle of facility management thereafter. More than 100 of its employees work from the co-working space at Innov8 Bengaluru. According to Abhishek Rajan, vice-president, Paytm, the Bengaluru team is tasked with designing products within tight deadlines. The core teams need a collaborative and high-energy work environment to ensure maximum productivity. And working at a co-working place has helped Paytm to further its open and collaborative culture. In addition, the prime location of Innov8 has helped the company to attract top talent from the industry. For a number of businesses, the major driving factor for opting for a co-working space is significant savings that come in the form of building up and maintaining infrastructure costs. Online marketplace OLX works out of co-working spaces in cities such as Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. This turns out to be cost-effective as the company does not have to bear infrastructure costs, says Krishna Kishore Mallina, zonal sales manager, OLX. Had OLX opted for a rented space of its own in a city like Mumbai, it would have to incur a monthly rental expenditure of about 150,000. However, by opting to work out of a shared workplace, the company is able to register cost savings to the tune of 50 per cent. Nihal Kashinath, CEO, Applied Singularity, says that his company offers clients technology solutions, including Internet of Things and artificial intelligence. The company requires a lot of hardware support to cater to clients. All this calls for installation of expensive equipment and tools and this is not feasible for a firm like his that works on a project basis with freelancers. Therefore, Applied Singularity needs a space that would provide a flexible work environment along with hardware support. For example, it would cost almost 200,000 to buy a 3D printer. Additionally, the company would have to incur maintenance and manpower costs to run the printer. However, since his team works out of a co-working space, the team would end up spending barely 5,000 on an occasional 3D-led task. Essentially, co-working spaces offer entrepreneurs the option to launch their business without locking in a significant amount of working capital, giving them the much needed leeway to scale up the enterprise by investing in the product or service on offer. Shehnaz Bapooji, chief marketing officer, Shopmatic, concurs and points out that co-working spaces allow the flexibility of expanding on one's own terms rather than being bogged down by fixed costs. Apart from infrastructure-led cost savings, the need to be a part of a particular ecosystem also drives businesses to opt for co-working spaces. F6S, a networking platform for founders, is a case in point. Basing itself at a co-working space gives the company an opportunity to be in touch with the ecosystem all the time. "Working out of Creator's Gurukul helps the team to be as close to start-ups as possible. Hence, we get to know what founders are thinking, what they need and their culture. All this helps in understanding the requirements of start-ups and enables us to come up with relevant solutions to help address their issues," explains Nitin Bajaj, country head, India, F6S. Mentorship and networking opportunities are the other two key factors that drive relatively new businesses to opt for co-working spaces. Networking is an advantage that comes along co-working spaces. "The ecosystem of people, companies and industries is incredibly diverse. You never know who you'll meet and how you might be able to collaborate," says Rashi Menda, founder, Zapyle. Her company is part of a co-working space called Co-works. Pooja Bhayana, co-founder, Let's Barter India, admits as much. She says in the early stages her business was able to meet marketing targets as it benefited immensely from word of mouth, public relations support and business collaboration from the community at the co-working space of Innov8 Bengaluru. For Meghna Saraogi, founder, StyleDotMe, coming to Delhi from a small place like Indore and working out of a shared workplace has opened up immense opportunity for networking with people hailing from diverse backgrounds. And with successful entrepreneurs dropping in for special sessions, events turn out to be a great learning opportunity and source of value addition. Most importantly, start-ups also get a lot of assistance in areas such as technology and design from co-working spaces at no extra cost. For many, co-working spaces are not merely a collection of companies but a close-knit, strong community that are ever ready to share their material resources and provide mentorship through experienced leaders in group meets, special sessions and industry events. Tata Tea looks to separate itself from the crowd and reclaim its positioning as a socially responsible label with a new version of its Jaago Re campaign. Tata Tea was among the early brands to ride the cause-marketing trend that has the advertising industry in its grip today. Almost a decade ago, with its Jaago Re campaign taking on politicians, corrupt officials and an apathetic public, the brand had hit the sweet spot with many consumers, particularly the young. But over the past couple of years a host of brands have jumped on to the same platform, diluting Tata Teas distinct positioning. Now with its ongoing campaign, Tata Global Beverages is looking at ways to leverage its past and redefine its status more sharply. The first Jaago Re campaign helped the brand position itself as a socially aware and bold label. At the same time, the campaign helped build a unified identity for the different tea labels that the company held. Bringing social change is an important part of Jaago Re, it has helped create an affinity for the brand and also helped push sales, says Sushant Dash, regional president, India, TGB. It also brought all the labels under one umbrella, Tata Tea Premium, Tata Tea Gold and Tata Tea Agni. Each label had its own identity and positioning and the company wanted to consolidate its media spends and create one mother brand says Dash. The campaign managed to do that effectively. Dash says that its positioning as a brand that is not afraid to speak up has stood Tata Tea in good stead over the years. It has helped build mass appeal. Social causes cut through and touch people across all segments as everyone wants social change and Tata Tea has a big advantage, as it carries the inherent value of being a part of brand Tata, says Dash. Of course, innovation in products, packaging, sales network, pricing have played an equally important role in the brands growth. The overall impact has been a market share of around 20 per cent in terms of volumes and 21.6 per cent in terms of value. The strategy helped establish ourselves as market leaders both in terms of volume and value, says Dash. The social awareness theme however has been usurped by a host of other brands and ads, over the past couple of years. And this has forced Tata Tea to come back with a stronger campaign. With Jaago Re 2, the aim is to take the brand one step forward towards pre-activism, the company says. The aim is to help the brand move seamlessly from the old line of Dont just wake up, awaken into Wake up before the alarm bells. The new campaign titled Alarm Bajne se Pehle Jaago Re is all about timely activism. It asks people to act in time and pay heed to the signals of depression, of criminal intent and social unrest in their midst. The 45-second-long film is a montage of a street play where the protagonist is seen asking people tough questions on arm-chair activism and outrage which surfaces after a tragedy takes place. The film asks people to make enough noise before an untoward incident takes place, be it farmer suicides or molestation. The film, the company says, has received over 48 million unique video views online and went on to become one of the top 10 most viewed videos on YouTube in February when it was launched. The launch of the campaign received around 49 per cent engagement rate on Twitter (which is close to 4 per cent over the industry benchmark) and the brand achieved a 37 per cent share of buzz in the first four weeks of the campaign, the highest in the tea category, claims the company. The entire campaign is expected to run for 12 to 18 months. Explaining how the Tata Tea premise differs from others that have taken up the mantle of social reform, Dash says: We do not associate with a particular cause. We associate ourselves with behaviour change and use social cause just as an example. He says that the ads make it a point not to belittle anyone. With the new ads, pre-activism is a new dimension as it talks about how one does not have to always reflect on cultural and social problems but create an environment for change, instead. The Jaago Re campaign cost the company about a third of what competitors spend on their campaigns, the company says. And the company does not expect to go over the budget with this one either, using social media to amplify the message and take it to remote corners of the country. The branding and promotional campaign will be matched with an aggressive product expansion effort. Dash says that the company will push through new brands into geographies where the company has less than 10 per cent share of the market. For example, a new brand Tata Tea Gold Mixture was launched in Maharashtra some time back. This is the second largest tea market in India and is currently fragmented and dominated by local players. The company has designed a new product keeping in mind local flavours and tastes. Creating a local brand also helps the company match local competition on prices without diluting the value-price equation of existing labels. If we see any opportunities (to expand beverage portfolios) we will look into it, says Dash. Tata Tea is keen to expand its product range and geographical spread in the Rs 22,900-tea-crore market in India, of which branded tea sales are estimated at around Rs 14,400 crores. It is also hoping that increased communication and a renewed focus on establishing its position as a socially responsible brand will help expand Tata Teas appeal in tier-II and III towns, especially among young tea drinkers. 'With technology advancing rapidly, the need for branches is declining,' HSBC India CEO Stuart Milne tells Niraj Bhatt and Anup Roy. Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com The chief executive officer of one of the oldest foreign banks in India has a unique way of attracting new business. He invites existing customers to his house for dinner and asks them to bring a friend. "If some of the guests open accounts, it can be quite valuable for us," says Stuart Milne, head of HSBC India. While his dinner receptions would be lavish affairs, Milne remains a sparse eater, at least when he is meeting us. "I will only have dimsum," he says over lunch at The Golden Dragon in Mumbai's Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. We quickly order assorted dimsums and spring rolls and get back to HSBC's strategy to attract retail customers. Milne says he has a targeted strategy. "We don't use television to advertise because you may reach 20 million people by spending a certain amount, and even if we get those people as customers, it may not be a good match." Besides the friends of his high net worth customers, he targets the customer base of his choice through online marketing. In his five-year tenure in India, Milne has taken some tough decisions. HSBC exited the retail broking business in 2013 and private banking in 2015; and a year ago, it downsized the number of branches from 50 to 26. HSBC is reducing branches globally because of changing customer behaviour. "With technology advancing rapidly, the need for branches is declining," he says. The branches that closed represented less than 10 per cent of customers, most of who have chosen to remain with HSBC through digital channels and phone banking. Relationship managers go to visit them, and that's just the function of the type of customer base it has, which is typically more upscale. Milne foresees a future where a few wealthy customers will have access to a relationship manager of some kind, while the rest of us will interact with a robot or a machine. He believes that the unified payment interface (UPI) is as revolutionary an idea as the ATM was 20 years ago. HSBC's strategy of growing both corporate and retail banking is interlinked, says Milne. "HSBC was founded on conservative Scottish banking principles 160 years ago and this is what we fundamentally believe in. You take a deposit of 100, make a loan for 65 and you buy government bonds for 35. That's all banking is," he explains. The government bonds represent liquidity, which can be sold easily when someone takes his deposit away, and you make a spread between what you pay for the deposit and what you lend. Indian banks are caught in a perfect storm. The non-performing loan (NPL) problem is not going away quickly, and the growth of the industry in 2017 is not going to be significant. "The previous assumption was that if you grew fast enough, the historical NPL problem would take care of itself. That's not going to happen," he says. The shortfall of capital is also going to be material as banks have to meet the Basel III standards by March 2019. However, for HSBC, it means a big opportunity as it has a liquid balance sheet and its business in India is well-capitalised. "We have become the group's third most profitable country last year, and we are doing that with a market share of less than one per cent. We don't need to see the market grow in order to grow our business." HSBC India grew its profit before tax by 22 per cent in 2016 in a challenging year for banks in India. "We want to see our lending-to-deposit ratio go up. Our loan book is small and I would like it to be three times the current size," Milne says. A bulk of its lending is to corporations, while its retail lending is primarily unsecured loans by way of credit cards and personal loans. HSBC is also the leading bank in India for cash management, which brings stable fee income. "We focus a lot on trade and investment corridors, and last year we handled 25 per cent of the inbound foreign direct investment in India," he says. At The Golden Dragon, Milne is quite at home. The captain comes and tells him that he had left a packet behind a few days ago, which he could collect. When our main course of noodles and vegetables in chilli mustard sauce arrives, the waiter persuades Milne to try some of it. Milne talks about how his family came to West Asia, where he grew up. His maternal grandfather fought in the Boer War in South Africa, and moved to Iraq, where he lived for 30 years. His father came after World War II, and was prospecting for oil in the Syrian deserts, between Syria and Iraq. Milne was born in Kirkuk, Iraq, and grew up in Baghdad, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Tehran. As managing director of an oil company, his father negotiated the terms when Iraq nationalised the country's oil assets. "Iraq is a fascinating country, it's a beautiful country," Milne says. "Sadly after so many years of war, it is completely devastated. I can't imagine what the people of Iraq have been through," he says. The family moved to Iran in 1974, and was in Tehran at the time of the Iranian Revolution. After graduating in Modern Arabic Studies, a result of his affinity for the region, Milne says, "My objective was to find a job outside England. I didn't regard it as home as I had never lived there." He joined HSBC as he could return to Asia. His first job in the bank was as a teller in Brunei and since then he has worked in Asia, Europe and the US in various businesses. We ask him how he ended up staying with his first employer for over three decades, and Milne says, he likes the opportunity that HSBC offers to move from place to place. "It doesn't suit everyone to do that, but it offers a lot of challenge and opportunity working with new clients, new colleagues and a new regulator. So it's almost like within one organisation, you don't need to leave it to find a new challenge," he adds. HSBC also has a great bunch of people who he has got to know very well over the years. "You invest a lot in relationships that matter," he says. Talking about roots, Milne says, "I can say I am definitely from Scotland. My father was born in Edinburgh and I was at a boarding school there." Married to an American, he jokes that his three children are even more confused than he is, as they have both US and British nationality. Our lunch is coming to an end and we decide to skip coffee as Milne has to head back to office for a meeting. As we are leaving, we ask him for his views on Brexit. "To my mind, it is not at all a good idea. In today's world we are looking for more globalisation and not a fracture of the markets," he answers. It is a rollback of the last 20 years of globalisation, he points out, and there would be potential impact on global trade and the movement of people and goods across borders. That potentially is damaging for us in India in the long run, too, he adds. In this age of fake news, there are so many things I cannot say for sure anymore, says Veenu Sandhu. Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com A picture of a woman with tears streaming down her cheeks, her face contorted as though she was struggling to come to grips with some terrible tragedy that had befallen her was the first time I truly understood how misleading images can be. This one image threw the notion that pictures don't lie straight out of the window for me. On the turning page was the uncropped frame of the picture. It showed the woman sitting on a stool, peeling onions piled up in a tray balanced on her knee. Her tears and expression of pain came from the sharp sting of the onions. I remember feeling cheated by the first picture that had played on my emotions. A similar feeling has been nagging me these past few days -- to believe or not to believe? And if to believe, then how much to believe? I have been going round and round in circles with these questions. The source of this dilemma is the video of a Kashmiri man, said to be a stone-pelter, trussed up on the bonnet of an army vehicle as a human shield. When a colleague told me about this unfortunate incident, my first reaction was, "What?! Have they gone mad?" I hadn't seen the video yet. Seeing it made it worse. What were they thinking? Why would the army do something like this that would only flare up an already volatile situation? I had seen another video a few days ago, of a group of Kashmiri men assaulting some Central Reserve Police Force personnel on the street. Thank god the jawans hadn't retaliated, I had thought to myself. They were armed; they could have, but they showed the very necessary restraint and quietly walked on even as the mob hit and kicked them. The situation could have turned ugly, even bloody. But the CRPF men didn't let it. It should have ended there. But the video was put out and, as expected, it went viral. And now we have reports pouring in from other states of Kashmiris being attacked or being asked to leave. A self-proclaimed nationalist organisation in Uttar Pradesh has decided to tell people in the state to boycott Kashmiris and not give them milk, water or accommodation. Is that the way to solve the problem, by building more barriers? Coming back to the video of the stone-pelter tied to the vehicle, reports now indicate that this radical measure was perhaps what averted a bloody confrontation between the armed forces and a 400-strong mob of stone-pelters who were marching to attack a polling station at Budgam. The young major who successfully extricated his men and the polling officials from this situation used one of the oldest tricks in the book. How often we have seen it play out in our films -- the good guy, or the bad guy, getting away unharmed using someone as the human shield. In the end, no one got hurt. Not a shot was fired, not a stone hurled. This is the other side of the picture. Or perhaps, it is the full picture. I cannot say for sure. In this age of fake news, post-truth and half-truth, there are so many things I cannot say for sure anymore. But there is one thing I would like to point out. The video of the man on the vehicle, it turns out, was also tweeted by the state's former chief minister, Omar Abdullah, who has 1.84 million followers on Twitter. I do not know if Abdullah looked at the full picture before putting out the video and topping it with dollops of outrage. Of course what has happened is outrageous if -- and it's a big if -- the army's arrogance and threat is the full truth behind the video. But what if it is not? Should not a former chief minister of a state that is already on fire pause to think before punching out tweets? Or is politics bigger than the state? 'The ICJ may take its own time to give the final verdict -- say, even 2 or 3 years -- and that would give us the respite to negotiate bilaterally to resolve the issue,' says Ambassador M K Bhdrakumar. The initial reports from Pakistan regarding the International Court of Justice's interim order on the Kulbhushan Jadhav case give a sinking feeling. If chances of Pakistan carrying out the death sentence were evenly poised, the balance now tilts in favour of execution. It's now, say, 75% to 25%. Consider the following. There has been heavy criticism of the Pakistani government's handling of the case at the ICJ by the Opposition parties. The accusations range from inept handling to outright criticism that Pakistan should have altogether dissociated from the proceedings and refused to accept the ICJ's jurisdiction to the highly combustive allegations that there might have been some 'atch fixing' between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Indian steel magnate Sajan Jindal's recent visit has been linked to that preposterous conspiracy theory. Without doubt, Sharif's government has been put on the back foot. It is now coming under compulsion to take a hard line. The Pakistan attorney general's office has vowed to take the case to its 'logical conclusion.' Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said Pakistan will vigorously fight this case without compromising on its national security. 'Pakistan's security is so important,' Sartaj Aziz, Sharif's adviser for foreign affairs, said, 'and we have to maintain our fundamental sovereign right.' There has been no statement from the pakistan army so far. Evidently, the army will keep close tabs on the groundswell of public opinion, which seems to favour Jadhav's execution. The last date for Jadhav to appeal is May 19. But the timeline can be extended. Any such extension will give a clue on the way the wind is blowing in the GHQ in Rawalpindi. Pakistan has already informed the ICJ that Jadhav will not be executed before August 10. It is safe to conclude that Pakistan will abide by the ICJ's interim order. What lies beyond that certainty is a 'known unknown.' Having come this far, the probability is that Pakistan will present its case more forcefully at the next ICJ hearing. Surprisingly, its performance at the ICJ hearing on Monday, May 15, was far below par -- conveying even an impression that an interim order was a near certainty and, therefore, why bother. It may have decided to keep the powder dry for the forthcoming hearing. From the various remarks in reaction to the ICJ's ruling, it is apparent that Pakistan remains ambivalent about the ICJ's jurisdiction. But the big question is whether this means that the door is open for it to refuse to comply with the ICJ's final judgment -- or even whether it will wait beyond August for the final judgment to come. The point is the decision to participate in the ICJ hearing in the first instance has been a deliberate one and taken obviously on the basis of careful consideration from the political and diplomatic angle. Pakistan would have weighed that India was making a historic departure from its reticence to seek third party intervention in India-Pakistan issues and it was important and necessary to establish a precedent. Pakistan will be closely analysing already the precedent this sets for it to bring Kashmir-related issues to the ICJ in the future. After all, the human rights issue in J&K is of a much, much bigger dimension, considering that there are UN Security Council resolutions on self-determination that are yet to be implemented to which Pakistan also happens to be an affected party. And the prevailing situation in J&K is alarming. The UN secretary-general's spokesman is on record that the situation is being closely monitored in New York. Significantly, when asked to comment on the ICJ case, the US state department proffered the advice that the Jadhav file is best handled by India and Pakistan through 'direct dialogue' and 'practical cooperation.' Both India and Pakistan are swimming in unchartered waters. The bottom line is that on the one hand the ICJ ruling brings much relief that Jadhav's execution is not imminent and it no doubt assuages Indian public opinion, while on the other hand, the standoff at The Hague exacerbates India-Pakistan tensions and may ultimately put the Pakistani back up. Importantly, Sharif faces a crucial election early next year and cannot afford to look indecisive in August when the ICJ's final verdict is expected. In the final analysis, ICJ verdicts are not enforceable either. Taking all factors into consideration, therefore, there is every reason to avoid any triumphalism from the Indian side over the ICJ ruling. To my mind, the Jadhav case is best handled at the political level. The opportunity available on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Astana (June 8-9) must be fully exploited to open a conversation. Conceivably, the ICJ may take its own time to give the final verdict -- say, even 2 or 3 years -- and that would give us the respite to negotiate bilaterally to resolve the issue. 'Is he one who defends individual liberty at all costs, or is he one who allows some give and take that recognises the primacy of the social contract, our coming together to live in a society?' asks Vikram Johri. Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com Many writers I admire, such as Ali A Rizvi, maintain that in these fraught times we should be clear about the difference between religion and those who practise a faith. It's right, for example, to criticise Islam, but wrong to demonise Muslims, since Islam is merely an ideology, while those who practise it are real individuals with rights. Practising Muslims may not look upon their faith as mere ideology, but Ali's injunction is a good starting point for a liberal discourse. Recently, Newslaundry carried a piece that detailed B R Ambedkar's views on Muslims in the run-up to India's Independence and Partition. As was Ambedkar's wont, he wrote about the ills of religion, in this case Islam, as he did with Hinduism, by refracting his ideas through those who practise the faith. Some of his comments are pretty damning in that they portray the Muslim population in pre-Independence India as governed solely by the idea of fighting the hegemony of the Hindus. This raises two questions. One, how does one write about a topic where the lines often blur between an abstract idea and its real adherents, without coming across as a bigot? Ambedkar may not have been entirely right about the Muslim situation -- indeed, the success of India as a Republic attests to the failure of the two-nation theory -- but his larger point about religion mobilising Muslims to ask for a separate State was borne out by subsequent events. These impulses have only grown stronger in the interim. Since the issue has been in the news, consider Kashmir. The rise of unrest in the Valley over the recent past has been attributed to, among other factors, the rapid spread of Islamism. Islamic State flags have made an appearance and money from Pakistan and China is believed to be fuelling the protests. The problem is old and complex, but political mobilisation in the valley is believed to have hastened on the back of a change of power equations in the state since the last election, which installed a Peoples Democratic Party-Bharatiya Janata Party combine. With greater representation of Jammu, where a number of BJP MLAs hail from, in the government, some commentators have put down the latest disturbance to a dissolution of the absolute power that Muslims, the majority in the valley, have hitherto enjoyed. Globally, too, we notice an intermingling of political Islam with the lives of ordinary Muslims. From Chechnya, whose leader has called for the extermination of gays, to the rising threat of terror in Europe, it is becoming increasingly difficult to separate Islamism from Islam and Muslims. How then do we entirely divorce a people from a faith when the political, social and cultural actions of the people are governed by the faith? Second -- and this follows from one above -- when we ask that a community not be demonised, are we asking that its adherents not be marginalised for following essentially apolitical practices, like wearing the niqab (as in France) or eating beef (India)? But even such apparently innocuous actions can translate to politically fraught debates. The idea of covering the face may strike some as deeply misogynistic and incongruous with ideas of Western liberal tradition. Similarly, the idea of eating beef can be deeply offensive in a country where the majority holds the cow sacred. To be sure, Hinduism is not immune to such intolerant impulses. Mobilisation in the name of religion has a tendency to quickly spill over into violence, as the lynching of Pehlu Khan in Rajasthan demonstrated. Respect for the cow -- what Swapan Dasgupta evocatively called 'common decencies' -- turned into something much darker. Luckily, such tendencies are not displayed on a large scale in India and are quickly checked by the web of political and social censure that operates here. Such warring instincts bring us to the ultimate question: Who is a liberal? Is he one who defends individual liberty at all costs, or is he one who allows some give and take that recognises the primacy of the social contract, our coming together to live in a society? On the niqab wearing, especially, we see a direct conflict between these two ideals: A woman's right to do what she wishes versus the larger question of how her choice may be informed by social and religious codes that are, in themselves, illiberal. Of course, there are no easy answers to these questions. Even the fence-sitters among us find ourselves drawn to one side or the other in these conflicts, sides that, on introspection, reveal how we get blindsided by our own mix of emotions, politics, and perhaps even prejudices. Today humanity is churning the ocean with a thoughtless vengeance -- with toxic wastes, plastics and hazardous substances being dumped into our once pristine seas. And there is no benign Lord Shiva to rescue us from the samudra manthan that is the result of our collective greed, says Shyam Saran. IMAGE: When the flooded Ganga submerged a statue of Lord Shiva in Uttarakhand in 2013... In the samudra manthan myth, the ocean is a receptacle of both the poison that can wipe out all existence and the divine nectar that can bestow immortality. If Lord Shiva had not swallowed the poison and held it in his throat, all the treasures yielded by the ocean would have been wiped out. Photograph: Reuters. The ancient myth of sagar manthan (churning of the ocean) contains a profound message of the indispensability of the oceans to all existence. In the myth, the ocean is a receptacle of both the poison, halahal, which can wipe out all existence as well as amrita, or divine nectar, which can bestow immortality. If Lord Shiva had not swallowed the poison and held it in his throat (thus becoming Neelkantha or the blue-throated one), all the amazing treasures which were yielded by the ocean, such as Kamadhenu, the sacred cow, which grants all wishes and Kalpavriksha, or the tree which could grant every boon, and many other treasures, would have been wiped out by the toxic poison also contained in the oceans embrace. Is it not true that today humanity is churning the ocean with a thoughtless vengeance, with toxic wastes, plastics and hazardous substances being dumped into our once pristine seas? Very soon the treasures that the oceans hold to make life itself possible will be consumed in a pervasive swirl of poisonous waters that are a modern incarnation of the deadly halahal. Except that there is no benign Lord Shiva to rescue us from our collective cupidity. The degradation of our oceans is not new, but it has now reached proportions which threaten to upset the delicate and life-sustaining ecological balance of planet Earth. We take the ocean for granted. Its vastness itself inures us to the cumulative effect of the poison we feed into it and the rapacity with which we ravage its resources. To add to the mounting stresses and strains we put on our ocean space, there is the additional impact of global climate change. The planets weather is integrally linked to the state of the ocean, the pattern and direction of ocean currents and the chemical composition of sea water. In 2011, an Oxford University research group drew attention to the increase in ocean acidification as a result of increased absorption of atmospheric carbon dioxide. This was leading to ocean hypoxia, or low-oxygen content in the water, severely affecting marine flora and fauna. There were marine "dead zones" spread across the worlds oceans, where no marine life could survive any longer. At last count, there were an estimated 405 such dead zones, and their number is likely to increase in the absence of drastic remedial intervention. The same Oxford group warned that the growing incidence of hypoxia-induced dead zones were "creating conditions similar to those found at the start of major die-offs of marine species in the past." The group warned that "we may be at the cusp of another mass extinction." An ominous prediction of "pralay" or universal annihilation, which our ancient scriptures speak of. Also read: Climate change warnings we can no longer ignore Where does the modern halahal come from? A major source is run-off from agricultural pollution, in particular the increasing use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, which contaminate rivers and eventually the seas. There are massive quantities of untreated urban waste and sewage, generated in particular by cities and population centres concentrated at the coasts. It is no accident that there are "dead zones" emerging in the seas around Mumbai and in the Bay of Bengal. The most dangerous and rapidly accumulating hazardous waste floating in the ocean and being absorbed in the water is plastic. Plastic waste is literally choking our ocean space, and we are still dumping an incredible 8 million tonnes each year. Plastics degrade very slowly, almost over 400 years, but already there is an average of 13,000 pieces of plastic litter to be found over each sq km of ocean surface. The Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch, which is the size of Texas and located in the northern part of the Pacific, consists mainly of plastic. What is more, some classes of plastics break down into micro particles, which are then ingested by fish and thus find their way into the food on our table. The health impacts are incalculable. While we continue to treat an ocean as a vast dumping ground for the rubbish generated by modern civilisation, we are also guilty of exploiting its resources beyond its capacity to regenerate. Ecological sustainability in essence means not extracting resources from our planet beyond its capacity to replenish and recover. This is also imperative from the point of inter-generational equity. We must leave for succeeding generations the means of sustenance that we ourselves have been fortunate to enjoy. But thanks to unrestrained use of bottom trawling, dynamiting and even poisoning, several species of fish are in danger of extinction. Coral reefs are being destroyed both due to the dumping of toxic waste and the damage caused by trawlers. While corals constitute only 0.1 per cent of the seas, they are home to an astonishing 25 per cent of all marine species. Coral reef loss can, therefore, have a disastrous impact on availability of fish, which are a major source of protein, particularly among developing countries. Among the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) adopted in December 2015, SDG 14 pertains to the oceans, with the objective to "conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development." A whole new concept of the Blue Economy has now been developed to pursue such sustainable development through international cooperation. However, the degradation of the ocean continues apace and the international political environment today is even less propitious for such cooperation than ever before. The UN Ocean Conference is scheduled to be convened from June 5-8, 2017, and could be a major opportunity to focus international opinion on the urgency of tackling the crisis of the oceans. For India, as a peninsular country, with a 7,500-km coastline, the conference is of particular importance. India also has several centres of excellence such as the National Institute of Ocean Technology engaged in advanced marine research, which could make a significant contribution to international efforts to restore the health of our oceans. It could also take a lead in this area at the Indian Ocean Rim Association and as part of BIMSTEC which covers the Bay of Bengal. We are running out of time. The writer is a former foreign secretary. He is currently member, Governing Board of CPR. The ongoing civil war in the White House between representatives of the Alt Right, such as Steve Bannon, and the pragmatists has to end for Trump to complete a four-year term, says Hardeep S Puri. IMAGE: US President Donald Trump waves out as he walks on the South Lawn of the White House. Photograph: Yuri Gripas/Reuters. The first hundred days in office of any president of the United States invite interest and comment, for good reason. The US is the worlds largest economy -- gross domestic product pegged at $18 trillion -- and possesses the capacity to influence global situations. It believes it uses this power for global good. Not everyone agrees. The Donald Trump context is a very special one. The first 100 days may not be sufficient even for an indication of the shape of things to come. He comes to the White House having spent a lifetime in the real estate sector -- building and franchising his brand. He carries the mindset of a businessman with the shock and awe tactics he developed over half a century in the earlier profession. After entering the White House, he has continued to take on not only the "deep state", the "fourth estate" but also almost all sections of the liberal democratic order. There have been some suggestions that this could be a short-lived presidency. Even the possibility of impeachment has been mentioned. In the interest of full disclosure, I had predicted both Brexit and Trump's win. The time has come to stick one's neck out again. Impeaching the president of the US is a difficult enough task at the best of time. To impeach a president whose party enjoys a majority in both houses of the Congress and has a Supreme Court of its liking would make impeachment appear almost impossible to navigate. How about a Black Swan-type transformative development? The so-called Russian connection and possible revelations about business deals of the past or conflict of interest situations which might develop? The firing of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey is not likely to enhance the presidents comfort level. The turbulence of the first 100 days is, however, not likely to end anytime soon. The exacerbation of tensions unleashed, the Tomahawks fired into Syria, the mother of all bombs dropped on Afghanistan may have been one-time actions. The world we live in will, however, continue to look dangerous. A new incumbent in the White House, unpredictable at the best of times, is only partly responsible. There are more worthy claimants for this instability and chaos. Instead of extricating the US from expensive wars, Trumps advisors are pushing for troop surges in Afghanistan, Somalia and elsewhere. My prediction: Trump will soon discover that there are limits to doing business within and from the White House in a manner that is unconventional. With the honed skills of a businessman, he will, when that realisation sinks in, start to cut his losses. For that to happen, the ongoing civil war in the White House between representatives of the Alt Right, such as Steve Bannon, and the pragmatists has to end. The pragmatists have to win for Trump to complete his full term. Trump won the electoral college by only one hundred and ten thousand votes in three swing states in the Rust Belt. It was far too early in 1989 and still too early in 2017 to celebrate the premature demise of globalisation, free trade, human rights, the Washington consensus and interventionist mindsets. Emmanuel Macrons victory over Marine Le Pen provides re-affirmation. The institutions that strengthen the western liberal democratic order are now placing constraints in Trumps functioning. The courts have successfully challenged the executive orders to ban visitors from seven Islamic countries. The same democratic system will continue to drive home the point that there are no easy shortcuts to governance. Trumps success would be facilitated by expeditious appointments to senior positions in the administration. This may take longer than anticipated. We may be looking at the administration not settling down for another quarter. Continuing uncertainty brings with it a new problem -- the reset with Russia, vital for peace in Syria, will be delayed. The Chinese will leverage the situation in North Korea. It is unlikely that Trump will succeed in, or even want to, dilute the US traditional support for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or want it to withdraw either from the North American Free Trade Agreement or the World Trade Organization. All this should add up to business as usual, as at the end of the Barack Obama presidency. Where does that place India? It gives us an extended window of opportunity to take advantage of the investments successive governments in New Delhi have made to place greater strategic content into our bilateral relations. It gives us more time to identify what agenda we wish to pursue. The US, in turn, needs to do its sums to determine what it can legitimately expect India to offer in the new transformed global setting. A relationship that has at the best of times appeared transactional could begin to appear even more so. We need understanding and relief in our immediate neighbourhood. The fight against terror cannot be confined to Islamic State or even Al Qaeda. There must be visible signs of the US using its margin of persuasion with Pakistan. That is the only imponderable. We have the maturity and resilience to take care of the rest, the economic processes, so vital to both countries. Hardeep S Puri is a diplomat who served as Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations in Geneva and New York. He is the author of Perilous Interventions, Harper Collins, September, 2016. The mortal remains of Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave were consigned to flames on the banks of the river Narmada at Bandrabhan in Madhya Pradesh's Hoshangabad district today, with full state honours. Dave, who died in New Delhi yesterday at the age of 60, had expressed the desire to be cremated on the banks of the Narmada, a river that was close to his heart and ran through his home state of Madhya Pradesh. The funeral pyre was lit by his brother and nephew amid a tearful adieu by those present on the occasion at Bandrabhan, where Dave used to organise international river festivals to create awareness among people on the issue of conserving rivers, BJP spokesman Rajnish Agrawal told PTI. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union ministers Harsh Vardhan, Uma Bharti, Anant Kumar, Narendra Singh Tomar and Thawar Chand Gehlot, senior RSS leaders Bhaiyyaji Joshi, Dattatraya Hosbole and Suresh Soni, BJP general secretary Kailash Vijaywargiya among others were present on the occasion. The mortal remains of Dave were brought early this morning to Bandrabhan from his home, 'Nadi Ka Ghar', in the state capital. Chouhan and other BJP leaders were the pall bearers of the departed leader. A guard of honour was also given as a mark of respect him. The Madhya Pradesh government yesterday declared a wo-day state mourning following Dave's death. Leaders cutting across party lines expressed profound grief over his demise. A pall of gloom yesterday descended on 'Nadi Ka Ghar' with Dave's supporters flocking to the three-storey building set up by him which was also used to run Narmada Samagra, an NGO for conserving the river regarded as the lifeline of MP. Born on July 6, 1956 at Barnagar in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain district, Dave, a bachelor, used to live in this house whenever he was in Bhopal. The house was his nerve centre for running the river conservation campaign as well as to formulate strategies for contesting elections. Dave, in his will dated July 23, 2012, said, "If you want to cherish my memories, plant trees and save them. This would give me pleasure," He also mentioned in his will that he did not want any statue, memorial or award instituted in his name. Image: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan pays his last respects at the cremation of Anil Dave at Bandrabhan Ghat in Hoshangabad by the banks of the Narmada. Picture courtesy: ANI A 58-year-old Indian who was detained by American customs officials last week for not possessing necessary immigration documents while entering the country died in custody at an Atlanta hospital. Atul Kumar Babubhai Patel was taken in custody by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Atlanta City Detention Center for two days. He died on Tuesday afternoon at the hospital with the officials stating the preliminary cause of his demise as complications from congestive heart failure. Patel arrived at the Atlanta airport on May 10 on a flight from Ecuador. US Customs and Border Protection subsequently denied him entry into the country as he did not possess the necessary immigration documents, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement said in a statement. Patel was transferred into the ICE custody last week at the Atlanta City Detention Center where he received an initial medical screening and was found to have high blood pressure and diabetes. On Saturday, two days after being in the ICE custody, a nurse checking Patel's blood sugar noticed he had a breathing problem following which he was shifted to a hospital where he passed away. ICE said it is firmly committed to the health and welfare of all those in its custody and is 'undertaking a comprehensive agency-wide review of the incident, as it does in all such cases'. The agency the informed the Indian consular representatives who notified Patel's kin about his demise. The agency added that fatalities in its custody are 'exceedingly rare' and occur at a fraction of the rate of the US detained population as a whole. Patel is the eighth such individual who died in the custody of ICE the fiscal year 2017. The recent deaths have drawn sharp criticism from immigrant rights activists, who have long decried conditions in immigration detention centres and called on the government to close such facilities. President Donald Trump has called for increasing detention as part of his crackdown on illegal immigration. IMAGE: Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, US. Photograph: Tami Chappell/Reuters Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad on Friday dismissed reports of the Income Tax department raids on 22 locations in Delhi and adjoining areas on charges of alleged benami deals worth Rs 1,000 crore linked to him and his family members. He also expressed his resolve to unite the opposition against Bharatiya Janata Party in the next general election. Attacking the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre, the RJD supremo predicted its "fall before completing the five-year term". "I am an astrologer and predict that the Narendra Modi government will not be able to complete its five-year term," he said. "Tell me which 22 places the IT conducted raids," he told reporters in Patna, three days after the raids were carried out on May 16. "When IT will ask (us), we will answer their queries," Lalu said. "Every detail of moveable and immoveable properties of mine as well my family members are in the public domain and with the competent authorities like Income Tax department and the Election Commission, and anybody can see them on the internet," he said while denying any financial wrongdoings. Lalu, who has been under attack from BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi for being involved in alleged corrupt land deals, termed the charges against him as "propaganda" by the saffron party. "All the details of properties (belonging to him and his family members) are with the IT as we file returns regularly and also with the Election Commission," he added. On Tuesday, Prasad said he was "not scared at all" and would continue to fight the "fascist forces". He also attacked the BJP for alleging corruption in purchase of soil for the Patna Zoo from a mall built by a company linked to his son and Forest Minister Tej Pratap. "Kaha ghotala hua hain batao (tell me where the corruption has taken place)," he asked. On the political front, the RJD chief said the preparation is underway for a "huge party rally" in Patna on August 27, and he has been talking to prominent leaders of the non-BJP parties to participate in it. "I have had talks with Mayawati, Mamata Banerjee, Sonia Gandhi and Deve Gowda and they have promised to participate in the proposed rally. It will bring all the parties opposed to the BJP on one platform before the 2019 general election," he said. On the violent clashes between RJD and BJP workers on May 17, Lalu said he has appealed to his party workers not to indulge in such activities. He, however, blamed the BJP workers for attacking the RJD workers with swords and empty beer bottles during the clash. Photograph: PTI Photo Sacked Delhi minister Kapil Mishra on Friday levelled fresh charges against Arvind Kejriwal, claiming that the Delhi chief minister had opposed demonetisation due to his alleged links with hawala operators. Mishra alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party received money from a company of Delhi based lawyer Rohit Tandon, whose assets worth crores have been attached by the Enforcement Directorate over alleged money laundering after demonetisation. Why did he (Kejriwal) fiercely oppose demonetisation? Why did he travel across the country against the move? Because his men, who hoard black money, were being raided by enforcement agencies. His collars are in my hands and he will surely land in Tihar Jail, he said. In his previous press interaction, Mishra had dramatically threatened to drag Kejriwal by his collar to Tihar. Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh trashed the charges saying the donations in question, amounting to Rs 2 crore that were made on April 5, 2014, were received through proper banking channels. There was no illegality involved. It has been two years. Why have the investigating agencies failed to unearth any wrongdoing? Singh asked. Initially, the AAP had maintained that it was not aware of the source behind the amount, received in the form of four cheques of Rs 50 lakh each, which had found an oblique mention even in Prime Minister Narendra Modis speech during the 2015 Delhi assembly election campaign. However, yesterday, east Delhi-based businessman Mukesh Kumar told reporters that he had donated the amount through four of his companies registered in Delhi. In his press conference, citing purported documents of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Mishra claimed that Kumar was not even director in two of the four companies, which he said were shell entities. Shell companies are fronts that do not indulge in any substantial trade and are set-up for carrying out illegal transactions. Kejriwal was trying to shield one Hem Prakash Sharma, who was director in those companies. Even Hem Prakash is merely a front. It is clear as Rohit Tandon become director of one of the companies on April 10, 2014 as per ministry data, he claimed. The four companies in question are Goldmine Buildcon pvt ltd, Infolance Software Solution ltd, Skyline Metal and Alloys pvt ltd, and Sunvision Agencies pvt ltd, said Neil Terrance Haslam, who claims to have been thrown out of AAP in 2014 for refusing to be a sycophant. Haslam, a self-proclaimed whistleblower who has been photographed with top Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, has been assisting Mishra in framing the allegations. Mishra also wondered how the AAP accepted donations from Kumar when one of his companies, SKN Associates, was slapped with a notice by the Delhi government in December 2013 for not paying VAT (value added tax). 10 days before AAP took office in 2013, Mukesh Kumars company was slapped a notice by the Delhi government for not paying VAT. And then this person goes on to donate Rs 2 crore to AAP, he said. He also questioned Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia for not acting against Mukesh for defaulting on VAT after coming to power in 2013. Kejrwals first stint as Delhi CM ended within 49 days after he quit over the Congress and BJP allegedly blocking the passage of the Jan Lokpal Bill. The Pakistan government on Friday faced flak over its handling of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav's case at the International Court of Justice, with several legal experts questioning the strategy adopted and asking why it accepted the global courts jurisdiction. The Hague-based court, the United Nations highest judicial body, had on Thursday stayed the execution of Jadhav, 46, considered to be a spy by Pakistan. The ruling triggered criticism of the the Pakistan Foreign Office for its poor handling and also for its choice of Khawar Qureshi, who represented Pakistans case before the ICJ. The Attorney General for Pakistan had recommended some other counsel, The Express Tribune reported. According to former Pakistan Bar Council vice chairman Farogh Naseem, Pakistan should have immediately withdrawn its March 29, 2017 declaration accepting the compulsory jurisdiction of the ICJ. Instead of contesting the matter, Pakistan should have withdrawn the declaration immediately after India took Jadhavs case to the ICJ, he said. "Why did Pakistan not take the glaring and brutal human rights violations in Kashmir before the court, despite the fact that Islamabad had a strong case in this regard? he said. Former additional attorney general Tariq Khokhar, an expert in international law, regretted that Pakistan had accepted ICJ jurisdiction through a declaration, which should have been withdrawn once Pakistan knew that India would invoke the ICJs jurisdiction against it. "Being an arbitration forum, each contesting state was allowed to nominate one person of its choice to act as an ad hoc judge at the ICJ...India did nominate one but Pakistan did not," Khokhar said, adding that Pakistan's counsel did not argue for the full allotted time either. Eminent lawyer and human rights activist Asma Jahangir suggested that rather than making the ICJ ruling a matter of ego, "We should sit down, join our heads and find a way out by going through the ruling thoroughly." "Who gave the opinion to deny consular access to Jadhav in the first place?" she asked. International law expert Ahmer Bilal Soofi was of the view that Pakistan should prepare for the second phase of the case, which was more important because it would be contested on merit and would provide Pakistan the chance to document Indias intervention inside Pakistan through Jadhav. Islamabad could insist on cooperation from India on the investigation into Jadhavs activities, he said. Former law minister S M Zafar said prime facie, it was a wrong decision. "I could not understand why the ICJ issued a stay order in the Jadhav case without even understanding the case. According to him, Pakistan should change its legal strategy and concentrate more on the terrorism angle. A senior official told The Express Tribune that India had been successful in managing the ICJs registrar office, which has vast powers to fix cases before the court. "We were very surprised how swiftly Jadhavs case was fixed before the ICJ," he said. A senior official in the law ministry told the Express Tribune that Pakistans lead lawyer Qureshi made two mistakes. "He did not nominate ad hoc judge before the hearing and he did not respond to the argument of Indian lawyer regarding the 2008 bilateral agreement between India and Pakistan on consular access," he said. The agreement says both the states will not give consular access to terrorists. However, Harish Salve, counsel for India, contended that the agreement was not registered with the United Nations. The official said the foreign office had also failed to register the bilateral agreement with the UN. Legal experts recommended that as the government now has a couple of months to evolve future strategy, it should not take a decision on appointment of an ad hoc judge in haste. They also wondered why Pakistan wanted to appoint foreigner as an ad hoc judge when every state prefers to nominate its own lawyers. Pakistan Bar Council executive member Raheel Kamran Sheikh said it was matter of concern that success rate of Pakistan in international arbitration cases was 2 per cent while India's success rate was 60 per cent. "We lost important cases at the international forum in the last couple of years. Likewise, we spent more than one billion rupees on lawyers' fees in those cases," he said. Sheikh said mishandling of Jadhav's case was a classic example of how in the power struggle between military and political institutions, gaps in the foreign policy and national security perspectives had grown. "And they [gaps] have grown to such an extent that if the situation is not arrested and improved immediately in the national interest by both the centres of power, irreparable damage shall be caused to the state," he said. IMAGE: Supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party burn Pakistan's national flag during a protest in Mumbai against the death sentence given to former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav. Photograph: Shailesh Andrade/Reuters Continuing to maintain his see-sawing attitude towards the recent criticism over his remarks on joining politics, superstar Rajinikanth on Friday rhetorically said the people would see what happens when the 'ultimate war' comes. "I have responsibilities and works, same with you. Lets do it, but when the ultimate war comes, we all will see," he said. The actor was apparently reacting to Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy's remarks dubbing him as a 'disaster' in Tamil Nadu politics. He also expressed his disappointment over the wrong system which needs to be changed. While mentioning the names of eminent Tamil politicians, Rajinikanth said those people are able administrators but the wrong system does not let them work properly. Rajinikanth further said that the system needs to be changed, and moreover the mindset of the people has to change. "There are many senior people in politics. One among them is M K Stalin who is very able. Anbumani Ramadoss is an able administrator who has toured across the world. Thirumavalavan has been very vocal about each and every subject," he said. Rajinikanth left his fans and political circle into a speculation spree when he hinted towards joining politics earlier on Monday. Continuing to maintain his intriguing stand over joining politics, Rajinikanth further asserted that some people used his name for 'political gains'. Addressing his fans in Chennai, the superstar said, "Some of my fans urged me to join politics and it's not bad even to enter politics, but making money out of this is bad." However, the star added, "If in case I decide to join politics, then those making money will not be entertained." "God made me an actor and I promise Rajini will never ever disappoint his fans in acting, he added. Rajinikanth made the remark during first of his five-day Janta Darbar which he held to interact with fans after a gap of eight years. 'I'm a true Tamilian' During the address, the Tamil superstar said, after living in Tamil Nadu for 43 years and receiving the fans' appreciation, he has now turned into a true Tamilian. This came, perhaps, as a reply to Sarath Kumars outsider remark against him earlier this year. I am 67 years old. I lived in Karnataka for 23 years and in Tamil Nadu for 43 years. I have lived and grown with you. You have been truly loving and welcoming and made me a true Tamilian. If I have to live anywhere in this world that will be in Tamil Nadu, he said. For the unversed, actor-turned-politician Sarath Kumar, in the past, labelled Rajinikanth an outsider Kannadiga, who stepped into Tamil Nadu to find work. This remark came after the Kabali star, at an event, observed that he misses actor-political satirist Cho Ramaswamy, at a time of unusual political developments in the state, following the demise of former chief minister Jayalalithaa. His statement was touted to be in reference to Sasikala taking the reins of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Kumar, who contested on the AIADMK symbol in the assembly election from Tiruchendur in Tamil Nadu in May 2016, on this note, said that Rajinikanth should be careful about his comments on public platforms; adding that the former will be the first to oppose the 2.0 star, if he tries his hands in politics. At the Friday event, Rajinikanth said, "Both support and oppose is a part of the system. You can't grow without any opposition. And in politics, it is inevitable and you have to live with it." He also thanked the organisers and the fans for their relentless support. "I thank the staff and the police, who made this event a success. I also thank my fans for their relentless support over the years, he said. In the Rajini-darbar, the superstar met his fans in batches, between May 15 and 19. Invitations were sent to all the respective fan clubs to attend the various sessions. IMAGE: Actor Rajinikanth addressing his fans in Chennai on Friday. Photograph: ANI Speculation is rife that the land deal came after the Telangana Rashtra Samithi agreed to vote with the Bharatiya Janata Party in the presidential elections scheduled for July, but the TRS has rubbished these reports. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao must be a happy man. Union Defence Minister Arun Jaitley has cleared the proposal to hand over 60 acres of defence land on Parade Ground in Secunderabad to the Telangana government for building its new secretariat. The decision came at a high-level meeting held in Jaitleys chambers where the defence secretary, chief of army staff and officials of the defence estates division of the defence ministry were present. If all goes as planned, the 60 acres of land, belonging to the defence forces, will be handed over to the state government in six months time, following which the the process of construction of the new secretariat building will begin. Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra will soon depute senior officials from the defence estate and a senior joint secretary to discuss the issue with the chief secretary of Telangana in Hyderabad to ensure that the process is expedited. In lieu of the 60 acres, the government of Telangana has agreed to hand over the same area near Hyderabad to the ministry of defence, where they can have a shooting range and space for other defence-related activities. Quid pro quo? Speculation is rife that the land deal came after KCRs Telangana Rashtra Samithi agreed to vote with the Bharatiya Janata Party in the presidential elections scheduled for July. However, sources within the BJP have denied these rumours, saying the request was made when Manohar Parrikar was the defence minister. Rumours state that the final decision over the land transfer was made when KCR sought a personal meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week, where it was agreed that the TRS would vote in favour of the BJP's candidate in the presidential polls. In fact, half way through his meeting with KCR, PM Modi spoke to Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and ensured that the land allotment takes place. In addition, Governor ESL Narasimhan also had a one-on-one meeting with the PM over the transfer of the land for the construction of the secretariat. R Rajagopalan is a senior journalist based in New Delhi. United States President Donald Trump has said that he respects the appointment of a special counsel to probe his campaigns alleged involvement with Russia in the 2016 presidential polls but termed the whole issue as a witch hunt against him. There is no collusion between certainly myself and my campaign, he said while responding to a question on the appointment of former Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Robert Muller to investigate the allegations of Russian interference in the elections. Well, I respect the move, but the entire thing has been a witch hunt, Trump told reporters at a White House news conference with Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos on Thursday. The President has maintained that he has nothing to do with Russia. I can always speak for myself and the Russians -- zero. I think it divides the country. I think we have a very divided country because of that and many other things, he said. The US president said he wants to bring America and has had tremendous success in doing so. You look at our job numbers. You look at whats going on at the border, as we discussed before. You look at what will be happening. Youre going to see some incredible numbers with respect to the success of (defence secretary) general (James) Mattis and others with the ISIS situation. The numbers are staggering, how successful the military has been, Trump said. His remarks came ahead of his maiden foreign trip starting with a visit to Saudi Arabia. Tomorrow, Im going to Saudi Arabia. Im going to Israel. Im going to Rome. And we have the G7. We have a lot of great things going on. So I hate to see anything that divides. Im fine with whatever people want to do. But we have to get back to running this country really, really well. Weve made tremendous progress in the last 100 and some odd days, Trump said. He reiterated that there was no collusion between his campaign and the Russians. Believe me, theres no collusion. Russia is fine. But whether its Russia or anybody else, my total priority, believe me, is the United States of America, he said. Responding to question about the call for his impeachment as raised by the Democrats, Trump said it is ridiculous and maintained that the US is progressing under his rule. I think its totally ridiculous. Everybody thinks so. We have to get back to working our country properly so that we can take care of the problems that we have. We have plenty of problems. Weve done a fantastic job, he said. Talking about the appointment of a new FBI chief for which he has been interviewing several candidates in the past few days, Trump said he will be announcing the new director soon and looks forward to doing it. I think the people in the FBI will be very, very, very, very thrilled, he said. He said that he looks forward to getting the whole controversy behind him so that he can focus on creating jobs and making a strong military. We need health care. We need to cut taxes. Were going to cut taxes. If I get what I want, itll be the biggest tax cut in the history of our nation. And thats what I want. Its going to bring back companies. It's going to bring back jobs. We lost so many jobs and so many companies, Trump said. We want to get back and keep on the track that were on, because the track that were on is record-setting. And thats what we want to do is we want to break very positive records, he said. Trump also refuted the claims made by a media report that he had asked sacked FBI director James Comey to quash the agencys investigation into ties between his former national security adviser Mike Flynn and Russia. No, he said when he was asked about the report. According to a report published in the New York Times on Tuesday, Trump asked Comey to end the investigation against Flynn. I hope you can let this go," the US president was quoted as telling Comey in the report. Comey was abruptly fired by Trump at a time when he was leading an investigation into whether the latters election campaign had links with Russia. When further asked whether he urged Comey in any way to back down the investigation, Trump interrupted the reporter and proceeded to the next question. Defending his decision to sack Comey, he said the former FBI chief was very unpopular among many people. I actually thought when I made that decision, that it would be a bipartisan decision. Because you look at all of the people on the Democratic side, not only the Republican side, that were saying such terrible things about director Comey, he said. Then he had the very poor performance on Wednesday. That was a poor, poor performance. Thats why the deputy attorney general went out and wrote his very, very strong letter, Trump said while referring to Comeys testimony before lawmakers on Capitol Hill. And then on top of that, after the Wednesday performance by director Comey, you had a person come and have to readjust the record, which many people have never seen before, because there were misstatements made, he noted. '100 Fayazs will bring a change in Kashmir, that's why they don't want a Fayaz,' soldiers who have served in Kashmir tell Rediff.com's Archana Masih. Like every other soldier who has requested for leave to attend a family wedding, Lieutenant Ummer Fayaz, just 22, had taken leave to attend a cousin's wedding. He must have put away his uniform in his cupboard for those few days and put on a pair of jeans and t-shirts maybe to make the journey home. He may have bought some gifts; or a box of popular local sweets for his folks. He must have carried with him that unmatched euphoric feeling that only a soldier -- or boarding school student -- can understand. The joy of going home. Lieutenant Ummer Fayaz was abducted and killed in his native Kulgam in the Kashmir valley. His body was brutally punctured with bullets by terrorists. Just five months after being commissioned in the Indian Army, the officer from Kashmir was killed amongst his own. "He came from a village in Kulgam which is in a remote area. It is over 100 km from Srinagar. If a boy from Delhi or Chandigarh goes to the NDA (National Defence Academy), it is a normal thing, but if a boy from a remote area in the Kashmir valley joins the academy it means he had something in him," says a young Kashmiri professional in his late twenties, who does not want to be named for this report. "His father was not working outside the state -- that would have provided him exposure. He was a small apple merchant," the young Kashmiri, who works outside the valley, points out. "His killing was shameful. But this will not discourage people from joining the fauj. Nobody can stop them," says the young Kashmiri who says 8 to 10 young men from his village in Kashmir serve in the armed forces. The Indian Army's regiments like the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAKLI) headquartered on the outskirts of Srinagar, the Ladakh Scouts (the regimental centre in Leh) and the J&K Rifles has a large number of Kashmiris serving in its various battalions. "There are many officers and men from J&K serving in the army. Many have risen to be generals. Even officers from the valley and Ladakh have attained high ranks and positions. In the paramilitary and civil administration, they have become DGPs, chief secretaries and made useful contributions to the nation," says retired Lieutenant General D B Shekatkar, who served in J&K and recently submitted a report to the Union government on wide ranging defence reforms. "Here is a case where an officer who was not even serving in counter insurgency or any operations against insurgents was targeted only because he joined the Indian Army," adds retired Brigadier R S Rawat, a second generation soldier who served in J&K in the late 1990s. Asked if soldiers from the valley need to be cautious while going on leave, Brigadier Rawat says, "You can't have 2-3 people protecting a soldier when he is on chutti. An advisory will perhaps be given to soldiers that they should not go to places that are vulnerable or travel alone when on leave." Images of young Kashmiris -- girls and boys -- throwing stones at the security forces and a video of CRPF personnel being heckled notwithstanding, there has been an overwhelming response at army and paramilitary recruitment centres in the Kashmir valley. "The Hurriyat Conference does not want the youth to join the security forces because they fear that if they do, they will not get cannon fodder," says General Shekatkar who believes that governmental failure in the last 12 years has resulted in terrorism migrating from the northern part of Kashmir to the south. "Lieutenant Fayaz and Burhan Wani grew up in the same environment, under the shadow of the terrorist gun. One became an officer of the Indian Army, the other a terrorist. The people of Kashmir have to decide what they want their children to be -- Wani or Fayaz," the general adds. Perturbed about the low numbers of mourners at Lieutenant Fayyaz's funeral compared to the massive crowds that attended Wani's funeral defying a curfew last July, Brigadier Rawat believes a large number of people in the valley are not sympathisers of these extremists, but are being intimidated. "It is also fodder for extremists and people on the other side of the border that things are going out of shape in J&K," the brigadier adds. "I am sure the government is taking necessary measures to ensure that there is no further ammunition to blow the situation out of shape." "But this is not going to deter Kashmiris from joining the army. Far from it." "Those from the valley who join the army understand what India is and where they stand," adds retired Major General Lalji D Singh, a veteran of three wars, whose son and grand-daughter are serving army officers. "Lieutenant Fayaz's killing is only to scare the weak hearted, but they will not succeed," General Singh feels. Prolonged conflict becomes a way of life and a cottage industry, points out General Shekatkar, who has studied the mindset of 1,127 terrorists across the world to understand how they lead and control terrorist organisations. "100 Fayazs will bring a change in Kashmir, that's why they don't want a Fayaz, but want 20 Burhan Wanis instead -- who would need at least 1 lakh troops to control," says General Shekatkar. Deeply troubled as he is with the killing of the young officer, a fellow native of the state, the young Kashmiri professional, who did not want to be named, feels the Union government should ponder why hundreds of Kashmiris defied a curfew for Wani's funeral but did not come to mourn a soldier serving in the army. Something is not right and the government needs to find out the 'whys' behind these telling signs and talk to the youth, he feels. The youth cannot be won by force, he explains, and the government needs to think of something that is "alag" (different). "The Union and state governments will have to convert this negative mindset to positive," says General Shekatkar. "You can't fire a nuclear bomb against a mindset." "The government will spend thousands of crores, send more troops, have conclaves in Delhi -- but unless you speak to the people of Kashmir, stay with them -- nothing will happen," the general says. He proposes that brilliant Kashmiri students should be given educational opportunities in other states and should be provided skill development apart from degrees so that they can return to the valley as professionals. It is this vacuum that is being exploited by hardline Wahabbi thought process and madarsas, he adds. Other parts of Kashmir like Kargil-Dras-Leh should be developed as tourist attractions, the general says. A new highway connecting Kupwara-Barmulla-Uri-Rajouri-Jammu should be developed, so that the blocking of the lone Jammu-Srinagar highway by protestors can be prevented. He also suggests the need to open special economic zone between Jammu-Pathankot to encourage industry. The spread of hardline Wahabbi Islam with support from across the border should not be allowed to spread, asserts General Shekatkar, and members of the separatist Hurriyat Conference should be sent away from the valley. Kashmir, he adds, needs to think beyond political families that have governed Kashmir for decades. "No power on earth can take away Kashmir by the power of gun. The reason there were hardly any people at Lieutenant Fayaz's funeral was because of the threat of terrorists. It was the fear of survival," the general says. "Pakistan wants to keep India occupied in Kashmir to keep it busy from taking on other challenges. The One Road One Belt initiative is going to play havoc," says General Shekatkar. "Pakistan will be worse than Syria. It will become economic bonded labour of China. We have to be very careful." IMAGE: An army officer pays tribute to Lieutenant Ummer Fayaz, who was murdered by terrorists, at his funeral. Photograph: Umar Ganie for Rediff.com It's been over 100 days since the Women's March on Montana. We call on Marchers to remember why you marched and the energy you felt while marching. What inspired you to march? Fear? Anger? Hope? We ask that you continue to find this same inspiration now when its most needed. There were 10,000-16,000 Marchers in Helena on Jan. 21, and we're guessing far more people than that, across the state, could not join us at our Capitol. We marched for human rights and for equality, and we marched against anything that threatens these core values. We asked a lot from you back in January we asked you to remain vigilant and engaged. You have responded! You have consistently been protesting, rallying, making phone calls, and sending emails and letters. Now, we are asking all of you to march again. This time, march to your polling place and help Montana elect the only sensible candidate to represent us in Congress. Its time to elect Rob Quist. So, what did we organizers feel on that cold January day? We felt hopeful. We also felt that the Womens March on Montana was a promise. A promise to ourselves and to each other that we would resist. A promise that we would not accept the direction our new administration was taking. A promise that we would demand accountability of our elected officials. We intend to keep our promise and ask that you do too. Please help Montana elect a representative that will fight for Montana values. Rob Quist understands these values and we are confident he will represent Montanans in DC. Please join us in voting for Rob Quist on Thursday, May 25. Womens March on Montana Organizers Abrei Cloud, Missoula Debbie Hanneman, Whitehall Kim Kradolfer, Helena Merle Ann Loman, Victor Deb ONeill, Clancy Angela Simonson, Helena Rebecca Weston, Missoula BILLINGS A Flathead County renter identifying her landlord as the wife of U.S. House candidate Rob Quist says she had to move this spring to make way for Quist, and is now fighting to get her full deposit back. Stephanie Michalzik said she was told the Quists would be moving into her apartment in May. A single mother, Michalzik had hoped to renew her lease, but was told the couple needed the space. Michalziks story comes as Quist, a musician turned Democratic candidate, tries to distance himself from the multi-unit rental property. The candidate has reported no income from the rentals. Payment records provided by renters show rental payments to Quists wife, Bonni, for the past three years. Property tax records make no mention of living quarters at the site, listing four outbuildings and no dwellings. The distinction matters because the Department of Revenue generally recognizes apartment units as more valuable than barns, regardless of zoning. Rental properties typically generate more tax dollars than outbuildings. Quists campaign issued the following statement from the candidate: Bonni and I paid our fair share of taxes this year and every year. One of the reasons I got in this race was to go to Washington and fight for tax cuts for people in Montana who work for a living, not transplanted New Jersey millionaires, Quist said. Flathead County District Court records show that Quist has let several years lapse before paying his property taxes for individual years, the longest stretch being nine years, from 2007 to 2016. Quist is current on his taxes. Quists New Jersey millionaire remark is a reference to his Republican opponent, Greg Gianforte, who moved to Montana 20 years ago and launched a successful software business. Last week, Quist explained his long history with the property and told The Gazette there were no renters. He did so as his campaign staff attempted to end the recorded interview. The thing is, we used to, for many years we had it as an event center, Quist said. We quit doing that. We havent done that for a long time. So, my sons living there. Thats not a rental property. Its just something thats kind of family owned. Michalzik said there were two rental units occupied this month, in addition to the unit occupied by Quists son, Guthrie. Leases provided to the Gazette for Michalzik and three other renters put the monthly rental income at $2,450 a month. Thats rental income Quist hasnt listed on the Schedule A of this U.S. House financial disclosure form required of candidates. The candidate also hasnt listed rental income on his tax filings for 2015 and 2016, according to tax documents provided by the Quist campaign to the Associated Press. Speaking to the media this week, Quist has further distanced himself from the apartments, no longer calling them family owned. This is a property that I am not an owner of. So for The Billings Gazette to bring this up, this is out of my hands. I dont own that property, Quist told the Bozeman Chronicle editorial board. That fact that theyre saying I dont show income from it, I wouldnt. I dont get income from that property. Leases provided by renters to The Gazette list Quists wife, Bonni, as the landlord. Michalzik and the other renters say they made their payments directly to Bonni Quist, whose income is reported with the candidate's on House financial forms and tax returns. She makes $950 a month out of the one I was in, Michalzik said. And there are units shes getting $750 each for. Michalzik came forward after having trouble getting all of her deposit back from Bonni Quist, who issued Michalzik a $200 payment May 5, but kept the remainder. When the payment to Michalzik didnt clear Bonni Quists personal account at Glacier Bank until May 11, Michalzik said shed had enough. The Gazette asked that the Quist campaign provide records of the rental income being transferred from Bonni Quist to Quists daughter. Those transfers would confirm Rob and Bonni Quist werent profiting from the rentals. The campaign refused. Though she doesn't hold title to the property, Bonni Quist has power of attorney, which would allow her to conduct business as a landlord or on behalf of the property owner. The Gazette obtained leases and checks from renters, showing money going to and from Bonni Quist's account. The Gazette asked for receipts or records on several different occasions during the past week showing the rental money went to the property owner, Halladay Quist. The campaign refused. The Gazette also asked to speak with Halladay Quist, the property owner, and the campaign refused, saying that candidates' children were off limits in political reporting. The title for the property Rob Quist last week described as family owned has been transferred between family members more than once, most recently in 2013 when the title was twice transferred between Quists wife and daughter, Halladay, with Bonni Quist retaining power of attorney and Halladay finishing the transactions with the title. Flathead County property records show those transactions between mother and daughter occurred, a few months after a foreclosure notice was filed against Rob and Bonni Quist to collect $348,214 in debt. The couple had missed several mortgage payments. Records indicate all property is currently in the clear. The Quists' intention was to divide their property into separate lots, with some real estate being sold to satisfy the couples debt. In March, Quist told The Gazette, Our whole goal is to sell the ranch house and 10 acres and move over into the old barn." In addition to the apartments, the 9.19-acre property includes three other buildings, none of which are listed as dwellings on state tax records. Michalzik and one other renter say one of the other outbuildings has been converted to living quarters, also. Quist earlier told The Gazette that in the 1990s he began converting the barn to an event center and three apartments. Department of Revenue officials told The Gazette the state relies on records of required permits for electrical and septic work to determine when improvements are made to a property. Those permits are required by state law. Tax assessors monitor those permits looking for changes that signal an increase in a propertys taxable value, said Mike Kadas, DOR director. These permits are required by law, but its up to the state to notice the changes. We closely track building permits and so when there is a building permit drawn we will put that on our list and then, usually after the construction, will go and look at it and inspect it, Kadas told Lee Montana. If people in the neighborhood tell us theres construction we definitely go look, put it on a list. We dont get to this tomorrow. There were no Quist property permits for plumbing or electrical work on file with the state Department of Labor and Industry. DLI keeps the records for only seven years, leaving open the possibility that the Quists had state-required permits that fell off the books. The Quist campaign says Rob Quist had the necessary permits for the apartments he constructed. The Gazette asked for them, but the campaign did not provide them. Flathead County handles septic permits, which are required for commercial, single-family and multifamily septic systems. The records start in 1969. There is a 1999 septic permit for Rob and Bonni Quist to accommodate the barn apartments. That permit would make the apartments about 18 years old. Ed Caplis, DORs tax policy and research director, said any errors in how the apartments are recorded will be corrected in January and reflected in future taxes. Whether back taxes are collected depends on the Flathead County Commission, said Adele Frantz, Flathead County Treasurer. The Department of Revenue will make a recommendation if tax information hasnt been captured. It wouldnt be until after the May 25 election for U.S. House that the Flathead County Commission decides whether to pursue back taxes on the Quist apartments, said commissioner Phil Mitchell. Flathead County has a real problem with under-collected taxes, particularly in rural areas where the permitting trail isnt as strong as it should be, Mitchell said. Its difficult to pay for public services when properties arent taxed at their full value, Mitchell said. Chile: Closure of investigation into crimes against Mapuche leader puts Indigenous Peoples at risk Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 17 May 2017 Cite as Amnesty International, Chile: Closure of investigation into crimes against Mapuche leader puts Indigenous Peoples at risk, 17 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/591e88270.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 closure of the investigation into the alleged crimes of abduction and torture reported by the Mapuche leader Victor Queipul Hueiquil sends a dangerous message to human rights defenders in the country, Amnesty International said today. The Temuco Public Prosecutors Office announced today that it will close the case of Victor Queipul Hueiquil, a Ionko (leader) of the Autonomous Community of Temucuicui, because they have been unable to identify those allegedly responsible for his detention from approximately 8pm on 14 June 2016 until 4am the following day. The incident reported by the Ionko occurred in June 2016. Following a period of investigation, it appears that a comprehensive and impartial investigation was not carried out into the crimes reported. "This ruling sets a dangerous precedent and gives free rein to those seeking to silence Indigenous Peoples in Chile," said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas Director at Amnesty International. "Reporting human rights violations is not a crime. Rather than punish those who dedicate their lives to fighting for justice, the Chilean authorities should protect them and their work and prosecute those who attack them." Victor Queipul Hueiquil fights for the Mapuche Peoples' claims to their ancestral lands, protection of their cultural and spiritual identity and for their self-determination. For years members of this community have reported that they have suffered from police violence, torture and ill-treatment, legal persecution, stigmatization and criminalization because of their human rights work. On 14 June 2016, a group of officers carried out a police operation into the Autonomous Community of Temucuicui's land. The police officers shot tear gas and used anti-riot weapons. In the context of this operation the Ionko was detained against his will without a court order by three unidentified individuals, from approximately 8pm on 14 June until 4am the following day. During this time he was blindfolded, tied up and beaten. The men asked him for information on the location of weapons allegedly held by the community, they criticized his work with the Mapuche communities and his support of a machi (religious authority figure) who is being criminalized, and demanded that he stop his work fighting for the rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Ionko reported the incident at the Traiguen police station and subsequently filed a formal complaint. The Public Prosecutors Office also targeted human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, in an attempt to discredit their work to support social organizations and Indigenous communities in Chile. Copyright notice: Copyright Amnesty International US: Improve Civilian Protection in Afghanistan Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 17 May 2017 Cite as Human Rights Watch, US: Improve Civilian Protection in Afghanistan, 17 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/591e8a694.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 US Defense Department should promptly adopt measures to better protect civilians in the Afghanistan armed conflict, Human Rights Watch said in a letter to Defense Secretary James Mattis. The US government is currently conducting a review of its Afghanistan strategy and support to the Afghan government in its efforts against the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and Islamic State-affiliated armed groups. "Increasing numbers of civilian deaths and injuries from US airstrikes in Afghanistan raise concerns that the procedures for vetting airstrikes are inadequate," said Brad Adams, Asia director. "The US review of its Afghan strategy is a crucial opportunity for adopting changes to minimize civilian casualties." Civilian casualties in Afghanistan have steadily risen in recent years, with 2016 seeing the highest toll recorded since 2008 with a total of 11,418 (3,498 deaths and 7,920 injured), according to the United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA). While the Taliban and other insurgent forces have caused most of these casualties through deliberate and indiscriminate attacks on civilians, casualties caused by US and Afghan forces have also been on the rise. A recent UNAMA report shows that in 2016, aerial operations by US and Afghan government forces resulted in the deaths of 250 civilians and injuries to 340 others, which is nearly double the total from the previous year. Aerial operations remained the second leading cause of civilian casualties by Afghan government forces in 2016, causing 43 percent of civilian casualties. Most support for Afghan air operations has come from the US military, though Afghan civilian casualty tracking and mitigation measures are significantly lacking. NATO has provided guidance to the Afghan government in developing its own civilian casualty mitigation policy, which reportedly remains under review by Afghan authorities. Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Sri Lanka: Anti-Terror Bill Revives Concerns of Abuse Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 18 May 2017 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Sri Lanka: Anti-Terror Bill Revives Concerns of Abuse , 18 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/591e8aea4.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. Sri Lanka's latest counterterrorism bill falls far short of the government's pledges to the United Nations Human Rights Council to end abusive detention without charge, Human Rights Watch said today. The Cabinet approved the third draft of the Counter Terrorism Act (CTA) on May 3, 2017, but no parliamentary vote has been set. While the bill improves upon the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), it would still permit many of the abuses occurring under current law, and raises a number of new concerns. To meet its promises to the Human Rights Council, the government should reject any counterterrorism legislation that is not in accordance with international best practices. "Sri Lanka's counterterrorism bill buries its abusive intent under detailed procedures, but it still won't protect people from wrongful detention," said Brad Adams, Asia director. "While some provisions could prevent abuses, the fundamental danger of prolonged detention without charge remains. This isn't what UN member countries sought when they agreed that Sri Lanka would reform its security laws." Recent interviews by Human Rights Watch found that torture remains endemic throughout Sri Lanka, including through the use of the PTA. Those arrested under the PTA, including since the war ended in 2009, gave accounts of torture and mistreatment, forced confessions, and denial of basic rights such as access to lawyers or family members. As part of its undertakings for security sector reform at the Human Rights Council in October 2015, the Sri Lankan government pledged to repeal and replace the PTA. Several provisions under the proposed counterterrorism law are improvements, such as greater detainee access to counsel, entry of magistrates and Human Rights Commission officers to detention facilities, and reporting requirements that could help prevent enforced disappearances. However, a number of provisions are likely to facilitate human rights abuses. Of particular concern are the bill's broad and vague definitions of terrorist acts, which include a wide array of illegal conduct. The suspect needs to have acted with a terrorist purpose, but this broadly includes "intimidat[ing] a population" and threatening "the unity, territorial integrity, sovereignty, national security or defence of Sri Lanka" - which could be found to include peaceful political activity or protest. While the draft law enumerates procedural safeguards, it is weak on demonstrating the manner in which they can be effectively implemented. As with the PTA, under the proposed law police and military officers may make arrests without a warrant. Suspects may be detained without charge for 12 months, a reduction from the 18 months permitted under the PTA. Bail is only to be granted for exceptional reasons. The bill also prohibits a range of conduct with "Proscribed Terrorist Organizations" that violate the right to freedom of association. If enacted, the law would prohibit ordinary dealings with many ethnic Tamil organizations, including those based abroad, that were declared illegal during the armed conflict and remain so, even if during or since the war they never engaged in any terrorist activity. "The latest counterterrorism bill brings Sri Lanka no closer to having a law that will genuinely respect the rights of suspects," Adams said. "UN member countries and the EU need to be pressing Colombo to fully abide by its pledges to the Human Rights Council." Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch 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. Challenges can derail Bosnia and Herzegovina from path of stability, Security Council told Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 18 May 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Challenges can derail Bosnia and Herzegovina from path of stability, Security Council told, 18 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/591e8e4d4.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. Though Bosnia and Herzegovina has continued its efforts towards membership in the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), negative incidents could still derail the country from the path of peace and stability, a senior diplomat told the United Nations Security Council today. "As we enter the third decade of peace implementation, it cannot be assumed that Bosnia and Herzegovina is on a glide path to a peaceful, viable State irreversibly on course for European integration," said High Representative Valentin Inzko during a briefing on the situation in the country. The Office of the High Representative was created in 1995 to oversee the Dayton Peace Agreement signed by the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia that formally ended the 1992-1995 Bosnian war. "We need to be mindful of the fact that Bosnia and Herzegovina is a complex political and security environment, where negative scenarios can quickly endanger the Dayton Peace Agreement and the progress achieved after Dayton," Mr. Inzko told the 15-member body, stressing the need for the international community to retain all the instruments at hand. In this regard, he supported the EU military force's presence on the ground with an executive mandate and its extension, an issue to be considered by the UN Security Council in November. The EU military force is "a relatively inexpensive but necessary investment in peace and stability in the Balkans," he said, as it provides an essential baseline of physical and psychological security that supports the EU, his Office and other international organizations. Regarding the Euro-Atlantic integration, Bosnia and Herzegovina authorities formally received the EU Questionnaire in December and the adaptation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU took place in the same month. Equally encouraging was the consensus and forward-looking pragmatism demonstrated by the country's Presidency in adopting the so-called Defense Review of military forces last November, one of the requirements to participate in the NATO Membership Action Plan. At the regional level, bilateral cooperation and overall reconciliation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia has continued to improve, he noted. Bosnia and Herzegovina, however, faced some significant challenges over the last six months, including the controversy between Bosniak political representatives and Serb political parties over whether the country should submit a request for revision of the International Criminal Court's 2007 judgment in the genocide case of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia vs. Serbia. In another negative development, Croat politicians have intensified calls for the "federalization," which was understood by some to imply the further ethnic division of the country into three to four "federal units," one of which would have a Croat majority. Further, the situation with regard to rule of law continued to deteriorate, with corruption a serious problem. These "will require continued attention and commitment from the international community," he said. UN envoy urges defusing tensions over Palestinian hunger strike in Israeli jails Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 18 May 2017 Cite as UN News Service, UN envoy urges defusing tensions over Palestinian hunger strike in Israeli jails, 18 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/591e8e954.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 United Nations envoy on the Middle East peace process today called for an immediate resolution to the growing tensions over a hunger strike by Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails. "I am following with great concern the ongoing hunger strike by Palestinian detainees protesting against their conditions in Israeli jails," said the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, in a statement. "The strike is now entering its second month and it is imperative that a resolution be found as soon as possible in line with international humanitarian law and Israel's human rights obligations," he added. Expressing hope that current efforts will result in an immediate resolution to the matter, which is in the interest of ongoing initiatives to revive a political process, he called on all actors to exercise maximum restraint, show responsibility and take all necessary steps to avoid escalating tensions. Experts race against clock to quell Ebola outbreak in remote DR Congo province UN Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 18 May 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Experts race against clock to quell Ebola outbreak in remote DR Congo province UN, 18 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/591e91464.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 race against the clock has begun to contain an outbreak of Ebola in a remote northern area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) said today. Twenty cases of Ebola have been reported in the DRC's Bas Uele Province near the vast country's border with the Central African Republic two have been confirmed by laboratory tests and three people have died so far, the agency says. On 9 May, WHO noticed a cluster of unexplained illnesses and death, all with bleeding symptoms in the same area. WHO, the Congolese Government and the medical aid organization, Alima, immediately deployed a team to the field and lab tests confirmed it was Ebola. Two days later, the DRC Ministry of Health officially declared an outbreak of the virus. It's important to note that Likati Health Zone is one of the most remote parts of the DRC. It is 1400 kilometres from Kinshasa and 350 kilometres from the nearest major town, Kisangani, said Dr. Peter Salama, the WHO Executive Director for Health and Emergencies Programmes, speaking to the press in Geneva. The logistic and practical challenges associated with the response to the outbreak in a very remote and insecure part of the country should not be underestimated WHO's Dr. Peter Salama He also said there are only 20 kilometres of paved roads in that area and virtually no functional telecommunications. It is also an area that has been subject to insecurity and displacement. The Lord's Resistance Army is believed to be active in the area and their displaced populations from the ongoing conflict in the Central African Republic, he noted. With the help of the UN, the first search teams, led by the DRC's Ministry of Health, flew into Likati on yesterday. Their immediate priority is to follow the 400 plus contacts of the suspected Ebola cases. The focus is on surveillance, getting the best information on the suspected cases, diagnosing people who have come in contact with an infected person, case management, isolating those who are infected to prevent the spread of the disease and more importantly engaging with the community, explained Dr. Salama. Meanwhile, the first Ebola treatment centre has been established in the Likati General Hospital. Protective gear has been dispatched to health workers and a mobile lab is being constructed and then deployed to the area. Immediate repairs to air strips and telecommunications are also being carried out. The first six months of the operation are expected to cost $10 million. Risk assessment 'high' at national level; 'low risk' globally WHO has determined overall that the risk assessment for this event is high at the national level, medium at the regional level and low at the global level. An experimental vaccine for Ebola is being tested in Guinea, where the first outbreak of Ebola in West Africa was reported. The trials there have been promising and the vaccines has proven to be efficient and safe so far, Dr. Salama told reporters, while Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, added that she is encouraged by the rapid response to quell the outbreak. We have not received an official request from the Government for this vaccine but they have been made aware that this possibility exists both to benefit from this new tool and also to add their support in the testing of this vaccine, she said, reiterating the experimental nature of the vaccine and expressed hope the authorities will work with us to consider this and make a decision. This is the eighth outbreak in the DRC since 1976. The most recent was in 2014, around the time more than 11,000 people died and some 28,000 cases were reported in the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, mainly in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Mosul: 200,000 more people could be displaced as battle nears Old City UN Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 18 May 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Mosul: 200,000 more people could be displaced as battle nears Old City UN, 18 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/591e91987.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. As military operations against terrorists intensify and move closer to Mosul's Old City area, up to 200,000 more people could be displaced, a senior United Nations humanitarian official in Iraq warned today. The numbers of people fleeing their homes in western Mosul are overwhelming, said Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq Lise Grande in a press release from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Since military operations against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) began in Mosul seven months ago, nearly 700,000 people have been displaced, including 500,000 people from the city's western neighbourhoods. Iraqi Security Forces have made rapid gains in north-west Mosul and ISIL terrorists are reportedly surrounded in the west of the city. The military battle in Mosul isn't over yet and even when it is, the emergency will continue for months Hundreds of thousands of lives are at stake, said Ms. Grande, stressing the need to re-double efforts to mobilize more resources to assist the people in need. She said many are lacking food and haven't had access to safe drinking water and medicines for weeks or months. Acknowledging the generosity of people in other parts of Mosul who are opening their homes for displaced families, she said: Without this support, the camps would have been overwhelmed long ago. To date, the $985 million appeal for Iraq is less than 30 per cent funded. About $331 million is being sought for the Mosul assistance. UN expert urges Dominican Republic to place child protection at core of tourism strategy Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 18 May 2017 Cite as UN News Service, UN expert urges Dominican Republic to place child protection at core of tourism strategy, 18 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/591e91e94.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. Those who come to the Dominican Republic to sexually exploit children must know that they will be punished, a United Nations independent expert said, urging the Government to put child protection at the centre of its tourism strategy. At the end of her first official visit to the Dominican Republic, the UN Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children, Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, urged the Government to send a strong signal that the target of 10 millions of tourists by 2022 is not reached at the expense of exposing further children to the scourge of sexual exploitation. During her eight-day mission, the Special Rapporteur visited child care institutions, and met with children in vulnerable situations to fall victims of sexual exploitation such as girl vendors on beach locations. She noted that blame for rape and other sexual exploitation is often put on the families and the exploited children while perpetrators often foreign male from Western countries whose crimes are facilitated by all sorts of intermediaries walk around with a complete sense of impunity. The Special Rapporteur called on the Ministry of Tourism to incorporate prevention of this scourge in its plans, and to lead efforts already deployed by the private travel and tourism sector, together with local actors of affected communities, to implement the Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism. The expert commended measures adopted by the specialised units of the Attorney General's Office to combat trafficking and high technology crimes, which have led to a series of convictions, including of foreign nationals. She also called for better coordination between the police and the body in charge of tourist security (CESTUR) to improve detection and referral of cases for criminal investigation. International police and judicial cooperation are also crucial to combat impunity, she added. Ms. de Boer-Buquicchio also called for a strengthened cooperation between the Dominican and Haitian authorities to address the situation of unaccompanied children living and working around the Haitian border, and reminded that while these children remain in the country, they must receive the Dominican authorities' assistance and protection. Among other statements made during her visit, the expert called for absolute prohibition of child marriage. Special Rapporteurs and independent experts are appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a specific human rights theme or a country situation. The positions are honorary and the experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid for their work. Press freedom violations recounted in real time January 2017 Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 18 May 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Press freedom violations recounted in real time January 2017, 18 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/591e93654.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. 18.05.2017 - Hengameh Shahidi suspends hunger strike Reporters Without Borders (RSF) was relieved to learn today that imprisoned journalist Hengameh Shahidi decided to suspend her hunger strike after receiving a visit from her family in 16 May and a promise from the Tehran prosecutor's office that her appalling prison conditions will be improved and that she will be given complete medical examinations. According to her family, she is suffering from several heart and respiratory ailments, along with other conditions. She had not been eating any food since 10 May. --------- 12.05.2017 - Journalist freed after ten years in prison Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is pleased to learn that Mohammad Sedegh Kabodvand, the editor of Payam-e mardom-e Kurdestan (a regional newspaper closed by the authorities in 2004), was granted a conditional release today on completing ten years in prison. Held since July 2007 in Tehran's Evin prison, Kabodvand was sentenced to a total of 11 years in prison in connection with his journalistic activities and his creation of a human rights organization in Iranian Kurdistan, the northern region where he lived. He has been freed provisionally pending a judicial decision on the application of article 134 for the new Islamic criminal code to the rest of his sentence. Under a 2013 amendment to the code, a person convicted on several charges should serve only the most important sentence. By this token, he should have been freed four years ago. -------- 27.04.2017 - Two journalists freed conditionally Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has learned that two imprisoned journalists, Kaivan Karimi and Issa Saharkhiz, have been released conditionally in the past week. Karimi, a young documentary filmmaker, was freed on 20 April after completing half of the one-year sentence he received in November 2016 . Saharkhiz, the editor of several reformist newspapers was released on 25 April. His lawyer, Mahmoud Alizadeh-Tabatabaie, said he had completed his sentence. One of the victims of a wave of arrests in early November 2015, Saharkhiz was sentenced by a Tehran revolutionary court in August 2016 to three years in prison on charges of anti-government propaganda and insulting Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. While held, he staged several hunger strikes in protest against his imprisonment and had been hospitalized since March 2016. The sentence was reduced last September. Ranked 165th out of 180 countries in RSF's 2017 World Press Freedom Index, Iran is one of the world's five biggest prisons for media personnel, with a total of 28 journalists and citizen journalists detained. ---------- 19.04.2017 - Narges Mohammadi begins serving second jail term Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is outraged by the continuing persecution of journalist and leading human rights defender Narges Mohammadi, who has just started serving a ten-year prison sentence on completing a six-year one. She received the ten-year sentence a year after her most recent arrest, on 5 May 2015. Mohammadi has a long history of persecution by the judicial authorities and has been arrested several times. During her spells out of prison, she has worked closely with Nobel peace laureate Shirin Ebadi at the Centre for Human Rights Defenders. The six-year sentence followed her arrest at her home on the evening of 10 June 2010. She was convicted two months later on charges of "meeting and plotting against the Islamic Republic," "anti-government publicity:" and "collaborating with the Centre for Human Rights Defenders" and was given an 11-year jail term that was reduced to six years on appeal in March 2011. Mohammadi suffered muscular paralysis as a consequence of the heavy-handed interrogation sessions to which she was subjected after her arrest in 2010. As a result, she was paroled in July 2012. ---------- 17.03.2017 - More journalists arrested Reporters Without Borders (RSF) yet again condemns the persecution of journalists in Iran after at least three more were arrested in the past week. The latest victims include Morad Saghafi, the editor of the magazine Goft o Gu ("Dialogue" in Persian), who was arrested at his Tehran home yesterday and was taken to an unknown location. His lawyer, Hamed Zargar, said neither he nor Saghafi's family have been told why he was arrested. Meanwhile, Ali Motahari, the deputy speaker of Iran's parliament, yesterday asked the minister of intelligence to explain why a military unit recently arrested 12 editors of pro-reform information pages on the instant messaging service Telegram. Motahari also criticized the detention of Ehssan Mazandarani, the former editor of the newspaper Farhikhteghan, on 12 March (see RSF's 13 March release). His wife, Malieh Hossieni, a journalist with the newspaper Farhikhteghana, was fired the day after his arrest. Although banned, apps and social networks such as Telegram, Facebook and Twitter nowadays play an important role in providing Iranians with news and information. Telegram says it has more than 15 million users in Iran. According to the Kalameh news website, Ali Ahmadinia, the administrator of the Eslahat News (Reform News) channel on Telegram, was arrested on 14 March and was taken to an unknown location. RSF is currently very concerned about the health of two journalists who have been on hunger strike since their arrest. One is Mazandarani, who was arrested on 12 March (see above). The other Henghameh Shahidi, who was arrested on 9 March. ---------- 15.03.2017 - Former editor gets six-month jail term Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns the six-month prison sentence that has been passed on Hossein Karoubi, the former editor of Etemad Meli (a newspaper closed since August 2009) for circulating the open letter that his father, Mehdi Karoubi, wrote to President Hassan Rohani. In the April 2016 letter, published in mostly foreign-based media outlets and on social networks, Mehdi Karoubi asks to be tried before a public court "in order to present the evidence I possess about massive fraud during the 2005 and 2009 presidential elections and to show what has happened to young Iranians in the country's legal and illegal detention centres." Etemad Melli's owner and a former parliamentary speaker, Mehdi Karoubi has been under house arrest since February 2011, a fate he has shared with former Prime Minister Mir Hossein Mousavi (the owner of the closed newspaper Kalameh Sabaz) and Mousavi's wife, the writer Zahra Rahnavard. Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi, who are both former presidential candidates, are being held illegally and are being denied their rights. Their state of health is very worrying. RSF has meanwhile learned that Samna Safari, a journalist with the monthly Andisher Poya, was released on 11 March after the authorities determined that he had served his two-year jail sentence. Detained along with three other journalists in a wave of arrests in November 2015, he was sentenced by a revolutionary court in March 2016 to five years in prison for "anti-government propaganda activities." This was reduced to two years on appeal. ---------- 28.02.2017 - City of Qom suspends newspaper Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns the decision by the city of Qom's public prosecutor to suspend the newspaper Shakheh Sabz on 26 February, a day after it ran a story criticizing the level of violence in one of its poorest districts, which it likened to a "jungle." The suspension was ordered after 136 parliamentarians supported a resolution accusing the daily of "insulting the population of the Holy City of Qom." The newspaper's name means "Green Branch." ---------- 22.02.2017 - Ahmad Montazeri returned to prison Reporters Without Borders (RSF) firmly condemns progressive cleric Ahmad Montazeri's arrest yesterday. The editor of the website of his late father, Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, he was returned to prison after being summoned before a special court for clerics. Tried behind closed doors and without a defence lawyer on 20 October, Montazeri was sentenced on 27 November to ten years in prison for endangering state security, ten years for publishing a "classified audio recording" and another year for anti-government "propaganda." He was prosecuted for posting an old recording on the website on 9 August 2016 in which his father could be heard criticizing the wave of executions of political prisoners in the 1980s. For more information: Ahmad Montazeri gets 21-year jail term as part of bid to suppress history ---------- 17.02.2017 - Editor freed on completing jail term Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has learned that Ehssan Mazndarani - the editor of the newspaper Farhikhteghan and one of the victims of a wave of arrests in November 2015 - was released on 9 February. He had been given a seven-year jail sentence that was reduced to two years on appeal, His lawyer said he was freed as a result of a decision that he had completed his sentence. While in prison, he was hospitalized several times with heart and chest problems after a three-week hunger strike. ---------- 10.01.2017 - Website reporter flogged for getting facts wrong Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is appalled to learn that Hossien Movahedi, a local news website reporter, was flogged last week in Najafabad, a city 450 km south of Tehran, for getting one of his facts wrong in a story about the confiscation of mopeds from female students at a technological secondary school in the city. Movahedi reported on the Najafabad News website on 14 June 2016 that the police seized 35 mopeds when, according to the police, it was only eight. Although he apologized for his mistake and although the police were allowed to publish their version on the website, the police pressed charges against him and a Najafabad court sentenced him to 40 lashes for "publishing false information." This inhuman and medieval sentence was carried out on 4 January. Iran has yet to ratify the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment. ---------- 06.01.2016 - Woman journalist freed on completing one-year jail term Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has learned that Rihaneh Tabatabai, a journalist who has worked for several reformist newspapers, was released yesterday on completing a one-year jail term on charges of endangering national security and anti-government publicity. She was arrested on 12 January 2016 to begin serving the sentence, which was originally imposed in November 2014 and was confirmed by a Tehran appeal court a year later. The sentence also includes two-year ban on political and journalistic activity in the media and online following her release. In all, Tabatabai has been jailed four times since 2010 in connection with her journalistic activities. ---------- Press freedom violations recounted in real time (January -December 2016) -------------------- Press freedom violations recounted in real time (January -December 2015) ------------------- Press freedom violations recounted in real time ( January-December 2014) ---------------------- Press freedom violations recounted in real time ( January-December 2013) ---------------- Press freedom violations recounted in real time (January-December 2012) ---------- Press freedom violations recounted in real time (January-December 2011) ----- Press freedom violations recounted in real time (July-December 2010) -------- Press freedom violations recounted in real time (January-July 2010) --------- Press freedom violations recounted in real time (June-December 2009) Cite as UN Human Rights Committee (HRC), List of issues in relation to the sixth periodic report of Italy, 26 July 2016, CCPR/C/ITA/Q/6, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/591e9a044.html [accessed 10 November 2022] Cite as UN Human Rights Committee (HRC), List of issues in relation to the third periodic report of Serbia, 29 July 2016, CCPR/C/SRB/Q/3, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/591e9bc34.html [accessed 10 November 2022] Cite as UN Human Rights Committee (HRC), List of issues in relation to the second periodic report of Thailand, 12 August 2016, CCPR/C/THA/Q/2, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/591e9cfb4.html [accessed 10 November 2022] Malaysia: Drop charges against independent news portal Malaysiakini Publisher Article 19 Publication Date 18 May 2017 Cite as Article 19, Malaysia: Drop charges against independent news portal Malaysiakini, 18 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/591eacf84.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. ARTICLE 19 condemns charges against the CEO and Editor-in-Chief of the independent online news portal Malaysiakini, Premesh Chandran and Steven Gan, as well as against the company KiniTV Sdn Bhd, under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (CMA). Malaysiakini is accused of posting footage of a July 2016 press conference critical of the Attorney Generals decision to clear Prime Minister Najib Razak of corruption allegations. The charges against Malaysiakini underscore why the vague and sweeping CMA needs urgent reform. The increasing use of this law to target independent media and any online criticism of the government is seriously concerning, and also a clear violation of international human rights law on freedom of expression, said David Diaz-Jogeix, Director of Programmes at ARTICLE 19. On 26 July 2016 Malaysiakini allegedly posted footage of a press conference held by former Batu Kawan UMNO Division Vice-Chief, turned vocal critic, Khairuddin Abu Hassan, which was critical of Malaysian Attorney General Mohamed Apandi Ali's decision to clear Prime Minister Najib Razak of corruption allegations linked to the 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal, and called for his resignation. Najib Razak had previously been accused of receiving funds into his personal bank accounts, which were linked to Malaysia's development fund, 1MDB. On 15 May 2017, Chandran was charged at the Kuala Lumpur Cyber Court under Section 244(1) of the CMA, which criminalises offences by corporations. Earlier, on 18 November 2016, Gan was also charged for the same offence, while KiniTV Sdn Bhd was charged for improper use of network facilities or services, an offence under Section 233(1)(a) of the CMA. Chandran who currently resides in the United Kingdom on sabbatical leave and was unable to attend court in 2016, returned to Malaysia in May to face the charge. Both Gan and Chandran were charged through use of the rarely invoked Section 244(1) of the CMA, which criminalises offences by corporations, and creates a presumption that senior officers within a company are guilty for offences committed by that company, unless they can prove the offence was committed without their knowledge, consent or connivance, and that all reasonable precautions to the prevent the commission of the offence were taken. Both Gan and Chandran are Directors of KiniTV Sdn Bhd, which was charged with an offence under Section 233(1)(1) of the CMA. These latest charges follow Prime Minister Najib Razak claiming in a recent speech that freedom of expression and press freedom is thriving in Malaysia. However, since 2015 the Malaysian government has arrested, investigated and charged media personnel, whistleblowers, opposition politicians, artists, students, civil society and social media users for voicing their concerns over the 1MDB scandal. In addition to the CMA, they have also relied upon the Sedition Act 1948, the Official Secrets Act 1972, the Penal Code and the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA). Section 10(a) of the Federal Constitution requires the Malaysian Government to protect the right to freedom of expression. International human rights law is clear that this must encompass guarantees for independent media, including to report on matters of public interest that may be embarrassing to the authorities. The prosecutions against Malaysiakini clearly violate the right to freedom of expression. ARTICLE 19 has called for comprehensive reforms to the CMA, in particular for the frequently invoked Section 233(1)(a) to more narrowly and precisely define what constitutes improper use of network facilities or services. The use of this provision in conjunction with Section 244(1) to target an independent online news portal is a worrying development, and will likely have a chilling effect on media and other independent voices in Malaysia. We call on the Malaysian Government to immediately drop the charges against Premesh Chandran,, Steven Gan and KiniTV Sdn Bhd. Comprehensive reforms to the CMA and other laws used to restrict criticism of the government must be urgently prioritised to protect media freedom in Malaysia, in line with Section 10(a) of the Federal Constitution and the guarantees of international human rights law. For more information: Please contact Nalini Elumalai, ARTICLE 19 Malaysia Program Officer: 01136535927. Copyright notice: Copyright ARTICLE 19 Mexico: End impunity for attacks on the press after fifth killing this year Publisher Article 19 Publication Date 18 May 2017 Cite as Article 19, Mexico: End impunity for attacks on the press after fifth killing this year, 18 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/591ead584.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. This week, on 15 May 2017, Mexican journalist Jesus Javier Valdez Cardenas, director and founder of the weekly newspaper Riodoce and correspondent of the newspaper La Jornada, was murdered in the streets of Culiacan in the northern state of Sinaloa. His death brings the total number of journalists murdered in Mexico this year to five. ARTICLE 19 strongly condemns this deadly attack on freedom of expression, and urges the Mexican government to undertake speedy, impartial and effective investigation into this murder and bring perpetrators and instigators to justice. The Government must also do more to prevent attacks on journalists and end impunity for these crimes. Mexico is the land of impunity. The levels are alarming, despite the fact that investigations often show victims journalistic work as the reason for the attacks. In 2016, 99.75% of attacks against journalists went unpunished. Javier Valdez Cardenas spent much of his career reporting on organized crime, drug trafficking and its impact on society. Throughout his award-winning career he was a voice for the families of the disappeared in Mexico, and the author of books including Narco-journalism, Huerfanos del Narco, and the emblematic weekly column Malayerba. His writing always defended the voice of journalism in the face of intimidation and threats. In an act of solidarity for the threats against the weekly newspaper Zeta de Tijuana Javier Valdez had reaffirmed that "we must not be silent, we must continue to write. Silence is an act of death and complicity." Journalism in Mexico is mired in corruption and violence. A free press is one of the essential elements of democracy, serving to expose abuses of power and inform the public, but it is under attack. In 2016, one of the most lethal years for the press, ARTICLE 19 documented 426 assaults and 11 journalists killed. This situation cannot continue. "Impunity has allowed attacks against the press to become increasingly bold. Five murders in broad daylight show a clear message of power from the perpetrators, who act with the acquiescence of the state. Attacks against the press in Mexico are systematic, and require action, not empty guarantees. Violence against journalists must be a state problem, tackled by state policy," said Ana Cristina Ruelas, Director of ARTICLE 19 Mexico and Central America. The Mexican government must take immediate steps to ensure it upholds its obligations to protect the right to freedom of expression and information under Article 19 of the ICCPR, by guaranteeing the safety of a free and independent press. It should implement effective measures to prevent, protect and prosecute attacks against journalists, in line with its commitments under UN Human Rights Council Resolution 33/2 on the Safety of Journalists, which Mexico cosponsored in 2016. We call on the Mexican government to accept the request for a country visit by the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, and invite the UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression and the UN Special Rapporteur on Extra-Judicial summary or arbitrary Executions to conduct a country visit. The Special Rapporteurs on freedom of expression have previously called for states to unequivocally condemn crimes against free expression, put in places special protection measures and ensure access to justice for victims. In the 2012 Joint Declaration they noted that crimes against freedom of expression are particularly serious inasmuch as they represent a direct attack on all fundamental rights. The murder of Javier Valdez once again shows the appalling risks faced by journalists in Mexico simply for exercising their right to free expression. The Mexican government has a responsibility to guarantee the safety of journalists carrying out their vital work to expose corruption and inform the public, and it must urgently take steps to end this cycle of violence and impunity, added Thomas Hughes, Executive Director of ARTICLE 19. For more information: Please contact ARTICLE 19's press team on +44 (0) 20 3290 9308 or [email protected] Copyright notice: Copyright ARTICLE 19 Iran: Briefing Note on the Repression of Trade Unionists Publisher International Federation for Human Rights Publication Date 12 May 2017 Cite as International Federation for Human Rights, Iran: Briefing Note on the Repression of Trade Unionists, 12 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/591eaee54.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. To: The UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Ms. Annalisa Ciampi The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mr. Michel Forst The UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Mr. David Kaye Members of the UN Working Group on arbitrary detention The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ms. Asma Jahangir Ahead of the presidential elections scheduled to be held in Iran on 19 May 2017, the prohibition of independent peaceful gatherings in Iran during Labour Day this year - as in 2016 [1]- was once again a clear example of the ongoing repression and harassment of trade unionists and workers in Iran. This repression is part of a systematic denial of the most basic rights of workers in Iran, who are subjected to discriminatory and politically motivated laws and a judicial system that is set to silence independent labour movements and other dissidents. In the following briefer, the Observatory (FIDH-OMCT) and LDDHI present a few cases of labour activists currently facing arbitrary detention and judicial harassment for having peacefully exercised their rights to freedoms of peaceful assembly, association, and expression. Our organisations call on the United Nations (UN) Special Procedures to publicly highlight the concerning situation of trade unionists and labour rights activists. Despite the clear increase in trade and economic exchanges between the West and Iran following the implementation of the Iranian nuclear deal in 2015 and the subsequent lifting of some sanctions, little attention has been paid to the fact that the current legislation and practice in Iran are in violation of international labour standards and economic and social rights. Independent trade unions remain prohibited under Iranian law, and the Government exercises strong control over all legal institutions supposed to represent workers. The right to strike has never been expressly recognised and in practice, strikes are brutally suppressed. Attempts in recent years to establish independent trade unions have been harshly repressed, and labour activists have been dismissed from their jobs, harassed and persecuted, and imprisoned on charges including "acting against national security" and "spreading propaganda against the State". The Iranian State as a whole has failed to raise the minimum wage adequately to provide for "a decent living for themselves and their families" as required under Article 7 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights [2]. The minimum wage determined for the solar year beginning March 21, 2017 is estimated to be around one-third to one-fourth of the poverty line. Several million workers do not receive even that minimum wage, as they are employed in small plants with fewer than 10 workers, where the Labour Code's provisions - i.e. minimum wage, wage increase, and insurance benefits - do not apply. Women workers face massive discrimination. They are mostly employed in small plants, and do not receive equal wages for equal work with men. Their chances of returning to work after maternity leave are slim and they are the first to be laid off at times of crisis. Women, as well as religious and ethnic minorities and political dissidents, are prohibited access to certain occupations. Our organisations present below a few cases of labour activists who are currently facing arbitrary detention and judicial harassment for having peacefully exercised their rights to freedoms of peaceful assembly, association, and expression. We call on above-mentioned United Nations (UN) Special Procedures to publicly highlight the concerning situation of trade unionists and labour rights activists. Suppression of freedoms of peaceful assembly, association and expression ahead of and on Labour Day 2017 On May 1, 2017, the Iranian authorities allowed once again only the State-sanctioned ceremonies to take place in Tehran and a couple of other cities, including by the pro-regime organisation Khaneh Kargar (Labour House) [3]. that held Labour Day demonstrations in Rasht and elsewhere. Independent unionists were once more prevented from publicly commemorating Labour Day. Some examples of independent unions and unionists whose freedoms of assembly and expression were violated on Labour Day or in the weeks before include: In the week leading to May 1, 2017 and on May 1, as in previous years, independent labour activists and unions were harassed so as not to organise celebrations and marches separately from the State-sanctioned gatherings and assemblies. In the capital Tehran, workers took part in a gathering outside the Parliament (majlis) building, which had been organised by the Free Union of Iranian Workers (FUIW). Police agents took action to confiscate banners and placards demanding the release of imprisoned unionists Esmaeil Abdi and Behnam Ebrahimzadeh and subsequently surrounded the marchers and confiscated smartphones. They later arrested Valeh Zamani, a founding member of the Syndicate of Painters and Construction Workers of Alborz Province. He was released a day later. During the official ceremony in Tehran, which was addressed by President Rouhani and seemed to function also as a rally in support of his candidacy for a second term in the May 19, 2017 elections, a number of workers shouted slogans in protest against their living conditions. Some of the pro-Rouhani media branded the protestors as 'hecklers'. The hard-line conservative media tried to take advantage of the opportunity by pretending that the protests were not against the regime's policies but only against Rouhani's Government. Also in Tehran, the Syndicate of Workers of United Bus Company of Tehran and Suburbs (known as 'Sandicaye Sherkat Vahed') organised a celebration at the Azadi Bus Terminal on May 1, but the security forces surrounded the participants and harassed them by filming them as an attempt to keep record of the participants. In Sanadaj, the provincial capital of Kurdistan province, labour activist and board member of FUIW, Mr. Sheys Amani, was summoned twice in the final week of April to the Police Department and was informed that the Union's application to organise a separate May 1 march would not be granted. He was also asked to give undertaking that the FUIW would take part in the official May 1 ceremony backed by the city's Labour Department and avoid organising a separate march. Mr. Amani refused. Similarly, Mr. Fars Gui'lian, another labour activist in Sanandaj, was summoned on April 27, and warned not to take part in "unofficial assemblies on May 1". Mr. Khaled Hosseini, a member of the Coordinating Committee to Help Form Workers' Organisations (CCHFWO), was summoned on March 25 and interrogated for several hours including about the Union's plans for Labour Day. On May 1, police agents surrounded and harassed the participants of the Labour Day march in Sanadaj that FUIW, CCHFWO and the Bakers Association of Sanandaj had organised. Moreover, on April 20, 2017 first in the morning, the authorities sealed off the Association for Defending Working and Street Children in Tehran after handing a notice to a non-staff cleaner late in the previous evening. The notice only referred in general terms to problems with the Association's licence, while its officials said they had fulfilled all the requirements. Established in 2003, the Association has been taking care of many children - mostly with migration background - who are forced to work on the streets and aims at abolishing child labour. On April 22, the authorities suspended without providing any reason the licence of the Friends of Child Rights Society, which had similar functions, in the city of Tabriz. Ongoing intimidation and arbitrary detention of labour activists The ongoing repression of labour activists has not prevented grassroots protests of workers at factories and plants, and protests have kept growing across the country. More than 650 strikes, demonstrations and other forms of protest were reported during the previous solar year [4] against layoffs, closures of plants, privatisations, planned amendments to the Labour Code and demanding to return to work, timely payment of wages and arrears, wage increases, and improvements in contracts and working conditions. This constituted around "27 per cent increase in labour protests" in comparison with 515 protests in the preceding year [5]. To stem the protests, the authorities continue to frequently summon and threaten a number of labour activists, while arresting and prosecuting many others. Most of them have been released on bail after a month or two in detention and are likely to be tried in the coming months. In such cases, unionists are most often charged with offences such as "acting against national security", "spreading propaganda against the State", "insulting the Leader", and other vaguely worded charges. As of May 10, 2017, at least eight unionists remained in prison or internal exile after having faced unfair trials and been convicted of "crimes" related to their work defending labour rights [6]: 1. Mr. Esmaeil Abdi, Secretary General of the Teachers Association of Iran (TAI), was re-arrested on November 9, 2016 to serve a six-year prison term. In May 2015, the authorities threatened to enforce a 10-year suspended prison sentence he received in 2011 for "assembly and colluding against the State" and "participation in illegal trade union gatherings", unless he resigned his post in the TAI and abstained from taking part in planned country-wide protests. He submitted his resignation to the TAI but the latter refused to accept it, so he was sent to prison in June 2015. Then, in February 2016, he was notified of another two-part prison sentence totalling six years on charges of "spreading propaganda against the State" (one year) and "gathering and colluding to commit crimes against national security" (five years), which he appealed. Mr. Abdi was released on bail on May 14, 2016. The sentence was upheld in July 2016. Mr. Abdi applied for retrial regarding the five-year prison sentence, which was rejected by the Supreme Court in February 2017. His lawyer is planning to apply for another retrial. On May 1, 2017, Mr. Abdi started a hunger strike to protest the security-related sentences of other unionists and to demand his case to be considered as a common case and not a security case. 2. Mr. Mehdi Farahi-Shandiz, a member of the Committee to Pursue the Establishment of Labour Unions in Iran (CPELU) and of the TAI, is serving a third three-year prison sentence, imposed after a trial on January 3, 2015 for allegedly "insulting the Leader" and "disrupting public order". The authorities had refused to release him after he completed his previous three-year prison sentence for the same charges in late October 2013. Mr. Farahi-Shandiz was reportedly sentenced to one more three-year sentence in 2016 and another three years and a half prison sentence for repeating his "offence" and also chanting death to [the supreme leader] Khamanei in February 2017 and was exiled to a remote prison in the Qazvin province in March 2017. 3. Mr. Ali-Akbar Baghani, former TAI Vice-President, has been serving a sentence of 10 years in internal exile since May 1, 2016 in the remote city of Zabol in south-eastern Iran after completing a one-year prison sentence. He is also facing a previously imposed five-year suspended prison sentence in a case concerning protests of teachers in 2006, which the authorities may decide to enforce at any time. 4. Mr. Saeed Shirzad, a labour and child rights activist, remains arbitrarily detained since June 2, 2014 after being arrested in the north-western city of Tabriz. In 2015, he was sentenced to five years in prison for "assembly and colluding to commit crimes against national security". The authorities have kept him in detention, although he has appealed the sentence. The appeal court considered his case on April 15, 2017, but has not issued a sentence yet. 5. Messrs. Shahab Karim-Aghaei, Jafar Pajuheshpur and Hossein Esmaeili, three labour activists, who had been involved in protests and strikes at the Iran Telecommunication Industries Company, were detained in Shiraz, provincial capital of Fars province, on February 8, 2017. As of May 10, it was not possible to verify their fate. 6. Mr. Davood Rafi'ei, a worker expelled from Pars Khodro car manufacturing company in 2014 for "involvement in organising strikes", and two other workers, were arrested on November 8, 2016. While the latter two were released later, as of May 10, it was not possible to verify Mr. Rafi'ei's fate. At least 42 other unionists are currently free while they await possible trials or the outcome of their trials or appeals: 1. Mr. Jafar Azimzadeh, Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Free Union of Iranian Workers (FUIW), is currently free on bail, although the Prosecutor's Office asked him to return to prison on October 25, 2016. He had been summoned to the Ministry of Intelligence on April 29, 2015 in advance of the May-1 Labour Day demonstrations and was detained for 46 days, after which he was released, tried and sentenced, and taken back to prison in November 2015 to serve a six-year prison term, five years for "assembly and collusion to commit crimes against national security" and one year for "disrupting public order". He also received a two-year ban on membership of political parties and groups, and any online, press and media activities. He began a hunger strike on Labour Day 2016 that lasted 63 days to protest his prison conditions and in solidarity with workers demanding their rights. The authorities released him on bail on June 30, 2016 and promised him a retrial. Mr. Azimzadeh was tried again jointly with Mr. Shapour Ehsanirad, another board member of FUIW, in the central city of Saveh and sentenced in October 2016 to a total of 11 years in prison, 10 years for "establishing, membership and managing the illegal group namely FUIW" and one year for "spreading propaganda activities against the State". On May 9, 2017, the Appeal Court considered their sentences and should deliver its verdict in the coming weeks. Mr. Azimzadeh and Mr. Ehsanirad were also tried in a separate case in Saveh on March 11, 2017, but the court has not issued its verdict yet. 2. Mr. Reza Shahabi-Zakaria, Treasurer of the Syndicate of Workers of United Bus Company of Tehran and Suburbs, remains free on bail. He had been arbitrarily detained since June 2010 and was sentenced to six years in prison in April 2012 for "conspiracy against the national security" and "spreading propaganda against the State". He was also banned from union and civil activities for five years. In December 2015, an additional year of imprisonment was added to his sentence for participating in prisoners' protests in April 2014. He was given leave from prison for medical reasons after two operations on his neck and lower back in October 2014. Nevertheless, he was summoned by the authorities on February 7, 2016 and was notified of yet new charges against him including "disrupting public order" and "disturbing public opinion", prompted by his resumption of some of his union-related activities. His prison sentence has in the meantime ended, but he has been under pressure by the authorities to return to prison, although the Iranian Government has already notified the International Labour Organisation of his return to work. 3. Mr. Mahmood Beheshti-Langaroudi, former Spokesperson of TAI, was released temporarily on May 11, 2016 after 22 days of hunger strike demanding a retrial. He had been arrested on September 6, 2015 to serve a total of nine years in prison, after being convicted in two separate cases. He is facing a third five-year prison sentence, which he has appealed. The appeal court considered his case on March 15, 2017, but has not issued a verdict yet. Mr. Beheshti was first arrested in March 2007, spent around one month in detention, and was sentenced later in 2007 to a four-year suspended prison term. He was detained again in May 2010 for two months and then tried and sentenced in June 2010 to another five-year imprisonment. In October 2013, he was summoned to serve his prison sentences, but the Head of Tehran's Justice Department accepted his request for a renewed examination of his case. In January 2016, he was tried for a third time and sentenced to yet another five-year prison term, which is pending appeal. In all three cases, he faced similar charges of "collusion to crimes against national security" and "spreading propaganda against the State". 4. Mr. Mahmood Salehi, a founding member of the Bakers Association in the city of Saqqez, in Kurdistan province, remains free pending an appeal against his conviction. He was arrested on April 28, 2015 prior to Labour Day protests, and was later released on bail. On September 16, 2015, he was notified that he had been sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for "acting against the national security", "establishing an illegal workers' syndicate", "membership in an illegal group" and "spreading propaganda against the State". 5. Mr. Osman Esmaeili, Spokesperson of the Committee for Defending Imprisoned Labour Activists in the western city of Mahabad, remains free pending an appeal against his conviction. He was arrested on April 28, 2015 and was later released on bail. On February 6, 2016, he was notified that he had been sentenced to one-year imprisonment for "spreading propaganda against the State" and "affiliation to political parties". 6. Mr. Davood Razavi, Board member of the Syndicate of Workers of United Bus Company of Tehran and Suburbs, remains free pending an appeal against his conviction. He was arrested in Tehran on April 29, 2015 and released on bail after 22 days. He was tried on February 17, 2016 and sentenced to five years in prison for "assembly and collusion to act against national security" and "disrupting public order". 7. Mr. Ebrahim Madadi, Deputy President of the Syndicate of Workers of United Bus Company of Tehran and Suburbs, remains free pending an appeal against his conviction. He was arrested on April 29, 2015 and released on bail after 22 days. He was tried on April 16, 2016 and sentenced to five years and three months in prison for "assembly and collusion against national security" and "disrupting public order". 8. Mr. Ali Nejati, a founding Board member of the Syndicate of Workers of Haft-Tappeh Cane Sugar Company, and six other activists, namely Ms. Ashraf Rahimkhani, Ms. Zaynab Keshvari, and Messrs Ezzat Jafari, Shapour Rashno, Ali-Mohammad Jahangri and Abdolreza Shakeri, have been notified to appear before the Islamic Revolution Court in the southern city of Dezful for "spreading propaganda against the State" on May 14, 2017. Mr. Nejati was arrested on September 15, 2015 and released after 29 days. He appeared before a judge of the Islamic Revolution Court in the city of Andimeshk on December 13, 2015 for charges of "spreading propaganda against State" and "association with opposition groups", and is still awaiting a verdict. 9. Mr. Pedram Nasrollahi, a member of CCHFWO, remains free pending his trial. He was arrested on April 29, 2015 and released on bail 34 days later [7]. 10. Mr. Mohammadreza Ahangar, a member of the Construction Workers Association of Kamyaran, was detained on March 13, 2017 for unknown reasons or charges, and was released on bail on April 19. 11. Six labour activists from the city of Kamyaran in Kurdistan province were convicted by the Islamic Revolution Court of Sanandaj and sentenced on October 15, 2016 for "spreading propaganda against the State and involvement in the May-1 ceremonies". Ms. Rojin Ebrahimi, Ms. Delnia Sabouri, as well as Messrs. Omid Ahmadi and Mehrdad Sabouri, were each sentenced to one year in prison, and Messrs. Shahou Sadeghi and Aram Mohammadi, each to three months and one day in prison. The four men had been arrested on May 19 before being released on bail on May 25, 2016. 12. Mr. Mostafa Gholamnejad, labour activist, was detained in the north-western city of Tabriz on May 25 for unknown reasons or charges and released on bail on June 16, 2016. 13. Mr. Jamil Mohammadi, Board member of FUIW, remains free pending an appeal against his conviction. In February 2015, he had been sentenced to three years and six months' imprisonment and a fine on charges of "assembly and acting against national security". 14. Mr. Jalil Mohammadi, a labour activist in Sanandaj, was arrested on Women's Day, March 8, 2016 for unknown reasons or charges, and was released on March 30 on bail. He is likely to be tried in the coming months or even years. 15. Mr. Hamed Mahmoodnejad, a member of the CCHFWO in Sanandaj, was arrested on April 18, 2015 and released on bail 24 days later. In July 2015, he was tried on charges of "spreading propaganda against the State" and "acting against national security", and sentenced to 91 days' imprisonment. He has appealed this sentence, but the outcome of the appeal is not known. 16. Messrs. Yadollah Samadi and Eghbal Shabani, members of CCHFWO and Board members of the Bakers Association of Sanandaj and Suburbs, were sentenced in late March 2015 to 30 lashes and a five-month suspended prison sentence for "disrupting public order." They appealed these sentences and the appeal court sentenced them to five years in prison, which was suspended [8]. 17. Mr. Mohammadreza Niknejad and Mr. Mehdi Bohluli, both Board members of TAI, remain free pending an appeal against their conviction. They were arrested on August 31, 2015 and released on bail almost a month later. In March 2016, they were sentenced to five years in prison. Details of the charges against them are not publicly available, but given the sentence it is likely that they were convicted of "assembly and collusion against national security". 18. Mr. Taher Ghaderzadeh, a member of the Teachers' Association in Kurdistan province, remains free as of today. He was sentenced to 91 days' imprisonment in April 2016 on charge of "spreading propaganda against the State" for "participating in assemblies of teachers". The outcome of his appeal is not known. He was not arrested. 19. Mr. Valeh Zamani, a founding member of the Syndicate of Painters and Construction Workers of Alborz Province, remains free as of today. Having been arrested on September 20, 2015 after participating in protests about the highly dubious death in prison of his cousin and fellow unionist, Mr. Shahrokh Zamani [9], he was released on bail a week later. He was also arrested on May 1, 2017 during the Labour Day ceremonies and released a day later. 20. Messrs. Lotfollah Ahmadi, Nader Rezagholi and Hossein Hassanabadi, all labour activists, remain free pending possible trial for unknown charges. They were arrested outside the Sanandaj branch of Labour House during the Labour Day ceremony on April 30, 2016 and were released on bail the next day. 21. Mr. Rassoul Bodaghi, TAI Board member, was released from detention on April 28, 2016 without explanation. He had begun serving a six-year prison sentence in 2009 on charges of "assembly and collusion for acting against national security" and "spreading propaganda against the State". He was also sentenced to a ban on all "social activities" for five years after completing his prison sentence. He was due to complete his prison sentence and be released in July 2015, but was summoned to Court on April 25 and April 26, 2015, where he was informed of new charges filed against him by the Prosecutor's Office and the Ministry of Intelligence. He was warned that those charges could be retracted "if he announced in an interview his withdrawal from the activities of teachers". He was nevertheless tried in September 2015 for "acting against national security" and it was reported later that he had been sentenced to three more years in prison, which he appealed, but the appeal court upheld his sentence. On May 8, 2016, he was visiting a fellow labour activist in the hospital along with his brother in law, when they were both suddenly beaten by security agents, and then handcuffed and taken to Evin prison. They were released on bail on May 9. Mr. Bodaghi was summoned to appear in court on July 23, 2016 and answer to the charge of "insulting the Leader" during the hospital visit. On August 13, 2016, the court dismissed the charges for lack of evidence. Moreover, at least five members of CCHFWO remain at risk of arrest since their prison sentences were upheld in appeal in May or June 2014. They were arrested during a "general meeting" of the CCHFWO on June 16, 2012, later released and arrested again in December 2012 and spent two months in arbitrary detention. They were sentenced in April 2014 to following prison sentences: Messrs. Jamal Minashiri and Hadi Tanoumand, sentenced to three and a half years in prison each. Messrs. Ghassem Mostafapour, Ebrahim Mostafapour and Mohammad Karimi, sentenced to two years in prison each. At least 10 other unionists have been released from prison after serving their arbitrary prison sentences, or after being interrogated or tried [10]: 1. Mr. Behnam (Assad) Ebrahimzadeh, a member of CPELU, on May 1, 2017. 2. Mr. Saeed Yuzi, a central council member of the CPELU and a member of the Construction Workers Association of Kamyaran, and Mr. Saleh Amani, another labour activist, were arrested in the city of Kamyaran on March 16, 2017 and released on bail after 38 days. They were tried on April 27, 2017 and both were acquitted. 3. Mr. Mohammad Jarrahi, a member of CPELU and founding member of the Painters and Decorators Union, on August 9, 2016. 4. Mr. Sharif Sa'edpanah, a board member of FUIW, was summoned by the security forces and interrogated on July 20, 2016. He had taken part in activities in support of FUIW's Secretary Mr. Jafar Azimzadeh. 5. Messrs. Mozafar Salehnia, a board member of FUIW, and Hashem Rostami, a labour activist in the city of Sanandaj, who had been detained about 20 days in July 2016, were tried on October 8, 2016 and acquitted. They had taken part in activities in support of FUIW's Secretary Mr. Jafar Azimzadeh. 6. Mr. Zahed Moradi, a labour activist in Sanandaj, was summoned and interrogated on June 11, 2016. 7. Ms. Najibeh Salehzadeh, activist and wife of unionist Mr. Mahmood Salehi, was summoned to the court in the city of Saqqez and interrogated on June 1, 2016. She was detained on June 6 and released on bail on the same day. She was charged with "spreading propaganda against the State" and "insulting the Supreme Leader." Ms. Salehzadeh was tried on August 15 and acquitted. 8. Mr. Alireza Hashemi, Secretary General of the Iranian Teachers Organisation, on May 29, 2016. Scores of workers, in addition to activists, who protested and demanded their rights have been subjected to judicial harassment: Some were detained and sentenced to prison terms or suspended prison terms, or even to flogging, while others are likely to face trial in the coming months. The following are only a few examples of these cases: 1. 17 workers from the Aq-Darreh Gold Mining Company, in Tekab, in Western Azerbaijan province, were tried in early 2016 and at least nine of them were flogged from 30 to 50 times each in May 2016 for organising a protest assembly against layoffs in January 2015 and demanding to return to work. They were charged with "rioting" and later with "insulting the guards and destruction of the company's sign board", and initially sentenced to imprisonment, flogging and cash fine. The prison sentences were subsequently forgiven by the Supreme Leader. 2. Nine workers from the Bafq Iron Ore Mine were sentenced to suspended prison terms and flogging on June 5, 2016 for participating in protests against their work conditions. They had been detained after a 39-day sit-in by nearly 5,000 workers in May 2014 in protest against the privatisation of the company. While the employers eventually withdrew their complaint, the Government continued to press charges against them, including "disrupting public order" and "causing damages and insecurity". Prison sentences were quashed on appeal, and the flogging sentences were substituted with cash fines, except for one person, Mr. Mohammad-Hassan Tashakori, who was sentenced to 30 lashes (suspended for two years) and cash fine. 3. At least 10 protesting workers at the Midoke Copper Complex were detained on March 25, 2016 and released on bail two days later. 4. 24 workers of the municipality of the southern city of Ahvaz were detained on June 13, 2016 for protesting against low wages. They were released on bail after four days and may face trial. 5. 17 members of Pars Khodro Company's housing cooperative were arrested on November 29, 2016 for protesting illegal confiscation of the cooperative's land. 15 were released on the same day and two others a day later. Security forces have also assaulted workers who were protesting in many companies and beaten them up. The following are only a few examples: 1. Parsylon Company in the city of Khorramabad on July 17, 2016; a number of workers were injured. 2. Haft-Tappeh Cane Sugar Complex, Khuzestan province, September 24, 2016. 3. Haft-Tappeh Cane Sugar Complex, Khuzestan province, October 9, 2016. 4. Pardis Petrochemical Company, Asaluyeh in Bushehr province, October 18, 2016. 5. Avangan and Hepco Companies, central city of Arak, October 24, 2016. 6. Syndicate of the Workers of United Bus Company of Tehran's workers, Tehran, December 4, 2016. 7. Polyacryl Company, Isfahan, December 6, 2016. Demands of workers to the authorities On Labour Day 2017, two coalitions of independent unions issued separate resolutions to underline their demands [11]. The principal demands in both resolutions were similar, albeit with different wording, and included: The unconditional release of all imprisoned labour activists including teachers and others; An end to security-related charges against, and judicial harassment of, all activists; Freedom to establish independent organisations; respect of the right to strike, protest, demonstrate, and assemble, as well as freedom of thought, expression and the press, and freedom to establish political parties; A rise in the government-set minimum wage for the current year by more than four times to cover the costs of living and to match the poverty line; Immediate payment of arrears; Payment of adequate unemployment benefits; An end to layoffs and the establishment of employment security; The abolition of discriminatory laws against women and the establishment of full equality of men and women; The abolition of child labour; An end to discrimination and injustice against migrant workers, in particular Afghan workers; & Designating May 1 as a public holiday and lifting all restrictions on its celebration. Some of the demands that appeared in one or the other resolution, included: The abolition of the death penalty; An end to austerity policies; The compliance with labour rights, in particular with International Labour Organisation's Conventions 87 and 98 on the establishment of independent organisations and collective contracts. Recommendations: In light of the gravity and urgency of the above-mentioned situation, above, the Observatory and LDDHI respectfully request you to echo our calls to the Iranian authorities to: Immediately and unconditionally release all imprisoned trade unionists as their detention is arbitrary since it appears only aimed at sanctioning their legitimate human rights activities; Guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of all trade unionists and other human rights defenders in Iran; Put an end to any kind of harassment - including at the judicial level - against all unionists and other human rights defenders in Iran so that they are able to carry out their work without hindrance; Lift restrictions on establishment of independent unions; Ratify and implement key fundamental ILO Conventions as well as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (ICRMW); Comply with the provisions of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders; Ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and other international human rights instruments signed or ratified by Iran. *** The League for the Defence of Human Rights in Iran (LDDHI) was established in France in 1983 by several exiled Iranians seeking to promote human rights in Iran. LDDHI has been forced to operate in exile since it was founded. The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (the Observatory) was created in 1997 by FIDH and OMCT. The objective of this programme is to intervene to prevent or remedy situations of repression against human rights defenders. FIDH and OMCT are both members of ProtectDefenders.eu, the European Union Human Rights Defenders Mechanism implemented by international civil society. One year ahead of the Presidential elections, severe crackdown on freedom of assembly is underway in Russia Publisher International Federation for Human Rights Publication Date 15 May 2017 Cite as International Federation for Human Rights, One year ahead of the Presidential elections, severe crackdown on freedom of assembly is underway in Russia, 15 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/591eaf344.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. Moscow-Paris. Far from the international spotlights, repression against peaceful demonstrators in Russia continues, taking new level since the end of March when 1500 protesters were detained across the country. During last weeks, multiple mass detentions were reported, including during April 29 protests titled "Fed up" ("Nadoel") and during May 1st demonstrations. Yet the new politically motivated criminal process could turn into the biggest criminal prosecution of peaceful demonstrators in modern Russia. On 26 March 2017, during arrests and in transit to police stations, many participants were reported to have been ill-treated by police officers. OVD-Info programme that tracks protest related detentions became aware of the facts of torture, intimidation and pressure directly from individuals released from detention, OVD-Info hotline users, video materials, accounts of eyewitnesses, independent observers and media representatives. These reports assert that those detained are being ill-treated in order to extract information potentially serving as a basis for opening criminal cases against protest participants. On the evening of 26 March, the authorities announced the initiation of a criminal case on charges of using violence against a representative of authority, including encroaching on life, punishable up to life imprisonment. Four people have been arrested in Moscow so far, their identities have been held secret from the public for more than two weeks until mid-April. According to OVD-Info programme, at least 145 investigators are working on criminal cases against participants of March 2017 protests in Moscow suggesting that a wave of arrests should be soon expected. Among the investigators is Major General Rustam Gabdulin who has led the investigation of "Bolotnaya square cases". The latter cases resulted in still ongoing criminal prosecution and imprisonment of dozens of demonstrators on Bolotnaya square in Moscow in May 2012 and a full-fledged attack on civil society. Moreover, political prisoners in "Bolotnaya square cases" still in detention were reported to recently have faced increased pressure from the authorities. Three weeks ago, Ivan Nepomniashih, sentenced to two and a half years for participating in protests on Bolotnaya square, was placed in solitary confinement, severely beaten and denied access to lawyer. On 17 April 2017, house arrest of Dmitry Buchenkov was prolonged for another six months in the framework of a criminal case opened against him in 2016. Previously, Buchenkov spent more than a year in a pre-trial detention center; he maintains he was not in Moscow on the day of demonstrations. While March 2017 protests were almost not covered by the national media, the reaction of the authorities at various occasions featured various accusations of citizens who exercised their constitutional right of freedom of assembly. Organisers of massive protests were called provocators, participants were claimed to have been paid for taking part in the demonstrations. Such a discourse and authorities inaction to the claims of police ill-treatment contribute to the atmosphere of impunity for violence against dissenting citizens. Protest participants, independent journalists, opposition members are being attacked with unidentified toxic compounds, dangerous or degrading substances, such as excrements, while property damage and arsons have also been recently reported. In one of the latest episodes, opposition politician and organiser of 26 March protests Alexei Navalny was attacked with brilliant green on 27 April and as a result had to be performed an eye surgery since brilliant green leads to serious injuries in contact with the eyes. Due to unprecedented participation of youth in ongoing demonstrations, parents, school and university staff continue undergoing persecution, intimidation and harassment, up to dismissals of students who were noticed at the demonstrations. "Participants of any peaceful protest with legitimate demands to the authorities and organised independently thereof, may be illegally detained, placed in conditions amounting to ill-treatment and torture and sentenced for an administrative offence in a trial marred by procedural irregularities. They run a risk of criminal prosecution on trumped up charges and hence a long-term imprisonment based on un unfair trial." Our organisations remind that in Russia today, stand-alone protests are criminalised, women were violently detained during a peaceful march on the International Womens Rights Day while vegans and LGBT groups were detained on a peaceful march on the 1st of May. Background information Since the end of March 2017, Russia saw the biggest civic rallies taking place across the country since five years. Protests erupted after the NGO "Anti-Corruption Fund" led by opposition politician Alexei Navalny published an investigative report on corruption within the government. The report targeted Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev exposing his exorbitant wealth. The "Anti-Corruption Fund" called citizens to demand from the authorities a due investigation of facts releaved in the report. Up to date, no official response was given by the authorities on the matter. Ahead of the protests scheduled for 26 March 2017, requests to hold mass events were submitted to local authorities of 98 cities. Only 14 permission were given, all in small town remoted from Saint Petersburg and Moscow. Neither of the bans gave any reasonable ground for refusal, yet all of the lawsuits filed by the organisers were lost. In Ekaterinburg, Leninskii District Court judged the assembly was aimed at "destructing the constitutional order of Russia". According to various sources, Moscow and Saint Petersburg saw 40 000 protesters coming down to the streets on 26 March. In total, 1500 people were detained across the country. In Moscow, more than 700 administrative cases against participants of the protests were reviewed by the Tverskoy District court. 138 individuals have been held administratively responsible under failure to follow a lawfull order or demand of a police officer while 64 individuals received a sentence of up to 25 days in jail, others spent up to 48 hours in police custody and were released after having been sentenced to fines. The hearings of administrative cases are still ongoing. Bahrain: Call for immediate release of Nabeel Rajab, as trial resumes tomorrow Publisher International Federation for Human Rights Publication Date 15 May 2017 Cite as International Federation for Human Rights, Bahrain: Call for immediate release of Nabeel Rajab, as trial resumes tomorrow, 15 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/591eafff4.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. Paris-Geneva, May 15, 2017 - Ahead of two imminent trial hearings, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, an FIDH-OMCT partnership, calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Nabeel Rajab, whose health is deteriorating owing to almost a year in arbitrary detention for denouncing Bahrain's human rights violations. Mr. Nabeel Rajab is the co-founder and President of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), Founding Director of the Gulf Center for Human Rights (GCHR), Deputy Secretary General of FIDH, and a member of the Human Rights Watch Middle East advisory committee. Arbitrarily detained since June 13, 2016, he is facing a series of charges and up to 18 years in prison in different court cases. Two of these resume tomorrow and after-tomorrow. "Nabeel Rajab is not a criminal, he is a human rights defender. His ongoing arbitrary detention and the endless postponements of court hearings are unacceptable, and require a strong reaction from the international community. Bahrains authorities cannot get away with their crackdown any longer", the Observatory highlighted today. Mr. Nabeel Rajab, 53, suffers from poor health conditions that have worsened because of his detention. Last week, the United Nations Committee Against Torture (UN CAT) issued a strong criticism of Bahrains record on torture and ill-treatment, and said it was "deeply concerned" by the arbitrary imprisonment, torture and ill-treatment of detained human rights defenders, including Mr. Rajab and Mr. Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, former BCHR President, sentenced to life in prison in June 2011 for politically motivated charges and whose health conditions have also been worsening [1]. When considering a similar case in 2013, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found that Mr. Rajab's detention was arbitrary, adding that the "domestic laws of Bahrain () seem to deny persons the basic right to freedom of opinion, expression" [2]. "Our call to the Bahraini authorities is simple and straightforward: release human rights defenders deprived of their liberty in retaliation for their human rights work", the Observatory said. "More generally, they should stop harassment and ill-treatment and release all those detained for bogus reasons". After six postponements, the "TV interviews case" is due to resume tomorrow. In the framework of this trial, Nabeel Rajab is facing charges of "spreading false information and malicious rumours about domestic matters with the aim of discrediting the State" in relation to three televised interviews made in 2015 and 2016 in which he exposed Bahrain's poor human rights record. In the so-called "Twitter case", which was postponed twelve times and will resume on Wednesday, Mr. Rajab is also accused of "deliberately spreading false information and malicious rumours with the aim of discrediting the State", "disseminating false rumours in time of war", "insulting a statutory body" and "offending a foreign country [Saudi Arabia]" in relation to Tweets denouncing the torture of detainees in the Kingdom's Jaw Prison and human rights violations perpetrated by the Saudi-Arabia led coalition air strikes in Yemen. The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (the Observatory) was created in 1997 by FIDH and OMCT. The objective of this programme is to intervene to prevent or remedy situations of repression against human rights defenders. FIDH and OMCT are both members of ProtectDefenders.eu, the European Union Human Rights Defenders Mechanism implemented by international civil society. Press contacts: FIDH: Samuel Hanryon: +33 6 72 28 42 94 / Audrey Couprie: +33 6 48 05 91 57 OMCT: Delphine Reculeau: +41 22 809 49 39 Halt the execution of Muhammad Ridzuan Publisher International Federation for Human Rights Publication Date 18 May 2017 Cite as International Federation for Human Rights, Halt the execution of Muhammad Ridzuan, 18 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/591eb2734.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. Singaporean authorities must immediately halt the planned execution of Muhammad Ridzuan and establish an official moratorium on all executions, FIDH said today. Ridzuan, a Singaporean national, is scheduled to be executed by hanging on 19 May 2017. On 15 May 2017, authorities notified Ridzuan's family that President Tony Tan had denied his request for clemency. On 10 April 2013, Singapore's High Court imposed a mandatory death sentence on Ridzuan for possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking, after he was found in possession of 72.5 grams of heroin on 6 May 2010. On 27 February 2014, the Court of Appeal dismissed Ridzuan's appeal against his conviction and sentence. The Public Prosecutor denied Ridzuan a certificate declaring that he had "substantively assisted the Central Narcotics Bureau in disrupting drug trafficking activities within or outside Singapore." This certificate of assistance would have limited Ridzuan's sentence to life in prison. This decision was made despite the fact that the Public Prosecutor granted a certificate of assistance to his co-defendant, who was sentenced to life in prison and caning. Ridzuan's application to reverse the Public Prosecutor's decision to deny him a certificate of assistance was dismissed by both the High Court and the Court of Appeal. Accordingly, his death sentence was upheld. Ridzuan has spent more than seven years in prison, including more than four years awaiting execution. International law reserves the death penalty for the "most serious crimes," a threshold that international jurisprudence has repeatedly stated drug-related offenses do not meet. If Ridzuan is hanged, it will be the third documented execution in Singapore since the beginning of the year. On 17 March 2017, Singaporean authorities executed an unknown individual. On 21 April 2017, Singaporean authorities executed Jeffrey Marquez Abineno, 52, for drug trafficking. While the government publishes annual statistics on the total number of executions, it consistently fails to make public announcements concerning upcoming hangings and to reveal the number of prisoners on death row. FIDH, a member of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty (WCADP), reiterates its strong opposition to the death penalty for all crimes and in all circumstances. FIDH calls on the Singaporean government to reinstate the moratorium on executions that was lifted in July 2014, and to make progress towards the abolition of capital punishment for all crimes. Kenya: Last warning from the court to implement the PBO Act 2013 within 30 days Publisher International Federation for Human Rights Publication Date 18 May 2017 Cite as International Federation for Human Rights, Kenya: Last warning from the court to implement the PBO Act 2013 within 30 days, 18 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/591eb2bd4.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 latest High Court ruling on the commencement of the 2013 Public Benefit Organisations Act (PBO Act), eagerly awaited by Kenyan civil society for more than four years, is a welcome sign from the judiciary, two weeks after the publication of our report", said the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders today. On May 13, 2017, Nairobi High Court judge Mativo ordered the Interior Cabinet Secretary, Mr. Joseph Nkaissery, to publish in the Gazette within the next 30 days, the commencement date of the Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) Act 2013 [1]. The judge declared that the Kenyan government was clearly in contempt of court over its failure to comply with a similar ruling eight months ago. However, the judge decided to give it a last chance to the government to implement the before taking legal measures. Last week's court order was not the first. It followed a similar ruling issued on October 31, 2016, by another High Court judge, Louis Onguto, which gave 14 days to the Cabinet Secretary for Devolution and Planning, Mr. Mwangi Kiunjuri, at that time in charge of the regulation of the civil society sector, to commence the PBO Act [2]. On September 9, 2016, Mr. Kiunjuri had already given notice of commencement of the PBO Act, putting the hopes of Kenyan civil society high again after years of waiting. However, after the ruling, no further development followed, and instead, the control of the non-governmental sector was moved under the portfolio of the Ministry of Interior, rendering the Court order inapplicable. "Such a manoeuvre clearly aims at escaping the High Court order and at neutralising the goodwill expressed by the Cabinet Secretary for Devolution and Planning. This is very worrying, particularly in a democratic State claiming to uphold the rule of law" declared Mr. Gerald Staberock, OMCT Secretary General. "It shows the level of arbitrariness exercised by the Kenyan government to control civil society and the blatant disrespect of the Executive for the judiciary", he added. This second High Court ruling, which was, as the previous one, triggered by civil society legal action trying to hold the Kenyan government accountable for its inaction, was originally scheduled on March 15, 2017. However, the several failures by the three respondents, the Cabinet Secretary for Devolution and Planning, the Ministry of Interior and the Attorney General, to file their response, forced Justice Mativo to postpone the case until May 23, 2017. Finally, to avoid further delays and not wait until the physical hearing at the end of May, counsel for the applicants and the respondents were asked to make written submissions since, according to the judge, the matter was quite straight forward. "After more than four years of inaction the Kenyan authorities should operationalise without any further delay the PBO Act 2013, and put an end to any form of arbitrariness and abuses against Kenyan civil society", said FIDH Vice-President, Ms. Sheila Nabashwa. The PBO Act 2013 is a law seeking to provide a more enabling environment for NGOs, with clear criteria regarding NGOs' registration, enhanced accountability, set timelines for processing applications, as well as tax incentives and benefits for organisations conducting "public benefit activities". It was passed by the Parliament in 2012 and signed into law by the then President Mwai Kibakion January 14, 2013,but has not been operationalised yet under the Kenyatta administration, while several attempts have been made to introduce new restrictive amendments prior to its official commencement. On May 3, 2017, the Observatory published an international fact-finding mission report entitled "Kenya: 2017 elections: broken promises put human rights defenders at risk", which provides a series of recommendations addressed to the authorities to improve the space for civil society engaged in the promotion and protection of human rights, among which the call for the immediate operationalization of the PBO Act 2013 [3]. The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (the Observatory) was created in 1997 by FIDH and OMCT. The objective of this programme is to prevent or remedy situations of repression against human rights defenders. FIDH and OMCT are both members of ProtectDefenders.eu, the European Union Human Rights Defenders Mechanism implemented by international civil society. [1] The PBO Act is available on: http://pboact.or.ke/resources/documents/category/3-legislation. [2] See the Observatory Press Release issued on November 4, 2016. [3] See the Observatory Press Release issued on May 3, 2017. Q&A: Iran's presidential election 2017 Publisher International Federation for Human Rights Publication Date 18 May 2017 Cite as International Federation for Human Rights, Q&A: Iran's presidential election 2017 , 18 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/591eb3244.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. Who oversees the election process? The overall authority to interpret election laws, vet candidates, oversee the electoral process, receive and adjudicate complaints over alleged irregularities, confirm the election results, and notify and direct the Ministry of Interior to announce the results is vested with the 12-member Guardian Council of the Constitution. The Guardian Council also appoints a Central Board for Supervision of Elections (CBSE) and supervision boards or supervisors at local levels. The Guardian Council is composed of six senior clerical members appointed by Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and six jurist members who are appointed by Parliament. The six clerical members effectively control the Councils decisions on the election process. The Ministry of Interior organises the voting, counting of votes, and other executive aspects of the election under the supervision of Central Executive Board of Election (CEBE) [1]. Local administrative Executive Boards are also established. Who has the right to vote? The law does not specifically bar anybody from voting. All Iranian citizens have the right to vote if they have turned 16, are not declared mentally ill, and possess an official ID card (or passport, if residing abroad). Prisoners are also permitted to vote, but in their case, in practice, the ID card requirement is not strictly enforced. However, it must be noted that Afghans who have lived in Iran for nearly four decades and their children, who were born and grew up in Iran, are barred from voting because there are no laws that allow them to apply for citizenship. Can anyone run for President? No. Article 35 of the Presidential Election Law, directly quoted from Article 115 of the Constitution, is discriminatory and inconsistent with international standards for election. It states that presidential candidates must "be political and religious rejal" [2], and "faithful and adherent to the foundations of the Islamic Republic of Iran and to the official religion of the country." This provision effectively prevents all members of the political opposition, government critics, women, and non-Shiites from standing as candidates. Women candidates have consistently registered as candidates in all 12 presidential elections in Iran since 1979, but the Guardian Council of the Constitution has disqualified them. Members of the political opposition do not even take the risk to stand as candidates. The last time any candidate associated with the opposition registered, and withdrew before the election, was in the first presidential election in 1980. Some critics who register occasionally are disqualified. Official Religion: Under the Constitution, the 'official religion of the country' is the Twelve-imam Ja'fari school of the Shi'a. Hence, not only followers of the three 'officially recognised' [3] non-Islamic religions but even all non-Shiite Muslims, including Sunni Muslims are expressly barred from standing for President. Consequently, the majority of Iranian Kurds, Baloch, Turkmen, and a portion of the Arab population, who are Sunni Muslims, are also barred from standing for office. In the run-up to the current elections, the Guardian Council of the Constitution disqualified all but six candidates (0.37%) out of 1,636 people who had registered as candidates for elections, including all the 137 women who had registered [4]. The disqualification of a large number of candidates and all female candidates has been a consistent trend. For example, in the 2009 presidential election, only four male candidates (0.84%) were approved out of the 476 persons who registered. All 42 women who registered were disqualified. In 2013, 686 people registered, but only eight men (1.25%) were approved. All 30 female candidates, who registered [5], were disqualified. In addition, a number of former and serving MPs and ministers, who registered in this and previous presidential elections, were all disqualified. Who are the approved candidates in the 19 May presidential election? The six approved candidates (all men) are: 1) Hassan Rouhani 2) Ebrahim Ra'eesi 3) Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf 4) Es'haq Jahangiri 5) Mostafa Mir-Salim 6) Mostafa Hashemi Taba None of the six is critical of the Iranian state's structure and overall policies and all of them have held various positions at the highest levels of the country's political system. The two frontrunners are Rouhani and Ra'eesi. Hassan Rouhani, 68, the incumbent president, has held numerous other high-ranking positions prior to the beginning of his first term as president in 2013. Past positions held include: five-term Member of Parliament from 1980 to 2000; member of the Assembly of Experts since 2000 [6]; member of Expediency Discernment Council since 1999; and, since 1989, member and secretary of the National Supreme Security Council (NSSC) and now its chair. Rouhani has taken credit for the agreement over the nuclear deal with the 5+1 powers in 2015, but his government has not been able to use the agreement to reap any economic benefits for the country for two major reasons. First, the power struggle within the establishment in Iran has discouraged western investors. Second, investors have been hesitant to do business in Iran for fear of possible US sanctions. Rouhani has been described as a former hard-liner who has moved toward 'moderation' and found backing among the 'reformist' groups, in addition to former President Khatami. Ebrahim Ra'eesi, 56, a cleric politically close to the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his disciple for 14 years, was appointed by the Supreme Leader to head a very wealthy and powerful foundation in Khorassan province in early 2016. The foundation does not pay any taxes and Mr. Ra'eesi is accountable only to Khamenei. He has held various judicial positions since his early 20s. Ra'eesi is known as a hard-liner, openly backed by hardl-ine clerical figures and organisations, hard-line newspapers, and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC). Even some members of the Guardian Council of the Constitution, who must be neutral under the law, take part in his rallies. Many cohorts of former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are involved in his campaign. Although the Supreme Leader has not, and will not publicly take sides, the line-up of Mr. Ra'eesi's backers and their public pronouncements point to the Supreme Leader's preference. This is particularly significant as Mr. Ra'eesi has been mentioned as a favourite to succeed the 77-year-old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is rumoured to be ill. Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, the mayor of Tehran, withdrew from the race on 15 May 2017 in favour of Ra'eesi. As mayor of Tehran, Qalibaf has been involved in various financial and political scandals. Es'haq Jahangiri withdrew from the race on 16 May 2017 in Rouhani's favour. Currently vice-president under Mr. Rouhani, he is known as a 'reformist'. It is believed that he registered as a backup candidate for Rouhani just in case the hard-liners managed to disqualify the incumbent President from running. Mostafa Mir-Salim, a former minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance in the 1980s, is not a serious threat to the two leading candidates. He is the only candidate officially nominated by a political party the Islamic Coalition Party which is widely referred to as the 'bazaar's party,' i.e. the trading sector. Mir-Salim and his party are politically close to high-ranking clerics and the Supreme Leader, but, unlike the 1980s, they do not have much political clout. On 17 May 2017, the Islamic Coalition Party announced that Mir-Salim had withdrawn from the race and the party would support Ra'eesi. Mir-Salim denied he had withdrawn. Mostafa Hashemi Taba, former director of Physical Education Organisation and head of the National Olympic Committee, is not a serious contender and has already said that he would vote for Rouhani. What is the human rights record of the six main candidates? Hassan Rouhani's record on human rights does not offer much to be proud of. In particular, as head of the National Supreme Security Council (NSSC), he frequently decided on the detention of high-profile human rights activists and political dissidents. During his first term as President, Mr. Rouhani occasionally made a lukewarm push for a 'Citizenship Rights Charter', which has not become a law. Furthermore, the provisions of the 'Charter' do not differ from the existing provisions of the Constitution, many of which are highly undemocratic and discriminatory especially against women and minorities. Rouhani's government has not taken any notable action to prevent the arbitrary arrest and detention of political activists, journalists, and human rights defenders or secure their release. His Ministry of Intelligence has been responsible for some of the arrests. Ebrahim Ra'eesi, at the age of 21, was deputy prosecutor in the cities of Karaj and Hamedan, where many dissidents were executed. In his position as deputy prosecutor of Tehran (1985-89), he was a member of a Commission appointed by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the first Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Commission, which has been famously referred to as the 'Death Commission', effectively acted as a court of last resort. In 1988, the Commission retried thousands of political prisoners already serving prison sentences in summary trials lasting only a few minutes [7]. As a result, several thousand were sentenced to death and executed in the span of a few months. Later, as deputy head of the Judiciary, Ra'eesi was influential in repressing, silencing, and executing protestors after the controversial 2009 presidential election. Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, a former commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, was involved in suppressing various popular protests, most notably the students revolt in 1999, in his capacity as commander of Tehran Police Force. Mostafa Mir-Salim, was very strict during his term of office as minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance in the 1980s, when the publishing and film industries were subjected to systematic government censorship. Will observers be allowed monitor the election? International observation is not provided for in the election laws. Candidates can send one representative to each polling station and report any irregularities to the Guardian Council of the Constitution. Has there been an election campaign? Presidential candidates could start campaigning from the date on which the Ministry of Interior announces their candidacy up to the morning of the day before the election. This year, televised debates were organised with all the six candidates taking part. The six candidates took part in three televised debates, in which Hassan Rouhani, Ebrahim Ra'eesi, Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, and Es'haq Jahangiri were accused by other candidates of corruption, profiteering, and nepotism. The accusations were particularly strong against Qalibaf. In the current election, the domestic media are polarised between Rouhani and Ra'eesi. Depending on their inclinations, they have been campaigning in favour of one or the other candidate. The social media, in particular Facebook and Instagram, play a very important role in a candidate's campaign strategy. In this regard, the leading candidates have Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts. The judiciary has blocked several pro-Rouhani channels on the popular app Telegram and arrested their administrators and at least one person who openly called for election boycott in the central city of Esfahan. How decisive is the role of the President? Political power is held by the real head of State and the Executive Branch, the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Under the Constitution, he has vast official powers of policymaking and policy endorsement. He supervises the implementation of policies and serves as the supreme commander of the armed forces. He appoints and dismisses clerical members of the Guardian Council of the Constitution, the head of the judiciary, the head of the national radio and TV, and the commanders of all armed forces. The Supreme Leader can dismiss the president after a decision of the Supreme Court or the Parliament. Unofficially, he determines the appointment of some of the ministers and policies of the government. The post of president can become important after the current election if the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 77, dies during the president's term of office. In that event, Article 111 of the Constitution states that a council consisting of the president, head of the judicial power, and a clerical member of the Guardian Council, to be chosen by the Expediency Discernment Council, shall temporarily take over all duties of the Supreme Leader until a new Supreme Leader is appointed. This has made the current election very significant for the major power brokers, including many top clerics and the IRGC, whose top commanders are closely affiliated with the hard-line faction and who have vast political and economic interests. DECATUR Tresean L. Washington, a 23-year-old Decatur man, was arrested Friday on preliminary charges of attempted murder in the shooting of a 12-year-old boy and 20 year-old man early Wednesday in a south-side residence. The arrest was made about 2 p.m. Friday in the 700 block of East Johns Avenue, around the corner from the shooting, which occurred in the 400 block of South Maffit Street, said Decatur Police detective Sgt. Steve Carroll. Police previously said a suspect had forced his way into the residence and opened fire. Washington was arrested outdoors by officers from the U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Fugitive Task Force and Decatur Police Street Crimes Unit. We developed information that it was him, and it took about an hour to find him, Carroll said. Washington is being held in the Macon County Jail, pending his bond hearing scheduled for Saturday. The 12-year-old boy suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was treated at HSHS St. Mary's Hospital, before he was airlifted to HSHS St. John's Hospital in Springfield for further treatment. The older victim was treated and released at St. Mary's Hospital, police said. From 2-7 to sectional champs, Monrovia has one question: 'Why not us?' high-school BLOOMINGTON Surveillance video of a car pulling into a parking space outside Pam Zimmerman's office shortly before she was killed and fears she relayed about her former husband could be key evidence at his trial on murder charges. The Bloomington woman, a Maroa-Forsyth High School graduate, was found Nov. 4, 2014, lying on the floor behind the reception desk of her office in the 2100 block of East Washington Street, the victim of multiple gunshot wounds. Her former husband Kirk Zimmerman is charged with murder. A preview of some of the state's evidence against Kirk Zimmerman was unveiled during four days of hearings this week on whether statements Pam Zimmerman made to friends about the suspect will be allowed at trial. Those remarks ranged from fears that he would punish her if she tried to take half his State Farm pension in their divorce settlement to fears that he would kill her if she became engaged. Jurors will not see forensic evidence that ties Zimmerman to the crime scene or hear evidence that he purchased or possessed a gun, according to testimony Thursday from Bloomington detective Tim Power. The detective said several items were taken from Zimmerman's home, including financial documents and a "to do" list that lists yard work and a date with his former girlfriend as activities on the day of the shooting. No weapon was found in Zimmerman's home, and a lead that he may have gone to Indiana to buy a gun did not produce evidence, Power said. The state does intend to introduce state crime lab results that indicate gunpowder residue was found on the gear shift handle of Zimmerman's car. Detective William Lynn testified about how police put together a video to determine if a car seen pulling into Pam Zimmerman's parking lot at 4:36 p.m. matched the Hyundai Sonata driven by the suspect. Lynn admitted that no license plate could be determined from the surveillance video that shows a light colored car parking outside the office building. Screenshots of the car on the surveillance video and the car in the police video appear to be exact matches. Power testified Thursday that police narrowed the time of Pam Zimmerman's death to between 5:30 p.m. to about shortly after 6 p.m. Data from the victim's phone indicated it was taken from her office several minutes after 6 p.m., he said. Thursday's hearing opened with testimony from Zimmerman's daughter Rachel Zimmerman, who could not recall several statements she made in 2014 related to tension between her parents in the months leading up to her mother's shooting death. Zimmerman did not look at his daughter, now 18, during her 20 minutes on the witness stand. Rachel Zimmerman recalled her mother talking to her about the possible division of her father's State Farm pension as part of the couple's 2012 divorce settlement. Pam Zimmerman, 53, "said she didn't care about getting the other half" of the pension, said her daughter, adding "money wasn't a big issue for her." First Assistant State's Attorney Adam Ghrist played portions of an interview videotaped at the Children's Advocacy Center after her mother's death. Rachel Zimmerman, who is one of three children of Pam and Kirk Zimmerman, told the CAC interviewer that "he got so mad she just let him have the money." Rachel Zimmerman acknowledged the pension dispute is a key element of the state's theory as to why her father allegedly killed her mother. She also admitted talking to her father about her testimony. "I knew the subject was the pension. Like I said, I talked to my dad," she said. Arguments on the issues related to witness statements and other pending motions are set for June 10 and 11. BETHANY As a loving, attentive husband would do, Danny Banks was paying attention when his wife, Teresa, expressed an interest in starting a little hobby. Chickens, she said. Id like a couple backyard chickens. That was seven years, so for her Valentines Day gift Teresa did not get a box of chocolates or a bouquet of flowers. She and Danny went to Good Hope in Western Illinois and bought four chickens. By then theyd already done some research and moved beyond fancying the chickens that were the most eye-catching and focused instead on a practical breed that was known to be docile and friendly. Cochin chickens are the closest you can get to a dog, Teresa said. So they returned from Good Hope with three cochin hens, and when there happened to be a rooster for sale, they grabbed him as well. That was seven years ago and theyre the first to admit they didnt know what they were getting into. In the years since, however, theyve learned quickly. It took us a little bit to figure it all out, Teresa said. Now, they have moved from rural Decatur to a beautifully manicured place east of Bethany where their four large Amish-made sheds have been converted into oversized coops that house about 95 various types of cochin chickens as well as 11 turkeys and four guineas. The inside of the coops are amazingly clean and odor-free. The chickens are kept in cages that are designed to be big enough to avoid overcrowding. Theyre well cared-for, watched closely for medical issues and given plenty of time for open-air grazing inside fenced runs. Each day their brown eggs are scooped up and sold or given away to appreciative friends. Its a little like running a day care, said Teresa, who considers them pets and names most of the birds they take to poultry shows around the Midwest. Within the last month, theyve scored big at shows in Sedalia, Mo., and Avoca, Iowa, continuing a trend that accelerated last year when Victoria, who competed in the category of large fowl white cochins, won every show she entered. Cochins are, as Teresa aptly described, feather balls, fluffy and soft from top to bottom including feather-covered legs. When theyve been washed and cleaned prior to a show, theyre an irresistible bundle of fluff. That hes now so immersed in raising chickens surprises Danny Banks, a burly, whiskered truck driver who used to spend his money and free time drag racing his NHRA Super Pro and Super Street cars. Thats a hell of a swap, isnt it? he said with a laugh. Drag racing is much more expensive. Maybe thats because theyve figured out a way to offset some of the expenses of caring for so many birds. Teresa Banks said the first chickens they bought were about $5 each. Recently, as their breeding operation has produced a winning blood line, they sold 13 chickens for $1,100. After traveling together to the show in Sedalia in April, Danny went by himself to the show in Avoca last weekend. My first time flying solo, he said. Teresa had Mothers Day obligations back home with her oldest daughter, so Danny packed up five show birds and others he would sell and drove 460 miles to Avoca where Ebony, a large fowl black cochin, and Angel, a large fowl white, won their classes. A white bantam, Princess, was also crowned a champion. Teresa admitted she was nervous for her husband, and for her chickens. I called Danny about every hour to find out how they were going, she said. They had a banquet afterward, and someone made a comment on Facebook that Danny was just all smiles. Proud parents would be an accurate description and the granite slab that sits in front of their log cabin-style home is engraved with the name of their operation: Feathered Friends Hobby Farm. If someone is wanting to explore this as a hobby, understand that it takes room, a financial commitment and a good deal of time. Much of it they learned the hard way. When we got our first rooster home, we had one of those Rural King chicken coops, and he was so big he couldnt even fit through the door, Teresa said. They also learned that despite their reputation as a friendly and cooperative breed, a cochin rooster can be ornery. Not mean, but ornery, Danny said. They found that out early when a rooster started to attack Teresa with his spurs. Danny intervened, holding off the roster with a snow shovel. That was unusual, Teresa said. We havent had one like that since. As summer approaches, theyve learned to prepare for the Central Illinois heat. Fans are provided for all of the birds, since cochins are naturally like individual down jackets and are susceptible to the heat. The summer heat will keep them off the show circuit until October. Then Teresa will spend 90 minutes with each bird, hand washing and delicately blow drying them so they glisten perfectly for the judges. Her painstaking care preparing the birds for competition has given them an edge in the eye of the judges. On Oct. 7, theyll head to Bloomington for the Central Illinois Poultry Show at the Interstate Center. In the meantime, theyll care for their chickens and work on their breeding operation. A prized large fowl white cochin is currently on loan to a breeder in Nebraska. It was supposed to be backyard chickens, and that was the sincere intention when Danny and Teresa Banks got started. Without much of a push, that changed. As she said, We kind of got hooked. Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) shakes hands with Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte prior to their bilateral meeting during the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, May 15, 2017. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday said China threatened him with war if he insisted on enforcing last years arbiters ruling on the South China Sea, a serious claim that comes as Southeast Asian nations and Beijing agreed on a framework code of conduct to prevent clashes in the sea region. Speaking in the southern city of Davao before members of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary, Duterte said he had told Beijing leader Xi Jinping that he wanted to drill in the disputed area, which is believed to sit atop vast mineral deposits. We intend to drill oil there, if its yours, well, thats your view, but my view is I can drill the oil, if there is some inside the bowels of the earth because it is ours, Duterte said in a nationally televised speech. He said the Chinese leader told him, Were friends, we dont want to quarrel with you. We want to maintain the presence of warm relationship, but if you force the issue, well go to war. What can I say then? Duterte said. He said he insisted the United Nations-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in favor of Manila last year, something China said both countries would eventually have to talk about. Duterte said Xi told him they would eventually talk about the ruling. But it cannot be done now, he said, quoting the Chinese leader. Dutertes statement comes as China and the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed Thursday to a draft framework of a code of conduct to govern actions in the region during a meeting in the southern city of Guiyang, China. The Philippines welcomes the finalization by ASEAN and Chinas senior officials of the draft of the framework of the code of conduct, the Philippine foreign ministry said in a statement Friday. It did not give details, only that the document was completed ahead of the mid-2017 goal set by leaders of ASEAN and China. It contains elements which the parties have agreed upon, the statement said, without elaborating. The draft framework will be presented to the foreign ministers of ASEAN and China at their post-ministerial conference in Manila in August 2017 for their consideration, it said. The Philippines reaffirms its commitment to working toward an effective code of conduct for the South China Sea, the statement said. China ignored The Hauge ruling in July 2016 that effectively invalidated most of its South China Sea claims, three years after Manila filed a case. Duterte has been downplaying the ruling as he seeks an alliance with China and distances the country from its traditional ally, the United States, with which it is bound by a decades-long mutual defense treaty. A war with China would result to massacre and it will destroy everything, Duterte said. China and ASEAN agreed 15 years ago to sign a code of conduct. But progress has been slow and often marred by disputes over claims by Beijing to almost the entire sea, including waters close to shores of the other claimants. Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and Chinese rival Taiwan have their own claims in the South China Sea. Chinese Embassy officials were not immediately available to comment Friday. Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. Authorities in the Chinese capital have rejected a lawsuit filed by housing rights lawyer Ni Yulan against the Beijing police department. Wheelchair-bound Ni, 54, had filed the complaint after being repeatedly evicted along with husband Dong Jiqin from a series of rented apartments after police put pressure on their landlords. Ni, a recipient of the 2016 International Women of Courage award made by the U.S. Congress, said she and Dong were recently left sleeping rough after being forced out of their last apartment during enforced "renovation work" that left it smelling strongly of chemicals. They are currently staying in a guesthouse. "We have filed two separate lawsuits," Ni told RFA on . "One is the police for their failure to respond, and the other is against an intermediary for a realtor for serious fraud." "Whenever we try to rent a place to live, the police start manipulating things behind the scenes," she said. "They have also sent a random woman to our home to harass us repeatedly ... to tell us we can't stay there and to cut off our water and electricity."- According to Ni's lawsuit, the police failed to respond when contacted by Ni on the emergency number on , when their home was invaded by unidentified men. "These people started grabbing everything in our home ... so I called 110, and went to the police station to make a statement," she said. "But they never got back to me about it." "On , they came to our home again and demolished our doors and windows, but the police turned a blind eye." Frequent harassment by authorities Dong later wrote to Beijing mayor Cai Qi, requesting permission to stay in an emergency shelter for the homeless, but received no reply. An additional complaint filed by Dong at the local court involved a fake "intermediary" who took the money for a "deposit" on a new apartment that never materialized. " I filed another lawsuit against the intermediary, but they refused to accept it," Dong told RFA. "This was the intermediary who cheated us." "The court said that they would have to wait until their boss had looked into it." Right activists and peaceful critics of the ruling Chinese Communist Party, including the family members of lawyers detained in a crackdown on human rights lawyers, frequently report being threatened with eviction, loss of heating, water and electricity or the termination of rental contracts by landlords faced with police pressure. Outspoken Beijing poet and performance artist Wang Zang and feminist activist "Hooligan Sparrow" have both reported similar forms of official retaliation against themselves and their families since the beginning of this year. Ni's passport application was revoked in February when she applied to travel to the U.S. to receive her 2016 International Women of Courage award. The foreign ministry had declined to issue her with travel documents in spite of requests from the U.S. State Department, saying that she had been in contact with rights lawyers detained in the crackdown. Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Wang Man, one of five feminist activists detained by Chinese authorities in October 2015 for planning an anti-sexual harassment campaign, holds a document from state taxation officials demanding that she disclose her finances, Oct. 17, 2012. Authorities in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong have told a feminist activist to leave after she launched a poster campaign against sexual harassment on public transport. Activist Zhang Leilei, who currently lives in Guangdong's provincial capital Guangzhou, had planned to distribute wearable placards bearing an anti-sexual harassment slogan and depicting cartoon animals aboard public transportation. The plan was for activists to wear them in public throughout the month of May to draw attention to unwanted touching and sexual attention faced daily by women on China's buses, trains, and subway trains. But she received a visit from local police on May 17, she told RFA on Friday. "They came to my place looking for me on the 17th, and told me to stop my current activities," Zhang said. "They told me I was banned from doing anything in Guangzhou for the next six months, and then they told me to go and live somewhere else." Zhang said the authorities are likely concerned about Guangzhou's hosting of the forthcoming Fortune Global Forum, which runs from Dec. 6-8, 2017. "They told me my campaign was too high profile," she said. "I had had a number of campaigns planned, but I won't be able to carry them out now ... I am pretty sad about that." But she said her activities up until now had likely influenced "large numbers of people," and inspired them to activism on their own account. "I have seen that a lot of people really care about the issue of sexual harassment ... They are willing to come out onto the streets, carry out activities in other places," she said. "More and more people are becoming aware of gender issues." "But the environment is a somewhat hostile one for feminist issues," she said. Zhang has also posted online about the ban on her activities. "They asked me if I had thought about the feminist five who were detained because they campaigned against sexual harassment?" the post said. "How is what you're doing any different from what they did?" The feminist five are a group of female Chinese activists who were detained for five weeks on public order charges for planning an anti-sexual harassment campaign for International Women's Day in 2015. "Maybe I'm dumb, but I have thought about this a lot, and I still don't get it," she said. "I still don't get how me walking around with a placard campaigning against sexual harassment on public transportation adds up to something worthy of arrest," the post said. "Why is it that you say [the feminist five] broke the law, and yet they weren't even formally arrested? Why do you prevent us from even using our own bodies as an advertising platform?" it said. Entirely reasonable activities Xiong Jing, social media editor of the Feminist Voices website, which was targeted by state censors earlier this year, said Zhang had already raised some 40,000 yuan (U.S. $5,800) from donations to fund an ad campaign, but had been unable to place the posters. So she decided to call on people to wear the posters instead. "These are entirely reasonable activities, and yet they are being treated as sensitive persons and told to leave," Xiong said. "We thought it was pretty unusual when we heard about this, because this anti-sexual harassment campaign is pretty straightforward," Xiong said. "The attitude taken by the Guangzhou police is pretty chilling." "And it's not just Zhang Leilei who's being kicked out of the city," she said. "We know of a few other people to whom this is happening, because the Guangzhou police have a list of people who they want to get rid of before the Fortune Global Forum." Guangzhou activists told RFA on Thursday that they were forced to abandon plans to gather for dinner on Tuesday night after the state security police intervened. Rights activist Wang Aizhong said around 10 people showed up, but were forced to hold the event under the watchful eye of their state security minders. "Some people got a phone call at about 5.30 p.m. warning them not to go, because they would be detaining people," Wang said. "They didn't give specific reasons, but maybe they thought there were too many of us, or that we were classed as sensitive." Wang said another factor may be the approach of the 28th anniversary of the military crackdown on the student-led pro-democracy protests in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, which falls on June 4. Wang said he was questioned for several hours by the state security police as soon as the meal was over, but vowed to continue with his activism in spite of continual official harassment. Reported by Yang Fan for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Wong Lok-to for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Former U.S. government security contractor Edward Snowden has hit out at the Hong Kong government for denying refugee status to a group of families who sheltered him while he was on the run in the city in 2013. Snowden, currently in Russia, initially fled to Hong Kong, where he revealed details of top secret U.S. mass internet surveillance programs he said were unconstitutional. At one point in his stay, the whistleblower hid in the homes of a number of refugees: a Sri Lankan family, a Sri Lankan man, and a Filipino mother with a daughter, to avoid arrest and extradition to the United States on spying charges. The refugees were all informed by Hong Kong officials on Monday that their asylum bids had failed because there were "no substantial grounds to believe" their claims that they would face danger in their home countries if repatriated. One of the lawyers for the families, Robert Tiboo, Told RFA on Friday that the connection with Snowden was the only thing the families had in common, and that their asylum applications had all been turned down simultaneously. "We are talking about three families with very different backgrounds, who didn't arrive [in Hong Kong] at the same time, and yet their applications are suddenly all turned down at the same time," Tiboo said. "It's very clear that the Hong Kong immigration department is unhappy about their harboring of Snowden, because they have questioned them about the circumstances since," he said. "They could be detained at any time if repatriated." Last-ditch effort Marc-Andre Sequin, another lawyer for the families, said the families are now applying to Canada for asylum in a last-ditch effort to stave off deportation. "I hope that the Canadian government will consider the motivation of the Hong Kong government in refusing their asylum applications," Sequin said. "[I hope they will] speed up the application process and allow them to receive protection as refugees," he said. Snowden, a former Hawaii-based contractor who worked on National Security Agency (NSA) surveillance programs, hit out at the move in a video statement in support of the refugees. "These are good people who were driven from their homes by torture, rape, abuse, blackmail and war," Snowden said. "This is documented. These aren't allegations; these are facts." "What they are facing is a transparent injustice from the very people who they asked to protect them," he said, suggesting that the decision was linked to the families' role in his subsequent departure from the city. "Someone in the Hong Kong government has decided they want to make these families disappear immediately," Snowden said. "If the minister of security in Hong Kong, Lai Tung-kwok, allows it to happen, it should be seen as the defining moment of his career," he said. "Maybe he'll show us that he's the kind of man that we need in government, and work to get these families immediately resettled and protected, whether in Hong Kong, Canada, or somewhere else." Espionage charges Snowden has been charged with theft of federal government property, unauthorized communication of national defense information, and wilful communication of classified communications intelligence to an unauthorized person, with the latter two charges falling under the U.S. Espionage Act. Lawyer and Legislative Council member Albert Ho said after Snowden flew to Moscow from Hong Kong that the ruling Chinese Communist Party may have had a hand behind the scenes in facilitating his departure, which angered U.S. officials seeking his arrest. Reported by Goh Fung for RFA's Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. North Korean soldiers stand on a boat on the Yalu River near the border with China, Feb. 9, 2016. The cost of bribing a broker to defect from North Korea has skyrocketed since last year amid tighter border restrictions and harsher punishments for security personnel found to have aided in escapes across the Tumen and Yalu rivers into China, according to rights groups. The expense of crossing the river has increased to an average of U.S. $13,000 per person, and as high as U.S. $16,000, this year from the usual price of U.S. $8,900 at the end of 2016, multiple North Korea human rights organizations have said, attributing the increase to fewer guards willing to facilitate defections. The expense for North Koreans to cross the Tumen River or Yalu River has increased to U.S. $13,000, Myeong-chul Ahn, Head of NK Watch, told RFAs Korean Service recently. But it is still difficult to find brokers to escape from North Korea, even with this amount of money. With a policy of death for those involved in defections since regime leader Kim Jong Un assumed power in North Korea in 2012, fewer people in positions of power are willing to risk themselves to help others flee the reclusive Stalinist state, Ahn and other North Korea observers say. They admit, however, that it is difficult to determine whether the recent increase in cost could be attributed to a lower number of potential defectors. Kwang-il Jeong, head of the defector-led organization No Chain, told RFA that simply offering bribes to security personnel along the border is no longer enough to get into China. Defectors only needed to bribe border guards in the past, but now it is difficult to escape from North Korea even if they bribe officials, he said. Nowadays they, at the very least, need to establish a connection with a national security agency official if they hope to defect. Rights groups told RFA the expense of crossing the river began to increase rapidly after Kim took power following his father Kim Jong Ils death from a heart attack and worked to secure his grip on the nation. Prior to 2012, the cost of a bribe ran between U.S. $1,780 and $3,500, and as low as U.S. $45 in the early 2000s, they said. While the cost of bribes to defect have increased since Kim assumed the helm, the number of defectors entering South Korea through third nations has fallen by half. According to the Ministry of Unification in South Korea, between 1,200 and 1,500 defectors from North Korea have relocated to the South in the five years since 2012, compared to between 2,400 and 2,900 in the five years prior. In April, sources told RFA that security personnel along North Koreas border with China are encouraging residents to use illegal cellphones operating on Chinese satellite networks or defect in return for protection fees to make up for bribes that have dried up amid heightened controls in the region. They said illegal crossings of the Yalu and Tumen rivers, and smuggling activities at the border, had seen a significant downturn in recent weeks, leaving those who normally earn a living through payoffs in dire straits and forcing them to find new ways to supplement their income. Reported by Yongjae Mok for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by MS Jun. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. In the latest in a series of government threats against opposition political forces in Cambodia, Cambodian defense minister Tea Banh warned on Sunday that the army will smash the teeth of anyone protesting a win by the ruling party in elections next month. Speaking at the opening of a public building in Siem Reap in northwestern Cambodia, Tea Banh said that the countrys military will quickly suppress any protests by Cambodia National Rescue Party members like those that followed the CNRPs loss in national elections in 2013. If you lose the elections and contest the results by taking to the streets to protest, we will smash your teeth, the defense minister said. Im warning you in strong terms that we wont allow such protests again. 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 ruling Cambodian Peoples Party in local elections across the country 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. Observers say the CNRP could give the CPP a run for its money in the June polls, foreshadowing a possible CNRP win in national elections scheduled for 2018. 'Serving the party, not the people' Phnom Penh-based political commentator Meas Ny told RFAs Khmer Service on Monday that Tea Banh had exceeded the limits of his authority by threatening Cambodian voters. As minister of defense, he has now crossed the line. It seems that he serves Cambodias ruling party rather than its people, Meas Ny said. It is also a violation of the constitution that a senior official of the countrys armed force should interfere with the responsibilities of the Ministry of Interior, he said. The armed forces should deal only with armed conflicts. It is against the law for the armed forces to suppress or kill civilians who exercise their freedom of speech by protesting peacefully. Also speaking to RFA, CNRP spokesperson Yim Sovann questioned the motive behind Tea Banhs weekend remarks. I dont understand why he has chosen to threaten the public with statements like this, he said. The CNRP listens to the people. We respect their will. Cambodias National Election Commission will convene a meeting in the next two weeks to address the issue of threats and warnings that members of both parties have made in the run-up to the June vote, with the NEC looking to see what measures must be taken to avoid future incitement, the commission has said. Reported and translated by Nareth Muong for RFAs Khmer Service. Written in English by Richard Finney. A local administration official from a village in Buthidaung township in western Myanmars restive Rakhine state was killed by unknown assailants on Friday, while another is missing after being abducted, a township official said. A group of people came into Pazonchaung village and took two village officials at around 3 a.m. this morning, Kyaw Min Tun, township administrator, told RFAs Myanmar Service. The official who was killed had his throat slashed 90 feet from his house, and the other one is still missing, he said, adding that the attack could be connected to extremists. Other recent deaths possibly caused by extremists blamed for a major attack on government guard posts last October have occurred in the area. An accidental explosion of handmade bombs in Buthidaungs Theni village on May 4 killed two people and injured three others as victims assembled bombs, according to an announcement the State Counselors Office. Security personnel who checked the village the following day found bags of potassium nitrate, sulfur, coal powder, and other materials used to make bombs near a forest. They launched an investigation of the incident. Meanwhile, 30 civilians have been killed and 22 others have gone missing in neighboring Maungdaw township since Oct. 9, 2016, when deadly attacks on three local border guard posts occurred. Buthidaung, along with Maungdaw and Rathedaung townships in the northern part of Rakhine state, were under a four-month crackdown from October 2016 to February 2017 after the raid by a militant group that claimed to represent the countrys Muslim Rohingya community. About 1,000 people were killed during the crackdown, and roughly 90,000 Rohingya were displaced, with most of them fleeing to neighboring Bangladesh where they are living in refugee camps. The United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution in March to send an international fact-finding mission to Myanmar to investigate atrocities the countrys army is said to have committed against the Rohingya during the crackdown. Rakhine state is home to about 1.1 million Rohingya, about 120,000 of whom live in internally displaced persons camps as a result of communal violence with majority Buddhists in 2012. The Rohingya are denied basic rights, freedom of movement, and access to social services and education because they are viewed as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, although most have lived in Myanmar for generations. Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. DECATUR Shataea Irons knows firsthand what happens to funds raised to help those in need. Her family experienced a house fire last year. Volunteers helped them get back on their feet. Her story is interesting, but that is not why she was honored at Thursday evening's United Way of Decatur and Mid-Illinois annual meeting. Irons received the Employee Campaign Leader of the Year award along with her co-worker, Caterpillar employee Will MacLeod. We lead multiple events to raise awareness and funds for the organization, Irons said. The focus of the annual meeting was to celebrate those who have invested in United Way. Many of the recipients were credited for their fundraising efforts in addition to working their regular jobs. We could not help the community without these businesses, said Debbie Bogle, executive director for United Way. Irons conducted a reverse impact tour by speaking to the employees of Caterpillar about her story and how United Way helped her family. Usually we go outside to the organizations for an impact tour, but we thought it would be nice to bring the information to our employees who can't leave for two hours, she said. Along with informing their co-workers of United Way's impact, Irons and MacLeod made sure they had fun in the process. Caterpillar campaign events included a Top Dawg Hot Dog eating contest, a Flap Jack fundraiser and a coin war. Different departments battle to see who could raise the most change in one week, Irons said of the coin war. Caterpillar also created a Family Day for the employees, retirees and their families. Nichole Deberry organized the 2016 event. It is like a big festival for our employees during the United Way campaign, she said. It had food vendors, games, bounce house, all in the front lawn of Caterpillar. Deberry was one of six recipients of the Live United award. She campaigns for the organization because she has seen the impact it has on her community. It makes a difference now and it will make a difference later, she said. You never know who will get the benefit. Bogle acknowledged the recipients because of the impact they have with the community, not just the organization. We work with many businesses, she said. It is about investing in our community. Bogle said United Way is one of the most efficient ways for people to give. But she insists the organization is not just a fundraiser. We research data and understand our community, she said. We collaborate with community leaders so we know what our community needs in order to move toward self-sufficiency. Throughout the evening, others were honored for the relationship with United Way. The organization recently began a 211 service in which those with a non-emergency need can call for help. We've had calls like 'I need diapers; where can I get them.' or 'I can't pay my rent', Bogle said. They will help you find the help that you need. The Howard G. Buffet Foundation funded the service as well as a new building for the United Way. Brett Swallow was also honored during his last meeting on the board. Other United Way awards include Live United awards recipients Tricia Cordulack from Richland Community College, Christopher Yeagle from WAND TV, Deberry and Nichol Vanus from Caterpillar, and Denise Walton and Shawna Cole from Crossing Healthcare. Volunteer of the Year award was given to Joni Zimmerman. Campaign of the Year was given to accounting firm, BKD. Herald & Review received the Company that Cares award. Champion award recipient was Brian Byers. CORRECTED at 11:00 a.m. EST on 2017-06-16 A young Tibetan monk set himself on fire and died on Friday in northwestern Chinas Qinghai province in an apparent challenge to Chinese rule in Tibetan areas, a Tibetan living in the area said. The protest brought to 150 the number of self-immolations by Tibetans living in China since the wave of fiery protests began in 2009. Jamyang Losal, aged about 22, set himself ablaze at around 5:00 a.m. on May 19 near the Peoples Hospital in Chentsa (in Chinese, Jianzha) county in Qinghais Malho (Huangnan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, a local source told RFAs Tibetan Service. He did not survive his protest, RFAs source said, speaking on condition of anonymity Losals body was taken away by the police, and when his family members went to the police station to claim his remains, the police refused to comply with their request, he said. Losal was a monk belonging to Gyerteng monastery in Chentsa's Nangra town, RFAs source said, adding that about 20 monks now study at the monastery, which is located about 30 kilometers (18 miles) south of the Kangtsa county seat. Losal was a native of Dong Gya village in Chentsa's countys Nangra township, the source said. Reported by Sangye Gyatso for RFAs Tibetan Service. Translated by Karma Dorjee. Written in English by Richard Finney. CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story misidentified the county and prefecture locations of Losal's self-immolation. Ethnic Muslim Uyghurs in northwest Chinas Xinjiang region are being given mandatory health examinations that include DNA collection, according to residents, causing concern among some observers who have called on Beijing to explain its motive behind the mass checkups. According to reports by Chinas state media, the General Peoples Health Examination Project that began in September 2016 and ended in March this year provided checkups for 17.5 million people throughout the region, including 9.2 million in predominantly Uyghur-populated southern Xinjiang. The examinations were carried out on more than 90 percent of the residents of the entire region, and more than 98 percent of the population of southern Xinjiang, the reports said, adding that the project had been 100 percent implemented in Hotan (in Chinese, Hetian)a prefecture almost exclusively inhabited by Uyghurs. Authorities in Xinjiang appropriated 180,830,000 yuan (U.S. $26.2 million) for the General Peoples Health Examination Project, initially deploying mobile health checkpoints to Hotans Guma (Pishan) county, Aksu (Akesu) prefectures Uchturpan (Wushi) county, and Ghulja (Yining), Nilqa (Nileke), and Qorghas (Huocheng) counties in Ili (Yili) Kazakh Autonomous prefecture, before rolling out the program to the rest of the region. Official reports said patients were divided into categories by ageinfants to six-year-olds, seven to 14-year-olds, 15 to 65-year-olds, and 65-year-olds and aboveand given a battery of tests that included examinations of the heart, blood, DNA, urine, and blood sugar using electrocardiograms, x-rays, and ultrasounds. Uyghur residents recently told RFAs Uyghur Service that they were pressured and, in some cases, forced to undergo examinations, and that the results of their tests were stored on a computer system during the checkup. A Uyghur official from southern Xinjiang, who spoke to RFA on condition of anonymity, said all of the staff in her department were required to participate in the examination, while her husbands examination was arranged by his work unit and her childrens checkups through their schools. When they filled out the forms for the checkup, our ethnicity had to be listed clearly, as well as our religious affiliation, she said, adding that her work unit had completed the paperwork for her. However, they never showed us the results [of the tests]. I dont know if people have been demanding the results or not. A female college student in Hotan, who also asked not to be named, said she was required to undergo an examination in December last year, along with all of the other students in her school. They conducted the examination, but didnt give us the resultsthey just said you are healthy and that was it, she said. They took blood, checked our lungs and hearts. They took blood from our arms and said if there was anything wrong they would inform us, but they never did. The student said that four other members of her family eventually underwent examinations, including her father, mother, and two brothers. A farmer from Payziwat (Gashi) county in Kashgar (Kashi) prefecture told RFA that county officials and medical personnel had set up a health checkpoint in front of the area hospital, and local cadres urged residents to get examined. The farmer said that he and his wife and three children were happy to receive free checkups, but added that he was puzzled over what he called a special focus on women during the examination, without providing further details. A nurse from the Central Hospital of Uchturpans Zawa township told RFA that a lack of medical personnel had kept her examining the areas large number of residents non-stop through March to meet the projects deadline. When asked for the reason behind requiring all of the residents of the region to undergo health examinations, a Han Chinese official at the Party Committee of Guma county told RFA nobody at his level knew. Ask the county government, he said. All we did was implement the order that came from the top to examine everyone. Project questioned Observers from the overseas Uyghur exile community told RFA that while free health examinations could benefit inhabitants of the region who might not otherwise have access to health care, the vast expenditure and mobilization of resources, as well as the forced nature of the checkups, raised serious questions about the program. The Uyghur people must pay special attention to these examinations, said Enver Tohti, a U.K.-based Uyghur physician. Such a large-scale collection of Uyghur biological information by the Chinese government threatens the very security of the Uyghur people and the survival of the Uyghur race. Tohti called on the United Nations World Health Organization to request an explanation from the Chinese government regarding the reason behind its examination project. Earlier this week, rights groups and academics said Chinese authorities in Xinjiang are carrying out mass collection of DNA from individuals not suspected of any crime, with New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) noting that police had already gathered samples from 44 million individuals on a nationwide database, collected without oversight, transparency, or privacy protections. "Authorities have stated that the DNA databases are used for solving crimes, including terrorism and child trafficking, as well as to identify bodies and vagrants," the group said. Chinese police in Xinjiang have required all passport applicants to submit DNA samples since November 2016, while police agencies have issued multimillion dollar tenders for the supply of gene sequencing equipment, HRW said. Leaked tenders by regional governments have said biometric information is being gathered as part of China's nationwide "stability maintenance" regime targeting peaceful critics of the ruling Chinese Communist Party. Dilxat Raxit, spokesman for the exile group World Uyghur Congress, called the policy part of an overall policy of ethnic profiling of Uyghurs by the Chinese government. China regularly conducts strike hard campaigns in Xinjiang, including police raids on Uyghur households, restrictions on Islamic practices, and curbs on the culture and language of the Uyghur people, including videos and other material. While China blames some Uyghurs for "terrorist" attacks, experts outside China say Beijing has exaggerated the threat from the Uyghurs and that repressive domestic policies are responsible for an upsurge in violence there that has left hundreds dead since 2009. Reported by Eset Sulayman, Gulchehra Hoja, and Jilil Kashgary for RFAs Uyghur Service. Translated by Alim Seytoff and Mamatjan Juma. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. Vietnams ruling Communist Party has called for open dialogue with the people to hear different opinions on how to run the country, but observers have questioned whether the government is willing to listen to criticism and embrace change. In a recent online conference to review the implementation of the Politburos Directive No. 5 on learning from and following the ideology of Vietnams communist revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh, Central Propaganda Department chief Vo Van Thuong said the party is ready to look outside its ranks for ideas on governance. Thuong said his department is awaiting guidance from the Central Party Secretariat on how to organize public discussions, adding that the communist party is not afraid of dialogue and debate. In the 63 years since assuming power in North Vietnam and 42 years since taking control of the entire country, the Communist Party has been the sole political party and only source of official ideology in Vietnam. However, over the past 10 years, several organizations have espoused views that are different from those of the party. In one example, in 2013, a large group of intellectuals signed a proposal to eliminate a clause in the constitution which maintains Vietnam as a single-party state. That proposal was summarily rejected by the government. Several observers who spoke with RFAs Vietnamese Service welcomed the idea of open dialogue between the people and the party, but expressed reservations over the safety of stating views that differ from the official party line and whether the government would bother to listen. Tuong Lai, the former director of the Vietnam Institute of Sociology, told RFA that Thuong must prove that he is willing to embrace new thinking before the people will back him as an agent of change for the country. "If he wants to earn the trust of the people, then he has to break the fence and follow the example of predecessors who have broken the fence only then will he earn a place in the peoples heart, he said. Why doesnt he go ahead and hold some conversations? The people will believe in him only when he has done so. If, for some reason, he decides to protect his political standing he will lose peoples trust. Reporter Pham Chi Dung said that Thuongs hand had been forced by a recent standoff between authorities and farmers from Dong Tam commune in Hanois My Duc district during which the farmers held 19 police and officials hostage for a week until they won the city governments pledge to investigate their land dispute. "What Vo Van Thuong said is simply trendy because after the Dong Tam incident, government officials and the party realized that if they dont know how to appease the people, their resistance could lead to an unpredictable situation, he said. They have to consider dialogue because without dialogue the government would be destroyed. Dung said that the government of Vietnam is generally resistant to reform and will only adapt when its back is against the wall. I think that the leadership of the government will only substantially change when the party hits a dead end, he said. But their situation is not at a dead end right now, its only precarious. Limits on dialogue Nguyen Trang Nhung, an independent candidate for Vietnams 14th National Assembly, or parliament, said that while dialogue may be held, restrictions on what is discussed will make the process ineffective. I think that if dissidents and other members of the society are invited to the dialogue, they will be restricted to speaking about certain things and anything beyond that will be prevented, he said. But I do not think that they will hold such dialogues, especially for dissidents, and those who fight for democracy or civil society. Nguyen Tien Trung, a former political prisoner who served five years in jail on charges of attempting to overthrow the government by supporting the formation of an opposition party to the ruling Vietnam Communist Party, was more optimistic and said he would take part in such a discussion. This dialogue is very welcome and I am willing to participate, if there is an invitation from the leaders of the Communist Party and the Propaganda Department, as well as the Central Theoretical Council, said Trung, who was freed in 2014 following international pressure on Vietnam to improve its rights record. But he warned that speaking out against the government is not without risk, and called on the countrys dissident community to work together. I hope that the intellectuals of Vietnam will raise their voices, as it isnt as easy nowadays for the authorities to persecute and arrest people amid the strong development of social media, he said. But most importantly, we must unite, support one another, and protect one another, so that we will be safe. If we dont, we could face serious danger [speaking out] alone. The United States and Vietnam will hold the next round of an ongoing human rights dialogue on May 23 in Hanoi. Washington frequently urges Hanoi to free its prisoners of conscience. Reported by RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by Emily Peyman. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. Families will flock to Quonset this weekend to see the RI Air Show, a yearly custom for many. SPRINGFIELD For the third year in a row, the three men at the center of Illinois politics are circling inside the Capitol, and nobody is pulling punches. In one corner is Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, and in the other are Democratic leaders Michael Madigan and John Cullerton. The goal: Pass a budget before the end of session on May 31. The past two years have seen lawmakers come up short, both sides throwing in the towel, as an untold number of Illinois residents suffer through the longest gap between budgets of any state in the country. Lawmakers remain optimistic they can come to terms in the final weeks of this session, though perhaps it is because the thought of heading home without a budget would mean further devastation. The states universities, social service providers, vendors and others sit on a long list waiting to get paid. How close the two sides are to an agreement depends on whom you ask. Lawmakers are on the ropes to provide a plan, and political observers paint a dark picture of financial ruin without it. A spokeswoman for Rauner deferred questions for this story to an opinion piece the governor wrote Tuesday in the Springfield State Journal-Register and several subsequent news conferences hes held across the state. In the opinion piece, the first-term Republican governor reiterates many of the policy stances he has taken during his tenure, arguing he would support the passage a tax increase, but only with fundamental changes to what he sees as a "broken system." Weve been trying to negotiate a good deal for taxpayers for more than two years, Rauner wrote. But we wont be pressured by special interests, insiders and career politicians to take a bad deal for taxpayers. Much of the spotlight over the past few years has been on the battle between Rauner and Madigan, the powerful longtime speaker of the House and chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party. While Rauner has painted Madigan as a career politician who bows to special interest, Madigan spokesman Steve Brown points to the budgets passed since Madigan first became speaker in 1983, saying Madigan worked with governors and legislators of both parties to get them approved. As Ive said, the governor needs to look at himself in the mirror and ask that figure that he sees, Why did you screw up this state budgeting process? Brown said. This spring session has seen much of the budgeting focus turned to the Illinois Senate, where months of bipartisan talks have seen senators taking swings at passing a "grand bargain" budget that would include items as varied as a property tax freeze, gambling expansion, workers compensation reform, an income tax increase and changes to the school funding formula. These talks failed in March, when Republicans pulled their support and said more negotiations were needed. This past week saw another effort in the Senate to pass budget items on to the House, with bills that expand gambling, change state purchasing rules, reform pensions, change the school funding formula and allow the state to borrow $7 billion to pay down some the states $14.3 billion backlog of bills. But work to pass a bill to implement necessary cuts to get to the previously approved $36.5 billion spending plan failed, and bills that would reform workers compensation or raise taxes were never called for a vote. As in March, Democrats said time was running out to get a budget approved and that Republicans needed to vote. I was under the impression we had reached an agreement on the budget, Cullerton said in a news conference after the vote. But Republicans said the two sides were close to an agreement on the remaining issues and that Democrats need to wait for both sides to agree to terms before putting items up for a vote. I think there were significant reforms that were done today, said Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, shortly after the Senate voted Wednesday. But the better course of action would have been to move the items that were in agreement, then go back into the room and make sure the budget balances, get the language finalized and then put it for a vote. Were this close to getting something done. Several senators told the Herald & Review that they believe all parties have been negotiating in good faith and that an agreement can be made. Rauner has publicly been cordial when addressing the Senates effort to pass a budget, but he did not mince words when asked about Madigan and House Democrats during a stop Tuesday in Springfield. House Democrats, under Speaker Madigan, have showed no good faith willingness to engage in negotiations, Rauner said. He also addressed a recent move by Madigan to have four of the top Democrats in the House negotiate with the governors office over non-budgetary items, referring to it as an effort to derail budget talks in the Senate. Brown dismissed the governors concerns, saying the House wants to work with Rauner on ways to improve the states economy. Similar sentiment is shared by House Republican Leader Jim Durkin of Western Springs, who said Thursday afternoon that he was "cautiously optimistic" a deal could be reached before May 31. The sense of urgency is immense, Durkin said. You can feel it in the air, and I agree that we need to bring this to a resolution. How did we get here? Those who watch Illinois politics said the budget impasse represents a "perfect storm" of conflicting personalities and years of poor planning. Those decisions stretch back decades and stem from members of both parties, said Kent Redfield, a professor emeritus of political science at the University of Illinois at Springfield. He cited the pension strain created by the "crooked bargain" at the end of Republican Gov. George Ryans tenure, when thousands of longtime state employees were allowed to retire early so the incoming Democratic administration could fill those openings with their own people. He also noted the overall tenure of impeached Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who is in federal prison after being convicted of corruption, and the 2008 recession as events that already put Illinois in a perilous fiscal position well before Rauner took office. The recession significantly changed the way the state handles its budgeting, said Jak Tichenor, interim director at the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Before then, a majority of spending was related to federal mandates such as Medicaid, making for a fairly predictable budget process. State lawmakers negotiated over discretionary spending such as K-12 and higher education funding, but Tichenor said they would enter those negotiations knowing state revenue was stable. But if you go back to 2008 to the great recession, and state revenues just went off a cliff, he said. You had appropriation committee chairs at the Capitol looking at balance sheets and saying, Well Im trying to fund a $32 billion budget, and I only have $24 (billion) to $25 billion in income. And thats where you started to see the real allocation of pain and scarcity instead of budget making as we traditionally did it. A temporary income tax increase approved by lawmakers and then-Gov. Pat Quinn in 2011 moved the personal tax rates from 3 percent to 5 percent and the corporate tax from 4.8 percent to 7 percent, which helped to pay down some of the bill backlog. But the increase was allowed to expire in 2015, reducing the rate for individuals to 3.75 percent and to 5.25 percent for corporations. The motivation behind letting it expire was so the newly elected Rauner could negotiate a new budget with the Democratic-led House and Senate. Two-and-a-half years later, the sides have only managed to agree to a stopgap budget in 2016 that provided some money for local schools, struggling universities and social service providers. Most spending has been court-ordered. Redfield said that from the start, Rauner and the Democrats seemed to underestimate one another, specifically when Rauner started to sell his "turnaround agenda" that included the creation of local right-to-work zones and other measures perceived to be anti-union. I think the initial set of demands the governor was putting out there was overtly optimistic in terms of what one could get a Democratic legislator to agree to, Redfield said. That clearly got negotiations off on a very bad start, and we never got to the point where we could get an acknowledgement from both sides that they were sharing power and they needed to make compromises. Like Redfield, Tichenor said the first few months of Rauner's tenure knocked the relationship of party leaders off balance. Rauner's initial agenda was unique, Tichenor said, because past governors did not traditionally negotiate structural reform packages as part of the overall budget negotiations. The governor may have underestimated just how strong the Democrats' resolve was not to turn their backs on their traditional allies, as well as the Democratic leaders may not have appreciated how strongly the governor felt about trying to impose some of those turnaround agenda items in exchange for a tax increase, he said. Deep impact The inability to produce a long-term budget has had a significant impact on the state and its residents. If a spending plan isn't approved until the 2018 General Election, as some have speculated, the effects could be catastrophic. The unfunded liability in Illinois pension funds hit $119 billion in fiscal year 2015, according to an April report from Pew Charitable Trusts. That means just 40 percent of the states pension system is funded. Among the states, only New Jersey is in worse shape. A report by the Illinois Comptrollers Office on Wednesday said the bill backlog has increased to a record $14.3 billion, nearly triple what it was two years ago. In a statement, Democratic Comptroller Susana Mendoza laid the blame at the feet of Rauners administration. Its clear the Rauner Administration has been holding bills at state agencies in an attempt to mask some of the damage caused by the governors failure to fulfill his constitutional duty and present a balanced budget, Mendoza said, referring to a practice where the administration can sit on a voucher before submitting it to the comptrollers office. At a time when Senators from both sides of the aisle are working together to reach a deal, this administration has been keeping them in the dark about the true extent of the bill backlog. Higher education and social service agencies have taken a pummeling during the impasse, suffering through cutbacks and layoffs to try to make ends meet. In Decatur, the lack of a state budget has played a major role in cuts made at Richland Community College. Since the start of spring, the college has eliminated five administrative positions and announced plans to lay off 18 employees, eight full time and 10 part time, and offer buyouts to an additional 14 full-time staff. It has also closed its child care center, with administrators pointing to the state situation and declining enrollment as factors. College officials have said they also plan to approve a budget for the coming fiscal year without any money from the state, which used to make up 14 percent of its total budget. Those actions are part of what Tichenor refers to as a "brain drain" that has occurred due to the budget impasse. As the state struggles to fund higher education and Monetary Award Program grants, out-of-state schools have begun to poach potential students and faculty with the promise of financial stability, he said. Were losing some of our best and brightest in the state because of the impasse, he said. If lawmakers are unable to come together on a budget, then Redfield said the state will enter a "very dark scenario" that could mean irrevocable damage to social service agencies and most colleges and neighboring communities. If we have no movement until after the 2018 elections, I think it would be a certainty some universities would not open that fall, he said. I think Eastern, Western, Northeastern and Chicago State are all the top of the list. The Carbondale situation is pretty tenuous as well. Local lawmakers try to remain optimistic Even after tensions rose on Wednesday after another failed effort to pass along more elements of the grand bargain to the House, several Decatur-area lawmakers said they are doing their best to remain hopeful. Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon, has been one of his partys main budget negotiators as the two sides look to make a deal. Over the past few months, Righter said he has seen people from both sides of the aisle do their part to reach an agreement, adding the Republicans are not willing to walk away. Republicans are going to stay at the negotiation table, he said. He and Rose both emphasized that they will not sign off on a bill just to pass one, echoing Rauners sentiment that a bad deal is worse than no deal. On the other side, Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, said Democrats have been willing to move on items like term limits on leadership, a property tax freeze, and workers compensation reform, and it is time for the Republicans to decide whether they want to join the Democrats in approving a budget. One way or the other, the Senate Democrats are going to pass a balanced budget prior to May 31, whether that is with Republican agreement is still to be determined, Manar said. Weve bent over backwards, we have sought compromise and middle ground time and again. Weve made upwards of 58 specific changes to bills at their request over the past five months, but Republicans keep wanting to delay, delay, delay. As the Senate works to find a compromise, local House members are in wait-and-see mode about what will be sent their way. I hate to say it, but were following whats happening in the state Senate, said Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth. As he talked about the damage caused by the lack of a budget, Mitchell was understanding that the cuts and tax increases necessary to get out of the hole likely will not make people happy. Not many people are going to be happy, but itll need to be done, he said. We cannot continue the same path weve been on. As she walks the Capitol, Rep. Sue Scherer, D-Decatur, said the sense of urgency to get something done is evident when looking at her colleagues. A self-described optimist, Scherer is hopeful both sides can give in enough during negotiations to come to a bipartisan agreement that Rauner will agree to sign. My hope is that with the governor campaigning across the state, he would like to be able to say that he was able to pass a budget, she said. What happens in the House does concern Rose, who said he did not know whether the legislation would receive a vote under Madigan. Brown said Madigan has made clear on several occasions the House will give a fair hearing to every piece passed by the Senate. Durkin said he could understand the concern from his counterparts in the Senate, but said he trusted all sides to give fair scrutiny and work together to find a resolution. A lot of times, you get problems in the red zone, he said. But overall, Im cautiously optimistic. The debate over a federal high-speed rail projects impact on the Ashland area is picking up steam. The Hanover County and Ashland area committee for the rail project DC2RVA is meeting today to kick off a series of six monthly public meetings. The goal is to help come up with a preference on how the route of the Ashland section of the high-speed rail project might look. Todays meeting is at 6 p.m. and will be held at the Hanover County Administration Building. The schedule, locations and agendas of future meetings have not yet been finalized. Ashland Mayor James Foley said the first two meetings will likely focus on giving an overview of the process and identifying route options. We all know what the positions are, Foley said. Now, its a question of what happens starting Monday. Representatives from Ashland, Hanover, Randolph-Macon College, CSX Transportation and the Richmond Regional Transportation Planning Organization are on the committee. The meetings are being convened by the Department of Rail and Public Transportation. Hanovers representatives on the committee are Supervisor Aubrey M. Bucky Stanley and County Administrator Cecil R. Rhu Harris Jr. along with two residents: Carey Carlisle and Linwood Atkinson. Harris said Carlisle lives west of Ashland and Linwood lives east of the town. Harris said his goal will be to work with Ashland to find the best solution for higher-speed rail in Hanover. We very much respect Ashland concerns and will consider them in working towards the best solution, Harris said. Stanley said he has gotten calls from residents living in western Hanover asking him to oppose the western bypass option. Stanley said he expects some tough conversations to take place in the weeks ahead. I dont think its going to be easy, but Im hoping it will be, Stanley said. Ashland has three representatives on the committee: Foley, Town Manager Joshua Farrar and citizen representative Kristin Reihl, who has been active in a group that opposes adding a third track to Ashlands downtown. They echoed similar hopes for the committees recommendation: no third track in town and the less damage to the wider community the better. Randolph-Macon College has also been opposed to a third track running through town. In my opinion, there will need to be a bypass around town to meet the increased train capacity and profit goals of its investors, Reihl said of DC2RVA. I hope this process is truly an opportunity for community input and not just a forgone conclusion. Foley said he hopes to learn about other options besides adding a third rail to Ashland or a western bypass in Hanover. Foley said Ashland no longer has an official relationship with the law firm Williams Mullen, which it previously hired to help lobby on behalf of the town. With these meetings, were not sure what their role will be, Foley said. Were talking about what extent of a role makes the most sense. The meetings are just the latest stop in a process that has taken more than a year and seen vocal concern from residents in Ashland and Hanover. The news that Ashland and Hanover would be given more time was greeted enthusiastically by local officials. Call it the President Donald Trump effect, writ local. Del. G. Manoli Loupassi, R-Richmond, has handily won re-election in the 68th District for years, but that hasnt discouraged three Democrats from vying for a chance to challenge the incumbent this fall in a district made up of parts of Richmond and Chesterfield and Henrico counties. Each of the Democrats seeking their partys nomination in the June 13 primary chalks up the protests and political activism inspired by Trumps election as one of the reasons for making their first attempt at elected office. The most direct impetus is, of course, the election of Trump, Ben Pearson-Nelson said. I knew after Trump, I couldnt turn away, Mary Jo Sheeley said. I was shocked when Trump won the election, but I was even more inspired by the amount of activism it generated, Dawn Marie Adams said. A difference that emerges among the three Democrats is their approach to Dominion Energys money. Though none of the three Democrats has gotten donations from Dominion, Adams is the only one who signed a pledge not to take money from the power company. For Adams, a state health official, the pledge was a way to encourage campaign finance reform and push back against Dominions influence on the General Assembly. Dominion gives to any candidate it really doesnt matter what party theyre affiliated with, Adams said. I dont begrudge Dominion making a profit but not on the back of public policy. Pearson-Nelson, an educator, and Sheeley, a former environmental lawyer for the state who retired from Dominion Energy, both expressed skepticism about pledges in general and took a more nuanced view of Dominions role in Virginia. I dont plan on alienating anyone, Sheeley said. I can look Dominion in the eye. I can look environmental groups in the eye. I can look Republicans in the eye. Pearson-Nelson said running as an activist would turn a lot of people off. Im representing the people of the 68th District, Pearson-Nelson said. Im not representing an environmental group from NoVa. Adams doesnt think the pledge stymies her ability to work with others across the political spectrum. I can build relationships with anyone, Adams said. Some of my largest donors are Republicans. Sheeley has the most cash contributions with $23,525, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. Adams has raised $16,703 in cash contributions and Pearson-Nelson has $3,445. Each Democrat is hoping to duplicate what Hillary Clinton did in November: turn the 68th District blue. That will be a challenge, particularly because Democrats typically turn out more voters during presidential elections than in off-year contests. Geography marks another difference among the Democrats. Adams and Sheeley live in Richmond. Pearson-Nelson lives in Chesterfield County, which he thinks positions him better to appeal to the countys conservative voters. Half of the 68th Districts voters live in Chesterfield, according to the Virginia Public Access Project, while 43.67 percent live in Richmond and 5.78 percent live in Henrico. We need someone who can unlock Chesterfield, Pearson-Nelson said. The issues that really resonate in the city dont resonate in Chesterfield. In order to beat Loupassi, whoever takes the primary would have to defy expectations in a manner similar to other political upsets of recent memory. This would be the time to knock him out, Adams said of Loupassi. This would be the time we could leverage the passion people have about whats going on at the federal level. Loupassi, first elected to the House seat in 2007, doesnt plan to tie his eventual campaign to national politics. A Maryland man who ran an illegal gun-trafficking business that moved more than a dozen handguns and victimized a naive Virginia cousin was sentenced Friday to more than seven years in prison. Devon N. Kennedy, 23, pleaded guilty in February to making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. He admitted that he made repeated trips to Virginia in April and May 2016 to obtain 16 weapons. Federal sentencing guidelines called for a term of up to seven years and three months, the term imposed Friday by U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson, who cited the large number of firearms and the danger trafficking causes communities across the country. In a statement just prior to being sentenced, Kennedy told Hudson, Because of my actions, my cousin is now a convicted felon. ... I feel guilty every day. Kennedy apologized to Hudson, his daughter, fiancee and the rest of his family for his conduct. He said that he had never been sentenced to jail before and in the time he has been held on these charges, he has learned a lot. Im just begging you for a little bit of leniency, he told Hudson. In seeking a stiff prison term, Thomas A. Garnett, an assistant U.S. attorney, wrote in a sentencing memorandum that Kennedy manipulated a gullible family member into making repeated straw purchases for him in Virginia; following his receipt of those firearms, (Kennedy) trafficked the weapons back into Maryland, where he sold the firearms on the street to make a cash profit. Kennedy operated his firearms trafficking enterprise for just four weeks before a chance encounter with Maryland law enforcement stopped him, noted Garnett. But during those four weeks, the defendant traveled to Virginia numerous times, obtaining 16 firearms and numerous high-capacity magazines. He sold 15 of those weapons in Maryland; when he was arrested, the 16th firearm was found in his possession. Hudson sentenced Kennedys cousin, Justin D. Hall, 24, of the Petersburg area, to two years in prison in March for buying the weapons for Kennedy from a Hopewell firearms store. Garnetts memo explained that in order to win his cousins assistance, Kennedy claimed he needed the firearms for his own protection. The defendants cousin, Hall, gullibly embraced this rationale. In convincing his cousin to assist him in what he knew was an illegal scheme, the defendant deliberately exposed his cousin a previously law-abiding, well-respected young man to criminal prosecution for federal firearms offenses, wrote Garnett. Justin Hall is now a convicted felon. After overseeing his cousins purchases, the defendant claimed his firearms several of which came equipped with high-capacity magazines, added Garnett. Garnett added that Kennedy knowingly released 15 semi-automatic firearms into the stream of illegal commerce, weapons that are almost entirely unaccounted for. The only certainty is that they are in the hands of persons unwilling or unable to expose themselves to the scrutiny that would accompany the legal purchase of a firearm, he said. Court papers show that Kennedys criminal record includes a Maryland conviction for possessing a handgun and received a three-year suspended sentence. He is also facing nine drug and firearm-related charges in Maryland. New Braunfels, TX (78130) Today Partly cloudy skies during the evening giving way to a few showers after midnight. Low 67F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies during the evening giving way to a few showers after midnight. Low 67F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%. A woman accused of killing a 19-year-old Henrico County man will remain in jail as the case proceeds, a Henrico Circuit Court judge ruled Friday. Latoya Shantice Gay is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Matre Lamont Coles, who was found on April 2 in a portable storage container placed in a wooded area in the 6200 block of Gorman Road. Gays attorney, James Bullard Jr., took aim at the prosecutions case, while arguing for his client to be released on bond Friday. An eyewitness prosecutors are relying on in the case, Bullard said, has significant credibility issues. The defense attorney also said theres no forensic evidence tying his client to Coles death. This is not a solid case. This is a highly speculative case at this point, Bullard said. Henrico Commonwealths Attorney Shannon Taylor said prosecutors realize they have what might be considered a highly circumstantial case. Nonetheless, the evidence leads to no other explanation than that Gay is guilty of the crime, Taylor said. We have a strong case, Taylor said. To keep Gay behind bars, Taylor also unveiled new details about the case during the bond hearing before Circuit Court Judge Gary Hicks. On April 3, the day after Coles was found, police executed a search warrant at the North Ivy Avenue home in Highland Springs where the 19-year-old victim had been living. Gay, who was there during the search, was later trailed by police as she drove around the area where the victims body was found, Taylor said. A couple of days later, Gay traveled to South Carolina where she was later arrested, Taylor said. At the time of her arrest, the Virginia license plates were not on her car, the prosecutor said. Gay explained that the plates had been stolen and that her aunt gave her temporary paper tags for the vehicle, Taylor said. But the aunt denied having done that, the prosecutor said. Gay is the daughter of Denise Gay, 48, who is also charged with second-degree murder in Coles death. The 19-year-old victim was the son of Denise Gays boyfriend. Prosecutors have said they believe Coles died on March 12. An eyewitness has said that they saw both Denise and Latoya Gay with a storage container similar to the one that the victim was found in, prosecutors have said. Hoping to capitalize on the momentum surrounding the change to Hanover County's grading scale, a group of parents are calling for a change to how the county's school board members are chosen. A group called Hanover Citizens for an Elected School Board hopes to put a referendum on the ballot in November asking residents if they want to have elected school board members. Under Hanover's current system, school board members are appointed by the Board of Supervisors. Julie Stubblefield, the moderator for Hanover Citizens for an Elected School Board, said an elected school board would bring more accountability and collaboration to the body. Stubblefield said she doesn't know how or why the current board members are qualified and that having elections would make that information more available. "I don't know why they were selected," Stubblefield said. "As a parent, that bothers me." The paperwork needed to gather signatures for a referendum is being reviewed by a lawyer and is expected to be filed in the days ahead, Stubblefield said. Ten thousand signatures by registered voters living in Hanover are needed to put the question on the ballot, and the deadline for getting those signatures is sometime in July, Stubblefield said. Stubblefield said the petition is just to get the question on the ballot. "We really just want to give people a choice," Stubblefield said Stubblefield said the quality of Hanover's schools doesn't mean changing to an elected school board isn't necessary. "What if our schools could be better?" Stubblefield said. "There's nothing wrong with putting it under a microscope." Hanover is one of 28 Virginia localities and the only one in the Richmond metro area that has an appointed school board. Others that have appointed school boards are Richmond County, Charlottesville and Hopewell. Stubblefield said if the referendum got on the ballot and got the backing of Hanover voters, the idea would be for current board members to serve out their terms. An election could be held for each seat as terms expire. The push for an elected school board comes out of the successful campaign to change Hanover's grading scale. Hanover Citizens for an Elected School Board used to operate under the banner Hanover Parents Supporting a 10-Point Grading Scale. The group's Facebook page had 1,156 followers Friday afternoon. "The grading scale is really a warm up," Stubblefield said. "This is going to be a very large push in a very short amount of time." School Board member Norman Sulser said whatever Hanover residents wants is fine with him. "We have a successful and outstanding school system," Sulser said. "We would be successful either way." Board of Supervisor Chairwoman Angela Kelly-Wiecek does not support changing to an elected school board unless the school board would have taxing authority. Additionally, Kelly-Wiecek touted the track record of the current system and questioned why a change is being pushed for now. "I haven't seen an issue that is specifically outlined that suggests a need to change," Kelly-Wiecek said. "I really think that keeping the politics of elected offices out of school decisions is a very good thing." Kelly-Wiecek said that residents unhappy with their school board member should let their supervisors know their concerns or vote out the supervisor to get a different appointment. "Can we improve on process? Absolutely," Kelly-Wiecek said in reference to the board's decision to change the grading scale. "I just don't know switching to an elected school board would have been the answer." Kelly-Wiecek said for school board appointments anyone can nominate themselves at a public meeting, where individuals' backgrounds and work history typically come up. Then supervisors make their appointments and the board votes on them. Kelly-Wiecek said residents can call supervisors to learn more about school board members. "Their qualifications are fully available to the public," Kelly-Wiecek said. Kelly-Wiecek said the prospect of campaigning would shrink the pool of people willing to sit on the school board. "I think we have access to a broader range of occupational and education experience with the appointed system," Kelly-Wiecek said. John Szewczyk is an assistant director with Virginia Professional Educators but commented for this story as an individual who has been attending Hanover school board meetings since the 1980s. Szewczyk said he supports the present system because he sees no compelling reason to change it. He said having elections in a conservative county like Hanover runs the risk of putting people who are against public education on the board. "Be careful what you wish for," Szewczyk said. "Why do you want to take a chance on replacing a very good board with a board that would change what we have now?" On May 19, Armenia Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, who is participating at the 127th Session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in Cyprus, signed the Council of Europe Convention on Offences Relating to Cultural Property. In his speech at the signing ceremony, the CoE Secretary General highly appreciated the readiness of Armenia, Cyprus, Portugal, Greece, San Marino and Mexico, who are the first to sign the Convention, to combat offences relating to cultural properties. U.S. District Court Judge Norman Moon this week approved the settlement agreement between Culpeper County and the Islamic Center of Culpeper that grants them the sewer permit needed for a planned mosque on Route 229. Moon also officially dismissed the religious discrimination complaint filed by the Islamic Center in April that alleged the permit was denied a year ago due to anti-Muslim bias in the community. An earlier related complaint in the matter filed last December by the U.S. Justice Department, and later joined by the ACLU, remains unresolved. Please know that the county continues its defense in the matter of the United States v. Culpeper County, as that matter is still pending, said Culpeper County Attorney Bobbi Jo Alexis. She was not aware of a timeline for resolving the federal suit and the Justice Dept. has declined comment on the matter. Dr. Nabeel Babar, Islamic Center spokesman and co-director, said they were pleased to learn of the dismissal of the case and formal ratification of the settlement agreement by Judge Moon. "With resolution of this dispute a fundamental wrong has been made right and we have taken another step towards ensuring religious freedom for all citizens of Culpeper County," he said. "We look forward now to building our masjid and strengthening our relationship with the community." Per the approved settlement agreement with the Islamic Center, the board of supervisors approvedalbeit narrowlythe pump and haul sewer permit it narrowly denied last year. The Board of Supervisors welcomes the ICC to Culpeper County as it does all other religious organizations, according to the settlement. Culpeper County will also give the Islamic Center $10,000 for out-of-pocket expenses arising from its earlier permit denial, according to the settlement. The county denied all liability in the claim and agreed to the settlement to avoid further litigation, according to the settlement. At the only hearing in the case held in March in the federal courthouse in Charlottesville, Judge Moon repeatedly questioned the countys legal team as to why it deviated from its prior practice of approving pump and haul sewer permits for other entities, but not the Islamic Center. Soon after, the matter was forwarded to a magistrate judge for settlement negotiations. Moon wrote in a memorandum opinion a week after the hearing, the facts alleged leave the impression that the countys permit denial was based on religious hostility, and that denial substantially burdened the (Islamic Center of Culpepers) ability to exercise its religion. The Justice Department, as part of it suit, requested that Culpeper County take such actions to restore the Islamic Center to the position in was in prior to the sewer permit denial and to take steps to prevent the recurrence of the alleged unlawful conduct. Such steps, according to the complaint, could include training for county officials on the Religious Land Use & Institutionalized Persons Act as well as establishing procedures to address complaints related to the Act and maintaining records and submitting reports related to compliance with the federal law. The federal suit also requests that the county cover the Justice Departments costs in the matter. The Islamic Center of Culpeper formed and has been meeting since 2010 for prayer in a private house next to a used car dealership along Brandy Road. The space is inadequate for its religious needs and practices, according to court documents, thus the need to build a new mosque, Culpepers first. The land purchased for that purpose remained undeveloped as of Thursday. Dr. Babar said they hoped to break ground on the mosque project in the near future. The Fluvanna County Sheriffs Office is still looking for a teenage girl who is thought to have run away from home almost a month ago. Last seen on April 20, 16-year-old Caylie Fleming is 5-foot-3-inches tall and weighs about 130 pounds, authorities said. She was last seen wearing a plaid shirt, flip-flops and ripped, light-colored jeans. Fleming previously ran away to Danville, and she also has ties to Madison County. Police do not suspect foul play and do not think she is in immediate danger. Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to contact Fluvanna County investigator Morrison at (434) 589-8211. With an unbuttoned robe, four pens sticking out of its pockets, Croatian scientist Mario Novak energetically enters the laboratory. Vigen Goginyan, Deputy Director of the Scientific and Production Center Armbiotechnology of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, introduces us to the guest, saying hes a superb Croatian scientist. Mario smiles. Mario Novak, a candidate of sciences, came to Armenia from the University of Zagreb in February this year, as part of the Phoenix project. Phoenix is aimed at studying new technologies that will allow exploring the inaccessible environment. This project is a part of Horizon 2020, a seven-year (2014-2020) multi-layer program financed by the EU, with a budget of 80 billion euros. "Our main goal is to create a movement in science and exchange the new knowledge. In global terms, we aim to make the world a better place," says Mario. Mario replaced his friend, who was working here in Armbiotechnology before him, within the same scientist exchange program. He will stay in Armenia until June. The Croatian scientist says he knew about Armenia only through the music of System of a Down, and he still listens to their songs. He believes Croatia and Armenia have similarities - both good and bad. Both were at war in the 1990s. Politicians of both countries behave alike. In both countries, officials do not want to put money into science, because they are only interested in their posts and benefits from them. "Although only a small part of our taxes is being invested in science, we have very good scientists. You have them here, too, and they work hard. However, it's not easy to be a scientist, especially in a country that is still developing. But the work done by scientists can be very important and useful not only for the country, but also for the region," says Mario. Currently, Croatia is the last state to join the EU (EU member since 2013). However, the Croatian scientist says that the science faces a funding problem there, too. For example, if the European Union is funding about 70% of a project, and the rest should be paid by the local government, that can lead to a problem, because the authorities fail to provide money for science. On the other hand, comparing natural and humanitarian sciences, Mario says that if, for example, the historian must just have eyes and papers to explore, natural scientists need tools and materials that are expensive. The scientist highlights the importance of cooperation between business and science, adding that to see the results of their work, one needs time. "For example, at present, when the price of oil and gas is low, bioethanol research is not profitable, because you cannot produce cheaper bioethanol as a cheap fuel. But if we look further, to keep the planet alive and clear, we should use bioethanol, biofuels. A few years ago, solar heaters were very expensive, but now an average family can afford them, says Mario, adding, Start small - dream big. He returns to Croatia in June and doesnt yet know where his work will take him next. Mario says hed like to collaborater further with Armenia. "What scientists do here, is of great value, both in the laboratory and in the institute. I would like to continue researching with Armenian scientists," says Mario. The Croatian scientist admits that he likes Armenian cuisine very much, especially lavash bread, sujoukh and wine. "When I return to Croatia, I do not know what I will do without lavash," Mario jokes. We laugh. I promise to send some lavash to Croatia. Photos by Narek Aleksanyan A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. A museum known for its ties to trains is showcasing an art exhibit about vintage cars. Sue Steele Thomas, an art professor at Virginia Western Community College, has been creating paintings of automobiles for 30 years. Her show Automotive Elegance is the first new exhibition in the combined O. Winston Link Museum and History Museum of Western Virginia. Sues work is a perfect example of how the newly combined museums are looking to create engaging exhibits outside the mold of strictly [H]istory or strictly O. Winston Link curated content, wrote Ashley Webb, curator of collections and exhibitions for the Historical Society of Western Virginia, which operates the combined museum. The show holds 15 gouache paintings that depict classic cars against colorful backgrounds, or in more recent works, show the sky reflected in the vehicles shiny surfaces. As long as the painting contains an automobile, Im your painter, Thomas wrote. A Christiansburg native, Thomas has lived in Roanoke for 27 years. Her penchant for portraying cars began as a college assignment. She was asked to paint a watercolor illustration of a car, and chose a 1929 Cord. During that time in her life, her husband Radford Thomas was restoring antique cars, so my subjects were in the garage. She has an artistic interest in machines of all kinds, but cars are her chosen specialty. I photograph them when we travel, she wrote. She and her husband go to Concours dElegance events around the country, where owners of mint-condition antique autos compete for prizes. Thomas has been invited to exhibit her work at many of those events. The Thomases once made a 6,000-mile round trip to show her paintings at the Pebble Beach Concours dElegance in California. It makes me very proud and honored to exhibit my automotive art at the Link Museum, Thomas wrote. This is a wonderful opportunity to share my automotive art in my part of the world. The historical society chose to combine the museums last fall in order to cope with declining attendance and revenue. The history museum moved out of its longtime home on the third floor of Center in the Square in downtown Roanoke. History exhibits have been set up in the old Norfolk and Western passenger station at Shenandoah Avenue and Williamson Road Northeast, which already housed the O. Winston Link Museum. The combined museums will host a free reception for Automotive Elegance Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. The show opens Tuesday and will stay on display through Aug. 26. Steele will give a talk at a Meet the Artist event July 12 at 6 p.m. The O. Winston Link Museum and History Museum of Western Virginia in Roanoke are open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $6; $5.50 for senior citizens; and $5 for children 3-12. For more information , call 982-5465 or visit http://roanokehistory.org. Boones Mill gallery opening Artist David Rakes, 46, is opening Inkular Gallery, a new outlet featuring regional artists, at 25286 Virgil H. Goode Highway in Boones Mill. The grand opening takes place Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. For more information call (844) 465-8527 or visit https://www.inkular.com. AMHERST This weekend marks the 25th anniversary of the Monacan Indian Nation Powwow, an event steeped in the tradition of generations of Amherst County celebrating the tribes rich history. For the second consecutive year, the Powwow will host a special dance competition and a drum competition, according to Assistant Chief Pamela Thompson. One hope for this years celebration, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, is more people will participate in the dance competition than in previous years, Thompson said. [Im excited] for our 25th year and getting together to teach people about who we are, Thompson said. The celebration of heritage comes just days after legislation to extend federal recognition to the Monacans and five other Native American tribes in Virginia passed the U.S. House of Representatives and moved foward from a key U.S. Senate committee. The goal of the weekend event, in part, is focused on education and family, Thompson said. Additionally, Thompson said, the powwow is important for getting the Monacan name out and educating the public about the tribes culture. The Monacan Indian Nation has lived in Central Virginia for more than 10,000 years and claims Bear Mountain in Amherst County as a cultural base. This year will feature new vendors, including jewelry makers, Thompson said. She added different tribes will be represented at the event. Its good for the community because it lets everyone know about [local] Native Americans and learn and better understand our culture, Thompson said. Vanessa Angus, of the Amherst County Chamber of Commerce, said the powwow is important to the county because it brings awareness of the Monacan tribe throughout the region and the country and noted the tribes long history in the area. The Monacan Nation is an integral part of Amherst Countys culture, history, and tapestry, Angus said. The annual Powwow celebrates this history and brings visitors from across the globe to our county. Sara Lu Christian, director of the Amherst County Recreation and Parks Department, said in light of tourism being a ranking source of revenue for localities, the powwow is a tremendous asset to the county. Considering the Monacan Indians were residing here long before Virginia, much less America, was established, I believe that celebrating that culture by way of the annual powwow is of utmost value, not only to Amherst County, but to Virginia as well, Christian said. The Monacan Indian Nation Powwow will take place on Virginia 130, six miles west of U.S. 29, in Elon. Adult admission is $8 and senior and child admission, ages 5-12, is $6. Children under five are free. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. By Liz Ackley Ackley is an Associate Professor of Health and Human Performance at Roanoke College, a Raleigh Court resident, and a frequent user of the Woodlands trail system. In the fall of 2016, the residents of greater Raleigh Court witnessed firsthand the capacity of a neighborhood to influence a developer. Aligned with a unified vision of maintaining the retail backbone of Grandin Village, we wrote letters, participated in town hall meetings, and maintained a consistent presence through local media outlets. In good faith, the developers elected to change course, revising their plans in order to support the small business core and lifeblood of Grandin Village. As a neighborhood, we learned two significant lessons from that experience: When we cast a unified community vision, we have the capacity to influence the direction and magnitude of change that our community experiences When we are informed and respectful, we can alter the course of development from transactional to relational. This second point is important because, when this happens, the essence of our neighborhood can be understood and appreciated as an asset to the greater Roanoke community So here we sit, on the eve of springs leaf bloom, facing a development proposal targeting our beloved Woodlands; a tract of land that, much like the retail core of Grandin Village, leverages our neighborhood as an asset to the community. We have learned from our neighbors that the Woodlands boasts a significant range of biodiversity in flora and fauna; this alone makes the Woodlands an asset. But lets also not forget the degree of entanglement between local economies and greenspace. An entire body of literature exists to support the impact of natural capital (i.e., assets in the form of parkland and/or greenspace) on local economies and community wellbeing (type economic benefits of urban greenspace into any search engine for an abundance of empirical resources). In addition to citing return-on-conservation estimates (which range from $4-$11 in goods and services for every $1 invested in conservation), a number of organizations have reported on the dependency between local businesses and proximal stocks of natural capital. For example, the Natural Capital Coalition, the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh, and the Trust for Public Land have independently studied the role of urban forests and trail systems in economic development. In addition to attracting and retaining businesses and residents, these organizations have cited consistent economic benefits in large- and mid-sized cities across the U.S., including (but not limited to) property value improvement, reductions in municipal service expenses, the creation of linkages from neighborhoods (like Raleigh Court) to village centers (like Grandin Village), enhanced tourist potential, and reductions in medical costs associated with improved resident health. This last piece is particularly relevant. The 2017 County Health Rankings recently reported that of Virginias 133 jurisdictions, Roanoke ranks 102nd in health outcomes. As a community, we (quite literally) cannot afford to lose this precious greenspace. As park space, this tract of land is a better investment for our community than it would be in developed form. As neighbors, we must continue to relay a unified message of support for retaining the Woodlands and the extensive trail system that exists there. We must also continue to inform ourselves of the array of benefits this greenspace bestows upon our community and communicate those benefits to whomever is willing to listen. By doing so, we may be able to save our precious Woodlands. OK, deep breath, everybody. Some things are not what they appear. Were not talking about Washington. Things there actually might be worse than they appear. Closer to home, though, there have been some issues lately that probably have generated more angst than warranted. Lets take a look: n Did the Roanoke City Council cast a vote against the business community when it recently rejected a Planning Commission recommendation, turning down a request to rezone vacant Brandon Avenue land for apartments? Hardly. Some members of the business community lobbied hard for developer Robert Fralins proposal. No one should be surprised by the outcome, which has nothing to do with how the City Council feels about business or the demographic imperatives to get more young adults into a city whose median age remains higher than the state average. Many council members focused on the details the fact that drivers leaving the proposed complex would only be able to turn right, and near a confusing intersection at that. Heres the big picture, though: Every single member of the council ran for office pledging to pay attention to neighborhoods. In this case, the local neighborhood groups were adamantly opposed to the project. This is simply council members doing what they said theyd do nothing more, nothing less. Yes, the Planning Commission voted to recommend the project, but planners deal with policy; the council has to take into account politics. The councils power isnt unlimited, of course. Some council members probably did have real concerns with some of the projects details. Even if they hadnt, though, council members could hardly go against the wishes of the most politically active neighborhood groups in the city especially after they had campaigned on pro-neighborhood platforms. The big lesson here is that developers need to get buy-in from those neighborhood groups, because this is what can happen when they dont. For members of the business community who feel jilted, heres an ironic observation: The business community has historically opposed a ward system, believing council members elected at-large would have a broader outlook. If there were a ward system, though, that means most of council members wouldnt have to worry what voters in Raleigh Court think and perhaps the rezoning would have had a better chance. n Did the Roanoke City Council cast a vote against the arts when it voted to hold back part of its annual contribution to the Roanoke Cultural Endowment? See above: Hardly. Instead, this was a left-of-center City Council voting for fiscal conservatism or, perhaps, reality. More people are shopping online; that costs the city sales tax revenues. Sales taxes have been coming in under projections. The whole marketplace is changing, and the structure of tax revenues is changing with it. That doesnt mean the council was right to cut the endowments funding. David Trinkle called it political and John Garland complained it was too easy to make arts a sacrificial lamb. All that might be true. Ultimately, though, most council members did not see this as a vote between arts as economic development infrastructure and the arts as something frivolous thats easy to cut. Instead, it had everything to do with budget hawks such as Ray Ferris concerned that city revenues might continue to weaken. The business leaders unnerved by the Brandon Avenue vote ought to be reassured by the budget vote; they might also want to make sure that endowments private fund-raising campaign goes well. n Did Gov. Terry McAuliffe strike a states right blow against climate change with his recent order to regulate power plant emissions? Or did he fire another shot in the war against coal that will put more miners out of work and potentially increase electricity prices for everyone? Heres an answer neither side will like: His carbon emissions order might not make much difference. Its a big symbolic move, but the practical effects might be negligible despite the heated rhetoric on both sides. Why? Both of the states two biggest utilities Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power were planning to reduce their dependence on coal anyway. Its telling that neither utility had any harsh words to say about the governors order, likely because they dont see it as really impinging their operations. Indeed, Dominion was rather complimentary, thanking the governor for being included in the conversations that led up to his order. Dominion already had announced plans to retire two coal-fired units in Chesterfield County at the states biggest coal-fired plant, and the utility says it might retire others. Appalachian pointed out it no longer has any coal-fired plants in Virginia. Coals not the only thing that produces carbon emissions, of course. So does natural gas, one reason that environmentalists are so opposed to the two natural gas pipelines proposed to cross Virginia, one of which is a Dominion project (and which McAuliffe has championed.) Still, coal is the big one. The biggest threat to coal, though, is not McAuliffes order but the free market. Both utilities are moving away from coal and investing in renewables such as wind and solar for purely market-driven reasons. Renewables often are cheaper, and thats what many customers including industrial-scale customers are insisting on as they make decisions on where to locate. Republicans were quick to call McAuliffes plan a job-killer. Environmentalists hailed it as a landmark move that will slow the oceans rise. Both are probably wrong. That wont stop politicians on both sides from saying otherwise, but thats only hot air of a different variety. Unfortunately, all that rhetoric gets in the way of Southwest Virginia having a real conversation about how to build a post-coal economy because that post-coal era is coming, whether McAuliffes order stands or not. Just go read the plans Dominion and Appalachian recently filed with state regulators identifying where their power will come from over the next 15 years, regardless of which party holds power. So, can everyone just calm down now? As the rapper Jay Z might say, weve got 99 problems, but this aint one. Or even three. Business News Vietnam Germany Business Connection In The Digital Age | RobinsPost News & Noticias The opening of the headquarters aims to amplify VinFasts business activities ... Vice President of the Vietnam Blockchain Association, said the summit will help boost technology connections and ... Read More Travelling back in time Overall, however, Germany's tourism sector seems to have awoken from its analog slumber and is embracing the digital age. Almost overnight, many business have begun ... Read More From applying to jobs to following up after an interview, heres everything you need to know about successfully landing a job in the digital age ... Augustine told Business News Daily. Read More AUSTIN, Texas & WASHINGTON & LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Population Services International (PSI) announced the launch of a new digital health service in Vietnam to help people in low-income ... Read More Photo: N.T. / Tuoi Tre Meta Platforms Inc. (Meta), formerly Facebook, will support Vietnam to promote innovation and digital economic development, a Meta representative said at the launch of the ... Read More Vietnam's information minister said on Friday authorities had tightened regulations to deal with "false" content on social media platforms so that it must be taken down within 24 hours instead of 48 ... Read More German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will arrive in China on Friday with a team of corporate leaders and a clear signal: it wants to keep doing business with the world's second largest economy. Read More Officials say cables were severed deliberately in a Berlin suburb and in Herne in western Germany, sites that are ... said that was necessary because a digital train radio system failed. Read More Here is a look at Germany's politically charged debate on nuclear power. COLD WAR FISSION West and East Germany began producing nuclear energy in the 1960s, when it was widely considered a safe ... 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Read More She took the Fox Business reins in the fall of 2019, after a stint spent managing not only Fox News Channels morning programming, but also its talent development. She continues to oversee ... Read More Business News Nigeria To Process All Tourist Business Visas In Two Days | RobinsPost News & Noticias Since the beginning of 2022, the aviation sector has been battling significant headwinds. While crawling back into economic recovery following the 2020 COVID-19 storm, Nigerias air travel sector slip ... Read More The statement added: The visa process is open ... It is Nigerias most authoritative news media available on all platforms for the political, business, professional and diplomatic elite ... Read More Showcase your company news with guaranteed exposure both in print and online Most Admired CEOs were built for times like these. Their leadership & actions are guiding the Join the DBJ and ... Read More A digital technological advancement called "Tourism Hackathon Nigeria" has been introduced by the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation ... Read More the group said that Nigerias poor economic growth is a reflection of how the nation manages its human capital. NESG also called on all stakeholders to be involved in discussions that will ... Read More What are the B1 and B2 tourist visas for the US? The B1 visa (business visa ... which is received at the end of the online application process for the consulate visit. Passport is another ... Read More The UAE immigration authorities announced on Friday a visa ban on Nigerians looking to enter the country, adding that all submitted applications had been rejected with fees non-refundable. The Middle ... Read More eVisitor (subclass 651) The visa also allows for multiple visits to Australia for tourism or business purposes for ... What is the process for application of Australia tourist visa? Read More This visa is suitable for travel to India with a tourist purpose, such as a holiday or a visit to family or friends of up to 30 days. There is also an e-Business visa, suitable for travel with a ... Read More Some of the card offers on this site are from companies who are advertising clients of U.S. News ... or all card offers available in the marketplace. Terms apply. The PNC Visa Business Credit ... Read More has called on EU leaders to stop all tourist visas for Russians, reigniting the debate about further tightening sanctions against Vladimir Putins Russia. Speaking to the Guardian, Karins ... Read More documents needed and process What are the B1 and B2 tourist visas for the US? The B1 visa (business visa) is used by people travelling to the United States for business-related affairs. Read More Health News Nickel Health Insurance Reforms Like Wisconsin S Hirsp Offer Way Forward | RobinsPost News & Noticias Wisconsin Republican ... the ban and create a way to put the question before voters. Republicans rejected both proposals. Democrats are trying to make the governor's race a referendum on abortion ... Read More Libraries were chosen based on economic and social variables, including unemployment rate, free and reduced lunch rate, health insurance ... news release. By partnering with Wisconsins ... Read More Apple will start to offer health insurance in 2024 as it ... that Apple will take its tentative first steps into the U.S. health insurance market in partnership with a major insurer, using the ... Read More This story also ran on CBS News ... and others who pay health care bills consider which treatments to cover. If you pay too much for a drug, everyones health insurance goes up. Read More Three Wisconsin health-related ... look at Wisconsins innovation economy, offering news, analysis & more on the people, companies & ideas driving your state forward. Read More The big question for the 2023 open-enrollment season should sound familiar to U.S. consumers: How will inflation affect ACA health-insurance prices? Americans wont like the answer. But at the ... Read More Oscars 2. ... of health insurance marketsindividual and family, group and Medicare Advantage. Oscar Health says it approaches the notion of a provider network in a different way compared ... Read More But pet insurance doesn't work like health ... There's a reason why cats are generally cheaper to insure than dogs. That's because they tend to live longer and have fewer health issues. Read More That's not to say that pet insurance isn't a smart, cost-effective way of protecting your animal ... Pet insurance, unlike health insurance for humans, discriminates against pets with pre-existing ... Read More Whether youve just purchased small business health insurance ... s customer support programs and tools. Some health plans offer dedicated customer support, online tools, and even concierge-like ... Read More Health News Women S Health Clinics In California Struggle In A Shifting Healthcare Landscape | RobinsPost News & Noticias Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Click to print (Opens in new window) Interest ... Read More Oct. 25, 2022 Intermittent fasting has been shown to be an effective way to lose weight, but critics have worried that the practice may have a negative impact on women's reproductive hormones. Read More Eastern Health's Women's Health Clinic offered appointments for pap tests on Saturday as part of their annual Women's Health Day event. The Canadian Cancer Society recommends that pap testing ... Read More It is the fourth menopause clinic to be opened by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly ... Unit which is a one-stop shop for womens healthcare services including gynaecology and fertility. Read More Its an unassuming line of work that some people consider a calling. Tony Ramirez, 39, a critical care technician at Garfield Medical Center in Monterey Park, California, finds more fulfillment ... Read More Jackson Women's Health ... a healthcare provider's ability to offer and perform an abortion would be enshrined into law, regardless of a state's restrictions on the practice. The good news is ... Read More 1, 2022 Surgical care experts have ... poor general health, poor mental health outcomes and joblessness in their ... New Model Can Detect Long-COVID's Effects Using Simple, 2D Chest X-Rays ... Read More Pregnant women are struggling ... is female health care workers, medical supplies and medicine, he said. Resources are another challenge. What are the governments priorities? Read More A United Nations report published Tuesday showed women's ... to social services. "Almost three years on from the onset of COVID-19, the pandemic's long-term impact on the health and well-being ... Read More Missing from the national dialogue is that these health-care decisions are ... should preserve for all women in this country. Gillen is a Democratic candidate for U.S. House on Long Island. Read More The first five months of Shakeela Bibis pregnancy were smooth ... in flood-wrecked villages and towns. Women have lost access to health services after more than 1,500 health facilities and ... Read More Politics News California Politics Updates California Democrats Gather In Sacramento For State Party S Convention | RobinsPost News & Noticias California Democrats, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, won big in statewide races, but big-money propositions tanked. Read More A string of California U.S. House races remains in play, and the outcome could make the difference in which party controls the chamber next year ... Read More Politics News Party Politics Texas Edition Ep 8 I M Just A Bill | RobinsPost News & Noticias HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- In a new episode of This Week in Texas, ABC13's political ... 8. US Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (D) represents Texas' 7th congressional district. "The stakes are just ... Read More So the party went ... believe. Political polling doesnt much care for the views of those who eschew the democratic process, so I traveled Texas to meet them, starting in El Paso, the lowest ... Read More Democrat Olivia Julianna and Republican Joel Castro talk about why other young Texans should get involved in politics ... to speed on the most essential Texas news. In Texas, people ages 18-29 ... Read More EL PASO, Texas As Beto ORourke seeks to convince voters to send him to Austin as Governor, the Democrat is enjoying some momentum heading into the final weeks before the election, including ... Read More Its not just those Harvey funds. Youve got $8.4 billion in federal ... a huge veterans community in West Texas. Its in part why Im in El Paso now. Theres a veterans home here. Read More About half of all Americans believe both major political ... are just as likely to view the Democratic party as extreme as they are the Republican party, according to a new survey. The LX News ... Read More One hundred and seventy-six years have passed since Texas called itself an independent republic. But to hear Daniel Miller, president of the Texas Nationalist Movement (TNM), tell it, Texit ... Read More Seventy-one percent of all voters said democracy was at risk, but just 7 percent said that was ... Catch up on more political news. Election Guides and Explainers What is decided in the 2022 ... Read More Early voting for the Nov. 8 election ... Friday by the Texas Politics Project at UT-Austin had Abbott up, 54-43. Also on the ballot are Libertarian Mark Tippetts and Green Party candidate Delilah ... Read More Watch the latest episode of Eye on Politics in the video player above and stream new episodes live every Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m. on CBS News ... Cornyn (R-Texas) hopes his party will take ... Read More Watch this video on texastribune.org. Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news ... are using their political platforms to ... Read More Elections News Stop Looking For Liberals In Iran S Elections | RobinsPost News & Noticias A significant majority of the Iranian Parliament recommended the execution of protesters in custody on Tuesday, claiming that doing so represented a hard lesson for Iranians who had broken the law ... Read More Rob Malley says US focusing on Iran protests and Tehran's decision to get 'involved in a European war' by supplying drones to Russia ... Read More An Iranian threat group is preparing to interfere in forthcoming cycle of US elections, targeting officials & companies involved with the process. Read More They're swamping small staffs that need to focus on the November elections. County clerks, along with advocates for free and fair elections, say these people aren't actually looking for answers. Read More The same month, Bexar County elections administrator Jacque Callanen told KSAT, a San Antonio news station ... found a calling. That's true of conservative Republicans, liberal Democrats and ... Read More In his message congratulating Abdul Latif Rashid's election as the President of Iraq ... the relations between Tehran and Baghdad would develop and deepen even more. "Iran has always supported the ... Read More Follow live updates. Ex-official concedes she failed to stop robodebt despite knowing it was unlawful, inquiry hears 07:55 Luke Henriques-Gomes A former senior official has conceded she ... Read More Iranian Foreign Minister in a phone call congratulated Fuad Hussain on his re-election as the foreign minister of Iraq. Read More Ahead of the U.S. midterm elections on Nov. 8, Democratic candidates are intensifying efforts to stave off what increasingly looks like a Republican wave, that could result in the loss of more than 20 ... Read More It's the night of the election. Polls have been closed for hours. Why don't Americans know the winners? In 2020, President Donald Trump proclaimed that the lack of final results on election night ... Read More Elections News Iran S Women Set To Vote In Elections | RobinsPost News & Noticias A national Iranian flag waves in the wind over a building of the Iranian embassy, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine September 24, 2022. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko/File Photo ... Read More Ahead of Tuesdays Midterm Elections, GOP and Democrat candidates make the final stops on the campaign trail to pitch to voters. Read More For Iran, attacking Saudi Arabia -- or even threatening to do so -- is the closest it can come to hitting America without actually hitting America, and risking catastrophic consequences. Read More Follow live updates. Ex-official concedes she failed to stop robodebt despite knowing it was unlawful, inquiry hears 07:55 Luke Henriques-Gomes A former senior official has conceded she ... 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 "Were not just voting for ourselves," Mandana Dayani writes. "Were voting for our neighbors who may face a threat against their freedom." ... Read More Another woman has come forward with allegations that Georgia Republican Senate nominee Herschel Walker paid for her abortion after engaging in an affair. Walker told reporters Wednesday that the ... Read More Wisconsin's race for U.S. Senate will be one of the most hotly contested elections in the country this fall. Here are the latest developments. Read More The aging brick campus of the Sharif University of Technology, Iran's elite technical school, has long been a magnet for the nation's brightest minds, ... Read More Polls on Friday predicted Israel's former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would come within a single seat of an outright majority in his quest to return to power in next week's election, the fifth ... Read More A top Biden administration official on Monday The U.S. special envoy to Iran, Robert Malley, said that the administration makes no apology for trying to do everything we can to prevent Iran from ... Read More President Biden is working to help Democrats win next month in a Pennsylvania all-drama-all-the-time Senate contest. This discouraging quote gave the West Wing pause on Wednesday: ... Read More Potus News Trump Goes To Saudi Arabia | RobinsPost News & Noticias Latest updates and results as Democrats perform better than expected and Georgia Senate race heads to runoff. 02:31 Republican Tom Kean Jr has unseated Democratic incumbent Tom ... Read More The United States is concerned about threats from Iran against Saudi Arabia and will not hesitate to respond if necessary, a White House spokesperson said on Tuesday. Read More Iran denied on Wednesday it posed a threat to Saudi Arabia, after the Wall Street Journal reported that Riyadh had shared intelligence with the United States warning of an imminent attack from Iran on ... Read More Potus News Trump Supporters In Illinois Weigh In On Latest Controversies | 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 Politicians fanned out across the state on the final weekend of the 2022 general election campaign, led by President Joe Biden who spoke in Joliet on Saturday amid concerns that a Republican surge on ... Read More Potus News Who Is Robert Mueller Look At The Man In Charge Of Trump Russia Probe | RobinsPost News & Noticias The former president also told reporters that DeSantis was a "fine guy" but "would be making a mistake" by challenging him for the GOP nomination. Read More Manhattan residents said Trump is "a demonstrative liar," "a small man," and "fundamentally guided by a diagnosable personality disorder." ... 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Read More The relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia is one of the most important on the planet. And lately, it's also been one of the most awkward. Read More Product Reviews Fiat Chrysler To Modify Old Diesel Vehicles In Wake Of Cheating Allegations Roadshow | RobinsPost News & Noticias The documentation still retains a passage acknowledging that product review pages can contain affiliate links. The second change to the product review best practices is to make it clearer that ... Read More A proposed merger between Fiat Chrysler and Renault would produce benefits in the area of product development, especially through the sharing of vehicle platforms and cooperation in research, experts ... Read More Read our Ethics Policy to learn more. Trying to figure out what you need in terms of equipment for unboxing videos and product reviews on YouTube? Weve got you covered. As other YouTube trends ... 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Read More Chess grandmaster Hans Niemann alleges in a federal lawsuit that chess world champion Magnus Carlsen and others destroyed his career by accusing him of cheating A 19-year-old chess grandmaster is ... Read More Internet News Theresa May Promises A British Version Of Iran S Halal Internet | RobinsPost News & Noticias Tehran on Wednesday blacklisted several British institutions and individuals after London sanctioned Iran ... internet restrictions, a minister said on Wednesday, amid protests sparked by Mahsa ... Read More Last month, Elon Musk offered activists protesting in Iran uncensored Internet access ... with Musk to potentially follow through on Biden's promise earlier this month and actually help set ... Read More Another solution is not Internet; its ... Iran can just connect the USB to their receiver, download the data and build a special application to unpack the data. And in that package, there are ... Read More Even since the protests in Iran began, Cuba has cut access to the internet twice in response to protests over the governments handling of the response to Hurricane Ian. Around the world ... Read More who also described disruptions to their mobile internet, AP News reported. Advocacy group NetBlocks said Irans internet traffic dropped to some 25 percent compared to the peak, even during a ... Read More The U.S. signed on to an online coalitions statement Thursday that condemned Irans restrictions to internet access during nationwide protests over the death of Mahsa Amini last month. Read More Witnesses also described disruptions affecting their mobile internet services. NetBlocks, an advocacy group, said that Iran's internet traffic had dropped to some 25% compared to the peak ... Read More They also described disruptions affecting their mobile internet services. NetBlocks, an advocacy group, said that Irans internet traffic had dropped to some 25% compared to the peak ... Read More Witnesses also described disruptions affecting their mobile internet services. NetBlocks, an advocacy group, said that Irans internet traffic had dropped to some 25 percent compared to the peak ... Read More Technology News How Digital Technology Is Changing Farming In Africa | RobinsPost News & Noticias Kenya is at the forefront of this development in Africa. The country is home to numerous service providers that seek to solve problems in food and agriculture using ... local start-ups developing ... Read More Launched as a YouTube channel in March, Real Nolly has the digital distribution ... about them globally. If technology can help Africa gain a greater share of global news coverage and improve ... Read More A survey conducted by Savanta ComRes, which was commissioned by Vodacom, has revealed that digital tools can help farmers in Africa fight climate change, but government support is urgently needed to ... 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Technology Market Insights Report Are: According to this latest study, the 2022 development of Third-Party Replacement Strap for Vertical Farming Technology will have huge ... Read More In furtherance of the initiative to drive the digital transformation ... in Africa, Travel Technology Company, My Beautiful Africa, in partnership with Technology Mirror, a news technology company ... Read More In my experience, leaders of developing countries are as committed to combating climate change ... technology has the potential to accelerate emissions reduction and provide developing countries with ... Read More Denella Clark, President and CEO of Boston Arts Academy Foundation, has been recognized by The Arcadis IBI Group, an award-winning landscape architectural design and environmental planning ... Read More Us News China Jets Intercept Us Spy Plane Over E China Sea | RobinsPost News & Noticias Foreign military aircraft ... This year US Pacific Air Forces Commander Kenneth Wilsbach revealed details of an encounter between F-35 and J-20 fighter jets over the East China Sea, saying his ... Read More J-20 stealth fighter jets of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force recently carried out a series of combat patrols over the East China Sea, driving away foreign aircraft which were ... Read More J-15 pilot Xu Ying performed the initial night landing on the deck of Liaoning Chinas first aircraft ... the US EP-3 spy plane crash with a PLA J-8 in 2001 near the South China Sea opened ... Read More An F-16 fighter jet, under the direction of the Continental U.S. NORAD region, intercepted a small plane last Friday in restricted airspace over Southern California, close to a community college ... Read More Although the Russian aircraft did not ... positively identified and intercepted" the bombers as they were within the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). Two US F-16 fighter jets ... Read More The United Kingdom's defense ministry said Thursday that a Russian fighter jet malfunctioned and fired a missile near a British spy plane over the Black Sea last month. "We don't consider this a ... Read More UK Says Russian Aircraft Fired Missile Near British Spy Plane Over Black Sea LONDON (Reuters) -A Russian fighter jet released a missile near an unarmed British spy plane patrolling in ... Read More A RUSSIAN fighter jet fired a missile near an RAF "nuke sniffer" spy plane over the ... a low-yield device over the Black Sea or test fire a Poseidon drone off the US coast, experts have warned. Read More Two US Air Force F-16 jets intercepted two Russian bombers near the state of Alaska, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) on Tuesday. The command said in a statement ... Read More US Air Force F-16 fighter jets intercepted two Russian Tu-95 Bear ... tracked and positively identified" two Russian maritime patrol aircraft entering the ADIZ. In that incident as well the ... Read More Us News Syria Says Us Airstrike Killed Several Soldiers Near Jordan | RobinsPost News & Noticias Syrian opposition activists say airstrikes in Syria along the border with Iraq have targeted Iran-backed militiamen, inflicting casualties ... Read More Israel carried out a rare daylight strike against targets near ... airstrike on the country in over a month. SANA, citing a military source, claimed Syrian air defenses managed to intercept ... Read More Similar attacks over the past years have killed ... of soldiers in government-held parts of the war-torn country. Last March, militants attacked a military bus near Palmyra in central Syria ... Read More Killed in the raid near the ... No U.S. troops were injured in the raid, CENTCOM officials said. In the second attack that day, the U.S. carried out an airstrike in northern Syria, killing Abu ... Read More The US military conducted an airstrike over the weekend against the al-Shabaab terror group in Somalia, which was attacking Somali National Army forces near ... Read More Syrian state media say Israel has carried out an airstrike ... The Syrian military said later that several Israeli missiles were fired toward some military positions near Damascus. Read More The US military conducted an airstrike ... near Buulobarde, US Africa Command said. The strike occurred about 218 kilometers north-northwest of Mogadishu and the initial assessment is that it ... Read More Us News Saudi Arabia And Us To Announce A 350bn Arms Deal | RobinsPost News & Noticias President Joe Biden will examine all aspects of US ties with Saudi Arabia, including arms sales ... members of Congress are outraged by the OPEC announcement and expect changes in the coming ... Read More In recent weeks, the Saudis conveyed to us privately and publicly ... on Tuesday that would suspend all U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia for one year in response to the OPEC+ decision ... Read More since the announcement by OPEC nations and Russia, have called for stopping what are billions of dollars in annual U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia. The Democrats accuse Crown Prince Mohammed bin ... Read More OPEC+s Wednesday announcement ... The United States must immediately freeze all aspects of our cooperation with Saudi Arabia, including any arms sales and security cooperation beyond what ... Read More The Saudi Arabians claimed to be acting as the "maturer" of the two nations in the wake of reports of US fury over an abandoned secret oil deal. Read More Saudi Arabia and the US have shared information indicating Iran may attack the kingdom or other nations in the region sometime soon, leading Washington and Riyadh to adjust their military posture, ... Read More Washington has accused Saudi Arabia of coercing other Opec+ members into 2m-barrel-a-day reduction The relationship between the US and Saudi Arabia continued to worsen on Thursday as the two ... Read More Our actions are aimed at ensuring stability in global energy markets to make both consumers of energy resources and those who deal ... of Saudi Arabia, in the review. Much of US arms sales ... Read More Kingdom irked by continuing US criticism over Khashoggi death ... on the White House to freeze all cooperation with Saudi Arabia, including arms sales, following the OPEC+ decision. Read More An official describes it as a credible threat of an attack soon or within 48 hours. Concerns of a possible attack come after the Biden administration criticized Tehran for sending drones to help ... Read More What happened Shares of flooring retail specialist Lumber Liquidators Holdings Inc. (NYSE: LL) are up 12.1% at 3:05 p.m. EDT on May 19 following an upgrade by Oppenheimer analyst Brian Nagel. This is the second positive analyst note and upgrade this month, following the news on May 10 that Wedbush analyst Seth Basham upgraded the stock and increased his target price to $27. Like Basham, Nagel also increased his price target for Lumber Liquidators stock, but with a far more optimistic price target of $34. Even after today's big jump, that's still a 16% premium over the current price. So what Like his fellow analyst, Nagel's upgrade was due to the efforts of Lumber Liquidators' current management team to turn the company around after a couple of rough years dealing with legal issues and the customer fallout related to its formerly Chinese-made laminate flooring. Not only has it taken steps to secure access to capital as things play out, but it has invested in improving its product lineup, procurement, and improving the store experience. The company has also begun offering professional installation, a move that's turned out to be very popular and profitable. The other part of the upgrade is tied to the generally positive economic environment the company is operating in. Housing is strong, and a generally healthy economy is creating tailwind that's helping Lumber Liquidators yield positive results. Sales have begun to recover in recent quarters as customers start coming back in greater numbers. Now what The new management team has indeed made significant progress as noted by the recent analyst upgrades, and the market for its products and services does look likely to remain healthy on the back of a solid and improving economy. But the company isn't out of the woods just yet. First, it's legal issues are ongoing. It took a $15 million charge last quarter toward a future resolution in its biggest challenge related to the Chinese-made laminate, but negotiations for a settlement have only just begun and there's a lot of work before a resolution is complete (and no guarantees that $15 million will cover the total amount). At the same time, sales haven't fully recovered, and the company is still losing money. This is partly because of high legal expenses from its ongoing legal proceedings -- costs that will eventually fall -- but it's not the only driver behind the cash burn. The company only has so much cash and available credit to rely on before it runs out of liquidity. This is a risk investors shouldn't ignore. Lumber Liquidators has made substantial progress and is moving in the right direction, but time is of the essence before taking on more debt or selling stock to raise cash becomes a very real consideration. Either action would cost shareholders in the short term. 10 stocks we like better than Lumber Liquidators When investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.* David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Lumber Liquidators wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys. Click here to learn about these picks! *Stock Advisor returns as of May 1, 2017 Jason Hall owns shares of Lumber Liquidators. The Motley Fool recommends Lumber Liquidators. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. World News Israel To Trump No You Can T Land A Helicopter On Our Unesco World Heritage Site | RobinsPost News & Noticias No President has done more for Israel than I have, Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday morning. Somewhat surprisingly, however, our wonderful ... rating in the World, could easily ... Read More Real Jew-hatred is a serious problem, which makes it even more disturbing when accusations of antisemitism are leveled for political reasons. Read More Ye followed this up by claiming that he can't ... World, could easily be P.M.! U.S. Jews have to get their act together and appreciate what they have in Israel - Before it is too late! added Trump. Read More No President has done more for Israel than I have. Somewhat surprisingly, however, our ... Trump wrote. Those living in Israel, though, are a different story Highest approval rating in ... Read More No President has done more for Israel than I have, Trump said in a post on his social media platform Truth Social. Somewhat surprisingly, however, our wonderful Evangelicals are far more ... 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 or we will end up in World War III, and there will be nothing left of our planet all because stupid people didnt have a clue. They didnt have a clue, Trump said according to Raw Story. Read More In the past week, several antisemitic comments from public figures, including former President Trump and Ye, have sparked concern about the real-world ... "No president has done more for Israel ... Read More Trump, in a post in his Truth Social app, wrote on Sunday, No President has done more for Israel than I have. Somewhat surprisingly, however, our wonderful ... rating in the World, could ... Read More The news you ... Israel. The context of Trumps charge developed as controversy swirled around first-term Representative Ilhan Omar, (D-Minn). In 2012 she tweeted: Israel has hypnotized the ... Read More No President has done more for Israel than I have ... both to Jews and to our Israeli allies. Donald Trumps comments were antisemitic, as you all know, and insulting both to ... Read More Israel is the fifth most educated country in the world, with half (50.12%) of people having completed tertiary education, according to an Erudera report. The rest of the top 10 are Canada ... Read More 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. Det Chief Insp Martin Tate CONVICTED child abusers at the heart of the Rotherham child sexual exploitation scandal could face deportation, the investigations lead detective has revealed. Det Chief Insp Martin Tate, who has been in charge of Operation Clover since September 2013, said offenders with dual citizenship could be kicked out of the country upon their release from prison. Operation Clover formally concluded on Friday with the conviction of sex abuser Zalgai Ahmadi (45) and historic child sex abuse in Rotherham is now being investigated under the National Crime Agencys Operation Stovewood. Mr Tate added: Throughout the Rotherham prosecutions, we have been working with the immigration team to provide all the relevant information to them. If circumstances and legal processes allow, we will look at the position of their British citizenship. Ahmadi, of no fixed address, was the 21st person to be convicted under Operation Clover and the prison sentences passed now total 296-and-a-half years. Mr Tate said he had always believed his team would bring Ahmadi to justice despite the abuser fleeing the UK. South Yorkshire Police launched an international manhunt in 2013 after his victim shared her story with journalist Andrew Norfolk. Mr Tate said Ahmadi had been detained at Heathrow Airport last year when he tried to re-enter the UK under a different name. We dont know if he was aware he was wanted, he says not, but we have suspicions around the timing of entry as this came just after the trial his accomplices were part of were jailed, he said. Its hard to be 100 per cent sure where he had been we believe it may have been Afghanistan as he has a dual passport. Ahmadi was first arrested in 2003 but the case did not proceed. Mr Tate said this was because the police didnt fully understand the extent of the offending as they do now. He admitted police had not offered the victim and her family any support at the time, adding: We have learned from that. Mr Tate praised the bravery of the victim for putting her trust in the police force again, saying she had shown incredible bravery, having given evidence in three separate trials. I cant thank her enough for putting her trust in us over the last three years, he said. Operation Clover was launched as a joint operation by South Yorkshire Police, Rotherham Borough Council and the Crown Prosecution Service and at its height had a 25-strong team, some of whom have now moved on to training colleagues in how to tackle CSE. Mr Tate said: Im a father of two girls and thats the reason why I joined the police to help victims of child abuse and terrible crime. Its been horrific listening to victims tell their stories in court and its impacted upon all the officers involved. We are pleased with the results obtained over the last three years, but its difficult to accept that victims were let down by police and authorities. We want the message to be clear that in 2017, if they come to the police now, they will be believed. Last year's event at Swallownest Miners' Welfare Club A POPULAR scooter rally returns to Rotherham this weekend. The Waverley pub at Catcliffe will once again host Rotherham Scooter Clubs Camping in Catcliffe event on Saturday (20). The event features live music from The Interceptors and Johnny Boy, as well as a DJ, clothing and parts stalls, and a customised scooter display. This year's local chosen charity is the Rotherham branch of the British Heart Foundation, with funds going towards providing a publicly-accessible defibrillator. Entry fee is 5 and incluudes camping, with under-15s going free. Andrew Pykett A PREDATORY paeophile who groomed ten young girls and subjected them to horrific sex acts has been locked up for 15 years. Andrew Pykett admitted 38 child sex offences and two drug offences. One of his victims was a 15-year-old girl from Rotherham, who Pykett contacted on the Internet and met three times. He was arrested after he was seen kissing the girl in the towns Riverside pub. Pykett tied one victim up with cable ties to abuse her in the back of a van, took indecent images of some victims and send one a message reading: Daddy wants his sexy little daughter tied to his bed. Judge Andrew Lockhart QC told him: No sentence of this court can ever begin to reflect the misery your selfish conduct has led to. Investigating officer Det Sgt Collette OKeefe praised his victims, all aged between 13 and 16, for coming forward. Warwick Crown Court heard Pykett, of Leamington Spa, had met the 15-year-old girl from Rotherham through Instagram and chatted to her online chat before arranging to meet. He drove to Rotherham, and on their first meeting they took his chocolate Labrador Lola for a walk before going to a hotel bar where they chatted and he then took her home. On their second meeting, he stopped the car as he was taking her home, kissed her and touched her princess parts over her clothing, prosecutor Mr Michael Williams said. The third time, after kissing and cuddling, he took her to the Riverside pub in Rotherham, where the assistant manager became concerned at seeing him kissing her and holding her leg. The police were contacted by staff, and a customer gave the NSPCC the paedophiles car registration number. On Pyketts computer, there were three indecent videos of him performing sex acts on a 14-year-old girl from Essex in the back of his car. Police traced the girl and she told them Pykett had met her in a station car park and had sex on three occasions, including one when he turned up with outfits for her to wear and had tied her up. Detectives identified several victims, with officers finding sexualised conversations, indecent images and graphic sexual abuse of children from all parts of the UK and further afield, including South Yorkshire, Essex, London, Wiltshire, South Wales, Nottingham, Birmingham, Liverpool, Newcastle, Chesterfield and Cleveland, Tennessee, in the USA. The court heard he had been preying on under-age girls since as early as September 2007, although the majority of the offences took place between 2011 and towards the end of 2015. Pykett admitted 20 counts of sexual activity with a child, including 16 involving penetration, seven of meeting a child following sexual grooming, two of attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming, one of trafficking within the UK for sexual exploitation and seven of making an indecent photograph of a child. He also admitted one count of making an indecent image of a child and two of possessing illegal drugs. Pykett was given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life. Following his prison term, he will be subject to licence for seven years. Botswana has defended its silence on mega diamond mining deals saying that no country signs transparent agreements. Reuters recently quoted World Bank Group consultant Nils Handler as saying that governments decision to keep the negotiation process around contracts for diamond mining and large integrated projects confidential was a cause for concern. He said a more open process, including published contracts, would assist Botswana in becoming a more transparent and accountable jurisdiction. However, Botswanas minerals and water affairs minister Sadique Kebonang dismissed World Banks concerns saying that commercial agreements were confidential by nature because of the sensitive of information they carry. We have various representatives from the Ministry, parastatal and private sectors Government and private attorneys and mining experts who are part of governments negotiating team, he was quoted as saying by Mmegi newspaper. The participation of such parties in the negotiation process renders the negotiation process transparent. He also said, even the World Bank, when they give us loans some details of the loan agreement are kept secret. Kebonang said details of the mega mining deals would be made public once agreements had been sealed. Botswana, according to Reuters, earns 89 percent of its foreign exchange income and 30 percent of national revenues from mining, mainly diamonds. It had numerous large-scale mining, sales and marketing contracts with De Beers, a unit of Anglo American. De Beers and Botswana jointly own Debswana and DTC Botswana. Botswana also owns a 15 percent stake in De Beers. Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished Endologix Inc. (ELGX) announced Wednesday that, after a meeting with the FDA, it will conduct a confirmatory clinical study of its Nellix EVAS System. The company now estimates that PMA approval will occur in 2020. Endologix gapped open sharply lower Thursday and declined during the first hour of trade. The stock ended the day with a loss of 2.47 at $4.26 on the highest volume of the year. Endologix plunged to a new low for the year. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News New Zealand's net migration increased in April from a year ago, driven by more migrant arrivals and fewer migrant departures, figures from Statistics New Zealand showed Friday. In the year to April 30, the country recorded a net migration of 71,885, up from 68,110 in the same period of 2016. At the same time, it remained almost in line with the 71,932 in March 2017. Migrant arrivals numbered 129,800 in April, a new annual record, while migrant departures were 57,900. "Almost one in five migrant arrivals for the last 12 months were people coming to New Zealand to study," population statistics senior manager Peter Dolan said. "Student arrivals from Asia dominated the overall student migrant arrivals, contributing almost three-quarters of the total." Visitor arrivals to the country numbered 3.6 million, setting a new annual record in April, up 10.0 percent from last year. 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. Euronext (ENXB.BE,ENX.BR,ENX.AS,ENX.PA) reported that its net profit for the first-quarter decreased by 9% to 43.9 million euros from last year's 48.0 million euros. This represents an EPS of 0.63 euros compared to 0.69 euros in the previous year. Operating profit before exceptional items was 66.7 million euros, a 2% decrease from 68.0 million euros in the previous year. The company noted that 3.1 million euros of exceptional costs were booked in the first-quarter of 2017 compared to a positive amount of 0.6 million euros in the previous year. These costs were mainly related to the potential acquisition of LCH.Clearnet SA, while Q1 2016 exceptional items benefited from an adjustment on the provision related to the French restructuring plans. Revenue for the quarter increased by 0.1% to 126.6 million euros from last year's 126.5 million euros. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Indian shares erased early gains to end on a flat note Friday as a deepening political turmoil in Washington and the Brazilian political crisis spurred some caution ahead of the weekend. The benchmark BSE Sensex hit a record high of 30,712 in early trade after the government finalized Goods and Services Tax rates for substantial items, clearing a major hurdle towards July 1 rollout of the country's biggest indirect reform to create one unified market. With the initial rally proving to be short-lived, the Sensex pared most of its gains to end the session up 30.13 points or 0.10 percent at 30,464.92. The broader Nifty index also hit as high as 9,505 before ending down 1.55 points or 0.02 percent at 9,427.90. ITC and Hindustan Unilever rallied 2-3 percent after the government announced lower tax rates on FMCG products such as hair oil, soaps and toothpaste. SBI advanced 1.7 percent after its quarterly profit more than doubled. CESE jumped 5.8 percent on bargain hunting after falling as much as 15 percent the previous day on restructuring news. Globally, Asian reversed early losses to end mixed as better-than-expected U.S. economic data and higher oil prices helped spur some bargain hunting in beaten-down stocks. European stocks recovered from heavy losses suffered earlier this week as investors put Trump worries on the back burner and Greece's lawmakers approved a reforms package as demanded by the country's lenders in return for unlocking another tranche of bailout funds. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Market Analysis Canadian stocks are poised to end the week with modest gains Friday, as have calmed despite lingering concerns about the U.S. political situation. Stocks were hammered mid-week amid allegations President Trump improperly asked then-FBI Director to swear his loyalty and drop an investigation of Michael Flynn. Trump then shared classified information with Russia. After a tantrum on Wednesday, stocks have taken further developments in stride. Canada's financial stocks steadied along with embattled lender Home Capital (HCG.TO), as the Bank of Canada assured there is no threat of contagion to the wider banking sector. However, the lender remains in focus today after reports that its cashable guaranteed income certificate deposits (GICs) continued to fall. Empire Industries Ltd. (EIL.V) has received a $120 million, multi-year, multi-theme park ride system series of contracts with unidentified theme park owners. Pixelworks will acquire Toronto's ViXS (VXS.TO) in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $20.2 million. WTI light sweet crude oil was up 66 cents at $50 a barrel, the highest since April. The Baker Hughes North American rig count that tracks weekly changes in the number of active operating oil & gas rigs will be published at 1.00 pm ET. The North American Rig Count was 965, while U.S. rigs were 885. In economic news, Statistics Canada's Consumer Price Index rose 1.6% on a year-over-year basis in April, matching the increase in March. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, the Consumer Price Index was up 0.5% in April, after decreasing 0.2% in March. Retail sales rose 0.7% in March to C$48.3 billion, on the strength of higher sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers. That follows a 0.4% decline in February. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Market Analysis Friday marks the first day of Melania Trump's first foreign tour as America's First Lady. She joins President Donald Trump on an eight-day, five-stop trek to Saudi Arabia, Israel, Rome, Brussels, and Sicily, the White House said. Saudi Arabia is the first country that the Trumps are visiting, and it is not clear what Melania's dress code will be. However, the hosts have not given any instruction regarding the Slovenia-born former model's dressing in the conservative Islamic country, reports say. "We welcome any style in clothing," RIA Novosti quoted Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir as saying. Saudi King is hosting an official dinner for the president and the first lady on Saturday evening. In addition to accompanying her husband throughout the trip, the First Lady will also participate in many of her own events. In the latter part of the trip, Melania Trump will attend spousal programs at the NATO and G-7 summits. She will conclude the trip by delivering remarks to United States military personnel and families in Italy. Melania, the third wife of Trump, said she is very excited for the upcoming trip. "This will not just be an opportunity to support my husband as he works on important matters of national security and foreign relations, it will also be my honor to visit and speak with women and children from different countries, with different perspectives," according to her. The first couple will return to Washington on May 27. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Political News Disgraced former Congressman Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., pleaded guilty Friday to transferring obscene material to a minor in a case involving sexting with a 15-year-old girl. Weiner, who resigned from Congress in 2011 amid a separate sexting scandal, wept openly in federal court and said he accepts full responsibility for his conduct. "I have a sickness, but I do not have an excuse," Weiner said. "I apologize to everyone I have hurt. I apologize to the teenage girl, whom I mistreated so badly. I am committed to making amends to all those I have harmed." Weiner admitted to sending sexually explicit images and directions to engage in sexual conduct to a girl he knew to be 15 years old. As part of a plea agreement, prosecutors asked that Weiner serve between 21 and 27 months in prison. He must also register as a sex offender. "Weiner's conduct was not only reprehensible, but a federal crime, one for which he is now convicted and will be sentenced," said acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon Kim. The estranged husband of top Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin, Weiner was released on bail pending sentencing scheduled for September 8th. Weiner's name resurfaced during the presidential election when emails from Clinton to Abedin containing classified information were found on his laptop. The discovery led then-FBI Director James Comey to reveal that the agency was re-opening its investigation of Clinton's use of a private email server, just 11 days before the election. Two days before the election, the FBI once again cleared Clinton of criminal charges related to her use of a private email server while Secretary of State. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Political News Alliant Energy Corp. plans to build a big solar farm in Dubuque, Iowa, that will dwarf its Wisconsin solar projects. Madison-based Alliant said Thursday thatsite preparation is underway at the Dubuque Industrial Center West, on the citys northwest side, for more than 15,600 solar panels that will cover about 22 acres. The panels are expected to generate as much as 5 megawatts of electricity at peak times. Over the course of a year, they will produce about as much electricity as 727 typical Iowa households use in a year, Alliant said. In a collaboration with the city of Dubuque and the Greater Dubuque Development Corp., Alliant will shoulder the $10 million cost, utility spokesman Justin Foss said. The site slopes south which makes it ideal for a solar installation, Foss said. Its like stadium seating for the solar panels, he said. The Dubuque project is Alliants largest solar project to date and is expected to start operating in August. Alliant also plans a 3,500-panel, 1.2-megawatt solar installation near downtown Dubuque. In Wisconsin, Alliant is buying power from the 2.3-megawatt Rock River solar installation, owned by Hanwha Q CELLS, at the natural gas-fired Riverside power plant near Beloit, and plans to build its own 2-megawatt solar project, also at Riverside. The utility has a solar demonstration project outside its Madison headquarters. A sizable majority of rural Americans backed Donald Trumps presidential bid, drawn to his calls to slash environmental rules, strengthen law enforcement and replace the federal health care law. But last month, many of them struck a sour note after White House aides signaled that Trump would deliver on another signature vow by edging toward abandoning the North American Free Trade Agreement. Farm Country suddenly went on red alert. Trumps message that NAFTA was a job-killing disaster had never resonated much in rural America. NAFTA has widened access to Mexican and Canadian markets, boosting U.S. farm exports and benefiting many farmers. Mr. President, Americas corn farmers helped elect you, Wesley Spurlock of the National Corn Growers Association warned in a statement. Withdrawing from NAFTA would be disastrous for American agriculture. Within hours, Trump softened his stance. He wouldnt actually dump NAFTA, he said. Hed first try to forge a more advantageous deal with Mexico and Canada a move that formally began Thursday when his top trade negotiator, Robert Lighthizer, announced the administrations intent to renegotiate NAFTA. Farmers still wary Farmers have been relieved that NAFTA has survived so far. Yet many remain nervous about where Trumps trade policy will lead. As a candidate, Trump defined his America First stance as a means to fight unfair foreign competition. He blamed unjust deals for swelling U.S. trade gaps and stealing factory jobs. But NAFTA and other deals have been good for American farmers, who stand to lose if Trump ditches the pact or ignites a trade war. The United States has enjoyed a trade surplus in farm products since at least 1967, government data show. Last year, farm exports exceeded imports by $20.5 billion. The U.S. trade surplus in dairy with Canada alone a flashpoint involving Wisconsin farmers this spring was roughly 5-to-1. You dont start off trade negotiations by picking fights with your trade partners that are completely unnecessary, says Aaron Lehman, a fifth-generation Iowa farmer who produces corn, soybeans, oats and hay. Many farmers worry that Trumps policies will jeopardize their exports just as they face weaker crop and livestock prices. It comes up pretty quickly in conversation, says Blake Hurst, a corn and soybean farmer in northwestern Missouris Atchison County. That countys voters backed Trump more than 3-to-1 in the election, but now feel it would be better if the rhetoric (on trade) was a little less strident, says Hurst, president of the Missouri Farm Bureau. Trumps main argument against NAFTA and other pacts was that they exposed American workers to unequal competition with low-wage workers in countries like Mexico and China. NAFTA did lead some American manufacturers to move factories and jobs to Mexico. But since it took effect in 1994 and eased tariffs, annual farm exports to Mexico have jumped nearly five-fold to about $18 billion. Mexico is the No. 3 market for U.S. agriculture, notably corn, soybeans and pork. The trade agreements that weve had have been very beneficial, says Stephen Censky, CEO of the American Soybean Association. We need to take care not to blow the significant gains that agriculture has won. The U.S. has run a surplus in farm trade with Mexico for 20 of the 23 years since NAFTA took effect. Still, the surpluses with Mexico became deficits in 2015 and 2016 as global livestock and grain prices plummeted, notes Joseph Glauber of the International Food Policy Research Institute. Mexico has begun to seek alternatives to U.S. food because, as its agriculture secretary, Jose Calzada Rovirosa, said in March, Trumps remarks on trade have injected uncertainty into the agriculture business. A softened stance Once word had surfaced that Trump was considering pulling out of NAFTA, Sonny Perdue, two days into his job as the presidents agriculture secretary, hastened to the White House with a map showing areas that would be hurt most by a pullout, overlapped with many that voted for Trump. I tried to demonstrate to him that in the agricultural market, sometimes words like withdraw or terminate can have a major impact on markets, Perdue told The Associated Press. I think the president made a very wise decision for the benefit of many agricultural producers across the country by choosing to remain in NAFTA. Trump delivered another disappointment for U.S. farm groups in January by fulfilling a pledge to abandon the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which the Obama administration negotiated with 11 Asia-Pacific countries. Trump argued that the pact would cost Americans jobs by pitting them against low-wage Asian labor. But the deal would have given U.S. farmers broader access to Japans notoriously impregnable market and easier entry into fast-growing Vietnam. Philip Seng of the U.S. Meat Export Federation notes that the U.S. withdrawal from TPP left Australia with a competitive advantage because it had already negotiated lower tariffs in Japan. Trump has also threatened to impose tariffs on Chinese and Mexican imports, thereby raising fears that those trading partners would retaliate with their own sanctions. Farmers know theyre frequently the first casualties of trade wars. Many recall a 2009 trade rift in which China responded to U.S. tire tariffs by imposing tariffs on U.S. chicken parts. And Mexico slapped tariffs on U.S. goods ranging from ham to onions to Christmas trees in 2009 to protest a ban on Mexican trucks crossing the border. The White House declined to comment on farmers fears that Trumps trade policy stands to hurt them. But officials say theyve sought to ease concerns, by, for example, having Perdue announce a new undersecretary to oversee trade and foreign agricultural affairs. Many farmers are still hopeful about the Trump administration. Some, for example, applaud his plans to slash environmental rules that they say inflate the cost of running a farm. Some also hold out hope that the author of The Art of the Deal will negotiate ways to improve NAFTA. One such way might involve Canada. NAFTA let Canada shield its dairy farmers from foreign competition behind tariffs and regulations but left at least one exception an American ultra-filtered milk used in cheese. When Canadian farmers complained about the cheaper imports, Canadas dairy industry changed its policy and effectively priced ultra-filtered American milk out of the market. Canada has made business for our dairy farmers in Wisconsin and other border states very difficult, Trump tweeted last month. We will not stand for this. Watch! Many still worry that Trumps planned overhaul of American trade policy is built to revive manufacturing and that farming remains an afterthought. So much of the conversation in the campaign had been in Detroit or in Indiana and focused on manufacturing jobs, said Kathy Baylis, an economist at the University of Illinois. The importance of American farm exports never made it into the rhetoric. 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. Famed Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra conductor Edo de Waart is bringing the orchestra to Madison his adopted hometown for a concert on Sunday. De Waart, who moved to Middleton 11 years ago, will be reducing his role in Milwaukee, where he has conducted the orchestra for eight years. De Waart, who will be 76 on June 1, is marking this change by performing six concerts at Marcus Centers Uihlein Hall in Milwaukee, but is also conducting a Sunday matinee concert in Madison at Shannon Hall at the UW Memorial Union. It was important for Edo de Waart (pronounced AY-doh de Vahrt) to bring the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra to Madison for a performance because of what the city means to him. Madison is a very important town in Wisconsin, he said before the first of the farewell concerts. Its my hometown now. Its my wifes hometown, and my kids hometown and its nice to do that. The Dutch-born maestro started playing piano at age 8 and became associate principal oboist of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam in 1963 at age 21. The next year, he won the prestigious Dimitri Mitropoulos conducting competition in New York, which led to a year with the New York Philharmonic as an assistant conductor under Music Director Leonard Bernstein. De Waart has been music director or principal conductor of orchestras in Rotterdam, the Netherlands; San Francisco; Minneapolis; Sydney; Hong Kong; and Antwerp, Belgium. Hes been with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra since its 2009-2010 season. As an opera conductor, de Waart has performed in some of the worlds great opera houses. His most recent appearance at The Metropolitan Opera received rave reviews for Der Rosenkavalier, and he plans to return to The Met in future seasons. De Waarts longest tenure was with the Radio Philharmonic in Holland, where he was for 15 years. All of his conducting roles have overlapped in some way, he said. Hes guest conducted orchestras around the world and will continue to do so. He will also maintain his concurrent role as music director of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, traveling to that country three times a year for three weeks at a time. De Waart married his wife, Rebecca Dopp de Waart, 45, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, 18 years ago, when he was conductor of the Santa Fe Opera. Their children, Olivia, 16, and Sebastiaan, 14, were born in the Netherlands. The family was living in Hong Kong when they decided to move to Middleton, Dopp de Waarts hometown, to be close to her family. Olivia and Sebastiaan went to the same Middleton elementary school their mother did, and now both attend Edgewood schools. Olivia is a junior in high school and Sebastiaan is in eighth grade. Rebecca Dopp de Waart is a mezzo-soprano who gave up a singing career to raise the couples children. Shes now studying to be a physicians assistant. In the musical profession, you either do it 100 percent or you dont, Edo de Waart said. For the first three years they lived in Middleton, Edo de Waart would frequently travel to Hong Kong, where he was artistic director of that citys orchestra. He said he would spend 10 to 12 weeks there each year. The family lived in Middleton for five years before spending a year in Belgium. Theyve called Maple Bluff home for the past five years. The year de Waart worked in New York, he saw the birth of his first daughter, who is now 51, and is a longtime violist with the Netherlands Philharmonic, and a mother of four. A son, 50, from the first of his six marriages, is a stagehand in San Francisco. The program in Madison will feature Mozarts Overture to Don Giovanni; Ernest Blochs Schelomo A Hebrew Rhapsody, performed by the Milwaukee Symphonys Principal Cellist Susan Babini; and Elgars Symphony No. 1. De Waart calls the Madison program a one-off, where the symphony needs to perform pieces theyve already done or are doing. In Milwaukee, they are playing a Bruckner symphony, but in Madison he wanted to do Elgar. Whatever tour you do, you have to have been able to play the pieces already, he said. For this one, we had only the choice of Bruckner or Elgar because theres no extra rehearsal time possible. De Waart would have liked to have played at the Overture Center, but there was conflict, and he was asked to play at UW. The stage at Shannon Hall isnt huge, but de Waart is coming with his full, 76-member orchestra. One of the pieces calls for more musicians, so 90 will make the trip to Madison, he said. In terms of his dual Madison-Milwaukee lifestyle, the conductor gets driven to Milwaukee to conduct, and usually comes back to Maple Bluff in the late afternoon. Otherwise, he stays overnight at either at the Continental or the Pfister. The schedule is usually two or three days for rehearsal and then two concerts. This season, since last September, hes done about eight weeks in Milwaukee. Over the next three or four years, de Waart plans to return to Milwaukee as conductor laureate, leading the MSO in a couple of concerts each year. That makes me happy, he said. Madison also makes him happy. Its very easy, he said from Milwaukee. Its a lovely little town and I really like living there. I like the fact that there are 45,000 or 50,000 students coming every fall. It makes life more loose and friendlier somehow to have all of those young people there. The Minister of Communications and Information Technology (M.C.I.T), Afamasaga Rico Tupai, is hard to miss these days. As one of the most energetic Ministers in Prime Minister Tuilaepas Cabinet, he is in the limelight all the time. For good reason. And for that he is a man to be admired. Take for example his vision to make Samoa the tech haven of the Pacific so that our country can be spoken of in the same breath as leading nations such as Singapore and the like. The level of I.C.T. and the way I.C.T. is changing businesses and changing the landscape and lives in Singapore, thats our benchmark in terms of I.C.T. development, he said. Impressive stuff, isnt it? But how is isolated small Samoa going to get there? Well its simple really. Think Cable. Thats what the Minister has been preaching for as far back as we can remember. Since Cable connections play an integral role in improving I.C.T. development, the Minister has been living and breathing cables for the past few months. Afamasaga said the Tui Samoa Cable will be up and running by December. The survey is done and that means the cable manufacturing will start soon. The cable will be here end of July and the installation will start. It will actually arrive in Samoa beginning of October but there will be some testing period before its switched on. But hold on. Note that its not just one cable. There is the Tui Samoa Cable as well as a couple of other cables in the pipeline. One of them is the Manatua Cable. When one Cable comes, theres going to be a question, what if this cable cuts off? the Minister explained. Well ladies and gentlemen, we have another cable that will arrive next year and its in the development phase at the moment called the Manatua Cable. This cable comes from Tahiti. It connects Tahiti, Cook Islands and picks up Niue. At the moment were negotiating with Tonga to jump on the same cable and land in Samoa. If something happens to Tui Samoa Cable we have another cable that will take us out to the world. The governments plan is that if something happens to one cable we have another outlet so connectivity is uninterrupted. Now if you think two cables are enough, you are mistaken. There is a third cable the Minister has been busy negotiating. When we were in Hawaii earlier this year, Southern Cross approached us. We started discussions and these discussions are ongoing at the moment. We have already signed the letter of intent. The plan is Southern Cross to arrive here by 2019. That means we will have three cables by 2019. So what are we going to do with all these cables? Dont fret ladies and gentlemen; the Minister has it all covered. We are working on a regional plan, not just a Samoa plan, he said. Were going to build a data centre. In this data centre, were going to host applications like e-health, e-government, e-education. Were talking to U.S.P. to put all their educational content in here. Weve talked to Facebook already and were developing a data centre thats Tier 3 level. Tier 3 will be acceptable for Google, Facebook, Amazon, Ali Baba. Well bring all this here and share it with the whole region of South Pacific. Again Afamasaga envisions Samoa as being the tech hub of the Pacific. We will be in a position to enable other economies around us, he said. Im talking about Wallis and Futuna, Niue, Tonga. By 2020, possibly 10 or 12 islands will be connected, with the hub being Samoa. It will be good business for us. From Samoas position we will have a lot of cable and great capacity. We will need to share this capacity. Some will be shared for other services. Thats why we need to become a hub. Fascinating stuff, dont you think? No wonder the Minister was irritated by questions from the media especially this newspaper - about these negotiations. We can see why. He certainly doesnt need any interruptions. He doesnt have time to waste answering those silly questions. He needs to be focused, he needs all his energy. Negotiating for one Cable is tough enough but to hammer three at the same time, that is superman material. Well well leave you to it Sir, good luck. Dear Editor, Re: Minister Afamasaga criticises media What a load of bull crap from the minister to blame the media for its failure to lodge a bid for a maintenance vessel to offload cables at the wharf. The planned Tui Samoa Cable venture has been in the pipeline for years, and the government should have all the necessary equipment for offloading, maintenance, and so on ready. Come on Minister, you can do better than that. Utumap Dear Editor, Re: Govt. drops Virgin Its kinda worrying to see that the Government is looking at restarting Polys international operation. I hope theyve done their homework and hired the right people for the top positions. At the moment, we dont. We need to secure some investors with deep pockets to help finance this venture (key word their DEEP POCKETS) that rules out the Samoan Taxpayers With the Government Open Sky policy ... whats stopping Virgin Australia from flying into Apia after December? Now you have Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia with endless resources going against what? The Come Back Kid? I was going to compare it to a David and Goliath stand off but then I realized ... its really an insult of epic proportion to David to compare him to Polys chances going against two of the Pacific most successful carriers At least David had a chance. The Almighty was on his side. Who do we have? Cmon we need to get the basic stuff sorted first people, there is a 99.9% chance of this going south and only .01% of it being successful. Stevie Wonder can see this is a bad deal...in poker terms, its a bad hand. As one old hand in Aviation once said ........If you dont like money start an International Airline. J. MacDonald The General Secretary of the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa (C.C.C.S), Reverend Vavatau Taufao, was not in a good mood yesterday. He was particularly unhappy about the Samoa Observer. He told off Ilia L. Likou, a reporter from this newspaper in front of another media colleague. Are you from the Samoa Observer? he asked. Yes Reverend, Ms. Likou responded. I dont want you (to interview me) and Im not joking. I am very serious. When Ms. Likou insisted on questions pertaining to the opening of the Jubilee church building, Rev. Taufao would not have any of it. He flatly told her to go away. He insisted that he only wanted to talk to a reporter from Radio New Zealand International. I cant comment while this girl here, he said. At that point, Ms. Likou walked away. Im not just a reporter for the Samoa Observer, I am a member of this church, she said. I was just there to do my job. If there is something he is unhappy about in terms of the coverage, he should address this with my bosses. It was unprofessional of him to treat me the way he did. Ms. Ilia said she was embarrassed. This is a church. I would expect this sort of treatment from another organisation but having being subjected to it in my own church, I am very disappointed. Later during the official ceremony to open the facility, Ms. Likou and other media colleagues were banned from inside the building during the opening service. The General Secretary made an announcement on the PA system that all media were not allowed inside during the opening ceremony, except for the E.F.K.S Media. Another reporter from a state-run media told the Samoa Observer she was extremely disappointed about the treatment of the media. The media was not allowed to take photos, or footages inside the Jubilee building. Its taken a while but a masterpiece now stands at Malua as a reminder of mankinds spirit to persevere through challenges and hardship. Yesterday was a joyous occasion for members of the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa when they celebrated the opening of their $17.39million Jubilee Church. The official opening was attended by the Head of State, His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, Members of the Council of Deputies, Parliamentarians, members of the business community and hundreds of guests. They joined members of the church in thanksgiving to acknowledge the hand of God over the construction work. The Masiofo, Her Highness Filifilia Tamasese cut the ribbon while the Chairman of the Church, Reverend Elder Tautiaga Senara conducted the service. The project, which started in 2014, was initially estimated to cost $7million. The exact outstanding debt for the building was not revealed during the report of the Jubilee yesterday. The media was banned from inside during the service. The General Secretary of the Church, Reverend Vavatau Taufao, refused to speak to the Samoa Observer when an attempt was made to get more details about the project (see other story). The building was scheduled to be opened in 2015. But that did not happen. A while ago, the Church's Chairman of their Finance Committee, Le Mamea Ropati Mualia, confirmed that C.C.C.S had borrowed $15million from the Samoa National Provident Fund (S.N.P.F) for the project and other developments. According to the Chairman of the Church Finance Committee, Le Mamea Ropati in previous interview; the money was for the completion of the church ongoing projects including the Jubilee at Malua. During the groundbreaking in 2014, Shanghai Construction was awarded the contract for foundation and fill, Fletcher Construction carried out most of the framework, while the exterior was to be installed and maintained by South Pacific Cladding. A computer virus is crippling computers worldwide and has put over 120 countries on high alert. Samoa is not immune. The virus known as WannaCry has brought factories, large corporations and even government institutions to a grinding halt. The malware is delivered as a Trojan through a loaded hyperlink that can be accidentally opened by a victim through an email, advert on a webpage or a Dropbox link. Once it has been activated, the programme spreads through the computer and locks all the files with the same encryption used for instant messages. Following the attack, the victims original files are copied and then erased. The infected computers wallpaper demand payment for the files to be returned. In Samoa, the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Afamasaga Rico Tupai, has assured that the government is aware and is being proactive to ensure a safer Samoa. Any cyber activity nowadays in any jurisdictions is a very serious issue, said the Minister. Therefore the Government is not taking any cyber related issue lightly. With the Government drive to digital economy, it is also a challenge for Government to ensure that we put in place the relevant but state of the art technology and necessary skills required to counter any cyber threat/attack. The Government with the launching of its National Cybersecurity Strategy 2016-2021 late last year, is working closely with all relevant stakeholders including our overseas partners/donors in the implementation of this strategy, he added. One key outcome of this Strategy is the planning and establishment of a Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT). This special unit/authority will deal mainly with all cyber activities (crimes, attacks, security, warning, alerts, etc). For the time being, the Government is aware of these attacks that affected larger markers. For the case of Samoa, we rely heavily on all Internet Service Providers(ISPs), who have invested a lot of dollars in their critical infrastructures and systems in place to have all the necessary safeguards/systems/programs and right capacities to prevent Samoa and its people from such activity. It is also the role of all Government ICT Officials within each Government Office to inform staff of any potential threats, whether virus, malware, DOS attack, etc. and advise of basic steps to take when receive anonymous emails, etc. It should also be the role of all Internet providers and IT solutions Companies to their corporate business partners and their customers. Afamasaga stated that should the virus reach our shores, the government has the capacity to contain the virus. We do have the capacity in our Tier 1 Private Sector Companies that operates and maintain our gateways to the outer world, he said. We also have the capacity within our Government Ministries and Offices as Tier 2 of filtering and monitoring when it passes through from our Providers. We also worked in partnership with the Transnational Crime Unit(AFP), Australia Federal Police (AFP) and our local police force in all cybercrime activities. In addition, Government of Samoa build a genuine relationships with the Government of New Zealand and Australia when it comes to cyber-crime matters. All these governance structures and partnerships is built upon goodwill to ensure we have a SAFER SAMOA Online. According to Afamasaga, there has been no reports of WannaCry on island but has already issued warnings to take extra precaution , especially when receiving suspicious emails. We have no reports yet from our ISPs or any individual, he said. However we cannot sit around and wait until it hits us, therefore, warning/notice email has been circulated by individual Ministries/Offices to their respective Staff to take basic steps when received any anonymous email with attachments and directions of any unknown links. Government Ministries through their IT Divisions is also advised to publish notice on their websites, Facebook page and intranet pages for information. Government Ministries has issued a warning and notice to all their staff in relation to this particular ramsonware. We have also asked our ISPs to ensure they do the same for all their corporate clients and customers whether via a broadcasting email or on their websites. Also notices and warnings has been circulated around on several forums and online groups. Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi is adamant that the governments decision to let go of Virgin Australia is the best move for Samoa. In fact, he says the revival of Polynesian Airlines international operations is long overdue. Weve been ready, Tuilaepa said. We have learned from our experience. Responding to questions during his weekly media session last night, the Prime Minister assured the government has learnt from mistakes of the past and is ready to proceed with the Airlines international operations. When you own your own airline, you can make your own polices about your airline which will reflect the policies of our country, Tuilaepa said. He referred to the United States of America for example. Like America, they have their own airline. As for the joint venture between Virgin Australia and the government, Tuilaepa is steadfast. This cant continue on especially when the airfares continue to increase and the hotels are complaining that there are not enough tourists coming to Samoa. Yesterday, the Samoa Observer published a story based on a letter from Prime Minister Tuilaepa to the Chief Executive Officer of Virgin Australia Pty Ltd, John Borghetti. Following numerous extensive discussions and negotiations held between VA and the Committee members of the Special Negotiating Team (SNT), 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. Asked if the move has anything to do with the significant management fees, wet leases and commission paid to Virgin Australia, Tuilaepa was coy. We cant continue this partnership. For any country, they have to have their own airline. According to a Scoping and Feasibility Study of International Jet Operations for Samoa in 2016, the management fee generates approximately NZ$6million annually to Virgin Australia. A copy of the report obtained by the Samoa Observer says that its true the [Samoa] governments decision to enter the Joint Venture (JV) with Virgin Australia was, at the time [2005] the right decision due to poor commercial performance of the then national carrier Polynesian Airlines. But the report expressed concerns about the management fees charged by Virgin Australia to the Samoa government to pay. In the first few years of the joint ventures operation the turnaround in economic performance by the JV company (Virgin Samoa and Virgin Australia) Polynesian Blue was encouraging to say the least, the report reads. Initially the Samoan governments perspective of the deal was positive. The government of Samoa did not need to subsidize the operations of the JV carrier, also the government had concluded a comprehensive commercial agreement with a major airline from Australia. The agreement stabilized capacity and frequency from Samoas two largest inbound markets. The JV presented the possibility that there would be the introduction of new services to other markets in the Pacific important to the tourism and hospitality sectors in Samoa. BENEFITS ACCRUING TO VIRGIN AUSTRALIA GROUP The report says that Virgin Australia had total control of the operation of the JV through the management and commercial services agreements including setting of fare, capacity and frequency levels. They also had total control of costs associated with the JV with little direct reporting to the Board of the JV Company. Utilizing the Virgin NZ hub in Auckland to push Australian origin traffic through it so connect with the Virgin Samoa services to Apia to the detriment of the direct services. Integration of the Virgin Samoa unit into the border Virgin Australia network structure with economics of scale and network distribution benefits. Also the management fee that now generates approximately NZD $6million annually. Ensuring that the Australian routes are operated as a monopoly no other Samoa designated carrier can operate on the Australian and New Zealand routes to/from Samoa. The report says that provisions within the agreement that specify that the government is liable for any losses on unprofitable routes. The report goes on to say that during the survey and conversations with the many industry players in Samoa, a recurrent theme was that at the beginning until 2010 there were open communication and regular meetings between the major stakeholders in Samoa and the Virgin Blue teams responsible for the JV. Since the change in management at Virgin Australia, the pull back of administration from New Zealand to Virgin Australia Head Office and adjustments from low costs to a hybrid business model that level of contact has reduced significantly. The JV arrangements as they stand provided little of no transparency in relation to the operation of the JV Company. Major decisions before the board are resolved not by pure majority of directors but require a 75% majority which means that decisions that are in Samoas national interests may not be passed although the airline is majority Samoa owned. Another concern highlighted is that the JV impairs the future growth of Samoas airline sector by restricting designated carriers to the JV company and Polynesian Airlines. These restrictions on who the government can designate as a career of Samoa will have a material effect on Talofa Air and its plans to operate regional services later this year [2016]. Any suggestion on Talofa Air, on the face of it, could place the government in breach of the JV arrangements. Because of the structural realities in the JV, where Samoa has little or no influence in operations and financial decisions relations to Virgin Virgin Samoa Australia Management a concern is that there is at best perfunctory or at work no regular oversight of one of the key economic drivers in Samoas economy. Otago University's graduating Pasifika students have thanked their families for inspiring their achievements A celebration to honour Otago University's nine Pasifika graduates was held at Otago University's campus last Saturday. And a celebration it was, with singing and dancing throughout. Christina Mualia, a scholarship student from the government of Samoa said graduating was a special moment for her. "It means a lot. I don't have any words, I'm speechless, to express the way I feel today, she said. "When I came here to study for three years it was really hard, at first I was really homesick. But I got to meet all my fellow Pasifika students and found my second home." Christina Mualia said she would not have been able to achieve it without the support of her family "They are the reason why I got this far. I am a product of their prayers and commitment to seeing me achieve my goal " She is now working at Samoa Pharmacy and Multipharm Laboratories helping her parents as she serves her government bond. "I just want to make a difference in Samoa in terms of the healthcare delivery for our people." At the Pacific Lotu Service held at the Otago University Union Hall, the Otago pro vice-chancellor , Professor Richard Barker addressed the graduates, saying they were entering into a new century where Pasifika people would win a place for themselves across society. Christina is a third generation graduate of the Mualia Family. She is the eldest daughter of Lemalu Mathew and Caroline Mualia who both graduated from the University of Queensland, St Lucia , Australia Christina acknowledged with much thanks the Prime Minister of Samoa, and the governments of Samoa and New Zealand for granting scholarships for Samoan students graduating out of the National University of Samoa to pursue further academic studies in New Zealand Todays working fathers are struggling to balance the burden of their jobs with their home lives more than ever. This is the view of Manuele Petelo from Tuanaimato expressed during an interview with the Village Voice team yesterday. Having no money is a very difficult situation to deal with, he said. To be honest, it is very hard to work and when you come home you are required to work at the plantation. Manuele is a night security guard. He is often away from home because of his job. My work cannot provide for my family alone. I know some fathers cant do both work and plantation but working on a minimum wage is a real struggle so the plantation is your only other option. To tell you the truth, my family is very poor but we still make do with whatever we have. Its hard to care for my family with my income and thats why I also have a plantation. It really helps. My job is to pay our bills but we depend on the plantation for food and some extra money. The young father is motivated by his love for his children and family. We moved here not long ago with nothing, but I am now able to build a house, put my kids to school and provide for my family with my work and the fruits of our land. Its not easy but my children and my family have always been the motivation. Manuele is optimistic despite the struggles. As you can see our house, its not fancy and not good looking but as long as were safe its enough for me, he said. Its hard to save any money when you have so little and sometimes nothing. Weve got kids at school; church contributions to make and then we have other faalavelave. Thats the life in Samoa. But thats reality, he said. We just have to endure and persevere. It will get better. A federal judge on Wednesday denied a motion to stay his ruling that blocked enforcement of a Wisconsin law that lets the state detain pregnant women suspected of substance abuse. Later, Attorney General Brad Schimel announced he would ask the U.S. Court of Appeals to reinstate the law. U.S. District Court Judge James Peterson disagreed with the motion filed by Schimels Department of Justice that irreparable harm could occur to a pregnant woman or her fetus if the state cant enforce 1997 Wis. Act 292, sometimes called the cocaine mom law, that extends protection for abused and neglected children to fetuses. The motion was filed by DOJ after Petersons ruling that the law is unconstitutionally vague. It immediately appealed Petersons injunction because it would stop child protective agencies from having any communication with pregnant women, even if the women seek services voluntarily, and that could cause irreparable harm to the woman and the fetus. Peterson initially granted a limited, short-term stay earlier this month to prevent the disruption of care already being provided to expectant mothers. But Peterson didnt buy the irreparable harm argument made by Assistant Attorney General Karla Keckhaver during Wednesday mornings hearing in Madison. He said the services provided by child protective services arent truly voluntary and the law authorizing medical personnel to break confidentiality agreements to turn in patients to child protective services for treatment creates a strong disincentive for women addicted to drugs or other problems to seek prenatal care. The case involves former Wisconsin resident Tammy Loertscher, who was living in Medford in 2014 when she sought a pregnancy test and help for depression and a thyroid problem. At Mayo Clinic in Eau Claire, she told a doctor she had used methamphetamine, marijuana and alcohol but stopped taking them when she thought she was pregnant. Tests showed Loertscher was 14 weeks pregnant and had traces of the drugs in her body. A judge ordered her into inpatient drug treatment. When she refused, she was taken to jail for 18 days, including 36 hours in solitary confinement, until she agreed to urinalysis throughout her pregnancy. Testimony from a director of a child protection agency in Milwaukee County that the state continues to order pregnant women to undergo addiction treatment for reasons other than finding evidence that the fetus was in extreme danger convinced Peterson that he was correct in ordering the injunction. I have a totally different perspective now, Peterson said. The jurisdictional standard is not only vague, its hardly being used. Kathy Hartke, an obstetrician/gynecologist from Waukesha, said many professional entities in the medical profession have expressed their opposition to the law and that she knew of none that favored it. She said the law interferes with the patient/doctor relationship and creates an adversarial relationship between the mother and fetus because now they are in the states control. Schimel said in a statement after Petersons ruling that the law has worked well for nearly 20 years and it contains important tools to protect unborn children in imminent danger. NEW YORK (AP) A man who appeared to be intoxicated steered his car onto a sidewalk running through the heart of Times Square on Thursday and mowed down pedestrians for three blocks, killing a teenager and injuring 22 others, before he was tackled by bystanders, authorities said. Pandemonium erupted when the vehicle barreled through the prime tourist location and slammed into a security barrier, coming to rest with two of its wheels in the air. The car leaned on a lamppost and steel barriers intended to block vehicles from getting onto the sidewalk. "He didn't stop," said Asa Lowe, of Brooklyn, who was standing outside a store when he heard screaming. "He just kept going." The driver was tackled by pedestrians and taken into custody. He was being tested for drugs and alcohol and charges against him were pending. The crash happened at midday on a hot, clear day that brought large crowds of people into the streets to enjoy the good weather. Video posted online showed steam or smoke pouring from the car for a few moments after it stopped moving. The driver, a 26-year-old Navy veteran named Richard Rojas, was taken into custody and was undergoing tests for alcohol and drugs, Police Commissioner James O'Neill said. Rojas had been arrested at least twice previously for driving while intoxicated, once in 2008 and once in 2015, police said. He pleaded guilty to an infraction in 2015 and was ordered to complete a drunken driving program and lost his license for 90 days. He was arrested last week on a charge of menacing. Police said he pointed a kitchen knife at a notary who'd come over to do paperwork, and he accused the notary of stealing his identity. The case is pending. In previous arrests, he told authorities he believed he was being harassed and followed, according to a law enforcement official who wasn't authorized to speak publicly on an ongoing probe and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Investigators were searching his Bronx home and canvassing the crime scene for video. Rojas enlisted in the Navy in 2011 and was an electrician's mate fireman apprentice, according to the Navy. He was most recently based at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida, and was discharged in 2014. He wasn't immediately available to comment. The crash killed an 18-year-old woman, and the injured included her 13-year-old sister, police said. Police do not suspect a link to terrorism, but the vehicle was checked by the bomb squad and some landmarks were getting beefed-up security. "Out of an abundance of caution," Mayor Bill de Blasio added. Police said Rojas made a quick U-turn onto 42nd Street and drove up the sidewalk for three blocks, passing tourist draws like the Hard Rock Cafe and the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. restaurant and mowing people down before slamming into a pole. He was combative with officers who handcuffed him, authorities said. Bruno Carvalho, a student at SUNY Albany, said the car approached quickly and passed him on the sidewalk. "People just got stunned," he said. "I don't think there was actually time for screaming." Victims had no time to react and scramble for safety in crowded Times Square, said Alpha Balde, a sightseeing-ticket seller. "This place?" Balde said. "Anything happens here, there's no time for people to get out." After the crash, the driver climbed out of the vehicle and began to run away, witnesses and police said. Ken Bradix, a door host supervisor at Planet Hollywood, struck him to get him to stop, Balde said. He and Bradix jumped on top of Rojas, lifted his shirt to make sure he had no weapons and held him until police arrived moments later, Balde said. Planet Hollywood said Bradix "selflessly and heroically took action, helping to stop the fleeing suspect." The White House said President Donald Trump was informed of the situation in Times Square and would continue to be briefed as it unfolded. The sidewalks in many parts of Times Square and surrounding blocks are lined with metal posts designed to prevent cars from getting onto the sidewalks and other public areas. That network of barricades, though, is far from a complete defense. There are many areas where vehicles could be driven onto packed sidewalks or public plazas. Times Square also has a heavy police presence at all hours of the day and night. A 26-year-old man from the village of Aufaga, Lepa, has been convicted and fined $200 by District Court Judge, Alalatoa Rosella Viane Papalii. The decision was handed down yesterday. Viliamu Iosefatu is one of many young citizens who failed to register to become a voter as required by the Electoral Act. Section 18B of the Electoral Act requires all citizens of Samoa turning 21 years old to register as a voter within one month after turning 21. Failure to do so in the given time is an offence and those convicted are liable to a fine of $2,000 and $4,000 if after the first conviction and the citizen still fails to register. Leading up to the 2016 General Elections, the Office of the Electoral Commissioner revealed that more than 10,000 Samoa citizens born between 1990 and 1995 had yet to register. The number was taken from the birth certificates data attained from the Samoa Bureau of Statistics. Iosefatu is the second person convicted under Section 18B of the Electoral Act since the O.E.C beefed up its efforts to implement the offences provisions of the Act. Our office is now processing charges for all those names weve already advertised publically, Assistant Electoral Commissioner, Francis Ainuu said. We feel that weve exhausted all the avenues available to us to take the registration services out to the country. Unfortunately, leading up to the last elections, theres still a high number of people, namely the young ones who are not taking the requirement of the law seriously. So were left with little option but to implement what the Electoral Act obligated this office to do. Mr. Ainuu said the O.E.C and the Ministry of Police are finalising charges for citizens who havent registered. Well be starting to serve them to defendants sooner than later. Weve also identified and advertised a number of public servants who havent registered. So we have also sent those names to Police and charges are now being processed. As for Iosefatu, he told the Court that the reason he didnt register was because he was busy. But Judge Alalatoa did not buy this. The Office of the Electoral Commissioner had carried out a huge amount of work over the years to try and register all citizens eligible to vote, Judge Alalatoa said. Asked if he had known that the law required him to register, Iosefatu said he knew that he was supposed to register. You should because we all knew about the awareness programmes conducted by the Office on TV, radio and media, Judge Alalatoa continued. On top of that, the Office also went around the country a number of times yet you didnt use that opportunity to register. She then convicted Iosefatu and fined him $200 to be paid to O.E.C by 4pm yesterday. Failure to do so will result to imprisonment of three months. Judge Alalatoa reminded Iosefatu that voting is important in any democratic country. Your vote allows you to elect leaders of your preference that will represent your views in Parliament. Two Chinese men convicted of stealing money to the tune of $70,000 from A.T.Ms belonging to the Bank of South Pacific have been found guilty. Zhong Shuiming and Yang Quigreen have been remanded in custody of Police to await sentencing on 9 June 2017. The men were represented by lawyer, Alex Sua with Lupematasila Iliganoa Atoa the Prosecutor. District Court Judge Fepuleai Ameperosa Roma presided. In Court yesterday, there was a minor issue when Judge Fepuleai was informed the Chinese Translator had traveled overseas for work. But Sua assured the ruling will be referred to someone in China who can translate and pass back for the defendants. Judge Fepuleai pointed out the defendants were initially charged with 16 charges however prior to the trial, they both pleaded guilty to four charges. These include intentionally accessing A.T.M. without authority; theft of $9,700; theft of $1,000; theft of $12,500. The total amount for this is $23,200. During the trial, two more theft charges were dismissed, leaving 10 other counts which were the subject of the trial. For theft charge in the amount of $24,900, they were found guilty in the lesser sum of $19,150; theft of $16,200 they were found guilty in the lesser sum $12,400; theft $6,150 they were found guilty in the lesser sum $3,100; theft of $23,950 they are found guilty in the lesser sum of $11,700; theft of $15,700 they were found guilty in the lesser sum of $1,000. They were also found guilty of intentionally accessing A.T.M. without authority and intentionally accessing A.T.M. without authority with the purpose of committing a crime of dishonesty. They were however acquitted of three theft charges, involving two separate withdrawals of $300 each and theft of $20,500. Total amount for these theft charges was $47,350. Judge Fepuleai noted that a written order would be issued next week for the reasons of his ruling. HEARING During the hearing Shirley Pauga, Manager of the Retail Banking of the Bank of the South Pacific, told the Court the men targeted the A.T.M. at Matautu first. Matautu was the first machine where we had captured most of the cards (that had been swallowed). From there, we saw most of the transactions were rejected by the machine for the reasons that Ive mentioned before like, invalid pins and so forth. The Bank then sent an A.T.M. Officer to investigate and he found footages of the two Chinese men. Tei told us that these two men were also at Tanugamanono the previous day when they went to check the machine. She said they had recovered nearly thirty cards. These cards all look the same, she said. Its colour is blue and black. The only stuff on the card, is the word VIP on the top left corner and five digit numbers down the bottom. They all look the same except different digit numbers at the bottom. Shirley Pauga said the cards are different from B.S.Ps cards. A Chinese businessman, Yeng Ping, also gave evidence. He is the owner of Dirgos Motel located at Matautu-Uta. On the 21st of August 2016 last year, three Chinese men came to rent a room at my hotel, he said. These two (pointing to where the Chinese men were sitting) and the other one (he left the country on the 23rd August)." They came and rented a room at my hotel, room number one and room number three. Mr. Ping told the Court he wasnt aware about what was happening until the Police arrived on 24 August 2016. When the police arrived, the defendants were on the second floor, he continues." They ran up the stairs on the second floor, they went into their room and locked the door." He said that he was still on the first floor when the police arrived. Then I went, got the keys and opened the door. Then the police entered the room and took their belongings. Alaska Airlines has received the go-ahead from the U.S. Department of Transportation to launch long-planned nonstop flights between Mexico City and San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Although approval from the Mexican government is still pending, reservations can be made now for the new flights, the first of which will begin Aug. 8 for service out of Los Angeles and San Francisco. The new daily nonstop between Mexico City and San Diego will launch Nov. 6, as will a second daily flight in and out of Los Angeles. Alaska previously served Mexico City between 2005 and 2015. Advertisement RELATED San Diego gets bonanza of new nonstop routes San Diego International goes from little airport to global stop Since its merger last year with Virgin America, Alaska Airlines has aggressively expanded its presence on the West Coast, adding 37 new markets so far. In March, the airline announced six new domestic nonstop flights for San Diego, bringing to 18 the number of nonstop destinations Alaska has introduced in San Diego over the last five years. The new Mexico City flight will depart daily from San Diego at 7:05 a.m. We thank the U.S. DOT for its efforts to increase competition in highly desirable markets like Mexico City, said John Kirby, vice president of capacity planning at Alaska Airlines. With our new service to Mexico City, we continue to grow our footprint in California by offering our valued guests nonstop flights to nine popular destinations throughout Mexico, more than any other U.S. carrier from California. The new nonstops come at a propitious time for California tourism leaders, who are making an extra effort to woo Mexican travelers in the face of strained relations between Mexico and the U.S. since President Donald Trump took office. Early next week, a delegation of tourism bureau executives from cities up and down the state, led by Visit California, are making a trip to Mexico City to get the word out that visitors are welcome. Among the cities represented on the two-day trip are San Diego, Anaheim, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Santa Barbara, Palm Springs, San Luis Obispo and San Francisco. The marketing message for California over the years has been dream big, the place to go where you can live your dreams, said Joe Terzi, CEO of the San Diego Tourism Authority. This message is, All dreams welcome. In spite of the rhetoric you might be hearing, California wants you to understand we welcome people, we dont believe we should be shutting people off from visiting California. Terzi said the delegation will be meeting with representatives from airlines, travel companies and local media to promote visitation to California destinations. Mexico, he said, is San Diegos second largest international market for travel. We have more concerns because were just entering our busy summer travel season and we want to make sure the message is positive out there, Terzi added. Weve had some comments coming back to us from tour operators and meeting organizers that theyre not considering California this year because of whats going on here. Once the delegation returns to San Diego via the international airport in Tijuana, it will move on to Toronto for similar meetings, Terzi said. Business lori.weisberg@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-2251 Twitter: @loriweisberg San Diegos iboss Cybersecurity, touted as an example of the regions resilience to corporate relocations, said this week that it was officially moving its headquarters to Boston. The privately held company, which in 2015 raised $35 million from Goldman Sachs, announced the move in a ceremony with Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker. It did not get government incentives or tax breaks, according to the company. iboss opened an office in Boston last year, and it has 100 workers there today. The company expects to boost that number to 200 in the near future. Advertisement Chief Executive Paul Martini is relocating to the East Coast. He told the Boston Business Journal on Wednesday that the company is going to hire as fast as we can. We will hit 1,000 people here in Boston. Founded in 2003 by Paul Martini and his twin brother, Peter, iboss employs about 100 workers in San Diego. It plans to continue to hire locally. Peter Martini will remain in the region. We are naming Boston the corporate headquarters but we are not leaving San Diego, the company said in an email. In fact, we are continuing to expand in San Diego and are always looking to hire skilled engineers, sales, finance and operations talent. Three years ago when rival cybersecurity firm Websense relocated from San Diego to Austin, Texas, iboss made headlines as a fast-growing start-up that was hiring ex-Websense workers who didnt want to move. iboss also became a key participant in San Diegos efforts to position the region as a nationwide hub for cybersecurity expertise. Thats still the case, said Ken Slaght, head of the regions Cyber Center of Excellence trade group. iboss is a strong Cyber Center of Excellence member and is dedicated to making San Diego a cyber hub, and that commitment has not changed, said Slaght. We look forward to their continued participation in a variety of community initiatives that impact the San Diego cyber economy. iboss makes web security gateway software to protect networks from malware. It sells the cloud-based software as a subscription and competes with Websense (now Forcepoint,) Zscaler and others. It has about 4,000 customers and 100 patents issued or pending. In an interview last month, Peter Martini said iboss has been able to hire workers faster in Boston than in San Diego. But it doesnt mean anything, he said. We are hiring here. He added, however, that certain skills are harder to find in San Diego for cybersecurity companies. One of the biggest challenges in San Diego is not necessarily with engineers but finding management mid-level and executive leaders that were in software and were with recent high-growth companies, he said. You reach this plateau as a company where leadership needs to mature, and that is where it starts getting difficult. Mark Cafferty, head to the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp., said thats news to him. We have a lot of conversations about talent, he said. That is not one we have heard as a common theme. Business mike.freeman@sduniontribune.com; Twitter:@TechDiego 760-529-4973 A student club is suing Cal State San Marcos, alleging the university spent nearly $300,000 in mandatory student fees this year to promote gay- and gender-equality issues, but refused a request for $500 to bring in an outside speaker with conservative views. The campus chapter of Students for Life, a national group opposed to abortion, filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday alleging its members free-speech rights were violated, and the group was subjected to viewpoint discrimination. The suit also accuses the school of violating club members right to equal protection. In the suit, the club argues the universitys student government rejected the funding request that would have been used to help bring in an out-of-state college professor for a presentation on Abortion and Human Equality this spring. The suit states that the student government told the campus club that it does not supply money for speakers fees. Advertisement However, the suit says, the student government Associated Students Inc. funds the LGBTQA Pride and Gender Equity centers with nearly $150,000 each a year, and that some of that money was spent this year on presentations like Kink 101, a talk by a local sexologist. Nathan Apodaca, president of the campus Students for Life club, called the funding decisions kind of a scam. Being required to pay for views you disagree with, but not (get funding for) your own views equally why would I want to pay for that? Apodaca said Thursday. Asked for comment on the lawsuit, the university issued a statement that said: Cal State San Marcos is committed to fostering a campus environment where diverse ideas and views can be presented and discussed. In addition, we take student complaints and concerns very seriously. Student activities fees, which this semester were $50 and will rise to $75 this fall, are mandatory for every student at the San Marcos campus. The fees go to the Associated Students group, which is a nonprofit entity. The student council called the board of directors decides each year where the money goes. Student board members could not be reached for comment Thursday. The 2016-17 board has completed its term and the new officers havent yet been sworn in. Leaders at the LBTQA Pride center and the Gender Equity center referred questions to the universitys communications office. The goal of the lawsuit is to gain equal access to the fees for all student groups, said attorney Tyson Langhofer, senior council for Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative advocacy law firm focused on religious freedom. His firm filed the case on behalf of Students for Life. Its really outrageous for any university to force students to pay for viewpoints that they agree with, while denying support for opposing points of view, Langhofer said. Will Creeley, senior vice president of legal and public advocacy for the Foundation for Rights in Individual Education a nonprofit aimed at defending civil liberties in academia said the case will come down to whether the university is applying the same standard to all groups. The Supreme Court has made clear that when public universities open student activities funds to be disbursed, they have to be disbursed in a viewpoint-neutral way, said They cant pick and chose who gets funds based on the viewpoint of the group. Creeley said the plaintiffs will have to show evidence of a double standard or that the decision to deny funding was motivated by the viewpoint. However, if there is an objective, content-neutral rule that justifies the decision to deny funding, the plaintiffs will have an uphill climb. He said, ironically, similar campus speech cases from 30 years ago involved LGBT groups that were denied funding and recognition. This school year, the Associated Students operating budget at CSUSM was nearly $1.4 million. Of that, $296,000 went to support the two centers and all of their programming more than 21 percent of the operating budget. The student government also funds the student groups through its leadership fund, up to $500 a semester for approved uses. Speaker fees are not an approved use. The school recognizes more than 100 student clubs, including academic groups, religious groups, service clubs and special interest groups of which Students for Life is one. The Pride and Gender Equity centers are not considered student groups, but rather entities under the umbrella of the student government. Still, Apodaca said, the rules should be the same for all. There is something really fishy going on here, he said. The school touts itself as a community that values diversity and individual perceptions. But some groups get far more funding that others. The universitys chapter of Students for Life has been around for three or four years and has roughly 30 members, according to Apodaca, a junior who took the reins after he transferred from Palomar College this school year. Viewpoint discrimination complaints have led to legal actions elsewhere. Langhofers firm filed a similar suit against Colorado State University, also on behalf of a Students for Life chapter; that suit is pending. And in 2014, the University of Michigan reportedly paid $14,000 to settle a suit after it was accused of denying a campus group $1,000 in student fees to put toward an event featuring a prominent opponent of affirmative action. teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @TeriFigueroaUT Carlsbads first two full-time park rangers will patrol the citys preserves, trails, lagoons and beaches seven days a week in a pilot program beginning July 1. The city has 27 parks, nearly 50 miles of trails and hundreds of acres of open space, much of it covered by three lagoons and a few large nature preserves. Our trails are a great asset but also a frequent liability, said Councilman Michael Schumacher, before the City Councils 5-0 vote Tuesday to approve the program. Advertisement Off-road vehicles, transient camps, trespassing, off-leash dogs and trash dumping are recurring problems, said police Capt. Mickey Williams. Vandalism, loud parties and drug use also are sometimes reported. The provisional rangers will have limited powers of enforcement, including the ability to issue citations for some minor violations. Most other North County cities leave their parks enforcement to police officers, although a few have live-in caretakers at some of the larger parks. San Marcos, which has more parks than most cities in the area, has live-in employees at eight site, but those jobs are geared more toward maintenance than enforcement. Carlsbad has one live-in caretaker, an employee at the Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park. Vista has one at its Sportspark. Another reason for Carlsbads rangers is the March 14 settlement of a general plan lawsuit, which required the City Council to consider though not necessarily approve the pilot program. That settlement also specified that the city create a new passive-use park at the long-empty Buena Vista Reservoir in the Olde Carlsbad neighborhood and set aside additional open space, paving the way for the Poinsettia 61 residential development along Poinsettia Lane. The Carlsbad rangers will wear a distinct uniform different from a police officers uniform, and will drive a marked Carlsbad Police Department 4-by-4 patrol vehicle to access off-road areas. They will be unarmed, and will be supervised by police sergeants and managed by police lieutenants, according to a city staff report. They will carry a police radio, handcuffs, pepper spray and a Taser and will wear a ballistic vest. Candidates for the job would be required to undergo a police background check including psychological and polygraph investigations. Salaries for the rangers will cost the city a maximum of $235,600 annually, of which the San Diego Association of Governments has agreed to pay $98,280. The city also has budgeted $65,000 for the 4-by-4 vehicle and an on-board computer, and $6,668 per ranger for uniforms and equipment. After nine months, the Police Department will review the pilot program and recommend to the City Council whether it should be made permanent. Carlsbad currently patrols its preserves and trails a few hours a week with officers from its traffic division riding off-road motorcycles. The city also contracts with a private security company to patrol four of its preserves. However, those employees must call city police officers for any enforcement actions. philip.diehl@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @phildiehl While the annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast honors the slain gay civil rights leader, the spirit of Charles Dickens also hung over Fridays event. The Hilton San Diego Bayfronts banquet hall had a best of times/worst of times vibe. I think Harvey would want to celebrate the amazing achievements we have accomplished in the last four decades, said Cleve Jones, one of the guests of honor. But I think Harvey would caution us to be vigilant. We cannot take things for granted. Advertisement Jones, 62, received a lifetime achievement award before more than 1,000 diners at the ninth annual breakfast, sponsored by the San Diego LGBT Community Center. As a young man, he was a student intern in the office of a newly elected San Francisco supervisor, a Korean War veteran, camera shop owner and gay rights advocate, Harvey Milk. When Milk and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated on Nov. 27, 1978, Jones feared that the struggle for gay rights had been killed, too. But that night, a massive candlelight rally the crowd was estimated at 40,000 spontaneously lit up the streets of San Francisco. I stood there in the middle of that lake of candles and I realized it wasnt over, Jones said. It was just beginning. Jones went on to co-found the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and launch the AIDS Memorial Quilt. His 2016 memoir, When We Rise, was one of the inspirations behind this years ABC miniseries of the same name. In his lifetime, hes witnessed dramatic changes in American attitudes toward the LGBT community. When I came out, he said, it was a felony. We were a criminal class. The breakfast reflected many of these changes. The tables were crowded with gay and lesbian married couples; gay and lesbian clergy, military, law enforcement agents and other professionals; and straight allies. 1 / 9 About 1,000 people attended the Ninth annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel, celebrating the life and legacy of Harvey Milk , the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in California, when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. He was assassinated in 1978 along with San Francisco Mayor George Moscone. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 2 / 9 Members of the San Diego Gay Mens Chorus sing the National Anthem at the opening of the Ninth annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 3 / 9 Nicole Murray Ramirez, a member of the San Diego Human Relations Commission and Co-Chair of the Harvey Milk Foundation International Advisory Board watches a video tribute to the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, mass shooting victims, in which 49 people were killed in the gay nightclub, in 2016. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 4 / 9 AIDS and LGBT rights activist Cleve Jones received the Harvey Milk Lifetime Achievement Award during the Ninth annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 5 / 9 About 1,000 people attended the Ninth annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel, celebrating the life and legacy of Harvey Milk , the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in California, when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. He was assassinated in 1978 along with San Francisco Mayor George Moscone. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 6 / 9 Christine Garcia, the first openly transgender San Diego police officer listens as her Sgt., Daniel Meyer talks about what they do in the LGBT community. They both received the Founders Award during the Ninth annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 7 / 9 Bishop Yvette Flunder, the senior bishop of the City of Refuge United Church of Christ in Oakland received the Champion of Equality Award during the Ninth annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 8 / 9 Nicole Murray Ramirez, a member of the San Diego Human Relations Commission and Co-Chair of the Harvey Milk Foundation International Advisory Board addresses about 1,000 people who attended the Ninth annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 9 / 9 SAN DIEGO, CA: May 19, 2017 | LGBT elected and appointed officials pose for a photo during the Ninth annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel. The breakfast celebrates the life and legacy of Harvey Milk , the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in California, when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. He was assassinated in 1978 along with San Francisco Mayor George Moscone. | Photo by Howard Lipin/San Diego Union-Tribune/Mandatory Credit: HOWARD LIPIN SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE/ZUMA PRESS (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) There was also a contingent of LGBT legislators, led by Christine Kehoe, a former state senator who was introduced as San Diegos Harvey Milk. In 1993, Kehoe became the citys first openly gay elected official when she captured a seat on the San Diego City Council. Homophobia still exists, said Nicole Murray Ramirez, one of the breakfasts founders and co-chair of the Harvey Milk Foundation International Advisory Board. But LGBT individuals, he noted, should guard against judging people by their profession or political party. Lets stop painting all police officers and all Republicans with the same negative brush, Ramirez said. It is time to stop pointing fingers at each other and extend a helping hand. One of the mornings speakers, Mayor Kevin Faulconer, echoed that point. Ill tell you, there are more Republicans joining our cause every day, said Faulconer, himself a Grand Old Party member. No matter what happens in the rest of the nation, I will always stand up for the rights of all San Diegans, regardless of their sexual orientation. Speakers hailed signs of progress, from the legalization of same-sex marriage to innovative efforts within the San Diego Police Department. Sgt. Daniel Meyer, the LGBT liaison officer, received the Founders Award, as did Officer Christine Garcia, the countys first openly transgender law enforcement officer. Not far from the breakfasts site, a Navy replenishment oiler named after Harvey Milk is being built at the National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. Milk, who served in the Navy, is the first gay American to have a naval ship named in his honor. In the past year, though, the LGBT community has been shaken by tragedy and setbacks the attack on a gay nightclub in Orlando, which left 49 people dead; bathroom bills that would require people at government-run facilities to use bathrooms corresponding to the gender on their birth certificates; and the election of a president who is perceived to be unfriendly to LGBT issues. Still, the marches and demonstrations that erupted across the country after the presidential election heartened Yvette Flunder, senior bishop at Oaklands City of Refuge United Church of Christ. We have accomplished much that will not be changed because people will fight back, said Flunder, who receive the Centers Champion of Equality award. There are more people who want justice than do not want justice. I am in awe of that, and Harvey Milk would be in awe of that. The San Ysidro School District is seeking applications to fill at least seven positions an oversight committee to review the expenditures of its $250 million Proposition C bond measure. The opportunity, brought up months ago by district trustees, has failed to attract any interest from community members. Creating an oversight committee is not a requirement of the bond measure, because it was passed in 1997, before the state mandate. Advertisement The district has since issued new Proposition C bonds to pay off some of the districts outstanding bond debt. San Ysidro board President Rosaleah Pallasigue said the board wants to create such a committee as a public commitment to transparency and maintaining the trust of the community. The panel would be made up of parents, students, local business owners, seniors and one member from a local taxpayer organization. During the two-year terms, the volunteers would be responsible for reviewing financial reports to ensure bond funding is spent only on school facilities projects. Proposition C provides the district with funding for school construction and modernization projects. A year ago, a county grand jury investigation of the school district released financial mismanagement between 1997 and 2015. The report found that former administrators withheld information about expenditures and bond obligations from the school board, improperly spent bond money, and entered into contracts without board approval. Under the leadership of new board members and a new superintendent, the San Ysidro district turned its finances around in the 2015-16 school year. This is a great opportunity for members of our community to get involved in the San Ysidro School District and to see the amazing work taking place with this critical funding entrusted to us by local residents, Pallasigue said. Interested candidates should contact Deputy Superintendent Jose Arturo Sanchez-Macias at (619) 428-4476, ext. 3004 or arturo.macias@sysd.k12.ca.us. A Madison woman has been sentenced to three years of probation for theft of government property after being convicted of depositing into her bank account $32,662 in U.S. Treasury checks to her deceased mother. Stasia Hargis, 66, was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge James Peterson following her conviction in March. The sentence includes 120 days of community confinement and 180 days of alcohol consumption monitoring. From 2010 to 2012, Hargis deposited the money payable to her mother, who died in 2010 and shared the same first and last name. Hargis sent forged certifications for the money, which came from a Department of Defense annuity program. Hargis did not plead guilty to the charge, but she did not contest the governments evidence during a trial, according to Jeffrey Anderson, acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin. The news keeps on coming for Come From Away, the 9/11-connected Broadway musical that had its world premiere at La Jolla Playhouse two years ago in a co-production with Seattle Rep. Junkyard Dog Productions, producers of the Broadway staging, announced this morning that the show will launch a North American tour in October 2018. The swing through the U.S. and Canada will start in Seattle not at the Rep but at that citys 5th Avenue Theatre, which co-produced another La Jolla Playhouse-launched Broadway musical, Memphis, back in 2008. Advertisement Its not known yet whether or when the tour might return Come From Away to its birthplace of San Diego. The touring presenter Broadway/San Diego, which books Broadway road shows into the Civic and Balboa theaters here, announces its next season in January. But theres a very strong possibility the show will (eventually) work its back here, as have Memphis, Jersey Boys and other San Diego-launched shows. A third production of Come From Away, which is directed by Playhouse artistic chief Christopher Ashley, already has been announced for a run at Torontos Royal Alexandra Theatre beginning Feb. 13, 2018. Come From Away, created by the Canadian husband-and-wife team of Irene Sankoff and David Hein, is inspired by the true saga of how the tiny town of Gander, Newfoundland, took in more than 6,000 stranded travelers after the 2011 terror attacks forced 38 jetliners to divert there. The show is up for seven awards, including best musical, at next months Tony Awards. Twitter: @jimhebert jim.hebert@sduniontribune.com A San Diego-based Navy SEALs sex-crimes conviction was compromised by high-level politics and an admirals concerns about his career being torpedoed if he didnt follow political correctness, according to an unusual flurry of legal appeals filed in Washington, D.C. In a signed affidavit filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces on May 5, retired Rear Adm. Patrick J. Lorge said worries about reprisals from President Barack Obama and members of Congress made him second-guess his inclination to scrap the 2015 conviction of Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator Keith E. Barry. As commander of the San Diego-based Navy Region Southwest at the time, Lorge had the authority to affirm or overturn the military judges verdict against Barry. For the record: This story incorrectly describes an affidavit by retired Rear Adm. Patrick Lorge in regards to the court martial rape conviction case of Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator Keith E. Barry. In the affidavit, Lorge said his staff attorneys, Cmdr. Dominic Jones and Lt. Cmdr. Jon Dowling, tried to convince him to affirm a military judges verdict against Barry. The affidavit makes no reference to a rubber stamp being sought. In a rare move, Lorge said he wrongly let the undue political and military influences wrongly color his decision-making. He asked the appellate judges to forgive my failure in leadership and right the wrong that I committed in his case and allow a man to remain innocent. Advertisement The military judge who convicted Barry of sexual assault sentenced him to three years imprisonment and a dishonorable discharge on Feb. 27, 2015. When Barrys case was forwarded to Lorge, he initially balked at certifying the ruling. Under military law, admirals and generals who convene court-martial proceedings have the power to alter the verdict of a judge or jury during the post-trial clemency phase. In his affidavit, Lorge said he had serious misgivings about the evidence against Barry because it failed to support the alleged victims account of events. Lorge said that he felt pressured by his staff attorneys, Cmdr. Dominic Jones and Lt. Cmdr. Jon Dowling, to rubber-stamp the decision, but that he also fretted about the impact to the Navy if I were to disapprove the findings. At the time, the political climate regarding sexual assault in the military was such that a decision to disapprove findings, regardless of merit, would bring hate and discontent on the Navy from the president, as well as senators including Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Lorge added. Gillibrand, a New York Democrat, has crusaded against a military that many critics believe has too long overlooked an epidemic of rape and sexual harassment of women within the armed forces. Although Vice Adm. Nanette DeRenzi then the judge advocate general of the Navy never urged Lorge to approve the ruling against Barry, she expressed concerns to him about the Navys reputation, with military commanders routinely questioned by Congress and other political military and leaders including the president about overturning sex-crime convictions, according to Lorges affidavit. Lorge also said Vice Adm. James Crawford III, the current judge advocate general of the Navy, told him that if you disapprove the findings, it will ruin your career, according to court documents in Barrys case. Lorge retired from the Navy on Sept. 1, 2015. When The San Diego Union-Tribune telephoned his listed number on Friday, the man who answered immediately hung up. Citing the ongoing litigation, Navy officials also declined comment. Confronted with Lorges signed confession alleging unlawful command influence, the Navy has sought to remand Barrys case to a different admiral on active duty for a new legal decision. Barrys civilian defense attorney, David Sheldon, told the Union-Tribune that admirals are attempting to sweep the actions of senior officials under the rug. Sheldon said although no court can return the years Barry spent behind bars, he called on the appellate judges to dismiss Barrys case, restore his rank and give him back pay actions that are a step toward justice and will help restore confidence in the military justice system. No longer behind bars, Barry now resides in San Diego, according to Sheldon. Retired Col. Morris Mo Davis said hes never seen an admission quite like Lorges during his more than three decades as a lawyer. Its extraordinary, said Davis, former director of the U.S. Air Force judiciary and once the chief prosecutor of terrorism suspects at the Navys Guantanamo Bay base in Cuba. Ive seen in a handful of cases a convening authority admit to making a administrative mistake, like forgetting to file some paperwork, but Ive never seen an admission like this from an officer who admits he was derelict in performing his duties. Davis said it was highly unlikely that Lorge would be returned to active duty to face criminal charges of his own for his apparently false decision against Barry. The details in Barrys case are salacious, with his conviction pivoting on whether he secured consent from the alleged victim identified only by her initials in court documents for sado-masochistic sexual activities in 2013. Court filings show that Barry considered their month-long relationship between late 2012 and early 2013 to be merely sexual, but she believed their four encounters were leading to love, describing one of the moments to a Navy criminal investigator as magical and just awesome. On their final date, he tied her up to a bed and blindfolded her with a red tie, rubbed her with a loofah, spanked her with a bungee cord and dripped hot wax on her. He allegedly penetrated her and the two parties disputed whether it was a consensual act. She later took to Facebook to accuse Barry of sexually assaulting her, and she subsequently got a gynecological exam and sought the aid of a therapist. As a member of Seal Team 8, Barry had served nine deployments. In the battle for Fallujah in Iraq, he conducted more than 150 combat missions, according to the testimony of fellow sailors. He was twice awarded the Navy Commendation Medal with Valor. He suffers from a brain injury after being exposed to repetitive improvised explosive devices, fragmentary grenades and other explosions. Military Videos On Now D-Day paratrooper from Coronado jumps again in France at age 96 On Now Remembering war's fallen, one name at a time On Now In Ramona, an airplane and an aviator provide living lessons on World War II 1:43 On Now Video: Navy's newest vessel sails into San Diego and a new future in surface warfare On Now Video: U.S. Navy files homicide charges over warship collisions On Now Stopping Marine hazing On Now Video: U.S. Navy Air Crew Grounded After Creating Vulgar Sky Drawing On Now Navy says Asia Pacific ship collisions were avoidable On Now Hundreds of recruits get sick at Marine boot camp On Now Cutler Dawson Talks Navy Federal cprine@sduniontribune.com On Saturday, San Diego will host one of 14 planned marches nationally to bring attention to veterans issues. Called Veterans March on America, the event will start at 10 a.m. at Ruocco Park in downtown San Diego, 585 Harbor Lane. An organizer said they will march down Broadway to the Edward Schwartz Federal Building where three speakers are planned. Advertisement The event is aiming to draw attention to the 20-a-day suicide rate among veterans, continued veterans homelessness, vets who earn the minimum wage and troops returning from combat with post-traumatic stress disorder. The event is nonpartisan, said organizer Peter Klein, a Navy veteran from the Vietnam era. National organizer Richard Hanner said the marches will range of attendance of several hundred in some cities to an expected 1,500 in Columbus, Ohio. For more information, vetsmarchonamerica.com or facebook.com/VetsMarchSanDiego/ 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 jen.steele@sduniontribune.com Facebook: U-T Military Twitter: @jensteeley When public officials, including elected ones, dont return calls, emails or texts in a timely way, I try to be understanding. If theyre ducking awkward subjects, well, I get it. Sometimes its prudent to be unavailable for comment until you can figure out what to say and how to say it. And its possible important people can be so busy that they cant spare a few minutes on the phone or at the keyboard for an annoying reporter. (When the press is likely to be positive, however, those perpetual meetings magically seem to get postponed.) Advertisement Point is, I try to be easygoing. Still, I was curious when Supervisor Kristin Gaspar, who over the years has been relatively responsive, fell off the grid Thursday. Radio silence. After my afternoon deadline passed, and my reason for talking with her had also died with it, I texted again. A minute later, Gaspar responded with a really good excuse. Sorry, she said. I was actually stuck inside the RB High School lockdown today when I went on a visit to tour the library. What the hell? Gaspar, it turns out, was touring the RB High library to assess the need for grant money. At the same time, a student was being awarded a scholarship in the library. Two benefactors, a 96-year-old man and an 82-year-old woman, were also in the library when the scary lockdown order came down. In a minute or two, the supervisor, a handful of adults and a hundred or so students, mostly juniors in the library for testing, hustled into a storage room for excess books. The librarians and teachers, Gaspar noted, were calm, very forceful. Students moved with remarkable efficiency. The school had drilled for just this sort of emergency, but this was real, not a cursory test run. Surrounded by adolescents in the dark room, I felt old, joked Gaspar, whos 37. The supervisor crouched amid the bookshelves, making a little fort of books for herself. The students were orderly and quiet, she said, all but one peering intently into the screens of their phones. (The one old-school outlier told Gaspar he didnt use his cell at school.) Gaspars advanced age wasnt reflected only on the flexibility front. She and the other adults used their phones to get in touch with the outside world, where information about the lockdown was sketchy. Students, on the other hand, were hooked into the inside world, learning from networks of other kids which classrooms police were clearing and how real the danger was. Almost immediately after entering the storage room, a student showed Gaspar a screenshot of the note found in the bathroom with the message: At 1:10 a white boy is going to shoot up the school. That threat and Snapchat photos of students with what appeared to be a gun were the triggers for the SDPD lockdown that resulted in several students being detained by police. Inside the storage room, it remained quiet until the 96-year-old scholarship donor, who had earlier joked that the supervisor should get the school new bookshelves, got on his mobile phone and announced in a loud voice that he was locked in the library. I could see kids recording him, probably sending the moment of comic relief to other students, Gaspar said. At one point, a junior scanning a screen said, They found a gun, but added, it might not be true. (It wasnt.) Theyre trained to receive information but be skeptical about it, Gaspar observed, implying an adaptive survival skill in a world shot through with fake news. (Its interesting to imagine what the situation would have been like without phones. The captives would have had to look at each other, read live human faces and voices, not their screens.) If there was one common sentiment in the room, Gaspar recalled, it was anger that any student would pull a prank that would be so disruptive. This better not be a sick joke, was the bitter refrain. When the whole student body was finally released after nearly two hours of isolation, Gaspar was struck by the worry and relief etched on the faces of about 150 parents waiting at the entrance. The parents should be proud of the students, the school and law enforcement, said Gaspar. The headline of the story focuses on the RB students who perpetrated this hoax. Subsequent stories will report what punishments they receive. Thats the news business. Typically unreported is the rest of the story, the one about smart, good kids following instructions to the letter, plugging into the complex world theyve inherited, and, in the end, making their parents proud. As for the supervisor, she didnt call up the press to make hay of her unusual experience. She did, however, answer my text, for which Im grateful. I dont like to gravitate toward the media, she said. Ill try to avoid you guys. I knew the journalism major at Arizona State University was joking, sort of. Just before we hung up, I asked if her three children, who range from 11 to 7, carry cell phones. She sighed and said, yes, for her peace of mind if theres an emergency. The downside, she said, is when the kids Google her name and find negative stories. She tells them not to worry about it. Hows the picture? she asks them. logan.jenkins@sduniontribune.com A lawsuit filed in San Diego federal court Wednesday by the state affiliate of the National Rifle Association is challenging a California law passed last year that makes it illegal to own gun magazines that hold more than 10 rounds. The complaint, filed by the California Rifle and Pistol Association and five county residents, is the second in what the attorneys describe as a series of long and carefully planned lawsuits challenging the package of gun bans passed last year that have collectively become known as gunmageddon among gun owners. The laws, including Proposition 63 at issue here, were passed in the wake of the San Bernardino mass shooting. With President Donald Trump in the White House and a conservative majority returned to the U.S. Supreme Court, gun rights advocates see the timing as ripe for such legal challenges. Advertisement The lawsuit alleges the law violates the constitutional rights of gun owners who have legally come into possession of such magazines. Three of the plaintiffs say they want the large-capacity magazines for self defense in the home, while two others are military veterans who say they already own the pieces and should not have to give them up. The reason for the popularity of these magazines is straightforward: In a confrontation with a violent attacker, having enough ammunition can be the difference between life and death, the lawsuit states. A 2000 state law made it illegal to manufacture, sell, import or transfer such magazines. A component of Proposition 63, passed in November, made it illegal to own such magazines beginning July 1. The penalty is an infraction punishable by a maximum fine of $100 and a year in jail. Current owners are instructed to remove the magazine to another state where possession is legal, sell the magazine to a licensed firearms dealer, or turn it in to law enforcement for destruction. Long Beach-based NRA attorney Chuck Michel, an attorney representing the plaintiffs, said the ban does nothing to promote public safety. Banning magazines over ten rounds is no more likely to reduce criminal abuse of guns than banning high horsepower engines is likely to reduce criminal abuse of automobiles, he states in the lawsuit. Michel is also the attorney who has brought the biggest gun case to the county in recent years: Peruta v. California. The U.S. Supreme Court is considering whether to hear the case, which argues law-abiding citizens should be able to carry concealed weapons without stating a specific threat. Griffin Dix, co-chair of the Oakland chapter of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, said Thursday that history has shown that such laws regulating firearms have prevailed in court. I think many courts have found those types of regulations to be constitutional, Dix said, citing landmark rulings that have provided for a whole series of ways under the Second Amendment you can regulate firearms, and that would include magazines and how lethal the guns are. Dix added that reducing the size of magazines is especially important because it forces would-be mass shooters to pause and reload more frequently. Measures like that one can affect public safety and can save lives, he said. The NRA affiliate filed its first lawsuit against the new gun laws on April 24 in Orange County, challenging a prohibition on the sale of semiautomatic rifles equipped with bullet buttons that make it easy to quickly remove and replace magazines. Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, said in response that the strengthened gun controls would likely hold up in the courts. Background checks and other guns laws California has enacted have saved lives and are key in making our mortality rate one of the lowest in the nation, De Leon said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times. I am confident that the courts will reject the NRAs arguments, just as our voters did in November, and uphold Californias right to implement common-sense policies to protect its people. kristina.davis@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @kristinadavis Pressure is building from both sides of the political aisle for a permanent fix to the ongoing flows of sewage and other contamination in the Tijuana River that have fouled the South Bay for decades. U.S. Border Patrol agents working in the Tijuana River Valley recently renewed their public concerns about the health risks of working in the muddy, often polluted terrain drawing sympathy from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers. Its impacting our ability to effectively patrol that area, said Chris Harris, a border agent and secretary with the National Border Patrol Council Local 1613, the union representing agents stationed in the region. Advertisement Theres whole areas we cant go into. I caught two guys (crossing illegally) that were covered with the mud, he added. Mud got on my arms, and within seconds I had huge rashes. Rains in early May again flooded the river valley along the border with contamination from Mexico, shuttering shorelines. This followed a massive series of spills earlier this year, including 28 million gallons of raw sewage and more than 250 million gallons of wastewater. As a result, beaches as far north as Coronado were closed for weeks. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, this week made public a letter he sent to the Trump administration asking for help in addressing the pollution, which he said threatens the health of border agents and has hindered the ability to respond to national security priorities. His correspondence addressed to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and the head of the Environmental Protection Agency Scott Pruitt described work conditions that caused agents to fall ill and abandon their posts to seek medical attention. Our Border Patrol agents require every resource our government can provide that allows them to perform the important responsibilities weve asked of them, Hunter said Friday. This includes full accountability and partnership from Mexico when a critical issue such as the current sewage spill occurs and has such a direct impact on our agents and their families. In recent weeks, a number of high-profile meetings have taken place between members of Congress and officials with the International Boundary and Water Commission, a binational agency that oversees water treaties between the U.S. and Mexico. An uncommon alliance has formed out of these talks between Democrats such as Rep. Juan Vargas, whose San Diego district includes the border region, and conservatives such Hunter and Rep. Darrel Issa, R-Vista. Congressman Vargas and I are planning a trip to meet with officials down there (in Tijuana), Issa said. Well be bringing members of the (Trump) administration with us, probably in the next month. Rep. Scott Peters, a Democrat whose district includes Coronado, said he also has reached out to several high-ranking officials in the administration and welcomes the efforts by Hunter and Issa. Having my Republican colleagues weigh in, particularly those with closer ties to the administration, will hopefully get their attention, he said. We need the Trump administration to make this very serious health risk a priority. Despite various parties concerns that leaders in Tijuana arent giving the issue due attention, officials with the U.S. side of the International Boundary and Water Commission said Mexico is collaborating on the search for long-term fixes. We are diligently working together toward a permanent solution, said Lori Kuczmanski, spokeswoman for the U.S. side of the commission. At the state level, Assemblyman Todd Gloria and Senator Ben Hueso, both Democrats from San Diego, are spearheading legislation that would reallocate $2.1 million of state funds to help address issues related to failing sewage infrastructure in Tijuana. In the 1990s, as much as 10 million gallons of raw sewage flowed daily into the Tijuana River and north across into San Diegos coastal waters. After billions of dollars of investment on both sides of the border, nearly all wastewater collected in the city is now treated. Tijuana and other towns that border the U.S. are said to have some of the best wastewater infrastructure in Mexico, in large part due to U.S. grants and federal programs in both countries that facilitate low-interest loans. Mexican officials have said efforts to upgrade and expand Tijuanas wastewater infrastructure have taken on a new urgency of late. Officials in Tijuana have acknowledged their system needs significant upgrades and laid out a blueprint this year for doing so. To be put in motion, the plan still needs a large infusion of federal dollars from both the U.S. and Mexico. However, theres been serious concern that looming budget cuts under the Trump administration could hobble binational grants and other funding needed to complete the sizable undertaking. Twitter: @jemersmith Phone: (619) 293-2234 Email: joshua.smith@sduniontribune.com A major federal investigation into wildlife crime has led to the indictment of a father-son duo who allegedly smuggled into San Diego illegally harvested sea cucumbers worth more than $17 million and then sold them to Asian markets. The U.S. Attorneys Office in San Diego filed charges on Wednesday against David Mayorquin and his father, Ramon Torres Mayorquin, accusing them of conspiracy, false labeling and unlawful importation of wildlife. The men co-own the Arizona-based company Blessing Seafood. This prosecution is the latest in ongoing efforts to crack down on the lucrative trade of sea cucumbers. The sausage-shaped marine animals are prized by some Asian communities as a culinary delicacy and folk-medicine ingredient. Advertisement Depending on the species, sea cucumbers can go for as much as $300 a pound in China and Hong Kong, with prices on the rise, according to authorities. Sea cucumbers are taking up quite a bit of our time down at the border, said Erin Dean, resident agent in charge of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Southern California region. Its a high-valued commodity thats being smuggled in small quantities across the border, and then consolidated here in the U.S. and then, we believe, being shipped out to Asia, she added. Buying and selling sea cucumbers can be a legitimate business if people have the proper permits and operate in season. The Mayorquin family had a permit to do just that, but federal authorities said they also operated outside of the law. Between 2010 and 2012, the family knowingly agreed to purchase roughly $13 million worth of illicitly harvested sea cucumbers from poachers operating off the Yucatan Peninsula, according to the indictment. They then allegedly imported the product and sold it to Asian markets for about $17.5 million. According to federal prosecutors, Ramon Torres Mayorquin would receive the shipments in Tijuana and then smuggle them across the Otay Mesa Port of Entry into San Diego. David Mayorquin organized the sales to China and other locations. To hide their trail, prosecutors said the men routinely falsified documents and even worked with conspirators to bribe Mexican officials. In one such case, they allegedly paid at least $32,000. The authorities substantiated their claims with emails they obtained that purportedly show correspondence between the Mayorquin family and the alleged poachers. In recent years, scientists and environmental groups have raised concerns about the impact of illegal fishing on sea cucumber populations. We have over-fished and created a risk of extinction for many species (of sea cucumbers), said Octavio Aburto, a marine ecologist with UC San Diegos Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Theres a lot of poaching, and prices are going up. Smuggling of sea cucumbers is one of the most high-profile wildlife crimes in Southern California, next to the illegal trade of totoaba fish bladders, according to Fish and Wildlife officials. The dried fish bladders are also sold to Asian markets, sometimes for as much as $30,000 apiece, according to a new report from the Los Angeles-based nonprofit Elephant Action League. Twitter: @jemersmith Phone: (619) 293-2234 Email: joshua.smith@sduniontribune.com A 22-year-old immigration activist and college student was detained by Border Patrol agents Thursday, sparking claims that she was targeted in retaliation for protesting the arrest of her mother, who was swept up by federal agents during a massive cocaine bust last month. Claudia Rueda was taken into custody while she was moving her familys car outside their Boyle Heights home Thursday morning, according to her attorney, Monika Langarica. Langarica said Rueda was being held at a federal detention facility near San Diego late Thursday night. Advertisement She was moving the car because of street sweeping, Langarica said. Before she got out of the car, three vehicles pulled up. Activists and friends of Rueda claim the 22-year-old was targeted because of protests she has led in recent weeks over the detention of her mother, 54-year-old Teresa Vidal-Jaime. Vidal-Jaime was detained by federal agents during a drug raid that targeted other members of Ruedas family. But authorities determined that Vidal-Jaime was not involved in the alleged drug trafficking and she was released on bail earlier this month. In response to specific questions about Ruedas detention, Jose Hernandez, a spokesman for the Border Patrol, said seven people were detained in Los Angeles on Thursday morning as part of a wider investigation of cross-border drug smuggling. He did not identify the seven people, citing privacy concerns, but said they were apprehended at several locations. Hernandez did not respond to requests for additional information on Friday. Langarica said there was no evidence suggesting any link between Rueda and criminal or drug-related activity. The investigation that led to the arrest of several of Ruedas relatives last month was part of a joint operation by the Border Patrol and the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. Nicole Nishida, a spokeswoman for the Sheriffs Department, said Friday that Rueda was not under investigation by the departments narcotics bureau. The Sheriffs Department was notified that Border Patrol would be conducting a follow-up investigation in Los Angeles on Thursday, but sheriffs personnel were not involved , according to Nishida. Los Angeles police Capt. Alfred Labrada, who oversees patrol operations in Hollenbeck Division, said the Border Patrol notified the department that it would be conducting a follow-up to the prior drug investigation in the area Thursday, but the LAPD was not involved. Langarica suggested that Ruedas detention was connected to her involvement in her mothers ongoing immigration case. In April, Vidal-Jaime, was picked up by federal authorities during a raid at a Boyle Heights apartment complex where more than 30 pounds of cocaine and $600,000 in cash was found, officials said. Vidal-Jaimes husband, Hugo Rueda, and three other men were arrested on suspicion of drug possession. Hugo Rueda and the other men were charged with possession of narcotics with the intent to sell. Last month, Border Patrol officials said Rueda and one of the other men were suspected of entering the U.S. illegally and could face deportation. Though investigators said Vidal-Jaime was not involved with the alleged drug trafficking, she was held for several weeks in federal custody. On May 12, over the objections of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, she was released after posting $2,000 bail. Claudia Rueda played a central role in advocating on behalf of her mother, whom Langarica also represents. There is a lot that suggests retaliatory behavior on Border Patrols part, Langarica said. Immigration activist Claudia Bautista, a friend of Ruedas, said Rueda was detained Thursday on Hicks Avenue near her aunts home. Border Patrol agents then tried to gain access to the home of Ruedas aunt but were denied entry, Bautista said. They then moved to a guest house on the property, according to Bautista. This is exactly what everyone feared, she said. It is very concerning theyd just come into a Los Angeles neighborhood and take her and other people. Bautista said she believes Rueda was taken into custody as retribution for her activism on behalf of her mother. They wanted payback, she said. Ruedas detention swiftly galvanized local activists. Groups circulated a photograph of Rueda with one fist raised, accompanied by a demand for her release. The Immigrant Youth Coalition and the L.A. chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America issued statements and launched social media campaigns on Ruedas behalf. Activists staged a protest outside the Border Patrols offices in Chula Vista on Thursday night, and video footage showed dozens of protesters chanting, Free Claudia now, and holding handmade signs. Bautista said further protests are planned, and videos on social media showed a small group of demonstrators had returned to the Chula Vista building Friday afternoon. Rueda is focusing on Latin American studies at Cal State L.A. and has lived most of her life here. Langarica said Rueda is eligible for protection under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, but had not been able to cobble together the money for her application. Her moms meager wages have been funding her education, Langarica said. If Rueda is released, she could secure DACA protections and remain here, the attorney said. Theres a solution on the horizon, Langarica said. Its absurd we are going through this. The president of Cal State L.A. issued a statement saying the university was gathering information about the incident. The statement did not formally name Rueda. I am deeply concerned about the well-being of our student and hope to learn more soon, President William A. Covino said in a letter emailed to students, faculty and staff. Cal State L.A. does not support policies or efforts that seek to target our students or campus community because of immigration status, ethnicity, race, religion, LGBTQ+ status, or national origin, the letter continued. matt.hamilton@latimes.com Twitter: @MattHjourno ALSO Arrests on civil immigration charges go up 38% in the first 100 days since Trumps executive order Controversial Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke says he will take Homeland Security job Previously deported hit-and-run suspect criminally charged with federal immigration violation UPDATES: 3:50 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details. This article was originally published at 10:30 a.m. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, an international tribunal, has decided to investigate a case involving allegations that border officials tortured and killed a man in their custody in San Diego almost seven years ago. The commission is part of the Organization of American States, of which the United States is a member, and headquartered in Washington, D.C. It gave the administration of President Donald Trump three months to respond to claims from the mans family that Border Patrol and Customs and Border Protection officers tortured and killed Anastasio Hernandez Rojas and that the U.S. government has failed to punish the agents involved. This was something that hit our family really hard, said Maria Puga, his widow, through a translator at a news conference this week drawing attention to the commissions decision. Justice must be served, and thats why were here. Advertisement The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to requests for comment on the case. Terence Shigg, President of San Diegos chapter of the National Border Patrol Council, said that using the case to vilify Border Patrol was unfair. This case has unjustly been used by various groups to further their agenda against Border Patrol agents, Shigg said via email. This is the first time that a case will be heard by the commission for an extrajudicial killing involving U.S. law enforcement, according to Roxanna Altholz, one of the attorneys representing the family. A U.S. representative did not appear at commission hearings for three unrelated cases in March 2017. The U.S.'s participation in previous hearings has been selective for years, according to a written account from Richard Wilson, a professor at American University who used to bring cases before the commission. The commission issued a resolution in March concerning another U.S. case involving a man on death row in Virginia who alleges flaws in his trial inhibited his right to due process. In 2016, the commission commented on asylum cases for several individuals from El Salvador and Haiti seeking protection in the U.S. as well as killings of African-Americans by U.S. law enforcement. The Department of Justice, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Securitys Office of the Inspector General investigated the death of Anastasio Hernandez Rojas and in 2015 decided not to charge the agents involved in criminal court. It is shameful that our country was not able to deliver justice, said Christian Ramirez, human rights director for Alliance San Diego, at Wednesdays news conference. Ramirez said whether the Trump administration responds to the commission will be an indication of its accountability and transparency. If the administration does not respond, the commission may find a default judgment for the family. Hernandez Rojas and his brother were caught entering the U.S. without permission near Otay Mesa in May 2010 after being deported, according to a petition filed by the family. Border Patrol agents took the brothers into custody. After arriving at a Border Patrol station, an agent got mad at Hernandez Rojas and kicked his ankles, according to the petition. Hernandez Rojas had a metal screw in his ankle from an old surgery and was injured by the kicks, the petition says. He was taken to the San Ysidro port of entry to be deported again. When he put his hands at his side instead of by his head, he was beaten with batons, according to the petition. As more border officials gathered around him, people on a pedestrian bridge noticed what was happening and began recording with cellphones. Witnesses saw officials kick Hernandez Rojas and zap him with a Taser, the petition says. Hernandez Rojas became unresponsive after suffering a heart attack. His death was ruled a homicide, according to an autopsy report. The medical examiner found injuries to his internal organs and bruises on much of his body. The examiner also found amphetamines in his system. The Department of Justice investigation found that Hernandez Rojas grappled with the agents and resisted their efforts to restrain him, according to a statement released with the decision not to prosecute the agents involved. It also concluded that the amphetamines were a significant factor in his death. Herandez Rojas family reached a $1 million settlement in February in a civil suit with the U.S. government in federal court. Follow me on Facebook for live updates about immigration news kate.morrissey@sduniontribune.com, @bgirledukate on Twitter Attorney Omar Qudrat is planning a challenge against Rep. Scott Peters to represent a coastal San Diego district. Qudrat has not publicly announced his candidacy, but he has set up a campaign website where he discusses running for office and seeks volunteers and contributions. Hes campaigning on the economy, national defense, helping homeless veterans, education, and upholding the Constitution. Ive never waited for do-nothing politicians to solve our nations problems and neither should you, he said on the site. Join me to bring effective change now. Advertisement Qudrat did not return a request for comment Thursday night. Peters, a Democrat, has represented the district since 2013, and his campaign spokeswoman said hes prepared to represent the district for a fourth term. Scott is focused on job creation and being a check on a reckless Trump administration, said aide MaryAnne Pintar. We know how to win tough races. When its time to campaign, well be ready. Peters received 56.53 percent of the vote in last years election, defeating Republican businesswoman Denise Gitsham. The district includes Coronado, Poway, and several San Diego neighborhoods, including Scripps Ranch, La Jolla, Pacific Beach and University City. Half of UC San Diego is in the district, and the military and biotechnology are major industries. Democrats have a slight voter registration advantage over Republicans with 34.3 percent of the electorate. An additional 30.9 percent are Republicans, and 29.8 percent do not belong to a political party. Currently a reserve officer in the Armys Judge Advocate Generals Corps, Qudrat has worked as a civilian in the Defense Department on cases against accused terrorists, according to his website. It also says his office was involved with the prosecution of the masterminds behind the 2000 bombing of the U.S. destroyer Cole as well as Khalid Sheikh Mohammad and other accused co-conspirators of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The son of immigrants who came to the United States from Afghanistan in the 70s, Qudrat grew up in Los Angeles with his two older sisters. Where others in his neighborhood saw gloom and felt a sense of discouragement about the future, Omars family only saw opportunity and the American dream, his website says. Qudrat was registered to vote in Los Angeles at least as recently as a month ago, and he voted in person in Novembers election, records show. Representatives do not have to live within their districts. Its unclear if these records would show if a voter participated in Tuesdays elections in Los Angeles. Qudrat is a graduate of UCLA, and has two masters degrees and a law degree from Syracuse University. Records show that hes a member of the New York State Bar and lists an address for the Pentagon. Its not clear which party, if any, Qudrat is a member of, but campaign finance records show he has given exclusively to Republicans and he has been a guest speaker at GOP events. Its not clear how Qudrat is currently employed; his website says hes a small-business owner, but does not give further details. And, curiously, Qudrat created a Twitter account in February, has made just one tweet, yet has has 16,100 followers. Similarly, his Instagram account has a paltry 8 pictures, but he has 4,061 followers. His accounts are set to private. Twitter: @jptstewart joshua.stewart@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1841 A Madison man has been identified as the person of interest in a hit-and-run crash that killed a man Saturday on Highway 113 in the town of Westport, authorities reported. Francisco Martinez, 25, is being held in the Dane County Jail on a probation violation, the Sheriffs Office said. Martinez is being investigated in relation to the death of Curtis A. Bonds, 30, of Waunakee, whom Dane County Medical Examiner Vincent Tranchida named Friday. Martinez was brought to jail May 14 after contact with Fitchburg police. He was booked on a probation hold and arrested for drunken driving. A Chevrolet Impala believed to be driven by Martinez has been seized and is being processed for possible evidence related to the crash, police said. Detectives continue to follow up on citizen tips and await test results from the Wisconsin Crime Lab. Anyone who may have seen or had contact with Martinez on Saturday is asked to call 608-284-6900. Editor's Note: This story has been changed to correctly identify the title of Vincent Tranchita. Police are looking for at least two vandals who have shot more than 30 vehicles with BB guns in southern San Diego in the past month. The shootings shattered car windows and damaged car paint, police Sgt. Deana De Los Reyes said. The vandals also have shot out the windows of three homes. No one has been hurt during the vandalism, which has spanned across southern San Diego, including on Thermal, Grove and Twining avenues. Advertisement Investigators believe there are at least two vandals, but they are working with few leads. Most of these incidents are occurring late at night, while most of our community is asleep, said De Los Reyes, adding that police hope someone has heard or seen something. Our community is an honest, hard-working community and these are expensive repairs that are just malicious, said De Los Reyes. Anyone with information about the crimes or vandals was asked to call De Los Reyes at (619) 424-0425. Two fugitives wanted in a City Heights fatal shooting in April were arrested in Mexico and returned to San Diego on Thursday, police said. Luis Alejandro Dominguez, 19, and Abraham Leal Torres, 20, were jailed on murder and attempted murder charges. They are suspected of killing Angel Sanabria, 26, and wounding a 29-year-old man on April 1. The shooting was reported about 6:50 p.m., but when officers got to an alley off 44th and Thorn streets, no victims were there. Witnesses told police the shooter and a companion had run off and the wounded men had been driven away. Advertisement Ten minutes later, a trauma center notified police that they were treating a victim of several gunshot wounds. That man, Sanabria, died a short time later. A few minutes after that, the second victim turned up at a different hospital and survived his single wound, San Diego police homicide Lt. Mike Holden said. Investigators found out that the victims had been in the alley when two men approached them, one carrying a gun. He opened fire on Sanabria and the other man. A motive for the shooting has not been released. Several cars parked nearby were hit by the gunfire. Police on Friday said that Torres and Dominguez were identified as suspects in the case and arrest warrants were issued for them. On Thursday they were arrested in Ensenada by the United States Marshals Service and Mexican authorities. They were booked into San Diego County jail that evening. We have reached the high holy days of Californias budget season, as our governor and legislature decide which programs will gain life, and which will be sacrificed. And so, per tradition, our states ministers have begun their ritual sermons on the dangers of overspending. They are preaching nonsense. Californias real problem is underspending. Go ahead and dismiss this as blasphemy. After so many years of budget crises and big deficits, Californians have adopted a budget theology grounded in self-flagellation, even though our recent budgets contain small surpluses. You can probably recite the catechism yourself: Were still sinners who spend too much on state services! Far more than we take in! So save us, Nondenominational Higher Power, from our profligate selves with budget cuts or spending limits! Advertisement I am here to tell you that what Californias budget religion urgently needs is reformation. And that requires genuine revelation. Our states tendency to produce big deficits is not caused by big spending. We have had big deficits because our state budget is based on volatile formulas that expand deficits in unpredictable ways. In fact, California has long been on par with other states in expenditures per capita and in spending as a percentage of state GDP. Nevertheless, we cling to our religious fear of overspending and take the cheaper path which often costs the state more money in the long run. The problems of underspending are most obvious when it comes to pension obligations. California governments and employees have long spent too little money on contributions to pension funds. So, to catch up to our pension obligations, California taxpayers are having to make much bigger contributions now, leaving less money for critical services like schools and health care. The costliness of underspending is also the story behind rising public higher education costs in California. Over generations, the state has cut back its relative contribution to the University of California and California State University systems. This underspending has been made up for in part with ever-higher tuition fees for students. While overspending may be the state enemy, underspending gets you into more trouble. The UC presidents office is under siege now for underspending a state audit found it had more than $100 million in secret reserves. The state parks department had a similar scandal around unspent money in 2012. And in Californias prisons, underspending led to intervention by the federal courts, which ordered the state to spend more on its unconstitutionally overcrowded prisons while reducing the prison population. Underspending also explains problems with our basic services. Reports have found that the state spends tens of billions less on schools than would be necessary to provide all Californians with an adequate education. And that underspending has real costs: California is not producing enough college graduates and skilled workers. That the state has failed for generations to spend enough to build and maintain infrastructure is obvious in the degrading of roads, bridges, and waterways. Most recently, the states failure to spend to create strong-enough spillways at Oroville Dam is forcing California to make hundreds of millions of dollars worth of repairs before the next rainy season. Our states leaders understand the problem with underspending, but they havent been successful at explaining the problem, credibly, to the public. It also hasnt helped that when state officials do need to spend big, they havent been very good at it. Examples include the new Bay Bridge, with its delays, cost overruns, and questions about the integrity of its steel rods, and the high-speed rail project, where spending and construction has been so slow that many people think the project will die. In recent budgets, Gov. Jerry Brown and the legislature have sought to counter the states tendency to underspend now and pay later. Theyve made a great show of efforts to pay down debt earlier. And Browns current budget proposal suggests making a large advance contribution to pensions now, in order to reduce liabilities later. But that payment, unfortunately, is achieved by borrowing billions from a state special fund. Brown has grown popular as a proselytizer of the credo that California can be managed on the cheap. Thats appealing dogma for a state whose people struggle with a very high cost of living. But the realities of our state should remind us that successfully running California on the cheap is a fantasy. And a very expensive one at that. Mathews writes for Zocalo Public Square. Every day we hear about manufacturers embracing exciting new technologies to become more streamlined, efficient and competitive. Californias innovative companies are adopting advanced manufacturing techniques to meet our stringent new environmental sustainability goals. California needs a skilled workforce to perform all the jobs in our increasingly complex manufacturing economy. Trained machinists, electrical and mechanical technicians are already in high demand and can command middle class and better wages without a college degree. As one of the largest industrial states in the country, we need thousands of new workers to operate robots, manage data, and program computers to support manufacturing design, production and logistical systems. While the need is great, national and state programs for career and technical education (CTE) and other job-training systems have been lagging. More than 80 percent of manufacturing executives believe the skills gap will impact their ability to meet customer demand. The average age of a manufacturing worker is now 57 and retirements are accelerating. Over the next decade, nearly 3.5 million U.S. manufacturing jobs need to be filled and the skills gap is expected to result in 2 million of those jobs going unfilled. Advertisement In 2012 the challenge in California became greater when Gov. Jerry Brown announced a new funding formula to provide local school districts more authority to spend their education dollars. Manufacturers feared that local districts would stop funding CTE in favor of other educational purposes. While districts are required to achieve certain state standards and metrics, local districts are not yet required to account for their ability to prepare students for careers and postsecondary training programs. Evidence that education policymakers were not going to save CTE was shown by the Department of Education decision in 2010 to stop tracking and releasing yearly high school CTE enrollments. Because CTE enjoys no statutory protection, special state oversight and funding is justified. In 2015 a stopgap solution was passed and became law. Legislators and the governor agreed that for three years under the Career Technical Education Incentive Grant the state would match local investments to maintain high quality and industry-relevant CTE programs. In 2018 these resources are coming to an end yet the need for the programs has never been greater. That is why we are supporting AB 445, a bipartisan effort authored by Assembly members Jordan Cunningham, R-Templeton, and Patrick ODonnell, D-Long Beach, to continue state Career Technical Education funding for another three years. Many programs across the state used the original grant funds to develop local CTE infrastructure for planning, education, counseling and work opportunities. Every public education dollar should be wisely spent to prepare our children to meet both their academic and career goals. AB 445 is the right choice to continue funding for critical CTE programs so that interested students have the opportunities they deserve to join the exciting advanced manufacturing economy. Rothrock is the president of the California Manufacturers & Technology Association. Website: www.cmta.net This academic year, thousands of San Diego students have seen their schools thrown into jeopardy courtesy of a new interpretation of an unchanged law. More than 25,000 students attend 43 nonclassroom-based (NCB) charter schools in San Diego County. These schools represent more students than most districts in San Diego County, and they largely serve a student population that was not reaching its fullest potential at a traditional neighborhood school. NCB students work from home, at their own pace, and schedule a mixture of classroom time and independent learning. In order to provide support, NCB schools set up resource centers where students go to check in with teachers and counselors, take classes, and participate in extracurricular activities. Students also receive special education and English language learner services and take state tests at these centers. Advertisement Since 2002, the California Department of Education has guided these free public schools to operate resource centers outside of their authorizing district, yet within the county, to best serve their students. In 2013, a school district challenged the legality of this because of the geographic site-based school restriction found in the Charter Schools Act. Although the charter school won the initial court decision, the appellate court overturned the decision. While Education Code permits NCB schools to enroll students throughout the county as well as adjacent counties, this new interpretation is making it impossible to provide a free and appropriate education for them. Both large districts and charter schools are now spending countless hours and large sums of taxpayer dollars, taking away from our more important focus on supporting student growth and learning. The bigger tragedy is that school districts are making decisions based on dollars instead of focusing on what is best for students and their achievement. We will continue to explore all options in order to continue to serve our students under the new interpretation of the law. This new interpretation is unreasonable and negatively impacts thousands of students who traditional schools and educational approaches have already failed. NCB schools provide parents and students a choice for personalized learning models to students who dont want a typical traditional school model, such as actors and athletes, those who are medically fragile or on work-study, and students who are at risk of dropping out of high school. We serve as a lifeline and, often times, a last chance for these students. We all know the value of a high school diploma and how, without one, the future for our students is limited. This week the State Board of Education put kids first by approving waivers for 31 charter schools that requested flexibility over the next year to transition their operations to comply with the new interpretation of the law. School districts have the opportunity to do the same. We call on local school board members and superintendents to turn the focus back on meeting student needs. Do not disrupt student education by forcing students into a model that does not meet their needs. To minimize the impact to students and their families, support our efforts to comply with the recent law interpretation by approving NCB petitions and supporting our waiver process. Let students learn in the environment that best fits their needs rather than impose a model for purely financial considerations. Kids futures depend on it. Our communities depend on it. Its the right thing to do to move education forward in a way that supports every student. Cauzza is executive director of Julian Charter School; Curry is executive director of The Classical Academies; Hermsmeyer is superintendent of Springs Charter Schools; Novacek is executive director of Element Education, Inc. The authors are leaders of San Diego County public charter schools offering nonclassroom-based instruction options. The University of Californias Board of Regents continues to betray its obligation to defend the interests of Californians by supporting UCs bureaucracy with too little skepticism. Last year, regents denounced state Auditor Elaine Howles report that found UC lowered admission requirements for out-of-state applicants for nearly a decade while denying admission to nearly 4,300 qualified Californians using out-of-state students higher tuition rates to avoid any belt-tightening during the states revenue recession. Advertisement At a meeting Thursday, regents sided with the bureaucracy yet again, heaping praise on UC President Janet Napolitano despite another harsh state audit. This one alleged she hid $175 million in funds while successfully pushing for a tuition hike and documented how her aides interfered with investigators attempts to have individual UC campuses offer candid reviews of UCs Office of the President. Howle noted Thursday that her audit didnt target Napolitano personally for the lack of fiscal transparency that has plagued the UC system for decades. But the regents who used that as an opening to push back at the recent criticism of UCs president from lawmakers and the media dont seem to grasp that they are enabling Napolitano and encouraging her disregard for efforts in Sacramento to get a much better sense of how and why UC spends its $32 billion budget. UCs independence is written into the California Constitution, and the UC presidents bosses have her back seemingly no matter what. Yes, Napolitano said she would implement all 33 recommendations in Howles audit. But be thankful the state auditor and the media are demanding to see if and what Napolitano does. Twitter: @sdutIdeas Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion Regarding Housing discrimination in San Diego persists. Know your rights (May 12): Fair housing laws are akin to the Ten Commandments of the rental housing industry. Education and outreach on fair housing laws is a great tool for keeping residents and landlords abreast of these laws, which often change. The industry sees about 100 bills introduced each year. That is why the San Diego County Apartment Association provides fair housing training for its members every year; four courses have been held in 2017 thus far, with at least five more planned. While the landlords referenced in this opinion piece are not indicative of most property owners and managers in our region, we agree that more education for landlords and residents, not more laws, is needed to address any intended or unintended housing discrimination against all protected classes. According to the California Department of Fair Employment and Housings 2015 Annual Report, of the 5,096 housing complaints received, roughly 400 stemmed from claims about landlords refusing to rent to people with children. Advertisement In San Diego, most landlords are what we call independent owners, with just one to 15 units, many of whom purchased their properties as investments to aid them in their retirement years. They are parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, teachers and firemen. Perhaps this is an opportunity for parties on both sides of the coin to partner to share best practices and learn from each other. After all, we are all members of this community and concerned with the housing shortage. LaMarca is board president of the San Diego County Apartment Association. Letters and commentary policy The U-T welcomes and encourages community dialogue on important public matters. Please visit this page for more details on our letters and commentaries policy. You can email letters@sduniontribune.com or leave a comment below. Want to see more letters that appear only online? Follow @UTLetters on Twitter and UTOpinion on Facebook. President Donald Trump is embarking on his first foreign trip to the Middle East and Europe, and the nine-day itinerary he has planned is packed. Joined by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, first lady Melania Trump, his daughter Ivanka Trump and other administration officials, the president will meet with world leaders such as King Salman of Saudi Arabia and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Advertisement One of the central themes of the trip, according to the White House, is to broadcast a message of unity to Americas friends and to the faithful of three of the worlds greatest religions. Getting ready for my big foreign trip. Will be strongly protecting American interests - that's what I like to do! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 19, 2017 This trip is truly historic, Trump press secretary Sean Spicer said last week. No president has ever visited the homelands and holy sites of the Jewish, Christian and Muslims faiths all on one trip. Heres a schedule of some of the main events: May 20-21, Saudi Arabia 1) Meet with Gulf Cooperation Council (it includes countries like United Arab Emirates and Qatar) 2) Hold a lunch with dozens of Muslim country leaders and give a speech about the need to confront radical ideology and his hopes for a peaceful vision of Islam 3) Attend the inauguration of a center to fight radicalism and promote moderation May 22-23, Israel 1) Lay a wreath at the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, Yad Vashem 2) Speak at the Israel Museum celebrating the unique history of Israel and of the Jewish people and the bond between the U.S. and Israel 3) Meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem 4) Say a prayer at the Western Wall, one of the countrys holiest and most controversial sites May 24, Vatican City 1) Meet with Pope Francis May 24-25, Belgium 1) Meet at European Union headquarters with E.U. leaders and European Council presidents 2) Have lunch with new French President Emmanuel Macron 3) Attend a North Atlantic Treaty Organization leaders summit May 26-27, Italy 1) Confer with Group of 7 (G7) heads of state from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom The pressure on Trump to have a successful first trip abroad is high given the week in Washington that is just ending and the roster of world leaders the president is expected to visit, including President Fuad Masum of Iraq, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt, President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan. Theres even a website dedicated to the high expectations for Trumps meetings in Saudi Arabia. The New York Times is reporting that some advice has been shared with foreign officials ahead of their meetings with the president: Compliment him on his Electoral College victory. Contrast him favorably with President Barack Obama. Do not get hung up on whatever was said during the campaign. Meanwhile, the Associated Press is reporting that caterers in Saudi Arabia are planning to serve his favorite meal, apparently steak with ketchup. The trip is a source of much fascination among Americans and people around the world. Check out the discussion leading up to it. Many are rooting for Trumps success. Others are voicing their concerns. I wish Trump was going to Canada or Mexico for his first trip abroad instead of Saudi Arabia. Wonder if he is wishing the same right now? Michael McFaul (@McFaul) May 18, 2017 One of my concerns about Trump's trip is that Saudis will get him to join their planned attack on Hodeidah, Yemen, amplifying famine there. Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) May 19, 2017 And some are just cracking jokes about the trip. Predictions for Trump's trip: 1. Lasts 5 days max, not 8 2. Calls foreign leader by wrong name 3. Falls asleep or gets sick on camera 4. pic.twitter.com/dUoykjQHZg Wendy Molyneux (@WendyMolyneux) May 19, 2017 Trump'll be *fine* on this trip. A little ambien to fight jet lag, a few uppers to revive him, then some long, high-stakes speeches. Easy. Ken Tremendous (@KenTremendous) May 18, 2017 What are you expectations for Trumps trip? Send us a tweet to @sdutideas and we may add it to this page! Email: abby.hamblin@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @abbyhamblin He once shared a meal with former President Barack Obama in Vietnam, but chef and television star Anthony Bourdain said, without citing politics, that he cant see himself sharing a meal with President Donald Trump . So, whats the beef? I cant see the point, he only talks about himself and hes only interested in himself, Bourdain revealed to the New York Daily News. Plus he eats his steak well done. I think that really settles it. Bourdains candid remark came as Trump prepared to travel to Saudi Arabia, where he reportedly has requested to have his favorite meal steak with a side of ketchup, the Associated Press reported and his taste for well-done steak became, once again, the center of discussion online. Trumps love for well-done steaks (with ketchup) is well-documented and debated. Reports of Trumps taste for steaks began to circulate last year while campaigning for president and during a stop at a steak restaurant in Manchester, New Hampshire. There, the then-presidential candidate was overheard ordering a ribeye steak, well done. Daily Telegraph editor Ruth Sherlock broke the news in a tweet, which was followed by criticism from infuriated steak lovers. At the time, the revelation was so curious that Bourdain commented about it in June 2016 when asked which presidential candidate hed like to share a meal with. Trump. But for all the wrong reasons. I'd like to see him struggle with chopsticks and eat a well done [expletive] steak, Bourdain said at the time. Peculiar eating habits of presidents of the United States have been documented before. Fox News Sean Hannity once ridiculed Obama for ordering a burger with dijon spicy mustard. Bill Clinton had a love for McDonalds, which was mocked in a Saturday Night Live skit. And Richard Nixon had a thing for breakfast that included cottage cheese, fresh fruit, wheat germ and coffee. Little divides Americans like beef, though. Is it better rare or well done? Is it better alone or with a little sauce on the side, like ketchup or A1 sauce? Heres a taste of what Americans are saying on Twitter about Trump's love of well-done steaks with ketchup. Some people cant believe it. Others cant get enough of it. Share your thoughts with me. How do you like your steak? 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. CHANGING OF THE GUARDDoug Ranger Doug Oliver has sold the business he opened 10 years ago Ranger Dougs Shootists Emporium at 649-C Main St. to Dan Wisnewski, president of the Ramona Sportsmens Club. After he retired from the La Mesa Police Department, Oliver opened the business and started the popular Day of the Cowboy in Ramona to coincide with the National Day of the Cowboy on the fourth Saturday in July. Since he and his wife Lynn plan to move to Montana, he looked for someone to take Day of the Cowboy over, because he wanted the community event to continue. The event brings people to town, he said, and provides a weekend activity for local residents. Ramonas 11th Annual Day of the Cowboy will be July 22. STEPPING UPNot only has the Kiwanis Club of Ramona stepped up to run Ramona Day of the Cowboy in July, but the club also will be the sole presenter of the 2018 Music Fest. Ramona Rotary Club decided to back out of future involvement in the Music Fest, which the two clubs had staged together for 10 years. In addition, several Kiwanians trained to be docents at the Guy B. Woodward Museum at 645 Main St. after the club learned that Ramona Pioneer Historical Society was short of volunteers to lead tours of the museum grounds at 645 Main St. Ramona Kiwanis also presents the Bow Wow Pow Wow Dog Show in June and assists Ramona Rotary with parking at Rotarys July 4 Fireworks & Family Picnic. With three new members scheduled to join its ranks, Kiwanis Club of Ramona will have 23 members. Pat Bell, club president, said they want to add more so they can do more in the community. We want to go back to where we used to be years ago, being involved in the community, Bell said. Its good to have active service clubs. Service clubs are a good thing for a community. Kiwanis meets Saturdays in Dennys at 1946 Main St. at 7 a.m. The breakfast meetings include a guest speaker. Guests are always welcome. For more information about Kiwanis, contact Bob Hailey at 760-522-2625 or Bell at 760-533-4884. GROWING FAMILYWhen Kayla Duba was Kayla Spurlock, she wore the Miss Rodeo Poway crown, then the Miss Rodeo Bakersfield crown, and then the Miss Rodeo California crown. During her year as state rodeo queen, she met a bullfighter. They fell in love and shes now Dusty Dubas wife. As a Ramona Rodeo Committee member and rodeo production manager, Kayla stays busy before, during, and after each rodeo. She was pregnant at last years rodeo, but that didnt slow her activities at all. This year rodeo fans will meet the Dubas 8-month-old son, Luke Edward Duba. With proud grandparents Nancy and Larry Spurlock thoroughly enjoying their grandson and more than willing to spend as much time as they can with him, Kayla and Dusty no doubt will have no trouble meeting all their responsibilities this weekend. Rodeo royalty Ramona Rodeo Queen Ashley McDonald and visiting rodeo royalty will help promote Ramona Rodeo and meet and greet the public at a fundraiser in Rubios at 1664 Main St. Thursday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The fundraiser will help support McDonalds travel while she represents Ramona Rodeo throughout the county. From there, the group will head over to the rodeo grounds, 421 Aqua Lane, for Slack Rodeo that will start at 8. Admission to slack is free, and the public is encouraged to attend. Training ambulance Ramona Municipal Water District directors voted to donate a retired Ramona Fire Department ambulance to the Cal Fire/San Diego County Fire Training Center. Cal Fire Capt. Jared Andrade, Ramona Fire Departments emergency medical services coordinator, said the training center at the Cal Fire San Diego Monte Vista Headquarters does not have an ambulance. To have one for training will be beneficial to new hires who could be stationed in Ramona, he said. The ambulance was retired due to age and mileage after the fire department purchased two new ambulances. Historically, the fire department puts a retired ambulance in a public auction and receives less than $4,000, according to the district. Pops Concert Bands and performers from Ramona High School and Olive Peirce Middle School will present the Royal Alliance Pop Concert and Silent Auction Fundraiser in the Ramona High School gymnasium, 1401 Hanson Lane, on Friday. Doors will open at 7 p.m. and the concert will begin at 7:30. The annual fundraiser for the Alliance for Music Education will feature the middle school concert band and the high school jazz band, symphonic band, percussion ensemble, color guard, and drum line. Also planned are a silent auction and concession sales. General admission tickets are $8. Tickets for staff and students are $5, and family pack tickets for four are $24. To reserve a seat, call 619-203-1202 or email info@royalallianceband.org. Hannah Farhat, Kyra Pilkerton earn academic honor at OSU Two Ramona residents Hannah L. Farhat and Kyra L. Pilkerton earned all As for a 4.0 GPA during the winter term at Oregon State University. Their academic achievement puts them on the universitys Scholastic Honor Roll. Pilkerton, a sophomore, is a pre-public health major. Farhat, a freshman, majors in kinesiology. Fit for a Cure Fit for a Cure, Ramona Fitness Centers Susan G. Komen 3 Day Walk team, will hold a garage sale at 558 Main St. starting at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday. The event is a fundraiser for the teams participation in the walk, with proceeds supporting breast cancer research and education. Art Guild Ramona Art Guild will present a workshop featuring artist Chuck McPherson in Ramona Library Community Room, 1275 Main St., from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m on Saturday. Cost is $35 for members, $40 for non-members. Register at www.ramonaartguild.com. High school prom Many Ramona high school students will be dressing up and traveling in style to their High School Prom at The New Childrens Museum in San Diego from 7 to 11 p.m. on Saturday. Foundation grants Ramona Community Foundation reminds nonprofits that the deadline to apply for 2017 grants is June 1. The foundation, an affiliate of The San Diego Foundation, provides grant guidelines at www.sdfountation.org. It invites nonprofit organizations and agencies to submit proposals that demonstrate the power to build a more vibrant community. For more information, contact Kerri Favela at kerri@sdfoundation.org. Think about it Theres an article about New York City in Aprils Smithsonian magazine that touches on the hospital at Ellis Island, the main port of entry to the U.S. from 1892 to 1954. The state-of-the-art facility, based on a design by Florence Nightingale, offered free health care to every third-class immigrant. Only 3,500 of about one million patients died; most of the others were granted entry. Think about it: the United States once provided health care to people who had no claim whatever on our national resources. Nowadays Republicans in Congress which includes our District 50 representative Duncan Hunter are trying to pass a health care bill that could take health insurance away from actual Americans, members of our present community. Its hard for me to accept how little concern we seem to have for poor children, disabled people, low-wage workers, seniors who need long-term care, and the chronically ill. I think we were a better nation when our values included generosity and compassion, when our grandparents and great-grandparents were welcomed to this country, and cared for humanely, and started on the path to citizenship. For free. Lark Burkhart Ramona Concerned about vaping proposal I am concerned about the Cigarette Smoking Reduction and Electronic Vapor Alternatives Act of 2017" (H.R. 2194) recently introduced by Congressman Duncan Hunter. (Yes thats our Congressman Duncan Hunter, recently, and famously, pictured vaping during a congressional hearing.) Congressman Hunter supports vaping as a tool to stop smoking. However, the CDC has reported that from 2013 to 2014, e-cigarette use by middle and high school students tripled. Are all these kids trying to quit smoking? Or is vaping just cool? Scientific studies indicate that vaping liquids contain toxic ingredients. Coincidentally, Big Tobacco has been purchasing e-cigarette manufacturers at a rapid rate. Can we really trust Big Tobacco to have our best interests at heart? My father-in-law (age 98) remembers the Red Cross passing out cigarettes to troops overseas during World War II. He took up smoking then, but thankfully quit after the war. The serious consequences of tobacco use were not known in the 1940s. Similarly, the long-term risks of vaping are not known now. Also, if I read it right, Congressman Hunters bill seems to restrict a states ability to set more stringent regulations than are set out in H.R. 2194. But I could be wrong about that. If I am, I hope Congressman Hunters office will let me know. Katie Reid Ramona Time to join our humane neighbors Rodeos have experienced a resurgence across the western United States that they dont deserve. Abusing animals via rodeos is the official state sport in Texas. Tools of torment are used to spark specific behavior from the animals in order to make them more aggressive than their natural, gentle state. The hot shot, an electrical prod, is similar to a police taser weapon. Other crippling tools or weapons, like bucking straps, literally burn the animals abdomen and groin to force it into bucking. The four most popular rodeo events include: Calf roping. Here, a roper yanks a young calf into the air by its neck, slams it into the ground and ties its legs together leaving the calf to scream in agony. It suffers neck injuries even death. Steer busting: Here a cowboy ropes the steer, flipping it into the air. This is the most dangerous technique of all. The Nevada state veterinarian has condemned its use. Steer wrestling: Here the animal is induced into a high level of stress and can suffer ripped tendons, sprains, and bruising, or even a broken neck. Bull riding and saddle bronc-riding: Bucking straps, electric prods, and spurs are used to torture the animal into submission to the roper. These hapless creatures are often transported great distances in stifling sardine-packed trucks and trailers for 24 hours without being fed or watered. Rodeo calves may be roped repeatedly until they suffer injuries that require them to be replaced. The Northern California-based Animal Legal Defense Fund monitors the use of animals in rodeos. The ALDF has successfully sued the states largest rodeo in Salinas, on behalf of Showing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK), an international group dedicated to protecting animals from abuse, neglect, and cruelty. Many countries ban rodeos, including the United Kingdom. Its time America joins our more humane neighbors. Peter W. Quercia Ramona Endeavor Diagnostics billed itself as a thriving medical laboratory that performed more than $1 million of work for Medicare patients. When two FBI agents went to inspect it, they found an empty San Fernando Valley office with only a desk and a fax machine. There were no workers, no patients and no biological samples. Behind the door of the facade were signs tying the operation to a sprawling network of phantom enterprises allegedly set up by Armenian mobsters to try to defraud Medicare of $163 million for services never provided. Advertisement Dozens of arrests around the country Wednesday highlighted a criminal demographic rarely seen, but one that officials say is rooted in California and growing in reach and sophistication. They are victimizing our systems, they are victimizing business, they are victimizing private citizens, said Glendale police Lt. Steve Davey, who heads up a task force tackling Eurasian crime. Their ultimate goal is oligarchy - to see if they can infiltrate government. Few criminal groups can match the sophistication of Armenian scammers, who developed an uncanny savvy for probing weaknesses in government systems and were hailed as heroes when they exploited their Soviet republic homeland, authorities said. They have been known for devising complex white collar schemes such as credit card fraud, identity theft and mortgage fraud. Indictments released Wednesday in Los Angeles, New York and elsewhere show how various cells, largely working on their own but often sharing techniques, set up fraudulent medical businesses using stolen physician identities. After becoming licensed Medicare providers and submitting claims, the fake office billed the government, which would pay money to fraudulent bank accounts. Many claims were bogus but sometimes criminals would provide a small service then submit an inflated bill. In Los Angeles, for example, they would provide a scooter worth about $1,000, but profit after billing Medicare for a top-end electric wheelchair worth six times as much, FBI Supervisory Special Agent Matt McLaughlin said. The groups have been known to recruit people with a nominal sum to become a fake patient, then bill Medicare for services supposedly rendered. Its great camouflage, McLaughlin said. We have to deconstruct each element to prove a fraud. Prosecutors also allege that conspirators paid corrupt doctors to carry out unnecessary testing on purported accident victims, then charged the government for the treatment. In all, $163 million in fraudulent bills were submitted, with Medicare actually paying out $35 million, according to the documents. The complex operation was allegedly overseen by Armen Kazarian, who melded into Glendales large Armenian population after arriving as an asylum seeker in 1996 and mostly stayed out of view of the police. Kazarian, 46, who is in custody in Los Angeles, is known by the Soviet term thief in law, which is the rough equivalent of a godfather. Authorities say it is only the second time such a figure, known in Russian as a vor v zakone, has been arrested in the U.S. Nearly half of Glendales 200,000 residents have an Armenian background. Following the 1915 massacre of Armenians in Turkey, a diaspora spread around the globe, with many arriving in Fresno and the East Coast. Successive waves of immigrants followed major geopolitical upheavals, including the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, and a small Armenian community in Hollywood quickly expanded to Glendale and the surrounding areas. In the mid-1980s, sons of Armenian immigrants from the Hollywood area banded together to form a gang called Armenian Power to protect themselves against Hispanic gangs. The community initially saw members as vigilante protectors but the group soon morphed into a street gang like any other, carrying out drive-by shootings and other crimes such as kidnappings, drug deals and burglaries, Glendale Officer Rafael Quintero said. But most crime in the Armenian community is carried out quietly and centers on sophisticated identity theft schemes. Police started picking up on these activities at the end of the 1990s and Glendales task force was established in 2000, Davey said. Several police agencies have task forces focused on Eurasian crime but Los Angeles police Lt. Stephen Margolis said this operation illustrates how the law enforcement community overall should pay closer attention. The sophistication and the pervasiveness of this type of criminal activity is years in the making, Margolis said. Hopefully this will serve as a wake up to the extent of the seriousness this problem presents at a national level. Zaven Kazazian, president of the Los Angeles chapter of the Armenian-American Chamber of Commerce, said much of the crime in the community is carried out by people raised under communist rule in the former Soviet republic of Armenia, where exploiting a corrupt government was seen as fair game. It is a different cultural background, Kazazian said. Everybody was out for themselves. Kazazian stressed that only a handful of Armenians are engaged in criminal enterprises and cautioned against making generalizations. We are embarrassed by it and we do not have any affiliation with them. They do not represent the true Armenian people, he said. Its like saying all Italians are part of the Mafia. Thats just stupid. Prosecutors say the crime ring was known as the Mirzoyan-Terdjanian Organization, named after its principal leaders Davit Mirzoyan, 34, of Glendale and Robert Terdjanian, 35, of Brooklyn. Most of the 44 people charged are from the Los Angeles area and New York but arrests were also made in Georgia, New Mexico and Ohio. The seven defendants named in the Los Angeles indictment have all pleaded not guilty. Defendants named in the New York portion of the case had either pleaded not guilty or were due to be arraigned Monday. A call to Kazarians defense attorney, Vicken Hagopian, was not immediately returned Friday. As the thief-in-law of the operation, Kazarian was touted by authorities as the big catch. But the role of such vor v zakones is more subtle than that of a Mafia boss, Lt. Davey said. Armenian crime bosses typically are nominated by other criminals and their main task is to mediate disputes between groups. Though they describe no actual violence, authorities allege Kazarian helped the Mirzoyan-Terdjanian Organization and would use threats to resolve disputes in the U.S., Armenia and other places. Armenia has said it will cooperate with the U.S. in its investigation and Foreign Ministry spokesman Tigran Balayan has said his nation was sorry. SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) A California moving company that has been trying to expand to Reno has run into regulations that challenge Nevadas reputation for being a business-friendly state, attorneys said in announcing a federal lawsuit on Wednesday. Steve Saxon, owner of Affordable Moving & Storage in Sacramento, filed suit last week in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas, calling Nevadas business license regulations unconstitutional. The lawsuit was submitted by the Pacific Legal Foundation, a conservative group that advocates for limited government. The suit claims that Nevada essentially bans new competition from moving companies, limousine services and other transportation-related businesses unless existing companies dont object. Advertisement If an existing company does object, the applying business must prove that it wont create competition, the suit claims. Saxon, who runs a fleet of 10 trucks, said that gives competitors veto powers. Its basically protecting the ones that are already in place, and preventing new ones from coming in, Saxon told The Sacramento Bee in Wednesdays edition. Theres a very few companies in Reno; theyve got a monopoly. Nevada state officials wont comment on the lawsuit. However, Teri Williams, a spokeswoman for Nevadas Department of Business and Industry, said the state has allowed 46 moving companies to start up since 2000. Six of them have expanded, she said. Saxon is being joined by the owners of a Reno limousine service that was denied permission to expand its fleet last summer. The Pacific Legal Foundation is representing both plaintiffs at no charge. ___ Information from: The Sacramento Bee, https://www.sacbee.com WASHINGTON The pleasant surprise of the First 100 Days is over. The action was hectic, heated, often confused, but well within the bounds of normalcy. Policy (e.g., health care) was being hashed out, a Supreme Court nominee confirmed, foreign policy challenges (e.g. North Korea) addressed. Donald Trumps character volatile, impulsive, often self-destructive had not changed since the campaign. But it seemed as if the guardrails of our democracy Congress, the courts, the states, the media, the Cabinet were keeping things within bounds. Then came the past 10 days. The country is now caught in the internal maelstrom that is the mind of Donald Trump. We are in the realm of the id. Chaos reigns. No guardrails can hold. Normal activity disappears. North Koreas launch of an alarming new missile and a problematic visit from the president of Turkey (locus of our most complicated and tortured allied relationship) barely evoke notice. Nothing can escape the black hole of a three-part presidential meltdown. First, the firing of James Comey. Trump , consumed by the perceived threat of the Russia probe to his legitimacy, executes a mindlessly impulsive dismissal of the FBI director. He then surrounds it with a bodyguard of lies attributing the dismissal to a Justice Department recommendation which his staff goes out and parrots. Only to be undermined and humiliated when the boss contradicts them within 48 hours. Result? Layers of falsehoods giving the impression of an elaborate cover-up in the absence of a crime. At least Nixon was trying to quash a third-rate burglary and associated felonies. Here we dont even have a body, let alone a smoking gun. Trump insists theres no there there, but acts as if the there is everywhere. Second, Trumps divulging classified information to the Russians. A stupid, needless mistake. But despite the media hysteria, hardly an irreparable national security calamity. The Israelis, whose asset might have been jeopardized, are no doubt upset. But the notion this will cause a great rupture to their (and others) intelligence relationship with the U.S. is nonsense. These kinds of things happen all the time. When the Obama administration spilled secrets of the anti-Iranian Stuxnet virus or blew the cover of a double agent in Yemen, there was none of the garment-rending that followed Trumps disclosure. But once again, the cover-up far exceeded the crime. Trump had three top officials come out and declare the disclosure story false. The next morning, Trump tweeted he was entirely within his rights to reveal what he revealed, thereby verifying the truth of the story. His national security adviser H.R. McMaster floundered his way through a news conference, trying to reconcile his initial denial with Trumps subsequent contradiction. It was a sorry sight. So is it any wonder that when the third crisis hit on Tuesday the Comey memo claiming Trump tried to get him to call off the FBI investigation of Michael Flynn Republicans hid under their beds rather than come out to defend the president? The White House hurriedly issued a statement denying the story. The statement was unsigned. You want your name on a statement your boss could peremptorily contradict in a twitter-second? Republicans are beginning to panic. One sign is the notion now circulating that, perhaps to fend off ultimate impeachment, Trump be dumped by way of 25th Amendment. Thats the post-Kennedy assassination measure providing for removing an incapacitated president on the decision of the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet. This is the worst idea since Leno at 10 p.m. It perverts the very intent of the amendment. It was meant for a stroke, not stupidity; for Alzheimers, not narcissism. Otherwise, what it authorizes is a coup willful overthrow by the leaders own closest associates. I thought we had progressed beyond the Tudors and the Stuarts. Moreover, this would be seen by millions as an establishment usurpation to get rid of a disruptive outsider. It would be the most destabilizing event in American political history the gratuitous overthrow of an essential constant in American politics, namely the fixedness of the presidential term (save for high crimes and misdemeanors). Trumps behavior is deeply disturbing but hardly surprising. His mercurial nature is not the product of a post-inaugural adder sting at Mar-a-Lago. Its been there all along. And the American electorate chose him nonetheless. What to do? Strengthen the guardrails. Redouble oversight of this errant president. Follow the facts, especially the Comey memos. And let the chips fall where they may. But no tricks, constitutional or otherwise. If you want to know how Republicans will campaign in the 2018 midterm elections, you dont have to wait. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Janesville, gave an early preview last week at a rally for Karen Handel, the Republican candidate in the runoff for Georgias 6th District seat. If youre just tuning in to the race, Handel is a former Georgia secretary of state and would be the first Republican woman elected to Congress from the Peach State. She is running against Jon Ossoff, a 30-year-old Democrat and former Hill staffer who nearly won the seat outright last month, when he received 48 percent of the vote. The suburban district is wealthy, highly educated, and newly politically turbulent. The longtime GOP stronghold went for President Donald Trump by just 1 percent in November. Because the result here will be spun as a proxy for 2018, not to mention an early referendum on Trump, GOP leaders are pouring time, money and resources into the district. But in the first serious contest of the Trump era, they are running a race almost as if President Trump does not exist including Mondays visit from Speaker Ryan. The rally was short, sweet, and like a time capsule that could have been buried in 1994, 2004 or 2014. By Ryan and Handels telling, Republicans have lots of principles. They are very conservative. The details were few, the platitudes were many. (Talk is cheap, The stakes are high.) And if anything was going wrong, it was all Nancy Pelosis fault, a go-to Republican concept for the last 10 years. (The Left and Nancy Pelosi are trying to stymie the people of this district, Ryan warned.) If a Republican was in the White House on Monday, it was not at all clear from either Ryan or Handels brief remarks, each of which clocked in at under 5 minutes. If a president existed at all, that would have been news to the rally, too. Though Pelosis name was invoked four times at various levels of ridicule and blame, neither the speaker, Handel, nor NRCC Chairman Steve Stivers mentioned President Trumps name even once. President who? It seemed like Republicans had never even met the guy. Its not at all complicated to understand why Republicans on Capitol Hill and on the campaign trail seem to wish Trump would just fade into the wallpaper. Trump has been a one-man wrecking ball in the daily news cycles for the past 125 days. He canned the FBI director as the FBI was investigating his campaign. He appears to have shared highly classified information with the Russian government. He rails against leaks and still picks up the phone and calls reporters himself. His staff is spinning out of control. He wont stop tweeting. And yet, Trump has a higher approval rating in the 6th District than Handel or Ryan. National polls also routinely show the president damaged as he may already be is more popular than the Republican Congress. And this is where it gets really complicated for Republicans, who have spent their entire careers as the party of national security, family values and conservative principles, but now have a president who seems to challenge at least one of those principles every day. This isnt to say Ryan needs to comment every time the president says or does something controversial. It is not prudent, or even advisable, for Republicans to respond or opine on every piece of breaking news or everything Trump says on his Twitter feed, especially when reporting is based on anonymous sources and involves classified material that even Congress has not even been read in on. But the chaos that Trump is spinning at the White House is forcing the Republican Party into the background. The more they try to ignore Trump and act like theres nothing to see here, the more they are becoming the silent players in this drama. Nothing could do more damage to Republicans brand as the party of principles and values than their willingness to stand by and say nothing if those values are being challenged. Republicans can recruit great candidates, draft a million talking points, and raise all the money they want. But they cant blame Pelosi for forcing them to stand by as a president decapitates the FBI, glad-hands the Russians, and declassifies information on the fly. Republicans have no safe silence anymore. Voters want authenticity and honesty. Americans want to know theyre safe, and that someone, somewhere, is going to stop the crazy train if it ever looks like its really going off the rails. Republican leaders can give Americans that assurance, but they havent so far. Steve Slon explores the lush beauty of Ireland. On Day 1, he arrives at Lyrath Hotel in Kilkenny. Weekly Newsletter The best of The Saturday Evening Post in your inbox! Join Steve Slon attends a conference of travel writers in Ireland and does a little sightseeing, as well. See the entire series. Day 1. Getting There Arrive Dublin airport around 8:30 AM. Very little sleep. Disturbingly mammoth line to go through customs. But its no more than a formality of stamping passports, so it moves quickly. Board bus with a group of travel writers and ride to Lyrath Hotel in Kilkenny. The hotel is grand, built in the 17th century on the site of a ruined castle from Medieval times. Nothing left of that original castle unfortunately, but the 17th century wing of the hotel is ivy covered and charming. Three humongous golden retrievers greet us. Or, rather, I should say, allow us to step carefully over them as they lie immobile in the doorway. The traveling part of traveling is not much fun. The getting there is the fun part. And, as Ive learned, you quickly forget about the jet lag and the hassle of airplane travel, customs and the like. You simply need to spend the first day abroad getting organized or catching up on sleep, or both. In this case, Id forgotten to bring adapters for the Irish wall sockets. Oops, helpless without a way to charge batteries for computer, smart phone, camera. (How has all this equipment become so essential in such a few short years?) Figured Id just call down to the lobby for a spare, but the hotel didnt have any. So I spent a good deal of time calling around and finally found a store in Kilkenny that carried them. Taxi to the store, where it turned out the only product they had is a very fancy, multipurpose adapter for just about any kind of socket you can find, UK, US, Italy and several other places. It cost about $40. Okay, this is the price of traveling. Paid the bill and got back in the cab. End of story? Not exactly. The affable cabbie is horrified to learn how much Ive spent on the adapter. He takes me to the Irish equivalent of a dollar store where I purchase three adapters for about five bucks. I plan to return the expensive version tomorrow. Major feeling of accomplishment for solving this conundrum. That evening, lovely dinner at the hotel with speeches and general good cheer. Among the attendees, travel writers, editors of travel magazines and other publications (like the Post) that include articles about traveling. Wonderful talk by our keynote speaker, George Stone, Editor in Chief of National Geographic Traveler magazine, in which he talks about the value of travel in connecting us to different cultures and revealing the similarities of the human experience across the artificial divide of borderlines. Ruth Moran, who represents Irish tourism, reads a poem consisting of a compilation, one line from each person, who were asked on facebook to answer the question Ireland is..? She warns before reading it that we wont understand all, and we dont, but we get the warm feeling just the same. (Ill just share some of the best bits here. ) Ireland is Ireland is mammy shouting Close the door, youll leave the heat out A Daddy who cant say how much he misses you Where it rains in the front garden And its a rainbow out the back Ireland is The official home of the rainbow marriage Where warm hearts send blood to warm toes While we listen to the death notices on the radio And give single finger waves on country roads Ireland is midnight mass at 9 Oclock Where the wit is dry but the weather is wet Where loving yourself is seen as being too big for your boots A soggy little rock onto which our dreams cling like limpets Ireland is Where Pennies is an acceptable response to a compliment on your outfit Ireland is a tayto sandwich Ireland puts clothes on the line in November Because using the tumble dryer would be a fierce extravagance altogether Its a damp eyed tune with a wooden spoon And worrying about the person you gave directions to Ireland is.. A mammy offering you a sandwich even though shes not your mammy Ireland is my home, my heart and my blood Ireland is not using the good room Where a potato in a suit is a national treasure Its the squint on the lough against the cold autumn sun And the fog of glorious stories condensing on the pubs window pane Ireland is easy to leave but impossible to escape Its thanking the bus driver for getting us there safe Ireland is a box of fancy biscuits you are not allowed to eat, just in case Ireland is green fields and laughter Where youre mammy says, were not made of money as an answer to almost everything Even though the answer is usually sudocream Ireland is cutting the grass because the neighbors did theirs Solving the entire worlds problems, one cup of tea at a time Ireland is not being able to say goodbye Ok, bye, bye, bye now, good luck, bye, bye, bye Steve Slon is the Editorial Director for The Saturday Evening Post. See the entire series. South Jordan, UT -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/19/2017 -- 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 South Jordan, UTAH General Society of Mayflower Descendant, Adam Paul Green (Ancestor Stephen Hopkins / Gen.No. 86,723) Declares New Geneology Resource Website for Local Enthusiasts http://www.rich.goodchocolateblog.com/ Women of Early Plymouth: Governor William Bradford reported that the Pilgrims were worried that the "weak bodies of women" would not be able to withstand the rigors of a trans-Atlantic voyage and the construction of a colony. Prior to the Mayflower, very few English women had made the voyage across the ocean. Sir Walter Raleigh's Roanoke colony arrived in Virginia in 1587, and amongst those 120 colonists there were 17 women: a baby girl, Virginia Dare, was born after arrival. When re-supply ships came from England, they could not relocate the people. The colony had mysteriously disappeared, and was never seen again. The Jamestown Colony was founded in 1607, but relatively few women had yet made the voyage and taken up residence there. The Pilgrim husband, as head of the household, had an important and difficult decision to make. Building a colony would be hard on a woman's "weaker body." It might be safer and healthier to leave her behind, and have her come later once the houses were built, and the general safety and successfulness of the colony were better established. But that could be several years. Could he live several years without his wife? How strong was his wife anyway, could she really handle it? Was it right to put your wife's life in danger in this manner? As the Mayflower left England for America, there were 18 adult women on-board. Three of them, Elizabeth Hopkins, Susanna White, and Mary Allerton, were actually in their last trimester of a pregnancy. All the adult women on the Mayflower were married; there were no single women--although there were a few teenage girls nearing marriageable age. While no women would die during the Mayflower's voyage, life after arrival proved extremely difficult. In fact, 78% of the women would die the first winter, a far higher percentage than for men or children. Dorothy Bradford was the first woman to die, and the only woman who died in the month of December. While many of the men, including her husband, were out exploring on Cape Cod, she accidentally fell off the Mayflower into the bitter cold waters of Provincetown Harbor. Most of the women's death dates were not recorded, but we do know that Rose Standish died on January 29, Mary Allerton died on February 25, and Elizabeth Winslow died on March 24. Most of the women died in February and March. The extremely high mortality rate among women is probably explainable by the fact the men were out in the fresh air, felling trees, building structures and drinking fresh New England water; while the women were confined to the damp, filthy and crowded quarters offered by the Mayflower, where disease would have spread much more quickly. The two-month voyage was long enough; the women, however, remained living on the ship for an additional four months while the men built storehouses and living quarters on shore. Many of the sick were no doubt cared for on-board the ship by the women, increasing their exposure to colds and pneumonias. William Mullins died on February 21, apparently on-board the Mayflower since his will was witnessed by the ship's captain and ship's surgeon. His wife Alice and son Joseph had not yet died, but it wasn't too long before they did, orphaning their teenage daughter Priscilla in the New World. Only five women survived the first winter. One of the five survivors, Mrs. Katherine Carver, died in May of a "broken heart," her husband John having died of sunstroke a month earlier. Weak bodies or not, by the time of the famous "Thanksgiving," there were only four women left to care for the Colony's fifty surviving men and children. The four women were Eleanor Billington, Elizabeth Hopkins, Mary Brewster, and Susanna (White) Winslow. http://mayflowerhistory.com/women The End of the Mayflower: "Mayflower's End," by Mike Haywood. The Mayflower returned to England from Plymouth Colony, arriving back on 9 May 1621. Christopher Jones took the ship out on a trading voyage to Rochelle, France, in October 1621, returning with a cargo of Bay salt. Christopher Jones, master and quarter-owner of the Mayflower, died and was buried at Rotherhithe, co. Surrey, England, on 5 March 1621/2. No further record of the Mayflower is found until May 1624, when it was appraised for the purposes of probate and was described as being in ruins. The ship was almost certainly sold off as scrap. The claim, first originating from J. Rendel Harris' book The Finding of the Mayflower (1920), that the Mayflower ended up as a barn in Jordans, England, is now widely discredited as being a figment of an overzealous imagination on the tercentenary anniversary of the Mayflower's voyage, combined with a tainted oral history. None of the evidence has withstood subsequent investigation. Regardless of the lack of evidence for its authenticity, it has been featured in National Geographic on several occasions and is a tourist destination. It is important to realize that in 1624, when the ship was scrapped, it was not at all famous, and nobody would have thought twice about letting it rot away. Adam Paul Green was born to a multi-talented beauty queen Mother and a Father who, in addition to being a US Army Spy and a Counter-Intelligence Special Agent, was also a highly accomplished entrepreneur. Adam was taught at a young age that, in both life and business, loyalty is a requirement for success. He's had the honor of working directly with his father in several of the family businesses. In fact, this is where he learned crucial entrepreneurial skills and honed his talents with international business strategies and venture capitalism. http://www.AdamPaulGreen.com , http://www.ImAdamGreen.com Adam earned his Bachelors of Science Degree in International Business and Marketing from the University of Utah. He was hand-picked by the President of the University's renowned School of Business to compete with dozens of other ambitious nationwide-graduates for the opportunity to secure a lucrative job within a prestigious Fortune 100 company. http://www.Twitter.com/AdamPaulGreen Adam's hard work and creativity helped him land this job of a lifetime. He obtained incredible business experience there and spent years innovating, improving processes and setting sales records. Although this dream job in Traditional Corporate America was a fun challenge for him, and something he truly enjoyed mastering, Adam's natural entrepreneurial spirit kept nudging him to do something more significant with his time and talents. http://www.MyChocolatePod.com , http://www.Facebook.com/AdamPaulGreen Since 2001, Adam has been involved in the Health and Wellness Industry as a successful Entrepreneur, Broker, Product Developer and Manufacturer of Cosmeceutical products. During his career, he has worked with some of the most recognizable Fortune 500 businesses along with many top international Network Marketing companies. Adam has consistently proven his unique ability to help his clients achieve their goals through creative Distribution-Channel Placement, innovative Product Development and custom Manufacturing. Adam currently owns three profitable businesses. Admittedly, Adam was not initially a fan of Network Marketing. He did not understand the business model because it was new to him. However, once he learned that the REAL focus of Direct Sales is to help average people get a taste of entrepreneurialism --- with minimal risk and at a low cost --- Adam was absolutely convinced of the potential with Multi-Level Marketing. http://www.ImAdamGreen.com About MayflowerHistory.com MayflowerHistory.com, the Internet's most complete and accurate website dealing with the Mayflower passengers and the history of the Pilgrims and early Plymouth Colony. The website was first created back in 1994 (when the web was still mostly text!) as a simple, but complete, passenger list of the Mayflower. It has grown over the past twenty years as the author, historian Caleb Johnson, has researched and compiled material. http://mayflowerhistory.com South Ogden, UT -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/19/2017 -- 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 The Mayflower was hired in London, and sailed from London to Southampton in July 1620 to begin loading food and supplies for the voyage--much of which was purchased at Southampton. The Pilgrims were mostly still living in the city of Leiden, in the Netherlands. They hired a ship called the Speedwell to take them from Delfshaven, the Netherlands, to Southampton, England, to meet up with the Mayflower. The two ships planned to sail together to Northern Virginia. The Speedwell departed Delfthaven on July 22, and arrived at Southampton, where they found the Mayflower waiting for them. The Speedwell had been leaking on her voyage from the Netherlands to England, though, so they spent the next week patching her up. On August 5, the two ships finally set sail for America. But the Speedwell began leaking again, so they pulled into the town of Dartmouth for repairs, arriving there about August 12. The Speedwell was patched up again, and the two ships again set sail for America about August 21. After the two ships had sailed about 300 miles out to sea, the Speedwell again began to leak. Frustrated with the enormous amount of time lost, and their inability to fix the Speedwell so that it could be sea-worthy, they returned to Plymouth, England, and made the decision to leave the Speedwell behind. The Mayflower would go to America alone. The cargo on the Speedwell was transferred over to the Mayflower; some of the passengers were so tired and disappointed with all the problems that they quit and went home. Others crammed themselves onto the already very crowded Mayflower. Finally, on September 6, the Mayflower departed from Plymouth, England, and headed for America. By the time the Pilgrims had left England, they had already been living onboard the ships for nearly a month and a half. The voyage itself across the Atlantic Ocean took 66 days, from their departure on September 6, until Cape Cod was sighted on 9 November 1620. The first half of the voyage went fairly smoothly, the only major problem was sea-sickness. But by October, they began encountering a number of Atlantic storms that made the voyage treacherous. Several times, the wind was so strong they had to just drift where the weather took them; it was not safe to use the ship's sails. The Pilgrims intended to land in Northern Virginia, which at the time included the region as far north as the Hudson River in the modern State of New York. The Hudson River, in fact, was their originally intended destination. They had received good reports on this region while in the Netherlands. All things considered, the Mayflower was almost right on target, missing the Hudson River by just a few degrees. As the Mayflower approached land, the crew spotted Cape Cod just as the sun rose on November 9. The Pilgrims decided to head south, to the mouth of the Hudson River in New York, where they intended to make their plantation. However, as the Mayflower headed south, it encountered some very rough seas, and nearly shipwrecked. The Pilgrims then decided, rather than risk another attempt to go south they would just stay and explore Cape Cod. They turned back north, rounded the tip, and anchored in what is now Provincetown Harbor. The Pilgrims would spend the next month and a half exploring Cape Cod, trying to decide where they would build their plantation. On December 25, 1620, they had finally decided upon Plymouth, and began construction of their first buildings. South Ogden, UTAH General Society of Mayflower Descendant, Adam Paul Green (Ancestor Stephen Hopkins / Gen.No. 86,723) Announces New Geneology Asset Website for Local Enthusiasts http://www.rich.goodchocolateblog.com/ Master Christopher Jones and several business partners purchased the ship Mayflower about 1607. Its origins prior to that remain uncertain. Its first documented voyage of record was to Trondheim, Norway, in 1609. Andrew Pawling hired the ship to take a cargo of London goods to Norway, sell them off, and buy Norway goods (lumber, tar, and fish) to return back to England. Unfortunately on the return voyage, the Mayflower encountered a severe North Sea storm and the master and crew were forced to toss most of Pawlings goods overboard to lighten the ship. The home of Master Christopher Jones: Harwich, co. Essex, England. http://mayflowerhistory.com/ Following that, Christopher Jones seems to have stuck with safer trading routes. The Mayflower made numerous trips primarily to Bordeaux, France, returning to London with cargoes of French wine, Cognac, vinegar, and salt. The Mayflower could freight about 180 tons of cargo. The Mayflower also made occasional voyages to other ports, including once to Malaga, Spain, and twice to Hamburg, Germany. Upon returning from a voyage to Bordeaux, France, in May 1620, the Mayflower and master Christopher Jones were hired to take the Pilgrims to Northern Virginia. This was the first recorded trans-Atlantic voyage for both ship and master, though Christopher Jones had several crewmembers, including pilot and master's mates John Clarke and Robert Coppin, who had been to the New World before. The Mayflower was supposed to accompany another ship, the Speedwell, to America, but the Speedwell proved too leaky for the voyage so the Mayflower proceeded alone. Departing on 6 September 1620, the ship was at sea for 66 days, arriving November 9. The ship and crew overwintered with the Pilgrims and departed back for England on 5 April 1621, arriving back to England on May 6. Christopher Jones took the ship out for a few more trading runs, but he died a couple of years later in March 1621/2. The ship was appraised for probate purposes in May 1624, and was referred to as being "in ruins." It was only valued at 128 pounds sterling, and was almost certainly broken up and sold off as scrap. Adam Paul Green was born to a multi-talented beauty queen Mother and a Father who, in addition to being a US Army Spy and a Counter-Intelligence Special Agent, was also a highly accomplished entrepreneur. Adam was taught at a young age that, in both life and business, loyalty is a requirement for success. He's had the honor of working directly with his father in several of the family businesses. In fact, this is where he learned crucial entrepreneurial skills and honed his talents with international business strategies and venture capitalism. http://www.AdamPaulGreen.com , http://www.ImAdamGreen.com Adam earned his Bachelors of Science Degree in International Business and Marketing from the University of Utah. He was hand-picked by the President of the University's renowned School of Business to compete with dozens of other ambitious nationwide-graduates for the opportunity to secure a lucrative job within a prestigious Fortune 100 company. http://www.Twitter.com/AdamPaulGreen Adam's hard work and creativity helped him land this job of a lifetime. He obtained incredible business experience there and spent years innovating, improving processes and setting sales records. Although this dream job in Traditional Corporate America was a fun challenge for him, and something he truly enjoyed mastering, Adam's natural entrepreneurial spirit kept nudging him to do something more significant with his time and talents. http://www.MyChocolatePod.com , http://www.Facebook.com/AdamPaulGreen Since 2001, Adam has been involved in the Health and Wellness Industry as a successful Entrepreneur, Broker, Product Developer and Manufacturer of Cosmeceutical products. During his career, he has worked with some of the most recognizable Fortune 500 businesses along with many top international Network Marketing companies. Adam has consistently proven his unique ability to help his clients achieve their goals through creative Distribution-Channel Placement, innovative Product Development and custom Manufacturing. Adam currently owns three profitable businesses. Admittedly, Adam was not initially a fan of Network Marketing. He did not understand the business model because it was new to him. However, once he learned that the REAL focus of Direct Sales is to help average people get a taste of entrepreneurialism --- with minimal risk and at a low cost --- Adam was absolutely convinced of the potential with Multi-Level Marketing. http://www.ImAdamGreen.com About MayflowerHistory.com MayflowerHistory.com, the Internet's most complete and accurate website dealing with the Mayflower passengers and the history of the Pilgrims and early Plymouth Colony. The website was first created back in 1994 (when the web was still mostly text!) as a simple, but complete, passenger list of the Mayflower. It has grown over the past twenty years as the author, historian Caleb Johnson, has researched and compiled material. http://mayflowerhistory.com Last year, astronomers had announced the discovery of a small, rocky Earth-like planet orbiting the solar systems closest neighboring star. Subsequently, researchers from the University of Exeter collaborated with the United Kingdom Met Office to simulate the climate of this distant exoplanet called Proxima b. Now, scientists have taken the first steps to study the climate of this intriguing world that has been hailed as Earths nearest potentially habitable planet. The initial observation of the planet, which is located 4.2 light-years away from Earth in the Alpha Centauri system, indicates that it could lie in the habitable zone of its host star. As per a Gizmodo report, if Proxima b has an Earth-like structure or atmosphere, then it could receive the right amount of light to have liquid water. The simulation by the scientists has shown that the exoplanet has a climate similar to Earth. However, Proxima bs host star radiates light at the near-infrared end of the spectrum. This is not only a different scenario from that of Earth and Sun but that it also means the climate models had to account for various situations. The research team therefore simulated different orbits and atmospheric compositions. "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... would affect the environment," researcher Dr. Ian Boutle said, according to stuff.co.nz. The various models have indicated that Proxima b could have the ability to hold liquid water and could have a stable climate. Incidentally, the researchers have added that they are trying to know more about the bewildering diversity of newly discovered planets in other star systems. However, more importantly, they are trying to exploit the knowledge to improve the understanding of the climate of Earth itself and how it has evolved and will continue to evolve. State lawmakers are now proposing that stealthing -- the act of removing a condom during coitus without permission -- will be classified as a sexual assault. If passed, the bill introduced by Democratic Rep. Melissa Sargent will change the definition of "consent" under Wisconsin Law. The Washington Post stated that the bill categorized sex as nonconsensual if one partner removes a "sexually protective device" without permission from the other partner. Thus, if the intercourse is nonconsensual, it will be, by law, a form of sexual assault. She also said on Twitter that the issue is not whether or not this is happening, but if anyone is doing anything about it. Rep. Sargent also mentioned that since introducing the legislation, people from Madison and the university have shared their own stories about their experiences with such violation. Wisconsin is not the only state to pass such law. California State Rep. Cristina Garcia introduced a new bill that describes stealthing as a violation of consent, as it exposes victims to unwanted pregnancy and STDs. CBS News quoted Rep. Garcia in a statement, saying that "Stealthing is rape. Penetration without consent is rape." "Stealthing" made headlines last month. The subject went viral following a paper published in the Columbia Journal of Gender and Law. In the publication, author Alexandra Brodsky recounted the experiences of victims and the lack of recognition for what happened to them in the U.S. legal system. Brodsky did not even coin the term herself. In fact, it seems that men who promoted such act started calling it that way. Wisconsin's local law enforcement, including the Madison Police Department and the University of Wisconsin Police Department, for instance, said that they never received a report of "stealthing" and are quite unfamiliar with the term. Campus police spokesman Marc Lovicott told NBC News in an email that they have not experienced investigating a case of stealthing before. I have learned the hard way not to put my personal life on the Internet. But suffice it to say that, God willing, things should be pretty much back to norm... 3 weeks ago FLORENCE, S.C. Sixty students graduated from Poynor Adult Education on Thursday evening, May 18, and 25 participated in the graduation ceremony. Mike King, South Carolina State Adult Education Director, delivered the message to graduates and encouraged them to remain focused on their goals. If you know whats next, dont let anything stand in the way, King said. Get the job done. Dont procrastinate and make excuses. You have proved that you can conquer giant things, so search your heart and create a plan. As students crossed the stage to receive their GED, instructors read personalized remarks to describe what stood out about each student. Students shook hands with Florence School District One Superintendent Dr. Randy Bridges, Board Chairman Barry Townsend and Poynor Instructor Lonnie Davis. Based on work ethic and academic achievement, 21 students were inducted into the National Adult Education Honor Society. Also, six students received college ready scores on the GED. Student Jasmine Williams was named Transition Student of the Year for her determination, self-motivation and positive attitude. Transition specialist and GED Instructor Leann Griggs said that she is seeing an increase in students interest in attending college and their desire to be driven learners. It seems the number of students going to college is growing every year, Griggs said. Even if students did not plan to attend college, Griggs said this years graduating class was particularly interested in growing professionally. She said that students not only specified their career goals but asked good questions about job possibilities. Students are more inquisitive about what kinds of jobs are out there, Griggs said. They want to learn about the routes that they need to take to get there. When students begin the adult education program, they take an interest inventory and a personality test. This allows them to identify their strengths and helps instructors guide them to careers that best suit them. Also, instructors show students details about those careers including average salary and number of positions available. Recent graduate Remon Cadet said that his instructors were pivotal in his success toward achieving his GED. My instructors helped me each step of the way, Cadet said. They made sure we had the right studies and materials to make it through the day. Cadet plans to attend college and major in chemistry. When he entered the adult education program, his scores identified his potential in this area of study, and that was helpful to him in making future plans. Cadet wants to begin at Florence Darlington Technical College and then transfer to the University of Miami which is where he is from. Im taking new steps to a new direction, Cadet said. Im feeling good about life. While his mother was unable to attend the ceremony, he FaceTimed her afterward to share his enthusiasm for graduating. Student Hailey Moore also said that her instructors were significant motivators in her life. Passionate about cosmetology, Moores next step is to attend Kenneth Shuler . I feel great, Moore said. I can finally move on with the career I want to pursue. Financial advisor supporting Fincantieri for the transaction is BNP Paribas. Fincantieri is continuing to negotiate with the French State for the finalization of the shareholders agreement for STX France in accordance with the heads of terms signed on April 12, 2017. Based in Saint-Nazaire, on the French Atlantic coast, STX France has approximately 2,600 employees and a network of more than 500 subcontractors. In 2016 it generated revenues of approximately 1.4bn. According to Seatrade, the combined cruise orderbook of STX and Fincantieri amounts to 41 firm ocean-going newbuilds plus options: STX France accounts for 12 ships and Fincantieri 29, in a forward orderbook to 2025. Any change to the forecasts envisaged by Fincantieri's 2016-2020 Business Plan will be evaluated and disclosed based on the finalization of the agreements among future shareholders of STX France, reported the Italian industrial group. The proposed new integrated data centre is planned to be able to systematically accumulate and analyse information while study latest trends among shipping companies, thereby generating container traffic information and identifying areas to raise productivity, the local media cited BPA as announcing. BPA is expected to commence construction of the data centre later this year, with the first phase of development due for completion by August, and the last two phases scheduled to be competed by 2019. The first phase of work will allow Busan port officials to identify any change or shift in exports and imports in the shipping market, while keeping an eye on the quantity of goods transported in South Korea. The data gathered will also benefit shipping companies and terminal operators, as it is difficult for them to gather comprehensive information about the port and shipping traffic independently. One useful data to know, for instance, is that by finding out the times during which trailers are most occupied and the length of time spent moving goods at terminals at Busan port, the data will help shipping companies reduce waiting times, which will lead to higher productivity. Marco Polo Marine and Marco Polo Shipyard filed the applications on Wednesday with the High Court ordering certain pending legal actions, including a statutory demand, to be restrained in the interim, Marco Polo Marine announced to the Singapore Exchange (SGX). Beleaguered Marco Polo Marine said the scheme moratorium will restrain all legal proceedings against the company and the subsidiary to allow them to finalise a scheme of arrangement with their creditors as part of the groups proposed refinancing and debt restructuring. Early this month, the woes of the company deepened after it failed to reach an agreement on refinancing and restructuring with some of its lenders. For the first half of the groups financial results, Marco Polo Marine reported a bigger loss of SGD4.77m ($3.4m) compared to the deficit of SGD1.1m in the year-ago period. Should the noteholders not consent to the proposed resolutions, this would presumably result in the insolvency of Rickmers Holding, the company said in a Q&A on its bond restructuring. Should Rickmers be declared insolvent unsecured claims would be met only to the amount of the insolvency quota. Rickmers said that insolvency specialists Brinkmann & Partner the best case scenario for insolvency would see bondholders being paid less than the amount of the 8.875% interest payment due on June 11 that they would certainly receive if the proposed authorisation was given. Last week Rickmers failed to hit the required quorum of bondholders with noteholders corresponding to only 17.37% of the outstanding bond capital voting. A quorum of 50% was required. Rickmers has called a second meeting of the bondholders in form of a physical meeting on 1 June 2017. The situation is reminiscent of that experienced by Singapore-listed shipping trust spin-off Rickmers Maritime which failed to get approval for its planned restructuring from bondholders and is now being wound-up. Under the proposed restructuring, sole shareholder Bertram Rickmers is prepared to reduce his stake from 100% to 24.9% to allow key stakeholders to majority control the company. Press Release May 19, 2017 ANGARA TELLS GOV'T WORKERS: YOUR MIDYEAR BONUS IS FATTER GOVERNMENT workers' midyear bonus envelops, particularly those that are P82,000 and below, are fatter this year, according to a senator. Senator Sonny Angara, chairman of the Senate committee on ways and means, announced that the benefit of Republic Act 10653, which he authored and sponsored last year, mandating tax exemption for bonuses not over than P82,000, is applicable to the midyear bonus scheduled to be given to state employees this month. RA 10653 provides that the 13th month pay and other benefits, including productivity incentives and Christmas bonuses not exceeding P82,000 being given to both government and private sector employees should be tax-free. "Make no mistake about it. Even the midyear bonus is covered by this law. That's why I'm reminding employees who are receiving the midyear bonus to carefully check your envelops or your ATMs," Angara said in a statement. Before RA 10653 was signed into law in February last year, only bonuses not exceeding P30,000 were exempted from tax. "Tinaasan natin ang tax exemption cap sa mga bonus para naman mas malaki ang maiuuwi nilang (workers) pera sa kanilang pamilya," he said. The midyear bonus is equivalent to one month's basic pay, and will be given on top of the 13th month bonus employees are entitled to every December. The budget department announced that it has allotted a total of P32 billion- P26 billion for civilian personnel and P6 billion for unformed and military personnel- for the payout this year of midyear bonus of government employees. Under Budget Circular 2017-2 issued on May 8, the bonus will cover all civilian, uniformed and military personnel - as long as they've been in government service for at least four months of service since July 2016. Press Release May 19, 2017 Sen. De Lima on her perception of Lt. Col. Marcelino Dispatch from Crame No. 87 5 / 19 / 17 My perception of Marcelino then, when I was the DOJ Secretary, is that he was a very reliable and efficient anti-drug operative. He was probably one of the best among the government's anti-narcotics agents. Several major drug busts that were carried out by the NBI under my supervision relied on information and advice given by Marcelino in the course of our inter-agency coordination. As soon as Marcelino was arrested--ironically for the same crime he was so good at fighting--the Duterte regime through PAO Chief Persida Acosta demanded him to implicate me in the drug trade in exchange for his freedom. Marcelino refused. I am not sure about the kind of pressure bearing upon Marcelino now. Last year, he refused to testify against me in the House Bilibid drug trade hearings, on account of the dishonor of bearing false witness against another innocent person. Almost one year is about to pass since then, and I can only speculate as to the reasons behind his turnaround. But I am no longer surprised. By now, I am so used to this regime's habit of blaming the whole illegal drug industry on me as the supposed number one drug lord, while it continues to have nothing to show for its drug war in terms of cutting off the source from China and prosecuting the real Chinese drug lords. All it can show are the more than 9,000 alleged petty pushers and addicts dead, killed like pigs without due process, and one Lola from Iriga whose only deadly vice is cooking laing to die for. I think Marcelino still has honor, and whatever lies he is forced to tell are not easy for him to declare, if not for some overwhelming pressure or threat coming from the tyrant and his minions. This regime of the worst and dumbest is already famous for turning men of integrity against their sworn duties and word of honor, and making the stupidest and most incompetent "honorables", with their titles and positions. It is the highest honor to be persecuted by a kakistocracy. More so if that regime of incompetents and dullards continues to see you, a laing-cooking Lola from Iriga who is already in jail, as still the single most significant threat to their stupidity or impotence. Press Release May 19, 2017 Drilon alarmed by govt decision to reject EU aid Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon said he was saddened by the decision of the Duterte administration to stop receiving developmental aid from the European Union (EU), expressing deep concern that the move might negatively affect trade relations between the Philippines and EU member countries. "I am saddened by the decision. The EU has been a reliable trading partner and their assistance, by way of grant or aid, extended to the country through the years has been benefiting our people particularly those in the impoverished communities in Mindanao," Drilon said. "I hope that the government has studied this thoroughly and carefully and is prepared to deal with the consequences of its decision," Drilon said. Drilon said that "the EU has been a Philippine's committed partner in the pursuit of peace and development in Mindanao." He emphasized that because of EU's support to the peace process in Mindanao, it has provided around 80% of the total funds to the Mindanao Trust Fund, a fund facility set-up by various donors to fund socio-economic recovery of conflict-affected communities of Mindanao. On the economic side, Drilon said the Philippines and EU's partnership has resulted in billions of pesos in trade, helping to boost the economy and generate job opportunities. "We must not forget that aside from developmental aid, we are beneficiaries of the Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) that allows the Philippines to export 6,274 products to the EU at zero tariff, including the famous tuna of General Santos City," Drilon stressed. This makes EU as one of the biggest trading partners of the Philippines, according to Drilon, with the total trade between the EU and the Philippines reaching 12.9 billion euros or roughly P704 billion in 2015. "Of which 1.38 billion euros were from products qualified under the GSP+ scheme," Drilon underscored. For the first quarter of 2017, data provided by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that exports to EU constitute 15.5% of total exports of the Philippines, making the EU as the fastest growing export market for Philippine products, Drilon emphasized. Drilon noted that before the Philippines was accepted in the GSP+ in 2014, Filipino exporters had suffered heavily from the declining trade with the EU, from 8.5 billion euros in 2002 to 5.1 billion euros in 2014. However, Drilon said "the decision might trigger the removal of the Philippines from the GSP+." "Once GSP+ is withdrawn, Filipino producers will be charged tariff rates," according to Drilon. Citing the tuna industry as an example, he said the country's tuna will be imposed a 22% tariff once GSP+ is removed. The value of tuna exports to EU member countries such as Germany, United Kingdom and the Netherlands in 2015 amounted to $133.12 million or roughly P6.65 billion, he noted, citing the PSA data. He said that the tuna industry, as well as those products enjoying zero tariff stand to lose millions of pesos in case the GSP+ is terminated. The minority leader said that he does not believe that the EU will interfere in the country's internal affairs, saying that "the Philippine and EU's long-standing partnership has always been based on mutual respect and cooperation." "While it is the right of any country to accept or reject any grant from another country or institution, I do not agree that the grants offered by the EU would give it a license to interfere in our country's internal affairs," Drilon. "We are just being asked to adhere to our treaty obligations and they did not come from the EU but from the treaties that we have signed and ratified," Drilon concluded. Press Release May 19, 2017 Koko: PDP Laban favors semi-presidential federal government Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III today said the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP Laban) wanted to introduce a semi-presidential system or a "hybrid parliamentary system" in the proposed federal government. "This is uniquely Filipino. We adopt the advantages of the parliamentary system at the same time respecting the Filipinos' preference for a strong President at the helm," said Pimentel, president of the administration party leading the call for Charter change. Under the proposed system, the country, he said, would have a President, directly elected by the people as head of state, and a Prime Minister, chosen by the House of Representatives and formally appointed by the President as head of government. Pimentel said the President would be in charge of national defense and of foreign affairs, and would serve as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. He would also be responsible for the appointments of officials in the federal government. The Prime Minister, he said, "runs the government" and would have power over all matters concerning domestic and economic policy that are not assigned to the President. He would be responsible for the appointment of officials not covered by the President. "A majority of the heads of ministries/departments shall come from the House of Representatives. This is the Cabinet," Pimentel said. In addition to the recommended changes in the executive-legislative set-up, he said the PDP Laban also proposed to abolish the post of Vice-President but the position could be retained if it would be the wish of the Filipino people. However, Pimentel said the party wanted the vote for the President in the elections to become a vote also for the Vice President, who would be given a new task as presiding officer of the Senate since the federal state would adopt a bicameral legislature. The Senate, he said, would represent the regions while the House of Representatives would represent the population, reflecting the principle of federalism that both the regions and the population are represented in the bicameral federal legislature. The new Senate, he said, would be represented by senators from each of the proposed eleven regions of the country, numbering from three to seven members per region, to raise the total memberships from a low of 33 to a high of 77. The Senate's powers and responsibilities, he said, include concurring in treaties and international agreements, confirming the appointments made by the President and Prime Minister, and acting as impeachment court, among others. Pimentel said the Senate would have limited law-making powers as laws only need to pass the House of Representatives. It can only propose legislation, or concur in a measure that has impact on regional governments, like the passage of tax laws and national budget. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 2 1 of 2 Paul Chinn/The Chronicle Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Harry McCracken Show More Show Less Three people were injured Thursday afternoon after a fire broke out during Googles annual conference for developers at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, authorities said. It was not immediately clear what caused the fire reported just before 4 p.m., said Lynn Brown, a spokesman for the Mountain View Fire Department. For nearly four years, Nicaraguan immigrant Claudia Blandon Soto lived in the basement of a Laundromat in San Franciscos Excelsior neighborhood with about two dozen people some of whom had called the subterranean space home for as long as a decade. The cramped, dark and dusty living quarters went undetected by authorities until January, when an inspection revealed what one Fire Department official called a death trap. A little more than a month later, the last of the residents had to leave. That has led to another ordeal for the former tenants, some of them undocumented immigrants and all of them of limited means: Although they no longer live in squalor, they have been forced to find affordable housing in a city with precious little of it. The basement beneath the Clean Wash Center at 4690 Mission St. was known as 5 Persia Ave., an address that doesnt exist on any map. It was unknown to city building and fire authorities until firefighters, acting on an anonymous tip, inspected the illegally converted storage space one month after the Ghost Ship fire in Oakland killed 36 people at a converted warehouse Dec. 2. Soto and 18 other former tenants, many of whom speak little English, are now suing their former landlord for damages after the city determined it was too hazardous for them to remain there. No one should be living in this place, said Idin Kashefipour, their attorney. Soto, 44, lived in the basement with her husband, Osmar Blandon, 46, and their 22-year-old son, Carlos. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, the steady thrum of washers and dryers droned a few feet above the basement where the tenants ate, bathed and slept. Fire officials who inspected the basement Jan. 5 found it had been illegally subdivided into 20 units divided by panels of drywall. Each unit measured roughly 150 square feet. A crude bathroom blocked a hallway, exposed wires poked through the walls, and extension cords powered both fans and space heaters. The sole exit was 200 feet from the farthest unit. Debris from what was once a storage space littered the basement, and tenants said the air was often thick with dust because the ventilation was so poor. Lt. Jonathan Baxter, a spokesman for the Fire Department, called the basement a death trap. We determined immediately that there were very egregious fire code violations that were present, that we believed would result in death of occupants if a fire or disaster occurred at that building, Baxter said. A little more than a month after the inspection, city officials found that none of the code violations had been fixed. They gave the residents 48 hours to leave. The former tenants who sued in San Francisco Superior Court named as defendants Ernesto Paredes, who residents say was the basements landlord, and Melissa Mendoza. State records show she has owned the building through a business since 2008. An attorney for Paredes declined to comment, and an attorney for Mendoza did not respond to requests for an interview. Paredes and Mendoza could not be reached. The suit contends that the residents ouster constituted a no-fault eviction under the citys rent ordinance. That would entitle those who lived at 5 Persia to thousands of dollars, including reimbursement of the rent they paid to Paredes and money for their severe emotional distress, according to the suit. Paredes worked for a church on the second floor, above the Laundromat, the suit said. The Laundromat was using the basement for storage in 2005 when Paredes built the tiny apartment units and made them available for rent, the plaintiffs say. He allegedly installed plumbing that served four bathrooms, though the smell of sewage would later fill the air when the rudimentary system clogged, Soto said. She and the other tenants were each paying up to $1,000 a month per room. Paredes just wanted to collect our money, and then he just wanted to wipe his hands of us, said Soto, speaking through a Spanish translator. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle Soto was living in Nicaragua when her husband moved into 5 Persia around 2012 and began sending money to her. She joined him here in 2013, and the couple were granted permanent U.S. residency after arguing that gang violence in their hometown in Nicaragua made it dangerous for them to return. In September 2016, she was diagnosed with cancer and eventually lost her left eye to the disease, which is now in remission. Unable to work, Soto was relegated to the basement almost 24 hours a day as her husband came and went, working odd $14-an-hour construction jobs. I felt like I was a prisoner, Soto said. I couldnt even look out the window and see if it was raining because there were no windows. The lawsuit claims that Paredes tried to force the tenants to vacate after the January inspection, but that Soto and several others refused, saying they had nowhere to go. In late January, Soto said, Paredes suddenly cut the power, plunging the already dim basement into darkness. Soto needed warm water to clean her sinuses daily because of her cancer treatment, but now the few working faucets flowed only bracing cold. Her food spoiled, and flashlights and candles served as the only illumination. Even after the power was cut, Soto, her husband and son stayed on until the city forced out the stragglers in mid-February. Supervisor Ahsha Safai represents the district where the building is located and helped the uprooted tenants try to find new homes. It hasnt been easy the basement dwellers were living there because by San Francisco standards, the rents were cheap. Safai, who has walked by the Laundromat countless times over the last 14 years, said he had no idea the basement apartments were there until a resident called his office after the power was cut off. I went and Googled the address on Google Maps, Safai recalled, and I said, Wait a minute. Thats the Laundromat. Where are these people living? A host of city and nonprofit services were offered to those displaced, said John Cote, a spokesman for the city attorneys office. City officials also ordered Mendoza to pay relocation benefits of $4,262 per unit. The benefits were paid to those who could prove they lived there. Still, Safai said, seven former residents of 5 Persia still live at a Salvation Army shelter. Soto said the inspectors who came to 5 Persia in January referred to the Ghost Ship fire in explaining why the tenants could not stay. After the deadly blaze, San Francisco building and planning officials identified more than 20 properties they deemed at risk in the city and began inspecting them. Soto said city officials offered to place the family in separate shelters after they were forced from 5 Persia, but they didnt want to be split up. The couple and their son crashed on the floor at a friends, then turned to a hotel. For eight nights, the couple drained their savings to stay there. Blandon ventured out looking for open houses from sunrise to sunset, but he had little luck. Soto would make calls about vacant apartments, but most landlords spoke only English. Just as the money was running out, a friend helped the couple land a two-bedroom apartment in Daly City for $2,700 a month. Blandon and the couples son, who also does construction work, have been pulling overtime shifts to make the rent. Thats the struggle we have trying to stay in the area, Soto said. Michael Bodley is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mbodley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @michael_bodley A roundup of upcoming events: 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. 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. 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, D-Mass., 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 cost $100 and can be purchased at www.joyouspersistence.com. For perhaps the first time in the history of San Francisco, theres a major problem plaguing the city that politicians dont think simply requires more cash. Homeless tent encampments out of control? Potholes growing deeper than a kiddie swimming pool? Muni buses that make a mockery of the word schedule? We need more money! city politicians and bureaucrats cry, despite having a $9.6 billion annual budget at their fingertips. But for one of the most dire problems facing San Francisco, the deeply troubled 911 call center, money isnt the problem. And seemingly everybody from the mayor to those answering 911 calls at the understaffed center agrees. Why is it that after our infusion of dollars we doubled the budget of 911 were still experiencing staffing issues? asked Mayor Ed Lee, who has increased the Department of Emergency Managements budget from $43 million to $83 million over the past six years. Despite the near doubling of money, the call centers performance has gotten worse. Thats an annoyance when its a bus system, but potentially a matter of life and death for a 911 call center. According to national standards, the center is supposed to answer 90 percent of 911 calls within 10 seconds. It was meeting that standard back in 2011 but is answering just 75 percent of calls within 10 seconds now. Imagine your child is choking and youve called 911. Look at the second hand on your watch. Look at it pass 10 seconds, 15 seconds, 20 seconds, 25 seconds with no answer. Doesnt the time feel interminable? But instead of being a money problem, its a staffing problem. The job pays $81,588 to $99,190 per year, depending on length of service, but its hard to find people who want it. An always stressful job has been made even more stressful by an influx of calls in a city with a swelling population and increased worries about in-your-face homelessness. The number of calls related to homeless people and encampments has doubled in the past three years, said Robert Smuts, deputy director of the Department of Emergency Management. Mandated overtime to cover the increase burns out call-takers so they leave, requiring more mandatory overtime, which burns more people out. And on it goes. Meanwhile, the training is so difficult it takes about a year that only 60 percent of people make it through. That hasnt been enough to bring the staffing up to par, especially with veterans quitting. Its just burnout, said Burt Wilson, president of the dispatchers union. How long can you maintain consistent overtime? The morale is so low. The burnout is leading to an understaffed call center that cant keep up with calls. As I told you last month, a man suffered cardiac arrest and collapsed at St. Boniface Church on April 6. Three people called 911, but said the phone just kept ringing. Eventually, a dispatcher answered and an ambulance arrived, but the man died after being taken off life support six days later. An employee at Google Play who lives in Noe Valley said he called 911 several months ago when he heard his upstairs neighbor screaming amid sounds of a struggle. He, too, said the 911 phone just kept ringing. By the time a dispatcher answered and police arrived, two assailants who had tried to rob the neighbors apartment and choked him had fled. During the April 21 blackout, which left about 90,000 Pacific Gas and Electric Co. customers without power, 500 calls to 911 were abandoned, meaning the person seeking help gave up before a dispatcher answered. Good luck with an earthquake, Wilson said at the time. Its hard to imagine a more basic city function than answering 911 calls. And its hard to imagine anything more frightening than calling the number only to hear it ring. And ring. Thankfully, Lee seems to get it. After City Hall mostly ignored the problem beyond raising the departments budget, the mayor this month issued an executive order requiring the Department of Emergency Management to provide weekly reports on the call centers performance and to fill vacancies as quickly as possible, including hiring retired dispatchers and luring dispatchers from other agencies. The mayor also convened a team including the police chief, fire chief and controller to meet regularly to improve the 911 response time. The team must give Lee an action plan by Sept. 30. 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. I need that under-10-second turnaround ... so the public is reassured that weve got a 911 system that works not a year from now, but right now, Lee said. Some of the problems are obvious. The call center is supposed to have 180 dispatchers, but has 121 now who are fully trained, and 40 in training. That means overtime a lot of it. The call center will spend $4.1 million this fiscal year on 56,000 hours of overtime thats more than 1,000 hours per week. In the first nine months of this fiscal year, one dispatcher alone worked 1,107 hours of overtime. Another worked 931 hours of overtime, and a third worked 920 hours. A lot of that is mandatory overtime, not hours picked up because somebody wants extra cash. Wilson said many of the dispatchers live far outside San Francisco including in Sacramento, San Jose and Santa Rosa and are driving home in the middle of the night after their extra-long shifts, exhausted. Cherie Parker, spokeswoman for Service Employees Union Local 1021, which represents the dispatchers, said the biggest issue facing the call center is figuring out how to keep dispatchers once theyre hired. Just four veteran dispatchers have left the job in 2017, but 17 left last year and 15 the year before. We can hire all the dispatchers we want, but if theyre overworked and stressed and they cant afford to live near their jobs, were just not going to keep them, Parker said. Its going to be an exercise in futility. Smuts said staffing the center and preventing burnout is a challenge. Finding the balance between the amount of overtime, particularly mandatory overtime, and needing people now to do this work is something I think about every day, he said. Fortunately, there are finally others at City Hall thinking about it, too. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Heather Knight appears Tuesdays and Fridays. Email: hknight@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hknightsf This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate As Bay Area residents get out their swim gear and head for area beaches this weekend to bask under sunny skies and warm temperatures, officials warn of hazards lurking in the water. San Franciscos Ocean Beach has a particularly dangerous reputation because of its strong waves and cold water, said Paul Newman, a recreational boating safety specialist with the U.S. Coast Guard. When it comes to handling threatening waters, Newman said people can take a few steps to ensure safety. Calmness is huge, Newman said. Any situation on the water, if you stay calm, you can save your life. Panic robs us of our ability to breathe. Temperatures this weekend will reach 70 degrees Saturday in San Francisco and a few degrees higher Sunday, said Anna Schneider, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. The forecast at Ocean Beach will probably be slightly cooler, Schneider said, with highs expected in the upper 50s. Waves will reach a height of 6 feet throughout Saturday and Sunday. Most critical to note at Ocean Beach, in particular, are the enormous amount of rip currents, said Francis Smith, a coastal oceanographer at UC Berkeley. Smith put on a wetsuit and held a demonstration for news reporters Friday at Ocean Beach on what swimmers should do if caught in a riptide. Keeping a cool head is crucial, he said, and the best response is to ride the rip current out, then swim parallel to the shore before making it back to the sand. Get your bearings. Wait it out, Smith said. Let the current take you out. It will take you out. Anyone who doesnt know how to swim should not go near the water, Smith said. Newman added that one of the most important safety precautions beachgoers should take is to always keep an eye on the ocean. Waves come in sets, he said, adding that even though it may look like theres a lull in wave activity, there isnt. This is how you can typically get in trouble, Newman said. People will get knocked off their feet and taken into the water and panic and then drown. Be ready for a set to come. In April 2016, two 17-year-old boys from Vallejo drowned at Ocean Beach when they were hit by a large wave while wading in the surf and dragged out into the deep water. The boys were among five people who drowned at San Francisco beaches in 2016, according to the San Francisco Fire Department. Newman also advised that people heading to a beach this weekend with their dogs should never run after the canines into the water because dogs are natural swimmers and will be fine. And in most drowning cases where a victim ran after their dog, the animal survived whereas the pet owner did not, Newman added. The National Weather Service has issued a small craft advisory that will stay in effect until 4 a.m. Sunday for boaters whose vessels are not equipped to handle larger waves or strong winds. The best life jacket is the one youll wear, Newman said, adding that most drownings from boating accidents occur because victims werent wearing life jackets. Bay Area beachgoers also should be cognizant of water temperatures, Newman said. Water temperatures along the coastline in the Bay Area this weekend will be in the low to mid 50s, according to weather forecasters. Such water temperatures can prompt a cold shock response, causing people to gasp and shudder as soon as theyre submerged especially if its by surprise, Newman said. This is not to scare you, Newman said. Millions of people go to Ocean Beach and have no problems, but sometimes people do. Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani A 14-year-old Santa Rosa boy led police on a high-speed chase, driving up to 100 mph in a stolen car early Friday in Santa Rosa, officials said. Police first noticed the suspect car just before 2 a.m. driving in downtown Cotati with its headlights off, authorities said. When an officer attempted to stop the car, the driver sped off, police said. He left downtown Cotati and continued westbound on West Sierra Avenue, hitting speeds of up to 100 mph, police said. As the chase headed north on Stony Point Road, the vehicle sideswiped a car that was pulling over to get out of its path, police added. The pursuit went into southeast Santa Rosa and onto Hearn Avenue, crossing over Highway 101. When the driver attempted to go over the center median at Highway 101, two of the cars tires blew out, bringing the pursuit to a stop at the intersection of Hearn Avenue and Dowd Drive in Santa Rosa, police said. The driver and his two passengers were immediately arrested. The passengers were two boys, ages 14 and 15, from Santa Rosa. When officers tracked the cars registration, they discovered it had been stolen hours earlier, police said. 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 pursuit lasted 16 minutes and went on for 14.1 miles, police said. There were no injuries. The driver was booked on suspicion of felony evading, felony possession of a stolen vehicle and the warrants. Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani Bill Hutchinson / Bill Hutchinson / A 20-year-old man was charged with murder after a man was shot to death in an Oakland parking lot, authorities said Thursday. Donald Aaron was charged by the Alameda County District Attorneys Office on Wednesday in the death of 22-year-old Robert McCorvey, according to the Oakland Police Department. A 43-year-old man eating breakfast at a Dennys restaurant in Hayward suddenly doused other customers with a flammable liquid and tried to light them on fire, police said Thursday. The man was eating at the Dennys at 30163 Industrial Parkway in Hayward just before 10 a.m. Wednesday when he got up and took out a container, police said. He was not identified pending charges by the Alameda County District Attorneys Office, For the second time in less than two weeks, the same Costco in Danville was targeted Friday by masked robbers who swarmed the store in a midday holdup in which shots were fired inside and outside the business, which was full of shoppers at the time. The incident occurred just after 12 p.m., when police received reports of the robbery in progress at the Costco at 3150 Fostoria Way, officials said. We are fine, said a woman who answered the phone at the Costco shortly after shoppers were evacuated from the store. She declined to comment further. Police were searching for three suspects two who entered the store and one who was waiting outside in a getaway car, said Geoff Gillette, a spokesman for the Town of Danville. Chief Steve Simpkins of the Danville Police Department said two men wearing masks, hooded sweatshirts and gloves entered the sprawling store and made a beeline for a glass case of valuable merchandise. One of them produced a hammer and smashed the case, sweeping up undisclosed items inside, he said. When a Costco employee tried to stop them, one of the assailants fired a gun, but no one was struck, the chief said in a statement. The two men and their getaway driver, also a man, took off in a late-model silver Toyota Camry with paper license plates, Simpkins said. One of the culprits fired a second shot in the air in the parking lot, he said. A bystander inside the store fell while fleeing the suspects and received medical care for shock, the chief said. No one else was injured. The Costco reopened for business shortly before 3 p.m. as police finished processing the scene for evidence, officials said. The robbery was nearly identical to one on May 8, when three suspects entered the same store and attempted to take items from a jewelry display case, officials said. Gillette said police are investigating whether the same crew was involved in Fridays robbery. 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. In the earlier heist, one of the bandits, who wore a ski mask, smashed the glass with a hammer and scooped up items inside, police said. Costco employees confronted the three thieves, tackling one to the ground while the other two, including the one with the ski mask, escaped. The suspect who was apprehended by store employees was identified as Kesean Edwards, 21, of Oakland. He was booked at the Martinez Detention Facility on suspicion of robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and burglary. The other two remain at large. Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to contact the Danville Police Department at (925) 820-2144. Sarah Ravani and Michael Bodley are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com and mbodley@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @SarRavani and @michael_bodley This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON President Trump told Russian officials in the Oval Office this month that firing the FBI director, James Comey, had relieved great pressure on him, according to a document summarizing the meeting. I just fired the head of the FBI. He was crazy, a real nut job, Trump said, according to the document, which was read to the New York Times by a U.S. official. I faced great pressure because of Russia. Thats taken off. Trump added, Im not under investigation. The conversation, during a May 10 meeting the day after he fired Comey reinforces the notion that Trump dismissed him primarily because of the bureaus investigation into possible collusion between his campaign and Russian operatives. Trump said as much in one televised interview, but the White House has offered changing justifications for the firing. The White House document that contained Trumps comments was based on notes taken from inside the Oval Office and has been circulated as the official account of the meeting. One official read quotations to the Times, and a second official confirmed the broad outlines of the discussion. Sean Spicer, White House press secretary, did not dispute the account. In a statement, he said Comey had put unnecessary pressure on the presidents ability to conduct diplomacy with Russia on matters such as Syria, Ukraine and the Islamic State. By grandstanding and politicizing the investigation into Russias actions, James Comey created unnecessary pressure on our ability to engage and negotiate with Russia, Spicer said. The investigation would have always continued, and obviously, the termination of Comey would not have ended it. Once again, the real story is that our national security has been undermined by the leaking of private and highly classified conversations. The day after firing Comey, Trump hosted Russias foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, in the Oval Office, along with the Russian ambassador to the United States, Sergey Kislyak. The meeting ignited controversy this week when it was revealed that Trump had disclosed intelligence from an Israeli counterterrorism operation. A third government official briefed on the meeting defended the president, saying Trump was using a negotiating tactic when he told Lavrov about the pressure he was under. The idea, the official suggested, was to create a sense of obligation with Russian officials and to coax concessions out of Lavrov on Syria, Ukraine and other issues by saying that Russian meddling in last years election had created enormous political problems for Trump. Meanwhile, Comey has agreed to testify publicly before the Senate Intelligence Committee after Memorial Day, the committees senior members announced late Friday. Matt Apuzzo, Maggie Haberman and Matthew Rosenberg are New York Times reporters. WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump's learning curve on matters of foreign policy and national security was steep even before the bombshell report this week that he had blurted secrets to Russian diplomats. Trump's first foreign trip as president, which begins in Saudi Arabia this weekend, is a test of the lessons he has learned about geopolitics as well as whether he can reset his chaotic administration. Many presidents have tried to use statesmanship abroad to distract from problems at home, but the Trump brand of diplomacy has some analysts worried that the nine-day tour of allies in the Mideast and Europe might only make his troubles worse. Trump mentioned few foreign policy agenda items when he reeled off what he called the successes of his young administration in a graduation address Wednesday at the Coast Guard Academy, except to say that his promised wall on the Mexican border is coming closer to fruition. But he did look ahead to a trip that includes a high-stakes meeting of NATO alliance leaders, with a warning about overseas partners that rely too heavily on U.S. largesse. "With the safety, security and interest of the American people as my priority, I will strengthen old friendships and will seek new partners, but partners who also help us, not partners who take and take and take," Trump said. That echoed Trump's campaign promise to cut off global freeloaders, but also served to remind that Trump has reversed his frequent criticism of NATO as obsolete. Trump's national security stumbles and diplomatic course corrections began even before he took office. In the weeks following his surprise election victory in November, Trump stunned the foreign policy establishment by suggesting he might upend the delicate policy surrounding China and Taiwan. He has since had to walk it back or risk losing leverage with China to help rein in nuclear North Korea. He raised eyebrows by meeting with Brexit proponent Nigel Farage before seeing British Prime Minister Theresa May, and then suggesting that Farage would make a good ambassador to Washington. Trump then welcomed May as the first foreign leader to visit the White House, and gushed that the U.S.-Britain relationship had never been better. Trump has backpedaled on a threatened trade confrontation with China and retracted his allegation that China unfairly manipulates its currency. He mused aloud that dealing with North Korea was harder than he thought after hearing a tutorial from Chinese President Xi Jinping during their summit in Florida. His administration is expected to back off a campaign promise to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to disputed Jerusalem, largely because Arab leaders warned Trump that doing so would unleash violence and spoil chances for a peace deal. He did pull out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact as promised, but has been vague about the fate of the North American Free Trade Agreement. He has dropped rhetoric about canceling the landmark nuclear deal with Iran, and he regularly calls it a bad deal. On Wednesday, the White House extended Iran's relief from sanctions under the deal, thereby passing up an opportunity to undermine it. While every president has a learning curve in foreign policy and national security, such as former president Bill Clinton with early crises in Somalia and Haiti, Trump is also still learning the responsibilities of governance and accountability, said former State Department undersecretary Wendy Sherman. "This president not only has the usual learning curve, but he appears to have new ones," Sherman said. "He needs to understand what government is about, and the responsibilities, rights, privileges and accountability the president of the United States has." Trump has done little to suggest he trusts or seeks out the vast range of expertise at reach at the State Department and elsewhere, although Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has become a close confidant. Tillerson, a fellow Washington outsider and former business executive, has helped tutor Trump for his trip. "The president's learning curve on national security has been bumpy at best, opening the door for those among his detractors to assume the worst, and leaving supporters grasping for logical explanations," said former Tennessee Republican senator William Brock. "The bumps are obvious, but he is learning and growing," Brock said, adding that any progress Trump is making on foreign policy is threatened by yawning gaps in staffing at the State Department and elsewhere. Richard Nephew, a Columbia University scholar who was the State Department's lead sanctions expert during the Iran nuclear negotiations, said Trump's trip has many potential pitfalls. "My biggest concern is the level of distraction in the administration," at a moment when all attention should be on ensuring the trip goes well, Nephew said. "Second is this president in particular. We've seen he has a desire to please and end meetings on a positive note with the people he's in front of. I worry that translates into making promises that seem like a good idea at the time, that are expedient, leave everyone smiling, but are difficult to reconcile." James Carafano, a foreign policy expert at the Heritage Foundation who has close ties to the White House, said the most substantive parts of the trip will probably be Trump's meetings in Saudi Arabia and Israel, two countries relieved to deal with Trump after friction with Obama. "Everybody I talk to in the Middle East has been excited about Trump from Day One," Carafano said. Trump will also visit the West Bank and is expected to again tout his efforts to restart negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Trump has backed away from a decades-old U.S. commitment to a sovereign Palestinian state, but held a warm meeting at the White House with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. From there Trump goes to Europe, for the NATO summit, a protocol-laden visit to see Pope Francis at the Vatican, and a gathering of the Group of Seven economic powers in Italy. Carafano said Trump can shine in small meetings with other leaders, and he does not worry that the president's attention will wander during the big group sessions. Others said those lengthy sessions will be a test of Trump's patience and ability to cede the spotlight, and they worry about a gaffe or blunder. "Everything, from his nonverbal cues, to how he listens, to how he comports himself, to what he says, matters, and he will have multiple audiences every time he speaks," Sherman said. Carafano said that given the turmoil in Washington, an overseas trip presents an opportunity. "Just being out of town for two weeks is probably great," he said. "The great thing about a trip, they control the environment, you control the interaction, you control the agenda and you control the press access. If you fumble on one of these trips, it's nobody's fault but your own." San Franciscos insatiable housing need should clarify the debate over restrictions that promise to incrementally boost affordable housing while exacerbating the overall shortage, making housing that much more unaffordable for everyone. The Board of Supervisors reportedly has reached a compromise tempering last years voter-approved Proposition C, which more than doubled the citys affordable-housing requirement from 12 to 25 percent for large apartment developments (those with at least 25 units). A proposed ordinance supported by Supervisors Jane Kim and Aaron Peskin, who backed the ill-advised proposition, would have barely reduced that requirement, to 24 percent; a measure supported by Supervisors London Breed, Ahsha Safai and Katy Tang, which seems to have deservedly prevailed in negotiations, would lower it more substantially, to 18 percent. Kim and Peskin also wanted to raise requirements for condominium developments and smaller buildings (those with 10 to 24 units). Breed, Safai and Tang argued for lowering the set-aside for condominiums and opening more affordable housing to middle-income residents. Because greater affordable-housing requirements diminish the financial feasibility of development, significantly reducing the set-aside likely would boost residential construction by 5 to 7 percent and reduce total spending on housing, according to an analysis by City Controller Ben Rosenfelds office. The competing proposal would have modestly increased the number of units officially designated as affordable, by 2 to 4 percent, but it was not expected to appreciably improve the supply or cost of housing over the onerous requirements set by Proposition C. An earlier study by the controllers office found that any affordable-housing requirement greater than 18 percent is likely to discourage development. In that light, though the supervisors appear to have made progress, their agreement starts at the upper limit of whats reasonable and crosses into dubious territory by allowing the figure to rise to 20 percent over the next two years. San Franciscos population reached a record of more than 874,000 last year, according to a state report, and its housing growth was relatively brisk for a change, adding 5,000 units. But the population has expanded at nearly twice the rate of housing since 2010. Meanwhile, as the struggle to house teachers has illustrated, the city has been even worse at building middle-income housing than it has been at producing low-income units. With less than two-thirds of the estimated housing need met for at least the past decade, the city would have to maintain the unusual pace of the past year for another five years merely to close that shortfall, to say nothing of accommodating further growth. The supervisors debate reflects the broader problem facing San Francisco, the Bay Area, and California. Having stifled the housing supply and driven prices skyward through over-regulation, politicians cant fix the mess by imposing even more burdensome rules. Competing measures Kim-Peskin: Would increase affordable housing 2 to 4 percent but have little effect on overall supply. Breed-Safai-Tang: Would reduce affordable housing 5 to 8 percent but boost overall supply 5 to 7 percent. Source: City Controllers Office Many colleges and universities have grappled in recent years with a difficult question: Under what circumstances should an institution remove a historical name from a building or other campus space, and what principles should guide such a decision? Since 2010, institutions across the country have renamed buildings associated with white supremacists and Ku Klux Klan members, while others have chosen to retain the status quo. Earlier this month, the University of San Francisco changed the name of a residence hall named for James D. Phelan, a former mayor of San Francisco, U.S. senator and alumnus of the school. Phelan campaigned for re-election in 1920 with the slogan Keep California White. The UC Berkeley School of Law is overdue for an examination of this kind. Berkeley Laws main classroom building is named Boalt Hall after John Henry Boalt, whose widow, Elizabeth Josselyn, made a substantial donation to erect a building in memory of her husband, dedicated in 1911. Four decades later, when the law school outgrew this space, it moved to its current, larger building also called Boalt Hall. To eliminate confusion among outsiders, Boalt Hall has not been the schools official name since 2008, but Boalt is still everywhere in evidence at Berkeley Law. In addition to the classroom building, it is the name of official student and alumni groups, and provides the name to a number of endowed professorships. Who was Boalt? Berkeley Laws website identifies him only as an attorney and the husband of its benefactor. An established lawyer in Nevada, Boalt moved to California in 1871 at a time when Chinese immigration was rising in the state. From the time of the Gold Rush, Chinese settlers had come to California, but the 1870s saw their numbers increase 67 percent. By 1880 a full 8.7 percent of Californias population was Chinese, with few eligible for citizenship. The 1870s were also an era of economic crisis and increasing class tensions. Labor groups and politicians eager to court them blamed the Chinese for unemployment, poor working conditions and low wages. The call for Chinese exclusion began to be heard in the Golden State. Boalt prospered in California and soon was president of the Bohemian Club. In 1877, Boalt delivered an influential address, The Chinese Question, at the Berkeley Club. He argued that never before in history have two non-assimilating races lived in harmony unless one enslaved the other. That the Chinese could never assimilate was self-evident to Boalt: Americans look at the Chinese with an unconquerable repulsion which it seems to me must ever prevent any intimate association or miscegenation of the races. Boalt invoked the alleged criminality, intellectual differences, cruelty and inhumanity of the Chinese, and mused it would be better to exterminate a strongly dissimilar race than assimilate it. Now that the Civil War was over and slavery was unconstitutional, Boalt conceded the Chinese could not be enslaved and thus had to leave California. Recognizing the limits of Californias power in the federal system, Boalt proposed an unprecedented move holding an advisory ballot measure to send a message to Eastern elites that California spoke with one voice on the Chinese. The Chronicle praised this proposal and the Legislature agreed; it was signed into law late in 1877, and two years later the voters by large majorities voted to advise Congress to put an end to Chinese immigration. Boalts virulently racist The Chinese Question was included in an official report of the state of California, thousands of copies of which were distributed to influence newspapers and elected officials throughout the land. In 1882, largely as a result of Californias lobbying, Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act, the first federal law banning a group of immigrants solely on the basis of race or nationality. Boalt was instrumental in catalyzing California opinion in support of this law. Boalt neither attended nor taught at the law school that bears his name. He made no contributions to the life and mission of the University of California. He was a successful attorney, apparently well liked in his day. But records of his accomplishments are few and it is noteworthy that a biography appearing in the year of his death pointed to The Chinese Question as his greatest public service. Berkeley Law has paid tribute to Boalt solely because in 1906 his wife made a generous donation to construct the first Boalt Hall. If it continues to honor him without acknowledging what he did, then it is either because it has forgotten Boalts ardent and influential racism, or because it places continuity and tradition ahead of its own nobler principles and values. Charles Reichmann is an attorney and lecturer at the UC Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall). San Francisco housing czar Olson Lee, who has overseen the development or rehabilitation of more than 20,000 affordable units over a long career at City Hall, announced his retirement Friday. Lee, 63, has been the director of the Mayors Office of Housing and Community Development for five years. He will retire June 1. Kate Hartley, the deputy director, will take over as acting director of the agency. Lee grew up in the Richmond District and graduated from Lowell High School. He started his career in government in 1990 at the Mayors Office of Housing, leaving in 1997 to take a job at the old San Francisco Redevelopment Agency, where he eventually became deputy director in charge of housing. He returned to the Mayors Office of Housing as director in 2012 after the redevelopment agency was dissolved. While heading up the housing office, Lee helped pass the $1.3 billion Housing Trust Fund in 2011, which was largely used to rebuild public housing; helped push for the $310 million 2015 affordable housing bond; and helped rebuild 3,500 units of public housing. Most recently he has been involved in Mayor Ed Lees plan to dedicate $44 million in city funds for affordable teacher housing. Olson has dedicated his life to developing and preserving affordable housing, Mayor Lee said. Time and time again, Olson has delivered for our city, and he will be missed. Over his 27 years in government, Olson Lee said, he has seen the transformation of an affordable housing industry that initially was not very sophisticated. We have a much better ecosystem than we had in 1990, he said. The architecture has gotten better, the buildings bigger, the programs and services are a lot more expansive. Of the five mayors under whom he has served, Olson Lee said, Mayor Lee has been the most dedicated to building affordable housing. But the challenges have been greatest, too, as the rapid escalation of housing costs has priced out even professionals earning six figures. Chinatown Community Development Center Deputy Director Malcolm Yeung said that Olson Lee was an absolute genius in terms of how to use tax increment financing to finance affordable housing. Olson Lee said that he may continue to do some consulting for affordable housing groups if the phone rings, but that hes not in a hurry. For a kid who grew up in San Francisco to have the opportunity to spend hundreds of millions of local dollars to make a difference in your own community, that is a pretty special thing, he said. I am pleased I didnt screw it up. J.K. Dineen Email: cityinsider@sfchronicle.com, jdineen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfcityinsider, @sfjkdineen This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate It was a showdown between badly needed housing and precious open space on South of Markets hardscrabble Sixth Street. And on Thursday, open space won out at least for now. In a rare decision, the Planning and Recreation and Park commissions forced the developer of a proposed 84-unit apartment complex at 301 Sixth St. to redesign the project after residents and community advocates complained that the 82-foot-high building would cast a shadow on the Gene Friend Recreation Center. While the amount of shadow cast may seem negligible 0.89 percent of new shadow cast mostly in the morning before the park opens its enough to make a difference for the kids and families along the Sixth Street corridor, many of whom live in residential hotels or cramped studio apartments, according to neighborhood residents. Misha Olivas, program director of the neighborhood antiviolence youth organization United Playaz, argued that the nearly 1 percent of additional shadow would bring to 49 percent the total shadow cast on Gene Friend, which, along with Victoria Manalo Draves Park two blocks to the southwest, represents the only public recreation space in that part of the South of Market. Thats the only grassy spot in the rec center where kids can play catch and roll around in the grass, as kids should, said Olivas, who frequents the park with her children. The proposed project is one of a handful of new projects proposed for Sixth Street that violate 1984s Proposition K the Sunlight Ordinance that blocks construction of any building over 40 feet that casts an adverse shadow on Recreation and Park Department property unless the Planning Commission decides the shadow is insignificant. Another development that would cast a shadow on Gene Friend, 980 Folsom St., was originally scheduled for a vote Thursday, but that was postponed. While the city regularly allows shadow-casting development to go forward by raising the absolute cumulative limits for specific parks, Gene Friend is one of eight small open spaces in the densely settled downtown where no new shadow is supposed to be approved, based on a 1989 Recreation and Park Commission interpretation of the sunlight ordinance. The developers, Ed and Nancy Connor, have owned the car wash and parking lot at 301 Sixth St. since the 1970s. Nancy Connor has been a member of the Friends of Gene Friend Recreation Center and has been active supporting parks citywide. Eleven of the 84 units would be affordable. The project would also have 5,868 square feet of retail and 36 parking spots. The Sixth Street corridor is being developed, and we feel its time for this property to be put to better use for housing and to provide local businesses with new opportunities, Ed Connor said. Most of the new shadow would fall from sunrise through 9:14 in the morning from January through late November. The longest shadows cast would come at 7:57 a.m., when the park is not open. But critics of the project said that it would set a bad precedent as more parcels are developed along Sixth Street. We have the lowest amount of open space in the city and the most development going on, said Chris Durazo of the nonprofit Veterans Equity Center, which opposes the project as currently designed. In the end, the two commissions unanimously voted to postpone the decision until late July and instructed the Connors to work with their architect and neighbors to come up with a redesign that has less shadow impact. Recreation and Park Commission President Mark Buell said the developer needs to make a better case for why additional shadow is justified. The development has merits and the developer has a good reputation, but we have a park here with zero tolerance for new shadow, said Buell. But Cory Smith of the San Francisco Housing Action Coalition said the benefits of the additional housing should outweigh the negatives of the shadow. In the grand scheme of things, we think housing people should take precedent over shadow impact on a small corner of a park, said Smith. At a time when there are a half dozen developments proposed for the area in and around Sixth Street, the city should study the shadow impact of all of them together, according to Planning Commissioner Dennis Richards. The real issue for me is shadows on a piece of land that will be there for 100 years, Richards said. Once that shadow is there, its never going to go away unless the building burns down. J.K. Dineen is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jdineen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfjkdineen This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate I felt almost nostalgic looking over the menu at Contrada, the new restaurant that opened in January on Union Street, a stretch heavily populated with new places including Belga, Flores and the Brixton. Pizza. Meatballs. Crudo. Chicory salad. Roasted beets. Gnocchi. Roast chicken. They are the ubiquitous greatest hits that define just about every Cal-Ital restaurant. Less than a decade ago, just about every restaurant that opened charted the same course. In the last couple of years, chefs have more forcefully projected their individual voices, and the scene has diversified significantly with the opening of a dozen new Japanese and three upscale Indian restaurants. Thats not to say Contrada is retro, although it would be easy to fall into that mold. Chef Jason Tuley gives a personal twist to many dishes, which prevents them from being copycat versions. If you know his name, theres good reason. Tuley has been an itinerant chef the last couple of years, hopping around to Picco in Larkspur, Gitane and TBD in San Francisco and Parlour in Oakland. At that first visit to Contrada, I realized it had been quite a while since Id written about pizza, a far different environment than a decade ago when I wrote a weekly pizza blog post comparing ovens, baking times and toppings. I loved the crust here, which has a more pastrylike quality than the more breadlike Neapolitan style. However, the topping of house-made sausage, wild nettle pesto and fresh ricotta was inexplicably muted. With pizzas priced at $16 to $20, it surprised me that pastas, which range from $21 to $26, were more expensive than some main courses, including the chicken ($19), which was saved from boredom with grapefruit, frisee, asparagus, and capers so well fried they shattered on impact. Tuleys meatballs ($12) get a boost with beef brisket and pork shoulder and are served with griddled Josey Baker bread. When anyone uses this cult status product, you know they track trends. Liz Hafalia/The Chronicle The chef also excels at fingerling potatoes ($9) that are smashed and cooked nearly to french-fry crispiness on the outside but remain steamy and soft inside. The 55-seat interior, like the food, toys with early-2000s interior cliche, with accents of cold-rolled steel and barn siding, but it feels current with dark walls and a black ceiling inset with long stripes of lights that look like they could have been taken from a Star Trek set. Contrada also has a 22-seat patio in back that will make the place even more popular in pleasant weather. After the first visit I was looking forward to my return. However, subsequent visits highlighted another pressing (or should I say depressing) trend in the restaurant business: the challenge of getting experienced staff. Though the servers knew what they were doing, the kitchen crew was a different story. On the second visit Tuley wasnt in the kitchen, and every dish we ordered had something wrong with it. A pizza crust was wet and soggy in the center. Fusty chicken liver pate ($13) was carelessly smashed onto a slice of griddled bread, looking as if it were plated by a 5-year-old. Halibut ($28) was overdone long before it was removed from the fire. On the third visit, with Tuley back in the kitchen, preparations were in-between these extremes. The pizza was much better but wasnt as precisely cooked as on the first try. Chicory salad ($10) with loads of aged provolone cheese, garlic bread crumbs and a lemon anchovy vinaigrette was something I could eat once a week and never be bored. A special that night was a massive pork chop ($40) that was excellent, although there was about four times more fat than lean meat. Liz Hafalia/The Chronicle Dessert was an indulgent chocolate pudding ($9), which was excellent, served with whipped cream and two shortbread cookies. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. On all three visits, the place was packed despite the fact that the restaurant has only a beer and wine license. The restaurant makes up for it with its selections of 16 wines and seven beers on tap. Since it also bills itself as a wine bar, diners have lots of choices on the bottle list made up primarily of California and Italian wines. By the end of the third visit, I felt like I was playing roulette, feeling the excitement of knowing that some dishes may be winners, but still a bit apprehensive of the alternative. Contrada Food: Service: Atmosphere: Prices: $$$$ Noise: Four Bells 2136 Union St. (near Webster), San Francisco; (415) 926-8916 or contradasf.com. Lunch 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m Wednesday-Friday; brunch 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Dinner 5:30-9:30 p.m. Monday, 5-9:30 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday and Sunday, and until 10:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Beer and wine. Limited reservations and credit cards accepted. Difficult street parking. California regulators on Thursday approved new safety rules for oil refineries, nearly five years after a major fire at Chevrons Richmond facility sent thousands of East Bay residents to hospitals. The regulations are designed to anticipate potential problems and prevent accidents that could harm refinery workers and surrounding communities. Christine Baker, director of the California Department of Industrial Relations, called the rules the most protective in the country. The board of the departments Division of Occupational Safety and Health, known as Cal/OSHA, approved the rules after a long drafting process begun after the Aug. 6, 2012, Chevron fire. Six refinery employees suffered minor injuries from the fire, while an estimated 15,000 area residents went to hospitals complaining of respiratory problems. This new regulation will ensure Californias oil refineries are operated with the highest levels of safety possible and with injury and illness prevention in mind, Baker said in a press release. The new regulations require refinery owners to study how staffing levels and worker fatigue affect safety. They must also review their processes that can lead to equipment corrosion or mechanical wear. And the rules encourage refinery owners to pick the most effective safety measures when fixing hazards, even if those measures increase costs. Many California refineries already use some of the practices the new regulations require, according to the department. But the Western States Petroleum Association, the oil industrys main lobbying organization in Sacramento, called the new package of rules an overreach by the state government and an unnecessary burden on refineries. This is another case of agencies writing new regulations because they think its a good idea and working out the details later, without regard to the impact on our business economy or workforce, said association President Catherine Reheis-Boyd, in an email. California has 19 oil refineries, 14 of which make gasoline. Most are concentrated in the densely populated Los Angeles area or the East Bay. And they have a long history of mechanical glitches, fires and explosions. The Chevron Richmond fire, caused by a crack in a corroded pipe that drew diesel away from the refinerys crude-oil processing unit, led Gov. Jerry Brown to convene a task force on refinery safety. It also prompted Cal/OSHA to increase its inspections of refineries. Before the accident, the division inspected two or three refineries per year, sending a single inspector to each facility. It now conducts four inspections per year, with four or five people assigned to each, according to the Department of Industrial Relations. Labor groups that represent refinery workers welcomed the new rules. Richmond could have been much worse a lot of people could have died and we took the lessons from that fire to heart in fighting for these new rules, said Mike Smith, an employee at the Chevron Richmond refinery and staff representative of United Steelworkers Local 5. Asked for comment on the new rules, Chevron referred questions to the Western States Petroleum Association. David R. Baker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dbaker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @DavidBakerSF A new type of malware is quietly spreading throughout computer systems, and it may hit more people than the large-scale ransomware attack that shut down machines around the globe, cybersecurity firm Proofpoint said. Called Adylkuzz, the computer virus runs silently in the background on computers, zapping their computing power to use for itself, the Sunnyvale company said in recently-published analysis. And so far statistics suggest it may be larger in scale than WannaCry, the report said. Instead of a flashy attack that locks a computer down and demands ransom like the WannaCry attack, Adylkuzz slows computer performance. For now its unclear which regions have been hardest hit by the attack, but Moscow cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab said Wednesday most of the attacks it has found so far are in Russia. Some researchers say Adylkuzz may spread farther than WannaCry, but most users wont know that their computers been hijacked. Average home users and small to medium-size businesses are particularly vulnerable to this type of malware, said Brad Morrison, CEO of Innove. If you look at the general populace, I think that target demographic of older generations that may not be as computer savvy, there could be more issues there, Morrison said. Innove is a technology and cybersecurity consulting provider that serves both the federal government and commercial critical infrastructure clients. Technology is moving so fast that there is always going to be a workaround by hackers to exploit technology, Morrison said. WannaCry hijacked a users computer and threatened to delete files unless a ransom was paid using Bitcoin, a form of digital currency that allows both parties to remain anonymous. When WannaCry began spreading rapidly last week, local firms were on pins and needles seeing how it propagated, said John Dickson, principal at application security company Denim Group, Ltd. based in San Antonio. And while his company didnt get any reports from clients that WannaCry impacted them, he noted that nobody in the IT world right now is doing a victory lap, because these things will mutate, these things will morph. And we might have dodged a bullet here, but who knows, he said. Adylkuzz is different from WannaCry in that it is much more stealthy, with a different goal, McAfee Chief Technology Officer Steve Grobman said Wednesday in an email. Adylkuzz allows hackers to hijack computing power from other systems to generate a type of digital currency called Monero, which is similar to bitcoin. One difference between Adylkuzz and WannaCry is that it is advantageous for Adylkuzz to remain undetected and run as long as possible to maximize the amount of time a machine can be used for mining, Grobman added via email. This creates an incentive for the cybercriminals of Adylkuzz to cause minimal damage and fly under the radar, whereas WannaCry loudly informs the user that a compromise has occurred and causes massive destruction to the data on a platform. WannaCry infected more than 300,000 computers in about 150 countries across the globe, Tom Bossert, assistant to the president for homeland security and counterterrorism, said on Monday. And Proofpoint says Adylkuzz has hit hundreds of thousands of PCs and servers worldwide so far. Proofpoint also found in their analysis that the attack started before WannaCry, at least on May 2 and possibly as early as April 24. Adylkuzz may have in fact limited the spread of last weeks WannaCry infection, Proofpoint said. To be sure, Kaspersky Lab said Wednesday that so far Adylkuzz does not appear to have infected as many systems as WannaCry. Kaspersky Lab said via email on Wednesday it is continuing to monitor the threat. The company has detected and blocked (Adylkuzz) attacks on 2,300 unique users during the last two weeks, most of them (70 percent) located in Russia, the lab said. Other affected countries include Ukraine, India, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Mexico, Tunisia, Italy and South Africa. Morrison surmised that the U.S. had not seen the impact as much because its core information technology infrastructure is more advanced than other countries. And Chris Gerritz, founder of Infocyte, said via email that he thinks the impact of the attack will be limited compared to WannaCry, noting that WannaCry denied use of 200,000-plus systems, including systems being used for surgeries. Stealing peoples extra CPU cycles will likely not be noticed by most infected, and due to how far and wide it is spreading, it is well captured by the security community and industry, so mitigation is being implemented, said Gerritz, who is a retired Air Force officer. Gerritz implemented the branchs first interactive defensive counter cyberspace practice. While Morrison hasnt seen the malware attack any of his clients, he said its another reminder that people and businesses should focus on updating their systems as fast as possible. Things like this are wake-up calls you do kind of question: are people taking this serious or not? he said, adding, Is there a breaking point where people will finally say, yeah this is definitely something I need to pay more particular attention to? Grobman, of Santa Claras McAfee, said WannaCry and the Adylkuzz attack show how important security patches are in building and maintaining those effective defenses. The two recent attacks are the most recent reminders, he said, that the way companies analyze risk to decide whether to patch needs to be rethought within organizations worldwide. Samantha Ehlinger is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Email: sehlinger@express-news.net With or without you Did you miss the U2 concert this week? Well, even superfan Steve Jobs missed some of the bands performances. Author Steven Levy revealed on Facebook that the Apple co-founder skipped U2s June 7, 2011 gig at the Oakland Coliseum. Jobs had a good reason: He appeared before the Cupertino City Council that day to pitch the project that would become Apple Park, right, the companys new campus, which features a giant spaceship-like building. He died months later, without another chance to see the band. U2 frontman Bono sang at his memorial. Mark the date 2025: Thats when electric cars will have a decided cost advantage over the old-fashioned internal combustion engine, according to Wolfgang Schaefer, the chief financial officer of automotive supplier Continental. Automakers are spending billions of dollars to transition to electric vehicles, but drivers will hesitate until batteries get cheaper and range improves. Drone rule grounded An appeals court has struck down a federal rule that required owners of recreational drones and other model aircraft to register the devices with the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA had announced the rule in 2015 in response to growing reports of the small drones popular with hobbyists flying near aircraft and airports. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled Friday that federal law prohibits the FAA from issuing any rules or regulations covering model aircraft. Compiled from San Francisco Chronicle staff and news services. More items and links at www.sfgate.com. Twitter: @techchronicle Thousands of AT&T workers across the Bay Area were expected to join in a nationwide, three-day-long strike that kicked off after their union accused the company of failing to present serious proposals during contract negotiations. The strike, which began Friday, could involve as many as 37,000 workers in 36 states. Their union, the Communication Workers of America, called for the strike in an effort to compel the wireless carrier to raise wages and adopt job security assurances against outsourcing, among other demands. The union estimates that as many as 12,000 call center jobs have been shipped overseas since 2011. The majority of the striking workers about 21,000 are employees of AT&Ts wireless division, which includes retail outlets. That means some AT&T stores could be closed over the weekend. Those employees have been without a contract since February. The remainder of the strikers work primarily within AT&Ts wireline division, which includes its traditional phone business as well as wired broadband services. Those employees have been negotiating over a contract for more than a year. A small number of technicians for DirecTV, which is owned by AT&T, are also on strike. AT&T is a multibillion-dollar corporation that makes a billion dollars a month in profit. All we want is a fair contract, said Roland Andersen, a union vice president on strike in San Francisco Friday afternoon. We make this company successful, and they should share (its profits) with the people who help do that. In an email, Steven Maviglio, an AT&T spokesman, said its baffling as to why union leadership would call a strike when employees will be better off financially. He said some of them earn $115,000 to $148,000 in total compensation. The strike involves less than 14 percent of AT&Ts total U.S. workforce, Maviglio said. Weve reached 29 fair agreements since 2015 covering over 128,000 of our employees, and were confident we can do the same here. A strike is in no ones best interest, he said. Dominic Fracassa is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dominicfracassa Uber is appealing a judges order that would compel the trade-secret case of Waymo vs. Uber to be heard by a jury. Waymo alleges that Uber and its subsidiary Otto used crucial autonomous-car technology stolen by a former key Waymo engineer. That engineer, Anthony Levandowski, had an employment agreement with Waymo that mandates arbitration for disputes, a quick and private way to resolve issues. For the second time in less than two weeks, the same Costco in Danville was targeted Friday by masked robbers who swarmed the store in a midday holdup in which shots were fired inside and outside the business, which was full of shoppers at the time. The incident occurred just after 12 p.m., when police received reports of the robbery in progress at the Costco at 3150 Fostoria Way, officials said. We are fine, said a woman who answered the phone at the Costco shortly after shoppers were evacuated from the store. She declined to comment further. Police were searching for three suspects two who entered the store and one who was waiting outside in a getaway car, said Geoff Gillette, a spokesman for the Town of Danville. Chief Steve Simpkins of the Danville Police Department said two men wearing masks, hooded sweatshirts and gloves entered the sprawling store and made a beeline for a glass case of valuable merchandise. One of them produced a hammer and smashed the case, sweeping up undisclosed items inside, he said. When a Costco employee tried to stop them, one of the assailants fired a gun, but no one was struck, the chief said in a statement. The two men and their getaway driver, also a man, took off in a late-model silver Toyota Camry with paper license plates, Simpkins said. One of the culprits fired a second shot in the air in the parking lot, he said. A bystander inside the store fell while fleeing the suspects and received medical care for shock, the chief said. No one else was injured. The Costco reopened for business shortly before 3 p.m. as police finished processing the scene for evidence, officials said. The robbery was nearly identical to one on May 8, when three suspects entered the same store and attempted to take items from a jewelry display case, officials said. Gillette said police are investigating whether the same crew was involved in Fridays robbery. In the earlier heist, one of the bandits, who wore a ski mask, smashed the glass with a hammer and scooped up items inside, police said. Costco employees confronted the three thieves, tackling one to the ground while the other two, including the one with the ski mask, escaped. The suspect who was apprehended by store employees was identified as Kesean Edwards, 21, of Oakland. He was booked at the Martinez Detention Facility on suspicion of robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and burglary. The other two remain at large. Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to contact the Danville Police Department at (925) 820-2144. Sarah Ravani and Michael Bodley are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com and mbodley@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @SarRavani and @michael_bodley Evan Woods Hop back in time with Playboys Hidden Arcade, an adult-only pop-up event that brings the nostalgia of your childhood arcade hangout with a side of sexy. The first Hidden Arcade night was held in Los Angeles, and it now comes to San Francisco on Saturday, May 20, before heading to New York. The event will feature more than 10 arcade games like Pac-Man, as well as 80s music and a bar o booze open from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. The American Dream of owning a home will keep slipping out of reach of millennials, so long as they keep buying those damned slices of (delicious!) avocado toast. That's what Australian millionaire Tim Gurner thinks, anyway. Gurner, 35, recently made headlines for blaming millennials for their inability to afford a home. "When I was buying my first home, I wasn't buying smashed avocado for 19 bucks and four coffees at $4 each," Gurner told Australia's "60 Minutes." Well. Neighborhoods.com decided to test Gurner's theory and set about figuring out whether an avocado toast habit was truly limiting millennials and their home-buying abilities. ALSO Millionaire tells millennials their avocado habit is preventing them from saving up for a house The site took a look at average avocado toast prices in major cities, then pitted those figures against the median sale price of homes in the area and the cash amount needed to close the sale. San Francisco, prepare yourself for a long, long while to go without your smooshed avocado on toast. According to Neighborhoods.com, the city's avocado toast prices average to about $9. The median price of a home? $1,185,000. Estimated closing cost needed: $237,000. To save up for a home in this part of the country, millennials will have to (somehow) stop themselves from eating 26,333 slices of avocado toast to the tune of 72 sad, avocado toastless years. It turns out that San Francisco "wins" the contest for most years without avocado toast needed to buy a home. For comparison, New York City's average toast price tops San Francisco's at $10. Yet, with a median home price of $1.1 million and estimated closing costs of $220,000, New Yorkers can reach their dream home in just 22,000 avocado toasts. (Or, 60 years sans avocado toast.) See, millennials? Buying a home is easy. You're just standing in the way of yourself. WASHINGTON President Trump told Russian officials in the Oval Office this month that firing the FBI director, James Comey, had relieved great pressure on him, according to a document summarizing the meeting. I just fired the head of the FBI. He was crazy, a real nut job, Trump said, according to the document, which was read to the New York Times by a U.S. official. I faced great pressure because of Russia. Thats taken off. Trump added, Im not under investigation. The conversation, during a May 10 meeting the day after he fired Comey reinforces the notion that Trump dismissed him primarily because of the bureaus investigation into possible collusion between his campaign and Russian operatives. Trump said as much in one televised interview, but the White House has offered changing justifications for the firing. The White House document that contained Trumps comments was based on notes taken from inside the Oval Office and has been circulated as the official account of the meeting. One official read quotations to the Times, and a second official confirmed the broad outlines of the discussion. Sean Spicer, White House press secretary, did not dispute the account. In a statement, he said Comey had put unnecessary pressure on the presidents ability to conduct diplomacy with Russia on matters such as Syria, Ukraine and the Islamic State. By grandstanding and politicizing the investigation into Russias actions, James Comey created unnecessary pressure on our ability to engage and negotiate with Russia, Spicer said. The investigation would have always continued, and obviously, the termination of Comey would not have ended it. Once again, the real story is that our national security has been undermined by the leaking of private and highly classified conversations. The day after firing Comey, Trump hosted Russias foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, in the Oval Office, along with the Russian ambassador to the United States, Sergey Kislyak. The meeting ignited controversy this week when it was revealed that Trump had disclosed intelligence from an Israeli counterterrorism operation. A third government official briefed on the meeting defended the president, saying Trump was using a negotiating tactic when he told Lavrov about the pressure he was under. The idea, the official suggested, was to create a sense of obligation with Russian officials and to coax concessions out of Lavrov on Syria, Ukraine and other issues by saying that Russian meddling in last years election had created enormous political problems for Trump. Meanwhile, Comey has agreed to testify publicly before the Senate Intelligence Committee after Memorial Day, the committees senior members announced late Friday. Matt Apuzzo, Maggie Haberman and Matthew Rosenberg are New York Times reporters. A 21-month-old-boy taken from San Francisco on Friday, triggering a Bay Area-wide Amber Alert, was found safe by police in Los Angeles who apprehended his father, who took him, authorities said. The boy, Makai Bangoura, was found in Los Angles by the Los Angeles Police Department before 8 p.m., said Alex Bastian, a spokesman for the San Francisco district attorneys office. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate After a winter and early spring marked by unrelenting storms, the Sierra Nevada is piled high with snow. Now, as the storms taper off and the temperatures warm up, the snowpack is beginning to melt and runoff into rivers and lakes. One place that's seeing a huge impact from all the runoff is Lake Tahoe. Since April 1, the start of the snow melt season, 219,600 acre feet that's 71,556,879,600 gallons of water have poured into the lake, according to Chief Deputy Federal Water Master Dave Wathen. As a result the lake is filling up fast, and about a foot away from reaching full capacity. Federal wanter managers say Tahoe will fill this summer for the first time in 11 years, and when it does, the total amount it will have risen across the water-year between Oct. 1 and Sept. 30 will be record-breaking. "What we've come up so far and what we expect to come up will be the largest rise at the lake in 117 years of recorded history," said Wathen. More for you Lake Tahoe nears maximum capacity; here's what it means to you Straddling the CaliforniaNevada border, Tahoe is the sixth largest lake in the United States, an outdoor playground for people around the world, and the main water source for the Reno-Sparks, Nevada, area, as reported previously on SFGATE. The renowned ecological wonder is fed by 63 tributaries that drain 505 square miles known as the Lake Tahoe Watershed. With a vast surface area of 191 square miles, Tahoe requires an immense amount of water to fill, especially because roughly 100 billion gallons of water evaporates annually. Lake Tahoe's natural rim is at 6,223 feet above sea level. The lake can store an additional 6.1 feet in its reservoir and climbs up to 6,229.1 feet at full capacity, its legal maximum limit. The only outlet, a dam at Tahoe City, regulates the upper 6.1 feet above the low water mark, and this winter water is being released into the Truckee River as billions of gallons flow into the lake. As of Friday morning, the lake was 6228.11 feet and Wathen says they are releasing 1,700 cubic feet per second to prevent flooding. (For perspective, they were releasing 500 cfs at one point in March.) The lake still needs 120,ooo acre feet to fill, and between mid-May and the end of the water year, state water managers project 236,400 more acre feet of water will pour into the lake. "It's not typical to have this much water, but given the snow pack, we're getting what we expected," Wathen said. "We've planned on a certain amount of water coming in and we're managing the release and we don't expect any problems." This is all a huge milestone for a body of water that flirted with record-low levels amid a five-year drought. At the same time last year, the lake level was 4.1 feet lower. This year is telling a different story as storms battered the Sierra Nevada into April. The Lake Tahoe Basin received 10 more inches of precipitation than any year in recorded history, going back to 1910. Because Tahoe has a large surface area, the precipitation alone provides a significant rise. And then there's the Sierra Nevada snowpack. The range is piled high with the most snow it has seen in decades, and a recent survey on May 1 indicated the snowpack is 190 percent of averagewhich will melt into billions of gallons of water. President Donald Trump has canceled plans to deliver a speech at an ancient Israeli fortress after being told he cannot land his helicopter on it, Israeli media reported. The president will speak at the Hebrew Museum in Jerusalem rather than at Masada, the majestic fortress in the Judean Desert that was the setting for a 1st century conflict in which 967 Jewish rebels poisoned themselves rather than surrender to Roman attackers. The University of California regents defended embattled President Janet Napolitano Thursday even as they thanked the state auditor for exposing problems with budgeting and transparency at UC headquarters and promised to fix them. There has been no criminal activity and no slush funds, Regent Sherry Lansing said after state Auditor Elaine Howle presented the findings to the regents for the first time since releasing her scorching report on April 25. Janet Napolitanos wisdom and integrity have led us through some difficult times. This situation will be cleared up, and well all be better for it. The tone of the regents meeting in San Francisco contrasted sharply with that of a legislative hearing on the audit this month in Sacramento, when lawmakers sharply questioned Napolitano about the findings: why her office failed to disclose its $175 million in reserve funds; why her staff interfered with a confidential campus survey from the auditor; why her employees earn more than their counterparts in state government. On Thursday, it was the auditor being questioned by the regents, who wanted to better understand what Napolitanos office and they, as her bosses were doing wrong. Several thanked Howle, but most also took the opportunity to express confidence in the president. I was delighted when I found out that we have the possibility of having Janet Napolitano as our president (in 2013), and Im still delighted, Regent Norman Pattiz said. Were not talking about malfeasance but lack of clarity in the process. Not only is the (presidents office) streamlining, but so are the regents. After several of the regents gave similar testimonials, Howle reminded the regents: Its not an audit of the president. Its an audit of her (budget) process. I have great respect for her. Im not here to critique her leadership. But the office of the president is not doing a good job. Howle told them that when Napolitano was hired, she asked for a hard look at staffing levels in the presidents office but the staffing levels actually increased to nearly 1,700 employees. Howle said the staff size is not necessarily wrong, but that there is no process for knowing what the right size should be. She outlined other problems: budgets that show no past expenditures or future projections. No fiscal reserve policy. No regents approval for millions of dollars in spending. And interference by the presidents staff in the auditors confidential survey of campuses that was supposed to determine if services provided by headquarters were worth the money. The auditor learned that Napolitanos staff directed campuses to change their answers to make her office look better, and she threw out the surveys. As for the $175 million in reserve funds found by the auditor some for programs meant to benefit UC, such as sexual harassment training or support for students in the country illegally Howle said Napolitanos office never included them in its annual budget presentation to the regents or let the regents decide if they wanted the programs at all. Ive never, ever felt that the presidents office kept any information from us or tried to deceive us, said Hadi Makarechian, chairman of the regents finance committee and the only regent to push back on the auditors message. He said the presidents budget is included in all of the universitys financial statements. Anyone can read them. Records are always available online. Howle said it wasnt possible to understand details of the presidents operations that way. It would be like looking at the state budget and expecting to find my office budget in there. The regents and Napolitano repeated their intention to implement all 33 of the auditors recommendations. It will take a lot of work, Napolitano said. But its also an opportunity. This is not just about meeting the recommendations, but exceeding them. The regents first test came after the audit discussion, when the presidents staff offered their budget for the 2017-18 fiscal year for their approval. Instead of the usual seven pages, the new budget had 30 pages of details. At $813.5 million, its 19 percent higher than this years $686 million due to increases in the universitys education-abroad system, patent management and other programs. The presidents office has also been gradually taking over payroll functions for the university system. But more information didnt make the budget easier for the regents to understand. Kudos on this tremendous improvement, Regent Bonnie Rees congratulated the staff, then peppered Napolitanos chief operating officer, Rachel Nava, with questions about the document that revealed just how confusing it was. Nava promised the budgets would be easier to understand as more changes were made. But the regents realized that if they approved the presidents new budget, they would be rubber-stamping it in the dark just as theyd done in the past. In the end, the regents approved the budget on a contingent basis. They directed the finance committee to study every line of it and said they would take it up again in July. Regent Dick Blum, a financier, voted against that plan. He said: We think we know what were doing, but were simply kidding ourselves. In other action, the regents capped nonresident undergraduate enrollment at 18 percent at five campuses. At the remaining four undergraduate campuses, where the percentage exceeds the cap Berkeley, Irvine, UCLA and San Diego enrollment will be frozen at that level. Nanette Asimov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nasimov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NanetteAsimov Online: For all of The Chronicles coverage of the audit, go to www.sfchronicle.com/uc_audit/. Pune, May 19 (IBNS): A 21-year-old woman from Solapur who was born without a uterus was successfully operated upon by a set of 12 surgeons in a Pune hospital, thereby marking India's first womb transplant case, reports said. The surgery was performed for over 12 hours at the Galaxy Care Laparoscopy Institute in Pune. It took the surgeons three years of preparation and an ample amount of paperwork to finally achieve the landmark. The donor was the patient's mother and the uterus was removed via a laparoscopic surgery. However, the doctors said that the recipient will be monitored for the next six months to ensure that things are functioning normally and that the organ is not rejected by her body. The doctors also said they expect the recipient to menstruate normally, something which she has not experienced thus far. She will also undergo an IVF procedure a year later which will enable her to have a baby. Following the success, the hospital is expected to take up their second case on Friday, where a 23-year old woman from Gujarat will go under the knife. The first womb transplant was performed in Sweden in 2012. The recipient gave birth to a premature baby a couple of years later, a BBC report read. According to reports, around 25 womb transplant have been done so far, with success in 10 cases. The team of doctors involved in the Pune womb transplant travelled to Sweden and practiced on corpses in the US and Germany. Before going ahead in our hospital, we followed a rigorous process while choosing the donor and the recipient of womb," Dr Shailesh Puntambekar, medical director, GCLI, told Hindustan Times. With the success, more clinics are expected to try their hand at womb transplant. images: Internet Wallpapers New York, May 19 (IBNS): A new genomic study has identified prostate cancer mutations that may be more common in men of African-American background and which might be a step toward explaining why the disease is more prevalent and deadly in that minority group, says a report from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The mutations, which are thought to disable a previously unrecognized tumor suppressor gene, were found in about 5 percent of prostate cancer specimens from 192 black men included in the study, whose results were published online today by Cancer Discovery. By comparison, these mutations occur in about 1 percent of prostate cancer specimens from predominantly white men of European descent analyzed by The Cancer Genome Atlas project, the authors said. Mutations in a gene called ERF also appeared to be associated with more aggressive, castration-resistant cases of prostate cancer, according to the researchers. African-American men have a 1.4-fold higher risk of developing prostate cancer and a 2.4-fold greater mortality from the disease. The finding of a gene mutation that may occur more frequently in African-Americans tells us that there are differences, and they are probably informative for how prostate cancer develops and how it behaves, said Franklin Huang, MD, PhD, a medical oncologist at Dana-Farber. He is first author of the report with Juan Miguel Mosquera, MD, MSc, a pathologist at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York. It is at least a step in the right direction of beginning to understand the genomic basis of aggressive prostate cancer, Huang added. However, we wouldnt expect a smoking gun that would explain this large disparity in incidence and mortality between African-American and white men. Huang explained that this is in part because relatively few mutations of any kind have been found in prostate cancer, compared to some other forms of cancer. Although African-American men suffer disproportionately from prostate cancer, the authors said they have been under-represented in most systematic studies of prostate cancer performed to date. For the current study, the researchers drew on prostate cancer samples from black men treated at the Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit; Weill Cornell Medicine; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and Roswell Park Cancer Institute. When they sequenced the exomes protein-coding DNA of the cancer samples from African-American men and matched normal controls, the investigators identified several gene mutations that disabled the ERF gene. ERF is recurrently mutated in primary prostate cancer in African-American men, said the researchers. They also discovered that prostate tumors with a loss of ERF copies had more aggressive features when studied by pathologists. In addition, the scientists carried out laboratory experiments revealing that mutated or missing ERF encouraged cancerous growth, while overexpression of ERF slowed cancerous growth. These results were consistent with a possible tumor suppressor role for ERF in prostate cancer, the authors concluded. Other genetic differences between white and African-American prostate cancer specimens also came to light in the study. For example, a gene known as PIK3CA is mutated in about 3 percent of prostate cancers in white patients, but was not mutated in the samples taken from black men. However, There are still unexplained reasons for the aggressive nature of prostate cancer in African-American men that is only partially explained by the genomic studies to date, said the investigators. The results of the current study have a larger implication, the researchers said. Including more patients of African ancestry in cancer genomic studies not just prostate cancer may enable the discovery of new cancer genes and inform the inclusion of diverse populations towards precision cancer medicine. Corresponding authors of the report are Levi Garraway, MD, PhD, formerly of Dana-Farber and now at Eli Lilly and Co.; Isaac J. Powell, MD, of Karmanos Cancer Institute; and Mark A. Rubin, MD, of Weill Cornell Medicine. Image: Wikimedia Commons After calling the FBI investigation into the possibility his campaign colluded with Russians meddling in the 2016 election a witch hunt, President Trump contradicted his own Justice Department on Thursday in explaining why he fired FBI Director James Comey last week. Hours after Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein told senators Thursday that Trump had made up his mind to dismiss Comey before Rosenstein wrote a memo suggesting so, Trump told reporters that he relied on the memo to make his decision. Director Comey was very unpopular with most people, Trump said during a 30-minute joint news conference at the White House with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, the first time he had held a news conference since he fired Comey on May 9. I actually thought when I made that decision and I also got a very strong recommendation, as you know from the deputy attorney general, Rod Rosenstein, he said. Meanwhile, during his briefing on Capitol Hill, Rosenstein gave senators a different story when he briefed them privately Thursday on the appointment of former FBI Director Robert Mueller to oversee the investigation into ties between Trumps campaign and Russian officials. Rosenstein said Trump had already made up his mind to fire Comey the day before Rosenstein wrote the memo. It was a counterintelligence investigation before now, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told reporters after the briefing. I think its now being considered a criminal investigation. Trump also cited Comeys poor, poor performance during the former FBI directors May 3 testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, when he erroneously said Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin forwarded hundreds and thousands of emails to the laptop of her husband, former Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y. Days later, the FBI sent a letter to the committee clarifying that the number of forwarded emails was far fewer and included emails transferred via backups as well as manual forwarding. There were misstatements made, Trump said Thursday, and I thought that was something that was terrible. Trumps contradictory remarks added another layer of confusion to the spiraling investigation into his campaigns activities and connections to any Russians. Several times during Thursdays news conference Trump repeated that there had been no collusion between his campaign and the Russians, although once he appended that denial by saying, I can only speak for myself. There is no collusion even my enemies said there is no collusion, Trump said, without naming one enemy who has said that. Asked directly whether he ever asked Comey to let go of the investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn, Trump said, No. No. Next question. The news conference occurred hours after Trump tweeted that the Justice Department investigation into his campaigns possible collusion with Russia was the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history. The tweets echoed Trumps remarks during a commencement address Wednesday at the Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut when he said that no politician in history, and I say with surety, has been treated worse, more unfairly. Thats ridiculous. (President Richard) Nixon was treated abominably, said Evan Thomas, a longtime journalist and author of the best-selling, Being Nixon: A Man Divided. Thomas also pointed out that Trump received more than $5 billion in free media coverage twice as much as Clinton did during the presidential campaign, according to the data analytics firm mediaQuant. It has been a tumultuous couple of weeks for Trump. Last week, the Washington Post reported that the president disclosed sensitive intelligence during a meeting with top Russian emissaries. While the White House said that no sensitive material was released, Trump contradicted his staff by 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. That meeting came one day after Trump fired Comey, who was leading an investigation into the possible Russian collusion. Then came the New York Times report that Comey kept contemporaneous notes of a meeting with Trump that indicated the president asked him to back off the Flynn investigation. While Trump was pointed about the investigation on Twitter on Thursday, at his news conference later in the day, the president whipsawed between being sanguine about the latest twists in the investigation and lashing out against them. When asked about Rosensteins appointment Wednesday of Mueller as a special counsel to investigate the Russia matter, Trump said, I respect the move, but the entire thing has been a witch hunt. Im fine with whatever people want to do, Trump said. We have to get back to running this country really, really well. Weve made tremendous progress. Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez, a former deputy attorney general in the Justice Department, is happy to see the increased scrutiny from an independent source. Perez said Trumps tweet alluding to him having tapes of his private conversation with Comey comes across as witness intimidation. This is not simply about Donald Trump, Perez said Thursday during a visit to the Bay Area. This is about our democracy. We have to make sure that no one is above the law. Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli RIO DE JANEIRO Brazils top prosecutor is accusing President Michel Temer of corruption and obstruction of justice, according to an investigation released Friday by the supreme court, dramatically escalating pressure to force the embattled leader from office. At the same time, other released documents said Joesley Batista the owner of a major meatpacker has told prosecutors that he transferred $150 million to offshore accounts for the campaigns of Temers two predecessors in the presidency. Attorney General Rodrigo Janots charges against Temer threaten to drive him from the presidency and represent an extraordinary development in a corruption probe that is upending politics and just about everything else in Latin Americas largest nation. For Temer, a 76-year-old career politician who was not elected, the fallout could cost him his job. Temer, then vice president, took power a year ago after President Dilma Rousseff was impeached and later removed from office for illegally managing the federal budget. By Friday afternoon, O Globo, the flagship paper of Brazils largest media company, was calling for Temers resignation, delivering a significant blow to Temers prospects for survival. The media group had supported Temers proposed economic overhaul, and more generally wields enormous influence because of its popular soap operas and media dominance. The attorney generals formal presentation of evidence is the latest revelation related to a secretly recorded audio that purportedly captured Temer endorsing the paying of hush money to an ex-lawmaker now serving a 15-year prison sentence for corruption. The audio was first reported by O Globo on Wednesday night and has been rocking the country ever since. In a plea bargain that was part of the documents released Friday by the Supreme Federal Tribunal, JBS meat-packing company executive Batista who reportedly recorded the president said he paid $1.5 million in bribes to Temer. In Batistas plea bargain, he also told authorities that he transferred $150 million to offshore bank accounts for campaigns of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his successor in the presidency, Dilma Rousseff. Rousseff denied the accusations. Peter Prengaman and Mauricio Savarese are Associated Press writers. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate GAO, Mali On his first official trip outside Europe, new French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday highlighted his determination to crush extremism with a visit to French-led military forces combatting jihadist groups in West Africa. The terror threat in the region is clearly a risk for Europe, he said. Macron was greeted by Malian counterpart Ibrahim Boubacar Keita at an air base in the eastern city of Gao, home to Frances largest overseas military operation. Macron vowed to maintain Frances military operations in Mali and be intractable with extremist groups in the region. At a joint news conference with Keita, he also asked Germany to provide more support to French-led efforts to eradicate the extremists. Macron said he spoke to German Chancellor Angela Merkel earlier this week about getting more logistical support and said Merkel backs the idea. Keita expressed his gratitude toward France for its military intervention that began in 2013 after extremist groups overran the countrys vast northern region. The groups were quickly pushed from strongholds but remain a deadly threat. The road is long ... but we are going forward and we will succeed, Keita said. Macron repeatedly pledged ahead of the May 7 election that fighting terror would be his priority, after multiple attacks in France since 2015 that killed more than 230 people. Most of the West African extremist groups France is combatting trace their origins to al Qaedas North Africa branch. Frances Operation Barkhane has about 4,000 soldiers in Mali, Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso and Mauritania. Gao is home of the permanent French military base in Mali, with 1,600 troops. Gao is also where a suicide attack on a Malian army camp killed more than 75 people in January. That attack, claimed by the al Qaeda-linked al-Mourabitoun extremist group, happened just days after former French president Francois Hollande visited the city. The attack was a major blow to peace efforts in northern Mali, where rival groups have been vying for control or outright independence. Yacouba Omar is an Associated Press writer. 1 Chinese jets: Two Chinese fighter jets flew too close to a U.S. military aircraft patrolling the East China Sea, prompting a formal protest to the Chinese government, the U.S. Air Force said Friday. The incident Wednesday involved a U.S. WC-135 Constant Phoenix aircraft and two Chinese SU-30 jets that both flew in an unprofessional and dangerously close way, according to a spokeswoman for the Pacific Air Forces. The maneuvers by the Chinese jets near the U.S. aircraft may have been prompted by concerns that the United States was spying on Chinese military hardware and bases inside China, said Shi Yinhong, a professor of international relations at Renmin University of China in Beijing. 2 U.S. sanctions: The U.S. imposed a new round of sanctions on high-level Venezuelan officials, this time targeting eight Supreme Court judges that Washington accused of damaging their nations democracy by steadily stripping the opposition-controlled congress of any authority. The executive order issued this week marked the second time the U.S. has sanctioned leaders of Venezuelas socialist government since President Trump assumed power. In February, the U.S. announced it was freezing the assets of Vice President Tareck El Aissami, accusing him of playing a major role in international drug trafficking. STOCKHOLM Swedens top prosecutor on Friday dropped an investigation into a rape claim against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange after almost seven years, saying thats because theres no possibility of arresting him in the foreseeable future. The announcement by prosecutor Marianne Ny means the outspoken WikiLeaks leader no longer faces sex crime allegations in Sweden, although British police say he is still wanted for jumping bail in Britain in 2012. It does not clear Assanges name, however, and some experts say it puts him into an even more precarious legal situation if the U.S. has as some suspect a sealed indictment for his arrest. We're peering out of our blanket foxholes too. Is it done snowing? Will it ever be summer? Like, for more than a few days at a time, that is? Pretty sure we will very soon be miserable and sweaty but for now we'd really like to put away the wool socks. C'mon, weekend. Bring us some sun. There's yoga, there's blues, there's DIY zines, there's all kinds of great stuff you should leave your house for. Don't rain on the lowriders. Emily Branden and Tiffany Christopher: Live Music Yoga Practice Vinyasa flow with Branden as Christopher serenades the class with a live set of rock covers and originals. The combination makes for a sweaty, gratifying movement experience. More Info >> Practice Vinyasa flow with Branden as Christopher serenades the class with a live set of rock covers and originals. The combination makes for a sweaty, gratifying movement experience. Advance Trance Rockin' wack-o-delic jam band. More Info >> Rockin' wack-o-delic jam band. The John Kurzweg Band Rock 'n' roll from a dude who knows music inside and out. More Info >> Rock 'n' roll from a dude who knows music inside and out. Tenth Anniversary Plaza Fair & Summer Reading 2017 Kickoff Visit the booths of more than 25 local nonprofits who serve Santa Fe's community in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Southside branch of the library. Mariachi Buenaventura performs. More Info >> Visit the booths of more than 25 local nonprofits who serve Santa Fe's community in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Southside branch of the library. Mariachi Buenaventura performs. Santa Fe Zine Fest Zines, comics and alternative press publications unite to present a day full of independent literary radness. This showcase features creators by Anastasio Wrobel, Francisco Haros Lopez, Yvette Serrano and more. More Info >> Zines, comics and alternative press publications unite to present a day full of independent literary radness. This showcase features creators by Anastasio Wrobel, Francisco Haros Lopez, Yvette Serrano and more. Crawdaddy Blues Festival The Mine Shaft Tavern hosts the 10th Annual fish-eatin' festival, bringing fresh live crawfish from the Gulf Coast, as well as green chile blue crab cakes, crawfish etoufee, gumbo, Texas BBQ Ribs, brisket and smoked pork. Wash it down with a fresh squeezed hurricane while Rude Boy Experiment, Key Frances, Whiskey Diablo and more give live performances. Laissez les bons temps rouler! More Info >> The Mine Shaft Tavern hosts the 10th Annual fish-eatin' festival, bringing fresh live crawfish from the Gulf Coast, as well as green chile blue crab cakes, crawfish etoufee, gumbo, Texas BBQ Ribs, brisket and smoked pork. Wash it down with a fresh squeezed hurricane while Rude Boy Experiment, Key Frances, Whiskey Diablo and more give live performances. Laissez les bons temps rouler! Lowrider Day @ The Railyard Stroll through a presentation of lowriders, be in awe. They're sparkly, bouncy and loud. More Info >> Stroll through a presentation of lowriders, be in awe. They're sparkly, bouncy and loud. Santa Fe Symphony Concluding its 33rd season, the symphony performs a bombastic set of classics by Beethoven, Mendelssohn and Lauridsen with principle conductor Guillermo Figueroa. More Info >> Concluding its 33rd season, the symphony performs a bombastic set of classics by Beethoven, Mendelssohn and Lauridsen with principle conductor Guillermo Figueroa. HOOPS The three members of this band from Indiana take turns as lead vocalist, so their lyrics and sounds vary as they perform sentimental rock tunes and power pop songs. More Info >> The three members of this band from Indiana take turns as lead vocalist, so their lyrics and sounds vary as they perform sentimental rock tunes and power pop songs. Get more information about how to spend your fun days when you sign up for the SFR Weekend newsletter, delivered to your inbox each Friday afternoon. Santa Fe Reporter New Zealand shares rose, led by Kathmandu and Air New Zealand, as improving global sentiment sparked interest in some of the biggest companies on the bourse, although Ryman Healthcare fell after earnings disappointed some investors. The S&P/NZX 50 Index rose 20 points, or 0.3 percent, to 7,392.11. Within the index, 22 rose, nine were unchanged and 19 fell. Turnover was $103 million. Stocks were largely positive across Asia after an overnight rebound on Wall Street with Japan's Topix and Hong Kong's Hang Seng both up 0.3 percent, although the proposed bank tax on Australia's biggest lenders continue to weigh across the Tasman where the S&P/ASX 200 was down 0.3 percent. Hamilton Hindin Greene broker Grant Williamson said the better global mood had cheered investors. "We had seen a little bit of profit taking and that's obviously dried up today and we've had a few investors coming into the market." Kathmandu rose 3.7 percent to $1.99, while Air New Zealand gained 2.5 percent to $2.87. Fletcher Building added 1.9 percent to $8.14. "Blue chip stocks seem to be in good demand today," said Williamson. News that migration remained at a record high in April and short-term visitor arrivals also hit a new record also helped support Air New Zealand. Fisher & Paykel Healthcare rose 1 percent to $10.17. Earlier this week investors were cheered by news that ResMed withdrew its complaint against F&P Healthcare in the US International Trade Commission, although it plans to replace it with a new action and is still pursuing its patent dispute with the New Zealand maker of breathing masks in several other jurisdictions. AFT Pharmaceuticals rose 1.7 percent to $2.34 after it obtained regulatory approval to sell its Maxigesic painkiller in nine additional European countries, a move that lets it ramp up international sales of its tablets. Xero continued to power higher on heightened interest as the company moves toward break-even, ended up 0.9 percent at $23.40 while Briscoe Group was unchanged at $4 after it said it would pursue a secondary listing on the Australian Securities Exchange next week in a bid to broaden its investor base. In the other direction, Sky Network Television led the market lower, shedding 2.0 percent to $3.51. "It continues to drift off following the rejection of the merger," said Williamson. While Sky TV and Vodafone New Zealand this week detailed their appeal against the Commerce Commission's decision blocking the $3.44 billion merger, uncertainty remains. Ryman Healthcare fell 1.9 percent to $8.47 after it posted a record annual profit, adding to its run of 15 years of earnings growth, as the hot property market underpinned gains from resales of its occupancy rights. Williamson said, however, the 13 percent gain in its underlying profit missed the company's historical average of around 15 percent. "The underlying is a fraction under what the market was hoping for and that's seen the price drift off a bit," he said. News that managing director Simon Challies will leave the company at the of June due to health reasons has created some uncertainty. "He's led that company extremely well for quite some time now," said Williamson. Dual-listed Australia and New Zealand Banking Group shed 1.4 percent to $30.66 while Sanford fell 1.4 percent to $7.05. Sanford is due to report its half-year result next Thursday. Williamson said, however, investors will be keeping a close eye on ongoing political turmoil in the US. "There's quite a bit of uncertainty surrounding that and whether it has a flow on effect into Wall Street," he said. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: GMT - Customer demand supports strong first-half operating result EVO - Embark Education announces Special Dividend BLT - Strategy reset and revenue growth Mainfreight Half Year Financial Results 30 September 2022 ATM - Organisational announcement: Chief Supply Chain Officer November 10th Morning Report Blis Technologies: FY23 Half Year Results TEM - Market Abuse Regulation, Article 19, Paragraph 11 NZME updates FY22 guidance & announces new dividend policy November 9th Morning Report AFT Pharmaceuticals obtained regulatory approval to sell its Maxigesic painkiller in nine additional European countries, a move that lets it ramp up international sales of its tablets. The Auckland-based drug maker said the European Medicines Agency approved Maxigesic tablets in Austria, Belgium, Croatia, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. These countries have been added to the existing European countries where Maxigesic has been approved for sale. "Collectively they have over US$1.8 billion of annual sales of paracetamol and ibuprofen tablets, said chief executive Hartley Atkinson. "So approval across most of the EU is a crucial piece of the puzzle for Maxigesic in terms of ramping up international sales and significantly reducing the regulatory risk for Maxigesic tablets." The EMAs decision immediately clears the way for Maxigesic product launches in countries where AFT Pharmaceuticals already has a license agreement in place: Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Portugal and Ireland. It will add to existing launches in the UK, Italy and a planned launch in the Nordics. The EMA decision is expected to accelerate licensing negotiations in EU countries where agreements are not yet in place. "We know that for most of the EU, Maxigesic has now been approved, and so we expect to make further progress in reaching licensing agreements in those remaining EU countries in this financial year," said Atkinson. Earlier this month, AFT said it sold 74 million tablets in the year ended March 31, up from 22 million tablets a year earlier, it said in a statement. The company will report earnings next Wednesday and in March said it expected to generate annual sales of between $69 million and $71 million, up from $65.8 million a year earlier. The stock last traded at $2.30 and has fallen 25 percent over the past 12 months. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: GMT - Customer demand supports strong first-half operating result EVO - Embark Education announces Special Dividend BLT - Strategy reset and revenue growth Mainfreight Half Year Financial Results 30 September 2022 ATM - Organisational announcement: Chief Supply Chain Officer November 10th Morning Report Blis Technologies: FY23 Half Year Results TEM - Market Abuse Regulation, Article 19, Paragraph 11 NZME updates FY22 guidance & announces new dividend policy November 9th Morning Report Ubco, a New Zealand tech company that has designed an electric farm bike, successfully raised $3.95 million in funding in the US, Australia and New Zealand. US investors Bob and Ethan Ralston and US expansion and acquisition company Spring Capital invested US$1 million in the company and then Ubco raised a further $2.5 million from New Zealand and Australian investors. Ubco has formed a distribution company UBCO US LLC, based in Oregon. Bob Ralston will now join the Ubco board while Ethan Ralston will be a managing member of the LLC. Enterprise Angels, an early-stage investment group in New Zealand, led a Series A funding round, facilitating the investment of $860,000 in July 2016. Bill Murphy, executive director of Enterprise Angels, said going offshore had been key to obtaining the latest funding. "It really highlights how for many New Zealand startups the CEO has to leave these shores to put in 'face time' and wear out shoe leather to succeed," he said in a statement. Research earlier this year by Massey University Master of Management student Hattaf Ansari showed entrepreneurs are encouraged to chase global markets if they want to win backing for their early stage ventures, with investors having their eye firmly set on international markets. "Securing entry into the US market is a real highlight for Ubco and secures us a profile that we will leverage off in other significant markets," said Ubco board chairman Deion Campbell. The company's Ubco 2x2 is designed in New Zealand and uses advances in electric motor design and battery technology to create a lightweight, versatile utility vehicle. The company has also made inroads in Australia, where it has officially signed Daviesway as its rural distributor. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: GMT - Customer demand supports strong first-half operating result EVO - Embark Education announces Special Dividend BLT - Strategy reset and revenue growth Mainfreight Half Year Financial Results 30 September 2022 ATM - Organisational announcement: Chief Supply Chain Officer November 10th Morning Report Blis Technologies: FY23 Half Year Results TEM - Market Abuse Regulation, Article 19, Paragraph 11 NZME updates FY22 guidance & announces new dividend policy November 9th Morning Report Washington, May 19 (IBNS): A NASA-funded field campaign getting underway in Florida on May 25 has a real shot at improving meteorologists' ability to answer some of the most fundamental questions about weather: Where will it rain? When? How much? Called the Convective Processes Experiment (CPEX), the campaign is using NASA's DC-8 airborne laboratory outfitted with five complementary research instruments designed and developed at NASA, read the NASA website. The plane also will carry small sensors called dropsondes that are dropped from the plane and make measurements as they fall. Working together, the instruments will collect detailed data on wind, temperature and humidity in the air below the plane during the birth, growth and decay of convective clouds -- clouds formed by warm, moist air rising off the subtropical waters around Florida. "Convection is simply a column or bubble of warm air rising," said CPEX Principal Investigator Ed Zipser of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. That rising air may become the seed of a rainstorm; in the tropics and subtropics, including the U.S. South, convection is the most common way for precipitation to form. Convective clouds can join together to form a major rainstorm or can even become a hurricane. Even though convection is such a fundamental atmospheric process, the start of convection has proven difficult to predict. Bjorn Lambrigtsen of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, a member of the CPEX science team, explained why: "Tropical convection flares up quickly. A thunderstorm pops up, does its thing, and goes away in an hour or so. And they're not very large." They're typically less than six miles (10 kilometers) across. Satellites can't observe much detail about a feature that small even if they happen to be looking at the right place at the right time. "To understand what makes a thunderstorm form and grow, we need field campaigns. We need to fly to where the storms are, look at them and their environment in detail, and measure all the important features at the same time," said Lambrigtsen. Zipser is particularly interested in areas of deep convection, with cloud tops higher than jets fly. "If you look at a vacation poster of Hawaii, you see a sky full of little cotton balls," he says. "Those clouds are only a few kilometers deep, and you might get a light shower out of them. The troposphere over the tropics is 14 or 15 kilometers [9 miles] deep, and the top half of deep convective clouds is full of ice particles instead of liquid drops. If these deep clouds become better organized, grow into a large system and move over land, you can have widespread, heavy rainfall for the better part of a day. We need to find out when deep convection is going to form and why." One Month, One Plane, Five Instruments The CPEX team plans to log 10 to 16 flights in June for a total of about 100 flight hours, weather permitting. They hope to record the entire evolution of convective storms, from birth to decay. They'll fly in whichever direction the weather seems most promising, whether it's the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean or the western Atlantic Ocean. The most interesting data should come when the plane is able to penetrate deep but moderate convection without the threat of lightning, collecting data from inside a storm or storm system. The five NASA instruments are flying together as a group for the first time: DAWN, the Doppler Aerosol Wind Lidar, is a relatively new addition to NASA's Earth science toolkit that measures the horizontal wind profile below the plane. It was developed and is operated by NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. Lambrigtsen noted that in contrast with dropsondes, which collect data only from the spots where they're dropped, DAWN collects a swath of continuous data along the flight path. "It's one of the most important measurements for understanding tropical convection, and it was not available till DAWN and similar sensors came on the scene," Lambrigtsen said. APR-2, the Airborne Second-Generation Precipitation Radar, measures precipitation and vertical motion within storms using the same kind of dual-polarization, dual-Doppler technology as the National Weather Service's ground-based radar. Developed and operated by JPL, APR-2 measures the rain or ice particles in a cloud, which reveal the cloud's structure. Three microwave radiometers from JPL measure what Lambrigtsen calls "the bread and butter of convection" -- temperature, water vapor, and the amount of liquid in clouds: HAMSR, the High Altitude MMIC (Monolithic Microwave integrated Circuit) Sounding Radiometer; MTHP, the Microwave Temperature and Humidity Profiler MASC, the Microwave Atmospheric Sounder for Cubesats. This experimental instrument will test the possibility of flying a miniaturized microwave radiometer on a tiny satellite called a Cubesat. JPL scientists will assess MASC's performance in CPEX to advance the instrument along the path to space readiness. The DC-8 aircraft and crew are based at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in Palmdale, California. Better Understanding, Improved Models With a career stretching back to the 1960s, Ed Zipser knows as well as anyone how a good data set from field research can advance understanding of the atmosphere and improve the accuracy of weather and climate models. "We've known since the 1970s that the key to a successful forecast is being able to understand and treat the role of convection," he said. "We've made a lot of progress, but none of the model treatments of convection is anything you could call perfect. We need to observe better and understand more. CPEX is a pretty exciting opportunity to learn more about convection and its evolution." Image Credits: Flickr user John Spade, CC BY 2.0 London, May 19 (IBNS): Female fruit flies start headbutting each other after mating and become significantly more aggressive and intolerant, Oxford University research has revealed. Levels of aggression soar after sex, when a variety of proteins, which flow freely in semen, stimulate dramatic behavioural and physiological changes in females. Other changes identified in female fruit flies include increased ovulation, rejection of male advances and loss of interest in sex. Increased post coital levels of aggression may have wider indirect implications on female competition. Studies in many species have shown an association between increased levels of aggression in females, egg laying and reproduction. Protecting and providing for offspring is often identified as the main motivation for this behaviour. The factors at play in the reproductive process, that trigger such dramatic behavioural changes, have until now, been less clearly understood. A team of researchers led by Dr Eleanor Bath and Dr Stuart Wigby of the Oxford University Department of Zoology, examined hundreds of fruit flies, assessing the impact of mating on female fruit fly behaviour, and to what degree it alters their levels of aggression. Fruit flies are also known as Drosophila melanogaster, a species of fly that is approximately one-eighth of an inch in length, with red eyes. Fruit flies are known for being drawn to ripe or rotten foods like fruits and vegetables. The research newly published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, proposed that aggression was potentially stimulated by two factors; either indirectly as a result of costly egg-production, or directly by coming into contact with the components contained in the males ejaculate. The findings show that after mating, female fruit flies become evidently more aggressive towards each other when fighting over food, often headbutting and swatting at each other. Specifically, pairs of mated females fought a lot more than virgin pairs. Pairs with at least one newly mated female were also found to be more aggressive towards each other than pairs with two virgin females. Females are also known to experience a number of other dramatic changes after mating, including increasing their levels of egg production, increasing their feeding rates, and altering their sleeping patterns. Previous research has drawn links between these behavioural changes and proteins found in semen, such as the sex-peptide, which is carried in the seminal fluid and binds to sperm. The team were able to determine that females needed to receive sperm to increase their aggression after mating, and that sex-peptide was also involved in elevating female aggression. Copulation may also affect the social tolerance of females in general. Immediately after mating female fruit flies are known to be significantly less receptive to re-mating. Females were found to be equally aggressive towards one another, regardless of whether or not they were able to produce eggs, showing that reproduction was not a contributing factor in their obvious change of temperament. Dr Stuart Wigby, Research Fellow at Oxford University, said: A lot is known about male fruit fly behaviour and what affects their levels of aggression, but very little has been published about competition among females. Even taken on its own, our study is useful. If these behavioural changes occur in fruit flies, it is highly likely that they are happening in other insects. Now that the relationship between mating and aggression in females is better understood, the team intend to conduct further analysis into the effects of the behavioural change, pinpointing the exact time that their intolerance intensifies, and how long the effects of the sex-peptide last. New research will also work to determine whether the effects carry positive or negative benefits to males and females, who the behavioural change benefits and if it is linked to spousal or offspring protection? Dr Eleanor Bath said: Knowing whether female aggression benefits females in the wild could help us to understand fruit fly population dynamics. Potentially having more aggressive females might result in females doing less well in the wild, meaning that we could potentially use female aggression as a behavioural tool to control pest insect populations. Dr Stuart Wigby added: A lot of insect control programmes involve releasing sterile males into the wild. When these males mate with wild females, the females fail to produce viable offspring. It could be that mating with these sterile males also affects female aggression levels. Further research will help us to understand exactly how such affects could help or harm populations, and therefore whether or not they can have a wider use. Image: Wikimedia Commons NEW DELHI: Paytm said it has raised $1.4 billion from Japan's SoftBank Group in a deal that will help the digital payments startup expand its user base and expand its soon-to-be launched payments bank operations. SoftBank will also get a board seat in Paytm after the investment, which was made into Paytm parent One97 Communications, according to a statement from the Indian digital payments provider. This investment will help Paytm grow its leadership in the countrys payment ecosystem, expand its user base and build a suite of financial services products for its users. Paytm plans to invest 10,000 crore (approximately $1.6 billion) over the next three to five years towards its commitment to enabling half a billion Indians to join the mainstream economy. SoftBank will also get a board seat in Paytm after the investment. China's Alibaba, which counts SoftBank as its biggest investor, already holds a stake in Paytm. As a part of this vision, the company will soon launch the Paytm Payments Bank, a mobile-first product that will reach every corner of the nation, and focus on the millions of unserved and under-served Indians. We are at an inflection point in our journey with Paytm. This investment by Softbank and support of the incredible entrepreneur Masayoshi Son is a great endorsement of our team's execution and vision.We believe we have a great opportunity to bring financial inclusion to half a billion Indians, Paytm Founder and chief executive system (CEO) Vijay Shekhar Sharma said. Paytms zero cost QR Code-based payment solution has been adopted by millions of merchants and has become synonymous to digital payments in India. In addition, Paytm is Indias largest bill payment and recharge platform. There has also been a significant uptake in its movie ticketing, and travel booking (rail, bus and flight tickets) businesses. Paytm has recently collaborated with MMTC-PAMP to launch digital gold on its platform. The company continues to innovate in the offline payments space to enable digital transactions for consumers across multiple facets of everyday life. In line with the Indian government's vision to promote digital inclusion, we are committed to transforming the lives of hundreds of millions of Indian consumers and merchants by providing them digital access to a broad array of financial services, including mobile payments. We are excited to partner with Paytm in this journey and will provide them with all our support, said Masayoshi Son, Chairman & CEO, SoftBank Group Corp. Paytm is an Indian payments company based out of Delhi NCR, India. Acronym for Pay Through Mobile, it was launched in August 2010 as an online recharges and bill payments platform and soon expanded into ubiquitous online and offline use-cases. In January 2014, it launched the Paytm Wallet, which has emerged as Indias biggest digital wallet with over 220 million users and is accepted as the preferred mode of payment by over 5 million offline merchants across India. Read Also: Wal-Mart Pushing Hard To Catch Amazon In e-Commerce Tech Mahindra Enters Into Top 20 Global Tech Services Brands Patna, May 19 (The Bihar Post): Itas really bad times for the ruling Grand Alliance in Bihar. Hours after a mighty RJD politician Prabhunath Singh was convicted in an old murder case, a senior Congress leader has been served life imprisonment in a 24-year-old murder case. Congress leader Chandradeep Narayan Singh was served life imprisonment by a fast track court in Vaishali district on Thursday in connection with the murder of a local villager Radhakant Singh. The victim was killed near a high school in Bhatalia under Desari police station in January 1993 after which the Congress leader along with his son was made named accused in the case. The same day, RJD leader and former Maharajganj MP Prabhunath Singh had been convicted by Hazaribagh court in a 22-year-old murder case involving killing of the then legislator Ashok Singh. Singh who was elected from Mashrakh assembly seat in Saran district had been killed in July 1995 within 90 days of his election. The quantum of punishment in this case will be announced on May 23. http://thebiharpost.com NEW DELHI: Anti-submarine warfare is the focus of a week-long joint naval exercise being held by India and Singapore in the South China Sea from Thursday, the Indian Navy said. This comes as India has repeatedly expressed concern over the presence of Chinese submarines in the Indian Ocean, and on the growing presence of China in the international waters. The harbour phase of Simbex-17 started on Thursday. Indian Naval Ships Shivalik, Sahyadri, Jyoti and Kamorta and one P8-I Maritime Patrol and Anti-Submarine Warfare Aircraft are participating in the exercise. Simbex is an acronym for Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercises. "The thrust of exercises at sea this year would be on Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), integrated operations with Surface, Air and Sub-surface forces, Air Defence and Surface Encounter Exercises," a statement from the Indian Navy said. Two ships -- INS Sahyadri and INS Kamorta -- arrived in Singapore on May 12, while INS Shivalik and INS Jyoti would be joining directly for the sea phase of exercise. The Harbour Phase is scheduled from May 18-20 and the Sea Phase from May 21-24. This year's edition of Simbex-17, being held in the South China Sea, would be the 24th in the series. The statement said it is aimed at increasing "interoperability" between the two navies as well as develop common understanding and procedures for maritime security operations. During Simbex-17, the Singapore Navy is represented by RSN Ships Supreme, Formidable and Victory and Maritime Patrol Aircraft Fokker F50 in addition to the RSAF F-16 aircraft. The two navies share a long standing relationship with regular professional interactions that include exchange programmes, staff talks and training courses. Singapore Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Lai Chung Han had earlier visited Eastern Naval Command and participated in International Fleet Review held in February last year in Visakhapatnam. INS Sahyadri and INS Shivalik -- both multi-role stealth frigates -- are commanded by Captain Anil Jaggi and Captain R. Vinod Kumar, respectively, while INS Kamorta, an anti-Submarine warfare corvette, is commanded by Commander Vipin Gupta. lNS Jyoti, the fleet replenishment tanker, is commanded by Captain S. Shyam Sundar. A Yuan-class conventional submarine of China's People's Liberation Army-Navy's (PLAN) anti-piracy fleet was "picked up" by Indian Navy's Poseidon-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft as soon as it crossed the Malacca Strait on April 19-20. The same submarine was later denied permission by Sri Lanka to dock in one of its harbours. Read Also: Flipkart, Amazon Top LinkedIn's Companies List India Poised To Lead IoT Industry: IT Secretary STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Former Rep. Michael Grimm has penned a letter of advice to President Donald Trump, suggesting he "go on the offense" against Democrats who seek to destroy him, seeing, as Grimm put it, "they have employed the 'play book' that they regularly use on opponents." Grimm, a two-term Republican who in January 2015 left office under a cloud after winning a third term under indictment, wrote a letter and circulated it to news outlets Friday, offering Trump a word of advice on how to deal with opponents. "The president is under heavy attack with every element of opposition power against him, and from every angle: the media, the Democrats, Hollywood, the Establishment and the deeply rooted bureaucrats in every agency that actually regulates the entire country," Grimm writes. "However, after a deep breath and employing a little introspection, then accepting that they must right their ship, the White House needs to deploy every tool and arsenal at its disposal to go on offense." This week the former congressman's request to have the suspension of his law license lifted, was denied, as a court extended it, allowing Grimm to apply for a reinstatement in March 2019. Having pleaded guilty to a single count of tax evasion in December 2014 shortly after winning a third term, Grimm was sentenced to 8 months in jail, a term that was cut short when he was released in May 2016. Since then, Grimm has appeared in the community on Staten Island, attending events, including staying by the side of mentor and former borough president and congressman, Guy Molinari, when he did a book signing in December. Grimm has also been rumored to be weighing a run against Borough President James Oddo for the office. Grimm's unedited advice column to the president appears below: The Democrats smell blood in the water and they are excellent at closing. Now more than ever, the bold leadership of President Trump is needed, but an adjustment to his style may very well be required. While I am not so arrogant to presume to give the President of the United States advice, my own observations of the current situation, along with my personal experience with the familiar play book being used right now may be offer some useful insight. Hopefully the White House will take a step back, slow down their pace, fully digesting the gravity of what is happening. The President is under heavy attack with every element of opposition power against him, and from every angle: the media, the Democrats, Hollywood, the Establishment and the deeply rooted bureaucrats in every agency that actually regulates the entire country. However, after a deep breath and employing a little introspection, then accepting that they must right their ship, the White House needs to deploy every tool and arsenal at its disposal to go on offense. This shouldn't be a surprise though, because if we learned anything from the campaign and first 100 days of Trump's Presidency, it's that Washington doesn't like change. Too many people in powerful positions like the gig they have and don't want anything disrupted. Combine this with the Trump agenda, of which the President is actually following through. Thus, the President has two problems that result in a massive target on his back: He is trying to change business as usual which neither side of the isle is keen to do and; his agenda if even partially implemented, will almost certainly ensure a second term, and the Democrats would rather burn down the White House than accept that fate. Therefore, they have employed the "play book" that they regularly use on opponents. They use the media to create scandal after scandal, even where there really isn't one. Then they call for investigations; since they do not have Eric Holder or Loretta Lynch to pull the strings, they call for a special prosecutor. The investigation will become a fishing expedition, which is against DOJ policy requiring a very narrow scope. Democrats will push for the prosecutor to delve into everything to find whatever could stick, regardless of how tenuous or far from the original allegations. Once they find the smallest of infractions, like an obscure tax violation, they will unify and then the end will justify the means. It will be the excuse for all the false stories/scandals and the original allegations become irrelevant. President Trump needs to fight fire with fire. Republicans do not unify or circle the wagons like the Democrats do, so he needs to go it alone, and be offensive. Since his opposition are so concerned with the handling of classified information, and the statute of limitations has not yet run, the Attorney General should consider reopening the Hillary Clinton matter. The unmasking investigation should be pushed to full throttle, and a thorough review of everything concerning Loretta Lynch should be front and center to even include her private meeting with Bill Clinton on the tarmac, and her refusal to empanel a grand jury to investigate the e-mail issue or the Clinton Foundation. The Russians are coming the Russians are coming is what every Democrat and liberal cable show are broadcasting, so a copious and public review of the Uranium One deal should be initiated at once. Lastly, aggressively pursuing the leaks and prosecuting those responsible needs to be a top priority; Trump cannot survive if the White House has enemies within. The President can settle things down inside the White House and show he has a steady hand on the rudder in tumultuous waters--which he is surely in. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Out of jail for more than a year, former Congressman Michael Grimm may not apply to reinstate his suspended New York law license until March 15, 2019. The Republican Grimm's state law license was suspended on an "interim basis" in September 2015 for violating the rules of professional conduct after pleading guilty to a federal crime. He spent eight months in prison beginning September 2015 for filing a false tax return, underreporting income, sales and wages at a Manhattan health food restaurant he owned prior to being elected to Congress. Grimm had initially been indicted for 20 counts of criminal conduct. He was released early in May 2016 and since then, former congressman, borough president and Grimm mentor, Guy Molinari, floated a rumor that his protege may challenge Borough President James Oddo for the seat. In seeking his law license back, Grimm, former attorney, FBI agent and Marine, asked New York State's Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department to allow a suspension of no more than two years, that would have returned Grimm's license to good standing this year. The five-judge appellate division instead accepted the recommendation from a special referee assigned to Grimm's case that he be permitted to apply for a reinstatement in four years, with credit for time suspended since 2015, calling the four-year period "warranted." The special referee noted Grimm's "crime did not involve a client or a constituent, that the respondent admitted that he violated the rules of professional conduct, and that the respondent showed genuine remorse for his actions." He also cited Grimm's "longstanding career in public service" in the Marines, Congress and FBI, as well as his "unblemished disciplinary history," having "presented substantial evidence of his good character, including the testimony of several witnesses, who were convinced that the respondent's conduct was an aberration unrelated to his practice of law." Also considered was Grimm's criminal conduct regarding the restaurant for several years, that he gave false deposition testimony while in Congress, and hasn't yet paid restitution, including back taxes. Grimm has also been disbarred at the federal level. He is appealing that, arguing he was disbarred without a hearing. He is also seeking to have his Connecticut law license suspension removed. In a statement through his attorney, Grimm said, "I accept the decision of the Appellate Division. I am grateful that the court considered the many mitigating factors, including that I had an unblemished disciplinary history. I am also thankful for the support and testimony of several colleagues and friends who stood by me, and testified to my good character. I again offer my sincerest and earnest apologies to the court, to my fellow lawyers and to the legal profession. I am eager to start the reinstatement process once my suspension has concluded." STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New York City first lady Chirlane McCray visited an interfaith service at the Reformed Church of Huguenot Park on Thursday night to encourage people to seek help regarding mental health issues and addiction through Thrive NYC and NYC Well. "Every single one of us in this room, and everyone outside of this room, is touched by mental illness, either directly or indirectly through someone they care about," said McCray. The event began with a rousing performance from the St. Philips HEAT Drum Corps. The Brighton Heights Reformed Church Youth String Ensemble performed various hymns throughout the event. The opening remarks came from community mental health and addiction organizations the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, Staten Island Performing Provider System and SI Partnership for Community Wellness Tackling Youth Substance Abuse. During her speech, McCray emphasized the importance of ending the stigma surrounding mental illness, something that affects one in five New Yorkers. "Our society has for too long associated challenges like addiction, depression and anxiety with moral weakness and a lack of discipline," said McCray. She also touted the fact that, thanks to recent efforts, there is now some form of mental health support in all New York City schools. McCray discussed HealingNYC, the administration's opioid prevention program that seeks to reduce opioid-related deaths by 35 percent in five years. She encouraged New Yorkers to learn to use naloxone, a drug that can be used to prevent opioid overdose deaths. The city gave out more than 15,000 naloxone kits last year, and they are available at all major New York City pharmacies. Thrive NYC, an initiative started by McCray, is a comprehensive mental health plan designed to help New Yorkers suffering from a mental health disorder. The program has six guiding principles: Change the culture Act early Close treatment gaps Partner with communities Use better data Strengthen government's ability to lead NYC Well is a 24/7 hotline that can connect you to ongoing support for problems like stress, depression, anxiety and drug and alcohol abuse. The hotline is available to call at 1-888-NYC-WELL or text the word "WELL" to 65173. You can also chat online at nyc.gov/nycwell. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- There will be an event urging New York City to protect Goodhue Center parkland Wednesday night. #SaveGoodhuePark will take place at 5:30 p.m. at the Goodhue Center, located at 304 Prospect Ave. The event will feature local elected officials, various organizations and concerned community members showing their support to preserve Goodhue's land. This comes after funding for an 11-acre parcel to complete the third leg of a decade-long sale of Goodhue property was omitted from the city's executive budget earlier this year. The Parks Department has been working since 2006 to acquire the Goodhue property from the Children's Aid Society (CAS) in order to create a new public park -- Goodhue Park. The money from this sale would be used as the cornerstone of the development of a new Goodhue Center on the four remaining acres of land on the Lafayette Avenue side. The new center would allow the Goodhue Center to expand services to include early childhood programming, teen programming and mental health services. CAS remains optimistic that with enough support from the community and local officials that the purchase will be included in the budget by the time the City adopts it in June. The public is encouraged to attend to show their support. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Things have gone from very bad to even worse for a Port Richmond man serving prison time for a weapon-possession conviction in a 2013 case. Quixotay Moody, 34, was sentenced Thursday to six years behind bars for an unrelated gun conviction stemming from an arrest on Sept. 4, 2015. The latest sentence, which includes five years' post-release supervision, will run consecutively to the 11-year prison term Moody is currently serving for the earlier incident. Last month, Moody pleaded guilty in state Supreme Court, St. George, to attempted second-degree criminal weapon possession to satisfy all charges against him in the 2015 bust. Previously, in March 2016, a state Supreme Court jury convicted the defendant of second-degree criminal weapon possession arising from a Sept. 7, 2013 arrest at his Avenue B home. Cops, armed with a search warrant, found a loaded 9 mm semiautomatic Luger handgun under the bed Moody was lying on, said prosecutors. Moody was the subject of the search warrant, prosecutors said. The defense had maintained Moody did not possess the gun, was not the owner of the house and his name was not on the lease. Moody was found guilty 14 months after a different jury had deadlocked during deliberations, resulting in a mistrial. Would you like to comment on this report? Click here to join in the conversation. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- By all official accounts, it was a minor accident. Yet within an hour, it was the center of a national conspiracy theory. At about 11:40 a.m. Thursday, the FDNY reported that 11 people suffered minor injuries during a collision at Broadway and Castleton Avenue in West Brighton. Multiple trusted sources with knowledge of the incident told the Advance that one of the vehicles involved was a special needs van carrying young autistic adults. Nine of them were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The director of Lifestyles for the Disabled, which owned the van, confirmed the account. The incident was apparently so minor, it didn't even register with business owners our reporter interviewed in the area. So what happened? Within minutes of the van crash, an allegedly drugged driver horrifically plowed his car into a crowd of pedestrians in Times Square, killing one and hurting several dozen more. Then, a wildly inaccurate report on Twitter at about 12:30 p.m. claimed that the Staten Island incident also involved multiple pedestrians struck by a car, with one fatality and an additional three victims at death's door. It was retweeted more than 1,700 times and liked by another 855. Others began reporting it: Staten Island: Broadway & Castleton Ave, @NYPDhighway CIS Requested after 3 people struck by a vehicle and 1 aided is DOA. #BREAKING NYC Scanner (@NYScanner) May 18, 2017 Social media followers from around the country accepted the reports as truth and conflated the Staten Island and Times Square incidents. Fox News didn't help matters by mentioning the two incidents in the same breath in the lead paragraph of a news report Thursday. The result is that some people nationwide began to connect dots that didn't exist -- that within minutes, motorists plowed into crowds of pedestrians in two New York City boroughs in what sure seemed like a coordinated terrorist attack. The theory spread rapidly on social media nationwide. When news agencies didn't report on it, some pointed to a conspiracy to cover up an attack. "Let me get this straight: A car mows people down in Times Square. A car mows people down on Staten Island. Don't jump to conclusions," said one Twitter user. Another: "ISIS has called for Islamic Car Jihad... Two separate car attacks in NY today. Times Square: 13 injured, 1 Dead Staten Island: 3 hit, 1 Dead." Yet one more: "DeBlasios NYC. 2nd attack in Staten Island. They don't want ANYTHING that proves Trump correct." There were hundreds more just like them. The theory even caught the attention of Mike Cernovich, a national right-wing social media personality, writer and self-proclaimed "national security reporter" who has nearly 270,000 followers and boasts 100 million views a month. Despite his "too early to tell" disclaimer, the flames had been fanned. The Advance posted details of the West Brighton crash and Staten Island-based watch groups helped spread the word on social media, which helped ease fears on the borough. City Councilman Joe Borelli (R-South Shore), responding to Cernovich, was among those who took to social media to set the record straight. I can confirm - the staten island van accident is not terrorism related. Police are not treating as suspicious, nor is hospital. Joe Borelli (@JoeBorelliNYC) May 18, 2017 Still, nationally, the theory lived on Thursday -- but by Friday morning, it was largely gone from Twitter. New Delhi, May 19 (IBNS) A special CBI court in Delhi on Friday convicted former coal secretary HC Gupta along with two others in the coal scam case. Former joint secretary KS Kropha and then director KC Samaria were also convicted in the case pertaining to the allocation of a coal mining block in Madhya Pradesh to a private company. According to media reports, Gupta, now 69, was Coal Secretary for two years under the Congress-led UPA regime prior to his retirement in 2008. He was booked in eight cases and was accused of not following a transparent policy. During his tenure reportedly 40 cases of mining rights were cleared. He used to chair the screening committee. The CBI in its charge-sheet had claimed that the accused persons and SKS Ispat and Power Ltd (SIPL) had misrepresented facts about the land and the company's net worth before the Screening Committee to get the mining contract for the Fatehpur Coal Block in Chhattisgarh, media reported. CBI had registered the case in 2014. The coal scam had sprung into headlines after the Comptroller and Auditor General's (CAG) report on coal block allocation estimated a loss of Rs 1.86 lakh crore to the national exchequer owing to irregular allocations. The CAG named 25 private companies as beneficiaries of coal block allocations in various states. They included companies like Essar Power, Hindalco, Tata Power, Tata Steel and Jindal Steel and Power Ltd. The allocations date back to the time when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was holding the portfolio. Gupta had claimed that the former PM had given the "final approval" in the case. Image: AIRNews Twitter STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Dozens of animals in the care of Staten Island's volunteer animal rescue groups are waiting for their forever families to find them. Click through the photos above to see the dogs, cats, puppies and kittens up for adoption at events this weekend. BigDog Promo extended: Animal Care Centers of NYC have extended their BigDog Promotion through the end of May. If you love big dogs and are thinking of adopting, the fees will be waived for all dogs 40 pounds and larger, excluding licensing fee! Visit the Staten Island Care Center, 3139 Veterans Road West, Monday to Friday, noon to 8 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, 10 .a.m. to 6 p.m. See flyer in the gallery above for more details. Islander being honored: Bideawee will be honoring Staten Islander Joseph L. Sorbera II, co-chair of Bideawee's Young Professional Committee at their Bideawee Ball, Monday, at The Pierre, 2 East 61st Street, Manhattan from 6 to 10 pm, hosted by CNN's Jeffery Toobin. Dogs (and their humans) will be decked out for this formal, red carpet event. This is a unique annual New York tradition celebrating animal welfare. A Silent Auction and Live Auction of special and unique offerings will be conducted. General Seating Tickets are $500; Junior Tickets (for those 35 and under) are available for $350; Canine Companion Tickets are $50. Cocktail Reception Tickets are available for $150 and Canine Companion Cocktail Reception for $25. Items offered at the Silent Auction and Live Auction will include designer collections and accessories, theater and sporting event tickets, private home escapes, unique doggie gifts and treats, as well as one of kind behind the scenes private excursions at notable New York City venues. More information regarding the Bideawee Ball 2017 can be found at www.Bideawee.org. Long line at the Simi Valley Library polling place shortly before it closed tonight, explains why it took a long time to get those ballots to Ventura for counting. Photo by @Michael_Coons With all those people's votes still to be counted, early results could change some. Palakkad, May 19 (IBNS): Mahendra Nath Pandey, Union Minister of State for HRD visited the site of IIT Palakkad Permanent Campus at Puduserry (West) Palakkad (Kerala) on Thursday. The Minister reviewed the progress of the Civil Works of the Transit Campus and also the Construction of Compound Wall. P. B. Sunil Kumar, Director, IIT Palakkad and Marykutty, District Collector of Palakkad accompanied the Minister during inspection of the site. The Minister expressed satisfaction after seeing the progress of the Civil Work at site. Pandey directed the District Collector to speed up the balance land acquisition process. He appreciated the Director, IIT Palakkad and District Collector for their active involvement to establish the IIT Palakkad. He also thanked Kerala State Government and the District Administration for their involvement and suppor for establishing IIT Palakkad for providing necessary land and other connected facilities. New Delhi, May 19 (IBNS) : In a stepped-up attack, sacked Delhi minister Kapil Mishra on Friday accused Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of money-laundering. According to media reports, Sharma said the main reason Kejriwal was opposed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's notes ban was his involvement in hawala scam. Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has, however, denied the allegation, saying this was yet another instance of Sharma being used by the BJP in spreading lies and launching a vilification campaign. "Why did he (Kejriwal) fiercely oppose demonetisation? Why did he travel across the country against the move? Because his men, who hoard black money, were being raided by enforcement agencies," Sharma said at a press conference. Mishra was sacked over a week ago and later suspended by the party after he went on bombarding targetting Kejriwal with various allegations including the one that he had accepted a cash of Rs. two crore from shell companies. Mishra also alleged that Kejriwal is making a Delhi businessman Mukesh Kumar to claim that he had donated Rs. two crore to AAP. "This is all an elaborate ploy to launder money, to convert black money into white," he said. "That video will come back to bite Kejriwal because I can show that Mukesh Kumar is the sacrificial lamb here and that he didn't donate Rs 2 crore", Mishra said. By clicking Agree, you consent to Slates Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and the use of technologies such as cookies by Slate and our partners to deliver relevant advertising on our iOS app to personalize content and perform site analytics. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information about our use of data, your rights, and how to withdraw consent. Agree Guwahati, May 19 (IBNS): At least four Manipur police commandos and Manipur Rifles jawan were injured in an powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast triggered by suspected militants in Manipuras Chandel district on Friday, officials said. According to the reports, the explosion took place between Kwatha and Khudentabi area on Imphal-Moreh road, some 10 kms from the Indo-Myanmar bordering town Moreh, at around 12-45 pm on Friday, when two vehicles of Manipur police commandos and Manipur Rifles jawan escorted Parliamentary Secretary (Home) of Manipur state government L Susindro Meitei who was returning from Kwatha. A top official of Manipur police said suspected militants had fired upon the security personnel following the blast and Manipur police and Manipur Rifles personnel also fires in retaliation. In the militant attack, four security personnel were injured. The Parliamentary Secretary of the state government escaped unhurt, the police official said. Two among them critically injured and they were airlifted to Imphal in an IAF chopper for better treatment. Following the explosion, police and army reinforcements have been rushed to the area and launched operation against the attackers. This is the second militants attack on security forces in the north eastern Indian state. 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) Bev Orr stopped counting the number foster children she has cared for way back in the 1990s, when already more than 300 kids had stayed in her home. But whether it was for a weekend or longer, Mrs Orr - who is the mum of Labor MLA Suzanne Orr - said it was a joy to help young people in trouble turn their lives around. Bev Orr, mother of Labor MLA Suzanne Orr, has opened her home to hundreds of foster kids. Credit:Karleen Minney The consortium caring for more than 650 children in foster care in the ACT reiterated its plea on Thursday for more families to open their homes to a child in need. As the ACT government announced an extra $33.7 million for residential care and therapeutic placements for children unable to live with their own families, ACTTogether spokeswoman Melissa Bell said they needed another 80 foster carers by the end of the year. The final stage of Goodwin's "The Central" residential living development at Crace was officially opened on Wednesday. The $22 million project includes 57 new apartments and eight two-storey townhouses. An apartment at The Central in Crace. Goodwin Aged Care Services chief executive Sue Levy said there was also a gym, business centre, library, games room and croquet green. Ms Levy said the design by AMC Architecture had been informed by Goodwin's 60 years in aged care. The Australian Red Cross Blood Service has called for 900 new blood donors in Canberra over winter. About 10,000 Canberrans actively donate blood but the flu season is expected to force about 100 donors each week to cancel nationally. Sophie New, 17 (left) was donating blood for the first time on Friday. Arthy Ananthapavan, 21 (right) has a rare blood type that makes her donations extra valuable. Credit:Finbar O'Mallon Even people with a runny nose should steer clear of donating with the Red Cross unable take their donation. High-school student Sophie New, 17, was donating blood for the first time on Friday after hearing an ad on ABC's Triple J. David Gonski chaired the 2011 government inquiry into school funding. Credit:Jessica Hromas The standard would start with uniform basic amount per student, to which loadings would be added to cover their students' disadvantage in the categories of low socioeconomic status, English language proficiency, school size and location, and indigeneity. In this way, the allocation of funds would be determined from the bottom up, not from the top down in negotiations with states and sectors. Education Minister Simon Birmingham surprised everyone by unveiling the Coalition government's own version of needs-based funding. Credit:Andrew Meares Julia Gillard required Gonski to reallocate funding in a way that ensured "no school would lose a dollar". This necessitated him proposing that total spending be increased, creating the impression he thought schools needed a lot more spent on them. The Gillard government rejected the proposal for an independent body to oversee the reallocation and came up with its own figures for the school resourcing standard. David Gonski with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announcing his Gonski 2.0 education funding. Credit:Daniel Munoz Labor also stuck with the top-down approach, going around the states and sectors trying to persuade them to sign up before the 2013 election. As a result, some states and sectors did much better deals than others, which they now resent Turnbull trying to unwind. Labor's reallocation was to be phased in over six years, with much of the cost delayed until the last two calendar years, 2018 and 2019. Tony Abbott claimed to have accepted the plan's first four years, but reneged immediately after the election, saying the states could spend their grants however they chose. In the 2014 budget Abbott announced that, after 2017, funding for schools would simply be indexed to consumer prices, yielding a huge saving to the budget. But he couldn't persuade the Senate to amend the act implementing Labor's funding plan. Just before last year's election, Turnbull agreed to funding increases for 2018, 2019 and 2020 that were more generous than Abbott had wanted but less that Labor's plan. And now, Education Minister Simon Birmingham surprised everyone by unveiling the Coalition government's own version of needs-based funding, dubbed Gonski 2.0. It involves adjusting all schools' federal funding at different rates over 10 years so that, by 2027, all of Labor's disparities and anomalies would be removed, leaving all government schools (which are mainly funded by the states) getting 20 per cent of their school resourcing standard up from an average of 17 per cent at present. All private schools (whose government funding comes mainly from the feds) would be getting 80 per cent of their school resourcing standard, up from an average of 77 per cent at present. Total federal funding of schools would grow from $17.5 billion this year to $30.6 billion in 2027, an increase of $2.2 billion over already-planned spending over the first four years, rising to an extra $18.6 billion over the 10 years. You see from this that Gonski 2.0 would take a lot longer than Gonski 1 to reach full needs-based funding. Like Labor's six-year plan, the Coalition's 10-year plan is heavily "back-end loaded". Of course, on Labor's calculations, a hypothetical continuation of its scheme would cost $22 billion on top of the extra the Coalition plans to spend. Much of Labor's extra spending above the Coalition comes from its built-in higher rate of annual increase in funding, relative to the Coalition's assumed average indexation rate of 3.3 per cent a year. Some of Labor's extra would go on higher grant increases for already overfunded private schools, and some on bigger pay rises for teachers. Unlike Labor, the Coalition would make small cuts in grants to 24 highly overfunded private schools, while another 350-odd somewhat overfunded private schools would get smaller increases until, in 2027, every school's federal funding was aligned with its own needs-based school resourcing standard. A big weakness in Gonski 2.0 is the way it gets federal funding sorted but ignores the eight states and territories' role in achieving needs-based funding overall. The states would merely be required to maintain the real value of their funding per student, allocated however they chose. A weakness both schemes share is that though state-based school systems (including government systems) will receive grants based on the individual needs of each of their schools, they will be left to determine the basis on which it's actually allocated to particular schools. My conclusion is that the opportunity Gonski 2.0 presents to have both sides politics accept and entrench needs-based federal funding, and an end to sectarian deals, should be grabbed with both hands. Image: Google Maps Guwahati, May 19 (IBNS): New twist added in the probe of cash-for-job scam of Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) after the sleuths of Dibrugarh police have seized 990 numbers answer scripts from the office of APSC on Thursday night. Investigating officer of the scam and ASP of Dibrugarh police, Surajit Singh Panesar said that, the answer scripts of the APSC examination held in 2015 were seized from the strong room in the commission office which being sealed earlier. According to the reports, a police team led by ASP Panesar and ASP Subhasish Baruah had raided the APSC office last night and seized the answer scripts. The seizure answer scripts belonging to 165 candidates those had declared as successful candidates in the examination result announced last year, ASP Subhasish Baruah said. On the other hand, the investigating team will send the seizure answer scripts to forensic laboratory following directives by the court. If we found any anomalies in forensic report then police to grill more official, ASP Panesar said. Police has already arrested 11 persons including former APSC chairman Rakesh Paul, his two associate members Samedur Rahman, Basanta Doley, three newly appointed Assam Civil Service (ACS) officers in connection with the scam. (Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath) A single teen mother was unwittingly lured into a $165 million tax fraud syndicate, believing she was helping a man hide thousands of dollars from his estranged wife after an ugly divorce. Instead, much of the money raked in through Australia's largest white collar crime fraud racket was allegedly splashed on luxury cars, jewellery and over-indulgence for Sydney professionals. Brittney Hart, 20, was caught up as a straw director in a $165 million tax fraud between 2014 and 2017. All the while young Sydney woman Brittney Hart, one of dozens of straw directors caught up in the lucrative tax fraud, was struggling to get those at the centre of the syndicate to uphold their promise of monthly $500 payments. Payments like these were handed to an ex-Nomads bikie member, pole dancer, jobless tradies and the cash strapped, who were recruited to act as fronts for companies intrinsic in siphoning funds off for the syndicate. Labor senator Sam Dastyari has raised concerns that there are links between the Russian government and a private equity firm stalking Fairfax Media. The senator told the select committee on the future of public interest journalism that he had been contacted by a number of parties, including former TPG employees and a member of the US Congress, who expressed alarmed that TPG could buy one of Australia's most important news outlets. "The concerns that were given to me overnight were related to TPG's Russian activities," he told a hearing of the committee on Friday afternoon. "They felt that it was astounding we'd be even having a conversation of TPG Australia being able to buy a newspaper asset, when, for instance, you have as a senior adviser to TPG the son of the Russian Foreign Minister." To some extent, we all live in the world that Roger Ailes bequeathed us when he died in Palm Beach, Florida, on Thursday, bleeding onto his brain after a fall. It is world of vivid colour and certainty of view, of endless threat and hyper-vigilance. A world in which good and evil is delineated by presenters with lustrous hair and brilliant teeth and in which lubricated catheters, gold coins and reverse mortgages are hawked by vigorous retirees. Ailes, as much as any other single person, not only created the political environment that allowed Donald Trump to become president, but a news and political model that has swept the western world, including Australia. Ailes was the creator of Fox News, the hard right cable news channel that came to dominate American politics and that made Rupert Murdoch one of the most powerful men on earth. ASX-listed Cedar Woods' re-announcement this week that retailer Target has pre-committed to a long-term lease at its new Williams Landing office it made a similar statement five months ago was the precursor to a bigger story: Cedar Woods is selling the Target building. The 1.1-hectare plot of dirt, with valuable paperwork leasing the Wesfarmers-owned retailer to the Williams Landing address until 2029, is being marketed by CBRE without a price guide or an indication of what rent Target is paying. The new Target head office will open at the end of 2018. Last April Target announced it would shut its Geelong North office headquarters and relocate to Melbourne's western suburbs. The discount retailer, which has in recent years struggled against competition from another Wesfarmers-controlled business, Kmart, has progressively been shedding jobs from the North Geelong office in recent years. The regional director of a multibillion-dollar real estate firm has been given the go-ahead by the Fair Work Commission to pursue a claim of unfair dismissal against Jones Lang LaSalle, despite earning well above the income cap. Former capital markets regional director James Kaufman is claiming that JLL unfairly dismissed him when he was made redundant in December last year because his duties were effectively as an industry award-covered sales representative. Jones Lang Lasalle (JLL) managing director David Bowden. JLL has objected to Mr Kaufman's claim, arguing his redundancy was genuine and that he was not protected from unfair dismissal by the Fair Work Act because at the time of his dismissal he was employed in a senior management position on a high income. Employees not covered by an industrial award or enterprise agreement who earn more than $138,900 cannot make a claim against their employer for unfair dismissal under Australia's employment laws. Soft drink sales have gone flat - just ask Coca-Cola Amatil. But kombucha, the fizzy fermented drink loved by sugar-free devotees, is reporting healthy sales for its boutique brewers. Coca-Cola Amatil and Pepsi, manufactured by Asahi Beverages in Australia, have yet to launch kombucha products here despite what has been described as "booming sales" in the US. But Coca-Cola Amatil chief Alison Watkins this week described it as "an opportunity." More than half of the $165 million stolen by the tax fraud syndicate allegedly led by the son of a tax office chief will never be recovered, authorities believe. Fairfax Media can reveal that the Australian Federal Police have made a secret application to the NSW Supreme Court to freeze the assets of 58 people connected to the alleged scam that unravelled in spectacular fashion on Thursday. Adam Cranston leaves a police station on Thursday after being granted bail. Credit:Daniel Munoz Seven people have been charged with running the alleged racket including Adam and Lauren Cranston, the children of Australian Taxation Office Deputy Commissioner Michael Cranston. Police allege the syndicate took control of a payroll company, Plutus, that serviced large corporate clients. They then sub-contracted payroll services out to second tier companies with phoney "straw directors" and siphoned off Pay As You Go tax repayments. A Current Affair is not usually one to miss a scoop but, on Thursday, Channel Nine's flagship current affairs show missed a whopper. "I should probably sack myself," Grant Williams, ACA's executive producer, said. "But the premise of it seemed so unlikely." Journalist Steve Barrett gives evidence at a parliamentary inquiry. Credit:Peter Rae Williams was referring to a conversation he had had with veteran television reporter Steve Barrett in January about a potentially explosive story about the son of a deputy tax commissioner being involved in a massive fraud. And then, on Thursday morning, ACA had Barrett sitting in its office in Willoughby, on Sydney's north shore, while across town at the Central Local Court in Liverpool Street explosive documents were being tendered indicating that Barrett was allegedly involved in the blackmail of several syndicate members engaged in one of the country's most sensational white-collar frauds. By February 7, the syndicate which allegedly ran the Plutus Payroll scam had become very nervous about the future of their massive, $165 million fraud. The Australian Taxation Office was closing in and, police allege, the architects of the syndicate had just been forced to pay $5 million to disgruntled members who threatened to publicly expose the scam. The alleged ringleaders, including Adam Cranston, son of ATO deputy commissioner Michael Cranston, had a crisis meeting on the 46th floor of the offices of Clemenz Lawyers in Sydney to discuss how to foil any tax office investigation. Their plan was simple: they would pin the fraud on a former associate, Peter Leslie Larcombe, a flashy Sydney businessman with deep links to the Comancheros bikie gang. New York, May 19(Just Earth News): Though Bosnia and Herzegovina has continued its efforts towards membership in the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), negative incidents could still derail the country from the path of peace and stability, a senior diplomat told the United Nations Security Council on Thursday. As we enter the third decade of peace implementation, it cannot be assumed that Bosnia and Herzegovina is on a glide path to a peaceful, viable State irreversibly on course for European integration, said High Representative Valentin Inzko during a briefing on the situation in the country. The Office of the High Representative was created in 1995 to oversee the Dayton Peace Agreement signed by the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia that formally ended the 1992-1995 Bosnian war. We need to be mindful of the fact that Bosnia and Herzegovina is a complex political and security environment, where negative scenarios can quickly endanger the Dayton Peace Agreement and the progress achieved after Dayton, Inzko told the 15-member body, stressing the need for the international community to retain all the instruments at hand. In this regard, he supported the EU military forces presence on the ground with an executive mandate and its extension, an issue to be considered by the UN Security Council in November. The EU military force is a relatively inexpensive but necessary investment in peace and stability in the Balkans, he said, as it provides an essential baseline of physical and psychological security that supports the EU, his Office and other international organizations. Regarding the Euro-Atlantic integration, Bosnia and Herzegovina authorities formally received the EU Questionnaire in December and the adaptation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU took place in the same month. Equally encouraging was the consensus and forward-looking pragmatism demonstrated by the countrys Presidency in adopting the so-called Defense Review of military forces last November, one of the requirements to participate in the NATO Membership Action Plan. At the regional level, bilateral cooperation and overall reconciliation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia has continued to improve, he noted. Bosnia and Herzegovina, however, faced some significant challenges over the last six months, including the controversy between Bosniak political representatives and Serb political parties over whether the country should submit a request for revision of the International Criminal Courts 2007 judgment in the genocide case of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia vs. Serbia. In another negative development, Croat politicians have intensified calls for the federalization, which was understood by some to imply the further ethnic division of the country into three to four federal units, one of which would have a Croat majority. Further, the situation with regard to rule of law continued to deteriorate, with corruption a serious problem. These will require continued attention and commitment from the international community, he said. UN Photo/Manuel Elias Source: www.justearthnews.com A key left-wing union is preparing to confront Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews at Saturday's Labor Party state conference and demand sweeping reform to protect school cleaners from "wage theft". The state secretary of United Voice, Jess Walsh, will move an "urgency resolution" at the party's conference at Melbourne's Moonee Valley Racecourse, and unveil the results of an audit suggesting a staggering 80 per cent of school cleaners are being paid below-award rates. According to the results of the audit, in which officials visited 142 schools, cleaners are routinely hired on sham ABN contracts or on an off-the-books basis, and the average underpayment was estimated to be $3000 a year. School cleaners plan to approach Mr Andrews when he enters the conference. An aerial view of Manus Island in Papua New Guinea. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Then there is the case of the more than 220 who do not have refugee status. They have been told they can go back to where they came from with $20,000 to assist their "reintegration", or be returned against their will with nothing. But here's the tricky bit. Those with "negative status" include men who were so traumatised by the violence that engulfed the centre more than three years ago that they refused to be interviewed on the grounds that resettlement in PNG was too dangerous to contemplate. Refugees on Manus Island currently have medical services provided by an international contractor to Australia. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen They also include the likes of the asylum seeker known as Eaten Fish, who has won international recognition as a cartoonist, but suffers from extreme post traumatic stress disorder and other anxieties and was in no condition to present his case for refugee status when he was interviewed. No doubt this group also includes those who would not have met the criteria for refugee status had they been processed promptly after being transferred to PNG, but are now so damaged that they could not cope if they were returned. The news that demolition would soon begin was conveyed to the asylum seekers in English by a PNG official who introduced himself as Graham and told them to listen up because he would not repeat himself. "Most of us had no idea what they were saying as there were no interpreters for any community," says Rohingyan refugee Imran Mohammad. So why impose rigid deadlines that could have unforseen and violent consequences? Why not give traumatised people the best chance of presenting their case for resettlement in a country with an exemplary record for resettling refugees? Why suggest, as Peter Dutton did, that those who were attacked during the Good Friday rampage were somehow responsible because three of them had led a boy into the centre with nefarious intent, when this incident was totally innocent and unrelated to the violence? Why, as The Guardian Australia reported this week, seek to coerce refugees to leave the detention centre by making conditions there "less attractive" than they are at the East Lorengau transit centre? The answer to all these questions is the same: to increase the pressure on those who tried to come to Australia without an invitation to go back to where they came from, irrespective of how vulnerable and traumatised they were when they arrived or have since become. This week there was also confirmation on two fronts of what the refugees said on the night of the Good Friday violence, that shots were fired into their accommodation blocks placing lives at risk. Local police chief David Yapu never accepted Dutton's link with the incident where a local boy was given food by three refugees, but he had initially endorsed the Border Force line that a few shots were fired into the air. "Some of the shots were fired through the compound and some of the bullets penetrated through the walls," he told my Fairfax colleague Michael Koziol, before the ABC's Lateline cited a Wilson Security incident report confirming this to be true. All of this unfolded while Foreign Minister Julie Bishop flew to New York to launch Australia's campaign to win a seat the world's pre-eminent human rights body, the UN's Human Rights Council. On arrival, Bishop asserted that Australia's treatment of those now in their fourth year on Manus and Nauru was "not as a negative at all" as far as the bid was concerned, and that Australia's offshore processing regime was only raised overseas in the context of stemming the flow of people smuggling. "The government can blow its own trumpet on the world stage all it likes, but actions speak louder than words," responds Daniel Webb, director of legal advocacy at the Human Rights Law Centre. "For as long as our government continues to be deliberately cruel to innocent people people who've done nothing other than seek a life in safety it will lack credibility on human rights." The temptation is to blame Dutton, surely the least accountable minister in memory, for the ongoing human rights abuses that are funded and overseen by Australia, but that is the easy option. Islam gave women rights first Recently there has been a lot of criticism on the rights given to women in Islam. This letter just sets the record straight, as Islam gave rights to women centuries before the "liberal West" did. 1. Right to keep what they earn. Koran: "Men shall have a share of that which they have earned, and women a share of that which they have earned" (4:33). In America, married women could not own their property, and had no legal claim to any money they may earn, up to the 19thAmendment in 1848. 2. Right to inheritance and property. Koran: "For men is a share of that which parents and near relations leave; and for women is a share of that which parents and near relations leave, whether it be little or much a determined share" (4:8) As stated above, in America, married women could not own their property up to the 19th amendment in 1848. 3. Right and obligation to education. The Prophet Muhammad said, "Education is compulsory for every Muslim". (Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 74) i.e. Education is compulsory for every Muslim male and female. It was only in the early 20th century, with the first wave of feminism, that women in the US started gaining equal rights to education. As a Muslim, I will not take lectures from other people on the rights of women. Islam gave rights to women centuries before the West did. Khizar Rana, Walkerville, SA A question of blame and belief James Allan, ("Testing of belief", letters, May 17) demonstrates his firm conviction that if he (James) had been in charge of the creation of the world, he would have made a much better job of it than Almighty God. He touches on the same issue that 18th-century Scottish philosopher David Hume expounded. If James does not believe that God exists then how can he make this non-existent deity responsible for all the terrible suffering in the world and for the depraved human sin that causes it? Christians believe that Almighty God has created human beings with free will and that gives us the capacity for sadistic evil as well as sublime acts of love and truth and beauty. If James reads the accounts of the sufferings and death of Jesus Christ on the cross he will see both the hatred and malice of religious leaders and also the power of divine loving forgiveness. Innocent suffering is a profound mystery but the Cross of Christ is at the centre of it. I respect atheists who, even if they deny God, try to alleviate suffering caused by sin, and work to build a better world. We can all do something. Robert Willson, Deakin The gaffe is entirely Walters' Rosemary Walters' disparaging reference to Prince Philip's "gaffes" (letters, May 13) was apparently made in ignorance of well-known British journalist Harry Mount's explanation of them in The Spectator about eighteen months ago. As Mount saw it, the Duke has spent 68years meeting strangers and wants to make such meetings easier for both sides. At a function, always making sure he is holding a glass in his right hand to avoid the formality of having to shake hands, after an introduction he will often launch into a straight-faced light-hearted comment that puts people at their ease and establishes an almost conspiratorial link between them. Asking long-term British students in China why they haven't got slitty eyes, asking Mount at a Gallipoli Association dinner who roped him into attending, asking a charity trustee who she sponged off, are not intended to demonstrate Wildean wit but are a tease and "a quickfire shortcut to a proper conversation to talking on the same level. It is the ultimate royal icebreaker". He knows full well that the Rosemary Walters of this life, and many others, will doubtless cringe in horror at another "gaffe". At almost 95, knowing he's much loved, he doesn't give a damn. Bill Deane, Chapman Track perpetrators' histories It should be noted by the federal government that Muslim men (were among those who) rescued the women being assaulted by a maniac near Salt Creek in 2016. The women would probably have both been murdered if not for their intervention. The Prime Minister should honour them. Further, the locations of the Milat-like maniac over the past 40 years should be investigated, including possible trips to sex holiday destinations like Thailand, to see if there were any unsolved crimes at the time when the predator was there. John Dobinson, Herston, Qld The cost of living? No one really knows exactly what it is The Treasurer rightly mentioned in his budget speech that Australians were struggling with the cost of living, and who could dispute that? What he failed to say was that he doesn't know what the cost of living is. That's right, he doesn't, because the CPI doesn't measure the real shop prices we all pay every day. The CPI has been adjusted, mostly downwards, for quality changes to the CPI basket of goods and services for at least the past 25 years. For example if a current model washing machine has increased in price from $1000 to $1100, that's a 10 per cent increase in price, isn't it? Well, not necessarily. If the Bureau of Statistics rules that the current model washing machine has an additional washing cycle valued at $50, they report that as only a $50 increase, 5 per cent, rather than 10 per cent. But you can't buy the old model with the fewer wash cycles (for the old price). It's a disgrace that no government can tell its people what real cost of living increases are. Don't be fooled into believing that prices have increased by what's reported in regular CPI announcements. It's high time the government instructed the Bureau of Statistics to produce and make public, what the real cost of living is. The Bureau of Statistics has advised me that it does not have actual cost of living data because once quality adjustments are made, it scraps the real price movement data. John Coleman, Monash. Not so high tech North Korea aside, there are only so many rocket scientists needed per head of population. The point is, technological change is not a major cause of loss of jobs. The reverse is often true. Decades ago I could produce a major economic indicator with the help of one comptometrist quicker and a lot cheaper than I could after computerisation. Decades later I worked for a chap who described himself as the highest paid typist in the department. He was the highest paid person of his classification and his classification was the highest to lose entitlement to a PA, or secretary. He had to type all of his own correspondence. Sure, some job classifications have changed but it is no failure of our education system that "26 per cent of of students fail to finish school or a vocational equivalent". ("The key to 'jobs and growth' too often ignored", May 17, p17). A wealth of menial and mundane tasks remain despite technological changes. "Jobsan Groath" has been deported. If it ever ceases to be economical to export tasks to other countries because the paradise of global equality has been achieved, that will only establish that the normal distribution of student capability in all societies contains an appreciable percentage not suitable for academic development and that most of these will be relegated to the inevitable menial and mundane tasks. Gary J.Wilson, Macgregor The child can't choose MLA Tara Cheyne ("Dunne tweet war over abortions" May 19, 12) is mistaken when she claims that women have a right to choose to abort their children. When it comes to "choices", we women have every right to choose what political party we will vote for, what job we will do, what friends we will make (and) what we will have for breakfast. But none of us has a right to abuse another human being in our power and under our care. No human being has ownership and lethal disposal rights over another human being, no matter how small or dependent or disabled or "unwanted". Ultrasound technology, together with biology, embryology, fetal surgery, and examination of the human remains of an abortion, all tell us that the victim targeted for abortion is a human being, belonging to the human family; a human being who can be identified as a daughter or son, a "who", not a generic "thing". True justice requires elective abortions be recognised and treated not as harmless, idiosyncratic, personal "choices" but as abusive practices, as human rights violations perpetrated by individuals and involving the complicity of politicians, judges and others. Rita Joseph, Hackett Refugees free to go In his letter of May 1, Keith Binns said "what Jesus would do" in regard to Manus and Nauru was abundantly clear. I agree. He would have said "render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's". Jesus would also have admonished Keith for dishonesty with references such as "political prisoners incarcerated in concentration camps". These asylum seekers are not prisoners: they are free to leave. Further, Australia, with enormous generosity, is supporting them (housing, food and water, clothing, medical services, security and so on) pending their return to their home countries or to countries willing to accept them. Millions of destitute people around the world would willingly swap places with them. Many, perhaps most, can return home. The Sri Lankan civil war ended years ago. If Australian troops can be sent to Afghanistan, surely the Afghans can return to Afghanistan to work for the cause the Australians are working for. Are the Iranians incapable of living within the rules accepted by the vast majority of their country's citizens? I do not blame any of the asylum seekers for wanting to come to Australia. However, they do not have a right to do so. Australia gave a commitment to other potential asylum seekers it would not give preference to asylum seekers who attempted to "jump the queue". It has an obligation to honour that commitment. To do otherwise would be immoral and trigger another wave of illegal immigration. Bob Salmond, Melba Spoilt brat in charge From someone who is looking from the outside looking in, Donald Trump is acting more like a spoilt brat who cannot acknowledge his mistakes than the leader of the "free" world. Such puerile behaviour should be viewed as a cause for concern. It has a lot to do with the fact far too many of those who voted for him are navel gazers who haven't a clue of the responsibilities their country has outside its borders. Personally I couldn't give a tinker's (cuss) what the US does within its borders but I do care about what this oversized elephant does in the global china shop. D.J.Fraser, Currumbin, Qld No locking up here An allegedly armed man holds up a petrol station in Holt, traumatises the attendant and, reportedly despite failing to reveal the gun's location, is granted bail. Bikies allegedly invade a home, one of them, who is armed, flees to a nearby unit, allegedly holds police at bay until arrested and is also granted bail. What does one have to do in the ACT to get locked up, pending trial? The police must wonder why they bother. D. N. Callaghan, Kingston Manning a true hero Chelsea Manning is an amazing hero and a model for others to follow. If we want to make our planet a better place for our species we need more people like Manning. People who are willing and able to stand up to the police state and are not cowered into obedience to those who commit terrorism under the guise of legitimate military actions. Adam Bonner, Brogo, NSW Probing questions The Centrelink debt letters just roll on under another guise. I have been on the age pension since July 2015. I have just received a Centrelink probe asking me about work details for four years before this. It caused me a great deal of angst, especially because I was always fastidious in reporting income to Centreprobe. Gary Frances, Bexley, NSW Notable names Seeing we are going back in international history (M. Moore, letters, May 19) how about Rosa Luxemburg and Che Guevara for streets in our little socialist republic of Canberra? Greg Cornwell, Yarralumla In the 1837 Danish tale "The Emperor's New Clothes," two weavers provide an emperor with a suit of clothes that are supposedly invisible to those who are unfit, stupid, or too incompetent for their jobs. When the emperor parades in these transparent garments, no one dares say he is naked for fear of being branded a loser. Finally a child yells from the crowd, "But he has nothing on." We have reached the "he has nothing on" moment when it comes to President Trump and foreign policy. Yet there is a crucial difference between the Danish tale and the ongoing foreign policy gaffes in the White House, a difference that makes the current tale more frightening than funny. In the fairy tale, not only do the emperor's ministers recognise his nakedness (although they remain silent), but the emperor also suspects the truth. In theory, an honest cry from someone unwilling to maintain the farce might yet force some reforms. In Trump's White House, however, the President believes - as he keeps reminding us - that he's a huge success at everything he touches. He's convinced that any evidence to the contrary is nothing more than a plot to undermine him by Democrats and the "fake media". There are some days I'm almost too scared to use it. Well, I'm sorry. You were right all along. I'm ready to hand my keys over to you now. But Elon, what's the hold up? Why is it taking you so long to get autonomous vehicles up to speed and on our roads? Take my car if it helps. Elon Musk, I owe you an apology. For years I've been suspicious about your plan to fill the world's roads with self-driving cars. I've sneered at the motives behind you and your company Tesla, dismissed you as just another multi-billionaire burdened by an overnight social conscience and laughed hysterically when you said we may eventually outlaw people driving cars "because it's too dangerous ... you can't have a person driving a two-tonne death machine". Tesla should hurry up and get driverless cars on the road. Credit:Bloomberg I used to love driving. The more the better. There was something about the sense of being in control, of steering a heavy metal beast filled with thousands of parts at speed on a bitumen road. What an invention. Think about where civilisation would be without the automobile. And now I'm doing more than 1200 kilometres a week I should be ecstatic. But over the last six months I've come to realise there is a significant safety issue in the modern car that only a wide-scale switch to self-driving cars can remedy. I'm no mechanic or engineer. But I've managed to isolate the problem to a dysfunctional apparatus located directly in front of the steering wheel. Frankly, Sydney's drivers are bloody awful. The worst in the nation by a long way. They're not just incompetent and unable to follow basic rules. They are also an untrustworthy mob of unpredictable hoons, a discourteous rabble who not only show no empathy for other road users, but are openly hostile to any other vehicle within 50 metres. It wasn't always like this. When cars were less safe, people were more courteous. Even a decade ago it was commonplace that if you allowed another vehicle into your lane, the driver would acknowledge your charity and thank you by raising their hand or giving you an appreciative toot of the horn. Did people have to die in the Lindt cafe siege? We await an answer to that question this week when NSW coroner Michael Barnes hands down his report of the inquest into the deaths of barrister Katrina Dawson, cafe manager Tori Johnson and serial criminal Man Haron Monis, two-and-a-half years after they were killed when Monis terrorised the Lindt Chocolate Cafe in Martin Place. There's a lot riding on the inquiry, one of the longest-running and most complex inquests in the history of the state. That much was obvious from the way the families of the victims had to fight to get much of the evidence aired publicly. Police commissioner Mick Fuller has promised not to drag the chain on implementing necessary changes. He will be keen to deflect the impression of an inadequate, not to say inept, police response to the crisis. And he will have to reassure the community the police have moved to ensure that we are ready to go with world's best practice in the event of any future terrorist attack. The legacies of many involved in the Lindt cafe siege are at stake. Credit:James Alcock It seems clear that the state and perhaps the nation was woefully unprepared for a terrorist act by even a lone gunman on that morning in December 2014. That gives rise to the question of whether it was capable of adequately responding to a terrorist act on a larger scale that day or any other day. We can expect the institutions involved the police, the Defence Department, the NSW Justice department, the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, ASIO to respond to any adverse criticism by claiming that lessons have been learnt and the necessary mechanisms and resources are now in place to keep the public safe. The Lindt cafe tragedy suggests we should be wary of such assurances. The loss of life was utterly, heartbreakingly regrettable. The erosion of public confidence in the official claims of readiness and competence is also regrettable, another cost of the tragedy. The coroner will make his own judgments but the story that emerged in the hearings had many troubling elements. Inexperience, disorganisation, miscommunication, mishaps, inadequate resources, lack of co-ordination, conflicting strategies all were featured, and they added up to exactly the outcome that everyone who worked on the day was trying to avoid: fatalities. It's not easy to watch your favourite childhood literary heroine the indomitable, ardent and reluctantly red-headed Anne Shirley, also known as Anne of Green Gables get clubbed by reality. In Anne with an E, the recent Netflix adaptation of the classic Anne book, this happens quite literally in an early scene. Although technically, it's a belting, not a clubbing. Irish actor Amybeth McNulty as Anne in the new TV series, Anne with an E. Credit:Caitlin Cronenberg/Netflix In the new adaptation, our heroine the scrappy orphan girl who loves books and cherry blossoms is a passionate, brittle creature who has been passed between countless foster homes and institutions. Anne has been subjected to great cruelty and witnessed too much. When she arrives at Avonlea station to wait for Matthew (her kindly, taciturn adoptive father) to take her to her new home, she is carrying far more baggage than just her battered carpet bag with its broken clasp. Police have about 70 terrorism investigations going on across the country, as ASIO signals concern that some children of foreign fighters may pose a jihadism risk if they return home. Police and intelligence officials used a hearing of a terrorism legislation watchdog on Friday to make the case for measures such as bail-like control orders, and for declared no-go zones in Syria and Iraq to remain in place. Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Mike Phelan says police are investigating around 70 terrorism cases. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The Australian Federal Police's deputy commissioner for national security, Mike Phelan, told the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor, James Renwick, that it had "70-odd investigations" under way into terrorism cases. The number is significant because it shows how many potential plots are sufficiently advanced for police to be gathering evidence with a view to launching prosecutions. It would include cases such as terrorism fundraising as well as possible attack plots, and also includes cases that are already before the courts. Tax authorities were warned two years ago that ATO managers were routinely breaching policies and bypassing internal controls and their "sacred cow" status protected them from detection. The Tax Office is in crisis after a deputy commissioner from one of its vital compliance unit was charged with accessing privileged information on behalf of his son, the alleged ringleader of a giant tax fraud. Former Tax Office public servant Ron Shamir says there is a culture of fear at the ATO. Credit:Simon Schluter But the ATO was told through official channels in 2015, that such behaviour was commonplace among senior managers at the agency. Rank-and-file public servants at the Tax Office believe their workplace's internal culture might have allowed a successful cover-up of the allegations of $165 million tax fraud. It had slick offices overlooking Sydney harbour, a fresh-faced team of executives and an aggressive marketing campaign including promotional events at upmarket hotels. But fledgling company Plutus Payroll had an image problem. Its "zero-fee payroll service", touted as the first of its kind in Australia, was raising eyebrows. Alleged co-conspirator Simon Anquetil is a former Plutus director. Credit:AAP "This is looking a bit too flashy," said one user on online forum Whirlpool in November 2014. "Personally, I like my accountant [and] payroll people to be boring." In a bid to counter negative publicity, Plutus began assiduously wooing prospective clients on social media and chat forums, including targeting regular posters and offering to shout them a coffee or a drink to discuss their "concerns". London, May 19 (IBNS): The prime minister of the United Kingdom Theresa May on Thursday launched the manifesto of the Conservative Party for the general election in the United Kingdom that would take place in early June this year, after the country pulled out from European Union. In a tweet about the launch of the manifesto, May said: "This manifesto is our plan for a stronger, fairer, more prosperous Britain." "As we face this critical election for our country, I've launched my manifesto for Britain's future," the second female PM of UK said in an early tweet. In the manifesto, the "five giant challenges" have been identified by the Conservatives as the need for a strong economy, Brexit and a chaging world, enduring social divisions, an ageing society and fast-changing technology. One of the major promises made by the Conservative party in the manifesto is the building of a strong economy along with lower tax rates and free trading with the world markets. Other promises which gathered some space in the manifesto are fairer corporate governance, built on new rules for take overs, executive pay and worker representation on company boards, employment of modern industrial strategy for growth across the country, competitive and affordable energy costs and prosperous towns and cities. To tackle industrial challenges, the Conservatives pushed for an increased innovation and university investment funds along with the promise to back the small businesses. May, who assumed her office in July 2016 after David Cameron resigned due to the defeat in Brexit referendum, will go to the election for the first time. Presently the Conservatives have 330 seats as opposed to 229 seats of the Labour Party. Image: Official Twitter account of Theresa May. Key aspects of a scheme designed to crack down on poor behaviour by NSW pubs and clubs will be significantly wound back under changes proposed by the state government following a review. Under the "three strikes" scheme introduced by the Coalition government in 2011, pubs face the loss of their licence for serious breaches under the Liquor Act. For clubs, the ultimate penalty is the removal of a licensee. A first strike is automatically incurred for transgressions including sale of alcohol to minors, with second and third strikes for subsequent breaches applied at the discretion of the Secretary of Liquor and Gaming NSW. But a bill introduced to Parliament by Racing Minister Paul Toole removes the automatic nature of a first strike for a breach as well as reducing the types of breaches attracting a strike. A Sydney man has pleaded guilty to committing an Islamic State-inspired plot that ended in the death of police accountant Curtis Cheng. Raban Alou is alleged to have handed a .38 Smith & Wesson handgun to schoolboy Farhad Jabar two hours before the teenager used it outside Parramatta police headquarters on October 2, 2015 Pleaded guilty: Raban Alou. Prosecutors say Alou gave the gun to Jabar, 15, in a concealed section of Parramatta Mosque and it was used to kill Mr Cheng about 15 minutes later. In the Downing Centre Local Court on Friday, Alou pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in a terrorist act. The principal of an exclusive Sydney girls' school says it is a relief a student who was allegedly lured to the United States to meet an older man for sex is home again with her family. The Lindfield teenager allegedly met Sean Price, 39, on social media app Snapchat in October 2016. Six months later, the 16-year-old was on a plane to Los Angeles, with the pair then driving across the country to New York. Price has now been refused bail at the US District Court in Brooklyn, accused of contacting the girl and enticing her overseas for sex. They're the emails that hold the key to what the residential colleges of Sydney University really think about the review into their sometimes controversial culture. And despite assurances that the independently operated colleges would hold a mirror up to themselves during the process, it appears Australia's oldest university isn't yet prepared for anyone outside to see the reflection. A redacted email sent to vice-chancellor Michael Spence. In response to a freedom of information request from Fairfax Media seeking correspondence on the review between key college officers and alumni with university top brass, the university identified nearly 190 pages of emails, including from the big end of town and they have been almost entirely redacted from public scrutiny. In addition, three emailers had their identities expunged from the record, having expressed concern that the outside world wanted to know their thoughts. Katrina Dawson and Tori Johnson died during the siege. "I'm trying to cover my face, at the same time trying not to move, there's all this shrapnel coming up from everywhere because everything's being shot up, and it's all in a split second like a car accident ... then you guys come running in, [saying] 'you're safe, you're safe' [but] all the things are flying everywhere still and I'm thinking, not so safe really ... I'm aware that I'm still alive. And I knew that Tori was dead." In the immediate aftermath, a carpet of floral tributes bloomed across Martin Place. But the questions soon started coming. Had police waited too long to storm the cafe? How clinical had their emergency entrance been, given that of the six hostages still inside at the end, two were dead and three wounded? Why was there such a barrage of light and noise, with police hurling 11 "flashbangs" or stun grenades each going off nine times as they burst into the cafe? Why hadn't the authorities called in the army's highly trained commando forces stationed on Sydney's perimeter? Why was Monis roaming free in the first place, with a string of criminal charges outstanding against him? How effective was police leadership on the night? And how was it that "a mentally deranged individual of low-level capability", as one seasoned counter-terrorism source put it, was able to tie up the state's forces for 17 hours? Two-and-a-half years later, after one of the most complex inquests in state history, NSW coroner Michael Barnes will on Wednesday hand down his report on what really happened that night. He shot Tori, he assassinated him ... then everything just started to go off. Lindt siege survivor Louisa Hope An army of lawyers has mobilised to represent the often conflicting interests of those affected: the families of Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson, surviving hostages, the NSW police force, individual supervisors who made key decisions that night, the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, ASIO, the NSW Justice department and the Defence department. Barnes' long-awaited report is unlikely to get to the bottom of every tangled narrative flowing from that night. Nor will anything bring back those who died. But it may bring some small measure of relief to the families and survivors. And it will crystallise the lessons that must be learnt for the future, particularly in relation to six critical questions. 1. Why was Monis at large at the time of the siege? Man Haron Monis outside court in 2010. Credit:AAP When Monis walked into the Lindt cafe in December 2014, he was already on bail for a staggering 43 counts of sexual assault and for being an alleged accessory to murder. Some of those allegations stretched back to 2002, lodged by women he'd preyed on while running a so-called spiritual healing business. The murder charges had been hanging over his head since November 2013, when his then partner Amirah Droudis had been charged with savagely killing Monis' former wife a murder the trial judge later found Monis had instigated. The inquest revealed that since arriving in Australia from Iran in 1996, Monis had been on ASIO's radar many times, but at the time of the siege was no longer assessed as a risk to national security. He'd previously scripted a number of extremist videos and declared a fatwa against Barack Obama. He'd been convicted of sending offensive letters to the families of Australian servicemen killed in Afghanistan, and only days before the Lindt attack had lost a constitutional challenge in the high court against that conviction. The National Security Hotline had received no less than 18 calls about him in the week leading up to the siege. His bail history was equally troubling. Three times he'd been granted bail in the year prior to the siege, despite police opposition. Police were particularly frustrated when the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions told them there were no strong grounds to seek Monis' detention after a fresh set of sexual assault charges were slapped on him in October 2014 just two months prior to the siege. The inquest would hear the solicitor handling the case had only recently joined the organisation and had never before dealt with a bail application in NSW. But neither he, nor the police, were aware Monis had committed some of the assaults while on bail for the federal letter-writing offences. Counsel assisting the inquest, Jeremy Gormly, SC, flagged that failure to link Commonwealth and NSW data on Monis' history of offending was among the key reasons why Monis was out of custody at the time of the Lindt siege. "It is hard not to note the price we pay for difficulties in the flow of information at jurisdictional borders," he noted. 2. Why did police wait for the death of a hostage before entering the cafe? Police outside the cafe during the siege. Credit:Daniel Munoz This question has gnawed incessantly at the Dawson and Johnson families and surviving hostages, especially when it was revealed at the inquest that not all police officers had endorsed the "wait it out" approach. Inside the cafe, the hostages had felt increasingly abandoned as the hours dragged by with no sign of rescue. All their efforts were centred on pacifying Monis, as he made repeated threats to kill one or more of them if there were further escapes (five had fled the cafe during the afternoon). "We felt like nobody cared about us," hostage Marcia Mikhael said in her police statement. Forensic psychiatrist Dr Jonathan Phillips later told the coroner that Monis' record "should have defined him as extremely dangerous" but on the night, the most senior officers clung doggedly to a strategy of waiting him out. Why? One reason was Monis' claim that he was carrying a bomb in his backpack. But there was also the police mindset of "contain and negotiate", deeply embedded in the force's philosophy. "Time is my friend in these situations," the police forward commander told the coroner several times. When tactical assault teams stormed the cafe at 2.14am on December 16 it was in response to Johnson's execution, a crisis response known in police parlance as an "Emergency Action" or EA. . But the inquest revealed officers further down the chain of command had also wanted their chiefs to approve a so-called "Deliberate Action" (or DA) plan one that would allow them to strike pre-emptively, should a chance arise to catch Monis off-guard. Three times that night they put a DA plan to their superiors, only to be knocked back each time. The tactical commander (whose name was suppressed at the inquest) told the coroner such a knockback had never happened to him before. Waiting to respond to an emergency was "inherently more risky" than a DA he explained, a position forcefully backed at the inquest by a British police expert, Simon Chesterman. Indeed Chesterman testified that he'd been unable to see any "rational basis" for the failure to approve a DA, and that in the shoes of the police commandos he would have been "absolutely screaming out" for one to be in place. Equally disturbing was evidence of confusion among police officers about what the trigger was for storming the cafe. Was it actual death or serious injury of a hostage? Or the imminent threat of death or serious injury? Or something else again, perhaps a shot from within the stronghold? Officers seemed unsure, with some changing their evidence as the inquest went on. Escaped hostage Paolo Vassallo later told the coroner: "It was never going to be a happy ending, a peaceful resolution was never on the cards ... I wanted police to end it on their terms, at least then people would have had half a chance." 3. What were the deficiencIes of training and equipment on the night, and how did they affect the outcome? Hostage Selina Win Pe had repeatedly called police from inside the cafe. Credit:Nic Walker For much of the siege, the police negotiating team was equipped with only a landline, a mobile phone and three dictaphones. Even these did not work properly or were handled ineptly because 12 batches of hostage calls were lost and never transcribed. The negotiators spent the first three hours of the siege working from a 4WD because their storm-damaged specialist truck had been out of service since 2011. (It was replaced only late last year.) When the negotiating team later moved to the nearby Leagues club, they had only one landline between them. This meant missing some hostage calls that diverted elsewhere when the line was busy. Meanwhile the officer in charge of negotiators, who gave evidence under the pseudonym "Graeme", was remotely managing no less than four other stand-offs around NSW while also handling the Lindt crisis over the course of a 33-hour shift. A British expert who reviewed the negotiating strategy was damning, suggesting the negotiators had gone "in circles" for hours without re-assessing their tactics. Contrary to public assurances from senior police that contact had been made with the gunman, the negotiating team never managed to deal directly with Monis, who instead was ordering the hostages to deliver messages via media outlets. The inquest heard that police negotiators failed to try a range of alternative strategies such as using loudhailers, bringing in potential intermediaries such as Monis' former lawyers, issuing appeals from the gunman's family, or carefully crafted public messages from the premier and then police commissioner Andrew Scipione. Opportunities to bargain with Monis had also been missed. One was his relatively innocuous but persistent demand that the lights in Martin Place be deactivated when night fell. Despite police knowing of this demand for hours even, at one point assembling (then dismissing) an Ausgrid team to achieve it the request had not been acted on by the time the siege ended. Yet hostage Selina Win Pe had repeatedly called police from inside the cafe between around midnight and 1am to say Monis was threatening to shoot at least one hostage if the lights remained on. A consultant psychiatrist advising police on the night (whose name has been suppressed) later claimed some of the Lindt captives had shown signs of Stockholm syndrome, demonstrating "excessive and gratuitous alliance with the hostage taker". The claim outraged surviving hostages. "We were just trying to stay alive," one told Fairfax Media. 4. What was the impact of communication failures on the night? CCTV footage shows hostages fleeing as Man Haron Monis shoots at them. Tori Johnson sent a text message to his family half-an-hour before he died saying Monis was "increasingly agitated, walks around when he hears a noise outside with a hostage in front of him. Wants to release one person in good faith, tell police". Yet the police commander during the final hours of the siege, Assistant Commissioner Mark Jenkins, told the coroner he was not made aware of the text. Nor was Jenkins aware that when Monis fired the first shot after a group of hostages who escaped at 2.03am, it was almost certainly aimed at them, and not over their heads. "If I was convinced the shot was made directly at hostages then yes, I would have thought an EA should have been activated but I was not told that at the time and I don't know that to be the case today," Jenkins told the inquest. Mark Murdoch, who had occupied the top police command role earlier in the day, said if the 2.03am shot at the hostages had been fired on his watch, "I would have had an expectation that the EA would have been launched." Intermittent faults in radio communication between the various police teams also seem to have had a critical bearing on the last few minutes of the siege. When Johnson was forced into a kneeling position at 2.06am, hands laced behind his head, a sniper codenamed Sierra 3-1 sounded the alert over the radio but heard no acknowledgement and did not repeat the call, he told the coroner. Another officer, the commander of the assault teams, said if he had known of Johnson's plight at that time he would have recommended an immediate assault. Further questions have been raised about the high-powered ammunition and weapons that the Tactical Operations Unit used in storming the cafe. Some experts have questioned whether lower-velocity bullets less prone to fragmentation should have been used in such a confined space. 5. Should the army have taken over the siege when it became plain progress had stalled? Much of what transpired between the police and the military that night remains veiled, thanks to secrecy orders sought by the Commonwealth. Australian Defence Force advisers were positioned at the police command posts during the siege. And the army's commando squad, the Tactical Assault Group-East based at Holsworthy in outer Sydney, did start to mobilise, constructing some kind of mock-up of the Lindt cafe and consulting with NSW Police on the the latter's plans. TAG-EAST had battle-hardened soldiers in its ranks, highly practiced at forcing their way into enemy strongholds. But the army commandos were never called in and at the inquest later, the ADF pointedly played down its role. Gormly told the coroner he was unlikely to get to the bottom of how the relationship between the Commonwealth and NSW authorities really played out that night. Similarly, the inquest only heard in February this year that the Australian Federal Police had compiled secret reports on Monis' alleged backpack bomb but that these had not been transmitted to NSW police. The revelation came so late in the hearings, there was little opportunity for the coroner to test its significance. At least one hostage, Paolo Vassollo, told police shortly after his escape four hours into the siege that he gave no credibility to Monis' claim of having a bomb. "From the way he was talking and acting, I didn't believe him," Vassallo told the coroner. Likewise Louisa Hope also later told police that the backpack Monis wore throughout the siege, (later shown to have housed a speaker, not a bomb), "didn't look packed ... It didn't look like it was full or heavy or hard to manage". What sort of intelligence was marshalled to test Monis' claim of carrying a bomb is another mystery. Yet the bomb fear dictated nearly every aspect of police tactics that night. 6. How effectively did senior police leadership respond? NSW Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn leaves the Lindt cafe siege inquest. Credit:Daniel Munoz Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn, who had organisational responsibility for counter-terrorism, came under sustained questioning over her deletion of text messages from the night. She went home, with permission, well before the siege had come to an end. In the witness box she insisted she'd had no operational role, instead being tasked with high-level liaison with politicians and other agencies. In April this year, Burn was moved from counter-terrorism by newly appointed police commissioner Mick Fuller. Then commissioner Andrew Scipione gave evidence that he'd had no formal role in the direction of the siege either. Yet he did have communications with senior commanders on the night, including a discussion about taking down YouTube videos that had been directed by Monis and posted by the hostages. Despite sending an email saying the videos should be "pulled down", Scipione denied that this was an order. The inquiry would later hear that the absence of the videos could have contributed to rising tensions inside the cafe, as Monis grew increasingly frustrated by the failed efforts of the hostages to get messages out via social media. The inquest also heard that late at night on December 15, Scipione and Assistant Commissioner Jenkins discussed whether a DA should be a "last resort" but both men denied this suggestion came from Scipione. The Lindt siege report is likely to accelerate the rethink already under way in Australian counter-terrorism circles about how to respond to extremist-inspired terrorism. Almost certainly the "contain and negotiate" philosophy will be ditched in favour of swift intervention, senior sources told Fairfax Media. One official believes the Lindt siege lends itself to the same "Swiss cheese" analogy used by investigators in aviation accidents: that if all the holes in the slices line up, you get a crash. "Lindt cafe was like that," the experienced counter-terrorism source claims. "Each slice of cheese had a hole: a policy slice, the communications slice, the equipment slice, a leadership slice and an intelligence slice all the holes in all those things lined up and so we had Lindt. If NSW law enforcement was unable to deal with that lone individual, one has to ask, are they ready for a multiple location, multimodal attack? I think it's a huge vulnerability for NSW and it still is." We will soon know if the coroner takes a similar view. CCTV footage of police entering the cafe. How it happened: a timeline Monday, December 15 6.30am Tori Johnson is at work, having coffee with staff member Harriette Denny. 8.15am Barrister Katrina Dawson picks up her friend and pregnant colleague Julie Taylor for the trip into the city, arranging to meet later for coffee. 8.30am Monis enters the Lindt cafe, sits at table No.36 and orders chocolate cheesecake. 9.15am Dawson arrives, followed soon afterwards by Taylor and their solicitor friend Stefan Balafoutis. Fifteen other staff and customers are also in the cafe. 9.35 to 9.40am Monis calls manager Johnson over, sits huddled with him for a few minutes, orders him to get the keys and lock the doors. Monis puts on his vest and bandanna. 9.41am Tori calls triple zero relaying Monis' claim that he has bombs in three locations, that its an Islamic State attack and Monis wants to speak to then prime minister Tony Abbott. Monis pulls a sawn-off shotgun from a large blue Big W bag. 9.50am Monis orders hostages to place phones on tables and stand with their hands up in the windows. Instructs them to contact media outlets, warning he has a bomb in his backpack. 10.00am First police negotiator arrives at scene along with first police commando team. Mid-morning NSW Police invoke anti-terrorism protocols, set up a forward command post and a police operations centre to manage the siege, brief state and federal cabinet. 3.35pm The first escape: Chef Paolo Vassallo flees via rear fire exit; lawyer Stefan Balafoutis and 83-year-old John O'Brien escape via front doors. 5.00pm Second escape: April Bae and Elly Chen who have been hiding under a table slip out a side door and escape unnoticed by Monis. 7.05pm Vassallo receives a text from Johnson: "Tell the police the lobby door is unlocked. He's sitting in a corner on his own." 8.20pm Commander of the Tactical Operations Unit wants a Deliberate Action (DA) plan approved to allow police to storm Monis at a time of their choosing, instead of waiting for a hostage to be wounded or killed; request knocked back by senior police. Monis becoming increasingly agitated as attempts to get his message out via the hostages using social media are thwarted. 10.00pm Assistant Commissioner Mark Jenkins takes over from Assistant Commissioner Mark Murdoch as senior operational commander. 10.57pm Phone call between Jenkins and then police chief Andrew Scipione. A scribe records: "DA plan to occur as last resort COP (Commissioner of Police)"; Jenkins and Scipione both later deny this was an order from Scipione. 11pm Monis tells hostages to call loved ones. Tuesday, December 16 12.35am Hostage Selina Win Pe starts calling negotiators saying Monis will shoot someone if lights in Martin Place are not turned off. She warns: "I'm going to get shot in 15 minutes if you don't have these lights switched off." 1.30am Monis toys with releasing one of the remaining 13 hostages to talk to media, but is growing increasingly erratic. 1.43am Text from Johnson to his family saying Monis is "increasingly agitated, walks around when he hears a noise outside with a hostage in front of him. Wants to release one person in good faith, tell police." 2.00am Monis hears a noise and goes to kitchen to investigate, taking two hostages with him. 2.03am Six of the remaining 13 hostages escape through rear foyer doors: Jarrod Morton-Hoffman, Harriette Denny, Julie Taylor, Puspendu Ghosh, Viswakanth Ankireddy and Joel Herat. Monis fires first shot after them but misses. 2.04am Monis orders remaining hostages to stand around him, loads shell into shotgun. 2.06am Monis forces Tori Johnson onto his knees, is observed by sniper whose message does not get through to commanders. Vincent O'Dempsey has chosen not to give evidence in his trial for the alleged Brisbane cold case murders of Barbara McCulkin and her two daughters. Since pleading not guilty to their murders, the 78-year-old has sat silently in the Brisbane Supreme Court dock for three weeks as more than 50 witnesses testified over his alleged involvement in their disappearance. Barbara McCulkin (right) and her daughters Vicky (left) and Leanne (centre) disappeared from their home on January 16, 1974. Barbara McCulkin (right) and her daughters Vicky (left) and Leanne (centre) disappeared from their home on January 16, 1974. Mrs McCulkin and her children Vicki, 13, and Leanne, 11, were last seen at their Highgate Hill home on January 16, 1974. The court has heard two men, believed to be Mr O'Dempsey and Garry Dubois, were seen at the family's property that same day, as well as a distinctive orange Charger like the one Mr O'Dempsey owned. The Queensland government will create a new offence criminalising negligence causing death in the workplace in the wake of last year's Dreamworld and Eagle Farm tragedies. Tim Lyons, independent reviewer for the Best Practice Review of Workplace Health and Safety, has recommended the offence should be introduced, according to Employment Minister Grace Grace. Workplace negligence causing death will be a criminal offence in Queensland. Credit:Jessica Shapiro The review was established following the deaths of two construction workers at Brisbane's Eagle Farm Racecourse and the deaths of four people at the Dreamworld theme park on the Gold Coast last October. Ashley Morris, 34, and Humberto Leite, 55, were killed when sandwiched between two slabs of concrete in a construction pit inside the renovated racecourse on October 6. When it arrives mid-year, talking to Google's attentive benchtop speaker will be more about striking up a conversation than simply issuing commands. Google's pint-sized smart speaker is finally coming to Australia, designed to sit on your kitchen bench, coffee table or bedside table so it's always at your beck and call. It's completely hands-free, relying on the AI-powered Google Assistant; just say "Okay Google" to get its attention and then tell it what you need. The talkative Google Home smart benchtop speaker is vying for a place in Australian homes. Google Home is going to cost more than $200 in Australia so you really need a good use for it once the novelty wears off, just as you might have grown weary of taunting the talkative assistant on your smartphone. The developers of Google Home and Google Assistant say that the four main uses people find for the smart speaker are answering queries, playing music, managing your schedule and controlling your smart home devices. If you'd tick at least two of those boxes then you might consider Google Home good value, especially when you consider that 'answering queries' extends to services which are connected to Google such as flight times and traffic reports. Scientists working to boost the population of Tasmanian devils have made a key discovery which could result in better survival rates for devils released into the wild. The researchers found that the longer a Tasmanian devil had spent in captivity, the greater the chance of the animal being hit by a car after being released. A Tasmanian devil being released into the wild in 2015. Credit:Save the Tasmanian Devil Program Reviewing the survival rates of 50 devils released at two Tasmanian sites in 2015 and 2016, the researchers found 19 were killed by vehicles within six weeks of release. The biggest killer of Tasmanian devils after the devil facial tumour disease is collisions with vehicles. With dozens of captive-bred animals being released each year, identifying and releasing "street-wise" animals will make a big difference to the endangered species' prospects. How do you know if your cash is the real deal? Burn it, and if it burns blue, it's fake... at least according to a scam doing the rounds in country Victoria. Scammers claimed to be from the Australian Federal Police and told people to withdraw all their money and send it to the police in the United Kingdom. Victorians in Bendigo and Yarrawonga have been targets of a counterfeit cash scam. Credit:Gillianne Tedder Victims were assured they would be reimbursed by police. Victoria Police praised Australia Post for stopping a package from being sent to the UK on Friday afternoon. New York, May 19(Just Earth News): More than 30,000 Somali refugees have apparently returned to Somalia from Yemen, the United Nations refugee agency said, and an increasing number are seeking aid to return home. Babar Baloch, spokesperson at the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), today told reporters at the UN's Geneva Office that Somali refugees are approaching the agency for assistance to return citing safety and security concerns and limited access to services in Yemen. The UN agency can assist up to 10,000 Somalis who voluntarily want to return to their home country. Their assistance would include documentation, travel and transportation aid, as well as financial support in Yemen to facilitate the journey. Most refugees opt to return to Mogadishu, in the anticipation that assistance and services will be more accessible and available, Baloch said. Among the people who want to return is Barei Ibrahim and her 10 children. Ms. Ibrahim has been living in Yemen for 26 years, after war drove her from Somalia in the early nineties. I don't have anything here, she told UNHCR from Yemen's only refugee camp, Kharaz, in the Lahj governorate. I don't have a job or a future and we are facing difficulties. We are begging to get by and are living in sorrow and grief. Some 30,600 Somalis have reportedly already returned to Somalia from Yemen since the beginning of the current war, according to UN figures. The conditions facing the almost 280,000 refugees in-country are worsening and their needs are growing by the day, UNHCR said. About 91 per cent of those refugees are Somalis, many who fled to Yemen years ago. Yemen has traditionally accepted those in need of international protection, and is the only country in the Arabian Peninsula signatory to the Refugee Convention and the Protocol. However, the ongoing war has limited the capacities to provide adequate assistance and protection to refugees. The UN agency is working to support those refugees living in Yemen, providing protection and services that include legal assistance, education and access to health and psycho-social services. Photo: UNHCR/Shabia Mantoo Source: www.justearthnews.com A council in Melbourne's west is considering dropping the speed limit on some streets to 30km/h, a move which could give central Footscray the lowest speed zone in Victoria. However the plan doesn't have the support of the RACV, which says 40km/h is the "appropriate speed limit for high pedestrian areas". Speeds in Footscray CBD could drop to 30km/h under council plans. Credit:Pat Scala Maribyrnong City Council has approached VicRoads about a new project to improve road safety in Footscray, with a plan to lower the speed limit on local streets in the most built-up parts of the suburb. The plan, called the Footscray Pedestrian Safety Improvement Project, includes dropping the speed limit in the vicinity of schools and through "activity precincts" to 30km/h, according to the council's latest meeting minutes. Taxpayers will fork out more than $100 million to overhaul Victoria's fire services in a high-stakes political gamble to end a prolonged industrial dispute. Under the changes, which will take up to two years to fully introduce, the government will tip $100 million into the CFA, which will become a volunteer-only service. The state government has announced plans to split volunteer and paid firefighters. Credit:Jason South The state government on Thursday announced plans ring-fencing volunteers from paid firefighters by creating two separate services. The government hopes separating the fire services will allow it to circumvent federal legislation that has stopped it from passing its contentious pay deal for paid CFA staff. The state government's one-off lifeline payment to Scarborough Beach businesses struggling to trade amid heavy construction would barely buy a coffee a week, according to frustrated Wild Fig Cafe owner Chris Burke. Businesses along the strip this week received offers from the state government to pay up to half their yearly land tax bill as an 'act of grace' to acknowledge the hardship most were facing. BOHO Espresso's entrance has been invaded by construction. Credit:Nine News Perth It comes as a fifth business, a fish and chip shop, closed its doors earlier this month with others expected to follow and cut their losses this winter as the $100 million beachfront redevelopment enters its second year of construction - obstructing roads, paths and car parks in the area. The compensation offer which equated to $400 for some, but around $10,000 for others - did little to ease the financial burden on most businesses as Planning Minister Rita Saffioti conceded by omission there were no other avenues for compensation - despite the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority indicating to business owners at the beginning of the project there would be. Flyers denying the historical accuracy of the Holocaust have sparked outrage from University of Western Australia students after they were distributed around the campus on Wednesday. It is understood the flyers contained content that supported the works of controversial historian David Irving and questioned whether the Holocaust actually happened. The flyers were found on cars and pinned to university noticeboards. Credit:Bohdan Warchomij The flyers are similar in content to those posted around eastern state campuses last month, which saw pamphlets distributed at the Australian National University, Monash University and Monash University in Victoria. UWA Student Guild president Nevin Jayawardena said the university was investigating. Police have charged a 37-year-old man from Mirrabooka after the stabbing death of a pet Labrador in a Mirrabooka park on Wednesday in full view of its owner. A 22-year-old local woman was exercising four-year-old Luna, as well as her other male dog, in a park off Apple Blossom Drive at 6pm when the alleged attack occurred. Luna, the Labrador who was allegedly attacked in Mirrabooka. Credit:WA Police "I made them sit then took them off their leads," she told media on Thursday afternoon. "They saw this person and [ran over]." James Berry is the Global Director of Transport at Woods Bagot, a global architectural and consulting practice founded in Australia. Integrated transport planning will be key to addressing many of the issues that are currently facing Perth including employment, housing affordability, car congestion and connectivity into the city. Well-designed transit oriented developments (TODs) can bring huge prosperity to a city. Credit:Woods Bagot The recent $20 billion funding announced by the Federal Government for rail projects to cut congestion in Australian cities, grow the regions and create thousands of employment opportunities has come at the right time. The reallocation of some of the existing funding for the Perth Freight Link project to Metronet will help deliver world-class public transport through the creation of new lines from Joondalup to Yanchep the linking of Thornlie to Cockburn and the much needed circle line. While Metronet will improve land values and provide additional revenue for the State, it will fall short if the design of the rail and associated transit oriented developments (TODs) is not considered in an integrated way. This means ensuring the connections between modes of transport are optimised, the buildings are designed around the people who use them and the public spaces - the urban design and "placemaking" - creates safe new city districts that are loved by the people who live there. A Perth company has been ordered to pay $56,000 for illegally clearing 18 hectares of an important habitat for native wildlife from a Mandurah site between 2011 and 2012. The Southregal Pty Ltd was found to have unlawfully cleared the Bouvard property, which had been home to peppermint trees up to four metres in height, 12 mammal, 21 reptile and 46 bird species. An aerial image showing the 18 hectares cleared. Credit:Department of Environmental Regulation It was also a prominent foraging a breeding habitat for the endangered Carnaby's Black Cockatoo and the Western Ringtail Possum. Site inspections after the clearing located a dead Western Ringtail Possum and South West Carpet Python. On Friday, Brazilian President Michel Temer, like the rest of his country, listened to the explosive secret audio recording that directly implicated him in South America's biggest-ever corruption probe. The tape, obtained by Joesley Batista, chairman of the world's biggest meat exporter JBS, was made public by prosecutors after it was leaked to Brazil's O Globo newspaper on Wednesday evening. Demonstrators carry a sign that reads in Portuguese "Temer in jail" and calls for direct elections in Brasilia on Thursday. Credit:AP In it, the president appears to agree to arrangements Batista says he has made to silence jailed former House speaker Eduardo Cunha and an associate. He also appears to condone Batista's actions to silence two judges overseeing a separate investigation into Batista's sprawling global empire. To the disclosure of payments to Cunha, Temer is heard saying "that has to continue, OK?". To the revelation of a scheme to keep the judges from pressuring Batista, Temer asks "are you holding both of them back?", which Batista confirms before the president says the equivalent of "excellent, excellent". New York: The US Navy recruit who drove his car along a crowded Times Square sidewalk, killing a young woman and injuring many others, is due to appear in court in Manhattan on Friday to face charges of murder, attempted murder and vehicular homicide. Richard Rojas, 26, knocked pedestrians into the air as he sped for three blocks in his burgundy Honda sedan through one of the city's busiest areas on Thursday before crashing into a metal stanchion, the New York Police Department said. Police said the young woman killed on the sidewalk was Alyssa Elsman, 18, who was on holiday with her family from Michigan. Twenty-two people were injured, three of them critically, police said on Friday. One of the three, a 38-year-old woman from Canada, was in very critical condition, Chief of Manhattan South Detectives Bill Aubrey told a news conference on Friday. Moscow: The Kremlin's growing increasingly unhappy at being in the centre of US political storms that threaten to knock President Donald Trump off course. As Washington buzzes with talk of possible impeachment after a special counsel was appointed to investigate alleged links between Trump's election campaign and Russia, officials in Moscow are fretting that the tycoon-turned-politician will be so engulfed by political crises at home that he'll have no chance to form a normal working relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump's presidency appears hijacked by the US obsession with Russia, one senior Kremlin official said. Four months into his term after an election victory greeted with euphoria in Moscow, his fate looks increasingly uncertain to Kremlin policy makers, two other people familiar with the matter said. All asked not to be identified discussing internal issues. US media often present Russian interference in the 2016 election as a victory for Putin in undermining his country's principal adversary. But for the Kremlin, the continuing furore makes it impossible to get business done with the US on key issues ranging from resolving the war in Syria to lobbying for an end to sanctions over the Ukrainian conflict. New York, May 19(Just Earth News): A United Nations report has documented human rights violations and abuses against civilians that may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity, in what used to be a peaceful multi-ethnic town in South Sudan. The conflict in Yei, in particular, highlights the startling level of impunity in South Sudan, which has fed successive cycles of violence across the country, said the report, which contains the findings of an in-depth investigation into violations committed in and around the Central Equatoria town, 150 kilometres southwest of the capital, Juba, between July 2016 and January 2017. The report by the Human Rights Division of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) exposes violations and abuses by both sides of the conflict, based on ethnicity or their presumed association with the other side, including 114 killings by pro-Government forces. The extent of the abuses by armed opposition groups remains unclear due to lack of access to areas where these groups are active. The report finds that these violations and abuses may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity and that they warrant further investigation. Yei had been a largely peaceful town, with between 200,000 and 300,000 residents of many different ethnicities, until July 2016, when violence erupted between Government and opposition forces, which led to the departure of opposition leader Riek Machar into the Democratic Republic of the Congo. As Government forces chased him, fighting simultaneously broke out along the route, particularly in Yei, fuelling strong divisions along ethnic lines and resulted in targeted killings, arrests, rapes and mass civilian displacement of more than half of the population of the town. Satellite imagery shows that there was widespread burning of homes and businesses, resulting in the forcible displacement of tens of thousands of civilians. Photo: UNHCR/Andreas Kirchof Source: www.justearthnews.com Former FBI director James Comey prepared extensively for his discussions with Donald Trump, out of concern that the President was unlikely to respect the legal and ethical boundaries governing their respective roles, his associates say. The associates recounted how worried Comey was about meeting Trump and recalled conversations in which they brainstormed how to handle moments in which the President asked for details of an investigation. One associate referred to Comey's preparation as a kind of "murder board" - a phrase used to describe a committee of questioners who hurl tough questions at someone as practice for a difficult oral examination. "He was pretty insistent that he would have to find a way to politically not answer it," one associate recalled. GREAT BAY(DCOMM) :---- Ministry of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Development and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI), announces that a new road crossing will be created on Welgelegen Drive, Cay Hill. The works will commence on Friday, May 19 and continue up to May 21. The works will be carried out from 9.00am to 5.00pm. There will be a road closure of Welgelegen Drive only on Friday, May 19. The works will be carried out by MKD Technologies St. Maarten. Ministry VROMI apologizes for any inconveniences this may cause. New York, May 19(Just Earth News): Hidden literally under the rubble of the Syrian war is the economic success story of a widow who, refusing to submit to despair, founded a thriving micro-enterprise venture with assistance from a United Nations agency loan. Hanan Odah is a 30-year-old Palestine refugee who, living in the Jaramana refugee camp in the Syrian capital, Damascus, supports her displaced family of three with a stationery and perfume business that she first founded with a loan from the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Young, innovative and courageous, she is living proof that as large businesses have collapsed, small scale enterprises can survive and even thrive in the markets opening up at the grassroots, said UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krahenbuhl in an opinion piece published on Friday. As senior leaders and key business figures gather this week at the World Economic Forum in Jordan, Krahenbuhl hopes that they find Hanans story revealing, instructive and perhaps even inspiring, flagging UNRWAs micro finance initiative as a rare but significant example of optimism in the country. Calling her an extraordinary young woman who in the face of untold adversity is bravely transforming her community from within, one business plan at a time, he adds that that is what the World Economic Forum, at its best, is striving to achieve. According to the Syrian Centre for Policy Research, de-industrialization has inflicted $254.7 billion in economic damage on Syria. In 2015 alone GDP loss was $ 163.3 billion. As a result of the economic collapse, more than 85 per cent of Syrians were living in poverty by the end of 2015, with more than 69 per cent of the population barely surviving in extreme poverty. Nearly three million jobs have been lost and unemployment is now over 50 per cent. However, Krahenbuhl pointed out: With recent donor funding, in particular $1 million from the European Union, we have expanded our micro finance outreach. Always searching for new openings, we have been actively mapping new locations of internally displaced people to reach the Palestine refugees we serve and to deliver loan products where market opportunities open up. In a country where nearly three million jobs have been lost and unemployment is over 50 per cent, the UN has expanded its Microfinance programme in Palestine. Worth nearly $2 million, UNRWAs programme supports the resilience of Palestine refugees and Syrians alike. For many beneficiaries these loans are vital to support their families and rebuild their homes but, most importantly, they provide a renewed sense of hope and dignity in a country devastated by six years of conflict. Across Syria, UNRWAs Micro Finance Department disbursed a staggering 9,520 loans in 2016, worth nearly two million dollars. We can build on this track record and expand with the support of donors and partners, stressed Krahenbuhl. Our loans have also developed flexibly in response to the evolving conflict. There are currently five products that respond to the deepening emergency situations in Syria and help Palestine refugees re-build their houses and maintain stable incomes for themselves and extended families; no small achievement as war rages relentlessly in the country, he concluded. Photo: UNRWA/Wasim al Masri Source: www.justearthnews.com Warm up to winter with ski film, adaptive skiing, Mushing 101 and more news New York, May 19(Just Earth News): United Nations agencies are joining forces with governments in Southern Africa in a push to strengthen protections for persons with albinism, who often fall victim to a raft of abuses, including maiming, trafficking and even murder, linked to the belief that their parts have magical powers in witchcraft potions. A two-day regional forum on preventing and combating human trafficking and protecting people with albinism in Mozambique, Malawi and Tanzania is currently underway in Pemba, northern Mozambique. The first-of-its-kind workshop was organized by the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) in partnership with the UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF), the General Prosecutor of the Republic of Mozambique and the Prosecutor of Cabo Delgado province. UNICEF is supporting the Government to enhance civil registration by investing in the establishment and expansion of a digitalized system of birth registration to ensure the basic rights of every child to name, identity and nationality, said the UNICEF Representative in Mozambique, Marcoluigi Corsi. Participants include representatives of Mozambique, Malawi and Tanzanias counter-trafficking coordination bodies, prosecutors, criminal investigation police, national human rights institutions, NGOs concerned with the protection of people with albinism and traditional healers. This will in turn prevent and address disappearance of children, abandonment or assist in investigations when children with albinism are affected. Following new instances of kidnapping and killing of children and people with albinism in Mozambique, UNICEF launched in August 2015 a social media campaign called #TodosIguais to create awareness on this issue. The ongoing campaign has so far reached over five million people, Corsi added. Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania share common borders and are either countries of origin or destination for the trafficking of people with albinism and their body parts. The forum will result in a plan of action on cross-border cooperation for the prevention and prosecution of human trafficking-related crimes and the protection of the rights of people with albinism, eventually resulting in more effective investigation and prosecution, as well as victim protection. A regional approach like this that complements national efforts in Mozambique, Malawi and Tanzania is the only way we will improve cross-border coordination and investigation to protect people with albinism, said Katharina Schnoering, IOM Chief of Mission in Mozambique. This regional approach to investigation, research and cooperation was recommended in a recent report by the UN independent expert who visited Mozambique in 2016, she added. IOM is working in partnership with the Governments to assist trafficking victims and provide strengthened national counter-trafficking responses in the three African countries. UNICEF backs the strengthening of child-friendly justice systems through capacity-building support to the police, judiciary and public prosecution to enhance accountability for violence and crimes against children. The agency also endorses the strengthening of multi-sectoral case management systems to enable adequate channelling of cases of violence, harmful practices, including ritualistic killings or trafficking, child abandonment or any other risks that children face. UNICEFs health and education programmes help increase access to health and education services, especially for the most vulnerable and marginalized children. Photo: UNICEF Mozambique/Sergio Fernandez Source: www.justearthnews.com Georgetown, SC (29440) Today Windy early with light rain developing after midnight. Low 61F. Winds NNE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Windy early with light rain developing after midnight. Low 61F. Winds NNE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 60%. The Bezos Expeditions-recovered F-1 rocket engine on display in the new APOLLO exhibit at The Museum of Flight in Seattle is comprised of a gas generator and heat exchanger used to launch Apollo 16 in 1972 and a thrust chamber from the Apollo 12 mission in 1969. SEATTLE Nearly 50 years after they were used to launch astronauts to the moon and four years after they were raised off the ocean floor, the massive rocket engines recovered by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos are going on display in Seattle. The Saturn V F-1 engines, or rather the parts of such due to their being torn apart and eroded, are set opposite a towering unused engine, serving as an example of what they looked like before they were launched. The pair are featured along with other NASA artifacts in "APOLLO," the new permanent exhibit at The Museum of Flight, opening to the public on Saturday (May 20). "APOLLO is about the stories, large and small, that contributed to mankind first leaving the planet and heading to the moon," said Matt Hayes, the executive vice president of the museum, at a press preview on Thursday. "This exhibit integrates the best of our early space artifacts, and it threads together a common storyline with some recently acquired gems, for an experience not found anywhere else." [NASA Apollo Moon Rocket Engines Recovered by Jeff Bezos (Photos)] Used to launch the Apollo 12 and Apollo 16 missions' Saturn V rockets that carried astronauts to land on the moon in 1969 and 1972, respectively, the engines lifted off and then, once no longer needed, fell 40 miles (65 kilometers) out of the sky into the Atlantic Ocean, where they sank and sat on the seafloor for more than 40 years. Bezos funded a series of private expeditions, conducted in secret between 2010 and 2013, to locate, raise and return the engines for a singular purpose. "Jeff came up with the what and the why find and recover the engines that launched men to the moon to inspire five-year-olds," said David Concannon, who organized and led the recovery for Bezos. "Here is a man who could do anything that he wanted with the resources that he has available and what he really wanted to do was recreate the moment when he was five years old and he watched a man land on the moon." Additional recovered engine parts will be displayed by the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., and by the Cosmosphere in Kansas, in the months and years to come. They will also tour with Columbia, the Apollo 11 command module, including a stop at The Museum of Flight in 2019. The new APOLLO exhibit at The Museum of Flight in Seattle is designed around "anchor artifacts," including Apollo Command Module 007A, the first production-line capsule delivered to NASA for testing and training, and a full-size model of the ascent stage of the Apollo lunar module. (Image credit: collectSPACE.com) Bezos' goal to inspire a new generation of space explorers is reflected throughout The Museum of Flight's APOLLO exhibit. In addition to the F-1 engines, the gallery showcases the first production-line Apollo command module delivered to NASA in 1966, an engineering mockup of a lunar rover, an Apollo-recovered moon rock and the memorabilia of the late Apollo 12 commander, Charles "Pete" Conrad. "We wanted to make Apollo accessible to a broader audience," commented Geoff Nunn, the museum's adjunct curator for space history. "We're fast approaching the 50th anniversaries of the Apollo missions. Just this past January we remembered the Apollo 1 tragedy, and beginning next year, we'll begin to celebrate the triumphs that followed. But 50 years is a long time and a lot of our visitors' first memories are of when the space shuttle was beginning to be retired [in 2011]." To address this, the exhibit draws connections between the historic artifacts and today's commercial space activities, as well as taps into the human stories behind the pieces contained within the gallery. "Around each of the artifacts, we have signature biographical stories that tie in to someone who worked on some aspect of that artifact or who contributed to some topic or some area that helped us get to the moon," said Nunn. On loan from NASA, the F-1 rocket engine no. 6049 on display in the APOLLO exhibit at The Museum of Flight in Seattle was initially intended to be used for the Apollo 16 mission in April 1972 until a test stand fire required it to undergo substantial refurbishment. (Image credit: collectSPACE.com) In addition to Conrad's artifacts including a checklist used on the surface of the moon and a "mixtape" music cassette he listened to on Skylab, the United States' first space station APOLLO also shares the story of Deke Slayton, one of the original Mercury astronauts, whose temporary grounding resulted in his diamond-studded astronaut pin being flown to the moon by Neil Armstrong on the Apollo 11 first moon landing mission. The pin is one of two Armstrong-flown artifacts featured in the exhibit. The second, material samples from the Wright Flyer, the first airplane to achieve powered flight just 66 years before the first lunar landing, originate from a stash of Flyer artifacts that Armstrong took with him aboard Apollo 11. They will be installed in the exhibit in the coming weeks after being delivered by museum trustee Mark Armstrong, the late moonwalker's son. "A piece of the Wright Flyer fabric and a piece of the propeller will become part of this exhibit, linking that story from 1903 to 1969 to 2017 to the future," said Doug King, president and CEO of The Museum of Flight. "I can't imagine the feeling that people will have when they can relate to specifically these small things and to the memories that we who remember 1969 will share." "And maybe much more importantly, the vision of the future the one we'll share with every young person who comes through this exhibit. They are the ones who will create the rest of this story," said King. View a photo gallery previewing APOLLO at The Museum of Flight at collectSPACE. Follow collectSPACE.com on Facebook and on Twitter at @collectSPACE. Copyright 2016 collectSPACE.com. All rights reserved. The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement Nothing is as it should be in this White House. Everyone working there has been compromised multiple times and now they all despise each other - and everyone except for Trump despises Trump. Because of all that, after just 120 days of the Trump administration, we are witness to an American tragedy for which there are five theoretical solutions. The first is Trump's resignation, which won't happen. The second is that Republicans in the House and Senate support impeachment, which would be justified by the president's proven obstruction of justice, but won't happen because of the Republicans' thirst for power, which they won't willingly give up. The third possible solution is the invocation of the 25th Amendment, which would require the cabinet to declare Trump unfit to discharge the powers of the presidency. That isn't particularly likely either. Fourth: The Democrats get ready to fight and win back majorities in the House and Senate in midterm elections, which are 18 months away, before they then pursue option two, impeachment. Fifth: the international community wakes up and finds a way to circumvent the White House and free itself of its dependence on the U.S. Unlike the preceding four options, the fifth doesn't directly solve the Trump problem, but it is nevertheless necessary - and possible. SPIEGEL: But you can't deny that WikiLeaks lost a lot of its popularity since it published documents about Hillary Clinton and her campaign. Assange: What are you saying? If we hadn't published Hillary Clinton's Goldman Sachs speeches, she would have won? Or should we have censured information to favor one candidate? WikiLeaks will never do that. SPIEGEL: Increasingly, though, secret services seem to be trying to influence the outcome of elections in foreign countries. Assange: That may well be. SPIEGEL: If these secret services are using WikiLeaks as a useful weapon, you can't just lean back and say: "That may well be." Assange: Secret services are planting things in the media every day. And if WikiLeaks is logistically able to publish documents before an election, we will do that - and that's also exactly what the public expects. SPIEGEL: You don't care if WikiLeaks influences the outcome of elections? Assange: WikiLeaks is made up of human beings who have different political views. But we cannot undermine our publicly given commitments, our publicly stated principles. SPIEGEL: And these principles require that you publish authentic documents as quickly as possible, regardless of who benefits or is damaged? Assange: That's our current policy, which might be changed under extreme circumstances. SPIEGEL: What sort of circumstances? Assange: If we were on the brink of a nuclear war and a WikiLeaks publication could be misinterpreted, then it would make sense to delay the publication. SPIEGEL: You didn't delay the publication of the material which harmed Clinton. Assange: We are not in this business for likes. WikiLeaks publishes documents about powerful organizations. WikiLeaks always will always be the bad boy. SPIEGEL: What do you have to say to people who accuse WikiLeaks, among others, of being responsible for Donald Trump's election as U.S. president? Assange: WikiLeaks revealed the dirty tactics of the Clinton campaign. Some voters took it in. It was their free choice to do so. That's their right. That's democracy. SPIEGEL: As secretary of state, Clinton sought to take action against WikiLeaks. Was the publication of Democratic Party documents a kind of vendetta? Assange: That is U.S. East Coast psychobabble. The reason that WikiLeaks follows its principles is because one man has a problem? No! But here is some historic irony behind it. Clinton was involved in putting our alleged source Chelsea Manning in prison. There seems to be some natural justice. SPIEGEL: You derived satisfaction from her loss? Assange: . . . SPIEGEL: You are smiling. Assange: On a personal level I would probably get along with her quite well. She is a charismatic person. She is a bit of wonk - like me. A little bit awkward - like me. However, there has to be a line drawn. She decided to destroy the Libyan state. As a result, she fueled the European refugee crisis. We published a lot of her emails on how this unfolded. It seems an inescapable conclusion that she is a war criminal. SPIEGEL: Are we heading for an era in which the party with the better hackers wins the election? Assange: Not necessarily. If we have a look at the Macron leaks, it is clear they came too late to have an impact on the elections . The documents have a very conspicuous insertion of metadata, which point to a guy who is a contractor for the Russian secret service FSB. But why should Russia signal it is behind it? That would be a rather stupid mind game. SPIEGEL: The initial WikiLeaks mission statement from 2006 said: "Our primary targets are those highly oppressive regimes in China, Russia and Central Eurasia." But we haven't learned much about these countries from your organization. Assange: That's absolutely false. This wrong impression is the result of navel gazing in the West and the United States. When we publish in languages other than English, in New Nork they don't care. SPIEGEL: But your biggest scoops, like documents about the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Clinton emails or the recent CIA documents, have all targeted the United States. Assange: Because the U.S. is an empire with 700 military bases spread across the world. That which exposes American power is of interest worldwide. When we published 2.3 million Syrian documents, including emails from Bashar al- Assad, it wasn't seen as a scoop. If it's true that Trump sought to impede the FBI investigation, that would, theoretically at least, be grounds for removal from office. Obstruction of justice was the first charge in the articles of impeachment against Richard Nixon in 1974, before he decided to resign on his own. Because He Likes to Brag Even if historical comparisons are never quite perfect, the Watergate Scandal is the only one that currently applies. Back then, the constitutional state was also faced with defending itself against a president whose actions were possibly illegal, someone who had a disregard for the institutions. As was the case then, it's not the act itself, but the cover-up that proved dangerous to the president. In other ways, Donald Trump is the exact opposite of Richard Nixon, the cold, calculating man who memorized his answers ahead of press conferences. New York Times columnist David Brooks compared Trump to a child who can't sit still, cannot concentrate, constantly needs affirmation, brags with exaggerated claims and cannot control himself. The current crisis isn't just about whether the president broke the law, but also his entire psychological state - and whether it prevents him from properly fulfilling his role. Whether he, the impulsive narcissist, might not even realize that his actions are wrong. Why did he fire FBI Director Comey? Because he was annoyed. Why did he reveal confidential information to the Russians? Because he likes to brag. Conservative New York Times columnist Ross Douthat wrote that he doesn't think that the president is capable of sinister conspiracies - because he simply doesn't understand fully enough the post that he occupies. "A child cannot be president. I love my children; they cannot have the nuclear codes." Douthat recommends not pursuing the Russia investigation and eschewing the formal impeachment process in favor of removing the president using the 25th Amendment of the Constitution. For this to happen, the vice president and a majority of the cabinet would need to inform Congress that the president is "unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office" This, however, is unlikely to happen. Even from a constitutional perspective, the suggestion is dubious. But it shows that even in conservative circles, many people are worried about his psychological health. A Cry for Help The administration is in constant crisis mode these days, and if there is a clear sign of how bad the atmosphere inside the White House is, it's the constant leaks to the media. Every inside detail makes its way out. In some reports, American media cite up to one- or two-dozen anonymous sources - which sounds not unlike a collective cry for help. The anecdotes are revealing. The employees at the National Security Council, who brief the president about military and intelligence issues, have reportedly begun to put the word "Trump" into as many paragraphs as possible in their briefings because he keeps reading when his name appears. Trump is 70 years old, his attention span is famously short. And he continues to use cable news rather than dry intelligence briefings as his main source of information. Many White House aides and Republicans are concerned about the degree to which the president still obsesses about the past, including about his election victory, instead of concentrating on his legislative agenda. Trump is so enchanted with his win that he has had an oversized map hung in the West Wing, according to the New York Times, dark red, showing electoral results not by state, but by electoral district. He gives visitors copies of the map, he has a whole pile. And he likes to brag about it not only in public, but in meetings with other heads of state. It is becoming increasingly apparent that the only goal of Trump's candidacy was the victory itself - demonstrating that he could win - rather than living up to his promises to his voters regarding health care reform or job creation. This is why Trump is obsessed with the critics he sees as trying to diminish his victory by reminding him that he didn't win a majority of the votes. This is why the investigation of Russian influence in the election makes Trump so angry. He sees it as an attempt to undermine the legitimacy of his triumph, something for which he believes he is not being praised enough. In public, Trump's senior aids are desperately trying to defend him. When it emerged that he had apparently told the Russian foreign minister sensitive information about Islamic State (IS), that was reportedly so secret that the United States hadn't even shared it with close allies, National Security Advisor Herbert Raymond McMaster took an interesting line of defense: The president couldn't have known that the information was secret, he hadn't been briefed. But is it reassuring to argue that the president didn't know what he was doing? Considering a Shake-Up The information Trump accidentally shared came either from the Israeli or the Jordanian intelligence service, according to reports - apparently they had an agent in the inner-most circle of IS. This source had informed the U.S. that the terror group is able to create a laptop bomb that can't be detected by security measures. The valuable source could now be in mortal danger. While administration staff tries to cover for the president, Trump is mercilessly wearing them down. He forces them to lie for him in public and then regularly disavows their measured statements the next morning when he tweets admissions to accusations they had denied the previous evening. As such, the fact that no member of the administration has wanted to personally deny the revelations of the Comey memo speaks volumes. Meanwhile, Trump spoke personally about the revelations during a press conference together with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. Asked whether he had requested Comey to lay off the Flynn investigation, he said: "No, no. Next question." Trump is angry at his team and is apparently considering a significant shake-up, according to media reports. From Chief of Staff Reince Priebus to Press Secretary Sean Spicer to his chief ideologue Stephen Bannon, all are thought to be in danger. But hopes that the wayward nature of Trump's presidency might be resolved by such a shake-up are in vain. His team isn't to blame, it's him. On top of this, Trump can't stand people who aren't yes-men. Trump is reportedly irritated by McMaster, a highly decorated military officer who is known for speaking his mind, because he too often contradicts him. European monarchies had the figure of the crazy king, such as French Charles VI and England's Henry VIII. Even back then, their closest allies had to decide whether they would cover for the crazy ruler or topple him. In a democracy, there is the option of impeachment. It has only been used twice in American history: against Bill Clinton in 1999 and against Andrew Johnson in 1868. But no president has ever been removed from office in this manner - because it requires the support of two thirds of the Senate. Both Clinton and Johnson's impeachments ultimately failed to surmount this obstacle. The Looming Midterms The probability that Trump will be removed from office via impeachment is extremely small. In Washington, politics are more polarized than ever. The majority of Republicans who do not come from swing counties don't feel much pressure from their voters. Although the president has an approval rate of 40 percent, a record low, with Republican voters he is still above 70 percent, though he is sinking there too. And there is one thing that makes Trump a very useful president for the Republican leadership despite his scandals: his ideological flexibility, or, one could also say, disinterest in the details of politics. He isn't bothered when the Republicans decide on a health care reform bill that contradicts most of his campaign promises on the issue and that would affect his core voters the most. He leaves the details to the speaker of the House. This, too, helps explain why Republicans are so unwilling to distance themselves from Trump: He allows them to implement their agenda unhindered. In the end, Trump will sign their laws and is satisfied with being celebrated as the victor. Sharaf: This UN resolution was adopted in April 2015, when the situation was completely different. Now, we are exposed to unjustified Saudi aggression and a massive economic war. It would have been possible to assemble and discuss our differences in the early stages. But now, Hadi is only acting as an emissary of the Saudi regime, implementing their agenda and sacrificing his people. It is not that we are refusing to negotiate, but we insist on the presence of the main aggressor in such a political process. No peace can be sustainable without the Saudis because they are financing the war and will continue to do so if they are not stopped by the superpowers from interfering in our affairs. SPIEGEL: You, in turn, are cooperating with ex-President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who led six wars against the Houthis. How did this unexpected coalition come about? Sharaf: When the Houthis took over government institutions in Sanaa in autumn 2014, a plane belonging to the royal Saudi family landed at Sanaa airport late that October. The Saudi king's envoy offered former President Saleh to fight the Houthis together with Saudi allies. The Saudis feared the Houthi advance in the region. Behind the offer - which was essentially a blank check to fight to Houthis with all means necessary, meaning "to destroy" them - was the Saudi minister of defense, today's King Salman. I was there with the former President and witnessed the event. Saleh refused, offering instead a political solution among all sides including the Houthis. In turn, the Saudis became angry and the Saudi envoy left without a deal. That is why Saleh and the Saudis are now hostile. SPIEGEL: The Houthis used to have excellent contacts to Riyadh and the USA. What changed? Sharaf: The Saudis are afraid of Iran and the U.S. is taking advantage of that fear to do business in Saudi Arabia. They are selling Riyadh advanced military equipment and expensive consultants along with surveillance and weapons systems so that the American economy prospers. Yemenis are the victims of these mutual interests between the Saudis and the Americans. SPIEGEL: Chancellor Merkel was in Riyadh not long ago, where she urged an end of the Saudi bombardment. Is that helpful? Winners for 2016 - Large Volume Tractor and Harvester Dealer of the Year Russells Group - Medium Tractor and Harvester Dealer of the Year Burdens Group Ltd - Tractor Dealer of the Year Brian Keys Tractors Ltd - Irish Dealer Cowan Tractors Runners up for 2016 - Large Volume Tractor and Harvester Dealer of the Year Lloyd Ltd - Medium Tractor and Harvester Dealer of the Year G & J Peck - Tractor Dealer of the Year Bryson Tractors Ltd - Irish Dealer OBriens Tractors New Holland has presented four dealers from its UK and Irish network with prestigious awards. The annual New Holland Dealer of the Year Award highlights excellence in sales performance and service quality to customers. The 2016 award winners represent the best of New Hollands 62-strong dealership network that covers 131 locations throughout the UK and Ireland. Dealers are considered based on their tractor, round baler and in some cases combine sales performance. All four of the winning dealerships have achieved 100% of their objectives for the year. New Holland UK and Ireland Business Director, Andrew Watson said: While the New Holland Dealer of the year Awards celebrate the achievement of individual dealerships, they also serve to highlight the strength of our extensive network. We are confident that regardless of location or size our dealers provide the best service to farmers, contractors and amenity customers. New Holland is proud to award the success of our partners and will continue to provide them with the tools needed for our combined businesses to thrive. Every year it becomes harder to select the winner of these awards. Our dealers continue to raise the bar and that is why our runner up position is still a closely fought and highly coveted award. Paul Russell, CEO Of Russells Group, said: We are delighted to have received the New Holland Large Volume Tractor and Harvester Dealer of the Year 2016 Award. In our first year in this category its testament to the hard work and dedication delivered by all of our staff in all departments. The Award is also significant as it recognises the positive impact of the Hallmark Tractors purchase and subsequent integration into our business. The New Holland brand provides us with the ideal platform to grow our business and the product offering is outstanding. Having won the award we are already doing everything within our powers to make sure we are in the running for 2017. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate STAMFORD City officials improperly convened in private to discuss the settlements reached in lawsuits over the fatal Christmas Day fire in Shippan, according to a complaint by a city attorney. Kieran Ryan, also a member of the Board of Representatives, filed an appeal Friday with the state Freedom of Information Commission, arguing the suits should be discussed in public since the outcomes affect taxpayers. The taxpayers are going to be on the hook and they have a right to know the amount of money the cases are being settled for, he said. The city has not disclosed how much money is being awarded in any of the three suits brought by the late Matthew Badger, who lost his three daughters in the 2011 blaze; their mother, Madonna Badger; and the estates of Madonnas parents, Pauline and Lomer Johnson, who also died in the fire. Ryans complaint resulted from a May 11 Board of Finance meeting at which he objected to a discussion of the suits between board members, Legal Affairs Director Katherine Emmett and Mayor David Martin that took place in executive session. Public boards and commission are allowed to meet in closed session to discuss personnel matters and pending litigation. Otherwise, their meetings are recorded as part of the public record. Emmett said at the meeting that executive session was justified since, from the citys standpoint, the cases are not settled. The agreements reached earlier this month have not been signed and still require probate court approval, she said. At this point, the claims are not finally settled in the sense that there are still negotiations occurring in regard to the settlements, she said. In his appeal to the FOIA commission, Ryan included two press releases from the city announcing the deals, which he points to as evidence of their being settled. He said that probate court was a formality that would not prevent the deals from happening. Emmett told the board she did not believe they were violating Freedom of Information Act rules by meeting in executive session. Once the deals are finalized, documents with the agreed upon settlement amounts can be obtained through a FOIA request, she said. Board members voted 4-1 in favor of entering executive session, with Republican Sal Gabriele voting against it. Matthew Badger, who died in February of natural cases, had brought a wrongful death suit on behalf of his daughters Lily, 9, and twins Grace and Sarah, 7. The suit charged that two city officials, Director of Operations Ernest Orgera and Chief Building Official Robert DeMarco, improperly inspected a renovation of the 116-year-old Victorian home on Shippan Point owned by his ex-wife. He claimed that building officials allowed the contractor to do work even though he did not have a Connecticut Home Improvement Registration. To cover up that and improper inspections, he argued city officials tore the house down a day after the fire without Madonna Badgers permission and hauled away the debris. Matthew Badgers trial had been set to begin later this month. The wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the Johnsons made similar claims. Madonna Badgers civil suit concerned the destruction and disposal of her home without her consent. In his complaint, Ryan argued that the Board of Finance also should not have met in executive session since it was not a party to the suits. Ryan, who represents Shippan on the Board of Representatives, said hes concerned about the broader trend of improper executive sessions across city agencies. Boards and commissions have to be held to the full letter of the law, he said. If found in violation, the Board of Finance could be required to take a FOIA training session. If the outcome is that we get a substantial participation, thats a good outcome to me, Ryan said. G emfields looks set to disappear from AIM after its largest investor today launched a surprise bid to buy the rest of the ruby miner. Pallinghurst Resources, a South African private-equity firm run by ex-BHP Billiton boss Brian Gilbertson, is offering its Johannesburg-quoted shares for the company, valuing it at over 200 million. Pallinghurst and its co-investors, including South Africas richest man, Christo Wiese, who owns Poundland in the UK, already control almost three-quarters of Gemfields, so said they would not be offering a premium. Pallinghurst sold the Kagem emerald mine in Zambia to Gemfields in 2008 in return for a stake in the business. Its shareholding increased further when Gemfields bought Faberge from Pallinghurst in 2012. Pallinghurst said it was considering turning itself into a mining company, with a view to listing in London. Gemfields said it was reviewing the unsolicited bid. B usinesses are feeling bruised by the Conservative Manifesto. I thought you were on our side! comes the cry. You can see what they mean. Theresa Mays obsession with immigration is a disaster for business and the economy. And the tone of the manifesto feels more anti-corporate than any Tory campaign I can remember: caps on energy prices, workers on boards, interventions in takeover deals. But at a time when the publics view of business is so low, you cant blame her. And, in some cases, the reality behind the business crackdowns is not so bad. Take the section on takeovers: We will require bidders to be clear about their intentions from the outset of the bid process; that all promises and undertakings made in the course of takeover bids can be legally enforced afterwards; and that the Government can require a bid to be paused to allow greater scrutiny. Sounds really tough, doesnt it? A bold measure, preventing a repeat of Kraft-Cadbury. But in truth, barring the last bit about pausing a bid, this system is already in place. During Pfizers bid for AstraZeneca, the Americans made all sorts of promises to retain UK operations, but the pledges were so riddled with opt-outs and caveats that they were practically meaningless. So bad was it, that the Takeover Panel changed the rules to clarify that undertakings of what a bidder would do after the deal would be legally enforceable. Even less copper-bottomed intentions statements could only be broken if the Panel gave its permission. Softbanks takeover of ARM was the first time the new regime was deployed. The Japanese bank undertook to more-than-double the UK workforce and retain the Cambridge HQ. Such rules are only tested when theyre breached, but so far so good; Softbank has hired hundreds of new staff this year. Workers-on-boards is another dog whose bark is worse than its bite. Beneath the headline is a get-out clause allowing for a non-executive director to take on the role of representing workers if the boss cant stomach having a real one in the boardroom. Doesnt sound so bad to me. Mays medicine might not be quite so bitter for business after all. Besides, history teaches us that, like laws, manifesto pledges are there to be broken. I cant fathom why Theresa May wants to abolish the Serious Fraud Office just as its making progress under David Green. Lumping it in with the untested National Crime Agency will see white-collar crime falling to the back of the queue for resources behind drugs, guns and other sexier votewinners. A howling error that will cement Londons reputation as a money-launderers haven. L ondon's latest spate of crime involves criminals on mopeds, whose speed and mobility adds a dimension to urban theft which is relatively new for London, though it is familiar in Italy. Its now a big problem; thieves on mopeds, scooters and cycles, many stolen, may account for 50,000 offences a year, mostly snatch thefts. The Met has a special unit to deal with the problem, Operation Venice; its new approach includes the provision of more covert police units and educating the owners of mopeds and bikes about keeping them safe. Meanwhile, the toll from knife crime is rising: last night, a young man was stabbed to death in east London, the 14th knife mortality this month. Its a tragic waste of lives. All this amounts to a formidable challenge for the new Met Commissioner, Cressida Dick. Its still early days shes been in charge for a little over a month but she has made a very good start. In particular, her willingness to increase the police use of stop-and-search is brave. I believe in stop-and-search, she says. If you are stopping people who habitually carry knives, you have the grounds so long as it is done lawfully and people are courteous as they do it. She is right, but the policy has been contentious. Yet faced with the problem that so many young people carry knives as we report today they include children as young as six stop-and-search has to be part of the solution. Its not the only one, of course. The Commissioner is also vigorously promoting education in schools to warn pupils about the deadly risk of carrying knives. She has also met victims families and will bring home the human cost of knife crime. It will take time for these new initiatives to work but the Commissioners approach is promising. We wish her well. No answers on pledge The Defence Secretary, Michael Fallon, has today confirmed what this paper suspected: the Conservatives havent a clue how they will achieve the commitment to reduce immigration to the tens of thousands. He also said that the Government has no idea what the cost to the economy might be if its pledge were to be achieved. This is more surprising, since the civil service is entirely capable of modelling the economic impact of a change in the number of migrants coming to this country. Indeed, the Office for Budget Responsibility includes the effect of immigration policy in its biannual assessment of the British economy. As we report today, one new estimate suggests the UK economy needs 200,000 migrants a year. When immigration falls, GDP is lower, public finances are worse and productivity deteriorates. Either ministers know the damage their immigration policy will do, but wont tell us; or they have deliberately avoided finding out, because they know the answer will be negative. Either way, for a government that has made much of the un-costed, pie-in-the-sky commitments of its political opponents, it is on very weak ground. We hope that Ministers continue to be pushed on the details. Theresa May called this election because she said she wanted a clear mandate. Unless she spells out how she intends to reduce net migration by two-thirds, and how she will deal with the damage that would do to British business and universities, she will not be entitled to claim she has that mandate on one of the key issues facing the country. Solange takes a stand Beyonces sister Solange has confiscated mobiles from fans using them during her concert in New York. It seems a draconian approach, especially for someone who has used digital media so successfully. H ow much would you be willing to pay to reduce the number of economic refugees coming into the country each year? Does 24.99 a month sound like a fair price? Its less than your typical broadband package. Bear in mind the people youd be helping to keep out would be largely Asian or African. Surely that has to be worth another couple of quid? At present, the foreign aid budget costs every working-age adult in the UK around 290 a year. But that bill is expected to rise from a total of 13.3 billion in 2016 to 15 billion by 2021, if the economy stays on track. At a time when giving any money to any foreigners is met with deep suspicion, its near miraculous that Theresa May decided to keep the UKs commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of gross national income on overseas aid in the first place. Mind you, her promise yesterday to seek a better definition of development spending can probably be better defined in one word less. Charity is a tough sell these days. Plus its hard to argue against the seemingly seductive logic of spending less overseas so we can spend more over here on schools and hospitals. After all, if we turned off the foreign-aid taps, that would be a hypothetical 255 million a week extra for the NHS. No, theres no point in making the case for aid on humanitarian grounds such as eradicating disease or hunger. Or even on historical grounds (seven of the top 10 UK aid recipients are former British colonies). It needs repackaging. And the biggest draw has to be that for a relatively small subscription each month, promoting political stability and creating economic growth, fewer immigrants will decide to move here. Even more so than war, the main driver of migration is a lack of jobs. Even when they decide to stay put, bad things normally follow from a surplus of economically redundant males. Call it a bribe, call it soft power, but its probably a price worth paying. Just think of it as the fibre-optic option instead of run-of-the-mill broadband. Its certainly a lot cheaper and less bloody than hard power, which is military might and boots on the ground. Of course there needs to be greater scrutiny and oversight. The Public Accounts Committee said last month that the claim only 3p in every 100 spent is lost to fraud is hard to believe considering the Department for International Development (DfID) operates in some of the most corrupt countries on earth. But that in itself isnt a reason to cut the budget. Pakistan was the largest beneficiary of UK aid in 2015, receiving 374 million, and theres no denying its a country where corruption is rife. Yet China is set to pour 42 billion into Pakistan to build roads, railways and power plants and gain strategic access to its ports. That amount of money buys a heck of a lot of soft power, which is just another way of saying soft imperialism. Modern Britain may have no wish to be a colonial power, but does it want to stop promoting its values and interests in Pakistan altogether? Is Chinese imperialism preferable? British officials came under attack for giving aid money to Yegna, dubbed the Ethiopian Spice Girls. In fact, the outcry led to DfID pulling the funding plug. Its easy to see how creating the countrys first all-female pop group could seem like a frivolous waste of money, but in a country where child brides are common, and with one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, presenting a different image of womanhood for young girls to aspire to might have been a cheap way of challenging cultural norms and saving lives. The jurys out at Cannes over Netflix movies versus the old-school variety I wonder if Will Smith and Pedro Almodovar actually came to blows over champagne and canapes in Cannes. The two prominent members of this years film festival jury are at odds over whether films that dont receive a cinema release should be eligible for the competition. The Spanish auteur versus the Hollywood star is an enticing set-up, particularly as Smith is all for the new New Wave of Netflix-only movies, while Almodovar is a traditionalist and prefers to watch his on the big screen in a darkened room with other middle-aged people. Im as torn as the jury. Id like to be a purist and only enjoy movies as theyre made to be watched, but its hard to beat the convenience and choice of streaming movies at home. Maybe fellow jury member Jessica Chastain can get Smith and Almodovar to chill over Netflix. F or a man who has never touched alcohol, mornings seem especially hard on Donald Trump. All the emotion stored up overnight erupts in a dawn chorus of enraged Tweets. Yesterday they arrived shortly before 8am as his beleaguered staff were draining their first cups of coffee, unravelling all their work of the previous 24 hours and tearing the bandage off the White Houses gaping wounds. First: With all of the illegal acts that took place in the Clinton campaign and Obama Administration, there was never a special councel [sic] appointed! Then a few minutes later: This is the single greatest witch-hunt of a politician in American history! Mr Trump came to Washington promising change, and he has delivered. The wide avenues and elegant buildings may look the same but paranoia has replaced policy-making and the politics is now more Mad Max than Founding Fathers. Just a few hours before his latest tweets, a terrible flow of revelations and allegations about Trumps links to Russia and his firing of the FBI director, James Comey, had finally been staunched by the appointment of Robert Mueller, Comeys predecessor at the FBI, as special counsel to investigate the charges. If anyone can steer a steady line between the bloodlust of the Democrats, who sense that Trump is mortally wounded, and the white-knuckled resistance of the White House, it is the granite-faced Mueller. He led the FBI through the 9/11 terrorist attacks and their aftermath. Purely as an investigative matter, establishing the truth about Trumps links to Russia and whether or not he sought to obstruct the inquiry into those links should be a cinch compared to mapping jihadist terror networks. Donald Trump: No politician has been treated worse or more unfairly But what then can Mueller and Congress then do with that truth? The scandals of Watergate and Monica Lewinsky seem quaint compared with the allegations now swirling. Deep Throat passing on tips in the shadows of a parking garage and Nixon claiming I am not a crook. The stains on a blue dress and Bill Clinton saying: I did not have sexual relations with that woman. All will seem like so much historical trivia if Mueller finds that Vladimir Putin does indeed have Trump on the hook. For Trumps opponents, any joy they might feel in anticipation of removing him from office is tempered by the humiliation that America might have been so played by Moscow. The reports yesterday that one of Trumps closest allies, the Republican House Majority Leader, Kevin McCarthy, told a group of fellow Republican Congressmen last June that he thought Trump was being paid by Putin wont help. As a practical matter, though, removing Trump from the Oval Office remains a very long shot. If he did in fact ask Comey to abandon the FBIs investigation of Russian influence over Michael Flynn, Trumps first National Security Advisor, its not clear that that amounts to obstruction of justice. The Democratic minority leader in Congress, Nancy Pelosi, said Trumps 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. And Senator John McCain, a Republican critic of Trump, said the scandal is reaching the point where its of Watergate size and scale. But the FBI is part of the executive branch of government, overseen by the President. If he wants an investigation stopped, it is within his power to stop it. What is not so clear are his rights when he is the one being investigated. Constitutional experts disagree on this point. If Mueller does conclude that Trump acted improperly, it falls then to the Republican-controlled House of Representatives to decide what to do next. The House Judiciary Committee would have to launch proceedings to impeach Trump, and refer its decision to a vote in the House. If approved, the Republican-controlled Senate would then have to vote by a two-thirds majority to remove Trump from office. Putin dismisses Trump information-sharing scandal While two Presidents in American history have been impeached Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998 both were acquitted by the Senate. Richard Nixon resigned before being impeached. It may never get to that point for Trump but many of his supporters are already in despair. A few weeks ago, his backers in the business world were giddily looking forward to dramatic cuts to corporate and personal taxes, the renegotiation of trade deals and the lightening of business regulation. This was precisely what they had elected him for, and with Republicans in charge of the White House and Congress, success seemed guaranteed. Now Washington has descended into civil war, there is little energy left for the hard work of legislation. Jack Welch, the revered former CEO of General Electric, spoke for his entire class of Republican business leaders this week when he said that he gave Trump an A for his policies and appointments but a D-minus for his crappy management practices. And, he added, Im being an easy grader here. His staff are reportedly demoralised and exhausted and Republicans in Congress are backing away from Trump for fear that he will poison their attempts to be re-elected next year. On Tuesday night, after news broke of Comeys memo detailing the Presidents request that he go easy on Mr Flynn, Fox News could not find a single Republican to speak on camera in support of the Trump. On Wednesday, he spoke to the graduating class at the US Coast Guard Academy. He blamed the media for his troubles and said: No politician in history, and I say this with great surety, has been treated worse or more unfairly. You cant let them get you down, you cant let the critics and the naysayers get in the way of your dreams. Such pep-talks rallied the crowds when he was campaigning. Those crowds swept him to Washington with orders to smash up the place. He has done so. But now he risks never having the time or support to rebuild it. Philip Delves Broughton is a writer who lives in New York. 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. L ondon Food Month is celebrating the fact that London loves food. But we all know London loves a good drink, too. Heres just a small, shot-sized selection of all the brilliantly boozy drinks events going on throughout the month. Discover secret gin Avoid the central London crush on June 3-4, at the Tanqueray No. TEN Summer Terrace on St Martins Lane. Never before open to the public, the terrace will be split into two, with one half serving an English G&T afternoon tea and the other a tropical Cuban celebration. Go pink at Mews of Mayfair Mews of Mayfair will be a truly fabulous place to be on June 14, when it turns pink and brilliantly camp for a London Food Month LGBTQ event in partnership with Henry Conway pink gin. Expect a very special co-host and some divine DJs. Make your own Bloody Mary at Night Market London Food Months Night Market will come complete with a Bloody Mary stalls from Ketel One, giving you the chance to create your own bespoke blend using a range of fresh vegetable juices, spices and citrus. See more Night Market highlights here. Wine and dine with Berry Bros. & Rudd On Fridays June 9 and 23, George Lacey of Berry Bros. will collaborate with chef Stewart Turner to create a decadent menu of dishes matched with special wines. These will include the companys best-selling Good Ordinary Claret and own-label Provencal Rose. Expect food, fine wine and frivolity. Pair whisky and wild meat Game-focused Scottish restaurant Mac & Wild will be hosting a highland barbecue at its Devonshire Square restaurant every Friday throughout Food Month. And what better to pair it with than a set of Talisker whisky cocktails to complete the Scottish set-up? Go Dutch! Michael Zee, who is known for Symmetry Breakfast, has curated a Dutch Brunch series at Paradise Garage in Bethnal Green on June 25 in association with Ketel One vodka. The Dutch have a sweet tooth when it comes to brunch, so expect baked goods and pancakes along with barbecue food and plenty of Bloody Marys. Find out more. Raise the bar Oriole is one of the citys most exciting bars, and for one night only on Sunday June 11 guests will be greeted with a signature Bulleit Bourbon cocktail and treated to masterclass from a top bartender, as well as a selection of small plates. Lunch at Lyles with cider In a celebration of the fact that cider is having a craft renaissance, Felix Nash, owner of The Fine Cider Company is hosting a boozy lunch at Lyles on June 14 with ciders matched to James Lowes food. Tickets are 35. Reach for the Skye The Talisker whisky crew will be taking over Shoreditchs Black Rock on June 15 for a masterclass in the classic smoky dram from the Isle of Skye. Therell be tastings, talks and plenty of Scottish delicacies from the Black Rock kitchen. Sample World Class at Dandelyan Head to Ryan Chetiyawardanas Dandelyan, which is currently ranked the third best bar in the world, for an intimate World Class cocktail tasting experience on Saturday June 17. Aidan Bowie, crowned GB World Class Bartender, will lead guests through some signature drinks in what is set to be a very special evening. T he French doctor Rene Leriche declared that every surgeon carries about them a little cemetery, where they seek the causes of their mistakes. In Admissions, the neurosurgeon Henry Marsh elaborates further: They are filled with the headstones of all the patients who have come to harm at our hands. But where most in his profession keep their necropolis internalised, he wants to let us all in. This is a man who once delivered a lecture titled All My Worst Mistakes (it was met with a stunned silence). This is Marshs second memoir. The first, 2014s Do No Harm, sold more than 140,000 copies and sparked a new genre scalpel confessions. David Cameron revealed that it had made him cry, although that didnt stop Marsh from then criticising the former Prime Minister, accusing him of having crap policy ideas about the National Health Service. At times, Admissions is a love-letter to the NHS, a triumph of decency and social justice. Marsh fears he is bidding it goodbye, destroyed by politicians failure to admit to the electorate that it needs more money. The UK, he reminds us, has fewer doctors per capita than any country in Europe other than Poland and Romania. Meanwhile, outsourcing firms prey off it like hyenas off an elderly and disabled elephant disabled by the lack of political will to keep it alive. With charm and a dash of black humour, Marsh focuses on the final act of his career here. It ends ignominiously, with him tweaking the nose of a nurse for refusing to remove an unnecessary tube from a patient. Marsh still works overseas, though, in Nepal and Ukraine, and also explores what its like to operate in countries where neurosurgery is something of a luxury. In the UK, surgeons get sued (as Marsh was, for negligence a case which immediately collapsed); in Nepal, patients families have threatened to burn down the hospital. He claims that handling the brain tells you nothing about life other than to be dismayed by its fragility, yet I have read few memoirs with more sagacity. It is a bad surgeon, he explains, who operates on every patient, perhaps adding to the estimated 7,000 Britons in a persistent vegetative or minimally conscious state... a great underworld of suffering. In a similar vein to Atul Gawandes Being Mortal, Admissions forces the reader to confront death, why we fear it and why we cling on: Life, by its very nature, is reluctant to end. It is as though we are hardwired for hope, to feel we have a future. Medics, of course, have to confront it often and although they wont admit it no doctor wants to talk themselves into prison they send dying patients on their way with diamorphine. Marsh is laudably open about his personal experiences of ill health too. While he was a student he ended up in a psychiatric hospital, feeling he had reached the bottom of a bottomless well, and there was no way up again. His fathers dementia, he writes, turned him into an empty shell and Marsh, though he lived nearby, rarely visited: I was not a good son. Marsh fears following in his fathers footsteps. Many of us see surgeons as gods they can perform miracles and we leave our lives in their hands. Admissions reminds us that they are only human and mortal. More book reviews 1 /24 More book reviews Recovery by Russell Brand Will Russells brand of self-help prove quite so addictive? By Nicholas Lezard. Read review A Life in Questions by Jeremy Paxman Paxo refuses to answer all the really good questions, says David Sexton. Read review Politics: Between: The Extremes by Nick Clegg The basis of this book makes it impossible not to warm to Clegg, says Melanie McDonagh. Read review Serious Sweet by A L Kennedy Thank heavens for London in this tale of self-obsessed lovers. Read review The Last Royal Rebel: The Life and Death of James, Duke of Monmouth by Anna Keay Born a kings b****** and destined for a traitors death. Read review Man Up: Boys, Men and Breaking the Male Rules by Rebecca Asher Getting to the bottom of why boys will be boys. Read review The Course of Love by Alain de Botton A philosophical novel that does run smooth, says Johanna Thomas-Corr. Read review The Tree Climbers Guide: Adventures in the Urban Canopy by Jack Cooke How I gave this book a proper test and ended up with a broken ankle. Read review Reader, I Married Him: Stories Inspired by Jane Eyre Brontes classic tale in the imaginations of other writers, says Claire Harman. Read review Moranifesto by Caitlin Moran Caitlin comes clean about politics the world according to our funniest feminist. By Rosamund Urwin. Read review Spark Joy An Illustrated Guide to the Japanese Art of Tidying by Marie Kondo Theres no messing wih Marie, says Katie Law. Read review Cockfosters Stories by Helen Simpson After 50, a womans life gets better not worse. By Katie Law. Read review Stalins Englishman: The Lives of Guy Burgess by Andrew Lownie Joker in the spying pack. By Richard Bassett. Read review Even Dogs in the Wild by Ian Rankin The darkness that lies at the heart of the novel is offset by a lightness of touch, says Mark Sanderson. Read review Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink by Elvis Costello Elvis proves not quite so lyrical on the page, says Nick Curtis. Read review The Importance of Elsewhere: Philip Larkins Photographs by Richard Bradford His poetry paints better pictures than any camera, says David Sexton. Read review Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith Morality wins out over macabre murders, says Melanie McDonagh. Read review The Grownup by Gillian Flynn Calling all Flynnies: the con girl whos like gone girl. Read review I will do whatever it takes to get people involved in history, the proudly populist historian Lucy Worsley told a newspaper earlier this year. I am shameless. Too shameless? This month Private Eye accused Worsley of egregious unacknowledged borrowing from Paula Byrnes 2013 work The Real Jane Austen: A Life in Small Things, for her own biography, Jane Austen at Home. Worsley responded that, while there were parallels between her book and Byrnes excellent biography, the contested similarities were not unique to Byrnes work. My Jane Austen, she added, is fresh, current, and shaped by the most recent scholarly debate. But most of all, shes personal. Every word of her is written with integrity, conviction and love. This love for her comes across. Worsley approaches Austens life with the same bouncy enthusiasm that makes her such a Marmite figure on TV. She starts with the idea of home in Austens life and how the theme impacted on her fiction but she is also keen to push the idea that Austen was a spinster by choice she believed that marriage and property and a substantial home could be a prison. This is the position taken by Byrne, and Worsley pursues it with gusto. Austen didnt have her heart broken by the goodie-goodie Irish law student Tom Lefroy in 1796, as is commonly assumed. She was actually joking when she said my tears flow as I write in a letter to her sister Cassandra. Worsley is much more interested in the knee-trembling flirtations between Jane and Dr Blackall, her mysterious seaside suitor at Ramsgate seven years later. Given that Worsley admits in the first few pages that her vision of Austen is simply a far, far better version of myself, it is no surprise that she hails Austens sparkling naughtiness. But Worsley pushes naughtiness too far for the mere sake of it. Did Jane ever have lesbian sex? she asks, apropos of nothing, but she concedes that Austen has left a disappointing absence of evidence either way. Spoilsport! Austens great achievement, she concludes, was to turn heroines upside down, from feminine wimps to fighters to let even the ordinary, flawed, human girls who read her books think that they might be heroines too. Worsley prides herself on accessibility and if this message encourages more people to read Austen then mission accomplished. But by pigeonholing Austen as a kind of girl power empowerment icon, Worsley, ironically, limits her. Amid Private Eyes accusations, Byrne also has a book on the shelves this month to mark the bicentenary of Austens death. The Genius of Jane Austen is a revised edition of her superb 2002 work Jane Austen and the Theatre, which challenged the common 20th-century view that Austen morally disapproved of theatre. Byrne argues that theatre in fact shaped Austens intrinsically dramatic vision of the world, namely her sharp social satire. Byrne charts the copious allusions to stage comedies in Austens works and letters. Austen incorporates comic motifs such as misunderstandings in a similar vein as Much Ado About Nothing, or characters mistaken for others, as in farce. Byrne also highlights the influence of great comic playwrights, from Sheridan to Garrick. While the theatrical influence on Austen is most clear in her juvenilia, Byrne maintains that she never completely abandoned her affinity with literary parody and she should be viewed alongside Shakespeare as one of the worlds greatest comic writers. What a shame, then, that so many Austen adaptations for the stage and screen opt for sentimentality over satire. In an excellent chapter, added for the updated book, Byrne picks apart the best and worst on offer. She justly attacks the MGMs 1940 Pride and Prejudice for its risible dialogue: Elizabeth: Youre very puzzling, Mr Darcy. At this moment, its difficult to believe that youre so proud. More book reviews 1 /24 More book reviews Recovery by Russell Brand Will Russells brand of self-help prove quite so addictive? By Nicholas Lezard. Read review A Life in Questions by Jeremy Paxman Paxo refuses to answer all the really good questions, says David Sexton. Read review Politics: Between: The Extremes by Nick Clegg The basis of this book makes it impossible not to warm to Clegg, says Melanie McDonagh. Read review Serious Sweet by A L Kennedy Thank heavens for London in this tale of self-obsessed lovers. Read review The Last Royal Rebel: The Life and Death of James, Duke of Monmouth by Anna Keay Born a kings b****** and destined for a traitors death. Read review Man Up: Boys, Men and Breaking the Male Rules by Rebecca Asher Getting to the bottom of why boys will be boys. Read review The Course of Love by Alain de Botton A philosophical novel that does run smooth, says Johanna Thomas-Corr. Read review The Tree Climbers Guide: Adventures in the Urban Canopy by Jack Cooke How I gave this book a proper test and ended up with a broken ankle. Read review Reader, I Married Him: Stories Inspired by Jane Eyre Brontes classic tale in the imaginations of other writers, says Claire Harman. Read review Moranifesto by Caitlin Moran Caitlin comes clean about politics the world according to our funniest feminist. By Rosamund Urwin. Read review Spark Joy An Illustrated Guide to the Japanese Art of Tidying by Marie Kondo Theres no messing wih Marie, says Katie Law. Read review Cockfosters Stories by Helen Simpson After 50, a womans life gets better not worse. By Katie Law. Read review Stalins Englishman: The Lives of Guy Burgess by Andrew Lownie Joker in the spying pack. By Richard Bassett. Read review Even Dogs in the Wild by Ian Rankin The darkness that lies at the heart of the novel is offset by a lightness of touch, says Mark Sanderson. Read review Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink by Elvis Costello Elvis proves not quite so lyrical on the page, says Nick Curtis. Read review The Importance of Elsewhere: Philip Larkins Photographs by Richard Bradford His poetry paints better pictures than any camera, says David Sexton. Read review Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith Morality wins out over macabre murders, says Melanie McDonagh. Read review The Grownup by Gillian Flynn Calling all Flynnies: the con girl whos like gone girl. Read review Darcy: At this moment, its difficult to believe youre so prejudiced. Shall we call it quits and start again? What of the great Austen films? Byrne rightly praises Whit Stillmans excellent Love & Friendship (2016), starring Kate Beckinsale, and Amy Heckerlings Clueless (1995) as two of the finest. Both eschew whimsy and sentimentalism, rather than revel in them. In doing so they do justice to Austens great comic power. Byrnes portrait of Austen the sly satirist is more compelling than Worsleys Great Empowerer. I would also argue that its more inspiring. Jane Austen at Home by Lucy Worsley, 17, Amazon, Buy it now T he election beckons, and the media are saturated. If you are between the ages of 18 and 24 you are about to be deluged, for yours is the demographic that is hardest to engage. Voter registration closes on Monday, so this weekend is the last chance to mobilise. Heres how its being done Hashtag vote Snapchat has mobilised its digital task force: on Wednesday the site introduced a register to vote filter. Today Uber will launch a banner entreating users not to be a passenger in this election. In countries around the world weve supported voter- registration drives and even offered free rides to polling stations, explains Jo Bertram, regional general manager of Uber in the UK. Writer and presenter Billie J D Porter has been working on her initiative, #UseYourVoice, for almost a year, and this week partnered with jeweller Dominic Jones to launch an Instagram campaign thats been picked up by luminaries including Cara Delevingne (40 million followers) and Alexa Chung (2.7million followers). On Instagram Florence Welch inscribed Register in black pen, encircled with small shooting stars and dashes (28.3k likes), and Sharmadean Reid, the founder of Wah Nails, has created a crystal -studded nail wrap. Across one thumbnail, the word vote is printed in graphic lettering it has collected more than 600 likes. Shrimps founder Hannah Weiland has taken Van Goghs The Starry Night painting as part of a postmodern pastiche of modern fashion images, across which she has printed Your future, your vote register by May 22. Young people cant stand this one out, says illustrator Charles Jeffrey, whose illustration used felt-tip pens to create a macabre man urging youngsters to vote. The thought of some of the most brilliant people I know the smartest, kindest and most creative not contributing to the outcome of this... its devastating. Instagram has been awash with images imploring young people to vote Custom emoji site Fanmoji is in the late stages of negotiation with Apple to get its latest extension, Buzzmoji, approved. If successful, it will launch stickers and GIFs that reflect the news cycle like emoji versions of politicians. Three London millennials, coders Philippa Bywater, Maja Kudlicka and Alice Carr, have just launched Genie in a Bot, a Facebook bot that provides more information on the parties, candidates and how each one has voted on key issues. University students we interviewed told us the information available to them was often dense and off-putting, explains 24-year-old Bywater. They wanted to know more but were unsure where they should start. Genie in a Bot uses publicly available data from Democracy Club, The Public Whip and They Work For You. We also incorporate Twitters API so users can keep up to date with what their local candidates are tweeting and what others are saying about them. Funny General Election Campaign Pictures 2017 1 /48 Funny General Election Campaign Pictures 2017 When the chips are down? Prime Minister Theresa May eats chips as she meets with residents in Mevagissey PA You looking at me? Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn is startled by Cody the Dachshund during a campaign event outside the James Paget Hospital Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Falling down 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 Not complete pants First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is presented with a pair of stained-glass pants, which Ms Sturgeon designed for the Prostate Cancer UK charity Jane Barlow/PA Sign him up! Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn saves a penalty kick from a child during a visit to Hackney Marshes Football Pitches, to highlight Labour's manifesto commitment to ensure 5% of the Premier League's television rights income is diverted to the grassroots game PA Cutting edge Ed Miliband mows a lawn whilst canvassing in his Doncasater North constituentcy Jane Nightingale Play time with Corbyn Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn meets staff and children at Marsham Street Community Nursery in Westminster, London Stefan Rousseau/PA Leap of faith Liberal Democrats leader Tim Farron leaps off the stage after taking part in the BBC Election Debate Stefan Rousseau/PA Tongue-tied Ukip leader Paul Nuttall speaking at a policy launch event in Gt George Street Victoria Jones/PA Crazy like a fox Former Labour deputy prime minister John Prescott gives a stump speech during General Election campaigning outside The Junction in Goole, Yorkshire Chris Radburn/PA Back to school Prime Minister Theresa May meets the Nishkam Trust leadership team and pupils of Nishkam Primary School in Birmingham Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Raising the bar First Minister Nicola Sturgeon during a visit to the Inveralmond Brewery in Perth David Cheskin/PA Running for election Conservative party leader Theresa May and Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson during the Scottish Conservatives manifesto launch at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre PA The wheels on the bus Alex Shimmin takes control of the Lib Dem battlebus, after Liberal Democrats leader Tim Farron launched the party's Welsh campaign in Cardiff Bay, Wales Gareth Fuller/PA Photo bomb Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has a selfie taken with supporters after he launched Labour's education plans during a visit to Leeds City College Danny Lawson/PA Top Gear First Minister and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon sits in the driving seat of a Midge car during a visit to Moffat on the General Election campaign trail PA Into the light Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn after speaking in Morley, Leeds Danny Lawson/PA Rolling with it SNP Leader Nicola Sturgeon holds a rolling pin as she and the party's local candidate John Nicolson (left) make haggis pies with Table 13 Express co-owner Iain Murphy on a campaign visit to the cafe in Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire Andrew Milligan/PA It's a dog's life ... A dog wears a placard as Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of Labour Party campaigns outside Leamington Spa Town Hall Darren Staples/Reuters My goal! Liberal Democrats leader Tim Farron plays a game on table football during a visit to charity Gloustershire Action for Refugess and Asylum Seekers in Gloucester. Gareth Fuller/PA Jamming with it Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn with Busker Dan Hettfield during his general election campaign stop in Aston Under Lyme Peter Byrne/PA Bake off SNP Leader Nicola Sturgeon savours the aroma of a haggis pie featuring the party's logo that she helped to make on a campaign visit to Table 13 Express in Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire Andrew Milligan/PA Got a lotta bottle tops Liberal Democrats leader Tim Farron, Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats Willie Rennie (second left) and party candidate Jo Swinson examine bottle tops during a tour of the Guala Closures factory, at Guala Closures UK Ltd in Kirkintilloch, Scotland Yui Mok/PA Stamble and fall Tim Farron takes a stumble on his battle bus during a Sky News broadcast Sky News Just like that Theresa May visits the Dhamecha Lohana Centre in Harrow North London Jeremy Selwyn Top dog? Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron meets a dog in St Albans Philip Toscano/PA Down with the kid's Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn reads with children as he visits Brentry Children Centre in Bristol, during Labour's election campaign Steve Parsons/PA There's no smoke without fire Pensioner Malcolm Baker confronts Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron while he was the election campaign trail in Kidlington, near Oxford Sam Lister/PA Look who's talking 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 Flower power Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (R) smells a red rose alongside Mohammed Yasin (L) the Labour Party general election candidate for Bedford and Kempston while on the campaign trail in Bedford, north of London, Britain Andy Rain/EPA This Bud's for you Britain's opposition Labour party Leader Jeremy Corbyn (C) walks past a bus shelter with Alan Whitehead, Labour MP for Southampton, and local councillor Satvir Kaur (R), before meeting local residents Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images Wenger Out!? Students hold up a Wenger Out banner behind Labour leader and Arsenal fan Jeremy Corbyn as he speaks to supporters outside the Town Hall in Leamington Spa Arj Singh/PA Swing vote Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of Labour Party, watches local candidate Anneliese Dodds' children play on the swings in a playground during a campaign stop in Oxford Darren Staples /Reuters Watch the birdie A demonstrator, speaks to police officers outside a British Conservative Party campaign event in London Facundo Arrizabalaga/EPA Grape expectation 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 Bad hair day Prime Minister Theresa May makes her statement to the nation and calls General Election Getty Images Protest song On Monday, pressure group Grime4Corbyn announced that it would be holding a secret grime rave the week before the election and that if you register to vote, you can sign up via its website to enter a competition for tickets. Organisers were taken aback by the interest and had to upgrade the websites bandwith in order to handle the traffic. This marks the first time the grime scene has come out in favour of a particular party within days of the election being called, MCs AJ Tracey, Novelist and Big Zuu had tweeted their support for Jeremy Corbyn. Sharmadean Reid, the founder of Wah Nails, has created a crystal -studded nail wrap ahead of the election Sensing a receptive camp, the Labour leader appeared in a video with Hackney-born grime artist JME this week, which Corbyn shared on his Snapchat channel. The pair urged young people to register to vote, and JME later shared an image of the pair on his Twitter account it was retweeted more than 14,000 times. Drown out your sorrows Promise a man a drink and you have his soul. So while Vote This Year, Get Free Beer sounds like a manifesto pledge devised by Homer Simpson, the offering is at the very least fun and guarantees reward. The website (votethisyeargetfreebeer.co.uk) has a map showing which pubs are taking part: show them an email confirming your registration and youll be rewarded with a free pint. Four London pubs are pitching in: The Beast of Brixton, Spit and Sawdust in SE1, the Queens Head in Soho and The White Horse on Peckham Rye Lane. Phoebe Luckhurst: @phoebeluckhurst S itting in his tastefully minimal Mayfair office at L1 Energy, where he is executive chairman Piranesi engravings on one wall, Aaron Siskind photographs on the other and a smattering of Venetian art glass dotted about Lord Browne of Madingley appears to be the very picture of contentment. Dressed in a crisp white shirt, sharply tailored suit and handmade shoes, with just a hint of flashiness from a pair of blue-and-gold enamelled cufflinks, he is formal but friendly as he tells me that he has just been appointed the new chairman of the Courtauld Institute. The post begins in September and coincides with Browne stepping down as chairman of the Tate after a decade at the helm. Ten years ago Browne thought his life was over after he was sensationally outed by the press. Hubris, Lies And The Gay Affair That Brought Down BP Boss ran this newspapers headline. Details not just of Brownes secret love affair with former rent boy Jeff Chevalier but also of how Browne had lied in court under oath made front-page news everywhere. At the time, the CEO of BP was 59 and had been in the closet for his entire life. After breaking up with Chevalier, he discovered that his ex-boyfriends kiss-and-tell version of their four years together was about to be published. He panicked, tried to get an injunction and then made the fatal mistake of sticking with the official line that he and Chevalier had originally met jogging in Battersea Park, when in fact they had met on a gay escort website. On the day the news story broke, Browne resigned. He had worked at BP for more than 40 years. Driving away from the corporation that I helped to build felt like dying, he later said. Daniel Hambury/Stella Pictures Its most successful employee ever, he had begun as an intern in 1966, becoming chief executive in 1995 and transforming the middle-sized company into a global giant. Along the way he had earned a fortune, a knighthood in 1998, a peerage in 2001 and the nickname of the Sun King. The months leading up to his resignation were by contrast the most nightmarish of my life. How times change. Today, Browne is full of enthusiasm for his prestigious new role. The Courtauld combines the generic subject of art and the ability to influence culture and society with the fact that its university has generated some of the greatest leaders in the art world, he says, referring to outgoing Tate director Sir Nicholas Serota. Im pleased to be leaving at the same time as Nick. Weve done extraordinary things together, had some tough debates and great agreements, but its time for someone else to be with Maria [Balshaw] for the future. Daniel Hambury/Stella Pictures Its too early to talk about changes at the Courtauld, although sorting out the number of stairs is a priority, he jokes. A more sexed-up events programme? Perhaps. The permanent collections are lovely but what drives people to come [to galleries] is an event. Of course there has to be a balance between getting people through the door and pushing the frontiers of knowledge but everybody is competing for a share of mind, whether its the Science Museum, the V&A, the British Museum or the Tate. They all need to keep providing something different and new. This pressure, thinks Browne, is likely to be exacerbated by Brexit, to which he was passionately opposed but is now optimistic. I was shocked and surprised by the result, which made me feel very out of touch, he says, because Id met too many people in London. His enthusiasm also extends to the new French President Emmanuel Macron, who hes never met he admires his economics nous and loves the idea of anyone under 40 being president. And hes surprisingly sanguine about Donald Trump. Its a very unstable, reactive way of doing things but maybe it wont make a huge difference in the long term, though many of my American friends dont agree. Browne clearly prides himself on his ability to keep learning and changing. As an art connoisseur, for example, he is entirely self-taught. He bought his first piece of art a David Hockney lithograph when he was 21 from his first earnings. We didnt have a lot of art at home because we didnt have a lot of money but my parents kept pushing me to appreciate it from an early age, which was easy because I enjoyed it. Mindblowing facts about London 1 /16 Mindblowing facts about London Click through our gallery for mind-blowing facts about London Shutterstock Did you know you used to be able to buy cocaine over the counter at Harrods? Oli Scarff/Getty Images Did you know each year London buses travel an estimated 12,128 times the circumference of the earth? Did you know that if the London Eye was unrolled it would be more than 3.5 times the length of a football pitch? Did you know that it is thought to take between 2 and 4 years to learn all the information needed to become a black cab driver? Transport for London Did you know there are more than 300 languages spoken in London? Shutterstock Did you know London Zoo was home to one of the most famous animals in the world? And that the real Winnie was a she and yellow? Did you know that the Horse Guards is the official ceremonial entrance to St Jamess and Buckingham Palace, yet the clock face above the entrance has a black blot marking the hour that King Charles I was executed: 2pm AFP/Getty Images Did you know that US talk show host Jerry Springer was born at Highgate station on 13 February 1944? Stephen Lovekin/Getty Did you know what it is illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament? Rob Stothard/Getty Images Di you know that is it illegal to fly a kite in any street in London? Shutterstock Did you know that the entrance of the Savoy Hotel (pictured) is the one road in London where you have to drive on the wrong side of the road? Browne then casually mentions how he financed his physics degree at Cambridge by winning a scholarship worth 500 a year, for writing a dissertation illustrated with his own photographs about the Safavid architecture of Isfahan when his father, who also worked for BP, was posted abroad. Nowadays he only buys art that has a connection to Venice, where he has an apartment on the Grand Canal. He spends at least one weekend a month there with his partner of 10 years, Nghi Nguyen, whom he met four weeks after the BP debacle. Of the thousands of letters I received after I resigned, only one was delivered to my home address, from a 32-year-old Vietnamese man called Nghi. He had read about the case and was curious. He had worked out which house [in Cheyne Walk] I lived at because there was a photograph in the paper even though theyd blotted out the number. It was typically Nghi. If you take a risk and it doesnt work, so what? Daniel Hambury/Stella Pictures Browne breaks off and smiles. So we met for a drink and got on very well, then met for a meal, then for many other things and the rest, literally, is history. Brownes face lights up as he speaks. Soon after, Nguyen gave up his job at Goldman Sachs and set up Velo, a Vietnamese restaurant, which has two branches now in central London that he continues to run successfully. With hindsight, Browne wishes he had come out sooner, but, as he explained in his 2014 book, The Glass Closet: Why Coming Out is Good for Business, he is from a generation for whom being gay remains unacceptable. His mother, a Hungarian Jew and an Auschwitz survivor, had also instilled in him a need for secrecy. She knew I was gay but her line was dont tell anyone, because being an identifiable member of a minority is something that will be used against you. Since the books publication, several former oil industry colleagues have piped up to say everyone knew all along that Browne was gay but never dared mention it. Browne laughs about this, as he does about many things, apparently much more often than when he was in the closet, he says. As well as being personally cathartic, writing the book helped him understand the extent to which LBGT people are still stigmatised in the business world. In the top 500 companies in the world you might think five per cent would be gay so that would be 25 CEOs. But theres only one, Tim Cook at Apple, so theyre still in the closet or, tragically, theyve decided to opt out of the top jobs and stay at a level where they are not visible. An unlikely but convincing champion for LGBT rights, he wants to see change starting in schools and was thrilled when Justine Greening gave a talk recently on behalf of Just Like Us (a support charity), citing his book as having helped her come out. In finance and business, two-thirds of people who are openly gay at university go back into the closet when they go to work. Its still very conservative and slow to change. An advocate for gay marriage for its symbolism of equality rather than anything contractual, he creases up when I ask if he has any plans to marry Nguyen. Yes, everyone asks me and were thinking about it. We really are. But youd have to ask Nghi. Another interview mentioned that Nguyen thought marriage was too conventional. Thats correct, but hes getting older and may be changing. Were not going to have this debate in a newspaper but I think look, were both thinking about it. Its important, and after 10 years we understand each other pretty well. T heres only one place in the world where you can look a mountain gorilla in the eye. Where you can see downy-furred kids giggle mischievously as they tumble in the trees, attempting to do handstands while adults watch peacefully on. Where youre able to witness teenagers grab branches in their fists and playfully poke each other, their brown eyes wide with excitement. Or view the machismo of a large male as he stands tall and loudly beats his chest making us aware of his strength and authority, and unashamedly posing for our cameras. That place is the Virunga Mountains, a chain of volcanoes that runs along the north of Rwanda, the south-west of Uganda and a stretch of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Around 800 mountain gorillas live across the region and thats the entire global population. Ten years ago there were fewer than 600. Only this month, the Rwandan government came under fire for doubling the fees for gorilla encounters from $750 to $1,500 a head but its worth remembering that tourism, along with regional stability, is to thank for the upturn, providing money towards conservation while also helping local communities to develop. Direct flights from Gatwick to Kigali which launch next week with RwandAir will help sweeten the blow too. Sunset over the Virunga Mountains Im travelling with Volcanoes Safaris, which has for a long time laid the groundwork for tourism in the area and which continues to work harder than most to promote the region, fund communities and safeguard the gorilla population. Founder Praveen Moman was the first person to open a lodge in the region, in 1997. We meet our guide at Kigali airport in Rwanda and from there its a three-hour drive to our first stop, Mount Gahinga Lodge, just across the border in Uganda. Safaris are a hot, sticky business especially the on-foot type, which involve traversing through dense forest for hours at a time. Its for good reason, then, that the lodges you return to afterwards offer luxury to balance it out. Mount Gahinga has five-star service teamed with eco credentials the water is heated by solar panels and theres no swimming pool as the area is prone to drought. As well as gorillas, the lodge is perfectly placed for a trek to find golden monkeys, another species which cannot be found anywhere else in the world. After a nights stay we leave early to find them at their most active. Its around two hours into our trek that our gun-toting guide relays the good news: the rangers who have gone ahead have spotted them. A golden monkey in Uganda All of a sudden we are there: deep in the forest watching a group of around 30 monkeys swing through the trees, teasing us with glances of their blue-grey faces framed by golden orange manes. The lodge is also well placed for volcano trekking, with the reward of a swim in a mountain-top lake for those who take on the eight-hour round-trip up Mount Bisoke. Instead, we use the day to relax in preparation for whats to come. We move to Virunga Lodge, a short drive away back in Rwanda, for the next part of our adventure. It is newer, larger and even more luxurious than the previous one, perched at high altitude overlooking the volcanoes, as well as Lakes Burera and Ruhondo. Inside Virunga Lodge Not that we have long to enjoy it. The next morning were at the national park, where were allotted a gorilla family before embarking in a group of eight. Rangers have gone ahead and will radio our guide when they find the family. When we get to them, well have one hour before we must leave. As we walk, our guide relays stories of encountering rebel groups on their way through the forest from nearby Congo, and explains how the rangers recognise each gorilla from their face alone the animals are not tagged. The hours pass quickly and before we know it the gorillas are ahead. We can hear their calls before we turn a corner and take in a family of at least 12. They are a hive of activity and sit just feet away from us. Its awe-inspiring, and remarkable how human-like they are. Its important to remember, unlike a couple of the people in our group, to take in some of the spectacle with your eyes not just your camera: these are the kind of moments youll remember forever. Gorillas in our midst The hour flies by. And, thanks to the enduring buzz, so does the three-hour hike back to base camp. Now is the time to take in the views and the drinks, though there will only be one thing youll want to talk about. We vow well be back and lets hope that when we do return, these magnificent primates will have passed the 1,000 mark. Details: Rwanda A five day trip to Rwanda and Uganda with Volcanoes Safaris (033 332 3974, volcanoessafaris.com) starts from 4,850pp, including full board accommodation at Virunga Lodge and Mount Gahinga Lodge, treks and flights from Heathrow. A teenager has been charged in relation to a series of sex attacks in south London. The 15-year-old boy is alleged to have carried out assaults in Clapham and Wandsworth over the past two weeks. He has been charged with two counts of sexual assault, two counts of common assault and kidnap with intent to commit a specified sexual offence. A woman in her 40s was allegedly followed and sexually assaulted by a man in the early hours of Thursday morning on Clapham Common North Side. Earlier that night, a woman rang the police to say she was being pursued by a man. Another woman, in her mid-20s, reported being sexually assaulted outside a block of flats in Clapham at around 11pm on Tuesday. The 15-year-old boy was due to appear at Wimbledon Magistrates Court on Friday morning. B ritains top police officer Cressida Dick said the vast majority of Londoners support increased police stop-and-search powers to combat outrageous levels of knife crime in the capital. Met police commissioner Ms Dick reaffirmed her commitment to driving down the epidemic - which has seen 14 murders from knife-related attacks in the past four weeks - after coming face-to-face with families in Wandsworth, a borough where three people have been stabbed to death this month. It came as the latest victim, a 20-year-old man, was stabbed to death in front of his horrified girlfriend, according to witnesses, as the couple walked back to their car from a cinema in Romford. Witnesses said the young man was ambushed and chased by a gang of youths following a matinee screening at the Brewery Shopping Centre. Speaking at the Ashburton Youth Centre in Putney, the commissioner said: Ive been talking a lot about stop and search in the past five weeks and very few people say they dont want them or are concerned about them. It appals me to think young people are losing their lives in this way, its outrageous. However you measure it there is too much of it. If police carrying stop and search can help to stop that then the vast majority of people will be very supportive. She promised more officers in schools in every area of London to help build relationships with young people after being told children as young as six were carrying blades on some housing estates, because they feel naked without them. The commissioner said: Its outrageous to hear a six-year-old is carrying a knife, for whatever reason. Its extraordinarily young. Its important that our message on the danger of knives gets through to them at an early age, including in primary schools. Ms Dick said youngsters often carry knives for some kind of respect, some kind of kudos, but added: I do accept there are places where some of our young people are scared and they feel it makes sense to carry a knife. I can say as long as I live that it does not make them safer. They may not hear that message from me - we need to get people in communities, people in schools, parents understanding and helping young people to understand that it will end in tragedy, probably, for them. Ms Dick also held a private meeting with the family of Lewis Elwin, a 20-year-old trainee electrician who was stabbed to death last year next to Sadiq Khans Tooting home. His mother Sharon, urged witnesses to come forward and catch the killer of her son, saying: We hope this is the start of solving the problem because no mother should go through this, people are fed up - weve had enough. The latest killing took place at around 4.30pm yesterday. Desperate passers-by administered first aid before the man was rushed to hospital. But doctors could not save him and he was pronounced dead an hour later. Jodie Freeman, 22, who gave the victim CPR, said: He had been stabbed on his left side, either in the heart or close to it. He was trying to speak but he didnt manage to say anything. He was struggling to breathe. She added: Im emotionally in shock, I feel guilty about it because I couldnt do more. Washing his blood off my hands has got to be the worst moment of my life. Im so sorry I couldnt save him. Four men were today being questioned on suspicion of murder at separate east London police stations. The killing happened yards from where Joshua Acheampong, 19, was repeatedly stabbed outside Nandos restaurant in May 2014. F amilies of victims of serial killer Stephen Port are 'insulted and distressed' at the slow pace of an inquiry into police failings in the case. Port, 42, sentenced to life in prison in November for murdering four young men he met through gay dating websites, after luring them to his flat in Barking, east London. At least 17 officers are being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) after Scotland Yard admitted "missed opportunities" to catch the killer sooner. The IPCC says it has compiled 7,000 pages of material on the case and that its investigation is progressing. However relatives of Port's victims are dismayed that none of the officers under investigated have been interviewed. Date-rape victim: Daniel Whitworth / Metropolitan Police Mandy Pearson, stepmother of victim Daniel Whitworth, said: "We continue to seek answers and accountability from the police about how, for a whole year, they let us believe that Daniel had committed suicide, in which time Port went on to kill again. "We really did hope that, with Port now behind bars, the police would be held to account for their actions. "The fact that after all this time we're still no further forward is insulting and distressing for all of the families. "However, the MPS should know that none of us will ever give up their search for the truth and we will keep the pressure on." Daniel Whitworth's stepmother Mandy Pearson and father Adam Whitworth / Philip Toscano/PA Mr Whitworth, 21, was killed by Port after being given a fatal dose of the date rape drug GHB. He and Anthony Walgate, 23, Gabriel Kovari, 22, and Jack Taylor, 25, were all killed between June 2014 and September 2015, their bodies dumped near Port's flat. The Met was widely criticised for missing numerous chances to catch the killer, and promised to re-examine another 58 GHB-related deaths over four years in London to rule out foul play. Lawyers for the families said they were told a first draft of the IPCC report would be complete by this autumn, but that when they met with IPCC commissioner Cindy Butts in March, the time frame was put back to the end of the year. The final report is now expected in early 2018. Serial killer Stephen Port was jailed in November They also said they were told the number of officers being investigated by the IPCC has risen to 19, though the organisation says 17 officers have been served with notices. Solicitor Neil Hudgell said: "The families are growing increasingly frustrated by the lack of progress being made by the IPCC. "We were originally told that the officers would be interviewed in January 2017, but the IPCC hasn't even managed to get dates in the diary and our requests for substantive updates fall upon deaf ears. "It feels like the IPCC is becoming impotent in the face of stalling by the MPS. "The families feel that history is repeating itself as the MPS continues to ignore them. "They are losing confidence that the IPCC has the ability to get to the truth; the longer this drags on, the greater the chance of evidence being lost or forgotten." The IPCC said since Port's conviction it has carried out a "rigorous process of pre-interview disclosure" on information from the original investigations, the trial and witnesses. Ms Butts said: "The officers have asked for time to understand and absorb the information that will be put to them in interview, which we have agreed so that the evidence we collect from them is as robust and comprehensive as possible. "The integrity of our investigation depends on getting this process right. "While we would have preferred to have been more advanced in our interviews with officers by this time, the investigation is ongoing and we are continuing to progress other investigative steps." Additional reporting by Press Association Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor play a 102-year-old man and his 75-year-old son in 102 Not Out, directed by Umesh Shukla. Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor in first look of 102 Not Out By India Today Web Desk: Amitabh Bachchan plays a 102-year-old man while Rishi Kapoor stars as his 75-year-old son in the upcoming comedy 102 Not Out. The first look of 102 Not Out hit the internet today and it looks pretty interesting. First look of 102 Not Out Based on the Gujarati play of the same name by writer Saumya Joshi, 102 Not Out revolves around Amitabh Bachchan's character who is trying to break the record of being the oldest man alive in the world, a record held in the film by a Chinese man. advertisement 102 Not Out is directed by Umesh Shukla who previously directed the hit comedy Oh My God. AR Rahman is on music-composing duties. Amitabh Bachchan shooting for 102 Not Out (Photo by Yogen Shah) Amitabh Bachchan, of late, has played a series of old, eccentric men. Just last year, he played a grieving grandfather in Te3n and the year before, he played a cantankerous father with a gastric problem in Piku which earned him a National Film Award for Best Actor. Rishi Kapoor on his part has been playing old, eccentric men as well in the last few years. In 2016, his performance in Kapoor & Sons earned him a Best Supporting Actor award at the 62nd Filmfare Awards. MOVIE REVIEW: Sarkar 3, starring Amitabh Bachchan WATCH: Fortunate to be part of the film industry for so long, says Amitabh Bachchan --- ENDS --- A man who made millions from building a lucrative sex empire after trafficking women into the country has been jailed for 13 years. David Archer, from Wanstead, ran a string of brothels around London and controlled the lives of the vulnerable woman living and working there. On Friday he was jailed after pleading guilty to conspiracy to control prostitution for gain and human trafficking at Snaresbrook Crown Court. He was also found guilty of three counts of sexual assault following a four-week trial. Archer, 53, advertised the use of properties he owned and rented around the city offering them to sex workers and then charging an inflated rent or taking a percentage of money made through prostitution. He also trafficked women into the UK to work as prostitutes and personally took sexually explicit pictures of them, which he then used on websites advertising their services. The police first became aware of Archer in January 2016 when one victim reported another woman had been locked inside a bedroom at a property on Northumberland Avenue, Wanstead. Officers arrived to find a young woman trapped inside one of the rooms and it became clear to them that the premises as well as multiple others were being used as brothels. Newham detectives revealed Archer owned three other properties; a house and a hotel in Romford Road, Forest Gate and a hotel in Barking Road, Plaistow. He was also renting a property on Clonmel Road in Fulham. He is believed to have been worth nearly 16 million - with the four brothels bringing in 1.6m a year. During the police investigation, multiple women came forward to report that Archer sexually assaulted them when he took explicit photographs. He was also accused of seven counts of rape, but was acquitted of these by the jury. Detective sergeant John Kirby said: "Archer had no option other than to plead guilty to a number of offences. However, he thought that he could escape justice with regard to the assault. This was not the case. "Archer exploited vulnerable women to build his lucrative empire in the sex industry over a number of years. The vulnerability of the women and his position of strength created an imbalance which he exploited again and again - financially, emotionally, and in some cases sexually." Archer's accomplices Emma Cox, who managed the online profiles of the sex workers, and Zobia Taqi who managed Archers finances and hotels, were arrested in 2016. Cox, 41, and Taqi, 29, both admitted on 10 February to conspiracy to control prostitution for gain. Both were sentenced on Friday to 12 months' imprisonment, suspended for two years, 150 hours' unpaid work and 20 days' rehabilitation. P olice are searching for a missing killer who was convicted of strangling a man before trying to break into Buckingham Palace. Ghodratollah Barani, 31, went missing last week from a Croydon facility where he was being treated for a psychotic disorder. He was convicted of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility in March 2013 after killing homeless man Mark Morrison, 46, at Marble Arch in June the previous year. An Old Bailey judge ruled Barani should be detained indefinitely after the court was told he heard voices telling him he must kill someone to become the king of England. Scotland Yard warned on Friday that Barani, who disappeared without his medication, "could act in an unpredictable manner" and officers were extremely concerned for his welfare. He was last seen at 6pm on May 11 at his care home in South Park Hill Road, where he has lived since November 2015. Detective Chief Inspector Richard McDonagh, of Croydon CID, said: "He has been receiving treatment since his conviction and his care providers have indicated that despite his conviction his current state of mind leads them to believe that he could be a danger to himself. "It is important that Ghodratollah is found as we need to ensure his safety. Those caring for him have suggested that with the care and treatment he has been receiving over the years, he is not currently in the same place as he was when he committed the offence, but we cannot be complacent." Barani strangled Mark Morrison to death at Marble Arch / Getty Images He added: "We do not want the public to be alarmed but we do want them to be vigilant, if you think you have seen Ghodratollah at any point over the last week or have any information as to his whereabouts then please do get in contact." Police have combed through hours of CCTV footage and established Barani boarded a 109 bus near Thornton Heath pond to Norbury at 10pm on the night be disappeared. There have been no confirmed sightings of him since. His carers said the risk of him harming himself would increase the longer her went without medication. The judge who detained Barani in 2013 said he was satisfied he had undiagnosed schizophrenia and criticised doctors who had not diagnosed it, He was twice turned away from hospital by medics who thought the Iranian was faking illness to further his asylum application. The BBC reported that one one occasion he was turned away from St Thomas's Hospital A&E despite telling doctors he had thought of killing someone so he could be become king. Barani was turned away from Buckingham Palace on June 21 after going to Marble Arch and strangling Mr Morrison with a green cord. He was arrested eight days later when he spoke to police and soldiers in Horse Guards Parade. The Met today said anyone who sees Barani should not approach him but call 999 immediately. He was described as 5ft 6ins tall, with a medium build and a broad face. He was last seen wearing blue jeans and a green hooded top. He is known to spend time in Croydon, Bromley and central London areas, and has previously lived in Sheffield. Anyone with information on his whereabouts can call police in Croydon via 101 or tweet @MetCC. T hieves on scooters and pedal cycles are committing up to 50,000 offences a year in an alarming new crimewave, police revealed today. Gangs of youths are using stolen scooters, mopeds, motorcycles and bikes to commit tens of thousands of snatch offences across London, detectives say. The full scale of the moped crime surge came as police revealed details of an alarming new tactic in which a gang sprayed a fire extinguisher into the face of a motorcyclist in a bid to hijack his machine. Dramatic images caught on the 58-year-old victims helmet camera show how he was surrounded by seven suspects on four mopeds and forced to stop in a road in east London. A biker is attacked in an attempted theft by a scooter gang / YouTube One of the suspects riding pillion sprays the foam extinguisher directly into his face and the camera shows him falling to the floor. The group were unsuccessful and fled the scene. Today detectives appealed for information on the gang who are wanted in connection with a total of seven offences in the Barking and Dagenham area in just two days last month. The appeal came as senior officers from Operation Venice, the Mets campaign against moped crimes, told the Standard how they were combating the explosion in two wheeled crime across the capital. They revealed how gangs of mainly teenage boys are stealing mopeds in outer London borughs and using them to commit snatches in the West End - often motivated by the thrill of speed. A biker is treated by medics after he crashed while being pursued by a scooter gang (Kestutis Paukstys ) / Kestutis Paukstys Detectives say they are targeting at least 500 known offenders behind the crime spree - with suspects moving between using stolen mopeds and pedal cycles to snatch mobile phones. Police also urged Londoners to take simple steps to help prevent crimes, in particular warning scooter owners to use locks to secure their bikes in the street. Lightning-fast: Moped muggers snatch a phone / City of London Police The scale of the offending can be revealed in new figures released by the Met which show thieves are stealing around 1,500 scooters or motorcycles in London every month. In addition, the same criminals are using scooters or pedal cycles to commit 2,500 theft offences a month, most of them mobile phone snatches. Thefts involving mopeds or motorcycles are currently running at 13,005 over the past 12 months, a 41 per cent increase over the previous period. Commander Julian Bennett, who is in charge of Operation Venice, said: This is coming up to 50,000 crimes a year so this is a significant issue. Advice from police Scooter riders: lock more than just the front wheel. Lock to secure street furniture. Cover the bike to deter thieves. Mobile phone users: dont come out of Tubes and look at your phone, use a hands free, be aware of who is around. Record IMEI number. "This is a serious crime because of the risk to everyone involved, including the riders, pedestrians and the victims of the snatch. This is completely unacceptable. Police say moped crimes, once mainly confined to boroughs such as Islington, Hackney and Haringey, are now spreading across the city and beyond. Earlier this week a covert police team seized a suspect in Islington who had travelled to London from the Thames Valley area. Officers say part of the problem is the ease in which gangs can steal scooters by simply breaking their steering locks. They point out there are more commuters using inexpensive scooters to avoid expensive rail fares but most dont leave their machines securely locked. Superintendent Mark Payne, who is co-ordinating the Mets prevention campaign, said: They take the key out and think it is OK to walk away from but the average thief can steal a scooter in 30-40 seconds. "If people take more care and use locks to secure their machines there will not be as many stolen scooters around so there will be less crime." Police admit difficulties in securing evidence against the gangs who hide their faces while the Mets pursuit policy means officers have to adhere to strict guidelines before chasing a scooter or motorcycle rider at high speeds through London. However, police insist they still carry out pursuits - earlier this week a teenager was arrested in Penge after a chase involving the police helicopter and a stinger device used to puncture his tyres. In a series of new measures designed to tackle the moped gangs the Met announced: A revamped Operation Venice campaign to co-ordinate action across Londons 32 boroughs Extra covert patrols to catch the bike thieves red-handed and plans for tougher tactics to seize offenders in the act. More sophisticated forensic techniques to track criminals to avoid the risk of a chase. A specialist tactical traffic advisor who can authorise high speed pursuits on duty 24/7 in the Mets central London control room. A new facility to capture footage of scooter crimes taken by members of the public. Special recognisers being used to spot known offenders - one suspect in a recent spree of incidents outside the BBC was recognised by a mole on his forehead. Police refuse to give details of the tougher tactics but say it will allow officers to intervene more effectively and safely if they encounter scooter thieves. Supt Payne said suspects occasionally took off helmets in a bid to force police to abandon chases but he said: If a rider takes his helmet off, thats a result for us. They will drive past five or six CCTV cameras and we will have his face. Police launch dawn swoop on 'properly organised' scooter smash-and-grab gangs terrorising London's s We know who they are and there is no point in pursuing them. We will bang on their door at 3am when it is low risk, why should we bother chasing them through the streets of London. Restrictions on pursuits were enforced more strictly after the death of 18-year-old Henry Hicks who was killed when his moped crashed as he was being chased by police December 2014. Four police officers are facing misconduct charges after an inquest jury rejected their account that Hicks was not aware he was being followed. Police officers carried out a dawn swoop on scooter gangs in January / Jeremy Selwyn Detectives say they are gathering intelligence on around 500 suspects committing scooter or cycle crime across London but believe more are involved. A team focuses on a dozen top offenders at a time, targeting them with proactive patrols, bail and curfew checks and working with the local authority on diversion. Detective Superintendent Stuart Ryan, who is in charge of operations against the gangs, said most offenders were in their teens and early 20s and some were organised in groups of around five to 10 people who use a stolen bike for a period before dumping it. The bikes are stolen in outlying boroughs and used to travel into the West End to commit crimes. Many prolific offenders have 20 or so crimes to their name, one 15-year-old was only jailed after being arrested 80 times. He admitted police often played wack-a-mole with gangs who appear at different times and locations across London. He said They can change their tactics every single day. You can see mopeds driving around just to see what the crowds are like and whether police are around. Some of the groups do seem to talk to each other, to warn if the police are around. They are professional at this. Some offenders were diverted but there was a hard core who were more difficult to reach. The offenders come from a mix of backgrounds, some of them wealthy, who are driven by a desire for kicks. Det Supt Ryan said: Part of it is about speed, they need a thrill. Some of it is money but their network is based on their social and geographical network. They enjoy it because the feedback we have had from them is they enjoy the speed, they enjoy going fast and they enjoy the easy money, it is better money than McDonalds and their friends are doing it. The crimewave is being driven by a new demand for spare parts in mobile phones with iPhone screens costing as much as 150 to replace. Each stolen iPhone can fetch 100 and there are cases of thieves snatching 20 or more in the space of an hour in central London. Thefts of mobiles fell dramatically three years ago when new security was brought in but the second hand market for spare parts and re-sale value of iPhones caught police by surprise. Detectives have discovered thieves can spot what sort of phone you are carrying either in your pocket or from a few hundred yards away. Police know because they asked suspects in custody to identify different phones in peoples pockets, they knew what phones they had just from the size of it. Police also have evidence the gangs practise on each other on estates to become better at snatching phones from pedestrians in the street. A terror suspect arrested near Whitehall told a court he does not plan to be represented by a lawyer for his trial. Khalid Mohammed Omar Ali was arrested as part of a "stop and search" just yards from Downing Street on April, 27, where he was allegedly carrying three knives. The 27-year-old, from Edmonton, north London, appeared via video link for a preliminary hearing at the Old Bailey on Friday. He is charged with preparation for a terrorist act on or before April 27, and two charges of making or having explosives related to activity in Afghanistan in 2012. An artist's representation of Mr Ali in court earlier this month / Elizabeth Cook/PA Wearing a maroon t-shirt under a green, white and yellow jumpsuit, Ali, who has no defence counsel, was asked if he was planning to seek legal representation. Mr Ali, flanked by two officers, replied that he was not. Asked if he understood everything that had been said by the prosecution, the bearded defendant said he had. He was remanded in custody ahead of a trial due to start on November 6 and estimated to last two to three weeks. A young man was stabbed to death in front of his horrified girlfriend as the couple walked back to their car after watching a movie, witnesses said today. Desperate passers-by administered first aid on the 20-year-old victim following the attack in the multi-storey car park of a busy shopping centre in east London. He was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead an hour later at 5.30pm last night. The victim is the 14th person to be stabbed to death on the streets of the capital in the past four weeks. Passers-by rushed to administer first aid before the man died / Nigel Howard His murder took place at the same time as Met commissioner Cressida Dick spoke to community leaders in central London about the forces efforts to tackle Londons knife crime epidemic.A - London Live Interview with Detective Chief Superintendent Michael Gallagher - London Live Witnesses said the young man was ambushed and chased by a gang of youths after leaving the Brewery Shopping Centres Vue cinema in Romford following a matinee screening. Jodie Freeman, 22, tried to give the victim CPR after coming across him doubled up next to a car as his girlfriend looked on in shock. The victim is the 14th person to be stabbed to death in the past four weeks / Nigel Howard She said: The attackers had run away, and I think his girlfriend thought he was okay. But then he fell down against the car and collapsed. He had been stabbed on his left side, either in the heart or close to it. I lay him on his back then started to put pressure on the wound. There was another man who helped me perform CPR. Police and forensic officers at the scene of the stabbing in Romford / Nigel Howard He was trying to speak but he didnt manage to say anything. He was struggling to breathe. When paramedics arrived Miss Freeman, a betting shop manager from Dagenham, continued applying pressure to his chest as medics cut away the victims clothes. She said: Im emotionally in shock, I feel guilty about it because I couldnt do more. I have first aid training but this day will stay with me forever. After everything had happened I gave his girlfriend a cuddle and said Im sorry I couldnt do anything more. Washing his blood off my hands has got to be the worst moment of my life. Im so sorry I couldnt save him. These young people need to put the knives down. It doesnt just affect one life it affects the people that see it happen, their families, their friends and it scares people. It needs to stop and more people need to be aware of what to do in that situation. Miss Freeman had gone into the shopping centre to buy a gift for her fiancee Sophie Watson, 21, who said: Im so proud of her for doing the right thing and giving him a chance. Shes one in a million this girl. Im truly lucky and thankful I have her in my life. The first floor of the car park was sealed off behind police tape last night as detectives from the Mets homicide and major crimes unit launched a murder investigation. Detective Inspector Jason Prendergast, said: This incident happened at a busy time of day, in a busy area of Romford, so we believe there are a large number of potential witnesses we are keen to speak to. The victim was found in the car park at end of the shopping centre next to the cinema and restaurants, and we are keen to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time of the incident. Any witnesses, or anyone with any information should contact police via 101, or by tweeting @MetCC. To give information anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org. Four men were today being questioned on suspicion of murder today at separate east London police stations. A construction firm has been found guilty of manslaughter after two workmen fell to their deaths while renovating a multi-million pound central London flat. Tomasz Procko, 22, and Karol Symanski, 29, died in an "entirely foreseeable and preventable" accident while hauling a large sofa up through a first floor balcony of the luxury Belgravia apartment. Jurors at the Old Bailey heard how the project was behind schedule with a budget soaring to 920,000 by the time the 18 stone sofa was delivered in November 2014. Martinisation (London) Limited, which already had a "long and unhappy history of neglect of health and safety", denied wrong-doing along with its managing director - who declined to give evidence. A jury found the firm guilty of health and safety breaches and two charges of corporate manslaughter while Martin Gutaj, 43, from Brentford, was convicted of breaching health and safety. Prosecutor Adrian Darbishire QC told jurors how work was being carried out on the flat in Cadogan Square, between Harrods and Sloane Square. The sofa was too big to be carried up the stairs to first floor apartment and instead five workers stood on a balcony to haul it up from the pavement. Mr Darbishire said: "As they hauled the sofa up about 20 feet to the level of the balcony, the workers were hauling against, and leaning over, the balustrade. "The 130-year-old Victorian cast iron balustrade gave way and two of the men fell to their deaths on the pavement below. A third was saved only by being grabbed by his colleagues as he began to fall. "The fact that the men were hauling the sofa up in the dangerous way that they were was the result of a long and unhappy history of neglect of health and safety at the company which employed them. "It was an accident but it was an entirely foreseeable and preventable one." Police at the scene in Cadogan Square, London, after a balcony collapsed killing Tomasz Procko and Karol Symanski / PA Teodora Howell, who worked in Cadogan Square, described the deaths of the two workers as "an accident waiting to happen". She had become so worried about practices at the site that she would cross to the other side of the road when walking past, the court heard. Jurors were told that on the day of the accident there was a basic failure in identifying who was in charge on site. The company and Gutaj had been warned "more than once" of the importance of having trained, competent and effective supervisors before November 2014, the court was told. The company had a duty to provide training in health and safety. But what was offered did not include instructions on lifting operations, jurors heard. The court was told the entire workforce spoke Polish as their first language, yet the firm's policy documents and risk assessment were only available in English. The prosecutor said the fact none of the health and safety documents were in Polish suggested they "were effectively for show and nothing more". Falling from height is the single greatest cause of workplace deaths in Britain, with 40 people losing their lives every year. T hese are the five biggest stories from the last 24 hours in the capital and across the globe. 18-year-old killed as car 'intentionally' ploughs into pedestrians in New York crash A teenager was killed after a former US naval officer allegedly ploughed his car into pedestrians on a pavement in New York City's Times Square. At least 22 other people are thought to have been injured in the incident, which happened at the Midtown Manhattan tourist site on Thursday lunchtime. Times Square crash: a teenager died / Daniel J. Bases/Reuters One injured pedestrian said the collision appeared to be "intentional" and the New York Police Department has closed off the area. Theresa May unveils Conservative party manifesto The Prime Minister set out to scoop up Labour voters with promises of a Brexit bonus for poorer regions, more money for the NHS and more homes. Her first manifesto, called Forward Together, spoke of a Great Meritocracy. Manifesto launch: Prime Minister Theresa May (PA) / Danny Lawson/PA It distanced her from Margaret Thatcher with regulation for business, more borrowing and workers on boards. It is time to put the old tribal politics behind us and come together in the national interest, she declared at a launch in Halifax, a traditional Labour stronghold, on Thursday. Murder probe launched after man knifed to death in busy car park Police have launched a murder investigation after a 20-year-old man was stabbed to death in a busy shopping centre car park in Romford. Passers-by rushed to administer first aid before the man died / Nigel Howard Officers were called on Thursday afternoon, at around 4.30pm, to Brewery Shopping Centre car park in Waterloo Road after a man was found with a stab wound. The victim was rushed to an east London hospital but was pronounced dead by 5.30pm. Four men were arrested close to the car park, which services the shopping centre, cinema and restaurants. They are being held on suspicion of murder. Gang of moped thieves attack rider with fire extinguisher and knock him to the floor A gang of moped thieves attacked a rider with a fire extinguisher and knocked him to the ground in the latest in a swathe of moped-related attacks in the capital. Attempted motorbike theft The victim, 58, was riding his motorcycle in east London before he was surrounded by seven thugs on four mopeds. Shocking footage shows the man being attacked with a fire extinguisher before falling to the floor as they attempt to steal his bike. But the brazen attack, in Roden Street, Ilford, was unsuccessful and the thugs fled the scene at about 5.15pm on Tuesday, April 18. ITV Leaders' Debate Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas, Liberal Democrats leader Tim Farron, Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood, Ukip leader Paul Nuttall, SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon during The ITV Leaders' Debate / PA Theresa May was accused of running scared after refusing to take part in a live prime time TV General Election debate with the leaders of rival parties. Both the Prime Minister and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn turned down the invitation to take part in the ITV Leaders' Debate in Salford broadcast on Thursday night. Scottish First Minister and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, Liberal Democrat chief Tim Farron, Ukip's Paul Nuttall, Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood and Green co-leader Caroline Lucas all took part. J ulian Assange dubbed news that Sweden dropped its rape probe against him as an "important victory" and a vindication but vowed "the proper war is just commencing". In a speech from the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy in Knightsbridge, he slammed the circumstances that led him to take refuge there and termed it "detention". "Seven years of detention without charge - imprisoned under house arrest and almost five years in this embassy without sunlight," he said. "Seven years without charge while my children grew up without me." He said he hoped now for a dialogue with UK authorities who have not yet given a clear answer on whether or not he will be extradited to the US if he leaves the embassy. Julian Assange peers out of the window during his years of self-imposed confinement / AFP/Getty Images While a "legal conflict" with the United States and the UK continues, the "road is far from over" he said. Thanking his supporters, including a legal team he said worked for "no money", he added that WikiLeaks would continue its publications. Swedens Director of Public Prosecutions Marianne Ny said on Friday she had decided to "discontinue" the investigation into an alleged sex offence. Mr Assange has been living in London's Ecuadorian Embassy for almost five years, afraid that extradition to Sweden would lead to being handed over to the US where he is wanted for leaking thousands of military and diplomatic documents. He did not appear immediately upbeat in response to the news, however, tweeting: "Detained for seven years without charge while my children grew up and my name was slandered. I do not forgive or forget." The probe has been dropped because there was "no reason to believe that the decision to surrender him to Sweden can be executed in the foreseeable future", said Swedish prosecutors. Asked if Britain would now support a request to extradite Mr Assange to the United States, Prime Minister Theresa May said: "We look at extradition requests on a case-by-case basis." Speaking at a Conservative campaign event in Edinburgh, Mrs May added: "In relation to Julian Assange, any decision that is taken about UK action in relation to him were he to leave the Ecuadorian Embassy would be an operational matter for the police." Meanwhile the London Metropolitan Police has said it was still obliged to arrest Mr Assange should he leave the embassy since there is still an active warrant for a lesser charge. It said in a statement: Westminster Magistrates' Court issued a warrant for the arrest of Julian Assange following him failing to surrender to the court on the 29 June 2012. The Metropolitan Police Service is obliged to execute that warrant should he leave the Embassy. Whilst Mr Assange was wanted on a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) for an extremely serious offence, the MPS response reflected the serious nature of that crime. Now that the situation has changed and the Swedish authorities have discontinued their investigation into that matter, Mr Assange remains wanted for a much less serious offence. The MPS will provide a level of resourcing which is proportionate to that offence. It said it would not comment further on its operational plan but added: The priority for the MPS must continue to be arresting those who are currently wanted in the Capital in connection with serious violent or sexual offences for the protection of Londoners. J ulian Assange claimed he had been slandered after a rape investigation against him was dropped, telling his accusers: I do not forgive or forget. Sweden's Director of Public Prosecution announced on Friday it was dropping its investigation against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. He was questioned six months ago in the presence of Swedish officials over a sex allegation, which he has always denied. In the meantime, he has been living inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London for almost five years and has been granted political asylum. Mr Assange tweeted on Friday afternoon: Detained for 7 years without charge by while my children grew up and my name was slandered. I do not forgive or forget. Earlier, he had shared a smiling photo of himself. Ms Ny said the motive for her decision was that there is no reason to believe the decision to surrender Mr Assange to Sweden can be executed in the foreseeable future. She told a press conference in Stockholm that the investigation could be reopened if Mr Assange returns to Sweden before the allegation against him elapses under Swedish law in August 2020. Supporters outside the embassy / Dominic Lipinski/PA She said: "Almost five years ago Julian Assange was permitted refuge at the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he has resided ever since. "In doing so, he has escaped all attempts by the Swedish and British authorities to execute the decision to surrender him to Sweden in accordance with the EU rules concerning the European Arrest Warrant. My assessment is that the surrender cannot be executed in the foreseeable future. "According to Swedish legislation, a criminal investigation is to be conducted as quickly as possible. At the point when a prosecutor has exhausted the possibilities to continue the investigation, the prosecutor is obliged to discontinue the investigation. "At this point, all possibilities to conduct the investigation are exhausted. In order to proceed with the case, Julian Assange would have to be formally notified of the criminal suspicions against him. "We cannot expect to receive assistance from Ecuador regarding this. Therefore the investigation is discontinued. Police: Mr Assange still faces arrest / EPA Scotland Yard said today it was still obliged to execute a warrant issued by Westminster Magistrates' Court for the arrest of Mr Assange following his failure to surrender to the court in June 2012 should he leave the embassy. Mr Assange also faces extradition to the United States for questioning over the activities of WikiLeaks if he leaves the embassy. Asked if Britain would now support a request to extradite Mr Assange to the United States, Prime Minister Theresa May said: "We look at extradition requests on a case-by-case basis." Speaking at a Conservative campaign event in Edinburgh, Mrs May added: "In relation to Julian Assange, any decision that is taken about UK action in relation to him were he to leave the Ecuadorian Embassy would be an operational matter for the police." Mr Assange originally faced three sex allegations, all of which he denied. He was on bail when he arrived at the Ecuador embassy in Central London almost five years ago. WikiLeaks tweeted: "UK refuses to confirm or deny whether it has already received a US extradition warrant for Julian Assange. Focus now moves to UK." A north-west London grocery shop has been shut down after chocolate bars were found smothered in rat droppings. Food hygiene officers discovered excrement and urine on chocolate bars that were on sale on the shelves of TSK Cash and Carry, in Rayners Lane, during a surprise inspection. The shop was so filthy that vermin were nesting inside the shop itself, Harrow Council said. Simon Baxter, divisional director for environment and culture, said the discovery made him feel sick. Chocolate bars were found covered in rat dropping / Harrow Council He said: The thought of taking a bite out of your favourite chocolate bar thats smothered in rat excrement makes me feel sick. It makes me so angry that criminals can make money by endangering public health like this. Despite frantic attempts by workers to clear up the shop, officers called for its immediate closure. Vermin were discovered nesting inside the shop / Harrow Council During the inspection, rodents were able to help themselves to food by getting through gaps in the ceiling, doors and floors. Owner Sooriyakumar Tharmalingam pleaded guilty to six offences and was sentenced on May 4 at Harrow Crown Court. He was fined 4550. Mr Baxter added We busted Tharmalingam and now his business is finished. Well do the same to anyone else we find playing games with peoples safety. TSK Cash and Carry could not be reached for a comment. 28 youngsters were detained from the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh today on charges of homosexuality. By Sahidul Hasan Khokon: 28 youngsters were detained from the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh today on charges of homosexuality. After detaining the youth from a community center in the area, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) said, the locals had complained against them for homosexual activities. Jahangir Hossain Matubbar, Commander of Rapid Action Battalion, said the youths were arrested from Chaya Neer, a community center at Antibazar area in Keraniganj Upazila on Friday night. They are all between 20 to 25 years of age, and mostly students. advertisement "For the last 27 months, every two months' intervals on Thursday night, these youths used to come from various areas of the country and spend the night at the community center. We have conducted drive there on the basis of the complaints of local residents," said Matubbar. "We have found some indigenous items, condoms and lubricants. They have admitted of homosexuality performances by them in the initial interrogation," he said. Although homosexuality has been legalized in different countries of the world, the law of in Muslim-majority Bangladesh sees it as a 'penal offense' in relation to the nature of 'sex outside norms'. Matubbar also said that preparations are going to file a case against the detainees, under the Narcotics Control Act in Keraniganj Police Station. LGBT rights campaigners and their supporters have long been subjected to mockery and assault, which sometimes proves to be fatal, by radicals in Bangladesh. Xulhaz Mannan, editor of Bangladesh's only LGBT magazine Roopbaan, was hacked to death at his Dhaka home along with his friend Khandaker Mahbub Rabbi Tonoy, also a theatre activist, at the former's house on April 25, last year in an attack that was later claimed by militant group al-Qaeda's Bangladesh wing Ansar al-Islam. --- ENDS --- O ut with the old, in with the new at Vogue. Thats the way fashion works, after all. Following the announcement of the departures this summer of managing editor Frances Bentley, fashion director Lucinda Chambers and, of course, Alexandra Shulman, there is talk in fashion circles of a massive overhaul of the magazine and its image when Edward Enninful arrives as its new editor. An insider also wonders which other staff members will stay under the new regime. Enninful, pictured right, who had been fashion and style director at W magazine in New York, has been assigned a sizeable budget allotted specifically for staff replacements just soft talk for redundancies is the interpretation, says the insider and will establish a new, younger and more diverse regime at the magazine. Enninful has also been given a sizeable fee in addition to his promised salary. Thought to be a hefty figure fashionistas believe it is approaching 1 million this is solely to cover the inconvenience of relocating to the UK from his New York base. Conde Nast declined to comment on future arrangements. The more precious among the fashion community are concerned at what is expected to be a drastic change for the magazine but it will surely pay off. Anna Wintour started her long tenure at Vogue US by raising eyebrows with her first cover: a model in a jewelled couture jacket and high-street blue jeans then unheard of for the luxury fashion bible. Expect more forward thinking on a much grander scale from Edward. ----- Will Theresa May win the backing of Tory voters after releasing her manifesto? / AFP/Getty Images Not quite the reception Theresa May would have wanted from the pages of the Daily Telegraph, after the Tory manifesto revealed a plan to make wealthier people pay for elderly care out of the value of their homes. Thank you, Theresa May, for making my mind up, writes Stephen Marshall from Essex in a letter to the paper today. Ive been dithering for ages about equity release and blowing the kids inheritance. Barbados, here we come. Radio, someone still loves EU MacShane AFP/Getty Images A MISSIVE arrives from Denis MacShane, former Minister for Europe. Funny to see Brexit politics turn globally to the Left and regulation while the continent is globally turning to the Right and freedom, he writes. I thought the main British problem with the EU over most of its 40+ years of presence was insane bureaucracy. MacShane, always tuned in to continental issues, adds that hes had the radio on when our PM is being compared to a French Socialist. I am right now listening to Europe 1 and they just found a new nickname for the British PM: Theresa Maylenchon. ----- ITV via Getty Images Quote of the day: Will you call me Leanne? Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood asks Ukips Paul Nuttall to call her by her name in the ITV leaders' debate yesterday. He called her Natalie twice. ----- Lets race to be lost in the Bermuda triangle Dave Benett/Getty Images for The It might have been a washout last night but that didnt deter our favourite partygoers from showing up to the Gentlemans Journal summer party on the roof of the Ham Yard Hotel in Soho. Actress Olivia Grant and Tatler cover girl Lady Violet Manners cosied up under the awning with sister Alice and Princess Dianas niece Lady Kitty Spencer. As for the knees on show, its not the new GJ style: the fellas in the shorts were from the Bermuda tourist industry, offering partygoers a free trip to the island, if their images from the photobooth were chosen as the best. The Londoner is still awaiting the results.. ----- Dave Benett/Getty Images for Hun OLYMPIC diver Tom Daley was singing the praises of his favourite item of clothing at a fashion brand party in Soho last night with new husband Dustin Lance Black in tow. With the amount that it rains in England, at least I can still wear these, Tom told us. I wear them walking the dogs with my friends in Devon. No, he wasnt talking about his Speedos but Hunter wellies, which hosted an event celebrating festival season at The Vinyl Factory. We like to think of Tom in the fields wearing both. A life behind the lens Dave Benett/Getty Images for Mar Say cheese! Last night those behind the camera got their moment in the spotlight, as locations across the city marked the start of Photo London, this weekends photography festival. Wallpaper* editor Tony Chambers hosted a grand dinner to celebrate war photographer Don McCullin, who has just got a knighthood. The crowd at Marks Club in Mayfair included snapper David Bailey and his wife Catherine, pictured with McCullin, and Alexander McQueen creative director Sarah Burton, who designed the Duchess of Cambridges wedding dress. Over in Soho, The Photographers Gallery hosted the 20th annual Deutsche Borse Prize. The winner was Dutch photographer Dana Lixenberg, for striking images of the residents of housing projects of LA. Finally, a flash of Labours Tulip Siddiq in west London. Siddiq took time to support a constituent photographer Elainea Emmott at the launch of exhibition Portraits and Places at St Annes and St Andrews in Queens Park. No selfies in sight. ----- Tweet of the day: Corbyn winning would be incredible, purely cos we could eliminate the national debt by putting his first meeting with the Queen on pay-per-view. Comedian Ahir Shah would like to see a Labour win. ----- Huhne is tickled pink in Notting Hill (Christian Streatfield) CHRIS Huhne thinks the election is pants. The former Lib-Dem Cabinet minister, left, sampled some pink knickers at new Notting Hill boutique Maison SL this week, helped by store founder Susana Lorena, right. Huhne is no longer an MP but let no one say he has gone commando. ----- Getty Images Endorsement of the day: US actor Danny DeVito backed Labour yesterday. UK. Youve got the guy, he tweeted. Vote for Jeremy Corbyn ... show us how its done! #grime4corbyn. Eh? Follow The Londoner on Twitter and Facebook here. V oters are preparing to head to the polls in just weeks for the snap General Election on June 8. The snap poll was triggered after Theresa May announced outside Downing Street on April 18 that she wanted to increase her Commons majority and strengthen her hand in the Brexit negotiations. MPs then voted overwhelmingly, by 522 votes to 13, to bring forward the election from its scheduled date of 2020. Political parties are hard at work campaigning in constituencies across the UK with the hope of securing as many votes as possible on election day. General Election 2017: What you need to know Why did Theresa May call the General Election and when is it? The Prime Minister has called a General Election for June 8 three years earlier than planned. Mrs Mays official reason for calling the election was to increase her working Commons majority of 17 to strengthen her hand in the Brexit negotiations. The PM said Labour, the SNP and the Lib Dems were trying to frustrate the Brexit process in Parliament. She is hoping the election will see her getting a bigger majority in the Commons and tightening her grip on power. An election also means a new manifesto for the Conservatives and that Mrs May would no longer be tied to promises made by the party when David Cameron was PM. Mrs May had to secure the backing of two-thirds of MPs in the Commons to hold the snap election under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, which decrees that elections take place every five years. The next election is now due in 2022. Theresa May calls general election for June 8 Registering to vote and the deadline The deadline for registering to vote in person is 11.59pm on May 22. To vote by post it is 5pm on Tuesday May 23 and for a proxy vote it is 5pm on May 31. You can find out how to register in person here, by post here and by proxy here. How do the parties stand in the opinion polls? The Conservatives were enjoying a big opinion poll lead over Labour at the time Mrs May called the snap election. The latest polls at the time of writing show Labour has gained a modest boost to 34 per cent but that the Conservatives remain on course for a major victory on June 8 with an unchanged 49 per cent. The Lib Dems are third on seven per cent, down from 14. But the biggest loser is Paul Nuttalls crisis-stricken Ukip, down from four per cent to two per cent. You can read more on the opinion polls here. Here is the latest graph showing the poll of polls from Britain Elects providing a clear picture of how the parties stand in the run-up to the ballot on June 8. Loading.... How many seats are needed for a majority? A General Election in the UK involves the individual election of 650 MPs in constituencies in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The voting system is known as first-past-the-post. The candidate with the most votes in each constituency becomes the MP for the area. For a party to be able to form a Government and its leader to become Prime Minister, it needs to win more than half the seats in the House of Commons 326. The party that wins the second largest number of seats becomes the main opposition party and its leader the leader of the opposition. How do I find out who my local candidates are? You can read the Evening Standards list of MPs for all the London constituencies here. Your local elections office will publish a list of all the candidates standing for election in your area. You will be able to find a link to information on your local councils website or you can find the details of your local elections office by putting in your post code on the Your Vote Matters website. How do I find my nearest polling station and what time are they open? Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm. Your poll card, which will be sent to you before the election once you are registered to vote, will have the address of your polling station printed on it. What time are the results? An exit poll at 10pm gives an indication of the result. The counting begins after polls close and takes place throughout the night with the first seat usually declared before midnight. If it is a strong victory for one party, the final results can be predictable at about 3am. Counting can go on until the afternoon of the following day. A petition has been launched demanding BBC radios flagship current affairs programme should ditch its daily round-up of newspapers to avoid bias during the election campaign. Film director and Jeremy Corbyn supporter Ken Loach is one of almost 2,000 people who have backed the campaign for the change to the Radio 4 Today programme. It comes after a shadow minister clashed with presenter Nick Robinson over a Sun front page which featured the headline Crash, Bang, Wallies! alongside pictures of Labour leader Mr Corbyn and union boss Len McCluskey. Shadow International Trade minister Barry Gardiner said quoting the report in a paper round-up was beneath the show, adding: People expect a standard and quality of debate that is higher than 'crash, bang, wallop'." The petition followed an on-air clash over The Sun / Daniel Sotrabji/AFP Getty Images During the on-air clash last week, Mr Robinson said listeners expect us to read out newspaper headlines which we have done for many, many years without backing them, endorsing them or criticising them. But a petition is now demanding the BBC reforms its approach. The notion that broadcasters can include regular segments reviewing the national press in a way that is free of bias and distortion is simply illogical, given the dominance of right-wing titles supporting the Conservative Party's re-election, the petition says. It is time the BBC recognised that the UK has a highly concentrated and partisan national press that does not reflect the breadth of political opinion held by the British public and should not be given a recurring and unchallenged mouthpiece, especially during a controversial snap election period. A BBC source insisted that listeners expect our news programmes to discuss and review the news. The source added: Reading out a review of all newspaper headlines is not bias. I t looks as if the Tories have the voters all wrapped up, and thats true for now, but it could unravel in the future. Theresa Mays strength is based on the uncertainties of Brexit, but she needs to heed the rumblings on health. YouGovs recent polling shows the top issue for the public is Britain leaving the EU, but on 63 per cent its just a nose ahead of the health service on 61. Thats followed at a distance by immigration and the economy on 40 per cent and 38. Having established what the voters care about, we asked them what they thought mattered most to the party leaders. It revealed big gaps on both sides: Theresa May is perceived as placing most importance on Brexit, but with health barely in her sights. Jeremy Corbyn is the reverse. Labour supporters care most about the health service and Tory supporters care most about Brexit, so at first glance it looks as if the two leaders are well aligned with their voters. But its not so: Labour and Conservative voters put nearly equal emphasis on both issues so both leaders are out of touch. Manifesto launch: Prime Minister Theresa May (PA) / Danny Lawson/PA None of this shakes the near-certainty of a Tory victory on June 8, but this disconnect could start to matter afterwards. If Brexit fails to deliver a stronger economy with better public services, the Tories will have five years to flounder with their big majority. And what will happen to Labour? Most commentators treat the election as a one horse-race where all that matters is who will win, and dismiss Corbyn as a laughable loser. But we know that important sections of the electorate really like him, and feel he speaks for them. One of these groups is the young Corbyn leads easily among the under-25s not just on policy but on best prime minister. If the election were held only among the under-fifties, Corbyn could beat May. And Labour policies are supported across the whole electorate. Capping rents, nationalisation and abolishing tuition fees are popular policies, as indeed are most of Corbyns manifesto pledges. General Election polls and projections: May 19 Scorning Corbyn and his supporters could be perilous, because voter groups who feel marginalised have shown themselves capable of flexing their muscles and ending up on top. If Labour after this election ejects not only Corbyn but his mission, without a clear idea of embracing both the centre of politics and the frustrated margins, they could be even worse off. Party loyalties across the spectrum are weaker than ever, and there is no security for any of them. Stephan Shakespeare is the chief executive and founder of YouGov I ts no great surprise that Remain campaigner Jon Cruddas wants to steer the election debate away from Brexit and focus on local issues. In last years EU referendum, 70 per cent of people in Dagenham & Rainham voted Leave, and in the 2015 general election Ukip came second with nearly 13,000 votes, behind Labours Cruddas. What happens to the Ukip vote this time is likely to be decisive. In the Unite union offices which overlook the former Ford Dagenham plant, Mr Cruddas, who has a 4,980 majority, is in determined mood. Labours former policy chief, who nominated Jeremy Corbyn as a candidate in the leadership election, is keen to talk housing and development. He said: People arent silly. They know Brexit is going ahead and we just have to get on with it now. The Tories want to run the election as a debate about Brexit, but in the Havering part of the constituency, it is more about housing. Labour rival: Jon Cruddas at Unites offices / Alex Lentati Given the history of this area it is all focusing on the next run of house-building who benefits and who doesnt. It needs to be part of a social contract. Ken Patel, 46, who runs a newsagents here, said demographic changes mean Ukips time is over: There are a lot of black families and Bangladeshis now I dont think Ukip will get a look in. He added: This is a working town with a big Labour tradition and Cruddas will have a lot of support, but now we have exited Europe I think the Tories could nick it. Conservative party strategists would appear to agree. Lifelong Brexiteer Julie Marson, who is again contesting the constituency, admitted that Tory HQ had invested significant resources in her campaign. Dagenham and Rainham 2015 winner: Jon Cruddas, Labour Majority: 4,980 Mr Cruddas has held the seat since it was created in 2010. But Marsons fight is being managed centrally, a sign that this battleground is seen as winnable. The mother of one said: On the doorstep Labour voters are saying they will not be voting Labour this time, and the main reason is Jeremy Corbyn and the other is Brexit. She added: Ukip is a party with a problem. It is a party without a purpose it has achieved its aim. It is not in a position to sit at the negotiating table with 27 other European leaders. This election is a choice between Theresa May or Jeremy Corbyn. Sitting in the cavernous Eastbrook pub in Dagenham, Ukip candidate Peter Harris becomes particularly animated discussing his record on preventing mosques being built in the area. Loading.... The 50-year-old businessman has campaigned against a number of proposed sites, including in a former post office and the May & Baker Eastbrook Community Club. He believes local strength of feeling will help him chase down Mr Cruddas. Harris wants to attract Labour voters, banking on them not being able to bring themselves to vote Conservative. He acknowledges, however, that the population shift in the past five years could make life difficult. The demographic changes are huge, and the speed of change is massive. But we are not an anti-immigration party we represent all people, he said. Residents talk about the pressure on schools and hospitals. Cheryl Moore, 52, said getting her daughters a school place was a nightmare. She said: Round here there have been a lot of changes. The schools are full up with people way out of the catchment area. Houses, hospitals... So many people are moving out. However, national arguments seem to be at the forefront of peoples minds.Mrs Moore voted Ukip in the last election but said she would now give the Conservatives a go, despite her family being traditional Labour voters. Ukip got what they wanted. Nigel Farage got what he was fighting for. Im going to see what Theresa May says." T heresa May was accused of running scared after refusing to take part in a live prime time TV General Election debate with the leaders of rival parties. Both the Prime Minister and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn turned down the invitation to take part in the ITV Leaders' Debate in Salford broadcast on Thursday night. Scottish First Minister and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, Liberal Democrat chief Tim Farron, Ukip's Paul Nuttall, Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood and Green co-leader Caroline Lucas all took part. Ms Wood accused Mrs May of being too scared to defend her cruel policies and showing weak leadership. Debate: Caroline Lucas, Tim Farron, Leanne Wood, Paul Nuttall, Nicola Sturgeon and presenter Julie Etchingham (Rex Features) / ITV/PA In another swipe at the Prime Minister, Ms Sturgeon said that Mrs May may not have the guts to be here but that her spokesman Mr Nuttall had turned up instead. The Ukip leader was repeatedly rounded on by the other politicians who all backed Remain in the EU referendum. Mr Nuttall was ridiculed for a clash with Ms Wood in which he got her name wrong, calling her "Natalie" - the Plaid Cymru leader shot back: "I'm not Natalie, I'm Leanne." 'Thanks Natalie' - Paul Nuttall calls Leanne Wood the wrong name on the ITV Leaders Debate He repeated his mistake just minutes later. In a wide-ranging debate chaired by ITV broadcaster Julie Etchingham, the party leaders answered questions on health and social care, Brexit, education and the gap between wages and the cost of living. The leaders clashed over Brexit with Ms Lucas issuing a challenge to the Ukip leader on holding a final vote on the negotiated deal. Debate: Paul Nuttall and Leanne Wood come to blows / PA She also hit out at Labour, which she said "basically gave them [the Tories] a lift to the bank" to cash "a blank cheque" on Brexit. Mr Nuttall said only his party is "truly committed to the Brexit that people voted for" in last year's referendum. Mr Farron warned: "Theresa May - backed by Nigel Farage and Jeremy Corbyn - is going for an extreme Brexit deal that will damage our future for generations." Ms Wood said Wales had been disregarded after Brexit, saying: "Gibraltar has had more attention than Wales has had, so it's vital we have a strong team of Plaid Cymru MPs to advocate for Wales's national interests and to make sure that the Tories don't get away with an extreme Brexit that would cause serious harm for many people in many communities throughout the UK." Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas, Liberal Democrats leader Tim Farron, Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood and Ukip leader Paul Nuttall during The ITV Leaders' Debate / PA The other party leaders turned on Mr Nuttall when he tore into the Barnett Formula which allocates extra funding to devolved regions. The Ukip leader claimed he'd create an "EU dividend" from money coming back to Brussels. Leanne Wood interrupted: "350million a week [referring to a claim from the Leave campaign that Brexit would free up 350m for the NHS]. Tim Farron started chanting: "Where's your bus? Where's your bus?", while Nicola Sturgeon said: "The bus will be along any minute." Debate: SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon / PA Mr Nuttall also insisted Ukip still has a role to play, adding: "I don't believe that she [Theresa May] will get the best deal possible for Britain, I believe she will begin to backslide. "I think she will backslide on fisheries, I think she will sell out fishermen once again like a former Tory prime minister did in Ted Heath. "I think there will be some sort of dodgy deal over freedom of movement as well and I think she will capitulate and we will pay a divorce bill." Challenging Mrs May over her decision to miss the debate, Ms Wood used her opening statement to say: "I have a message for the Prime Minister, who I'm sure is watching tonight. 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 "You may be too scared to come here tonight, for your U-turns to be highlighted, for your cruel policies to be exposed. You want this election to only be about Brexit because that means you avoid talking about the real issues like the NHS, the economy and the cuts you have made to our public services. "That's weak leadership - weak and unstable. Mr Farron used his closing remarks to condemn Mrs May's vision of Britain's future - and her decision to skip the debate. "The vision of Theresa May and Paul Nuttall is not the only choice," he said. "The fact that Theresa May isn't here tonight tells you she is taking you for granted. "She thinks she owns this election, owns our future and owns our children's future." T he son of a 101million Euromillions jackpot winner has failed in a bid to force his father to continue giving him money for life. Michael Dawes, 32, accused his father Dave, 53, and step-mother Angela, 49, of being ungenerous following their lottery win, refusing to pay him any more money following a family rift. The Afghanistan veteran took his case to court, claiming he and civil partner James Beedle, 34, had been promised financial support for life. Mr Dawes, who scooped the jackpot in 2011, had given out 30 million to family and friends, including 1.5 million to his son. But he grew concerned that Michael was burning through money, and following a fall-out at his wifes birthday party in 2013 he stopped the payments. The court also heard Michael and James, who gave up their jobs, had demanded a 5 million lump sum from Mr Dawes. But at Central London County Court yesterday, Judge Nigel Gerald rejected the sons claim, saying he was baffled by his spending which reached 20,000 to 30,000 a month at one stage. This was way outside their means, he said. There was no basis on which any rational or normal human being could conclude they could go back for more money whenever they wanted. A mother has been threatened with legal action after leaving a one-star restaurant review on TripAdvisor. Sarah Gardner, 44, posted the negative review after dining at a wedding reception venue in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. The part-time nurse wrote a scathing review of High Rocks restaurant and posted it on the popular review site. She later received a letter from London-based law firm Cohen Davis Solicitors which plan to take the case to the High Court. Giuseppe Cappellazzi, the eaterys manager, claimed the woman did not dine at the restaurant before posting the feedback on March 22, according to the Mail. But the mother since said she was writing about her general experience, rather than a specific date, as she was a regular. According to the newspaper, she said she had bank statements showing that she visited the restaurant and photographs of her family outside it. The solicitors warning read: The material you have posted about our client on TripAdvisor.com is defamatory and therefore unlawful. Our client will pursue you for aggravated damages to compensate it for the full extent of its financial losses. It demanded Ms Gardner provide solicitors with the dates of her visits to High Rocks, the details of the guests that accompanied her and the receipts. The review has since been removed from TripAdvisor's website. A horrified American Airlines passenger demanded his money back after he found cockroaches crawling over the seats mid-flight. Spanish national Josep Baena, 26, claims he was on an the flight from Madrid to Miami in February when he settled down to watch a film, only for the critters to start emerging from the ventilation system. The former Hackney resident, who now lives in Barcelona, says he was told by an air stewardess that it happens often and to report it to the airline. But Mr Baena said he was simply offered a voucher from the airline for $50 a voucher he claims hes still waiting for. A cockroach found on an American Airlines flight / Josep Baena The public relations worker said: It was kind of a very old plane. It started flying and everything was fine, we were being attended to Even though the plane was very, very old it was acceptable. At some point, maybe about three or four hours after the flight started everyone was sleeping. I just took my shoe off and started killing cockroaches in the middle of the plane. Mr Baena took photos of one cockroach on the plane to send to his friends on Instagram, but claims there were dozens doted around his seat. He decided to take action with the airline, saying the experience made the 10-hour flight utterly uncomfortable. He says he has since given up on getting a refund. Public relations worker Josep Baena / Josep Baena Mr Baena added: I was kind of dizzy for the whole flight after. They were serving food but you didnt want to eat it then. Its just like if you go to a restaurant and you see a cockroach on the table youre not going to pay for the meal. He went on: Im just one person, I cant fight with a massive company from the US. They are making a fool out of us. I just took the pictures because I wanted to post it on Instagram and my friends can have a laugh about it but in the end I was quite p****d off. Im always flying with them and this means that I wont be using them again. The incident is the latest controversy to hit an American airline this year. In April, a doctor was violently dragged from a United Airlines flight after refusing to give up his seat. The airline was heavily criticised following the incident and has since apologised. American Airlines has been contacted for comment. M illions of Iranians are facing a stark choice between a reformist and a hardliner in a crucial presidential election. Current president Hassan Rouhani is being challenged by conservative Ebrahim Raisi, who is close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The incumbent, who successfully negotiated a deal with world powers over Irans nuclear programme, is seeking a mandate for sweeping changes to policies at home and abroad. His opponent claims his liberal experiment has failed, with the Islamic Revolution betrayed and the economy moribund. Queues grew at polling stations before they opened. In Tehran women in tight jeans and sunglasses, headscarves barely covering their heads, lined up with bearded clerics in turbans. Both leading candidates are clerics. Reformist voters highlight Mr Raisis part in some of Irans darkest times: in the Eighties he was a judge on the death commissions that sent thousands of political prisoners to the gallows and firing squads. Hakim Pejman, 57, a teacher, said: Anyone who questioned anything was a target. Rouhani has messed up the economy, but [if] it is a choice between him and someone like Raisi, well theres no choice. Yasmin Mehregan, a 29-year-old lawyer, said of Mr Raisi: For a woman like me it will be terrible. He is against equality of sexes, against progress. However Mr Raisi has support among the poor and in rural areas. At a polling station at Lorzadeh mosque in south Tehran, carpenter Hamza Khazem, 32, said: Rouhani has done nothing for people like me. "He has just looked after the rich and people who are Western. Raisi speaks for Iran, for Muslims. Two other candidates are standing, reformist Mostafa Hashemitaba and ultra-conservative Mostafa Mirsalim. If no one wins over 50 per cent a run-off will be held next week. More than 54 million people are eligible to vote. All candidates were vetted by a 12-member Guardian Council of theologians and legal experts. It banned more than 1,600 hopefuls including all 137 women. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is here to rule Cannes with her elegance and beauty. By India Today Web Desk: Her green, Yanina Couture gown might've served as a gorgeous prologue to her Cannes story this year, but Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's latest appearance has managed to take things a notch higher. As she stepped out wearing an elegant Mark Bumgarner gown, Aish did complete justice to her title of being a former beauty queen. The stunning actress who is celebrating her 16th year at the Cannes Film Festival didn't look a day older as she embraced the sheer simplicity of her outfit. advertisement Also Read: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's 16th year at Cannes Film Festival starts with a refreshing change While her effortless beach weaves weren't any different from the hairdo she sported earlier in the day, the vibe of this particular look was entirely different from her first one. The sweetheart neck of the strapless gown looks great, but you know what's better? The colourful-yet-subtle floral embroidery that tastefully balanced the dominant shade of the outfit. Add to that a stunning lip colour, minimal accessories and a pair of gorgeous footwear and Aishwarya is ready to mesmerise everyone including her husband, Abhishek Bachchan who took his Instagram account and posted her picture captioned, "There she is." --- ENDS --- D onald Trumps ex-wife Marla Maples has sparked outrage after posing for selfies at the scene of a crash in Times Square where a teenager was killed and score of people were injured. The 53-year-old was reportedly at a nearby reading of a friends play when a man ploughed his car into pedestrians in New York on Thursday, killing an 18-year-old woman and injuring a further 22 people. Ms Maples rushed to the scene, which was taped off by emergency services, posting a series of videos and selfies from her Snapchat and Instagram accounts. The American actress provoked an angry reaction on social media, with one user saying she was appalled by her reaction. Donald Trumps ex-wife Marla Maples snapped selfies near the site of the bloody car crash / Marla Maples (Instagram) Elizabeth West sarcastically posted on Twitter: Another class act, Marla Maples snapping selfies at the scene of that horrific crash in Times Square. Olga V said: As a mother, I'm appalled you took smiley selfies at the very spot where a girl lost her life. You are too old to be this stupid! What is wrong with you? Another said: Youre a mother. A teenager died within feet of where you were compelled to take selfies. What a cold 'heart' you have. What if that happened to Tiffany? A 26-year-old man, named by police as Richard Rojas from the Bronx district, was detained at the scene of the crash. The US Navy veteran has been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated vehicular homicide and multiple counts of attempted murder. He had been arrested twice for drink driving. In one clip, Ms Maples said: Im at Times Square now. Im going to see if theres anything that can be done. Filming from near the police cordon she adds: Looks like all the rescue workers are here and the governor is on his way. Here at Times Square at the scene of this horrific crash. All the fire and rescue teams are out. Everyones working hard. Ms Maples videos and pictures from Times Square appear to have since been deleted from her Instagram account. She captioned the videos with sending out so much love to everyone. S wedish prosecutors are to drop an investigation into a rape allegation against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. The decision brings to an end an lengthy legal stand-off with the anti-secrecy campaigner, who has lived in Ecuador's embassy in London since 2012 to avoid extradition to the US. However, he still faces arrest by the Met over a lesser allegation of failure to surrender to court if he leaves the building. "Chief Prosecutor Marianne Ny has today decided to discontinue the preliminary investigation regarding suspected rape concerning Julian Assange," the prosecutor's office said in a statement. Julian Assange: The case against him has been dropped by Swedish authorities / EPA Assange, 45, has always denied the allegation that was made against him. He said he took refuge at the embassy because he feared his arrest in Sweden would lead to him being extradited to the US to face charges over WikiLeaks release of 500,000 secret military files. Anonymous activists outside the Ecuadorian embassy in London / Dominic Lipinski/PA WikiLeaks tweeted this morning: "Sweden has dropped its case against Julian Assange and will revoke its arrest warrant." Bubble wrap and packing boxes were brough into the Embassy / AP Former US army intelligence official Chelsea Manning was this week released from jail after serving seven years for passing passed classified government materials to WikiLeaks. Removal vans were also seen at the embassy / AP On Friday morning, Mr Assange tweeted an old photo of himself looking happy. Friday's development follows a letter sent to the Swedish government by the government of Ecuador saying there had been a "serious failure" by the prosecutor, including a "lack of initiative" to complete inquiries. The letter raised developments in the United States since the election of Donald Trump as President, including a speech by CIA director Mike Pompeo describing WikiLeaks as a "hostile intelligence service". Recent public declarations such as this constitute an "obvious risk" for Mr Assange, said the letter. Mr Assange originally faced three sex allegations, all of which he denied. The focus will now move to the governments of the UK and the United States. Mr Assange was on bail when he arrived at the Ecuador embassy in Central London almost five years ago. WikiLeaks tweeted: "UK refuses to confirm or deny whether it has already received a US extradition warrant for Julian Assange. Focus now moves to UK." A Scotland Yard spokesman said today Mr Assange would face arrest if he left the embassy. He said: "Westminster Magistrates' Court issued a warrant for the arrest of Julian Assange following him failing to surrender to the court on the 29 June 2012. The Metropolitan Police Service is obliged to execute that warrant should he leave the Embassy. "Whilst Mr Assange was wanted on a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) for an extremely serious offence, the MPS response reflected the serious nature of that crime. "Now that the situation has changed and the Swedish authorities have discontinued their investigation into that matter, Mr Assange remains wanted for a much less serious offence. The MPS will provide a level of resourcing which is proportionate to that offence." Transforming the Future in Rural Colombia with Local Change Makers Innovative workshops empower youth, protect the environment, and promote resilience in indigenous communities Contact: Jill Watson, 305-448-5111 MIAMI, May 19, 2017 /Standard Newswire/ -- Often rural communities are the first who experience the direct effects of climate change, the pang of malnutrition, and the harsh reality of inadequate health care. To shed light on the most pressing issues affecting children and families, the community, and the environment northern Colombia, Malteser International Americas brought together a group of yet unknown community change makers indigenous youth, school children, teachers, local police officers, and struggling farmers and captured on film their transformation to make a difference, become environmental advocates, and change the course of their future. "We continue to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable Afro-Colombian communities and the indigenous people of La Guajira and Magdalena through innovative projects that involve the very people we are helping, so they can play a role in creating better futures for themselves with our help," said Ravi Tripptrap, Executive Director, Malteser International Americas. An intensive week-long workshop brought together 20 members from the community of varying ages and backgrounds to address critical issues affecting the world around them, and to eradicate stereotypes, build their self-confidence and technical skills, and create change amongst themselves and in their community. "The inhabitants of this region have felt the catastrophic consequences of the changing climate, and malnutrition. As a result, livelihoods have been threatened and families have been hit hard," said Jelena Kaifenheim, Regional Manager Latin America and Caribbean, Malteser International Americas. "Our community-based initiatives build skills, empower, and improve the resiliency of entire communities. Beginning with a series of transformative sessions and cathartic discussions, the group spent seven days working alongside acclaimed documentary filmmakers from Human Pictures, who taught the group how to use video cameras and technology to tell a story, interview members of the community, and edit the film for its final cut. Simultaneously, with their own cameras, the Human Pictures team captured the personal and collective transformation of the group in the short documentary film: "We are the Environment. Communities United." (youtu.be/hMiX0N44Q0U). Going above and beyond a human interest story, the film peers into the lives of the very people whom our health and nutrition and climate change adaptation programs help. "Working with Malteser International Americas, we affirmed our belief that part of politically committed filmmaking is transferring our knowledge and also the means of production so communities can actively represent themselves," said Juan Mejia, Director at Human Pictures. The week-long transformation was celebrated at a pop-up community film festival where the change makers debuted their film and visually express to their community the effects of climate change, the impact of their daily actions, and how they can create a better future for all. This workshop was in part made possible by our partners on-the-ground ABIUDEA (Association of Biologists of the Universidad de Atlantico) and PDPC (Programa de Desarrollo y Paz del Cesar/Development and Peace Program of Cesar), and with the generous support of the German Development Ministry (BMZ). Malteser International Americas has been on the ground bringing relief to indigenous people and Afro-Colombians in northern Colombia affected by armed conflict and internal displacement since 2014, especially in the departments of Magdalena and La Guajira. As a result of the conflict, the Colombians in the region suffer from malnourishment and lack food security. To address these issues, and to help people live healthier lives with dignity, Malteser International Americas expanded its relief and development work in Colombia. Last year, Malteser International Americas was at the helm of international relief and tackled some of the greatest challenges facing the Americas. In Colombia, the organization: Protected 1,200 pregnant women and their unborn babies from the Zika virus by providing prevention kits to often neglected populations where stagnant water is an ideal breeding ground for mosquitos; Improved community-based health in 23 indigenous communities (5,500 people) by training community health agents and saved 700 undernourished children with food support and training on nutrition of their mothers and other women in the community. Provided support for clean-up measures in northern Colombia following floods resulting from Hurricane Matthew and distributed mattresses and 200 hygiene kits to affected families. About Malteser International Americas: Malteser International Americas is an affiliate of Malteser International, the humanitarian relief organization of the Order of Malta. Through our U.S. headquarters, Malteser International Americas provides immediate disaster response and preparedness, as well as vital healthcare and nutrition, and clean water and sanitation to vulnerable people in North America, Latin America and the Caribbean. Visit www.orderofmaltarelief.org to learn more. Jaitley said that a known fact in informed circles was proved by India Today sting operation. Operation Villains of Valley videos: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 By Devina Gupta: Defence minister Arun Jaitley who is in Srinagar to review the Valley's situation took a serious note of India Today's expose on Pakistan's role in choreographing anarchy in Kashmir Valley by funding Hurriyat leaders. Operation Villains of Valley videos: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 Arun Jaitley said, "What was known already in informed circles has been proved by your report. It was known that they were funded from across the border to kill people, destroy public property and what your report has done is bring about confessional statements." advertisement "An Average citizen irrespective of political views we would like him to be on Indian side on this debate but as far as those killing people are concerned, we can't extend the same courtesy to them. They have to be treated as insurgents", Arun Jaitley said. His comments coming at a time when BJP's ally in the state PDP which had pressed for talks with 'all stakeholders' in the valley is re-thinking its strategy. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti told India Today that now a line has to be drawn and those who want 'to keep valley on fire' have to be identified. "We need to differentiate between people. Those who really want to restore peace and normalcy in the state and those who want to keep the valley on fire", said Mehbooba Mufti to India Today. Defence Minister Arun Jaitley also met with Mehbooba Mufti in Srinagar and has made it clear that there is will be zero tolerance on dealing terror agents. Also read: Caught on Camera: How Pakistan funds Kashmiri separatists to burn the Valley - India Today Exclusive #HurriyatTruthTapes: Separatists in panic mode, JKLF's Yasin Malik assaults India Today crew --- ENDS --- Atul Kumar Babubhai Patel died at the hospital with the officials stating the preliminary cause of his demise as complications from congestive heart failure. By Press Trust of India: A 58-year-old Indian who was detained by American customs officials last week for not possessing necessary immigration documents while entering the country died in custody at an Atlanta hospital. Atul Kumar Babubhai Patel was taken in custody by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Atlanta City Detention Center for two days. He died on Tuesday afternoon at the hospital with the officials stating the preliminary cause of his demise as complications from congestive heart failure. advertisement Patel arrived at the Atlanta airport on May 10 on a flight from Ecuador. US Customs and Border Protection subsequently denied him entry into the country as he did not possess the necessary immigration documents, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said in a statement. Patel was transferred into the ICE custody last week at the Atlanta City Detention Center where he received an initial medical screening and was found to have high blood pressure and diabetes. On Saturday, two days after being in the ICE custody, a nurse checking Patel's blood sugar noticed he had a breathing problem following which he was shifted to a hospital where he passed away. ICE said it is firmly committed to the health and welfare of all those in its custody and is "undertaking a comprehensive agency-wide review of the incident, as it does in all such cases". The agency the informed the Indian consular representatives who notified Patel's kin about his demise. The agency added that fatalities in its custody are "exceedingly rare" and occur at a fraction of the rate of the US detained population as a whole. Patel is the eighth such individual who died in the custody of ICE the fiscal year 2017. Also Read: US: Indian-American doctor shot dead in Michigan; family denies hate crime angle Trump admin sets up task force to look into hate crimes Hate crime in US: Sikh cabbie attacked by passengers in New York, turban snatched ALSO WATCH: --- ENDS --- Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma took potshots at Kannadigas for the glorious success of Baahubali 2: The Conclusion in Karnataka. By India Today Web Desk: Ram Gopal Varma is at it again. The filmmaker, who has been relentlessly tweeting about SS Rajamouli's Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, took potshots at Kannadigas, saying that they have "no pride at all". If not for his films, Ram Gopal Varma will be more remembered for his ugly spats with celebrities. Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, which release on April 28, has received fantastic response in Karnataka too. Now, in a series of tweets, RGV criticised Kannadigas for the glorious success of Baahubali 2 in their state. Thundering success of Telugu Bahubali2 in Karnataka being far bigger than biggest of Kannada films proves kannadigas have no pride at all- Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) May 18, 2017 Kannadigas attempt to stop dubbing films is shattered by telugu straight film proving kannadigas have no pride n they just want better film- Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) May 18, 2017 All proud Kannadigas should protest on their own Kannadigas for seeing a telugu straight film many more times than their own Kannada films- Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) May 18, 2017 advertisement It must be noted that Rajamouli faced stiff protest from pro-Kannada groups, demanding an apology for actor Sathyaraj's 'insensitive' remarks about Kannadigas during the Cauvery water crisis. In fact, the groups lead by Vatal Nagaraj sought a ban on the film in Karnataka. After Rajamouli's emotional video message requesting for a peaceful release of the film, Sathyaraj, who plays Katappa in Baahubali, issued a public statement apologising to the Kannadigas. Meanwhile, Baahubali 2: The Conclusion is the highest grossing Indian film and has netted entered the Rs 1500-crore mark worldwide. 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. The film is likely to beat Mohanlal's Pulimurugan in Kerala, which reportedly collected Rs 90 crore. As per trade reports, Baahubali 2 has minted more than 285 crore in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, Tamannaah, Sathyaraj and Ramya Krishnan star in pivotal roles in this instalment of Baahubali too. ALSO READ: Baahubali 2 box-office collection day 22- Prabhas-Rana's epic enters Rs 1500-crore club WATCH Imaikkaa Nodigal teaser- Nayanthara, Atharvaa, Anurag Kashyap's film looks intriguing Movie Review: RGV's Sarkar 3 ALSO WATCH: Everything you need to know about Baahubali --- ENDS --- Gering seniors and former Lincoln Elementary School students Megan Mueller followed by Daniel Marshall walked through the halls of their old school Wednesday. The seniors traveled back to their elementary schools to encourage the younger students and honor the seniors. The seniors will graduate on Sunday at Western Nebraska Community College. SCOTTSBLUFF With chatter of President Trumps proposed $1 trillion-infrastructure package, The Heartland Expressway is gaining traction on Capitol Hill, according to Daniel Bennett of Panhandle Area Development District and Scottsbluff City Manager Nathan Johnson. Bennett, Johnson and Kimball City Administrator Dan Dean participated in a fly-in to the nations capitol at the end of April, joining a delegation from the Ports-to-Plains Alliance. Ports-to-Plains is a grassroots organization of over 275 communities and businesses, including the Heartland Expressway, the Theodore Roosevelt Expressway in North and South Dakota, and the Eastern Alberta (Canada) Trade Corridor Coalition. Their goal is to advocate for a robust international transportation infrastructure to promote economic security and prosperity throughout North Americas energy and agricultural heartland including Mexico to Canada. This time seemed to be different, Bennett told the Heartland Express Association Board of Directors Thursday morning during its meeting at the Scotts Bluff County Administration Building. There was a lot more receptiveness as to what we had to say for infrastructure. Bennett said that Ports-To-Plains lobbyist Jack Schenendorf said a lot of the proposed projects in an infrastructure plan are in urban areas, but the delegation seized the chance to present on a rural project, which touches multiple states and has a significant impact on international trade. The Texas people are all over this, Johnson said. We got to meet individually with their individual congressmen. Johnson said Rep. Jodey Arrington (RTX, 19), a freshman Congressman was very impressive and eager to hear what they had to say. Nebraskas congressional delegation, however, was less impressive, Johnson said. We did meet extensively with (Rep.) Adrian Smith and (Sen.) Deb Fischer, however, we really didnt get much time to meet with (Rep. Jeff) Fortenberry and (Sen. Ben) Sasse didnt give us much time either. I think that was sort of an eye-opener to me, especially a project like this we have other states that are coming to the table and making time for their delegation, but ours is not, so I think theres some disconnect with the districts in the eastern half of the state. Johnson said Smith is still championing the Heatland Expressway, and that many of the congressional staff they met were optimistic about adding the project to an infrastructure bill, but there are still some hurdles. You dont know what to expect on a day-to-day basis in D.C., Johnson said. Just judging by the last 10 days, anything can happen at any given time. But we need to be at the table every chance we get, just to strengthen those partnerships. Deb Cottier, treasurer for the Heartland Express Association and executive director of Northwest Nebraksa Development Corporation in Chadron, said the disconnect comes from Fortenberry being focused only on his district. Id echo that concern, and tell you that its been that way since (Fortenberry) has been in office, Cottier said. He represents his district, period. None of this road comes through his district he doesnt have a more statewide view like Deb Fisher and Adrian (Smith) do. But I so appreciate your comment, because I have felt the same way. That follow-up for you to see that and other people on the board to see that is really important. The end goal of the Heartland Expressway is to link Rapid City, South Dakota, with the Front Range in Colorado, via a four-lane divided highway. Currently there is a four-lane highway from Rapid City to the South Dakota/Nebraska border, which was completed in 2014. NE 71, which travels from Kimball to Scottsbluff/Gering, is also a four-lane. A section of US 26 from Scottsbluff to Minatare is four-lane, and over the next five years, The Nebraska Department of Roads has included a plan to add four lanes of traffic to US 385 from Alliance, south to the junction of NE L62A. That leg of the project is expected to be completed by 2019, and Bennett said that by 2025, there is a possibility that the route will be four-lanes from Alliance to Kimball. The Heartland Expressway Association plans on continuing to attract supporters, who pay dues to the association and help fund the efforts to complete the project. A number of projects, including signage for the project, will be unveiled at ceremonies later in the summer. SCOTTSBLUFF The Soroptimist International of Scotts Bluff County hosted their annual Service Award Program luncheon, presenting $12,000 to local organizations that improve the lives of women and girls. Award recipients for this year are Buckboard Riding Academy, Camp Scott, CAPstone, CAPWN Family Stabilization Program, CAPWN Parent Cafecitos, Delta Kappa Gamma International, Local Theta Chapter (Cradle Catcher Book Program), DOVES, Friends of the Midwest Theater, Girls on the Run: Roosevelt Elementary School, Lied Scottsbluff Library: STEM Club, Life Link/ESU #13, Scotts Bluff County Volunteer Center and the WNCC GED Program. Funds awarded were raised through several events Soroptimists hold during the year, including the Dancing with the Stars, event held in January. The event is one of the groups most popular and successful fundraisers. Soroptimist International is a service organization that works to improve the lives of women and girls by awareness, advocacy and action. President elect Ronda Kinsey presented the funds to each of the groups, who also brought centerpieces to showcase the work they are doing for women and girls in the community. Buckboard Riding Academy will use the money to sponsor several children to be able to participate in their events this year. I dont want children to not ride because their families cant afford it, said Kathy Gatch. Reenie Berry, with Camp Scott, said the money will go for a professional ventriloquist in a partnership with the Gering and Scottsbluff libraries. It will also be used in a new program that helps older campers learn employment skills and scholarships for three female campers. Most of our students would not be able to afford the charge for the five-week camp, Berry said. CAPstone will use the funds to pay for medical exams for children who have been abused. The CAPWN Family Stabilization Program will help low income families with rides to access services in the community and get the care they need. The program was a recipient last year and used the funds for 125 roundtrip rides for single mothers and their children, including in outlying towns such as Lyman, Mitchell and Minatare. CAPWN Parent Cafecitos will continue to help provide comprehensive services to chlidren and families including health, educational services and social services. It will also be used to increase literacy for those in the program. Last year, books provided 229 hours of reading outside of school. After reading an article in a 2007 edition of the Star-Herald about literacy rates in the Panhandle, Delta Kappa Gamma International, Local Theta Chapter decided they wanted to do something to increase those rates. Every child born at Regional West Medical Center now receives a packet with a book, a brochure on the importance of reading to your child at a young age, coupons and other items to help their child start off on the right track. Money received will be used to purchase the most expensive item in the packet - a board book. The Cradle Catcher Book Program has given out 7,506 books. DOVES plans to use the money awarded to help women with legal retainer fees. It is currently a gap in their services because the grants DOVES receives will not allow them to be used for these services. Its vital for women to know their legal rights in these situation, said Courtney Haywood, community outreach educator with DOVES. By giving the survivors this information on their legal rights were helping them take back control of their lives from the abusers who tried to take it away from them. Friends of the Midwest Theater will be able to continue hosting events, providing a free admission to the theater or visiting local schools. Girls on the Run: Roosevelt Elementary School will be able to provide enrollment for girls into the Girls on the Run 5k Run while also teaching them about making healthy choices in their lives and becoming independent thinkers. The STEM club at the Lied Scottsbluff Public Library was more popular than originally expected. Their award will be used to purchase more versatile and durable materials for the club, which is open to all children ages 5-11 as the club aims to break stereotypes of all kinds while encouraging women to enter a career field where they are underrepresented. Life Link/ESU #13 will use funds to help offset the cost of tuition and books for students taking college classes. The Scotts Bluff County Volunteer Center will be able to contine their Snow Angel emergency bag of food for people who receive Meals on Wheels. On days the center cannot deliver a meal, individuals in the program will have food in their homes. Mary Kay Versen, Educational Outreach program director of the WNCC GED program, said the money received is really a gift that keeps on giving. Only 47 percent of children whose mothers did not graduate high school go on to graduate themselves. At the WNCC GED program, over 80 percent who got their GED because of the program went on to college. Members of Soroptimist are actively engaged in professional or management positions in the Panhandle. The local club was chartered in 1958 and meetings are held at the Scotts Bluff Country Club at noon on the first and third Thursday of each month. For more information, visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/soroptimistSBC/. SCOTTSBLUFF The University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing West Nebraska Division is holding a summer camp on June 14-15 in Scottsbluff for high school students interested in nursing careers and nursing students interested in being mentors. Deadline for application is June 5. The West Nebraska Division is one of five UNMC nursing divisions sharing a two-year, $665,266 grant to develop mentorship programs for high school students interested in pursuing careers in nursing. The Nebraska Generation Link to Learn grant is funded by the U.S. Health Resource Services Administration. The grant funds ongoing mentorship, scholarship and clinical immersion activities at the five UNMC College of Nursing divisions in Scottsbluff, Norfolk, Lincoln, Kearney and Omaha. It connects high school students to nursing students and registered nurses with ongoing mentoring, shadowing and other activities throughout the school year. The Scottsbluff summer camp will be held on campus and includes an overnight stay in the Western Nebraska Community College dorms. The program is free to Panhandle high school students and provides a $200 stipend for nursing student mentors for the camp. High school students are encouraged to invite a supporting adult to participate in the camp. A Spanish interpreter will be available if needed for the supporting adult. Nursing instructors and students from community college and bachelors degree in nursing programs will share information about the nursing profession and experiences. Hands on activities will include sterile field training, computerized simulation with high-tech human patient simulators, health assessments, IVs, and casting. Participants also will learn about the services of Air Link air ambulance service and Valley Ambulance Services, Inc. A free, four-hour shadow experience is required prior to the camp and is organized through the co-sponsor, Nebraska Panhandle Area Health Education Center. For application materials and more information in the Panhandle, contact Bobbi Hartshorn at (308) 632-0410, bhartshorn@unmc.edu Applications are also available at http://www.np-ahec.org/. The 24th Annual Billboard Music Awards are all set to take place in Las Vegas on May 21, 2017. By India Today Web Desk: With just a day to go for the 2017 Billboard Music Awards, the anticipation has already gone through the roof. Headlined by Billboard, a publication giant in the world of music, these annual honours have been airing since 1989. So as these awards enter their 24th edition in some hours, here's all you must know about this year's event. advertisement WHEN The Billboard Music Awards will be broadcast live on May 21 at 8 PM on ABC. WHERE The awards are set to take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. NOMINEES Drake and The Chainsmokers dominate the nominations, competing for 22 awards each. Music collective, Twenty One Pilots follows with 17 nominations, Rihanna with 14, The Weeknd with 13 while Queen Bey, Beyonce has raked in a total of eight awards for her monumental album, Lemonade. HOW TO WATCH IN INDIA Indian viewers can watch the Billboard Music Awards 2017 on Vh1 on Monday, May 22 , 6:30 AM onward--with a prime time repeat at 9 PM on the same day. HOSTS Rapper Ludacris will co-host the 2017 awards show for fourth straight year alongside actress, Vanessa Hudgens, who replaces last year's host,Ciara. PERFORMERS Fans are desperately looking forward to the jam-packed list of performers. Over 10 artists are set to perform at the award show including Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran with Nicki Minaj all set to be the opening act. In the honour of Titanic's 20th anniversary, Celine Dion will take us on a trip down the memory lane by performing My Heart Will Go On. Miley Cyrus will make her appearance with her new single, Malibu. INTERESTING FACTS 1. Cher will receive the Icon Award this year. 2. Taylor Swift holds the record for the most Billboard awards with 21 wins, since 2011. 3. This is Zayn Malik's first Billboard music award nomination as a solo artist. Also Read: Cher to receive Icon Award at Billboard Music Awards Selena Gomez to debut Bad Liar at the 2017 BMAs? Celine Dion to perform My Heart... at Billboard Music Awards The Chainsmokers, Halsey to perform at Billboard Music Awards --- ENDS --- A white University of Kentucky student accused of physically assaulting a Black student worker while repeatedly using racial slurs says she will withdraw from the school. The decision announced Tuesday by a lawyer for 22-year-old Sophia Rosing came after hundreds of students rallied on campus the night before. News outlets report the students called for unity and for the university to quickly address the situation. Officials say Rosing has been charged with assault, public intoxication and disorderly conduct. She pleaded not guilty during an arraignment Monday afternoon. The altercation at Boyd Hall was captured on video and posted to multiple social media platforms. 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"Next week I will meet a researcher coming from the defence industry. I want to meet personally my appointees to such positions so that they may introduce to me their strategy; afterwards, he or she will have one month to come up with a plan to recover the Cantacuzino Institute. Romanians are entitled to have their own vaccine factory," said Bodog. Bodog on Friday visited the neuropsychiatric hospital and the municipal hospital of Roman, in the northeastern county of Neamt. agerpres. President Klaus Iohannis on Friday said that the university education system needs profound and long-term changes instead of minor and frequent ones. "We are living several crises simultaneously: on the one hand, the youth have now the lowest share in the overall population in the entire history of Romania. On the other hand, too few are trained at a level preparing them to deal with a fast-changing world and economy. These tough realities can no longer continue. We need not minor and frequent changes, but profound changes, designed for the long term," Iohannis told the tenth Bologna Professor Gala, organised at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace. He mentioned that the first edition of the Bologna Professor Gala took place in Sibiu, when he was the city's mayor. "Back then, in 2007, times were different. There were almost one million students in a tough and loaded system, in which quality was put on trial by a chronic lack of education spaces and an insufficient number of teaching staff. In only ten years, the landscape in higher education has radically changed. We have less than 500,000 students," Iohannis showed. The head of state pointed out that Romania is at the bottom of the European rankings on higher education studies graduation, although there is the stereotype that "everyone goes to college." Moreover, he showed that one of 15 Romanian students study abroad. He also maintained that education and research must acquire a solid and predictable foundation. "Children and parents are fully entitled to know from the very beginning what they can expect from the public education system. Any education reform on an inclusive base must take into account the profile of the current generations and the society development, as well as the legit needs of the teaching staff," Iohannis said. The head of state showed that reforming the Romanian education system could start from the teaching career. "If it were to choose one single starting point for the reform of the Romanian education system, this would probably be the teaching career, through the encouragement of the best graduates to choose the noble mission of training the next generation. Any transformation of the education system and any reform of the teaching career needs, in the first place, models, good practice examples, that can provide expertise, but, mostly, that can generate confidence in the Romanian education system," Iohannis said. He showed that university professors have the opportunity to "change the future and contribute to further passing on the values, the theoretical knowledge and the practical approaches which students will use the rest of their lives." Vlad Chereches, chairman of the National Alliance of Student Organisations of Romania, said that the attending professors aren't "VIPs, but people behind the teaching desk." "This gala shows that models exist," Chereches said. agerpres. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has officially invited Romania to become a full member of its Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) and the NEA data bank. The Romanian Government said Friday in a press statement that Romania's accession to NEA will be formalised with official exchange of letters between Romania and OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria in June 2017. The Government added Romania's accession to the agency is the outcome of many years of cooperation involving Romanian experts and exchanges of expertise as well as good practices with NEA committees regarding the sustainable and responsible use of nuclear power. "I am hailing the OECD decision to invite Romania to become a full member of the Nuclear Energy Agency, which will benefit both parties. This is confirmation of constant progress made by Romania with assimilating OECD instruments. We will do our best for Romania to start accession negations as soon as possible to join the world's club of the best economic development practices," Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu is quoted as saying in the statement. According to the statement, Romania officially submitted its NEA membership application in October 2016. Romania's nuclear programme has undergone evaluation by the NEA Secretariat that involved all the relevant ministries of Romania, nuclear industry officials and officials of nuclear research institutes and the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Romania's Relation with OECD. "The dialogue revealed that Romania is meeting the standards of NEA member states with advanced nuclear programmes. It also revealed a joint interest in cooperation between Romania and NEA being consolidated in the areas of nuclear technology, nuclear research, radioactive waste management and nuclear security," the statement reads. The Government mentioned that with the completion of the accession process, Romania and Argentine will join 31 countries already NEA members. "We are very glad to have Argentina and Romania join the NEA, a step that signals the growing co-operation between the OECD and both countries, and an evidence of their commitment to best practices in the field of nuclear energy," OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria is quoted as saying in the statement. The statement adds that OECD's decision reconfirms Romania's long-term commitment to nuclear power development and international cooperation. Romania has a developed nuclear power infrastructure and national industry using safe CANDU-6 nuclear technology. agerpres. BJP party president Amit Shah is set to arrive in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh this month to being strategising for the states' Assembly elections, which are around two years away. By Ashish Pandey: After its massive victory in Uttar Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party is now eyeing the twin Telugu states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, which send 42 Members of Parliament to the Lok Sabha, combined. Andhra Pradesh (25 Lok Sabha seats) and the newly carved Telangana (17) are both scheduled to hold Assembly elections in 2019, the same year when India will hold the next general election. advertisement The BJP already has a strong presence in Andhra Pradesh, where the party is part of the ruling alliance with the Telugu Desam Party. It is Telangana that is a special target for the BJP central leadership, which is looking to fill the vacuum left behind after the decimation of the once-strong Indian National Congress. Sources tell India Today that in order to challenge the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi, which is running Telangana's first ever government, the BJP is going to implement the Uttar Pradesh model in the southern state. Party chief Amit Shah is already set to visit the state next week and BJP leadership is also open to roping in UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to counter Asaduddin Owaisi's Hyderabad-based All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM). MISSION 2019 While the Assembly elections are still two years away, the BJP has already started its preparations amid buzz that Telangana Chief Minister and TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) is considering announcing early elections in the state. In order to kick start the BJP's election planning, BJP national president Amit Shah is will arrive in Hyderabad on May 22 for a three-day visit. After landing in Hyderabad, Shah will drive straight to a village near the Nalgonda district headquarters and, like he did during the UP elections, will tour the village and have lunch with residents. Shah also plans to hold meetings with state BJP executives, office bearers and constituency in-charges, among others. On May 23, he will visit another village and return to Nalgonda to continue strategy meetings with party leaders. On his last day in Telangana, he will visit yet another village, and will then meet booth-level workers in Hyderabad's Karvan. Shah will then leave for Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh on May 25. UP BIKES TO BE USED FOR CAMPAIGNING Ahead of Shah's crucial visit, over 150 bikes from Uttar Pradesh have been brought to the BJP state headquarters in Hyderabad. Sources tell India Today that the bikes will be used for extensive campaigning aimed at promoting the policies and programmes of the Narendra Modi-led central government. advertisement Party sources also said that the bikes will be used in the two-week long 'Vistarak Yojana', which is part of the birth centenary celebrations of Jan Sangh founder Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya. Vistarak Yojana will be held from May 29 to June 12 and will see over 10,000 party activists meeting more than 50 lakh families in the state. BJP spokesperson Krishna Saagar Rao confirmed the party's plans, saying it is quite likely the TRS government will call for an early election in Telangana, which is why the BJP is readying itself. Speaking to India Today, Rao added, "Telangana...needs (a) BJP government as (the) TRS government has failed to [deliver] on the aspiration of people. Uttar Pradesh chef minister Yogi Adityanath is hugely popular in the state...(and) our first target will be (the) Hyderabad seat..." The Hyderabad Lok Sabha has been held by Owaisi's AIMIM for decades. The BJP is also looking to replicate the Uttar Pradesh model of building the party at the grassroots level. In the recent state election, the BJP had recruited 403 workers, one for each of UP's Assembly constituencies, and had tasked them with building the organisation at the grassroots level. The same strategy will be implemented in Telangana with the party believing that it can emerge as a major challenger to the Telangana Rashtra Samithi party. advertisement ALSO READ | Amit Shah's master-plan for Narendra Modi 2.0 in 2019 ALSO READ | Amit Shah charts master plan for 2019 general election with 95-day-India-tour ALSO WATCH | Amit Shah begins Mission Bengal with meal with booth level workers --- ENDS --- Amid a protest in Brazil over the president's impeachment, a riot control vehicle rammed into a man knocking his wheelchair off the ground. By India Today Web Desk: After an anti-Temer protest came to an end in Brazil, a clash between anti-government protesters and riot police took place in central Rio de Jeneiro on Thursday night, RT reported. The clash got ugly as the protesters threw stones at riot police. Upon taking the hit, the riot force deployed tear gas in order to disperse the protesters. Demonstrators take part in a protest against Brazil's President Michel Temer in Sao Paulo: Reuters advertisement Amid the chaos, a man in a wheelchair was knocked over by a riot police truck which was going in reverse, making the man fall. Watch: Riot police vehicle in Brazil rams into man in wheelchair "This government has no political condition, as well as moral condition. It has no legitimacy to continue... It is necessary that Brazil find a way through direct election," one protester, Thiago Pereira, told RT's Ruptly video news agency. The protesters were left infuriated when Temer gave a statement in which he vowed not to resign and insisted that he is innocent. Demonstrators protest against Brazil's President Michel Temer in Porto Alegre: Reuters Maria de Souza, another participant in the march, said that Temer's resignation is not enough to solve the crisis. "We are protesting against all the law reforms. It is not enough to overthrow the current representative of capital," RT quoted march participant Maria de Souza. The ongoing turmoil in the country is a result of the release of audio recording which reportedly revealed that president and his closest allies engaged in bribery schemes. --- ENDS --- About 37,000 AT&T Inc. workers represented by the Communications Workers of America began a three-day strike on Friday after failing to reach an agreement with the No. 2 U.S. wireless carrier over new contracts. This is the first time that AT&T wireless workers are on strike, which is expected to close retail stores in as many as 36 states during the weekend, the CWA said. Locally, the strike only affects company-owned retail locations in Illinois, according to Katie Nagus, St. Louis-based director of corporate communications. For the region, that includes locations in Belleville, Collinsville, Edwardsville and Granite City. It does not affect stores in Missouri. The AT&T workers are demanding wage increases that cover rising health care costs, job security against outsourcing, affordable health care and a fair scheduling policy. Slightly over half of the workers on strike are part of the wireless segment and the rest wireline workers, including a small number of DirecTV technicians, AT&T spokesman Marty Richter told Reuters. Wireline workers, who work in phone, landline and cable services businesses in California, Nevada, and Connecticut, and DirecTV technicians across California and Nevada have also joined the strike. A strike is in no ones best interest, and its baffling as to why union leadership would call one when were offering terms in which our employees in these contracts ... will be better off financially, Richter said. A union official said AT&T was shortchanging both workers and customers by failing to invest in its core business. Despite being the largest telecom company in the country with nearly $1 billion a month in profits and the CEO earning $28 million, AT&T continues to pinch its workers basic needs and stand in the way of high-quality service its customers pay good money for, Dennis Trainor, vice president of District 1 of the CWA, said in a statement. The groups on strike represent four different union contracts, the CWA said. In March, about 17,000 AT&T wireline workers in California and Nevada went on strike. Shruti Haasan walked the Cannes red carpet in a black ensemble; and it's making us miss Deepika's sultry, plum outfit. By Shivani Chhabra: If you think it is just Deepika Padukone who has represented India's finesse at the Cannes Film Festival--then we present to you, Shruti Haasan. While Deepika's flawless style quotient at the French Riviera has caused ripples in our hearts, Shruti Haasan's red carpet debut fell flat on its face. Picture courtesy: Instagram/shreejarajgopal The lovely actor donned an Avaro Figlio black, ruffled number, which honestly, was a little too regular for the magnificent event. Shruti's dull, ordinary outfit was overshadowed by the brilliant ensembles the red carpet saw. advertisement Add to that, a messy hairdo gone wrong, and you get Shruti Haasan's unflattering ensemble with a pinch of disaster. Picture courtesy: Instagram/kollywoodprime Also Read: Deepika Padukone's most experimental look at Cannes Film Festival is also her most gorgeous yet Shruti, who was at Cannes for the screening of her movie, Sangamithra, teamed up the sombre outfit with a pair of studded, silver Christian Louboutin pumps, which was probably the most peppy element of the melancholic look. Since the look was nothing but grey for the vibrant affair, we'd recommend Shruti to add some colours to her life--and return to the red carpet in a fiery avatar. Picture courtesy: Instagram/shreejarajgopal Also Read: Deepika Padukone's sultry, bold look for the Cannes red carpet is a total winner Shruti Haasan has certainly disappointed us with her gloomy ensemble, but what keeps us hopeful is Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's first look at Cannes which will unfold in its own sweet time. --- ENDS --- The 1904 Worlds Fair, Ulysses S. Grant, a local coffee company wanting to make a buck and Darlene Richs plate displayed on a basement shelf of her ranch home in Affton all have something in common. The white ceramic plate has a picture of Grants son, Fred, on horseback in front of Hardscrabble, the cabin Grant built for his young family and lived in for only three months in 1856 in south St. Louis County. Grants wife, Julia, wasnt impressed by the cabin. She later recalled it was so crude and homely I did not like it at all, but I did not say so. I got out all my pretty covers, baskets, books, etc., and tried to make it look home-like and comfortable, but this was hard to do. The little house looked so unattractive that we facetiously decided to call it Hardscrabble. The family moved to Julia Dent Grants nearby family farm, known as White Haven, when her mother died. The cabin and the land it was on changed hands a few times, including to businessman William Vanderbilt in order to help Grant cover a loan. In 1891, the log structure was disassembled and rebuilt in Old Orchard, part of Webster Groves, by real estate businessman Edward Joy, on a street still called Log Cabin Lane. He was afraid relic hunters would have destroyed it had it been left on the original farm, Joy told the Post-Dispatch in 1903. They say that Mr. Grant himself stood at that front corner and raised the logs the day of the raising, he said. Well, Ive seen a good many log houses down in Kentucky, where the building of them is something of an art, and I must say that in my opinion, Mr. Grant was a much greater warrior than he was an architect. That year, Joy sold it to C.F. Blanke Tea and Coffee Co. for $8,000. The company had it rebuilt on the grounds of the 1904 Worlds Fair. Adults could tour the cabin, placed near the east wing of the Art Palace, for 10 cents. They could buy lunch and drink coffee or tea there, and buy souvenirs including pocket knives advertising Blankes coffee and Grant Cabin Tea, and plates such as the one Rich owns today. They made so many souvenirs they had plenty left over, enough for an ad to appear in the newspaper a couple of weeks after the fair ended, advertising Grant Cabin cups, vases, spoons and other items left over from the fair on sale downtown. For xmas gifts, the ad said. Rich, 51, inherited the plate from an elderly relative, Dorothy Friedrich, who lived in Kirkwood. Since Friedrich was born in 1919, she would have never attended the fair, but its possible one of her parents did, says Rich. That family had lived in Kirkwood and Valley Park. Rich loves tracing her family tree and has a degree in history. She loves learning about the fair. This is the only Worlds Fair item she owns, she says. I knew the plate was special when I saw it, she said. The Missouri History Museum even has one of the plates in its collection, and in 2015 it featured Blanke Coffee Co. in a special exhibit it hosted on coffee. The businesss owner, Cyrus Blanke, did so much business he became the first person in the city to have a whole trainload of coffee delivered to his plant, the museum says. St. Louis was a big coffee producer in the early part of the 20th century, and in 1920, the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce boasted the city was the coffee capital of the nation. But it didnt last. In 1935, the coffee companys assets were ordered sold after some financial difficulties, but the business continued at least until Cyrus Blankes death in 1942. The building still stands at South 14th and Papin streets, and now houses offices and luxury condos. The name C.F. Blanke Building is carved above its entrance. As for the cabin, Blanke wanted the cabin to stay in Forest Park after the fair, but he and city leaders couldnt come to an agreement as to who or how the cabin would be maintained. He even got an offer from an amusement company in Coney Island for it, he told the newspaper back then. In 1907, he sold it to beer baron August Busch Sr., who rebuilt it on his estate on what is now known as Grants Farm. But for decades it just sat on the grounds, falling into disrepair and merely pointed out to visitors. It was restored and reopened to the public in 1978, complete with a ceremony that included historical re-enactors and a 21-gun salute from a rifle squad from Scott Air Force Base. The cabin is not too far from the original location, in what is now known as St. Pauls Churchyard. A plaque there now marks the spot where the cabin once stood. Today, visitors to Grants Farm usually just see the cabin in passing during tram tours, though people can tour it if they book a private expedition tour through the farm. The Grants Farm gift shops only sell one item with a likeness of the cabin on it: a picture book that includes a photo and brief description of the cabin. The book goes for $8.95. There are plans to offer a collectible coin with the cabin on it, which will be available later this year. The coin will sell for $3 and maybe, a century from now, it will help keep the story going. In 2010, Ford was the word which would not be spoken. Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat, had just called the Republican-controlled Missouri Legislature into a special session. The purpose was to pass a tax credit package to keep Ford from leaving Missouri. But that wasnt the way the session, or the bill that would give hundreds of millions of dollars in tax incentives to the automotive giant, would be pitched. This is not about rewarding one company, said state Rep. Jerry Nolte, the Gladstone Republican who sponsored the bill. This is not just about Ford, added state Rep. Sam Komo, D-House Springs. This is about more than Ford, said Missouri economic development director David Kerr. Ameren is the 2017 version of Ford. On Thursday, Gov. Eric Greitens, a Republican, announced that he is calling the Legislature back into session starting Monday. The session is about one topic, said a news release from the governors office: the steel mill bill. But there is no steel mill. There is only Ameren. The St. Louis-based monopoly utility company loaded up on lobbyists this year, with 49 of them listed on the Missouri Ethics Commission website. How many is that? None of the biggest companies in St. Louis comes close. Anheuser-Busch InBev has 13. Boeing has five. Monsanto has three. Greitens didnt mention Ameren in his news release. Perhaps thats because the company gave him at least $130,000 in campaign donations last year. The number could be higher, but because the governor accepts donations into a nonprofit dark money committee that hides donors, its impossible to know. In his call for the special session, the governor says the legislation he is pushing is about bringing jobs to southeastern Missouri, where the closure of the Noranda Aluminum smelter has been devastating to the local economy. But plans to re-open that plant, or lure a steel mill, are speculative at best. And if a company wanted to secure a lower rate for its electric needs, they could do so, as Noranda did, in the Public Service Commission. That process would pass on some costs to other consumers, such as small businesses and residential users, but it would also hold companies such as Ameren accountable for their costs as well. What Ameren wants and what it didnt get in the legislative session is an amendment sponsored by Rep. Don Rone, R-Portageville, which would allow Ameren and other monopoly utilities to set special rates not just for one proposed new steel mill but in other circumstances, too. Sen. Doug Libla, R-Poplar Bluff, believes this legislation would shift electrical costs from its biggest users to much smaller, and powerless, consumers. Consumer organizations such as Consumers Council of Missouri agree. Thats why they successfully fought the legislation in the regular session. All it would do is benefit the utility company. This would leave businesses and families vulnerable to monopoly utilities, such as Ameren, Libla said in his own news release responding to Greitens call for a special session. We cannot now allow monopoly electric companies to control legislation that could put our remaining job providers out of business with unreasonable electric charges. A legislative session that ended in acrimony as Republican senators fought with the governor of their own party now leads to a special session that starts with the same dynamic. Within moments of Greitens calling the special session, one of his chief critics, Sen. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph, was saying the call had the appearance of impropriety because the governor was calling a session to pass a bill connected to one of his six-figure donors. Greitens, of course, isnt speaking the name Ameren. Instead hes telling Missourians that hes calling back career politicians from their summer vacations to do their jobs. Its governance by sound bite. Just dont let the voters in on the secret. If Greitens pulls it off, it will be an odd sign of progress for the inexperienced governor. He might be figuring out this insider, career-politician thing, after all. ST. LOUIS The new Democratic nominee for the aldermanic seat left open when Lyda Krewson was elected mayor is Heather Navarro, head of the local Coalition for the Environment. Navarro was chosen Thursday night at a meeting of the local Central Democratic Committee. The first nominee, Elise Miller Hoffman, pulled out after questions arose about her residency. The special election to fill the vacancy is July 11. The winner will fill a term that ends in April 2019. The open seat is for the 28th Ward, which includes much of the Central West End neighborhood. By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, May 19 (PTI) Former Coal Secretary H C Gupta and two serving senior officials were today convicted by a Delhi court for irregularities in the allocation of a coal block in Madhya Pradesh to a private firm. Besides Gupta, who was the Coal Secretary from December 31, 2005 to November 2008, then joint secretary K S Kropha and then director K C Samaria in the Coal Ministry have also been held guilty of cheating, criminal conspiracy and corruption. advertisement Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar also convicted the beneficiary firm Kamal Sponge Steel and Power Ltd (KSSPL) and its Managing Director Pawan Kumar Ahluwalia offences including cheating. The convicts face a maximum seven year jail term for the offences proved against them. The court decided to pronounce its order on the quantum of sentence on May 22. The court, however, acquitted Chartered Accountant Amit Goyal in the case involving allocation of the Thesgora-B Rudrapuri coal block. CBI had in October 2012 lodged an FIR in the matter, but on March 27, 2014 it filed a closure report in the case. The court rejected the closure report on October 13, 2014 and summoned Gupta and others as accused. The CBI had alleged that the firm had misrepresented its net worth and the existing capacity, adding that the state government had also not recommended the firm for the allocation of any coal block. The court had on October 14 last year framed charges against the accused, observing that former prime minister Manmohan Singh was kept in the "dark" by Gupta, who had prima facie violated the law and the trust reposed in him on the issue of coal block allocation. As many as ten more coal cases are pending against Gupta and the proceedings are going on individually. The Supreme Court had last year dismissed his plea seeking joint trial in all these cases. PTI UK SJK ARC --- ENDS --- By Priyanka Sharma: Ram Vilas was not able to breathe after an explosion. He had accidentally inhaled zinc oxide which later turned into a solid substance and blocked his nostrils. Ram also lost an eye and his head, chest, legs and ears were severely burnt. He was brought to RML Hospital in Delhi, but doctor here could not detect what was blocking his nostrils. Sharing his life-threatening experience with Mail Today, Ram said, "The blast was so huge that within seconds I received so much burn injuries on my body while I was trying to escape. I lost vision from my one eyes and my nose immediately got stuck with some solid substance. I was facing problem in breathing. I was rushed to the capital for treatment but doctors there were at a fix. I later received treatment at my hometown Hapur and I am trying to get out of that tragedy." advertisement Doctors in Saraswati Institute of Medical Sciences in Hapur took a chance to operate upon him. Dr Abhay Kumar Singh, associate professor at ENT division of SIMS told Mail Today, said, "It was one of the rare cases and even reported in the medical literature. This patient, works at a zinc metal industry and while working, he met with an accident due to which he inhaled zinc oxide, which later got deposited into his nostrils and turned solid." "Initially, he was denied treatment at many leading hospitals. When we got this case, we admitted Ram. With proper strategic planning by ENT experts here, we removed the metal pieces," said Kumar. "The surgery lasted for two hours and it was a very challenging one," said Dr V Pvenkatachalam, HoD of ENT department at SIMS, adding Ram is perfectly fine now. --- ENDS --- By Press Trust of India: safety New Delhi, May 19 (PTI) The Delhi Police today launched an ambitious digital Bar Talk initiative aimed at creating awareness for women safety and to prevent drunken driving among the visitors of pubs, bars and restaurants in the city. The digital out of home (OOH) media involving top bars and restaurants in the city was launched at Teddy Boy Bar in Connaught Place by Special Commissioner (Operations) Deepender Pathak and DCP (Crime) Madhur Verma. advertisement Bar Talk has digitized 25 premium bars in the city with over 150 dynamic digital displays spread across popular locations in Delhi such as Hauz Khas Village, Connaught Place, Nehru Place, Greater Kailash, Khan Market and Saket. The HD-rich digital displays with real-time bar offers will display messages from the Delhi Police against the perils of drunken driving besides educating the patrons about its women safety app HIMMAT. Drunken driving cases are on the rise in the city with over 28,000 motorists prosecuted by the police for driving under the influence of alcohol last year. "With this unique display network, Delhi Police can now easily reach out and communicate with the socially active population in the city on real-time basis. The strategic placement of this innovative mode of communication will act as a reminder to people in bars that drunken driving is best avoided," Pathak said. "Bar Talk is the most modern intra net facility that will act like an extended Whatsapp group involving participants to connect to it through wifi by using their smartphones," he said. Its utility and significance will enhance further as more and more bars and restaurants will join it in future, the officer said. The founders of Bar Talk Gautam Bhirani and Amit Bagga, who were present on the occasion, said that it was a part of continued initiatives against drunken driving. The cab aggregator, Ola is a partner in the initiative. "We have been working with key stakeholders including the local police to create awareness about responsible drinking and are glad that a lot of people are using our services as an alternative to ensure that they dont drink and drive," said Deep Singh, General Manager Ola (Delhi). PTI VIT IKA --- ENDS --- Hardeep Sandhu, business mentor at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce and Jane Cull, founder of Digital Caboodle. (Submitted photo) A DIGITAL content agency in Alcester is set to more than double its business as prepares to celebrate its first anniversary. Digital Caboodle was set-up by Jane Cull in June 2016 and offers an end-to-end service in digital content production, social media training and website design. Over the past year, the business has attracted more than a dozen clients and aims to double its workload within the next 12 months. Jane said: Many of my clients are SMEs and I enjoy working with them to develop their digital media and online presence. A large part of what I offer is training clients to self-manage their websites and social media strategy so they are not left with online marketing platforms that they have no idea how to login or update for themselves. Digital Caboodle was set up with the help of the Coventry and Warwickshire Business Support Programme. The programme is run by the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce with funding from the European Regional Development Fund, Coventry City Council, Warwickshire County Council, and the countys district and borough councils. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has announced its verdict on the Kulbhushan Jadhav case today (Thursday) and held his death sentence until the final verdict. The International Court of Justice ruled that, "Pakistan shall take all measures at its disposal to ensure that Mr Jadhav is not executed pending the final decision in these proceedings." Court considers it a failure on the part of Pakistan to present counselors to Jhadav, said President Ronny Abraham who announced the verdict. A link exists between the rights invoked by India and the provisional measures being sought by the state, he continued. ICJ admitted that Pakistan has proven that Jadhav is an Indian citizen, and he did not appeal against the decision that was made against him during the 40-day period. India can only be given relief after providing sufficient evidences as Article 36 of Vienna Convention does not apply on this case, remarked the president. Jadhav, a former Indian naval officer, has been sentenced to death after being convicted of espionage by a Pakistani military court. The international court had conducted a hearing of the petition filed by India on May 15. Counsels of the two states, Pakistan and India had concluded their arguments following which the panel had reserved the verdict. Read more: India moves ICJ against RAW agent Kulbhushan Jadhav death sentence Pakistan had maintained that it was beyond jurisdiction of the court to hear such a case. Counsel for Pakistan Khawar Qureshi maintained that responsibility to punish terrorists lies with all of the countries. Qureshi said that the issue at hand concerns national stability of Pakistan and ICJ does not have the jurisdiction to rule over such case. Pakistan would not be deterred in fight against terrorism and those sponsoring terror could not shake its resolve, the counsel added. Qureshi said that India owns Jadhav as its national and that there should be no interference on Pakistani soil. India, till date, has not presented Jadhavs birth certificate and passport, he added. Earlier that day, a 13-member Indian legal team presented arguments which were branded weak by experts of the law. The international court had then adjourned the hearing and reserved the verdict. Also read: Pakistan reviewing India's petition for Jhadav case in ICJ: Sartaj Aziz This was the second time that Pakistan and India have taken an issue to the International Court of Justice. Earlier in 1999, Indian forces had shot down an unarmed aircraft of Pakistan Navy that flew at least two kilometers inside the territory. ICJ took up the plea filed by Pakistan seeking USD60 million in compensation from New Delhi. However, the ICJ ruled that the issue was beyond its jurisdiction. Kulbhushan Jadhav, an agent of Indias Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), was sentenced to death for his involvement in espionage and sabotage activities in Karachi and Balochistan. After the verdict, India moved to the International Court of Justice against the death sentence and termed the conviction in its application as egregious violations of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. India stated that it had been repeatedly denied consular access to Jadhav. Minister of State for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb has said any reporting on the interim order of International Court of Justice on Kulbhushan Jhadav case should be done responsibly. Marriyum Aurangzeb said sensationalizing this issue by media will not serve the national cause. She said Pakistan will vigorously fight this case without compromising on its national security. The Minister of State said Pakistan hired the best legal counsels in this case and any speculations in this regard are baseless. Later in an interview, Marriyum Aurangzeb said political parties and analysts are free to criticise the government, but they should refrain from doing politics on ICJ's interim order in Kulbhushan Jhadav's case as it is a matter of national security. She said Pakistan has presented dossiers to the United Nations regarding Kulbhushan Jhadav's involvement in terrorist and subversive activities in Pakistan. To a question, the minister of state said that the Indian spy will be provided every opportunity and remedy available under the law and the Constitution of Pakistan. An indigenously developed attack helicopter, specifically designed to meet the requirements of the foreign market, made its maiden flight on Thursday, according to state-run Xinhua. The Z-19E, developed by the state-owned AVIC Harbin Aircraft Industry, took to the skies over the city of Harbin for its maiden flight, with images carried on state television. The helicopter is the latest narrow-body tandem-seat armed helicopter. It is also the countrys first export-oriented helicopter made especially for attack purposes, the state news agency said. It is able to be deployed for battlefield support and a variety of other missions in a complicated battlefield environment during both day and night, Li Shengwei, deputy chief designer of AVIC Harbin Aircraft Industry, told Xinhua. The Z-19E is mainly intended to attack tanks, armored vehicles and other ground targets, flying at very low altitudes, Xinhua added. China has rolled out a series of increasingly advanced equipment in recent years, including stealth fighter jets and the first domestically developed aircraft carrier. By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, May 19 (PTI) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a money laundering case against Karti Chidambaram, son of former finance minister P Chidambaram, and others, taking cognisance of a recent CBI FIR against them. Officials said the central probe agency registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), EDs equivalent of a police FIR, against the accused named in the CBI complaint including Karti, INX media and its directors, Peter and Indrani Mukerjea, and others. advertisement The ECIR has been registered under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), they said. They said the ED will probe the alleged "proceeds of crime" generated in this case and may also attach assets of the various accused. It is the ED which had provided information about the alleged illegal payments made by INX media, based on which the CBI had filed its FIR. The CBI, on Tuesday, had carried out searches at the homes and offices of Karti across four cities for allegedly receiving money from the media firm owned by the Mukerjeas to scuttle a tax probe. The Chidambarams had denied all the charges made against them. The CBI had filed an FIR against Karti and the Mukerjeas 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. The CBI had also recovered vouchers of Rs 10 lakh which were allegedly paid for the services. These vouchers were issued in favour of Advantage Strategic Consulting (P) Limited, a firm "indirectly" owned by Karti, the CBI had alleged. The senior Chidambaram, after the CBI searches on May 16, had issued a strong statement in response to the raids saying 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 had said. The CBI FIR was made out against Karti, his company Chess Management Services, the Mukerjeas (currently in jail on charges of murder their daughter Sheena Bora), INX Media, Advantage Strategic Consulting Services and its director Padma Vishwanathan. PTI NES SKL AAR --- ENDS --- On March 31, when the deadline for states to opt into the Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY) ended, all but four states had chosen to sign up for power minister Piyush Goyal's plan. UDAY is one of the most sweeping reforms of the electricity sector since 2003, when it was formally opened up to the private sector. The new reform was initiated in September 2015, to clean the books of electricity distribution companies of their cumulative outstanding of more than Rs 4 lakh crore. In the past 18 months, Goyal has ensured that states gradually take these debts onto their own balance sheets, thus freeing up the finances of distribution companies to make good on their commitments to invest in system and service upgrades. In the past three years, Goyal has had generation capacity ramped up by nearly 87 GW-both by flagging off new projects as well as by debottlenecking stranded ones. He has also ironed out policy, quality and regulatory hurdles in coal production, raising output from 462 to 554 million tonnes. Even so, the poor health of distribution companies stalls his march. Coal India is holding up production and Indian thermal power plants are running at less than 60 per cent capacity. This is visible in the power outages that many parts of the country still face. However, the early results are promising-in 2014, urban India witnessed 16 hours of power cuts on average. Today, that has been reduced to about 6 hours. When it comes to rural power, Goyal is busy-in the past two years, 13,469 villages have been provided with electricity connections; 4,039 more are slated to get connections in the next 18 months. advertisement Along with oil and gas minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Goyal is putting together a plan to increase energy availability and make it affordable. Both ministers face a series of legacy challenges to this push, including corruption, inefficiency and a lack of overall direction. "From the days of scarcity, we are moving towards days of easier availability," says Pradhan. For his part, the minister for oil and gas has also pushed a new policy-the Hydrocarbon Exploration Licensing Policy (HELP)-which gives private sector companies a free hand in the marketing and pricing of gas. Pradhan aggressively pushed 20 million free LPG connections to BPL families in the past year, under the PM Ujjwala Yojana-which is funded by subsidies forgone by affluent consumers. Photo: Vivan Mehra MoS (independent charge) for Petroleum and Natural Gas When dharmendra pradhan took charge, his ministry was widely accused of being under the influence of corporate players, confidential information was being leaked everyday and the web of fuel subsidies created inefficiencies, not to mention messing up the finances of state-backed oil companies. Today, the leaks have been plugged, corporate players are being kept at arm's length and fuel subsidies are on their way out. "If I create a transparent environment in which decisions are made with speed or I plug leaks, I am not doing anything extraordinary," he says. "Ministries should be run like this only." His success in executing the Ujjwala scheme is seen as a major factor in the BJP's landslide win in UP. Besides running his ministry, Pradhan is also anchoring the BJP's resurgence in home state Odisha, scripting the massive turnaround in its fortunes in the local body polls there, against the BJD. Thanks to his political/administrative acumen, he is in the good books of the PM, party chief Amit Shah and the RSS leadership. Photo: Bandeep Singh MoS (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR Power, Coal, New & Renewable Energy and Mines Piyush Goyal's fiscal reforms of power discoms are yielding result-27 states and UTs signed on to the UDAY scheme, forcing states to take on 75 per cent of the debt on distribution companies' books, in return for a commitment to good practices in power procurement, distribution and billing. His efforts to push 227 million LED lamps cut energy demand by an additional 2 per cent. "We worked on a 3S principle: skill, speed and scale," he says. "This allowed us to achieve the jump in coal production and unlock the power sector." The coal production jump he is referring to is the turnaround in Coal India's production graph. In the past three years, output has climbed to 554 million tonnes from 462 mt in 2013-14. Coal India is now finding it difficult to find enough buyers for its output. The fruits of UDAY would result in 24X7 electricity to all. For this last push, though, Goyal needs to ensure stricter monitoring. advertisement --- ENDS --- Since 2000, India has witnessed 107 Assembly elections and three Lok Sabha polls where votes were cast and recorded fully in EVMs. Now, there is a strong campaign for going back to use of ballot papers in polls. Election Commisison batting for use of EVM in polls: Picture for representation. (Photo: PTI) By Prabhash K Dutta: After the recent Assembly elections five states, there has been a forceful campaign against the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in polls. The Election Commission has been resisting all such attempts and come out with clarifications several times asserting that EVMs are tamper-proof. Since 2000 the country has witnessed 107 Assembly elections and three Lok Sabha polls (2004, 2009, and 2014) where EVMs were used to cast and record votes in all the constituencies and at all the poll booths. advertisement The parliamentary polls of 2004 were the first general elections to be fully conducted through electronic voting machines (EVMs). The incumbent government lost power. Before that the Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry and West Bengal in 2001 were completely conducted using EVMs. ELECTION IN INDIA BEFORE EVM During the first two Lok Sabha elections in 1952 and 1957, and simultaneous Assembly polls, each candidate was allotted a separate ballot box. The poll symbol of the candidate or his party was pasted on the respective ballot boxes. There was no ballot paper yet with names of the candidates and respective poll symbols printed on it. The voters were required to drop a pre-printed ballot paper in the box of the candidate of their choice. The literacy in India was less than 30 per cent and such a system led to fears of manipulation, tampering and booth capturing. The separate ballot box system was replaced with a single ballot box one and now the voters were given a ballot paper with names and symbols of the candidates printed on them. WHY BALLOT PAPER WAS GIVEN UP The printed ballot paper system was first used in the mid-term polls in Kerala and Odisha. The same system continued till 1999 with considerable success. But, the use of ballot papers was time consuming, prone to malpractices like booth-capturing and ballot-box stuffing. Such complaints were too many and in some regions of West Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Prades - three of the largest states in terms of population - booth capturing and violence during elections were the norm rather than exception. With ballot papers, large number of votes was declared invalid due to wrong or incorrect marking. The counting of votes took days. Election disputes took unusually long time to settle causing delay in announcement of poll results. With technology evolving, the use of huge volume of paper also presented ecological challenge in the largest democracy of the world. HOW EVM IMPROVED ELECTION IN INDIA The Election Commission has presented a status paper on the EVM . The poll panel has listed out several reasons favouring use of EVM for conducting polls in the country. The manner of voting by EVMs is much more simpler and voter-friendly as the voter is merely to press the button on the ballot unit for casting his votes in favour of the candidate of his choice. Under the EVM system, there is no invalid vote, whereas in the ballot paper system large number of ballot papers was invalidated. The Election Commission says that in some cases, the number of such invalid ballot papers was even more than the winning margin of the elected candidate. The EVM is auditable, transparent, accurate, secure and helps reduce human error. The machine is electronically protected to prevent any tampering/manipulation. The EVMs, the Election Commission says, are non-tamperable as it is a "stand-alone non-networked, one time- programmable (OTP) machine, which is neither computer controlled, nor connected to the internet or any network; and hence, cannot be 'Hacked'." The EVM gives faster results in hours, which is particularly relevant in large countries like India having Constituencies of several hundred thousand voters, where counting used to take days and weeks earlier. The voting on EVM saves time, energy and money. This system also minimises use of paper and hence, it is environment-friendly. Earlier crores of ballot papers were printed requiring hundreds of tonnes of paper for printing the same and the printing of ballot papers had to be undertaken in large number of Government Presses for very long periods, involving hundreds of election officials in each constituency. The Election Commission says that the innovative use of advancements in modern electronics for voting in the country provides for a fulsome endorsement of the creativity, inventiveness and pioneering acumen of the Indian society at large and serves to enhance the image and prestige of the country in the international arena. advertisement The Election Commission has always resisted the political attempt to go back to the use of ballot papers in elections as it considers the system of "ballot papers was a traditional, anachronistic and archaic voting method". advertisement ALSO READ | How EVM, VVPAT machines work? Election Commission's live demo, open challenge dates tomorrow How EVM tampering row flared up: Truth behind Bhind experiment of Madhya Pradesh ALSO WATCH | AAP's Saurabh Bharadwaj gives a 'how to' in EVM hacking --- ENDS --- The first two years of the Narendra Modi government seemed like a series of unending picture postcard moments as New Delhi engaged the three world capitals that matter the most-Washington, Beijing and Islamabad. One, a distant strategic partner, and the other two, neighbouring strategic challenge and security nightmare. So there was Prime Minister Modi and President Barack Obama, meeting an unprecedented eight times; Modi sharing a swing with Xi Jinping on the Sabarmati riverfront; Modi hugging Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad and visiting his mother at the family home in Raiwind. The Modi government's third year, in some sense, has seen a sobering of sorts, after the first two where India's diplomacy showed renewed vigour and where even relations with Pakistan and China seemed to hold limitless possibilities. That has given way to renewed tensions with Pakistan and regressing relations with an increasingly assertive China. Part of the reason for these tensions is the emergence over the past three years of a pragmatic India-first foreign policy which pursues the three pillars of trade, energy and security with a single-minded spirit, where diplomats are unafraid to roll with the punches and give as good as it gets. So a murderous attack which kills 18 sleeping Indian soldiers is answered by coordinated cross-border 'surgical strikes' on terror launchpads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). A statement read out by a uniformed three-star general the following morning instantly sets it apart from previously unacknowledged raids. It was a politico-military signal to the world and a reminder of the iron fist under the velvet glove. This pugilistic spirit has signalled the end of business-as-usual. India entered the Missile Test Control Regime (MTCR) last June but failed to be disheartened by China stymying its attempts to enter the elite Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty club. The NPT is a goal on its way to the next one, a permanent seat at the UN Security Council. India has called attention to Beijing's attempts to block the UN Security Council's move to declare Jaish-e-Mohammad supremo Masood Azhar, a global terrorist, even as it has ploughed a lonely furrow by boycotting China's One Belt One Road initiative in Beijing because it impinges on Indian sovereignty. advertisement Like the Indian PMs before him, Prime Minister Modi sets the tone for Indian diplomacy. But few predecessors have exhibited the kind of stamina Modi has by personally setting a scorching pace of global capital hopping as he outlines India's foreign policy priorities. Talks with Islamabad remain in stasis as they have post the January 1, 2016, attack on the Pathankot air base. But the government has quietly boosted ties with other neighbours-Nepal, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Myanmar and Sri Lanka-and even got all of them on board to boycott the SAARC summit scheduled for Islamabad last November. Prime Minister Modi's visit to Tel Aviv this July, the first ever by an Indian head of government since ties were established with Israel 25 years ago, will finally bring its close ties with the Jewish state out of the closet. It will make India one of a handful of large countries to have excellent relations with three civilisational adversaries in the Middle East-Iran, Saudi Arabia and Israel. Modi is ably aided by vice-captain Sushma Swaraj, who arguably runs the biggest public diplomacy drive by any world foreign minister and is not averse to going the extra mile. Last year, she asked the naval spokesperson to steer the closest Indian warship towards a citizen in distress in the Gulf of Aden. A metaphor for her government's new reimagined goal-oriented diplomacy. Photo: Yasbant Negi Photo: Yasbant Negi MINISTER FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS The past year has been a testing one for Swaraj's ministry. The Modi government's third year offered a reality check to the giddy start, where even relations with Pakistan and China seemed to hold limitless possibilities. That said, Swaraj, like her predecessors, hasn't had a prominent role to play in crafting foreign policy as PM Modi, like his predecessors, directly calls the shots on foreign policy, drawing on the Prime Minister's Office and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, as well as Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar. Yet Swaraj hasn't been content to merely sit on the sidelines. She has carved a unique public diplomacy role for herself and burnished her reputation as a citizens' minister. From coming to the aid of tens of thousands of Indian workers laid off in Saudi Arabia to saving a couple's honeymoon to Europe at the last minute, no cry for help from the Indian citizen has been seen as too small for the external affairs minister. She has also made a mark on the world stage, giving a stirring speech in September at the UN General Assembly that summed up Pakistan's misdemeanours. Pointing out that Modi had twice offered the hand of friendship to Nawaz Sharif, Swaraj asked, "What did we get in return? Pathankot, Bahadur Ali and Uri." advertisement -Ananth Krishnan --- ENDS --- Brian Rogers Rogers Rabbits www.sunlive.co.nz The days are cooler and shorter and the usual seasonal arguments are flying. Mankind and womankind are debating the most vexing questions, some that have divided the human race for generations. Who has the largest share of the duvet? Should eggs be kept in the fridge or in the pantry? Is Man Flu worse than ordinary flu? The correct answers, respectively are: The dog, the fridge and yes. Heres why. The dog is sneaky and gets into bed first. The dog does not stay up after dinner to read SunLive or Newsie or watch David Attenborough. Although she does keep an eye on Duck Dynasty and has bad dreams after watching My Cat from Hell. Therefore the dog, in bed early, will always score the bulk share of the duvet and the humans just have to fit themselves around whats left. Unless, of course, you have a real dog that sleeps in a kennel or a crate, in which case the duvet can be divided two ways instead of three and you can go back to harassing your spouse over the remaining bedroom real estate. The egg argument: Yes, eggs should be kept in the fridge. Theyre best stored below 15 degrees Celsius. Depending on where you live in the country and how warm your house is most are too warm for safe storage of eggs and other food products. The debate raged in Aussie recently, in the wake of the Debbie Cyclone, when the Queensland department of health advised eggs be thrown out if theyd been out of refrigeration for more than four hours. There was a clucking of public outcry, with many responding that they always kept their eggs in the cupboard and they were better for cooking at room temperature. This led the health officials scrambling to declare that eggs should be kept at below 15 degrees Celsius and for most parts of the country, that meant the fridge. Raw eggs remain one of the most frequent sources of salmonella outbreaks. The official health department advice contains some surprising pointers to prevent with salmonella infection, a bacteria that elicits a severe form of gastroenteritis that can be deadly in children, the elderly and pregnant women. Never wash an egg, as this might actually help salmonella transfer inside. Always throw away eggs with cracked or dirty shells, both of which increase the risk of salmonella infection. There is one exception RR believes is allowable to the Eggs in Fridge rule in extreme cases; if eggs are preventing other vital food products from being in the fridge, such as healthy brown ales or fermented grape extracts, then the eggs may be temporarily relocated until the said hydration formulas have reached optimal temperature. Man Flu: Its looking more likely that Man Flu is indeed more severe than ordinary, less dangerous, standard girl flu, otherwise known to men as a light headcold. According to a study by Stanford University School of Medicine, men may suffer more when struck down by the flu, because high levels of testosterone can weaken their immune response. Women generally had a stronger antibody response to the flu shot, giving them greater protection against the virus. Here at RR Headquarters we therefore recommend that if any men look a bit pale, achy, thirsty or complain they havent been fishing for a while, that immediate steps are taken to remedy those ailments. And speaking of fishing, our mate Harvey drew quite a response last week. Harvey Wilson Sun readers flooded our mailbox with entries for the Find Harvey game we played last week in the The Weekend Sun newspaper. Harvey Wilson was pictured in the Fishing Gossip, with a couple of trout. We fished out ten winners who have won Sun beanies, theyre on the way to you: Lynley Purcell, Robert Parry, Glen Holloway, David Owen, Yvonne Harvey, Maureen Argyle, Terry Keillor, Kay Mitchell, Alastair Lock, and Steve Smyth were among the hundreds who correctly located Harvey on the fishing page and were the lucky ten drawn from the correct entries. Thanks to all those readers who messaged. Many asked about Harveys rainbow trout. Harveys fish were caught somewhere on the Waikato, at one of his top secret locations. Too swift for his favourite flyrod, he caught them on a spin rig using a perch lure. Remember fishos, send your catch photos to us, and every one published each week wins the FogDog fish batter prize packs. We hear there are plenty of fish being caught in the Bay, so send in your photos and keep on winning with the Sun. Where is Harvey fishing this week? Have a troll through the pages of The Weekend Sun and spot Harvey. Email brian@thesun.co.nz with your answers. Put Heres Harvey in the subject line and tell us the four pages hes featured on this week - excluding this page. Include your address for prizes. Easy as. Our prize beanies are believed to ward off Man and Ordinary Flu, keep your eggs warm and are particularly useful if youve been deprived of duvet cover. At least your head will stay warm. brian@thesun.co.nz Spotlight on... with Janne GuitarGirl I first saw this talented young woman perform a couple of years ago, and she literally blew me away when I saw her using a piece of Marley downpiping for a didgeridoo. She looked like she had a complete orchestra around her with guitar, ukulele, flute, and various percussion instruments. When she sang I was delighted to hear she had a great voice too! Alice often performs at an open mic/jam night on Thursday nights at the Mount Social Club, where she is joined by many of her talented friends and other performers. I remember performing there one night, doing a cover of a North American Indian protest song, and she pulled out a flute and breathed a magic instrumental into the song. I was amazed to see one of her original songs online in a video clip, where she is playing flute underwater while swimming along with a beautiful mermaid tail, her body undulating like a dolphin. I was fortunate to be present at a birthday party held at No 1 The Strand last year, where she and her brother performed a brilliant set and entertained family and friends. Come along and see Alice perform at her album release party at the Mount Social Club on Saturday, May 27from 1-4pm. Do you want to have a say in the future of the Western Bay? Western Bay of Plenty District Council is calling on residents to help shape the Districts future from the comfort of home, work, or wherever they want. Council has recently launched Connect: Peoples Panel - an email based group where Western Bay residents can share their opinions on Council plans, policies, and activities. The Peoples Panel is another online tool Council is using - along with the Have Your Say Western Bay portal for projects already out for consultation - to engage with members of the community, particularly those whose voices arent often heard. Panellists will be sent email communications and occasional surveys on issues and projects Councils working on. The feedback will be used as a sounding-board for the decision making thatll shape the Districts future. At the moment were crossing the District with our Long Term Plan (LTP) 2018 - 2028 community conversation events but were conscious that not everyone has the time to attend these in person, says Mayor Garry Webber. The Peoples Panel is a way of allowing anyone with access to a computer or smartphone to have their say on projects and topics thatll shape the District - how and when it suits them. Taking part in surveys is optional, but when panellists do get involved Council will share the results online and keep participants in the loop about whats going on. Thats why when talking about the Long Term Plan were using the tag line Its About You - because it absolutely is, says Mayor Garry. The work Council does is for the good of the community and we want to make it convenient and easy to engage with us and feel included in our shared direction. To join the Peoples Panel and have your say visit https://connect.westernbay.govt.nz/. Two bodies have been recovered so far and several others are still missing as divers are finding it hard to go deep into Sanvordem river due to presence of crocodiles. Two bodies have been recovered so far from Sanvordem river. By India Today Web Desk: The search and rescue operation launched after an old bridge collapsed in South Goa on Thursday evening has been affected by the presence of crocodiles in the river. Bodies of two people have been recovered so far and several are still missing as divers are finding it difficult to go deep into the Sanvordem river due to fear of crocodiles in the water. advertisement Search operations resumed today morning to locate missing people who fell into the river after the dilapidated Portuguese-era bridge across the river Sanvordem collapsed. Dozens had gathered on the bridge to watch a man trying to commit suicide. Two bodies were recovered so far while about 20 swam to safety. A few others are still said to be missing. "The rescue operation began at 7.30 am today and efforts are on to check whether there are any more bodies in the water," Superintendent of Police (South) Shekhar Prabhudesai told PTI. "The search operation was called off around midnight yesterday due to poor visibility. The divers from Indian Navy and a private agency which mans Goa's beaches, have been pressed into service to search for the bodies," he said. A spokesman of the Indian Navy today said the collapsed part of the bridge was removed last night. "Diving was stopped at around 3.30 am on the request of the collector. The diving operation has resumed this morning." He said since crocodiles are known to be present in the river water, precautions are being taken for the safety of the divers. "As per local inputs, there may be two more persons missing. A helicopter sortie is being undertaken along the river for aerial search," he said. ALSO READ: Goa: Bridge over Sanvordem river collapses, 2 killed, several missing Mahad bridge collapse: Presence of over 100 crocs hampering rescue workers' progress --- ENDS --- The scientific identifiers the Ministry of Primary Industries is considering using to describe the unique properties of New Zealands Manuka honey will be released to the industry, with the consultation period extended. The MPI is working on a scientific definition for NZ Manuka honey to prevent fraud on international markets. Because the medically active honey sells at a premium, other honey producers have been claiming their product is Manuka honey and New Zealand exporters have been unable to immediately prove the claims are fraudulent. Our initial release for consultation was of a summary science report that explained the science and the scientific process we carried out over the three years to arrive at the definition, says deputy director-general Bryan Wilson. However, stakeholders want to delve deeper and review the data. We are now making the data related to honey samples, nectar samples and marker stability available. The proposed definition uses five attributes, four chemicals and a DNA marker that, when present in honey at specified levels, provides clear evidence that the honey is New Zealand Manuka honey. It is important we listen to feedback from our stakeholders and provide them with the information they require to have their say on these proposals, and we welcome submissions based on the additional release of scientific data. MPI has extended its consultation on a scientific definition to authenticate New Zealand Manuka honey and the proposed new requirements for the export of bee products to June 13, 2017. Consultation has been running for five weeks and was due to close on Tuesday, May 23, but following feedback from stakeholders during this time we have decided to release all of our scientific data. MPI will hold an extra public meeting in Wellington to give stakeholders the opportunity to ask questions. Details will be posted on the MPI consultation page. The extension to the consultation period will mean the new export requirements including the definition are proposed to come into effect on August 21. MPI is still working through a process to ensure the data is in a usable format and meets privacy, commercial, and confidence requirements. The data is expected to be available by May 25. A Manuka Honey Science Programme to develop criteria for identifying Manuka honey from New Zealand ran from 2014-16. The programme involved contracting experts to contribute to the research and analysis. Collecting over 800 honey samples, representing over 20 different honey types, along with honey samples from 16 different countries identifying attributes found in the Manuka plant that flow through to the honey. Developing and validating test methods to make sure we can reliably and accurately test for attributes statistical analyses to determine the identification criteria for monofloral or multifloral manuka honey. Paengaroa based Manuka honey products producer Comvitas technical manager Tony Wright says its a good thing. The more information we have to consider the better our submissions will be, says Tony. Yes, we need to keep it under control No, we need to learn to live with it If we want to make New Zealand a bully-free country then we are all going to have to work together. Ahead of Bullying-Free NZ Week which takes place across the country from May 22-26, the Bullying Prevention Advisory Group launched a new website offering online resources to support schools, parents and their communities this week. The www.BullyingFree.NZ resources include a new parent pack with information and tips for parents, carers and whanau on how to deal with and talk to children about bullying issues. The website also includes resources for professional development workshops that step through what bullying is, responding to bullying behaviour, and bullying-prevention. Bullying-Free NZ Week is an annual event run by the BPAG, a collaboration of 18 organisations which includes representatives from across the education, social, justice and health sectors, as well as Netsafe and human rights advocacy groups. This years theme is NZ students with solutions - working together to end bullying, acknowledging the importance of listening to students voices and experiences, and the need for everyone to work together to prevent bullying behaviour. Lorraine Kerr NZ School Trustees Association president says the awareness week is a chance to bring the whole school together to talk about the issue. Real change happens when everyone shares responsibility for making sure schools are safe and inclusive. Trustees have an important role in making sure their school takes steps to involve staff, students, parents and carers in developing robust processes that build a culture of inclusion and respect. The week ends with Pink Shirt Day, 26 May, when New Zealanders speak up, stand together to stop bullying and celebrate diversity in schools, workplaces and communities. During the week, schools can run classroom activities, get students talking about bullying, and review their anti-bulling policy. Secretary for Education Iona Holsted says all students need to feel safe and secure at school. School leaders, teachers, students and whanau need to work together to ensure that this is the case. Unfortunately, bullying is a serious issue all schools will face at one time or another, which has a significant impact on students wellbeing and learning. These new resources will help the whole school community leaders, teachers, students, parents and whanau to share a common understanding and commitment to tackling bullying behaviour. NZ Police Prevention Manager: Community Focus Inspector Paula Holt says it is important schools work with parents and the wider school community to get the message out that bullying is never OK. Police are committed to working with parents and communities, in particular schools, to help reduce bullying, she adds. Bullying doesnt stop at the school gate. Adults have a role in modelling the behaviour they want to see at school and home, and effective prevention needs the support of the whole school community working together to build an environment where everyone feels safe. While Netsafe chief executive officer Martin Cocker says increasingly bullying amongst students doesnt just happen at school. Often if the bullying is happening offline, its happening online too. But one of the difficulties with online bullying is children can feel like theres no escape because it doesnt stop when they leave the school grounds, explains Martin. Its important that parents and carers teach kids how to stay safe and where to get help if they need it, as well as how to behave positively toward each other online and offline. An investigating judge has said that there is a case to answer against former councillors in Benalmadena for sanctioning illegal payments to the ex-boss of Puerto Marina, which the council owns. According to court papers, in July 2011, former councillor of the Union Centro Benalmadena party (UCB) and deputy mayor, Francisco Salido, ordered that he should be paid 600 euros expenses a month by the municipal company that runs the Puerto Marina port, a company that he was also in charge of. The investigators report says that he had no right to do this as the decision was made without the agreement of the shareholders of the municipal company and came on top of the 44,500 euros a year he already earned as deputy mayor and another 210 euros a month he already claimed in expenses. The document goes on by explaining that eighteen months later, in December 2012, a board meeting of the Puerto Marina company allegedly waved through approval for the payments that Salido was making to himself. It claims that the mayor of Benalmadena at the time, Paloma Garcia Galvez, of the PP party, committed an offence by allowing the payment to be approved retrospectively by the board, when a full shareholders meeting should have overseen the decision. Garcia had entered into coalition with Salidos UCB to force out the ruling PSOE party about the time the irregular extra payments to him were approved by the Puerto Marina board. A PSOE councillor on the ports board at the time said in the 2012 meeting that it was totally illegal to ratify the payment. Garcia has said that she is calm about the situation, claiming it was an administrative confusion. Aena, the Spanish airport authority, have set out five new entrances for vehicles to access the express car park at Malaga airport, which is located outside terminals two and three, after finalising the work to the road outside departures. However, rather than alleviating congestion, as was intended, the change caused extended queues which reached such a length that security eventually lifted the barriers at the car parks entrance completely. The express car park was originally created to facilitate the dropping off process with 300 parking spaces, where drivers can park for free, for up to 15 minutes. There are five entrances and seven exits to the car park which were installed in order to avoid jams like the one seen on Tuesday. However, if drivers stay longer than 15 minutes, they have to pay for the full duration of their stay, which has been a cause of confusion for some, and has meant that the new changes have led to more disruption. Aena reiterates that the new system has been designed to complement the reorganisation of all the roads surrounding the airports terminals, after last summer saw frequent tailbacks. The authority also insists that the system, similar to those employed at Alicante and Bilbao airports, overall makes the dropping off process easier, and accept that the barriers may have to be lifted occasionally, like they were on Tuesday, when there is heavy traffic flow. However, the new system has received a lot of criticism, most notably from many car hire companies whose customers are forced to use this system too. Felix Pinar, president of the association of car hire businesses in Andalucia, described the queues on Tuesday as worrying, considering it was only a week day, which does not bode well for the high season. Our clients were ringing us worried that they would miss their flight and so just left the cars anywhere they could. This situation is unheard of for an airport like Malagas, we are creating a very bad impression, he complained. The GST regime will have five slabs including the zero-tax rate for items of basic needs. As result items like AC and refrigerator will become cheaper while SUVs will cost more after July 1. By India Today Web Desk: From July 1, prices of items will change as the Goods and Services Tax is slated to be implemented from that day. The GST council has finalised the tax slabs for all the articles of consumption. Under new tax regime, several items including air-conditioner and refrigerator will get cheaper while cars with big capacity engines and SUVs will cost more. advertisement According to GST slabs, seven per cent of the items fall under the exempt list while 14 per cent have been put in the lowest tax bracket of 5 per cent. Another 17 per cent items are in 12 per cent tax bracket, 43 per cent in 18 per cent tax slab and only 19 per cent of goods fall in the top tax bracket of 28 per cent. This means that as many as 81 per cent of the items will attract 18 per cent or less GST. NO GST SLAB Foodgrains, milk and other articles of daily use have been exempted from taxation under the GST regime. These items are: foodgrains, gur, milk, eggs, curd, lassi, unpacked paneer, natural honey, fresh vegetables, fruits, atta, besan, maida, vegetable oil, Prasad, common salt, contraceptive, bread, bindi, vermillion, stamp, judicial documents, printed books, bangles and handloom products. 5 PER CENT GST SLAB The items that are used daily but are not considered articles of basic necessity are taxed at 5 per cent under the GST regime. These items are: sugar, tea, coffee, edible oil, coal, skimmed milk powder, milk food for babies, condensed milk, packed paneer, newsprint, umbrella, PDS kerosene, LPG, broom, fish fillet, cream, frozen vegetables, spices, pizza bread, juice, sabudana, coal, medicines, stent and lifeboat. 12 PER CENT SLAB The items that are not essential but used by large number of households and people will attract 12 per cent GST. These items are: butter, ghee, mobile phones, cashew, almonds, sausages, fruit juices, packed coconut water, agarbatti, frozen meat products, animal fat, mixtures, ayurvedic medicines, tooth powder, colour books and sewing machine. 18 PER CENT SLAB The articles are considered to be used by middle class people will attract 18 per cent GST from July 1. These items are: hair oil, soap, toothpaste, capital goods, industrial intermediaries, pasta, corn flakes, jams, soups, ice-cream, toilet paper, facial tissues, iron and steel, fountain pen, mineral water, camera, speaker, icecream, envelops and instant food items. 28 PER CENT SLAB Such items, which are considered as luxury goods or health hazards will attract 28 per cent GST under the new taxation regime from July 1. advertisement These articles are: consumer durables, cars, cement, chewing gum, custard powder, pan masala, perfume, shampoo, make-up items, fireworks, motorcycles, paint, deodorant, shaving cream, hair dye, washing machine, vending machines, vacuum cleaner, hair clippers and dish washer. WHAT BECOMES CHEAPER Foodgrains, cereals and milk will cost less from July 1 when the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is rolled out. Currently in many state VAT is charged on food-grains including wheat and rice and also on milk products. However, sweets will attract five per cent GST but it will still become cheaper at places where VAT is charge right now. Common use products like hair oil, soaps and toothpaste will be charged at 18 per cent GST instead of present 22-24 per cent tax. Daily-use items like sugar, tea, coffee (barring instant coffee) and edible oil will attract the lowest tax rate of 5 per cent. So, there won't be much difference in pricing after GST is rolled out as these articles attract almost the same tax at present. GST regime will make items of common use cheaper. (Photo: Reuters) Coal will attract GST of 5 per cent as against the current tax incidence of 11.69 per cent. But, a clean energy cess will be levied on coal, lignite and peat production at the rate of Rs 400 per tonne. advertisement ACs and refrigerators will fall in the 28 per cent tax slab. But, they are likely to be cheaper as they currently attract 31-32 per cent tax. WHAT WILL BECOME COSTLIER Aerated drinks and cars will be in 28 per cent bracket. On top of the peak rate, small cars will attract a 1 per cent cess, mid-sized cars will attract 3 per cent and luxury cars 15 per cent. Pan masala gutka is in 28 per cent GST bracket. It will further attract a 204 per cent cess. With regard to other pan masalas the cess will be 60 per cent. In case of tobacco, the levy will vary from 71-204 per cent. Scented zarda and filter Khaini will attract 160 per cent cess over and above 28 per cent Filter and non-filter cigarettes not exceeding 65 mm will attract cess of 5 per cent plus Rs 1,591 per 1000 sticks. Non-filter cigarettes exceeding 65 mm but not exceeding 70 mm will attract cess of 5 per cent plus Rs 2,876, that for filter cigarettes the levy is 5 per cent plus Rs 2,126 per thousand sticks. advertisement For cigars, a hefty levy of 21 per cent or Rs 4,170 per 1000 sticks, whichever is higher, would be levied. The GST council is likely to take a final call on the GST rate for services today. (Photo: Reuters) Branded gutkha will be slapped with a cess of 72 per cent, while smoking mixtures for pipes and cigarettes will attract a levy 290 per cent. The consumers of aerated water will pay 12 per cent cess over and above GST while people buying large cars will to cough up 15 per cent cess from July 1. While small petrol cars with engine less than 1200 cc will attract 1 per cent cess, that with a diesel engine of less than 1500 cc will attract 3 per cent cess. Large cars with engine greater than 1500 cc and SUVs with length more than 4m and engine greater than 1500 cc will attract cess of 15 per cent. Motorcycles with engine of more than 350 cc will attract 3 per cent cess and an equal amount of levy will be applying to aircrafts for personal use and yachts. On gold, states demanded a 4 per cent tax even though the rate is not among the 5, 12, 18 and 28 per cent approved bands. ALSO READ | Milk exempted from GST, 81 per cent items taxed at 18 per cent: Full list of rates on 1205 items ALSO WATCH | GST 2017 offers huge relief for common man: No tax on common commodities --- ENDS --- By Press Trust of India: Colombo, May 19 (PTI) An unidentified gunman today openedfire on police in Sri Lankas former LTTE stronghold of Kilinochchi, a day after Tamils observed the eighth anniversary of the end of the three-decade long civil war. Several police officers of the Kilinochchi police stationin the war-ravaged northern province escaped unhurt in the incident that that took place in the wee hours. advertisement The army and police officers have launched a search operation in the area to find the suspect who fled after attacking the officers. The military and the police conducted a joint cordon and search operation in the former LTTE stronghold of Kilinochchi this morning following an alleged shooting at a police vehicle. Police said part of a gun was found nearby. Tamils in war-ravaged northern and eastern provinces yesterday observed the eighth anniversary of the end of the three-decade brutal civil war in the country in 2009. The Tamil Genocide Remembrance day was marked by various events at Mullivaikkal, the location of the final battle between the Lankan troops and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). There was tension in the commemoration ceremony between the hardline and moderate Tamil leadership, Tamil sources said. Northern province Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran had criticised the presence of around 150,000 military personnel in the north. "The truth is that there is no need for army, navy and air force," he said. The presence of military with hostile intentions is only detrimental to the peace, security and wellbeing of the people, Wigneswaran said. "I have lit this flame, raising above the political party limits and boundaries. This Remembrance Day should be marked so also in the future," he said while lighting the common flame of sacrifice with four civilians whose relatives are missing. Opposition Leader R Sampanthan was confronted by the people who accused him of having a soft policy towards the government, the sources said. PTI CORR CPS TRK --- ENDS --- Cornell University in the 1960s Cornell graduate, Steve Kussin was a high school principal for 21 years before becoming an education reporter for WCBS Newsradio and an adjunct professor at Hofstra University, teaching a course in "Radio-Television-Film-New Media." Kussin's curriculum and his student's interest led him to want to write a book about one era in particular. "At the end of the course... I talk about the turbulent 1960s. I noticed that the students are always fascinated with this era: Vietnam War, Civil Rights, Women's Lib. They have questions about the protest movement, student demonstrations, and the draft. It gave me the idea to write a book about the 1960s...But I didn't want it to be a textbook. I decided to wrote a novel, semi-autobiographical-- but still fiction." The book is "Five Freshmen" and as the title would suggest, the story follows five freshmen from orientation to graduation. One of the freshmen is modeled after Kussin's time as a student at Cornell, but the other four students are what Kussin says is a composite of "everyman" type characters. Kussin offers the book as a chance for those who lived through the 60's to relive some of their experiences, and as an opportunity for modern day students, especially those who attend Cornell, to learn more about the university's history, including the armed 36-hour long student takeover of Willard Straight Hall in 1969. "We entered one Cornell in 1965-- and left a very different one in 1969," Kussin says. Kussin is currently in the process of adapting the novel into a screenplay. "Five Freshmen" is available on Amazon and through Barnes and Noble. Werewolves in our woods After being raised in the Thousand Islands area, Leah Chiasson says that moving to the waterfront area of Oswego feels like a natural place to be, saying, "being close to the water is just instinctual for me at this point." After years of reading books by Kim Harrison and Patricia Briggs, Chiasson says she fell in love with the Urban Fantasy genre, enough so that she wanted to create her own fictional world. "I wanted to read a book like theirs set in a small town setting so I decided that I was going to write it. What is better for a small, rural area than shape-shifters? There's so much open space and wildlife for running and hunting. It seemed like a no-brainer, then the world began to evolve as I wrote it. The town became a reflection of the places I grew up in. It's everything I love about home with a heavy dose of the impossible added in." "Marked For The Hunt" is about a young werewolf named Diana Warren who must fight her personal demons in order to do what's best for the ones she loves. Chiasson has big plans for Diana beyond this first book. "The world of Marked For The Hunt is filled with so much possibility. I currently have five books planned in Diana's series, with three novellas following another character set in the same world," the author says, also sharing that the books can be read in any order. "Marked For The Hunt" is available on Amazon, and you can learn more about the author, as well as read exclusive content, by visiting her website. Fairies and bike rides Life-long Utica resident Sandra Reilly has recently published her seventh book in "The Wish Fairy" series, using her newest story as a way to help bring attention to the "Ride for Missing Children." "My family has been involved with the Ride for Missing Children for many years now. I was so touched by everything surrounding the Ride that I wrote a poem that I was honored to read at the closing ceremonies last year. This year I knew I had to do more," Reilly explains. "The Wish Fairy was the perfect way to spread awareness, hope and raise money for the Ride." "The Sunny Day Rainy Day Ride" is about a young neighborhood girl who goes missing and the efforts to find her. The book features a dedicated group of people who go on a long bike ride to raise awareness and keep children safe, showing young readers the importance of the group's efforts. All of the The Wish Fairy books are focused around characters living in Upstate New York and each contains a message of friendship, family and life lessons, all with a touch of magic. Reilly will be celebrating the release of "The Sunny Day Rainy Day Ride" with a book signing event on Saturday, May 20 from 3-5pm at The Treehouse Reading and Arts Center in New York Mills. The book signing will have books for sale with author signing, meet-and-greet with the Wish Fairy characters, a reading from the book, children's activities and more. You can visit the author's website for more information on where you can purchase books locally as well as online. Those who are interested in learning more about this year's ride hosted by New York/Mohawk Valley branch of National Center for Missing & Exploited Children on June 2 can visit the official website for more details. Have a book to share? Are you a local author or have you come across a book set in Central New York? Tell us about it. Send a brief description of the book and the author and we'll add it as a candidate for coverage. Write us at features@syracuse.com. Missing.JPG The body of Aalaap Narasipura, a Cornell University student who is from the Salt Lake City area, was recovered Friday from Fall Creek in Ithaca. (Facebook ) Ithaca, N.Y.-- Authorities Friday morning recovered the body of Aalaap Narasipura from a creek, following an intense search for the Cornell University student who was reported missing two days earlier. Cornell University Police reported on their Facebook page that the 20-year-old student was recovered from Fall Creek, upstream from Ithaca Falls. A scuba team discovered the body, according to the Cornell Daily Sun. The body was recovered with the help of the New York State Police, the Ithaca Police Department and the Ithaca Fire Department. The circumstances of Narasipura's death are still under investigation, but no foul play is suspected, university authorities said. He had been the subject of a significant search on Thursday. "On behalf of the Cornell University community, I extend our deepest condolences to Aalaap's family and friends as they grieve this tragedy. They are in our thoughts as we all come to grips with the enormity of this loss," said Ryan Lombardi Vice President for Student & Campus Life in an email to the campus community. Narasipura was from the Salt Lake City area. He was a senior electrical engineering student in the College of Engineering, who was scheduled to graduate early this December, the university said in an email. He was active on the Ultimate Frisbee team, enjoyed taking photos, and planned to continue at Cornell to pursue a master of engineering degree. Cornell students are taking finals this week. A community support meeting for those who wish to gather will be held at 4 p.m. today in the One World Room, Anabel Taylor Hall, the university said. Charley Hannagan covers breaking news, the Western Onondaga County suburbs, Cayuga County and transportation. Contact her anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-470-2161. 2011-07-29-gw-bonnie120.JPG The Thousand Islands Bridge as seen from the grand stands at Bonnie Castle Downs in Alexandria Bay, NY., is one of the routes approved by U.S. officials to carry trucks with highly radioactive nuclear waste from Canada. The trucks would continue along I-81 south through New York state. Gary Walts / The Post-Standard (Gary Walts) WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Energy has quietly started allowing shipments of highly radioactive nuclear waste to travel through Upstate New York from Canada on the way to a processing site in South Carolina, according to nuclear watchdog groups. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved two routes for up to 150 shipments of the liquid nuclear waste, one of which would send trucks across the border at the Thousand Islands Bridge onto Interstate 81 in Upstate New York. The approved I-81 route directs trucks to travel south through Jefferson and Oswego counties to Onondaga County, where drivers would be required to use the Interstate 481 bypass to avoid Syracuse. The trucks would hook up again with I-81 in Jamesville, south of Syracuse. The second route would send nuclear waste shipments from the Chalk River Laboratories in Ontario across the Peace Bridge and through the Buffalo area to Erie, Pa., on the way to the Department of Energy's Savannah River Site near Aiken, S.C. The federal government, citing security reasons, has declined in the past to disclose the timing and routes of nuclear waste shipments, and has suggested the routes could vary to avoid predictability. No federal agency announced the start of the shipments last month. The only confirmation came from an inspection report posted last week to the website of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board. The board is an independent federal organization that advises the president about public health and safety issues at Department of Energy defense nuclear facilities. An April 21 inspector report posted to the board's website on May 12 from the Savannah River Site noted that "personnel started processing the first shipment of liquid Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) this week." During the process, the inspector wrote, workers found an "unexpected hotspot" on the side of the lead-lined container or "pig" holding the nuclear material. Nora Khalil, a spokeswoman for the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, told Syracuse.com that the hotspot did not pose a risk to the public or workers at the site. Khalil said she could not confirm any details about the shipment, the transportation route or international agreement under which the nuclear waste is transferred. She said those issues come under the authority of the Department of Energy. Department of Energy officials in Washington did not respond to multiple requests for comment about the shipments submitted by telephone and in writing this week. Kevin Kamps, a radioactive waste specialist for the watchdog group Beyond Nuclear, said his organization was part of a coalition that sued the Department of Energy in an effort to force an environmental review of the plan. A federal judge dismissed the lawsuit in February. Kamps said the groups are concerned about the safety of transporting such highly radioactive liquid waste. "This is unprecedented," Kamps said in an interview Friday. "They have never shipped high-level liquid radioactive waste before." The nuclear waste comes from a Canadian research facility at Chalk River Laboratories in Ontario. The liquid uranium is being sent to the DOE's Savannah River Site for processing under a $60 million agreement with Canada, according to information Beyond Nuclear obtained in the lawsuit. U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Rep. Brian Higgins, D-Buffalo, after hearing about the shipments this week sent a letter to Department of Energy Secretary Rick Perry asking him to suspend the shipments. "We are concerned that there was not a full Environmental Impact Statement to examine the potential risks associated with shipping liquid uranium prior to the decision to allow these shipments to proceed," Gillibrand and Higgins wrote. They added, "Without a full and thorough EIS, it is impossible to evaluate the consequences of an accident or to properly identify safer alternatives." Leaders of the Onondaga Nation were informed several years ago by federal officials that the nuclear waste shipments could cross through their territory as the trucks travel south of Syracuse on Interstate 81. Joe Heath, the Onondaga Nation's lawyer, said federal officials offered to train first responders to deal with any accident that might involve the shipments. But the Onondagas rejected the idea, and said they opposed the shipments. "It's been several years since we heard from them," Heath said of the federal officials. "They were told very clearly the Onondaga did not want it coming through their territory." Heath said the officials did not explain why Canada, which has the capability to process the liquid uranium, has chosen to send it to the United States. Contact Mark Weiner anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751 By Press Trust of India: Washington, May 19 (PTI) US Defence Secretary James Mattis said today he was yet to make any recommendations to President Donald Trump on the number of troops in Afghanistan, but hoped an ongoing review about it would be completed soon. "On the number of troops, no, I have not made a recommendation yet," Mattis told reporters at a joint Pentagon news conference with the General Joseph Dunford, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff. advertisement "What Ive done is Ive gone to Afghanistan. Ive met with (the Afghan) President (Ashraf) Ghani. I have met with the NATO representatives and Ive met with our commander in the field," he said. "Ive also been in Brussels and also on the side in Copenhagen; talked with my counterparts there to collect allied input. That recommendation is being put together by the chairman and myself, and I expect itll go to decision very, very soon. But, no, it has not been made yet," Mattis said in response to a question. According to local media reports, President Trumps Cabinet is advising him to increase US troops in Afghanistan ? from 8,400 to as many as 13,400. PTI LKJ MRJ --- ENDS --- Drydocking and offhire hit KNOP KNOT Offshore Partners (KNOP) generated total revenues of $45 mill, operating income of $17.5 mill and net income of $11.4 mill during the first quarter of this year. Adjusted EBITDA was $33.2 mill, while the fleet operated with 98.6% utilisation for scheduled operations and 93.2% utilisation taking into account the scheduled drydocking of the Windsor Knutsen, which was completed within 54.1 days. On 10th January, 2017, KNOP sold 2,500,000 common units in a public offering, raising $54.9 mill., while on 2nd February, 2017, KNOP issued and sold in a private placement 2,083,333 Series A convertible preferred units at a price of $24 per unit. Later on 16th May, KNOP agreed to issue and sell an additional 1,666,667 Series A preferred units also at $24 per unit in a private placement, which is expected to close by 30th June, 2017, subject to customary closing conditions. On 1st March, 2017, KNOP completed the acquisition of the entity that owns the Tordis Knutsen, while on 31st March, 2017, KNOP agreed a $100 mill loan to refinance the credit facility secured by the Hilda Knutsen. On 16th May, 2017, KNOPs wholly-owned subsidiary, KNOT Shuttle Tankers, entered into a share purchase agreement with Knutsen NYK Offshore Tankers to acquire KNOT Shuttle Tankers 25 AS, the company that owns the shuttle tanker, Vigdis Knutsen, from Knutsen NYK. This acquisition is expected to close by 1st June, 2017, subject to customary closing conditions. The 1Q17 revenues were positively affected by the timecharter earnings of the Raquel Knutsen and the Tordis Knutsen being included in the results of operations from 1st December, 2016 and 1st March, 2017, respectively. However, the increase was offset by reduced revenues from the Windsor Knutsen as a result of its scheduled drydocking during the first quarter. Due to a technical fault with its controllable pitch propeller, the Raquel Knutsen went offhire during 1Q17, which resulted in a loss of hire insurance claim. The 14-day deductible for offhire under the related insurance policy also adversely affected revenues during the period. As of 31st March, 2017, KNOP had $64.9 mill in available liquidity, which consisted of cash and cash equivalents of $34.9 mill and $30 mill of capacity under its $35 mill revolving credit facility. This credit facility is available until 10th June, 2019. KNOPs total interest bearing debt outstanding as of the end of 1Q17 was $785.6 mill ($781.2 mill net of debt issuance cost). Effective 1st April, 2017, KNOPs general partner appointed Richard Beyer to replace Hiroaki Nishiyama as an appointed director on the partnerships board. Beyer has been a member of the board of directors of the Partnerships general partner and KNOT Offshore Partners UK since 2013 and is a director of NYK Group Europe and NYK Energy Transport (Atlantic). Before joining NYK Group Europe, Beyer was a senior legal adviser to BP Shipping. KNOP said that it expected its earnings for 2Q17 to be significantly higher than its 1Q17 earnings, as there will be no scheduled offhire, and the remaining loss of revenue from the offhire on the Raquel Knutsen is covered by insurance policies. In addition, the Partnership expects to receive full quarterly earnings from the Tordis Knutsen and about one month of earnings from the Vigdis Knutsen, subject to closing of the acquisition on 1st June, 2017. As of 31st March, 2017, KNOPs 12 vessels had an average remaining fixed contract duration of 4.8 years. In addition, the charterers of the timechartered vessels had options to extend their charters by another 3.6 years on average. KNOP also expects to receive options to acquire another two vessels owned by Knutsen NYK pursuant to the terms of the omnibus agreement. As at the end of 1Q17, the average remaining fixed contract duration for the two vessels was 5 years. In addition, the charterers have options to extend these charters by an average of 10.5 years. The board said that demand for newbuilding offshore shuttle tankers will continue to be driven over time, based on the requirement to replace older tonnage, such as those operating in the North Sea and Brazil and further expansion into deepwater offshore oil production areas, such as in pre-salt Brazil and the Barents Sea. There will also be and is significant growth in demand for new shuttle tankers, as the availability of existing vessels has reduced and modern operational demands have increased. Consequently, there should be opportunities to further grow the Partnership, the board said. Former ULCCs in five year storage contracts International Seaways(INSW) joint venture with Euronav has signed two FSO charter contracts for five years each with North Oil Company (NOC), the future operator of the Al Shaheen oil field, off the coast of Qatar. These contracts, signed with North Oil Company (NOC), the future operator of the Al Shaheen oil field, off the coast of Qatar. concern the former ULCCs FSO Africa and FSO Asia. The charters will commence upon expiry of their current contracts with Maersk Oil Qatar in the third quarter of this year. The FSOs are both high specification, converted ULCCs, which have operated on the Al Shaheen oil field since 2010. In addition, the joint venture will be debt free from July 2017, INSW claimed. Over the five year period, the new contracts are expected to generate in excess of $360 mill of EBITDA for the joint venture. Based on INSWs 50% ownership of the joint venture, the five year contracts are expected to generate in excess of $180 mill of EBITDA for the former OSG subsidiary. We look forward to our FSO joint venture continuing its presence at Al Shaheen and are pleased to have finalised the new five year contracts, said Lois Zabrocky, INSWs president and CEO. Complementing our balanced fleet deployment strategy, this FSO joint venture combined with the companys LNG joint venture position, allows International Seaways to optimise revenue through the current tanker cycle. With a high quality, diverse tanker fleet and upside to the spot market, the company also remains poised to capitalise on a market recovery in both the product and crude sectors. Hafnia stays in the black Hafnia Tankers has declared an operating profit of $12.1 mill and net profit of $6 mill during the first quarter of this year, helped by the product tanker market. The book value of the fleet, including the one newbuilding MR and remaining capex, as of 31st March, 2017 was $1,066.8 mill. At the end of the quarter, Hafnia Tankers had $83.8 mill in cash and $570.1 mill of bank debt. The remaining capex for the one newbuilding was $23.7 mill. Available undrawn bank financing to fund this vessel was $19.7 mill and including cash, the newbuilding programme was fully financed. Earnings in 1Q17 were higher than in 4Q16, however a large number of newbuilding deliveries, lack of volatility in oil prices, reduced refining margins and draw on inventories caused lower earnings than expected, Hafnia said. Gross earnings during the first quarter of 2017 were about $16,000 per day per LR1, $15,100 per MR and $15,400 per Handysize per day. Hafnia expects to take delivery of the one additional MR within 2Q17. At the end of the first quarter, Hafnias fleet consisted of 36 owned vessels, four vessels chartered-in and one newbuilding, in addition to two vessels chartered-in to be delivered this year. Product tanker commercial management is undertaken by Hafnia Management. The three divisions - LR1, MR, and Handysize segments total 107 ships under management. ICS commits shipping to CO2 reduction objectives The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has urged the IMO to adopt dramatic CO2 reduction objectives to match the Paris Agreement ambitions on climate change. In a submission to member states, agreed at its recent AGM in Istanbul and being made in conjunction with other shipping organisations, ICS will propose that the IMO should adopt three objectives: To maintain international shippings annual total CO2 emissions below 2008 levels. To reduce CO2 emissions per tonne/km, as an average across international shipping, by at least 50% by 2050, compared to 2008. To reduce international shippings total annual CO2 emissions by an agreed percentage by 2050, compared to 2008, as a point on a continuing trajectory of CO2 emissions reduction. Speaking in Istanbul, ICS Chairman, Esben Poulsson, commented: It is very important that IMO sends a clear and unambiguous signal to the global community that shippings regulators have agreed some ambitious objectives, with numbers and dates, for reducing the sectors CO2 emissions, in the same way that land-based activity is now covered by government commitments under the Paris Agreement. ICS said that it wants IMO to remain in control of additional measures to address ships CO2 reduction and to develop a global solution, rather than risk the danger of market-distorting measures at national or regional level. Shipping has a very good story to tell about reducing CO2 but this is difficult to convey so long as there is no clear signal from IMO as to what our collective CO2 reduction objectives should be," said Poulsson. ICS will suggest that IMO should adopt these objectives as part of its initial CO2 reduction strategy to be agreed next year, following the adoption of an IMO Roadmap at the request of the industry in 2016. Importantly, acknowledging concerns of developing nations about the possible impacts of CO2 reduction for trade and sustainable development, ICS emphasises that any objectives adopted by IMO must not imply any commitment to place a binding cap on the sectors total CO2 emissions or on the CO2 emissions of individual ships. Dramatic CO2 reductions alongside increasing trade can only be achieved with the development of alternative fossil-free fuels something which needs to be identified by the IMO strategy, Poulsson stressed. The long term future of the industry, like the rest of the world economy, must eventually be fossil fuel free. The trajectory for getting there, not least the development of alternative fuels, could well take us several decades. But this will only be achieved if the industry itself pushes for the adoption by IMO of some suitability ambitious objectives so that all concerned are under no illusion about the scale of the task ahead. At the AGM, it was agreed that Poulsson be supported by vice chairmen - John Adams (Bahamas), Emanuele Grimaldi (Italy), Mark Martecchini (Liberia) and Karin Orsel (Netherlands) for 2017-2018. Markets - Rates come under pressure After the May MEG programme finished last week, it was a slow start for June cargoes. WAfrica/East volumes were also slow and rates were under increasing pressure, Fearnleys reported. Rates corrected downward and tonnage started to build up. Tonnage also built up in USG and rates Americas/East are likely to come under pressure. Suezmaxes have bottomed for now it seems, as the conference rate is currently WS72.5 for TD20 with earnings in the early teens. Activity levels were sparse but the WAfrica list ticked over, supplemented by action in the North Sea, which has contributed to staving off a complete rate collapse. There has been positive talk this week about the reintroduction of Forcados barrels into the market as production slowly comes back into play, which will eventually add much needed volume for Suezmaxes. The Black Sea and Med have also been ticking over at the end of the third decade date range with rates stable for now. However next week will be telling, as several owners have multiple ship positions on the next tranche of market dates, Fearnleys said. Baltic Aframaxes were fixed at a regular rate, but the lack of North Sea cargoes has taking its toll on the returns. Rates remained virtually unchanged for the past two weeks and we do not expect them to move much heading into June, the broker said Black Sea and Med got off to a good start this week, due to the end of the month rush. At time of writing (Wednesday), we have almost 10 cargoes working in the market and the owners are ready to strike while the iron is hot. These cargoes, combined with a lot of uncertain itineraries, will definitely put pressure on the rates for the remainder of the week, Fearnleys concluded. dAmico Tankers has signed a memorandum of agreement and bareboat charter contract for the sale and leaseback of the 2014-built MR High Fidelity for $27 mill. This transaction allows dAmico Tankers to generate around $11.2 mill in cash, net of commissions and reimbursement of the vessels existing loan, contributing to the liquidity required to complete DIS fleet renewal programme and allowing the company to benefit from the anticipated market recovery, it said. In addition, dAmico Tankers will maintain full control of the vessel, since a 10- year bareboat charter agreement was also concluded with the buyer, with a purchase obligation at the end of the 10th year of the charter period. Marco Fiori, dAmico International Shipping CEO, stated: I am very satisfied of the conclusion of this deal with reputed Japanese financial investors. The sale price of $27 mill was equivalent to the vessels most recently estimated market value. At the same time, we will keep full control, both technical and commercial, of this new eco ship through a 10-year bareboat charter contract and we will have the option of repurchasing it starting from the third anniversary of its sale date at a competitive cost of funds. This transaction will generate a positive net cash effect of $11.2 mill for DIS already in 2Q17, strengthening our balance sheet and liquidity position in view of the completion of our newbuilding plan. I believe this transaction highlights also DIS strong reputation in Japan, where we have been able once again to source finance at competitive terms. I would like to thank our Japanese counterparties for their continued support and cooperation, he concluded. In other chartering news, two Olympic Shipping VLCCs were reported fixed. The 2003-built VLCC Olympic Liberty was said to have been fixed to Shell for 12 months at $27,500 per day, while the 2017-built Olympic Lady was believed taken by ExxonMobil for seven years at $30,000 per day. Another VLCC, the 2006-built Gloric was thought taken by BP for 12 months at $27,000 per day. ATC was said to have fixed the Suezmax Sea Shell for six option six months at $22,000 per day, while the 2004-built MR Jag Prabha was reported fixed to HPCL for 12 months at $14,500 per day. In the S&P market, there was a major en bloc deal reported, which was the selling of five 2006-built Handysize vessels operating in the Norient Product Pool and owned by an investment company to Advantage Tankers for $58 mill en bloc. There is a three year timecharter attached per vessel to NORDEN. The 2011-built VLCC Dalian Venture was reported sold to affiliates of Zodiac for $53 mill, while Minerva was said to have picked up the 2002-built VLCC Amantea for $24.25 mill on the basis of a passed special survey. In an internal deal, DryShips has taken control of the 2017-built Suezmax Samsara for $64 mill, including a five year charter back to an affiliate of Economou with a purchase option. Far East buyers were said to be behind the purchase of the purchase of the 2002-built Aframax sisters Gener8 Elektra and Gener8 Daphne for $10.5 mill each. Benetech was said to have bought the 2007-built LR1 Fortune Victoria for $17 mill, while Union Maritime was reported to have continued its buying spree with the purchase of the 2007-buit MR Pretty World for $16.3 mill. The 2008-built Mare Baltic was said to be on subjects to Ancora Investments for $11.25 mill. Leaving the fleet was the 1991-built MR Potengi thought sold to Indian breakers for a price not revealed. In the newbuilding sector, Central Marine was said to have declared a second MR option at Hyundai Vinashin, while Reederei Vogemann was thought toahve ordered four Handies from Taizhou Kouan for delivery from 4Q18 through 2019. Q88 launches tanker brokers software Q88 has launched a new tanker broker Position List module on Q88.com. A collaborative position platform, the Q88 Position List offers brokers a faster, simpler and more complete view of global tanker supply - in the office and on the go, the company said. The desktop browser version offers brokers an intuitive interface backed by the industry standard vessel data from Q88.com. The module features accurate distances provided by AtoBviaC, satellite AIS provided by VesselTracker.com, detailed search and saved search functionality, an intake calculator and sharing capabilities with other tanker brokers. Available for Android and iOS, the mobile app is accessible for download in Google Play and the App Store. Fritz Heidenreich, Q88 president, said, "After receiving requests for years from existing clients, we decided that now was the perfect time for us to build our Position List module. With 80% of the world tanker fleet on Q88.com, we always felt this was a natural next step for us and the technology available today has allowed for us to build an incredibly fast and user friendly system that could not have been built in years past. The result is a system that tankers brokers are going to love using, in the office or wherever they might find themselves needing the most up-to-date market data. Were extremely excited about the impact this system is going to have on a brokers life, he said. The Position List module is available to tanker brokers on Q88.com at a highly competitive, all-inclusive subscription fee. Companies taking up Q88s subscription offering during 2017 will further benefit from additional discounting, the company claimed. Meanwhile, Maran Tankers Management (MTM) has selected Q88s voyage management system, Q88VMS, to manage the companys chartering and commercial operations. The cloud-based platform will allow MTM to operate its growing fleet across their various offices without disruption or delay, Q88 claimed. Q88VMS integrated approach to managing the voyage chain was a huge factor for our company, which encourages team work, open dialogue and sharing of information, said Georgios Asteros, MTM operations director. Having chartering, operations and post fixture in various offices across the globe, we needed a system that not only enables quick and accurate voyage calculations, fixtures, operations and reporting but also works across devices and locations. Q88 has delivered on their promise, getting us up and running in days. Q88VMS, the latest product in Q88s portfolio, is a web-based platform for managing all voyage related information. The software has been designed by chartering and operations experienced people and its user base has more than doubled over the past nine months, with the majority of growth concentrated in Europe. Fritz Heidnereich, Q88 president, said, "We are very excited about Maran Tankers Management joining the Q88VMS community. Greece is a crucial market to us and having a company like Maran Tankers, with such great history and a reputation of excellence, on board is huge. We look forward to continuing our relationship with Maran Tankers and further serving the Greek shipping community. NIA has requested India Today to preserve the raw and unedited footage of the India Today Investigation #HurriyatTruthTapes. Operation Villains of Valley videos: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 By Rahul Kanwal: After India Today's expose on Pakistan's role in choreographing anarchy in Kashmir Valley by funding Hurriyat leaders, a team from India's premier anti-terror probe agency, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), today visited India Today Mediaplex in Noida's Film City. The NIA team handed over a letter from the Superintendent of Police of the Terror Funding and Fake Currency wing of the NIA Aseem Srivastava which carries a request to preserve the raw and unedited footage of the India Today Investigation #HurriyatTruthTapes. advertisement Meanwhile, a crack team of sleuths from the NIA has landed in Srinagar and started a hunt for the Hurriyat terrorists who have been exposed by India Today. NIA Inspector General Alok Mittal said the prima facie case against the Hurriyat leaders looks very strong and that his agency is confident they would be able to take stringent action against the Hurriyat terrorists exposed by India Today. In Srinagar, Naeem Khan, Bitta Karate and Gazi Khan Baba are on the run and the NIA team is on the lookout for them. Top NIA sources have told India Today that the Hurriyat leaders will be called in for questioning soon. Operation Villains of Valley videos: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 The special investigative report, Operation Villains of the Valley, had presented clinching evidence of Pakistan's state and non-state actors, including Hafiz Saeed, choreographing anarchy through their agents in the Kashmir Valley. Earlier on Tuesday, India Today had aired a special investigative report where several top Kashmiri separatists are caught on camera confessing to receiving funds from across the border. Some of them also admitted they raised money domestically, pledging to repeat the deadly events of 2016 if financed again. The stunning probe that rips apart the devious designs of anti-India forces in Kashmir includes Hurriyat's Provincial President (Geelani Faction) Naeem Khan, Tehreek-E-Hurriyat's leader Gazi Javed Baba, and JKLF chairman Farooq Ahmed Dar (Bitta Karate). The revelation has created a furore over the role of Hurriyat in destabilising Kashmir at the behest of its masters across the border. The government and Congress, BJP have all hailed the investigative report. Also read: Caught on Camera: How Pakistan funds Kashmiri separatists to burn the Valley - India Today Exclusive #HurriyatTruthTapes: Separatists in panic mode, JKLF's Yasin Malik assaults India Today crew Also watch: India Today's Hurriyat tapes decoded in 3 minutes: How Pakistan funds villains of Kashmir < --- ENDS --- SafeSTS further strengthens its position in Malaysia As part of its planned expansion in Asia, specialist ship-to-ship transfer company SafeSTS has incorporated SafeSTS Malaysia Sdn BHD to handle existing operations at Tanjung Bruas and Labuan. Yvonne Mason, SafeSTS managing director, commented: "The demand for ship-to-ship transfers is experiencing global growth and we take pride in providing the skill and experience vital to the successful completion of such delicately balanced operations. "Ka Petra Sdn BHD, the Malaysian company with which SafeSTS forged a partnership in 2016, will continue to work in collaboration with SafeSTS Malaysia. All our operations are carried out in strict compliance with international guidelines and marine pollution legislation and we have been working together to develop a pool of trained Malaysian Mooring Masters to strengthen our services in this region, she explained. Currently, cargoes being handled out of the two ports include crude oil, chemicals, fuel oils and LPG. Mason added: "We are always planning ways to strengthen our business and are all looking forward to this new and exciting stage in the company's development." Shell Marine extends Philippines lubrication technology training Shell Marine has renewed its technical partnership with the University of Cebu Maritime Education and Training Center (UC METC) for another four years. We are exceptionally pleased to renew our technical partnership with Shell Marine. We are appreciative of Shells efforts on imparting the latest technical knowledge from years of research to our maritime students and lecturers, said University of Cebu president, Atty Augusto W Go. Shell Marine will provide expertise in lubrication technology to the students and lecturers of the UC METC by providing training and knowledge modules through workshops and seminars with a technical team. Shell Marine executive director, Jan Toschka, said, We continuously seek to support the development of seafarers. It is one of the shipping industrys most important professions and especially here in the Philippinnes where the talent is evident and the profession growing. By providing them with the latest insights in technology and innovation on board, we can help prepare seafarers to tackle the technical challenges we see in todays maritime sector." Shell Marine will also provide its Rapid Lubrication Analysis (RLA) Onboard Plus Test Kit (Cold Corrosion Test Kit) to UC METC. The university will use Shell Marine materials and products when lecturing and during the technical seminar and input knowledge and information related to Pilipinas Shell and Shell Marine during the workshops or seminars. By Rohini Swamy: A Bhartiya Janata Party Minister from Karnataka has written a letter to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, demanding a probe in the death of IAS officer Anurag Tiwari. "In my previous letter dated 17th May, I had requested you to ensure a thorough probe as the tragedy looks murky. Now I am getting information from credible sources that Shri Tiwari could be a victim of the foodgrain smuggling mafia. This is what middle level officials in Karnataka are discussing among themselves," Karnataka MP Shobha Karandlaje wrote in a letter to Adityanath. advertisement Tiwari was found dead on Wednesday, under mysterious circumstances, in the high-security Hazratganj area in Lucknow, hardly a kilometre away from the Uttar Pradesh Assembly. The IAS officer had come to Lucknow after attending a mid-career training programme at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussorie on the day he was found dead. He was found lying a few metres away from the entrance of his guest house in his night clothes. According to Lucknow Range Inspector General of Police JN Singh, prima facie it appears Tiwari died due to a heart attack. Investigations have also revealed that some of Tiwari's batchmates said that he was under depression after he separated from his wife a few months ago. But the Opposition BJP believes it needs to "expose the real story" behind IAS Anurag Tiwari's death with the help of the CM of another BJP-ruled state. "Let me explain. A multi-crore scam was unearthed in the department of Food and Civil Supplies sometime ago. This was being investigated by Mr Anurag Tiwari in his capacity as the Commissioner of the said department. It is being said that he had prepared a detailed dossier about the scandal. This is one important angle that needs to be probed. In fact, Shri Anurag Tiwari's brothers have also expressed fear of 'powerful forces and unseen hands' behind the death of the IAS officer," Karandlaje wrote to Adityanath. The BJP in Karnataka has said that the entire episode involves both Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka, and investigation in the matter warrants a CBI intervention. Meanwhile, Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Minister UT Khader, under whose department Tiwari was working, said not only will they cooperate with the investigation but they will also look into the Opposition's allegations of a food supplies mafia operating in the state. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also assigned two IAS officers Abhiram Shankar and Pankaj Kumar Pandey to acquire more details on Tiwari's death. The two are expected to brief the CMO shortly. "Let any inquiry happen - we will give our full support as a government to the investigating agency," said Siddaramaiah. --- ENDS --- advertisement Internet security at Mar-a-Lago the private club President Trump owns and has dubbed the Southern White House is weak, ProPublica and Gizmodo reported Wednesday, based on their recent joint investigation. Trump has used the resort, as well as other properties he owns, to meet with staffers and foreign heads of state on official business. Among the security holes the publications identified at Mar-a-Lago: a WiFi-enabled printer/scanner that is publicly accessible; a misconfigured and unencrypted router; use of the weak and outmoded WEP encryption for three of the clubs wireless networks, which makes them vulnerable to hacking in less than five minutes; and a database with an insecure login page on the clubs website, which is not protected by standard Internet encryption. Mar-a-Lago guests only have to produce a photo ID when they enter through the facilitys main door. Also, the club serves as a venue for ticketed public events. The president has hosted foreign leaders and politicians at his properties. In February, he took a call about a North Korean ballistic missile launch in Mar-a-Lagos dining room, with members and waiters present and able to overhear the conversation. In April, he tracked the first attack he ordered on Syria from what the White House described as a makeshift situation room at Mar-a-Lago. Any presidential retreat or home is a target for foreign and domestic surveillance, said James Scott, a senior fellow at the Institute for Critical Infrastructure. A spy could attempt to capture audio, video, or images of classified information, meetings, conversations and documents, he told TechNewsWorld. A Security Nightmare Despite millions of dollars spent annually on cybersecurity to protect White House communications, they fell victim to hack attacks in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Mar-a-Lago reportedly spent just $443,000 on cybersecurity. The United States Government Accountability Office has launched an investigation into security at Mar-a-Lago. Other Trump Properties The Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., where the president often dines with son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner, has two WiFi networks that can be accessed simply by typing in a room number. Hotels have long been a more than attractive target for cyberattackers, noted independent cybersecurity analyst Randy Abrams. To conduct a meeting with a national security import in a location surrounded by vulnerable systems if of great concern, he told TechNewsWorld. Considering the target value, it is incomprehensible. A Trump club in Bedminster, New Jersey, where the president interviewed candidates for top administration positions, has two open WiFi networks that dont require a password to join, the ProPublica and Gizmodo reported. Trump club websites are hosted by Clubessential, which has an incorrectly configured Internet-accessible backend server. Clubessential also puts many of the default settings and usernames for its software online without password protection. The president and his staff should use two separate and secure networks for all other personal and professional traffic while on the premises of any property like Mar-a-Lago, ICIs Scott said. Maintenance of the [presidential business] network would be funded by taxpayers, ICIs Scott suggested, but the cybersecurity of Mar-a-Lago guests would be the responsibility of the club. The majority of breaches are the result of poor cybersecurity practices, said Adam Meyer, chief security strategist at SurfWatch Labs. Turning a blind eye to these cyber-risks could have great consequences, he told TechNewsWorld. Tightening Security Securing networks is a basic step which is required, observed John Maring, managing partner at Optimal IdM. Its important for organizations to implement secure practices as part of the corporate culture, he told TechNewsWorld. The fact that Trump properties dont even use well-known, basic, security controls seen at most of our homes is alarming, said James Carder, CISO of LogRhythm. If Mar-a-Lago is the White House in the South, he told TechNewsWorld, it should have the same cybersecurity precautions in place as the real White House in Washington, D.C. Panos Panay, Corporate Vice President for Surface at Microsoft, told CNET recently that "there's no such thing as a [Surface] Pro 5" in an attempt to drive home the notion that his company wouldn't update the Surface Pro 4 until a "meaningful" change is in order. After viewing images of the alleged device provided by serial leaker Evan Blass, however, it would seem that Microsoft may be having a change of heart (or perhaps the meaningful changes aren't visually evident). Indeed, the system in the supplied image looks very similar to what's already on the market in the form of the Surface Pro 4 save for a few slightly different choices on the accessory color palette and an overall design that's a hair slimmer and sleeker (sorry, there's still no USB Type-C connector). Blass doesn't speculate on changes under the hood although it's pretty much a given that we'll find Intel's latest family of processors and perhaps some speedier supporting hardware. He does note, however, that the device will simply be known as the Surface Pro rather than the Surface Pro 5. Microsoft revealed earlier this month that it would be hosting a media event on May 23 in Shanghai where it'll "show the world what's next." It's at this event that we'll likely see the next Surface Pro as well as a Surface Phone. Android users will finally say goodbye to the weird emoji blobs of the operating system once Google rolls out Android O. Users who will choose to participate in the Android O Beta program will already see the redesigned emojis that will be included in the next major version of Google's mobile operating system. Android Emoji Overhaul The so-called blob emojis of Android were first introduced in Android 4.4 KitKat, and they have barely changed since then. Thankfully, Google has made some tweaks to the weird emojis over the past year. In April 2016, it was reported that the weird blob emojis would still be present in Android Nougat, then known only as Android N. Google made the blobs more rounded and looking straight, but they still looked weird compared to other emojis such as the ones used by Apple in its iOS devices. Google added more emoji through Android 7.1 Nougat, but the focus was on improving diversity with more female characters and skin tones. The weird blobs, meanwhile, remained the same. Users who do not like the blob emojis will soon finally be able to say goodbye to them. After the release of the Android O public beta at the annual I/O developer conference, it was discovered that Google had overhauled the emojis for Android. According to a behind-the-scenes look of Google's emoji redesign by Fast Company, the entire process took 18 months. The redesign was initiated so that the Android emojis will look more similar to the ones used by other companies such as Apple and Microsoft. What Do The New Android Emoji Look Like? Beginning with Android O, the operating system's emojis will drop the blob shape and replace it with a standard circular one that is more often used. There are other minor changes, including a few adjustments to color in various parts, but the biggest change remains the shape of the emojis. Every emoji has been redesigned by Google from the ground up, with the new icons to be part of the emoji 5.0 standard. The redesign, according to Fast Company, came with some arguments among Google's emoji team. Some of the issues included what texture should the tinfoil have in a burrito emoji and how an emoji for the expression "mind blown" will look like. The designs of the emoji in the Android O beta are likely final, but nothing can be claimed as such until Google rolls out the final version of the new operating system for the public to enjoy. It should be noted that the emojis that will show up in smartphones outside of Google's Pixel and Nexus lines may be different from the new ones that Google created, as third-party smartphone manufacturers could also have their own emoji library. Google Rolls Out Android O Beta Android O is not just all about the new emojis though. The new operating system will come with a variety of new features, including Notification Dots, additional battery-saving features, and much more. Users who would like to try out the new features, along with the updated emojis, can do so if they own a compatible Pixel or Nexus device by signing up for the Android O Beta Program. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Google's stage during its I/O 2017 conference was the hotbed of technological innovations, with the company showcasing a ton of its achievements. Arguably, the biggest highlight of the event is in the field of artificial intelligence and virtual and augmented reality, but those aren't the only important takeaways, as Android and Photos stole part of the spotlight too. Google Assistant Will Be Everywhere, Including Your iPhone Assistant is making its way to practically everywhere in the foreseeable future along with new skills to boot, thanks to the voice assistant's software development kit or SDK. That basically means it's safe to expect to see the AI software in anything that's smart. Speaking of "anything that's smart," it's also invading its competitor Siri's personal space, heading to the iPhone as a standalone app. However, it won't respond to the wake-up command "OK Google" or activate via the home button. Instead, users will have to manually open the app. Starting today, we're bringing the #GoogleAssistant to iPhones. Whether at home or on the go, your Assistant is here to help. #io17 pic.twitter.com/a6T20HwnU9 Google (@Google) May 17, 2017 Interestingly enough, previous reports called this development right before the I/O 2017 conference kicked off. What's more, Assistant is getting a new ability with Lens, allowing it to analyze objects and surroundings. For instance, pointing a smartphone's camera at a building will bring up more info about it. With Google Lens, your smartphone camera wont just see what you see, but will also understand what you see to help you take action. #io17 pic.twitter.com/viOmWFjqk1 Google (@Google) May 17, 2017 Google Home Learns To Take Phone Calls And Support Bluetooth Music Streaming Instead of unwrapping a new piece of Home hardware to compete with Amazon's growing speaker lineup, Google is making its device smarter, more or less turning it into a phone. It'll use a private number for calls, but users can set their own mobile numbers. However, calls will be limited to residents in the United States or Canada. Aside from that, it's also becoming a better speaker, supporting Bluetooth music streaming even with apps that aren't supported natively. Google Daydream VR Expanding To More Phones And Standalone Headsets From the look of things, Google aims to dominate the VR space, announcing that Daydream will reach the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus this summer and LG's next flagship. The Mountain View company's plans don't end there either, as it's set to launch standalone VR headsets in collaboration with HTC Vive and Lenovo. Google Tango Gets Second Compatible Phone Fairly hot on the heels of the first Tango phone, aka Lenovo's Phab 2 Pro, Asus ZenFone AR is coming out this summer. That just goes to show that AR is starting to spread out in the wild. Google Photos Jumps Ahead Of The Competition Google is getting more serious with Photos, leaving users of iOS Photos little or no reason to stick around. To be exact, there are now a lot of new ways to share photos and a free unlimited cloud storage too, not to mention that it's bringing physical photo albums back with the new feature Photo Books. Android O Beta Goes Live, While Android Go Gives Budget Users Good News While it's still unclear what Android O will be named after, Google is rolling out the beta version for certain devices. Just to be clear, anyone itching to take the anticipated Android version out for a spin can download it already. More than that, the company also unveiled Android Go, which is sort of its second attempt at budget phones after Android One. The gist of it is that phones with 1 GB of RAM or lower will have apps optimized to their specs. What do you think of Google's announcements during I/O 2017? Feel free to drop by our comments section below and let us know. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Facebook is in trouble in Europe, as the European Commission just slapped the company with a hefty 110 million euro fine (roughly $122 million). The EC is the antitrust watchdog of the European Union and it just fined Facebook for offering misleading information about its $19 billion acquisition of WhatsApp back in 2014. Facebook Offered Incorrect Or Misleading Info On WhatsApp Deal The EC hit Facebook with a $122 million fine for providing misleading or incorrect statements when the Commission investigated the WhatsApp deal under the EU Merger Regulation. "Today's decision sends a clear signal to companies that they must comply with all aspects of EU merger rules, including the obligation to provide correct information," says Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, who is in charge of competition policy. "And it imposes a proportionate and deterrent fine on Facebook. The Commission must be able to take decisions about mergers' effects on competition in full knowledge of accurate facts." The fine is among the heftiest regulatory penalties Facebook has ever received, and it comes at a time when Facebook already swims in troubled waters in Europe. Just a few days ago, French and Dutch privacy watchdogs ruled that Facebook violated strict rules regarding data protection. An Austrian court also ruled recently that Facebook should do more to counter hate speech. EU Facebook Fine Explained The reason for the fine is making misleading statements to regulators, but let's dive a bit deeper. According to the EC, the social networking company said at the time that it could not automatically match Facebook and WhatsApp user accounts. Facebook stated so in the notification form, as well as in a reply to a request for information. Despite its answer that it cannot create automated matches between Facebook and WhatsApp user accounts, Facebook updated its terms of service and privacy policy in August 2016 and announced the possibility of matching the phone numbers of WhatsApp users with the identities of Facebook users. The EC sent Facebook a Statement of Objections on Dec. 20, 2016, expressing its concerns. Moreover, the Commission notes that it discovered that Facebook was actually able to automatically match WhatsApp and Facebook user accounts even back in 2014, when it said it couldn't. Facebook employees reportedly knew it was possible, yet the company made misleading statements. The Commission notes that this decision to fine Facebook doesn't affect its previous decision to authorize the deal under the EU Merger Regulation. The decision to clear the acquisition took several factors into account, which went beyond just user matching. At the same time, this decision has nothing to do with other ongoing antitrust investigations of procedures, nor other issues related to privacy, data protection or consumer protection, which might stem from WhatsApp's update to privacy policy and terms of service from August 2016. The Fine Amount The Commission has the authority to issue fines equaling up to 1 percent of the companies' aggregated turnover if they provided misleading or incorrect statements either by negligence or intentionally. The Commission takes a number of factors into account in determining the amount of a fine, including the nature of the infringement, the gravity, the duration, and any aggravating or mitigating circumstances. Compared to the tens of billions of dollars Facebook makes each year from online advertising, the $122 million fine is a drop in the ocean. Even if it were otherwise, a fine would arguably be preferable to voiding the deal altogether. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In a move that is as frustrating as it was predictable, the Federal Communications Commission has voted to move forward with chairman Ajit Pai's plan to reverse the Obama-era net neutrality guidelines that were set forth in 2015's Open Internet Order. Net Neutrality Before discussing this matter any further, it is important to understand what net neutrality really is because plenty of people, including the president of the United States, have displayed a lack of understanding regarding this term. Net neutrality basically means that ISPs must treat all internet traffic as equals. If your ISP is Comcast then Comcast isn't allowed to slow down traffic to Netflix in order to entice users to buy a cable package from it. Obamas attack on the internet is another top down power grab. Net neutrality is the Fairness Doctrine. Will target conservative media. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 12, 2014 The Open Internet Order Pai's plan would call for the FCC to repeal the 2015 rule, which declared internet service providers to be common carriers under the Title II of the Telecommunications Act. The FCC has a much broader authority to regulate Title II carriers than it does over those that fall under Title I which, prior to 2015, included ISPs. Pai's Plan The 2015 ruling gave the FCC clear authority to regulate ISPs and force them to comply with net neutrality guidelines. Pai's plan would roll back this classification, which could result in ISPs being once again placed under the much weaker Title I regulations. Additionally, Pai is seeking comment on the so-called "bright line," which bars ISPs from throttling, blocking, or prioritizing certain internet traffic. While Pai hasn't laid out the specifics of his proposal, the fact that he's willing to revisit them at all suggests that they may be greatly weakened, if not completely eliminated, in the coming months. For his part, Pai insists that the reaction to net neutrality is overblown, saying that the internet was fine prior to 2015. "We were not living in a digital dystopia," says Pai. "Nonetheless, the FCC that year succumbed to partisan pressure from the White House and changed course." How This Affects You As of now, the details surrounding Pai's plan are vague, but the implications are clear. If his proposed policies are approved, then net neutrality, as we understand it today, may not exist within a few months. We could, theoretically, see ISPs slowing down content from certain sites while speeding it up for others in exchange for payments. What You Can Do About It The FCC is currently taking comments on its website so you can let it know where you stand on the issue of net neutrality. The process is a bit involved so let's break it down. 1. Go to the listing for the "Restoring Internet Freedom" proposal and then select "+Express" - this will allow you to leave a comment. If you want to add pictures or attachments, you can use the "New Filing" option. 2. Submit your comment and then press "Continue to review screen," at which point you'll be able to submit your comment to the FCC. Your second option is, of course, to call your congressional representative and give them your thoughts of net neutrality, as it is likely we'll see new legislation regarding this matter in the coming months. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A woman is fighting for her life in the ICU while others are also hospitalized after consuming nacho cheese from a gas station in California. What is botulism, and how severe can a botulism contamination case be? Botulism From Gas Station Cheese It was last April 21 when Lavinia Kelly stopped over at the Valley Oak Food and Fuel Gas Station in Walnut Grove for a snack and bought a bag of Doritos that she then drizzled with nacho cheese sauce. A local report states that Kelly felt fatigued within hours of consuming the nacho cheese, but it was only the day after that she went to Sutter Medical Center, complaining of double vision and was sent home just a few hours after. The report continues that Kelly's partner rushed her back to the emergency room when she began vomiting and having difficulty breathing that same evening. The next day, Kelly was placed on ventilators and admitted to the ICU where she has spent the last three weeks, even missing her birthday last May 17. According to a news release by Sacramento County Health and Human Services, an investigation is currently underway as several other people have been admitted to hospitals with food-borne botulism. So far, preliminary data seems to be pointing to the nacho cheese sold at the gas station in Walnut Grove that is the likely source of the botulism. The gas station's permit to sell food and drinks has already been revoked earlier this month, and Kelly's family has already filed a lawsuit against the gas station. The Sacramento County Health and Human Services is calling out to anyone who consumed nacho cheese from the gas station between the dates of April 23 and May 5 experiencing symptoms of botulism to contact their health care provider immediately. Food-Borne Botulism Cases of botulism are rare, but they are often serious cases, as botulism is caused by a nerve toxin produced by clostridium botulinum, and a single contamination can cause an outbreak. The most common symptoms of botulism include double or blurred vision, slurred speech, drooping eyelids, dry mouth, and muscle weakness. At the worst, botulism can be fatal. Rare cases of botulism occur when too much botulinum toxin is injected into the body for cosmetic reasons, while the most common source of botulism cases come from improper preparation of homemade food such as home-canned food products. In the United States, the largest botulism outbreak was recorded on 2015, when 77 guests at a potluck consumed a meal that was made with contaminated home-canned potatoes. Among them, 29 guests were confirmed to have botulism, one of whom died from respiratory failure shortly after arriving at the hospital. In the case of the gas station nacho cheese, the main source of the contamination is still unclear. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. By Press Trust of India: From K J M Varma Beijing, May 19 (PTI) Reacting cautiously over the joint naval exercise being held by India and Singapore in the disputed South China Sea, China today said such activities should not hurt the "interests of other countries". "If such exchanges and cooperation are for the benefit of regional peace and security, then we have no opposition," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a media briefing here. advertisement "We have a very open attitude to normal exchanges between various countries," she said when asked for Chinas reaction to the joint naval exercise of India and Singapore. China claims almost all of the resource-rich South China Sea (SCS), including islands more than 800 miles from the Chinese mainland, despite objections from neighbours such as the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam. "We just hope that when the relevant countries conduct such exchanges and cooperation, they should bear in mind such activities should not hurt the interests of other countries or have any negative impact to regional peace and stability," Hua said outlining Beijings sensitivities. Navies of India and Singapore yesterday began a seven- day-long mega maritime exercise in the SCS which has been witnessing a growing Chinese assertiveness. Four warships of the Indian Navy and long range anti- submarine warfare aircraft P-8l are participating in the SIMBEX (Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise), which is aimed at increasing interoperability between the two navies. Held since 1994, it is the 24th edition of the annual exercise between the two countries. Beijing expresses strong opposition whenever US naval ships pass through the area, even though it maintains there is no threat to freedom of navigation. India along with the US and many other countries have been vocal about freedom of navigation in the area as foreign trade worth over a trillion dollar move through the SCS. China in the past has opposed India taking part in the oil exploration in the SCS at the invitation of Vietnam. India has earlier taken part in the Malabar naval exercises with Japan and the US in the East China Sea. In the recent months, tension over the SCS abated after new Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte scaled down Manilas emphasis on its SCS claims even after it won an international tribunal award last year. The tribunal struck down Chinas expansive claims over the area based on historical hold. China had rejected the verdict. After his election, Duterte opted for peace with China in favour of Chinese investments. advertisement China and ASEAN members yesterday approved the framework of the SCS Code of Conduct (COC), a crucial step towards peacefully resolving territorial disputes in the area. The 14th Senior Officials Meeting on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, held yesterday in Guizhou provinces Guiyang city, reviewed and approved the COC framework draft. A Chinese foreign ministry press release said yesterday that all the parties have agreed to peacefully resolve the SCS disputes through negotiations and dialogue. They also agreed to work through their differences under the framework of regional regulations. PTI KJV CPS MIN CPS --- ENDS --- For quite some time now, a great number of users have been using Smart Reply on Inbox by Google, the company's alternative email platform, usually the one often privy to receiving Google's more experimental features. Smart Reply Hits The Gmail App Well, it appears smart replies are now bleeding over to Gmail. For the uninitiated, these are auto-generated responses that'll appear when you need to reply to a friend. Usually in email correspondences, you just need to say "Thanks!" or "Noted!" or even "Working on it now." Gmail saves you time by automatically suggesting these phrases when it sees fit. For example, if you receive an email asking whether you're available for a meeting on Monday, Smart Replies will suggest you one-tap replies such as "Let's do Monday" or "Monday works for me" and so on. You can then select a response and hit send, saving you the time it takes to type out the whole sentence. Google says Smart Reply already drives 12 percent of all replies in Inbox on mobile devices. But starting Wednesday, May 17, the feature will also hit the Gmail app for both Android and iOS. How To Use Smart Reply On Gmail There's no direct way to use Gmail's Smart Reply feature, since it's actually more of a passive feature that'll sprout responses from time to time. Simply put, you'll just see them at certain points, specifically when you receive certain emails that require quick, shortly worded responses. Once they do show up, using them is just as easy as tapping. There'll be three suggestions for every email, and you may select the one that best fits your situation or the context of the email. Then you can edit the response if need be. Hit send and voila you just saved precious time. Gmail Smart Reply: How It Works The more you use it, the more Google's Smart Reply feature gets better, thanks to machine learning. If it senses the responses you pick tend to be on the shorter side, such as picking "Thanks!" over "Thank you," then Google will start using this information to give you suggestions that better fits your response style. To get more in-depth about the technology that enables Smart Reply, Google has also published a blog post that goes deep into the principles and behaviors that take place under the hood, so for those of you interested in learning more, it's definitely worth a read. To avoid the risk of oversimplifying the incredibly complex processes involved, let's just say that the feature takes inspiration on how humans understand languages. Smart Reply is now rolling out globally for iOS and Android. There will initially be two languages: English and Spanish, with the latter set to arrive in the coming weeks. Whether Google plans to release Smart Reply in a bunch of other languages is yet to be determined, although it's highly likely it'll eventually do so. Thoughts about Smart Reply? Have you tried the feature already, and has it been personally useful for you? Feel free to sound off in the comments section below! 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Everyone knows that Antarctica is a harsh and cold environment, if the huge glaciers and icebergs are any indication, but researchers have found that the icy peninsula is rapidly becoming home to plant life due to climate change. In a study titled "Plants and soil microbes respond to recent warming on the Antarctic Peninsula" published in the journal Current Biology, researchers found that there has been a sharp increase in plant activity in Antarctica in the past 50 years. The research also suggests that Antarctica could be a green peninsula in the future if climate change continues. The Greening Antarctic Peninsula The study is the result of combined efforts of researchers from the University of Cambridge, University of Exeter, and the British Antarctic Survey who were focused on studying Antarctica's past climate using moss banks instead of ice cores. According to the research team, three out of five moss bank cores they tested showed major biological changes in the last half century. That is, from the original moss growth of 1 millimeter per year, the three moss banks showed evidence of a 4-millimeter growth annually. The research team analyzed data and records from the past 150 years and noted the points in time when plant life experienced sudden growth spurts and that they coincided with a rise in the region's temperature. "Even these relatively remote ecosystems, that people might think are relatively untouched by human kind, are showing the effects of human induced climate change," Dr. Matt Amesbury from the University of Exeter said. University of Exeter's project lead, Professor Dan Charman, expressed that the continued rise in temperature suggests a rapid alteration in Antarctica's ecosystem in the future. "Although there was variability within our data, the consistency of what we found across different sites was striking," Prof. Charman said. Studying The Past To Predict The Future Such a finding would be a happy discovery on any other island, but in Antarctica, it would mean that the ice is in danger of melting or breaking away a very chilling effect of climate change. What makes it more alarming is that the melted ice could release greenhouse gases that have been frozen and buried in the ice. To determine how the moss responds to temperature changes, the research team will begin studying older moss banks to map out the climate in Antarctica for the past 5,000 years. This will be done to figure out how the changes in temperature, as well as the added effects of climate change due to human activity, affect moss growth in the long term. "What we're going to be doing next is trying to understand more about the relationships between the proxies that we measured in the mosses, how they've changed over longer time scales, before the advent of the human influence on climate," Dr. Amesbury revealed. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Microsoft, which called out the NSA and other government agencies for their role in the creation and launch of WannaCry, may itself have been part of why the ransomware was able to cause so much chaos. As the world attempts to recover from the damage caused by WannaCry, a new report claims that Microsoft could have helped prevent its spread, but decided not to do so. Microsoft Holds Back On WannaCry Patch For Windows XP According to a report by the Financial Times, Microsoft held back a free update that would have patched up the vulnerability that WannaCry used to compromise computers running on the old Windows XP operating system. The report claims that Microsoft delayed the rollout of the patch because it initially wanted payments of up to $1,000 per Windows XP computer for "custom" support. Microsoft has struggled to push users and corporations to upgrade from older versions of the Windows operating system to the latest and secure Windows 10, even if the company had already stopped the support for versions such as Windows XP. The significant number of users who have not yet upgraded to Windows 10 were highly vulnerable to WannaCry when it started its worldwide rampage last week. Microsoft still continues to provide support for governments and organizations, but in exchange for hefty payments. While the company offers special deals for the first year, the high costs have forced entities such as the National Health Service of the United Kingdom to discontinue receiving support. The National Health Service turned out to be one of the biggest victims of WannaCry, as it spread across 150 countries and infecting about 200,000 computers. The Importance Of Installing Updates Microsoft initially sent out the anti-WannaCry patch to Windows 10 users, but eventually agreed to also release the patch for Windows XP users on the day that the ransomware was detected. However, by then, the damage was already done. It is easy to see Microsoft's fault of not relenting on its stance of payments required for custom support for Windows XP. The NSA, which kept the Windows exploit a secret to create its own hacking tools, shares the fault for not disclosing the vulnerabilities to Microsoft. A group known as the Shadow Brokers leaked the NSA's hacking tools last month, and a new group then used them to create WannaCry. However, the victims of WannaCry may also blame themselves for remaining unprotected against the ransomware attack. Many users and corporations could have prevented having their systems locked by the ransomware by upgrading their operating systems and installing the necessary updates, instead of subscribing to the theory of "if it's not broke, don't fix it." According to Microsoft, it prefers for users and enterprise customers to upgrade to Windows 10 instead of having to pay for support for older versions of the operating system. It can be argued that Microsoft should have released the patch to fix the vulnerability that WannaCry exploited in Windows XP, but perhaps it would have been better off if customers were not on Windows XP in the first place. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Xiaomi Mi TV 4 To Be Available In China; Price Starts From CNY 3,499 | TechTree.com Chinese technology company Xiaomi has finally announced the available of Mi TV 4 in China, which was initially showcased at the CES 2017 event. However, the company had not informed anything about its price and available back then. The Mi TV 4 comes in three screen sizes including 49, 55, and 65 inches for price tags of CNY 3,499, CNY 3,999, and CNY 9,999 respectively. This translates to around Rs 33,000, Rs 38,000 and Rs 95,000. Speaking about the new Mi TV 4, the interesting part is that, it is around 30 per cent thinner than iPhone 7. It is claimed to be coming at just 4.9 mm thickness. Also, on the other hand, the Mi TV 4 sets comes with frameless designs, and features integrated Mi TV Bar with 10 speakers and a subwoofer. Another interesting fact about Xiaomi Mi TV 4 is that, it can be upgraded anytime in the future, as it comes with a modular TV design. Additionally, the Chinese technology company has also included artificial intelligence based recommendations user interface called as, the PatchWall. This is basically a UI layer developed by Xiaomi on top of Android OS based on deep learning AI technology. Also, under the hood, the Mi TV 4 comes with quad-core processor clocked at 1.8 GHz. via TAGS: Xiaomi The NIA has asked India Today to provide all CDs containing visuals of the sting operation and other details about the special investigative report which showed several separatist leaders admitting on camera that they received money from Pakistan to create unrest in Kashmir. By Sushant Pathak, Jamshed Adil Khan : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has launched a probe into funds flowing in for stone pelters from Kashmir, a couple of days after a special investigative report by India Today exposed how separatist leaders were ready to bleed the Valley for money. The NIA has asked India Today to provide all CDs containing visuals of the sting operation and other details about the report. A separate team of the NIA has already reached Srinagar. The team is likely to quiz Hurriyat leaders who appeared in India Today's Operation Villians of the Valley. advertisement India Today had come up with clinching evidence of Pakistan's state and non-state actors, including Hafiz Saeed, choreographing anarchy through their agents in the Kashmir Valley. Several top Kashmiri separatists were caught on camera confessing to receiving funds from across the border. The sting operation, which was aired on Tuesday, showed Hurriyat's Provincial President (Geelani Faction) Naeem Khan admitting on camera that Pakistan is funding the violence in Kashmir Valley. INDIA TODAY CREW ATTACKED India Today journalist Kamaljit Sandhu and her collegue video journalist Vinod were attacked today when they had gone to take JKLF chief Yasin Malik's reaction over the channel's investigative report. The incident forced Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to condemn the assault and assure tough action against the perpetrators. WATCH: Stung by sting, JKLF chief Yasin Malik attacks India Today crew ALSO READ: Caught on Camera: How Pakistan funds Kashmiri separatists to burn the Valley - India Today Exclusive #HurriyatTruthTapes: Separatists in panic mode, JKLF's Yasin Malik assaults India Today crew India Today reporters threatened after expose on Hurriyat leaders getting funds from Pakistan --- ENDS --- By Press Trust of India: (Eds: Updating with fresh inputs) From Yoshita Singh New York, May 19 (PTI) A 58-year-old Indian man, who was in the US customs custody for entering the country illegally, has died after being hospitalised for shortness of breath. Atul Kumar Babubhai Patel was taken into custody by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Atlanta City Detention Centre for two days. advertisement He died on Tuesday afternoon at Atlantas Grady Memorial Hospital with the officials stating the preliminary cause of his demise as complications from congestive heart failure. Patel had arrived at the Atlanta airport on May 10 on a flight from Ecuador. Official sources in New Delhi said the Consulate General of India (CGI) in Atlanta had extended all assistance to Patel and has been in regular touch with his family in India as well as the local Gujarati Samaj. They said Patel passed away following illness. They said the CGI has been authorised by Patels family to cremate his body in Atlanta and that the last rites will be performed once the body is handed over to the Consulate after post mortem. The US Customs and Border Protection had denied Patel entry into the country as he did not possess the necessary immigration documents, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said in a statement. Patel was transferred into the ICE custody last week at the Atlanta City Detention Centre where he received an initial medical screening and was found to have high blood pressure and diabetes. On Saturday, two days after being in the ICE custody, a nurse checking Patels blood sugar noticed he had a breathing problem following which he was shifted to a hospital where he passed away. ICE said it is firmly committed to the health and welfare of all those in its custody and is "undertaking a comprehensive agency-wide review of the incident, as it does in all such cases". The agency informed the Indian consular representatives who notified Patels kin about his demise. The agency added that fatalities in its custody are "exceedingly rare" and occur at a fraction of the rate of the US detained population as a whole. Patel is the second person to die in ICE custody this week. He is the eighth such individual who died in the custody of ICE in 2017. The recent deaths have drawn sharp criticism from immigrant rights activists who have long decried conditions in immigration detention centres and called on the government to close such facilities. advertisement President Donald Trump has called for increasing detention as part of his crackdown on illegal immigration. PTI YAS ASV NSA MPB PYK MRJ --- ENDS --- 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 By Press Trust of India: From Sajjad Hussain Islamabad, May 19 (PTI) An Indian woman, who has sought refuge at the Indian mission here, today submitted a six-page reply in the Islamabad High Court and reiterated her plea to return to India. 20-year-old Uzma, an Indian national who had travelled to Pakistan earlier this month, in the written plea said her Pakistani husband Tahir Ali "forced" her to marry him at gun point and also harassed her. advertisement Uzma maintained her earlier statement in the court that she was "forced to marry" her Pakistani husband Tahir Ali on gunpoint. "Threatened to kill, harassed and badly humiliated," the Dawn reported, quoting the written reply. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) continued hearing the case of Uzma, who was reported to have gone "missing" at the Indian High Commission, a few days after her marriage to Ali, a resident of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the report said. It emerged later that she had sought refuge in the Indian High Commission, requesting that she be repatriated back to India. First Secretary at the Indian High Commission Piyush Singh was present at the IHC. Their lawyer Shahnawaz Noon submitted a written reply to the court that detailed Uzmas version of events. Uzmas lawyer aims to get permission from Islamabad to allow her to go back to India. Uzmas visa is said to expire on May 30. Last week, she had asked the court to help her get the immigration sheet from Pakistan to travel back to India and also waive police reporting. She also made Foreign Office a party in her plea. The court has already asked Foreign Office to come up with reply on May 22. Ali also petitioned the court last week asking to let him meet Uzma in free environment. He has also rejected all allegations regarding forced marriage and committing violence. On Monday the court clubbed the petitions of Ali and Uzma to hear the case together. Earlier, Pakistans adviser on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz said Uzma would be repatriated once her legal issues are sorted out. PTI SH/AJR MRJ --- ENDS --- A 20-year-old Indian woman tells Pakistan court that she was forced to marry a Pakistani man at gun point. Her lawyer has submitted a reply in written which mentions Uzma's version of events. By India Today Web Desk: A 20-year-old Indian woman tells Pakistan court that she was "forced to marry" her Pakistani husband. The Islamabad High Court continued hearing the case of Uzma who reiterated on Friday that she was "forced to marry" her Pakistani husband Tahir Ali. Uzma requested the court to allow her to return to India. When the hearing was going on, First Secretary at the Indian High Commission Piyush Singh also was present at the High Court. Their lawyer Shahnawaz Noon submitted a written reply to court which mentioned Uzma's version of events, Dawn reported. advertisement UZMA'S MARRIAGE Uzma earlier said she was married Tahir Ali. Tahir is a resident of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who, eight months ago, was working as a taxi driver in Malaysia. The two were married in early May in Buner, two days after Uzma arrived in Pakistan via the Wagah border. A few days after their marriage, the couple approached the Indian High Commission reportedly to secure Indian visas as Uzma's brother in new Delhi asked her to come to India for their honeymoon, according to a Dawn report. Uzma's brother told her that she could find a man -- Adnan -- in the Indian embassy who can help them sort out their visas. UZMA'S DISAPPEARANCE According to a Dawn report, after Uzma and Tahir went to Indian embassy to sort their visas after which she had 'gone missing'. "At the Indian embassy window, she asked about Adnan. A while later, a man came out and took her inside through gate number six. I waited and waited, and then at 7pm I asked at the embassy gate if my wife was inside. They told me no one was inside," Dawn quoted Tahir. An embassy official said that Uzma had actually "sought refuge" at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. According to the Indian High Commission, she claimed to have married Ali and alleged that she later came to know he was already married and had four children. FYI || Lapse of reason: Dog sentenced to death in Pakistan for biting a child || UZMA'S CLAIMS Uzma had earlier said she was forced to marry Tahir Ali at gunpoint. According to Uzma, her Pakistani husband stole her passport and other travel documents. "Threatened to kill, harassed and badly humiliated," Uzma said in her six-page reply to the court on Friday and repeated she was made to sign the nikkah document with a gun to her head. But before she signed the document, Uzma said she was "mercilessly deadened, sedated through sleeping pills and sexually assaulted" at the Wagah Border. advertisement "When she regained consciousness, she claims she was in Buner, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa," Uzma's lawyer told the court. TAHIR'S CLAIMS Speaking to the media, Uzma's husband, Tahir Ali, accused his wife of lying, saying she knew he was married with four children. "She has been in the Indian embassy since May 5. I don't know how her mental state is now and why she is lying," he added, claiming Uzma had been previously married. "I have messages to prove we both were aware of each others' marital status," Ali claimed. Also Read || Forced to marry Pakistani man at gunpoint, Indian woman to return home || Her lawyer aimed to get permission from Islamabad to allow her to return to India. Uzma's visa is said to expire on May 30 and the government of India has sought help from the Government of Pakistan to arrange her necessary travel documents for her safe return. (With inputs from IANS) --- ENDS --- According to reports King Salman had intervened to grant Naik Saudi citizenship to protect him from arrest by the Interpol. By India Today Web Desk: Controversial Islamic preacher Dr Zakir Naik, booked under an anti-terror law, has been granted citizenship by Saudi Arabia, according to media reports. The Middle East Monitor reported that King Salman had intervened to grant Naik Saudi citizenship to protect him from arrest by the Interpol. 51-year-old Naik, who founded the banned Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), was believed to be staying in Saudi Arabia to evade arrest after his activities came under scanner following accusations that he had inspired some of the terrorists who attacked a cafe in Dhaka last year. advertisement The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had filed an FIR against Naik and his associates in November. The physician-turned-preacher was booked for allegedly promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony. Sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) have also been slapped on him. The Centre had declared Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), an NGO based at Dongri in south Mumbai, an unlawful organisation under the Unlawful Activities [Prevention] Act (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". Besides the IRF, Naik is also 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. Also read: Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Asim Azmi takes over Zakir Naik's Islamic International School Zakir Naik's properties worth Rs 100 crore under ED's scanner, attachment begins Ten controversial statements by Zakir Naik Also watch: Zakir Naik used fake shell companies to launder illegal wealth, says NIA --- ENDS --- East Baton Rouge libraries will not be laying down new high-speed internet lines in the near future. Leaders decided not to pursue the project due to the cost of breaking their existing contract with Cox Communications, which has a termination clause the library board's vice president on Thursday called "draconian" but which the company's vice president called "industry standard." The library system had investigated whether to participate in part of the FCC's E-Rate program in which the federal government picks up about 85 percent of the cost for schools and libraries to lay down fiber. Ideally, the program could turn those sites into communication hubs that private companies can build off to continue spreading high-speed internet to businesses and homes. In the short-term, the aim is to provide faster internet access at centers of learning, and the schools and libraries own the physical lines, though they may receive service from a private internet service provider. Its time to bring Baton Rouge into the 21st century city-parish laying the groundwork for high-speed internet The East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council took on roads and trams Wednesday afternoon, but t However, the libraries would have had to sign a new contract with Cox to make the change, and the company requires customers who break their contracts to pay the full remaining amount. The library system pays $16,490 per month for service but receives a 70 percent discount through E-Rate. Library Director Spencer Watts told the board the system has about two years remaining on its current contract. Because of the "restrictive termination clause," the cost to terminate the existing contract and start a new one "would not be beneficial enough to merit going to another solution right now," he said, though he praised Cox as "responsive and responsible." Board Vice President Logan Leger, expressed disappointment in the decision not to pursue the E-Rate program. "I was extremely excited about this prospect," he said. Leger was critical of Cox and cautioned his colleagues to be weary of signing such an "unreasonable" deal in the future. Leigh King responded by saying the company's deal is not unique, and it must make a return on its investments. The vice president of Cox Business Louisiana said the company is providing good service for the libraries at present and is poised to continue to do so. Despite having ownership, laying down new fiber may actually have cost the libraries more in the long term due to how the E-Rate system works, but the change would provide a higher level of service, Watts said. The full cost for such a program is unclear because the attempt was abandoned. Leger and Watts expressed concern that the E-Rate program may not be available when the current contract ends in two years if President Donald Trump's administration makes changes at the FCC. "Some of the options that are available may have disappeared by then," Watts said. Board President Jason Jacobs asked library staff when they plan to prepare for another run at the program. Watts said they will revisit the issue next year to give more time to make a decision accounting for the existing Cox contract and the E-Rate application. The library director said they simply did not have enough time to make a decision this time around. The library system began the process last summer but faced delays. They put out a request for proposals, but by the time responses came in, there were just five days before they had to decide whether to re-apply for their existing E-Rate subsidy. Cox responded to the RFP, as did Southern Light, Hunt Telecom, Eatel and AT&T. E-Rate has been a topic of great concern across the state. In March, school leaders were shocked when only 11 of Louisiana's 69 districts signed on to collaborate with the Board of Regents to bring subsidized fiber to schools. The effort would have been overseen by the Board of Regents' Louisiana Optical Network Initiative, of which Leger's father is executive director. Due to the lack of interest, the Board of Regents decided not to move forward. Forecasters expect the Mississippi River to rise above 40 feet next week, although it doesn't pose the same threat as in 2011, when emergency measures were taken to divert the flow of water barreling downstream. The National Weather Service predicts the water will crest Friday morning at 41 feet at the Baton Rouge gauge, the highest since January 2016, when it reached 43 feet. In May of 2011, the Mississippi reached a staggering 45 feet. The levee at Baton Rouge is 47 feet. The military has already begun preparations. The Army Corps of Engineers entered Phase 1 of their flood fight procedures earlier this month. They are now upgrading to Phase 2 level, which requires daily levee inspections and a halt on certain construction activity nearby, such as running water lines and pile driving, said public affairs officer Ricky Boyett. Phase 2 activities are expected to last several weeks. Rainfall, deadly flooding in Midwest expected to send Mississippi River at Baton Rouge into flood stage Rising waters brought on by a weekend deluge across the Midwest are expected to send the Mis The Corps held a training exercise at the Bonnet Carre Spillway Thursday. However, Boyett does not expect it or the Morganza Spillway to be opened during next week's high water. Engineers pay more attention to the flow rate when determining whether to open the spillways. While a lot of water is coming down the Mississippi, it's a slow churn. That's because it's coming from farther away, National Weather Service meteorologist Gavin Phillips said. Local weather hasn't been especially wet. Some of the water is flowing in from Missouri, but much is from the Ohio valley, so it has a long way to travel before it reaches Baton Rouge, during which time it slows down, Phillips said. The Weather Service expects the river to be in flood stage through the first week of June. The Coast Guard is keeping an eye on the water and staying in touch with state and local authorities. The Guard has asked boaters to be extremely careful on the water. "We are closely monitoring the conditions of the river 24-hours a day, and have been actively engaged to respond to incidents that may occur," wrote Lt. Comdr. Howard K. Vacco. "We ask that our recreational and commercial waterway users maintain extra vigilance while navigating on the river, and help keep our waterway safe during this challenging high river period." It's uncommon for the Mississippi to top 40 feet at Baton Rouge. The river crest in 2011 was close to record-setting. At just over 45 feet, it was fourth all-time since record-keeping began in 1874. The highest crest was 47.28 feet on May 15, 1927. Editor's note: This article was changed on May 24, 2017, to note that the river crested above 40 feet in January 2016 as well as in May 2011. Joan Baezs Forever Young just came on the radio, and I thought how sadly we have moved in the wrong direction: May you always do for other By India Today Web Desk: A video of The Hunger Games actor Jennifer Lawrence drunkenly dancing in a strip club is going viral. The clip, originally uploaded by Radar Online, shows Jennifer crawling seductively on all fours, grinding with a mystery man, pole-dancing and eventually getting rid of her blouse. Reportedly, the video was filmed at the Beverly Hills Club in Vienna, Austria, where Jennifer was shooting for her film, Red Sparrow. advertisement The website quotes an eye-witness as saying, "Jennifer seemed drunk, crawling on all fours around the stage and bending over for men to ogle. She kissed one guy, and even started dry-humping him while they danced! At some point during the night, she lost her blouse, so she was only wearing a bra for the more scandalous dancing!" The source added, "There was one moment when Jennifer picked up some money that was on the stage, and spanked herself with it!" JLaw took to Facebook to clarify her side of the story. "Look, nobody wants to be reminded that they tried to dance on a stripper pole by the internet. 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," she wrote. She added, "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 (sic)." ALSO READ: 10 men sleep outside my house, says Jennifer Lawrence ALSO WATCH: Passengers stars Jennifer Lawrence-Chris Pratt on In Da Club --- ENDS --- Finally, the state is starting to play a productive role in the New Orleans monument mess. Not the Louisiana Legislature, where a bill prompted by the city's settled decision to remove four Confederate-themed structures was approved by the House this week. The measure doesn't limit itself to Civil War and post-Reconstruction icons like the ones in New Orleans, instead calling for a public referendum before any military commemoration is removed, but its underlying inspiration is obvious. Even if it were to become law and that' s a big if House Bill 71 by Shreveport Republican Thomas Carmody wouldn't affect what's happening on the ground in New Orleans, although it could affect localities' ability to make such decisions in the future. In the Senate, it will face an unfriendly committee, and in the unlikely possibility that it's approved, Gov. John Bel Edwards hinted this week that he's not disposed to sign it. Instead, the House action amounted to an unnecessarily divisive statement vote, one that directly endorsed an improper usurpation of local authority by the state and implicitly endorsed Carmody's discredited claim that the Civil War did not grow out of a desire to preserve slavery. It also provoked hard feelings from African-American lawmakers who spoke for two hours about how such monuments and their colleagues' attitudes toward them made them feel disrespected. Even though no supporters other than Carmody spoke out on the bill's behalf, the Legislative Black Caucus members got the message loud and clear after the votes were tallied, and they walked out of the chamber in anger. With the vote as the backdrop, it was good to hear Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser finally start to engage in some problem-solving. Until now, Nungesser has been a loud critic of New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu's drive, supported by a 6-1 City Council votes and upheld in both state and federal court, to remove monuments to Confederate President Jefferson Davis, Confederate Generals Robert E. Lee and P.G.T. Beauregard and a bloody white supremacist uprising against the Reconstruction government. He's searched for a legal basis on which to block the move, even appealing to President Donald Trump for support. But he hasn't tried to be part of the solution often pitched by those who insist the monuments should be displayed for those who still want to see them, with historical context added even though, as official custodians of the state's parks and museums, he's better positioned than just about anyone to make that happen. That appears to be changing. Last week, Nungesser sent an email to Landrieu asking that the city work together to "find a location in Louisiana befitting (the statues), which people interested in history and culture can view and decide for themselves their history and meaning." It's the first sign that the Republican lieutenant governor and the Democratic mayor might be able to work together to ease the tension that's built up over the nearly two years since the discussion started, and a welcome one. Also welcome were Edwards' words this week. The governor, also a Democrat, has mostly steered clear of the subject until now. But when he was asked directly whether he'd sign Carmody's bill if it crossed his desk, he didn't say yes or no but did add his voice to those hoping to get past the controversy. Edwards first raised some practical concerns over the bill, pointing out that it would impinge on representative democracy and local control, and arguing that it would complicate local land use decisions. As an example, he said the bill would have forced a referendum over the decision to tear down the old Alex Box stadium on LSU's campus because it was named for a student-athlete who was killed in World War II. And then the governor got philosophical. As a former House member and political ally of the black caucus members who walked out, he bemoaned the distraction and pain the vote had prompted. He finished by carefully seeking to reframe the issue, and posing what really should have been the central question all along. "I understand passion runs high," he said. But "while it is certainly a part of our history, can we say it's the best part?" WASHINGTON (AP) Brimming with resentment, President Donald Trump fervently denied on Thursday that his campaign had collaborated with Russia or that he'd tried to kill an FBI probe of the issue, contending that "even my enemies" recognize his innocence and declaring himself the most unfairly hounded president in history. Asked point-blank if he'd done anything that might merit prosecution or even impeachment, he said no and then added concerning the allegations and questions that have mounted as he nears the four-month mark of his presidency: "I think it's totally ridiculous. Everybody thinks so." Not quite everybody. While Trump tweeted and voiced his indignation at the White House, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who appointed an independent special counsel to lead a heightened federal Trump-Russia investigation the day before, briefed the entire Senate behind closed doors at the Capitol. By several senators' accounts, he contradicted Trump's statements that Rosenstein's written criticism of FBI Director James Comey had been a factor in Comey's recent firing by the president. Trump is leaving Friday for his first foreign trip, to the Mideast and beyond, and aides had hoped the disarray at home would have been calmed if not resolved, allowing the White House to refocus and move ahead. Republicans on Capitol Hill hoped the same, reasoning that the appointment of a special counsel could free them to work on a major tax overhaul and other matters without constant distractions. Trump said he was about to name a replacement for Comey, another move to settle the waters. Former Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman was seen as the front-runner. But calmness seemed far off. Trump clearly knew what he wanted to say as he took a few questions at a news briefing with visiting Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. Did he urge Comey at a February meeting to drop his probe of the Russia connections of Trump's national security adviser, Michael Flynn? "No. No. Next question." Did he in fact collude with Russia in his campaign to defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton? "Everybody, even my enemies, have said there is no collusion," he maintained. However another answer on that subject seemed both more specific and perhaps ambiguous. "There is no collusion between certainly myself and my campaign -- but I can only speak for myself -- and the Russians. Zero." "The entire thing has been a witch hunt," he declared, echoing one of the tweets he'd sent out just after dawn: "This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history!" He said he respected the special counsel appointment but also said it "hurts our country terribly." At the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue, Rosenstein was briefing the Senate about his decision to appoint former FBI Director Robert Mueller to lead the independent Trump-Russia probe. Senators said that Rosenstein steered clear of specifics while making clear that Mueller has wide latitude to pursue the investigation wherever it leads, including potentially criminal charges. Despite the president's furious reaction, some fellow Republicans welcomed Mueller's appointment and expressed hopes it would restore some composure to a capital plunged in chaos. "We'll get rid of the smoke and see where the actual issues lie," said Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C. "I do think that the special prosecutor provides a sense of calm and confidence perhaps for the American people, which is incredibly important." One striking piece of news emerged from Rosenstein's briefing: He told senators that he had already known Comey was getting fired even as he wrote the memo that Trump cited as a significant justification for the FBI director's dismissal. Trump himself had already contradicted that explanation, telling interviewers earlier that he had already decided to dismiss Comey. He offered new justifications for his decision Thursday, even while referring to the Rosenstein memo as "a very, very strong recommendation. Trump referred to Comey's testimony at a recent Capitol Hill hearing after which the Justice Department ended up having to amend part of his testimony regarding last year's probe of Hillary Clinton's email practices. "That was a poor, poor performance," Trump said. "And then on top of that, after the Wednesday performance by Director Comey, you had a person come and have to readjust the record, which many people have never seen before, because there were misstatements made." The Justice Department says Mueller, the new special counsel, has been given sweeping power to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 presidential campaign, including potential links between Moscow and Trump associates. Despite initially opposing appointment of an independent counsel, Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan said Thursday that the development "helps assure people and the Justice Department that they're going to go do their jobs independently and thoroughly, which is what we've called for all along." At the same time, congressional committees are continuing their own investigations, leading to some turf warfare and sniping as the Senate Intelligence Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee both sought to lay claim to testimony from Comey, while the House Oversight Committee also hoped to hear from the former director. The House intelligence committee announced that it had asked for documents from the FBI and the Justice Department. The No. 2 Senate Republican, John Cornyn of Texas, said he was supportive of investigations in Congress but expressed concern about the "proliferation" of hearings. "I hope that we don't inadvertently trip up or damage the independent investigation of the special counsel," he said. The president's tweets drew little reaction from fellow Republicans, who instead joined Democrats in heaping praise on Mueller, a longtime respected lawman who served under George W. Bush and Barack Obama, preceding Comey as head of the FBI. ___ Associated Press writers Deb Riechmann, Eileen Sullivan, Matthew Daly and Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report. Artists Debbie Ding and Angela Tiatia are an interesting pair. Vibrant, engaging, modern women they almost seem out of place in the cloistered dark corners of the Australian War Memorial. They have come together on a joint project, an artist-in-residency program set up by the AWM and the National Museum of Singapore, that will result in a body of work that will explore the shared wartime experience of the two countries. Angela Tiatia and Debbie Ding, joint artists in residency at the Australian War Memorial and the National Museum of Singapore. Credit:Steve Burton The program is being supported by the Anzac Centenary Arts and Culture Fund, through the Department of Communications and the Arts, and the Singapore Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth. Ding is a London-based, Singapore-born visual artist, who likes to call herself a "technologist" as well. Her computer-aided investigations interpret subjects, looking at how we see them via technology, and how our views of them may differ. Would you be more likely to dob in a criminal if it scored you $1000? Crime Stoppers built its reward system on the premise that most people would answer yes, but found few money-hungry Canberrans. Chair of ACT Region Crime Stoppers Diana Forrester promotes the role that Crime Stoppers plays in community safety. Credit:Sitthixay Ditthavong While ACT calls to the non-profit organisation rose 13 per cent in one year, the region's new chair says very few of these callers accepted cash when their information helped the cops. Crime Stoppers is a community policing initiative which operates through a telephone service that the public can call to anonymously report a crime. Macquarie Bank will donate $2 million to charity and open up its foreign exchange arm to scrutiny after the corporate watchdog uncovered a series of breaches by its traders. It follows similar misconduct uncovered at the foreign exchange desks of the Commonwealth Bank, National Australia Bank, Westpac and ANZ. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) on Friday revealed it had reached a deal with Macquarie to enter a so-called enforceable undertaking with the bank over misconduct by traders working on its foreign exchange desk between January 2008 and June 2013. According to ASIC, traders disclosed confidential details of client orders to third parties and revealed material information about Macquarie's trading activity in relation to large Australian-dollar trades. The Swedish Prosecution Authority said in a statement that Marianne Ny 'has decided to discontinue the investigation.' By Reuters: Swedish prosecutors today said they had dropped an investigation of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange over a rape allegation, but British police said he would still be arrested if he left the Ecuadorean embassy in London where he has been holed up. Assange, 45, took refuge in the embassy in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden over the rape allegation, which he denies. advertisement He feared Sweden would hand him over to the United States to face prosecution over WikiLeaks' publication of thousands of classified military and diplomatic documents in one of the largest information leaks in U.S. history. The Swedish prosecutor's office said in a statement it had decided to end its investigation. In a court document seen by Reuters, chief prosecutor Marianne Ny said there were no further avenues to pursue to take the investigation forward. However, London police issued a statement after the Swedish announcement making clear Assange was still wanted by them. "Westminster Magistrates' Court issued a warrant for the arrest of Julian Assange following him failing to surrender to the court on the 29 June 2012," the police said. "The Metropolitan Police Service is obliged to execute that warrant should he leave the Embassy." ALSO READ: Julian Assange claims his next release will ensure Hillary Clinton is arrested Julian Assange turns 45: 15 facts about the whistle-blower --- ENDS --- For all the debate about activist investor Elliott Management's assault on the mining company now rebranding itself as BHP, there's another question investors should be pondering: What's going to become of Billiton? South32, the company spun out of BHP Billiton in 2015 and consisting largely of sub-scale assets brought into the business in its 2001 merger with Billiton, has put in a creditable performance of late. As Elliott would be happy to point out, South32's shares have risen about 28 per cent since the split, compared with a 21 per cent drop at its larger sibling. After two years of losses, analysts expect a $US1.24 billion ($1.67 billion) profit for the year through June. In a mining industry still groaning under the weight of its debts, South32's $US859 million net cash pile is the biggest after Coal India and Hindustan Zinc. It is reasonable that people expect unimpeachable probity from the most powerful person in the world, the US president, a person whose behaviour and decisions have global import and who commands a nuclear arsenal. So it is understandable that there is mounting speculation that US President Donald Trump's tenure should end in impeachment. Nothing to see here ... Donald Trump meets Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the Oval Office last week. Credit:Russia Foreign Ministry/AP But calls for such drastic and divisive action are premature, and the welcome news that the US Justice Department will appoint a special counsel to investigate possible collusion between Mr Trump's presidential campaign and the Russian government should reassure the American people that there is now a proper process in place to resolve an issue that has far-reaching implications. For the moment, the most acute focus is on whether Mr Trump obstructed justice by, first, seeking to have then-FBI director James Comey halt an investigation into (now former) national security adviser Mike Flynn, who was found to have lied about ties to Russia, and, second, by removing Mr Comey from the FBI helm for persevering with a broad probe into claims of Russian interference in last year's election and alleged ties between the Trump team and the Kremlin. The fevered air surrounding the issue is also being fuelled by the President's admission, which contradicted a statement only hours earlier by his hapless new national security adviser, that he divulged classified information during a recent meeting with Russia's ambassador to the United States. The US Deputy Attorney-General has appointed a man who appears eminently qualified to handle the delicate task at hand. Robert Mueller is a lawyer and former FBI director under Republican and Democrat presidents. We believe he ought to be given full powers to compel testimony, an issue still to be resolved. Beyond creating problems inside the Trump administration, the uncertainty swirling around the White House is roiling financial markets, which provide a gauge of international confidence in the world's political and economic outlook. Stocks around the world have plunged. The Trump bump whereby the election of a self-proclaimed can-do, mould-breaking, deal-making businessman would lead to investor euphoria is becoming the Trump slump. The Age shares the widespread concerns that Mr Trump and his team might well be unfit for their roles. But we urge caution against a rush to judgment, and we have confidence that the checks and balances so assiduously established by the eminent authors of the US constitution and so faithfully executed by citizens and institutions ever since will continue to protect the world's most politically, economically and militarily strong nation, and the world itself. There are clearly many questions Mr Trump and others must answer to establish credibility the current lack of which is indicated by record low opinion polls for such a new president. We believe, for example, it is crucial that Mr Comey, unceremoniously unshackled from his FBI duties by Mr Trump, publicly releases the memo he says he wrote immediately after he claims he was urged by Mr Trump to drop the investigation into Mr Flynn. Bitcoin is well-entrenched as the preferred payment for cybercriminals like the WannaCry hackers who have hit more than 300,000 computers over the past week, but cryptocurrencies offering more anonymity are threatening to displace it. A key reason for bitcoin's dominance in the nefarious online underworld, say technologists and cybercrime experts, is its size. The total value of all bitcoins in circulation is more than twice that of the nearest of hundreds of rivals. Getting ransom money in Bitcoin is easiest for cyber-crooks, but it isn't the most secure. That makes it easy for victims to access enough to pay the ransoms demanded, and for hackers to cash out of it via online exchanges to spend money in the real world. Bitcoin was set up in 2008 by someone or some group calling themselves Satoshi Nakamoto, and was the first digital currency to successfully use cryptography to keep transactions secure and hidden, making traditional financial regulation difficult if not impossible. Do I feel lucky: Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry. Police are embracing some US tactics but not necessarily this one. This is not a computer screen but a life-size, 300-degree, five-screen darkened room where the police are armed with replica firearms linked to the software program. On the screens can be an armed, drug-affected suspect, a man threatening his partner, or multiple armed offenders who have already opened fire. Police can respond by negotiating, confronting, using capsicum spray or deadly force. Out of sight a supervisor has a series of computer options so the on-screen characters can react to the real police's responses. When Naked City watched one scenario we failed to see that a drug offender was armed with a syringe until she brandished it as a weapon. In a mass school shooting played out on the five screens we would almost certainly have shot a fleeing student who for a split second was mistaken for a gunman. "The decisions police make in microseconds may ultimately have to be explained at the Coroner's Court," says Assistant Commissioner Kevin Casey. Philosophy shift This is more than a new training tool it represents a major shift in police philosophy and a direct response to the growing local terrorism threat. As a result of a spate of police shootings in the 1980s, Victoria Police underwent a massive retraining program called Project Beacon, in which the safety of police, the public and suspects was given the highest priority. The old way of rushing in (a method described by then coroner Hal Hallenstein as a culture of bravery) was replaced by cordon and contain. The thinking, particular in sieges, was the longer the incident is contained the more likely it is to resolve peacefully. For about 25 years the first police on the scene cleared people away, created a cordon and waited for the experts, hostage negotiators, snipers, and specialist forced entry officers, to arrive. The experts would be equipped with psychological profiles, distraction bombs, tear gas and some tricks we aren't going to talk about. But Sydney's 2014 Lindt cafe siege has changed the rules of engagement and police nationwide have accepted that cordon and contain plays into the hands of terrorists. While it is still a valuable tactic in many situations, it is no longer a one-size-fits all solution. "It's the reality of the world today and we need to prepare ourselves," Superintendent (Operational Safety Division) Peter Seiz says. "Previously, it was about cordon and contain and communicate, peaceful resolution. World events have taken us out of that area, and have put us in a place where members, depending on the circumstances, might have to engage." Shoot to kill So now there are two new police phrases that are clinical but deadly: "Active Armed Offender" and "Casualty Reduction." First there is an active shooter the sort of incident repeated with sickening regularity in the US where a gunman walks into a school, college, cinema, shopping centre or workplace with the sole intention of killing as many people as possible. This means the first police on the scene likely to be relatively inexperienced patrol officers will be expected to take immediate action, options that include killing armed offenders to stop them shooting. "Our job is to protect life first and foremost and we might need to get into or resolve a situation where a decision might have to be taken to take an offender's life." says Seiz. In Australia often the most vile mass killers have been taken alive, such as Julian Knight who in 1987 murdered seven unarmed people and injured a further 19 in Hoddle Street before immediately surrendering when he faced armed police. For the deluded Knight, toughness was all about holding a gun not looking down the barrel of one. Or Martin Bryant, who in 1996 killed 35 people and wounded another 23 at Port Arthur. But it is not just guns these days, as events as close as Bourke Street and as distant as France show that anyone with a set of car keys can become a mass killer. When you sign up to join the Special Operations Group or one of several sharp-end police units you know what comes with the territory, but under active offender training we will be asking regular cops to be heroes. "It's the reality of the world today and we need to prepare ourselves," says Seiz. Front line crucial This is not the first time police have used US-style training videos. After a series of random attacks on police (burglar Pavel "Mad Max" Marinof shot four in 1986, the Russell Street Bombing in the same year and the Walsh Street murder of two police in 1988), senior police believed we were heading to the US where criminals carried guns and any interaction with the public could turn fatal. And so police used a video called Your Move Sergeant where an action sequence would be stopped and the trainees asked what they would do next. The change in tactics coincided with an influx of recruits to honour a government promise of a boost in police numbers. The consequence was more inexperienced police on patrol and an increase in the number of police shootings. Today the government has promised an increase of 3000 (with resignations and retirements this really means more than 4000 recruits), which means we will have an inexperienced front line at a time when more criminals are carrying guns, ice-related violence is at a record high and the risk of lone-wolf terror attacks is ever present. Which is why, says Assistant Commissioner Casey, training must be as realistic as possible to prepare young police for the real thing. "Police who graduate on the Friday may be on the [patrol] van on Monday and will have to make crucial decisions on the spot." Young police such as Adam McKenzie, who was on his first night shift just three weeks after graduating in 2008 when he shot dead a gunman who had wounded another officer. his month McKenzie was awarded the prestigious Valour Award. As well as virtual reality training, police have built an indoor village to practise responses to armed robberies, building sieges and random shootings. International experience shows that terror groups can drag out sieges and pretend to negotiate to "milk" maximum publicity for their twisted causes. In Europe, terror groups will try to lure counter-terror police into a shootout. Senior police say that in a terror-related hostage siege, direct action moving in with an element of surprise is safer than waiting, only to be forced into emergency action after shots are fired, as was the case at the Lindt cafe. This means that in Victoria, general-duties police trained in active-shooter tactics may be asked to take immediate action rather than wait for heavily armed specialists. "In certain circumstances it is all about casualty reduction rather than seeking a peaceful resolution because negotiation doesn't work with terrorists," according to one senior policeman. In such cases the elimination of the threat is the main priority. Police will run past the wounded to find the gunmen. Options will be to contain the threat by creating a barrier to more victims, ordering the offenders to surrender or killing them if necessary. A veteran ambulance paramedic is unable to return to work more than a year after he was allegedly attacked on the job, a court has heard. Amanda Warren, 30, and Caris Underwood, 20, allegedly assaulted Paul Judd a paramedic of more than 30 years as he attended to a drug-affected man in Reservoir in March 2016. Caris Underwood (pictured) and Amanda Warren are both expected to plead guilty to intentionally causing injury Credit:Facebook A teenage boy was also allegedly involved and has been before the Children's Court. The women appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday. The president of the Victorian Labor Party is being sued for allegedly suggesting that a prominent women's advocate had overseen a culture of bullying and mismanagement at one of Melbourne's leading philanthropic organisations. ALP senior official Hutch Hussein has been accused of waging a defamatory campaign against Victorian Women's Trust executive director Mary Crooks, paving the way for a bitter legal stoush between two longstanding advocates of gender equality. Hutch Hussein is being sued by a fellow gender advocate. In a writ filed in the Supreme Court last week, Ms Crooks has alleged that Ms Hussein circulated an anonymous document containing a series of false claims, including that she had driven down donations; misused funds on in-house projects of "questionable merit" and presided over a "toxic workplace culture" in which more than 15 staff, interns and volunteers had been repeatedly bullied. One particular allegation centred on a suggestion that Ms Crooks had kicked the levers of an office chair in which a female staff member was seated, resulting in physical injury and psychological damage to that staffer. By India Today Web Desk: Former Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra dropped another bombshell on friend-turned-foe Arvind Kejriwal claiming that the Delhi chief minister and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) received money through hawala network. Mishra showed a powerpoint presentation to journalists during a press conference in New Delhi today as evidence to back his claims that the Aam Aadmi Party received funds from shell companies. advertisement "Arvind Kejriwal is keeping mum despite me providing clinching evidence of his corrupt practices. It is evident from this presentation how AAP forged letter heads to shell companies. These letter heads were fake," the sacked Delhi water supply minister said. "Kejriwal ran a hawala racket. He was worried after agencies demolished the hawala syndicate. I may be killed for exposing him but would not rest till he goes to Tihar," Mishra said and dared the Delhi CM to step down and face probe. Mishra also rejected a Delhi businessman's claims that he had donated Rs 2 crore to the AAP. Mukesh Sharma, a property dealer and tobacco trader, had claimed he donated the money through a demand draft on March 31, 2014. "The public support to the AAP at that time was over-whelming and I had donated the money to the party hoping that it will do good for Delhi and for the nation," Sharma said. However, Mishra presented letter heads of Sharma's 'shell' company having details of the 'donation'. "The letter heads are fake. Sharma donated the money in 2014 but he was made the head of this company in 2017," Mishra said. ALSO READ: Kapil Mishra promises to expose Arvind Kejriwal's biggest lie today Arvind Kejriwal barely goes to CM office but has time to watch Sarkar 3: Kapil Mishra Kapil Mishra faints after calling Arvind Kejriwal corrupt; AAP blames BJP, Congress demands probe Kapil Mishra fires 'donation scam' salvo at Kejriwal, AAP deflects it towards BJP, Congress Kapil Mishra threat calls bare virtual calling racket Watch Video: Kapil Mishra claims Aam Aadmi Party received funds through hawala --- ENDS --- LISTEN NOW! - Auto Lab Talk Radio LIVE From New York Saturday May 20, 2017 7-9 AM Auto Lab Talk Radio The Auto Lab Radio Show is Broadcast every Saturday 7 to 9 AM On New York City's WNYM Radio AM 970 and Streamed Worldwide On The Auto Channel This Weeks Show Broadcast Date: May 20, 2017 Car Question or Concern? Call Toll Free 888-692-7234 Auto Lab is a 28 year old interactive automotive-focused New York area radio call-in show hosted by Professor Harold Wolchok. Each week a cadre of experienced hands-on automotive experts are in-studio with advice for the New York area's 12 million people, providing listeners with honest, practical and street-smart car repair and buying advice. Auto Lab is also about the automotive industry, its history, and its culture, presenting the ideas and advice of leading college faculty, authors, and automotive practitioners in a relaxed, conversational interactive format. Listeners can hear the past 18 years of archived Auto Lab shows as simulcast on www.theautochannel.com. Listen - Auto Lab Page (Includes Audio-on-Demand Archives, Auto Programs at Community College Database, Guests Pictures This Weeks Show: May 20, 2017 Auto Lab In-Studio Auto Experts Discuss: Repairs, Second Opinions, Regular Maintenance, How To's, Safety, Used and New Car Buying, Ombudsmen Suggestions Harold Bendell - Major Auto Libby Demarco-Broadway Sunoco David Goldsmith - Urban Classics Auto Repairs Howard Lepzelter - Retired Bronx Community College's Automotive Technology Department,CUNY Jerry Pastore-D & J Diagnostic Johanna Pastore-D & J Diagnostic Joanne Porcelli, Esq Michael Porcelli - Auto Mobile Services Nicholas Prague- MTA and Rockland Community College, SUNY Auto Lab Correspondents Report Auto Safety News, New Car Reviews, Technology and Latest Auto World Information That May effect You! Broadcast Date: May 20, 2017 Robert Erskine, Senior European Correspondent, Suffolk England PEPPER MILLS AND THE 2017 PEUGEOT 2008 SUV Robert Sinclair Jr.- AAA Northeast GASOLINE PRICES Dr. William Sharfman, Automotive Journalist and Consultant Impressions Of The 2017 Honda HR-V The 13-km first phase of the Kochi Metro will be inaugurated on May 30. PM Modi has been invited for the event, but his presence hasn't been confirmed. By Jeemon Jacob: The first phase of Kochi Metro, Kerala's first metro rail network will be inaugurated on May30. According to Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran, the inauguration ceremony will be held at Aluwa from where the Kochi Metro starts operation. "We have invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the inauguration. But we are yet to get his official confirmation. But we will not delay the inauguration. If PM is not attending the inauguration ceremony, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will open the Metro Rail for the public," the minister told the media. advertisement The 13-kilometer stretch of Kochi Metro Rail from Aluva to Palarivattom has been cleared for commissioning after safety tests and trial run. Kochi Metro Rail officials were waiting for Prime Minister's convenience for the inauguration. A single trip along the line Single trip can carry 975 passengers. On May 17, Kerala Cabinet has decided to commission the Kochi Metro Rail Project as part the first anniversary celebrations of the Pinarayi government. The Rs 5181-crore Kochi Metro is built along a 25 kilometer stretch with 22 stations that are going to give a facelift to Kochi, the financial hub of the state. A five-kilometer long second phase from Palaraivattom to Maharaja's College will be operational within two months. ALSO READ | Kochi metro appoints 23 transgenders: New beginning for India's transgender community ALSO WATCH | Prime Ministers' day out: Modi, Turnbull take the metro to Akshardham temple --- ENDS --- Honoring the helpers Awards recognize those who support autism community Thirteen community members and providers were recognized for their resilience, passion and heart at the 2022 Awesome in Autism Awards ceremony. The 14th annual event, hosted by Autism Society Ventura County, was held Oct. 20 at Wood Ranch Golf Club... Go purple to support those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer November is the busiest month of the year for cancer awareness campaigns. Im going to focus on one of thempancreatic cancer because its a type weve seen a noticeable rise in over the last few years. And because it remains... Hospital offers safe option to dispose of meds, narcotics Los Robles Health System is working to crush the opioid drug crisis by raising awareness about the dangers of opioid misuse and the importance of safe and proper disposal of unused or expired medications. Crush the Crisis will take place... Alzheimers Foundation to host free conference The Alzheimers Foundation of America will host a free virtual educational conference from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tues., Nov. 15. The event is part of the foundations 2022 national Educating America Tour. The conference, which is free and open... What exacerbated his misery was the obvious comparison with Harish Salve, the Indian counsel in the case, who took just Re 1 as his court fee, a symbolism of his commitment to his motherland. By Santosh Chaubey: According to a Geo News report, Khawar Qureshi, the lawyer representing Pakistan at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), has blamed the Indian government for the 'baseless propaganda' surrounding the case fee he charged, something that became a rallying point for many on the social media to poke fun at him. What exacerbated his misery was the obvious comparison with Harish Salve, the Indian counsel in the case, who took just Re 1 as his court fee, a symbolism of his commitment to his motherland. advertisement The lawyer, who has been blamed by many experts and politicians in Pakistan for not preparing well for the case and leaving many loopholes in his arguments, told Geo News that "references to his fees were complete lies fabricated by Indian Twitterati and Indian nationals behind such baseless propaganda may have government backing". The ICJ decision yesterday, staying execution of Kulbhushan Jadhav by Pakistan till the case was underway in the UN court, saw a rush of tweets on how a highly paid but ill-prepared Pak lawyer could not stand the legal wisdom of Harish Salve who charged just Re 1. The speculation on Twitter about his fees was largely based on media reports from Pakistan that quoted his fees for the case at around 5,00,000 British Pound, i.e., a whopping 7 crore in Pak currency and around 4.25 crore in Indian currency. So, even if Qureshi says that "his fees were not even 10 per cent of what the Indian propaganda suggests" and even if he justifies the amount he charged by saying he "cancelled another professional commitment with another government to travel to Pakistan urgently", he would always find it difficult to justify even this reduced gap, i.e., at 10 per cent of the claims being made, between Harish Salve's Re 1 winning gesture to his Rs. 42.5 lakh case fee, especially when he wasted 40 minutes of the 90 minutes given to his team to present its side of the arguments. To add to Qureshi's misery, Indian team under the leadership of Salve used its full 90 minutes. Qureshi might have given "a 30 per cent reduction on his fees, besides covering the cost of two of his juniors' fees", as he claims, the bottom line is, he is being slammed in Pakistan for mishandling the case and his high fees, even at 30 per cent discount, is not giving him any room to breathe easy because Pakistan has made Kulbhushan Jadhav's case a prestige issue and the yesterday debacle saw a mourning like atmosphere there. It is true that the ICJ has given only an interim stay of Jadhav's execution and Pakistan and Qureshi say they have enough evidence to prove their case in the course of hearing, the truth of the moment is, India has scored a clear diplomatic victory over Pakistan and a moral boost for further case proceedings at the ICJ. advertisement Earlier in the day, a news came from Pakistan that it was going to have a new legal team for the case, but now Pakistan has filed a plea in the ICJ to rehear the case within six weeks with reports saying that Qureshi will continue to represent Pakistan. So, now that Qureshi is going to remain there, he has now the opportunity to silence his critics, both on his legal acumen in the case and on his exorbitant fee. Let's see if he can match Harish Salve. ALSO READ: Pakistan's plan ahead after Nawaz Sharif govt slammed on ICJ's Kulbhushan ruling Kulbhushan Jadhav case: Pakistan set to re-challenge International Court of Justice's jurisdiction After ICJ ruling in India's favour, Pakistan to change legal team in Kulbhushan Jadhav case ALSO WATCH THE VIDEO: --- ENDS --- This week, the investigation into possible Trump-Russia collusion during the presidential election went up to 11this following the Comey memo revelation that President Trump had, during a secret White House meeting in February, allegedly asked the then-FBI director to end the probe into his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn. Comey was fired a few months later. The news prompted Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, whos taken the reins on the Trump-Russia probe following AG Jeff Sessions recusal after lying under oath, to appoint former FBI director Robert Mueller as special counsel charged with overseeing the Trump-Russia inquiry. And Stephen Colbert is delighted. The word dumpster fire gets thrown around so casually these days, but when a special counsel gets appointed to investigate your administration just four months in, thats a new high and low, asserted Colbert during Thursdays Late Show monologue. Colbert, of course, is Donald Trumps late-night enemy No. 1. After Colbert cracked an off-color joke about the president, the commander-in-chief retaliated by complaining to Time magazine that the comedian was filthy and a no-talent guy. Yes, Donald grab them by the pussy Trump just called Stephen Colbert, a Sunday school teacher, filthy. So all of this added controversy is surely tickling the comic, who just last week declared victory in his war of words with the leader of the free world. Now, the twist is that the counsel was appointed by Deputy Attorney Generaland lesser BuscemiRod Rosenstein, said Colbert. Remember Rosenstein? Last week, when the administration was looking for someone to blame for the Comey firing, they tried to throw Rosenstein under the bus, forgetting that as deputy AG, hes actually the bus driver. Next up, Indictment Avenue! As far as the special counsel goes, Colbert remarked, Trump should have seen this coming, OK? This should be no surprise to himespecially because, after all, its just keeping one of his campaign promises from the debates. He then threw to a clip of candidate Trump from one of the presidential debates chastising his opponent, Hillary Clinton. If I win, Im going to instruct my attorney general to get a special prosecutor to look into your situation, Trump told Hillary. Hes a man of his word, said a grinning Colbert. With the news that James Comey says that President Trump, before firing him, had asked the FBI director to drop his investigation of Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, Republican stalwarts like Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker, and Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski joined long-time critics like Sen. Jeff Flake in harshly criticizing Trumps downward spiral, his constant chaos, and stressing the need for him to right his ship. Rep. Jason Chaffetz promised subpoenas, and Rep. Justin Amash his own hearings. Sen. John McCain observed that Trumps travails had reached Watergate size and scale. By Wednesday, after the appointment of former FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III as special prosecutor to investigate Russian interference with the 2016 election, you could even hear yearning for President Mike Pence, with his one marriage, his weekly church attendance, the hair God gave him, and the possibility of getting tax cuts passed. Republicans repress those thoughts by expressing them as jokesbetter make nice to Pence, prepare to be boredbut its looking more like gallows humor as Trump eerily resembles Richard Nixon. President Pence looked a little more real after news broke Wednesday that hed taken the very unusual step for a vice president of forming his very own political action committee. Right-leaning columnists, including Russ Douthat of The New York Times, have pined for Pence for a while. A Fox News reporter risked being stoned for heresy when he asked Speaker Paul Ryan on Thursday morning if the GOP wouldnt be better off with Pence in charge. Ryan could have flatly said no, not at all, but didnt. Instead he sputtered, Good grief, Im not even going to give credence to that, political speak for I think about it all the time. The Watergate comparisons are not all that appropriate, at least not yet. It took Woodward and Bernstein, a Senate committee, and Republican statesmen many months to uncover the coverup of the Watergate break-in. With Trump, every day is break-in day and he routinely exposes his own attempted coverup of whats really going on. Assertions out of the White House that Trump had been extremely measured, with no yelling or screaming, about Muellers appointment were contradicted by Trump the next morning yelling and screaming in a tweet that he was the victim of the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history. It is always thus. No matter the scandal, Trumps first instinct is to have aides throw spaghetti at the wall, then monitor the reaction on his 60-inch TV screen while eating two scoops of ice cream, to see what sticks. He adjusts his story accordingly. On the firing of Comey, aides said Trump took Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosensteins counsel to get rid of him (with Rosenstein fessing up Thursday that he knew when he wrote the memo that the decider had already decided) and because of the way Comey treated Hillary Clinton. Laughable. The next day, Trump told NBC News Lester Holt, Regardless of any recommendation, I decided to fire Comey over the made-up Russia investigation. In fact, hed been thinking about it for a very long time. Trump wont get anywhere hollering witch hunt at Mueller. A man who led Justices criminal division and the FBI under two presidents with distinction is no ones lackey and he will not be under the supervision of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who sometimes behaves like one. Rosenstein, who wouldnt play ball with Trump even if he werent upset at being manipulated by him, is Muellers immediate boss, to the extent hell have one, since his boss, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, had to recuse himself from all things Russia to land the job. Events of the last few weeks explode the myth of Trump as a savvy operator, outfoxing everyone in his path. The only person who clears a room (of his vice president and attorney general no less) to have a one-on-one with the FBI about letting a good guy like Flynn off the hook is a guilty person. The only person who doesnt realize Comey is going to write a memo of the conversation is someone who doesnt belong in the Oval Office. Mueller was barely installed before another bombshell hit. It turns out that Team Trump knew the worst about Flynnthat he was a secret and highly paid agent of the Turkish governmentbefore he appointed him national security adviser, giving him access to the presidents classified intelligence briefings. And that Flynn, in his historically brief tenure as the national security adviser, made a key decision about the fight against ISIS that just happened to conform with the wishes of his (then-secret) Turkish patrons. Those stories came out the day Trump warmly welcomed Flynns client, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a thug who employs thugs, into the White House even as Erdogans security detail was beating up peaceful demonstrators at his embassy on the mean streets of the Kalorama neighborhood where Ivanka Trump lives. Trump also embarrassed his national security adviser, three-star general H.R. McMaster, by sending him out to declare false a Washington Post report that Trump had given classified information about terrorist plots in Syria to the grinning Russians visiting him on Tuesday. Trump copped a plea to doing it the next day, tweeting that he has the absolute right to share facts with anyone he wants. Poor McMaste, one more person soiled by the president. With each new explosion, we learn more about what is going on inside Trumps White House, a staff with their hair aflame as they say anything, to not to be treated as abused children. See the pictures of Sean Spicer explaining Comeys firing behind bushes in the dark, literally and figuratively. Read Senate testimony where, according to former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates, White House counsel Donald McGahn wonders what the big deal is if one official (Flynn) lies to another (the vice president). Listen as substitute press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders says that Trump doesnt have time to be briefing surrogates. Be amazed as Trump responds that if we expect honesty at press briefings, well, he will just stop having them. That will show us. Even before the Mueller announcement, a seething Trump had entered the martyr stage, telling graduates at the Coast Guard Academy to look at the way Ive been treated lately. No ones been treated worse or more unfairly. Hes complaining about his foreign trip, asking if eight days couldnt be cut to four. Trump is so disgusted with his advisers hes turned on the lot of them, even golden boy Jared Kushner, according to The New York Times. This leaves Trump in a terrible pickle because Kushner is in charge of just about everything, including bringing peace to the Middle East, and is married to daughter Ivanka, who is in charge of everything else. Cue the Godfather comparisons with a warning to Kushner to keep outside of kissing range. Trump isnt just furious; he is cruelly disappointed. He may have never expected to be elected but given that he was, he thought it would provide everything missing in his life: the constant roar of the crowd, the approval of the elites who shunned him, the opportunity as king to remake the world however he sees fit with the stroke of a pen. One day, Trumps best hope may be that President Pence provides the most important thing missing in his life: a pardon. By Hamza Ameer: After the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Thursday stayed the execution of Kulbhushan Jadhav till a conclusion is reached, criticism has sparked against Pakistan's premiere Nawaz Sharif. Opposition party leaders have criticised the government for failing to present Pakistan's case before the ICJ, thus leading to their loss. Senior leader or Pakistan People Party (PPP) Sherry Rehman said, "Pakistan was ill-prepared to contest Kulbashan Jadhav case in the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Pakistan did not utiliSe any option under Article 31 of statute which allows a party to nominate an individual as a judge." advertisement Criticising Barister Khawar Qureshi, the Pakistani representative who presented the case before the ICJ, Mr Rehman said, "The lawyer Pakistan chose to contest the case lacked international experience. He had never presented any case in an international court before." PPP leader Khursheed Shah, who is also the leader of the opposition parties in the Pakistan Parliament slammed Nawaz Sharif government for mishandling Jadhav's case, "The way government handled Kulbashan Jadhav's case, shows its ineligibility. Pakistan should have sent its attorney general to fight the case as it is a matter of the country's national security." The PPP leader went further and also raised doubts over the ruling government's intention and negotiating with India. "Government concealed the visit and meeting of Nawaz Sharif with Indian steel tycoon Sajjan Jindal. The Prime Minister should have fulfilled his responsibility. This raises doubts in our minds over the government's intentions," Shah said. Moreover, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Shafqat Mahmood also lashed out at the government saying, "Hidden decisions and policies for vested interests have proven to be damaging. It seems that there was a deliberate intent and planning behind formulation of a weak strategy against India at ICJ." Opposition parties are now demanding a reply from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. They want him to call for a National Security Committee (NSC) meeting. PAKISTAN GOVERNMENT'S FORCEFUL RESPONSE TO ICJ VERDICT Pakistan was quick to respond to the ICJ verdict, re-enforcing its contention, which was negated by the court in its verdict. Pakistan Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said that ICJ's decision cannot force them to alter its position on Kulbhushan's case. "It is an issue of Pakistan's national security and there will be no compromise on it," he said. Asif maintained that the RAW agent was convicted after fulfilling all necessary legal procedures and any decision on this matter will be taken in view the national security. "ICJ has only granted formal stay on the death sentence of Jadhav," he said. Pakistan's Foreign office spokesperson in a statement released on the behalf of Attorney General's office on the May 18 said, "In today's interim order, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has stated that by way of provisional measures, the status quo be maintained in the case of Commander Jadhav. The Court has clearly underscored that the provisional measures are without prejudice to the final determination of the merits and jurisdiction of the case. The provisional measures are a procedural process only to enable the Court to have full consideration at a later hearing. These measures have no bearing whatsoever on the final decision of the Court. advertisement Pakistan attended the hearing out of its utmost respect for the Court and pursuant to the established jurisprudence that the challenge to jurisdiction can be made via appearance and not by abstaining from the process. In addition, Pakistan attended because of its conviction that the only way to resolve all outstanding issues is through peaceful means. We are confident that India would not be able to hide the subversive activities it is trying to carry out through its agents like Commander Jadhav. India has no substance in the case. As far as Pakistan is concerned, the Court's decision today has not changed the status of Commander Jadhav's case in any manner. In our submissions on 15 May, we had assured the Court unambiguously that Commander Jadhav would be provided every opportunity and remedy available under the law to defend his case. Commander Jadhav still has ample time to petition for clemency. To recall, we had in our presentation on 15 May, proposed to the court that a final hearing be held on the merits and maintainability of the case as early as possible. We are determined to pursue this case to its logical end." advertisement PAKISTAN DIDN'T WIN, NEITHER DID INDIA: Legal experts in Pakistan are of the view that ICJ's decision did not yield victory for both countries. Taimur Malik, an international lawyer said that the ICJ decision only related to India's request for provisional measures, which doesn't include a request for granting consular access to Jadhav. "Pakistan hasn't failed to convince the ICJ that Jadhav is a spy/terrorist as this is something that will be considered only at the merits stage of the case.At this stage, ICJ wasn't even looking to confirm whether the rights sought to be protected by India exist (i.e. consular access to an Indian citizen convicted of activities subversive to the national security of Pakistan). In fact, it only had to decide whether such rights are plausible enough to be adjudicated upon at the merits stage of the case." advertisement In relation to the consular access to Jadhav was concerned, Malik said, "ICJ has not determined as yet whether consular access must be granted to someone in Jadhav's position. Pakistan has not even had the opportunity to plead the arguments in this respect and again this is something to be debated at the merits stage of the case." Malik also that there was no decision on death penalty and that Pakistan can still argue over ICJ's jurisdiction. "The decision in no way affects Pakistan's rights to submit arguments with regards to ICJ's jurisdiction, to deal with this case and in relation to the merits of the case itself," he said. PAKISTAN'S PLAN AHEAD: Sources within the government say that Pakistan will be formulating a much stronger legal team as it is taking this opportunity as a chance to expose India's breaches of other international treaties on human rights, hinting towards the Kashmir dispute, the Line of Control (LoC) and the Indus Water Treaty. Pakistan is also planning to appoint an Ad Hoc Judge of the ICJ for this specific case. Among some suggestions made by legal experts, the new team might include the following: 1. Justice Retd. Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, Former Chief Justice of Pakistan. 2. Ahmer Bilal Soofi, elected member of the UN Human Rights Council Advisory Committee. 3. Judge Bruno Simma, Former Judge of the ICJ and arbitrator by Pakistan in the Indus Water Treaty Kishanganga Arbitration. Other than the above mentioned names, Pakistan is also exploring options of engaging a foreign lawyer to contend its case before the ICJ. Pakistan believes it has substantial evidence to expose India's efforts of diverting the attention brutalities in India Administered Kashmir. LAST DAY FOR KULBHUSHAN'S CLEMENCY REQUEST: May 20 is the last day for Kulbhushan, to file a mercy plea against his conviction before the Pakistan court as 40 days, time to file clemency plea after conviction as per the international and domestic law, ends tomorrow. With Pakistan's forceful response to ICJ's decision and emphasis of showing zero tolerance in the case; Kulbhushan's fate still stands on uneven ground. Also Read After ICJ ruling in India's favour, Pakistan to change legal team in Kulbhushan Jadhav case Pakistan on Kulbhushan Jadhav verdict: No change in our stance, will expose true face of India How International Court of Justice decided in India's favour in Kulbhushan Jadhav case: An explainer --- ENDS --- By Press Trust of India: Patna, May 19 (PTI) RJD chief Lalu Prasad today dismissed reports of the Income Tax department raids on 22 locations in Delhi and adjoining areas on charges of alleged benami deals worth Rs 1,000 crore linked to him and his family members. He also expressed his resolve to unite the opposition against BJP in the next general election. advertisement Attacking the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre, the RJD supremo predicted its "fall before completing the five-year term". "I am an astrologer and predict that the Narendra Modi government will not be able to complete its five-year term," he said. "Tell me which 22 places the IT conducted raids," he told reporters here, three days after the raids were carried out on May 16. "When IT will ask (us), we will answer their queries," Lalu said. "Every detail of moveable and immoveable properties of mine as well my family members are in the public domain and with the competent authorities like Income Tax department and the Election Commission, and anybody can see them on the internet," he said while denying any financial wrongdoings. Lalu, who has been under attack from BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi for being involved in alleged corrupt land deals, termed the charges against him as "propaganda" by the saffron party. "All the details of properties (belonging to him and his family members) are with the IT as we file returns regularly and also with the Election Commission," he added. On Tuesday, Prasad said he was "not scared at all" and would continue to fight the "fascist forces". He also attacked the BJP for alleging corruption in purchase of soil for the Patna Zoo from a mall built by a company linked to his son and Forest Minister Tej Pratap. "Kaha ghotala hua hain batao (tell me where the corruption has taken place)," he asked. On the political front, the RJD chief said the preparation is underway for a "huge party rally" here on August 27, and he has been talking to prominent leaders of the non-BJP parties to participate in it. "I have had talks with Mayawati, Mamata Banerjee, Sonia Gandhi and Deve Gowda and they have promised to participate in the proposed rally. It will bring all the parties opposed to the BJP on one platform before the 2019 general election," he said. On the violent clashes between RJD and BJP workers on May 17 here, Lalu said he has appealed to his party workers not to indulge in such activities. advertisement He, however, blamed the BJP workers for attacking the RJD workers with swords and empty beer bottles during the clash. PTI SNS KK AQS --- ENDS --- UPDATE: Authorities have released the names of those taken in custody in connection with a hearse that was a stolen. According to the Brazos County Sheriff's Department, Adam Crow, 27, of Brazos County and Tanya Albrecht, 28, of Bryan are both charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, a state jail felony punishable by up to two years in a state jail. Albrecht is also charged with abuse of a corpse, a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail. UPDATE: Two people were taken into custody Friday afternoon in connection with a hearse that was stolen from a convenience store parking lot. The man and the woman were detained around 12:10 p.m. after the hearse was spotted along Macey Road at F.M. 974 in rural Brazos County. The hearse was left unattended with the keys inside while the driver went into the store early Friday. The body that was in the back of the hearse, a tan Chevrolet Suburban without markings identifying it as a funeral home vehicle, was found dumped along Dick Elliott Road. The couple, who were in the vehicle when Brazos County sheriff's deputies stopped it just before noon, had not been charged early Friday afternoon, but could face charges of tampering with a corpse. The body was being delivered from the Travis County Medical Examiner's Office. The hearse was owned by Stackhouse Mortuary Services of College Station. A hearse left unattended with the keys inside while the driver went into a convenience store was stolen, but the body it was carrying was dumped along a rural Brazos County road early this morning. An official with the Brazos County Sheriff's Office said the body and gurney were spotted this morning by a delivery driver about 7 a.m. on Dick Elliott Road. The body, which had been missing for roughly 90 minutes, was returned to College Station-based Stackhouse Mortuary Services. Bryan police said the Suburban was stolen from the McDonald's on Texas 21 at about 5:30 a.m. Travis D. Stackhouse, who runs the funeral home, was on vacation and could not be reached for comment, according to his brother, Drew, who does not work for his sibling but said he's helping out in his absence. He said he didn't know if the family of the deceased person had been notified yet about the incident. "This is a very rare, one-time situation here," Drew Stackhouse said. "I don't know how or why it happened, but we are fixing the problem." The driver of the vehicle also works for another funeral home in Bryan; he couldn't be reached for comment Friday morning. The body was strapped to the gurney and covered with a sheet, authorities said. It was located less than 10 miles from where the vehicle was stolen. The SUV has not yet been located. The identity of the body was not released, and no arrests have been made. Brazos County Chief Deputy Jim Stewart tweeted a photo from the scene just before 8 a.m. "True story ... hearse stolen in Bryan with body inside, then body dumped in the county!" the tweet said. Authorities are continuing to investigate. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 209-5300 or 775-TIPS. True story...hearse stolen in Bryan with body inside, then body dumped in the county! pic.twitter.com/X7CMij5AlQ W. James Stewart (@ChiefDeputyBCSO) May 19, 2017 EVENT TO MARK ON YOUR CALENDAR The City of College Station is hosting Movies in the Park: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story on May 26 from 7:30 to 10:45 p.m. at Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater. There will be mini battle bot robots and a Star Wars LEGO system provided, free lemonade, bounce houses, popcorn and drinks. For more information, visit cstx.gov. FRIDAY EVENTS Community Celebration, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wolf Pen Creek Park. Experience Bryan College Station is hosting a luau with boots and displays that showcase the impact of tourism on the community. Admission is free. Free food and drinks. www.facebook.com/events/1646856345621371/. Atticus Finch Day, 11:30 a.m. Atrium of the Brazos County Administration Building, 200 S. Texas Ave., Bryan. Featuring guest speaker Wallace Jefferson, former chief justice of the Supreme Court of Texas. For more information, call 775-4100. Movies by the Pond: An American Tail: Fievel Goes West, 7 p.m. George Bush Presidential Library and Museum. Bring blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy the movie under the stars. Games and free refreshments. 691-4014. Loud!fest, 7 p.m. Grand Stafford Theater and Revolution Cafe and Bar. More than 50 bands performing three nights on three stages. $5. Bcsloudfest.com. CLUBS Bryan Breakfast Lions Club, 6:30 a.m. IHOP, Earl Rudder Freeway and Boonville Road. 764-9200. Star Duplicate Bridge Club, 9:15 a.m. Pebble Creek Country Club. For partnerships, call ahead 703-1769. Brazos County Senior Citizens Association: dominoes from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., quilting and/or crafting from 9:30 a.m. to noon, potluck luncheon at noon and progressive bridge from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. 1402 Bristol St., Bryan. Visitors welcome. 822-6873. Friday Bridge, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road. Join other seniors. No partners needed. CSPARD Senior Services, mrodgers@cstx.gov or 764-6371. Friday Night Jam Session, 6 to 10 p.m. VFW Post 4006. Everyone is welcome. Admission is free. HEALTH AND FITNESS Line Dancing for seniors, 10:30 a.m. Southwood Community Center; 10 a.m. Lincoln Recreation Center. 764-6351 or email mrodgers@cstx.gov for more information. Forevercise, 1:30 to 3 p.m. Southwood Community Center. Class offers individuals healthy lifestyle practices with helpful tips on nutrition and exercise. Exercises may be done while standing or sitting in a chair. 764-6351 or email mrodgers@cstx.gov or cstx.gov/seniors. Celebrate Recovery, 7 to 9 p.m. Crosspoint Church, 606 E. Evans St., Hearne. A faith-based recovery program for all of life's hurts, habits and hang-ups (alcohol, drugs, codependency, food addictions, etc.). Crosspointcr@gmail.com or 220-7002. SATURDAY EVENTS Kid Fish, 9 a.m. to noon. Stephen C. Beachy Central Park. All ages can learn about fish types and habitats, as well as practice mini-fishing. The event is free. Participants are encouraged to bring their own rod and reel, fly rod, cane pole or gear. A limited amount of equipment will be provided. Individuals over 17 years old will need a valid fishing license with a freshwater endorsement to fish during the event. cstx.gov/events. Loud!fest, 7 p.m. Grand Stafford Theater and Revolution Cafe and Bar. More than 50 bands performing three nights on three stages. $5. Bcsloudfest.com. The Bryan Market & Food Truck Festival, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Brazos County Expo. Along with food trucks, the event offers antique, boutique vendor shopping and live music. Admission is $3. www.facebook.com/events/1781594512061248/. Run Like Elle 5K Run/Walk, 8 a.m. Texas A&M University Equestrian Center/Hildebrand Equine Complex/Watts Cross Country Course at 3240 F and B Road in College Station. The event benefits a varsity cross country runner at A&M Consolidated High School who spent 56 days in the PICU. Single runner admission is $25. Same day registration will be available, beginning at 7. runsignup.com/Race/TX/CollegeStation/RunLikeElle. A month after the controversial mall in the name of Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family, Centrea has issued a notice to Bihar government to stop the construction. By Rohit Kumar Singh: Centre today issued a notice to Bihar government, directing them to stop the construction work of an upcoming mall in Patna that belongs to RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav's family. The controversial mall came into light last month, when BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi in a sensational expose alleged that the land and the upcoming mall, worth Rs 750 core, was part of the "benami" property acquired by Lalu and his family. advertisement The Centre, in a letter dated May 15, maintained that the mall which was being built over 71,214 sq mt was violating environmental laws. According to environmental rules and guidelines, prior clearance is needed for building projects with built up area equal to or more than 20,000 sq mt. However, work on Lalu's mall started last year without getting any clearance. "I had complained to the Centre over the violation of environmental laws, and taking cognizance of the matter, it has stopped work on Lalu's mall," said senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi. Lalu's son Tejashwi Yadav applied for a clearance on April 20, after the case came to light. "Since Lalu's elder son Tej Pratap is the Forest and Environment Minister, therefore no kind of clearance was taken before starting work on the mall. An FIR should be registered against Tejaswi and Tej Pratap for starting construction of work on mall without getting clearance", said Sushil Modi, former deputy Chief Minister of Bihar. The Centre has given state government three weeks to submit a report on the compliance of the orders. The land is in the name of LARA Projects LLP, a company where Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav hold 2,402, 800 and 800 shares respectively. Also Read Lalu Prasad Yadav burns Sushil Kumar Modi with a single tweet More trouble for Lalu Prasad? Income Tax raids at 22 locations in Delhi, Gurgaon linked to benami land deals --- ENDS --- A Houston-based medical device company took the top prize Thursday at the third annual Texas A&M New Ventures Competition. The all-day event concluded in the Robert Gates Ballroom of the Memorial Student Center, where Intuitap Medical Inc. was named the 2017 winner -- taking home the grand prize of $50,000. The competition featured 16 startups from across Texas competing for a combined total of $250,000 in prizes. Intuitap Medical co-founder and CEO Jessica Traver told The Eagle she was "stunned" to find out her team had won the competition, citing the strong field of contenders who participated. In her remarks after accepting the award, Traver said as Intuitap is a relatively young start-up that has participated in some of the state's newest incubation programs, its win is proof of the effectiveness of the efforts. "We represent pretty much everything that Texas is trying to bring out of its innovation ecosystem," Traver said. "It just goes to show that the efforts are working." Casey McNeil, judge and winner of the 2016 New Ventures Competition, said Intuitap's win came from the team's ability to effectively communicate its viability to the judges. "I think it was a little bit of everything and that's what it takes," McNeil said. "The quality of the presentation, the ability to communicate a very difficult topic to maybe an audience that doesn't necessarily understand the problems they are solving -- I think they just did a very good job across the board of covering every single piece of the criteria." Co-chair of the event Chris Scotti, entrepreneur in residence at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, said the competition chose 16 semifinalists to make their case Thursday from a pool of more than 60 applicants. Six finalist companies were chosen after a two-stage selection process conducted Thursday morning and the remaining companies made their final arguments during a series of 20-minute presentations. McNeil said while Intuitap took the top prize, "everyone in the top six had a reason they could have won." Each of the six finalists received a monetary award -- ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 -- for making it to the final stage of the competition. Among the final six teams to be considered for the top prize included two College Station-based startups founded by Texas A&M faculty members. Thermascape Technologies and Fortis Biosciences placed in fifth place and sixth place, respectively. Nanoparticle technology company Thermascape received $10,000 and biotechnology company Fortis received $5,000. In addition to the main competition, both companies were also recognized with additional, non-cash prizes as well. Several teams eliminated earlier in the day gave the audience the one-minute elevator pitch for their business while the panel of judges debated their decision for the top prize. After an audience vote, the three highest-scoring teams received a total of $10,000 combined. Scotti said he was pleased with the event and is excited to see it continue to grow in the future. "My personal goal for next year is to build a prize pool in excess of $350,000," Scotti said. "There are competitions around the country that give away millions of dollars each year to companies at this stage, and I think that is something that Texas can come up with, too." For more information on the Texas A&M New Ventures Competition and the teams which competed, visit texasnvc.org. The Texas Renaissance Festival will not host the Middlelands Festival next year, officials with the organization announced on Friday. The decision follows complaints from residents about noise and numerous drug arrests at the five-day event earlier this month at the Grimes County festival grounds. Terre Albert, the Texas Renaissance Festival general manager, said the festival partnered with the concert promoters in an effort to draw more people to the area. Middlelands was a great success and brought over 60,000 people to the area from all over the country and the world," Albert said. "However, after a meeting with executive leadership and based on Texas Renaissance Festivals overall mission, weve have made the decision to not move forward in hosting the event again. A community meeting about the Middlelands Festival that was scheduled for Thursday in Magnolia was canceled. According to the Brazos County District Attorney's Office, Nickolai Davis, 41, was arrested July 17, 2016, after a neighbor called to report Davis had punched a woman. When police arrived at the neighbor's home, they found a woman with a cut to her head. Officials say witnesses said Davis and the victim had gotten into a fight in the parking lot and the woman went to a neighbor's home. Davis followed the woman and demanded she return and when she declined, authorities say he punched her in the face and strangled her. The woman left the neighbor's and went to another apartment, where Davis again followed her and punched her in the face when she refused to return with him, officials said. the woman's jaw was broken and she was knocked unconscious. July 17, 1921 - May 16, 2017 Burton Voss Duke passed away peacefully on May 16, 2017, at the age of 95. "Duke", as he was known by most, will repose next to his love, "Maddie", in the College Station Cemetery after burial on Saturday, May 20, 2017, at 10:30 am with military honors in the sure and certain knowledge of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the life everlasting. Reverend Kyle McNeely of Christ United Methodist Church will officiate at the graveside celebration of his life. Services are in the care of Callaway-Jones Funeral and Cremation Centers Bryan-College Station. Burton was born in Sheridan, Wyoming to Bertha Voss and Joseph E. Duke, a World War I Expeditionary Force veteran. He was raised with his older brother, Ottis, in Pasadena and Twenty-nine Palms California. He graduated high school from Pasadena City College in June 1939 and was a member of the 185th Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division, California National Guard from July 1940 to October 1942. Duke entered active duty when his guard unit was activated for federal service in March 1941. He was selected for Officer Candidate School in 1942. After commissioning at Fort Knox, Kentucky in Armor Branch in October, he was assigned to the 742nd Tank Battalion at the Desert Training Center in California. In April 1943 he volunteered for the parachute infantry and after qualifying training at Fort Benning, Georgia joined the 541st Parachute Regiment. He subsequently shipped to England to join the 3rd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division shortly after D-Day, June 1944. He remained a member of the Screaming Eagles through the end of World War II, fighting in numerous engagements including Eindhoven and Bastogne. Duke received the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman Badge and the Parachutist Badge with Combat Jump Device among a number of decorations. Following the war, he was a commercial artist for the Southern California Edison Company, but soon re-entered active Army service with the 82nd Airborne Division. He joined the Counter Intelligence Corps and served in Germany until 1953. He reverted to reserve status and was ultimately promoted to lieutenant colonel. Duke served for the remainder of his working life as a Department of Defense civil servant in intelligence and industrial security. His final position was Chief of Security, White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. While still on active duty and serving as an advisor to the Maryland National Guard in 1947, he met and married the love of his life, Alma Madeleine Insley, "Maddie". They were united for 62 years until Maddie passed away in 2008. They resided in Baltimore; Duarte, Pasadena, and Bradbury, California; El Paso, Texas and settled finally in College Station in 1994. He was a decorated combat officer, a gifted painter and wood carver, a student of history and archeology, animal lover, marksman, naturalist, hunter and patriot who passed down to his family his passions, honor, and patriotism. Duke is survived by his three children, Michael (and his wife Debby), Kathleen Reichlyn of Austin, and Douglas of Simpsonville, South Carolina. He is also survived by his three grandchildren, Thomas (and his wife Brenda), Ilissa Reichlyn and Steven (and his wife Amie) and Duke's four great-grandchildren, Colby, Caleb, Carlie and Connor. Michael, Thomas, Brenda, Steven, and Amie are all Texas Aggies. Duke's family wishes to acknowledge and convey our deepest thanks for the loving care he received from the staff at Carriage Inn-Bryan and Hospice Brazos Valley during the closing months of his earthly life. The family asks that any gifts in remembrance or honor of Duke be sent as a monetary donation to American Legion Post 159, P. O. Box 326, Bryan, TX 77806 to assist their Honor Guard operations and other services to veterans and their families. Express condolences at CallawayJones.com Making a return to our two favourite summer locations, Mount Maunganui and Nelson in early January 2023, we've got whiff of the first release lineup and me oh my, yes boy The Franklin County Sheriffs Office has confirmed that its deputies have recently come in contact with the deadly drug fentanyl in Franklin County. We have been able to field test a product that has been positive for fentanyl, Maj. Mike Bowman said. Capt. Phillip Young said the positive test of fentanyl resulted from a police dispatch for an overdose and that the person suffering lived through the incident. However, Bowman is concerned more cases are forthcoming. We know that where theres one, there will be more, Bowman said. This is a very bad drug. Our heightened senses are going up on this because we know what it can do, not only to the individual who wants to use it but those who accidentally come in contact with it. Currently the Sheriffs Office has made no arrests in relation to the positive fentanyl result. Catina Wright, a RE/MAX realtor and concerned parent, took to Facebook Thursday with a report of two Franklin County High School students being seen with the drug at the school. She met with Dr. Mark Church, superintendent of Franklin County Public Schools, and officials from Rocky Mount Police Department and Franklin County Sheriffs Office about the subject Thursday afternoon. Wright said the officers in the meeting told her they were actively working on this to separate the fact from rumor. When asked by The Franklin News-Post, Bowman denied that fentanyl was found at the high school. There have been some reports today that there have been, but we have no facts to back that up, Bowman said. Fentanyl is a man-made opiate painkiller, often mixed with heroin to increase its potency. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), fentanyl works by binding to the body's opioid receptors, which are found in areas of the brain that control pain and emotion. When opioid drugs bind to these receptors, they can drive up dopamine levels in the brain's reward areas, producing a state of euphoria and relaxation. However, opioid receptors are also found in the areas of the brain that control ones breathing rate. High doses of opioids, especially potent opioids such as fentanyl, can cause breathing to stop completely, which can lead to death. Among opioid drugs, fentanyl has a high potency, greatly increasing the risk of overdose. The drug can be absorbed through breathing as well as through skin contact, making accidental overdose even more likely. Sheriff deputies carry two doses of an antidote called naloxone in their patrol vehicles to combat the effects of opioid overdoses that cause stopped breathing. In the nine months since Franklin County began carrying the antidote, they've administered the drug to 12 people, successfully saving 10 lives. Fentanyl requires many more doses of naloxone than other opioid drugs, as many as six or more are often required to restore breathing to normalcy. The deficient disparity between officers equipped with two doses and the six-or-more doses needed to combat fentanyl is making the Sheriffs Office look for additional sources of funding to increase their naloxone stockpile. According to Major Bowman, one dose of naloxone costs approximately $75. That is a strain on our budget, but we are going to do whatever it takes to protect the public the best that we can, Bowman said. Here's what Franklin County Sheriff Bill Overton had to say about one incident in which a deputy administered naloxone: Within just a couple minutes, the individual was more coherent and coming back, breathing started to increase, and was transported to the hospital for further observation. [This] drug worked the way its supposed to. The victim was found by his girlfriend when she arrived at his house, and he was showing signs of possible overdose (blue color in the face, snoring sound, rapid heartbeat, unresponsive with eyes open). Sternum rubs were performed and he remained unresponsive. Sgt. Smith then began putting together the naloxone Rescue Kit to administer to the victim. At this point, Captain Jones arrived and agreed naloxone needed to be administered. Sgt. Smith gave the antidote to the paramedic to administer the solution into the nasal passage. Within 5 minutes of application of naloxone, the victim started to talk to squad members and he was transported by rescue for further medical assistance. Had EMS been tied up on another call and not been able to arrive as quickly as they were, Sgt. Smith would have been unable to as greatly assist in saving this mans life without the access to naloxone. We are thankful to have this tool on our belt. The Pakistan prime minister's adviser on aviation has sought cross party support to declare the national carrier Pakistan International Airlines bankrupt and to eventually shut it down. By Indo-Asian News Service: The Pakistan government sought support from lawmakers across party lines to declare the loss-making flag carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) "bankrupt" and eventually shut it down, the media reported. Speaking before the Senate Special Committee on the Performance of PIA, Prime Minister's Adviser of Aviation Sardar Mehtab Abbasi on Thursday said, "Such a recommendation from a parliamentary committee will help the government take the difficult decision that it is otherwise hesitating to take." advertisement The committee, which met to discuss the status of its recommendations to overhaul PIA, also took up the incidents that had occurred over the past month that had given a bad name to PIA as well as to Pakistan, Dawn online reported. Abbasi laid three options before the committee: Letting the flag carrier run the way it was, operating in loss; declare it bankrupt and shut it down; or restructure it. "We are trying to restructure PIA, but it is an extremely difficult task," he said, arguing that PIA lacked discipline, top-quality management, ethical and professional officers and a "sense of ownership". However, Committee Chairman Mushahidullah Khan from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), said the panel was not in favour of shutting down PIA altogether. "We believe that a few good officers at the top could restore PIA's lost glory," Dawn online quoted Khan as saying. The committee has also asked the airline for details of actions taken against the "sleeping pilot" on flight PK785 and the captain of PK853 who had invited a Chinese woman into the cockpit. On Monday, 14 crew members of a PIA flight from Lahore to London were detained for over two hours at the Heathrow Airport over security threats and were later released. Aviation Secretary Irfan Elahi told the committee that the British government had not officially shared details of items seized from the plane. ALSO READ | Pakistan International Airlines pilot asks crew to leave cockpit, invites Chinese passenger instead ALSO READ | Pakistan International Airlines to suspend flights to Mumbai from May 15 --- ENDS --- Check out formal fashion, hike Starr's Cave and more this weekend in SE Iowa Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray organised a massive farmers' rally in Nasik and the tone of the speeches were to remind BJP that they have changed the tune after coming to power. By Sahil Joshi: Shiv Sena and Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana has made it a mission to make the Devendra Fadnavis government in Maharashtra agree to give relief to farmers by waving off farm loans. The demand which Fadnavis has completely rejected and have asked the agitators if he waves off all the loans can they give a guarantee that farmers' suicide will be put to a full stop. advertisement Instead he is insisting on generating schemes which will allow farmers to have water and other resources available. Shiv Sena thinks that Fadnavis has solid backing of the Centre and that he has stood the ground despite BJP using the loan waver to win in UP. Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray organised a massive farmers' rally in Nasik and the tone of the speeches were to remind BJP that they have changed the tune after coming to power. Thackeray taunted Narendra Modi of his promise of giving Rs 16 lakh for every Indian after bring black money back to India and asked him to use that money for farmers. Raju Shetty, the senior leader of Shetkari Sanghtan, seemed extremely upset about Chief Minister Fadnavis' remark asking for guarantee that if he waves off loans farmer's will not commit suicide. Shetty who is also Lok Sabha MP from Kolhapur reminded Fadnavis that he used to be part of the same agitation when he was in the Opposition and now his language has changed. Shetty has also threatened to start a march against the government for demands to free farmers from debts. It is interesting that Shetty and his Shetkari Sanghatan sided with BJP when they broke alliance with Shiv Sena in 2014 Maharashtra Assembly elections and now has one minister in the Fadnavis cabinet. Both the leaders are also threatening to puncture chief minister's pet project Mumbai Nagpur Expressway saying that they will not allow any injustice to farmers during land acquisition process for the project. Sensing trouble BJP sources are giving feelers to journalists that BJP is actually thinking of going for early polls in Maharashtra to seek full mandate. In fact, the recent local body election results have given boost to BJP and the party apparently is conducting surveys across Maharashtra to understand the mood. --- ENDS --- Irom Roger, 19, was murdered by Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh's son in a "fit of rage" during Holi in 2011. Roger didn't allow N Ajay's SUV to overtake on Tiddim Road and that's when Ajay shot him. By Anand Patel, Indrajit Kundu: Chitra Devi, 56, can't stop her tears as she narrates how son of a powerful politician destroyed her life. She along with her husband flew all the way from Manipur to try and meet the Prime Minister on Thursday. The family has submitted a memorandum with the PMO, seeking justice. Irom Roger, 19, was murdered by Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh's son in a "fit of rage" during Holi in 2011. Roger didn't allow N Ajay's SUV to overtake on Tiddim Road on the fateful day in Imphal. Ajay shot Roger and he died on way to the hospital. advertisement The then state cabinet had recommended a CBI probe following local protests. Following investigation, CBI had filed its chargesheet against prime accused and charges were framed in June 2012 by the special CBI court. LAWYER HARASSED BY OFFICIALS When the crime took place, Biren Singh was then a Congress minister under CM Ibobi Singh's rule. A local court in January 2017 had awarded Ajay a five-year jail term. The CM's son has made an appeal before the HC challenging the quantum of sentence while the CBI didn't go for any appeal. But the victim's family has alleged that no lawyer in Manipur was ready to stand for them. When activists arranged lawyer Utsav Singh Bains from SC, they claimed he was being threatened by various underground groups. Birjit, a relative of the family was picked up from his house in the middle of the night three days ago. Chitra Devi told India Today, "My lawyer was picked up from airport by Birjit who is my relative. Three days ago, he was arrested by Manipur Police Commandos, saying he was a Maoist. I am scared after Birjit's arrest. Two police vehicles are always parked near my house in Imphal. I'm very afraid. I want justice and I have struggled a lot. My family life is finished, everything is lost." Bina Laxmi, a social activist, said even she is feeling threatened as she is among the very few who have came forward to help Chitra. "They are trying to put pressure on us. They are doing everything to stop us. Here a mother is fighting for justice for her murdered son," she said. Earlier this month, Bains had written a letter to the Union home secretary to provide him with adequate security after the threat call. Now, the family along with some human rights activists have decided to sit in dharna at India Gate till their plea is heard by the Centre. Also read: 3 years of Modi sarkar: BJP going strong, may face weak Opposition in 2019 Lok Sabha elections Also read: Amarkantak curse: Leaders who visited MP shrine lost their chairs, PM Narendra Modi was there too --- ENDS --- This is no time to mince words about Connecticuts fiscal crisis. It is deep, serious, and affects everyone and everything: taxpayers, businesses, jobs, social services, infrastructure, K-12 schools, colleges and universities, towns and cities, hospitals, federal funding opportunities, and Connecticuts reputation. Lets be clear its not new. The states finances have been precarious for several years. But now even those who have long denied the gravity of the situation are acknowledging it. The facts speak for themselves. The projected deficit for the upcoming 2018-2019 biennium now exceeds $5 billion. Both the governors budget office and the legislatures Office of Fiscal Analysis agree on this figure. It ballooned after they downgraded estimated revenues for the period by $1.46 billion, due to a sharp decline in income tax receipts in April. For the third year in a row, Connecticut is slated to finish the current 2017 fiscal year on June 30 with a deficit. This time its very large: $390 million. To close this gap, the governor has proposed a plan that includes depleting the Rainy Day fund, canceling $19 million in scheduled municipal aid, and various one-time cuts and fund sweeps. The states two massive tax increases since 2011 have not produced correspondingly robust revenues. In particular, income tax receipts, which fell $450 million below estimates in April, are not hitting their targets. Realtors, who flocked to the Capitol last week to express their concerns about the states economy, tell us that high earners and retirees are leaving the state, and the figures support this. Connecticuts population declined by 8,278 in fiscal year 2016, its third straight year of shrinkage. The administration reports that it has collected 45 percent less in income taxes from Connecticuts 100 wealthiest taxpayers than it did last year. Withholding taxes have also declined. According to the State Comptroller, A general shift in the composition of employment by sector to lower paying jobs may be a contributing factor. Three major ratings agencies, Fitch, Moodys, and S&P, have just downgraded Connecticuts bond rating. These moves followed downgrades within the past year by S&P and Kroll and a prior Fitch downgrade. Among the factors the agencies cited were declining tax receipts, growing budget deficits, increasing debt, and the pressures of growing public-sector labor costs and massive unfunded pension liabilities. Meanwhile, on May 12, the day of the Fitch announcement, the governor and majority party members of the state Bond Commission voted to approve $352 million in new borrowing, bringing the total for this calendar year to just under $600 million. Against this backdrop, the legislature must pass a budget that closes the looming $5 billion deficit. This is meant to happen by June 7, when the legislative session ends, but subsequent special sessions may drag the process out indefinitely. The facts show that higher taxes and more borrowing are not the answer. Proposals to make towns pay for teachers pension contributions (thus necessitating property tax increases), to introduce tolls, to build a third casino, or to tax marijuana will not resolve the perennial problem of skyrocketing state labor costs. The issue is spending, not revenue. While every budget proposal on the table cuts into programs and services, the state cannot restore its finances by snipping its way around the edges of its overhead costs. Reducing public-sector pension and benefits costs, which account for more than a third of the budget, is critical. The governors proposal to deliver $1.5 billion in concessions from state employee unions over the next two years is likely not enough, but its a start. Negotiating is the governors job. If the legislature is properly doing its own job as an advocate for all taxpayers, it will not only stand firm and accept nothing less from the governor than what he has proposed, but will also stand ready to ask for more. State Rep. Gail Lavielle represents the 143rd district, which includes parts of Norwalk, Westport, and Wilton. She is Ranking Member of the General Assemblys Education Committee, and a member of the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee and the Transportation Committee. Id like to start with this list of the 10 best things to say if you get caught sleeping at your desk. 10. They told me at the blood bank this might happen. 9. This is just a 15-minute power nap like they raved about in that time management course you sent me to. 8. Whew! Guess I left the top off the Whiteout. You probably got here just in time. 7. I wasnt sleeping! I was meditating on the mission statement and envisioning a new paradigm. 6. I was testing my keyboard for drool resistance. 5. I was doing a highly specific yoga exercise to relieve work-related stress. Are you discriminatory toward people who practice yoga? 4. Darn! Why did you interrupt me? I had almost figured out a solution to our biggest problem. 3. The coffee machine is broken ... 2. Someone mustve put decaf in the wrong pot ... And the number one best thing to say if you get caught sleeping at your desk ... 1. ... in Jesus name. Amen. Prayer is always a good idea anyhow. When were tired, sleepy and low on strength, many have found prayer to be the means of a new source of energy. I often think of the advice of Jesus when he said, Pray and dont faint. When were tired and weak, fainting sounds like a good way to go. Many times Id rather faint and give up and give in to the world. Jesus was reminding us that prayer is an option that is better than any other. Through prayer we are hooked up with a person and the power who created the universe. Prayer is health-giving to the soul and the mind and the body. Prayer helps us to see the world differently. Prayer gives us guidance and peace of mind. Even as much as God is trying to help us through our prayers, we still have to do all that we can. In Ethiopia many years ago there was a tremendous individual named Joe Houghton who built telephone lines in some of the most remote sections of Ethiopia. These lines were strung on tall steel poles; tall, to prevent giraffes breaking the wires with their long necks; steel, because termites consumed wooden poles in a night. Houghton contended he owed his success to prayer. He said, I pray, then wrestle. Wrestle? he was asked. He answered Like Stanislaus Zabysco, the time he was sentenced to be shot by the Russians. Zabysco was a Polish physician, he continued, who became a world champion wrestler. During World War I he was captured by Russian soldiers, and sentenced to death. Thinking to have fun with him, the Russians offered to free him if he could defeat their wrestling champion. In telling me about it, Zabysco said, so I prayed that God would give me strength and good judgment. Then I dug in and wrestled and won. Dont give up on your prayers. God does hear and does answer. Sometimes the answer is be patient. Sometimes the answer is no. But always the answer will be the words of one who loves us. Prayer: Our Lord, help us to go on in prayer, even when the answer doesnt come, and the ball doesnt bounce our way and the world is crumbling in, help us to pray, dig in and wrestle. Amen. The Rev. Dan Safarik serves St. Luke United Methodist Church in Lincoln. Email him at dan@stlukelincoln.org NORTH LOUP Valley County farmer Donald Peetz has won the opportunity to direct a $2,500 donation from the Americas Farmers Grow Communities program, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, to the Loup Valley Veterans Memorial Park. The American Legion Auxiliary Loup Valley Veterans Memorial will use the funds to install a lawn irrigation system in the landscaped and grass areas of the park. The Loup Valley Veterans Memorial Committee wants to thank Monsanto and Donald Peetz for their generous and patriotic contribution honoring our veterans, said Elaine Asper, committee member. The Grow Communities programs purpose is to make a positive impact in farm communities by partnering with farmers to support the causes that are important to them in their communities. Each year, farmers enter for a chance to win a $2,500 donation that they direct to a local nonprofit. Since the program began in 2010, farmers have directed more than $26 million in donations across a broad cross-section of organizations that reflect the makeup and character of rural America, including food banks, emergency response organizations, schools, youth agriculture programs and many others. Farmers have directed funds to more than 8,000 community organizations across rural America since Grow Communities began, said Al Mitchell, Monsanto Fund president. Farmers are truly committed to this program because they see the difference the donation makes in their community. For more information or to see a complete list of the 2017 Americas Farmers Grow Communities recipients, visit www.GrowCommunities.com. The Island Area Cruisers, a local car club with a charitable focus, will host their 22nd annual Charities Event on May 20 at the United Veterans Club, 1914 W. Capital. The 2017 event will team the Cruisers up with the Grand Island Veterans Service Office and the VFW to raise funds for Hall County Vietnam Hero Flight. This years fundraising will also benefit the Kids & Dreams Foundation serving children with autism spectrum disorders. A show and shine will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Each entered car, truck, motorcycle or rat rod will pay a $10 entry fee. The first 100 entries will receive a dash plaque, and all paid entries will also receive a meal ticket for the hamburger feed to be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Events will include a display from the Grand Island Modelers, showing model fighter planes from World War I and World War II, contemporary 3D and civilian stunt planes, helicopters, drones and a replica model of President Eisenhowers plane Constellation. Weather permitting, a combat aerial exhibition with the fighter planes will also take place. All events are free, with the exception of the hamburger feed, which will be offered for a minimum donation of $5. It's been four days, but no trace yet of the goons who shot dead 30-year-old jeweller Megh Agarwal in Mathura's busy Holy Gate Bazaar area on Monday. By Anand Patel: It's been four days, but no trace yet of the goons who shot dead 30-year-old jeweller Megh Agarwal in Mathura's busy Holy Gate Bazaar area on Monday. He along with another jeweller Vikas were shot dead during a daring robbery by over half-a-dozen masked miscreants in Koyla gali locality which houses dozens of jewellers. So far, the UP police has not been able to nab any. Angry jewellers have downed their shutters and observed a strike in protest. advertisement Tears of his wife Kirti have not dried as well. She bursts into tears when asked about the incident. 'I don't know if there is law and order in this state. There is not security, my husband was killed in busy market.' "If a man can be attacked, think about women, they will fear stepping out of homes," she adds. "I want encounter of the culprits. I know how will I raise my one-year-old son, we have no future here," says Kriti. Megh's father Mahesh Agarwal says that the role of local police is in question. "They didn't respond and reached spot late despite calls were made on 100, goons could have been caught had the police acted swiftly." Angry at not a single arrest so far, he says, "We suspect local cops to be hand in gloves with the goons, all we have just got mere assurances. Cops have failed in their job." "We are hearing that local gangsters Ranga and Billa may be behind this. Police should better know who are behind this. I beg Yogi ji to keep police awake. If they cannot guarantee security to us, then we who used to raise slogans for him, will now be the biggest critic of his govt. I cannot understand if there is any difference between police, goons and the govt." Family alleges that Megh was put in morgue of govt hospital after the incident, but when they reached he was alive. He was rushed to a private nursing home where he was declared dead on arrival. His cousin Siddharth says, "There are cops all around when anti-Romeo campaign was being carried out, now you don't see them anywhere." The UP police special task force has been given responsibility to trace the culprits. Mathura is a hub of silver business apart from being the birth place of Lord Krishna revered by millions of Hindus. Devotees from across the country and abroad visit Mathura. Traders allege that such incidents bring a bad name to the holy city and affects tourist inflow as well. ALSO READ: CCTV footage: Armed robbers open fire in Mathura jewellery shop, gun down two traders advertisement 3 policemen suspended over killing of traders in Mathura --- ENDS --- Police/Sheriff Anyone with information about any crime in the state may call the Grand Island-Hall County Crime Stoppers, (308) 381-8822. Callers will remain anonymous. A reward of up to $1,000 will be paid after law enforcement agencies have determined the seriousness of the crime and the usefulness of the information. Inmate custody status can be obtained by calling the VINE hotline at (877) NE 4 VINE or by visiting www.vinelink.com. Information is available 24 hours a day. If you see a crime happening, call the Grand Island-Hall County Emergency Center 911. Grand Island Police The following felonies were reported: - Monty Martin was arrested Wednesday for alleged third-degree sexual assault of a child. The complaint was made by a 15-year-old female. He was also arrested for making terroristic threats against a male. - Florinda Petersen was arrested for distribution of a controlled substance (marijuana) Wednesday at 615 W. Second St. - Jeremy Fulton was referred for possession of a controlled substance Wednesday morning at 1524 Coventry Lane. - Five Points Bank, 2015 N. Broadwell, reported counterfeit currency Wednesday. - Florentino Espinoza-Flores and Dylan Espinoza reported a burglary Wednesday at 2323 Bellwood. - Walgreens, 1230 N. Webb, reported counterfeit currency Wednesday morning. Hall County Sheriff Law enforcement arrested one person on a warrant in one case. There were 16 calls for service. For more information visit www.hallcountyne.gov and click on the sheriff link. Court report Hall County District Court - Michael T. Johnson, 32, 2004 N. Wheeler, No. 7H, possession of a controlled substance, jail-custodial sanction probation, 10 days. Hall County Court - Breanna Sharon Conrad, 22, 8544 N. Sky Park Road, St. Libory, assault threatening another in a menacing manner, 30 days in jail with credit for 30 days already served. - Kent L. Hartmann, 53, 12787 W. Husker Highway, Wood River, was charged with issuing a bad check totaling $1,500 to $5,000 on Jan. 25. Arraignment set for 1:30 p.m. May 31. - Deyanira O. Amparan, 21, El Paso, Texas, was charged with being a fugitive from justice on Thursday. He waived extradition. - Kyle A. Dean, 26, 1221 W. Charles St., No. 3, was charged with theft by shoplifting totaling $0 to $500, third or subsequent offense, and trespass-second degree/defying order to leave, both on Wednesday. Preliminary hearing set for 11:30 a.m. June 22. - Florinda S. Petersen, 59, homeless, was charged with two counts of delivery, dispensing, distribution, manufacture or possession of a controlled substance-Schedule 1,2,3, both on Wednesday. Preliminary hearing set for 3 p.m. June 22. Driving Under the Influence Frank B. Snyder, 63, 307 Stable Drive, Bertrand, $500 fine, six months probation, drivers license revoked 60 days; Agustin Sanchez Jr., 26, 724 E. 12th St., third-offense DUI, $1,000 fine, 30 days in jail, 18 months probation, drivers license revoked two years, required to pay $450 probation fee. By Press Trust of India: From Shirish B Pradhan Kathmandu, May 19 (PTI) Prime Minister Prachanda today said the completion of the first phase of local polls in Nepal is his "accomplishment" and he feels victorious regardless of whoever wins the countrys first local-level elections in two decades. "I feel I have accomplished a big responsibility by conducting the elections successfully with huge participation of people," Prachanda said. advertisement "Whoever wins, the victory is mine,? the Prime Minister was quoted as saying by the Kathmandu Post. Stating that the successful completion of first phase of local polls on May 14 is his "accomplishment", he called on the Madhes-based parties to participate in the second phase of the elections with enthusiasm. "There are a lot of challenges in conducting the second phase elections,? he told media in his home district Chitwan. ?I have called an all-party meeting including Madhes- centric parties to discuss the successful conduction of second phase polls.? Millions of Nepalese on May 14 voted in the countrys first local-level polls in two decades as the Himalayan nation took a crucial step towards cementing democracy amid political turmoil. Local-level elections could not be held after 1997 largely as a result of the decade-long Maoist insurgency that claimed more than 16,000 lives in Nepal. The elections should be held in every five years but due to the political instability, they were halted since May 1997. The Election Commission said that 4,888 representatives in 115 local bodies have been elected in 34 districts of Province number 3, 4 and 6. According to EC spokesperson Surya Prasad Sharma, 115 candidates were elected as mayors, 115 candidates as deputy mayors, 1,126 candidates as ward chiefs and 1,792 candidates as ward members, 898 candidates as women representatives and 842 candidates as Dalit members. So far, main opposition CPN-UML has won maximum number of representatives with 102 Mayor or chairpersons followed by ruling Nepali Congress with 97 Mayors or chiefs. The CPN-Maoist Centre belonging to Prime Minister Prachanda stood third with winning 46 Mayors or chiefs. In total, 73 per cent votes were cast during the polls. EC spokesperson Sharma also informed that the preparations for the second phase of local polls, slated for June 14, are underway. Some Madhes-centric parties have opposed the elections until the new Constitution is amended to accommodate their views: more representation in the 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 Madhesis. advertisement 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 PMS --- ENDS --- Sometimes, governments spend taxpayers' money wisely and we've seen two examples of that locally. Edwardsville, with its South Buchanan Street reconstruction project, and Glen Carbon, in hiring Cork Tree Creative to develop a fundraising campaign for Schon Park, have proven to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars. The South Buchanan project, we're sure for some, took much longer than necessary it started last August and is nearing completion right now. Drivers either chose alternate routes or dodged the orange and white barrels used to designate work zones. Still, we believe Baxmeyer Construction did all it could to complete the project in a timely manner it had a 200-day contract at $2.4 million and kept motorists safe and moving. And while some will complain about the project, there's no denying that South Buchanan might well be the nicest road in the city now. The Illinois Department of Transportation pulled or delayed funding for many road projects, but South Buchanan was locally funded. And that's the direction Glen Carbon officials have taken for Schon Park. Originally, the hope was for state grants to cover many of the costs associated with developing the park. That money is no longer there. So a new approach is being taken with the hiring of Cork Tree Creative, a local public relations firm. Glen Carbon hopes Cork Tree can duplicate the success it had in developing a campaign for Edwardsville's A Better Place to Play effort, which has received thousands and thousands of dollars in donations from residents and businesses. Glen Carbon will also seek local grants to fund the park's development. Those approaches, we believe, will work for the village. Sure, no one likes to pay taxes and everyone hopes that when they do, the money is used wisely. In these two instances, we believe it has been. A renewed fascination for true crime and unsolved mystery stories - particularly in serialized formats on podcasts and boutique TV - has taken us to deep, dark places that traditional journalism used to avoid, sometimes on legal advice. Old rules about accusing someone of a crime and jumping to conclusions have grown a bit fuzzy as a more "Scooby-Doo" approach meanders and occasionally blunders or supposes its way into new details, dramatically playing up potential evidence. Audiences are understandably engaged by this invigorating spirit of transparency. The heroic amateurs who sleuth around in Netflix's absorbing and emotionally gripping documentary series "The Keepers" (streaming Friday) are two unassuming women in their 60s, Gemma Hoskins and Abbie Schaub - good Catholic girls who were classmates at Archbishop Keough High School in Baltimore almost 50 years ago and have always wondered about the circumstances surrounding the disappearance and murder of their favorite teacher, Sister Cathy Cesnick, a 26-year-old nun. On a Friday evening in November 1969, Cesnick left the apartment she shared with another nun, planning to run some errands. Her haphazardly parked car was found the next day, but it was another eight weeks before her bludgeoned, decomposing body was discovered on the hillside of a vacant lot. Although Baltimore journalists over the years have taken pretty good swings at shedding new light on this unsolved case, Hoskins and Schaub are driven to find justice for Sister Cathy, undeterred by their lack of detective experience. They started a Facebook group and began meticulously revisiting every scrap of records and leads in the case. And yes, this is the same unsolved murder that compelled Baltimore County police earlier this year to exhume the body of the Rev. A. Joseph Maskell, who had served as the high school's chaplain in the late 1960s and early '70s. Although police said Wednesday that DNA results from Maskell's body do not link him to crime-scene evidence, Maskell was accused by several former students at Keough and elsewhere of sexual abuse. Although he died in 2001, the Archdiocese of Baltimore finally paid settlements to some of his alleged victims last year. Hoskins and Schaub, who had no inkling that anything was ever amiss at their idyllic high school, serve as ready-made characters through which "Keepers" director Ryan White ("The Case Against 8") can sort through a story that is painfully tangled up in broader, awful details of ritual rape and a coverup by both church officials and local police. "The Keepers" also offers a thorough contextual study of the fervent Catholicism that plays a substantial part in Baltimore's history and identity. Schaub describes herself as "the intellectual," preferring to dig through records and hunt for documents, while Hoskins, she says, is "the bulldog," willing to knock on doors and ask tough questions. "Whoever murdered (Sister Cathy) has gotten away with it," Schaub says. "And she has never gotten justice." Blessedly short on theatrics, "The Keepers" skillfully walks viewers through the many details of the case while following Schaub and Hoffman's progress. (If you're a fan of how Marylanders pronounce their "o's," then you've come to the right seven-episode docu-series.) Zeroing in on Haskell's involvement (the working theory is that he got someone else to murder Sister Cathy because she was going to reveal the abuse of girls at Keough), "The Keepers" gets embroiled in a tragically familiar narrative in which victims came forward in the 1990s only to find themselves silenced by church authorities and statutes of limitation. In addition to giving these victims enough time and empathy to tell the story that others refused to hear, "The Keepers" takes its own initiative to seek out some potential witnesses and documents on Schaub and Hoskins' long to-do list. At occasional points, the series also looks at another unsolved murder of a young Catholic woman that happened around the same time. Like all serialized podcasts and documentaries, "The Keepers" sometimes grows redundant, partly in service to helping its audience keep the details straight and partly so it can float some rumors and theories without seeming irresponsible. Pacing is difficult in a project like this, but an urgent momentum takes over right where it's most needed, creating the sense that a solution is within grasp. Near the end, however, we begin to see some of the weaknesses of dragging the story out too far. At times "The Keepers" seems overly eager to turn its camera suspiciously on those who have already been as forthcoming as they can be - including Gerry Koob, a former priest who also taught at Keough. Judging from letters and poems that went back and forth, Father Gerry and Sister Cathy came close to leaving their vocations and getting married. Koob's alibi for the night Sister Cathy vanished (he was seeing "Easy Rider" at a theater with another priest) is at first presented as airtight; it's never clear why "The Keepers" feels a need to circle back and probe it further, to such a degree that Koob's present-day wife has to explain why she trusts that her husband is telling the truth. The problem is that, by this point, obsession has set in for everyone involved, including the viewer, who now shares the frustration of dead ends. By the final moments, it's impossible not to be outraged over missed opportunities and blind eyes that were turned. So, yes - dig up whomever and whatever still needs to be dug up; unseal whatever documents are still being hidden. Schaub and Hoskins are absolutely correct: Sister Cathy still needs and deserves our help. --- "The Keepers" (seven episodes) begins streaming Friday on Netflix. Jamie Kupferer, of Glen Carbon, IL, and a teacher at Father McGivney Catholic High School, will travel to Washington, D.C. this June to attend the prestigious Supreme Court Summer Institute. After a highly competitive application process, 60 teachers were selected to participate this year. The Institute, open to teachers in the fields of law-related and civic education, is co-sponsored by Street Law, Inc. and the Supreme Court Historical Society. The Institute offers teachers the opportunity to study recent Supreme Court cases in detail and learn innovative teaching methods for conveying this information to students. Well-known Supreme Court lawyers, reporters, scholars, and educators will be among the speakers and instructors for the Institute. Teachers will visit the Court to attend decisions and a reception. A recent evaluation of the Supreme Court Summer Institute found that, after the program, teachers who attended (1) felt much more confident discussing controversial issues and Supreme Court cases in their classrooms, (2) discussed Supreme Court cases and used interactive teaching strategies more frequently, and (3) gained critical knowledge about the U.S. Supreme Court. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin EDITORIAL (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 19, 2017 08:14 2001 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a188bd1 4 Editorial #Editorial,tax-collections,taxation,directorate-general-of-taxation,secrecy-policy Free The issuance of an emergency regulation to lift banking secrecy in the hope of boosting tax compliance and collection has been widely touted as part of much-needed reform at a time when the publics low compliance with tax regulations remains a hard nut to crack. However, the policy raises a serious question over the Directorate General of Taxations ability to ensure there is no opportunity for corrupt tax officials to abuse their power amid a slew of graft cases implicating the tax office. On May 8 President Joko Jokowi Widodo signed Presidential Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) No. 1/2017 on financial information access for taxation purposes. A Perppu is the equivalent of a law and can be issued in the event of an emergency. It comes into effect immediately, but the House of Representatives still has the power to review it within 30 days of its passage. One worrying article in the Perppu is the blank check given to the tax authorities and relevant officials implementing the regulation. The finance minister and Finance Ministry officials, executives and officials with the Financial Services Authority (OJK), and officials of financial institutions, cannot be sued or criminally prosecuted for carrying out their duties as stipulated in the regulation. Fair treatment is simply out of the question as the Perppu fails to stipulate sanctions on officials who abuse the once confidential banking information. The regulation has a slew of harsh punishments for taxpayers and deposit holders who fail to comply, but provides no similar punishments for those who abuse the powers granted by it. For example, not only do taxpayers or deposit holders risk a year in jail and financial penalties for failure to comply, they will also be banned from opening a new account or conducting financial transactions. The House has demanded further explanation from the government in anticipation of negative effects from the regulations enforcement, including excessive pressure put on taxpayers or intimidation at the hands of tax officials. The government has often argued that the Perppu is essential to trump the existing Banking Law and General Taxation System (KUP) Law, which guarantee banking secrecy, so that Indonesia can immediately comply with the global implementation of the Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI). Indonesia has already expressed its commitment to putting the AEOI into effect by 2018 at the latest to boost its hunt for recalcitrant taxpayers allegedly stashing their unreported assets overseas amid the faltering repatriation program under the recent tax amnesty. While aimed at those assets, the government should not be distracted from the elephant in the room; the complicated and inefficient taxation system that has paved the way for abuse and low taxpayer compliance. Honest measures should simultaneously stem from both the tax authority and taxpayers in a bid to build a transparent, accountable and fair system. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Tamara Soukotta (The Jakarta Post) The Hague Fri, May 19, 2017 15:26 2000 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a1aa46b 3 Opinion diaspora,basuki-tjahaja-purnama,ahok,identity-politics,discrimination Free Following the unjust conviction of two years imprisonment for blasphemy against outgoing Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama, a peace worker who called himself peace provocateur, Reverend Jacky Manuputty, stated on his social media: Ahoks burden of conviction is heavy; yet not as heavy as the burden of polarisation upon the shoulder of our society. Reverend Manuputty personally experienced polarization amid years of violence and killings in the Maluku islands in the late 1990s to early 2000s. Ever since he, alongside others, have tirelessly worked to bridge various groups involved in the violence and to break down polarization within Maluku society until today. Polarization appears, disappears and reappears in our history, but has always been present. The year 1965 witnessed extreme polarization between communists and anti communists, leading to deaths, disappearance, torture, as well as imprisonment of innocent people that left a big open wound on the nation to today. May 1998 saw renewed polarization between Cina (Indonesian-Chinese) and pribumi (indigenous Indonesians), also leading to rape, torture, and killing of those of Chinese descent. From 1998 to 2000 polarization between Muslims and Christians brought disasters to Maluku and Poso, Central Sulawesi. Again many innocent lives were lost in vain. Even today, many are still living with past trauma. In 2012, when JokoJokowi Widodo a newcomer in Indonesian political arenatook office as Jakarta Governor, he ruffled feathers. While one reason was his zero tolerance for corruption, another was his running mate Ahok, a Chinese and a Christian with a no-nonsense attitude. Tension thickened as Jokowi then won the presidential election in 2014, and Ahok became Jakarta governor and became more intense ahead of the latest Jakarta election, which Ahok lost. As the judges fulfilled demands to jail Ahok and convicted him to two years of imprisonment, Jakarta, again on a cloudy May, bore witness to nationwide polarization. It is important to note that first, Ahoks conviction came out one day after the government said it would ban Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia, apparently in response to fears of the groups campaign of a khilafah or Islamic state. Yet polarization is a deep and complex issue lying underneath the surface is entanglement of many different groups, interests, and problems. Last but not least, the rise and development of radical Islam here must be understood together with the re-emerging of far right politics in Western Europe as well as the United States, with its growing anti-migrant and anti-Islam attitude and policies. As an Indonesian national living in the Netherlands, I cannot applaud recent response from the Netherlands to save Ahok. International solidarity is important but my host country should pay more attention in solve solving own issues related to migrants, refugees and Muslims. For many Indonesian nationals particularly non-Muslims living in Europe or in the United States amid Indonesias developments puts us in a very uncomfortable situation. In Europe as well as in the US we are put in the same box with Muslims from all over the world. These days we stand with our Muslim brothers and sisters from many different corners of the world, fighting against discrimination and racism, as expressed through many rallies in different cities. Here we are a minority, yet back home we are also a minority. We are thus minorities pressed from both sides by two different majorities, that we hardly have a place where we are truly accepted. Nevertheless, no matter how difficult and confusing our positions within this very entanglement of global and local politics, we will always stand with those who are oppressed, on the side of justice for all. *** The writer is a PhD researcher at the International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University, The Hague. --------------- We are looking for information, opinions, and in-depth analysis from experts or scholars in a variety of fields. We choose articles based on facts or opinions about general news, as well as quality analysis and commentary about Indonesia or international events. Send your piece to academia@jakpost.com. For more information click here. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Inforial (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta, Indonesia Fri, May 19, 2017 The arrival of the CMA CGM Otello at the Jakarta International Container Terminal (JICT) on April 26 marked a new step forward in Indonesias ease-of-doing-business. The docking of the largest container ship ever to call at the countrys major port of Tanjung Priok inaugurated an Indonesia-US West Coast direct shipping service that removes the need for the countrys trade to transship through other ports in the region, such as Singapore and Malaysias Port Klang. The 334-meter Otello can carry 1,551 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEUs) containers. One of 17 ships that will serve the route, Otellos arrival in Jakarta marked an important step in Indonesias drive to improve its logistics systems, cutting costs by avoiding transshipment through regional ports. The introduction of the new Indonesia-US shipping service is just one of a multitude of steps that is significantly improving the ease-of-doing-business with Southeast Asias largest economy. And President Joko Jokowi Widodo is determined that more improvements are on the way, with the aim of unleashing Indonesias potential as a manufacturing powerhouse. Getting easier, faster This years World Bank Ease of Doing Business survey put Indonesia in 91st position. While that leaves the country well behind other nations in the region, it climbed a full 15 places from 106th last year, making it one of the top-10 performers out of 137 countries reviewed by the bank. The President wants the process to continue, with the aim of reaching 40th spot in the World Banks 2018 survey. As part of this process, the government has been busy in the past few months producing a reform update to form part of the banks evaluation process. The advantages for the business decision-maker are clear. Licensing processes have been dramatically accelerated, with many now online. The dramatic pruning of these processes has slashed the time needed to complete all legal and administrative procedures from 1,566 days to just 132 days. Significant improvements have been made in seven key areas: business registration, access to electricity, property registration, access to financing, taxation, cross-border trade and legal certainty over dispute settlement. In all, the government has cut the number of procedures to fully establish a business from 94 to 49. In the capital Jakarta, only a single form is required to apply for a business registration certificate and trading license, and the time required to process them has been cut from 47 days to 10 days. High standards of good governance Just as important as the regulatory changes is the difference in the experience of fulfilling requirements. President Jokowis commitment to clean governance is palpable, with the creation of a genuine sense of service instilled among public officials who manage the process. And, if any one should contemplate asking for a gift to speed things along, units have been established to immediately arrest him or her. The change has been dramatic for anyone used to the old way of doing things in Indonesia. President Jokowi is aware that the nation has to change its ways to achieve its goal of becoming an industrialized nation. In the past, the countrys rich natural resources provided a bounty that allowed the country to move up to 16th place in the global list of major economies, earning it a seat in the G20 group of nations. But dependence on commodities has been proved to be fraught with danger. Over the past few years, volatile commodity prices have trimmed returns for major export products such as coal and palm oil and with them Indonesias economic growth rate. Theres also the reality that, as the worlds fourth-most populous nation, Indonesia must do better if it wants to improve per capita income. That means a change in direction is required. The President is also aware that attracting investment is a competitive business. While Indonesia is introducing major reforms, other countries are not standing still. That provides an additional incentive for the country to introduce real changes to ease the process of doing business. Better for business The regulatory changes are being accompanied by a drive to boost infrastructure. Together, they present a markedly improved experience of doing business in Indonesia. After the containers from the Otello were unloaded onto trucks, they were taken on a new toll road link direct to industrial areas. Those industrial areas themselves have been transformed by new government policies that fast-track licensing for prospective occupants. Signing up on a tenancy agreement provides instant approvals and access to power. Logistics centers are being developed for specific industry sectors. This means that companies operating in an area like textiles, for instance, will no longer have to organize their own imports of raw materials. The specialized logistics warehouses act like wholesale supermarkets where materials are available without the need for extensive paperwork. The Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) itself in February added 18 industrial estates across the archipelago to its accelerated construction program (KLIK). Investors can immediately start construction of factories or other plant facilities after obtaining principle investment permits from the BKPM or the one-stop integrated service (PTSP). Since KLIK was introduced in 2015, 83 projects worth US$9.13 billion have made use of the facility. The industrial center of Karawang in West Java, home to the countrys expanding automotive sector, will be served by a new port at Patimban, relieving the load on the countrys main port of Tanjung Priok in Jakarta. The US$3 billion port will have a container capacity of 1.5 million TEUs once it is partly completed in 2019 and capacity of 7.5 million TEUs by 2027. In the power sector, more than 20 gigawatts of new generating capacity has been approved, with much of it already under construction and most under independent power producer agreements that demonstrate widespread involvement of the private sector, both domestic and foreign. Work is underway on the three sections of the Palapa Ring, an internet broadband network that will provide fast connections across the country. Indonesia is also a leader in the use of satellites, a convenient way of providing efficient communications. State-owned Bank Rakyat Indonesia last year successfully launched its own satellite to provide instant data connections for all of its branches across the archipelago. The government plans to build 1,000 km of new roads during its current term to 2019. Highways are being built through the major islands of Sumatra and Sulawesi to boost economic development and cut logistics costs. Much infrastructure work is being funded by the government itself. Improving budget efficiency is spurring domestic growth, with the Finance Ministry stating that spending on infrastructure has jumped by 117.7 percent between 2014 and 2017. Still, much more work remains to be done and the private sector is a welcome partner in Indonesias rapid development. In just one example of a successful public-private initiative, PT AKR Corporindo expects to earn at least $54 million this year in sales from its Java Integrated Industrial and Port Estate (JIIPE) in Gresik, East Java. The estate, which boasts its own port and power facilities, is a joint venture between AKR and state-owned port operator Pelindo III. More work to be done The government has no intention of resting on its laurels. While moving up on the Ease of Doing Business list to number 91 is an achievement, President Jokowi is determined to do better. The series of reform packages continues. The most recent, the 14th, addresses fundamental aspects of economic activity, including further simplification of investment procedures, more competitive wage formulas, deeper investment liberalization, further development of infrastructure logistics and resolutions to remaining issues on land acquisition. The wide range of initiatives being conducted by the government in cooperation with the private sector is combined with a stable political system. Independent observers have praised Indonesias election processes as free and fair, and the country is often cited as a successful example of a democratic system of government in a Muslim-majority society. There is much work to be done to shift the focus of the Indonesian economy from one that is dependent on national resource exploitation to one centered on the creation of added value through downstream processing and the development of manufacturing industry. The Indonesian government welcomes foreign investors who can apply new technologies in a win-win process that improves Indonesias own skills and capacities. To assist in attracting companies that want to help develop the worlds fourth-largest marketplace, the government will continue the process of economic reforms, not least by steps to achieve a rapid rise on the Ease of Doing Business Index. Thomas Lembong, chairman of the BKPM, noted recently that the government is preparing a new phase of its deregulation policy. Measures will include steps to extend the reform process to the provincial level, with a concentration on cutting back red tape and removing the potential for demands for illegal fees. Changes to the tax code are imminent to improve the opportunity for profits. Indonesia continues to move forward. Learn how your company can move forward with it. www.bkpm.go.id Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dessy Sagita (Agence France-Presse) Jakarta Fri, May 19, 2017 17:37 2000 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a1ad54b 2 Food noodle-burger,Indomie,#indomie,fusion,food,#food Free From a restaurant serving burgers and pizzas made with local noodles to a social media star giving street food a touch of haute cuisine, a new wave of innovative chefs are putting a modern twist on Indonesia's traditional fare. New eateries have sprung up rapidly in recent years in the capital Jakarta offering a wide array of foreign foods to cater to a growing consumer class which has emerged after a long economic boom. But rather than focus entirely on cuisine from overseas, some chefs decided to fuse the new influences with age-old Indonesian foods. One eatery offering fusion food is "Mammamie", whose name is a playful take on an Italian expression of shock combined with the local word for noodles, "mie". It uses the country's favorite instant noodles, Indomie -- cheap blocks of fodder in colorful packaging that are sold at almost every grocery store and supermarket -- to make Western dishes. Among the most popular are the "mizza", a pizza whose base is made out of noodles, and a "merger", a burger which has buns fashioned from Indomie. It also serves burrito, quesadillas and sushi dishes made with the noodles. Cafe owner Muhammad Luqman Baehaqi said he was trying to appeal to young Indonesians who were keen to try Western foods but still enjoyed Indomie. "There isn't a single Indonesian person that doesn't know Indomie," the 39-year-old said. "It's tasty and familiar to all of us. The small cafe can seat about 20 people on chairs designed to look like Indomie packing cases and has a distinctly hipster vibe, with young office workers enjoying dishes that cost the equivalent of about two to four dollars under an image of late Apple founder Steve Jobs. Read also: Cafe in North Jakarta introduces noodle birthday cake Gourmet street food While the "Mammamie" cafe uses Indonesian ingredients to spice up Western dishes, Jakarta chef Dede Akbar is taking local dishes as his starting point, and seeking to make them more classy. In his brightly-decorated kitchen, the 34-year-old carefully placed two blocks of tempeh -- a traditional soybean patty -- onto a plate. He blowtorched a hard-boiled egg, and added small flowers as a garnish before artistically dripping sauce across the dish. Satisfied with his creation, he took out a camera and snapped pictures from various angles, before uploading them to Instagram. It was his popular Instagram account "Warteg Gourmet", which currently has about 40,000 followers, that catapulted him to fame. Wartegs are modest stalls or kiosks selling cheap food, often cramped spaces on street corners where blue-color workers stop for a bite and to smoke a cigarette. But rather than drab dishes for people earning low incomes, Akbar said he celebrates warteg food as it has "different textures and a wide range of colors that we can play with". Akbar was inspired to make haute-cuisine, warteg-style food after becoming annoyed at the careless presentation of dishes at the traditional streetside eateries. What started off as a hobby became an obsession, and eventually Akbar found he was receiving so many invites to be a "food stylist" at events that he quit his day job as an advertising agency art director to become a full-time chef. He hopes his efforts can help raise the profile of humble Indonesian street food, which is not as well-known as local cuisine from other parts of Asia, such as Thailand. "I want to make Indonesian food more appreciated by Indonesians in general and recognized internationally," he said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Bambang Muryanto (The Jakarta Post) Yogyakarta Fri, May 19, 2017 23:38 2000 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a1b8861 1 National Sitok-Srengenge,painting-exhibition,Langit-Art-Space,Bantul,Yogyakarta,sex-abuse Free Dozens of activists protested a solo painting exhibition by noted poet Sitok Srengenge at the Langit Art Space in Bantul, Yogyakarta, on Thursday evening. Shortly after the exhibition themed Srengenge (The Sun) was officially opened, several invitees unexpectedly spread out a large blue banner emblazoned with the message: Tolak Buayawan Sitok Srengenge (Reject womanizer Sitok Srengenge). Buayawan was a mocking nickname given to Sitok, who has been acknowledged as a budayawan (cultural observer), but was later named a suspect in a rape case involving a University of Indonesia (UI) student in 2014. Sitok is a rapist! a female activist shouted. The protest turned the opening of the exhibition attended by noted artists, including painter Joko Pekik and musician Jaduk Ferianto, into chaos. The activists were forced to leave the exhibition room, after which they joined with others who had gathered in front of the gallery. Bring Sitok to justice! yelled the protesters, who were apparently mostly gender movement activists. They expressed their disappointment for the inability of the authorities to administer justice to Sitok. Muhammad Faris, one of the protesters, read out a statement that called on law enforcers to imprison Sitok. He also urged police officers to investigate the numerous rapes that in most cases were left unsolved. Give justice and protection to all sex violence victims, Faris said. Sitok rejected again the rape accusation. My [sexual] relations with [the alleged victim] were consensual, he said. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 19, 2017 07:15 2001 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a18689c 1 City #AhokDetention,vigil,Mbah-Priok Free A group of people called themselves Indonesian Citizens in Solidarity are planning to hold a vigil night at the Mbah Priok memorial site in North Jakarta on Saturday. Nong Darol Mahmada, one of the initiators, said the vigil night would be called Malam 1,000 Cahaya (Night of 1,000 Lights) as an act of support for non-active Jakarta governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama, who was recently sentenced to two years in prison after being declared guilty of blasphemy. Nong said the sentence was a miscarriage of justice in Indonesia and through the vigil night they would express their hopes that Ahok could get justice. Ahoks struggle is like a symbol of pluralism that was torn apart, she said as quoted by kompas.com. She said the group decided to hold the event at the memorial site because it represented an aspect of Islam that applied a rahmatan lil alamin (blessing for the universe), adding that the vigil would be held just outside the memorial grave area. Meanwhile, the management of the Mbah Priok Memorial Site Foundation said that they would ask the event organizers to make sure that the vigil was not a symbol of solidarity for Ahok, but instead just an act of togetherness. We will allow them to light up candles, but they need to be organized, said Wahyu, the chairman of the foundation. (idb) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Prima Wirayani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 19, 2017 15:05 2000 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a1a9194 1 Business bank-mandiri,MMB-Mitra-Makmur-Bagya,agreement Free State-owned lender Bank Mandiri and warehouse company PT Mitra Makmur Bagya (MMB) - part of property developer Ciputra Group - signed a financing agreement for the latter's warehouse buyers in Jakarta on Friday Under the agreement, the publicly listed lender will provide a maximum of Rp 10 billion (US$746,269) worth of financing for up to 10 years for a buyer that has secured a recommendation letter from MMB and has passed Mandiri's internal verification. The bank will provides a Rp 50 billion ceiling in total for the partnership. The scheme is expected to assist small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to secure warehouses to support their businesses, MMB president director Harun Hajadi said. "Many of our customers are interested in our warehouses but face difficulties in funding the purchase," he said during the signing ceremony. Mandiri retail banking director Tardi admitted that the country's largest lender by assets had yet to aggressively tap into the SME segment. Instead, it is still consolidating its internal structure to strengthen the segment. "We have [outstanding] loans worth Rp 60 trillion in the segment [as of April]," he said. "We hope this agreement can support the expansion of both companies." (bbn) By Press Trust of India: From Sajjad Hussain Islamabad, May 18 (PTI) Pakistan stands at a "crossroads" in its fight against extremism and must decide whether it wants to enjoy the benefits of its young demography or suffer at the hands of terrorism, Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa said today. Gen Bajwa, speaking on the role of Youth In Rejecting Extremism here, said the Army would defeat terrorists but it needed the support of the nation to wipe out extremism from the society. advertisement "Please remember, while the Army fights terrorists, terrorism and extremism is fought by law enforcing agencies and society," he said. Pakistan is a young nation, the army chief said, adding that demographically, more than 50 per cent of population is projected to be less than 25 years of age. "We are standing at a crossroads; ten year down the line, we will either be enjoying the fruits of a youth dividend or suffering at the hands of a youth bulge, especially with the youth which remains vulnerable to extremism," he said. "A youth driven towards extremism is a youth without a clear idea of his values and identity," Gen Bajwa said. Talking about India caught in extremism, he said: "Just next door, India seems to have given in to extremism to such an extent that it has become the new normal. Hate has been mainstreamed in India and it is distorting there national outlook." "The Hindutva extremism of the RSS and their GaoRakshaks, deprivation of Palestinians, the burning and desecration of mosques or gurdwaras in western capitals, the rise of hyper nationalists and the monster of racism, are all manifestations of extremism." He said Pakistani youth is getting exploited due to poor governance and lack of justice in the society. "Our challenges are very real but there are positive sides to the picture as well. Not only have we survived the worst onslaught of terrorism in modern history, we have reversed the tide. In fact, security has now achieved conditions to help development take off," he said. He accused enemies of Pakistan for waging war. "Our enemies, both state and non-state, are actively pursuing divisive tendencies in society. Let me say that they are waging the biggest and most sustained Hybrid War against us from multiple directions and using multiple ways," he said. He said said the "enemy" was using social media to achieve its objective. "We are being targeted by not only terrorists but also spin masters of multiple hostile agencies, trying to subvert our minds, particularly that of our youth. Being denied opportunities in the mainstream media, they are using faceless platforms on the internet and smart phones," he said. advertisement He said the Indian leadership has made no secret of its involvement in proxy struggle in the erstwhile East Pakistan (which later became Bangladesh) and now in Balochistan. He said Pakistan took action affiant "terrorists of all hues and colours" and ensured the writ of state in the farthest and remotest corners of the country. "Today there are no safe havens for any miscreants in Pakistan," he said. He vowed that extremism will also be defeated as terrorism was defeated in Pakistan. PTI SH ABH --- ENDS --- Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 19, 2017 10:40 2001 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a196ae5 1 Business BTI-Bisnis-Travel-Indonesia,Zurich-Indonesia,agreement Free Online travel portal Bisnis Travel Indonesia (BTI) is teaming up with Zurich Indonesia, the local unit of a Switzerland-based insurance company, by including Zurich Indonesias travel insurance on BTIs list of products. Previously, BTIs offered its members included airline tickets, hotel reservations and tour packages. Through the partnership with Zurich, we want to expand options for our members, BTIs president director Johan Kurniawan told reporters during the partnership signing ceremony in Jakarta on Thursday. With the agreement, BTIs portal will provide its members with three travel insurance products from Zurich Indonesia: Zurich Domestic Travel, Zurich Umrah/ Haj Travel and Zurich Passport. BTI aims to sell up to 600 travel insurance policies through its portal this year, Johan added. BTI is an online travel portal powered by Golden Rama Tours & Travel, a travel company established in Indonesia in 1971. About 90 percent of the portals members are individual travel agents, while the rest are office-based travel agents. (ecn/bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 19, 2017 09:54 2001 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a19257f 1 City Klender-station,fire,fire-accidents,commuter,commuter-line,commuter-trains,KAI Free A fire broke out at Klender train station, East Jakarta, on Friday morning, injuring one person. Gatot Sulaiman of the East Jakarta Fire Department said the fire, which was likely caused by an electrical short circuit in a janitor's room, started at 7:42 a.m. "Fire engulfed facilities at Klender Lama Station," Gatot said as quoted by kompas.com. At least 10 rooms were engulfed, including a storage room, rest rooms, the station master's office, a ticket box, a waiting room, a security room and the server room. Riki Riana, 20, who was at the station during the incident, suffered injuries. Nine fire engines were deployed to extinguish the blaze. Commuter Jabodetabek (KJC) spokesperson Eva Chairunisa said services on the commuter line serving Bekasi-Manggarai had been disrupted. The passengers using the line should take alternative modes of transportation, she said. (cal/ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 19, 2017 08:00 2001 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a188141 1 City Facebook,violence,arrest Free Four women have been accused of abusing a teenage acquaintance inside a public minivan plying the Ciledug-Kebayoran route in Jakarta for writing an insulting Facebook status. Tangerang Police in Banten said the women, identified as Dian, 17, Betharia, 19, Novita, 20, and Yulia, 21, allegedly attacked 14-year-old AP and burned her face with lit cigarettes and stripped her naked on Sunday evening. Dian reportedly pressed a lit cigarette four times against the girls face and once on her back. Novita, Lia and Betharia then allegedly beat the victim. APs lawyer, Isram, said on Thursday that AP had been traumatized by the attack. She was anxious, gloomy and did not want to leave her house. "She is too scared to do her usual activities. She's afraid to leave her home," Isram said as quoted by tribunnews.com. AP, who is an eight-grade student in junior high school, also did not want to go to school, he added. The four women, who were arrested on Tuesday, have been charged under Article 170 of the Criminal Code on collective assault. (cal) Topics : Facebook violence arrest Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Farida Susanty (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 19, 2017 08:15 2001 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a1896b1 1 Business Idul-Fitri-2017,Transportation,transportation-ministry,Budi-Karya-Sumadi Free The government plans to provide 208,435 people with free trips to their hometowns to celebrate Idul Fritri in late June. Last year, the government provided various modes of transportation for 122,733 people. Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said on Thursday that the assistance would be provided to those who usually travel to their hometown by motorcycle. The move, he said, is to reduce traffic accidents involving the anticipated mass exodus of motorcycles. There are a lot of accidents involving motorcycles. So we urge people not to use their motorcycles at all this year, Budi said on Thursday. This year, the government will also transport 44,721 motorcycles using various means of transportation, such as trains and trucks, so that people can use their vehicles in their hometowns. Last year, the government transported 17,557 motorcycles. Buses and trucks will be stationed in Jakarta and will transport citizens for free to a number of towns and cities in West Java, Central Java and Yogyakarta. Applications for the program opened on Thursday for land transportation, with online applications accepted on the ministrys website. The government has allocated Rp 90 billion (US$6.7 million) for the program this year, a steep increase from Rp 20 billion last year.(bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Farida Susanty (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 19, 2017 19:31 2000 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a1b6166 1 Business Grab,micro-entrepreneurs,investment Free Regional ride-hailing app Grab aims to get 5 million Indonesian micro-entrepreneurs to partner with the platform by next year, as part of the next phase of its Grab 4 Indonesia initiative. In its Grab 4 Indonesia master plan, Grab plans to invest US$700 million within the next four years. We want to support technopreneurship. We also want to help Indonesia reach its goal of being the country with the biggest digital economy in the region, Grab Indonesia managing director Ridzki Kramadibrata said on Thursday. (Read also: Grab to invest $700 million in Indonesia) Grab revealed that within the last three months, it had conducted its first phase of investment by finalizing its integration with Indonesian startup Kudo and opening a new research and development center in Jakarta. It is its sixth research and development center in the world, with other centers located in Beijing and Seattle, among others. The center will house 200 engineers by the end of 2017. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Rendi A. Witular (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 19, 2017 14:01 2000 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a1a43dc 1 Business Australia,wine,plain-packaging,halal-wine,Trade-Ministry,trade-minister,trade-war Free Trade Minister Enggartiasto "Enggar" Lukita has floated an idea of requiring Australian wine sold in Indonesia to pass halal certification and use plain packaging in retaliation for the neighboring country "undermining" the selling of Indonesian tobacco and paper. Enggar said he recently had voiced his resentment to Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Steven Ciobo after Australia mandated in 2012 that cigarettes sold in the country must use plain packaging and levied anti-dumping duties on imported A4 paper from Indonesia in April. "We facilitate imports of Australian beef. But I am devastated by the barriers slapped on our tobacco and A4 paper," said Enggar at a gathering late on Thursday. "I told Steve that I would consider requiring Australian wine sold in Indonesia to also have plain packaging and pass halal certification, but I deliver it in a light way though, and it was just an expression of my resentment," he said. Indonesia and other tobacco-producing countries, such as Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Honduras, filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against Australia for what they consider illegal trade barriers by mandating plain packaging.(tas) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Rendi A. Witular (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 19, 2017 17:40 2000 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a1ad597 2 Business Trade,retaliation,Airbus,palm-oil,health,skin-cancer Free In response to a recent European Parliament resolution to reduce the use of palm oil for environmental reasons and a string of black campaigns conducted by European NGOs that suggest that palm oil substances are detrimental to human health, Indonesia is planning a slew of retaliatory measures. Trade Minister Enggartiasto "Enggar" Lukita said he recently met with his counterpart from the European Union (EU) and expressed his rage, saying that Indonesia would retaliate against attempts to disturb the global sale of palm oil. "When I met my EU counterpart, I said I would talk to my fellow ministers to start a plan not to buy Airbus planes anymore as they may contain risks of igniting skin cancer. The use of the Thales radar system (made in the EU) also has similar risks of causing skin cancer," said Enggar in a gathering late on Thursday. "The EU has to prove that palm oil poses a risk to health. Indonesia will do the same thing to Airbus by reviewing whether or not it is safe to fly with the plane." (Read also: Indonesia floats joke of Oz wine requiring halal certification) Enggar said the EU minister defended the EUs position by saying that the palm oil resolution was issued by the EU parliament and was not binding, and that the campaigns that claimed palm oil posed a risk to human health were taken up by NGOs. "In response to that, I said I would tell my legislative friends and local NGOs to do the same thing to your products," Enggar said. "If you want to ensure free trade, this kind of thing should be avoided or it will spiral down into a trade war." The EU parliament demanded in April that the bloc gradually reduce the use of vegetable oils, including palm oil, that are not sustainably produced in biodiesel production, in a bid to reduce deforestation. Indonesia is the world's largest producer of palm oil. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 19, 2017 13:33 2000 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a1a1311 4 Business Indonesia,United-Arab-Emirates,LNG,crude-oil Free Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan and his United Arab Emirates (UAE) counterpart Suhail Mohammed Faraj Al Mazroui discussed Indonesia's intention to purchase liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and crude oil directly from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Jakarta on Thursday. Transactions for LNG and crude oil will be conducted between Indonesian state-owned energy firm Pertamina and Emirates National Oil Company, said Jonan. We hope purchases will no longer be carried out through third parties," said Jonan while receiving the UAE minister at his office, Antara news agency reported. During the meeting, the two ministers discussed the development of the Ruby Gas field in Sebuku Block by Mubadala Petroleum, a UAE oil and gas company. In addition to the gas and oil sector, cooperation between the two countries includes port management, efforts to increase flight frequency between the two countries and agricultural deals. "We also discuss the tax treaty established long ago and which is continuously adjusted to be in line with changes in taxation in both Indonesia and the UAE," he added. Meanwhile, Mohammed Faraj said the value of current investment in Indonesia reached US$2 billion and estimated that new investment would reach $5 billion after his visit. He also welcomed the plan of direct purchases. "ENOC has trade procedures, but we are not talking about it now. I think there is no problem, and we welcome the direct purchase," he added. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 19 2017 Paulus Tanos, the general director of PT Sandipala Arthaputra, testified before the Jakarta Corruption Court on Thursday that he held two meetings with House of Representatives Speaker Setya Novanto not long after his company was included in the consortium that handled the e-ID project between 2011 and 2012. [The meetings were] related to the e-ID [project]. Setya at the time was Golkar Party faction leader at the House, Paulus told the trial of former Home Ministry officials Irman and Sugiharto, via video link from Singapore. I introduced myself [to Setya] and said that I was part of the e-ID project. I was supposed to go there with Andi, Paulus added, referring to businessman Andi Agustinus, aka Andi Narogong, also a suspect in the alleged rigging of the Rp 5.9 trillion (US$442 million) project. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 19, 2017 14:03 2000 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a1a4ab8 1 National Jokowi,jokowidodo,Natuna,Riau-Islands,TNI,Kostrad,PPRC Free President Joko Jokowi Widodo departed on Friday for Natuna, Riau Islands, to witness military exercises. After arriving at Raden Sadjad Air Force Base on the presidential aircraft on Friday morning, Jokowi traveled by Super Puma helicopter to Tanjung Datuk, where he witnessed military exercises conducted by the Army's Strategic Reserves Command's (Kostrad) Quick Reaction Strike Force (PPRC). After witnessing the exercises, Jokowi will return to Jakarta in the afternoon, said the State Palace in a media statement on Friday. Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Puan Maharani, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Presidential Military Secretary Air Vice Marshal Trisno Hendradi, Presidential Security Detail (Paspampres) commander Brig. Gen. Suhartono and presidential expert staff member Diaz Hendropriyono accompanied President Jokowi during his visit. Four military personnel were killed and eight others were injured when a Chinese-made anti-aircraft cannon malfunctioned and fired off shots randomly during a military exercise in Tanjung Datuk on Wednesday. The accident, involving a Giant Bow anti-aircraft cannon, occurred at the Air Defense Artillery 1/K compound during shooting practice. It was reported that the military exercises were part of preparations ahead of Jokowis visit. Army spokesperson Col. Alfret Denny Tuejeh later denied the speculation, claiming they were just regular exercises. (dis/ebf) Following the International Court of Justice directing Islamabad not to execute Kulbhushan Jadhav until the court can hear the dispute over his death penalty in full, Pakistan's de facto foreign minister Sartaj Aziz told Pakistani media that new lawyers will be appointed in the Jadhav case. By India Today Web Desk: After suffering a major setback at the International Court of Justice in the Kulbhushan Jadhav death penalty case, Pakistan is set to replace the lawyers that represented the country at the World Court, Pakistani media reports said. Sartaj Aziz, the foreign affairs adviser to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, was quoted by The Nation as saying that Islamabad will appoint a new team of lawyers to defend Pakistan's position at the The Hague, Netherlands-based International Court of Justice. advertisement The Pakistani legal team was led by Khawar Qureshi who faced off against Harish Salve on Monday when both argued their respective countries' position on the Jadhav death penalty matter. State-run news agency Associated Press of Pakistan further reported Aziz saying that Qureshi had courageously represented Pakistan at the International Court of Justice. Khawar Qureshi, who represented Pakistan at the ICJ The ICJ on Thursday allowed India's petition that Pakistan be directed not to execute Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was handed a death sentence by a Pakistani military court in April this year. The ICJ, accepting India's plea, said Pakistan must not hang Jadhav until the court hears the matter in full and that Islamabad must inform the World Court of the steps it has taken to ensure that the Indian national is not executed. Responding to the ICJ order, Aziz, Pakistan's de facto foreign minister, was reported to have said, "Pakistan's security is so important and we have to maintain our fundamental sovereign right." PAK ARGUMENT REJECTED President Judge Ronny Abraham, while delivering ICJ's interim verdict on the Jadhav death penalty case, rejected Pakistan's contention that the World Court has no jurisdiction on the matter. Prima facie, the ICJ has jurisdiction on the Jadhav case, Abraham said, rejecting one of the Islamabad's main arguments against the Indian case. Invoking the Optional Protocol of the Vienna Convention, India had contended that the International Court of Justice has the jurisdiction to take up the Jadhav death penalty case. Notably, the ICJ did not rule on India's main argument that Kulbhushan Jadhav's trial in Pakistan was in violation of the Vienna Convention on Consular Access. Since Jadhav's arrest in 2016, Pakistan has rejected 16 Indian requests for consular access. Islamabad has claimed that since Jadhav is charged under the country's espionage laws, it does not need to provide New Delhi with consular access. Having ordered Pakistan not to execute Jadhav, the ICJ will now seek comprehensive submissions from both New Delhi and Islamabad on their respective cases. The dates or the schedule of upcoming hearings at The Hague have not yet been announced, but it is likely that the process will take years. advertisement THE KULBHUSHAN JADHAV CASE In April this year, the Directorate of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Pakistan military wing, announced that Jadhav, whom Islamabad accuses of being a Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) agent and of fomenting unrest in Balochistan, was sentenced to die by a Pakistani army court. Jadhav's death sentence was confirmed by Pakistani army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa. India, who said Jadhav is a retired Indian Navy officer-turned businessman, slammed Pakistan for carrying out a secretive, "farcical" trial. New Delhi then dragged Islamabad to the International Court of Justice. Pakistan has said that Jadhav has until August to seek mercy. ICJ President judge Ronny Abraham noted that this could mean that Jadhav could be executed soon after August (if a mercy plea is rejected), by when the ICJ may not be able to completely hear the matter and deliver its final verdict. ALSO READ: Nawaz Sharif feels the heat as Opposition slams government for mishandling Kulbhushan Jadhav's case at ICJ ICJ verdict is fine but can Kulbhushan Jadhav be saved? What lies ahead advertisement Who is Justice Dalveer Bhandari, the Indian in ICJ panel hearing Kulbhushan Jadhav's case? PHOTOS | Young and footloose: When Kulbhushan Jadhav was a suburban youth who joined Indian Navy ALSO WATCH | Every Indian life matters: Harish Salve tells India Today --- ENDS --- Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nurul Fitri Ramadhani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 19, 2017 10:45 2001 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a196d1a 1 National house-of-representatives,KPK,corruption-eradication-commission,corruption-eradication,e-ID,#e-ID Free The House of Representatives is waiting for House factions to send their representatives to an inquiry team established to carry out an investigation into the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). The Houses Consultative Body (Bamus) was supposed to have mapped out the stance of all factions toward the KPK inquiry and to decide whether it would proceed with the plan during a meeting on Thursday. However, as of Thursday evening, no factions have submitted names to the team. So far, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) is the only faction that has officially declared a stance toward the KPK inquiry. The PKS has stated that will will not send a representative to the team. Joining the team would mean weakening the KPK, the party said. House Deputy Speaker Taufik Kurniawan said most of the factions wanted more time to make a decision. Well wait for all factions to send their representatives and declare their stances, Taufik told journalists after the meeting. The House recently made a controversial decision to exercise its right of inquiry against the KPK. It is widely believed that the move is an attempt by the House to stymie the KPKs investigation into the e-ID case, a case that implicates many senior House members. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 19, 2017 06:51 2001 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a186401 1 National mental-health,mental-health-problems,mental-illness,mental-illnesses,mental-illness-treatment,depression Free Proper medication and strong support from family members and friends play key roles in handling people with depressive disorders, which are among the leading causes of suicide, an expert has said. Dharmawangsa Psychiatric Hospital director Richard Budiman said people with depression experience constant and uncontrollable anxiety, which might make a bad impact on their daily lives if they do not receive proper mental healthcare services. Thirty-one percent of patients with anxiety symptoms are diagnosed with depression, he said during a press conference in South Jakarta on Wednesday. Richard said a better understanding of depressive disorders and how best to treat them was the beginning of the improvement of mental health services. The 2013 Basic Health Research (Riskesdas) said 14 million people aged 15 years or older, 6 percent of the total Indonesian population, have experienced mental and emotional disorders that present with depression and anxiety . Almost 800,000 people commit suicide every year because of depression, making it the second most common cause of death for people between 15 and 29 years old. Richard said antidepressant medications could help patients live healthy and productive lives. He said one of the many drugs doctors could prescribe to a patient was called escitalopram. It is an antidepressant of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor class with faster acceptability and efficacy as an anti-anxiety drug. (dis/ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nurul Fitri Ramadhani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 19, 2017 12:57 2000 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a19f2d5 1 National setya,setya-novanto,house-of-representatives,KPK,e-ID,#e-ID,corruption,corruption-case Free House of Representatives Speaker Setya Novanto has called on lawmakers to accelerate the establishment of an inquiry team to investigate the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). In the previous plenary session, we agreed to form an inquiry team. Hence, the House speakership wants to push the [KPK] inquiry plan forward to the next phase, Setya said. He was speaking during the opening of the Houses fifth sitting period on Thursday. Factions are divided over whether to appoint representatives to the KPK inquiry team amid mounting public opposition to the move. Public and antigraft activists have said that such a move would enable the House to meddle in the KPKs investigation into graft involving e-ID card procurement. (Read also: KPK inquiry in limbo as House factions give mixed signals) The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the Golkar Party and the Hanura Party have stated their intention of appointing representatives to the team and pushing the inquiry forward. Meanwhile, the Gerindra Party said it would appoint representatives to fight the inquiry from the inside. The National Awakening Party (PKB), the National Mandate Party (PAN), the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the Democratic Party have firmly stated they would not appoint representatives to the inquiry team. The United Development Party (PPP) and the NasDem Party have not announce a stance, saying they would first consider the political dynamics. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 19, 2017 10:31 2001 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a194847 1 Business digital-hub-construction,BSD,Sinarmas Free Property developer Sinarmas Land began on Thursday construction worth Rp 7 trillion (US$524.89 million) for an integrated smart digital hub in Bumi Serpong Damai (BSD), South Tangerang, Banten, aimed to connect startups, technology leaders and digital communities. The construction is the first phase in the establishment of the digital hub, which is later expected to create an information technology (IT) and digital technology ecosystem in Indonesia, said Sinarmas Land CEO Michael Widjaya. The construction is expected to be completed in 2019. As the second phase is from 2019 to 2021, well later tie the community by helping them partner and collaborate with each other to create the ecosystem, he said during the event on Thursday. (Read also: Sinarmas Land to spend Rp 7t on digital city project) Besides startups and talent development companies, some multinational firms have joined in the digital hub, including technology giant Apple, ITC solutions provider Huawei and IT services firm Dimension Data, said Michael. Were looking forward to attracting educational institutions. Today weve signed an agreement with Amikom University [private IT College in Yogyakarta]. Weve also met two more universities willing to join, one of which is an international university, he said. Sinarmas Land initiated the construction of the digital hub in February 2016. It is hoped the new hub will become Indonesias version of the United States Silicon Valley. (yon/bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 19, 2017 13:53 2000 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a1a384b 1 National setya,setya-novanto,Jakarta-police,Miko-Panji-Tirtayasa,Muhtar-Efendy,novel-baswedan,novel,KPK,#KPK,#KPKAcidAttack,corruption Free The Jakarta Police have released Miko Panji Tirtayasa from custody following questioning at police headquarters. Miko was arrested recently following suspicions of his possible involvement in the recent acid attack on Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator Novel Baswedan. Miko is the nephew of graft convict Muhtar Efendi, Police investigators released Miko due to a lack of evidence. We checked his alibi and confirmed that he was not in Jakarta during the incident, Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono told journalists on Friday. Miko was arrested on Tuesday. The police later detained him for further questioning on Thursday. (Read also: Graft convict's nephew arrested on suspicion of involvement in acid attack) In a video that went viral in early May, Miko said he was forced by KPK investigators to give false testimony against his uncle, Muhtar Efendi. He also claimed that the KPK had given him money to compensate for his false statement. He [Miko] said he made the video to express his resentment toward the KPK, saying he was intimidated by investigators from the anti-graft body, Argo said. The police are currently investigating other clues that might point to the perpetrators of the attack. On Thursday, National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian said the police would check evidence, witnesses, documents and bank details to see whether Mikos claims were true. Miko is the fourth person released by the Jakarta Police due to a lack of evidence since Novel was attacked on April 11. (dis/ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 19, 2017 17:24 2000 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a1abd84 1 Business Ambassador-Johanna-Brismar-Skoog,Indonesia,Sweden,business Free Sweden is aiming at strengthening its economic relations with Indonesia through a business forum in Jakarta on the sidelines of the visit of Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia to Indonesia next week. The event, named the Indonesia-Sweden Executive Business Forum (ISEF), is to kick off on May 23 and is to be attended by 31 Swedish companies. "Many of the companies have been here for a long time and now we will bring their top managements here to see how we can dig deeper into Indonesia," Swedish ambassador to Indonesia Johanna Brismar Skoog said as reported by Antara on Thursday. She expressed her confidence that Sweden products, ideas and technology would be useful for Indonesia to develop infrastructure, transportation, energy and a creative economy. Currently, 80 Swedish companies are operating in Indonesia and employ about 2,000 people. Among the well-known companies are technology producer ABB Group, Volvo cars and trucks, Oriflame cosmetics, automotive producer Scania, household products seller IKEA, clothing-retail company H&M and food packaging and processing company Tetra Pak. The value of trade between the two countries has decreased to US$670,000 in 2015 from $1.45 million in 2012. Total Swedish investment in Indonesia reached $12.4 million in the last five years. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 19, 2017 07:45 2001 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a188075 1 Business garlic,smuggling,price,increase,raids,arrest Free Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman has said that three alleged smugglers and hoarders of garlic were arrested at warehouses in Marunda, North Jakarta. Hundreds of tons of garlic were seized by the Jakarta city police during the raid on Wednesday. The commodity was suspected of having been smuggled into Indonesia from China and India and was stockpiled at the North Jakarta warehouse. The [import] permits of the three have been revoked [by the trade minister], said Amran after a meeting with Coordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasutition and Trade Minister Enggartiasto "Enggar" Lukita in Jakarta on Thursday. Amran claimed more people who were being accused of playing with garlic stocks would likely be arrested. However, he declined to explain the details of the arrest plan. The price of garlic in Jakarta has surged to Rp 70,000 (US$5.26) per kilogram in the last few days, up from Rp 40,000 per kilogram in January, hargapangan.id shows. The price increase has been blamed on the hoarding undertaken by certain importers of the commodity. Enggar threatened to revoke the permits of other importers if they were found hoarding the commodity to try to push up prices. (bbn) Topics : garlic smuggling price increase raids arrest Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (AFP) Washington, United States Fri, May 19, 2017 08:30 2001 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a18a807 2 World DonaldTrump,Donald-Trump,trump,#DonaldTrump,#Donald-Trump,US,US-president Free President Donald Trump has dominated news coverage in his first months in office, with most of the stories about him negative, a study showed Thursday. In the study of major US and European print and broadcast outlets, Trump was the topic of 41 percent of stories -- or three times the level of the three previous US presidents. Trump's coverage during his first 100 days "set a new standard for negativity," according to the report by Harvard University's Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy. The study found that of news reports with a clear tone, negative stories outpaced positive ones by 80 percent to 20 percent. "Trump's coverage was unsparing," the report said. "In no week did the coverage drop below 70 percent negative and it reached 90 percent negative at its peak. The best period for Trump was week 12 of his presidency, when he ordered a cruise missile strike on a Syrian airbase." Trump has been unrelenting in his attacks on the mainstream media, which he has called "the enemy of the people" and purveyors of "fake news." But the study led by Harvard professor Thomas Patterson said it could not conclude whether the mainstream media covered Trump "in a fair and balanced way." "That question cannot be answered definitively in the absence of an agreed-upon version of 'reality' against which to compare Trump's coverage," the report said. But it noted that "the sheer level of negative coverage gives weight to Trump's contention, one shared by his core constituency, that the media are hell bent on destroying his presidency." The report is based on an analysis of the print editions of the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post; the main newscasts of CBS, CNN, Fox News, and NBC; and three European news outlets -- the Financial Times and BBC of Britain and Germany's ARD. European reporters, according to the study "were more likely than American journalists to directly question Trump's fitness for office." The researchers found that Fox was the only news outlet in the study that came close to giving Trump positive coverage overall -- but that 52 percent of the Fox stories analyzed on Trump were negative in tone. The level of news coverage was compared with that of presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton. (**) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Paul Handley (AFP) Washington, United States Fri, May 19, 2017 08:45 2001 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a18c116 2 World trump,DonaldTrump,Donald-Trump,venezuela,Colombian-President-Juan-Manuel-Santos Free US President Donald Trump on Thursday called the situation in Venezuela a "disgrace to humanity" and said the deadly political crisis was possibly the worst of its kind in decades. "We haven't really seen a problem like that... in decades, in terms of the kind of violence that we're witnessing," Trump told a press conference with visiting Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. "People don't have enough to eat. People have no food. There's great violence. And we will do whatever is necessary and we will work together to do whatever is necessary to help with fixing that. (...) what is happening is really a disgrace to humanity." Shortly thereafter the US Treasury slapped sanctions on eight members of Venezuela's Supreme Court, charging them with undermining the deeply divided country's democratic legislature in support of a corrupt government. Trump's comments came one day after the Venezuelan government announced it was sending more than 2,500 troops to a trouble-hit region on the border with Colombia to try to quell weeks of violence that have claimed 44 lives nationwide. Despite its vast oil reserves, Venezuela is suffering chronic shortages of food, medicine and other basic supplies. The center-right opposition blames it all on mismanagement and corruption in the Socialist government. President Nicolas Maduro in turn blames sabotage by the "bourgeois" opposition, which he says is backed by Washington. "When you look at the oil reserves that they have, when you look at the potential wealth that Venezuela has, you sort of have to wonder why is that happening, how is that possible?" said Trump. "It has been unbelievably poorly run for a long period of time, and hopefully that will change and they could use those assets for the good and to take care of their people," he said. - Tough sanctions - The Treasury Department sanctions were Washington's toughest action yet signaling support for hundreds of thousands of protestors seeking Maduro's tight grip on power. The announcement followed a series of rulings since mid-2016 in which the court usurped the National Assembly's powers in support of Maduro. The sanctions freeze any assets the country's most powerful judicial figures may have in US jurisdictions and lock them out of much of global banking. "The Venezuelan people are suffering from a collapsing economy brought about by their government's mismanagement and corruption," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. "Members of the country's Supreme Court of Justice have exacerbated the situation by consistently interfering with the legislative branch's authority," he said. "By imposing these targeted sanctions, the United States is supporting the Venezuelan people in their efforts to protect and advance democratic governance in their country." The Treasury cited recent Supreme Court rulings that have allowed Maduro to rule by executive decree, exempted the government from submitting its budget to the legislature, and taken away from the legislature the power to appoint the National Electoral Council. In March, the court stripped parliamentary immunity from members of the National Assembly and moved to assume legislative powers for itself. Those decisions have since been partially reversed. The eight named for sanctions include the president of the Supreme Court, Maikel Moreno, and the seven principal members of the court's Constitutional Chamber. In February, the US designated Maduro's vice president and presumed heir Tareck El Aissami a major international drug trafficker. (**) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Reuben Easey (Agence France-Presse) Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand Fri, May 19, 2017 18:36 2000 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a1b4ab0 2 News Thailand,lotus-flower,Khao-Sam-Roi-Yot,tourism,environment Free For the first time in a decade a Thai lake has given up its dazzling secret -- the pink blooms of tens of thousands of lotuses. The sea of colour in Khao Sam Roi Yot national park, three hours south of Bangkok, is a show-stopping feat of nature that has locals hoping for a tourist bonanza. But it has also sparked warnings over the fragility of the environment with park rangers pleading with people not to visit until the lake is healthy enough to deal with an influx of tourists. The flowers, considered sacred in Thai culture, are good news for locals who have been ferrying camera-toting visitors through the lotuses which lie in knots on the lake's vast waters. But "currently they should not come," said head ranger Rungroj Aswakultarin. In this photograph taken on May 5, 2017, a tourist takes a photograph of lotus flowers while on a canoe on a lake in the Khao Sam Roi Yot national park in southern Thailand. For the first time in a decade a Thai lake has given up its dazzling secret -- the pink blooms of tens of thousands of lotuses. The sea of colour in Khao Sam Roi Yot national park, three hours south of Bangkok, is a show-stopping feat of nature that has tourists pouring into the area.(AFP/Roberto Schmidt) "The national park is in the process of restoring the lotuses. When it comes to the right time the park will open them up to the public," he said. Rungroj's caution is understandable. For the last decade the park -- a stunning jumble of lakes, tributaries and towering limestone karsts three hours south of Bangkok -- saw no widespread lotus bloom. No-one has been able to pinpoint exactly why. Read also: Southeast Asian buyers join Yogyakarta famtrip But officials blame a mixture of drought and pollution from fertilizers and nearby seafood farms. In recent years rangers have tried to clean up the park and this year were rewarded with a sea of pink flowers. Thailand struggles to balance its lucrative tourism industry with preserving the environment. Few countries have experienced the kind of stratospheric growth in tourism. In this photograph taken on May 5, 2017, lotus flowers blossom in the Khao Sam Roi Yot national park in southern Thailand. For the first time in a decade a Thai lake has given up its dazzling secret -- the pink blooms of tens of thousands of lotuses. The sea of color in Khao Sam Roi Yot national park, three hours south of Bangkok, is a show-stopping feat of nature that has tourists pouring into the area.(AFP/Roberto Schmidt) In the last decade the number of foreign arrivals has more than doubled from 13.8 million in 2006 to a record 32.5 million last year, growth partly powered by Chinese arrivals. Those expecting to find the kind of pristine, untouched beaches in tourist brochures are often left disappointed among hordes of visitors. Thailand's tourism minister has called for the industry to chase fewer holidaymakers but ones with deep pockets. This week some 61 national parks, including 25 marine parks, closed to visitors for the monsoon season, an annual move to try and help them recover. But some environmentalists have argued the most vulnerable ecosystems need to close for longer, or face much stronger restrictions on visitor numbers. Villagers in three places in Jharkhand lynched six people over suspicion that they were child lifters. Two police vehicles were also damaged in the violence. Child lifting suspicion led to violence in which six people were beaten to death (Photo: ANI) By India Today Web Desk: Six people were lynched to death by villagers in three places in Jharkhand on Thursday, news agency PTI reported. The incidents took place on Thursday and the the victims were beaten to death over suspicion that they were child lifters. Local police also became a target of the violence, with two police vehicles being burnt by agitating villagers. advertisement In the first incident, two people were beaten to death in Sosomoli village, DIG (Kolhan region) Prabhat Kumar told PTI. Another person was beaten to death in the Shobhapur village by local residents, Kumar added. The third lynching, in which three people died, took place in Nagadih, Superintendent of Police (City) Prasant Anand told PTI. Anand added that when a police team reached the spot, agitated villagers started pelting stones at the cops, causing injuries among some police personnel. Two vehicles were damaged in the violence. Villagers responsible for the first two lynchings have been identified and action will be after a probe into the violence is completed, DIG Prabhat Kumar said. Thursday's incidents come a week after two people were beaten to death and as many were injured by a mob on suspicion that they were child lifters in Uranium township of Jadugora in East Singhbhum district. Following the incident, the police had asked the villagers not to pay heed to rumours. (With PTI inputs) ALSO READ | Mumbai: 16-year-old beaten to death with cricket bat in Dharavi ALSO READ | Assam: 2 beaten to death over suspected cattle theft ALSO WATCH | Rajasthan: Couple beaten stripped, paraded for marrying against family --- ENDS --- Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 19, 2017 13:45 2000 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a1a285c 1 News Tourism-Ministry-Pesona-Indonesia,tourism-ministry-wonderful-Indonesia,rhenald-khasali,digital-tourism,tourism,#tourism Free The recent Tourism National Coordinating Meeting (Rakornas) II, carrying the theme "Indonesia Incorporated Tourist Village Homestay: 20,000 homestays for 2017", invited economist and management science professor from the University of Indonesia Rhenald Kasali to talk about digital disruption. The world has changed. In 2010 we talked about transformation, in 2015 the topic was disruption and without us realizing it there are a lot of people who lost their jobs due to these changes, said Rhenald. The old game is over. The battle has now shifted to the business model. In the past people would buy, own and take over but now you dont have to own it, you just have to make use of someone elses unoccupied capacity, he added. Read also: 'Disruption' talks fast paced changes Disruption, says Rhenald, is defined as an innovation that changes an old, established system with a new one. It has the potential to change old players and old technologies that are more physical than digital with something that is more efficient and useful. Conventional taxis, for example, have huge operational costs. You need to have your own pools, drivers, land and other things. Compare this to the online-based transportation nowadays. They dont need all of that, they only need a gadget, explained Rhenald. There are several factors triggering disruption. The first is new technology that is very direct, big and interactive; second is the new generation called Gen C; third is changes in demographics; and fourth is urbanization and the construction of megacities. Nowadays young people dont want to stay and live in villages. They all move to bigger cities, he said. The last disruption is the democratization of everything. The business battle in todays era has also changed drastically from previous centuries. In the 19th century, there was a battle between countries. In the 20th century it shifted into a battle between brands and services. In the 21st century, the battle is between business models. Read also: What you should care about from Google's I/O conference This issue of disruption is connected to tourist homestays. Rhenald said a homestay was an economic activity based on teamwork. There is cross-cultural experience involved through the sharing of food, family and memorable experiences. Millennials want this kind of experience. In London, there are already 2,000 digitally based homestays. Homestays in China offer home-cooked meals and guests can get involved in the making of the traditional food. All of this is marketed digitally. My advice to the Tourism Ministry is to hire more young people because they bring the future back to the present time, said Rhenald. (kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Masajeng Rahmiasri (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 19, 2017 14:50 2000 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a1a6ff4 1 Destinations Jl-Cipete-Raya,Jakpost-guide-to,travel,tourism,#travel,#tourism Free Following the closing of Jl. Fatmawati, Jl. Cipete Raya may only be seen as an alternative road to reach Blok M or the Lebak Bulus area. However, Cipete Raya is home to several notable restaurants and cafes.. Getting There One way to reach the area is to ride the Transjakarta bus to Blok M and continue using other modes of public transportation, such as Metromini S76. Travelers may also consider taking the Transjakarta bus only up to the Masjid Agung Al-Azhar sheltera stop before the Blok M shelterand continue to Jl. Cipete Raya using available online transportation means, or a taxi, for shorter traveling time. What to wear Casual clothes, like t-shirts and sneakers, would be the best option for clothing to explore Jl. Cipete Raya. An umbrella will also come in handy. Read also: Jakpost guide to Glodok What to eat Tucked behind buildings on Jl. Cipete Raya, Kedai Halaman, serves Indonesian dishes.(JP/Masajeng Rahmiasri) Those looking for Indonesian cuisine can stop by Kedai Halaman, a buffet-style restaurant tucked behind the buildings on Jl. Cipete Raya. It mainly serves homemade-style cooking, such as fried or grilled chicken, chicken soup, as well as fried tofu or tempe (fermented soybeans). Side dish prices start from Rp 8,000 (US$ 0.59). 'Ayam betutu' (steamed, grilled chicken with betutu spices) and 'nasi campur Bali dan nasi merah' (Balinese mixed steamed rice and red rice) in Le Seminyak, South Jakarta.(JP/Masajeng Rahmiasri) More sophisticated Indonesian cuisine can be found in Balinese restaurant, Le Seminyak. Among the food served at the restaurant is ayam betutu (steamed, grilled chicken with betutu spices), nasi campur bali (Balinese mixed steamed rice) and sate lilit ayam (minced chicken satay). The restaurant is open from 10.00 a.m to10.30 p.m. Foodies may also want to try visiting Epilogue, a French-Indonesian restaurant that takes the shape of a traditional Indonesian house. Among the dishes served in the restaurant are escargot, duck confit and duck foie gras. Epilogue currently operates from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m and is closed every Monday. Other options are Sambara Sundanese restaurant, Ikan Bakar Cianjur seafood restaurant, Bu Endang Javanese restaurant as well as the neighborhood's famous steakhouse, Abuba Steak. House-turned cafe Toodz House is a good option to meet with friends or to catch up with work.(JP/I.G. Dharma. J.S) Aside from restaurants, Jl. Cipete Raya is also a haven for coffee lovers. Toodz House, a house-turned-cafe serves various kind of drinks, such as the cafe's special signature sparkling sunkist (cold brew coffee) and lychee lemon tea. Toodz House also serves various dishes such as carbonara rice and spaghetti tuna matah. It is a good place for those who want to relax with friends or to catch up with work. Muslim visitors are also welcome to pray in its comfortable semi-outdoor praying room. Jakarta Coffee House, a small, classic style coffee roaster and shop on Jl. Cipete Raya.(JP/I.G. Dharma. J.S) For a serious coffee affair, aficionados may visit Jakarta Coffee House, a small, classic-styled coffee roaster and shop that provides only Indonesian coffee. Its specialty is Si Petung, a variant of Arabica beans grown in Bondowoso, East Java. Prices start from Rp 24,000. Toko Kopi Tuku is known for its signature 'kopi susu tetangga' (latte with brown sugar).(JP/I.G. Dharma. J.S) Another coffee establishment in Cipete Raya is Toko Kopi Tuku, a small cafe recently made famous for its signature kopi susu tetangga (latte with brown sugar). Prices are considered reasonable as they start from Rp 18.000. Other alternatives for coffee along the road include Srsly Coffee, Dua coffee shop and a branch of Sophie Authentique bakery. Padang cuisine lovers may want to give RM Pagi Sore a try. Despite hailing from Palembang in South Sumatra, the restaurant serves West Sumatran cuisine, including its signature rendang (beef cooked with coconut milk and spices). For those avoiding white rice, the restaurant also offers red rice to accompany the many dishes on offer. Read also: Jakpost guide to Jl. Kemang Timur What to shop for Homeware collectors may try visiting Motiff Made.(JP/Masajeng Rahmiasri) Homeware collectors may want to shop at Motiff Made, a store that offers ceramics and interior products made by local designers. Visitors can find unique ceramics, such as mugs, bowls and plates with price starting from Rp 30,000. In the same building, visitors can also find wooden furniture by local brand Kekayuan, as well as furniture by TRE Studio. Meanwhile, fashionistas may want to visit Khanaan, a modest wear brand that was featured in Arab Fashion Week 2016. What to do Those in need of some pampering may want to visit Itje Her, a salon that was established in 1971 by Itje Herdjadiono, and has become a great place to get satisfying creambaths (scalp massages). The salon offers services for both ladies and gentlemen on separate floors, with services such as the aforementioned creambath, haircut, hair spa, body massage and facial services. Although the beauty shop regularly operates starting at 7:00 a.m., customers can request to book makeup and sanggul (traditional bun) services from as early as 4:00 a.m. Prices for makeup service starts from Rp 180,000. Where to stay Little Amaroossa Residence provides rooms, a restaurant and bar, gym and meeting rooms.(JP/Bayu Widhiatmoko) Those who are looking for accommodations on Jl. Cipete Raya may want to try staying in the three-star hotel Little Amaroossa Residence. The hotel's facilities include a bar, restaurant, gym and meeting rooms. Room rates via online reservations starts from Rp 325,750. Tips -Call prior to visiting Epilogue. Restaurant manager Ivan Sullivan told The Jakarta Post that the restaurants opening hours and menu may change from time to time. -When there are not many customers around, try asking Jakarta Coffee Houses baristas if they could teach you to make your own latte. They will be glad to teach you. (asw) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 19, 2017 13:18 2000 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a1a0e7a 1 News Tourism-Ministry-Pesona-Indonesia,tourism-ministry-wonderful-Indonesia,public-works-housing-ministry,house-renovation,tourism,#tourism Free The Public Works and Public Housing Ministry is supporting the country's tourism by implementing the Independent Housing Stimulus Assistance Program (BSPS) program to renovate 100 houses located in tourist destinations. The houses will be used as home stays. Twenty-five location have been chosen for the program. Ten of them will be prioritized. The BSPS program is currently being implemented in Lake Toba, Tanjung Lesung and Bromo-Semeru-Tengger, said Rido Matari Ichwan, the director general of regional infrastructure development at the ministry. Read also: Millennials fuel RI tourism wave Ichwan says 100 houses would be renovated to become home stays in each location or receive Rp 15 million (US$1,120) from the BSPS to do the renovations themselves. The development also includes infrastructure such as sanitation and waste management facilities and road construction. Only those who have legal ownership of their property and whose maximum monthly income is Rp 2.3 million are eligible to participate in the program. Read also: Recommended Airbnb rentals in Indonesia's surfing spots There are five components in the ministry's support for the tourist village program. First is the development of institutions, strategy and policy; second is development of the capacity of provincial administrations (Pemda) and the people including support for the management planning of an integrated tourist village; third is the funding of infrastructure and tourist village services; fourth is providing support and technical assistance; and the last one is providing support for programs or other activities, including during states of emergency. We will also provide field facilitators to assist local people. It is worth noting that the BSPS program is free of charge, Rido said. (kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, May 19, 2017 13:04 2000 4065a5a8898c7cc661d4adf97a1a0438 1 News Tourism-Ministry-Pesona-Indonesia,tourism-ministry-wonderful-Indonesia,yogyakarta-tourism,Tourism-Ministry,tourism-promotion,tourism,#tourism Free The tourism minister invited 18 Southeast Asian buyers from Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam and two journalists to take part in a familiarization trip (famtrip) to the Jogja Travel Mart (JTM) 2017 from May 15 to 19 in Yogyakarta. Initially we targeted 75 sellers, however, up until the close of the event we managed to have 88 sellers, and from the target of having 120 buyers the event we ended up having 144 buyers, said I Gde Pitana, an official in charge of overseas promotion at the ministry. Read also: These travel brands have the highest customer approval ratings Themed Jogja the Unforgettable Journey, the event, which is in its eighth year, offered business opportunities for both sellers and buyers. Travel agents, hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions and other stakeholders in Yogyakarta and around Central Java participated in the event. The Jogja Travel Mart is the only international travel mart held in Yogyakarta. Its a collaborative effort between the Yogyakarta Tourism Agency, the Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agencies [ASITA], the Visit Indonesia Tourism Office [VITO] and the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association [PHRI], Pitana said. Read also: Why you should visit Yogyakarta's Gunung Api Purba ecotourism site A welcome dinner was held on the first day of the JTM 2017, followed by a business-to-business (B2B) networking meeting on the second day. On the next day, hosted buyers went on an educational trip to Borobudur temple and enjoyed cave tubing at Pindul Cave as the event aimed to highlight tourist attractions in the Yogyakarta area. A closing dinner was held on Thursday at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. On the occasion, all buyers were informed about the plan to build the New Yogyakarta International Airport (NYIA), which will open in 2020. (kes) In a major victory for nonpublic school students in the Lakewood School District, school administrators, newly informed by Agudath Israel of the nuances and changes in federal law, were able to gain greater access to Title I funding for their students. One of the largest sources of funding for private schools, Title I is a federal program designed to help high need children in both public and private schools. Its latest iteration, known as the Every Student Succeed Act, or ESSA, would make a larger amount of Title I dollars and additional services available to nonpublic schools. In addition, multiple changes were recently made to the regulations that governed how these services would be provided. As Agudath Israels New Jersey director, Rabbi Avi Schnall, acquainted himself with ESSA, he came across two aspects of the Title I distribution process that were not being fulfilled by the Lakewood Board of Education (BOE). The first was that private school funds are allocated through a process called consultation, which requires the local BOE to meet with private schools to discuss how they intend to use their Title I funding. One-on-one meetings, which allow for some amount of give and take, typically give schools an opportunity to secure greater amounts of Title I funding and services. However, many private schools in the Lakewood School District, were unaware that private consultations were available and instead they participated in a group consultation with the BOE informing them how much funding they would be receiving. In contrast to private consultations, group consultations provided no forum for further discussion about any additional Title I funding and opportunities for additional services. A second aspect of the Title I process was a requirement that schools sign an affirmation saying that they were accepting the results of their consultation. Lakewood private school administrators had actually been signing their affirmations for years as they walked into the mass consultation, locking themselves into whatever allocations had been made by the BOE before they even knew what they were, thereby forfeiting their right to pursue any further funding or services through the private consultation process. The combination of these two factors had been having a detrimental result on Lakewoods private school students for years, with schools missing out on the chance to enjoy their legally mandated piece of the Title I pie. Agudath Israel arranged workshops with administrators to bring them up to speed on ESSA and advising them to come to the upcoming consultation meeting. Schools were counseled not to sign the affirmation as they walked into the group consultation as they had done in previous years, ensuring that they did not deprive themselves of the opportunity to their rightful share of the allocated Title I funding as outlined in ESSA. Rabbi Avi Schnall presenting at an ESSA workshop for private school administrators After the school superintendent made her annual presentation, Rabbi Schnall posed two questions to BOE representatives. I asked them how the schools were expected to sign the affirmation if the Board of Education hadnt discussed the issues that were relevant to them and how much money had been allocated to their particular school, said Rabbi Schnall. I also asked the administrator of the Board of Education when every school would be scheduled for the one on one consultation that they were entitled to under state law. While BOE officials responded by saying that few changes had been made so there was no need for private consultations, Rabbi Schnall held the ESSA guidelines in his hand, demonstrating that Title I had undergone extensive modifications. Since then, every yeshiva in Lakewood has been scheduled for a private consultation. Agudath Israel has been working closely with each one to make sure that they are prepared for the meeting in order to be awarded the maximum allowable funding during their consultations. The Agudah was also able to help schools receive the higher amount they now deserve by encouraging schools not to renew their previous years contracts with their Title I providers which would have shortchanged private school students that are now entitled to more funding and services under the ESSA. All of this came about when we started hosting workshops for the schools on Title I funding and we discovered that the private consultations that schools were entitled to had never been provided, said Rabbi Schnall. Without a proper consultation, full funding and services can be totally lost, which is what had been happening in Lakewood for the last several years. By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, May 19 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi today pitched for an "evergreen revolution" to enable the country to meet the challenge faced by the agriculture sector. He emphasised the need for moving from the concept of food security to nutrition security, for which he favoured the scientific and technological intervention. He said the government is working in this direction as part of its "dream" to ensure that the farmers income doubles by 2022, when the country celebrates its 75th Independence day. advertisement "The population is increasing but the land is not going to increase...We have to see how the productivity increases... There should be more production in less land," Modi said while releasing a two-part book series on renowned agriculture scientist M S Swaminathan at his residence here. "The challenge in the agriculture sector remains. We keep talking about green revolution-I and green revolution-II. But the goal should be evergreen revolution. We should have sustainable agricultural production," he said. He said malnutrition is a challenge and therefore the pulses need to have improved nutrition quotient. He spoke about the "economic imbalance" among various regions of the country and said this needs to be addressed because "the country cannot run for long with the imbalance". The prime minister said the potential of various regions of the country needs to be mapped and suggested integration of traditional system of farming with the scientific ways of agriculture. He said that on the pattern of industrial clusters, agriculture clusters should be created, wherein different areas could be identified with particular crops. This would also help in streamlining of storage and transportation, means for which differ with different crops, Modi said as he released the book series titled M.S. Swaminathan: The Quest for a world without hunger. Talking about the governments objective of doubling the farmers income by 2022, Modi said Swaminathan had recently given him some suggestions on which he was working. "The idea is to have less cost, more production," the prime minister said. He referred to his slogans of per drop, more crop and lab to land while emphasising the need for more scientific research in the field of agriculture. Mentioning the government programmes, Modi said the crop insurance under the Prime Ministers Fasal Bima Yojana has recorded a seven-fold jump in just one year of its launch. He added that after neem coating of urea, its "theft" has reduced and the consumption of the fertiliser has also gone down without affecting the production. Modi said water scarcity is a big problem and there should be a vision of at least 50 years to address this issue. This will involve sensitisation of the people regarding the seriousness of the issue, he said. advertisement "The water problem should be seen as equivalent to the human problem," he said. "For cost-effective farming, there is a need for water," he said and in this context, mentioned about the schemes like PM Krishi Sichai Yojana and interlinking of rivers. Noting that the country has 85 per cent marginal farmers, the prime minister emphasised the need for creating more awareness about the use of scientific and technological knowhow in the agriculture sector. Invoking Mahatma Gandhi, he said the Father of the Nation had said that for a hungry person, food is his God. Modi regretted that the youth of today were not getting inspired enough by the scientists like Swaminathan even while they get inspired by sportspersons, film stars or even some politicians. "I dont know whether the fault lies with the system or with the mindset but it is there," he said. Modi showered praise on Swaminathan, particularly appreciating his humility despite having seen so many prime ministers. Swaminathan said the country has not seen any famine after the great Bengal famine during the time of Independence but "there is no time to relax". advertisement He said there is "so much to do" and ensure "nutrition security wherein everybody gets balanced food, clean drinking water and sanitation." PTI AKK AKK --- ENDS --- Alien: Covenant, the second installment in the Alien prequel series, is a slight upgrade over the very flawed and uneven Prometheus but it still has a lot of problems. I more or less enjoyed Alien: Covenant the first time I saw it (even gave it a somewhat positive review). Then, just like with Prometheus, some time passed and I realised there are more than a few things that just dont make any sense. From plot holes and inconsistencies, to just plain dumb moments, here are 8 Things That Are Wrong with Alien: Covenant. (Beware: MAJOR spoiler alert!) 1. No one wears a helmet (again) In Prometheus, Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green) made the infamously stupid decision to take off his helmet in an unknown, untested, potentially hazardous environment just because the air was breathable. Even stupider still, everyone else followed suit right after. The crew of the Covenant however, doesnt even bother to wear helmets. After all, its only an unknown, untested, potentially hazardous alien planet. What are the odds that some kind of toxin or pathogen will infect multiple crew members, causing them to die horrible painful deaths while alien creatures burst out of their bodies? Bottom line, either wear full protective gear, or send androids like Walter (Michael Fassbender) in first so that they can take samples and make sure you wont die. 2. The fingering line While teaching his android buddy Walter how to play a musical instrument, David (also Michael Fassbender) utters what is bound to be the most infamous line of the movie Ill do the fingering. Its a blatantly stupid, out of place joke for an Alien movie, made even worse by its context. See, there is some creepy sexual tension between the dual Fassbenders (does that count as android incest?), which is kind of a plot point and establishes a few things about David as a character. The fingering line makes it so overt that it becomes silly and stupid. Plus, it ruins what is otherwise a pretty good scene between the two androids. 3. Oram dies because he trusts David for no reason Acting captain Oram (Billy Crudup) sees David sharing an intimate moment with the last surviving Neomorph (no fingering involved) and promptly shoots it. When David is horrified by the death of the creature, Oram turns the gun on him, demanding answers. David then reveals hes been experimenting with the black goo to genetically engineer aliens and takes Oram to a chamber full of some very familiar looking eggs. Oram, like a complete idiot, trusts David when he tells him that the eggs are perfectly safe, touches one and then just stands there as a facehugger jumps at him. If only he was smart enough to not go alone or trust the creepy android that clearly showed he valued alien lifeforms more than humans just a few minutes ago. 4. Tennessee risks the lives of the colonists to contact the crew The three remaining pilots of the Covenant lose radio contact with the ground team because of a storm and have no idea whats going on with them. They know somethings wrong, because the last transmission happened just as the infected crew members were dying, but other than that, theyre in the dark. Chief pilot Tennessee (Danny McBride) is especially anxious, because his wife is with the ground team. He decides to move the ship closer to the storm in the hopes of getting a better signal, even though the computer and his subordinates tell him it would risk destroying the Covenant - the ship with more than 2,000 sleeping colonists on it. Yeah. Theres just no way to justify Tennessees decision. As the senior officer, his first responsibility is to the ship and the people on it. Sure, playing it safe might get the ground team killed, but so could damaging or destroying the ship while trying to rescue them. 5. When did Lope get implanted with an alien? Daniels (Katherine Waterston), Lope (Demian Bichir) and David, while pretending to be Walter, are the only one that make it out of the planet alive. They return to the Covenant and leave the injured Lope in the ships medbay. Later, the computer informs Daniels that there is an unknown lifeform on the ship and when she and Tennessee check the medbay, they find Lope dead with a hole in his chest. Heres the thing the timing of Lope getting implanted with an alien embryo makes no sense. There are only two explanations he either had an alien in him before he got back on the ship, or David put one in him while he was on the ship. The first one doesnt make sense because the alien that burst out of Oram earlier did so fairly quickly unless the one in Lope was on a timer, it should have come out a lot sooner than it did. The second doesnt make sense because even if David somehow managed to sneak in a fully grown facehugger or grow one from the embryos he was carrying in him, the computer should have picked it up as an unknown lifeform. 6. Ricks and Upworth die because of loud music Daniels and Tennessee realise that the xenomorph onboard the Covenant is headed for crew members Ricks and Upworth, who are showering together. The computer tries to warn them, but they dont hear it, because theyre listening to loud music. This is dumb for several reasons. a) If the music is being played through the ship, the computer should be able to pause or lower the volume when it needs to make important announcements, just how your phone does when someone calls b) If theyre listening from an external source, they shouldnt be stupid enough to listen at a volume thats too high for them to hear important announcements c) The computer should definitely have really loud alarms or high volume speakers in case people do stupid things like this With the alien just a few seconds away, Ricks and Upworth probably would have died anyway, but they might have at least stood a chance if they werent so dumb. Then again, this is true for all crewmembers of the Covenant. 7. No one checks if Walter is actually David The movies big, shocking twist that anyone could see coming ten miles away is that it was David, not Walter, that had survived and come onboard the Covenant at the very end. Plus, gasp, he was carrying facehugger embryos in him! Did no one really think to actually check which android they got? They look exactly like, just because the one with you is missing an arm doesnt mean hes the one you know and love. Ask him questions only Walter knows the answers to or hell, take him apart to make sure he is who he says he is. Or, you know, just trust him blindly like a moron. 8. The Engineers die because they dont screen incoming ships Speaking of blind trust, a flashback sequence reveals that the black goo killing the Engineers wasnt an accident David intentionally released the pathogen and slaughtered them all. We see a large crowd of the Engineers gathering to welcome the ship in which David and Shaw arrived in, which begs the questions did no one try to contact the ship or verify whos in it? After all, the events of Prometheus made it clear that this is definitely a ship thats been missing for some time. David is supposedly capable of communicating in their language, but even if he was able to convince them a long lost ship has finally made its way home, wouldnt some kind of remote scan or search of the ship be warranted before allowing him to come near a major city especially when that ship is responsible for carrying biological weapons of mass destruction? Tell the ship to land somewhere else, send a team to investigate and confirm that everything is fine and then roll out the red carpet. Can you think of anything else that doesn't make sense in Alien: Covenant? Alien: Covenant is out now through 20th Century Fox. Read our review here. If theres one thing former vice president Joe Biden loves more than Barack Obama, its ice cream. Now his passion for the cooling summer treat is being rewarded, thanks to Cornell Dairy. Biden is due to make the convocation speech to graduating seniors at Cornell University in the US and to celebrate, a local dairy is creating a flavour and name especially for him. Cornell Sun Deanna Simons, quality manager and academic programmes coordinator for Cornell Dairy, told thethat she called Bidens old university to ask about his favourite flavour and it turns out its chocolate chip. voting Now they know the flavour, they have to find a name. The dairy have begun the search for the name using a apage for Cornell students. They are asked to select their favourite Biden ice cream name from a list of five, whittled down from 170 suggestions. They are: Bidens Chocolate Bites, Big Red, White & Biden, Bits n Biden, Not Your Average Joes Chocolate Chip, and Uncle Joes Chocolate Chip. The vote will be closed on Monday evening and everyone is hoping it takes off. If it gains momentum, well make more, Simons said. Were keeping our fingers crossed, were holding our breaths. We cant wait for the picture of Biden trying his very own ice cream. Unfortunately, The Content Is Not Here You have arrived at this page because the page or post you were looking for no longer exists. Please check our main navigation pages for other content: Home Page As the Modi government entered its third year in May 2016, internal security seemed to be well and truly under control. This was chiefly because two of its biggest internal security challenges - militancy in Jammu and Kashmir and Maoists in central India - had been tackled. It would seem sustained deployment by the nearly 1.2 million-strong central armed police forces, as big as the Indian army, had helped put a lid on the situation. Just how fleeting that moment was has become clear this year. The Kashmir Valley in particular is on the boil again, suffering a cycle of militant violence and civil protest not seen in seven years. The new phase of civil unrest began last July, after the death of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter triggered an epidemic of stone-throwing against the security forces. A silver lining to this otherwise dark cloud, the online terrorism database South Asia Terrorism Portal noted, were figures that showed 2016 as having the lowest number of civilian fatalities in J&K since the beginning of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in 1988 - just 14 deaths, the lowest in the past five years, even though the number of terrorist-related fatalities, 267, were a marked increase over the 174 deaths in 2015. The September 29 surgical strikes on terrorist targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir seem to have only momentarily stunned the Pakistani deep state as it restarted its machinery that recruits, trains and launches terrorists across the border. advertisement This year, in a sudden flare-up in central India, Maoists killed more paramilitary forces in four months than they had all of the past year. The Kashmir policy has multiple stakeholders. Even the Union home ministry, with its monopoly over Centre-state relations, is only one of many stakeholders, which include the Indian army and the Prime Minister's Office. Still it is one of the most significant players with its control over the intelligence services and the paramilitary forces, including the Border Security Force along the international border. Home minister Rajnath Singh monitors the disbursal of a Rs 80,000 crore assistance package for J&K announced by PM Modi in 2015. One notable success for the ministry has been in blunting the ISIS recruitment drive in India. The ISIS threat came closer home through a toxic online recruitment machinery. At least 23 Indians are believed to have joined the outfit. Six are dead and two have returned and are under detention. A larger number among at least 30 potential recruits has been tracked, intercepted and arrested before they could leave the country. The Northeast is another security worry as it is home to 13 of the 39 terrorist formations currently banned by the ministry. Violence in the region is at its lowest level in two decades. The South Asia Terrorism Portal estimated that apart from these 13 banned outfits, 30 other groups remain active in the region and 23 are in uncertain peace talks or have signed ceasefire pacts. The war against the Maoists involves five states, but this is where the home ministry plays a crucial role by rushing in paramilitary forces, funding infrastructure schemes, modernising the neglected state police forces and coordinating counter-Maoist strategies between the states. Singh, who continued the development and security strategy against Maoists initiated by his predecessors, has reassessed the policy. He called upon cabinet members, from railway minister Suresh Prabhu to roads and highways minister Nitin Gadkari and telecommunications minister Manoj Sinha, to make presentations in a May 8 meeting with the chief ministers of states affected by Maoist violence. At the meeting, Singh launched a security operations doctrine, Samadhan-an acronym, apparently for the unwieldy objective of smart leadership, aggressive strategy, motivation and training, actionable intelligence, dashboard-based key performance indicators, harnessing technology, action plan for each threat and no access to funding. This even as there are critical gaps in his ministry in the training and equipping of paramilitary forces and a precipitous fall in funds for modernisation of police and security-related expenditure for the development of infrastructure in Maoist-affected areas. Perhaps Samadhan is an action plan Singh needs to implement in his own ministry first. advertisement Photo: Vikram Sharma MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS It's a strange barometer but success or failure in India's home ministry is often measured by levels of violence within the country. This is because internal security is among the ministry's primary responsibilities. Rajnath Singh spelt out his counter-Maoist strategy, 'Samadhan', on May 8 at a meeting of states affected by leftwing extremism. It came three years into his term, but the meeting showcased Singh as a team player who lined up cabinet colleagues to articulate a security and development paradigm against extremism. A home ministry official points to qualities that have held Singh in good stead in North Block-'means well, wants to get things done and trusts and delegates'. Singh has always articulated the middle path. Last November, he explained that ISIS radicalisation was not a threat because "people who follow Islam in India love the country". He believes the Kashmir situation will improve in a year though he is yet to spell out a vision for it. advertisement Just how fleeting that moment was has become clear this year. The Kashmir Valley in particular is on the boil again, suffering a cycle of militant violence and civil protest not seen in seven years. The new phase of civil unrest began last July, after the death of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter triggered an epidemic of stone-throwing against the security forces. A silver lining to this otherwise dark cloud, the online terrorism database South Asia Terrorism Portal noted, were figures that showed 2016 as having the lowest number of civilian fatalities in J&K since the beginning of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in 1988-just 14 deaths, the lowest in the past five years, even though the number of terrorist-related fatalities, 267, were a marked increase over the 174 deaths in 2015. The September 29 surgical strikes on terrorist targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir seem to have only momentarily stunned the Pakistani deep state as it restarted its machinery that recruits, trains and launches terrorists across the border. This year, in a sudden flare-up in central India, Maoists killed more paramilitary forces in four months than they had all of the past year. advertisement The Kashmir policy has multiple stakeholders. Even the Union home ministry, with its monopoly over Centre-state relations, is only one of many stakeholders, which include the Indian army and the Prime Minister's Office. Still it is one of the most significant players with its control over the intelligence services and the paramilitary forces, including the Border Security Force along the international border. Home minister Rajnath Singh monitors the disbursal of a Rs 80,000 crore assistance package for J&K announced by PM Modi in 2015. One notable success for the ministry has been in blunting the ISIS recruitment drive in India. The ISIS threat came closer home through a toxic online recruitment machinery. At least 23 Indians are believed to have joined the outfit. Six are dead and two have returned and are under detention. A larger number among at least 30 potential recruits has been tracked, intercepted and arrested before they could leave the country. The Northeast is another security worry as it is home to 13 of the 39 terrorist formations currently banned by the ministry. Violence in the region is at its lowest level in two decades. The South Asia Terrorism Portal estimated that apart from these 13 banned outfits, 30 other groups remain active in the region and 23 are in uncertain peace talks or have signed ceasefire pacts. The war against the Maoists involves five states, but this is where the home ministry plays a crucial role by rushing in paramilitary forces, funding infrastructure schemes, modernising the neglected state police forces and coordinating counter-Maoist strategies between the states. Singh, who continued the development and security strategy against Maoists initiated by his predecessors, has reassessed the policy. He called upon cabinet members, from railway minister Suresh Prabhu to roads and highways minister Nitin Gadkari and telecommunications minister Manoj Sinha, to make presentations in a May 8 meeting with the chief ministers of states affected by Maoist violence. At the meeting, Singh launched a security operations doctrine, Samadhan-an acronym, apparently for the unwieldy objective of smart leadership, aggressive strategy, motivation and training, actionable intelligence, dashboard-based key performance indicators, harnessing technology, action plan for each threat and no access to funding. This even as there are critical gaps in his ministry in the training and equipping of paramilitary forces and a precipitous fall in funds for modernisation of police and security-related expenditure for the development of infrastructure in Maoist-affected areas. 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THALAIVAR'S EFFIGIES BURNT Hinting at joining politics, Rajinikanth said, "You have responsibilities and so do I. go home and do the needful. When the war comes we shall see." He also said that the system has to change. Taking offense to his speech, cadres of Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam burnt effigies of Rajinikanth in Gandhipuram, Coimbatore on Friday. They said that Rajinikanth croons the same tune each time his movie is set to be released to gain mileage and remain relevant. Krishnan, leader of TPDK said "Every time his movie is to be released, he plays this drama of coming in to politics". The situation arose after Rajinikanth refused to comment on the Mullivaikal Remembrance Day which falls on May 18. Various pro-Tamil parties conducted special meeting in remembrance of over 2 lakh Sri Lankan Tamils who lost their life in the battle against Sri Lankan forces. The cadres have now demanded an apology from the Tamil superstar. --- ENDS --- Home >Police Enforcement > Checkpoints and Stops > Federal Judge Declares Wrecked Car To Be Mobile "Go back to your respective places and do your job. Let's meet when it's time for the war," Rajinikanth roared amidst thundering applause from fans. By India Today Web Desk: "Will he or won't?" is the million dollar question in the minds of common men in Tamil Nadu over speculations that superstar Rajinikanth is taking the political plunge. Dropping what is perhaps his biggest hint so far on joining politics, Thalaiva today said the "system is rotten and needs revamp". "We have good leaders like Stalin (MK), Anbumani (Ramadoss) and Seeman. But what do we do when the system is rotten, democracy has deteriorated. This system needs to be changed and a change has to be brought in the minds of people, then only will the country flourish," he said. advertisement "I have my profession, my job. I have some responsibilities and you have your jobs. Go back to your respective places and do your job. Let's meet when it's time for the war," Rajinikanth roared amidst thundering applause from fans. Shooting down the outsider tag, Rajinikanth said he is a pure Tamil now despite his origins from Karnataka. "Even though I am from Karnataka, still you have accepted me and you have made me into a Tamil. I am a pure Tamil now," the superstar said in Chennai. "I lived in Karnataka for 23 years and Tamil Nadu for 43 years. Although I came as a Marathi from Karnataka, you people nurtured me, made me true Tamilian," he said. Thalaiva once again did not clarify whether or not he is joining Tamil Nadu politics. "Without opposition, there is no entry into politics" was his cryptic message to his fans, the superstar's meeting with them becoming more frequent lately. With Tamil stalwarts like late J Jayalalithaa and ailing DMK supremo M Karunanidhi out of the picture in the current dispensation, Rajinikanth's fans believe he is the only one who can effectively fill the political vacuum in the state. Earlier this week, the megastar had set tongues wagging with his remarks that that if he joined politics, he would show the door to all "money-minded" people. He, however, added that he had no desire to enter the fray, but did not know "what God had in store for him". In 1996, the 67-year-old actor had supported the DMK-TMC against J Jayalalithaa in Tamil Nadu, and the alliance swept the polls that year. But he has not been involved in any political activity since then. BJP TRYING TO WOO THALAIVA The BJP has been trying to rope in the superstar for its entry into the turbulent Tamil Nadu politics. Recently, BJP national secretary H Raja said Rajinikanth is a "popular" personality and is welcome to join the saffron party. "He has every right to form a political party or join politics. But so far he has not taken a firm stand. So we have to wait and see. Anybody willing to join the BJP under Narendra Modi's leadership is welcome," Raja said. advertisement Opposition DMK's acting chief MK Stalin today said he is happy Rajinikanth called him a good leader and that he shouldn't fall for the BJP's wooing. "I am happy he called me a good leader. The BJP is trying to woo him, but he shouldn't fall (for it). Let Rajini take his decision on politics," he told India Today TV. Also Read: Politics to join Rajinikanth?! Tamil superstar may launch own party; don't do it, says friend Amitabh Bachchan Watch Video: Rajinikanth does not clarify on joining politics, but says get ready for war --- ENDS --- Can superstar Rajinikanth go on to become the chief minister of Tamil Nadu? The present political situation in the southern state presents him with the best chance. Superstar Rajinikanth dropped his biggest hint so far that he may be joining politics soon. (File Photo) By India Today Web Desk: Despite being aware of the massive public support that he enjoys, superstar Rajinikanth has kept himself away from active politics so far, perhaps waiting for the precise opportunity to launch himself. Can Rajinikanth go on to become the chief minister of Tamil Nadu? The present political situation in the southern state presents him with the best chance. With the AIADMK suffering from a civil war and DMK boss M Karunanidhi's health not on his side, Thalaivar has probably the best chance to take charge of the state. advertisement Speaking to his fans in Chennai today, Rajinikanth said stopped short of declaring the beginning of his political journey but dropped enough hints of what's in store . "I have my profession, my job. I have some responsibilities and you have your jobs. Go back to your places and do your job. Let's meet when it's time for war," the 67-year-old megastar said. While Rajinikanth is keeping his cards close to his chest, observers believe that the international superstar would soon join the political bandwagon. Will he form his own party or jump on the Bharatiya Janata Party's bandwagon? "His speech today is perhaps enough indication that he is under tremendous pressure (to join politics). But people close to Rajinikanth believe that he may have given a hint but still not join politics," Dhanya Rajendran, Editor-in-Chief, News Minute told India Today. The senior journalist added that the present political scenario in Tamil Nadu may ultimately make Rajinikanth join politics. "The political situation in Tamil Nadu is different. Jayalalithaa is no more, Karunanidhi is not active in politics. There is political vacuum that Rajinikanth can use. I believe he is also under tremendous pressure from his fans and the BJP to enter politics. Those who know Rajinikanth say he has no inclination to come to politics...he like to maintain a mystery around him. Every time there is a movie release he sparks such talks, that could be the case this time too. However, considering the political situation in the state, people believe that this time he may be serious," Rajendran said. The renewed frenzy over whether the star will join politics began earlier this week when Rajinikanth said on the first day of his meeting with fans, held after eight years, that he has no political aspirations, but "If God wills it, I will enter politics tomorrow." Rajinikanth repeated his thought saying he had no desire to join politics, but if he did, he would show the door to all "money-minded" people. As millions of fans await their favourite star's next step, will we witness a Rajinikanth-esque change in Tamil Nadu politics? Wait and watch. advertisement ALSO READ: Rajinikanth 2.0: Welcome, says OPS; Ramadoss says Tamil Nadu in ICU needs a doctor, not another actor Thalaiva Rajinikanth drops biggest ever hint on joining politics: System rotten, needs revamp. Get ready for war Rajinikanth in politics: Not only adoration but harsh criticism also awaits Thalaiva WATCH: Rajinikanth does not clarify on joining politics, but says get ready for war --- ENDS --- On Demand We have a new story every day on the front page of thephuketnews.com. Also like us on our Facebook page (facebook.com/thephuketnews) and be the first to watch all the new stories. Finally you can watch any segment, any time by going to thephuketnews.com/tv where all the stories are listed for you to enjoy. All our programs can be enjoyed in High Definition when watching on the internet. In-Room VDO The 16-year-old was sold to two men by her ex-boyfriend who had been blackmailing to release her sex tapes if she did not acquiesce. By Ajay Kumar: A pregnant teenager has approached a Delhi court seeking permission for abortion after escaping the clutches of a neighbour who made her his sex slave and let strangers rape her for cash. The harrowing journey began when the 16-year-old girl from Dabri colony in southwest Delhi met Panna Lal. The two became intimate and the accused recorded many of those moments on camera. advertisement "Lal was initially behaving like proper boyfriend, but later he started pressurising me for sex. When I refused, he informed me about the video clip that he had filmed while establishing sexual relations earlier," the victim told the Dwarka court. The report comes less than a week after a Haryana court allowed a 10-year-old rape survivor to abort her child after medical advice. "Lal had threatened to upload the video clip on the internet if I refused to compromise. He was frequently asking me to come to his place for sex and whenever I met him, I pleaded with him to delete the clips." SHE WAS FED FOOD LACED WITH SEDATIVES Some six months ago, Lal apparently agreed to delete the clip following repeated requests. He called the teen to meet him at his home on the pretext that he would either hand over the footage or destroy it in her presence. When she went there, two unknown men already present there drugged her and she fell unconscious. Hours later, she found herself in a room, surrounded by two men and a middle-aged woman. "I realised that Lal had sold me to unknown persons. They forcibly raped me several times and held me captive in a locked room. The job of the woman was to keep an eye on me," she narrated in her statement. "The woman used to serve food thrice a day and whenever I consumed it, I got semi-unconscious. I was failing to visualise who came into the room, especially when I consumed food." VICTIM WAS SOLD TO 2 MEN Her parents meanwhile had approached the Dabri police station to register an FIR of kidnapping. They also suspected Lal's involvement. Lal also realised that cops were closing in on him and he contacted the girl's captors and asked them to call up her parents on January 18 this year. "The accused had put a knife to my neck and asked me to tell my parents that I was living there happily," she said. When the captors one day forgot to lock the door, the girl managed to flee. She somehow reached the nearest railway station on May 10, which turned out to be Aligarh. The victim took a train to Delhi and finally reached her home in Dabri on May 11. "I have recorded the statement before the duty magistrate in the presence of police and urged him for allowing an abortion," she added. advertisement ALSO READ: Rohtak's Nirbhaya: Girl gangraped, brutalised, murdered and body mutilated ALSO READ: Nirbhaya gangrape case: Supreme Court decides the 4 convicts will hang --- ENDS --- The incident came to light on Wednesday after the girl complained about pain in her private parts to her mother. By Ajay Kumar: A few days after the Rohtak rape incident, a six-year-old girl was allegedly raped by her stepfather in south Delhi's Saket area on Tuesday night. The incident came to light on Wednesday after the girl complained about pain in her private parts to her mother. Later, it was found that the stepfather allegedly assaulted her for the past one year. advertisement The accused, identified as Ravinder, 27, worked as a care-taker at a farm house in Saket and has been arrested by the police. According to the police, the man had allegedly attempted to rape the girl earlier too. On Tuesday, he took her with him on the pretext of playing there and allegedly sexually assaulted her. "Ravinder took his elder daughter (victim) daily to his work place and took sexual advantages. On Tuesday, he did the same and returned to his residence at 9:30 pm. The girl on Wednesday complained of pain in the abdominal area. Her mother and a lady immediately suspected that she was being sexually assaulted by someone," said Chinmoy Biswas, additional DCP of south district. CASE REGISTERED UNDER POSCO ACT The victim's mother informed the incident to the local police on Wednesday evening. Following the same, the Delhi Police conducted a medical examination on the victim that confirmed rape. The victim has been admitted to Safdarjung hospital with internal injuries and is currently undergoing treatment. We have registered an FIR under Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act," Biswal added. A similar incident came to light a few days ago, where a 10-year-old was impregnated by her stepfather, who was also her paternal uncle. The victim's mother taking notice of her deteriorating condition took her to a hospital, where doctors confirmed her pregnancy and the sexual assault. Doctors at the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS) confirmed the pregnancy and said that the victim is in a serious condition. The 10-year-old narrated the series of incidents and said her step-father threatened her with dire consequences, if she told anyone. --- ENDS --- By Sneha Agrawal: Anjali Tripathi (name changed) remarried in 2012 after her first husband died. She did not want her young son to grow up without a father. It turned out to be a horrible mistake. "My second husband promised that he would love him as his own son and fulfil all responsibilities. This year, I noticed that my husband's behaviour had suddenly become violent and one day he left my son and me to fend for ourselves. It is then that my son revealed the horror he was put through," she said. The 14-year-old boy told her that his stepfather was sodomising him. advertisement Looking back, Anjali feels she probably should have known. "I used to find my son crying and hurt on his private parts. His way of walking and running away from me had left me worried. My son is old enough to understand good and bad touch. He said he was threatened that if I got to know anything about the incident, my life would be in danger," she told Mail Today. RAPE CONVICTION ONLY 2 PER CENT IN INDIA As many as 10,854 cases of child rape were reported in India in 2015, according to the National Crime Records Bureau. However, the low conviction rate in POCSO cases has activists worried. The data from Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights for 2015 also mentions that Section 35(2) of POCSO Act mandates fast completion of trials. The report calculates the average percentage of convictions to be about 2 per cent. Just 15 per cent cases are disposed of. Child rights' activists say a better conviction rate is the only way to deter criminals. While Anjali had her suspicions, she decided to put her foot down when the ugly truth came to the fore. She filed a complaint with the police and an FIR was registered against the stepfather under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act. "Once a jovial kid, my son now remains quiet. He does not like playing. He does not even go to school. He tells me that people think he does 'bad' things. I am really worried about my son and will fight to bring justice to him," she said. Child sex abuse is pervasive in India. A 2007 government survey found that 53 per cent of children had faced one or more forms of sexual abuse. "The cases of child rape are being reported every other day. This represents the perverted mindset in our society," Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal had told Mail Today. "The Centre, state government and Delhi police need to work together to bring to an end these horrendous incidents." In 2014, the Delhi High Court was shocked to find that of the 1,704 cases of rape registered in the Capital in the first 10 months, 215 were instances of incestuous rape. More disturbingly, in 43 of these cases it was the father who committed the crime and in 27 cases it was the brother. Mail Today contacted the father of the accused who said he has no idea where his son is. "We have not been in touch with him for the past 4-5 years. We do not know anything about him," he said. advertisement Also read: Delhi auto driver threatens to rape woman after she refuses to pay double fare Also read: Rohtak gangrape and murder: Post-mortem finds victim's food pipe missing, Rs 10.5 lakh assistance to kin --- ENDS --- By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, May 19 (PTI) Trade ministers of 16 countries, including India and China, will meet on May 21 and 22 in Vietnam to discuss progress in the ongoing negotiations of proposed mega trade deal RCEP. So far, negotiators of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) have held 18 rounds of negotiations. "This will be a crucial meeting in Hanoi. Ministers would deliberate on the single-tier system of duty relaxations, besides issues related to services and investments," an official said. advertisement Under the single-tier system, the RCEP member countries are trying to finalise the maximum number of goods on which duties will either be eliminated or reduced drastically. Chief negotiators and senior officials of all the countries recently held discussions in the Philippines on this regard. The 16-member bloc RCEP comprises 10 ASEAN members (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Laos and Vietnam) and their six FTA partners ? India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. RCEP is a mega trade deal that aims to cover goods, services, investments, economic and technical co-operation, competition and intellectual property rights. As the domestic industry has apprehensions over a deluge in imports from countries such as China after the duty cut under the agreement, India may take certain deviations for such countries. India already has implemented a free trade agreement with the ASEAN, Japan and South Korea. On the other hand, the country is negotiating similar pacts with Australia and New Zealand. The talks for the pact started in Phnom Penh in November 2012. The 16 countries account for over a quarter of the worlds economy, estimated to be more than USD 75 trillion. PTI RR ARD --- ENDS --- By India Today Web Desk: Veteran actress Reema Lagoo's sudden demise on Thursday morning came as a shock to the TV industry. Reema Lagoo was best known for playing Devaki Verma in Sachin Pilgaonkar's Tu Tu Main Main. Supriya Pilgaonkar, who played her daughter-in-law on the show shared a heartfelt message on Twitter. She wrote, "What an actor ! What grace ! What passion ! Learnt so much from her. May her journey towards light be celebrated RIP Saasu Ma ReemaLagoo." What an actor ! What grace ! What passion ! Learnt so much from her. May her journey towards light be celebrated RIP Saasu Ma #ReemaLagoo- Supriya Pilgaonkar (@supriyapilgaon1) May 18, 2017 advertisement Reema Lagoo and Supriya shared an amazing on-screen chemistry and people loved them as Devaki and Radha. While talking to Indian Express, Supriya told, "I am at loss for words. Reema was a superlative actor, just amazing. Whichever role she did, it appeared as if it was cut out for her. We worked together for so many years. I saw her so closely." Also read: Naamkarann actor Viraf Patel's post on Reema Lagoo's death is heartbreakingly beautiful Supriya also revealed that Reema Lagoo lived life on her own terms and was a very strong woman. Reema Lagoo passed away on Thursday in Kokilaben Hospital, Mumbai due to cardiac arrest. She is survived by daughter Mrunmayee, who is also a theatre and film actor and theatre director. --- ENDS --- Radio is a peppy number set to tune by Pritam on Amitabh Bhattacharya's lyrics. The song is sung by Amit Mishra and Kamaal Khan. By Mail Today Bureau: Salman Khan launched Radio, the first song of his upcoming Eid biggie Tubelight, at a mall in Dubai on Thursday. This is the first time Salman has chosen to unveil any of his films in Dubai. The selection of venue is perhaps because he has been shooting his another upcoming film, Tiger Zinda Hai, with Katrina Kaif in the neighbouring Abu Dhabi and Liwa oasis. advertisement At the launch, Salman was accompanied by the film's director Kabir Khan and his brother Sohail Khan, who also plays a role, besides a few members of the unit. Radio is a peppy number set to tune by Pritam on Amitabh Bhattacharya's lyrics. The song is sung by Amit Mishra and Kamaal Khan. "Dada (Pritam) has a knack for coming up with instantly hummable numbers. Since the time I first heard Radio, I could't stop humming it. Aap sunenge toh aap bhi gayenge (Even you will start humming it, once you hear the track)," TUBELIGHT MARKS DEBUT OF ZHU ZHU "It's a happy song," said director Kabir Khan. "The dancing and Salman's enthusiasm will make you happy and definitely get you to dance along. It's a song for everyone." Tubelight is meant to continue Salman's tradition of releasing one big film on Eid every year, and is billed as a lavish war drama. The backdrop of the film is the Indo-China war, and it marks the Bollywood debut of Chinese actress Zhu Zhu opposite Salman. Tubelight is about a simpleton, played by Salman, who awaits the return of his brother from the war, and highlights the power of hope. Right now, Salman is staying at the posh Al Ain Rotana hotel in Abu Dhabi, to complete certain crucial scenes of Tiger Zinda Hai. Also read: WATCH Tubelight's Radio Song: Salman Khan dances with abandon in this lively number Also read: After Dangal, why Salman Khan's Tubelight will be a blockbuster in China --- ENDS --- Troubles seem never ending for actress Kangana Ranaut. After a long debacle with writer Apurva Asrani, now filmmaker Ketan Mehta has sent a legal notice to her. Mehta sent a legal notice to Kangana for hijacking one of his most ambitious film projects, Rani of Jhansi: The Warrior Queen, sources said. This is regarding my project called Rani of Jhansi: The Warrior Queen and her (Kanganas) attempt and the producer Kamal Jain at hijacking the project. Since 2015, I was in contact with Kangana for the project. I was sharing research material and several drafts of the script with Kangana and she was actively participating, Ketan was quoted as saying in an interview with a leading daily. My legal notice says how we have worked on the project for two years and how all of a sudden everything happened. We have asked for the film (Manikarnika) to stop as we plan to go ahead with our project, the filmmaker added. Few days ago, writer Apurva Asrani also accused Kangana of stealing the screenplay and the dialogue credit for Mehtas Simran . However, the actress is silent on this issue. Lauding the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council's decision to tax coal at the lowest rate of 5 per cent, Coal and Power Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said the move will allow power distribution companies (discoms) provide electricity at affordable rates. Coal is currently taxed at 11.69 per cent. "The entire GST regime is designed to help bring down costs all over the country and aims at one nation, one tax to reduce corruption," Goyal said at a briefing here on the progress made in rural electrification. "I am happy that the GST Council decided to keep coal in the 5 per cent tax slab. Coal sector will benefit significantly which would help discoms provide power at affordable rates. It will help bring down costs," he added. Besides, Goyal, who also holds the New and Renewable Energy and Mines portfolios, said the higher tax of 18 per cent levied on solar modules will not impact solar tariffs. "Tariffs for projects vary from project to project. The rise will be compensated by the decline in corruption and operational difficulties," he said in this regard. The GST Council concluded its two-day meeting in Srinagar on Friday after deciding on a four-slab tax rate for services along with the novel concept of input credit for goods used. Earlier it decided on the fitment of 1,211 goods items and has deferred a decision on the remaining six categories for its next meeting slated here for June 3. Goyal also said the demand for power in India has grown by 6.5 percent in the last three years and the power generation is also on a continuous rise. "Nowadays, its 150 gigawatt (GW) against 130 GW of electricity generated in summer months. Overall, we have grown at 6.5 percent in the last three years. This is after huge energy efficiency gains. If the factor is 3 percent of gains, then demand would have been 9.5 percent," he said. The minister also briefed the media on the progress of the government's rural electrification programme Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojna to bring power to 18,452 unelectrified villages by 2018. He said: "In all, 13,500 have been electrified till now and around 3,997 are remaining." He further said that implementation of power projects in Jammu and Kashmir is difficult as losses in electricity is high. The scheme has also not been implemented in the left-wing extremism affected areas of Odisha and Assam. Mobile payment and commerce platform Paytm, run by One97 Communication Ltd, has raised $1.4 billion funding by the Japanese internet and telecom major SoftBank Group, the company said here on Thursday. "Paytm plans to invest Rs 10,000 crore (approximately $1.6bn) over the next three to five years towards its commitment to enabling half a billion Indians to join the mainstream economy. As a part of this vision, the company will soon launch the Paytm Payments Bank, a mobile-first product that will reach every corner of the nation, and focus on the millions of unserved and under-served Indians," the company statement said. "This investment by Softbank and support of the incredible entrepreneur Masa Son is a great endorsement of our team's execution and vision. We believe we have a great opportunity to bring financial inclusion to half a billion Indians," said Vijay Shekhar Sharma, founder and CEO of Paytm. "In line with the Indian government's vision to promote digital inclusion, we are committed to transforming the lives of hundreds of millions of Indian consumers and merchants by providing them digital access to a broad array of financial services, including mobile payments. We are excited to partner with Paytm in this journey and will provide them with all our support," said Masayoshi Son, Chairman & CEO, SoftBank Group Corp. Paytm on Wednesday said it will finally launch the operations of its payments bank on May 23. "We are in the process of launching Paytm Payments Bank on May 23. We recently received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for Renu Satti to be the CEO," Paytm spokesperson told IANS here. Paytm was launched in August 2010 as an online recharges and bill payments platform and soon expanded into online and offline use-cases. In January 2014, it launched the Paytm Wallet. It now has over 220 million users and has over five million offline merchants across India. Three persons were killed and one was injured in firing over a sand mining dispute in Jharkhand's Garhwa district on Friday. According to police, the villagers were opposing the sand mining in Jatpura village in Garhwa district on Friday. Sanjit Singh, who has been awarded the sand mining contract, allegedly opened fire at the villagers. In the firing, three members of a family were killed and one sustained injuries. The irate villagers set afire seven trucks used to transport sand. The contractor managed to escape. Senior police officers reached the spot following the incident. Minor clashes between police and the villagers also took place. Suspended AAP leader Kapil Mishra on Friday alleged a nexus between Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and those involved in hawala transactions. The sacked minister asked the chief minister to step down to ensure a fair probe into the allegations. "A false video was retweeted by Kejriwalji yesterday (Thursday) claiming that (Delhi businessman) Mukesh Kumar gave Rs.2 crore as donation to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in 2014," Mishra told the media. Mishra's remarks came a day after Kejriwal retweeted a news report of Mukesh Kumar who claimed to have donated Rs.2 crore to AAP in 2014. Showing the letterheads of four companies Skyline Metal and Alloys Pvt Ltd, Glodmine Buildcon Pvt Ltd, Infoline Software Solution Ltd and Sunvision company from which the AAP received Rs.2 crore donation in 2014, Mishra said he has evidence to back his claims. Mishra "challenged" the AAP national convenor to tell the Income Tax department that his party received donation of Rs.2 crore from Mukesh Kumar. He claimed the letterheads of the companies which made donations to AAP were fake. He also raised questions regarding the identity of Mukesh Kumar, and asked, "Why is Mukesh Kumar being made a scapegoat by Kejriwal? Who is Kejriwal trying to save?" Mishra alleged that Mukesh Kumar became CEO of one of the companies days before the Delhi civic polls, though the donations were made in 2014. Launching an attack on Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Mishra said, "Mukesh Kumar was a VAT defaulter with the Delhi government, and his company was sent notices, yet this company was given tenders by the government." He claimed Kejriwal and Sisodia were aware of the "corruption activities". He questioned Kejriwal's silence in the matter. Mishra revealed the name of one more person Hem Prakash Sharma, whose signatures were on two letter heads and said that he was the Additional Director of the companies alongwith Mukesh Kumar Skyline Metal and Alloys Pvt Ltd and Goldmine Buildcon Pvt Ltd. The sacked minister said that Hem Prakash Sharma was also Director in a company alongwith lawyer Rohit Tandon, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in December last year for converting black money into white. "This is the biggest proof of hawala nexus against Kejriwal," Mishra said. "The man who donated Rs.2 crore to AAP is wanted by CBI, ED and the IT officials," Mishra said. "But he meets Kejriwal," Mishra added. "This is the reason why Kejriwal was shouting so much after the government's demonetisation move and was coming out on the streets against it. If Kejriwal has any shame left he must step down," Mishra demanded, adding that he has submitted the balancesheet of AAP signed by Kejriwal to the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). He said he has also given the details of Rohit Tandon to the CBDT. He termed Kejriwal a "mafia" and said he fears for his life as he can be attacked. The AIADMK faction led by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on Friday ruled out talks with the rival faction headed by Chief Minister Edappadi Palanisamy on a merger unless it declares Sasikala and her family members are formally expelled from the party. The group also kept its cards close to its chest on which party or candidate it would support in the Presidential election slated in July. "Our group has launched a dharma yudh for upholding the principles laid down by the late MGR and Jayalalithaa that the party should not go into the hands of any family, least of all into the hands of Sasikala and T T V Dinakaran. Even now the official party organ 'Namadhu MGR' carries statements in the name of Deputy General Secretary T T V Dinakaran. "How can we take a decision to enter into talks with them (the faction headed by Chief Minister Edappadi Palanisamy) in such circumstances," Panneerselvam told a press conference after meeting the Election Commission. The day the rival faction led by the Chief Minister declares that they have thrown out Sasikala and Dinakaran there will be smooth resumption of merger talks, he said. To a question on who was the stumbling block in the merger talks, Panneerselvam said the media understood all the issues and why the merger process was "slow". "People know who are the stumbling block. We have taken a decision that we will stick to the basics of the principles laid down by MGR and Jayalalithaa and keep family rule out," he said. In reply to another question on whose hands were dominating the rival faction , K Munuswamy, a senior leader of his faction and a former minister, said even now the party was being run by Diwakar, another relative of Sasikala. "Benami hands are still dominating the party. They (chief minister's side) has still not expelled them (Sasikala and Dinakaran). Only middle rung leaders are saying this. We have two demands a CBI probe into the death of Jayalalithaa and expulsion of Sasikala and Dinakaran. Once that is done, it is very easy to resume merger talks." He said the people and AIADMK cardre are with his faction and this will be proved by the people in times to come. It was already visible during the recently-countermanded by- election to R K Nagar constituency in Chennai. The former chief minister was replying to a question on renewed efforts of DMK working President M K Stalin, who has launched a campaign to reconnect with people, which is seen as a bid to come back to power. A delegation headed by Panneerselvam met the Election Commission on Friday and submitted further documents to substantiate its case for allocation of the frozen 'Two Leaves' symbol to his faction. It gave a 170-page memorandum to the Commission to declare as "illegal" the nomination of Sasikala as General Secretary after the death of Jayalalithaa. It referred to the Election Commission website not containing any name for the post of General Secretary for AIADMK and said it should make a de jure declaration to that effect. He later said that the Commission should take an early decision on the issue as still on the Commission's website the post of General Secretary remained vacant as it has not upheld the appointment of Sasikala, Jaya's close aide, as General Secretary after Jayalalithaa's death. Panneerselvam said the Commission should also intervene and freeze the powers of 'Treasurer' Dindugal Srinivsan, who has withdrawn crores of rupees from the party funds. Former Chief Minister Srinivasan's appointment as Treasurer by Sasikala was also illegal. He maintained that as he (Panneerselvam) was the Treasurer appointed by Jayalalithaa, he has written to the banks to freeze the funds but they have not done so in violation of party rules. It is for the EC and the RBI to intervene and see that continued withdrawal of party funds by Srinivasan is not allowed, he said. Panneerselvam said as per the party constitution he should have been allowed to run the party after the demise of Jayalalithaa as per standard practice laid down by Jayalalithaa whenever extraordinary occasions arose. During such occasions, Jayalalithaa used to nominate the Presidium Chairman and Treasurer to run the party and by that practice he should have been allowed to run the party. "But Sasikala was nominated General Secretary in violation of party constitution which says that the post can be filled up only through election. She has no right to continue in the post," he said. Asked about the group's strategy in the presidential election, Panneerselvam said the election has not been announced nor has any candidate or party made any declaration. Once that is done, the party leadership will meet and take a decision, he added. The Orissa High Court on Friday granted conditional bail to Trinamool Congress MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay, arrested for his alleged involvement in the Rose Valley Group chit fund scam. The bench of Justice J P Das had reserved the order on his bail plea after hearing arguments of both the prosecution and defence on May 8. Bandyopadhyay had approached the High Court in February seeking regular bail on health grounds after his bail applications were rejected by the designated CBI court in Bhubaneswar and the Khurda district sessions court. The CBI had arrested the Trinamool Congress leader in Lok Sabha from Kolkata on January 3, while probing the scam on the Supreme Court's directions. The CBI has arrested another TMC MP, Tapas Pal, for his alleged involvement in the scam. The agency had earlier accused Rose Valley chairman Gautam Kundu and three others of defrauding investors from across the country of more than Rs.17,000 crore. As Trinamool Congress MP Sudip Bandopadhyay was granted bail on Friday by the Orissa High Court, party supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hoped he would recover his health on his return to the city. "He was very ill I had seen him. He was facing difficult circumstances. He had lost around 25-30 kg weight. I don't know how he is at the moment. I want him to take rest on his return and take care of his health," Banerjee told the media here at the end of an extended core committee meeting. The Chief Minister said spending four and a half months in custody had taken a toll on Bandopadhyay's health. Bandopadhyay was granted bail by the Orissa High Court after his arrest in connection with the Rose Valley chit fund scam. Nayana, Sudip's wife, refused to comment. "I am relieved but concerned as he is very ill. I will not say anything as I have not been permitted to give any reaction on this. Regarding Sudip, I will talk to the leaders and follow what they say," Nayana said. West Bengal Consumer Affairs Minister Sadhan Pandey said the bail should have been granted earlier. "I am happy because he is not in good health. He should have gotten it earlier," he said. The High Court in Cuttack granted bail to the ailing leader on health grounds but asked him to furnish a bond or Rs 25 lakh. Bandopadhyay was also ordered to deposit his passport with the officer probing the scam. Bandopadhyay, a four-time Lok Sabha member and Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare in former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's cabinet between 2011 and 2012, was under arrest since January 3, when he was taken into custody by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for his alleged links with the Rose Valley scam. Puttuswamy v Union of India (Aadhaar case) has been referred to a larger constitutional bench in order to decide whether right to privacy is a fundamental right guaranteed to Indian citizens. The Attorney General argued that in the MP Sharma case (eight judge bench) and Kharak Singh case (six judge bench), the Supreme Court had categorically refused to include the right to privacy as a fundamental right. In light of these two cases, he argued that subsequent Supreme Court decisions such as Gobind v State of MP and R.Rajagopal v State of Tamil Nadu, where privacy was read into Article 21, could not be relied upon. While the Court will decide the question, I will attempt to answer the same question in this paper by analysing available jurisprudence. Essentially, I have three arguments in favour of the research question. Firstly, MP Sharma is not a valid precedent for this question. In the MP Sharma case, the question was whether the power of search and seizure under Code of Criminal Procedure given to the police violates Article 20(3) (right against self incrimination i.e. right of accused to not give evidence). Court answered the question in the negative while adopting the literal rule of interpretation and observed that right to privacy cannot be read into Article 20(3). It is arguably a mere observation and not part of the ratio as the question of whether right to privacy is part of fundamental rights was not posed before the Court. Secondly, Kharak Singh in fact impliedly read right to privacy under Article 21 (right to life and personal liberty) and therefore, the reliance on it by the Attorney General is troublesome. In Kharak Singh v State of UP, a surveillance case, the judgment could be divided into a discussion of two issues. The first issue was that the provisions for shadowing a person with a criminal record were held to not violate Article 19(1)(d) (free movement) as the right to privacy was not guaranteed in the Constitution. The second issue was whether the provision regarding domicile visits by the police was held to violate Article 21. Court held that personal liberty in Article 21 is comprehensive to include all varieties of rights which go to make up the personal liberty of a man other than those dealt with in Article 19(1) (d). Regarding personal liberty, the Court opined: Is then the word personal liberty to be construed as excluding from its purview an invasion on the part of the police of the sanctity of a mans home and an intrusion into his personal security and his right to sleep which is the normal comfort and a dire necessity for existence even as an animal? It might not be inappropriate to refer here to the words of the preamble to the Constitution that it is designed to assure the dignity of the individual and therefore of those cherished human value as the means of ensuring his full development and evolution. Additionally, the Court analysed American jurisprudence which dealt with the right to privacy. The Court quoted the following paragraph from Wolf v Colorado (1949) US 2: The security of ones privacy against arbitrary instruction by the police is basic to a free society. It is therefore implicit in the concept of ordered liberty and as such enforceable against the States through the Due Process Clause. While the Court acknowledged that India does not have an equivalent of the Fourth Amendment (right to privacy in US), it ruled that an intrusion into a persons home violates an ultimate essential of ordered liberty, if not of the very concept of civilization. Court eventually struck down the provision regarding domicile visits as it was against the concept of personal liberty enshrined in Article 21 and held that no law could justify such a provision. Based on the above paragraphs, one can thus argue that Court may have implicitly read the right to privacy under Article 21 while refusing to read it under Article 19 (1)(d). Moreover, the widely acclaimed minority opinion rendered by Justice Subba Rao categorically read right to privacy as an essential ingredient of personal liberty under Article 21. This is probably what Supreme Court was implying in the PUCL case when it interpreted Kharak Singh in the following fashion. Article 21 of the Constitution has, therefore, been interpreted by all the seven learned Judges in Kharak Singhs case (majority and the minority opinions) to include that right to privacy is a part of the right to protection of life and personal liberty guaranteed under the said Article. Thus, the Attorney Generals reading of the Kharak Singh judgment may not be correct. Moreover, post Kharak Singh, there have been a slew of cases which have read right to privacy as part of Article 21. The first case to categorically do so is undoubtedly Gobind v State of MP. Nonetheless, Court had provided a qualifier that this right could be restricted by a compelling state interest. Thirdly, the Supreme Courts manner of interpreting fundamental rights has changed significantly from the 1950s and 1960s when MP Sharma and Kharak Singh were decided. In those days, the Court believed in compartmentalising fundamental rights and was of the view that these rights were mutually exclusive. For instance, in Kharak Singh, the right to privacy was separately tested against Article 21 and Article 19(1)(d). However, in Maneka Gandhi v Union of India, a 1980s case, the Court held that Articles 14, 19 and 21 formed a golden triangle and were intrinsically linked with each other. The right to privacy derives its strength from a number of fundamental rights and therefore, cannot be compartmentalised anymore. Both in MP Sharma and Kharak Singh, right to privacy could not be read into specific fundamental rights i.e. article 20(3) and Article 19(1)(d) respectively. However, post the Maneka Gandhi case, since compartmentalisation of these rights was done away with, the basis of these cases may have been diluted significantly. If we apply the literal rule of interpretation to read Chapter III of our Constitution then the Attorney Generals argument would be undoubtedly correct as the right to privacy has not been included in the wording of this Chapter. However, the Constitution is not a mere statute but it is the foundation for societal norms in a country and therefore while interpreting it, it is important to look beyond the mere text. Thus, a closer look at this Chapter will make us realise that the right to privacy is intrinsically linked to the other fundamental rights. The right to move freely, the right to freely express ones opinion and personal liberty will only survive when the individual has got the right to privacy. For instance, let us assume that the State has a rigorous surveillance system where every move of the individual is being tracked. Then, naturally, the individual would be self censoring his speech, restrict his movement in order to avoid harassment and as a result his personal liberty would be threatened. Therefore, the failure to recognise the right to privacy as a fundamental right may render some of these other rights meaningless. This is precisely why the Supreme Court has over the years read this right as a fundamental right. Therefore, in light of the three above arguments, in my humble opinion, the Attorney Generals argument that right to privacy is not a fundamental right poses a problem. The writer is a fifth-year student of the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata. By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, May 18 (PTI) Sanitation, education and health would be the focus areas of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation and it will work on creating safer environment for women, new mayor of the civic body Preeti Aggarwal said today. Aggarwal, 43, and a graduate in science from Delhi University is a first-time councillor, who won from Rohini-F ward on a BJP ticket. advertisement She was elected unopposed as the mayor today and the new team of the areas civic body also took charge. However, chaotic scenes were witnessed as the newly elected North Delhi municipal body met for the first time with some "outsiders" entering the House and chanting slogans of Modi, Modi and Jai Shri Ram, soon after her election. During an interaction with reporters later, she also asserted that the party would work with the Opposition to "make the image of the NDMC more positive". "I have a three-point formula in mind -- Swachhta, Shiksha aur Swasthya (sanitation, education and health). And, our job would be to fulfil the dreams of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sanitation would be my top priority," she said. Sanitation is a major governance issue in Delhi and the BJP, which has been ruling the MCD for the last 10 years, has faced criticism from residents and opposition parties for "lack of cleanliness" in the city. The Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress have continuously attacked the BJP-led corporations, alleging that the three civic bodies have turned the city into a "mound of garbage". The three civic bodies had faired poorly in the Swachh Bharat survey which was released recently by the Centre. In the Swachh Bharat reckoning of 434 cities for 2016-17, areas falling under the three municipal corporations were at a low -- the EDMC (196), SDMC (202) and NDMC (279). Aggarwal said her aim would be to improve the ranking of the NDMC, and "you will see, our ranking will improve". "We are in talks with RWAs and schools, to improve sanitation level as well as bring greater awareness," she said. On women safety issue, she said, "Dark spots would be identified in the city and we will illuminate those areas, to deter crime. Also, we are planning to impart self-defence skills, like karate to school girls. As a a woman mayor, women and girls should feel that I am with them." When asked about the NDMCs old website, the mayor said, "Soon a new website would be launched". "Aggarwal was a part of the cow awareness cell of the BJP - Gau Vansh Vikas Prakoshth where she actively promoted the idea that cow is like member of a family. She has held the positions of General Secretary of Mahila Morcha and Secretary of Delhi BJP unit," the NDMC said in a statement later. advertisement Besides, Vijay Kumar Bhagat was also chosen unopposed as the deputy mayor as no other party had filed nominations for the two posts. Six members of the NDMCs Standing Committee were also elected -- Jai Prakash (ward No. 80-N), Jayendra Dabas (ward No. 37-N), Ramesh Kumar (ward No. 95-N) and Tilak Raj Kataria (BJP) (Ward No. 63-N) from the BJP; Seema Tahira (ward No. 87 -N) from the Congress and AAPs Vikas Goel (ward No. 72-N). BJPs Aadesh Kumar Gupta (ward No. 98-N) had withdrawn his nomination. In the high-stakes MCD polls held on April 23, the BJP had fielded all fresh faces to counter "anti-incumbency". After the polls, the saffron partys strength in the 104 -member New Delhi Municipal Corporation House is 64, while AAP has 21 and Congress 15 councillors. The BSP has one member, while two had won the election independent candidates. The post of mayor sees five single-year terms on a rotation basis, with the first year being reserved for women, the second for open category, third for reserved category, and the remaining two also being in the open category. advertisement In the polls, Aggarwal had defeated AAPs Abhinav Mishra in the elections by a margin of 5,413 votes. She had bagged 11,723 votes, while Mishra finished second with 6,310. Incidentally, last year too, Sanjiv Nayyar was unanimously elected the mayor on April 28. The erstwhile unified Municipal Corporation of Delhi was trifurcated in 2012 into the NDMC, the SDMC and the EDMC. The first MCD polls after the trifurcation was held the same year. The BJP had bagged 181 of the 270 wards in the civic polls. Delhi has a total of 272 wards -- NDMC (104 wards), SDMC (104) and EDMC (64). While election to Maujpur ward in east Delhi was held on May 14, Sarai Pipal in north Delhi will go to polls on May 21. Elections in these two wards were postponed due to death of candidates. Leader of Opposition Rakesh Kumar (AAP) in his speech urged the mayor to ensure disbursing of salaries to all employees, especially, sanitation workers by first week of every month. advertisement "We do not want to do politics, but work with your party (BJP). But, any step or policy which is against the interest of the people, would be opposed tooth and nail by the AAP," he said. The Congress councillors later on also sparred with the new mayor, alleging that their party was "being deliberately ignored". Malka Ganj Councillor Guddi Devi claimed the Congress party had to "beg" to authorities to get a room in the Civic Centre office. Aggarwal in her response said a room has been alloted to the Congress party, and the key is with Seema Tahira, the Congress councillor from Bazar Sita Ram, who was also elected a member of the Standing Committee of the NDMC. After few hours of proceedings, the House was adjourned. Incidentally, the linguistic and sartorial diversity of India was on full display, as councillors, besides Hindi, also took oath in native languages, including Urdu, Maithili and Punjabi. PTI KND IKA --- ENDS --- Pictures of a five-year-old girl from suburban Seattle, dressed up as her heroines Angela Davis, Rosa Parks and other African-American women who fought for freedom were shown at the International Center of Photography in New York recently. Soon, they were followed by images of displaced migrants in a Tunisian refugee camp. Where the museum chooses to display these powerful shows on the facade of its Bowery building, from dusk to dawn is a sign of a growing global trend among arts institutions that are trying to make an artistic statement while engaging visitors, both returning and new. Jurien Huggins, a 24-year-old graphic designer and photographer who was walking by, praised the museum for bringing its knowledge out into the world and making something like this more accessible. Joshua Sandoval Garcia, a 22-yearold abstract artist who strolled by, was struck by the young girls face and took his own photos, which he said he would use as a reference when I have an artists block. The museums executive director, Mark Lubell, said the museum began projecting its rotating series of images beginning in March. Its consistent with our mission, he said, to conduct a dialogue with the world we live in today. To commemorate this years Holocaust Remembrance Day, the Museum of Jewish Heritage, in Lower Manhattan, has commissioned a series of black-and-white photographic portraits of some 30 Holocaust survivors, called Eyewitness, that it is displaying in the ground, second and third floor windows on the facade of its building on Battery Place. The trend dates back centuries: to 18th-century son et lumiere shows and fireworks spectacles with wall-like sets in Europe, according to Erkki Huhtamo, a professor in the department of design media arts at the University of California, Los Angeles. These were followed in the 19th century by outdoor projections done with a magic-lantern slide projector. Todays technology includes projection mapping techniques that can display images and animations on a surface that is not flat or white. Even before the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, in Washington, opened, it projected a sevenminute video on its facade, depicting milestones in black history to celebrate completion of its exterior construction. Michael S. Glickman, the president and chief executive of the Museum of Jewish Heritage whose survivor portraits, by the photographer B.A. Van Sise, have been digitally reproduced on vinyl and measure as much as 5 feet wide and 13 feet high said this series represents the museums desire to be a fully acceptable site of public testimony, to hear the stories, meet the people, get a more intense, more meaningful, more impactful connection to history. One Holocaust survivor whose portrait is on display, Frederick Terna, a 93-year-old Brooklyn artist who spent his childhood in Prague and speaks to groups of teachers at the museum, said It is my function to be a communicator about what happened, adding, If you believe in something, you must act on it. The Vivid Festival in Sydney was established in 2009 to stimulate tourism during a slow winter season; according to Ignatius Jones, its artistic director, visitor numbers have skyrocketed from 165,000 in 2009 to 2.3 million last year, which the founders partly credit to their use of innovative lighting and projections. This year, from late May until midJune, the facade of the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, also in Sydney, will be decorated with Organic Vibrations, a collaboration between the Australian artist Julia Gorman and the Paris collective Danny Rose (which created The Matter Of Painting in 2016). This October, Cincinnati will host its first Blink festival, an evening art event with large-scale media and interactive art that will animate buildings throughout 20 city blocks. Brave Berlin, a local design studio, is overseeing the creation of animated installations for the facades of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and the Contemporary Arts Center. Raphaela Platow, the director of the Contemporary Arts Center, said she hoped its installation would draw viewers from outside the city and allow the museums building, by Zaha Hadid, to be perceived maybe in a different light. She added that the desire of any institution is to open its doors as wide as possible, to have visitors be challenged, stretched, transformed by art. Not all facade projections are authorised or institutionally approved. In 2014 and 2016, Gulf Ultra Luxury Faction, a group that fights for the rights of workers in Abu Dhabi, where a branch of the Guggenheim Museum is planned, projected messages like Ultra luxury art, ultra low wages on the facade of the Guggenheim in New York. Since 2008, the museum itself has projected artworks by Jenny Holzer and Agnieszka Kurant, among others, on the exterior of its Frank Lloyd Wright building. Describing works like those of the Gulf protest group as guerrilla projections, Huhtamo, the design professor, said they would probably remain outnumbered by projections done with permission or by commission. One possible deterrent to projections growth, according to Shannon Mattern, an associate professor of media studies at the New School, could be evening lighting restrictions by municipalities, to protect birds or conserve energy. Nevertheless, Huhtamo said that he believed that authorised museum projections would continue to proliferate, as the embrace between the urban and media environment gets more intense, though he warned that they should not become a permanent presence, because they would then start to lose their appeal. The straits times/ann The Supreme Court has observed that leniency can be shown to women criminals under certain circumstances. In a recent case, a woman, accused of mixing sedatives in drinks to help a man rob another of Rs 27,000, was convicted of the crime which carries a maximum sentence of ten years in jail. But the Chamba (Himachal Pradesh) trial court, after taking into consideration that the woman had three small children, two of whom were mentally disabled, punished her with a sentence of two years in jail and imposed a fine of Rs 6,000. Even this punishment was erased after nine years. When the state appealed against the erasure of judgment, the Supreme Court observed that while the first sentencing by the trial court was in keeping with the spirit of showing leniency to female criminals, the subsequent complete erasure of the sentence was wrong. But this goes against the very basis of law which decrees that all citizens, regardless of caste, creed, religion, gender and economic status are equal before law and all should be punished in a similar manner. There should not be in fact cannot be any discrimination in meting out punishment to a woman just because of her gender. If a woman commits a crime, she should be handed out the same punishment that would have been given to a man in similar circumstances. Extenuating circumstances cannot be cited to grant relief to a women criminal. The reason for this is two-fold. Firstly, Indian laws do not have separate punishments for males and females. The Indian Penal Code (IPC) is clear in this regard. The terms used in the Act and the explanations given therein make it clear that the intention of the legislature was to treat every criminal at par, regardless of gender. At the very beginning of the Act, in the chapter General Explanations, under gender it is said that the pronoun he and its derivatives are used of any person, whether male or female. Further, when it comes to distinction between genders, under man-woman, it is clarified that the word man denotes a male human being of any age; the word woman denotes a female human being of any age. Hence, once again, the legislative intent to specify gender difference when necessary is made clear. But the body of the Act does not make this difference when talking about crimes and punishment. Every section begins with either whoever or a person. Both these terms are gender-neutral. Whoever and a person can either be a man or a woman and the punishment prescribed is to be applied equally in either case. Lastly, the chapter on general exceptions too does not make any exceptions for crimes committed by females and the punishment to be given for the same. So for courts to discriminate in favour of women criminals would be judicial overreach. Secondly, if a woman is to be shown leniency in case she has young children to look after, cannot the same logic be applied for a male offender to say that he is the sole earning member of the family? In the instant case, leniency was shown to the female criminal as she had three children, of whom two were mentally unstable, to look after themselves. But what if the roles were reversed and it was not the woman who committed the crime but her husband, who was the sole earning member of the family? If the husband was put in jail for ten years, how would the women look after her children in any case? If the court is concerned about what will happen to the children if their mother is sent away to jail, it should also be worried how the mother will feed the children if the husband, who provides for the family, is sent to jail. One thinks that the judicial view of showing leniency towards female convicts is guided by a similar view in England, from where most of our laws have evolved. In 2010, the Judicial Studies Board (JBS), a body in England that trains judges, quoted Supreme Court judge Baroness Hale as saying that It is now well recognised that a misplaced conception of equality has resulted in some very unequal treatment for women and girls. JBS, in Equal Treatment Bench Book, was of the view that female criminals are more likely to have mental health or educational difficulties and to have parenting responsibilities, while a lower proportion will have committed violent crimes than men. Judges were advised to bear these matters in mind when passing sentence under new guidelines. But the Indian scenario is different. In the UK, the female might be an earning person who supports her children out of her own income. She could even be a single mother. In India, an overwhelmingly large number of women do not earn on their own but are dependent on the income of the husband to run the household. Their parenting difficulties will be insurmountable if their criminal husbands are put into jail, as there would be no income to support the children. Could that be a ground to show leniency to male criminals? In any case, before that, in 2009, the Telegraph newspaper in UK had reported that there was a sharp rise in conviction and punishment of female criminals. There was a jump of 10 per cent in two years. Women were getting involved in crime and abetment to crime in larger numbers. There is a similar trend in India. While the Indrani Mukherjea case is still hogging limelight, there are numerous cases of hard crimes committed by females that do not make front page news for the simple reason that the perpetrators are not celebrities. But the fact remains that an increasing women in India are being accused of crime and a large number of them are being convicted for the same. In such a scenario, showing leniency to them is neither warranted by law nor is it a socially or morally correct thing to do. There can be mitigating circumstances in many cases and judges mostly apply their discretion in showing leniency depending upon the facts of the case. But to make it gender-specific is wrong. Women criminals are in no way different or softer than men criminals. With more and more women getting drawn towards the criminal way of life, either independently or lured by their male acquaintances, there is no need to make them believe that they will be treated with kid gloves by the law. It will embolden them and attract newer recruits. Hence, the law must be applied equitably and justly for both the genders. There should not be any exceptions on just the basis of gender. The writer is Editor-in-Chief, www.indiacommentary.com Actress Margot Robbie has promised to go on a girl's trip with Cara Delevingne to Las Vegas this year. The 26-year-old actress struck up a great rapport with the 24-year-old model when they starred in the DC Comic antihero movie Suicide Squad, reported Metro. Speaking about their plans to paint the town red, the Australian star, who married Tom Ackerley last year, said, We promised each other that we would get away for a girls' trip this year. It has to be Vegas, doesn't it. And the two actresses have decided to keep their antics a secret when they return home. And what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas which is probably a good thing when it comes to Cara. Two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were on Friday injured in an IED blast triggered by Naxals at a forest in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Sukma district, police said. The incident took place on Friday morning when a team of CRPF's 2nd battalion was out on an anti-Maoist operation in a forest area under Kerlapal police station limits, Deputy Inspector General (Dantewada range) Sundarraj P told PTI. While they were cordoning-off a forested patch near Pariya village, the Naxals triggered an improvised explosive device (IED) in which two CRPF jawans suffered injuries, he said. Reinforcements were rushed to the spot soon after, he said. The injured jawans were admitted in a local hospital in Sukma. They were stated to be out of danger, the DIG said. Meanwhile, a combing operation was underway in the region, he said. On April 24, as many as 25 CRPF personnel were killed and seven others injured when Naxals attacked a patrol party of the paramilitary troops while they were ensuring security to road construction work near Burkapal village in Sukma district. A special court in Delhi on Friday convicted former coal secretary HC Gupta in a coal scam case involving Kamal Sponge Steel and Power Ltd (KSSPL). The court also convicted then joint secretary KS Kropha, then director KC Samaria in the Coal Ministry and KSSPL managing director Pawan Kumar Ahluwalia in the case. They were convicted for alleged irregularities in the allocation of Thesgora-B Rudrapuri coal block in Madhya Pradesh to KSSPL. Special judge Bharat Parashar heard the case following an FIR lodged by the CBI, accusing the company of misrepresenting facts, including inflated net worth, to acquire the coal block. Chartered Account Amit Goyal, who was also facing trial in the coal case, was acquitted from all charges. On May 22, the court will deliver order on quantum of sentence. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a case against separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and other Hurriyat leaders for allegedly receiving money from the Lashkar-e-Taiba to fund "subversive" activities in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. On Friday, a team of the counter-terror probe agency landed in Srinagar to question Geelani, Hurriyat provincial president Naeem Khan, JKLF leader Farooq Ahmed Dar (also known as Bitta Karate) and Tehreek-e-Hurriyat leader Gazi Javed Baba. "The NIA has registered a preliminary enquiry into the funding of (the) Hurriyat leaders by LeT chief Hafiz Muhammed Saeed and other Pakistan-based terrorists and agencies to carry out subversive activities in Kashmir," the probe agency said. It alleged the Hurriyat Conference was funding trouble in the Kashmir Valley and sponsoring stone pelting on security forces, burning of schools and other government establishments using the money they get from Pakistan. An NIA official told IANS: "The team will soon call the Hurriyat leaders for questioning." The move comes after an expose by a national news channel, India Today, purportedly showing Pakistan pumping money to stoke trouble in the valley in connivance with Hurriyat leaders. The NIA official said a notice has been sent to India Today for the videos of the sting. India Today news channel aired a sting on May 16 in which the Hurriyat leaders were allegedly seen in conversation with the reporter and confessing that they received money from Pakistan-based organisations routed through Hawala. Former Coal Secretary HC Gupta and two other ex-bureaucrats were convicted of corruption by a special CBI court on Friday in the coal scam or Coalgate case. The conviction is with regard to the allocation of a coal mining block in Madhya Pradesh to a private company. This is the first conviction of government officials in any of the 14 coal scam cases being looked into by the CBI. The two others held guilty are KS Kropha, who was Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Coal, and KC Samria, who was a director in charge of coal allocation. The Statesman.com brings out what this scam is all about and the developments ever since the scam was unearthed in 2012. What is the issue Between 1993 and 2011, the government of India allocated 206 coal blocks for free to public and private companies. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) accused the government of India of allocating 194 coal blocks to public and private enterprises for captive use in a flawed, ad hoc manner. The CAG peggd the government losses at Rs. 1.86-lakh crore in absence of competitive bidding. Estimates made by stock brokerage CLSA suggested that only 41 out of the 206 blocks given away for free were allocated before the end of 2003. This means that 165 blocks were allocated between 2004 and 2011, during which the UPA was in power. The CAGs argument was that the exchequer suffered loss because the governments policy of allocating coal blocks was non-transparent. It alleged that the government did not introduce the process of competitive bidding, and politicians lobbied for allotment to certain private players. The CAG also said some private players got more coal blocks than needed for their captive operations and others sold coal meant for internal use in the open market. UPA governments defence The then Congress government led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh contended that states ruled by the opposition parties opposed the auction methodology. The government also defended the policy, saying maximising revenue is not always governments prime motive, as an auction can lead to higher prices hurting consumers. The case A complaint by the BJP resulted in the CBI initiating a probe into the allocation of coal blocks and the agency lodged 14 cases against individuals and firms, including high profile industrialists such as Naveen Jindal and his company JSPL, Kumaramangalam Birla, Congress MP Vijay Darda and his brother Rajendra Darda, JLD Yavatmal Energy Limited, AMR Iron & Steel Private Limited, Vini Iron & Steel Udyog, among others. The CAG report also resulted in the formation of an Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) and recommended de-allocation of 13 blocks and forfeiture of bank guarantees of 14 allottees. A Standing Committee report termed that allocation of all coal blocks between 1993 and 2008 was unlawful. India is confident that Pakistan will not defy the verdict of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case, notwithstanding reports from Islamabad suggesting that the military establishment was pressuring the civilian leadership to ignore the ruling on the ground that the top UN Court had no jurisdiction over matters concerning national security. According to official sources here, the ICJs verdict was legally binding on both India and Pakistan and Islamabad was liable to pay a heavy price, should it defy the ruling. The sources did not rule out the possibility of India even approaching the UN Security Council to save an Indian national if there was a violation of the ICJ order by the Pakistani side. In this connection, they drew attention to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's statement on Thursday that India would leave no stone unturned to save Jadhav, who has been framed by the military establishment in Pakistan on concocted charges. It is for Pakistan now to act as a responsible nation and not do anything which will bring further disrepute to the country in the comity of nations it has already earned the reputation of being a state sponsoring terrorism in its neighbourhood, sources said. India, meanwhile, was awaiting a decision by Pakistan on the visa applications of Jadhavs parents who wish to go to the neighbouring country and fight the legal battle on his behalf. Swaraj is understood to have played a key role in nudging the Narendra Modi government to knock at the doors of the ICJ after Pakistan refused to pay heed to Indias requests for consular access to Jadhav or permit his parents to visit Pakistan. It is learnt that many in the foreign office were hesitant to take the ICJ route on the ground that it would amount to involving a third party in Indo-Pak disputes. New Delhi has always taken the stand that there was no room for mediation by a third party in the resolution of differences between the two countries. However, Swaraj strongly argued that India should go to any extent to save the life of an innocent Indian. She is said to have closely monitored the developments at The Hague-based ICJ when lawyers from India and Pakistan appeared before the court on Monday and when it delivered the verdict Thursday. Soon after Jadhav earned a reprieve, PM Modi spoke to Swaraj and thanked her for working tirelessly to save an Indian from the gallows. Meanwhile, the ICJs ruling directing Pakistan not to execute Jadhav pending a final decision by the court has triggered a blame-game in the neighbouring country with the Opposition accusing the Nawaz Sharif government of fielding an ill-prepared team of lawyers at the court, resulting in a loss of face for the country. The confusion in Pakistan was palpable last evening itself when the government of Punjab, led by Sharifs brother Shahbaz, stated that it would abide by the ICJ ruling while the foreign office asserted that Islamabad would not accept the UN Courts jurisdiction in matters concerning the security of the nation. Leader of the Pakistani legal team Khawar Qureshi has also come under sharp attack for not being able to even utilise the 90 minutes at his disposal for presenting the countrys case in all its dimensions at the ICJ. Pakistan is said to be considering forming a new team of lawyers to argue its case at the ICJs future hearings in the case. Defence Minister Arun Jaitely flew to the Line of Control (LOC) in the strategic Rampur sector of North Kashmir where he interacted the troops on Friday. Interacting with the troops, Jaitley said the country recognises the challenging circumstances they have to work in and stand fully behind them. Rampur sector was recently targeted by Pakistani troops. Jaitley, who is in Srinagar in connection with the meeting of the GST council, flew in a helicopter this morning to meet the soldiers in the frontier area. He had held a high-level meeting on Tuesday to review the situation in the Valley and on the LoC. The lawyers representing Calcutta High Court judge CS Karnan have claimed that a representation has been made to the president seeking suspension of the Supreme Court order sentencing him to six months imprisonment for contempt of court. However, the president's office said, "It was not aware of any such representation." The lawyers on Thursday said a memorandum/representation under Article 72 of the Constitution was sent through e-mail on behalf of Justice Karnan seeking "suspension/stay of his sentence of six months imposed on him" by a seven-judge bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar. Article 72 states that the president shall have the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites or remissions of punishment or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offence. The representation prepared by Justice Karnan's counsel Mathews J Nedumpara and A C Philip referred to the developments since the May 9 judgment. His lawyers had earlier claimed that the judge had shot off letters to the president, the prime minister and others against his jail term. Justice Karnan has also moved a petition in the apex court seeking recall of the May 9 order but has been denied urgent hearing by the CJI. By Press Trust of India: Eds: Repeating with changes in headline, para 1, 2 New Delhi, May 19 (PTI) Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain today filed two criminal defamation complaints in a city court against sacked minister Kapil Mishra and a BJP MLA for allegedly defaming him by levelling graft charges against him. Jain accused BJP MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa of defaming him by organising a press conference and alleging that the minister was indulging in circulating huge amounts of illegitimate money within the party. advertisement He also accused a media house bringing out a prominent Hindi daily for publishing the alleged "libellous and slanderous statements" made by Sirsa. The complaints, filed in the Tis Hazari court, have been listed for hearing on May 29 before Metropolitan Magistrate Shefali Barnala Tandon. If convicted, the offence of defamation entails a maximum punishment of two years. Jain in his complaint filed against Mishra, who was earlier heading the water department, submitted that on May 7, the sacked minister made a statement before the media accusing him of handing over bribe of Rs two crore to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on May 5. He said his family members and a lot of people from his constituency questioned him about the incident which caused irreparable damage to his reputation. "The conduct is one of the many plots made by the accused Mishra) so as to implicate the ministers of the current government in scandalous accusations. The intention behind the said planning and plotting is not only to harm the reputation of the complainant (Jain) but also the other functionaries of the government of Delhi. "The accused has been involved in making baseless statements against the current ministers of the government of Delhi before the national media and is still continuing the same," Jain alleged. He said instead of approaching the law enforcement agencies, Mishra contacted the media with the allegations. "He (Mishra) knew that making the statements before the media shall lead to its publication throughout the nation, which shall be read by majority of the population. The accused knew that the publication and reading of the same by a citizen of this country shall create a discord with respect to the state government which may help him to achieve his plan to usurp the government and take its control," Jain claimed. Regarding Sirsa, Jain said that on May 9, the MLA made libellous statement by levelling corruption allegation against him. He said that making a statement on hearsay information without any proof or evidence and supporting it, is not only unbecoming of an MLA, but also a crime of defaming a person. advertisement "Take cognizance, issue summons, try and punish the accused person and/or other unknown persons whose names may be revealed during the investigation for the commission of offences under Sections 500 (punishment for defamation) and other relevant provisions of IPC," the plea said. PTI SKV RKS ARC ZMN --- ENDS --- Work on a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Russia for reactor units 5 and 6 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) is at the stage of internal approval, a senior official said on Friday. Refuting a media report that suggested that India was holding back the MoU to make Russia use its influence over China to enable India's membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay said: "The report is completely baseless, incorrect and mischievous. Discussions have been held on Kudankulam document. The process is at the stage of internal approval." At the NSG plenary in Seoul in June 2016, China had blocked India's membership bid on the ground that for a country to be a member of the 48-nation bloc it has to be a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Given Baglay's statement, it is likely that the MoU for the reactor units 5 and 6 of KNPP, India's largest nuclear power plant, will be signed during the India-Russia bilateral summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on June 1. All six units of the plant are scheduled to be built in collaboration between Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and Russian state company Atomstroyexport. While reactor units 1 and 2 are already connected to the southern power grid, the ground-breaking ceremony for construction of units 3 and 4 was done in February last year. After a major blow at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case, Pakistan is contemplating a new legal team, as per the media of the neighbouring country. Pakistans Foreign Affairs advisor Sartaj Aziz said they will appoint a new set of lawyers to represent the case and defend their position at the world court in The Hague in Netherlands. However, Aziz said that their counsel had courageously fought at the ICJ. The legal team of Pakistan was led by Khawar Qureshi. Pakistani experts and opposition parties slammed the Nawaz Sharif government for mishandling the case. The 11-judge bench of ICJ on Thursday ruled that Pakistan cannot execute Jadhav until the final decision. Pakistan shall take all measures at its disposal to ensure that Jadhav is not executed pending the final decision in these proceedings, ICJ President Ronny Abraham said. The verdict came 10 days after India approached the UNs top court for provisional measure of protection, an interim relief, in the Jadhav case. The death sentence to Jadhav was handed out by a Pakistani military court on 10 April on charges of espionage. The court claimed that Jadhav was an Indian intelligence agent and a threat to Pakistan. He was allegedly caught in Balochistan in March 2016. However, India has denied all claims, saying Jadhav is an innocent Indian abducted by Pakistan from Iran. India had said that hanging him would be a premeditated murder. India had weaved its case around the fact that the neighboring country didnt give consular access to the prisoner. Swimming against a populist tide can create complications, yet we deem it both prudent and principled to recommend that a degree of circumspection temper the rapturous reaction to the interim order of the International Court of Justice staying the execution of Kulbhushan Jadhav: the Indian national sentenced to death by a military court in Pakistan. The unanimous order of the 11- judge bench is specific about what Pakistan must not do, but does not direct that consular access be provided to Jadhav, and while it does prime facie deem itself to have jurisdiction in the matter, it has not as yet opined on the propriety of a court martial, nor deliberated the merits of the case. Admittedly, by implication, it appears to have favoured the Indian view so professionally articulated by Mr Harish Salve, yet that respected Senior Counsel has himself emphasised that only a limited aspect of the issue has been examined, and that there is a lot of work ahead ~ provided the ultimate goal is to secure Jadhavs release and return to India. While the external affairs minister and ministry have reacted with restrained maturity, had the court been monitoring the Indian political and media response to its interim order it would hardly have been amused: perhaps even as embarrassed as Mr Salve at the superlatives flying around. The point that the Senior Counsel has made is that India will be seeking Jadhavs release, and if that was not forthcoming would be pressing for annulment of the court martial and reopening the legal proceedings in a format which afforded Jadhav due process ~ it was Indias contention that the process was skewed which the ICJ had found plausible. Therefore for the very vocal but lesser lights of the political establishment to thump their chests as if Pakistan had been snubbed would be misleading, a cheap attempt at political encashment of the anti-Pak sentiments sweeping across the nation: sentiments in which the Jadhav affair is only one element. How Pakistan furthers its case at the ICJ will require careful monitoring, more important will be whether the civil-military discord between Islamabad and GHQ Rawalpindi triggers any rash misadventure. The Government of India, and its legal/diplomatic team, have their work cut out for them: they must strive as diligently as they have already done to consolidate the gains made at the ICJ. Those gains\have simultaneously dispelled the longstanding apprehension that any internationalising of bilateral complications would work to Indias disadvantage. Yet since one swallow does not a summer make the need for continuing caution cannot be over-stressed. The initial success at the ICJ must not go to Indian heads: the overall problems with Pakistan, Jammu & Kashmir, terrorism, equitable sharing of river waters etc remain very much alive. Is your kid overweight? Beware, being obese, especially from a young age may substantially increase a lifetime risk of major depression, researchers have found. The study showed that being overweight at age eight or 13 was associated with more than triple the risk of developing major depression at some point in their lives. Carrying excess weight over a lifetime (both as a child and as an adult) quadrupled the chance of developing depression compared to only being overweight as an adult. "Our findings suggest that some of the underlying mechanisms linking overweight or obesity to depression stem from childhood. A shared genetic risk or low self-esteem, which is frequently associated with those who do not conform to the ideal body type, could be responsible," said Deborah Gibson-Smith from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. "Given the rise in adolescents' obesity and greater influence of social media on body image, understanding the associations between childhood obesity and depression is critical," Gibson-Smith added. For the study, presented at the European Congress on Obesity being held in Portugal, the team examined 889 participants, on whether the detrimental effect of obesity on mental health is due to life-long obesity or the result of being overweight in adulthood. Carrying excess weight in childhood was found as a stronger predictor of subsequent depression than being overweight in mid-life. Children who were overweight or obese at age eight or 13 years had more than four-times increased risk of lifetime major depressive disorder compared with children who were normal weight as a child but went on to become overweight as adults. Instagram is rated as the worst social media platform when it comes to its impact on young people's mental health, a poll conducted in the UK says. The poll conducted Royal Society for Public Health (RCPH) asked 1,479 people aged 14-24 were asked a series of questions about whether YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook and Twitter had an impact on their health and well-being, the BBC reported. Participants were asked to score each platform on 14 health and well-being issues. Based on these ratings, YouTube was considered to have the most positive impact on mental health, followed by Twitter and then Facebook. Snapchat and Instagram were given the lowest scores overall. The RSPH report warns that "social media may be fuelling a mental health crisis" in young people, reports the BBC. It can also be used as a tool for good, the report said, and companies should be doing their best to make platforms a safe place to be. About 90 per cenr of young people use social media more than any other age group so they are particularly vulnerable to its effects, although it is not clear what these are on current evidence. At least 113 militants were killed and 50 injured when Afghan security forces pressed ahead with offensives in restive provinces, the Defence Ministry said on Friday. "Afghan National Defence and Security Forces carried out cleanup operations in different provinces within the past 24 hours," Xinhua news agency quoted a ministry statement as saying. The forces also seized weapons and defused several roadside bombs planted by militants during the raids launched in 17 of the country's 34 provinces, the statement said. Violence has been on the rise as Afghan security forces struggle against a surge in attacks by the Taliban since the drawdown of foreign forces over the past two years. On Thursday night, five police personnel were killed in an insider attack in Ghanikhel district in Nangarhar province of the country. Following the assault, the attackers fled from the scene and took away the APL troops' weapons. Around 2,300 migrants were rescued in 22 operations in the Mediterranean, Italian coastguard stated on Thursday. The migrants, were picked up from 12 inflatable rubber dinghies and 10 small boats by vessels from the Italian coastguard, from the European Union's anti-smuggling force Eunavformed and charity rescue ships, the statement said. Italian coastguard coordinated the operations, the statement added, giving no information on the migrants' nationalities, ages or sex. A total 53,912 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea in 2017 through May 14, with nearly 85 per cent arriving in Italy, the International Organisation for Migration said on Tuesday. The number of people who arrived in Italy through May 14 was 45,118, up from 32,292 over the same period last year, according to IOM. There were 1,316 fatalities through May 14, around two-thirds of the 1,905 deaths worldwide over the same period, IOM said. Twenty million people in four African countries are on the brink of famine, senior staffers at the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) said. People in northeastern Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen face an "unprecedented" humanitarian crisis due to a combination of drought and armed conflict with fundamentalist insurgencies, such as the Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab groups. "It's the biggest crisis any of us have ever seen," Xinhua quoted Denise Brown, Director of Emergencies at the WFP, as saying in Rome on Thursday. She described the situation as millions of people "standing on the edge of a cliff, and the number keeps increasing." Conflict and adverse climate are causing animals to die and fields to go untilled in a part of the world in which 80 per cent of the population relies on farming and fishing to survive, according to FAO Director of Emergency and Rehabilitation Division Dominique Burgeon. If action is not taken, the world will witness a repeat of the 2010-2011 famine in Somalia, in which 250,000 people died because the international community did not act soon enough, the senior staffers said. Famine is defined as occurring when 20 per cent of the population is starving, 30 per cent of the children are extremely malnourished, and the mortality rate has reached double its average, explained WFP chief economist Arif Husein. He added that this many malnourished children means an entire generation will be permanently damaged. Bourgeon said that the people who fled the Somalia 2010-2011 famine are still in refugee camps. "It's extremely difficult for them to go back," he said. "So the best way to avoid (migration) is to help them stay where they are." This means not only emergency aid but also long-term policies such as providing crop seeds, irrigation systems, fisheries, equipment, and veterinary care for livestock. "We must not just keep people from the edge of the cliff we must pull them away from the cliff," he said. The WFP assists 80 million people in 80 countries each year. Its executive board consists of 36 member states, and its principal donors are governments. In 2016, it raised over $5.9 billion. The FAO is a UN agency dedicated to eradicating hunger and promoting sustainable use of natural resources. A 58-year-old Indian, who was detained by US customs officials last week for not possessing necessary immigration documents while entering the country died in custody at an Atlanta hospital. Atul Kumar Babubhai Patel was taken in custody by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Atlanta City Detention Center for two days. He died on Tuesday afternoon at the hospital with the officials stating the preliminary cause of his demise as complications from congestive heart failure. Patel arrived at the Atlanta airport on May 10 on a flight from Ecuador. US Customs and Border Protection subsequently denied him entry into the country as he did not possess the necessary immigration documents, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said in a statement. Patel was transferred into the ICE custody last week at the Atlanta City Detention Center where he received an initial medical screening and was found to have high blood pressure and diabetes. On Saturday, two days after being in the ICE custody, a nurse checking Patel's blood sugar noticed he had a breathing problem following which he was shifted to a hospital where he passed away. ICE said it is firmly committed to the health and welfare of all those in its custody and is "undertaking a comprehensive agency-wide review of the incident, as it does in all such cases". The agency the informed the Indian consular representatives who notified Patel's kin about his demise. The agency added that fatalities in its custody are "exceedingly rare" and occur at a fraction of the rate of the US detained population as a whole. Patel is the eighth such individual who died in the custody of ICE the fiscal year 2017. Pakistan's former military ruler Pervez Musharraf wants to appear in person rather than testify through a video link in the Benazir Bhutto murder case, his lawyer has said. Musharraf has been charged with involvement in the murder of the former two-time prime minister in 2007. Musharraf's counsel, Advocate Akhtar Shah, during the trial proceedings of the high-profile murder case in the anti-terrorism court Rawalpindi maintained that his client was not interested in testifying through the video link, Dawn reported. He, however, said Musharraf wanted to testify in person and before an open court for which he required foolproof security from the ministry of defence. According to the counsel, Musharraf is on the hit list of several banned and terrorist outfits and facing serious life threats. However, the federal government has already declined such a request. In a reply filed with the special court seized with the high treason case against the former military ruler, the government maintained, "An absconder cannot dictate his prerequisites to the court and give conditions, that too his own subjective satisfaction, as to when he will appear and for how long." On May 5, Musharraf filed a similar application with the special court, seeking the military's security and assurance from the court that he would be given a safe passage back to Dubai where he is currently living. The Anti-Terrorism Court has summoned him and other accused persons to record their statements. The court, however, has separated the case of Musharraf and decided to record the statements of the other accused separately. Musharraf has been living in Dubai since 2016 when he was allowed to leave the country on pretext of medical treatment. Sacked Delhi minister Kapil Mishra had made allegation of bribery and nepotism against AAP's Satyendra Jain. By Ankit Tyagi: Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain filed a criminal defamation case against Kapil Mishra and BJP-SAD MLA Manjinder S Sirsa in Tis Hazari court in New Delhi for levelling baseless allegation of corruption. Mishra had made allegation of bribery and nepotism against Jain. He had alleged that he saw Jain giving Rs 2 crore in cash to CM Arvind Kejriwal at his official residence. He also attacked Jain and alleged Jain helped Kejriwal's relatives to clinch land deals in Delhi. advertisement Manjinder S Sirsa has alleged he had information about Rs seven crore bribe that Jain had asked from someone. Ever since Mishra was removed from the Delhi Cabinet and subsequently suspended, he has been attacking Arvind Kejriwal and Satyendra Jain. Satyendra Jain is also facing ED and IT department investigations in alleged money laundering and hawala transactions by companies owned by him. These investigations are of the time before he entered politics and became a minister in Arvind Kejriwal government. Also Read: Kapil Mishra promises to expose Arvind Kejriwal's biggest lie today Arvind Kejriwal barely goes to CM office but has time to watch Sarkar 3: Kapil Mishra Kapil Mishra faints after calling Arvind Kejriwal corrupt; AAP blames BJP, Congress demands probe Kapil Mishra fires 'donation scam' salvo at Kejriwal, AAP deflects it towards BJP, Congress Kapil Mishra threat calls bare virtual calling racket 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 --- ENDS --- Pakistan on Friday filed a plea in the ICJ to rehear within six weeks the case of alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court. Dunya News said Pakistan was set to re-challenge the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice after it granted injunction on Thursday on an Indian plea to stay Jadhav's execution. According to law, Jadhav can challenge till the end of Saturday his death sentence in an appellate court. A military court sentenced him to death on April 10 on spying and terrorism charges. Within 60 days of the verdict of the appellate court, the inmate can make a clemency appeal to the Chief of the Pakistan Army, Dunya said. A death row inmate is permitted to make the final clemency appeal to the Pakistan President within 90 days of the Army chief's order. North Korea has feted the scientists and technicians behind its latest missile launch with a parade on the streets of Pyongyang, the state news agency reported on Friday. Thousands of citizens gathered on Thursday to cheer on the scientists over the successful launch of Hwasong 12, the medium-range missile fired on Sunday, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. "Streets of the capital city of Pyongyang were full of festive atmosphere to greet the scientists of national defence," it added. Adults, students and children cheered at a convoy of buses carrying the scientists to Mansu Hill, where they offered flowers to the statues of former leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il before being greeted by the vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Ri Man-gon, Efe news reported. North Korea on Sunday launched the Hwasong-12, the projectile that has shown the best performance so far aside from its space rockets, in what the international community suspects to have been a covert missiles test. The missile traveled almost 800 km and may have exceeded 4,000 km if it had been launched at a more perpendicular angle, according to experts. This data underlines the progress made by Pyongyang in its efforts to develop an intercontinental nuclear missile in the future that can reach the US and serve as a deterrent. The Swedish prosecutor's office announced on Friday that an investigation against Wikileaks founder Julian Assange for alleged rape has been closed. In a statement, the office said Chief Prosecutor Marianne Ny had decided to shut down the investigation and that details would be made available later at a press conference, Efe news reported. The preliminary investigation on Assange, 44, was opened in 2010. He has been living at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London since 2012, where he sought refuge as he feared he would be arrested in Sweden on the rape charge and extradited to the US as he is wanted for revealing secret government documents. A US court sentenced two men to three years in prison for severely beating a Sikh man in California and cutting off his hair. Chase B Little and Colton T Leblanc, both of Texas, pleaded no contest to felony assault and committing a hate crime against Maan Singh Khalsa during last year's September 25 attack, the New York Times reported on Thursday. "Both men went out of their way to cut Khalsa's hair, which he maintained unshorn as part of his Sikh faith, 'making this so clearly a hate crime'," said Prosecutor Simon O'Connell of the Contra Costa County District Attorney's office. Khalsa, 42, appeared before Judge Patricia Scanlon during the hearing in Martinez, California, on Thursday and recalled details of the frightening attack. "Cutting a Sikh's hair is one of the most humiliating things anyone can do to a Sikh. The attackers did not just attack my body, they attacked my dignity, my spirit, my faith, my religion and my entire community," Khalsa said. Authorities said Khalsa was driving home on the night of the attack and stopped at a red light in Richmond, near Berkeley, when a car, occupied by five people, pulled up next to him. As beer cans were thrown at Khalsa, a motorist nearby called 911. When the light turned green, Khalsa drove off and called 911 as the truck followed him. While he stopped at another red light, two men got out of the truck, ran up to Khalsa's car and repeatedly punched his face and yelled profanities. "My attackers hit me with their fists, knocked off my turban, and yelled, 'Cut hishair'," Khalsa said in a statement. "They yanked my hair through the window and used a knife to saw parts of it." He also sustained a black eye, tooth damage and knife wounds. Part of his little finger was later amputated because of an infection from one of the wounds, the daily reported. Khalsa, an IT specialist at the Social Security Administration, said he emigrated from India in 2003 and always considered himself an American "like everyone else." "I had never worried about being a victim of prejudice," Khalsa said. The finding that the attack was a hate crime was crucial in this case, Prosecutor O'Connell said on Thursday. "That really sent a message to the community to say that this sort of crime won't be tolerated and will be taken seriously," he said. O'Connell said Little and Leblanc had no affiliation with hate groups and had no remorse to their prison sentences. 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 ... Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that if military drills by India and Singapore are for the benefits of regional peace and stability, then China have no opposition. By Ananth Krishnan: As India and Singapore hold rare military drills in the South China Sea this week, China on Friday said it wasn't opposed to "normal" exchanges but warned that the exercises "should not hurt the interests of other countries". "If such exercises and cooperation are for the benefits of regional peace and stability, then we have no opposition," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said when asked for China's response by Indian media at a daily briefing. advertisement "We hold a very open attitude to normal exchanges between countries," Hua said in response to the question. "We just hope when relevant countries conduct such exchange and cooperation they should bear in mind such activities not hurt the interests of other countries or have a negative impact to regional peace and stability," Hua said. Indian Navy's ships Shivalik, Sahyadri, Jyoti and Kamorta and one P8-I Maritime Patrol and Anti-Submarine Warfare aircraft are participating in the Simbex-17 (Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercises) drills. The ships are under the command of Rear Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta, YSM, VSM, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, the Indian Navy said. SIMBEX-17 AIMED AT INCREASING INTEROPERABILITY The Navy said this year's exercises are being held in the South China Sea and are aimed at "increasing interoperability" between the two navies and also "developing common understanding and procedures for maritime security operations". "The thrust of exercises at sea this year would be on Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), integrated operations with Surface, Air and Sub-surface forces, Air Defence and Surface Encounter Exercises," a statement said. The week-long exercises came as China held talks with Singapore and the nine other other ASEAN countries on Thursday in the southern city of Guiyang. State media said a draft framework agreement on a code of conduct to prevent clashes in the disputed South China Sea had been agreed. While Singapore enjoys close economic ties with China and is not a direct party to the dispute unlike fellow ASEAN members most notably Vietnam and the Philippines, it has recently voiced concern on the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea's waters, given the importance of global trade to its economy, and has also stepped up its already close military ties with the U.S. ALSO READ: Philippines hails India's South China Sea support as Modi heads to China India asserts itself on South China Sea issue China installs rocket launchers on disputed South China Sea island, says report --- ENDS --- Organisation: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Position No.: UNOPS/LICA/CBI Vacancy Notice: UNHCR/Uganda/LICA/012017 Reports to: Senior CBI Officer Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda About UNHCR: The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. UNHCRs mandate under the Statute of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is to lead and co-ordinate action for international protection to refugees; seek permanent solutions for the problems of refugees and safeguard refugee rights and well-being. UNHCR has an additional mandate concerning issues of statelessness, as it is given a designated role under Article 11 of the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. Job Summary: The CBI Information/Data Management Associate will take overall leadership and guidance from the Senior CBI Officer, responsible for tracking, organizing, updating and managing all CBI related data/information and ensuring that such data is readily available for various program functions such as reporting, data analysis, proposal development and sharing with internal and external colleagues and partners. The incumbent will work closely with and support CBI information management across the various UNHCR thematic sectors particularly education, health, shelter, livelihoods, food security, nutrition, emergency response and durable solutions. The jobholder will also be responsible for supporting partners in information management and ensuring that monitoring activities are undertaken in a consistent and timely manner. The CBI Information/Data Management Associate will be based in the CBI unit in Kampala and will be required to undertake frequent travels to the field. Key Performance Indicators: Track, organize and manage all data related to CBI and ensure that such data is adequately verified, updated and made available to members of the CBI unit and other program colleagues upon request. In collaboration with all functional units, participate in assessments undertaken in support of CBI programs such as beneficiary assessments, market assessments and feasibility assessments and take the lead in managing data during such assessments. Follow-up with sub-offices and partners to ensure that monitoring data/reports are regularly collected and captured in a timely manner and updated in existing UNHCR corporate databases. Participate in training programs and building the capacity of partners in using and administering assessment tools, monitoring tools and effectively capturing data related to CBI programs. Participate in compiling reports and other documents related to CBI programs in the country. Undertake regular field missions to monitor the implementation of CBI programs. Perform any other duties as delegated by the Senior CBI Officer. Experience: Qualifications, Skills andExperience: The ideal candidate for the United Nations UNHCR CBI Information/Data Management Associate job opportunity should hold a University degree in Economics, Statistics, Information Technology, social sciences or any other related field. At least three (3) years working experience in public, private, national or international organization or business with a focus on Information Management Strong data management and analytical skills with demonstrated experience including in quantitative methods is a requirement. Basic Information Technology skills are desirable but not a prerequisite. Good knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation processes in project management. Excellent skills and demonstrated experience in using excel spreadsheets including other software and databases used for data management and analysis. Previous exposure, experience and knowledge in financial service industries e.g. mobile money solutions, electronic/digital banking systems and rural banking/financial services is an added advantage. Ability to see tasks through completion with professional integrity. Ability to organise work according to established plans, allocating time and resources. Show commitment to participates in team/unit tasks and complete assigned responsibilities. Ability to engage well with peers and immediate work group to ensure overall team assignments are successful as needed. Ability to pursue open channels of communication with other teams and relevant partners, and actively promote ideas and manage information flow. Willingness to exhibit self-awareness and the need for development. Ability to use critical thinking to identify solutions through inter-relationships. Ability to analyse and compile data into relevant and understandable information . Demonstrate interest in and ability to work with software and technology tools. How to Apply: All interested Ugandan nationals who wish to join the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the aforementioned capacity are encouraged to click on the link below and follow the application instructions after reviewing the job details. nd May 2017 Deadline: 22May2017 The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a money laundering case against Karti Chidambaram, son of former finance minister P. Chidambaram, and others taking cognisance of a recent CBI FIR against them. Officials said the central probe agency registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), ED's equivalent of a police FIR, against the accused named in the CBI complaint including Karti, INX media and its directors, Peter and Indrani Mukerjea, and others. The ECIR has been registered under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), they said. They said the ED will probe the alleged "proceeds of crime" generated in this case and may also attach assets of the various accused. It is the ED which had provided information about the alleged illegal payments made by INX media, based on which the CBI had filed its FIR. The CBI, on Tuesday, had carried out searches at the homes and offices of Karti across four cities for allegedly receiving money from the media firm owned by the Mukerjeas to scuttle a tax probe. The Chidambarams had denied all the charges made against them. The CBI had filed an FIR against Karti and the Mukerjeas 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. The CBI had also recovered vouchers of Rs 10 lakh which were allegedly paid for the services. These vouchers were issued in favour of Advantage Strategic Consulting (P) Limited, a firm "indirectly" owned by Karti, the CBI had alleged. The senior Chidambaram, after the CBI searches on May 16, had issued a strong statement in response to the raids saying 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 had said. The CBI FIR was made out against Karti, his company Chess Management Services, the Mukerjeas (currently in jail on charges of murder their daughter Sheena Bora), INX Media, Advantage Strategic Consulting Services and its director Padma Vishwanathan. Meanwhile, Karti left for London on Thursday for what his father described as a scheduled trip. "Karti is travelling as per earlier travel plans. He will return after a few days. There is no ban on his travel," his father and senior Congress leader said Chidambaram. Central Bureau of Investigation has been opposing the bail plea alleging that Bandopadhyay was an influential person who could hamper the probe in the multi-crore Rose Valley chit fund scam once out of jail. By Indrajit Kundu: The Odisha High Court on Friday granted bail to arrested Trinamool Congress MP Sudip Bandopadhyay on medical grounds. Bandopadhyay, who has spent more than four months in jail had been arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection to the multi-crore Rose Valley chit fund scam in January this year. The TMC MP had made an appeal before the High Court after lower courts rejected his bail application. The central agency has been opposing the bail plea alleging that Bandopadhyay was an "influential" person who could hamper the probe once out of jail. In CBI custody after his arrest, the ailing Trinamool Congress MP have spent most of his time at a hospital in Bhubaneswar due to failing health. advertisement The MP was granted bail on that condition that he will submit his passport with the probe agency and not leave the country. "He has to deposit of Rs 25 lakh in cash as surety. He has also been asked to surrender his passport till the decision of the trial court. Court has asked him to co-operate with the investigation," Bandopadhyay's lawyers informed. Reacting to the development, Bandopadhyay's wife and Trinamool Congress MLA Naina Bandopadhyay said, "He is extremely unwell. We are very worried about his health. I've nothing to say." The CBI has named Bandopadhyay in its supplementary chargesheet filed last month in the Rs 17,000 crore chit fund scam. In its chargesheet, the central agency has stated that the lawmaker had indulged in "criminal conspiracy" with the promoter of the Rose Valley group and "abused their official position" as MPs and "participated and aided the illegal fund collection business" of the company. Bandyopadhyay has been charged under Indian Penal Code sections 420 (cheating), 408 (criminal breach of trust), 120b (criminal conspiracy) and 34 (common intention) and various sections of Prize, Chits and Money Circulation (Banning) Act of 1978. West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee had termed Bandopadhyay's arrest as a "political vendetta". During her recent trip to Odisha, Banerjee met the ailing MP who is undergoing treatment at a Bhubaneswar hospital. ALSO READ: Chit-fund scam: TMC MP Sudip Bandopadhyay being questioned by CBI Tapas Pal pleads innocence, says Babul Supriyo involved in Rose Valley Chit fund scamRose Valley Chit Fund: TMC MP Tapas Pal pleads innocence, says court proceedings will prove things --- ENDS --- The Election Commission of India (ECI) will hold a live demonstration of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail system (VVPATs) tomorrow in Delhi. There will also be a press conference on the "EVM challenge". Earlier this week, the poll panel had said it would offer an opportunity to the political parties to prove that EVMs used in the recently held assembly polls were tampered with or can be tampered even with laid down safeguards. The ECI also convened an all-party meeting over the issue of EVM and other electoral reforms. In its communication to the presidents of all the seven national and 48 state political parties, the poll panel sent a status paper on EVMs and VVPAT. Last month, sixteen opposition parties had urged the Election Commission to revert to the paper ballot system saying that the alleged tampering has created trust deficit in the credibility of the EVMs. However, the poll body has been maintaining that EVMs are tamper proof and cannot be manipulated. The Union Cabinet had given its nod to sanctioned funds of nearly Rs 3,200 crore to procure more than 16 lakh VVPATs as sought by the Election Commission. Besides EVMs, the meeting is expected to deliberate on making bribery in elections a cognisable offence, disqualification on framing of charges for the offences of bribery in elections and suggestions in VVPAT recount Rules. On Tuesday, the AAP, during a special session of the Delhi assembly, conducted a live demonstration on how EVMs can be tampered with. Reacting to the demonstration, the poll panel said the machine used to conduct live demonstration was a "look-alike" which was made to function in a "tampered" manner. A day before the all-party meeting, the AAP yesterday forwarded a new demand, calling for an all party committee to be formed under the monitoring of the Election Commission to ascertain whether EVMS were hacked in the recently held elections or not. Even as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague ordered to put on hold the execution of Kulbhushan Jadhav, the Indian national who has been sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court for alleged espionage, India on Friday said it still has no information about his appeal status. When pointed out that Jadhav's appeal period ends on Friday, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay said at a media briefing here: "We have no information but certainly the mother of Jadhav had sent a petition with the appeal through the High Commission of India and it was handed over to the Pakistani authorities." He said that Pakistan has also not responded to the request by the family members of Jadhav for visas so that they could go and meet him. Meanwhile, former attorney general Soli Sorabjee on Friday asserted that the verdict is just a small beginning and the matter should not be over-blown as the victory is yet to be achieved. "It is just a beginning of the good steps. But it is not the victory. This is the preliminary step. Of course it is something we should be happy about, but we should not over-blow it," said Sorabjee. He said the ICJ verdict on Jadhav proves that somewhere the ICJ believes there is substance in India's allegations. Commenting on the speculation being raised that whether Pakistan will accept the verdict passed by the ICJ or not, Sorabjee said Islamabad has no other option other than to accept the order. "Pakistan has to accept the order of the ICJ. Otherwise, it will be political suicide and Pakistan cannot afford to do that and I don't think it will do it," he said. Earlier on Thursday, the ICJ stayed the execution and upheld India's right to have consular access to the former naval officer who has been declared spy by the Pakistan and been awarded death sentence for espionage. Justice Ronny Abraham of the ICJ asserted that the case was indeed debatable, while also adding the ICJ had prime facie jurisdiction in the case. The final verdict in the case is expected in August. The only condition under which Jadhav now stands to face execution is if Islamabad does not comply with the ICJ's decision. India can then go to the Security Council, which may then decide upon measures to be taken to give effect to the judgement. Jaitley sends a political message by holding GST, defence meets in J&K by R Prasannan Kashmir may be in the throes of an insurgency and civil unrest, but for a couple of days, it was the security and finance capital of India. Arun Jaitley, who wears the twin hats of defence minister and finance minister, brought virtually the entire top echelons of both ministries to Srinagar. As finance minister he presided over the GST Council meeting which finalised the rates of taxes that will come into effect from next month; as defence minister he reviewed the situation both on the line of control and in the valley. Jaitley's idea was also to tell the world and Pakistan that Kashmir is as much part of the federal polity of India as any other state. But that message was bluntly spelt out by Kashmir's finance minister Haseeb Drabu who described the GST Council as India's first federal institution. The minister is learnt to have directed the army to adopt a twin-approachto strike back hard on the line of control, but be more carefulin dealing with the militancy within the valley. This is indicative of a deviation from the hard approachsuggested by the army chief on both the LoC and the valley. The army is already learnt to have upscaled its infantry deployment on the LoC. A few days prior to the minister's arrival, an additional battalion had been deployed on the LoC in the northern Kashmir. A new face in the team that landed in Srinagar was Sanjay Mitra. Though he was yet to take over as defence secretary, Jaitley pulled him along to Srinagar where they reviewed the situation with army chief General Bipin Rawat. Mitra has come in from the ministry of road transport and highways, and will take charge on May 24, the day the incumbent Mohan Kumar retires. Kumar had an eventful two-year term. He brought out a new procurement policy, supervised the contracts for Rafale fighters, Chinook and Apache helicopters and the M777 ultra-light howitzers, the first of which arrived on the day the minister and team were in Srinagar. Piyush Goyal happy with GST tax on solar, coal by Vijaya Pushkarna (File photo) Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal Fresh vegetables and fruits have by and large been listed under 'NIL' in the GST rate schedule for goods. But those that have been processed, even if some of them are only steamed or salted, have been slapped a five per cent tax. And somelike pineapples, guavas, mangoes that have been sun-driedfall in the 12 per cent category. There is no reason why the 14th GST Council meeting did that, but apparently sunshine as a resource is good for the government to impose tax on, and collect revenue from users. While the Council has kept coal in the five per cent slab, solar modules will be a whopping 18 per cent in terms of tax! But Piyush Goyal, minister for power, coal, renewable energy and mines, did not complain about the burden on the sunshine sector in energy. Quite the contrary, he happily welcomed it at a press conference on Friday. And he began the welcome with a reference to coal. The entire GST regime has been designed to bring down the cost of goods and aims at one nation, one tax to reduce corruption. he said, explaining that he was happy over the decision to keep coal in the per cent slab. But solar? A higher slab of 18 per cent for solar modules will not impact solar power tariffs. Tariffs for solar projects vary from project to project. The rice will be compensated by the decline in corruption and operation difficulties he explained! More so, Goyal pointed out that prices of solar and wind energy have hit record low and the industry was now ready to stand on its own feet without any support! Analyse that: higher taxes are okay if they bring down corruption. And higher taxes are okay if prices are low! Across the nation. During visit, Modi likely to urge Russia to 'convince' China on India's NSG entry By Rekha Dixit (File photo) PM Narendra Modi Among the various countries Prime minister Narendra Modi would be visiting during his summer outing overseas is Russia. Modi's visit to St Petersburg, Russia, is significant. India is special guest at the St Petersberg International Economic Forum. Russia (including the erstwhile USSR) is India's oldest strategic partner, a relationship which was based on five pillars of politicsdefence, civil nuclear energy, anti terrorism cooperation and space. Economy is the new and rather crucial pillar in the relationship. The two nations are celebrating the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relationships. Russia's new market for defence goods in Pakistan has India concerned. And while there was earlier concern that the new Russian-China axis may not spell good news for India, the talk in Delhi now is that India hopes to use this axis to its advantage. Is India asking Russia to get China to agree on India's membership to the Nuclear Security Group that India is coveting? India, they say, is holding the agreement on the development of Kudankulam nuclear plant (reactors 5 and 6) in Tamil Nadu till Russia gets China to agree. The ministry of external affairs has rushed to say there is not such thing happening. But the more important point to ponder over is this. Does Russia have that much clout with China? And if so, would it exercise it for India? Hailing the verdict by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case, Baloch Diaspora France President Ali Akbar Mengal said the decision is a "victory for humanity." Describing the ICJ verdict as a major victory for India and also a victory for justice and human rights, Mengal said, "The Pakistani government, intelligence agencies and the army have been carrying atrocities and acts of genocide against the Baloch people." Urging the United Nations and the international community to understand the double game of Pakistan, Mengal said,"Pakistan is a hub of terrorism as it is producing Islamic terrorism for the entire world. There exists thousands of training camps in Pakistan which are producing the next generation of terrorism." Mengal further demanded that Pakistan should be tried by the ICJ for genocide of the Baloch people as well. Referring to Osama Bin Laden's compound in the Pakistan military academy, Mengal called upon the international community to take action against Pakistan that is promoting religious terrorism across the world and the terrorists who are operating under the patronage of Pakistan intelligence agencies. The ICJ on Thursday stayed the execution of former Indian navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, sentenced to death by a Pakistan military court on charges of espionage and subversive activities. In its order indicating provisional measures, which was adopted unanimously, the court also stated the Pakistan government shall inform it of all measures taken in implementation of that order. Citing a report by the Human Rights Watch, Mengal said that more than 20,000 Baloch people went missing. Baloch people and activists have been consistently protesting against the CPEC, alleging that Pakistan is only concerned about exploiting the resources of Balochistan for Beijing and its advantage. Pakistan will get a new team of lawyers to put forward its case vigorously in the International Court of Justice against letting off alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, media reports quoted a top official as saying. Pakistan's Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz told the media that Pakistan's counsel had courageously presented their stance in the ICJ, which stayed the execution of Jadhav - in a let-down for Islamabad. According to Radio Pakistan, Aziz maintained that the ICJ did not order Pakistan to provide consular access to Jadhav, but has merely put forward an opinion. Jadhav was sentenced to death by a military court here on charges of espionage and terrorism. Aziz said a decision to provide consular access to Jadhav is yet to be made. "Pakistan's security is so important and we have to maintain our fundamental sovereign right," he said. Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told Pakistan Today that the issue of Jadhav concerns the nation's security and there will be no compromise on it. The minister said the "Indian spy" was convicted after fulfilling all necessary legal procedures and any decision on the matter will be taken keeping in view national security. "ICJ has only granted formal stay on the death sentence of Jadhav," he maintained. Turmoil in Brazil politics was further escalated as President Michel Temer refused to resign from his office following the Supreme Court's approval of investigating corruption scandal allegation. Amid increasing calls for him to step down, the President took to live television to inform the citizens that he will not be resigning. The Supreme Court ordered investigation following claims that Temer was taped secretly discussing payments to House speaker Eduardo Cunha, who was jailed for his role in the massive Petrobras corruption scandal. The claims soon gave rise to calls for impeachment. Several prominent Brazilian politicians have been charged on grounds of corruption in recent times. Aecio Neves former presidential candidate was the latest to fall in a corruption scandal prompting a removal from his Senate seat. One of Temer's confidants, congressman Rocha Loures, was also dismissed from office after reports of his bribe negotiations surfaced. Having attained the status of a demigod, criticism is an unknown commodity for Rajinikanth. But, as he inches closer to political arena, he must prepare himself for the harsh realities of power politics. By Prabhash K Dutta: Rajinikanth is undoubtedly the tallest global star from India. His popularity is not limited to southern parts of the country and not even limited to the boundaries of India. Rajinikanth is the most popular Indian star in Southeast Asia and Japan. But, Rajinikanth may not enjoy the same adoration once he enters politics. For past some time, superstar Rajinikanth has been dropping enough hints of joining politics . Today, he took another step closer to his entry into political arena. advertisement Addressing his fans today in Chennai, Rajinikanth said, "...what do we do when the system is rotten, democracy has deteriorated. This system needs to be changed and a change has to be brought in the minds of people, then only will the country flourish." In what seemed like a clarion call to his supporters while the superstar prepares his strategy to take politics by storm in typical Rajinikanth style, he told his fans, "I have my profession, my job. I have some responsibilities and you have your jobs. Go back to your respective places and do your job. Let's meet when it's time for the war." POLITICAL UTTERANCES OF RAJINIKANTH Well aware of his own popularity in Tamil Nadu, Rajinikanth has largely stayed away from making political comments. But, his political comments in the past have decided the electoral outcomes in Tamil Nadu. Just before the 1996 Assembly election in Tamil Nadu, Rajinikanth had said, "If Jayalalithaa is voted back to power, even god cannot save Tamil Nadu." Jayalalithaa's AIADMK was routed in the Assembly election. However, in December last year after the death of Jayalalithaa, Rajinikanth called her a 'Kohinoor diamond' and regretted having made that statement 20 years ago. ACTORS AND TAMIL NADU POLITICS The Tamil superstars have proven to be the most formidable political personalities in the state. The last three biggest names of Tamil Nadu politics have come from Tamil films - MG Ramachandran, M Karunanidhi and J Jayalalithaa. Since late 1980s and early 1990s, Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi dominated the political spectre of Tamil Nadu. They shared power almost by rotation in the state. Now, with Jayalalithaa's death and deteriorating health of nonagenarian Karunanidhi, there seems to be a vacuum in Tamil Nadu politics. The AIADMK has failed to settle the succession issue in the party after Jayalalithaa's death and the result has been a visible chaos in the Tamil Nadu government. In DMK, MK Stalin seems no match to his father's popularity and political acumen. Further, the DMK is a divided house with various factions within the Karunanidhi family try to pull each other down. advertisement The time is ripe for the entry of another superstar into Tamil Nadu politics. There is a vacancy in Tamil Nadu politics. Rajinikanth seems to be eyeing that spot. WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR RAJINIKANTH Having been into films for over four decades, Rajinikanth has seen heights of adoration. He has seen fans queuing up for a few kilometres to have a glance of their favourite actor. But, politics is a different ball game altogether. It does not go according to a pre-written script. The script of politics plays out in Chanakyan style with opponents adopting every trick to malign a leader. Rajinikanth is yet to announce a political party of his own. It is not clear if he will float his own political party or join an existing party. Rajinikanth spoke favourably of DMK leader MK Stalin but his proximity to Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also known. To win an election, Rajinikanth needs to have a political set up in place. He needs to create a structure and organisation for his yet to be announced political outfit. One-man-army looks good in films, but in politics Rajinikanth will have to find capable lieutenants to spread his political vision. advertisement REACTIONS OF PARTIES Rajinikanth's hint about his entry into politics has already given an indication as to what he may have to face. Talking to India Today, Rajinikanth's co-actor in films and Congress leader Nagma said that the superstar wouldn't find it as easy as films. Nagma had recently met Rajinikanth and posted a photograph with him on social media. But, Rajinikanth is said to be 'not inclined' towards Congress. On the other hand, the BJP is sounding upbeat hoping that Rajinikanth will join the party thanks to 'speculated' good equation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi had met Rajinikanth during his election campaign for the 2014 general elections. But, Rajinikanth had stayed away from endorsing Modi in the run up to the polls. If Rajinikanth does not join the BJP and decides to chart his own path, he may also see the BJP and PM Modi as opponent. Rajinikanth's every action and speech will be judged and question asked. Only a few days ago Subramanian Swamy of the BJP said that Rajinikanth to stay out of politics. Swamy said that Rajinikanth's 'sense of politics is very bad'. advertisement Swamy even said that Rajinikanth 'is not well educated.' Thalaivar Rajinikanth should come prepared for harsh realities of politics. ALSO READ | Thalaivar Rajinikanth drops biggest ever hint on joining politics: System rotten, needs revamp. Get ready for war Politics to join Rajinikanth?! Tamil superstar may launch own party; don't do it, says friend Amitabh Bachchan ALSO WATCH | Rajinikanth does not clarify on joining politics, but says get ready for war --- ENDS --- A look at the powers and limits of Robert Muellers new job as special counsel looking at possible links between Russia and Trump campaign associates. Q. What will Mueller do as special counsel? A. Mueller is supposed to carry on the investigation that former FBI Director James Comey told Congress about before he was fired by President Donald Trump. That includes any links between Trump campaign associates and Russia, as well as any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation, according to the letter appointing him. Q. What are a special counsels powers? A. Under Justice Department regulations, a special counsel has all the authority of a U.S. attorney, including the ability to initiate investigations, subpoena records and bring criminal charges. One difference, however: Special counsels get to choose whether they inform the Justice Department what theyre up to. Before taking significant actions, however, the special counsel must notify the attorney general. Q. Could a special counsel investigate things beyond simply the Russia connection? A. Mueller has a broad mandate to determine the course of an investigation, but not an unlimited one. If he decides that something outside the scope of the letter appointing him needs investigating, he would have to ask for permission to expand his probe. Q. Whats the difference between a special counsel and a special prosecutor or an independent counsel? A. Independent counsels or special prosecutors dont exist anymore. These are titles that were established by law following Watergate, and they expired in 1999. The Justice Department created regulations to keep the concept alive in the form of the special counsel. Patrick Fitzgerald, the former U.S. attorney appointed to investigate the outing of CIA agent Valerie Plame, was one. Q. Who will work for the special counsel, and what sort of budget will Mueller have? A. The Justice Department is supposed to supply staff for a special counsel but Mueller can request specific people, or request the hiring of staff from outside the Justice Department. While working for Mueller, the staff will report to no one else. Mueller will have to propose a budget to the Justice Department within the next 60 days and update it annually, for as long as the investigation runs. There is no expiration date for Muellers authority. Q. Could Trump fire Mueller? A. No, but Attorney General Jeff Sessions deputy, Rod Rosenstein, could. Special counsels can be fired only by the personal action of the attorney general. Since Sessions has recused himself from the Trump Russia investigation, Rosenstein who signed the letter appointing Mueller as acting attorney general is the only person with the authority to curtail Muellers work. Such a firing would require a finding of incapacity, misconduct or good cause. Whatever the reason, Rosenstein would have to inform Mueller in writing. Q. Will the results of the investigation become public? A. Not necessarily. When a special counsel closes shop, he or she must give the attorney general a confidential report explaining the decision to bring charges or drop the matter. The attorney general would have to notify Congress of the conclusion, but can decide whether to make the special counsels report public. (AP) By Press Trust of India: Raipur, May 18 (PTI) The Chhattisgarh police have arrested three people, two of them hailing from the neighbouring Odisha, and recovered a large quantity of explosive materials meant for the Naxals in the state. The development comes at a time when security forces are on high alert following the deadly attack on CRPF personnels last month. advertisement The explosive materials -- 300 electronic detonators, 150 gelatin sticks and four bundles of wires -- were recovered from Darbha (Bastar district) and Dornapal (Sukma district), Bastar superintendent of police Sheikh Arif Hussain told PTI. On May 4, acting on specific information, two men, Korra Chadi (20) of Malkangiri (Odisha) and Vijay Vishwas (26) of Sukma, were arrested from Jiram valley area under Darbha police station limits, he said. As many as 100 gelatin sticks and as many detonators besides wire were recovered from their possession, he said. The duo admitted to have received the explosive materials from Dawood Nakka (45) of Malkangiri. Nakka was arrested from Jhapra village under Dornapal police station limits in Sukma today, and 200 detonators, 50 gelatin sticks and wires were recovered, the SP said. Nakka revealed that he used to bring explosives from Telanagana and deliver them to Korra and Vijay who supplied them to the Naxals, he said. Further probe is on. PTI TKP KRK --- ENDS --- The U.S. Coast Guard is unloading cocaine in South Florida worth nearly $500 million from 20 separate seizures in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Coast Guard officials said in a news release Thursday the seizures totaled about 18.5 tons (16,856 kilograms) of cocaine. The recently seized drugs were brought to Port Everglades by the cutter Hamilton. Authorities say the cocaine was intercepted along the Central and South American coasts by Coast Guard cutters and a Royal Canadian Navy ship sailing with a Coast Guard team aboard. The eastern Pacific is a prime smuggling route for cocaine headed to Mexico, where it is typically brought into the U.S. Numerous suspected smugglers are being prosecuted by U.S. attorneys in California, along the East Coast and elsewhere as a result of the operations. (AP) Yhe following is a statement by NYPD Commissioner James P. ONeill regarding todays incident at Times Square: At approximately 1155 AM, a 2009 Honda Accord passenger vehicle mounted the sidewalk on the west side of 7th Avenue at West 42nd Street in Times Square. The vehicle, occupied by a male driver, proceeded to drive at a high rate of speed along the sidewalk from 42nd Street to 45th Street, striking a number of pedestrians along the way. The Honda eventually came to a stop on the northwest corner of West 45th Street, where it collided with a metal stanchion. Along the route, the subjects vehicle struck twenty-three pedestrians causing multiple injuries and one fatality. Twenty-two victims were removed to local hospitals. The driver, a 26-year-old male identified as Richard Rojas, a resident of the Bronx, was taken into custody at the scene. A preliminary investigation reveals that Rojas has two arrests for DWI-related incidents. Detectives are currently reviewing any other criminal history for the subject. Further investigation is ongoing. At this point, there is no indication that this incident was terrorism-related. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) (VIDEO IN EXTENDED ARTICLE) The attached video was taken late Thursday night in Jerusalems Old City, as Israeli and U.S. security personnel practiced with a mock Trump motorcade arriving at the Kosel. Witnesses at the Kosel tell YWN that the motorcade started at Shaar Yafo, travelled through the Old City, and stopped at the Kosel. This routine was done approximately 4 times starting at 11:30PM. As of 1:30AM, security personnel were still practicing. At least three choppers were hovering overhead. Dozens of U.S. Secret Service officers were on the ground directing the Israelis. As YWN has been reporting, Israel is in full preparation mode as President trump will be arriving in Israel on Monday, May 22. Trump is set to meet with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin in Jerusalem and lay a wreath at Yad Vashem. He will then deliver remarks at the Israel Museum. Later that day, he will meet privately with Prime Minister Netanyahu and have dinner with Netanyahu and his wife. The next day, Trump will spend time with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem, part of his effort to facilitate the end of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In Jerusalem, Trump is set to say a prayer at the Western Wall, becoming the first sitting U.S. President to visit the Kosel. Prior to visiting Israel, trump will visit Saudi Arabia on May 20, will meet with King Salman in Riyadh, and hold bilateral talks with the King, the Crown Prince and Deputy Crown Prince. Trump will hold bilateral meetings with the Gulf Cooperation Council, which consists of six energy rich Middle Eastern countries. The President will have lunch with leaders from more than 50 Muslim countries including Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted for alleged war crimes during a summit. Syria and Iran were not invited to the event as they are not part of a Saudi Arabian military alliance, that is being established to fight terrorism. There, Trump will give a speech about radical ideology and Islam. After Israel Trump will fly to the Vatican, followed by Belgium, and finally to Italy before returning back to the United States. Kever Rochel To Close For A Period Of Time During Trump Visit Jerusalem Light Rail Preparing For Trumps Visit And Jerusalem Day (YWN World Headquarters NYC) By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Five Towns Jewish Times Today was a scorcher, and here is the scenario: Reuvain, who normally wears a hat and jacket for Tefilah, visits a client at a location with difficult parking. He has to bring along equipment into the clients office. Reuvain decides to leave his hat and jacket in the car. Shimon greets him and responds that he cannot meet with him now. Reuvain is early, and he, Shimon, is going to Mincha now. Should Reuvain daven with Shimon without his hat and jacket? Or should he daven later with the proper dress? THE SOURCES The Gemorah in Shabbos 10a indicates that there is an obligation to wear a hat as one should daven in a manner that one greets a king. The halacha is codified in Shulchan Aruch Siman 91. The language of the Shulchan Aruch is that chachomim and their students should dress like this. However, the Kaf HaChaim (91:26) writes that it applies to everyone. The Sefer Chasidim #57 explains that the pasuk Prepare to meet Hashem, Oh Israel teaches us the obligation to dress properly before one davens in front of the King. Indeed, the Sefer Chassidim has strong words for those who only wear a hat on Shabbos. The Mishna Brurah (91:12) writes that in our times, one must wear a hat for davening and a yarmulkah would not suffice, because it is not proper to stand in this manner in front of important people. WHAT IF ONE WOULD MISS MINYAN ON ACCOUNT OF IT? If he has no hat and jacket and if he were to wait until he received one he will miss davening with a minyan, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach ztl (Halichos Shlomo 2:15) ruled that the Mitzvah of Hechon preparing oneself to stand before the King does not set aside Tefillah bTzibbur. Likewise, Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein Shlita ruled that he should daven without the hat and jacket (Chashukei Chemed Bechoros 44b). However, Rav Zilberstein qualifies this ruling as only when it was on account of an accident. But one who purposefully goes somewhere and he know that he will have to daven but does not take along his hat and jacket, he should not daven. The reason is that he is showing that he is mezalzel in the honor of Hashem. Rav Zilberstein explains that this was also the position of Rav Elyashiv ztl. DOES IT STILL APPLY IN THE POST KENNEDY WORLD? In the twenties, thirties, forties, fifties and early sixties everyone wore a hat. It is a debate as whether or not it was President Kennedy whose example as president caused the nation to stop wearing hats or whether it was just non-conformity in the 1960s and he was just part of it (See Neil Steinbergs book Hatless Jack: the President, the Fedora, and the History of American Style). In other words, was President Kennedy a siman or a siba? Regardless, nowadays people have stopped wearing hats. Some people therefore argue that the Mishna Brurah only applies when people wear formal dress. However, in modern times, no one greets the president of the United States while wearing a hat so this would no longer apply. One of my Rebbeim ztl counter-argued that if there was a law that one must keep their head covered, no one would be using a yarmulkah to fulfill this law. Since we do have such a law, it is proper to perform it while wearing a hat. IT WAS THE COMMUNISTS Rav Moshe Shternbuch (Teshuvos vhanhagos Vol. IV #26) argues that even though in Israel it is common practice to stand before important people without a hat and jacket this is irrelevant. He explains that they learned this practice from the other nations of the world who picked up the practice from the Communists. It is a communist ideal of everyone being absolutely equal that gave birth to the idea that one does not need to dress formally in front of important people. There is another aspect that one must dress like a Ben Torah. Indeed, the Talmud in Brachos 6b tells us that Rabbi Yehudah would take care to ensure that he was always dressed fittingly before davening. GETTING BACK TO OUR CASE If Reuvain could have davened later in a minyan with a hat and jacket (and he normally does so) then it would seem that he should daven later. Although there is a concept called Zrizin Makdimin lmitzvos, people who are fastidious jump to perform Mitzvos early, we do not see that this sets aside the Mitzvah of davening in proper attire. The author can be reached at [email protected] Vice President Mike Pence has stepped gingerly through the chaos engulfing the White House offering loyalty to his boss, while trying to avoid the spreading stain of scandal. It hasnt been easy, and its getting harder by the day. While some conservatives view Pence as a calming force in an administration mired in turmoil, Democrats are eager to tie him to President Donald Trumps vulnerabilities. The appointment of a special counsel to probe ties between Russia and Trumps campaign and associates has turned up the heat for everyone in Trumps orbit. And there are fresh questions about how much Pence knew as head of Trumps transition team. The vice president was under new scrutiny Thursday after reports that former National Security Adviser Mike Flynn in January alerted the transition team about a Justice Department inquiry into whether he was secretly working as a foreign lobbyist for Turkish interests. The White House has said Flynn was fired in February for lying to Pence about his contacts with Russias ambassador. An administration official said Thursday that Pence knew nothing about Flynns activities at the time and referred to the vice presidents comments in a Fox News interview in March in which Pence said, Hearing that story today was the first I heard of it. Democrats said that strained credibility. Pence was the head of the transition team that tapped Flynn for national security adviser. That is not good, said Stephanie Schriock, the president of EMILYs List, a Democratic group that backs female candidates who support abortion rights. Unlike his boss, who has raged in tweets and speeches, Pence has been careful in his comments about the multiple probes into the campaigns contacts with Russia. In the wake of Trumps abrupt dismissal of FBI Director James Comey, Pence has been circumspect. He has not publicly commented on the naming of former FBI Director Robert Mueller to serve as the special counsel investigating the allegations, and he only obliquely referred to the tumult surrounding the administration in a speech to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Thursday. Whatever Washington, D.C., may be focused on at any given time, rest assured, President Donald Trump will never stop fighting for the issues that matter most to the American people, he said. But the Comey episode has revived questions about whether Pence is out of the loop at the White House, or less than truthful in his public statements. When Trump ousted Comey, administration officials said the president only did so after receiving a memo from Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Pence reiterated those claims to reporters, saying again and again that the decision came only after Trump decided to accept and support Rosensteins recommendations. Two days later, Trump said in an interview with NBC News that he was planning to fire Comey anyway and had considered it since the start of his administration. Matt Schlapp, a veteran Republican consultant who leads the American Conservative Union, said Trumps candor and authenticity, attributes that helped get him elected, make it more difficult for Pence and other members of his team to stay in step. There are going to be these moments that, for the vice president and for everybody in the White House staff and the Trump orbit, when they explain something one way but thats not where the presidents head is on that. It will always be awkward, Schlapp said. My guess is this was an honest mistake and there is still deep respect between the president and the vice president. Asked how Pence advised the president on Comey, an administration official would not detail the conversations between the pair but stressed that the vice president supported the decision to fire the FBI head. The official who was not authorized to speak about Pences activities publicly, and agreed to be interviewed only on condition of anonymity also said Pence was not part of the presidents meeting last week with Russian diplomats, noting that he was on Capitol Hill for Senate business. The Comey firing represents a second rough patch for Pence. At the start of the administration, the vice president publicly defended Flynn against allegations that he had discussed sanctions with Russias ambassador to the U.S. before Trumps inauguration. Flynn had denied those conversations to Pence and other top officials; he was forced out after it was discovered that he had misled the vice president. Throughout the upheavals, Pence has maintained political life as usual. He has carved out a role as the administrations top lobbyist on Capitol Hill and was instrumental in helping Republicans pass a health care plan in the House. While Trump is away on his first foreign trip, Pence will be addressing graduates at a Pennsylvania Christian college and at Notre Dame while working on budget and policy issues in Washington. And political life never strays far from money. Pence this week registered a fundraising committee that enables him to cultivate donors outside of the presidents mostly low-dollar money network. The vice president is a far more traditional politician when it comes to raising money, and this group called the Great America Committee can collect up to $5,000 per donor and parcel out funds to candidates supportive of White House policies. (AP) The following is an unedited Politico article: Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner will be flying aboard Air Force One to Saudi Arabia with President Donald Trump on Friday, after receiving a rabbinical dispensation to travel on the Jewish Sabbath, according to a White House official. As practicing Orthodox Jews, Trumps daughter and son-in-law typically observe the weekly Shabbat holiday, unplugging from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. But they have made exceptions, on a few occasions, for their jobs. On Inauguration Day, they received the same kind of rabbinical pass to travel by car, an activity that is typically prohibited for observant Jews on the Sabbath. The rules can be broken in life-threatening situations, or if there is a safety concern, according to Jewish law. It was not clear on what grounds the exception was made to accompany the president on his first international trip. During the 2016 campaign, Kushner also broke Shabbat during the worst crisis to engulf Trump. He huddled with his father-in-law in Trump Tower after the release of the damaging Access Hollywood tape in October of 2016 that showed Trump bragging about kissing and groping women without their consent. Trumps first stop on his nine-day, five-country tour will be Saudi Arabia, a leg of the trip that Kushner has been deeply involved in organizing. In her new book, Women Who Work, Ivanka Trump writes about how her family observes the weekly Jewish holiday. From sundown Friday to Saturday night, my family and I observe the Shabbat, she wrote. During this time, we disconnect completely no emails, no TV, no phone calls, no Internet. We enjoy uninterrupted time together and its wonderful. She added: Its enormously important to unplug and devote that time to each other. We enjoy long meals together, we read, we take walks in the city, we nap, and just hang out. (Source: Politico) The Jerusalem District Court on Monday, 19 Iyar, held a session regarding the lawsuit from formerly chareidi persons against chareidi educational institutes. Dozens of now non-religious persons, are suing the state and chareidi education for failing to provide them with the tools to earn a livelihood since they were not taught secular subjects. The state sent third party notices to dozens of talmidei torah and yeshivos ketanos, fifty of which submitted extensive defense statement through the office of attorneys Kabiri, Nevo, Kedar and Blum. The letters of defense stated the petitioners claims have no legal or factual basis and that even the state itself did not have the right to submit the offensive third party notice against the chareidi mosdos. At the outset of the hearing, Justice Moshe Baram stated he is included to accept the position of the schools that responded since the petitioners are not operating on clear legal ground and he envisions the route chosen in the petition as being legally difficult and this is even prior to getting into the heart of case. Speaking off the record, the court suggested that in light of the serious charges being leveled by the chareidi mosdos in their response, and the allegations by petitioners, to withdraw the petition. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) Jerusalem is to become the first city in Israel with the new wireless millimeter-wave technology, which will bring with it an array of services including cameras, control and emergency services, parking solution, high-seed internet access to the city schools, free Wi-Fi service throughout the city, high-speed data transmission and more. Mayor Barkat: We place Jerusalem in line with the worlds leading smartest cities. The Jerusalem Municipality is the first authority in Israel to receive the approval of the Ministry of Communications for the establishment of an independent municipal wireless network. The wireless network will be based on millimeter wave technology, in order to avoid the deployment of fiber optic and transmission lines that are expensive, slow deployment and involve public hazards. Thanks to the new wireless network, the citys residents will benefit from data communications at a very high rate. The network will serve as the infrastructure for a smart city, among the services planned for the residents: deployment of a camera system, control services, security applications, emergency and municipal maintenance, smart parking solutions and traffic arrangements, fast internet access to the citys education system, free Wi-Fi throughout the city. With the help of the system, which will include HD and HD-4K cameras, the municipality will be able to view real-time events in hundreds of critical locations throughout the city, as will security forces. The frequencies used by the network are completely free and safe to use, the system is secure and there is no risk of infringement of privacy. The equipment has a very low radiation, lower than a standard home router, thanks to the high frequency and narrow beam. The Jerusalem Municipality intends to deploy the new municipal communications network within three months, and by the end of 2017 there will be dozens of active links. Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat said that from one of the oldest cities in the world, we are bringing out the most innovative news in the country, and the innovative technology we will establish in Jerusalem will enable us to upgrade many services to the residents. Eitan Barzilai, Head of the Economic and Business Development Administration, added that this is a significant technological breakthrough in smart city applications, and the new technology in the city is an advanced solution to the problem of the fiber optic layout that stems from the special geological structure of Jerusalem. To build a communications infrastructure for a smart and safe city. The municipal communications network will improve the security and quality of service to the residents, alongside a considerable savings in municipal expenses. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photo: Jerusalem City Hall spokesman unit) There are rumors of the coalition government falling as Health Minister Yaakov Litzman is flexing his political muscle. The machlokes stems from Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu planning to appoint former Accountant-General Michal Abadi-Boiangiu to the Civil Service Commissioner in place of Moshe Dayan, The Marker reports, a move strongly contested by Litzman. Michal Abadi-Boiangiu stepped down at the end of January of this year. Litzman in recent days met twice with PM Netanyahu, using the full weight of position to oppose the appointment. Civil service commissioner is an important appointment for the commission may approve or block appointments. According to reports, the meetings were difficult and Litzman has even threatened to leave the government. Michal Abadi-Boiangiu stepped down from the Finance Ministry after six years in the Accountant-General. She is known to be very close to PM Netanyahu. The bad blood between her and Litzman goes back some time, reaching it height surrounding the appointment of Prof. Zeev Rothstein as head of Hadassah Hospitals, with the latter being the personal appointment of Litzman. Abadi-Boiangiu fought tenaciously against the appointment. Litzman responded to the reports admitting his opposition to the appointment but denies he has or is threatening to bring down the government. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) The Chief Rabbinate of Israel fails to update its list of mohelim, Yediot Achronot reports, explaining some mohelim who have been suspended still appear on the list of certified mohelim. The report documents that while a mohels license may have been suspended, this is not reflected in the list which one may access on the Chief Rabbinate of Israel website, which many do after a son is born in search of a licensed approval mohel. Leading to the report is the publication of minutes from the Rabbinates Committee overseeing mohelim, in which errors made by a mohel are discussed and at times, documenting the revocation of his license to practice. However, the Rabbinate doesnt bother to update its list of recommended mohelim, which is made available to the public. YWN-ISRAEL adds that even if a mohels license is suspended, it is not always due to his performance, but for failing to properly supervise a mohel student or in another case, performing a bris on an 11-month-old, which the law requires be done by a physician. Officials responsible for the Rabbinate oversight committee insists the moment a mohels license is suspended, his name is removed from the recommended list. However, Yediots report shows this not to be the case. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) TIME magazine's latest cover showing photo manipulation of the White House and Russia's St Basil's Cathedral is a dig at US President Donald Trump's ties with Russia. But is the cover copied? By India Today Web Desk: TIME magazine's latest cover has caught everyone's attention as it takes a dig at the Trump presidency. However, an American humour magazine 'MAD' has accused TIME of copying the graphic on its cover. TIME's cover, with no cover line, has a photo manipulation of the White House and Russia's St Basil's Cathedral on Red Square. In the cover it seems as if Russia is 'taking over' the White House in a way taking a shot at US President Donald Trump's ties with Russia. TIMEs new cover: How Trumps loyalty test is straining Washington https://t.co/4ZQG16wS8f pic.twitter.com/tnng9Wy6km- TIME (@TIME) May 18, 2017 advertisement In a tweet, MAD magazine has claimed that TIME has copied its December 12,2016's cover. Once More, With Stealing Dept.TIME MAGAZINE RIPS OFF MAD MAGAZINE?https://t.co/dWYykrr4tJ pic.twitter.com/bfYrj2DpUb- MAD Magazine (@MADmagazine) May 18, 2017 Time's White House-Saint Cathedral cover came after the news that Trump has allegedly leaked sensitive information to the Russian foreign minister. The previous week, he had also sacked FBI Director James Comey amid reports that Comey sought to expand the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 US Presidential elections. Also read: Trump White House sees 'deep state' behind leaks, opposition Also read: White House plays down FBI's probe into Russian election meddling, defends Trump's wiretapping claim --- ENDS --- (PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE) A nine-year-old Jerusalem child was injured when a Samsung S4 exploded. He was taken to a Terem emergency clinic for treatment. He explained to doctors that he had the phone in his pocket when he began feeling that area getting hot. The child was on his way to school on Thursday morning 22 Iyar when he placed the phone in his pocket. It exploded and he ended up in the emergency room and then sent home to take a rest following the ordeal. Terems Dr. David Zlotnick reports the child arrived with his parents. After evaluating his condition, it was determined that he sustained second degree burns. The doctor adds that while they see such incidents from time-to-time, they still remain in the category of being uncommon. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photo Credit: Terem Clinics) (PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE) During routine roadwork in Herzliya on El Al Street, a policeman noticed what is described as kitchen parts and other items in the dirt removed from the ground. He immediately feared the items may be antiquities, and contacted the regional office of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), which responded to the scene and confirmed his suspicions. The experts identified items dating back to the Romans. As a result, the roadwork stopped and the site is not an antiquities site until cleared. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photo Credit: Police spokesman unit) There will be changes in Jerusalem light rail service during the upcoming visit of US President Donald Trump. On Monday, 26 Iyar, during the presidential visit, in line with Israel Police instructions, will operate on regular schedule most of the day. However, between the hours of 11:00AM 2:00PM there will be changes as follows: Service will continue from Pisgat Zeev (Northern capital) to Kikar Denya. During these hours service will be sporadic as per police assessment of the situation. There will not be any service at the Yafei Nof and Mt. Herzl stations. On Wednesday, 29 Iyar, because of the Jerusalem Day Parade, once again in line with police instructions, during the hours of 5:30PM and 8:15PM approximately, there will be limited service between Mt. Herzl and the Central Bus Station and between Pisgat Zeev and Ammunition Hill. During those hours, there will not be service between Ammunition Hill and the Central Bus Station. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) Ousted National Security Adviser Michael Flynn will not honor a subpoena issued by a Senate committee looking into Russias meddling in the 2016 presidential election, the panels chairman said Thursday. Republican Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina told reporters that Flynns lawyer has informed the panel he will not abide by a subpoena for private documents. The decision comes as no surprise, legal experts say, given that Flynn would be waiving his constitutional protection against self-incrimination by turning over personal documents to the committee. Flynn, though his lawyer, had earlier asked for immunity from unfair prosecution in exchange for agreeing to cooperate with the committee. Well figure out on Gen. Flynn what the next step if any is, Burr said. The Senate committee is one of several on Capitol Hill investigating possible collusion between Russia and President Donald Trumps 2016 campaign. Flynn is also the target of other congressional investigations as well as an ongoing FBI counterintelligence probe and a grand jury inquiry. Flynn was fired from his position as Trumps national security adviser in February. At the time, Trump said he fired Flynn because he misled senior administration officials, including the vice president, about his contacts with Russian officials. Nina Ginsberg, a veteran Washington defense attorney with extensive experience in national security cases, said that without an ironclad immunity deal from the committee, Flynn would have been exposed to questioning from investigators about any personal documents he gave up. Providing those records to the committee would provide authorities with a lot more information and the legal basis for questioning him about them, she said. (AP) An Israeli rights group suing Facebook on behalf of families of victims killed by Palestinian attackers says it will appeal the case after it was dismissed. Nitsana Darshan-Leitner said Thursday the New York court decision didnt address the issue of Facebook aiding and abetting terrorism. Among the plaintiffs are families of Americans Taylor Force, a 28-year-old veteran and 76-year-old Richard Lakin a peace activist killed by Palestinian attackers. Since 2015, Palestinians killed 42 Israelis, two visiting Americans and a British student. Israeli forces meanwhile killed 245 Palestinians. Israel says most of them were attackers. Israel blames the violence on incitement by Palestinian leaders compounded on social media sites glorifying bloodshed. Palestinians say it stems from anger over decades of Israeli rule in territory they claim for their state. (AP) Federal authorities say 83 members of the United Blood Nation gang have been indicted as part of a five-state crackdown on gang activity. A news release from the U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday said more than 600 federal, state and local law enforcement officers carried out the arrest warrants in Charlotte and other locations across North Carolina. Arrests were also made in South Carolina, Virginia, Florida and New York. A federal grand jury returned the indictments on Monday. Of the 83 people named in the indictments, officials said 27 are already behind bars and 10 are still at large. Prosecutors say gang members engaged in racketeering activity, including murder, attempted murder, narcotics distribution and firearms possession. The indictment also says gang members engaged in bank fraud and wire fraud. (AP) President Donald Trump said Thursday he did not ask FBI Director James Comey to end his investigation into Russias involvement in the 2016 election and possible collusion with the Trump campaign. Trump emphatically said no when asked during a joint news conference with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos in the White Houses East Room. Well, I respect the move but the entire thing has been a witch hunt, Trump said when asked about the investigation. There is no collusion between certainly myself and my campaign. But I can always speak for myself and the Russians, zero. I think it divides the country, I think we have a very divided country because of that and many other things. So I can tell you that we want to bring this great country of ours together. VIDEO BELOW: President Trump Asked If Hes Done Anything in Last 6 Months Worthy of a Criminal Investigation (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Two top Trump administration officials said Thursday that Americans demand for illicit narcotics is fueling violence in Mexico and must be reduced if cross-border security issues are to be addressed. Speaking after talks on combatting transnational crime with their Mexican counterparts, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly both said the United States bears significant responsibility for the problem. They said U.S. demand for opioids and other drugs is the prime driver of not only devastating overdose death tolls in the United States, but also of raging gang violence in Mexico. We Americans must own this problem, Tillerson told reporters. It is ours. He called for a comprehensive campaign against domestic drug addiction combined with stepped-up intelligence and information sharing with Mexico to disrupt drug traffickers by hitting production sites, transportation networks and their cash flows. There is no other market, it is all us, Tillerson said. But for us, Mexico wouldnt have a transnational organized crime problem. Kelly echoed those comments, saying that until the consumption of illicit drugs in the United States drops we are fighting a losing battle on the border. He said construction of President Donald Trumps promised border wall would have to be supplemented with drug demand reduction in the U.S. and greater coordination with Mexico to make a serious dent in the drug flow. Mexican Foreign Secretary Luis Videgaray and Secretary of Government Miguel Osorio agreed and said their government would take steps to improve cooperation as well as do more to prosecute gang members. Violence is not being addressed on our side, Osorio said. In accepting even partial American responsibility for the surge in drug violence and crime, Tillerson and Kelly appeared to take a page from the Obama administration, which had been criticized by some Republicans for blaming the United States for Mexicos problems. (AP) The Trump administration on Thursday announced plans to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement with Mexico and Canada a move that could shake up business across the continent. Heres whats at stake: WHAT IS NAFTA? Negotiated by President George H.W. Bush and signed into law by President Bill Clinton, NAFTA took effect on Jan. 1, 1994. The trade pact eliminated tariffs taxes on imports and other trade barriers among the United States, Canada and Mexico. The impact on some vulnerable U.S. industries was delayed. Tariffs on textiles and clothing, for instance, were phased out only gradually. So were many trade barriers in the auto industry. Supporters said the agreement would promote trade and create jobs across a North American single market. It would be, in other words, a victory for everyone. Critics countered that low-wage competition from Mexico would wipe out American factory jobs. In 1992, U.S. presidential candidate Ross Perot famously predicted a giant sucking sound as American jobs migrated south across the border. SO WHAT ACTUALLY DID HAPPEN? Trade among NAFTA countries exploded. But so did Americas trade deficit with Mexico. In 1993, the year before NAFTA took effect, the United States had sold Mexico $41.6 billion in goods and bought $39.9 billion for a trade surplus of $1.7 billion. In 2016, the U.S. had exported $231 billion in goods to Mexico (a 455 percent increase) and imported $294.2 billion (up 637 percent). That created a trade deficit in goods of more than $63 billion. Trump has invoked the trade gap to argue that naive American policymakers had been out-negotiated by their Mexican counterparts. But the trade gap has widened partly because American consumers are eager to buy relatively low-priced cars and other goods from Mexico. NAFTAs impact on the economy was more modest than partisans on either side of the debate had expected. In part, thats because trade represents a surprisingly small portion of the U.S. economy 28 per cent in 2015, according to the World Bank, one of the lowest shares in the world. And trade with Mexico is a smaller portion still. The Congressional Research Service has concluded that the impact of NAFTA on the U.S. economy has been relatively small. The Peterson Institute for International Economics, a pro-free trade think-tank in Washington, estimates that the U.S. loses about 203,000 jobs and gains 188,000 annually on account of two-way trade with Mexico. Thats a net loss of 15,000 jobs a year a mere rounding error in a country with 145 million jobs. WHAT DOES TRUMP WANT TO DO? The president has vowed to negotiate a better NAFTA or to walk away from the agreement if he cant get one. On Thursday, U.S. Trade Rep. Robert Lighthizer sent a letter to congressional leaders, starting 90 days of consultations with lawmakers over how to revamp the agreement. After that, talks with Canada and Mexico can begin. The two-page letter offered few details about what changes the administration would seek in the negotiations. Gary Hufbauer, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute, says the United States could seek modest technocratic changes, including provisions to update NAFTA to reflect technologies that have emerged since the original agreement was negotiated. Or it could take a more aggressive approach, putting pressure on Mexico to reduce the trade gap, perhaps by dropping a value-added tax Mexico slaps on goods coming across the border. (Mexico also imposes the tax on products Mexican companies sell domestically but not on products they export to the United States and other countries.) After NAFTA, automakers began producing small cars in Mexico and shipping them across the border to the United States. Mexican auto workers still earn less than $10 an hour, allowing manufacturers to keep small car prices low and affordable to U.S. families on a budget. But U.S. and other companies have built complicated supply chains that span the U.S.-Mexico border. They worry that their operations will be thrown into disarray by a major NAFTA rewrite or if Trump follows through on threats to pull out of the deal altogether and impose big tariffs on Mexican imports. Although they build cars in Mexico, U.S. companies also do a big business ($30 billion worth in 2015) shipping auto parts to Mexico. There also has been some speculation that the United States would seek separate deals with Canada and Mexico, rather than retaining a three-country arrangement. But Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray on Thursday told reporters that NAFTA is a trilateral treaty and must have a trilateral nature. That is our position. (AP) A Syrian military official said Friday that an aerial aggression by the U.S.-led coalition on a government military position near the border with Jordan the day before killed several soldiers and caused material damage. The strike was the first such close confrontation between U.S. forces and fighters backing President Bashar Assad and the development is likely to increase tensions in the war-torn country. The unnamed officials comments were carried by Syrian state TV a day after the strike. The U.S.-led coalition said Thursday that a U.S. airstrike hit pro-Syrian government forces it said posed a threat to American troops and allied rebels operating near the border with Jordan. The attack comes at a time when the U.S. presence in Syria is becoming more visible, mostly in the northern parts of the country where American troops are backing Kurdish-led forces fighting the Islamic State group. This flagrant aggression launched by the International coalition exposes the falsity of its allegation about fighting terrorism and undoubtedly demonstrates the reality of the Zionist-American project in the region, the Syrian official said. In Geneva meanwhile, Bashar al-Jaafari, the head of the Syrian delegation to the peace talks underway in the Swiss city, told reports there that he discussed the airstrike during a meeting Friday with the U.N. Special Envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura, describing the attack as state terrorism. In every meeting we remind the attendees that there is terrorism by terrorists and also terrorism by states committed against our country, al-Jaafari said. He was referring not only to Thursdays strike but also to others carried out by the U.S.-led coalition in recent months that have claimed the lives of civilians in areas held by the Islamic State group. The Syrian government, which has launched an offensive in the countrys south backed by its allies militias such as Iranian paramilitaries and the Lebanese Hezbollah group, has vowed to reach the border area with Iraq. That is likely to be opposed by the United States and its allies who back rebels fighting IS in the same area. A road between Iraq and Syria would facilitate the flow of assistance from Iran, which is a strong backer of Assad. The coalition said apparent Russian attempts to stop pro-Assad forces from moving toward Tanf, as well as warning shots and a show of force, had failed. American officials and Syrian activists said the strike took place in the desert near the border with Jordan, although it was unclear if it struck the Syrian army or just militias allied with the government. The Syrian military official said on Friday that the area attacked was a military position along the Tanf highway in the desert. The area around Tanf, where the borders of Jordan, Syria and Iraq meet, has been considered a de-conflicted zone, under an agreement between the U.S. and Russia that went into effect earlier this month. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said the U.S. will defend its troops in case of aggressive steps against them. He was asked if the airstrike increases the U.S. role in the Syrian war. The Syrian military official said that attempts to justify this attack by claiming that the targeted troops did not respond to the warning not to advance are categorically rejected. The Syrian official did not give a number for how many soldiers were killed and insisted that no other power has the right to decide in which areas the army can carry out operations. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group with activists on the ground, said the strike destroyed vehicles and killed eight militiamen. The government-controlled Syrian Central Military Media said there is an agreement between Syria, Russia and Iran about pushing ahead in the fight against IS in the desert toward the Iraqi border. It added that the Americans have no right to specify in which direction the Syrian army moves since it owns the land and has the right to spread the countrys sovereignty on all the land. The military media outlet added that the Americans had asked the Russia to pressure the Syrian army to stay 15 kilometers (9 miles) away from their illegitimate bases in Tanf. In an email to The Associated Press, the U.S.-led coalitions press office said that Syrian pro-government forces must now withdraw outside of the established de-confliction zone to avert further Coalition action and remove the threat to our forces. The statement added that the U.S.-led coalition forces will continue to defend themselves against IS or any other threat to the coalition or its allies in the area. (AP) During hot summer metro city like Mumbai hardly face any water cut, but there are tribal villages approximately 80-90km away from the Maximum city which are struggling for every drop of water. By Mayuresh Ganapatye: During hot summer metro city like Mumbai hardly face any water cut, but there are tribal villages approximately 80-90km away from the Maximum city which are struggling for every drop of water. Being so close to Mumbai, as compared to Marathwada, tribal people are facing lot of problems to get water every day. Dry wells, women balancing water buckets on their heads, small children helping their parents to fill the water. All these are really heart touching visuals from the tribal village near Mumbai called Bangar Wadi. advertisement To fetch water, a young man has entered in the empty well and with help of leaf he is filling water in a metal bucket. The way he climbs with that filled metal bucket is dangerous. But, water scarcity has forced these people to take this risk or go to that extent. DRY WELLS There are total 3 public wells in this village out of which two are totally dry. One well, which is at the entrance of village, gets water when any NGO or govt tanker comes and fills water in it. When we reached at that well, govt tanker had filled up water in the well and that's why there was crowd gathered around it. Such crowd is not a regular scene here as today was the second time govt tanker had come since April. Thus, every one wanted to fill up maximum buckets as early as possible. "Every year, we face this situation. Govt doesn't pay that much attention to our problem. They constructed two wells in our village, but it is of no use. Water doesn't remain in these wells for longer period." said a local villager Sitaram Bangar. After this, we moved to nearby village called More Wadi. This is another small tribal village with a population of approximately 100 to 140 people. When we reached here, people in anticipation of water tanker had already gathered with their buckets. Small children were also seen helping their elderly family members with their small contribution to fill up water in small buckets. People here were started queuing up as they got to know that NGO called Jeevan Jyot volunteers are coming up with water tanker. Once the water tanker came, the real race to fetch as much as water started. Because for them, every drop of water is very important. At More-Wadi, govt tanker has not come so far. These people had already requested govt several times. It is not the case that these villages face less rain. Here good rainfall happens that's why they grow rice crop. ROCKY UNDERGROUND SURFACE But, due to lack of soil and rocky underground surface, water holding capacity of soil has weakened and thus water gets drained away. advertisement "We are small group of like-minded people who have formed this NGO called Jeevan Jyot. From our personal contribution, we are providing the water to these tribal villagers for the past 5 years. I see lack of political will here, thus, these people are not getting good water supply. Instead of govt, we are providing them water thrice a week. But govt should come forward and do something concrete for them so that they will get permanent solution to this problem," said Sandesh Kadam of Jeevan Jyot NGO. Kate Wadi is also one of the tribal villages near More Wadi. Here since February, people are facing water scarcity. Villagers told us that they can't rely on govt water tankers as they don't come regularly. So to save water this village has come up with a rule. Out of three wells in this village, they keep one well untouched till November. After other two wells get dried in November end. They use this third well only for drinking water. Rule number two is very strict here which is every house in village will get only 4 buckets of drinking water. No one is allowed to fetch more. And for water for other purposes, they go three kilometre far to a small dam to fill the water. These people from past two months are digging up a big well in anticipation of water. Every day 40 people including females from village are doing a hard work for this well. They say if this well gets water their half the problems will get solved. And if it doesn't get water, then at least, this structure can store rain water which will be useful after rains. advertisement GOVT FAILS TO SOLVE WATER PROBLEM "Since before independence, our villages are facing problem of water in summer. Despite several requests, govt didn't come up with any concrete plan of water conservation. Since last many months, officials came and visited our village, promised us to dig up new well, but it has remained on paper only. Thus, finally with help of our villagers, we have dug up this place but so far we haven't got water here. But, we are hopeful," said Bhai Kate, a villager of Kate Wadi. The last village we visited was Kharbachi Wadi where water crisis is really big. This village is relatively on top as compared to other villages. advertisement Water holding capacity of soil is as good as nothing. They have dug-up borewell which also got dried, and now they are totally dependent on private water tankers as govt so far has not provided them any water tanker. They have constructed 10ft X10ft storage. Water tanker from NGO comes and fill this 2500-ltr storage. And once this tank is half-filled, all resident start fetching water. Here also, race to fill maximum water can be seen. Maximum members of family comes to fill the water. On front, young boys take charge to fetch water and then they passed filled buckets to other members of their families who fill the water in other storage. When govt can provide a solution to Marathwada by sending water train called 'Jal Doot', then why can't govt solve the water scarcity of these tribal villages? "Water problem during summer is old problem. But govt doesn't pay attention. If they can provide water to Marathwada via train, then, we are nearby Mumbai and have road, electricity in our village then why can't we get the same facility by govt?" questions young Kamal Katvar, a villager of Kharbachi Wadi tribal village. ALSO READ The never ending tale of farming crisis Groundwater level depletes in nearly 60% tehsils of Maharashtra --- ENDS --- Ever fancied being driven around in a car fit for a president? Well now you can, for the price of a family SUV. At his inauguration this week, new French President Emmanuel Macron waved to the crowds through the sunroof of the new DS7 Crossback, which will arrive in British showrooms next February. Flanked by police outriders, Macron took to the boulevards of Paris in a fetching 'ink blue' version of the SUV. New wave: French President Emmanuel Macron en route to his inauguration in a DS SUV The new DS 7 Crossback arrives in the UK early next year The model is the first DS off-roader since the marque became a stand-alone entity, rather than a slightly posher range of Citroens. But DS limousines have long had an association with French presidential and government service. AA device can predict when you'll break down After a year-long trial involving 10,000 customers, the AA has launched Car Genie, a device that predicts a third of breakdowns. The small black box plugs into the car's electronic diagnostics system and reads what's going on under the bonnet, transmitting details to the owner's mobile phone. The system costs 29 a year to AA members. Orders are now open for a limited edition version called La Premiere, which is priced at an ooh-la-la 42,000, with kit including active scan suspension to identify potholes and speed bumps ahead. There are also swivel headlamps, leather seats and lots of bling. Prices for the full range, which can be ordered from December, start at just less than 30,000 for the five-seater SUV, which has an eight-speed automatic gearbox and a choice of a 2l BlueHDi 180 hp diesel engine or a 1.6l 220 hp petrol. Volvo's new generation of diesel engines could be its last, says the firm's Swedish boss Hakan Samuelsson. They'll be around until 2023, but rules to crack down on nitrous oxides could make investment in cleaner diesel too expensive, he says. Presidential DS 7 Crossback arrives at the Elysee Palace. Order books for the first special edition DS7 Crossback are open now VAUXHALL'S 'YOUNG AT HEART' SUV IS TEMPTING OLDER DRIVERS I played the generation game this week with Vauxhall's latest model, the nifty five-seater Crossland X compact SUV. It's aimed primarily at young and 'young at heart' families parents aged 35 to 50 with one or two children who want a practical but stylish runaround to suit their active lifestyle you can also run your smartphone through its dashboard. Vauxhall's five-seater Crossland X compact SUV is aimed primarily at young and 'young at heart' families parents aged 35 to 50 with one or two children The dashboard of Vauxhall's Crossland X But older couples are being tempted, too, with the higher ride height and ease of getting in and out a bonus. I drove three and found them all nimble operators. The perky 1.2l 130 hp petrol, from 19,395, was especially fun to drive. The entry-level SE trim 1.2l 81 hp petrol (from 16,555) and a top-of-the-range six-speed manual 1.6l CDTi (21,380) are on sale now, with first deliveries in the summer. Vauxhall Crossland X's airy interior Vauxhall Crossland X on the road Jim Clark was my first boyhood racing hero. Now, a book celebrating his life and marking his death at just 32 in 1968 is helping keep his memory alive. A royalty from every sold copy of Jim Clark by Eric Dymock (above, 22.50, dovepublishing.co.uk) is being donated to raise funds for a museum in his honour in Duns in the Scottish Borders. Sir Jackie Stewart, who is among the contributors to the book, describes his friend Clark as 'the best driver I ever raced with and against'. British drivers behind the wheels of classic cars were out in force for the ultimate Italian Job this week the 1,000-mile epic Mille Miglia run. I saw 1billion of vintage vehicles lined up in Padova. MG arrives in Padova at end of the first leg of the epic 1,000 mile Mille Miglia run in Italy. Six cars in the Scuderia Classiche team included owners and competitors from Britain Competitors at the start of the 1,000 mile Mille Miglia event in Brescia, Italy By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, May 19 (PTI) Aadhaar-issuing authority UIDAI has asked research firm Centre for Internet and Society (CIS) to explain its sensational claim that 13 crore Aadhaar numbers were "leaked" and provide details of servers where they are stored. In a precursor to initiating a probe into the matter, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) also wants CIS to clarify just how much of such "sensitive data" are still with it or anyone else. advertisement The UIDAI -- which has vehemently denied any breach of its database -- shot off a letter to CIS yesterday asking for the details, including the servers where the downloaded "sensitive data" are residing and information about usage or sharing of such data. Underscoring the importance of bringing to justice those involved in "hacking such sensitive information", the UIDAI sought CIS "assistance" in this regard and has given it time till May 30 to revert on the issue. "Your report mentions 13 crore peoples data have been leaked. Please specify how much (of) this data have been downloaded by you or are in your possession, or in the possession of any other persons that you know," the UIDAI said in its communication to CIS. Interestingly, in what market watchers described as an apparent flip-flop, CIS has now clarified that there was no leak or breach of Aadhaar numbers, but rather public disclosure. Meanwhile, the UIDAI has quoted sections of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Aadhaar Act to emphasise that violation of the clauses are punishable with rigorous imprisonment of up to 10 years. "While your report suggests that there is a need to strengthen IT security of the government websites, it is also important that persons involved in hacking such sensitive information are brought to justice for which your assistance is required under the law," it said. The UIDAI has also sought technical details on how access was gained for the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) site -- one of the four portals where the alleged leak happened. When contacted, UIDAI CEO Ajay Bhushan Pandey said, "We do not comment on individual matters." The UIDAI has also asked for details of systems that were involved in downloading and storing of the sensitive data so that forensic examination of such machines can be conducted to assess the quantum and extent of damage to privacy of data. The UIDAI letter comes after a CIS report early this month which claimed that Aadhaar numbers and personal information of as many as 135 million Indians could have been leaked from four government portals due to lack of IT security practices. advertisement "Based on the numbers available on the websites looked at, estimated number of Aadhaar numbers leaked through these four portals could be around 130-135 million," the report had said. However, in a apparent course correction on May 16, a day before the UIDAIs letter went out -- CIS updated its report and clarified that although the term leak was originally used 22 times in its report, it is "best characterised as an illegal data disclosure or publication and not a breach or a leak". CIS has also claimed that some of its findings were "misunderstood or misinterpreted" by the media, and that it never suggested that the biometric database had been breached. "We completely agree with both Dr Pandey (UIDAI CEO) and Sharma (Trai Chairman R S Sharma) that CIDR (Aadhaar central repository) has not been breached, nor is it suggested anywhere in the report," CIS said in its latest update. PTI MBI JM ARD --- ENDS --- Well read: Old Mutual's Richard Buxton is a fan of classic literature Sitting in a drawer in Richard Buxton's Islington home, there lies an unfinished thesis on John Milton's Paradise Lost. He'd packed in his first job in banking to return to Oxford to write it, but quickly realised that finance had entered his bloodstream. When he decided to quit a year later, his tutor, the esteemed literary don John Carey, told him he was welcome to come back any time and complete it. A glittering City career ensured he never did. Buxton, 53, is chief executive of Old Mutual Global Investors, and alongside Neil Woodford is the UK's most renowned fund manager. While the thesis has been gathering dust, he has been busily returning an impressive 86 per cent over the past decade, comfortably outperforming his peer group. But if sweatshirt-wearing Woodford is an unfussy chunk of English cheddar, then elegantly coiffed Buxton is a more sophisticated slice of creamy Brie. As well as his passion for 17th century English poetry, he's an opera buff, art lover and collector of paintings. While his fellow stock pickers take home spreadsheets for their bedtime reading, Buxton prefers to immerse himself in classic novels. Did I mention that he's also a gourmet chef? Friends say he's almost as proud of his salmon en croute as he is of his bulging 30billion portfolio. That is not to say he is aloof far from it. For all his fierce intellect, Buxton's a charming, approachable cove with a self-effacing sense of humour. He's uncomfortable being described as a 'star manager', insisting his fund is a team effort, though admits the tag is rather hard to get away from. His arrival at Old Mutual in 2013 from Schroders, where he'd risen to head of equities, was big news. Old Mutual's then chief executive Julian Ide had been wooing him for some time. 'Wooed' is a polite way of putting it. Harassed might be more accurate. It had come to a point where Buxton told his PA to stop taking his calls. He'd established a loyal following at Schroders and, when he relented to Ide's offer, it triggered a 1.5billion exodus from his fund. Buxton is said to be almost as proud of his salmon en croute as he is of his bulging 30billion portfolio Buxton favours a long-term, patient approach, usually sticking with a company for at least four years. Investment is an art rather than a science, he says, hence the benefit of his artistic background. Before picking a stock, long hours are spent poring over a company's management, and he isn't afraid to speak out publicly about a firm he's invested in. This week he hit out at excessive executive pay, while heaping praise on Lloyds chief Antonio Horta-Osorio for steering the bank back into private ownership. Born in South London, his father worked at Coutts & Co. Buxton Snr had joined the Queen's bank aged just 15 and risen to head of branch banking. The next rung up was chief executive, and since that position was reserved for family members he took early retirement. Richard chose to follow him into the City, landing a job after university with merchant bank Brown Shipley. Following that brief flirtation with academia, he joined Barings' UK equity team in 1990. When Nick Leeson brought the bank crashing down five years later, Buxton was put in charge of the Baring UK Equity Fund. By the time Buxton left in 2002, the previously languishing fund was a top-quartile performer. After spending 12 subsequent years at Schroders, he began to feel restless. He'd enjoyed his time there it was where he met his second wife Sarah (he has two children from his first marriage) but felt like a small cog in a giant wheel. The bank had diversified into a spiralling behemoth and equities were barely 6pc of the business. In Old Mutual, Buxton saw an opportunity to grow a business. He's never regretted it. He loves the culture and having all his team on one floor. It's certainly been kind to him financially. While he pays himself a 300,000 salary, analysts suggest his total pay package would likely be ten times that amount at least. Old Mutual will be his last job, but he refuses to put a finite point on when he might retire. Besides, the great thing about the fund management game is you get better with experience. Like Warren Buffett, Buxton doesn't rule out carrying on well into his advanced years. If not, there's always that Milton thesis that needs finishing. Cyber-security hasnt strayed too far from the headlines this week thanks to the WannaCry ransomware attack last weekend. The cyber-attack infected more than 200,000 computers in 150 countries, including some of those owned by various governments and healthcare providers. It wasnt just the big-hitters benefiting from the renewed focus on matters security: several AIM-listed cyber-security stocks have been in demand this week, with investors betting big that online protection is going to grow into an even larger market. Online menace: Cyber-security hasnt strayed too far from the headlines this week thanks to the WannaCry ransomware attack last weekend Corero Network Security which has a suite of protects designed to prevent distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack has jumped 11 per cent over the past five trading days to hit 8.9p. Fellow AIM-listed firm ECSC Group had an even better week, with shares up more than 20 per cent to trade at 482p. Sticking with the tech space, a collaboration with industry giant Google helped to power smart home solutions provider LightwaveRF much higher. The Birmingham-based firm has a range of devices which can monitor various things in the home such as heating, lighting and security. Thursdays news was that all of these products have now been launched on the Google Assistant voice control for the new Google Home device. It took a little while for the market to show some love for the RNS, but by this afternoon shares had added 66 per cent to sit around the 24p level. The wheel of fortune was less kind to Proxama, which was hammered by investors for three straight sessions. Shares tanked on Wednesday after the mobile commerce and marketing group revealed it wouldnt be selling off its digital payments division after all. Yesterday, Proxama said it would, however, be offloading DPD boss Mike Woods with immediate effect as part of the restructuring of the division, which sent the share price slipping even lower. Striking gold: A tie-up with mining giant Newmont saw Greatland Gold shares add 25 per cent or so to its value this week A further slide today meant that the stock was down more than 40 per cent for the week to 0.21p, making it one of the biggest fallers among the small caps. As evidenced above, its been a bit of a mixed bag for the junior market over the past few days. That was reflected in the AIM All Share Index, which finished the week broadly flat at 974.6. That wasnt enough to get one over the big boys though as the FTSE 100 marched higher, even hitting new all-time highs on Tuesday and Wednesday. The blue chip index gained 0.5 per cent, or 38 points, over the course of the week to reach 7,472. Away from technology, a tie-up with mining giant Newmont saw Greatland Gold shares add 25 per cent or so to its value this week. The gold miner said the deal could 'accelerate the realisation of the potential value' of the Ernest Giles project in Western Australia. New York-listed Newmont has been granted exclusive access to the tenements and exploration database for six months and has the right of first refusal should Greatland opt to sell or joint venture the asset in that period. Health boost: OptiBiotix launched its health supplements at Vitafoods Europe last weekend Life sciences group OptiBiotix Health was another on a good run this week. On Tuesday the group told investors that its health supplements were a massive hit when they were launched last weekend at Vitafoods Europe. In fact, OptiBiotix said companies at the trade fair were so impressed that draft orders had already been placed by firms looking to sell Optis cholesterol-reducing and weight-loss supplements. The momentum generated from that announcement carried on for the rest of the week, with shares climbing 17 per cent to 78.5p by today. As often seemed to be the case this week, it was one step forward for one stock and one step backward for another. A cautious AGM statement impacted software tools and cloud services provider Stilo International, which saw its shares shed the best part of 21 per cent to sit at 4.5p. At the meeting Stilos chairman David Ashman told investors that although the firm had received 'very encouraging' feedback from trial users of its AuthorBridge XML editing tool, it was clear that some features still needed work. 'As a consequence, AuthorBridge is not expected to contribute significantly to sales revenues in 2017,' Ashman said. Fast track: Technology firm Spinnaker Opportunities eschewed AIM to take a 1.2m London Stock Exchange standard listing UK Oil and Gas was another to finish the week lower as investors in the explorer, which is the largest stakeholder in Horse Hill, saw 6.5million flow out from their pockets today. The company raised the cash through a discounted share placing and it will use the funds to back its growth plans. Shares fell back towards the placing price of 0.8p and closed today at 0.85p, 12 per cent lower than a week earlier. Finally, veteran small-cap trouble-shooter turned entrepreneur, Andy Morrison, seems intent on fast-tracking his latest venture, which made its stock market debut earlier this week at 5p a share. Morrison is the chairman of and a leading investor in Spinnaker Opportunities, which eschewed AIM to take a 1.2m London Stock Exchange standard listing. Reverse takeover deals are already being sifted. It is understood that Morrison and his team have assessed opportunities in the oil and gas sector, mid-stream and down-stream energy and cleantech. So far they have seen around 30 different companies and have whittled that down to a long-list of seven to eight. Spinnaker is thought to be keeping the phone lines open for a further few weeks to assess another wave of potential deals. On Tuesday, in a red letter day for investors, the FTSE 100 passed the 7500 mark for the first time. It marked the climax of a strong run for the blue-chip index, which has gained around 2000 points in the past 15 months. Despite fears of waning investor sentiment since the EU referendum, the index has largely been pushed forward by a fall in the pound as many firms listed on it make their earnings overseas. But as the UK continues to navigate its way through an increasingly aggressive minefield of domestic and global political problems, can the FTSE's run last, or has the time to bet on Britain's blue-chips stocks now passed? One of the biggest short-term risks to the FTSE's well-being, perhaps, lies in next month's general election almost 46billion was wiped off its value when Theresa May called the vote last month. Markets hate uncertainty, and the FTSE is unlikely to get stability until it is clear who will lead the UK and how they will do it. But Michelle McGrade, chief investment officer at TD Direct Investing, believes the election is unlikely to hit the FTSE 100 too much, regardless of who wins. For investors particularly worried about timing their entry to the FTSE 100 due to short-term volatility, she advises having a diverse mix of stocks and investing regularly. She added: 'If you invest in a broad variety of FTSE 100 stocks regularly, this averages things out and allows you to count on the long-term forward movement of markets.' But long-term threats to the FTSE 100 also exist, namely, the UK's divorce from the EU. With Brexit sabre-rattling already upsetting markets on numerous occasions, one wonders whether such volatility will only increase when the UK's departure starts to take a more definite shape. Election fever: Markets hate uncertainty, and the FTSE is unlikely to get stability until it is clear who will lead the UK and how they will do it Ian Williams, economist and strategist at Peel Hunt, said many of the Brexit-related blips have come because companies are still learning how to react to it, and that common sense will prevail once the negotiations have progressed, with market reaction becoming more muted and easier to pin down. But perhaps the biggest threat comes from overseas in the form of a certain US president. Growing fears around Donald Trump's ability to deliver on pledges to cut taxes and raise infrastructure expenditure to $1trillion have already led the FTSE to retreat from the 7500 mark. However, with the FTSE 100's current 4 per cent dividend yield far surpassing the 1.2 per cent being offered by ten-year Government bonds, Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said it still makes sense to buy into UK companies. He added: 'If central banks around the world do finally stoke accelerated growth, then the FTSE 100's mix of banks, miners and oil firms make it as good as any to play such a trend.' Stephen Bailey, a fund manager at Liontrust Asset Management, said a way to avoid the question of whether or not the FTSE 100 will continue to rise is to focus on firms which are well suited to change. He said: 'Companies such as the life insurers are well placed to benefit from long-term changes, which will mean more demand for savings and pension products.' Who is it? Scisys designs bespoke computer software for companies in a range of industries, including the media, broadcast, space, government and defence. It provides a wide variety of services including space systems, radio production technology, IT for boats and the marine sector, and GPS and location services. Clients include the Ministry of Defence, the lifeboat charity RNLI, Interflora and the European Space Agency. What's the latest? In February it announced it had won a 1.6million contract to support the polar system earth observation programme run by the European satellite organisation EUMETSAT. A big step came in November last year, when Scisys's shares rocketed after it paid 9.7million for German firm Annova, which supplies newsroom software to major public and commercial broadcasters across Europe, and has a 12-year digital radio contract with the BBC. In its 2016 results, Scisys reported that its profit had risen to 3.2million from 0.8million in 2015, while revenues rose 27 per cent to 45.7million. Who backs it? Scisys's biggest shareholder is its non-executive chairman Michael Love, who owns a 14.8 per cent stake. It is also backed by London-based investor Herald Investment Management, which specialises in the media, telecommunications and technology sectors. Why you should invest The contract with the BBC is a significant one. The firm said it expects the impressive growth seen last year to continue in 2017, and will continue to look for more acquisition opportunities. So with the stock still looking quite cheap, it could be worth a punt before the announcement of further large-scale acquisitions. And why you shouldn't In June 2015 the firm lost a lot of its value when it issued a profit warning after learning that one of its key projects would be more expensive and complex than first thought. Although it has since recovered, this sort of major blip shows how tech firms operating in highly complex sectors can be hit hard by a single problem. The boss of Lloyds has celebrated its return to private hands by buying 36,000 of shares. Antonio Horta-Osorio, 53, snapped up 50,000 shares at 72.31p each, taking his total stock holding up to more than 17.9m, worth 12.7m. Something to smile about: Antonio Horta-Osorio took his total stock holding up to more than 17.9m, worth 12.7m Another 18.5m shares, worth 13.2m, could be his if he hits targets. He has already raked in 36.6m since he joined Lloyds in 2011. The purchase comes after the Treasury sold its final stake in the bank that it bailed out in 2008 with 20.3bn of taxpayers money. The pound pushed past $1.30 for the first time in eight months yesterday amid renewed faith in the UK economy and fears about Donald Trumps leadership of the US. It was as high as $1.3048, its strongest since September last year, before falling below $1.30 again. It was boosted in part by UK retail sales shooting up 2.3 per cent in April, surpassing analysts expectations. US stocks have suffered their worst sell-off since June as doubts continue over Trumps ability to deliver his campaign promises. Online takeaway ordering firm Just Eat is to face a full-blown investigation from the competition watchdog into its proposed 200million takeover of rival Hungryhouse. Just Eat and Hungryhouse are both takeaway ordering firms, working as middlemen between customers and restaurants by taking orders online and then taking responsibility for delivering the food. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said its initial probe into the acquisition found the two firms were close competitors because of the service they offer and their reach across the UK. The CMA has until November 2 to make a final decision on the takeover. On demand: Online takeaway ordering firm Just Eat is to face a full-blown investigation into its proposed 240m takeover of rival Hungryhouse Today the watchdog said that the merger could lead to worse terms for restaurants using either company due to diminished competition, adding that the deal will now undergo an in-depth merger investigation after Just Eat failed to address its concerns. Some commentators had argued that Just Eat and Hungryhouse would not wield too much power over the market because competition had been bolstered by a series of new entrants such as Deliveroo, Amazon Restaurants and UberEATS. But the CMA rejected the claim, saying these companies had a different operating model and therefore could not be considered direct rivals. London-based Just Eat announced its takeover of Hungryhouse last December, agreeing to pay 200million to Delivery Hero for Hungryhouse. It will also fork out another 40million, depending on performance. The CMA said: Both companies provide online takeaway ordering services. These give restaurants the opportunity to reach a wide pool of people, as well as offer customers the convenience of choosing from a large range of takeaway providers in one place. Following its initial investigation into the merger, the CMA has found that the companies are close competitors because of the similarity of their service and their broad geographical coverage. Pedal power: Just Eat and Hungryhouse argued that they would not wield too much power over the market because competition had been bolstered by new entrants such as Deliveroo The takeover deal is part of Just Eats acquisition spree, with the group also announcing the C$110million (66.1million) acquisition of Canadian firm SkipTheDishes. However Just Eat has undergone a big management upheaval, announcing last month that executive chairman John Hughes had to take a medical leave of absence just a month after chief executive David Buttress stood down because of urgent family matters with former chief financial officer Phil Harrison stepping in as interim chief executive. Gareth Ogden, partner at accountancy firm haysmacintyre, said that the CMA phase two investigation made sense given the dominance of these two companies. He said: 'The success of Just Eat and HungryHouse is primarily down to providing a huge variety of takeaway food options at consumers fingertips for quick and easy ordering, whilst removing the need to make an awkward call to a stranger. 'Online takeaway food ordering platforms have allowed the takeaway trade to increase the volume of orders and reach customers they may otherwise have struggled to connect with. 'However, there have been growing concerns about the balance of power under these arrangements with increasing commission rates, the sheer number of takeaway options on these platforms, cannibalisation of own takeaway sales and loss of restaurant identity and loyalty. 'Now this takeover could potentially spell further bad news for the industry with two such dominant players merging.' Just Eat said this month that sales rose 46 per cent to 118.9m in the three months to March 31. Last month, the company kept its guidance for full-year revenues unchanged at between 480million and 495million, and underlying earnings of between 157million and 163million. Shares in Just Eat fell by 5.5 per cent in early morning trading today on concerns that the firms order growth in the UK is slowing. In the UK, orders rose by just 17 per cent to 24million in the first three months of 2017, the lowest rate of annual growth since the company went public in 2014. Reactions to the 350,000 asking price for a tiny converted building at the back of a car park somewhat predictably included shock and an exclamation of 'how much'? But after a few seconds of absorbing the eye-watering price tag of the property behind a residents' block of flats in East London, no-one seemed surprised. For everyone we spoke to on a recent visit to the area agreed that with London prices as they currently stand, the property would likely sell. The studio in East London's Bethnal Green was on the market for sale for 350,000 We spoke to several local residents who initially described the price of the Bethnal Green studio measuring just 16.4 square metres as 'crazy' and 'ridiculous'. However, they all went on to reluctantly admit that despite its high asking price, the property would most likely sell given the demand for homes in the area. The studio was for sale with London estate agent Foxtons, which has since removed the property from its website, without indicating whether it had sold. Regardless, of which, the studio's listing highlights the extreme prices that buyers are expected to pay to own their own little bit of London property. It also shines a spotlight on the house price boom that has gripped East London over much of the past decade. The average price of a property in Bethnal Green is 671,000, having risen almost 17,000 during the past year, according to property website Zoopla. During the last five years, the price increases seen in the area are even more startling, up 178,000. Zoopla's website suggested that the studio could rent out for between 600 and 750 a month. Handy for parking: The leasehold property is at the back of a car park at the rear of a block of flats And handy for the bins too: The residents' rubbish area at the block of flats is next to the small studio property East London living: The block of flats where the studio can be found is called Museum House Arpit Patel, 30, grew up on the estate and runs a coffee shop at the front of Museum House - although he no longer lives on the premises and is not the owner of the studio property The entrance to the parking area at Museum House is at the side of the building The leasehold property is in the parking area at the rear of a residents' block of flats called Museum House. It has good transport links, being just minutes from Bethnal Green underground station. The studio has one reception room that includes a kitchen, with a separate shower room and a separate shower room. Foxtons' listing had described the property as 'bright' and 'charming'. Foxtons told us that photos of the interior of the studio were not available. The exterior could optimistically be described as shabby chic The average price of a property in Bethnal Green is 671,000, having risen almost 17,000 during the past year Many of the flats at Museum House are accessed from the parking area at the back of the block Local builder Mark Baylis, 55, who lives five minutes away and is working on a shop in the block that is owned by his girlfriend, said: 'There has been a lot of changes in this area. There is a much younger crowd living here now and house prices are going up. 'It seems like the studio was once a caretaker's lodge where visitors would go. It is the size of a garage.' I could only ever dream of buying a home here He added: 'Someone is clearly living there as we often see lights on. 'The asking price is ridiculous. It is going to get to the stage where local people cannot afford to live and buy here. It is becoming like the City where foreigners buy the properties and then rent them out.' Kawsar Ahmed, 26, who rents a property in the block, said: 'I'm surprised to hear the asking price. 'It has become a young area, but I now have a son and I'm moving out of the area as it is too expensive for families. I could only ever dream of buying a home here. And Arpit Patel, 30, who runs a coffee shop at the front of the block, described the asking price as 'crazy'. 'I grew up here but moved out when I started a family. When I was a child, the studio was used as a workshop for many years.' Rajeshree Patel, who owns Vicky's Newsagents in the block, said: 'I don't know about the price. It is a lot of money but properties around here have become expensive as it is near the Underground, which is something that attracts younger people. I like it here.' Foxtons declined to comment on the property and said its client did not wish to discuss the property. Pictures of the interior of the property were not available. It is no longer listed on the estate agent's website. Union minister Anil Dave's will reads that he doesn't want a memorial after he passes away but a tree planted in his memory. Dave passed away at 60 on Thursday. By Mail Today Bureau: Union minister Anil Madhav Dave said in his will, "Do not erect a memorial when I die, but plant a tree if you loved and respected me." Dave, who died in the Capital on Thursday at the age of 60, had also expressed the desire to be cremated on the banks of the Narmada, a river that was close to his heart and ran through his home state of Madhya Pradesh. Dave left a will in 2012 in which he said his body should be cremated on the banks of the Narmada, an official source said. advertisement A bachelor and a long-time RSS member, Dave was best known for crafting the BJP strategy that unseated Congress stalwart Digvijay Singh as Madhya Pradesh chief minister in 2003. DAVE KNOWN FOR HIS RIVER CONSERVATION WORK He was also known for his work in the field of river conservation. The Union Cabinet passed a condolence resolution on Thursday and observed a two-minute silence in his memory. The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had met in the afternoon to pass the resolution, the sources said. A senior doctor at AIIMS, where Dave was rushed after he complained of uneasiness on Thursday morning, said the minister suffered a cardiac arrest. He was declared dead at around 9.45am, the doctor informed. Former prime minister Manmohan Singh has also condoled the death of Anil Dave. "In his death our country has lost a very good parliamentarian and a popular leader. Dave will be remembered for his love for nature and commitment to conservation," Singh has said. Leaders cutting across party lines on Thursday have condoled the demise of the late Union minister and BJP leader remembering him as a soft-spoken, honestp person and a learned man. Also read: National flag to fly at half-mast as a mark of respect to Anil Madhav Dave Also read: Anil Madhav Dave, Union environment minister, dead; shocked at sudden demise of a friend, says PM Modi Also read: Anil Madhav Dave was passionate about Narmada river revival, often cycled to Parliament --- ENDS --- MANZINI Could the businessman have gunned himself down in a suicide attempt or has he been murdered? These are the questions relatives, family and friends are currently asking themselves after well-known businessman, Bongani Nkosi (50) allegedly shot himself twice in the right lower jaw yesterday morning. However, versions from friends and relatives tend to differ. allegations are that the businessman heard weird noises coming through his home at 3am yesterday and decided to walk out of the house through the bedroom he shared with his wife, only identified as LaMamba. The bedroom has a glass door and a balcony and he went out through it, to check who the people were and what they wanted. While outside, checking checking where the noise was coming from, he was shot twice; in the jaw and neck. Although weak, he tried going back to the house, however, he was walking backwards, his wife, who came running, held him from the back and took him back to the house, and when they got inside the bedroom, he fell to the floor and became unconscious, a well-placed source within the family, who refused to be named, said yesterday. Other people close to the businessman insist he killed himself, they further stated that as far as they knew, Nkosi did not have personal or rather financial problems which could force him to kill himself using his own gun. After the incident, the police were allegedly called at around 3:30am, however, when they got to the Dlamini homestead they found that Nkosi had been rushed to a private hospital. MATSAPHA The good news with the proposed conversion of SNPF to a pension scheme is that every employed Swazi will have a lifelong income even after retirement. This is because the national pension scheme, which is being proposed by the SNPF Bill, will compel all workers, whether in formal, informal, permanent, casual and even seasonal occupation, to be on a pension. The Swaziland National Provident Fund (SNPF) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Prince Lonkhokhela, said this during the funds first annual stakeholders forum, which was held at Esibayeni Lodge yesterday. The forum was officially opened by the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Winnie Magagula. He said the national pension scheme would be in line with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and International Social Security Association (ISSA) standards of including every worker in pension. All economically active people in the country are to be members of the national pension scheme. This will include civil servants, self employed, seasonal, domestic workers and informal sector workers, the CEO said. On top of that, he said the fund would not cancel existing schemes as occupational schemes, together with Public Service Pension Fund (PSPF) would serve as top schemes. Again, the CEO said migrant workers would also benefit from the national pension scheme. Currently, migrant workers, especially those working in the mines in South Africa, are members of funds from the neighbouring country. However, government is currently in talks with that of the neighbouring country over the remitting of deductions of the Swazis working there to the country. The nurses who set the ball rolling by threatening to strike and embarking on a go-slow. LOBAMBA Settle that E236 million drugs bill with immediate effect. This was a resolution made by the House of Assembly yesterday after Health Minister Sibongile Simelane finally revealed that government owed its drug suppliers E236 million and as a result, there was a drug shortage in the country. This was during a heated debate yesterday where Members of Parliament (MPs) called upon Cabinet to meet and resolve this crisis immediately. They called for the suspension of all other projects while this matter was being sorted, wondering what benefit would be achieved if the country had beautiful roads or buildings yet had a dying nation. This transpired during a four-hour debate after a Motion of Privilege was moved by Lobamba MP Michael Masilela, who said he had received a call from Piggs Peak informing him that a close relative of his had since passed on because of the lack of medication at the hospital. However, this did not go down well with the minister who said MP Masilela should withdraw that statement because he did not have proof that his brother had died because of the shortage of medication. Although Masilela withdrew the statement, he told the House that he was traumatised. First to support Masilela was Mbabane East MP Esther Dlamini, who said she and her Mbabane West colleague MP Johane Shongwe, had been called to the Mbabane Government Hospital where they experienced the reality of the shortage of drugs and said the situation was very terrible. Dlamini wondered what had caused the shortage of drugs because as Parliamentarians they had just passed the budget in March and, therefore, they were surprised to learn that there was no medication. The US has claimed that two Chinese Sukhoi-30 jets intercepted their aircraft while it was flying over East China Sea. Chinese foreign ministry is yet to respond to US's charge. By Reuters: Two Chinese SU-30 aircraft carried out what the US military described on Thursday as an "unprofessional" intercept of a US aircraft designed to detect radiation while it was flying in international airspace over the East China Sea. "The issue is being addressed with China through appropriate diplomatic and military channels," said Air Force spokeswoman Lieutenant Colonel Lori Hodge. Hodge said the US characterization of the incident was based on initial reports from the US aircrew aboard the WC-135 Constant Phoenix aircraft "due to the maneuvers by the Chinese pilot, as well as the speeds and proximity of both aircraft." advertisement "Distances always have a bearing on how we characterize interactions," Hodge said, adding a US military investigation into the intercept was underway. She said the WC-135 was carrying out a routine mission at the time and was operating in accordance with international law. Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying declined to comment on the specific incident and referred questions to the defense ministry which has yet to comment. "For a long time US ships and aircraft have been carrying out close up surveillance of China which can really easily cause misunderstandings or misjudgments or cause unexpected incidents at sea or in the air," she said. "We hope that the US side can respect China's reasonable security concerns." On February 8, a US Navy P-3 spy plane and a Chinese military aircraft came close to each other over the South China Sea in an incident the Navy saw as unsafe but also inadvertent. Reuters reported at the time that the aircraft came within 1,000 feet (305 meters) of each other in the vicinity of the Scarborough Shoal, between the Philippines and the Chinese mainland. China is deeply suspicious of any US military activity in the resource-rich South China Sea, parts of which are disputed by China and its smaller neighbors including the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia. ALSO READ: China says India-Singapore South China Sea drills 'should not hurt interests of other countries' China installs rocket launchers on disputed South China Sea island, says report --- ENDS --- Jewellers Association members across Uttar Pradesh are staging angry protests and dharna, demanding safety amid growing instances of crime against them. By Shiv Pujan Jha: Jewellers Association members across Uttar Pradesh are staging angry protests and dharna, demanding safety amid growing instances of crime against them. Hundreds of jewellers under the banner of Lucknow Sarrafa association downed their shutters and staged angry protest the near GPO in the state capital Lucknow. They shouted slogans against the Yogi Adityanath government and the police, for their lackadaisical approach in solving the cases registered in the recent past. advertisement Later, a delegation of the jewellers went to Vidhan Sabha, seeking a meeting with Yogi Adityanath. They met cabinet minister Shreekant Sharma, instead, who assured them of all possible help. The minister then directed the Lucknow DM and the senior officials to look into the matter, increase patroling and set up CCTV cameras at strategic locations. Jeweller Sandeep Bansal told India Today, "we want strict action against the culprits and the erring police officials. If we fail to get safety we will step up agitation in the days to come." After the meeting with Sharma, Pradeep Agrawal indicated that the minister had given an assurance of safety. He said the community was shocked at the gruesome murder of jewellers in Mathura. The association also expressed concerns about police failure in solving old cases, and the miniscule recoveries made by them. Here are the demands made by the jewellers Put able officers in the police post near jewellery shops. Give jewellers arms licence. Compensation from government in case police fail to recover stolen goods. Strict punishment for those indulging in loot and murders. Insurance policy for jewellers. Better consideration of police towards jewellers' demands. --- ENDS --- By Gina Martinez Chanting education is a right! Queens students gathered Tuesday morning on the steps of Queens Borough Hall calling on the mayor to fund English classes. The rally, led by the New York City Coalition for Adult Literacy, was focused on Bill de Blasios Fall 2018 Executive Budget. According to NYCCAL, a collection of nonprofit, community-based organizations, the budget will face a $12 million cut that will eliminate literary courses for over 5,500 students throughout the city, including 1,3000 in Queens alone. Without these resources, available at libraries and CUNY branches, many immigrants will not be able to qualify for better jobs, attend college or participate in their childrens education, NYCCAL spokesman Kevin Douglas said. We did this rally this morning to say people are paying attention, its wrong, and it shouldnt happen in a back-room deal, Douglas said. There needs to be public discussion about what it means to be a safe place for immigrants, not just a sanctuary city, but a place of opportunity. Thats what English classes are for. Once immigrants are here they want to move forward in their lives. They know they need their English diploma, and that opportunity could be taken away.AAccording to a City Hall spokesperson, the budget is is considering the need of certain literacy programs. The City currently provides immigrant communities with essential services, a City Hall spokesman said in a statement. Including adult literacy and English language learning programs. These programs cut across various city agencies, and take a variety of forms to best meet the different needs of New Yorks adult learners. Additional need will be considered as part of the ongoing budget process. Douglas said the city budget must be approved by July 1, but he and his coalition are acting now because there are a lot of rumors that it will be passed the first week of June. Douglas said he has contacted the mayors office and has only been told that they are looking at the issue. The part that is most-mind boggling is that this mayor, in many ways, is a champion for immigrants, Douglas said. Hes been able to administer IDs, hes limited cooperation with police, provided legal services. Thats all great, but what is the point of having immigrants here if you dont give them a chance to succeed? Otherwise they will stay under the table and work low-wage jobs. Learning English is the first step. Its inconsistent with everything else hes done. Isabel Smith, a student at LaGuardia Community College, said she hopes the rally changes the mayors mind. She wants people to know that if given the opportunity, immigrants can contribute to the city. I need to learn to speak English to better my future in this country, she said in Spanish. Im here because I think if we all unite we can change the mayors mind. We have hope, we hold on to hope. The mayor has always helped immigrants. We want to speak English to prove to white people, who want to hold us back so much, that we are just as good. Were here to contribute, we just need a chance. Its even more important now with President Trump. He wants to keep us down. Were capable and he should know because he has so many Hispanic employees. Were not going to take away, were going to contribute. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams Government by tweet has come to City Hall. At 6:17 p.m. on Saturday, May 13, Mayor Bill de Blasios press secretary tweeted out a message: Mayors been briefed on a federal immigration agent showing up at Queens PS 58 Thursday asking about a fourth-grader. School turned him away. The tweet, which broke the news three days after the disturbing visit, set off a firestorm of criticism from elected officials in Queens, immigration advocates and worried parents. What took City Hall so long to notify the public? Was the agent working for the feared Immigration and Customs Enforcement arm? As Trump took office, rumors swept immigrant neighborhoods in Queens and the rest of the city that ICE agents might raid schools and churches. With that, the mayor vowed in March to keep ICE agents out of schools. After the first City Hall tweet, the city Immigration Affairs Office chimed in on Twitter saying immigrant agents had no place in city schools. Twitter lighted up with comments from all sides. And that same night, the Department of Education tweeted out it would do everything in its power to protect public school students and said the agent had been turned away. Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina went to the Maspeth school Monday morning in an effort to calm parents. She said it was the first time the citys policy of not allowing a federal agent into a school without a warrant had been tested. But it turned out ICE had not sent the agent to the school. In a later tweet, de Blasios spokesman said U.S. Citizenship Immigration Services another Homeland Security subsidiary had sent two officials to the school about a childs application for an immigration benefit. The child was not contacted. USCIS processes immigration paperwork. We had a full-blown panic attack developing in Queens, where nearly half the residents are foreign-born, and we want to know why the mayors office didnt move swiftly to dispel fears that ICE was at work. De Blasios crew had that intelligence before Farina visited PS 58. De Blasio met with Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly in Washington Monday about the incident, as we learned again by tweet. The appearance of federal agents at a school touched a raw nerve in Queens, where there have been anecdotal reports about immigrants keeping their children home from school and avoiding churches. On the other hand, the citys tough policy blocked the agents this time around, but we must be on constant guard to safeguard our students regardless of their status with or without Twitter. Schools are sacred ground in this sanctuary city. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams By Gina Martinez After her husband and son were found guilty of running a cocaine trafficking operation out of their family-owned Corona pizzeria, Eleonora Gigliotti was sentenced for her part in the family drug smuggling business, prosecutors said. Gigliotti, 56, of Malba pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import cocaine in Brooklyn federal court before Judge Raymond Dearie and was sentenced to seven years in prison. Her husband Gregorio, 60, and son Angelo, 36, were convicted in July 2016 of manning a transnational cocaine trafficking operation that stretched from Italy and Costa Rica to Queens, the U.S. attorneys office in Brooklyn said. The father was also found guilty of possessing a cache of firearms in connection with the operation, prosecutors said. The trial presented damning evidence against the father and son that included court-authorized wiretaps and physical surveillance. The evidence revealed that Gregorio and his wife, Eleonora, used their Corona pizzeria, Cucino Amodo Mio, located at 51-01 108th St., and their import company, Fresh Farms Produce Export Corp., to facilitate their drug trafficking operation, the U.S. attorney said. Their son acted as an assistant, handling drug operations whenever Gregorio was out of town. Gregorio was sentenced to 18 years last July. Their son Angelo is set to be sentenced next month. Elenora was not tried with her son and husband after being found unfit for trail. The sentencing memorandum said she was mentally unstable. Acting U.S, Attorney Bridget Rhode said Elenora Gigliotti was guilty of active involvement in the family business. Prosecutors said she facilitated the illicit smuggling of hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash from the United States to Costa Rica. While in Costa Rica, Elenora met directly with suppliers and gave them the money that was used to purchase cocaine, Rhode said. Elenora used her expertise to again conceal over $170,000 for co-conspirator Franco Fazio to travel to Costa Rica and fund another drug shipment, Rhode said. She applied for necessary paperwork, including customs paperwork, and an importation license for the front company that provided cover for the illegal business. She also sent an $11,000 wire transfer to the sources of supply in Central America, Rhode said. And all the while, she enjoyed the fruits of the operation, which were used to fund the Gigliotti family businesses, including the Cucino Amodo Mio restaurant and various construction projects, the acting U.S. attorney said. Although less culpable than her husband, as revealed in the intercepted calls and otherwise, the defendant was an active, core member of the conspiracy who was not forced to commit crimes, but rather made her own choices and decided to benefit enormously from illegal activity, the sentencing memorandum said, While Elenora was sentenced to seven years, she has already been in custody for 26 months and will likely serve another 3 1/2 years. Her lawyer, Nicholas Kaizer, said she was happy with her lesser sentence and that she regrets her part in the crime. This has been an extremely difficult ordeal for her and her entire family, Kaizer said. While the government was seeking a 15-year sentence for her, and her husband last month received an 18-year sentence, were thankful that Judge Dearie accepted our arguments regarding Eleonoras lesser role in this offense and her difficult personal circumstances, both before her arrest and after, in sentencing her to the least possible time. Mrs. Gigliotti deeply regrets her role in this affair and hopes to rejoin her children, in-laws and grandchildren as soon as possible. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams By Bill Parry Joseph Ponte will leave his post as commissioner of the Department of Correction next month and he is assisting in a national search to select his successor. Ponte announced he was stepping down last Friday after he drove his official vehicle to Maine on numerous occasions and failed to report his employees had listened in on city investigators calls to Rikers inmates. He and Mayor Bill de Blasio, who defended his embattled commissioner amid the growing scandals, issued statements announcing Pontes retirement. Ponte, who had a national reputation as a prison reformer before being appointed by de Blasio in 2014, thanked the department for the tremendous job they have done over the past three years to bring out meaningful reform and build a culture of safety. Under Pontes tenure solitary confinement ended for adolescents and 3,700 new Correction officers were hired, but violence continued to fester at Rikers Island, where some 9,000 inmates are held, and pressure mounted to shutter the notorious jail. New York City owes a debt of gratitude to Commissioner Ponte for his tireless efforts to change the culture and improve the effectiveness of one of the nations most challenging jail systems, the mayor said in his statement. While much work remains, there is no doubt that our citys jails are safer, more rehabilitative and more humane as a result of Commissioner Pontes work. Violence on Rikers Island during Pontes tenure fell in numerous categories, according to City Hall. Between calendar year 2014 to 2016, assaults on staff with serious injuries decreased 38 percent while serious use of force decreased 51 percent, but union leaders say otherwise. He created a mess. Its not a retirement, its a resignation in lieu of a firing, Correction Officers Benevolent Association President Elias Husmudeen said. Whats more disheartening is theyre acting like the last two weeks never happened, like the last three years never happened. Pontes fate may have been sealed when City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito (D-Manhattan) broke with the mayor May 10 asking Ponte to turn in his resignation. There seems to be a lack of leadership and a lack of confidence within the agency, Mark-Viverito said. Those are real, genuine concerns. For me, those are things that led me to this point. Councilman Rory Lancman, chairman of the Committee on Courts & Legal Services, said, Joe Ponte is a decent man and I wish him well, but Correction commissioners come and go, while the nightmare that is Rikers Island is eternal. Ponte first ran into strong headwinds April 28 when the city Department of Investigation reported he had driven his city-issued SUV to Maine and spent 90 days out of state, including 35 work days. The commissioner said he would repay the fuel costs and tolls. Several other Correction officials were also cited for violating city policy in the report. In a New York Times article last week, Ponte implied he was the victim of a DOI vendetta after crossing the agency early in his tenure. Ponte promoted William Clemons to chief of department after DOI recommended against the move. Its funny here, they just want to hammer somebody forever and ever about whatever that is, Ponte told The Times. Doesnt anybody get to make a mistake and say, O.K., Ive got it now, and isnt that what thats about? DOI declined comment. Meanwhile, Gregory Kuczinski, the Correction Departments deputy commissioner of investigations, was fired Tuesday by Ponte, one week after he was demoted for allegedly eavesdropping on telephone calls made by DOI investigators. Following several days of careful evaluation, Commissioner Ponte determined termination was appropriate, DOC spokesman Peter Thorne said. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams By Naeisha Rose Many people cheered as Mayor Bill de Blasio spoke about the positive changes to the borough of Queens and New York City during his first term Thursday at the Queens County Democratic Organizations annual spring dinner at Antuns in Queens Village. This administration is proud of what it did for Queens starting with a new ferry service in the Rockaways. That ferry is here to stay in the Rockaways. Ferry service will soon be reaching Long Island City and Astoria, de Blasio said. The mayor came out to Queens to rally Queens Democratic lawmakers for this years elections and to bolster the prospects of incumbents across the borough. As mayor he has made significant investments in Queens, particularly in the last couple of years. De Blasio mentioned the changes made to make the treacherous Boulevard of Death safer. We took another crucial front we took what was a stain on the name of this borough and I was with Karen Koslowitz [D-Forest Hills] the other day and we talked about something that is a past that we needed to get rid of. When Queens Boulevard was called the Boulevard of Death, said the mayor. We made a lot of changes through Vision Zero and for 2 1/2 years not a single person has died on Queens Boulevard. The crowd responded with applause. The mayor also brought up additional improvements to the southeast Queens region. To all of my friends from southeast Queens who talked for so many years about how the government did not hear you about the flooding problem, we are spending billions of dollars to fix that, de Blasio. I think [Councilman Donovan Richards D-Laurelton] told me its been about 40 years that people have been asking for a new police precinct. A new police precinct is coming to southeast Queens. At City Hall, Queens is at the front of the agenda. The Democrats clapped enthusiastically about both initiatives. The mayor also highlighted the rise of job creation in the outer boroughs, how crime has dropped for the third year in a row and a 93 percent decline in stop-and-frisk was down 93 percent. He went on to say that 99.6 percent of municipal workers are under a labor contract today and New York City police officers wont be turned into enforcement agents for ICE. Now I want to talk about a magical place recognized all over the world for its diversity, for its amazing restaurants, for its passionate people. I call this place Queens, de Blasio said. We are still a beacon to this whole country and we show that as a society every kind of person can work in New York City everybody is together. It does not matter what faith or country you came from. We manage to make it work together and the whole world watches this miracle everyday. We have to keep that fire burning no matter what happens in Washington, D.C. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams By Mark Hallum Disgraced former Congressman Anthony Weiner, who represented Queens and Brooklyn, pleaded guilty in Manhattan federal court Friday to transmitting obscene material to a minor. He is facing a sentence of 21 to 27 months behind bars. Weiner, 52, tearfully read from a prepared statement in the courtroom of Judge Loretta Preska, apologizing to the 15-year-old victim and her family and explaining that he accepted full responsibility for my conduct. I have a sickness, but I do not have an excuse. The former Democratic politician had an office in Forest Hills until it was revealed in 2011 that he had tweeted graphic images of himself to a Seattle college student. What later became known as Weinergate was the beginning of the end for the mayoral hopeful who admitted to lying to the public, the media and members of Congress as well as his wife, Huma Abedin, who was a longtime staffer for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He went on to resign from his office, leading to the victory of Bob Turner in a special election over now-Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Fresh Meadows) before the district was reorganized. Weiner re-emerged on the public scene last fall when investigators into his sexting activities found that Abedin had sent emails to a laptop they shared, sparking fears that these messages may have compromised Clintons State Department activities. Then FBI Director James Comey issued a public statement prior to the election that the Clinton emails were under investigation, a move Clinton contends may have cost her the presidency. Comey later cleared her of any wrongdoing just days before the election. Weiners sentencing was scheduled for Sept. 9 at 11 a.m. JKLF chief Yasin Malik attacked two India Today reporters when they had gone to take Malik's reaction on channel's special investigative report called Hurriyat Truth Tapes. By Sushant Pathak, Jamshed Adil Khan : India Today reporter Kamaljit Sandhu was attacked by JKLF chief Yasin Malik today morning. Sandhu had gone to take Yasin Malik's reaction on special investigative report - Hurriyat Truth Tapes - when Malik snatched her phone and smashed it to smithereens. Malik also assaulted India Today's video journalist Vinod. India Today had come up with clinching evidence of Pakistan's state and non-state actors, including Hafiz Saeed, choreographing anarchy through their agents in the Kashmir Valley. advertisement Several top Kashmiri separatists were caught on camera confessing to receiving funds from across the border. Earlier on Tuesday, after India Today aired the special investigative report where Hurriyat's Provincial President (Geelani Faction) Naeem Khan was caught on camera admitting Pakistan is funding the violence in Kashmir Valley, India Today reporters were threatened. After the video went on air, Naeem Khan came to India Today office in Srinagar and threatened India Today reporters. He also asked them to take down the story and drop the expose. Some of them also admitted they raised money domestically, pledging to repeat the deadly events of 2016 if financed again. The stunning probe that rips apart the devious designs of anti-India forces in Kashmir includes Hurriyat's Provincial President (Geelani Faction) Naeem Khan, Tehreek-E-Hurriyat's leader Gazi Javed Baba, and JKLF chairman Farooq Ahmed Dar (Bitta Karate). The investigation traces the terror funding trail. Hurriyat leader Naeem Khan stealthily travels down to Delhi to meet India Today reporters, who posed as potential funders. The investigation reveals that Pakistan's agents who are trying to destabilise Kashmir through street violence are hidden in Delhi. The expose has been hailed not only by the government and the BJP but also by the Congress. 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 Video: Stung by sting, JKLF chief Yasin Malik attacks India Today crew --- ENDS --- By Isidoros Karderinis, Athens The election of the Europeanist Macron, who is a real child of the banking system and of the forces of globalization, to the presidency of France has prevented, on the one hand, the automatic activation of the decomposing procedures of a European Union that is under the German control and has created, on the other hand, an incredible illusion in the bureaucratic circles of Brussels with regard to the prospects of its longevity. However, a thorough reading of the results of the French presidential elections leaves no doubts. An important segment precisely the 34% of the French people, who has been affected much less than other peoples of the Eurozone and the European Union by the extreme neo-liberal policies of wild austerity, expressed its aversion to the undemocratic bureaucratic European construction in this second round. And in fact, this happened through a far-right political structure with a stigmatized racist past that for years was on the sidelines of the French political system. If the left-wing anti-European Melenchon, who does not provoke any fear to the French people, had succeeded in passing to the second round, Macrons election would have been unsure taking into account that 50% of the French electorate voted euro-skeptically in the first round of the elections. In any case, the European Union now looks like a woman suffering from an incurable disease whose doctors give her five more years to live, and that because the EU cannot, in any case, exist without France. It is certain, though, that the neo-liberal anti-popular policies that Macron will implement and which will be dictated by Brussels, basically by Berlin, will devalue the social and labour rights of the French people and will provoke their justified anger. Consequently, in the French presidential elections in 2022, and if the bomb of the Italian economy will have not yet exploded which is quite unlikely the political forces to blow up the European Union, which will never acquire a democratic and social face, will surely reverse the current election result and will win by a large majority. The Germans, of course, now have every right to enjoy and celebrate Macrons election who will preserve, even temporarily, the Eurozone and the European Union, from which they have won the most, while most others are losing. Specifically, the German trade surplus, which is a structural phenomenon and not just a coincidence, is certainly owed to the great competitiveness of the German economy, but it is also scandalously strengthened by the Euros functioning mechanism, since the common currency does not allow the Eurozone deficit countries to devalue their currency, a fact which condemns them to a vicious circle of low competitiveness and persistent deficits. Since the adoption of the Euro currency, Germanys trade surplus has followed a frantic upward trend. Thus, in 2016, it reached a historically high level of 252.9 billion Euros, according to the official information of the German statistics office, when the trade surplus of the whole Eurozone for the same year amounted to just 273.9 billion Euros. This means that Germany produces 92.33% of the total trade surplus in the Eurozone! During the same period of the Euro currency, and with the exception of some years, Frances trade deficit recorded generally increasing trends. Thus, in 2016, according to a French Customs announcement, it stood at 48.1 billion Euros, and Frances market share within the Eurozone was significantly reduced it fell from 17% in 2000 to 13.6% in 2015 and to 13.4% in 2016 while the trade deficit in the previous year (2015) amounted to 45.0 billion Euros. At the same time the French economy faces other serious problems. As a consequence, the public debt is constantly expanding and it now stands at close to 100% of its Gross National Product. Unemployment, which is particularly affecting young people under the age of 25 almost one in four is unemployed stood at 10% of the workforce at the end of 2016, reaffirming President Hollandes failed efforts to reduce it. At the same time, Germany enjoys very high employment rates as unemployment is historically low, since it does not exceed 3.9% of the workforce. 15 years ago, France and Germany had a similar living standard. But currently, the Germans are by one fifth richer, though both economies welcomed the Euro currency in 2002 with the unemployment being around 8% of the workforce. As a consequence, even if Macron was to surprise everyone which, of course, is not going to happen and decided, on the basis as well of the specific weight that France has since the country is the second economic power in the Eurozone, to strongly push for a change of attitude in the European Union and the Eurozone, which would clearly improve the French economy and moreover would benefit the shaky economies of the other countries of the European South, this would crash into a huge, powerful wall, that is to say Germanys rigid and steady position. And this happens because the Germans whoever is at the wheel of their country will never accept the relaxation of the austerity and the sacred rules of budgetary discipline. The Germans have been more than obvious that they long wish to use the Eurozone for their benefit and to the detriment of everyone else, and they will never be able to return voluntarily to their national currency, the mark, because that would lead to the collapse of their exports. The Germans want to gain more and more, preserving the Eurozone as it is over a long period of time, and they actually do not care if the others are losing or even are being destroyed, as is the case with the Greeks. Therefore, in this European Union, which is dominated and reigned by Germany, the notion of solidarity and mutual aid not only does not exist, but it has been thrown away like garbage in the waste bin. Hence, it is being proven beyond any doubt that reality is not a burdensome essay, as such ideas have been recorded in the founding treaties of the then EEC, but instead it is being cruel and inexorable. Thus, the union of powerful and powerless economies and their tight hug through the Euro currency has already proved to be a criminal error. In conclusion, the French presidential elections will not shake the richly paid bureaucrats in Brussels nor the political leaders in Berlin who, surrendered to their blissfulness and conceit, will continue to impose on the countries of the European Union extremist neo-liberal policies of wild austerity that put the peoples is poverty and misery. A Syrian military official said Friday that an aerial "aggression" by the U.S.-led coalition on a government military position near the border with Jordan the day before killed several soldiers and caused material damage. The strike was the first such close confrontation between U.S. forces and fighters backing President Bashar Assad and the development is likely to increase tensions in the war-torn country. The unnamed official\s comments were carried by Syrian state TV a day after the strike. The U.S.-led coalition said Thursday that a U.S. airstrike hit pro-Syrian government forces it said posed a threat to American troops and allied rebels operating near the border with Jordan. The attack comes at a time when the U.S. presence in Syria is becoming more visible, mostly in the northern parts of the country where American troops are backing Kurdish-led forces fighting the Islamic State group. This "flagrant aggression launched by the International coalition exposes the falsity of its allegation about fighting terrorism and undoubtedly demonstrates the reality of the Zionist-American project in the region," the Syrian official said. In Geneva meanwhile, Bashar al-Ja\afari, the head of the Syrian delegation to the peace talks underway in the Swiss city, told reports there that he discussed the airstrike during a meeting Friday with the U.N. Special Envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura, describing the attack as "state terrorism." "In every meeting we remind the attendees that there is terrorism by terrorists and also terrorism by states committed against our country," al-Ja\afari said. He was referring not only to Thursday\s strike but also to others carried out by the U.S.-led coalition in recent months that have claimed the lives of civilians in areas held by the Islamic State group. Russia, a main backer of Assad, also denounced the airstrike. "Whatever the reason for the U.S. strike was, it was illegitimate and marked another flagrant violation of Syria\s sovereignty," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on a trip to Cyprus. "We are deeply worried about the erosion of the emerging understanding of the need to combine efforts of all those who confront terrorists" such as the IS and al-Qaida\s branch in Syria, Lavrov said. But Syria\s opposition delegation to Geneva lauded the airstrike, saying it helps curb Iran\s influence in his country. He railed against Iran, for its support of the Syrian government. "Any real effort to combat terrorism and to limit the Iranian influence is in the interest of the Syrian people and the people of the region and international peace and security," said Nasr Hariri, who represents the opposition at the Geneva talks. De Mistura\s separate meetings with Syrian opposition and government representatives have yielded little outcome after four days of talks. Hariri said the government is not serious about discussing the political process of transition. The Syrian government, which has launched an offensive in the country\s south backed by its allies militias such as Iranian paramilitaries and the Lebanese Hezbollah group has vowed to reach the border area with Iraq. That\ss likely to be opposed by the United States and its allies who back rebels fighting IS in the same area. A road between Iraq and Syria would facilitate the flow of assistance from Iran, which is a strong backer of Assad. The coalition said "apparent" Russian attempts to stop pro-Assad forces from moving toward Tanf, as well as warning shots and a show of force, had failed. American officials and Syrian activists said the strike took place in the desert near the border with Jordan, although it was unclear if it struck the Syrian army or just militias allied with the government. The Syrian military official said on Friday that the area attacked was a military position along the Tanf highway in the desert, close to where the borders of Jordan, Syria and Iraq meet. The area has been considered a de-conflicted zone under an agreement between the U.S. and Russia earlier this month. Asked if the airstrike increases the U.S. role in the Syrian war, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said America will defend its troops in case of "aggressive" steps against them. The Syrian military official said attempts to justify the attack by claiming the toops did not respond to a warning not to advance are "categorically rejected." The official did not give a number for how many soldiers were killed and insisted that no other power has the right to decide in which areas the army can carry out operations. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group with activists on the ground, said the strike destroyed vehicles and killed eight militiamen. The government-controlled Syrian Central Military Media said there is an agreement between Syria, Russia and Iran about pushing ahead in the fight against IS in the desert toward the Iraqi border. It added that "the Americans have no right to specify in which direction the Syrian army moves since it owns the land and has the right to spread the country\s sovereignty on all the land." The military media outlet added that the Americans had asked the Russia to pressure the Syrian army to stay 15 kilometers (9 miles) away from their "illegitimate bases in Tanf." In an email to The Associated Press, the U.S.-led coalition\s press office said that Syrian pro-government "forces must now withdraw outside of the established de-confliction zone to avert further Coalition action and remove the threat to our forces." The statement added that the U.S.-led coalition forces will continue to defend themselves against IS or any other threat to the coalition or its allies in the area. SOURCE: Associated Press Seven people have died and 19 fishermen are reported lost at sea after two days of heavy rain lashed Haiti, the interior ministry said Friday. Two young children were among the fatalities, which all occured in northern Haiti, while the people missing at sea were caught in rough weather off the southwestern coast, said ministry spokesman Guillaume Albert Moleon. "Unfortunately, we must deplore the deaths of people who did not follow the safety instructions and tried to cross flooded streams," he said of the deaths onland. In southern Haiti, the soil is "100 percent saturated with water," Moleon said, warning of a high risk of landslides. Work is underway to clear debris from flooded roads, while the search continues for the missing fishermen and maritime officials renewed a safety warning for those venturing to sea. As the hurricane season approaches authorities are concerned about conditions in areas that have not recovered since powerful Hurricane Matthew struck in October. Haitian towns have been popping up with little urban planning, leaving many prone to flooding even during a moderate storm. Lacking infrastructure, remote rural areas in the Haitian mountains are also periodically isolated from the rest of the country due to washed-out roads and swollen rivers. SOURCE: AFP Julian Assange claimed victory Friday after Swedish prosecutors dropped a seven-year rape allegation against the WikiLeaks founder, but insisted the "proper war" over his future was only just beginning. Assange gave a clenched fist salute as he stepped into the daylight on the balcony of Ecuador\s London embassy, where he has been holed up since 2012. But the 45-year-old Australian said the road was "far from over" and declined to reveal whether he would leave the embassy after five years cooped up inside. British police would arrest him immediately for breaching earlier bail conditions if he left the embassy, while US authorities have warned they regard WikiLeaks as a "hostile intelligence service". "Today is an important victory," Assange told reporters and a small band of supporters crowded around the tiny balcony, after emerging wearing a black shirt and jacket. "But it by no means erases seven years of detention without charge. In prison, under house arrest and almost five years here in this embassy without sunlight. "That is not something that I can forgive. It is not something that I can forget." Earlier in Stockholm, Marianne Ny, Sweden\s director of public prosecutions, said the rape investigation had been dropped because there was "no reason to believe that the decision to surrender him to Sweden can be executed in the foreseeable future". "It is no longer proportionate to maintain the arrest of Julian Assange in his absence," she said. Despite the probe in Sweden being dropped, Assange would still face arrest if he set foot outside the embassy, a flat located just behind the plush Harrods emporium. Assange jumped British bail by entering the embassy and claiming asylum, saying he feared he would eventually be extradited to the United States. US justice authorities have never confirmed that they have Assange under investigation or are seeking his extradition. But US Attorney General Jeff Sessions said last month that "we will seek to put some people in jail", when asked if arresting Assange was a "priority" for Washington. US prosecutors have been drafting a memo that looks at charges against Assange and WikiLeaks members that possibly include conspiracy, theft of government property and violations of the Espionage Act, according to The Washington Post. US President Donald Trump\s administration has put heat on WikiLeaks after it embarrassed the Central Intelligence Agency in March by releasing files and computer code from the spy agency\s top-secret hacking operations. "While today was an important victory and an important vindication, the road is far from over. The war, the proper war is just commencing," Assange said. He said his lawyers were in touch with the British authorities and hoped to begin a dialogue about the "best way forward". And the former computer hacker said that despite the "extremely threatening remarks" emanating from Washington, he was "always ready to engage with the Department of Justice". The department said Friday it had no comment "at this point" on Assange. Asked if London would now support a request to extradite Assange to the United States, British Prime Minister Theresa May said: "We look at extradition requests on a case-by-case basis." Assange\s Swedish lawyer, Per Samuelsson, said his client plans to move to Ecuador because "it\s the only nation where he is safe". In Sweden, Assange\s accuser was left stunned by the prosecutors\ decision. "It is a scandal that a suspected rapist can escape justice and thereby avoid the courts," her lawyer, Elisabeth Fritz, told AFP in an email. "My client is shocked and no decision to (end the case) can make her change (her mind) that Assange exposed her to rape," she said. The accusation against Assange dates from August 2010 when the alleged victim, who says she met him at a WikiLeaks conference in Stockholm a few days earlier, filed a complaint. She accused him of having sex with her as she slept without using a condom despite repeatedly having denied him unprotected sex. Assange always denied the allegations, which he feared would lead to him being extradited to the United States and facing trial over the leak of hundreds of thousands of secret US military and diplomatic documents in 2010, which brought WikiLeaks to prominence. SOURCE: AFP The owners of the North Country Commons strip mall in Clifton Park were justified trying to stop a mega church from subletting space from Upstate Concert Hall, one of its tenants, a judge has ruled. State Supreme Court Justice Thomas Nolan Jr. ruled on Tuesday against Northway Church, which had sued the owners and operator of the strip mall back in March in state Supreme Court in Saratoga County to try to block its ouster. For years, Northway Church operated out of space it leased at the strip mall. But the church decided not to renew the lease at the end of 2016 since it had plans to construct its own 45,000- square-foot church building on Ushers and Pierce roads. When those plans were delayed, Northway Church found a solution by renting out the Upstate Concert Hall, which is next door to the former church space, on Sunday mornings. After that happened, the strip mall and its property manager, Howard Carr, tried to get the church evicted, saying Upstate Concert Hall was in violation of its lease. Carr, president of Howard Group, said the judge's ruling was satisfying since he had been accused of discriminating against a religious group. However, he noted the ruling was also moot at this point. "The church has moved out," said Carr, who believes the church stopped using the concert hall about three or four weeks ago. Northway Church has been holding services at Gowana Middle School as it waits for its new building to be completed. "We are grateful for our friends at Upstate Concert Hall who went above and beyond to assist us in our transitional phase as we build our new home at exit 10," said Northway Church Pastor Chad Clem. "We are excited that we have purchased the land on Ushers Road and are looking forward to the construction of our new home and headquarters that will enable us to further our reach in sharing the life giving news of Jesus Christ. We hope to have our project completed by the end of the year." Still in dispute is the church's security deposit of $20,000 from its former lease, although Carr said that was not part of the lawsuit. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SLINGERLANDS -- Firefighters believe a lightning strike sparked the fire that badly damaged a 100-year-old New Scotland Road home Friday morning. A neighbor two blocks away called 911 at about 9 p.m. Thursday to say, "It sounded like lightening had struck in their backyard," Slingerlands Fire Chief Joe Farleigh said. Five hours later, at about 2 a.m., a resident of 1613 New Scotland Road called 911 to say his roof was fully engulfed in flames. The family of three adults, one of whom uses a wheelchair, escaped without injury, Farleigh said. The Red Cross is assisting them. It took five fire departments an hour to get the blaze under control, the chief said. Fire crews were pushed out of the home soon after arriving. The home's slate roof made the fire fight more difficult. "You can't cut through it so well, it's very heavy, and it traps and holds in heat," Farleigh said. However, the house's century's old timber construction and two-inch-by-eight-inch roof trusses kept the structure from collapsing, he said. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. "If this was a new house, it would be lying in a heap," the chief said. The home's roof collapsed and fire badly damaged the third floor, Farleigh said. The first and second floors were untouched by flames but damaged extensively by water, he said. Both lanes of New Scotland Avenue are now reopen for traffic. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate COLONIE --Bonnie St. John's life hasn't always been as sterling as the Paralympic medals she won as a skier in the 1984 games. St. John, who lives in Windham, lost part of her leg from amputation when she was five. Though she found success on the slopes, she found it hard just to walk around growing up in San Diego. Being able to bounce back from seemingly impossible situations was the main message St. John promoted Friday morning at the Key4Women forum at the Albany Marriott. Women@Work, a network run through the Times Union, was a media sponsor for the event. When she visited the Los Angeles hospital where she got her leg amputation, a mother asked if her son, burned on over 70 percent of his body, would lead a normal life. St. John said no -- he could be more than that. "So much of my life, I aspired to be normal," St. John told the sold-out crowd at the Friday event. "But I told her, 'No. Aim higher.' Normal is overrated; you can be extraordinary." St. John often spoke about resilience, the theme of the forum. She offered the crowd various tips to become more resilient and healthy, emotionally. That theme was repeated by various speakers and emcees. Subrina Dhammi, anchor for NewsChannel 13's "Early Today" and "Today," told the eventgoers about attending journalism school at Syracuse University though her mother wanted her to become a Bollywood star. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. The recipient for the forum's Achieve Award, Marilyn Pendergast, discussed via a video message about her college education, finding excitement in accounting even though there were only three degree programs available for women to take at the college. Pendergast, today, is the managing director at UHY Advisors N.Y. While resilience seems like a solitary achievement, St. John said such flexibility can go far in helping a group of people. "You have to be a help-able person; you have to be able to accept help and ask for help," she said after the forum. "It is not a weakness, it's a strength." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Albany What remains of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's highly touted, billion-dollar Global 450mm Consortium is headed for the auction block. Back in the fall of 2011, Cuomo stunned the high-tech world by announcing he had convinced the world's largest computer chip companies to research next-generation chip manufacturing at SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Albany as part of a five-year, $4.8 billion program. The centerpiece of the deal was the $1 billion, Global 450mm Consortium, or G450C, an unprecedented collaboration between competitors Intel, GlobalFoundries, Samsung, IBM and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. to figure out how to make the chips using 450 millimeter 18-inch silicon wafers instead of the current standard of using 300 mm, or 12-inch, wafers. But the G450C never attained its lofty goals. The industry postponed the move to 450mm manufacturing in favor of getting more efficiencies out of 12-inch wafers. The Research Foundation for SUNY, which manages grant money for SUNY schools, disclosed in recently released audited financial statements that it is looking to repurpose the G450C's equipment known in the industry as tools or sell them to the highest bidder. The Research Foundation says the remaining G450C equipment has a "book value" of nearly $115 million. "Management expects to utilize the G450C's equipment to the extent it can be deployed in other existing programs," the foundation disclosed. "However it is expected that a portion of the equipment will be sold to third parties during fiscal 2017." State officials previously hoped the program would make the Capital Region the epicenter for next-generation chips. They also predicted that when the industry was ready to build the first 450 millimeter chip factories, they would be built in upstate New York to be close to research and development. New York state promised $200 million to the G450C, with the industry promising another $800 million, including $75 million from each of the five participants. SUNY Poly also built a special building for the G450C, the $365 million NanoFab X building that once hosted President Barack Obama and was designed to house the massive multi-million dollar machinery, or tools, that would be needed to process 18-inch silicon wafers. When funding for the G450C officially ended in December, the consortium quietly disbanded amid the high-profile bid-rigging scandal that had engulfed SUNY Poly earlier in the year. Now the state is doing the best that it can to recoup its original investment. Paul Kelly, SUNY Poly's associate vice president for consortia and initiatives, said the process of selling equipment would begin soon. "With the wind down of the G450C as a result of industry consensus pushing reliance on 450mm wafers to the future, SUNY Poly is working with companies to maximize our return on investment in the equipment and tools that were purchased to run the program," Kelly said. "We are still exploring all of our options and expect the process to begin in a few weeks." lrulison@timesunion.com 518-454-5504 @larryrulison This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to report the company expects to bring in $15 million in revenue this year. Saratoga Springs Dan Bobear's clients are drug companies, but his focus is on patients. Using sophisticated digital techniques that mimic detective work, his marketing agency roots out people isolated in their struggle to overcome a rare disease their doctors may not even recognize. Then Bobear and his staff at The Patient Experience Project listen carefully to what those patients need, and connect them with researchers developing drugs to help them. Bobear defines himself not as a marketer of prescription drugs but in terms that sound more New Age, or at least like he is running a nonprofit: facilitator, collaborator, "co-creator." But make no mistake, The Patient Experience Project is a decidedly capitalistic enterprise. The company, which is set to celebrate its fifth anniversary, is on track to take in $15 million in revenue this year. The PEP has grown from a staff of four to 50, and recently moved into 9,000-square-foot digs on Congress Place. It achieved this early success by turning old-school drug marketing on its ear. Before launching the company, the 48-year-old Bobear learned as a general manager at the former Saratoga Springs-based advertising firm Palio that he could make good money. He decided he also wanted to do good. "I needed to feel good about what I do every day and know that I was making an impact beyond traditional measures of success," Bobear said. The PEP's niche is the drug market for rare, or orphan, diseases, which affect fewer than 200,000 Americans. These illnesses have not historically been the focus of research by big pharmaceutical companies. Getting a drug to market is a pricey endeavor, rife with failed attempts, and companies have not been willing to invest in products that don't promise a big customer base. Until recently, that is. A couple of things happened to improve the environment for rare-disease remedies, Bobear explained. The federal government eased the review process and ensured market exclusivity to drug companies with successful orphan-disease remedies. And the drug markets for diseases that lots of people have high cholesterol and diabetes, for instance became saturated. With relatively small markets, though, makers of medications for rare diseases still face the challenge of reaching patients. An expensive national TV ad, for instance, makes sense for a company with potentially millions of patients. The cost is unreasonable for a drugmaker in the orphan-disease market. And that is the gap that Bobear created The PEP to fill. To do it, The PEP staff acts like sleuths, tracking down tough-to-find patients long before a drug is ready for market. One of its clients, for instance, is working on a drug for a genetic obesity disorder that leaves patients insatiable, because they lack the internal "on-off switch" that tells them they're full. The company needed patients to participate in studies to see if their drug worked. But lots of people whose kids have this problem don't even know it's medical, Bobear said. Told they are the cause of their kids' size, they lock their refrigerators and live with shame and guilt. The PEP knew a few things about the patients with this condition. They are usually redheaded, with round faces and almond-shaped eyes. Through deep digging on social media, staff discovered commonalities in the things their families looked for online. With that knowledge, The PEP planted messages and photographs designed to attract them. There's no blueprint for what The PEP does. When he founded The PEP. Bobear realized that he was entering territory where innovation would always be the norm, and assumptions could never be made. That included assumptions about patients. So before working up advertising campaigns or marketing messages, staff from The PEP listen to patients, in person and in their posts on Facebook or Instagram. They learn what their frustrations are, and what they need. They bring them together with other folks going through the same thing, providing support that some of the families never have. Then they work with their clients to fill those unmet needs, which might be developing a website or mentor program. The result is that patients are supported, drug companies find their customers and act more like medical providers, and The PEP earns money. "It's not rocket science," Bobear said. "This is a very logical and human thing to do." chughes@timesunion.com 518-454-5417 @hughesclaire